said the Princesse much more must I be then for me thinkes it is impossible to finde his second so would you haue said had you but seene his valiant combate with the Giant Sulberne If then quoth Orbiconte you knowe so well what he is he louing you as his own life you him in like sorte I would aduise ye with all speede to consumate the mariage betweene ye albeit vnknowen to the King Queene and let me deale for their good will afterward Alas Madame quoth the Princesse héerein would I willingly obay ye but that in religion we are too farre a sunder For that take you no care saide Orbiconte in that before it be long all your Fathers Kingdomes shall be conuerted to Christianitie therfore boldelye make promise to the Knight that you will be baptised so soon as you come into England he hauing first sollemnely sworne to marrie with you as well I knowe he hath no other intent Héerewith shall his parents be well pleased and yours heereafter likewise for then and not before they shall vnderstand that this is for your eternall honor and profit Nonparelia who desired nothing more then the conquest of his loue and withall the swéete benefite ensuing thereby whome she had made Lord and maister of her heart thus answered I knowe Madame that my honorable preferment is the full of your intent and that you will sheeld me from any blemish or reproch I therefore commit all to your discretion and will obey whatsoeuer you commaund me This night then said Orbiconte shall you be assured of your louely Knight and holy vowes of mariage shall be passed betwéene you afterward agrée as you can your selues for I will accoÌ„plish what I haue promised So went they both to the Princes chamber where they found him walking with Captaine Broantine one that knew the deapth of his desire yet ignorant what Orbiconte and the Princesse had concluded Many deuoute courtesies passed betwéene them and Orbiconte taking the Prince aside thus spake to him You remember my Lord your vowe when you called your selfe the Knight without rest that you would neuer entertaine quiet of minde till you had found your onely beloued in the world to whome you were destenied before your birth now be of good chéere for this night shall you be resolued of the Lady who being frée in affection from all other doth honor you with the vnspotted loue of a virgin estéeming of you as her Lord and husband No meruaile if these newes were welcome to the Knight without rest who giuing credit to the words of Orbiconte sealed many a sweete kisse on the daintie lippes of Nonparelia as pledges of a full contract in the sight of heauen not to be recalled but by death onely Short tale to make Orbiconte that night brought them together and ioyned their hands with sollemne and sacred vowes he to carie her with him into England and she there to receiue the faith of a Christian. And thus will we leaue them in their amorous purposes each comforting other with the arguments of loue and now let vs returne to the Princes and Knightes whome we left in Fraunce England and elsewhere CHAP. XXXIII ¶ How the Prince Don Robert of Freeze surnamed the Knight of Fame hauing taken his leaue of the King Milanor of England and Lydiseo the Prince of Hungaria found a Knight wounded to the death and what hapned to him afterward YOU remember how the Knight of Fame being vanquished and sore wounded by the Prince Palladine at y e Iousts which Caesar maintained for loue of the faire Rosamond departed with Lydiseo of Hungaria and crossed the Sea into England where they were graciously entertained by the King Milanor to whome Lydiseo presented Letters from the Prince his Sonne and an other from Landastines to his Daughter Floraea These two Princes hauing soiourned awhile in the Court of England tooke leaue of the King and the Ladyes and afterward sundered themselues in trauaile Lydiseo iorneying toward Hungaria to sée the King his Father who as he vnderstood was fallen into a verie dangerous disease And the Knight of Fame coasting through a part of Brittayne and Normandie went to Burdeaux and from thence into Spayne as much to expell the mellancholly which the remembrance of faire Rosamonde charged his thoughts withall as also to make proofe of his valour against the Knightes of Spayne who accounted themselues the most valiant in Europe Being thus landed in Spayne he trauailed through diuers Forrests till night ouertaking him he was constrained to alight while his Squire cut down certaine boughes of trees for his maister to rest himselfe vpon After they had laid themselues downe as willing to sleepe not farre from them they heard the voice of a man breathing foorth many bitter and dollorous complaints and as it séemed to them he was nigh his end for his words faultred in the vtterance as wanting abilitie to deliuer them whereupon the Knight of Fame awaking his Squire said doost thou not heare one complaine very greeuously I doo my Lord answered the Squire and belike he is in some great danger I pray thee then quoth Don Robert let vs go a little néerer that we may vnderstand what he saith So claspping on their Helmets and Sheelds they walked soft in to the place where they heard the voice when they alight heare him continue his complaints in this manner Unhappie that I am must I néedes die by the traitorous hand of him whome I trusted as mine owne selfe Ah wretch why didst thou not tell me thy cruell pretence it might â—e I would haue found meanes to haue satisfied thâ—e of if thou hadst yeelded me better reason I might haue desisted from my pursuite Pansnite alas Madame all the torments in the world shall not withdraw me from your gracious loue nor death it selfe which I feele hath aâ—endicentred me O monstrous treason oh false dissembling and traiterous Câ—stillian Prince What say I Prince if thou be a Prince thou art one of the very worst that euer liued Ah my Lord quoth the Squire to this wounded Knight you may well beléeue and hold for certaine as I haue sayd to you many times that loue can abide no companion so by the often comming and going of this traytour to Madame Minoretta he could not but seeke to deceiue ye and to frustrate the hope you had in her all which you must now endure with pacience seeing we are all subiect to fortunes changes If fortune then reward me with death quoth the Knight iustly may I accuse her of treason as one that procureth all the mischiefes in the world Ah traiteresse and wreakefull Lady why didst thou not suffer me to enioy that honor which her diuine nature and beautie had grounded in my heart and whereto I was sollemnely vowed and dedicated Alas I féele my strength more and more to forsake me Ah Minoretta Minoretta what wilt thou say when thou hearest of my misfortune I feare thy loue is
his Father had done in his youthfull time Thus continued he sixe or seauen moneths in this desire not daring to aquaint the King his Father therewith least he should refuse his request in respect of his yong yeeres but the destenies who foresawe the maruellous déedes of Armes he should accomplish and the straunge enchaâ—â—â—ments that should be finished by him would not suffer 〈◊〉 remaine long slothfull in his Fathers Court among 〈◊〉 Ladies and beautifull creatures but bringing his 〈◊〉 to perfection found the meane that he should be Knigâ—â—â—d by the King his Father as héereafter you shall readâ— more at large CHAP. V. ¶ How the Duke Temoreo of Millaine sent his Sonne Manteleo into England to be made Knight with the Prince Palladine and how Manteleo became enamoured of the Princesse Marcelina DUring this time the Duke of Millaine had a Sonne named Maâ—â—eleo a yong Prince and of vertuous nature brauely disposed to Knightly resolutions and being aged about eightéene yéeres He hauing oftentimes heard the famous report euery where bruted of the Prince Palladine of England and what a strange aduenture happened at his birth which could not as yet be ended by any was very desirous to go see him that he might be aquainted with the Prince so renowmed And one day finding the Duke his Father walking in his Garden he came and knéeled before him desiring licence for three or foure moneths to trauaile into England that he might be aquainted with the Prince Palladine of so especiall report as also the wise and debonaire King Milanor his Father with whome quoth he all Kings and Princes louers of vertue haue euermore desired fréendly allyance Witnesse héerof is the King of Portugall the Kings of Scots and Norgalles and diuers other Princes straungers by his hand my Lord so it stand with your liking would I receiue my order of Knighthood which he I hope will not denie me in respect of his owne gratious humanitie and the consideration he will haue of your person when he shall vnderstand that I am your Sonne The Duke hearing his Sonne in these tearmes was well pleased to behold him of so good a mind and contented likewise to graunt what he demaunded saying In sooth my Sonne seeing Fraunce and England are now in peace together the lesse do I doubt of thy going thither and boldly mayst thou assure him that he hath a perpetuall fréend of me determine then to depart when thou wilt foorthwith shall I giue order for thy prouision in trauaile but returne not till thou hast tried the aduenture so renowmed which hapned before the Kings Pallace on the day of his Sonnes birth and if thy good fortune may bring it to an end well mayst thou intreate the King for thy Order in that thou shalt well deserue thy Knighthood seeing so many haue fayled in triall thereof Manteleo hauing humbly thanked the Duke his Father for graunting him the thing he onely desired said I promise you my Lord that I will not returne thence without proofe of my fortune albeit I were sure to be repulsed more sharply then any hath béene heeretofore yet since the aduenture is so ordeyned let me dye ere I be dishonored with feare or dismaying Héereupon the Duke called the maister of his Horsse to whome he gaue charge to prouide his Sonnes estate toward England and that all things might be readie for his departure within thrée daies following which was accordingly perfourmed and so the Prince Manteleo with his trayne set forward from Millaine in the wéeke next after Pentecost making such expedition in trauaile as hauing passed the fairest Cities in Fraunce which he was desirous to see he came to Bullin where he tooke shipping and with a merry gale of winde in lesse then eighteene houres he landed in England The King Milanor aduertised of his arriuall was greatly contented therewith commaunding in all the Townes where-through he should passe that he should be receyued and intreated honorably And when he drew néere London the Gouernours were charged to méete him on the way the Prince Palladine likewise to welcome him at the Citie gates and the King with his Quéene and Ladies remained at the Pallace to entertaine him Euerie thing thus perfourmed in greatest maiestie the Prince of Millaine was receiued with generall ioy of the Citizens and the Prince Palladine accompanied with many great Lords of England to whome Manteleo behaued himselfe with honorable modestie as well he could his Courtship in those affayres and riding along with the English Prince he entred into these speeches The fame of so many lawdable vertues accompanyed with heroicall prowesse and magnanimitie which amply are discerned in your dayly cogitations hath earnestly prouoked me good Prince to be aquainted with you for which onely occasion I left my natiue Countrey to see this Realme euery where named happie by the honorable regiment of the King your Father whose vertues you imitate so effectually as you remaine a wonder to them that neuer saw you And long may good successe attend your dayly actions heauen making me so fortunate to winne acceptance in your eyes in that I haue deuoted my selfe to estéeme of you aboue all other Sir Manteleo answered the Prince Palladine as I knowe my selfe farre vnworthie these titles of prayse so am I perswaded that your speeches proceed of good affection towards me flying reports are oftentimes found vntrue yet do not I mislike your opinion of me which hath sorted out the meane to sée and knowe you in this Countrey as our honorable and well wishing fréend Of the King my Father haue I heard of your parents and good acquaintance hath he had with the Duke your Father when as a Knight errant he sought after aduentures assure your selfe therefore right welcome hither and gladly shall I accept of you as my freend and companion Thus beguiled they the time til they came to the Pallace where the Prince of Millaine stayed to behold the Statues reading the deuises he had so long desired to see whereat not able to maruaile sufficiently they went on into the great Hall where the King embraced him verie louingly the Princes and Lords likewise present entertained him with excéeding kindnesse and humanitie in that they had heard the King many times report the worthie chiualrie of the Duke of Millaine his Father After the King had welcomed this stranger with manyfold courtesies and had vnderstood the cause of his comming to his Court he sent him with the Prince Palladine to salute the Quéene and her Daughters But loue whose puissance as yet he had neuer felt finding time and opportunitie so conuenient when Manteleo had done his reuerence to the Queene comming to the Princesses that attended on her hauing kissed the first named Marcelina he found his sences so strangely inueigled as he stoode silent before her a prettie while being not able to deliuer one word so was he rauished with contemplation of her beautie Which the Princesse well noting and imagining this
and if in ought else I can doo ye any seruice till the latest houre of death will I willingly imploy my selfe Brisalda who was as it were rauished with contemplating his beautie tooke him by the hand and causing him to arise sayd With all my heart gentle Sir I thanke ye and accept your offer so freendly made for I greatly doubt ere long I shall neede your assistance against the Giant Brandidoll Cousin to him whome you haue slaine for no sooner shall he heare of his death but hither will he come and accuse me as authour thereof because Dardalon being enamoured of me ordeyned this Tourney thinking to espouse me either by loue or force In this did Brandidoll promise his ayd and diuers other of their faction as bad as they many of them being now slayne which so contents me as nothing can do more And were I as well rid of cruell Brandidoll hencefoorth should I liue in peace without feare or suspition of any one for when the mightie enemies are quailed the meaner dare not presume to stirre Madame quoth Palladine perswade your selfe in this that in respect of your innocencie God will not suffer you to take any wrong but that your enemies shall worke their owne confusion Longer they would haue continued in talke but that the Gentleman Ussher gaue warning of dinner wherefore the Duchesse went and sate downe at the Table Palladine sitting iust opposite to her who tooke so great pleasure in hearing him speake as she had no mind to eate or drinke All which Palladine heedfully noted and God knowes how well it liked him for if the one were passionate in loue you may think y e other was in the same predicament Oftentimes would they throwe such wounding lookes on each other as neyther had power to speake a word but to couer this alteration the Prince feigned to listen to the consort of musique which plaied all dinner time maruellous swéetly The Tables withdrawne she tooke him by the hand and caused him to sit downe in a chaire by her while many yong Lords and Ladyes daunced after that Countrey manner You may not daunce Sir quoth she because our Chirurgions doo thinke it hurtfull for your woundes beside rest is verie néedfull for you in respect of the rough combate you had with Dardalon whome to your great honor you worthely conquered For any thing I haue done swéete Madame quoth he let the credit thereof remaine to your selfe and thinke me as readie to doo you seruice as he that is most forward among your seruants of which number I desire ye to accept me as one Unsâ—emely were it good Knight quoth she to account of you as my seruaÌ„t but if you please to stay in this Cuntry you shall perceiue by my endeuours heereafter that I both honor and reuerence such men as you are As she would haue proceeded further her Gouernesse came and said it was time she should resort to her Chamber wherevpon they parted not without sufficient shewes on either side that betweene them was a sympathie of affection What seuerall afflictions they endured in absence let them imagine who haue no comfort but in the presence of their fauourite As for the Duchesse she on the morrow sent the Prince a rich Diamond by one of her Ladies with this message y t it was her determined iewell to the best combatant and therefore his due as hauing deserued it beyond all other Palladine receiued it verie thankefully returning this aunswere by the Lady that in requitall of that gentle gift he would that day enter the Listes and against all commers maintaine the beautie of the Duchesse As for his wounds Lycelio had annointed them with the precious vnguent which the Damosell brought from the wise Orbiconte so that they were verie soundly healed For ioy of this aunswere the Duchesse caused a goodly Scaffold to be erected whereon she and her Ladies would stand to see the Iousts and at each end of the Listes were sumptuous Trophees curiously placed decked with diuers impreses and mots of loue in artificiall Tables hanging thereon While Palladine and the other Lords were arming thâ—â—selues he was aduertised of an other Knight new entred the féeld who was the Prince Alâ—ian of Iâ—elaâ—â— a yong braue and gallant Knight at armes one that was highly affected to the Duchesse Brisalda So soone as he was entred the Listes he was encountred by a Moore Knight vnknowne who was dismounted at the first course the like successe had eight or ten more which Palladine perceiuing he gaue his horsse the spurres against this lustie champion lifting him halfe a foote in height from his Saddle And as they were taking new Launces for the second race there entred a mightie man armed cap a pe who furiously said Where is the villaine that slew my Cousin Dardalon by the great God this day will I giue his flesh to the dogs and hers likewise that was the cause therâ—of pointing to the yong Duchesse Brisalda And because he had heard that a yong Knight did his kinseman to death he ranne in a rage on the Prince Alfian of Ireland giuing him such a stroke on the head with his great Semitarie as the gentle Alfian fell beside his horsse Palladine thinking this to be Brandidoll and séeing him readie to smite off the Princes head ranne to him saying It is with me that thou must deale I slew thy Cousin Dardalon as his villainie and crueltie well deserued Brandidoll without making any aunswere left the Prince of Ireland and ioyned with Palladine when continued betwéene them a long and terrible combate Each one verily expected Palladines death such was the great oddes betwéene him and his enemie but so happily it fell out in the ende that Brandidoll by treading on the trunchion of a Launce fell downe backward when the Prince taking his aduantage got sure hold of him and smote off his head For ioy of this victorie the Trompets chéerefully sounded and the Duchesse discending from the Scaffold commaunded the Ioustes to ceasse for that day and comming to the Prince gaue him many thanks in that he had deliuered her from two such cruell enemies who sought the subuersion and spoile of her honor With meruailous signes of ioy they returned to the Pallace where Palladine was immediatly brought to his chamber and such wounds as he had receiued in fight were dilligently regarded by the Duchesse Chirurgions Each day would she duly come to sée him and vnderstanding that he was Sonne to thâ— King of England practised how to vnite her selfe with him in marriage And as an earnest of her perfect loue she permitted him to gather that daintie flower which many had with long pursuite laboured for he not refusing so braue a conquest because he verily perswaded himselfe that Brisaldâ— was the Lady of whome the wise Orbiconte had told him wherefore during the space of sixe wéekes he continued there in this heauen of delight till fortune iealous of so mutuall agreement
set with Starres of gold and in his Sheeld a Lady reskewed from a Giant the other bare for his deuise Fame triumphant in a siluer feeld The Knight in azure Armour made signe to Caesar that he would first aduenture for his Lady yet such was his ill hap in the end as both horsse man were throwne to the ground When the Knight of Fame sawe his fréend dismounted he came to Caesar with these speeches Sir Knight I confesse as well as thou doost that my Lady Rosamonde excelleth all other in beautie but this will I make good on thy body that I am more woorthie to be her seruant then thou art It should séeme then answered Caesar that I deserue not to be so accounted this controuersie shall the strength of my Launce presently discide and thou or I will be her onely seruant Heereupon they encountred verie valiantly breaking many Launces yet neither able to mooue the other whereat they both grew angrie desiring the King to let them haue stronger Launces or else to permit them the Combate with the Sword but the King would not suffer them to meddle with Swords commanding each of them a very strong Launce at which charge the Prince Caesar was brauely dismounted and the Knight of Fame had almost borne him companie A great murmuring presently grew among the people some auouching that because the strange Knight so hardly recouered himselfe therefore Prince Caesar should not be held as vanquished but that they should prooue their fortune once more But the Iudges gaue verdict to the contrarie attributing the conquest to the Knight of Fame which when Caesar heard he went to the King to intreate his Maiestie for the Combate with its Sword but he denyed it him saying that the Ioustes being enterprised for loue ought not to be ended in hatred At these words Prince Caesar went to his Lady Rosamonde who gaue him many thanks for his honorable paines and though his successe happened so ill in the end yet would not she withdraw her loue But now commes Palladine into the feeld being sorie he had not the conquest of Caesar yet determining to end his choller on the Knight of fame to whome he approached saying It gréeues me Sir Knight that I Iousted not with noble Caesar for if I had little praise couldest thou haue gotten to day Your reason aunswered the Knight of fame Because I had woon y e honor ê™ Palladine which thou vsurpest and yet remains in doubt among a number which if thou darest say thou hast deserued I will auouch the contrary beside y t it appertaines not to thee to be seruant to the faire Lady Rosamonde nor to the very meanest among her Ladies for as I vnderstand she is prouided of one beyond thee many degrees Good Sir aunswered the Knight of fame you are very bold and braue in spéeches What mooueth ye so much to abase me seeing you knowe not of whence or what I am nor hast thou seene any matter in me deseruing these words But I perceiue the cause héereof groweth by the desire thou hast to deale with me wherein thou shalt haue thy desire either at the Launce or Sword so pleaseth the King to graunt vs that libertie Then turning to his Maiestie the Knight of Fame intreated the combate with the Sword if they could not finish their quarrell at the Launce Loth was the King to suffer such danger but the Iudges with many Lords and Barons there present noting the earnest desire of the Knight and that they were both strangers perswaded his highnesse intending to cause them giue ouer if in fight either of them should be in perill of life When they had thus obtained what they would they gaue their horsses the spurres and with a verie rough encounter they were both dismounted whereat Palladine verie angrie drew his Sword and marching against the Knight of Fame such a cruell combate continued betwéene them as neuer had the like beene seene in Fraunce The King beholding their Armour broken and the ground coulored with their scarlet blood sent his Sonne the Prince Lewes to intreate them giue ouer which they immediatly did the Knight of Fame being not a little glad thereof because he was brought into verie great debilitie onely by the exceeding aboundant losse of his blood Lewes bringing them before the King his Father caused them both to be graciously entertained and taking Palladine by the hand sayd Sée heere my Lord the man that slew Brulanfurior and his brother who deliuered me from imprisonment and many Knightes that were held captiue in the Castell The King not alittle ioyfull of these newes arose and embraced Palladine saying Worthie Knight I am more indebted to you then any man else in the world for you alone haue done that to me which neither with strength or pollicie I was able to compasse I enioy my Sonne againe by your meanes and my people are deliuered from those mercilesse villaines whome neyther law nor loue could bridle let me vnderstand of whence you are that I may knowe the man to whome I am so highly beholding My Lord aunswered the Prince my name is Palladine Sonne to the King Milanor of England your louing brother and vowed fréend At these words the King was much more glad then before and casting his armes about his necke with inward conceite of ioy the teares trickled downe his face then came the Quéene and faire Rosamonde her daughter who welcommed the Prince with maruailous courtesie the like did Landastines Simprinell and Lydiseo of Hungaria who was the man that came with the Knight of Fame and at report of these Triumphes trauailed into Fraunce As for the Knight of Fame himselfe he was called Don Robert the Prince of Freeze a stout couragious and hardie champion greatly deuoted to the loue of faire Rosamonde The King presently departed to his Pallace there to honor these braue Knightes as they worthely deserued but Caesar of Roomâ— highly thanked Palladine for reuenging his foyle on the Knight of Fame swearing to him an inuiolable league of amitie which grew to such effect as you shall héereafter behold CHAP. XXIII ¶ How the Princes Don Robert of Freeze and Lydiseo of Hungaria being healed of their woundes departed from Paris and of a letter which the wise Orbiconte sent to Palladine who was passionate for the loue of faire Rosamonde of Fraunce DOn Robert of Freeze hauing kept his chamber certaine dayes by reason of the dangerous woundes he had receiued and Palladine likewise in the selfesame estate yet carefully attended on by the Kings Chirurgions a greater corsey happened to them both then either their woundes or doubt of health For Don Robert séeing he was not regarded of the faire Princesse Rosamonde whome he loued as déerely as his own life thought to haue committed violence on himselfe but that by good aduise he was better perswaded and being out of hope to compasse his desire when he was somewhat recouered he and Lydiseo of Hungaria tooke
the Tables were couered for Supper wherfore Orbiconte and the Princesse tooke their leaue and went into the great hall where the King and the Quéene stayed their comming who welcommed their Sister with meruailous kindenes spending the time of Supper with repetition of many matters The Tables were no sooner with-drawen but Orbiconte taking her Niece aside to one of the windowes began with her in this manner Since my comming hither faire Niece I haue perceiued that some thing tormentes ye excéedingly reueale the occasion thereof to me and if I may stand ye in any stéede for your helpe be well assured I will doo it right willingly The Princesse at these woordes was so astonyed as she was not able to shape any answere but shaking like a leafe on the trée her cullour went and came very strangelye such was her feare that her loue should be discouered And hauing stayed in this quandarie a good while at last she perswaded her selfe that her Aunt by her secret knowledge vnderstood her gréefe wherefore with the teares in her eyes she thus replied Let me intreate you good Aunt to suffer me endure my mishap in silence without constraining me to tell ye from whence my great alteration procéedeth it is vertue in a maiden to suffer patiently and shame to bewraye her owne thoughtes though euery hower addeth a worlde of miserie and burdeneth her minde with more then common cares Yet this I would haue ye to thinke that my extremities as yet haue not stretched so farre but to make me skilfull in iudging of a passion from which heeretofore I haue defended my selfe indifferently accounting it an offence to modestie to heare so much as spéech therof Orbiconte desirous rather to encrease her passion then any way to diminishe it thus recomforted her You doo well good Niece in respect of your calling to conceale the tormentes you endure and which my arte acquainted me withall ere I came hither for it is a signe of speciall gouernement to be carefull of disclosing such a secret as carieth greatest regard among all women But if you are so liuely touched with loue as your gentle hart may be empaired therby by meanes of the woorthy Knight without rest who hath doone more for you then all your Fathers subiectes could without him you must vnderstand that this is a disease common to euery one nor are you alone or the first that hath felte the furie of this passion but many noble Ladies bashefull and right modestlye gouerned haue felt the power of the God of Loue who ruleth and commaundeth when and where him pleaseth For this cause expect the good houre and before your infirmitie ranckle too farre giue order and remedie thereto in the best sorte you can I think it not amisse that you make some experience of Loues authoritie but you haue let him enter too farre within your hart that euen your very soule is penitrated therwith the best and most auayling counsaile I can giue ye is to practise some chaste and honest meane wherby to enioy the summe of your desire and so shall you preuent infamie and dishonor which euery creature ought carefully to auoide Alas Madame quoth the Princesse I know no mean more honest then the mariage of him and I togeather but how can that be compassed or what honor is it to me to moue any spéeche therof he is a stranger vnknowen to me of whence or what he is I am not acquainted with so much as his name Assure your selfe faire Niece asnwered Orbiconte that he is Sonne to a most vertuous King as greatly renowmed as any one in the world and further I will tell ye as concerning him so you will promise and sweare to me to kéep it secret for otherwise you shall put him in great danger of his life Ah good Aunt quoth Nonparelia rather let me dye ten thousand deathes then be the cause of any displeasure to him therfore acquainte me with his estate and I will be directed by you in all my after opinions But by reason that the King arose and went to his Chamber their talke drake off the Quéene and her daughter conducting Orbiconte to her lodging so remained the Princesse 〈◊〉 all that night and earnestly longing for the morning that she might end the talke betwéene her Aunt and her for further knowledge of the Knight without rest who likewise was no lesse forward in desire because after Supper he had not séene the Princesse and Orbiconte CHAP. XXXII ¶ How the wise Orbiconte tolde the Princesse Nonparelie what and who the Knight without rest was and how by her meanes promise of mariage passed between them ORbiconte béeing in her Chamber was both pleased and somewhat offended pleased in that she had so sounded the thoughts of her Niece and offended because she had not concluded her tale concerning the knight without rest But no sooner was morning come when the princesse sent many times to knowe if her Aunt were stirring and so soone as she was assured therof she went to her Chamber where hauing giuen her the good morrowe she saide Madame I haue not forgotten the promise you made me yesternight Neither haue I good Niece answered Orbiconte therfore presently will I be as good as my woorde So walking with her into the Warderobe and being none but them selues together she began her discourse as followeth Faire Niece vnder assurance of the promise you made me yester night I giue you to vnderstād that the Knight without rest is a Christian Sonne to the King of England and his right name is Palladine giuen him in honor of the wise Goddesse Pallas And I hauing foreséene ere the time of his birth that he should be the most vertuous and valiant Prince of his time and the Children engendred by him should very farre excell all other whatsoeuer I then made choyse of him to be your Husband séeing your Mother likewise at that time great with Childe and she deliuered of you sixe monthes after his birthe That mine intent might sorte to effect and to make you the onely happy Lady of the world by enioying a Husband the paragon among all Princes I sollicited him by dreams and nightly visions yea by letters and messages in such sorte as by my meanes he trauailed hether desirous to sée that rare beautye wherwith I renowmed you beyond all other Ladies And had it not béen for my dilligent admonition he had ere this time béene maried to faire Rosamonde of Fraunce where record remaineth of his famous chiualrie as it dooth in many other places of the world But needelesse is it to vse many woordes in this matter you knowe that I desire nothing more then your aduauncement and no man in the worlde is more accomplished with all perfections either in riches vertue braue minde and all other good qualities so that if my iudgement faile me not I think him equall to you euery way more woorthy to enioy you then any other If you be deceiued Madame
beside I will procéed no further but heere giue ouer all cause of quarrell And that your desire may be the more satisfyed I will bring ye to the man you imagined me to be and likewise you shall knowe with whome you haue now twise dealt without aduantage My name is Manteleo Sonne to the Duke of Millayne and Brother by marriage to the Prince Palladine of England But the accustomed humours among new married folkes had charmed Palladine in such sort as he sawe not when Manteleo thus ventured before him yet afterward séeing two enemies so louingly embrace he meruailed who the Knight of the Phenix should be at length these two pacefyed came toward the Prince and in offering to salute him this cause of stay hindered them While Palladine was fastening his Ladies Bracelet about his arme a Squire came before him who on his knees presented him a Letter saying Worthie Lord my Lady and Mistresse the Duchesse of the rich Isles whome you verie well knowe commending her selfe to your good grace hath sent you this Letter desiring as the latest good you will doo her to aunswere the same with all conuenient spéed This message chéefely the verie last words amazed the Prince and béeing assailed with diuers imaginations he brake open the Seale and opening the Letter read there these lines following The Letter from Brisalda Duchesse of the rich Islands to Palladine the Prince of England AT what time my Lord I was so happie as to sée you héere in the rich Islands I thought assuredly my good hap had taken such effect as death it selfe could no way bring to end Not so much iâ— knowing my selfe to be your beloued as to remember that my first freend was the Sonne of a King whose good partes I engraued so liuely in my hart as none but he was made Lord therof reseruing to my selfe this onely regard that loue had made me no more yours then dutie had confirmed you mine Considering héerewithall that as a gadge of my good will you being surprized with some part of my graces and passionate beyond measure as your selfe sayd if my liking did not consort with yours I gaue you that remedie for your sicknes which a Lady of such calling as I am would not haue bestowed on the greatest Pritice in the world Notwithstanding our desires had then such a Simpathie of affection as in all matters we were alike hauing each others honor in equall commendation our nobilitie parentage and what else beside combined together in a rich procall knot But so it is come to posse that of our first sight affection and familiaritie such a testimonie remaineth as may not be forgotten for since your vnkind departure leauing me in a laborinth of endlesse greef I am deliuered of a Sonne begotten by you whom I haue named Vnyon now aged twentie monethes who bearing the perfect image of his Fathers graces is the onely comfort his sorrowfull mother hath And heerein you may beléeue me that an hundred times he hath preserued my life hauing so weightie a burthen at my hart as is the small account you haue made of me since your departure and the wrong you doo mée in racing mée foorth of your remembrance not vouchsasing once to acquaint mée with the cause thereof Heerein is my hap so hard and regretable as death were more welcome to mee then life to asswage which insupportable burthen I haue no comfort but your little Sonne whome hourely I hold in mine armes meruailing so swéete a babe should haue so sowre a Father Yet beeing thus cast off and disdained the sorrow can not be so irkesome to me as the blame would to you were your discourtesie openly knowne but such is my loue to you that my nature vanquished none but your selfe shall knowe how you haue wronged me nor further reuenge will I seeke then with mine owne death to burie your shame What would your new loue Nonparelia say if she knew my bed abused by her husband and she wife to him who by flesh and blood is maried to mee she beeing the second might well thinke the first to be hardly intreated But let not any doubt héereof offend you for from her will I safely conceale it not in respect of any loue to her but by remayning euermore Your faithfull and immooueable freend Brisalda Duchesse of the rich Islands After he had read the Letter he was strooken into such â—umpe and oppressed with such remorse of conscience as scantly could he endure from falling beside his horsse the best meane to preuent the same was the arriuall of Caesar and Manteleo which made him quickly change his countenance when the Emperours Sonne thus spake to him Sir Palladine the courtesie showen me by the Prince of Millayne your Brother hath deliuered me from great trouble enforcing me to forbeare armes to entertaine him in stead of your selfe The happie Bridegrooâ—e are you to faire Nonparelia whose praises soare aboue the Eagle in height nor can I forget your famous chiualrie perfourmed in defence of her portrait when you conquered in Fraunce the prowd Zarcanell her vnworthie seruant that brought her figure thether I can not denie my Lord answered Palladine but the representation of my Ladies beawtie hath made me conquerour in diuers slender enterprises woon from such as had no abilitie to keepe them wherein if I haue deserued any reporte as freends are easily intreated to commend one another farre inferiour are they to the faire Rosamonde and those aduentures that noble Caesar hath accomplished for her I see well my Lord quoth Caesar that you will binde mée to you in such sort as I shall haue no meane to compasse y e least part of gratification but let vs end this needlesse talke and goe sée the rare creature whose vertues hath allured hither so many braue Gallants So walked they to the Pallace where the King entertained Caesar verie royally and all the Ladyes with excéeding courtesie Landastines and Zorian dooing the lyke nothing ashamed that the Emperours Sonne had the honor of the Tourney CHAP. XLII ¶ What answere Palladine sent to the Duchesse Brisalda and how Caesar returned to his faire Rosamonde Landastines and Manteleo likewise into their countreys and of the birth of Florano the Prince of England Sonne to Palladine and Nonparelia CAesar being thus welcommed in the Court of England both by the Lords and Ladyes especially Nonparelia Palladine feigning to goe vnarme himselfe tooke the messenger from the Duchesse Brisalda with him saying My freend you must néedes haue a little pacience and according to your Ladies request presently you shall haue a bréefe answere from me Then calling for meke and paper he went alone into the Warderobe because he would not be suspected by any and answered the Letter in this sort The Letter from Palladine to the Duchesse Brisalda MAdame matters hauing so strangely passed hitherto yet without any cause of offence you haue had some occasion to complaine being ignorant of my hinderance in trauaile but
THE Famous pleasant and variable Historie of Palladine of England Discoursing of honorable Aduentures of Knightly deedes of Armes and Chiualrie enterlaced likewise with the loue of sundrie noble personages as time and affection limited their desires Heerein is no offence offered to the wise by wanton speeches or encouragement to the loose by lasciuious matter Translated out of French by A. M. one of the messengers of her Maiesties Chamber Patere aut abstine AT LONDON Printed by Edward Allde for Iohn Perin dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Angell And are there to be sould 1588. ¶ TO THE RIGHT Honorable Robert Deuorax Earle of Essex and Ewe Viscount of Hereford and Bourchier Lord Ferrers of Chartley Bourchier and Louayne Maister of the Queenes Maiesties Horsse A. M. wisheth increase of all happinesse AMong those right Honorable that offered incense in the Temple of Iupiter in plates of Golde according to the custome a simple Heardsman religiously affected brought his offering on a broken potsheard for which he being reprooued by Iupiters Priest boldly returned this answere The Gods that dispose all knowe all rich men are discerned by their great gifts and poore men by their simple yet happily their zeale is not alike for rather had I be thought vnmannerly by this homely present then vndutifull by want of better abilitie In like manner right noble Lord among those ripe and curious wittes that offer to your learned view matter of valew squared and leueld by deepe knowledge and experience a simple zealous man more deuoted in affection to your honors welfare then able to expresse the same as other can presents this rude and vnpullished peece of worke not handled with arte because I want it nor glozed with borrowed phrases because I am loth to become indebted but equall with the poore Heardsmans potsheard and with him chusing rather to be thought homely then vndutifull knowing that the Eagles eyes of Iupiter can search into the substance of the one and other This woorke of Palladine with all his imperfections I humblie commit to your honorable protection knowing that in respect of your owne loue to Chiualrie you will thinke well of him and because he is an English man in the better sort fauour him For my selfe as I neuer knew honor partiall in opinion but with vpright iudgement to ballance each mans deseruing so in this assurance with reuerence I end as forward as any in affection to your Honor. A. Monday To the corteous and freendly Readers MY promise was that by Easter Tearme this worke should be published and according to my promise heere doo I send it not doubting but you will so fauourably censure theron as my paynes and the pleasure of the Historie deserueth If you happen to fynde any mislike in the translation or that it is not so currant English as fyne eares hunt after let this serue as a sufficient excuse for mee that in translating men are bound to their Writers words and such as roue at random may set downe what they please And this I am to intreate on the Printers behalfe and mine owne whereas in dyuers places there are faultes escaped as woordes verie much mistaken many left out and others common that you will freendly let passe such ouer-sightes and at the next Impression they shall bee amended for I beeyng often absent and the Printer carefull to end his worke by appoynted time haue beene the cause of all these escapes Thus committing my Booke and my selfe to your fauourable iudgement I ceasse From my house without Cripple-gate this 23. of Aprill Yours to bee commaunded Anthony Monday THE Famous pleasant and variable Historie of Palladine Discoursing of Knightly and woorthy deedes of Armes and vnfolding the loue of many great Princes and Lords but especially of PALLADINE Soone to the King Milanor of England and the faire Selerina sister to the King of Portugall c. CHAP. I. * Of the birth of Prince PALLADINE and the strange aduenture that happened on the day of his birth in the Citie of London before the Pallace of King Milanor AT what time the puissant and spacious Empire of Greece and most fertile Asia was held in subiection by the great Turke and the Romaine Monarchy was commaunded by the wise Emperour Iustinian Gouernour of both high and nether Allmayne raigned in great Brittayne now called England a King named Milanor who from his youth was so well instructed in good letters and the Sciences liberall as among the most learned Doctors he was reckned peerelesse before he came to the age of eightéene yéeres During this time of his education his Gouernors to make him perfect in all things beseeming so great a Prince caused him to practise the managing of great Horsses to vse the Tilt and Tourney with all other-feates of agilitie incident to Armes wherein right soone he grew so prompt and excellent as all the Lords and Subiects of his Realme were not onely abashed at his forwardnes but thought themselues especially blessed to liue vnder the regiment of so braue a King Nor was this ioy alone to them but many other nations and forreigne Princes did participate therein especially the Kings of Scottes and Norgalles his neighbours who hearing of the great bountie prowesse magnanimitie and other lawdable vertues in this King determined to be freends to him and his holding this opinion that beeing confederate with England in loue no other King or Prince durst molest them with warres Upon this consideration they sent their Ambassadours to his Maiestie to promise and sweare peace amitie and inuiolable concord with obeysance and acknowledging him their Superiour where they were receiued honourably and with content a matter greatly auailing them afterward as you shall perceiue by the following discourse of our Historie The King of Portugall vnderstanding the manifold vertues and power of King Milanor as also that so many Kings and Princes desired his fréendly alliaunce preuayled so well by his sundry Embassades as the King of England married with his Sister named Selerina faire in perfections yong and gratious among all the Ladies in her time and to continue holy loue betwéene this King and Queene soone after she was conceyued with a goodly Sonne at whose birth happened such a maruelous aduenture as no registred memorie records the like At what time the Quéene was in trauayle suddenly was the Citie of London couered with a darke and fearefull Clowde the heauens deliuering such thunder and lightning the earth likewise shaking and trembling so straungely as the Citizens expected death euery moment imagining the end of the world was come vpon them For the space of two houres this wonderfull tempest endured vntill the Quéene was deliuered of her burthen when the Clowde began to vanish away and the heauens looked fayre and cheerefull as before After this despairing Storme the people who with feare and terror of the thunder had hid themselues in vaultes and caues amazed and fearefull began to shew themselues but
so high Then one of the King of Norgalles Knightes came to trie his fortune whome the Statue repulsed with such shame as all the day after he would not be séene I promise ye Gentleman said the King his maister you might haue spared the labour in comming so farre to returne home with so foule a rebuke and little néede had ye to shew vs your great inconstancie brother quoth the King of Scots be not offended with him for well he knowes that his Mistresse is not in this companie You say true brother aunswered the King of Norgalles but if I knew her I would aduertise her of his exceeding vertue Héere commes another of my Knightes to make a better proofe and yet perhaps will amend his fellowes dishonor The Knight attained the highest step without any disturbance and as he lifted his hand to take the Image of Cupid the Statue tooke him by the arme and set him on the ground againe I see then said the King of Norgalles each one must heere be iudged according to the greatnesse and defect of his loyaltie Afterward came a little Scottishman as thicke as tall his beard growing scattering like bristles his nose flat to his face two teeth standing before gagd out of his mouth a man in euery part very much mishapen and seruing as a Iester to make the King laugh he had married a woman as handsome as himselfe yet was he iealous of her out of all measure This proper Squire séeing so many repulsed by the Statue by breach of their loyaltie to their Wiues and Ladies considered with himselfe that he had neuer violated the bonds of marriage but euermore kept his faith to his wife therefore he would hazard his good hap not doubting but to carie the Image of Cupid with him into Scotland Hauing demaunded leaue of the King his Maister with a little cudgell in his hand he came to the Collomne and went vp to the verie highest step the Statue not offering any signe of resistance but as this deformed fellow would haue embraced the Image of Cupid the Statue snatched the cudgell out of his hand and so rapt him therewith about the shoulders as he was constrained to hye him downe againe the Kings and all present merily laughing at this iest Alas poore foole said the King of Scots how durst thou presume to shew thy selfe in this action Why my Lord aunswered the Queene your little man is yet found the most loyall and no Gentleman this day hath witnessed the like Beléeue me Madame aunswered the King of Scots it is against his will that he is so loyall for being so euill fauoured and deformed how can he finde any woman to offend with him Come hether little fellow said the King Milanor you haue beene beaten with your owne cudgell because ye came no better prouided but that the honor of the day may remaine to you I will that at this present no further triall shall bée made enough hath beene done my men let now the Ladyes by their beautie aduenture for the rich Crowne of Venus and let it suffise that a little fellow hath strained all our Knightes The Quéene in person began the enterprise but reiected as vnworthy of the fatall Crowne and after her followed the Ladies of the Court whose fortunes were like or worsse in effect to their no little disgrace in their owne conceites who prized their beauties at the highest rate The London Danies had likewise their time of proofe yet could their daintie faces carie no pawne in this attempt for the Crowne was reserued for the onely Lady who might not be paragonned by any other whatsoeuer CHAP. IIII. ¶ How after all the Triumphs were ended perfourmed at the Baptisme of the yong Prince Palladine and the aduentures thus left of the three Statues the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles tooke their leaue of the King Milanor and the Queene and returned from England into their owne Countreys BY this time were all the Princes and Ladyes throughly satisfyed with the pastimes wherefore with sound of Trompets Clarions and Cornets they returned to the Pallace where was prepared for them a most roiall banquet and bicause the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles were to depart on the morrow the Citizens of London in honor of their Prince came with diuers stately Maskes to the Pallace where they behaued themselues to their credit and the Kings good liking Afterward entred the hall twelue Gentlemen of the Court in complete Armour with blunt Foyles and Targets when deuiding themselues sixe against sixe hauing for their barre two Pykes which were held ouerthwart by two of the Kings Guard they layde on each other such eager strokes as their swords flew in péeces and their Armour was battered in many places Then they withdrew themselues giuing place to twelue other who Combatted with the Pyke arming Sword and Battle-Axe and thus was the night consumed in such disports to delight the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles who in the morning tooke their leaue of the King and Quéene and were conducted on their iourney by many English Lords The King Milanor and his Quéene beeing not a little contented that the Princes had done them such honor in their Realme but greatest of all was their comfort in their Sonne Palladine who in prowesse and loyaltie should surpasse all other of his time and was carefully nourished by a vertuous Gentlewoman wife to an aged Squire named Romandrin of Gaule with whome he remained till he came to the age of fiue yeeres About this time the Quéene trauailed againe and was deliuered of two goodly Daughters béeing Twinnes the one whereof was named Marcelina and the other Floraea these swéete babes were tenderly regarded in the Court and there will we leaue them with the Quéene their Mother remembring yong Palladine who is in the custodie of graue and learned tutors enstructed in the Languages as also Greeke and Latine wherein he profited so well as at tenne yeeres he could speake them as perfect as his English toong Héerewithall he practised Knightly Chiualrie to manadge great Horsses and all Gentlemanlike exercises searching the bowelles of the chéefest Historians from them to learne the practises and sleights of Millitarie profession And when the time would not serue him to Hawke and Hunt he would kéepe himselfe from idlenesse with his Lute Bandora and Uirginalles with diuers other sweete Instruments wherein he tooke delight and grew verie excellent This yong Prince thus giuen to all honest and vertuous quallities began to haue some feeling of his high and magnanimous spirit so that to experiment and trie his owne strength he would cope with diuers yong Lords Gentlemen of his age to runne in the Listes to breake Launces to Combate with the Mace the Arming-sword and all other weapons both on horssebacke and on foote In all which exercises he found not his equall which made him desirous of the order of Knighthood to the end he might séeke after strange Aduentures as the King
sake that sent yée will I presently giue such a remedie as shall diminish part of the greefe he endureth So giuing vs the two Swords with a little white wand she smote thrée blowes on the Elme tree from whence flew foorth a Bird crying very pitifully then with the wand she troubled the water in the fountaine vsing certaine priuate spéeches againe and taking a little of the water in her hand she dreined it on my brothers head saying Now go and commend me to your Aunt and to the two Knightes that shall draw the Swords to whome I will that thou giue the order of Knighthood to the ende their vertue courage and magnanimitie may be encreased So left we the old Lady and euer since followed her commaundement making a bootelesse search in many places till we found you to whome the aduenture was destemed And thus my Lords haue you heard the entire discourse of my Brothers misfortune Now as concerning what remaineth we must conduct ye into Hungaria to the Castell where my faire Sister is enclosed and where the villaine abideth that stole her from my Brother Yet is her honor preserued from any attaint for as the Traytor one day would haue rauished her mine Aunt of whome I spake by aduenture came thither and hauing throwne the paillard out of the chamber by the shoulders enchaunted the same in such sort as none may enter therein but my Brother nor can he come there but by your ayde A déede of such honor and charitie I hope you will not refuse in reuenging our wrong on that maleuolent villaine which shall be easie for you to doo as the aforesaid wise prophetesse declared to vs. The Princes hauing heard this monstrous treason thus aunswered We will assist ye faire Lady to our vttermost nor shall ye neede to whet vs on with perswasions for we are bound by dutie to reuenge actions so soule and enorme For this kinde replye she gaue them many thanks spending the time in these and like conferences and two daies rode they without any aduenture worthie the rehearsall CHAP. X. ¶ How Palladine and Manteleo met foure Knightes with whome they Combatted and the issue thereof THE third day as the Princes with their companie issued foorth of a thick wood they met four Knightes of whome after â—ourteous salutations Palladine demaunded whether they trauailed Directly towardes London aunswered one of them where the King abideth as we vnderstand And the cause of our iourney thether is to trie an aduenture of two Swords which not long since were caried thither vnable to be drawne by any but by two of the best Knightes in the world If you go for no other occasion aunswered Palladine well may ye spare that labour for two yong Knightes ended the aduenture two dayes since and more Two yong Knightes quoth another of them of what Countrey I pray ye The one said Palladine is an Englishman and the other an Italian borne in Millayne By my faith quoth the Knight in a great laughter belike then the enchauntment was no hard matter to finish nor was any hidden vertue to be discernd therein when an Italian and an Englishman could bring it to ende Uery fewe good Knightes are founde among the Italians in whome is more ostentation and brauadoes then matter of moment and effect and in Englishmen is much lesse being reputed in all Countreys for men of little estimation The two yong Princes hearing their Countreys so dispraised began to growe in maruailous choller especially Manteâ—eo who bending the browes and enflamed with vnquenchable anger thus aunswered Of whence are you Sir that can so well collaude the Knightes of England and Italy What mooues you to vse such spéeches being in the Kingdome you discommend Trust me if you haue any wit you make no shew thereof in your words Be not angrie aunswered the Knight I see by your couller that you sweate in your Armour but if ye continue this moode you haue met with Spanyards that will walke ye a little And heere haue you met an Englishman and an Italian sayd Manteleo euen they that ended the aduenture of the enchaunted Swords who presently will teach ye to temper your toong With these words he went to his Squire for his Launce placing it to encounter him that gaue the spéeches but Palladine called to him saying Forbeare my Lord and let me deals with him for I ought to begin first because the offence was first made to me Beside they are in my Countrey it belongeth then to me to correct their folly making by proofe what an Englishman is able to doo If you see me stand in néede of your helpe doo as you shall finde occasion otherwise let me alone with these lusty Spanyards Palladine without any further spéeches with a braue carire encountred the prating companion who though he brake his Launce with good courage on the Prince was throwne with such violence from his horsse as he lay not able to stirre hand or foote Which when the other three beheld they ran altogether against the Prince who gaue the foremost such a freendly welcome as falling on his head to the ground brake his necke with the weight of his owne bodie The other twaine at this encounter had broken their Launces on Palladine and now drew their Swords thinking to reuenge their fellowes ill fortune but greatly did they finde themselues deceiued for the Prince séeing he had no more to deale withall thou these two redoubled so many fierce strokes vpon them as the one fell out of his Saddle depriued of his sences and the other to saue his life would haue fled away the Prince disappointing him of that benefit by hamstringing his horsse caused him to fall to the earth when snatching off his Helmet with his Sword would haue smitten his head from his shoulders Alas Sir Knight cried the vanquished Spanyard saue my life I yeeld my selfe to thy mercy what I haue done against thee was in reuenge of my Brother whome thou first dismounted accurssed be the houre that he spake so vndiscretly this is not the first time I haue endangered my life onely to sustaine his fond and ouerfoolish quarrels Mercie I graunt thee aunswered Palladine so thou promise and sweare to fulfill one thing which is that so soone as thy woundes are healed thou shalt go to the King of Englands Court there submitting thy selfe to his will and mercie And thou shalt say to him that the two Knightes which departed thence with two Ladyes and if Knight who was there deliuered from enchauntment in reuerent wise salute his Maiestie hauing sent thée to be disposed at his pleasure Moreouer thou shalt not faile to tell him the cause why we sent thee in this sort to his highnesse The like declaration shalt thou make before the Queene and her two Daughters Marcelina and Florea All this will I gladly accomplish answered the Spanyard but as for my Brother and the other Knightes I thinke they will neuer passe further
for by ought I can perceiue there is no signe of life left in them They haue no more aunswered Manteleo then they worthily deserued ought they to misprise or detract strange Knightes cheefely such as are of one nation yet let vs see in what estate they are So comming to the Knight that was first dismounted and finding him dead by reason of the aboundance of blood he had lost as also because his Helmet hindered him from the aire Unhappy man said his Brother oftentimes haue I told thee that thy pride and ouer-wéening would one day cause thy death Be thou warned heereby sayd the enchaunted Knight and learne another time to vse more courtesie to Knightes how yong or old soeuer they be for thou and thy companions did imagine that beâ—cause these two yong Princes were no further entred iâ— yeeres that therefore they were vnprouided of couragâ—â— and vertue but by outward behauiour neuer iudge oâ— men heereafter Too well doo I perceiue your words arâ— true but I beseech ye looke if my Cosins haue accompanied my Brother in death or no. Palladine finding them to be aliue offered with his Sword to haue smitten off their heads Uillaines quoth he you are but dead men if you will redeeme your liues you shall promise me to go â—ubmit your selues to the King of Englands mercie recounting to him wherefore how and by whome you haue beene vanquished Sir answered one of them there is nothing that we will not gladly promise and perfourme for the â—aunsome of our 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 I sweare to yee that I will not faile 〈◊〉 you haue commaunded You must auouch the like quoth the Prince to the other Knight wherevpon he that was so sore hurt with his fall from his horsse could make no aunswere but by signes so that with many sad countenances he shewed his consenting Now may yee depart when ye please said Palladine and say that Englishmen are better Knightes then Spanyards So hauing buried the Knight that was slaine they departed not a little glad they were so well escaped but they tooke small care of perfourming their promise as you shall perceiue by the sequell of our historie CHAP. XI ¶ How Palladine and Manteleo with their company arriued in the Realme of Hungaria where the Gentleman remayned that stole the Lady from the enchaunted Knight and what fortuned to them by the way AFter the Princes had left the Spanyardes they rode on their iourney and comming to the port of Gorforte they tooke Shipping when the Seas were still and calme expecting a winde to passe into Holland which fitting their expectations crossing through Zeland they came to Triell where Palladine furnished himselfe with new Armour because his other was greatly battered in Iousting with the Knightes Hauing contented themselues with the sight of Hollâ—nd they passed the Rheme and entred Almayne where arriuing on the frontires of Bohemia they beheld a Lion comming toward them carying a yong Infant wrapped in swadling clothes in his mouth and a yong woman running after the beast with verie pitifull cries and acclamations Behold quoth Palladine how a sauadge beast hath gotten a yong Infant let vs alight to sée if we can force him forgoe his pray The poore woman seeing how readie they were to helpe her cryed aloude to them that they should get betwéene the Lion and his Caue least entring with the child there should remaine no hope of recouerie When the Lion saw he could not enter his denne he let fal the Infant and furiously assailed the Prince Manteleo who gaue the beast such a wound on the head as made him cry and rore very dreadfully At which noyse a Lionesse came foorth of the Caue from her yong ones and she likewise ranne on the noble Manteleo but Palladine and his Squires so valiantly assisted him as the beastes were in short time ouercome and slaine Then came the poore woman and tooke vp her child which when she beheld had escaped all daunger on her knées she humbly thanked the Princes for their good assistance One of the Damosels taking the child in her armes and séeing it both beautifull and comely said to the mother Great had béene the losse good woman that these cruell beastes should haue deuoured so swéete an Infant but why were you so negligent to endaunger it so much Madame aunswered the poore woman not by my fault did this inconuenience happen for I earning my liuing by dayly labour by binding faggots which my husband cuts in the wood left my child with one of my neighbours in kéeping How she suffered this mishap I know not but as I returned from the wood and méeting the Lion with my child which full well I knew by the swadling cloathes I made what haste I could after the beast hoping by some meanes to recouer my child which now I thanke God and you I haue done Nor is this the first time we haue béene thus serued for in this little Uillage béeing but tenne or twelue housholds in number three children haue béene lost within these sixe moneths the parents still thinking some Boores or peasants had stollen them but now in good time haue wee founde the Théefe And seeing these Gentlemen haue slaine the Lion and Lionesse it may be they haue some yong ones in this Caue which I gladly would haue destroyed likewise so shall we be in no further daunger heereafter That will I soone trie said Palladine go to your house and fetch me some fire and withall bring some sheaues of thrasshed corne for Lions cannot abide the sight of fire and by this meane shall we see what is in the darke Caue Right soone did the woman accomplish her charge bringing strawe and fire with her and sixe or seauen sturdy fellowes with staues flayles and pikeforkes when Palladine hauing set the strawe on fire with the couâ—trey peasants entred the Caue where he found thrée yong Lionesses like little dogs and the clothes of diuers children deuoured by the beasts To behold this strange sight he called the two Damosels and the poore woman into the Caue saying These beastes should haue dined with your child to day but God hath appointed his end in better sort and because you shall remaine in no further dread of these yong ones were I not so farre from England I would send them to the King who I am sure would accept them for our sakes My Lord quoth one of the poore countreymen I will vndertake to fulfill your mind in this and will carie them to England if you please to commaund me full well doo I knowe how to vse them for my Father nourished one like to these a long time and when it grew great he gaue it to our King who sent it as an especiall present to the King of Fraunce In sooth quoth the Prince if thou will perfourme what thou hast promised I will giue thee money to defray thy charges and theirs likewise whome thou wilt take with thee Letters will I also send
by thee to safe-conduct thee on the way and that thou mayst be welcome into England whence thou canst not returne without sufficient recompence Of that my Lord I haue no doubt aunswered the poore man for oftentimes haue I heard reported that the King â—ilanor of England is one of the most vertuous Princes on the earth and though I receyuâ—d no other benefite by him I would account my labour well bestowed onely to see a King accounted so famous Beside such great good haue you done vs in killing these rauenous and daungerous beastes as in signe of our willing mindes to make you further recompence if we were able if the iourney were tenne times further you should commaund vs. So comming foorth of the Caue the poore men prouided Panniars to carrie the yong beastes in meane while the Prince wrote to the King his Father describing what had befallen them in their iourney and what valour Manteleo had shewen in killing the Lions not forgetting his salutations to the Princesse Marcelina with all the other Ladyes of the Court. Hauing sealed his Letters he gaue them to the countreyman and money sufficient to beare his charges who taking his leaue of the Princes in few dayes after set on his iourney toward England Palladine and Manteleo mounting on horsseback with their companie tooke the way to Hungaria which at length they reached lodging in a little Uillage about a mile distant from the Castell where the Gentleman abode who detaned the wife to the Knight that had beene enchaunted There the Princes concluded to rest themselues that night and on the morrow the Knightes Sister should goe to accuse the Gentleman of Treason and to knowe of him whether he would maintaine his cause man to man in Combate or two against two or three to thrée if he durst so accept it Upon this determination they supped merily together Manteleo still remembring his faire Marcelina and Palladine his intended action of honor So betaking themselues to rest Palladine dreamed that he beheld a goodly Lady before him who vsing certaine speeches to him softly layd her hand very kindly on his head and so departing the chamber againe made such a noyse as he awaked therewith Long hée studied what this Lady should be but could not gesse on any thing directly wherefore he concealed his dreame to himselfe albeit not long after he compassed his desire as you shall at large behold heereafter CHAP. XII ¶ How the Princes Palladine Manteleo and the enchaunted Knight fought the Combate with the Gentleman of the Castell and his two Brethren and the successe therof MAny were the seuerall apparitions that these Princes had in their sléep this night the one of his loue in the Court of England and the other of the Lady that thus had sollicited him wherin the enchaunted Knight had likewise a share remembring the wrong done vnto his wife by the Traytor whom he had so fréendly vsed in his house the conceite of which ingratefull acte presented him with many strange cogitations Earely in the morning they all arose and the Knightes Sister accompanied with one of the Prince Palladines Squires rode to the Castell where the Gentleman dwelt to deliuer the message before determined And finding him sitting at the Castell gate with two or thrée of his seruaunts that attended on him without vsing any courtesie or salutation but with a stearne and angrie countenance thus spake Well knowest thou villayne as thou art that violently thou didst carie away my Brothers wife who lodged and entertained thée fréendly in his house wherefore I say to thée that thou art the most vile and abiect creature liuing hauing committed the greatest treason and disloyaltie that euer was heard of a man toward his freend A Knight will I bring that to thy â—eard shall testifie what I haue said by aduenturing his person in Combate against thée or if thou thinke it conuenient two against two or three to three so many will I bring hither before two houres are expired The Gentleman abashed to heare a woman speake so brauely she being accompanied but with one Squire thus replied I beléeue Damosell it is not long since ye came from Paradise for you are yet maruellous glorious but I hope ere night to quallify your pride and him or them that dare bid me the Combate And where thou chargest me with detaining a Lady who as thou sayest is thy Brothers wife héere will I kéepe her still and hence shall she not go till I haue had my pleasure on her But to spend no time in pratling with a foolish woman go fetch the thrée Knghtes thou threatnest me withall and they shall finde héere throe other whereof my selfe will be one say we graunt them the Combate and bid them looke they come well prouided for all their wit and strength I thinke will scant helpe them The Damosell and the Squire returned with this answere to the Princes who hauing heard the Gentlemans mishap presently mounted on horssebacke and rode toward the Castell In this time the Gentleman went into the Castell to his Brethren and aduertised them of the Damosels challenge wherevpon they immediatly armed themselues the Gentleman causing twentie of his seruants to be secretly ambushed to succour him if his enemies were the stronger and if they could not take them prisoners then to murther them without any redemption By this time are the Princes and the enchaunted Knight come to the Castell where they found the thrée Brethren staying their comming and without any further spéeches they prepared to the carire when Palladine would haue encountred the Gentleman of the Castell but the enchaunted Knight intreated him to the contrarie saying Let me trie my fortune with him good Sir Knight for he it is that hath iniuâ—ied me and now shall I be sufficiently auenged on him Palladine was well contented it should be so and while the Knight gaue his horsse the spurres to meete the Gentleman he and Manteleo found his Brethren play so that after they had brauely broken their Launces and fought a long and dangerous Combat with the Sword the Gentleman was throwne downe sore wounded and his Brethren were both flame outright Now though too late rushed foorth the ambushed seruants and they being twentie in number set with such violence on the Princes and their Squires as their hoâ—sses were slaine vnder them and themselues in very great danger of death but that Lydiseo the Prince of Hungaria suddenly arriued there for that day had he beene on hunting and because the bordering Turkes did oftentimes iniurie the King his Father he seldome rode without armed Knightes in his companie When he beheld so many against so few he commaunded his Knightes to assist the weaker side so that the greater part of them were slaine and the rest thinking to saue their liues fled into the Castell yet were they so narrowly pursued as they could not drawe the bridge but were all taken and reserued in prison for a further
wanne whereby the Damosell judged that he was wounded wherefore she said I perceiue my Lord you are scant well let us enter this Tent I pray ye where you shall be unarmed and these Knightes likewise that I may see what woundes you haue receiued for my Lady Orbiconâ—e gaue me at my departure from her a bore of most pretious and arteficiall ointment so that let your wounds be how dangerous soeuer in four and twentie houres I will awarrant they shall be perfectly healed Upon this aduise they entred the Tent where when they were vnarmed the Damosell verie cunningly dressed their wounds finding these of Orliman and Durandell to be most doubtfull yet her comfortable speeches made them expect speedie recouerie Afterward they sate downe to refresh themselues with such viands as they found there readie in the Tent and Palladine calling for the prisoner said Knight if thou desire the safetie of thine owne life tell me without fabling what the Knight was that first proffered to take the Sheeld from the Damosell and vpon what occasion you kept the passage heere to forbid the course of Knightes errant Nor will I Sir quoth the Knight hide bne iote of the truthe from you Knowe then that he which would haue taken the Sheeld from the Damosell was brother to a Gentleman who not long since by the Kings commaundement was put to a most shamefull death for that vniustly he detayned a Knightes wife to whose Castell came two strange Knightes and by the ayde of Lydiseo Prince of Hungaria they tooke the Gentleman sore wounded who was afterward executed slew many of his seruants as also his two brethren deliuering the Lady to her husband againe who now liue in quiet in their owne Castell This Knight that stroue for the Sheeld was likewise brother to that Gentleman who hearing the misfortune of his brethren vowed to take vengeance on those two Knightes by whose meanes he was now left freendlesse in the world Upon this determination heere caused he his pauillion to be erected sending his espials abroade to allure all Knightes by this passage hoping at length to finde those twayne which I thinke he imagined to be they that conducted the Damosell because he commaunded vs all to assaile them but whether they be the same or no he is now greatly deceiued of his hope and thus haue you heard the verie truth of our being heere Thanks be to heauen sayd the Prince Palladine that kept vs out of this danger for if we had passed this way we had either beene slaine or taken by these viâ—e minded men But my hazard was greatest quoth the Damosell had I not met with these two noble Knightes who in my defence thrust their owne liued into question Damosell aunswered Durandell of Cleue we haue done no more then our dutie and what all true Knightes are sworne vnto After they had stayed so long as them pleased they rode to a Towne not farre distant thence leauing the Knight to prouide buriall for his companions and help for such as yet remained aliue swearing him neuer after to be seene in any such bad action At this Towne they abode two or three dayes to furnish themselues of what they wanted as also to repaire their Armour which was much brused At length the Damosell tooke Palladine aside framing her speeches to him in this manner My Lord seeing you finde your selfe in good estate of health let me intreate ye to bid your freends adiew that carely in the morning we may depart to the place whether my Lady commaunded me to conduct ye because you must be assistant to such a one as shall héereafter doo very much for you Damosell quoth Palladine presently shall you see me bid them farewell for great is my affection toward your mistresse seruice seeing she fauours the man so much she neuer sawe Then turning to the three Princes he sayd My noble companions you knowe my promise to this Damosell to follow her whither she shall guide me now is she importunate for my departure wherefore let me intreate ye not to be offended if earely in the morning I take my leaue assuring you that neuer shall I forget your manifold courtesies And let my solemne promise perswade yée that these earnest affaires once dispatched to you will I presently shape my course meane while commaund me as your freendly seruant My Lord aunswered Manteleo albeit this seperation is gréeuous to vs yet séeing it a cause concerning your honor and may aduantage some distressed person kéep your promise right paciently shall we beare your absence hoping to see you shortly in England at the King your Fathers Court for thither shall we presently direct our iourney Palladine hauing intreated them to doo his humble dutie to the King his Father to the Quéene likewise and his two Sisters embraced them all thrée right louingly each one with teares shewing their gréefe of departure Like courteous farewell tooke they of the Damosell who gaue them many thanks for their fréendly succour and so each one entring their chamber for that night Lycelio the Squire to Palladine prepared all things readie for his maister who determined to be on horssebacke by breake of day CHAP. XV. ¶ How Palladine went with the Damosell that came from the wise Orbiconte and Manteleo Durandell and Orliman trauayled toward England and were seperated from each other by a strange aduenture EArly in the morning Palladine Lycelio and the Damosell set forward on their iourney directing theyr course to the Realme of Ireland leauing the thrée Princes soundly sleeping who the same day rodâ— toward England without finding any aduenture on land or Sea worthie the rehearsall After they had refreshed themselues thrée or foure daies at Douer a Towne that stands on the Sea coast of England they concluded to ride to London where they heard the King as then kept his Court. When they had ridden eight or ten miles they sawe comming foorth of a Forrest two poore men all besmeared with blood and verie sore wounded wherevpon they imagined that some théeues had thus vsed them and therefore rode toward them to vnderstand the cause Good Gentleman cried one of them so wounded for Gods sake helpe vs. Of whence are ye sayd the Prince Manteleo We are Sir quoth the poore man of Bohemia trauailing from the King of Englands Court home againe and to his Maiestie were we sent with thrée young Lions which two Knightes trauailing through our Countrey gaue vs charge to carie thither And as we came through this wood thrée théeues suddenly set vpon vs who wounded vs as you see tooke the money from vs we receyued of the King and haue slaine two of our compaâ—ions Manteleo remembring the poore men how Palladine and he had sent them with the Lions was meruailous sorie to see them so misused demaunding if the theeues were on horssebacke or on â—oote The poore men aunswered that they were on foote and could not as yet be gone verie farre Without any
separated them as you shall presently heare CHAP. XIX ¶ How a strange aduenture happened in the Citie of Varne by the ending whereof the Prince Palladine determined to depart from the Duchesse Brisalda HEere must I intreate ye to remember the Princes of Norgalles and Scots Landastines and Simprinell whome we left in the King of Englands Court Landastines being enamoured on the Princesse Florea Sister to Palladine as Manteleo was of his faire Marcelina Simprinell loth to part them that agréed so well left his companion in England trauailing to the King of Norgalles Court where he certified his Maiestie of the good estate of his Sonne Landastines Which newes were so welcome to the King as he intreated Simprinell to abide in his Court that he might shew him the pleasures of his Realme whereto the yong Prince right willingly condiscended as one desirous to behold nouelties But rather the chéefest cause was his affection to the faire Princesse Belanicia daughter to the King of Norgalles with whose beawtie he was meruailously enthralled and not daring to acquaint her with his loue he fell into a dangerous sicknes to the great gréef of the King who loued him as he had béene his owne Sonne In the end the Phisitions hauing declared to Simprinell how perillous his case stood by concealing his gréefe made him thus resolued that before he died he would make knowne to the Princesse Belanicia who oftentimes came her selfe to visit him and sent him many comfortable meates in his sicknesse the originall cause of his extremitie And one time among other the Lady that was most vsually sent by the Princesse and in whome she reposed greatest confidence desired him to bewray from whence his sicknesse grew promising withall that she would labour to her vttermost to procure his health The yong Prince very modest and bashfull taking the Lady by the hand thus aunswered Faire freend I thanke ye for your readie good will in séeking my helpe which is a matter not impossible to bee done but as for the cause of my languishing disease I will not acquaint ye therewith vnlesse ye sweare to keepe the same secret not reuealing it to any one but such as I shall name Assure your selfe thereof said the Lady by the faith of a virgin Know then sweete Lady quoth Simprinell that my extreame sicknesse happened by no other cause then the loue and affection I beare to your mistresse and feare to offend her or the King hath by silence of my loue brought me to this daunger Why my Lord quoth she you that are of so high and honorable discent can ye offend my Lady by louing her or you that are as good as she doo not deserue loue for loue she is the child of a King and so are you beside she is humble and gracious as any Princesse liuing then feare not to let her knowe your daunger Alas Madame quoth he neuer shall I dare to speake to her but may it please you to solicite my cause yet with carefull héed of her dislike I shall confesse my life preserued by you And so much will I doo for ye my Lord quoth she without giuing her any occasion of offence but rather shall I doo it in such sort as by a speedie answere you shall perceiue her mind Go then good madame said the Prince and boldly may ye assure her that my life or death is in her hand So went the Lady to her mistresse to whome she imparted what you haue heard wherewith she was so well pleased as she presently sent to him againe this aunswere that she entertained his loue with the like and that as he would witnesse his affection towards her he should practise what spéed he could deuise for his health These words breathed such life into the Prince as within few dayes he was perfectly recouered when after many amorous parlees with Belanicia she to make a triall how his loue was grounded hauing heard report of the faire Duchesse Brisalda desired him to trauell to Varne in Bulgaria carying with him her liuely counterfeit and there to maintaine against all Knightes whatsoeuer that she was fairer then the Duchesse Brisalda on which condition she would accept him as her Knight and loyall seruant Simprinell glad to be so commaunded the next day hee departed with his foure Squires and comming to Varne where the Duchesse remained heard what braue imployment was there in Chiualrie wherefore comming to the accustomed place of the Tourney on a faire Piller he placed his Ladyes picture saying he would maintaine against all commers that his mistresse excéeded the Duchesse Brisalda in beautie The Knightes attendant on the Duchesse were amazed héereat preparing themselues to defend her cause but Simprinell willed them first to bring the Duchesse counterfeit and it to be placed by his Ladies and the conquerour should carie them both with him Right soone was the Duchesse figure set on the Piller and Simprinell this first day dismounted twelue Knights Palladine being ridden abroade on hunting which made Brisalda despaire of her fortune fearing the strange champion would depart vnconquered This dayes good successe emboldened Simprinell to try the second when Palladine entring the Listes among the other Knightes whome one by one he saw brauely vnhorsed he came to Simprinell with these spéeches In sooth Sir Knight I commend your enterprise beeing a cause that maketh many forward in Armes but as for the Lady whome you extoll beyond my Lady the Duchesse héer present I say and will auerre the contrary against you and all other till the houre of death If affection hath blinded your eyes I soone shall alter that opinion when your owne selfe shall confesse that your Lady is no way to be compared with mine I imagine by your words Sir answered Simprinell that you will defend your mistresse by the toong onely but let vs goe to the matter roundly for you are not yet so good an Oratour as to perswade me from a resolued assurance You thinke then quoth Palladine that I thinke to escape the Combate by my words Not so for you shall sée me effectually defend the honor of her beautie who is my mistresse So giuing the spurres to their horsses they encountred with such violence as Palladine lost his stirrops but Simprinell was cast foorth of his saddle to the great ioy of the Duchesse and her freends that his presumptuous arrogancie was so worthely checked Afterward they fell to the Combate with the Sword and long they fought without any aduantage till Palladine by tripping his enemie got him downe and himselfe vpon him when holding his Sword ouer him he sayd Now must thou confesse the Duchesse Brisalda to be a Lady farre excelling thine in beautie elfe art thou not like to sée her again◠Seeing fortune hath throwne me into this extremitie said Simprinell I confesse my selfe vanquished but to say that my mistresse is inferiour to thine I will not though I die therefore nor am I otherwise bound by my owne conditions
their leaue of the King shaping their course through Piccardie toward Bullin where they embarqued themselues and sailed into England for that they were desirous to sée the good King Milâ—nor to whome they brought letters from his Sonne Palladine Landastines likewise as not vnmindfull of his Florea sent the message of his heart vnder seale by Lydiseo excusing his absence which should not be long and hoping to bring her brother home with him As for Palladine he became so affected to the Princesse Rosamonde whome he imagined to be the Lady foretold by the wise Orbiconte as he wasted and consumed in pensiue thoughts practising how to obtaine her loue albeit he aduentured the hard stratagemes of death Oftentimes would he priuately conferre with her and she would aunswere him with such rare modestie as increased his torments aboue the compasse of reason Nor was she forgetfull of his dangerous paines in deliuerance of her brother Lewes from imprisonment ioyning therewithall the common benefit by the death of Brulanfurior and his brother Frucidant but as for the priuiledge of her loue the Prince Caesar of Roeme was Lord thereof and her setled affection impossible to be remoued All which he perceiued by such manifest signes as made him were frantike in silent cogitations sometime thinking to forestall his fréend by making the first request of her in mariage then againe intending the death of Caesar rather then to misse of the faire Rosamonde And though the Romaine Prince loued him déerely yet the furie of blinde loue made Palladine so impatient as he minded nothing but Caesars death which with a sharpe Launce in the Ioust he imagined might easily be done or with an infected cup of poyson giuen him in his chamber But the wise Orbiconte still directing Palladines course and knowing by her arte his secret intent onely by being deceiued in his owne opinion would separate Palladine from Caesar by calling him to his destenyed Countrey whereof we spake in the beginning of our Historie and thus it happened The Prince being in his Chamber with Landastines Simprinell and his Squire Lycelio imagining how to finish his determination on a sudden there entred a little deformed Dwarffe who saluting Palladine gaue him a Letter saying My Lord the wise Orbiconte hath sent ye this Letter the contents whereof she commaunds you to fulfill otherwise great harme will happen to you He had no sooner spoken these words but immediatly he vanished away How now quoth Landastines whether is the little Iack an Apes gone oftentimes haue I séene the craftie deceits of Iugglers but neuer sawe I such a trick before I hold my life the Deuill fetched him away This strange accident made Palladine remember the voyce that whispered in his eare at Varne when he determined to depart from the Duchesse Brisalda and desirous to knowe the newes from Orbiconte he feigned that he would lie downe vpon his bed wherefore Landastines and Simprinell withdrew themselues when he opening the Letter read as followeth The Letter from Orbiconte the wise to Palladine the Prince of England HAuing certaine knowledge vertuous Prince of the extreame loue thou bearest to the beawtifull Rosamonde and the doubtfull estate whereinto her amiable lookes hath brought thée I am to aduertise thee in respect of the loue I beare thée as also the good support I shall one day receyue by thee that the Prince Caesar of Roome is appoynted for her and no other then hée shall she haue in marriage Therefore withdrawe thy earnest desire and the execution of that thou hast determined which is to demaund her for thy wife and to preuent the life of Caesar whome she entirely loueth and honoreth in heart assuring thée that another is reserued for thée who excelleth in beawtie the faire Rosamonde and all the other Ladyes of Christendome whose liuely portraite thou shalt sée to morrow brought to the place where thou art by a Knight whome thou shalt vanquish in Combate and by that meane recouer her picture Then taking leaue of the Court thou shalt trauaile to seeke her in her Countrey which shall be named to thée by the Knight and neuer feare any dangers in thy iourney for thou shalt be fauoured by fortune and me who haue foreséene all these things that shall happen Thy good freend Orbiconte the wise and Prophetesse Palladine hauing read this Letter was meruailously perplexed in his spirit doubting whether he might credit the aduertisement of Orbiconte or execute his intent touching faire Rosamonde whome he reputed so accomplished with all perfections of beawtie as he iudged it impossible to finde her second in the whole world Beside he was throughly inueigled with her loue as he despaired how he could diuert his fancie on the other side he was as greatly displeased to vnderstand that she would loue none but Caesar and that to him she onely was vowed In these diuers opinions he spent the whole night yet in the end considering by the Letter of Orbiconte that what he had pretended was knowne to her he concluded to credit her message and especially if the Knight came accordingly on the morrow with the portrait of her he desired so much to sée vpon this determination he slept till morning CHAP. XXIIII ¶ How a Pagan Prince came to the Court of Fraunce bringing with him the portraite of the Princesse Nonparelia and of the Combate betweene him and Palladine who hauing woon the portraite departed from the Court. THE next morning the King and all his Barons being in the great in the great Hall Palladine Landastines and Simprinell likewise in companie there entred a Squire attired after the Morisco manner who making great reuerence thus began Mightie and redoubted King I am sent from the Prince Zarcanell of Chipre who yet abideth without the Citie to craue licence of your Maiestie that he may report before you and your Lords an enterprise which he hath determined to execute before you Squire aunswered the King say to thy maister that he shall be welcome and boldly let him enter our Citie for we graunt him frée accesse to our presence to open any thing he hath intended The Squire returned presently to his Lord who vnderstanding the Kings gracious answere commanded his seruants to goe to the playne before the Court and there with all spéed to set vp his Tent in meane while himselfe accompanied with thrée Gentlemen came before the King and hauing humbly saluted his Maiestie before all the Princes and Lords thus spake Gracious Prince I am perswaded that your highnesse well doth knowe what authority loue hath ouer humaine creatures and how vnable they are to resist his power therefore I beséech ye not to thinke it strange if I declare what loue hath enforced me to doo So it is that hauing heard the beawtie of faire Nonparelia so highly renowmed aboue all Ladyes in the world as one couetous to sée a thing so excellent I trauailed to Aquilea and there sound by proofe that fame had
rather spared then spokē what she might there I became immediatly enthralled with her loue and by gracious behauiours towards her preuayled so farre as she accepted me to be her Knight with this charge and condition that I should carie her diuine figure into the Courtes of all Christian Princes where Ladies or Damosels were famous for beawtie and against all commers to maintaine my mistresse rare preheminence If froward fortune gaue me the ouerthrowe then must I leaue to the conquerour my Ladies counterfeit but if my luckye Starres graunted me the victorie I am to carie with me the vanquished Ladyes portraite And hauing heard my good Lord that your daughter Rosamonde is named among the fairest in Christendome I directed my iourney hither and may it like you to deliuer her counterfeit on the aforenamed conditions I am readie to doo my deuoire in the open féeld before your Pallace gate where I haue caused my Tent to be erected Right well am I contented sayd the King and immediatly will I come thither with my daughter whose portrait shall be there openly presented and if any one will combate for her there shall she be to regard her fortune Palladine standing by coniectured this to be the Knight whereof the wise Orbiconte made mention in her Letter wherefore he first auaunced himselfe earnestly intreating the King that he might defend his daughter Rosamonds beawtie Whereto the King presently graunted scant to the good liking of Caesar who still bare his arme in a Scarffe and began iealously to suspect Palladine minding to reuenge him as occasion serued Upon this agreement Zarcanell departed to his Tent where beeing well armed and brauely mounted expected his aduersarie who not long after came with the King the Prince Lewes and many noble Lords in gallant equipage The Quéene her daughter Rosamonde and all the Ladyes of the Court came with great spéed to their Scaffold to behold the portrait of the Lady so highly commended which hung on a Launce at the entrance of his Tent and both the Champions being readie for the Ioust Zarcanell comming to Palladine thus spake Sir Knight as the huge world can not endure two Sunnes so may not my eyes abide these two figures presenting the rarest beawtie in the world the one of them being a Pagan and the other a Christian. But this contention betweene vs shall be soone ended without any fatall hazard of the weapon if thou wilt confesse before this assemblie that the incomparable beawtie of my Lady resembleth the cléere Sunne shining in the day time and thine the Moone that lighteneth the night Sir Sir aunswered Palladine we come not hither to argue on the Sunne or Moone but at the point of the Launce and edge of the Sword to trie betwéene vs the honor of the féeld whereof if I be maister I will be your Sunne and you my Moone if you goe to the ground Without any further speeches they encountred together their Launces being broken with such furie as the English Prince was set on the crupper of his horsse but Zarcanell nothing moued or shaken In thrée or foure courses more Palladine could neuer fasten his Launce on his enemie yet Zarcanell still brake on him for he was so nimble and ranne so close to his horsse as each one woondered at his fine chiualrie Without doubt my Lord quoth the Countie of Champaigne to the King neuer did I sée a brauer horsseman he hath the raines of his Courser at commaundement that can gouerne him in such sort without any attaint But Palladine angrie at his hard fortune met Zarcanell so right at the sixt course as breaking the girts of his saddle his horsse ranne away and left him behinde him Yet did he quickly recouer himselfe and drawing his Sword came valiantly against Palladine shewing as fine sleights and agilitie in the Combate as he did before on horssebacke with his Launce In the end it was his fortune to be ouercome when vnder the Sword of Palladine he entred into these complaints Unhappie that I am of force I sée I must yéeld my selfe and not my bodie onelye but my life also hauing lost the onely maintenance thereof the gracious fauour and regard of my mistresse Ah incomparable miserie fortune that euer esteemed of me hitherto hath in a moment vtterly reiected me therefore good Sir Knight rid me of this paine and with one stroke end my miserie and life together for greater good you neuer did to man Palladine seeing him in such despaire so pitied his case as suffering him to arise he thus comforted him My fréend you ought not in this sort to offend your selfe considering these are but the tricks of fortune whereto all men are dayly subiect and no more hath happened to you then might haue doone to me If the Lady for whome you vndertooke this voyage loued you well she cannot but augment it knowing with valour you defended her cause In sooth my Lord answered Zarcanell rather had I die a thousand deathes then returne to my Lady hauing not woon the portraite of faire Rosamonde for her selfe protested that neuer would she loue me except I brought it And héere I vow to you that I will returne to mine owne Countrey so soone as I haue recouered my woundes leauing you not onely the portraite you haue woon but those likewise that I conquered in Norgalles and elsewhere discharging my selfe of loues seruice séeing he rewards his faithfull seruant no better Therein vse your pleasure quoth Palladine but first goe with me that your woundes may be searched to preuent further inconuenience So going to the King he desired that his Chirurgions might attend on the Knight for I assure your Maiestie quoth he neuer met I with any man of higher desert Whereto the King willingly graunted causing Zarcanell to be conducted to the Court and to be lodged in one of the fairest chambers where he was dilligently attended as in ten dayes he was perfectly recouered When thanking the King for his noble entertainement and taking leaue of his Maiestie the Prince Lewes Palladine and the rest he departed toward his owne Countrey not alittle agréeued as you may thinke for his misfortune As for Palladine he remembring the letter sent him by the wise Orbiconte and hauing imprinted in his heart the Lady Nonparelia whose counterfeit he kept with choyse regard determined to take his farewell of the King and iourney with all speede toward Aquilea Wherefore in the euening the King walking in his Garden after supper he told his Maiestie that he was desirous to trauaile to the King his Father in England and therefore that it would please him to licence his departure The King though loth consented thereto being sorie to forgoe the valiant Palladine who was so great a grace to his Court. Hauing then taken his leaue of the King and of all the noble Princes and Ladyes he departed on the morrow from Paris accompanyed with Landastines and Simprinell taking his way toward Millayne in hope
Knightes appointing the Marquesse of Villereal and the Countie of Marialne Iudges of the feeld All this while the Princesse Minoretta continued her pensiue mones praying for the prosperous successe of the newcome Knight and the confusion of the traitour Galitreo On the morrow was this doubtfull combate tried being fought on either side with such exceeding valour as they both fell downe foote to foote that each one reputed them both for dead but when the Knight of Fames helmet was opened and he had receiued the fresh aire he came to himselfe againe albeit Galitreo was slaine outright and therefore condemned as foyled in fight The King glad of this happie victorie intrâ—ated the Knight of Fame as he had beene his owne Sonne causing his Chiruâ—gions to take care of his wounds and during the time of his abode there for his health the continuall good countenance shewed by the Princesse Minoretta made him liue in hope to obtaine but he was preuented by the King of Nauarre who sending his Ambassadours to demaund the Princesse in marriage had his request graunted by the King The Knight of Fame séeing himselfe so infortunate in obtaining a wife so soone as his wounds were thoroughly cured tooke his leaue of the King and departed with intent after he had seene his owne countrey to trauaile into England againe to be reuenged on Palladine for the foyle he susteyned at the Ioustes at Paris so mounting on horseback he tooke his way directly toward Freezeland And not able to continue there any long time because his conceiued hate was such toward the English Prince he trauailed thorough Scotland who méeting suddenly with Simprinell and not knowing him a quarrell arose betweene them the Knight of Fame discommending Palladine and vowing reuenge on all those that durst take his part which Simprinell vndertaking they fell from words to strokes and such was the good fortune of Don Robert as hauing the better of Simprinell he departed leauing him there very sore wounded Manâ—eleo the Prince of Millayne whome long since we left in his iourney toward Normandie desirous to see his sweete mistresse Marcelina by good hap found Simprinell thus dangerously wounded and hauing vnderstood the whole summe of his misaduenture promised to follow the Knight who had thus wronged him and to reuenge his cause though it cost him his life Now must I giue you to vnderstand that Manteleo and the Knight of Fame were very neere allyed the Father to Temoreo the Duke of Millayne beeing brother to Don Roberts mother yet this kindred being forgotten betwéene them or at least their angrie displeasure preuailing aboue the remembrance thereof caused them meeting together to put each others life in very great danger And being afterward brought by their Squires to a Gentlemans Castell néere at hand where Simprinell likewise lay for the recouerie of his woundes they had knowledge of each other when sorrowing their méeting was in such vnhappie sort with fréendly gréetings they excused all that had passed riding with Simprinell to the King his Fathers Court where they were entertained as beseemed their honorable calling CHAP. XXXV ¶ How the great Turke sent his Ambassadours to the King of Aquilea to request his Daughter Nonparelia in marriage and what sorrow it was to her and the Knight without rest when they heard the King giue his consent ALL this while remained Palladine with his faire Nonparelia in the greatest pleasure and delight that could be imagined till fortune enuious of their successe sought to crosse them with her wunted frowardnesse which Orbiconte by her knowledge well perceiuing and that now if she layd not to her helping hand all the promised good hap would be squandered for euer to terrefie the two louers alittle she came and brake it to them in this manner It is a common saying my good fréends that dangers foretold hurt the lesse when they come to passe heereby am I to aduertise ye that such a matter will shortly happen as can not but be to your great disliking yet be of good cheere and endure it with resolued pacience for I will preuent the effectuall working thereof But to hold ye in no longer suspence knowe that this night past I made a figure to vnderstand thereby if your mariage were to be hindered by any contrarie accident and I finde that a mightie Lord euen he that commaundeth ouer all these countries will shortly send to request my Niece in mariage whereto the King her Father will gladly giue consent At these words the Princesse fell in a swoune and the Knight without rest was meruailous impacient but Orbiconte hauing recouered her in this sort began to perswade her Why faire Niece doo you dispaire or doubt that I can not hinder the mariage betweene you and the great Turke knowe you not that I haue done things of greater valew then that I neuer thought you had such diffâ—dence in me Who brought Sir Palladine into this countrey but I and who gaue you the honor of his loue but I and if I haue beene able to doo all this thinke ye I can not wade through matter of lesse moment Quiet your selfe and feare not but I will compasse your mariage to your owne content without displeasing my Lord the great Turke or the King your Father notwithstanding his promise Alas my good Aunt said the Princesse it is not for my Fathers ease to purchase himselfe so great an enemie as is the great Turke who in thrée dayes is able to ruinate our whole countrey and hauing so bad a neighbour as is the King of Panoma who doubtlesse would gladly with the great Lord in reuenge of the late foyle he sustayned I see no way to preuent fatall danger Why Madame quoth the Knight without rest victorie consisteth not in strength or multitude but in the pollicie of the Captaines and discretion of the Souldiours to pursue an enterprise as many examples are left among Romaines Carthaginians Athenians and infinite other where a small power hath preuailed against the greater onely by the wise foresight of their leaders and withall hauing truth and iustice on their side Let vs said the Princesse not stand vpon pollicie or the truth of our cause we can not be more subtill or hardie then they are and as for our right in the matter what reason shall my Father haue to denie so great a Lord great I may boldly say because in all the world he hath not his second both in riches puissance or any thing whatsoeuer Alas good Niece said Orbiconte merily stand not on these doubtfull tearmes for the case shall neuer be aduentured so farre cast all your care on me as yet I thinke I neuer fayled ye So parted they to their chambers where the Princesse remained in a hell of greefe such was her intire affection to the Prince of England And he likewise could resolue on nothing for now he thought to request the Princesse in mariage before the comming of the Ambassadors perswading himselfe that the
King would not deny him then againe he dispaired of the matter reputing himselfe vnlikely to enioy her by reason of their contrarietie in faith and religion the King being an earnest maintainer of the Pagan lawe Nor would this imagination serue wherefore he intended to steale her thence secretly and to carie her with him into England while Orbiconte laboured at home to appease the trouble that might follow In the end he reposed himselfe on the faithfull promise of Orbiconte and desired his Lady to doo the like because he had found her so iust in all his former fortunes But now are the Ambassadours come to the Court where being entertained with great pompe and royaltie he that was appointed chéefe in the embassade thus deliuered his message to the King King of Aquilea the high and mightie Lord my maister being aduertised of the rare vertues wherewith thy Daughter is endued hath sent me to intreate thée that thou wouldest bestowe her on him in marriage and in so dooing he vowes himselfe thy fréend and a continuall enemie to thy ill willers Heerewith he deliuered the Letters of credit signed with the hand and scale of the great Turke whereat the King no lesse ioyfull then amazed that his Daughter should arise to so high fortune without crauing any aduise in the cause thus answered I thanke my gracious Lord with all my heart that he will so honor me with request of my Daughter in marriage and her do I fréely giue him with all that is mine at his disposing Then did the Ambassadour present the King sixe goodly Coursers of Turkie sent him from his Lord and maister and to the Princesse he gaue a sumptuous Carbanet garnished with Carbuncles Orientall Pearles and stones of inestimable valew which she receiued with good countenance albeit God knowes with a heauie heart in which gréefe the Knight without rest bare her company yet durst not outward shew therof This costly Iewell the Queene immediatly fastened about her Daughters neck being commended for the rarest that euer was seene afterward the King walked with the Ambassadours dooing them all the honor he could any way deuise While all the Court were busied Orbiconte came with Nonparelia to Palladines chamber and there concluded that he should on the morrow take his leaue of the King framing his iourney directly toward England where the Princesse and she would in short time méete him willing them to make no shew of sorrow at their departure least suspition might preuent what she had intended but to resolue them assuredly that all her promises should sorte to effect The Knight without rest did as he was aduised and albeit it was long ere the King would giue consent because he loued him very déerely yet at length with muche adoo he preuailed the Prince Zorian obtaining leaue of his Father to accompanie him in trauaile because his Maiestie thought he could neuer haue a brauer companion Many rich giftes the King bestowed on the Knight without rest especially one of the Coursers sent him from the great Turke and other thinges néedfull to be vsed in trauaile and thus he prepared him selfe toward his iourney reposing his confidence in the wise Orbiconte that she would bring his Lady safely into England CHAP XXXVI ¶ How the knight without rest and the Prince Zorian departed from Aquilea toward England and how the Knight without rest by the waye discouered him selfe to the Prince Zorian who when he came into England was baptized and betrothed to the faire Graciana daughter to the Earle of Flaunders and the like was Mantelio and Landâ—stines to their Ladies EUery thing being in redines for our Knightes trauaile after all the ceremonious conges at the parting of freendes the knight without rest Zorian Broantine Lyboran and Lycelio all brauelye mounted in seemely equipage they leaue the Courte of Aquilea and toward England iourney with all conuenieÌ„t speede the Knight without rest being especially induced to this haste because he expected the promise of Orbiconte soone after would followe him with the faire Nonparelia Many woorthy aduentures they had by the way as defending chaste Damoselles from forced violence and helping distressed Ladies to their suborned right which growing to more tediousnes theÌ„ delightfull matter I haue thought good to abridge as lothe to speake of any thing but what is woorth the hearing When our Knightes were entered the Realme of Almaigne and the Englishe Prince had made good triall of Zorians loue to him one night as they laye in Bed togeather he entred into these spéeches My Lord Zorian the fréendship solemnely sworne betwéene vs and the proof of your ready good will in all my actions will not let me hide one thing fâ—â—â— you which till this present I haue kept with great secrecie both from the knowledge of the King your Father and you onely by the perswasion of the Lady Orbiconte your Aunt to whome I am more beholding then any other liuing creature For in my iourney toward Aquilea oftentimes did she preserue me from the danger of death and by her meanes I left the Court of the King of England my Father by her promise that I should enioy your faire Sister in mariage in recompence of some seruice I should doo to the King your Father and this by her secret knowledge she likewise tolde me that all your Fathers dominions shall be shortly conuerted to the Christian faithe which I professe and will doo till death Then he recounted how Orbiconte sent him the Shéeld he bare and shewed the Swoord wheron the name of Aquilea was engrauen being brought to him by the enchaunted knight and two Damosells He likewise declared how he changed his name because he would not be knowne and that Liboran only counterfeited dumbnes being not able to learne the Aquilian language all the rest of his trauailes at full he opened his right name and whether he now iournied In sooth my Lord Palladine answered Zorian such resolute opinion of your vertues haue I imprinted in my hart as though you be contrary to me in loue and profession yet shall not my good will slack or I forgoe your companie but I would the time were come wherein my Fathers kingdome shall embrace Christianitie which I already begin to like so well beleeuing that your God is of greater power then ours as all our successefull déedes of armes beare witnes that I ere long will become a Christian Yet one thing cheeflye dooth displease me that my Sister is promised in mariage to my Lord the great Turk which will be the occasion that my Aunte Orbiconte cannot keep her woord with you My Lord and companion saide Palladine that I haue your good liking in this cause in sooth it dooth not a little content me but as for your Sister there is nothing yet doone but may easily be altered Madame Orbiconte hath promised to content the great Turke and your Father and in fewe dayes will safelye arriue with your Sister in England I would we
might finde them there quoth Zorian at our comming you maye be assured I would not hinder your mariage but assist it to the vttermost of my power for more account doo I make of your loue and fréendship then all the wealthy possessions af my Lord y e great Turk And one thing will I intreat ye faithfully to promâ— me that the next day after our arriuall at your Fathers Court you will take such order as I maye be baptised in the faith of a Christian for I féele my conscience that way earnestly addicted Palladine not a little ioyfull of this request promised to perfourme what he had desired so sléep causing them to breake off talke the nexte morning they were earlye on Horsse backe and passing the Rheme they entred Lorrayne Afterward trauersing the Ardeines Luxenbourge and Liege they came into Brabant and from thence after many aduentures ended they crossed through Flaunders taking shipping at Callis and in shorte time landed at Douer in England where they stayed two or three daies to refresh them selues Then comming to London to the Court God knowes what ioy was there made for their arriuall the King to see his Sonne returned Manteleo and Landastines their long absent fréend and the Citizens their yong Prince whome they feared was lost let all their ioye be compared together and thinke of what efficacie so great a matter is because pen and paper cannot disclose it Palladine not vnmindefull of his passed promise acquainted the King his Father with the state of Zorian how graciouslye him selfe was entertained in the Court of Aquilea and how the Princes Sister was comming after with her Aunt a Ladye of incomparable vertues and graces and her noble brother renouncing his paganisme desired to be receiued into the fellowship of Christians not being able to enioy peace in conscience till he were deliuered of his vnbeleefe The King excéeding glad of these good newes caused such royall preparation to be made against the next daye as at a matter of such solemnitie is required there was Zorian and his Squire christened the King the Queene and the Earle of Flâ—unders witnesses to the Prince and Palladine Manteleo and Marcelina to the Squire Ligasto Returning from the Church to the Pallace there was ordained a sumptuous feast and Zorian well regarding the Ladies of England among them all liked Graciana daughter to the Earle of Flaunders being then sodenly so enchaunted with her as he secretly vowed neuer to loue any other while he liued Palladine perceiuing his amorous glaunces on Graciana and noting the many alterations of his countenaunce immediatly knew what disease he was troubled withall which he desirous to â—â—ttigate and to pleasure the Prince Zorian to his vttermoste the tables being withdrawen he tooke Graciana by the hand and bringing her to Zorian thus spake My Lord and noble companion for my sake loue this beautifull Lady she is named Graciana and I hope you shall finde her nature answerable to her name to wit gracious vertuous and honest I promise ye my Lord quoth Zorian you haue doone me the greatest pleasure in the World bringing to me a Lady so woorthily accomplished that I might learne to imitate her vertues which haue pearced my hart in such sorte as would she accept me to be her Knight and seruant neuer should any other Lady haue the honor of my loue I perceiue well then said Palladine that you are touched to the quick doo you twaine deuise togeather and in meane while I will goe talke with the Countie her Father So taking the Earle of Flaunders aside he rehearsed to him the manifolde vertues of the Prince Zorian and how intirely he loued his Daughter thinking it a great preferment to her if she ioyned with him in mariage Like spéeches hid he vse to the Queene his Mother who was Cosin germaine to the Carle of Flaunders and betweene them bothe handled the matter so effectuallye as within two dayes Zorian and Eraciana were affianced together their mariage being deferred because of Ambassadours were gone to Norgalles and Millaine to conclude the mariages betwéene Landastines Manteleo Marcelina and Florea and the Princes Fathers consent obtained all these mariages should be sollemnelye perfourmed togeather But twenty dayes being now past and Palladine hearing no tidinges of Nonparelia he began to waxe melanchollye halfe distrusting the promise of Orbiconte yet did not this pensiuenes continue long for she arriued soone after as you shall presently perceiue CHAP. XXXVII ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia was deliuered to the great Turkes Ambassadours and how by the sorceries of the wise Orbiconte the Ships were scattered and what perswasions she vsed to the Mariâ—â—ers who were very lothe to saile into England WIthin thrée dayes after the departure of Palladine and Zorian from Aquilea Nonparelia was honourably deliuered to the great Turks Ambassadours and with meruailous royaltye conuaied on Ship boorde accompanyed with her Aunt Orbiconte and a séemelye traine of Ladies beside The Ankers weyed and the sayles hoysed they launche into the deepe the Princesse still fearefull to loose the true owner of her loue yet comforted by her Aunt that in few dayes they would sée England Being entred the Mediterranean Sea Orbiconte saw it was time to set her practise abroche and seeing the Pilots and Mariners were all at rest with a Booke in her hand she came vp on the deck where brething her charmes into the aire and filling the sayles with her vnhallowed spelles the windes began to blowe terribly and the Seas were troubled with wonderfull roughnes that the Mariners awaked with the horror of the storme awaiting euery hower their vtter destruction In this tempest the ships were seperated so farre a sunder as the Turkes dispaired of euer méeting againe so that the vessell wherin y e Princesse and Orbiconte were by daye was on the borders of Scicilie and very néere to the Labean promontarie albeit the Pilot could not tell in what Cuntrie they were Then Orbiconte calling the Gouernours of the Ship to her and the Gentlemen appointed to attende on the Princesse in the presence of her Niece thus spake to them You haue seene my good freendes in what extreame danger we haue beene this night past and I thinke there is no one amonge yee but is perswaded that our Gods haue especially preserued vs yea by wonderfull miracle from shipwracke wherwith euery minute of an hower we were threatned In like sorte you may imagine that not without some secret and hidden cause we are caste into these partes and scattered from the Ships of my Lordes Ambassadours héerby doo our Gods euidentlye manifest that men how strong or puissant so euer they be cannot bring to end any intended enterprise vnlesse it be ordered by their fauour and direction and heerehence ariseth the the common prouerb That men purpose and the Gods dispose It is well knowne to you that the King my brother hath graunted in mariage my Niece Nonparelia to our Lord the great
Turke but our Gods from whose sight nothing can be shadowed knowing what before was accorded and concluded betwéen her and the Knight without rest whome you haue séene in my brothers Courte he being the Sonne of a mighty and puissant King haue apparantly reuealed that their faithfull promise to eache other must not be falsefied promise I say of mariage betwéene them wherof my selfe am a sworne witnesse In vaine is it then for you thus to alleadge that the Knight without rest is a Christian and my Niece a Pagan but let it suffise ye that our Gods will haue it so as you in short time shall sée further experience Doo you therfore direct your compasse to the coaste of Spaine that from thence we maye saile into England the seate and Kingdome of the Knight without rest after the deceasse of his Father who is yet liuing Feare not any inconuenience that may ensue héereby for I will be your safe protection and no woorsse shall fall to you héerby then to my Niece and my â—esâ—e and of her haue I greater care then were she my owne Daughter Heerewith she paused expecting what answere they would returne but discerning by their countenances that they liked not her speeches as also they were loth to come among the Christians their enemies without a better warrantise of their safetie she began againe in this manner Why my fréendes are you so fearefull as you shewe your selues doo you think any harme shall happen to you in my companie am not I and my Niece sufficient for your assurance what other safe conduct would ye haue we goe into the land of our kindred and freends to confirme a perpetuall peace and concorde with one of the moste vertuous Princes in the world My Nephewe the Prince Zorian who departed you knowe with that gentle Knight there is he louingly entertained fauoured by him whom the Gods preordained to be my Nieces husband Saile we on then merilye and feare not the displeasure of the King my brother for well am I assured that they will not dislike this mariage And were I not fullye perswaded of what I haue saide that the ende of our enterprise shall sorte to a generall benefit yea to a full resolued ioye and content on all sides I would not haue aduentured thus farre being as carefull of your good as mine owne life These spéches so throughly animated the Mariners and Gentlemen as they promised to fulfill what she gaue them in charge being certaine that Orbiconte tolde them nothing but what she had foreseen by her wonderfull knowledge and therfore passing by Hercules pillers they entred the Ocian directing their compasse toward great Britaine By y e way they were set vpon by thrée pirats who seeking to take the spoyle of the Ship stew many Gentlemen and Mariners and when they were brought to the very hardest exigent that they thought verily to be taken by the Pirates three English shippes came to their rescue wherein the high Admirall of England was who had béene in Portugall with the King to aduertise him of the mariage of his two Nieces to the Princes Manteleo and Landastines The Ships of England encountred the Pirats and after long fight tooke them then comming to knowe of whence the Ship was that had béene so distressed the man that was sent to demaund the question was Captaine Broantine who accompanyed the Admirall in this voiage Ioyfull was Orbiconte when she beheld Broantine and comming on boord the Admirall to whome Broantine reuealed of whence they were and that Palladine long expected their arriuall in England it is not to be asked how courteously he entertained them vowing to take sharpe reuenge on the Pirates for their villainous dealing Broantine declared to Nonparelia the health of Palladine and her brother Zorian how he was Christened and affianced to the faire Graciana of Flaunders which newes pleased her not a little as also this happie and fortunate deliuerance which she verily thought hardly to escape with life The Admirall made them the best chéere he could on Ship boord and afterward committed them to the charge of Broantine to see them safely conducted into England himselfe taking order for the Pirates Ships which after he had ransacked as he pleased he followed withall as wind and weather gaue him leaue CHAP. XXXVIII ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia and Orbiconte arriued in England where they were royally entertayned by the King and his Princesse And how Palladine bewrayed what had passed betweene him and his Lady wherewith the King and Queene were well contented HAuing sayled with a good and prosperous winde at length the Ships came on the cape of Cornewall and from thence to the Isle Benedict where coasting as occasion serued leauing the cape of Pinda they tooke harborow in the Ile of Wight from whence Broantine senta Brigandine before to aduertise Palladine how néere his Lady was the wise Orbiconte writing to him in this manner The Letter from the wise Orbiconte to Palladine Prince of England THese are to aduertise ye Lord Palladine that by the assistance of the highest God my Niece Nonparelia and I are safely arriued in the Isle of Saint Helena from whence we will shortly set forward according to the promise I made at your departure from Aquilea hauing doone my vttermost in your cause for my Niece who as you knowe hath refused the great Emperour of Turkie making choyse of you aboue all other in respect of your faithfull vowe to her made in my chamber at her Fathers Pallace which I hope you will not now forget considering what hath béene doone at your earnest instance Therfore if as yet you haue not done it make the King your Father and the Quéene acquainted therewith and that so soone as possible you can because I would sée your mariage perfected before my returne to Aquilea that I may credibly assure the King my Brother what high good fortune is befallen his Daughter as also the continuall honor promised you by the destemes and not to you alone but to your issue heereafter likewise Thus awaiting opportunitie to acquaint you at large with our nauigation and what dangers we haue escaped on the Sea as your Admirall and Broanâ—ine can testifie who deliuered vs from bloodthirstie Pirates I ceasse presenting hartie good will to you from my Niece and my selfe From the Isle of Saint Helena By your affectionate freend Orbiconâ—e Such were the contents of the Letter sent from the wise Orbiconte to the Prince Palladine which was presented him by one of Broantines Gentlemen as he was walking in the Garden with the King and Queene conferring on the preparation for the triumphs at the mariage of Marcelina and Florea No sooner had he read the name of Orbiconte and from whence the Letter was directed but he began to change his countenance meruailously which the King perceiuing said What newes hath Broanâ—ine sent ye that makes your rouller alter in such sort the Letter doubtlesse is the cause
thereof In truth said the Quéene I see the Letter imports great matter let vs vnderstand what is contained therein Palladine not daring to denie this commaundement causing the Gentleman that brought the Letter to withdraw himselfe thus answered My gracious Lord and Father this Letteâ— deliuers none but good newes the Sister to the King of Aquilea and faire Nonparelia his Daughter are come to visit your Maiestie Right welcome are they said the King and I will doo them all the honor I may but what may be the cause of this kindnesse séeing our Realme is so farre from Aquilâ—a Then Palladine declared the whole discourse of his voiage how by the aduise of the wise Orbiconte he had promised the Princesse Nonparelia after she had receiued her Christendome to take her in mariage in that she was accomplished with as rare perfections of beawtie and vertue as any Princesse in the world beside You place that formost quoth the King which you loue best preferring corporall beawtie before vertue but héerein you are to be pardoned for loue and affection so alter the sences as makes men put one word in anothers place I spake of that first my Lord quoth Palladine which I first sawe in so faire a creature namely a choise grace of corporall beawtie and hauing afterward by frequenting her companie gathered sufficient knowledge of her inward endowments I placed them as they came to my acquaintance And such is my hope good Father that your selfe wil iudge no lesse then I doo when you haue seene her For the rest Madame Orbiconte her Aunt shall resolue ye giuing you to vnderstand matters of weight and such as you will thinke your selfe happie to knowe this being the meane to bring to the Christian faith the great and mightie Kingdome of Aquilea Thou tellest me wenders my Sonne quoth the King but why didst thou not sooner acquaint me heerewith Because I feared answered Palladine that misfortune on the Sea might alter my intent or the promise of Orbiconte might be preuented by some other sinister meane Well my Sonne quoth the King I pray that thy desires may haue a fortunate end and such things as thou speakest of may come to passe meane while let vs prouide to receiue these two Princes and make them such entertainement as their calling deserues Foorthwith he commaunded that the Pallace should bee adorned with most sumptuous Tapistrie and calling for the Uiceadmirall willed him to prepare certaine Ships that might go meete the Ladies as they came wherein Palladine Zorian Manteleo Landastines and many other great Lords were embarqued And béeing come to the Ile of Tennet they espied the Ships sayling amaine toward them and entring among them Palladine seeing Orbiconte aloft on the deck knew well where the Princesse Nonparelia was wherefore going aboord that Ship catching Orbiconte in his armes he thus spake Welcome good Lady into this Countrey this day doo you giue me life and the onely comfort I desire in this world for had not your assurance at my departure from Aquilea perswaded me I had ere this beene consorted with the dead As he was thus embracing Orbiconte the Princesse Nonparelia came foorth of her Cabin and with a sweete smiling countenance came to him saying Haue you not doone yet my Lord I am not content that you giue all the welcome to mine Aunt and allow me no portion thereof I thinke I haue deserued some part At these words he suddenly leauing Orbiconte embraced his mistresse with such zealous affection as neither of them were able to speake one word in which time Zorian and the other Princes had leisure to welcome the wise Orbiconte During this time of greeting and salutation they sayled on with so good a winde as in short time they entred the Port of London where this honorable companie were receiued with great magnificence the Citizens conducting them thorough the streetes with such pompe and sumptuous deuises as neuer was the like seene in London before The King and Queene for the greater honor of their Sonne came to the Court gate to welcome the Princesse at whose rare beawtie as they did not a little wonder so there wanted no kinde of courtesie whereby their good will might at large be expressed So walking on into the great Hall there began againe new shewes of entertainement whereby both Orbiconte and her Niece perceiued that the Court of England was incomparable for gracious behauiour While the King and Queene were conferring with Orbiconte Palladine tooke his Lady aside to the windowe where she at large declared to him the dangers sustained in their voyage and their good deliuerance by the Admirall of England and Broantine Héerof sweete Lady quoth Palladine your Aunt already hath aduertised me and I knowe assuredly that you haue escaped greater perill then you can report to me all for my loue wherein I am religiously bound to you while I liue yet heerewithall consider that you haue endured all this for your faithfull freend and husband who now bids you welcome as his loyall and espoused wife Alas my Lord quoth the Princesse you well knowe that I haue no other intent and the sooner our nuptials are solemnized the better shall I be quieted least any dishonor should ouertake me in respect of what hath passed betweene vs heeretofore Madame answered Palladine this â—ace concerneth me as néere as your selfe and to preuent such danger we must héerein be aduertised by your Aunt Orbiconte the rest shall be accomplished with all possible spéede In all this time Orbiconte had so preuailed with the King and Quéene declaring that this mariage was forepointed in their infancie and should by her meanes be â—atâ—fied by the King of Aquilea her Brother as they both promised that so soone as the King of Portugalâ— was arriued who was sent for to the mariage of his two Nieces the wedding should be sollemnized at that instant likewise Untill which time the Princesse should be enstructed in the Christian faith and be made partaker of that holy Sacrament which is the badge and cognisance of all Christians so should her obscure thoughts be cléerely illuminated and the mariage would be more acceptable in the sight of God The Kings deuise was generally well liked and the Princesse her selfe willing to vnderstand the rules which were so farre different from her Pagan profession in which exercise she had her whole studie and delight till the time came that she should be Baptized CHAP. XXXIX ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia and all her Ladyes were with great pompe and solemnitie Baptised and all the honorable mariages afterward finished BY paineful diligence of diuers learned Diuines the Princesse was wonne to receiue the faith of a Christian and all her Ladies likewise that came with her from Aquilea so they being all attired in white garments were conducted to the Cathedrall Church in London with such royall pompe and magnificence as euery eye was set to wonder Such was her stately maiestie in going and
her swéete lookes so effectuall in piercing as the most deuoutest minde was halfe rauished yea double charged with the baptisme of these twelue Aquileans Manteleo Landastines and the Queene were her sureties at the Font and diuers honorable persons for the Ladies who changed none of their names at Palladines request They were no sooner returned to the Pallace â—ut newes was brought that Don Roderigo the King of Portugall was come to London which tidings pleased the King to well especially all the louers whose mariages stayed onely for his comming as I thinke the riches of the whole world could not more content them Roderigo thus arriued is saluted by the people embraced by the King his Brother welcommed by Palladine and the other Princes kissed so courteously by Nonparelia his two Nieces and Graciana Daughter to the Earle of Flaunders as he imagined himselfe in the like place as héeretofore was feigned on the Isle of Aualon and the Kingdome of Feria On the morrow was the sollemnitie of the espousalles and because the Kings Princes and great Lords there arriued stroue who should giue place to each other it was in the end concluded that each Bridegroome should leade his Bride himselfe therefore they went to the Church in this manner Nonparelia was lead by the Prince of England Marcelina by Manteleo Florea by Landastines Graciana by Zorian Doronea Daughter to the Duke of Rostock by Broantine Erinnea Duchesse of Rimandria by Liboran Héere doo I omit the description of their sumptuous ornaments chaines and iewelles because you are able to conceiue that such persons at such a time want nothing that may set foorth themselues to the vttermost The feastes at Dinner and Supper ended the Maskes Mommeries and other pastimes giuen ouer Hymen entred among them whose Comedie was so bréefe as he vsed but one acte and two persons in the scene and that without any auditours present but those whome the play and partes concerned But cléere Dyan arising gaue fauour to some and offence to other so for that time the pastime ceassed because the Lords and Ladies came to giue them the good morrowe especially to Nonparelia who in time they hoped to sée Queene of England She hauing with modest and amiable gestures thanked them demaunded of Marcelina and Florea her Sisters how they fared and how her Brother Zorian did with his faire Princesse of Flaunders they all replying that loue that night rewarded their long trauailes and Venus courteously fauoured her Sonnes procéedings But leaue we this to such as haue made experience thereof and now let vs come to a matter long time kept in silence CHAP. XL. ¶ What end the aduenture of the Statues had namely that of the Goddesse Cytherea and her Sonne Cupid and the braue Tournament after the proofe thereof in honor of the marriage of Palladine and Nonparelia IN honor of this great sollemnitie the Princes had concluded on a Tournament at Armes which to behold the Ladies of the Court put themselues in comely equipage when Palladine before them vsed these speeches Faire Ladies you knowe how long I haue beene desirous of this day to make proofe how the aduenture of Loues Images might be brought to end namely by one of the race of the King my Father And albeit I am not that happie Knight to whome it is destenied and whome the heauens will regard with such fauour as in beawtie and firme affection to God beyond all other yet will not I faile to hazard my triall being thus farre assured that in matters appertaining to a noble minde no one hath beheld me inferiour to any And if my vertues are not came to perfection it will be some greefe to me because the abilitie of a man shall be prized according to his successe in this triall But to the end these Images newly called to remembrance may breede no obscure and difficult vnderstanding you must hâ—ere note that in the great waste place before the Court at London at the top of a great paâ—â—e of staires stood these Statues the one representing Venus holding in her hand a lighted Torche not to be extinguished but by the conquerour of double passions and the other was her Sonne Cupid with an arrowe drawen in his loâ—â— as readie to shoote which likewise could not be discharged but by her that was as much ouercome as victorious in amorous affections Now although these Statues were made of Marble yet were they so excellently carued and approching so neere to the life as Venus being attired in habit after the English manner was able to entise the thoughts of a verie stayed person Yet resteth one matter to declare namely that the man not deseruing the name of a louer might not present himselfe before these Images for the sight of such men was so offensiue to them as they would disdaine to looke vpon them and exalt themselues vp into the aire because such vnwoorthie people should not touch them Returne we now to Prince Palladine againe he who by generall opinion had not his second in England and by his new entraunce into the fellowship of the maried caried this estimation in his owne conceit that he should beare away this long desired honor in triall whereof so many had fayled héeretofore Yet heerein his high opinion was beguiled for he must yeeld and giue place to those whome the fates had especially appointed to wit his owne Sonne the Prince Florano of England and the faithfull Lady Pamphilia of Greece his wife as in their historie at large it is discoursed For this cause that the chéefest honor might remayne to him beyond all the other he caused Broantine and Liboran to begin the triall first then the Prince Zorian followed yet all of them so slenderly fauoured as they could not attaine to any shew of possibilitie Which when Landastines and Manteleo beheld the desire of glorie they had before made them now of so high and resolute courage as impacient of delay they would not tarie for each other attempting their fortune together but this vnkindly heate caught such a sudden cooling as their timeritie grew insupportable whereby the Images turned their backs to them Then they heereat offended said that the vertue of loue in this triall had not his due therefore they ought not to be any way dishabled As for this pâ—ece of Witchcraft quoth they héere beawtie is preferred before loyaltie therefore it must consequently followe that he and she who should despoile these Images must be the most faire and loyall of all louers So such as had not exquisite beawtie and loyaltie to be tearmed incomparable were repulsed thence with such discontent as the open foyle was more gréeuous then death to them Palladine heereat thoroughly moued yet more reioycing at anothers fault then distrusting his owne sufficiencie aduanced himselfe and proffering his owne hand to the Torche and the other to the Bowe the Images making obeysance and shewing amiable countenance to him mounted vp on high from him which
when you shall vnderstand who hath beene the cause of all the honors obtained by Palladine you will alter your conceit of displeasure toward me I desire ye to comfort your selfe with the sight of our little Sonne Vnyon of whose welfare I am no lesse glad then were I Lord of all the Orcedes Your bed hath not béene abused hauing thereby gained so faire a flower and well may you thus vaunt of your Palladine that he is vowed to his Sonnes good fortune maugre the crueltie of the greatest Tirant in the world And albeit I haue espoused Nonparelia she must remaine as my wife without diminishing any part of the good will wherein I am indebted to Brisalda of the rich Islands Your freend for euer Palladine Hauing sealed this Letter with his Seale of Armes and bound about it a little golden Chaine whereat he fastened a costly Diamond he deliuered it to the messenger saying My fréend deliuer this from me to thy noble mistresse with my continuall dutie to her good grace desiring her to keepe this Iewell for my sake in that it is the chéefest I make account of As for your paines this Chaine of gold from mine owne neck I giue ye and let it serne as part of a recompence toward your trauaile Thus is the messenger returned to the Duchesse who hauing read the Letter from Palladine qualified her sorroweâ— by good perswasions and afterward maried with the Prince Alfâ—an of Ireland Now commeth Palladine into the great Hall and there renewed his former communication with Caesar and the euening being spent in Maskes and braue deuises onely to honor the Emperours Sonne at length they all betake themselues to their Chambers On the morrow Caesar came to the Ladyes desiring them to sâ—e him trie his fortune at the Statues which he perswading himselfe able to finish was disappointed with a shamefull repulse the greefe whereof so offended him as that day he secretly departed from the Court net bidding the King or any one adiew The day following as Palladine was walking in the Garden with the King he entred into these speeches My gracious Lord and Father hauing graunted me to marrie with the Lady whose vertuous qualities deserued a much better husband I greatly doubt least the King her Father being ignorant of our former contract will finde himselfe so agréeued heereat that he will seeke reuenge as Kings are wont to doo which in plainer tearmes is by the Sword To preuent the daunger imminent in this case our fréend Lydiseo being now King of Hungaria through whose Dominions he must néedes passe I thinke it not amisse to aduertise him héereof that he may there offer resistance while we prouide héere our men and munition in readinesse Héereto may my Brethren of Norgalles and Millayne be auailing likewise wherefore with their Wiues they intend to returne home into their countreys and they being our faithfull allyed freends will there likewise haue their subiects in readinesse to giue vs succour if néede shall require My Sonne answered the King séeing the marriage is accomplished it is too late to be blamed or now to vse spéeches in this behalfe which are but friuolous and vnprofitable I pray thée therefore reserue to thy children if thou happen to haue any a future peace without any cause of warre or molâ—station and well hast thou aduised vs as concerning our beloued Brother the King of Hungaria to whome within these ten dayes I will send mine Ambassadour Meane while our Sonnes of Norgalles and Millayne shall haue all things readie to depart when they please as loth to hinder their good determination or any thing that may be for thy quiet and suretie Manie other matters were that day dispatched in Councell all of as great importance as this which I will passe ouer with silence because the secrets of Kings are not to bée made common The Ambassadour for Hungaria being dispatched conduded Manteleo and his Lady to Millayne where he left this married couple so combred with prouision for warre 〈◊〉 they not forgetting any part of their amorous desires are ten monethes were past Marcelina was deliuered of a goodly Sonne named Hector of Millayne imitating his Father in déedes of chiualrie yet beeing the first of that name that euer wan honor in the feeld If Manteleo was welcomed with great ioy by his Father and his Subiects Landastines was not inferiour to him when he entred Norgalles where the old King Harfron his Father woorthely entertained him being so glad of his good fortune as hauing embraced and kissed the Princesse Floraea the teares tricled downe his white beard with inward conceite of ioy Ah my Sonne quoth he how much are we bound to thanke the God of heauen for this especiall signe of his grace and fauour how am I and mine likewise continually to reioice that our tribute to the Crowne of England is thus fréely forgiuen vs in happie houre was this mariage concluded that not onely bringeth a continuall league of peace but disburdeneth vs of a paiment troublesome to our whole countrey Now dare no enemie vexe vs with warre séeing we haue the King of England our fréend wherefore my Sonne for bringing this comfort to thy Fathers hart whose age makes him now vnfit to gouerne any longer heere I deliuer the Crowne into thy hands not doubting but thou wilt rule as thy Father hath doone before thee Landastines being thus honored and put into y e full possession of the Crowne of Norgalles soone after made the King his Father a Graundsire by the birth of Don Celidon his Sonne to the no little ioy of all his Subiects The like good hap had the Prince Palladine to honor the aged King Milanor withall Nonparelia being deliuered of the yong Prince Flerano at whose birth were many good fortunes prognosticated for which the Citizens of London in signe of their reioycing caused bonefires to be made in the streetes and the Belles were rung day and night during the space of a sennighte All things being come to so good effect and the maryed Louers in their owne Countreys the wise Orbicoâ—te would now likewise take her leaue for a mightie Griffon as red as blood came flying from the aire into the Pallace which she laying hold vpon came before the King Milanor and the Quéene and to Palladine framed her spâ—eches in this manner My noble nephewe I beséech ye as you loue your honor and renowme and are desirous to make it immortall that you will cause your yoong Sonne to be carefully nourished assuring you that his deedes shall be correspondent to his name floorishing aboue all the Knightes of his time he being the onely flower that euer grew in England And not onely shall he be famous for deedes of Armes and Chiualrie but vertue and loyaltie he shall haue in such commendation as no Lady in the world shall be found woorthie of his loue but Pamphilia Daughter to the Emperour of Greece as yet vnborne Florano shall loue loyally this Lady In his loue he shall be so secret sure and well aduised and she like to him in all these giftes aâ— through the world they may not be equalled To him and her are the aduentures of the Statues reserued let none therefore séeke before that time to obtaine them And now will I to Aquilea to confirme your peace with the King my Brother and lay downe order for his reuolt to Christianitie Her spéeches thus ended and fréendly embracings passed on all sides she cast her selfe on the Griffons back and mounting into the aire left England and is gone toward Aquilea With this meruailous accident we meane to pause and héere conclude our long labour according to the appointment of Polismar and Palnocid auncient Historiographers of woorthy memory who first deliuered this Historie in the Brittish toong FINIS To the Gentlemen Readers HEere did Claudius Colet of Champaigne who wrote this Worke in the French toong make a full conclusion of the Historie and I hauing no further scope but bound to follow the direction of mine Author heere doo I likewise knit vp the famous discourse of Prince Palladine What errours haue past in my simple translation I must commit to the freendly iudgement of such as knowe that the wisest may step awry and he was neuer yet heard of that pleased â—uery humour My good will is greater then my abilitie and when a man doth bestowe his endeuour onely to delight and not dâ—splease it is courtesie to entertaine such a ones labours freendly considering the recompence is small for a tedious trauaile The historie of Palmendos and Primaleon promised in my two partes of Palmerin d' Oliua as leysure will permit shall be perfected in meane while for Countries sake bid Palladine welcome which the French haue published in the honor of England Honos alit Artes. Your well wishing freend Anthony Munday DIuers foule faultes are escaped in the imprinting in some places words mistaken as rich procall for riciprocall in Brisaldaes Letter to Palladine and diuers other by mishar left out and partly by want of my attendance to reade the proues beeing called away by matters of greater importance and whereto I am bound by dutie of mine office therefore as you happen to finde them and are able to conceiue what in truth they should be let me intreate you freendly to correct them because I am loth to trouble you with a gathered Errata