began Primaleon to take it in dudgeon finding him alwaies before him offering such fashion of Combat feeling rather a mortal bloudy fight than an excercise of ioy pastime wherefore he swore to be reuenged of him if hée encountred him any more in the Tourney which fell out euen so for that vpon the morrow séeing him with his Launce in his rest to come amaine vpon him snatcht another out of his Squiers hands quickly saying alowd in great indignation Discurteous Knight I know not who you are who filled with such a fury and mallice against mée will not suffer me to be one minute of an houre at quiet Neuerthelesse I will see now whether I can vncase this fellowe who thinkes to dispatch him who neuer as farre as bee knoweth offended him in his life Finishing these spéeches he went to charge him with his sword which he thrust so right into the middest of his breast that it ranne more than a foote and a halfe crosse thorough his shoulders and at that instant sent him as dead as a Dogge to the ground prosecuting his talke thus Now shall thou leaue mee manger thy mallice who hast dogde mee so these thrée dayes that I could neuer kéepe thée from behind or before mee Then in great hardiesse hurring into the thickest of the presse hée charged them so couragiously of all sides that ere long hée forced all his aduersaries to turne their backs To make a short abridgement hée got alwaies the honour of the victory as long as the Tourney lasted Whereof the Emperour and all the Nobles of Greece were passing ioyfull of his generosity valour and Chiualry But let vs nowe before wée conclude this first part of our History sée what good lucke befell the Spanish Prince who hath lately left the Iousts to Court his fayre Lady Melissa CHAP. XIIII Howe Recindes hauing espoused Melissa returned into Spatue Arnedes into Fraunce with Philacrista and all the other Kings and Princes into their Kingdomes Except King Florendes and Queene Griana who died in Constantineple to the great sorrow and mourning of the Emperour and all his Court. WHo might euer be able to recount the great magnificence and meruallous thinges which were done during the feast of Philocrista and Francheline Surely the sumptuositie thereof seemed so pompous and the feates of Armes so admirable that to describe them well they surpasse the cloquent tongues of Demosthenes or Cicero For there was present so great a number of braue and valiant Knights that you would haue iudged the whole assemblie to haue béene the choyce and flower of all the men at Armes in the whole world But aboue all Recindes made his valour well knowne there for the earnest desire which prouoked him to do his best endeuour in some thing which might the more recommend him to his deare and best beloued Melissa Therfore the Emperour who estéemed him highly told the King of Hungarie that he should get a good Sonne in law if hée purposed to giue him his Daughter in marriage King Frisoll answered hee would be very willing of this alliance and causing his Son Belcar Recindes great friend to be sent for demeunded him his aduise and what coniecture hee had concerning his will in this matter Whereunto making answere that it was the most affectionate point of the Castilians honour beganne thus to set this busines abroach Lord Recindes your valour and chiualrie sheweth it selfe so Heroicall among this Illustrious Troupe that I loue you as much as my Sonne Primaleon so that to accquite my selfe in part of satisfaction of the good turnes I ow you hauing done mee this great Honour to come and visite mee in my house I am content to giue you for wife Melissa my néece Daughter to so Honourable a King as is my Brother of Hungarie As for the perfections of the Infante séeing you know and sée them euery day your selfe I will not labour to dilate further vppon her praise séeming to mee that the amitle betwéene you and my Sonne Belcar should bee farre more inseperable when the accomplishment of this alliance shoulde be consummate The Knight most attentiuely giuing eare to the Emperours talke bowed himselfe with a lowly reuerence to 〈◊〉 his hande and likewise King Frisols accepting him for his father and reputing himselfe for the happiest Spanish Knight that euer set saile toward the Fennes of Meotis for that he alone had compassed such a marriage the which was solemnized the morrow after with so much pompe and a newe supply of Tourneying Tilting that Primaleon had leysure inough to shew his singuler prowesse valour nor hapned there any thing during all these Triumphes which disquieted the Emperour in minde but the death of Perrequin knowing that he was not the least of his faction for otherwise he would not haue cared so much for it When all the feasts were finished the Emperour gaue many presents to many Knights sending them home most ioyfull men into their owne houses and countries And in the meane while he shewed good cheare countenance Arnedes solicited by his Ambassadors demaunded leaue to returne into Fraunce with his wife Philocrista and so likewise did Recindes with his The Greekish Daminator denied them not their sutes but bestowed great riches vppon his Daughter to the end she should goe most honourablie into Fraunce and in like manner to Melissa his néece Then he commaunded to rigge out a fleete of ships well equipped with al things necessary for such a voyage The King Florendos gaue moreèuer manie rich and pretious Iewels to his néeces the King of Hungarie not forgetting to doe the like to his Daughter with whom hee sent a certaine number of his Knightes to accompany and sauegard her home And if the Empresse became verie sad at the departure of her two Daughters no lesse was the griefe of the two Princesse But for that they went away gallantly married to their content they easily forget all sorrowes past Euerie one then taking their leaues they be tooke themselues to the salt water and so well were they fauoured by Zoylus Neptune that with a prosperous gale and a calme Sea they soone arriued in the Coasts of Prouence where Recindes bidding adew his cosens Arnedes Philocrista followed the roâ—t of his voyage with Melissa And commaunding to single towards the strait of Gibraltar which lieth betwéene the two mountaines Calpe and Abylas at this day called the pillers of Herculos because the one of them in Spaine and the other in Barbarie were long since by him seperated to nauigate from the Ocean Sea into the Mediterranian came to land in the cittie of Siuill where he was most Honourably receaued From thence hee tooke his iourney towardes his Cittie Toledo where the King his Fathersoiourned who was passing glad of his arriuall most of all when hée heard the reputation hee had gotten in feates of Armes In somuch that going from his Pallace to entertaine them louingly could not forbeare weeping
this hemisphere caused mee immediatly dispatch my Ambassadours toward your Maiestie to intreate that you woulde consent to an alliance which I haue purposed if you please betwéene our houses according to the ordenaunce of the last will which the into king of famous memorie my most Noble Father whom God absolue left me when he payd his mortall tribute to nature And because I haue instructed the bearers hereof in all the pointes and articles which on our behalfe you are to bee acquainted withall I shall need to vse the lesse discourse by Letter reposing onely on then sufficiencie Requesting you that in this cause you will giue them credit or what else they shall thinke méete and determine concerning the marriage of Arnedes Prince of Fraunce my Sonne as if I were with you my selfe in person and looke what honor shall be done to them in your Countrie I will account it as receiued by my selfe But least happilie you should repute it strange that thee â—est Sonne of so great a house as this should come to your Court so meanely attended therein I desire yée consider his earnest affection to accomplish some memorable déede vnknowne whereby you may easly gather how gladly he would goe beyond or equall the best Your affectionate and perfect friend The house of Fraunce This Letter béeing read the Emperour tooke the Ambassadours into his Chamber where after hee had heard at full the summe of their message immediatlie hee called together the Princes and Lordes of his priuie Councell to let them vnderstand his intent concerning these affayres This by their aduise was immediatly confirmed for good as well to accomplishe his promise to the deceassed King of Fraunce as also in respect Arnedes behauiour was so generally commended béeing a vertuous Knight and verie forward to Martiall exercise But aboue all the rest Primaleon was most willing and readie in consenting to this alliance knowing the earnest desire of his Sister to sée herselfe the wife of Arnedes another Adonis and for beautie well might Philocrista bée resembled to Psyches or rather if you will a second Venus The mariage béeing concluded on the morrow following they were affianced together with very stately and magnificent triumphes so that both in the Pallace and thorough the Cittie was nothing but disportes and pleasure to the no little content of the Emperour and Empresse as well for the comming and knowledge of Palmendos as for this loue knot betwéene Philocrista and the Royall Prince of Fraunce And now dooth Primaleon arme himselfe for knighthood that hereafter hee may bestowe his time in those commendable occasions Here the French Authour confesseth his fault for hauing intiteled the whole booke the first Booke of Primaleon both that which goes before called by me the History of Palmendos the name agréeing with the discourse and this where Primaleons chiualrie doth now but begin His reason is that the young Prince béeing verie daintylie brought vp and not of yeeres to receiue the order of Knighthood he tooke occasion in meane while to report the braue behauiour of his brother Palmendos But now shall wee speake of the gentle Prince himselfe the onely mirrour of honour and Armes as by reading his History you may perceiue CHAP. II. How Primaleon intreated the Emperour Palmerin his Father in the presence of the French Ambassadoures who prepared themselues to the Grecian portes that hee would giue him the order of Knighthood And how the Lorde of the enclosed Isle sent him a Sheeld and a Sworde wherewith hee tooke his order And what hee sent to the Emperour which he afterward sent to the King Florendos his Father requesting his presence at the mariage of faire Philocrista TO begin the narration and discourse of the déeds of our Primaleon who in his yongest yeares exercised himselfe so well in vertuous Disciplines whereof according to his verie naturall inclination and desire he declared himselfe a studious louer as one might iustly name him the true miracle of perfection So among other endowments for the spirite of wisedome he might be compared to Salomon for beautie both exteriour and interiour to the gentle Gréeke Alcibiades and for magnanimitie councell millitarie strategemes and such like to valiant Scipio the African or the subtill Hanniball of Carthage especiallie in this time of his youth when he had not receiued his order of Knighthood But now fit time therfore being come hée sell on his knée before his Father armed with a light Câ—â—ret which had no other beautie or brauerie then the plaine fashion which most he affected for his help in fight and with humble gestures hee intreated one request The Emperour very willingly made him graunt thereof as the like hee did to diuers others who this day demaunded his gratious fauour seeing him so bountifull in honour of this feast My Lord saide Primaleon the request which at this instant I desire your Grace not to denie mée is that I may be armed Knight by your hande in this armour on the day of the feaste for the nuptialls of Philocrista my sister for to make the same the more magnificent I hope to prouide a Tourney worthy the view of your Maiestie wherto I beséech you graunt me licence of safe conduct for all Knights whatsoeuer because I intend to haue it published in diuers Countries This had I graunted quoth the Emperour with all my hart albeit thou hadst not bound mee thereto by promise because these are the thinges that highly please me and very honorable is it to sée such solempnities at mariages especially of such a Princesse as thy Sister is My Lord sayd Abenunco to Primaleon I humbly beséech you to preferre me in this action in that I likewise earnestly desire to receiue my order of Knighthood with you so please the Emperour to honor mee with so much fauour The like request made Arnasin sonne to Duke Ptolome who was equall with them in youthfulnes of yeares wherwith Primaleon was not a little content Immediatly were Heralds of armes dispatched into diuers Regions to publishe the Tourney and the day purposed for the beginning of the sportes which shoulde continue during the feast with Court royall openly kept at the mariage of the Princesse Philocrista assuring all knights that pleased to shew themselues there to bee entertained with honour euerie way equall to desert Meane while was Arnedes seated by his affianced Mistresse more faire and brauer adorned than the daughter of Tindarus when Paris Alexander was euercome with her loue they bothe ioying yet with modestie and bashfulnes as neither durst enterprise the hardines to speake the first woord in which mute passions they rather resembled the two beautifull starres Castor and Pollux than humaine creatures possessed of life and moouing whereuppon Melicia smiling thus spake to them Ah that mine eyes were so happie that they coulde now behold him for whom my heart indures most passionate martirdome I would not show such pusillanimitie as you doe séeming as though you scantly knewe
who vnderstood her well speaking for her set one knée on the grounde and made this answere Madame in very déede I beléeue your Lyon neuer sawe this Damsell before because shee commeth but nowe from a 〈◊〉 Lande farre distant from these Countries but hée presageth the great desire which the Knight who sent her vnto you hath to doo you seruice and also can iudge of the high choyce of this Princesse beeing Daughter to the Soldan of Persia for so much as the Lyons by nature as being Kings among the foure footed Beasts doo recognize and knowe perfectly the illustrious and royall bloud So hee procéeded to declare the Embassage which Prince Edward gaue him incharge to deliuer by worde of mouth beside the letter which he had already giuen into her hand praysing him in valour and curtesie aboue all the Knights to whom the fower Elements had euer lent any influence of harmonicall constitution And told her moreouer how he caused him self to be called the Knight of the Dogge by reason of a very great and fayre Dogge that he carried along with him which was of so good knowledge that hee ayded and succoured him greatly in his necessities Squire my friend replyed the Princesse Gridonia I make no doubt but that the Knight of the Dogge is both magnanimious and of great Prowesse séeing that without knowing me hee hath had this remembrance of me wherein I pray the Lord God to giue me the fauour that according to his merite I may returne him his due guerdon and rewards and giue him so much power and strength as by his happy victory he may chace from my hart the languishing and bitter sorrow which hath ceazed it a long time And for a testimony of the loue and duety I too owe him reciprocally I take and accept this Infant his present in the place and steede of a sister and a good friend and so will I loue and honour her as if wee were both issued out of one wombe For this acceptation and curtesie did Diazan thanke her most humbly in kissing her hand then did hee interprete to the Infant what she said whereat Zerphira bowing her selfe very low did giue her also thankes for her part and then did Gridonia take her by the hand to make her sit downe by her praying her to be of good cheare and to deuise what pastime shee pleased all which Diazan expounded vnto her as well as he could Then shee who perceiued so much honour was done vnto her in eating and drinking alwaies with Gridonia which made her greatly comfort her selfe and droue away all yrkesomnes of the place but not that she could in any wise altogether forget her aduerse and sinister fortune Neuerthelesse she neuer shewed any euident token thereof but very wisely dissembled it whereat Gridonia maruelled not a little but much more at her great riches and iewels which shée carryed about with her Diazan after hee had rewarded the Merchants of Arriace with some present sent them away home to their houses because hee meant to abide there to serue the Infant Zerphira whom he aduertized by the way to take héede least shée shuld speake any thing in fauour of the Emperour of Constantinople to Gridonia nor to shew by any token or signe that she loued him or any of his stocke or kindred Which shee who was both sage and well aduised tooke for so good a forewarning that shee was neuer heard in her presence to speake any thing by affection of this family CHAP. XXII How the Knight of the Dog presented himselfe with the Lady of Arriace before King Frisol who at his entreaties let the widdow alone with her Cittie and how afterward he got the best in a Tourney which was held in his Court and what fell out by occasion thereof DIazan being departed with the infant Zerphira Prince Edward the Lady of Arriace accompanied with twentie knights whom they tooke for their safe conduct tooke their iourney towards King Frisols Court so that arriuing there the third day afterward about euening praier the Knight being in his complete armour except his head-péece and gantlets onely led the Lady by the hand euen vp to the chamber of presence for in this place did the King recreate himselfe with his children and with many other Lords who were come the ther of purpose to see and welcome Belcar not long time before arriued from Durace and there was besides the Quéene his Mother accompanied with Esquiuela Alderine the wiues of Dâ—treus and Belcar his two Sonnes with many other Ladies deuising and sporting themselues together euery one according to their pleasure The King séeing the Lady come in knew presently she was Lady of Arriace and beholding the physiognomie and honest countenance of the Knight iudged with himselfe he descended from some high and great linnage when the Lady prostrating her selfe at his féete thus began to frame her complaint Sir it hath pleased you to cause notice to be giuen me to appeare before your royall Maiestie to the end that vnder the coulour of fortification and assurance of your kingdome you may dispossesse me of my towne of Arriace because it is situate vpon the frontiere confining vpon the Moores your enemies from whom yée suppose putting therein sure guarde and good garrison to shut vp all passage that way to cut off the hostile inuasion which they might other wise make into your Maiesties dominions wherein I maruell much that you addresse your selfe to me being but a poore widow rather than to any other of your vassalls to vse such rigour extremitie towards them considering if you alledge that my sonne is too yong to kéepe quarter and to hold so dangerous a passage I will answer you this reason séemeth not sufficient to execute iniustice towards him but rather ought you as his King soueraigue Lord to take him into your protection and safegarde Nor can you finde iustly any fault that my citty is not well guarded and fortefited séeing I ordinarily kéepe in pay a great number of Knights and Souldiers who do not neglect their duty and diligence aswell in placing Sentinels and Scouts both by day and night within and without my walles as likewise in maintaining all other things which are requisite for a frontire towne besides euery one may presume that in loosing of it I should most of all be endammaged as being depriued of the principall cittie of my domaine which I will not exchange for any other which you shall offer me in recompence to haue it This is the matter I am come to let you vnderstand hoping to finde some pitty and compassion in a Prince so full of clemencie as you are otherwise I would neuer haue presumed to haue béen so bolde to appeare before your presence assuring my selfe if you cause the charters of your Royaltie to be exactlie looked ouer you shall finde it appertaineth not to you by any vassellage but hath alwaies beene the chiefe citie belonging