And with all those that shall say vnto the contrarie vppon the same reason I wil combat with him vntill such time as one of vs bée dead or yéelded prisoner vnto the other vpon condition that hée who hath the victorie shall vse his pleasure with him that is ouercome So that in this sort either they shall remaine the most weakest and cowardliest knights in the world or else I will bring them prisoners béefore your presence for that the king of Gedrosia may loose the great feare which he hath conceiued of them When hée had made an ende of speaking there was not one King nor Knight amongest all them in the great hall that durst make any answere vnto those proude words of Rodaran but onely the king of Gedrosia who rising vpon his féete did answere him saying If thou wert so valiaunt of armes and déedes Rodaran as proude in thy words then should I bée fully certified that thou wouldest bée sufficient to accomplish much more then héere thou hast said and that there were not in all the world a Knight that might compare himselfe with thée but for that thy strength and prowesse is far different and contrarie vnto thy great pride héere I doo giue thée to vnderstande that this day twelue moneths there shall bée such Knights assembled and ioyned together in Constantinople that whereas thou shalt excéede them in the one they shall excéede thée in the other And it shall happen vnto thée many houres in the daye that thou shalt acknowledge this to bée true all this which I haue sayde vnto thée although at this present it séemeth vnto thée to be a fable and lye And I doo desire no other reuengement for the iniury which I haue receiued at thy hands but onely the reprehension which thou thy selfe shalt make at such time as it shall bée vnto thée well knowen And for that my words shall séeme vnto thée to be of lesse credit and that thou shalt haue farther experience of that which I by the starres and celestiall opperations doo vnderstand and know héere I doo giue thée to vnderstand that if thou doost goe forwards with this enterprise which thou hast promised thou shalt finde in the Citie of Constantinople a woman who with hir singular beuty fairnes shal far excel the beuty of y e quéene of Carmania thy lady with the great force strength of hir arme shall abate thy courage and make thée to yéeld And therewith hée held his peace but the great pride of that valiant Rodaran encreased in such sort when hée heard those words of the olde King Gedrosia and his anger was so great that if the Emperour and those kings which were there present had not disturbed him with determined purpose hée went towards him to haue throwen him out at the window But when hée saw that hée could not execute his pretence with great anger and courage he went out of the hall swearing great oathes that hée would accomplish and performe all that which hee had promised that béeing finished to take reuengement of the great iniurie which hée had receiued of the olde king Gedrosia Wherewith hée left all that were ther present greatly amazed at his pride and hardinesse And so departed vnto the kingdome of Carmania whereas all his ioy was for that hée was amorous of the Quéene of Carmania who was in great royaltie and estate and very faire And in processe of time finding himselfe in great fauour with hir and hauing hir aide and help to his contentment hée straight way gaue hir to vnderstand of all that which had passed with him in the court of the mightie Emperour of Tartaria and of his promise that hée had made béefore all those which were there present in saying that he could not in any maner of wise excuse the same but that hée must néedes béegin the enterprise of his iourney towardes Greece out of hand The Quéene Carmania was very wise and of a good iudgement and vnderstanding if it had béene in hir power shée would very faine haue hindred this iourney and for that shée knew very well the condition of this valiaunt and stout Rodaran and that there were none that were able to perswade him from the contrarye of this his determined purpose shée wold not by any means say ought against him but with a merrie countenaunce shée dyd offer hir selfe to goe with him into Greece vpon coÌ„dition that hée would grant vnto hir one thing that she would demand of him if his pleasure were that shée should goe with him The which with a very good will hee did graunt vnto hir And shée promised him to beare him companie Then dyd they ordaine all things necessary for to carry with him on his iourney but halfe the yéere was almost past before they could begin to trauaile for that the quéene coÌ„manded a net of yron to be made very arteficially cunningly wrought it could not bée made an ende of in any shorter time And although that Rodaran did often times aske wherefore the same was made yet for all that the Quéene would neuer tell him but after that this net was made and all things in a redinesse this valiant Rodaran the Quéene departed out of the Countrie of Carmania carried in theyr company certaine knights and Pages which were necessary and after that they had passed many and diuerse countries they came vnto the port of Tenedon whereas they did imbarke themselues and tooke their way towards Greece And although there happened vnto this mightie Prince in his iourney many strange and wonderfull things béecause it is not necessarie this Historie doth not make any mention thereof but onely in the ende of many daies and great trauaile they ariued in Greece not far from Constantinople This valiaunt Rodaran was determined to execute his enterprise within the Citie of Constantinople but the Quéene of Carmania did disturbe him and sayde that now was the time come that hée should performe the gift that hée had promised hir béefore hée did depart out of Carmania which was that the contension which should passe with him and the Knights of Greece should not bée executed in the Citie of Constantinople but in the place whereas shée would appoynt it The which Rodaran although it did grieue him very much yet durst hée not say against it béecause hée promised hir So they nauigated all along the shoare till they came vnto the Bridge called Iaspâ—… which is the first passage ouer Danubia towards the sea and was the most strongest that was vpon all the riuer and furnished full of Towres and battlements and especiallie thrée towers of great force and admiration the one at the entrie vppon the Bridge and the other in the midst and the third at the farther ende all wrought with fine white Iasper stone of so great strength that it séemed impossible to bée taken or wonne by force of armes And this Bridge was mayntained and kept by the Emperour
remembraunce hée lay along vpon the ground without moouing hand or foote but as one that were dead The occasion thereof was for that hée was so big membred and footed withall that the rigorous fall was more perillous vnto him then vnto the king Sacridoro But when the Quéene Carmania saw all that had passed shée arose vp from the place wheras shée sat in companie with all hir Ladies and came whereas these two Knights were on the ground and tooke of Rodarans healme and gaue him aire so that hee came againe to himselfe presently and arose vp on his féete and was greatlie amazed at the great strength of the king Sacridoro went towards him who with very anger was readie to burst to sée himselfe in that great extremitie and could not help himselfe Rodaran pulled of his healme from his head and tooke his swoord from him and made fast a mightie great chaine vnto his legge and put a payre of manacles vpon his hands and so carried him prisoner whereas the other Princes were with so great sorrow and griefe for that which had happened that if it had not béene for the losse of his soule hée would haue slaine himselfe And when the other Princes did know the valyaunt king Sacridoro their sorow and paine dyd double increase And when eyther of them had tolde him all that they had passed with Rodaran hée and all the rest were very sad and heauie for that they did béeléeue of certaintie if God did not put remedie therein it were not possible that there should remaine any good knight but bee brought all to prison So there they remayned all foure together very sorrowfull til their fortune did procure to the contrarie but their sorrow and griefe was not so much to sée themselues so in prison as Rodaran receiued ioy and pleasure for the good fortune that hée had with the King Sacridoro for that according vnto y e great encounter that hée receiued of him hée should haue passed great extremitie if hée had ioyned with him in battaile with theyr swoords so that at this time hée made little account of the rest of the knights which remained because hee had brought into his power these other past who were very valiant and of great prowesse The Page of the King Sacridoro when hée saw his Lord carried to prison and his healme from his head after hee had made that great encounter he would tarrie no longer but with great sorrow returned vnto Constantinople whereas hée gaue the Emperour to vnderstand â—…ud all the Knights that were there present the heauie newes of all that had passed which caused such an admiration in all them that heard it that they knew not what to say but that Rodaran was the most valiauntest and strongest knight that was in all the Pagan land And the sorrow and griefe was so much that the Emperour receiued that hee wold haue armed himselfe and haue gone and prooued himselfe with Rodaran but that his sonne Rosicleer who receiued greatest griefe for the imprisonment of the king Sacridoro and was the fifth to whom the lot dyd fall out to follow the demaund Without any more tarrying hée asked lisence of his Father who committing him vnto God dyd graunt it vnto him saying My welbeeloued and good sonne vse thy selfe in such sort that thou maist reuenge the iniurie done vnto thy friends And in this thing I doo acknowledge the great benefit that God hath done vnto mée in that I doo know thée and thy Brother to bée my sonnes which is the occasion that my court is so greatly honoured with so many valiant knights and now in this time that Rodaran hath put vs into this great extremitie which would haue fallen out very euill if wée should haue lacked you But whereas your highnesse is said Rosicleer we might bée well forborne for if it were so that wée were all prisoners vnto Rodaran wée should receiue great comfort and haue our libertie very certaine if you alone did remaine God deliuer you from this said the Emperour for although ther should be no lack in my good will to receiue death to set you at liberty yet my force strength should want for to supplie the lack of such knights And therwith Rosicleer dyd humble himselfe vnto the Emperour and departed out of the great hall went vnto his lodging for to arme himselfe leauing the Emperour and all the rest very ioyfull bée leeuing of a certaintie that for his great bountie mightie power ther was not a Knight in all the world setting a part his brother the inuinsible Knight of the Sunne that might bée compared vnto him In the which they were not deceiued although it happened not so well vnto Rosicleer in the 〈◊〉 which he had with Rodaran as they thought as in the chapter following shall bée declared vnto you Of the strong and well foughten battaile that the valiand Rosicleer had with that stout Pagan Rodaran and of all that happened vnto them therein Chapter 42. THE valyaunt and well estéemed Rosicleer departed out of the Citie of Constantinople carryeng vpon his sheeld the deuise of Cupid by the which hee was knowen and looked on of all people Likewise the windowes were full of Ladies and Damsels who prayed vnto God for the victorie of theyr Prince as though hee had beene their owne brother who trauailed with so déepe and profound thoughts mixed with sorrow which were vnto him as much care as to sée himselfe with Rodaran in battell and to bring him prisoner vnto the Emperour In this sort did the Prince trauaile towards the Bridge of Iaspe and béeing sore troubled within his thoughts oftentimes hée had lost his way if his page which went with him had not put him in remembrance which was the occasion that hée made the time long before hée came vnto the bridge and for that the remembraunce of Don Siluerio dyd cause vnto him great sorrow and griefe that many times hée sayd vnto himselfe Oh if God were so pleased that in satisfaction of the great trauayle which the Princesse Oliuia hath caused mée to haue that this knight were Don Siluerio hée that I doo now goe to seeke and although the great fauour which hée hath is sufficient to defend him from all the world yet the great reason which I haue to complaine my selfe is sufficient that I dooe execute vpon him this my great anger wrath And in this thing alone the Princesse Oliuia must pardon mée for although I would rather suffer death then in any thing to cause hir to receiue anger yet cannot I let to dooe that and much more to giue hir vnderstanding of the small reason that shée had to forget mée and receiue another And héere I doo protest that if death doth not cut mée off first I will reuenge this my bloody wrath and then perhaps shée will wéepe and lament hir errour And althought this is not sufficient to make satisfaction vnto this my vnhappie Fortune neyther can
Countrie And that which now doeth most grieue mée gentle Knight is that it is now fortie dayes since my departure out of Lydia and by reason of a great storme and foule weather which happenyd vnto vs at the Sea wée could not ariue héere in this Countrie any sooner So that there resteth vnto mée no more but twentie daies of the time that I set with my Knights for to returne who cannot by any meanes doo otherwise after that time be expired but to yéeld vp the Citie for they haue no victualleâ—… for any longer time and although at that instaunt I 〈◊〉 finde out the Knight of the Sunne yet shall wée haue inougâ—… to doo to come thether in time So gentle knight this is alâ—… that I can aduertise you of that you haue saked and demaunded of mée therefore I pray you now to tel mée wheâ—… I may finde this knight of the Sunne for that accordinâ—… vnto the great excellencie and vertue which is spoken 〈◊〉 him throughout all the world I béeléeue that there will bâ—… nothing to the contrarie to disturbe him but that hée 〈◊〉 haue pittie and compassyon vppon mée for that God 〈◊〉 not created a knight of so great estimation but onely to 〈◊〉 mend such great wrongs done in this world When the Knight of the Sunne had vnderstâ—… the demaund of the King Lyeso in all his life hée dyd 〈◊〉 finde himselfe in so great confusion and trouble for that 〈◊〉 the one part the demaund which hee made against Rodâ—…ran and the imprisonment of his great friends dyd cauâ—… and binde him not to leaue off his enterprise béegun and 〈◊〉 the other part the great and extreame necessitie of 〈◊〉 King and of that sorrowfull quéene who in the meane tiâ—… that the King dyd declare vnto the Knight of the Sunne 〈◊〉 you haue heard did wéepe verie pitteouslie the which 〈◊〉 ued him vnto great pittie in such sort that for any thiâ—… as hée thought hée could with no reason leaue hir but gâ—… them sucâ—…our and help and séeing that the time was short that the King Lyseo should returne vnto the Citie Lidia it séemed vnto him a thing impossible first to concluâ—… the demaund of the Pagan Rodaran the which hée detâ—…mined and afterward to giue them aide and succour whâ—… was the occasion that hée was in great doubt and for a good space hée could not speake one woord till such time as the king asked him wherfore hée did not answere him Whereto the Knight of the Sunne answered and sayd Mightie King and Lord doo not you muse nor meruayle that vntill this time I haue not aunswered you for that at this instant hath happened vnto mée two things of great importaunce and if I leaue eyther of them vndone it will bée vnto mee as grieuos as death The one of them is that Rodaran king of Arabia is at the bridge of Iaspe which is â—…n the confines of this Empire of Greece and I am going â—…hether to combat with him for that he hath prisoner a broâ—…her of mine and many other Knights of the Emperour Trebatios court And the other is your demaund and great â—…ecessitie the which doth grieue mée as much as though it â—…ere vnto my selfe béecase you shall vnderstand that I am â—…he knight of the Sunne whom you doo come to séeke and â—…lthough there bée not in mée that bountie which you haue â—…oken of yet there shall not lack good wil for to put my life 〈◊〉 aduenture in your seruice And because this my demaund 〈◊〉 Rodaran hath chaunced at this instant and likâ—…wise your â—…reat necessitie which dooth not requyre any delay hath 〈◊〉 the occasion that I am thus troubled and in this great 〈◊〉 for that I cannot accomplish them both according 〈◊〉 my desire but now séeing it is so fallen out and that 〈◊〉 in the confidence the which you haue had in mée you 〈◊〉 left to seeke and procure aide and succour in other plaâ—… And now the time is very short and you cannot otherâ—…ise procure for your selues hap what hap shall and come â—…hat shall come I am determined to goe out of hand with 〈◊〉 And in the meane time that wée shall with the fauour 〈◊〉 God cléere our selues and set our selues at libertie from 〈◊〉 war I doo béeléeue that Rodaran will not depart out of 〈◊〉 for that in the Court of the Emperour there doo reâ—… many valiaunt knights with whom hée will haue iâ—… to doo béefore hée canne ouercome them all But wheÌ„ the king Liseo vnderstood that hée was the knight of the Sunne and with what determination hée dyd offer himselfe in their aide and succour in all his life hée did not receiue greater ioye and pleasure and went vnto him and embraced him saying Great and infinit thankes dooe I giue vnto my Lord God for that it hath pleased him to let mée sée so high and worthie a Knight and I may well perswade my selfe that you béeing a knight of so strange and gentle disposition can bée no other but hée whose fame is in all the world and not a little amazed at your straunge and excelleâ—…t bountie And now séeing that it is my fortune to come into this great extremitie and that you of necessitiâ—… must make an ende of this your pretendâ—…d enterprise God forbid that euer you should leaue this your determined pretence for to accomhlish my necesâ—…itie it were much better that I loose my whole Kingdome then to hazard the liueâ—… of so precious and valyaunt knights Therefore I will returne againe into Lidia and procure to bée with my knightâ—… béefore my time bée expired and there offer my selfe vnto death with them for to accomplish performe that which I haue promised Then the Knight of the Sunne who waâ—… wholie determined to goe with the King sayde I am fullie determined to accomplish all that which I haue sayde and if it bée so that you are not content therewith héere 〈◊〉 dooe sweare vnto you by the order of Knighthood that 〈◊〉 am purposed to goe thether all alone for that your necessâ—… tie dooth not requyre anie delay And for this my demauâ—… which I haue beegunne I shall haue time inough for thâ—… Rodaran cannot depart towards any place but I shall find him to execute my fury on him And likewise there 〈◊〉 remayne in Greece many valyaunt Knights who will 〈◊〉 taine him for the time and I am very sure that it was 〈◊〉 possible for him to apprehend those knights whom hée 〈◊〉 prisoners in his power except it were by some treasonâ—… falsehood At which time the King Lyseo would with a verie 〈◊〉 will haue stayed with the knight of the Sunne from 〈◊〉 determined pretence all onely for that he would not that he should haue left his first demaund but by any meanes hée would not be perswaded thervnto so that in the best waies he could he did gratifie his great courtesie good will offered vnto him still perswading to the contrary in
of beautie after the great trauaile that she had passed that it was as great meruaile to behold hir as Diana in breake of the day the queene the princesse were greatly amazed at that great wonder looked the one vpon the other beleeuing it rather to be a dream then of truth all that which they saw But in the end being fully satisfied the queene and the princesse did imbrace hir giuing hir great thanks for that she had done for them So they remained there all the rest of that day all the night and the next day in the morning the princes ordained made lord of that castell a knight of the giants for that he séemed to be a good knight the quéene the princesse with all their ladies gentlewomen did depart from thence the princesse did beare them company vnto the port And in the way as they went they met with the damsell that ran away who for very shame would not come in presence of the quéene although they all had great mirth pastime with hir for the small confidence she had in the princes So when they came vnto the port they all imbarked themselues in the same ship wherein the princes came into that country hauing the time wind very prosperous the next day they ariued at Hiberia they had not all fully disimbarked themselues a land when that thether came the King with more then two thousand knights who went in the demaund seeking of Orbion whohad caried away the queene when he met them ther vâ—…derstood of them all that had passed his ioy pleasure was such as to the iudgement I reter me but when he was fully certified by the quéene who the knight was that put them at libertye hée went towarde the princesse said Worthy Lady â—…iue me your royall hands that I may 〈◊〉 them for I owe it vnto you for this great benefit shewed vnto mée all kings princes in the world are bound vnto your great highnesse bounty The princesse did then imbrace him saying Unto God doo I giue great thanks for his great benefits showed vnto me in that he hath permitted that I haue done this great seruice vnto the quéene vnto the princes and likewise in excusing your trauaile begun to sake out Orbion And now séeing that there is no more to bee done héerein in your seruice I doo most hartely desire you to giue me lisence to depart for that I haue very much to doo in other places And so very much against the kings wil he tooke leaue of hir offred himselfe all his kingdome at hir commandement So she departed from them traâ—…ailed eyght daies without finding any aduenture till in the end she was cleane out of Hiberia entred into another kingdome vpon a sodaine at such time as the knight of the Sun was past she discouered a great way off from hir a mighty army oâ—… knights with very rich tents ancients likewise she saw nigh vnto that army a great well 〈◊〉 citie out of the which there went foorth one alone knight within a littlâ—… while after shée saw him to make battaile with the most strongest knights that euer she saw in beholding this fierâ—… battaile the history leaueth hir till opportunitie ¶ How that the Knight of the Sun and the king Liseo 〈◊〉 forth the second day against their enemies of the higâ—… knighthood which they shewed in their battell Chap. 48. IN the kingdome of Lidia was not the knight of the Sun idle neither receiued he much ease in the time y t he was there for that calling to remeÌ„brance the imprisonment of his friends and also the great loue which hee bare vnto the princesse Claridiana whom he exceedingly loued also vnto the faire princesse Lindabrides was the occasion that he could not take any rest but was put in the greatest care doubt that euer he had in all his life Not knowing when to cleare himselfe of that which he had promised vnto his new friend the king Liseo And because that the time shuld not passe away 〈◊〉 wares The next day after the battaile as the history hath told you the king Liseo determined to goe foorth againe in his company Then the knight of the Sun bid request him very much to let him that day goe foorth alone for that they should haue other dayes wherin they would goe soorth both together The which the king Liseo by no meanes would consent therto saying that first he would consent to loose all his kingdome for that it did accomplish him so to â—…ee rather then to consent to sée him in y â— camp amongst his enimies alone But the knight of the Sun hauing a great desire to goe forth alone said Héere I doo sweare vnto you my good Lord that if you doo not like wall héereof that I will leaue all your friendship the which I doo esteeme very much depart whereas you shall neuer heare more of me Then the king when hee saw him so determined saide My good friend doo your pleasure yet consider I pray you what pleasure I can receiue to see you in y e midst of mine enimies and not be a partner of your paine notwithstanding séeing you are therewith content I will not contend against any thing you will command So this valiant Knight béeing armed with his strong and rich armour and mounted vpon his horse somwhat before that the Sâ—…nne had any sorce hée went foorth out of the Citie at which time the king and the quéene all the kinghts and Ladies were vpon the towers of the citie and at the battle ments for to behold see what should passe with this valyant warlike knight who before that he came into the camp did set his horne vnto his mouth did blow it so strong and loud that ther was no knight so stout in all the camp knowing who he was that did sound it but his hart would tremble thereat and such were there that would gladly haue giuen all that they had vpon condition that they had not entred into the kingdome of Lidia although to the contrary ther were many other which did neuer proue his blowes were very valiant stout who did arme themselues and at the commandemeÌ„t of the king they went forth against him the first that went foorth amongst them was one named Alberro borne in Seras being a Knight arraunt he came in company with the king of Arcadia to those parts was counted for one of the most valiauntest knights that was amongst the pagans his armour was so excellent good and made by such art that ther was no blow of sword able to cut it who was mounted vpon his horse with great prid and arrogancy and went towardes the knight of the Sun and without any other salutation or curtesie hee said It shall well appeare foolish and simple
haue parted and made peace betwixt them but the tumult was such and so farre out of order that by no meanes they could reforme it till such time as the King Tiberio heard that great rumour and noyse in the hall he came forth out of his closet and tooke his royall Septer in his hand and pressed in amongst the thickest of them very furiously and with great anger And when he came where as the Knight of the Sunne was and saw round about him so many dead persons and amongst them the Troyan Earle with great anger hée layde hold on him and sayd what is this O Knight that in such order thou dâ—…st disquiâ—…t my court and hast slaine my Knights so all the rest when they saw the King they immediatly dyd retyre backe and were in quiet Then when the valyaunt Knight of the Sunne knew him to be the King and heard what hee sayd hée forthwith dyd moderate his anger all that euer hee could and sayde it is your Knights that doth disquiet your Court and not I and if I haue slaine any it is in defending my self from the death which they doe procure to giue me Of this sayde the King I will informe my selfe punish them that hath bene the occasion héereof And in saying these words he demaunded of him his sword which he gaue him more for curtesies sake then for any other thing hauing it he also tooke the sword of Florinaldus and of all the rest that he suspected to be on his partye and straight wayes called beefore him all his Knights gard commaunded them to take the knight of the Sunne prisoner to carry him into a strong Tower which was on the one side of the Pallace likewise to take Florinaldus all those that were on his side to carry them vnto another Tower that was on the other side of his Pallace so that both the one the other were put in good kéeping but if the Knight of the Sunne had bene armed before he would haue ben taken prisoner he would haue made the King to haue giuen eare to hearkeâ—… vnto that hée would haue said in discharging himself but by reason that he was as it were naked he yeelded and had patience with all that which the King commaunded so they lead them vnto the Tower which was very high well walled And when hée was therin they made fast a very great chaine to his leg and for to kéepe him there was put thirty armed Knights and as many mo other men Then the Dutchesse of Panonia did send vnto him a very good Surgion to heale him of his woundes At this time the death of the Troyan Earle was published throughout all the Court and there was made for him great lamentacion for that the most noblest Princes and Knights that were there were of his kinsfolks So both the one the other complayned very much vnto the King of the Knight of the Sunne in such sort that hée was verye much inflamed agaynst him At this time there entered into the pallace the Countesse Lady and wife vnto the Troyan Earle in mourning appareâ—…l bringing with hir two young sonnes who entering into the Hall whereas the King was beeganne to powre foorth sorrowful complaynts destring iustice agaynst them that had slayne hir Husband and seeing him lye dead vppon the floore shee threw hir selfe vpon him and made such lamentation that it was a heauie thing to béehold at which sight if the King béefore were inflamed against the Knight of the Sunne his indignation dyd the more increase against him in béeholding the great sorrow of the Countesse and determyned in himselfe to doo iustice vpon the death of the Earle and hée ioyned vnto his indignation the great authoritie that hée had to bée called an executer of iustice which vnto manie yea very mightie Monarches oftentimes is very hurtfull the ende of those extremities obtaine them the infamous names of Tyrants Then the King commaunded that the dead bodyes should bee carryed out of the hall and buryed and the Troyan Earle was buryed with great honour and accompanyed with the most noble and principall Knights of the Court. Now hee béeing very sorrowfull for the death of the Earle many Knights that had affection vnto the Knight of the Sunne dyd labour with him for his discharge of béeing in any fault of that tumult and dyd informe him of the great cause that he had to do that which he did in his owne defence but there was nothing that dyd profit at all with the King but rather hée dyd shew himselfe very angry and wrathfull against them that dyd speake vnto him in the Knights béehalfe which was a great griefe vnto many which dyd know the valure and desert of the Knight of the Sunne for it séemed vnto them no reason that hée should bée intreated in that sort And béecause that the King Tiberio was daylie and hourely vrged on all parts the one crying and asking iustice and the other gayne-saying the same hée was for certaine daies very doubtfull not knowing how co determine what was best to bee done but aunswered them all to their little delyght By this tyme the â—…night of the Sunne was healed of his wounds and the Dutchesse of Panonia prouided for him all things necessarie in the prison performing it with as great care and diligence as myght bée But when hée knew the King was doubtfull of his determination and of the great iudignation hee shewed against him it dyd repent him that hée suffered himselfe so to be taken And hée immagined with himselfe what meanes might best be wrought sor to cléere himselfe of that imprisonment for that the nobilitie of his valyant courage could not abide to bée so shut vp and abyde the curtesie and pleasure of the King So in this order the storie doth leaue him till the tyme serue How the Knight of Cupido dyd take his leaue of the Queene Arguirosa and entred into the kingdome of Rusia where he found a strange aduenture Chap. 4. THE mightie déedes of the Emperour Trebatio and the worthy knighthood of the valiant Alphebo hath put almost in obliuion that excellent and worthy Knight Rosicleer whose amorous loue and inuincible deedes doo deserue a more eloquenter writer then my vnskilfull pen can performe Now if you doo remember in the Historie past how that one way Fortune caused him to be the most saddest and sorrowful Knight that euer was seene so full of bitter heauinesse that whatsoeuer thing hée dyd accomplish and bring to passe was not sufficient to make him merry And on the other side Fortune dyd show him very 〈◊〉 in putting beefore him marueilous and wonderfull things and aduentures of so great strangenesse that ouer comming them by his surmounted valoâ—…r in all the world was spred a broad the fame of the Knight of Cupido So after that hée had slaine that valyant 〈◊〉 from all the parts of Thesalia and the confines
was fully certified vnderstoode hir great crueltie hée sell into a mortall sickenesse being without all hope of remedy of the Quéene hée determined to reuenge himself on hir before he dyed So on a night by his great learning he tooke the Quéene out of hir bed brought hir vnto his caue that night there was thundring lightning that with the great noise therof they thought verely the whole world would haue sonke But in the morning when they saw that the Quane was gone could not finde hir they sought for hir in all parts but all was in vayne for that chauncing to come this way reading that which is there grauen in the Rocke they straight wayes vnderstoode that the wise Artidon had brought hir thether in reuenge of the great cruelty that she vsed to him Whervpon ther was diuers Knights that would proue the entrie into the caue and it fell out with them as you shall beare All such Knights as were in loue dyd enter in thorough the fier without receyuing any hurt but within a while after they were put back throwen out againe some â—…arke dead and other some very sore hurt and ill intreated And when it was demaunded of them what they saw within the caue and what happened vnto them they sayde â—…hat at the entry thereof ther was a great Bull which dyd â—…efend the entry and at the first encounter he stroke them with his hornes and dorue them out of the caue and this Bull was of so great and wonderfull bignesse and fierceâ—…esse that the like hath not béene séene his hornes were â—… so great hardnesse that they séemed to be stéele all such Knights as did not loue at the hoore that they gaue the enterprise they felt so great heate torment that they were constrayned to returne back again so y t they could not come vnto the knowledge of the Quéene neyther vnto this day hath ther bene any that hath had so much prowesse to come vnto the knowledge of hir although there haue come many Knights out of diuers and sundry countryes to proue this aduenture and it is now a great time past since any enterprise hath ben giuen and yet all the people of this Country do liue in hope that their Quéene shall be deliuered out of this inchantment so that euer since the time of hir inchanting this Kingdome hath ben ruled by gouernours and not one hether to hath borne the name of King but at such time as any doe enter into this ground they are sworne to deliuer the Kingdome vnto the quéene Artidea at such time as she is deliuered out of that inchaunted caue At this present he y t is gouernour of this country is a yong knight of great vertue wisdome whose name is Luziro and diuers then be y t be cunning in Art magicke that haue told him y t in the time of his gouernment the quéene shall be set at libertyâ—… from the Inchantment of Artidon so y t they doe looke for hir deliuery daily This is sir Knight that which I haue heard declared and spoken by ancient men and héere I do tell you of a truth that the kéepers of that caue haue caused so great seare in all this country that of long time there hath benâ—… no Knight so hardy to giue the enterprise vnto the caue â—… I doe not thinke him to be a wise man that will put himselfe to proue this aduenture for that hether to ther hath not bell a Knight of so much prowes as to conquer the first kéeper it is to be beleeued that the caue is not kept by that alone bull but y t ther is some other keeper as ill or worse then heâ—… The Knight of Cupid was glad and did very much reioyce at this good newes which the shepheard had told him of this aduenture giuing him great thanks for the same he said that for any thing he would not let but giue the en ter prise thereto if the day were come Whereat the shep heardes were greatlie amazed and did request him aâ—… that they might to leaue and giuâ—… ouer this determination and not to put himselfe into such perill for y t by no meanes he could escape the death or els to be very sore hurt At this time theyr poore supper was ready and set vpon the gréene grasse wheras they sate downe to supper together when they had supped the Shepheards went and tooke their rests slept the Knight of Cupid did solitarily put himself a part and sate downe vpon the grasse vnder a trée there passed that night with great desire to proue the entry of the caue thought the night a thousand yeere til that day was come How the Knight of Cupid entered into the dreadfull caue of Artidon and of all that happened there Chap. 5. SO the next day in the morning when the Sunne began to shew himselfe ouer all the earth the worthy Knight of Cupid arose vp and looked for the shepheards and saw them where they lay all a long vppon the gréene grasse and were all a sléepe very soundly without all care as those that were not troubled with any kind of sorrow for to disturbe them of their rest and calling to remembrance the great number of nights y t he had passed wholy without any sléepe or taking any rest of his great â—…ares and profound thoughts that did not all onely bannish â—…way all sleepe in y e night but also in y e day time it brought â—…im into excéeding admiration which did sore trouble his â—…houghts caused him to lift vp his eyes to heauen say Oh Fortune how little are we bound vnto thée all we whom thou hast brought into this world with dignitye â—…nd honour and caused vs to exercise and vse all military Knighthood it had béene much better for vs and with greaâ—…er ease quiet rest void of all care â—…to passe our times in â—… meane and a base estate héere in these gréene and flouriâ—…ing fieldes whereas is all the quietnesse in the world And not with so much pleasure in the courts of Kings and Princes whereas we doe see make captiue our owne liberties and venture our liues and honours euery houre agayne if it be not with losse of bloud and great perils he is not worthy of honour nor to beare the name of a Knight but doth greatly defame the order of Knighthoode wharas they sléepe passe the sweet nights with great quietnesse receiue no infamie nor rebuke but doe comfort and reioyce themselues all night long with the peceable freshnes of the aire wheras is all quietnesse of the wild beasts the silence of the birds the pittering noyse of the running of waters y e great freshnesse of the trees the swéet odoriferous smels of all flowers which I say is vnto the soule hart a continuall peace concord in the breake of the day a
Thundering and noise was past the Knight of Cupide saw that the entrie in at the doore was cléere and without any impediments so hée entered in thereat and came into another Quadran which was meruailous bright cleere onely by the vertue of precyous stones which were very big set round about the wals and in the middest of this Quadran there was in manner of a stage very straungelâ—…e wrought and round about it steps like stayres for to go vp vpon and vpon the same stage there was set in a chayre very richlie wrought the Queene Artidea who was very fayre royally apparayled who leâ—…ned hir head vpon hir arme and there was beeholding a Knight of a very good countenance and disposition who was all armed with guilt armour and brodered with precious stones kneeling vpon his knees béefore hir hauing his breast open shewing vnto the Queene his bloody heart and although his countenaunce dyd shew him to be dead yet the wound and the blood was so fresh as though at the same instant it had beene done This Knight was the wyse Artidon who willingly and with his owne handes dyd wound and open his breast after that hée had brought the Queene thether at the houre that the Knight of Cupide entered into that Quadran and saw all this the same houre was the inchauntment vndone and the Queene was at lybertie who when shée lyft vp hir eyes and saw him shée straight waies vnderstood that that Knight had finished that aduenture and set hir at libertie for the which béeing ioyfull shée arose from the place where shée was set and when the Knight of Cupide saw hir aryse hée went towardes hâ—… and dyd salute hir very curteously and shée spake vnto him saying O gentle Knight wherewith can I gratifie you for this great benefit which by your mightie bountie and prowesse this day I haue receiued in that I am at liberty and cléere of this heauy and sorrowfull prison in the which I haue béen so many yéeres dooing no other thing but liue in continuall sorrow and lamentation for the death of this Knight Tell me I pray thée who thou art and in what estate doth all my Kingdome remaine for that I béeleeue by reason of the long tyme that I haue béene héere there is no memorie nor mencion of mée Then the Knight of Cupid said Lady vnto god thou oughtest to surrender these thancks and not to mee for that hée hath beene the principal dooer and hée it is that hath deliuered thee out of this Inchantment and that which I of my part haue done it is sufficient satisfaction for y t I haue done it in the seruice of such a person as you are And as touching the rest which you doo aske of mée you shal vnderstand that I am a straunge Knight and was neuer in this countrie beefore it was within these foure dayes that I entered into it notwithstanding in this small tyme I haue vnderstood by certaine shepheards which I left héere without the caue that in all your kingdome there is great memory of you and that they doo looke for your retourne daylie and since your first entrie into this Caue vntill this daye the kingdome hath beene in power of gouernours and none hath beene called King And béeléeue this of a certaintie that your libertie will bée vnto all them great ioye and delyght and they will receyue you with no small honour The Quéene was very glad and dyd reioyce to heare those words And when shée saw the excellent beauty of the Knight of Cupid who had the beauer of his healme lift vp shée was greatly amazed thereat and thought within hir selfe that she could not make him better satisfaction for that which hée had done for hir then to take him for hir husband And thincking the tyme long to sée hir selfe cléere out of that place shée sayde that if hée were desirous to know the truth of any thing of the wyse Artidon that hée which was kneeling on his knées vppon the Scaffolde was the same and that hée would giue him the true and perfect aunswere of all things that should bée demaunded of him The Knight of Cupide who was very glad thereof went vnto the wyse Artidon and sayd O gentle Knight and wyse Artidon let now thy misfortune giue comfort vnto my sorrow which thou doost know is very great and how that it should bee vnto mée a gloryous death that in opening of my breast and shewing my heart vnto that cruell Lady I might cause hir to wéepe and it were but one teare of pittie to haue compassyon of mée Lykewyse thou doost well know the great misfortune of the Princesse Briana my Mother and how the Prince Eeward my Father and my Lord. hir spowse was lost and wée could neuer heare any newes of him and also my brother the Gentleman of the Sunne was lost béeing but an infant and neuer yet could newes bée heard of him now heere I besire thée that thou dost giue me some newes of them or to tell mée whether they bée alyue or dead or whether I shall goe to séeke them for that whatsoeuer thou shalt tell mee I shall hold it for a truth and when thou hast satisfied mee of the truth heerof then I will desire thée to tell mee some newes of that which passeth in the court of King Oliuerio and as for the Princesse Oliuia my mistresse I know well that I doo not deserue to know any thing of hir And when hee had made an end of saying these words straight wayes the wyse man dyd open his eyes dyd looke vpon the Knight of Cupide and when hée had wel beholden him hée answered and sayde Worthie Knight of Cupide thou oughtest to haue thy selfe in great estimation for that thou hast finished and made an ende of this aduenture the which many could not haue done although they were both mightie and worthie Knights that haue come hether and giuen the enterprise of the same although they haue done other wonderfull and great déedes of armes for the great compassion which thou hast hadde of my death I giue thée thanks therefore and in reward of the same I will tel thée straunge and secret things which shall giue thée great contentment touching that which thou hast demanded of mée of the Prince Edward of thy brother And in saying these wordes hée tolde him perticularly all the whole Historie of the great Emperour Trebatio from the first time that he was in loue with the Princesse Briana till such time as hée went out of the Castle of Lindaraza by the high prowesse of the Knight of the Sunne how he went in his company into Hungaria and how hee carryed the Princesse into his Empâ—…re of Grecia So likewise hée tolde him how that mightie and valiaunt Knight who tooke the Emperour Trebatio his Father out of the inchanted Castell was the Knight of the Sunne of whom hée was succoured béeing at the poynt of death in the Iland of
they had viewed all things that was to bée séene they went forth of that inchaunted Quadran descended into the fayre broad court returned a new and beheld that timerous battayle which was ther figured would not beléeue that in any humane Knight there should be so much force strength as was shewed to be vsed in those battayles So that after they had wel debated the matter touching y e valiantnesse of that worthy knight they all together went forth of the caue went vnto the city wheras that fayre Quéene was receyned with great honour admiration of all people within a few dayes after the Quéene and the Prince Luziro were made sure together at theyr Marriage there was made great feasts triumphs And héere the historye doth leaue them at this present for to tell you of two worthy estéemed Princes Brandizell and Clauerindo whom we left in the court of the King of Polonia How the two Princes Brandizell and Clauerindo departed from the Kingdome of Polonia and came into the Kingdome of Fraunce and of all the rest that happened Chap. 6. NOw wée must call to remembraunce those two valiaunt Princes Brandizell and Clauerindo whom wée left in the Kingdome of Polonia wheras the Prince Brandizel was well beloued of the Princesse Clarinea after that he had deliuered hir out of the power of the Giant Now the the history sayth that after these two Princes had soiourned ther certaine dayes they asked lisence of the King to depart for that they had great desire to goe seeke out their friend the Knight of the Sun without whom they could not bee in quiet one houre Likewise the Prince Clauerindo had great desire to goe and know his parents and although that the King was very sorrowfull for their departure yet he could not deny them but granted theÌ„ leaue did offer vnto them very many rich gifts but the two Princes would receiue nothing of him So one day beefore they should depart the Prince Brandizel had opportunitie to talke with the Princesse and in the end of great communication that passed betwixt them of loue he tooke his leue of hir promised hyr to returne againe into that Countrie with as much speed as might be Then these two Princes departed in their companie Armineo vnckle vnto the Prince and went towards the sea being entred into their shippe they began to nauigate towards the Kingdome of Fraunce that coast bare out from the Ocean sea towards the Septentrion which was the occasion that they trauailed fiftéene or sixteene dayes without happening vnto them any thing worth the telling till the seuenteenth day they ariued in a very faire and pleasaunt Port of Normandie which was vnto them all their great ioy and pleasure but in especiall vnto Armineo for that knowing the Countrye hee wept with great ioy for that hee was returned againe into it there they heard newes of Oristeo of the Quéene Olindia who were at that present in the famous Citie of Paris and were very sad sorrowfull for that they could neuer heare any newes of theyr sonne the Prince Clauerindo nor of his vnkle Armineo Then they accounted together among them selues what was best to be done and in the end of many debates they thought it best and did conclude that before they went to Paris or gaue the King to vnderstand any thing of their arriuall they would goe and proue the aduentures in that Kingdome and atchieuing some of them it might bée the occasion that they should bée knowen with more 〈◊〉 â—…nd according therevnto they prepared all thiinges and for the space of thrée noneths they went through all the countries did many wonderfull déedes of armes by the which they got so great fame that they had no other talke in all the Kingdome but of the two Knights with Flower de Luces for that either of them had for his deuise a Flower de Luce for that the King Oristeo was informed many times of the great Knighthood of these two Knights hée had much desire to see know them that he might doe them honour So after that these two Princes had in this time trauailed all the whole land they concluded betwixt them to goe vnto Paris ther first before they made themselues to be knowen vnto the King to maintaine a iust for the space of two moneths to put for the price therof a very faire tent which was giuen them by the wise Lirgandeo that was so strange and rich that the like was not to bée found Now when they came vnto the Citie they straight way went vnto the Tylâ—… yeard which was right before the Kings pallace ther they commaunded their rich Tent to be armed sent an Embassage vnto y â— King Oristeo giuing him to vnderstand of their comming crauing pardon for that they did not their duty in going to kisse his handes till such time as those iustes which they had ordained were finished WheÌ„ the King heard thereof he was very glad and reioyced as one that hadde great desire to know so good Knightes as they were and agayne to see some of theyr great bounty and valiauntnesse which hath béene tolde him And there with hée retourned them thankes for their Embassage and sent them word that hée receiued great pleasure that such Knightes as they were come vnto his Court and if it were so that they had néede or lacke any thing hée would commaund them to hée furnished of all necessaries To conclude for that this Historye cannot song remaine héerein for that which is to be spoken of the Gran Trebatio his Sonnes wholie I doe passe ouer all the wonderfull déedes of these two Princes but yet they say that in the space of two monethes these two Princes did maintayne theyr iust that there was not in all Fraunce a Knight of estimacion valure but was euerthrowen by these Princes in the presence of the King Quéene who were daily at the windowes to behold them thought that in the world could not be two Knights of more force strength But the King was somewhat sorrowfull in himself and thought it a great dishonour to his court for that there was not one Knight of valure but all were ouerthromen by the other but this sorrow griefe endured but a while for that the last day of the iusts the Prince Clauerindo dyd make himselfe knowen as in the chapter following shall bée told you ¶ How the two Princes Brandizell and Clauerindo being in the Citie of Paris there came thether a Giant called Brandafuâ—…el with whom the Prince Clauerindo had a verye strong and furious battayle Chap. 7. THE great fame which these two Princes gate in the iusts that they did maintaine in the Citie of Paris was such that not only the Knights of the kingdome but also diuers Knightes of other prouinces countries dyd come to proue themselues with them
and hoped that very shortly he would giue them to vnderstand thereof And this was the occasion that made him to bee the more furyous against his enimie The Gyant when hée saw himselfe wounded and all the ground be sprinckled with his blood hée greatly wondred at the strength and resistance of his enemie and finding all things cleane contrary vnto his expectation before hee began the battell hâ—… was almost ashamed yet hée béeléeued that the state of his victorie dyd remaine onely in the striking of one full blow vpon the Helme of his aduersary And therewith hee tooke his great Fauchon in both his hands and went towards y â— prince making a show as though hee should strike him vpon the heade whereat the Prince stooped on the one side and the Gyaunt dyd stay the striking of his blow till afterward vnaduisedly at his pleasure he stroke him vpon the Inchanted Healme that it made all them that looked on to maruaile how hée could sustaine or suffer such wonderfull fury for that it was sufficient to haue cloue a great rock asunder but by reason of the vertue of his armour made by that wyse Lyrgandeo for such necessities that the Prince receiued no damage of that furious blow but by the great strength wherewith it was giuen hee thought verely all his skull had béene broken to péeces and therewith hée bowed his knées to the ground remayning for a good space all astonied that hée could not arise vp When the furious Gyant saw him in that trance hée turned againe and lift vp his mightie Fauchon and stroke him an other blow in the verie same place and by reason that with the other blow his fauchon was crased with the force and strength of the second blow it brake in thrée péeces in such sort that there remayned in his hands but onely the hilt which was the occasion that the blow dyd no harme otherwise it had cost him his lyfe and with the noyse thereof hée came vnto himselfe and arose vp somewhat amazed and with the furie of that great blow hee dyd not see that the Gyaunt was without a Sword but entred in with him in a great rage and stroke him such an ouerthwrat blow vpon the thigh that hée cut his armour and flesh vnto the hard bone of the which the Gyaunt felt himselfe verie euill The Gyant séeing himselfe without wepon he wold haue entred in with his enimy to haue caught him in his armes but the Prince vnderstanding his pretence recoyling back threw a foyne at him which chaunced on his beauer which was broken and thrust him thorough and through the head wherewith this firce and vglie Brandafuriell fell downe dead to the ground it was vnto all them that dyd béeholds what passed a great admyration and wonder when they saw so sterce and mighty a Gyaunt who in all those parts was greatly dreaded feared in so short space ouerthrowen and slayne by one onely Knight and for that the King could not away with him for certayne angers and griefes which continually hée dyd vnto him hee was very glad and receiued great ioy for his death and thought long to know the Knight who had done that valyaunt and worthie deede being certified within himselfe that there was not a Knight in all the world lyke vnto him in courage and strength When the Prince Clauerindo saw himselfe cleere of that monstrous Gyant hée lifted vp his eyes to heauen and gaue great thankes vnto the almightie God and put his sword into his sheath and went towardes the Prince Brandizell Armineo his vnckle who receiued him with great pleasure and ioye séeing the honour prayse which hee had won in that place and said amongst themselues that it was not then time to kéepe them any longer vnknowen but great reason to discouer themselues And therewith they all thrée together went towards the place wheras the King and the Queene were accompanied with all the principall Knights of the Court and when they came beefore them without taking of their healme they dyd their duetie and reuerence the King receiued them verie gladlie and reioyced much with them Them Armineo beegan to speake and saide Most mightie King you shall vnderstand that these Knights are come from straunge Countries vnto this thy court not so much to get honour héere amongst thy Knights as to giue thée certaine newes at the which thou wilt receiue great ioy and contentment which are concerning thy sonne the Prince Clauerindo who many yeeres past was lost beeing carried away by a great rouer from his Countrie who at this present is a liue and doth very well and is waxed such a Knight that in the whole world you haue very few lyke vnto him and in company with him is his vnckle Armineo with no small desire to come and sée thee and euer since they were taken by that Rouer they haue béene alwaies together and as wée doo vnderstand they wil not bée long from hence The King when hée heard these ioyfull newes with a loude voyce sayde Oh mighty God is it possible that my Sonne Clauerindo and my Brother Armineo bée aliue and that there hath béene in my court who hath seene them and neuer tould mée till now and so long time past And in saying these words hée turned vnto Armineo and said Gentle Knight séeing that you haue brought mée so ioyfull newes I pray you also tell mée where you dyd leaue them that I may send to séeke them so shall I haue my ioye wholy fulfilled It shall not néede that your highnes doo send to séeke them said Armineo for that they are within the Kingdome of Fraunce and will bée héere very shortly When Armineo had sayde these words the King was in a great doubt whether this which the Knight had told him was true and whether hée spake it in manner of mockage The Quéene who was present when shée heard these words thought it a thing impossible to bée true Then the King arose vp from the place whereas hée sat and went vnto Armineo and cost his armes about his neck saying O gentle Knight tell mée if this bée true which thou hast sayde or whether thou boost it to mocke with mée for that my sad and sorrowfull hart cannot beeléeue this ioyfull newes to bée of truth Then Armineo sayd I will not tell any thing vnto your highnesse but that which is of truth and for that you shall bée put in greater admiration vnderstand that hée which slew in your presence that vgly and monstrous Gyaunt Brandafuriell is the Prince Clauerindo your Sonne and the other Knight his companyon is the Prince of Persia and I am thy Brother Armineo And in saying these words they all thrée pulled of theyr Healmes and strayght wayes the King and the Quéene did know Armineo and although the Prince was lost in his tender age yet in the proportion of his face they did very well remember him at which words with a sodaine and vnlooked
of other thinges which happened in this time Of all that passed in the court of King Tiberio after the Knight of the Sunne was departed and how the bretheren of the Duke of Pannonia and Aridon of the Wildernesse did determine to reuenge themselues of the King Tiberio for that he would not pardon their deaths Chap. 9. WIth great shame and reproch the Knights of the King Tiberio remayned by reason that they were so many and yet not able to preuayle agaynst one alone Knight and much meruayling at that which they saw him doe they said one vnto another y t it was not possible he should bée a humane Knight And when they came before the King tolde him that he was gone and that they could not make resistaunce against him hée seemed to be very wrathfull against them was ashamed taking it for a great reproch vnto his Court but that which troubled him most was the complaints teares of the parents kinsefolkes of Florinaldus of the wife children of the Earle for that they all together knéeled before him which caused him to be more wrathfull against the Knight of the Sunne Then strayght waies the Knightes of Florinaldus did take theyr Lord out of the place and caryed him vnto his lodging and for that hée had no wound nor hurt but onely the brusing torment of the fall he straight waies came vnto himselfe was quickly whole sound with which the rumour of his parents kinsfolkes was some what mittigated the King Tiberio lost some part of his great griefe which hée béefore sustayned And when he was somewhat in quiet his anger ouer past he called to his remembrance all that he had séene the Knight of the Sunne doe the gentle grace curtesie that he vsed with all men for the which he did deserue to be honoured esteemed of all conceiuing anger against himselfe he said in his mind that he had rather haue lost a great part of his estate then such a Knight should haue departed from his court so much abused many times when hée thought therof he was very sorry for that which he had done against him Now let vs leaue the King in his repentaunce and many other of the principall Knightes in his Court who likewise were very sorrye for the departure of the Knight of the Sunne and let vs tell of other thinges which happened in that time If you doe remember that after the Knight of the Sun had ouercome that stout valiant Knight Aridon of the blacke wood the Duke of Pannonia and he confessed all the treason that was conspired betwixt them against the Dutchesse and how that the King commaunded theyr heads should be cut off in the middest of the place without any pardon although many Knights great Lords did importunate the King for their pardon Now the History saith that this Aridon of the blacke wood had a brother called Egion a young man of a mightie stature force and of a singuler courage for to attempt any thing who was in the blacke wood at such time as Aridon was beheaded Also the Duke of Pannonia had likewise another brother called Farmonte a valiant Knight and very proud being Lord ouer many Countries in high Almaine nigh vnto the blacke wood who went abroad séeking his aduentures in those parts had got vnto himselfe great fame renowne for many déedes of armes which hée had done in that country Now when the death of their brethren came vnto their knowledge in what sort the King Tiberio commaunded them to bée slaine they were very sorrowfull for the same and eyther of them determined within himselfe to annoy the King Tiberio all that euer they could till such time as they were reuenged of the death of theyr brethren It so fell out that these two ioyned together and were both of one minde and determination concluding betwéene them to be both together at the execution of reuengment for that they may the better bring to passe theyr pretence to annoy the king Both these knights were in great securitie in their countryes were altogether one helping and aiding another with great friendshippe for that those Countryes ouer which they were Lordes and gouernours were very montanish and craggie in such sort that there could not procéede against them any great hoast but that they might easily make theyr defence and with very few people When they were agréed and conformed together Egion brother vnto Aridon by whose death he was then Lord ouer the blacke woode determined to goe vnto the court of King Tiberio ther to informe himselfe of all that had passed touching the death of his brother for to spy out how in what manner hee might be reuenged on the King so hée came vnto the Court in secrete wise not making himselfe knowen what he was wheras he was certified of all that he would desire Likewise he was giuen to vnderstand how that the Quéene Augusta was with hir Ladies Gentlewomen at the Monestary of the Riuer ther remained euer since that the Emperour Trebatio had carried away y e Princesse Briana This Egion did very well consider the scituation of the Monestarie and of the Knights which the Quéene had for hir gard kéeping thought within himselfe that in that place better then in any other he might make satisfaction of his desire Wherewith he returned vnto his owne country conferred with Farmonte and certified him of all that had passed and tolde that he had found out a fit place and opportunitye agréeable to bee reuenged of the King namelie that the Quéene Augusta with all hir Ladies and Gentlewomen were at the Monestary of the Riuer which was farre from the place wheras the King dyd abide and although shée had certaine Knightes for hir gard yet they might goe so well prouided that in despight of them all they would goe take the Quéene and hir Gentlewomen bring them vnto their owne Countryes whereas they should bée in safetie from all the whole power of the King Tiberio When Farmonte heard these words béeing a couragious Knight hée lyked very well of that which Egion had vttered and thought it good to giue vnderstanding of all this their pretence vnto a Gyaunt called Barbario who had his dwelling thereby on the shirt of the mount Sarpedo who was a great friend vnto them and mightye and strong in deedes of armes thinking with his helpe to destroye all the whole power of the King Tiberio whē he had opened this vnto Egion they both determined to goe talke with him to desire him if it were his pleasure to be a companion in that enterprise This accordingly they accōplished manifesting vnto him all their pretence determination when he vnderstood it dyd strayght offer them his company also certaine other valiant Knights which he had with him being such as desired no other thing but to haue
oportunitie where they might imploy their force strength to doe mischiefe And to conclude he came away with them carying with him ten of his Knights who were very big of stature of great strength with whom he durst giue the enterprise against a thousand Knights And when they came vnto the blacke wood Egion dyd chuse other ten Knightes of the best and strongest that hee had So béeing ioyned together they dyd depart and tooke theyr way towards the Monestarie of the Riuer and entring into Hungaria they went three and three to gether because ther should grow no suspicion and the most of their trauayle was by night In this order they trauayled that at length they came to the Monestary of the Ryuer and were not suspected of any whereby theâ—… might haue occasion to follow them to see what they pretended So tarying the one for the other they ioyned all together and being in good order vpon a very fayre and cleare moneshine night they set vpon the monestary brake the doores entred in and tooke the Quéene with all hir Gentlewomen out of theyr chambers at whose great shrickes and cryes the Knightes which were of their gard beeing lodged in certaine houses out of the monestary did awake being all amased they began to arme themselues in such great hast that ther wer ioyned together more then fortye who went vnto the place where as the no se was so that beetwixt the Knightes and the Gyant began a great conflict but it fell out very euill with them for that the most part of them were armed with out light and vpon a sodayne so that they lacked many peâ—… ces of their armour And more the power of the Giant with Egion and Farmonte was so strong that they alone had beene sufficient to destroy them all so that in a small time there was the most part of them slayne and the rest that remained did hide themselues for the great feare that they had Insomuch that they had time and space to take the Quéene and many of hir gentlewomen into their power And for that purpose they brought with them a Coach with foure whéeles drawen with six mightie Horsses and very swift such as in a short space wold cary them a great way into the which coach they put the Queene and hir gentlewomen whose lamentacions were so loude that they might bee heard a great way Then they all together placed themselues round about the coach and stroke the horse in great hast they beegan to trauaile towards theyr countrie vyry glad and ioyfull for the rich pray which they had obtayned And continually as the Knights which were of the garde and keeping of the Queene came thether at theyr great shreckes they dyd not cease to follow the coach and had battayle with the Gyant and their Knights in the way but the Gyaunt did intreate them all in such sort that some dead and other some very sore hurt hee left them lying along the way whereas they went This was the great noyse of râ—…mour the cryes which dyd wake the Knight of the Sunne out of his sleepe in the Forrest thinking vpon that great trauaâ—…e which hee had with the Knights of the King Tiberio in the Citie oâ—… Ratisbona and in the verie same night dyd this wrong happen vnto the Quéene and the coach dyd draw neere the place whereas hée was a sleepe And as this good Knight awaked vppon a sodayne almost amased and beaâ—…d a far of the great shrikes of the Gentlewomen hee straight way laâ—…d on his Helme and went to seeke his horse who was feeding on the greene grasse and brideled him leapt into the saddle at which time the Gyaunt and the Knights came right against him wheras hée was And by reason that the moone dyd shine very bright hee saw them comming in this order Beefore the coach went the Gyant Barbario mounted vpon a mightie Horse all armed with a great Iron Mase in his hand all bloody with the great companie of Knights which he had slaine that night and according vnto his furious and dreadfull countenaunce there were few Knights that durst abâ—…e beefore him And on both sides of the Coach rode the two valiant knights Egion and Farmonte with ech of them a battaile axe in their hands And their furious and fearse semblaunce which they showed was no lesse to bée feared by reason of the greatnes of their bodies then the Gyants And after the coach ther followed to the number of fiftéene knights which remayned of twentie that they brought foorth all on horsebacke and well armed who went kéeping of the Gentlewomen that they should not fall out of the coach All this the Knight of the Sunne stayed to béehold and by the shricks which the gentlewomen gaue and by the words which they spake hée dyd well vnderstand that the Gyant and those Knights dyd carrie theÌ„ away by force And although it séemed to bée an vnequall match and verie terrible that one alone Knight should thinck to set them at lybertie yet this mightie and valyant Gréeke made no stay but with a valyant courage set spurres vnto his Horse and issued out of the forrest whereas hée abode and came into the high way and put himselfe béefore the Gyant and sayde these words Tell me Gyaunt what is the occasion that thou dost carry these gentele women perforce against their wils When this great Barbario in that sort saw the Knight béefore him and the great hardinesse wherewith hée spake vnto him without making any answere hée lift vp his great mase of Iron and went against him to haue stroke him vpoâ—… the head with a right downe blow but the Knight of the Sunne had his sword drawen in his hand â—…et spurs vnto his Horse side and made him giue a great and a light leape on the one side wherewith hée cleared himselfe from that terrible blow and the mase fell downe to the ground and with the great force and strength where with it was stroken it lackt little that the Gyaunt had not fallen to the ground after the mase for that hée stoped with all his body forwards vpon the saddle bow And before hée had any time to settle himselfe againe the Knight of the Sunne entred in with him and raysing vp himselfe in his Styrops hée stroke with both his hands so furious and terrible a blow at his waâ—… that by reason the ioynts of his armour was in that place in a maner broken with his former conflicts hée cut the body in two péeces in such sort that the one halfe remained in the Saddle and the other halfe from the wast vpward fell downe to the ground and it was so quicklie done that when Egion and that mightie Farmonte béehelde the battaile with that wonderfull and terrible blow saw the halfe body of the Gyant fell vnto the earth And béeholding the knight which had done that déede with his sword in his hand all bloody
the mightiest and worthiest in all the world tell vs I pray thée who thou art that I may know whom to gratifie for this great benefit that wée haue receiued in destroying of these traytors that carried vs away prisoners When the Quéene had saide these words the Knight of the Sunne did know hir for that he had seene hir before at such time as hée had the battaile with Aridon and béeing much amazed to see hir in that place and in the power of those euil persons was on the contrary very ioyfull for that he had done vnto hir that seruice dyd lift vp the beauer of his Healme and sayde Lady I giue great thankes vnto my Gods for that it hath pleased them to bring me hether at this time in so good opportunitie to serue you for that I assure you I was very ignoraunt and knew nothing héerof but beeing soundly a sleepe within this forrest I was awaked by the great noise which they made so that determining what it should bée I arose vp and came towards this place and you shal vnderstand that I am the Knight of the Sunne hée if your highnesse cal to remembrance that had battaile in your presence with Aridon of the black woode and by reason of a sodeine iniurie which hath chanced vnto me with certaine Knights in the court of the king I came hether into this forrest this night to sléepe and take my rest When the Quéene vnderstood that it was the Knight of the Sunne and knew him by the Sunn which hée had vpon his armour hir ioy pleasure did the more increase thincking hir selfe in a great deale more safetie then béefore shée said Now I doo well know vnderstand that my fortune is falne out much better then I did make reckoning of for that it hath pleased God to haue so great a care ouer me as to bring me such a Knight in this our most extremitie and considering the great good which thy coÌ„ming hath béene vnto vs I cannot impute it but vnto the goodnes of God in this our necessity In the meane time that the Quéene was saying these words other such lyke certayne of hir Knights which followed hir somewhat out of the way from the coach onely for to spie out know the way whether they went for to giue the king to vnderstand thereof So long as they heard the noise of the battaile they burst not approch nigh whereas they were but afterward when they heard that the Gentlewomen held their peace left off their shrikes and lamentation they by little little drew nigh vnto y e place wheras the coach was til such time as they saw the Gyant the two knights others ly a long on the ground some starke dead and other some verie sore hurt complaining their misfortune Likewise they saw the Knight of the Sun talking with the Quéene whoÌ„ they knew by the deuise he had of the Sun being much amazed at that wonderfull sight they drew nigh vnto them and when the quéene knew that they were of hir company she tooke great pleasure with them commaunded them to bring before hir one of those knights of y e Giant y t lay vpon the ground hurt the knights accoÌ„plished hir coÌ„mandement when they had brought one of those knights before hir shée demanded who they were that had taken hir and hir Gentlewomen prisoners what was the cause that they dyd it threatning him with death if he did not tell the truth and to the contrarie his lyfe if hee dyd tell hir the whole effect and promised him to haue him healed of his wounds The wounded Knight séeing that it would little auayle him to hide any thing considering that theyr Lords were slaine dead dyd playnly and cléerely declare vnto hir who they were and of all that had passed and what was the occasion that they did it according as you haue heard béefore in this Historie And when the Queene vnderstood the whole effect of hir imprisonment hir body trembled with the feare that she receiued knowing not how to recompence the Knight of the Sunne for the great pleasure which he had shewed vnto them but desired him to beare hir companie vnto the Court of the King promising him large and rich gifts but béecause the Knight of the Sunne had a greater desire to goe see the Emperour Trebatio then regard of riches and estate hée gaue humble thanckes vnto the Quéene for hir gentle offer and dyd excuse himselfe in the best sort hee could saying that hée had a iourney in hand which hee could by no meanes leaue of at that present but hée hoped that the time would come he should returne and serue the King and bée in his court So after that they had a great discourse about this matter the Knight of the Sunne tooke his leaue of the Quéene at which time were come together tenne or twelue of the Quéenes Knights who had hid themselues for fearâ—… of the Gyaunt and when they saw that they could not by anie meanes perswade the Knight of the Sunne to retourne vnto the court againe they suffered him to depart although it grieued them very much that hee should depart in such sort béefore the king had rewarded him for the great benefit which they all receiued at his hands In the end the Knight of the Sunne departed from the Quéene and left hir in the companie of hir Gentlewomen and Knights who determined to goe vnto the court of the King And when those Knights saw the great and wonderfull blowes wherewith hée had slayne the Gyaunt his companions being very much amazed they looked one vpon another said that it seemed to bée a thing impossible that a humane wight should do such wonderfull déedes And for that it should be beléeued of them which did not sée the battayle betwixt them béecause ther should remaine a perpetuall testimonie memory of the same the quéene Augusta determined to carry vnto y e court of the King the bodyes of the Gyant of Egion Farmonte cloue cut in péeces in such sort as you haue heard for the same purpose she commaunded the coach to be prepared shée all hir Gentlewomen came forth therof caused the dead bodies to bée put therin so ther they passed away the rest of the night which remained two of those Knights did returne vnto the monestary of the Riuer to giue them to vnderstand of all that had passed to bring palfraies all things necessary for the Quéene hir Gentlewomen When the morning was come and all things in a readynesse they tooke the way which lead them towards the court carrying with them in their companye the Coach wherein was the bodies of the Gyant and of Egion and Farmonte who were very great and bigge and for that the woundes wherwith they were slayne were very terrible and wonderfull to behold it put all them whom they
met by the way in great admiration and especially when they vnderstoode that one alone Knight had done that deede There were some of the Knightes that were in the gard and keeping of the Quéene strayght way when they saw the assault which the Gyant and his companions made in the monestary and seeing that they were many and that all their power was not sufficient to make resistaunce they straight way departed in â—…ost with as great hast as was possible for to giue the King Tiberio to vnderstand thereof with the great hast which they made the next day in the morning they came before the 〈◊〉 and told vnto him all that passed saying that if out of hand he did not with his Knights giue aide succour the Queene all hir Gentlewomen should be carried away prisoners When the King vnderstood these newes he was very much troubled and fearing that the Queene should receiue some harme he commaunded that his Knights should arme themselues with all the speed that might be which 〈◊〉 they departed to the number of two hundred Knights and tooke their way towards the Monestary of the Riuer After that they were departed there were many other Knights that were arming themselues for to follow those that wer gone before being all in a readinesse with as great hast as euer tâ—…eir horses could run they followed the other in this sort they continued their trauaile till it was somewhat late at which time those Knights which went formost did discouer a far of comming towards them the Queene all hir gentlewomen Knights bringing before them the coach when they were satisfied that it was the Quéene with great excéeding ioy they went told the King who was very heauy and full of sorrow supposing that his succor should come too late by reason of the great distance that was betwixt the one and the other but straight way when he vnderstood the newes that his knights gaue him he receiued so much comfort that it seemed to reuiue him from death to life therewith he passed forwards rode before them all wheras hée saw the Quéene all hir Gentlewomen knights comming the coach before them wherin was the bodies of the giant and of the two dead Knights being nigh it they staâ—…ed and with great admiration beheld those terrible wonderfull wonâ—…ds and could not imagine with themselues what it should be but being halfe amazed at that wonderfull sight they remained till the Quéene came whom the King dyd embrace receiue with as great ioy as if they had not séene one another a long time before Then the King demaunded how and in what sort she was set at liberty To whom the quéene said My Lord you shall vnderstand that I and my gentlewomen being in the monestary of the riuer we wer assaulted by this Gyaunt two Knights that we doe bring heere dead who had in their company more then twentye Knights which came with them who killing wounding the most part of the knights that were of my gard they toke vs caried vs away prisoners in this coach that we bring héere according vnto the great hast swift course wherwith we were carried I am certaine that all your succour had come too late but God was so pleased my good fortune that this night past trauailing by the edge of a forrest there was a knight sleeping who afterward I knew to be the knight w t the deuise of the Sun which made the battaile with Aridon of the black wood who being sodainly awaked by our great shrikes sorrowfull lamentations came forth into the high way to see what it should be he alone had battell with the Gyant these two knights hath intreated theÌ„ in this sort as you doe sée besides all this he slew and wounded all the rest of the knights that came with them himself remaining whole sound wâ—…thout any wound or hurt we set at liberty with great ioy pleasure especially when we knew who hee was afterward came vnto y t place certain of my knights that did follow the coach wherin we were by one of their knights that were wounded and lay on the ground we did vnderstand who they were that did carry vs prisoners for what cause they did assalt vs ther the Quéene declared vnto the King all that euer the Knight of the Sun had done for them in that battaile rescew how he departed from hâ—…r how she could not by any meanes cause him to returne vnto the court for to receiue his reward for that worthy and valiant déede which he had done for hir When the King vnderstoode that it was the Knight of the Sunne who in the deliuerie of the Queene had done so high and worthy acts one way hée receiued great pleasure another way hée suffered great griefe for that he had not dâ—…ne him being in his court the honour that vnto so noble and valiâ—…nt a Knight appertayned and was very angry with the Queene for that she did suffer him to depart go away in 〈◊〉 order and thought that if it were possible to ouertake â—…nd finde him hée himselfe in person would follow him But when all the Knights which came in company with the king Tiberio vnderstood that the Knight of the Sunne had done all this they greatly meruailed beholding those wonderfull wounds which the gyant knights had they thought it a thing vnpossible that any humane Knight should doe it wondering therat they had inough to doe to looke one vpon the other Straight way in this sort the king the quéenâ—… returned tooke their way towards the Citie of Ratisbona with all their Knights carying with them the Coach the dead bodies the fame of the Knight of the Sunne increased in such sort that neuer after his memory was lost in those parts for long time after they had inough to doe to communicate therof wheras this History doth leaue them for to tell you what happened vnto the Knight of the Sunne ¶ How the Knight of the Sunne came vnto a castle whereas hee did deliuer a Gentlewoman and recouered two Pages whom hee carried with him Ca. 10. AFter that the high and mightie Alphoebo was departed from the Queene Augusta 〈◊〉 would not stay in any place for to rest himselfe although he had great néede thereof because if the king and his Knights should follow him they should not ouertake him so he continued his iourny pretending to passe into Grecia to goe sée his great friend the Emperour Trebatio with this pretence hée trauailed passed away the rest of the night which remayned the morning being come he chaunced into a very large plaine field all couered with pleasaunt 〈◊〉 gréene hearbes in which he trauailed a good while for that it was somewhat long toward the end therof at the footâ—… of
they had receiued at his hands but offred vnto him all that they had And for that he found in them so great good will hée determined to way there certaine dayes to comfort and ease himselfe for that hee found his bodye in many places brused ill intreated with the battailes which he had with the Knights of the King Tiberio the Gyaunt and with his Knights when he set at liberty the Quéene Augusta for although his good armour did defend him from being wounded yet his body could not but receiue great damage hée tormented by the heauy waight and strength of the blowes which he receiued he felt himselfe vory sore therwith in such sort that he had great néede to be cured therof All which he declared vnto the lord of the castle vnto his sonnes who were very ioyfull receiued great contentment at the same as those who were very desirous to serue pleasure him in all that euer they could So the knight of the Sunne remayned ther certaine daies in which time he was meruailously well cured of his bruses by the gentlewoman who was cunning expert in chirurgery did it with a very good grace The Gentlewomans name was Oliuia and hir fathers name was Onorio and his sonnes names were Aurellio Binnano and they all did loue him very much and would that he should neuer depart from thence from their companie But at such time that hée would néeds depart the father requested the Knight to graunt him a bowne which was that he should receiue into seruice his two sonnes and cary them with him for his pages The Knight of the Sun knowing them to be young men of great vertue well proportioned and couragious in what so euer necessitie should happen hée tooke them with him and they did serue him for pages And time did serue that they did very well serâ—…e him and their Father and mother did recompence the loue which they bare vnto him as shall bée told you in the second part of this History So at this present wee wil leaue them departed from the Castell to tell you of other things which chaunced in this time Of the great triumphes which were made in Constantinople for the comming of the Emperour Trebatio and how the death of the Prince Edward was bruted in great Britaine and of all that happened Chapter 11. THe great sorrow and heauinesse which the Grecians receiued for the losse of their Emperour Trebatio was not so much but that the ioye and pleasure was much more which they possessed for his vnlooked for retourne and that was well séene and perceiued generally in all estates the knights in ordeining and making great Iustes and Tourneies and other militarie exercises and others in inuenting new deuises of playes and occasions of ioy and pleasure in such sort that throughout all the whole Empire they practised no other thing but pastimes and pleasure as well in the one sort of people as in the other that which was most to bee considered of was that this mightie Emperour the more for to reioyce and pleasure his owne subiects dyd commaund to bée proclaymed a solempne Iust not onely in the Countries bée longing vnto the Empire but also in all the Kingdomes and Prouinces thereto adioyning giuing and graunting safe conduct to all that euer would come thether as well Pagans as Christians of what kinde of law and sect so euer they were and for that these Iusts were published in many parts and that the Emperour gaue frée and safe conduct what with some for to sée what passed and other some to proue themselues in the iusts there came so many knights that it was a straunge thing to beehold and euery day there was great Iusts and 〈◊〉 in the mightie Citie of Constantinople whereas the worthy and valiant knights dyd giue testimony of their great bounty and either of them did labour and trauaile for to get honor but they which did shew theÌ„selues most gallantest and valiant in those iusts were Rodamarte Pâ—…ince of Sardenia sonne vnto Alselo who was one of the twelue that went with the Emperour Trebatio to the Monasterie of the riuer Alpino Lord of Lemos and Rodofeo Prince of the Rhodes Artidoro Prince of Candia all yong men and amoroâ—…s who for their great knighthood dyd get exceeding same at these feasts and iusts In these pastimes ther passed many daies and euery day there came new and strange knights vnto whom y e Emperour Trebatio did much honour and did spend liberally amongst them a great part of his terasury and for that these feasts pastimes did indure very long that ther succéeded in them many strange things as shal be told you in this History let vs leaue them new béegun and tell of other things that succéeded in this tiâ—…e which is very needfull for this present Historie for as much as the returne and comming of the Emperour Trebatio was published in all places and that the manner of the death of prince Edward was knowen The newes of all this came vnto the eares of the king Oliuerio who although hée had almost forgot the losse of the Prince by reason of the long time passed since it happened yet these new news of his death was so dolorous that it did renue within his thought the great loue which hee bare vnto him as vnto his sonne that in a small time they thought verely hée would die with very sorrow but the principal remedy that he tooke for his comfort was to determine himselfe to take reuengement for the Princes death vppon the Emperour and although hiâ—… power was not so great as the power of the Emperour yeâ—… hée thought that the king Tiberio to fulfill the great oblygation in the which hée was bound vnto him would giuâ—… him aide and succour and againe the Prince Don Silueriâ—… would likewise succour him with all his power which waâ—… very great giuing him for spouse his daughter the Prince Oliuia according as he had determined And besides this the king of Spaine who was his very friend would succor him all that hée could héere with he might very well reuenge himselfe vpon the Emperour and destroy all his Empire All this the king determined in his thought the great passion and griefe which hée had for the death of his son would not suffer any other thought to enter in his breast with this determination he sent messengers vnto the king Tiberio to giue him to vnderstand how hée was determined to hée reuenged for the death of his son desired him of al friendship to aide him in his determination knowing how much hée was bound therto for that he was slaine in his seruice And touching all his determination he did write him a letter at large of the which he had an answere againe to his desire for that y e king Tiberio acknowledging how much hee was bound vnto him could doe nothing to the contrary but
answere saw that they séemed to be Knights of estimatioÌ„ as wel by their rich armor which they had as by their good gentle dispositions determined to conduct them before the king their Lord for that he might determine with them at his plesure and so they brought them before their Lord who was king of Balachia which pretended to take the kingdome oâ—… Lufitania for that it bordered vpon him and entred into that countrie with a mightie armie and shée that was Lady gouernour at that time was widow woman called Lauinia who had a daughter whose name was Olimpa a verie fayre Damsell and by reason that shee had no husband neither power to bee compared vnto the King of Balachia was béesiged in the same Citie defending hir selfe within with such people as she had in the best maner y t shée might All this was told vnto these princes in y e way as they went before the king When they came before the king of Balachia they found him in his tent accompanied with many knights and on the one side of him there was a Gyant of a meruailous huge big stature and of so horrible and fierce a countenance that it would make one afraide to looke vpon him and wheÌ„ the king saw those three knights he asked of them of whence they were likewise if it pleased them to serue him in his wars The Tartarian Zoylo who could speake the language was requested of the rest of his companions to answere for them who sayde You shall vnderstand O king of Balachia that wée are trauailing knights of the countrie of Tartaria and do trauell into the world to séeke our aduentures and although we be exercised in the wars yet wée are accustomed to serue none in them except first wée know what our wages shal bée and it is in this order as I will tell you and therof there is not to be diminished or taken away any thing so that we thrée will iust with all such knights as will come foorth against vs till such time as wée bée ouerthrowen and if so fall out y t wee at the first encounter bée ouerthrowen then we thrée will serue thée one whole yéere for nothing and if it bée our fortune to ouerthrow any theÌ„ either of vs so many knights as is ouer throwen by vs looke how much wages all they together haue so much must either of vs haue according to the number that hée doth ouerthrow This is our vse and custome of seruice in the wars therfore O king looke if that this our manner of seruice content thée and if not giue vs lysence to depart that wée may goe to some other place to séeke our aduenture When the Tartarian Zoylo had made an end of this his spéech the king and all that were in his Tent laughed very much at that which was spoken not for that they did think much in the wages which they did aske but for that ther sée med to be amongst them Knights y t if they might come forth to the iust with them at the first should remaine and serue a whole yeare without any wages and for that they knew this for a certaintie the king did straight way graunt vnto all that which the Tartarian Zoylo had demanded and sayd that hée was verie well content to stand vnto that should happen and the matter being by all them agréed vppon these thrée Princes went out of the Campe into the plaine field wheras they might iust at their pleasure Likewise the King went foorth with his principall Knights such as did serue him for wages to sée what should happen Now the king commanded straight way perticularly the best and most valyauntest Knights that were in all the Camp should come forth to iust with the thrée Princes who were in a redinesse a horseback with their speares in their handes abiding the comming of those who should iust with them The first which came foorth to iust with them were thrée valiant Knights of a mightie proportion and stature such as in all the camp could not bée found the lyke and béeing in their places one agaynst another they made themselues ready vnto the iust but whosoeuer had séene them at that time would haue iudged the thrée Princes at the first encounter should haue remayned without any wages and especially the King who laughed at the accord which was made beetwixt them but it fell out cleane contrarie vnto their thought for that all sixe together mette in the middest of their course and the three Knights of the Campe broke their speares vpon the Princes without moouing of them in their Saddles but the Princes made their encounter with so great force that they hoised them out of their saddles in such sort that they tumbled vpon the ground and passed forwards so stiffe and vpright in their course that they put the King and all those that dyd beehold them in great admiration but not long after there came forth other thrée Knights to the iust which were also thrée of the best and most estéemed amongst all the rest and looke as these Princes dyd serue the first so dyd they serue those thrée and ouerthrew them to the ground and finally in the space of one houre they had ouerthrowen to the number of fiftéene Knights of the most valiantest worthiest amongst them all Then the King found himselfe halfe ashamed mocked with the bargaine he had made with them it seemed vnto him that according vnto their great valiantnes strength they would haue ouerthrowen all the knights that were in the campe the one after the other so that according vnto the bargaine all his treasure should not be sufficient to pay their wages When that mightie monstrous Gyant that was with the King saw him that he was somewhat sad heauy for that which the Knights had done he commaunded straight way to be brought vnto him a horse which was very great conformable vnto his bignesse straight way he leaped vppon him chose one of the bigest speares that he could finde amongst all the rest said vnto the king that he would iust with those Knights bad them come all thrée against him and that he hoped so to intreat them in the iust that afterward they should neyther bee able to take wages nor to weare armour The King receiued great delight when hée saw the Gyant on horsbacke was very certaine that his power and strength was to performe all that which hée had said yea if they had béene ten such knights together as they were And when this proud furtous Gyant was in a readines to the iust these valtant Princes who were very desirous to get honour either of them did procure to proue their aduenture with him but this mighty Tartarian with many requests vnto his companions did begin to iust with this mightie Gyant when the Gyant saw that alone knight did put himselfe before him he would
great danger yet by 〈◊〉 mighty courage he was without all feare put himselfe amongst them in such sort that in a short space he sleâ—… â—… uerthrew very sore wounded to the ground the most par of them the rest which remained returned went forth â—… the same dore whereby they entred in spite of Florinaldâ—… that did kéepe it among them that went forth the Knighâ—… of the Sunne did likewise goe forth the first that â—…e mâ—… withall was Florinaldus which séemed vnto him to be â—…o of all the rest as well by the rich armour that he wore â—… by keeping the rest that they should not flye he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a blow vpon his healme that he made him sâ—…oup boâ—… his knée to the ground as the History hath told you 〈◊〉 naldus was very proud of hart of great strength neuâ—… lacked courage to attempt any thing against the 〈◊〉 the Sunne seeing himselfe at that time in so great extrem tie he would proue his fortune against him 〈◊〉 stroke him so strong and mightie a blow vppon his 〈◊〉 that the Knight of the Sunne did féele the paine 〈◊〉 of verâ—… grieuous and ther with he stroke Florinaldus another in 〈◊〉 compence of that which he hadde 〈◊〉 with mucâ—… more strength that hée made him féele his great suâ—…y anâ—… nothing dismaying thereat hée pressed vnto him and 〈◊〉 tempted a braue furious battaile for that his 〈◊〉 was very good and made by art magicke which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 occasion at the first although the 〈◊〉 of the Knâ—…ght the Sunne were very strong and terrible they 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 much harme but as this valiant and sâ—…out gréekes anger fury increased more more you might haue seene how that the proud knight sometimes he stouped with his knées to the greund and sometimes with his hands that he hadde inough to defend himselfe and to arise vp so that he had no time to strike at his aduersary but was almost out of his wittes with anger and thought vnto himselfe that hée had all the force of the world against him and when he saw that his life could not long endure but néedes he must haue patience vnto fortune that his power and strength was not sufficient to goe through with his intention he determined to yeeld himselfe vnto the mercy of him whom God good fortune was fauourable vnto and to root out from his hart that euill intent which he alwaieâ—… pretended against him therwith he pulled off his Healme put himself before him saying Oh worthie and valiaunt Knight the best that euer was girt with sword héere I doe acknowledge and confâ—…sse my great offence and that I doe deserue a worser punishment then death for that which I haue conspired against thee and my euill determination hath increased euery day more and more fince the time that I was ouerthrowen by thée at the passâ—…ge of a bridge which I kept Now heere I doe pray and desire thée that thou wouldest pardon and forgiue mée all that is past and receiue mée into thy friendship which I shall more esteeme of then any thing in all the world When Florinaldus hadde sayde these wordes and that the Knight of the Sunne didde know him all the blowes that he receiued that night did not trouble him as that did penitrate into his hart and abate his great courage and ire for that hée did not onely pardon him with a very good will but did also forgiue all the harme that euer he had done vnto him or vnto any other of his parents or friendes for that hée didde acknowledge the same and was very sorry and repented himselfe not withstanding for to proue whether that which he had said were but dissembled because he saw himselfe in that great extremitie he said Of a truth Florinaldus I doe not pretend by any meanes to receue thee into my company friendship lesse will I put any confidence or trust in thee till such time as thou dost accom plish one thing which I will tell thee In this I shall thinke my selfe most happie said Florinaldus that you would commaund me to doe the thing wherein I may shew the great desire that I haue of your friendship conuersation That which I will you shall do said the knight of the Sun is that out of hand you doe depart hence and take your iourney throughout as many Countries as you can but especiallye through the countrie of Fraunce in the demaund of a Knight which hath a Flower de luce for his deuise whose name is Clauerindo when you haue found him do my commendations vnto him tell him that I doe goe straight vnto Constantinople how I doe meane to tarry ther till such time as I doe heare some newes from him With all this I am very well contented said Florinaldus then these two dyd embrace one another from that day forwards they were perfect friendes as more at large shall bée told you in this Historie So the Knight of the Sun with his Pages departed from this Castle towards the Empire of Grecia and Florinaldus in the demaund of the Knight with the Flower de Luce. And héere this Historie doeth leaue them till time doth serue â—… returneth to tell you of the noble knight of Cupid wheras we left him in the Kingdome of Russia How the Knight of Cupid departed from the Kingdome of Russia and of all that happened vnto him in his iourney Chap. 17. CErtaine dayes the Knight of Cupid remayned in the court of King Luziro by the earnest request of him and the Quéene who did honour and loue him and had him in prise aboue all the Knights of the world in such sort that they would he should haue remayned with them in their company alwaies neuer depart from thence but for that he could neuer be in quiet neither take pleasure or comfort in the honour which they did vnto him after that he had heard the newes of the Princesse Oliuia certaine daies passed he tooke his leaue of the king Queene who did offer vnto him very largely at all times whensoeuer he should haue any neede of them or of their estate And being departed from the Court hée determined with himselfe what was best he should doe thought that it should be good to passe into Grecia there to know his father the mighty Emperour Trebatio to giue him to vnderstand that the mightie valiant Knight of the Sun was his sonne likewise his brother whom he had a very great desire to sée calling to remembrance that which he did for him in the Iland of Candramarte receiued great ioy contentment in himself to haue such a valiant worthy knight vnto his brother to be sonnes vnto so noble a father also the great remedye that was had for the sorrowfull losse of the Princesse Briana his mother But as he did delight himselfe
who by the commaundement of the knight of the Sun went in the quest of the knightes of the flower dâ—… Luses trauailed through many and diuers countries till such time as he came into the kingdome of Fraunce comming at length vnto a bridge which was vpon the riuer Rodano he saw two knights very fierce by séeming valiant who were brethren vnto Brandafuriel that mighty and strong Gyant which the Prince Clauerindo slew in the great citie of Paris and they were come vnto that place for no other occasion but to kéepe passage to doe all the damage they could vnto the king Oristeo his knights The one of them was called Crudamonte the other Rocardo being of their bodies lims as giants they had in that place taken diuers prisoners slaine many knights before that Florinaldus did passe that bridge he must néeds iust with one of them his fortune was such y t by the strong encounter he receiued his Horse himself fell downe to the ground in such sort that one of his legs was vnder his Horse so that he could not make any longer battaile the mightie Rocardo which was he that made the iust with him if hée had not imbraced himselfe about his Horse necke had likewise fallen downe to the ground with that strong encounter which hée had receiued So Florinaldus was taken prisoner put into fast hold but it was not long after that the newes of these two knights came vnto y e court of the king Oristeo being vnderstood by y e two princes Clauerindo Brandizel they in great secret departed from the court to make combat with them And when they came vnto the bridge ther was betwixt theÌ„ foure a very fierce and stout battell in which the two Princes found themselues greatly perplexed for y t these two were very stout valiant knights yet for all y t the goodnesse of their armour did stand them in great stéed againe they were of such courage that in the end they got the victorie and slew them and cut off their heads sent them vnto the king Oristeo requested of him pardon for that they had departed without lisence certifieng moreouer that they were gone to seeke out their friend the knight of the Sun And in as short time as possibly might bee they would returne againe vnto the court Now when these two bretheren were dead the two princes did set at liberty all the prisoners that were there amongst whom was Florinaldus when he saw the deuise of the slower de â—…uses he straight way knew that those wer the knights in whose demaund he had trauailed And therwith he went vnto them declared the Embassage of the knight of the Sun And when they vnderstood the same if ther had ben giuen vntâ—… them all the world at that present they could not haue receiued greater pleasure especially after that Florinaldus did tell them all that he had done in the Iland of Lindaraza afterward how that the Emperour Trebatio entered into Hungaria of all the rest So that these two princes wer as men amazed to heare him tell of those high mighty deeds and thought the time very long till they did see him With this great desire they all departed from that bridge trauailed till they came vnto Marsella wheras they â—…id imbark themselues and tooke their way towards Grecia Whom the Historie leaueth till fit time for to declare of the Knight of Cupid whom we left in the kingdome of Phenicia ¶ How the Knight of Cupid and the King Sacridoro departed from the kingdome of Phenicia for the Empire of Grecia Chap. 30. VEry great solempne feasts were celebrated in the kingdome of Phenicia at the marriage of the valiaunt and well esteemed King Sacridoro and the Prince Don Lusindo with the faire Pinarda and also for â—…o giue delight and pleasure to the Knight of Cupid whom they did honour had in so great estimation as the worthiest most valiant knight in all the world were all greatly amazed as well at his great grace vertue as at his bounty and strength yet notwithstanding for that hée had alwaies in his memorye the discurtesie of the princesse Oliuia any thing whatsoeuer hée did sée could not make him merry neither giue him any contentment so that continually he was very sad heauy for the which his great friend the King Sacridoro was very sorry roceiued great griefe for that hée knew from whence his euiâ—…l infirmitie procéeded did comfort him as much as possibly he could in saying that per aduenture the princes Oliuia had she wed him that discurtesie for that she did not know who it was that it did not agree neither was it requisite for hir honour to shew fauour vnto any knight except he were a king or prince such as with all honour maiestie she might receiue for hir spouse but said he possibly when she knoweth that you are sonne vnto thâ—… Emperour Trebatio the Empresse Briana she will repent change hir minde and that he was such a Knight as that princesse Oliuia should receiue great delight to receiue him into hir seruice And then hée gaue counsell that he should goe into Greece make himselfe knowen vnto his parents from thence he might take his iourny into England ther to proue once againe his fortune And in saying these other such like words in effect this good king Sacridoro comforted the Knight of Cupid And after that the feasts triumphs were ended he said that he would depart go towards the empire of Greece And with that determination he asked leaue of the king Sacridoro but he which bare him no lesse good will then vnto the quéene Oriselua his wife sayd that in no manner of wise he would consent vnto to his departure except he were in his company for that he would beare him company vntill such time as he made himselfe knowen vnto the Emperour Trebatio his father but the knight of the Sun would very faine haue excused that iourney saying vnto him that it was not a thing that beséemed him to be absent at that present time from his country being new married for that possible the king Polidarco his father in law the Quéene Oriselua his wife would be angry but all that did profit very liâ—…le for the king was determined to goe with him and although hée thought againe to loose all his kingdome yet would he not leaue his company So that the Knight of Cupid was constrained against his will to take him in his company the which he refused thinking that the king Polidarco the Qâ—…éene Oriselua would receiue some griefe anger for his departure and yet hée had so great delight in his familiaritie friendship that it séemed vnto him in all his life time he neuer met with a knight so conformâ—…ble vnto his neither that with a
better will did offer vnto him friendship And although at time he did refuse his company yet time did come afterward that it was very necessary profitable vnto him as hée reafter shall bee tolde you in this History And for that the king Sacridoro did know the great desire the Knight of Cupid had to depart talking on a time with the king Polidarco and the Quéene his wife hée gaue them to vnderstand how that the Knight of Cupid was sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio and of the Empresse Briana and how that hee would depart toward Grecia to make himselfe knowen vnto his Father for which cause hée could not but beare him company for the great obligation in which he was bound vnto him and did desire them that they would thinke well thereof And although his departure grieued them very much yet seeing the great reson that he had they answered that he might doe as he thought best for that it séemed vnto them he had great reason therein they much meruailed that the Knight of Cupid should be so high and mightie a Prince At length when they had taken their leaue of them and of the Prince Don Lusindo who was also very sorrowfull for their departure they went out of the citie trauailed vnto the sea coast wher they did imbarke themselues toke the way towards Grecia wherâ—… that happened vnto them which shall be told you in this Chapter following Of a verie fierce and perillous battaile which the Knight of Cupid had with a famous giant in the Grecian Empire Chap. 31. THe sorrow griefe was very much which was in the whole empire of Grecia by reason of the newes touching the death of Rosicleer for the Emperour did commaund that for the space of one moneth all mirth pastimes which were made in the great citie of Constantinople whereas were so many excellent knights that it was a strange thing to behold Which knights not hauing any thing to doe some departed into their owne countries other some went out of the court to séeke their aduentures in the Empire till such time as the month was passed In the end of which the Knight of the Chariot should returne to defend the beautie of the faire princesse Lindabrides so that at that time the citie of Constantinople was left voide and all the land of the Empire full of Knights as well strangers as naturalls amongst whom there did not lacke to bee euerie day great contentions It fell out in this time that ther came into Grecia a mightie great famous giant called Mandroco who was Lord of Achia which was an Iland ioyning vnto the grecian empire of so great force strength that he was inuinsible of long time the whole countrie of Grecia did not like well of him for that he greatly harmed them as well by land by sea and as this mightie Giaunt heard the report of the high déedes of chiâ—…alrie done by the Knight of the Chariot in the great citie of Constantinople and likewise of the great safe conduct granted by the Emperour with the great desire he had to proue himselfe with him and to make manifest his mightie force and strength in that Court he passed into Grecia and came thether two daies after the demaund of the Knight of the Chariot and béeing determined to remaine there till the moneth was accomplished hee trauailed in the Empire and with what knight so euer hée met hée should not depart but first proue himselfe with him and oâ—… all such as he did ouerthrow to the ground he would take their Horsses from theÌ„ and wheÌ„ hée had ioyned a great number together hée would send them into his Iland So hée béehaued himselfe that in space of twelue daies hée had euer throwen more then two hundâ—…ed Knights and all their Horses were his and for that they did finde themselues agreeued many of those Knights did make theyr complaint vnto the Emperour of their misvsing who receiued so great sorrow and griefe that hée him selfe would haue gone in person to haue proued himselfe against him if the Empresse had not hindred him And againe calling to remembrance the safe conduct that hée had graunted vnto all Knights hée woâ—…ld not send any people against him for that hee would not break his promise So that hee receiued great griefe for that which euery day was tolde him of that gyant And his great name and fame was spread throughout all that Countrie in such sort that many Knight did procure to apart himselfe out of that way wheras hée went and vnto all Knights his name was terrible and they said that in all the world there was not a Gyant so mighty and strong And trauayling in this sort it so fell out that in the same time there came into the Countrie of Grecia the Knight of Cupide and the good King Sacridoro and straight waies there was giuen them to vnderstand of the high déedes of the Knight of the Chariot and how that hée remained in Constantinople till such time as the month was accomplished for to returne and defend the beautie of the fayre Princesse Lindabrides Likewise they heard the great complaints which was made of the mighty Gyaâ—…nt Mandroco The Knight of Cupide hauing great desire to méete with him did direct his way toward that way wheras it was tould him that hée went And it fell out one day that as hée and y e king Sacridoro did passe through a mighty and great vsed way they saw the giant comming the same way with more then thirty of his owne knights which bare him company and he was of so high and big stature that he did appeare aboue all the rest from the brest vpwards and when these two Knights came nigh vnto them the Gyaunt dyd béehould them and liking well both of the Knights and theyr Horsses 〈◊〉 straight waies sayd that they should prepare themselues vnto the iust with him one to one or both together which their pleasure was and best liked them Then the Knight of Cupid who had a great desire to proue himself with the giant requested the King Sacridoro that he would let him haue the first battell To whom he answered that hée should doo his pleasure although hée would haue béen very glad first to haue proued his owne fortune so y e Knight of Cupid without answering any word went and put himself in one part of the high way And when the Gyaunt saw him so big and well made it liked him well and laughed vnto himselfe béecause hée would iust alone with him and might profit himselfe with his companion The gyaunt had vnder him a very fayre and mighty Horse called Rondarte that next vnto the Horse Cornerino was the best in all the world and for that hee was so mighty and strong hée trauailed on him for if hée had not beene such a one ther were no horse that were able to sustaine and suffer him for that hee was
saying that it were better that he should perish then so many noble knights But all was spoken in vaine and nothing would serue for that the knight of the Sun would depart with them in their company leaue of his first owne demaund So strayght way without any longer tarrying in company with y e king quéene they toke their ieurney towards Lidia the king said vnto the quéene that he was the most vertuous knight that euer he saw in all the world how that the great fame that went of him was with â—…ust reason So in this sort thâ—…y trauailed till they came vnto a little castell wher as they determined to â—…ary for that the night was come vpon them and there resting themselues very earely in the morning they arose did prosecute their iourney And they had not â—…rauailed long when that out of the same castell they saw â—…ome forth sixe armed knights who likewise soiourned ther â—…ll that night following them they did ouertake them 〈◊〉 the entry of a great vally when they drew niâ—…h one of â—…he knights said Sir knights you vnderstand that your horse 〈◊〉 armour doth giue great contentment vnto these my comâ—… I for my part doth all onely desire this Lady for 〈◊〉 she seemeth to be very faire to be of high estate therâ—… out of hand it doth accomplish you to leaue them except 〈◊〉 will dye in our hands Then the knight of the Sun who 〈◊〉 the first was with them very méeke sufferable with 〈◊〉 dissimulation he said Sir knight if we doe giue and 〈◊〉 vnto you our armour our horse will you not be â—…ntent to leaue with vs this Lady No of truth sayde the 〈◊〉 for that I â—…ad rather lye and take my ease with hir 〈◊〉 night then to haue all the horse and armour that is in 〈◊〉 the world Then the knight of the Sun who could no longer suffer so great villany nor outrage to passe before the presence of the king finding himselfe very nigh vnto the knight he lift vp his fist stroke him with his armed hand such a blow vpon the helme that he buckled it vnto the skull in such sort that he broke it all to peeces he fell from his horse dead to the ground The rest of the knights his compaâ—…ions when they saw thâ—…t terrible blow they were very much amazed for y t neuer in all their liues they saw the like done and with sâ—… great strength wished that they had not put themselues in that demaund and enterprise But yet 〈◊〉 themselues for that they were many they drew forth their swords and wâ—…nt against him did assauâ—…t him with mighty terrible blowes Yet â—…or all that the knight of the Sun made litle accompt of them would not drâ—…w his swoord but stroke aâ—… other of them such a terrible blow with his armed fist that likewise he ouerthrew him from his horse dead to y e ground said god forbide that I should drawout my swoord to defile it vpon so vile people as these be that without all shame doth demaund our 〈◊〉 armour yet not content buâ—… 〈◊〉 so would haâ—…e thâ—… queene for to defile hir Then the king Liseo who was one of the 〈◊〉 knights in the world being very much amazed at the great bounty strength of thâ—… knight of the Sun could no longer forbeare himselfe but 〈◊〉 his sword drawen in his haâ—…d he assaulted the knights thaâ—… remained And the first that hee mette with all hée cut of 〈◊〉 arme with a trise he stroke at another wounded him 〈◊〉 ry fore ouer threw him from his horse to the ground Anâ—… the knight of the Sun at that time stroke an other with 〈◊〉 armed fiâ—…t that he all to be brused his helme skull oueâ—… threw him dead to the ground so that ther remained of 〈◊〉 sixe but one aliue and seeing himselfe all alone thought no 〈◊〉 to tary but set spurs vnto his horse and ran 〈◊〉 with all the hast he could â—…o that these two valiant knights remayned all 〈◊〉 with great content to see themselues cléere of those discourteous knights as alsâ—… to see the proâ—…e of the great valiantnes of either of them so they returned onwards on their iourney had great pleasure pastime at the demaund of those vncourteous knightes they trauailed till such time as they came vnto the sea coast vnto the paâ—…t wheras they found the ship out of the which the king quéene had disembarked themselues into the which they entred found the winde very prosperous and so great that within thrée daies after their departure they ariued at a port or hauen of Asia wher as they went a land toâ—…e their way towardes Lidia alwaies trauailing in great hast for that they would come to the citie at the time that the king Liseo had appointed and promised vnto the knights but yet for all the hast that euer they could make their time was accomplished ouer and aboue more then ten daies at the end of the which one day in the after noone at such time as night drew on they had sight of their enemies who had thâ—…ir camp still pitched compassed round about the citie And that day they assalted the citie made a meruaileus great skirmish in such sort that they lacked very litle to eâ—…ter into the citie the most part of the knights that made their defence were slaine who did defend the citie with great force and like good and loyall vassalle alwaies determined first to dye the death then for 〈◊〉 vp the citie Although they were all that remained so weake and so feeble that if they had returned to giue a new â—…sault by reason of their great wearinesse wounds they must néedes haue yéelded vnto the death were all very much amazed that the king Liseo was not returned againe according vnto his promisâ—… for that they had him in estimation for one of the best knightes that was in all those parts they feared very much least some ill fortune or misâ—… should haue happened vnto him So when these two Knightes came within the sight of the campe wher their enemies wâ—…re the king Liseo said my very friend and Lord what doe you think is best for vs to do for to enter into the citie that we may giue some comfort vnto those sorrowfull and afflieted knights You doe best know worthy king what is best to be done in this case said the knight of the Sun therfore if it wer possible before y t I doe enter I would very faine know how far the force and strength of these knights doth extend therefore if it please you to take the queene behind you vpon your horse and procure in all that euer you may for to get vnto the gates of the citie cause your Knights to kéepe y e gates open for that
I will bee ther very quickly Doe all things according vnto your pleasure said the king I pray God to giue vnto you such victory that our enemies might vnderstand know that as yet the king Liseo is neither dead nor ouercome So when the night waxed dark the king in the best maner hee could he toke the qâ—…eene behind him on his horse embrased the knight of the Sunne shedding many teares he toke his leaue with the queene departed by a narrow lane which he knew very well went towards the citie although he met by the way with diuers yet for all that hauing no feare by reason that he spake the language very well they made litle reckoning of him did not mistrust y t he should be any of their enemies Then the knight of the Sun when he supposed that the king had passed the campe he toke his speare in his hand dreâ—… nigh vnto his enemies when he saw them that they were with out watch or care of any euill that might â—…appen vnto them â—…e committed himselfe vnto God put himselfe amongst his enemies with his speare he began to kill to destroy so many of the knights other souldiers that his great force strength was quickly knowen by the number thâ—…t lay dead in the field For that in a short space he had flame more then fiftie of them at the noisâ—… of whom with a triâ—…e all the whole camp was in an vproâ—… and cried vnto armour And after that this valiant knight had broken his 〈◊〉 with his swoord in his hands he pressed still forwardes amongst them in such sort that he seemed to be some infernal creature And without finding any great resistaunce he approched vnto the tents that were in the field which were very many rich wheras he found in them very many that seemed to be valiant Knights who at the noyse vprâ—…are of the souldiers wer all armed in their company many great and deformed giants that séemed to be great towers who when they saw all the people run away saw not their enemies follow them being greatly amazed therat they stood still knew not which way to depart but when the valiant knights drew nigh vnto them the first knight that he met withall he stroke him such a blow vpon his helme that cléeuing it his head downe vnto the breast he ouerthrew him dead to the ground turning himselfe about he stroke another vpon the wast that he cut him a sunder in the midst ouerthrew him from his horse likewise dead to the ground which made all the knights that wer ther not a litle to meruaile for that this valiant worthy knight would not at that time tary any longer he set spurs vnto his furious horse passed through the camp with so great fury that ther was not one knight that could get before him being seene by one of the most valiantest giants amongst the rest with a great mase in his hand he followed him pretending to strike him with the same The knight of the Sun perceiuing it tourned about with his horse before that the giant could execute his mighty blow with his mase he stroke him so terrible a blow vpon the wast that his sharp cutting sword entred into his bowels that he fell down from his horse dead to the ground and then without any stayinâ—… he put himselfe in the middest of the whole campe and made so great a spoile amongst his enemies that hée whom hee found in his way might well thinke himselfe vnhappy So that they all fledde and ran béefore him as from some infernall creature that according vnto the great destruction that he made amongest them they thought him to be no other In this sort this valiant knight went throughout the whole camp without finding one that was so hardy to disturbe him slew w t his own hands more they two hundreth knights being all embrued in blood he came vnto the gates of the citie wheras he found the king Liseo who being knowen by his knights subiects did open the gates did abide his comming And when they saw the knight of the Sun to come all to be raied with blood the knig straight waies did imagine what had passed with him embraced him saying Oh my good perfect friend now I am fully perswaded that it hath pleased god to give mée full remedy set at liberty all my kingdome onely in that I haue your valiant person héere with me At this time the most principallest of all the knights of the citie came vnto them with great contentment ioy to sée their Lord and king they entred into the citie commanded the gates to be shut very strongly excéeding good watch ward to bée kept they altogether went vnto the pallace wheras they were of the quéene meruailously well receiued entertained and did vnarme the knight of the Sun with hir own hands and there they did repose rest themselues that night not without great care complaints vnto their king to see themselues in such great affliction almost all the people in their Country lost Likewise also was the valiant knight of the Sun sore troubled with his amorous thoughts of the faire princes Lindabrides and of the princesse Claridiana which thoughts were more troublesome vnto him then the furious battaile which he should haue with his enemies the next day following But when he remembred his brother and the rest of his friends that were prisoners with Rodaran he receiued so great sorrow griefe that he thought long till the day was come had a good trust and confidence in God that very shortly he should sée himself cléere from his enemies for to haue time to returne vnto the bridge of the iaspe to conclude his pretence to combat with Rodaran Likewise at this time all those that were in the campe of the king of Arcadia did not take their rest in perfect quietnesse but when they remembred that which dyd passe with the beginning of the night they all trembled with theyr great feare which they receiued of that worthy valiaunt knight And when they had made relation of all that had hapned vnto the king of Arcadia he began to blaspheme against his gods for that it was not his fortune to méet with him they were all amazed because they could not vnderstand know who that valiant Knight should bée And againe they were fully perswaded that it could not be the king Liseo for that he was not a knight of so great valour for to make such destruction amongst them for that they had combatted with him diuers sundry times likewyse others had ben so ventrous as to enter into their camp but neuer did shew so great force the King being very desirous to know who he should be to sée him he passed away all that
made theyr encounter in such sort that the valiant pagan shéeuered his great Speare all in small shéeuers but at such time as hée thought all had béene finished hée found himselfe from his Horse vppon the ground by the great encounter of his enemy in such sort that hée was constrained to leaue his saddle and the Knight of the Sunne passed forwards as though hée had done nothing at all and this valiaunt Pagan was not so soone ouerthrowen but presently hée arose vp againe and drew out his swoord thinking that the Knight of the Sunne would haue returned againe vpon him but hée making litle account of him did blow his horne againe Then the king of Arcadia who from his Tent did béeholde all that passed béeing greatly amazed to sée his brother ouerthrowen sent another knight called Rufier who was a great Lord in Arcadia and one of the most brauest that hée had in all the camp who being mounted on a mighty courser went out of the camp with so great pride arrogancie that hée thought verely to reuenge the iniurie done vnto Momfriero but his expectation fell out cleane contrarie for when hée came to make his encounter with the Knight of the Sun hée gaue him such a blow with his speare that he pearced him quite through that hée ouerthrew him dead vnto the ground and breaking his speare therewith hée drew out his great and sharp cutting swoord and in his companie the King Lyseo they put themselues into the presse of the Campe whereas they made great slaughter killing and ouerthrowing as though they had béen all naked without armour Oh how ioyfull were all those of the Citie when they saw the great meruailes of their Captaines and theyr great bountie and surmounted strength and to the contrarie how the King of Arcadia was amazed when that hée saw two alone knights for to doo so great murther and destruction in his mightie and puissant armie and sayde with himselfe that if all the world should haue tould him the lyke hée could not haue béeléeued it except hée had séene it with his owne eyes and for that hée would sée more of theyr wonderfull déedes hée dyd not procure to arme himselfe neither would hée mooue froÌ„ the place whereas hée was but stoode still béeholding the two valiant knights how they dyd beehaue themselues amongest their enimies who without finding anie thing that dyd disturbe them in theyr wayâ—… they went throughout the whole armie killing and wounding all that they met withall in such sort that they were all to bee raâ—…ed with blood and the field lay full of dead bodies and whereas it was beefore all dust it was now turned into durt At this time was well perceiued the mighti and valyaunt courage of the Knight of the Sunne who was so furious and fierce in his battaile that whereas the King Lyseo did kill or wound one hee for his part did kill foure so that they slew béetwixt them that day more then three hundreth Knights and in the ende there went foorth to make resistance against them two great and stout Gyants and with their mightie mases in their hands they went towards the place whereas the Knights were Then the Knight of the Sunne béecause they should not take so great paines as to come vnto them whereas they were but seeing them a far off to come towards them hee went foorth to méete them and scarcely they could haue so much leasure as to life vp theyr mases for to strike them when that the Knight of the Sunne with great lightnesse stroke one of those Gyants with his swoord in both his hands so terrible a blow vpon his right shoulder that hee cut him downe to his bowells in such sort that the fore quarter with his right arme did part from his body and he fell from his horse dead to the ground Then the other Gyaunt who saw the ill successe of his companion beeganne to roare and to discharge his heauie clubbe vpon the Knights head but this couragious knight perceiuing the same set spurres vnto his horse who springing forwards did cléere his maister from that terrible blow so that his mase fell downe vnto the ground at which time the good King Lyseo dyd finde himselfe nigh vnto the Gyant and stroke him so terrible a blow vppon his arme that hée cut his armour and flesh vnto the hard bone At which time the Knight of the Sunne was embraced with other Knights and the Gyaunt lyft vp his mase againe and stroke the King Lyseo so strong a blow vpon his hard and rich helme that hee made him fall backwards vppon his saddle bow without any remembraunce with his head vpon the horse neck his armes hanging on both sides as though hée had béen dead and voâ—…did out of the beauer of his healme great abundaunce of blood Then the knight of the Sunne who at the noise of that terrible blow dyd looke about him to sée what it should bée and when hée saw the King in that great perplexitie as though hée had beene dead his sorrow and griefe was such that neuer in all his lyfe hée receiued the lyke and wished that hée had not brought him out that day vnto the battaile but seeing that it was then requisit to reuenge the same with more furie and wrath then euer hée receiued hée went towards the giant who was readie to strike the king Lyseo another blow and raysing himselfe in his stirrops with the force of both his hands hée stroke the Gyant such a blow vpon his head as though hee had no armour vpon him he cloue him downe vnto the breast the Gyant fell downe dead to the ground then the King of Arcadia and all those that were with him wondered greatlie when they saw that terrible and mortall blow stroken theyr blood waxed colde in theyr bodies and all theyr bones did shake and receiued such feare that there was not one that was so hardie almost scarce to looke vpon him much lesse to assault him and the King of Arcadia â—…ayd vnto himselfe Oh immortall Gods who could haue beeléeued that your power dooth so farre extend to make a â—…ortall man so mightie that at two blowes hée hath slaine â—…wo of the most valyauntest Gyaunts that were in all the â—…orld and hée alone sufficient to make resistaunce agaynst â—…wentie thousand Knights the flower of all the Pagan Countrie And I doo verily béeléeue séeing that you doo force â—…ée to speake it that the force and strength of this knight 〈◊〉 much more then yours and if it were possible for him to â—…oe vp into the heauens as he is héere on the earth he wold 〈◊〉 destroy you all At this time all those which were 〈◊〉 the Citie when they saw the disgrace of the King Lyseo all the great ioy and pleasure which they receiued toÌ„ sée the wonderfull meruayles of those two Knights was tourned into great sorrow and heauinesse and béegan amongst them grieuous lamentations but especially
bed he passed away that night as shall be tolde you in the first Chapter of the next booke Thus endeth the second part of the first booke of the Mirrour of Knighthood THE TABLE OF all that happened vnto the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana in their way vnto the Grecian Empire Chapter 1. Folio 1. How the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana ariued in the Empire of Grecia Chap 2. fol. 7 How the departure of the Emperour Trebatio the princes Briana was knowen in the court of kiâ—g Tiberio what passed about the same Chap. 3 fol. 8. How the knight of Cupid did take his leaue of the Queene Arguirosa entred into the kingdome of Russia where hee found a strange aduenture Chap. 4. fol. 13. How the knight of Cupid entered into the dreadfull caue of Artidon and of all that happened ther. Chap 5. fol. 18. How the two Princes Brandizel and Clauerindo departed from the kingdome of Polonia came into the kingdome of France and of all the rest that happened chap 6. fol. 26 How the two Princes Brandizel and Clauerindo beeing in the Citie of Parris there came thether Branbafuriel with whom the Prince Clauerindo had a very strong and furious battaile Chap 7. fol. 28. How the knight of the Sun escaped out of prison where hee was and perforce departed from the Court of the king Tiberio Chap. 8. fol. 31. Of all that passed in the court of the king Tiberio after the knight of the Sun was departed and how the bretheren of the Duke of Pannonia and Aridon of the wildernes did determine to reuenge themselues of the king Tiberio for that he would not pardon their deaths chap. 9. fol 34. How the knight of the Sun came vnto a Castle whereas hee did deliuer a Gentlewoman recouered two Pages whom hee carried with him Chap. 10. fol 42. Of the great triumphes which were made in Constantinople for the comming of the Emperour Trebatio and how the death of the Prince Edward was bruted in great Brittâ—ine and of all that happened Chap 11. fol. 45. How the three Princes Bargandel Liriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo who went in the demaund of Rosicleer came into the kingdome of Lusitania and of all that happened vnto them there Chap. 12. fol 47 How the three Princes Bargaâ—…del Lyriamandro and the 〈◊〉 Zoylo issued fooâ—…th with such people as were in the Citie vnto the Camp of their enâ—…mies and of the mightie deedes of armes that they did there Chap. 13. fol 50 How these three Princes went forth the second time into the camp were taken prisoners by their enimies cap. 14. 〈◊〉 52 How the Knight of the Sunne gâ—…eing towards the 〈◊〉 of Grecia should haue beene taken by treason at a bridge and of all that pasâ—…ed therein chap. 15. fol. 54 How Florinaldus would haue taken the Knight of Sunne by treason and how he slew his knights receiued Florinaldus to his 〈◊〉 of all that happened besides cap. 16. â—…o 56 How the Knight of Cupide departed from the Kingdome of Russia and of all that happened vnto him in his iourney Chapter 17. folio 58 How the Knight of Cupid ariued in the Kingdome of Pheâ—…cia whereas he deliuered from death a Knight who afterward was a very great friend of his Chap. 18. fol. 63 Of a straunge aduenture which happened vnto the Knight of Cupid and the King Sacridoro trauayling by the mountaines of Phenica chap. 19. folio 68 How the three Princes Bargandel Liriamaâ—…dro and the Tartarian Zoylo came vnto the fountaine wheras the King Sacridoro was lamenting the death of his great friend the Knight of Cupid and how they were aduertised by him who he was and of all that hapned therein chap. 20. fol. 70 Of a strange aduenture which the Knight of the Sunne found trauavling towards the Grecian Empire chap. â—…1 fol. 72 Of a stout and well foughten battaile beetwixt the Knight of the Sunne and the Prince Meridian and of all that happened afterward chap. 22. fol 78 How the Prince Meridian did leaue the Chariot of the Princessâ—… Lyâ—…dabrides his sister and how hee went with the armour and horse of the Knight of the Sun vnto the 〈◊〉 of the King of Macedonia chap. 23. fol. 83 How the Knight of the Sunne and the Princessee Lindabrides trauayled towards Constantinople and sent messengeâ—… to the Emperour Trebatio to giue him to vnderstand of theyr comming chap. 24. fol. 84 Of the entering of the Knight of the Chariot and the fayre princesse Lindabrides into Constantinople cap. 25 fol. 86 Of a straunge aduenture which happened vnto the Princesse Claridiana beeing a hunting chap. 26. fol. 89 Of that which hapned vnto the sorrowfull Knight of Cupid after he was carried to the fountaine of the sauage people chapter 27. folio 93 How the three Princes Bargandel Liriamando the Tartarian Zoylo went vnto Constantinople whereas they gaue vnderstanding of the death of Rosicleer chap. 28. fol. 96 How Florinaldus came into the kingdome of France wher he was taken prisoner at a bridge and how by two Knights that came thether hee was set at libertie whom he knew to be the knights of the flower de luces which he sought cha 29. fol. 98 How the Knight of Cupid the king Sacridoro departed froÌ„ the kingdome of Penicia for the Empire of Greece ca. 30. f. 99 Of a fierce perrillous battell which the knight of Cupid had wiah a famous Giant in the Grecian Empire cha 31. fo 100. How the knight of the chariot returned to defend the beautie of the Princesse Lindabrides in the mightie citie of Constantinople whereas hapned straunge things chap. 32. fol. 104 How the knight of the Sun returned to defend the beautie of the princes Lindabrides what hapned besides ca. 33. fol. 108 How the knight of the Sun did defend the beutie of y e princesse Lindabrides and how there entred into the iusting place the Knight of Cupid and the king Sacridoro chap. 34. fol. 109 Of the wonderfull and cruell battell made betwixt the knight of the Sunue and the Knight of Cupid and of the perillous ende and successe thereof chap 35. fol. 112 How the Knight of the Sunne and the knight of Cupid were come againe vnto themselues and how they were knowen to bee brethren by a meruaylous meanes chap. 36. fol. 119 Of the great feasts and triumphs which were made in the great Citie of Constantinople for the acknowledging of the Princes and of a certaine aduenture which came at that time thether whereat all the Knights of the Court were at the poynt to bee lost Chap. 37. folio 129 Who the valiaunt Rodaran was and the damsell and the occasion wherfore they came vnto the court of the Emperour Trebatio chap. 38. folio 137 How the prince Brandizel went to combat with Rodran and of the strong and rigorous battaile they had cap. 40. fo 148 How the Prince Rodamarte went vnto the bridge of lasp for
theyr time and retourneth to tell you of all that passed in the Court of King Tiberio when hée knew of the departure of the Emperour Trebatio and of the Princesse Briana How the departure of the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana was knowen in the Court of King Tiberio and what passed about the same Chap. 3. THe Historie sayth for that the Gentlewomen of the Princesse Briana were fully certified that theyr mistres kept hir Nouena in hir chamber as shée was wont to 〈◊〉 and as I béefore tould you they neuer haâ—… any occasion to mistrust hir departure foâ—… that at any time béefore they neuer could perceiue the leaâ—… presumption thereof till such time as the nyne dayes were past and the tenth day come séeing not the chamber dore of the Princesse open they were all in a confusion not knowing what it should meane So in this doubt they remayned vntill the eleuenth day at which time not séeing the chamber dore opened they determined to goe thether and began to call knocke at the dore but ther was none that answered them whereat béeing more amazed they knocked hard and stroke mightie and great blowes at the dore neuer thelesse there was none that aunswered them although they were there a great whyle knocking and being much amazed thereat they straight way gaue the Quéene of Augusta to vnderstand thereof who was in the Citie of Buda béeing very much amazed at that sodayne newes she called certayne of hir Knights Gentlewomen and in their company departed to the monestary And when she came vnto the chamber dore of the Princesse found none to answere hir for all their great knocking shee strayght waies commaunded hir Knights to breake open the dore and hatchets and other things being brought for the purpose they broke open the dore which done the Quéene with hir Knights and Gentlewomen entered the chamber and not finding the Princesse nor any other person therein were very sore troubled amazed she sat hir selfe downe vpon the floore and knew neither what to say or doe but onely to lament and to make great sorrow And as they were in this confusion they found the Letter that was written lying vppon the Table and directed either to the King Tiberio or vnto the Quéene the which Letter they gaue strayght waye vnto the Quéene Augusta who with great anguish did open the same and saw thereon written all the whole Hostorye of the mightie Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana with the true relation thereof till such time as they departed and in the end of the Letter they craued pardon for that they went away in such sort as they had done without giuing them to vnderstande thereof alleadging the reason to bée for the death of the Prince Edward for that the King Oliuerio father vnto the Prince should not with any reason haue cause to quarrell with the King Tiberio neyther account him as pertaker in the death of the Prince So when the Quéene vnderstoode the effect of the Letter shée remayned all astonied and amazed not knowing whether she might giue credit vnto so strange a thing as this was although to the contrary shée receyued exceeding great ioy and pleasure for the good fortune of the Princesse hir Daughter that in all hir life she felt not in hir selfe so much pleasure gaue great thanks vnto God for his excéeding benefit which hée had done vnto hir At that time the King Tiberio was in the Citie of Ratisbona and the Quéene Augusta strayght wayes sent messengers such as shée thought could well declare all that had happened and by them she sent the Letter that the Emperour had left written behinde him in the chamber of the Princesse and the Quéene remained with hir owne Gentlewomen and with the Gentlewomen of the Princesse in the monestary of the Riuer for that it was a place of great quietnesse pleasure and sent all hir Knights and the rest of hir seruantes vnto the Citie remayning onely with a fewe Knights for hir gard other seruantes such as were néedefull for hir seruice The messengers which went with the Embassage vnto the King Tiberio came vnto the Court before him at such time as the King was accompanied with all his high Princes and Knights amongest whome there was that excellent and worthie Knight of the Sunne carrying to heare when the departure of the Emperour and the Princesse should bée declared in the Court. And when the messengers came béefore they King the strayght wayes declared vnto him theyr Embassage and gaue him the Emperours Letter which at his commaundement was read openlye in the hearing of all the Court. And when they vnderstoode all that this History hath told you the great admiration that all people receyued was wonderfull when the King heard the contentes thereof hée remayned a great while as one being in a maze and speake neuer a word At last calling to his remembraunce the mightinesse of the Emperour the great maiesty of his estate the worthinesse of his person the excellencie of his royall descent hée thought within himself that God had done much for him in giuing him so worthy mightie a sonne in law and that his Daughter was the most happiest Princesse then liuing in the world that in the end of all hir sorrow shée had found so noble excellent a husband All this and many other things did greatly delight his hart but considering how much he was in charge for the Prince of great Britayne hée did not make any outward shew of his inward contentment but demeaned himselfe as one 〈◊〉 in thought and very much troubled And after that he had a great while remayned in that traunce without speaking anye thing hée sodainly arose vp from the place whereas hée sate and leauing all his Knights and Noble men in the great hall hée intered into his closet and béeing there alone hee béeganne again to call to his remembraunce the noble and mighty déedes of the worthy Emperour Trebatio and the more ioy and pleasure he séemed to receiue giuing great thankes vnto God for that all thinges by the working of his mightie hand were brought to so good and ioyfull an ende And thus all thinges well considered hée determined to make an outward shew of great anger agaynst the Emperour till such time as he might vnderstand how the King Oliuerio did take the matter at such â—…ime as hée should heare newes thereof Likewise at that time came to his remembrance the mighty déedes that the Emperour declared of the Knight of the Sun musing with himselfe who that Knight should be that was of so great strength and power and was very gladde and ioyfull that he had hin in his Court. And at this time all the nobles and Knights which remayned in the hall did talk one with another and very much meruayled at the mighty deedes of the Knight of the Sunne and all people did béehold him giuing him great
prayse and extolâ—…ing him vnto the heauens in such sort that he was ashamed to heare himself so praysed But as it is a thing most common that against prosperitie of the vertuous there doth not lacke malicious and enuions persons who neuer resteth to procure the execution of their venimous stomackes it so fell out amongest the Knights that were there present there was Florinaldus hée which the Knight of the Sun did ouerthrow at the bridge before Albamira who for that he was a stout and gallaunt Knight receyued great griefe that the Knight of the Sunne should ouerthrow him and especially béefore his Lady and mistresse and therefore hée was very destrous to séeke to haue opportunitie wherein he might bée reuenged make satisfaction of the shame and rebuke which he had receyued by him many of those nobles and Knights that were present were his parents and kinsfolke And I know not whether it was with the great hope hée hadde in his owne strength or in the confidence of his kinsfolkes and friends which were verye many hée determined with himselfe to séeke some occasion of contention with the Knight of the Sunne Now at such time as these Knights were praysing him and giuing him his deserued commendation for the good hée had done vnto the Emperour Florinaldus replyed vnto them and with a loude voyce that he might be heard of all that were there present hée sayde The Knight of the Sunne cannot in any wise excuse himselfe of a great offence in that he did not aduertise my Lord the King Tiberio that the Emperour Trebatio would secretly carrye awaye his Daughter contrarye vnto his will And for that he hath ben hetherto in his company it is to be supposed that he was acquaynted with the Emperors determination and if it please my Lord the King to giue attencion vnto my words he should commaund him for the same to bée accordingly punished for that in no place ther ought to be giuen any credite or trust to traycours and therfore much lesse in the court of high and mighty Kings When the Sonne of Trebatio heard these wordes his coulour chaunged and with very anger he gnashed his téeth together striuing to mittigate his cholarike ire by reson and to answere Florinaldus with patience but yet this valiant Del Phoebo could not execute his vertuous desire for that his wrath and cholar did much more surmount his calmnesse which did procéede of his worthy vexed hart in such sort that he could not find which way to compasse the same without the great abusing of his honour especially to â—…eare so infurious and vile words spoken against him but with a surious and frowning countenaunce which séemed to terrifie all them that did behold him he replied vnto Florinaldus and sayd These words which thou hast spoken Florinaldus be villanous and not to be suffered Therfore vpon the same if thou wilt goe forth into the field with mée I will giue thée to vnderstand that thou doest lie falselie for that I was neuer traitour to King nor to any other creature When this stout gallant Knight heard these words his youthfull bloud being moued being politike and nimble with a trice he wrapped his cloake about his arme drew out his sword with the which he would haue striken the Knight of the Sun who was vnarmed but giuing the enterprise against the flower of all knights before his sword could descend to execute his will with a light leap more then thrée paces he auoyded drew out his sword which was a heanie and sorrowfull drawing out vnto many And for that Florinaldus had there many kinsefolkes friends and likewise of his owne squires and seruants they altogether drew out their swords some against the Knight of the Sunne and other some to make peace betwixt them so that there was not any in all the hall but hee hadde his sword readre drawen Now at such time as the Knight of the Sunne would haue stroâ—…en his first blow at Florinaldus a brother of his called the Troyan Earle with his sword in his hand put himselfe forwards and thought to receiue the blow which descended cutting the Ayer with great fury lifting vp his sword with pretence rather to hurt the Knight of the Sun then to make peace his misfortune was such that the blow descending with so great fury stroke the sword out of his hand the sword of the Knight of the Sun lighted vpon his head so that hée claue it to the shoulders and he fell downe dead vnto y e ground which was great griefe to Florinaldus and vnto all the rest of his kinsfolkes friends that dyd sée him fall who with great desire to reuenge the death of their kinseman did put theyr liues in great daunger with the perill that was before them And procured all that euer they could to wound the Knight of the Sunne And being many and he vnarmed he found himselfe in the greatest danger that euer in all his life he had béene in Yet for all that in this desperate conflict he did plainely show that he was the most couragious Knight of all his predecessours and of all that followed after him So that in all the twelue parts of this great historie as Trebatio they haue no small cause to mencion this mighty Alfebo more theÌ„ any other Knight for that this strong Knight dyd thinke nothing impossible vnto him that consisted in fâ—…ates of armes and where so euer he came ther was nostrength nor courageable to make resistauns against his fury Now when this couragious Gentleman dyd sée him selfe inclosed with his enemies and so many comming together to discharge and execute their fury vppon him his wrath and courage increased in such sort that in leaping forwardes and forwardes striking about him on euery side hée chaunced on two of them which came before him being seruants vnto Florinaldus so that with an ouerthwart blow he cut the one of them cleane a sunder by the middle chaunced vpon the other in the same place that his sword entred into his bowells both of them fell dead to the ground And not staying he layd about him on euery side so that no man dyd endure before him that was vnarmed but hee ouerthrew him vnto the ground and all that euer he dyd was little enough for that with the great violence and furie which they vsed without all feare pressing vpon him in such sort that they hurt him in thrée or foure places wher at their issued very much bloud Notwithstanding what with the great fory hée had and his exxéeding lightnesse and deadly blowes that hee stroke hee made the most part of all them for great feare to put them selues apart from him And hauing space that hée could turne and winde his sworde about him there was none that was so hardye for to assayle him but that he cut him a sunder in the myddest There was at that time many nobles and Knights that would
for ioy they ran vnto him and clasped their armes about him and remained a great while embraced together and could not speake one word with the great ioy and pleasure which they receiued So in the end when that their harls and armes had contented themselues with that louing and ioyfull méeting they fel into communication wheras béetwixt theÌ„ ther passed a great discourse of their liues whereby the King and the Quéene was fully satisfied of all that the Prince Clauerindo and Armineo had passed after such time as they were taken prisoners by the power of that great rouer Mambriniano So when the king and the Quéene heard of the great misfortunes traualles that their son had passed was now in their presence accompanied with that mightie Prince Brandizel with whom hee was brought vp there was no ioy that might be compared vnto theirs and they gaue great thanks vnto God for such his mercifull benefits shewed vpon them When these newes was published abroade I am not héere able to declare the general ioy pleasure which was made not alone in the great Citie of Paris but in all the kingdome ther was great and solempne feasts made the which endured a long while And for that the Historie hath verie much to tell of other Knights at this present it doth leaue to speake any more of them and returneth vnto the Knight of the Sunne whom wée left prisoners in the court of King Tiberio How the Knight of the Sunne escaped out of the prison where hee was kept and perforce departed from the Court of the King Tiberio Chap. 8. THe Historie sheweth that the Knight of the Sunne was thirty daies prisoner in the tower wheras we left him at the great Citie of Ratisbona in which time the king Tiberio dyd neuer determine what should bée done-touching the death of the Troyan Earle but was rather in a great doubt not knowing what to conclude therein for that on the one side the wife and children of the Earle and all his parents and kinsefolkes who were verie manie and of the principallest of the Court dyd euery daye and houre importunate him for to doo iustice vpon the Knight and on the other part considering the great valure and deserr and the soueraigne excellencie that seemed to bee in him he could not consent in his hart that such a Knight as he was should dye although his offence had béene farre greater then his was and as the king remained in this doubt the Knight of the Sunne was no lesse perplexed séeing himselfe so long time in prison that the King would not determine what his will was therein Likewise the same time Florinaldus was prisoner in another tower vnto whom the payne and trouble of his imprisonment was not so much griefe as his desire was earnest to bée reuenged on the Knight of the Sunne in especiall for the shame which hée receiued at his handes beefore his Lady Albamira as much as for the death of the Troyan Earle and for that hée was a vallaunt Knight hée could not perswade himselfe that the Knight of the Sunne should haue anie vauntage of him if hee entered battaile with him by the sword and thought within himselfe that by no other meanes hee could make satisfaction of his honour but to defie him to mortall battayle for the death of the Earle his brother and to demand of the King lisence for the same and as hee determined hee put it in execution and called vnto him a Squier of his and sent him vnto the Knight of the Sunne for to tell him that it was not vnknowen what words dyd passe beetwixt them and how that hée had slaine the Troyan Earle his brother â—…o that vpon the same occasion hée dyd defie and challenge him to mortall battayle and if it were so that hée accepted battayle hee for his part would procure lysence of the King for the same So the â—…uyer went with his message and declared it vnto the Knight of the Sunne who was verie glad and ioyfull thereof not for any good will 〈◊〉 he had to make battayle with Florinaldus for that he had no desire to dishonour or shame him but the chiefest occasion of his ioye was to recouer his horse and armour wherewith to defende himselfe and not to suffer himselfe to bee taken and carried againe vnto prison And there with he saide vnto the squyer that hée should tell his Lord that hée was very sorrie for the death of his Brother and that hée dyd well know that hee was in the fault of all that passed to that neuerthelesse seeing hée demaunded the battayle hée could doo no otherwise but make his defence and so hee promised to accept the battaile as far foorth as the King wold giue them lysence Then the Squyer retourned with this answere vnto his Lord who when hée heard the meeknesse of the Knight of the Sunne his stoute courage dyd the more increase and sent strayght way vnto the King a certayne Knight of his part for to aske lisence that hée the Knight of the Sunne myght enter battayle about the death of the Earle affirming that it was his request against the Knight of the Sunne Now you shall vnderstand that it was the vse and custome of that Country that the Brother or any other vnto the fourth degree of the kindred might reuenge the death of his brother or any other kinseman of him whatsoeuer hée were that committed the murther and the law beeing such the King could dooâ—… no lesse but giue lysence vnto all that which Florinaldus did request When Florinaldus dyd vnderstand the same hee was well content and the next day following the battayle was appoynted to bee held in the middest of the great court The day béeing come the King sent vnto the Knight of the Sun his sword and when the houre approched that they should make theyr battayle the King commaunded 500 Knights and as many more foote meâ—… to 〈◊〉 and keepâ—… Florinaldus and the Knight of the Sunne that they might haâ—…e the field in quyet and safetie And beesides all this they had all the principals and Knights of the Court to accompany them so that they went out of the prison wheras they were with great hâ—…nour And when they came into the place the King and all the rest of the nobles were at the windowes and the people in other places wheras they might best sée the battaile Incontinentlye all those which did beare them company at the commandement of the King did a part themselues from the two Knights were appointed for Iudges the Duke of Austria the Earle of Denmarke who were the best esteemed in all the Court did deuide the space betwixt the two Knights put each of them in his place When the Knight of the Sunne saw himselfe at liberty he sayd vnto himselfe Oh mighty Emperour Trebatio how maist thou blame me of forgetfulnes towards thy maiestie for that I haue not performed the vow which
not moue one iot from the place whereas he was but cried out vnto the knights that they should come forth against him all thrée But when hée saw his words did little profit him with great fury infernall courage he made his course against the valiant Tartarian who with a worthy courage as one that was both stout strong of hart broched his horse with the spurs and went forth to méet him in the middest of their course they met so strongly together y t their great speares were broken into small shiuers this stout Tartarian did double with his body backwards in such sort that his head strike diâ—… vpon y â— Horse crouper being somewhat astonied with that strong incounter he passed forwards on his Horse straight waies did settle himselfe agayne in the saddle but the strong deformed Gyant Horse all fell downe vnto the ground with which fall they made a meruaylous great noise he had his saddle fast betwixt his legges When the King Balachia saw his Gyant on the earth he was very heauy in his hart and commaunded that no more Knights should come forth to the iust but that the three Princes should be brought before him at which time the monstrous giant did arise from the ground and drew out a great mighty fauchon which he had at his girdle went towards the Princes said that they all thrée together should make battaile with him The thrée Princes not making any reckoning of his wordes on horsebacke as they were went before the King and asked him if he were content to pay them theyr bargaine that was made betwixt them if not they would depart vnto some other place whereas they thought best Then the King who was meruaylous angrye and offended with them aunswered and sayd I will that you serue me in this my warres and afterward it shall be at my pleasure to pay you for your seruice and if you will graunt vnto this with a good will doe it if not I will make you perforce Then these three Princes who had no desire to tary ther although the King would giue them all the treasure that hee had but onely intended to serue and helpe the Quéene Lauinia for that it seemed vnto them that shée had most right without speaking any word vnto the King tourned about their horses and tooke their way towardes a great bridge of stone which passed ouer the riuer and at the farther end therof was the gate of the Citie and vpon the said brige and walâ—… of the Citie there were many people and because the campe was very nigh the citie they might well discerne all that had passed with the thrée Princes and what they had done and very much meruailed to what purpose it was done and could not imagine who those thrée valiant knights should be Now when the King Balachia saw that the thrée Princes went their way with great wrath anger he began to cry out with a loude voice vnto his knights commaunding them to take them perforce At which commandement many of his Knightes did follow them with as great speâ—…d as their horses could run but before they could ouertake them these three Princes were entred vpon the bridge And when they saw so many people following theÌ„ they drew out their swords turned backe vpon them And wounded many of them But by reason of the great company that assualted them they were put to great extremitie forced to retire backewards towards the citie And by reason that the bridge was somwhat narow it did profit them very much in that their enimies could not assault them but all before to whom they did very great harme This battaile indured betwixt them more then halfe an houre in which time they slew of their enemies more then twentie Knights And when those which were within the citie saw all that passed they thought it best to open the gates vnto those Knights that so valiantly with great strength defended themselues determined to retaine them on their part to help them to make defence against their enimies for that they did withdraw themselues towards the Citie This determination they performed for as these thrée Princes did by little and little retire towards the gates of the citie so when they came nigh them they that were vpon the walles and battilments of the citie did shoote many arrowes and threw stones and other things at their enimies with the which they did them very great harme and made them to retire backwards by reason whereof they had space for to open a 〈◊〉 doore of the Gates by the which the thrée Princes entered in and the Posterâ—…e being 〈◊〉 againe they of the citie receiued them very wâ—…l and gaue them good intertainment and much meruailed at their great valour strength the Princes with like curtesie did returne them thankes for that which they had done and that in their defence they would doe all that euer was in their powers There was amongst these people a knight who was principall of them had the charge ouer that gate and this Knight carryed the three Princes before the Quéene Lauinia accompanied with many other knights Gentlemen and when they came before hir they gaue hir to vnderstand of all that they had seene those three knights doe how they came of their owne good will to serue hir in hir wars The Quéene when she heard that which the knight had told hir receiued great ioy in their gentle disposition good proportion receiuing them very curteously and doing them all the honour she could offering hir selfe wholy vnto them like did aduertise them of the small reason that the King had to besiege them These Princes answered hir with wonted curtesie and did offer themselues vnto the Quéene so liberally that she was almost satisfied of the sauegard of hir citie Then they remayned ther all that day without doing any other thing and the King of Balachia remayned in his campâ—… with great anger and sorrowfull heauinesse that those thrée Knights were gone from him in that order and did sweare a mightie oath that he would make them die an euill death if he might get them into his power And although hée had at this present great wrath against them ther did not passe very long time after but that they did grieue him much more and made him repent himself for that he did not giue them better intertainment when they first entred into his campe as in this chapter following shall be told you ¶ How the three Princes Bargandell Lyriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo issued forth with such people as were in the citie vnto the camp of their enimies and of the mighty deed of armes that they did there Chap. 13. WHen the next day was come these thrée princes were very desirous to go forth of the citie against their enimies and to raise vp the sege that was against the citie and set
vnto you to be a new world and this wise man was my father who for my better sauegard and honour did carry me vnto the courtof the king Polidarco wheras I continued certaine yéeres in the company of the quéene hir daughter Oriselua And béeing there the prince Don Lusindo fell in loue with mée insomuch that in the end of many daies he did so importune me that hée plighted mée his faith and troth to take mée for his wife and I hauing my confidence therein hée did obtaine of mée all that his pleasure was and although this was kept secret many daies yet in the ende it came to bée discouered for that my father was very old and knowing that his time was come that hée should die hée did procure to marry mée and giue mee vnto a husband according vnto my estate and honour And béeing very importunate with mée therein I was constrained of necessitie to declare vnto him y t I was made sure vnto the Prince Lusindo and how that hée was my spouse and husband And at such time as the king my father went vnto the prince for to know of him the truth he denyed it and sayd that there neuer passed beetwixt vs any such promise And all that euer my Father could was not sufficient to make him confesse the truth And hée séeing the great disloyalty of him determined before hée did die to bée reuenged of that iniury and likewise of me in such sort that in time ther might be some remedy so by his great knowledge he brought the prince hether vnto his habitation and put him into a quadran full of fire wheras he is continually burning and without ceasing he crieth out giueth terrible shrikes cannot come foorth of that quadran And when he was put therin he said that by no maÌ„ner of wise he could be cleere of that great torment and peine till such time as a knight who by his bounty prowesse should come vnto the fountaine of the sauage people and drinck of the water and drinking therof he shuld discouer the entry into this habitatioÌ„ as you haue discouered the same And how y t this knight by the great loialty of his loue should supply the great disloialty of the prince how hée should take him forth of that quadran wheras he is by y e force and strength of his armes first getting the victorie by battaile and how that after hée is deliuered from that place he should receiue aâ—…d take me to bee his spouse tell the truth of all that had passed This béeing ordained and done my father died and héere I doo remaine all alone very sad and sorrowfull for his death and with great griefe and compassion of the prince for that ther cannot be a more grieuous thing in the world theÌ„ to heare him shrike and lament And although the king his Father did know of a certaintie that the wise man his brother did bring him hether vnto this habitation to bée reuenged on him yet for all that hée could neuer finde the entrie into it although hée hath procured by all meanes y t euer was possible So that the king and the quéene his mother and all the rest of the kingdome doo liue in great sorrow and heauinesse for the losse of the prince for this habitation hath an other entry by a Caue which in all the world doth beare y e fame â—…ut the entrie thereof is so perilous and dark that there is â—…o humane knight dare enter it and there is none but I aâ—…one that doth know of this entry into the valley And séeing â—…hat you most ventrous knight is hée by whom my Father saide should bée concluded and finished this aduenture Therefore I pray and desire you to take compassion of this Prince and of mee who doo likewise in my hart féele euery way his paine and griefe and goe set him at libertie that possessing the same hée may goe and comfort his Parents giuing them the ioy and pleasure that in his recouering againe they might receiue And heere with the Gentlewoman made an ende of hir tale And the knight of Cupide remained and maruailed at that which he had heard And hauing a great desire to set at libertie the Prince Lusindo hée requested the damsell to shew him wher hée was hée would doo all that in him did lye for to set him at libertie And when hee had sayd these words the damsell did take him by the hand lead him through that floorishing gréene Ualley till they came vnto certaine high mighty Rocks wherewith all that valley was compassed about And there was cut out of one rock a paire of staires wher at this damosell and the knight of Cupide went vp till such time as they came vnto a dore where into they entred and came into very many great and faire roomes at the beauty wherof the knight of Cupid greatly maruailed for that béesides they were all cut out of the hard stone they séemed to bée the straungest kinde of work that euer hee saw in his lyfe And straight way when hée béeganne to enter in thereat they might héere the Prince Don Lusindo complaine with great and terrible shricke So they went forwards till they came vnto the Quadran of Fyer the doore whereof was open whereat hée saw the bright flames of Fyer of which the whole quadran was full which was a thing of great wonder And hée saw in the midst of the Quadran the prince all armed with his Sword in his hand sitting in a Chayre and could not mooue neither to the one part nor to the other and it was very pittifull to sée his demeanor And when they came thether the damosell sayd vnto the knight of Cupide worthy knight if you be amorous and haue not committed anâ—… disloyaltie against your friend you may without all leâ—… or feare enter into this fire which you sée béefore you and bring out the Prince from the place whereas hee is and the fire shall by no means hurt you but if you bée no loyall nor firme louer the fire will burne you as it doth the prince and you shall haue no power to goe forwardes with this enterprise for that the prince is a valiant knight and will make his defence very strongly for a good while The knight of Cupide when hee heard hir say these words had little care to make hir aunswere but without any more tarrying hee went in at the doore of the Quadran and went forwards till hee came whereas the Prince was and the fire did not hurt him any thing at all who as soone as hée saw him arose from the Chayre whereas hée sat and with his sword in his hand went to strike him and charged him with great and mighty blowes but hee who had no other desire nor determination but to procure his bringing out of that place drew not out his Swoord against him but with his mightie great and strong armes hée tooke
him by the wast and in spite of his hart hée lift him vp from the ground and carried him through the Quadran till hée came vnto the doore whereas the fayre Damsell did tarry for them and when hée had brought him thether the Prince beegan to make great resistance in his defence as one that were beeside himselfe and ignoraunt of the good that should come vnto him The knight of Cupide séeing that the Prince did set all his strength against him hée likewise inforced his strength and ouerthrew him downe to the ground out at the doore wheras straight way the Prince did finde himselfe at libertie â—…f that terrible fire and paine hée suffered And béefore hée â—…ould arise vp the knight of Cupide did pull off his Healme â—…nd said vnto him You are but dead Prince Don Lusindo 〈◊〉 you doo not acknowledge this Damsell to bée your wyfe â—…nd when the Prince saw the Damsell and dyd know hir â—…ée receiued great delyght to sée hir there and sayd Of a â—…uth gentle Knight for this thinge which you doo aske of â—…ée there is no néede to certifie mée with the feare of death 〈◊〉 that I haue very much repented mée of the great disloialtie I haue vsed towards hir and there is nothing that I desire more then to take hir vnto my spouse and wyfe as surely shée already is In saying these words the knight of Cupid did a part himselfe from him and gaue the prince his hand helping him to arise from the grouÌ„d And being on foot hée did imbrace the fayre Pinarda with great loue for so the damsel was called And the prince returning vnto the knight of Cupid hée gaue him harty thanks for that which hée had done for him and requested him to giue him to vnderstand of whom hée had receiued so great a benefit and hée tould him that hée was called the knight of Cupide and how that he was of the kingdome of Hungarie And when the Prince saw that he made no more declaration of himselfe he would not be importunate with him for that he perceiued wel how hée was vnwilling to bée knowen and for that it grew to be very late the faire Pinarda did request them to take theyr rest that night in that habitation whereas they were both of them very well serued and ther grew béetwixt theÌ„ great friendship So the next day they all thrée together descended out of that habitation by y e same staires wherby the knight of Cupide did goe vp and descending downe into the gréene valley they saw comming towards them a knight of bigge stature and very well armed whereat they were all much amazed but straight waies when they drew nigher hée was knowen to be that valiant and worthy king Sacridoro who as it hath béene tould you did throw himselfe into the depth of the fountaine whereas hée found himselfe in that gréene and flourishing medow and hée went to séeke out the knight of Cupide greatly amazed at that which hée saw for that it séemed hée was in a new world And wheÌ„ the knight of Cupide knew him with the greatest pleasure and delight iâ—… all the world hée went towards him and there they did imâ—… brace one another as though they had not seene one anotheâ—… a long time and there they declared the one vnto the otheâ—… what had happened vnto eyther of them And straight waâ—… the knight of Cupide made knowen vnto the Prince Lusindo his friend the king Sacridoro and gaue him to vnderstand that by his occasion and for his cause hée came vnto that fâ—…taine of the Sauages and that hée ought to thank him for his libertie The Prince who had knowen him béefore and knew of the great loue that hée bare to his sister Oriselua with great ioy and pleasure hée dyd imbrace him and promised him that he wold doo so much with his father that they should bée friends and giue him the Princesse for his wife with the which the King Sacridoro was so ioyfull that he was as one beside himselfe with the great pleasure which hée receiued and gaue thanks vnto God for that benefit shewed vnto him in méeting with that good knight of Cupid who was the occasion of his remedie So after that béetwixt them there had passed very much talke they determined to goe vnto the court of the king Polidarco and they departed from that place hauing in their company the faire Pinardo went through the famous caue of Phenicia wher of hath béen spoken so much there they did vnderstand the occasion of that terrible fearefull noyse which continually was there heard for the which there was none that durst giue the enterprise to goe into the caue and was by reason of the valley which the knight of Cupid found himselfe in at such time as he was taken into the fountaine of the Sauaâ—…es was so déepe and compassed about with such high and â—…ightie rocks so that neuer any man could enter in neither â—…ould they climbe vp vnto the top of those mountaines nor â—…ome to the knowledge of any such valley that was in that â—…ace amongst those rocks and vnder those rocks and mouÌ„â—…ines there was a caue that passed through which was veâ—… obscure and darke and also narrow by reason whereof â—…gether with other open parts in the same Rock the ayre â—…d enter in passing through from the one side vnto the â—…her and the noise was so great that it made in the same â—…ue and by cliffes thereof that it was very timeâ—…s and fearefull to béehould in such sort that there â—…s none durst enter in there at wherevppon it was â—…led the terrible Caue of Phenicia So the Knight of Cupid and the king Sacridoro and the prince Don Lusindo with the princesse Pinarda went foorth of the caue and all foure together went vnto the court of the king Polidarco Who when hée vnderstood of the comming of the Prince Don Lusindo his sonne the great ioy and pleasure which hée and the Quéene did receiue cannot bée expressed and the honour which was done vnto them for the time that they remained there In which time the king Sacridoro was made sure vnto the princesse Oriselua for whose sake he had passed great misfortunes and troubles And the prince don Lusindo was married vnto the faire Pinarda at which marriage ther was made great feasts and triumphs in all the kingdome And héere the Historie doth leaue them till time doo serue How the three Princes Bargandel Lyriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo went vnto Constantinople whereas they gaue vnderstanding of the death of Rosicleer FUL of sorrow and heauinesse departed the princes Bargandel Lyriamandro and the Taâ—…tarian Zoylo out of the kingdome of Feniciâ—… for y e losse of their great and especiall frienâ—… Rosicleer as those who certainely béeléeuâ—… that hée was dead And without receiuiâ—… any comfort or consolation they trauayled many daies 〈◊〉 Sea till in the ende they ariued in the Empire of Grecia whereas
at which time Rodaran séeing that although hée dyd his best in executing his furie that there was no vauntage to bée séene of neither of theyr parts hée was verie much amazed at the great force and strength of his aduersarie and béegan somwhat to acknowledge the great reason that the olde King of Gedrosia had in praysing and extolling the high and mightie déedes of the Knights of Greece moreouer hée sayde vnto himselfe that that knight alone was sufficient for to destroy halfe the armie of the Emperour Alycandro and by reason that his pride was very great and hée himselfe of a valyaunt and stout courage although the victorie should bée very late yet hee supposed that the fury of the Prince Brandizel could not endure long against him and béeing fullie perswaded in his thought he made so great hast in striking of the Prince that hée made him very much to meruaile at his stout and valyant courage béecause it troubled him very much and brought him into that perplexitie that hée was driuen to béesturre himselfe from the one side of the Bridge vnto the other for to cleere himselfe from some of his great blowes which to the contrarie hée should haue receiued and made him to vse more lightnesse then the bigge proportion of his body could well indure and for that their sheelds were all cut and broken in péeces in such sort that there was no defence in them the whole state of the battaile was in the great and mightie force in striking on another executting their blowes with theyr swoords in both theyr hands in such furious sort that the one had great feare of the other their bones and flesh were all brused with the mightie force of their blowes and their bodies so wearied that if it were not for the great valour of theyr hearts and courage and againe the losse of victorie so shamefull and reprobrious ther was neither of them but with a very good will would haue throwen himselfe along vppon the ground to haue taken some rest but by reason that they were so valyaunt Knights and very few in all the whole world that were able to haue any vauntage of them would not shew one a nother the great necessitie in the which they wer brought Rodaran for that hée was in the presence of the quéene who was very sad and heauie in hir semblance and no lesse meruailed to sée the cruell battayle that was béetwéene them Likewise the Prince Brandizel with the remembraunce of the faire princesse Clarinea and of the Emperour Trebatio and all the rest of the knights of his court he thought it better to die ther a thousand deaths then to returne back vnto the court and loose the victory at which thoughts they recouered so great courage gathered so great strength from theyr valiant harts that eyther of them looked as well for death as victorie At which time there had passed more then thrée houres from the béeginning of their battell all which time they neuer rested themselues nor ceased not to oppresse the one the other all that in them was possible Which was the occasion that the mightie and couragious stomacke of that valiaunt Rodaran was not sufficient neyther the presence of the quéene of Carmania but that his great pride did abate which béefore was neuer brought in subiection and of pure necessitie and force by reason of his great wearinesse withdrew himselfe on the one side and with the great griefe thereof hée béegan to speake vnto the prince and said Knight hold thy hands and let vs rest our selues a while for that there doth continue time inough to finish our battell Likewise the Prince Brandizel at that time was brought into so great necessitie of rest that without answering him any word hée did likewise withdraw himselfe leaned vpon the pâ—…mell of his sword for to take some ease and immagined vpon the great strength and courage of Rodaran And it séemed vnto him that in all his life time hée neuer combatted with any knight or giant that euer dyd charge him with so great and terrible blows neither that euer did endure so long battayle with him without taking some rest but onely that most worthie and valyaunt Knight of the Sunne And hée thought verily within himselfe that if the force of Rodaran did long endure it could not bée otherwise but that he should bée ouercome and loose the victory and yet considering what a great shamd and rebuke it would bée vnto him to come béefore the Emperour Trebatio and the rest of his great friends the Knight of the Sunne and the Prince Clauerindo hée did fully determine with himselfe to loose his life fiting on foote and not to bée ouerthrowen from his Horse to the ground and to loose the victorie At this present time likewise Rodaran was leaning vppon his swoord to breath himselfe and called vnto his remembrance the words that the olde king of Gedrosia had sayde vnto him and séemed that they would proue to bee true and did verie much commend his great wisdome and knowledge and dyd reprehend his owne gpeat pride and would with a very good will haue giuen the greatest part of his estate vpon coÌ„dition that he had not put himselfe in this demaund and contention béecause hée found himselfe to bée so wearie and that in so long time they had battaile and combat together there was no vantage to bée iudged on either part hée thought of a certaintie that it could not bée otherwise ibut hée must bée ouercome and loose the victory And as hée was béeholding of the Prince and very much meruailing at his great force and bountie it séemed vnto him that according vnto the mightinesse of his person and the richnesse of his armour that hée should bée some Knight of high estate So after a while that hée had well breathed and refreshed himselfe hée saide Wherefore haue not wée great care ouer our selues and wish that wée had not knowen one another for that according vnto that which hath passed béetwixt vs in this first battell and againe that which wée doo looke for in the second battell cannot bée but that eyther of vs will sooner consent to die then to bée ouer come and loose the victory Therefore I doo desire thée by the vertue of that thing that in all the world thou doost best loue that thou doost tell mée who thou art for that according vnto thy mightie stature and great bountie I cannot béeléeue that thou 〈◊〉 â—…ee a Knight of the Empire of Greece Héere the Prince Brandizel could not by any meanes let but certifie him of his demaund hauing coniured him in that sort and therefore sayde Rodaran béecause thou hast so great desire to know who I am I will giue thée to vnderstand although it dooth grieue mée very much to tell thée Thou shalt vnderstand that I am Brandizel prince and right heire vnto the whole Countrie of Persia and sonne vnto the king Florion and of the Quéene
the Quéene who fell in a deadly sound so remained more then one houre but in the meane time this inuinsible Knight not making any stay at the death of the Gyaunt without departing froÌ„ the king Lyseo did such wonderfull déedes round about him that they durst oot come nigh him to assalt him by a great space but with great sorrow withdrew themselues béecause their liues depended in receiuing but one blow of his hands if hée chaunced to hit them right and although a far off they threw at him Darts Launces and swoords as well at his Horse as at him yet they did him little harme for that his armour was such as the historie hath shewed and his horse was all couered with a very small and light mayle made by such art that ther was no weapon able to cut nor pearce it for so the Prince Meridian had caused it to bee made of whom hée wonne his armour as you haue read which dyd not a little profit in the mightie and immortal deeds of this inuinsible knight for if that his owne armour and the armour of his Horse had not béene of so great force and strength it had not béene possible for him to haue finished and brought to an ende so many perillous battayles and contentions as hee hath done When this good knight saw that his enimies with great feare dyd flye from him and gaue him way hée went vnto the king Lyseo and tooke him in his armes and rubbed and chafed him in such sort that hée came againe vnto himselfe and when hee saw the great perill and daunger wherein hée was brought and the great slaughter which the knight of the Sunne hadde made hée lift vp his hands to heauen and gaue great thanks vnto almightie God and with a very good courage hée ioyned with him and with great and mighty blowes hée béegan to help him with desire to reuenge the great perill in which his enimies had brought him in this sort these two knights put themselues into the thickest of their enimies making sâ— great slaughter that they were iudged rather to bée diuells of hell then mortall knights and there was none that was so bolde that durst withstand them in their way and by reason the night drew on they béeing all bloodie and almost wearie with killing and wounding of theyr enimies they beegan to take theyr way towards the Citie with so great quietnesse as the rauening Lyon after she hath had hir pray doth depart through the feeble and weake heards of cattel but the King of Arcadia when hee saw them depart so quietly and to their contentment by his outwarde shew he séemed to bée so furious full of wrath that not one that was about him durst come in his presence but with many vprobrious woords hée rebuked them saying Oh vile people and of base courage how is it y t you are not ashamed that two alone Knights against so many as are of you hath had so great courage and boldnesse to enter into our camp hath slaine so many of your brethren kinsfolks and friends and to suffer theÌ„ to depart in so quiet sort as they doo as though they had done vs no barme at all Héere I doo make a vow and sweare by the high Gods whom I estéeme but little that to morrow if they returne bether agayne to arme my selfe with mine owne hands to take reuengement of him that all you together cannot doo At that time there was in presence with the King many stout and valiaunt Knights who thought it a great shame and small manhood to bée so many against two alone Knights and therefore they would not arme themselues that day who when they saw the King to bée so angry and wrathfull euery one of them made a solempne oath to take cruell reuengement of those two Knights if the next day they dyd come foorth againe In this time if the sorrow griefe was verie much with them in the Camp the great ioye and contented pleasure of them of the Citie to the contrarie was as great when they saw those two valiant warriours returne together and caused the gates to be opened and went foorth to receiue them and â—ould not satisfie themselues in honouring of them gaue great thancks vnto God in that hee had sent vnto them so valiant a knight for when they saw his great and singular bountie they were all fully perswaded that God had sent him vnto them for to aide succour them in this great necessitie But when they came vnto the Kings pallace I am not héere able to recite the great ioy pleasure wherewith the Quéene receiued them who thought of a certaintie that the king had béene dead but when shée saw him by hir shée knew not what to doo for ioy but with hir owne hands dyd vnarme the King and the Knight of the Sunne and would not consent that any other should help hir and béecause theyr armour was so strong and exceeding good in making defence they had not receiued any one wound that was néedfull of curing So there was brought vnto each of them strayght wayes a new gowne and putting them on they sat downe vnto supper and passed away that night with more contentment ioye then any night béefore since the King of Arcadia came into that Kingdome Whom at this present the historie dooth leaue for to declare vnto you what passed in the Court of the Emperour Trebatio after the knight of the Sunne was departed from the Court. How Rodaran sent vnto the Emperour Trebatio demanding more Knights and who went foorth in the demaund Chapter 46. EIght daies remained Rodaran at the bridge of Iaspe tarrying for some knight that should come from the Court of the Emperour Trebatio for to combat with him in the ende of the which when hée saw that none came hée sent a damsell of the Quéene of Carmanias vnto the Emperour Trebatio giuing him to vnderstand how that all those Knights which were sent by him were prisoners and that hée should send more Knights and if not how that hée was determined to depart into his owne Countrie with those Knights which hée had in his power So the damsell departed with this hir message at such time as the emperor with other princes knights wer in the great hall of the pallas this damsell entrrd in theratand without acknowledging any courtesie she went before the Emperour and said Rodaran king of Arabia my Lord doth send me to giue thée â—…o vnderstand emperour Trebatio how that all those knights which thou didst send vnto him are prisoners doth me wil â—…hee to send other knightes such as may with their great bounty strength set them at liberty if not he is determined to depart into his owne country and to cary them with him prisoners that already he hath will declare in all places that ther were no knights in thy court that durst come forth to combat with him When
Prince I doe most hartelye desire you to tell me who these valiant knights be and from whence so excellent a companye should come Then presentlie the knight of the Sunne who did esteeme verye much of him declared vnto him who they were and by what aduenture he had found them there At this time the Emperour and all the rest of the Princes and knights had taken off their â—…elmes and the king Liseo was the gladdest man in all the world and went to kisse the emperours hands saying May it please your soueraigne highnesse to giue your handes to kisse them for that through you I am restored vnto my lost kingdome This high and worthy Emperour did embrace him with great loue so likewise did all the other Princes knights ther passed betwixt theÌ„ many curtâ—…ous words yet for all this was not the royall princesse Claridiana knowen And being desired by the emperour all the other princes knights to giue them vnderstanding who what hée was she straight way pulled off hir helme wheras he dyd discouer hir yeolow haire which was bound vp with a net of gold very richly wonderfullye wrought by reason of hir great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which she receiued in the passed battaile hir colour was somewhat mooued wherwith she shewed so perfect singuler beauty that verily she séemed vnto them all to be rather some diuine creature then any humane person ther was neuer a one there but she séemed vnto them to bee some celestiall thing Then the Emperour and all the rest of the knights that did know hir being as much amazed at hir beauty as to see hir ther at that instant went all vnto hir did welcome hir with great curtesie And the emperour said My Lady mistres this liberty the which I and all these princes knights haue receiued it cannot bee but by the hands of so high a damsell as you are I pray God that we may be able to gratifie you for the same Unto the knight of the Sunne said the Princesse ought you to surrender and giue these thankes for that for him is ordayned and kept the atchiuing of all good aduentures and to giue the finall conclusion of y â— same What might heere be thought of the great ioy and pleasure which this amorous and valiant knight conceiued when that in that time and place hée found himselfe in the presencé of his Lady and mistres hauing seene what shee had done for him beefore hee knew hir Truely this mirth and gladnesse was so much that hée thought all his vnderstanding to bee transported into a celestiall glory whereas the chosen doth remaine and going towards hir he said Your soueraigne beauty may please to giue vnto mee your seâ—…re hands that I may kisse them in acknowledging of the great curtesie which all wee haue receyued by your soueraigne aide and succour and for that all enterprises which I doe take in hand may haue credit it shall be done in your seruice and prayse as I am bound and likewise all good and valyaunt Knights in the world Then the Princesse who receiued great contentment at his words layd hir armes vpon his shoulders and sayd Worthie Prince your politike dealings and excellent bountie sooth so far excell that it is not needefull for mée to expresse the same neyther any other but onely to béehold what is done by your valiant hands heere in this Camp and vnto this there is good witnesse who is the king Liseo and all his knights And passing beetwixt them many other amorous words the Knight of the Sunne dyd tell them all how and by what aduenture hée came thether and all that happened with him after hee departed out of Greece The like dyd the Princesse Claridiana so that all the whole companie vnderstood by what order they were there assembled and ioyned In the meane time that they were in this acknowledging one another those of Lidia were not idle for they minded no other thing but to robbe and destroy all that were in the Tents and Campe of the King of Arcadia and finding there great store of riches and treasure which the king had brought euery one of them did so lade themselues that euer after they remayned very rich and thought their long and great trauaile to bee well employed the end fell out so prosperous vnto them Then the Emperour Trebatio out of hand commaunded that the Quéene Carmania should bée brought béefore him for there should bée no harme done vnto hir who when shée thought verily that Rodaran had béene slayne tare hir haire and dyd such iustice on hir selfe that they thought verily it would bee hir death And asking of them whether the king of Arcadia and Rodaran were aliue or dead they went straight wayes vnto the place whereas they lay a long vppon the ground and commaunded that theyr Healmes should bée pulled off and fresh water to bee throwen vpon their face to refresh them straight wayes they came agayne vnto themselues and when they vnderstood in what estate and perplexity they were all this time their sorrow and griefe was such that they thought it had béene better for them to haue beene slaine then to suffer so great misfortune but when the King of Arcadia dyd lookâ—… about him for his armie and could sée neuer a Knight on his part but those that were slayne and lay in the field with very sorrow and griefe hée thought verely his heart would haue burst Likewise when Rodaran saw all his prisoners at libertie and hée ouercome by one alone Knight the great sorrow and griefe which he receiued could not bée héere expressed and if hee had had his helme and his swoord and on horsebacke hee would haue tarryed there no longer Then strayght wayes the King Lyseo dyd desire all these worthie warriers to repaire vnto the Citie for to refresh themselues and to take their ease who consented vnto his request and went towards the citie and carryed with them theyr prisoners whereas they were receiued of all the Citizens and nobles of all the kingdome that were there present with so great ioy and triumphes that the whole Citie seemed to bée on 〈◊〉 with the great bonefiers other lights which were made in euery streete of the Citie not remembring any of their troubles past So when they came vnto the Queenes pallace who was very wyse and discréete shée receiued them with such courtesie as was requisit to so noble persons whereas they were all vnarmed and recreated with verie swéet waters and oyntments requisit for such hurts and bruses as they had receiued For although theyr armour dyd defend them from wounding yet could not their flesh bée free from bruses by the force of such terrible blowes as they receiued And in especiall the knight of the Sunne in the battaile which hée had with Rodaran and the King of Arcadia although hee estéemed it in nothing with the great contentment and pleasure which hee receiued in seeing
transported into another world So taking the letter of his lady mistres he did kisse it many times for that it had ben many times in hir hands did open it wâ—…eras was written as followeth The Letter of the Princesse Oliuia to Rosieleer IF the paine which I receiue in writing were not confirmable to that which thy desert doth deserue then should not I haue any 〈◊〉 to write neither resoâ—… to aske pardon for that which is past but yet ob Rosicleer the great force strength which caused your highnes to make defence was the occasion to make the wound more greater in my hart I did send to bannish thée out of my presence for that I might not perill my selfe with thy continuall presence but in dooing that I did bannish my owne soule from my body whose absence shall continue endure so long as thou art absent from me am so far from reason so void of memory since the time that thou departedst from this court that when I doo consider of my owne life I know not whether I liue or dreme or whether I am a woman or monster for that life is odious vnto me and I doo abhorre all pleasure the company of my damsels is great griefe vnto me when I am alone I am tormented my eares are deafe doo not heare my eies blind cannot see my tongue dumbe and cannot speake except it be to name Rosicleer in such sort are all my sences prisoners vnto thee that in no other thing they doo occupy themselues in but onely in accusing me for the error the which I haue committed against thee my eies say that they are blinde for that they cannot see the goodnesse that they were wont to see my eares deafe for that they cannot heare that continuall praise which they were wont of thy person the telling of thy mighty deeds the victorye of thy perillous battailes the great fame of thy high knighthood and the continuall prayse of thy high and wonderfull attempts My memorie saith that it doth remember that onelie with thy presence all the whole Kingdome of England was glad and ioyfull In the Court of the King my father thou didst exalt such as were good Knights and didst â—…onour them and didst chastice and 〈◊〉 such as were euill and proud Gyants didst thou make humble â—…eeke Likewise Damsels dyd trauayle all alone for that onely in thy name they went in great securitie And the Princesse Oliuia in onely seeing thee was alwaies ioyfull and gallant aboue all the rest And now my vnderstanding dooth tell mee that all is changed topsie turuie and cleane contrarie vnto that it was wont to be all the whole kingdome of England very sad sorrowful the court of the king Oliuerio ouerthrowen for that good knights lacke therin the euill doth increase and such as are proude doth augment and damsels as Orphants doo truâ—…ile with no securitie but dooth mâ—…strust all knights all doth finde lack of they presence all doth weepe and bee wâ—…ste thy departure all dooth curse the houre of thy departure the occasion that mooued therevnto But what shall Oliuia now doo who hath beene the occasion of all this and yet vnto hir hath thy departure béene more greeuous Oâ—… a truth if that with my death I could haue made a meanes for all this with a very good will a thousand times I would haue béen glad to haue receiued it and should haue thought iâ—… the least of all my deadly sorrows But alas what shall I doo if I doo lack death for my remedy thâ—… shal I loose all the hope I haue to sée thee the which if I doo loose I shall thinke my soule far more then lost in this sort I shall not make any recompence for this great errour neither you satisfied for the great hurt and harme receiued so that I take â—…t for the better choyce to liue sustayning my life with this â—…ope for that I doo greatly feare that my life cannot long endure if thy comming bee not with breuity therefore I doo â—…end this Damsell to seeke thee for to desire thee in first parâ—…oning of that which is past that thou wouldest not permit that my soule depart out of this world till such time as my eyes may reioyce themselues with the sight of thée for that onely therewith I shall thinke my selfe happie and for that in all other matters thou mayst giue perfect credit to this my faythfull secretarie and vnderstand all my sorrowfull passions I doo inlarge no farther but remaine prayeng vnto God to keepe defend thy person and to direct thy paths arighi When Rosicleer had read this Letter and knew it to 〈◊〉 hirs what shall I say vnto the great ioy pleasure which hée receiued but that it was equall vnto the great sorrow and griefe which hée suffered for that as one from him selfe hée was reading 〈◊〉 did not contemplate himselfe with those swéet and amorous words of his Lady and mistres and the great loue which shée dyd professe in hir letter and how 〈◊〉 did repent hir selfe of all that was past of all the which hée receiued so great ioy and contentment that all his sences were occupyed therewith in such sort that hée 〈◊〉 him selfe transported into the celestiall glorie so that hée had no tongue for to speake vnto the King Sacridoro neyther féete for to remoue himself out of that place nor eies for to looke vpon Fidelia but onely occupied in recreating himself in that contemplation reading and béeholding that Letter many times In the ende hée remembred himselfe as one that dyd awake out of a dreame and went vnto the King Sacridoro and embraced him sayd Oh my Lord perfect friend I desire you to put me out of all doubt of this doubtfull thing which I haue béefore mée for that you shall vnderstand that looke how much the glorie is which at this present I receiue so much more will the paine and griefe bée vnto mée if it fall out otherwise Therefore tell mée I pray you whether I doo sléepe or am awake or whether it bée true that I doo now sée or whether it bée one of those dreames which I was wont to haue doo not let mée I pray you to liue deceiued for that is â—…ot reason one so vnhappie and voyde of good fortune as I am should recreate and content himselfe with so high a benefit as this is Béehould how I doo dreame that the Princesse Oliuia hath sent mee a Letter by hir secretarie Fidelia and hauing compassion on mee shée would that I should bée hirs and to goe into England for to serue hir and bée at hir commandement and doth write to me such amorous words that there is no humane creature that dooth deserue the same much lesse a man that is so forgotten as I am Béehould héere Fidelia heere is the Letter the hand and seale of my Lady and mistres the Princesse Oliuia Tell mée I
pray you whether I doo sléepe or dreame and whether it bee true this which I doo sée The King did not meruayle much at all this which passed béecause hée dyd very well vnderstand the operation of loue but embracing him he tooke him by the hand and sayde Oh my Lord Rosicleer and perfect friend now I doo sée the great wonders of God and how great his mercie is for that hée dooth forget none that doth put their trust in him for when I was very prosperous in riches high 〈◊〉 estate and accompanied with all my vassalls and subiects and in soueraigne hope for to ouercome and haue that which I most desired straight waies I found my selfe very far from the easement of my griefe and the ende of al my desire separated for that I was ouerthrowen from my estate and all my kingdome destroyed my people ouercome and left desolate without my vassalls and bannished out of mine owne Countrie and throwen out into the world sunke into a lake whereas I found all that which I desire remedie for my sorrow and recouered againe my Kingdome and restored vnto mine owne estate and aboue all things I recouered a good perfect friend of you therefore all affâ—…iction and tribulation in the world God dooth permit it vnto them that hée doth not forget and when they dooe thincke themselues most afflicted and troubled ouerthrowen and brought most low and most without all hope and voyde of all goodnesse at such time with a trise and in a moment they are brought into more higher estate then they were béefore with ioy and prosperitie giuing them occasion for to estéeme and haue in more honour the thing that they most desire and so hath it happened vnto you my good friend Rosicleer for that at such time as thou didst abhorre thy owne lyfe and when thy sorrow and griefe had most gouernement ouer thée and when that all hope of remedie was past and farthest off from thee vppon a sodaine hath come vnto you remedie for all things and in so high order that you your selfe cannot bée léeue it and you doo thinke your selfe vnworthie of that which God hath ordained for you therefore surrender vnto god thanks for the same and gratifie this Damsell for hir great trauaile which shee hath taken for you and doo not â—…ay that it is a dreame or mockage that which wée doo all sée with our eyes At which words of the King Rosicleer came wholie to himselfe and hauing no hart to speake with the great ioy hée receiued hée embraced the King and Fidilia many times and by exteriour tokens and signes hée dyd communicate his pleasure and ioye vnto them Then afterwards Rosicleer demaunded of Fidelia all what had 〈◊〉 by whome hée vnderstoode all that euer shee dyd know of the Princesse Oliuia for there shee made manifest vnto him hir lyfe hir passions and hir cares and all that euer had passed in the Letters and how by them shee vnderstood him to bée Sonne vnto the Princesse Briana and afterward it was published that hée was sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio Likewise shee toulde him the occasion of the writing of the first Letter and the great repentance which she had for the same the great anguish and griefe shee had for Don Siluerio the great good will of the king hir father and the great importance hee vsed also the great 〈◊〉 of the Princesse Oliuia all which when Rosicleer heard hee was as you may iudge of all them that faitfully and truely dooe loue at such time as they are giuen to vnderstand any thing of their best beeloued the which things vnto such as are free from all loue are counted but trâ—…fles and childrens toyes whereas to the contrarie vnto them they are pearles and precious stones Then the King séeing them in this profound and déepe rehearsall tooke him by the hands and sayd My good Lord let all these matters passe for this time and let vs vnderstand that which dooth most accomplish you which is to goe into England whereas you shall vnderstand and know all these matters of the Princesse Oliuia for that I doo perceiue by the long trauayle in the which Fidelia hath gone in seeking of you that you delay the time very long Then Rosicleer as thouâ—…h hée did awake out of a sound sléepe came vnto himselfe and savd Oâ—… high and soueraine Lord and God héere I doo giue infinite thanckes vnto thy holy name for that it hath pleased you to put remedy in the life of this your Knight with this vnlooked for remedie And vnto you my very good friend Fidelia I doo giue great thanks for the great trauaile the which you haue passed and taken in seeking of mée that I may goe comfort and recreate my selfe in the sight and countenance of my Lady and Mistresse And I doo desire of God to graunt mée lyfe that I may gratifie your large pilgrimage which you haue passed â—…n seeking mee And tourning himselfe vnto the King hee sayde Pardon mee I pray you my good Lord these my amorous passions and let vs goe whether your pleasure is to command vs without tarrying any longer So straight wayes they commaunded the knâ—…ghts of Fulmineo to bring before them all the Ladies and damsels that were in all the Castels And béeing brought béefore them they were more then thirtie all very faire and full of sorrow All the which Rosicleer dyd commaund that they should goe and present â—…hemselues béefore the Emperour of Russia in saying that â—…wo 〈◊〉 Knights hath slaine Fulmineo and that they doo â—…urrender and yeeâ—…d vnto him all his Countrie and lands â—…or that Fulmineo hath left no heire And vnto the Damsels â—…ée did giue all such riches as hee found within the Castells â—…nd for to set order in this and in all 〈◊〉 things they tarâ—…ed there that day and that night and for that his desire â—…as so great for to goe into England the night séemed so 〈◊〉 that hee thought the day would neuer haue apeared So the next day at such time as the Sunne did scarce appeare when they were armed with their rich bright armour and mounted vpon their good horses these two valyant knights and perfect friends went forth of the castle and in their company the damsell Fidelia leauing a good Knight which was Fulmineos in the gard and kéeping of the Castle and all the rest till such time as the Emperour of Russia dyd commaund his pleasure to bée done with them So all they together tooke their right way towards the sea whereas they might embarke themselues for England where the historie dooth leaue them til time dooth serue So the Ladies and damsels of Fulmineo went béefore the Emperour declared vnto him the embassage of the knights of all that euer had passed for the which hée receiued great ioy pleasure meruailed greatly that one alone knight had slayne Fulmineo was very sorrowfull for the departure of those two knights
in the aide succour of the king Priamus quéene of the Amazons named Pantasilla who hauing heard many times in hir owne Countrye to praise extoll the great strength valiantnesse of Hector more for his loue then for any zeale she had to defend Troy she came together with very many people of hir for to sée him in the time of that siege the queene declared vnto Hector the great loue shée bare vnto him he who was no lesse affectioned vnto hir granted hir all that euer she would demand so that the quéene was begotten with child by Hector was deliuered of a son whom they called Pireo the troyan who very secretly not knowen to any body was giuen vnto a nurse borne in that citie to be brought vp as hir owne child So after the death of king Priamus all his sons the destruction of the citie ther remained certaine citizens of a base sort such as y e greekes made no account of amongst whom it chanced the nurse who brought vp Pireo was one of them who knowing whose son he was did bring him vp with great care till such time as he was a man by nature he was enclined to the exercise of armes so he gaue himself onely thervnto had delight in no other thing for that it was manifest vnto him whose sonne he was for to sustaine some memory of the citie of Troy of his father he caused this bridge to be made this castle and ordained a custome that no knight might passe that way but first to combatte with him to leaue héerein his shield his name saying that he was ouercome by him in the time of his life he ouercame so many knights that they are without number when he died hee left beehinde him a young sonne and commaunded that all those that did discend from him should maintaine that custome which of long time hath beene maintained at that bridge so that all those which haue succeeded in this Countrye from him vntill this time hath maintayned kept that order custome and hath ouercome so great a number of knights that in all that great forrest which you doo sée there is no roome almost to hang their sheelâ—…es And in saying these words he shewed vnto theÌ„ the forrest whose trées were all full of shéelds which dyd hang vpon the boughes branches some of them were glistering other some with great antiquitie had lost their colours ther were so many of them that without great difficultie they could not be told proceeding forwards Oristedes said This is the occasion why wherefore this custome is kept maintained at this bridge And I will keepe and defend the same so long as I doo liue for that my lineall descent doth come from that noble stock of Pireo his father Hector for that ther hath remained no other remembrance of Troy this shal remain for a memory of the noble blood that was ther spilt The knight of the Sun reioyced very much at that which Oristedes had told him did estéeme him little for that hée came of that royall blood of Troy séemed vnto him according to his disposition that he could not but be like in valiantnes vnto his predecessours giuing him great thankes for that which he had told him of his life custome hée sayd vnto him Well gentle knight séeing it is so that you cannot choose but kéepe maintaine this your custome neither I nor all these that dooe come with mée cannot passe this bridge without making battaile or els to returne agayne the way which we haue come Let vs if you please procure to do all that in vs doth lie vnto him that doth lack fortune let him doo all that the other doth commaund And in saying these words the knight of the Sun descended out of the chariot commaunding his horse to be brought foorth he mounted vpon him with his speare in his hand he went put himselfe at the entry of the bridge of the which Oristedes was very much amazed and séeing him comming with so great maiestie in the company of so faire a damsell hée did verily beléeue him to be some knight of high estate of great bountâ—…e of armes although he was a very valiant knight his mightie demeanour did not cause in him any faintnes although he had had perfect intelligence that he had ben the most valiantest knight in all the world yet he had no doubt to combat with him for that he had kept maintained that bridge more then eight yéeres in which time he had ouercome more then one thousand knights yet he neuer met with knight that by very much might compare himself with him And then with as valiant a courage as appertayned vnto his progenie he went put himselfe right against the knght of the Sun and both of them at one time did broach their horses with their spurs and with so great fury that the bridge seemed to be ouerthorwen both the Knights to be on fire with the great quantitie of sparkes that came foorth of that paued pauement and in the midst of the bridge they made their encounter in such sort that their speares were shée uered all to péeces they passed the one by the other as though they had done nothing and with a trise they turned about their horses with their swoords in their hands they assalted one another the first blowes that were striken it séemed that all that valley was full of the sound thereof béeing stâ—…iken vppon their inchaunted healmes whereas all those were executed and beeing nothing amazed nor astonied therwith but with great furye and wrathâ—…ulnesse they did assalt each other with their sound blowes and being meruailousâ—…ie ouercharged with the great force of them it made them to decliâ—…e their heads to their breasts so that eyther of them did feele the great force of his aâ—…uersarye and Oristedes said vnto himselfe that neuer in all the daies of his life did hée combat with a more valiaunter and worthyer Knight but beeing determined to giue to vnderstand his great force and strength without any feare or dread hee béeganne to charge the knight of the Sunne with his terrible blowes and with so great force and strength that he made him to bestur himselfe from the one part to the other because that he should not fasten a full blow vpon him this valiant knight of the Sun said vnto himselfe that not without iust cause great reason the fame of that worthie Hector endured so long in the world and now prouing that knight who doth proceede of that ancâ—…ent stock he doth finde him doo beleeue that ther is not a more valianter knight then he is to be found in all the world seeing that it was necessary stood him vpon to vse against him all his power strength he presently charged him
errour for that my dutie in the which I was bound by mine ancestours to maintaine this custome as also lacke of knowing you was the occasion that I haue committed this ouer-sight and for that Oristedes dyd know of the demaund that the Prince Meridian did bringe out of his countrie he demanded of the Princesse for him And shée tolde him how that the Knight of the Sunne had battell with him of all that passed betwixt them both The which when Oristedes vnderstood hée dyd comfort himselfe very much for that it séemed vnto him to be no reproach for to be ouercome by so valiant a knight by whom Meridian was first ouercome who thought that ther was not a knight in all the world that could match him So receiuing great contentment for the acknowledge of the Princesse as also to know that shée should bée married to so valiant a knight with great ioy plesure hée said For that which vnto so high a princesse as you are is due I think it is no reson that in this sort alone you shuld enter into the gran Cataia wheras are assembled y e mightiest lords in the world in the emperors court therfore if you please I will go before and carry them the newes of your comming that they may receiue you as your high estate dooth deserue for that I am sure that the Emperour wil bée as glad as euer hée was in all his lyfe with the newes and I shall receiue great contentment to finde my selfe present in the Court of the Emperour Alycandro at the celebrating of so high a marriage and at the great triumphs feasts as shall bée there made as also for my bounden dutie for the great good will which alwayes the Emperour bare vnto mée The Knight of the Sunne would very fayne haue disturbed the voyage of Oristedes for to haue excused the great trauayle which hée should receiue in that iourney for that it was very long and needes must passe through very strange Countries but hée offered this with so great good will that it did profit nothing all that euer he could doo for to disturb him of his iourney So for that day they all went vnto the Citie whereas they were meruailously wel receiued and were serued of al things very abundantly Then the knight of the Sunne lookeing out of a high window of the pallace hée saw péeces of walls and towers of old antiquitie which was a memorie of the great Citie of Troy and round about the same the wide and broad fields whose sight caused the teares to fall from his eyes when hee remembred the great number of worthy knights as wel Greeks as Troyans that were there slaine and béehoulding the great circuite thereof which dyd extend from the one side vnto the other foure miles the smalnesse of the Citie at that present and the great demonstration of towers other mightie building hee said within himselfe Oh weake miserable and feeble life of man what confidence or securitie canne mortall men haue in the great riches and pompe of this world considering with great attention the sodaine vncertaine mouings changes of humane things how sodainly they are ouercome destroyed Who had seene the great citie of Troy compassed about with so strong wals and fortified with so high and great towers and furnished with sumptuous buildings full of people gouerned by so mighty a King and defended by so famous captaines who had knowen the King Priamus Lord ouer the principall regions Orientalls and Meridionalls of the great Asia Who had séene his mightie power his great riches his pride and high estate the great number of vassalls and subiects the worthinesse of his Captaines the singular force and strength of his sons and all these vpon a sodaine and vnlooked for the great Citie of Troy destroyed and beaten downe theyr strong walls ouerthrowen with their towers theyr mightie pallaces and buildings flat vpon the ground King Priamus and his sonnes gored to death Hector drawen about the fielde Policena hir throat cut the Quéene stoned to death Andromica with the notable Matrons of Troy defiled the whole Citie destroyed the Citizens 〈◊〉 and their wiues and widowes banished from theyr naturall Countrie with their young sonnes in theyr armes dispearsed throughout the world all is lost and all is goâ—…e and no memorie left but that which is for a farther griefe in remembring that which is past leauing béehiâ—…de that which doth giue vs continuall sorrow and griefe and considering thereof it dooth make vs greatly to mernayle in séeing how that fortune sometimes dooth exalt vs aloft and at other times dooth throw vs downe tossing vs this way and that way lyke a tennis ball Now I know of a truth that with great reason the Marriners doth call â—…he tempest Fortune and not without great occasion wise â—…en dooth say that it is very troublesome to suffer prospeâ—…itie and that it is requist for to learne to suffer the aâ—…undaunce of Fortune for as that wise Poet Lirico sayth 〈◊〉 the high and mightie Pine Trées are oftenest beaten 〈◊〉 tormented with the windes and the highest Towers 〈◊〉 the greatest falls and on the high mountaines and 〈◊〉 dooth the thunder-bolts commonly strike It is said 〈◊〉 the humane highnesse of it selfe is vnquiet and withâ—… securitie for that there is nothing that can bée so secret 〈◊〉 it commeth to bée discouered as care trauayle enuie 〈◊〉 feare wéeping and in the ende death And lykewise I doo now know to bée true that how happy so euer the béeginning is the end is vncertaine and doubtfull for that all humane things dooe turne about lyke a whéele and after a quyet and calme Sea followeth tempests and troubled waters and after a cléere morning a clowdie euening Therefore comfort your selues you Greekes and Troyans that haue béene banished in these fieldes of Troy for that the fame of your mightie déedes is out of the subiection of Fortune and it cannot bée that by hir you bée ouerthrowen so long as the world endure In saying these and many other words the knight of the Sunne remained a good while at the same window with great sorrow and griefe which the remembrance of all those things did cause vnto him So night drew on and euery one went to take their rest after that they had stayed there two dayes the knight Oristedes tooke his leaue of them and tooke in his companie two Pages and departed out of the Citie tooke his iourney towards the gran Cataia and gran Tartaria vnto the court of the Emperour Alycandro which was in the gran Cataia So that at this present the Historie doth leaue him with the Knight of the Sunne and the Princesse Lindabrides till time serueth How Rosicleer and the king Sacridoro came into England and what happened with them there Chapter 56. MAny dayes trauailed Rosicleer and the King Sacridoro towards the kingdome of England with so great desire to find themselues there that
declared vnto Flamides the great loue which hee bare vnto Lindaraza and â—…esired him that he might haue the carrying of her vnto the Court of the Emperour hir father for that his determinaâ—…ion was to demaund hir for his wife and according vnto â—…he great loue and friendship that was beetwixt them they â—…éeleeued verily that shee should not bée denyed Then Flamines who receiued greater contentment thereat then at any other thing sayd that hée was very well content and that hée should doo him great pleasure therein So béetwixt them both it was consented that they all together should depart from thence the next day Whereas this Historie dooth leaue them till time dooth serue for to tell you what happened vnto the Prince Brandizel How the Prince Brandizel was deliuered from the torment of the Sea and what happened vnto him afterwards Chapter 63. IN great peril to be drowned the prince Brandizel found himselfe in that furious torment which chaunced vnto them at the Sea but God would not permit that such a knight as hée was should dye but first to acknowledge his Christian lawe dyd direct his fortune in such sort that the planke wheron he swam was carryed by those vniuersall and great rouling waues vnto the shoare which séemed to bée very good fresh and fertiel When this wearyed and afflicted Prince was a land hée knew the Countrie for that hée had béene in it béefore and it was the kingdome of Polonia whereas hée did deliuer and cleere out of the power of the Gyant the fayre Princesse Clarinea his Lady and for that hée knew the Countrie very well one way hée was very sad and sorrowfull for the great perill in the which remained hir very friend Clauerindo otherwise hée was the gladdest man in all the world for that hée was in that Countrie and so nigh vnto the Princesse his Lady but when hée considered with himselfe that hée was on foot and so euill intreated with the sea hee was ashamed so to shew himselfe béefore the King neyther knew hée noâ—… what to doo nor whether hee might goe for to remedie him selfe in that necessitie The time of the yéere as then was very hot and after that hée had dryed himselfe in the Sun hée put himselfe into a gallant fresh greene Forrest which was along the sea side comming vnto a fountaine of very cleere 〈◊〉 christalline water shadowed with boughs of verye greene 〈◊〉 odoriferous treâ—…s he stooped and dronke of the same wateâ—… after he had well refreshed himsâ—…lfe he saâ—…e downe vpon 〈◊〉 gréene grasse pulled off his helme laid himselfe downe what with the pittering of the leaues of the trees 〈◊〉 with the pleasant aire likewise with the swéet noise of the running of the water he fell in a sound sleepe being ther a 〈◊〉 the king of Polonia who was on hunting in the same forrest chanced with his knights for to come vnto the same place when the king his knights did first see him they were greatly amazed to see a knight of so gentle disposition to lie along vpon the grasse especially in that place but by reason his helme was off they did very much behold him in the end they knew him to be the prince Brandizel 〈◊〉 great friâ—…nd at the which he was greatly amazed for to see him ther alone without any horse yet was he the gladst man in all the world did alight from his horse went vnto him and shaking him by the armes the prince did awake out of his sleepe when he knew the king he was much amazed with a trise hee arose vp and went for to kisse his hands but the king who did loue him very well did embrace him with gâ—…eat loue and asked him how he came into that country all alone by what aduenture To whom y e prince said with great desire to serue your 〈◊〉 there he declareâ—… vnâ—…o him all that hapned vnto him vnto the prince Clauerindo vnderstanding all the king was very sorowfull for the great perill and danger in the which the prince Clauerindo remained although he thought all for the best was very glad to see in that country the prince Brandizel for that he had a great dâ—…sire to maâ—…ie him vnto the princes Clarinea his daughter for that it séemed vnto him to be one of the beâ—…t knights in all the world So after that there had passed béetwixt them manye things the king commaunded a horse to be giuen vnto the prince so they departed together vnto the citie of Poloniâ—… which was but foure miles from that place whereas they were meruailouâ—…ly well reteined but especially of the princes whose ioy pleasure was such that it could not be rehersed at such time as she vnderstood of the comming of him whom hir hart so greatly desired and whom she thougâ—…t so long for his comming The history cannot héere detaine him selfe long but onely how that the prince remained ther certaine daies in the which time the wise Lirgandeo vnderstanding the great care in the which he was in for that he duâ—…st not marie himselfe without the lisence of his father did send him letters from the king Florion and from the quéene his mother by the which they gaue him lisence to mary with the princesse Clarinea desired him to returne sée them so soone as it was possible the prince being glad therof dyd shew them vnto the king who likewise did reioyce therat So straight wsies the mariage was made in such sort that the prince did inioy the princesse Clarineo wheras the history doth leaue them till time doth serue ¶ Of the great triumphs feasts that were made in the court of the Emperour Alycandro Chapter 64. THe day drew on in the which the mariage of the knight of the Sun with the princesse Lindabrides should be celebrated the whole citie of Neptaia with the wide broad fields were all furnished with valiant worthy well estéemed knights which séemed to be a mightie army amongst them ther lacked not high mightie kings valiant stout knights for that all the flower of the pagans were ioyned together in the court of the emperour Alicandro Wherat the knight of the Sun was greatly amazed for that if he had not séene it he could not haue beléeued that the power os any one Lord in all the world could not haue extended so far At this time the knight of the Sun was estéemed and honoured of all those mightie kings Lords and knights who thought long for the day of the triumphs for to sée by experience some part of his great bountie that was so noised abroad for that they could not beléeue that he should bée of so great force strength but that ther were a great number of pagans in that court that would shew themselues more valiaunter then he In this time the great ioy contentment which the
Balisea Great thanckes doe I giue vnto the high and immortall Gods for that I was fully certified within my selfe that so valyant a knight as thou art could not bée borne in this Countrie therefore héere once againe I doo desire thée that thou wilt tell mée the occasion that so mightie a Prince as thou art and beeing a Pagan that thou dooest abide and recreate thy selfe in straunge Countries and to shew thy selfe so great a friend vnto Christians Tell mée I pray thée if thou hast receiued their lawes and customes and left the law of the Pagans Thou doost demaund of mée great account sayd the Prince but for that thou shalt not béeléeue all that which thou hast saide I will bee briefe giue thée to vnderstand in few words I doo béeléeue that thou doost know or at the least wayes hast heard of the great battailes and contentions that passed betwixt my Father the King Florion and the mightie Africano who had vsurped and taken away my Fathers kingdome I haue heard the same said Rodaran and I was called vnto the sayd warres and for that I did sée that Africano had neither reason nor iustice I dyd refuse the iourney and would not goe with him Then the Prince sayde you shall vnderstand that in these warres my Father got the victorie and recouered all his lands the which hée had lost but especially by the great force strength and bountie of the valyaunt Knight of the Sunne and Sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio who at this present remayneth in his Court and by the prowesse of the Prince Clauerindo sonne vnto the king Oristeo of Fraunce both the which béeing verie young were lost and both found at the Sea by the king my father who carried them with him whereas they two and I were brought vp all thrée together and from that time there dyd grow so great loue and friendship béetwixt vs which was the occasion ioyntly with the dutie which I owe vnto them that I am come in theyr company into this Countrie cannot certifie my selfe neither am I at quyet but when I am with them and in their companie and conuersation This is the occasion wherefore I am come into this countrie béecause you are so desirous to know héere I meane to remaine so long as these princes abide in y e Emperours Court Oh Prince Brandizel saide Rodaran now I plainely sée and perceiue how that the high Gods are very angrie with the Pagan people and will plague and punish vs by the hands and power of the Christians for that wée haue now at this present more then at any time héeretofore so great confidence in them Oh Prince of Persia if the losse and destruction of thy naturall Countrie doo cause in thée any sorrow or the destruction of the Pagan people doo cause any griefe then would thy hart lament and cause thée to leaue off this great friendship which thou hast with the Christians and take vpon thée mortall warre against them for héere I doo giue thée to vnderstand béefore the great Cane king of the Cambalos and Emperour of Tartaria and béefore all Kings and Lords his subiects and vassals the King Gedrosia who is one of the wisest in deuination and Astrologie that is to bée found in all the world to whom at that present I gaue but small credit hee dyd declare and pronounce that in our dayes and times should be stayne and destroyed the most part of all the Pagan people in the fields of Greece by the mightie force and power of the Knights that bée therein and that there the greatest and mightiest Kings in all Asia shall loose theyr gouernment estates Unto whose words I made no contradiction for that it séemed vnto mée to bée a thing impossible And moreouer hée said that in the Empire of Greece there were such Knights that if meanes were not found by one way or other to disturbe them that they alone were sufficient to accomplish and bring to passe all this which I haue sayd And for this occasion I departed out of my Kingdome and Countrie and dyd promise the Emperour Alycandro neuer to retourne againe vnto the same till such time as I came vnto the Empire of Greece and there with my power and force to take prisoners the best Knights that bée in all the Empire and to carrie them away with mée vnto the Emperour Alycandro now séeing that you doo know my determination and purpose and the great profit that will grow thereof vnto all Asia I doo desire thee by the seruice and dutie which thou dost owe vnto the high Gods that leauing the great friendship which thou hast with the Christians let vs two procure to take and carrie them prisoners into our Countrie that by them wée may raunsome and set our selues at libertie from the great destruction which is prognosticated to bée done vnto vs by them which by no meanes can bée excused except first wée doo this which I haue tolde thée Then the Prince Brandizel answered and saide Let the Pagans remaine in their Countrie and let the Christians alone in theyrs for that this remedie which thou hast taken in hand Rodaran will verie little profit to excuse the harme which thou hast spoken of béeing a thing determined by the high powers And héere I dooe giue thée to vnderstand that there doth remaine many Knights in the Citie of Constantinople and such as ten such knights as thou art be not sufficient to take one of them and to bring him vnto prison And héere I doo advise thée to take good héede and béeware of the furie of the Knight of the Sunne béefore whom there is no humane â—…reature able to make any resistance And in that thou â—…oost request mée to leaue of theyr friendship and to béeâ—…ome theyr enimie speake no more thereof vnto mée for I â—…oo more estéeme their friendship and loue and to bée friend â—…nto the sonnes of the Emperour Trebatio and his friends â—…hen to bée a Prince yea more then to bée Lord ouer all Aâ—…ia And if thou wilt leaue off this demaund which thou bringest with thée and goe vnto the Court of the Emperour Trebatio and become a brother in our friendship there shall bée done vnto thee the honour that to such a knight belongeth and if not let vs returne againe vnto our battell and hée which of vs two shall bée ouercome let him doo all that the other who winneth the victorie shall commaund and so shall bée excused all the requestes that are béetwixt vs two Héere Rodaran was very sorrowfull béecause hée found so small comfort of the Prince in this his determination and beléeuing that onely in the ouercomming of that knight dyd consist the accomplishing of his aduenture and that it might so fall out by the victorie of him to end his demaund for that which the Prince had tould hée could not béeleeue neyther giue credite that those knights which dyd remayne béehinde in the court should bée