THE FAMOVS HISTORIE OF MONTELYON KNIGHT of the Oracle and Sonne to the Renowned PERSICLES King of ASSYRIA SHEWING His strange Birth Vnfortunate Love Perilous Adventures in Armes and how he came to the knowledge of his Parents Interlaced with much variety of Pleasant and delightfull Discourse LONDON Printed by B. ALSOP and T. FAVVCET dwelling in Grubstreet neere the lower Pumpe 1640. TO THE GENTLEMEN Readers health GENTLEMEN your well tryed favours hâ—ve set mee so farre on fire in my further proceedings that I that ever hitherto followed the endeavors of Pierce Plainnesse seeme now â—or your pleasures to become even a bowe-fellow prodigall spending the summe of my store to the uttermost as long as possibly it lasteth If you find any crackt coyne in these my liberall expences yet for FOORD's sake affoord them starling and winking at small faults excuse me to bee mistaken and so amongst Friends may it passe for currant I am not of the humour of the new-Fangling Taylor that for every new-wrought Suite frames a new fashion Nor of â—heir presumptuous Nature that of themselves being but Vixins face out their attempts with heroicall Lyons lookes but I alway the same rest ever forward to intreat carefull to request and daily addicted devoutly to attend Humility Against biting Theon's tooth I remaine alway patient proofe and the rather considering the singular sentence of one of the seaven Sages viz. That even as for a man of understanding being praysed to be led thereby unto a selfe-loved opinion of his owne laudable parts or as selfe-willed presuming on his high deserts may seeme an especiall argument of no small folly so likewise for being discommended to remaine even amort with heavy cheere and drooping mind figuring his sad lookes like to the Anatomy of death is a plain proofe of his scarcity of counsell want of patience which Phylosopherâ— hold the soveraign'st vertue that belongs to the qualified indument of mortality and which is worse penury of reason Affectus temporare suos I propose not this Gentle Reader as if Stoycally I regarded your judicious censure but rather portray a Preludium how indifferently I can endure the divers taunting reports of the envious as for your ever regarded judgements I account it the sanctuary wherein my tyred sconce may finde refuge the chiefe gresse onely whereby my feeble invention ascendeth the Colosse that wholly supporteth my endeavours yea I reckon it all my being all my essence all my good As therefore with a favourable smile you ere-while entertained Parismus and Parismenos my elder off springs with so cheerefull an aspect now cast your lookes on my Montelyon whose forwardnesse to winne fame you shall perceive nothing inferiour to the promptnesse of the former although by birth and course of time the younger Oh he can acquaint you with the wonders of Chivalry with admirable acts and doubty deeds supported alway with a Fayery suffrage as was Vlysses in his ten yeares venture by the ayde of Pallas Your well-wishing acceptance and kind conceit of him is all the recompence I aske for my travell and I wish no more so I trust you will no lesse grant this and make my endeavours prosperous Deny that and leave mee so utterly infortunate as hopelesse for ever of every good successe ever found bountifull in giving the one so my selfe will not rest ingratefull for the other that both in one and one in both may not onely augment your longing pleasures which I heartily wish but also inrich my lasting content which I hope you as courteously will Your Well-willer EMANVEL FOORD In praise of the Author SHould Monuments of vvorthy deeds Be svvallovved of Oblivion What Honour vvhereon Vertue feeds Remembred reâ—ts for Merits done Whence shall proceed that sparke of Fame That sets on fire the Noble-Heart For Honour of his Birth and Name In Valours Field to act his part Had not great Alexander vievv'd The blazons of Achilles praise Whereat vvith envious Eye he revv'd The vvorld beyond him vve should raise He scarcely to subdue had sought The World vnder his Command Nor had his Conquests Honour bought According to his Minds demand Had not his acts beene Registred By Memorie in vvorthy Write And Name by Fame forth queristred Maugre Obliuions misty spite Stout Hectors valour vvho could tell Who could rehearse Vlisses skill With thousands vvhose Exploits excell If not portrai'd by soveraigne Quill Hovv vvorthy praise are Writers then Whose vvorkes shevv to this vile-grovvne Age The vvorthy liues of Valiant men For Vertues Freedome layd in gage Then vvell desâ—rues he that reviues The Age-vvorne records of Renovvne Contemning Envie that depriue's The vvell deserv'd of Lavvâ—ell Crovvne Thanke Foord thus offring at free cost His Talent for our hearts delight And reckons not his labour lost If it vvith kâ—ndnesse vve requite THE HISTORIE OF MONTELION KNIGHT of the Oracle CHAP. I. How Persicles was created King of Assyria and travailed into Persia to the Marriage of his sister Piera to the Emperours Sonne Deloratus How he was enamoured of Constantia and returned into Assyria AN ancient King named Pius ruled the Land of Assyria in great peace as well Fortunate by the loue of his Subjects and other outward blessings as with two faire children a Sonne and aDaughter that after his death should succéed in that Empire And by reason Age was now so much growne vpon him that he found himselfe wearied and vnable to exercise the care that belongeth to the government of so mighty a Nation also beholding in his Sonne more then ordinary grauity and so forward a mind to vertue as that he might well commit a matter of such weight to his care he determined to giue himselfe to rest which well agréed with his Age and therefore caused all the Péeres of his Land to be assembled Which being effected and all set in Parliament the olde King uttered his minde which was to establish his Sonne Persicles in the Kingdome The Péeres before that as well by common report as of their owne experience having perfect knowledge of his manifold vertues gaue their generall consents And so Persicles within few dayes was crowned King Pius having effected this according to his mind yet could not bâ— at quiet vntill he had provided a marriage for his daughter befitting her estate To further which good intent it fortuned that Deloratus Son and heyre to the King of Persia hearing of Pieraes beauty for so was she called came into the Country of Assyria and by long sute at last obtained her good will and her fathers consent being assured to her in the presence of most of his Péeres but for that certaine conditions were to be ratified by the King his Father the solemnization of the marriage was deferred vntill that was performed and for that time should not belong protracted which Deloratus with earnestness hastened Persicles with the consent of his Father accompanied his Sister Piera into Persia attended by a number of Gallant Knights as well to sée the
hath made me so resolute to endure the greatest extremity And know that I so much the more dislike this Babe because it is like thée that hath no sparke of honour or honesty in thée Aske me no more questions for I will not answer thereto estéeming my selfe more fortunate in thy hatred then thy friendship for the one is but the distemperate motion of a Cowardly disposition and the other the inconstant falshood of a shallow-Wit Helyon was much vexed to sée how lightly she estéemed him that almost ready to teare his haire he went raging and swearing from her meditating which way to worke hiâ— Revenge Selia noting his distemperature by his pale Countenance asked him what had disquieted him To whom he gaue no answer at all casting a scornefull looke towards her which she tooke in such suspitious sort that she presently supposed he did it in scorne of her and her heart being puft vp full of Iealousie could not detaine it selfe from bursting forth into Teares and then into these spéeches My Lord I now perceiue the Loue you protested to beare mée is altered and I like a poore Cast away like to liue in misery would to God I had still liued in my contented estate in Persia then should I not haue béene subject to these misfortunes Constantia whom you tolâ—e me loved you not is she that hath stolne away your Affection and on her you dote despising me wherein you shew the inconstancy of your variable disposition besides she hath disclosed what I am and that maketh me be scorned and despised of the Ladies of this Court that the misery I am like to endure is intollerable Doe not said he disquiet your selfe with the least suppose of such alteration in me for by Heaven I vow I love none but your selfe the cause of my vexation is how to revenge my selfe on Constantia that euen now hath vsed me with approbrious termes Besides she is brought to Bed of a Bastard begotten of some base-borne Peasant which shall not liue long to vexe me I would I had left her in Persia so haue béene deuoured by wilde beasts rather then pittying her for to worke my selfe this disquiet Should I send word to the King of Persia he would compell me to marry her or else bring open Warre against my Kingdome or if I should séeke her death the knowledge thereof would by some meanes come to his hearing and then would he séeke revenge against me that in this extremity I know not which way to ridde my selfe from her Selia hearing him say she had a Bastard presently beganne to suspect it was his which she would then haue vttered but that feare and premeditated hope of revenge against Constantia withheld her thinking first to learne the truth before she would offend him perceiving his inconstant disposition to be such that the least thing altered his Loue deferring the same vntill her Moneth was ended by which meanes Constantia rested voyd of disturbance The flame of envious suspition burnt so furiously in her brest that as soone as she had forsaken the Monastery and had a while with all kindnesse behaued her selfe towards the Nobles and Ladyes of most estimation thereby to insinuate into their good opinion she came to Constantia fawning vpon her with an affable countenance and vsing many spéeches of curtesie towards her with intent to lift out the truth of her suspition Helyon hearing that she was in the Monastery fearing shée would haue done Constantia some violence followed her and found her in quiet conference with her Selia séeing him there was halfe astonished supposing he had not knowne thereof and withall now of a truth suspecting that he came to visit Constantia of Loue and not to séeke her againe burst foorth into teares whereon he tooke occasion to say Selia I perceiue suspition is the cause of your disquiet Therefore so shew what little cause you haue to vse me so doe but say what I shall doe to this dishonourable Lady and I will performe it Constantia then began to feare some mischiefe was neare her which might easily haue béen perceiued by the oft change of her countenance who made this reply Helyon if thy Quéene knew how much I disdained thee such motions of suspect for me would not disquiet her For I contemne the base dispositions which is ready to alter with the â—last of euery inconstant winde Or Selia doest thou thinke that my minde will stoope to his base lust or become Concubine to so degenerate a wretch and to thy Husband No I will rather sée thy body forne into péeces and suffer the cruellest misery in the World he threatned me with terrible spéeches but his Cowards heart is not of courage to execute his detested will Therefore thou that peradventure art of a more hardy and inhumane disposition commest to encourage him to mischiefe doe the worst you can both for I feare you not but would gladly be ridde out of this miserable life And ridde thou shalt soone be said Selia notwithstanding thy counterfeit dissimulation thinking with disdainfull spéeches to colour thy wickednesse I am indéed come to be revenged on thée that crossest my content and first shall that Bastard féele the smart of my wrath then catching the Child out of the cradle where it lay she held the same by the Héeles in the one hand and the knife in the other ready to depriue it of life vntill Helyon withheld her and Constantia sayd Nay Let her murther it and let herselfe be the first that will repent it yet first view it well and sée if it resemble not the Father that standeth by I assure thée it is his and that thou shalt soone know Out vpon thée said Helyon I defie thée With that Selia viewed it well and perceived that it resembled him perfectly wherewith she cast the same on the Earth saying Did you bring me hither to doe me this intollerable wrong Shall I suffer my selfe to be thus abused and liue to endure perpetuall discontent The Péers of this Land shall vnderstand the wrongs I sustaine and if none else mine owne hands shall worke revenge Constantia then said Selia take vp the Infant and cherish it for it is thine owne My child by this time is conveyed farre enough from thy power by Palia who pittying my distresse and scorning to be subject to the base Pride hath enterchanged one for the other leaving thine with me and carrying my Infant into Assyria vnto the King Persicles who is Father thereof who I doe not doubt will soone revenge the wrong is done to me Neither doe thou jealously suspect me for that degenerate K. thy Husband for she that is Daughter to the King of Persia scorneth to be thy Corriuall if I had dealt vnfaithfully with him then might he worthily haue inflicted this punishment vpon mée but his owne Conscience knoweth I alwayes refused to yéeld to loue him my Loue being before vowed to the King of Assyria Both of them were amazed at her
that if the Kings Forces were once come it would be a great cause to lengthen the Warres which he earnestly desired might haue an end that thereby he might haue respite to trauell in search of Constantia for whom his heart endured excéeding torments that being thus disquieted in his thoughts and desirous of ease to his restlesse passions one day amongst many that he passed ouer with pensiuenesse he got himselfe into a solitary place and there in sad silence meditated on his misfortune Montelyon by chance troubled with remembrance of his vnknowne estate chose the very place for his private meditations wherein Persicles was already shrowded and suddenly espying him began to withdraw himselfe vntill Persicles desired him to stay vttering these spéeches Worthy Knight I perceiue some inward care hath made you withdraw your selfe from mée but impart your discontent to me if not yet heare mine for I haue long desired to impart them vnto one on whose fidelity I might repose my selfe and you are the man I haue elected hauing had so sufficient tryall of your courtesie and friendship that without doubting I durst commit my selfe to your secresie for your ayde may as heretofore it hath preserued me My Lord replyed Montelyon I account my selfe onely fortunate in your loue and my heart acknowledgeth my euerlasting bounden duty to none so much as to your Majesty which bindeth me in all duty to become your vassaile being more ready to venture my life and vttermost endeauours in your service then you can imagine Therefore good my Lord feare not to impose any taske vpon me for by your imploring me I shall account my selfe onely blest I thanke you good Friend quoth â—e and if euer fortune favour me againe I will requite this kindnesse though now I am plunged in the depth of ill lucke being as you sée depriued of my Kingdome by the Rebellion of my owne subjects and the Tyrannie of an ill neighbour the King of Armenia the briefe discourse whereof is this My Father when he liued matcht my sister Piera in marriage with this worthy Knight Deloratus sending me vnto Pâ—â—sia with her who before my returne dyed whilest I was there I chanced to fixe mine eyes on the Beauty of Constantia daughter to the Persian King which by reason of my sudden departure I could not giue her knowledge hauing no other comfort but my sister Piera to whom I bewrayed the secrets of my heart departing with her promise of assistance whilest I went into Assyria to â—stablish my Kingdome Prince Helion of Arabia obtained the King of Persia his consent to marry Constantia Which newes Piera sent me I being much troubled therewith after I had refelled my old enemy the King of Armenia in a battell I left the gouernment of my Kingdome to two of my Noble men and departed in the habite of a Palmer into Persia where within short space I found such meanes by my sisters friendship that I was in that habite without suspition in Pieraes chamber and thereby had conference with Constantia and attained her consent nothing remaining but onely meanes how we should escape which afterwards wée effected and trauelled together vntill we came to a Shepheards house where we were kindly welcommed contracting a solemne marriage betwixt our selues because we durst not be knowne the contrary where we liued some dayes in quiet In the meane time the King of Persia caused diligent search to be made and it was Pisors chance to finde vs who kept our counsell and was by me sent into Assyria to fetch some of my owne Knights to attend me home where he found my Nobles at strife and the King of Armenia taking opportunity with a mighty band of Souldiers slew most of my part the rest joyning with him vntill he had ceazed my Crowne Pisor with this heauy newes returned to me being vnwilling to giue me knowledge thereof which ouercame my heart with such griefe that séeking in a solitary place I wandred so farre that I could not returne to the Shepheards house the same night Constantia missing me likewise stole from the Cottage to séeke me but directing her steps a contrary way or méeting with some misfortune that slew her I neuer heard of her since Pisor he likewise went foorth to séeke vs and vnwillingly tasted of an vnfortunate fruit that infused a sléepinesse vpon him for foure and twenty houres but notwithstanding his and my most earnest search wee could neuer finde her nor I feare neuer shall But if I could recure this euill done me by my Foes I would then spend the rest of my dayes in her search Hauing ended her spéech his heart was so much ouercome with griefe that he had much adoe to with hold his eyes from teares Montelyon was opprest with no lesse griefe then hée whose heart felt more inward disquiet then a stranger could haue done in silent sadnesse séeming to impart with his sorrowes but not abide to counsell him which way to recure them That at last by reason the necessity of the time affoorded little respite they were constrained to depart CHAP. XV. How Montelyon by a strange and dangerous adventure wonne the City and tooke Palian prisoner MOntelyon that euening elected out of his own Followers twenty Knights such as he estéemed most valiant telling them he had a matter of great danger and secrecy to complet which might be a meanes to establish Persicles in his Kingdome if they would faithfully joyne with him Which they stedfastly vowed to accomplish and to follow him although it were euen to their deaths Arme you then quoth he in Armenian Armour of which you haue choyce and come to me at midnight This being performed and the Knights come Montelyon with them departed through the Campe vnto the City Gates where Montelyon knockt but scarce so lowe that the Porter could heare him who yet notwithstanding comming to the Battlements demanded who it was I am said Montelyon Althetus and other Armenians as thou mayst know by our Armor and bring good newes therefore open the Gates lest by the delay we be betrayed for we are pursued The Porter being out of all doubt and hasty to succour them vnbolted the Gates Montelyon was no sooner entred but he flew the Porter entring the Lodge and apprehending the watch who lay sléeping and slaying most of them before they awaked One of them submitting himselfe thus sayd I am an Assyrian spare my life and if you be friends to Persicles I will giue you such directions as you may surprize the City and subdue Palian Montelyon sayd in so doing thou shalt be honoure of thy King and purchase thy owne liberty After that they had put the rest to the Sword the Assyrian directed them to the Pallace and by so secret away that he brought them euen within the compasse of the Castle to the very place whereas the Guard was Montelyon then thus said to his followers My companions let not feare now possesse your hearts but by this
and Houses vnto the Persian Souldiers and also gaue commandement that the women children olde men had impotent people should be brought into the City and euery one possesse his owne house wherein hée dwelt before This being performed for that day order being taken for the wounded the souldiers enriched with spoyle the Citizens in quiet in their houses diligent watch set at each gate and a strong guard without in the Tents for that it drew to night and their labour required ease after much joy they betooke themselues to their rest Earely the next morning they forsooke their Pauilions first appointing certaine scowtes to watch about the borders of the Country for the approach of the King of Armenia which as they suspected would be very shortly for it was now two moneths since Althesus departed By that time the day was aged the space of thrée houres the inhabitants of Assyria that had liued vnder the subjection and tyranny of the Armenians hearing of Palians ouerthrow and being assured of Persicles safety which before that their doubtfull hearts would not beléeue came by great multitudes to submit themselues vnto their lawfull King who rejoycing thereat commanded them in signe of their obedience to arme themselues and returne to their owne dwellings and to destroy all the Armenians that inhabited the Land of Assyria not suffering neither man woman or child to liue It was a wonder to beholde with what gréedinesse the heady multitudes bent themselues to their Enemies destruction euery one thinking to be foremost and hée that was last yet thinking himselfe happy that hée could graspe a Sword to séeke his owne liberty Which they effected within thrée dayes that there was not any of the Armenian Progenie left for if they chanced to finde an Assyrian woman married to an Armenian woman both shée and all her Children dyed And if they found a Woman with child or hauing any children that shée could not shew an Assyrian was the Father of them they had all of them dyed In the meane while all those that were Prisoners were brought foorth Persicles by the whole consent of all his Nobles People and Counsell appointing them to dye onely Palian excepted who like wise had that day abode a shamefull death if hée had not béene a Kings sonne being onely committed to safe custody where he was honourably vsed These tragicall Stratagems ouerpast and all things in security notwithstanding the beauty of the Land was destroyed by the Armenians yet now the Nobles and Péeres of the land that for a long time durst not looke ouer the Castle Walles assembled themselues vnto their King making all preparation they could for his more honourable welcome the Bels rung for joy and the people with excéeding rejoyâ—ings applauded his victory Within few dayes Persicles was with great royalty twice crowned King of Assyria and Montelyon honoured with such excéeding commendation as his worthinesse deserued Euery one as of right they should attributed that honoured victory to his valor All men growing into déep affection towards him and with rejoycing manifest their loue CHAP. XVI Of the King of Armenia's arriuall with a new Army How Montelyon set Palian at liberty and of a Peace that was concluded CErtaine of the Spyes had knowledge of the approach of the King of Armenia and brought newes thereof vnto the Court which stirred vp a new disquiet amongst them for then they began on all sides to arme themselves a fresh but that haste was soone stayed by the arriuall of certaine Ambassadours from the King of Armenia who deliuered their message in these words Persicles of Assyria the mighty King of Armenia commandeth thée to deliuer his sonne Palian in safety whom hée vnderstandeth thou hast taken prisoner Withall hée requireth restitution to be made oâ— the Crowne and Kingdome of Assyria which by right of ancient inheritance iâ— his otherwise he will bring so puissant and inuincible an Army against thée that shall waste and consume this â— and not leauing City Towne nor house vndestroyed by fire he will make the Inhabitants perpetuall bond-slaues and he will cause thée to slye or abiding his comming hée will take thée captiue and leade thée into Armenia where thou shalt remaine his vassaile This is the summe of that he requireth therefore let vs haue answere I will not study sayd Persicles what to say but thus say to him His sonne is my prisoner and I will detaine him as for his threats I feare them not vtterly denying his false title to my Crowne which in my absence hée seazed vpon not by valour but trecherie And tell him moreouer that I demand restitution for the wrong hée hath done mée and my Countrey which if he deny nothing shall make me satisfaction but his sonnes death And tell him thus let him with haste returne least my fury ouertake him and so he féele the mischiefe he intendeth to me for I meane to méete him presently and worke such destruction among his Souldiers as shall cause them to séeke his death for betraying them into his hands Persicles spake these words with such fury as made the Ambassadours assuredly beléeue hée meant it that with this answere they departed The King of Armenia little thinking to receiue such an answere but rather performance of his demand was so enraged that hée commanded his Souldiers to march towards the City vowing to redéeme his sonne or be taken prisoner himselfe Persicles likewise had collected a mighty band of Persians and Assyrians to méete him that it was likely this would proue the hottest battell that euer was fought in that part of the world In the meane time Palian was brought before Persicles who was seated vpon the Kingly throne in great Majesty thus saying to Palian what canst thou alledge to excuse thy selfe from death hauing rightly deserued the same Thou knowest that it now resteth in my power to set thée frée or put thée to death which the just Heauens haue inflicted vpon thée as a due punishment for thy tyrannie 〈…〉 Palian made this reply I am a King as absolute as thy selfe therefore I know thou darest not put me to death which if thou shouldest presume to attempt know that the King of Armenia is hard at thy elbow to reuenge the same whose power thou canst not escape Therefore I defie thée and dare thée to doe the same for I know thée to be of so cowardly a disposition that if thou once commest within my Fathers sight thou wilt runne away The people standing by hearing him vtter such opprobrious words cryed out Let him dye let him dye It was long before the multitude could be appeased but at last Persicles thus said standing vp in a great rage Traytor darest thou vtter these words in my presence Thou shalt dye the death not all the world shall redéeme thée With that he commanded his guard to hew him in pieces with that they began to wound him but Montelyon stepping betwixt them humbling himselfe vpon his knée
beléeue that he should finde her and that she was liuing therefore he constrained his royall heart to yéeld to any thing And hauing taken the King of Armenia's Oath not to interrupt him in his Kingdome vntill the time prefixed they parted Persicles to the City and the King with his Army into Armenia Palians heart was linckt in such louing admirations of Montelyons vertues that he humbly intreated his Fathers leaue to stay in Assyria to beare him company but he denyed him reprouing him greatly and with bitter tearmes checking him but notwithstanding within few dayes in disguise he departed The King would haue sent after to stay him but that he was earnestly entreated to the contrary by his Nobles Palian being kindly welcommed of Montelyon disclosed the cause of his departure from his Father onely with no other intent but to enjoy his company and by shew of duty to doe Persicles Seruice which procéeded not of any coloured or imaginary dissimulation but from the depth of a constant resolution Such a sudden Metamorphosis had the view of Montelyons vertues and his Fathers tyrannie wrought in him that he admired the one and abhorred the other Of which he gaue such manifest tokens that Persicles had no cause to misdoubt him nor Montelyon to refuse his familiarity CHAP. XVII How after the Peace concluded Persicles left the Government of Assyria unto Pisor determining himselfe to travell in search of Constantia How they arrived in Persia. Of their honourable entertainment and of other contrarious accidents in Love that befell in their Persian Court. AFter all these troubles were ouerpast the Persian Souldiers richly sent home into Persia and Persicles had established his kingdome leauing the same to the gouernment of Pisor he determined to trauell in search of Constantia making the occasion of his departure to be to accompany Deloratus into Persia none but Pisor and Montelyon knowing the contrary By the way as they went Cothanes desired them to vouchsafe to visite his Habitation which the rather they did to sée the robes that were found about Montelyon They were honourably welcommed thither and royally feasted Cothanes Lady bringing forth the packet which they opened and well viewed neither Deloratus nor Persicles knowing any of them for they were such as Constantia had in Arabia Amongst the rest there was a Iewell of excéeding beauty and richnesse which Montelyon in the presence of them all put about his necke vowing neuer to part with it vntill he had found out his Parents Afterwards they departed Montelyon leauing Cothanes and his Foster-mother bewayling his departure with aboundance of teares Within few dayes they arriued in Persia the King sending out Troupes of gallant Knights to attend them the States Nobles and Péeres of the Land in rich attire to entertaine them and himselfe with the Quéene Piera and Lanula his eldest Daughter with a number of other gallant Ladies forsaking the Court to méet them The Citizens likewise hearing of their approach prepared to entertaine them with delightfull showes the Knights met them some two miles from the City welcomming Deloratus with reuerence and the other thrée Knights with courtesie Next the Nobles embraced them and at the City gates they saw the King with his royall assembly staying their comming vnto whom Deloratus knéeled whilest they with teares welcommed his safe returne and whilest he embraced Piera and his sister Lanula the King and Quéene welcommed Persicles And when he had left them to speake to Piera they demanded of Deloratus who those strange Knights were The one of them quoth he is our late reconciled friend Palian and the other is the most valiant Knight Montelyon that by his valour hath both preserued our liues confounded his Enemies and wonne himselfe immortall honour The King of Persia had Palian welcome into Persia he likewise embraced Montelyon who with humble reuerence knéeled at his féet All that there beheld him admired that one of such young yeares should be endued with such honoured Chivalry especially the Ladies with their nice eyes surueighed each part of his perfect lineaments which they found to be most exquisite judging none like him in comelinesse but Persicles All tedious salutaâ—ions being ouerpast vntill they came to the Court entring with such royalty as it draue an admiration to the beholders eyes there might one haue beheld the people with gréedy desire by multitudes thronging to behold them but especially the White Knight euery one asking which was hée that he himselfe might heare them which oftentimes made the blood reuiue in his chéekes with such a blush that it might easily haue béene discerned To rehearse euery particular would be ouer tedious and to stay long in recitall of their Royall entertainment Feasts spéeches and welcomes would detaine you from the hearing of Constantias misfortune for such entertainment there was and euery thing performed with such royalty as might haue beséemed the greatest Monarch of the world After Supper the time of rest being come the aged King and Quéene bad goodnight to their Ghosts and euery one betooke themselues to their seuerall Lodgings remitting all conference vntill the next dayes opportunity Persicles being alone spent most part of that nights rest in studying which way to Iourney in search of Constantia Montelyon in consideration of his vnknowne Parents Palian surfeiting in loue with Praxentia She in commendation of Montelyon Deloratus in pleasure with Piera and the olde King and Quéene in joyfull remembrance of all their safety euery one possest with a seuerall conceit vntill that slumbring sléepe ouercome their sence Earely the next morning they forsooke their Beds Persicles and Deloratus in conference with the King and Quéene and Piera in the hearing of Praxentia and divers other Ladies rehearsing the warres in Assyria and the manner of their victory Montelyon in company of Palian commended the royalty of the Persians Court and the beauty of the Ladies Which sâ—éech they entred into by reason of Palian whose heart could not chuse but vtter his inward thoughts which had entertained a furfeiting view to Praxentiaes beauty which was so exquisite as it might haue intangled the sences of any man with their beautious object Onely Montelyon rested as frée from as one that neuer thought of loue hauing his sences so fully possest with desire to find his Parents and search for Constantia that no other thought could enter his brest But such a contrariety had blind Fortune wrought amongst them that euery one desired a contrary thing for Palian doted not so much on Praxentias as she did on Montelyon and he was so farre from thinking such a thought that it was in vaine for her to hope Palian séeking opportunity to giue her knowledge thereof and she expecting when Montelyon should proffer loue to her and he on the other side séeking meanes to hasten his departure which he would instanly haue done but that he could not so soone séeke to leaue the King of Persia nor his sister but notwithstanding the