strange Knightes whatsoeuer They not misliking this councell went presently to the Abbey where the Abbot welcommed them as beseemed their estates and while their Supper was prouiding the skilfull man hauing visited their woundes they walked into the faire Orchards and Gardens recounting to each other their seuerall fortunes since they were together in the Court of England Simprinell discoursed his loue to Belanicia of Norgalles and the cause of his comming to the Citie of Varne which when Palladine heard he determined not only to forget his affection to Belanicia but also to assist his freend to his vttermost in obtaining her loue saying My noble fréend I knowe what manner of disease loue is if one haue not receiued the swéetes thereof albeit when I sawe you in England I had no knowledge at all therein wherefore if I shall accompanie you to Norgalles such good speeches will I vse of you to your Lady as she shall not be offended for not bringing her portrait againe or that of the Duchesse which she sent ye for Simprinell thanked the Prince for his offer but he was farre otherwise addicted saying he had promised his Lady a further iourney for her loue wherein he would not haue any companie With this answere was Palladine well contented directing his course another way so hauing stayed two daies at the Abbey and either of them being able to beare Armour he left Simprinell there and courteously taking his leaue of the Abbot set on whither fate and fortune would guide him And after he had ridden fiue or sixe dayes he met a horsseman with whome falling in talke he vnderstood that the great Prince Caesar of Roome had at Paris enterprised a noble Tournament for the loue of the faire Rosamonde of Fraunce a Princesse estéemed incomparable in beautie And I quoth the Courrier am sent to the King of Norgalles Court who hath a faire Daughter named Belanicia before whome I must reueale my message and declare the Prince Caesars challenge in presence of all the Kings Knightes Afterward I must trauaile to Bulgaria and in the Court of the Duchesse Brisalda a Lady likewise renowmed for her beautie I must make knowne of this famous Tournament Palladine glad to heare the Duchesse so commended and that now he had the meanes to see the Princesse Belanicia accompanied the messenger to Norgalles and by the way méeting Belanicia riding in her Litter abroade for her recreation with diuers Knightes that attended on her Palladine was prouoked to Ioust with them by a contemptuous challenge of one of her Knightes But such was their ill lucke as all her champions were dismounted till her brother Landastines tooke the cause in hand hauing left the English Court to come sée the King his father and after they had broken many Launces not being able to preuaile against each other they ended the sport and Landastines knowing Palladine tooke him with him to the Court where he was welcommed honorably by the King as also the faire Belanicia his daughter CHAP. XXI ¶ How Simprinell being healed of his wounds returned to Varne where he vanquished the Prince Alfian of Ireland and brought away the portrait of Brisalda WHen Simprinell felt himselfe well recouered and remembred how he had not onely failed in winning the portrait of the Duchesse but in the attempt had lost y e figure of his mistresse Belanicia he determined not to goe to Norgalles vnlesse he could accomplish his Ladye commaundement Wherefore taking his leaue of the Abbot he rode backe againe to Varne and comming to the place of triumphes found the Duchesse with her Ladyes placed on the Scaffolds and the Prince Alfian of Ireland the Champion for Brisalda who preuayled woorthely against all that encountred with him Simprinell looking on his Ladyes picture and séeing it embased vnder the Duchesse had such a violent impression strooke him to the harte as he intended to recouer her honor againe or else to leaue his life in the feeld And in this resolution he encountred the Irish Prince passing two or three courses brauely the shiuers of their Launces flying vp into the aire but at the third attaint he met Alfian so roughly as both horsse and man were sent to the ground When Alfian had recouered his feete hee drew his Sword and comming to Simprinell who by this time was alighted and prepared for him when they began a fierce and cruell combate whereof Simprinell in the end had the honor Then comming to the Duchesse with courteous reuerence he demaunded of her if she would permit him to carie thence the portraites whereto she made no answere but in a great anger strong from the Scaffold because her champion had defended her cause no better Heereupon the Iudges as the equitie of the case required deliuered the portraites to Simprinell which he giueing to his Squires mounted on horssebacke returning presently backe to the Abbey not alittle glad of his high good fortune At the Abbey he stayed thrée or foure dayes to heale such woundes as he tooke in the last combate and afterward departed toward Norgalles where he arriued without any aduenture by the way to hinder him If he were welcome to the Lords and Ladies I referre to your opinions and how the Princesse Belanicia liked thereof when she sawe her Knight returned with the Duchesse counterfeit let Ladyes desirous of especiall account imagine her content but in requitall of his great paines so confidently did she loue him afterward as by imparting the same to her brother Landastines who highly fauoured his freend Simprinell the King was made acquainted therewith and Ambassadours sent to the King of Scots such good liking thereof beeing found betweene them both as the mariage was consumated and long loue requited with desired recompence Afterward Simprinell imparted to Landastines how at first he was foyled by the Prince Palladine and in his absence had woon his Ladyes credit againe which Landastines tooke so vnkindly as they concluded to trauaile to Paris whither the English Prince was gone before to reconcile this wrong to former amitie And thither are ridden Landastines and Simprinell to the great gréefe of the King and Quéene but chéefely of Belanicia so soone to forgoe her Lord and husband Palladine entised with the report of this braue Tournament held at Paris by the Prince Caesar for faire Rosamonde of Fraunce would néedes be séene in those worthie exploites and landing at Callis loth to be knowne in England least the King his Father should hinder his intended iourney he met with the Duke of Gaule accompanyed with twentie Knightes brauely mounted he likewise riding to the Prince Caesars Tourney by the commaundement of the faire Agricia of Naples whome he honored as his Lady and mistresse After they had saluted each other Palladine presently knew the Duke remembring he had séene him in his Fathers Court yet would not he make any shew thereof because he was so slenderly accompanyed hauing no one with him but his Squire Lycelio and
said the Princesse much more must I be then for me thinkes it is impossible to finde his second so would you haue said had you but seene his valiant combate with the Giant Sulberne If then quoth Orbiconte you knowe so well what he is he louing you as his own life you him in like sorte I would aduise ye with all speede to consumate the mariage betweene ye albeit vnknowen to the King Queene and let me deale for their good will afterward Alas Madame quoth the Princesse héerein would I willingly obay ye but that in religion we are too farre a sunder For that take you no care saide Orbiconte in that before it be long all your Fathers Kingdomes shall be conuerted to Christianitie therfore boldelye make promise to the Knight that you will be baptised so soon as you come into England he hauing first sollemnely sworne to marrie with you as well I knowe he hath no other intent Héerewith shall his parents be well pleased and yours heereafter likewise for then and not before they shall vnderstand that this is for your eternall honor and profit Nonparelia who desired nothing more then the conquest of his loue and withall the swéete benefite ensuing thereby whome she had made Lord and maister of her heart thus answered I knowe Madame that my honorable preferment is the full of your intent and that you will sheeld me from any blemish or reproch I therefore commit all to your discretion and will obey whatsoeuer you commaund me This night then said Orbiconte shall you be assured of your louely Knight and holy vowes of mariage shall be passed betwéene you afterward agrée as you can your selues for I will accoÌ„plish what I haue promised So went they both to the Princes chamber where they found him walking with Captaine Broantine one that knew the deapth of his desire yet ignorant what Orbiconte and the Princesse had concluded Many deuoute courtesies passed betwéene them and Orbiconte taking the Prince aside thus spake to him You remember my Lord your vowe when you called your selfe the Knight without rest that you would neuer entertaine quiet of minde till you had found your onely beloued in the world to whome you were destenied before your birth now be of good chéere for this night shall you be resolued of the Lady who being frée in affection from all other doth honor you with the vnspotted loue of a virgin estéeming of you as her Lord and husband No meruaile if these newes were welcome to the Knight without rest who giuing credit to the words of Orbiconte sealed many a sweete kisse on the daintie lippes of Nonparelia as pledges of a full contract in the sight of heauen not to be recalled but by death onely Short tale to make Orbiconte that night brought them together and ioyned their hands with sollemne and sacred vowes he to carie her with him into England and she there to receiue the faith of a Christian. And thus will we leaue them in their amorous purposes each comforting other with the arguments of loue and now let vs returne to the Princes and Knightes whome we left in Fraunce England and elsewhere CHAP. XXXIII ¶ How the Prince Don Robert of Freeze surnamed the Knight of Fame hauing taken his leaue of the King Milanor of England and Lydiseo the Prince of Hungaria found a Knight wounded to the death and what hapned to him afterward YOU remember how the Knight of Fame being vanquished and sore wounded by the Prince Palladine at y e Iousts which Caesar maintained for loue of the faire Rosamond departed with Lydiseo of Hungaria and crossed the Sea into England where they were graciously entertained by the King Milanor to whome Lydiseo presented Letters from the Prince his Sonne and an other from Landastines to his Daughter Floraea These two Princes hauing soiourned awhile in the Court of England tooke leaue of the King and the Ladyes and afterward sundered themselues in trauaile Lydiseo iorneying toward Hungaria to sée the King his Father who as he vnderstood was fallen into a verie dangerous disease And the Knight of Fame coasting through a part of Brittayne and Normandie went to Burdeaux and from thence into Spayne as much to expell the mellancholly which the remembrance of faire Rosamonde charged his thoughts withall as also to make proofe of his valour against the Knightes of Spayne who accounted themselues the most valiant in Europe Being thus landed in Spayne he trauailed through diuers Forrests till night ouertaking him he was constrained to alight while his Squire cut down certaine boughes of trees for his maister to rest himselfe vpon After they had laid themselues downe as willing to sleepe not farre from them they heard the voice of a man breathing foorth many bitter and dollorous complaints and as it séemed to them he was nigh his end for his words faultred in the vtterance as wanting abilitie to deliuer them whereupon the Knight of Fame awaking his Squire said doost thou not heare one complaine very greeuously I doo my Lord answered the Squire and belike he is in some great danger I pray thee then quoth Don Robert let vs go a little néerer that we may vnderstand what he saith So claspping on their Helmets and Sheelds they walked soft in to the place where they heard the voice when they alight heare him continue his complaints in this manner Unhappie that I am must I néedes die by the traitorous hand of him whome I trusted as mine owne selfe Ah wretch why didst thou not tell me thy cruell pretence it might â—e I would haue found meanes to haue satisfied thâ—e of if thou hadst yeelded me better reason I might haue desisted from my pursuite Pansnite alas Madame all the torments in the world shall not withdraw me from your gracious loue nor death it selfe which I feele hath aâ—endicentred me O monstrous treason oh false dissembling and traiterous Câ—stillian Prince What say I Prince if thou be a Prince thou art one of the very worst that euer liued Ah my Lord quoth the Squire to this wounded Knight you may well beléeue and hold for certaine as I haue sayd to you many times that loue can abide no companion so by the often comming and going of this traytour to Madame Minoretta he could not but seeke to deceiue ye and to frustrate the hope you had in her all which you must now endure with pacience seeing we are all subiect to fortunes changes If fortune then reward me with death quoth the Knight iustly may I accuse her of treason as one that procureth all the mischiefes in the world Ah traiteresse and wreakefull Lady why didst thou not suffer me to enioy that honor which her diuine nature and beautie had grounded in my heart and whereto I was sollemnely vowed and dedicated Alas I féele my strength more and more to forsake me Ah Minoretta Minoretta what wilt thou say when thou hearest of my misfortune I feare thy loue is
by this request and all things are now preparing for the Baptisme of this noble yong Prince At the arriuall of these two Kings great ioyes and triumphs were made by the Citizens of London and as concerning their entertainment at the Court you must thinke it was according to their high estates withall that Englishmen are not to learne to welcome Strangers When the day was come that the yong Prince should be Christened as the King his Father had requested he was named Palladine and afterward to honor the tune and the royall companie there wanted no worthy deuises with exquisite Chiualrie perfourmed both at the Tilt and Tourney wherein the King of Scots bare great estimation being a yong Prince aged sixe and twenty yéeres and one that in Knightly exercises carried especiall account Yet was not this ioy alone in the Court but in London likewise the Citizens shewed the like where the Conduits ranne diuers sorts of Wines the Stréetes were stored with Tables before the dores and all kinde of good chéere placed thereon with such ringing of Belles and making Bone-fiers as neuer was the like seene before that time It were too long a matter to rehearse what braue Theatres were erected and therein presented most excellent Comedies with Maskes Mommeries and all kinde of delightfull inuentions during the time of this Feast which continued fifteene dayes together It shall suffise me to tell yee how the King Milanor hearing that the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles would now returne home againe was desirous to haue the aduenture tried of the thrée Statues before they went and therefore caused to be proclaimed by sounde of Trompet through all the streetes in London that all Knights and Gentlemen should on the morrow come to the Pallace to aduenture their fortune for the rich Sheeld and the God Cupid so that if any one could take them from the Statues with right good will they should enioy them The like protestation was made of the Image of Venus and the rich Crowne which was destenied to the most accomplished Lady in beautie the fame whereof called faire beauties darlings to the Court on heapes each one thinking to beare away the Crowne by the benefite of her amiable lookes Wherefore the place and houre being appointed God knowes how they laboured to augment their naturall beautie by arteficiall meanes as oyntments distilled waters perfumes and other like extraordinarie matters which many Gentlewomen who haue any naturall imperfection at this day vse to make them seeme more amiable But now is the day come to make triall of the aduenture when the King Milanor with the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles and all the Ladies of the Court went to the voyde place before the Pallace and there on a faire Skaffolde couered with rich Tapistrie sate downe to take view of the valiant Knightes who durst presume to take the Sheeld from the Piller No sooner were they placed as beseemed their estates but twelue English Knightes esteemed of greatest courage and valour in the Countrey presented themselues well armed to trie their fortune After they had done reuerence to the Kings and Estates present he that imagined himselfe of highest resolution among them stept vp on foure of the staires before the Piller thinking to reach the Shéeld that hung thereon but the enchaunted Image drawing his fauchion with such furious strokes repulsed him downe againe as he durst not presume to meddle any more to the no little maruaile of the King and his companie who were not wont to behold such vncouth spectacles Next came a gallant yong Knight well prouided with a Romaine Target and a short arming Sword and with maruellous valour he ranne vp the steps before the Collomne and attained to the highest step of all but he went downe againe sooner then he expected for the Image threw him so violently backe againe as he tumbled headlong downe the staires to the ground Like fortune fell to the rest of the twelue some shewing greater magnanimitie in fight then other did yet their foile was alike and this Shéeld of honor could not be wonne by any of them Then came the Quéene to the Skaffold where the Kings sate and vnderstanding how the Knightes had sped in this first Aduenture she sayd Straunge is it my good Lords that no one of our Knightes can preuaile let the Gentlemen prooue the aduenture of the second Statue whereon the God of loue sheweth himselfe which must be conquered by none as I heare but by the most loyall Knight in the world by this meane shall we know them that haue best deserued toward their Ladies and who excéedeth all other in constancie Madame aunswered the King Milanor we thinke your councell verie necessarie for long will this Sheeld hang heere if no other Knightes then of our Realme come to trie their fortune such therefore as hold best opinion of their owne loialtie make triall of your vertue at the God of Loue and frée libertie we graunt to all straunge Knightes as to them of our Realme which our Heralds shall signifie for their better assurance CHAP. III. ¶ How many Knightes and Gentlemen of England Scotland and Norgalles aduentured to winne the Image of Cupid destenied to the most loyall and how they were all repulsed and the Ladies likewise in â—heir triall for the rich Crowne WHen the Herald had publikely deliuered his charge the King commaunded all the Knightes to vnarme themselues for loyaltie quoth he is not to be discouered by armes but by the hidden vertue thought consisting in the hart of a man My Lord sayd the Quéene had you not assured me to whome this aduenture is reserued I would haue intreated your Maiestie to make the first triall Then Madame quoth the King you haue some suspition of my loyaltie Not so my Lord sayd she for nothing is lesse in my thought and so certaine perswasion do I hold thereof as I feare not that all present should behold your vertue to the greater enlarging of your honor and mine owne While these spéeches passed a yong English Gentleman came to mount the steps that enuironed the Collomne whereon the God of Loue stoode but as he lifted his foote to the nethermost step the Statue tumbled him backe with his héeles vpward so that euery one laughed hartely thereat In sooth my fréend said the King verie little loyaltie remaines in you whome loue cannot abyde the sight of if your Lady be in this company good occasion hath she to get her a better seruant Then came another who had many times inuocated on the name and fauour of his Mistresse and he without any impeachment mounted on the third step making an offer to attaine the fourth but the Statue thrust him downe againe whereby he might perceiue his owne insufficiencie Beleeue me quoth the Quéene he hath done much better than the other and the Lady he loueth is greatly beholding to him for iustly may he be accounted loyall in that the Image suffered him to ascend
so high Then one of the King of Norgalles Knightes came to trie his fortune whome the Statue repulsed with such shame as all the day after he would not be séene I promise ye Gentleman said the King his maister you might haue spared the labour in comming so farre to returne home with so foule a rebuke and little néede had ye to shew vs your great inconstancie brother quoth the King of Scots be not offended with him for well he knowes that his Mistresse is not in this companie You say true brother aunswered the King of Norgalles but if I knew her I would aduertise her of his exceeding vertue Héere commes another of my Knightes to make a better proofe and yet perhaps will amend his fellowes dishonor The Knight attained the highest step without any disturbance and as he lifted his hand to take the Image of Cupid the Statue tooke him by the arme and set him on the ground againe I see then said the King of Norgalles each one must heere be iudged according to the greatnesse and defect of his loyaltie Afterward came a little Scottishman as thicke as tall his beard growing scattering like bristles his nose flat to his face two teeth standing before gagd out of his mouth a man in euery part very much mishapen and seruing as a Iester to make the King laugh he had married a woman as handsome as himselfe yet was he iealous of her out of all measure This proper Squire séeing so many repulsed by the Statue by breach of their loyaltie to their Wiues and Ladies considered with himselfe that he had neuer violated the bonds of marriage but euermore kept his faith to his wife therefore he would hazard his good hap not doubting but to carie the Image of Cupid with him into Scotland Hauing demaunded leaue of the King his Maister with a little cudgell in his hand he came to the Collomne and went vp to the verie highest step the Statue not offering any signe of resistance but as this deformed fellow would haue embraced the Image of Cupid the Statue snatched the cudgell out of his hand and so rapt him therewith about the shoulders as he was constrained to hye him downe againe the Kings and all present merily laughing at this iest Alas poore foole said the King of Scots how durst thou presume to shew thy selfe in this action Why my Lord aunswered the Queene your little man is yet found the most loyall and no Gentleman this day hath witnessed the like Beléeue me Madame aunswered the King of Scots it is against his will that he is so loyall for being so euill fauoured and deformed how can he finde any woman to offend with him Come hether little fellow said the King Milanor you haue beene beaten with your owne cudgell because ye came no better prouided but that the honor of the day may remaine to you I will that at this present no further triall shall bée made enough hath beene done my men let now the Ladyes by their beautie aduenture for the rich Crowne of Venus and let it suffise that a little fellow hath strained all our Knightes The Quéene in person began the enterprise but reiected as vnworthy of the fatall Crowne and after her followed the Ladies of the Court whose fortunes were like or worsse in effect to their no little disgrace in their owne conceites who prized their beauties at the highest rate The London Danies had likewise their time of proofe yet could their daintie faces carie no pawne in this attempt for the Crowne was reserued for the onely Lady who might not be paragonned by any other whatsoeuer CHAP. IIII. ¶ How after all the Triumphs were ended perfourmed at the Baptisme of the yong Prince Palladine and the aduentures thus left of the three Statues the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles tooke their leaue of the King Milanor and the Queene and returned from England into their owne Countreys BY this time were all the Princes and Ladyes throughly satisfyed with the pastimes wherefore with sound of Trompets Clarions and Cornets they returned to the Pallace where was prepared for them a most roiall banquet and bicause the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles were to depart on the morrow the Citizens of London in honor of their Prince came with diuers stately Maskes to the Pallace where they behaued themselues to their credit and the Kings good liking Afterward entred the hall twelue Gentlemen of the Court in complete Armour with blunt Foyles and Targets when deuiding themselues sixe against sixe hauing for their barre two Pykes which were held ouerthwart by two of the Kings Guard they layde on each other such eager strokes as their swords flew in péeces and their Armour was battered in many places Then they withdrew themselues giuing place to twelue other who Combatted with the Pyke arming Sword and Battle-Axe and thus was the night consumed in such disports to delight the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles who in the morning tooke their leaue of the King and Quéene and were conducted on their iourney by many English Lords The King Milanor and his Quéene beeing not a little contented that the Princes had done them such honor in their Realme but greatest of all was their comfort in their Sonne Palladine who in prowesse and loyaltie should surpasse all other of his time and was carefully nourished by a vertuous Gentlewoman wife to an aged Squire named Romandrin of Gaule with whome he remained till he came to the age of fiue yeeres About this time the Quéene trauailed againe and was deliuered of two goodly Daughters béeing Twinnes the one whereof was named Marcelina and the other Floraea these swéete babes were tenderly regarded in the Court and there will we leaue them with the Quéene their Mother remembring yong Palladine who is in the custodie of graue and learned tutors enstructed in the Languages as also Greeke and Latine wherein he profited so well as at tenne yeeres he could speake them as perfect as his English toong Héerewithall he practised Knightly Chiualrie to manadge great Horsses and all Gentlemanlike exercises searching the bowelles of the chéefest Historians from them to learne the practises and sleights of Millitarie profession And when the time would not serue him to Hawke and Hunt he would kéepe himselfe from idlenesse with his Lute Bandora and Uirginalles with diuers other sweete Instruments wherein he tooke delight and grew verie excellent This yong Prince thus giuen to all honest and vertuous quallities began to haue some feeling of his high and magnanimous spirit so that to experiment and trie his owne strength he would cope with diuers yong Lords Gentlemen of his age to runne in the Listes to breake Launces to Combate with the Mace the Arming-sword and all other weapons both on horssebacke and on foote In all which exercises he found not his equall which made him desirous of the order of Knighthood to the end he might séeke after strange Aduentures as the King
passion to procéede by bashfulnesse or feare which oftentimes preuents yong Gentlemen when they enter the presence of great Ladies she tooke the Prince by the hand and thus began My Lord you are so welcome as your owne hart can wish great hath béene your payne and trauayle comming so farre to see this Court no sufficient recompence can the King our Father make yée nor we poore Ladies for this excéeding kindnesse These words forcing Manteleo to recouer his spirits caused him returne this aunswere In comming hither swéete Madame haue I sustayned no paine or trauaile but rather comfort pleasure and pastime For long since is it that I desired to offer my seruice to the King your Father as well for the rare vertues which makes him farre renowmed as also to renew the auncient amitie that yée and the Duke my Father haue had together when they as Knightes errant trauayled straunge Countreys Another and chéefe cause was to see my Lord your Brother whose second in prowesse is not to be found and you likewise faire Ladies whome heauen hath not onely enriched with especiall vertues but also with rare and most perfect beautie And though my Starres alotted me no greater good héereby then to behold the surpassing worke of nature in you both yet would I repute my trauaile more largely requited then were I created Emperour of the world adioyning héere to if any seruice remayned in me that might be to your liking During these spéeches he threw many piercing lookes on the Princesse Marcelina and she returned the like on him thinking she had neuer seene a more comely Knight in all perfections her Brother Palladine excepted gathering by his lookes and yéelding countenance that she had wonne some earnest in his loue with which imagination her hart was highly contented and to continue him in this good affection she thus replyed Not a little doo I think my selfe beholding to you my good Lord noting your forward zeale to the King my Fathers seruice loth am I to presse yée with such regard towards me in that my deseruings are altogether too simple let my good will then excuse my want assuring your selfe of a maydens prayers wheresoeuer you go As Manteleo would haue aunswered the Prince Palladine came and thus brake off their talke I beséech yée my Lord and companion to withdraw your selfe into your Chamber there to repose your selfe after your iourney for of necessitie you must be sore wearied hauing spent so little time betwéene Millaine and England Manteleo departed to his Chamber with Palladine and in two lodgings ioyning together lay these new fréends There did the Millayne Prince cloath himselfe in braue and sumptuous garments not forgetting the graâ—ious spéeches of fayre Marcelina who likewise so soone as he departed could not kéepe in her owne opinions but with her Sister fell in commendation of Manteleo setling the loue of him so néere her heart as she resolued neuer to haue any other Husband so pleased the King and Quéene to giue their consent Continuing in this determination thence forward her extreame desires made her pensiue and solitarie yet would she not impart her disease to any one because she would first make triall of the Princes constancie least his loue might be impeached with dissembling â—alliaunce But now is the houre of Supper come when the amorous Prince Manteleo was placed at the table right ouer against his beloued Marcelina neither of them being offended at this good hap but vsing the same as an especiall benefite with secret glaunces to court each other Which the Princesse Floraea dilligently marked and seeing her Sister so often to chaunge her couller coupling therewith many bitten in sighes she tofore hauing neuer shewed the like became iealous of the matter thinking the Prince should as soone affect her as her Sister yet made she no outward shew of this conceite But when the Tables were withdrawne and each one preparing themselues to daunce Manteleo tooke his Lady Marcelina without making any offer to Floraea wherewith she became so mal content as to despight them she would euery day after sit so néere them as they could not speake one word to each other but she might easily vnderstand what they said The Prince well noting how hee was crost would the oftner entertaine Marcelina to Daunce taking the benefite at the end of each Measure which gaue them libertie to conferre together no one in those excused times being able to impeach them whereat Floraea greatly repined séeing them talke with such affectionate protestations The Pastimes ended the King and Queene went to their lodgings Manteleo humbly giuing them the good night not forgetting the Saint he serued in desires and afterward the Prince Palladine accompanied him to his Chamber where after many other spéeches betwéene them they concluded on the morrow to request their Knighthood of the King So Palladine left Manteleo for that night whose mind was busied with his Ladies fauorable words not doubting but to shew himselfe so forward in Armes as the Princesse should receiue good occasion to affect him and graunt him the honor he earnestly desired In this good hope he laid him downe to rest the Princesse Marcelina nothing inferiour to him in amorous opinions and that night her brother Palladine had told her that Manteleo and he would intreate their Order of the King wherewith she was not alittle contented determining thence forward to entertaine the Prince of Millaine as her Knight CHAP. VI. ¶ How the Princes Palladine and Manteleo with many other great Lords were Knighted by the King Milanor and of an aduenture that happened in the Court which Palladine and Manteleo ended FAire Aurora chasing away the clowdie night the Prince Palladine accompanied with many Gentlemen came to bid Manteleo good morrow Why my Lord and companion quoth he it séemes you haue forgotten what we determined yesternight Pardon me good Prince aunswered Manteleo my memorie is not so short but so swéetly haue I slept this night as hindered me from rising sooner Then went they to salute the King and intreated his Highnesse to graunt them their Knighthood When his Maiestie perceiuing their forwardnesse and noting the earnest desire of Manteleo thus aunswered Loth am I to denie your request albeit as yet you are ouer-yong but the good opinion I haue of your prowesse and fortunate successe that may befall ye héereafter doth supply your want of yeeres wherefore this night perfourme the holy watch and to morrow will I giue ye your Order The two Princes humbly thanking his Maiestie went to giue order for their Armour and furniture and at night they entred the Chappell where spending the time in the accustomed religious exercise they expect the houre of their long desired honor In the morning the King with his Nobilitie entred the Chappell and as he was busied in the Ceremonies vsed in such affaires there entred two Damosels verie brauely apparelled each of them hauing a goodly Sword in her hand and with them was an
successe which she could not but take in good part considering that intire loue couers all occasions of dislike CHAP. VIII ¶ How Manteleo wun the honor of the Tournament and vanquished two straunge Knightes NOw is the day come when the yong Knightes should shew themselues in open féeld except the Prince Manteleo who excused himselfe by riding on hunting and therefore borrowing his freend Palladines hounds left the Court causing his horsse and armour to be secretly conuaide to a keepers Lodge which was a mile and more from the Citie because he would not haue any one knowe what he intended Meane while the Ioustes began the King maruelling at the absence of Manteleo especially Palladin and faire Marcelina who missing her freend at dinner imagined he was gone without bidding her adiew and the occasion thereof to be because he had failed in the aduenture of Cupid The Champions comming into the féeld the foremost were Mustiell of Rostock and Brunifort his brother on the other side came Durandell of Cleue and Orliman of Flaunders with all their companie in séemely equipage When the Heralds had commaunded the Knightes to their deuoire Mustiell and Durandell gaue the spurres to their horsses and after they had broken thrée Launces a peece with braue chiualrie at the fourth encounter they met together so furiously as they were both cast foorth of their saddles to the ground Next followed Brunifort and Orliman who dismounted each other at the first attaint but Brunifort recouered his horsse againe quickly when Sedonis Sonne to the Duke of Suffolke bad him play yet accompanied Orliman in his misfortune Heereupon Grinday sonne to the Duke of Orton reuenged his fellowes wrong and such valour they shewed on either side as the honor of the day was giuen to them the King with all his Nobles being readie to depart when suddenly entred the Lystes two strange Knightes in white Armour resembling each other the one bearing in his Sheeld thrée Griffons Sable volant in a feeld Argent the other three Griffons Argent in a Sable feeld After these Knightes had shewen many carires and braue voltages with their horsses before the Ladies one of them encountred Brunifort with such courage as he was throwne to the ground with his heeles vpward the like successe had Mustiell Orliman and the rest to the no little admiration of the King and all the Ladies and great vexation of Palladine who would not Ioust because his companion Manteleo was not there As the King was about to depart giuing the prize to these two strange Knightes there entred the Lystes another Champion in white Armour bearing in his Shéeld a Hart Guelles bound with a golden chaine and without making any reuerence or shewing any brauadoes with his horsse he met one of the strange Knightes so roughly as he was sent to measure his length on the ground The other strange Knight to reuenge his fellowes iniurie came couragiously against this new-come Knight and after the breach of two or thrée Launces was sent to kéep his fréend companie whereat not alittle enraged he drew his Sword and comming to the Knight said I confesse Sir that thou hast the maistrie ouer me at the Launce let me now try my fortune better or worsse in Combate Whereto the other willingly consented but the King intercepted them saying Not so Gentlemen I will not that any Combate shall now be fought in respect the Ioust was ordeyned for pleasure and to exercise our Knightes to delight their Ladies enough therefore is done for this day let anger ceasse betwéene yée and fréendly embrace each other letting me vnderstand of whence you are that I may doo you the honor you haue deserued With right good will my Lord aunswered the vanquished Knight my companion and I are freends with this Knight who deserues great estimation for his worthie prowesse As for our names and of whence we are I am called Landashnes Sonne to the King of Norgalles and my freend is named Simprinell Sonne to the King of Scots When the King Milanor and the Prince Palladine had knowledge of the Knightes they came from the Scaffold and embraced them with excéeding courtesie but when they knew the Conquerour to be Manteleo I leaue their maruellous ioy to your imaginations Is it true my Lord quoth the King haue you stollen such an occasion to expresse your valour Your Maiestie knowes aunswered Manteleo that I am but newly Knighted and therefore but little experienced in Armes nor durst I discouer my selfe before your Highnesse least my fortune should haue prooued as contrary as it did yesterday which you must imagine I tooke discontentedly You néede not feare héereafter said the King to shew your selfe in chéefest places of Chiualrie in that a beginning so good and fortunate must néedes in continuance be as prosperous Heereupon the three Knightes verie louingly embraced each other swearing a perpetuall league of amitie betweene them which they religiously held irreuocable as in the discourse of our historie you may behold Manteleo hauing saluted the Quéene and her Ladyes Palladine came to welcome his freend rebuking him for not acquainting him with his intent which he excused as he did to the King hauing more mind to regard his sweete Mistresse then to be entertained with all these ceremonies And you must thinke her ioyes were beyond common conceit seeing her Knight returned whom she feared was lost nor was she so suspitious at his repulse against the God of loue as she was now â—â—alous of his honorable successe These bien venues and embracings passed ouer the King and all of them returned to the Pallace where the two new-come princes had their lodgings appointed Palladine and Manteleo keeping them companie recounting the aduenture of the two Damosels and the enchaunted Knight with whome on the morrow they were to depart Therefore they spent that night in dauncing and courtlye disports the Princes of Norgalles and Scots deuising with the Ladies wherewith the Court of England was plentifully stored and whome they commended to excell all other nations in beawtie CHAP. IX ¶ How the Princes Palladine and Manteleo departed from London with the Knight that was enchaunted and the two Damosels and what happened to them by the way ON the morrow earely in the morning Palladine and Manteleo armed themselues with the Knight that was enchaunted and the two Damosels they came and tooke their leaue of the King and Queene afterward they went to the yong Princesses chamber when Marcelina perceiuing her Knight would néedes be gone brake foorth into feares and sad regrets What meane yee Sister quoth Palladine is our departure displeasing to you Not so good brother answered she but I doubt least your returne should be hindered by any misfortune for you are as yet but yong and little acquainted with the contrary nature of straunge Countreys I confesse that Sister quoth Palladine but euery one must haue a learning beside you knowe ouâ— promise to this Knight constrayneth vs héereto
for by ought I can perceiue there is no signe of life left in them They haue no more aunswered Manteleo then they worthily deserued ought they to misprise or detract strange Knightes cheefely such as are of one nation yet let vs see in what estate they are So comming to the Knight that was first dismounted and finding him dead by reason of the aboundance of blood he had lost as also because his Helmet hindered him from the aire Unhappy man said his Brother oftentimes haue I told thee that thy pride and ouer-wéening would one day cause thy death Be thou warned heereby sayd the enchaunted Knight and learne another time to vse more courtesie to Knightes how yong or old soeuer they be for thou and thy companions did imagine that beâ—cause these two yong Princes were no further entred iâ— yeeres that therefore they were vnprouided of couragâ—â— and vertue but by outward behauiour neuer iudge oâ— men heereafter Too well doo I perceiue your words arâ— true but I beseech ye looke if my Cosins haue accompanied my Brother in death or no. Palladine finding them to be aliue offered with his Sword to haue smitten off their heads Uillaines quoth he you are but dead men if you will redeeme your liues you shall promise me to go â—ubmit your selues to the King of Englands mercie recounting to him wherefore how and by whome you haue beene vanquished Sir answered one of them there is nothing that we will not gladly promise and perfourme for the â—aunsome of our 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 I sweare to yee that I will not faile 〈◊〉 you haue commaunded You must auouch the like quoth the Prince to the other Knight wherevpon he that was so sore hurt with his fall from his horsse could make no aunswere but by signes so that with many sad countenances he shewed his consenting Now may yee depart when ye please said Palladine and say that Englishmen are better Knightes then Spanyards So hauing buried the Knight that was slaine they departed not a little glad they were so well escaped but they tooke small care of perfourming their promise as you shall perceiue by the sequell of our historie CHAP. XI ¶ How Palladine and Manteleo with their company arriued in the Realme of Hungaria where the Gentleman remayned that stole the Lady from the enchaunted Knight and what fortuned to them by the way AFter the Princes had left the Spanyardes they rode on their iourney and comming to the port of Gorforte they tooke Shipping when the Seas were still and calme expecting a winde to passe into Holland which fitting their expectations crossing through Zeland they came to Triell where Palladine furnished himselfe with new Armour because his other was greatly battered in Iousting with the Knightes Hauing contented themselues with the sight of Hollâ—nd they passed the Rheme and entred Almayne where arriuing on the frontires of Bohemia they beheld a Lion comming toward them carying a yong Infant wrapped in swadling clothes in his mouth and a yong woman running after the beast with verie pitifull cries and acclamations Behold quoth Palladine how a sauadge beast hath gotten a yong Infant let vs alight to sée if we can force him forgoe his pray The poore woman seeing how readie they were to helpe her cryed aloude to them that they should get betwéene the Lion and his Caue least entring with the child there should remaine no hope of recouerie When the Lion saw he could not enter his denne he let fal the Infant and furiously assailed the Prince Manteleo who gaue the beast such a wound on the head as made him cry and rore very dreadfully At which noyse a Lionesse came foorth of the Caue from her yong ones and she likewise ranne on the noble Manteleo but Palladine and his Squires so valiantly assisted him as the beastes were in short time ouercome and slaine Then came the poore woman and tooke vp her child which when she beheld had escaped all daunger on her knées she humbly thanked the Princes for their good assistance One of the Damosels taking the child in her armes and séeing it both beautifull and comely said to the mother Great had béene the losse good woman that these cruell beastes should haue deuoured so swéete an Infant but why were you so negligent to endaunger it so much Madame aunswered the poore woman not by my fault did this inconuenience happen for I earning my liuing by dayly labour by binding faggots which my husband cuts in the wood left my child with one of my neighbours in kéeping How she suffered this mishap I know not but as I returned from the wood and méeting the Lion with my child which full well I knew by the swadling cloathes I made what haste I could after the beast hoping by some meanes to recouer my child which now I thanke God and you I haue done Nor is this the first time we haue béene thus serued for in this little Uillage béeing but tenne or twelue housholds in number three children haue béene lost within these sixe moneths the parents still thinking some Boores or peasants had stollen them but now in good time haue wee founde the Théefe And seeing these Gentlemen haue slaine the Lion and Lionesse it may be they haue some yong ones in this Caue which I gladly would haue destroyed likewise so shall we be in no further daunger heereafter That will I soone trie said Palladine go to your house and fetch me some fire and withall bring some sheaues of thrasshed corne for Lions cannot abide the sight of fire and by this meane shall we see what is in the darke Caue Right soone did the woman accomplish her charge bringing strawe and fire with her and sixe or seauen sturdy fellowes with staues flayles and pikeforkes when Palladine hauing set the strawe on fire with the couâ—trey peasants entred the Caue where he found thrée yong Lionesses like little dogs and the clothes of diuers children deuoured by the beasts To behold this strange sight he called the two Damosels and the poore woman into the Caue saying These beastes should haue dined with your child to day but God hath appointed his end in better sort and because you shall remaine in no further dread of these yong ones were I not so farre from England I would send them to the King who I am sure would accept them for our sakes My Lord quoth one of the poore countreymen I will vndertake to fulfill your mind in this and will carie them to England if you please to commaund me full well doo I knowe how to vse them for my Father nourished one like to these a long time and when it grew great he gaue it to our King who sent it as an especiall present to the King of Fraunce In sooth quoth the Prince if thou will perfourme what thou hast promised I will giue thee money to defray thy charges and theirs likewise whome thou wilt take with thee Letters will I also send
and if in ought else I can doo ye any seruice till the latest houre of death will I willingly imploy my selfe Brisalda who was as it were rauished with contemplating his beautie tooke him by the hand and causing him to arise sayd With all my heart gentle Sir I thanke ye and accept your offer so freendly made for I greatly doubt ere long I shall neede your assistance against the Giant Brandidoll Cousin to him whome you haue slaine for no sooner shall he heare of his death but hither will he come and accuse me as authour thereof because Dardalon being enamoured of me ordeyned this Tourney thinking to espouse me either by loue or force In this did Brandidoll promise his ayd and diuers other of their faction as bad as they many of them being now slayne which so contents me as nothing can do more And were I as well rid of cruell Brandidoll hencefoorth should I liue in peace without feare or suspition of any one for when the mightie enemies are quailed the meaner dare not presume to stirre Madame quoth Palladine perswade your selfe in this that in respect of your innocencie God will not suffer you to take any wrong but that your enemies shall worke their owne confusion Longer they would haue continued in talke but that the Gentleman Ussher gaue warning of dinner wherefore the Duchesse went and sate downe at the Table Palladine sitting iust opposite to her who tooke so great pleasure in hearing him speake as she had no mind to eate or drinke All which Palladine heedfully noted and God knowes how well it liked him for if the one were passionate in loue you may think y e other was in the same predicament Oftentimes would they throwe such wounding lookes on each other as neyther had power to speake a word but to couer this alteration the Prince feigned to listen to the consort of musique which plaied all dinner time maruellous swéetly The Tables withdrawne she tooke him by the hand and caused him to sit downe in a chaire by her while many yong Lords and Ladyes daunced after that Countrey manner You may not daunce Sir quoth she because our Chirurgions doo thinke it hurtfull for your woundes beside rest is verie néedfull for you in respect of the rough combate you had with Dardalon whome to your great honor you worthely conquered For any thing I haue done swéete Madame quoth he let the credit thereof remaine to your selfe and thinke me as readie to doo you seruice as he that is most forward among your seruants of which number I desire ye to accept me as one Unsâ—emely were it good Knight quoth she to account of you as my seruaÌ„t but if you please to stay in this Cuntry you shall perceiue by my endeuours heereafter that I both honor and reuerence such men as you are As she would haue proceeded further her Gouernesse came and said it was time she should resort to her Chamber wherevpon they parted not without sufficient shewes on either side that betweene them was a sympathie of affection What seuerall afflictions they endured in absence let them imagine who haue no comfort but in the presence of their fauourite As for the Duchesse she on the morrow sent the Prince a rich Diamond by one of her Ladies with this message y t it was her determined iewell to the best combatant and therefore his due as hauing deserued it beyond all other Palladine receiued it verie thankefully returning this aunswere by the Lady that in requitall of that gentle gift he would that day enter the Listes and against all commers maintaine the beautie of the Duchesse As for his wounds Lycelio had annointed them with the precious vnguent which the Damosell brought from the wise Orbiconte so that they were verie soundly healed For ioy of this aunswere the Duchesse caused a goodly Scaffold to be erected whereon she and her Ladies would stand to see the Iousts and at each end of the Listes were sumptuous Trophees curiously placed decked with diuers impreses and mots of loue in artificiall Tables hanging thereon While Palladine and the other Lords were arming thâ—â—selues he was aduertised of an other Knight new entred the féeld who was the Prince Alâ—ian of Iâ—elaâ—â— a yong braue and gallant Knight at armes one that was highly affected to the Duchesse Brisalda So soone as he was entred the Listes he was encountred by a Moore Knight vnknowne who was dismounted at the first course the like successe had eight or ten more which Palladine perceiuing he gaue his horsse the spurres against this lustie champion lifting him halfe a foote in height from his Saddle And as they were taking new Launces for the second race there entred a mightie man armed cap a pe who furiously said Where is the villaine that slew my Cousin Dardalon by the great God this day will I giue his flesh to the dogs and hers likewise that was the cause therâ—of pointing to the yong Duchesse Brisalda And because he had heard that a yong Knight did his kinseman to death he ranne in a rage on the Prince Alfian of Ireland giuing him such a stroke on the head with his great Semitarie as the gentle Alfian fell beside his horsse Palladine thinking this to be Brandidoll and séeing him readie to smite off the Princes head ranne to him saying It is with me that thou must deale I slew thy Cousin Dardalon as his villainie and crueltie well deserued Brandidoll without making any aunswere left the Prince of Ireland and ioyned with Palladine when continued betwéene them a long and terrible combate Each one verily expected Palladines death such was the great oddes betwéene him and his enemie but so happily it fell out in the ende that Brandidoll by treading on the trunchion of a Launce fell downe backward when the Prince taking his aduantage got sure hold of him and smote off his head For ioy of this victorie the Trompets chéerefully sounded and the Duchesse discending from the Scaffold commaunded the Ioustes to ceasse for that day and comming to the Prince gaue him many thanks in that he had deliuered her from two such cruell enemies who sought the subuersion and spoile of her honor With meruailous signes of ioy they returned to the Pallace where Palladine was immediatly brought to his chamber and such wounds as he had receiued in fight were dilligently regarded by the Duchesse Chirurgions Each day would she duly come to sée him and vnderstanding that he was Sonne to thâ— King of England practised how to vnite her selfe with him in marriage And as an earnest of her perfect loue she permitted him to gather that daintie flower which many had with long pursuite laboured for he not refusing so braue a conquest because he verily perswaded himselfe that Brisaldâ— was the Lady of whome the wise Orbiconte had told him wherefore during the space of sixe wéekes he continued there in this heauen of delight till fortune iealous of so mutuall agreement
their leaue of the King shaping their course through Piccardie toward Bullin where they embarqued themselues and sailed into England for that they were desirous to sée the good King Milâ—nor to whome they brought letters from his Sonne Palladine Landastines likewise as not vnmindfull of his Florea sent the message of his heart vnder seale by Lydiseo excusing his absence which should not be long and hoping to bring her brother home with him As for Palladine he became so affected to the Princesse Rosamonde whome he imagined to be the Lady foretold by the wise Orbiconte as he wasted and consumed in pensiue thoughts practising how to obtaine her loue albeit he aduentured the hard stratagemes of death Oftentimes would he priuately conferre with her and she would aunswere him with such rare modestie as increased his torments aboue the compasse of reason Nor was she forgetfull of his dangerous paines in deliuerance of her brother Lewes from imprisonment ioyning therewithall the common benefit by the death of Brulanfurior and his brother Frucidant but as for the priuiledge of her loue the Prince Caesar of Roeme was Lord thereof and her setled affection impossible to be remoued All which he perceiued by such manifest signes as made him were frantike in silent cogitations sometime thinking to forestall his fréend by making the first request of her in mariage then againe intending the death of Caesar rather then to misse of the faire Rosamonde And though the Romaine Prince loued him déerely yet the furie of blinde loue made Palladine so impatient as he minded nothing but Caesars death which with a sharpe Launce in the Ioust he imagined might easily be done or with an infected cup of poyson giuen him in his chamber But the wise Orbiconte still directing Palladines course and knowing by her arte his secret intent onely by being deceiued in his owne opinion would separate Palladine from Caesar by calling him to his destenyed Countrey whereof we spake in the beginning of our Historie and thus it happened The Prince being in his Chamber with Landastines Simprinell and his Squire Lycelio imagining how to finish his determination on a sudden there entred a little deformed Dwarffe who saluting Palladine gaue him a Letter saying My Lord the wise Orbiconte hath sent ye this Letter the contents whereof she commaunds you to fulfill otherwise great harme will happen to you He had no sooner spoken these words but immediatly he vanished away How now quoth Landastines whether is the little Iack an Apes gone oftentimes haue I séene the craftie deceits of Iugglers but neuer sawe I such a trick before I hold my life the Deuill fetched him away This strange accident made Palladine remember the voyce that whispered in his eare at Varne when he determined to depart from the Duchesse Brisalda and desirous to knowe the newes from Orbiconte he feigned that he would lie downe vpon his bed wherefore Landastines and Simprinell withdrew themselues when he opening the Letter read as followeth The Letter from Orbiconte the wise to Palladine the Prince of England HAuing certaine knowledge vertuous Prince of the extreame loue thou bearest to the beawtifull Rosamonde and the doubtfull estate whereinto her amiable lookes hath brought thée I am to aduertise thee in respect of the loue I beare thée as also the good support I shall one day receyue by thee that the Prince Caesar of Roome is appoynted for her and no other then hée shall she haue in marriage Therefore withdrawe thy earnest desire and the execution of that thou hast determined which is to demaund her for thy wife and to preuent the life of Caesar whome she entirely loueth and honoreth in heart assuring thée that another is reserued for thée who excelleth in beawtie the faire Rosamonde and all the other Ladyes of Christendome whose liuely portraite thou shalt sée to morrow brought to the place where thou art by a Knight whome thou shalt vanquish in Combate and by that meane recouer her picture Then taking leaue of the Court thou shalt trauaile to seeke her in her Countrey which shall be named to thée by the Knight and neuer feare any dangers in thy iourney for thou shalt be fauoured by fortune and me who haue foreséene all these things that shall happen Thy good freend Orbiconte the wise and Prophetesse Palladine hauing read this Letter was meruailously perplexed in his spirit doubting whether he might credit the aduertisement of Orbiconte or execute his intent touching faire Rosamonde whome he reputed so accomplished with all perfections of beawtie as he iudged it impossible to finde her second in the whole world Beside he was throughly inueigled with her loue as he despaired how he could diuert his fancie on the other side he was as greatly displeased to vnderstand that she would loue none but Caesar and that to him she onely was vowed In these diuers opinions he spent the whole night yet in the end considering by the Letter of Orbiconte that what he had pretended was knowne to her he concluded to credit her message and especially if the Knight came accordingly on the morrow with the portrait of her he desired so much to sée vpon this determination he slept till morning CHAP. XXIIII ¶ How a Pagan Prince came to the Court of Fraunce bringing with him the portraite of the Princesse Nonparelia and of the Combate betweene him and Palladine who hauing woon the portraite departed from the Court. THE next morning the King and all his Barons being in the great in the great Hall Palladine Landastines and Simprinell likewise in companie there entred a Squire attired after the Morisco manner who making great reuerence thus began Mightie and redoubted King I am sent from the Prince Zarcanell of Chipre who yet abideth without the Citie to craue licence of your Maiestie that he may report before you and your Lords an enterprise which he hath determined to execute before you Squire aunswered the King say to thy maister that he shall be welcome and boldly let him enter our Citie for we graunt him frée accesse to our presence to open any thing he hath intended The Squire returned presently to his Lord who vnderstanding the Kings gracious answere commanded his seruants to goe to the playne before the Court and there with all spéed to set vp his Tent in meane while himselfe accompanied with thrée Gentlemen came before the King and hauing humbly saluted his Maiestie before all the Princes and Lords thus spake Gracious Prince I am perswaded that your highnesse well doth knowe what authority loue hath ouer humaine creatures and how vnable they are to resist his power therefore I beséech ye not to thinke it strange if I declare what loue hath enforced me to doo So it is that hauing heard the beawtie of faire Nonparelia so highly renowmed aboue all Ladyes in the world as one couetous to sée a thing so excellent I trauailed to Aquilea and there sound by proofe that fame had
rather spared then spokē what she might there I became immediatly enthralled with her loue and by gracious behauiours towards her preuayled so farre as she accepted me to be her Knight with this charge and condition that I should carie her diuine figure into the Courtes of all Christian Princes where Ladies or Damosels were famous for beawtie and against all commers to maintaine my mistresse rare preheminence If froward fortune gaue me the ouerthrowe then must I leaue to the conquerour my Ladies counterfeit but if my luckye Starres graunted me the victorie I am to carie with me the vanquished Ladyes portraite And hauing heard my good Lord that your daughter Rosamonde is named among the fairest in Christendome I directed my iourney hither and may it like you to deliuer her counterfeit on the aforenamed conditions I am readie to doo my deuoire in the open féeld before your Pallace gate where I haue caused my Tent to be erected Right well am I contented sayd the King and immediatly will I come thither with my daughter whose portrait shall be there openly presented and if any one will combate for her there shall she be to regard her fortune Palladine standing by coniectured this to be the Knight whereof the wise Orbiconte made mention in her Letter wherefore he first auaunced himselfe earnestly intreating the King that he might defend his daughter Rosamonds beawtie Whereto the King presently graunted scant to the good liking of Caesar who still bare his arme in a Scarffe and began iealously to suspect Palladine minding to reuenge him as occasion serued Upon this agreement Zarcanell departed to his Tent where beeing well armed and brauely mounted expected his aduersarie who not long after came with the King the Prince Lewes and many noble Lords in gallant equipage The Quéene her daughter Rosamonde and all the Ladyes of the Court came with great spéed to their Scaffold to behold the portrait of the Lady so highly commended which hung on a Launce at the entrance of his Tent and both the Champions being readie for the Ioust Zarcanell comming to Palladine thus spake Sir Knight as the huge world can not endure two Sunnes so may not my eyes abide these two figures presenting the rarest beawtie in the world the one of them being a Pagan and the other a Christian. But this contention betweene vs shall be soone ended without any fatall hazard of the weapon if thou wilt confesse before this assemblie that the incomparable beawtie of my Lady resembleth the cléere Sunne shining in the day time and thine the Moone that lighteneth the night Sir Sir aunswered Palladine we come not hither to argue on the Sunne or Moone but at the point of the Launce and edge of the Sword to trie betwéene vs the honor of the féeld whereof if I be maister I will be your Sunne and you my Moone if you goe to the ground Without any further speeches they encountred together their Launces being broken with such furie as the English Prince was set on the crupper of his horsse but Zarcanell nothing moued or shaken In thrée or foure courses more Palladine could neuer fasten his Launce on his enemie yet Zarcanell still brake on him for he was so nimble and ranne so close to his horsse as each one woondered at his fine chiualrie Without doubt my Lord quoth the Countie of Champaigne to the King neuer did I sée a brauer horsseman he hath the raines of his Courser at commaundement that can gouerne him in such sort without any attaint But Palladine angrie at his hard fortune met Zarcanell so right at the sixt course as breaking the girts of his saddle his horsse ranne away and left him behinde him Yet did he quickly recouer himselfe and drawing his Sword came valiantly against Palladine shewing as fine sleights and agilitie in the Combate as he did before on horssebacke with his Launce In the end it was his fortune to be ouercome when vnder the Sword of Palladine he entred into these complaints Unhappie that I am of force I sée I must yéeld my selfe and not my bodie onelye but my life also hauing lost the onely maintenance thereof the gracious fauour and regard of my mistresse Ah incomparable miserie fortune that euer esteemed of me hitherto hath in a moment vtterly reiected me therefore good Sir Knight rid me of this paine and with one stroke end my miserie and life together for greater good you neuer did to man Palladine seeing him in such despaire so pitied his case as suffering him to arise he thus comforted him My fréend you ought not in this sort to offend your selfe considering these are but the tricks of fortune whereto all men are dayly subiect and no more hath happened to you then might haue doone to me If the Lady for whome you vndertooke this voyage loued you well she cannot but augment it knowing with valour you defended her cause In sooth my Lord answered Zarcanell rather had I die a thousand deathes then returne to my Lady hauing not woon the portraite of faire Rosamonde for her selfe protested that neuer would she loue me except I brought it And héere I vow to you that I will returne to mine owne Countrey so soone as I haue recouered my woundes leauing you not onely the portraite you haue woon but those likewise that I conquered in Norgalles and elsewhere discharging my selfe of loues seruice séeing he rewards his faithfull seruant no better Therein vse your pleasure quoth Palladine but first goe with me that your woundes may be searched to preuent further inconuenience So going to the King he desired that his Chirurgions might attend on the Knight for I assure your Maiestie quoth he neuer met I with any man of higher desert Whereto the King willingly graunted causing Zarcanell to be conducted to the Court and to be lodged in one of the fairest chambers where he was dilligently attended as in ten dayes he was perfectly recouered When thanking the King for his noble entertainement and taking leaue of his Maiestie the Prince Lewes Palladine and the rest he departed toward his owne Countrey not alittle agréeued as you may thinke for his misfortune As for Palladine he remembring the letter sent him by the wise Orbiconte and hauing imprinted in his heart the Lady Nonparelia whose counterfeit he kept with choyse regard determined to take his farewell of the King and iourney with all speede toward Aquilea Wherefore in the euening the King walking in his Garden after supper he told his Maiestie that he was desirous to trauaile to the King his Father in England and therefore that it would please him to licence his departure The King though loth consented thereto being sorie to forgoe the valiant Palladine who was so great a grace to his Court. Hauing then taken his leaue of the King and of all the noble Princes and Ladyes he departed on the morrow from Paris accompanyed with Landastines and Simprinell taking his way toward Millayne in hope
to finde his fréend Manteleo there but he was as then newly gone toward Normandie to pacifie a controuersie betwéene his Father and the Duke who was a man well prouided with money and munition for he kept diuers Rouers and Pirates on the Seas that dayly brought him great store of good booties CHAP. XXV ¶ How Palladine met with his freend Manteleo whome he had almost slayne in fight but that a Damosell discouered his name And how Palladine slew the Pirate Dormidon VPon the fourth day after Palladine and his fréends departed from Paris riding through a Forrest they met a Knight and a Damosell and with them a Squire gréeuously weeping the Squire ioyfull to meete these Knightes came to Palladine with these spéeches Help Gentlemen for Gods sake helpe me to be reuenged on this Traitour who hath slaine my maister by the procurement of this Damosell Palladine moued with the Squires teares rode to the Knight and thus spake Knight or paillard rather what hath mooued thée to misuse passengers and to bathe thy hands in innocent blood Knight if thou wilt quoth he with the Damosell but paillard reserue for thy selfe as for him that I haue slaine he was the cause of his owne death because I found him readie to haue dishonored this Damosell It is best for thee to excuse thy déede sayd Palladine in respect heere is none that can contrarie thée but I rather thinke the shame is thine then his that is dead as his Squire hath protested to me Think what thou wilt quoth the Knight but the Squire lieth falsly and I ought to be better beléeued then he if thou didst me the right belonging to Armes but credit as thou findest occasion I haue no leysure to stand chatting with thée And because thou art so lustie answered Palladine thou shalt a little tarie my pleasure So couching their Launces they met so roughly together as they were both cast foorth of their saddles afterward they continued a cruell Combate with the Sword till Landastines and Simprinell stepping to the Damosell demaunded of her what the Knight was Alas Gentlemen quoth she his name is Manteleo the Prince of Mâ—â—â—â—yne whome I sée verie hardly requited for deliuering me from the villaine that would haue forced me Landâ—stines presently stopping betwéene them sayd Giue ouer Sir Palladine for you fight against your déere fréend Manteleo At these words the Princes threw downe their weapons and with all the ceremonious courtesies incident to fréendship they louingly embraced each other whereat the Damosell greatly meruailed and the Squire who was the cause of their fight whereupon doubting a further danger toward him because his maister was slaine in so bad a cause so fast as he could tooke himselfe to flight After the manifold kinde excuses which freendly enemies vse together they rode with the Damosell to her Castell where their wounds being visited they afterward iournyed to Millayne Palladine being honorably welcommed by the Duke and especially fauoured for his loue to his Sonne Manteleo And hauing feasted there certaine dayes the Duke recounted to Palladine his present affaires with the Duke of Normandie who after many dishonorable actions was by his power slaine in a battell whereupon the Normans were content to endure his soueraigntie ouer them and for that cause had they sent their Ambassadors In the end by the worthie aduise of Palladine the Duke tooke the gouernement vpon him sending his Sonne Manteleo to receiue the possession thereof Now thought Palladine he stayed too long remembring the letter from the wise Orbiconte therefore would he presently depart toward Aquilea to the great gréefe of the Duke and his fréend Manteleo being loth to forgoe the English Prince so soone Landastines and Simprinell vnderstanding that Palladine would trauaile alone albeit more willingly they would haue borne him companie rode back to Norgalles againe Simprinell confessing how he had woon the portraite of Brisalda whereof Palladine made little or no account at all because he had now almost forgotten her Manteleo likewise went to Normandie where he was receiued as their Lord and Gouernour and hauing established all matters concerning the common wealth he crost the Seas into England to visit his best beloued Lady Marcelina whome he had chosen aboue all other in the world Palladine thus departing from his fréends hauing none in his company but his Squire Lycelio and the Shepheard Liboran by whose meanes he entred the Castell of Brulanfurior and therefore gaue him the name of Liboran the well aduised tooke Shipping and coasting by Lystria at length they came into Albania where suddenly they met with a Turkish Pirate named Dormidon who thinking to seaze on this christian bootie assayled them yet in the end was ouercome himselfe and he with the most part of his men throwne into the Sea After this sharpe encounter on the Sea Palladine was desirous to take landing at the néerest Island least they should be surprized by any more Pirates and because he thought each day a yéere till he might sée the swéete Goddesse promised him by Orbiconte he determined not to rest himselfe in any place vntill he had found what he so earnestly desired charging his Squires thence forward to call him The Knight without rest and vnder this name héereafter he trauaileth The Pilote did as he was commaunded striking presently to the néerest Island which séemed to them verie beawtifull and delectable but they were no sooner come on land and their horsses brought on shore which immediatly offered to feede on the goodly gréene grasse but a mightie flame of fire issued foorth of the ground and continued before them to hinder their passage any further What meaneth this sayd the Knight without rest to the Pilote what may this Isle be named are we in Scicilia where many affirme there is a Mountaine that vomiteth fire and flame foorth in great aboundance No my Lord aunswered the Pilote we are verie farre from thence Scicilie whereof you speake is in the Mediterranean Sea and we are in the Sea Adriatique a great distance from Aquilea and as my owne knowledge serueth me I thinke this soyle is named The Isle of Fire where hath beene heard and séene matters of great meruaile And trust me said the Knight without rest I neuer sawe the like before I pray ye therefore stay for me in this place while I goe to sée the wonders of this Island and if I returne not when two dayes are expired set Sayle and depart whether ye please Not so my Lord aunswered the Pilote I will not weigh Anker till I sée yée or heare from yée in meane while we will expect a lucky gale of winde that may send vs merily to Aquilea CHAP. XXVI ¶ What strange and fearefull visions the Knight without rest sawe in the Isle of Fire and how he returned in exceeding greefe because he could not finish the enchauntments REsolued thus to sée this strange Island the Knight without rest mounteth on horssebacke leauing Liboran in the
Dace with the Duke of Dardania their confederate hauing passed the Albane Mountaines were encamped within a league of Baldina And of this Armie the King himselfe was the leader hauing in his companie a Giant named Muzimalde the mightiest man in stature that euer was séene who bare a huge mace of stéele twelue foote in length being answerable in weight to the greatnes thereof The Princes of Misia and Dace had charge of the maine battell and the Duke of Dardaniâ— the ariergard with two thousand Thracians ordained in the wings which were newly come to giue them succour Thus doo these Armies with furie encounter together and great hauock is made on either side especially the Aquileans were in greatest ieoperdie But now the Knight without rest Broantine Liboran and certaine Gentlemen appointed by the wise Orbiconte to accompanie them arriue in the féeld and séeing that side goe to wracke for whose assistance they trauailed thither like Lyons and no men they thrust among the thickest where breaking the aray of their enemies no one durst stand before them but paid his life for ransome of his boldnes At length the Knight without rest encountred the huge Muzimalde and though the weightie strokes of his mace did often put the Prince in danger yet by pollicy and fine chiualrie in the end he got the better of the Giant sending his soule to the Deuill whome he resembled The Panomans at this fight were greatly dishartened finding themselues vnable to hold out any longer so the Dukes of Sclauonia and Liburnia tooke many noble prisoners among whome were the Princes of Dace and Dardania the Duke of Misia being slaine by the hand of the Prince Almiden and the rest of the Panonians with shame driuen to â—light When the honor of the day was thus fallen to the Aquileans the two Princes Almiden and Zorian sent for the knight without rest and his companions whome after they had embraced they desired to goe with them to the King their Father who should remunerate the great paines they had taken And that his Maiestie might vnderstand their good successe a Courrier was sent before in all haste and being brought into the Kings chamber where the Quéene and Nonparelia were present he deliuered his letters wherein the Princes had not spared to report the worthie déedes of the knight without rest and theirs likewise that came in his companie so that the King demaunded of whence and what the Knight was who in his cause had behaued himselfe so brauely whereto the messenger thus answered My Lord it is as yet vnknowne of whence he is yet this I can assure ye that he is one of the most goodly Gentlemen that euer I sawe And in the Armie it is reported that had not he come when he did and your Captaine Broantine with other in their companie your Maiestie had lost the day for our auantgaid being broken the Giant Muzimalde laid on such load as horsse and man he strooke to the ground But at the arriuall of this Knight euen as some God had taken humane shape vpon him our courage encreased the huge Giant by his hand was slaine and all the rest stood amazed as doubting to fight or turne their backs When the King of Panonia who was in person in the battell sawe the onely man he trusted in thus confounded with his Sonne and fiue hundred men he set furiously vpon vs meaning to reuenge the Giants death if he could but this heate lasted not long for our men séeing the incredible magnanimitie of this Knight and his companions followed him with such alacritie of courage as the King and all his men were driuen on a heape and had not a sudden winde and extreame storme fallen among vs the King and his Sonne had béene slaine or taken But the weather beating vpon our faces we could not discerne which way they fled till we espied them on the tops of the Mountaines whereupon this Knight and his companions made after them killing many of them among the hilles and brought backe with them fiftéene prisoners For conclusion I thinke our great Prophet sent this Knight by whome the Princes your Sonnes and all our liues are saued The good King was so glad of these tidings as he tooke â— rich chaine from his arme and gaue it the messenger earnestly desiring to sée the Knight without rest that hée might account of him as his vertues deserued and foorthwith he commaunded through his Realme a generall reioycing should bée made for this happie victorie with bonfires ringing of belles and such like signes of gladnes The Princesse Nonparelia hearing the messenger so highly extoll the knight without rest became immediatly amorous of him longing for the returne of her Brethren that she might sée the image of her desire On the morrow the King commaunded all his Estates to goe méete his Sonnes and the Knight without rest charging them to honor him as they would doo him selfe which they fulfilled effectually as in the Chapter following you shall behold CHAP. XXX ¶ How the Aquilean Princes and the Knight without rest arriued at the Court and their gracious entertainement by the King Queene and faire Nonparelia GReat haste made the Princes of Aquilea to the Courte that they might present the Knight without rest to the King their Father and when they drewe neere the Citie such a multitude of people met theÌ„ on the way to sée the Knight so highly renowmed as they could not ride on for the prease throng At the Citie gates they were welcommed with many learned Orations all the stréetes being hanged with costly Tapistry as it had béene to entertaine the greatest Monarch in the world And the good old King very weake and crazie by reason of his late sicknesse came in person to the Pallace gate accompanyed with all the Princes Lords of his Court when his two Sonnes hauing humbly kissed his hand the Knight without rest would haue done the like but the King would not permit him wherefore he embraced him in his armes as though he had béene as great a state as himselfe Gentle Knight quoth he welcome and frollick in our Court for such report haue I heard of your vertue and prowesse as neuer was I more desirous of any thing then to see that worthie man who with honorable paines laboured in my seruice hazarding your life and person for him that neuer deserued such fauour and freendship My Lord answered the Knight without rest this gracious kindnesse exceedeth all report in deigning to accept of me so honorably I being but a poore and simple Knight errant readie to passe straights of death in your seruice Ah my Sonne sayd the King death hast thou alreadie aduentured for me for which I cannot returne sufficient recompence yet if I cannot requite you effectually my good will shall not want wheresoeuer you be in meane time aske what you will and be assured to speede So taking him by the one hand and his Sonne Almiden by
the other he went vp into the great Hall where the Quéene the Princesse and all the Courtly Ladies being choisely tricked in their brauest accoustrements welcommed them with meruailous kindnesse especially Nonparelia who shined like the morning Starre among the other virgins her courtesies to the Prince excéeded all comparison These Courtly ceremonies ouerpassed the Knightes were conducted to their chambers to refresh themselues and change their habites while the roiall supper was preparing Now was the Knight without rest thoroughly set to worke with consideration of the Princesse supernaturall beautie and longer would he haue continued in this rauishing studie but that the Prince Zorian came to aduertise him that the King stayed onely his comming So walked they together into the great Hall where the King caused the Knight without rest to sit next him at the table and the Princesse Nonparelia right ouer against him a thing to her no little contentation that she might behold the worthie personage who had gained the onely priuiledge of her heart All supper time these two louers fed on no other viands then the one regarding the other with piercing lookes for their amorous affections so ouermaisterd their sences as they forgot to receiue any sustenance The supper ended the Lords and Ladies of the Court fell to dauncing meane while the Princesse Nonparelia hauing noted the gracious behauiour of the Knight without rest took the hardines vpon her to come néere him and hauing with great modestie saluted him thus spake As I vnderstand Sir Knight the King my Father and all his are highly beholding to you in respect of your honorable paines in the late battell against our enemies Alas Madame quoth he if I had not as then beene present yet doubtlesse you had béene assured of victorie little then is the glorie that I haue deserued Heerein you must pardon me Sir aunswered the Princesse for I haue heard credibly reported that but for you we had lost the day yet let me intreate so much fauour as to tell me of whence you are and what might be the occasion of this great kindnesse that for my fathers sake you should so gladly thrust your life into danger Madame quoth he so long since did your diuine name ouercome me and such is your present authoritie ouer me as death shall not make me conceale or disguise the truth to you Knowe then sweete Lady and hold it for certaine that nothing procured me to assist the King your Father in his late warres but onely your loue beautie and good grace all which I haue heard so generally commended as now I confesse report hath not feigned In sooth my Lord quoth she such vertues as you speake of are hard to be sound in me but let it be as you please to alleadge yet no one is so much bound to thanke you as my selfe for if the King my Father had lost the honor of the battell too late had it beene for me to renew the peace falling into the subiection of the verie worst man in the world to whome my selfe denied the request of marriage and héere hence grew the warre betwéene my Father and the King of Panonia So much good Madame quoth he did I heare before by the Gouernour of Enna and the wise Lady Orbiconte who intreated me and my companie verie honorably at her Pallace and if in this action I haue done you any seruice I account my labour well bestowed and repute my selfe beyond all other in fortune hauing disappointed a Prince so contrarie to the vertues and perfections wherewith your gracious nature is accompanied for a man of so bad conditions ought to haue sorted out one like to himselfe In déede my Lord quoth she you haue said the truth notwithstanding his euill disposed and deformed bodie made me not refuse him but his great defect of vertue and honestie for the gifts of the mind are to be preferred before those of nature yet was he acquainted neither with the one or other Longer would they haue continued in talke but that the King commaunded to ceasse the dauncing because the Knightes should goe rest themselues in their chambers wherefore the Princesse breathing a vehement sigh from her inward soule gaue the courteous good night to the Knight without rest who hauing deuoutly kissed her faire white hand followed the King to his lodging and there committing his highnesse to the fauour of the night was by the two Princes brought to his chamber they both louing him as he had béene their brother especially Zorian the yongest who determined to accompanie him when he left the Court and to séeke aduentures with him as a Knight errant As each one thus departed to his lodging the Princesse called Broantine to her and enquired of him what and of whence the knight without rest was Madame quoth Broantine at this time I can hardly satisfie you yet thus much I dare assure ye as I vnderstood by the wise Lady Orbiconte that he is discended of royall linage and one that I am especially bound to hauing receiued vnspeakable fauours at his hands In sooth said the Princesse he may well be said to procéede of royall parentage in that his ordinarie behauiour declares no lesse but doo you knowe the cause of his comming into this Countrey so slenderly accompanyed and why he entred a quarrell nothing concerning himselfe The cause as I haue heard good Madame quoth Broantine was the renowme of a Ladies beautie famed through the world to excell the fairest At these words the Princesse began bashfully to blush séeing these spéeches agréed with those the Prince himselfe spake which encreased the amorous fire alreadie kindled in her heart and that did Broantine very well perceiue yet he dissembled as though he knew nothing So departed the Princesse to her chamber and Broantine went presently to the knight without rest to whome he reuealed his talke with Nonparelia aduising him to follow a matter so well begun for there was hope of good successe to be expected The Prince embracing Broantine gaue him thanks for his freendly tidings and the next day happened a notable occasion both to the honor of the knight without rest and to assure him of the Princesse For Sulbern cousin to the Giant Muzimalde came and challenged the Combate against him that slew his kinseman which the knight without rest accepting in open feeld ouercame his proude enemie and thereby wonne the especiall good liking of the King and the whole Court Yet was not this Combate sought without great daunger in respect Sulbern was a man in stature equall to Muzimalde and two such monstrous aduersaries would put an approued champion to his triall but though the Knight without rest was verie sore wounded and many times brought in hazard of his life yet at length he bare away the honor of the féeld and the head of his enemie as a present to his mistresse Now doth Venus lighten all her Lampes and the religious louers approch her altars offering
rated at the price of thy life Héerewith his speech failed him and breathing foorth a vehement sigh he yeelded vp the ghost O my God said his Squire what shall I now doo Where shall I bestowe the dead bodie of my maister if I returne to the Court of the King his brother he will suspect that I haue murthered him Ah sweete Lady Minoretta what hart breaking will this be to you vnderstanding the death of my Lord and the occasion thereof The Knight of Fame hearing the sorrowfull words of the Squire and fearing he would depart and leaue his maister came with his Squire from behinde the tree where they were hid and seeing the wofull man holding his dead maister in his armes thus spake to him Tell me good fréend how did this mishap befall thy maister The Squire was so amazed when by the light of the Moone he beheld the Knight of Fame and his Squire with him both their swords being drawne as he was not able to returne any answere whereby Don Robert perceiued that the sudden sight of him affrighted the Squire wherefore he thus spake to him againe Why doost thou not speake to vs my fréend doubtest thou that we come to doo thée any displeasure perswade thy selfe that we will assist thee to our vttermost and therefore feare not to bewray thy mishap The Squire throughly resolued by these courteous speeches casting foorth many bitter sighes into the aire and trembling as the burthen of his greefe gaue cause thus answered Alas my Lord right gladly shall I reueale to you the great misfortune now happened to my Lord who as you sawe gaue vp his ghost betweene mine armes the occasion whereof grew in this manner My noble maister while he liued was bastard brother to the King of Scicilie yet as déerely beloued of his Maiestie as if he had béene his lawfull legitimate brother such was his vertuous and valiant behauiour and for the King would assure my Lord of his intire good will and affection he gaue him the Signorie of Siracusa with all the titles and benefites belonging thereto But my woorthie Lord and maister who was named Don Frionell hauing about sixe moneths since heard commended the excellent beautie of Minoretta Daughter to the King of Portugall became so enamoured of her as to compasse the means that he might sée her he craued leaue of the King his brother to trauaile into Fraunce as a Knight errant séeking after aduentures Hauing obteined licence for his departure in stead of going to Fraunce he tooke the way toward Portugall where being arriued so well he made knowne his prowesse at the Tilt and Tourney which dayly hée maintained in honor of the Princesse as the King entertaining him into especiall fauour all the Lords and Knights of Portugall did the like so that being well estéemed and honored of euery one chéefely of the Quéene and her Ladyes so well he could his Courtship to the Princesse Minoretta that she accepted him as her Knight and fauoured him aboue all other that made loue to her In this time came to the Court Don Galitreo of Castile who no sooner sawe the faire Princesse but presently he was so esprized with her loue as he was readie to die at her foote and therefore diuers times made offer of his seruice to her but she made no account thereof declaring by her gesture and countenance that my maister was the onely man in her thoughts Galitreo from this time forward conceiued mortall hatred against my maister yet 〈◊〉 his villainie with such coullers as though he haâ— beene one of his deerest freends So that my maister being one day commaunded by his Lady Minoretta to goe assist a distressed Lady whome a cruell Gentleman too much wronged the traitour receiued opportunitie to set his mischiefe abroche for he being present when my maister tooke his charge gaue no shew of contraâ—ie meaning but no sooner had my Lord restored the wronged Lady albeit with danger of his person by reason of certaine wounds he receiued in fight and returning to the Princesse againe but this day as we came into this Forrest where I vnarmed my Lord to deeâ—se his wounds the traitour Galitreo accompanied with foure more disguised and well armed awaiting cowardly to take my Lord at this aduantage came to him with these worâ—s Knowest thou me â—rionel if thou wilt saue thy life thou must heere sollemnely sweare to me neuer to serue the Princesse Minoretta longer or héereafter to câ—me in any place where she is My maister knowing the traitour well enough by his speeches yet meruailing to méete him in this place because at his departure he left him in Portugâ—â— notwithstanding he was sore wounded and vnarmed boldly thus answered Rather let me loose my life quoth he and endure a thousand deathes if it were possible then I will forgoe the seruice of my mistresse but while I can lift my Sword will I maintaine her as the onely Goddesse of my heart By God quoth Galitreo but I will make thee sure thou shalt not â—o drawing his Couâ—tiare and my maister being thus naked as you sée because I was attending his wounds he neuer left striking at him till he sawe him fall when both he and his companions gallopped away so fast as they could Trust one answered the Knight of Fame thou hast tolde mee the most monstrous â—â—te that euer I heard of but thou séeing thy maister so misused why didst not thou helpe to defend him Alas my Lord quoth the Squire there wanted no good will in mée but they that accompanyed this traitour held me with such violence as I could not stirre The Knight of Fame beholding the cruell woundes Don Frionell had receiued and what a goodly personage hée had béene in his life time sighing sayd Oh God what two dangerous enemies are loue and iealousie in the world there can not bée any woorsse whereby men may fall into so great hazard Well my freend quoth hée to the Squire héere must wee rest our selues for this night because we knowe not whether else to goe and to morrow shall wee prouide for thy maisters bodie whose death I purpose to reuenge if I may finde the man that so bloodely murthered him Assure your selfe my Lord sayd the Squire that hee is in Portugall with the Princesse because for her loue he slewe my maister who reputed him one of his déerest fréends There neuer were so great freends quoth Don Robert whome loue and iealousie could not moue to discord and so for that night they lay downe and slept CHAP. XXXIIII ¶ How the Knight of Fame hauing taken order for the buriall of Don Frionell trauailed into Portugall where he fought the combate with Don Galitreo of Castile and what was the issue thereof CLéere Phoebus arising from the foulded armes of faire Thetis the knight of Fame awaked and not able to sléepe any longer by reason of his troubled thoughtes leauing the Squires who as yet had not stirreâ— he walked
downe to a Riuer side where he met an aged Hernut with an earthen Pitcher in his hand full of water and hauing saluted the old Father demaunded of him if any Towne or Uillage were neere at hand or any religious Church or Chappell where a Knight might be buried whome he had found slaine in that Forrest In sooth my Lord answered the Hermit he is not the first that hath béene murthered in this place for I haue enterred fiftéene or sixteene in my little Chappell which is kept with holie and religious deuotion where if you please the Knight you speake of may be buried and I will helpe to carie him thither for no other place is neere at hand by two good leagues and more Good Father then said the Knight of Fame your gentle offer shall be accepted the bodie is not farre hence and little labour shall you take for his Squire and mine shall lay him on a horsse and so conuay him to your Chappell without trouble So went he with the Hermit to the dead bodie and awaking the Squires conuaied it to the Hermits Chappell in manner aforesaid where the funerall ceremonies finished the Knight of Fame rewarded the old Hermit and afterward mounted on horseback all thrée riding straight to Tolledo and passing the â—â—ood Doriâ— entred the Realme of Portugall where they vnderstood that Galitreo was as then at the Court. Don Robert sendeth his Squire to the King to request safe conduct for arriuall at the Pallace which béeing obtained in presence of his Maiestie he thus began Hither am I come worthie Prince to let you knowe that in your Court abideth the most traiterous and disloyall Knight as euer was heard of and who not four daies since hath doone such a deede in Spayne as no one bearing Armes would haue committed the like By treason and villainie hath he murdred one of the most valiant Knights in Europe as I vnderstand for neuer did I knowe the man 〈◊〉 see him till he was dead he being named Don Frionell of Scicilie who left your Court by commaundement of Madame Minoretta vpon an occasion best knowne to her selfe Full well did I knowe the man answered the King but name him to me who slew Frionell in such sort as thou sayest to the end I may cause him come and defend his cause and if he did it in manner as thou hast declared or else can bring any proofe thereof neuer shall he enter the combate with thée but iustice shall be inflicted on him as so foule an offence deserueth As for me my Lord answered the Knight of Fame I can make no other proofe thereof then by this Squire that serued Don Frionell in whose armes I sawe the Knight breathe his last and dying confessed that the Castillâ—â—n Prince slewe him by treason wherefore my Lord send for him and if he denie it heere am I readie to auouch it and by my Sword will make him confesse it The King hearing him name the Prince of Castile was greatly astonied héereat for he knew not that he was absent from his Court so lately and the Queene with her Ladies being present were no lesse abashed but aboue all the Princesse Minoretta who hearing the death of her valiant Knight whome she in loue had made cheefest account of immediatly such sorrow strooke to her heart as her speech failing her and a cold chilling blood passing the conduâ—ts of her vaines she leaned on the lap of her Gouernesse where falling in a dead traunce all the Ladies had much adoo to get life in her againe But she being recouered and each one placed as they were before Galitreo was sent for to whome the King thus spake Beléeue me Galitreo I alwayes conceiued well of you till now perswading my selfe of your truth and discretion that nothing in the world could mooue ye so much as to thinke a bad thought much lesse to commit any acte of treason But what I say this Knight auoucheth that in Spayne you haue doone a deede of high dishonor where you being armed and well accompanied outragiously set vpon the noble Lord Don Frionell he being naked and without defence then and there you cruelly murdred him yea for a cause of no weight as I vnderstand what answere make ye to this accusation If Galitreo were then doubtfully surprized I referre to the iudgement of like bad minded men but hauing beheld the stearne countenance of the Knight of Fame with counterfeit reuerence thus replyed My Lord not onely now but at all times calumnia-tours and false accusers are easily found the greater part of the auncient Romaine Histories are stored with examples thereof but in the end such bastard broode of detractours haue felt the desert of their lauish toongs and innocencie hath vaunted with triumph This speake I in respect of this paillard who vnder your Maiesties correction hath falsly lied and as a leaser is to be esteemed For the woorthie Lord Don Frionell was one of the déerest freends I had in the world beside I dare gadge my life that this false wretch knowes me not or euer saw me before this instant I beléeue well quoth the Squire to Don Frionell that this Knight had no knowledge of you till now but I am assured that he hath spoken truth and so my maister himselfe confessed at his latest gaspe that because Madame Minoretta fauoured him and despised you therefore you wrought his death in that cruell manner The Knight of Fame perceiuing that Galitreo had no great mind to the combate interrupted the Squire and thus spake to the King I sée well my Lord that Don Galitreo despairing of his cause desires to trifle the time with many circumstances in that he thinketh me vnable to auerre mine accusation because I want further testimonie how he and his complices masked and disguised did the shamefull déed of death and murther may it therefore like your Maiestie to graunt vs the combate and in fight will I make manifest his treason Presumptuous as thou art quoth Galitreo doost thou thinke I feare to méete thée in plaine combate no so please my Lord the King I accept thy challenge and hauing giuen thee the due belonging to a false varlet will follow the quest of my déere freend Don Frionell Him maist thou dead quoth the Knight of Fame soone enough to thy shame not farre from the place where thou didst murther him in a little Hermitage in the same Forrest where I caused him to be interred as his Squire and mine owne are able to testifie Héereupon the King called two auncient Knightes who hauing heard the difference betwéene the Knight of Fame and Galitreo he demaunded their aduise in this doubtfull matter They thought it expedient that the combate should be graunted them to end the controuersie of further proofe because Frionell might be slaine by the accuser and his Squire as by Galitreo that stood accused Wherefore the King graunted them the combate at the Launce and Sword as is common among all
Knightes appointing the Marquesse of Villereal and the Countie of Marialne Iudges of the feeld All this while the Princesse Minoretta continued her pensiue mones praying for the prosperous successe of the newcome Knight and the confusion of the traitour Galitreo On the morrow was this doubtfull combate tried being fought on either side with such exceeding valour as they both fell downe foote to foote that each one reputed them both for dead but when the Knight of Fames helmet was opened and he had receiued the fresh aire he came to himselfe againe albeit Galitreo was slaine outright and therefore condemned as foyled in fight The King glad of this happie victorie intrâ—ated the Knight of Fame as he had beene his owne Sonne causing his Chiruâ—gions to take care of his wounds and during the time of his abode there for his health the continuall good countenance shewed by the Princesse Minoretta made him liue in hope to obtaine but he was preuented by the King of Nauarre who sending his Ambassadours to demaund the Princesse in marriage had his request graunted by the King The Knight of Fame séeing himselfe so infortunate in obtaining a wife so soone as his wounds were thoroughly cured tooke his leaue of the King and departed with intent after he had seene his owne countrey to trauaile into England againe to be reuenged on Palladine for the foyle he susteyned at the Ioustes at Paris so mounting on horseback he tooke his way directly toward Freezeland And not able to continue there any long time because his conceiued hate was such toward the English Prince he trauailed thorough Scotland who méeting suddenly with Simprinell and not knowing him a quarrell arose betweene them the Knight of Fame discommending Palladine and vowing reuenge on all those that durst take his part which Simprinell vndertaking they fell from words to strokes and such was the good fortune of Don Robert as hauing the better of Simprinell he departed leauing him there very sore wounded Manâ—eleo the Prince of Millayne whome long since we left in his iourney toward Normandie desirous to see his sweete mistresse Marcelina by good hap found Simprinell thus dangerously wounded and hauing vnderstood the whole summe of his misaduenture promised to follow the Knight who had thus wronged him and to reuenge his cause though it cost him his life Now must I giue you to vnderstand that Manteleo and the Knight of Fame were very neere allyed the Father to Temoreo the Duke of Millayne beeing brother to Don Roberts mother yet this kindred being forgotten betwéene them or at least their angrie displeasure preuailing aboue the remembrance thereof caused them meeting together to put each others life in very great danger And being afterward brought by their Squires to a Gentlemans Castell néere at hand where Simprinell likewise lay for the recouerie of his woundes they had knowledge of each other when sorrowing their méeting was in such vnhappie sort with fréendly gréetings they excused all that had passed riding with Simprinell to the King his Fathers Court where they were entertained as beseemed their honorable calling CHAP. XXXV ¶ How the great Turke sent his Ambassadours to the King of Aquilea to request his Daughter Nonparelia in marriage and what sorrow it was to her and the Knight without rest when they heard the King giue his consent ALL this while remained Palladine with his faire Nonparelia in the greatest pleasure and delight that could be imagined till fortune enuious of their successe sought to crosse them with her wunted frowardnesse which Orbiconte by her knowledge well perceiuing and that now if she layd not to her helping hand all the promised good hap would be squandered for euer to terrefie the two louers alittle she came and brake it to them in this manner It is a common saying my good fréends that dangers foretold hurt the lesse when they come to passe heereby am I to aduertise ye that such a matter will shortly happen as can not but be to your great disliking yet be of good cheere and endure it with resolued pacience for I will preuent the effectuall working thereof But to hold ye in no longer suspence knowe that this night past I made a figure to vnderstand thereby if your mariage were to be hindered by any contrarie accident and I finde that a mightie Lord euen he that commaundeth ouer all these countries will shortly send to request my Niece in mariage whereto the King her Father will gladly giue consent At these words the Princesse fell in a swoune and the Knight without rest was meruailous impacient but Orbiconte hauing recouered her in this sort began to perswade her Why faire Niece doo you dispaire or doubt that I can not hinder the mariage betweene you and the great Turke knowe you not that I haue done things of greater valew then that I neuer thought you had such diffâ—dence in me Who brought Sir Palladine into this countrey but I and who gaue you the honor of his loue but I and if I haue beene able to doo all this thinke ye I can not wade through matter of lesse moment Quiet your selfe and feare not but I will compasse your mariage to your owne content without displeasing my Lord the great Turke or the King your Father notwithstanding his promise Alas my good Aunt said the Princesse it is not for my Fathers ease to purchase himselfe so great an enemie as is the great Turke who in thrée dayes is able to ruinate our whole countrey and hauing so bad a neighbour as is the King of Panoma who doubtlesse would gladly with the great Lord in reuenge of the late foyle he sustayned I see no way to preuent fatall danger Why Madame quoth the Knight without rest victorie consisteth not in strength or multitude but in the pollicie of the Captaines and discretion of the Souldiours to pursue an enterprise as many examples are left among Romaines Carthaginians Athenians and infinite other where a small power hath preuailed against the greater onely by the wise foresight of their leaders and withall hauing truth and iustice on their side Let vs said the Princesse not stand vpon pollicie or the truth of our cause we can not be more subtill or hardie then they are and as for our right in the matter what reason shall my Father haue to denie so great a Lord great I may boldly say because in all the world he hath not his second both in riches puissance or any thing whatsoeuer Alas good Niece said Orbiconte merily stand not on these doubtfull tearmes for the case shall neuer be aduentured so farre cast all your care on me as yet I thinke I neuer fayled ye So parted they to their chambers where the Princesse remained in a hell of greefe such was her intire affection to the Prince of England And he likewise could resolue on nothing for now he thought to request the Princesse in mariage before the comming of the Ambassadors perswading himselfe that the
King would not deny him then againe he dispaired of the matter reputing himselfe vnlikely to enioy her by reason of their contrarietie in faith and religion the King being an earnest maintainer of the Pagan lawe Nor would this imagination serue wherefore he intended to steale her thence secretly and to carie her with him into England while Orbiconte laboured at home to appease the trouble that might follow In the end he reposed himselfe on the faithfull promise of Orbiconte and desired his Lady to doo the like because he had found her so iust in all his former fortunes But now are the Ambassadours come to the Court where being entertained with great pompe and royaltie he that was appointed chéefe in the embassade thus deliuered his message to the King King of Aquilea the high and mightie Lord my maister being aduertised of the rare vertues wherewith thy Daughter is endued hath sent me to intreate thée that thou wouldest bestowe her on him in marriage and in so dooing he vowes himselfe thy fréend and a continuall enemie to thy ill willers Heerewith he deliuered the Letters of credit signed with the hand and scale of the great Turke whereat the King no lesse ioyfull then amazed that his Daughter should arise to so high fortune without crauing any aduise in the cause thus answered I thanke my gracious Lord with all my heart that he will so honor me with request of my Daughter in marriage and her do I fréely giue him with all that is mine at his disposing Then did the Ambassadour present the King sixe goodly Coursers of Turkie sent him from his Lord and maister and to the Princesse he gaue a sumptuous Carbanet garnished with Carbuncles Orientall Pearles and stones of inestimable valew which she receiued with good countenance albeit God knowes with a heauie heart in which gréefe the Knight without rest bare her company yet durst not outward shew therof This costly Iewell the Queene immediatly fastened about her Daughters neck being commended for the rarest that euer was seene afterward the King walked with the Ambassadours dooing them all the honor he could any way deuise While all the Court were busied Orbiconte came with Nonparelia to Palladines chamber and there concluded that he should on the morrow take his leaue of the King framing his iourney directly toward England where the Princesse and she would in short time méete him willing them to make no shew of sorrow at their departure least suspition might preuent what she had intended but to resolue them assuredly that all her promises should sorte to effect The Knight without rest did as he was aduised and albeit it was long ere the King would giue consent because he loued him very déerely yet at length with muche adoo he preuailed the Prince Zorian obtaining leaue of his Father to accompanie him in trauaile because his Maiestie thought he could neuer haue a brauer companion Many rich giftes the King bestowed on the Knight without rest especially one of the Coursers sent him from the great Turke and other thinges néedfull to be vsed in trauaile and thus he prepared him selfe toward his iourney reposing his confidence in the wise Orbiconte that she would bring his Lady safely into England CHAP XXXVI ¶ How the knight without rest and the Prince Zorian departed from Aquilea toward England and how the Knight without rest by the waye discouered him selfe to the Prince Zorian who when he came into England was baptized and betrothed to the faire Graciana daughter to the Earle of Flaunders and the like was Mantelio and Landâ—stines to their Ladies EUery thing being in redines for our Knightes trauaile after all the ceremonious conges at the parting of freendes the knight without rest Zorian Broantine Lyboran and Lycelio all brauelye mounted in seemely equipage they leaue the Courte of Aquilea and toward England iourney with all conuenieÌ„t speede the Knight without rest being especially induced to this haste because he expected the promise of Orbiconte soone after would followe him with the faire Nonparelia Many woorthy aduentures they had by the way as defending chaste Damoselles from forced violence and helping distressed Ladies to their suborned right which growing to more tediousnes theÌ„ delightfull matter I haue thought good to abridge as lothe to speake of any thing but what is woorth the hearing When our Knightes were entered the Realme of Almaigne and the Englishe Prince had made good triall of Zorians loue to him one night as they laye in Bed togeather he entred into these spéeches My Lord Zorian the fréendship solemnely sworne betwéene vs and the proof of your ready good will in all my actions will not let me hide one thing fâ—â—â— you which till this present I haue kept with great secrecie both from the knowledge of the King your Father and you onely by the perswasion of the Lady Orbiconte your Aunt to whome I am more beholding then any other liuing creature For in my iourney toward Aquilea oftentimes did she preserue me from the danger of death and by her meanes I left the Court of the King of England my Father by her promise that I should enioy your faire Sister in mariage in recompence of some seruice I should doo to the King your Father and this by her secret knowledge she likewise tolde me that all your Fathers dominions shall be shortly conuerted to the Christian faithe which I professe and will doo till death Then he recounted how Orbiconte sent him the Shéeld he bare and shewed the Swoord wheron the name of Aquilea was engrauen being brought to him by the enchaunted knight and two Damosells He likewise declared how he changed his name because he would not be knowne and that Liboran only counterfeited dumbnes being not able to learne the Aquilian language all the rest of his trauailes at full he opened his right name and whether he now iournied In sooth my Lord Palladine answered Zorian such resolute opinion of your vertues haue I imprinted in my hart as though you be contrary to me in loue and profession yet shall not my good will slack or I forgoe your companie but I would the time were come wherein my Fathers kingdome shall embrace Christianitie which I already begin to like so well beleeuing that your God is of greater power then ours as all our successefull déedes of armes beare witnes that I ere long will become a Christian Yet one thing cheeflye dooth displease me that my Sister is promised in mariage to my Lord the great Turk which will be the occasion that my Aunte Orbiconte cannot keep her woord with you My Lord and companion saide Palladine that I haue your good liking in this cause in sooth it dooth not a little content me but as for your Sister there is nothing yet doone but may easily be altered Madame Orbiconte hath promised to content the great Turke and your Father and in fewe dayes will safelye arriue with your Sister in England I would we
might finde them there quoth Zorian at our comming you maye be assured I would not hinder your mariage but assist it to the vttermost of my power for more account doo I make of your loue and fréendship then all the wealthy possessions af my Lord y e great Turk And one thing will I intreat ye faithfully to promâ— me that the next day after our arriuall at your Fathers Court you will take such order as I maye be baptised in the faith of a Christian for I féele my conscience that way earnestly addicted Palladine not a little ioyfull of this request promised to perfourme what he had desired so sléep causing them to breake off talke the nexte morning they were earlye on Horsse backe and passing the Rheme they entred Lorrayne Afterward trauersing the Ardeines Luxenbourge and Liege they came into Brabant and from thence after many aduentures ended they crossed through Flaunders taking shipping at Callis and in shorte time landed at Douer in England where they stayed two or three daies to refresh them selues Then comming to London to the Court God knowes what ioy was there made for their arriuall the King to see his Sonne returned Manteleo and Landastines their long absent fréend and the Citizens their yong Prince whome they feared was lost let all their ioye be compared together and thinke of what efficacie so great a matter is because pen and paper cannot disclose it Palladine not vnmindefull of his passed promise acquainted the King his Father with the state of Zorian how graciouslye him selfe was entertained in the Court of Aquilea and how the Princes Sister was comming after with her Aunt a Ladye of incomparable vertues and graces and her noble brother renouncing his paganisme desired to be receiued into the fellowship of Christians not being able to enioy peace in conscience till he were deliuered of his vnbeleefe The King excéeding glad of these good newes caused such royall preparation to be made against the next daye as at a matter of such solemnitie is required there was Zorian and his Squire christened the King the Queene and the Earle of Flâ—unders witnesses to the Prince and Palladine Manteleo and Marcelina to the Squire Ligasto Returning from the Church to the Pallace there was ordained a sumptuous feast and Zorian well regarding the Ladies of England among them all liked Graciana daughter to the Earle of Flaunders being then sodenly so enchaunted with her as he secretly vowed neuer to loue any other while he liued Palladine perceiuing his amorous glaunces on Graciana and noting the many alterations of his countenaunce immediatly knew what disease he was troubled withall which he desirous to â—â—ttigate and to pleasure the Prince Zorian to his vttermoste the tables being withdrawen he tooke Graciana by the hand and bringing her to Zorian thus spake My Lord and noble companion for my sake loue this beautifull Lady she is named Graciana and I hope you shall finde her nature answerable to her name to wit gracious vertuous and honest I promise ye my Lord quoth Zorian you haue doone me the greatest pleasure in the World bringing to me a Lady so woorthily accomplished that I might learne to imitate her vertues which haue pearced my hart in such sorte as would she accept me to be her Knight and seruant neuer should any other Lady haue the honor of my loue I perceiue well then said Palladine that you are touched to the quick doo you twaine deuise togeather and in meane while I will goe talke with the Countie her Father So taking the Earle of Flaunders aside he rehearsed to him the manifolde vertues of the Prince Zorian and how intirely he loued his Daughter thinking it a great preferment to her if she ioyned with him in mariage Like spéeches hid he vse to the Queene his Mother who was Cosin germaine to the Carle of Flaunders and betweene them bothe handled the matter so effectuallye as within two dayes Zorian and Eraciana were affianced together their mariage being deferred because of Ambassadours were gone to Norgalles and Millaine to conclude the mariages betwéene Landastines Manteleo Marcelina and Florea and the Princes Fathers consent obtained all these mariages should be sollemnelye perfourmed togeather But twenty dayes being now past and Palladine hearing no tidinges of Nonparelia he began to waxe melanchollye halfe distrusting the promise of Orbiconte yet did not this pensiuenes continue long for she arriued soone after as you shall presently perceiue CHAP. XXXVII ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia was deliuered to the great Turkes Ambassadours and how by the sorceries of the wise Orbiconte the Ships were scattered and what perswasions she vsed to the Mariâ—â—ers who were very lothe to saile into England WIthin thrée dayes after the departure of Palladine and Zorian from Aquilea Nonparelia was honourably deliuered to the great Turks Ambassadours and with meruailous royaltye conuaied on Ship boorde accompanyed with her Aunt Orbiconte and a séemelye traine of Ladies beside The Ankers weyed and the sayles hoysed they launche into the deepe the Princesse still fearefull to loose the true owner of her loue yet comforted by her Aunt that in few dayes they would sée England Being entred the Mediterranean Sea Orbiconte saw it was time to set her practise abroche and seeing the Pilots and Mariners were all at rest with a Booke in her hand she came vp on the deck where brething her charmes into the aire and filling the sayles with her vnhallowed spelles the windes began to blowe terribly and the Seas were troubled with wonderfull roughnes that the Mariners awaked with the horror of the storme awaiting euery hower their vtter destruction In this tempest the ships were seperated so farre a sunder as the Turkes dispaired of euer méeting againe so that the vessell wherin y e Princesse and Orbiconte were by daye was on the borders of Scicilie and very néere to the Labean promontarie albeit the Pilot could not tell in what Cuntrie they were Then Orbiconte calling the Gouernours of the Ship to her and the Gentlemen appointed to attende on the Princesse in the presence of her Niece thus spake to them You haue seene my good freendes in what extreame danger we haue beene this night past and I thinke there is no one amonge yee but is perswaded that our Gods haue especially preserued vs yea by wonderfull miracle from shipwracke wherwith euery minute of an hower we were threatned In like sorte you may imagine that not without some secret and hidden cause we are caste into these partes and scattered from the Ships of my Lordes Ambassadours héerby doo our Gods euidentlye manifest that men how strong or puissant so euer they be cannot bring to end any intended enterprise vnlesse it be ordered by their fauour and direction and heerehence ariseth the the common prouerb That men purpose and the Gods dispose It is well knowne to you that the King my brother hath graunted in mariage my Niece Nonparelia to our Lord the great
Turke but our Gods from whose sight nothing can be shadowed knowing what before was accorded and concluded betwéen her and the Knight without rest whome you haue séene in my brothers Courte he being the Sonne of a mighty and puissant King haue apparantly reuealed that their faithfull promise to eache other must not be falsefied promise I say of mariage betwéene them wherof my selfe am a sworne witnesse In vaine is it then for you thus to alleadge that the Knight without rest is a Christian and my Niece a Pagan but let it suffise ye that our Gods will haue it so as you in short time shall sée further experience Doo you therfore direct your compasse to the coaste of Spaine that from thence we maye saile into England the seate and Kingdome of the Knight without rest after the deceasse of his Father who is yet liuing Feare not any inconuenience that may ensue héereby for I will be your safe protection and no woorsse shall fall to you héerby then to my Niece and my â—esâ—e and of her haue I greater care then were she my owne Daughter Heerewith she paused expecting what answere they would returne but discerning by their countenances that they liked not her speeches as also they were loth to come among the Christians their enemies without a better warrantise of their safetie she began againe in this manner Why my fréendes are you so fearefull as you shewe your selues doo you think any harme shall happen to you in my companie am not I and my Niece sufficient for your assurance what other safe conduct would ye haue we goe into the land of our kindred and freends to confirme a perpetuall peace and concorde with one of the moste vertuous Princes in the world My Nephewe the Prince Zorian who departed you knowe with that gentle Knight there is he louingly entertained fauoured by him whom the Gods preordained to be my Nieces husband Saile we on then merilye and feare not the displeasure of the King my brother for well am I assured that they will not dislike this mariage And were I not fullye perswaded of what I haue saide that the ende of our enterprise shall sorte to a generall benefit yea to a full resolued ioye and content on all sides I would not haue aduentured thus farre being as carefull of your good as mine owne life These spéches so throughly animated the Mariners and Gentlemen as they promised to fulfill what she gaue them in charge being certaine that Orbiconte tolde them nothing but what she had foreseen by her wonderfull knowledge and therfore passing by Hercules pillers they entred the Ocian directing their compasse toward great Britaine By y e way they were set vpon by thrée pirats who seeking to take the spoyle of the Ship stew many Gentlemen and Mariners and when they were brought to the very hardest exigent that they thought verily to be taken by the Pirates three English shippes came to their rescue wherein the high Admirall of England was who had béene in Portugall with the King to aduertise him of the mariage of his two Nieces to the Princes Manteleo and Landastines The Ships of England encountred the Pirats and after long fight tooke them then comming to knowe of whence the Ship was that had béene so distressed the man that was sent to demaund the question was Captaine Broantine who accompanyed the Admirall in this voiage Ioyfull was Orbiconte when she beheld Broantine and comming on boord the Admirall to whome Broantine reuealed of whence they were and that Palladine long expected their arriuall in England it is not to be asked how courteously he entertained them vowing to take sharpe reuenge on the Pirates for their villainous dealing Broantine declared to Nonparelia the health of Palladine and her brother Zorian how he was Christened and affianced to the faire Graciana of Flaunders which newes pleased her not a little as also this happie and fortunate deliuerance which she verily thought hardly to escape with life The Admirall made them the best chéere he could on Ship boord and afterward committed them to the charge of Broantine to see them safely conducted into England himselfe taking order for the Pirates Ships which after he had ransacked as he pleased he followed withall as wind and weather gaue him leaue CHAP. XXXVIII ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia and Orbiconte arriued in England where they were royally entertayned by the King and his Princesse And how Palladine bewrayed what had passed betweene him and his Lady wherewith the King and Queene were well contented HAuing sayled with a good and prosperous winde at length the Ships came on the cape of Cornewall and from thence to the Isle Benedict where coasting as occasion serued leauing the cape of Pinda they tooke harborow in the Ile of Wight from whence Broantine senta Brigandine before to aduertise Palladine how néere his Lady was the wise Orbiconte writing to him in this manner The Letter from the wise Orbiconte to Palladine Prince of England THese are to aduertise ye Lord Palladine that by the assistance of the highest God my Niece Nonparelia and I are safely arriued in the Isle of Saint Helena from whence we will shortly set forward according to the promise I made at your departure from Aquilea hauing doone my vttermost in your cause for my Niece who as you knowe hath refused the great Emperour of Turkie making choyse of you aboue all other in respect of your faithfull vowe to her made in my chamber at her Fathers Pallace which I hope you will not now forget considering what hath béene doone at your earnest instance Therfore if as yet you haue not done it make the King your Father and the Quéene acquainted therewith and that so soone as possible you can because I would sée your mariage perfected before my returne to Aquilea that I may credibly assure the King my Brother what high good fortune is befallen his Daughter as also the continuall honor promised you by the destemes and not to you alone but to your issue heereafter likewise Thus awaiting opportunitie to acquaint you at large with our nauigation and what dangers we haue escaped on the Sea as your Admirall and Broanâ—ine can testifie who deliuered vs from bloodthirstie Pirates I ceasse presenting hartie good will to you from my Niece and my selfe From the Isle of Saint Helena By your affectionate freend Orbiconâ—e Such were the contents of the Letter sent from the wise Orbiconte to the Prince Palladine which was presented him by one of Broantines Gentlemen as he was walking in the Garden with the King and Queene conferring on the preparation for the triumphs at the mariage of Marcelina and Florea No sooner had he read the name of Orbiconte and from whence the Letter was directed but he began to change his countenance meruailously which the King perceiuing said What newes hath Broanâ—ine sent ye that makes your rouller alter in such sort the Letter doubtlesse is the cause
when you shall vnderstand who hath beene the cause of all the honors obtained by Palladine you will alter your conceit of displeasure toward me I desire ye to comfort your selfe with the sight of our little Sonne Vnyon of whose welfare I am no lesse glad then were I Lord of all the Orcedes Your bed hath not béene abused hauing thereby gained so faire a flower and well may you thus vaunt of your Palladine that he is vowed to his Sonnes good fortune maugre the crueltie of the greatest Tirant in the world And albeit I haue espoused Nonparelia she must remaine as my wife without diminishing any part of the good will wherein I am indebted to Brisalda of the rich Islands Your freend for euer Palladine Hauing sealed this Letter with his Seale of Armes and bound about it a little golden Chaine whereat he fastened a costly Diamond he deliuered it to the messenger saying My fréend deliuer this from me to thy noble mistresse with my continuall dutie to her good grace desiring her to keepe this Iewell for my sake in that it is the chéefest I make account of As for your paines this Chaine of gold from mine owne neck I giue ye and let it serne as part of a recompence toward your trauaile Thus is the messenger returned to the Duchesse who hauing read the Letter from Palladine qualified her sorroweâ— by good perswasions and afterward maried with the Prince Alfâ—an of Ireland Now commeth Palladine into the great Hall and there renewed his former communication with Caesar and the euening being spent in Maskes and braue deuises onely to honor the Emperours Sonne at length they all betake themselues to their Chambers On the morrow Caesar came to the Ladyes desiring them to sâ—e him trie his fortune at the Statues which he perswading himselfe able to finish was disappointed with a shamefull repulse the greefe whereof so offended him as that day he secretly departed from the Court net bidding the King or any one adiew The day following as Palladine was walking in the Garden with the King he entred into these speeches My gracious Lord and Father hauing graunted me to marrie with the Lady whose vertuous qualities deserued a much better husband I greatly doubt least the King her Father being ignorant of our former contract will finde himselfe so agréeued heereat that he will seeke reuenge as Kings are wont to doo which in plainer tearmes is by the Sword To preuent the daunger imminent in this case our fréend Lydiseo being now King of Hungaria through whose Dominions he must néedes passe I thinke it not amisse to aduertise him héereof that he may there offer resistance while we prouide héere our men and munition in readinesse Héereto may my Brethren of Norgalles and Millayne be auailing likewise wherefore with their Wiues they intend to returne home into their countreys and they being our faithfull allyed freends will there likewise haue their subiects in readinesse to giue vs succour if néede shall require My Sonne answered the King séeing the marriage is accomplished it is too late to be blamed or now to vse spéeches in this behalfe which are but friuolous and vnprofitable I pray thée therefore reserue to thy children if thou happen to haue any a future peace without any cause of warre or molâ—station and well hast thou aduised vs as concerning our beloued Brother the King of Hungaria to whome within these ten dayes I will send mine Ambassadour Meane while our Sonnes of Norgalles and Millayne shall haue all things readie to depart when they please as loth to hinder their good determination or any thing that may be for thy quiet and suretie Manie other matters were that day dispatched in Councell all of as great importance as this which I will passe ouer with silence because the secrets of Kings are not to bée made common The Ambassadour for Hungaria being dispatched conduded Manteleo and his Lady to Millayne where he left this married couple so combred with prouision for warre 〈◊〉 they not forgetting any part of their amorous desires are ten monethes were past Marcelina was deliuered of a goodly Sonne named Hector of Millayne imitating his Father in déedes of chiualrie yet beeing the first of that name that euer wan honor in the feeld If Manteleo was welcomed with great ioy by his Father and his Subiects Landastines was not inferiour to him when he entred Norgalles where the old King Harfron his Father woorthely entertained him being so glad of his good fortune as hauing embraced and kissed the Princesse Floraea the teares tricled downe his white beard with inward conceite of ioy Ah my Sonne quoth he how much are we bound to thanke the God of heauen for this especiall signe of his grace and fauour how am I and mine likewise continually to reioice that our tribute to the Crowne of England is thus fréely forgiuen vs in happie houre was this mariage concluded that not onely bringeth a continuall league of peace but disburdeneth vs of a paiment troublesome to our whole countrey Now dare no enemie vexe vs with warre séeing we haue the King of England our fréend wherefore my Sonne for bringing this comfort to thy Fathers hart whose age makes him now vnfit to gouerne any longer heere I deliuer the Crowne into thy hands not doubting but thou wilt rule as thy Father hath doone before thee Landastines being thus honored and put into y e full possession of the Crowne of Norgalles soone after made the King his Father a Graundsire by the birth of Don Celidon his Sonne to the no little ioy of all his Subiects The like good hap had the Prince Palladine to honor the aged King Milanor withall Nonparelia being deliuered of the yong Prince Flerano at whose birth were many good fortunes prognosticated for which the Citizens of London in signe of their reioycing caused bonefires to be made in the streetes and the Belles were rung day and night during the space of a sennighte All things being come to so good effect and the maryed Louers in their owne Countreys the wise Orbicoâ—te would now likewise take her leaue for a mightie Griffon as red as blood came flying from the aire into the Pallace which she laying hold vpon came before the King Milanor and the Quéene and to Palladine framed her spâ—eches in this manner My noble nephewe I beséech ye as you loue your honor and renowme and are desirous to make it immortall that you will cause your yoong Sonne to be carefully nourished assuring you that his deedes shall be correspondent to his name floorishing aboue all the Knightes of his time he being the onely flower that euer grew in England And not onely shall he be famous for deedes of Armes and Chiualrie but vertue and loyaltie he shall haue in such commendation as no Lady in the world shall be found woorthie of his loue but Pamphilia Daughter to the Emperour of Greece as yet vnborne Florano shall loue loyally this Lady In his loue he shall be so secret sure and well aduised and she like to him in all these giftes aâ— through the world they may not be equalled To him and her are the aduentures of the Statues reserued let none therefore séeke before that time to obtaine them And now will I to Aquilea to confirme your peace with the King my Brother and lay downe order for his reuolt to Christianitie Her spéeches thus ended and fréendly embracings passed on all sides she cast her selfe on the Griffons back and mounting into the aire left England and is gone toward Aquilea With this meruailous accident we meane to pause and héere conclude our long labour according to the appointment of Polismar and Palnocid auncient Historiographers of woorthy memory who first deliuered this Historie in the Brittish toong FINIS To the Gentlemen Readers HEere did Claudius Colet of Champaigne who wrote this Worke in the French toong make a full conclusion of the Historie and I hauing no further scope but bound to follow the direction of mine Author heere doo I likewise knit vp the famous discourse of Prince Palladine What errours haue past in my simple translation I must commit to the freendly iudgement of such as knowe that the wisest may step awry and he was neuer yet heard of that pleased â—uery humour My good will is greater then my abilitie and when a man doth bestowe his endeuour onely to delight and not dâ—splease it is courtesie to entertaine such a ones labours freendly considering the recompence is small for a tedious trauaile The historie of Palmendos and Primaleon promised in my two partes of Palmerin d' Oliua as leysure will permit shall be perfected in meane while for Countries sake bid Palladine welcome which the French haue published in the honor of England Honos alit Artes. Your well wishing freend Anthony Munday DIuers foule faultes are escaped in the imprinting in some places words mistaken as rich procall for riciprocall in Brisaldaes Letter to Palladine and diuers other by mishar left out and partly by want of my attendance to reade the proues beeing called away by matters of greater importance and whereto I am bound by dutie of mine office therefore as you happen to finde them and are able to conceiue what in truth they should be let me intreate you freendly to correct them because I am loth to trouble you with a gathered Errata