ignorant of the Ladyes passions deliuered Ptolomes letter to chéere her but wheÌ„ the Princesse saw Vrbanillo comming with the teares in her eyes she ranne apace to méete him and casting her armes about his neck embraced him verie often saying Tell me Vrbanillo tell mee how fares my brother thy Maister Palmerin Madame quoth the Dwarfe so well as your owne heart can wish and will ere long be héere with you Then deliuered he yâ— letter froÌ„ Trineus which certified her of his short returne that hee would bring with him yâ— thing she most estéemed But the wag knowing she expected other matters and that her brothers medicine was not sufficient for her cure he gaue her his masters letter when she hastily breaking open yâ— seale found the ring which her loyal friend had sent her and after she had welcomd it with many deuout kisses she put it on hir finger with these words I charge thée kéepe this token safely in witnesse of the knights gentlenesse that sent it whome my heart hath made speciall choyse of aboue all other Then reading the letter and discréeâ—ly considering not without great eâ—fuse of teares the swéet words humble supplications entire excuses extreame passions that her friend continually suffered for her loue deliuering many bitter sighs she said Ah my true and loyall friend I beléeue wel and take in good part your cause of absence béeing assured that if possibly you could returne sooner nothing should stay you from the place where yâ— only remedie of your dolorous gréefes abideth But séeing for my loue you may not forsake my brother I pray you for your continuall safetie and spéedie conduction to your longing desires that mine eies ouerwatched with tedious expectation my hart néere tired with bootlesse wishings may by your presence be thorowly coÌ„forted Afterward Vrbanillo bréefely reported to her the noble actions of his Lord and maister the loue of Ttineus to the Princesse Agriola discribing her beautie and rare perfections whereupon Polinarda thus answered Beléeue mee Vrbaniâ—lo if the Princesse be so faire as thou saist she is her great vertues and firme loyaltie likewise comparable enuie false report shal not impeach her to be reckoned among the most happie Ladies of the world and her desires wil be as honorably effected as with vertuous thoughts she first began them The like I doubt not will happen to thy maister for fortune hath euermore so specially fauored him as now it were against reason shée should alter her countenance So departed the Dwarfe from the Princesse returning to the Emperor who by no meanes could get any other tidings of his son then what you haue heard which made him doubt the dwarfe iuggled with him The next day the Emperour sent his chéefest Lords and Barons to conduct the French ambassadors to the court which was sumptuously hanged with Tapistrie especially the great hall which was adorned with costly cloth of gold and rich purple as it had béene the Pallace of Salomon The Ambassadours entertained with maruailous royaltie hauing deliuered the summe of their embassage the Emperour answered that hée would conferre thereon with his councel in me any while they might returne to their lodgings After they were departed the hall the Emperour demanded of the princes electours and the rest of his nobilitie if these marriages of his sonne and daughter with the heire and princesse of Fraunce might not be granted as well for the vtilitie and honor of the Empire as for the generall benefit of Christendome commanding them to speake their iudgements without feare The Lords altogether answered that the mâ—tion was so good the aliance so honorable as it was no way to be misliked I will then quoth he talke with the empresse that she may vnderstand hir daughters opinion then my lords of France shal be answered So leauing them hee went to the Empresse chamber to whom he reported his agréement with his councel which pleased her likewise maruailous wel but when shâ— had a little considered on the matter she answered that but little could be said before Trineus returned home againe You reason well quoth the Emperour but in meane time I pray you â—ouÌ„d your daughters iudgement yâ— we may returne our brother of Fraunce some certain answer Which she promised to do so departing froÌ„ her lord she went to her daughters chaÌ„ber where hauing coÌ„manded her ladies aside she thus began Faire daughter it is the emperors pleasure and mine that you marrie with the eldest sonne and heire of Fraunce and your brother Trineus with his sister for hee is one of the most renowned kings in Europe his son recounted among the best knights of the world for which good fortune you may thanke the heauens that so great a prince offers his Sonne to be your husband Aduise your selfe of your answer for by your opinion must the ambassadors be dispatched hence who came to the court for nothing else but to conclude these honorable marriages Polinarda hearing yâ— words of her mother was surprized with such sodain heauines as she could not tel what to answer but fearing the Empresse should perceiue that her loue was already determined with sad countenance thus replied Madame you know what promise I made my brother the day when he departed from the Court in the presenâ—â— of you and all the nobility that I would not marry before his returne and me thinks I were greatly to be blamed and well worthy gréeuous reprehension if I shoulde so falsifie my word which I cannot do without impeach of myne honor And héerein shall I follow the laudable bertue of the Emperor my father who euermore estéemed his promise aboue al earthly possessions Beside I can assure you that my brother wil neuer marry with the princesse Lucemania for he loues one many degrées beyond her and may I speake it without offence one of the most beautifull Ladyes that euer nature framed Thus Madame my Father and you haue excuses sufficient auayleable wherewith to aunswere the king of France It may be quoth the empresse that your brother loues els where but I can tell ye that neyther hée nor you shall do any thing contrary to the Emperors commandement Polinarda séeing her mother persist in her opinyon bit in her sorrowes with many secret sighs yet knew she so wel how to dissemble her passions as the Empresse could not discerne her priuat meaning So returned she to the Emperor aduertising him of hir daughters answere wherat he was so offended as in great anger hee came himselfe to his Daughter saying Why howe now Daughter are you so bolde to disobey my commandemeÌ„t or dare you repugne against my wil al is to no end that you haue babled with your mother for will ye or no it shall bée as I haue appoynted I knowe right well dread Lord and father quoth she that I ought no way to deny your pleasure but rather wil I die a thousand deaths then consent
perceiuing the high fortune he was borne to chéefelie that he shoulde prooue a most noble Kâ—â—ght and the greatest Lord in Europe hee was desirous to contract a marriage betwéene him and his Niece Polinarda presenting her to him in his visions as hath béene declared Hee thus deceasing the King highly discontented at his Uncles harde fortune caused him to be buried in most sumptuous maner making him a Tombe in forme of a Piramides the most excellent stately that euer was in Bohemia and ouer against it were hanged the bodies of the Countie and his two Cozins for his Trophe Thus euery thing quieted and the funeralles of the Prince Adrian solemnized Palmerin woulde presentlie depart towardes Allemaigne but Ptolomes woundes were so daungerous as he was constrained to staie longer then he intended In the meane space the King did them all the honour could be deuised in hope to stay them still in his Court but it was impossible for Palmerin told him he must néedes goe to the Emperour about affaires of very great importaunce I knowe your meaning well enough saide the King you intende to goe Combat with the enchaunted Knight and in so dooing you shall loose both your paines and your life as manie other haue doone before you What enchaunted Knight is it saide Palmerin on my faith my Lord I neuer hearde anie one talke of him but you Then will I tell yee quoth the King since I haue begun the matter Not long since in the Country of the Emperour mine Uncle in the Cittie of Yâ—manes dwelled a welthie Knight who had a fayre Daughter amorous of a Gentleman and their loue kept so secrete as none knew it but themselues It so fell out that her Father marryed her to another Gentleman in his house but for any good acceptation or chéerefull countenaunce of the Gentlewoman the bridegrome could haue none so highlie estéemed she her first loue and continued in opinion towards him so firme as she graunted him enteraunce into her Chamber at an appointed time where hee murdered her Husbande and carryed the Lady with hym whether he pleased The bruite heereof was so soone spred abroade as the mother of the murdered Gentleman heard thereof whereuppon she made her complaint to the Emperour who immediatlie sent to summon the other before him but they refusing to come and hauing taken themselues to a very strong Castell were in the ende so straightly besieged as the Lady with her louer at length were taken hauing confessed the trueth of their offence sentence was giuen on them yâ— they should be burned The Father to this Knight offender so gréeued heereat as hee went to one of his Sisters entending neuer to sée the Emperour or his Court againe His Sister séeing him in this extreamitie as no mallice or bad inuention is comparable to a Womans deuised to enchaunt one of her Sonnes a good hardy Knight in such sort as he shoulde neuer bee ouercome in fight but with an enchauntment of greater force Beside shee gaue him a Bow and a great companie of impoysoned arrowes wherewith he should kill the Emperour and his Children or anie other whome himselfe pleased which hee had not failed to haue doone but mine Uncle Adrian vnderstanding thereof did take such regarde to the matter as hee coulde not hurt them but many of his people so that the Country is wonderfully perplexed For hee is mounted on a Horse enchaunted as himselfe is the swiftest in pace yâ— euer was séene wherewith he flies into manie out places of the Empire committing a thousand harmes and cannot be stayed for whosoeuer comes to him armed Knight or pesant all dies the death and none escapes him And that which is worst of all it is commonly reported that if mine Uncle will not giue him his eldest Sonne Trineus and faire Poliâ—arda his Daughter to doo with them what shall like his humour hee will neuer departe the Countrey til he haue thorowly ruinated it By my Sworde my Lorde sayde Palmerin in all my life I neuer heard so strange a tale were I sure to die a thousande deathes I will fight with this deuill and deliuer the Countrey if my strength wyll compasse it Alas my good Fréende sayde the King it would much displease me that you should hazard your selfe in such daunger for where such deuillish enchauntments are the strength of man howe great soâ—uer it be dooth not auayle and therefore for my sake I pray you to forbeare Let come what pleaseth God said Palmerin for if I die nowe I shall be excused for euer hâ—ereafter Wâ—ll sawe the King that he coulde not chaunge him therefore he left off any further to intreate him and too long he thought hee tarryed for Ptolomes health so desirous was he to be with the Emperour hoping that his Combat with the enchaunted Knight would graunt him meanes to sée and talke with fayre Polinarda Wherefore when his coÌ„panion had gotten a little streÌ„gth they tooke theyr leaue of the King and the Ladies chéefelie of the Prince Dyardo fayre Cardonya who after theyr departure had such successe in their loue as with yâ— Kinges consent the marriage was finished Nowe are Palmerin and Ptolome on their way to Gaunt where the Emperour made his continuall aboade the enchaunted Knight so persecuting him as he durst at no time come foorth of his Castell CHAP. XXVI Howe Palmerin and Ptolome arriued at the Cittie of Gaunt where the Emperour of Allemaigne kept his Courte and of the Combat betweene Palmerin and the enchaunted Knight GOod expedition made these Knights in their iourney tyll at length they arriued at the Citty of Gaunt where the Emperor of Allemaigne then soiourned not knowing howe to depart thence because the enchaunted Knight watched him at all howres our Knightes béeing thus come thether lodged in the house of a welthie Burgesse where they were entertained in very honorable maner They were no sooner dismounted from theyr Horsses but the whole Cittie was on a suddaine vprore and the people ranne on heapes from one place to another which made him remember what the King of Bohemia had tolde him and presently he imagined what after followed for his Hoste in great feare came running to him saying Alas Sir we all are vndoone the enchaunted Knight hath gotten the Gates of our Cittie and in despight of the guarde he is entered wonderfull is the harme that he will nowe doo if the Prince Trineus and fayre Polynarda be not reskewed God defende such harde fortune saide Palmerin rather will I fight with him and if I die I shall accompanie many other in vnfortunate successe With these words hee tooke his Launce and galloped that way where hee hearde the tumult which was at the Emperours Castell where the enchaunted Knight was shooting his arrowes at the windowes he espied open Ioyfull was Palmerin to finde him in so fit a place where his Lady Polinarda might giue iudgment of his valour which opinion did so renewe hys courage as
stéede hée was contented and committing all to the Emperors pleasure was carried backe againe to prison in such pensiuenesse as he was iudged not able to liue til the combat day The Quéene likewise was kept in sure guarde despayring howe she shoulde finde a Knight that would aduenture on her behalfe in fight because the strength and prowesse of the Challenger was so renowmed Leauing thus these two louers in doubts and feares let vs returne where we left before to noble Palmerin that hee may bring them some better comfort Chap. XXVIII How Palmerin hauing staid with his Ladie fiue dayes in so great pleasure as his heart could desire fearing to be discouered to the Emperour tooke his leaue of her promising to begin the search of Trineus and Ptolome POlynarda hauing her Fréend in her custodie would not presume so farre vpon her selfe or the faithfulnesse of her Ladies as shée would suffer him to stay there in the day time and doubting likewise least his comming in the night should be espyed committed the whole matter in such trust to Bryonella as they performed their ioyes without any impeachment During these delights and amourous contentments which these timorous Louers passed togither the Princesse among other talke rehearsed to her Fréend how the King of Fraunce sent his Ambassadours to the Emperour to treate on the marriage betwéene her and his eldest Sonne as also her Brother Trineus with his Daughter Lucemania And howe importunate the Empresse had béene with her discouering what honour and felicitie it should bée to her to bée Quéene of so great a Kingdome as Fraunce is And trust mée my Lord quoth shée I know my Parents are so affected to this alliaunce as if my Brother Trineus were come I know no meane whereby to excuse my selfe Alas Madame quoth Palmerin herein you may consider if the Emperour by violent force constraine you héereto what continuall gréefe it will bée to your Seruaunt Palmerin What torment What tyrannous paines of strange conceit may equall themselues with the verie least of my passions nor can I any way bee able to endure them The doubtfull feares of this misfortune strooke to his heart with such an impression as hee fell in a swoune betwéene his Ladies armes shée embracing him with such ardent affection as the soule of the poore tormented Louer séeling with what equall desire his Ladie requited him receiued fresh strēgth into his languishing bodie and béeing come to his former estate the Princesse said Alas my Lord at the time I supposed to be in assuraunce with you and to thinke on no imaginations but new pleasures and delights forgetting the regarde you haue long continued in expectation of the wished fortunate houre will yée bée nowe the cause of my death Thinke you that if loue bée so violent on your behalfe it excéedeth not a thousand times more in mée Beléeue me you men make your vaunts of the great passions feares and doubts you haue to offende your Ladyes whom to serue loyally you haue especially chosen but in no wise may these oppressions be compared to ours Where is hée among ye who hath experimented howe great the paine of dishonor is and can couer his extreame loue with dissimulation What a death is it to constraine violence agaynst it selfe to containe the piercing eye and subdue an heart so affectionate as bringeth death to the rest of the bodie if shee shewe not some part of her desire by lookes the faithfull and secrete messengers to him she hath chosen loueth and wisheth The torment of the will like wise when one dare not come in presence nor behold her fauoured to languish and yet may séeke no meane of helpe all these insupportable miscries we poore Ladies must endure béeing giuen by nature or forced for a custome Wherefore my Lorde present not me with your passions considering each thing as it ought they may not be compared to the least of mine for loue who hath ouermaistred me reigueth with such resolute authoritie as I must sooner die then offer you anie wrong séeing that as my Lord and Husband I haue elected you and bestowed those fauours on you which are most desired to wit willing obedience and that then which nothing is more precious Hauing then made you soueraigne of my selfe the Prince of Fraunce cannot enioy an other mans right And if my Father vsing his authoritie shall enforce mée although it be gréeuous to mée I will tell him what hath happened and no menaces whatsoeuer shall alter mine opinion Palmerin séeing his Ladie so firme and loyall was not a little ioyfull thus answering Doubtlesse my deare and most gracious Mistresse hitherto I durst presume on my selfe that by my manifolde loyall seruices I shoulde one day deliuer recompence for some part of the honours you haue done mée but nowe I perceiue that abounding in your graces you depriue me of all meanes to acknowledge your bountie which commonly men desire to shew by their obedience nor shall I be able to deserue the inestimable value contained in the simplest worde of your last most honorable promise Nowe the Princesse discerning by the Window that Aurora Phoebus his faire Porter began to let foorth the morning light and prouide way for his Maisters iourney withdrew her selfe to her Chamber and quicklie layde her downe by Brionella who the better to hide her Ladies affayres dissembled that she had a feuer Quotidian by which meaue shée compassed to kéepe her Chamber and entertained Palmerin as her selfe desired All this while Vrbanillo brought newes from the Prince Olorico who was so desirous to sée the Princesse againe as hée vowed not to depart the Cittie before hée accomplished what hée intended Palmerin who loued him as his Brother was in great doubt howe hée shoulde safelye bring it to passe till Bryonella whose deuises were euer readyest sayde My Lord the man béeing no way able to hurt you of the lesse importance néede you make the matter will yée sée howe we will a little iuggle with the Emperour Let it be sayd that the Prince is Cozin to Vrbanillo and the cause of his comming into his Countrey was to séeke you then because he vnderstandes how my Ladie loues the Dwarffe 〈◊〉 Maiestie without anie doubt will suffer the two Cozins to take their leaue of her will not this deuise then shadow his séeing the Princesse Without question quoth Palmerin I shoulde neuer haue inuented such a subtiltie be it then as you haue determined but with great politie that the Emperour misdoubt nothing for if he discouer vs we are shamed for euer Referre it to me sayd Brionella if I discribe not their kindred cunningly neuer beléeue that a Woman can inuent a lie without studie Brinella conferring with the Dwarffe layde downe the platforme in such order as the next day the Prince came before the Emperour when Vrbanillo on his knée desired leaue that hée might depart with his Cozin there present to séeke his Maister in whose search he woulde
no Ladie may comparâ— her felicitie with mine Ah my sonne by thée are my sorrowes chaunged into ioy my dispaire into content and from death it selfe am I brought againe to life for if my husbands hard hap made me dâ—spise life now may you be assured how much I desire it Then declared shée how to saue the Prince Florendos life whose faithfull loue brought him to such extremitie by sicknesse she aduentured her honor for his safetie and entering the paradise of loue bestowed that iewel on him which she most of all estéemed And so maist thou quoth shée report to the Emperour yet in this manner that not by carâ—all impudicitie I so consented for God is my witnesse that notwithstanding the perill wherein I sawe him no perswasion could cause me yéeld him that especiall remedie before he had first solemnly vowed marriage to mée which against all right was broken by the Emperours commaundement Madame quoth Palmerin Florendos is of such valour and his honorable actions so well receiued among men that albeit he had made you no such promise yet reason may excuse you in this matter But if by promised faith and to saue the life of so gentle a Knight who happilie by your refusall might haue miscaried you honoured the Temple of Loue with so swéete an offering among people of good minde it ought rather to bée tearmed a vertue then anie bad affection or vnlawfull lust And therfore Madame comfort your selfe for shortly I hope to assure your peace with the Emperour and séeing I haue you for my mother and the Prince Florendos for my Father I féele my selfe frée from any gréefe or vexation assuring you that I will driue it to no further delay but this morning will I confer with his Maiestie The Quéene béeing fearefull that her long stay should cause anie bad opinion hauing kissed her sonne gaue him the good morrowe and so went to her Chamber where shée found Cardyna her Gentlewoman to wâ—om she shewed the Crucifixe her sonne had giuen her saying Tell me I pray thée Cardina doost thou remember that heeretofore thou hast séene this Crucifixe and in what place Beléeue me Madame quoth shée I thinke I haue seene it before nowe but in what place I am not certaine Why forgetfull creature knowest thou not that this is the Crucifixe which was tied about my sonnes necke when thy selfe did carrie him to the mountaine In gooâ— faith the Knight is hée who fought the Combate for my Lorde Florendos Nowe sée the great mercie and bountie of our God who preserued his life then and from infinite daungers hath defended him hitherto Notwithstanding bee thou secret and on perill of thy life reueale it to none vntill the Emperour my Father be acquainted therewith Cardyna was so ioyfull héereof as shée must néedes goe presently to sée Palmerin and finding the Chirugions with him visiting his woundes shée fetched a gorgious Mantle of purple Ueluet broydered round about with Pearles Diamonds and Rubies as wel might beséeme the greatest Monarch to weare As Cardina holpe him to put on this Mantle she noted the marke on his face which she remembred since thâ— time of his birth and in this maner goes Palmerin chéerefully to the Emperour whom he founde conferring with his Lords and Barons but his presence caused them breake off talke imagining him the comeliest person that euer they sawe The good olde Emperour Remicius reioycing to sée him in so good and able plight demaunded of him howe he fared Right well quoth he I thank God and your highnesse readie to aduenture on any occasion shal like you to commaund me and now am I come to aduertise your Maiestie of such matters as will not a little glad ye in the hearing so please your grace to vouchsafe me priuate audience Hereupon the Emperour commaunded euery one to depart the Hall and they béeing nowe alone Palmerin thus began Dreaâ— Lord and mighty Emperour till this time haue I frequented the Courts of manie Kings and Potentates without desire of requesting anie thing vntill this present when faine would I request one boone of your Maiestie the grant whereof shall returne you both profit and honor My noble Fréend Palmerin aunswered the Emperour what euer thou pleasest demaund and on my worde it shall bée graunted Palmerin with humble obeysaunce kissing the Emperours hand sayd In sooth my Lorde all that I haue to request is onely to desire your highnesse that all offences committed by the Prince Florendos and Madame Griana your Daughter may not onely be forgotten but also forgiuen For thy sake Palmerin quoth the Emperour I forgiue all their offences whatsoeuer May it then please your Maiestie quoth he to remember howe when Florendos came to doo you seruice during your warres agaynst Gamezio because you denied to giuâ— him your Daughter hée was so sicke as euerie howre his death was expected It then so fortuned my Lord the Princesse your Daughter acquainted with the cause of his sicknesse to giue him some comfort as also to defend so good a Prince from death by gracious spéeches shée gaue him such hope of her loue and such for trueth as before they parted a solemne promise of marriage was concluded betwéene them I know not the conditions of their agréements but it séemed the Articles consisted on no difficult accorde for each receyued of other the swéete desires of loue in so much as that night was I begotten And for a trueth my Lord I am the Sonne to the Prince Florendos and Madame Griana your Daughter who as I vnderstand by the Empresse perswasion against all right you compelled to marrie with the Prince Tarisius Florendos notwithstanding my Mothers wrong was verye great hath continued so loyall as hée would neuer accept anie other for his Wife nor as yet will but onely her Nowe my Lord that this matter may not séeme a fantasticall inuention I can resolue you of the place of my byâ—â—h which was in the Tower where my Mother remained prisoner by your commaundement vnder the charge of a Ladie named Tolomestra who to defende your daughters honor caused me to be carried to a place not far hence which is called the Mâ—unt of Oliues from whence my surname is likewise deriued in that place was I â—ound by a Countrey pesant vnder a Palme Trée who in signe thereof named me Palmerin d'Oliua My sorrowfull Mother hoping one day to sée me againe diligently noted diuerse markeâ— I haue and hung about my necke a golden Crucifixe which this day I gaue her againe and by this marke 〈…〉 like a Crosse shée well remembers me to be her Sonne In this respect my Lord that your Daughters offence was occasioned by true and faithfull loue and hauing likewise promised to forgiue all causes of displeasure graunt my father nowe at length to enioy his lawfull Wife that I béeing their Sonne may not bée estéemed as illegitimate the dâ—â—ing whereof will renowme your name for euer and loue
â—hee saluted his Maiestie with great reuerence yet not kissing his hande because he came from as great a state as hee was afterwrd he beganne in this manner Mightie and redoubted Monarch of Allemaigne the most high and excellent Emperour of Constantinople my Maister vnderstanding the losse of your Sonne Trineus gréeteth you with health and continuall happinesse Giuing you to vnderstande that within these fewe daies such good fortune hath befallen him as in all his life time hée neuer had the like And albeit in his last warre with the Turkes and Moores he lost both Sonnes Nephewes and many great Lords of his kindred and since that time hath béene troubled with the hard â—ap of his daughter Griana Quéene of Hungaria and the sodaine death of her Husband the King yet hath his Maiestie changed all these gréefes into ioy by knowledge of the good Knight Sir Palmerin whose renowne liues as wel in Heathenesse as in Christendome béeing now found Sonne to my Lord the Emperour and therefore created sole heyre to the Empire And the noble Prince Palmerin on his behalfe humbly saluteth your imperiall maiestie béeing the Lord to whom he is most affected in seruice so that to finde out your Sonne Trineus and the faire Agriola Daughter of England whom two yéeres since and more hee lost in the East Seas he abandoneth all honorable preferments vntill his trauaile shall be finished and he hath brought him hither before your highnesse And hauing alreadie searched in many Kingdomes at length hée vnderstood that they were liuing and in health also that himselfe should in the ende recouer them hée thought it necessarie to acquaint you herewith because he doubted of your extreame sorrow and heauinesse The Emperor astonied to heare the good fortune of Palmerin as also the losse of his Sonne Trineus could not subdue his passions which mooued the teares to trickle downe his chéekes with conceit of ioy and gréefe together yet shadowing his alteration so well as he could thus replyed In truth my Lorde Ambassadour I alwaies imagined by Palmerins woorthie actions that he was discended of noble or royall linage and greatly it contenteth me that he so happily hath founde the house of his discent expelling altogether considering his promise and prowesse what hath béene long imprinted in my heart considering the losse of my Sonne Trineus For so fauourable are the heauens to Palmerin in all his enterprises and admirable aduentures as one may imagine that déeds of honor and account are reserued onely for him chéefely the recouerie of my Sonne which I hope hee will effectually bring to passe And trust me not without great and sufficient reason doth the Emperour your Maister repute himselfe happie this onely good fortune béeing of force enough to discharge his mind of all sorrowes and cares that former occasions mooued him with all Now know I howe to recompence his princely kindnesse honoring me with so good and happy tidings but that it may please him to accept of mee héereafter as his louing Brother and faithfull Friend No other thing my Lord quoth the Duke dooth his Maiestie desire and to beginne this amitie and alliance betwéene you hee requesteth that if his Sonne Palmerin hath héeretofore founde such fauour in your eyes you would now confirme it by giuing him to wife the Princesse Polynarda your Daughter whom he will not marrie vntill he haue brought home your Sonne Trineus As for the other conuentions of the marriage this Letters shall certifie you so kissing them hée deliuered them with very great reuerence And her shall he haue with right good will sayde the Emperour for a fitter husband can shée not haue I thinke likewise her selfe will consent thereto for the good opinion she had of him while he remained in our Court But because I will not displease the King of Fraunce who in like manner requesteth her for his Sonne and heyre I will conferre with the estates of the Empire and then deliuer you certaine answere So the Ambassadours withdrew themselues to their lodgings and the Emperor caused the Letters to bee read before all his Princes and Lordes who could no way mislike of this marriage and therefore great ioy was made through the Empire in hope the Prince Trineus should soone be recouered These ioyfull newes soone spreading through the Court at length were brought to the Princesse Polinarda in her Chamber who not able to conceale her sodaine ioy ranne to Bryonella saying Swéete friende nowe maist thou reioyce with me in that our loues are nowe assured vs whereof before wée vtterly despayred Ah my Brionella Heauen hath now confirmed our fortunate successe in that my Palmerin is founde to bee the Emperours Sonne of Constantinople whereof he hath certified my Lord and Father by his Embassage and howe Palmerin hath heard tydings of my Brother Trineus whom shortly he will bring home againe yet not without thy Ptolome I hope Therefore my onâ—ly copartner in loue and feare let vs abandon all gréefe and sorrow which greatly may preiudice our health and welfare and nowe dispose our selues to a contented resolution of life attending our long desired fortune God graunt it may be so quoth Bryonella yet my minde perswades mee that wée shall not sée them so soone as you wéene The Emperour hauing conferred with the Lorde of Allemaigne who very well allowed the marriage of his daughter with Palmerin determined to send to the Emperor of Constantinople ambassadours for perfect confirmation of the marriage And by generall consent the Duke of Lorrayne and the Marquesse of Licena were chosen for this present Embassage Which being doone the Emperour went to the Empresse Chamber and sent for his Daughter Polynarda who was so ioyfull of these happie newes as she could scant imagine how to dissemble her content when shee should come in her Fathers presence yet shadowing it from any open suspect after shee had saluted her Father with great reuerence the Emperour thus spake Daughter you haue hitherto refused so many noble offers as hardly can I permitte to mooue you with any other yet once more will I trie you againe in hope you will stand vpon no more refusals but ioyne with me in opinion as beyonde all other best beséemes you The man of whom I speake is noble Palmerin of whose honourable behauiour you haue some knowledge and for no other cause hath the Emperour sent his Ambassadours aduise your selfe then what you answere for all our nobilitie allow the match and thereto haue generally subscribed their consent The Princesse couering her inwarde ioy with modest bashfulnesse thus answered If héeretofore my good Lorde I excused my obeysance to your commandement especially for taking a husband it was onely for the promise I made to my Brother Trineus but nowe seeing it is your pleasure and the good lyking of al the estates as also that the marriage shall not be solemnized till my Brothers presence I will not disobey your commaund assuring your Maiestie that more content am
Emperour said I beseech you my Lord graunt me one request which shall be no way preiudiciall to your Maiestie Arise sir Palmerin quoth the Emperour aske what thou wilt and thou shalt haue it My Lord Tryneus and the Princesse Agriola saide Palmerin are religiously married betweene themselues let me intreate your highnesse to confirme it witâ— open solâ—mnization before the Duke of Mecaena héere present whom I meane to send into England that he may resolue the King howe himselfe was an eye witnesse of their marriage The Emperour liked so well of Palmerins motion as soone after the wedding was solemnized and he comming to Bryonella courteously taking her by the hand said My good friend Brionella I am now to be discharged of the promise I made at my last being here in witnesse whereof I haue brought your knight sir Ptolome and him I commend to your further fauour So highly am I beholding vnto you my Lord quoth shée as neuer shall I bee able to returne sufficient recompence but were we equall in ioy with the Prince Tryneus and faire Agriola then would I think no storme could wrong vs. Palmerin at these words presently left her and perswaded the Emperour so well as Ptolome and Brionella were likewise espoused togither when Palmerin conferring with the Princesse Agriola thus spake to her Now may you iudge Madame whether I deceiued ye or no and if the estate of my Lord Tryneus be any lesse then I told ye Had I not giuen faithfull credit to your spéeches answered Agriola I would not haue forsaken my Parents and friendes so rashly but I hope they will pardon me in that I haue done nothing but to their honour On the morrow with excéeding ioy and rare tryumphs were Palmerin and Polinarda married togither and thus was long and faithfull loue worthily requited Ptolome was now created Duke of Saxon and Dyardo tooke his leaue to goe sée his wife Cordonya whom he had not heard of since the time he was taken by the Pirates Chap. LXI Howe Palmerin sent Ptolome Duke of Saxon as his Ambassador to the King of France and the Duke Eustace of Mecaena to the King of England to treate of the peace betweene them CErtaine dayes before the departure of Dyardo toward Bohemia Palmerin in the presence of the Emperour and all the Princes gaue the charge of his Embassade to the Duke Ptolome which he should deliuer not onely to the most Christian King of France himself but also to his yongest sonne who now had espoused the Duchesse of Buroundie So departed Ptolome from Vienna accompanied with many Lordes and knights and at length arriued at Digeon where the Prince Lâ—wes being acquainted with the cause of his comming thus answered the Ambassadour My Lorde sometime I had acquaintance in Fraunce with the most renowned Palmerin and because hée is the onely man of the worlde to whom I owe all friendly affection I will perswade my Father to ioyne in peace with him Nowe was Ptolome in good hope that his trauaile woulde sorte to successiue ende wherefore they presently iourneyed to the King who as then was with his estates at Paris and hauing hearde Palmerins request who nowe was wedded to the Princesse Polynarda and therefore his intended warre with the Emperour would extende to the hurt of the man he loued thus answered Duke of Saxon I am sufficiently acquainted with the bountie of thy Maister and verie well I doo remember that at his béeing in Fraunce he combatted for his Ladie Polinarda yet was I ignoraunt till nowe of that hath happened But leaste hée should conceiue that I séeke to make a commotion in Christeâ—dome let him enioy his Ladie and Wife in peace although shée was sometime promised to mine eldest Sonne reseruing the conditions of our amitie that our first Nephewes and Néeces may match togither in marriage therby to continue the honour of their predecessours As for the Kings of Spaine and England who moued me to giue them assistaunce on there behalfe I can make you no certaine answere vntill my Messengers be returned home againe Gracious Lord quoth Ptolome I dare assure you in the name of my Maister that hée hath euermore estéemed your fauour among the best Christian Princes and will not refuse the marriage betwéene your Children héereafter And this coniunction of your amitie will cause that neither the Kings of Spaine or England will séeke to molest him but with your highnesse ioyne in loue and friendship With this answer Ptolome returned to Vienna where the Emperour and Palmerin welcommed him with excéeding honour and by this time had the Duke Eustace taken landing in England where deliuering the summe of his charge to the King his highnesse returned him this answere Although my Lord Ambassadour both your Maister and the Prince Tryneus did me manifest dishonor yet not to withstand peace which still ought to bâ—â— preferred before warre I graunt his request and will presently call home my Garrisons shaking hands with him in honourable concord As for the wrong doone to my Daughter I am content to excuse it beléeuing that shée was not conueyed hence but with her will thanking the Prince for the honour he hath done her séeing she would leaue her Parents and friendes so lightly I thinke my gracious Lord answered the Duke that when you consider what your Daughter hath done you will not touch her with want of witte or iudgement for in respect of the long enmitie betwéene the Emperour and you shée desired that her marriage might sort this happie ende Nor would she haue departed hence with the Prince Tryneus without a faithfull and resolued promise of marriage which is performed with as great honour as euer was done to the daughter of a King Thinke you quoth the King that had not the great friendship of Tryneus when against his Fathers will he came with Palmerin to assist me quallified the weight of mine anger against him but I woulde haue pursued the iniurie he did to me yet did I referre his seruice to the iudgements of my Lords of England who perswaded me to reuenge which you well perceiue as yet I haue not done Prince Palmerin quoth the Duke is so vertuous as rather woulde hée haue runne on a thousande deathes then your daughters honour shoulde anie way haue béene impeached but béeing assured of this fortunate issue both hée and Tryneus aduentured as they did And sorrie am not I said the King that all things are come so well to passe but séeing we are entred thus farre in spéeche tell mée I pray you how Palmerin came to the knowledge of his Parents and howe hée finished the aduentures at the Castle of the tenne Rockes and the daungerous Isle of Malfada which neuer any Knight could compasse before Then the Duke rehearsed euerie accident how amourous the great Turke was on the Princesse Agriola and each seuerall occasion as they fell out at which report the Quéene with her Ladies were present who hearing the discourse
no Knight whatsoeuer came into his Court without verie honourable receite and bountifull rewardes expressing the good nature of a vertuous Prince whose déedes were helde of no small reckoning amongst his verie enemies He maried with the King of Hungarias Daughter a Princesse for witte and beautie equall with any of her time which caused her to be so especiallie loued of her Lord the Emperour as hee altogeather gaue ouer y◠exercise of Armes notwithstanding his Court did not diminishe one lote of the former glorie for good and hardle Knights but dailie increased in such sort as he tooke great delight to haue yong Princes Knights and Gentlemen nurtured and educated from their verie infancie in his Pallace especiallie after the Empresse had brought him a Sonne which was named Caniano at whose birth was no little reioycing through the whole Empire Within two yéeres after she was likewise deliuered of a goodlie Daughter named Griana who growing to fourtéene yéeres of age was of such rare beautie and singuler good grace as those that behelde her estéemed her for the chiefest péece of workmanshippe that euer nature framed Héereupon it chaunced that Tarisius Sonne to the King of Hungaria who had béene brought vp in company with the yonge Prince Caniano fell into such amorous conceite of the yong Princesse as hee deuoted him selfe onelie to her seruice béeing vnable to conceale the obiect of his affections but that time made her acquainted with the cause of his alteration Manie meanes he founde to entise her good opinion towards him but she carrying a religious zeale to loue in some other climate made no reckoning of his imporunate and dilligent seruice which drewe a Hell of tormentinge thoughts vppon Tarisius séeing his sute and seruice so déeplie despised Neuerthelesse to compasse his intent he desired his Cozin Caniano to cause a Tryumphe bee published whereunto all Knights might be summoned as well straungers as others not doubting but hee should spéede so well in déedes of Armes as thereby hee might deserue the loue of the faire Griana and so afterwardes make meanes by the Empresse to demaunde her in mariage all which hée concealed from his Cozin Caniano who verie gladlie didde consent to what Tarisius had requested watching oportunitie to finde the Emperour his Father at leysure when he made his highnesse acquainted with the whole enterprise of himselfe and his Cozin Tarisius desiring him that all Knights might haue warning for preparation against a day the next Moneth appointed for the purpose The Emperour was verie well pleased with his Sonnes requeste accounting himselfe highlie honoured by his demaunde whereuppon he caused Heraulds of Armes presentlie to bée dispatched to signifie his intended Tournament through al Countries farre and néere In the meane while Tarisius coulde not rest daie nor night but still endeuoured to doo what he iudged might please the Princesse Griana to whō as yet he had not vttered the effect of his longing desire albeit by exteriour actions he dailie made shewe sufficient of his tormenting passions But it so fell out not long after that one daie in her walking he had sorted her alone from al the other Ladies Gentlewomen in a place commodious for a Louers discourses where falling from one argument to another the furie of his oppressions imboldened him so far that at length he brake with her in manner folowing Madame you are not ignoraunt of the honourable assembly that is appointed at the feaste ensuing when I hope to receiue the order of Knighthoode and if it shall like you to thinke so well of mee as to graunt mee one request easie enough for you to affoorde me perswade your selfe that I shal imagine my fortune equall with the happiest Knights that euer liued in that it may be the onelie meane whereby I shall enioy the prize and honour of the Triumphe Griana knowing assuredlie that Tarisius bare her great affection as I haue before rehearsed returned him this aunswere In sooth Cozin it would please me meruailous well to bee the meane of so good fortune as you promise your selfe Neuerthelesse I haue not learned so little modestie as to grant anie thing before I knowe what is desired When Tarisius vnderstoode her modest excuse he perswaded himself that he should nowe obtaine that of her whereof vntill that instant he had liued in despaire whereuppon the teares standing in his eyes he began in this manner I humblie beséech you good Madame to take in worth what I am to acquaint you with for when I determined to smoother my gréefe in secrete the extremitie of my affection grew to such a surplusage as it brake the stringes of my thoughts almost vowed for euer silent to reueale that to you which my selfe dare but reuerentlie thinke such is my feare to displease you otherwise I knowe no meane canne warrant me from suddaine and cruell death so setled is y◠vnspotted loue I bare you which when I striue to ouercome and my selfe also the more I would decrease it the more it augmenteth and that so strangelie as while you are in presence my spirite forsaketh euerie part of mée to liue in you onelie For which cause I haue determined if you thinke it good to request you of the Emperour your Father for my Wife and if he regarde me with so much honour the Realme of Hungaria may well challenge and my selfe likewise the highest roome in earthlie felicitie hauing a Mistresse of such vnspeakable qualitie In the meane time if you please to bestowe on me anie Iewell or fauoure commaunding mee to weare it as your Knight and Seruaunt you shall wel perceiue how aduenturous loue will be in defence of my right by the aduantage I shall recouer in the vertue of a gifte so acceptable Griana who made but slender account of his passions and béeing not well pleased that he held her with such vaine discourses modestlie returned him this aunswere If you had such regarde of me as I well deserue you woulde not attempt me with spéeches so vnfitting my hearing for if your desire be such as you giue me to vnderstand you ought to make it knowne to the Emperor or Empresse who haue greater authoritie ouer me then I haue my selfe Therfore I desire you hencefoorth not to aduenture the like on perill of your life otherwise I shall let you knowe howe highlie you offend me on which cōdition I am cōtent for this time to pardon your want of discretion in that I perceiue my selfe to be the onelie cause thereof in graunting you time and leysure thus priuatlie to assaile me for which ouersight I repent mee at the verie harte With which wordes shee floong away and left him alone declaring by her countenaunce to be offended with his request in that shee desired rather to die then accept him for her Husband or to allowe him the name of her fréende If then Tarisius was driuen into a quandarie wee néede not meruaile wherefore troubled as he was and not caring greatlie
whether hee went he entred the Empresse Chamber where shee and her Son Caniano stoode conferring togeather without saluting the one or other he satte downe in a Chaire and gaue such bitter sighes as the Empresse hearing was somewhat mooued therewith doubting he had either receiued some greate iniurie or els coulde not prouide himselfe so sufficientlie as he would for the Triumphe wherupon she left her Sonne and calling Tarisius aside thus began with him Nephewe I sée you verie melancholie which makes me to iudge that you want some néedefull thing for the Tournament which my Sonne hath caused to be published With which words she beheld Tarisius more wishlie then she had doone before and perceiued the teares to trickle down his chéekes which made her more desirous to knowe the cause of his gréefe but his hart was so confounded and shut vppe in anguish as hée could not speake one word to her Neuerthelesse the Empresse who loued him as her owne Sonne founde so manie meanes to perswade him as in the ende he disclosed the loue he bare to Griana and the aunswere likewise which shee made him whereby I am assured quoth he that nothing but death can cease my torments The Empresse who of her selfe did manie times determine to make that marriage perceiuing nowe howe fitlie the occasion offred it selfe began to resolue on the consumation thereof and to content her Nephewe in excusing the Princesse Griana spake as followeth Doo you Nephewe mislike the aunswere of my Daughter beléeue me therein she didde but her dutie for she cannot dispose of her selfe béeing yong and vnder controule but the Emperour and I whom you ought firste to make acquainted with your request But since I perceiue how you are affected I promise you I will confer with my Lorde the Emperour and hope to preuaile so well in the cause as you shall spéede of that you moste desire As they continued these discourses they were giuen to vnderstande by a Messenger that the Prince Florendos the Kinges son of Macedon was newlie arriued with a braue companie of Knights But his comming to the Emperour was not as his vassaile or Subiect because the kingdome of Macedon was at that time no way beholding to the Empire but onelie to sée the faire yong Princesse Griana the renowne of whose beautie and vertues had so peirced his thoughtes as before he sawe her he loued and honoured her so that for this cause onlie he iournied to Constantinople where he was verie honourablie entertained bothe of the Emperour and his Sonne Caniano as also of the Empresse and faire Griana who oftentimes hearde him reckoned and estéemed amongst the most honourable and gracious Princes that liued at that daie CHAP. II. Howe the Empresse conferred with the Emperour as concerning the mariage of theyr Daughter Griana wyth Tarisius Sonne to the King of Hungaria whereof they both determined and of that which happened in the meane time THe Empresse was not forgetfull of her promise made to her Nephewe Tarisius but endeuoured by all meanes possible to find the Emperour at such leysure as she might impart the whole to him and because shee had so hardilie taken the matter vppon her shee would gladlie it should sorte to effecte as commonlie Women are couetous of their owne desires therefore no meruaile if shée were earnest in following her intent Soone after walking alone with the Emperour and smoothlie couering the baite she was desirous he shoulde swallowe shee desired him to graunt her one request whereof shee woulde not willinglie be denied The Emperour neuer before hearing her so importunate consented at the first to whatsoeuer she demaunded nowe perswading her selfe sure to spéede thus shee beganne My Lord hauing often considered with my selfe that our Daughter Griana is of yéeres and discretion able for a Husband I am the more desirous to sée her honourablie bestowed And for that the yonge Prince Tarisius hath béene trained vp in your Court and which I little thought some good will appeareth to be betwéene them I should thinke if not amisse to vnite them in mariage togeather for hardlie shall we finde 〈…〉 a Lord of greater blood and birth then he béeing heire apparant to the Crowne and kingdome of Hungaria besides they hauing béene so longe time conuersant togeather in their yonger yeeres will entertaine a more speciall regard of loue betwéene them then can be in anie other that may mooue yâ— question to her Madame aunswered the Emperour she is your Childe and I doo not thinke but you would her good therefore I like the motion well for that indéede I esteeme so well of Tarisius as of mine owne Sonne aâ—d since wee haue so happilie fallen into these discourses we will foorthwith certifie yâ— King his Father by our Ambassadours that we may vnderstand his opinion héerein The Empresse gratified her Lord with verie hartie thankes béeing not a little glad she had so well preuailed wherefore immediatlie shee aduertised 〈◊〉 But for Griana her affection was els where for she bare a certaine secrete good liking to Florendos so soone as shee behelde him hearing so great reporte of his knightlie bountie and prowesse so that beholding them togeather and their eyes deliuering the good conceite of eache other one might easilie iudge that Loue hadde so mightilie maistered her thoughts as if he consented she had sette downe her reste for her choise and hee on the other side was drawne into the same compasse notwithstanding eache of them for the time concealed what they rather desired should be known betweene them Yet this hidden fire stroue to gaine place of issue for diuers times the Princesse Griana béeing amongst her Ladies talking of such Knights as woulde shewe themselues at the Tournament the Prince Florendos was coÌ„monlie first spoken of and so highlie would the Ladies commende him beyonde all the other as Griana coulde not refraine from changing coloure so that the alteration she founde in her spirite might be euidentlie perceiued howbeit none of the Ladies as then noted it and thus shee continued till the feast of Saint Maria d' Augusta which was the daie appointed for the Tournament on which daie the Emperour knighted his Sonne Caniano and Tarisius Nephewe to the Empresse in honour wherof hee held a greater and more magnificent Courte then before time hee had doone for he suffered the Ladies to accompanie the Knights at the Table albeit they were not wont to doo so often at yâ— time yet full well it pleased the Prince Florendos who satte opposite to the Princesse Griana during which time of Dinner though manie piercing lookes and smothered sighes were sent from eache other as messengers of their sâ—mâ—lable opinions yet cunninglie they shaddowed all from being discerned But after the Tables were withdrawne and eache one preparing for the Tourney Florendos so well behaued himselfe as he founde the meanes to speake priuatlie with his newe Fréende and thus he beganne Madame the Heauens haue not a little fauoured mee in
for Florendos could not finde him the bruite and rumor was qualified and the Emperour went againe to his Chamber till the morning when the Empresse hearing yâ— her daughter was in prison tooke it verie heauilie and knéeling be-before the Emperour desired him that she might fetch her foorth but he was so angrie as her wordes coulde doo nothing with him yet he graunted that shee shoulde goe see her and tooke her the Key when she entering the Tower founde her sitting on the ground so blubred with teares as was lamentable to beholde but when she behelde her Mother she arose and dooing her reuerence coulde not speake her teares so ouercame her The Empresse that loued her déerelie séeing her in this gréeuous estate had much a doo to dissemble what she thought how beit after a fewe light wordes passed betwéene them she said I am â—orie daughter that you haue so lightlie throwne your affection vpon a Straunger and that you forget your duetie in following your Fathers counsell and mine who well knâ—we the loue Tarisius beares you and no otherwise Daughter then to take you to his wife But you carried awaie with yâ— loosenes which ill agrées with your credite and calling haue rather thought best to grant Florendos enterance by your Garden at such a suspected howre as while you liue your honour will be hardlie thought on for two of Tarisius his Knights who thought to take the Traytour are slaine and my Nephew himselfe daungerouslie escaped Griana hearing him called Traitour whom shee so highlie looued and that shee herselfe was accused by that which ought to excuse her answered Madame and my gracious Mother as yet I am ignoraunt of the cause that hath mooued the Emperour in such choller against me and be it for this you speake of in soothe I am offered verie great iniurie for I knowe not whether Florendos or anie other haue entred my Garden well I am assured hee came not where I was These are straunge newes to me Madame I â—old rather haue thought him on his waie towards Macedon in respect of the solemne leaue he tooke in the Courtâ— For my part I would that the Traytour which was the cause hereof had long since béene buried in the bottome of the Sea then he should so abuse the honor of Florendoâ— with a matter of such villanie wherein I cannot iudge him faultie but were it he Madame I am at a point let him die yâ— death as he hath well deserued for my duetie to you my Parents hath taught me better nurture and loue canne be no priuiledge to me to offende Then good Mother twit not mee with impeache of honour in so innocent a cause for defence whereof were the death present before mine eyes I haue sorrowed as much as I would and am more readie to embrace then liue in suspecte so shall my Father and you bee eased of prouiding me a Husband As for the prison wherein I am I will not denie his fauoure when it shall please him to deliuer me but I coulde take it farre more contentedlie to spende the remainder of my following daies thus solitarie then to liue abroade misdéemed on by anie Faire Daughter said the Empresse doo not discomfort your selfe in this sort the Emperour had some reason in regarde of the loue he beares you and the outragious tumult which happened to doo as he hath doone but I hope in the end all will sort to the best and that you your selfe shall remaine contented Manie other spéeches passed betwéene them till at length the Empresse left her and departed for she thought long till she was with the Emperour to let him know the talke betwéene her and Griana which shee didde without omitting anie thing notwithstanding hee was more seuere to his Daughter euerie daie after Then sent hee for the Ambassadours and thus he began with them My Lordes at this time I am aduised that you shall returne to your King my Brother for in respect of the accidents which you haue séene to happen I will craue pardon for this tyme referring matters ouer till some other time when thinges shall fall in better disposition The Ambassadours vnderstanding the Emperours pleasure the next daie tooke their leaue towarde the King their Maister to whom they declared the whole in generall whereat hee conceiued such dyspleasure as he presentlie sent for his Sonne Tarisius who had not as yet recouered his health But he was so enamered on yâ— yong Princesse as he would not obey his Fathers commaund but so soone as he was indifferentlie amended he intreated the Emperour to pardon his Daughter accusing his owne men who vndiscreetlie had raised this false rumour of her and Florendos By this meanes the Empresse and her Ladies obtained libertie dailie to accompanie Griana but all the night time he caused her to bee locked vp as closelie as before committing her to the charge of an aged Gentlewoman named Tolomestra whom hee commaunded on paine of death not to bee a minute of an houre forth of her companie CHAP. VIII Howe Florendos arriuing on the frontiers of Macedon made manie sorrowfull complaints for not bringing Griana away according to his enterprise NO sooner had Florendos Frenato ouertane their companie but they rid on in such hast fearing to be followed as at length they got the Frontiers of Macedon And because Florendos imagined himselfe without life not hearing anie tydinges from his Mistresse Griana he concluded to rest at the first Towne he came too there to expect the returne of the Esquire he sent to Constantinople who returned towards his Maister sooner then he looked for by reason of the little aboad he made in the Emperours Court for he staied not when he hearde that Griana was imprisoned and that Tarisius was not slaine as his Maister was perswaded These newes did wonderfullie afflict the Prince as well for the harde vsage of his swéete Fréende as that he had fayled in killing him by whose death he well hoped to recouer his losse all the whole daie would he receiue no sustenance but locked himselfe close in his Chamber and tombled on his bedde as a man halfe desperate But Frenato who would not be long absent from him fearing least his furie woulde cause him worke some violence on himselfe made such meanes yâ— hee got into the Chamber at what time the Prince was thus lamenting Alas swéete Madame was I borne in such an vnhappie houre that without desert you must indure imprisonment for me What satis-faction maie your Florendos liue to make in requitall of this iniurie When didde you euer merit to be so hardlie intreated for him Beléeue me coulde you bee discharged so soone as I coulde wyshe it bolts locks nor walles coulde holde you a thought whyle yet wyshing is no action euerie thing is contrarie to me al helpes refuse me and death likewise denies me but by my sworde and therewith he started vp in spight of whatsoeuer I will deliuer you Frenato
which deuousâ—ie he praised God binding vppe his woundes so well as he could with extreame wearines he laid him downe and slept wheÌ„ he séemed to sée the thrée Sisters whereof wee haue spoken before who were the Daughters to a Knight Lord of the Isle Carderia to whom none might be coÌ„pared for knowledge in the Magicall sciences and so well he had instructed his Daughters as after his death they alone excelled in this Arte so that the men of that Countrey commonlie called them the Goddesses of destinie because they coulde diuine before what should follow after And if any one didde happen to iniurie them they would reuenge themselues by their enchauntments so that they were greatlie feared and helde in reuerence They vsed diuers times this Mountaine Artifaeria as well to gather Hearbes for theyr necessarie vse as also for the Water of the Fountayne for the defence whereof they had there left this Serpent who was in time growne so huge and monstrous as he rather séemed a deuill then a natural Beast Notwithstanding howe hidious soeuer he was Palmerin as you haue hearde ouercame and slewe him finding the thrée Sisters in the manner as I haue tolde you who were not greatlie discontented with him but estéemed so well of him as in his sléepe the eldest of them thus spake to him Beléeue me Palmerin thy beginning is so honourable as great pittie it were to let thée die héere chéefelie for the want yâ—e all Greece shal haue of thée in time to come the whole Empire wherof is predestinated thine and therefore will I heale the woundes thou hast at this time receiued I will then doo somewhat more for him said the seconde Sister I will enchauÌ„t him so wel for his auaile as héerafter no coÌ„iuratioÌ„ or witchcraft shall haue anie power to hurt him Truelie said the third Sister for my part I will giue him such fortune as the first time he shall sée his Ladie Polinarda who so manie times saluted him in his Dreames shee shall looue him so intirelie as no dolor or forment shall make her forget while shee liues the happines shee shall receiue by his occasions Then the eldest Sister tooke a Golden Cup and filled it with the water of the Fountaine and wringing the iuyce of certaine Hearbes into it washed therewith Palmerins woundes so that they were immediatlie healed Now felt he verie wel all they did but his slumber tooke awaie the libertie of his spéeche vntill such time as they were departed but first the eldest of them thus spake Since this Knight hath had so good a beginning and yâ— his strength hath depriued our garde of our Fountaine I praie you let vs suffer him to haue his Glasse full of our Water that by his meanes the King of Macedon may be healed which a number of other Knights haue failed of héeretofore Wherto they all consented and so it came to passe then gathering their Hearbes as they were wont and washing them they tooke their waie to the Isle Cardâ—ria CHAP. XVII Howe Palmerin discended from the Mountaine wyth his Glasse full of the water of the enchauÌ„ted Fountaine and how ioyfull Vrbanillo the other Esquires were seeing their Maister returne with so good fortune WHen these thrée Sisters were departed Palmerin awaked and arose not a little meruailing at that he had heard and séene but most of al when he felt his wouÌ„des healed sawe his glasse ful of the water he came for so reudering thankes to heauen for his good successe hee went vp higher on the Mountain thinking to sée the Fountaine but he could not wherfore without any longer staie he discended downe againe thus saying to himself How happie maie I count my selfe to finde so good fortune in this desolate Mountaine for now I know her name that is destenied to be mine henceforth shal she not conceale her selfe from me may I find the place where she abideth and this I vowe by him that made mee that I will not cease to séeke her through the world til I heare some tidings of her and were it not for the promise I haue made the Princesse Arismena to bring her this water to recouer the King her Father this daie woulde I begin my religious enterprise in hope if the Ladies spake trueth yâ— appeared to me in my sleepe héereafter to be one of the happiest Knights in the world So walked he on til he came where he left his horse wheron hee mounted and came to Vrbanillo and his other Esquires who hauing heard the cry of the Serpent when Palmerin gaue him his first stroke perswaded themselues that their Maister was slaine but when they saw him coÌ„ming Vrbanillo aboue all the rest was most ioyfull ran apace to meete him desiring to know how he had sped Uerie wel I thank God said Palmeâ—in who gaue me strength to kill the Monster and to bring sufficient of the Water I hope to winne the King Primaleon his health Then haue I the thing I most desire said Vrbanillo albeit I greatlie feared that you had accompanied all the other Knights in death that aduentured before you and coulde not spéede so well So mounted they all on horsebacke and made so good iourneies as they arriued at Macedon whereof Florendos and faire Arismena were not a little ioyfull especially wheÌ„ they were assured that Palmerin had brought with him the Kings health by meanes wherof it is not to be demanded if he were highlie honoured and receiued at the Court. CHAP. XVIII How foure Knights would haue taken the Glasse of fatall water from Vrbanillo before Palmerin arriued 〈◊〉 Macedon and of the Combat betweene them YOu must heere vnderstande that the same day Palmerin in companie of his Esquires departed from the Mountaine hée sent Vrbanillo the Dwarffe before towardes Macedon with the Glasse of water when it so fortuned yâ— foure Knights met with him one of theÌ„ saluting him in these hard tearmes Deformed villaine giue me that Glasse or I shall take thy head from thy shoulders Palmerin who came not farre behind séeing the Knights offer iniurie to his Dwarffe gaue spurs to his Horse and thus answered Howe now Gentlemen are you not ashamed in my presence to abuse my seruant trust me I neither can nor wil so put it vp and so couching his Launce he encounted one of them so roughlie as he fel from his Horse deade to the ground When the other three sawe their companopm thus foyled they altogeather set vpon Palmerin but their fortune fel out so ill as two of them were soone vanquished and the third tooke himself to flight verie hardlie escaping Palmerin made no account of folowing him but leauing them rode on his way his Dwarffe thus comming to him Beléeue me my Lord quoth he hee is to be accounted ouer foolish hardie that at the weapons point séekes to offende you I dare boldlie affirme my wordes by euidence of the fortune of these foure Knightes In that said Palmerin thou
thing was so desired no man coulde bee better contented especially the Damosell who leaping froÌ„ her Palfray came and kissed Palmerins féete saying And may all happines repay this gentle déede faire Knight for but by you my death had béene best welcome to me Dâ—mosell quoth hee sée héere the Casket according as I sounde it I know not whither they that tooke it from you haue abused it or no. No no saide shee they could no way wrong it the Sword béeing heere that belongs to the best Knight I praie you quoth Ptolome let mee make tryall of my strength albeit I know my selfe no such man as you speake of so taking the Casket offered to begin when the Damosell desired him to forbeare for quoth shee you must first graunt me one request What ere it be saide Ptolome I graunt it and so set all his might to his intent but coulde not accomplish it wherefore quoth he to the Damosel Beléeue me Lady he that wrought this enchauntment dyd more by his arte then I can by my cunning and in my opinion you may trauaile long enough before you finde him that shall quit your expectation The more wil be my trouble quoth the Damosell béeing tyed by necessitye to such a Knights fortune When Palmerin sawe that his companion had failed he doubted whether he should take it in hand or no yet séeing hee coulde spéede no worse then other had doone he said to the Damosell will you any thing with me before I aduenture my selfe for my Fréende shall not bee mal content for a fellowe Gentle Knight quoth she I wyll nothing but that you make me the like promise your fréend did Of that doubt you not saide Palmerin so laying hande valiantlie on the Sword without any great labor he drew it foorth béeing the richest and goodliest Sworde that euer was séene Ah good Knight sayde the Damosell happy bee the day of thy natiuitie for thou hast deliuered me from incredible labour The Sword is yours but by your promise you stand bound to goe with me where I shall conduct you to doo that shall please my Lady to commaund you Leade the way Damosell quoth Palmerin and be sure we wil not leaue thy company So mounted the Damosell on her Palfray and tooke the way towardes Rome where she that deliuered her the Casket remained in deuotion and with such spéede they dispatched their trauaile as they arriued at the Gate of a strong Castell where the Damosell alighted desiring Palmerin and Ptolome to expect her returne awhile The Gate being opened she went straight to her Mistresse and her Sister who béeing gladde of her comming demaunded if she had found the man shée went to séeke Ladies ê™ she I haue and hither he is come with me but this I daâ—e assure you before hande that a more goodlie and valiant Gentleman liues not this daie for in my presence he vanquished three Knights who perforce tooke the Casket from me and for the Sworde he drew it foorth so easilie as it had béene that he weareth by his side Goe said the Lady and cause him come néere and come Sister let vs goe to the Gate to entertaine him Then was the Draw bridge let downe when Palmerin and Ptolome riding to the Gate met there the Ladies whom they saluted with great reuerence and each Ladye leading a Knight in by the hande conducted them to their Chambers to be vnarmed CHAP. XXII How the Lady of the Castell declared to Palmerin what mooued the Gyant Darmaco to take from her her Daughter and her goods whereuppon Palmerin promised to enter Combat with the Gyant as much for pittie as to acquite his promise made to the Damosell that brought the Casket and the enchaunted Sword OUr two Knightes béeing thus entered the Castell and vnarmed the Lady brought each of them a rich Mantle of Crimson Damaske imbroydered with Golde and pearle to couer them and so came with them into the Hall to meate where wanted no choyse of dainty delicates so after yâ— Tables were withdrawne and manye other spéeches passed betweene them the Ladie thus began to Palmerin Sir Knight as nowe I am a poore and disinherited Gentlewoman that sometime was Wife to one of the welthiest Knights in this Countrey with whome I long time remained not hauing anie Childe till at length it pleased God to sende me a Daughter so faire a creature as euer nature framed who at my Husbands death was left with me but fiue yéeres aged My Lorde and Husbande learned in the arte Magicke and for his skill renowmed in this Countrie the daie before his death hee called mee to him vsing these spéeches Déere Wife let if suffise thée that I knowe what shall happen to thée after my death and that one shal take perforce from thée not onelie such goods as I leaue thée but also thy faire Daughter to helpe which extremity I haue somewhat prouided for thée before my departure Thou shalt finde in my Cabinett a Sworde which I my selfe haue enclosed in a Casket and haue sette so manie inchaunted spels on that Sword as no man shal be able to drawe it out of the scabbard vnlesse he be the best approued Knight in the worlde and he it is that must giue thée succour and helpe to recouer againe thy losse Too true fel out my Husbands spéeches for soone after Darmaco the Gyant came hither and as his custome was to abuse whome hee listed so tooke he from me the best of my Castelles and in despight of me tooke my Daughter from me saying that he would giue her to one of his Sonnes in marriage a villain far more vicious then the Father so deformed as nature standes ashamed at her owne workmanship Nowe in respect I would not consent to this vnséemely marriage such goods as was left me hee violentlie tooke from mee thys Sworde onelie excepted which you haue worthilie conquered and that had gone with him too but that my Sister hid it verie secretlie Now woorthie Knight if euer pittie tooke place in thy gentle hart reuenge me on the villaine the hath thus robde me of my goods and my Daughter whose youth béeing as yet but tenne yéeres olde is the cause that the Giant hath not consumated the marriage And if it shal like you to doo thus much for me you shall not onelie fulfil your promise to the Damosell that brought you hither but you shall doo a déede acceptaple to God profitable to me comfortable to my poore Childe and honorable for euer vnto your owne selfe Madame aunswered Palmerin it is no meruaile if Darmaco haue doone you this wrong in yâ— Giants doo take a habit in trecherous dealinges wherefore did not my promise binde me to your Damosel I would not passe so lightlie out of this Countrie ere I compelled him somewhat to recompence this iniurie and this shall I God willing doo to morrowe so please you I may bee conducted to him Ah gentle Knight saide the Ladie what I am
saying Sir Knight doo you not knowe mee No in good sooth aunswered Palmerin Beléeue mee quoth the Damosell then hath my seruice béene euil imployed which sâ—metime I did you and whereof I am sure you haue heard good account Then Palmerin knewe her she bringing the Shéelde and the Helmet when Florendos knighted him whereuppon he rose from the Table and embracing her said Faire Damosell and my fréende I pray you pardon me for the length of time since I first saw you did quite exempt you from my remembrance pleaseth it you to commaunde me anie seruice Sir Knight said the Damosell when I presented you the Helmet and Shéelde wherwith you tooke your order of Knighthoode you promised mee if you remember that you would vse it with right good will in anie affaires the Knight had that sent it you and when he should require such performaunce nowe is the time to confirme your déede with your worde for hee hath sent mée to you with humble intreatie that without anie staie you goe where I shall conduct you otherwise you are the onelie cause of his death God shéelde me froÌ„ such mis-fortune said Palmerin rather woulde I goe with you presently from the Table So doo I pray you quoth she for I haue hast Then he called for his Armour and the table withdrawne he went into his Chamber to arme himselfe and so dyd Ptolome also returning they tooke their leaue of the Ladies and mounted on horsebacke the whole companie béeing so sorrie for their departure as Esmerinda came to the Damosell saying I promise you Damosell you haue doone vs wrong in mine opinion to hinder vs of the presence of so good a Knight Ladie aunswered the Damosell thinke you he was borne for you onelie content your selfe with the good you haue receiued by him and suffer such as haue néed of his prowesse to receiue his assistaunce as you haue doone And good reason saide Esmerinda if it be to so good an end that no resistaunce bee offered when helpe is required So departed the two Knights with the Damosell which waie she guided them and verie desirous was Palmerin to bee with the Knight that sent to seeke him because hee would gladlie know of whence hee was that wyshed him so wel as his message declared by the Damosell the same daie hee was Knighted CHAP. XXIIII Howe Palmerin and Ptolome arriued at the Courte of the King of Bohemia where they entred Combat against the Countie of Ormeque and his two Cozins who accused the Knight and his Son of treason that sent to seeke Palmerin MAnie miles had these Knightes ridde with the Damosell when Palmerin at length desired her to tell him what hee was that sent him yâ— Helmet the Shéeld whereto she aunswered that séeing he was so desirous to knowe listen ê™ she and I shall report the whole vnto you The Knight we speake of is disceÌ„ded of verie royall bloode béeing Uncle to the King of Bohemia that raignes at this present as also to the Empresse of Allemaigne the verie best séene in Nigromancie this daie liuing This noble man is named Prince Adrian who neuer liked to liue in the Court of the King his Brother but contented with what patrimonie his Father left him at length maried with a verie beautifull Ladie of whom in time hee begat a Sonne named Dyardo which Sonne his Brother the King of Bohemia nourished vppe in his Court with his owne Sonne So mutually in loue agréed these two yong Princes as after the death of the aged King the yong Dyardo should ioyn the rule with his Cozin the King who tooke to Wife the Daughter to the Duke of Lorayne bringing her with him into this Countrey in companie of her Sister a Princesse so wise and vertuous as euer liued It so came to passe that Dyardo my Lords most noble Sonne framing his thoughts to the inspirations of loue affected so highlie the other Sister as he determined neuer to haue anie other to his Wife if he might compasse what he intended For her good Ladie he coulde not be deceiued in his amorous desires he found her loue so equall with his yet did they shaddow their affections so discreetlie as none coulde perceiue them but Domarto the traiterous Countie of Ormeque one of the best Knights in all this Country were he as familiar with vertue and honestie as he is with mallice and disloyaltie This Traytour enterprised to match with the Queenes Sister beloued as you haue hearde by my Lordes worthy Sonne and thereuppon after manie sollicitings made knowne his intent vnto her whereof she made so slender account as shee forbad him any more to trouble her Domarto séeing my Lorde Dyardo his onely hinderaunce in loue intended a mallicious villainie and on a suddaine accused the Prince that he intended to poyson the King so to obtaine the Crowne as discended of a neerer coÌ„sanguinitie And as it often falleth out in such cases when one séekes to crosse an others fortune there is no time flacked in following such drifts euen so this Traytor finding the yonge King alone began his matter in this coullorable sort My gracious Lord the faith and allegeaunce I owe to you highnesse bindes me to make your princelie cares acquainted with such newes as God is my witnes said the Traitour lifting his eyes and hands to heauen mine own death were more welcome to me such is the loue I beare them whom it concernes béeing al so neere allied to you in birth as sorie I am they shoulde bee detected but in your regarde my gracious Lorde the action touching you in such sort as it dooth let me die rather then spare any liuing creature no not mine owne Sonne had nature giuen mee anie This néedelesse exordium haue I made to so foule an occasion albeit truth néedes no coullers or eloquent figures and therefore in bréefe my Lord this is the summe I am crediblie enformed that your highnesse Cozin the Prince Dyardo and Madame Cardonia Sister to the Quéene haue laid the platforme to poyson your Maiestie and this haue they attempted by the procurement of olde Adrian your Uncle who pretends that the Crowne of Bohemia is his I knowe not whether it be for want of discretion or no but howsoeuer it be my Lorde you shoulde not leaue such a villainie vnpunished The King began greatlie to meruaile at these newes and knewe not well what to think whervpon he aunswered the Countie that he coulde not beleeue this accusation But the Traytour set so smoothe a countenaunce on the matter and did auerre it still with such stout protestations as hee induced the King to beleeue him so that a daie or two after the King béeing walking in hys Garden séeing Dyardo Cardonya at the Quéenes chamber windowe secretlie conferring of their amorous affections commaunded them bothe to be carried to prison The Countie glad thereof prouoked the King still with such anger against them as immediatlie he woulde haue theÌ„ bothe doone to
death but that the Quéene and the Lordes of hys Counsel founde meanes to quallifie his displeasure declaring what discredite his highnes shold receiue if he did not suffer them to be openlie conuicted of their offences All this while good Princes were they ignoraunt of this detection till at length the King discoursed the whole matter to theÌ„ and likewise who was their accuser nor did the Countie faile to maintaine his wordes openlie offering to make it good in fight against any that durst say the contrary and because he had two Cozins hardie and valiant Knights conspirators likewise in this faction there could be none found that would enter the Combat against them Which when the noble Prince Adrian vnderstoode very gréefe had well néere slaine him in respect he had no Child but this Dyardo as also for yâ— hee was accused with yâ— hee neuer thought Héereupon he went presently to the King his Nephew and preuailed so well with him as he obtained the space of two Monethes to bring with him one or two that might maintaine the innocencie of him his Sonne Dyardo and the Princesse Cardonia against the Traytour Domarto and his Cozins And this is the cause he sent mee to seeke you foorth in hope that you are as much his Freende as hee is yours which you may somewhat perceiue by the freendlie presents he sent you by mee to Macedon So helpe mee God saide Palmerin you haue reported a most strange dyscourse and neuer did I think that such treason could enter the thoughts of any Knight or other inferior person All this is true quoth the Damosell and it is appointed yâ— the Prince Dyardo with his aged and crazed Father shal defend their owne causes without séeking helpe of anie other but he neuer as yet receiued the order of Knighthoode and therfore is constrained to desire your assistaunce And that shall I doo with all my hart saide Palmerin would God we were there where he expecteth vs for the desire I haue to sée him as also to vnderstande what he knowes of my following fortunes Those matters are hid from mee quoth shee yet this haue I hearde him say diuers times being in talk of you that he accounted you the most honorable Knight in the worlde and that if he euer chaunced to sée you he wold aduise you to goe to the Emperour of Allemaignes Courte to be the knightly Seruaunt to the Princesse Polinarda When Palmerin heard the name of Polinarda he remembred that it was her name whome hee had so manye times séene in his fraunces for which cause he asked of the Damosell what the Lady was of whom shee spake My Lord quoth the Polinarda is Daughter to the Emperour and Niece vnto my Lorde Adrian the most beautiful Princesse that euer eye behelde By my faith saide Palmerin yâ— more easily may I be induced to graunt her my seruice and thether intend I to trauaile when I haue finished your Lords busines So rode they with much more haste theÌ„ before tyl at length they came to the Cittie of Almedya where the King remained and the Prince Adrian expecting Palmerins comming which when he hearde hee came to meete him eache embracing other with meruailous courtesie and the good olde man with the teares in his eyes thus saide Ah good Knight what may counteruaile this your exceeding paines to maintaine the right of my Sonne and mee who are falselie accused of such villainous treason as on the perill of my soule we neuer did imagine Thereof am I certainlie perswaded aunswered Palmerin and therfore am I come to enter the Combat with him that dare affirme otherwise Mine olde age quoth Adrian might excuse mee henceforth from bearing Armes but béeing vnable to endure so vile a slaunder so long as life and soule will holde togeather shal I doo my deuoire so please your companion to make the second as olde as I am I will be the thirde for the trayterous CouÌ„tie hath two of his Cozins yâ— take part with him And if my fortune so fall out as I die in this tryall I shall receiue my lot very contentedlie if mine eyes might first beholde mine iniurie reuenged I pray you said Palmerin goe presently to the King to the ende that hys highnesse may graunt vs the fielde for my Freende and I thinke long till we haue made your accuser knowe his trecherie Adrian immediatly went to the King and on his knées thus began My Lorde you knowe that the Countie of Ormeque hath accused mee my Sonne Dyardo and Madame Cardonya of the cryme of Lesae Maiestatis and in that we all are innocent I am readie to maintaine that he hath falsely and malliciously belied vs which I my selfe will approoue vpon him or two more with me against him and his Cozins if they dare enter the fielde with him in this quarrell where we will either make known their villainie or receiue the reward belongs to disloyall Traitors As for the wrong which you my Lord haue doone me béeing your Uncle and my Sonne Dyardo your Cozin germaine that I referre to God to recompence and to the better knowledge you shall receiue of mee héereafter béeing â—owe too olde to bee a Traytour and my Sonne too louing to proue disloyall The King was abashed to heare his Uncle speake so audaciously doubting nowe whether he should giue credite to what had béene reported especially against him so neere his highnes in bloode who so liberally offered to enter the Combat notwithstanding his white heade and aged body made him vnfit for such actions wherefore hee thus aunswered Good Uncle impute not mee any thing faultie in your accusation and that the proofe shall manifest that must be made The Countie beeing present was strooken in a quandarie at these wordes and gladly he wold haue demed this former slaunder but he could find no waie cleanlie to doo it wherefore seeing of force he must néedes enter the Combat he boldly fell on his knées before the King with these wordes My Lorde what I haue saide is verie certaine and most true it is that by the counsell of Prince Adrian héere present his Sonne practised with Lady Cardonya to poison you that he might be King which to make good there is my gadge on the behalfe of my selfe and my Cozins Thou lyest Traytor in thy throate said olde Adrian I take thine offer and as he woulde haue gone on with further spéeches Palmerin stept before the King saying Worthy Lorde séeing the effect of the wordes must be put in execution which haue béene heere spoken on bothe sides before your Maiestie may it please you the Prince Dyardo and Lady Cardonya may be sent for to take with vs their oathes as in such cases is required and in meane time let eache one goe put himselfe in equipage for the Combat Good reason said the King and presently hee commaunded the Princes to be brought who beeing come Palmerin demaunded where they were that tooke part with the Countie whereupon he
doo not finde the meane to helpe mee By my fayth my Lorde quoth the Dwarffe so please you to tell me howe and wherein I may helpe you let me die a thousande deathes if I doo it not Understande then my good Vrbanillo sayd Palmerin that this strange alteration procéedes froÌ„ the diuine lookes of my péerelesse Mistresse Polinarda whose fiery beames haue searched so narowly euery corner of my thoughts as I must die because I loue too déerlie But couldest thou make knowne to her the least parte of my insupportable vexations may bee shee woulde haue some pittifull remorse of my martirdome for well may it be iudged that a Lady accomplished with so many vertuous perfections must néedes bee stored with sweetnes fauour and pittie Not vnlike my good Lord said Vrbanillo but doo not you remember how I was punished when in the like case I ventured to sollicite your looue to Laurana Daughter to the Duke of Durace by my fayth my Lorde I shall not forget it while I haue a day to liue and am afrayde to fall againe into the like daunger And this spake Vrbanillo with such a grace as Palmerin coulde not but laugh noting with what feare the deformed felow gaue it foorth whereupon he sayd Thou needest not be dismaid if she that smote thée in thy sléepe bee that Polinarda for whose loue I am thus tormeÌ„ted for whom I was borne as many haue enformed me I pray thée therefore speake to her and dreade no coullers It is good saide Vrbanillo that you woulde haue mee more hardie then you are your selfe speake to her your selfe if you dare for I dare not aduenture it for feare of my life If thou doost it not quoth Palmerin assure thy selfe thou shalt neuer henceforth serue me Nay then quoth the Dwarffe I will rather put my selfe in ieoperdy to be better beaten then I was the last time before I will loose so good a Maister I pray thée doo sayde Palmerin in respect thou séest the earnestnes of mine affections Feare not quoth the Dwarffe albeit you were a great deale more fit to breake the matter then I but I wil gadge my life to gaine you the Ladie and héereupon they rested till the next morning CHAP. XXVIII Howe Polinarda desired Palmerin to giue her his Dwarffe and of the speeche which she and Vrbanillo had afterward togeather EArly the next morning Palmerin arose and hauing walked abroade to contemplate his desires returned into the Chamber of presence where he founde Trineus the Emperors Sonne conferring with the Ladies at which very instant the Dwarff entred whose badde shaped body and face made them all fall a laughing so that Trineus came to his Sister Polinarda saying Sister did you euer beholde a more proper Page to attende on Ladies then this gaunt Squire that serues my Lorde Palmerin In good â—ooth Brother quoth she hee is farre vnlike his noble maister yet wold I like well enough if he were mine I beséech you Sir Palmerin said Trineus bestowe your Seruaunt on my Sister Polinarda Madame quoth Palmerin were he better hee is yours and his Maister likewise then called hee Vrbanillo who knéeling to vnderstand his Maisters pleasure hee saide Vrbanillo I haue giuen you to my Ladie Polinarda as her man will you not serue her honourablie and truelie aboue all other Yea my Lorde quoth he next after you but you will I not leaue while I liue although you woulde disdaine my seruice Good reason hast thou said the Princesse and wel am I pleased it shold be so yet during the time of his stay heere you shall forsake him and abide with mee For yâ— Madame quoth the Dwarffe I am well contented Then looke you faile not said the Princesse hencefoorth to giue your attendaunce These spéeches were thus vsed as it were for pastime that shee might thereby deceiue the iudgments of other but her whole intent was to know of Vrbanillo if his Maister were affected to any other Ladie by whose meanes her loue might be frustrate For as you haue heard a little before that loue had brought her vnder such obeysaunce as did not the regarde of honour with-holde her her selfe would first breake the Ise of her vexations rather theÌ„ Sâ—aie too long and not be solicited Many other deuises had the Ladies with Vrbanillo who knewe so well howe to behaue himselfe as from thence forward he grew so familiar amongst them as he woulde enter their Chambers when himselfe pleased vnder couller of attendaunce on the Princesse Polinarda from time to time to mooue his Maisters messages But at length she preuented him in this sort for béeing alone at a windowe in the presence Chamber shee called the Dwarffe and making her entraunce by other occasions she asked him whose Sonne Palmerin was God knowes Madame quoth hee for I doo not nor himselfe neither but of this I can assure you yâ— neuer was Knightlie Chiualrie better imployed by any then by him for since the time of my knowledge he hath doone such noble acts as it is not remembred that â—uer Knight in this age did the like And then from point to point he discoursed all yâ— Palmerin had doone since he came to him and can you thinke then Madame quoth the Dwarffe that he is not dâ—sceded of noble linage Trust me Ladie I haue my self heard by manie learned Magitians and other that their diuinations were no lesse then I saie When Polinarda heard the Dwarffe thus speake on his Maisters behalfe if before his loue had kindled her liking no meruaile if hart and spirite were nowe enflamed so that nowe she could no longer coÌ„ceale what she had hetherto couered and therefore sayde to the Dwarffe I beséech thée Vrbanillo by the faith and duetie thou bearest to thy Maister tâ—l me one thing that I desire to knowe of him which shall bee nothing but to his honour and aduantage You haue so coniured mee faire Madame quoth the Dwarffe as death shall not make me hide what you please to command if it lye in me to resolue you Knowe then Vrbanillo said the Princesse that I looue thy Maister as well as my Brother Trineus and am desirous to knowe of thee what Ladie it is hee estéemes aboue all other because when I knowe her I may loue her the better for his sake withall that I may commend the Ladies happines whose fortune is to be loued of so braue a Gallant Well perceiued the Dwarffe that now or neuer was the time to bestirre himselfe according to the promise he made his Maister wherefore hee aunswered the Princesse in this manner Beléeue me Madame were it to anie other I would not reueale such secrets of my Lorde as you desire to knowe but to you that are his Lady Mistresse I am content to bewraie the whole Suffiseth then Madame that he loueth in such sorte as if the heauens sende him not remedie the sooner vnpossible is it that his life should long endure for I sée him so far beside
himselfe and tormented with so manie passions as euerie howre his death is expected What will ye Ladie that I say hee complaines hee sighes and daie by daie is in such dispaire for his Ladies loue as happie might I haue accounted him had he neuer séene her or that his daies were as short as his desires If then Polinarda were in doubt not iudging herselfe to bée shée it may easilie bee imagined and presently was shee brought into such perplexitie as the vermillion couller in her chéekes began to change such suddaine feares possessed her and so manie sundry opinions thwarted her conceite as faine she woulde haue spoken but coulde not of long time wherby the Dwarffe discerned the cause of her alteration yet he dissembled what he sawe and thus continued on his discourse Nowe considering faire Madame the high deserts of my Lorde may she be estéemed happy as you saie that shall cause the losse of the best Knight liuing this day Ah Mistresse if he die as God forbid farwell the flower of all noblenes and the most assured Freâ—nde to distressed Ladies Wherefore I beséeche you pardonâ— mee if I shall name her vnto you and let mee intreate you to dealé with her so farre that the courtesie wherein she is indebted to so gooâ— a Knight as my Master is may be shewed effectually as that she would loue and fauour him as he dooth hath verie well deserued Trust me Vrbanillo aunswered the Princesse when I knowe the Ladie I will and beside if she doo not regarde his passions as she ought I will intreate her at my request to be more pittifull These wordes procured a suddaine iealouzie in her that shee shoulde promise to another what she desired her selfe yet earnest to bee resolued she vowed to fulfill her promise and therefore desired him to tell her name So you will giue mee your worde Madame quoth the Dwarffe not to take in ill parte what I shall saie I will satis-fie your request presently Be léeue me saide the Princesse I will not rather perswade thy selfe that héerein thou doost me great pleasure Ah fayre Princesse quoth the Dwarff it is for you and no other that my Lord is thus tormented it is for you that heé liues and dies a hundred times a daie swéete Ladie haue pittie on him and séeke not the losse of so good a Knight who looues you déerer then his owne life At which aunswere shee was supprized with incredible pleasure yet feigning the contrarie she saide Is it I and howe long I praie you By my faith Madame quoth he that can I not well tell yee but I haue hearde him say of long time more then foure yeeres before he was Knighted hee vowed himselfe yours since which time all his honourable actions hath hee onely dedicated to your praise So that to finde you hee left the King of Macedon and his Sonne Florendos of whom hee was estéemed as no man the like yet that honour hée forsooke to doo you seruice and for your loue he yéelded himselfe as vassaile to the Emperour your Father and gaue himselfe your Knight if you deigne to accept him When Polynarda had well hearde the Dwarffe albeit her harte floted in ioyes yet could she so well commaunde her thoughts as shee seemed to make smal account of his words notwithstanding she returned him this aunswéere I promised thée Vrbanillo not to conceiue ill of ought thou shouldest tell me nor doo I yet wold I haue thee to regard my calling béeing daughter to so great a Prince as is the Emperour But if it bee so that Palmerin thy Lorde beares me such speciall affection I must let him knowe by thée that it would haue â—éene farre more séemelie himselfe to haue told me then to make thée Ambassadour in such secrete affaires neuerthelesse I not mislike his honourable loue and good will whereof I shall thinke better when I knowe the effecte is conformable to thy protestations Madame quoth the Dwarffe so you would please to vouchsafe him time and place hee will acquaint you with strange matter concerning bothe your destinies which courtesie can no waie impeache your honour Why tell him saide the Princesse he shall haue mee dailie héere in the Chamber of presence where he may saie his pleasure with safetie in meane space I accept him as my Knight charging him that he doo not depart the Court without my licence if hee desire to doo mee pleasure The Dwarffe well pleased with so good an aunswere on hys knee kissing the Princesse hande tooke leaue of her to returne towardes Palmerin who méeting him by the waie in place conuenient saide Howe nowe Vrbanillo what newes hast thou brought me life or death So good newes Maister aunswered the Dwarffe as you haue good occasion to repute your selfe the moste fortunate Knight that euer bare Armes Then Palmerin embracing him saide Ah tell me what they are hast thou spokeÌ„ with diuine Polinarda takes shee anie pittie on my consuming cares That dooth she my Lorde quoth the Dwarffe and commandes you by me if you be so vowed hers as I haue perswaded yâ— hence foorth you depart not the Emperours Courte without her leaue Then recited he the whole talke betwéene them and lastlie the pleasure she conceiued in so good tydings so that she accepted him onelie for her Knight While yâ— Dwarffe continued this discourse Palmerin was rauished with such inwarde ioy as with a great sigh he said Oh heauens how doo you fauour me nowe sée I well that my seuerall apparitions on the Mounts of Oliues and Artifaeria are predestinations ordeyned to mee by your gracious prescience I beséeche you therefore humblie that what you haue promised may soone come to effect for the regarde of incomparable Polinarda Then demaunded hee by what meanes he might attaine to speake with the Princesse She sayth ê™ he that you shall dailie haue her in the presence or in the Empresse Chamber and there may you safely impart your whole minde vnto her But I haue other newes to tel yee for I vnderstand certainlie that the Emperour intendes a matter greatlie for your aduauntage he minds to morrow to visite one of his Castelles neere at hande and there to passe the time in honour of the Ladies will haue a Tourney There better then any where els may you and Polinarda conferre togeather therfore courage your selfe and goe keepe comanie with my Lorde the Emperour it may bee himselfe will acquaint you with this enterprise Now credite me Vrbanillo saide Palmerin thou hast doone so much for mee as I shall neuer recompence thée while I liue but I pray thée tell mee did shee not at the first take my message strangelie That did she quoth the Dwarffe when I perswaded her that you loued a Lady in such sorte as hardlie coulde you liue without her fauourable regarde then she thinking it was some other and not herselfe changed couller meruailous passionatlie but let it suffise you that she is as deepe in loue as you
correspondent to his byrth wee will giue him our Daughter in mariage if so himselfe accept our offer The good Ladie misliked not her Husbands opinion wherefore the next morning shee went to entertaine her guest saying My Lorde your comming hither hath well contented my Lorde and Husbande and so please it you to staie héere he wil bee glad and fayne of your companie which gentle offer Netrides accepted thanking God and the Ladie for his good fortune Thus remained he with this auncient Knight Lombardo who afterwarde neuer remembred him of his miseries in the Forrest but intreated him so well as though hee had béene his owne Sonne Netrides séeing the Knights Daughter so faire and well conditioned and she regarding not onely the vertues of his minde but also his comely and well featured bodie they began amorously to affect eache other secretlie but loue inuented yâ— meane to reueale it openlie for Lombardo well noting the great discretion of this yong Gentleman and knowing him to bee discended of bloode royall resolued to cause him marry his Daughter demaunding the question of Netrides among other spéeches if so he liked to marry his Daughter My Lorde quoth he it is the sum of my desire and greater honor cannot you bestowe on me so please her to conceiue the same opinion I doo The marriage was sollâ—mnized with all expedition with yâ— presence of manie Gentles neighbours thereabout who meruailed the Knight bestowed his Daughter so in that they estéemed Netrydes but a poore Knight errant It fortuned afterward that the auncient Knight and his Ladie deceased leauing theyr Daughter great with childe to the no little content of Netrydes that after all his sorrowe he shoulde become a Father Thrée daies before this Ladie fell in trauaile shee dreamed that she was shut vppe in a very dark Chamber whereout she coulde by no meanes get and therefore called for helpe to one of her Gentlewomen Then was she aduised to take her childe in her armes and to staye there still whereuppon she behelde her infant and sawe that his face resembled the beames of the Sunne the brightnes whereof chased away the darknes so that shee might beholde the place as cleere as any other saying My Lord forgette thys heauines and you shall reioyce by this infant for this is he shall reestablish you in the place you haue lost shall seate you in that Chayre with honour for which you were exiled thence giuing you his crowne that traiterously chased you from his kingdome He comforted with these words tooke the childe in his armes and sayd Little soule I pray God thy mother speake trueth and that thou maist be able to execute it So saying hee espyed a furious man who snatched the infant foorth of his armes and notwithstandâ—ng all his intreaties supplications caryed it away with him This sorrowe for Netrydes made her giue a loude shryke when he calling his Wife demaunded the cause of her suddaine affright whereupon she rehearsed to him the whole manner of her Dreame and reioysing thereat said I hope my Lord that it will so happen to you as I haue dreamed and therefore comfort your selfe without feare of mis-fortune notwithstanding he remained in many doubtfull opinions till they vnderstoode by effects the certaintye of this dreame Nowe was come the time of the Ladies deliueraunce which was a goodly man Childe so fayre well fauoured as one should lightly beholde béeing named Frysol and shee woulde suffer none to nursse it but her owne selfe for the certaine hope shee reposed in him The Chylde growing in time to such comely stature as eache one tooke great pleasure to beholde him whereof the Mother was so gladde that albeit she had afterward two other Sonnâ—s yet shewed she no such speciall loue towards them as vnto Frysol which procured some hatred betwéene his brethren and him This yong Lord growing to fourtéene yéeres of age was in stature verie tall delighting himselfe in ryding great Horsses shooting in the long Bowe casting yâ— Barre and diuers other Gentlemanlike exercises as also to chase in the Forrest where olde Lombardo mette with his Father So that one daie after long and wearie chasing of the Hart hauing sweated very sore and meruailous drye for want of drinke finding a little spring by the foote of a Trée he laâ—e downe and dranke but afterwarde he became so yll and sicklie as hee trembled â—â—rie â—ore so that one of hys Squires could hardlie leade him againe to the Castell Netrides séeing him so excéeding ill was meruailous sorrie commaunding his Phisition to séeke some present helpe for him who plied him with such wholsome potions as his feuâ—r left him but his face and all his bodie was so painted as he had béene a Leaper which made him bee mocked of his other Brethron and scorned of all the Seruaunts except his Father and Mother which was such gréefe to him as he would haue died with fretting at them but his Father rebuked them and comforted him in this manner I did hope my Sonne by thy meanes to be restored againe to the Realme of my deceased Father but nowe howe long it will be before God knowes if this strange malladie of thine be neuer holpen Frysol amazed at his Fathers wordes desired him earnestly to report the whole circumstance which Netrides at length did rehearsing how he was Brother to the King of Hungaria the hard intreataunce he vsed towardes him and lastlie hee tolde him the Dreamâ— of his Mother Frisol studying along space on his fathers words at length aunswered My Lord you are not ignorant of the soueraigne power of the highest who by his diuine iudgement hath sent mee this disease that thus torments mee euen so when pleaseth him he will take it from me againe and giue me health and strength much more then euer I had with meanes sufficient to giue you ayde and succoure according to the matter whereon you haue diuined And albeit I féele so extreame anguish as death may not be likened to it yet doth thys hope comfort mee in such sorte that me thinkes already I am become more healthfull therfore my Lord dismay of nothing but perswade your selfe there is comfort behind These words were so pleasing to Netrides as méere ioy caused the teares to trickle downe his chéekes meruailing at the wonderfull courage of his Son enduring such terrible paines as he did wherefore what hee thought he could not reueale but withdrewe himselfe into his Chamber CHAP. XLI Howe Frisol persecuted with his disease and the mockery of his Bretheren determined to goe seeke strange aduentures FRisol hauing heard the originall of his birthe as also the vision that appeared to his Mother was thence forwarde more pensiue then he had béene before and perceiuing his Brethren continued their bad disposition and day by day mocked him more and more he determined to forsake his fathers house to séeke aduentures and remedie for his sicknes if any were to be found And being one
with him into England where he founde the Countrey very much desolated with warres to his no little greefe but leaue we them and returne to Palmeâ—in CHAP. XLII Of the great courtesie the King of Fraunce vsed to Trineus and Palmerin and of their returne into Allemaigne SO dilligently were Palmerins woundes attended which he had receiued by the hand of Frysol as not long after hee recouered his health whereof the King and Prince Lewes were highly glad and much more Trineus to whoÌ„e the King desired to giue his Daughter Lucemania in marriage which to compasse hée intended a sumptuous banquet whereto hee woulde inuite these twaine yet first he would acquaint the Quéene therewith and therefore began the matter with her thus I see Madame that our Daughter Lucemania is of yéeres sufficient for a Husband and because I euermore desired her highest preferment and that I would knâ—w if the Prince Trineus to whom I could wish she were espoused were anie thing in loue that waie affected for hardlie in my iudgment shall we finde a greater Lord béeing heyre to the famous Emperour of Allemaigne for this intent I say will I ordaine a banquet whereto hee and noble Palmerin shall bee inuited and our Daughter to beare them company in yâ— best sorte you can deuise The Quéene who more desired this marriage then the King her Husbande aunswered You doubt not my Lord that I request her chéefest aduantage wherefore let it be as you haue determined and shee shall be present as you haue appointed This matter thus procéeding two daies after were Trineus and Palmerin called to this banquet and to honour them the more the King caused his Sonne Lewes with a braue companie of Knightes and Gentlemen to conduct them into the Pallace where they were royallie receiued by the King and Quéene and so led vppe into the Chamber appointed for their banquet After they had washed the King caused Trineus to sitte by him and Palmerin against him aboue whom sat faire Lucemania his Daughter béeing placed iust opposite to yâ— Prince Trineus the Quéene to furnish the Table satte downe by the King And albeit nature had bestâ—wed on yâ— Princesse most exquisite beautie yet her sumptuous accoustrâ—ments made her appeare most amiable but all coulde not mooue the hart of Trineus to forget her to whose shrine hee was dedicated The banquet ended and yâ— Tables withdrawne Trineus daunced with the fayre yong Princesse courting her with manie honest decent spéeches which made Lucemania suppose he loued her but the Prince noted it well enough albeit his affections were bound to English Agriola In this time the other Ladies were conferring of Palmerins knightlie valour when the Countie of Armignac his Sonne intreating the Duke of Orleaunce Daughter to daunce was thus staied by her spéeches to yâ— other Ladies You sée faire Ladies quoth shee that Palmerin hath misprized our beauties to reuenge our iniurie let vs all fall vppon him and shut him in some place where hee may neuer come foorth for if he escape vs the Allemaigne Ladies shall beare the honor from the French which will bee to vs perpetuall discredite These wordes she spake with such a pleasant countenaunce as mooued all the other Ladies to smile whereupon the Duchesse of Burgundie answered In sooth it is necessarie we should doo so and let vs not suffer him to gette out of our handes so easilie as he did from the Knights that came to the Combat All the companie lyked this motion well but the King said Ladies I will not consent that Palmerin shall haue anie wronge because I haue taken him into my guarde And who shall make recompence quoth another Ladie for the wrong hee hath doone vs You ought to suffer for satis-faction saide yâ— King and bee glad that you had the meane to sée the best Knight in the world for mine owne part I promise you I rest so contented Palmerin hearing the King so commende him bashfullie thus aunswered Alas my Lorde there is no such matter in me as pleaseth your Maiesty to report but what my abilitie is it remaines to doo you seruice accounting my selfe more then happy by comming to your Courte to haue knowledge of a Prince so noble and vertuous and no man liuing next my Lord the Emperour that maie commauÌ„de me more then your highnes Among other speeches yâ— King broke the matter of his Daughters marriage to Palmerin desiring him to labour in the cause to Trineus which hee promised but al in vain for after they had taken their leaue to returne towards Allemaigne though Palmerin was earnest in the matter in respecte of the beautie and nobilitie of the Princesse as for the support he might haue by matching with the Daughter of Fraunce yet Trineus thus answered I thanke you my Lord for the good you wish mee as also the honour the King affoordes mee but another beyond her whose renowne hath conquered me is Lady and Mistresse of my affections And because you are hee frâ—m whom I will not hide my most secrete thoughts know that it is Agriola Daughter to the King of England to whom though my Father be an enemie yet by your aide mine owne good endeuours I doo not doubt to compasse my loue You knowe my Lord quoth Palmerin that I wish as wel to you as mine owne hart and when occasion serues tryall shall make manifest And séeing you haue fixed your loue on faire Agriola of England imparting likewise the same so confidently to me I am perswaded you coulde neuer make a better choise therefore let nothing chaunge your opinion Thus rode they on with manie sundrie spéeches not a little gladde they were returning to the Emperour but Palmerin much more then was Trineus for the desire hee had to sée his Ladie Polinarda wherefore with the consent of the Prince he sent a Squire before to aduertise the Emperour of their comming before whom he had no sooner doone reuerence but he was presentlie knowne and demaunded in what estate his Son Trineus and Palmerin were where he had left them what accideÌ„ts had happened in Fraunce Then the Squire rehearsed the Combats and victories of his Maister against the Princes of Fraunce and the Dukes of Gaule Sauoye with their royall entertainment by the King and his Sonne howe manie portraits of Ladies Palmerin had conquered with the whole discourse of euerie action Whereof the Emperour the Empresse and all the Lords Ladies were maruailous glad yet was not theyr ioy comparable to the Princesse Polinardas hearing the Squire reueale the honourable déedes of her loue so that her conceit might be discerned by her couÌ„tenance needes she must thus demaunde of the Squire I praie thée tell me my Fréende howe fares my Lord and Brother with his noble companion Sir Palmerin The Squire wel abuised because he knewe the loue betwéene her and his Maister sette his knee to the grounde againe with this aunswere I left the Prince your Brother accompanied with
was readie to fall beside his horse with euermuch gazing But Palmerin suddainly twitching him softly sayd Fie my Lorde what meane you to forget your selfe thus sée you not her that is ordayned yours and will you not triumph in your happie sight but sitte as one vtterly discouraged For shame let passe this pusillanimitie and with chéerefull countenaunce goe giue her the good morow The Prince did so but with such timerous conceits as hauing saluted the Mother hée durst not speake to the Daughter who imagining the best and that bashfull reuerence did so with-holde him shée came to him in this manner Are not you sir the Knight in the gréene Armour that not long since promised one of my Ladyes to ayde my Father in his warres I am fayre Princesse quoth hée and what I haue done was at your commaundement the vertue wherof gaue me such strength as some of the Scots haue felt to their cost but had I gone vnprouided of such fauour I am perswaded I could neuer haue returned aliue It now remaines swéete Ladie that according to the request I then made by your Ladie it would please you to remitte his offence who deserued the sharpest punishment can bée deuised for not honouring that Princesse which carryes the Palme from all Ladyes liuing In trueth my Lorde sayde the Princesse not onelie is your fault to bée forgiuen if it could be named a fault but also ought I to recompence you to my vttermost power séeing by your meanes my Father in safetie and the Realme of England deliuered from the tyrannous serâ—itude of the Scots wherefore you may assure your selfe that if I can stande you in any stâ—dde towards the King my Father you shall commaunde mée to my vttermost The Prince returned her a thousand thanks and sayde Beléeue mée Madame the verie least title of your good will is recompence to mee more then sufficient and would prouoke such affection in mée towards your seruice as you could not commaunde the thing but I shoulde with dutifull willingnesse performe it as I doubt not but better occasions shall make manifest vnto you Then entred they the great Hall where such a â—umptuous banquet was prouided as will aske more time to report then leysure will admit Likewise here to set downe the wonderfull passions of the amorous Prince Trineus in regard of a Ladie so excéeding in perfections surpasseth my capacitie but hée that is seated so opposit to so faire a creature and loues so earnestly as Trineus yet dare not speake least he should bee spyed may iudge of that which I cannot vtter But séeing the libertie of spéech was denyed the spéedie eye posted betwéene them with swéete conâ—eyances and still must shée countenance the straunger Knights till fearing to be taken tardie she closely conferred with the Princesse Eufemia daughter to the Duke of Norgalles saying What thinke you Cozâ—n of these strangers are they not the séemelyest personages that euer you sawe both in fauour conntenaunce good grace and hardinesse I am of the opinion that although they report themselues but as simple Knights errant they bée doubtlesse great Lordes discended of noble and princely parentage as one may easily gather by their ciuill and vertuous behauiour which is euermore the witnesse of true nobilitie These words caused Eufemia to marke well Trineus as her Cozin Agriola did which hée perceyuing and iudging that they talked of him his alterations were so sensible as they might be easily discerned for the more they eyed him the greater was his torment till the Table béeing withdrawne he had some â—ase in opening his minde to Palmerin whose comfortable wordes were as good to him as restoratines Agriola on the other side escaped not frée for her ease was no greater when the arose then when she sate downe and that must be little hauing so daintie a dish before her to fill her stomacke Thâ— next morning the King and the Ladies mounted on horseback setting towards London and God knowes the Prince was not farre behinde them liuing onely by the regard of her with whose rare beautie hée coulde neuer satisfie his eyes And as they rode thorowe a Forrest the King séeing the Trées so greene and delightfull and because the heate of the day hindered their trauaile hee caused his Pauilions and Tents to bee there presently pitched and intended to dine there vnder the coole trées Dinner béeing ended hée would néedes go course the Hare wasting the afternoone in that pastime and on the next day rode to chase a Hart which was taken in the toyles and therewithall a huge wilde Bore the mightiest that euer was seene hauing wounded him in so many places as the Dogs and Bloodhoundes migâ—t easily tracke him Afterwarde they rowsed a fallow Déere when the Huntsmen made the woods ring so brauely with winding their Hornes and the Greyhoundes pursued the course so spéedily as Palemedes chose was not comparable to this till in the ende the Déere was fallen These pleasures finished the King with his companie returned to his Tents shewing to the Quéene and her Ladies the fruits of theyr pastime saying I promise you Madame I thinke these Grecian knightes excell in euerie thing for as in chiualrie so this day haue they shewed themselues excellent woodmen as none in our trayne may compare with them By this time the Tables were couâ—red for Supper all which time was spent in discoursing of theyr sports till the good night giuen on all sides the thrée knightes withdrew themselues into their tent All these pleasures made not Vrbanillo forgetfull of his Maisters charge wherefore practising how to accomplish it effectually hée founde meanes to come acquainted with the Ladyes attending on the Princesse and in respect the attended on the knights of Greece he was licenced the oftner into theyr companie The next morning the king and the knights walking into the Woods the Dwarffe watching time to deliuer his message made so many walkes and returnes before the Princesse Pauillion as at last she espyed him and calling him to her sayd I pray thée my Fréend by the â—aith thou bearâ—st thy Maister tell mée the trueth of a matter I shall aske thee Madame quoth the Dwarffe vpon his knée commaund what you please for there is nothing my mistressâ— preiudice excepted but I will truely tell you Which of the thrée said the Princesse is thy Maister My Maister quoth the Dwarffe hath not his second in all perfections he it is that was in the blacke Armour who in the battell for your Father did so manie woonderfull exployts as farre excéedeth the fabulous reportes of sir Gawen or Launcelot du Lake In sooth quoth she so haue I heard and beside thy dutie reserued to thy Maister I sée thou canst sette him foorth for a most hardie knight but tell mée of whence he is what are his companions and why to they make it so daintie to be knowne Herein Madame sayde he I cannot with my dutie aunswere you for I am restrayned by a
towards them so fast as his Horse could gallop Palmerin doubting some vnhappy chaunce and remembring his dreame said to the king Neuer credit mée my Lord if this squire come not to you about some speciall affaires as well maye be gathered by his spéedie pace At these words the GentlemaÌ„ came to the king reporting how the Giant Franarco Lord of the castle of Carbones since his departure came to his Tents and from thence had violently taken the Quéene and her Daugter Agriola notwithstanding the resistance of manie knights who striuing to defend her lost their liues The King with these words strooken in wonderfull gréefe said Ah Gentlemen this villainous Traytor hath notoriously wroâ—ged vs. How is it possible to recouer them againe before they be dishonoured Trineus and Paâ—merin mooued at these newes asked the Squire which way he went with the Quéen and her Daughter In truth my Lord quoth he I cannot tell yée which way he tooke we all were so troubled and misused by his traine except they went along the Forrest and so are gone to the next village Then Palmerin clasping on his Helmet and snatching his Launce from his Dwarfe Galloped amaine after the Giant not speaking a word to Trineus who accompanied with Ptolome rode apace after him and as they passed by the Quéenes Tent they saw the Ladies and gentlewomen heauily lamenting especially Eufemia the chéefe companion to the Princesse Agriola Diuers Knights beside armed themselues to pursue the Giant but Trineus not a little enraged followed the tracke of the horse demaunding of all he met if they saw the villaine that had stolen away the Ladies As concerning this Giant Franarco you must note that hee was the cruellest tyrant and most notable fellon in all the Realme hauing a dayes iourney from the Forrest where the King hunted a Castle so well fortefied and furnished with munition and all things necessarie as in England was not the like which was left to him by the death of his Father who forciblie tooke it from a Lorde his neighbour and diuers other places especially the Isle Magdalen There succéeded â—e the royall dignitie after the death of the elder Brother who as you haue heard was slaine in the battaile by Palmerin and hée vnderstanding the death of the king of the Isle Magdalen was so â—ighlie displeased yâ— although he had alwaies before boorne allegeaunce to the king hée nowe solemnly swore to reuenge his Brothers death béeing so feared of the whole Countrey as none durst enterprise to deale with him So to reuenge the slaughter of his eldest Brother with diuers of his kindred and Fréendes likewise â—layne in the battaile he strengthened himselfe with thirtie hardie knightes intending to displease the king so much as hee coulde And hearing yâ— he was comming to London to feast the knights that were the cause of this victory but chéefely him that slewe his brother came with his coÌ„pany this way in hope to finde them all vnprâ—uided And coâ—ming that morning the king was gone on hunting hée â—ound these hée desired to méete withall for the hatred he bare them thinking himselfe sufficiently reuenged if hée could carry away with him the Quéene and her Daughter which he accomplished to his owne desire causing them mount vp behinde two of his Knights The gentlemen that were left to kéepe the Quéene companye offended to sée such villany offered theyr Ladie and Mistresse defended her so well as they could but all auayled not against the Giant and his power because they were armed and they with the Quéene were vnprouided so that a number of them were slaine and sore wounded and more had béene but that he feared the return of the King which made him in hast ride thence with his spoyle sending them somewhat before and loytering behind himselfe to fight with anie that shuld come to reskew them Trineus hauing gotten the sâ—ght of them came passing to the Giant saying Stay trayterous théefe for thou maist not so cary her away that is worthy the greatest lord in the world With these words they ran fiercely togither Trineus giuing the Giant a sore wound on the shoulder but the Prince reâ—eiued such a mightie stroke from the Giant as he fell froÌ„ his Horse with his héeles vpward Palmerin béeing not far off and doubting least the Prince had béene slaine came in a great rage to Franarco saying Monstrous enemie to menhoode who made thée so saucie to lay violent hands on Ladies of such account by my Sworde villaine I shall make thée déerely to pay for thy folly So couching theyr Launces they met togither the Giant fayling but Palmerin gaue him a shrewd wound on his body and their horsses roughly shouldring one another as their masters were both thrâ—wn to the ground Franarco béeing heauie and vnweldie had such a fall as easily he could not recouer himselfe Palmerin nimbly getting vp againe gaue the Giant such a wound on his right legge as the flesh hung downe pittifully to beholde The Giant béeing not able to stande any longer on that leg set his knée to the ground béeing glad to defend the strokes of Palmerin who reached him such a sound blowe on the forehead with the hils of his sworde as the Giant fell along on his backe when Palmerin soone setting his foote on his breast with his Sword deuided his heade from his shoulders During this fight Trineus Ptolome made after the Quéene and her Daughter whome the Giants Knights droue cruelly before them Nowe was it a matter well worthy memory to sée the braue behauiour of these two Knights but cheefely of Trineus before his swéete Mistresse whose presence endued him with such exceeding courage as hée thought himselfe able to conquer the whole world and therefore sufficient for all them were they as manie more in number But strength dooth not alwaies equall courage and louers thinke more then they are able to doo as to Trineus perill it had now fallen out but that a companie of the Kings Knights arriued whereupon began a hote encounter betwéene them and Trineus comming to the Knight yâ— had Agriola behinde him set him soone beside his horse with his neck broken in his fall so that the princesse getting forth of the throng and séeing her beloued so valiant in prowesse bâ—twéene ioy and gréefe she said Ah happie Knight the mirror of all such as follow armes I desire thy fortune may prooue such as thou thy company may haue victory ouer these traytors Now may I bée well assured of the loue thou bearest me for which if we may escape this hard brunt perswade thy selfe not to passe vnrecompenced Trineus hearing the words of Agriola was enflamed with such a spirite of conquering desire as breaking in among the thickest his strokes gaue witnes he fought for a wife But the Giants Knights were men of such proofe as the fresh sâ—pply that came were all wel-néere slaine and doubtlesse the rest had borne them company but that the
in a fayre Medow neare a Bridge and there placed twelue knights the most hardie and valiant men in all his Dukedome who should maintaine this order that no Knight shoulde passe ouer the Bridge vnlesse hée entred Combate with those twelue Knightes one after another and such as were vanquished shoulde submitte themselues to the Dukes mercy eyther for their deliueraunce or to remaine his prysoners and the horsse of the partie foyled should belong to the conquerer but if they were dismounted the passenger shoulde go on his iourney and take theyr Horsses with him Thys aduenture thus established many good Knights were ouer come because it was a verye harde matter to vanquishe twelue Knights and yet escape But the Duke tooke no little pleasure heerein who detained Frysol more by constraint then otherwise for his anger so vehemently encreased against Palmerin as no delight or pleasure coulde expiate his reuenging desires Chap. LV. How Palmerin went with the Damosell to accomplish the promise he made her and what befell him PAlmerin as you haue heard departed from the Damosell in a rage because he coulde not execute what he intended wherefore hee deuised to deale some other way and to single foorth Frisol in such conuenient place as one of them should dye before they departed And as he was imagining some other way to ouertake Frysol the Damosel had now againe recouered his company saying I pray you Sir Knight conceiue no il opinion of me for hindering you from killing your enemie whome you haue left in very great ieoperdy considering what bountie and courage is in him and which your selfe perhaps will bee sorye for Wherefore I pray you forget this displeasure determinâ— to fulfill what you haue promised which if you will doo you must go with me Beléeue me Damosell saide Palmerin you shewed but little courtesie so often hindering me from the thing which aboue all other in this worlde most tormenteth mée What vnhappye bodye are you but more vnhappye the houre I mette with you but séeing it is reason I shoulde kéepe my promise leade the way and I will not faile to follow you So rode they on and for foure dayes space hée woulde not speake one word to her and fayne he would haue left her company but that he could not with honor forsake her The next daye as they rode by a Riuers side Palmerin espyed a Knight standing with a Bowe and arrow in his hand which he let flye at his Horse killed him Palmerin impacient by remembraunce of Frysol and angrye that the Knight had thus killed his Horse made towardes him so fast as hee coulde but the Knight was suddainlye gotte on the further site of the Lake and Palmerin vppe to the middle in Water before hée was ware of it and nowe hee could neyther sée the Knight that slewe his Horse nor the Damosell that came in his companie Palmerin béeing in great perplexity when he sawe nothing but water rounde about him and féeling he was vpon a Bridge behelde a meruailous déepe streame running vnder it and at the ende thereof a goodly Castle Walking along the Bridge toward the Castle amazed at this contrary aduenture hée espyed a Knight on the battlements of thÌ„ Castle who sayde Staye a while Syr Knight one shall come presentlye and open the Gate Palmerin knewe not what to say but determined to defende himselfe if any came to assaulte him so the Castle Gate béeing opened hée entred with his sword drawne yet was there no man that displeased him but euery one made him humble reuerence with very good wordes and gentle countenaunce declaring by their behauiour that hée was more then welcome thither Thus walking on to the inner Court there came towardes him a Ladie accompanied with manie Damosels and Knights all shewing chéerefull gestures and the Ladie taking Palmerin by the hande sayde Ah gentle knight right welcome are you to this place and heauen bée praysed for the good it dooth mée to sée you here that is able to aâ—complish the thing which no other as yet coulde bée able to finish enter hardily in good assuraunce for you will wee make all the honour wée are able Palmerin beléeuing the Ladie was brought into a maruailous goodly Chamber where certaine Squires holpe to vnarme him bringing him a gorgeous Mantle to wrap about him This done he was conducted into a large Hall where the Table was couered the Ladie entertaining him so nobly as in the King of Englands Court hée coulde not be better The feast ended and the Tables withdrawne the Ladie beganne to deuise with Palmerin saying Long time my Lord haue we desired your comming as the man in whome our onely helpe consisteth for by your valour we are perswaded to be deliuered from the miserie wherin I and mine haue too long time béene detained I beséech you Madame quoth Palmerin to tell mée your affayres as also what the Knight meant to kill my Horse and why you entertaine mée with so great kindnesse If you wil promise mee saide the Ladie to accomplish a néedfull occasion and which I thinke is destinied to you I will resolue you otherwise I shall but loose my labour If it bée a matter reasonable quoth Palmerin and that a knight may compasse spare not to tell mee for I will do my endeuour therein Gramercies gentle knight sayde the Ladie the circuÌ„stance of the occasion followeth in this sort This Castel my Lord sometime belonged to my noble Father a Knight so hardie and valiant as any in these parts in whose yonger yeares loue so ouerruled him aa he affâ—cted a lady of no lesse quanlitie and condition then himselfe by whom he had a â—aughter at whose birth his Lady and Wife deceased My Father being yet in the flower of his youth matched the second time with a Lady of very honourable and auncient discent by whom he had me the first Childe My Sister come to fourtéene yéeres of age my father oftentimes would haue richly married her whereto she béeing vnwilling by my Fathers consent shée remained with her mothers Sister whose skill was very great in all sciences by whose counsel my sister caused a goodly Pallace to be edified and a strong Lower in an Isle on the other side of this Castle where afterwarde they made their continuall abiding During this time my father louing mee déerely matched me with a wealthie and noble knight excelling in all perfections but chéefely in chiualrie by whom I had a Daughter a yéere after our espousall but the more my gréefe my Husband and Father both died within little space after my Childs birth My Daughter being come to the yeeres of marriage her beautie made her desired of many noble Lords but because I still reputed her too yong I denied all her suteâ—s which afterwarde turned me to verie great detriment For my Sisters aunt had a sonne the most mishapped deformed and worst conditioned knight as all the Countrey could not shew such another yet became he
the ship and mariners ready and getting all aboord the wind seruing for their auaile they set saile and before day they got farre enough from London Chap. LXII How the king of England and the Queene were aduertised how their daughter Agriola was conuayed away and of their sorrow for her departure THe Duke of Gaules daughter who continually was bedfellow to the Princesse absenting her selfe very long from bed fearing to disquiet her Ladie being sicke as she supposed but comming at length to sée hâ—w shee fared finding the bedde emptie and Agriola gone shee presently made a great out-crie whereat the other Ladies came and altogither amazed at this sudden aduenture went to the Quéenes Chamber where they reported how the Princesse was gone but howe or when they knew not The Quéene at these tydings suddenly arose and comming to her daughters Chamber found it too true which made her fal into such pitiful acclamations farre surpassing those of Maguelona when she lost her friend Peter of Prouince in the wood In these lamentings shee returned to the king whose heauines excéeded iudgment for the losse of his daughter and then came diuerse lords gentlemen who declared that the strange Knights were likewise departed Which raised such a â—umour through all the Citie that they had stolen away the Princesse The King vnderstanding the general sorow for his daughters absence said In sooth my friends if these Knights haue done such seruice for mée they haue sufficiently recompenced themselues in doing me the greatest dishonour they could deuise yet wil I not condemne them so much as my daughter for that I am perswaded shée procured this mischaunce But nowe I well perceiue what credit a maÌ„ may repose in his enemy for Palmerin euermore serued the Emperour of Allemaigne then hâ—rdly could he be true to mee Yet is it in vain for me to blame him or his companions if they tookâ— the aduauntage of their owne intents But now there 〈◊〉 no remedy my daughter is in the company of most chosen knights if she haue done well or ill hereafter her deserts will answer her misdemeanour Thus the king would not suffer any pursute after them though the Quéen and her Ladies earnestly intreated him he answering that no such mone should be made for a child so vngrateful 〈◊〉 disobedient but hauing committed an action so â—ile â—â—â—rme she should no more account of her as 〈◊〉 childe And well may wee quoth hee so refuse her in that she wouâ—â— leaue her parents and depart with straungers 〈◊〉 might we haue accounted our selues if we had lost her in her infancie The Quéene séeing her â—ord so impatient appeased his displeasure so well as she could because shee would not mooue him too much Within few dayes after the Duke of Gaule arriued at the Court who most of all gréeued at thâ—se vnhappy tidings wherefore he perswaded the king to proclaime open warre against the Emperour of Allemaigne assuring him that the knight which most commonly accompanied Palmerin was Trineus the Emperors sonne When the king heard the Dukes spéeches forgetting his anger he reioyced estéeming himselfe happy and his daughter wise in matching her selfe with such a husband and if she had made her choyse among al the Princes of the world shee could not haue sorted out one comparable in honor In bréefe aunswered the duke that for a daughter so lost he would not séeke the death of his louers and subiects but being one of Fortunes changes he could not withstand it and thus the king wisely and patiently entâ—red hiâ— gréeâ—e Chap. LXIII How Vrbanillo and the Prince Trineus Esquire arriued at the Emperours Court and what great ioy their comming procured IN this place â—ur history taketh this occasion howe the King of Fraunce daily expecting newes from Palmerin as concerning his intent of marriage betwéene his daughter and the Prince Trineus but séeing he heard no tidings at all he determined to send his ambassadâ—rs to the Emperor electing for chéefâ— in this embassage the Count of Aâ—mignac to whom hee gaue ful power authority to conclude the marriage betweene Trineus his daughter Lucemania as also of the princesse Polinarda with his son and heyre The king dispatching al things for his ambassage sent many â—arons and knightâ— of name to accompany the Count to countenance the matter with more royaltie magnificence and in this maner they came to Gaunt where the Emperour being aduertised of theyr arriuall 〈◊〉 no grâ—at account thereof such was his gréefe for his sonneâ— absence Palmerins of whom he could not heare any tidings as also for the foyle his Armie sustained in England But while the messenger from the ambassadours of Fraunce stayed with the Emperour Vrbanillo and the princes Squire entred the hall whose presence highly contented the Emperour as embracing them very louingly he demaunded for Palmerin and his sonne Trineus when they deliuering their letters and the Emperour perswaded therby of their spéedie return was greatly contented saying to the Ambassadours messenger My fréend séeing I haue heard such long looked for tidings of my sonne you may returne to the 〈◊〉 your maister desiring him to come when hee thinks conuenient he shall be heartily welcome to me with this answer the messenger departed TheÌ„ the emperor taking Vrbanillo by yâ— hand said Tel me now I pray thée how fares thy maister where is he is my sonne with him My gracious lord quoth the dwarâ—e where your noble son abideth there is my maister both of â—â—â—ght good disposition and highly honored And hereof I can assure your maiesty yâ— you haue a son who by good reason 〈◊〉 to be numbred among the best knights liuing for such honourable experience hath hee made of his worthines that perpetuall memorie will recorde his déeds of chiualry what els remaineth you shal know at their comming which will be so soone as they can possibly I euer perswaded my selfe said the Emperour that in the company oâ— so good a knight as Palmerin my son could not but purchase credit and honour the refore séeing they haue such prosperity of health I care the lesse for their stay but welcome are they whensoeuer they come By this time Polinarda heard of the Dwarfes arriual which greatly pleasing her she sayd to Brionella I pray thée swéete fréend go spéedily and séeke the Dwarfe that we may knowe what is become of our Lords and my brother Trineus Brionella who longed to heare of hir loue Sir Ptolome whom wel she knew to be one of the companie with all spéed accomplished the Princesse commandement and found the ioyfull messenger with the Emperour who tooke great delight in the Dwarfes reports but his maiestie perceiuing with what chéerefull countenance she came to bring Vrbanillo to her Lady the princesse bad him go with her hoping by his meanes his Daughters extreame sadnesse would be comforted Brionella béeing forth of the Emperours presence embraced him many times to know his tydings when the Dwarfe not
Tharsus and the other sporting in the Court at Constantinople not daring to sette foote in the stirroppe after Knightly exercises til they heare how their Father speedes If he haue that fauour his deedes deserued then on goes their Armor and in the cheefest places of Christendome wil they shewe themselues with repetition to the world of wonderfull aduentures But while they expect good newes or bad I will hasten on the translation of the third part of this most famous Historie which beeing of some great quaâ—titie wil aske the longer time eâ—e hee can enioy the benefit thereof bee therefore kind to these two former Bookes and that will be the better meanes of hastening the third Yours to his vttermost Anthony Mundy The second part of the auncient and honourable Historie of Palmerin D'Oliua Continuing his rare fortunes Knigâ—tly deedes of Chiualrie happie successe in loue and how he was crowned Emperour of Constantinople Herein is likewise concluded the variable troubles of Trineus and faire Agriola of England with their fortunate mariage c. Chap. I. How Olimael presented the Princesse Agriola to the greaâ— Turke who immediately became amorous of her and what rewardes and preferment the Pyrate receiued for his gift Aâ— yet I am sure you remember in the first part how the Pyrate Olimael 〈◊〉 his prisoners reseruinâ— for 〈◊〉 none but the King of Englandes daughter hopâ—ng in time to 〈◊〉 her 〈◊〉 An béeing alone 〈…〉 in the fayrest Cabin in the 〈…〉 hée could to comfort her but 〈…〉 were bestowed in vaine for shée woulde receyue no kinde of sustenaunce desyring euerie houre to die hauing so lost her Lord Trineus He séeing that fayre spéeches offers gifts and other inticements proper to perswasion could not compasse the thing he desired he grewe into choler intending to gaine his pleasure perforce so that after manie threatnings with rough violence hée woulde néedes rauish her Agriola séeing that her féeble strength coulde not long withstand the Turke albeit she stroue and resisted so well as shée coulde therefore with deuout prayer shee called on God desiring him to take pittie on her and not to suffer that villainous Ruffian to dishonour her Her prayer béeing ended Olimael beganne in such sort to tremble as hée staggered backe warde foure or fiue times and so excéedingly was hée surprised with feare as hée was constrayned to leaue her and withdraw himselfe into another place The Princesse though shée were amazed at this suddaine chaunge noting with what terrour the Captaine departed yet was she greatly comforted by her deliuerance imputing the whole worke thereof to the Almightie prouidence and the vertue of the Ring that Palmerin gaue her wherefore with thankfull heart and eleuated eyes to heauen shée sayd O celestiall Father howe great and infinite is thy goodnesse howe happie is the creature whom thou regardest with the eye of pittie assurdly I nowe perceyue that such as in extremitie haue recourse to thee shall no waie perish Then taking the vertuous Ring and kissing it many times sayd Unualuable Iewell giuen me by the best Knight in the worlde howe carefully will I kéepe thée howe true is that saying That great persons giue great presents Hencefoorth shalt 〈…〉 bee kept for the loue of him that gaue thée and for thy singular vertue in the place where I vsually store things of greatest price So taking a little Chayne of Golde which serued her as a Bracelet shée fastened this 〈◊〉 Iewell thereto and put it about her necke so that the sumptuous Stone laye glistering betwéene her 〈◊〉 white breasts a prospect so rare and delicate and of no lesse power to drawe the beholders eyes then the Aâ—amant the Amber or the Ieate can by their vertue beside so woonderfully repleat with swéete regard as I dare affirme that the most cruell Tyrant in Turkie would stand amazed at those two daintie Mountaines more mortifyed and humbled then the aged Hermits of Thebaida Olimael yet quaking at his suddaine aâ—teration durst presume no more to offer her villaynie but by rich gifts and presents sought to perswade her all which auailed not for as hée got but little profit by his violence so wonne he much lesse by his trecherous offerings So sayled they eight dayes togither Olimael not able to compasse Agriolas loue nor hearing anie tydings of the vessels that were lost neyther of his Cozin who had Trineus captiue which grieued him as nothing could do more in that he was so vnprouided as well he could not present himselfe before his Lord to whom hée had promised to bring store of Christian prisoners and now hée had in his bootelesse loue so lost his time as either the tempest or shipwracke had spoyled him of his owne companie In this doubtfull opinion he debated with himselfe that the great Turke did earnestly affect fayre Ladyes so by the meane of his beautifull prisoner he imagined to bée entertained with good countenaunce and his losse woulde be past ouer with forgetfulnesse wherefore hee commaunded the Pilot to make toward the port of Ottobant where as then the great Emperour of Turkie soiourned and 〈◊〉 they came in short time after Notwithstanding as a Seruant well instructed not daring to abuse the familiaritie of his Lorde hée sent one of his Knights to excuse his cause and to report that by casuall mischaunce he had lost his men and Gallies but if his Maiestie pleased to forget his misfortune and receyue him into his accustomed fauour he would bring him one of the fayrest Ladies in Chriâ—endome and discended of most royall percentage The Emperour béeing lasâ—iuions and more addicted to vnchaste desires then any in his Realme hearing this message was so supprised with the onely report of her beautie as immediately he became passionate for her loue sending the Pyrate worde that hee could not bring a more desired present 〈◊〉 therfore remitted all his offences promising him greatter fauour then euer he had And because no contrarie occasion may hinder his comming quoth the Emperour thou shalt carrie him this Letter sealed with mine owne signet that hée may no way â—oubt of his assurance The Knight taking the Letter and kissing the Emperours feete according to the cuâ—â—ome returnâ—d to his Maister deliuering him the aunswere hée had receiueâ— Olimael ioyfull thereof caused Agriola to cloath her selfe in her most sumptuous garments and so with alâ— his men sâ—t forwarde towarde the Court. Nowe although the Prinâ—esse was all blubbered with teares and halfe deade to see her selfe in the power of these Straungers professed anâ— sworne enemies to hâ—r faith and religion yet could not the rare perfections of her beautie be shadowed but the glimse thereof set euery eye to wonder And as she lookes about her to sée if any of her companie were landed with her she espied Ptolome whom they minded secretly to conuey from her but shee beholding him so sad and sorrowfull stept towards him saying Ah my déere fréend Ptolome what wreakfull chaunce hath Fortune throwne vppon vs
opinion that when the fayrest were present beautie would then bee most spleâ—dant For this cause hee sent to Prince Guilharaâ— Sonne to Polidia her mothers sistâ—r that he should bring his Sister Ardemia to the Court who was counted the Paragon through all the Monarchie of Babilon 〈…〉 and defende thy selfe so woorthily as thou hast done Then was shée certifyed by an auncient Knight that one of the squyres of her Chamber smote him as he lay a sleepe which he reuenged in such sort as she had séene Trust me quoth she the dumbe man did as well be seemed him wherefore in respect of his ciuilitie and that he can so well correct the ouerboldnesse of fooles I will intertaine him as one of our Court forbidding any to wrong him as they â—ender my fauour and their owne liues So commaunding buriall for the dead and prouision for the wounded shée went to her Pauilion which was not farre off willing Palmerin by signâ—s to go with her deliuering him his sword again and saying he should he her seruant Humble graces did Palmerin requiâ—e her withall and in signe of his obeysance offred 〈…〉 would not permit him and taking 〈…〉 Looke that hereafter thou go not from me whereto by signes be consented knowing that by heâ— meanes he 〈◊〉 be safely protected 〈…〉 Princesse Pauillion but the Greyhounde 〈…〉 pace as he caught her in the presence of Alchidiana 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 owne handes tooke her from the Dogge and gaue her in kéeping to one of her Pages By this tyme it 〈◊〉 towards night wherfore each one mounting on their Palfrayrs set forwarde to the Cittie the two Princesses hauing no other talke all the way but of the singuler behauiour of the 〈◊〉 Knight They riding faire and easily because Palmerin trauayled by them on foote Ardemia beholding his goodly Sworde demaunded of him if hée werâ— a Knight which he by signes made knowne vnto her wherof Alchidiana verie ioyfull sayde that shée woulde present him to the Soldane her Father and for this cause the more she beheld him the greater pleasure shée conceyued in him Beeing nowe come to the Gates of Calpha there stood manie Knights readie with lighted Torches to conduct the Ladies and their traine to the Pallace which was so rare and sumptuously edifyed as Palmerin was amazed to 〈◊〉 such royaltie All the way Alchidiana had the dumbe knight by her site giuing him her hand to alight from her Palfray which hée did with excéeding reuerence and nothing discontented with his office but manie Kings and Princes there present murmured thereat thinking him not worthie to come so néere her nor might he so be suffered but that the Princesse somewhat 〈◊〉 of him would suffer none to contrarie her pleasure and leaned on his arme al the while shée went vppe the stayres of the Pallace to giue the 〈◊〉 euen to the Soldane who stayed his Daughters returne in the great hall Still leaned shée on Palmerin till she came to her Father who 〈◊〉 in a magnificent Chaire of estate hauing the resemblaunce of the firmament ouer his heade after the Turkish maner so garnished with Rubâ—es and Dyamonds which with the lights of the Torches shined most gloriously whereat Palmerin wondered 〈◊〉 the Princesse with so braue gesture as many reputed 〈◊〉 some noble person and other 〈◊〉 thought the woorst of him The Soldane who loued his Daughter as you haue heard before arose from his Chayre to welcome her home demaunding what sport shée had on hunting and if shée had brought any venison home with her Certes my Lord quoth she we haue had better fortune then you thinke on but before I declare the manner thereof to you will it please you to giue mee what I haue found this day The Soldane not able to denie his Daughter any thing liberally graunted her request A thousande thankes good Father quoth shée this dumbe Knight hath your Maiestie giuen me who in his owne defence hath this day slaine certaine of your Knights and hereof you may assure your selfe that hee is one of the most hardy Gentlemen that euer came into these partes Séeing it is your request Daughter quoth hée I coulde hée well contented to graunt it but how shall I aunswere â—he Fréendeâ— of the murthered to whom I haue alreadie promised that for his offence he shall be deliuered to the Lions So which of these graunts ought best to bée kept yours béeing my Daughtâ—r wherein nature ruleth or theirs béeing my Subiects which the Lawe commaundeth I may not bée iâ—dge herein sayde the Princesse notwithstanding me thinkes vnder your highnesse correction that you haue béene but 〈…〉 to giue a sentence so cruell hauing not heard or séene the partie And albeit hée were guiltie of blame as heâ— is not yet before his condemnation hée ought to bée heard howe hée could cléere himselfe but if hée must die I hauing assured him life and taken him into my defence the disgrace is so great to mée as mine honour must remaine for â—uer condemned And you my Lord and Father whose authoritie may discharge me of this reproch if you refuse now to assist me the gréefe hereof will bée my death Thâ—se words she spake with such affection and so heauily wéeping as woulde haue mooued a 〈◊〉 heart to pittie her whereâ—â—â—â— Mâ—uliâ—us touched with naturall remorse sayd You shall peceyue Daughter what I haue deuised to the ende my worde may not bee impeached He shall be put into the Lyons Denne and suddenly taken out againe by this meane I shall kéepe my promise to his accusers and satisfie your earnest desire And the better to content you herein his enemies shall bee perswaded that he escaped the Lions with life and then will I giue him safetie thorow all my dominions The Princesse fearing the bloodthirstie desire of the Lions coulde not so content her selfe which Palmerin perceyuing that the Father and daughter thus contended for him fel downe on his knée before the Soldane making signes that hee should accomplish his promise for hee feared not the daunger of his life Maulicus maruailing hereat perswaded his daughter that being so hardie hee might escape therefore to content her selfe for thing should bee handled in such sort as the Knight should no way be endangered These words somewhat contented the Princesse causing Palmerin to be conducted to his chamber charging him that was appoynted to attend on him to sée that he were very honourably vsed and in the morning to bring him againe before her father The Soldane and his Knights spent all that euening in diuerse iudgements on the dumbe Knight each one being glad of the Soldanes sentence but Alchidiana was so pensiue considering the dangerous hazard he should passe as she 〈◊〉 to her Chamber refusing all sustenaunce and spending the time in â—oloroâ—s complaints desiring rather her own death then the dumbe knight should be any way harmed Chap. V. How Palmerin is put into the Denne among the Lions and Leopards and hauing killed three of them
escaped valiantly PAlmerin béeing brought to his Chamber which was one of the most sumptuous in all the Pallace accoridng as the Princesse had appoynted he made signe to the Gentlman that attended on him to withdrawe himselfe for he was accustomed to bee alone in his chamber which he immediatly did being loath to offend him Palmerin béeing alone by himselfe gaâ—e thanks to the God of heauen who in midst of his misfortunes caused such a gracious Ladie to fauour him so kindly as defended his life when hee was in daunger and by whose means hée conceyued good hope to escape his enemies hands and to returne safely toward Allemaigne His meditations ended he betooke himselfe to rest and in the morning Linus the Gentleman that had him in charge came and presented him before the Soldane who commaunded him to bée carryed presently to the Lions Alchidiana vnderstanding that the dumbe Knight was with her Father sent him a rich Mantle of scarlet desiring him to weare it for her sake which hee putting about him went frankely with his kéeper to the Lions Denne where the doore béeing opened hée boldly entered desiring God to assist him in this perill Palmerin being in the Denne because none of the Lions should get forth to hurt any other howe euer God disposed of him made fast the doore after him and with his sworde drawne his Mantle wrapped about his arme went to sée how the beasts would deale with him The Lions comming about him smelling on his cloathes woulde not touch him but as it were knowing the bloud royall lay downe at his féete and licked him and afterward went to their places againe But there were among them thrée Leopards that furiouslie came and assayled him the formost where of hée paunched with his Sworde that hée was able to doo no more harme The other two although they had torne his Mantle and put him in verie great daunger as they that looked in at the windowes and creuises perceyued yet to their no little admiration in the end hée slue them both and so went forth of the Denne againe to whom Linus came and louingly taking him by the hand brought him to the Soldane to whom hee discoursed his fight with the Leopardes and howe gentle the Lions had beene to him The Soldane greatly astonished hereat made more estimation of him then hée did before and because the Lions refused to touch him reputed him of royall parentage Whereupon he sent for his Daughter praying her to intreate him not as a Knight but as a noble and vertuous Prince considering his behauiour so well deserued The Princesse entertayned him very graciously and hearing the successe of his happy fortune spake thus in the hearing of them all Because euery one shall know Sir knight how much I honour your good gifts I will cause my Father so well to loue you as hée shall repent himselfe a thousande tymes of the â—aunger hée put you to and so veriâ— louingly embracing him desired paâ—don on her own behalfe because she suffered him to be thrust to the Lions Palmerin in signe of attonement that hee was nothing displeased kissed her hand and sitting downe in a Chaire by her behelde Aâ—demia who resembled his Mistresse so equall in beautie and could not holde his eye from her so that hée conceiued such pleasure in his regard as he iudged it sustenance enough to maintaine life But she that was ignorant of the cause presumed that he loued her wherfore thenceforwart she began so amorously to affect him as shee enioyed no rest but in his presence Thus were these two Ladies Alchidiana and Ardemia touched with one disease and that so sharpely to the quicke that the least torment they endured séeing hée could neither speake nor vnderstand their language was woorse to them then death And so it fell out that each of them thinking her selfe best beloued concealed her thoughts from the other and would in no case be reputed amorous least so her desires should be discouered Alchidiana for arguments of her loue gaue him horses esquires seruants and pages so that the greatest Prince in the Court was no better equipped then he and in this fortune such was his mind that for all the honor and fauour the Soldane and his daughter bare him he did not outreach himselfe in behauiour but was benigne and full of courtesie that each one loued and desired to be familiar with him And if any enterprise of Ioustes or Tourneyes were in hand Palmerin was the formost in the field and carried the prize away from all whatsoeuer which incited Maulicus to loue him in such sort that he entertained him into such speciall credite as he would neuer resolue on any matter of importance without his shew of good liking And albeit the Princes of the Court shewed him good countenance yet Enuy that neuer can rest in ambitious hearts caused them in the ende to raise slaunder against him which Palmerin perceiued but being vnable to remedie awaited conuenient time for his departure notwithstanding the earnest affection Alchidiana bare him He knew likewise so well to disguise his matters that so often as the Princesse would hold him in talke he still feigned not to vnderstand her which made her iealous towards Ardemia her Cozin who by Alchidianaes iniuries and Palmerins refusall of her loue lost her life as you shall read in the chapters folowing Chap. VI. How the Prince Maurice sent his Ambassadors to the Soldane to desire safe conduct for his comming to the Court to trie if he could find any Knight there able to deliuer him of an extreame trouble that hee dured by enchauntment DUring the time that Palmerin was thus estéemed and beloued in the Court of the great Monarch of Assiria vpon a Sunday after dinner as the Soldane was in the great Hall conferring with his Daughter and many other great Princes and Lordes present there entred a Moore Knight armed except his Helmet and Gauntlets which were carried after him by two Squires and making his solemne reuerence humbled himselfe at Maulicus féete saying Most high and redoubted Monarch my soueraigne Lord Maurice sworne Prince of whole Pasmeria kisseth your highnesse hand sending to require your gracious safe conduct that himselfe may come to your Court to trie among all your knights if there bee any one so loyal and valiant as can deliuer him from a torment he endures the most cruell and straunge that euer was heard of and happened to him in this sort The King of Pasmeria great gouernour of the Moorâ—s and father to my Lord béeing vnable through extreme age to weilde the gouernment of his Realme gaue the administration thereof and made his Lieutenant generall my Lord Maurice a Knight so hardy and puissant as any of his time and so renowned for his beautie sagacitie and braue lineaments of body as there is none of the Kings of Iudea Egypt Ethiopia and neighbour Countreyes round about but gladly desire his 〈◊〉 and friendshippe So that
many haue sent their Ambassadours to him presenting their Daughters and Kingdomes to him the greater part whereof he hath hitherto refused â—xcusing himselfe by his fathers age and his owne youth But as often times it happeneth Fortune enemie to all good endeuours not suffering him to remaine in quiet permitted that the quéene of Tharsus the fayrest of the Orientall paâ—ts a young Widdow and rich as is very well knowne after shee had sent him many presents of incomparable value intreated him to come and sée her shaddowing in this message the great desire shée had to matâ—h with him The Prince being benigne and courteous would not denie her but in short time after iourneyed to her The Quéene entertaining him with great royaltie and séeing in him farre more gracious and beautifull gifts then before she heard reported was so surprised with loue as in stéede of looking to be wooâ—d her selfe was constrained to demaund knowing so wâ—ll to declare her desirous and affectionate passions as the Prince mooued with amorous pittie granted what she requested without any further condition or promise presuming on himselfe in respect of her great and fauorable entertainment that hee would not leaue her for any other But herein was she deceiued for the yong Prince hauing staied with her tâ—nne or twelue dayes desired leaue to departe saying that hée had receiued Letters from his Father which commaunded his spéedy returne home againe promising her if so his father consented to take her in marriage and that with such expeâ—ition as might bée The Queene somewhat contented with this answere thinking hee would performe what hée promised let him depart He being come home into his owne Countrey forgot his loue to his newe Fréend and by his Fathers commaundement marryed with a yong Princesse Daughter to the King Lycomedes The Quéene hearing these newes was almost dead with conceit of gréefe and conceiued such hatred against my Lord Maurice as she determindd to be reuenged on him whatsoeuer came after And the better to compasse her intent shée sent to search out one of her knights a learned Magitian promising him if he would help her to be reuenged on him that so deceiued her shée would make him one of the chéefest in her Realme The Magitian who euermore was desirous to please her promised her to worke such a deuise that Maurice should endure such cruel torments as her selfe should be constrayned to pittie him And to accomplish this practise hée onely desired the King her Fathers Crowne which was one of the richest in the whole world which Crowne he coniured in such sort as the diuell himself could not imagine the like and comming therwith to the Quéen said Madame you must sende this Crowne to the Prince of Pasmeria desiring him for your sake hée will weare it on his head in the chéefest affayres of his estate which hée immediatly will accomplish but this I dare assure you that hereby hée shall suffer so many vexations as hee would endure a thousand deaths if hee could possible to be deliuered from this torment which he neuer shall be till the most loyall louer in the world take it from his head The Quéene so ioyfull hereof as could be sent the Crowne to the prince who receiued it thankfully and beholding it sumptuous sodainely put it on his head but presently flew out of his head such a flame of fire as it had béene the blaze that commeth from a discharged Cannon Then called hee for ayde and succour making the greatest lamentations that euer were heard but all was to no ende for no Knight or Lady there could do him any good and so all the whole day hée remained in this cruell martirdome burning aline yet not perishing resembling the Salamander in the extreame fire When his people saw that they could procure him no ease they sent two of the greatest Lords of the Realme to the Quéene who humbly intreated her to pittie the Prince and to recompence the fault he had committed hée should take her to his Wife and endow her with those honourable possessions belonging to him The Quéene entertained them very nobly and after she had vnderstood their message answered My Lordâ— the marriage betwéene your maister and me is intollerable and no way can hée nowe contract himselfe againe for I remembring his disloyaltie and hée the torments hée suffers by my meanes it were impossible that wée should louingly liue togither therefore in this matter you shall excuse me And let him know that séeing hée was so presumptuous contrarie to his faith and promise to refuse me for his Wife I now so much disdain and contemne him as my heart by no meanes can be induced to loue him And no other remedie is there for his torments but that hée séeke through Asia Europe and Affrica a louer so perfect who by his loyaltie may cease the paines he suffers for trecherie and treason With this short answere depart my Countrey for your Maister is so worthie of fauour as for his sake I hate his people The Ambassadours maruailing at this fatall destenie returned to their Lord to whom they reported the Quéenes answere and what remained to ease his affliction which more and more encreased his gréefe wherfore séeing what he was enioyned to doo the next day hée left the Court entending not to stay a day in any place till he should finde a Knight so vertuous and loyall Thus hath he trauailed Ethiopia India Tartaria the greater part of your realmes but as yet hee hath founde none to remedie his misfortune but if any other disloyall Knight in triall touch the crowne his vexations are far more greater then before For this cause most mighty Lord haâ—ing heard the great fame of valiant knights in your Court especiall of a stranger Knight being dumbe who came hither but of very late time he desires your maiestie his assurance graunted to suffer him trie his fortune heere if in your presence â—e may finde any helpe or else to seeke further in other Princes Courts These are the principall points of my charge may it please your highnesse to consider of mine answere how I shall returne and certifie my Maister that you may like wise sée an aduenture maruailous Chap. VII How the Prince Maurice came to the Court of the Soldâ—ne of Babilon where he was deliuered of his burning Crowne that tormented him by the loyaltie of Palmerin MAulicus wondering at this strange discourse thus answered the Moore You may my friend returne to your maister when you please and say from vs that hee shall be welcome to our court with as safe aâ—â—urance as our own pâ—rson as well for his valour and bountie which I haue heard greatly esteemed as for that wee are desirous to see so strange an aduenture ended in our presence And wee cannot sufficiently maruaile howe he could bee so forgâ—tfull of himselfe that after his faith so broken hee could extinguish her remembraâ—ce that loued him so vnâ—eigneâ—ly but heeâ—ein
at length remembring her wordes to him and doubting his vnkindnesse to be the cause of her death sayd within himselfe Alas faire Princesse must I at the first motion driue thée to dispaire had I dissembled a little or temporized the matter thou hadst not fallen into this extremitie but my onely wilfull indiscretion is cause of thy losse O Female sexe howe are you subiect to casuall passions Yet néede I not wonder at this present mishappe for from the beginning of the worlde the Woman hath béene so suddein and voluntarie to the effect of her desires were they good or euill but especially in the action of loue as neyther feare honor shame torments no nor death could diuert her from her vndiscreâ—te fantasies Hereof beare record Hypâ—â—mnestra Myrrha Deianira Scylla 〈…〉 Phyllis Salmacis Hero and Dydo whose deatheâ— were procured onely by lauish loue O diuine wisedome that hast suffered me to fall into this lucklesse accident protect mée from any further disaduauntage séeing thou hast taken her hence who gaue some ease to mine 〈…〉 that so liuely shée resembled my swéete Mistresse 〈…〉 desire to serue with continuall loyaltie I nâ—we 〈◊〉 my selfe that this loue was not accompanied with vertue and that for my good it hath so chaunced forgette 〈◊〉 not then but so enable me as in such badde occasions 〈…〉 not from my duetie And such is my confidence in thy promises as no teâ—ptation shall preuaile against mée but this â—aptiuitie once discharged I hope to direct my course pleasing in thy sight and to 〈◊〉 such gracious seruice as thy name 〈…〉 and glorified for euer So long continued he in this silent contemplation as Alchidiana perceiued him which greatlie displeased her but fearing any way to 〈◊〉 Palmerin shée durst not saye what shée thought liuing in hope that her Cozin being dead she should now compasse the effecte of her desires Ardemia enterred in her honourable Tombe Guilharan her Brother with his traine and the Ladies that attended on his Sister returned into Armenia where great sorrowe was made for the death of the Princesse and the renowne of her beautie blazed the report of her death through euery region Chap. IX How Amarano of Nigrea eldest son to the king of Phrygia vnderstanding the death of the faire Princesse Ardemia who was newly promised him in mariage made many greeuous lameÌ„tations for her losse And how Alchidiana discouered her amorous affections to Palmeâ—in SO farre was spread the reporte of the strange death of the Princesse Ardemia as 〈◊〉 came to the hearing of 〈◊〉 eldest sonne to the king of Phâ—ygia the most valiant redoubtâ—d knight of y◠〈…〉 as wel for his great 〈◊〉 and déedes of Armes which he before that time accompliâ—â—â—d in Asia as for his affable nature vertue and courtesie This yong Prince being in the King his fathers Court and hearing commended beyond al other Ladies of the East the faire Ardemia Daughter to the King of Armenia at the verye sounde of the Trompe of this blazing Goddesse and setting the newes downe for true from her affecting spéech he became so amorous of her as he had no content but in thinking on her Héereupon he sent his Ambassadours to her Father to request her in mariage wherto right willingly he condiscended and nowe at the instant when he intended to go visite her newes came to the Court of her admirable death which for a while was 〈◊〉 from him because each one doubted the conceit 〈◊〉 would cause his death For they knowing the loue he 〈◊〉 her to be so vehement as hée vnderstanding her strange kinde of death they thought it impossible but it would 〈◊〉 to very scandalous inconuenience yet in the ende he 〈◊〉 thereof but to sette downe héere the gréefe teares and complaints of this yong Prince is more then I am able 〈◊〉 it therefore suffise you that his sorrowes were such as euery houre his death was likewise expected It was likewise told him howe through the enuie of Alchidiana shée dyed and that for certaintie shee was one of the chéefest causes thereof which mooued him then into such an alteration as hée swore by the great Prophet Mahomet to reuenge her iniurie so that the Soldaâ—e shoulde for euer remember the daunger in suffering so great a treason In conclusion hée intended to take with him two hundred chosen Knights all clad in mourning for the gréefe of their Maister and â—oure of his Brethren Knights of great hardinesse and so well they iourneied as they â—ame within twentie miles of the 〈◊〉 Courte But that wée may not too farre 〈◊〉 from our intent Alchidiana ioyfull as you haue hearde for the departure of Guilharan and his 〈…〉 Palmerin 〈…〉 to all louers such account she made of her beautie and riches as she imagined that Palmerin would not disdaine her but rather would repute himselfe happy to haue that at his pleasure whereof so many Kings and great Lordes had béene denyed And in this opinion the next time that Palmerin came to her Chamber she beganne with him in this manner Now Syr Knight what thinke you of the death of Ardemâ—a who so falselye would haue seduced you to goe with her hence did shée not commit great treason against mee if shée had preuailed but right well is shée rewarded and as I desired Thinke then no more of her presumptuous follie or the ridiculous conceit of her vaine loue which shée made her pretence to cause you forsake my Fathers Court where you haue receiued so many speciall honours chéefelie of his Daughter who loues you déerelie and inâ—â—nds to make you Lord ouer all her possessions Beléeue mee Sir Knight if hitherto I deferred to acquaint you héerewith it was in respect I doubted her but now shée being gone estéeme henceforth of me as your owne and to begin this alliaunce I honour you with all that is mine and my selfe to be disposed at your pleasure For my heart which is onely subiect to you applyes it selfe to your lyking and can wish nothing but what you will 〈◊〉 How long haue I desired this happie day howe often haue I contemned and despised my selfe in not daring to breake the seale of my affections which nowe I 〈◊〉 aduentured to your knowledge As for that which now troubleth mee is the want of your spéech which the Gods haue depriued you off being enuious of your manifolde perfections Alas my Lord why did they not endue â—hée with that benifit that in declaring my desires thy answeres might returne reciprocall pleasure Some in their loue delight themselues with embracing kissing and such ceremoniall behauiour as for mée amoâ—rous priuate and 〈…〉 I repute a 〈◊〉 content Yet hath Loue one shaft in his 〈…〉 then all these béeing the onely argument of each others resolution in respect whereof I commit my honour into your protection prizing estéeming and chusing you aboue all men in the world beside Palmerin exceedingly abashed at these vnséemelye spéeches knewe what signes to make for his aunswere
his departing time being come when the Prince attiring her selfe in her wâ—nted mourning garments and shaping her countenance to her former sorrow throwded her pleasures past and thus we will leaue them returning to our Affirianâ— sayling on the Sea Chap. XXIIII How after the tempest was past the soldans Armie assembled togither came against Constantinople where by the Emperours power they were discomfited the King of Balisarca his sonne Gueresin and 〈◊〉 other great Lords of Turkie slaine THe tempest which had thrown Palmerin on Hercuâ—es pillars after many loÌ„g and contagious stormes began nâ—w to cease the Sea béeing faire and calme and the windes very quiet whereupon the king of Balisarca General of the Armie in short time assembled togither the most part of his Fléete and came vpon the Coast of Natolia where hée attended the rest of his Foystes and Galleyes And hauing there â—â—ayed about fifteene dayes among all the Shippes that came hée could heare no â—â—dings of Palmerins Carrick the long slay wherof caused him to doubt least he had vnhappily 〈◊〉 in the Sea and ouercome with excéeding gréefe hee thus began Ah gentle Palmerin the flower of all Chiualrie in lucklesse howre didst thon betalâ—e thy selfe to the Sea what answere shal I make the Soldane for the 〈…〉 the Prince Olorico béeing so especially committed to my trust Nowe cannot Fortune 〈◊〉 so fauourable to vs as she would for by thy losse I vtterlye despayre of expected victorie To cut off these 〈◊〉 complaints he was counselled by the Lords Knights and auncient Captaines to sette forward to CoÌ„stantinople to discharge themselues of their promise to the Soldane least in returning without dealing with the enemie they should be reputed for fearefull faint-harted â—owards Setting their sailes to the wind at length they came to the Bosphor Now was the Emperour veriâ— aged and sickly hauing altogither committed the superintendaunce of the Empire to his sonne Caniano who had a son aged â—eaurntéene yéeres named Cariteos And being aduertised of the comming of so manie Assiriâ—ns Turkes and Moores hée sent to all the Christian Princes for succour the greater parte whereof was there as nowe arriued with resolute determination to welcome these Infidels When the Emperours scoutes had espied the enemiâ— to enter the straight yong Cariteos beholding the Knightes on all sides some on the walles and other in the Fielde came and knéeled before his Graundfather earnesâ—lye desiring him to graunt him his Knighthood For my Lord quoth he a better time and occasion cannot be then newe The aged Emperour graunted his request and with the teares in his eyes said In the name of God my Sonne maist thou receiue thy order and to the glorious maintenaunce of the Christian faith albeit thy youth forbids thée to venture so soone Presentlye arose the yong Knight Cariteos and clasping on his Helmet was the first that went foorth of the Cittie accompanied with tenne thousand Horsemen and twentie thousand Footemen to hinder the landing of the enemies which a great while hee did with such valour as the Hauen was channged with the bloud of the slaughtred The King of Balisarca hearing thereof commaunded his Archers to their taske 〈◊〉 shafts 〈◊〉 so thicke in such multitude as it were the Hayle that falleth from the Cleudes and on the other side hée gotte thiâ—tie thousande men on land who assayled the Christians so 〈◊〉 as yong Cariteos was slaine and a great 〈◊〉 of noble personages which was the cause that the Christians retired to the verie Gates of the Citie The Prince Caniano aduertised of his sonnes death and the great daunger wherein the 〈◊〉 issued foorth of the Cittie with eight thousande Horsmen and foure thousand hardie Archers who like hungry Tygers ranne vpon the Turkes beating them to the earth in such heapes as twelue thousand of them were slain at this encounter and the rest repulsed backe to their ships where many entred for sauegard of their liues and a great number were miserably drownâ—d in the Sea At this mishap the King of Balisarca was greatly eâ—â—ged who with his power presently went on shore the fight enduring so cruell and bloudie thrée howres space as neyther side could be reputed likeliest of victorie In this encounter ended their liues the King of Balisarca his Sonne Gueresin and a great number of Cailiffes and Taborlanes of Turkie and of the Christians the Prince Caniano with diuers other great Princes and Lords whose deathes are to this day lamented in Greece yet were the Pagans and Christians so animated one against another as darke night was the cause of their seperation When the Emperour vnderstood the death of his Sonne and Nephew hée was readie to die with conceit of griefe but séeing the necessitie of the time required other matter then sorrowing teares and vnprofitable lamentations hée presently dispatched Postes and Messengers to hasteâ— the succour was comming from Christendome In short time arriued a mightie Christian power and despight of the Turkes entred the Cittie when the Emperour presently sent tenne thousand into the Field and prouided a signall for the other to set fire among the Turkishe Fléete at what time they receiued the signe from the Cittie The Infidelles séeing the Christians to sallie abroad left their Shippes and came to méete them whereupon the Christians diuided themselues into squadrons and running furiously on the Moores Arabies and Assirians made such hauocke and slaughter of them as happie was he coulde best defend himselfe Then suddainly was the signall of fire made on the highest stéeple in Constantinople to the Emperours power wasting on the Sea which immediately launching among the Turkish Fléete suncke the greater part of them and burned the rest with their wilde fire When the Turkes beheld this stratageme and that they were now destitute of any helpe they beganne to faint so that at the comming of the Emperour who came himself vpon them with a fresh sallie of fiue thousand men they were all slaine except a fewe that escaped into Galleyes that brake from the rest vpon fight of the pollicie Great was the spoyle gotten by this conquest which the Christians taking with them entred Constantinople where they gaue God thankes for their happie victorie But although the Emperour sawe his enemies vanquished after the Princes were departed that came to his succour right gréeueus was the losse of his Sonnes to him wherefore his Lordes aduised him to send for his daâ—ghter the Quéene Griana and King Tarisius her husband and to commit the gouernment of the Empire to him For the accomplishment of this generall determination the Duke of Pera was appointed Lord Ambassadour being one of the most auncient Princes of Greece who accompanied with many noble Gentlemen made such expedition in his iourney as hée arriued in Hungaria before the King and his Quéene Oriana whose sorrowes may not be expressed for the death of her brother When they vnderstood the Emperours pleasure they resolued on their obedience which caused the
them Namely that the King was murdered finding Griana committing adulteris with Florendos At which words the Emperour was so enraged that like a man depriued of reason he violently pulled himselfe by the heard saying Ah wreâ—ched and infortunate olde man haue the heauens suffered 〈◊〉 thus long life that after the death of thy sonnes Caniano and yong Cariteos thou must sée thy daughter conuicted of treason adulterie and murder If I haue had some comfort by my Sonnes lying now in the Hearse of honour for maintenance of the Christian faith doubtlesse this iniurie is so great and enorme as no ioy or comfort can now abide in mée Ah my louely Daughter Griana whom I had good hope would bee the onely support of mine age and for that cause sent to haue thy companie commest thou now with such shame and monstrous report Florendos if héeretofore against the Turke Gamezio thou didst me seruice with great wrong hast thou now reuenged thy selfe taking from mee that good which thou canst neuer restore againe But let it suffice that knowing the truth of thy disordered dealing such shall bee thy punishment as shall remaine for perpetuall memorie The Empresse likewise forsaking her Chamber came and knéeled before the Emperour desiring him to put Florendos to the first councell and be to be dispatched with dilligence At which words the choler of olde Remicius augmented hee answering Madame for Gods sake getâ—e you gone for you are the onely cause of my dishonour and then you beganne it when you would not suffer the Prince Florendos of Macedon to match with our daughter but gaue her to your Nephew perforce and contrarie to her owne liking The Prince séeing him so offended intreated her to depart perswading her that the accusers of Griana were her cheefest enemies and that might easily be gathered by their proude and maleuolent detractions which happily would proue false rather then truth For if they might heerein spéede of their purpose and theyr accusation passe for currant the princesse Armida should be disinherited and themselues be the onely heyres of the Kingdome This was their principall drift not any deuotion to reuenge their Uncles death as they in outward shew declared and hereupon all opinions were set aside vntill the next day when the prisoners arriued Chap. XXVII How Florendos and Griana were brought to Constantinople and there were appointed by the Emperours Councell to purge themselues of their accusation by the combate of two knights against their accusers Promptaleon and Oudin THe Duke being arriued at Constantiople immediately caused the Queene Griana and Armida her daughter to be conducted to the Pallace by manie noble Lords and Gentleman When Griana saw shée must néedes go before her father she began again her wonted pittifull complaints notwithstanding shee was so comforted by the Lordes of Greece by theyr solemne promise to defende her right as shee encouraged her selfe and comming before her Father fell on her knées and thus beganne My gracious Lord and father inconstant fortune euermore hath beene and still will continue a most cruell enemie of them of highest calling and no further néede I speake for proofe of my words then the History of your last warres against the Turks and the present slaunder of mine enemies against mée I cannot likewise forget that twentie yéeres and more are nowe expired since to my great gréefe I was seperated from you but with much more excéeding heauines am I now returned if by my misaduenture you receiue any impeach or I deserue to loose the name of your Daughter Therefore my Lord forgetting the name and office of a Father let naturall regarde be exempted from me and exercise on mée tyrannous â—orments with the greatest rigour that may be deâ—ised Yet all too little in respect of my deserts not for any offence in this matter as God is my witnesse but for the suspition of the common and vulgare people more credulous of the faults of Princes and noble Ladies then of their discréete and sober vertues Neuerthelesse receiuing death for a matter neuer committed and with patience despight of mine enemies it will redound to my immortall honour Upon these spéeches the Princesse Armida making great reuerence to the Emperor and with the teares trickling downe her chéekes saide Dread Lord my chéefest desires euermore haue béene to sée your maiestie but so it falleth out nowe that in stéede of ioy and pleasure it is with gréefe teares and tribulation Yet gracious Lord for the first request that euer I made to your highnesse I beséech you to credit me that my mother hath committed no treason or any dishonour to the deceased King my Father neither euer permitted any man entrance into her Chamber but hee whom now the question cencerneth and at that time I with these other Ladies were present and are credible witnesses of the whole action Such efficacie wrought her words in the Emperours minde as he beganne to defie the accusation perswading himselfe that it was nothing but falshood and louingly taking the yong Princesse vp by the hand addressed his spéeches in this manner to the Quéene Well hast thou sayde that Fortune hath béene too contrarie towards thee for when my whole hope remained in thée and that the Crowne of mine Empire should haue béene placed on thy head thou hast fallen into such wounding reproch as both thou and I shall be for euer dishonoured My Lorde quoth Griana vnder correction and sauing the reuerence of your imperiall Maiestie neuer imagine the case any thing to your defame if you credite not mine enemies or common report from whence is engendred all vntruth This speake I not to excâ—se my death which I know to be the refuge for the desolate and ende of al afflictions but to declare mine owne innocencie and that mine honour shall at length be founde vnspotted But now consider good Father with what violence you enforce mee to match with the King Tarisius my heart being still against it and the néerenesse of linage betwéene vs forbidding it Nor were you ignorant of my loue to the Prince Florendos the most gentle Knight of Greece and whose only trauaile hither was to make mee his Wife all this will I not denie nor can my heart permit to passe in silence Notwithstanding by your commaundement I was constrayned to forsake my best beloued and take the man I was not borne to fancie After I sawe it must néedes be so acknowledging him my Lord and Husband and my selfe his Wife and Subiect neither in word or déede nor so much as very thought did I dispose my selfe to any disobedience but liued in most loyall and hâ—nourable dutie Uerie truest is that he founde Florendos talking with mee but I protest before Heauen that it was with such chaste and modest regarde as the Sister might conferre with her Brother And so little time our talke endured as I had not the meane to answere the Prince for the King comming in and prâ—uoked with
frenzie or wicked iealousâ—ie woulde haue slaine him whereby such fortune fell out as the King receiued what he would haue giuen Nor can Florendos hée worthily blamed for comming to sée me in respect of the long time since our last companie beside hauing not forsaken his Pylgrims wéede wherein hee trauailed to the holie Lande he came to acquaint me with the maruailes in his iourney Sée héere in bréeâ—â— the whole truth of his Historie and if the Kings Nephewes auouch otherwise I say my Lord they lie falsely In this respect as well to proteâ—t mine owne honour as the Princes I humbly desire your Maiestie that our innocencie may be discided by Combate for such is my hope in a rightfull cause as I shall find some Knight to fight for me The Lords of the Empire were altogether of the same opinion and instantly desired the Emperour to graunt his Daughter her lawfull request whereto hee answered that he would take counsell thereon and iustice should be doone her as it ought Héereupon the Emperour went into his Chamber and the Quéene was brought to the Empresse her Mother where the poore Lady was assaulted afresh for shée was no sooner entred the Chamber but her Mother thus beganne I knowe not Daughter how badly thou hast béene counselled that since the day of thine espousall to the Prince Tarisius who loued thée so déerely thou hast continued such hatred against him that at length thou art become the onely cause of his death Madame quoth the Quéene you speake your pleasure but in regarde of my reuerence to you I aunswere that I neuer though it Wherefore I intreate you to forbeare such spéeches and if you consider all things well your selfe will be founde in greater fault then I. For conâ—rarie to my solemne promise which I had made to the Prince of Macedon you compelled mee to marrie with him and if Florendos had the opportunitie and in defence of his owne person hath slaine him ought you then to impute the crime to me With these words the Empresse held her peace and sate conferring with the yong Princesse Armida in meane while came the Duke of Pera who had the Quéene in charge and conducted her to her Chamber and afterward by the Emperours commandement he shut Florendos into a strong prison The next day Promptaleon and Oudin came to the Pallace where with great and audacious impudencie they came before the Emperour saying Why haue you not my Lord prouided the fire to burne your Daughter and her adulterer Florendos Soft and fayre aunswered the good Remicius bee not so hastie I finde them not so faultie as your accusation deliuereth for no other harme was committed then talking together and because Florendos was disguised is that a consequence my daughter must die Nor will I encurre with infamous report in putting such a Prince to death without hearing how he can answere for himselfe you therefore my Lord of Pera go fetch Florendos that hee may answere to their propositions The Duke obeyed his commandement and brought the Prince so spent with extreame gréefe because hee had caused the Quéene into such danger as hardly he could sustaine himselfe but after he had with great humilitie prostrated himselfe before the Emperour he began in this manner Most mightie Loed and Emperour of Greece maruaile not that with such heauinesse I come before your maiestie when in stéede of dooing you seruice according as my dutie commandeth me I bring you cause of offence and displeasure Neuerthelesse I repose my self on your benignitie and princely iustice wherein I must intreate you to haue regard on the Quéene your Daughters innocence for the fault that is committed if it deserue to be called a fault was doone without the Quéenes knowledge or so much as a thought of the matter on her part before it happened Moreouer there is none of so harsh iudgement or reason but will consider what familiaritie and friendship both passe betwéene Princes and Ladies in occasions of honour Which may serue to answere the cause of my comming to sée the Quéen being thereto bound by dutie and honest loue wherewith in my yonger yéeres I faithfully serued her And this I did without any iniurie to her honor much lesse occasion of offence to the King which hee would néedes interprete in that sort when with so good indiscretion hée came and assailed me These are fables quoth Promptaleon for the conspiracie and treason betwéene thée and the Quéene is so manifest as euerie one knowes it And if the Emperour doo not this day consumate your liues both together in one fire he offereth the greatest iniurie that euer Prince did and before the whole world wee will héereafter accuse him Darest thou maintaine by Combate in fielde saide Florendos what thou with such brauerie affirmest in this Hall that will I by mine honour quoth Promptaleon and let the Knight come that dares aduenture on this condition that if I be the conquerour the Quéene and thou may beâ— burned as ye haue deserued and the Princesse Armida declared not legitimate and so disinherited of the Kingdome Now hast thou reuealed thy villany saide Florendos and for the last condition doost thou follow the cause so earnestly rather then by any matter of truth and equitie but thou art deceiued in thine intent and thy death villaine shall deliuer assurance of her succession So please my Lord the Emperour of his grace to prolong the day of Combate till I haue recouered some health my selfe alone against thée and thy Brother will prooue ye false Traytours and that maliciously yée haue accused the Quéene The Emperour seeing the Prince so weake and sickly and yet with so good courage willing so defence his Daughters wrong resolued himselfe that shee was innocent Remembring then his noble seruices in defende of his Empire and how 's iniuriously he denied him his Daughter he was mooued in such sort as he could not refraine from teares thinking for vengeance of that offence that heauen had iustly permitted the death of Tarisius wherefore beholding Floâ—eâ—dos with pittifull lookes pronounced the sentence in this manner You Promptaleon and Oudin Nephewes to our deceased déere and beloued sonne the King of Hungaria shall mainteine your words in open Fielde against two such Knights as my Daughter and the Prince Florendos can deliuer on their behalfe and that within twelue dayes after this instant one of which the Prince himselfe shall bée if he be not furnished with another to his liking alwayes prouided that the vanquished shall be declared Traitors and attainted of the crime of Lese Maiestatis and so punished according to the exigence of the case The two Brothren accepted these conditions béeing so farre ouercome with their owne pride as they reputed themselues the most valiant Knights of the world Florendos féeling himselfe so weake of body would gladly haue demaunded a longer day but the sentence being giuen the Emperour likewise promising to appoint another knight in his
trauaile till he heard certainly of his life or death Ah Vrbanillo quoth the Emperour in such a luckie howre maist thou goe as to finde both him and my Sonne Trineus good leaue hast thou to goe when thou wilt But when I beholde you both aduisedly verie hardly doo you séeme to bée Cozins for if there be anie alliaunce betwéene you it neuer came by the Fathers side and if it be by the Mother the one was then married in Barbarie and the other in Scotland Why my Lord quoth the Dwarffe rather had I die then tell an vntruth before your highnesse and with such protestations did the Dwarffe sooth his tale as they of greatest doubt gaue credite to him Hereupon the Emperour commaunded them to goe take their leaue of his Daughter willing her to write to her Brother Hauing obtained what they desired they stayed not long in returning thankes but went presently to the Princesse Chamber where shée aduertized of their comming staid for them Honourable salutations on each side deliuered a Chayre was brought for the Prince and he sitting downe by Polynarda she thus began Albeit my Lord I am verie loath to forgoe my Seruaunt yet hauing found him so honest and for the good will I wish to all his kindred especially you who haue enterprised to séeke his Maister and my Brother I am the better contented to part with him If the Prince commended her beautie when being ambushed hée sawe her passe by what may wee imagine of his opinion nowe For beholding her the comfort of her long absent Fréende had called all her beauties togither enriched with so many swéete and amiâ—ble graces as hee coulde not repute her of humaine linage but rather some Angell discended from heauen to make the glorie of Palmerin more ample whereupon to deceiue the Ladies béeing present hée returned this answere Undoubtedly Madame if I and all mine had spent our soules in your seruice we should holde our selues sufficiently recompenced with the princely fauor you affoord our Cozin which he is no way able to deserue And perswade your selfe faire Princesse that if he be your obedient Seruaunt my selfe am no lesse in all things that your excellencie shall please to commaunde mee so that if there were not vrgent occasions to excuse my departure it would be my onely content to remaine at your disposition Yet such is my hope that this gréefe shall bee changed into ioy by a spéedie returne when wee shall bring the Prince Trineus and our noble Maister Palmerin The sooner the better welcome will they be quoth the Princesse for therin consisteth my chéefest comfort And after many other spéeches betwéene them she gaue him manie rich gifts wherewith he helde himselfe so honoured as if he had gained the Monarchie of Asia so kissing her hande the Prince with his newe Cozin returned to his lodging Now was it concluded betwéene Palmerin and the Princesse because the Empresse on the morrow would come to sée her daughter that he should depart the same way he came wherefore the hower béeing come that hée shoulde passe the Wall Polinarda thus spake Nowe is the time my Lorde that you must leaue me and I be forced to consent because there is no remedie but perswade your selfe that with this parting begins my sorrowes Yet if I knowe where you trauailed my gréefe woulde be the 〈◊〉 and my life prolonged with better hope but béeing vncertaine of your way and knowing what misfortunes and daungerous perilles may incounter you in vnknowne Countries I knowe not howe I shall dissemble my torments Notwithstanding swéete Fréende if your stay be long send Vrbanillo againe to comfort poore Bryonella and myselfe for loosing the onely maintenaunce of our languishing liues impossible is it but our spirits will soone forsake their miserable habitations For Gods sake Maâ—ame quoth Palmerin neuer talke of such a separation for the remembraunce thereof is death to me and it so offendeth mee to sée you in this perturbation as I loose both courage and hope of well dooing Continue then the humour you haue done since my comming that I beholding you pleasaunt may be comforted thereby during the search of your Brother which I hope will bée both short and sudden Otherwise before the earth bée readie for mée I shall bée forced to take vp my endlesse Hostage So after many swéete kisses and gracious courtesies passed betwéene them they tooke their leaue each of other with such effusion of teares as the verie inwarde soule bemoned their departing So with his Ladder of Cordes hee gotte ouer the wall againe and came to the lodging where he left Olorico then arming themselues they rode away in great haste because they feared to bee knowne by any Chap. XXIX Howe after Palmerin was departed from his Ladie there appeared to him one of the Fayries of the Mountaine Artefaeria who declared to him part of his fortunes following And of a Combat which he and Olorico had against ten Knights GReat haste in their iourney made these two knights so that in short time they came into the Kingdome of Hungaria where passing through a great forrest they ascended a high Mountaine at what time the ayre béeing calme and cleare was suddainly obscured by manie darke Clowdes and such outragious windes and rayne beganne as they were glad to shrowde themselues vnder certaine Pine Trées néere at hande Hauing there rested themselues a while they behelde a verie thicke misâ—e about a Fyrre Trée and heard withall a verie terrible thunder and the fogge somewhat clearing they behelde a comely Ladie vnder the Trée whereat they were strooke into no little admiration yet Palmerin desirous to vnderstand the effect of this aduenture made towards the Trée when the Ladie began in this maner to him Palmerin d'Oliua meruaile not at this accident which hath happened onely for thy sake and profite Heretofore I came to thée on another Mountaine where I and my Sisters healed the woundes thou didst receiue by the Serpent At this time I am come to thée so wish thée followe thy iourney begunne assuring thée that they whom thou séekest are yet liuing and in the custodie of Turkes and Infidels but before thou canst find them thou shalt be deliuered from death by him thou hatest most And after thou hast founde this fauour by him hée shall ayde thée in restoring from prison and death thy best and dearest Fréendes and so I leaue thée to thy happie successe Then suddainlie vanished the Woman away and coulde not afterwarde bée seene againe leauing Palmerin verie pensiue for what hée had heard which he estéemed to bée true because hitherto hée had found no lesse all that the Sisters sayd to him on the Mountaine Artifaeria Returning to his companie Olorico demaunded what Goddesse had talked with him and what made him on a suddaine so chéerefull Trust me my noble Fréend quoth be the matter is such as for all the Golde in the worlde I would not but haue knowne which Vrbanillo can better
permitted my course this way without all doubt you had lost your life But since it hath béene my good happe to preuent your ominous fortune I must aduise yée heereafter to beware of like hazard and may it please you to accompanie me to a Castle within two miles distance your entertainment shall be good and your wounds cured by a Ladie very expert in Châ—â—urgâ—rie I accept your offer gentle Sir quoth Palmerin with right good will as well to haue your friendly companie as to shéelde you from any other such like villanies who happily may séeke your harme for this noble fauour So they rode on altogether Palmerin remembring the wordes of the Fairie Ladie and could not imagine who the knight should be that had so honourably preserued his life this made him more to maruaile that hée should be his enemie whom to his remembrance hee had neuer séene in any place before To put him from these cogitations Olorico ashamed of his absence in such a néedfull time came to Palmerin with these words Certes my noble Friende I am henceforth vnworthie to beare armes séeing that in such daunger I left your companie vnhappie that I am might not former experience teach me what sodaine aduentures doo often happen to Knights errant what punishment may be sufficient for my hainous offence Leaue such spéeches to Women quoth Palmerin for if we knâ—we before what would happen afterward neuer should we fall into any inconueniences but it is sufficient that we haue so well escaped and let God haue the glorie for so happie deliuerance By this time they were come to the Castle and entring the base Court the Seruants came to take their Horses to the stable meane while the Knight himselfe went to aduertise the lady of the other knights arriual saying Faire Leonarda I pray you vouchsafe the best honour and entertainment you can deuise to two Gentlemen I haue héere brought with me for I imagine by their rich armes and courtly behauiour that either they are Princes or discended of very honorable parentage Trust me my Lord quoth she for your sake I will endeuor my selfe to welcome them as they ought And comming into the hall to salute them after many courtesies deliuered on either side the Lady séeing Palmerins armour besmeared with bloud by reason of the wound he receiued on his heaâ— saide I feare my Lord you are very sore hurt therefore the sooner it be séene to the better ease you shall finde Héereupon her selfe holpe to vnarme him and afterward brought him into a goodly Chamber where when shee had staunched his bléeding and bound vp the wound he was laide in a maruailous rich bedde prouided for him she promising within ten dayes and lesse to restore him so well as he would at pleasure trauaile without any danger For this kindnesse Palmerin returned her many thanks and because hee might the better rest without disturbance shée caused euerie one to depart the Chamber her selfe likewise courteously bidding him good night Palmerin béeing alone looked rounde about the Chamer to sée if by any armes of deuise hée might knowe the Knight that so happily deliuered him at length hard by his bed side he espied the Shéeld of Frysol with the Sunne painted therein which hee well remembred to be his deuise whom for Polynardaes loue he hated according as you haue heard in the former part of this Historie which when he beheld the teares trickling down his chéekes he thus began to himself I perceiue that the lady which saluted me on the mountaine is of excellent knowledge for though the Knight bee my chéefest enemie yet for the honorable kindnesse he hath this day shewed me I wil forget all former iniuries and loue him henceforth as hée were my brother and what I could neuer compasse by rigour and force of Armes I will nowe séeke to conquer by loue and courtesie While he continued these priuat spéeches Frysoll opened the Chamber doore and entred to bid Sir Palmerin good night who not a little glad of his comming said I pray you Sir knight by the honourable loue you beare to Chiualrie to tell me your name and if héeretofore you were neuer in the Realme of England My name quoth the Knight which hitherto I neuer hid from any man is Frysoll and two yéeres I remained in the Realme you speake of with the Duke of Gaule in his Court You remembâ—â— then a Knight saide Palmerin with whom in lesse space then twelue dayes together you had two seuerall Combats Uery true quoth Frysoll and some good reason I haue to remember it for the fight on my behalfe was so dangerous as but by the fauour of a Lady and a Squire I neuer had escaped with life Nowe hast thou in thy custodie saide Palmerin the man that did thée such wrong no more an enemie but for euer thy vowed true and trustie Friend and by the order I haue receiued there is no man this day liuing that shall withdraw me from thy friendshippe because thou better deseruest it then any Knight in the world And hath by my meanes quoth Frysoll the onely flower of Chiualrie béene deliuered from death and the resolute hatred betwéene vs vnited nowe with loue more then brotherlike in happie howre went I on hunting this day and fortune could neuer honour mée with more desired successe For confirmation of this new alliance hee ranne and called Leonarda Olorico and the rest and before them all kissed Palmerin in the Bedde to seale the perpetuall league of amitie betwéene them Then was recounted their aduentures and hatred past whereat euery one greatly maruailed séeing this sodaine change to such surpassing loue Frysoll also rehearsed how after the rape of Agriola the Duke Crenus his Lord went to the Court where hée aduised the King to pursue his Daughter or to sende him in search of her whereto he could not any way perswade the King Moreouer howe his Maiestie would haue kept him still in his seruice whereto he might not graunt for the promise he made the Ladie that came thither whome after hée had brought to her Castle hee trauailed by the Emperour of Allemaignes Court where hée certainely vnderstood that Trineus and Agriola were not as yet there arriued nor could any newes bee heard what became of them Yet during all these spéeches he concealed all his owne noble déeds of chiualrie in England Allemaigne and other places so vertuous and vebonarie was this gentle knight coueting in nothing to extoll himselfe He forgot not likewise to report how that Lady cured him of a long and gréeuous disease for which hée had so giuen himselfe to her seruice as for euer he vowed himself her knight Palmerin not a little contented with this discourse said I thinke the King of England would not sennde his Shippes after his daughter remembring her happinesse to come béeing nowe the espoused wife to Lord Trineus and the honour thereof haâ— béene alreadie séene but that the tempest of the Sea was
sending for them to the Pallace where Promptaleon and Oudin staied their comming the Emperour himselfe thus began Now Promptaleon héere maist thou behold two yong Knights who speake the contrarie of that thou hast reported wilt thou yet maintaine that my daughter hath committed treason and hath béene disloyall to her Husband thy deceased Unckle I will my Lorde quoth he and sweare by my Baptisme for that cause she shal die the death and if anie dare vndertake the contrarye I am readie to prooue it by force of Armes I thinke it conuenient said Palmerin my Good Lord that no Combat should be graunted without the presence of the accused Immediatelie Florendos and Griana were sent for and being come before the Emperour Palmerin said to the Prince How saye you my Lorde doo you permit in maintenance of your right that I giue these false accusers such discipline as their wicked and treacherous dealings deserue I doo quoth the Prince and Heauen prosper thée in thine enterprise What saye you Madame quoth Frysoll to the Quéene doo you affoorde the like to me Shee aunswered as Florendos before had doone whereuppon Palmerin thus spake to the accusers We two Knights will maintaine that you both are Traitours and that by couetous and gréedie desire of rule and to enioy the Kingdome you woulde against all right disinherit the yong Princesse Armida for which cause you haue shamefullie accused the Quéene her Mother to haue committed murder and more then that charge her with disloyall lubricitie For if the Prince Florendos talked with her when the King founde him in her Chamber it was in no other sort then honor allowed and according to â—he dutie of honest loue wherein all Princes are bounde to their Ladies Beside if your King was slaine by the Prince if was in defence of his owne life and in repelling the iniurious spéeches he gaue him to approoue what I say wée present our gadges to the Emperour so please him to receiue them The like did the too Brethren desiring his highnesse to appoint the Combat presentlie in the wide and necessarie place before the Pallace For quoth they wée will teache these vaine-glorious Strangers the price of such iniurious spéeches spoken to those that know how to correct them I thinke quoth Palmerin thou shalt néede to teache thy selfe but if thou hast learned anie newe dexteritie practise it well thou art best for I can tell thée the time will require it The good Emperour Remicius commaunded silence and taking the gadges of these foure Knights bad them goe arme themselues saying hée woulde sée the ende thereof before he tooke any sustenaunce The Duke of Mensa and the Counte of Redona auncient Princes of Greece were appointed to bee Iudges of the Fielde who commaunded two hundred knights to Arme themselues for assurance of their owne persons Chap. XXXI Of the noble Combat in the Cittie of Constantinople by Palmerin and Frysoll against the two Nephewes of the deceased King of Hungaria whome they vanquished by which meane the Prince Florendos and Queene Griana were deliuered PRomptaleon and Oudin being departed the Hall Palmerin and Frisoll taking their leaue of Florendos and the Quéene whom the Emperour caused to be shut vppe in their prisons againe went to their lodgings to Arme themselues The Duke of Mecaena an honorable prince discended of yâ— most ancient race in al Greece with many other great Lords went after them and when they were Armed the Duke would néedes beare Palmerins Launce and the graund Squire attending on the Emperor caried Frysols In this maner came they to the place appointed for the Combat where the two Brethren were alreadie staying for them the eldest thus beginning in mockage Beléeue mée Knights for men that shewed themselues so hardie in a Hall mée thinks you haue béene very long Arming your selues I thinke you came on your footcloth Mules to the Fields entraunce for feare of felling to hurt your selues but soone shall ye be taught better horsemanshippe I warrant ye If there were in thée so much wisdome and exercise of Armes aunswered Frysoll as are high words and brauing behauiour it would bée a little better discerned then it is notwithstanding ere wee haue doone I thinke they that came first into the Fielde will tarrie last héere vnlesse some bodie for pittie carrie them out before Héerewith the Trompets sounded and the Heraldes commaunded the Champions to doo their deuoire which was the cause that these hotte words were chaunged into déedes and running fiercelie against eache other they encountred with such puissaunce as Palmerin cast Oudin foorth of his saddle with a verie great wound on his left side and Promptaleon was receiued by Frysoll so roughlie as he fell backwarde on the crupper of his Horse because hée was lothe his Brother should fall without companie The two Brethren enraged to bée thus foyled at the first came with their swords drawn to kill their aduersaries Horsses so that they were constrained quicklie to alight when they assayled each other with meruailous furie for either side expected victorie the one in hope of a kingdome the other to saue their Freends liues Strange was it so beholde this violent fight yet the two Brethren seemed vnable long to holde out for theyr Armor was so cut and mangled and themselues so driuen foorth of breath as hardly they coulde sustaine themselues so that Promptaleon desired Frysoll to rest a while who mooued with anger thus aunswered Nay Traytor now shall I teach thée how to defende thy selfe and not one minute will I graunt thee to trauerse with mée but will send thy soule to the Father of thy villaine vnlesse with spéede thou denie thy slaunder With these words he laid so many sounde strokes on him as at length hee fell downe deade at his féete which when Oudin perceiued hee threwe his Sworde at Palmerin and caught him fast about the middle thinking that way to get him downe but Palmerin striking away his féet caused him fal on his backe and without attending for his reuolt noblye stroke his head from his shoulders So comming to Frysol he asked if he were wounded No my Lord quoth he I thanke God the greatest wound I haue cannot with-holde me to doo you further seruice if so be you haue anie néede Then putting vp their Swords they demaunded of the Iudges if any thing else remained to be doone for deliueraunce of the prisoners Nothing worthy Lords answered the Iudges and them will the Emperour nowe deliuer with all possible spéede The good Remicius heartilie thanking God for his victorie sente a Knight to the Champions with request to come and lodge in his Pallace as also that they should presently come speake with his Maiestie yet could not the Messenger make such haste but they were come foorth of the Fielde the Duke of Mecaena and the Prince Olorico bearing them companie When the Knight had ouertaken them hée saide Returne woorthie Knightes to my Lord the Emperour for
tryed in so manie affliâ—tions shall be crowned with his long and desired reward The Emperour amazed at this strange discourse could not imagine what answer to make wherefore hauing â—itten a prettie while silent lifting his eyes to heauen hée thus began O mightie King of Kings onely good and full of mercie I render thy name euerlasting thankes for thy gracious regarde to the distressed Empire of Greece for though in our last warres thou tookest away my Sonne Caniano thou hast at this instant sent me another who well hath learned to defend this state from the proude inuading Gouernour of Turkie Ah my Sonne Palmerin right well doo I beléeue what thou hast said And albeit thou hadst not shewen such probable arguments yet doost thou so perfectlie resemble my Sonne Caniano as easily may be coniectured whence thou art discended Whatsouer thou demaundest my Sonne is already graunted And with these wordâ— the teares trickled downe his milke-white Bearde such was his inward earnest conceyt of ioy and imbracing Palmerin in his armes he called his Lords who maruelled not a little at this euent and thus spake the Emperour Sée héere my Fréendes your liege Lorde and Soueraignâ— the Sonne of my Daughter Griana and the Prince Florendos how may you applaud the bountie of Heauen prouiding for you such a noble Prince The Lords all wondering at these spéeches came and entertained him with manie signâ—â— of honour so that it is not registred in any auncient memâ—rie that euer King or prince had such suddaine and gracious 〈◊〉 By this time these newes were spredde through the whole Pallace and the Empresse â—earing thereof sent one of her Squires for Palmerin when the Emperour taking him by the hand brought him to her Chamber saying Sée héere Madame your Sonne who by your meanes hath long time béene banished our Court héereafter looke hée bée better vsed The Empresse surprised with incredible ioy louingly embracing him said Welcome my Sonne forget my heynous oâ—â—ence when I would not suffer thy Mother to enioy the Prince Florendos which fault Heauen hath reuenged with the death of my thrée Nephewes whereof I nowe make no reckoning séeing God hath sent vs such a gracious comfort The Emperor on the other side welcommed the Quéene his Daughter which as yet hée had not doone since her comming from Hungaria Lay by quoth hée fayre Daughter these blacke garments the witnes of your inward mourning and decke your selfe presently in reioycing habits for now before all my Lords of Greece will I haue you espoused to the Prince Florendos So departed the Emperour and the Princes leauing the Quéene â—itâ— her Ladies who disrobed her of her mourning garments his Maiestie commaunding Palmerin to go séeke the Prince of Macedon his Father accompanied with all the noble men of the Court. In the meane while he caused all the ornaments of black to bée taken downe and the Pallace to bée hanged with sumptuous cloth of Golde and gaue in charge to the Empresse that the Quéene the Princesse Armida and all the Ladies should adorne themselues as to receiue the verie greatest Prince in the worlde Likewise he saide to all his Knights Reioyce my good Fréends with mée for God tooke away my Children and hath double restored them for those that bée dead hée hath raysed vs more Palmerin hauing with him all the Emperours Knights went to the lodging of the Prince Florendos and by the way the Cittizens of Constantinople Nobles Marchants and Artezans welcommed him verie honourablie making bonfires and Garlandes of tryumph in euerie stréete crying Welcome to this noble Cittie our newe Lord and Maister and such chéerefull delights did they solemnize the time withall as though it had béene the feast of Christmasse Palmerin his train being come to the Princes lodging found two squires at the Gate sent thither by the Emperour the one holding 〈◊〉 Horse verie richly câ—parassoned and the other costly garments of cloath of Golde which hâ— caused t◠〈◊〉 brought vp after him into the Chamber where falling on his knée before the Prince he said Nowe come I my Lord to kisse your hande not as I haue done héeretofore but as becommeth a Sonne to his Father for I am your Sonne begotten on the Quéenâ— Griana whom the Emperour will nâ—we bestow on you in marriage Florendos was so rauished with these spéeches as hee was readie to swoune betwéene Palmerins armes but at length â—â—tching a great sigh saide O celestiall Soueraigne what am I whom thou shouldest so respect and lifâ— to such surpassing happinesse Ah poore Florendos not long since the mâ—st wretched among men what man may nowâ— compare with thy fortune hauing such a knight to thy Son and fayre Quéene Griana to thy Wife Go wée my sonne quoth hée embracing Palmerin for it is no reason to stay when such happie newe a hath sent for vs. And credit mée the verie first time I did behold thée my heart was solicited with greater ioy then I am able nowe to expresse which euer since made me coniecture that there was morâ— betwéene vs then fréendly alliaunce Then was hée cloathed in the rich garments sent by the Emperour and his Cozin Frenato in like maner so comming on horsebacke the Duke of Pera rode on his right hande and his Sonnâ— Palmerin on the left with many Princes Lords Knights and Gentlemen ryding both before and behind them In this manner came they to the Pallace where the Emperour himselfe staied their comming at the Gate and after they were alighted the Prince making humble reuerence to his Maiestie thus spake Mightie and redoubted Lord I knowe not how to render sufficient thanks in that your highnes is pleased to honor me with your daughter which is the thing I alwaies desired Notwithstanding I hope to â—â—ew such deserts héereafter as neither shée shall be miscontented nor your maiestie repent your gentle gift Noâ—le Lord quoth the Emperour well haue you deserued her and mine Empire with her in respect of your worthy sonnâ— Palmerin whome all Europe Asia and Affrica honours Wherefore in the presence of all my Lords I will giue her 〈◊〉 you deferring the day of solemnitie vntill the states of Macedon come therefore Sonne Palmerin go for your Mother Presently hee departed the Dukes of Pera and Mecaena with him and soone they returned bringing with 〈◊〉 the Empresse the Quéene and his Sister the yong Princesse Armida whom hee had schooled with such graâ—â—â—s spéeches as she had nowe forgotten her displeasure towardes the Prince Florendos for the death of the King 〈◊〉 Father There openly in the Hall by the Archbishop of Constantinople the Prince Florendos and Griana were â—â—â—iâ—nced together to their no little contentment as also to the good lyking of all the Princes and Lords of Greece who spent the rest of the day in ioyfull disports and tryâ—â—phâ— Chap. XXXIII How Frysoll declared to the Empresse that he was sonne to her Nephew Netrides ALl this pleasure of the Princes
néedes goe méete him and so went downe into the Court accompanied with many yoong knights lately come to the Emperours seruice Gerrard séeing this goodly troupe among them all knewe Palmerin perfectly wherefore alighting from his Horsse and without giuing him in charge to any Page or Lackiâ— â—an and fel downe at his féete but Palmerin staying him in his 〈◊〉 said Father Gerrard and 〈◊〉 deare friends the Gâ—d of Heauen 〈…〉 praysed in that by bringing me to the knowledge of my Parentes I haue the meane to satisfie your paine and trauaile for me sauing my life in my yongest yeares and nourishing me to the state of discretion Ah my Lord quoth Gerrard I thinke in all the world is no man so happie as my selfe hauing defended from perill so noble a person therefore néedelesse is it to make offer of money for your nurriture in that I prize your golde and siluer lesse then drosse such is my content to sée you so well Palmerin likewise whose match might not be founde in courtesie and nobilitie of heart louingly welcommed Marcella and her daughter Dyofena walking along with them vp into the Pallace where in this sort hée presented them to the Emperour Sée héere my good Lord they that from mine infancie with excéeding kindnesse and loue nourished mée let mée therefore intreate your Maiestie so to conceiue of them as their paines and charges may be sufficiently requited The Emperour taking great pleasure to beholde them saide they should continue in the Court with him commaunding them to bee brought to his daughters Chamber who entertained them verie graciously but when they came to vnfold Palmerins little pack of cloathes hardly can you imagine the inwarde ioyes of the Mother For Tolomestra well knew the Scarlet mantle which her selfe had all embroydered with curious knots of Gold and all the other prettie trinkets saying Doubtlesse Madame it cannot bée but that Palmerin is your Sonne for well I knowe hée was wrapped in these cloathes when Cardyna carried him hence to the Mountaine Then did Gerrard discourse before all the Ladies in what manner hée founde yong Palmerin among the Trées not forgetting to report euery thing from that day till his departure without his knowledge Many swéete smiles did the Quéene intermedle with her forced teares hearing the 〈◊〉 daungers her Sonne had endured and for the great loue shée bare to Marcella she made her one of the Ladies of her Chamber and gaue Dyofena a worthie dowrie to her marriage As for Gerrad himselfe the Emperor made him one of his chéefest Barons and dubbed his Sonnes Knights who proued afterward of hardie courage as héereafter in the Historie you may perceiue This done the Emperour brought Florendos and Palmerin into his Treasurie saying My friends take beare away all is yours dispose thereof as you please furnish your selues with all néedefull thinges against the day of my Daughters marriage Giue bountifully to the poore Knights that they may likewise prepare themselues in readinesse all which will redound to your perpetuall honour In sooth my Lord answered Florendos it is against all equitie and reason that during your life I should presume so farre well worthie were I of the sharpest reprehension to vsurpe that which by right appertaines to him who gaue me life and honour When the Emperour sawe hée coulde not perswade them hée sent a sumpter Horsse loaden with Golde to the Prince Olorico and Erysoll beside diuers other Iewels of inestimable value that they might the better furnish their estate against the solemnitie of the Macedonian Prince On which day these two Knights determined a Tryumyhe at Armes for the loue of their friende and companion Palmerin who the same day should bee sworne Prince and sole heire to the Empire Upon this occasion and by his highnesse commaundement the Heraldes were sent abroad to publish the Tourney which should endure tenne dayes togither with the excellencie of the prize to them that should beare the honour of the Ioust each day These disports so prouoked the Lords of Greece as neither King Duke Countie Barron or Knight that was able to mannage Horsse and Armes but repaired to Constantinople in such troupes as though a new world had bene to be conquered Chap. XXXV Howe the Knight that Florendos sent to Macedon rehearsed to the King Primaleon the effect of his charge and how Palmerin entertained his fathers Princes and Knights FLoreÌ„dos hauing sent one of his knights to Macedon in verie short time yâ— Messenger arriued at a Castle of pleasure where as then the King remayned for his delight with the Princesse Arismena his Daughter to expell such contagious thoughts as daily troubled them for the absence of the Prince of whome they coulde vnderstande no tydings The knight beeing come into the Kinges Chamber where his Maiestie sattâ— deuising with his Daughter and setting his knée to the grounde in this maner beganne his message Right high and mightie King I bring you the very straungest tidings yet repleate with ioy and speciall comfort whereof your Maiestie neuer heard the like My Lorde the Prince Florendos your Sonne with humble dutie saluteth your excellencie and the faire Princesse Arismena his Sister certefying you that the aduenturous knight Sir Palmerin euen hee by whose meanes your health was recouered is his owne Sonne begotten on the princesse Griana Daughter to my Lord the Emperour to whom hee is nowe betrâ—thed by the consent of all the Princes of the Empire and Sir Palmerin your Sonne shall be Emperour after the decease of his noble Grandfather The good king Primaleon olde and decrepite was so surprised with these newes as he imagined he heard some fantastical illuding voice rather then matter of trueth and certaintie with which inwarde oppressing conceite his weake estate not able to support it selfe béeing ouercome with ioy doubt and suspition as hardly could Arismena his Daughter kéepe life in him so often hee swouned with hearing this reporte yet at length taking the Knight by the hande he sayde My good Fréend God I trust will blesse thée with honour and prosperitie for bringing mee the tidings I haue long desired Nowe may I well say that neuer anie Princes age was more beautified with happinesse then mine is hauing my Sonne allyed in such an house and another Sonne excelling all the Knights in the worlde But if the Heauens vouchsafe me so much grace and fauour that I may once sée him before I ende this life it will be such sufficient content to mée as then I force not though I liue no longer Then calling for one of his Secretaries to reade the Letters his sonne had sent him and hauing heard the contents there of commaunded present dispatch of Messengers to aduertise the Lords and nobilitie of his Realme who likewise were so gladde of these newes as each one prepared himselfe agaynst the day appoynted The King hauing written Letters to his Sonne as also to Palmerin whom hée entreated to come and sée him gaue them
I to match with him then any other you named heretofore And this one speciall cause that he laboureth to bring home my noble Brother which Heauen graunt hee may otherwise can I not marry without verie great impeach to mine honour The Emperour well perceiued by the grace of her answere and her countenance nowe nothing sadoe or melanchollie that shee was nothing offended with this motion wherfore he said Happie may I count my selfe faire daughter that among all the Christian Princes you haue chosen such a Husband therefore apparrell your selfe to morrow in the best sort you may for then shall my Lordes the Ambassadours see you So departed the Princesse to her Chamber and no more spéeches were vsed till the next day when the Emperour sent for the Ambassadours of Constantinople and in the presence of the principall estate of the Empire ratefied the mariage betwéen Palmerin and his daughter And for further confirmation thereof promised to send his owne Ambassadours with them to satisfie on his behalfe the Emperour Florendos and Palmerin For which excéeding gentlenesse the Duke of Mecâ—ena in the Emperours name thanked his Maiestie earnestly entreating him to dispatch them thence so soone as might bee because their charge was to returne with all possible spéede This resolution absolutely sette downe the Emperour for the greater honour caused them to dine with him at his owne Table and grace being said by the Lord Almoner the Duke of Mecana desired his Maiestie that hée might sée the Princesse Polynarda whereof hée made promise so soone as Dinner was done when taking the Duke of Mecaena by the one hande and the Countie of Reifort by the other brought them to the Empresse Chamber where they founde the Princesse in such sumptuous ornaments and accompanied with such rare grace and exquisite beautie as they iudged her rather an Angell then anie earthly creature And greatly was the Duke abashed at such a singular spectacle not knowing how to frame his opinions but hauing humbly saluted the Empresse came to the Princesse and on his knée reuerently kissed her hand with these spéeches Let it not displease ye faire Madame that I vse this honourable dutie to you for I doo it in this respect as to the gracious Ladie and Empresse héereafter of Constantinople By this meane hée secretly conueyed Palmerins Letter into her hande for which the Princesse gaue him many deuout thankes which were coupled with such magesticall gestures as neither to Nero or Galba were done the like no not by Constantine himself to the Pope And though the Dukes words had raised a swéete blush in her chéekes yet could she with such choyse answeres excuse the same as gaue greater countenaunce to all her behauiour Then turned the Duke to the Emperour and smiling saide Trust me my Lord nowe doo I verely beléeue what hath heretofore bene told me of the Prince Palmerin that hée is an especiall Iudge of the beautie of Ladies for in mine opinion hée hath chosen one without a second and of her may truly be affirmed what the Poets described of Helena tearming her the Goddesse of beautie With this rare Princesse to be matched an Husband so famous well may be saide the couple to be without compare for the faire formed Paris may not be equalled with Palmerin So the Ambassadours departing the Princesse withdrewe her selfe to her Chamber where reading her friends Letter her ioyes and pleasures redoubled because shée might now boldly credite her fortune And before she would forget the inuention her spirite offered â—hée presently wrote an answere earnestly entreating him to hasten his returne to abreuiate her languishing desires which nowe made her life but a shadow of death Hauing close sealed her Letter shée sent it to the Duke by one of her most trustie Ladies with diuers other rich gifts and presentes The Duke of Lorraine and his companie readie departed thence with the Ambassadours and winde and weather seruing so well they arriued at Constantinople the day before Florendo's his nuptialls Newes being brought héereof to the Courte Palmerin accompanied with many Princes and Knightes went to the Hauen and at the landing of the Ambassadours Palmerin embraced the Duke of Lorrâ—ine and the Marquesse of Cicena and so ryding to the Pallace beguiled the time with diuers discourses where among the Duke of Lorraine thus spake Syr Palmerin I alwayes did imagine that those straunge aduentures aâ—chiued by you during the obscuritie of your yonger yeares would in the end reueale your honourable parentage and make your name for euer immortall and were the Prince Tryneus with you nowe for the verie best condition in the world would I not leaue your companie Gentle Duke answered Palmerin if I did not perswade my selfe how greatly I should comfort your minde by recouering your Prince Tryneus I should account my life so vnhappie as presently I would â—â—sire my death God graunt quoth the Duke that you may finde him againe for that will bee the greatest good that euer came to our Empire considering the vertues magnanimitie and speciall chiualrie which is as currant in our yong Prince as in any other And thus they spent the time till they came to the Pallace where the Duke of Lorraine after hee had saluted the Emperour and the Princes deliuered the message committed to his charge Wherewith Palmerin was not a little pleased considering what he had read in his Ladies Letter which discouered the sorrowes shee endured for his absence but being assured of her firme loyaltie as also that shée was now promised him in marriage his cares were the lesse commaunding the Duke to be lodged neare his owne Chamber that he might the better conferre with him of his Mistresse whom he loued as deare as his owne life Chap. XXXVII Howe after the Prince Florendos and Queene Griana were espoused togither Palmerin was sworne Prince and heire of Greece and Macedon by the consent of the Lords of the Empire and the Realme THe Ambassadours of Allemaigne being now come the Emperour was aduertised thereof and considering that the Princes of Thrace and Macedon had expected their presence for the space of sixe dayes it was appointed that on the morrow the Prince Florendos Griana should be married And the day being come of this long desired wedding shée was cloathed in such rich and costly garments as though she had bene still a virgine But héere to set downe the sumptuous vestures of her her husband the Emperour the Empresse with diuers other Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen also the solemnitie and ceremonies both at the Church and at the Pallace would waste a great deale of time in vaine and without any pleasure or profit to the Readers and therefore I will let it passe vnder your conceit and speake of such things as are most néedfull After that the Prince Florendos and Griana were espoused by the Patriache of Constantinople the whole traine returned to the Pallace where before the Gate was erected a goodly Theater hanged
onelie Daughter to the great Emperor of Turkie I neither can or will change my former opinion Happe then what shall and let my Father make an oblation of my blood to his secret Idoll I will not desist from louing him And thou my Fréend quoth she to Ptolome because thou hast not hid the truth from mée bee thou at this instant frée and vse thy libertie as thou pleasest for rather let me abide the death then the companion to my noble Lorde suffer shame by mee Ptolome falling on his knee humblie kissed her hande and began to reueale the knightly chiualrie that Palmerin and Treneus sometime did in England likewise howe they brought the Kings Daughter from thence who remained captiue among the Turks and her Husband giuen as slaue to the Admiralles Cozin It is enough said the Princesse talke to me no more héereof for by the great God the verie remembraunce of him is greater gréefe to me then the mercilesse seruitude a poore slaue endureth The loue he bare to you to the other knight and the yong English Princesse whose misfortune I cannot sufficiently bewayle calleth mée hence to trauaile in search of him and may I find him with them right gladsome will the iourney bee to mee because hee is thâ— onelie darling and fauorite of Fortune And now shall I tell you howe I meane to couller mine intent My Father not knowing your captiuitie to him shall I saye how you are the onelie companion to Palmerin and hither are you come to séeke him as hauing hearde before that hee remained in your seruice of this I dare assure you his Maiestie so déerelie loueth Palmerin that hee will deliuer you all things necessarie for his search be it by land or sea And if your God shall fauour you so much as in your trauaile you happen to finde him or else to send mée certaine tidings of him you shall doo me the greatest honor that euer Knight did to distressed Ladie So forwarde was the Princesse in her amorous desire and loth to waste time with tedious delaye as that daie shee acquainted her Father therewith and so cunningly shée plaid the Dratrix as the soldane gaue Ptolome Armour Horsses Seruants and fortie Knights to attend on him Beside he furnished him with two great Ships that he might enquire at all the Ports on the Sea for Palmerin The daye béeing come of his departure hée tooke his leaue of the Soldane the Princesse Alchidiana accompanying him to the Porte where for her adieu shee gaue him a swéet kisse saying Sir Knight if your fortune bee such as to bring mee the man who onelie hath power to mittigate my torments beside the continuall fauours of a Princesse I will make you one of the greatest Lordes in the Orient Madame quoth hée I will doo my diligence and till I returne let good hope perswade yee So hoâ—sing saile they set to Sea where we will leaue him till hee méets with Palmerin Chap. XLVII How Palmerin and the princesse Zephira departed from Elain towards Romata to seeke Muzabelino and what happened by the way in their iourney AFter that Maulerino was crowned King of Nabor the rebellious Subiects brought to obedience and the bodie of 〈◊〉 â—laine king Tireno enterred yâ— yong Princesse Zephira Palmerin thought long to set forwarde on their iourney wherefore the king allowing them a very honourable trayne bequeathing them to their desired fortune Hauing passed many regions and sundrie dangers incident in trauaile chiefely of a Basilisque whome Palmerin with the helpe of the dog Tryneus valiantly ouercame At length they entred yâ— realme of Romata where by commandement of the king Abimar their entertainment was according to their estates the occasion thereof being thus This king Abimar holding the greatest possessions in that region would neuer yéeld himself as subiect to the signorie of Persia wherat the soldan now growing offended sent an Ambassadour to commaund him presently to determine on his obedience or else he would ouer-run his Countrey with a mighty Armie and put both olde and yong to the Sworde Abimar â—bashed at this threatning Embassade demaunded counsell of the wise Muzabelino what answer hee should make the Ambassadour whereto the Magitian thus anuswered Feare not my Lord the threatning menaces of the Soldane for in that you haue two noble Sonnes so witte the Princes Tomano and Drumino knights of high and speciall account yet come there two others one whereof maye not be knowne with the Princesse Zephira Daughter to the King of Nabor who shall deliuer you from his tirannie and make him your Fréende therefore dismaie not to sende him a hardie answer as well beseemeth a Prince frée and not to be commaunded And though one of his knights that commeth with the Princesse shall a while bee vnknowne to you by the bountie of his companion with whom no other may well compare yet ere long you shall knowe him to your no little ioye and contentation Abimar giuing credit to Muzabelinos spéeches gaue charge in all the Citties where through the Princesse should passe that shée shoulde be entertained with honorable tryumphes as if himselfe had béene in companie And though the Prince Tâ—mano gréeued héereat who loued the yongest Daughter to the Soldane of Persia yet the King answered the Ambassadoâ— that hee woulde maintaine his right by the Sworde and if the Soldane came to assayle him he would defend his Coâ—ntrey so well as he could The Ambassadour dispatched with this answer Tomano came to Muzabelino saying Ah my déere Fréende Muzâ—belino what wrong haue you doone mee in perswading my Father to holde warre with the Soldane whose Daughter you know I loue in such sort as if I obtaine her not in mariage hardly can my life long endure Conteâ—t your slefe my Lord answered Muzabelino for if the two knights that come bring â—ortune for your father you must expect the like for your selfe But said the Prince maye I not knowe their names Let it suffise quoth Muzabelino what I haue saide yet héereof I daer asâ—ure you that they are Christians and extract of the greatest linage on the earth in bountie and valour incomparable whereof if you list to make experience and thereby to credit what I haue said beside I shall shewe you a meane auaylable for the purpose You shall cause two Tents to be erected by the Câ—dar Fountaine which is halfe a mile distant from this Cittie in the one of them let be your Brother Drumino and your selfe with tenne of the best Knightes in your Fathers Court and in the other let be your Sister accompanied with tenne of her chéefest Ladies and about a bowe shot from thence towards the high way side you shall sette vp a Marble Pillar whereâ—pon let these lines be engrauen Sir Knight in these pauillions doth remaine A Lady fayre kept by a Princes sonne Foyle him by Ioust and winne her hence againe Thou maist not passe before the deede be doone If it happen that they passe
honoured with so high a present which I will kéepe so charie as mine owne person but that the name of Muzabelino may for euer be imprinted in my heart giue mée some one of your name or kindred who â—uermore may bée néerest to my person My Lord quoth Muzabelino to you will I giue one of my Sonnes begotten by me on a Christian Ladie agréeing with you in faith and oâ—inion whereof I am not sorie yet feare I that the King should knowe so much least his religion might cause his death Déere fréend said Palmerin for Gods sake giue him me presently and him will I loue as hee were my brother Your request quoth he can I not yet satisfie till wée goe to my Castle where he is kept which because I will no longer deferre to morrow will I perswaâ—e the King to iourney to his great Cittie of Grisca there to take view of his Armie when I shal compasse the meane to giue him you vpon this conclusion they departed to their cambeâ—s Chap. LII How Muzabelino gaue Palmerin his Sonne Bellechino entertaining the King and all his companie royally at his Castle and how the two Armies of the King Abimar and the Soldane of Persia encountred with the successe therof MVzabelino perceiuing by his art that the Soldane of Persia with his power was néere at hand thinking to ruinate the great Cittie of Grisca aduertised the King thereof willing him with all spéede to muster his Armie and preuent the soldanes determination The King not misliking his aduise set forward presently to Grisca and by the way at the earnest intreatie of Muzabelino the King with all his courtly companie lay at his Castle where many rare deuises were showen them by enchauntment which I passe ouer as matter altogether impertinent There did the Magitian giue Palmerin his Sonne Bellechino one of his Daughters likewise to the Quéene and another to the Princesse Zephira Afterward they iourneyed to the Cittie of Grisca where all his armie was ranged in readines béeing numbred an hundred thousand fighting men the auantguarde he committed to the two Princes Palmerin and Trineus consisting of twentie thousand horsemen his two battailes of 30000. Archers on horsebacke the two Princes Tomano and Drumino had in charge and the rereward was gouerned by the two Kinges of Seuata and Garara The Soldanes power béeing ordained in battailewise within few dayes after the fight beganne which continued with such danger on either side as the victorie hung very long in suspence In the ende after a mightie massacre made of the Persians among whom was Donadel Prince of Siconia slaine with many other great Califes and Lords the Soldane himselfe was taken prisoner by Palmerin sent bound with â—etters of Gold to the Princesse Zephira The Messenger comming to the Princesse Chamber declared how Palmerin had sent her that prisoner to entreate him as her selfe liked best In sooth my Lord quoth the Princesse to the Soldane you are right welcome for his sake that sent you héere shall your entertainement be as fittes your calling and miâ—like not your mishap in that the knight who sent you is wont to conquere where himselfe pleaseth The Soldane angrie at his hard fortune yet séeing hée was prisoner to a Lady so beautifull was immediately so surprised with loue as hee was not able to answere the Princesse one word But she perceiuing he was very sore wounded caused him to bée conducted to a goodly Chamber commaunding her Chirurgions to attend him dilligently On the morrow shee came to sée how hee â—ared when Loueouer mastering all his senses made him forgette his hatred to the King Abimar resoluing to become his friend by marriage of the Princesse and vnable longer to suppresse his waighting passions which more troubled him then his dangerous wounds hee thus beganne Fairest among the daughters of men tell me I desire you if you bée the Childe of the King Abimar or els of whence you are to the ende I may one day acknowledge this fauour which your milde nature affoordes your prisoner Heereunto the Princesse answered howe shée was Daughter to the King Onodius of Nabor coupling therewith all her passed fortunes concluding in the ende that in all actions agréeing with honour shée remained his humble Seruant Fortune quoth he neuer constant but in vnconstancie once yesterday was I the greatest Prince in the worlde and now none in my Kingdome so miserable as my selfe béeing brought in subiection to my inferiour and snared in loue with my vassailes Daughter Wisely sayd the Poet That badlie doo loue and Maiestie agree togither for though the height of mine estate forbids my desire yet loue and mine owne lyking are two such seuere enemies as I must not nowe stand to dispute the cause Happie is the Knight in whose power remaines a Ladie so excellent but much more happie is the Ladie that can commaunde so great a person by whom such honours are this day affoorded you fayre Princesse as wel may you vaunt to bée the greatest in Persia. If by a Knight surpassing in prowesse I was conquered in battaile by one in beautie and curtesie incomparable am I againe ouermaistred so that I am enforced to present you my heart and all the signories I possesse to vse at your pleasure vowing for your sake perpetuall peace with Abimar mine enemie The Princesse abashed at this vnexpected offer a swâ—ete blush colourer her daintie chéekes and fearing to be imputed too indiscréete shaped her answere to the last poynt of the Soldanes spéeches as thus In sooth my Lord well could I like that peace were concluded betwéene the King and you though not by any meane in mée but by the omnipotent power of the Goddes who letting you know the weaknesse of your owne strength would not haue any warre betwéene you and the King Abimar And if it like you so much to abase your selfe as to like the simple Daughter of a King who while hée liued was your highnesse Subiect well may I with modestie giue consentâ— for if my Father all his life time obeyed you as his Lorde vnséemely were disobedience in his Daughter By the holâ—e Alcaron of Mahomet aunswered the Soldane your benigne humilitie hath more conquered me then the proudest enemie in the worlâ—e coulde doo doo you therefore appoynt the Articles of our peace and I as vnpartiall will agree thereto Thus began the peace and the promise of mariage betwéene the Soldane and the Princes Zephira which béeing thorowlie agréed vppon the King Abimar Palmerin Tryneus and all the states subscribing thereto the Camps on either side were discharged and the Soldane with his great Seneshall openly in the Citie of Grisca protested peace in this manner That the Soldane shoulde espouse Zephira and Tomano the Princesse Belâ—ina the Soldanes Daughter Beside hee renounced all pretended rights to the Realmes of Grisca and Romata nor would he demaund anie tribute of them afterward or enter his confines with anie violence but assist the King continually against
all his enemies Moreouer within two Moneths hée would deliuer tenne thousand talents of Golde and two millions of Seraphes in recompence of his wrong doone to the King Abimar All this my Lord quoth the Soldane will I faythfullie performe and all the Kinges my Subiects shall subscribe thereto on this condition that you accompanie the Princesse to the Cittie of Harano there to honor with your presence our espousall where your sonne Tomano shall likewise match with our Daughter To this the King willingly consented whereupon the Soldane sent his Seneshall to cause his Armie march homewardes into Persia except sixe thousand men at Armes to guard to Soldanes person then openly in the field was the peace proclaimed and the Captaines on either side fréendly embracing each other Afterward the soldane comming to the king Abimar and in the presence of Palmerin and Trineus thus spake Néedlesse were it now my Lord to remember our passed displeasures but generally to conferre of warre and peace yet hereof I can assure you that the Princesse Zephira and these two strange Knights preuailed more agaynst me then all the rest of your Armie But least your people should thinke that our concluded peace is not thorowlie grounded to morrowe will I bée openlie affianâ—ed to the Princesse Zephira and afterward set forward to Harano that my Sisters may bée present at our nuptials in the meane while our Seneshall and sixe other noble Lordes shall remaine with you as our hostages These determinations fulfilled the Soldane passed to Harano where hée heard of the death of the Prince Donadel and the Kinges sonne of Rosillia with diuerse other Princes of his kindred â—â—aine in the battell but the heate of his newe loue caused him to make small account therof preparing all things readie for the solemnitie of his marriage Chap. LIII The conference that the Soldane of Persia had with his Sisters thinking by theyr meanes to stay Palmerin and Tryneus in his Court and the honourable entertainement hee made them at the arriuall of the Princesse Zephira And how by good fortune Palmerin recouered his Squire Colmelio from the Ambassadour Maucetto NO sooner was the soldane come to Harano but hée presently dispatched Messengers to his sisters that they might bée present at his honourable marriage and calling for his Daughter the yong Princesse Belsina he thus began Faire Daughter I thinke you are not ignorant for report fâ—â—eth quicklie fâ—r that I haue promised you in mariage to the Prince Tomano therefore I account it verie requisitie that your solemnitie bee done on the same day when I shall espouse the Princesse Zephira My gracious Lorde and Father quoth shée I remaine altogither at your highnesse direction and if for conclusion of peace you match with so faire a Princesse as is Zephira it were agaynst reason I should refuse the worthie Prince Tomano of Romata When hée perceyued the readie good-will of his Daughter and his two sisters by this time were come to the Court. After hée had welcommed them in most gracious manner hée entred into these spéeches I thought it verie expedient fayre sisters since you vnderstand the peace concluded betwéene the King of Grisca and my selfe to acquaint you with other matters greatly concerning you There commeth hither in the companie of the Princesse Zephira two strange knights of very rare perfections to whom I would willingly haue you vse such especiall behauiour as wée might purchase the meanes to enioy them continually in our Court for no other intent I promise you but onely that they may match with you in marriage You sister Lyzanda quoth hée to the eldest I commit to the cheefest Knight the verie same man that most valiantlie tooke mée prisoner in the battaile and you Arecinda for so was the yongest named I bequeath to the other who is one of the goodliest personages that euer Nature framed Héereunto they were right soone entreated especiallie Aurecinda who though her elder sister were graue and well aduised yet was shée pleasant quaint and so subtile as easily could shee practise the meane to deceiue the wisest man whereof she made some experience as you shal hereafter perceiue in the Chapters following The Soldane hauing sent for all the Kings Princes and Lordes his subiects to bée present on the day of this great solemnitie the Prince Tomano earnestlie desâ—ring to sée his best beloued desired Palmerin Trineus and the Princesse Zephira that they might set forwardes to Harano But Muzabelino who knew what troubles would succéede the marriage aduised the King Abimar not to goe and counsailed the two Princes Trineus and Palmerin to kéepe themselues continuallie Armed because the Soldane was a man continually subiect to incertaine chaunces So giuing of each of them a Cote of Armes of Crimson Ueluet most curiousâ—ie embroidered with Pearles hee departed from them returning backe againe to the Citie of Grisca Nowe ride these Princes ioyfully to Harano where they were receiued by the soldane with wonderfull pompe and honor each one admiring the rare beaâ—tie of the Princesse Zephira who was conducted with such a royall traine as neuer was the like séene before in Harano At the Cittie Gate the Soldane mette them and in a sumptuous Câ—â—che accompanied them to the Pallace where after many solemne curtesies on each side deliuered and such magnifical royaltie beséeming the time and place the Soldane came to his Sisters who had not yet talked with the two strange Knights and thus spake Sisters to the eâ—de that héereafter you shall not be beguiled the Knights that accompanie my Ladie the Princesse and whome I haue so much commended to you are Christians notwithstanding they bee such as they twaine deserue greater honor then I am any way able to expresse As for their comely stature after that your â—ye hath conferred with your heart I referre my opinion to your iudgement regarde then that they bee loued and estéemed as their perfections doo worthily deserue Aurecinda the yongest and most voluntarie Sister hauing her eye continually fixed on the Prince Trineus thus conferred with herselfe My Brother verie lightly commaundeth vs to loue these strange Knights I knowe not what my Sisters opinion is as for mine owne the beginning alreadie of my loue is such that if I do not quickly obtaine my desire I feare that my affection is rated at the price of my life The time is passed ouer with many delights and daily pastimes after the Persian manner but all this while Lizanda and Aurecinda are tormented with loue so that all patience was vtterly denied them yet bearing this waightie burden so well as they coulde at length the two Sisters came to the Princesse Zephiraâ—s Chamber where they founde Palmerin and Trineus conferring together feigning the cause of their comming to bid the Princesse good morrow Palmerin perceiuing that Lizanda sodainely chaunged her colour imagined the cause of her secret disease and béeing loth to bée tempted with anie such occasion dissembling that he sawe her not tooke
and Gentlemen may be Armed that came from Sauata as also they that came with my Nephewe Corax from Garara which will be in number a thousand more your selfe in meane time may get foorth your necessaries Who then had séene the Knights Arming the horses prouiding the bag and baggage carrying would haue said that Palmerin was as much feared and beloued in a strange Countrey as in his owne Such was the dilligence of the Nobles and Souldiours of Grisca Sauata and Garara as they were right soone before the Pallace attending for Palmerin who commaunded Tryneus his Horse and rich Armour shoulde be brought foorth by his Squires leauing in his Chamber all the riches and treasure that the soldane and the Princesse Zephira had giuen him and mounting on his owne Courser he came and embraced the prince Corax saying Let vs depart my Lord from these ingratefull 〈…〉 Chap. LVI Howe the Soldan seeing hee coulde not perswade Trineus to marrie his sister condemned him to death and what followed afterward TOmano who by the aduise of Palmerin 〈…〉 for the deliueraunce of the Prince Trineus and comming to the Quéene Zephira thus spake Madame séeing 〈…〉 〈…〉 him that so willingly aduentured his life for you Ah my Lord sayd Zephirâ— I feare the Soldane will hardly heare â—ée for when suâ—â— mightie persons are in anger little account make they of loue or vertue yet will I willingly too what lies in me So bidding the Prince good night shée went wéeping to the Soldanes Chamber which his Maiestie perceiuing came and embraced her demaunding who had anie way offended her Euen you my Lorde quoth shée and in such sort 〈…〉 and there before all his Knights said You haue heard my Lordes the confession of them both and withall haue séene their great obstinacie therefore by sentence irreuocable I condemne them to death and this day shall they be burned in the place accustomed none of you all mooue me to the contrarie for I will not be otherwise perswaded By heauen saie the Prince Tomano vnhappie should I be to stay with you any longer wherfore at this instant I forsake your alliaunce and henceforth will shew my selfe your mortall enemie Alas my Lord quoth the yong Princesse Bel-sina will ye so soone abandon my companie Follow me then answered Tomano where I go for no more will I be séene in this tyrannous Court where nothing but dishonour and crueltie is vsed Presently the Princesse and hée mounted on Horsebacke and with their traine came to Palmerins Campe who hauing heard the Soldanes sentence was readie to haue slaine himselfe but that hée hoped to saue the life of Trineus at the fatall houre Alas my Fréendes quoth hée to his companie this day must you assist mée to deliuer the most gentle Knight that euer bare Armes Set forwarde couragiouslie agaynst the Tyrant whom with the ayde of my God wee shall easily vanquish Zephira hearing that Tomano and Belsina were gone and how the Soldane had iudged Tryneus and Aurecinda to death entred into maruailous regrets and acclamations whereat the Soldane was so enraged as hée commaunded that Tryneus and his Sister shoulde presently bee led to the place of execution and vnder the charge of fiue thousand soldiours they were brought on horsebacke foorth of the Citie but when Aurecinda sawe herselfe so hardly vsed wringing her hands and renting her comely locks of haire shée brake forth into these pittifull spéeches Alas Gentlemen why are you the instruments to execute a Tyrants will what recompence can you expect at his handes that for gréedie desire of my patrimonie sendeth mee to death So piercing were these wordes in the eares of the Souldiours as they verie much lamented her case but Tryneus neuer chaunged colour ryding on with resolute constancie not once listning to the mones of the Princesse When they were come within sight of Palmerins power they raunged themselues in battell array committing Tryneus and Aurecinda to fiftie Knights who should conuey them to the Furnace where their death was appoynted which was a good quarter of a league from the Cittie Trineus nowe séeing death before his eyes and no succour néere to reskewe him prepared himselfe to the latest extremitie and with many sorrowfull farewels to Agriola and Palmerin was fully perswaded to endure the torment Palmerin knowing which way his Fréend should be led to death with a sufficient traine lay secretlie ambushed and espying oportunitie gaue summons to his men wherevppon they all issued foorth verie couragiouslie But as they rushed out from their secrete ambushment the ayre was suddenly obscured and such thunder haile and raine fell as neuer was the lyke heard or séene before the Soldanes squadron séemed to bée all in a flaming fire The poore Persians thinking the end of the world was come vppon them fledde towards the Cittie but notwithstanding all theyr haste the greatest part of them remained dead in the field If the natural fire prepared for Tryneus made him fearful doubtlesse this fire raysed by coniuration made him much more aâ—righted but suddainly came to him an Armed Knight with his Sworde drawne and mounted on a horse of mightie bignesse who tooke the Horse of Tryneus by the brydle saying Come Sir Tryneus in despight of the Tyrant thou shalt not die At these wordes arriued Palmerin who embracing Tryneus said Ah my déere Fréend and Brother what villanous minds beare they that would doo you this outrage 〈…〉 my Squire hath brought hither that wée may with honour reuenge this shame As they thought to goe set on the enemie the Armed Knight who was Muzabelino thus spake My Lorde let vs not tarrie tryfling time héere but summonâ— your people togither and sette forwarde to Grisca where you shall 〈…〉 The disolate Tryneus what with his former feare and present ioy to beholde his Fréende was not able to speake one worde but Palmerin hauing well noted the Armed Knight at length knewe him to bée Muzabelino wherfore embracing him sayd Ah my Lorde for euer be the King of Kings praysed in graunting me to haue knowledge of you let me be worthilie condemned of ingratitude if I doo not acknowledge this great fauour to my Fréend which I account as déere as doone to my selfe After many courteous salutationâ— passed on all sides they set forwarde to Grisca with theyr men and prouision where wée will leaue them to shewe what afterward befell to the Soldane and his people After a long and verie dangerous tempest with whirle-windes lightnings and straunge apparitions to the great discomfort of all the Persians one of the Princes came to the Soldane saying My Lord the lightning hath fallen so terriblie in the Court as all the Ladies of honour are â—laine therewith An other brought newes that thrée partes of the soldiours which conducted Tryneus and Aurecinda foorth of the Cittie lay all slaine in the rough tempest While these strange mishappes were discoursing Aurecinda entred the Chamber saying Now soldane maist thou behold thy sinne Séest thou
it Sée then the power of that Maiestie which can 〈◊〉 and conquerâ— where he lift and I swearâ— to you by my Crowne that the good fortune of Palmeriâ— contenteth me as well as if he were mine owne sonne Mightie Soldane answered the Duke of Mensa if you resolue to loue the worthie Prince Palmerin both hée and his will performe the like to you and on his behalfe we promise faithfully that against all your enemies Christendome excepted you shall be assured of his succour and assistance I request no better assurance quoth the Soldane then this that he hath sent and that you may witnesse I am his faithfull Friendes at this instant shall the peace be ratified by all the Lordes and Princes here present and to seale the same as he requested I giue my daughter to the Prince Olorico Great ioy was generally made for this good agréement and the two louers were espoused together within few dayes after and the time being come for the Ambassadours returne to Constantinople Alchidiana sent diuerâ— rich gifts to Palmerin and Polinarda the like did the Soldane and the Prince Olorico Chap. LX. How Palmerin Trineus and Agriola accompanied with many great Lords and princes went to the Emperor of Allemaigne at Vienna where great triumphs were made at the celebrating of the marriage between Trineus and the princesse Agriola SOone after the Prince Olorico and the Ambassadours of Greece were gone towardes Assiria Palmerin although the aged Emperour very much disswaded him made prouision for his spéedy voyage to Allemaigne and hauing conducted the King of Sparta and his Aunt Arismena some parte of their way homeward at their returne to the Cittie of Constantinople hée came to the Duke of Pontus saying I remember the time when you did cutte off the great Turks head an acte deseruing good and especiall recompence and that you thereby deliuered vs and performed it at the motion of the Princesse Laurana her haue you loued euer since both on lande and Sea and her Countrey is not farre hence will ye now make her your Ladie and Wife I promise ye my assistance so farre as I can My Lord aunswered the Duke fearing to offend you I still deferred to mooue you in this cause but seeing wee are nowe so happily fallen into these tearmes I will not conceale the truth from you In sooth my Lorde when first I sawe her I loued her and haue euer since continued in this hope that time at length would fauour my intent It sufficeth saide Palmerin and presently hée acquainted the Emperour therewith who thinking the match very méete and conuenient they were the next day married by the Achbishop of Constantinople and in short time after went to take possession of their Duchie of Durace where they were receiued very honourably and the whole state yéelded vp into the Dukes hande When Palmerin sawe that the most parte of his companions were departed at the earnest intreataunce of the Prince Trineus and Agriola he set forward to Allemaigne accompanied with Frysoll and Armida whome hée conducted into the Realme of Hungaria where Frysoll was crowned King by reason of his Fathers decease there went with him like wise Diardo of Bohemia the Prince Eustace Ptolome and other Lords of great account 〈◊〉 good speed they made in theyr iourney as in short time they arriued at Vienna where the Emperour béeing aduertised of their comming by the Dwarfe came with his courtly trayne to méete them and taking his Sonne Tryneus in his armes said I sée it is the will of God my Sonne that héere after I shall haue as great ioy by thée as in thy long absence I haue had gréefe and sorrow all which I patiently put vp for the loue of thy brother the noble Prince Palmerin and faire Agriola of England that well deserues it But in good â—â—â—th my Children had you not come in so happie time I should haue bene driuen to meruailous fears For the King of Fraunce perceiuing that I would not giue my daughter in marriage to his eldest sonne demaunded the King Recinde of Spaine his daughter who graunted his request so that they twaine with the aide of the King of England haue leueyed such an Armie on the Sea as neuer was the like séene to passe the Rheine But séeing you returned in so good disposition the lesse account I make of their angrie menaces yet are they the thrée principall Kings of Christendome My Lord answered Palmerin be not you dismaide at their enterprise for ere manie dayes bee expired I hope to sée all matters quietly pacified and that without anie effusion of blood The lesse is my doubt quoth the Emperour in that with such good fortune you haue finished your intentions for nothing you begin but comes to luckie ende Witnesse héerof appeareth in the search of my Sonne Tryneus whom the best Knights in Christendome haue laboured to finde but all their trauaile I sée hath béene spent in vaine By this time they were come to the Pallace where they were graciously receiued by the Ladies Alas my Fréendes said the Empresse which of you shall I first embrace Ah my Sonne Tryneus howe sorrowfull hast thou made mée since thy departure from England iust cause hast thou to thanke the Heauens who protected thée still in so manie daungers and forget not thy Brother Palmerin who hath endured such trouble for thy sake Faire Daughter quoth she to the Princesse Agriola welcome are you indeed God send you better fortune héereafter then you haue had alreadie which yet hath bene a Touch-stone of your loyaltie But while these spéeches continued howe the other two Louers with piercing regard beheld eache other and how many gracious signes passed as secrete Ambassadours betweene them Polynarda was clad in such costly 〈◊〉 for the pleasure she conceiued since the Dwarffes 〈◊〉 at the Court as shee seemed anothâ—r Iuno when shée stood to abide the arbitrâ—ment of 〈◊〉 or like Voluptas fâ—llowing her Mother Venus But fearing least this amiable encounter should decipher some part of her former courtesies to her friend which as yet was vnknowne to any but Bryonella she locked vp all secrets with so swéet a kisse as would haue contented the rudest of the Gods had it bâ—ne Vulcan or Neptune themselues And comming to salute the Princesse Agriaâ—a sayd No meruaile faire sister if your loue wrought wonders in my brothers minde for vnfainedly I speake it your exquisite graces deserue the greatest seruice in the world Alas Madame aunswered Agriola if nature or they that had the charge of me in my youth could haue painted me with such beautie as I see in you or enriched me with wisedome able to deuise with my Lord when he came to sée mee then could I haue said somewhat of the paines he hath taken for mée but I know my selfe so full of imperfections as the loue hée beares me procéedeth of his owne good nature not by any merit he can behold me Then Palmerin kneeling before the