a Waiting-Maid and do want nothing that is convenient for them If you will then pay the Duties thrice double bring her hither whatever she be Andolocia went forthwith and brought Agrippina to the Abbesse who bid her heartily welcome Agrippina thanked her so mannerly and with such courteous demeanour that the Abbesse well perceived she was born of Noble Linage and pittied her greatly that such a comely personage should be so disfigured with Horns Then declared she unto her the Orders of the House and that the greatest charge was to kéep the only Ordinary Hours of Divine Service and that the Custome of their House was not altogether so straight as other Nunneries but that when they were disposed to leave the Order they might depart and marry leaving behind them the money that was given with them at their entrance Agrippina said Madam Abbass your orders be so tollerable that no Christian may mislike thereof which I to the utmost of my power will learn to observe Then did Andolocia count unto the Abbesse six hundred Crowns requiring her to entertain and to treat Agrippina courteously which she promised faithfull to do for she was glad to have received so mucâ— money for one sister Andolocia took leave of thâ— Abbesse and said to Agrippina God bless you and give you health to live quietly in this Cloister She therewith Wéeping bitterly said Right courteous Knight yet remember me erâ— it be long and deliver me from this thraldom for I shall have little joy to serve God or do any thing else until I be rid of these Horns These Words Andolocia printed in his mind but gave her no other answer but this saying When it pleaseth the Lord you shall have Remedy and so departed The sorrowful Agrippina went in with thâ— Abbess who appointed her a fair Chamber and a Maid to wait on her where she liveâ— solitarily and served God so well as she might When Andolocia had thus well rid himself oâ— Agrippina and obtained his purpose in al respects he was a Ioyful Man and setting his Hat on his Head wisheth himself from one Country to another until he came tâ— Bridges in Flanders where he solaced him self with all manner of Pastime in thâ— company of fair women He there also bough xl goodly Horses and entertained as man men and cloathed them all in a Livery an used to practise himself again in feats of Châ—valry From Bridges he rode thorow Germany and saw most of the fair Cities of the Empire and from thence passed by Venice Florence and Genua where he sent for the Merchants of whom he had bought his Iewels and payed them in ready money After that he took shiping with his men and his horses and come joyfully home to Famagosta to his brother who received him gladly and liked well that he came home â—s stately When they had dined together Ampedo walked with his brother into the Garden and asked him how he had sped in all his affairs Andolocia told him at large what had hapned concerning the purse and the Hat the Hermit in the desart the strange Apples and Agrippina whom he had left with Horns on her head Ampedo marvelled at his strange adventures yet greatly rejoyced that he was now â—ase come home with the purse and the hat both which Andolocia offered to his Brother but Ampedo said I will not have the Purse at all â—t bringeth him that hath it to such care and â—anger as I have read of our Father and now â—eard the like of thee Andolocia was thereof â—ery glad and after he had been a while at Fanagosta exercising himself in martial pastime â—e rode with all his men unto the Court to sée â—he King of whom he was honourably enterâ—ained and demanded where and how he had â—ent his time in travel Andolocia made report at large of all the Countries whereby he had passed but concealed his secret mischances and adventures Then demanded the King whether he had béen lately in England He answered that it was not long sithence he came thence Then said the King the King of England hath a fair Daughter named Agrippina who is the only Heir to the Crown to whom I supposed to have married my Son if all parties should agree But I heard say lately that she was suddenly conveyed away none can tell whether can you certifie me whether she be yet found again or not Andolocia said thereof I can inform your Grace It is most true that he hath a daughter that is very beautiful who by some conveyance of Negromancy was brought into Ireland and there is remaining in a Religious House of Gentlewomen with whom not long agon I had long talk The King asked May it not be brought to pass that her Father may have her again for I am old and would fain establish my Son in Marriage and the Realm in good order before I die Andolocia said Gracious Lord to pleasure your Majesty and your Son I will travel in the matter and will cause her in short space to be brought again into her Fathers Palace The King required him to do it and to spare no charges promising to consider him well for his travel and largely to requite his courtesse if he could bring it to pass Andolocia said let your Grace appoint a Noble Embassage and let them be sent fourtéen days after me into England and they shall find her at London in her Fathers Palace It were also expedient that there were also a Lively Picture drawn of the young Prince which the Ambassadors may shew unto the King and Quéen whereof they cannot but like very well if it be truly and cunningly limned The King thanked him for his advice willing him to accomplish his Promise and all things should be done as he had said The young Prince also requested Andolocia to be diligent in the matter for that he was greatly destrous to sée her having heard so great commendation of her beauty Andolocia promised both the King and his Son to do his best and so taking his leave of them went to Famagosta there borrowed he the wishing hat of his brother willing his steward to let his men be well used to want for nothing that was expedient for them in his absence saying that he would very shortly return wert out of sight set the hat on his head wished himself in the wilderness where the Apples were that would procure and take away horns where he found the trées laden with Apples Now wist he not certainly which was the one from the other howbeit at all adventure he tasted of the one trée there presently sprang horns on his head After that he did eat the Apples of the other the horns vanished away So took he of both sorts with him and from thence conveyed himself unto the Abby in Ireland where he knocked and was let in to speak with the Lady Abbesse of whom he required license to talk secretly with Agrippina The
So the good Gratiana was of necessity forced to dress her own Meat and to wash her own Cloaths like a Hand-maid or poor slave They on a time sitting together at a simple Dinner pretending to make good chear if they had wherewithal the Father beholding his Son sighed from the bottom of his Heart which when his Son perceived who was then eighteen Years Old and could Write and Read simply but was expert in Praying on the Lute in Hunting and Hawking which were his chief Pastimes he said to his Father Dear Father what aâ—leth you For I well perceive that whensoever you beho d me you become sad and shew an heavy Countenance I pray you Father have I by any means provoked you to be offended tell me truly and hide not your secret thought from me for I am wholly determined to Accomplish your Will in reasonable Points Then answered the Father saying My dear Son the occasion of my grief cometh not by thee neither may I blame any Creature therefore but my self only for the pinching penury and distress which now I sustain have I my self caused And therefore I call to mind the great Honour and Wealth that I lately enjoyed and now am utterly deprived of which my Ancestors have so carefully spared as I also ought to have done for the maintenance of our stock and progeny in Honour and Dignity the which alas I have altogether neglected And when I call to mind how far unable I am to help and succour thee my only Child this is the Vexation and hearts grief that vexeth me both night and day This moreover doubleth my Sorrows that all these my most familiar Companions to whom I so frankly imparted my goods have now abandonned my Company and that I am so little welcome unto them To this answered Fortunatus saying Dearly beloved Father cast off your mourning and take no such immoderate care for me for I am young strong and in perfect health I will traâ—el into far and unknown Countries to serve In the World by hardy adventuring there happeneth to many good chance and fortune whereof I doubt not but by the help of God some part shall fall to my Lot As for you Father you have business of the Kings him may you serve and it is not like that he will suffer you or my Mother long to continue in any great want Leave off therefore I say again these tears on my behalf For I have not been so ill trained up I thank God and you for it but I can shift for my self With this went Fortunatus out of the house with a Hawk on his Fist toward the Sea-coast pondering with himself what he might best do to absent himself from his Fathers sight that he might be no more grieved thereby As he thus walked up and down by the Sea-side he saw a Galley of Venice coming from Jerusalem wherein was an Earl of Flanders who had lost two of his Men by the way But forasmuch as the Earl had no business with the King and that the Patron of the Galley caused a Sign to be given by the sound of a Trumpet that every one should speedily come aboard the Ship the Earl with many other Gentlemen came forthwith into the Galley Which Fortunatus seeing he thought in his mind Would God I might be one of this great Lords men to accompany him into his Country that I might be rid of my Country Cyprus With that he stepped boldly to the Earl making low obeisance and courtesie whereby the Earl well perceived that he was no Rustical Clown And therewithal said Gracious Lord I understand your Honour hath lost two of your Men and therefore pleaseth you now to entertain one Then asked the Earl What canst thou do He answered I can Hunt and Hawk and do all that pertaineth thereto I have also some skill in riding and Feats of Arms. To this said the Earl thou shouldst like me well but to my Country we have a long and tedious journey wherefore I suppose thou wauldst be loth to travel so far Not so my Lord said Fortunatus that shall be to me no let at all but I would willingly adventure the travel though it were four times as far Then demanded the Earl saâ—ing What Wages shall I give thee Fortunatus answered I require no wages if it so like your honour but to be rewarded according to my deserts These words of the young man liked the Earl very well saying unto him The Galley forthwith shall be lanched from the shore art thou therefore ready to depart with us He answered When it pleaseth you my Lord. And so casting the Hawk that he had upon his fist up into the Ayr departed without blessing of Father or Mother with the Earl and became his man carrying with him very simple furniture and little or no money in his Purse So hoiâ—ing up their Sail in short time they luckely arrived at Venice How Fortunatus sailed away with the Earl without Knowledge of his Father or Mother Chap. 2. Fortunatus perceiving his Lords good affection towards him became the more serviceable applying himself to be always in the Evening the last and in the morning the first in his Lords presence Now the Earl had bought many Horses for his servants of the which some were haply more fair to the eye than fit for any good purpose He therefore would have them mustred before him and so distributed them among his men giving to Fortunatus one next the best which grieved much the other Servants and thereupon they envyed him saying among themselves What Devil hath sent this Italian to put us out of conceit and credit Howbeit it lay not in their power to stay him from riding with the Earl neither could they blame him in any point The Earl was now returned home joyfully and at his coming was received of his Subjects most honourably for he was both affable just and vertuous and so the better beloved of his subjects for that he loved them and was careful for their Estate The Nobles likewise and other his friendly neighbors came together to welcome him thanking God for his prosperous journey before all other matters they took special care for the present accomplishing of the wedding which pleased him very well So that with full consent he was Espoused with all convenient speed unto the Duke of Cleave his Daughter For this Wedding was made great preparation and thither did resort many Lords and great Estates where many valiant Knights and Gentlemen in gorgeous attire mounted on barbed Stéeds at the Tilts and Turney and other such feats of Chivalry extended their manly force before the fair and Noble Ladies there present And although there were assembled at that Wedding no small number of proper and comely Servitors attending on the â—hief Estates yet there was none of them all whose service and behaviour was more commended than the service of Fortunatus whereupon divers demanding of the Earl where he â—ad gotten him
abandoned all dread and care for their thievish Host behaved himself chearfully and so rode lastly to the great Turks Court and beholding there his exceeding riches and the infinite multitude of Souldiers that be continually maintained in Garrisons marvelled at the mightiness and glory of his Empire and especially to see so many Mamelukes and Enemies to Christian Religion which greatly mâ—sliked him and therefore stayed not long there but went from thence to the great Walachia wherein was ruler Tracola Waida and so came to the Kingdom of Bosna from Bosna orderly through Croatia Dalmatia the City of Buda in Hungary from Buda to Cracovia in Poland and so to Coppenhagen in Denmark to Stockholm in Swecia to Paragon in Norway to Prague in Bohemia and so the next way through the Dukedom of Saxony to Frankenland and then to Augsborough There met he with certain Merchants and accompanying them to Venice payed all their charges Fortunatus had registred in a book the names usages ceremonies religions and the courtly demeanours of all those Countries Cities Emperours Kings and People by whom he had travelled But now in the time that he stayed at Venice he laid wait for the fairest Iewels that might be gotten not sticking for the price were it never so great whereby the Venetians received of him a great sum of money so that he was highly esteemed amongst them He remembring also in what poverty he had left his Father and Mother when he departed from Famagosta bought much fair Cloath Velvet and Silks for their Apparel and costly Houshold-stuff of every sort double And also bought a Ship to convey all those Goods into Cyprus It was now the sixtéenth year sithtnce he departed and when he came to Famagosta it was told him that his Father Theodorus and his Mother Gratiana were both dead wherefore he was very sorry He then hired a large house wherein he bestowed his goods and entertained many more men-servants and maidens for all purposes and from thenceforth maintained most stately and sumptuous Hospitality that of every man he was had in great estimation Howbeit many mused and much marvelled how he had obtained such wealth whereas the most knew that he departed in extream poverty How the King of Cypâ—us made a Marriage between Fortunatus and the Lord Nemians youngest Daughter Chap. 20. ANd as soon as he might bring it to pass he purchased again his Fathers house and many more thereto adjoyning All which he caused to be plucked down and in that place builded a goodly large Palace after the bravest manner like as he had seen in other Countries And by the house also he founded a sumptuous Church and twelve more houses for twelve Priests to continue in divine service of God as it were a Chantry or Cathedral Minster For the Revenues whereof he also allowed yearly xiv hundred Duckats that was for every Priest one hundred and the other two for the Reparation and Ornaments of the Church He caused moreover to be made in the Minster three Tombs one for his Father the other for his Mother whose bones he caused to be digged up and buried therein and the third to be reserved for himself and his Heirs When all things were finished to his mind he purposed to take a Wife which when the nobility and gentlemen of Cyprus understood every one which had the fairest daughters set them forth to the uttermost shew by training them up with fine qualities nurturing them with good behaviour and trimming them in comely and gorgeous attire But amongst all others not far from Famagosta dwell an Earl named Lord Nemian which had three daughters that were passing fair whom the King counselled to bestow one of them on Fortunatus if he might and offered himself also to break the matter if the Earl were so content Now the Earl though he were not very rich séemed at the first to make little account of Fortunatus saying to the King If he should be a suitor to any of my daughters would your Grace advise me to give my consent For we know he hath no lands nor yearly revenues and whereas perhaps he had great sums of ready money we see how he hath bestowed it in sumptuous building whereof cometh no profit And albeit he have sufficient store yet left money is casual and may soon be consumed and lost and so may he come to be in poverty at the end as his Father did who sometime was exceeding Rich and Puissant Then said the King to the Earl I have been certified by them that have seen it that he hath as many precious Iewels as would buy an Earldom and yet will sell none of them I hear say also that he hath travelled through many nations whereby it is to be presupposed that he would not have builded such a gorgeous Palace and a Chantry which he hath so endowed with perpetual Rents except he well knew how to maintain an estate agreeable And therefore if you will do by my counsel you shall now he is disposed to marry offer unto him one of your Daughters And if so be you are willing so to do I my self will do my diligence in first motioning of the matter not doubting to bring it to pass For Fortunatus I know will do much at my request and indeed I had rather he should match in a Noble kindred than with one of the meaner sort being also unmeet as to me seemeth that one of a base Linage should possess that fair Palace and dwell therein The Earl understanding that Fortunatus was greatly in the Kings favor said forasmuch as I perceive your graces pleasure is that I should give one of my daughters to Fortunatus therein I give your majesty full power both of her and my goods Then said the King Lord Nemian send your three daughters to my Wife the Queen and I will cause them to be gorgeously attired upon hope that one of them shall please him howbeit I will give him the choice to take which he best fancieth I will moreover bestow all the charges of the Wedding Feast and look what he requireth more that will I perform for that thou hast frankly committed both Body and Goods unto me The Earl humbly thanked his Majesty and so taking his leave of the King rode home and declared to the Countess his wife all the matter as it was decreed between the King and him The Countess liked of their Agreement well save only that Fortunatus was not noâ—â—â— enough of birth and that she was loath he should have his free choice for she loved one of them above the rest whereof she would in no wise make the Earl privy Howbeit she agreed to his will whereupon she comely addressed them and appointed a motherly Gentlewoman to be their Guide with men and maidens to attend on them as was meet for their estate they were sent unto the Kings Court where they with their retinue were honourably received and were taught the courteous guise and
for your Daughter On the next morrow went the King the Earl and the Countess and requested him that he would assign some certain dowry unto Cassandra what casualty soever might befal Then said Fortunatus I have neither Land Lordship nor yearly Revenues but I will give to her five thousand Duckats in ready money wherewith I will put you my Lord and Father in trust to purchase for her some mannor-house with Lands where you and she shall think most convenient Then said the King I wot well how it is best to do in this matter Here is the Earl of Lâ—gorn which is forced of necessity to sell a parcel of his Living for ready Money He hath a Castle and a Town three miles hence called Larganenbo at the Rainbow the same you may buy of him with the Title that he hath both of the Land and People So sent they presently for the Earl who was contented to bargain with them for seven thousand Duckats Fortunatus therfore without delay told out the money and the Earl of Legorn concluded with him to yield up all his right title interest and jurisdiction that he had in or to the Countiship Castle and Town of Legorn unto Cassâ—ndra and never to make more challenge thereto When this matter was throughly accomplished then was the Countess in all points well pleased How the King and the Queen departed and Fortunatus ordained a new Feast for the Citizens Chap. 23. First If thou be disposed to return into Ireland again then will I give thee four servants to bring thee worshipfully thither and will give thee also as much money in thy purse as shall maintain a competent living for thee and thine during thy life Or if thou list hereto remaine Eamagosta I will provide thee a House and allow thée yearly as much as shall maintain thrée servants and two maidens to attend on thee and will not suffer thée to want during thy life or if thou wilt still abide in house with me thou shalt have all things that are necessary as good as I my self Now choose of these three proffers which thou likest best and I will faithfully perform my promise in either of them Then said Leopoldus This is much more than I have deserved either of God or Man that such honour and courtesie should be proffered to me in my old Age wherefore I yield to you as hearty thanks as one man may tender to another But as concerning this choice to ride home again for one of my years it is very painful and unmeet and perhaps I may dye by the way yea though I might come safely home Ireland being a hard and uncivil country where are no good wives nor delicate victuals well prepared whereto I have been long accustomed my life most like would be the sooner shortned And to remain still in houshold with you for me is more unfit For whereas you have now a Fair young lusty Wife many goodly Gentlewomen and jolly Fellows about you I being old and feeble shall be loathsome unto them for the behaviour of old men is irksome unto the younger sort Howbeit I mistrust not your vertuous disposition Therefore if it shall please you I especially request you to buy me a house in the City wherein I may end my life beseeching you notwithstanding that I may not be secluded from your counsel so long as we both live Fortunatus thereto yielded not attempting any weighty cause without his advice so long as he lived He also bought him a house according to his desire gave him men maidens alow'd him for his charges an hundred duckats every month Leopoldus was glad to be frée at his own liberty to eat or drink rise or go to bed when he lifted and not bound to any kind of service Nevertheless he went daily to the Church there to shew himself to Fortunatus and other his attendants when need required whereby appeared his fidelity When Leopoldus had now lived half a year in his estate he was taken with a grievous sickness which when no Physitians could remedy soon after he died whereof Fortunatus was exceeding sorry causing him to be worshipfully buried in his own Church How Fortunatus had by his Wife two Sons the first named Ampedo the younger Andolâ—ciâ— Chap. 24. FOrtunatus and Cassandra his wife now living in joyful and happy Estate found lack of no earthly thing but only of Children for he knew that the vertue of his Purse would end after his decease if he had no lawful heirs of his body howbeit he made not his wife a counsel thereof but prayed daily together with her that God would make them Fruitful Insomuch that the Lord hearing their requests Cassandra was conceived with a Son whom they Baptized with the Name of Ampedo Shortly after she came with Child again and brought forth another Son which was Christened by the name of Andolocia Thus Fortunatus was not a little joyful that he had now two such fair and well-proportioned children whom he and his Espouse trained up carefully and tenderly loved Howbeit Andolocia was always of stouter courage than Ampedo as after it appeared And although Fortunatus would gladly have had more Children by Cassandra especially a daughter or twain also yet from thence forth she conceived no more by him How Fortunatus got leave of Cassandra to go unto the Heathen Nations Chap. 25. FOrtunatus having now lived joyfully with Cassandra twelve years and perswading with himself that it was unlikely he should have any more Children it seemed irksome and grievous unto him to abide any longer at Famagosta though he there wanted no kind of pleasant Recreation and Pastime but purposed to travel among the Heathen through both the greater and lesser India and over all the Kingdoms of Prester John For the which he demanded the good will of Cassandra and told her that forasmuch as he had already ranged through one half of the earth he was minded to see the other half also though he should lose his life thereby When Cassandra heard him so earnestly bent to depart so far from her she lamentably entreated him to desist from his purposed Voyage saying If you thus without cause will adventure your quiet estate it is no other likelyhood but that you will greatly repent it For although heretofore you have passed throughout most Christian Nations in your youthful strong and lusty age yet now you being long accustomed to a quiet life may not so well endure to travel in these elder years into the Savage and Heathen Countries who also be most envious unfaithful and tyrannous to all Christians therefore oh my well-beloved Fortunatus oh my dear and faithful spouse on whom I repose all my trust I beseech thee for Gods sake and the love thou owest unto me that having respect unto thy Wife and Children thou wilt cast out of thy mind such dangerous and unneedful travel and abide still with us and if I have displeased you in any thing or have done