then to leaue her portrait to the will of the conquerour The Iudges of the féeld gaue sentence accordingly wherevpon Palladine left Simprinell and went to place the Duchesse counterfeit aboue Belanicia albeit he perceiued her figure much more beautifull by which conceit he gathered that this was she of whome the wise Orbiconte told him wherefore he onely minded Belanicia purposing right soone to forsake the Duchesse As he was vnarming in his chamber he began to thinke how he might leaue Brisalda and what excuse would serue for his departure yet when he considered his good entertainement and what especiall fauour he had receiued at her hands he altered his mind reputing the words of Orbiconte for méere illusions And as he continued in this déepe musing he thought he heard one whisper in his eare saying It is not heere Palladine that thou must abide wherefore follow the good fortune that is promised thée Héerevpon he concluded what euer happened he would depart on the morrow and thereof that night he meant to aduertise the Duchesse to whome he went right soone afterward CHAP. XX. ¶ How Palladine aduertised the Duchesse of his departure and how trauailing to the Realme of Norgalles he had a dangerous Combate with Simprinell whome he knew afterward SUch were y t troublesome thoughts of Palladine in hastening his departure toward Belanicia as without any longer stay he came to the Duchesse who séeing him looke so sad desired to knowe the cause thereof In sooth Madame quoth he I can not forget the strange Knight that I Iousted withall this day right sorie I am that I demaunded not his name for I imagin I haue sometime seene him in England If that be all sayd the Duchesse we will send for the Knight hither but her sending was in vaine for he departed immediatly after the Combate When Palladine sawe no excuses would serue but she would néedes presse him with earnest request of his penstuenesse he said Let it not dislike ye good Madame if I haue intended any thing for your honor and mine owne but rather conceiue thereof as it deserueth Full well you knowe faire mistresse that hardly can we continue our loue together enioying the benefite y t good hap affoords vs without iealous suspition of your Lords and Ladyes and affection maketh amorous fréends oftentimes forgetfull of themselues so that béeing subiect to the iudgement of many they shall hardly escape without scandalous and peremptorie spéeches And nothing sweet Madame is more hurtfull to our honors especially yours in respect of your greatnesse and authoritie to preuent which danger and that héereafter we may stand out of the reach of wounding toongs I meane to trauaile to England to the King my Father whome I wil acquaint with the intended mariage betwéene vs and his good will obtained right soone shall I returne to haue it accomplished In the meane while you may conferre thereon with the Lords of your Councell who I thinke will not dislike thereof when they vnderstand my birth and parentage so shall our credits be safely defended and what hath past alreadie be sufficiently recompenced When Brisalda heard these spéeches her heart was so swollen with gréefe as she was not able to make any aunswere whereat he could not but meruaile considering his words tended to great reason yet with such zealous perswasions he still laboured her making faithfull promise of his spéedie returne as in the end he obtained her consent albeit God knowes verie vnwillingly Giuing her then an amorous conge he tooke two bracelets from his armes verie richly embellished with pearle and stone and presented them to the Duchesse saying On the same day I came to your Court swéete Madame you gaue me a iewell which I will kéepe for your sake while I liue that you may likewise remember me I beséech ye to weare these bracelets which were giuen me by my mother on the day I was Knighted Alas my Lord quoth she I doubt you haue left me such a remembrance as except you spéedily returne againe will beare me company to my latest home Yet will I kéepe one of the bracelets for your sake and when you come againe I will haue the other So putting the bracelet on her arme she vowed neuer to take it off vntill she sawe her Knight returned With many kind embracings and deuoute kisses he returned to his lodging and the Duchesse to her chamber where calling her trustie maiden to her who was a captiue Moore and one not a little in her fauour being acquainted with all that had passed betweene the Prince and her with many bitter sighes and teares she telles the Moore the summe of her greefe The Moore perswaded her that the Prince heerein had done aduisedly for safetie of both their honors if their loue as greatly she doubted had sorted to effect for secrecie must be the meane to couer such matters which she would so substancially bring to passe as none but themselues should be acquainted therewith With much adóo the Duchesse was pacified and on the morrow when Palladine departed she sent him a pursse of gold to spend in his trauaile causing her Lords to accompanie him two or thrée miles on his way and so though loth these louers are seperated the Duchesse abiding â—olitarie in her Pallace and Palladine hauing bidden the Lords adiew is iourneying in haste toward Norgalles He had not ridden halfe part of the day but a Knight with thrée Squires gallopped after him crying Stay Sir Knight for héere commes one that must speake with thée Palladine presently turning his horsse tooke his Launce from his Squire thus aunswering What is he that would speake with me let him kéepe out at the length of my Launce till I haue better knowledge of him why he should come to seeke me in such haste Because thou wouldest so faine knowe me aunswered the Knight thou shalt vnderstand that I am the man thou didst vanquish yesterday more by fortune then prowesse therefore I would now trie againe how well I can reuenge my former foyle So fetching their carire they encountred together so brauely as they were both dismounted and while their Squires laboured to catch their horsses that ran about the féeld they fell to the combate with the Sword and wounded each other very dangerously till in the end Palladine got the aduantage and as he made proffer to smite off his enemies head he knew him to be Simprinell Sonne to the King of Scots Soone was all the former vnkindnesse pacified and each embraced other verie louingly reproouing themselues of great wrong to fréendship yet excusing the same by ignorance When their Squires sawe how they were wounded one of them thus spake In this wood my Lords is a faire Abbey and there remaineth one verie skilfull in Chirurgerie so please ye to goe thither the Abbot will entertaine ye gently because he is brother to a worthie Gentleman who spent his time as a Knight errant and for his sake he loueth all
THE Famous pleasant and variable Historie of Palladine of England Discoursing of honorable Aduentures of Knightly deedes of Armes and Chiualrie enterlaced likewise with the loue of sundrie noble personages as time and affection limited their desires Heerein is no offence offered to the wise by wanton speeches or encouragement to the loose by lasciuious matter Translated out of French by A. M. one of the messengers of her Maiesties Chamber Patere aut abstine AT LONDON Printed by Edward Allde for Iohn Perin dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Angell And are there to be sould 1588. ¶ TO THE RIGHT Honorable Robert Deuorax Earle of Essex and Ewe Viscount of Hereford and Bourchier Lord Ferrers of Chartley Bourchier and Louayne Maister of the Queenes Maiesties Horsse A. M. wisheth increase of all happinesse AMong those right Honorable that offered incense in the Temple of Iupiter in plates of Golde according to the custome a simple Heardsman religiously affected brought his offering on a broken potsheard for which he being reprooued by Iupiters Priest boldly returned this answere The Gods that dispose all knowe all rich men are discerned by their great gifts and poore men by their simple yet happily their zeale is not alike for rather had I be thought vnmannerly by this homely present then vndutifull by want of better abilitie In like manner right noble Lord among those ripe and curious wittes that offer to your learned view matter of valew squared and leueld by deepe knowledge and experience a simple zealous man more deuoted in affection to your honors welfare then able to expresse the same as other can presents this rude and vnpullished peece of worke not handled with arte because I want it nor glozed with borrowed phrases because I am loth to become indebted but equall with the poore Heardsmans potsheard and with him chusing rather to be thought homely then vndutifull knowing that the Eagles eyes of Iupiter can search into the substance of the one and other This woorke of Palladine with all his imperfections I humblie commit to your honorable protection knowing that in respect of your owne loue to Chiualrie you will thinke well of him and because he is an English man in the better sort fauour him For my selfe as I neuer knew honor partiall in opinion but with vpright iudgement to ballance each mans deseruing so in this assurance with reuerence I end as forward as any in affection to your Honor. A. Monday To the corteous and freendly Readers MY promise was that by Easter Tearme this worke should be published and according to my promise heere doo I send it not doubting but you will so fauourably censure theron as my paynes and the pleasure of the Historie deserueth If you happen to fynde any mislike in the translation or that it is not so currant English as fyne eares hunt after let this serue as a sufficient excuse for mee that in translating men are bound to their Writers words and such as roue at random may set downe what they please And this I am to intreate on the Printers behalfe and mine owne whereas in dyuers places there are faultes escaped as woordes verie much mistaken many left out and others common that you will freendly let passe such ouer-sightes and at the next Impression they shall bee amended for I beeyng often absent and the Printer carefull to end his worke by appoynted time haue beene the cause of all these escapes Thus committing my Booke and my selfe to your fauourable iudgement I ceasse From my house without Cripple-gate this 23. of Aprill Yours to bee commaunded Anthony Monday THE Famous pleasant and variable Historie of Palladine Discoursing of Knightly and woorthy deedes of Armes and vnfolding the loue of many great Princes and Lords but especially of PALLADINE Soone to the King Milanor of England and the faire Selerina sister to the King of Portugall c. CHAP. I. * Of the birth of Prince PALLADINE and the strange aduenture that happened on the day of his birth in the Citie of London before the Pallace of King Milanor AT what time the puissant and spacious Empire of Greece and most fertile Asia was held in subiection by the great Turke and the Romaine Monarchy was commaunded by the wise Emperour Iustinian Gouernour of both high and nether Allmayne raigned in great Brittayne now called England a King named Milanor who from his youth was so well instructed in good letters and the Sciences liberall as among the most learned Doctors he was reckned peerelesse before he came to the age of eightéene yéeres During this time of his education his Gouernors to make him perfect in all things beseeming so great a Prince caused him to practise the managing of great Horsses to vse the Tilt and Tourney with all other-feates of agilitie incident to Armes wherein right soone he grew so prompt and excellent as all the Lords and Subiects of his Realme were not onely abashed at his forwardnes but thought themselues especially blessed to liue vnder the regiment of so braue a King Nor was this ioy alone to them but many other nations and forreigne Princes did participate therein especially the Kings of Scottes and Norgalles his neighbours who hearing of the great bountie prowesse magnanimitie and other lawdable vertues in this King determined to be freends to him and his holding this opinion that beeing confederate with England in loue no other King or Prince durst molest them with warres Upon this consideration they sent their Ambassadours to his Maiestie to promise and sweare peace amitie and inuiolable concord with obeysance and acknowledging him their Superiour where they were receiued honourably and with content a matter greatly auailing them afterward as you shall perceiue by the following discourse of our Historie The King of Portugall vnderstanding the manifold vertues and power of King Milanor as also that so many Kings and Princes desired his fréendly alliaunce preuayled so well by his sundry Embassades as the King of England married with his Sister named Selerina faire in perfections yong and gratious among all the Ladies in her time and to continue holy loue betwéene this King and Queene soone after she was conceyued with a goodly Sonne at whose birth happened such a maruelous aduenture as no registred memorie records the like At what time the Quéene was in trauayle suddenly was the Citie of London couered with a darke and fearefull Clowde the heauens deliuering such thunder and lightning the earth likewise shaking and trembling so straungely as the Citizens expected death euery moment imagining the end of the world was come vpon them For the space of two houres this wonderfull tempest endured vntill the Quéene was deliuered of her burthen when the Clowde began to vanish away and the heauens looked fayre and cheerefull as before After this despairing Storme the people who with feare and terror of the thunder had hid themselues in vaultes and caues amazed and fearefull began to shew themselues but
passion to procéede by bashfulnesse or feare which oftentimes preuents yong Gentlemen when they enter the presence of great Ladies she tooke the Prince by the hand and thus began My Lord you are so welcome as your owne hart can wish great hath béene your payne and trauayle comming so farre to see this Court no sufficient recompence can the King our Father make yée nor we poore Ladies for this excéeding kindnesse These words forcing Manteleo to recouer his spirits caused him returne this aunswere In comming hither swéete Madame haue I sustayned no paine or trauaile but rather comfort pleasure and pastime For long since is it that I desired to offer my seruice to the King your Father as well for the rare vertues which makes him farre renowmed as also to renew the auncient amitie that yée and the Duke my Father haue had together when they as Knightes errant trauayled straunge Countreys Another and chéefe cause was to see my Lord your Brother whose second in prowesse is not to be found and you likewise faire Ladies whome heauen hath not onely enriched with especiall vertues but also with rare and most perfect beautie And though my Starres alotted me no greater good héereby then to behold the surpassing worke of nature in you both yet would I repute my trauaile more largely requited then were I created Emperour of the world adioyning héere to if any seruice remayned in me that might be to your liking During these spéeches he threw many piercing lookes on the Princesse Marcelina and she returned the like on him thinking she had neuer seene a more comely Knight in all perfections her Brother Palladine excepted gathering by his lookes and yéelding countenance that she had wonne some earnest in his loue with which imagination her hart was highly contented and to continue him in this good affection she thus replyed Not a little doo I think my selfe beholding to you my good Lord noting your forward zeale to the King my Fathers seruice loth am I to presse yée with such regard towards me in that my deseruings are altogether too simple let my good will then excuse my want assuring your selfe of a maydens prayers wheresoeuer you go As Manteleo would haue aunswered the Prince Palladine came and thus brake off their talke I beséech yée my Lord and companion to withdraw your selfe into your Chamber there to repose your selfe after your iourney for of necessitie you must be sore wearied hauing spent so little time betwéene Millaine and England Manteleo departed to his Chamber with Palladine and in two lodgings ioyning together lay these new fréends There did the Millayne Prince cloath himselfe in braue and sumptuous garments not forgetting the graâ—ious spéeches of fayre Marcelina who likewise so soone as he departed could not kéepe in her owne opinions but with her Sister fell in commendation of Manteleo setling the loue of him so néere her heart as she resolued neuer to haue any other Husband so pleased the King and Quéene to giue their consent Continuing in this determination thence forward her extreame desires made her pensiue and solitarie yet would she not impart her disease to any one because she would first make triall of the Princes constancie least his loue might be impeached with dissembling â—alliaunce But now is the houre of Supper come when the amorous Prince Manteleo was placed at the table right ouer against his beloued Marcelina neither of them being offended at this good hap but vsing the same as an especiall benefite with secret glaunces to court each other Which the Princesse Floraea dilligently marked and seeing her Sister so often to chaunge her couller coupling therewith many bitten in sighes she tofore hauing neuer shewed the like became iealous of the matter thinking the Prince should as soone affect her as her Sister yet made she no outward shew of this conceite But when the Tables were withdrawne and each one preparing themselues to daunce Manteleo tooke his Lady Marcelina without making any offer to Floraea wherewith she became so mal content as to despight them she would euery day after sit so néere them as they could not speake one word to each other but she might easily vnderstand what they said The Prince well noting how hee was crost would the oftner entertaine Marcelina to Daunce taking the benefite at the end of each Measure which gaue them libertie to conferre together no one in those excused times being able to impeach them whereat Floraea greatly repined séeing them talke with such affectionate protestations The Pastimes ended the King and Queene went to their lodgings Manteleo humbly giuing them the good night not forgetting the Saint he serued in desires and afterward the Prince Palladine accompanied him to his Chamber where after many other spéeches betwéene them they concluded on the morrow to request their Knighthood of the King So Palladine left Manteleo for that night whose mind was busied with his Ladies fauorable words not doubting but to shew himselfe so forward in Armes as the Princesse should receiue good occasion to affect him and graunt him the honor he earnestly desired In this good hope he laid him downe to rest the Princesse Marcelina nothing inferiour to him in amorous opinions and that night her brother Palladine had told her that Manteleo and he would intreate their Order of the King wherewith she was not alittle contented determining thence forward to entertaine the Prince of Millaine as her Knight CHAP. VI. ¶ How the Princes Palladine and Manteleo with many other great Lords were Knighted by the King Milanor and of an aduenture that happened in the Court which Palladine and Manteleo ended FAire Aurora chasing away the clowdie night the Prince Palladine accompanied with many Gentlemen came to bid Manteleo good morrow Why my Lord and companion quoth he it séemes you haue forgotten what we determined yesternight Pardon me good Prince aunswered Manteleo my memorie is not so short but so swéetly haue I slept this night as hindered me from rising sooner Then went they to salute the King and intreated his Highnesse to graunt them their Knighthood When his Maiestie perceiuing their forwardnesse and noting the earnest desire of Manteleo thus aunswered Loth am I to denie your request albeit as yet you are ouer-yong but the good opinion I haue of your prowesse and fortunate successe that may befall ye héereafter doth supply your want of yeeres wherefore this night perfourme the holy watch and to morrow will I giue ye your Order The two Princes humbly thanking his Maiestie went to giue order for their Armour and furniture and at night they entred the Chappell where spending the time in the accustomed religious exercise they expect the houre of their long desired honor In the morning the King with his Nobilitie entred the Chappell and as he was busied in the Ceremonies vsed in such affaires there entred two Damosels verie brauely apparelled each of them hauing a goodly Sword in her hand and with them was an
you would haue left vs so soone Assure your selfe Madame said the Prince there is nothing can be more displeasant to me but in respect I cannot with honestie and without great impeach to mine honor gain-say the matter so absolutely promised let me intreate ye not to misdéeme of any thing And heere I vow by the religious faith I owe to your excellencie that hither will I returne againe so soone as I can possible Beside if the Knight whome we must accompanie shall offer to stray farre from this Realme some sufficient excuse will I finde to forsake his companie Meane while let me intreate ye to affoord me thus much fauour to accept me as your Knight and seruant and if as yet I haue deliuered no desart whereby I might attaine to such a tipe of happinesse I hope such shall be my behauiour heereafter as you shall haue no cause to repent your gift Ah my Lord quoth she such soueraigntie haue you gained ouer my thoughts as nothing can I refuse what you with honor request I accept you then as my Knight with which words she tooke a rich Diamond from her finger in signe whereof take this iewell and weare it for my sake wheresoeuer you come héereafter He taking the ring with exceeding reuerence thus aunswered Sweete Madame most humbly doo I thanke ye for this fauour which I will kéepe as mine owne life And néedlesse is it for you to giue me any thing whereby I might the better remember ye for so liuely is your diuine figure imprinted in my hart that no fortune how good or bad so euer can haue power to blemish or deface As she was about to aunswere the King started from his chaire and comming to the Prince Manteleo sayd Better leysure to daunce shall we haue after supper let vs now go see our yong Knightes in the Listes to trie if since their order was giuen their strength is impaired or increased Then ceassed the instruments and the dauncing the Knightes going all to arme themselues each one verie ioyfull of this occasion but especially the Prince Manteleo for the great desire he had to be séene in the Ioust yet remembring the aduenture of the Statues fame would he trie his fortune there ere he entred the Listes and mouing the King thereof his Maiestie liked it very well who with the Queene and all the Courtly assistants came to their wonted Scaffold when the Prince Palladine was the first that aduentured for the Shéeld saying I haue heard that such as laboured to win this Sheeld haue beene verie sharply repulsed by this Statue but I thinke it was through want of demaunding licence to take it therefore will I reason with the kéeper thereof to knowe if this Sheeld be destenied to me So aduancing himselfe to the Statue armed at all points verie brauely he thus spake Suffer me faire Image to take this Shéeld downe without the Combate or if I may not haue it otherwise determine to defend thy selfe The Statue made in resemblance of a sauadge man thus replied I will not Combate with one so yong and a Knight so vnexperienced as thou art therefore I councell thée to go make proofe of thy bountie else where then will I deale with thee in Combate otherwise neuer thinke to win this Sheeld I see well said Palladine to Manteleo that the end heereof is not reserued for me Try my Lord if your fortune be any better then mine Héerevpon Manteleo mounted the steps thinking to go take downe the Sheeld but the Statue thrust his hand before it saying Nor is it as yet for thée that thou shouldest attempt to take this Sheeld it behoues thee to be much more exercised in armes and therefore content thy selfe Good reason haue I to thinke said Manteleo that I haue not as yet merited so high a guerdon by reason of my insufficiencie in martiall affaires therefore I will presume no further but in the aduenture of Cupid predestinated to the most loyall after you Sir Palladine will I hazard my selfe By my faith quoth the Prince I will not meddle with him for as yet I haue nothing to do with the God of Loue nor know I what puissance he hath ouer humaine creatures therefore will I stand foorth of his reach The like may I say quoth Manteleo yet will I attempt to win his portrait so giuing a piercing glaunce on the Princesse Marcelina he drew his Sword and with resolued assurance approched the Statue who presently snatching his fauchion from his side resisted him in such sort as betwéene them was a long and doubtfull Combate to the great admiration of the King and all present Yet maugre the peasant strokes of the brazen Image he attained to the highest step of all each one then thinking that Cupid was his owne but so weightie were the cruell charges of the Statue as he was enforced to fall downe backward in a swoune to the great greefe of the King Queene and Palladine but chéefely of Marcelina who seeing his Armour broken in so many places and the blood as she thought to issue from him so aboundantly perswaded her selfe that he had yeelded vp his ghost Ah gentle Prince quoth she to her selfe if thou be dead I am the onely cause thereof for well I know that for my loue thou didst enterprise this aduenture too deere hast thou bought thy comming into England and the earnest affection thou didst beare to me While Marcelina continued these regrets the Prince Palladine with other Knightes recouered Manteleo and vnarming him perceiued he was not wounded at all but weary and ouer-trauailed with so long resisting the cruell blowes of the Image whereon could none of the Princes strokes be discerned though the clanching of his weapon made a wonderfull noise Manteleo finding himselfe fresh and lustie would haue returned againe to the Statue but the King stayed him with these words Me thinks my Lord you haue done inough alreadie let others now haue time for their triall At which speeches the other Knightes followed as their turnes came each one being as roughly handled as the Prince Manteleo who gréeued that he had not ended the aduenture thinking that Marcelina would withdraw her affection reputing him vnworthie her loue that could deliuer no better proofe of his loyaltie And in truth at the first she was iealous thereof but in the end she perswaded her self that such a hidden vertue could not be discerned in a man vntill he receiued the swéetes of loue by his Lady which opinion made her zeale more vehement to the Prince The King seeing the day was verie farre spent referred the rest of the sports till the morrow when Manteleo had good hope to recouer his honor in the Ioust to the especiall good liking of his Lady and mistresse So the King with his Lords returned to the Pallace and the Knightes hauing vnarmed themselues came into the Chamber of Presence where the Prince deuising with his faire Goddesse with many perswasions excused his bad
successe which she could not but take in good part considering that intire loue couers all occasions of dislike CHAP. VIII ¶ How Manteleo wun the honor of the Tournament and vanquished two straunge Knightes NOw is the day come when the yong Knightes should shew themselues in open féeld except the Prince Manteleo who excused himselfe by riding on hunting and therefore borrowing his freend Palladines hounds left the Court causing his horsse and armour to be secretly conuaide to a keepers Lodge which was a mile and more from the Citie because he would not haue any one knowe what he intended Meane while the Ioustes began the King maruelling at the absence of Manteleo especially Palladin and faire Marcelina who missing her freend at dinner imagined he was gone without bidding her adiew and the occasion thereof to be because he had failed in the aduenture of Cupid The Champions comming into the féeld the foremost were Mustiell of Rostock and Brunifort his brother on the other side came Durandell of Cleue and Orliman of Flaunders with all their companie in séemely equipage When the Heralds had commaunded the Knightes to their deuoire Mustiell and Durandell gaue the spurres to their horsses and after they had broken thrée Launces a peece with braue chiualrie at the fourth encounter they met together so furiously as they were both cast foorth of their saddles to the ground Next followed Brunifort and Orliman who dismounted each other at the first attaint but Brunifort recouered his horsse againe quickly when Sedonis Sonne to the Duke of Suffolke bad him play yet accompanied Orliman in his misfortune Heereupon Grinday sonne to the Duke of Orton reuenged his fellowes wrong and such valour they shewed on either side as the honor of the day was giuen to them the King with all his Nobles being readie to depart when suddenly entred the Lystes two strange Knightes in white Armour resembling each other the one bearing in his Sheeld thrée Griffons Sable volant in a feeld Argent the other three Griffons Argent in a Sable feeld After these Knightes had shewen many carires and braue voltages with their horsses before the Ladies one of them encountred Brunifort with such courage as he was throwne to the ground with his heeles vpward the like successe had Mustiell Orliman and the rest to the no little admiration of the King and all the Ladies and great vexation of Palladine who would not Ioust because his companion Manteleo was not there As the King was about to depart giuing the prize to these two strange Knightes there entred the Lystes another Champion in white Armour bearing in his Shéeld a Hart Guelles bound with a golden chaine and without making any reuerence or shewing any brauadoes with his horsse he met one of the strange Knightes so roughly as he was sent to measure his length on the ground The other strange Knight to reuenge his fellowes iniurie came couragiously against this new-come Knight and after the breach of two or thrée Launces was sent to kéep his fréend companie whereat not alittle enraged he drew his Sword and comming to the Knight said I confesse Sir that thou hast the maistrie ouer me at the Launce let me now try my fortune better or worsse in Combate Whereto the other willingly consented but the King intercepted them saying Not so Gentlemen I will not that any Combate shall now be fought in respect the Ioust was ordeyned for pleasure and to exercise our Knightes to delight their Ladies enough therefore is done for this day let anger ceasse betwéene yée and fréendly embrace each other letting me vnderstand of whence you are that I may doo you the honor you haue deserued With right good will my Lord aunswered the vanquished Knight my companion and I are freends with this Knight who deserues great estimation for his worthie prowesse As for our names and of whence we are I am called Landashnes Sonne to the King of Norgalles and my freend is named Simprinell Sonne to the King of Scots When the King Milanor and the Prince Palladine had knowledge of the Knightes they came from the Scaffold and embraced them with excéeding courtesie but when they knew the Conquerour to be Manteleo I leaue their maruellous ioy to your imaginations Is it true my Lord quoth the King haue you stollen such an occasion to expresse your valour Your Maiestie knowes aunswered Manteleo that I am but newly Knighted and therefore but little experienced in Armes nor durst I discouer my selfe before your Highnesse least my fortune should haue prooued as contrary as it did yesterday which you must imagine I tooke discontentedly You néede not feare héereafter said the King to shew your selfe in chéefest places of Chiualrie in that a beginning so good and fortunate must néedes in continuance be as prosperous Heereupon the three Knightes verie louingly embraced each other swearing a perpetuall league of amitie betweene them which they religiously held irreuocable as in the discourse of our historie you may behold Manteleo hauing saluted the Quéene and her Ladyes Palladine came to welcome his freend rebuking him for not acquainting him with his intent which he excused as he did to the King hauing more mind to regard his sweete Mistresse then to be entertained with all these ceremonies And you must thinke her ioyes were beyond common conceit seeing her Knight returned whom she feared was lost nor was she so suspitious at his repulse against the God of loue as she was now â—â—alous of his honorable successe These bien venues and embracings passed ouer the King and all of them returned to the Pallace where the two new-come princes had their lodgings appointed Palladine and Manteleo keeping them companie recounting the aduenture of the two Damosels and the enchaunted Knight with whome on the morrow they were to depart Therefore they spent that night in dauncing and courtlye disports the Princes of Norgalles and Scots deuising with the Ladies wherewith the Court of England was plentifully stored and whome they commended to excell all other nations in beawtie CHAP. IX ¶ How the Princes Palladine and Manteleo departed from London with the Knight that was enchaunted and the two Damosels and what happened to them by the way ON the morrow earely in the morning Palladine and Manteleo armed themselues with the Knight that was enchaunted and the two Damosels they came and tooke their leaue of the King and Queene afterward they went to the yong Princesses chamber when Marcelina perceiuing her Knight would néedes be gone brake foorth into feares and sad regrets What meane yee Sister quoth Palladine is our departure displeasing to you Not so good brother answered she but I doubt least your returne should be hindered by any misfortune for you are as yet but yong and little acquainted with the contrary nature of straunge Countreys I confesse that Sister quoth Palladine but euery one must haue a learning beside you knowe ouâ— promise to this Knight constrayneth vs héereto
for by ought I can perceiue there is no signe of life left in them They haue no more aunswered Manteleo then they worthily deserued ought they to misprise or detract strange Knightes cheefely such as are of one nation yet let vs see in what estate they are So comming to the Knight that was first dismounted and finding him dead by reason of the aboundance of blood he had lost as also because his Helmet hindered him from the aire Unhappy man said his Brother oftentimes haue I told thee that thy pride and ouer-wéening would one day cause thy death Be thou warned heereby sayd the enchaunted Knight and learne another time to vse more courtesie to Knightes how yong or old soeuer they be for thou and thy companions did imagine that beâ—cause these two yong Princes were no further entred iâ— yeeres that therefore they were vnprouided of couragâ—â— and vertue but by outward behauiour neuer iudge oâ— men heereafter Too well doo I perceiue your words arâ— true but I beseech ye looke if my Cosins haue accompanied my Brother in death or no. Palladine finding them to be aliue offered with his Sword to haue smitten off their heads Uillaines quoth he you are but dead men if you will redeeme your liues you shall promise me to go â—ubmit your selues to the King of Englands mercie recounting to him wherefore how and by whome you haue beene vanquished Sir answered one of them there is nothing that we will not gladly promise and perfourme for the â—aunsome of our 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 I sweare to yee that I will not faile 〈◊〉 you haue commaunded You must auouch the like quoth the Prince to the other Knight wherevpon he that was so sore hurt with his fall from his horsse could make no aunswere but by signes so that with many sad countenances he shewed his consenting Now may yee depart when ye please said Palladine and say that Englishmen are better Knightes then Spanyards So hauing buried the Knight that was slaine they departed not a little glad they were so well escaped but they tooke small care of perfourming their promise as you shall perceiue by the sequell of our historie CHAP. XI ¶ How Palladine and Manteleo with their company arriued in the Realme of Hungaria where the Gentleman remayned that stole the Lady from the enchaunted Knight and what fortuned to them by the way AFter the Princes had left the Spanyardes they rode on their iourney and comming to the port of Gorforte they tooke Shipping when the Seas were still and calme expecting a winde to passe into Holland which fitting their expectations crossing through Zeland they came to Triell where Palladine furnished himselfe with new Armour because his other was greatly battered in Iousting with the Knightes Hauing contented themselues with the sight of Hollâ—nd they passed the Rheme and entred Almayne where arriuing on the frontires of Bohemia they beheld a Lion comming toward them carying a yong Infant wrapped in swadling clothes in his mouth and a yong woman running after the beast with verie pitifull cries and acclamations Behold quoth Palladine how a sauadge beast hath gotten a yong Infant let vs alight to sée if we can force him forgoe his pray The poore woman seeing how readie they were to helpe her cryed aloude to them that they should get betwéene the Lion and his Caue least entring with the child there should remaine no hope of recouerie When the Lion saw he could not enter his denne he let fal the Infant and furiously assailed the Prince Manteleo who gaue the beast such a wound on the head as made him cry and rore very dreadfully At which noyse a Lionesse came foorth of the Caue from her yong ones and she likewise ranne on the noble Manteleo but Palladine and his Squires so valiantly assisted him as the beastes were in short time ouercome and slaine Then came the poore woman and tooke vp her child which when she beheld had escaped all daunger on her knées she humbly thanked the Princes for their good assistance One of the Damosels taking the child in her armes and séeing it both beautifull and comely said to the mother Great had béene the losse good woman that these cruell beastes should haue deuoured so swéete an Infant but why were you so negligent to endaunger it so much Madame aunswered the poore woman not by my fault did this inconuenience happen for I earning my liuing by dayly labour by binding faggots which my husband cuts in the wood left my child with one of my neighbours in kéeping How she suffered this mishap I know not but as I returned from the wood and méeting the Lion with my child which full well I knew by the swadling cloathes I made what haste I could after the beast hoping by some meanes to recouer my child which now I thanke God and you I haue done Nor is this the first time we haue béene thus serued for in this little Uillage béeing but tenne or twelue housholds in number three children haue béene lost within these sixe moneths the parents still thinking some Boores or peasants had stollen them but now in good time haue wee founde the Théefe And seeing these Gentlemen haue slaine the Lion and Lionesse it may be they haue some yong ones in this Caue which I gladly would haue destroyed likewise so shall we be in no further daunger heereafter That will I soone trie said Palladine go to your house and fetch me some fire and withall bring some sheaues of thrasshed corne for Lions cannot abide the sight of fire and by this meane shall we see what is in the darke Caue Right soone did the woman accomplish her charge bringing strawe and fire with her and sixe or seauen sturdy fellowes with staues flayles and pikeforkes when Palladine hauing set the strawe on fire with the couâ—trey peasants entred the Caue where he found thrée yong Lionesses like little dogs and the clothes of diuers children deuoured by the beasts To behold this strange sight he called the two Damosels and the poore woman into the Caue saying These beastes should haue dined with your child to day but God hath appointed his end in better sort and because you shall remaine in no further dread of these yong ones were I not so farre from England I would send them to the King who I am sure would accept them for our sakes My Lord quoth one of the poore countreymen I will vndertake to fulfill your mind in this and will carie them to England if you please to commaund me full well doo I knowe how to vse them for my Father nourished one like to these a long time and when it grew great he gaue it to our King who sent it as an especiall present to the King of Fraunce In sooth quoth the Prince if thou will perfourme what thou hast promised I will giue thee money to defray thy charges and theirs likewise whome thou wilt take with thee Letters will I also send
wanne whereby the Damosell judged that he was wounded wherefore she said I perceiue my Lord you are scant well let us enter this Tent I pray ye where you shall be unarmed and these Knightes likewise that I may see what woundes you haue receiued for my Lady Orbiconâ—e gaue me at my departure from her a bore of most pretious and arteficiall ointment so that let your wounds be how dangerous soeuer in four and twentie houres I will awarrant they shall be perfectly healed Upon this aduise they entred the Tent where when they were vnarmed the Damosell verie cunningly dressed their wounds finding these of Orliman and Durandell to be most doubtfull yet her comfortable speeches made them expect speedie recouerie Afterward they sate downe to refresh themselues with such viands as they found there readie in the Tent and Palladine calling for the prisoner said Knight if thou desire the safetie of thine owne life tell me without fabling what the Knight was that first proffered to take the Sheeld from the Damosell and vpon what occasion you kept the passage heere to forbid the course of Knightes errant Nor will I Sir quoth the Knight hide bne iote of the truthe from you Knowe then that he which would haue taken the Sheeld from the Damosell was brother to a Gentleman who not long since by the Kings commaundement was put to a most shamefull death for that vniustly he detayned a Knightes wife to whose Castell came two strange Knightes and by the ayde of Lydiseo Prince of Hungaria they tooke the Gentleman sore wounded who was afterward executed slew many of his seruants as also his two brethren deliuering the Lady to her husband againe who now liue in quiet in their owne Castell This Knight that stroue for the Sheeld was likewise brother to that Gentleman who hearing the misfortune of his brethren vowed to take vengeance on those two Knightes by whose meanes he was now left freendlesse in the world Upon this determination heere caused he his pauillion to be erected sending his espials abroade to allure all Knightes by this passage hoping at length to finde those twayne which I thinke he imagined to be they that conducted the Damosell because he commaunded vs all to assaile them but whether they be the same or no he is now greatly deceiued of his hope and thus haue you heard the verie truth of our being heere Thanks be to heauen sayd the Prince Palladine that kept vs out of this danger for if we had passed this way we had either beene slaine or taken by these viâ—e minded men But my hazard was greatest quoth the Damosell had I not met with these two noble Knightes who in my defence thrust their owne liued into question Damosell aunswered Durandell of Cleue we haue done no more then our dutie and what all true Knightes are sworne vnto After they had stayed so long as them pleased they rode to a Towne not farre distant thence leauing the Knight to prouide buriall for his companions and help for such as yet remained aliue swearing him neuer after to be seene in any such bad action At this Towne they abode two or three dayes to furnish themselues of what they wanted as also to repaire their Armour which was much brused At length the Damosell tooke Palladine aside framing her speeches to him in this manner My Lord seeing you finde your selfe in good estate of health let me intreate ye to bid your freends adiew that carely in the morning we may depart to the place whether my Lady commaunded me to conduct ye because you must be assistant to such a one as shall héereafter doo very much for you Damosell quoth Palladine presently shall you see me bid them farewell for great is my affection toward your mistresse seruice seeing she fauours the man so much she neuer sawe Then turning to the three Princes he sayd My noble companions you knowe my promise to this Damosell to follow her whither she shall guide me now is she importunate for my departure wherefore let me intreate ye not to be offended if earely in the morning I take my leaue assuring you that neuer shall I forget your manifold courtesies And let my solemne promise perswade yée that these earnest affaires once dispatched to you will I presently shape my course meane while commaund me as your freendly seruant My Lord aunswered Manteleo albeit this seperation is gréeuous to vs yet séeing it a cause concerning your honor and may aduantage some distressed person kéep your promise right paciently shall we beare your absence hoping to see you shortly in England at the King your Fathers Court for thither shall we presently direct our iourney Palladine hauing intreated them to doo his humble dutie to the King his Father to the Quéene likewise and his two Sisters embraced them all thrée right louingly each one with teares shewing their gréefe of departure Like courteous farewell tooke they of the Damosell who gaue them many thanks for their fréendly succour and so each one entring their chamber for that night Lycelio the Squire to Palladine prepared all things readie for his maister who determined to be on horssebacke by breake of day CHAP. XV. ¶ How Palladine went with the Damosell that came from the wise Orbiconte and Manteleo Durandell and Orliman trauayled toward England and were seperated from each other by a strange aduenture EArly in the morning Palladine Lycelio and the Damosell set forward on their iourney directing theyr course to the Realme of Ireland leauing the thrée Princes soundly sleeping who the same day rodâ— toward England without finding any aduenture on land or Sea worthie the rehearsall After they had refreshed themselues thrée or foure daies at Douer a Towne that stands on the Sea coast of England they concluded to ride to London where they heard the King as then kept his Court. When they had ridden eight or ten miles they sawe comming foorth of a Forrest two poore men all besmeared with blood and verie sore wounded wherevpon they imagined that some théeues had thus vsed them and therefore rode toward them to vnderstand the cause Good Gentleman cried one of them so wounded for Gods sake helpe vs. Of whence are ye sayd the Prince Manteleo We are Sir quoth the poore man of Bohemia trauailing from the King of Englands Court home againe and to his Maiestie were we sent with thrée young Lions which two Knightes trauailing through our Countrey gaue vs charge to carie thither And as we came through this wood thrée théeues suddenly set vpon vs who wounded vs as you see tooke the money from vs we receyued of the King and haue slaine two of our compaâ—ions Manteleo remembring the poore men how Palladine and he had sent them with the Lions was meruailous sorie to see them so misused demaunding if the theeues were on horssebacke or on â—oote The poore men aunswered that they were on foote and could not as yet be gone verie farre Without any
strange Knightes whatsoeuer They not misliking this councell went presently to the Abbey where the Abbot welcommed them as beseemed their estates and while their Supper was prouiding the skilfull man hauing visited their woundes they walked into the faire Orchards and Gardens recounting to each other their seuerall fortunes since they were together in the Court of England Simprinell discoursed his loue to Belanicia of Norgalles and the cause of his comming to the Citie of Varne which when Palladine heard he determined not only to forget his affection to Belanicia but also to assist his freend to his vttermost in obtaining her loue saying My noble fréend I knowe what manner of disease loue is if one haue not receiued the swéetes thereof albeit when I sawe you in England I had no knowledge at all therein wherefore if I shall accompanie you to Norgalles such good speeches will I vse of you to your Lady as she shall not be offended for not bringing her portrait againe or that of the Duchesse which she sent ye for Simprinell thanked the Prince for his offer but he was farre otherwise addicted saying he had promised his Lady a further iourney for her loue wherein he would not haue any companie With this answere was Palladine well contented directing his course another way so hauing stayed two daies at the Abbey and either of them being able to beare Armour he left Simprinell there and courteously taking his leaue of the Abbot set on whither fate and fortune would guide him And after he had ridden fiue or sixe dayes he met a horsseman with whome falling in talke he vnderstood that the great Prince Caesar of Roome had at Paris enterprised a noble Tournament for the loue of the faire Rosamonde of Fraunce a Princesse estéemed incomparable in beautie And I quoth the Courrier am sent to the King of Norgalles Court who hath a faire Daughter named Belanicia before whome I must reueale my message and declare the Prince Caesars challenge in presence of all the Kings Knightes Afterward I must trauaile to Bulgaria and in the Court of the Duchesse Brisalda a Lady likewise renowmed for her beautie I must make knowne of this famous Tournament Palladine glad to heare the Duchesse so commended and that now he had the meanes to see the Princesse Belanicia accompanied the messenger to Norgalles and by the way méeting Belanicia riding in her Litter abroade for her recreation with diuers Knightes that attended on her Palladine was prouoked to Ioust with them by a contemptuous challenge of one of her Knightes But such was their ill lucke as all her champions were dismounted till her brother Landastines tooke the cause in hand hauing left the English Court to come sée the King his father and after they had broken many Launces not being able to preuaile against each other they ended the sport and Landastines knowing Palladine tooke him with him to the Court where he was welcommed honorably by the King as also the faire Belanicia his daughter CHAP. XXI ¶ How Simprinell being healed of his wounds returned to Varne where he vanquished the Prince Alfian of Ireland and brought away the portrait of Brisalda WHen Simprinell felt himselfe well recouered and remembred how he had not onely failed in winning the portrait of the Duchesse but in the attempt had lost y e figure of his mistresse Belanicia he determined not to goe to Norgalles vnlesse he could accomplish his Ladye commaundement Wherefore taking his leaue of the Abbot he rode backe againe to Varne and comming to the place of triumphes found the Duchesse with her Ladyes placed on the Scaffolds and the Prince Alfian of Ireland the Champion for Brisalda who preuayled woorthely against all that encountred with him Simprinell looking on his Ladyes picture and séeing it embased vnder the Duchesse had such a violent impression strooke him to the harte as he intended to recouer her honor againe or else to leaue his life in the feeld And in this resolution he encountred the Irish Prince passing two or three courses brauely the shiuers of their Launces flying vp into the aire but at the third attaint he met Alfian so roughly as both horsse and man were sent to the ground When Alfian had recouered his feete hee drew his Sword and comming to Simprinell who by this time was alighted and prepared for him when they began a fierce and cruell combate whereof Simprinell in the end had the honor Then comming to the Duchesse with courteous reuerence he demaunded of her if she would permit him to carie thence the portraites whereto she made no answere but in a great anger strong from the Scaffold because her champion had defended her cause no better Heereupon the Iudges as the equitie of the case required deliuered the portraites to Simprinell which he giueing to his Squires mounted on horssebacke returning presently backe to the Abbey not alittle glad of his high good fortune At the Abbey he stayed thrée or foure dayes to heale such woundes as he tooke in the last combate and afterward departed toward Norgalles where he arriued without any aduenture by the way to hinder him If he were welcome to the Lords and Ladies I referre to your opinions and how the Princesse Belanicia liked thereof when she sawe her Knight returned with the Duchesse counterfeit let Ladyes desirous of especiall account imagine her content but in requitall of his great paines so confidently did she loue him afterward as by imparting the same to her brother Landastines who highly fauoured his freend Simprinell the King was made acquainted therewith and Ambassadours sent to the King of Scots such good liking thereof beeing found betweene them both as the mariage was consumated and long loue requited with desired recompence Afterward Simprinell imparted to Landastines how at first he was foyled by the Prince Palladine and in his absence had woon his Ladyes credit againe which Landastines tooke so vnkindly as they concluded to trauaile to Paris whither the English Prince was gone before to reconcile this wrong to former amitie And thither are ridden Landastines and Simprinell to the great gréefe of the King and Quéene but chéefely of Belanicia so soone to forgoe her Lord and husband Palladine entised with the report of this braue Tournament held at Paris by the Prince Caesar for faire Rosamonde of Fraunce would néedes be séene in those worthie exploites and landing at Callis loth to be knowne in England least the King his Father should hinder his intended iourney he met with the Duke of Gaule accompanyed with twentie Knightes brauely mounted he likewise riding to the Prince Caesars Tourney by the commaundement of the faire Agricia of Naples whome he honored as his Lady and mistresse After they had saluted each other Palladine presently knew the Duke remembring he had séene him in his Fathers Court yet would not he make any shew thereof because he was so slenderly accompanyed hauing no one with him but his Squire Lycelio and
to finde his fréend Manteleo there but he was as then newly gone toward Normandie to pacifie a controuersie betwéene his Father and the Duke who was a man well prouided with money and munition for he kept diuers Rouers and Pirates on the Seas that dayly brought him great store of good booties CHAP. XXV ¶ How Palladine met with his freend Manteleo whome he had almost slayne in fight but that a Damosell discouered his name And how Palladine slew the Pirate Dormidon VPon the fourth day after Palladine and his fréends departed from Paris riding through a Forrest they met a Knight and a Damosell and with them a Squire gréeuously weeping the Squire ioyfull to meete these Knightes came to Palladine with these spéeches Help Gentlemen for Gods sake helpe me to be reuenged on this Traitour who hath slaine my maister by the procurement of this Damosell Palladine moued with the Squires teares rode to the Knight and thus spake Knight or paillard rather what hath mooued thée to misuse passengers and to bathe thy hands in innocent blood Knight if thou wilt quoth he with the Damosell but paillard reserue for thy selfe as for him that I haue slaine he was the cause of his owne death because I found him readie to haue dishonored this Damosell It is best for thee to excuse thy déede sayd Palladine in respect heere is none that can contrarie thée but I rather thinke the shame is thine then his that is dead as his Squire hath protested to me Think what thou wilt quoth the Knight but the Squire lieth falsly and I ought to be better beléeued then he if thou didst me the right belonging to Armes but credit as thou findest occasion I haue no leysure to stand chatting with thée And because thou art so lustie answered Palladine thou shalt a little tarie my pleasure So couching their Launces they met so roughly together as they were both cast foorth of their saddles afterward they continued a cruell Combate with the Sword till Landastines and Simprinell stepping to the Damosell demaunded of her what the Knight was Alas Gentlemen quoth she his name is Manteleo the Prince of Mâ—â—â—â—yne whome I sée verie hardly requited for deliuering me from the villaine that would haue forced me Landâ—stines presently stopping betwéene them sayd Giue ouer Sir Palladine for you fight against your déere fréend Manteleo At these words the Princes threw downe their weapons and with all the ceremonious courtesies incident to fréendship they louingly embraced each other whereat the Damosell greatly meruailed and the Squire who was the cause of their fight whereupon doubting a further danger toward him because his maister was slaine in so bad a cause so fast as he could tooke himselfe to flight After the manifold kinde excuses which freendly enemies vse together they rode with the Damosell to her Castell where their wounds being visited they afterward iournyed to Millayne Palladine being honorably welcommed by the Duke and especially fauoured for his loue to his Sonne Manteleo And hauing feasted there certaine dayes the Duke recounted to Palladine his present affaires with the Duke of Normandie who after many dishonorable actions was by his power slaine in a battell whereupon the Normans were content to endure his soueraigntie ouer them and for that cause had they sent their Ambassadors In the end by the worthie aduise of Palladine the Duke tooke the gouernement vpon him sending his Sonne Manteleo to receiue the possession thereof Now thought Palladine he stayed too long remembring the letter from the wise Orbiconte therefore would he presently depart toward Aquilea to the great gréefe of the Duke and his fréend Manteleo being loth to forgoe the English Prince so soone Landastines and Simprinell vnderstanding that Palladine would trauaile alone albeit more willingly they would haue borne him companie rode back to Norgalles againe Simprinell confessing how he had woon the portraite of Brisalda whereof Palladine made little or no account at all because he had now almost forgotten her Manteleo likewise went to Normandie where he was receiued as their Lord and Gouernour and hauing established all matters concerning the common wealth he crost the Seas into England to visit his best beloued Lady Marcelina whome he had chosen aboue all other in the world Palladine thus departing from his fréends hauing none in his company but his Squire Lycelio and the Shepheard Liboran by whose meanes he entred the Castell of Brulanfurior and therefore gaue him the name of Liboran the well aduised tooke Shipping and coasting by Lystria at length they came into Albania where suddenly they met with a Turkish Pirate named Dormidon who thinking to seaze on this christian bootie assayled them yet in the end was ouercome himselfe and he with the most part of his men throwne into the Sea After this sharpe encounter on the Sea Palladine was desirous to take landing at the néerest Island least they should be surprized by any more Pirates and because he thought each day a yéere till he might sée the swéete Goddesse promised him by Orbiconte he determined not to rest himselfe in any place vntill he had found what he so earnestly desired charging his Squires thence forward to call him The Knight without rest and vnder this name héereafter he trauaileth The Pilote did as he was commaunded striking presently to the néerest Island which séemed to them verie beawtifull and delectable but they were no sooner come on land and their horsses brought on shore which immediatly offered to feede on the goodly gréene grasse but a mightie flame of fire issued foorth of the ground and continued before them to hinder their passage any further What meaneth this sayd the Knight without rest to the Pilote what may this Isle be named are we in Scicilia where many affirme there is a Mountaine that vomiteth fire and flame foorth in great aboundance No my Lord aunswered the Pilote we are verie farre from thence Scicilie whereof you speake is in the Mediterranean Sea and we are in the Sea Adriatique a great distance from Aquilea and as my owne knowledge serueth me I thinke this soyle is named The Isle of Fire where hath beene heard and séene matters of great meruaile And trust me said the Knight without rest I neuer sawe the like before I pray ye therefore stay for me in this place while I goe to sée the wonders of this Island and if I returne not when two dayes are expired set Sayle and depart whether ye please Not so my Lord aunswered the Pilote I will not weigh Anker till I sée yée or heare from yée in meane while we will expect a lucky gale of winde that may send vs merily to Aquilea CHAP. XXVI ¶ What strange and fearefull visions the Knight without rest sawe in the Isle of Fire and how he returned in exceeding greefe because he could not finish the enchauntments REsolued thus to sée this strange Island the Knight without rest mounteth on horssebacke leauing Liboran in the
rated at the price of thy life Héerewith his speech failed him and breathing foorth a vehement sigh he yeelded vp the ghost O my God said his Squire what shall I now doo Where shall I bestowe the dead bodie of my maister if I returne to the Court of the King his brother he will suspect that I haue murthered him Ah sweete Lady Minoretta what hart breaking will this be to you vnderstanding the death of my Lord and the occasion thereof The Knight of Fame hearing the sorrowfull words of the Squire and fearing he would depart and leaue his maister came with his Squire from behinde the tree where they were hid and seeing the wofull man holding his dead maister in his armes thus spake to him Tell me good fréend how did this mishap befall thy maister The Squire was so amazed when by the light of the Moone he beheld the Knight of Fame and his Squire with him both their swords being drawne as he was not able to returne any answere whereby Don Robert perceiued that the sudden sight of him affrighted the Squire wherefore he thus spake to him againe Why doost thou not speake to vs my fréend doubtest thou that we come to doo thée any displeasure perswade thy selfe that we will assist thee to our vttermost and therefore feare not to bewray thy mishap The Squire throughly resolued by these courteous speeches casting foorth many bitter sighes into the aire and trembling as the burthen of his greefe gaue cause thus answered Alas my Lord right gladly shall I reueale to you the great misfortune now happened to my Lord who as you sawe gaue vp his ghost betweene mine armes the occasion whereof grew in this manner My noble maister while he liued was bastard brother to the King of Scicilie yet as déerely beloued of his Maiestie as if he had béene his lawfull legitimate brother such was his vertuous and valiant behauiour and for the King would assure my Lord of his intire good will and affection he gaue him the Signorie of Siracusa with all the titles and benefites belonging thereto But my woorthie Lord and maister who was named Don Frionell hauing about sixe moneths since heard commended the excellent beautie of Minoretta Daughter to the King of Portugall became so enamoured of her as to compasse the means that he might sée her he craued leaue of the King his brother to trauaile into Fraunce as a Knight errant séeking after aduentures Hauing obteined licence for his departure in stead of going to Fraunce he tooke the way toward Portugall where being arriued so well he made knowne his prowesse at the Tilt and Tourney which dayly hée maintained in honor of the Princesse as the King entertaining him into especiall fauour all the Lords and Knights of Portugall did the like so that being well estéemed and honored of euery one chéefely of the Quéene and her Ladyes so well he could his Courtship to the Princesse Minoretta that she accepted him as her Knight and fauoured him aboue all other that made loue to her In this time came to the Court Don Galitreo of Castile who no sooner sawe the faire Princesse but presently he was so esprized with her loue as he was readie to die at her foote and therefore diuers times made offer of his seruice to her but she made no account thereof declaring by her gesture and countenance that my maister was the onely man in her thoughts Galitreo from this time forward conceiued mortall hatred against my maister yet 〈◊〉 his villainie with such coullers as though he haâ— beene one of his deerest freends So that my maister being one day commaunded by his Lady Minoretta to goe assist a distressed Lady whome a cruell Gentleman too much wronged the traitour receiued opportunitie to set his mischiefe abroche for he being present when my maister tooke his charge gaue no shew of contraâ—ie meaning but no sooner had my Lord restored the wronged Lady albeit with danger of his person by reason of certaine wounds he receiued in fight and returning to the Princesse againe but this day as we came into this Forrest where I vnarmed my Lord to deeâ—se his wounds the traitour Galitreo accompanied with foure more disguised and well armed awaiting cowardly to take my Lord at this aduantage came to him with these worâ—s Knowest thou me â—rionel if thou wilt saue thy life thou must heere sollemnely sweare to me neuer to serue the Princesse Minoretta longer or héereafter to câ—me in any place where she is My maister knowing the traitour well enough by his speeches yet meruailing to méete him in this place because at his departure he left him in Portugâ—â— notwithstanding he was sore wounded and vnarmed boldly thus answered Rather let me loose my life quoth he and endure a thousand deathes if it were possible then I will forgoe the seruice of my mistresse but while I can lift my Sword will I maintaine her as the onely Goddesse of my heart By God quoth Galitreo but I will make thee sure thou shalt not â—o drawing his Couâ—tiare and my maister being thus naked as you sée because I was attending his wounds he neuer left striking at him till he sawe him fall when both he and his companions gallopped away so fast as they could Trust one answered the Knight of Fame thou hast tolde mee the most monstrous â—â—te that euer I heard of but thou séeing thy maister so misused why didst not thou helpe to defend him Alas my Lord quoth the Squire there wanted no good will in mée but they that accompanyed this traitour held me with such violence as I could not stirre The Knight of Fame beholding the cruell woundes Don Frionell had receiued and what a goodly personage hée had béene in his life time sighing sayd Oh God what two dangerous enemies are loue and iealousie in the world there can not bée any woorsse whereby men may fall into so great hazard Well my freend quoth hée to the Squire héere must wee rest our selues for this night because we knowe not whether else to goe and to morrow shall wee prouide for thy maisters bodie whose death I purpose to reuenge if I may finde the man that so bloodely murthered him Assure your selfe my Lord sayd the Squire that hee is in Portugall with the Princesse because for her loue he slewe my maister who reputed him one of his déerest fréends There neuer were so great freends quoth Don Robert whome loue and iealousie could not moue to discord and so for that night they lay downe and slept CHAP. XXXIIII ¶ How the Knight of Fame hauing taken order for the buriall of Don Frionell trauailed into Portugall where he fought the combate with Don Galitreo of Castile and what was the issue thereof CLéere Phoebus arising from the foulded armes of faire Thetis the knight of Fame awaked and not able to sléepe any longer by reason of his troubled thoughtes leauing the Squires who as yet had not stirreâ— he walked
Knightes appointing the Marquesse of Villereal and the Countie of Marialne Iudges of the feeld All this while the Princesse Minoretta continued her pensiue mones praying for the prosperous successe of the newcome Knight and the confusion of the traitour Galitreo On the morrow was this doubtfull combate tried being fought on either side with such exceeding valour as they both fell downe foote to foote that each one reputed them both for dead but when the Knight of Fames helmet was opened and he had receiued the fresh aire he came to himselfe againe albeit Galitreo was slaine outright and therefore condemned as foyled in fight The King glad of this happie victorie intrâ—ated the Knight of Fame as he had beene his owne Sonne causing his Chiruâ—gions to take care of his wounds and during the time of his abode there for his health the continuall good countenance shewed by the Princesse Minoretta made him liue in hope to obtaine but he was preuented by the King of Nauarre who sending his Ambassadours to demaund the Princesse in marriage had his request graunted by the King The Knight of Fame séeing himselfe so infortunate in obtaining a wife so soone as his wounds were thoroughly cured tooke his leaue of the King and departed with intent after he had seene his owne countrey to trauaile into England againe to be reuenged on Palladine for the foyle he susteyned at the Ioustes at Paris so mounting on horseback he tooke his way directly toward Freezeland And not able to continue there any long time because his conceiued hate was such toward the English Prince he trauailed thorough Scotland who méeting suddenly with Simprinell and not knowing him a quarrell arose betweene them the Knight of Fame discommending Palladine and vowing reuenge on all those that durst take his part which Simprinell vndertaking they fell from words to strokes and such was the good fortune of Don Robert as hauing the better of Simprinell he departed leauing him there very sore wounded Manâ—eleo the Prince of Millayne whome long since we left in his iourney toward Normandie desirous to see his sweete mistresse Marcelina by good hap found Simprinell thus dangerously wounded and hauing vnderstood the whole summe of his misaduenture promised to follow the Knight who had thus wronged him and to reuenge his cause though it cost him his life Now must I giue you to vnderstand that Manteleo and the Knight of Fame were very neere allyed the Father to Temoreo the Duke of Millayne beeing brother to Don Roberts mother yet this kindred being forgotten betwéene them or at least their angrie displeasure preuailing aboue the remembrance thereof caused them meeting together to put each others life in very great danger And being afterward brought by their Squires to a Gentlemans Castell néere at hand where Simprinell likewise lay for the recouerie of his woundes they had knowledge of each other when sorrowing their méeting was in such vnhappie sort with fréendly gréetings they excused all that had passed riding with Simprinell to the King his Fathers Court where they were entertained as beseemed their honorable calling CHAP. XXXV ¶ How the great Turke sent his Ambassadours to the King of Aquilea to request his Daughter Nonparelia in marriage and what sorrow it was to her and the Knight without rest when they heard the King giue his consent ALL this while remained Palladine with his faire Nonparelia in the greatest pleasure and delight that could be imagined till fortune enuious of their successe sought to crosse them with her wunted frowardnesse which Orbiconte by her knowledge well perceiuing and that now if she layd not to her helping hand all the promised good hap would be squandered for euer to terrefie the two louers alittle she came and brake it to them in this manner It is a common saying my good fréends that dangers foretold hurt the lesse when they come to passe heereby am I to aduertise ye that such a matter will shortly happen as can not but be to your great disliking yet be of good cheere and endure it with resolued pacience for I will preuent the effectuall working thereof But to hold ye in no longer suspence knowe that this night past I made a figure to vnderstand thereby if your mariage were to be hindered by any contrarie accident and I finde that a mightie Lord euen he that commaundeth ouer all these countries will shortly send to request my Niece in mariage whereto the King her Father will gladly giue consent At these words the Princesse fell in a swoune and the Knight without rest was meruailous impacient but Orbiconte hauing recouered her in this sort began to perswade her Why faire Niece doo you dispaire or doubt that I can not hinder the mariage betweene you and the great Turke knowe you not that I haue done things of greater valew then that I neuer thought you had such diffâ—dence in me Who brought Sir Palladine into this countrey but I and who gaue you the honor of his loue but I and if I haue beene able to doo all this thinke ye I can not wade through matter of lesse moment Quiet your selfe and feare not but I will compasse your mariage to your owne content without displeasing my Lord the great Turke or the King your Father notwithstanding his promise Alas my good Aunt said the Princesse it is not for my Fathers ease to purchase himselfe so great an enemie as is the great Turke who in thrée dayes is able to ruinate our whole countrey and hauing so bad a neighbour as is the King of Panoma who doubtlesse would gladly with the great Lord in reuenge of the late foyle he sustayned I see no way to preuent fatall danger Why Madame quoth the Knight without rest victorie consisteth not in strength or multitude but in the pollicie of the Captaines and discretion of the Souldiours to pursue an enterprise as many examples are left among Romaines Carthaginians Athenians and infinite other where a small power hath preuailed against the greater onely by the wise foresight of their leaders and withall hauing truth and iustice on their side Let vs said the Princesse not stand vpon pollicie or the truth of our cause we can not be more subtill or hardie then they are and as for our right in the matter what reason shall my Father haue to denie so great a Lord great I may boldly say because in all the world he hath not his second both in riches puissance or any thing whatsoeuer Alas good Niece said Orbiconte merily stand not on these doubtfull tearmes for the case shall neuer be aduentured so farre cast all your care on me as yet I thinke I neuer fayled ye So parted they to their chambers where the Princesse remained in a hell of greefe such was her intire affection to the Prince of England And he likewise could resolue on nothing for now he thought to request the Princesse in mariage before the comming of the Ambassadors perswading himselfe that the
when you shall vnderstand who hath beene the cause of all the honors obtained by Palladine you will alter your conceit of displeasure toward me I desire ye to comfort your selfe with the sight of our little Sonne Vnyon of whose welfare I am no lesse glad then were I Lord of all the Orcedes Your bed hath not béene abused hauing thereby gained so faire a flower and well may you thus vaunt of your Palladine that he is vowed to his Sonnes good fortune maugre the crueltie of the greatest Tirant in the world And albeit I haue espoused Nonparelia she must remaine as my wife without diminishing any part of the good will wherein I am indebted to Brisalda of the rich Islands Your freend for euer Palladine Hauing sealed this Letter with his Seale of Armes and bound about it a little golden Chaine whereat he fastened a costly Diamond he deliuered it to the messenger saying My fréend deliuer this from me to thy noble mistresse with my continuall dutie to her good grace desiring her to keepe this Iewell for my sake in that it is the chéefest I make account of As for your paines this Chaine of gold from mine owne neck I giue ye and let it serne as part of a recompence toward your trauaile Thus is the messenger returned to the Duchesse who hauing read the Letter from Palladine qualified her sorroweâ— by good perswasions and afterward maried with the Prince Alfâ—an of Ireland Now commeth Palladine into the great Hall and there renewed his former communication with Caesar and the euening being spent in Maskes and braue deuises onely to honor the Emperours Sonne at length they all betake themselues to their Chambers On the morrow Caesar came to the Ladyes desiring them to sâ—e him trie his fortune at the Statues which he perswading himselfe able to finish was disappointed with a shamefull repulse the greefe whereof so offended him as that day he secretly departed from the Court net bidding the King or any one adiew The day following as Palladine was walking in the Garden with the King he entred into these speeches My gracious Lord and Father hauing graunted me to marrie with the Lady whose vertuous qualities deserued a much better husband I greatly doubt least the King her Father being ignorant of our former contract will finde himselfe so agréeued heereat that he will seeke reuenge as Kings are wont to doo which in plainer tearmes is by the Sword To preuent the daunger imminent in this case our fréend Lydiseo being now King of Hungaria through whose Dominions he must néedes passe I thinke it not amisse to aduertise him héereof that he may there offer resistance while we prouide héere our men and munition in readinesse Héereto may my Brethren of Norgalles and Millayne be auailing likewise wherefore with their Wiues they intend to returne home into their countreys and they being our faithfull allyed freends will there likewise haue their subiects in readinesse to giue vs succour if néede shall require My Sonne answered the King séeing the marriage is accomplished it is too late to be blamed or now to vse spéeches in this behalfe which are but friuolous and vnprofitable I pray thée therefore reserue to thy children if thou happen to haue any a future peace without any cause of warre or molâ—station and well hast thou aduised vs as concerning our beloued Brother the King of Hungaria to whome within these ten dayes I will send mine Ambassadour Meane while our Sonnes of Norgalles and Millayne shall haue all things readie to depart when they please as loth to hinder their good determination or any thing that may be for thy quiet and suretie Manie other matters were that day dispatched in Councell all of as great importance as this which I will passe ouer with silence because the secrets of Kings are not to bée made common The Ambassadour for Hungaria being dispatched conduded Manteleo and his Lady to Millayne where he left this married couple so combred with prouision for warre 〈◊〉 they not forgetting any part of their amorous desires are ten monethes were past Marcelina was deliuered of a goodly Sonne named Hector of Millayne imitating his Father in déedes of chiualrie yet beeing the first of that name that euer wan honor in the feeld If Manteleo was welcomed with great ioy by his Father and his Subiects Landastines was not inferiour to him when he entred Norgalles where the old King Harfron his Father woorthely entertained him being so glad of his good fortune as hauing embraced and kissed the Princesse Floraea the teares tricled downe his white beard with inward conceite of ioy Ah my Sonne quoth he how much are we bound to thanke the God of heauen for this especiall signe of his grace and fauour how am I and mine likewise continually to reioice that our tribute to the Crowne of England is thus fréely forgiuen vs in happie houre was this mariage concluded that not onely bringeth a continuall league of peace but disburdeneth vs of a paiment troublesome to our whole countrey Now dare no enemie vexe vs with warre séeing we haue the King of England our fréend wherefore my Sonne for bringing this comfort to thy Fathers hart whose age makes him now vnfit to gouerne any longer heere I deliuer the Crowne into thy hands not doubting but thou wilt rule as thy Father hath doone before thee Landastines being thus honored and put into y e full possession of the Crowne of Norgalles soone after made the King his Father a Graundsire by the birth of Don Celidon his Sonne to the no little ioy of all his Subiects The like good hap had the Prince Palladine to honor the aged King Milanor withall Nonparelia being deliuered of the yong Prince Flerano at whose birth were many good fortunes prognosticated for which the Citizens of London in signe of their reioycing caused bonefires to be made in the streetes and the Belles were rung day and night during the space of a sennighte All things being come to so good effect and the maryed Louers in their owne Countreys the wise Orbicoâ—te would now likewise take her leaue for a mightie Griffon as red as blood came flying from the aire into the Pallace which she laying hold vpon came before the King Milanor and the Quéene and to Palladine framed her spâ—eches in this manner My noble nephewe I beséech ye as you loue your honor and renowme and are desirous to make it immortall that you will cause your yoong Sonne to be carefully nourished assuring you that his deedes shall be correspondent to his name floorishing aboue all the Knightes of his time he being the onely flower that euer grew in England And not onely shall he be famous for deedes of Armes and Chiualrie but vertue and loyaltie he shall haue in such commendation as no Lady in the world shall be found woorthie of his loue but Pamphilia Daughter to the Emperour of Greece as yet vnborne Florano shall loue loyally this Lady In his loue he shall be so secret sure and well aduised and she like to him in all these giftes aâ— through the world they may not be equalled To him and her are the aduentures of the Statues reserued let none therefore séeke before that time to obtaine them And now will I to Aquilea to confirme your peace with the King my Brother and lay downe order for his reuolt to Christianitie Her spéeches thus ended and fréendly embracings passed on all sides she cast her selfe on the Griffons back and mounting into the aire left England and is gone toward Aquilea With this meruailous accident we meane to pause and héere conclude our long labour according to the appointment of Polismar and Palnocid auncient Historiographers of woorthy memory who first deliuered this Historie in the Brittish toong FINIS To the Gentlemen Readers HEere did Claudius Colet of Champaigne who wrote this Worke in the French toong make a full conclusion of the Historie and I hauing no further scope but bound to follow the direction of mine Author heere doo I likewise knit vp the famous discourse of Prince Palladine What errours haue past in my simple translation I must commit to the freendly iudgement of such as knowe that the wisest may step awry and he was neuer yet heard of that pleased â—uery humour My good will is greater then my abilitie and when a man doth bestowe his endeuour onely to delight and not dâ—splease it is courtesie to entertaine such a ones labours freendly considering the recompence is small for a tedious trauaile The historie of Palmendos and Primaleon promised in my two partes of Palmerin d' Oliua as leysure will permit shall be perfected in meane while for Countries sake bid Palladine welcome which the French haue published in the honor of England Honos alit Artes. Your well wishing freend Anthony Munday DIuers foule faultes are escaped in the imprinting in some places words mistaken as rich procall for riciprocall in Brisaldaes Letter to Palladine and diuers other by mishar left out and partly by want of my attendance to reade the proues beeing called away by matters of greater importance and whereto I am bound by dutie of mine office therefore as you happen to finde them and are able to conceiue what in truth they should be let me intreate you freendly to correct them because I am loth to trouble you with a gathered Errata