Palmerin was the better more richly prouided of all things necessarie for the field Olorico was the more glad of his companie so the day béeing spent and the Tents pitched in a goodly plaine Palmerin inuited the Prince of Arabia to suppe with him for the Souldane had appointed him such honourable prouision as better hée could not for his owne sonne The Tables withdrawne and spending the time a while at Chesse play they went to bed where Olorico not able to sléepe beganne in this manner to his friendly companion Most fortunate Palmerin howe much more could I wish to resemble you then the greatest King or Lorde in the world to be likewise beloued of her who in beautie good grace and swéete spéech hath not her like And because my good Friend and Brother I haue noted the speciaâ—â— loue of the Princesse Alchidiana towardes you let me intreate you to tell me who shée is you aboue all other loue and intend to make your espoused Wife vowing to you on the word of a Prince whosoeuer it bee to conceale it with secrecie and to disswade my selfe from my loue newly begunne for your sake albeit I died therefore For your noble minde and braue gentilitie hath gained such soueraigntie ouer me as all other pleasures whatsoeuer I despise onely to haue your companye and fauour Thus quallifying the passions which day and night doo secretly torment mée I will sette downe such order as my Father shall not néede to send his Ambassadours nor imploy any of my Fréendes to demaunde her for mee albeit for this onelye cause I left my Countrey in such sort as you haue seene Palmerin hearing the wordes of the yoong Prince and perceiuing him wounded with her loue whom he desired to be furthest from smyling said My Lorde Oloriâ—o I sweare to you by the honour of my Knighthoode I neuer thought of the loue which you demaunde nor haue I any desire to followe that humour But true it is that I would doo so much for her as a Knight may for his Ladie for so shée well deserues her fauour and gentle behauiour woorthye farre better abilitie wherefore my déere Fréende if you will beléeue me giue not ouer your intent but practise to gaine her to your Wife and I promise you that I will so mooue the matter to the Soldane and her as happilie maye effect the end of your desires Yet let me intreate you to continue so iust a Fréende to her as her high calling well deserueth otherwise I had rather die the death then once to speake a word on your behalfe These newes so cheered the Prince as embracing him manie times and returning him manifold thanks he said Assuredlie my noble Freend I am greatly beholding to my father who gaue me my present being but much more owe I to you because my estate had now ended but that your gracious spéeches called me againe to 〈◊〉 My second selfe hauing thus lost my libertie I despaire of attaining what you haue promised and endure a death more then mortall but that you breath hope of successe into me assuring mée of immediate felicitie and ioyfull dayes héereafter which no father but so good a fréende was able to doo After other such like spéeches the Prince slept but Palmerin touched in another sort was solliced with the remembraunce of his lost fréendes and perceiuing his companion slept soundlie he began thus to deliuer his sorrowes Ah vnfortunate and wretched Palmerin how can thy mind so long beare this yoke of seruitude onely standing in feare of death Hast thou so forgot those two perfect louers Trineus and Agriola with thy true fréend Ptolome not knowing whether they bee aliue or deade what wilt thou not searche for them The Emperour of Allemaigne hath not hée good cause to complaine of thée yea and to blame thée if his sonne be not returned Darest thou present thy selfe before him Ah touch of loyaltie faire Agriola how iustlye mayst thou call mée thine enemie inuenter and fiâ—st motion of thy misfortunes O wretched and miserable that I am for leauing thée so discourteouslye I well deserue a million of torments farre worse then those exercised by the cruell Dyonise on the Scicilians Nor coulde they be sufficient to expiate my hainous guilt in that forgetting thée fayre Princesse I liue in daylie delights among these Moores and Tartars But were I such as I ought to bee mindfull of a fault so foullie committed I shoulde not liue one houre in rest or quiet till I had found my déerest Fréendes againe Ah disloyall Traytour how canst thou thus waste thy time héere slothfullie knowing the great and continuall trauails thy Ladye and Mistresse endureth for thée But I vowe to God this warre finished I will not abide in the Soldanes Courte tenne dayes but intende to sette forwarde to sée the Iewell of of my welfare And were it not to my perpetuall discredit as also that I should be iudged a faynting coward I would begin my iourney presently Thus all the night continued Palmerin such like coâ—plaints considering his Fréendes misfortune and his owne with such déepe impressions as thence forward hee liued in meruailous melancholie and would not delight himselfe 〈◊〉 before hee was accustomed Chap. XVIII Of the Combat betweene Palmerin and two of Aâ—aranoes Brethren whom he valiantly ouercame and killed FOllowing the true discourse of our historie the King of Balisarca Lieuetenant generall of the whole Armie caused the next morning to bée proclaimed by souÌ„d of Trompet that euery man should attend on his Ensigne and not go robbing and forraging the Uillages on paine of death to be inflicted on the offender So marching on in good array in short time after they encamped themselues before a citie where the enemies kept themselues in garison and planting themselues there for their aduantage the next morning they determined to giue the assault All yâ— night they were ordering the maner of their batterie the Pyoners making Trenches and such defences as are requisit in warlike occasions Euery thing in due and perfect order at Sun rysing they beganne to assaile the Cittie rounde about following their intent with such courage and alacritie as with scaling Ladders and other Engines in lesse then two hâ—wres they gotte vpon the walles and in despight of their enemies entred the Cittie murdering and expulsing the Phrygians and sharing the spoyle among themselues All other Citties Townes and Uillages that were taken by the enemie within sixe dayes after were recouered they not daring to withstand the Soldans power Gramiell Amaranoes eldest Brother amazed héereat hauing vndertaken to reuenge his Brothers death with his men betooke himselfe to open Fielde determining to giue the Assirians battaile and that way to make triall of their fortune in which resolution they came within halfe a dayes iourney of theyr enemies The King of Balisarca aduertised héereof dislodged immediatlie taking aduauntage of a little Mountaine which was in the open sight of the enemie And Palmerin who
be the place for conuersing on their desires till Fortune affoorded theÌ„ better opportunitie and longer would they haue there coÌ„tinued but that the Dwarffe came to his Maister in this manner My Lorde I thinke you can neuer finde time to make an ende will you haue the day light preuent yee and so discredite you all in sooth it is time you were in your Chamber Palmerin who was lothe to depart from the pleasure of his thoughts made small account of the dwarffes words and continued on in amorous deuises but the Princesse a litle more fearefull then he seeing the Dwarffe said true and lothe to be séene suspitiously said My Lord it is time to breake off but I pray you faile not of your promise let vs visite one another now you knowe the way and place So Palmerin and Ptolome tooke leaue of their Ladies passed to their Chambers without suspition the successe of their loue you shall vnderstande héereafter as time place shall fitte for the purpose but nowe to satis-fie you with choyse of delights wee will returne a while to another discourse CHAP. XXXI Howe the King of Fraunce kept a royall and magnificent Courte and howe his Sonne Lewes became enamored of the Duchesse of Burgundie DUring the time that the Emperour of Allemaigne liued in this happines accompanied as you haue hearde with manie hardie Knightes there raigned in Fraunce a mightie Prince named Agariell valiant wise and vertuous hauing thrée Sonnes whereof the second was the hardiest Knight at Armes being named Lewes This King Agariell the more to honour hys Knights and noble Gentlemen abyding in his Realme determined to keepe open Court for all â—â—mmers as none of his predecessors euer did the like before him and therefore sent abroade his Heraldes Gentlemen of his escuyrie and others to summon his Lords and Barrons of Fraunce that on a day appointed they would all méete at the Court. And because none shoulde be ignoraunt what hee intended he requested that all Gentlemen professing Armes at the feaste of Easter following shoulde repaire to Parris beeing the heade and cheefest Cittie of his Realme The Queene likewise aduertised al Ladies and Gentlewomen at whose commaunde euery one obeyed so that in fewe dayes the Courte was furnished with Lordes and Lâ—dies nothing nowe intended but delights and courtlie pastimes which made the Duke of Burgunâ—â—â— likewise repaiâ—â— thither Now was the Duke aged a man of good prouidence and a tryed Knight hauing matched in marriage with the King of Denmarks Sister a yong beautiful Ladie and of vertuous education the Duke hoping to haue issue by her because by his first Wife he could not haue any The King aduertised of the Dukes comming commaunded his Son Lewes with an honourable traine to goe entertayne him which he did so that many solemne reuerences passed betweene the Duke and him as also to the Duchesse whom as he welcomed with manie salutations so did he earnestle coÌ„template her excellent beautie reputing her fairer then the fayrest and on a suddaine became amorous of her such a violent breach made loue into his hart at the very first sight of her In this great and vnlooked for vexation hee conducted her to the lodging was prepared for the Duke dissembling so well as hee coulde his newe desire but so vehement was his oppression as without returning againe to the King he went to his Chamber Prince Lewes béeing thus alone by himselfe Loue not a little tryumphing of his new pray tormented his thoughts with so manie conceits as all the night he spent in sighes and dolorous laments his mind stil trauailing by what meanes he might compasse his intent Sometimes he thought it vnpossible in respectet of yâ— Duke then againe as easie because of his age a contrarie too yâ—ksome in his eyes for the sweete florishing youth of the Dâ—chesse all which imaginations wrought so diuersly in him as his spirite forsaking counsell reason made him breake foorth into these exclaimes Ah heauens haue you beautie with such excellencie as to cause me endure a torment more then mortall Ah mine eyes too lauishe were you in beholding her who cannot chuse but vtterly disdaine thée thou hast no acquaintaunce with her and therefore let thy death chastise thy boldnes Yet mayst thou bee deceiued in thine opinion foolish man perhappes in offering her thy seruice she may accept it for the Duke is old and likelie to die howe happy were it for thee to be his executor for his Ladie Dispayre not then man for things thought impossible are easiest oftentimes in performance In these and such like tearmes hee spent the night and séeing the fayre morning salute him at his Chamber windowe he arose intending that day to bewray his passions to the Duchesse and knowing that the Duke would goe visite the Quéene accompanied with many Knights he came to bid him good-morrow which the Duke taking very kindly requited him with many thankes ignoraunt that for the faire Wyfe he was so courteous to the olde Husband The Duke hauing taken his way to the Queene Lewes kept company wyth the Duchesse very mannerlie wayting oportunitie to dyscouer his affections and reuiewing her beautie so perfecte and rare not able longer to hold beganne thus It is maruaile Madam if fayre beautie should be so bitter as a man cannot surfette but hee must néedes die The Duchesse not knowing of whom the Prince spake nor as yet regarding that he was in loue aunswered In sooth my Lord the Ladie hath small reason that shee shoulde vse you so hardlie yf you meane it by your selfe In bréefe Madame quoth hée it is you haue wounded me and none but you can ease my afflictions if then swéete Lady you retaine such pittie as all your other excellencies shewe you to haue you wyll not disdaine to giue me remedie which if you doo for euer I remaine your Knight and loyall Fréende And in mine opinion Madame you can not well refuse me séeing Fortune hath béene such an enemie to you in marriage the Duke beeing olde and full of mellanchollie you yong tender and daintie as may be hee more méete to kéepe companye wyth Atropos the mortall Goddesse then liue with a Saint of so rare perfections But had my luck beene such before you were espoused to haue knowne you I woulde with valoure haue hindered your briding so or Fortune should haue foullie denied me for such is my religion in looue as better death then discontent and had I béene Lord of Europe you had béene Ladie Notwithstanding Madame so like it you I may be your Freende and knightly seruaunt for Loue wants no wyles to compasse desire and my sute is modest if you count it not vnséemely The Duchesse whom swéete loue could easilie entice to folly hardly might resist a present conquest wherefore chaunging countenaunce and not daring to reueale what she gladly would sayd Trust mee my Lorde your speeches are not comely to violate chaste wedlocke is so monstrous
should be maried to one of the best Knights of the world Wée néede not doubt that the Quéene was héereat amazed yet the loue of the Mother to her infant cannot conquer the loue of the Wife to her Husbande which among all loues is the most honest and loyall so that in hope to frée him againe on whom depended her health and welfare shée gaue her Childe to the Damosell intreating that shée might be vsed as beséemed the Daughter of a King and as the swéete beautie of the infant deserued Shée returning to Carderia with the Childe made her Sisters verie ioyful by her comming who there nourished the infant till shée was three yéeres olde when the beautie of the yong Princesse beganne to shewe it selfe as fayre Cynthia dooth among the Starres Nowe did the Sisters inclose her in a strong Tower made of purpose for young Francelina wherein was the most goodly Garden in the worlde there was shee attended by her Nursses and sixe waiting Gentlewomen and such enchauntments were imposed on the Tower as no man should euer sée her vnlesse he were the best Knight of his time The entraunce into the Tower was verie strayte and narrowe barred vppe with a great Gate of yron and guarded with two furious Lyons Ouer the gate stoode a huge Image of Copper holding a mightie Mace of Stéele wrought by such cunning as if anie Knight but he that was destenied to end the aduenture should assay to enter hardly might he escape to returne againe Moreouer the conquerour should not demaund the first demaund of the princesse which was the deliuerance of her Father and for this cause the Sisters enchaunted the faire Francelina whose Historie wée must yet forbeare procéeding where wee leâ—t before Olimaell béeing thus on the Sea laden with Christian spoyles and prisoners at length entred the port of the great Cittie of Tubant where hée made such a chéerefull noyse of Droms Trumpets Clarions and Cornets as though the greatest Monarch in the worlde had come to take landing The great Turke maruailing at this sodaine melodie sent one of his Knights to vnderstand the cause who béeing certified by Olimaell what great victories hee had obtained against the Christians and the number of prysoners he brought with him returned to the Pallace where he told his Lord that the Admirall Olimaell was come and had brought with him great spoyles from the Christians where among quoth hee is a Christian King in person many worthy Knights and Gentlemen and a young Princesse of incomparable beautie Not a little ioyfull was the Turke at these newes wherefore comming into his great Hall where the imperiall seates of maiestie were erected himselfe fate downe in the â—one and faire Agriola of England in the other expecting the comming of Olimaell who in tryumphant manner set forward with his prize brauely mounted on a lustie Coâ—rser sumptuously caparasoned and aduauncing his sword drawne in signe of victorie Béeing come to the Pallace Olimaell saluted his Lorde with great reuerence standing by him to make report of his conquest and make present of his prisoners after their estate and calling First he caused all the riches to be brought and all the meanest captiues one after another to kisse the great Turks foote then commaunding them to be carried thence he began in this manner It is not to be doubted most high and mightie Monarch that this victorie gotten on the Christians enemies to our Gods hath beene obtained onely by your fauour therefore it is good reason that the principall head of this enterprise the great and chéefest honour should be doone The witnesse héereof are the treasures present and these prisoners abyding your mercie who from the very meanest to the highest shall humble themselues at your maiesties fâ—â—te When very many had doone theyr reuerence and the King of Thessaly shoulde next follow who though his handes were pinniond behinde him yet had a Crowne of Gold on his head to shewe what hée was although he sawe himselfe in the Traitours power and Olimaell had commaunded him to kisse his Maisters foote boldly made this answere Nor will I so much displease my God vncircumcized Tirant as thou art in such sort to abase my self being a king and administratour of iustice to faithfull Christians to kisse the foote of the mostâ—nastie and vncleane creature in the world profaning the worship which I onely owe to my maker It is in thy power to take my life from mee but not to constraine me do the thing wherein consists my damnation and a thousand deathes I will endure before I yéelde so much as in thought to thée Uillaine quoth the Admirall darest thou speake so vnreuerently in the presence of my Lorde did not my regarde of him withholde mée soone should I seperate thy cursed heâ—d from thy shoulders With these words he gaue the King such a blow on the face as made him fall on his knées to the ground Ah Traytour quoth the King well hast thou shewen the nature of a villaine that without commaunde strykest a King captiue and vnprouided of Armes but might it so please thy Lorde in open Fielde will I prooue thée a disloyall and vnchristened Curre that thus abusest the bloud royall The great Turke séeing the King so moued and angrie the bloud likewise trickling from his nose and mouth commaunded him to be carried thence to one of the strongest Castles in Nacolia where he should be enclosed without any companie that his captiuitie might be the more gréenous to him When the King of Thessaly was departed Palmerin approched leading the Princesse Laurana by the hande hée and his fiue companions beeing Armed except theyr Helmets Gantlets and swords whereat the great Turke maruailing demaunded of Olimaell why hée suffered them to be armed My Lord quoth hee these sixe Knights were the first prize I tooke who after they had giuen me theyr oathes haue done such seruice to your Maiestie especially this poynting to Palmâ—rin one of the best knights that euer I saw as full well do they deserue libertie which in recompeÌ„ce of aduenturing their liues in your seruice vnder your highnesse correction I promised them By Mahomet answered the great Turk for thy sake I likewise confirmâ— it and if héereafter they will abide with mée I will make them greater then euer they were While the Turke was making these promises Agriola hauing well noted Palmerin knew him and with the sodaine conceit thereof was readie to swoune but staying her selfe on her Chayre said O sole bountie who is this are not mine eyes deluded and my thoughts be guiled At these wordes Palmerin knewe her which before hee did not by reason of her strange disguysed apparrell yet thought hee best to conceale his inward ioy least crooked fortune should now againe preuent him The great Turke séeing Agriola looke so pale and wan started from his Chayre and taking her in his Armes said Alas Madame hath any sodaine ill befallen yée hath any one in this companie
and Gentlemen may be Armed that came from Sauata as also they that came with my Nephewe Corax from Garara which will be in number a thousand more your selfe in meane time may get foorth your necessaries Who then had séene the Knights Arming the horses prouiding the bag and baggage carrying would haue said that Palmerin was as much feared and beloued in a strange Countrey as in his owne Such was the dilligence of the Nobles and Souldiours of Grisca Sauata and Garara as they were right soone before the Pallace attending for Palmerin who commaunded Tryneus his Horse and rich Armour shoulde be brought foorth by his Squires leauing in his Chamber all the riches and treasure that the soldane and the Princesse Zephira had giuen him and mounting on his owne Courser he came and embraced the prince Corax saying Let vs depart my Lord from these ingratefull 〈…〉 Chap. LVI Howe the Soldan seeing hee coulde not perswade Trineus to marrie his sister condemned him to death and what followed afterward TOmano who by the aduise of Palmerin 〈…〉 for the deliueraunce of the Prince Trineus and comming to the Quéene Zephira thus spake Madame séeing 〈…〉 〈…〉 him that so willingly aduentured his life for you Ah my Lord sayd Zephirâ— I feare the Soldane will hardly heare â—ée for when suâ—â— mightie persons are in anger little account make they of loue or vertue yet will I willingly too what lies in me So bidding the Prince good night shée went wéeping to the Soldanes Chamber which his Maiestie perceiuing came and embraced her demaunding who had anie way offended her Euen you my Lorde quoth shée and in such sort 〈…〉 and there before all his Knights said You haue heard my Lordes the confession of them both and withall haue séene their great obstinacie therefore by sentence irreuocable I condemne them to death and this day shall they be burned in the place accustomed none of you all mooue me to the contrarie for I will not be otherwise perswaded By heauen saie the Prince Tomano vnhappie should I be to stay with you any longer wherfore at this instant I forsake your alliaunce and henceforth will shew my selfe your mortall enemie Alas my Lord quoth the yong Princesse Bel-sina will ye so soone abandon my companie Follow me then answered Tomano where I go for no more will I be séene in this tyrannous Court where nothing but dishonour and crueltie is vsed Presently the Princesse and hée mounted on Horsebacke and with their traine came to Palmerins Campe who hauing heard the Soldanes sentence was readie to haue slaine himselfe but that hée hoped to saue the life of Trineus at the fatall houre Alas my Fréendes quoth hée to his companie this day must you assist mée to deliuer the most gentle Knight that euer bare Armes Set forwarde couragiouslie agaynst the Tyrant whom with the ayde of my God wee shall easily vanquish Zephira hearing that Tomano and Belsina were gone and how the Soldane had iudged Tryneus and Aurecinda to death entred into maruailous regrets and acclamations whereat the Soldane was so enraged as hée commaunded that Tryneus and his Sister shoulde presently bee led to the place of execution and vnder the charge of fiue thousand soldiours they were brought on horsebacke foorth of the Citie but when Aurecinda sawe herselfe so hardly vsed wringing her hands and renting her comely locks of haire shée brake forth into these pittifull spéeches Alas Gentlemen why are you the instruments to execute a Tyrants will what recompence can you expect at his handes that for gréedie desire of my patrimonie sendeth mee to death So piercing were these wordes in the eares of the Souldiours as they verie much lamented her case but Tryneus neuer chaunged colour ryding on with resolute constancie not once listning to the mones of the Princesse When they were come within sight of Palmerins power they raunged themselues in battell array committing Tryneus and Aurecinda to fiftie Knights who should conuey them to the Furnace where their death was appoynted which was a good quarter of a league from the Cittie Trineus nowe séeing death before his eyes and no succour néere to reskewe him prepared himselfe to the latest extremitie and with many sorrowfull farewels to Agriola and Palmerin was fully perswaded to endure the torment Palmerin knowing which way his Fréend should be led to death with a sufficient traine lay secretlie ambushed and espying oportunitie gaue summons to his men wherevppon they all issued foorth verie couragiouslie But as they rushed out from their secrete ambushment the ayre was suddenly obscured and such thunder haile and raine fell as neuer was the lyke heard or séene before the Soldanes squadron séemed to bée all in a flaming fire The poore Persians thinking the end of the world was come vppon them fledde towards the Cittie but notwithstanding all theyr haste the greatest part of them remained dead in the field If the natural fire prepared for Tryneus made him fearful doubtlesse this fire raysed by coniuration made him much more aâ—righted but suddainly came to him an Armed Knight with his Sworde drawne and mounted on a horse of mightie bignesse who tooke the Horse of Tryneus by the brydle saying Come Sir Tryneus in despight of the Tyrant thou shalt not die At these wordes arriued Palmerin who embracing Tryneus said Ah my déere Fréend and Brother what villanous minds beare they that would doo you this outrage 〈…〉 my Squire hath brought hither that wée may with honour reuenge this shame As they thought to goe set on the enemie the Armed Knight who was Muzabelino thus spake My Lorde let vs not tarrie tryfling time héere but summonâ— your people togither and sette forwarde to Grisca where you shall 〈…〉 The disolate Tryneus what with his former feare and present ioy to beholde his Fréende was not able to speake one worde but Palmerin hauing well noted the Armed Knight at length knewe him to bée Muzabelino wherfore embracing him sayd Ah my Lorde for euer be the King of Kings praysed in graunting me to haue knowledge of you let me be worthilie condemned of ingratitude if I doo not acknowledge this great fauour to my Fréend which I account as déere as doone to my selfe After many courteous salutationâ— passed on all sides they set forwarde to Grisca with theyr men and prouision where wée will leaue them to shewe what afterward befell to the Soldane and his people After a long and verie dangerous tempest with whirle-windes lightnings and straunge apparitions to the great discomfort of all the Persians one of the Princes came to the Soldane saying My Lord the lightning hath fallen so terriblie in the Court as all the Ladies of honour are â—laine therewith An other brought newes that thrée partes of the soldiours which conducted Tryneus and Aurecinda foorth of the Cittie lay all slaine in the rough tempest While these strange mishappes were discoursing Aurecinda entred the Chamber saying Now soldane maist thou behold thy sinne Séest thou
no Knight whatsoeuer came into his Court without verie honourable receite and bountifull rewardes expressing the good nature of a vertuous Prince whose déedes were helde of no small reckoning amongst his verie enemies He maried with the King of Hungarias Daughter a Princesse for witte and beautie equall with any of her time which caused her to be so especiallie loued of her Lord the Emperour as hee altogeather gaue ouer y◠exercise of Armes notwithstanding his Court did not diminishe one lote of the former glorie for good and hardle Knights but dailie increased in such sort as he tooke great delight to haue yong Princes Knights and Gentlemen nurtured and educated from their verie infancie in his Pallace especiallie after the Empresse had brought him a Sonne which was named Caniano at whose birth was no little reioycing through the whole Empire Within two yéeres after she was likewise deliuered of a goodlie Daughter named Griana who growing to fourtéene yéeres of age was of such rare beautie and singuler good grace as those that behelde her estéemed her for the chiefest péece of workmanshippe that euer nature framed Héereupon it chaunced that Tarisius Sonne to the King of Hungaria who had béene brought vp in company with the yonge Prince Caniano fell into such amorous conceite of the yong Princesse as hee deuoted him selfe onelie to her seruice béeing vnable to conceale the obiect of his affections but that time made her acquainted with the cause of his alteration Manie meanes he founde to entise her good opinion towards him but she carrying a religious zeale to loue in some other climate made no reckoning of his imporunate and dilligent seruice which drewe a Hell of tormentinge thoughts vppon Tarisius séeing his sute and seruice so déeplie despised Neuerthelesse to compasse his intent he desired his Cozin Caniano to cause a Tryumphe bee published whereunto all Knights might be summoned as well straungers as others not doubting but hee should spéede so well in déedes of Armes as thereby hee might deserue the loue of the faire Griana and so afterwardes make meanes by the Empresse to demaunde her in mariage all which hée concealed from his Cozin Caniano who verie gladlie didde consent to what Tarisius had requested watching oportunitie to finde the Emperour his Father at leysure when he made his highnesse acquainted with the whole enterprise of himselfe and his Cozin Tarisius desiring him that all Knights might haue warning for preparation against a day the next Moneth appointed for the purpose The Emperour was verie well pleased with his Sonnes requeste accounting himselfe highlie honoured by his demaunde whereuppon he caused Heraulds of Armes presentlie to bée dispatched to signifie his intended Tournament through al Countries farre and néere In the meane while Tarisius coulde not rest daie nor night but still endeuoured to doo what he iudged might please the Princesse Griana to whō as yet he had not vttered the effect of his longing desire albeit by exteriour actions he dailie made shewe sufficient of his tormenting passions But it so fell out not long after that one daie in her walking he had sorted her alone from al the other Ladies Gentlewomen in a place commodious for a Louers discourses where falling from one argument to another the furie of his oppressions imboldened him so far that at length he brake with her in manner folowing Madame you are not ignoraunt of the honourable assembly that is appointed at the feaste ensuing when I hope to receiue the order of Knighthoode and if it shall like you to thinke so well of mee as to graunt mee one request easie enough for you to affoorde me perswade your selfe that I shal imagine my fortune equall with the happiest Knights that euer liued in that it may be the onelie meane whereby I shall enioy the prize and honour of the Triumphe Griana knowing assuredlie that Tarisius bare her great affection as I haue before rehearsed returned him this aunswere In sooth Cozin it would please me meruailous well to bee the meane of so good fortune as you promise your selfe Neuerthelesse I haue not learned so little modestie as to grant anie thing before I knowe what is desired When Tarisius vnderstoode her modest excuse he perswaded himself that he should nowe obtaine that of her whereof vntill that instant he had liued in despaire whereuppon the teares standing in his eyes he began in this manner I humblie beséech you good Madame to take in worth what I am to acquaint you with for when I determined to smoother my gréefe in secrete the extremitie of my affection grew to such a surplusage as it brake the stringes of my thoughts almost vowed for euer silent to reueale that to you which my selfe dare but reuerentlie thinke such is my feare to displease you otherwise I knowe no meane canne warrant me from suddaine and cruell death so setled is y◠vnspotted loue I bare you which when I striue to ouercome and my selfe also the more I would decrease it the more it augmenteth and that so strangelie as while you are in presence my spirite forsaketh euerie part of mée to liue in you onelie For which cause I haue determined if you thinke it good to request you of the Emperour your Father for my Wife and if he regarde me with so much honour the Realme of Hungaria may well challenge and my selfe likewise the highest roome in earthlie felicitie hauing a Mistresse of such vnspeakable qualitie In the meane time if you please to bestowe on me anie Iewell or fauoure commaunding mee to weare it as your Knight and Seruaunt you shall wel perceiue how aduenturous loue will be in defence of my right by the aduantage I shall recouer in the vertue of a gifte so acceptable Griana who made but slender account of his passions and béeing not well pleased that he held her with such vaine discourses modestlie returned him this aunswere If you had such regarde of me as I well deserue you woulde not attempt me with spéeches so vnfitting my hearing for if your desire be such as you giue me to vnderstand you ought to make it knowne to the Emperor or Empresse who haue greater authoritie ouer me then I haue my selfe Therfore I desire you hencefoorth not to aduenture the like on perill of your life otherwise I shall let you knowe howe highlie you offend me on which cōdition I am cōtent for this time to pardon your want of discretion in that I perceiue my selfe to be the onelie cause thereof in graunting you time and leysure thus priuatlie to assaile me for which ouersight I repent mee at the verie harte With which wordes shee floong away and left him alone declaring by her countenaunce to be offended with his request in that shee desired rather to die then accept him for her Husband or to allowe him the name of her fréende If then Tarisius was driuen into a quandarie wee néede not meruaile wherefore troubled as he was and not caring greatlie
whether hee went he entred the Empresse Chamber where shee and her Son Caniano stoode conferring togeather without saluting the one or other he satte downe in a Chaire and gaue such bitter sighes as the Empresse hearing was somewhat mooued therewith doubting he had either receiued some greate iniurie or els coulde not prouide himselfe so sufficientlie as he would for the Triumphe wherupon she left her Sonne and calling Tarisius aside thus began with him Nephewe I sée you verie melancholie which makes me to iudge that you want some néedefull thing for the Tournament which my Sonne hath caused to be published With which words she beheld Tarisius more wishlie then she had doone before and perceiued the teares to trickle down his chéekes which made her more desirous to knowe the cause of his gréefe but his hart was so confounded and shut vppe in anguish as hée could not speake one word to her Neuerthelesse the Empresse who loued him as her owne Sonne founde so manie meanes to perswade him as in the ende he disclosed the loue he bare to Griana and the aunswere likewise which shee made him whereby I am assured quoth he that nothing but death can cease my torments The Empresse who of her selfe did manie times determine to make that marriage perceiuing nowe howe fitlie the occasion offred it selfe began to resolue on the consumation thereof and to content her Nephewe in excusing the Princesse Griana spake as followeth Doo you Nephewe mislike the aunswere of my Daughter beléeue me therein she didde but her dutie for she cannot dispose of her selfe béeing yong and vnder controule but the Emperour and I whom you ought firste to make acquainted with your request But since I perceiue how you are affected I promise you I will confer with my Lorde the Emperour and hope to preuaile so well in the cause as you shall spéede of that you moste desire As they continued these discourses they were giuen to vnderstande by a Messenger that the Prince Florendos the Kinges son of Macedon was newlie arriued with a braue companie of Knights But his comming to the Emperour was not as his vassaile or Subiect because the kingdome of Macedon was at that time no way beholding to the Empire but onelie to sée the faire yong Princesse Griana the renowne of whose beautie and vertues had so peirced his thoughtes as before he sawe her he loued and honoured her so that for this cause onlie he iournied to Constantinople where he was verie honourablie entertained bothe of the Emperour and his Sonne Caniano as also of the Empresse and faire Griana who oftentimes hearde him reckoned and estéemed amongst the most honourable and gracious Princes that liued at that daie CHAP. II. Howe the Empresse conferred with the Emperour as concerning the mariage of theyr Daughter Griana wyth Tarisius Sonne to the King of Hungaria whereof they both determined and of that which happened in the meane time THe Empresse was not forgetfull of her promise made to her Nephewe Tarisius but endeuoured by all meanes possible to find the Emperour at such leysure as she might impart the whole to him and because shee had so hardilie taken the matter vppon her shee would gladlie it should sorte to effecte as commonlie Women are couetous of their owne desires therefore no meruaile if shée were earnest in following her intent Soone after walking alone with the Emperour and smoothlie couering the baite she was desirous he shoulde swallowe shee desired him to graunt her one request whereof shee woulde not willinglie be denied The Emperour neuer before hearing her so importunate consented at the first to whatsoeuer she demaunded nowe perswading her selfe sure to spéede thus shee beganne My Lord hauing often considered with my selfe that our Daughter Griana is of yéeres and discretion able for a Husband I am the more desirous to sée her honourablie bestowed And for that the yonge Prince Tarisius hath béene trained vp in your Court and which I little thought some good will appeareth to be betwéene them I should thinke if not amisse to vnite them in mariage togeather for hardlie shall we finde 〈…〉 a Lord of greater blood and birth then he béeing heire apparant to the Crowne and kingdome of Hungaria besides they hauing béene so longe time conuersant togeather in their yonger yeeres will entertaine a more speciall regard of loue betwéene them then can be in anie other that may mooue yâ— question to her Madame aunswered the Emperour she is your Childe and I doo not thinke but you would her good therefore I like the motion well for that indéede I esteeme so well of Tarisius as of mine owne Sonne aâ—d since wee haue so happilie fallen into these discourses we will foorthwith certifie yâ— King his Father by our Ambassadours that we may vnderstand his opinion héerein The Empresse gratified her Lord with verie hartie thankes béeing not a little glad she had so well preuailed wherefore immediatlie shee aduertised 〈◊〉 But for Griana her affection was els where for she bare a certaine secrete good liking to Florendos so soone as shee behelde him hearing so great reporte of his knightlie bountie and prowesse so that beholding them togeather and their eyes deliuering the good conceite of eache other one might easilie iudge that Loue hadde so mightilie maistered her thoughts as if he consented she had sette downe her reste for her choise and hee on the other side was drawne into the same compasse notwithstanding eache of them for the time concealed what they rather desired should be known betweene them Yet this hidden fire stroue to gaine place of issue for diuers times the Princesse Griana béeing amongst her Ladies talking of such Knights as woulde shewe themselues at the Tournament the Prince Florendos was coÌ„monlie first spoken of and so highlie would the Ladies commende him beyonde all the other as Griana coulde not refraine from changing coloure so that the alteration she founde in her spirite might be euidentlie perceiued howbeit none of the Ladies as then noted it and thus shee continued till the feast of Saint Maria d' Augusta which was the daie appointed for the Tournament on which daie the Emperour knighted his Sonne Caniano and Tarisius Nephewe to the Empresse in honour wherof hee held a greater and more magnificent Courte then before time hee had doone for he suffered the Ladies to accompanie the Knights at the Table albeit they were not wont to doo so often at yâ— time yet full well it pleased the Prince Florendos who satte opposite to the Princesse Griana during which time of Dinner though manie piercing lookes and smothered sighes were sent from eache other as messengers of their sâ—mâ—lable opinions yet cunninglie they shaddowed all from being discerned But after the Tables were withdrawne and eache one preparing for the Tourney Florendos so well behaued himselfe as he founde the meanes to speake priuatlie with his newe Fréende and thus he beganne Madame the Heauens haue not a little fauoured mee in
to the aged King Primaleon by the fauoure of the Ladie Arismena SUch spéede made Palmerin beeing departed froÌ„ the Marchant as on the fourth day following riding by a Riuers side he found a Dwarffe sitting heauilie wéeping of whom he demaunded the cause of his mourning Alas Syr saide the Dwarffe as I was riding by the commaundement of my Maister to a Lady whom he déerelie loueth a Knight euen nowe tooke my Horse from me and very villainously offered me outrage which yet dooth not so much greeue mee as beeing thus on foote I know not howe to get ouer this Riuer Mount vp behinde me said Palmerin and at the first Towne wee come to I will prouide thée of another Horse Then mounted the Dwarffe vp behinde him and hauing past the Riuer desired to know of Palmerin whether he trauailed for quoth he I neuer sawe man whom I had greater desire to serue then you Dwarffe answered Palmerin I nowe iourneie towarde the Court of Macedon to the King where I hope to find the Prince Florendos who is accounted one of the woorthiest Knights in the world and by his hande I desire to be knighted if I may And after you haue receiued your order said the Dwarffe I hope you will not be so vnwise to hazard the aduenture wherein so manie haue failed and lost their liues What aduenture is that quoth Palmerin To goe to the Mountaine Aâ—tifaeria said the Dwarffe in hope to kill the Serpent which hath béene the death of so manie valiant Knights And what occasion said Palmerin mooued them to fight with the Serpent That will I tell you answered the Dwarffe The King Primaleon father to the Prince Florendos whom you séeke thrée yéeres since fell into a verie strange disease for which no remedie can yet be found notwithstanding the dilligent endeuours of the Quéene and Ladie Arismena her Daughter one of the fairest and most vertuous Princesses that euer was hearde of who séeing her Father in such daungerous estate hath often assembled the best Phisitions in the whole worlde who haue practised al possible means to recouer his health yet hither to all hath béene to no purpose Whereupon she sent to an auncient Knight the most skilfullest in the arte of Nigromancie this daie liuing who returned this answere that he should neuer bee healed except hee bee first washed with the water of a Fountaine which standeth on the top of the Mountaine Artifaeria whether fourtimes a yere resort three Sisters Magitians of the Isle Carderia to gather vertuous Hearbes which there they wash and wherof they frame all their enchantments This place is so defended by the Monster wherof I tolde you that no man as yet durst approche it Which newes when the Princesse Arismena vnderstood hoping by strength of men to recouer the water and vanquish the Beast leauied a great number of Souldiours well appointed who were no sooner entered the Mountaine but the Serpent came furiouslie foorth of his Den throwing fire and smoake out of his mouth and beating his winges togeather with such terror as the very hardiest durst passe no further but were all glad to take themselues to flight yet coulde they not depart with such expedition but the greater part of them paid their liues for their bolde attempt the Mountaine was so stored with Lions Beares Wolues Harts Tygres Ounces and other wild rauenous Beastes that deuoured them Nowe at length manie Knights haue tryed themselues in this aduenture thinking by their Prowesse to performe more theÌ„ the other but all the worse for not one of them returned backe againe aliue And why goes not the Prince Florendos him selfe said Palmerin that is estéemed yâ— most valiant Knight thorow all Greece Alas Sir said the Dwarffe some other matter hath so drowned his minde in mellancholique as he liues like one that dispiseth himselfe While the Dwarffe continued his discourse the desire of honour and renowne did so liuelie touche the spirit of Palmerin as he said to him selfe It may be that Arismena was the Lady which in my sléeping thoughts visited mee so often if the Destinies haue vowed her mine why should I feare the Serpent or all the other Beastes wherewith this Dwarffe doth so terrifie me Haue not I slaine a Lyon alreadie with a staffe Tush the more daunger is in the place the more honor depends vpon the victory If I leaue my life there I am not the first if I returne with conquest I shall be beyonde anie yet in fortune therefore fall out as it will no perrill shall dismaie me from giuing the aduenture whereupon he sayd to the Dwarffe But tell me my Freende hee that bringes the water from the Mountaine to the King what aduauntage shall he deserue My Lord quoth hee it hath beene manie times published that his rewarde shall be the best Cittie in all this Relame Sée then Dwarffe said Palmerin one man more will hazarde his life in this enterprise albeit I should receiue but thanks for my frauaile wylt thou goe with me That will I aunswered the Dwarffe if you please and neuer will I forsake you while breath is in my bodie Thus set they on till they came to the great Cittie of Macedon at what time Florendos was gone to the Temple in such heauines as he séemed a man of another world béeing accompanied with manie Knights and his faire Sister the Ladie Arismena to whom Palmerin boldlie addressed himselfe and as though hee had beene a Courtier all his life time with séemelie modestie he set his knée to the grounde before her and thus began Madame I humbly â—eséeche you to vouchsafe mee one request which well you may not denie me in that I am a Straunger as also in respect of the desire I haue to doo you seruice And trust me Sir quoth shée you shall not bee refused what is it you woulde haue me doo for you That at your request said Palmerin the Prince Florendos your Brother wyll giue me my Knighthoode Arismena seeing Palmerin so amiable and well disposed of bodie meruailed of whence hee was and said In good sooth Sir such matter nothing appertaineth vnto me for as I iudge such a motion shoulde procéede from your selfe yet taking him by the hande shee presented him to her Brother saying I pray you my Lord graunt to this yonge Gentleman as yet not knighted the thing he hath desired mee to demaunde Florendos hauing not as yet behelde him looked vppon him when an excéeding passioÌ„ presenting the Princesse Griana to his thoughts suddainlie touched him and béeing rapt into more conceite of ioy then he had béene accustomed demaunded of Palmerin if he would be made Knight With right good wyl my Lorde quoth he if it shall like you to doo me so much honor for aboue all thinges els it is my onelie desire My freende said Florendos it is necessarie I should first know whether you be noble borne or no. My Lord quoth Palmerin as yet I neuer knewe my Father or
time on the other side Ptolome had so canuazed the Counties Brother as he sealed him a quittaunce with his sword for his life Then began the Counties Souldiours to dispayre of their successe and Palmerin with his traine to follow them so closelie as they were glad to take themselues to flight leauing theyr Maister ouerthrowne in the Armie where hee was troden to death with the trampling of the Horses Thus did the victorie remaine to the Duke his enemies scattering in flight gladde to saue their liues whom Palmerin commanded to follow no further least gathering themselues togeather againe and espying aduauntage they might so endanger them for oftentimes the vanquished too narrowly pursued recouer courage daunte the pride of the conquerers For this cause he returned with his men into the Citty the Duke vnderstanding the foyle of his enemie which made him with a great number of woorthy Cittizens to goe méet Palmerin and Ptolome whome embracing hee thus entertained Ah good Knights by you is my estate recouered and the death of my Sonnes reuenged on the murderer therefore dispose of me and myne as you shall thinke beste to which words Palmerin thus answered My Lord let heauen haue the honour of our victory as for me I haue doone and will héereafter what I can for the great kindnesse of the King of Macedon your Uncle who hath honored mee in sending me to you and other recompence I neuer did or will séeke As they thus parled togeather the Duke perceiued by the blood on Palmerins Armour that he was wounded in manie places wherefore quoth he I sée you are sore wounded let vs make haste to our Pallace where a Ladye attending on the Duchesse and well séene in chirurgeri◠shall giue attendaunce on you till you are recouered So mounting on horsebacke they rode to the Pallace where Palmerin was lodged Béeing brought into his Chamber the Duchesse and her Daughter holpe to vnarme him when the Ladie dressed his wounds perswading him there was no daunger in them to be feared Thus each one departing Laurana the Duchesse Daughter called Vrbanillo the Dwarsse saying to him My Fréende desire thy Mayster to make bolde of any thing he wants and that for my sake he will dispayre of nothing Madame said y◠Dwarffe you haue good reason to wish my Maister well as well for the good assistaunce he gaue the Duke your Father as also in respecte of his deserts which are as honourable as any that euer came in this Court These words Palmerin verie well hearde hauing his eye continually on her wherefore when shee and all the other were departed hee called Vrbanillo demaunding what talke he had with the Princesse which he reported and his answere also Gramercies said Palmerin I pray thée find the meane to let her knowe that I am her Seruaunt and Knight ready to accomplishe anie thing that she shal commaunde me Referre this matter to me Sir quoth the Dwarffe I knowe what Saint must patronize these affaires and what offering must bee layde on his Altar CHAP. XX. Howe Palmerin became highlie enamoured with the beautie of the Princesse Laurana thinking her to bee the Lady that sollicited him in his visions VRbanillo the Dwarffe not forgetfull of his Maisters commandement the next day when Laurana came with her Mother to visite Palmerin shee tooke the Dwarffe aside demaūding what reste his Maister tooke the night past Madame quoth he indifferent I thanke God and you for in you two consists the disposition of my Maisters health As howe quoth shee Thus Madame said Vrbanillo the first day that he behelde you hee gaue the whole possession of himselfe so firmely to you as day night he meditates on your diuine perfections doubting in requital of his seruice to my Lord your Father and his Countrey whose liues and yours he hath defended him selfe shal be repayed with suddaine and cruel death for had he not come for your safetie well had he escaped this daungerous extreamitie Then séeing fayre Madame that his valour hath béene the meane of your deliueraunce doo not so degenerate from gentle nature as to kill him that gaue you life Why my Freend quoth she what wouldest thou haue me doo To loue him swéete Madame quoth he as hée doth you Alas sayd she thou mayst assure thy selfe y◠none can wysh thy Maister better then I doo béeing my duetie and his desert with which wordes shee chaunged colour with such modest bashfulnes as it might be perceiued shee could hardly master her affectiōs Which when y◠Dwarffe behelde as one not to learne his lesson in this arte perswaded himselfe by the very lookes of Laurana that his Maysters loue would sort to happy ende and thereuppon he followed the matter thus I thinke Madame that you wysh my Maister as well as anie but that is not enough vnlesse your wysh agrée wyth his in this poynt that you graunt your selfe his onely Lady and Mistresse as hee hath vowed himselfe your Knight and Seruant If it may please you to wysh this good to my Maister vouchsafe this fauour as a president of your lyking that so soone as he shall finde himselfe better in health you wyll but consent to speake with him alone in some such conuenient and vnsuspected place as hee may haue liberty to acquaint you with the secrets of his thoughts Alas quoth she how should I so doo without offering too much impeache to mine owne honour Madame saide the Dwarffe the night giues fauour to loues swéete enterprises By this time the Duchesse was ready to depart which Laurana perceiuing sayd to the Dwarffe Assure thy Maister from me that I am more his thē myne owne and I will doo for his welfare what I may with modestie By reason of their departure the Dwarffe coulde not make her answere but shaddowing the matter as hee had doone before went about his Maisters busines till hee came and found him alone when he discoursed all that had past betwéene the Princesse and him which so well contented Palmerin as nothing coulde more because he perswaded himselfe as I haue saide alreadie that this was shee which the thrée Sisters promised him by whom he shoulde receiue the honour that destinie allowed him For thys cause thence forwarde he was verie desirous to knowe her name commaunding Vrbanillo very straightly to enquire it which hee did informing his maister that her name was Laurana whereupon he well sawe that hee was deceiued in that the Sisters had named his Mistresse Polinarda and therefore he resolued to withdraw his affection and to depart thence so soone as he should be able to beare Armor But it may be easilie presumed that when one hath so far ventured in loue that he perceiues himself beloued as the Dwarffe perswaded his Maister hardly can hee giue ouer so faire a beginning yet héere it fell out contrary as you shall well perceiue that the ende was more suddaine then the beginning Palmerin now knowing the Princesse name began to vse other
death but that the Quéene and the Lordes of hys Counsel founde meanes to quallifie his displeasure declaring what discredite his highnes shold receiue if he did not suffer them to be openlie conuicted of their offences All this while good Princes were they ignoraunt of this detection till at length the King discoursed the whole matter to theÌ„ and likewise who was their accuser nor did the Countie faile to maintaine his wordes openlie offering to make it good in fight against any that durst say the contrary and because he had two Cozins hardie and valiant Knights conspirators likewise in this faction there could be none found that would enter the Combat against them Which when the noble Prince Adrian vnderstoode very gréefe had well néere slaine him in respect he had no Child but this Dyardo as also for yâ— hee was accused with yâ— hee neuer thought Héereupon he went presently to the King his Nephew and preuailed so well with him as he obtained the space of two Monethes to bring with him one or two that might maintaine the innocencie of him his Sonne Dyardo and the Princesse Cardonia against the Traytour Domarto and his Cozins And this is the cause he sent mee to seeke you foorth in hope that you are as much his Freende as hee is yours which you may somewhat perceiue by the freendlie presents he sent you by mee to Macedon So helpe mee God saide Palmerin you haue reported a most strange dyscourse and neuer did I think that such treason could enter the thoughts of any Knight or other inferior person All this is true quoth the Damosell and it is appointed yâ— the Prince Dyardo with his aged and crazed Father shal defend their owne causes without séeking helpe of anie other but he neuer as yet receiued the order of Knighthoode and therfore is constrained to desire your assistaunce And that shall I doo with all my hart saide Palmerin would God we were there where he expecteth vs for the desire I haue to sée him as also to vnderstande what he knowes of my following fortunes Those matters are hid from mee quoth shee yet this haue I hearde him say diuers times being in talk of you that he accounted you the most honorable Knight in the worlde and that if he euer chaunced to sée you he wold aduise you to goe to the Emperour of Allemaignes Courte to be the knightly Seruaunt to the Princesse Polinarda When Palmerin heard the name of Polinarda he remembred that it was her name whome hee had so manye times séene in his fraunces for which cause he asked of the Damosell what the Lady was of whom shee spake My Lord quoth the Polinarda is Daughter to the Emperour and Niece vnto my Lorde Adrian the most beautiful Princesse that euer eye behelde By my faith saide Palmerin yâ— more easily may I be induced to graunt her my seruice and thether intend I to trauaile when I haue finished your Lords busines So rode they with much more haste theÌ„ before tyl at length they came to the Cittie of Almedya where the King remained and the Prince Adrian expecting Palmerins comming which when he hearde hee came to meete him eache embracing other with meruailous courtesie and the good olde man with the teares in his eyes thus saide Ah good Knight what may counteruaile this your exceeding paines to maintaine the right of my Sonne and mee who are falselie accused of such villainous treason as on the perill of my soule we neuer did imagine Thereof am I certainlie perswaded aunswered Palmerin and therfore am I come to enter the Combat with him that dare affirme otherwise Mine olde age quoth Adrian might excuse mee henceforth from bearing Armes but béeing vnable to endure so vile a slaunder so long as life and soule will holde togeather shal I doo my deuoire so please your companion to make the second as olde as I am I will be the thirde for the trayterous CouÌ„tie hath two of his Cozins yâ— take part with him And if my fortune so fall out as I die in this tryall I shall receiue my lot very contentedlie if mine eyes might first beholde mine iniurie reuenged I pray you said Palmerin goe presently to the King to the ende that hys highnesse may graunt vs the fielde for my Freende and I thinke long till we haue made your accuser knowe his trecherie Adrian immediatly went to the King and on his knées thus began My Lorde you knowe that the Countie of Ormeque hath accused mee my Sonne Dyardo and Madame Cardonya of the cryme of Lesae Maiestatis and in that we all are innocent I am readie to maintaine that he hath falsely and malliciously belied vs which I my selfe will approoue vpon him or two more with me against him and his Cozins if they dare enter the fielde with him in this quarrell where we will either make known their villainie or receiue the reward belongs to disloyall Traitors As for the wrong which you my Lord haue doone me béeing your Uncle and my Sonne Dyardo your Cozin germaine that I referre to God to recompence and to the better knowledge you shall receiue of mee héereafter béeing â—owe too olde to bee a Traytour and my Sonne too louing to proue disloyall The King was abashed to heare his Uncle speake so audaciously doubting nowe whether he should giue credite to what had béene reported especially against him so neere his highnes in bloode who so liberally offered to enter the Combat notwithstanding his white heade and aged body made him vnfit for such actions wherefore hee thus aunswered Good Uncle impute not mee any thing faultie in your accusation and that the proofe shall manifest that must be made The Countie beeing present was strooken in a quandarie at these wordes and gladly he wold haue demed this former slaunder but he could find no waie cleanlie to doo it wherefore seeing of force he must néedes enter the Combat he boldly fell on his knées before the King with these wordes My Lorde what I haue saide is verie certaine and most true it is that by the counsell of Prince Adrian héere present his Sonne practised with Lady Cardonya to poison you that he might be King which to make good there is my gadge on the behalfe of my selfe and my Cozins Thou lyest Traytor in thy throate said olde Adrian I take thine offer and as he woulde haue gone on with further spéeches Palmerin stept before the King saying Worthy Lorde séeing the effect of the wordes must be put in execution which haue béene heere spoken on bothe sides before your Maiestie may it please you the Prince Dyardo and Lady Cardonya may be sent for to take with vs their oathes as in such cases is required and in meane time let eache one goe put himselfe in equipage for the Combat Good reason said the King and presently hee commaunded the Princes to be brought who beeing come Palmerin demaunded where they were that tooke part with the Countie whereupon he
himselfe and tormented with so manie passions as euerie howre his death is expected What will ye Ladie that I say hee complaines hee sighes and daie by daie is in such dispaire for his Ladies loue as happie might I haue accounted him had he neuer séene her or that his daies were as short as his desires If then Polinarda were in doubt not iudging herselfe to bée shée it may easilie bee imagined and presently was shee brought into such perplexitie as the vermillion couller in her chéekes began to change such suddaine feares possessed her and so manie sundry opinions thwarted her conceite as faine she woulde haue spoken but coulde not of long time wherby the Dwarffe discerned the cause of her alteration yet he dissembled what he sawe and thus continued on his discourse Nowe considering faire Madame the high deserts of my Lorde may she be estéemed happy as you saie that shall cause the losse of the best Knight liuing this day Ah Mistresse if he die as God forbid farwell the flower of all noblenes and the most assured Freâ—nde to distressed Ladies Wherefore I beséeche you pardonâ— mee if I shall name her vnto you and let mee intreate you to dealé with her so farre that the courtesie wherein she is indebted to so gooâ— a Knight as my Master is may be shewed effectually as that she would loue and fauour him as he dooth hath verie well deserued Trust me Vrbanillo aunswered the Princesse when I knowe the Ladie I will and beside if she doo not regarde his passions as she ought I will intreate her at my request to be more pittifull These wordes procured a suddaine iealouzie in her that shee shoulde promise to another what she desired her selfe yet earnest to bee resolued she vowed to fulfill her promise and therefore desired him to tell her name So you will giue mee your worde Madame quoth the Dwarffe not to take in ill parte what I shall saie I will satis-fie your request presently Be léeue me saide the Princesse I will not rather perswade thy selfe that héerein thou doost me great pleasure Ah fayre Princesse quoth the Dwarff it is for you and no other that my Lord is thus tormented it is for you that heé liues and dies a hundred times a daie swéete Ladie haue pittie on him and séeke not the losse of so good a Knight who looues you déerer then his owne life At which aunswere shee was supprized with incredible pleasure yet feigning the contrarie she saide Is it I and howe long I praie you By my faith Madame quoth he that can I not well tell yee but I haue hearde him say of long time more then foure yeeres before he was Knighted hee vowed himselfe yours since which time all his honourable actions hath hee onely dedicated to your praise So that to finde you hee left the King of Macedon and his Sonne Florendos of whom hee was estéemed as no man the like yet that honour hée forsooke to doo you seruice and for your loue he yéelded himselfe as vassaile to the Emperour your Father and gaue himselfe your Knight if you deigne to accept him When Polynarda had well hearde the Dwarffe albeit her harte floted in ioyes yet could she so well commaunde her thoughts as shee seemed to make smal account of his words notwithstanding she returned him this aunswéere I promised thée Vrbanillo not to conceiue ill of ought thou shouldest tell me nor doo I yet wold I haue thee to regard my calling béeing daughter to so great a Prince as is the Emperour But if it bee so that Palmerin thy Lorde beares me such speciall affection I must let him knowe by thée that it would haue â—éene farre more séemelie himselfe to haue told me then to make thée Ambassadour in such secrete affaires neuerthelesse I not mislike his honourable loue and good will whereof I shall thinke better when I knowe the effecte is conformable to thy protestations Madame quoth the Dwarffe so you would please to vouchsafe him time and place hee will acquaint you with strange matter concerning bothe your destinies which courtesie can no waie impeache your honour Why tell him saide the Princesse he shall haue mee dailie héere in the Chamber of presence where he may saie his pleasure with safetie in meane space I accept him as my Knight charging him that he doo not depart the Court without my licence if hee desire to doo mee pleasure The Dwarffe well pleased with so good an aunswere on hys knee kissing the Princesse hande tooke leaue of her to returne towardes Palmerin who méeting him by the waie in place conuenient saide Howe nowe Vrbanillo what newes hast thou brought me life or death So good newes Maister aunswered the Dwarffe as you haue good occasion to repute your selfe the moste fortunate Knight that euer bare Armes Then Palmerin embracing him saide Ah tell me what they are hast thou spokeÌ„ with diuine Polinarda takes shee anie pittie on my consuming cares That dooth she my Lorde quoth the Dwarffe and commandes you by me if you be so vowed hers as I haue perswaded yâ— hence foorth you depart not the Emperours Courte without her leaue Then recited he the whole talke betwéene them and lastlie the pleasure she conceiued in so good tydings so that she accepted him onelie for her Knight While yâ— Dwarffe continued this discourse Palmerin was rauished with such inwarde ioy as with a great sigh he said Oh heauens how doo you fauour me nowe sée I well that my seuerall apparitions on the Mounts of Oliues and Artifaeria are predestinations ordeyned to mee by your gracious prescience I beséeche you therefore humblie that what you haue promised may soone come to effect for the regarde of incomparable Polinarda Then demaunded hee by what meanes he might attaine to speake with the Princesse She sayth ê™ he that you shall dailie haue her in the presence or in the Empresse Chamber and there may you safely impart your whole minde vnto her But I haue other newes to tel yee for I vnderstand certainlie that the Emperour intendes a matter greatlie for your aduauntage he minds to morrow to visite one of his Castelles neere at hande and there to passe the time in honour of the Ladies will haue a Tourney There better then any where els may you and Polinarda conferre togeather therfore courage your selfe and goe keepe comanie with my Lorde the Emperour it may bee himselfe will acquaint you with this enterprise Now credite me Vrbanillo saide Palmerin thou hast doone so much for mee as I shall neuer recompence thée while I liue but I pray thée tell mee did shee not at the first take my message strangelie That did she quoth the Dwarffe when I perswaded her that you loued a Lady in such sorte as hardlie coulde you liue without her fauourable regarde then she thinking it was some other and not herselfe changed couller meruailous passionatlie but let it suffise you that she is as deepe in loue as you
in such sort as you may neuer depart from the Emperours seruice Palmerin with excéeding contentment receiued the Chaine and on his knée huÌ„bly thanked the Empresse and the Princesse to whom hee spake as followeth Madame I am well contented to abide in such a pryson and neuer will I desire any other libertie but still will bee his vassaile that hath power to commaunde mee This aunswere pleased the Emperour excéedinglie in that he desired to haue Palmerin still abide in his Court Wherfore he said to Polinarda you haue doone well Daughter thus to binde Palmerin for nowe he can not escape awaie when he list So the Tables béeing couered the Emperour and all the Knights of the Tourney satte downe to meate where much talke was speâ—t as concerning y◠〈◊〉 on al sides but Palmerin Polinarda had enough to doo to view eache other their eyes dooing their office and carrying betwéene them the mâ—ssage of their passions yet so discreetlie shaddowed as none could perceiue them Supper ended the Knights and Ladiâ—s went to dauncing and afterwarde to their Chambers because the Emperour had commaunded the next daie an other Tournament a breefe report wherof may very wel serue in that you can imagine there wanted no braue chiualrie What Palmerin did that daie it were in 〈◊〉 to tell because the former daâ—e makes knowne his woorthines and Ptolome behaued himselfe in so good sort that Brionella was as proude of him as the Princesse of her Knight and therfore presented him with a very rich Diamond as a token of his desert her loue Thus while the Ioustes endured the Duke of Lorrayne had great familiaritie with Palmerin because he had deliuered his Sister Cardonya from the false treason of the CouÌ„ty of Ormequâ— All pastimes thus finished the Emperour returned to Gaunt where Palmerin intreated his Mistresse to appoint him time place where they might more priuatlie discourse on their loue the which the promised and awaited oportunity CHAP. XXX Howe Polinarda disclosed her secrets to Brionella and of the talke she had with Palmerin POlinarda not forgetting the promise she made her Fréend to meete him in some place where they might argue on theyr loue determined to discouer her affections to Brionella the beloued of Ptolome well perceiuing that without her helpe she could not attaine the end of her desires wherefore without any longer stay shee thus began with her My chosen Freende I would make known one thing vnto thée which death can compell me discouer to no other wherefore thou must haue care to keepe secret my speeches in respect of my calling not doubting but in time to recompence any paine thou takest for me Fayre Princesse said Brionella in that you doo me such honor as to impart your thoughts to me rather will I die then fayle one iote of your commaundement and therefore assure your selfe that what you declare shall neuer be discouered Then Polinarda reuealed to her the loue she bare Palmerin what passions did torment her and in what extreamitie her desires had driuen her and therefore swéete Fréende quoth she with a déepe sigh find thou the meane that I may priuatlie talke with him Brionella admiring the earnest loue of the Princesse knewe not readilie what to aunswere but séeing that by these meanes she might more easily conferre with Ptolome whom shee likewise intirelie loued thus spake It is no wonder Madame you béeing so incomparable as I knowe no Prince liuing of whoÌ„ you are not woorthie if you haue resolued your loue on noble Palmerin in that there is no Knight in the worlde better deserues you his rare chiualrie beeing such as it cannot otherwise bee but that he is discended of royall linage béeing accomplished with so many speciall perfections Therefore Madam so like you I haue deuised well for your purpose as thus You knowe my Chamber window standes so commodious as you may with safetie confer with him at pleasure which you may let him vnderstande by his Dwarffe and appoint him time as you shall thinke conuenient This counsel did not a little content yâ— Princesse because she longed to chatte with her louer and therefore concluded at his departure to appoint Palmerin his time Nowe was the Chamber of Brionella ioyning to the Cittie wall and had a goodly prospect into the fieldes and Palmerins lodging was néere vnto it facing the wall as the other did so that one might easilie passe betwéene the lodgings nothing béeing betwixt them but a little Garden brauelie decked with flowres and goodlie fruite Trées The time appointed Polinarda called the Dwarffe to her saying Vrbanillo thou shalt goe to thy Maister from me and after thou hast saluted hym with my manifolde well wishinges wil him this night to come secretlie to Lady Brionellas Chamber where at the windowe we may safelie talke togeather and bid him not misdoubt my Lady Brionella for I haue made her acquainted with all my secrets And because thy selfe maist conduct him to the place come and I will presently she we it thee So went the Dwarffe with Polinarda to Brionellas chamber where hauing séene the windowe and gladde to carrie such tydings to his Maister beeing well assured howe they woulde content him he departed and tarried not long on his message because Palmerin thought each howre a yeere to heare from his Mistresse wherefore hee beholding the Dwarffe comming tooke him in his armes and demaunded what newes he had brought him The Dwarffe with a cheerefull countenaunce thus aunswered My Lord Fortune speede you as luckilie as the newes that I bring you doo well deserue By this beginning Palmerin perceiued that he brought such tydings as he long looked for which was howe he might speake with the Princesse wherfore embracing him againe he commaunded him to make report of that his sweete Mistresse had giuen him charge Then the Dwarffe deliuered howe the Princesse had great desire to see him and where shee did intende to speake with him Which wheÌ„ Palmerin heard â—illed with vnspeakable ioyes he recorded the words to himselfe with many itterations and the more often he spake the words the more his delights increased But tell me quoth he to the Dwarffe didst thou marke the place well where I must talke with my Goddesse Thereof doubt you not my Lorde sayde the Dwarffe for I shall not faile to bring you surely thither if it be your pleasure I shall goe with you because yâ— Princesse her selfe in company of Lady Brionella shewed it me How am I beholding to her said Palmerin for this high fauour which els were my death if I had beene denyed Uppon this he called Ptolome to whom he imparted euery circumstaunce which Ptolome reputed for his great auaile thys offering the meane for him to visite Brionella and therfore they concluded to goe togeather the night â—nsuing to the place appointed for this louing encounter The howre of rest beeing come and euery one in theyr Chambers as best beséemed Palmeâ—in Ptolome and the Dwarffe remayned
And though I vanquish one Knight it shall not be lawfull for me to rest a minute space but presentlie take him in hande that shall followe and bee it my fortune to bâ—â—oyled by him he shall kéepe the fielde in manner as you my Lord deuised And to the ende all may be the better executed pleaseth you yâ— in such places where your intelligencâ—rs shall come my enterprise may likewise bee declared in respect I hope to behaue my selfe so well as my Ladie will make speciall account of me The Lady for whoÌ„ the Duke of Sauoye thus attempted was Daughter to the King and Sister to Lewes named Lucemania whom he loued intirelie and aboue all thinges desired in marriage which to compasse and to honour his Ladie he thus offered the Combat against all Knights These Princes intending to goe thorow with their intent concluded betwéene them that the Duke of Sauoye shoulde breake it to the King to gaine his good-will whereuppon the Duke departing towards the Quéenes Chamber to finde the King espyed him aâ— very good leysure walking in his Garden to whome hee went in all haste and on his knee thus began So please it your highnes to graunt me oneâ—boone I shall be bounde to continue the â—oue I haue borne your Maiestie which is to prolong my life in your seruice as the most forwarde Knight in your royall Court The King who had long time fauoured the Duke 〈◊〉 him by the hande thus aunswered Demaâ—nde my good Cozin what you please and it shall bée graunted Then the Duke deliberatelie discoursed what the Prince Lewes and he had intended for the loue of theyr Ladies wherwith the King scant content and mâ—ruailing at this hastie enterprise said Why Cozin do you imagine your selues able to maintaine so hard a taske in resâ—â—â—ance of so manie hardie Knights wherewith the worlde is now plentifullie stored Beléeue me in maine Countries are Ladies of greater beautie I doubt then is at this 〈◊〉 in our Realme of Fraunce I promise you I hardly like what my Sonne and you attempt but seeing my worde is paste you shall not nowe be hindered doo â—herefore what your thinke expedient with this consideration alwaies that the ending of matters is greater then the beginning The Duke humbly thanking the King aunswered Wee doubt not my Lorde but by the hope of God and fauour of our Ladies to ende our affaires with fortunate successe but if nowe we should giue ouer and not goe forward with our promise we might woorthily be reprooued of shame cowardise the most villainous reproches that can be to any noble hart The King perceiuing the earnest affection of these two yong Princes and that to denie their request would be more hurtfull then to graunt commaunded him againe to procéede with their intent with such suretie against all strange Knights as what losse or victory happened to them they must be content with all that fell out The Duke not a little ioyfull kissing his highnes hande departed and immediatly acquainted Prince Lewes therewith but nowe the Queene vnderstanding her Sonnes enterprise sent for him and with sad countenance thus spake I would my Son that the intent of you and the Duke of Sauoye were eyther awhile deferred or vtterly forgotten because I greatlie doubt that the ende will bring a further consequence then you expect For thinke you that by all your forces and Chiualries the beauties of your Ladies shal be any iote increased no beléeue me but if they loue you as loyall Freendes ought to doo as greatlie wil they dislike your enterprise as feare the daunger whereinto you may fall a matter causing other desire then you thinke on more offensiue perhaps to them then anie honor you may winne can please them Lewes who by no meanes would be disswaded from his conceit aunswered Good Mother if for no other feare this matter shal not be reuoked in regard of the shame neuer dying dishonor I shall gaine thereby which makes mee desire a thousande deathes then not to bee so good as my worde therefore perswade your selfe good Mother that albeit her beautie for whom I enter the Combat cannot bee more perfect hereby in that it is without imperfection yet such is my resolution in a matter so certaine as her sweete lookes shall deliuer me strength enough to ende my taske without dreade of any inconuenience yâ— may happen The Duchesse enflamed with loue hearing these wordes on her behalfe must needes speake and thus began I knowe not my Lorde who is the Ladie you loue nor what are her vertues but heereof I can assure you that she is highlie beholding to you and except great reason to the contrarie ought to loue you considering what perill you thruste your selfe into for her beautie Madame quoth the Prince the trauaile I shall take and the bad fortunes may befall mee are little of no account in respect of her gracious deserts therefore for her honour I will beare my inwarde paines with secrete content and attempt these outwarde actions with the greatest courage I can possible desiring no other recompence then her fauourable conceit whereof once assured nothing can seeme difficult to me no were it to dye in her diuine seruice And as he would haue continued longer the King not yet thorowlie content with his promise past to the Duke of Sauoye entered the Chamber by whose countenaunce Lewes wel knewe he was mal content wyth him wherefore falling on his knée hee saide My Lorde no one is ignoraunt how all my welfare and reputation consisteth onelie in your Maiestie as a Prince and Father the most vertuous that I know which great good in some part to recompence I haue enterprised a matter vnwoorthie of dislike so please your highnes of your accustomed bountie to excuse accept it in good part in respect that such as are borne to the highest places of dignitie ought to bee more prompt and readie to all magnanimious actions then theyr inferiors chéefelie in prowesse chiualry and deedes of estimation What brought such renowne to Horatius Mutius Scaeuola Marcus Curtius Manlius Torquatus and a number more of Romaine Knights if not the couragious folowing of occasions offered What made for euer immortall the fame of Marius the Romaine Cittizen Hanniball the Carthaginian and Agesilaâ—â— the Greeke if not the vndaunted valour of their minds deliuered in their déedes of kinglie consequence Assuredly I beleeue that their Fathers Uncles and auncient progenitours neuer made them noble or ought renowmed what then onely vertue the very formatrix of all nobilitie For this cause my good Lorde and Father hauing now oportunitie as my Cozin yâ— Duke of Sauoye hath informed you may it please your grace to permit my endeuours with fauour to the ende I may deliuer perfect testimonie that I no whit degenerate froÌ„ your heroycall and kingly vertues The King somewhat moderating his former opinion answered Trust me Sonne full well you know howe to disguise and couer your follye
Ladie to be this daie liuing then your owne for mine own part I am not so troubled in conceit as you are to quarrell for such a fabulous matter yet dare I tell yee that my Ladie is much more beautifull then yours which if you will denie I am readie by the strength of mine arme to make you confesse it Lewes féeling himselfe gréeued with these iniurious spéeches of the Countie answered Proude Knight I am ashamed to heare thy iudgment so simple as to thinke I am come hether for a matter of so light moment as though I would not iustifie against thée and all other what I haue promised but let that passe before we part I will cause thée know thy folly by that time thy pate and thy bodie is thorowly bumbasted looke to thy selfe for I intende to doo it So mounting on horseback and prepared as it had béene to a warre mortal encountred eache other with such furie as their Launces flying in shiuers vppe in the ayre they met together so terriblie with their bodies their Shéeldes their Horsses and their heads as they were bothe dismounted to the grounde But earnest desire to vanquish they béeing beside stronge and will disposed Knights made them quicklie beginne the second assault with their Swords which was so dangerous and handled with such dexteritie as it was harde to iudge who should haue the honour of the Combat Bâ—t Lewes beholding the representation of his Ladie and considering her so excellent and fauourable to him tooke hart a fresh and as it were inspired with newe vigor so laide on the Countie Dâ—â—cell as in short time he brought him vnder the mercie of his Sworde when holding it against his threate he said Peremptorie Knight if nowe thou confesse she not my Lady to 〈◊〉 thine in beautie thy vndiscréete heade shall raunsome thy sollâ—e The Countie for all this woulde not aunswere one worde by reason of the debilitie he felt himselfe in hauing lost so much of his blood as for the gréefe hee conceiued to be thus vanquished whereat Prince Lewes not content would haue taken his heade from his shoulders but the Iudges of the fielde canie to him saying My Lorde you ought to forbeare hauing brought your enemie beyonde his owne defence your victory â—éeing sufficient to content you forbids his death The Prince perswaded entred his Pauillion and ioyfull of his conquest commaunded two Gardants of the field to take the figure of the Princesse of Arragon and place it at the féete of the Duchesse counterfeit which was doone immediatlie and the Countie Durcell brought into his owne Tent where his Chirurgions tooke dilligent care for the curing of his woundes Soone after came a Knight of Myllaine who giuing such defiances as the other dyd was in the ende constrained with great shame to confesse vnder the conquering Sworde of Lewes the imperfections of his Ladie and her stature placed by the Princesse of Arragon The same daie were fiue great Lords of Italie brought in like subiection and so the tryumphe ended till the next daie when the first that came into the fielde was a braue Gallant of Spayne a Knight of good estimation and specially reputed who after a dain-glorious Oration made as the nature of the people is that way affected put hys fortune to the triall of his Launce where hee sped so ill as he was vnhorssed and in the following Combat likewise receiued the foile After him seauen other Knights of Castile prooued as vnfortunate their Ladies pictures all reuerencing the Duâ—hesse who béeing not a little proude of her Knight and the memorable renowne he witnessed of her beautie I leaue to your considerations both of her conceite that waie as also in loue towards the Prince who séeing no more readie to enter the quarrell returned thence to the Pallace to conferre with his swéete Mistresse of his high good fortunes CHAP. XXXV Of the Combat betweene Prince Lewes of Fraunce and Crenus the Duke of Gaule GReat pleasure did the King conceiue and all the nobilitie of the Court at the â—otten victories of Prince Lewes against so manie woorthie Knights so that they altogeather accounted him most fortunate And nowe the thirde daie when hee was entred his Tent an English Knight no lesse braue in termes then the former defied the Prince and betwéene them began a dangerous conflict in the midst whereof the King with manie Princes Barons and Lordes as also the Quéene and the Duchesse of Burgundie came to their standing and vnhappily behelde the foyle of the English Knight the Duchesse hearing him confesse her beautie and behelde his Ladyes portrait placed vnder hers But now the couragious Duke of Gaule named Crenus came brauelie mounted into the fielde dooing his duetie to the King Quéene and Ladies who not knowing him by his Armour iudged him some great Lorde in that no Knight before caused so good opinion generallie nor came with brauer countenaunce into the field he béeing indéede a Prince of wonderfull possessions and a Knight at Armes woorthilie approoued The Duke as all the other had doone caused his Ladies counterfeite to bee placed where it ought by his Squires to the no little admiration of all the beholders noting what rare and excellent beautie it was adorned withall the workman hauing performed such exquisite perfections as it had béene the Ladie herselfe naturallie liuing while the Squires were thus placing it on the monument the Duke aduaunced himselfe to Lewes in this manner The ouermuch selfe conceite Lorde Lewes of mindes but easily acquainted with matters of difficultie hath often béene and yet is the cause to plucke great personages more lowe then they expecte so that men haue séene them deceiued of their intents and rewarded with ridiculous shame and confusion This speake I to you hauing héere begun a busines the ende whereof will bee more harde to you then as yet the beginning hath béen for Europe is sufficientlie stored with hardy Knights to asswage your presumptuous opinion and Ladies much more faire and excellent then she whom you contende for And this by the fauour of Fortune gracious regarde of my Ladie and Mistresse and helpe of my good Sworde will I enforce you to confesse that incomparable Agriola daughter to the King of England for vertue for beautie and all diuine perfections excéedeth yours whatsoeuer she be Before such a leasing quoth the Prince shall passe the lippes of a Sonne of Fraunce rather will I consent to bee péecemeale torne in sunder and before fayre Phaebus haue paced one howres iourney I doubt not to make thée repent thy pride and arrogancie By the soule of King Arthur said the Duke looke thou garde thy selfe well for I haue with my courtelaâ— abated the pride of a brauer man then thy selfe and ere we two part I meane to trie if I can doo it againe therefore resolue thy selfe to thy best defence for by my life I will not fauour thee Without any further spéeches they encountred with such violence togeather
No permission of breathing was suffered betwéene them but blood and death earnestly desired on either part so that the King the Lordes and the Iudges reputed this for the strangest Combat that euer they sawe nor could they say who was likest to winne the fielde but if the one died the other could not escape so that the King mooued with compassion caused them to be seuered and commaunded them to enter theyr Tents Which motion liked well the Knight of the Sun for long he perswaded himselfe he could not hold out wherfore he mounted on horsebacke so well as he coulde withdrewe himselfe Palmerin béeing wonderfully displeased that he could not obtayne the victory of thys Knight Soone after the King and the Prince Lewes came into his Tent and séeing him very sore wounded woulde not let him staye there but sayd Beléeue me Sir Palmerin you haue great néede of rest and your wouÌ„ds I sée are very dangerous you shall therefore be conueyed to my Pallace where all helps that may be deuised shall be giuen assuring you that greater honour could neuer Knight purchase then you haue doone And though this last Combat were not ended you néede not be displeased the issue thereof importing yâ— death of the one or the other and perhaps of both which I would not haue séene for two of the best prouinces in my Realme And me thinks you should content your selfe hauing receiued before such honour ouer so many Lords and Knights of name come you therfore with me and Lord Trineus beare vs company Great thanks receiued the King of them for this honourable courtesie and Palmerin went with him to the Pallace where the Kinges Chirurgions tooke care of his woundes he béeing lodged in the most stately Chamber in the Courte Nowe the Prince Lewes beganne to loue Palmerin so déerely as he coulde not be an howre foorth of his coÌ„panie desiring his health as his owne welfare wherfore all thinges that he imagined Palmerin tooke pleasure in would he performe with his vttermost endeuours and would suffer none to hold him talk but only of matter that might yéeld pleasure and delight Notwithstanding diuers Knights conferring with him that euening as concerning the Knight of the Sunne Palmerin aunswered them that his mind should neuer be thorowly quieted vntil such time as he fought with him againe The Prince who still endeuoured to kéepe him from sadnes saide I beléeue my Lord that he will not easilie be induced to deale with you again for you brought him into such estate as hee will kéepe himselfe héereafter out of your handes and well I am assured that had you continued but a little longer the victorye had béene yours for the Knight was so weakened that he did nothing but defend your blowes It pleaseth you my Lord to say so quoth Palmerin but had he felt such valour in me or such courage as beséemes a vertuous Combatant hardlie coulde he escape as he hath doone neuerthelesse I hope with the fauour of Fortune to méete him once more and then we will trie who is the strongest Much other talke they had but Palmerin intreated the Prince that all the portraits of the conquered Ladies might bee brought him which were aboue an hundred of diuers beauties most strange fashions and among them all could be founde none seconde to Polinarda but as we haue said already that of Agriola the Princesse of England who by the report of a Gentleman present that had séene her was much more beautifull then her figure presented Such spéeches they continued so long of the Englih Uirgin as Trineus albeit he neuer sawe her became amorous of her and at yâ— instant he so solemnly vowed himselfe hers as thence forwarde he swore neuer to loue any but her so yâ— for her sake he thrust himselfe into manie perrillous fortunes as in the folowing discourse of the History you shall reade more at large From whom let vs returne to the Prince Lewes who seeing so many portraitures of Princesses and Ladies would dailie congratulate Palmerins good fortune and embracing him said So helpe me God my noble companion I woulde neuer desire greater riches in the world theÌ„ to resemble you especially in chiualry which in you is so surpassing al other as you haue ended to your honor what a number haue fayled in Oh howe happy may the Ladie account herselfe that hath such a Knight and were not the condition too cruell towards my selfe I could wish I were a Woman in her place to haue so high rule and commande ouer you At which words all present began to smile yet shewing good countenaunce to Palmerin for the affection they sawe the Prince beare him which is yet to this day a common vsage and practise among Courtiers but Palmerin somewhat ashamed of such superstitious prayses aunswered Trust me my Lorde I account my happines the greater that I haue doone seruice to so high a personage and so good a Knight as you are desiring to méete you in such place héerafter where you may perceiue the good wil I beare you not only for this high entertainement which is more then I can deserue as for the pleasure I haue to honour so good a Prince which if the occasion happen you shall perceiue the experience I haue spoken nothing quoth the Prince but what is more acquainted to others then my selfe and if I would conceale them then will they be most openly knowne because vertue doth so apparantlie shine in them Manie other spéeches passed betwéene them and longer had continued but that manie Lords which came to sée the Ioustes were now vpon departing and therefore woulde take their leaue of the King whereuppon they were constrained to breake off the Prince going to the Chamber of presence where hee gaue thanks to a number that honoured the Courte with theyr presence and so one after another all departed the Duke of Sauoye béeing one of the first ashamed God knowes to be so conquered by Palmerin and not bidding his Lady Lucemania farewell But Lewes did not serue the Duchesse so for her loue continued as resolute as before and shee loued him as wel conquered as had he béene the conquerour whereof she assured him by many amorous méetinges by which meanes the Prince stayed the Duke at the Courte longer then himselfe would haue doone Lewes thus loâ—ing Palmerin as you haue hearde intreated the Duchesse to come and visite him which she accomplished the day folowing when Palmerin spent manie discourses with her rather of loue then entring into religion for he perceiued by her countenaunce that she had no will to become a Nunne where we will leaue them togeather to tell you who the Knight of the Sunne was that fought the last Combat with Palmerin CHAP. XL. VVho the Knight of the Sunne was and of his strange aduentures THe King of Hungaria Father to the Prince Tarisius that maried the faire Griana Mother to Palmerin had in his latter yéeres a Sonne named Netrides
and after he had long lyued in rest and prosperitie hee dyed leauing the yong Prince Netrides fiftéene yéere olde and in the custodie of his elder brother Tarisius This Netrides growing in good constitution of bodie and behauiour béeing well beloued generally so gracious gentle and well gouerned he was as the Lords Knights Gentlemen the people of Hungaria esteemed him more then their King Tarisius who béeing crowned after his fathers decease loued Netrides as brotherhoode required till Fortune enuious of this concorde not willing that the vertues of this yong Prince should be there extingushed changed his affection into excéeding hatred by an occasion héereafter following One daie the King Tarisius walking in his Garden to take the ayre left his Brother Netrides in his Chamber accompanied with the Quéene who without imagination of any harme nor that his fatall staâ—s woulde sort him anie mis-fortune sactte downe in the Kings chayre as he talked with the Quéene and continued there so long till Tarisius came vp and founde him there sitting which he tooke in such ill part as in a great rage he thus begaâ—me Who made thée so audacious and presumptuous to sitte in my seate against thy duety and my liking By mine honor thou hast doone more then thou wéenâ—st and if I sée the like againe or I may but heare thereof thy heade shall pay the price of thy folly Netrides who of his owne nature was humble and gentle fell downe on his knée intreating the King his Brother to pardon him for what hee had doone was not with any intent to displease his Maiestie but an ouersight and that so he would permit it to passe The King made him no aunswere because hee tooke Netrides reasons for no payment but conceiued a secret hatred in his minde by this occasioÌ„ of so slender moment which increased thence forward as the matter prouoking a fierie Meteore so that he did repine at his Brother so much as he would not speak to him nor affoorde him a good countenaunce Then called he to remembraunce the loue of his people towardes hys Brother and if this hatred should come to their knowledge for so small a cause he imagined they woulde displace him and make Netrides King For which cause hee intended to haue him slaine and the execution â—â—reof hee committed to one of his Archers but God who is euermore the preseruer of the innocent would not suffer such a damned déede of paracide to take effect Which Tarisius perceiuing and finding one day his Brother alone enflamed with this dyscontented humour sayd Netrides thou hast offended mee more then I will now stand to argue on I therefore banish thée my Court and Kingdome and looke that within three daies thou get thée hence and on thy life not to discouer it to any man or take any one with thée to beare thée coÌ„pany The yong Prince obedient to his Brother made answere that he wold accomplish his charge and so withdrew himselfe into his Chamber not declaring to any one hys cause of heauines Then willing one of his Squires to saddle hys Horse departed so closely as he coulde forbidding anie of his Seruaunts to follow him and such expedition he made as not resting but one night in any lodging he left his brothers kingdome wandering without anie care of himselfe or which way he tooke but went héere and there as fortune pleased to guide him Hauing long time trauailed in Alâ—lemaigne his money fayled him in that at his departure hee was but badlie prouided yet could not his priâ—celie minde abase it selfe to begge so yâ— béeing without meate or drink or anie place to rest himselfe in ashamed of himselfe hee sought to shroude him where none might discrye him and so entring a great Forrest very thicke set with Trées shrubs and bushes hee estéemed this a conuenient place to rest in wherefore alighting from his Horse and turning him to féede layd himselfe downe at the roote of a Trée and thus began to breathe foorth his complaints Ah inconstant Fortune and to me most of all inconstant didst thou erecte me so high and reiect mee nowe thus lowe well then may I saie that more wrong thou doost a man in one houre then right all his life time for it héeretofore thou diddest lende me pleasure and delight thou nowe makest me pay for it and that with vsury too rigorous not leauing anie hope to comfort mee Ah tirranous King cruell and vnmanlike Brother thou hast with shame banished me and brought me into this poore estate wherein I must die Oh happy if I might rather then to liue in the vile estate of beggery So saying he layde him downe among the Hearbes and was supprised with such extreame féeblenes as he fell into his lamentations againe thus Ah my Lord and Father too soone diddest thou leaue me woulde God I then had borne thée company or that at this instant I could come to thee Ah men of Hungâ—ria I am well assured knowing the loue you euer bare me that you will pittie when you heare my afflictions and calamities alas I neuer deserued this vnhappy ende And béeing vnable to continue longer spéeche he there determined to finish his life But better fortune befell him then he expected by the meanes of an auncient Knight named Lombardo who béeing néere hearde all his dolorous complaints This Knight béeing rich and of noble blood had neere that Forrest a strong delightfull and sumptuous Castell and delighted to walke among the woods for his recreation as good hap it was fore Netrides that he walked this euening He hearing these sad and sorrowfull regrets pittie so touched his hart as the teares bedewed hys â—héekes yet would he not trouble him while he continued his mones but afterward came and tooke him by the hand saying Arise my Freende and take courage for you are in the place where you shall finde more good to benefit you then harme to offende you therefore cherish your spirites and forget this heauines which may endaunger you beyond recouerie Netrides séeing this honourable Gentlemanne with his bearde so white as snowe hearing his courteous offer and for him nowe so necessary with ioy feare bashfulnes all coupled togeather accepted it and humbly thanked him albeit quoth he a contented death is better to me them a miserable and dispised life The Knyght comforting him aunswered that it was not in his power to chuse lyfe or death but the founder of the heauens reserued that authoritie in his owne handes With these wordes hee tooke him by the hand and conducted him to his Castell where he was worthilie entertained by the Knight himselfe his Ladie and her Daughter one of the fairest Uirgins in all that Country Lombardo hauing heard all his mis-fortunes and hard aduentures in the night discoursed the whole to hys Ladie wherefore good Wife quoth he entertaine him so well as may be for I assure you he is discended of high degrée and if his manners and vertues bee
correspondent to his byrth wee will giue him our Daughter in mariage if so himselfe accept our offer The good Ladie misliked not her Husbands opinion wherefore the next morning shee went to entertaine her guest saying My Lorde your comming hither hath well contented my Lorde and Husbande and so please it you to staie héere he wil bee glad and fayne of your companie which gentle offer Netrides accepted thanking God and the Ladie for his good fortune Thus remained he with this auncient Knight Lombardo who afterwarde neuer remembred him of his miseries in the Forrest but intreated him so well as though hee had béene his owne Sonne Netrides séeing the Knights Daughter so faire and well conditioned and she regarding not onely the vertues of his minde but also his comely and well featured bodie they began amorously to affect eache other secretlie but loue inuented yâ— meane to reueale it openlie for Lombardo well noting the great discretion of this yong Gentleman and knowing him to bee discended of bloode royall resolued to cause him marry his Daughter demaunding the question of Netrides among other spéeches if so he liked to marry his Daughter My Lorde quoth he it is the sum of my desire and greater honor cannot you bestowe on me so please her to conceiue the same opinion I doo The marriage was sollâ—mnized with all expedition with yâ— presence of manie Gentles neighbours thereabout who meruailed the Knight bestowed his Daughter so in that they estéemed Netrydes but a poore Knight errant It fortuned afterward that the auncient Knight and his Ladie deceased leauing theyr Daughter great with childe to the no little content of Netrydes that after all his sorrowe he shoulde become a Father Thrée daies before this Ladie fell in trauaile shee dreamed that she was shut vppe in a very dark Chamber whereout she coulde by no meanes get and therefore called for helpe to one of her Gentlewomen Then was she aduised to take her childe in her armes and to staye there still whereuppon she behelde her infant and sawe that his face resembled the beames of the Sunne the brightnes whereof chased away the darknes so that shee might beholde the place as cleere as any other saying My Lord forgette thys heauines and you shall reioyce by this infant for this is he shall reestablish you in the place you haue lost shall seate you in that Chayre with honour for which you were exiled thence giuing you his crowne that traiterously chased you from his kingdome He comforted with these words tooke the childe in his armes and sayd Little soule I pray God thy mother speake trueth and that thou maist be able to execute it So saying hee espyed a furious man who snatched the infant foorth of his armes and notwithstandâ—ng all his intreaties supplications caryed it away with him This sorrowe for Netrydes made her giue a loude shryke when he calling his Wife demaunded the cause of her suddaine affright whereupon she rehearsed to him the whole manner of her Dreame and reioysing thereat said I hope my Lord that it will so happen to you as I haue dreamed and therefore comfort your selfe without feare of mis-fortune notwithstanding he remained in many doubtfull opinions till they vnderstoode by effects the certaintye of this dreame Nowe was come the time of the Ladies deliueraunce which was a goodly man Childe so fayre well fauoured as one should lightly beholde béeing named Frysol and shee woulde suffer none to nursse it but her owne selfe for the certaine hope shee reposed in him The Chylde growing in time to such comely stature as eache one tooke great pleasure to beholde him whereof the Mother was so gladde that albeit she had afterward two other Sonnâ—s yet shewed she no such speciall loue towards them as vnto Frysol which procured some hatred betwéene his brethren and him This yong Lord growing to fourtéene yéeres of age was in stature verie tall delighting himselfe in ryding great Horsses shooting in the long Bowe casting yâ— Barre and diuers other Gentlemanlike exercises as also to chase in the Forrest where olde Lombardo mette with his Father So that one daie after long and wearie chasing of the Hart hauing sweated very sore and meruailous drye for want of drinke finding a little spring by the foote of a Trée he laâ—e downe and dranke but afterwarde he became so yll and sicklie as hee trembled â—â—rie â—ore so that one of hys Squires could hardlie leade him againe to the Castell Netrides séeing him so excéeding ill was meruailous sorrie commaunding his Phisition to séeke some present helpe for him who plied him with such wholsome potions as his feuâ—r left him but his face and all his bodie was so painted as he had béene a Leaper which made him bee mocked of his other Brethron and scorned of all the Seruaunts except his Father and Mother which was such gréefe to him as he would haue died with fretting at them but his Father rebuked them and comforted him in this manner I did hope my Sonne by thy meanes to be restored againe to the Realme of my deceased Father but nowe howe long it will be before God knowes if this strange malladie of thine be neuer holpen Frysol amazed at his Fathers wordes desired him earnestly to report the whole circumstance which Netrides at length did rehearsing how he was Brother to the King of Hungaria the hard intreataunce he vsed towardes him and lastlie hee tolde him the Dreamâ— of his Mother Frisol studying along space on his fathers words at length aunswered My Lord you are not ignorant of the soueraigne power of the highest who by his diuine iudgement hath sent mee this disease that thus torments mee euen so when pleaseth him he will take it from me againe and giue me health and strength much more then euer I had with meanes sufficient to giue you ayde and succoure according to the matter whereon you haue diuined And albeit I féele so extreame anguish as death may not be likened to it yet doth thys hope comfort mee in such sorte that me thinkes already I am become more healthfull therfore my Lord dismay of nothing but perswade your selfe there is comfort behind These words were so pleasing to Netrides as méere ioy caused the teares to trickle downe his chéekes meruailing at the wonderfull courage of his Son enduring such terrible paines as he did wherefore what hee thought he could not reueale but withdrewe himselfe into his Chamber CHAP. XLI Howe Frisol persecuted with his disease and the mockery of his Bretheren determined to goe seeke strange aduentures FRisol hauing heard the originall of his birthe as also the vision that appeared to his Mother was thence forwarde more pensiue then he had béene before and perceiuing his Brethren continued their bad disposition and day by day mocked him more and more he determined to forsake his fathers house to séeke aduentures and remedie for his sicknes if any were to be found And being one
yâ— olde Knight thanked him and as they went he discoursed to him howe these 〈◊〉 assâ—â—led him because he had enforced them to surrender certaine heritages which vniustly they detained froÌ„ poore Orphanes and for that cause set spyes to watch him that they might set vppon him and kill him which surelie they had doone quoth he without your succour In the continuaunce of these spéeches they arriued at his Castell where many of his Squires meruailed to sée him so sore wounded but especially his Lady and his two Sonnes to whome hee rehearsed the summe of his aduenture and the great fauour and helpe he founde by Frysol for which cause they entertained him with excéeding honour And so long aboade Frysol there with the Knight till béeing desirous to receiue the order of knighthoode hee came to the Knight in this manner May it please you Sir to bestow on me Horse and Armour I wyll goe to the Emperors Court of Allemaigne he beeing the most renowned Prince in the world The good Knight seeing him so forward to chiualry gaue him Horse Armour and money for his iourney whervpon he sette forwarde and the third daie after hee arriued at the Emperors Court from whence a little before Trineus and Palmerin were departed towards Fraunce which newes made Frisol earnestly desire his knighthood because he intended with all speede to trauaile thither likewise in respect of the honour was there to be wunne Frysol vnderstanding the Emperour was in the Chappell hearing diuine seruice went thither where beholding the Princesse Polinarda he reputed her the onely fayre Lady of yâ— world thinking hee could neuer glut his eyes with regarding her whereupon seruice beeing ended he fell on his knee before the Emperour in this manner Because I knowe inuincible Lorde that you are renowned beyonde all other potentates whatsoeuer and that you make no small accounte of Knights aduenturous I desire that by your hande I may be numbred among them The Emperour seeing him so yong and yet valiantly giuen aunswered I would be lothe my Freende to deny a request so reasonable but I wil first knowe if you be Gentle borne or no. My Lorde quoth he I sweare by the fayth I owe to God and your Maiestie that I am noble borne and of the bloode royall by my Fathers side God forbid then sayd the Emperour but you shoulde be Knight and Fortune sheelde you so well in chiualry as she hath indued you with comely shape and beautie Then was the Spurre put vpon hys right heele and the Emperour bad him ryse a Knight commaunding his Daughter Polmarda to gyrde hys Sworde to him which she did saying Worthily and with happines Sir Knight may you imploy the order you haue receiued Madame quoth Frysol if heereafter any vertue or valoure abyde in me it shal be imployed onely for you hauing thus honoured mee with my Sword wherewith I hope to accomplish such deeds of Armes as shall renowne her name that gaue me my weapon but Polinarda made him no aunswere because Palmerin was the onely Image of her thoughts After Frysol was thus Knighted taking his leaue of the Emperour and his Daughter he departed making no small hast till he arriued at the Ioustes at Parris where he determined for his first deed of chiualry to enter the Combat for the beauty of Polinarda But he could not get thither so soone as hee intended for hee was hindered by the way with an vnexpected aduenture which was in a fayre Forrest where hee behelde foure Knights carry away a Ladie perforce who seeing him cryed Ah good Knight for Gods sake succour â—ee whereuppon Frysol coutching his Launce sent one of the Knights headlong to the grounde and in short time wounded another in such sort as nowe hee had but two left to resist him on whom Frysol made tryall howe well he coulde unploy the gift of Polinarda The Knights seeing the hard fortune of their two other fellowes the one hauing broken 〈◊〉 necke in the fall and the other wounded past hope of recouerie tooke yâ— wisest way for themselues posting thence so fast as they coulde ride but Frysol would not folow least they had some other companie in ambush that might haue intrapped him wherefore he conducted the Ladie to her Mothers Castell where hee remained that night and the next daie set forwarde to Parris where hee arriued at the time he fought with Palmerin according as hath beene before rehearsed After the Knight of the Sunne who hencefoorth shall passe by the name of Frysol had left Palmerin and was departed the fielde the night was so obscure as hee knewe not which waie he rode so that the moysture of the â—uening dewe did great harme to his woundes as if God had not armed him with the better strength he was in daunger not to escape with life The verie same daie was the Duke of Gaule departed from Parris to goe ayde the King of England against yâ— Kings of Scots and Norvvay who was Nephewe to the Emperour of Allemaigne for that they molested him with troublesome warres and the Duke beeing benighted was glad to pitch his Tents in a faire fielde through which it fortuned Frysol to passe complayning of the daunger he felt himselfe in The Duke of Gaule beeing abroade foorth of hys Tent to recreate himselfe hearde this sorrowfull noyse which made him send his men to sée who it was and to bring him with them to the Tent whither when they had brought him the Duke pitting his estate demaunded whence he came and who had wounded him in that sort Then discoursed he the whole matter how hee had fought with the Knight that ouercame the Duke of Sauoye and so long their fight endured that the darke night and the King caused them to be parted neyther of them as yet conquered and because he woulde not returne into the Cittie sought some Uillage where he might conuenientlie lodge The Duke of Gaule hearing the wordes of Frysol estéemed him for a hardy and valiant Knight hauing so long endured against Palmerin vnuanquished wherefoâ—â— he saide Sir Knight you are very welcome to mee all the ayde and succour I can giue you you shall bee sure to finde with hartie good will assuring you that there is no Knight liuing to whom I wysh more euill then him whom you haue this daie fought withall So causing him to bee vnarmed willed him to rest himselfe vpon his owne bedde and made his woundes be dressed abyding there eyght dayes for the health of Frysol In which time the Duke had imparted to him the warres of the King of England which made him make more hast to be gone or els he would haue kept him company longer My Lord quoth Frysol so please you to accept my companie I hope to behaue my selfe so well as you shall not be discontented with me The Duke thanked him and reioyced yâ— by his meanes so good a Knight was preserued and did him all the honour hee could deuise taking him
answere replyed In truth my Lord if I were not desirous to fulfill what is required in chiualrie I wold not so boldly haue made this demaund therefore for such exceptions as you admitted let mee not I beséeche you be denied at this time and let this induce you that such as are borne to gouerne Kingdoms if they giue themselues onelie to pleasure without passing through the pykes of some dangerous hazarde they are not woorthie to be lifted to such honor The Emperor hearing the braue minde of his Sonne and that his wordes fauoured of courage conceiuing well thereof answered Since your desire is so earnest to be made Knight I am well contented but I wold haue it doone honorablie and before a greater assemblie then now is in our Court Alas my Lord said Trineus there is no néede of tryumphe before victorie let such pomp remaine I pray you til I haue wâ—nne honor and accounte by my déedes The Emperor ioyfull of the Princes good opinion perswaded himselfe he wold 〈◊〉 fortunate wherfore he graunted his request so that Palmerin might accoÌ„panie him in his voyage Of which condition Trineus was not sorie because in him consisted all his hope of successe so his Father commaunded him to prepare himselfe for hys order whereupon Trineus made himselfe a costlie Armor and another for Palmerin the deuises béeing changed because they intended to passe vnknowne Nowe had the Emperor leuied an Armie of tenne thousande good Souldiers the conduct wherof was appointed to the Countie Tolano a Knight valiant and hardie hauing had like charge in sundrie occasions of war therefore so soone as all things were in readines they were embarqued and sayled with such benefite of winde and weather as soone after they tooke landing in England Where a while we will leaue returning to Polynarda greatlie discontent with her Brothers departure because of Palmerin and Brionella no lesse troubled for her fréend Ptoleme but the Princesse féeling newe afflictions for the absence of her loue came to her Brother saying I knowe not Brother who hath aduised you to venture so dangerously our Cozin hauing assistance sufficient without hazarding your personne let mee then intreate you good Brother to affect occasions that promise better securitie Better occasions Sister quoth hee it is impossible if it be a thing allowable vertuous to succour a stranger howe much more then is it to our Kinsman especially such a one as is our Cozin of Norvvay therefore I pray you be of good comfort till my returne And if it so happen that my Father in my absence intend your marriage looke that your consent not til I come home againe for my not being héere will serue you for a sufficient excuse Which Polinarda promised and her word so past stoode her in no small sted afterward as you shall finde in the discourse following So soone as Trineus was prouided of all thinges for his knighthoode he came to the Emperour in this maner I desire you my Lord to accomplish your promise hauing doone my duetie as you commaunded me With right good will my Sonne saide the Emperor goe Arme your selfe Then went hee Palmerin and Ptolome armed to the Chappell Trineus béeing in Gréene Armour figured all 〈◊〉 with harts of Golde and in his Shéelde was portraied a Knight vnarmed holding in his hand a Bowe bent with an arrow readie to shoote against a gréene Trée whereon hunge a scrole which had written in it in Letters of Gold this mot Madame quand mourray-ie Whereby he meant that the loue which made him enterprise this voyage should beare him companie till death Palmerins Armor was all blacke declaring his mourning for his absence from his Lady and in his Shéelde for his deuise was figured a goodlie Eagle shâ—ouding a little Birde vnder his winges declaring therby the fauour he had receiued of his Mistresse Soone after came the Emperor into the Chappell where hee Knighted his Sonne put his Spur on his héele and giâ—ded his sworde about him afterward they went to dinner and spent the whâ—le daie in manie pleasures for ioy of the newe Knight Pâ—â—merin Ptolome to comfort their Ladies before theyr departure according as they were wont when yâ— Princesse Polinarda thus began Alas my Lorde what gréefe wyll your departure be to me with what patience doo you think I am able to endure it perswade your selfe the very conceit of your absence will be my death or at least a cause of such danger as I shall neuer recouer Bee well aduised therefore how you deale with me for the intent of my Brother maie be broken if you would labour in it but if it may not be then saue my life by your spéedie returne These words were deliuered with such teares and reking sighes as Palmerin might well perceiue the vehemence of her gréefes and answering her heauines with as earnest oppression said Swéete Ladie bee perswaded tempeâ— your sorrow with patience considering the vnion of our spirites makes a simpathie of afflictions if then for my sake you will not pacifie your selfe yet to shéeld your owne perril let me intreate you to be resolued in that my returne shall bée with such expedition as you will commaunde But if you continue thus melanchollie you will bewray what as yet shoulde bee concealed and so may great harme ensue to vs both Wherfore I desire you to moderate your impatience and thinke well of my departure which is chéefelie to seeke out a Knight against whome I fought in Fraunce for your beautie as for anie other matter you may beléeue me Whereuppon he reported his Combat with the Knight of the Sunne which made the Princesse as well for Palmerins promise as the account he made of Frysol somewhat better quieted to answere If it be so my Lord that your returne will bee with such spéede I shall enforce my selfe to beare the burthen of my cares with as much patience as I can and sée you faile not your appointed time but tell mee I praie you what Armes beares the Knight of the Sunne you spake off which Palmerin discribing Polinarda remembred him saying My Lorde I know nowe very well what he is for eight daies after your departure towardes Fraunce the Emperour my Father knighted him commaÌ„ding mee to gird him with his Sworde which I coulde not but obey wherein the Knight glorying sollicited me with affections not liking me which I pray you reuenge béeing the man whom the matter néerest concerneth After manie other amiable conferences the Knights humbly tooke their leaue of their Ladies and in the morning betimes the Mariners called on Trineus and his companie to hast aboorde because the winde serued well for England which they performed with all speede hauing first taken their farwell of the Emperour and the Court. So hoysing sayle they sette on to Sea and in good tâ—me came within yâ— kenning of England where we will forsake them awhile and returne to the Emperors Armie which he sent to the King
nowe set forwarde to Corfania where wee will make you better entertainement then we can héere in the field Then mounted they all on horsebacke and rode to Corfania where the King remained till he and his Knights were better recoueced and where the King made the Duke of Tintriel high Marshall of England committing to his charge sixe thousand men commaunding him to chase all the Scots foorth of his Kingdome wheresoeuer he could find them and to seaze to his highnes vse the Townes and Casâ—elles which they before had in vse which the Duke executed with such expedition as hee left not a Scot in anie Uillage or Hamlett placing faithfull Officers for the King in euerie iurisdictioÌ„ During these labours of the Duke the King euery daie visited these thrée Knights and finding Palmerin at a time coÌ„uenient he requested to knowe of whence hee was and the names of his companions Let me intreate you ê™ hee not to hide your selues form me because I shall not be in quiet till I know that I may remunerate your deserts according to your persons Palmerin who feared to bee discouered coulde not readilie deuise what aunswere to make yet at length in great humilitie thus said We would desire your Maiestie that it might stande with your good liking at this time to excuse the knowledge of our present affaires as also what wee are yet thus farre will I resolue your highnes that we are all Gentlemen of Greece nourished in the Court of the King of Macedon who in séeking strange adueÌ„tures haue trauailed manie prouinces and nowe at length came into your Kingdome wel stored at this time with Knights errant and gouerned as wee well perceiue by a King so gracious as to such persons alloweth honor and good affection as no King where we yet haue come doth the like For this cause my Lord as also vnderstanding that the King of Scots menaced warre against you came we into your Countrey to serue you in all obeysaunce as the verie simplest among your Souldiers Trust me said the King I haue wel noted your seruice and a man might bee deceiued in expecting better assistaunce for which I rest yours in ought I may while I liue but if you would name your selues then should I knowe to whom I were indâ—bted as also that my Subiects might honor you accordinglie That ê™ Palmerin will neither profit or preiudice your Maiestie let suffise then I beséeche you the vnfeigned good will and seruice we owe to your highnes The King séeing hee coulde not gette what he would changed his talke saying Was it you Sir that on the daie of battell was armed all in blacke Yea my Lord said Palmerin and this Knight pointing to Trineus is my Brother who shéelded you from daunger against the King of Scots Ah déere Fréends quoth the King this made me so importunate may it like you to stay in my Courte I will regard you according to your especiall deseruings as the onelie Knights of the worlde in my fauour yeelding thankes to heauen for the good I haue receiued by your meanes Humblie did the thrée Knights regratiate the King promising for a while to soiourne with him CHAP. XLIX How the Queene of England was aduertised of the victorie against the King of Scots and the ouerthrowe of his whole Armie AFter the King of Englande had sent tidinges to the Quéene of his good fortune and the honour he intended to the thrée Knights of Greece the Messenger was so spéedâ—e as the seconde daie following he arriued at the Cittie wher the Quéene kept her Court and presented her the Letters from the King her Husbandâ— reciting the whole manner of the battell with the rare exployts of the thrée Greciaâ— Knights and how one of them preserued the Kings life omitting nothing that was néedfull to be reported as how the King intended to come with the thrée Knights in great royaltie to London and therfore she shoulde prouide equall entertainment The Queene highlie contented with these newes demanded of the Messenger if hee knewe the thrée Knightes that gaue such assistance to the King No indéede Madame answered yâ— Messenger neither did I sée them but at the time I was dispatched with my message Agriola finâ—ing in herselfe the puissaunce of the little God that made looâ—e suddainlie suspected that these Knights were they which shee sawe at the Chappell and therefore saide I pray thée tell mee my Fréend what Armes beare the Knights One of them Madame quoth he the verie best Knight in the worlde is in Gréene Armour and that is he that saued the King your fathers life when the King of Scots had néere slaine him but he remounted my Lord giuing his enemy such a dangerâ—us wound with his Launce as it was greatlie doubted he had kild him he lost so much blood and this was one of the principall occasions of our victorie This Knights companion in Blacke Armour behaued himselfe with wonderfull chiualrie for as a Lion makes hauock in a heard of Cattell so did he cut slashe mangle the Scots as the very hardiest durst not abide before him The third is in Black Armor sparckled all ouer with white Roses a Knight of no lesse courage then his companions and one that fought for England with incredible prowesse Let me die said Agriola to yâ— Quéene if these be not the Knightes that past by this Cittie when we went to the Chappell to performe our exercise therwithall she rehearsed what spéech her Gouernesse had with them and what she commaunded them In sooth Daughter quoth the Quéene your Gouernesse and you may well bee blamed for the slender account you made of them I praye you therefore when they returne let your former faulte be sufficientlie recompenced That shall I not fayle to doo said Agriola So the Quéene honorablie rewarded the Messenger sending him backe with answer that the Kings charge should be effectuallie executed The King aduertised of the Quéenes replie set forwarde with the Knightes of Greece and his traine to the Courte and by the way remembring the power sent by the Emperour of Allemaigne to the King of Norway he said to Palmerin I cannot sufficienlie maruaile gentle Knight why the Emperor should declare himselfe mine enemie and giue assistance to the King of Norway against mee considering I neuer did any thing might deserue his displeasure but I sweare by the faith of a king that I will reuenge my wrong and let him asâ—ure himselfe that while I haue one foote of ground or a dozen of my Soldiâ—rs to helpe me I will neuer haue peace with him to mollest me so within mine owne dominions by God my Freends I cannot forget it These words greatlie displeaâ—â—â— Trineus but especially Palmerin who answered In my opinion my Lord the Emperour did but reason and as duetie bound him in respect he could not honestly refuse to aide the King of Norway his Cosin and hereof I can assure you in that I haue sometime béene in his
towards them so fast as his Horse could gallop Palmerin doubting some vnhappy chaunce and remembring his dreame said to the king Neuer credit mée my Lord if this squire come not to you about some speciall affaires as well maye be gathered by his spéedie pace At these words the GentlemaÌ„ came to the king reporting how the Giant Franarco Lord of the castle of Carbones since his departure came to his Tents and from thence had violently taken the Quéene and her Daugter Agriola notwithstanding the resistance of manie knights who striuing to defend her lost their liues The King with these words strooken in wonderfull gréefe said Ah Gentlemen this villainous Traytor hath notoriously wroâ—ged vs. How is it possible to recouer them againe before they be dishonoured Trineus and Paâ—merin mooued at these newes asked the Squire which way he went with the Quéen and her Daughter In truth my Lord quoth he I cannot tell yée which way he tooke we all were so troubled and misused by his traine except they went along the Forrest and so are gone to the next village Then Palmerin clasping on his Helmet and snatching his Launce from his Dwarfe Galloped amaine after the Giant not speaking a word to Trineus who accompanied with Ptolome rode apace after him and as they passed by the Quéenes Tent they saw the Ladies and gentlewomen heauily lamenting especially Eufemia the chéefe companion to the Princesse Agriola Diuers Knights beside armed themselues to pursue the Giant but Trineus not a little enraged followed the tracke of the horse demaunding of all he met if they saw the villaine that had stolen away the Ladies As concerning this Giant Franarco you must note that hee was the cruellest tyrant and most notable fellon in all the Realme hauing a dayes iourney from the Forrest where the King hunted a Castle so well fortefied and furnished with munition and all things necessarie as in England was not the like which was left to him by the death of his Father who forciblie tooke it from a Lorde his neighbour and diuers other places especially the Isle Magdalen There succéeded â—e the royall dignitie after the death of the elder Brother who as you haue heard was slaine in the battaile by Palmerin and hée vnderstanding the death of the king of the Isle Magdalen was so â—ighlie displeased yâ— although he had alwaies before boorne allegeaunce to the king hée nowe solemnly swore to reuenge his Brothers death béeing so feared of the whole Countrey as none durst enterprise to deale with him So to reuenge the slaughter of his eldest Brother with diuers of his kindred and Fréendes likewise â—layne in the battaile he strengthened himselfe with thirtie hardie knightes intending to displease the king so much as hee coulde And hearing yâ— he was comming to London to feast the knights that were the cause of this victory but chéefely him that slewe his brother came with his coÌ„pany this way in hope to finde them all vnprâ—uided And coâ—ming that morning the king was gone on hunting hée â—ound these hée desired to méete withall for the hatred he bare them thinking himselfe sufficiently reuenged if hée could carry away with him the Quéene and her Daughter which he accomplished to his owne desire causing them mount vp behinde two of his Knights The gentlemen that were left to kéepe the Quéene companye offended to sée such villany offered theyr Ladie and Mistresse defended her so well as they could but all auayled not against the Giant and his power because they were armed and they with the Quéene were vnprouided so that a number of them were slaine and sore wounded and more had béene but that he feared the return of the King which made him in hast ride thence with his spoyle sending them somewhat before and loytering behind himselfe to fight with anie that shuld come to reskew them Trineus hauing gotten the sâ—ght of them came passing to the Giant saying Stay trayterous théefe for thou maist not so cary her away that is worthy the greatest lord in the world With these words they ran fiercely togither Trineus giuing the Giant a sore wound on the shoulder but the Prince reâ—eiued such a mightie stroke from the Giant as he fell froÌ„ his Horse with his héeles vpward Palmerin béeing not far off and doubting least the Prince had béene slaine came in a great rage to Franarco saying Monstrous enemie to menhoode who made thée so saucie to lay violent hands on Ladies of such account by my Sworde villaine I shall make thée déerely to pay for thy folly So couching theyr Launces they met togither the Giant fayling but Palmerin gaue him a shrewd wound on his body and their horsses roughly shouldring one another as their masters were both thrâ—wn to the ground Franarco béeing heauie and vnweldie had such a fall as easily he could not recouer himselfe Palmerin nimbly getting vp againe gaue the Giant such a wound on his right legge as the flesh hung downe pittifully to beholde The Giant béeing not able to stande any longer on that leg set his knée to the ground béeing glad to defend the strokes of Palmerin who reached him such a sound blowe on the forehead with the hils of his sworde as the Giant fell along on his backe when Palmerin soone setting his foote on his breast with his Sword deuided his heade from his shoulders During this fight Trineus Ptolome made after the Quéene and her Daughter whome the Giants Knights droue cruelly before them Nowe was it a matter well worthy memory to sée the braue behauiour of these two Knights but cheefely of Trineus before his swéete Mistresse whose presence endued him with such exceeding courage as hée thought himselfe able to conquer the whole world and therefore sufficient for all them were they as manie more in number But strength dooth not alwaies equall courage and louers thinke more then they are able to doo as to Trineus perill it had now fallen out but that a companie of the Kings Knights arriued whereupon began a hote encounter betwéene them and Trineus comming to the Knight yâ— had Agriola behinde him set him soone beside his horse with his neck broken in his fall so that the princesse getting forth of the throng and séeing her beloued so valiant in prowesse bâ—twéene ioy and gréefe she said Ah happie Knight the mirror of all such as follow armes I desire thy fortune may prooue such as thou thy company may haue victory ouer these traytors Now may I bée well assured of the loue thou bearest me for which if we may escape this hard brunt perswade thy selfe not to passe vnrecompenced Trineus hearing the words of Agriola was enflamed with such a spirite of conquering desire as breaking in among the thickest his strokes gaue witnes he fought for a wife But the Giants Knights were men of such proofe as the fresh sâ—pply that came were all wel-néere slaine and doubtlesse the rest had borne them company but that the
friendly commers in all which time there wanted no sports delights as such times rnd occasions do necessarily require Nowe came all the Princes Lords and renowned Knights in England to the Court except the Duke of Gaule who excused himselfe by the warre in his owne prouince which yet was not the chéefest cause of his absence but the shame hée reputed to himselfe for his foyle in Fraunce when hée entred the Combatte for the beautie of the fayre princesse Agriola These knights thus worthily intreated they were at no time denied entrance into the King and Quéenes Chambers by which meanes Trineus might when himselfe pleased conferre with the Princesse till this instant among all other the prince thus began to his Ladie and Mistresse You may easily presume swéete madam what secret Conbattes I continually endure for your loue and no helpe is expected but the onely hope of your fauour which as you haue promised to my especiall friend Sir Palmerin I doubt not but you will perseuer in that gracious opinion and what promise hee hath made of my seruice to you thinke not but I obserue with religious care deuotion though not sufficient to equal your deserts yet because ingratitude shal not insult against me So many thanks quoth the Princesse I returne you my Lord as good opinions can bee imagined betwéene vs both and accounting you for my friende which is a higher degrée I héere discharge you of my seruice and mine honour guarded from blame I shall iudge my selfe happie to yéelde you any content which I will fulfill notwithstanding any daunger towardes mee But I praye you tell mée my Lord what is the intent of your loue in this action Madame quoth the Prince Syr Palmerin who is nowe come to beare vs companie shall crediblie enforme you so please you to rest contented therewith Palmerin thus entred and imagined theyr talke was not about affayres of Merchandise wherefore hée sayde to the Princesse God spéede you Madame pardon mée I should call you Ladie and Wife to the Prince of Allemaigne for I doubt not but you haue chosen him your Husband in heart Agriola blushing and smyling â—eereat made no aunswere Wherefore Palmerin went forward in this manner In faith Madame if you haue doone so I would counsell you to accomplish it presenâ—lie and prouide to go with vs to Allemaigne where the Emperour will entertaine you with such gracious fauour as you will not loose if you beare the minde of a Princesse beside you shall be the meane of euerlasting peace betwéene the King your Father and his Maiestie To which wordes Agriola thus discréetly answered I promise you my Lord there is no Prince thys daye lyâ—ing whome I would more gladlie accept for my Husband then the Prince Trineus notwithstanding for mée to departe without the knowledge of the King or Quéene my Parents is an acte in mine opinion farre dissenting from duetie and honest reporte Therefore my Lord louing myne honour as you say you doo I pray you let our behauiour be with better wisdome least we both fall into dangers not râ—couerable Palmerin perceyuing Agriola contrary to the most necessary occasion vsed such arguments and played so well the Oratour that the poore Princesse had no power to resist considering the great loue shee bare the Princâ— Trineus which made her yeelde more easily to his perswasions so that shée agréed to accomplish their determination and depart with them towards the Realme of Allemaigne Tâ—ineus ioyes nowe excéeded measure and Palmerin for his sake was no lesse contented in respect hee should the sooner sée his mistresse Polinarda whose very rememberaunce gaue him life as the ayre doth the Camelion But fortune beholding each thing prosper as liked their fancies woulde nowe néedes beginne to play her Pagant crossing them with the vnhappiest stratageme that euer could happen to so noble Princes as in the sequell shall bée laxgely discoursed They little expecting such a chaunce are earnestly following their serious enterprise which was secretly to carrie Agriola with them into Allemaigne for which purpose they prouided shippes and skilfull Pilots to conduct them conueying all their necessaries abroade at what time this aduenture following happened in the Court of England Chap. LIII Howe in the time of this pleasant and great assembly there came a Damosell to London who desired the king to do her iustice against a knight of his owne Court DUring the time that this royall company continued at London minding nothing but pleasures pastimes and courtly recreations there came a â—amosell so faire as might be accompanied with two auncient knights and a lustie Champion brauely armed with sixe Squires attending on him The Damosell entring the Pallace came before the King and on her knee beganâ—e in this manner Dreade Lorde hauing long time hearde your good iustice towardes your Subiects without any fauour or exception of persons I am the more bolde albeit he that hath iniuried mee is reputed for a Man of good quallity and holdeth place of authority in your Court humbly to craue of your highnesse one request against the most false and disloyall Knight that euer was whom when I but remember more weightie and gréeuous oppressions fall vpon my soule then this wretched body of mine is able to endure Damosell saide the King I shall right gladly reléeue your heauines if it ly in my power to doo it therefore tell mée the cause of your offence and what hée is that hath so wronged you Knowe my good Lorde quoth shée that I loued a Knight so déerelye as contrary to the lyking of my Parents and Fréendes and two much forgetfull of mine owne selfe I tooke him to my Husband thinking he loued mée so faithfully as his shewes and behauiour gaue demonstration But the Traytour had no other meaning then to beguile and falsely deceyue mee for after I hadde made him Lorde of mee mine and brought him to a Castle of mine so strong and fayre as anye in your highnesse dominions the Traytour expulsed mée thence violently pretending that wée were so néere allyed as he might no longer account mee for his Wife Since which time notwithstanding all the humble intreaties I haue made hée will neither restore mée my goods and possessions againe nor yet accepte mee as his espoused Wife Therefore I beséeche you my Lord as becomes a good vertuous Prince for the honour of nobilitie and regarde of womanhoode you will take pittie on a poore distressed Ladye and that in such a rightfull demaunde you woulde doo mée iustice which I had sooner demaunded but coulde not by the occasions of your troublesome warres Ladye sayde the King as yet you haue not named the man that hath offered you this surpassing iniury My Lord quoth shée this is the man in your presence name Miseres a vile Traytour and publique adulterer And if he dare affirme that I haue spoken vntruth I haue héere brought a Knight with mée who by Combatte shall make him confesse his
falshood and treason so please your Maiestie to fauour my request Miseres quoth the King how answere you this accusation and offence wherewith this Lady chargeth you Miseres béeing suddainly driuen into this dumpe knewe not well what to saye yet at length with humble reuerence hée thus beganne My soueraigne Lorde if credite may be giuen to the first countenaunce of accusations without hearing howe the partye accused can iustifie himselfe I doubt not but your Maiestie will presentlye condemne mee but when the matter is well debated and discided they which séemed at first vnreprooueable are found malicious and slaunderous persons and the accused innocent and frée from blame as heere your highnesse shall most plainely beholde The matter whereof this Ladye detecteth mée is forged and most villainously inuented for to mée belonged the Castle shée quarrelles for discended from my Predecessours to whom I am the true lawfull and legitimate inheritour True it is that this dissembling Womanne by swéete spéeches feminine guiles and secrete deceits oftentimes practised to winne mée for her Husbande but knowing her behauiour such as beséemed not a Woman of modestie and vertue I would not héere her much lesse consent to match with her And this is the cause of her complaint in hope that you béeing aboue all other Princes most bâ—nigne and honourable will constraine mée to wedde her in respecte of your absolute authoritie as the duetifull obedience wherein I am bounde When the Knight which came with the Lady heard Myseres blame her in this sorte hee stepped before the King with these words It is great follie my Lord in Miseres to deny a matter so apparantly knowne although if it were put to the iudgement of honeste personnes his common good reporte might cause him be beléeued but the poore Ladye desires that her right may bée cleared by Combatte wherein let him confounde her if hée can or else receiue rewarde for his notorious offence On her behalfe therefore my Lorde I saye and will maintaine that Myseres is a most disloyall Traytour and his mouth shall confesse it or this day will I take his heade from his bodie Myseres feeling himselfe somewhat touched grewe into great anger and albeit the shame he did the Ladie deliuered him culpable and made him doubt the issue of the Combatte yet in meruaylous choller hée aunâ—wered the Knight that hée falselye belyed him and was readie to make proofe thereof in Combatte if it pleased the King so to appoint it And I doubt not quoth hée to make thée paye for thy rashnesse and force thée confesse thy lacke of discretion in giuing credite to the trothlesse complaints of this deceitfull Woman Then was it ordained that this difference should bée tryed by Armes wherupon the Ladies Knight spake thus to the King Séeing it hath pleased your Maiestie to graunt the Fielde to Myseres and mée may it please you as it is the custome to commaunde that he deliuer hostages to the ende if hée bee vanquished the Castle maye bee deliuered into your handes to deliuer it in iustice where it appertaines Good reason saide the King and therefore Myseres you must before you enter the Fielde accomplishe what the Knight in equitie hath demaunded Then Myseres called one of his Brethren whom he required to stande as his hostage and doubt not before the Sunne be sette but I will discharge my selfe my pledge with which wordes hee departed the Hall to arme himselfe but because the daye was too farre spent the matter was deferred till the next morning The King his Lords séeing the Ladies Knight in such resolute assurance merueiled of whence and what he was for none there knewe him but Palmerin who neither coulde gesse assuredly what he was but by the golden Sunne in the Azure sheeld which made him remember that at the Ioustes in Fraunce the perillous Combate without victorie on either side was fought betwéene him and this knight Palmerin being glad to sée the man he long looked for and purposing now to bee fully reuenged on him secretly went forth of the hall commaunding one of his Squires to conuey his horse and armour the next morning out of the Citie because if he vanquished Miseres at his returne be intended to fight with him or if Miseres had the better yet he should not depart thence againe with life Nowe you must vnderstande that this Knight which came with the Ladie was the Knight of the Sunne named Frysoll who euer since the Combatte betwéene Palmerin and him remained with the Duke of Gaule and was of him highly honoured for his woorthie chiualrie Of whom when this distressed Ladie heard shée made her complaint to him of the wrong Myseres had done her and Frysol pittying her case promised to ayde her in recouerie of â—er right and so came with her to the King of Englands Court to the great gréefe of the Duke of Gaule who made Frysol promise him to returne againe after the Combatte but Frysol was more desirous thereof then the Duke in respect of his fayre Syster because hée was specially beloued of her Thus Palmerin following his enterprise feared to bée preuented because the Féeld was appoynted by the King in the same place where hée intended to méete with Frysol and beside Palmerin and the Duke of Norgalles were ordained Iudges of the field which hée would not willingly haue taken vpon him doubting by that meane to bee hindered of his other determination The time being come that the Knights should to the Combatte the King and the Ladyes came to their Scaffolds and the two Iudges were placed in their Tent accompanied with many Princes and honourable persons After that the Heraulds bad commaunded the Champions to doo theyr deuoyre then they clasped their helmets and fetching their carrire mette with such puissaunce as Miseres brake his Launce on Frysols Shéelde not mouing him in his Saddle but Frysol driuing his Launce through Miseres bodie caused the Traytour to fall deade to the earth Then he allighting and opening Miseres Helmette sawe no life in him came to the Iudges saying You may nowe perceyue my Lordes whether hee that offered this Ladie such villanie hath receyued his due desert or no if there yet remaine any thing else to do for recouering of her right I am here ready to maintaine her cause Palmerin who was not verie well pleased with this victorie answered Knight you haue done enough at this time pray that other affayres may proue as prosperous to you héereafter and in anger went forth of the field commaunding the bodie of Miseres to be brought thence which was afterward interred with great honour Frysol hauing thus vanquished Miseres the Ladie for whom he entred the Combatte fell on her knées before the King desiring him to surrender the castell which Myseres vniustly detained from her In sooth Ladie quoth the King it is reason you should haue iustice and your owne deliuered you but know you his name that defended your
in a fayre Medow neare a Bridge and there placed twelue knights the most hardie and valiant men in all his Dukedome who should maintaine this order that no Knight shoulde passe ouer the Bridge vnlesse hée entred Combate with those twelue Knightes one after another and such as were vanquished shoulde submitte themselues to the Dukes mercy eyther for their deliueraunce or to remaine his prysoners and the horsse of the partie foyled should belong to the conquerer but if they were dismounted the passenger shoulde go on his iourney and take theyr Horsses with him Thys aduenture thus established many good Knights were ouer come because it was a verye harde matter to vanquishe twelue Knights and yet escape But the Duke tooke no little pleasure heerein who detained Frysol more by constraint then otherwise for his anger so vehemently encreased against Palmerin as no delight or pleasure coulde expiate his reuenging desires Chap. LV. How Palmerin went with the Damosell to accomplish the promise he made her and what befell him PAlmerin as you haue heard departed from the Damosell in a rage because he coulde not execute what he intended wherefore hee deuised to deale some other way and to single foorth Frisol in such conuenient place as one of them should dye before they departed And as he was imagining some other way to ouertake Frysol the Damosel had now againe recouered his company saying I pray you Sir Knight conceiue no il opinion of me for hindering you from killing your enemie whome you haue left in very great ieoperdy considering what bountie and courage is in him and which your selfe perhaps will bee sorye for Wherefore I pray you forget this displeasure determinâ— to fulfill what you haue promised which if you will doo you must go with me Beléeue me Damosell saide Palmerin you shewed but little courtesie so often hindering me from the thing which aboue all other in this worlde most tormenteth mée What vnhappye bodye are you but more vnhappye the houre I mette with you but séeing it is reason I shoulde kéepe my promise leade the way and I will not faile to follow you So rode they on and for foure dayes space hée woulde not speake one word to her and fayne he would haue left her company but that he could not with honor forsake her The next daye as they rode by a Riuers side Palmerin espyed a Knight standing with a Bowe and arrow in his hand which he let flye at his Horse killed him Palmerin impacient by remembraunce of Frysol and angrye that the Knight had thus killed his Horse made towardes him so fast as hee coulde but the Knight was suddainlye gotte on the further site of the Lake and Palmerin vppe to the middle in Water before hée was ware of it and nowe hee could neyther sée the Knight that slewe his Horse nor the Damosell that came in his companie Palmerin béeing in great perplexity when he sawe nothing but water rounde about him and féeling he was vpon a Bridge behelde a meruailous déepe streame running vnder it and at the ende thereof a goodly Castle Walking along the Bridge toward the Castle amazed at this contrary aduenture hée espyed a Knight on the battlements of thÌ„ Castle who sayde Staye a while Syr Knight one shall come presentlye and open the Gate Palmerin knewe not what to say but determined to defende himselfe if any came to assaulte him so the Castle Gate béeing opened hée entred with his sword drawne yet was there no man that displeased him but euery one made him humble reuerence with very good wordes and gentle countenaunce declaring by their behauiour that hée was more then welcome thither Thus walking on to the inner Court there came towardes him a Ladie accompanied with manie Damosels and Knights all shewing chéerefull gestures and the Ladie taking Palmerin by the hande sayde Ah gentle knight right welcome are you to this place and heauen bée praysed for the good it dooth mée to sée you here that is able to aâ—complish the thing which no other as yet coulde bée able to finish enter hardily in good assuraunce for you will wee make all the honour wée are able Palmerin beléeuing the Ladie was brought into a maruailous goodly Chamber where certaine Squires holpe to vnarme him bringing him a gorgeous Mantle to wrap about him This done he was conducted into a large Hall where the Table was couered the Ladie entertaining him so nobly as in the King of Englands Court hée coulde not be better The feast ended and the Tables withdrawne the Ladie beganne to deuise with Palmerin saying Long time my Lord haue we desired your comming as the man in whome our onely helpe consisteth for by your valour we are perswaded to be deliuered from the miserie wherin I and mine haue too long time béene detained I beséech you Madame quoth Palmerin to tell mée your affayres as also what the Knight meant to kill my Horse and why you entertaine mée with so great kindnesse If you wil promise mee saide the Ladie to accomplish a néedfull occasion and which I thinke is destinied to you I will resolue you otherwise I shall but loose my labour If it bée a matter reasonable quoth Palmerin and that a knight may compasse spare not to tell mee for I will do my endeuour therein Gramercies gentle knight sayde the Ladie the circuÌ„stance of the occasion followeth in this sort This Castel my Lord sometime belonged to my noble Father a Knight so hardie and valiant as any in these parts in whose yonger yeares loue so ouerruled him aa he affâ—cted a lady of no lesse quanlitie and condition then himselfe by whom he had a â—aughter at whose birth his Lady and Wife deceased My Father being yet in the flower of his youth matched the second time with a Lady of very honourable and auncient discent by whom he had me the first Childe My Sister come to fourtéene yéeres of age my father oftentimes would haue richly married her whereto she béeing vnwilling by my Fathers consent shée remained with her mothers Sister whose skill was very great in all sciences by whose counsel my sister caused a goodly Pallace to be edified and a strong Lower in an Isle on the other side of this Castle where afterwarde they made their continuall abiding During this time my father louing mee déerely matched me with a wealthie and noble knight excelling in all perfections but chéefely in chiualrie by whom I had a Daughter a yéere after our espousall but the more my gréefe my Husband and Father both died within little space after my Childs birth My Daughter being come to the yeeres of marriage her beautie made her desired of many noble Lords but because I still reputed her too yong I denied all her suteâ—s which afterwarde turned me to verie great detriment For my Sisters aunt had a sonne the most mishapped deformed and worst conditioned knight as all the Countrey could not shew such another yet became he
Lord matched not with you the greatest Princesse in Europe would not triumph in his loue Yes certainly Madam when you may at leysure sit downe recount your 〈◊〉 which you sustained by flatterers parâ—sites Think what will be the danger after our departure the Emperour his father not minding to pocâ—â—t the losse of his late armie will send such a puissaunt strength into England as the King your father nor 〈◊〉 duke your husband that must be wil scant excuse yâ— who le ruine of this country The mean to preuent this mishap and assure your continual tranquilitie is in entertaining the counsell I haue giuen you where otherwise your selfe conceit makes way to manifold misfortunes dangers Thus concluding his spéeches in great heauines he turned from her wherat the Princesse inwardly gréeued for the Ring which he had giuen her was of such vertue that after she had put it on her finger shee was wonderfully affected toward Trineus as she could not thinke on any other wherfore in this sudden change and trembling with the doubtful conceit of her owne spirit she called Palmerin to her thus answering Alas my Lord and only comfort in these heauy passions what feare hath these hard and rigorous spéeches brought me into It is very true that folowing the counsell of yong Ladies like my selfe I haue béene perswaded to cast off the Princes loue accounting him but a simple knight errant but now being assured of his nobility loialty and great gentlenesse that he would not request as I hope any thing contrary to vertue and honor I beléeue what you haue said submit my selfe to your discretion as willing to obey any thing you shall commaund me Yet this I must request that aboue all things mine honour may be defended for rather would I suffer mine own losse for euer then this famous realme or my father should be any way endangered Beléeue me Lady quoth Palmerin if thus you continue you may wel venture to gain this generall benefit for henceforth there will none be so hardy as to molest your father with warre hauing matched his daughter with the great Emperours sonne of Allemagne To confirme this promise you shall giue me this swéete hand which I kisse as the hand of the soueraigne Lady Empresse of high Allemaigne that you will not shrinke hereafter froÌ„ this honorable determination but for your owne regard you must conceale this contract from your most trustie friends and dispose in such sort of your selfe for I hope to compasse the meane and opportunitie that you shal leaue England and go to the noble regions of your worthy Lorde and husband What I haue promised sayd Agriola I will performe and with what spéede you shall thinke conuenient albeit I repose such trust in you that hauing béene so fortunate hitherto in your interprises you wil be carefull in accomplishing these daungerous intentions Thus before they departed the mariage of Trineus and Agriola was concluded and because they would not as then bee suspected they stept into the daunce next the yong prince shewing very amiable pleasant gestures which Trineus in his often turning diligeÌ„tly noted imagining that Palmerin had not so long conferred with his Lady but some assured resolutioÌ„ was determined yet he dissembled his inward ioies so cunningly as he could Ech eie was fixed on these two braue knights the Ladies and Gentlewomen perswading themselues that they neuer beheld more noble personages deseruing like estimation for their special chiualrie as also for their bountie and Courtly â—iuilitie Thus passed the feast in all kinde of pleasures and these two Knights withdrawing themselues into their chamber Palmerin discoursed to Trineus his talk with Agriola and how he had with such cunning pursued the matter that in the end be obtained what he demaunded reporting the gentle conclusion hee made with the Princesse These ioyfull newes droâ—e the prince into such a quandarie as he could not expresse his secret content wherefore Palmerin awaking him out of his musing said As I am true knight I neuer thought yâ— a man of your estate could be of so slender courage What countenance woulde you vse in a matter of sorrow when such dainty tidings make you so effeminate Be of good chéere man Agriola is your owne and none but Trineus must bee her Lorde and husband I must confesse my lord said Trineus that my behauior but little beséemes my calling but yâ— cause therof is that I know no desert in my selfe yâ— may be estéemed worthy yâ— least fauor of my Lady Beside these newes brought me such special contentmeÌ„t as I am no longer mine own but in her onely I liue and shée holdes the ballanâ—â— of my daunger or felicity in that I was borne to be her â—eruant But now I desire you my Lord séeing the occasion offereth itself we hinder it not by any negligence for if now we loose the fauour of the time we neuer I feare shal recouer the like therefore let vs so soone as we can proâ—â—dâ— al things ready for our departâ—â—e Refer that to me quoth Palmerin be you as ready as I shall make prouision The next day he went to the maister of a ship to knowe when time would serue for their secret departure who answered him that the time was then very conuenient the winde seruing prosperously and the Sea calme and nauigable and he would furnish him with all necessaries for his passage Quoth Palmerin sée that your men and all things be in readines yâ— we may launch away vpon halfe an houres warning So departed the maister about his busines and Palmerin to the prince Trineus whom he informed with these glad tydings now nothing remaining but to know the princesse pleasure â—he being 〈◊〉 wiâ—e as ready to depart as yâ— most forward But quoth Palmerin how shall we safely get you foorth of the Court I will sayd the Princesse this night feigne my selfe sicke and for my greater quiet cause my Ladyes to absent my Chamber and so secretly will I escape disgâ—â—sâ—d to the 〈◊〉 gate of the Pallace which is not far from my todging wherto I may passe vnséene of any and from thence go with you saâ—â—ly to the Hauen This practise was faithfully concluded betwéene them and Agriola withdrewe her selfe closely to her chamber where at night she began her câ—uÌ„terfeit sicknesse commanding her Ladyâ—â— to 〈◊〉 hâ—r alone because â—he 〈…〉 Her Ladyes little thinking of 〈…〉 went to their owne lodgings very peâ—siue and sorowful which Agriola perceiuing couered her self with her night mantle and came to the place where the Knights staid her comming Palmerin taking hir vnder his arme conuaied hir in that maner to the princes chaÌ„ber where they altogither laid downe the order for their embarking Trineus extolling his happy fortune séeing his Lady so ready to accomplish his desire They arming themselues and taking with them the princesse costly iewels wherof she had plentifully stored her self they came to the hauen where they fouÌ„d
not be woon by such a mightie Emperor considâ—â—ing her youth and beautie and the wonderfull riches incessantly offered her Yet the highest Lord so protected her that the more liberall the Turke was in honors and perswasions the more loyall continued her loue to Trineus whose perfect image was engrauen in her heart And not fearing torments or death she boldly answered the Emperor that he trauailed in vain for she might not loue him in that she was married to an husband more noble euery way then he and none but him shée would loue while she liued yet made he no great account of her words considering what frailtie commoâ—ly is in women The day being come of this great preparatioÌ„ and al the Princes present to vnderstand their soueraigneâ— will he béeing placed in his imperiall seate said That hée intended to take to wife one of the most beautifull Ladyes in the world for that cause he sent for them to vnderstand 〈◊〉 they liked thereof Their aunswere was that they liked well thereof and would gladly honour her as wel beseemed them Then sent he for Agriola and before them all saide vnto her that it was his pleasure to accept her for 〈◊〉 wife and therefore shee should prepare her selfe on the 〈◊〉 to be married The Princesse abashed at these spéeches fell downe before him in a dead traunce where vpon by the Quéenes and Ladies present shée was conuayed into her Chamber where béeing againe reuiued she began most pitifull and dolorous lamentations so when all the companie had left her that shée was alone with Hippolita falling downe on her knées at her beds â—â—ete shée thus began O my God and benigne Father pittie thy poore distressed creature and forget the offences I haue heretofore committed for what is a sinner vnlesse thou in mercie suffer her to come before thée Wilt thou then vouchsafe O wonderfull wordeman of the whole worlde one eye of pittie vpon thy humble forsaken seruantâ— and suffer her not to fall into subiection to the vewed enemie of thy holy worde arming me so strongly in this temptation that I no way iniurie my Lord and husbande Trineus but rather graunt this desolate spirit may leaue this bodie and the worlde togither Ah my honourable Lord Trineus where art thou nowe that thou art not héere so defenâ—e the shamâ— and wrong this Tyrant offers thée What art thou dead or hast thou forgâ—tten me No no so well am I assured of thy fidelitie as no forment can diuert thée from mée Yet if I knewe directly that thou art not liuing the lesse woulde â—ée my feare to follow thée for then the greatest pleasure this Pagan could doe 〈◊〉 were to make mée happie onely by death But for the matter is vncertaine and that I liue in hope once more to see thée I will patiently endure all afflictions whatsoeuer for so swéete a reward as is thy louâ— These sorrowes of the Princesse so gréeued Hippolita as one coulde hardly iudge who was most passionate yet at length shée thus spake to Agriola I beséech you good Lady to leaue these gréeuous lamentations and regarde the high estate honour and dignitie that you shall haue in marrying with my Lord. Neuer perswade me quoth the Princesse to manifest disloyaltie for such preâ—erments if they bée not gotten iustly and by vertue they ought not to bée coueted but to be shunned as diuelish Serpents Thus spent they the whole night and in the morning came the Quéenes and Ladies newlie come to the Court to bid the sorrowfull Bride good morrow in her Chamber attyring her in wonderfull gorgious vestures after their Country maner farre beyonde the royaltie of Helena after her arriuall at Troy Betwéene foure Kings shée was brought into the greate Hall and from thence conducted to the Temple where they were espoused by the Mosti To recount here thy royall solemnitie in the temple the Maiestie and vnspeakable dignitie at the pallace the excellent Comedies rare triumphs Maskes Momeries Moriscoes and such like courtly pleasures would bée a matter too prolixious for they are not to our purpose Let it then suffice yee that after they were magnificently entreated at Dinner and Supper the daunâ—ing began and God knowes how the Turks Moores Arabes and Medes set foorth themselues in thâ—ir dâ—uises and sports before their Ladies much lyke the Satyres and â—orned Faunes giuing new inuasions on the Nimphes of Diana But all these maruayles ioyes and follies coulde not chaunge the Princesse countenaunce for shée continuing in her penâ—â—uenesse these sports were worsse to her then the tormentâ— of death aboue all fearing the losse of her chastitie which was a Iewell neuer to be recouered The Pastimes ended by the Quéenes and Ladies shée was conducted to the nuptiall 〈◊〉 so braue and â—â—ately as the Prince Aeneas when he came to Quéene Dido of Carthage and there was the vnfortunate Bride committed to her rest Soone after came the hastie Bridegroome calling for Torches that hée might be holde the Goddesse hée honoured and as hée was preparing himselfe to bed he was troubled with such feares passions and apâ—plexie as nowe he séemed more lyke a ghost then a man Perforce hée was constrained to forsake the Chamber when the extremitie of the fit somewhat asswaging and his former louepassions freshly assayling him comming to the Princesse againe heauily hée thus spake Ah Agriola Ladie and sole Mistresse of my heart I thinke thou art some Goddesse or at least excéeding all humanitie so strange is this aduenture as neuer any man I thinke heard of the like Alas cannot thy anger be appeased nor thou induced to loue him who for thy sake endures most horrible torments I pray thée bée not the cause of my death or if thou néedes wilt suffer mée first to eniâ—y the fruites so my desires Know my Lord answered Agriola that with my will yoâ— neuer shall enioy it and if perforce you séeke to dishonour me assure your selfe I am resolued rather to suffer endlesse miseries then to violate my faith to my loyall Husbande for such is my trust in God that hée will not forget such as call on him But in respect thou hast not béene cruell to mée nor hast exercised mée with any tyrannie I shall suffer thée to lye vpon the bed by mée as my Brother might doo and sometime though it be more then modestie embrace thée in mine armes but if fartheâ— thou presumest thou mayst not bée permitted but shall loose that fauour thy selfe and mee togither Madame quoth hée in graunting mée that courtesie you saue my life for I haue many Concubines to qualifie those passions and neuer will I attempt your dishonour while I liue if I but offâ—r the motion refuse mée foreuer I shall therefore account of you as my Sister and death shall not make me doo contrarie to your appoyntment The yong Princesse glad of this solemne promise gaue him a kisse or twaine and suffered him to embrace her but other kindnesse could be neuer obtaine
may wee beholde the soueraignitie of confident loue 〈…〉 then and certifie him of our pleasures and that we pray 〈◊〉 godâ— his 〈◊〉 may be in such an houre as hee may depart hence to his owne content yet am I greatly afraid that he shall not finde any Knight in our Court but hath eyther forfaited or failed towardes his Lady The Moore kissing the Solâ—ans hand and humbly taking his leaue returned to his Lord leauing the Soldane and his Knights admyring this rare accident so that hee exhorted euery one to aduenture his fortune at this Crowne to giue the greater assurance to their Ladies of their loyall fidelitie but many of them were herein deceiued for in stéede of prayse and glorie they receiued shame and reproch as you shall sée héereafter The Prince aduertised of the Soldans aunswere in hope of good successe sette forwarde on his iourney and the next day following hée came to Calpha where Maulicus caused him to be honourably lodged in the Cittie because that day he would not come to the Pallace On the morrow after that Lethea wife to the Soldane her Daughter Alchidiana the fayre Ardemia with many other Ladies and Princes were come into the Hall to sée the tryall of this noueltie Prince Maurice vnderstanding how the Soldane with all his courtly assistants stayed his comming went to the Pallace accompanied with a hundred Knights all clad in mourning blacke in signe of their continuall sorrow for their Princes misfortune There he was very royally entertained the Soldane causing him to sitte by him in a sumptuous Chayre of estate of purpose prouided and after many welcomes and kinde gratulations the Soldane demaunded how hee felt himselfe and whether hee sustayned any ease of his torment Ah my Lord quoth the prince I can not expresse to your maiestie the paine which I féele being a thousand times worse to mée then death and euerie houre enforcing mée to despayre but I must endure it with what patience I can till incomparable loyaltie discharge mee of this burthen With these words he lamented excéedingly so that each one was mooued to pittie him for such a burning flame continued in the Crowne and so fâ—rious heate procéeded from his mouth as sette the Hall in maruailouâ— hotnesse yet consumed hee nothing at all but in euery part was as formall as any other man Beloued Couzin said the Soldane for my selfe I will not enterprise to meddle with your Crowne for I doo not imagine my selfe so fauoured of loue as I can finish that wherein so many haue fayled nor would I willingly séeke mine owne dishonour being farre vnable to profit you as for my knights let them make proofe of theyr loyalty and spare not and sée which of them can winne the honour of this aduenture Hereupon Guiâ—â—haran brother to faire Ardemia first entred and 〈◊〉 to the enchaunted Prince sayd Trust me my Lord since I began my profession in loue I neuer committed any preiudice to my Lady therefore will I trie to end this enchauntâ—ient Then earnestly beholding Alchidiana for whose loue onely hee came to Court hée approched to the enchaunted Prince and pulâ— so hard as he could at the Crowne but hée crying aloude sayde For Gods sake Sir knight striue no longer for if by disloyaltie I could be cured I sée you are able to giue me remedie Alas in all my life I neuer felt like paine by any Knight that tried his fortune great neede haue you to doo seuere pennance if you will bée fauoured by loue any more towards whom you haue so haynously offended for my infirmitie may not be holpen but by loyaltie firmnesse faithfull persuit constant perseuerance and such other honoured vertues estéemed in loue whereof you haue not the least particular Thus retyred this newe louer more ashamed then a Uirgin to bee seene lightly disposed and so sate downe among the other 〈◊〉 whose fortune prooued as effectuall as the first to 〈◊〉 owne disgrace and great torment of the languishing 〈◊〉 The Kings and auncient Princes séeing the young Knights could doo no good put themselues in deuoire each one conceiuing so well of himselfe as if theyr fortune serued to ende the aduenture their yéeres should carrie the honour and they be renowned for euer by their Ladies but their vaine conceit and desire to accomplish an impossibilitie much abused them so that they shamefully remained frustrate in their intents and the paines of the enchaunted Prince greatly augmented who thus spâ—ke to them Truly my Lords it is the custome of your auncient and auâ—acious opinions to extoll your loueâ— and valour but for any thing I sée your olde yéeres haue much lesse merited amorous mercy then the indiscréete and vnconstant dealing of these yong Princes Then seeing that no other offered to prooue his vertue deliuering many greeuous sighs he sayde Unhappie wretch that I am howe much more had it béene to my ease and benefit if the Quéene of Tharsus whome I so 〈◊〉 offended would haue contented her selfe in her reuenge to cause mée be péece meale torne in sunder then thus haue deliuered me into this insupportable vexation the ende where of will neuer be accomplished séeing that in this honourable Court of my Lord the Soldane I find no one can giue me comfort Palmerin hearing the lamentation of this amorous 〈◊〉 fell into a profound imagination and after he had long regarded Ardemia who so liuely resembled his Mistresse Polynarda saide within himselfe Ah swéet Madame and onely mistresre vouchsafe at this instant to assist mee for by your succour I shall nowe make proofe of my faithfull and inuiolable loyaltie which neuer in ought offended you if not at Durace in affecting Laurana whom I simplie thought to be the Lady who was so often promised in my viâ—ions But seeing my thoughts neuer sorted to effects as also that I was deceiued in your name that ought not be imputed to me for any trespasse and therefore 〈◊〉 Goddesse bee fauourable to me Then surprised with sodaine ioy hée beganne againe earnestly to be holde the Princesse Ardemia who imagining her selfe onely beloued of him cast foorth a bitter sigh turning to Alchidiana 〈◊〉 Ah Madame and my déere Couzin what great fault hath this cruell Quéene committed appointing her Magique in such sorte as loyall and faithfull Ladies maye not be suffered héerein for deliueraunce of this yong and beautifull Princeâ— doubtlesse hee should sooner receiue helpe by them then by Knights 〈◊〉 much more loyally doo they loue then men and are in their affections firme and constant Alchidiana who felt her selfe touched with this intricate furie whereof the 〈◊〉 Ardemia complained suddainly coniectured whereto her sighes and faultering spéeches tended which raysed priuate conceit and such a vehement attaint of iealousâ—â— as she would not aunswere any worde but feigning to smell some discontented fauour turned her face the contrary way Palmerin looking round about him and séeing no one would meddle with the 〈◊〉 fell on his knée before the 〈◊〉
Ladyes eares Neyther can you in my iudgement honour him sufficiently because my Daughter and mée hee hath shéelded from death expulsed our ignominious slaunder and slaine our false accusing enemy to make vs liue in perpetuall fame and memory The most part of them well 〈◊〉 his words and confounded with the remembrance 〈◊〉 theyr shame when they 〈◊〉 not enterprise the Combat for their Lady knew not what to answere but fearing to grow in further offence sought how to change his minde to some other talke Alchidiana béeing all this while in her Chamber prepared her selfe to goe visite 〈◊〉 not knowing how to shape her 〈◊〉 for fresh bewraying of 〈…〉 for the Goddesse Iuno when shée stoode before Syr Paris for sentence of her beautie was not more sumptuously adorned then the Princesse Nowe be 〈◊〉 shée to dispute in her thoughts the honourable graceâ— of Palmerin his nobilitie so farre renowmed his knightly prowesse and magnanimitie whereof herselfe had so good experience as shée resolued neuer to haue any other Husband Then 〈◊〉 she of her Ladies how she might 〈◊〉 her Knight if her head â—yre 〈◊〉 orderly if her 〈…〉 were tressed as they ought and if her garments were braue enough For conclusion the louely Mayden knew not how to dispose of herselfe to gaine his loue shée so earnestly longed for In this equipage she goes to sée her Friend and in his Chamber shée findes her Mother who hindered her languishing Daughter from discouering her sicknesse to him that onely had the power to helpe her wherefore liuing in hope of some better oportunitie for this time she smothered her gréefes so wel as she could finding other talke with her Ladies least her mother should suspect her Chap. XIII How the brethren of Amarano would haue buried his bodie in the Tombe with Ardemia which Alchidiana would not suffer but constrained them to carrie him home againe into his Countrey AMarano thus slaine his Brethren according to his charge thus giuen them before hée entred the Combat tooke his bodie and with great mourning they brought it to the Princesse Ardemiaes Tombe thinking to burie him there with her but Alchidmia aduertised héereof came presently and intreated her Father that hée woulde sende an Herauld to the Brethren of the vanquished Prince to charge them not to leaue the bodie of Amarano in his Dominions for if they did he would cause it to be burned as a Traytor deserued Moreouer that they themselues should depart within foure and twentie hours on paine of the daunger should ensue by their default For good Father quoth she if you should permitte their boldnesse it will be great blame and dishonour to you in that it is commonly knowne with what great pride and arrogancie he came to your Court thinking to iniurie your good report and eyther to shut mée from your presence for euer or else with open scandale to ende my life The Soldane well regarding her wordes willingly graunted her request whereupon the Princesse Brethren were certified of the Soldanes pleasure by a Trumpet whereat they maruailed not a little but séeing they could no way remedie it they said Herauld it is reason that your Lord should bée obeied within his owne territories neuerthelesse you may say vnto him that the crueltie he shewes to a dead bodie is verie great and against all equitie which he héereafter happilie may repent So opening the Tombe againe they tooke foorth their Brothers bodie and the Princesse Ardemiaes likewise conuaying them into a Litter of Cipres to kéepe them from corrupting and thus returned with them to Phrygia where the Princes death was greatly lamented but chéefly by the aged King his Father who séeing his Sonne dead before him after many dolorous passions thus complained Ah Fortune howe cruell doost thou shew thy selfe to the mightie as well as the meanest Ah my Sonne Amarano too déere hast thou bought thy loue to Ardemia Wretched and dispised olde man howe vnfortunate art thou among all other For when thou perswadest thy selfe to haue ioy and comfort by thy Sonnes thou findest the chéefe cause of sorrowe and discontent O death thou sufferest me too importunate Yet if the Soldane had graunted thée buriall where thou diddest desire it before thy death the lesse had béene my gréefe But soone shall I cause him repent his hard dealing and reuenge thy death with sufficient requitall The second brother to Amarano named Gramiel séeing his father in such extreame heauinesse assayed by all meanes he coulde to comfort him promising in the presence of all his Knights with all possible spéede to reuenge his Brothers death and so did all the sixe Brethren solemnly vowe togither Which spéeches did somewhat comfort the aged King who commaunded the bodies of the two louers to be taken from his presence and for a perpetuall memorie of his Sonnes death he caused a sumptuous monument to be made of marble and Porphire whereon was grauen the cause of their vnhappie death All this while Gramiell who vndertooke his Brothers reuenge gaue charge to the people round about him as also to the Kinges and Princes of Suria who were then enemies to the Soldane to prepare themselues in readinesse so that within a Moneths space hée had assembled a power of fiue thousand hardie Soldiers himselfe béeing appointed leader and generall ouer them In this sort they tooke themselues to the Feelde hoping to ruinate the Soldanes Countrey with fire and sworde but they were better entertained then they expected as hereafter shall bée largely discoursed Chap. XIIII Howe Alchidiana ouercome by vehemencie of her loue offered her selfe to Palmerin as his wife and of the aunswere he made her REmembring what hath past in the chapters before we may not forget how by the message of the Quéene of Tharsus sent to the Soldanes Court Alchidiana who began as it were to despise Palmerin was coÌ„strained to renue her loue thus conferring with her selfe that if so great a person as the Quéene of Tharsus commended estéemed and honoured him hauing neuer séene him the better meane had she béeing dayly in his companie to practise the furtheraunce of her earnest desires Shée therefore continually awayted oportunitie to discouer the fire newly raked from the embers and which day and night consumed her with languishing but so well it came to passe that not many dayes after the Combat with Amarano hee came to visite her in her Chamber right ioyfull of the talke hee had with the Soldan as coÌ„cerning the prouision of his strength to goe ruinate the Citie of Constantinople which gaue him hope of his returne to Allemaigne Alchidiana hauing courteously saluted him and shewing better countenaunce then before shée did caused him to sit downe by her and soone after began in this sort I desire you Sir Knight by the reuerence you beare our Godâ— and the â—ayth you owe to her for whose loue you tooke the enchaunted Crowne from the Prince Maurice to tell me your name what your Parents be and of whence
in your fathers Pallace and which no death can make me falsifie or change vnlesse you please to suffer me take another wise wherein I shall satisfie the importunate requests which daylie thâ— Lords of Macedon make to me for marriage that I might leaue them an heyre of my linage Which is a matter so gréeâ—ous to me in that I failed of you to whom I first gaue my fayth as I resolued neuer to take any other which I knowe not how I shall performe without losse of my life As he thought to haue procéeded further in spéeches and the Quéene hauing not answered one worde vnhappily the King entred which the Quéene beholding swouned with feare But she was immediately recouered by her Ladyes When the King séeing her in such estate and in what secrecie the two Pilgrimâ— talked with her hée gathered some suspition and ouercome likewise with the force of iealousie saide Madame what make you here at this time and in so slender companie of Ladies how dare you stande talking with these Straungers I woulde gladly know the matter and what hath made them so bold to enter your Chamber Florendos séeing his affaires to growe from badde to woorsse and that his Ladie was so threatned entring into choler he drew his Dagger from vnder his Frocke and taking the King by the bosome said Tarisius I will not hyde from thée who I am it is more then twentie yéeres since I promised thy death and nowe I am come in person to performe it With these wordes he stabde the Dagger to his heart and downe fell Tarisius dead at his féete which when the Quéene saw she on the other side fell in swoune again Frenato greatly amazed hereat sayde to Florendos For Gods sake my Lord let vs shift for our selues before this misfortune bée blazed abroade Content thy selfe sayd Florendos neuer shall it bee reported that I left my Ladie to suffer for mine offence or that for the feare of death which is the ende of all mishaps I will endure such intollerable anguishes and torments Now by ill fortune one of the Pages of honour attended on the King and hauing séene this homicide hastiliâ— ranne downe the stayres crying aloude Arme ye Knights arme ye and reuenge the Kings death who by a trayterous Pilgrime is slaine in the Quéenes Chamber Cardino one of the Quéenes Squires her brother that caried yong Palmerin to the mountaine had no leysure to take anie other armes then a Sword and Shéelde wherefore he was the first that came to the Quéenes Chamber where hee found Florendos guarding the entraunce who presentlie knew him saying Depart my good Friend Cardyno vnlesse for the Quéenes loue I shal take thy life from thée And what art thou sayde Cardyno that knowest mee so well I am thy Fréend quoth the Prince the most vnfortunate Florendos Straunge it is my Lord quoth Cardyno that you durst venture into this Court but take héere my Swoorde and Sheelde and defend your selfe for I thinke you will stande in great néede thereof In the means while I wil go aduertise the Duke of Pera of this mishap he is your good fréend and by his meanes you may haue some succour for oftentimes haue I heard him say at Constantinople that he wished you as well as my Lord the Emperour Dispatch then said Florendos that thou be not found héere with me assuring thée if I may escape this daunger I will acknowledge this seruice to thine owne content Florendos armed himselfe with the Sword and Shéeld whereof hée was so glad as if hée had béene backed with manie trustie fréends vowing before he died to make such a spoyle among his enemies as should remaine for an after memorie Cardyno went with all diligence to the Duke and secretly acquainted him with all this misfortune whereat the Duke greatly amazed answered I will do my vttermost for his safetie because full well he hath deserued it And so accompanied with many Grecian Knights he went to yâ— Quéenes Chamber and thrusting through the throng in despight of them that guarded the stayres bée got to the Chamber At the entrance whereof he found Florendos defending himselfe with such manly courage as nine or ten lay slaine at his féete The Duke and his men caused the Hungarians to withdraw themselues saying that himselfe would not suffer the matter so to escape for the offence ought to bee punished by iustice after the truth were knowne and thorowlie vnderstoode Hereupon the kings two Nephewes came in great rage saying to the Duke of Pera that the Quéene and the Pilgrime ought presently to die What quoth the Duke depart you likewise your willes shall not héere stande for Lawe nor is the Quéene to bée intreated with such rigour So drawing his swoorde and his Knights likewise resisted the Hungarians so that manie of them were slaine vntill certaine Gentlemen came who louing and estéeming the Quéene appeased this tumult Then was it agréed vpon that the Duke should take him into his charge who had murthered the King on whom such punishment should bee inflicted as the cause required and héereupon the Duke tooke his oath before all the companie In this sort the Kinges Nephewes were quieted who presentlie departed the Chamber causing the dead and wounded to bee conuayed thence that the people might receiue no further occasion of offence and the Duke comming to the Prince Florendos said Yéeld your selfe to me my Lord and I will promise you on the faith of a Prince that I will maintaine both your right and the Quéenes whatsoeuer daunger I hazard therby If you will not assure your selfe that your bodies cannot suffice the villainous surie of these people for they haue confidently sworne your deathes I know my Lord quoth Florendos that you speake the trueth and I repose my trust on your nobilitie which is such as you will not suffer anie iniury to the man béeing in your guÌ„â—rde I yéelde my selfe to you and earnestly intreate you not to imprison the Quéene for on mine honour she is guiltlesse And if any offence hath béene committed it was by me yet not without iust cause and in defence of mine own life My comming hither-was because I am newly returned from Ierusalem and remembring the manifold honours which sometime I receyued of my Ladie in the Emperour her Fathers Court in my passing by I was destrous to do my dutie to her At the instant time I was saluting her the King came into the Chamber who moued with an auncient hatred which you verie well know would haue slaine me but I preuenting his intent with the ayde of my weapon bestowed that on him which he wished to mee I beléeue well what you haue sayd quoth the Duke yet must you néedes abide triall in this case Frenato perceyuing his Cozin in such daunger sought about the Chamber for some weapon to defende him and finding the Kings Sworde by the Quéenes bed side shewed it to the Duke that he might
no Ladie may comparâ— her felicitie with mine Ah my sonne by thée are my sorrowes chaunged into ioy my dispaire into content and from death it selfe am I brought againe to life for if my husbands hard hap made me dâ—spise life now may you be assured how much I desire it Then declared shée how to saue the Prince Florendos life whose faithfull loue brought him to such extremitie by sicknesse she aduentured her honor for his safetie and entering the paradise of loue bestowed that iewel on him which she most of all estéemed And so maist thou quoth shée report to the Emperour yet in this manner that not by carâ—all impudicitie I so consented for God is my witnesse that notwithstanding the perill wherein I sawe him no perswasion could cause me yéeld him that especiall remedie before he had first solemnly vowed marriage to mée which against all right was broken by the Emperours commaundement Madame quoth Palmerin Florendos is of such valour and his honorable actions so well receiued among men that albeit he had made you no such promise yet reason may excuse you in this matter But if by promised faith and to saue the life of so gentle a Knight who happilie by your refusall might haue miscaried you honoured the Temple of Loue with so swéete an offering among people of good minde it ought rather to bée tearmed a vertue then anie bad affection or vnlawfull lust And therfore Madame comfort your selfe for shortly I hope to assure your peace with the Emperour and séeing I haue you for my mother and the Prince Florendos for my Father I féele my selfe frée from any gréefe or vexation assuring you that I will driue it to no further delay but this morning will I confer with his Maiestie The Quéene béeing fearefull that her long stay should cause anie bad opinion hauing kissed her sonne gaue him the good morrowe and so went to her Chamber where shée found Cardyna her Gentlewoman to wâ—om she shewed the Crucifixe her sonne had giuen her saying Tell me I pray thée Cardina doost thou remember that heeretofore thou hast séene this Crucifixe and in what place Beléeue me Madame quoth shée I thinke I haue seene it before nowe but in what place I am not certaine Why forgetfull creature knowest thou not that this is the Crucifixe which was tied about my sonnes necke when thy selfe did carrie him to the mountaine In gooâ— faith the Knight is hée who fought the Combate for my Lorde Florendos Nowe sée the great mercie and bountie of our God who preserued his life then and from infinite daungers hath defended him hitherto Notwithstanding bee thou secret and on perill of thy life reueale it to none vntill the Emperour my Father be acquainted therewith Cardyna was so ioyfull héereof as shée must néedes goe presently to sée Palmerin and finding the Chirugions with him visiting his woundes shée fetched a gorgious Mantle of purple Ueluet broydered round about with Pearles Diamonds and Rubies as wel might beséeme the greatest Monarch to weare As Cardina holpe him to put on this Mantle she noted the marke on his face which she remembred since thâ— time of his birth and in this maner goes Palmerin chéerefully to the Emperour whom he founde conferring with his Lords and Barons but his presence caused them breake off talke imagining him the comeliest person that euer they sawe The good olde Emperour Remicius reioycing to sée him in so good and able plight demaunded of him howe he fared Right well quoth he I thank God and your highnesse readie to aduenture on any occasion shal like you to commaund me and now am I come to aduertise your Maiestie of such matters as will not a little glad ye in the hearing so please your grace to vouchsafe me priuate audience Hereupon the Emperour commaunded euery one to depart the Hall and they béeing nowe alone Palmerin thus began Dreaâ— Lord and mighty Emperour till this time haue I frequented the Courts of manie Kings and Potentates without desire of requesting anie thing vntill this present when faine would I request one boone of your Maiestie the grant whereof shall returne you both profit and honor My noble Fréend Palmerin aunswered the Emperour what euer thou pleasest demaund and on my worde it shall bée graunted Palmerin with humble obeysaunce kissing the Emperours hand sayd In sooth my Lorde all that I haue to request is onely to desire your highnesse that all offences committed by the Prince Florendos and Madame Griana your Daughter may not onely be forgotten but also forgiuen For thy sake Palmerin quoth the Emperour I forgiue all their offences whatsoeuer May it then please your Maiestie quoth he to remember howe when Florendos came to doo you seruice during your warres agaynst Gamezio because you denied to giuâ— him your Daughter hée was so sicke as euerie howre his death was expected It then so fortuned my Lord the Princesse your Daughter acquainted with the cause of his sicknesse to giue him some comfort as also to defend so good a Prince from death by gracious spéeches shée gaue him such hope of her loue and such for trueth as before they parted a solemne promise of marriage was concluded betwéene them I know not the conditions of their agréements but it séemed the Articles consisted on no difficult accorde for each receyued of other the swéete desires of loue in so much as that night was I begotten And for a trueth my Lord I am the Sonne to the Prince Florendos and Madame Griana your Daughter who as I vnderstand by the Empresse perswasion against all right you compelled to marrie with the Prince Tarisius Florendos notwithstanding my Mothers wrong was verye great hath continued so loyall as hée would neuer accept anie other for his Wife nor as yet will but onely her Nowe my Lord that this matter may not séeme a fantasticall inuention I can resolue you of the place of my byâ—â—h which was in the Tower where my Mother remained prisoner by your commaundement vnder the charge of a Ladie named Tolomestra who to defende your daughters honor caused me to be carried to a place not far hence which is called the Mâ—unt of Oliues from whence my surname is likewise deriued in that place was I â—ound by a Countrey pesant vnder a Palme Trée who in signe thereof named me Palmerin d'Oliua My sorrowfull Mother hoping one day to sée me againe diligently noted diuerse markeâ— I haue and hung about my necke a golden Crucifixe which this day I gaue her againe and by this marke 〈…〉 like a Crosse shée well remembers me to be her Sonne In this respect my Lord that your Daughters offence was occasioned by true and faithfull loue and hauing likewise promised to forgiue all causes of displeasure graunt my father nowe at length to enioy his lawfull Wife that I béeing their Sonne may not bée estéemed as illegitimate the dâ—â—ing whereof will renowme your name for euer and loue
tryed in so manie affliâ—tions shall be crowned with his long and desired reward The Emperour amazed at this strange discourse could not imagine what answer to make wherefore hauing â—itten a prettie while silent lifting his eyes to heauen hée thus began O mightie King of Kings onely good and full of mercie I render thy name euerlasting thankes for thy gracious regarde to the distressed Empire of Greece for though in our last warres thou tookest away my Sonne Caniano thou hast at this instant sent me another who well hath learned to defend this state from the proude inuading Gouernour of Turkie Ah my Sonne Palmerin right well doo I beléeue what thou hast said And albeit thou hadst not shewen such probable arguments yet doost thou so perfectlie resemble my Sonne Caniano as easily may be coniectured whence thou art discended Whatsouer thou demaundest my Sonne is already graunted And with these wordâ— the teares trickled downe his milke-white Bearde such was his inward earnest conceyt of ioy and imbracing Palmerin in his armes he called his Lords who maruelled not a little at this euent and thus spake the Emperour Sée héere my Fréendes your liege Lorde and Soueraignâ— the Sonne of my Daughter Griana and the Prince Florendos how may you applaud the bountie of Heauen prouiding for you such a noble Prince The Lords all wondering at these spéeches came and entertained him with manie signâ—â— of honour so that it is not registred in any auncient memâ—rie that euer King or prince had such suddaine and gracious 〈◊〉 By this time these newes were spredde through the whole Pallace and the Empresse â—earing thereof sent one of her Squires for Palmerin when the Emperour taking him by the hand brought him to her Chamber saying Sée héere Madame your Sonne who by your meanes hath long time béene banished our Court héereafter looke hée bée better vsed The Empresse surprised with incredible ioy louingly embracing him said Welcome my Sonne forget my heynous oâ—â—ence when I would not suffer thy Mother to enioy the Prince Florendos which fault Heauen hath reuenged with the death of my thrée Nephewes whereof I nowe make no reckoning séeing God hath sent vs such a gracious comfort The Emperor on the other side welcommed the Quéene his Daughter which as yet hée had not doone since her comming from Hungaria Lay by quoth hée fayre Daughter these blacke garments the witnes of your inward mourning and decke your selfe presently in reioycing habits for now before all my Lords of Greece will I haue you espoused to the Prince Florendos So departed the Emperour and the Princes leauing the Quéene â—itâ— her Ladies who disrobed her of her mourning garments his Maiestie commaunding Palmerin to go séeke the Prince of Macedon his Father accompanied with all the noble men of the Court. In the meane while he caused all the ornaments of black to bée taken downe and the Pallace to bée hanged with sumptuous cloth of Golde and gaue in charge to the Empresse that the Quéene the Princesse Armida and all the Ladies should adorne themselues as to receiue the verie greatest Prince in the worlde Likewise he saide to all his Knights Reioyce my good Fréends with mée for God tooke away my Children and hath double restored them for those that bée dead hée hath raysed vs more Palmerin hauing with him all the Emperours Knights went to the lodging of the Prince Florendos and by the way the Cittizens of Constantinople Nobles Marchants and Artezans welcommed him verie honourablie making bonfires and Garlandes of tryumph in euerie stréete crying Welcome to this noble Cittie our newe Lord and Maister and such chéerefull delights did they solemnize the time withall as though it had béene the feast of Christmasse Palmerin his train being come to the Princes lodging found two squires at the Gate sent thither by the Emperour the one holding 〈◊〉 Horse verie richly câ—parassoned and the other costly garments of cloath of Golde which hâ— caused t◠〈◊〉 brought vp after him into the Chamber where falling on his knée before the Prince he said Nowe come I my Lord to kisse your hande not as I haue done héeretofore but as becommeth a Sonne to his Father for I am your Sonne begotten on the Quéenâ— Griana whom the Emperour will nâ—we bestow on you in marriage Florendos was so rauished with these spéeches as hee was readie to swoune betwéene Palmerins armes but at length â—â—tching a great sigh saide O celestiall Soueraigne what am I whom thou shouldest so respect and lifâ— to such surpassing happinesse Ah poore Florendos not long since the mâ—st wretched among men what man may nowâ— compare with thy fortune hauing such a knight to thy Son and fayre Quéene Griana to thy Wife Go wée my sonne quoth hée embracing Palmerin for it is no reason to stay when such happie newe a hath sent for vs. And credit mée the verie first time I did behold thée my heart was solicited with greater ioy then I am able nowe to expresse which euer since made me coniecture that there was morâ— betwéene vs then fréendly alliaunce Then was hée cloathed in the rich garments sent by the Emperour and his Cozin Frenato in like maner so comming on horsebacke the Duke of Pera rode on his right hande and his Sonnâ— Palmerin on the left with many Princes Lords Knights and Gentlemen ryding both before and behind them In this manner came they to the Pallace where the Emperour himselfe staied their comming at the Gate and after they were alighted the Prince making humble reuerence to his Maiestie thus spake Mightie and redoubted Lord I knowe not how to render sufficient thanks in that your highnes is pleased to honor me with your daughter which is the thing I alwaies desired Notwithstanding I hope to â—â—ew such deserts héereafter as neither shée shall be miscontented nor your maiestie repent your gentle gift Noâ—le Lord quoth the Emperour well haue you deserued her and mine Empire with her in respect of your worthy sonnâ— Palmerin whome all Europe Asia and Affrica honours Wherefore in the presence of all my Lords I will giue her 〈◊〉 you deferring the day of solemnitie vntill the states of Macedon come therefore Sonne Palmerin go for your Mother Presently hee departed the Dukes of Pera and Mecaena with him and soone they returned bringing with 〈◊〉 the Empresse the Quéene and his Sister the yong Princesse Armida whom hee had schooled with such graâ—â—â—s spéeches as she had nowe forgotten her displeasure towardes the Prince Florendos for the death of the King 〈◊〉 Father There openly in the Hall by the Archbishop of Constantinople the Prince Florendos and Griana were â—â—â—iâ—nced together to their no little contentment as also to the good lyking of all the Princes and Lords of Greece who spent the rest of the day in ioyfull disports and tryâ—â—phâ— Chap. XXXIII How Frysoll declared to the Empresse that he was sonne to her Nephew Netrides ALl this pleasure of the Princes
to the Messenger and withall such an honourable gift for his paynes as well might content a greater personage He returning to Constantinople effectually discharged his aunswere and Palmerin reading his Grandfathers Letters vowed to fulfill his request and afterward to follow the search of Tryâ—eus Now the day béeing come when the Lords of Macedon shoulde set forwarde to Constantinople they came to take theyr leaue of the King who began to them in this manner Ah my good Fréends God is my witnesse with what good will I would beare you companie if my aged yéeres did not forbid me neuerthelesse let mée desire yée to behaue your selues in such sort as if I were in person with ye and honour Prince Palmerin no lesse then my selfe So creating the Duke of Pontus his Lieutenant in this Ambassade because hée was a braue and comely yong Prince bequeathed them to happie Fortune in their iourney commaunding a Knight to poste before them that Palmerin might be first aduertised of their comming On the same day as they should arriue at the Cittie Palmerin accompanied with the yong King of Sparta the most subtill and ingenious Prince of his time as well instructed in the manners and conditions of the auncient Kings his predecessours especially imitating cautelous Vâ—isses and diuerse other yong Princes and Knights rode to méete the Lords of Macedon at the Gates of the Citie There alighted all the Lords to kisse his hand which hée woulde not permit them to doo but casting himselfe likewise from his Horse embraced them all one after another And mounting on horsebacke againe entered the Cittie which was so plentifullie stored with Knights and gentlemen against the tryumph as the Prince Olorico and Frysoll were appoynted by the Emperour to sée the Lords lodged according to their estate and to erect Tents and Pauillions without the Cittie where the rest of their traine might be decently entertained This choyse made the Emperour of these twaine in this matter because in all his Court were not two more courteous Princes beside they were the onely men in the worlde for affable and gracious entertaining straungers All this businesse ended and Palmerin deuising with the Quéene his Mother Frysoll béeing in his companie sawe her enter the Chamber to whom he had vowed his seruiceable deuotions wherfore feigning some occasioÌ„ at the windowe where the Princesse stood he went and stood by her a prettie while and at length entred into these spéeches Madame as yet in all my life I neuer requested any thing of a Ladie and now would I gladly moue one sute to you as to her that is the onely Mistresse of my heart if I should not séeme ouer-bold in this petition assuring you that hauing obtained this fauour of you you shall not commaunde anie thing how difficult so euer it bée but I will gladlie enterprise it for your sake Beléeue me Sir Frysoll aunswered the Princesse you speake but reason demaunde then what you please and you shall obtaine it because I holde this opinion of you that you will not request any thing that shall in ought be preiudiciall to mine honour A thousand thanks good Madame said Frysoll this houre I hope hath boaded mée good fortune and this is my request that you would so much honor me as to permit me enter the Tourney vnder the name of your Knight because I would enterprise nothing but by your commaundement And this in my iudgement is such an especiall â—auour as I durst not presume to solicite you withall without the graunt my Lorde your Brother Palmerin made mée with this addition that according to my deserts in the Tourney if you can so fancie to accept me as your Lord and husband With these wordes the Princesse was touched to the quicke in that her desires were that way addicted and her colour chaunging with her priuate conceâ—te shée shadowed so artificially as shée could and with wordes fearefull and trembling thus aunswered In sooth my Lord neuer was I mooued with any such sute héeretofore but my Brother may so farre commaund mee as what liketh him I would be loth to gain-say As for your demaund to enter the field vnder the name of my Knight with right good will I graunt it assuring you thereof with this Iewell which henceforth so please you to weare shall remaine as a token of my loue to you So taking a goodly Emeralde from her finger kissing it with great courtesie gaue it him Nowe am I sure Madame quoth Frysoll to haue part of the prize séeing I shall aduenture in your seruice nor is this ring of so little value but when in the Combat I shall behold it my forces will be redoubled and newe life enter my fainting spirit Moreouer I dare say that neuer did the Ring of Giges bring him more honour then this will to mée for his could not profite or aduantage him but onely by béeing inuisible On the contrary I haue no pleasure but in your presence nor shall I thinke my selfe at better ease then when among Launces and Swordes I may labour for your loue Then entred the Empresse with other Ladies newlie come to the Court to sée the Iousts which brake of their talke wherefore taking leaue of each other they departed the Chamber Chap. XXXVI Howe the Duke of Mecaena and the Counte of Reifort arriued at Allemaigne at the Emperours Court and after theyr Ambassage dispatched the Emperour sent backe with them to Constantinople the Duke of Lorraine and the Marquesse of Licena as his Ambassadours NOwe is the day come when the Fléete appoynted for the Ambassade to Allemaigne should depart wherefore béeing furnished with all things necessariâ— for their voyage the winde and Sea likewise verie seruiceable came to aduertise Palmerin thereof to knowe if he would commaund them any further seruice Palmerin walked with them to the Hauen and by the way gaue a Letter to the Duke of Mecaena saying Worthy Duke present my humble dutie to my Lady Polynarda and giue her this Letter whereof I pray you bring mee an answere And pleased God that I might go with you neuer could any voyage better please me therefore lette me intreate you returne so soone as possible may be The Duke promised to accomplish his desire and taking leaue of each other they went abroade where hoysing theyr sayles with a merrie wind a way they went and arriued in Allemaigne sooner then expected When they were come on shore they sent a Knight before to the Emperour that hee might bée acquainted with their comming yet could not his Maiestie but maruaile at this Ambassage because in all his time he neuer had the like and therefore thought this strange occasion would sort to as strange an ende At length to doo them the greater honour he sent all his Knights and Gentlemen to receiue them who conducted the Duke of Mecaena and the Counte of Reifort to the Pallace and afterwarde to the presence of the Emperour When the Duke entred the Chamber
I to match with him then any other you named heretofore And this one speciall cause that he laboureth to bring home my noble Brother which Heauen graunt hee may otherwise can I not marry without verie great impeach to mine honour The Emperour well perceiued by the grace of her answere and her countenance nowe nothing sadoe or melanchollie that shee was nothing offended with this motion wherfore he said Happie may I count my selfe faire daughter that among all the Christian Princes you haue chosen such a Husband therefore apparrell your selfe to morrow in the best sort you may for then shall my Lordes the Ambassadours see you So departed the Princesse to her Chamber and no more spéeches were vsed till the next day when the Emperour sent for the Ambassadours of Constantinople and in the presence of the principall estate of the Empire ratefied the mariage betwéen Palmerin and his daughter And for further confirmation thereof promised to send his owne Ambassadours with them to satisfie on his behalfe the Emperour Florendos and Palmerin For which excéeding gentlenesse the Duke of Mecâ—ena in the Emperours name thanked his Maiestie earnestly entreating him to dispatch them thence so soone as might bee because their charge was to returne with all possible spéede This resolution absolutely sette downe the Emperour for the greater honour caused them to dine with him at his owne Table and grace being said by the Lord Almoner the Duke of Mecana desired his Maiestie that hée might sée the Princesse Polynarda whereof hée made promise so soone as Dinner was done when taking the Duke of Mecaena by the one hande and the Countie of Reifort by the other brought them to the Empresse Chamber where they founde the Princesse in such sumptuous ornaments and accompanied with such rare grace and exquisite beautie as they iudged her rather an Angell then anie earthly creature And greatly was the Duke abashed at such a singular spectacle not knowing how to frame his opinions but hauing humbly saluted the Empresse came to the Princesse and on his knée reuerently kissed her hand with these spéeches Let it not displease ye faire Madame that I vse this honourable dutie to you for I doo it in this respect as to the gracious Ladie and Empresse héereafter of Constantinople By this meane hée secretly conueyed Palmerins Letter into her hande for which the Princesse gaue him many deuout thankes which were coupled with such magesticall gestures as neither to Nero or Galba were done the like no not by Constantine himself to the Pope And though the Dukes words had raised a swéete blush in her chéekes yet could she with such choyse answeres excuse the same as gaue greater countenaunce to all her behauiour Then turned the Duke to the Emperour and smiling saide Trust me my Lord nowe doo I verely beléeue what hath heretofore bene told me of the Prince Palmerin that hée is an especiall Iudge of the beautie of Ladies for in mine opinion hée hath chosen one without a second and of her may truly be affirmed what the Poets described of Helena tearming her the Goddesse of beautie With this rare Princesse to be matched an Husband so famous well may be saide the couple to be without compare for the faire formed Paris may not be equalled with Palmerin So the Ambassadours departing the Princesse withdrewe her selfe to her Chamber where reading her friends Letter her ioyes and pleasures redoubled because shée might now boldly credite her fortune And before she would forget the inuention her spirite offered â—hée presently wrote an answere earnestly entreating him to hasten his returne to abreuiate her languishing desires which nowe made her life but a shadow of death Hauing close sealed her Letter shée sent it to the Duke by one of her most trustie Ladies with diuers other rich gifts and presentes The Duke of Lorraine and his companie readie departed thence with the Ambassadours and winde and weather seruing so well they arriued at Constantinople the day before Florendo's his nuptialls Newes being brought héereof to the Courte Palmerin accompanied with many Princes and Knightes went to the Hauen and at the landing of the Ambassadours Palmerin embraced the Duke of Lorrâ—ine and the Marquesse of Cicena and so ryding to the Pallace beguiled the time with diuers discourses where among the Duke of Lorraine thus spake Syr Palmerin I alwayes did imagine that those straunge aduentures aâ—chiued by you during the obscuritie of your yonger yeares would in the end reueale your honourable parentage and make your name for euer immortall and were the Prince Tryneus with you nowe for the verie best condition in the world would I not leaue your companie Gentle Duke answered Palmerin if I did not perswade my selfe how greatly I should comfort your minde by recouering your Prince Tryneus I should account my life so vnhappie as presently I would â—â—sire my death God graunt quoth the Duke that you may finde him againe for that will bee the greatest good that euer came to our Empire considering the vertues magnanimitie and speciall chiualrie which is as currant in our yong Prince as in any other And thus they spent the time till they came to the Pallace where the Duke of Lorraine after hee had saluted the Emperour and the Princes deliuered the message committed to his charge Wherewith Palmerin was not a little pleased considering what he had read in his Ladies Letter which discouered the sorrowes shee endured for his absence but being assured of her firme loyaltie as also that shée was now promised him in marriage his cares were the lesse commaunding the Duke to be lodged neare his owne Chamber that he might the better conferre with him of his Mistresse whom he loued as deare as his owne life Chap. XXXVII Howe after the Prince Florendos and Queene Griana were espoused togither Palmerin was sworne Prince and heire of Greece and Macedon by the consent of the Lords of the Empire and the Realme THe Ambassadours of Allemaigne being now come the Emperour was aduertised thereof and considering that the Princes of Thrace and Macedon had expected their presence for the space of sixe dayes it was appointed that on the morrow the Prince Florendos Griana should be married And the day being come of this long desired wedding shée was cloathed in such rich and costly garments as though she had bene still a virgine But héere to set downe the sumptuous vestures of her her husband the Emperour the Empresse with diuers other Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen also the solemnitie and ceremonies both at the Church and at the Pallace would waste a great deale of time in vaine and without any pleasure or profit to the Readers and therefore I will let it passe vnder your conceit and speake of such things as are most néedfull After that the Prince Florendos and Griana were espoused by the Patriache of Constantinople the whole traine returned to the Pallace where before the Gate was erected a goodly Theater hanged
rounde about with cloth of Golde and therein were set manie Chaires and Canapies of estate There was the Prince Palmerin placed in the cheefest seate the Emperour and Florendos on the one side and the Empresse and Griana on the other then was Palmerin sworne Prince of Greece with all the obseruations in such causes accustomed by all the Lords of the Empire from the Emperor himselfe to the verie meanest Gentleman In like sorts did the states of Macedon his Father Florendos first beginning the Duke of Pontus next and in the selfe same order as the Imperialistes had doone This doone the Tables were couered and all the Princes placed according to their dignities the Emperour and Empresse at the chéefest the newe married couple at the second and the Prince Palmerin at the third so consequently the Kings Princes Dukes Marqusses Counties and all the rest in order As for the magnificence of the seruice the royal order obserued the Tryumphes Momeries Masques and dauncing would but fill paper with néedlesse reports in that your iudgements can conceiue thereof sufficientlie But the Tabels béeing withdrawne the noble Gallants went and Armed themselues and entred the field which was appointed without the Cittie and furnished with Scaffoldes and standings for the Lords and Ladies where the afternoone was spent brauelie at Tylt and Tourney with daintie chiualrie performed by Frysoll Olorico the King of Sparta the duke of Pontus and many other knights When night was come and Supper ended the Bride and Bridegroome were honorablye brought to thâ—ir Chamber and Florendos beeing alone with his Ladie thus beganne Ah swéete Madame how manie sorrowâ—s haue I endured in expectation of this long desired hâ—urâ— but 〈◊〉 at length compassed my wish I holde my selfe sufficientlie satisfied giuing credite to the auncient prouerbe That true loue neuer wanteth his reward and that which I thought woulde haue béene my death hath now returned me greatest honor and profit In sooth my Lord answered the Quéene I was euermore perswaded of your loyaltie but where necessitie ruleth reason hath no place And if by the exteriour action I haue béene disloyall to you yet my heart which first of all I gaue to you neuer diminished in will to loue you firmelie For which Tarisius verie often reprooued me notwithstanding in the ende and by the sufferaunce of God I think he receiued the rewarde that the vsurper of another mans right deserueth But why should we my Lorde call now to memorie things past or remember matters which bréed nothing but heauinesse it is for you to excuse mée and for my selfe to loue and honor you All the points of theyr former diuorce debated betweene them to such effecte theyr pleasures sorted in the end as that night shée conceiued with a Daughter which prooued to bée beyond all other in beautie On the morrow the Prince Palmerin entred the Lists royall because this daye he desired to Ioust before him went the chéefest Princes of Greece on foote and sixe Trompets to make him waye he managing his Horse with such loftie voltages as euerie one delighted to behold him After he had doone his reuerence to the Emperour hée gaue the spurres to his horse to encounter Frysoll but when they came to méete Frysoll threwe by his Launce and would not touch him The like did the Prince Olorico and diuers other Knights whereat Palmerin somewhat angry sâ—rooke his Launce into the ground and brake it and causing himselfe to be vnarmed went vp to the Emperour in his standing to sée the pastime of the other Knights and hee was no sooner come but the Emperour thus spake to him Bée not offended my Sonne because you haue vnarmed your selfe without tryall of the Ioust for the Knightes haue doone as best beséemed them not to aduenture on theiâ— Lord and Maister But if you would so faine haue some sportâ— with them you must héereafter disguise your selfe from â—â—ing knowne otherwise I sée you shall but 〈◊〉 your labor When Palmerin heard these words to the ende hée might somewhat delight the Emperour and the Ladies especiâ—â—lie such as neuer sawe his behauiour in chiuâ—lrie hee was determined the last day of the Tryumphe to come suddainlie among them and Armed in such sorte as none shoulde knowe him In breeâ—e now is the last daye come and the Emperour vnderstanding that Palmerin woulde enter the Listes disguised went to his standing and Palmerin secretlie entring his Chamber found there a white Armour such as the yong Knights was accustomed to weare which his Dwarfe had there prouided for him Armed himselfe presentlie therewith and mounted on a Horse of the same colour entred the Fielde on the assailants side because he had heard that this daie the King of Sparta would encounter the Duke of Pontus Frysoll Olorico and other of the most gentle Knightes in the companie The Emperour knewe Palmerin among all the rest and said to Florendos what thinke you Sonne of the white Knight Doo you know him No my Lorde quoth the Prince I know not what hée is but me thought hee entred with a iollie countenaunce it now remaines to sée what hee can doo At the encounter Palmerin vnhorssed the Prince Olorico afterward the Duke of Pontus and fiue other Knights in his companie then hauing broken his Launce the Emperor sent him another by a Squire willing him for his sake to imploy it as he had doone the other but hee would make no answer because he feared to be knowne Now was Frysoll much offended at the Prince Oloricos misfortune wherefore hée would reuenge his Fréendes cause but the king of Sparta estéemed a hardie and approoued knight stept betwéene them and being cast from his horse was so hurt with the fall as he was caried foorth of the Field to his Chamber Then Frysoll gaue spurres to his Horse and encountred Palmerin with such puisâ—aunce as hee made him loose his styrrops and had hee not caught holde about his horse necke hee had fallen to the ground but Frysoll his fortune was so bad as his Horse stumbling fel down and his Maister vnder him whereuppon the Emperour said to Florendos that the Knight in white Armour was his sonne Palmerin In sooth my Lord quoth the Prince his fortune is good if it be hee and well may he be estéemed the worthiest in the companie The duke of Lorrayne hearing their talke said Meruaile not my Lorde that Prince Palmerin hath so good successe for in Allemaigne haue I seene him doo much more then this and so much as my Lorde the Emperour hath béene constrained to commaund them giue ouer Palmerin séeing himselfe Maister of the Fielde departed as secretlie as hée came thither and so did the Emperour Florendos Griana and all other Ladies among whome the yong Princesse Armida wâ—s most pensiue for her Freendes misfortune so that by her countenaunce her inwarde affections might easilie bée discerned But on the morrowe when Palmerin sent for all the Knights of name with whome he had
noble blood and therefore caused them to be verie honourablie intreated So sâ—yling on at length they came neare the great Cittie of Albania when Oâ—imaell commaunded two or thrée Foystes to goe vnderstand in what estate the Citie was who were aduertised by certaine Frenchmen that the people were vnprouided of anie fortifications so that winning the Port the whole Cittie might easily bée conquered These tydings caused them forciblie to enter the Hauen where setting all the Shippes on fire they went on shore and murthering the Warders of the Gates â—ooke the Cittie at the first assault when Palmerin and his noble Fréends to their great sorrow declared howe well they could skill of such affayres The Citie was ouercome and the chiefest Citizens therein taken prisoners the Turkes following their fortune marched further and came to the Cittie of Durace where the faire Princesse Laurana abode of whom Palmerin sometime was amorous when he imagined by her excellent beautie that it was shée who so often solicited him in his dreames Palmerin béeing there come on land presently knewe the Countrey wherefore hée sayd to his companions I nowe perceiue déere Fréends that fortune forceth vs from ill to worse this speake I in respect of this Cittie agaynst which wée must be compelled to fight and not manie yéeres since with the price of my blood I laboured to defende it But because the Dukes Daughter is so good a Ladie as in my heart I reuerence and honor I beséech you euery one imploy your selfe to preserue her and her Ladies and demaund them of the Admirall for our part of the spoyle While Palmerin thus conferred with his Fréendes Olimaell vnderstoode by certaine prisoners that the Cittie was verie slenderly defended therefore no great maistrie to winne it quickly Yet at their first assault they were so valiantlie repulsed as Olimaell and his men began to despaire of victorie wherefore hee made open protestation that hée who first could enter the Cittie should haue anie boone of him hée woulde request Palmerin ioyfull of this promise caused sixe scaling Ladders to be sette agaynst the wall whereon hée and his Fréends ascended and on the wall cryed the Citie is ours wherewith the people within were so dismaied hauing endured a long and furious skirmish as they all fledde out at the further Gate The Turkes then burned the Gates on the Sea side and entering the Citie put olde and yong to the Swoord But Palmerin and his companions feigning to pursue them that fled ranne strait to the Pallace at the entraunce whereof they found many Moores who had taken the Duke wherefore they went to finde the Princesse Laurana who sate in her Chamber well néere deade for gréefe because shâ—e heard that her Father was slaine Her hée committed to the custodie of the King of Sparta Frysoll Olorico and Eustace desiring them to comfort the Princesse in that neither shée or her Ladies should fall into the Tyrants power and so comming to Olimaell on his knée he began in this manner You knowe my Lord the promise you made to day by vertue whereof becaâ—se I first got ouer the wall into the Cittie for my share I request the Dukes Daughter and for my Fréendes that followed mée her Ladyes and Gentlewomen for other spoyle of the riches and treasure we desire not Olimaell graunted his demaunde charging his people on paine of their liues not any way to offende the Ladies In this manner was the Princesse saued whereupon the Duke of Pontus presently went to her and taking her by the hand acquainted her with this ioyfull newes whereto shée thus replied Can it bée possible that Palmerin who héeretofore ventured his life in my fathers defence against the Count Passaco of Mecaena should now become so familiar among Turkes and Moores Hath hée so forgot his honour to God that himselfe is not onely a vassaile to the enemies of his faith but dooth likewise séeke their destruction that serue Christ Iesus Be silent good Madame aunswered the Duke for if his name be knowne we all perish what hath béene doone is for the safetie of your life and our owne likewise which hée hath obtained of the Generall of the Armie With these words she was somewhat pacified and the old cinders of loue which nowe began to spreade abroade caused her to returne this answere In sooth my Lord séeing I am become Palmerins prisoner I thinke my honour in better assuraunce and my Fathers death is the lesse gréeâ—ous to mée in that this matter may sort to better effecte then I can conceiue By this time was Palmerin come to her who intreated her to kéepe all things secretly for hée woulde endure a thousand deathes before shee should be any way dishonoured In time quoth he wée may be deliuered from these Hell-houndes as for you and your Ladyes the Admirall hath openly commaunded that you be reuerently vsed A thousand thanks my Lord quoth the Princesse and séeing matters are so come to passe yet do I reioyce that I fell into your power The Citie of Durace left in the same state as Albania was the Turkes went all aboorde taking no prisoners thence but Laurana and her Ladies whome Olimaell intended to giue to the great Turke So passing along the Coast of Thessalie they spoyled many Citties on the Sea side tooke the King and many noble men so that nowe they were stored with a number of Christian prisoners Now Oâ—imaell feared that the Christian Princes hearing what spoyle he made in their Dominions woulde râ—yse a mightie power agaynst him wherefore hée gaue charge to his Pilots to order their course towards the Cittie of Tubant where as then the great Turke kept his Court. The King of Thessalie thrée dayes before his taking sent his Queene who was great with Childe to one of his Castelâ— a good daye iourney from the Sea but when shée heard her Husbandes misfortune the gréefe shée conceyued caused her presently to fall in trauell when shée was deliuered of a goodly Daughter named Francelina At this time the thrée Magical Sisters who appeared to Palmerin on the Mountaine Artifaeria and one of them afterwarde in his going to Buda made theyr aboode in an Isle thereby named Carderia When they by their hidden Philosophie heard how the King was taken and should be kept in perpetuall prison without the helpe of his Daughter which was newly borne they concluded to frame such an enchauntment as maâ—ger the Turke and his power as hée that would not deigne to kisse his shooe should be deliuered from imprisonment Héereupon the yongest of these thrée Sisters went to the Castell where the wofull Quéene remained where shée was verie honourablie entertained because the Quéene desired to know if the King her Husband was dead or aliue and if any hope might be expected of his deliuerance The Damosell Enchauntresse aduertised the Quéene that in departing with her Daughter Francelina the King her Husband should enioy his libertie and in time to come she
happened to Palmerin and his companions being on the sea Chap. XLIIII How Palmerin and his companions metre two Turkish Ships from whom they deliuered Estebon the Merchant and his Sonnes and came to the Isle of Malfada where Palmerin lost them all and of the sorrow hee made for his mishap LAurana was so ioyfull that shee had so fortunately escaped the Turks hands beside was so reuenged of hir chéefest enemie as nothing could yéeld her greater contentation but howe much more would shee haue reioyced if shee had known the slaughter at the Pallace As she sat discoursing heereon with Palmerin and the Duke of Pontus Frysoll béeing aloft on the deâ—ke espied foure ships comming towards them with full saile whereupon hée called to his companions that they shoulde presently arme themselues For quoth he I see two 〈◊〉 Shippes and they haue taken two other or els my iudgement fayleth let vs therefore labour to withstand them least we 〈◊〉 a further danger No sooner had he spoken these words but they all puâ— themselues in readinesse so that when the enemie closeâ— with them and many entred the shippe thinking it was yéelded they had a sharper entertainment then they expected for not one escaped aliue that came aboord but either were slaine or thrown into the Sea In bréefe they ouercame both the Pirates and left not one aliue to carrie tydings hereof into Turkie Afterward as Palmerin searched the Cabins to sée what prisoners the Moores had taken he espied his maister Estebon the Merchant of Hermida and his two sonnes by him with two other Merchants chained by the handes and necks in like sort as the poore slaues are in the Gallies whereupon he saide Trust mée Maister hee that put this coller about your necke was little acquainted with your honest humanitie So looking vp and downe for the 〈◊〉 that opened the locks of the chaines hee â—spied a Turkish marriner who fearefull of his life had hid himselfe to whom he said By God villaine it thou she west me not quickly where the Keyes are I will sende thy soule after thy fellowes Spare my life most noble Knight cryed the Turke and I will giue ye not onely the Keyes but also shew you such secrets héere within as no other now but my selfe can shew ye wherein is infinite wealth and riches Dispatch then sayde Palmerin The Moore fetching the Keyes opened the locks tooke off their chaines and brake the manacles bounde about their handes when Palmerin lifting vp his eyes to Heauen saide Thanks to my God that so happily sent mee â—o succour Estebon by whose meanes I came to the knowledge of my Friendes and Parents and who first gaue me horse and armour for knightly seruice Estebon hearing Palmerins words maruailing not a little fell on his 〈◊〉 saying I beséech you my Lorde to tell me your name to the ende I may be thankfull to him by whom I haue escaped the cruell Infidels and receiued such an vnspeakeable benefit Why maister quoth Palmerin know ye not me I am your seruant Palmerin who you first prouoked to follow armes by your liberalitie and euer since haue I followed that profession and nowe haue requited some parte of your kindnesse Ah my noble Friende Palmerin said old Estebon suffer me to kisse thy hande for if heeretofore thou didst deliuer me from the Lions throat what may I say of the daunger from which I am nowe defended In happie houre was that knightly furniture giuen and with successefull fortune haue you imployed them but may it please ye to goe with mée I will prouide you of all things necessarie and giue you my Sonnes héere to be your Seruant The King of Sparta séeing Estebon vse such zealous spéeches saide to him Father you are very much deceiued imagine you the sonne to the Emperour of Constantinople a simble Souldier your age Father makes you forgette your selfe At these words the good olde man somewhat astonied excused himselfe to the King and turning to Palmerin saide Alas my Lord in not knowing you otherwise then one of my seruants I haue offered your excellencie very great wrong and great hath béene my desert of punishment vsing the great Lorde of Greece so vnreuerently But pardon my boldnesse noble Lorde and let mine ignoraunce excuse the offence committed for vnwittingly did I fall into this error Content thy selfe good maister quoth Palmerin in nothing hast thou offended mée but it thou wilt returne to thy Countrey these vesselles belonging to the Moores and all the treasure in them will I frankely bestow on thée Ah my Lorde answered Estebon since Fortune hath so happily brought me into your companie so please you to lisence me loth am I to departe from yâ—u for such store of Théeues and Robbers are on the Seas as hardly can I escape their handes aliue And sorrie would I be saide Palmerin that you or these merchaunts should any way miscarrie though perhaps your Wiues would gladly haue ye at home but this I must tell ye that I cannot retuâ—ne to Constantinople I shall be contented saide Estebon to stay your good leysure for a poore life is better to mée in this companie then welthie possessions among mine enemies Héereuppon Palmerin commaunding all the riches in the Moores Shippes to bee conuayed into the other sette are on the vessels and hoising sayle rode on merrily Within thrée daies after arose a mightie winde at Northeast which carried them with such violence as the Pilots â—old Palmerin they were nowe come on the borders of Persia and very néere the Isle of Malfada where they arriued before the Sunne setting They séeing the Countrey so faire and delectable would néedes goe on shore to refresh themselues for the Ladies were so distempered with the rough storme as they were very desirous to recreate themselues a little Palmerin not able to shun this fatall chaunce went on shore with his friendes and the two Princesses all the other likewise spéedily followed them where they had not long stayde but they were all diuersly enchaunted The two Ladyes were transformed into the shape of Hindes the other to Dogges Wolues and Leopards all of them running with such swiftnesse as though the furies had stood to chase them but Palmerin could not be enchaunted by reason of the gift hee receiued of the thrée wise Sisters on the Mountaine Artifaeria whereat hee greatly gréeued for such was his impatience thus to loose his friendes as hee entred into these lamentations Ah peruerse and vnconstant fortune how diuers and daungerous are thy trecheries Ah stepmother too cruell why dost thou not exercise thy rage on simple and forsaken soules but on such as excéede in honour and vertue Doubtlesse my sinne hath caused this mishap when I perswaded my Friendes to goe against their Christian Brethren onely by feare of my wretched life As he stoode thus complayning hee behelde the Ladie of the Isle with her Seruants comming to take the spoyle of their bootie whereof béeing ioyfull and thinking by
Zephira by the hande and leading her to the window â—ounde some cause of conference which Lizanda perceiuing in anger shée â—long forth of the Chamber yet Aurecinda would not follow her for she being thorowly conquered with loue neither regarding feare shame or other such like behauiour séemely in Maidens tooke Trineus by the hand and causing him to sitte downe by her thus beganne I doo not a little maruaile Syr knight that when Ladies come to sée you their entertainment is no better It is not the manner of Gentlemen to be so sollitarie without hauing some friend or beloueâ— which you shall soone finde in this Court of higher calling then you imagine if Ladies may discerne some signe of your fauourable liking In good â—aith Madame answered Trineus if to you and your sister I haue not done such â—uety as beséemed me it procéeded by forgetfulnesse or my minde carried away with other occasions for nature made me obedient to Ladies If these words Sir knight quoth she procéede from your heart I can assure you to be loued of such a one who is not vnworthie the like good will and of such account is shée with the Soldaâ—â—e as he shall create you one of the greatest Lords in Persia so please you to stay in his highnesse Court That may not be quoth Trineus for so soone as the Soldane and the prince Tomano shall be espoused I must néeds depart with my companion about affaires of very great importance Palmerin who with one eare listened to the Princesse Zephiâ—a and with the other to the words of Aurecinda after she was departed to her Chamber thus spake to Trineus Good Friende beware of this Ladie that shee cause you not to offende God and violate the loyaltie you owe to Madame Agriola Such experience haue I had in these actions as when Ladies haue enterprised theyr amarous furies if they cannot compasse it by the meanes of men they will aduenture it with hellish familiars that can deceiue the very wisest especially in this wicked Countrey where is no knowledge of God or his Lawes Beside you know that such impudent loue cannot bee carried about without such apt mâ—â—engers and from whence procéedeth manie inconueniences Brother aunswered Trineus feare not my constancie for my Ladyes loue hath taken such sure foundation as death cannot make me false to her yet prooued his words contrarie in the end and for which hée repented afterwarde While these delights continued 〈◊〉 Ambassadour to the soldane of Babilon arriued at the Courte where the Monarch of Persia receiued him verie honourably willing him to conceale the newes till the marriages were past which on the morrow was performed with maruailous royaltie As the Princes and Lordes accompanied the soldane to the Temple it happened that Aurecinda was conducted by the Prince Trineus whereof she béeing not a little glad by the way entred into these spéeches Ah my true Friend and Lord Trineus when will the day come that I may be thus led to espouse the man whom I loue more déere then my life Madame quoth Trineus I cannot maruaile sufficiently to sée you thus changed considering the greatest Lord in the Orient may be thought too simple for such a Wife yet did you choose one that perhaps would not espouse you my Lorde the soldane béeing your Brother may constraine him thereto Héere-hence quoth shée procéedeth my sorrow for hée whome I loue is not the soldanes subiect nor dooth agrée with mee in faith and opinion he will giâ—e no eare to mine intreaties much lesse to such a one as can make him one of the greatest Lords in Persia. But thinke you my Lorde that I can conceale what you may plainely discerne in mine eyes You are the onely man my heart 〈◊〉 chosen and whome the soldane loueth more then his Brother Alas Madame quoth the Prince vnfitting is it that a Knight errant shoulde espouse the Sisters of so great a Lord as is the Soldane of Persia. And would his Maiestie so much honour me yet the contraritie of our faith is such an impeach as flatly it may not be for rather will I be torne in péeces then match with a Pagan or renounce my faith for her loue No no my Lord saide the Princesse I will râ—nounce mine for your loue and worship Iesus Christ the sonne of the blessed Uirgin Well worthie then were I of reproch quoth Trineus if I should not requite you with loue againe considering what you aduenture for my sake As they would haue procéeded further in talke Colmelio Palmerins Squire whome Maucetto hadde bought standing to sée the tâ—aine of Persian Lords and Ladies passe by espied his maister and the Prince Trineus wherefore preasing through the guarde of Archers hee came to the Prince and taking him by the Mantle saide Most happie be this houre my noble Lorde to finde you and my Maister Palmerin What fortune hath brought thée hither Colmelio saide Trineus hast thou yet spoken to thy Maister No my Lord aunswered Colmelio he conducteth the Princesse with the Calife of Siconia wherefore I durst not presume to trouble him Beléeue mee saide the Prince but thou shall speake with him and while the Arch Flamin was performing the ceremonies in the Temple Trineus presented him to his Maister Palmerin who was thereof so ioyfull as if he had gotten the best Cittie in Persia. Hee demaunded by what meanes hee escaped the Pirates handes the true discourse whereof Colmelio rehearsed and howe Maucetto the Ambassadour bought him as Ptolome and he were brought to the Soldane of Babilon his Court to be sold and there doth Ptolome finde great fauour as I haue heard of the fayre Princesse Alchidiana the Soldanes Daughter onely for your sake Thou tellest me wonders said Palmerin depart not from me till after Dinner when I will goe to thy Maister Maucetto to demaunde â—hée which I hope hee will not denie because when I was Knight to Alchidiana hee was one of my most specially good Friendes After the solemnitie of the marriage was ended and Dinner ended at the Pallace for preparation of pastime Palmerin calling Colmelio went with him to the Ambassadour Maucetto who not a little abashed to sée him that was generally reputed dead in the soldanes Court came and embraced him with these spéeches My Lorde Palmerin what great God hath raysed you againe The soldane was credible enformed that you and Olorico were drowned in the sea for which both hée and Madame Alchidiana more lamented then for the losse of his whole Armie before the Cittie of Constantinople Palmerin dissembling as though he knew not thereof séemed to maruaile thereat very much and the better to shaddow his conceit saide that after the tempest was ceased which cast him verie farre from the Soldanes Armie thinking to returne to Constantinople hée was by violent windes brought to the Isle of Malfada where the Prince Olorico quoth hee and all the rest of my companions remaine enchaunted whom I hope to recouer againe after I can
get hence Little thought I my Lord aâ—nswered Maucetto to finde you in this Countrey but did Madame Alchidiana know so much her sorrow would soone be conuerted into ioy But what newes with you my Lord said Palmerin What may bee the cause of your Ambassage I will not conceale the truth thereof from you quoth Maucetto I come to demaund ayde of the Soldane of Persia for a fresh inuasion against Constantinople I maruaile quoth Palmerin that he will enterprise the voyage againe which hath cost him so much and returned so little profit rather would I counsaile him to forbeare and so will I write to his maiestie before your departure as also to Madame Alchidiana his Daughter But I would request one curtesie of you Sir Maucetto that you woulde giue mée your slaue Colmelio who in time past hath béene my Squire Him shall you hauâ— with all my heart quoth Maucetto and not onely him but whatsoeuer els is mine beside so please you to accept thereof I thanke you good Sir aunswered Palmerin and I doubt not in time to requite your gentlenesse While they thus talked together the Soldane came to Palmerin saying Will not you make one my Lord in this daunce the Ladies say they cannot haue your companie In sooth my gracious Lorde answered Palmerin little doo I delight in any such exercises very earnest affaires haue I with the Ambassadour Maucetto which craue suddaine and spéedie dispatch Beside faine would I know some tydings of him from my Ladie Alchidiana from whose seruice I haue now discontinued a yéere and more The Soldane abashed at these wordes saide I pray you tell mee the truth are not you hee that slewe the Prince Amarano of Nigrea in Combat and afterwarde two other of his Brethren of which exploits remaine such fame through all Turkie In sooth my Lord aunswered Palmerin béeing vowed to my Ladies seruice I neuer could suffer her honour to be any way distained and in that dutie I will continue for the manifolde curtesies I haue receiued by her By the liuing God sayd the Soldane now think I my selfe the happiest prince in the world hauing the man in my Court whose verie name maketh the stoutest to tremble But séeing wee are thus farre entred tell mée is the Princesse Alchidiana so beatifull as Fame reports her That is she my Lord quoth shee and much more then fame is able to vtter beside shée is one of the most gracious and affable Princesses that euer I beheld in any Kings Court. Nowe is night come and after the Courtly pastimes were ended the Bridegroome went to receiue the honur of his Bride commaunding Palmerin to bee intreated as his owne person which not a little contented the Princesse Lyzanda thinking héereby alas too lauishly to obtaine him for her husband but héerein she was deceiued so that her rash loue procured her miserable death Aerecinda likewise continually courted Trineus as though shée had alwaies béene trained vp in his company wherefore one day after hee had béene warned foure or fiue times by Palmerin he thus spake to her Madame if your honestly and vertue hath imprinted in noble mindes an especiall conceite of your continencie and chastity I maruaile nowe what many will thinke in that you should not shewe any such signes of loue to me for it séemes yée yéelde the Cittie before any assault be giuen Al these spéeches could not qualifie her humour for loue had so emboldened her with such vnshamefastnesse as shee made no conscience of following the cause giuing credit to one of her Ladies perswasions that by good pursuit all things enioy a happy ende Chap. LIIII How Maucetto the Ambassadour to the Monarch Misos of Balylon declared his message before the Soldane and all the princes of Persia. And of the Combate betweene Trineus and the King Orzadine of Galappa AFter the mariage feast was fully ended the Soldane sent for the Ambassadour Maucetto who in the presencâ— of al the Persian Lordes thus began to deliuer his embssage Mighty illuous Monarch of Persia the soldane of Babilon my lord and maister hauing euermore coÌ„tinued in faithfull alliance to your maiestie lets you knowe by mee his great and damageable losse which he sustained before the Citie of Constantinople For recouerie whereof hee humbly intreateth your highnesse most fauourable assistaunce which well you cannot denie him in respect of the great sway you hold in Turkie as also for the establishment of our faith and generall destruction of the Gâ—ecian Empire Ambassdor quoth the Soldane I will better consider heereon and aunswere you accordingly So calling all the Princes presently to counsell diuers confused iudgements were amongst them whereupon hee sent for Palmâ—rin and before them all demaunded his opinion whereto hee shaped this aunswere Might it stand with your highnesse liking and the good conceit of all thâ—se noble Princes gladly would I bée excused in this matter wherein I may not speake without suspition because the entent is against mine owne natiue countrey and those whome I agrée withall in fayth and opinion But séeing your Maiestie will néedes know my iudgement pardon in speaking boldly what I would be loth to dissemble I thinke no one of you my gracious Lords but well remembers the late warres against the King of Grisca siâ—ce which time the souldiers are hardly recouered and extreamitie were it to endanger the liues of wounded men Moreouer the Soldane of Babilon who nowe demaundeth succour sending his Armie into Greece where raignes a Prince so mightie and puissant as well coulde repulse them with shamefull confusion Perswade your selues as yet there is no other but he that tryumpht in conquest before I feare can do the like againe and thus my Lords is mine opinion Well haue you answered quoth the Soldane and this peaceable conclusion liketh me best so arysing from counsell they went into the great Hall where before theyr comming as the Princesse Zephira was deuising with many Lords and Ladies entred an armed knight accompanied with sixe other in Armour and twelue Squires who séeing the Soldane not in his chayre of estate demaunded of the Quéene where he was Knight quoth she he is in counsell with the Princes and Lordes of his Realme and long it will not be before he come in meane while you may passe the time in conference with the Ladies By God said Trineus to the Quéene I thinke he scant knoweth howe to conferre with Ladies for his indiscrâ—ete behauiour shewes him to be the woorst nurtured Knight yâ— euer I sawe saw you not quoth hee to the Princesse Zephira how vnmannerly hée sot downe without vsing any reuerence to your Maiestie The Knight sitting strouting in a Chayre and hauing vnclasped his Helmet said to the Quéene I pray you tell me Madame are those two strange Knights in this Court that were against your Husbande in the battaile and tooke him They be Sir Knight quoth she well and in good disposition thanks to the soueraigne Creator I aske not of
Princesse with her Ladie shée being come thither to bathe her selfe and layd in her bed but in such surpassing brauerye as Iupiter with his lightning Neptune with his thrée forked Mace and Pluto with his Cerberus would stand and wonder thereat So â—inâ—lie had she tressed the golden wyres of her hayre and her heade attyre embellished with such goodlie Orientall Pearles as made her séeme a beautifull Angell béeing couered with a gorgious Canapie resemblingng the Sunne vnder a faire cloud Betwéene her daintie Breastes hung a precious Carbunckle which supplied the office of Venus her firebrand when she sawe Tryneus stand so agast she said Why my Lord are you more afraide of a naked Ladie then of the most puissaunt Knight in Persia armed cap ape I can iudge no lesse séeing you dare approch no néerer In sooth my Lord quoth the Pages Sister you may thinke your selfe happy to be desired of such a ladie whome mightie kings and princes haue earnestly sought and woulde gladly haue had the least fauour shée bestowes on you So taking him by the hand shee caused him to sit down in a Chayre by the beds side and giuing her Mistresse her Harpe she departed leauig them together Ah page quoth Trinens howe hast thou deceiued mee What saide the princesse you forgette where you are you must at this time somewhat pittie my sorrowes and heare a dittie which I haue made for your sake Then taking her Harpe shee thus beganne to sing as followeth The Dittie sung by Aurecinda to the Prince Trineus THe God of warre fierce stearne and rigorous when he beheld faire Venus heauenly beautie Made small account of her disloyalay But suddainlie became full amorous Beautie had thâ—n hâ—r power vigorous Chaunging rough lookes to sweetest secrecie But he I loue incenst with crueltie Doth not regard my torments langourous VVhy should I then pursue that stubborne minde That with excuses kils my hope out-right Yet if he helpe not death must me acquite Ah mightie loue in nature most vnkinde Thou doost constraine me to affect the man That neither fauour loue nor kindnes can VVhat haue I sayd the Knight of my desire Is meere diuine and furthest from compare VVhose Eagles eyes can well discerne my care Vnd with sweete pitties droppes â—lay this fire The little Cod hath made him gracious His Mother mild to rue the Ladies smart That shrines his liuely Image in her hart Then to despaire beseemes no vertuous Regard sweet freend the passions of thy Freend VVhom God and nature hath appointed thine Giue loue his due and then thou must be mine So shall long sorrow haue a happie ende The Persian mayd say boldly thou hast wonne That Monarches Kings and Princes neere could donne With excellent cunning did shée handle her instrument but with farre better grace and affection deliuered her dittie gracing it with such sadde countenaunce mournfull lookes and renting sighes as forced the Prince Tryneus to become excéeding amorous And burning in this newe fierie impression beheld the singuler beautie of Auredinda which rauished his sences in such sort as trembling like the Aspen leafe hee satte downe by her on the beddes side The Princesse laying her Harpe from her embraced him very louinglie with these spéeches Alas my Lord will you still continue in this rigour and cruell inhumanitie your heart is more harde then Adamant that will not bee mollified with so manie intreaties I sweare to you by the Sunne that lightneth the worlde vnlesse you graunt me one request before your face will I presentlye sâ—eye my selfe Full well doo I perceiue quoth Tryneus that hardlie can I escape mis-fortune the Seruaunt hath deceiued mee and now the Mistresse séekes my death Ah Madam quoth he how can I graunt your request considering mine offence to God and he that loueth me loyallie Eyther bée as good as thy worde quoth she else stand to the danger that may befall thée Why Syr Knight is my beautie of so slender account as I am not woorthie to bee helde betwéene thine armes wilt thou 〈◊〉 me to consume in this violent flame which thou maist with such ease and honor extinguish hadst thou rather sée a Ladie split her heart before thée then thou wilt vouchsafe to preserue her life Come come swéet Fréende sée how loue and his Mother hath made waye for thée refuse not opportunitie so fauourablie offered What blemish is on this bodie that shoulde deserue disdaine If the King of Gods would thinke himselfe honored with this conquest much more estimation shouldest thou make héereof In bréefe she was so perfect in her subtiltie and knâ—we so well how to inueigle the Prince with queint spéeches and swéete embracings that she made him forget God his Ladie loyaltie and himselfe so that of a Maiden he made her the fayrest woman in Persia. When the time came that hee should depart the Princesse saide to him Yet haue I a further request my Lord you must promise to mâ—ete mee in this place at timesâ— conuenient and endeuour with your companion that he may likewise loue my Sister Trineus made promise hee would but rather hee desired to stab himselfe with his weapon then that Palmerin shoulde knowe this great abuse so heinous did his offence séeme to himselfe Aurecinda perswaded her Sister still to pursue Palmerin with her loue and what had passed betwéene her and the Prince Trineus she declared whereupon her desire grewe the greater yet all was in vaine for Palmerin would giue no eare to her complaints which was the cause of this mishap following Lyzanda aduertised by her Sister that Tryneus still thus vsed her companie in the Bath euious of her Sisters benefit and despightfull at Palmerins obstinate refusall she went to the Soldane and with manie teares thus deliuered her gréefe Ah my Lorde how much better had it béene that wee had neuer knowne these cruell Christian Knightes whose ingratitude will bee the cause of my death for the yonger of them is meruailouslie beloued of my Sister who forgetting her faith honor and her obedience to your Maiestie hath dishonored both her selfe and you onelie to make proofe of the other knights Crueltie to me The Soldane admiring his Sisters report answered I did not will my Sister to abuse her selfe without promise of marriage but séeing it hath so fallen out by my Fathers soule they shall both repent it Durst the Traytour abuse me so much in mine owne Courte Why my Lord quoth Lyzanda you are the onelie cause thereof and therefore you must bee angrie with no bodie but your selfe Let me not liue an houre sayde the Soldane if I be not sufficiently reuenged on him Sister be you but secrete and referre the rest to my direction Then calling for the Captaine of his Guard willing him to take fiftie Knights and when his Maiestie was at Supper they shoulde goe take his Sister and the Knight with her in the Bathe and afterwarde carrie them to strong pryson But sée it doone secretlye quoth he for if
not that the celestiall spirits haue reuenged our wrong with the death of thy people and for my escape I râ—nder thanks to the highest not to thée that gaue my life to the fire yet much better would my death haue contenteâ— mée then to liue without him whose absence is my torment and did not the hope of his life giue mee some comfort thou shouldest perceiue how little I estéeme of my life Then entred the Quéene Zephira and she falling at the Soldanes féete thus began Ah my Lord the dishonour you haue this day done mée is vnspeakeable Haue my deserts béene so simple in your eyes that I might not intreate the libertie of one Knight who this day I feare hath perished by your ingratitude Neuer shall I sée those noble Knights againe whose liues haue béene endaungered for my welfare Ah my Lorde if you looke into the weight of your offence you shall perceyue my teares are not shedde without great reason Madame quoth the Soldane and you faire Sister at this time excuse my fault committed and patientlie beare what hath happened for I vowe to you by the fayth of a Prince that I will make sufficient amendes for my trespasse When hée now thought to bée no further troubled his Sister Lyzanda entred mad and raging and snatching his Fauchion from his side said Sée villaine sée what happeneth by thy commaundement one of thy Sisters is for euer defamed and the other will presently and her life before thée Héerewith shée stâ—â—d the weapon to her heart and felt downe dead at the Soldans féets to the no little sorrow of his Maiestie and all that were present but Zephira causing the bodie to bée taken away the Soldane commanded she should be honourablie buried and erecting a goodlie Tombe of Marble ouer her graue caused the maner of her death to be thereon described Afterward by the counsell of the Lords of Persia hee sent the Prince Tomano and the straunge Knights all the riches and treasure they had left behinde them the Princesse Aurecinda remaining in continuall heauinesse and within short time shée felt her selfe to be conceiued with 〈◊〉 Héere in shée somewhat comforted her selfe though Fortune would not suffer her to enioy the companie of her Fréend yet one day shée hoped to sée his liuely image which at the time appoynted by Nature shée did béeing deliuered of the goodlyest male Childe that euer was séene in Persia naming him Ryfarano whâ— carried the beautifull complexion of his Mother as hee did the hardinesse and magnanimitie of his Father Chap. LVII Howe Palmerin and Trineus hauing soiourned a while at Grisca with the king Abimar departed to the Isle of Malfada where by the meanes of Dulacco and Palmerin all the enchauntments were finished BY the way as the Princes rode towards Grisca Palmerin vsed these spéeches to Trineus Howe happie is the Prince that giues credit to good counsell and will not be led by flatteries or subiect himselfe to his own passions and how vnfortunate are they that fall into the the contrarie Can ye haue a better example héere of then the trayterous Soldane who first causelesse disquieted the good King Abâ—mar and afterwarde at his sisters motion I imprisoned his Friend for your good successe héerein my Lord you must thanke Muzabelino and the Prince Tomano whose power was so readie to defende you Tryneus remembring his follies past was still so ashamed thereof as hee could make no aunswere wherefore Palmerin thus spake againe Why my Lorde hath the imprisonment for fayre Aurecinda strooke you dumbe leaue this bashfulnesse to Women and remember your former courage Stoute Hercules whose honors are yet so rise in memorie did not hée for the loue of Iole weare feminine garments and spin among women Did not Achilles the like when hée was with his faire friend in the Courte of King Lycomedes Marke Anthonie the Romaine Emperor did not he follow Cleopatra before Octauius although his armie on the Sea was two folde the number of his enemies And you for a little familiar loue to a yong Princesse who conquered you onely by 〈…〉 sute remaine thus confounded Doo you imagine your selfe to excell in strength prowesse and knowledge Hercules Achilles and the Emperour Anthonie Alas déere Brother aunswered Tryneus well may you 〈◊〉 of your especiall graces béeing able to tryumph ouer coâ—cupisâ—ence but so yrkesome is my offence in mine owne conceit as I thinke myselfe vnworthie to be séene among men of vertue What shall I say to my Agriola when she shall vnderstand my hainous offence howe shall I dare to present my selfe before her For that saide Palmerin we shall doo well enough but I would it were so welcome to passe that we were with her to abide her censure Continuing these spéeches they arriued at Grisca where the king béeing aduertised of their comming came to méete themâ— vsing these words at their gracious enterâ—â—â—â—ment Righâ— welcome are ye my noble Friendes no maruaile though the Soldane sought to wrong you remembring howe for my sake you vsed him in the battaile In sooth my Lord aunswered Palmerin well doth your nobilitie deserue our seruice and his iniurious dealing sharpe reuenge which happily héereafter hée may féele to his cost vsing strangers so vnhonorably but héere we present your Daughter Belsina to your Maiestie after whose marriage al these troubles began Welcome faire Daughter saide the King much better then my soâ—ne hath béene to your Fathers Court. When my Father quoth the Princesse hath considered his furie doubtlesse he will be heartly sorrie therefore and make satisfaction for any thing misâ—oone till then I beséech your highnesse to conceiue the best And according as the Princesse had spoken it came to passe for within thrée dayes after the Soldane sent Ambassadours to the King Abimar to excuse the imprisonment of Trineus and the sentence of death hée gaue against him sending to him and Palmerin all their treasure and sumptuous presents in signe of satisfaction and to his Daughter Belsina and the Prince Tomano he sent sixe Camelles laden with gold as the dowry of their marriage Nowe are Palmerin and Trineus wearie of theyr so long stay from their friendes wherefore they desired leaue of the king to depart who séeing hée coulde not well intreate their longer aboade right thankfully yéelted to their request giuing them all things néedefull for theyr iourney as Horses Armour men money and diuers other gifts of inestimable value For which kindnesse they humbly thanked his maiestie refusing to trouble themselues with such riches in their trauaile nor would they take that the Soldane sent them or what they brought from the ten Roâ—ks except the Birde and the two Crownes giuing all the rest to Muzabelino desiring him to continue them in remembrance My Lordes quoth he no seruice can bee lost that is doone to such liberall Princes as nowe you giue mée good occasion to confesse and though both I and mine should spend all our following daies in your seruice
Emperour said I beseech you my Lord graunt me one request which shall be no way preiudiciall to your Maiestie Arise sir Palmerin quoth the Emperour aske what thou wilt and thou shalt haue it My Lord Tryneus and the Princesse Agriola saide Palmerin are religiously married betweene themselues let me intreate your highnesse to confirme it witâ— open solâ—mnization before the Duke of Mecaena héere present whom I meane to send into England that he may resolue the King howe himselfe was an eye witnesse of their marriage The Emperour liked so well of Palmerins motion as soone after the wedding was solemnized and he comming to Bryonella courteously taking her by the hand said My good friend Brionella I am now to be discharged of the promise I made at my last being here in witnesse whereof I haue brought your knight sir Ptolome and him I commend to your further fauour So highly am I beholding vnto you my Lord quoth shée as neuer shall I bee able to returne sufficient recompence but were we equall in ioy with the Prince Tryneus and faire Agriola then would I think no storme could wrong vs. Palmerin at these words presently left her and perswaded the Emperour so well as Ptolome and Brionella were likewise espoused togither when Palmerin conferring with the Princesse Agriola thus spake to her Now may you iudge Madame whether I deceiued ye or no and if the estate of my Lord Tryneus be any lesse then I told ye Had I not giuen faithfull credit to your spéeches answered Agriola I would not haue forsaken my Parents and friendes so rashly but I hope they will pardon me in that I haue done nothing but to their honour On the morrow with excéeding ioy and rare tryumphs were Palmerin and Polinarda married togither and thus was long and faithfull loue worthily requited Ptolome was now created Duke of Saxon and Dyardo tooke his leaue to goe sée his wife Cordonya whom he had not heard of since the time he was taken by the Pirates Chap. LXI Howe Palmerin sent Ptolome Duke of Saxon as his Ambassador to the King of France and the Duke Eustace of Mecaena to the King of England to treate of the peace betweene them CErtaine dayes before the departure of Dyardo toward Bohemia Palmerin in the presence of the Emperour and all the Princes gaue the charge of his Embassade to the Duke Ptolome which he should deliuer not onely to the most Christian King of France himself but also to his yongest sonne who now had espoused the Duchesse of Buroundie So departed Ptolome from Vienna accompanied with many Lordes and knights and at length arriued at Digeon where the Prince Lâ—wes being acquainted with the cause of his comming thus answered the Ambassadour My Lorde sometime I had acquaintance in Fraunce with the most renowned Palmerin and because hée is the onely man of the worlde to whom I owe all friendly affection I will perswade my Father to ioyne in peace with him Nowe was Ptolome in good hope that his trauaile woulde sorte to successiue ende wherefore they presently iourneyed to the King who as then was with his estates at Paris and hauing hearde Palmerins request who nowe was wedded to the Princesse Polynarda and therefore his intended warre with the Emperour would extende to the hurt of the man he loued thus answered Duke of Saxon I am sufficiently acquainted with the bountie of thy Maister and verie well I doo remember that at his béeing in Fraunce he combatted for his Ladie Polinarda yet was I ignoraunt till nowe of that hath happened But leaste hée should conceiue that I séeke to make a commotion in Christeâ—dome let him enioy his Ladie and Wife in peace although shée was sometime promised to mine eldest Sonne reseruing the conditions of our amitie that our first Nephewes and Néeces may match togither in marriage therby to continue the honour of their predecessours As for the Kings of Spaine and England who moued me to giue them assistaunce on there behalfe I can make you no certaine answere vntill my Messengers be returned home againe Gracious Lord quoth Ptolome I dare assure you in the name of my Maister that hée hath euermore estéemed your fauour among the best Christian Princes and will not refuse the marriage betwéene your Children héereafter And this coniunction of your amitie will cause that neither the Kings of Spaine or England will séeke to molest him but with your highnesse ioyne in loue and friendship With this answer Ptolome returned to Vienna where the Emperour and Palmerin welcommed him with excéeding honour and by this time had the Duke Eustace taken landing in England where deliuering the summe of his charge to the King his highnesse returned him this answere Although my Lord Ambassadour both your Maister and the Prince Tryneus did me manifest dishonor yet not to withstand peace which still ought to bâ—â— preferred before warre I graunt his request and will presently call home my Garrisons shaking hands with him in honourable concord As for the wrong doone to my Daughter I am content to excuse it beléeuing that shée was not conueyed hence but with her will thanking the Prince for the honour he hath done her séeing she would leaue her Parents and friendes so lightly I thinke my gracious Lord answered the Duke that when you consider what your Daughter hath done you will not touch her with want of witte or iudgement for in respect of the long enmitie betwéene the Emperour and you shée desired that her marriage might sort this happie ende Nor would she haue departed hence with the Prince Tryneus without a faithfull and resolued promise of marriage which is performed with as great honour as euer was done to the daughter of a King Thinke you quoth the King that had not the great friendship of Tryneus when against his Fathers will he came with Palmerin to assist me quallified the weight of mine anger against him but I woulde haue pursued the iniurie he did to me yet did I referre his seruice to the iudgements of my Lords of England who perswaded me to reuenge which you well perceiue as yet I haue not done Prince Palmerin quoth the Duke is so vertuous as rather woulde hée haue runne on a thousande deathes then your daughters honour shoulde anie way haue béene impeached but béeing assured of this fortunate issue both hée and Tryneus aduentured as they did And sorrie am not I said the King that all things are come so well to passe but séeing we are entred thus farre in spéeche tell mée I pray you how Palmerin came to the knowledge of his Parents and howe hée finished the aduentures at the Castle of the tenne Rockes and the daungerous Isle of Malfada which neuer any Knight could compasse before Then the Duke rehearsed euerie accident how amourous the great Turke was on the Princesse Agriola and each seuerall occasion as they fell out at which report the Quéene with her Ladies were present who hearing the discourse
of so straunge and variable fortunes said I thought my Daughter had learned more modestie then leauing her Fathers Court to followe a Knight vnknowne to her in straunge Countries but séeing the ende hath fallen out so well hencefoorth I shall remaine in better contentment séeing a Prince of so great renowne hath now espoused her While this conference endured the Duke earnestly beheld the Princesse Sabinda Daughter to the Prince of Sansuega and Néece to the Quéene and of such excellent grace and beautie he estéemed her as forgetting the death of his Father who deceased since his departure from Allemaigne hée became so amourous of her that he demaunded of the Quéene if shée were her Daughter Shée is not my Daughter quoth the Quéene but the Daughter of my Brother the Princes of Sansuega Right glad was the Duke thereof and resolued to request her of the King in marriage who knowing the honourable place he held among the Prince of Greece and what account Palmerin made of him consented thereto so that within fewe dayes after they were espoused togither Herevpon to accompany the Princesse and to confirm the peace the King sent the Duke of Gaule and another great Lorde with them into Allemaigne the Quéen likewise sent twelue English Ladies to attend on her Daughter Thus returned the Duke of Mecaena to Vienna where 〈◊〉 was worthily welcommed by the Emperour Palmerin and Tryneus especially the yong Duchesse and the Ambassadours of England by whom the peace was faithfully ratified and confirmed Chap. LXII How Palmerin and Polinarda departed from Vienna toward Constantinople where after the decease of the aged Emperour Remicius Palmerin was crowned Emperour of Greece and what ioy was made at the byrth of Polinarda her first sonne AFâ—â—er the Ambassadours of England were returned home Palmerin pereciuing the Empire of Allemaigne was in quiet tooke his leaue of the Emperor minding to conduct his Polinarda to Constantinople not without manie sorrowfull lamentations of the mother to forgo her daughter and faire Agriola her new acquainted sister yet the Emperour pacified them well inough by shewing what benefit this contract would be to Christendome and so procéeded to his daughter in this maner Thou goest Polinarda to the séate of a great Empire but more pleaseth mée the péerelesse name of Palmerin d'Oliua thy husbands then the regiment of such a mightie Monarche Farewell faire Daughter continue in faithfull loue and obedience remembring the reuerende honour a Wife oweth to her Husband Polinarda hearing with what earnest affection her Father spake was so ouercome with modest duetie of a Childe to her Father as shée was not able to aunswere one word which Palmerin beholding kissed the Emperours hande embraced Tryneus and tooke a courteous farewell of all the Ladies commaunding the Pages presently to bring away the Princesse 〈◊〉 saying to her Madame the longer you staie héere the greater will be your conceit of sorrow by absence the griefe will be forgotten let vs then merely iourney to the Cittie of Constantinople where they that neuer sawe you wil reioyce more at your comming then all the Allemaignes can sorrow for your departure With like comfortable spéeches Palmerin frequented his Ladie by the way till at length they entred the Realme of Hungaria where Frysoll with his chéefest Lords attended their comming to whom Palmerin in iesting said Brother I haue aduentured to bring your Sister Polinarda into your Kingdome take héede if you laie claime to her now as sometime yée did for I am readie to defende her against whosoeuer dare I perceiue my Lorde quoth Frysoll that you will haue my follie generally knowne I pray 〈◊〉 let no such youthfull pranckes be nowe remembred for as you are the chéefest in chiualrie so haue the destenie giuen you a Ladie whome no one in the whole world may paragon Well may it be said that God and Nature fore-pointed this match nothing inferiour to louelie Paris and faire Helena or puissaunt Hector and wise Andromacha Frysoll accompanied them so farre as Alba where courteously parting from each other Frysoll returned to his Kingdome and Palmerin soone after came to Constantinople where no litle ioy was made for his safe arriual especially for the Princesse Polinarda who was a right welcome Ladie into Greece the olde Emperour prouiding such deuises and tryumphes as the Chronicles to this daye recorde the memorie thereof About tenne or twelue Monethes after Polynarda was deliuered of a goodly Sonne who was named Primaleon whereat the good olde Emperour so inwardly reioyced as his spirit onely comforted in the good fortune of his Sonnes and fearing afterwarde to sée anie sinister chaunce fall to them departed this fraile and transitorie life whose death was signified thrée dayes before by the enchaunted Bird. His Funerall was performed as beséemed so great an estate and faine woulde Palmerin haue had his Father the King Florendos crowned Emperour earnestly labouring the Princes in the cause But he desiring them to holde him excused returned them this answere Great offence were it to God my Friendes that the honour due to him who gaue me libertie defended my renowne and saued my life shoulde bee taken from him and giuen mée for if vertue authoritie and good fortune are the properties whereby to make choyse of an Emperour Palmerin is verie many degrées before me As for his generositie it is so well knowne to you that it were but lost labour to make report thereof For his authoritie the â—arbarous nations among whome hée hath liued and conqueringly controlled deliuer sufficient testimonie And for his high good fortune in all his enterprises where is the man that may bee equalled with him or what hath hée at anie time attempted but he hath finished the same with wonderfull honour I could name Kings and Princes that raign onely by his meanes To speake of the victories he hath obtained either in battell or single Combate your eyes haue beheld and the whole worlde apparantly witnesseth This dare I boldly say and some of you doo know it better then I that his onely name will be more feared in Greece then all your fore-passed Emperours haue bene by their greatest puissance So well did the people like what the King Florendos had sayd as immediately was the Prince Palmerin proclaimed Emperour of Constantinople and the same day he was crowned according to the accustomed rites and ceremonies Not long afterward did the King Florendos stay with his Sonne but returned with his Quéene to Macedon where hée goueâ—ned in loue and iustice among his Subiects daily sending Messengers to Constantinople as well to vnderstand the health of the Emperour and Empresse as also of yong Prymaleon who daily increased in strength and beautie Chap. LXIII How the Prince Olorico and Alchidiana thinking to trauaile to Constantinople to see the Emperour Palmerin and the Empresse Polinarda strayed on the Sea And what sorrowful mone she made and how she was found by Palmerin IN one of the Chapters before you
good chéere as if you were now in Assyria And although we cannot compare with the Court of Babylon yet théere shall you be vsed as be séemes so great a Princesse I doubt not thereof good Madame said Alchidiana the more am I indebted to the Emperour and you yet can I not forget the absence of my Lord beeing separated from him in a place so vncouth He that â—s the defender of the iust quoth the Empresse will send ye to méete againe in place more comfortable in that hope I pray ye to perswade your selfe laying aside these moutning garments the very sight therof cannot but affend yée These gracious spéeches somewhat contented her and expelled all priuate conceit of sorrow yet would she not chaunge her habite till she heard either good or bad newes of the Prince Olorico Chap. LXIIII. Howe the Prince Olorico was reskewed from the Moores by the yong Knights that the Emperour Palmerin sent in his search and what ioy was made at Constantinople at his arriuall VPon the Emperours resolution for the search of Olorico the Dukes of Mecaena and Saxon with each of them fiâ—tie Knights were prepared to see with two Gallâ—â—s and Colmelio Bellechino Sergillo Sonne to Gardino and the Marchant Estebons two Sonnes whom the Emperor had newly knighâ—edâ— with thirtie hardie Souldiours departed in an other Eight other vessels were sent on the Coast of Propontida and the Bosphor to séeke the Prince It so cause to passe that the same day Alchidiana was preserued from drowning Alibarbanco a Pirat was sayling towardes Natolia and passed verie néere where the Princes Carricke was split and him did hée espie floting on a Chest which was filled within with Martin skinnes being then mooued to behold him in such daunger hée caused his men to take him into the Shippe who readie to yéelde vp his ghost hée was so â—â—â—â—mmed with colde When Aliâ—arbanco sawe him so richly apparâ—lied and the Chest stuffed with thinges of such value hée imagined him presently to hée some great Lorde for whom he shoulde haue some large raunsome wherefore he vsed him verie courteouslie Olorico seâ—ing he was so happily escaped lifting his eyes to Heauen sayd Great is thy mercie O God that hast so fauourablie vouchsafed to regard thy poore creature nor were losse woorthie reckoning so my Ladie Alchidiana were safe in Assyria What angrie planet raigned when we be tooke our selues to Sea what answere shall I make to the Soldane your Father that gaue me such charge of your person at my departure hardly may I dare to come before him any more Alibarbanco hearing these complaints reioiced thereat By Mahomet quoth hée to himselfe nor shalt thou sée him anie more if I can hinder it for I will present thée to the great Turke his mortall enemie and for thy raunsome I shall receiue a bountifull recompence So thinking to strike toward Natolia he happened among the Emperours yong Knights ere hée was beware wherefore hée thought to takeÌ„ their ships likewise yet therein hée â—ound him selfe greatly deceyued For Bellechino knowing them to bée Turkes by their Banners said to his companions We are now I feare in the daunger of Turkish Piratâ— let vs therfore with courage winne our deliueraunce Héereuppon they fiercely assayled Alibarbanco and buckled so closelie that in the ende they hoorded him making such a slaughter among his men and throwing him likewise slaine into the Sea as none were left to resist their further entraunce where they found the Prince Olorico and béeing not a little glad of their good successe they each one embraced him with gracious courtesie Alas my Fréends quoth the Prince how knew you my béeing héere who gaue you in charge to séeke mée forth who hath béene the Messenger of my misfortune My Lord the Emperour Palmerin aunswered Colmelio vnderstoode thereof by your Ladie Alchidiana whom hée founde by good happe as hée râ—de on hunting But may I giue credite to your woordes said the Prince is my Ladie with his Maiestie at the Court Shée is in trueth my Lorde sayde Bellechino and the Mariner likewise that saued her life whome the Emperour hath highlie recompenced for his faithfull seruice I beséech you quoth Olorico let vs hoâ—â—e â—aile presentlie towarde Constantinople for my heart cannot bee perswaded till I haue séene her â—so great is my doubt considering our vnfortunate separation Neuer may I beare Armes in Knight-hoode sail Bellechino or lift my Sworde in honourable Chiualrie if Alchidiana be not at Constantinople where I both sawe her and spake to her before our departure So taking the vessell that belonged to the Pirate Alibarbanco with them in short time after they arryued at Constantinople where their chéerefull sounding of Drums Trumpets and Clarions at their landing deliuered testimonie of their good successe If the Emperour was glad for the recouerie of his Fréend the Princesse Alchidiana of her Husband and euerie one generallie for the man lost by such mishappe I leaue to your iudgements that can censure the rare ioyes of loue and fréendship What Triumphes Tournamentes Bonfires Maskes Momeries and other delightfull exercises were performed for ioy of the Prince Oloricos safetie whome the Emperour made account of as you haue heard before it would demaunde a larger volume to set downe you must therefore héere imagine that you behold his Maiestie highly contented Alchidiana thorowlie satisfied and the whole Court well pleased by this happie event giuing themselues to expresse the same in open manifest signes beséeming so great estates to prosecute and therefore of as great honour as may be deuised The yong Knights are especially welcommed for their woorthie seruice the Dukes of Saxon and Mecaena likewise though they failed of bringing the Prince yet they brought two Foystes belonging to the Pirate Alibaâ—banco richlie laden with manie wealthie spoyles which were giuen among the yong Knights in recompence of their paines During the time of these surpassing pleasures and delights there entred the hauen of Constantinople thrée shippes laden with meruaâ—lous sumptuous gifts and presents from the Quéene Zephira and her Brother the King Maulenno beeing sent to the Emperour Palmerin and his Empresse Polynarda by two great Lords Ambassadours from Persia to request familiar loue and alliaunce with the Emperour the Soldane confessing his iniurie to Trineus while he was in his Court When the Persians came before the Emperour who was honourably accompanied with Kings Dukes Princes Counties and many braue Ladies they were grâ—atly abashed yet thinking on the argument of their Ambasâ—ade one of them began in this manner It is no maruell redoubted Emperour and Monarch of Greece if thy subiects both loue thé◠and â—site thee when thy behaâ—â—our hath conquered the mindes of forraine Poteâ—tates who to enter aâ—ititie and peace with thée some haue left their Countreys to sende their Ambassadours hither other dare not stirre or assemble their men in warlike manner so is the name of Palmerin feared thorowe all Asia Hereof beare witnesse the
great Turke the Calâ—â—â—â— of Siconia and the heyres to the Prince Amarano of Nigrea not much inferiour in this condition is the Soldane of Babylon whose daughter with her Husband I héere beholde The victorious Ambimar King of Romata and Griscâ— the worthie Maulerino and the puiâ—â—aunt Soldane of Persia my Maister Husbande to the vertuous Quéene Zephira who with their Brother haue sent your highâ—esse thrée Shippes laden with the most wealthie riches their Countreyes can yéeld My Lord and they humbly kisse your Maiesties hande desiring you to forget his disceurâ—â—sie to the gentle Knight Tâ—yneus when hee became â—â—amoured on the Princesse Aurecinda But if their loue then sorted to a philosophicall trope or figure it hath sithence prâ—ued effecâ—â—uall in procreation to the no little ioy of my Lorde and Maister The Princesse was deliuered of a goodly Son growing in such exquisite forme and feature as it is expected hée will one day resemble his Father in châ—ualrie as he dooth alreadie his Mother in amiable perfection Ambassadour quoth the Emperour for the great vertue and nobilitie I haue founde as well in the Princesse Zephira as also her noble Brother I graunt the fréendly allâ—ance thou demaundest Yet heereof am I sorie that the Son to the Prince Tryneus should be nourished and spend his youth among Maâ—umetists without knowledge of hiâ— God and Redéemer for in such sort should hée be instructed after he is come to the yéeres of vnderstanding that all the Alchoran is tales anâ— fables and doubtlesse God will so deale with him in time as hée shall imitate the steppes of his noble Father As for the presents sent Vs by the King Maulerino the Solâ—aâ—e and his Queen Zephira we accept them as from our Fréenâ—s and will returne them some remembraunce of our thankfulnesse His Maiestie commaunded the Persians to bée lodged in his Pallace and continued still their former ioyes and tryumphs but to alter those Courtly pastimes and delights this misfortune happened which héereafter followeth Chap. LXV Howe the great Turke refused to assist Lycado Nephewe to the Admiral Olimaell against the Emperor Palmerin and what trouble happened to Constantinople by the Traitor Nardides Nephew to the King Tarisius Lycado Meuadeno and their father SUch was the humanitie and pittie of Palmerin when hee finished the enchantments at the Isle of Malfada as he gaue libertie to all the Turks and Christians which were before transformed as you haue heard among whom was Lycado Nephew to the Admirall Olimaell hée that at the taking of Agriola had the Prince Tryneus for his prisoner This Lycado séeing himselfe in his owne Countrey and out of daunger where he heard howe the great Turke was slaine and his Uncle likewise hée came before the Sultane that then raigned saying Worthy lord as men are naturallie inclined to bemone their losses so are Subiects bound to aduertise their Soueraignes of any shame or iniurie done to their Maiesties This speak I my Lord because you haue not as yet reuenged the death of your deceassed Brother now sléeping in the Armes of Mahomet albéeit traytâ—rouslie slaine by Palmerin and his Companions at which time my noble Uâ—cle was likewise murthered with many Knights of cheefe and especiall account And least you should be ignoraunt in the truth of the déede and who also â—arryed hence the Princesse Agriola I haue credibly vnderstood that Palmerin is Nephew to the Emperour of Greece one of his companions is the Emperours Sonne of Allemaigne and all the rest were Princes and Lords of Greece onely sent as spyes into Turkie Wherefore séeing you now holde the state in such peace and quietnes it were necessarie you should leauie a mightie Armie and please you to commit the charge thereof to mée I will loose my life or make an absolute destruction of all Greece I remember said the great Turke that your Unckle made like entraunce into my decâ—ased Brothers Courte as you by your spéeches now labour to doo but I will so warilie looke to such intrusions as no Traytors shall rest héere if I can hinder theÌ„ Your Unckle vexed the Christians what followed thereon the death of his maister and a daungerous confusion By you likewise may â—nsue as bad fortune departe you therefore from the Court and but that we are loth to bee noted with tyrannie thou shouldest presently be drâ—wne in péeces with Horses False Traytour thou that commest to counsaile vs in a matter wherein we cannot meddle but with great dishonour it behâ—ues thée first to regard the end of thy intent and what he is that gouerns in Greece Go villaine go and on perill of thy life neuer presume before our presence againe Lycado was greatly astonied at this sharpe answere and séeing he could haue no better successe hee went to his Father the Brother to Olimaell béeing one of the chéefest Magitians in all Turkie to him he made his complaints saying he would die in that resolution but he would cause the Turke to knowe that hee was no Traytour and this quoth he shall be the meane whereby I will compasse it I meane to disguise my selfe and trauaille to the Cittie of Constantinople where priuily I wil murder the Emperor Palmerin so 〈◊〉 my Lorde the great Turke tâ—uch mée with no further suspition but will reward me with greater benefits then euer my Unckle had My Sonne answered his Father thinkest thou that thy deuise will sort to effect thy Brother Menadeno would helpe thée héerein but hée is too yong yet when time serueth for thy departure I will not onely tell thée but conduct thee my selfe I beséech you good father saide Lycado further me in what you may for neuer will my hart be at rest till I haue paid Palmerin with the selfe same coyne the great Turke was In meane while do you studie and search all our Bookâ—s of 〈◊〉 Diuination Magique and Nigromancâ—e as Zabulus Orpheus Hermes Zoroastres Ciroes Medea Alphonsus Bacon Aponius and all the rest that write of the blacke speculatiue reade them againe and againe deuiâ—e such spâ—lles exorcismes and coniurations as the very â—pirits may speaâ—e of the feast I will make at the Cittâ—e of Constantinole Héereupon the olde man made his Sonne Menadeno Knight and with Lycado betooke themselues to Sea saying My Sonnes I will bring ye to Constantinople where by vertue of mine arte we will arriue before thrée dayes be expired remember your vnckles death and behaue your selues in such sort as you may be Registred for euer The time doth nowe fauour you with sufficient reuenge and therein shall you be assisted by a Christian Knight whome we shall finde readie landed there for the same cause Their Ankers being wâ—yed they launch into the déepe and cut through the waues with such violence as if the deuill himselfe were in their sailes so that they tooke landing at the selfe same houre as Nardides arriued at Constantinople As concerning what this Nardides was you remember the two Traytors Promptaleon and Oudin Nephewes
to the King Tarisius of Hungaria whome Paâ—merin and Frysoll slew at Constantinople hée was their Brother and Sonne to the Duchesse of Ormeda Shée vnderstanding the death of her two Sonnes could not conceale it from the Duke her Husband who presently died with very conceit of gréefe whereuppon shée to reuenge this mishappe caused by her report as also the death of her twâ— Sonnes made promise to Nardides then béeing eightéene yeeres olde that so soone as hée was knighted hee should go to Constantinople and there if it were possible to murder the Emperour and Frysoll All this he â—owed to performe and two or thrée dayes after hauing married the Kings Daughter of Polonia hee embarqued himselfe with â—orty Knights determining by a Combat for treason to compasse his intent These wreakfull aymers at reuenge landed all in one instant at Constantinople when the old Magitian calling to Nardydes sayde hee would gladly sprake with him in secret as concerning matters greatly for his auaâ—le Hereupon they went all closely together into one of the Cabins and the olde man entred into theâ—e spéeches Sir Nardides néedelâ—sie is it for you to hide your affaires from mee for I knowe that you depart from Poloma with fortie Knights disguised like Merchants onely with this determination to destroy the Emperour in reuenge of certaine iniuryes done to your Brethren But if you will giue credit to mée and go to worke in such sort as I shall aduise yée yée shall happily obtayne the end of your desire By God sayd Nardides you 〈◊〉 mée wonders there is not one in the shippe that knowes mine intent yet you haue sayde the truth whereat I cannot maruaâ—le sufficiently Seeing then you know so much it were but follâ—e to dissemble say then your minde and I will heare yée This night sayd the old man the Emperour wil suppe in the great Hall with the Prince Olorico and the Princesse Alchidiana the King of Sparta and his Queene with many other great Princes and Lordes so that such store of people are in the Pallace as little regarde will bee had of strangers or housholde sâ—ruants You then with my Sonne Mâ—nadeno beeing Armed as beseeâ—es a cause so 〈◊〉 shall sodainely enter and â—ill the Emperour my Sonne Lycado and I will stay your returne heere and I that can commaunde the winde and weather will carrie ye hence without danger of following And true it is that there is a Bird pearched in the Hall which the wise Muzabelino hath so enchaunted as neither good or ill tydings can come to the Emperour but she bewrayes the same by her song or fearefull crie yet doubt not you thereof strike boldly there will be none Armed so that you departe againe at your owne pleasure My Friend said Nardides happie be the houre I â—ette with thée assure thy selfe that if I can kill the Emperour and thou afterwarde deliuer me safely such recompence will I bestow on thée as both thou and thine shall for euer remember me Other recompence I demaund not sayde the olde man then the death of the Emperour prepare thy selfe therefore so follow thine intent The night béeing come these Traytors Armed themselues and casting their mantles about them entred the Pallace were among the Pages and seruants without suspition they came into the Hall leauing Lycado and his Father at the Port where hée threwe abroade such enchauntments that all such as came foorth of their houses presently fell downe a sleepe in the stréetes No sooner were the Traytours entred the Hall but the Bird gaue a horrible and fearefull crie beating her beake against her breast with such furie as though shee would haue rent foorth her heart My God sayd the Emperour in mercie behold mée for the cry of this Birde dooth foretell great misfortune Looke about my friendes quoth he to his Guard and sée if any Stranger or vnknowne body is entred our presence Nardides by these spéeches knew hée was the Emperour wherefore drawing his Sword hée thought to haue cleaued his head yet hée fayled of his intent for the Emperour séeing the blow comming with a great Golden Cuppe awarded it indifferently notwithstanding the Sword in slipping from the Cuppe gaue him a â—ore wound vpon the head Olorico sitting on the other side the Table ranne at the Traitour but the Emperour had receiued two strokes more ere he could come at him so that his maiestie fell from his Chaire as he had béene dead As the Prince Olorico held the Traytor Nardides by the armes Menadeno strâ—oke at him so rigorously as if Ptolome had not borne off the blowes with a great siluer plate Olorico there had lost his life Duke Eustace séeing this shamefull outrage wrong the Sword out of Nardides hande and gaue him such a sounde stroke therewith on the head as made him tomble his héeles vpwarde and by the helpe of Bellechino who founde the meanes to gette off his Helmet hée smote his head from his shoulders Bellechino who had béene newly baptised loued the Emperour as hée had béene his Father and comming to Menadeno whome Duke Ptolome strongly helde in his armes gaue him so many stabs on his throate that he likewise fell downe at his féete The Empresse séeing her Lord so wounded rent her garments tore her comely locks of hayre and smote her faire face with maruailous violence Ah my Lord quoth shée thou art not wounded alone for if thou die as God forbid right soone will my ghost follow thée Cease Madam your complaints saide the Emperour and comfort your selfe so wel as you may for this is the houre wherin I must leaue you I haue lost such aboundance of my bloud as longer may I not liue with you O my God forgiue my sins and receiue my soule In vttering these words he swouned againe and the Empresse with him for companie to the no little amazement of all the Lords and Ladies who were well néeâ—e at their wits ende to be holde this vnexpected alteration Alchidiana likewise was in wonderfull perplexitie fearing also that her Lord was wounded to the death but to comfort this sorrowfull and desolate Court good fortune sent this helpe ensuing CHAP. LXVI How the wise Muzabelino knowing by his arte the cruell treason doone to the Emperour came to succour him and of that which followed MVzabelino the Nigramanâ—er of whom we haue alreadie spoken by chaunce this day was turning ouer his Booke and â—ound the dangerous stratâ—gâ—me deuised by these Traitours and calling his familiars together demaunded the danger that would ensue by this treason whereto one of them replied that if hée went not spéedily to Constantinople the Emperour the Prince Olorico and their Ladies would hardly escape that day with life Then armed he himselfe in the selfe same maner as he was when he succoured the Prince Tryneus and calling two spirits of the ayre resembling Giants their faces so vglie and fearefull as no humane creature durst beholde them them hee commanded to carrie him to
Constantinople and with a great flaming firebrand in his hand he cut through the ayre with such horrible thunder as cach one thought the world had béene ended When he beheld the olde man that defended the Port hée sayd to him False and disloyall Traitour darest thou meddie with the man whome thou knowest to bée in my guarde take him to yée quoth hee to his two spirits and conuay him to your Courte and there kéepe him aliue for mée for I will giue him a paine a thousande times worse thâ—â— death you know how to vse my gentle guest let him be dealt withall as his behauiour hath deserued The miserable olde man astonied héereat and thinking to helpe himselfe by his Magique was presently transformed into a Serpent Now thou shalt perceiue saide Muzabelino that I am greater in power then thou art So taking two great Golden Chaines he tied the Serpent about the neck therewith and his Sonne together setting such a coniuration on them as he should neuer be chaunged to hiâ— former shape Then came hée to the Pallace where taking off his Helmet hée entred the Hall saying to the Knights Ah my déere friendes the Traytour that thus hath molested you is taken reioyce therefore and be of good chéere your Lord is not dead he liueth he must liue and in despight of enuie shal florish more then euer he did The princes and knights hearing him speake so friendly and yet knew not what hée was notwithstanding his promises they were greatly amazed but when they sawe Bellechino and Colmelio so reuerently embrace him they began to conceiue better opinion of him Alas my Lord and Father said Bellechino in a happie houre came you hether and your presence puts vs out of al further feare vouchsafe to succour the Empresse Polynarda for pittie it is to sée her thus chaunged Héereupon Muzabelino embraced the Empresse whose face was colde pale and wâ—n Why Madame quoth he where is your former wisedome and discretion leaue these dâ—solate countenances to common people your Lordâ— is in no danger but within thrée dayes hée shall be well againe Conuey her hence saide he to the Ladies I am ashamed to sée your follie suffering her to lye in this sort and no one helpe her Then was shée conducted to her Chamber and Muzabelino with the ayde of his Sonne and Duke Eustace carried the Emperour to his bed where staunching his woundes with a precious Oyntment Muâ—abelino gaue him some of the water to drink which before had healed the Princesse Zephira and which hee had brought with him in a little viall of Christall when the Emperor béeing some what better recouered lifting his eies to Heauen said How 〈◊〉 art thou in mercy my soueraign Redéemer sending 〈◊〉 from the furthest regions to helpe me in so great 〈◊〉 Ah my noble frâ—ende what haue I 〈◊〉 at any time for thée that might induce thée to fauour me so much My Lord answered Muzabelino so precious are your deserts in mine eies as I can do no lesse except I should be accounted the most in gratefull among men So â—athing his woundes with the iuyce of certaine vertuous hearbs he willâ—â— al that were present to depart the Chamber and on the morrow they should sée their Lord in better estate So left they the Emperor to his rest and al the princes Knights â—nd Ladies came to welcome Muzabelino who comforted the Princesse Alchidiana assâ—ring her that the Prince Olorico should do wel enough for he had likewise bathed his woundes and left him in his chamber quietly sléeping On the morrow hee commaunded the bodiâ—â— of Nardides and Menadeno to be burned afterwarde he loosed Lycado from his father causing him to be put in prison till the Emperour were amented and taking the Serpent by the chaine he brought him by the helpe of his two spirits into the great court where by his cunning hée erected a goodly Marble piller and on the top thereof a strong Cage of yron saying to the olde man transformed Accursed creature to the ende thy paine may bee the greater during the Emperorâ— life thou shalâ— remain in this monstrous shape and die thou shalt not till the God of heauen call him hence whose death thou diddest contriue Incontinent the spirits thrust the Serpent into the Cage and afterward vanished away leauing the monster casting fearefull flames of fire out at his mouth and howling with strange and pittifull cries Then went Muzabelino to the Empresse who still remained sad and pensiue and bringing her to the Emperour said Sée Madame am I not so good as my word your Lord is well and perfectly recouered be you then pleasant and mourne no longer Not a little ioyfull was 〈◊〉 this sight embracing his highneâ—â—e with such affection 〈…〉 she had béen absent from him a long time but when the Emperor saw 〈◊〉 face so martered with lamenting and her swéete countenaunce so much altred Alas Madam quoth he 〈…〉 CHAP. LXVII How the Soâ—dane of Babylon sent for the Prince Olori 〈◊〉 and his Daughter Alchidiana and of the sorrow the Emperior and Eâ—â—resse made for their departure 〈…〉