with one not so worthie as the Lord Cariolus And yet Nay Madam quoth the King leaue not off so abruptly with an aparentizes your words are doubtfull Tell mée therfore is there any other before me if there be and thou hast made choyce and you both agreed I will not gainsay it nor tye thée to any other then thy owne content in mariage Therefore say what those words and yet imported Pardon my ouer boldnesse gracious Lord answered the Lady which vnaduisedly ouerpast those spéeches and credit my word which haue no loue fixed in my heart but will endeuour my selfe to the liking of him whom you shall commaund me yet will I answer your demaund and meaning of those words taken so by your grace at rebounde though I must and will frame me to the loue and liking of the Lord Cariolus Yet had the noble Generall bene pleased and with that a déep sigh staid her tongue in such wise as she could go no farther The King vnderstanding which way the winde of her desire blew though he could haue bene better content with her choyce yet to put her from other thoughts and to haue his sute take effect he perswaded her to let slip such fonde imaginations for that he had placed his loue on a Ladie of his Country whom he would not leaue for all the world With these happie tidings for the Lord Cariolus after some other kinde spéeches to y ◠Lady the King departed so ioying in his good successe y ◠he could not rest vntill he had comforted the Lord Cariolus with his answer whose mind egged on by the Mayden Knight was so fixed on the Lady that she was become the mistresse of his heart and he ioyed in nothing but in contemplating of her loue thinking euery day a yeare and euery houre a month vntil he heard the Kings answere musing thus on his Loue tossing with a minde disquietted from one side the bedde to the other his Page brought him word that a Gentleman from the King attended to speake with him which sodaine newes reuiued so his spirits as made his heart more light then long time before it had bene hoping to here such happie tidings as his louing sute required The Messenger hauing deliuered his messuage iudge you that be louers whether you could slack any time vntil you heard the doome of your mistresse which he was assured to do by the King vnto whom he hasteneth with such spéed as he could To whose presence being come the king as ioyful for his good successe and his sisters grant as the Lorde Cariolus to heare it with a smiling countenance which shewed the ioy of his heart said My Lord though my skill in wooing be but small hauing neuer accustomed my selfe to any such practise yet haue I playd the cunning Aduocate for your Lordship and will assure you so you holde your word and promise the Princesse shall be yours and thereon take my word of honour Cariolus so ouer ioyed at these tydings could not well tell whether he heard the King speake or dreamed of this happinesse But standing a while in an extacie his sences being come againe with eyes gastly beholding the King thus said My honourable and gracious Lord what may I doo to requite your Princely fauour who hath vouchsafed me so great honor not onely to bestowe your onely sister on me but to become my honorable soliciter what I would say modestie compelleth me to conceale Only this I assure your Maiestie my loyall seruice shall euer be ready at your commaund in such dutifull maner that your Maiesty shall haue no cause to repent you of so great a good done vnto a stranger Inough my Lord fewe words doth suffice among friendes wherefore forbeare these spéeches loue my sister and for her sake thinke of me as a friend which will be euer ready to do you what pleasure I can To giue you some interest of my faith appoint the marriage day at your pleasure and for her dowry accept this kingdom of Egypt which shall remaine to you and your heires for euer onely this homage shall you yearely tender in my Court of Thessaly two swift running Coursers of this Countrey and so God make you happie in your loue and a ioyfull father of many children With this the Mayden Knight entered his presence vnto the King what man so welcome his dutie done the King louingly imbracing him said Sir Knight I haue not long sithence comforted your friend with my happie tydings and not onely assured him of a wife which I hope will prooue louing and kinde vnto him but haue inuested him with the tytle of King of Egipt of both which I wish him so much ioy as I desire to haue ioy his wedding day let him appoynt at his pleasure which shall with the greatest honour I can be performed Most gracious and dread Lord quoth the Knight how this your honourable curtesie haue tyed mee vnto your seruice I omit that at my request hath thus fauoured my deare friend whose good I estéeme as mine owne and euer will be readie with my best endeuour to serue at all times and places where my force or seruice may do either your Maiestie or my Lord Cariolus good And séeing it is wrought to his content and your Graces good lyking let mée intreate this fauoure of you both that the wedding may sodainly be solemnized for that my staie may not be long here such desire I haue to sée my soueraigne Lorde who I am sure exspecteth my return long before this time Sir quoth the King did you knowe how displeasing those spéeches of your departure were to me that desire nothing in the whole world so much as your company you would neuer harpe so much on that string But how long so euer your staie shall be this day eight dayes I doo appoint for the wedding so my Lorde Cariolus be agreed and say Amen Neuer quoth Cariolus let him be allowed for Clarke which refuseth to say Amen to such a parson the Orizons bringing such content séeing your Maiestie referres it to me Amen say I and humbly thanke your Grace for your honourable fauour The wedding day appoynted and assigned the King sent for the Princesse who that night supped all togither which being ended the Princesse in presence of many of the Lordes of Thessaly and Egypt was betrothed vnto the Lord Cariolus and the marriage day appoynted against which time were all the nobles sommoned to be at Court to attend the King by whose commandement all the preparation for honour of that day might be deuised was ordeined the time of night being spent sommoned their watchfull eyes to sléepe wherefore after many solemne adues taken one of the other they hastened on all sides to their rest onely Cariolus and the Princesse best content shée ioying in her Loue and kingly brothers lyking and he blessing a million of times the day wherein he first saw the Prince procurer of his so great good What
such honour as to her estate required whose obseques finished Barnardine regarding the benefit of the Common-weale and the Princes good of whom their hope was to learne knowledge vsed so kinde persuasions to the whole estate in a parlement holden of purpose that the regiment was deliuered by consent vnto sixe of the chiefest nobles who were solemnely sworne to maintain the dignities of the Crowne in absence of the king his sonne vnto whom being lawfull heires to the same they shuld resigne their titles whensoeuer they should chalenge y e same Now Gentiles leaue we these distressed people lamenting their kings absence the quéenes death to tel you of the Maiden Knight This gallant Prince the hope of Thrace carefull of his honor not vnmindful of his new mistres whose loue was the marke he aimed at hoping by accomplishing this victorie against the Souldane to gaine that place of reputation with her that hée desired for the better accomplishing of which he proclaimed by sound of Trumpet that all such as would in y ◠action aduenture their liues with him should bountifully be considered all estates from the Cauileare to the Mercenary caused many to offer him their sonnes so that in short time he had gathered more able men thē euer in so smal warning were séene such was the loue his bountie had gained among all estates that of their kindnes many repaired more then for of money although the thought therof is able to draw y e coward to fight so highly was this stranger honored The diligence was such of this Prince that in short time he had his companies which were so furnished as he liued not in those territories that euer saw the like Al things furnished for the field he became an earnest sutor to the Princesse his mistresse to procure the king to view his army which with smal sute she obteined for him gracing him with all the fauours she might more delighting in him then in all the men that euer she saw The time appointed for his muster after he had giuen directions to all such Leaders other Officers what course to take with their seuerall charge they were conducted to the place appointed by himself who mounted on a stately Courser passed on through the Citie his Captaines attired in Gascoin coats of watchet veluet hauing on the breast back embossed with goldsmiths work a Mayden head according to his deuise on his armes with the colour of his mistresse scarfe euery vnder officer in like sutes of satten his mercinary men in Iackets hose and hats coloured alike which caused the beholders to admire the stranger more then their princes When the king beheld this mirror of honor least thinking he was sonne to his louing frend the Numedian king and had with great delight viewed each seueral officer and their charge with their order of march and ranging in battell all accomplished in such warlike maner as sildome he had séen and withall noted his person with his brauery in armor his gallant sitting a horse and manuring the same his charging running and other signes of ensuing good giuing him great thanks he caused him to dismisse his companies for that time to attend his pleasure at the Court which he caused suddeinly to be done attending the kings pleasure at the Court as he was commanded the newes of his arriuall being brought to the Princesse who had séen with what cost and rare deuises each thing by her seruant was performed iudging likewise his loue to her was some cause by his cullours and deuises willing to let him know how graciously the same was accepted she came into the Presence where finding her Knight after she had with a kinde and louing Conge saluted him calling him to a baye Windowe with a modest and comely grace shée said Syr how much I finde my selfe indebted vnto you for your preffered seruice and forewardnesse in performing the same I will not say that in time what wants in me to accomplish my kingly father wil recompence who hath séene and well noted your diligence vsed for his safetie with your cost and great charge which he wil not forget In the meane time good seruant for so I will hencefoorth call you so you will vouchsafe to accept of the tytle I will pray for your good successe and happie victory wherby your renowne may passe the farthest parts of the earth and our Country by your prowesse deliuered from heathen thraldome Vertuous Princesse answered the Mayden Knight might it please your exellence to conceiue of my well meaning as my desire is to deserue my fortune might be compared with the happiest that liueth For on the faith of a Souldier and by the Maiestie of that saint my heart most adoreth there is none breathing life vnder the celestiall globe that shall commaund the simple seruice of Pheander but your Maiestie bound thereunto by your Princely fauours Inough my good seruant quoth the Princesse I take your word hauing great cause to beléeue you séeing your forwardnesse But good seruant if I might vnder Benedicitie know the saint vnto whom your deuotions are bent I would be so bolde to offer a virgines prayer at her shrine for your good successe The King ouer hearing their talke brake them off thus How now Madame what haue you that Gentleman at shrift if so and that his confection deserue a sharpe pennance yet be good to him he may in time amend Your grace quoth the Princesse mistakes your selfe your highnesse knoweth I neuer tooke orders therfore my authoritie is not to absolue and if by presumption I offend therein I doubt the Fathers of our Church would reward me thereafter But to let your maiestie know the truth perceiuing the desire he hath to do you seruice I was bold to giue him thankes further recompence I leaue to your exellence who at your pleasure may better reward him Thou hast well said daughter quoth the King putting me in minde what I should do least forgetting my honour to such as well deserue I be reckoned amongst the number of those Princes who with faire words and kind lookes féed their subiects so long as they haue either Patrimony or other to do them seruice to the vtter ouerthrow of their posterities for euer and they so farre in debt they dare not shew their heads then shall they get perhaps some suite worth a hundred pounds a yeare that haue consumed many thousands maintaining a braue port for his Princes honors What said I a hundred pounds a yeare nay not that without the fauour of such as be chéefest in authority and are néere the prince whose good will if they can procure it may be they shall obtaine some small thing scarce able to maintaine the porte of a good yoman for I tel thée such must be pleased or els let the princes mind be forward to reward them and by their bountie reléeue their wantes their good natures by perswasion of such as thinke all too
bountie and admired for curtesie he he Guenela is the ioy of my heart and my hearts sole delight without whom I cannot liue no I wil not liue I neither may I liue such is the seruice my heart hath vowed in loue vnto him therefore if thou loue me as thou hast profest by thy industrie séeke to â—aue my life which cannot but perish not obteining my desires Guenela listning to her discourse willing to become second in this Comedie had her braines beating alreadie in search of the charge committed vnto her yet would shée not answere any thing sodeinly considering how displeasing spéeches spoken out of time be vnto louers corasiues yet chearing the Princesse shée requested vntill the next morning respite for answer which the Princesse granted affying greatly in her which was wise and wel demeaned many wayes sometime doubtfull sometime pleasing sifted her sences to the proofe whom to her study we leaue The Mayden Knight whose extremes were far more if more might be after his abrupt parting with his mistresse that he grew so melancholy as nothing were it vyandes to relieue his weake corpse neither the daintinesse of pleasing sweete Musicke wherewith his friends presented him might any way delight him so that in outragious maner he exclaimed on his misfortune cursing the tidings bringer of the Kings repaire to the Parke and his tongue for not reuealing his griefe his Phisition so readie to hear that dispairing of his hope to enioy her he was likely to mischiefe himselfe yet reason affirming that the learnedest Phisition could not discouer the disease of his Patient without he shew it how neare soeuer he gesse Entering further in consideration of her fauourable spéeches shaking off feare like a hardie souldier he determined in writing to let her know his loue since he had no hope to méete her againe at the like aduantage Therefore like the condemned hoping of pardon liueth the Knight yet desirous to be resolued either of comfort or dispaire he calleth for Penne and Inke and write thus To willingly vouchsafe him as partner of her best fortunes yet making a kinde deniall she said Sir though I could willingly do you more seruice then modestie will I acquaint you with it is not the part of our Countrey Gentlemen to make peasts of Gentlewomen hauing Pages fit for the purpose if I refuse your request attribute it to no discurtesie in me which am very loath to offende her highnesse not knowing whether the sentence of your paper may discontent her or no. That many messengers haue incurred displeasure yea and losse of life as the cause hath deserued I hope it is not vnknowne vnto you yet hath the harmelesse messenger knowne as litle what he carried as I desirous to know of you Swéete Guenela quoth the Knight that it is wisedom to beware by others harmes I deny not yet is it discurtesie to deny the request of a Gentleman which haue euer shewed my selfe a dutifull seruant to his highnesse and honoring him can I frame my heart to preiudise that Ladie of incomparable vertue No no heauens neuer permit me life to offend her in the least sort Therefore doubt no such matter for on the word of a Gentleman my life shall be offered and fréely giuen to excuse thy friendship wherein I am so greatly pleasured by you Guenela noting by the often changing colour in telling his tale his heart was not his owne but had some more businesse in hand then hée would impart loath to offend his patience by her deniall sayd Sir perswading my selfe of your loyaltie I will for this time become your Embassador although it should impaire my credite with her Exellence whose fauour I hold as deare as my life and that you shall assure your selfe of my trustinesse herein so please it you to méete me in this place to morrow by that time the Suns power shall haue drawne the deawe from off the earth I shall returne you answere as you desire Thankes good Guenela for thy curtesie assure you I will not dye in thy debt if euer Pheander may requite it by any industry In the meane time quoth he fauour me so highly as weare this for my sake and pulling off a Dyamond of great prise gaue it her which she was loth to accept yet giuing thanks for his curtesie she sayd Sir would you did vnderstand I prise not my paines that you shuld reward me with hyre or do you good in hope of benefit or as it is vnfitting a gentle woman to take gifts bestowed in such maner so is it discurtesie and no part of a woman like condition to refuse the gift of a friend therfore accept my thankes till I may better deserue it Thus time passing away Guenela taking her leaue departed towards the Princesse and the Knight to his lodging where how many sundry thoughts assailed him I leaue to them that haue endured the like Guenela come to the Princesse presence by her pleasant iesture was of the Princesse perceiued who was iealous of her being acquainted with her maladie who calling her to her bed side she enquired where she had spent the time so long from her knowing that all her Attendants were combersom vnto her but onely Guenela with whom she might passe the time in discoursing her loue Madame dutie commands me answere your demand yet hauing bene to search some daintie that might yéeld delight to your weak stomake and cause better dâ—gesture by chance prying in y e garde in for such things I was encountred by the best skild in the dominions of Thrace who gaue me a receit which I iudge by my simple skil wil giue your Maiestie great ease yet doth the Phisition doubt whether your stomacke wil disgest it This gracious Ladie quoth Guenela hath bene the cause of my absence and no other Alas good wench how am I beholding to thée that caring to recouer my strength searchest the depth of thy skill but Guenela in vaine sâ—ekest thou her health whom no phisitiaÌ„ with all his hearbs drugs simples balmes emplaisters or what Art may prouide can remedy onely God the great commander must by his grace bring my desires to ende or by death ende my dayes of life What Madam euer in this tune once alter these discords which maketh your musick iar sing y â— beliefe with a chéerful voice so may your mind be a litle eased and the receit I haue to minister worke with the more effect I speak this Madam of experience for euery skilfull Phisitian wil prepare the bodie of his Patient before he minister Therfore Madam if you wil shake off this melancholy you shal haue a taste of what I promise if not your grace must pardoÌ„ me it were great pitie so precious a thing should be cast away Well Guenela quoth the Princesse thou art disposed to crosse me with thy words which doth but increase my disease yéelding small comfort therefore leauing those Iests say me my good wench if thou haue
witnesses The Quéen hauing giuen them these hononorable welcomes each man taking his place Ormania the chéefest in Commission from their King thus said Magnificent Prince our King your highnesse late subiect acknowledging his humble dutie to your Exellence hath sent vs his liegemen and sworne seruants to signifie the same who in faithfull loue voweth neuer to be allienated in minde from that dutie which becommeth each naturall subiect to owe his Prince and country By vs he presents his offer of seruice which shall be with all his power ready at your highnesse pleasure the rest his honourable Letters shal import which humbly kissing on their knées they deliuered into her Princely handes who returned many thanks to their King for his loue with lyke to them which had vouchsafed that trauaile to sée her Court and Presence beséeching them to take in worth a maydens entertainment in doing which shée should thinke her selfe much beholding vnto them With pleasant parley and discoursing of sundry matters and questions by the Quéene propounded touching their Countries they passed the time vntill dinner not without great admiration of the straungers which beheld her stately grace her sumptuous attire the dutie and honour done by her nobles and Ladies which with their costly apparrell and rare exellence in bewtie greatly delighted them The time of dinner drawing neare the tables couered and all things prepared for the same the Quéene taking her place the Embassadors were likewise placed at another table in her presence The maner of her seruice with the diuersitie of vyands of all sorts was such as they could hardly beléeue so many sundry kindes of sowle fish and other chéere for them prepared were to be found in the limits of the earth Thus with wonderfull delight cheared still by her highnesse they passed the time vntil the end of dinner neuer forgetting the maiestie of her grace which so honorably bare her as no Prince could in her time compare with her Dinner ended the Quéene curteously bidding those strangers welcome shée was conducted by her Nobles into a Gallery which for bewtifull showes with rare pictures and deuises of rich price was so adorned as the strangers had neuer séene the lyke Not long had they passed the time in noting those glorious deuises but the Courtiers who had prouided themselues to doo her highnesse honor and cause her delight which had so long time withdrawne her self from all pleasures armed in al parts with each man his seueral deuise they entered the yard appointed of custome for the Tilt where a window opening from the gallery the Quéene with the strangers were set to behold those pastimes The whole company come each one for honor of hir grace deliuered his Scuchion of deuise vnto her Princely hands Where Gentiles suppose you that know Ladies praises or dispraises what happened Where to beguile the time was each deuise by the Quéen and her Ladies surueyed with such vigilant eyes as nothing was vnremembred euery one giuing their iudgement according to that affection they beare the presenter While they were thus descānting and the Marshall with the Iudges appointing each man in his degrée to try himselfe behold a prettie Page mounted on a light running Courser with his guide before him winding his horne in poasting manner comming neare the place where y ◠quéene was lighted from his horse and being not of heigth answerable to deliuer his Letters with his hand putting them on his wande after his dutie done humbly kissing them he deliuered them vnto her maiesties hand which y ◠quéene perusing questioned the Page if he had ought else to impart Who answered Most famous Prince my Lord and maister hearing of this assembly which fame hath bruted to the honor of this royall company and high commendations of these nobles hath sent as not daring to approach the place without their lawfull fauour obteined who for honor of his mistresse which he affirmeth and will maintaine to be the most exquisit Lady for all perfections in the confines of the earth he offereth at the Tilt with each gain-sayer to breake sixe staues If there be any such that will accept his challenge in mainteining his mistresse honour let mée know him who shall soone be answered The Page being vnknowne the nobles wondred what he might be which without exception had made this chalenge imagining that he was some man of valour and y ◠it were discurtesie to deny a man at armes whatsoeuer Theron generally concluding they returned him by the Page this answere Page though thy masters peremptory chalenge deserue rather to be maligned then accepted yet such is the nobilitie of Thrace as honouring Armes and all professors therof accept the same and where we had appointed euery one his companion we are content to remit that election and to bind all our force to his dishonor and so to him vnknowne commend vs whom we intreat to Arme sodeinly and spéed him hither The Page receiuing his answer of the nobles the Quéene calling him which mounted was ready to depart said Sir Boy to thy vnknowne Knight commend vs whom we thanke for vouchsauing vs that honor his Letters import which our nobilitie haue without any sute of mine accepted of whom he shal finde men endowed with courage The Page departed sundry were the imaginations what the Knight might be who had offered them this proud chalendge in midst whereof a trumpet sounding they expected the challenger who entered armed in all partes with blacke armour which was garnisht with many wounded harts on the brest a Lady with a cloth of fine lawne whipping them ouerspreading as many as she could reach with a scarfe carnation coloured his word in Greeke dispaire not pacing on with easie paces according to the vse of the place comming neare that ende of the Tilt which was opposite with the Quéenes window vayling his head to her Maiestie shée graciously hadde him welcome shaking her hand Long had he not staid but the Lord Marshall in lyke maner with show of great curtesie bad him welcome and desired him to prepare himselfe for the defendants attended him My Lord quoth the Knight at their good pleasures when they shal put themselues forward at the trumpets sound I wil méete them Thus warning giuen them without longer stay the Lord Vrelia his copartner in Thessaly set forward whom the Mayden Knight met with such force as his féete were too big for his stirropes and he likely to haue taken a more disgrace being vnhorsed This first encounter was noted of all the nobles who commended his strength regarded him nothing but with such valour met him that he made him to his great disgrace forsake the saddell at which a generall showt to the Knights great commendations was giuen The Lord Vrelia hauing had his part another came in place who went not away without some disgrace so generally behaued he himselfe and with such honour and valour bare him that the Iudges fathers of Armes gaue the
with grief WheÌ„ they had passed some time in parley about their affaires and that some offers were made by these Nobles of their ayde and assistance a generall Councell was called where by consent of such as had gouernment vnderstanding the power of Donatio the vsurper was no more but such as guarded his holdes it was determined after the army had refreshed themselues two or thrée daies to martch forewarde to the Cittie there to beleager the King and cut off from them all supply of prouision for victualles whereof they had small store In the meane time the Lordes of Thessaly to giue notise to all their friends with all spéede as they tendered their owne liberties to repaire with such power as they could make vnto the Campe. This deuise was no sooner determined on but the Noble Mama Bacha without returning to the King spared not his paines and all others which hée could command or entreate proclaiming in euery place as they passed Theophilus their lawful king straightly charging all naturall subiects of Thessaly to make repaire vnto the Campe. These tydings at first were hardly beléeued yet such was the rumour of a forreine power landed that all which could beare Armes repaired to the King whome they founde at the assault of the Cittie where the vsurper kept such was the multitudes of people which from all countries in his Regions came vnto him that in short time he had power sufficient to ouerrunne a kingdome The vsurper Donatio who had least thought euer to heare or sée the Thessalian King when the report of his being in the Campe was brought vnto him his courage quailed and his hope of enioying the Crowne was quite extinguished so that dispairing he became lyke a man lunatike that nothing whatsoeuer might moue him to any mirth or content so that giuing ouer all he cared not what became of himselfe or his yâ—t was he carefully counselled by his Nobles who regarded both his honour and their owne safetie but whatsoeuer they might counsell or determine was ill imployd at his hands was nothing to be had wherefore after they saw his small care and that he was not to be aduised they determined either in field with vnappoynted battell to try their fortunes or by some such composition as might be for their Courtries safetie and their reputation to giue ouer their tytle pretended to the Crowne of Thessaly Before that any thing was of them resolued the Mayden Knight which had his minde on his Lady as well as of other affaires could not rest in content vntill he had finished and either gained what they came for or séene the euent of fortune Wherefore to auoyd further delaies hée summoned the Citie to parley wherein he required their answere whether they would receiue their lawfull King or no if yea they should suffer him in peace to enter or otherwise vpon their answere to abide the hazard incident to Armes which he protested should be voyd of all fauour if he preuailed and they refused this offer of his These summons caused the Nobilitie to looke with better aduise into their estates and with consideration to wey each particuler perill which they found to be very many and daungerous especially séeing the multitude who were naturall subiects and did rather affect their owne King how so euer they professed in outward appearance then the vsurper which made them the more earnest with their King vnto whom they declared the offers made by the Maiden Knight with y â— doubts they had of his successe who were nothing in number to the Kings power which daily increased and contrary his decreased wherfore they aduised him to yéeld vnto such Articles of honour as they would require which should be both for his honour and safetie of him and his The vsurper hearing these perswasions from them wheron his chéefest hope consisted forgetting all former friendship and loue to any of them with most odious words reuiled them calling them traytors dastards and vpbraiding them with cowardise which were neuer founde but euer forward in all his actions onely this excepted wherin was no hope These spéeches moued his Nobles to such furie that departing from him in discontent they resolued for their owne safetie to séek what means they could and not by delaies to incurre his displeasure whose friendship they were by all meanes they could vse to intreat Wherfore in name of all the rest the Lord Philiago principall Treasuror vnto the King by whose direction the rest would be gouerned sent for the Princesse Phedera from prison whom he vsed with honorable spéeches comforting her with hope of her kingly brother who liued and was in person come with a strong power to deliuer her from that captiuitie which so long she endured humbly beséeching her grace to become a fauourable soliciter to his Highnesse for them who were to be commaunded by their soueraigne whose subiects they were protesting that neither for enuy to him or his they vndertooke the action but at commaundment and to auoyde the ignomious tytle of cowardize which all of honorable birth or mind ought to detest The good Princesse which could not tell whether she might giue credit to his words or no answered him thus My Lord Philiago vnder the gréenest grasse lurketh the most perillous poyson and experience hath taught me in my durance the knowledge of friends these sodeine offers of loue to my brother whom you all know is long sithence dead causeth me the more to dread I am going to him and that your proffered friendship is but to that end to bereaue mée of that which long since I wished to leaue if it bée so good my Lorde hyde not the truth thereof from mée for therein shall you shewe your charitable minde to a distressed Captiue Farre be it from my thought Noble Ladie quoth Philiago that I should any way delude you or moue you to credit any thing other then truth whom I haue my greatest hope of good to assure you of which so pleaseth your Exellence I will my selfe bring you to his Maiesties presence When the Princesse heard him make these proffers of fauours and perceiued by his iesture he did not counterfeyt ouercome with ioy she was in a traunce from which reuiued by the carefull industry of the Lady Vrania wife to the Lord Philiago shée gaue the Noble man great thanks for his tydings assuring him on her word that she would so recompence that good as hée nor his should haue any cause to complaine of her vngratefulnesse Vrging him with her curteous spéech to detract no time but to bring her to the Campe where the King was which he willingly yéelded vnto and causing a stately Charyot to be ordeined and richly apparrelling the Princesse as befitteth her accompanied with his Ladie and two daughters of rare bewtie himselfe wayting on her disrobed issued out of the gates and in short time came neare the Campe and were by the Sentronelles discouered and brought to the
Kings presence who séeing the Princesse whome hée had great doubt the tyrant would haue murthered so sodaine a ioy surprized him as he might not speake yet ouercomming his passion ioyning his face with hers after many kinde imbrasings he saith Phedera how haue the heauens blessed me in giuing me life to behold thée more deare vnto me then a million of liues whom sithence I possesse as the onely ioy I conceiued hope of in this world I account my happines more then to be possessed of the worlds reuenew But tell me Phedera what are these that accompany thée strangers to me they are how frendly soeuer they haue vsed thée Most gracious soueraign for these noble persons I am to intreate hauing passed my word to be their safe conduct froÌ„ any violence should be offred them therefore good my Lord receiue into your fauour the Lord Philiago Treasurer to the vsurper his Ladie and daughters such as are by them protected so shalt thou honor me the more by mainteining my word which relying on your princely nature I haue past The Mayden Knight willing to hold her honor in regard sayd Madame how his Maiestie on the sodaine may be wonne to fauour your sute I cannot say hauing had such great cause to reuenge him on their crueltie but for his life let him thanke your grace if he enioy it The King whose heart pittie moued to tender the sute of the princesse comming towards the noble Philiago and his Lady with great curtesie tooke them from the earth wheron they knéeled accepting them to his maiestie vsing them with such honor curtesie that they admired him After he had reuiued with his kinde confections these sorrowing suters hée said Philiago as I haue pardoned thy life so faile not to tell me thy Kings determination whether he will yéeld or in battell try the euent of our fortunes Gratious soueraign quoth Philiago that he determines to séeke your grace is more then I can say for such desperate humors assaileth him that he is not himselfe friends faileth him from the Noble to the peasant whose wisdoms haue with graue aduise considered what wrongs hath bin offered your grace and hath vpon your Princely motions of mercy solicited him to pittie them and yéeld vnto your grace which when he could not be perswaded vnto we all left him and I in name of all the Nobilitie humbly beséech your highnesse of mercy who onely attendeth but my returne at which time on your gratious word they will deliuer the Citie My Lord quoth the King what cause so euer I haue in the most extréemest maner to reuenge me on you all yea to the very childe that sucketh that I omit And that thou and they all shall know I delight not in bloud nor wish I the life of my mortallest foâ— returne vnto them and from mée say that if in submissiue wise they issue their gates and at my féete craue mercy bring with them their vsurping king I will accept them so that thou and they shal sweare your dutifull alleageance to me and mine shall be hereafter mainteined in such maner as becommeth faithfull subiects to their Prince I will admit them to my grace and will be vnto them a louing and gratious soueraigne Philiago which had that he most desired vttering with many déepe sighes the ioy his hart conceiued for his good successe after many humble and heartie praiers for the kings long life in all happines to be mainteined he besought his grace to giue him leaue with his happy tydings to make glad the hearts of those sorowfull Nobles which exspected his returne which the king granted deteining his wife daughters to attend his sister whose ioyes excéeded the extremes of her misery enioying her Noble brother which she was out of all hope euer to behold againe To their recreation we leaue them and passe on with the Lord Philiago who made no staie vntill he came to the gates where diuerse of his friends exspected his comming No sooner entered hée the Cittie but sommoning the Nobles and Gonernors of the Citte togither he deliuered vnto them what fauour he had receiued of the King and how willing he was to shew lyke clemencie vnto them all vpon those conditions specified whereunto he perswaded them to yéeld not omitting any thing to make them mindfull of the litle hope they had of the vsurpers successe for which they had no reason to encline vnto him who had so small regard of them but rather let him endure the reward of his owne follies then that so many should perish for one mans wronges Resolued thus they hastened vnto the Couâ—t at whose sodaine entering the King was greatly appalled considering in what discontent they parted with him yet shewing a countenance voyd of all feare he required the cause of their comming whome they soone resolued letting him know each particuler of their euent perswading him to patience for what they had determined should be accomplished The King hearing his owne doome of misery pronounced albeit it moued him to great impatience yet restraining chollor he with his smooth spéech besought them of respite for his answere till the next morning which they willingly consented vnto And so leauing him they departed each one to his seuerall mantion But he in whose heart reuenge harboured hauing his minde wholly bent on their ruine after he had conferred with such as were as full of mischiefe as himselfe of crueltie and was by them aduertised what power they were off he caused them secretly in the night Armed to assemble at the Court where in very couert manner they remained vntill the time came that the Nobles should come to receiue their answer who void of all suspect of euill entred the Pallace desirous to know his pleasure touching the matter thâ—â— betwéene them in question No sooner câ—â—â— they to tâ—â— kings presence but the cruel tyrant shewing in his couâ—teâ—â—nce the pretence of his heart began in â—â—â—â—mes of great reproach to exclaime against the Nobles whome he accused of treason and vniust dealing against him and the state of his countrey that flying from him which was their lawfull soueraigne sought to supplant him to Crowne another But Traytors quoth hée you shall reape such reward as your treachery deserueth and therewithall giuing the watch-word his confederates which for the purpose was ambushed issued vppon them and sodeinly surprized as many as they could come by the the rest that fled entring the Citie proclaimed the lawfull king offering in his name frée pardon of life and goods to as many as folowed them At which offer of grace the commons wearied with the oppression of the vsurper in multitudes assembled themselues and guided by Philiago they fiercely assailed the king in his Court fleying as many as they could reach vnto and reskued their fellowe Nobles whose death by the Tyrant was determined had not the valour and policie of this noble Philiago preuailed In this exployt many of
her selfe that with those comfortable confections her Doctors prouided and receiuing such vyands as phisicke thought most méetest shée beganne to recouer her decaied colour and her faint limbs ouer weake with forbearing such sustenance wherewith nature should be reléeued recouered their strength in such wise as it ioyed her subiects to heare of her recouery Time which ouercommeth mightie things hath brought the Quéene to that good estate as finding a day wherein the Sunnes power vanquished the ayres rumaticke coldnesse the walked into the gardaine where shée solaced her selfe beholding Natures abiliments which beautified the earth in such manner that the pleasantnesse thereof with the swéete smelles bredde her great content The Mayden Knight which had desire to shewe his dutie in attending her royall highnesse hearing this happie tydings hasteneth to the gardaine whome the Quéene no sooner sawe but calling him vnto her after his dutie done and her Maiestie taking him vp from the grounde from off his knée she said My Lord what excuse can you frame now for neglecting your dutie to your mistresse which cannot haue your sight being in Court without a messenger if the sight of any one attending vs be offensiue vnto your Grace wée will remoue them rather then loose your company so wée may know them Noble Princesse answered the Knight that I acknowledge not my dutie as I ought pardon me and weigh in the ballance of your gracious clemencie my zeale and hartie desire to doo you seruice who albeit my heart desireth no such happinesse as your Princely presence yet knowing that Princes haue many eyes to behold them and Enuy lurketh in the hearts of subiects who imagining more then is on either of our parts thought may with their euil spéech raise that scandall as may blemish your renowne being a virgine and procure my greater trouble which am a straunger Clenly excused quoth the Quéene I sée now good seruant you haue not spent your time idlely abroad if I might know your schoole mistresse I would be so bold to thanke her for the diligent applying her scholler Madame quoth the Prince I am glad to heare your grace so well disposed I hope your Maiestie hauing recouered strength and your businesse with these nobles ouer past will thinke of your seruant and remember your word to me which chalengeth the same at your maiesties hands My Lord quoth she had I not held thy loue in regard I could not haue denied the many sutes of my Pheres and Commons which haue besought me and with great earnestnesse entreated me to marriage but so deare hath thy loue bene vnto me that I desired death rather then falsifie my faith to your grace for whom and through whose vnkindnesse I haue endured much hearts discontent No more of that quoth the Knight good Madame expel from your minde passed griefes and thinke vpon the ensuing pleasures which wil excéed all the discontent hath bene to heare your discontent is litle pleasing vnto me who neuer closed these eyes nor neuer beheld the rising of the glorious Sun without millions of times remembring your grace whose presence I more desired then I will explaine Guenela séeing some of the Councell entering the Gardaine gaue them intelligence thereof breaking off their spéech thus Sir if you haue taken orders in holy Church since your departure it is more then is expected of all the court which in time past haue shewed your selfe so worthily in Armes to your lasting honor If you haue and her grace haue chosen you for her ghostly father enioyne I beseech her maiestie to some easie penance for her long sicknes is not to endure much fasting besides here is of the Councel who hath waited to say somthing either to the Quéene or your grace These wordes of Guenela caused them surcease their talke and with shewes of louing countenaunces to giue each other the farewell The Knight framing his talke to Guenela who finding him alone thus said Sir experience of mine owne discontent hath taught me what a corifiue melancholy is to a pleasant minde who in your absence haue endured many sharpe wordes yea and oftentimes those thundering spéeches lighting with blowes either on my ribbes head or face in reuenge of which had you bin present for whose sake I endured them I should haue aduentured the cracking of a sword with your grace or greatly haue wanted of my will Why how now Guenela quoth the Knight art thou metamorphiâ—ed hath the Goddes ioyned thée abiliments of a man as wel as armed thy hart with courage faith wench art thou so valiantly minded to breake a blade take héed tis dangerous for your sexe to deale with weapons but I will desire the Quéene to search you least happily as â—ad a chance befall her maydes as Dania which enterteined Iupiter in likenesse of a Swan If Guenela be likewise by their consents allienated from her sexe it were good to preuent euils in time had I wist commeth too late My Lord quoth Guenela blushing with shame your Lordship hath through my fondnesse taken me at aduantage misconstruing my simple meaning which haue euâ—r honored you Conceale my folly in this good my Lord and forget it and pardon my fond words which haue felt many stripes for you Nay Guenela quoth the Knight I may not with my honour let passe a matter of such importance without reuealing it to her highnesse least your words as you say spoken in ieast turne some of our Ladies in earnest to be beholding to mother Midwife The Quéene which had reposed her selfe with beholding the bewtie of nature and taken y e pleasant aire which did greatly comfort her hauing some conference with her nobles departed the gardein which made the rest withall the spéed they could make to follow whereof Guenela was nothing sorowfull who was thereby compeld to leaue the Knight of whome shee wished long before to haue shift her hands The Quéene gathering some strength was loath to detaine the straunge Nobles longer from her Presence wherefore by her Nobles shee limitted a time to heare them against which day was all her nobles summoned to be at Court with her Ladies and women of account to attend her Maiestie who with the Lorde Stewarde of her houshold had taken such order for all diuersitie of vyandes that might be prouided The day appointed come not vnexspected of the straungers who prouided themselues as sumptuous as they could apparrelled after their countrey maner attended the time of her Maiesties comming forth who being come and in her Chaire of Estate set word was brought vnto the straungers who marching with the nobles of Thrace through the Court was in most honourable maner presented vnto her Maiestie who with countenance debonaire and grace magisticall as became her royaltie bad them all welcome in such curteous and Princely manner that the straungers at this first fight were driuen to great admiration beholding that grace and honor in a woman which they would neuer haue beléeued had not their eyes bene
curtesie to say My Lords all and you of the Communaltie you haue in yéelding to these honorable motions by me made highly contented her whose desire in loue made me not so head-strong to consent without your generall lyking my choise being such as may be mated with the oneliest Lady of highest estéeme in the worlde as I doubt not your selues will confesse when he shalbe knowne vnto you my high estéeme of him laid apart for that you may say affection is blinde And as the Prouerb saith The Negro by nature black and loathsome in our eyes estéemes her Infant faire so Loue which commandeth all creatures caused many Princes and Ladies of worth to submit themselues to base estates Imperious loue so ouer mastering their hearts to assure you that my lyking is not such and to satisfie you which with your curteous consent hath contented me know your so elected souaraigne and he that I haue subiected my loue vnto is of no lesse worth then a Prince royally borne and descended from the loynes of a King famous and a Quéene endowed with much honor himselfe shewing his royall desent by his demeanour which is valiant wise and curteous such a one I know your desires is to chuse for your soueraigne all offection set apart such a one haue I chosen which shal cause al your ioies if you ioy in any good Where breaking off your spéech with other words of curtesie yéelding them great thankes she called Guenela whome shée commanded to send some trustie messenger for the Prince willing him all businesse set apart to repaire vnto her which done framing pleasant discourses which delighted the nobles she sought to their contents to beguile the time vntill the messenger returned which made such haste that he found the Knight vnto whom he imparted the Quéens pleasure which albeit the sodeinesse thereof was troublesome vnto him cloying his head deuising of sundry matters which her hastie sending for him should import yet neglecting no time he spéedeth him to the Presence where to the Quéene he was the welcommest man liuing as her countenance declared who calling him vnto her commanded a chair to be brought and seating him on her left hand to the admiration of all the beholders which done she said My Lords and you our louing subiects muse not at this vnwoonted fauour vsed to this Gentleman nor repine not for that it is your owne choyse This is my choyse and hée that I haue sworne my loue and loyall affection vnto who albeit hath thus long subiected himselfe to our seruice dooing vs many high fauours as your owne eyes can witnesse enduced vnto it by that high commander of men who hath procured many Princes to the lyke for our loue as I am assured he abandoned his Kingly seate disguised in the base attire of a Merchant came to our Court where what honors he hath gained by his valour and curtesie not one of you but know Numedia being his natiue soyle and the kingdome his by lawfull desent from the King his father Let it not dismay you my friends nor iudge my words spoken of him for his honor to be more then truth so shall you wrong him whose woorth you may be by my reports assured off and iniury her which had neuer intent but to deserue well of you all Therefore as you haue your desire knowing him in token of your loue and generall consents by whom hée is your adopted King shewe by your signes of content howe pleasing my choyce and lyking is vnto you The Nobles amazed at the Quéenes spéech although they could hardly be enduced to beléeue what shée had sayd yet such was the loue they honored her with that giuing credit vnto her words without longer pause of the matter that the Quéene might the rather be wonne to credit their former spéech with a vniuersall voyce prostrating themselues before him they cryed God saue the King Quéene vowing vnto him loyaltie and failtie as vnto their King and soueraigne Thanks good my Lords quoth the Prince for your good consents and doubt not of my loue to you which with such heartie affection shall be shewed that my dearest bloud shal be shead ere the least haire of the basest of your heads shall perish Which said the Quéene standing vp requested the Nobles that as they had with consent elected him their King so they would appoynt the time for solemnizing the marriage with the Coronation chaunging his name from Pheander the Mayden Knight to Dionicus the lawful heire of the Numedian Crowne for that was his right and the name of Pheander but vsurped Which request of her Maiestie they easily granted appoynting the marriage thrée dayes following and the Coronation presently to follow which to their great ioyes was accomplished with all the honour might be done by their subiects the costly showes and all maner of delightfull pastimes there vsed I omit albeit it was pleasing both to their King and Quéene and brought great ioy and comfort to all beholders The marriage with the Coronation past the Commons delighted with their King assured his grace to be so honorable as the Quéene had reported him and they found who in that Parlament to honor the Thracians the more and let them know his loue was no whit inferiour to theirs he entailed the Crowne of Numedia to the lawfull heire of Thrace succéeding assuring them that his Nobles and Commons should confirme and assure the same Which curteous fauour the Nobles so gratefully accepted as they returned him for the same many gracious thanks the Parliament proroged according to custome of the Country their dutie in all humblenesse done the Nobles with the chéefest of all parts in the land wished the Quéene and King many happy dayes to their ioy and harts content which they requited with such shewes of loue as might delight them and giue them cause to ioy in their Princes election of whom their comfort was great their assurance of tranquillitie with forraine Princes through his magnanimitie to be such as al true subiects might haue pleasure to recount Their leaue taken euery one departs well content to his home Thus the King and Quéene enioying hearts content their loues more and more encreased that there was no talks but of their faithfull loue and hearts lyking through which the Commons liued in peace praying for their long liues to be continued To which content in loue the story leaueth them recounting the arriuall of the aged Barnardine in Thrace who with his long trauaile came vnto the Court where wandering Pilgrimelike liuing by the deuotion of bountifull people he spent some time in contemplation others in viewing the bewtie of the Court and maners of the people eftsoones commending their religion and seruing their creature taking much pleasure in discoursing with such Pilgrime strangers as he méete of the diuerse conditions of those Nations whose Countries hée had séene which being many he affected no Princes Region as this Country of Thrace