of the yong Prince Palmerin But the Emperor was somewhat offended that the two gréene knights were so departed without knowledge from whence they came or what they were but as their courage made manifest they were two valiant approued knights at Armes and deserued the reward of honour â— where euer they came Thus reioyced the Emperour for that in his Court remained the flower of all Chiualrie both in the young knights who neuer tryed themselues before as also the couragious Palmerin whose hardinesse would giue place to no hazard which made the Emperour famous and themselues enrolled in the booke of eternall memory CHAP. XIII How on the next day after the Triumphes a Lady arriued at the Emperors Court declaring of a Shield which was sent from the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley to the yong Prince Palmerin and was taken from her by the Knight of the Sauage man who kept the same in the Forrest of the Cleare Fountaine vntill any Knight durst aduenture to fetcht it from him And how many Knights enterprised to winne it but lost their labour till Palmerin came who brought it away with him ON the morrow after the Tournament the Emperour accompanied with Kng Frisol and all the other young Knights sate in his great hall giuing such coÌ„mmendations to their late taken trauell that they estéemed themselues highly honoured to finde such curtesie at the Emperors hands euery one wishing they might haue gained knowledge of the two gréen knights that behaued themselues so worthily To breake off their talke there suddainly entred before them a Damosell attyred after the English fashion in a Robe of Veluet and about her middle a skirt of Gold and her face endued with no lesse beautie then her garments were adorned with sumptuous brauery When shée had well beheld all the knights and fayling of the person she sought to finde bending her knées to the Emperour thus vsed her salutations Most renowned Emperor whose name is no lesse honored then your déedes held worthy of immortall memory pardon the rude entrance of a bold maiden and attend the discourse I shall deliuer to your Maiestie The great and Sauadge Magitian named the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley who hartily wisheth your continuall happinesse in faithfull oath of his obedience kisseth the hands of your Imperial Maiesty And because your highnesse hath bin lately conquered by much sadnesse to the no small gréefe of your Courtly assistants as also himselfe who is your vnknown subiect he promiseth your losse shall be recouered to your ioy when neither Fortune shall let it nor any mishap auouch the contrary The cause of my comming was to present you with a Shield which by your Maiesties hands should be giuen to the famous yong knight that in your Triumph won the honour of the day and bears the title of perfect knighthood as his iust desert But as I haue often heard yet dare â—cantcy credite A tale of more noueltie then importing any truth that your lawes did reuenge the iniuries of Ladies and that your knights in such causes would aduenture their liues Well it may be so but I finde it not so or perhaps my misfortune denies it should be fo for that I haue safely trauelled through many a fortaine Coast and found rescue of diuers noble Knights in euery straunge Countrey till happening into your dominion where I least suspected doubt and there too soone I fell into extreame daunger which I must eyther admit to mine owne mishap or to such vnkinde Knights as deny to helpe faire Ladies in so great a hazard For the Shield I had in charge to deliuer your Maiestie the reward of that knight whose desert is méetest is taken from me by a Knight in gréene Armor who bearing in his Shield a Sauage man leading two Lyons And thus he willed me to certifie the Knight whose valure worthinesse hath deserued this Shield that he will méete him within these thrée dayes in the Forest of the Cleare Fountaine where if he méete him not or some other knight for him to fetch that away which I haue vnhappily lost vndoubtedly he will beare the Shield away with him For this cause did I so circumspectly behold your Knights to try if any Fortune had beene so good to know that couragious minde for whom I entred my trauayle And thus hauing done my duetie I referre the rudenesse of my discourse to your gratious pardon whose wisedome will accept the simple declaration considering that Maidens are seldome acquainted with eloquence The Emperor pondering on the damosels words with the friendly message of the Sage Aliart whom he neuer heard off before sent her to the Empresse and the Princesse Gridonia who receiued her so honorably as the hope they had in her glad tydings encreased their comfort Vpon these newes diuers of the knights determined with themselues to goe fetch the Ladies Shielde resoluing them thus that if it were their Fortune to winne it the honour were inestimable that they shoulâ— gaine by so braue a victorie Whereupon Clariball of Hungaria Emeralde the Fayre Crispian of Macedon Flauian Rotandor Medrusian the Fearefull Trofollant and the proud Foruolant who were no friends to the Emperour but came to the Tournament to séeke reuengement of ancient malice that they bare vnto his Maiestie for that certaine of their Predecessors had felt the force of his furie And a fresh spight was engendred because the young knights had giuen them such a great disgrace before their Ladies wherefore they would pursue the knight of the Sauage man and win the Shéeld from all the knights that should come after them When they were come to the Forrest of the Cleere Fountaine they beheld the shéeld hanging on a Trée hard by the Fouâ—taine and the noble Knight the Sauage man there ready to defend it Foruolant tooke the courage to giue him the first assault who being set beside his Saddle had his shéeld and helmet hanged on the Trée in signe hée was conquered He had not long staid but Crispian of MacedoÌ„ Clariball Emerald Flauian Rotandor bare him coÌ„pany whose shéelds and helmets were likewise placed as vanquished Trofollant séeing the hard hap of his companions somwhat angry at the hauty courage of the knight of the Sauage mâ—n thought to haue done more then his strength would permit so was dismounted with his horse vpon him Hauing recouered himselfe on his féete he drew his sword and began a fresh encounter At which time Palmerin accompanied with diuers noble knights as Gracian Dramian Florendos Platir the rest arriued there saw Trofollant sent to his conquered coÌ„panions whereupon the Prince Palmerin began in this maner My desire is sir knight neither for gaine or glory but for friendly affection I beare you to bind vp your wounds which are as grieuous to my sight as to you who féele them Yet not respecting more friendship of you theÌ„ I desire to find at the hands of mine enemy The knight
chaunce to méete him who wold so settle your armor to your shoulders that you would curse your Lady to abide his Canuazado Neuertheles albeit he is not here yet he hath such friends here as would bee sorrie you should depart without some recompence for your trauell And vnder the Emperours correction I will be the man that shall bring you acquainted with the Knight of Fortune so that ere you depart you shall know he hath left such friends behind him as will giue liberall entertainement to those that seek him in this manner The Knight was halfe offended at the words of Tremoran which made him presently to giue this reply I thinke sir the good will you beare to the Knight maketh you so foolish hardy in that which appertaineth not vnto you yet because you dare aduenture so much in his behalfe and will welcome Knights in such a brauery arme your selfe presently because I would bee loath a cold calme should come ouer this hotte matter The Emperour though vnwilling accepted their gages and granted them licence to Combate When in short time Tremoran came into the fielde gallantly mounted wearing blacke Armour as the signe of his heauinesse for the departure of the Prince Primaleon bearing in his Shield a ramping Lion then at the sound of the Trumpets they couched their Speares set Spurres to their Horses and made a very braue Encounter that the Trunchions of their Speares flew vp into the Ayre and were faine at last to ende their Combate with their Swords In fine what with expence of Blood griefe of theyr wounds and great wearinesse in Fight catching each other in their armes they fell both to the ground the Regardants attributing the victory to Tremoran The Emperour séeing they were so fore hurt caused Tremoran to conueyed into his Pallace and the Esquyre of the other Knight conducted his Maister to his Lodging where hee vsed such diligence in his Attendaunce that hee recouered to a little stranger estate Then sent the Emperour to require of whence and what the Knight was word being returned that hee was Sonne to the K of Bohemia and named Recamon vpon which tidings he presently sent for him into his Palace where he was honourably vsed till such time he had gained his healbh And then he departed from thence toward great Brittaine accompanyed with Florendos and Platir Sonne to the Prince Primaleon who pittying the great sorrowe of theyr Mother the Princesse Gridonia aduentured among the other Knights in the search of theyr Noble Father as also to hazard the Aduenture of great Brittaine This Recamon beeing trauelling thither and being one addicted to a great vaine glorie of himselfe by the trust hee reposed in his owne manhood hearing how Floraman had attempted at Constantinople altered his minde and came thither to defend the beauty of the Lady Lucina who was Daughter to the King of Denmarke Spéeding there so ill as you haue heard he returned with the Knights to his former determination they leauing the Emperour somewhat sad for theyr departure yet theyr hautie attempt with the glad issue hee looked for perswaded him to take patiently their absence for the time CHAP. XXXI How the Knight of Fortune taking shipping at Totnes at length landed in the Realme of England and chancing into the Forrest where he was borne he met with the Sauage man that had nourished him so long in his Caue LOng trauailed the Damosell Lucenda till at the last he came to the Cape of Totnes where he tooke shipping toward England and landed at the port of Saint Mathew two miles from Sorlingue accompanyed with a Gentlewoman that came in the Passage with him at whose house he rested one night and departed on the next morning Then rode he foreward friendly talking with Siluian and reioycing that he was arriued in the place where he determined to put his Fortune in triall Trauelling on along in a Forrest he came at last to the Fountaine where he was christened where sitting downe by this water to refresh himselfe he espyed come running forth of a thicket of Trées a Hart very fiercely pursued by a Lyon who running still toward the Prince at last came and lay downe at his féete as one might iudge to craue his defence Wherewith he arose and offering to strike with his sword at the Lyon he presently yéelded himselfe at his féete likewise Their two horses moued with feare by the Lyon brake their bridles and ranne into the woods after them Siluian hied a pace leauing the Prince with two gentle beasts The knight of Fortune looking about espied comming from the place where the Hart did issue forth a Sauage man with the skin of a beast made close to his body in his one hand a bow and arrows in the other a couple with a chaine where with he ledde his Lyon When he had espyed the knight of Fortune he drew his bow and let slie an arrow at him with such force that it pierced into his sheeld but the gentle prince knowing him to be his foster father who had nourished him so long in his Caue beganne to vse reuerence vnto him to certifie him what he was The Sauage man hauing not the patience to heare him came towards him with such violence that he was constrained with his sheeld to thrust him away so that therewith he fall on the ground Then the Prince imbraced him giuing him to vnstand how long he had nourished him with his sonne Siluian who was gone to take his horses that had started away at the fight of the Lyon With these words the Sauage man did remember him and imbracing him in his armes he walked with him vnto his Caue desirous all the way to tell him how he had taken him out of the armes of his mother but because he would not so soone for sake him he held him with other talke and so spent the time till they came to the Caue where the â—auage mans wife imbraced him very louingly requesting what was become of her sonne Siluian Her husband did declare about what businesse he was gone which did pacifie her very well and so she dsired the Prince to rest that night in a little closet wherin he had slept many night when he was there and so féeding on so small pittance as they had they went to take their rest On the morrow the woman wold haue shown him the linnen cloathes â—he had about him when her husband brought him home but he he would not suffer his wife to do so because he should not esteeme him stil for his father and Siluian for his brother whose long tarriaâ—ce abroad all that night and as then 〈◊〉 greatly dipleased the Prince as also his parents who were desirous to see him At last séeing he came not the Prince tooke his leaue and departed to sée if he could méete him by the way because he doubted some harme had falne him the Sauage man and his wife greatly laâ—â—â—ting for his departure as
disguised in blacke Armour but when he perceiued the Prince Floraman and had likewise espyed the shéeld of the Princesse Miragarda he presently did coniecture that the blacke Knight was his Lord the Prince Florendos to whom he reuerently drew néere vsing these spéeches I hope my good Lord you haue no occasion to hide your self from him who hath such earnest affection to do you seruice and specially hauing recouered so rare a Iewel as is the Shéeld of the faire Miragarda at whose commandement you made your departure from this place and well worthy is she to be impeached of high ingratitude if she should not now fauourably entertaine you who hath so nobly and worthily deserued Florendos being not able to conceale himselfe any longer opened his helmet and then embraced his Esquire Armello to whom he deliuered the Shéeld of Miragarda willing him to set it in the place where it was woont to stand before that the Prince Albayzar so discourteously tooke it away and bad him also take the Shéeld of the Princesse Targiana and to set it at the féete of the portraiture of Miragarda which did not a little offend the Prince Albayzar to behold At length came foorth of the Castle the Giant Almarol very well Armed and gallantly mounted on a white Courser for he supposed that these thrée Princes came to demand the Ioust but when he beheld the Shéeld of Miragarda in the place where it was wont to be being suddainly abashed he knew not well what to say At last he knew the Prince Florendos by reason that he had lifted vp the Beuere of his Helmet whereupon he cast his Lance to the ground and with stretched out armes came and embraced the Prince Florendos entertaining him with these words I did alwaies perswade my selfe worthy and renowned Prince Florendos that you would bring to end that honorable exployte which I now perceiue you haue happily atchieued a desert so laudable and knightly as the Princesse Miragarda cannot otherwise chuse but requite you with better entertainment then she had done heretofore And if she continue her former obstinacy vse not that gratious acceptation towards you which your noblenesse doth worthily merite and her duetie commandeth she should fauour you with all I will so shake the honour of her name with spéeches of importance that the world shal be acquainted with her monstrous vnkindnesse who I hope will beare me company in iustly condemning her that can affoord such great disloyaltie to so good a Knight Thus breaking of his spéeches without staying to heare the answer of the Prince he presently ran into the Castle where he declared to the Princesse Miragarda the noble and Knightly returne of her loyall Seruant Florendos which newes enflamed her heart with vnspeakeable ioy neuerthelesse she dissembled the matter in such sort as though she had made no account thereof which the Giant perceiuing both how slender estimation she seemed to haue of Florendos as also of the 〈◊〉 bringing backe againe her Shéeld being not able to withhold his choller any longer he began to touch her very highly with the Princely seruice of Florendos how to her vniuersall praise and his owne renowne he had witnessed the true testimony of an inuincible minde which she countenancing with so small regard did notoriously impeach herselfe of ingratitude and too iniuriously requite him that had deserued so well All these words did séeme nothing to moue her resolute will but with a hardy countenance she gaue show to the Giant that she was the Lady and Mistresse of a selfe-willed conceit albeit within her selfe she remayned greatly affectionate of the Princes returne but because her modest shamefastnesse should not be discoured to the giant she made the matter to him of no regard at all The Giant being not a little vexed in a great fury 〈◊〉 foorth of her presence very much accusing her obstinate minde and comming to the Prince Florendos they could not hide the great discourtesie of Miragarda which the Prince contented himselfe withall because he was woont to haue no other entertainement but for that he would dispatch the cause of Albayzar he desired Almaroll to goe againe to his Lady and to know her pleasure as concerning him that caried away her Shield and whom he had brought backe againe The Giant presently returned to the princesse giuing her to vnderstand that the Knight which had caried away the Shield was brought thither backe againe by the noble Prince Florendos who desired to knowe her will what should be done with him Miragarda taking a little pause at last commanded that Albayzar should be brought into her persence and that Florendos should abide without When Albayzar was come before her she straitely charged him to goe yéeld himselfe prisoner vnto the king Recinde her especiall good Lord and that he should not faile to goe thither because he should remaine there as prisoner vntill the great Turke had set at liberty the king Polendos with al his knights She receiuing his oath that he would not faile to doe as she had commanded him willed him to depart whâ—â—â— he giuing her humble thanks for fauouring him so much considering his offence deserued greater punishment offered gently to kisse her hand but she would not suffer him and so he departed from her When he was come foorth againe from the Castle to take his leaue of the Prince Florendos he cast his 〈◊〉 on the protraiture of the princesse Targiana not without many a bleeding sigh from his heart and such countenance in iesture as bewrayed the extreamity of his suddaine paâ—â—ions A great while he stood rehearsing to himselfe these amorous conceits wherewith he was meruailously charged at last he desired Almaroll to doe him so much fauour as to goe intreate the Princesse Miragarda that it might stand with her pleasure not to suffer the shield of his best beloued Targiana to hang in the rancke among those that were conquered in respect she had deserued no such dignitie But in no case would shee agrée to this request so highly did she estéeme her selfe in superioritie aboue all other Ladies whereof Albayzar being certified he departed in choller and extreame melancholly the thirtéenth day after her departure from the Castle of Almaroll he arriued in the Court of Recinde King of Spaine who receiued him with very Princely Courtesie And after he vnderstood who had sent him and for what cause he was not a little pleased thereat because by him the King Polendos might haue libertie againe as also his Sonne who was prisoner amongst the other Knights of these newes he presently caused the Emperour of Constantinople to be aduertised that he should now set his former griefe apart and reioyce in that he had in his custody such a one as should bring home againe all the Knights that were prisoners to the Turke The Emperor greatly commended the pollicie of the Princesse Miragarda and wished if it might be possible to haue
Souldiers The second was giuen in charge to the king of Trebizonde the third to the king of Caspia the fourth to the king of Armenia the fift to the king of Gamba the sixt to the king of Sparta the seuenth to the king of Bithinia the eight to the prince Argelo of Arfasia the tenth and last was conducted by the Soldane Albayzar himselfe with whome were seauen Giants for the Guard of his person But so soon as FramustaÌ„t espied Dramusiande in the forefront of the Christians Armie being desirous to approoue himselfe against him onely hée went by the licence of Albayzar to the foremost Squadron of the Turkes because hee thought by this meanes to encounter with Dramusiande The young princes in Albayzars Campe were diuided into foure parts each part contained fiue and twenty thousand and they that were left beside were sent to the Pauillons for safegarde of the princesse Targiana and the princesse of Armenia As for the richnesse of their Armour and ingenious Deuises which these knights as well on the one side as the other bare in this conflict would trouble the eloquent tongue of Marcus Tullius Cicero to make true sufficient discourse thereof But to yéelde the greater contentment to those friendely Gentlemen who take delight in reading of this famous Hystorie I will rehearse the Names of them that were brauest in the Fielde and first I will begin with the Christians wherof there were sometimes two or thrée together whose Armour and Deuises were like in colour or proportion King Edward the Emperour Vernar and the Soldane Bellagris had theyr Armour in Scarlet white and blacke colours with mightie Chaynes of Golde crossing theyr Bodyes and in theyr shieldes they bare a flying Griffon in a fielde of Siluer and vnderneath was written in Letters of Golde the Names of such as they estéemed to bee their best beloued and most famous Friends Primaleon and the King Polendos were in white Armour and in theyr shieldes was portrayed in a siluer fielde a clouen Rocke which Deuise Primaleon was woont to beare when he was amorous of the princesse Gridonia his Wife Recinde Arnedes and Francian were in gylt Armour and two Lyons Rampant in their shieldes in a field of Azure The King of Vngaria Estrellant and Belcar his Vnkle were in black armour shadowed with little streams of Gold because it was not long since the deceasse of the King Frisoll and Ditree and for theyr Deuises they had figured in theyr shieldes a golden Trée in a fielde of Sable Palmerin of England and the prince Florendos were in gréen Armour very thicke beset with little fillets of gold and in theyr shieldes was figured Fortune in a Siluer fielde whereby was vnderstood that they did yet repose some trust in her The Prince Floraman of Sardignia and the Kinght of the Sauadge-man had theyr Armours of an Indian coulour all wrought ouer with little shrubbes of Golde but the Deuises of theyr shieldes were contrarie for Floraman had portrayed in his shielde Death holding a Lady by the hand in a fielde of Sable and Florian kept his Sauadge Deuise wherewith he had atchieued so many honorable victories Dragonalt King of Nauatre and Albanis of Frieze king of Denmarke were in redde Armour with circles of siluer crosse thwarting euery way and in their shields was pictured in a field of Sinople Loue holding a Knight vnderneath his féet for this Deuise the Princesse Miragarda commanded Dragonalt to carry all his life time when he was vanquished by the prince Florendos before the Castle of Almaroll The Prince Berolde and Onistalde his Brother were both in gylt Corselets but their Bases were blacke and in their shields was figured little flames of fire in a field of Sable Polinard and Muncalion had their Armour of gréene and Carnation colours and in their shields was displaied a siluer Sea in a field of Sinople Blandidon and Frisoll were in black Armor carrying for theyr Deuises in their shields two golden Griffons in a Fielde of Geules Pompides and Platir were in gréene Armour and eache of them carried in his shielde a siluer Bull in a fielde of Sinople for Pompides tooke very great delight in this Deuise The Armours of the prince Gracian and that of Guerin his Brother was of Gréene Scarlet and white colours with fillets of Golde crosse strickt to separate the colours and in theyr shieldes was figured a Garden of flowers in a siluer Fielde Rodamont and Bellizart had theyr Armour of Verimillion colour and in theyr shieldes they carryed Hope in the habite of a Woman but depriued of life this Deuise was in a fielde of Geules Don Rosuell and Dramian were both in white Armour very thicke beset with Roses of Golde and in their shields was pictured a displayed Ensigne of siluer in a Golden fielde Basilliart and Didon his Brother were in Azure Armour all wrought ouer with little Siluer shrubbes and in the same manner were their shields Luyman of Burgundie and Tremoran had their Armour of Tawny colour as colour conformable to their amorous thoughts but because Tremoran was out of hope to espouse his Ladie he carried his Deuise according to his ill happe and Layman of Burguudie being in the same case was the more willing to kéepe his companie and therefore they carryed for theyr Deuises in theyr Shielees Sifiphus tumbling his restlesse stone in a field of Sable The Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley and Don Rosian de la Bronde were in white Armour and this was the maner of the Deuises in their shieldes The Sage Aliart had the figure of God Apollo in his shield in a field of Sinople and Don Rosian had in his shielde the tower of Nemrod from whence hee was lineally descended Maiortes and the Giant Almaroll were in blacke Armour and theyr shieldes of the same colour without any maner of Deuise The Giant Dramusiande was in a strong Armour of Aâ—ier and his shielde of the same manner of whome the Christians made especiall account because they knew the noble valour hee was indued withall Diuers others were very braue both in theyr Armour and Deuises of their shieldes which made a gallant shewe among the Christians but I let them passe at this time to auoyde prolixitie And now wee will speake somewhat of the Prince Albayzar who was very gallantly mounted in a Gréene Armour which was thicke beset with Spheares of gold in signe of victory and in his shield was pictured in a fielde of Sinople the liuely and naturall forme of the Princesse Targiana The Soldane of Persia was in a Carnation coloured Armour beeing very thicke beset with precious stones of incredible estimation and about the skyrts of his Bases were framed diuersitie of fine and curious artificiall knottes of Gold in the middest whereof stood two Letters of P. P. which he had caused to be placed there onely for that they were the first Letters of the Name of the Princesse Polinarda towards whome he was maruellous
as he cried for succour to the king of Trebisonde with whose aide he returned to recouer what he had lost and at length made the meanes to get Argelao and the king of Bithinia thorow the preasse But he that had theÌ„ séene the prince Primaleon might plainly haue discerned his willingâ—es to preuails against his enemies for he laide on loade so on euerie side and following vpon theÌ„ with his traine so nobly as not one durst stand before him to endure his fury by this meanes he recouered horses againe to Floraman and Berolde but they were so wounded as they were glad to get forth of the battell Primaleon Palmerin of England and Florian of the Forrest with their traynes helde the king of Trebisondes second Squadron so hâ—te play as they wished themselues a little furder off But on the left hand of this Squadron was the most daungerous battaile betwéene Framustant and Dramusiande who had gotten great aduantage of his enemies by reason that Framustantes sword was broken to his hand but Albayzar sent two hundred Knights on foote to helpe the Giant which when Primaleon perceiued he spake to Palmerin of England in this manner I pray you Sir goe with me to succour our friend Dramasiande for I will neuer returne into the Cittie except I haue him with mée Without any more words they layd about them lustily and knockt downe euery one that stood before them vntill they came where Dramusiande was thither likewise came to defend him against his enemies the Knight of the Sauageman Florendos Platir Polinard Pompides the Sage Aliart Maiortes Frisoll Blandidon Don Rosiran de la Bronde Belcar and his sonnes being likewise accompanied with twentie of the most renowmed Knights in all the Armie and to aide Framustant came the Soldan of Persia and the king of Trebisond accompanied with a hundred knights of great authoritie and valour they being all on foote When Primaleon saw his friends without their horses he alighted likewise and so did the Prince Palmerin but when the other Christian knights heard that Primaleon fought on foote they forsooke their horses and came hastily running to defend him and now beganne such a cruell and fierce battell as on all sides it remained very doubtfull and dangerous Dramusiande and Framustant so layde vpon each other with their pommils of their swords as they were at length so sore trauailed as their stroakes could but little hurt them Primaleon and the king of Trebisonde buckled together but such was the fiercenesse of their fight as in the end they were constrained to pause a while the like happened to Palmerin of England and the Soldane of Persia but the Knight of the Sauage man slew two Knights who came traiterously and strooke him behinde his back and Florendos with the rest of his companions stuck so closely to their tackling as many of the enemies ranne like dogges away But Maiortes was so compassed in with his enemies as none of his friends might come to helpe him so that he had such gréeuous wounds giuen him as hauing slaine so many of his enimies as durst abide him hée fell downe dead to the ground himselfe Florian of the Forrest was so grieued when he saw him fall as the teares trickled downe his cheeks and albeit he was in extreame heauinesse yet he followed on them that had kilde Maiortes and reuenged his death nobly because the death of so braue a noble man was much lamented of them that knew his valiaunt minde but most especiallie of his Sonne Dridan who with anguish of mind cast himselfe amongst his enemies and within a while he behaued himselfe so well as the Turkes knew to their cost his extreame griefe for the death of his Father yet such was his vnhappie fortune in the end as being beset among the thickest of his enimies many cruell wounds giuen in diuerse places of his body he fell to the ground his vitall spirite forsaking him and made him follow his Fathers dead ghost which was no small griefe to the noble king Edward of England in respect of the great friend shippe and loue that had remayned of long time betwéene him and Maiortes And because he iudged that fighting thus on foote would be the death of many his deere friendes he commaunded his hard horses to breake through the ranckes whereto they presentlie obeyed and scattered the troupes of the enemies in such sort as all his friendes were mounteâ— on horsebacke againe and Dramusiande and Framustant were separated a sunder but at this second encounter the king of Trebisonde was slaine by the hand of the noble Palmerin of England Dramusiand and Framustant were so daungerously wounded as they were not able to hold out the fight any longer wherefore they were conueied thence the one to the Turkes Tentes and the other to the Cittie to be tendered with present regard according as their dangerous estates required When the conflict was thus broken diuers that had entred with the first squadron retired to take breathing but Primaleon Palmerin nor many of the Emperors Court beside were any of them for it was a pleasure to them to endure the trauaile of Armes such small account they made of their hurts and their enemies The Empresse and the Ladies séeing so great cruelty and the losse of so many noble Gentlemen withdrew themselues into their chambers where they lamented in such gréeuous maner as if they had seene the enimie entred into the Citie whervpon many Ladies of great authorite hearing their pittifull lamentatioÌ„s came vnto the Pallace reposing altogither their hope in the aged Emperor if the knightes in the Field should fayle of the victorie The king Tarnaes would haue denied the Ladies entraunce into the Pallace but it was more then he could well doo for hardlie can any man gouerne the common people especiallie when a generall feare of their liues is threatned before their eyes The Emperour himself whose debilitie in yéeres and griefe of minde conceyued by this vnlooked for stratageme depriued him of his woonted good iudgement and pollitique meanes to preuent so great mischéefe as he could not imagine with himselfe how to remedie this suddaine misfortune but euen with a Womans stomacke rather then the inuincible minde he had alwayes borne héeretofore fel into pusillanimitie and doubtful feare with himselfe vtterlie forgetting the auncient Adage Audaces Fortuna iuuat and Targiana the Princesse of Armenia and all the Ladies in the Turkes Campe were so fearefull and doubtfull of the victorie as the Ladies in the Emperours Court. King Edward being Generall of the Christian Armie desiring to witnesse his noble valour in the fielde hauing rested himselfe a pretie space dismounted thrée knights one after another with one Launce afterward drawing his sworde he charged the enimes on all sides about him so valiauntlie as they were glad to auoide and giue him place And the Prince Albayzar likewise séeking to honour himselfe this day with the renowme of the field came vppon the
that detained him Prisoner THe Hystorie doeth discourse vnto vs how when the Emperor Palmerin of Constantinople left his royall estate to seeke aduenttures as a wandring Knight that he ariued in England accompanied with Trineus the Emperor of Allemaignes sonne who for the loue of faire Agriola in the English Court left his natiue Countrey and behaued himselfe so valiant that shée might esteeme him as one of her 〈◊〉 fauored Knight And in sooth not to diminish his praise or hold backe one title of his braue behauiour the exploites both of him and the Emperour Palmerin béeing both to most vnknowne were such as the King of England with all his Courtly assistaunts not onely commended their valure but also gaue them entertainement agréeable to their bounty and magnanimity For he perceiuing that their daily endeuours tended both to the safegard of their person and honour of his whole Realme gaue them that preferment in Court which they deserued in chiualry and that honour in name which they both argued to haue in nature whereby they were encouraged to attempt the hardest aduenture and so be honoured in their knightly behauiour In fauour of their Prince and ioue of their Country at length they obtained the full issue of their enterprise which was to haue with them the Prince Agriola whom on a day through leaue obtained of the King with the Queene her mother they got leaue to walke into the field not farre distant from the Court accompanied with diuerse Noble men and Gentlemen as you may reade more at large in the Historie of Palmerin d'Oliua which faith That sporting themselues there on the top of a hill on a sudden altogether vnlooked for there came a Giant named Frenaque well attended on with twentie fighting men who perforce tooke the Queene and her Daughter Agriola from them neither respecting the woefull meane of the Ladies nor gentle entreatie of the knights who had no defence to rescue them nor companie inough to resist them But at that time were more ready to vse a distaffe with Hercules then a Speare with Hannibal and rather required to handle a Lute in Venus Chamber then lift a Launce in Mars his Campe and for a soldiers iâ—unitiâ—n vsing sweete Parle with their Mistrisse and their Ladies laps for the hard lodging in the fielde So béeing thus altogether vnprouided lost the sum of their pleasure and honour of their Knighthood Palmerin and Trineus who had béene with the King in walking arriuing there and hearing of this losse encouraged them as wel as they might offring themselues to die ere they would put vp this iniurie So willing them all to prouide them presently for that a rash encounter might turne to an hard aduenture they proceeded in pursuit after the giant and ouertaking him behaued themselues so worthily that he was slain by the hands of the Emperor Palmerin Then the yong Prince Trineus as well that his Lady Agriola might perceiue his hardnes as also the Quéene her mother might giue his deeds commendation so valiantly menaced his courage that by the helpe of the other Knights all the Giants traine were vanquished so that the Quéene and her Daughter had suffered no spot of dishonour by their crueltie which greatly they stood in feare of This Giant had a Sister named Eutropa so cunning in Magicke that neither Zoriastes nor all the other Magitians were in this deuilish Art comparable to her by helpe whereof she had knowledge of the death of her Brother which entered so déepe into her heart that shee vowed her reuengement should excéede this cruell mischance And hauing in her Castell with her a Nephew of hers and the Sonne of this Giant Frenaque named Dramusiande by whom she meant to seeke her sharpe reuenge shee tooke him in her armes and entred into these rufull complaints Ah swéete Nephew albeit thou art fatherlesse yet art thou not friendlesse and though in thy tender time Fortune hath framed thy mishap yet espect a farder time which my Art shall beginne and thy manhoode finish And he that hath thus cruelly murthered the Father both hee himselfe his lynage friendes and familiars will I persecute with extreame rygor After these and such like speeches vttered shee prouided to fortifie and make strong her Castell least the King of England should seeke both the ruine of it and destruction of the Giants kindred when once it came to his eare the Treason shée pretended against him wherefore shée armed her selfe with all those of her kindred knowing that to resist the power of a King asked no smal defence And for a further remedy least worst should happen she enchaunted the Forrest round about so that none could enter her Forreste without her leaue vntill such time as the yong Giant Dramusiande were able to beare Armor and receiue the order of Knighthood In processe of time the young Giant grew able to beare Armor and then his heart began to thyrst for reuenge of his Fathers death the which to accomplish hee was very desirous in Trauell to aduenture his strength according as his heart desired But Eutropia perceiuing the courage of his minde to excéed the strength of his person deâ—iled him to stay his Iourney and she would yéelde into his hands such a one on whom hee might sufficiently reuenge the death of his Father Thus and with these perswasions she changed the minde of Dramusiande vntill the hard fortune of the Prince Don Edoard brought him to her Castell where he entred without any daunger for that his good Sworde kept the force of all Enchauntments from him but hauing lost it by her Diuellish deceyte remained as I haue expressed in vnspeakeablie Leauing this matter it shall not be amisse to speake somewhat of the state and condition of Dramusiande who albeit he were a Giant which commonly are of rough and impatient nature yet was he indued both with ciuilitie of life and honestie in behauiour exempting crueltie and surpassing all of his stocke and parentage in courtesie For after he had a long space kept Don Edoard in Prison and not onely perceiued his Princely qualities but also the sobrietie and great gentleâ—â—â— his life hee caused his Fetters to bee taken from his féete and gaue him leaue for recreation to walke about the Castell vppon condition that hee would not séeme to passe beyond his limits without his consent The courteous Prince gaue him his hand and Oath that he would not passe one foote further then his Licence should permit Yet notwithstanding for all that he gaue charge vnto diuerse to respect his walking abroade in that hee respected his Aunte Eutropaes promise which was that many valiaunt Knightes would Aduenture their liues in the searche of this strayed Prince whome she doubted not but to haue also as Prisoners in the Castell And against the comming thither of any such shee caused to lye in Embush in the Forrest a great number of Armed men to aide Dramusiand against them if his hard hap should
company of a young Gentleman Sonne to Syr Pridos and Attaida named Don Rosiran De la Bronde with whome I will leaue this gentle Prince Florian to know what the Sauadge man and Palmerin did séeing Florian returned not as he was woont CHAP. VIII How grieuous the Sauadge man tooke the suddaine losse of the yong Prince Forian when he perceiued the two Lions returne all washed in the blood of the Hart that they had slaine And how the young Prince Palmerin walking to the Sea side to seeke his Brother accompanied with Siluian the Sauadge mans Sonne departed thence in a Galley with Polendos King of Thessalie who sailed to ConstaÌ„ntinople where he presented them to the Emperor And how a Damosel mounted on a white Courser and bearing Armes arriued at the Court of Constantinople where she presented the Emperor with a Letter sent from the Lady of the Lake which gaue him at large to vnderstand what should oappen to â—he yong Prince Palmerin LOng expected the Sauadge man she returne of Florian and seeing it waxed darke and his hope deceiued hee was out of measure disquieted for the absence of Florian whose company both for expertnesse and towardnesse in his exercise was more commodious to him then his griefe would suffer him to expresse wherefore hee concluded thus young Florian was some way distressed and himselfe vtterly disdained of Fortune But in the morning the Lyons returned home al washed in the blood of the Hart which they had slaine when the Sauadge man percelued their guide wanting and they thus pollnted what with anguish of heart and chollericke perswasiâ—ns in his dosperate moode hee slew both the Lyons and entred into such a disquietnesse that nothing could asswage his extreame passion The yong Prince Palmerin sustaining great sorrow for the absence of his brother walked to the Sea shore accompanied with Siluian the Sauadge mans Sonne where sitting comforting each other on the greene bancke as naturs moued the one and nurture the other they espied a Galley to strike on shore where they twaine disported Polendos King of Theslalie being chiefe Captaine in this Galley who likewise directed his iourney for the finding of Don Edoard commanded to cast Anker there because for recreations sake he would walke vp into the Forrest as also to finde swéete water whereof he was greatly destitute Palmerin and Siluian séeing the King landed and fearing least they should sustaine some harme in that they were ignorant what they were determined by courteous demeâ— nor to let them passe by so should they haue no cause to molest them but to depart friendly perceiuing nothing but courtesie Polendos deholding the beautie of Palmerin with the no lesse ciuill then comely behauiour of them bdth desired them to goe abrdad with him and hee would preferre them in such place as they should be raised to honour and finde all things equiualâ—t to their gentle natures Palmerin whose fancy could hardly brooke that sauadge kinde of life but rather desired to acquaint himselfe with Courtly exercise gaue grant to that which â—he King had requested albeit Siluian vsed intreatie to perswade him to the contrary but when hée saw all meanes that he deuised could take no effect as well for the great loue that was betwéene them as the inuiolate affection he alway bare to the young Prince he vowed neuer to leaue his company either for misery misfortune or any accident whatsoeuer The King no lesse delighted in minde then greatly contented with the manners of Palmerin his seruants beeing returned with such necessaries as hee sent them for went abroad and heysed Sayles presently committing themselues to God the mercie of the waues So riding at their pleasure the King desired Palmerin if hée might lawfull craue so much to certifie him as concerning his byrth and Parentage which the courteous Prince right willingly gaue consent vnto declaring his life with the Sauadge man whom he certainely supposed to be his Father After many dayes fayling they arriued at Constantiuople which at that preseÌ„t was endued with as great heauines as in time past it surpassed in Princely delights the Port or Hauen likewise being nakedly prouided of ships for that the Occean and Mediterranian seas had scattered yâ— who le Nauy in search of the P. Don Edoard as also to know what was become of the Noble Primaleon yet in all this time no wished tydings heard The Emperor vnderstanding yâ— Polendos was arriued at Constantinople walked dâ—wn to the Hauen to accompany him to his pallace where being come and hearing by him no tidings of his sons became very sorrowfull as he had coÌ„tinued so a long time Then Polendos to put the Emperour out of this sadde cenceyte presented vnto him the young Prince Palmerin accompanied with Siluian Who casâ—ing his eyes on the young Prince entred presently into such an alteration of ioy as had he béene his own sonne Primaleon he could hardly haue béene better contented Wherefore he commaunded a Knight to conduct hm to the Princesse Gridonia willing her to giue him as seruant to the faire Polinarda whose beauty was so excellent her feature agréeable in euery lyneament her modestie so decent vertue therto apparant that she was rightly termed the Phaenix for beauty most famous among Ladies for bounty The Empresse and Gridonia receiued the yong Prince albeit ignorant of his estate yet as beséemed their honors respecting who sent him went straightway to present him to the faire Polinarda who in time caused him to aduenture his good Fortune among the pikes of mischanches and hazards of most daunger onely for her loue which hée bought as déerely as she gaue it daintily for proofe let suffice what hereafter ensueth But attend a strange rare euent On a subdaine was arriued in the Emperors Pallace a comely Damosell mounted on a Courser as white as a Swan bearing Armor also answerable to the same in colour her haire spread ouer her shoulders which gaue cause of meruaile to all that saw her She being come into the presence of the Emperor to the no little admiration of him with all those that beare him company she drew foorth a Letter delyuering the same with such Maiestie of behauiour as was méete to gratifie such an honourable personage which the Emperour deliuering to one of his Heralds coÌ„manded it to be read in publique audience who vnseaking it began as followeth ¶ To the Inuincible and most renowned Palmerin Emperour of Greece Salutations REnowned Emperor at whose name the enemy quaketh and the Subiect reioyceth in whose Court your name is the riches of the valiant friendship the reward of any that be venterous I wish thy state as permanent as thy deeds hath beene puissant and the vnanimitie of thy friends to prosper in longanimitie of happy Fortune The yong Prince that thou hast receiued into thy Court albeit thou maist think incredible yet shall finde it certaine when Time doeth will it must be it is descended of two the most
Tournament of the Knight of Death many Noble Princes and valiant Knights left off the the strayed Princes and came to Constantinople to defend the beautie of their Ladies Which caused the Knight of Death hauing such prosperous Fortune to leaue his blacke Armour the Image of his heauinesse and fought in a gorgious new Armour mingled with colours of red and white all beset with Pellicans of gold euery one holding in their billes the tormented heart of a Louer His Shielde also was answerable thereto bearing in the middest a golden Pellican vpon a ground of Sinople where to his braue victories wee will leaue Knight of Death to declare what happened the Knight of Fortune when hee had left Pompides After that to his owne renown and honour of many Princes Courtes hee had succoured the distresse of sundry defamed Ladies and borne away the prize from many famous Knights suddenly comming foorth of a Forrest in Greece musing vpon the great vngentlenesse of his Lady Polinarda hee mette a Knight mounted on a gay Courser and attired in gréene Armour which was all hackt and hewen and his Shield sore polluted whom he remembred to be the knight that came with the knight of th Sauadge man to Constantinop which caused him in gentle maÌ„ner to offer him Salutations whervpon the gréen Knight put foorth this demaund Sir I hâ—pe by your means to he resolued in the occasion which maketh mee trauell in all places and staye in no place The Knight of Fortune stayed him with these words The heauy thoughts which doo often ouercharge me will hardly suffer me to vse any talke with you Why Syr quoth the gréene Knight my request is so reasonable as it néed not offend you to make me answer I would gladly know if in your trauell you chaunced to méete with a Knight in such Armor as yâ— sée me weare carrying for his Deuise in his shield as Sauagde man leading two Lyons in a field of siluer I would my selfe answered the Knight of Fortune gladly knowe where he is for that my trauell is partly to séeke him but I feare me we shall both misse of that wee loke for Syr quoth the gréene Knight for what cause do you labour your selfe in his search If he hath done any thing that doth displease you behold him here that will answere in his cause The Knight of Fortune hearing these words presently returned him this answere If I should report Syr that eyther hee or any other Knight hath iniuryes mâ—â— I should misreports of them and greatly reproach my selfe For the griefe which I sustaine is caused through a Damosell to whom I neuer gaue deseâ—t or know the cause why she should offer mee such great vngentlenesse and neyther is the Knight you séeke 〈◊〉 to my griefes and he is yet vnborne that shall compell me to shewe it wherefore you procéede in your enterprise and let me continue in bemoning my misfortune Syr said the gréen knight by how much you are desirous I should depart by so much the more I am determined to tarry will câ—mpell you to shew why you séeke the knight of the Sauadge man or force you to abyde the perill which by denyall you may finde Wherevpon he presently ran against the Knight of Fortune 〈◊〉 Siluian could possible deliuer him his Spearâ— which made him glad to trust to his Swoorde till at lastly after a 〈◊〉 whiles Fight the gréene Knight came with such force that his Horse ranne his nose against the ground and ouerthrew his Master which the knight of Fortune séeing alighted and then dealte with him at his pleasure vntill such time as the Gréenâ—â—knight waxed very féeble and the Knight of Fortune perceyuing it did vse very much merrie to him but the Gréene knight hauing not the good minde to respect it came against him couragiously with these wordes What Syr Knight beginne you to fainte nay defend your selfe hardly for since you would not estéem my gentlenes when it was proffered you shall féele the recompence that belongeth to selfeâ—will Then ioyned they agaiue till at last the knight of Fortune reached him such a sound stroake that he brought him on both his knées at which aduantage he offered the motion to haue slaine him but the gréeue knight considering his estate beganne in this manner to vse his intreatie Syr Knight the puissance I did estéeme in my selfe in thinking at no time to finde my péere made mee vse this presumption to you which I buye now with too deare a price My life standeth at your courtesie to whome I know not well how to frame intreatie for that my rash attempt doth rather craue a iust reward then any fauour to be showne Yet thus much on your milde nature I perswade my selfe that you rather estéeme the conquest then my death and will suffise your selfe with the one though I am vnworthie to deserue the other Syr quoth the Knight of Fortune I account of my victorie much more then thy Death and because thou shalt knowe that Patience doth alway conquere my Anger I giue thée thy life vppon this condition that thou make knowne to mée the Knight of the Sauadge man as also of whence and what thou art and why thou doest so labour to séeke him Trust me Syr answered the Gréene knight as concerning the knight of the Sauadge-man his name nor of whence he commeth is known vnto me Neuerthelesse if I did knowe it and hee had desired me to kéepe it secrete you should haue my life before I would discouer him As for my selfe I am called Don Rosian de la Bronde sonne to sir Pridos the Duke of Galles and Cornwall and Couzin to Fredericke the famous King of England This is all that I can or will declare which if it will not suffise you on Gods name take that I would hardly spare The Knight of Fortune satisfied with this answer mounted on Horseback giuing him this farewell It had béene much better sir knight to haue vsed such faire language as I gaue you then to cause both of vs to hazard our liues vpon a quarrel that hath no foundation which to preuent against another time let this I wish you serue for a warning And so Siluian and he departed to a Castle where by a Lady named Rianda he was cured of such wounds as he had receiued leauing Don Rosiran to ride whither it pleased him But concerning why hee departed from the Knight of the Sauage maâ— the History declareth that it chanced in this order After they were come two dayes iourney from Constantinople it fortuned they met a young Gentleman ryding a great pace and vsing a heauy clamor all the way as he rode to whom they aduanced themselues desirous to knowe the cause of his complaints To whome the Gentleman declared that thrée knights had taken a Lady from him desiring greatly to abuse her honour wherefore he requested them as they tendered the estate of Ladies so they would helpe to defend her
This report prouoketh such an earnest desire in the knights that they mounted on Horseback and beganne to shew themselues in the field vsing such behauiour with their often recourses that the other knights could enioy no rest till they were likewise prepared For such was the enuious dealings of Eutropa that in this fight she set the Sonne against the Father one Brother against another and the dearest fréend to be enemies one to another and to sée how furiously they behaued themselues not knowing them they fought against would haue made one iudge there was no other meanes but present death Such was the force of her diuellish deuises in the Treasonable attempts the Damosell vndertooke that neiter ciuilitie was regarded nor their owne safetie at this time respected CHAP. XXXVIII How after the Damosels had ended their subtle perswasions the knights ioyned themselues together to a dangerou◠and doubtfull fight wherein they had so sore endamaged one another that their liues stood in hazard of any recouery And how the Sage Aliart seeing the intent of Eutropa to worke the vtter spoyle of these couragious knights came and charmed them in such order that they quickely left of the battaile When as the Giant Dramusiande came forth wirh the captiue Princes who greatly lamented to see their sonnes and kindred in such doubtfull estate and tooke them all prisoners into his Castle NOw that the Damosels had accomplishe◠the disloyall practise of their Mistresse Eutropa they departed leauing the knights in readinesse to enter battaile who had so changed their Armour and the deuices of their Shéelds that they had no knowledge of one another The Prince Gracian was attired in gréene Armour mingled with spots of white and a Coate of Maile ouer it of the same colour in his Shéeld he bare a red Lyon rampaunt in a field of Sinople Onistalde had his Armour blacke whereon in artificiall deuise was made pretie things resembling the scales of a fish and in his shéeld he bare a Gorgons head his Brother Dramian being armed in the same manner The Armor of Bazilliart was somewhat gréene very thicke beset with Lyonesses of Gold bearing in his shield for his deuise an Eagle Francian had his Armor resembling litle flames of fire in his shielde likewise the same order of deuise Dridan was armed in blacke bearing in his shield the Tower of Babilon Polinard had his Armour of a sandy colour whereon was painted many broken Speares in token he had lost the victory against the noble Floraman whē he aduentured for the beautie of faire Polinarda hauing for his deuise in his shield a speare broken in the middest Frisol had his Armour in colour red beset with sundry pretie antiques faces of Sable and in his shield he bare a white Lyon in a golden field Tremoran was attyred in a Carnation coloured Armour very brauely beset with golden Pellicans and the deuise in his Shield was the Image of Sagittarius Luyman of Burgondie and Clariball of Hungaria had their Armour white and theyr shieldes alike in deuises Flauian and Emeralde the Faire had their Armour blacke finely bespotted with red and in their shieldes the resemblance of a faire Clowde in a field of siluer The Knightes on the other side of the Riuer were in like manner disguised giuing shewe to their enemies of their hautie courage and magnanimitie The Prince Berolde first aduanced himselfe in the field his Armour blacke whereon was cunningly besprent the teares of a Louer and in his Shield a bléeding heart rent violently in a number of péeces Don Rosuell and Belizart came next him their Armour of gréene and carnation colour bearing in their shieldes the amorous passions of a Louers minde in a fielde of Azure Estrellant would not change his Armour but defaced the deuise of his shield that he could not be knowen Trofollant had his Armor gréene whereon was figured many golden Doues and in his shielde he bare the Troyan Horse in a field of Sable Guerin was in white Armour bearing in his shielde a Pecocke in a fielde which resembled the coullour of many Needles Rotandor and Crispian of Macedon were both Armed alike Germayne of Orleance had his Armour of Azure bearing in his Shield a beautifull Damosell which he kept in remembrance of the fayre Florenda Daughter to Arnedes King of France for whose sake he determined to trye the aduentures of great Brittaine Platir Floraman Blandidon and Pompides to whom the Damosell of Eutropa had deliuered Horses and Armour came forth their Horses all alike and their Armour blacke beset with siluer Swannes their Helmets very sumptuously guilded and adored with rich Pearles and in their Shieldes their deuises were all alike which was the smokie Forge and Anuill of God Vulcan the Smith Both the companies marching forward till they met where they beheld each other in maruailous great contempt when taking occasion as it serued they couched their Speares and encountred together very valiantly Betwéen them continued such a dangerous fight what with the sore hurtes they receiued as also the great debilitie they were all brought into that the effusion of their blood witnessed their earnest desire of victory and the aduerse estates of them all remained as a patterne of their great perill Don Edward Primaleon Recinde Arnedes Belcar Vernar and the Soldan Bellagris standing with Dramusiande in a window of the Castle beheld the fierce assaults of these couragious Knights whereto they gaue such commendation as the most hauty exployt that euer they had séene which moued Don Edward to say I haue in times past not onely séene many a notable skirmish but also haue had experience of the behauiour of many noble knights yet comparing them past with this which I now behold I must néedes say all the rest hath béene counterfeite and this is onely worthy eternall commendations Indéede quoth Primaleon the aduentures in this place is meruailous which maketh mée to suspend my iudgement of this couragious assembly but if it bée a naturall fight indéede and no imagination giuen vnto vs by the practise of Euchantment I must commend this for the most knightly aduenture that in all my life time I could gaine the sight of Dramusiande likewise was abashed at this present spectacle and knowing it had come to passe by the meanes of his Aunt and fearing least in this Battaile some of them should be slaine he went to her and intreated her to pacifie this grieuous Stratageme but her minde was bent to such cruelty that she would vse no respect to his words So long endured their violence to each other that faintnesse made them let fal their weapons and catch hold of one another in the manner of wrastling which was great griefe to the Princesse in the Castle to behold and sore paines to themselues to continue fight so long The Sage Aliart vnderstanding of this great mishap and scorning that Eutropa should attribute the triumph of this victory wholly vnto her self came to the
such ougly fellowes At last hée beheld the Knights preparing themselues as it were to Iust when after he had done his deuotions in praiers as was his accustomed vse he receiued a Speare from his Esquire which he charged toward Pecinde the King of Spaine When Dramusiande sawe the courage of the Knight of the Sauage man they all came downe to the foote of the bridge meaning as it was their custome the Prince Don Edward should haue the first course but through intreatie the King Recinde got leaue first to trie his strength The Knight of the Sauage man béeing readie prepared encountred the King with great valure but such was his misfortune that he was sent to the earth Arnedes who had alway in trauaile borne him company preuailed through earnest desire that hée was granted the second Iust but he was inforced to beare the King Recinde company Primaleon séeing his friendes receiue such dishonour before his face without taking leaue of the Prince Don Edward tooke the Speare and ran couragiously against the Knight of the Sauage man when they brake their speares yet neither of them any thing shaken Dramusiande who desired to sée the ende of this noble exploit commaunded the Speares should be presently brought foorth when each of them tooke their choise and fell to their enterprise againe At the third attempt Fortune turning her backe to the noble Primaleon caused him likewise to be dismounted to the earth This mishappe greatly displeased the Prince Don Edward and hée taking one of the strongest Speares gaue the Encounter to the Knight of the Sauage man which was discharged with so great magnanimitie that both their Horses and themselues were layde on the ground Don Edward quickly taking his féete againe and maruayling at the puissant strength of the Knight of the Sauage man who came vnto him and saluted him with these wordes Trust me Syr Knight I would estéeme my selfe both honoured of Fortune and highly preferred vnto all good lucke if I were in a place where to doe you such seruice as is your reward through your braue behauiour For this assure your selfe that you are the Knight who ought to beare the general praise among men especially of me who in all his life time neuer sustained so sharpe a plunge as at this encountring you haue put me too Syr answered the Prince Don Edward I knowe not if my behauiour séeme so praise worthy to you but this I speake vnfainedly not to cause you conceiue a pride in your selfe that I neuer met with a stranger knight since I knew what belonged to the bearing of Armour Pandare came to ende their tale giuing these wordes to the Knight of the Sauage man Since Sir Knight you haue done more in the Iust then euery one supposed to bee in your power you must now endeuour your selfe to deale with me a while for that all such as enter this Valley are bound to fulfill this ancient custome But if your heart serue you not to fulfill this enterprise because feare may somewhat allay your youthfull courage I wish you to yéelde your selfe which will be more honourable then to hazard your life where you are certaine to lose it O sir quoth the knight of the Sauage man it séemes your Father was a Senator by your Clarkly perswasion and that you being his sonne would do more with words then he could with déedes but if your Father hath giuen you more wit then you can beare I meane to beate it out of you rather then you should be ouerburthened Pandare somewhat offended to heare these stumpes beganne to charge the Knight with his yron Mace and hée change blowes with his good swoord so that betwéene them passed such notable behauiour in fight that Dramusiande Don Edward and Primaleon commended marueilously the hardnesse of the Knight of the Sauage man At length such was the good Fortune of this noble knight that he brought Pandare on both his knées when he had sent his head from his shonlders had not the Giant Alligan come presently vpon him Then was he constrained to leaue Pandare and award the mighty blows Alligan charged him furiously withall but such was the great foresight of the knight of the Sauage man that he still bare off his strokes and would not strike againe as well to refresh his owne wearinesse as to make the giant somwhat stract with his long labour In fine when he perceiued his time and saw Alligan was out of breath with his long continuance in fight he came vpon him with such fresh deliuery blowes and followed his enterprise with such excéeding courage that he brought stout Alligan likewise vnder his obeysance This Combate was so well estéemed of all the Princes and so greatly displeased the minde of Dramusiande that he approched to the knight of the Sauage man as thus The good fortune Sir knight which hath returned you victorie beyond our expectations or your good assurance me thinkes should moue you haue respect to your bléeding wounds which may more â—â—damage your person then all the perill you haue sustained in fight Wherefore let me intreate you to finish your desire in this trauaile and to striue no farther but yéeld your selfe to my friendship and by my Sword I sweare to vse you in such honourable manner as shall be for your health and mine own honestie If you refuse this my curteous offer and a priuate pride shal cause you run without regard I shal be vrged to that I would be very loth to do which is to giue you a fresh assault when the estate you are in doth rather require ease which may be to your gréeuous detriment and to my great dishonour These courteous words aunswered the Knight of the Sauageman would serue very well to a faint hearted man or to him that is so sore as I in bodie but not to him that is so sound in minde wherefore I am to thanke you for your great pittie and would accept it if that I did conceiue any such pleasure But as it séemeth to me you are the Lord of this faire Castle that at this present doth deaine the flower of all Chiualrie wherefore I would gladly haue you to vnderstand that though my limmes be not in their best estate my heart is in such sure hope that my life shall purchase their present deliuery Dramusiande séeing he scorned his good will and estéemd his words of no better account presently returned him this raplie I perceiue Sir it is high time to cause you know what benefite you might haue receiued in following my Counsell and what danger shall happen through your owne folly so arming his head and commaunding his Sword and Shéeld to be brought him he charged the Knight of the Sauage man in this manner I would wish to ioyne combate with a Knight so hardy as your selfe so that the disposition of his health were such as my blowes might be well welcome vnto him But séeing your stomack so good yet your body
Princes out of the cruell Enchanted castle of Eutropa and Dramusiande ARgolant who by the commandement of the king of England was departed on his voyage towards Constantinople to declare vnto the Emperour Palmerin the good successe of his sonne Primaleon and the other Prince indeuoured himselfe so well in his iourney thorow the helpe of good wind and weather that at the last he attained the end of his trauaile And as he rode through the Citïe he espied the Emperour among a great many of Souldiours whose beard was growne so white with anguish of minde and his face so wanne by reason of his continuall mourning that he stood in doubt whether it were the Emperour or no but that he was certified thereof by the people which made their recourse thorow the stréetes Who told him that report was giuen abroade how the Soldans of Babylon and Persia had gathered a mightie Armie intending to besiege their Cittie which made the Emperour in his owne person to goe sée to the fortifying of the walles that his Rampiers of defence might bée readie to resist the enemie Argolant comming before the Emperour who presently knew him alighted and knéeling downe humbly kissed his hand to whom the Emperour thus spake You may sée Argolant in what necessitie the citie of Constantinople is now vnhappily falne which in times past hath vrged me to the opinion that neither warres could surplant it treasons inuade it nor any disloyall accident once vse spight against it But such is the alteration of times and so vncertaine the fauour of Fortune that the famous monuments of most honour and antiquitie are as soone subuerted as the weakest defence so that it remaineth to me to say which once I could iustly say I haue béene happy For such is the danger threatened to our estate and so doubtfull the mischance that may suddainely annoy vs as my Subiects stand euery houre in feare of their liues and my selfe in dispaire of mine own safety Because I want those whose names in the eare of mine enemy hath carried as great estimation of hot resistance as they now being absent doe ouercharge me with a cold comfort But how fareth thy Soueraigne Lord the king of â—ngland to demand for other tidings were as néedelesse as I suppose them helpelesse If it shall like your Highnesse answered Argolant the king my Soueraigne and Lord saluteth your imperiall estate with all happinesse that he can wish or you possibly desire as for my charge if you will vouchsafe the place where the Empresse Gridonia and the other Ladies may be present you shall all be certified I trust to your contentations The Emperour at these wordes rode straite to his Pallace not staying till he came where the Empresse Gridonia and the faire Polinarda were sitting altogether but Argolant missing Bazilia wife to the Prince Vernar began on this wise to intreate the Emperour Let it not be offensiue to your highnesse in that I trifle time so long because I want one here to be partner of my happy tydings which is the faire Bazilia whose heart I am right sure thought the absence of her Lord Vernar too long The Emperour supposing there was some glad tydings toward in that they concerned not one alone but all such as had long time béene oppressed with heauinesse and knowing likewise the Princesse Bazilia would hardly leaue her Chamber tooke the paines to gâ—e for her himselfe when being al set down together Argolant in this manner vttered his Ambassage As it is not vnknowen to you most mightie Emperour as also these gracious Ladies who since that time haue endured no small oppression of heauy conceits that at my last being in this place I brought the vnfortunate report which caused as you know ful well a grieuous mishap ensuing vpon the losse of our no lesse famous then redoubted Prince Don Edward which prouoked your noble sonne Primaleon with a number of valiant Princes and Knights of your court to pursue in his search So now I durst not present my selfe where my former newes caused such griefe without I might bring those tidings as shuld in recompence cause a mutuall and generall gladnesse which loath to conceale from you too long thus it is The knight of Fortune the myrrour of Chiualrie the onely Lampe and Load-stone to draw the aduenterous minde to all valiant attempts as his exploytes in your Court against Floraman who for his fayre Altea made the onely challenge for the supreame title of beautie may not onely remaine a witnes but as a perfect example of all worthinesse to such as shall ensue after him for his memory and their learning This worthy Champion attempted the aduenture of great Brittaine where by the Magique of Eutropa and might of Dramusiande sonne to the Giant Frenaque whom you slew before your departure forth of England our Prince Don Edward your sonne Primaleon with a number of Princes and noble Knights were all this while kept as prisoners onely to reuenge the death of the aforesaid Giant Frenaque Wherein he spedde so happily that notwithstanding the cruell enchantments dispersed ouer the whole forrest and retaining the knights in such a seruitude as they might doe nothing without the consent of this wicked Eutropa he withstood her helliâ—â— charmes the force of her nephew the giant fulfilled that hauty attempt which could be finished by no other And our Prince Don Edward chancing first into this mishap was appointed to endure the first Iust against all that came so that through the helpe of two Giants whom the Knight of Fortune hath valiantly foyled all the wandring Knights were caught captiue in this Castell In fine when this famous Conquerour had found the way to this Fortresse and behaued himselfe against the resistaance with singular magnanimitie hée entred the Combate with Dramusiande where a bloody and doubtfull fight was presently begun The Emperor suddenly staying Argolant at these words in a maze and great feare put forth this demand Good Argolant before you procéed any further resolue me of a doubt wherein the last report of your discourse hath brought me know you where as now the knight of Fortune remaineth and whether he be aliue as yet or no for if he fare otherwise then well my state cannot endure without bearing him company to which Argolant replyed At such time my gratious Lord as I departed from the Realme of England I left him in such good disposition as himselfe could wish or your Maiesty desire when euery one reioyced for the good successe he had against the Gyant Dramusiande But may I quoth the Emperor vpon your faith and knight heed assure my selfe of this report If it may please you my good Lord answered Argolant to giue credite to my Message then beléeue me that the knight of Fortune is in good estate of health and hath done what I haue manifested before this honourable assembly Likewise the Forrest of that disloyall Eutropa is subdued from all her Enchantments so
to forget his duty or any occasion withdraw his mind from such an honourable attempt Then returning couragiously backe againe he aduanced himselfe against one of the Tigers at the corner of the Fountaine who like wise gaue himselfe in such manner against the Prince catching hold vpon his Shield so forceably that the handle brake off and detained it in such wise that the Prince could not by any meanes get it againe but charged him with such a sound stroke ouer the legges that the Tiger could not vse himselfe so well as he would To succour the féeble estate of the Tiger came the other thrée Beastes behauing themselues so furiously against the Prince that he thought this the most doubtfull aduenture in al his life time he had attempted Hauing wounded one of the Lions verie sore so that he was constrained to fall to the earth the Prince stouped downe to recouer his shield which the Tiger had abandoned but the other Lion approched so néere vnto him that catching hold vpon his Helmet he drew him within his reach so violently that hee was enforced to fall vpon his knées whan the other Tiger crushed him with his pawes so cruelly that had not his Armor been the stronger he had torne the Prince in a hundred péeces When he perceiued himselfe attainted with such an extremitie that his life stood on the very point of danger with his sword he saluted him so déepe through the heart that the Tiger sprawled on the earth cleane bereft of life In bréefe the courage of his noble minde did animate him with such hardinesse that albeit with great paine and trauaile hee made a dispatch of all their liues when then he sate him downe to take a little rest because the Tiger had pressed him to the ground with such extreame violence that he thought verily all his bones had bene broken After he had red him for a prettie while he went to the Fountaine being desirous to quench his thirst but he perceiued another little Posey which was so darkly couched that he could not gather any meaning of it wherefore he presently drauke of the water finding no more pleasantnesse in it then any other running Riuer or spring But he iudged both the Fountaine and the aduenture to be placed there by some cunning Enchantresse to disharten the timerous and glut the eyes of the valiant with a faire and pleasant show When he saw no other hazard to be tried in that place he went on still in the path that was made from the Fountaine but at last on a suddaine he espyed a very goodly and well fortified Castle so finely moated round about with a draw bridge at the entrance and the Trées shadowing it in such a delicate manner that his minde was altogether delighted in beholding this rare and seemely castle Before the gate there stood foure very faire Iasper pillars and vpon ech of them was hanged a knightly shéeld which Palmerin taking perfect view of beheld in the first vpon a Siluer ground this Posey No man dare conceiue the courage to take me downe No quoth Palmerin by your leaue I will be so bold as to trye for if the taking downe of a shéeld should feare me no matter if the aduenture did worthily foyle me and since your protestations are so hautie I will enforce you to humble your selfe to me as well to serue my néede because I want a shéeld as also to prooue the bragges contained in these words When Palmerin had fastened the shéeld to his arme he espyed a knight comming forth of the Castle with a verie great Maiestie béeing strongly armed who seeing the Prince without a Helmet the Lyon hauing brused it in such sort that he could not weare it proudlie began to vtter these spéeches He that will presume to take downe one of these Shieldes being not armed according to finish such an enterprise must taste the punishment due to his fault committed because hee may learne against another time to arme his head which standeth in most danger With these words not staying to heare the answer of Palmerin he began to charge him with very mightie strokes and still aimed to hit him on the bare head but Palmerin preuented his determination so well that closing fast vpon him hée brought him downe vpon both his knées making semblance as though he would haue slaine him the knight desired mercie and yeelded himselfe to the Princes courtesie Palmerin sauing his life demanded of him if hee had any more to deale withall to whom hee answered that the chiefest danger was behind wherupon the Prince arming his head with the Helmet of the vanquished knight went to the second Pillar whereupon the Shield in a Campe of Azure he read as thus I am more perillous and therefore worthie to be feared for in me consisteth the greatest danger Trust me quoth the Prince it may bée thou saist true yet shalt thou not supprise my minde with any cowardly feare and so leauing the first Shield he took downe the second when presently came forth another knight who spake to the Prince in this manner Trulie sir knight you haue done vnwisely to hazard your selfe in this place especially to take downe the shielde which requireth no rther ransome then your heart blood Sir answered Palmerin if you see that dutie or knightly behauiour hath failed in me behold me here ready to deliuer a recompence with my Sword so leauing their words and setting themselues stoutlie the one against the other in the ende the Prince reached him such a sure warrant on the Creast that the sword pierced so deepe into his head as he fell to the earth discharged of his life Then pausing a little while at last he went to the third Piller wherein the middest of the Sheild vpon a field of Sineple in Azure Letters was written these words By mee is to bee gotten the honour of this aduenture When he had taken it downe he expected the comming of the third Knight who very soone after came forth in great haste and without vsing any words entred a more dangerous Combate then the other twaine passed but I alemerin hauing cut off one of his armes and wounded him very sore in many places on his body brought him with long enduring the fight into such weaknesse that hée fell downe and yéelded vp the ghost at his feet This good Fortune caused the Prince to aduance himselfe to the fourth Pillar where viewing the Sheild he beheld in Letters of gold this good encouragement In me remaineth the happy victorie These words made him desirous to end this fortunate aduenture when taking downe the shield came out the fourth Champion with these spéeches I did not think your fondnesse had béene such that you could not content your selfe with a sufficient conquest wherefore that your paiment may witnes your iust desert prepare your selfe to receiue my hardy blowes Palmerin not accustomed to make answere in place where knightly strength ought to shew it selfe
and tyde that at length they discouered the Perillous Isle This place made all the Passengers greatly abashed because they were both ignorant of the soyle and knew not the danger they might receiue in that place yet at the request of the two knights they were somewhat pacified set them on land in the same place where Palmerin entred first on shore When they had attained the top of the hye Rockes they came to the Pillar that had the fearefull sentence vpon it which vsing very litle regard because the affection they bare vnto their deare friend incited them forward they came as I haue told you both into y◠fight knowledge of the Prince and the Knights where they were receyued very curteously and imbraced on another in token of their mutuall and inuiolate friendship During the time of their abiding there they visited the noble aduenture of the Fountaine and also the dead bodies of Tituball Medrusian Foruolant then came they to the place where Eutropa drowned her selfe all the way extolling the worthy Prowesse of him that had the power to atchieue and ende such singular exploytes When occasion so fell that they would néedes depart Palmerin left the Castle in the custody of the gentle knight Satransfort intending to make a present of it to the noble Sage Aliart So friendly departing from thence they came to the Sea side where they inbarqued themselues among diuers Passengers the foure Knightes by themselues and Palmerin alone as was his desire When they were enired the seas from the sight of any land Sage Aliart who conducted the ship of the Prince made him to sayle a contrary way from the other Knights so that he knewe not where he should land althought he had determined to goe to Constantinople to sée his Lady the faire Polinarda for whose sake his heart endured diuerse grieuous thoughts and passions At length such was his fortune that he attained the Coast of Spaine which pleased him very well because he would try his valour in the presence of the faire Miragarda to the intent that he might know if her beauty were comparable to his Mistresse Polinarda When he was come to the chiefe city of Portugal he heard maruellous commendations of Florendos the Tristfull Knight who because his father Primaleon had bruised his armour very sore made himselfe a notable faire new armor and hauing done many famous Actes in the Court of Recinde King of Spaine came home at last to the Castle of the Giant Almarol Miragarda so soone as he was there arriued would néedes know of his successe before the Castle of the Giant Dramusiande albeit she had béene admonished thereof before yet would she neuer accept of that which the Tristfull Knight had done in England but was of this mind that whatsoeuer he had done she made no account of it But being desirous to sée if his déedes might bee agréeable to the reputation hee had deserued commanded him to kéepe the passage there at her Castle thinking that so many good Knightes would endeu our themselues thither so that this aduenture should be as much renowned as was the Castle of Dramusiande The Tristfull Knight loath in any thing to displease the faire Miragarda caused ther a Sheelde to be made with the Image of her beauty the report whereof allured so many Knights thither that in her defence he had conquered more then two hundred from whom he tooke their shields and in remembrance of his victory hanged them vp on either side the faire Portraite of his Lady Miragarda perceiuing by the Shieldes the Prowesse of Florendos the Tristfull knight receiued an vnspeakeable contentment yet making no shew of praise for this so hauty an enterprise where to his noble victory we will leaue him returne to the prince Palmerin who is trauialing in Portugal In al this time he had made him an excellent faire armour spotted with colours of scarlet and white which gaue such great delight to them who beheld it that euery one was desirous to make himselfe the like In his Shield on a plaine of Sinople was curiously figured the Image of Deadly Hope which was so singular well ordered for the liuelinesse of her face and lineaments as also the séemels shadowing of her attire that euery one iudged it a very naturall proportion her name was likewise presented vnder her so that through this deuice he was named of euery one the Despairing Knight In this manner he ridde toward the Castle of Almarol very desirous to trie his force in this aduenture esteemed of so great fame not fearing the perill if Fortune should vnkindly turne her selfe from him But perswaded himselfe that it was vnpossible to attaine the top of Honour if a man doe not hazard his person in those places where victorie is worthily presented to the minde that beareth the affection to leaue perpetuall renowne to his posteritie CHAP. LX. How Palmerin vnder the title of the Disparing Knight came to the Castle of the Giant Almarol where hee saw the shields of diuers famous Knights and his very friends were hanged among the number of the vanquished whereupon he entred the Combat against the Tristfull Knight whose strength was such that neither of them could win the victorie And how Miragarda tooke such anger thereat that shee commanded the Tristfull Knight to absent himselfe from thence and to weare no armour for the space of twelue moneths CErtaine aduentures which are not to bee mentioned were finished by the Prince Palmerin in the time hee trauelled towardes the Castle of the Giant Almarol where when hee arriued hée was greatly abashed to see it placed on such a hie Rocke which was a sore trouble for any to come vnto it The Desparing Knight being come somewhat néere it espied two Knights were entred the Combat which being desirous to see hee set spurres to his Horse to bee there before they had mad an end but before he could come thither the Tristfull Knight had vanquished his aduersarie and placed his sheild among the other by which meanes Palmerin had certaine knowledge of the conquered Knight who was called Carmelant as the writing vnder his sheild made manifest Palmerin beholding so manie Shields about this Trée esteemed the valour of the Tristfull Knight of great reputation at last hee perceiued the shelds of Frisoll Estrellant and Tenebrant who were his friendes and of great renowne whereat he was so amazed that he knew not what to say But when he saw the Picture of Miragarda which represented such beauty as his senses were rauished he could procéed no farther till he had vsed these spéeches Certainly Madam I see at this present the thing I neuer thought to doe and cannot thinke amisse of your knight who may wel hazard his life for so hare a Goddesse but yet I desire to approue my selfe against him bearing this opinion with me that the beautie of his best fauored and beloued neither is or may be equalled with her for
into such subiection by the force of loue The faithfull and trusty Esquire Armello kéeping them company and frequenting still his grieuous mones thought none worthy to kéepe such a precious treasure as was the shield of the faire Miragarda but onely his Lord and Maister who did best of all deserue it wherfore being not able to conceale the passions his heart conceiued began in this manner to the Giant Dramusiande I knowe well sir Knight that Fortune hath greatly fauoured you in that my master is absent and you kéepe the Iewell of his ioy but durst hée shewe himselfe in this place which he is constrained to forsake by the command of Miragarda you should well perceiue that her faire Portrait is to be kept by none but he whereto Dramusiande replied thus My friend the faith and affection thou bearest to thy Maister séemeth to me worthy of great commendation And as his déeds remaine a true confirmation and witnesse of your woryes yet you must not vse any euill suspect to him who is altogether vnknowne of you and would also enter combate wich your Maister were he present in this place And if it were any chauce to to be vanquished by him I would content my selfe to be placed among these other conquered whose assurance haue béene as likely as mine and peraduenture it might be more to my profite if I left my Shield vnder her obeysance whose will I onely séeke to satisfie by ending my life in such a hautie enterprise Againe it might so fortune if it were your chance to sée me combate wish your Maister you would conceiue another opinion thâ—n as yet you doe and iudge me either better or worse then I perceiue at this present you make your account Wherefore I perswade my selfe that I am as well worthy and able to kéepe and defend this shield of the faire Miragarda as the knight your Maister who is vnknown to me albeit I confesse not so worthy of her as he that hath so déerly deserued her not onely I am sure by this notable coÌ„quests but also by proofe of this knightly curtesie For if I should that way equal my selfe with him It might well be thought no trueth remained in me And if you shall stay here a certaine space I doubt not but you shall sée as hauty attempts ended as at any time haue béene by your Maister finished While he continued these spéeches hée espied a farre off two knights come riding along the Riuer side one of them had his Armour coloured blacke and white with diuers borders of Gold finely wrought vpon it bearing in his Shield for his deuice a murthered body in a campe of Sinople the other had his Armour of a gréene colour very thicke beset with Lyons of Gold in his shield two Lions rampant These twaine were no sooner arriued at the Castle but Dramusiande incontiuently knew them for the one was Don Rosuel and the other was the Prince Gracian who sometime had béene his Prisoners and whose amitie hée alwayes made great account of But albeit their friendship was very acceptable to him yet the promise he had made Miragarda commanded him to the contrary confidering also that loue had gotten the maisterie of him and directing his minde in this enterprise made him neither to spare friend nor foe but vsed all alike that trauailed thither Then mounting on his stéed he came forth before them when they perceiuing he prouided himselfe to the Iuste were very well pleased because they desired to approue their strength in the behalfe of the faire Miragarda But casting their eyes on her beautifull Picture which they beheld in the middest of the Shieldes that Florendos had conquered they were supprised with such a suddaine amazement that they had quite forgotten for what cause they came thither which Dramusiande seeing addressed himselfe to them with this manner of salutation Sir Knights the Portraite of this Lady is not here placed to be contemplated with so great ease but hée that desireth to enioy such a Iewell must first combate against me who denyeth him that priuiledge till I am vanquished and if that Fortune in this respect doe fauour him yet shall he féele a double torment by remayning Victor Trust me answered the Prince Gracian if a mans life may ataine the honour of such a singular personage behold him who hath the courage to aduenture first So concluding his spéeches he met Dramusiande valiantly with the breake of the Speare which was with such force that hee was throwne to the earth with so strong a violence that for a great while he was voyde of any feeling This mooued Don Rosuel to such displeasure that to reuenge his friend hée pricked foorth against Dramusiande who being ready prouided with another Speare sent him to beare the Prince Gracian company This rude encounter made them both maruaile and supposed that their enemy was the renowned Palmerin of England whereof being desirous to be resolued Gracian as the hardiest of them both with his swoord drawne in his hand entred into these tearmes Sir Knight althogh Fortune hath béene your friend to foyle vs in the Iuste yet I pray you to discende on foote to the ende we may finish the Combat with the swoord because I would trie your valour to the vttermost if I may depart from hence with the benefite of my life Dramusiande who was euer accustomed to great bounty and gentlenesse seeing the desire of the Prince Gracian on whom he had gotten the honour of the victory would not in that respect satisâ—ie his mind but made him answere in this maner Sir Gracian I do not make so small estimation of your life that I would be the man shâ—uld bring you into such danger beséeching you not to take in all part that which I haue already so boldly ventured being my selfe bound by duty to doe any thing I may for your honourable welfare Gracian hearing himselfe named by the Knight of whom he had no knowledge was greatly abashed and replyed thus Worthy sir since my fortune hath béene so good as to obtaine the friendship of so hardy a Knight I estéeme my selfe the happiest vnder the Sun desiring to haue knowledge of you if you shall finde it expedient At these wordes Dramusiande tooke off his Helmet when presently they both ranne and imbraced him conceiuing such an vnspeakeable ioy for his company that their mischance was now put cleane out of memorie because they iudged it no shame to be foyled at the handes of Dramusiande of whom they requested for what cause he remained in that place To satisfie their desires he recited the whole occasion of his iourney and how he made promise to Miragarda after he had conquered the Giant Almarol to kéepe the Shield in that place vntill some Knight by his prowesse could bring him vnder his obeysanâ—â— Certainly said Don Rosuel then I perceiue you intended to keepe it all your life time because I knowe nothing but death can ouercome you Trust
the Prince but in the ende Palmerin brought him vnder his obeysance when demaunding if he would yeeld he made answer no because he thought some would come to his reskew but Palmerin séeing him so obstinate failed not to send his head from his shoulders Al this while he was so happy to escape without any hurt whereupon he came to the gentlewoman and asked if there were any thing els wherin she would haue him to imploy his seruice Certainly sir quoth she I see no danger can withdraw your coruage but now you must hazard your selfe against the Duke his Brethren and their vse is to Combat aboue in the Castell where I pray God to send you as fortunate successe as hitherto you haue had against these iii. knights in hope wherof I will not leaue your company but be partner of al the Combats you shall try to deliuer these three distressed Ladies After the Gentlewoman had thus concluded her talk she shewed him the staires which he ought to ascend where he might find the Duke and his brethren when Palmerin commanding Siluian to stay his comming without tooke his sword and went vp till at last he came into a very faire Hall where he beheld three Ladies sitting attyred all in blacke and endued with such singular beauty that he greatly lamented their vngentle oppression He had not long stood beholding them but he perceiued thrée Knightes very well armed to come before him and to the Ladies one of them began in this manner Faire Ladies why should you procure so great misfortune to your selues and also labour to worke our ruine and destruction you are the cause our three knights haue béen so cruelly abused whose deathes I entend to reuenge so sharpely and your liues shall satisfie part of our losse wherat your Champion shall be but little pleased and we not with all this fully satisfied The Duke who spake these words came from the Ladies accompanied with his Brethren bearing all one manner of deuise in their shields which was Cupid chased away leauing his Bow and Arrowes all bloody and broken in peeces the Duke aduanced himselfe to Palmerin on this wise Sir knight suffise your selfe with the slaughter of my knights and yeelde your selfe friendly into my hands for surely it would bee to my great griefe to bée the death of so good a Knight whereto Palmerin shaped his answer Sir thing not to abuse me albeit I am in place where you suppose you may command me for I am come to no such ende but rather to constraine you to vse recompence to these ladies whom you haue so highly offended then for any fauour I seeke at your hands With that the Duke and his Brethren strooke freely at Palmerin and he on the other side charged them couragiously the Ladies weeping destred God in the force of the Prince to shew some fauour and louing regard vnto them for they well perceiued how dangerous the fight was especially on his side to contend against three Yet in the end such was his valor and high good fortune that by one and by one he ouercame them all but the Duke seeing his Brethren vanquished and himselfe left alone to abide all the hazard tooke occasion to pause with these words I pray you Sir Knight if your thinke it good to tell me your name and of whence you are that I may know him I shall vanquish or at least that shall remaine victor ouer mee Sir said Palmerin the knowledge of me is so needelesse that I will no stand to satisfie your desire first let vs make an end of our Combat and then perhaps I will let you vnderstand more Belike quoth the Duke you make such account of the victory that you will admit no leisure to Parley well since you are so bent I do not yet conceiue such weaknesse of my selfe that I will make sute to you for any fauour Then they began againe the great effusion of their blood witnessing the perillous danger of their fight but at last the Duke was constrained to fal downe at the foote of the Prince as il pleased as he was shrewdly handled especially because he thought neuer to see his Lady and Mistresse againe Wherefore humbling himselfe he desired the Prince to saue his life who being alwaies accustomed to great pittie and seeing him so affectionate towardes his Lady tooke him from the ground in his armes promising to vse the matter in such sort that he would make him to be highly esteemed of her The Duke receiued the Prince offer but vpon this condition that if she scorned to be mercifull vnto him then should he presently bereaue him of life because it was vnpossible for him to suffer such furious and sharpe assaults as hee daile proued for her sake CHAP. LXX How Palmerin hauing conquered the Duke and his brethren procured such meanes with the three Ladies that he caused them to be married together And how Florian and Pompides arriuing there Palmerin departed with them towards Constantinople AFter this great broyle was fully finished and all thinges ordained in a decent order on a suddaine there entred the Hall about twentie Souldiers and two Knightes very well armed who spake aloude that it was necessary he should be slaine that had killed the most famous and noble Knight of the world wherewith they came to Palmerin who defended himselfe with his Sword intending to be his Butcher that should first lay hands on him But the Duke séeing so great a tumult risen without his knowledge put himselfe betwéene them desiring a farther pause that all matters might be taken vp quietly Then was the Duke canducted to his Chamber and Palmerin went to the Chamber of the Ladies where his woundes were very diligently dressed by Organel the Dukes Chirurgion who was as carefull for him as euer hée was for the Duke his Lord. During the time that Palmerin staied with the Ladies he reported to them the great estimation both the Duke and his Brethren made of them how also the cause of his sharpe dealing was onely because they denied his loue with diuers other reports which the Ladies esteemed both laudable and honest so that they granted themselues onely to bée ruled and gouerned by the aduise of Pâ—lmerin because he had stood so much their friend and therefore they promised to graunt what he did thinke well of seeing he determined nothing but what might stand with his owne honesty and maintenance of their honour Palmerin was so ioyfull to sée the Ladies conformable to his appointment that he made more account of the conquest of them then he did of the honour he receiued in the Combate Wherefore he walked to the Dukes Chamber where after hée had imbraced him he declared the good agreement and conuersioÌ„ of the Ladies whereat the Duke receiued such content that for a great while he remained as it were in a sound but being come to himselfe againe he began in this manner to vtter his speeâ—â—â—s Sir knight if
stayed him thus Sir I haue taken the paines to come hither that you might vnderstand a matter greatly for your profite Dramusiande hath long time kept the shield of Miragarda and many knights hath he brought vnder her obeysance but such is the misfortune that her Shielde is stollen from thence by a Knight of whom she hath no hope to recouer it but only by your meanes Florendos to whose heart was already stroken a suddaine ioy began in this manner What will you Armello wish me to goe succour other seeing me scant able to helpe my selfe how may I in this weaknes presume against any one when being in my chiefest strength I could not conquer one onely knight Neuertheles because I wil not still remaine in sorrow which hitherto hath daily and vsually borne mee company I will followe the Knight that hath borne away the Shield of my Lady and will if I can make him to yéelde it me againe but if Fortune send him the victory against me then I shall be out of all troubles and sorrowes in this world Thus rising vp he desired his fellow shepheard who was his only delight to accompany him in heauinesse to beare him company and leaue that sad silent kind of life to follow the noble exercises wherin he had béene alwaies trained for albeit he was as then simple yet had he béene tried a good knight at Armes The knight though he was content with his sorrowful life yet had he not that power to refuse the request of the gentle P. Florendos for whose amitie they left their shéepe and went into a Towne hard by where they remained till they were strong enough to endure trauaile And in their time of stay there they made each of them a fine new blacke Armor both alike without any deuise at all because the Prince would not be knowne which made him not to send for his Armor at the Castle of Almerol Then departed they from thence and trauailed to séeke the shield of the faire Miragarda but they trauailed not lōg togither for that a misaduenture vnhappily parted them as you shall be certified more hereafter CHAP. LXXIII What and who the Knight was that bare Florendos company while he was a Shepheard and what was the occasion that they parted company And how Albayzar proceeded with the Shield of Miragarda BEcause you shall vnderstand who the knight was that kept Florendos company all this while the Historie declareth that after the Knights who were Prisoners with Don Edward were departed from the realme of England Floramā the prince of Sardignia tooke his trauailes on the Coast of Spaine purposing to trye the aduentures of the Princesse Miragarda And because he arriued at the Castle of Almarol when Florendos was gone into England to try the aduenture at the Castle of Dramusiand he had leisure sufficient to behold and muse on the faire Portrait of Miragarda which séemed apparant in his eye that he entred into prayses and surpraises of this beautifull Image Which made him desire that som knight would take his way thither to the intent he might shew some seruice to the gratious Princesse the seemelinesse of whose Picture caused him verily beléeue that there was none in the world might compare with her for beauty But as he remained in this opinion the old remembrance of Altea claimed one title in his cogitations which vrged some motion of strife to arise because he became no lesse affectionate to Miragarda then the knight that on her behalfe had won so many shields wherevpon hee began in this order O Floraman why wilt thou vndertake to exercise Armes séeing thou hast not the power to appease thy tedious trauailes but labouring to get out thou enrollest thy selfe the farther in Thou wast once content to be vanquished at Constantinople wherby thou mightst shun any more to follow this deceitfull Loue and art thou now desirous to enter Armour when both Fortune flies from thée and thou not able any way to endure it Oh blinded affection that must roue on euery stranger and knowest how strange Loue made thée of late But séeing too late I come to the knowledge of mine errour and haue gone so far that I cannot returne without my féet wet I purpose to pursue her by whom Fortune hath allowed mee a laboursome life resigning ioy to those that are wont to be familiar contenting me with heauines since I can no way eschew the happe And séeing a graue is meetest for a dead man a solitarie Wildernesse for a comfortlesse wretch I meane to beare her company with my mournfull heart so long that she shall die to sée me and I twise dead at any time to seeke her then shall my mishappes haue a ful conclusion and dispaire strike me dead once for all Thus breaking off his lamentations he walked along by the Riuer Thesin forsaking Horse Armour al knightly behauior entring a little shade of Trées where he determined to liue solitarie And the greatest contentation he had was when he sat kéeping Shéepe to play mournfull deuises vpon his Flute and to write and graue in the barke of Trées certaine amorous sonnets and Passions of a Louer which as the Trees grew so his seuerall Sonnets flourished vpon them And albeit he was resolute to liue from al company yet when Florendos came vnto him he found him so néere agréeing to his complexion and his manners and motion coyned in the like stampe that he was glad to receiue him for a partner in his heauinesse So that they liued together with Hearbes and roots pangs griefe sobbes sighes and salt teares the daily foode and sustenance of a Louer this was both their sollace and sorrow till Armello caused them to depart from thence as you haue heard discoursed already It so fortuned as these two careful Princes rode along by the Sea side they espied a little Galley comming towards them wherein sat a Lady endued with such singular beauty attyred in blacke and accompanied with such a modest behauiour as euery one might iudge her to bee some person of Nobilitie At this Ladies feete sat two aged women who espying these two Princes commanded the Marriners to row to the Shoare when beholding the Princes very rufully the Lady saluted them in this sort Sir Knights I desire the one of you to doe me so great fauour as to come abord my Galley to aide me in a cause which desireth the helpe of one onely Knight Faire Lady answered Florendos we beare Armes for no other purpose but to imploy our selues in the aide of distressed persons so entring the Galley he commanded Armello his Esquire to take his Horse and expect his comming at the Castell of the Giant Almerol where he would not faile to méete him Thus leauing the Prince Floraman the Galley launched forth that it was quickly out of sight wherefore he rid on desiring the company of Florendos to whom he became maruellous affectionate After he had trauailed thrée
regarding your honest spéeches and the extremitie of griefe which you haue reported constraineth me to breake my promise I francke and fréely permit you the Iust Then couching their Speares they passed the first course very gallantly but at the second the Knight was sent to the earth with his héeles vpward Albayzar so greatly terrified with the stroke that he lost both his Stirrops and was constrained to hold by the mane of his Horse or else himselfe had borne him company But when he perceiued the Knight ready to charge him with his Swoord hee leaped from his Horse aduancing his Shield to beare of the hardy blowes of the Knight so that betwéene them beganne such a dangerous Combate that the regardants hardly knewe to whome to impute the most aduantage But Albayzar to whom Fortune had béene alwayes friendly suffered him to charge the Knight with such mightie blowes that by litle and litle he perceiued him to faint wherefore at last scant able to hold out any longer he retired himselfe entring into this discourse I know right wel that weapons were inuented to maintain honour as also to discharge any perillous aduenture wherefore it had beed much better for me to haue past my life without frequenting them then to abide the mischance wherein I remaine at this present Alas poore wretch I thinke to vanquish Fortune but in the ende I finde my selfe vanquished I knew well enough that he which kéepeth himselfe from falling in her snares hath little cause to doubte any peruerse or frowarde chance but fonde soole that I am to complaine in this manner being the Author of mine euill and wilfully séeke mine owne dammage Whereupon he valiantly assaulted Albayzar againe who in short time subdued him and laid him at his foote and being vnarmed was found to be Floraman the Prince of Sardignia which made the Emperour somewhat offended fearing that Albayzar would vanquish all the Knightes of his Court. Then was Floraman carried into the Pallace the Ladies greatly lamenting for him because of his inuiolate faithfull constancy but albeit Albayzar remained victor he was verie sore hurt and brought into great weakenesse and danger CHAP. LXXXV How after Albayzar was healed of his wounds he returned to the field and continuing the Ioust vanquished diuers Knightes FLoraman remained sore hurt for the space of two monthes onely through the griefe he sustained for his mishap which was a cause that the medicines presented to him were bestowed al in uaine wherefore the Emperour accompanied him diuers times because his behauiour was so vertuous and honest it made euery one desirous to beare him company But all the honourable visitations friendly good well bestowed vpon him had not power to appease his extreame griefe for that he rather desired the death then any other comfort so that no sollace was so swéete to him as the remembrance and often desiring of death When time had brought him to his former strong estate the Emperour desired him not to leaue the Court to whose will he would not shew himselfe disobedient but staied there for Palmerin of England and the renowned Florendos thinking Albayzar not able to resist against them But Albayzar in his pride thought the contrary for not contenting himselfe with his victories paste he was no sooner in disposition to beare Armour but he presented himselfe againe in the Field perswading himselfe to be Lord ouer all those that durst conceiue the courage to deale with him For such is the nature of a proud and arrogant minde that spéeding a while well to his content he thinking alway to remaine in that good Fortune but we hauing an ancient Prouerbe Desire hath no rest till it lie in the dust In this prodigall opinion he put on a singular faire Armour not regarding the mishap that might chaunce vnto him because Fortune as now had placed him on the top of her whéele whereon to wise man will repose a seat of assurance for that her variable and mutable condition doth alwaies bring her most fauoured to greatest misery The first day after his health in the morning he Iusted with Flauian Rotandor Ariagnonel Claribal of Hungaria Arâ—ruando and Tragandor who were all foiled and the shieldes of their Ladies placed among the conquered After dinner he ran with Luyman of Burgondie for his Lady Altuena Dridan the secret friend of Princesse Polinarda Dramian for his faire Florian Gracian for his faire Claritia Francian for his Bernarda Berolde for his Onisâ—alda Blandidon Pompides and Platir with diuers other against whom he preuailed to his great honour and praise and the aduancement of the faire Targiana hauing all the honour giuen to her Shield which was so honourably placed in the middest of all the other that the Grecian knights séeing the hauty valure of Albayzar quite forgot all the courage they would vse in such an honourable attempt Primaleon armed himselfe diuers times desirous to chastise the pride of the Prince Albayzar but the Emperour would not suffer him to procéede because he bare great affection to the Soldane Olorieque which he would not séeme to change to his valiant Sonne Albayzar soiournied very long in Constantinople without finding any to Iust withall wherefore heperswaded himselfe to attaine as great credit by not finding any to deale with him as he did in vanquishing those that came to the Tournament But Palmerin Florendos and the Giant Dramusiand would not haue staied so long from thence if it had not béen for diuers aduentures which constrained their determination so that their absence was the cause Albaizar was so much estéemed and in euery Princes Court nothing at this present was talked of but the expert valiantnesse of this noble Moore Albayzar Whom the history willeth vs to leaue a while because we haue forgot the Prince Florian too long CHAP. LXXXVI What happened to Don Florian of the Desart remaining in the Court of the great Turke LOng time soiourned Don Florian in the great Turkes Court highly estéemed among the hardy Knights and most honoured and beloued of the Princesse Targiana whose amorous company made him forget his martiall enterprises in so much as hee wholly shaped himselfe to please her fantasie Their loue tooke such déepe perswasioÌ„ on either part yâ— Florian burst his lance in yâ— face of Venus Targiana yéelded her chiefest Iewell vnder the obeysance and conquest of Cupid being both of such an indifferent opinion together that Loue was the only Mistresse of all their actions During the time that Florian remained in this state and Targiana busied her mind on their wonted amorous deuises report blazed the great victories of Albayzar in the Turks court which newes were accounted of so great estimation that the behauiour of the Prince Florian was almost forgotten a thing which was very vnwelcome to him Wherefore one night talking with the Princesse Targiana shee began to recount the dutie wherein the déedes of Albayzar had bound her by courtesie and how she could hardly
he neuer made account of my freendship refusing altogether mine honest offer casting the remembrance of my great good will into contemptuous and vnkind forgetfulnesse Whereupon I caused him to be taken and layd in prison which I did with very kind and tender regard because I saw he was vnarmed which could promise no security to himselfe if I should haue showne my extreamest rigour For Fortune was so happy a friend to him as she sent an other Knight vnto this place called Florian of the Forrest whom you do very much resemble whose behauiour gained such power ouer me as not onely made me set at liberty this first knight but that which gréeued me far more he made me so forgetfull of my selfe as I suffered him to gather the fruit of my garden which my honour commanded mée to kéepe with better regard Furthermore beside all this he so farre delighted me with his flattery of purpose as I permitted him to depart for that he made mee a faithfull promise to return so speedily as it was possible and then hée would not fayl to come and marry mée But after that I had attended him a very long time and saw him not returne according to promise I conconcluded my selfe to come into this pleasant valley to make those sweare which professed arms that they should not break speare nor put armor on their backs against any other knight then this onely one who hath offered me this great despight And I held this opinion that any valiant knight happening into this place whom I could get to maintain that the beauty of Miragarda in no respect might be equalled with mine wold cause Florian who is curious in searching such hauty aduentures to take the hardines to come proue against the knight the contrary by the aide of whom I might chance to recouer my long desired Florian of the Forrest And if that easily my knights might conquer any other knights they should make them also sweare to maintaine the conditions which my damosell declared vnto you at your first comming Many knights fearing the perill wherein they might fall by comming this way and not daring to take so hardy an oth vpon them haue bene glad to returne and not stay here when as my knights haue come forth and presented themselues to defend my beauty Madame answered Florendos I know verie well the knight of whom you speak and assure your self that very hardly shall you bring him into this place without he list himselfe in that he is so noble and valiant a knight of Armes as you can hardly ioyne him with any equall therefore I pray you do not greeue your selfe although he be forgetfull in satisfying his promise for I can assure you that it is not his custome to affect greatly the seruice of Ladies especially in any amourous opinion or queint conceit of loue As for your knights I cannot but yeeld their honest attempt very great commendation and estéeme likewise very much of them who aduanced themselues to maintaine your beautie which in sooth is sufficient to binde in seruiceable duty all those that haue desired to render you sembleable good will and liking Neuerthelesse I would perswade you that hereafter you would not mainetaine this custome and likewise I would desire you that you would destow on me such knights as you with hole by imprisonment who shal be able to honor you more by their knightly seruice being at liberty then you shal aduantage your selfe by kéeping them in such seruitude Sir answered Arnalte the great honesty wherwith you are accompanied hath gained such power ouer me that I cannot sée how I shold reefose but that I must néeds grant what you desire But I find my self brought into sundry maruailous extreame passions for that by your words you make me altogether out of hope that I shal recouer againe my Knight for whose sake I will that the imprisoned knights be deliuered you and for that you shal be the more certaine of my words I deliuer into your own hands the keys of the prison which I would not giue into any knights hands in the whole world but only to you The prince Florendos had no sooner receiued the keyes but he deliuered them to yâ— Prince Albayzar who was very desirous to sée the prisoners wherefore he staied not long but tooke his way downe into the Castle with a lighted torch in his hand for that the dungeon was very déepe and opening a little Tower there he found many prisoners whereof he knew diuers incontinent whom he failed not to salute for that he knew them among the knights at CoÌ„stantinople when he fought the combat there in mainteuance of the beauty of the faire Princesse Targiana by means wherof they séeing themselues deliuered by him they knew not wel what to thinke But when they were come vp into the Castle and that they perceiued they enioyed their libertie by the means of the Prince Florendos they failed not to come humble theÌ„ selues at the féete of the young Prince who knew them all incontinent to wit Blandidon Floraman Reccamon Tenebrant the presence of whoÌ„ so greatly reioyce him as he held it for especiall good fortune that he came so luckily vnto the castle of the Princes Arnalte who seeing that the day gaue place vnto the night and that it was time to haue some refection coÌ„manded her Attendants to couer for supper for Florendos and the knights who were come forth of prison to whom the Princesse vsed very stately entertainment in respect of the honest behauiour of the Princes Florendos which was very deeply imprinted in her heart considered also that his great courtesie had bound her to vse such liberality CHAP. II. Of that which happened to the Prince Florendos after that he departed from the Castle of the Princesse Arnalte NOw Florendos stayed all this night in the Castle of the Princesse Arnalte more at her importunate sute then vpon his owne voluntary pleasure for that he well knew the little coales of enuy kindled on her stomacke which she couered with shamefastnesse and modestie was farre disagréeable to his curteous nature by reason whereof he no sooner discouered the cleare and bright day but he arose and put on his Armor which was much defaced by reason of his sore fight after he was ready to trauel and follow his enterprise he staied not but came to take his farewell of the Princesse Arnalte as also of Blandidon Tenebrant and Reccamon but in no case would he leaue the company of Floraman the prince of Sardignia because they two liued maruellous affectionate the one of the othâ—r since the time that Armello the Esquier of Florendos came found their solitary kinde of life so nigh vnto the Castle of the Giant Almaroll The Princesse Arnalte remained so greatly passionate for the sudden departure of the Prince Florendos that she could not admit any thing into minde but still she receiued thereat very much
in short time was so blazed as it mooued a generall consent of gladnes not so much for the recouery of the Castles as that they were woon by the prowesse of the Prince Florian. The good King Fredericke for ioy of this good happe sent sir Pridos the Duke of Galles in all the spéede that might be to sée if he could méete with his noble Nephew who taking a Galley presently in short time arriued in the Coast of Ireland not very farre from the Hermits Cell Where finding the Prince and declaring the sum of his message the Prince concluded to depart thence notwithstanding his wounds were not thorowly healed so taking leaue of the gentle Hermit and desiring the other Knights to accompany him they committed themselues to the Seas whereon they had not long sayled but they arriued at the Cittie of London thorow which they were honourably conducted to the Kings Pallace When tydings being come to the King that they were arriued in the Court accompanied with his Sonne Don Edward hée came to méete them when casting his armes about the necke of the Prince Florian the teares ran downe his white beard for the inward ioy he conceiued in his presence as for his Father Don Edward he would not hide his earnest affection but welcommed his sonne with very great kindnesse and his mother the Princesse Flerida pittying his hurts but glad of his company shewed her selfe a louing mother vnto him and would not depart day nor night from him till she perceiued him to be thorowly recouered The King of England did very honourably entertaine the Knights which came with his Nephew and for that he would show he made estimation of them he accepted them into offices according to their degrées in his Court for which great bountie they witnessed themselues not vnthankefull but so behaued themselues as they did great credit to the King in his Court. The Prince Florian being in good estate of health newes came vnto the English Court of the imprisonment of the king Polendos and his companie in the Court of the great Turke which vnhappy tidings moooed the king and his whole Court to great gréefe considering withall the state of sorrow wheren the Emperour of Constantinople remained and the more extreame did they take the cause in respect of the small hope was to be had of their liberty againe in that the great Turke had sworne to put them all to death except the Emperour would send him the knight who so boldly carryed away his daughter the Princesse Targiana These newes comming to the eares of the Prince Florian he began to fall into these spéeches Far better it is for me to go render my selfe and suffer the extrame rigour of that cruell Infidell then that for me so many good knights should liue in danger for séeing by my occasion the cause did first arise no better meane to salue it vp againe then my selfe I cannot beléeue sayd the Prince Don Edward that the Turke is so forgetfull of himselfe as to séeke the death of so many for so small a matter by reason Albayzar one of his owne kindred should then stand in hazard of his life but if it be as the report goeth the Emperour ought to be carefull in the kéeping of Albayzer to the end that the safegard of his life might redéeme the other their woonted liberty whereto the Prince Florian thus replied I am perswaded good Father that the Turke will hardly be remooued from his determination which maketh me the greater to misdoubt the safety of those knights the absence of whom I am assure so gréeuously offendeth the good Emperour that I am perfectly resolued to goe and comfort him considering it is a part of dutie on my behalf not to be so farre from him at this time séeing he is depriued of them that should defend him The aged king Fredericke his Father Don Edward nor his mother the Priucesse Flerida could disswade him from his determination but contrary to their wils he departed from the Court taking his iourney toward Constantinople being armed after his accustomed maner and bearing in his Sheeld his vsuall deuise Thus the happy successe which may fall vnto him at this time we intend to leaue him because we will returne to the Prince Florendos who by his time is wel néere the castle of the giant Almarol hauing in his iourney done many noble déeds deseruing commendation but for that they are rehearsed in the English Chronicles it would séeme impertinent to this place to rehearse them neuerthelesse I must needs tell yée that Floraman the Prince of Sardignia in this iourney atchieued very great renowne and so continued till their arriuall at the City of Rioclaro which at this present is called Tamar Florendos séeing himselfe so neare the place where he had spent a great time in languishing afflictions entred into a thousand imaginations with himselfe first considering the beginning of his loue and then the happy continuance thereof enforced him to a number of sad coniectures wherein he passed that night as quietly as he could In the morning they rid on toward the Castle of Almaroll when Albayzar beganne to vse some doubt of his entertainement for that he iudged women were but slenderly acquainted with pittie especially hée looked for small fauour of the Princesse Miragarda who contrariwise was not so cruell towardes strangers as shée was toward her dearest and best beloued friendes Florendos had no sooner discouered the Trées which were planted about the Riuer Thesin and with all the walles of the Castle of Almaroll but his heart was immeasurably touched with suddaine feare remembring how many stormes he had endured and the perilles whereto he must now render himselfe againe afresh a spectacle certainely of woonderfull griefe wherein he somewhat bare the Prince Albayzar company who remembring that he was vanquished knew no other remedie for himselfe but to abide the mercy of Miragarda When they were come to the Castle they found all the gates fast locked wherevpon they went to the Trée where the Shieldes were hanging where well beholding them all Florendos at last espied his owne at the sight whereof he secretly sighed and imagined how he might be thankfull sufficient to his Esquire Armello who had since his departure so well garded it but in sooth he was not so much beholding to his Esquier as he did esteeme himselfe because Armello was fallen amorous of Lardemia the Damosell attendant on the faire Princesse Miragarda and stayed in that place to contemplate the beauty of his beloued Mistresse rather then for any care he had of his Maisters shéeld and Armor for he was gone so farre ouer shoes in loue as he had no other pleasure then the remembrance of the Damosell who tooke great delight to sée him so gréeuously attached for loue Armello shas so set on fire in affection as he could not know his Lord and Maister and some other cause there was to hinder him for that he was so
Arnalte towards her affectionate loyall friend Dragonalt that she angerly departed from the Castle of Almaroll towards her owne place of abode in Nauarre entending neuer to sée him againe But it is not to be doubted but that this suddaine choller would take as suddaine a cooling in that as she could be easily intreated to anger against them who had but little offended her euen so could she be as easily woon to forget her desire of wreakefull vengeance her vnstayednesse was such and her good will to loue so great In this manner it chaunced Dragonalt who continuing his affection to the Princesse Arnalte in the ende was so fortunate as he obtaind her good will in mariage she making him Lord of her selfe and King of Nauarâ—e wherefore we ought not to despaire of that which is in the hand of Fortune to giue vs as you may perceiue in the course of this History which here leaueth Dragonalt his Quéene togither returning to Leonarda the princesse of Thrace who being ready to depart the Realm of Thrace for the desire she had to be in the Court of the Emperour Palmerin the Quéene Carmelia her Grandmother sent her away worthily accompanied with Ladies and Gentlewomen for the better gouernement of her in her iourney beside she gaue charge to the Lords and Gentlemen that went with her in no case they should depart from her vntill they had presented her to the Emperour In this order she set forward towards Constantinople being met diuerse times on the way by many braue Gallants who vnderstanding her setting forth did honour her with their dutifull attendance vntill shee came to the Emperours Court where was assembled togither so many braue Knights so richly Armed and carrying such fine deuises as one would haue iudged that they did rather prepare to incampe themselues for warre then to shew knightly disports to delight the Emperor Many came thither to behold the brauery others to doe the princesse Leonarda seruice and some beside who had good hope to winne her in marriage ech one did striue who should behaue himselfe most gallant and who might witnesse the greatest title of knighthood as wel to please the eye of the yong Princesse as to deserue the estimation of the whole Court their honourable estates seruing them very well so to doe The prince Gracian Berolde the Sage Aliart Platir and diuerse other knights of the Emperors Court going in the company of the aged Emperor himselfe went to meet the Princesse two leagues from the Citie who being aduertised of their comming by reason that the Prince Primaleon with other Princes rid somewhat before the rest did presently leaue her Coach and mounted on a goodly white Palfray whose harnesse was very rich and costly to beholde the Princesse her selfe was brauely attired after the Greekish fashion that she might the better delight the eyes of them which did behold her her Robe was of Carnation Veluet very fairely imbrodered with pasement Lace of Gold her Clocke was of Scarlet closed before with sumptuous Diamonds which were placed very thicke in maner of buttons and all the compasse of the Cloke was likewise garnished with Diamonds hauing betweene euery Diamond a ranke of very glorious Orient Pearle which shined in the Sunne so gallantly as they did maruailously decke and set forth here costly Vesture and beside the glimpse of them so sweetly dazeled in her face as the youthfull Knights whose thoughts were frée before from the assaults of loue were now suddenly entrapped with her singular beautie The Emperor albeit he was farre in yeeres yet he did attire himselfe very youthfully to giue the greater grace to the yong Princes that bare him company so comming to the Princesse Leonarda he entertained her with very stately and accustomed honour afterward he gaue place to the Prince Primaleon his Sonne who kissed her hand in very gentle manner and so did all the other Princes that came with the Emperonr whose presence witnessing so great estate did much content the mind of the young Princesse who was no small deale abashed at the great honour which the Emperor did so nobly affoord her as to grant her licence to remaine in his Court in remembrance of which courtesie she would haue stouped downe to kisse yâ— Emperors hand but her remembring how his court was gratiously honored by her presence would not suffer her to humble her selfe so much giuing her to vnderstand in very friendly spéech that in her comming to abide in his court he did accept it as a thing of no small contentation to him Then setting forward on their way that they might the sooner enter the Cittie the Emperour on a sudden espied an occasion which withdrew his mind from thinking on the beautie of the Princesse Leonarda for he saw a prettie space from the cittie of Constantinople vnder an â—ake standing neere to the Hermitage of S. Lois which was a little out of the common way a knight armed in Carnation coloured Armour so thicke beset with little 〈…〉 of Gold as the whole Armour was gallantly set forth â—erewith his Helmit likewise was after the same maner and in his Shéeld he bare for his deuice in a field of Azure a Cipresse trée very thicke hung with Nuts of Gold This Knight was mounted on a lustie bay Courser hauing attending on him two Esquiers one of them carying a Shield couered ouer with cloath so that the deuice thereof could not be discerned the Knight hauing espied the Emperour sent presently one of his Esquiers vnto him who being come before the Emperour rained his Palfrey and began to salute him in this order My gratious Lord the Knight whom you behold vnder yonder Oake is supprised with a maruellous earnest desire to trie against these Knightes of your Court the renowned valour which hath beene so much reported of them through the whole world and he willed me to certifie you that it is a long time since he bare Armour or followed any Knightly aduenture therefore he would now gladly make proofe of the good opinion he holdeth of himselfe and because he might the better spéede in his purpose and not be denied in his honest request he is determined this day to guard this passage not doubting but he shall defend himselfe sufficiently against any that dare iudge so great hardinesse in themselues as to passe by without asking him licence Wherefore he humbly desireth your Maiestie that you would command your Knights to Ioust with him for he hath promised to refuse none of them except the Prince Primaleon your Sonne against whom he will neuer consent to beare Armes The Emperour was so ioyfull at these tydings as might be and the rather he would consent to the knights request for that it was a meane whereby the Princesse Leonarda might receiue some pleasure considered also that it did very well like him because she should perceiue the noble valour and prowesse of the Knights that remained with him in his Court and
my Mother and likewise my patrimony but also I shall receiue such a common bruite of ill report as euery one will wound me with malicious spéech in yéelding my selfe into your hands who haue so cruelly slaine my Brethren Madame answered Florian I pray you forget the remembrance of loosing your Mothers fauour or any other such opinion in regard of the good may happen to you for if Fortune fauour me no worse then she hath done I wil not faile to make a double requit all of your kindnesse and that you may repose the better assurance on my words I here protest my selfe at your commandement In the meane time while Florian spent the time in this talke he vnderstood how they in the Shippe went about some enterprise against him by meanes whereof he left Arlencea but she followed him into his Chamber to helpe to arme him and ere he had girded himselfe in his Mayle coate Alfernao with foure other in his company came to the Chamber doore to lay hands on him but they missed of their purpose for Florian comming to them by maine strength thrust them foorth of the Chamber with these wordes The time is now come Alfernao wherein thy traiterous dealings shall be worthily recompenced Then lifting vp his sword to haue smitten him the other fiue stepped before and defended him wherewith the Prince was so much mooued and he besturd himselfe so among them as two of them quickly tumbled at his feete the other two séeing that and knowing the small pittie Florian would shewe them tooke heart afresh and came to the Prince assailing him couragiously but he laying before them the treason of olde Alfernao gaue them such cruell and terrible strokes as he cut off the arme of one of them hard by the shoulder and the fourth for feare was glad to leape into the Sea Then Alfernao seeing his life brought into so great danger came and humbled himselfe before Arlencea in this manner Madame if the vnfained loue I haue alwayes vsed in doing seruice to your mother and your selfe deserueth any gratious respect then is it necessary that you affoord it me and if that loyaltie ought to be recompenced as it hath worthily merited then I desire you to intreate for me the fauour of this Knight for your word I knowe may preuaile so much with him as his anger will be pacified and my life saued The Damosell Giant was so amazed at the noble prowesse of the Prince as she knew not how to addresse her selfe to him to mooue intreatance but being as it were in a quandarie had not power to answere Alfernao nor yet to fulfill what he had requested neither would Florian deale extreamely wish him séeing him on his knées before Arlencea for whose sake he thus began Trust me Madame Alfernao had good Fortune to render himselfe to you for that you haue the power to preserue his life contrary to his deserts if I should goe to the vttermost Arlencea did maruellously estéem the great humanitie which the Prince vsed to Alfernao who at her commaundement was put in sure guard fearing least he should practise any more treason and the Prince beganne to estéeme very well of Arlencea according as her honest and vertuous nature deserued as well for the laudable bountie of her gentle minde as also for vsing him so kindly as she had done but albeit he was subiect to voluptuous pleasure yet beholding the chast regard this Damosell had of her selfe she bridled her affection and determined to bestow her as wife on his great friend the Giant an t Dramusiande for he iudged it the part of a friend to wish such an one to his friend as hee knew to be acquainted with vertue and chastitie and to subdue that wicked desire in himselfe which should mooue him to violate his faith to his friend And for the Damosell her selfe albeit she preferred the noble behauiour of the Knight of the Sauage man worthy the vttermost straine of her abilitie yet had she an especiall regard of her honour knowing it to be the chiefest ornament to make her estéemed of and therefore shee behaued her selfe discréetely and wisely gayning the good commendation of all that knewe her as the Historie hereafter will declare vnto you CHAP. XV. Of that which happened to the Knight of the Sauage man after he was come on land WHeu the Noble Prince Florian had thus vanquished Alfernao and his companions being so neare the shore he determined to goe on land wherevpon he commaunded the Pilote to drawe to the shore which he presently did landing them in a hauen belonging to Recinde the King of Spaine where they rested themselues certaine dayes because Arlencea and her Damosels were somewhat sickly with their trauile and Alfernao desired the knight of the Sauage man that he would giue him leaue to returne into his owne country séeing he was arriued in a place of assurance and where he little néeded to feare any danger to which demaund the Prince shaped this answer I am wel assured Alfernao that the Court of Constantinople is greatly troubled by your meanes therefore I intend you shall depart no whither else before you haue sworne to me to go to the Emperour againe to let him vnderstand what hath happened to me from the time that your false teares made me forsake the Court euen vntill the infrant that we came hither which you may do well enough without any feare of punishment that the Emperour will lay on you because his clemency is farre greater then thy euill deserts which in sooth shall neuer be laid to thy charge in respect of the great good will I beare to Madame Arlencea whose friendly pittie hath deepely bound me in deliuering me out of the perill wherein your malice hath craftily caught me euen as you may at large declare vnto the Emperour My Lord sayd Alfernao libertio is so highly estéemed and so greatly desired by them who are well acquainted with it as sometimes the desire to recouerit by him that was so wilfull to forgo it maketh him for to put his life in great ieopardie then seeing himselfe brought into such mishappe that he commeth in such sort to repen thimselfe as he wisheth rather continuall seruitude then to haue liberty once and then to loose it In this order it fareth with me at this time who being desirous to liue out of thraldome am content to obey your noble commandement yet not without feare of some inconuenience but such is the hope I haue in the Emperours bountie as I trust to be pardoned for the heinous offence wherein I haue displeased his imperiall Maiestie then comming to Arlencea he said Madame bethinke your self in what it shal please you to cōmand me to your mother if so be it fall out y◠I happen to the place where she is to which words Arlencea replied thus You may giue her to vnderstand from me that I thinke it necessary she become friends with the Knight of the
Sauage man if she desire that I should remaine her obedient daughter and I request that she would forget the death of my Brethren in that seeking to reuenge their losse she cannot otherwise doe but cut off her daughters life and this you may very well assure her that if she refuse to graunt my request she shall from henceforth neuer more sée me for I haue yéelded my selfe to obey the commandement of the Knight of the Sauage man who doth me such honor as I esteeme the greatest good fortune that euer could come to me in conducting me to the Emperours Court where I shall be acquainted with the gratious behauiour of diuers noble and vertuous Princes and likewise I shal learne to amend my vnciuil conditions seeing the rare qualities vsed in that renowmed Court. Madame answered the Knight of the Sauage man to sée you in this good and vertuous minde I cannot chuse but conceiue great contentment and when it shall be my fortune to come to the Court you shall perceiue how well I thinke of you in the meane time to render you some assurance of that which I say I pray thée Alfarnao report to the Emperour in what good mind thru diddest leaue the Lady Arlencea and that I humbly request his Maiesty that she may lawfully receiue Baptisme to the end that the Empresse may bestow such a Lordly care on her as her vertuous qurlities doth well deserue Alfernao promised to fulfill his whole commandement and so he tooke his leaue of them not able to endure the sight of the amiable courtesie which Arlencea vsed to the knight of the Sauage man who soiourned there a pretty space while he had prouided him of necessary things for trauaile because he intented to ride about the countrey there to shew the estate thereon to Arlencea and her Damosels When all things were in readinesse he set forward with his faire company and the first day somewhat towards the euening they arriued within a faire and goodly valley well furnished with Trées where comming neare to a pleasant Fountaine they espied where two seuerall Tents were pitched and not farre from them they beheld foure Damoselles walking for their recreation vnder the gréene trées to shroud themselues from the parching heate of the Sunne vpon which occasion Arlencea thus spake to the Prince If I iudge amisse good Sir these Damosels I coniecture receine farre greater pleasure then I in that they are frée to their contentation and I haue put my libertie into his hands who maketh but small account thereof The prince made shew as though he vnderstood not what Arlencea said wherefore to change her present fantasie which procéeded of the intire loue she bare to him in other familiar talke he passed away the time vntill they came somewhat neare to the Tents which were as rich and faire as could be deuised and while Florian stood still taking pleasure to behold them a Damosell came and vsed this conference with him Me thinkes it is a thing very strange Sir Knight that one man should take vpon him to conduct fiue Damoselles in that it cannot chuse but be a very great charge whereof I will something ease you if so be it shall like you to follow my counsell which shall not be to your disaduantage wherto the prince thus answered Albeit I cannot thinke ill of your courteous spéeches wherewith you kindly come to salute me yet shall you not perswade me to any thing except it be accompanied with vertue and honestie therefore I desire you to satissfie mée of your opinion which standing with reason I shall not faile to follow as one that would not willingly disobey any good counsell I am content saide the Damosell to an were your demaund wherefore you shall vnderstand that we are foure Damolles and are garded here by foure knights who will not be long before they come hither with whome if you please you may try the I oust and which of them shall happe to be vanquished must of necessitie deliuer you his Lady and you must be content to doe the like if Fortune denie you the fauour of victorie but if she respect you with her friendly eye and allowe you for her happy conquerour all we foure shall be deliuered to you which cannot be greater hinderance vnto you in conducting nine ladies then these fiue On the other side if Fortune throwe you in discountenance and commit you to our knights as vanquished foure of these Ladies must be taken from you but the fift you shall be suffered to enioy still thus you sée the I oust cannot be any way disagréeable to you for which way so euer it happens you cannot lacke both pleasure and profite Gentlewoman answered the Knight of the Sauage man you séeme so well acquainted with gentle behauior as to gaine you I will ieopard the aduenture to loose my selfe and I promise you I thinke the time too long vntill I haue made a conquest of you whereto the Damosell made this answere I pray you sir doe not thinke you shall purchase vs so lightly in that the desire you haue to defend those Ladies which you conduct will hardly permit you to spéed so soone such hardy valour you shall finde in those Knights which haue attempted to defend vs. The Damosell had no sooner ended her words but a Dwarfe being néere at hand vnderneath a trée began to sound a trumpet which he did with so high a note as it brought a gallant Eccho from the whole valley then the Prince looking aside espied foure knights come prauncing along the valley armed in white and gréene Armour their helmets very richly gilded and vpon them they had faire garlands of flowers and in their Shields which their Esquires brought after them was portraited siluer Swannes in a field of Sinoble When they were come to the place where the Damosell talked with the Prince she rehearsed vnto them what cōmunication had passed whervpon one of them thus answered her Madame so it may be your pleasure I will not feare to aduenture any danger but I would be loath to be so vnhappy as to loose you without I might expect greater profit to happen for I would more willingly be depriued of my life then to abide such a hard and irksome extremitie as to be forced to commit you into the custodie of another being more desirous to kéepe you my selfe Trust me sir answered the Damosell if you séeke thus to excuse your selfe with words that you would not wlllingly endure the Ioust then will you proue me false in my words to the Knight to whom the Ladies which beare him company are greatly beholding in séeing him to aduenture the triall so worthily himselfe against vs that haue each one a knight to defend her Madame said the knight this Gentleman estéemeth it a great trouble to him to be burdened with so many Ladies and therefore he would willingly be vanquished to the and he might be discharged of them so in séeking to shun
very louingly and vsed such gratious courtesie towards him as he did vnto the Prince Primaleon his son as well for that he had bin brought vp in his Court as also because he was the sonne of his owne sister and the hardy Frisoll king of Hungaria his brother and especiall good friend As he continued this fauorable vsage to Belcar Onistalde son to the King Recinde and his owne sonne Polendos came and knéeled downe before him then leauing Belcar he returned to them very gratiously declaring in the sight of euery one his incomparable beauty so departing from the Port he walked with them on foote towards the pallace refusing to mount on horsebacke his mind was busied with such excéeding ioy as well for the recouery of them as for the Princely commendations Targiana had sent him whō he had now proued his speciall friend The Prince Primaleon went in the middest betwéene Belcar and Onistalde and the other Prince and knights came louingly cōmuning with their friends in which order they all followed the Emperour who being no sooner come to the Pallace but there he found the Empresse accompanied with her ladies attending their comming at the outtermost Gate she hauing giuen the knights her amiable welcome the Emperour commanded they should be brought to their chambers for that their great trauaile on the Seas required some rest The Princes were conducted into the Emperors chamber according as it was the custome for those whom he estéemed at their arriuall and they were scant out of the great hall when they perceiued to enter a Turkish Esquire who coming before the Emperor began to salute him with these words My gratious Lord Almaneor Ambassador from the great Turk commanded me to let your maiestie vnderstand that he is loth as yet to take landing fearing lest he should hinder the pleasure your highnesse conceiueth séeing your knights so safely returned he being come with them and hath here sent them vnto your maiestie wherefore he desireth you would not iudge amisse of him in that he hath done and if so be he haue in ought mooued offence to your Highnesse he will to morrow morning come and be sorie for it when he wil make you acquainted with the summe of his ambassage which will cause you to loose part of the contentment which at this present your knights hath animated you withall Certainely my friend answered the Emperour I am sorry that I did not make more remembrance of him but let him commit the fault to my knights with whom I will enioyne in making amends againe to morrow because I shall sée him to day he being willing to rest himselfe this night in his galley The esquire departed with this courteous answere of the Emperor who taking the Empresse by the hand withdrew themselues into their chamber where they passed the night with greater contentment then they had done of many daies before But when faire Phoebus in the morning had displayed his golden face on the earth the Empresse walked to the Chappell to heare seruice the Emperour and the knights being farre behind her and seruice being ended they all dined with the Empresse in her chamber for that she had determined to feast Polendos Belcar Onistalde and the other Princes who were serued at dinner with maruellous great state The Tables being withdrawne the Emperor commanded the principall knights of his court to goe welcome on land the great Turkes Ambassadour to whom he would shew himselfe honourable as well for that he would not be thought vngreatefull hauing recouered home againe his knights as also to vnderstand the will of the great Turke Polendos Belcar and the rest of them that had béene prisoners went foremost to receiue him on shoare because they would not haue him thinke that they had forgotten the kindnesse he shewed them on the Seas where Primaleon was somewhat displeased because his nature could not suffer him to vse such kindnesse towards them he knewe his professed enemies Polendos with his company being come to the Port hée with such as he thought good tooke a Barge and went aboord the Galley to the Ambassador and brought them on shore with them very nobly with such a noise of drums phifes trumpets clarians as the Turkes wondred at this royall entertainment The Ambassador nothing the great courtesie of Polendos who was diligent in shewing him the greatest honour might be knew very well that this excéeding humanitie came from him that was their Lord and gouernor wherevpon he considered that a Prince so wel beloued of all as the Emperour Palmerin was should finde more friends to aid him in his necessity then enemies to molest him All this while the Emperor attended the Ambassadors comming to the Empresse chamber accompanied with his sonne Primaleon and many Princes and Knights of his Court and the Ambassador who was the same man that came before to request in the great Turks name the fréedome of Albayzar in change of those Princes that were prisoners in Turkie being in the Presence of the Emperour made him such humble reuerence as his Maiestie well deserued and not vsing any such proude behauiour as he did at his first comming to Constantinople The emperor welcommed him very gratiously desiring him not to be offended because he did not accept of him y◠day before according as willingly he would haue done Most worthy Emperour sayd the Ambassadour I am not of so small discretion but I knew well how busie you were yesterstay in receiuing home them whō you haue so long looked for but letting these néedlesse matters passe I must request to know your highnes minde as concerning the libertie of the prince Albayzar whom you would not sende to the great Turke my Lord for that you doubted he would not sende home them whom he kept as prisoners As touching the deliuerance of them my Lord hath bin so hardy as to trust to your gentlenes onely at the intreatie of his daughter Targiana hée hauing no assurance for the Prince Albayzar his daughters husband but onely the word of her who is your great friend desireth that you would now send home her beloued Lord Albayzar of whom the great Turke himselfe willed not me to vse any spéech hauing ioyned me to speake of those things which will but little please you in the hearing them the Emperour returned him this answer I know not what the great Turke your Lord hath determined to make me acquainted withal but I am so accustomed to doubtfull occasions as let his mallice stretch neuer so far and his deuises purchase what scope he can yet haue they no power to make me feare But for the Princesse Targiana I am to thinke my selfe highly in her debt in that her earnest intreatie wonne the libertie of knights and surely it gréeueth me that her father would be so enuious towards me who would with all my heart haue his daughter againe in my Court that I might recompence some part of her gentlenesse she hath vsed
whether it was Florendos or no beside he was somwhat offended that he had begun the Ioust perceiuing well the minde of the Prince his couzin if Fortune should discountenance him in the presence of his beautifull Mistres which to preuent he came to him with these wordes Me thinkes it were necessary Sir Florendos that you and I should content our selues séeing that neither of vs can boast of the aduantage of the Ioust beside you cānot purchase any great renowne in conquering one of your affectionate seruants who verily would be sorie that you should receiue any misfortune at his hands in that it might hinder you in place of most hope Wherefore I pray you giue me leaue to breake two or three Launces with Sir Almaroll which will yéelde some contentment to these Ladies that beare me company Florendos returned him this answere I perceiue sir knight you haue so little desire to deals with me as you feare nothing that may happen to you you witnes so well your knightly behauiour wherefore I pray you do not forsake me in this order before you tell me of whence and what you are To tell you my name saide the Damosels Knight and afterward to Ioust against you is much against my will so that I cannot resolue my selfe vpon which of these two points I should rest neuerthelesse because I would gladly content you I am well pleased to venture againe with you Then these two Princes ranne together with such force as they burst their staues to their hands wherevpon their horses hurt each other so cruelly as both they and their Maisters fell to the ground the Damosels Knight hauing the shoulder of his horse broken but Florendos his horse was slaine outright which did so greatly vexe him as he drew foorth his sword being very willing to enter the Combate which the Damosels Knight perceiuing hée stayed him with this friendly language Sir Knight I would gladly intreate you to forbeare so much resistance against your friend who desireth in any thing he may to doe you seruice I beare so much good will vnto you and loath I am to enter the Combate with you not for any feare I haue of your valor but because the duty of frienship forbiddeth mée such vngentlenesse And this perswade your selfe that I am of no lesse courage then your selfe and could make as good assurance of the victorie but that it would grieue me to sée you iniured wherefore that no discourtesie may happen on either side I pray you sheath your Swoord againe and reserue the triall therewith till such a one come as shall séeke you with a more mallicious intent then I doe The Princesse Miragarda who had heard the whole discourse that passed the Damosels Knight could haue béene content for the boldnesse she saw in him to sée the Combate tried betwéene them then Florendos spake to him againe in this manner I can very hardly content my selfe sir knight without I might sée the one of vs dismounted or else that you would tell me who yoe are to which words Artesia one of the Damosels made this answere I will tell ye Sir Knight this order was he woont to vse with such knights as he knewe to be lesse gouerned by discretion then himselfe with them would he neuer ende the fight making his excuse by vs as your selfe may behold at this time for séeing the Princesse Miragarda doth not fauour him he is content to knit vp thus without passing any further triall thinking vs vnworthy of his good will Truly my friend answered Poliphemia you haue saide that which is most certaine and I belieue our knight is of the same opinion himselfe Florian smiling made him this answere I see very well now faire Ladies that the paines I haue taken in conducting you is made of no account at all neuerthelesse I haue this aduantage that your entising words want power to deceiue me for I am and will be maister of my selfe These wordes albeit he spake them somewhat softly yet the Princesse Miragarda did well vnderstande them by reason whereof she tooke him presently to be one of slender fidelitie but she iudged Florendos to be one at libertie and that loue had no power ouer him But he himselfe desired not to liue in such libertie if he could haue compassed any remedy for so great a torment as the beautie of his faire Mistresse enforced him to endure And now to returne to Florendos he could not be so wel perswaded by the Damosels Knight but that he desired to enter the Combate with him which the giant Almaroll perceiuing he caused to be brought foorth a goodly bay Courser and sent it to the Damosels knight with this request That he would put himselfe in a readinesse to the ende they two might trie themselues together which would giue some delight to the princesse Miragarda and because she should haue the better will to the Combate he was content some reward should be ordained in requitall of his paines that remained the conquerour vppon which motion the Damosels knight made this reply Looke Sir Almaroll what it shall please you to appoint you shall not finde me contrary thereto If so be then quoth Almaroll that the victory happen on your side I pray you to giue me as my reward this Lady named Arlence◠whom I will not faile to estéeme as chiefe mistresse of my affection and if it come to passe that Fortune make her choyse of you you shall receiue for your recompence the horse wheron you are mounted which I warrant will be as good as any in the world Trust me said the Damosels Knight I haue already determined with my selfe to bestow her vpon such a Knight as I make good account of yet will I accept this horse if so be the victorie fall on my side and if it come to passe that I am vanquished if the Lady her selfe can finde in her heart to satisfie your request you shall not finde me to hinder it any thing I am content answered Almaroll hearing you speake so reasonably for I presume that she will not refuse the knight who is so willing to doe her seruice So without any more words they placed their Lances in their restes and being couered with their Shieldes gaue their horses the Spurs and encountred together so brauely as the Damosels Knight forsooke both his Stirrops but Almaroll was cast to the ground with his Sable betwéene his legs who was not a little offended to haue such a disgrace especially in the presence of his new chosen friend The Damoselles commended greatly this gallant beginning but chiefely they whom Florian woon from the Knightes that kept the Valley Almaroll hauing recouered his feete drew foorth his sword and came marching towards the Damosels Knight who presently alighted left the Giant should offer any harme to his horse and then they charged one another with such cruell strokes as moued great admiration to all there present And the more couragious was the
so soone as he was armed he caused Arlencea and the Damosels to be sent for who had all this while remained in the monasterie with the Nuns they giuing them most harty thankes for their friendes vsage set forward on their way with the Knight of the Sauage man who now would haue his Shield no longer couered The foure Ladies bare them company a little way on their Palfreys being glad they could let the King knowe what hee was and very faine they would haue had him with them to the Court but when they perceiued their labour was all in vaine Torsia smiling spake to him thus Trust me sir by the teâ—tes which fall from mine eyes me thinkes you take your parting heauâ—ly or euery teare is as bigge as a Milstone Lady quoth he the fire that is kindled in my stomach by your loue is of such nature as the water cannot quench But seeing you make so light account of him who hath humbled himselfe 〈◊〉 much to you I will despise Loue who is the occasion of such a misfortune And this you may assure your selfe I will gage the heart which once did present it selfe to you in another place to trie if I shal be better entertained then I haue beene at your hands So parting from them he set forward on his iourney desiring to attaine the Citie of Constantinople CHAP. XLVII How the Knight of the Sauge man arriued at the Court of Constantinople And how Dragonalt and Arnalte the Queene of Nauarre came likewise to the Emperours Court. LOng trauailed the Knight of the Sauage man till at last hee came into a Forrest somewhat néere the Citie of Constantinople where he espied a number of Knights Ladies and Damosels which made him presently suspect the Emperor to be in their company as he was indéede for he had béen abroad with them to sée his falcons flie and for that age would not suffer him to ride on horsebacke he was in a Coach accompanied with the Empresse and other Princesse of the Court who peroeiuing the knight of the Sauage man comming and fiue Damosels in his company they knew him so soone as they beheld the deuise his Shield Then came they togither to méete him in such a troupe as the Knight of the Sauage man was very ioyfull to see himselfe so welcome to his friends amongst them was his Brother Palmerin of England who came and embraced him with excéeding humanitie Arlencea being alighted from her horse he tooke her by the hand and brought her before the Emperour and when he had kissed his hand he desired his excellencie that it might be his pleasure to remember how much he was beholding to that lady who saued him from falling into the handes of cruell Collambra her mother Arlencea humbled her selfe to the Emperour her huge stature being much wondred at of all the Ladies but the Emperour shewed himselfe very gracious vnto her in like manner did the Empresse and Gridonia But Leonarda the Princesse of Thrace suspecting the Knight of the Sauage mans minde was not on her entertained Arlencea but euen so In the meane while these Ladies were thus ioyfully entertaining Arlencea the knight of the Sauage man was aduertised of the death of King Fredericke of England his Grandfather at which tidings he was so heauy as he was enforced to forsake their company and rode into the Citie before them And after he was come to the Pallace he consumed certaine dayes in mournings vntill the time compelled him to goe visit the Princesse Leonarda his Lady The Emperour caused Arlencea to be mounted on horsebacke againe making very especiall estimation of her for as she was endued with exquisite beautie so was she adorned with very gratious maners which liked euery one well that beheld her especially Dramusiande who was now so farre in loue with her as he had quite forgotten Latrania As the Emperour was about to returne into the Cittie he espyed come riding along the Forrest diuers Ladyes and Damosels accompanyed with diuers knights who were offered the Ioust by them attendant on the Emperour Which the principal knight in the company perceiuing and desirous beside to try his valour before such an assembly tooke a strong Lance and clapping downe the Beuer of his Helmet came and presented himselfe to the Lady in the company who had the authoritie to command all the other And hauing taken his leaue of her he gaue his horse the spurs and was so fortunate in the encounter as he sent Bellizant out of his saddle Afterward with another Lance which one of the Knights gaue him in his hand he sent foure more good and especiall Knights of the Emperours Court to the ground whereat the Emperour maruelled and noting the braue behauiour of this Knight he caused to be sent him certaine Lances but before they could be receiued a Damosell came and saluted the Emperor from the knight in this maner Renowmed Emperour Dragonalt the King of Nauarre being desirous to content the Princesse Arnalte his Quéen and wife hath thus presumed to Ioust with your Knights but when he vnderstood your Highnesse was in place he commanded me to infourme your Maiestie how he hath left his owne realme to offer his humble dutie to your excellencie The Emperour and the Empresse hearing the Damoselles words were supprised with vnspeakeable pleasure entending to entertaine Dragonalt with as much honour as could be deuised as well for knowing him to be the Sonne of a valiant Prince and Nephew to King Frisoll as also to mooue the affection of his Queene Arnalte in more ample maner to him and so without any further stay they went to meete them Which when Dragonalt and the Queene Arnalte beheld they alighted from their horses and holding one another by the hand went to meete the Empresse who likewise to do them the greater honour came on feete accompanied with Gridonia Polinarda Leonarda diuers other Ladies each of them imbracing them with their humanitie letting them vnderstand how the emperors court was highly honored by their presence After they had on all sides sufficiently welcomed these princes Dragonalt and Arnalte mounted on horsebacke but Palmerin alighted and taking the bridle of Arnaltes horse in his hand so walked on til he came to the pallace wherat the princesse Polinarda beganne to waxe somewhat iealous Arnalte well noting the beautie of the two Princesses Polinarda and the faire Leonarda of Thrace began to thinke that they which enterprised the Combate in Spaine for the fairest in the world did witnesse their manhood in a iust occasion albeit next to these two her selfe was esteemed the third for beautie in the Emperours Court but when the Princesse Miragarda came thither she was constrained to be the fourth in number Dragonalt and the Quéene Arnalte were lodged verie neere the Empresse Chamber and Arlencea and her Damosels were guests to the Duchesse of Lubicall the chiefe Lady about the Empresse The Emperour caused dayly Iousts and Tournements to witnesse
Christians with incredible prowesse and such resistaunce he made with his fresh company as the Battaile endured a long time very blody and cruell so that a man could not iudge which side had the most aduantage But then came a newe assault vpon the Christians by a great number of Turkes on the left wing among whome were sixe monstrous and terrible Giants which Assault was so hote for the time as the Christians were enforced to retyre The Giant Almaroll who had all this while kept companie with the King Recinde his Lorde séeing the Christians withdrawe themselues addressed himselfe to one of the Giants called Dramorant and with a mighty Mace that hee had gotten in the Battell hee kept him such rough playe as he could not passe on forwards as he willinglie would haue done And the King Recinde séeing another Giant named Trafamor coÌ„ming to strike at Almaroll behinde his backe stepped before him to hinder his determination but hée being Aged and feeble and not able to resist the mercilesse stroaks of this bloody-minded Giant Trafamor was so pittifully wounded as he fell downe at the Giants féete who tooke his sword and thrust it to the heart of the King Recinde Which when the Prince Palmerin perceyued hée was very ry sorrie and comming in a rage to the Giant Trafamor neuer left him vntill such time as hee had layde him downe dead on the ground but he was so sore but himselfe as he was glad to get foorth of the Battell and by the commandement of the Prince Primaleon â—hee was carryed into the Cittie where they made great doubt of his life by reason he had lost such aboundance of his Blood Almaroll and Dramorant were sundred whervpon the death of Recinde K of Spayne was blazed through the Army which was such heauy newes to Arnedes King of France his Couzin and singular good Friend as making no account of his life hee threw himself amongst his enemies where séeking to reuenge the death of the King of Spayne hee lost his owne life and by him was slaine Onistalde Sonne to the king Recinde who followed Arnedes to reuenge his Fathers death King Edward and the other Princes were so offended when they sawe theyr déerest Friendes thus cast to the ground as they ranne amongst the thickest of their Enemyes and layd on loade like desperate men the Knight of the Sauadge-man likewise on whose shield no manner of Deuise could be discerned it was so hackt and broken in pieces came vnto the Giant Dramorant and handled him in such Knightly order as he made him tumble downe dead before him Belcar and the King Polendos entring on the king of Aetoliaes Troupe were in the ende enforced to paye the sharpe tribute which Death demaundeth of Nature by dutie this vnfortunate successe caused no little heauines among the Christians but in especilly to the Prince Berolde of Spayne who vnderstanding that the King Recinde his Father and Onistalde his Brother were slaine by the enimies he rushed in fiercely vppon them determining eyther to reuenge theyr losse or leaue his life among them for company And the Prince Floraman of Sardignia followed close after him butchering the Turkes on euery side whereby hee manifested to the Prince Berolde the entyre good will and affection he bare him but the valiaunt Florendos did most of all iniury the Enemie this day for the Knightly stroakes that were to bee séene on his Shield deliuered a true testimony of the great dangers he had escaped all which he made of no account such was his earnest desire to reuenge the death of his déere Friends So that this Battell may be reputed for the moste cruell and perillous that euer was séene in that so many grieuous and tragicall Spectacles were to be séene that dismall Day with the losse of a number of famous Princes and most renowmed Knightes for there you might haue séene Don Rosuell and Bellizart to breake hardily through the preasse of theyr Enemyes without eyther feare or regarde of theyr owne liues to looke for theyr noble Father the Prince Belcar and Francian on the other side came to searche for his Father the King Polendos which the Enemies perceyuing and knowing them to be néere allyed to the Emperor followed fiercely after them to sée who could first murther them The Prince Berolde was no sooner come to the place where his Father lay slayne but hee sawe how the Giant Almaroll had lost his Helmet and his face so pittifully besmiered with his blood as it was a great griefe to all that behelde him for hee had in that place laid seuen hardy Knights slaine at his foot and determined not to forsake the dead body of the Prince before he had lost his owne life likewise in that place The enemies resisted the Prince Berolde so strongly as had it not béene for the succour of the Emperor Vernar Primaleon Florendos and Blandidon he had béene sent to kéepe his father company and Primaleon laboured very earnestly to get the Giant Almaroll foorth of the battaile because he was destritute of a Helmet his Armour broken very much and his body wounded in many places but such was the loue and fidelitie he bare to his Prince as it was impossible for Primaleon to cause him withdraw himselfe Vpon this reskew of the Princes to Berolde the enemies came running amaine to this place where they were with the Soldane of Persia conducting them who hearing how Almaroll continued manfully killing all that came before him galloped thorow the rancke till he came at Almaroll but who so had seene the gallant behauiour of Primaleon and Florendos his Sonne in defending Almaroll from the enemies fury would haue imagined the very type of Knightly valour to consist in these two famous champions who were not a little grieued to sée Almaroll so willing to séeke his owne death and could not bee perswaded from that minde by any of his friends The Giant Gramato who came in company with the Soldane of Persia aduanced himselfe to deale with Almaroll but the hardy Florendos stepped before him and had slaine him outright if Almaroll had not caught him about the body but he being so grieuously wounded as no succour whatsoeuer would saue his life fell down dead before the Giant Gramato whom Berolde afterward charged so roughly as Gramato ended his life to accompany the Giant Almaroll Now began the courage of the Christians to encrease worthily in that they were stronger in that place then the Turkes for the Soldane of Persia was conueyed foorth of the Battaile by reason of a wound that he had receiued in his throate by the push of a Sword so that the Soldane Bellagris found good opportunitie to carry the bodies of the King Recinde and Onistalde his sonne forth of the field the Prince Berolde helping to conduct the bodies because himselfe had lost so much blood as he could scantly hold out any longer Primaleon hauing a regard to the troupes of men dispersed
pittifull Lamentations hée yéelded vp the Ghost leauing the Cittie so comfortlesse and dispayring within themselues as they desired to finish their liues forsaking quite all hope in them that were in the Fielde to whome happened what Fortune had ordained as you may read in the Chapter following CHAP. LXV ¶ Of the second Battell betweene the Christians and the Turkes and what happened therein THe darke cloud being gone out of fight and the Sage Aliart hauing brought the Empresse and her Ladies to the Perillous Isle the day began to waxe cléere againe and the Armie marched forward to méete together But as they were about to enter the skyrmish they heard a most lamentable and pittifull outcrye which made them staye their hands and looking about to sée the cause of this noyse they saw a great many of Ladyes and Damosells come foorth of the Cittie with their haire dispersed abroade ouer theyr shoulders and wringing their handes in very grieuous manner And for that they had lost the King Tarnaes and the Sage Aliart whom they knew were left for their succour and Defence they came into the Christian Campe to their Husbands Brethren Sonnes and Kinsmen For séeing they could promise themselues no assurance in the Cittie they would liue and die with them in the Fielde King Edward and Primaleon were so amazed at the clamor of these Women as they caused theyr Ensignes to stay and commanded the Horsemen not to breake theyr Array till they had vnderstood the cause of this disorder but when it was told them how that the King Tarnaes and the Sage Aliart had forsaken the Cittie they were both driuen into a great admyration with themselues whereupon they sent Pompides and Platir into the Cittie to bring them certaine tydings of this vnlooked for mischaunce When these two Knightes were come into the Cittie and heard after what manner the King Tarnaes dyed as also howe the Sage Aliart was gone no man could tell whether they beganne to thinke within themselues that both they and all theyr Traine were brought to such extremitie as Fortune had concluded to finish the memorie of theyr Knightly déedes by deliuering theyr liued to the swords of theyr enemies They did likewise perswade themselues that the Sage Aliart absented himselfe for no other occasion but onely because he perceyued theyr generall destruction was at hand in this respect they iudged hée had prouided some refuge for the Empresse and the Ladies that their Enemies might not triumph in theyr misfortunes to the great discontentment of theyr Lordes and Husbandes With these heauy Newes they returned to their Camp againe certifying King Edward and Primaleon how the Sage Aliart was departed Whervpon they concluded by generall determination to withdraw themselues into the Cittie to make prouision for the Defence thereof before they would enter the Battell with their Enemies But I assure you it was a pittifull sight to behold how the Men Women and Children came and fell down at the Princes féete yea the Ancient Citizens with their gray heads and white beards being so weake and féeble with Age as they were glad to support themselues with their staues they all made their humble requests that they might rather enter the Battell and thereto end their liues then to be destroyed at home with their Wiues and Children by the enemie King Edward Primaleon and all other Princes were not a little abashed finding the Pallace in such a desolate manner neyther the Empresse the Princesses nor any of the other Ladyes to be founde this vexed their mindes with vnexpressable griefe They went into theyr accustomed Chambers and not finding them there to whome they were most affectionate their very soules were ready to forsake theyr bodyes for the young Princes enioying theyr swéet Ladyes so short a time for whose sakes they had suffered so many bitter brunts they thought themselues not able to liue any long time being depriued of their company whom they honored with most pure and vnfained affection For now their paines were greater then euer they had béene before and this mishap was more irkesome to them then all the dangers past because their Ladies were the rewardes of their knightly victories but hauing thus lost them on such a sodaine they were out of hope to enioy the sight of them any more wherefore they séemed as men depriued of their sences looking gastly and fearefully one vpon an other knowing not which way to comfort or redrâ—sse their present heauinesse In this case the Christian Princes remained for the space of thrée daies hauing no minde at all to giue their enemies battaile during which time Primaleon maide conueiance of the aged men with their wiues and children in the night time to diuers of his Castles and Fortresses néere adioyning knowing them farre vnable to helpe in this extremitie and then he caused the wals of the Cittie to be beaten flat to the ground which was thought good by the aduice of euery one to bee so done and that for two especiall causes The first that it would more animate and imbolden the Christians in the time of battaile séeing themselues dispoyled of the place wherein they reposed their assurance of safety The other that the enemies should not vaunt how they had destroyed the City but that it was defaced by the Christians themselues if so be Fortune suffered them to enioy the victorie They of the citie séeing the walles so spoyled euen to the very first foundation thereâ—f conceiued such hatred against the Turkes whome they reputed to cause the subuersion of their strongest defence as they prepared themselues altogether to enter the Field to reuenge themselues on their proud and vsurping enemies and so they marched all with the Princes into the Field who went in the same manner as they did before when Aliart conueied the Empresse and her Ladies from Constantinople to the Perillous Isle Albayzar knowing well the intent of his enemies coÌ„manded his Captaines to place their men in aray afterward the Trumpets summoning them brauely to the Battaile he commanded the king of Aetolia to giue the onset with his Band to the enemy whereto the king presently obeyed and comming on gallantly with his troupe of men the Prince Primaleon prepared himselfe to receiue him and giuing his horse the spurres he preuailed so fortunately in the encounter as he made the King of Aetolia measure his length on the ground but hee was quickly succoured by his men otherwise Primaleon had giuen him his deaths wounde Palmerin of England ran against the Prince Argelao and met him with such puissance as his Launce pierced cleane thorowe his body so that he fell to the ground starke dead the like did the Knight of the Sauage man to a valiant Knight named Richard who was estéemed a singular Captaine amongst the Turkes the Prince Florendos Platir Gracian Berolde and the other knights slew them outright likewise that encountred them in the Ioust Dramusiande and Framustant brake their Launces
but yet they kept their horses valiantly whereupon they drew their swordes and began to charge each other very furiously The Christians behaued themselues so worthily at this first encounter as the King of Aetolia whose traine were twise so many in number as they with the Prince Primaleon was glad to retyre being not able to endure the hardy stroakes of the Princes Palmerin Florian Florendos but they were faine to betake themselues for refuge to the second squadron which was conducted by the King of Caspia who came brauely vpon Primaleon and his company yet not able to enforce theÌ„ to retyre one foote back from them for Palmerin and the other princes maintained the sight so sharply against them as they were once more coÌ„pelled to recoyle backeward Which the Soldane of Persia perceiuing he came to assist them with his company when in sooth he had made a great slaughter of the wearied Christians if it had not béene for the Prince Floraman who séeing the Soldane of Persia come so fast forward with his Squadron he rushed in vpon them with his Band of men and resisted them in very gallant manner Palmerin bare great malice to the Soldane of Persia because he was so amorous of yâ— Princesse Polinarda his wife wherefore he ran fiercely against him and brake his Launce so brauely on him as the Soldane tumbled headlong backward out of his Saddle but the Turkes laboured earnestly to mount the king againe and Primaleon went to ayde the Prince Floraman who was likewise cast beside his horse Thus were they helping one another of them néerest at hand so that they had forgotten Dramusiande and Framustant who hauing forsaken their horses fought so long together in such cruell manner as their bodies were wounded in many places but Dramusiande was like to sustaine the worst in that Framustant was assisted against him by another Knight named Grantor and Dramusiande had beene slaine betwéene them if it had not beene for the Prince Florian his déere friend who came and buckled with Grantor in such sort as he laide him dead at his foote immediatly When the Turkes beheld that Grantor was slaine they enuironed the Prince Florian and Dramusiande so terrible on euerie side as their lines were brought into some daunger but the king Estrellant of Hungaria who had the charge of the third Christian Squaâ—ron entred vpon the Tuâ—â—es and droue them backe perforce till they saw their friendes brought into safetie againe and Framustant was very néere discharged of his life but the Soldane Albayzar seeing his daunger commaunded them altogether to runne on the Christians the like did King Edward to his men because they should helpe their fellowes in their necessitie Florian seeing Albayzar comming with his Launce charged in his rest gaue his horse the spurres to méete him these two worthy knights encountred together so nobly as Albayzar was glad to catch holde about the necke of his horse to shun the fall but the Prince Florians horse was so starke with trauaile as he fell to the ground vnder his Maister who leapt out of the Saddle quickly so that he sustained no harme by the fall Albayzar laboured very earnestly to get Dramusiande and the Prince Florian within the rankes of his men because hee sawe how cruelly they hacked and hewed the Turkes that he thought himselfe happiest who could auoid their presence but yet such a company of men had Albayzar hemd them in withall as the losse of their liues were now determined if the Soldan Bellagris Polinarda had not arriued there with expedition for they walking vp and downe with their Bandes of men to giue aide where they perceiued necessitie required saw the dangerous estates of Dramusiande and Florian and thrusting in vpon the Turkes with great puissance they reskewed Dramusiande and brought him foorth of the Armie to rest himselfe a while and they mounted Florian on horsebacke againe notwithstanding all the practises of the enemy to the contrary but they were glad to conuey Framustant foorth of the Battaile likewise for they sawe him so sore trauailed as he was scant able to stand on his feete After that these two Giants were out of the Field the greatest hurley burly was by the prince Psimaleon because Palmerin of England and the Soldane of Persia they being on foote fought maruellous fiercely togither the like did Polinard with a stout Turke named Ferrebrocque which caused the men on all sides to hasten to this conflict The King of Aetolia accompanied with fiue hundred knights on foote came to reskew the Soldan of Persia but Berolde of Spaine remembring the death of the King Recinde his Father ioyned in fight with the King of Aetolia King Edward came thither with his troupe of men to assist his friends and so did Albayzar on the behalfe of the Soldane of Persia he bringing with him many Knights beside foure stoute and cruel Giants whose presence did much terrifie the Christians so that many of them durst not enter the fight with such Monsters Yet could not all these knights and Giants dismay the noble Palmerin of EnglaÌ„d but he continued in fight so brauely with the Soldane of Persia as he would not leaue him till he saw him slaine at hia foote for whose death tha Turkes lamented very much in that he was the principall captaine vnder the Prince Albayzar who likewise tooke the Soldanes death so heauily as he came with his men vpon the Christians like a mad man The victorie of the Prince Palmerin against the Soldane was but little comfort to him in that he saw the prince Polinard who fought still against Ferrebrocque fall downe dead to the ground Ferrebrocque with diuers other Turkes fall downe slaine on each side of him likewise but the death of Polinard was very gréeuous to his friends and companions in that the Emperor Vernar his brother was kilde in the first battail and the Empresse Bazilia seeing her lord and husband gon reposed al her hope and comfort on the prince Polinard Florendos whose griefe could not be expressed for the death of his friend Polinard because they had bene nourished al their youth together in the Emperors court to reuenge the death of her déere friend and companion he ran fiercely amongst the thickest of his enemies and the first he met withal was the giant Pandolfo who holding a mightie mace in his hand aduanced himselfe to receiue the prince Florendos Then began a fierce and terrible combat betwéene them so that within a whyle the giant Pandolfo railed and exclaimed against his gods horribly finding himselfe not able to resist the force of one knight he being woont to vanquish euery one that entred fight with him but Florendos not regarding his railling words brought him into such féeble estate as at length he fell downe on his knées when Florendos taking off his Helmet strookeâ— of his head from his shoulders Berolde of Spaine lekewise slew the king of Aetolia which when
Albayzar perceiued hee came running on Berolde and twentie knights with him so that they had murdred the Spanish prince amongst them but the Soldane Bellagris hindered their determination for he came with his band of men and reskewed him commanding foure knights to carrie him forth of the battaile for that he seemed rather a dead man then one that had any life left in him and in this order he was brought to Pacentio the Emperors cheefe Chamberlaine who had the charge giuen him for the wounded persons because he was verie skilfull therein and being a man of very auncient time he was not iudged fit to enter the fight The Prince Beroldes misfortune was such griefe to his friendes as they rather desired to beare him company then to liue in hope of an vncertain victorie which was the more doubtfull to them when they remembred the losse of the Emperor Vernar the King Recinde and the other Princes But the knight of the Sauageman seeing the great slaughter that Albayzar made of his friendes pricked thorow to the place where he was and came vnto him with these wordes Now is the time Albayzar which alloweth vs opportuuitie to satisfie our long desired reuenge of eche other and because we two are the occasions of all this trouble I pray thée let this quarrell be ended betwéene thée and mee and let not those who are innocent in this matter loose their liues for our offences I am so glad aunswered Albayzar that it is my good happe to méete with thée at this time as I would not chaunge my preseÌ„t fortune for the most renowmed estate in the world So breaking off these two valiant Princes began a fierce CoÌ„bat wherein Albayzar was brought into great daunger but that a Giant named Altrope came and defended him which Giant the knight of the Sauadgeman soone depriued of his life and would haue gone afterward forth of the Battaile to rest himselfe a while but the king of Sparta came with a great many knightes and compassed the knight of the Sauageman in such sort as he was fully determined to loose his life amongst them Yet so it chaunced that Primaleon and Palmerin who saw the hard case of his Brother Florian arriued there and at this â—ickering they slew the king of Sparta Luymeno his Sonne and Antistes his Brother beside many other knights and personages of great account and on the Christians side were slaine Tenebrant and Francian whose losse the Christians did very much lament Then was tidinges brought to the Soldane Bellagris that one had kild his sonne Blandidon which report was so gréeuous to him as hée brake thorow the thickest of his enemies till he came where his Sonne laye then presently he alighted from his horse and comming to his Sonne he made such sorrowfull lamentations ouer him as it would haue mooued a stony heart to pittie Blandidon who had yet some life left in him hearing the voice of the Soldane of Niquee his Father opened his eyes and offered to lift vp his head to speake vnto him but such was his feeblenesse as he could not mooue his head whereupon he was caried forth of the Field and committed to the custody of the olde Pacentio Bellagris tooke the matter so heauily for his sonne as he concluded to finish his dayes in that place and so cruelly was he assaulted by his enemie as he likewise resigned vp his vitall spirite after that he had kilde the Giant Malearque In this conflict were slaine of the Turkes the king of Gamba and his two Brothers the Giant Pisistrato the king of Caspia the Giant Framustant who was slaine by the noble Dramnsiande beside a number of famous Turkes and on the Christians side were slaine Germayne of Orleaunce Luyman of Burgundie Pompides the king of Scots and diuers other worthy Christian Souldiers But then to amaze them the more a number of the Cittizens of CoÌ„stantinople brought forth such richesse as was left in the Citie and set it on fire before the enemies face to the end that if the enemie remayned victor hée should not vaunt of the spoyle of their goodes but they being not so content when they had burnt their riches went and set on fire the brauest buildinges in the Cittie and one after another brought them all into Cinders which was no small griefe to the Christian Armie seeing such a renowmed Cittie so set on fire which had triumphed ouer all other Nations Albayzar séeing the christiaÌ„s striken in a maze at the sight of the fire came with a fresh BaÌ„d of men vpon theÌ„ and the knight of the Sauadgeman séeing Albayzar comming buckled himself against him where on eyther side was showne incredible prowesse but in the end the Prince Florian preuailed so well against his enemies as he yeelded vp the ghost at his foote which the Turkes beholding they beganne to faint very much in that their whole hope and refuge lay in the Prince of Babylon neuerthelesse such was their affection to him as they would not depart from his dead body but hemde in the Knight of the Sauage man so hardly on euery side as they had almost slaine him but that he was reskewed by diuers of his friendes who in short time got the better of the Turkes and the Knight of the Sauage man was caried to the olde Pacentio who iudged him almost past recouery Thus did the Christians obtaine the victory of the Turkes albeit with little pleasure to themselues for such small account they made of the honour they had gotten as no man had any mind to goe fetch the riches which was left in the Turks tents so grieuously did they take the losse of their friends and the absence of their Ladies whom they thought neuer to sée againe The common Hindes and Boores of the Countrey came to ransacke the Turkes Tents and because they had more knowledge of the Gold then of the infinite riches of the precious Stones and other Iewels they tooke their fill of the worst leauing those things behinde them of greater estimation not much vnlike to Aesopes Cocke that for sooke a precious Stone for a Barley corne but it is to be committed to the brutishnes of the people in that they had not béene brought vp in places of knowledge and good iudgement CHAP. LXVI The counsell and aduise that the Sage Aliart gaue to them of the Empire of Constantinople And how he caused the body of the Emperour Palmerin and the other Princes that were wounded in the Battaile to be conueied to the Perillous Isle WHen the Christians had thus preuailed against the Turkes the Sage Aliart came into the Christian Campe and set downe order that all they which had béene flaine in the Battaile should be buried in such maner as their posterity after them should remember their singular prowesse in this Battaile against the great Turke And as for them that were liuing yet very sore wounded he annointed them with a certaine kinde of oyntment the vertue wherof
prince Florian as well to delight the Damosels as to declare his noblenesse in fight to the Prince Florendos not forgetting withall that Miragarda should well perceiue he stood in no feare of her knight by refusing the Combate On the other side Almarol behaued himselfe very gallantly for the desire he had to gaine Arlencea and such was the regard of her loue with him as in all his life he neuer fought more brauely These two champions continued such notable courage as in short time their armour was broken in many places and their bodies so grieuously wounded that the blood ranne from them very pitifully but Almaroll being not so nimble and quicke as his aduersarie was brought into the greatest danger by meanes whereof he was glad to breake square a little to take breathing But the damosels knight would not to suffer him for he followed his intent so fast vpon him as he was constrained to fall to the earth séeming rather to be dead then aliue the sight whereof did gréeue the Prince Florendos out of measure and was so much offensiue to the Princesse Miragarda as she departed from the window commanding that Almaroll should be brought into the Castle which was presently done and Florendos went with him into his Chamber to sée some prouision might be made for his wounds which in sooth were very dangerous Then was the Damosels knight brought somewhat aside where the damosels vnarmed him to dresse his wounds which were not in any great danger whereupon he caused himselfe to be armed againe and mounted on horsebacke intending to depart thence But as he was about to set forward on the way two Knights of some strange countrey arriued at the Castle who came desirous to try the aduenture One of these knights was in Carnation colloured Armour very thicke beset with Griffins of siluer and in his sheeld was figured a white Hart in a field of Sinople the other knight was in blacke armour and bearing in his shield the same deuise his fellow had These two Knights no sooner beheld the Damosels knight but he in the carnation Armour spake thus to his Companion It seemeth to me Sir that we are come vnto the place where we shall haue no accasion to vse our armor if he which kéepeth the shield of Miragarda be not in case to endure the Combate this knight should séeme to be he wherfore because it shall not be sayd we came hither in vaine I will goe disburden him of one of his Ladyes she will be as méete for my company as for his Certainely answered the other knight I cannot content my selfe with things of so base estimation hauing before mine eyes the Shield wherein is pictured the beautie of the faire Princesse the regard whereof maketh me account nothing more worthy At these words his companion cast his eyes on the Image of Miragarda which hung in the seemeliest place of the Pillar whereuppon he entred into these spéeches I sée now my good friend that they which haue aduentured to this place haue not bestowed their labour in vaine for more willingly would I loose my life for her whose heauenly visage this Shield represents then to content my selfe with hope of any further glory I assure you sayd the first knight I intend not to depart from this place without I carry this Shield with me yet would I if it were possible first make tryall of my worthinesse against him that durst deny me to take it hence So aduancing himself to the trée where the Shields were placed he offered to take downe the Shield The Damosels knight perceiuing his intent and knowing that Florendos was busie about the hurts of the Giant Almaroll he would not suffer that in his presence any one should offer so great wrong to the Prince Florendos wherefore in regard of the good will he bare him he broched his horse with the spurs and when he came to the place where the Shield of Miragarda hanged he looke the knight â—y the arme and puld him backward with so great strength as he â—ell beside his Horse headlong to the ground and withall spake to him in this manner I may well perswade my selfe sir knight that you desire not to trie your fortune in this aduenture being so forgetfull of your honour as to procéede so cowardly not attending the presence of him who hath the authoritie to defend this Shield in his absence therefore I will trie if you be such a gentle companion as dare presume to carry it hence by your manhood Miragarda who was come againe to the window to take better aduise of the Damosels knight vnderstanding the braue words he had giuen the knight did greatly content her selfe in his presencâ— in that he tooke vpon him so worthily to defend her shéeld against the knight that offered to take it away who when he had gotten himselfe on foote againe he drâ—w forth his sword and in a phrenzie or a madnesse as it were he came to assault the Damosels knight which his companion perceiuing he came betwéene them with these words I pray you Sir to amount vpon your horse and in the mean time I will trie if the valour of this knight may answer the proude attempt he made to you Vpon this he aduaâ—â—ted himselfe against the Damoselles Knight who for the great desire he had to witnesse his courage to the princesse Miragarda prepared himselfe brauely to méete his aduersarie which hée discharged so nobly hauing his full desire at him as neither his shielde armour nor maile-coat could defend the push of the Lance but it passed cleane thorow his body so that the strange knight tumbled beside his horse to the ground being altogether depriued of his life When the Damosels Knight had gotten his Launce out of the Knights body he praunced till he came vnder the window where the Princesse Miragarda stood expecting the comming of the other Knight who méeting him in the middest of the course brake his Launce on the Prince but when they came together the Damoselles Knight caught hold on his enemies Shielde which hée pulde from him with so great force as he brought his head on the necke of his horse where not permitting him the leisure to recouer himselfe he gaue him with his owne Shield such a cruell stroke on the Crest of his Helmet as the knight was so giddy therewith he could hardly tell how to recouer himselfe In the meane while the knight was thus amazed the prince tooke off his helmet and gaue him such another heauie stroke as hee fell beside his Horse foming forth blood out of his mouth aboundantly Florendos being in the Chamber with the Giant Almaroll was greatly abashed séeing a combate fought at his Ladies Shield in his absence wherefore fearing least any displeasure should come thereby to him he forsooke all other occasions and went presently thither where hauing well viewed the two Knights he receiued no small admiration at this aduenture which when the