is to performe any strange aduenture were it neuer so hard and difficult My deare Cosen replied Palmendos béeing very glad to heare him selfe giuen this honest conunendation by so good a Knight as Belcar you are as much bounden as my self to the Princesse Francheline for séeing the desire to conquethes caused you in the garde of the bridge to win the honro which shal for euer immortalize your fame Where I was verie happy not to meete with you auoyding great danger thereby of loosing my life which God hath preserued me hither to Further would they haue prosecuted these gratious spéeches when Arnedes who approached with his Cosen saide Seigneurs leaue off these matters now séeing that all men sée the valour and dexteritie of you both wherewith you Brother Palmendos do make many sicke through your beauie and puissant strokes whereof I shall all my life beare good witnes by that which hapned to me once which I account no dishonour séeing it hath pleased God to accomplish you in all Martiall perfection At these lawdable reproches blushed Palmendos a little when be answered them both in this manner My Lords let vs not talke of things that are past among vs when we knew not one another albeit therby is clearely séene with what valour Chinalry you were both endued enriched so deuising together of manie aduentures they returned to the Emperour who made them kinde entertainment like wise King Frisoll béeing not able to satâ—ate himselfe with the â—ight of his Sonne So that the feast was much encreased by their arriuall in this Court where we will leaue them attending the comming of the King and Quéene of Macedon whome the Emperour vnderstood would bee there within foure dayes to recount you what Tyrendos did in the Duke of Borts house CHAP. X. How Tyrendos reuenged the Ladie clothed in black who came into the Duke of Borts house of an iniutie that was dâ—â—e her by a Knight named Alegon and how by his meane the Duchesse and Tyrendos attayned to their hearts desire THe Knight Tyrendos desiring with an incredible affection to doe some pleasurable setuice so the Dutchesse of Bort made tariance with all his heart in her Castel hoping to bring quickly some end to his amorous passions During which he declared once more to her how since his first arriual in the plame he was so eâ—flamed with hir loue that he pretended neuer to forsake her whereof shee was a meruailons glad woman a much more when hee manifested vnto her his race By meanes wherof making more account of him than shée did before they determined together to giue some solace to their desires after he had accomplished the promise which hée made to the Dameâ—â—ll clothed in blacke so that to dispatche quickly he departed thence a ioyful man on the next morning not without the great intreatie of the Duke to repasse by his house if his way didlye any thing that way In the meanâ— time the Dutchesse gaue one or two presents to the Dameâ—â—ll and discouering vnto her the loue which shée bare Tirendos desired heâ— to be carefull of his health and that she would requite it which the good Lady promised her frankly so that taking her leaue of her and her husband shee went her way with the Knight who demaunding her afterwarde wherin she had need of his aide she answered him thus Know faire Knight that two of my Sons being this other day at the mariage of a sister of a naughty Knight called Alegon they got there so great honor in a fortresse that the Bridgroome many others defended against al others that the wife of Alegon some little kin vnto them did cherish them the more for that especially the elder who was a spruce youth well experienced in feats of war For this occasion her trâ—yterous husband conceiued in his minde a deadly grudge against him which encreasing more and more at one time among all other when he espted him deuising with his wife he fell into a furious choller that without any word speaking he came vppon him with his naked sword and slew him easily My poore sonne beeing disarmed and taken at vnawares And afterwards running vppon my other sonne with his Catchpoules put him incontuient into prison for feare lest he should reuenge the death of his brother saying further he would put him to some cruell death within the prison But I sorrowfull and heauy Widdowe voyde of kinred and friends who may for medem â—â—d Iustice for this iniury done hearing the same of your Prowesse built some hope to be reuenged by your mean bâ—ing as assured as I am to dye my sonnes were innocent and intured without any reason and therefore would I most humbly pray you faire Syr according to the promise you made me to goe bid him deâ—â—ance in his Castell telling him if he refuse the Combat you wil accuse him of treason before the Emperour If such be quoth Tyrendos the disaster and misaduenture of your children as you tell me the homseide it selfe crieth vengeance against the trayterous and fellon murtherer who hath perpetâ—ated it which I hope by Gods aide to make him confesse promising you to employ my best â—orces thereâ—â— with such a courage that I will either dye or els you shall â—emaine satisfied The Damsell gaue him great thanks for his good will â—nd taking two Squiers for guide and company 〈…〉 they arriued the third day after about sixe a clocke bâ—fore thâ— Castell of Alegon Where Tirendos â—â—d the Porter 〈◊〉 his Master there was come thither a Knight from the Emperour Palmeâ—uâ— Court who would speake with him Whereof the â—eigneur beeing aduertized steyâ— to a window ouer the Caâ—â—â—â— gate demaunding what was his eâ—â—aâ—â— I would willingly desire you answered Tirendos to â—urcease the inhumanity which you vse toward a poore widdow restoring her youngest sonne to her whom you detaine in prison vniustly and if you will so doe I promise to obtaine you pardon for the death of her eldest whome you slewe against all right and reason otherwise I denounce you the Combat saying that you haue wronged your honour Truely I had not thought replyed Alegon that at the perswasion of a woman who complaineth without anie cause a Knight had beene so credulous whom I may suspect of cowardize assuring you that I haue done but what I ought in reason to doe towards her Children who sought to dishonour mee so that I thinke you will gaine more to be gone againe vnto the Emperours Court where you shall finde opportunitie at this present to shew your prowesse and to braue your bellie full rather than to enterprise here any thing which might peraduenture cost you deare With that hee got him from the window ouer his portall when Tyrendos in a marueilous rage began to speake many haynous villanies to him reproching his cowardlinesse and assuring him if he would not Combat against him to accuse him of fellonie before the Emperour soueraigne
before day which displeased Rifarano verie much for that hee could not take his leaue of the Emperour nor of Palmendos whom he destred to sée aboue all other Wherefore calling to him the Squire of the Countesse who followed him hee commaunded him before his departure from thence he should present himselfe before the Emperour and to tell him that Rifarano recommended himselfe most humbly to the good grace of his Maiestie beseeching him of excuse if he could not come him selfe to doe the message for that by reason of some businesse which was of great importance he was coniured to depart in all haste to the end to arriue with more spâ—d in Germanie and that he would ere long returne to make amends by his humble seruice for the Honour which he had receaued in his Court Then giuing him manie rich presents as well for himselfe as his Mistris commaunded him assoone as hee had discharged his dutie towardes the Emperour he should returne to hir strait to pray her learn him shee should not thinke amisse of him if during his aboue with her he neuer told her the name of his house and linage For which he would come to make amends hauing remayned some few daies in Almaine whether he was going with Ledefin to sée the Emperour Trineus his Father and that in the meane time she should make account of him as of the most affectionate seruant shee might finde in the vniuersall world After these spéeches the Pilot began to cut with his ship the spacious pliane of salt waters leauing vppon the shore the Squire verie pensiue and sorrowfull to abandon thus his Master but after he had called his courage to him he went to do his embassage to Palmendos and the Emperour who was wil sorrie for his secret departure because he would soone haue sent Rifarano home to his Father wish more honour The Countesse of Islande vnderstanding by her Squier that her Paramour was an Infidell and had nâ—â—eadie taken his way towards Germanie shee had almost 〈◊〉 for sorrow So that tooing afterwardes some â—â—llere pennance for her offence after the end of nine Moneths shee brought into this world a goodlie Sonne who inherited the â—arâ—â—dome of Island after the discease of his mother and following military Discipline did atchieue 〈◊〉 many strange thinges in Fraunce whether he went to sée his Father who was Duke of Burgundie as you shall vnderstand by the discourse of our Historie With this Childe the Countesse tooke so great comfort that by little and little she forgot the loue of Rifarano whom ' wee will nowe come to finde making saile in the Adrâ—aticke Sea where he had so happie Nauigation that within fewe daies hee came vppon the coast of Germanie and casting his ankers in a Porte foure dayes iourney distant â—â—om the Emperour Trineus Court they went thither in compleate armes except the head In breefe béeing arriued at the Pallace Rifarano sell on his knées before his Father demaunding his hande to kisse it The good Prince Trineus who vnderstoode long time before by letters from the Emperour of Greece of his Sonnes arriuall in Constantinople which hee then presentlie imparted to the Empresse his wife who greatly desired to knowe what they were séeing these two strange Knightes mistrusted lest the one should be him whereof serued for a good testimonie the gladnesse which hee shewed in his heart when he saide Sir Knight to giue you my hand I may not willingly consent before I knowe who you are My Lorde replyed hee againe in places where I am knowne they call mee Rifarano and this my companicâ— â—echefin Sonne to the Solton of Persia and to 〈◊〉 most affectionate friends O then you are thrice welcome quoth the Emperour into the place where your arriuall ouercommeth mee with gladnes So said he embracing them hauing for very â—ole so râ—re the teares in his eyes that he could hardly abstaine but some one did fall to the ground when he began thus Ah! my sonne happie may I thinke the perill and danger I past to be get you séeing that I see you no 〈◊〉 proued such fruite of my labour that all my life I shall for my part praise God for so great a grace but how could you stay so long away before you would come to see me considering your valour and Chiualrie did much increase my desire thereunto â— Alas It was the heauen which beeing enâ—â—ous and iealous of my blisse could not permit me to enioy your presence Hauing done this speech hee welcomed verie courteouslye Lechesin in the meane time they had this honest and gratious communication came in many Nobles who vnderstood newes of Rifarano to entertaine him the most Honourablâ—â— they could So that the Emperour who knew verie well the Empresse would be most glad of this occurrence taking the two Knights the one in the right hand and the other in the left went to finde her in her Chamber saying Madame these Princes the one who is of the Soldan of Persiaes sonnes and the other ouer whom you haue absolute power to commaund come to do you their humble reuerence and to offer you their seruice in any thing whatsoeuer wherein it shall please you to employ them Then the Empresse rising from her 〈…〉 to embrace them both with great loue especially Rifarano to whome she saide My sonne I haue now good occasion to reioyce mee of your presence and to cherrish you as mine owne Childe seeing you resemble him so naturally who following his destante gaue you your essence among men whome I loue aboue mine owne person with zeale so entire and perfect that it extendeth and redoundeth far ouer yours Madame quoth Rifarano nature hath so fullie accomplished you with all vertues that there can procéed from you nothing but a sincere good will for which I thanke you most humblie in mine owne behalfe albeit it much surpasseth my little merite which shall cause me to put this kindnes into the number of manie others which you haue so well heaped on mee that all my life I shall finde my selfe much boundeâ— vnto you Then bee kist her hand with the honour and reuerence which appertaineth to so high a Ladie and next did embrace Vernan her eldest sonne a Prince surely carefullie instituted in good manners and vertuous education which well hee could shew by the gentle entertainment he made him in recognisance of this new fraternitie albeit he were verie young of yeares Hee held the second place of thrée male Children and of two female which they had at one birth whereof the first liued not long because this was not in age marriageable the alliance of the houses of Almaine with that of Constantinople could not be redoubled giuing him to Philocrista whome the Prince of Fraunce had neuer other wise espoused their eldest Daughter of the age of fourtéene called Bellerisa was verie faâ—re yet not so faire as the younger But the Emperour caused the two Knights to bee disarmed and
brauâ—ly was in so profound a thought calling to minde the happy tune that he purchased so much renown in trauersing the â—eltique Belgicke Gaule that he shewed outwardly some apparent token of gladnes and seeming to be in the Countesse thoughts and to feele the same pleasure which he receiued remembring the perfections of his Lady answered him merrily in this sort My Lorde I foresèe well the paine and trauell which will lie vppon your necke in this charge and howe much courage she giueth you whom you loue so perfectly that in her fauour you enterprise so Knightly an exployt Whereuppon I assure my selfe that beside the praise which shall remaine vnto you shee shall estéeme you much more considering the great hazard into which you expose your owne person But that I may condiscend vnto your request albeit I should bee very sorry if I shoulde accorde you any thing which might turne you to any hurt I grant you fréely to execute your enterprise therein and in all other honest and loudable 〈…〉 of Chiualry Gratious Lord replied the Countie as long as my soule shall dwell in his passible bodie I will alwaies endeuour in all places to manifest the praise of her merite according to the small puissance that it hath pleased God to giue me whollie vowed yea fatally destinated to her seruice when my forces shall not answere my hart which in this respect is mexpugnable I shal augment onely but the number of these who cannot bring their driftes about thanking you in all most humble affection of the fauour which you shewed me in giuing me such licence in your house After these speeches and manie other which they had together the Countie retired himselfe into his lodging whereas soone as he was come he commaunded that on the morrowe they should plant in the place before the Pallace an inclosure which should haue in Diameter and circomference of the Center vnto the ends foure and twentie sethome in latitude and eight and thirtie in longitude which was done with high railes in so sufficient proportion that sixe Knights might easily fight together afront besides hee would haue a doore made hard by where he gaue order to set vp a Tent a Bedde a Kitchin with Offices al which was necessarie for so sumptuous a recreation The next day at Sunne rising be armed himselfe at all points and mounting vpon a double Courser hee came to appeare within the listes where were manie Knights disarmed to kéepe him companie whome he vsed verie magnificently in the feast The first man who came within the listes was the Duke of Drante vassall to the King of Thessalie young in age but lustie and verie skilfull in managing Armes who loued with a singular affection a daâ—nsel his subiect faire and marueilous gracious who finding the doore of the Tilt shutte thrust it open with the great end of his Launce to enter in therefore soone mounted the Earle on horsebacke and taking his sworde in his hand demaunded the Duke whether hee would Iouste or Combat wiâ—â— him I will haue but the Iouste quoth the Duke for that I thinke quicklie to make you confesse her whome I loue to excell in beautie and good grace the Ladie for whome you enterprise an exploit which seemeth to passe your cunning It were a thing almost miraculous replied the Earle if with so great reason as I haue to make good mine enterprise I should be vanquished by the first assailant Saying so they went to campe themselues at the two ends of this place then comming violently to encounter they shiuered both their Launces and dashing one another with their shields they passed brauely the rest of the carriere whereof the Earle was verie sorrie when he cried to his aduersarie Knight take yet one staffe more for the encounter of this first Iouste hauing béene so fauourable vnto you I will see how you will behaue your selfe in the second Then shall bee séene manifestlye the iust occasion I haue to Iouste answered the Duke taking another Launce with the which comming couragiouslye to charge him he mist his blow in striking which the Countie did not but running aright carriere sent him ouer his horse croupper with a tumbling cast downe to the ground Saying with a ioyfull courage An other time venter not with me in the listes if you haue no better reason to combat To that the Duke answered him nothing for hee founde himselfe ashamed to haue voyded the Aâ—son before Francheline his soueraigne Ladie and many other Lords and Knights who beheld them through the Pallace windowes But rising vp he put off gently his Coate of Armes and afterward beeing remounted he departed out of the Tilt-yeard to goe whether it pleased God to conduct him whereof Palmendos had so great remorse because of the vassalage which hee owed vnto the Father of his affianced Ladie that with some apparance of reason hee would haue entred the listes himselfe to haue reuenged him Afterwards there appeared nine or ten Knightes from whome the Countie still carried away the honour and hanbergions So that about Sunne setting when hee retired for that day he felt himselfe verie wearie and ouerpressed with the burthen that he was faine to sustain notwithstanding the iâ—iâ— which rauished his spirites more and more made him forget the dolour and wearines of his members Thether came Arnedes with all the French Knightes to feast him and to kéepe him companie the greatest part of the night where to stay our selues no longer the Earle continued sir whole daies before he was vanquished of anie doing marueils of Armes as well at the Iouste as at the Combat at the sword making great cheare and banquetes to those who visited him whereof the Emperour meruailed much no lesse of his prowesse and valour than of his magnificence and sumptuositie which hee continued vntil the seauenth day following when there came thither two Knightes one whereof tooke awaie within few houres from the Earle all the honour hee had wonne in the former dayes as you shall presently heare CHAP. VII How Belcar Recindes and Tyrendos being departed from Constantinople passed by the Duchy of Bort where Tyrendos vanquished at the Iousts the Knight who kept a passage out of the Cittie for the loue of the Duchesse and what fell out afterward vpon this occasion WEE declared a while since how Belcar Recindes and Tyrendos departed vnknowne from Macedon to go to Constantinople and riding great iournies passed by the Duchy of Bort whereof was Lord an aged and grayheaded father who in his youthfull yeares loued rest and his delights better than the Courtlie life or any millitarie exercise He had two faire Daughters and one Sonne estéemed a verie valiant Knight who against his Fathers will was gone to Constantinople and at his second mariage did this oldman take to wife a verie yong Ladie excéeding his daughters in beautie whereof a rich gentle Knight called Dirdan was much enamoured before and after the Duke
began Primaleon to take it in dudgeon finding him alwaies before him offering such fashion of Combat feeling rather a mortal bloudy fight than an excercise of ioy pastime wherefore he swore to be reuenged of him if hée encountred him any more in the Tourney which fell out euen so for that vpon the morrow séeing him with his Launce in his rest to come amaine vpon him snatcht another out of his Squiers hands quickly saying alowd in great indignation Discurteous Knight I know not who you are who filled with such a fury and mallice against mée will not suffer me to be one minute of an houre at quiet Neuerthelesse I will see now whether I can vncase this fellowe who thinkes to dispatch him who neuer as farre as bee knoweth offended him in his life Finishing these spéeches he went to charge him with his sword which he thrust so right into the middest of his breast that it ranne more than a foote and a halfe crosse thorough his shoulders and at that instant sent him as dead as a Dogge to the ground prosecuting his talke thus Now shall thou leaue mee manger thy mallice who hast dogde mee so these thrée dayes that I could neuer kéepe thée from behind or before mee Then in great hardiesse hurring into the thickest of the presse hée charged them so couragiously of all sides that ere long hée forced all his aduersaries to turne their backs To make a short abridgement hée got alwaies the honour of the victory as long as the Tourney lasted Whereof the Emperour and all the Nobles of Greece were passing ioyfull of his generosity valour and Chiualry But let vs nowe before wée conclude this first part of our History sée what good lucke befell the Spanish Prince who hath lately left the Iousts to Court his fayre Lady Melissa CHAP. XIIII Howe Recindes hauing espoused Melissa returned into Spatue Arnedes into Fraunce with Philacrista and all the other Kings and Princes into their Kingdomes Except King Florendes and Queene Griana who died in Constantineple to the great sorrow and mourning of the Emperour and all his Court. WHo might euer be able to recount the great magnificence and meruallous thinges which were done during the feast of Philocrista and Francheline Surely the sumptuositie thereof seemed so pompous and the feates of Armes so admirable that to describe them well they surpasse the cloquent tongues of Demosthenes or Cicero For there was present so great a number of braue and valiant Knights that you would haue iudged the whole assemblie to haue béene the choyce and flower of all the men at Armes in the whole world But aboue all Recindes made his valour well knowne there for the earnest desire which prouoked him to do his best endeuour in some thing which might the more recommend him to his deare and best beloued Melissa Therfore the Emperour who estéemed him highly told the King of Hungarie that he should get a good Sonne in law if hée purposed to giue him his Daughter in marriage King Frisoll answered hee would be very willing of this alliance and causing his Son Belcar Recindes great friend to be sent for demeunded him his aduise and what coniecture hee had concerning his will in this matter Whereunto making answere that it was the most affectionate point of the Castilians honour beganne thus to set this busines abroach Lord Recindes your valour and chiualrie sheweth it selfe so Heroicall among this Illustrious Troupe that I loue you as much as my Sonne Primaleon so that to accquite my selfe in part of satisfaction of the good turnes I ow you hauing done mee this great Honour to come and visite mee in my house I am content to giue you for wife Melissa my néece Daughter to so Honourable a King as is my Brother of Hungarie As for the perfections of the Infante séeing you know and sée them euery day your selfe I will not labour to dilate further vppon her praise séeming to mee that the amitle betwéene you and my Sonne Belcar should bee farre more inseperable when the accomplishment of this alliance shoulde be consummate The Knight most attentiuely giuing eare to the Emperours talke bowed himselfe with a lowly reuerence to 〈◊〉 his hande and likewise King Frisols accepting him for his father and reputing himselfe for the happiest Spanish Knight that euer set saile toward the Fennes of Meotis for that he alone had compassed such a marriage the which was solemnized the morrow after with so much pompe and a newe supply of Tourneying Tilting that Primaleon had leysure inough to shew his singuler prowesse valour nor hapned there any thing during all these Triumphes which disquieted the Emperour in minde but the death of Perrequin knowing that he was not the least of his faction for otherwise he would not haue cared so much for it When all the feasts were finished the Emperour gaue many presents to many Knights sending them home most ioyfull men into their owne houses and countries And in the meane while he shewed good cheare countenance Arnedes solicited by his Ambassadors demaunded leaue to returne into Fraunce with his wife Philocrista and so likewise did Recindes with his The Greekish Daminator denied them not their sutes but bestowed great riches vppon his Daughter to the end she should goe most honourablie into Fraunce and in like manner to Melissa his néece Then he commaunded to rigge out a fleete of ships well equipped with al things necessary for such a voyage The King Florendos gaue moreèuer manie rich and pretious Iewels to his néeces the King of Hungarie not forgetting to doe the like to his Daughter with whom hee sent a certaine number of his Knightes to accompany and sauegard her home And if the Empresse became verie sad at the departure of her two Daughters no lesse was the griefe of the two Princesse But for that they went away gallantly married to their content they easily forget all sorrowes past Euerie one then taking their leaues they be tooke themselues to the salt water and so well were they fauoured by Zoylus Neptune that with a prosperous gale and a calme Sea they soone arriued in the Coasts of Prouence where Recindes bidding adew his cosens Arnedes Philocrista followed the roâ—t of his voyage with Melissa And commaunding to single towards the strait of Gibraltar which lieth betwéene the two mountaines Calpe and Abylas at this day called the pillers of Herculos because the one of them in Spaine and the other in Barbarie were long since by him seperated to nauigate from the Ocean Sea into the Mediterranian came to land in the cittie of Siuill where he was most Honourably receaued From thence hee tooke his iourney towardes his Cittie Toledo where the King his Fathersoiourned who was passing glad of his arriuall most of all when hée heard the reputation hee had gotten in feates of Armes In somuch that going from his Pallace to entertaine them louingly could not forbeare weeping
doth you wrong and great iniustice to take your Cittie away from you by force and authoritie And if there be anie Knight in his Court will maintaine the contrarie I hope by the helpe of God to make him confesse it by force of Armes Thus much hee said for that he knew before howe Belcar one of King Frisols Sonnes was lately married with Alderine the Duke of Pontus Daughter and brought away his wife into Hungarie whereupon that occasion they held great feastes and Tournies so that growing vppon this quarrell in this contention with him or with the Prince Dutreus and killing him in single combat he hoped to do acceptable seruice to his Ladie Gridonia being this house néere allied to that of Constantinople The Ladie thanking him for this honest and curteous offer tolde him that if it pleased him to bare her companie shee feared nothing and that leauing her Sonne vnder good sure garde shee purposed to depart verie soone with some number of Knights for her safer conduct Whereunto the Knight answered that he was readie at any time when so euer she pleased And therefore shee caused good order to bee taken for all thinges which might be needfull in this voyage desiring before her departure to get into her possession for the Knightes sake the Damsels of Zerphira which remayned still in the Marchants hands paying for euery one of them a reasonable ransome according to their estate All that night was Prince Edward very sad for hee could not resolue with himselfe whether he should first goe to Gridonia to present vnto her the Infant Zerphira or whether he should passe vnto Constantinople to end the Combat with Primaleon In fine after many resolutions he concluded that with himself which he put in execution very early on the morrow morning for hee came to request the Marchant his Hoast that it would please him to commaund a sonne of his called Diazan to goe doo an errand for him as farre as the Clouen-Rocke wherein he was more willingly obayed than hee coulde commaund then went he strait to the Infants chamber whome he told that he would send her to an excellent Lady who wold honour her and vse her with all humanity and hee besought her to bee willing to goe hoping to come to visit her there ere long and to bring her such newes which should giue her no occasion to repent her going thither The yong Princesse albeit this offer went néere her heart answered him neuerthelesse in this manner In good faith it is great reason sir that as your prisoner and captiue I should obay your requestes without any contradiction especially knowing they deriue from the sincere and honest amity which it pleaseth you to beare me albeit I am sure I shall neuer be able to merite it on my behalfe neuerthelesse I beseech you to cause my Damsels to be called hether vnto whome if it please you I will speake some few words before my departure most willingly will I cause it to bee done replyed the Knight So hee caused them to come into her Chamber forthwith where these young Damsels séeing their Mistres in strange manner to hate her owne life in deploring and bewayling her infortunate disaster they began altogether to make such a strange and pittifull complaint that the Knight was constrayned to separate them and soone after to send away Diazan with the Infant Zerphira towards the Castell of the Clouen-Rocke to present her to the Princesse Gridonia from a Knight vnknowne with a letter whose tenour followed in these words Prince Edwards Letter to the Princesse Gridonia TO the rarest Paragon of Princesses the Lady Gridonia the onely Phoenix of her time future Quéene of Polonia and lawfull heyre of the Duchy of Ormeda a Knight who desireth to serue her perpetually sendeth gréeting kissing with all curtesie the hand of her Excellency The perfect Idea of your neuer perishing beauty accompanied with so many other singuler gifts of grace which the celestiall prouidence doth distribute equally to diuers persons hath so dimâ—ned the cléere-séeing eyes of her burning and vnquencheable beames that the Artizan in pourtraying of his liueliest péeces helpeth himselfe with your diuine lineatures as it were beauty it selfe descended into these lower Regions to bee séene amongst vs Such an example séene with mine eyes besides the testemony of another strange accident haue as it were a fatall arrow so liuely pierced my breast that I can take no rest but in trauelling to aspire vnto that which shoulde giue mee the swéete fruition of so precious a rarenes of fortune which is onely to reuenge the death of Perrequin of Duas your Cosen vppon the false traytor and fellonious bomâ—â—â—de Primaleon of Greece Continuing which tranquâ—â—lity of spirit by traueile of my body I saylâ—d merrily towards Constantinople and for the same effect when by great fortune I met a Brigandine of Mores tossed by tempest of weather into the North sea which would haue taken me prisoner But the Soueraigne of all Gods constrayning these mine enemies to passe the edge of my sworde hath safegarded and reserued me to the end to be your comforter and the reuenger of your iust quarrell For assurance whereof in attending that happy season I send you in Hostage a Damsell issued of great parentage whom I found within the vessell of those nuscreant Mores whom so I pray you to vse and entertaine as you shall know her vertue and Princely deâ—â—anor doth deserue as well in regard of the anguish which she shall suffer perceiuing her selfe thus captiue as also in respect of the sincere and perfect amity which she will shew vnto you all her life time He who hath not his match in good will to doo your Ladiship all dutifull seruice So then departed Diazan with Zerphira and all her sewels accompanied with many Merchants who conuayed them very willingly and holding on their iourney they arriued at the Castle of the Clouen-Rocke where after they had giuen Gridonia to vnderstand that there was a Damsell which they had brought her in the behalfe of a Knight Incontinent the Draw-bridges were all let downe and the great gates set wide open Then Diazan tooke the Infant by the hand to lead her strait into the Chamber of the Princesse who séeing her so richly attyred and so curteous to doo her honour and reuerence supposed she must néeds be extracted from some high and illustrious Linage wherefore shee came to welcome and to entertaynâ— her honourably and perceiuing that the Lyon which neuer styrd from her began to fawne vpon her she said alowd Sister I cannot beléeue but that this Lyon knoweth you considering the gentle semblant and ioyfull entertainement bée sheweth you which as yet I haue neuer séene him doo to any since he was with me Zerphira vnderstood nothing shee spake but stedfastly beholding her excellent perfect beauty reputing her selfe most happy to become into the power and custody of so gentle and rare a Princesse Neuerthelesse Diazan
to the whole stocke of mine ancestors The king hauing giuen good eare to the spéeche of the Lady perceiued the Knight whome she brought thether came to defend her in a good and iust combate if she should stand in néede and forasmuch as he knew the braue and valiant Knights by their countenance this séemed vnto him a very resolute and sufficient man to maintaine her quarrell which was not grounded of her part vpon any light occasion by reason wherof he some what repented himselfe in that he had caused her to be summoned vpō that businesse albeit to sée what the Knight would say be made her this answer Lady it néedeth not too many words to you determine you to render into my hands speedily your towne or else I will send to surprize it by force and will giue you no other recompence but that peraduenture which your Sonne hath inherited from his father which is to be a disloyall traitor to his King O immortall God then exclaimed the Lady what is that which these mine eares haue now heard Surely sir you may do and say of vs your pleasure because you are our Prince and liege Soueraigne but if I were as good a Knight as I am a woman I would make good against the hardiest Knight of your Court that my deceased husband neuer committed any treason in his life Moreouer if my Sonne be wrongfully depriued of the citie which by hereditary succession appertaineth vnto him we shall haue force and not iustice offered vnto vs. I will do iustice and that which I ought to do replyed he and I will sée who will contradict me therein Then Prince Edward who had hetherto remained silent without any worde speaking aduanced himselfe towards the King saying I cannot sufficiently maruell of you O King of Hungarie hauing heard heretofore the renown of your valiant and maruellous feates of armes blowne abroade into the world with perpetuall fame and praise that yée will now vpon so small an occasion obscure and dim it For vnderstanding well the discourse of this affaire it séemeth to me that rather vpon some malice and grudge which you may haue conceiued against this Lady than otherwise vpon any iust and apparant reason you will put her from her owne good In so much that I must of fauour intreat you that you will not suffer your selfe to be caried away with enuy nor be blinded by couetousnesse séeing she will sweare vnto you to be for euer hereafter your loyall vassaile as heretofore she hath euer béene and to keepe so strong a guarde within Arriace that you shall not néede to trouble your selfe but remaine content in assurance of all tranquillitie and peace so that if you refuse this reasonable condition which she offereth you I shall be constrained to say you do her wrong with intention to make it good by single combate against whomsoeuer would maintaine the contrary Belcar who was of great courage standing then vp with many other Lords who were present answered him as it were in chollar Knight you come very presumptuous and arrogant into this place not respecting in what manner yee speake before a King whome I suppose you gesse hath no children néere him who dare quallifie your pride you shall not be denied the combate if you so faine desire it and the Lady shall sustaine more dammage in this her comming with you in her company for your sake than she shall get profit I know not who you are replyed the Prince who giue so discurteous language vnto Gentlemen being strangers vnto whom ye ought to hearken attentiuely in their demaunds Indéede I heard before I came into this Country that the King was both valiant and actiue in feats of Armes whome his sonnes did second and imitate very néere Nor was I ignorant he had many other braue Knights in his Court which notwithstanding could not debarre me from vndertaking willingly the protection and defence of this Lady so that if yée will vpon her quarrell enter the combat with me I am ready to goe into the field vpon condition if you be by me vanquished the King shall neuer lay further claime to the Lady nor to none of hers for the Citty of Arriace Belcar accepted with a very good will the battell vppon the same condition and gaue him to vnderstande who hee was Whereat the Knight of the Dogge was most glad For all this the King would not hazard his sonne to perrill of death but commaunding him to sit downe againe in his place tolde them he would in no wise accord vnto this battell because hee was already resolued to doo that which the Ladyes Knight had entreated him too remembring himselfe what occurrences he had passed in seeking strange aduentures So that Belcar hauing seated himselfe againe in a great chafe the King turned himselfe towardes Prince Edward with this language Gentleman for your sake haue I released the towne of Arriace vnto this Lady conditionally she shall sweare to kéepe it safe with sufficient gartisons of Soldiours able to defend it that neither shée nor her sonne shall hereafter bee rebels to my Crowne and that you shall doo one pleasure for mee beside Most willing will I employ my selfe in whatsoeuer it shall please you to commaund me replyed the Prince so it bee not to reueale my name otherwise reputing the grace and fauour that you haue shewed to this Lady as if I had receiued it my selfe Then directing his spéech to the Lady bee willed her to kisse the Kings hand the Amstants who saw how secrete hée kept himselfe not bowing to doo the like they preshmed hée was some Knight descended of high Parentage In the meane time Belcar and the Englishman were in some contention but the Quéene who tooke pitty of the Lady of Arriaces teares besought the King not to procure the death of her sonne by this mean so that for many respects he gaue the Lady her content who sware solenmely vnto him to obserue all that hée propounded to her faithfully and to sende him also her sonne vnto his house to be brought vp to serue his Maiesty King Frisol requested the Knight to soiourne in his Court vntill the next sunday to shewe him some Chiualries in a Tourney which should be held there whereunto he answered he would willingly abide with him albeit he had great affayres to doo in another place And hereupon the King commaunding they should goe to disarme him in some good chamber of the Castel the Knight thanked him greatly for that curtesie excusing himselfe that he would not leane the Lady of Arriace Whervpon the King commaunded his Harbingers to sée them very well lodged without his Pallace Euery body stood gazing vpon Maiortes the Dogge which Clawdius lead in a Lease maruelling much at his height and goodly proportion amongst whom wer many which did much desire to haue him and aboue all there was the Earle of Oregua agreat hunter and chacer in Forrests rauished to enioy him Wherefore reputing himselfe