possible speede Alaâ—… my Sonne qâ—…oth the Queene giuing a bitter â—…ghe your words haue so sharplie pierced my hart as me thinkes I feele my very thred of life cut in sâ—…nder the feare of this present extreamitie with-held me from vttering mine owne 〈◊〉 â—…ut séeing I cannot 〈◊〉 what I haue willingly conâ—…nted to with what 〈◊〉 I can I will beare my mis 〈◊〉 One thing yâ—…t woulde I commend tâ—… thee if zeale and looue to thy Mâ—…ther may solliâ—…ite anie coÌ„passion that thou wouldest return to the place of thy birth so soone as thou canst that mine eyes beholding thee once more before I die my soule may passe with greater comfort into another world So helpe me God aunswered Palmendos as I intende not to breake the least of your commaundements nor will I deceiue you in my short and speedie returne Sith then my Sonne quoth the Queene you will needes vndertake this voyage I would aduise ye to haue good store of hardie Knights with you that your entertainment by the Emperour may be the more honourable Madame quoth he I am certaine my Lorde will not esteeme any thing the more of me for my companie because it shall suffise that I am King of Tharsus wherein consisteth the poynt of my renowne as for any paine of trauaile some report of good successe in Chiualrie shal wipe that away For as you are not ignorant therof his Maicstie trauailed alone through the world opposing his vnconquerable mind against al aduentures whatsoeuer yet did y e diuine bountie euermore â—…heeld him from perill and death and as he so manie other famous Kings and Potentates What emprise was more dangerous thâ—…n y â— of Iason when he won the Golden fléece in the Isle of Cholcos or that of y â— gentle Champioâ—… Theseus when he conquered the Minotauâ—…e in the inextricable Labirinth of Creete yet the Gods defended them in all their attempts In my time Mother I haue seene that poore and simple Ships haue sailed in the Sea with great fortune in tempests and outrage and at length haue returned home richlie furnished on the contrary I haue noted that sundry gallant vessels haue cut with full sayle through calme and quiet Seas fauoured both with winde and wether and at the verie entraunce of the Hauens mouth haue splyt on some Rocke or sustayned other mischance Needles then were my feare of the Sea or Fortune because where ere I goâ—… Death tracks met as my shadowe and dare not strike till he be commaunded thâ—…rfore I am thus determined to haue none with me â—…ut Ozalio and two Squires because we wil trauaile as meanâ—… Gentlâ—…en and try 〈◊〉 manhoode with the 〈◊〉 of Europe before the Emperâ—…ur shall haue aâ—…ie knowledge of me The Nueene would no more contrarie his intent but referred all things to his owne disposing wherefore Palmendos hauing sent for the cheefe Lordes of the Kealme â—…eclared to them openlie his minde giuing them this expresse charge to obâ—…y the Quéene his Mother his Unckle whom he left aâ—… Lieutenaunt generall of y â— Prouince in his absence They all sorie that hee woulde so soone depart knewe not howe to hinder it hee beeing so resoâ—…ute notwithstanding they promised to fulfill his commaunde wyshingâ—…him a tranquile prosperous nauigation Soone after the Queene went into her Cabinet where her hand discharging the office of the tongue shee wrote a freendlie Letter to the Emperour which shee accompanied wyth a King like to that she gaue him at his departure to y â— ende that by this Iewell Palmendos might be y â— sooner known of him Shippe and all thingâ—…s readie for this voyage hee tooke his leaue of his Lordes and Subieâ—…s and afterward of the Queene his Mother who byting in her greefe so well as the could deâ—…uered him the King and the Letter the contents whereof thus followeth The Letter of the Queene of Tharsus to the Emperour Palmerin To the most illustrious famous Palmerin dâ—… Oliua Emperour of Constantinople the most loyall of Louers most accomplished of Knights and aboue all the Princes that inhabit the center of the earth the Queene of Tharsus his intire perpetuall freend sendeth health humblie kissing the hand of his Maiestiâ—… IF the Heauens had so bountifully beâ—…owed those perfections on mee in my cradle which the most accoÌ„plished Ladies make their vaunt of as Fortâ—…ne was afterward fauourable and â—…ourteous vnte me in adorning my head with the royall Diademe of Tharsus needelâ—…s had my recourse â—…éene to Charmes or Magick O fauoured and fortunate Prince when I sought your â—…cquaintance in the â—…ealme of Pasmeria But sith by that small talent wherewith nature endowed me the Destinies graunted mee the sweete aspect of your loue after I behelde you with our Admirall Alfarano my prâ—…stinate vertue could not preuaile against vnquenchable desire because the fame of your renowne was so caractred in my spirit as my former chaste and bashfull continencie was in the ende irrecuperably ecntaminate Yet can I not repute this chaunce as matter of â—…is-fortune seeing the heauenly powers were so benigne as from that acte proceeded Palmendos our onelie Sonne from whom I still hidde that you were his Father albeâ—…t by strange meanes he was not long since aduertised therof from which time hee hath so preuailed by intreaties as he hath constrained me not without great greefe doubtfull fcare neuer to sée him againe to suffer him come see his noble Father And hardlie could I yeelde thereto but that my confidence in you is such as you will quickly returne him againe so soone as you haue seene and knowne him for your Sonne At this accident I hope you will not be offended when you consider the world enioyes a young Prince whose vertuous quallities and good cariage of himselfe presage his future commendable fortune In this sort haue I sent him accompanied onelie with his Cozin because hee thus perswaded me that when you trauailed the worlde it was commonly alone as a simple Knight errant And least you should be scrupulous in acknowledging him your Sonne beside the coniectâ—…res of his phisnomie proportion of bodie and other your perfect resemblaunces I haue by him sent you a Ring like that which I gaue you when you parted from mee which Ringes if you compare together you will remember the wordes I â—…pake wanteâ—… no 〈◊〉 Once more I coniure ye by the honour and reuerence of the firme looue you alwaies bare so religiously to the onely Mistresse of your hart that you will quicklie returne our Sonne againe that hee may yet be some comfort to my following date of time while I enioy my beeing in this nether Region The most humble of your freendes the Queene of Tharsus CHAP. VI. Howe Palmendos by meanes of a tempest on the sea was brought to the Isle of Delphos where after hee vnderstood the aduenture of the Tâ—…mple he â—…ent on shore And howe he afterward conquered the Sonne to the Gyant Baledon who
seate wherat Palmendos and his Lordes meâ—…ie laughed but theye pastime was soone altered into admiration for after the Woman arose againe shee séemed of such huge deformed stature as eache one was amazed that had beheld her before and turning her selfe angeâ—…lie towardes the Prince vsed these spéeches Ah Palmendos little regardest thou to resemble the Emperour of Constantinople thy Father whose gentlenes and swéetnes stretcheth as wel to the meanest persons as them that are Lordes and of great account What gaineâ—…t thou in reioycing at the iniurie doone mee by thy Knight I pray that the great imperious Monarch Cupid ê™ shee with lifting her eyes and handes to heauen may so cruellie wound thy hart with the looue of faire Francelina and cause thee to conceiue such gracious thoughtes of her as thou maist leaue this idle and delicious life thou leadest to winne the honour that is got with paine and trauaile So did thy Father heeretofore for the Princesse Polynarda whom he loued so religiously as with the dexteritie and strength of his bodie he assaied to gaine y â— reward which Fortune prouideth for her cheefest fauourites whereon imperially he is now amounted accompanied with y â— greatest felicitie that can happen to anie one vnder this Hemisphere Leaue then these wanton and Courtlie surfettings wherein thy Mother laboureth to containe thée and noâ—…e beginne to 〈◊〉 Armâ—… which may make â—…hy name perpetuall and yeelde the rewarde of immortal glorie for it will redound to thy great shame béeing Sonne to so rare and 〈◊〉 a Knight not this way to imitate his laboriouâ—… dâ—…des And when I shall sèe thee thorowlie wrapped in the passions of loâ—… I will thinke my selfe satis-fied with â—…uenge of the diâ—…honour which thou hast suffered to be 〈◊〉 to me in thy presence The olde Woman so breaking off immediatly vanished away to the great terrour of all the beholders especiallie of the young Prince Palmendos whose sences were for a while eâ—…raunged and walking vppe and downe musing on the olde Womans wordes his hart was so enâ—…amed with the loue of her he knew not as he was enforâ—…d thus to commune with himselfe What may the Ladie be with whom at the report of this Woman I find my selfe so distraughted Daubtles if her words be no Fables â—…t that I am Sonne to the Emperour of Constantinople it behooueth 〈◊〉 to enterprise such actions as I may be iudged soâ—…what to resemble him While his spirit was â—…hus buâ—…ed with diuersitie of these thoughts and no one daring to interrupt him Ozalio went into the Quéenes Chamber and tâ—…lling what had happened she was therewith greatlie displeased Immediatlie she came downe into the great Hall and â—…ding her Sonne thus perplexed tooke him by the hand causing him to sitte downe by her and then began to him in this manner I knowe not my Sonne what follies it should seâ—… the olde Hagge hath trâ—…ubled your minde withall but refraine from giuing credite to them and I shall tell yée the verie trueth of all Madame aunswered Palmendos I am certaine you will not dallie with mee notwithstanding I cannot but meruailâ—… that you woulde all this while conceale the originall of my byrthe for â—…he Emperour Palmerin béeing such a woorthy 〈◊〉 Knight as he is estéemed of eâ—…erie one little occasion haue I 〈◊〉 â—…isdaine to be his Soâ—… and you much leâ—…e to keepe it from me Wherfore I humblie iâ—…reate your Maiestie to resolue me faithâ—…ullie of this present doubt to the eâ—…d if it be so I may â—…e we my selfe forwarde in duetie in â—…sing the bud to floorish that came from such a noble vertuous stalke And feare not that for his sake I will abandon you because it is impossible for me to leaue the Law wherin I haue hethâ—…rto liued for a strange opinion which I am ignoraunt in Ah my Sonne quoth the Queene the Gods so inspire and direct your desseignes that you may perfectlie accomplish what you haue prâ—…mised for the onely feare to loose your companie hath caused me conceale the thing you are so desirous to know But seeing you haue hearde what I can no longer dissemble assure your selfe my Sonne that the olde Woman hath tolde nothing but trueth Héerevâ—…n she recounted the whole Historie howe to haue issue by such a péerelesse Prince imitating Thalestria Quéene of the Amazons who for like cause acquainted her selfâ—… with the valiant King Alexander fhe by the counsell of a wise Magitian amourously beguiled the Emperour Palmerin Lastlie shee intreated him not to â—…orsake her while she liued because her life was onelie prolonged by his presence Great matters haue you tolde me answered the young Prince the Emperour then knowes not that hee â—…ath anie Childe by you No verilie replied the Queene nor would I he should know for the whole world Nor can hee I thinke vnderstand 〈◊〉 by anie saide the Prince yet in mine opinion I count it necessarie that one day I should goe sée my Father but trust me Madame it shall not hée without speedie returne because I am determined not to leaue you or giue ouer with my will the Countrey and Kingdome which the heauens haue appointed me to rule and gouerne Thus reasoned the Mother and her Sonne on diuers matters and hencefoorth the Prince shewed himselâ—…e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vâ—…ry shâ—…rtlie to be armed Knight and to be calleâ—… the Knight of Cupid bearing for his deuise an hart 〈◊〉 with an Arroâ—… For 〈◊〉 hee 〈◊〉 an 〈◊〉 as redde as 〈◊〉 anâ—…â—…or Ozalio whâ—… hee loued as his Brother a fairâ—… white Armour and were bothe knighted by Ozalio 〈◊〉 Father whâ—… was one of the best Knights in all those parts Hauing thus receiued their order a very sollemne â—…east was made in honour thereof during which time Palmendos gaue away sundry sumptuous gifts yet coulde he not be 〈◊〉 of Francelina or forget one iote of the olde Womans words because he had loâ—…ged them so neere his hart as they were a martirdome in manner to him For â—…ase whereof he minded to goe sée Greece as also to visite the Emperour his Father and learne some tydings of his â—…nknowne Ladie for he perswaded himselfe that the old Womans speeches grâ—…w vpon no small occasion And finding the Queene his Mother one afternoone at good leyâ—…re among diuers oâ—…her prâ—…éedings betwéene them Palmendos earnestlie entreated her to graunt him one requeâ—…t which the Queene who looued him as her proper life and not thinking he wold hauâ—… desired any such thing agréed vnto verie willinglie Then woulde I good Madame quoth he not haue you conceiue anie displeasure if I make a bréefe voyage to Constantinople to sée the Empeâ—…our my Father and the good Knights in his Courte for 〈◊〉 the time you assured mee that I was his Sonne my desires haue beene vnmeasurable to trauatle this iourney Yet I sweare by the sincere inuiâ—…lable â—…aith which the Child aboue all other oweth to his Mother to returne againe with all
noâ—… to prolong so good an occaâ—…on but to morrow you shall recâ—…iue the holy charracter of Christianitie and be likewise aâ—…iaunced to your Lady Francelina for reason requireth herein to hasten your right séeing for her you haue endured such daungerous trauailes and forsaken a Realme of so great estate the riches and fertility whereof I am wel acquainted withall The King and Quéene of Thessalie were not a little glad when they heard that Palmendos was heire to a kingdome but much more was their 〈◊〉 vnderstanding his original whereof the Emperor would not as yet make further inquirie till he were better assured of the certaintie and good occasion falling out so wel as the Empresse her Ladies and euerye one departing to their Chambers leauing the Emperor and Palmendos secretly conferring together of matters concerning the I le Delphâ—…s and such like but at length his Maiestie opened his minde saying that he imagined him to be his Sonne wherefore he was desirous to be therein resolued In respect my good Lord answered Palmendos that truth must and will come foorth at length know then mighty Prince and my gracious father that in the Realme of Pasmeria you begot me your Sonne the night before you departed from the Quéene my mother for shee being aduertised of â—…our rare perfections became impacient in her amorous affections and compassed the meane of your acquaintance by a charmed drinke prouided for that purpose And heere beholde the effect of this action my selfe your humble son and obedient seruant yet did my mother giue mee a further testimonie hereof hauing her selfe giuen you the like at your departure but Francâ—…lina hath the same nowe in possession for to her I tooke it after her deliuerance And â—…uermore she concealed this matter from me till miraculouâ—…ly I was enfourmed both thereof and as concerning Francelina because she feared I would forsake my Countrey to come and sâ—…rue in your highnes Court. As concerâ—…ing my behauiour since that time some what I am sure hath happened to your hearing yet of such small and slender 〈◊〉 as they neither beséemed this place or your person The Emperour rauished with conceit of this report knew not which way best to signifie his ioy for considering the straunge course of the action paâ—… and what the successe thereof now prooued his spirites were carried away with woonderfull imaginations Ah my noble Sonne Palmendos quoth he full well 〈◊〉 I assured of what thou hast said although nature hath shaped thée not much vnlike me giuen thée such â—…eroycall courage as I had in my younger daies and albeit the Empresse may well be offended with me when shee shall be thus thorowly resolued yet is her wisedoome and modestie such as she will not mislike what I allow With these wordes the Emperour tooke him by the hand going with him presently to the Empresse Chamber and after his Maiestie had kindly kissed her hee entered into these spéeches I know well Madame that héertofore you haue held good opinion of my loyaltie and that I euer loued you entirely as your selfe could desire no better proofe thereof but the cause why I vse these wordes at this instant is a little scruple that long since entered my minde and I fear wil offend yee when the same is knowen Yet least further doubtes should trouble your thoughtes I protest before him who is the only searcher of hearts and I sweare by all the diuine assistaunts about his tribunall that neuer with my will and knowledge did I contaminate our wedlocke-bedde much lesse haue I infringed the lawes of mariage or polluted the inuiolable faith I solemnely gaue yée Notwithstanding such hath béen my former fortune that another woman beside your selfe by charmes obtayned what was your right then must you not Madame be so seuere and rigorous as not to pardon mee séeing I haue voluntarily confessed mine offence beside the fault not procéeding from me deliuers my cause to be more innocent Remember then Madame what sometime you tolde me concerning the Quéene of Tharsus your dreame I perceiue was 〈◊〉 altogether in vaine in that shee had suche knowledge of mee by meanes o an enchaunted drinke I receiued vnawares as engendered Palmendos this gentle Knight My Lord answered the Empresse with a smyling countenance at the first time I beheld Palmendos I was perswaded what you haue tolde me so liuely doth he resemble ye in countenance and personage wherefore I not onely pardon ye being ignoraunt of begetting such an excellent and perfect creature but thanke heauen that you â—…ere the father to a Son so famous As for Palmendos be shal now accept me as his mother I wil loue him no lesse then mine owne Sonne Primaleon With sundrie other spéeches were these ioyes confirmed and Palmendos right louingly imbraced by the Empresse at length Primalcon came and hee being thoroughly acquainted with the matter tooke the Prince in his armes thus speaking Hath the mighty gouernour of the heauens appointed that the onely flower of chiualrie should bee my brother wherein can I more honour that supercxcelling bountye then confirming my thanks to him by kindnes to the worthy copartner of my vitall bloode drawen from the selfe same source where I receiued my originall Assure your selfâ—… the refore my most noble brother that Primaleon is vowed to imitate your rare fortunâ—…s trâ—…ding the selfe same 〈◊〉 you haue doone to 〈◊〉 the name of our renowmed father continuing in the meane time so readie at your commaund as hee that honoreth you with most zealous affection Might I enter the boldnes answered Palmendos as to title you by the name of my brother the second step of my desires were attained and thogh I dare not strâ—…e to coequall my self with you in kindnâ—…s yet wil I oâ—…er pace ye in dutie affection continuing the seruant of Primaleons welfare while the starre of my birthday vouchsafeth mee breathing Here is occasion offered mee of large discourse concerning the seuerall salutations of the courtly personages so soon as these news happened in their ears how the Lords and knightes came to gratulate this newcome sonne and the Ladies likewise striuing to excel them in curtesie but it were needlesse labour considering the King and Quéen of Thessalie concerne this present occasion and with their daughters ioy vnite them altogeather preparing for the religious obseruations to bee vsed on the morrowe at the christning of Palmendos On the morrow the Emperour and all his Barrons mounted on horsebacke the like doth the Empresse withal her Ladies and in most honourable manner they ride to this solemnitie so passing in this pompe through the Citie they allighted at the Church of S. Sophie where Palmendos was religiously baptized and afterward affianced to Francelina by the reuerend Archbishop she béeing attired in as sumptuous ornaments as when Andromachye was espoused to the valiant Hector of Troy or Cleopatra Quéene of Aegipt when shee contended in magnificence with Marke Anthonie the Triuâ—…uirate her husband drinking one of the pearles that hung at her eares estéemed woorth two hundred and fiftie thousand crownes For euen as the Carbuncle the most rich and precious of all the Orientall stones dooth in the darke giue such a cléere and illustrious splendour as not onely illuminateth all the place but also setteth the regarders eies â—…o woonder thereat of no lesse vertue séemed Francelina in the Temple as the onely and perfect Phenix of her time In like pompe and royaltie they returned to the Pallace there beeing such a sumptuous feast prepared as beséemed the time of so general reioycing where wanted no honorable dâ—…uises to accompany the same And during the time of this is their honorable whole pleasure héere thinke I good to pause a little while you consider on the discourses passed and I haue moreleasure to perfect the rest of this Historie NExt Gentlemen followeth the historie of 〈◊〉 wherin what you see waÌ„ting here is perfectly finished both Palmendos mariage Ozalios loue to Marencida Rifaranoes fortunes Recinde his returne to Conâ—…tantinople But this I must tel you with al that now Primaleon beginneth his chiualrie the famous Prince Edward of England the course of his â—…duentures which are briefly touched in my book of Palmerin of Egnland who was his Son what woonderfull stratagems both he and Primaleon performed together attend till the next tearme and you shal be resolued And to accompany this discourse I hope to send ye the first booke of Amadis of Fraunce that when ye are wery of the one you may delight your selfe with the other so wishinâ—… ye no woâ—…se then to my selfe I end Yourâ—… to his poore power Anthony Monday Honos alit Artes.