thou hast taken to come so farre to this place Verie glad was the Giant 〈◊〉 séeing Primaleon readie to enter the Barriers with him Into which the Emperor commaunded the Duke of Pera the Earle of Redon to conduct him and to assure him from all men except from his enemie in the meane time there remayned not almost any person within the Cittie which came not thither to beholde this Battaile euery man deuoutly praying him in whose handes are all victories to shew fauour to their Prince for whome they should bée in great dispaire were it not for the confidence they haue that hee will neuer forsake him in this necessitie as in him who neuer abandoneth nor reiecteth those who Arming themselues with true saith doe build their rain part on his refuge The Giant then after hee had laced and buckled the strings of his headpéece tooke a strong launce in his hand and seeing hys enemie come Armed conceaued so great pleasure that flourishing his Launce he thus began This staffe imbrâ—ed to day in the bloud of my aduersarie shall take vengeaunce on that 〈◊〉 who hath with his pearced the bosome of mine auncestors â—old thy tongue for shame great animall quoth Primaleon holde thy tongue and cease to vaunt thy presumptâ—ous 〈◊〉 till thou seest thy selfe banquisher for their is the houre to bragge and not before Then the Iudges séeing these two Combatants in good will euerie one to do his best for him selfe they departed the Barriers and presently the signe of the assault beeing sounded by the Trumpets the Knightes encountred with such furie that they 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 For the height of Lurcon constrayning him to carrie his Launce lower against Primaleon than if he had béene of his â—oulenes so that he could attaint him but on the â—ippe where peareing his Armour he scracht his skâ—â—e a little But the Constantino Politane who came full vpon him with a right carriere with his Launce 〈◊〉 him cleane through the cuirace into the 〈◊〉 so they dasht their shâ—elds and rusht their bodies together in such sorte that they both smoked at it In this â—â—counter the Giants Horse had such a shouldering that hee could goe afterwardes but vpon thrée legges by meaneâ— whereof feeling the heauie burden which hee had vppon his backe he kept such a capering rearing and flinging that hee laid his loutish Master vppon the bare ground who in falling did so entangle one of his feete in his stirroppe that his horse tâ—aâ—ld him a long time from place to place Which Primaleon seeing ranne vppon him with his naked sword in his hand and before he could get up againe he gaue him so sound a blow vppon his legge that he cut the bone almost quite a two whereat he cast out so horrible a noyse that hee â—erristed all the assistants but not him who he 〈◊〉 him with the Cemitorie which the Knight of the Closed-Ile had sent him which hee so be laboured then with all his might vppon hys Helmet that cutting a two the stringes that hee shewed quicklie his bare head Whereuppon Lurcon entred into so intollerable a phrenzie that béeing vnable to defende himselfe from the fell blowes of his aduersarie hee purposed to gripe him by the bodye thinking to dispatch him that waye But for all that Primaleon kept himselfe at the point of hys sworde and with a backe stroke vppon the Mazzard felde him as dead as a Dogge to the ground saying It is now that thou mayest exeâ—te thy Trophies to Pallaâ— and Mars for the victories they haue sent thee and not before thou haste Combatted as not long since thou didst vaunte to doe It were verie difficult to recount the ioy and gladnesse that euerie one conceauâ—d seeing the happie successe of this spectacle The which to the ende to make it publikely knowne abroade the Iudges and Martials of the fielde perceauing the Giant to haue breathed his last did accompany Primaleon with victorious acclamations vnto the pallace where they presented him to the Emperor who receaued him with great ioy Then came forth the Empresse and her Daughters to entertaine him as if he had béene newly arriued from some forâ—en Countrie praysing and blessing God for so signall a 〈…〉 torie the which beganne to bring some comforte and reioycing to the Court which was before all in 〈◊〉 verie sad and mournefull for the death of King Florendos his Quéene Griana Father and Mother to the Emperour Afterwards there arriued manie Knights to Combat Primaleon vppon the same quarrell but it cost them all deare as béeing those who defended a wrong quarrell the Prince behauing himselfe euerie day more valiantly than other wherof the Greekes reputed themselues most happie men to haue after the Emperour so sage valiant a Prince for their Seigneur wherefore from diuers Countries were presented him manie good offers to marrie a wife the which he would accept of in no wise for the little desire hee had to marrie so young But let vs discourse a little of the great perrils and traualles that another Knight made him endure who came to Constantinople to defie him vppon the same pretended treason of the Polonians death as you shall in the next Chapter heare more at large CHAP. XVIII Howe Prince Edward the eldest Sonne to the King of England was inamoured of faire 〈◊〉 seeing her picture against a wall and hovve hee was afterward conducted by a strange aduenture into a Monasterie of Nunnes and what befell him there in the meane time he was within the Nunnerie KIng Fredericke of England brother to Agriâ—la Empresse of Almaine had by his wife manie Male Children the eldest whereof called Prince Edward was no lesse accomplished excellent in the exercise of Armes than verie well 〈◊〉 in most ciuill and good manners and in all other laudable vertuous and honest thinges So that hauing receaued the order of Knighthood he held daylse Ioustinges Tournyes to exercise and make himselfe skilfull in militarie profession And for asmuch as hee delighted also in hunting one of the brauest Knights called Robert sent him a faire dog which he recouered of a woman who was a great Magâ—rian as you shall vnderstand hereafter This Knight Robert being in the prime of his youth had a great desire to see the aduentures of the world by meanes whereof embarking himselfe among other Marchants who went to trafficke and to fall Armes in Turkie beeing tossed by tempest and foule weather on Sea come to an anker in the Iland of Malfada where they were all enchaunted except him onely who pleased much the Ladie of the Ile Whereuppon â—â— fortuned that hee liued there in verie great pleasure about the space of two yeares at the ende where of calling to minde vppon a time his owne countrie he fetcht a great â—igh from his breast so that this Fayrie who neuer was far from him desired to know the cause of that sigh vnto whome hee reuealed the whole matter In good faith faire sir
this wound yet must it néeds marueilously offend and displease me that so good people by a false and miscreant Dog should be so outraged Neuerthelesse séeing I can no other way redéeme it I sweare and protest before yée all hereafter to be a cruell and capital enemie to these harbarous and vnbeléeuing helhounds making them dearely to buy before hand the infelicity destinyed to this moane-worthie countrie And euen so it came to passe in that both he and Palmendos in his Kingdome of Thessalie did great and infinite dammages to the Turkes for euer after there was continually open warres betweene those Nations But the Emperour then somewhat mittygating hys choller with a more pleasing countenance and milder tearms thus spake to them about him Wherefore should I offend my selfe wyth such things as we shall neuer behold I pray yée for all this let vs not leaue the fruition of such pleasures as God hath sent vs at this instant for séeing it is hys will that happy successe shall betyde the affayres of my time and they that follow of my posterity likewise I haue no reason to passionate my selfe but rather to repute me the most happy Prince that thys day inhabiteth betweene the two Poles Therfore I pray you quoth hée to the Messenger on my behalfe thank the Lord of the enclosed Isle your Maister for putting mée out of those doubtfull imaginations striuing to vnderstand what these two figures shoulde signifie assuring him withall that he hath no friend in this world who can make more account of his goodwill than I doo nor shall hee finde any iot lesse in me towards him when pleaseth him to make any triall therof so breaking off the Gentleman went a little lower toward Primaleon who likewise was there present thus spake to him Happy fortunate Prince the Lord of the enclosed Isle my master who louer you as himself hath sent yée this good sword and rich shield the two best and most exquisite weapons that at this day are to be found in all the world and them hee thinks méete for so valiaunt a Knight as you will prooue aduertising you that the clouen rock being thus separated as you may beholde héere figured in this shield signifieth the partialitie and little looue betwene you and her who in after time shall make one sole heart of twaine so that on the day of this riciprocation hapning betwéene you this impregnable rock shall then remaine intyre closed againe and without any impeach to testifie your reconciliation Tell your Master from me answered Primaleon as one abashed to heare such spéeches that as it hath pleased him to send me this fayre present which I shal wel carefully hope for his sake so wold I haue him commād me any thing wherin I may do him pleasure when he shall aduertise me as the mā that may command my vttermost whom I highly thank for his curtesis albeit I cannot but remaine in pensiuenes 〈◊〉 I vnderstand more clearly the matters you haue told mée The time will come replyed the yong Gentleman when you shall knowe them sufficiently although at this instant they séeme so hard and obscure to yée and then shall ye recompence the seruice which now yée receiue from my Maister Then commaunded Primaleon that one should fetch a rich present for the Lord of the enclosed Isle in requitall of the excellent Armes he sent him and another in like manner for the Gentleman that brought them which immediatly was perfourmed in euery respect when the youth with great reuerence taking his leaue returned presently towarde the Isle leauing all the Court meruayling at the newes before rehearsed The Emperour and his Barrons long looked on the weapons each one commending the artificiall workemanship of them meruayling what the strange seperation of the rocke should meane being thus foretold that one day it should ioyn together againe which made the Emperour deliuer these wordes before all there present I am perswaded wee shall behold great matters of importance when this halfe deuided Rock shall knit together againe So that as séemes to mee my Sonne speaking to Primaleon for thée are reserued many aduentures which none but thou canst effectually finishe Wherein I pray God to bee thy directer enduing thée with such strength and hardines as thou mayest honorably make an end of them So doe I deuoutlie pray my selfe answered Primaleon els shall I repute all my life verie careleslie bestowed and I vnworthie to come in companie of so great personages if I shuld not resemble in some good part or other the noble Lord that begot me and that I may attaine thereto it is necessarie I should passe through many perillous tranayles knowing that without excéeding endeuour it is impossible to reach such honour as doth for euer make men to be estéemed For this may serue me as a most worthie crample yea and an infallible mirrour of all vertues proceeding from your excellencie so great a president as not onely hath sweetly conquered the loue of your subiects but gayning likewise a priueledge of euerie ones good will hath beside constrayned the enemie and most barbarous Nations to admire and honour yée for al perfections being the cheefest peece of workemanshippe that euer Nature made These gentle and gratious speeches of the Prince Primaleon made the Emperour his Father so pleased as possiblie might be hearing from him such honest commendations yet collourably ayming at a third person as thence forth he reputed him verse magnanimous and remembring Achilles Alexander Themistocles and other such valiant Champions which Greece in former time had brought forth he began to conceiue some hope that one day he should see him go beyond all other of his time Whereupon hee gaue commandement that the weapons sent from the Lorde of the enclosed Isle should be verie charilie layde vp and for this cause if afterwarde in any place Primaleon would not be knowen he named himselfe the knight of the clouen rocke From that time all the whole day there passed no other speeches among them but of the meruaylous knowledge of this great Magitian the Emperour entring into so good opinion of him as he could neuer forget that the Empire of Greece should be sackt by the Turkes which was a continuall griefe to his heart yet would hee not outwardly deliuer any show thereof but with Princely iestures shadowing them still seemed as pleasant as euer be was before Primaleon likewise on the other side was very pensiue desiring also to know her name who already by the very words of the yong Gentleman had inflamed his thoughts with the heauenlie fire of Venus for till this houre hee had no knowledge of amourous passions but now his heart was so liuely touched therewith as there they had taken a perpetual dweling place as yee shall perceiue by the following discourse of the Historie But now he fell to make prouision with the other knights giuing order that all thinges might bee readie against the
some supposed they were stricken with the falling sicknes insomuch that they mâ—â—ed all the standers by to compassion and the Emperour for his parte would willingly haue deliuered them had hee not perceaued Palmendos could not honestly frustrate Ozalio of the promise which he had made him By meanes whereof not to abide beholding them any longer in this pitteous Tragedie he commaunded incontinent to recarry Ocurites to his loâ—ging Marencida backe into her chamber where she would willingly haue done that for him to saue him from death which Alceste whilom Quéene of Thessalie would only haue enterprised for Admetus her husband after she vnderstood by the Oracle that any one of his friends who would die in his stead might saue his life which else in no wife might bee preserued So great was she heartes griefe Ocurites felt during his traunce that refusing to eat or drinke a long time afterwards he weakned so much his members and spent his naturall vigour so farre that his soule was constrained to take leaue of his body which was interred afterward by commaundement of the Emperour in a rich tombe whereof Marencida neuer knew any thing for they sought meanes expressâ—â—y to conceale from her this mischaunce fearing lest she should goe after to héepe him companie in the other world as might bee misdoubted by the coniectures gathered of the anguish she indured séeing him in so miserable estate when shee sounded in his presence as you haue read before And for that Ozalio did solicite at the length her departure with all dilligence Palmendos caused two shippes to be made readie with all things necessary graunting him fréely his departure albeit there was much griefe on both sides for that from their infancie they had béene both brought vp together they gaue each other their last adieu not without bedewing their faces with store of teares their mindes beeing touched inwardly with the strict and more than fraternall amitie betwéene them so that euerie one maruelled why he would not for this only respect renounce Paganisme as Palmendos had done which hee would surely haue done if the loue of Marencida had not so preuailed with him The Emperour gaue them many sumptuous presentes to carrie from him to the Queene of Tharsus which beeing bestowed in fit place on ship boorde hee commaunded to hoyse sailes and so incontinent launched into the maine sea which was so calme and still that within fewe dayes hee fell within the coast of Tharsus So soone as he was ariued in the haue it all the Cinso began to make bone fires and many other tokens of ioy thinking to recouer their true liege Soueraigne Palmendos But soone after chaunged their reioycing into sadnes when they knew certainly Palmendos was so farre from that plate where they thought him to be present all the people doing nothing els but curâ—â—e and ban the old Beldame who 〈…〉 the loste of so made and gentle a Prince At this time â—ay she Quéene very grieuously sicke in her bed for the absents of her sonne Palmendos so that seeing Ozalio 〈…〉 for into the chamber her heart felt present he such an 〈◊〉 anguish that she had neyther sinew veine artir nor miâ—scle which was not depriued of their vsuall functions So that without hearing the Ambassage which the Emperor 〈◊〉 to Ozalio to oster hir with his presents she died more 〈…〉 euer â—â—erre through 〈…〉 This honourable Lady hauing thus accomplished the last law of nature and yeelded before God her mortall homage Ozalio gaue the principals of the Kingdome to vnderstand of the ordenance of Palmendos his Cosen wherby vpon calling them together soone after the decease of the Quéene hée shewed them fast scaled and so subscribed as they ought to bee by which meanes they all knowing him to bee a most sage and valerous Prince accepted him gladly for their King Thus hauing peaceably inuested himselfe in the kingdome he married forthwith in great triumph and magnificence his deare Marencida who seeing the loue her husband bare her to increase more and more euery day conuerted her mourning and sorrow into thankfull gladnes so that within few daies she quite forgate all thinges past louing afterward so perfectly the good King Ozalio her second husband that shee had by him many goodlie children many whereof proued very braue and hardie Knights Thus feasting them whom he tooke from Constantinople for to accompanie him homeward at length he returned them backe againe with such newes and rich giftes which the king Ozalio sent to his Cosen Palmendos as hee in memoris hereof continued the same euery yeare following in like manner for tribute and homage of the high estate which he confessed onely to hold of him No sooner were the Knightes arriued in the Emperours Court but Palmendos was aduertized of the death of the Quéene his mother whereupon he grew into great mellancholle and made woefull lamentation seeming to him that his absence was the principall cause of her death but he loued Franchelinaso ardently that hee could not well busie his spirites in any other thing than in those which he knew might cause her delight and pleasure wherefore in time hee forgot the sorrow which these heauie newes caused especially féeling himselfe so comforted by his loue whom wee will now leaue to take the gratious pastimes wherwith those that are 〈…〉 affianced and wont to sollace one another attending the wished day of their Nuptials And now returne wee vnto Rifarano whome we shall finde yet in the house of the Countesse of Island CHAP. IIII. How Rifarano beeing departed from the Countesse of Island to go to the Tourney which was to be held in Constantinople met with his companion Ledefin with whome hee fought to reuenge a pore Damsell whose husband hee had slaine RIfarano who Combated Dioll the Earle of Islandâ— brother if you remember remayned sometime with the Countesse his widdowe as well to heale his woundes throughly especially that in the scull of his head which hee was faine to cauterise and haue throughly seâ—â—ched as also for the pleasure and graunt of amourous fauours which he receiued daylie of her by meanes where of he could not leaue her till hée was aduertised how the Emperour Palmerin would holds open Court in Constantinople and of the great Triumphes which were here in preparation to solemniâ—s the alliance Nuptials of the infant Philocrissa with Arnodes Sonne is the King of Fraunce likewise of the Princesse Franchelina with Palmendos But not to loose so good occasion to present himselfe in so honorable a companie which hee hoped would there mâ—ete at this solemne feast hee demaunded licence of the Countesse to goe see the Prince Palmendos at whose handes he had heretofore receaued so much fauour that vs though that held his life but of him and the immortall God who might end it when â—â— best pleased him Whereunto very loath and vnwilling she accorded doubting lest bee should not returne againe to her so