the same high way where hée went a great number of Knights which seemed vnto him that they were in battaile they so beesturred themselues and therewith hée did amend his pace to know what it should meane and when he came nigh vnto them hée saw that it was more them twentie knights who had compassed about one alone Knight who was a of a very big stature and armed with blackarmour who made battaile with them all and did defend himself verie stoutly and strongly and had ouerthrowen wounded to the ground sixe of them so that hée séemed to bée a valyant Knight and of good estimation When the Knight of Cupide had well marked him and saw him so valiantly defend himselfe he receiued great contentment and determined to succor him in that conflict perswading him that the truth and right was on his part for that there was so manie against one and without any more tarrying hée set spurres to his Horse sides and with his Sword in his hand hée put himselfe in the middest of them that had compassed him about and before that hee stroke any blow hée sayd Knights holde your handes and bee in quyet a while and let mée vnderstand what is the occasion of this battaile that so manie Knights are against one All of them did well heare and vnderstand what he sayd but the answere which they made vnto him was that they all stroke at him as they which made no reckoning of him which was a sorrowfull houre for some of them for that when the knight of Cupid dyd sée their villanie his anger dyd presently increase and he lift vp his strong arme and stroke one of them vpon y e healme that â—…e cloue his head downe to his shoulders so that he fel from â—…is horse dead to the earth he was scarce downe when the stroke another vpon y e shoulder so that hée cloue him to the breast and besturred himselfe amongst them with so great fury that béefore they did perceiue their losse and harme hée had ouerthrowen halfe of them to the ground When this mightie knight who first made battaile with them all saw himselfe succoured and aided in that time as hee thought his life to bée lost hée receiued great ioy and contentment and was very much amazed to sée the straunge curtesie of that Knight and the furious strokes which hee gaue vnto his contraries the which was such that if hée had not seene it with his owne eyes hee would neuer haue beeléeued it and with that new and vnlooked for aide succour his strength and courage did so increase that he stroke such a blow vpon the arme of one of them that was next him that hee cut it cleane a sunder and it fell to the ground holding his shéelde fast and hée stroke another vpon the head that hée cloue it to the eyes and ouerthrew him from his horse to the ground so that afterward they could not strike any more blows for that the rest of the Knights séeing the great slaughter and effusion of blood which those two Knights made thought their liues in small securitie and fled away with all the hast they could béeing to the number of sixe or seauen knights so that these two valiaunt knights were left alone when the knight with the black armour saw himselfe cléere from his contraries hée lift vp his beauer and went vnto the knight of Cupide saying O gentle knight the best that euer was séene for I beleeue that in all the world is not thy like wherewith she bée able to greatifie this good turne which you haue done vnto mée I cannot surely with lesse then to offer my life so that next vnto God by you I haue my life at least wayt deliuered mée that I was not carried away prisoner whiâ—… would haue béene vnto mée more grieuous then my deaâ—… Sir knight saide Rosicleer your great valour doth deserâ—… far more then this and I doo account my selfe verie wâ—… satisfied for that I haue done dooing it for so worthie knight as you neuerthelesse I desire you to tell mée if yâ—… are of this Country what is the occasion that you had this battaile against so many knights To whom this Knight replied This question which you doe demannd of me doth require long time to declare and for that these Knights belongeth vnto the King of this Countrie whom we haue had this controuersie with I doe beleeue that when these that be run away shall come before him he will send a number more of knights after vs therefore me thinkes it shall doe well that we apart our selues out of this way goe vp towards the mountaine there we shall be sure not to meete with them and riding by the way I will declare vnto you the whole effect of this that you doe demaund These words which he spake liked well the Knight of Cupid therewith they departed from that place and went towards certaine mountaines which were towardes the right hand then the knight with the blacke armour began to make relation vnto the knight of Cupid and said Sir Knight you shall vnderstand that I am called Sacridoro not long since was King of Antiochia as rich and prosperous as any other king could bée but Fortune hath pursued me in such sort shewed hir selfe so rigorous vnto me that in a very short time I haue lost my Kingdome and am left all alone bannished from a great number of very good knights which I had continually with me some of them â—…e dead slaine other some in prison the occasion of all this hath bâ—…n that the king Polidarco lord of this country hath a daughter whose name is Oriselua a very faire damsell endurd with many good graces Princelike conditions to whom I did do at this present beare great loue which was the occasion that I did demaund hir in mariage of the king hir father who would not giue hir vnto me in consideration that in times past he had certaine controuersies with the king my Father for which cause I did moue wars with him thinking by force to get that which by â—…he way of request I could not obtaine Wherevpon either of vs did ioyne and gather together the greatest armie that possible we could so that in the end we ioyned in battaile wheras my cruell fortune destinie would that all my campe was broken destroyed I escaped out of the field by great aduenture by reason that I had no people knights nor souldiers for to defend my kingdome in few daies they made a conquest of all without leauing me either towne or village wherein I might rest my selfe yea although I doe sée my selfe so destroyed ouerthrowen yet the loue is so great that I haue vnto the princesse Oriselua that I cannot goe out of this country for that I would euery day heare some newes of hir although I haue procured to goe in all the
better will did offer vnto him friendship And although at time he did refuse his company yet time did come afterward that it was very necessary profitable vnto him as hée reafter shall bee tolde you in this History And for that the king Sacridoro did know the great desire the Knight of Cupid had to depart talking on a time with the king Polidarco and the Quéene his wife hée gaue them to vnderstand how that the Knight of Cupid was sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio and of the Empresse Briana and how that hee would depart toward Grecia to make himselfe knowen vnto his Father for which cause hée could not but beare him company for the great obligation in which he was bound vnto him and did desire them that they would thinke well thereof And although his departure grieued them very much yet seeing the great reson that he had they answered that he might doe as he thought best for that it séemed vnto them he had great reason therein they much meruailed that the Knight of Cupid should be so high and mightie a Prince At length when they had taken their leaue of them and of the Prince Don Lusindo who was also very sorrowfull for their departure they went out of the citie trauailed vnto the sea coast wher they did imbarke themselues toke the way towards Grecia wherâ—… that happened vnto them which shall be told you in this Chapter following Of a verie fierce and perillous battaile which the Knight of Cupid had with a famous giant in the Grecian Empire Chap. 31. THe sorrow griefe was very much which was in the whole empire of Grecia by reason of the newes touching the death of Rosicleer for the Emperour did commaund that for the space of one moneth all mirth pastimes which were made in the great citie of Constantinople whereas were so many excellent knights that it was a strange thing to behold Which knights not hauing any thing to doe some departed into their owne countries other some went out of the court to séeke their aduentures in the Empire till such time as the month was passed In the end of which the Knight of the Chariot should returne to defend the beautie of the faire princesse Lindabrides so that at that time the citie of Constantinople was left voide and all the land of the Empire full of Knights as well strangers as naturalls amongst whom there did not lacke to bee euerie day great contentions It fell out in this time that ther came into Grecia a mightie great famous giant called Mandroco who was Lord of Achia which was an Iland ioyning vnto the grecian empire of so great force strength that he was inuinsible of long time the whole countrie of Grecia did not like well of him for that he greatly harmed them as well by land by sea and as this mightie Giaunt heard the report of the high déedes of chiâ—…alrie done by the Knight of the Chariot in the great citie of Constantinople and likewise of the great safe conduct granted by the Emperour with the great desire he had to proue himselfe with him and to make manifest his mightie force and strength in that Court he passed into Grecia and came thether two daies after the demaund of the Knight of the Chariot and béeing determined to remaine there till the moneth was accomplished hee trauailed in the Empire and with what knight so euer hée met hée should not depart but first proue himselfe with him and oâ—… all such as he did ouerthrow to the ground he would take their Horsses from theÌ„ and wheÌ„ hée had ioyned a great number together hée would send them into his Iland So hée béehaued himselfe that in space of twelue daies hée had euer throwen more then two hundâ—…ed Knights and all their Horses were his and for that they did finde themselues agreeued many of those Knights did make theyr complaint vnto the Emperour of their misvsing who receiued so great sorrow and griefe that hée him selfe would haue gone in person to haue proued himselfe against him if the Empresse had not hindred him And againe calling to remembrance the safe conduct that hée had graunted vnto all Knights hée woâ—…ld not send any people against him for that hee would not break his promise So that hee receiued great griefe for that which euery day was tolde him of that gyant And his great name and fame was spread throughout all that Countrie in such sort that many Knight did procure to apart himselfe out of that way wheras hée went and vnto all Knights his name was terrible and they said that in all the world there was not a Gyant so mighty and strong And trauayling in this sort it so fell out that in the same time there came into the Countrie of Grecia the Knight of Cupide and the good King Sacridoro and straight waies there was giuen them to vnderstand of the high déedes of the Knight of the Chariot and how that hée remained in Constantinople till such time as the month was accomplished for to returne and defend the beautie of the fayre Princesse Lindabrides Likewise they heard the great complaints which was made of the mighty Gyaâ—…nt Mandroco The Knight of Cupide hauing great desire to méete with him did direct his way toward that way wheras it was tould him that hée went And it fell out one day that as hée and y e king Sacridoro did passe through a mighty and great vsed way they saw the giant comming the same way with more then thirty of his owne knights which bare him company and he was of so high and big stature that he did appeare aboue all the rest from the brest vpwards and when these two Knights came nigh vnto them the Gyaunt dyd béehould them and liking well both of the Knights and theyr Horsses 〈◊〉 straight waies sayd that they should prepare themselues vnto the iust with him one to one or both together which their pleasure was and best liked them Then the Knight of Cupid who had a great desire to proue himself with the giant requested the King Sacridoro that he would let him haue the first battell To whom he answered that hée should doo his pleasure although hée would haue béen very glad first to haue proued his owne fortune so y e Knight of Cupid without answering any word went and put himself in one part of the high way And when the Gyaunt saw him so big and well made it liked him well and laughed vnto himselfe béecause hée would iust alone with him and might profit himselfe with his companion The gyaunt had vnder him a very fayre and mighty Horse called Rondarte that next vnto the Horse Cornerino was the best in all the world and for that hee was so mighty and strong hée trauailed on him for if hée had not beene such a one ther were no horse that were able to sustaine and suffer him for that hee was
theyr time and retourneth to tell you of all that passed in the Court of King Tiberio when hée knew of the departure of the Emperour Trebatio and of the Princesse Briana How the departure of the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana was knowen in the Court of King Tiberio and what passed about the same Chap. 3. THe Historie sayth for that the Gentlewomen of the Princesse Briana were fully certified that theyr mistres kept hir Nouena in hir chamber as shée was wont to 〈◊〉 and as I béefore tould you they neuer haâ—… any occasion to mistrust hir departure foâ—… that at any time béefore they neuer could perceiue the leaâ—… presumption thereof till such time as the nyne dayes were past and the tenth day come séeing not the chamber dore of the Princesse open they were all in a confusion not knowing what it should meane So in this doubt they remayned vntill the eleuenth day at which time not séeing the chamber dore opened they determined to goe thether and began to call knocke at the dore but ther was none that answered them whereat béeing more amazed they knocked hard and stroke mightie and great blowes at the dore neuer thelesse there was none that aunswered them although they were there a great whyle knocking and being much amazed thereat they straight way gaue the Quéene of Augusta to vnderstand thereof who was in the Citie of Buda béeing very much amazed at that sodayne newes she called certayne of hir Knights Gentlewomen and in their company departed to the monestary And when she came vnto the chamber dore of the Princesse found none to answere hir for all their great knocking shee strayght waies commaunded hir Knights to breake open the dore and hatchets and other things being brought for the purpose they broke open the dore which done the Quéene with hir Knights and Gentlewomen entered the chamber and not finding the Princesse nor any other person therein were very sore troubled amazed she sat hir selfe downe vpon the floore and knew neither what to say or doe but onely to lament and to make great sorrow And as they were in this confusion they found the Letter that was written lying vppon the Table and directed either to the King Tiberio or vnto the Quéene the which Letter they gaue strayght waye vnto the Quéene Augusta who with great anguish did open the same and saw thereon written all the whole Hostorye of the mightie Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana with the true relation thereof till such time as they departed and in the end of the Letter they craued pardon for that they went away in such sort as they had done without giuing them to vnderstande thereof alleadging the reason to bée for the death of the Prince Edward for that the King Oliuerio father vnto the Prince should not with any reason haue cause to quarrell with the King Tiberio neyther account him as pertaker in the death of the Prince So when the Quéene vnderstoode the effect of the Letter shée remayned all astonied and amazed not knowing whether she might giue credit vnto so strange a thing as this was although to the contrary shée receyued exceeding great ioy and pleasure for the good fortune of the Princesse hir Daughter that in all hir life she felt not in hir selfe so much pleasure gaue great thanks vnto God for his excéeding benefit which hée had done vnto hir At that time the King Tiberio was in the Citie of Ratisbona and the Quéene Augusta strayght wayes sent messengers such as shée thought could well declare all that had happened and by them she sent the Letter that the Emperour had left written behinde him in the chamber of the Princesse and the Quéene remained with hir owne Gentlewomen and with the Gentlewomen of the Princesse in the monestary of the Riuer for that it was a place of great quietnesse pleasure and sent all hir Knights and the rest of hir seruantes vnto the Citie remayning onely with a fewe Knights for hir gard other seruantes such as were néedefull for hir seruice The messengers which went with the Embassage vnto the King Tiberio came vnto the Court before him at such time as the King was accompanied with all his high Princes and Knights amongest whome there was that excellent and worthie Knight of the Sunne carrying to heare when the departure of the Emperour and the Princesse should bée declared in the Court. And when the messengers came béefore they King the strayght wayes declared vnto him theyr Embassage and gaue him the Emperours Letter which at his commaundement was read openlye in the hearing of all the Court. And when they vnderstoode all that this History hath told you the great admiration that all people receyued was wonderfull when the King heard the contentes thereof hée remayned a great while as one being in a maze and speake neuer a word At last calling to his remembraunce the mightinesse of the Emperour the great maiesty of his estate the worthinesse of his person the excellencie of his royall descent hée thought within himself that God had done much for him in giuing him so worthy mightie a sonne in law and that his Daughter was the most happiest Princesse then liuing in the world that in the end of all hir sorrow shée had found so noble excellent a husband All this and many other things did greatly delight his hart but considering how much he was in charge for the Prince of great Britayne hée did not make any outward shew of his inward contentment but demeaned himselfe as one 〈◊〉 in thought and very much troubled And after that he had a great while remayned in that traunce without speaking anye thing hée sodainly arose vp from the place whereas hée sate and leauing all his Knights and Noble men in the great hall hée intered into his closet and béeing there alone hee béeganne again to call to his remembraunce the noble and mighty déedes of the worthy Emperour Trebatio and the more ioy and pleasure he séemed to receiue giuing great thankes vnto God for that all thinges by the working of his mightie hand were brought to so good and ioyfull an ende And thus all thinges well considered hée determined to make an outward shew of great anger agaynst the Emperour till such time as he might vnderstand how the King Oliuerio did take the matter at such â—…ime as hée should heare newes thereof Likewise at that time came to his remembrance the mighty déedes that the Emperour declared of the Knight of the Sun musing with himselfe who that Knight should be that was of so great strength and power and was very gladde and ioyfull that he had hin in his Court. And at this time all the nobles and Knights which remayned in the hall did talk one with another and very much meruayled at the mighty deedes of the Knight of the Sunne and all people did béehold him giuing him great
prayse and extolâ—…ing him vnto the heauens in such sort that he was ashamed to heare himself so praysed But as it is a thing most common that against prosperitie of the vertuous there doth not lacke malicious and enuions persons who neuer resteth to procure the execution of their venimous stomackes it so fell out amongest the Knights that were there present there was Florinaldus hée which the Knight of the Sun did ouerthrow at the bridge before Albamira who for that he was a stout and gallaunt Knight receyued great griefe that the Knight of the Sunne should ouerthrow him and especially béefore his Lady and mistresse and therefore hée was very destrous to séeke to haue opportunitie wherein he might bée reuenged make satisfaction of the shame and rebuke which he had receyued by him many of those nobles and Knights that were present were his parents and kinsfolke And I know not whether it was with the great hope hée hadde in his owne strength or in the confidence of his kinsfolkes and friends which were verye many hée determined with himselfe to séeke some occasion of contention with the Knight of the Sunne Now at such time as these Knights were praysing him and giuing him his deserued commendation for the good hée had done vnto the Emperour Florinaldus replyed vnto them and with a loude voyce that he might be heard of all that were there present hée sayde The Knight of the Sunne cannot in any wise excuse himselfe of a great offence in that he did not aduertise my Lord the King Tiberio that the Emperour Trebatio would secretly carrye awaye his Daughter contrarye vnto his will And for that he hath ben hetherto in his company it is to be supposed that he was acquaynted with the Emperors determination and if it please my Lord the King to giue attencion vnto my words he should commaund him for the same to bée accordingly punished for that in no place ther ought to be giuen any credite or trust to traycours and therfore much lesse in the court of high and mighty Kings When the Sonne of Trebatio heard these wordes his coulour chaunged and with very anger he gnashed his téeth together striuing to mittigate his cholarike ire by reson and to answere Florinaldus with patience but yet this valiant Del Phoebo could not execute his vertuous desire for that his wrath and cholar did much more surmount his calmnesse which did procéede of his worthy vexed hart in such sort that he could not find which way to compasse the same without the great abusing of his honour especially to â—…eare so infurious and vile words spoken against him but with a surious and frowning countenaunce which séemed to terrifie all them that did behold him he replied vnto Florinaldus and sayd These words which thou hast spoken Florinaldus be villanous and not to be suffered Therfore vpon the same if thou wilt goe forth into the field with mée I will giue thée to vnderstand that thou doest lie falselie for that I was neuer traitour to King nor to any other creature When this stout gallant Knight heard these words his youthfull bloud being moued being politike and nimble with a trice he wrapped his cloake about his arme drew out his sword with the which he would haue striken the Knight of the Sun who was vnarmed but giuing the enterprise against the flower of all knights before his sword could descend to execute his will with a light leap more then thrée paces he auoyded drew out his sword which was a heanie and sorrowfull drawing out vnto many And for that Florinaldus had there many kinsefolkes friends and likewise of his owne squires and seruants they altogether drew out their swords some against the Knight of the Sunne and other some to make peace betwixt them so that there was not any in all the hall but hee hadde his sword readre drawen Now at such time as the Knight of the Sunne would haue stroâ—…en his first blow at Florinaldus a brother of his called the Troyan Earle with his sword in his hand put himselfe forwards and thought to receiue the blow which descended cutting the Ayer with great fury lifting vp his sword with pretence rather to hurt the Knight of the Sun then to make peace his misfortune was such that the blow descending with so great fury stroke the sword out of his hand the sword of the Knight of the Sun lighted vpon his head so that hée claue it to the shoulders and he fell downe dead vnto y e ground which was great griefe to Florinaldus and vnto all the rest of his kinsfolkes friends that dyd sée him fall who with great desire to reuenge the death of their kinseman did put theyr liues in great daunger with the perill that was before them And procured all that euer they could to wound the Knight of the Sunne And being many and he vnarmed he found himselfe in the greatest danger that euer in all his life he had béene in Yet for all that in this desperate conflict he did plainely show that he was the most couragious Knight of all his predecessours and of all that followed after him So that in all the twelue parts of this great historie as Trebatio they haue no small cause to mencion this mighty Alfebo more theÌ„ any other Knight for that this strong Knight dyd thinke nothing impossible vnto him that consisted in fâ—…ates of armes and where so euer he came ther was nostrength nor courageable to make resistauns against his fury Now when this couragious Gentleman dyd sée him selfe inclosed with his enemies and so many comming together to discharge and execute their fury vppon him his wrath and courage increased in such sort that in leaping forwardes and forwardes striking about him on euery side hée chaunced on two of them which came before him being seruants vnto Florinaldus so that with an ouerthwart blow he cut the one of them cleane a sunder by the middle chaunced vpon the other in the same place that his sword entred into his bowells both of them fell dead to the ground And not staying he layd about him on euery side so that no man dyd endure before him that was vnarmed but hee ouerthrew him vnto the ground and all that euer he dyd was little enough for that with the great violence and furie which they vsed without all feare pressing vpon him in such sort that they hurt him in thrée or foure places wher at their issued very much bloud Notwithstanding what with the great fory hée had and his exxéeding lightnesse and deadly blowes that hee stroke hee made the most part of all them for great feare to put them selues apart from him And hauing space that hée could turne and winde his sworde about him there was none that was so hardye for to assayle him but that he cut him a sunder in the myddest There was at that time many nobles and Knights that would
people doth permit many continuall persecucions done by the vnbeléeuers vpon the Christians to make them the better to know him to leaue all their euill wickednesse 〈◊〉 to returne vnto him Yet for all that hée neuer doth so abhorre leaue them for to bring the Christians vnto vtter confusion end as it hath apeared in the old and ancient times amongst the lawes customes of men nor neuer will so long as this world shall endure You doe well remember how that in this history hath â—…en told you that at such time as the worthy knight of the Sunne did first sée the Princesse Lindabrides hee did partly vnderstand of the mighty power of the emperour Alicandro hir father how that he was king ouer the Scithians emperour ouer the Tartarians Lord ouer all the Indians Regions orientals from whence it grew that he was had in reputation of the greatest mightiest prince in all the world Likewise he was lord of the great Cataya wheras is that mighty citie which is of one hundreth miles compasse of all the rest that is in the Orientall India in that part wheras amongst all his subiects he was called the mightye king of kings Emperour of the Tartarians the Lord of the Orientall Indians son heirs vnto the high Gods This title they gaue vnto him because the people of these countries had it for a law custome amongst them alwaies had in reuerence his predecessours which were Emperours before the emperour Alicandro to be sons heires of their false gods in whom they did all beléeue worship Besides all this this mighty emperour had in his subiection all the kings lords that were in the orientall part of the Indians vnto the meridionall which are nine kingdomes all very great mighty and full of great riches so that with great reason they might say that he was the mightiest emperour king in all the worâ—…h Heere the History saith that many â—…e deceiued to thinke that this mightie empire should be christians for although they haue amongst them some part of the law which God gaue vnto that great Captayne Moses yet theyr law doeth differ very farre from the true and perfect law of Iesus Christ for that they bee all Idolaters and euery one of these kings doeth béeléeue in that which seemeth vnto him best for that there is no law nor commaundement to make them incline to anye kinde of goodnesse for the sauegarde of their owne soules So it happened on a time as this mightie Emperour Alicandro was in his great city of Neptaya which is in Cataya the great very pensiue sad for that hee could héere no newes of the children y e Prince Meridian the Princesse Lindabrides reprehending himselfe very much for hee had so sent them foorth into the world One day béeing accompanied with all his mightye Knights lords his subiects he receiued so great sorrow and griefe in the remembring of his children that it caused him to wéepe And leaning his chéeke vpon one of his hands hée shed forth many salt teares which ran down vpon his white face The which being séene by those péeres his subiects they were all very much amazed what should bee the occasion that the Emperour should wéepe So before that any did arise vp to demaund of him the occasion ther arose vp amongst them a king who was king of Gedrosia an old man of more then one hundreth yeares who amongst all the rest present was estéemed to be the wisest in Astrologie deuination that could be found in all Asia And all they did giue so great credit vnto that which he did tell them should happen as though it had ben all ready accomplished the which king dyd wéepe very bitterly with so great sorrow that almost he could not speake but yet he said Oh high mighty king of the Scythians Emperour of the Tartarians if you had as good iudgement of the knowledge of things to come héere after as now to conceiue in matters present then woâ—…ld you leue of this great wéepings for your children who are very well in health in place whereas they are very much honored and had in estimacion as they doe deserue For that the time will come y t thou shalt wéepe and bewaile thine owne losse and desteâ—…ction of all thy vassalles and subiectes with whose blood all the féeldes of the mightie Empire of Greece I doe see be sprinkled and yet I cannot atchiue to know how nor the occasion therof but onely I doe sée by great signes and notable tokens of the colestiall influences and my knowledge doth so farre extend that I doe know that my daies doth draw vnto an end and I cannot endure long In the grecian Empire he that is the most mightiest king Emperor greatest Lord in all the world shall loose his great strength haâ—…ing lost his owne liberty the most valiantest worthyest knights that shall be ther at that present shall loose their liues and the quantitie shall be so great that the waters of Inno shall loose their christallyne colour and shall be changed into red blood which shall giue testimony of the greatest destruction of Knights that euer hath bene in the world The which I cannot by my knowledge atchieue nor thinke to fall vpon any other but vpon thée for that at this present thou art the most mightiest Emperour in all the world And if it bée so that vnto my words you or any of yours do giue any credit procure out of hand with great wisdome to seeke remedy to preuent the same and to cut off so great an euill as is prognosticated against vs. And if vnto these my words you will giue no credite the time it selfe will giue a perfect testimonie of this that I haue said when that you shall haue no time nor space for to giue any remedy at all vnto the same Without saying any more this old king of Gedrosia did set himselfe downe againe in his place leauing this mighty emperour all the other kings and Knights that were in that great hall very much amazed at the words which hee had spoken knew not what to say but being amazed they did looke one vpon another spake neuer a word But this mighty Emperour who alwaies found the prognosticating deuining of this old king to be true yet he thought this to bée a thing impossible not to giue any credit thervnto but yet to heare farther what he would say after a certaine space that he had bethought himselfe he said The great wisedome which I doe know to bée in you good king of Gedrosia and the truth which you haue sayd that the cause of my wéeping was the remembraunce and talâ—…ing to minde my louing children and the great sorrow and griefe which I doe receiue by their absence is a sufficient peswasion that I all that be heere present should giue wholy credit
out of their wittes not knowing what to say but looking the one vpon the other and séemed vnto them as though it had ben a dreame But when these newes came to the hearing of the Empresse hir sorrowfull greefe was so great that as one dead shée fell down into the lap of the princes Claridiana who sat next vnto hir procured with all hir force to bring hir to hir selfe againe and did comfort hir saying that she had no reason so much to set vnto hyr hart the imprisonment of Rosicleer how that she was fully perswaded that it was a thing impossible except it wer by treason requested hir to pacifie hir selfe for that there remained such knightes behind who very quickly would discouer the secret therof when that this will not serue Rodaran is still in your country out of the which you néed not let them to depart and carry away their prise At which time the knight of the Sun without any more tarrying arose out of the place whereas hée was with so great anger that his faire and white coulour was turned into sanguine and black And asking licence of the emperour he departed out of the great hall went vnto his lodging armed himselfe with his strong and bright armour mounting vpon his strange light horse he departed out of Constantinople toke his way towards the bridge of the Iaspe with as great desire to sée himself with Rodaran as to returne wheras he might comfort and reioyce himselfe with the sight of his Ladies without whose sight in such like passions it séemed that it was not possible that he could liue who at this present this History doth leaue for to tell you of other things that passed in the meane time in England ¶ How the Prince Don Siluerio returned and demaunded of the king his daughter the Princesse Oliuia to wife and because she would not marrye with him shee returned with hir knights and of all that chanced therin Chap. 43. YOu haue heard what great sorrow griefe the newes of the death of Rosicleer did cause in the Court of the King Oliuerio likewise how ioyfull the prince Don Siluerio was for that the king had giuen him his word promise that the princesse Oliuia should marrye with him but he did not so much desire it as the princes did hate him For although that the heauy newes of the death of Rosicleer did touch hir very neere yet she repented hir selfe so much for that crueltie which she had vsed vnto him the great loue that the remembrance of him did cause in hir that rather she would consent to death then agree vnto that which the king hir father had requested of hir diuers and sundry times And for that the prince Don Siluerio dyd many times importune the king to performe his promise which was the thing he most desired Who answered him that till such time as he had ended the wars which hée had with the emperour Trebatio hee could not by any meanes conclude with the princes which was the occasion that continually he passed the time in grieuous passions supposing that it was for no other thing but a pollisie to cause the princesse to giue hir father such an answere as should be contrary to his will desire And because the time to giue case and remedy vnto his desire was so long and he not able to endure his sorrow and griefe was such the delay thereof Upon a day at such time as he found the princesse Rodasilua all alone he did verye earnestly desire hir that by all wayes and meanes possible she should learne to know of the Princesse Oliuia the truth of the aunswere which shée made vnto the king hir father at such time as he tolde hir that he would marry hir with him whether it was with good will and determined purpose to accomplish the same at the time appointed or whether she did it to prolong the time being moued by some hatred towards him for that according vnto hir answere he would determine what were best for him to doe Then the princesse Rodasilua who had great desire to vse remedy and to case the sorrowfull passions of hir brother did promise him to doe all that euer in hir power was possible to be done so tooke hir leaue departed from him waited hir time It chanced afterward vpon a day at such time as the princesse Oliuia was alone in hir closet she went knocked at the doore being knowen who she was the doore was opened straight waies she went in found the princesse with hir countenance very heauy sorrowfull and hir eyes swollen with continuall wéeping hir faire chéekes which before were wont to be rudy full was now so leane wan as though she had ben new risin out of some great sicknesse or infirmity And finding hir in this order being moued thereby vnto great compassion she said What is this my lady mistres is it not sufficient the time wherin I serued you for maid of honor the great good will that continully I had in any thing that did appertaine vnto your seruice in the which I was alwaies faithfull true do I not now deserue to know the occasion wherefore and from whence doth procéede that wheras at other times you were wont to be very merry ioyfull giuen to pleasure pastimes now vpon the sodaine to be so sorrowfull sad for that I haue séene your great beauty fairenesse to snrmoūt all other damsels gentlewomen in the world now I doe sée all lost in a mortall hew Tell me the occasion for gods sake wherfore it should grow that I might do my good will and therin shew the great loue that I doe beare vnto you in séeking remedy for the same And héere I do protest that if you will not giue me to vnderstand the occasion héereof that forth with I wil depart from hence vnto mine own country for that I do not determine to serue any more those that so euill doe reward them that doe trauaile in their seruice At which words of the princesse Rodasilua the princesse Oliuia receiued no ioy nor pleasure but rather did the more increase hir paine griefe for that she knew not what to answere vnto such an importunat demaund although after a while that she held hir peace with great desire that she had to turne hir of to send hir away shée said Lady it is very doubtfull and hard to thinke that any person in the world can perseuer in their great pleasure contentment neuer to receiue any sadnesse nor griefes in their liues no for sure it is a thing that onely is receiued for those happy creatures who doe reioyce themselues in the celestiall glory if at this present that I am so sad discontented as you do sée me it is not a thing to be meruailed at for y t it
to bee with that Pagan Rodaran with so valiant a courage that hée thought more of the time that hée should bée absent from the sight and companie of his Ladies theÌ„ of the braue and 〈◊〉 battayle which hée should haue with Rodaran and although tenne of the most brauest and valyaunâ—… Knights in all the world did abide his comming for to haue contention with him yet for all that it should not bee any occasion to put from him his amorous thought and great care neither cause him to receiue any feare in his valiant couragious stomacke And being inguâ—…sed with these his amorous passions his horse caried him whether he wold And calling to remembraunce the Princesse Claridiana and the fatre Princesse Lindabrides the absence of them was the occasion that he thought verily his hart wold haue parted a sunder in two péeces In this sort hee trauailed towards the bridge the first day and the second day that he departed out of Constantinople trauailing in a great broade vsed way he saw a far of comming towards him a knight of a big stature and mounted vpon a mighty couser and armed with verie rich and precious armour and brought in his company a ladie of great beautie meruaylouslie well apparaâ—…led and mounted vppon a Palfray And when hée approched nigh vnto them hauing a great pleasure to beehould the Knight he stayed his horse and saluting them with great curtesie hee asked of them if they were of that Countrie and whether they trauayled Then the Knight who was greatlie amazed at the singular disposition of the Knight of the Sunne and the straungenesse of his armour and horse dyd answere him and sayde that they were not of that Countrie but straungers And what should bée the occasion to mooue him to aske that question The Knight of the Sunne replyed agayne saying for no other intent but to doo vnto you all the pleasure that in mée dooth lye for your gentle disposition caused mée to demaund this question I pray God that I may gratifie your great courtesie sayde the straunge Knight And héere I doo giue you great thanks for your good will offered vnto mée beeing as I am You shall vnderstand sir knight that I am of a Countrie very straunge and far from this land and I am come hether in the demaund of a knight who is called the Knight of the Sunne whose fame is such that I am come foorth of my Countrie to séeke him Therefore sir Knight if you canâ—…e giue me any newes of him and â—…ell where I shal finde him you shall doo mée great pleasure and curtesie therein At which words the Knight of the Sunne was very much amazed hearing that a knight of a strange countrie should come in his demaund and beeing very desirous to know his Embassage hée answered and sayd Of a truth sir Knight you could not haue met with one that better could haue giuen you newes of this knight then with mee for I can giue you to vnderstand where you shall finde him before one houre bee past but yet first before I doo tell you where he is I shall receiue great curtesie if you do tell mee what the occasion is that you doo come in this sort to séeke him The knight was very glad and ioyfull when he heard that newes for that it was the thing that at that time hée most desired and thinking the time long to know where hee might finde him hee sayd Of a truth sir Knight although there had béene no occasion of your part to binde mée to declare vnto you the occasion of my comming your great curtesie and gentle disposition is sufficient to cause mée to declare vnto you that which you doo demaund and to binde mee to doo in your seruice any other thing whatsoeuer your pleasure is to commaund mée And now you shall vnderstand that I am King Lyseo of Lydia and this Lady whom I bring with mée is my wyfe and our euill hap and misfortune hath beene such that at such time as wée were most prosperous and receiued greatest ioy and contentment in our Kingdomes and most at our ease a cruell tyrant and King of Arcadia in respect of certaine contentions which chanced beetwixt vs two being trauayling knights hée is now risen vp against mée and as a mortall enimie dooth inuade my kingdome with so great puissâ—…nce of Knights and Gyaunts and hath entered into the same and hath spoyled and taken all sauing one alonâ—… Citie called Lydia whereas I haue defended my selfe for the space of two mooneths with those small companie of knights which remayned with great trauayle and euerie day is presented vnto vs death béefore our eyes So in the ende of this time I seeing that the strength and power of the king dyd dayly increase and that mine did still diminish and that I had no remedie to defend and deliuer that Citie which is the principall force and strength of all my Kingdome the remnant of my knights called a counsell together and commaund what was best to bee done therein and they all with one consent thought it best that I should goe and séeke some aide and succour wherewith wee might defend our selues from our enimies and giue mee theyr words that they would defend the Cittie till such time as I returned And I séeing that it was the thing that dyd â—…éehoooue mée very much I fell at a consent with them that they should make their defence abide my retourne for the space of two moneths and ie it so fell out that in that space I did not returne againe that they should conclude a truse with y e king of Arcadia for a certaine space as they thought best This béeing agréed vpon in great secrecie I and my wise departed out of the Citie with determination to seeke out some aide and succour wherewith I may defend the Citie of Lydia for in making defence thereof almost the whole Kingdome is defended And that béeing lost it is without all hope euer to recouer the same againe And béeâ—…hinking my selfe vnto what king or Emperor I were best â—…o goe to procure succour I could not imagine any place wherein so short time I might accomplish my desire as to â—…éeke out that valyaunt Knight of the Sunne whose fame is â—…o much spread abroad throughout all Asia after the great â—…arres of Persia so that the great confidence which I haue 〈◊〉 him hath brought mée into this Countrie and I am fulâ—…y perswaded that if I dooe carrie him in my companie to â—…idia that hée alone is sufficient for to raise the siege from â—…he Citie for that all the force and strength of that warre â—…nd great power dooth consist in the death of the king of Arcadia and if that the Knight of the Sunne doo giue vnto â—…im the death it is sufficient to conclude and end the wars â—…r when all the rest of his armie shall finde themselues â—…ithout their king and Lord they will returne agayne inâ—… theyr owne
as so many knights as well in vertue as in prowesse was not wholie forgotten of God as appeared héere at this present for that hée did ordaine theyr fortune in such sort that the ship in the which they were carried and dyd ariue in the Kingdome of Phrigia and for that it was the right way to goe vnto Tartaria Rodaran and the Quéene went a land and commaunded that the prisoners lykewise should bée taken out of the ship who were all bound in chaynes so that they were carryed very strongly and in good order So in this sort they trauailad fiue daies without happening any thing vnto them worth the telling in the ende of the which they came into the Kingdome of Lidia and came in the sight of the camp of the King of Arcadia and Rodaran demaunded whose armie that same was and it was declared vnto him the truth thereof who receiued great ioy and contentment therat for that the king of Arcadia was a very great friend of his for béeing in the Court of the Emperour of Tartaria and a trauailing knight he had great acquaintance and frequentation with him and hauing great desire to sée him and giue him vnderstanding of his pray the which he carried hée sayd vnto the Quéene Carmania that hée would goâ—… vnto him for to sée him and shée thought it good and consented thervnto So they went and carried their prisoners béefore the king and when they came vnto the tent of the king of Arcadia they alighted from theyr horses and entered in â—…herat and as soone as hée knew that it was Rodaran with â—…reat curtesie pleasure he receiued them for that this was he greatest friend he had in all the world And wheÌ„ hée vnderstood the occasion wherfore he came into those parts and â—…f the prisoners hée brought with him the King very glad â—…nd ioyfull caused them to bée brought into his tent wherâ—… hée honoured them very much and gaue Rodaran to vnderstand of all that euer he had passed and done in the kingâ—… of Lidia how that hée had brought his enterprise vnâ—… that estate that hée had almost taken that last citie and â—…w that there was come to help them a Knight the most â—…liantest strongest that euer in all his life hée had séene and gaue to vnderstand of all that hée hath done in thrée times that hée came foorth to battaile with his people at the which Rodaran was greatly amazed and as one that all rancour and mallaice was not cleane rooted out of him hée had great desire to sée that knight and to combat with him beleeuing that he should conclude and make an ende of that which the whole armie béefore could not dooe So Rodaran remayned till the next day hoping therein to sée that valyant Knight Whereat the King of Arcadia receiued great ioy contentment thincking that if hée and Rodaran might haue the knight of the Sunne béetwixt them that hee could not by any meanes escape but either be slaine or taken prisoner In this sort they passed away that day and the night with great pleasure although it was vnto the prisoners ouer much sorrow and griefe alwaies with patience abiding the good houre of Fortune How the Knight of the Sunne went out the third time into the camp of the king of Arcadia what happened therein Chapter 50. THE next day after that Rodaran came into the Kings Camp the knight of the Sun was determined to go out into the field with the great desire he had to cléere himselfe of that enterprise for to returne again into Greece as well to combat with Rodaran as to recreate himselfe with his Ladies the absence of whom was vnto him no small griefe likewise hée was put in great perplexity and care for that according vnto the great number of people which the king of Arcadia had with him in his Camp it was not possible for him to cléere himselfe so soone as hée thought hée should which was the occasion that very earely in the morning béefore the Sunne did shew hir selfe this valiant warriour béeing armed with his rich strong armour and mounted vpon his great and light horse with a mighty sâ—…eare well steeled in his hand hée went out of the Citie and very much against the will of the King Lyseo whom hée caused to tarrie within the Citie in a readinesse for to come foorth to ayde and help him if any cause of necessity did call him and to giue him his whole contentment hée would not say any thing agaynst him that his pleasure was to dooe So when this couragious Knight came vnto the Camp hée blew his horne with so great strength that it was heard throughout all those wide and broad fields and put great feare in the most part of all them that wer in the Campe for that there were very few of them that had any securitie salling into his hands Then the King of Arcadia vnderstanding the demaund of the Knight dyd straight wayes commaund the most valiauntest and strongest in all the armie to arme themselues and commaunded to set thayres without the doore of his tent whereas hée and Rodaran sat downe to sée and beehold from thence all that the Knight of the Sunne should doo It was not long after that there went out of the Camp a valiaunt Pagan called Alriâ—…o who was mounted vpon a mightie great Horse and armed with guilt armour â—…ull of rich precious stones which certified them that he was of high estate and went towards the Knight of the Sun and with a great speare in his hand with the which hée gaue him a verie strong encounter in such sort that his speare was sheeuered all to péeces and the Knight of the Sunne thereat made no mention of moouing 〈◊〉 his saddle but he made his encounter so strongly against â—…is enimie that by reason of the stiffenesie of his Speare â—…nd the fineneste of the others armour that would not content to bée broken with the force of that blow hee was hoiâ—…d out of his saddle and throwen ouer the horse crouper to â—…e ground tenne pâ—…ces from his horse and the blow chaunâ—…ed vnder his breast in such sort that béefore hée came vnto â—…e ground his breath was gone and hée starke dead and though at this blow all the Pagans wondered greatâ—… yet for all that came foorth another Knight no lesse arâ—…gant and proude then valiant who at the first encounter 〈◊〉 beare Alrifo companie Then after him came foorth ten knights together of the valiantest and strongest that were in all the whole armie all the which this valiant and worthie warriour dyd ouerthrow to the ground some starke dead and other some so euil intreated and brused with theyr falls that afterward they would serue to vse no armour And this béeing done there was not one Knight in all the camp that was of so great force that durst go foorth to combat with him so that he was there tâ—…rrieng a good while to
went vnto the prince Don Siluerio touched his shéeld with his speare straight waies the prince came foorth mounted vpon his mightie horse very gallant couragious ioyning in their encounter although the french king was very valiant yet the prince was of far greater strength by reason wherof he gaue him and his horse a great fall vnto the ground Wherat the king all those that did behold it receiued meruailous great contentment of the prince Don Siluerio So y e most part of the day was passed away wherein the knights of Lusitania had ouerthrowen vnto the ground more theâ—… fiue hundreth other knights the prince Don Siluerio in alâ—… that time receiued no foile that was any thing to his reproch for the which he was very glad ioyfull thought that iâ—… all the world at that present there was not one like vntâ—… him who imagined that the princesse Oliuia receiued greaâ—… contentment therat who had hir vnderstanding occupied iâ—… other matters and had hir mind so occupied vpon Rosicleeâ—… that she had no regard vnto any thing that was done in 〈◊〉 the great court and hauing continually before hir eyes thâ—… great reproch which should be done vnto hir that night shâ—… was so full of feare that many times hir hart did faile hiâ—… but by reason of hir shamefastnes for that all people verâ—… much beheld hir great beautie she did couer hide a 〈◊〉 part of hir sorrow At this time because the knights of 〈◊〉 had ouerthrowen so many in the field ther was not knight in all the court séene to proue their aduentures of the which Don Siluerio with great pleasure said vnto the king I beleeue that for the knights of England this day the knights of Lusitania cannot loose their custome to haue the better in feats of armes At which words of the prince Don Siluerio ther were diuers knights in company with the king that receiued great griefe especially two ancient knights kinsmen vnto the king Oliuerio who in their time were valiaunt knights because age would not agrée that they should put on armour they were like to burst with anger in séeing how the knights of Lusitania would disgrace the knights of England Then vpon a sodaine ther were amongst the country-men of the country a great rumor which seemed to bée of some sodaine ioy looking what it should be they saw entering on the one side of the great place a knight of a very big stature armed with rich armour mounted vpon a great horse who by his gallant disposition séemed they knew to be Brandamarte the best knight which at that time was in all the court he was borne in England a yong man verye valiant since the small time that he was an armed knight by his mightie prowesse he hath got very much honour And all those of the country had great hope in him that he wold defend the honour of his Country against those knights of Lusitania The King likewise was very desirous that his Knights might not receyue any reproch When Brandamarte came vnto the Tents he touched one of the shields with his speare and straight waies the owner therof came forth mounted vpon a mightie horse and comming vnto the iust because the knight of Lusitania was very valiaunt yet Brandamarte was much more and ouerthrew the other vnto the ground and without any farther delay hée touched other sixe sheeldes and at the first encounters he ouerthrew the owners of them to the ground which gave great contentment vnto the king Oliuerio and vnto all those of the Country for that hee defended so valianutlie the honour of their country But their ioy endured not long for that after that Brandamarte had touched the shield of Bramides of Lusitania with his speare he came straight wayes foorth for that they were both of them very good valiant knights they made their encounter very strongly in such sort that Bramides of Lusitania lost his stirrups and passed his course forwardes on without receiuing any other harme And Brandamarte with his horse who was somewhat weary was constrained of very â—…orce to fall vnto the ground at which fall ther was few in all that great place but was very sorie the wore for that after that he was euerthrowen for the space of a good houre there was not one Knight y t durst enter into the great court And the knights of Lusitania with great prid was aduansing praising themselues But in especiall Bramides who with a loude voice that all the people might heare him he said Come foorth come foorth you knights of England that you may vnderstand and know how valiant of great strength the knights of Lusitania are TheÌ„ the prince Don Siluerio who was in his tent hard by the place wheras the king was with great pride contentment that he had of the honour which his knights had got he said vnto the king Now mightie king you shall vnderstand that not without great cause the knights of Lusitania are estéemed for the best knightes in all the world for that in any place whersoeuer they beecome they neuer loose but alwaies get honor And I doo beléeue haue it for a certainty that with these first thousand knights that I haue heere with mee of Lusitania that I am not able alone to make war against the emperour Trebatio but also to conquer the most part of all the world At these wordes of the prince vnto the king not one which was with him receiued any contentment But in especial those two ancient knights the one of them was called Adriano who could not suffer to heare y e great reproch but with very anger he said My Lord prince of truth I may speake it that the bountie force of all the world doth not consist in the knights of Lusitania for that I haue seene in this country such that if they were héere now at this present that all your knights would get by them but litle honor Then the prince said I would that god were so pleased that those knights were héere now at this time for that I my knights would very quickly bring you out of this doubt So at this time some of the knights of Lusitania were very ioyfull for the honour victory which they had receiued other some as sad sorrowfull for the reproch shame happened vnto them by the knights of the country at which time vpon a sodaine vnlooked for they saw two knights which entred into that mightie place of so gallant gentle disposition well armed as euer they saw in all their liues of the which one of them vpon his mightie horse did put himselfe right ouer against the great pallas the other went vnto the tents of the knights of Lusitania and touched one of the knights shields with his speare and straight way the owner therof came foorth And this strange venterous knight
¶ THE SECOND part of the first Booke of the Myrrour of Knighthood IN WHICH IS PROSECVTED THE ILLVSTRIOVS déedes of the knight of the Sunne and his brother Rosicleer Sonnes vnto the Emperour Trebatio of Greece With the valiant deedes of armes of sundry worthie Knights very delightfull to bee read and nothing hurtfull to bee regarded NOW NEWLY TRANSLAted out of Spanish into our vulgar tongue by R. P. LONDON Printed by Thomas Este. 1599. TO THE RIGHT worshipfull Master Thomas Powle Esquire Clarke of the Crowne in hir Maiesties high Court of Chauncerie COnsidering right Worshipful that such men as haue excelled others in vertue or anie excellent quallitie doe shine through perpetuall fame all abroad and are like the bright Sunne beames surmounting without comparison the small and speedie decaying candles of the rude ignoble and seeing that this brightnesse of fame hath and doth not onely shine in men by vertuous studies and contemplatiue exercises but also in most worthie feats of chiualrv and martiall prowesse the knowledge practise whereof Cicero that most wise and learned Senator deemed as necessarie as learning and other good gifts of the minde to maintaine an orderlie common weale Considering also that as well the spirit of God hath by the hands of Moses and of many good men since published and that greatly commending them the valiaunt acts and puissant exploits of sundrie both good and mightie men at armes as did Homere Titus Liuius Salust with many mo the right martiall and euer memorable acts of the Greekes the Romans c. All which records of Chiualrie â—ending to animate others vnto imitating the like and beeing â—s a spur to instigate and prick vs forwards vnto prowesse who â—lse would bee idle and lie in obscuritie I haue thought it â—ot fruitlesse to publish this Mirrour of Knighthood also inâ—ented and set forth rather to encourage dastards and to teach â—he readie minded what excellencie is in puissant and inuinciâ—le mindes passing common iudgement then to feede the reader with an vntruth Now sithens custome hath made it to bee as a law in mens hearts obserued that they account bookes published not to haue sufficient warrant except they bee dedicated to some worthie personage of authoritie I am bolde to present vnto your Worship this Booke entituled The second part of the Mirrour of Knighthood done out of Spanish and now newly printed beeseeching your Worship rather to accept of my good will shewed than to respect the simplenesse of the gift Thus ceasing to be tedious I commit you to the tuition of the Almightie who blesse you and all yours Your VVorships most assured T. E. To the Reader I Haue good Reader according to my forepassed promise prosecuted the Second part of the first Booke of the Mirrour of Knighthood after which likewise beefore the second part alreadie Printed followeth another booke which is intituled in the Spanish worke The third part of the first Booke c. Which with as much expedition as may bee shall bee published wherby both the quaint beginning and the quoy abruption shall bée brought to a concord though no conclusion Yet shall the whole story bée concluded with diligent spéede if thou accept with thy wonted curtesie these passed impressions Desiring thée not to think the fulnesse of the history to bée deferred of malice but by euill luck wherefore good Reader I beséech thée beare with the abruptnesse of the translation the errours of the impression and the good meaning of the Authour and thinck not euerie Actor a right Grecian Lord no more then euery Chremes a Corinthian churle but contrary that as Terence shewed the figure that then was so our Author shadoweth the forme that should be in all Nobilitie to wit Chiualrie and curtesie Committing therefore the consideration of this worke to thy acceptance I conclude Thine to vse T. E. G. G. To the Reader IF learned Maro merited such prayse for penning downe Aeneas trauayles strange Or if to heauen they Nasoes name doe rayse that writ of men and beasts trans form'd by change Then shall our Spaniards toile I trust obtaine Though no such praise yet pardon for his paine For as their pens did paint the rare euents of things succeeding fitting for their time Euen so doth hee declare in his contents the verie meanes to Honours top to clime Accept his will doe not disdaine his worke In simplest shew doth truest meaning lurke FINIS ¶ THE SECOND PART of the first booke of the Mirrour of Knighthoode in which is prosecuted the illustrious deedes of the Knight of the Sunne and his brother Rosicleer sonnes to the Emperour Trebatio of Greece OF ALL THAT HAPPEned vnto the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana in their way vnto the Grecian Empire CHAPTER I. WIth great ioy and contentment the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana trauailed towardes the Grecian Empire as well for the fruition of hir contented ioy as the pleasure and ease which she hoped to haue at such time as shée should come vnto the Empire And if it had fallen out that their departure should haue bene knowen yet at their ease they could not follow them for that most of their trauaile was by deserts and vninhabited places and not by peopled townes vilages and this was the occasion that they could not come so seene vnto Grecia as they might if they had taken the frequented waye And so in great peace and quietnesse they trauailed certaine daies without any accident happaning that is worth the noting till such time as they had passed through y e kingdome of Hungaria entered among certaine mountaines which wer very craggie troublesome to trauaile in where they chaunced vpon the skirt of the mountaine Sarpedo which is verye great and was inhabited with very furious and vnciuile people This was the cause which made them to trauaile by the lowest part of the mountaine where they continued on their iourney till the third day at such tyme as the Sunne was in the extreamest of his parching heate which caused them to haue an earnest and great desire to drinke for that they were thyrstie by reason that all that daye and the other day past they could finde no water nor any other thing to drinke And béecause the great thirst which the Empresse sustayned was more griefe vnto the Emperour then his owne hée diligentlye searched in euery place where he came to sée if hée could by any meanes finde any Towne Uilage or Fountayne where they myght haue water to quench theyr thirst And hée as trauayled in this care and sorrow within a whyle after hée discouered a certayne valley which entred in by the one side of the Mountayne in the middest thereof there was as it were a sluce which procéeded out of the Mountayne and it séemed vnto him that it could not hée without water for that the ground about it was very fresh and pleasant And presentlye leauing theyr way that they then followed they tooke
no other thing but to rob Ladyes and Gentlewomen with no lesse perâ—…ll then paynes and yet all this time haue I not met with one that so much doth content mée as this Lady and in deliuering these words he approched vn to the Emperour and sayde Tell mee thou vnhappy Knight by what euill fortune art thou come hether vnto this place The Emperour who at that time was very angry to heare his diuellish words and againe to see the Princesse so changed with a stout courage and wrathfull countenaunce answered him Tell mée thou brute beast wherfore doest thou in this manner extoll and prayse thy selfe of so euill and diuellish a custome knowing that there is a God in heauen that will punish thée for these thy euill workes which thou doest vse The Gyant was excéeding wrathfull when the Emperour speake thus so that he made no reckoning to answere him but giuing a terrible hoarse cry he threw that great and big Boare Speare which hée brought at the Emperour with so great strength in such sort that if it had chanced a right with the broad end and steely point I doubt whether his Magicall armour had béene sufficient to haue made resistance but it would haue pearced thorough his body but the Emperour foreséeing that perlilous blow mith great lightnesse cléered hmiselfe from the fury thereof by leaping on the one side so that the Boare speare stroke the ground and with the great strength wehrewith it was throwen it entered more then halfe the length therof into the earth Which when the valiaunt and couragious Emperour saw and finding himselfe to bee so nigh vnto daunger the Gyaunt béeing on horsebacke and considering the great aduantage which hee hadde straight wayes layde holde vppon the bridle of the Horse and with his strong armed fist stroke the horse such a vlow vpon the head that he made the braynes flye out hée fell to the ground master and all The Gyant seeing that with great hast cléered himselfe from his horse being on soote drew out a mightie broad faulchon which hung at his girdle and approched vnto the Emperour striking him so great and mightye a blow vppon his healme that he could not otherwise choose but that hée was constrained to stoope with both his knees to the ground which did somewhat trouble his remembraunce but this mightie Emperour quickly bée thought himselfe agayne and tooke his sharpe sword in both his hands and stroke the Giant such a blow vpon his thigh that although his armour was a finger thicke of hard Stéele besides a skirt of maile which he had hanging downe neuerthelesse he cut all a sunder entered through the flesh vnto the hard bone wher he made a sore wound from whence great abundance of bloud ran out The Gyant féeling himselfe thus wounded seeing so great resistaunce to be made with one alone Knight reared as though it had béene a Lyon At which noise together with the rushing of theyr harneys and the sound of theyr mighty blowes there appeared out of the windowes of the Rocke another Gyant which vnto his seeming was no lesse furious and vglie of semblaunce then the other who seeing that mighty and well foughten battaile betwéene the Emperour his brother 〈◊〉 as great hast as was possible for him he went and armed himselfe In the meane time the other Gyant and the Emperour made theyr battale with so great and heauie blowes that the noyse thereof did sound throughout all those mountaynes And the more that this Gyaunt did force himselfe to strike the Emperour so much the more did the Emperour prouide to cléere himselfe with great lightnesse from his terrible strokes for that hée knew very well it would be very perâ—…llous if hée should fasten on him but one full blow neuerthelesse the Emperour at all times did wounde him at his pleasure in such sort that what with the strength of the Giaunt and the great pollicie and lightnesse of the Emperour the battayle was brought into great doubt although the Gyaunt had lost very much bloud by these woundes which the Emperour had giuen him For when hée saw his bloud in such sort scattered vpon the ground hee was more furious then béefore and with great wrath hée béesturred himselfe with his Fauchon cursing himselfe and blaspheming against his Gods in that hée could not in any wise fasten one full blow vpon his enimie and that one Knight should bring him into so great a perplexitie All this while the Empresse and hir Gentlewomen did very well behold that wonderfull battayle had great feare to sée the hugenesse of the Gyant and perill in which the Emperour was and so amazed they were that they could not mooue themselues out of the place whereas they abode but euery one of them on their knées very earnestly prayed vnto God with many teares to deliuer them from that great agonie wherein they were And being in this agonie they heard within the Rocke â—… great noyse rushing of armour wherewith they looked about saw descending downe the stayres another Giant all armed of no lesse bignesse dreadfull countenance then the other who came downe in great hast with a mightie maâ—…e of Stéele in his hand When the Princesse and hir Gentlewomen saw him they were more afraid then at the first yéelded themselues vnto destruction therwith gaue meruaylous grieuous shrikes cries which was the cause that the Emperour was in a great feare of some misfortune and looking about him to sée what it might be he perceiued another monstrous Gyaunt that discended downe his stayres with his mase in his hand although hée did sée the great danger and perill at hand yet did not his hart faile him one â—…ot but with a noble and stout stomacke his strength the more increased so that forgetting all the traâ—…ayle against that Gyant with new strength hee strâ—…k the Gyaunt with both his hands such a blow ouerthwart the wast that the thicke armour and skirt of maile had not sufficient strength to make defence against his mightie and strong arme but that the sharp cutting sword must needes execute his fury which diuiding both armour and bones entered into the bowells wherewith the Gyant with grieuous pangs of death straight waies â—…ell downe to the ground and with his fall made all the earth to shake At which time the other Gyaunt was come downe the stayres and seeing that terrible and cruell stroke hee lyft vp his eyes to heauen and with à loude voyce hée saide Oh cruell and cursed Gods in whome I béeléeue and worship which of all you is it that hath coÌ„sented vnto the death of my brother Argentaria in what sort or how shall I bee reuenged of so great an outrage done vnto mee you béeing aboue in the heauens and I héere vpon the earth And in saying these and such lyke wordes hee came towards the Emperour with his mightie mase raysed in the ayre in such
forme that it was most dreadfull to béeholde but this valyaunt Greeke whose strength was nothing inferiour vnto his predecessors the mightie Achilles Pyrrhus and Molosso for when hée saw the Gyaunt comming towards him in that terrible sort and so fiercely in great hast hée went whereas the Boare Speare stuck and with excéeding strength hée pulled it out of the ground and tooke it fast in his hand about the middest of the staffe and therwith hée stayed and abode the comming of the Gyaunt who as soone as hée was come within eyght or nine paces of him euen as one would throw a dart at a â—…aighted Bull so dyd this mightie Emperour lyft vp his rygorous arme and with great strength threw that Boare Speare at the Gyaunt and stroke him in the middest of the breast with so great strength that passing through armour and flesh the broad and Stéely poynt of the Boare Speare appéered at his back all bloody And the staffe thereof by reason of the great streangth wherewith it was throwen dyd shake in the Gyants body till such time as hée fell downe dead to the ground The force of this strong and mightie blow gaue great contentment vnto the Princesse and hir Gentlewomen and also on the other side those men that came with the Gyant were no les amazed when they saw their Lords dead whom they thought to bee the mightiest and strongest in all the world and although they were many in number yet had they no courage to withstand the fury of the Emperour and despayring in themselues of theyr securitie they all left their prisoners and euerie one of them procured to saue himselfe by running away and hiding them in the thickest of that Mountayne Then the Emperour séeing that there was no more to bée done but that all was finished with that blow hée reioyced very much and went vnto the Princesse whereas shee stoode who had lost the Roseall coulour of hir face and with a gladde and chéerefull countenaunce hée sayde vnto hir thus Lady now assure your selfe that these people shall no more trouble you Then the Princesse who was almost in an extasie with the great pleasure shée receiued when shée saw the Emperour returne vnto hir without any wound or hurt and the wonderfull strength that shée saw in him with great pleasure and delyght shée saw in him in hir armes and sayd My Lord I haue great cause to confesse this my security hauing so strong and mightie a Knight in my companie but for all that my heart could not but receiue great feare to sée you in such daunger with those terrible and vglie Monsters and I assure you that many dayes will passe beefore I shall bée able to clâ—…re my selfe of the great feare which by them I haue conceiued so that these and many other lyke amorous words passed béetwixt the Emperour and the Princesse Then the Emperour remembred himselfe of the prisoners that they brought with them and left the Princesse and went towardes them and dyd vnloose them of the bondes wherewith they were fast bound and saw that the two Ladyes were very fayre and meruailous richlie apparayled and the two Knights very well armed and of a good proportion although theyr armour in many places was broken and cut and they themselues sore wounded whereby issued from them very much blood These Knights and Ladyes dyd béehold all that passed and saw with what valoure the Emperour dyd deale with those Gyaunts and were greatly astonyed meruayling who it should bée that beeing but one alone Knight hée should by his great myght and force ouercome two so mightie Gyaunts as those were and in so short time as that And séeing themselues set at libertie by the noble and valyaunt prowesse of this Knight they knew not how to gratifie that great benefit which they had receiued of him but onely in gieuing him ceaselesse thanckes for the same The Emperour commaunded the Ladyes to bynde vp the wounds of the two Knights that they myght loose no more blood who dyd it with a very good will for that they were theyr Husbands And the Emperour asked of then who they were and what was the occasion that the Gyaunt brought them prisoners in that sort Then one of the Knights sayd vnto him Sir you shall vnderstand that this Knight which you sée héere and I are bretherin and Lords ouer the seauen valleyes if at any time you haue heard speaking of them And they are scituated béetwixt Danubia and Transiluania and are vnder the subiection of the mightie King of Hungarie and these Gentlewomen which are with vs are our wyues and are lykewyse two sisters And as wee were for our recreation passing away the tyme with pleasure and delyght in the company of many Knights and Gentlewomen in one of the sayd valleys high adioyning vnto this Mountayne Sarpedo béeing in the shadow vnder a Forrest side hauing least care vpon any daunger or trouble vpon a sodaine wee were beeset with this Gyant that you first slew and with his men we defended our selues against theÌ„ as well as wée could but in the ende hée slew the most part of the Knights that were in our company and the rest fled so that wée remayned all alone and not beeing able to make any longer resistaunce against him hée tooke vs ioyntly with these two Gentlewomen and brought vs in this sort as you haue séen And this is not the first robberie that these Gyaunts haue committed For that of long time they haue done great harme throughout all the Prouinces that are adioyning vnto this Mountayne And as I haue heard reported of them the meate which doth most content them is humane flesh which doth make vs to béeléeue verely that if your soueraigne bountie had not succoured vs in this great extremitie in a short space wée had béene eaten vp by these two Gyants and his people and they vse most commonly to haue their habitation and dwelling in this Rocke which you sée héere for when they are within it if all the world should come against them they are able to make a long resistance And the Knight concluding with these words the Emperour was very glad and ioyfull that hée had rescewed and â—…t them at libertie from so great a danger for they séemed 〈◊〉 him to be persons of no small estimation giuing great 〈◊〉 to almightie God for that hée had taken away the 〈◊〉 of so great an euill from that land And therewith they went all together vnto the Princeâ—… who receiued them very curâ—…eously And straight wayes shée was knowen by the Knights for that many times before they had séene hir where at béeing very much amazed they looked one vpon the other not knowing what to say When the Emperour perceiued that those Knights dyd know the Princesse in bréefe wordes bee gaue them to vnderstand how hée was the Emperour Trebatio and how the Princesse was his wife and that they were going towards the Grecian Empire and came vnto
haue parted and made peace betwixt them but the tumult was such and so farre out of order that by no meanes they could reforme it till such time as the King Tiberio heard that great rumour and noyse in the hall he came forth out of his closet and tooke his royall Septer in his hand and pressed in amongst the thickest of them very furiously and with great anger And when he came where as the Knight of the Sunne was and saw round about him so many dead persons and amongst them the Troyan Earle with great anger hée layde hold on him and sayd what is this O Knight that in such order thou dâ—…st disquiâ—…t my court and hast slaine my Knights so all the rest when they saw the King they immediatly dyd retyre backe and were in quiet Then when the valyaunt Knight of the Sunne knew him to be the King and heard what hee sayd hée forthwith dyd moderate his anger all that euer hee could and sayde it is your Knights that doth disquiet your Court and not I and if I haue slaine any it is in defending my self from the death which they doe procure to giue me Of this sayde the King I will informe my selfe punish them that hath bene the occasion héereof And in saying these words he demaunded of him his sword which he gaue him more for curtesies sake then for any other thing hauing it he also tooke the sword of Florinaldus and of all the rest that he suspected to be on his partye and straight wayes called beefore him all his Knights gard commaunded them to take the knight of the Sunne prisoner to carry him into a strong Tower which was on the one side of the Pallace likewise to take Florinaldus all those that were on his side to carry them vnto another Tower that was on the other side of his Pallace so that both the one the other were put in good kéeping but if the Knight of the Sunne had bene armed before he would haue ben taken prisoner he would haue made the King to haue giuen eare to hearkeâ—… vnto that hée would haue said in discharging himself but by reason that he was as it were naked he yeelded and had patience with all that which the King commaunded so they lead them vnto the Tower which was very high well walled And when hée was therin they made fast a very great chaine to his leg and for to kéepe him there was put thirty armed Knights and as many mo other men Then the Dutchesse of Panonia did send vnto him a very good Surgion to heale him of his woundes At this time the death of the Troyan Earle was published throughout all the Court and there was made for him great lamentacion for that the most noblest Princes and Knights that were there were of his kinsfolks So both the one the other complayned very much vnto the King of the Knight of the Sunne in such sort that hée was verye much inflamed agaynst him At this time there entered into the pallace the Countesse Lady and wife vnto the Troyan Earle in mourning appareâ—…l bringing with hir two young sonnes who entering into the Hall whereas the King was beeganne to powre foorth sorrowful complaynts destring iustice agaynst them that had slayne hir Husband and seeing him lye dead vppon the floore shee threw hir selfe vpon him and made such lamentation that it was a heauie thing to béehold at which sight if the King béefore were inflamed against the Knight of the Sunne his indignation dyd the more increase against him in béeholding the great sorrow of the Countesse and determyned in himselfe to doo iustice vpon the death of the Earle and hée ioyned vnto his indignation the great authoritie that hée had to bée called an executer of iustice which vnto manie yea very mightie Monarches oftentimes is very hurtfull the ende of those extremities obtaine them the infamous names of Tyrants Then the King commaunded that the dead bodyes should bee carryed out of the hall and buryed and the Troyan Earle was buryed with great honour and accompanyed with the most noble and principall Knights of the Court. Now hee béeing very sorrowfull for the death of the Earle many Knights that had affection vnto the Knight of the Sunne dyd labour with him for his discharge of béeing in any fault of that tumult and dyd informe him of the great cause that he had to do that which he did in his owne defence but there was nothing that dyd profit at all with the King but rather hée dyd shew himselfe very angry and wrathfull against them that dyd speake vnto him in the Knights béehalfe which was a great griefe vnto many which dyd know the valure and desert of the Knight of the Sunne for it séemed vnto them no reason that hée should bée intreated in that sort And béecause that the King Tiberio was daylie and hourely vrged on all parts the one crying and asking iustice and the other gayne-saying the same hée was for certaine daies very doubtfull not knowing how co determine what was best to bee done but aunswered them all to their little delyght By this tyme the â—…night of the Sunne was healed of his wounds and the Dutchesse of Panonia prouided for him all things necessarie in the prison performing it with as great care and diligence as myght bée But when hée knew the King was doubtfull of his determination and of the great iudignation hee shewed against him it dyd repent him that hée suffered himselfe so to be taken And hée immagined with himselfe what meanes might best be wrought sor to cléere himselfe of that imprisonment for that the nobilitie of his valyant courage could not abide to bée so shut vp and abyde the curtesie and pleasure of the King So in this order the storie doth leaue him till the tyme serue How the Knight of Cupido dyd take his leaue of the Queene Arguirosa and entred into the kingdome of Rusia where he found a strange aduenture Chap. 4. THE mightie déedes of the Emperour Trebatio and the worthy knighthood of the valiant Alphebo hath put almost in obliuion that excellent and worthy Knight Rosicleer whose amorous loue and inuincible deedes doo deserue a more eloquenter writer then my vnskilfull pen can performe Now if you doo remember in the Historie past how that one way Fortune caused him to be the most saddest and sorrowful Knight that euer was seene so full of bitter heauinesse that whatsoeuer thing hée dyd accomplish and bring to passe was not sufficient to make him merry And on the other side Fortune dyd show him very 〈◊〉 in putting beefore him marueilous and wonderfull things and aduentures of so great strangenesse that ouer comming them by his surmounted valoâ—…r in all the world was spred a broad the fame of the Knight of Cupido So after that hée had slaine that valyant 〈◊〉 from all the parts of Thesalia and the confines
say to see one knight of so great bountie and force to attempt the battaile against a Gyaunt and so manye Knights and with a good will they would haue giuen all that euer they were worth to haue bene loose and at libertie for to haue holpen that Knightâ—… But at that time there was no néede of their succour for that in lesse then halfe an houre the sonne of Trebatio had ouerthrowen to the ground dead and â—…erie sore wounded the most part of all his enimies and the rest that remained seeing so great slaughter thought themselues in no securitie but tourned their Horse bridiâ—…s fled that way which they came as fast as their Horses could run and neuer forgot the â—…eare which they receiued neither did they looke backe till such time as they came into the camp afore the king some with their faces cut and some their armes they told him that one alone knight came against them in the high way and slew the giant and all the rest sauing they which saued themselues by flight The King and all those that were with them verie much meruailed at that sodaine misfortune and thought it a thing impossible that any humane creature should giue such an enterprise goe through therewith neyther to haue so much hardynesse and courage of heart The King receiuing great sorrow and griefe for the death of the giant did out of hand commaund a companie of knights to be armed in a readinesse returne vnto the knight of Cupide When hée saw himselfe cléere and at libertie from his enimies determined to set the thrée Princes at libertie and not to make himselfe to bée knowen vnto them for two causes the one for that hée departed from them out of England without giuing them to vnderstand thereof and the other for that they should not carrie anie newes of him to the Court of King Oliuerio for that the Princesse Oliuia commaunded him in hir Letter to depart thether whereas she might neuer heere any newes of him and for these causes hée would not make himselfe knowen onto y e three Princes but came onto them and did vnbince them and câ—…t a sunder the cords wherewith they were bound and counterfaiting his speach â—…nd voyce in the best wise hée could hee asked of them who â—…hey were and what was the occasion that they were carriâ—…d away in that sort Then they who were no lâ—…sse amazed 〈◊〉 his great bountie then glad to see themselues at libertie â—…aue hartie thanckes for that which hee had done for them and the Tartarian Zoylo declared vnto him of whence they were and likewise tolde him of all that happened vnto him and his companions since the time that they first entered into the kingdome of Lusitania vntill that houre that they delyuered them When the knight of Cupide vnderstood all the whole effect he receiued great ioye within himself for that he had succoured his friends in so great a necessitie And beeing demaunded of them who hée was for that they might know him of whom they had receiued so great a benefit hée answered them that hée was a strange knight of that Country and that he could not discouer nor tel vnto them his name till such time as hée had finished a iourney which he had taken in hand but if they were desirous to returne and aide the quéene Lauinia hée would goe with them and beare them company and doe for hir all that lay in his power When the thrée Princes heard him say those words they were very glad and ioyfull for that theyr whole desire was to returne vnto the Cittie as well for the succour of the Quéene Lauinia and hir daughter as to bee reuenged on their aduersaries as of the king of Balachia for that they were verie angrie and wrathfull against him and béeholding often and verie much that knight how hee was adorned with all bountie they said one vnto another that in all things hée resembled Rosicleer as well in his great valour as in the gentle disposition of his body and in all the rest of his behauiour and calling him to remembraunce and how that they could not heare any newes of him the teares ran from the eyes of either of them for the loue they bare vnto him And beeing asked by the knight of Cupide the occasion wherefore they should shed those teares they tould him that they all thrée went in the demaund of a Knight that in all thinges as well in béehauiour as in proporcyon of body was lyke vnto him and how that the remembraunce of him was the occasion of those teares for that many dayes a gone hée departed from them and since that time they could neuer heare any newes of him At this present the Knight of Cupide receiued great sorrow and griefe in séeing that those thrée Princes béeing of so great valour went in his demaund and that occasion did so serue that hée could not discouer himselfe vnto them Héere may you plainely perceiue what the discurtesie of the Princesse Oliuia did cause for that it caused him to withdraw froÌ„ him the great pleasure and contentment that hée should receiue in discouering himselfe vnto his friends So after that they had talked of these and other like things the thrée Princes tooke each of them a horse o those knights that were slaine and they foure together tooke their way towards the Citie although by the counsaile of the tartarian Zoylo they went not the right way suspecting that when the king of Balachia should vnderstand of the death of the Gyant hee would send some people against theÌ„ but their determination was not to be séene til such time as they were come nigh vnto y e camp and then put themselues into the Citie if neede so required and in this sort although the King did send his power they should not meete with them but that they might much more at their plesure come nigh the camp of their contraries and consulting amongst themselues what was best for them to doo they determined to giue the assault vpon their enimies sodainely and to prease through them till such time as they might get the Bridge and béeing there they were very certaine that when those of the Cittie should sée them they would issue foorth and succour them or at the least waies they would open the gates that they might enter in and looke as they had determined they did put in practise and all these foure together dyd enter into the Camp of theyr enimies cutting wounding and killing that it was a wonder to see the great effusion which they made amongest them and neuer rested til such time as they came vnto the bridge whereas they dyd defend themselues very valiaâ—…ntly from them that followed them where those of the Cittie did sée all that passed And when they knew that those worthy Knights were their friends they were very glad and reioyced to sée them and did open vnto them the gates of the Citie very much
other lyke amorous words which the Knight of the Sun said vnto hir the faire Princesse was somwhat pacified and forgot a great part of the suspition she had So these two were together a great part of the night talking of things in which they receiued delight I am fully perswaded with my selfe that if the Knight of the Sunne had not returned to see the Princesse Claridiana that the memorie of hir would haue troubled him for that the force of hir excellent beauâ—…y and the swéet amorous conuersation that shée had with him was such that the knight of the Sunne thought himselfe mosâ—… happye At that time it was past midnight and the Princesse said vnto the Knight of the Sunne that hee should go to bed and so hée tooke his leaue of hir returned vnto his friends and there they lodged all foure together in one chamber in foure beds whereas they slept the rest of the night which remained till the next day in which succéeded all that which you shall vnderstand in the next Chapter following How the Knight of the Sunne did defend the beautie of the Princesse Lyndabrides and how there entered into the iusting place the knight of Cupid and the king Sacridoro Chapter 34. WHen the next day was come the knight of the Sunne should goe foorth to defend the beauty of the faire Princesse Lindabrides at such time as the great place of the Emperiall citie of Constantinople was garnished with very many valiant and glistering Knights and the mighty Emperour Empresse were at the windowes of the great pallace Lykewise the Princesse Clarichana who was â—…hat day apparailed like a Gentlewoman Also the princesse â—…indabrides was in the triumphant Chariot So the Knight â—…f the Sunne came foorth armed with that precious armour â—…ounted vpon his Horse Cornerino that all people receiued â—…reat contentment at his strange and gentle disposition but 〈◊〉 especiall the faire Princesse Claridiana who thought that â—…ight to bée a thousand yéeres hir desire was so great to sée â—…im againe So after that this gentle Knight had aduanced â—…imselfe on Horsbacke a while with a quiet pace hée went â—…nd put himselfe at the liâ—…t abiding y e iust against him what 〈◊〉 euer hée were that would giue the enterprise And from that place hee cast his eies vpon the royall Princesse Claridiana who was next vnto the Empresse But when he saw hir strange and soueraigne beauty the wound which the night past was cured and made whole with the presence and conuersation of the Princesse Lindabrides did now returne and open againe in such sort that it was requisite to procure other more difficult stronger remedies for to cure the same The faire gallant princesse Lindabrides did greatly feare the same for when shée saw the faire princesse Claridiana did well coâ—…sider the great force of hir beautie and greace the cause did worke in hir effect in such sort that shée could not receiue any contentment in hir sad heauie hart So that after it was not long wheÌ„ ther came forth against the Knight of the Sunne many Knights and iusted with him but in lesse then one houre hée had brought vnto the ground more then twenty Knights of such as held themselues most valiantest of greatest prise And being about noone tide on the one side of that great place they saw entering in two Knights of the which one of them was that worthie Knight of Cupid the other was the good king Sacridoro his loyall and great friend And for that hée was knowen by his deuice and his great fame was spread abroad in all the Empire of Greece there arose a great rumour amongst all the people in saying that the same was the famous Knight of Cupid who slew the great Gyant Mandroco and how that the Knight of the Chariot had found now his equall And all in generall had great desire to sée them prooue their strange and mightie forces the one against the other And the mightie Emperour when hée vnderstood that it was thâ—… Knight of Cupid hée was very glad and reioyced much aâ—… his comming for that hée was very desirous to know him and to giue him all the honour that such a Knight doth deserue And turning vnto the Empresse Claridiana hée sayde You shall vnderstand fayre Lady that all the people thaâ—… are in this great place are altered at the comming of thiâ—… Knight which bringeth the deuise of Cupid for that hee iâ—… one of the best and most famous knights that hath come into this Countrie and all in generall hath great desire to sée him prooue himselfe with the worthie Knight of the Sunne Then the Princesse Claridiana did very much béehould the Knight of Cupide and saw that hée was very big and well made and that in all points hée did resemble very much the Knight of the Sunne shée sayd that they had great reason to giue him the name and fame as the Emperour had sayde At that time as the Knight of Cupide and the king Sacridoro did enter into that great place they did not know that the Knight of the Chariot was knowen to bée the Knight of the Sunne for that they came then from theyr iourney and had trauailed that day seauen miles and the Knight of Cupid had great desire to proue himselfe with the knight of the Chariot as wel for that hée could not suffer that any knight should make defence and say that there was a fayrer Gentlewoman then his mistresse the Princesse Oliuia and first béefore hée would consent therevnto it should cost him his lyfe And with this determination hée passed forwards more into the place and all people that did béehould him receiued great contentment And when hée came vnto the Knight of the Chariot hée saluted him very curteously and sayd Worthy Knight I had rather serue you then giue you any occasion of anger with battaile for that your great bountie is so notorious and manifest vnto all people yet notwithstanding your demaund is of so great importance that there is no Knight whatsoeuer hée bée that doth know what lone is can eyther suffer nor consent vnto the same â—…ill such time as hée doth proue his aduenture with you for â—…lthough the Princesse Lindabrides bée very faire and beutiâ—…ull yet there bée damsels and Gentlewomen in the world â—…hat doth account themselues as faire and as beautifull as hée And I my selfe doo serue one that as I haue iustice on 〈◊〉 part for to defend hir beautie I haue so great securitie â—…f bountie and force for to comath with you vpon this deâ—…aund I would not thinke much to take from you this enterprise The Knight of y e Sun who receiued great delight did answere him and said Sir knight I doo giue you great thankes for the 〈◊〉 vsed the selfe same good wil I haue alwaies to bee at your commandement for y t the great fame which is spread abroad in this Countrie of your
the emperour Trebatio did inuite to dyne with him all princes Knights of fame as well strangers as of his countries that were in the court And with the great importunance of him and of the Empresse Briana of force ther must remaine with them that day the faire princes Lindabrides who with a better good will would haue remained in the place whereas she had little securitie of hir loue in the princesse Claridiana and for that as then it was not a time to take any armour the emperour princes knights did aparell adornat themselues with cloth of gold and silk of great valour and was conformable vnto their high estates At which time y e princes Claridiana did not forget the rich apparell the which hir damsels brought for hir from Trapisond the which in contention of the princes Lindabrides she did put on and was so well garnished that it might well be said that the stones pearles that was on it to be worth halfe some kingdome So likewise the Empresse who was as braue and aâ—… gallant as the other two came forth and all thrée on horsâ—… backe they went to heare diuine seruice at a Monestarâ—… that was without the Citie in a faire fresh and gréenâ—… féelde with whom there went out â—… great a number oâ—… knights for to beare them company that the stréetes of thâ—… great citie could not hold them so that the most part of theÌ„ were constrained to remaine in the field yet the Emperour the princes were not come of the pallace But before him ther came forth all those princes knights of greatest estimaâ—…ion of Greece so gallantly apparailed and furnished that it did augment very much his great estate So after them came the good Emperour in the midst béetwixt his sons all mounted vpon great mighty horses so gallant well proporsioned that it might well be said that in all the world ther were not thrée knights of so gallant a semblance as they were And the contentment was so great which all their louing subiects did receiue that they did contemne with an other to put themselues in places where as best they might recreate themselues in the séeking of them Likewise all the windowes of the Citie were full of damsels gentlewomen not a little wondering at their strange big proportions giuing great thankes praise vnto God for that in all this time he did preserue defend kéepe them And by reason that the Emperour was in the inchantment of Lindaraza in the prime of his yéeres they all thrée did so much resemble the one the other that they could scant bée knowen the one from the other but that his sons were somwhat bigger of body then their father was So after them came the faire Empresse Briana vpon a Moyle very richly garnished betrapped And the king Sacridoro did lead him by the bridle the empresse was so gallant faire that in all the whole empire of Greece could not be found neither lady or damsell that being put before hir but that she had great vantage ouer them except it were the excellent beautie tho two faire ladies princes who went the one on the one side and the other on the other of the empresse One of them was â—…nounted vpon a white Unicorne the other vpon a white â—…awfery and the two Princes Clauerindo and Brandizel dyd lead them by their bridels And they were of as gentle dispositions of their bodies as they were faire and beautifull in their faces that like the beames of the Sun they did dimme the sight of all them that behold them And amongst the people there was not a little contempt strife which of these two should be most fairest of best proporsion although much more greater was the contention that either of them had in their harts for the knight of the Sun for they knew not to which of them he would yéeld himselfe prisoner but the force strength of the presence of eyther of them was such that it could not be iudged but to be a continuall contention without hope of any victory although ther was some vantage in the perillous sight surmounted grace of the royall princesse more then in the faire Lady yet considering the long time and great conuersation that she had with the knight of the Sunne was the occasion that ther was such attension within his hart that he had not so much vnderstanding for to acknowledge the small vauntage that was betwixt them by reason whereof hée was brought into that estate that the knight of the Sun should neuer haue ben by any of them ouercome except the presence of one of them had lacked So in this order they went towards the monestary with the Gyants of the princesse hindermost of all them their Damsels very strongly armed for their sauegard So they issued out of the Citie into the field wheras the monestary was and there the Knightes of Greece as well as the straunge Knight did make a great triumph and gallaunt shew with their Horses and for that they were all lustie and valiaunt knightes and meruâ—…ylonslie richly apparailed and it was a great comfort ioy and pleasure vnto all those people which did béeholde them When they came vnto the Monestarie the Knight of the Sunne did alight from his Horse with a trise and for that he knew not which of his Ladies he might be bold first to take downe from their Horse he left them both and went vnto the Empresse his mother toke hir in his armes lifted hir from hir Moile wheron she was riding sate hir downe vpon the greene grasse the Emperour Rosicleer did alight the Princes Then they altogether entred into the monestary whereas they heard diuine seruice with great solempnitie yet the two sons did not so much reioyce themselues therat as the Emperour their father did for that the presence of those faire Ladies did cause Rosicleer to call vnto remembraunce the great beauty of the Princesse Oliuia who was no lesse in degree then any of them so that there could no ioy nor pastime enter into his hart that was suffient to take away that great heauinesse that so long time was rooted in him but rather the conuersation of his parents of the princes Knights did cause in him the more sorow for that he could not occupy himselfe in those déepe and profound thoughts as he was to doe and was very desirous to find some meanes how with reason he might leaue that life which he then lead very much against his will séeke some other way which was more agreeble vnto his vnfortunate estate In this day the knight of the Sun more by diuine inspiration then for any duty vnto his parents did receiue the holy sacrament of baptisme did confesse that all those gods in the which he did beléeue to be false liers did returne vnto the law faith of Christ with
the Empresse the one of them was daughter vnto the king of Bohemia called Amilinia the other was daughter vnto the king of Dalmatia called Salandria who receiuing great contentment of theyr valiant desires good dispositions did shew vnto them great fauour curtesie determining to take them to bée their husbands Likewise in this demaund ther lacked not y â— valiant Brandizel who sustained great passions with the griefe that hée receiued for the absence of the fayre Princesse Clarinea would in hir absence doo hir this seruice for that the beauty of that Gentlewoman was nothing in comparison vnto his Lady And with no lesse good will y e good king Sacridoro came foorth to aske lisence after him Rosicleer the knight of the Sun all being on foot before the Emperour did desire him to giue them lisence to giue the first attempt who with a pleasant laughter said that he knew not what to say in that case but did remit it vnto the Princesse Claridiana that she shuld determine what they should doo therin Who did excuse hir selfe in all that euer shée could did remit it vnto the princesse Lindabrides yet for all that it fell out that in the ende shee must néeds determine and conclude the great contention that was amongst all those Knights who should bée the first that should giue the attempt So shée concluded that the first enterprise should hée giuen by him that dyd first aske lisence of the Emperour and next vnto him the second that demaunded lisence and so the third in the same order as they craued lisence And although it was a griefe vnto them which should bée the last hauing for certayntie that the first would conclude the demaund of Rodaran yet for all that they thought the sentence iust and right which was giuen by the royall Princesse Claridiana who if at that time had béene lawfull with a very good will she wold haue béene the first hir selfe y t should haue defended hir owne beautie rather then to haue made the order and repetition shée did vnto the knights The Prince Rodamarte would presently haue departed in the demand but the Emperour by no meanes would consent ther vnto but said that in all that day they shuld not meddle therin neither should any knight arme himselfe neither doo any other thing but spend y e time in pastime plesure celebrate that feast for the acknowledging of his sons how that they had time inough afterward to accomplish their desires So y t they spent the time in no other thing but in making of mirth and pastime with meruailous straunge new inuentions holden in the place of that great Citie by the Citizens that gaue great contentment vnto all the Knights who likewise did dance with the Ladies and Damsells of the Empresse who were verie faire and pleasant Likewise the Knight of the Sun did dance with y e princesse Claridiana with the princesse Lindabrides with so gentle curteous demeanour that they receiued so great contentment therein as to sée him in his armour although according vnto his déepe thoughts he had more care to rule his eies to béeholde them in equall manner then hée had to kéepe his féete in compasse in his dauncing So the night drew on all those which dined with the Emperour did likewise sup with him and after supper they passed away the most part of the night in dauncing and mirth At which tune the princesse Lindabrides although it was great griefe vnto hir for to depart froÌ„ the presence of y e knight of the Sun yet would shée returne vnto hir Chariot The Emperor and y e Empresse did importunate hir very much for to tarry ther and to remaine in the Pallace but all that euer they could doe dâ—…d profit nothing at all So shée returned vnto hir Chariot accompanied with the Emperour and all the rest of the Princes and knights til such time as shée was within the Chariot whereas they did all take their leaue of hir and returned backe vnto the pallace which was a great griefe vnto the Knight of the Sun for that hée could not carry and remaine to sléepe in the Charior as he was wont to doo and no lesse was the griefe of the princesse Lindabrides wheÌ„ she saw him depart and although the acknowledging of y e knight of the Sunne did cause hir very much to reioyce for that hée was of so high estate yet she would for hir part haue giuen the halfe of hir lands vpon the condition that she had neuer knowen him what he was for that she was better in quiet when shée vnderstood no other thing but onely his great val our bounty and the name of the Knight of the Sun the great securitie that shée had to marry with him then now to know him to bée of so high blood and linage wich the perill that shée doth suspect and a thing apparaunt béefore hir eies which was the occasion that in all that night shée could not take any rest nor sléepe with the great care and griefe which shée receiued and hir minde so tumbled tossed with diuerse such strange thoughts concerning the Knight of the Sunne that neuer in all hir life she found hir selfe in the like confusion For one way considering with what intent shée departed out of hir owne Countrie and how that hir brother the Prince Meridian was gone and left hir another way the acknowledging of the knight of the Sunne and the renouncing of his law and likewise the comming of the Princesse Claridiana with hir estate and surmounting beautie did cause hir to suspect very much that the knight of the Sunne would wholy giue ouer the enterprise that hée had taken in hand so that she did account hir selfe to bée the vnhappiest and most vnfortunatest Damsell that was borne into the world and with the great griefe that this doubtful thought did cause in hir shée saide Oh high and diuine prouidence of the immortall Gods whom all the whole nation of the Oriental and Septentrionall Scythians doo worship with reason hath your diuine power to permit that vpon the vnhappie Princesse Lindabrides such strange things should be shewed as it for that it should bée published in all the world how that I was constrained to bannish my selfe from mine owne Country and to trauaile in the world to séeke other straunge Countries wheras onely for one Knight I doo hate abhor myne owne life and my libertie brought into great captiuitie Oh how much it had béene better for mée to haue béene accounted amongst the meaner sort of Gentlewomen for then I should not haue had reason to haue procured the extreamest of all Knights neither should I haue had any reason to captiue my selfe for him but now reson doth require that I despaire with my selfe for my fortune doth lack to giue mée any aide or remedy Oh immortall gods séeing that in the strangenes of my beautie you would
manifest your high and mightie power wherfore did you not onely make mée and no other to bée the deseruer of him that onely doth deserue to inioye my great beautie and fayrenesse Wherfore did you make another so equall vnto mée which is the occasion that I doo sustaine this great griefe I would it were your diuine pleasure that séeing alone I doo deserue the Knight of the Sunne that the Princesse Claridiana might hée shée for that shée beeing the onely deseruer of him will bée the occasion to excuse béetwixt vs a great iealousie and cruell contention for that I had rather to account my selfe vnworthie of such a Knight then to inioy him with so equall a companion for that neither of vs in this sort can liue in any securitie but will rather bée a continuall dying for béeing vnto one alone the remembraunce of the other will bée the occasion of great daunger and shée which should bée forgotten in remembring the victorie of the other would cause in hir a cruell and mortall griefe Oh I am without all good Fortune what shall I dooe considering that I am none but my selfe whether shall I goe béeing a prisoner What comfort shall I take séeing that I am whithout all remedy What counsaile shall I take hauing no vnderstanding neither is there any power to perswade mée to reason but will rather the more increase my sorrow and griefe What shall I doo if I doo remaine héere I shall lack reson to sustaine my selfe considering my high estate will cause a farther griefe againe the sight of the knight of the Sunne cannot bee so ioyfull vnto mée as the presence of Claridiana will bée hurtfull And if I depart out of this Countrie and returned vnto mine owne it will be no other thing but to separate the life and soule from the body And to liue without the presence of the Knight of the Sunne will bée a life vnto mée as vnto those who are in the darke and see no light But alasse what do I say although they receiue nor sée no light yet the paine doth not trouble them but it I do finde my selfe banished out of the presence of the knight of the Sunne there can bée no paine in the world compared vnto that which I shall suffer Oh Knight of the Sunne how mightie and straunge is your Fortune that onely in your haÌ„ds doth remaine the whole remedie of the Princesse Lindabrides shee who in beautie and fairenesse is excellent and doth excéede and amongst all Ladies is the most highest and yet will let to giue hir remedie but rather condempne hir vnto cruell death Wherefore haue I so many Lordshippes and kingdoms with so many thousaads of people which the diuine Gods hath giuen vnto mee when that with all those ioyntly with my straunge exquisite beautie I cannot subiect the will of one alone Knight The sorrowfull Princesse Lindabrides had scarce made an ende of saying these words when that voyde of all memorie and vnderstanding shée remayned vpon hir bed as one that were dead whereas shée remained all that night without comming againe to hir selfe With no lesse sorrow and griefe the worthie Knight of the Sunne passed away the night without sléepe calling to minde all that had passed béetwixt him and the Princesse Lindabrides and the great loue which vnto that day he bare vnto hir ioyntlye with his meruailous surpassing beautie which was in such sort figuâ—…ed in his hart that it made great resistance against the loue which he had vnto the princesse Claridiana in especiall when she was not in presence But being both present y e great liking he had of the royall Princes did almost ouer come him who at that time neither more nor lesse did take as little caÌ„se as the others did sléepe For that the great loue which she had vnto the knight of the Sun did not let but put some doubt in that which hir wounded hart so much desired And although the highnesse of hir estate the excellency of hir beauty did almost wholy perswade hir of securitie that the knight of the Sun would not forget hir Yet the sight of the princes Lindabrides and hir remaining in the court did cause in hir some Ielosie not knowing what would bee the end of that hir demaund Likewise she had great doubt in hir hope For that at such time as the princesse should returne into hir owne country the knight of the Sun could not doe â—…o the contrary but to beare hir company so that the continuall conuersation of them two together would be the occasion of that which being in hir presence might be excused So with these such like thoughts they passed away the night â—…n the which the good knight of Cupid neither more nor lesse did not sléepe very much whose passions are not to be accouÌ„ed nor compared with the rest For if I should héere declare â—…ll that euer he passed for his lady mistresse the faire prinâ—…es Oliuia all this history were not sufficient to hold it alâ—…hough it were very much bigger It is sufficient that he pasâ—…ed away the night with no lesse care then the others that â—… haue told you of although his passions were not so strauÌ„ge â—…nto him as it was vnto the other their griefes But the fuâ—…e of his sorow was somewhat apeased with the hope that â—…e had for to be reuenged on him who was the occasion of â—…ll his euill mortall paine So at that time it was â—…oysed 〈◊〉 the great Citie of Constantinople and in all the whole Empire of Greece the great army that was making in a redinesse in england the occasion wherfore they did ordaine the same Which was the occasion that the sorowfull knight of Cupid did thinke euery day a whole yeare with the great desire he had to sée himselfe with the prince don Siluerio not for that he would haue any recompence at his hands for that it séemed vnto him that he was in no fault but onely to giue to vnderstand vnto the princes Oliuia the small reason that she had so for to cast him off So in this sort they passed away all that night very conformable in their sléeping rests but very different in their variable and pensiue thoughts Who the valiant Rodaran was and the Damsell and the occasion wherefore they came vnto the Court of the Emperour Trebatio Cap. 28. THe comming of this valiant knight Rodaran vnto the court of the Emperour Trebatio was not so voide of occasion but that there was comprehended there in great discâ—…ipt mischiefe treason an euill preiudiciall vnto all Christendome hurtfull vnto the best princes Knights therin All the which came in such order knit put together that it lacked but little all to be lost if it had not ben by the diâ—…ine prouidence who forgetting the offences 〈◊〉 his people did by his infinit mercy goodnesse prouide a remedy although many times for the sins of the
Balisea Great thanckes doe I giue vnto the high and immortall Gods for that I was fully certified within my selfe that so valyant a knight as thou art could not bée borne in this Countrie therefore héere once againe I doo desire thée that thou wilt tell mée the occasion that so mightie a Prince as thou art and beeing a Pagan that thou dooest abide and recreate thy selfe in straunge Countries and to shew thy selfe so great a friend vnto Christians Tell mée I pray thée if thou hast receiued their lawes and customes and left the law of the Pagans Thou doost demaund of mée great account sayd the Prince but for that thou shalt not béeléeue all that which thou hast saide I will bee briefe giue thée to vnderstand in few words I doo béeléeue that thou doost know or at the least wayes hast heard of the great battailes and contentions that passed betwixt my Father the King Florion and the mightie Africano who had vsurped and taken away my Fathers kingdome I haue heard the same said Rodaran and I was called vnto the sayd warres and for that I did sée that Africano had neither reason nor iustice I dyd refuse the iourney and would not goe with him Then the Prince sayde you shall vnderstand that in these warres my Father got the victorie and recouered all his lands the which hée had lost but especially by the great force strength and bountie of the valyaunt Knight of the Sunne and Sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio who at this present remayneth in his Court and by the prowesse of the Prince Clauerindo sonne vnto the king Oristeo of Fraunce both the which béeing verie young were lost and both found at the Sea by the king my father who carried them with him whereas they two and I were brought vp all thrée together and from that time there dyd grow so great loue and friendship béetwixt vs which was the occasion ioyntly with the dutie which I owe vnto them that I am come in theyr company into this Countrie cannot certifie my selfe neither am I at quyet but when I am with them and in their companie and conuersation This is the occasion wherefore I am come into this countrie béecause you are so desirous to know héere I meane to remaine so long as these princes abide in y e Emperours Court Oh Prince Brandizel saide Rodaran now I plainely sée and perceiue how that the high Gods are very angrie with the Pagan people and will plague and punish vs by the hands and power of the Christians for that wée haue now at this present more then at any time héeretofore so great confidence in them Oh Prince of Persia if the losse and destruction of thy naturall Countrie doo cause in thée any sorrow or the destruction of the Pagan people doo cause any griefe then would thy hart lament and cause thée to leaue off this great friendship which thou hast with the Christians and take vpon thée mortall warre against them for héere I doo giue thée to vnderstand béefore the great Cane king of the Cambalos and Emperour of Tartaria and béefore all Kings and Lords his subiects and vassals the King Gedrosia who is one of the wisest in deuination and Astrologie that is to bée found in all the world to whom at that present I gaue but small credit hee dyd declare and pronounce that in our dayes and times should be stayne and destroyed the most part of all the Pagan people in the fields of Greece by the mightie force and power of the Knights that bée therein and that there the greatest and mightiest Kings in all Asia shall loose theyr gouernment estates Unto whose words I made no contradiction for that it séemed vnto mée to bée a thing impossible And moreouer hée said that in the Empire of Greece there were such Knights that if meanes were not found by one way or other to disturbe them that they alone were sufficient to accomplish and bring to passe all this which I haue sayd And for this occasion I departed out of my Kingdome and Countrie and dyd promise the Emperour Alycandro neuer to retourne againe vnto the same till such time as I came vnto the Empire of Greece and there with my power and force to take prisoners the best Knights that bée in all the Empire and to carrie them away with mée vnto the Emperour Alycandro now séeing that you doo know my determination and purpose and the great profit that will grow thereof vnto all Asia I doo desire thee by the seruice and dutie which thou dost owe vnto the high Gods that leauing the great friendship which thou hast with the Christians let vs two procure to take and carrie them prisoners into our Countrie that by them wée may raunsome and set our selues at libertie from the great destruction which is prognosticated to bée done vnto vs by them which by no meanes can bée excused except first wée doo this which I haue tolde thée Then the Prince Brandizel answered and saide Let the Pagans remaine in their Countrie and let the Christians alone in theyrs for that this remedie which thou hast taken in hand Rodaran will verie little profit to excuse the harme which thou hast spoken of béeing a thing determined by the high powers And héere I dooe giue thée to vnderstand that there doth remaine many Knights in the Citie of Constantinople and such as ten such knights as thou art be not sufficient to take one of them and to bring him vnto prison And héere I doo advise thée to take good héede and béeware of the furie of the Knight of the Sunne béefore whom there is no humane â—…reature able to make any resistance And in that thou â—…oost request mée to leaue of theyr friendship and to béeâ—…ome theyr enimie speake no more thereof vnto mée for I â—…oo more estéeme their friendship and loue and to bée friend â—…nto the sonnes of the Emperour Trebatio and his friends â—…hen to bée a Prince yea more then to bée Lord ouer all Aâ—…ia And if thou wilt leaue off this demaund which thou bringest with thée and goe vnto the Court of the Emperour Trebatio and become a brother in our friendship there shall bée done vnto thee the honour that to such a knight belongeth and if not let vs returne againe vnto our battell and hée which of vs two shall bée ouercome let him doo all that the other who winneth the victorie shall commaund and so shall bée excused all the requestes that are béetwixt vs two Héere Rodaran was very sorrowfull béecause hée found so small comfort of the Prince in this his determination and beléeuing that onely in the ouercomming of that knight dyd consist the accomplishing of his aduenture and that it might so fall out by the victorie of him to end his demaund for that which the Prince had tould hée could not béeleeue neyther giue credite that those knights which dyd remayne béehinde in the court should bée
such as hée dyd report them to bée but with the great anger which his words did cause in him with a couragious stomacke hée tooke his swoord in both his hands and went against the Prince and stroke him such a right downe blow vppon his fine and precyouâ—… healme that with the noyse and force thereof it thundered in his eares and so dazeled his eyes that hée was constrayned to fall with his hands vpon the ground not in such sort that hée lost his remembrance neither did his couragious hart fayle him but was set in such a heate with the anger of that mightie blow that with great lightnesse hée arose vp againe and with his sword in both his hands hée stroke so terrible a blow being ouerthwart vpon the strong helme of Rodaran that hée made him to fall on the other side with the force of all his body vppon the wall of the Bridge the which did sustaine him that hée fell not to the ground neyther into the riuer although whereas hée receiued the blow with the sworde it dyd grieue him in such sort that hée thought verily the eare and the iaw on that side had béene broken all to péeces Lykewise the blow which hée receyued vppon the wall dyd grieue him very much that if it had not béene by the great fury that hée receiued which dyd sustaine him he could not haue kept him vpright on his féet but his anger fury was such that as one that had not receiued any hurt nor harme with great lightnesse returned vpon the prince began to strike at him such terrible thick blowes as though the battaile wer but then new begun At the which the prince was very much amazed did force him selfe all that euer he could to strike at Rodaran the mightiest blowes that it was possible for him to giue in such sort that the battaile was at that time in the greatest fury that euer it was And the noise of their terrible thicke blowes vpon their fine helmes was so great that the towers gates of the bridge did séeme to tremble Then the squier of the prince who was without was very much amazed that the battayle did so long endure fearing that Rodaran dyd not make the battaile with the prince alone for that it did so long indure which caused him to goe from one place vnto an other procuring wher he might be to sée what passed betwixt them to certifie the truth therof And as he went alongst the waters side he went so far that he might discouer the space of the bridge that was betwixt the two towers although the walls or battilments of the bridge were somwhat high yet for that the knights were both very bigge of theyr persons that hée might from their brestes vpwardes discerne them so that part of their battaile hée might perceiue And when this squier did sée that they were alone and the great heate and fury of their battaile which seemed at that time to be but new begun hée was greatly astonâ—…ed and as one halfe amazed and could not perswade with himselfe that in two knightes could bée comprehended so great force and strength So these two knightes continued in the second battaile more then one hower and no vauntage could bée knowne béetwéene them although both of them had done to the vttermost that was in their power force strength And for that they were both of them of very bigge bodies and the trauaile great which they had passed and the terrible and mighty blowes by the one and the other receued did so much torment them that they were brought vnto the estate that their strengthes did faile them in such sort that eyther of them was at that estate and thought verely to be ouercome So when that Rodaran saw that his contention did little profit him could not help himselfe in the battaile he then called to remembrance that which the quéene Carmania had aduised him off was that in that place wheras she was he should finde ease at such time as hee found himselfe in the greatest necessitie in the battaile which caused him little litle to retire backwards towardes the place whereas shee was giuing receiuing blowes as the time did serue The Prince Brandizel likewise at that time was in that perplexitie that he was ready to yeelde himselfe for to be ouercome but when he saw that Rodaran did begin to retire with the great ioy pleasure which hée receiued to see him so vpon a sodaine to fainte that he began a new to recouer his force strength followed him striking at him with all the might he could but his faintnesse and warinesse was so great that he could scarce life one leg after an other for to follow him the which when Rodaran did perceiue he would with a very good will haue returned to haue made resistance for that it seemed vnto him that in a small time hée should ouercome him for that the prince was so weary and féeble But when he would haue forced himselfe thervnto hée feared that he was wholy depriued of his strength his armes so sore with wearinesse that he was constrained still to retire backwardes till such time as he himselfe the prince were wholy vnder the uaut or arch of the second tower of the bridge wheras the queene Carmania nigh vnto the same sate in hir estate Who when she saw that these two knights were so weary that almost they could not stand vpon theyr feete She pulled a corde of Silke which hanged by hir came downe from the height of the arch which caused that artificiall net of yron to fall down vpon both those knights in such sort that their heades were fast in the net their legs and armes so fast bound with all their body and with so great strength that they were not able to turne them selues on the one side nor on the other but were taken prisoners in such sort that if they were not made loose by other it were a thing impossible to be loosed So when this was done the quéene arose vp from the place wheras she sat commanded a great chaine to be brought the helme of the prince to be taken off the chaine to be put about his neck likewise they made his hands fast with manakils that he was not able to moue nor to doe any thing Then she commanded a gentlewoman that a key should be brought wherewith she did open a lock that the not was made fast with all cleered out of the net both the prince Rodaran They being out the cord was pulled the net carried vp againe into the place whereas it was before But when this valiant prince Brandizel saw himselfe betraied prisoner he thought verily to haue burst with anger with great yre wrath he said vnto Rodaran Oh false traiterous knight what reason hath moued thée being a knight of so great power strength in
it giue anie remidie or ease vnto this great griefe the which I haue for hir cause receiued yet it shall suffice me that another shall not boast himselfe to haue obtained and got that which I haue lost neither any other to reioice himselfe with that which doth cause my sorrow and griefe And although that this shall â—…ée against all reason that Don Siluerio doth dot deserue 〈◊〉 at my hands yet shall it bée comfortable vnto my heart 〈◊〉 that it is so captiue vnto loue it dooth consent vnto no â—…eason Rosicleer in saying these words and other lyke in efâ—…ect after much trauaile hée came vnto the bridge of Iaspe â—…ho straight waies was knowen by Rodaran by the deâ—…se that hée had of Cupid whose great fame and renowne 〈◊〉 that time was spread throughout all Asia more then any Knight therein When hée was armed with his heauie and strong armour hée straight waies mounted vpon one of the biggest and lightest horses that hée had and the Quéene béeing in hir royal seat of estate commanded the gate of the first tower to bée opened wherein this valiant Rosicleer entered without any suspition And when hée drew nigh vnto Rodaran hée dyd salute him and sayde The knight of Cupid and sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio is verie welcome vnto me for that his great fame which flieth throughout all the world of his great and valiant deeds as also the great desire which I haue to prooue his great strength with mine more then the desire that I haue to apprehend the knights of the Emperour hath caused mée for to come hether into these Countries Both the one the other might haue béene excused Rodaran sayde the knight of Cupid for that men beeing in their owne Countries are subiect vnto the blowes of Fortune and haue â—…nough to doo for to cleerâ—… themselues thereof much more to come and seeke the perils and daunger in a straunge Countrie it were much better for thee to haue friends in Greece And if the Quéene oâ—… Carmania doo beare thée so great loue as shée hath published wée would rather procure thy rest and quyetnesse and not thy troubles and trauailes wherein thou doost so much puâ—… thy life in aduenture It had been better excused of thy part saide Rodaran the seeking of the aduenture vnder the water of the Fountaine of Phenicia then my comming hether to séeke the Knights of Grecia but for that both Kinges Princes and Knights are no more but as the world dooth yeeld vnto them honour and promotion for theyr deserued déedes Then it is not much that wée aduenture our liues the more to increase our honours for that according as thou hast saide in all places men are subiect vnto the perills and dangers of this world and vnto the terrible blowes of fortune when shée listeth to strike vs notwithstanding if thou doost pretend to make battayle with mée vpon the occasion which you know choose the aduantage of the bridge to the contentment if not returne back againe from whence thou commest and make no more preaching vnto mée But the answere 〈◊〉 the valiaunt Rosicleer made vnto him was hee turned about his light Horse and put downe the beauer of his helme with his speare in his hand hée went put him selfe at the end of the bridge Rodaran dyd the like beeing both setled they stroke their horsses with so great fury with theyr spurs that they made them run like the winde and in the middest of theyr furious course they made theyr encounter executed the strength of their mightie speares in such sort that glauncing vpon their shéelds they lighted vpon theyr fine harneis and shéeuered all to péeces and the splinters â—…ew a great way into the field yet these two valiant Knights remained as firme in their saddles as though they had made no encounter at all and passed the one by the other without touching and with a trise they returned againe with their Horsses and their swoords in their hands and assaulted one another so stronglie that the first blow that Rodaran stroke at Rosicleer lighted vpon his Healme with so great strength that hée made him decline his head to his breast but the first blow that Rosicleer stroke at him was such a one that the shéeld which hée lift vp for to ward the same was cut in peeces hard by his hand but the fine cutting Swoord of the Queene Iuha not remayning there did descend downe vpon his healme with so great fury and force that hee made him decline his head downe vnto his Horse necke who felt such great griefe with that terrible blow that hée thought verily that all his head had 〈◊〉 in â—…eeces and beâ—…gan to say vnto himselfe Oh high and immortall Gods in whom I and all the Arabians doo béeléeue â—…et héere thy diuine power defend mée from this strong and â—…aliant Knight for if it fall out so that I receiue many such â—…lows as this was it cannot bée otherwise but that needes â—… must héere ende my dayes Oh old King of Gedrosia who â—…ould haue beleeued that I shuld haue found in the Christiâ—… knights so much strength Oh you immortall Gods saue and defende the mightie Emperour of the gran Tartaria that hée come not into this Empire of Greece for to acknowledge prooue the knights of the Emperour Trebatio his Court for that I doo assure you if you come hether that you nor none of yours will returne againe vnto Arabia for that these alone knights are sufficient to destroy you all if that now by my power and force I doo not make resistance and put order for to disturbe them And in saying these words Rodaran with great courage stroke at Rosicleer great mightie blowes who likewise receiued such by the hands of his aduersarie that if it should haue endured long hée must needes haue receiued the worst And hauing great confidence in his mighty strength and in the bignesse of his body determined to assault his aduersarie by proofe thereof and therewith hée threw his Swoord from him and caught Rosicleer in his armes and trauailed with his streÌ„gth all that euer he could for to hoise him out of his saddle or to ouerthrow him to the ground but Rosicleer who was as strong as hée dyd not refuse the wrastling but likewise threw his Swoord from him and caught him béetwixt his strong armes and dyd so stronglie crush him that Rosicleer dyd well perceiue that his determination dyd not fall out as hée thought So in this sort for a good space they trauayled the one to ouerthrow the other but there was no aduauntage perceiued béetwéene them neyther could the one ouerthrow his aduersarie till in the end after gret trauayle they both together dyd force themselues so much clasping theyr knées hard vnto theyr saddle hauing one another in their armes they did so much that both theyr Horsses foundered and fell with theyr masters vnto the ground and being downe for to arise
in the aide succour of the king Priamus quéene of the Amazons named Pantasilla who hauing heard many times in hir owne Countrye to praise extoll the great strength valiantnesse of Hector more for his loue then for any zeale she had to defend Troy she came together with very many people of hir for to sée him in the time of that siege the queene declared vnto Hector the great loue shée bare vnto him he who was no lesse affectioned vnto hir granted hir all that euer she would demand so that the quéene was begotten with child by Hector was deliuered of a son whom they called Pireo the troyan who very secretly not knowen to any body was giuen vnto a nurse borne in that citie to be brought vp as hir owne child So after the death of king Priamus all his sons the destruction of the citie ther remained certaine citizens of a base sort such as y e greekes made no account of amongst whom it chanced the nurse who brought vp Pireo was one of them who knowing whose son he was did bring him vp with great care till such time as he was a man by nature he was enclined to the exercise of armes so he gaue himself onely thervnto had delight in no other thing for that it was manifest vnto him whose sonne he was for to sustaine some memory of the citie of Troy of his father he caused this bridge to be made this castle and ordained a custome that no knight might passe that way but first to combatte with him to leaue héerein his shield his name saying that he was ouercome by him in the time of his life he ouercame so many knights that they are without number when he died hee left beehinde him a young sonne and commaunded that all those that did discend from him should maintaine that custome which of long time hath beene maintained at that bridge so that all those which haue succeeded in this Countrye from him vntill this time hath maintayned kept that order custome and hath ouercome so great a number of knights that in all that great forrest which you doo sée there is no roome almost to hang their sheelâ—…es And in saying these words he shewed vnto theÌ„ the forrest whose trées were all full of shéelds which dyd hang vpon the boughes branches some of them were glistering other some with great antiquitie had lost their colours ther were so many of them that without great difficultie they could not be told proceeding forwards Oristedes said This is the occasion why wherefore this custome is kept maintained at this bridge And I will keepe and defend the same so long as I doo liue for that my lineall descent doth come from that noble stock of Pireo his father Hector for that ther hath remained no other remembrance of Troy this shal remain for a memory of the noble blood that was ther spilt The knight of the Sun reioyced very much at that which Oristedes had told him did estéeme him little for that hée came of that royall blood of Troy séemed vnto him according to his disposition that he could not but be like in valiantnes vnto his predecessours giuing him great thankes for that which he had told him of his life custome hée sayd vnto him Well gentle knight séeing it is so that you cannot choose but kéepe maintaine this your custome neither I nor all these that dooe come with mée cannot passe this bridge without making battaile or els to returne agayne the way which we haue come Let vs if you please procure to do all that in vs doth lie vnto him that doth lack fortune let him doo all that the other doth commaund And in saying these words the knight of the Sun descended out of the chariot commaunding his horse to be brought foorth he mounted vpon him with his speare in his hand he went put himselfe at the entry of the bridge of the which Oristedes was very much amazed and séeing him comming with so great maiestie in the company of so faire a damsell hée did verily beléeue him to be some knight of high estate of great bountâ—…e of armes although he was a very valiant knight his mightie demeanour did not cause in him any faintnes although he had had perfect intelligence that he had ben the most valiantest knight in all the world yet he had no doubt to combat with him for that he had kept maintained that bridge more then eight yéeres in which time he had ouercome more then one thousand knights yet he neuer met with knight that by very much might compare himself with him And then with as valiant a courage as appertayned vnto his progenie he went put himselfe right against the knght of the Sun and both of them at one time did broach their horses with their spurs and with so great fury that the bridge seemed to be ouerthorwen both the Knights to be on fire with the great quantitie of sparkes that came foorth of that paued pauement and in the midst of the bridge they made their encounter in such sort that their speares were shée uered all to péeces they passed the one by the other as though they had done nothing and with a trise they turned about their horses with their swoords in their hands they assalted one another the first blowes that were striken it séemed that all that valley was full of the sound thereof béeing stâ—…iken vppon their inchaunted healmes whereas all those were executed and beeing nothing amazed nor astonied therwith but with great furye and wrathâ—…ulnesse they did assalt each other with their sound blowes and being meruailousâ—…ie ouercharged with the great force of them it made them to decliâ—…e their heads to their breasts so that eyther of them did feele the great force of his aâ—…uersarye and Oristedes said vnto himselfe that neuer in all the daies of his life did hée combat with a more valiaunter and worthyer Knight but beeing determined to giue to vnderstand his great force and strength without any feare or dread hee béeganne to charge the knight of the Sunne with his terrible blowes and with so great force and strength that he made him to bestur himselfe from the one part to the other because that he should not fasten a full blow vpon him this valiant knight of the Sun said vnto himselfe that not without iust cause great reason the fame of that worthie Hector endured so long in the world and now prouing that knight who doth proceede of that ancâ—…ent stock he doth finde him doo beleeue that ther is not a more valianter knight then he is to be found in all the world seeing that it was necessary stood him vpon to vse against him all his power strength he presently charged him
errour for that my dutie in the which I was bound by mine ancestours to maintaine this custome as also lacke of knowing you was the occasion that I haue committed this ouer-sight and for that Oristedes dyd know of the demaund that the Prince Meridian did bringe out of his countrie he demanded of the Princesse for him And shée tolde him how that the Knight of the Sunne had battell with him of all that passed betwixt them both The which when Oristedes vnderstood hée dyd comfort himselfe very much for that it séemed vnto him to be no reproach for to be ouercome by so valiant a knight by whom Meridian was first ouercome who thought that ther was not a knight in all the world that could match him So receiuing great contentment for the acknowledge of the Princesse as also to know that shée should bée married to so valiant a knight with great ioy plesure hée said For that which vnto so high a princesse as you are is due I think it is no reson that in this sort alone you shuld enter into the gran Cataia wheras are assembled y e mightiest lords in the world in the emperors court therfore if you please I will go before and carry them the newes of your comming that they may receiue you as your high estate dooth deserue for that I am sure that the Emperour wil bée as glad as euer hée was in all his lyfe with the newes and I shall receiue great contentment to finde my selfe present in the Court of the Emperour Alycandro at the celebrating of so high a marriage and at the great triumphs feasts as shall bée there made as also for my bounden dutie for the great good will which alwayes the Emperour bare vnto mée The Knight of the Sunne would very fayne haue disturbed the voyage of Oristedes for to haue excused the great trauayle which hée should receiue in that iourney for that it was very long and needes must passe through very strange Countries but hée offered this with so great good will that it did profit nothing all that euer he could doo for to disturb him of his iourney So for that day they all went vnto the Citie whereas they were meruailously wel receiued and were serued of al things very abundantly Then the knight of the Sunne lookeing out of a high window of the pallace hée saw péeces of walls and towers of old antiquitie which was a memorie of the great Citie of Troy and round about the same the wide and broad fields whose sight caused the teares to fall from his eyes when hee remembred the great number of worthy knights as wel Greeks as Troyans that were there slaine and béehoulding the great circuite thereof which dyd extend from the one side vnto the other foure miles the smalnesse of the Citie at that present and the great demonstration of towers other mightie building hee said within himselfe Oh weake miserable and feeble life of man what confidence or securitie canne mortall men haue in the great riches and pompe of this world considering with great attention the sodaine vncertaine mouings changes of humane things how sodainly they are ouercome destroyed Who had seene the great citie of Troy compassed about with so strong wals and fortified with so high and great towers and furnished with sumptuous buildings full of people gouerned by so mighty a King and defended by so famous captaines who had knowen the King Priamus Lord ouer the principall regions Orientalls and Meridionalls of the great Asia Who had séene his mightie power his great riches his pride and high estate the great number of vassalls and subiects the worthinesse of his Captaines the singular force and strength of his sons and all these vpon a sodaine and vnlooked for the great Citie of Troy destroyed and beaten downe theyr strong walls ouerthrowen with their towers theyr mightie pallaces and buildings flat vpon the ground King Priamus and his sonnes gored to death Hector drawen about the fielde Policena hir throat cut the Quéene stoned to death Andromica with the notable Matrons of Troy defiled the whole Citie destroyed the Citizens 〈◊〉 and their wiues and widowes banished from theyr naturall Countrie with their young sonnes in theyr armes dispearsed throughout the world all is lost and all is goâ—…e and no memorie left but that which is for a farther griefe in remembring that which is past leauing béehiâ—…de that which doth giue vs continuall sorrow and griefe and considering thereof it dooth make vs greatly to mernayle in séeing how that fortune sometimes dooth exalt vs aloft and at other times dooth throw vs downe tossing vs this way and that way lyke a tennis ball Now I know of a truth that with great reason the Marriners doth call â—…he tempest Fortune and not without great occasion wise â—…en dooth say that it is very troublesome to suffer prospeâ—…itie and that it is requist for to learne to suffer the aâ—…undaunce of Fortune for as that wise Poet Lirico sayth 〈◊〉 the high and mightie Pine Trées are oftenest beaten 〈◊〉 tormented with the windes and the highest Towers 〈◊〉 the greatest falls and on the high mountaines and 〈◊〉 dooth the thunder-bolts commonly strike It is said 〈◊〉 the humane highnesse of it selfe is vnquiet and withâ—… securitie for that there is nothing that can bée so secret 〈◊〉 it commeth to bée discouered as care trauayle enuie 〈◊〉 feare wéeping and in the ende death And lykewise I doo now know to bée true that how happy so euer the béeginning is the end is vncertaine and doubtfull for that all humane things dooe turne about lyke a whéele and after a quyet and calme Sea followeth tempests and troubled waters and after a cléere morning a clowdie euening Therefore comfort your selues you Greekes and Troyans that haue béene banished in these fieldes of Troy for that the fame of your mightie déedes is out of the subiection of Fortune and it cannot bée that by hir you bée ouerthrowen so long as the world endure In saying these and many other words the knight of the Sunne remained a good while at the same window with great sorrow and griefe which the remembrance of all those things did cause vnto him So night drew on and euery one went to take their rest after that they had stayed there two dayes the knight Oristedes tooke his leaue of them and tooke in his companie two Pages and departed out of the Citie tooke his iourney towards the gran Cataia and gran Tartaria vnto the court of the Emperour Alycandro which was in the gran Cataia So that at this present the Historie doth leaue him with the Knight of the Sunne and the Princesse Lindabrides till time serueth How Rosicleer and the king Sacridoro came into England and what happened with them there Chapter 56. MAny dayes trauailed Rosicleer and the King Sacridoro towards the kingdome of England with so great desire to find themselues there that
wherein to exercise themselues for to appeare valianter then others Therefore séeing that God hath made you more valyaunter then any in the world you ought for to put your person in aduenture to put remedie in this matter with reproach and perill vnto your â—…erson such as neuer hath béene séene in Knight séeing that â—…he Princesse Oliuia is so fast locked in that to take hir out from thence it is a thing impossible and it is now requisit that you doo pacifie your altered minde that you may the better abide time and season to worke oùr feate And my iudgement is this that wée doo waight the time that the king shall command the Princesse to bée taken out of the Tower to carrie hir vnto the pallace for to celebrate the Marriage with Don Siluerio at which time there will bée little memorie of armour but all occupied in apparayling themselues and to seeke out new inuentions then wée to enter in and to take the princesse from them and paying with your rigorous arme him who shall withstand vs for that at that time they shal not haue so great strentgh for to cause vs to stay and if once wée get well out of the Citie wée haue the sea at hand wheras wée cannot lack a ship all furnished and readie for to make Sayle wée béeing once within and betwixt this and that place our horse be so good that I béeleeue there is not any that can ouertake vs of all remedies impossible this is one amongst them that is possible to bée done therefore now my Lord consider with your sâ—…lfe what is best to bée done in this extremitie Then Rosicleer who was meruaylous attentiue vnto these words which the King Sacridoro had sayde hauing his hart so valiant and couragious for such like attempts and likeing the counsaile of that inuention very well béefore that the King had fully ended his iudgement when that hée would haue put himselfe in that enterprise and finding this to bée the best remedy they concluded and straight wayes therewith they all thrée departed to the sea side which was not far of and when they came thether they procured to seeke out and to prouide for to serue theyr turne a good Ship and amongst a great number of strangers that were come thethey with people for to sée theyr feasts they chaunced to enter into one which séemed vnto them to bée the strongest and the best sayler amongst them all And talking with the master or patron thereof they found him to bee of the Empire of Greece and Rosicleer knowing him by hiâ—… speech to bée of Greece hee tooke him a part and dyd discouer vnto him who hée was and tolde him what great necessity hee had of him and of his shéep promising him excellent payment with the aduantage if so bée that they did well escape with their enterprise and without reproch Then the Maister of the Ship béeing a Grecian and hauing heard of Rosicleer was very glad and ioyfull for that hée had so good opportunitie to serue him would haue kissed his hands as the hands of his Lord and Prince and offered him not onely his ship but also his lyfe to serue him at that and all other times Then Rosicleer with great loue embraced him and gaue him great thankes and all the rest of the day that remayned they were in the Ship with him putting in order all things necessary as vnto so perilâ—…ous an enterprise was requisit So the next day drew on of the marriage as it was agréede which should bee the third day in the which time these two perfect friends did peruse and mend their armour and fortified theyr ship for it séemed according vnto the great necessitie into the which they were driuen that it was all néedefull So the next day béeing come Fidelia tookâ—… hir leaue of them and went vnto the citie straight waies vnto the king who commaunded that the Tower should bee opened willing hir to doo his hearty commendations vnto his daughter and to tell hir that shée should make hir selfe in a readinesse for the next day shée should come foorth to see the great feasts triumphs which the Prince Don Siluerio hath ordayned for hir sake With this Fidelia tooke hir leaue of the king and departed and the gates of the Tower béeing opened shee entered in therat the gates were shut againe â—…s beefore When shée came vnto the Princesse they two toâ—…ether entred into hir closet all alone and there Fidilia deâ—…lared vnto the Princesse all that euer shée had passed with â—…he King hir Father and what was concluded with the two â—…ights And when the Princesse vnderstood the great perill â—…nd daunger in the which shee should put hir selfe hir heart 〈◊〉 hir to think thereof and waxing pale of coulour shée 〈◊〉 as though shee had béen dead not knowing wheâ—…her shée were in Heauen or in the earth At which time Fidelia dyd comfort hir saying What is this my Lady and mistresse at such time as his death was most published and you enuironed with most mortall anguish at that time you had a good hart for to suffer all courage for to discemble And now you that haue your knight so nigh at hand with hope quickly for to sée him you doo lacke force for to suffer and your hart doo faile you for to enioy him that more then your owne lyfe you haue desired For Gods loue doo it not my Lady but rather animate your salfe and do you reioyse for that in such great necessitie the great valour of noble courage is knowen and in especiall whereas no euill may chance vnto you but rather a further benefit and contentment of minde more then hetherto it hath béene vnto you And if once Rosicleer haue got you into his power then is there nothing that can bée hurtfull vnto you for to â—…ourne you to any griefe for that you haue recouered for your husband the most high and worthiest Prince in all the world as well in his estate as of his person Then the Princessâ—… sayde with a great sigh ah Fidelia I haue no dread nor perill of my owne part for that I dyd choose rather to kill my selfe then to doo any other thing to the contrarie So that I haue little feare in any other thing touching my selfe but my feare is onely for Rosicleer for that this his enterprise the which hée dooth take in hand is great his life must needs bée in great perill if God for his 〈◊〉 mersie do not maruaylously delyuer him For this cause sayde Fidelia hath God made him of such force aboue all other for thaâ—… hee hath deliuered and cleered himselfe in greater daungers then this is so if God permit hée will cléere himselfe oâ—… this And I doo béeleeue that God hath not forgot you buâ—… will deliuer you with your honour out of this rebuke anâ—… will not permit that your father the king shuld do so greaâ—… outrage in forcing you to marrie against your
did first take reuengement for the iniurie done vnto his Knightes and for that it waxâ—…d late againe there were no knights left for to iust there béegan straight waies a great noise of sounding of Triumpets and other instrumentes of musick which was done in such sort that all the whole Citie dyd ring thereof and héere with the iusts were made an end the Tents taken out of that great place and the Prince Don Siluerio with great honour accompanied with many Princes and knights was brought vnto the mightie pallace wheras hée was very well receiued by the king â—… was carried into a Chamber which was on the one side of the great hall wheras he was vnarmed The Princesse Oliuia beefore this time knew Rosicleer for Fidelia when shee saw him aduertised hir wherat shee receiued great contentment dyd esteeme all hir trauailes sorrows which shee had receiued well bestowed although when she remembred y e great hurly burly that shuld bée that night hir hart was very much out of quyet and full of anguish and could not by any meanes bée merry but with great sighs and bitter teares she desired God to deliuer hir well out of all those daungers How that at such time as the King Oliuerio and the mightie Princes and knights of the Court were ioyned together that the Princesse Oliuia and the Prince Don Siluerio should take handes Rosicleer and the King Sacridoro entered into the mightie pallace and what happened therin Chapter 60. AFter that Rosicleer and the King Sacridoro were departed out of the place whereas the iusts were made they both put theÌ„selues into a Forrest which ioyned nigh vnto the Citie whereas they remayned till the night was come béeing fully determyned what they should doo for that they had left their ship at the coast all in a redinesse very wel appointed considering in what great peril danger they did put themselues they praied vnto god with all their harts for to deliuer theÌ„ well out of that great reproch hauing a very good hope y t god wold aide succour them for that which they went about was in a iust right cause for to set frée the great wrong harme done vnto the Princesse The day béeing past and the night come they issued out of the forrest and entered into the citie for that ther were so many knights as well strangers as Countrie men they could not be perceiued for the stréets were full of them likewise the night being darke theyr armour could not be discouered neither was ther any account made therof for that it was a time void of suspition so they drew nigh vnto the pallace at such time as the Princesse Oliuia the Prince Don Siluerio should ioyne hands together vowing matrimonie the pallace being cléere light with the great number of torches and candles that were ther lighted that it seemed to bée mid day and there were so great a number of people that they could scarce mooue by one another All this time went Fidelia very diligently vp and downe the pallace and when shée saw the houre draw néere that theyr pretence should be put in execution she went out of the pallace and taking with hir a bundle of things necessarie for the princesse she went towards the sea side and put hir selfe in the ship abiding the time to sée what fortune would doo for hir Lady and mistres and for those worthy and valiant Knights and was in so great feare that for any thing shée would not bée put in the like againe All this time was the Princesse Oliuia so full of anguish and alteration that shée knew not whether shée were aliue or dead and béeing in a quadran nigh vnto the great hall accompanied with all hir Ladies damsels readie to bée taken foorth to ioyne hands with the Prince shée many times fell in a sound and béeing very much comforted by the Princesses Rodasilua Siluerina yet all that euer they could doo did profit very little neyther could shée recouer any force nor receiue any comfort for that the houre was come that she shuld passe that great affliction and in remembraunce thereof shée thought verily that hir hart would haue leapt out of hir dody At this present time Rosicleer and the King Sacridoro came vnto the pallace and by a false doore which Rosicleer knew very well they entered into a chamber wheras the princesse was leauing their Horses with a Page of the kings who put them vnder a portall where they could not bee séene of the people so they went vp a narrow payre of stayres till they came into the great hall whereas they found the King Oliuerio with all those mighty Princes and knights in a fayre Quadran in company with the prince Don Siluerio abiding the comming of the Princesse Oliuia to take hir to his spouse Lykewise on the other side of the hall in another Quadran was the Princesse Oliuia accompanied with all hir Ladies and Damsels and with the Princesse Rodasilua and Siluerina who had hir in the midst beetwixt them and when they would haue gone whereas the King was the Princesse Oliuia could not step one foot forwards but fell in a sound in the armes of the other Princesses Then when these two valiant knights saw it was time they entered both together into the quadran and the king Sacridoro carryed his Swoord drawen in his hand and his shéeld on his arme the which put a great teare amongst all the Ladyes and Damsels and Rosicleer went straight vnto the Princesse Oliuia his Lady and tooke hir in his armes lifting hir from the ground all which time shée was in a sound and by reason at theyr entering in all those Ladyes and damsells gaue great shrikes and out cryes there came presently to that place many Knights and béeing without armour they drew out theyr Swoords and doubled theyr cloakes about theyr armes and went to rescue and take away the Princesse from Rosicleer who carried hir in his armes but for that the good King Sacridoro was at hand in a redinesse with foure blows which hée gaue hée ouerthrew foure Knights dead to the ground of them that first approched wher they were the which did put so great feare in all the rest that they durst not come nigh him so that Rosicleer had roome to come vnto the narrow stayres which descended downe to the false doore Then the King Sacridoro put himselfe in the face of all the people and dyd so much that Rosicleer came vnto the place whereas his horse was and findeing none for to disturbe him hée mounted forthwith vpon his Horse and tooke the Princesse in his armes béefore him and hée had the Page to tarrie for his Lord and setting spurres vnto his good horse Rodarte which hée had of the Gyant Mandroco and one of the strongest and lightest that was in all the world within a short time hée found himselfe out of the Citie and with so great