them home with excéeding ioy but they answered that they ought rather to thanke the Knight in gréene Armour for hee deliuered vs from the Moores and Infidels without request of any ransome Olorico amazed at these signes of ioy as also when hee sawe Palmerin pray knew not well what to thinke which Palmerin presently perceiuing and to resolue him of all doubts whatsoeuer sayd No longer neede I know my good Lord and Friende to hide the affaires and secrets of my heart from you know therefore that I am a Christian and a Gentleman of the Emperours Court of Allemaigne But that which most of all gréeueth me is that I am constrayned to forsake your companie and returne againe to my Lorde for too much should I offend my God to go with you to the Soldanes seruice Wherefore my louing friend let me intreate you to holde me excused swearing to you by the faith of a Knight that whether else it shall like you to go I will accomplish your minde in any thing I intreate you likewise to entertaine al my Squires and Gentlemen into your seruice and among them to share all my treasure in the Shippe because I will haue nothing with me but my Horse and armour And notwithstanding all this feare nor to present your selfe before the Soldane and Alchidiana for to them will I write such matter of you as they shall accept you in my place and with as great honour as euer they did mee If heauen so fauour mee as I may come to the knowledge of my father I will certifie you with the truth of all As for my counterfeiting to be dumbe was onely but to awaite opportunitie when with safety I might escape thence If Olorico at the first was amazed what may be iudged of him nowe notwithstanding hee loued Palmerin so perfectly as hee returned him this answere Although Syr Palmerin wee are of contrary faith and opinion yet hath your noblenesse and humanitie gained such priuiledge ouer me that as you haue long time liued a Christian among the Turks so for your sake will I liue a Turke among the Christians dissembling in like sort as you did and neuer shall any occasion force mée to forsake you till you haue found your Father and know if he be discended of the Soldanes bloud No honour will it be for me nowe to returne again to the Assirian Princes and as for my people I force not though they go backe againe with my treasure for on my Knighthood I will bee no richer then you nor will reserue any thing with mée then what belongs to a Knight errant which is Horse and Armour For the rest let Fortune do the worst she can I hope for all this one day to be King of Arabia Then noble friend be not offended for I will beare you companie if death and strong imprisonment doo not withhold mee Palemrin embraicng him saide Ah worthie Prince so noble is your minde and repleate with fidelitie as perswade your selfe to find me your loyall Brother and fellow in Armee neuer to forsake you while I can lift my Sword so please you to abide with mee So calling the chéefest of them in the ship they sayde as much to them as you haue heard commaunding them not to stir from Arabia before they heard some other tydings As for their strange conceit at these newes I bequeath to your iudgements yet durst they not gainsay their Maisters but launching into the deepe sayled backe again into their own Countrey Palmerin and Olorico for this night lodged in the Cittie to refresh themselues and the next morning after they had taken leaue of the Merchants they deliuered they set forward on their iourney Continuing their trauaile thrée daies together at length they mette a Knight who séeing them armed after the Turkish manner sayde Gentlemen God saue ye if I should not seeme troublesome to you because I iudge you to be strangers I would gladly knowe if you could tell me any tidings of two Knights which long since left this Countrey Howe were they named quoth Palmerin Syr saide the Knight one of them is Trineus Some to our dread Lord the Emperour and the other the most valiant Palmerin d' Oliua Two yéeres and more since they left the Court without any newes what became of them sauing that wee heard they were a while with the King of England and thence they conuayed his Daughter the Emperous continuing so sorrowfull for theyr losse as euery houre his death is expected May it be quoth Palmerin that all this while Trineus is not returned What daunger will noble Allemaigne receiue by loosing their young Prince Ouercome with exceeding griefe and sorrow by report of these vnhappie tidings to himselfe he beganne in this maner What shall I doo dare I be so presumptuous as to present my selfe before my Mistresse what sufficient excuse can I make for the loue of her brother Doubtlesse if it were such a hell to me to finde the meane for my departure from that long captiuitie in the Soldanes Court much more will it be to me now in the search of the Prince for without him I dare not approach the Emperours presence While he thus secretly discoursed with himselfe he became so excéeding passionate as Olorico thought he had lost his sences which was the cause that without any further enquirie the Allemaigne Knight departed from them when Olorico amazed at this suddain alteration said How now Sir Palmerin what hath moued you to this heauinesse I beséech you conceale not the cause from me for if it be by any offence that the Knight offered which spake to you soone shall I deliuer him his penance Therefore tell me I pray you for vndoubtedly I will not suffer you to rest vntill you haue acquainted me with the truth Palmerin knowing how déerly y◠Prince loued him and that for his sake he had left Country parents and friends reposing on his loyaltie imparted his loue to him as also the lesse of Trineus and the Princesse Agriola Olorico then laboured to perswade him aduising him to compasse some secret spéech with his Ladie of whome hée might learne how to recouer her lost brother and the faire Agriola of England againe Palmerin following this counsell pacified himselfe and kept himselfe so closely as he could from being knowne to any Chap. XX. How Palmerin by the meanes of Vrbanillo his Dwarfe spake with his Lady Polynarda with whom he stayed fiue daies to recompence some part of his long absence and to the great contentment of them both SUch expedition in their iourney made these noble companions that at length they arriued néere a castle which was foure leagues from Gaunt where the Emperour as then was disposed to hunting for the delight of the Ladies but chéefely to expell his owne melancholy for the losse of his sonne as also to recreate the Princesse Polynarda who shadowing the cause by her Brothers absence lamented continually for her noble Friend Palmerin of whome
to the aged King Primaleon by the fauoure of the Ladie Arismena SUch spéede made Palmerin beeing departed froÌ„ the Marchant as on the fourth day following riding by a Riuers side he found a Dwarffe sitting heauilie wéeping of whom he demaunded the cause of his mourning Alas Syr saide the Dwarffe as I was riding by the commaundement of my Maister to a Lady whom he déerelie loueth a Knight euen nowe tooke my Horse from me and very villainously offered me outrage which yet dooth not so much greeue mee as beeing thus on foote I know not howe to get ouer this Riuer Mount vp behinde me said Palmerin and at the first Towne wee come to I will prouide thée of another Horse Then mounted the Dwarffe vp behinde him and hauing past the Riuer desired to know of Palmerin whether he trauailed for quoth he I neuer sawe man whom I had greater desire to serue then you Dwarffe answered Palmerin I nowe iourneie towarde the Court of Macedon to the King where I hope to find the Prince Florendos who is accounted one of the woorthiest Knights in the world and by his hande I desire to be knighted if I may And after you haue receiued your order said the Dwarffe I hope you will not be so vnwise to hazard the aduenture wherein so manie haue failed and lost their liues What aduenture is that quoth Palmerin To goe to the Mountaine Aâ—tifaeria said the Dwarffe in hope to kill the Serpent which hath béene the death of so manie valiant Knights And what occasion said Palmerin mooued them to fight with the Serpent That will I tell you answered the Dwarffe The King Primaleon father to the Prince Florendos whom you séeke thrée yéeres since fell into a verie strange disease for which no remedie can yet be found notwithstanding the dilligent endeuours of the Quéene and Ladie Arismena her Daughter one of the fairest and most vertuous Princesses that euer was hearde of who séeing her Father in such daungerous estate hath often assembled the best Phisitions in the whole worlde who haue practised al possible means to recouer his health yet hither to all hath béene to no purpose Whereupon she sent to an auncient Knight the most skilfullest in the arte of Nigromancie this daie liuing who returned this answere that he should neuer bee healed except hee bee first washed with the water of a Fountaine which standeth on the top of the Mountaine Artifaeria whether fourtimes a yere resort three Sisters Magitians of the Isle Carderia to gather vertuous Hearbes which there they wash and wherof they frame all their enchantments This place is so defended by the Monster wherof I tolde you that no man as yet durst approche it Which newes when the Princesse Arismena vnderstood hoping by strength of men to recouer the water and vanquish the Beast leauied a great number of Souldiours well appointed who were no sooner entered the Mountaine but the Serpent came furiouslie foorth of his Den throwing fire and smoake out of his mouth and beating his winges togeather with such terror as the very hardiest durst passe no further but were all glad to take themselues to flight yet coulde they not depart with such expedition but the greater part of them paid their liues for their bolde attempt the Mountaine was so stored with Lions Beares Wolues Harts Tygres Ounces and other wild rauenous Beastes that deuoured them Nowe at length manie Knights haue tryed themselues in this aduenture thinking by their Prowesse to performe more theÌ„ the other but all the worse for not one of them returned backe againe aliue And why goes not the Prince Florendos him selfe said Palmerin that is estéemed yâ— most valiant Knight thorow all Greece Alas Sir said the Dwarffe some other matter hath so drowned his minde in mellancholique as he liues like one that dispiseth himselfe While the Dwarffe continued his discourse the desire of honour and renowne did so liuelie touche the spirit of Palmerin as he said to him selfe It may be that Arismena was the Lady which in my sléeping thoughts visited mee so often if the Destinies haue vowed her mine why should I feare the Serpent or all the other Beastes wherewith this Dwarffe doth so terrifie me Haue not I slaine a Lyon alreadie with a staffe Tush the more daunger is in the place the more honor depends vpon the victory If I leaue my life there I am not the first if I returne with conquest I shall be beyonde anie yet in fortune therefore fall out as it will no perrill shall dismaie me from giuing the aduenture whereupon he sayd to the Dwarffe But tell me my Freende hee that bringes the water from the Mountaine to the King what aduauntage shall he deserue My Lord quoth hee it hath beene manie times published that his rewarde shall be the best Cittie in all this Relame Sée then Dwarffe said Palmerin one man more will hazarde his life in this enterprise albeit I should receiue but thanks for my frauaile wylt thou goe with me That will I aunswered the Dwarffe if you please and neuer will I forsake you while breath is in my bodie Thus set they on till they came to the great Cittie of Macedon at what time Florendos was gone to the Temple in such heauines as he séemed a man of another world béeing accompanied with manie Knights and his faire Sister the Ladie Arismena to whom Palmerin boldlie addressed himselfe and as though hee had beene a Courtier all his life time with séemelie modestie he set his knée to the grounde before her and thus began Madame I humbly â—eséeche you to vouchsafe mee one request which well you may not denie me in that I am a Straunger as also in respect of the desire I haue to doo you seruice And trust me Sir quoth shée you shall not bee refused what is it you woulde haue me doo for you That at your request said Palmerin the Prince Florendos your Brother wyll giue me my Knighthoode Arismena seeing Palmerin so amiable and well disposed of bodie meruailed of whence hee was and said In good sooth Sir such matter nothing appertaineth vnto me for as I iudge such a motion shoulde procéede from your selfe yet taking him by the hande shee presented him to her Brother saying I pray you my Lord graunt to this yonge Gentleman as yet not knighted the thing he hath desired mee to demaunde Florendos hauing not as yet behelde him looked vppon him when an excéeding passioÌ„ presenting the Princesse Griana to his thoughts suddainlie touched him and béeing rapt into more conceite of ioy then he had béene accustomed demaunded of Palmerin if he would be made Knight With right good wyl my Lorde quoth he if it shall like you to doo me so much honor for aboue all thinges els it is my onelie desire My freende said Florendos it is necessarie I should first know whether you be noble borne or no. My Lord quoth Palmerin as yet I neuer knewe my Father or
death but that the Quéene and the Lordes of hys Counsel founde meanes to quallifie his displeasure declaring what discredite his highnes shold receiue if he did not suffer them to be openlie conuicted of their offences All this while good Princes were they ignoraunt of this detection till at length the King discoursed the whole matter to theÌ„ and likewise who was their accuser nor did the Countie faile to maintaine his wordes openlie offering to make it good in fight against any that durst say the contrary and because he had two Cozins hardie and valiant Knights conspirators likewise in this faction there could be none found that would enter the Combat against them Which when the noble Prince Adrian vnderstoode very gréefe had well néere slaine him in respect he had no Child but this Dyardo as also for yâ— hee was accused with yâ— hee neuer thought Héereupon he went presently to the King his Nephew and preuailed so well with him as he obtained the space of two Monethes to bring with him one or two that might maintaine the innocencie of him his Sonne Dyardo and the Princesse Cardonia against the Traytour Domarto and his Cozins And this is the cause he sent mee to seeke you foorth in hope that you are as much his Freende as hee is yours which you may somewhat perceiue by the freendlie presents he sent you by mee to Macedon So helpe mee God saide Palmerin you haue reported a most strange dyscourse and neuer did I think that such treason could enter the thoughts of any Knight or other inferior person All this is true quoth the Damosell and it is appointed yâ— the Prince Dyardo with his aged and crazed Father shal defend their owne causes without séeking helpe of anie other but he neuer as yet receiued the order of Knighthoode and therfore is constrained to desire your assistaunce And that shall I doo with all my hart saide Palmerin would God we were there where he expecteth vs for the desire I haue to sée him as also to vnderstande what he knowes of my following fortunes Those matters are hid from mee quoth shee yet this haue I hearde him say diuers times being in talk of you that he accounted you the most honorable Knight in the worlde and that if he euer chaunced to sée you he wold aduise you to goe to the Emperour of Allemaignes Courte to be the knightly Seruaunt to the Princesse Polinarda When Palmerin heard the name of Polinarda he remembred that it was her name whome hee had so manye times séene in his fraunces for which cause he asked of the Damosell what the Lady was of whom shee spake My Lord quoth the Polinarda is Daughter to the Emperour and Niece vnto my Lorde Adrian the most beautiful Princesse that euer eye behelde By my faith saide Palmerin yâ— more easily may I be induced to graunt her my seruice and thether intend I to trauaile when I haue finished your Lords busines So rode they with much more haste theÌ„ before tyl at length they came to the Cittie of Almedya where the King remained and the Prince Adrian expecting Palmerins comming which when he hearde hee came to meete him eache embracing other with meruailous courtesie and the good olde man with the teares in his eyes thus saide Ah good Knight what may counteruaile this your exceeding paines to maintaine the right of my Sonne and mee who are falselie accused of such villainous treason as on the perill of my soule we neuer did imagine Thereof am I certainlie perswaded aunswered Palmerin and therfore am I come to enter the Combat with him that dare affirme otherwise Mine olde age quoth Adrian might excuse mee henceforth from bearing Armes but béeing vnable to endure so vile a slaunder so long as life and soule will holde togeather shal I doo my deuoire so please your companion to make the second as olde as I am I will be the thirde for the trayterous CouÌ„tie hath two of his Cozins yâ— take part with him And if my fortune so fall out as I die in this tryall I shall receiue my lot very contentedlie if mine eyes might first beholde mine iniurie reuenged I pray you said Palmerin goe presently to the King to the ende that hys highnesse may graunt vs the fielde for my Freende and I thinke long till we haue made your accuser knowe his trecherie Adrian immediatly went to the King and on his knées thus began My Lorde you knowe that the Countie of Ormeque hath accused mee my Sonne Dyardo and Madame Cardonya of the cryme of Lesae Maiestatis and in that we all are innocent I am readie to maintaine that he hath falsely and malliciously belied vs which I my selfe will approoue vpon him or two more with me against him and his Cozins if they dare enter the fielde with him in this quarrell where we will either make known their villainie or receiue the reward belongs to disloyall Traitors As for the wrong which you my Lord haue doone me béeing your Uncle and my Sonne Dyardo your Cozin germaine that I referre to God to recompence and to the better knowledge you shall receiue of mee héereafter béeing â—owe too olde to bee a Traytour and my Sonne too louing to proue disloyall The King was abashed to heare his Uncle speake so audaciously doubting nowe whether he should giue credite to what had béene reported especially against him so neere his highnes in bloode who so liberally offered to enter the Combat notwithstanding his white heade and aged body made him vnfit for such actions wherefore hee thus aunswered Good Uncle impute not mee any thing faultie in your accusation and that the proofe shall manifest that must be made The Countie beeing present was strooken in a quandarie at these wordes and gladly he wold haue demed this former slaunder but he could find no waie cleanlie to doo it wherefore seeing of force he must néedes enter the Combat he boldly fell on his knées before the King with these wordes My Lorde what I haue saide is verie certaine and most true it is that by the counsell of Prince Adrian héere present his Sonne practised with Lady Cardonya to poison you that he might be King which to make good there is my gadge on the behalfe of my selfe and my Cozins Thou lyest Traytor in thy throate said olde Adrian I take thine offer and as he woulde haue gone on with further spéeches Palmerin stept before the King saying Worthy Lorde séeing the effect of the wordes must be put in execution which haue béene heere spoken on bothe sides before your Maiestie may it please you the Prince Dyardo and Lady Cardonya may be sent for to take with vs their oathes as in such cases is required and in meane time let eache one goe put himselfe in equipage for the Combat Good reason said the King and presently hee commaunded the Princes to be brought who beeing come Palmerin demaunded where they were that tooke part with the Countie whereupon he
towards them so fast as his Horse could gallop Palmerin doubting some vnhappy chaunce and remembring his dreame said to the king Neuer credit mée my Lord if this squire come not to you about some speciall affaires as well maye be gathered by his spéedie pace At these words the GentlemaÌ„ came to the king reporting how the Giant Franarco Lord of the castle of Carbones since his departure came to his Tents and from thence had violently taken the Quéene and her Daugter Agriola notwithstanding the resistance of manie knights who striuing to defend her lost their liues The King with these words strooken in wonderfull gréefe said Ah Gentlemen this villainous Traytor hath notoriously wroâ—ged vs. How is it possible to recouer them againe before they be dishonoured Trineus and Paâ—merin mooued at these newes asked the Squire which way he went with the Quéen and her Daughter In truth my Lord quoth he I cannot tell yée which way he tooke we all were so troubled and misused by his traine except they went along the Forrest and so are gone to the next village Then Palmerin clasping on his Helmet and snatching his Launce from his Dwarfe Galloped amaine after the Giant not speaking a word to Trineus who accompanied with Ptolome rode apace after him and as they passed by the Quéenes Tent they saw the Ladies and gentlewomen heauily lamenting especially Eufemia the chéefe companion to the Princesse Agriola Diuers Knights beside armed themselues to pursue the Giant but Trineus not a little enraged followed the tracke of the horse demaunding of all he met if they saw the villaine that had stolen away the Ladies As concerning this Giant Franarco you must note that hee was the cruellest tyrant and most notable fellon in all the Realme hauing a dayes iourney from the Forrest where the King hunted a Castle so well fortefied and furnished with munition and all things necessarie as in England was not the like which was left to him by the death of his Father who forciblie tooke it from a Lorde his neighbour and diuers other places especially the Isle Magdalen There succéeded â—e the royall dignitie after the death of the elder Brother who as you haue heard was slaine in the battaile by Palmerin and hée vnderstanding the death of the king of the Isle Magdalen was so â—ighlie displeased yâ— although he had alwaies before boorne allegeaunce to the king hée nowe solemnly swore to reuenge his Brothers death béeing so feared of the whole Countrey as none durst enterprise to deale with him So to reuenge the slaughter of his eldest Brother with diuers of his kindred and Fréendes likewise â—layne in the battaile he strengthened himselfe with thirtie hardie knightes intending to displease the king so much as hee coulde And hearing yâ— he was comming to London to feast the knights that were the cause of this victory but chéefely him that slewe his brother came with his coÌ„pany this way in hope to finde them all vnprâ—uided And coâ—ming that morning the king was gone on hunting hée â—ound these hée desired to méete withall for the hatred he bare them thinking himselfe sufficiently reuenged if hée could carry away with him the Quéene and her Daughter which he accomplished to his owne desire causing them mount vp behinde two of his Knights The gentlemen that were left to kéepe the Quéene companye offended to sée such villany offered theyr Ladie and Mistresse defended her so well as they could but all auayled not against the Giant and his power because they were armed and they with the Quéene were vnprouided so that a number of them were slaine and sore wounded and more had béene but that he feared the return of the King which made him in hast ride thence with his spoyle sending them somewhat before and loytering behind himselfe to fight with anie that shuld come to reskew them Trineus hauing gotten the sâ—ght of them came passing to the Giant saying Stay trayterous théefe for thou maist not so cary her away that is worthy the greatest lord in the world With these words they ran fiercely togither Trineus giuing the Giant a sore wound on the shoulder but the Prince reâ—eiued such a mightie stroke from the Giant as he fell froÌ„ his Horse with his héeles vpward Palmerin béeing not far off and doubting least the Prince had béene slaine came in a great rage to Franarco saying Monstrous enemie to menhoode who made thée so saucie to lay violent hands on Ladies of such account by my Sworde villaine I shall make thée déerely to pay for thy folly So couching theyr Launces they met togither the Giant fayling but Palmerin gaue him a shrewd wound on his body and their horsses roughly shouldring one another as their masters were both thrâ—wn to the ground Franarco béeing heauie and vnweldie had such a fall as easily he could not recouer himselfe Palmerin nimbly getting vp againe gaue the Giant such a wound on his right legge as the flesh hung downe pittifully to beholde The Giant béeing not able to stande any longer on that leg set his knée to the ground béeing glad to defend the strokes of Palmerin who reached him such a sound blowe on the forehead with the hils of his sworde as the Giant fell along on his backe when Palmerin soone setting his foote on his breast with his Sword deuided his heade from his shoulders During this fight Trineus Ptolome made after the Quéene and her Daughter whome the Giants Knights droue cruelly before them Nowe was it a matter well worthy memory to sée the braue behauiour of these two Knights but cheefely of Trineus before his swéete Mistresse whose presence endued him with such exceeding courage as hée thought himselfe able to conquer the whole world and therefore sufficient for all them were they as manie more in number But strength dooth not alwaies equall courage and louers thinke more then they are able to doo as to Trineus perill it had now fallen out but that a companie of the Kings Knights arriued whereupon began a hote encounter betwéene them and Trineus comming to the Knight yâ— had Agriola behinde him set him soone beside his horse with his neck broken in his fall so that the princesse getting forth of the throng and séeing her beloued so valiant in prowesse bâ—twéene ioy and gréefe she said Ah happie Knight the mirror of all such as follow armes I desire thy fortune may prooue such as thou thy company may haue victory ouer these traytors Now may I bée well assured of the loue thou bearest me for which if we may escape this hard brunt perswade thy selfe not to passe vnrecompenced Trineus hearing the words of Agriola was enflamed with such a spirite of conquering desire as breaking in among the thickest his strokes gaue witnes he fought for a wife But the Giants Knights were men of such proofe as the fresh sâ—pply that came were all wel-néere slaine and doubtlesse the rest had borne them company but that the
the ship and mariners ready and getting all aboord the wind seruing for their auaile they set saile and before day they got farre enough from London Chap. LXII How the king of England and the Queene were aduertised how their daughter Agriola was conuayed away and of their sorrow for her departure THe Duke of Gaules daughter who continually was bedfellow to the Princesse absenting her selfe very long from bed fearing to disquiet her Ladie being sicke as she supposed but comming at length to sée hâ—w shee fared finding the bedde emptie and Agriola gone shee presently made a great out-crie whereat the other Ladies came and altogither amazed at this sudden aduenture went to the Quéenes Chamber where they reported how the Princesse was gone but howe or when they knew not The Quéene at these tydings suddenly arose and comming to her daughters Chamber found it too true which made her fal into such pitiful acclamations farre surpassing those of Maguelona when she lost her friend Peter of Prouince in the wood In these lamentings shee returned to the king whose heauines excéeded iudgment for the losse of his daughter and then came diuerse lords gentlemen who declared that the strange Knights were likewise departed Which raised such a â—umour through all the Citie that they had stolen away the Princesse The King vnderstanding the general sorow for his daughters absence said In sooth my friends if these Knights haue done such seruice for mée they haue sufficiently recompenced themselues in doing me the greatest dishonour they could deuise yet wil I not condemne them so much as my daughter for that I am perswaded shée procured this mischaunce But nowe I well perceiue what credit a maÌ„ may repose in his enemy for Palmerin euermore serued the Emperour of Allemaigne then hâ—rdly could he be true to mee Yet is it in vain for me to blame him or his companions if they tookâ— the aduauntage of their owne intents But now there 〈◊〉 no remedy my daughter is in the company of most chosen knights if she haue done well or ill hereafter her deserts will answer her misdemeanour Thus the king would not suffer any pursute after them though the Quéen and her Ladies earnestly intreated him he answering that no such mone should be made for a child so vngrateful 〈◊〉 disobedient but hauing committed an action so â—ile â—â—â—rme she should no more account of her as 〈◊〉 childe And well may wee quoth hee so refuse her in that she wouâ—â— leaue her parents and depart with straungers 〈◊〉 might we haue accounted our selues if we had lost her in her infancie The Quéene séeing her â—ord so impatient appeased his displeasure so well as she could because shee would not mooue him too much Within few dayes after the Duke of Gaule arriued at the Court who most of all gréeued at thâ—se vnhappy tidings wherefore he perswaded the king to proclaime open warre against the Emperour of Allemaigne assuring him that the knight which most commonly accompanied Palmerin was Trineus the Emperors sonne When the king heard the Dukes spéeches forgetting his anger he reioyced estéeming himselfe happy and his daughter wise in matching her selfe with such a husband and if she had made her choyse among al the Princes of the world shee could not haue sorted out one comparable in honor In bréefe aunswered the duke that for a daughter so lost he would not séeke the death of his louers and subiects but being one of Fortunes changes he could not withstand it and thus the king wisely and patiently entâ—red hiâ— gréeâ—e Chap. LXIII How Vrbanillo and the Prince Trineus Esquire arriued at the Emperours Court and what great ioy their comming procured IN this place â—ur history taketh this occasion howe the King of Fraunce daily expecting newes from Palmerin as concerning his intent of marriage betwéene his daughter and the Prince Trineus but séeing he heard no tidings at all he determined to send his ambassadâ—rs to the Emperor electing for chéefâ— in this embassage the Count of Aâ—mignac to whom hee gaue ful power authority to conclude the marriage betweene Trineus his daughter Lucemania as also of the princesse Polinarda with his son and heyre The king dispatching al things for his ambassage sent many â—arons and knightâ— of name to accompany the Count to countenance the matter with more royaltie magnificence and in this maner they came to Gaunt where the Emperour being aduertised of theyr arriuall 〈◊〉 no grâ—at account thereof such was his gréefe for his sonneâ— absence Palmerins of whom he could not heare any tidings as also for the foyle his Armie sustained in England But while the messenger from the ambassadours of Fraunce stayed with the Emperour Vrbanillo and the princes Squire entred the hall whose presence highly contented the Emperour as embracing them very louingly he demaunded for Palmerin and his sonne Trineus when they deliuering their letters and the Emperour perswaded therby of their spéedie return was greatly contented saying to the Ambassadours messenger My fréend séeing I haue heard such long looked for tidings of my sonne you may returne to the 〈◊〉 your maister desiring him to come when hee thinks conuenient he shall be heartily welcome to me with this answer the messenger departed TheÌ„ the emperor taking Vrbanillo by yâ— hand said Tel me now I pray thée how fares thy maister where is he is my sonne with him My gracious lord quoth the dwarâ—e where your noble son abideth there is my maister both of â—â—â—ght good disposition and highly honored And hereof I can assure your maiesty yâ— you haue a son who by good reason 〈◊〉 to be numbred among the best knights liuing for such honourable experience hath hee made of his worthines that perpetuall memorie will recorde his déeds of chiualry what els remaineth you shal know at their comming which will be so soone as they can possibly I euer perswaded my selfe said the Emperour that in the company oâ— so good a knight as Palmerin my son could not but purchase credit and honour the refore séeing they haue such prosperity of health I care the lesse for their stay but welcome are they whensoeuer they come By this time Polinarda heard of the Dwarfes arriual which greatly pleasing her she sayd to Brionella I pray thée swéete fréend go spéedily and séeke the Dwarfe that we may knowe what is become of our Lords and my brother Trineus Brionella who longed to heare of hir loue Sir Ptolome whom wel she knew to be one of the companie with all spéed accomplished the Princesse commandement and found the ioyfull messenger with the Emperour who tooke great delight in the Dwarfes reports but his maiestie perceiuing with what chéerefull countenance she came to bring Vrbanillo to her Lady the princesse bad him go with her hoping by his meanes his Daughters extreame sadnesse would be comforted Brionella béeing forth of the Emperours presence embraced him many times to know his tydings when the Dwarfe not
Ladyes eares Neyther can you in my iudgement honour him sufficiently because my Daughter and mée hee hath shéelded from death expulsed our ignominious slaunder and slaine our false accusing enemy to make vs liue in perpetuall fame and memory The most part of them well 〈◊〉 his words and confounded with the remembrance 〈◊〉 theyr shame when they 〈◊〉 not enterprise the Combat for their Lady knew not what to answere but fearing to grow in further offence sought how to change his minde to some other talke Alchidiana béeing all this while in her Chamber prepared her selfe to goe visite 〈◊〉 not knowing how to shape her 〈◊〉 for fresh bewraying of 〈…〉 for the Goddesse Iuno when shée stoode before Syr Paris for sentence of her beautie was not more sumptuously adorned then the Princesse Nowe be 〈◊〉 shée to dispute in her thoughts the honourable graceâ— of Palmerin his nobilitie so farre renowmed his knightly prowesse and magnanimitie whereof herselfe had so good experience as shée resolued neuer to haue any other Husband Then 〈◊〉 she of her Ladies how she might 〈◊〉 her Knight if her head â—yre 〈◊〉 orderly if her 〈…〉 were tressed as they ought and if her garments were braue enough For conclusion the louely Mayden knew not how to dispose of herselfe to gaine his loue shée so earnestly longed for In this equipage she goes to sée her Friend and in his Chamber shée findes her Mother who hindered her languishing Daughter from discouering her sicknesse to him that onely had the power to helpe her wherefore liuing in hope of some better oportunitie for this time she smothered her gréefes so wel as she could finding other talke with her Ladies least her mother should suspect her Chap. XIII How the brethren of Amarano would haue buried his bodie in the Tombe with Ardemia which Alchidiana would not suffer but constrained them to carrie him home againe into his Countrey AMarano thus slaine his Brethren according to his charge thus giuen them before hée entred the Combat tooke his bodie and with great mourning they brought it to the Princesse Ardemiaes Tombe thinking to burie him there with her but Alchidmia aduertised héereof came presently and intreated her Father that hée woulde sende an Herauld to the Brethren of the vanquished Prince to charge them not to leaue the bodie of Amarano in his Dominions for if they did he would cause it to be burned as a Traytor deserued Moreouer that they themselues should depart within foure and twentie hours on paine of the daunger should ensue by their default For good Father quoth she if you should permitte their boldnesse it will be great blame and dishonour to you in that it is commonly knowne with what great pride and arrogancie he came to your Court thinking to iniurie your good report and eyther to shut mée from your presence for euer or else with open scandale to ende my life The Soldane well regarding her wordes willingly graunted her request whereupon the Princesse Brethren were certified of the Soldanes pleasure by a Trumpet whereat they maruailed not a little but séeing they could no way remedie it they said Herauld it is reason that your Lord should bée obeied within his owne territories neuerthelesse you may say vnto him that the crueltie he shewes to a dead bodie is verie great and against all equitie which he héereafter happilie may repent So opening the Tombe againe they tooke foorth their Brothers bodie and the Princesse Ardemiaes likewise conuaying them into a Litter of Cipres to kéepe them from corrupting and thus returned with them to Phrygia where the Princes death was greatly lamented but chéefly by the aged King his Father who séeing his Sonne dead before him after many dolorous passions thus complained Ah Fortune howe cruell doost thou shew thy selfe to the mightie as well as the meanest Ah my Sonne Amarano too déere hast thou bought thy loue to Ardemia Wretched and dispised olde man howe vnfortunate art thou among all other For when thou perswadest thy selfe to haue ioy and comfort by thy Sonnes thou findest the chéefe cause of sorrowe and discontent O death thou sufferest me too importunate Yet if the Soldane had graunted thée buriall where thou diddest desire it before thy death the lesse had béene my gréefe But soone shall I cause him repent his hard dealing and reuenge thy death with sufficient requitall The second brother to Amarano named Gramiel séeing his father in such extreame heauinesse assayed by all meanes he coulde to comfort him promising in the presence of all his Knights with all possible spéede to reuenge his Brothers death and so did all the sixe Brethren solemnly vowe togither Which spéeches did somewhat comfort the aged King who commaunded the bodies of the two louers to be taken from his presence and for a perpetuall memorie of his Sonnes death he caused a sumptuous monument to be made of marble and Porphire whereon was grauen the cause of their vnhappie death All this while Gramiell who vndertooke his Brothers reuenge gaue charge to the people round about him as also to the Kinges and Princes of Suria who were then enemies to the Soldane to prepare themselues in readinesse so that within a Moneths space hée had assembled a power of fiue thousand hardie Soldiers himselfe béeing appointed leader and generall ouer them In this sort they tooke themselues to the Feelde hoping to ruinate the Soldanes Countrey with fire and sworde but they were better entertained then they expected as hereafter shall bée largely discoursed Chap. XIIII Howe Alchidiana ouercome by vehemencie of her loue offered her selfe to Palmerin as his wife and of the aunswere he made her REmembring what hath past in the chapters before we may not forget how by the message of the Quéene of Tharsus sent to the Soldanes Court Alchidiana who began as it were to despise Palmerin was coÌ„strained to renue her loue thus conferring with her selfe that if so great a person as the Quéene of Tharsus commended estéemed and honoured him hauing neuer séene him the better meane had she béeing dayly in his companie to practise the furtheraunce of her earnest desires Shée therefore continually awayted oportunitie to discouer the fire newly raked from the embers and which day and night consumed her with languishing but so well it came to passe that not many dayes after the Combat with Amarano hee came to visite her in her Chamber right ioyfull of the talke hee had with the Soldan as coÌ„cerning the prouision of his strength to goe ruinate the Citie of Constantinople which gaue him hope of his returne to Allemaigne Alchidiana hauing courteously saluted him and shewing better countenaunce then before shée did caused him to sit downe by her and soone after began in this sort I desire you Sir Knight by the reuerence you beare our Godâ— and the â—ayth you owe to her for whose loue you tooke the enchaunted Crowne from the Prince Maurice to tell me your name what your Parents be and of whence
frenzie or wicked iealousâ—ie woulde haue slaine him whereby such fortune fell out as the King receiued what he would haue giuen Nor can Florendos hée worthily blamed for comming to sée me in respect of the long time since our last companie beside hauing not forsaken his Pylgrims wéede wherein hee trauailed to the holie Lande he came to acquaint me with the maruailes in his iourney Sée héere in bréeâ—â— the whole truth of his Historie and if the Kings Nephewes auouch otherwise I say my Lord they lie falsely In this respect as well to proteâ—t mine owne honour as the Princes I humbly desire your Maiestie that our innocencie may be discided by Combate for such is my hope in a rightfull cause as I shall find some Knight to fight for me The Lords of the Empire were altogether of the same opinion and instantly desired the Emperour to graunt his Daughter her lawfull request whereto hee answered that he would take counsell thereon and iustice should be doone her as it ought Héereupon the Emperour went into his Chamber and the Quéene was brought to the Empresse her Mother where the poore Lady was assaulted afresh for shée was no sooner entred the Chamber but her Mother thus beganne I knowe not Daughter how badly thou hast béene counselled that since the day of thine espousall to the Prince Tarisius who loued thée so déerely thou hast continued such hatred against him that at length thou art become the onely cause of his death Madame quoth the Quéene you speake your pleasure but in regarde of my reuerence to you I aunswere that I neuer though it Wherefore I intreate you to forbeare such spéeches and if you consider all things well your selfe will be founde in greater fault then I. For conâ—rarie to my solemne promise which I had made to the Prince of Macedon you compelled mee to marrie with him and if Florendos had the opportunitie and in defence of his owne person hath slaine him ought you then to impute the crime to me With these words the Empresse held her peace and sate conferring with the yong Princesse Armida in meane while came the Duke of Pera who had the Quéene in charge and conducted her to her Chamber and afterward by the Emperours commandement he shut Florendos into a strong prison The next day Promptaleon and Oudin came to the Pallace where with great and audacious impudencie they came before the Emperour saying Why haue you not my Lord prouided the fire to burne your Daughter and her adulterer Florendos Soft and fayre aunswered the good Remicius bee not so hastie I finde them not so faultie as your accusation deliuereth for no other harme was committed then talking together and because Florendos was disguised is that a consequence my daughter must die Nor will I encurre with infamous report in putting such a Prince to death without hearing how he can answere for himselfe you therefore my Lord of Pera go fetch Florendos that hee may answere to their propositions The Duke obeyed his commandement and brought the Prince so spent with extreame gréefe because hee had caused the Quéene into such danger as hardly he could sustaine himselfe but after he had with great humilitie prostrated himselfe before the Emperour he began in this manner Most mightie Loed and Emperour of Greece maruaile not that with such heauinesse I come before your maiestie when in stéede of dooing you seruice according as my dutie commandeth me I bring you cause of offence and displeasure Neuerthelesse I repose my self on your benignitie and princely iustice wherein I must intreate you to haue regard on the Quéene your Daughters innocence for the fault that is committed if it deserue to be called a fault was doone without the Quéenes knowledge or so much as a thought of the matter on her part before it happened Moreouer there is none of so harsh iudgement or reason but will consider what familiaritie and friendship both passe betwéene Princes and Ladies in occasions of honour Which may serue to answere the cause of my comming to sée the Quéen being thereto bound by dutie and honest loue wherewith in my yonger yéeres I faithfully serued her And this I did without any iniurie to her honor much lesse occasion of offence to the King which hee would néedes interprete in that sort when with so good indiscretion hée came and assailed me These are fables quoth Promptaleon for the conspiracie and treason betwéene thée and the Quéene is so manifest as euerie one knowes it And if the Emperour doo not this day consumate your liues both together in one fire he offereth the greatest iniurie that euer Prince did and before the whole world wee will héereafter accuse him Darest thou maintaine by Combate in fielde saide Florendos what thou with such brauerie affirmest in this Hall that will I by mine honour quoth Promptaleon and let the Knight come that dares aduenture on this condition that if I be the conquerour the Quéene and thou may beâ— burned as ye haue deserued and the Princesse Armida declared not legitimate and so disinherited of the Kingdome Now hast thou reuealed thy villany saide Florendos and for the last condition doost thou follow the cause so earnestly rather then by any matter of truth and equitie but thou art deceiued in thine intent and thy death villaine shall deliuer assurance of her succession So please my Lord the Emperour of his grace to prolong the day of Combate till I haue recouered some health my selfe alone against thée and thy Brother will prooue ye false Traytours and that maliciously yée haue accused the Quéene The Emperour seeing the Prince so weake and sickly and yet with so good courage willing so defence his Daughters wrong resolued himselfe that shee was innocent Remembring then his noble seruices in defende of his Empire and how 's iniuriously he denied him his Daughter he was mooued in such sort as he could not refraine from teares thinking for vengeance of that offence that heauen had iustly permitted the death of Tarisius wherefore beholding Floâ—eâ—dos with pittifull lookes pronounced the sentence in this manner You Promptaleon and Oudin Nephewes to our deceased déere and beloued sonne the King of Hungaria shall mainteine your words in open Fielde against two such Knights as my Daughter and the Prince Florendos can deliuer on their behalfe and that within twelue dayes after this instant one of which the Prince himselfe shall bée if he be not furnished with another to his liking alwayes prouided that the vanquished shall be declared Traitors and attainted of the crime of Lese Maiestatis and so punished according to the exigence of the case The two Brothren accepted these conditions béeing so farre ouercome with their owne pride as they reputed themselues the most valiant Knights of the world Florendos féeling himselfe so weake of body would gladly haue demaunded a longer day but the sentence being giuen the Emperour likewise promising to appoint another knight in his
tryed in so manie affliâ—tions shall be crowned with his long and desired reward The Emperour amazed at this strange discourse could not imagine what answer to make wherefore hauing â—itten a prettie while silent lifting his eyes to heauen hée thus began O mightie King of Kings onely good and full of mercie I render thy name euerlasting thankes for thy gracious regarde to the distressed Empire of Greece for though in our last warres thou tookest away my Sonne Caniano thou hast at this instant sent me another who well hath learned to defend this state from the proude inuading Gouernour of Turkie Ah my Sonne Palmerin right well doo I beléeue what thou hast said And albeit thou hadst not shewen such probable arguments yet doost thou so perfectlie resemble my Sonne Caniano as easily may be coniectured whence thou art discended Whatsouer thou demaundest my Sonne is already graunted And with these wordâ— the teares trickled downe his milke-white Bearde such was his inward earnest conceyt of ioy and imbracing Palmerin in his armes he called his Lords who maruelled not a little at this euent and thus spake the Emperour Sée héere my Fréendes your liege Lorde and Soueraignâ— the Sonne of my Daughter Griana and the Prince Florendos how may you applaud the bountie of Heauen prouiding for you such a noble Prince The Lords all wondering at these spéeches came and entertained him with manie signâ—â— of honour so that it is not registred in any auncient memâ—rie that euer King or prince had such suddaine and gracious 〈◊〉 By this time these newes were spredde through the whole Pallace and the Empresse â—earing thereof sent one of her Squires for Palmerin when the Emperour taking him by the hand brought him to her Chamber saying Sée héere Madame your Sonne who by your meanes hath long time béene banished our Court héereafter looke hée bée better vsed The Empresse surprised with incredible ioy louingly embracing him said Welcome my Sonne forget my heynous oâ—â—ence when I would not suffer thy Mother to enioy the Prince Florendos which fault Heauen hath reuenged with the death of my thrée Nephewes whereof I nowe make no reckoning séeing God hath sent vs such a gracious comfort The Emperor on the other side welcommed the Quéene his Daughter which as yet hée had not doone since her comming from Hungaria Lay by quoth hée fayre Daughter these blacke garments the witnes of your inward mourning and decke your selfe presently in reioycing habits for now before all my Lords of Greece will I haue you espoused to the Prince Florendos So departed the Emperour and the Princes leauing the Quéene â—itâ— her Ladies who disrobed her of her mourning garments his Maiestie commaunding Palmerin to go séeke the Prince of Macedon his Father accompanied with all the noble men of the Court. In the meane while he caused all the ornaments of black to bée taken downe and the Pallace to bée hanged with sumptuous cloth of Golde and gaue in charge to the Empresse that the Quéene the Princesse Armida and all the Ladies should adorne themselues as to receiue the verie greatest Prince in the worlde Likewise he saide to all his Knights Reioyce my good Fréends with mée for God tooke away my Children and hath double restored them for those that bée dead hée hath raysed vs more Palmerin hauing with him all the Emperours Knights went to the lodging of the Prince Florendos and by the way the Cittizens of Constantinople Nobles Marchants and Artezans welcommed him verie honourablie making bonfires and Garlandes of tryumph in euerie stréete crying Welcome to this noble Cittie our newe Lord and Maister and such chéerefull delights did they solemnize the time withall as though it had béene the feast of Christmasse Palmerin his train being come to the Princes lodging found two squires at the Gate sent thither by the Emperour the one holding 〈◊〉 Horse verie richly câ—parassoned and the other costly garments of cloath of Golde which hâ— caused t◠〈◊〉 brought vp after him into the Chamber where falling on his knée before the Prince he said Nowe come I my Lord to kisse your hande not as I haue done héeretofore but as becommeth a Sonne to his Father for I am your Sonne begotten on the Quéenâ— Griana whom the Emperour will nâ—we bestow on you in marriage Florendos was so rauished with these spéeches as hee was readie to swoune betwéene Palmerins armes but at length â—â—tching a great sigh saide O celestiall Soueraigne what am I whom thou shouldest so respect and lifâ— to such surpassing happinesse Ah poore Florendos not long since the mâ—st wretched among men what man may nowâ— compare with thy fortune hauing such a knight to thy Son and fayre Quéene Griana to thy Wife Go wée my sonne quoth hée embracing Palmerin for it is no reason to stay when such happie newe a hath sent for vs. And credit mée the verie first time I did behold thée my heart was solicited with greater ioy then I am able nowe to expresse which euer since made me coniecture that there was morâ— betwéene vs then fréendly alliaunce Then was hée cloathed in the rich garments sent by the Emperour and his Cozin Frenato in like maner so comming on horsebacke the Duke of Pera rode on his right hande and his Sonnâ— Palmerin on the left with many Princes Lords Knights and Gentlemen ryding both before and behind them In this manner came they to the Pallace where the Emperour himselfe staied their comming at the Gate and after they were alighted the Prince making humble reuerence to his Maiestie thus spake Mightie and redoubted Lord I knowe not how to render sufficient thanks in that your highnes is pleased to honor me with your daughter which is the thing I alwaies desired Notwithstanding I hope to â—â—ew such deserts héereafter as neither shée shall be miscontented nor your maiestie repent your gentle gift Noâ—le Lord quoth the Emperour well haue you deserued her and mine Empire with her in respect of your worthy sonnâ— Palmerin whome all Europe Asia and Affrica honours Wherefore in the presence of all my Lords I will giue her 〈◊〉 you deferring the day of solemnitie vntill the states of Macedon come therefore Sonne Palmerin go for your Mother Presently hee departed the Dukes of Pera and Mecaena with him and soone they returned bringing with 〈◊〉 the Empresse the Quéene and his Sister the yong Princesse Armida whom hee had schooled with such graâ—â—â—s spéeches as she had nowe forgotten her displeasure towardes the Prince Florendos for the death of the King 〈◊〉 Father There openly in the Hall by the Archbishop of Constantinople the Prince Florendos and Griana were â—â—â—iâ—nced together to their no little contentment as also to the good lyking of all the Princes and Lords of Greece who spent the rest of the day in ioyfull disports and tryâ—â—phâ— Chap. XXXIII How Frysoll declared to the Empresse that he was sonne to her Nephew Netrides ALl this pleasure of the Princes
all his enemies Moreouer within two Moneths hée would deliuer tenne thousand talents of Golde and two millions of Seraphes in recompence of his wrong doone to the King Abimar All this my Lord quoth the Soldane will I faythfullie performe and all the Kinges my Subiects shall subscribe thereto on this condition that you accompanie the Princesse to the Cittie of Harano there to honor with your presence our espousall where your sonne Tomano shall likewise match with our Daughter To this the King willingly consented whereupon the Soldane sent his Seneshall to cause his Armie march homewardes into Persia except sixe thousand men at Armes to guard to Soldanes person then openly in the field was the peace proclaimed and the Captaines on either side fréendly embracing each other Afterward the soldane comming to the king Abimar and in the presence of Palmerin and Trineus thus spake Néedlesse were it now my Lord to remember our passed displeasures but generally to conferre of warre and peace yet hereof I can assure you that the Princesse Zephira and these two strange Knights preuailed more agaynst me then all the rest of your Armie But least your people should thinke that our concluded peace is not thorowlie grounded to morrowe will I bée openlie affianâ—ed to the Princesse Zephira and afterward set forward to Harano that my Sisters may bée present at our nuptials in the meane while our Seneshall and sixe other noble Lordes shall remaine with you as our hostages These determinations fulfilled the Soldane passed to Harano where hée heard of the death of the Prince Donadel and the Kinges sonne of Rosillia with diuerse other Princes of his kindred â—â—aine in the battell but the heate of his newe loue caused him to make small account therof preparing all things readie for the solemnitie of his marriage Chap. LIII The conference that the Soldane of Persia had with his Sisters thinking by theyr meanes to stay Palmerin and Tryneus in his Court and the honourable entertainement hee made them at the arriuall of the Princesse Zephira And how by good fortune Palmerin recouered his Squire Colmelio from the Ambassadour Maucetto NO sooner was the soldane come to Harano but hée presently dispatched Messengers to his sisters that they might bée present at his honourable marriage and calling for his Daughter the yong Princesse Belsina he thus began Faire Daughter I thinke you are not ignorant for report fâ—â—eth quicklie fâ—r that I haue promised you in mariage to the Prince Tomano therefore I account it verie requisitie that your solemnitie bee done on the same day when I shall espouse the Princesse Zephira My gracious Lorde and Father quoth shée I remaine altogither at your highnesse direction and if for conclusion of peace you match with so faire a Princesse as is Zephira it were agaynst reason I should refuse the worthie Prince Tomano of Romata When hée perceyued the readie good-will of his Daughter and his two sisters by this time were come to the Court. After hée had welcommed them in most gracious manner hée entred into these spéeches I thought it verie expedient fayre sisters since you vnderstand the peace concluded betwéene the King of Grisca and my selfe to acquaint you with other matters greatly concerning you There commeth hither in the companie of the Princesse Zephira two strange knights of very rare perfections to whom I would willingly haue you vse such especiall behauiour as wée might purchase the meanes to enioy them continually in our Court for no other intent I promise you but onely that they may match with you in marriage You sister Lyzanda quoth hée to the eldest I commit to the cheefest Knight the verie same man that most valiantlie tooke mée prisoner in the battaile and you Arecinda for so was the yongest named I bequeath to the other who is one of the goodliest personages that euer Nature framed Héereunto they were right soone entreated especiallie Aurecinda who though her elder sister were graue and well aduised yet was shée pleasant quaint and so subtile as easily could shee practise the meane to deceiue the wisest man whereof she made some experience as you shal hereafter perceiue in the Chapters following The Soldane hauing sent for all the Kings Princes and Lordes his subiects to bée present on the day of this great solemnitie the Prince Tomano earnestlie desâ—ring to sée his best beloued desired Palmerin Trineus and the Princesse Zephira that they might set forwardes to Harano But Muzabelino who knew what troubles would succéede the marriage aduised the King Abimar not to goe and counsailed the two Princes Trineus and Palmerin to kéepe themselues continuallie Armed because the Soldane was a man continually subiect to incertaine chaunces So giuing of each of them a Cote of Armes of Crimson Ueluet most curiousâ—ie embroidered with Pearles hee departed from them returning backe againe to the Citie of Grisca Nowe ride these Princes ioyfully to Harano where they were receiued by the soldane with wonderfull pompe and honor each one admiring the rare beaâ—tie of the Princesse Zephira who was conducted with such a royall traine as neuer was the like séene before in Harano At the Cittie Gate the Soldane mette them and in a sumptuous Câ—â—che accompanied them to the Pallace where after many solemne curtesies on each side deliuered and such magnifical royaltie beséeming the time and place the Soldane came to his Sisters who had not yet talked with the two strange Knights and thus spake Sisters to the eâ—de that héereafter you shall not be beguiled the Knights that accompanie my Ladie the Princesse and whome I haue so much commended to you are Christians notwithstanding they bee such as they twaine deserue greater honor then I am any way able to expresse As for their comely stature after that your â—ye hath conferred with your heart I referre my opinion to your iudgement regarde then that they bee loued and estéemed as their perfections doo worthily deserue Aurecinda the yongest and most voluntarie Sister hauing her eye continually fixed on the Prince Trineus thus conferred with herselfe My Brother verie lightly commaundeth vs to loue these strange Knights I knowe not what my Sisters opinion is as for mine owne the beginning alreadie of my loue is such that if I do not quickly obtaine my desire I feare that my affection is rated at the price of my life The time is passed ouer with many delights and daily pastimes after the Persian manner but all this while Lizanda and Aurecinda are tormented with loue so that all patience was vtterly denied them yet bearing this waightie burden so well as they coulde at length the two Sisters came to the Princesse Zephiraâ—s Chamber where they founde Palmerin and Trineus conferring together feigning the cause of their comming to bid the Princesse good morrow Palmerin perceiuing that Lizanda sodainely chaunged her colour imagined the cause of her secret disease and béeing loth to bée tempted with anie such occasion dissembling that he sawe her not tooke
their Captaine brauely encouraging them At length they buâ—keled togither and a daungerous fight began betwéene them so that seuen of the King Maulerinos Knights were slaine the King of Sparta sore wounded by Ptolome and Dyardo in great perill of his life When Palmerin saw the King of Sparta fall and that the Moores had daungerouslie hurt diuerse of his Fréends fearing the King was slaine hée came to Ptolome and after manie sharpe strokes on either side at last got him downe when pulling his Helmet furiouslie from him thinking to haue smitten off his head Ptolome cried Kill me not sir Knight for I yéelde my selfe to thée Palmerin knowing his fréend sayd to his companions and the rest Giue ouer my fréends and fight no longer for false fortune hath too much deluded vs. Ah worthiâ— Ptolome why haue I dealt so hardly with thée is it possible that any man may bee likened to mée in mishap no sooner am I out of one but presently I fall into another by heauen déere Fréende if I had slame thée right soone woulde I haue béene reuenged on my selfe Sée then swéet Ptolome how Palmerin gréeues for his offence more then if he had lost the best limme on his bodie When Ptolome behelde his Friend Palmerin and by him the noble Prince Tryneus embracing them he said O Sauiour of the world howe highly hast thou this day fauoured mée permitting mée to finde my déerest Fréendes then they brought him to the Princesse Agriola in her Cabin who was not a little glad to beholde the man that endured with her some part of miserie and Colmelio was ioyfull to behold Sir Ptolome in that their hap was to bée parted when they were ledde to be solde as â—laues but Agriola woulde néedes heare all his fortunes since the first time of their separation which hée and Colmelio trulie recounted Beléeue me Ptolome said Palmerin I sée wée all haue had our shares in aduersitie and hardlie can we iudge whose wrong hath béene greatest but howe came you thus to bée Captaine among the Turks My Lord quoth he the Princesse Alchidiana bought me and charged mée to séeke you both by Sea and Lande and for my defence gaue mee fortie Knights of whom there nowe remaines but ten aliue That Ladie am I highlie beholâ—ing to sayde Palmerin and for the wrong I haue done her by the death of her Knights I will excuse my selfe by an honourable Ambassade when I shall send the Prince Olorico to her againe And that thou Ptolome maist knowe some of my good happe vnderstande that I haue founde my Father and Mother who are Florendos the King of Macedon and Grâ—ana the Daughter and â—eyre to the Emperour of Greece I did euer perswade my selfe quoth Polome that your discent was of royall linage but I intreate you for my sake that these Knights which your men haue taken may be gentlie vsed and enioy their libertie Palmerin calling them to him said For Ptolome his sake that was your Captaine and her loue that commaunded you to trauaile with him I wish to you as to my selfe yet shall you all go with mée to Constantinople that you may helpe to conduct the Prince Olorico backe againe whom I meane to send with you to your Mistresse We abide my Lord quoth they at your direction and willingly obey your will in that wée haue knowne howe déerelie the Soldane loued you and better fortune coulde not befall vs then so luckilie to méete with you and the Prince Olorico as for our Companions that are sâ—aine there is no remedie for such mishaps are common where Fortune â—rowneth So sailed they on fréendlie togither and on the Sea we will leaue them to tell you of the return of the Ambassadour Maucetto to the Soldane of Babylon who hearing that the Persian had refused to assist him was somewhat offended thereat but when he saw that Palmerin had written he pacified himselfe saying Ah gentle Palmerin hadst thou béene in the battell at Constantinople I had not néeded to demaunde helpe of him whom I iudged my Fréend but séeing Fortune hath showne her selfe so contrarie I will not attempt anie thing from which thou disswadest me Maucetto declared that Palmerin had likewise sent a Letter to the Princesse Alchidiana which hee commaunâ—â—â— him presentlie to carrie her no sooner had she read the Letter and thereby vnderstoode his knightly déedes of 〈◊〉 but embracing the Ambassadour thus spake Maucetto neuer couldest thou haue brought mee better newes thou of the man whose name flourisheth in all 〈…〉 Letter written by the hand of the most perfect Knight liuing full charâ—e and choisly will I kéepe thée Ah Ptolome whom my noble Fréend loues so déerely thée haue I sent in daungerous hazarde of thy life but may I once sée thée againe thou shalt perceiue my loue for Palmerins sake Happie art thou Princesse Zephira hauing with thée the myrror of mankinde My Lord quoth shée as though Palmerin had béene present willt thou wrong thy selfe so much as to tarrie with her Dare the Soldans Sisters vaunt that they loue thée They be faire as I vnderstand but not so faire that thou shouldest refuse me for theÌ„ What haue I said doubtlesse matter to mine owne reproach for if thou wouldest the kingly offers of my Father and my importunate intreattes could no way mooue thée hardlie may the Persians preuaile with thée especiallie in such a weightie cause as loue is Maucetto what sayest thou is Lord Palmerin like to stay long in Persia with the Soldans Sisters No Madame quoth he I heard him 〈◊〉 verie often that he woulde depart thence before a Moneth was expired In these and such like spéeches they continued wherin wee purpose to leaue them for by this time is Palmerin and his Fréendes arriued in the Hauen of Constantinople and Colmelio is sent before to the Pallace to aduertise the Emperour of these ioyfull tydings As Colmelio entered the great Hall the 〈◊〉 man he mette was his Father Gerrard who was newly made Lord Chamberlaine to the King Florendos wherefore falling on his knée before him he said Father â—ittle did I thinke to finde you exalted to such honouâ— happie was the day when you 〈◊〉 Prince Palmerin and much more 〈…〉 you shall heare matter of maruaile 〈…〉 the Emperour with the King Florendos 〈…〉 Hall anâ— all the Ladies going to heare 〈…〉 Gerrard thus spake to his highnesse My Lord sée héere my Sonne Colmelio who long time hath trauailed in seare of Prince Palmerin hee hath some 〈…〉 to deliuer to your Maiestie Right welcome is 〈…〉 the Emperour say what thou 〈◊〉 my fréend 〈…〉 libertie Mightie Emperour sayd Colmelio your Son Prince Palmerin 〈◊〉 arriued in the Hauen and with 〈…〉 Prince Tryneus Sonne to the Emperour of 〈◊〉 the good Knight Sir Ptolome the fiue Princes which went with him from Macedon the two Princesses of England and Durace with diuerse other vnknowne to me and saluting your Maiestie with his humble dutie intreateth that
of so straunge and variable fortunes said I thought my Daughter had learned more modestie then leauing her Fathers Court to followe a Knight vnknowne to her in straunge Countries but séeing the ende hath fallen out so well hencefoorth I shall remaine in better contentment séeing a Prince of so great renowne hath now espoused her While this conference endured the Duke earnestly beheld the Princesse Sabinda Daughter to the Prince of Sansuega and Néece to the Quéene and of such excellent grace and beautie he estéemed her as forgetting the death of his Father who deceased since his departure from Allemaigne hée became so amourous of her that he demaunded of the Quéene if shée were her Daughter Shée is not my Daughter quoth the Quéene but the Daughter of my Brother the Princes of Sansuega Right glad was the Duke thereof and resolued to request her of the King in marriage who knowing the honourable place he held among the Prince of Greece and what account Palmerin made of him consented thereto so that within fewe dayes after they were espoused togither Herevpon to accompany the Princesse and to confirm the peace the King sent the Duke of Gaule and another great Lorde with them into Allemaigne the Quéen likewise sent twelue English Ladies to attend on her Daughter Thus returned the Duke of Mecaena to Vienna where 〈◊〉 was worthily welcommed by the Emperour Palmerin and Tryneus especially the yong Duchesse and the Ambassadours of England by whom the peace was faithfully ratified and confirmed Chap. LXII How Palmerin and Polinarda departed from Vienna toward Constantinople where after the decease of the aged Emperour Remicius Palmerin was crowned Emperour of Greece and what ioy was made at the byrth of Polinarda her first sonne AFâ—â—er the Ambassadours of England were returned home Palmerin pereciuing the Empire of Allemaigne was in quiet tooke his leaue of the Emperor minding to conduct his Polinarda to Constantinople not without manie sorrowfull lamentations of the mother to forgo her daughter and faire Agriola her new acquainted sister yet the Emperour pacified them well inough by shewing what benefit this contract would be to Christendome and so procéeded to his daughter in this maner Thou goest Polinarda to the séate of a great Empire but more pleaseth mée the péerelesse name of Palmerin d'Oliua thy husbands then the regiment of such a mightie Monarche Farewell faire Daughter continue in faithfull loue and obedience remembring the reuerende honour a Wife oweth to her Husband Polinarda hearing with what earnest affection her Father spake was so ouercome with modest duetie of a Childe to her Father as shée was not able to aunswere one word which Palmerin beholding kissed the Emperours hande embraced Tryneus and tooke a courteous farewell of all the Ladies commaunding the Pages presently to bring away the Princesse 〈◊〉 saying to her Madame the longer you staie héere the greater will be your conceit of sorrow by absence the griefe will be forgotten let vs then merely iourney to the Cittie of Constantinople where they that neuer sawe you wil reioyce more at your comming then all the Allemaignes can sorrow for your departure With like comfortable spéeches Palmerin frequented his Ladie by the way till at length they entred the Realme of Hungaria where Frysoll with his chéefest Lords attended their comming to whom Palmerin in iesting said Brother I haue aduentured to bring your Sister Polinarda into your Kingdome take héede if you laie claime to her now as sometime yée did for I am readie to defende her against whosoeuer dare I perceiue my Lorde quoth Frysoll that you will haue my follie generally knowne I pray 〈◊〉 let no such youthfull pranckes be nowe remembred for as you are the chéefest in chiualrie so haue the destenie giuen you a Ladie whome no one in the whole world may paragon Well may it be said that God and Nature fore-pointed this match nothing inferiour to louelie Paris and faire Helena or puissaunt Hector and wise Andromacha Frysoll accompanied them so farre as Alba where courteously parting from each other Frysoll returned to his Kingdome and Palmerin soone after came to Constantinople where no litle ioy was made for his safe arriual especially for the Princesse Polinarda who was a right welcome Ladie into Greece the olde Emperour prouiding such deuises and tryumphes as the Chronicles to this daye recorde the memorie thereof About tenne or twelue Monethes after Polynarda was deliuered of a goodly Sonne who was named Primaleon whereat the good olde Emperour so inwardly reioyced as his spirit onely comforted in the good fortune of his Sonnes and fearing afterwarde to sée anie sinister chaunce fall to them departed this fraile and transitorie life whose death was signified thrée dayes before by the enchaunted Bird. His Funerall was performed as beséemed so great an estate and faine woulde Palmerin haue had his Father the King Florendos crowned Emperour earnestly labouring the Princes in the cause But he desiring them to holde him excused returned them this answere Great offence were it to God my Friendes that the honour due to him who gaue me libertie defended my renowne and saued my life shoulde bee taken from him and giuen mée for if vertue authoritie and good fortune are the properties whereby to make choyse of an Emperour Palmerin is verie many degrées before me As for his generositie it is so well knowne to you that it were but lost labour to make report thereof For his authoritie the â—arbarous nations among whome hée hath liued and conqueringly controlled deliuer sufficient testimonie And for his high good fortune in all his enterprises where is the man that may bee equalled with him or what hath hée at anie time attempted but he hath finished the same with wonderfull honour I could name Kings and Princes that raign onely by his meanes To speake of the victories he hath obtained either in battell or single Combate your eyes haue beheld and the whole worlde apparantly witnesseth This dare I boldly say and some of you doo know it better then I that his onely name will be more feared in Greece then all your fore-passed Emperours haue bene by their greatest puissance So well did the people like what the King Florendos had sayd as immediately was the Prince Palmerin proclaimed Emperour of Constantinople and the same day he was crowned according to the accustomed rites and ceremonies Not long afterward did the King Florendos stay with his Sonne but returned with his Quéene to Macedon where hée goueâ—ned in loue and iustice among his Subiects daily sending Messengers to Constantinople as well to vnderstand the health of the Emperour and Empresse as also of yong Prymaleon who daily increased in strength and beautie Chap. LXIII How the Prince Olorico and Alchidiana thinking to trauaile to Constantinople to see the Emperour Palmerin and the Empresse Polinarda strayed on the Sea And what sorrowful mone she made and how she was found by Palmerin IN one of the Chapters before you
me and I assure you that these tydings hath breathed such newe life into my verie soule as alreadie I finde my selfe wonderfullie chaunged yea and that in such sorte as before thrée daies bee past I shall attende her gracious will with seruiceable dilligence In the meane while I shal desire you faire Fréend to let my soueraigne Mistresse vnderstand that I kisse her highnesse hande in humble duetie and had ere this giuen farewell to this life hadde not her swéete regard called me againe from death Thus parted Cardina from the Prince taking her way spéedily towards Griana who longed not a little to heare from Florendos whom she had made Lord of her gentle affections CHAP. VI. Howe Cardina recited to the Princesse Griana what speeches had past betweene her and Florendos and of the counsell shee gaue her Mistresse to conferre with him in the Garden so soone as he was recouered CArdina thus dispatched from Florendos made no little haste towardes the Princesse who remained all this while silent in her Chamber and no sooner perceiued she Cardina to enter but she demaunded if Florendos receiued her token in good part or no. Beléeue me Madame answered Cardina I thinke you neuer did anie thing in all your life whereby you coulde obtaine more honour and applause then by that you vouchsafed to doo at this instant for in my iudgment you haue performed a miracle in giuing him life that was in the very iawes of death Then from point to point shee recounted the talke passed betwéene them first howe she founde him in yâ— midst of his regrets and lastlie what message hee had sent by her Thus while Cardina continued her discourse euery worde tooke hold on the gentle hart of the Princesse and wounded her with such pittifull regarde of the Prince his torments as what she desired inwardlie shee shaddowed with modestie as lothe to receiue shame in her loue hauing caryed her selfe with such honour all her life quoth shee to Cardina Howe might I good Seruaunt ease this waightie oppression Uerie well said Cardina wheÌ„ Fortune alloweth opportunitie But thou knowest quoth Griana a Princesse as I am to be séene secrete with so braue a Gallant dooth greatlie hazard my life and honour As for that Madame saide Cardina my Sister can better aduise you then I or any that I know by her meanes may you speake with your Knight the brauest Gentleman in the world and one whoÌ„ I knowe is so farre deuoted yours as hee will rather loose his life then impeache your honour anie waie and otherwise then in loyaltie to make you his Ladie and wyfe I am well assured he loueth not which loue Madame you may well entertaine Returne then Cardina quoth the Princesse to my Lorde Florendos and assure him that so soone as he is recouered I wyll come and speake with him in such place where we may well aduenture and desire hym as he loueth me that it may bee with all conuenient spéede Cardina without anie further delay weÌ„t with this message to the Prince Florendos who hartened himselfe so well vpon these spéeches as within sixe dayes he found himselfe thorowlie amended whereof the Emperour and Caniano hys Sonne was not a little glad but Tarisius was scant well pleased thereat for he had coÌ„ceiued a secrete iealousie because he was so earnest in affection towards Griana who by her Mayd Cardina had warned Florendos that yâ— night following he should come into the Garden whereâ—nto her Chamber had a secrete entraunce and there woulde he and she conferre of their loue without suspicion of any Florendos séeing these affayres sort to so good ende purposed what euer happened not to fayle the time place which made him thinke this day a yéere in length so long hee looked and desired for the night But nowe the wished howre is come when Florendos with his Cozin â—renato who was priuie to the Princes secrete loue departed from their lodginges and comming to the Garden they sawe the wall was verie high and harde to climbe notwithstanding greater thinges are possible to Louers chéefely when a cause of such waight is in hand so that in short time Florendos had gotte the top of the Wall and afterward went to the place where Griana â—tayed his comming who had no bodie with her but Lerina Sister to Cardina to whom likewise she thorowly bewrayed her secrets He hauing espied them came and fell on his knee before the Princesse but she tooke him vppe in her armes embracing him so swéetlie as Lerina withdrew her selfe amongst the Trées not with anie intent of feare to displease them but with a certaine kinde of gréefe which ouercame her that shee wanted a Fréende to participate with her in loue as her Mistresse hadde before whâ—m Florendos béeing on his knée sayd Madâ—me by vertue of your commaundement I am thus bolde to enter your presence yéelding my whole abilitie to you as to the diuine Goddesse that hath shéelded me from death which grace séeing your princelie nature hath affoorded me my life for euer héereafter remaines at your soueraigne pleasure the vnfeigned promise whereof I binde to you by irrâ—uocable vowes but especiallie by my faith yâ— onelie ornament of a true Knight that I desire no longer to breathe this ayre then to honour your name with my continual seruice for life without yâ—ur grace and fauour is more yrkesome to me then a thousande deathes But by your fauour my Lorde answered Griana howe or from whence hath this hote loue sprunge let mee knowe I desire you Madame ê™ he as I haue heretofore so at this time I assure you that in my nature Countrie of Macedon I hearde the renowne of your excelling beauty at which verie instant I dedicated my selfe onelie yours and euer since continuing in this religious seruice I haue so confidentlie set downe my rest in gracious regard of your swéete selfe as béeing yours in seruice I liue if otherwise I die In sooth said said the Princesse I sée theÌ„ you haue giuen your selfe wholie mine and so I am well centented to accept you Then Madame quoth he to seale yâ— assuraunce of this diuine fauour you haue doone me 〈…〉 intreate to kisse those swéete lippes that deliuered the 〈◊〉 I haue long looked for Which to grant though for modesties sake at first she séemed daintie yet at length looue had so supprâ—zed her as he néeded not striue when no resistaunce was offered Thus with feares and solemne kysses they breathed into eache others soule the mute arguments of their loue and faire Cynthia amiablie fauouring this delicate encounter added such courage to the minde of this louâ—lie Champion as breaking his Launce in the face of Venus hee bequeathed the successe of his dâ—uoire to the gracious aspect of that Planet And among a number of soft and sweete loue spéeches he discoursed to her his talke with the Emperour her Father howe he had requested her in marriage
why lament you then séeing it is your pleasure to make her vnfortunate while she liues I hartelie desire the heauens to pardon you and that the first newes heereafter you shall heare of me maie be the true report of my death This said shee mounted on horsebacke and without anie semblaunce to take her leaue of her Father so béeing honourablie accompanied in short time she arriued in Hungaria with Tarisius whose loue to her so vehementlie increased as he reputed himselfe yâ— most fortunate Prince in Europe hauing gained the paragon among all Ladies Soone after the aged King died by which meanes Tarisius came to the Crowne Griana highlie esteeming such as shee brought with her from Constantinople to witt Lerina and Cardina but especiallie Tolomestra to whom she verie often imparted the whole secrets of her minde leading so strickt and constant a life as all the Court did wonder at her But the remorse of conscience which dailie touched her for the losse of her Sonne caused her to spende day and night in denout orisons that the heauens would forget her hainous offence CHAP. XI Howe Florendos vnderstoode by the Esquire hee sent to Constantinople the marriage of Griana and Tarisius whereat he conceiued such inward greefe as hée would haue died with extreame sorrow ALl this while continued Florendos on the Frontiers betwéene Constantinople and Macedon til at length he hearde that Griana was released of her imprisonment wherof he was so glad as nowe he thought to deale more surelie then he did before whervppon he dispatched Lyomenus one of his Esquires towardes her with a Letter of earnest and intire affection wherein he desired to knowe if he might compasse the meane to come and sée her and hee doubted not to bring her so secretlie on her iournete and with so good prouision as before they should be againe discouered they would be safelie arriued in Macedon But this hope was soone frustrate for Lyomenus béeing come to Constantinople founde the marriage betwéene Tarisius and Griana consumated which he tooke so displeasantlie as without giuing the Letter or speaking to the Princesse he returned hastilie againe to his Lorde and Maister Who béeing aduertised of his comming sent for him immediatlie vp into his Chamber at whose entrance the Prince discerned the newes by his conuntenance whervpon he demaunded if Griana were sicke or howe shee fared My Lord ê™ he happie had she béene if she had dyed tenne yeeres since for I doubt vnlesse you arme your self with wonderfull patience that what is doone will highlie endaunger your person Why quoth Florendos what is happened Trust me my Lord ê™ he the verie worst that can be for you Tarisius hath espoused her and despight of her the Emperour caused it to be doone No sooner had Lyomenus spoken the word but Florendos cast himselfe crueliâ—e against the grounde saying O my God take pittie on my soule for my bodie must needes suffer mis-fortune At which wordes he fell in a swoune when Lyomenus thinking him dead ran hastilie and called Frenato who knowing full well the cause of his passion laboured by all meanes he might to perswade him 〈◊〉 notwithstâ—â—ding all the intreaties he vsed in 〈◊〉 â—nd 〈…〉 hee coulde not get one word of hiâ— whereuppon hee sent for an auncient Hermit neere at hand whom Florendos made verie much account of who beeing come applying diuers soueraigne Hearbes to his temples whereof the olde Father â—nâ—we well the vertue at length Florendos recouered his sences and opening his eyes behâ—ld the olde Hermit to whoÌ„ with verie feeble voice he said Ah good Father praie for me for I féele mine ende nigh at hand Not so my Sâ—nne saide the Hermit what are you so vnprouided of diuine perswasion as you will loose bothe bodie and soule for matter of so meane consequence hast thou liued so long and yet ignâ—raunt of the inconstancie of Women which is no other thâ—Ì„ thou beholdest in Griana Knowest thou not that as the saile of the Shippe is subiecte to all windes so are their affections to continuall mutabilitie and knowest thou not that what they purpose to execute irreuocable in one moment they are suddainlie disswaded from My Sonne beléeue my counsell and with as much pleasure learne to forget this folly as with extreame paine thou diddesâ— first imprint it in thy thoughts Ah Father quoth Florendos neuer seeke in this sort to perswade me béeing assured if you knew how things haue past you wold not thus in fearmes disgrace my Ladie for shee is mine and Tarisius hath no right to her to whom the Emperour hath married her perforce els would she neuer haue broken her faith to me and while I liue Father none but she can bee called the Wyfe of Florendos Sonne to the mighty King of Macedon The wise olde Father séeing him in choller beeing lothe likewise to offende the Prince would no longer crosse him in spéeches but fearing to mooue him too much mildlie thus spake May be my Sonne she hath beene deere to you and I would your consent in loue had aunswered your lyking but thus to dispaire and endaunger your owne life truste me it is not well doone therefore I desire you to perswade your selfe and by your constancie condemne her lightnes taking patientlie what haâ—h happened These and such like good words vsed the old Hermit but Florendos would take no sustenance neither be remooued froÌ„ this opinion for fiue daies while the old man staied with him neither would he looke chéerefully as he was wont but continued euermore sad melanchollique nor could the King his Father cause him like of anie Wife but onely Griana for whome continuallie he neuer left mourning CHAP. XII How yong Palmerin sleeping had a strange vision which prouoked him to know whose Son he was and of the talk which passed between him and Dyofâ—na the daughter of Gerrard PAlmerin being now come to the age of fifteene yeeres nourished in the Mountaine as the Childe of Gerrard his supposed Father well beloued of him and Marcella his wife as their own Sonne grewe in stature so tall comelie and wel nurtured as well might he be known of noble parentage For albeit he companyed with Gerrards Children who vsed him after their rusticall capacities yet hee desired more to passe the Mountaines with his long Bowe to chase the Beares and Bores thorowe thicke and thinne and to keepe Hawkes and dogges rather then Sheepe and Cattell as the other Children did In these sports he had such wonderfull delight as oftentimes he would come home verie late and sore wearied but one time among the rest he came home so ouerlaboured as he was glad to laie him downe to rest and he was no sooner fallen a sléepe but he was solicited with a meruailous visyon the effect whereof thus followeth Hee thought as hee was pursuing a goodlie Harte thorowe a Forrest hee met with the fairest Ladie that euer eye behelde who sat on the side of a
presented his Cozins the one named Edron proude and arrogant and the other Edward of selfe same qualitie These two tooke their oathes with the Countie that the Princes accused conspired the Kinges death in such sort as hath béene before declared and olde Adrian Dyardo and fayre Cardonya sware the contrary But it is true and I wil not denie it said the Prince Dyardo that I haue and doo loue Ladie Cardonya as much or rather more then mine owne selfe yet neuer did I cary any other intent but to request her in holie wedlocke so pleased the King and Quéene to like so well thereof as we coulde But that euer I intended treason or villainie it is most false and Countie thou liest in thy throate and thy copartners that haue sworne with thee It is sufficient said Palmerin but my Lord ê™ he to the King if wee be conquerers the accused shall bee deliuered and the accusers hanged What saie you Countie quoth the King Good reason Sir the like doo we request if we be victors Will you saide Palmerin that eache shall helpe his fellow as he findes it conuenient What els said the Countie that is expedient While this talke endured Edron regarded so well Palmerin that hee espied the Sworde which the Damosell carried in the Casket and brought to that Courte as she did to others which shewing the Countie he saide out aloude Where did the deuils finde this Knight to giue him this Sworde Belike they gaue him strength to drawe it out els he might haue failed as manie other did the Damosell was vnwise to bestowe it in such bad sorte At which wordes Palmerin beeing angry returned Edron this rounde auâ—swere I see Knight there is in thee more brauery and foolishe glorie then manlie action thou blamest mee before thou knowest me but ere you and I part I le finde better reason to bestowe on you and beate better gouernment into your pate with this sword that likes you not This caused euery one wishlie to beholde Palmerin the King remembring that he had séene the Sworde which none in his Court coulde deserue to conquere whereuppon he estéemed so well of Palmerin as he commaunded Edron to silence and all to goe arme themselues because hee intended that day to see the Combat fought CHAP. XXV Howe Palmerin Adrian Ptolome entered the Combat against the Countie of Ormeque and his Cozins whom they honorably vanquished AFter the King had commaunded the Knights to goe arme themselues he gaue charge to foure of his auncientest Knights to see the fielde prouided and there to place the Iudges according to the wonted custome in Bohemia the Knights béeing careful of the Kinges commaunde had soone prepared all things in readines wherefore the King his Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen went to sée the issue of this valiant enterprise Then was the Prince Dyardo and faire Cardonya brought into the fielde before whom was made a very great fire wherein they should be burned if the Countie conquered Soone after came the sixe Combatants who entered at two places appointed one against the other the Challengers beeing conducted by two of the Iudges to their place and the Defendants by the other two where they were appointed so the Iudges beeing placed the Marshal summoned the fielde and the Heraldes bid the Champions doo their deuoâ—re Palmerin had good regard to Edron whose words sticking on his stomacke called now for reuenge wherefore couching his Launce he encountered him with such a full carrire as his Launce passed through his bodie and Edron tombled dead to the ground In the meane while the Countie and Prince Adrian had vnhorssed eache other Adrian so sore wounded as he could hardlie helpe himselfe as for Ptolome and Edward they had astonied each other with falles from their Horsses but they recouered themselues quicklie and with sharpe strokes beganne to charge eache other valiantly Greatlie ashamed was the Countie to bee vnhorssed and therfore to recouer his honour he came with great furie towardes his enemie which Palmerin perceiuing stept betwéene them saying To me Countie to mee who wil bid more for thy heade then anie in the field With which wordes he reached him such a sure stroke on the head as made the fire flie foorth of his eyes notwithstanding as a man of good courage he stept aside thrusting his sword into Palmerins Horse throate enforced him quickly to take him to his féete but all the worse for him as it fell out afterwarde for Palmerin hauing beaten him out of breath he flong away his weapon and caught him about the middle where they tugged so long togeather that Palmerin getting him downe and his knées on his belly with his sword soone tooke his heade from his shoulders All this while Ptolome had good play with his enemie and after manie daungerous woundes receiued on either side at length hee had the better of the daie by killing his aduersarie Then he and Palmerin went to the Iudges who giuing theÌ„ sentence of honourable victory they tooke of their Helmets came to sée in what estate the Prince Adrian was Euill enough quoth he my noble good Fréends but the lesse account doo I make of my life in that mine eyes haue séene due vengeaunce on mine enemies Then was he nobly borne forth of the fielde the King commaunding to lodge him in his owne Pallace and the Chirurgions searching his wounds founde them mortall which newes did gréeue the whole Court ingenerall the good olde Prince yet béeing of some courage was ioyfull to die in so good sorte hauing defended his owne honour and his Sonnes whâ—me he sent for and in the presence of all the standers by saâ—d My Son séeing it hath pleased God thus to sende for me good reason is it that his will bee fulfilled but ere I depart this I commaunde thée that next God thou truely serue and loue my Lorde the King bearing towards him a hart so faithfull as I haue doone to the hower of my death and conceiue no essence at what hath passed against thée and me hauing come to passe as I iudge more by euill counsel then any setled perswasion against vs. For the rest to thy vttermost remeÌ„ber the good thou hast this daie receiued by yâ— noble Knight who is called Palmerin then calling Palmerin to him hee saide Sir Palmerin death hath seized so surelie on me as I cannot let you know a number of things that concerne you very néerelie I counsell you therefore to trauaile to yâ— Emperours Court of Allemaigne where you shal heare tidings of that you séeke so earnestlie with which wordes hee deliuered vppe his ghost And because it seemeth good â—re I passe any further to let you knowe how the Prince Adrian came by the knowledge of Palmerin thus it is I haue heretofore reported that he was a notable Cabalist or Magitian by meanes whereof fewe secrets were concealed from him so casting the Callender of most honourable byrthes he haâ—pened on Palmerin and
wyth vertues coullers God sende it to fall out so well arise and be it as your Cozin and you haue requested See in meane tune that you prouide all needfull occasions that when the daie comes nothing bee wanting Lewes humbly thanking his Father arose euery one present not a little reioycing because they feared all woulde be squandered Then began the Lordes and Ladies to conferre togeather and the Duchesse departing to her lodging béeing manned by the Prince did not as I thinke repent herselfe of her loue as a number of you martching vnder the same Ensigne wold doo the like in such a case In fine the Duchesse fearefull of the thwarts of Fortune that she would work her disgrace by some bad coniectures or wounding reports said I know well my Lorde the good will you beare me without anie further shewes or confirmations by actions so daungerous which I had rather die then beholde and therefore whatsoeuer you shall performe will condemne mee as vnwoorthy of so good deserts in this respect you shall therfore graunt me one thing which is that aboue all you haue care of your selfe els will perpetuall discontent cut short my date béeing bereaued of the honour of my greenâ— desires Nowe Madame quoth the Prince may I boast of my fortune not doubting to follow the deuise of a Ladie so vertuous for your swéete wordes prolong my life els ere this had death robd you of your Knight The Duchesse héereto with an amiable smile aunswered I muste not loose you yet good Prince for may I lengthen your life it shall bee for euer Many sollemne thankes the Prince returned and by this time had brought her to her Chamber wher hauing baise lâ—â— main departed CHAP. XXXIII Howe the Prince Lewes and the Duke of Sauoye sent theyr Heraldes and Horsemen into all parts to make knowne to all Knights their enterprises and the conditions of theyr Combats THe Prince Lewes ioyfull of the King his Fathers consent but of the gracious aunswere of the Duchesse most of all dispatched immediatlie his Heraldes into all the prouinces of Europe who executed their charge with such dilligeÌ„ce as there was no Court of Emperour King or Prince but they declared the enterprise of these two yong Princes So that one of the Princes Heraldes accompanied with the King of Armes belonging to the Duke of Sauoye came to the Emperors Court of Allemaigne which then was furnished with a great number of Lordes and Knights béeing there to sollemnize the day of hys byrth but especially Palmerin aboue all the rest tryumphing in the loue of his Mistresse Polinarda The Heralds béeing entred the great Hall founde the Emperour sitting in his chayre of estate with many Princes Barens and noble personages about him who graunting them libertie of spéeche the Heralde of Fraunce began first in this manner Illustrious and most redoubted Emperour the cause why we thus presume before your Maiestie is by the commaundement of the vertuous yong Prince Lewes Son to our dreade Lorde Agatiel King of Fraunce as also of the Duke of Sauoye his Cozin so good a Knight as may well commaunde what our message is so please your highnesse to call all your Knights in presence because it chéefelie concerneth them we with duetie will deliuer it The Emperour presentlie called for all Knights and Gentlemen of his Courte who desirous of the newes were not long in comming before whom he saide Dreade Lord the Prince Lewes of Fraunce my Maister commends him to your Maiestie with this Letter may it please your grace commande it to be read and you shall soone sée the effect of our Embassade The Emperour caused his Secretarie to reade it openlie and because it contained what you haue heard alreadie it shall be needelesse to wast longer time in talke thereof but the Letter béeing read the Heralde thus proceeded The Prince my Maister woorthie Emperour giues the Knights of your Court as els where to vnderstande that he intendes to prooue by deedes of Armes howe no Ladie in the worlde is comparable in beautie to the Lady he loues which he will bee readie to maintaine in Combat the first of Maie next and seauen daies following in his Tent before the Gates of Parris there will he verifie it against all commers that dare auerre the contrarie Afterwarde he rehearsed all the conditions to bee obserued in this Combat and the King of Armes to the Duke of Sauoie made known his Maisters challenge likewise as you haue hearde The Emperour meruailing at this message said Without doubt the Ladies had neede to be faire and my Cozins your Maisters valiant and hardie els it is doubtful howe such an enterprise will fall out for yâ— affections of persons are diuers and theyr fortunes daungerous neuerthelesse I desire the issue may sort to their honor These Lordes and Knights haue hearde your message and I iudge some of them will prouide to be there because they prize the beautie of theyr Ladies at as high a rate as your Masters doo estéeme their faire Freendes yet let them doo what they thinke most expedienâ— beâ—ause they are olde enough to make you answer As for me you may salutâ— on my behalfe the King my Brother and my Cozins to whom I sende thanks with all my hart that they thus acquainted me with their honourable endeuours All this while the Knights conferred together with diuers iudgments of these pretended Combats some were either fearefull or too forwarde others well aduised and prouoked with discréete courage Among whome repute we noble Palmerin all pensiue his eyes fixed on the groundâ— and not a wordâ— hauing in his spirite discoursed howe bitter the diuorcâ— would be of the eye from his swéete obiect in the ende concluded the Combat perswading him selfe not in Christendome nor in the other thrée habitable parts of the earth eyther Empresse Queene or Ladie was more accomplished with perfections then his gracious Mistresse Polinarda And in respect of this Embassage it seemed to him vituperous and a dishonour not sufferable if he should not iustifie the trueth haue so good occasion wheruppon he desired a thousande deathes rather then he would defer so braue a voyage and so on his knée before the Emperour thus began Gracious Lorde and my woorthy Patrone I intende with your good lyking leaue to depart with all spéede possible to the Ioustes and Combats of Fraunce and Sauoye let it not therefore displease for the honour of Chiualrie that I leaue your Courte a while but maie commit my selfe to this iourney with your fauourable opinion The Emperour verie lothe to let Palmerin goe aunswered In sooth Palmerin I greatly doubted so soone as I heard these newes from Fraunce that it would not passe without your presence which displeaseth mee not so much for their follie as your absence which is and wil be to mee greater gréefe then you iudge but let mee intreate that thy returne may be spéedie and stay no longer then thou hast good
Ladie to be this daie liuing then your owne for mine own part I am not so troubled in conceit as you are to quarrell for such a fabulous matter yet dare I tell yee that my Ladie is much more beautifull then yours which if you will denie I am readie by the strength of mine arme to make you confesse it Lewes féeling himselfe gréeued with these iniurious spéeches of the Countie answered Proude Knight I am ashamed to heare thy iudgment so simple as to thinke I am come hether for a matter of so light moment as though I would not iustifie against thée and all other what I haue promised but let that passe before we part I will cause thée know thy folly by that time thy pate and thy bodie is thorowly bumbasted looke to thy selfe for I intende to doo it So mounting on horseback and prepared as it had béene to a warre mortal encountred eache other with such furie as their Launces flying in shiuers vppe in the ayre they met together so terriblie with their bodies their Shéeldes their Horsses and their heads as they were bothe dismounted to the grounde But earnest desire to vanquish they béeing beside stronge and will disposed Knights made them quicklie beginne the second assault with their Swords which was so dangerous and handled with such dexteritie as it was harde to iudge who should haue the honour of the Combat Bâ—t Lewes beholding the representation of his Ladie and considering her so excellent and fauourable to him tooke hart a fresh and as it were inspired with newe vigor so laide on the Countie Dâ—â—cell as in short time he brought him vnder the mercie of his Sworde when holding it against his threate he said Peremptorie Knight if nowe thou confesse she not my Lady to 〈◊〉 thine in beautie thy vndiscréete heade shall raunsome thy sollâ—e The Countie for all this woulde not aunswere one worde by reason of the debilitie he felt himselfe in hauing lost so much of his blood as for the gréefe hee conceiued to be thus vanquished whereat Prince Lewes not content would haue taken his heade from his shoulders but the Iudges of the fielde canie to him saying My Lorde you ought to forbeare hauing brought your enemie beyonde his owne defence your victory â—éeing sufficient to content you forbids his death The Prince perswaded entred his Pauillion and ioyfull of his conquest commaunded two Gardants of the field to take the figure of the Princesse of Arragon and place it at the féete of the Duchesse counterfeit which was doone immediatlie and the Countie Durcell brought into his owne Tent where his Chirurgions tooke dilligent care for the curing of his woundes Soone after came a Knight of Myllaine who giuing such defiances as the other dyd was in the ende constrained with great shame to confesse vnder the conquering Sworde of Lewes the imperfections of his Ladie and her stature placed by the Princesse of Arragon The same daie were fiue great Lords of Italie brought in like subiection and so the tryumphe ended till the next daie when the first that came into the fielde was a braue Gallant of Spayne a Knight of good estimation and specially reputed who after a dain-glorious Oration made as the nature of the people is that way affected put hys fortune to the triall of his Launce where hee sped so ill as he was vnhorssed and in the following Combat likewise receiued the foile After him seauen other Knights of Castile prooued as vnfortunate their Ladies pictures all reuerencing the Duâ—hesse who béeing not a little proude of her Knight and the memorable renowne he witnessed of her beautie I leaue to your considerations both of her conceite that waie as also in loue towards the Prince who séeing no more readie to enter the quarrell returned thence to the Pallace to conferre with his swéete Mistresse of his high good fortunes CHAP. XXXV Of the Combat betweene Prince Lewes of Fraunce and Crenus the Duke of Gaule GReat pleasure did the King conceiue and all the nobilitie of the Court at the â—otten victories of Prince Lewes against so manie woorthie Knights so that they altogeather accounted him most fortunate And nowe the thirde daie when hee was entred his Tent an English Knight no lesse braue in termes then the former defied the Prince and betwéene them began a dangerous conflict in the midst whereof the King with manie Princes Barons and Lordes as also the Quéene and the Duchesse of Burgundie came to their standing and vnhappily behelde the foyle of the English Knight the Duchesse hearing him confesse her beautie and behelde his Ladyes portrait placed vnder hers But now the couragious Duke of Gaule named Crenus came brauelie mounted into the fielde dooing his duetie to the King Quéene and Ladies who not knowing him by his Armour iudged him some great Lorde in that no Knight before caused so good opinion generallie nor came with brauer countenaunce into the field he béeing indéede a Prince of wonderfull possessions and a Knight at Armes woorthilie approoued The Duke as all the other had doone caused his Ladies counterfeite to bee placed where it ought by his Squires to the no little admiration of all the beholders noting what rare and excellent beautie it was adorned withall the workman hauing performed such exquisite perfections as it had béene the Ladie herselfe naturallie liuing while the Squires were thus placing it on the monument the Duke aduaunced himselfe to Lewes in this manner The ouermuch selfe conceite Lorde Lewes of mindes but easily acquainted with matters of difficultie hath often béene and yet is the cause to plucke great personages more lowe then they expecte so that men haue séene them deceiued of their intents and rewarded with ridiculous shame and confusion This speake I to you hauing héere begun a busines the ende whereof will bee more harde to you then as yet the beginning hath béen for Europe is sufficientlie stored with hardy Knights to asswage your presumptuous opinion and Ladies much more faire and excellent then she whom you contende for And this by the fauour of Fortune gracious regarde of my Ladie and Mistresse and helpe of my good Sworde will I enforce you to confesse that incomparable Agriola daughter to the King of England for vertue for beautie and all diuine perfections excéedeth yours whatsoeuer she be Before such a leasing quoth the Prince shall passe the lippes of a Sonne of Fraunce rather will I consent to bee péecemeale torne in sunder and before fayre Phaebus haue paced one howres iourney I doubt not to make thée repent thy pride and arrogancie By the soule of King Arthur said the Duke looke thou garde thy selfe well for I haue with my courtelaâ— abated the pride of a brauer man then thy selfe and ere we two part I meane to trie if I can doo it againe therefore resolue thy selfe to thy best defence for by my life I will not fauour thee Without any further spéeches they encountred with such violence togeather
comming then did the Cittizens sende word to the Duke that by yâ— breake of daie they would yéelde the keyes of their Gates to him whereuppon Frysol was Lieuetenant generall for yâ— Duke of Gaule and entred honorably the Cittie of Tomar where the Englishmen rested themselues for two or thrée dayes to recompence their paynes with profit and pleasure The enemie was no sooner departed vnder sayle but there arose such a terrible tempest as the most part of their vessels perished in the Sea and the other were so scattered as they had lost the sight of one another yet was some small number remayning with the King as well of Allemaignes as his own Countreimen so getting safe to shore in his kingdom he determined a reuenge for his great ouerthrowe but hee could not compasse his intent as you shall reade héereafter CHAP. XLVI Howe after the Prince Trineus Palmerin Ptolome were arriued in England they went to the Court and what torments the Prince endured for his looue to the fayre Lady Agriola TRineus Palmerin and Ptolome béeing landed within 4. dayes iourney of the Kinges Campe which was prouided against the King of Scots were aduertised that the King stayed but yâ— comming of yâ— Duke of Tintriel and then he meant to bid his enemie battaile that had so boldlie presumed vpon part of his Realme The garders of the porte where they landed séeing they were strangers woulde suffer them passe no further till they knewe their names whether they went and what they came for Palmerin answering on the behalfe of them all said Good fréendes we are Grecian Knightes and trauaile strange Countries to séeke aduentures and because we heard that your King menaceth warre against his auncient and maleuolent enemie the King of Scots wee come to offer our selues and our seruice to him so please his Maiestie to accept it This aunswere so well contented the Officers as by their meanes they were conducted to the Court where they were honorably entertained and two daies togeather were there feasted with the King in which time Trineus vnderstood that that the Quéene and her Daughter were aboue twentie miles thence whereupon the next morning they tooke their iourney thither and by dinner time came where the Queene laie But it fell out so happilie for Trineus as before they came to the place where the Court aboade they mette the Quéene and her traine who dailie went to a Chappell not a quarter of a mile from the Cittie to heare diuine seruice as she kept it for a continuall exercise and with her was faire Agriola her Daughter The Quéene and all her Ladies alighted from their Palfrayes they entred the Chappell the Prince well regarding the Goddesse of his hart who belike making her prayers more bréefe then her Mother came foorth with her wayting Ladies to walke vnder a companie of gréene Trées néere adioyning Trineus séeing her a creature so rare and excellent made doubt in a matter of assuraunce least he should bee surprised as Acteon was when he found Diana bathing among her Nimphes He being thus caried away with meruailous conceit of her beautie saluted not the Princesse as shee passed before him nor heard Palmerin who reprooued him for omitting his courtesie but wading further further into this amorous furie spake so loude as he was easilie hearde in this manner O heauens will you suffer the perfections of a Ladie so diuinelie accomplished to be the cause of my vndeserued death when may the time come for me to let her vnderstand my desire to doo her seruice or howe might she know the loyal affection I beare her One of the Ladies of honor attending on the Princesse reputing his wordes vnwise ouer-bolde answered Why Sir Knight where learned you so little courtship as when the fairest in the Westerne world passeth before you you make no gentle gesture or salutation I doubt that what is counted honestie vertue among men of quallitie with you is â—â—â—eemed harsh and vnciuill which makes me repute you more méete for the Kitchen then to beare the honorable office and rich Armes of a Knight as you doo Trineus as it were awaked out of a traunce saide Ah swéete Ladie pardon me for by my faith I can neither tell what you said nor well where I am my selfe for euen as you ended I felt such a passion strike me to the very hart as death will soone arrest me without remedie The Ladie who knewe not his meaning checked him againe thus Were it not better then for you to be in the field then héere in this foolish and vndiscréete pensiuenes It is true Lady quoth the Prince that at this time I haue shewed my selfe vnmannerlie and a slender Courtier yet is not the blame altogeather to be throwne on me ignoraunt who the Lady was which you speake of for wee are strange Knightes and are come farre from this Countrey with intent to aide and succour the King in his warres with our vttermost endeuours Notwithstanding because we haue with no more regard doone our duetie to your Mistresse may it please you to entreate her on our behalfe to pardon this offence for satis-faction wherof we wil goe serue the King her father in battell where we doubt not so wel to behaue our selues as shall deserue our pardon if so be she will not at this instant so fauour vs. And I gladlie woulde faire Ladie that such seruice shoulde bee doone by her commaundement for our strength and vertue by her perfections augmented will attribute the honor to her that so graciously assisted vs 〈◊〉 fore so please you to make known our good intent towards her we shall for such kindnes remain indebted to you The Ladie tooke pleasure in hearing Trineus especially perceiuing the zeale of him his companions to imploy theyr valour on the Kings behalfe which caused her immediatlie doo this message to the Princesse who at that instant as a thing fatall to her was wounded with loue whereuppon she sent them answere by her Gouernesse that shee entertained them as her Knights and as her Seruants desired them to goe aide the King her Father yet woulde shee not consent to pardon them till the renowne of their exploites might shewe them to deserue it Trineus tooke this answer for better aduantage then the Princesse thought on accounting himselfe happy by such a good beginning and therefore saide to the Ladie I think my selfe faire Ladie one of the most fauoured by Fortune hauing the meane to obey your Mistresse in her commaund and hope to execute her charge in such sort as I shall deserue the grace she dooth nowe denie me yet with all humilitie on our behalfe I intreate you to yeelde thankes for her princelie kindnes The Ladie returning to Agriola accomplished what Trineus desired her wherupon she turned herselfe and gaue them a countenaunce of fauour which was answered by Trineus Palmerin and Ptoleme with great reuerence and yâ— Princesse shewing herselfe not too statelie towardes the
looke Which discourtesie hath well nere driuen me to dispayre in regarde of her slender opinion of mee as being so hindered onely through your absence Often I determined with Ptolome to leaue the Courte and followe you in trauaile but the King by no meanes woulde permit mée sending many of his owne Knightes because I shoulde not go yet was I resolued that had you not come no displeasure whatsoeuer shoulde haue helde mée héere but to finde you I intended or loose my life This falles out very harde quoth Palmerin for by these meanes we shall stay héere God knowes how long beside Hermes knowes my name which makes me doubt least we shal be reuealed the Emperour likewise may be offended at our long tarriaunce In regarde of all this good Prince I thinke it best that we sende your squire and Vrbanillo my Dwarffe to aduertise his Maiestie of our affaires and how by reason of the tempest we were cast quite out of course so far as we could not by any meanes assist his Armie not doubting but to sée his highnesse in very short time In the meane while we may practise meanes to win the Princesse fauour againe and so in good time departe hence with the honourable prize that we came for Trineus was newlye reuiued with these spéeches wherefore he desired that betimes in the morning hée would dispatche theyr Seruauntes towardes Allemaigne Which Palmerin fayled not to doo in respect of a dreame he had the night before for he imagined that he sawe his Lady Polynarda in meruailous heauinesse and that she sayde to him Alas my Lord what shall become of me for I am narrowly sought to be seperated from you This fearefull vision so discouraged him as he sent thence his Dwarfe to shewe her what trouble he hadde with his dreame and how constant he remained in his loue to her Chap. LXI How Palmerin promised the princesse Agriola to conâ—ay her out of England with his friendes which he performed to the speciall content of the prince Trineus EArly on the next morning Palmerin arose and wrote a letter to his Lady Polinarda wherin he secretly put a ring which shee gaue him when he departed from her straightly commaunding Vrbanillo that hee shoulde diligently attende on the Princesse till hee came which should bée with all the spéede hee could possible Ptolome likewise wrote to his Ladiâ— Brionella and these Letters dispatched the Messengers immediatly sette forwarde on theyr iourney From this time Colmelio was Palmerins Squire which pleased him very well because hee knewe that Palmerin was nobly borne so that by his meanes in time hee should rise to preferment This day the king would ride abroade a Hunting which gaue Palmerin occasion to sée the Faulcon fliâ— béeing reputed by the king and all his traine to be the best that euer flew In this time of recreation Hermes reported to the King that the knight so long absent was named Palmerin and the same knight that woonne so much honour in Fraunce which so well contented the king as he more and more desired his companie summoning all his Barons and Lordes to his Courte where hee made such feastes triumphs and other sportes for the honour of the noble Palmarin and his companions as the like had not béen of long time before At night when the Maskers Mumeries and Moriscoes were in presence that Palmerin espied conuenient time to talk with the princesse he tooke her aside to a window and thus began Madam before I begin what I haue to acquaint you withal I must giue you this ring as I was commanded by the lady of the castel in the lake the singular vertues thereof are such as I intreate you to kéepe it coÌ„tinually on your finger which Agriola receiuing with a curteous reuerence faithfully promised to accomplish his request then Palmerin with earnest affection on his friends behalfe thus continued his discourse I cannot but maruell fayre Princesse you being a Ladie of so speciall qualitie renowmed among the most vertuous creatures in the world for your rare integrity profound iudgemeÌ„t that you will be gouerned by the vnaduised perswasioÌ„s of other which I would not beléeue had not the Prince Trineus certenly assured me how since my departure in stéed of fauorable countenance and the intreatance beséeming so great a Lord he can haue nothing but frownes disdaine coy regard which is as easy for him to indure as a thousand deaths one after another Assure your self so farre beguiled as your councellers disswade you froÌ„ your chéefest good desirous to withhold you from the height of honour wherof you cannot faile being matched in mariage with the most vertuoâ—s Prince Trineus Make you no small account that he being one of the most noble states on the earth hath left his parents his friends and countrey hath past so many strange vncouth regions hath aduentured the iniurie of the seas bâ—aten with so many bitter blastes and raging billowes euerie minute in daunger of Shipwracke all for your loue Thinke you that he being son to the Emperour of Allemaigne attending euery day the rule of the Empire that he came hither to you in hope of your rich dowrie No trust me Madame and I thinke your own conscience doth so resolue you that néerer home he could haue found other endued with larger possessions then this Realme affords you But hearing the fame of your manifold vertues rare life choise beautie and all other good gifts he was willing wtout regard of his owne estate to thrust himselfe in daunger yea to forget himselfe for your loue which hitherto he hath with religious seruice intreated and except you intertaine him with more gracious fauour he is in danger of life Which if it should happen by your occasion for euer you shal be noted of monstrous ingratitude and Christendome should sustain a losse vnrecouerable How far such a thought ought to be froÌ„ you I leaue to your own coÌ„struction If hitherto you haue knowne me a knight readie to support the causes of Ladies far beneath your height thinke you I haue not greater reason to honour you yea not a moue you with any request but what may euery way aduance your credite And though my lord Trineus were not of the blood imperiall yet might his gentle heart vnfeigned loue and â—urpassing humanitie cause you to make choyse of him aboue all other whatsoeuer they be But séeing it so falles out that you will not regard good counsell following rather the perswasion of mean capacities whose iudgemeÌ„ts may not reach to so high occasions continue in your obstinacie and marke the end of such indiscréet consures I sée that our company is yrksome to you therfore sooner then you imagin we will remoue that occaâ—â—on I knowe well enough that you intend to match with the duke of Gaule who is but your fathers subiect so refusing yâ— degrée of an Empresse you shall tarry in England and be a Dutchesse Thinke you that if my
to match with the Sonne of Fraunce considering what promise I haue made my brother and if I should so farre dishonour my selfe as not to regarde what I haue promised I were not worthy hereafter to be called your daughter Thus stoode she resolute in her answere and therewith shedde such aboundance of teares as the Emperour was constrayned to tell the Ambassadours that the marriages could not be concluded till the returne of Trineus notwithstanding he granted all the articles of their embassage The princesse qualliâ—â—ing her gréefe as well as shee could sent for the Dwarfe and taking him by the hand sayde Alas my freend I am now in yâ— greatest perplexity in the world neuerthelesse one thing comforts me that thou be holdest the true loue and loyaltie I beare thy maister which neuer shal be broken what euer become of me And would to God he were now heere then would I speake it openly without feare of any that I am â—is and he myne Madame quoth the Dwarfe if you continue faithfull to my maister perswade your selfe of his assurance for he building on your constancie takes such continual pleasure in remembring you that it is the onely meane that preserues his life and you may be bâ—lde to credit me that if your brothers loue did not with-hold him he would haue bin here long ere this but he wil come soone inough I hope to end this doubt As for me I am of the opinion that heauen wil not suffer so good a knight to die but first wil permit him to sée his mistris Die quoth the princesse sooner let all the knights in the world ende theyr dayes and the eldest Sonne of Francâ— likewise though hée loue mée so déerely so might I be rid of these importunate Ambassadours The Emperour séeing hée could get no other answer of his daughter concluded with the French ambassadors that so soone as his son was returned he should be aduertized and so for that time they might depart but the empresse and he first bestowed on them many rich presents and so in short time they arriued againe in Fraunce where great ioye was made in hope of these marriages albeit they little thought the Prince Trineus would tarrie so long Aboue all other the French prince was most ioyfull hearing the Countie of Armignac report the wonderfull beauty of Polinarda but â—he good Lady was of another mind for she had rather bâ— take her self to a Cloister then to breake her faith to Palmerin whom shée loued so constantly Thus leaue we her conferring with Vrbanillo returning to Palmerin and the Prince Trineus Chap. LXIIII. ¶ How Palmerin beeing thus on the Sea caused Trineus there to marrie the Princesse Agriola THis noble company being thus on the Sea hauing winde at will sayled with such expedition as in fourâ— dayes they had gotten farre enough from England and the prince séeing Agriola very pensiue and sad comforting her with many swéete kisses and taking her by the hande thus spake O soueraigne Creatour how shal I render sufficient thanks and praise to thée in graunting me the onely thing I desired Aâ— swéete madame and my onely mistresse Agriola howâ— much is your seruant indebâ—ed to you hath any knight more cause to honour extol his lady then I Beléeue me fayre Princesse such are the rare effects of your gracious nature and I so ioyfull of my happie fortune as neither friend or father shall fetch you againe from mée Iâ— my life might endure the length of tenne menâ— and euery day I shuld accomplish wonders in your seruice yet could I not remunerate the least part of your Princely deserts But if your loue be such to me as I am right wel assured â—t is let me intreat you forbeare this heauines and banish from your thoughts your melancholy humours for seeing you so sad pensiue I suffer a torment worser then death it selfe Fâ—r lâ—t me perceiue how little soeuer it be yâ— my presence may be to your lyking our present enterprise somwhat more pleasing I fly to the heauens with conceit of happines and value my fortune aboue the reach of humane capacity In stéede of teares let vs vse quaint tearmes and for these dumps pleasant imaginations perswade your selfe Madam you are now in his custody that honours you for your vertues reuerenceth you for your diuine perfections extols you for incomparable merits and liues for you with his very vttermost endeuors Thinke not though you haue left your parents the fault is not pardonable for the new alyance wherein you haue combyned your self shal one day glad you with such speciall content that what you do imagine nowe a dangerous offence will bee reputed on act of prouidâ—nt and princely discretion Then shall you finde true what Palmerin hath spoken and his promises of preferment and imperial dignity shall be both rightly sufficiently perfoâ—rmed Let these perswasions if not my intreatyes excell these passions and procure better comfort Madam quoth Palmerin though you haue left your country consider the occasion yâ— loue of a mighty prince and the heauenly appoyntment that your noble vertues should be coupled together hath brought you from England to sit on the imperyal seate in Allemaigne How carefull we haue béene of your honor your selfe can witnes no motion béeing offered to preiudice your lyking That you are contracted before the only immortall witnes you wil not deny therfore to preuent all ensuing dangers the actual ceremony shal be héere celebrated and the royaltie thereof solemnized when we come into Allemaigne So if Himen claimes his due you may graunt it without reproch and Iuno will as well smile at her sacred offering here as if it were in bower or hall The credite of Princes are charie and angry parentâ—â— may hinder what heauen dooth further but the déede doon it cannot be recalled nor can you be diuorced but onelye by death and pittie were it loue so well begun but shouldâ— continue therefore so please you let it bée perfourmed The Princes both agreed they were there maried requiting theyr chast loue with a simpathie of vertuous desires but this time of delight and pleasure hadde small continuaunce for Fortune enemie to prosperitie accompanied with her eldest sonne Mischaunce conuerted their ioyes into sorrowe teares and paynes vnspeakeable as you shall reade héereafter These Louers thus ryding merilye on the streame suddenlye the Sea began to swell the winde chaunged roughly the Skyes were troubled and such a daungerous tempest beate vppon theyr Ship as the Pilot Maister and Mariners knewe not what to say and fiue dayes togither they were in this perplexitie sometime forwarde then againâ— backward that no hope of life was expected but euerye onâ— prepared themselues for death the implacable messenger of God for they could discerne no other remedie Agriola not accustomed to these daungers was meruailously discomforted but Trineus perswaded her with many examples in that such stratagems were vsuall on the Sea albeit shâ—â— to ende the feare
not be woon by such a mightie Emperor considâ—â—ing her youth and beautie and the wonderfull riches incessantly offered her Yet the highest Lord so protected her that the more liberall the Turke was in honors and perswasions the more loyall continued her loue to Trineus whose perfect image was engrauen in her heart And not fearing torments or death she boldly answered the Emperor that he trauailed in vain for she might not loue him in that she was married to an husband more noble euery way then he and none but him shée would loue while she liued yet made he no great account of her words considering what frailtie commoâ—ly is in women The day being come of this great preparatioÌ„ and al the Princes present to vnderstand their soueraigneâ— will he béeing placed in his imperiall seate said That hée intended to take to wife one of the most beautifull Ladyes in the world for that cause he sent for them to vnderstand 〈◊〉 they liked thereof Their aunswere was that they liked well thereof and would gladly honour her as wel beseemed them Then sent he for Agriola and before them all saide vnto her that it was his pleasure to accept her for 〈◊〉 wife and therefore shee should prepare her selfe on the 〈◊〉 to be married The Princesse abashed at these spéeches fell downe before him in a dead traunce where vpon by the Quéenes and Ladies present shée was conuayed into her Chamber where béeing againe reuiued she began most pitifull and dolorous lamentations so when all the companie had left her that shée was alone with Hippolita falling downe on her knées at her beds â—â—ete shée thus began O my God and benigne Father pittie thy poore distressed creature and forget the offences I haue heretofore committed for what is a sinner vnlesse thou in mercie suffer her to come before thée Wilt thou then vouchsafe O wonderfull wordeman of the whole worlde one eye of pittie vpon thy humble forsaken seruantâ— and suffer her not to fall into subiection to the vewed enemie of thy holy worde arming me so strongly in this temptation that I no way iniurie my Lord and husbande Trineus but rather graunt this desolate spirit may leaue this bodie and the worlde togither Ah my honourable Lord Trineus where art thou nowe that thou art not héere so defenâ—e the shamâ— and wrong this Tyrant offers thée What art thou dead or hast thou forgâ—tten me No no so well am I assured of thy fidelitie as no forment can diuert thée from mée Yet if I knewe directly that thou art not liuing the lesse woulde â—ée my feare to follow thée for then the greatest pleasure this Pagan could doe 〈◊〉 were to make mée happie onely by death But for the matter is vncertaine and that I liue in hope once more to see thée I will patiently endure all afflictions whatsoeuer for so swéete a reward as is thy louâ— These sorrowes of the Princesse so gréeued Hippolita as one coulde hardly iudge who was most passionate yet at length shée thus spake to Agriola I beséech you good Lady to leaue these gréeuous lamentations and regarde the high estate honour and dignitie that you shall haue in marrying with my Lord. Neuer perswade me quoth the Princesse to manifest disloyaltie for such preâ—erments if they bée not gotten iustly and by vertue they ought not to bée coueted but to be shunned as diuelish Serpents Thus spent they the whole night and in the morning came the Quéenes and Ladies newlie come to the Court to bid the sorrowfull Bride good morrow in her Chamber attyring her in wonderfull gorgious vestures after their Country maner farre beyonde the royaltie of Helena after her arriuall at Troy Betwéene foure Kings shée was brought into the greate Hall and from thence conducted to the Temple where they were espoused by the Mosti To recount here thy royall solemnitie in the temple the Maiestie and vnspeakable dignitie at the pallace the excellent Comedies rare triumphs Maskes Momeries Moriscoes and such like courtly pleasures would bée a matter too prolixious for they are not to our purpose Let it then suffice yee that after they were magnificently entreated at Dinner and Supper the daunâ—ing began and God knowes how the Turks Moores Arabes and Medes set foorth themselues in thâ—ir dâ—uises and sports before their Ladies much lyke the Satyres and â—orned Faunes giuing new inuasions on the Nimphes of Diana But all these maruayles ioyes and follies coulde not chaunge the Princesse countenaunce for shée continuing in her penâ—â—uenesse these sports were worsse to her then the tormentâ— of death aboue all fearing the losse of her chastitie which was a Iewell neuer to be recouered The Pastimes ended by the Quéenes and Ladies shée was conducted to the nuptiall 〈◊〉 so braue and â—â—ately as the Prince Aeneas when he came to Quéene Dido of Carthage and there was the vnfortunate Bride committed to her rest Soone after came the hastie Bridegroome calling for Torches that hée might be holde the Goddesse hée honoured and as hée was preparing himselfe to bed he was troubled with such feares passions and apâ—plexie as nowe he séemed more lyke a ghost then a man Perforce hée was constrained to forsake the Chamber when the extremitie of the fit somewhat asswaging and his former louepassions freshly assayling him comming to the Princesse againe heauily hée thus spake Ah Agriola Ladie and sole Mistresse of my heart I thinke thou art some Goddesse or at least excéeding all humanitie so strange is this aduenture as neuer any man I thinke heard of the like Alas cannot thy anger be appeased nor thou induced to loue him who for thy sake endures most horrible torments I pray thée bée not the cause of my death or if thou néedes wilt suffer mée first to eniâ—y the fruites so my desires Know my Lord answered Agriola that with my will yoâ— neuer shall enioy it and if perforce you séeke to dishonour me assure your selfe I am resolued rather to suffer endlesse miseries then to violate my faith to my loyall Husbande for such is my trust in God that hée will not forget such as call on him But in respect thou hast not béene cruell to mée nor hast exercised mée with any tyrannie I shall suffer thée to lye vpon the bed by mée as my Brother might doo and sometime though it be more then modestie embrace thée in mine armes but if fartheâ— thou presumest thou mayst not bée permitted but shall loose that fauour thy selfe and mee togither Madame quoth hée in graunting mée that courtesie you saue my life for I haue many Concubines to qualifie those passions and neuer will I attempt your dishonour while I liue if I but offâ—r the motion refuse mée foreuer I shall therefore account of you as my Sister and death shall not make me doo contrarie to your appoyntment The yong Princesse glad of this solemne promise gaue him a kisse or twaine and suffered him to embrace her but other kindnesse could be neuer obtaine
contenting himselfe with this because hée loued her so specially At fiftéene dayes end the feastes béeing ended the Princes tooke their leaue of the great Sultane who with many rich presents sent them home into their Countryes Thus remained Agriola with the great Turke and the Knight to whom Olimael had giuen Ptolome and Colmelio sailed with his prisoners into Aethiopia and thenceforward vsed them not as slaues but as Gentlemen of good qualitie especially Ptolome whom hée reputed a hardie Knight and a man borne to great enterprises Chap. III. How Palmerin after his recreation returned to the sea side and seeing the Ship and his companie gone made great lamentation and what after followed BEfore in this Historie you haue heard how Palmerin walking on shore with his Faulcon on his fist desired to see the pleasantnesse of the Isle and finding so manie delights to with-holde him returned not towarde the Ship till it was néere night but when hée came thither againe and could not sée the Shippe nor anie one to question withall he was greatly amazed running héere and there yet all to no purpose Sometime 〈◊〉 imagined that Trineus had betrayed him because he had acquainted him with his loue toward his Sister and then againe resolued himselfe on the contrarie All about hee looked for his companions not knowing what to think whether they were carried away by Pirats or taken prisoners by the Inhabitants of the Island In the end hauing compassed in his minde all imaginations hee could and séeing that by his regard of pleasure he had lost his Friendes hee entred into many sorrowfull lamentations farre 〈…〉 Cadmus when hee lost his Souldiers by the horrible Serpent cursing and exclaiming on himselfe as he had béene guiltie of the death of his father Alas quoth hee why did I not remember these wretched misfortunes by poore Varnan whose sorrowes was likewise procured by a Hawke in haplâ—sse houre was this wicked Byrde giuen me Ah trecherous and deceiuing strumpet I thinke thou art some incorporate Fiende sent from Hell to iniurie the most constant Louers and therefore gentle Oâ—le or rather enchanted Diuell thou shalt neuer hereafter displeâ—â—â— any other so taking her by the necke hée pulled her in 〈◊〉 and said Ah sweete Lady Polynarda how contrarie is Fortuneâ— and howe vnhappily our desirâ—s preuented well am I assured if Trineus come to the Court without me it will endanger your life and the onely thing that sheeldes mée from death is comfortable hope to sée you once again Therfore diuine mistresse I call for your succour that by your gracious assistante I may endure these vehement occasions Ah gentle Princesse Agriola howe haue I deceiued you but in requitall of your wrong no rest nor ease shall possesse my soule till I haue brought Trineus and you 〈◊〉 as great ioy as by my meanes you haue receiued discomfort In these complaints 〈◊〉 laide him downe 〈…〉 and so wasted the time till morning camâ— when 〈◊〉 no treatures to speake withall nor any meane for his to pâ—sse the Sea hee determined to passe through the Island till hee might méete some body to â—oâ—ferre with Thus hauing no defence but his sword vnder his arme hee walked along and at length he met a Moore with foure Spanielles and a Marlin on his fist whome hee humbly saluting demaunded the name of the Countrey and if there were any shipping neere for his passage The Moore perceiuing by his language that he was a Christian in great anger answered Art thou come so farre to séeke thine owne misfortune by Mahomet I shall welcome thee hither with a vengeance So laying hande on his Semitary Palmerin perceiuing by his gesture though hee vnderstood not his talk that he wished him no good wherefore drawing his sword hee gaue the Moore such a stroke on the head as he cleaued it to his very téeth and sayd By God villaine thou shalt not take me prisoner or send me into the sea to séeke my raunsome and so may all discourteous varlets be serued as resemble thée in conditions Thus leauing the Moore dead hée tooke another way least if he should bée followed hée might fall into danger but séeing hee was vnarmed and could not speake the Arabian tongue hée imagined that at length he must néedes be taken Hereupon he returned backe to the Moore and taking his garments left his own there and thence forward determined to counterfeit himselfe dumbe by which subtiltie he thought to escape vnknowne and preuent his imprisonment till hee founde meanes to returne to wards Allemaigne againe The day stealling on apace and darke night approching he came to a fayre Fountaine of the cleerest water in his opinion that euer hee sawe where laying him downe to rest consumed the night as quietly as he could On the morrow he began to remember his miseries his dangers past and such as 〈◊〉 imminent the conceit whereof made him very melancholy so after hée hadde eaten a little bread which hee â—ound in the Moores budget according to the maner of Diogenes he layd him downe againe and slept Chap. IIII. How Palmerin counterfeiting himselfe dumbe in the Isle of Calpha was found by certaine Turkes as he lay a sleepe by the Fountaine and howe hee was receiued into the seruice of Alchidiana Daughter to the Soldane of Babilon NOw that you may the more easily vnderstand in that which followeth the full intent of our discourse you must call to memorie how Gamezio who was slaine before Constantinople by the Prince Florendos as you haue heard in the first parte of this Historie was Sonne to the Soldane of Babilon named Mysos and brother to Maulicus who at his death was a verie yong prince Mysos vnderstanding by his Subiects that Gamezio the hope of his declining age was gone by the summons of Atropos to the habitation of the Gods could not afterward enioy the health of body or quiet in minde and therefore ere a yeere was fully expired hée went to séeke his sonne among his equalles in the fields of Elysium Before hée tooke his iourney wherein no creature returneth againe hée charged his succéeding Sonne Maulicus to reuenge his brothers death béeing perswaded that himselfe should not be discharged of his infortunate remembrance in the other world if hée failed to accomplish his latest commaundement Maulicus not to hinder his departure promised he would yet could hee not fulfill it beeing troubled in his own Kingdoms more then 20 yeeres after But after he had reduced the rebellious Prouinces into obedience he married with the King of Armeniaes Daughter by whom he had the Princesse Alchidiana one of the most beautifull and gracious Laâ—ies of her time who beeing come to age of experience was so loued of her fathâ—r as he would neuer suffer her out of his sight so that he made 〈◊〉 to all such as requested her in marriage Alchidiana when shee vnderstood her owne singularitie desired the 〈◊〉 of the most beautifull Ladies in Asia because she held this
escaped valiantly PAlmerin béeing brought to his Chamber which was one of the most sumptuous in all the Pallace accoridng as the Princesse had appoynted he made signe to the Gentlman that attended on him to withdrawe himselfe for he was accustomed to bee alone in his chamber which he immediatly did being loath to offend him Palmerin béeing alone by himselfe gaâ—e thanks to the God of heauen who in midst of his misfortunes caused such a gracious Ladie to fauour him so kindly as defended his life when hee was in daunger and by whose means hée conceyued good hope to escape his enemies hands and to returne safely toward Allemaigne His meditations ended he betooke himselfe to rest and in the morning Linus the Gentleman that had him in charge came and presented him before the Soldane who commaunded him to bée carryed presently to the Lions Alchidiana vnderstanding that the dumbe Knight was with her Father sent him a rich Mantle of scarlet desiring him to weare it for her sake which hee putting about him went frankely with his kéeper to the Lions Denne where the doore béeing opened hée boldly entered desiring God to assist him in this perill Palmerin being in the Denne because none of the Lions should get forth to hurt any other howe euer God disposed of him made fast the doore after him and with his sworde drawne his Mantle wrapped about his arme went to sée how the beasts would deale with him The Lions comming about him smelling on his cloathes woulde not touch him but as it were knowing the bloud royall lay downe at his féete and licked him and afterward went to their places againe But there were among them thrée Leopards that furiouslie came and assayled him the formost where of hée paunched with his Sworde that hée was able to doo no more harme The other two although they had torne his Mantle and put him in verie great daunger as they that looked in at the windowes and creuises perceyued yet to their no little admiration in the end hée slue them both and so went forth of the Denne againe to whom Linus came and louingly taking him by the hand brought him to the Soldane to whom hee discoursed his fight with the Leopardes and howe gentle the Lions had beene to him The Soldane greatly astonished hereat made more estimation of him then hée did before and because the Lions refused to touch him reputed him of royall parentage Whereupon he sent for his Daughter praying her to intreate him not as a Knight but as a noble and vertuous Prince considering his behauiour so well deserued The Princesse entertayned him very graciously and hearing the successe of his happy fortune spake thus in the hearing of them all Because euery one shall know Sir knight how much I honour your good gifts I will cause my Father so well to loue you as hée shall repent himselfe a thousande tymes of the â—aunger hée put you to and so veriâ— louingly embracing him desired paâ—don on her own behalfe because she suffered him to be thrust to the Lions Palmerin in signe of attonement that hee was nothing displeased kissed her hand and sitting downe in a Chaire by her behelde Aâ—demia who resembled his Mistresse so equall in beautie and could not holde his eye from her so that hée conceiued such pleasure in his regard as he iudged it sustenance enough to maintaine life But she that was ignorant of the cause presumed that he loued her wherfore thenceforwart she began so amorously to affect him as shee enioyed no rest but in his presence Thus were these two Ladies Alchidiana and Ardemia touched with one disease and that so sharpely to the quicke that the least torment they endured séeing hée could neither speake nor vnderstand their language was woorse to them then death And so it fell out that each of them thinking her selfe best beloued concealed her thoughts from the other and would in no case be reputed amorous least so her desires should be discouered Alchidiana for arguments of her loue gaue him horses esquires seruants and pages so that the greatest Prince in the Court was no better equipped then he and in this fortune such was his mind that for all the honor and fauour the Soldane and his daughter bare him he did not outreach himselfe in behauiour but was benigne and full of courtesie that each one loued and desired to be familiar with him And if any enterprise of Ioustes or Tourneyes were in hand Palmerin was the formost in the field and carried the prize away from all whatsoeuer which incited Maulicus to loue him in such sort that he entertained him into such speciall credite as he would neuer resolue on any matter of importance without his shew of good liking And albeit the Princes of the Court shewed him good countenance yet Enuy that neuer can rest in ambitious hearts caused them in the ende to raise slaunder against him which Palmerin perceiued but being vnable to remedie awaited conuenient time for his departure notwithstanding the earnest affection Alchidiana bare him He knew likewise so well to disguise his matters that so often as the Princesse would hold him in talke he still feigned not to vnderstand her which made her iealous towards Ardemia her Cozin who by Alchidianaes iniuries and Palmerins refusall of her loue lost her life as you shall read in the chapters folowing Chap. VI. How the Prince Maurice sent his Ambassadors to the Soldane to desire safe conduct for his comming to the Court to trie if he could find any Knight there able to deliuer him of an extreame trouble that hee dured by enchauntment DUring the time that Palmerin was thus estéemed and beloued in the Court of the great Monarch of Assiria vpon a Sunday after dinner as the Soldane was in the great Hall conferring with his Daughter and many other great Princes and Lordes present there entred a Moore Knight armed except his Helmet and Gauntlets which were carried after him by two Squires and making his solemne reuerence humbled himselfe at Maulicus féete saying Most high and redoubted Monarch my soueraigne Lord Maurice sworne Prince of whole Pasmeria kisseth your highnesse hand sending to require your gracious safe conduct that himselfe may come to your Court to trie among all your knights if there bee any one so loyal and valiant as can deliuer him from a torment he endures the most cruell and straunge that euer was heard of and happened to him in this sort The King of Pasmeria great gouernour of the Moorâ—s and father to my Lord béeing vnable through extreme age to weilde the gouernment of his Realme gaue the administration thereof and made his Lieutenant generall my Lord Maurice a Knight so hardy and puissant as any of his time and so renowned for his beautie sagacitie and braue lineaments of body as there is none of the Kings of Iudea Egypt Ethiopia and neighbour Countreyes round about but gladly desire his 〈◊〉 and friendshippe So that
many haue sent their Ambassadours to him presenting their Daughters and Kingdomes to him the greater part whereof he hath hitherto refused â—xcusing himselfe by his fathers age and his owne youth But as often times it happeneth Fortune enemie to all good endeuours not suffering him to remaine in quiet permitted that the quéene of Tharsus the fayrest of the Orientall paâ—ts a young Widdow and rich as is very well knowne after shee had sent him many presents of incomparable value intreated him to come and sée her shaddowing in this message the great desire shée had to matâ—h with him The Prince being benigne and courteous would not denie her but in short time after iourneyed to her The Quéene entertaining him with great royaltie and séeing in him farre more gracious and beautifull gifts then before she heard reported was so surprised with loue as in stéede of looking to be wooâ—d her selfe was constrained to demaund knowing so wâ—ll to declare her desirous and affectionate passions as the Prince mooued with amorous pittie granted what she requested without any further condition or promise presuming on himselfe in respect of her great and fauorable entertainment that hee would not leaue her for any other But herein was she deceiued for the yong Prince hauing staied with her tâ—nne or twelue dayes desired leaue to departe saying that hée had receiued Letters from his Father which commaunded his spéedy returne home againe promising her if so his father consented to take her in marriage and that with such expeâ—ition as might bée The Queene somewhat contented with this answere thinking hee would performe what hée promised let him depart He being come home into his owne Countrey forgot his loue to his newe Fréend and by his Fathers commaundement marryed with a yong Princesse Daughter to the King Lycomedes The Quéene hearing these newes was almost dead with conceit of gréefe and conceiued such hatred against my Lord Maurice as she determindd to be reuenged on him whatsoeuer came after And the better to compasse her intent shée sent to search out one of her knights a learned Magitian promising him if he would help her to be reuenged on him that so deceiued her shée would make him one of the chéefest in her Realme The Magitian who euermore was desirous to please her promised her to worke such a deuise that Maurice should endure such cruel torments as her selfe should be constrayned to pittie him And to accomplish this practise hée onely desired the King her Fathers Crowne which was one of the richest in the whole world which Crowne he coniured in such sort as the diuell himself could not imagine the like and comming therwith to the Quéen said Madame you must sende this Crowne to the Prince of Pasmeria desiring him for your sake hée will weare it on his head in the chéefest affayres of his estate which hée immediatly will accomplish but this I dare assure you that hereby hée shall suffer so many vexations as hee would endure a thousand deaths if hee could possible to be deliuered from this torment which he neuer shall be till the most loyall louer in the world take it from his head The Quéene so ioyfull hereof as could be sent the Crowne to the prince who receiued it thankfully and beholding it sumptuous sodainely put it on his head but presently flew out of his head such a flame of fire as it had béene the blaze that commeth from a discharged Cannon Then called hee for ayde and succour making the greatest lamentations that euer were heard but all was to no ende for no Knight or Lady there could do him any good and so all the whole day hée remained in this cruell martirdome burning aline yet not perishing resembling the Salamander in the extreame fire When his people saw that they could procure him no ease they sent two of the greatest Lords of the Realme to the Quéene who humbly intreated her to pittie the Prince and to recompence the fault he had committed hée should take her to his Wife and endow her with those honourable possessions belonging to him The Quéene entertained them very nobly and after she had vnderstood their message answered My Lordâ— the marriage betwéene your maister and me is intollerable and no way can hée nowe contract himselfe againe for I remembring his disloyaltie and hée the torments hée suffers by my meanes it were impossible that wée should louingly liue togither therefore in this matter you shall excuse me And let him know that séeing hée was so presumptuous contrarie to his faith and promise to refuse me for his Wife I now so much disdain and contemne him as my heart by no meanes can be induced to loue him And no other remedie is there for his torments but that hée séeke through Asia Europe and Affrica a louer so perfect who by his loyaltie may cease the paines he suffers for trecherie and treason With this short answere depart my Countrey for your Maister is so worthie of fauour as for his sake I hate his people The Ambassadours maruailing at this fatall destenie returned to their Lord to whom they reported the Quéenes answere and what remained to ease his affliction which more and more encreased his gréefe wherfore séeing what he was enioyned to doo the next day hée left the Court entending not to stay a day in any place till he should finde a Knight so vertuous and loyall Thus hath he trauailed Ethiopia India Tartaria the greater part of your realmes but as yet hee hath founde none to remedie his misfortune but if any other disloyall Knight in triall touch the crowne his vexations are far more greater then before For this cause most mighty Lord haâ—ing heard the great fame of valiant knights in your Court especiall of a stranger Knight being dumbe who came hither but of very late time he desires your maiestie his assurance graunted to suffer him trie his fortune heere if in your presence â—e may finde any helpe or else to seeke further in other Princes Courts These are the principall points of my charge may it please your highnesse to consider of mine answere how I shall returne and certifie my Maister that you may like wise sée an aduenture maruailous Chap. VII How the Prince Maurice came to the Court of the Soldâ—ne of Babilon where he was deliuered of his burning Crowne that tormented him by the loyaltie of Palmerin MAulicus wondering at this strange discourse thus answered the Moore You may my friend returne to your maister when you please and say from vs that hee shall be welcome to our court with as safe aâ—â—urance as our own pâ—rson as well for his valour and bountie which I haue heard greatly esteemed as for that wee are desirous to see so strange an aduenture ended in our presence And wee cannot sufficiently maruaile howe he could bee so forgâ—tfull of himselfe that after his faith so broken hee could extinguish her remembraâ—ce that loued him so vnâ—eigneâ—ly but heeâ—ein
at length remembring her wordes to him and doubting his vnkindnesse to be the cause of her death sayd within himselfe Alas faire Princesse must I at the first motion driue thée to dispaire had I dissembled a little or temporized the matter thou hadst not fallen into this extremitie but my onely wilfull indiscretion is cause of thy losse O Female sexe howe are you subiect to casuall passions Yet néede I not wonder at this present mishappe for from the beginning of the worlde the Woman hath béene so suddein and voluntarie to the effect of her desires were they good or euill but especially in the action of loue as neyther feare honor shame torments no nor death could diuert her from her vndiscreâ—te fantasies Hereof beare record Hypâ—â—mnestra Myrrha Deianira Scylla 〈…〉 Phyllis Salmacis Hero and Dydo whose deatheâ— were procured onely by lauish loue O diuine wisedome that hast suffered me to fall into this lucklesse accident protect mée from any further disaduauntage séeing thou hast taken her hence who gaue some ease to mine 〈…〉 that so liuely shée resembled my swéete Mistresse 〈…〉 desire to serue with continuall loyaltie I nâ—we 〈◊〉 my selfe that this loue was not accompanied with vertue and that for my good it hath so chaunced forgette 〈◊〉 not then but so enable me as in such badde occasions 〈…〉 not from my duetie And such is my confidence in thy promises as no teâ—ptation shall preuaile against mée but this â—aptiuitie once discharged I hope to direct my course pleasing in thy sight and to 〈◊〉 such gracious seruice as thy name 〈…〉 and glorified for euer So long continued he in this silent contemplation as Alchidiana perceiued him which greatlie displeased her but fearing any way to 〈◊〉 Palmerin shée durst not saye what shée thought liuing in hope that her Cozin being dead she should now compasse the effecte of her desires Ardemia enterred in her honourable Tombe Guilharan her Brother with his traine and the Ladies that attended on his Sister returned into Armenia where great sorrowe was made for the death of the Princesse and the renowne of her beautie blazed the report of her death through euery region Chap. IX How Amarano of Nigrea eldest son to the king of Phrygia vnderstanding the death of the faire Princesse Ardemia who was newly promised him in mariage made many greeuous lameÌ„tations for her losse And how Alchidiana discouered her amorous affections to Palmeâ—in SO farre was spread the reporte of the strange death of the Princesse Ardemia as 〈◊〉 came to the hearing of 〈◊〉 eldest sonne to the king of Phâ—ygia the most valiant redoubtâ—d knight of y◠〈…〉 as wel for his great 〈◊〉 and déedes of Armes which he before that time accompliâ—â—â—d in Asia as for his affable nature vertue and courtesie This yong Prince being in the King his fathers Court and hearing commended beyond al other Ladies of the East the faire Ardemia Daughter to the King of Armenia at the verye sounde of the Trompe of this blazing Goddesse and setting the newes downe for true from her affecting spéech he became so amorous of her as he had no content but in thinking on her Héereupon he sent his Ambassadours to her Father to request her in mariage wherto right willingly he condiscended and nowe at the instant when he intended to go visite her newes came to the Court of her admirable death which for a while was 〈◊〉 from him because each one doubted the conceit 〈◊〉 would cause his death For they knowing the loue he 〈◊〉 her to be so vehement as hée vnderstanding her strange kinde of death they thought it impossible but it would 〈◊〉 to very scandalous inconuenience yet in the ende he 〈◊〉 thereof but to sette downe héere the gréefe teares and complaints of this yong Prince is more then I am able 〈◊〉 it therefore suffise you that his sorrowes were such as euery houre his death was likewise expected It was likewise told him howe through the enuie of Alchidiana shée dyed and that for certaintie shee was one of the chéefest causes thereof which mooued him then into such an alteration as hée swore by the great Prophet Mahomet to reuenge her iniurie so that the Soldaâ—e shoulde for euer remember the daunger in suffering so great a treason In conclusion hée intended to take with him two hundred chosen Knights all clad in mourning for the gréefe of their Maister and â—oure of his Brethren Knights of great hardinesse and so well they iourneied as they â—ame within twentie miles of the 〈◊〉 Courte But that wée may not too farre 〈◊〉 from our intent Alchidiana ioyfull as you haue hearde for the departure of Guilharan and his 〈…〉 Palmerin 〈…〉 to all louers such account she made of her beautie and riches as she imagined that Palmerin would not disdaine her but rather would repute himselfe happy to haue that at his pleasure whereof so many Kings and great Lordes had béene denyed And in this opinion the next time that Palmerin came to her Chamber she beganne with him in this manner Now Syr Knight what thinke you of the death of Ardemâ—a who so falselye would haue seduced you to goe with her hence did shée not commit great treason against mee if shée had preuailed but right well is shée rewarded and as I desired Thinke then no more of her presumptuous follie or the ridiculous conceit of her vaine loue which shée made her pretence to cause you forsake my Fathers Court where you haue receiued so many speciall honours chéefelie of his Daughter who loues you déerelie and inâ—â—nds to make you Lord ouer all her possessions Beléeue mee Sir Knight if hitherto I deferred to acquaint you héerewith it was in respect I doubted her but now shée being gone estéeme henceforth of me as your owne and to begin this alliaunce I honour you with all that is mine and my selfe to be disposed at your pleasure For my heart which is onely subiect to you applyes it selfe to your lyking and can wish nothing but what you will 〈◊〉 How long haue I desired this happie day howe often haue I contemned and despised my selfe in not daring to breake the seale of my affections which nowe I 〈◊〉 aduentured to your knowledge As for that which now troubleth mee is the want of your spéech which the Gods haue depriued you off being enuious of your manifolde perfections Alas my Lord why did they not endue â—hée with that benifit that in declaring my desires thy answeres might returne reciprocall pleasure Some in their loue delight themselues with embracing kissing and such ceremoniall behauiour as for mée amoâ—rous priuate and 〈…〉 I repute a 〈◊〉 content Yet hath Loue one shaft in his 〈…〉 then all these béeing the onely argument of each others resolution in respect whereof I commit my honour into your protection prizing estéeming and chusing you aboue all men in the world beside Palmerin exceedingly abashed at these vnséemelye spéeches knewe what signes to make for his aunswere
and hauing recourse to his onely comforter liâ—ting his eyes to heauen thus priuately inuocated My God deliuer me from this enemie and suffer me not to fall in consent to this temptation for I thinke her a Deuill incarnate and sent to deceiue me Impossible is it that a maiden by nature modest and bashfull would let slip such effronted wordes and audacious The conceit héereof so vexed and offended him as the Princesse feared he would haue dyed not with conceit that like hap might come to Alchidiana as did to Ardemia but because he shuld so wickedly sin against his owne soule and falsefie his loue to his swéetest Mistresse Yet knowing that this sadnesse would not satisfie the Princesse he feigned to swoune his colour changing in such sort as one would haue iudged him past recouerie Alchidiana was so gréeued héereat as wée could not imagine what to saye but séeing that Palmerin séemed nowe not to vnderstand her and before had by signes 〈◊〉 reuealed his meaning saide By our great God it may well beâ— said that this man is a huge lumpe of flesh which the deuil hath enchaunted to torment me withall or else some other shaddowe and resemblaunce for hée refuseth what all men desire yea and often despayre because they cannot 〈◊〉 it But fearing least her ende would imitate her Cozins or that the dumbe Knight should die in her presence shée 〈◊〉 presume no further but threwe her selfe downe vppon a Pallet not able to speake her stomacke was so enraged Which Palmerin perceiuing arose out of his feigned traunce and giuing a great sighe departed the Chamber 〈…〉 owne The Princesse séeing him gone 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 and lament very gréeuouslye and in midst of her nâ—elancholy fell into these spéeches You Gods how can you suffer one so contrary to nature as is this dumbe Knight â—o liue among men Can you behold that he whom I deliuered froÌ„ death brought into yâ— grace of my father and to whom I haue doone more honour then had hée béene mine owne Brother will not regarde me but against all reason disdaineth refuseth maketh no reckoning of my dolours and setteth at nought my earnest intreaties Ah vndiscréete and carelesse Girle thy folly at this time too much ouerruled thée that knowing thine owne estate and high linage wouldest submit thy selfe to loue one vnknowne to thée and of whom thou canst haue no answere more then of a sencelesse stocke or stone If I can now learne to hate thée it will be some comfort to me but the more he iniurieth mee the more am I deuoted to his loue Then againe she contraryed her selfe in this sort Yet séeing it is so ingratefull wretch that thou aâ—t I will cause thée ere it be long to repent thy 〈◊〉 In this anger she continued all the day not 〈◊〉 foorth of her Chamber intending 〈◊〉 vtterly to despise him but the first time shée sawe him againe shee reputed him so louely faire and gracious that to dye shée could not with him any harme but loued him much better then before Yet to couer her owne inconstancie shee sent him no more presents nor did him such 〈◊〉 as she was accustomed which Palmerin well perceiued but hee could dissemble it in such sort as the Princesse hardly might decipher him For hée 〈…〉 had made to his deceased Father to sende his Brethren to Constantinople in whose company hee might trauaile thither and so escape the Turks and Moorish 〈◊〉 Chap. X. How Amarano Prince of Nigrea came to the Soldans court to accuse Aâ—chidiana as causer of the death of the fayre Princesse Ardemia her Cozin DUring the time that the Princeâ—â—â— Aâ—chidiana 〈…〉 the Princesse Ardemia and if hée made such lamentatâ—ons when hée but heard of her death what iudgement may bée set downe of his moâ—â—s béeing nowe at the Sepulchre of his best beloued Ah inconstant Fortune quoth hée why wouldest thou not permit mée to sée her liuing Ah Ardemia accomplished with admirable beautie great was her sinne whâ— enuying thy perfections procured thy cruell death yet this is my comfort that I shall come time inough to reuenge thy vndeserued 〈◊〉 and he that dare gainesay mée with her the authour of thy tragedie shall receyuâ— such condigne punishment as shall remaine for euer in memâ—ri These complaintâ— deliuered with excéeding sorrowe his Brethren perswaded him that such behauiour 〈…〉 〈…〉 I haue left my Countrey and aduentured into your presence to accuse your Daughter Alchidiana whom â—o please you to call before this assemblie I will charge 〈◊〉 she by false and spightfull hatred as a most cruell and disloyall Ladie trayterously murthered her Cozin the Princesse Ardemia And because this vâ—â—lainie hath hitherto béene concealed verie secret in respect it could not easily bée verified I am héere readie to proue in open 〈◊〉 agaynst any of your Knights that dare maintaine her cause howe the treason before rehearsed was committed by her in reueâ—ge whereof she ought to bée rewarded with sharpe and shamefull death 〈…〉 part whereof séeing the pride of the Prince of Nigâ—â—a woâ—ld furiously haue runne vpon him saying that hée should repent his follie but the Soldane offended thereat caused a Herauld presently to proclayme that on paine of death no one should harme or offende the Prince nor anie in his companie and whosoeuer did otherwise shoulde presentlie die for breaking his commaundement then â—raming his speeches to the Prince sayde Amarano nowe maist thou behold my Daughter before thée disburden the greefe of thy minde to her and iustice shall bée doone thée to thine owne desire Imagine quoth the Prince that such as knowe you Madame Aldhidiana will not a little maruaile séeing you accomplished with such gracious beautie that you should so farre forget your selfe as to commit treason But because a matter so vnlikely demaundeth as hard a proofe I will auerre with mine owne person in Combat agaynst any one that dare support your quarell that you are guiltie in the accusation alreadie alleaged and principall cause of the death of the Arminian Princesse your Cozin To reuenge such famous wrong I haue forsaken my countrey trauelling night and day and haue presented my accusation before your Father with this condition that if your Knight shall bee vanquished you are to bee punished as a cause of such weight requireth If it he may fortune to bée foyled and your Champion victor I shall yéeld my selfe as conquered and demaund no better recompence for it can not gréeue mee to remaine with her bodie whose verie remembraunce 〈…〉 in this maner Alchidiana you haue heard the spéeches of the Prince aduise your selfe well of your answerâ— for which of you both shall be sound attainted in the cryme be it Leâ—e Maiestaris or other 〈…〉 Chap. XI Howe Paâ—merin seeing that none of the Soldans Knights would aduenture for Alchidiana against Amarano eaterprised himself her cause in combat And how the Queene of Tharsus sent him a sumptuous helmet ALchidiana hauing heard the 〈◊〉 of Amarano and
Palmerin was the better more richly prouided of all things necessarie for the field Olorico was the more glad of his companie so the day béeing spent and the Tents pitched in a goodly plaine Palmerin inuited the Prince of Arabia to suppe with him for the Souldane had appointed him such honourable prouision as better hée could not for his owne sonne The Tables withdrawne and spending the time a while at Chesse play they went to bed where Olorico not able to sléepe beganne in this manner to his friendly companion Most fortunate Palmerin howe much more could I wish to resemble you then the greatest King or Lorde in the world to be likewise beloued of her who in beautie good grace and swéete spéech hath not her like And because my good Friend and Brother I haue noted the speciaâ—â— loue of the Princesse Alchidiana towardes you let me intreate you to tell me who shée is you aboue all other loue and intend to make your espoused Wife vowing to you on the word of a Prince whosoeuer it bee to conceale it with secrecie and to disswade my selfe from my loue newly begunne for your sake albeit I died therefore For your noble minde and braue gentilitie hath gained such soueraigntie ouer me as all other pleasures whatsoeuer I despise onely to haue your companye and fauour Thus quallifying the passions which day and night doo secretly torment mée I will sette downe such order as my Father shall not néede to send his Ambassadours nor imploy any of my Fréendes to demaunde her for mee albeit for this onelye cause I left my Countrey in such sort as you haue seene Palmerin hearing the wordes of the yoong Prince and perceiuing him wounded with her loue whom he desired to be furthest from smyling said My Lorde Oloriâ—o I sweare to you by the honour of my Knighthoode I neuer thought of the loue which you demaunde nor haue I any desire to followe that humour But true it is that I would doo so much for her as a Knight may for his Ladie for so shée well deserues her fauour and gentle behauiour woorthye farre better abilitie wherefore my déere Fréende if you will beléeue me giue not ouer your intent but practise to gaine her to your Wife and I promise you that I will so mooue the matter to the Soldane and her as happilie maye effect the end of your desires Yet let me intreate you to continue so iust a Fréende to her as her high calling well deserueth otherwise I had rather die the death then once to speake a word on your behalfe These newes so cheered the Prince as embracing him manie times and returning him manifold thanks he said Assuredlie my noble Freend I am greatly beholding to my father who gaue me my present being but much more owe I to you because my estate had now ended but that your gracious spéeches called me againe to 〈◊〉 My second selfe hauing thus lost my libertie I despaire of attaining what you haue promised and endure a death more then mortall but that you breath hope of successe into me assuring mée of immediate felicitie and ioyfull dayes héereafter which no father but so good a fréende was able to doo After other such like spéeches the Prince slept but Palmerin touched in another sort was solliced with the remembraunce of his lost fréendes and perceiuing his companion slept soundlie he began thus to deliuer his sorrowes Ah vnfortunate and wretched Palmerin how can thy mind so long beare this yoke of seruitude onely standing in feare of death Hast thou so forgot those two perfect louers Trineus and Agriola with thy true fréend Ptolome not knowing whether they bee aliue or deade what wilt thou not searche for them The Emperour of Allemaigne hath not hée good cause to complaine of thée yea and to blame thée if his sonne be not returned Darest thou present thy selfe before him Ah touch of loyaltie faire Agriola how iustlye mayst thou call mée thine enemie inuenter and fiâ—st motion of thy misfortunes O wretched and miserable that I am for leauing thée so discourteouslye I well deserue a million of torments farre worse then those exercised by the cruell Dyonise on the Scicilians Nor coulde they be sufficient to expiate my hainous guilt in that forgetting thée fayre Princesse I liue in daylie delights among these Moores and Tartars But were I such as I ought to bee mindfull of a fault so foullie committed I shoulde not liue one houre in rest or quiet till I had found my déerest Fréendes againe Ah disloyall Traytour how canst thou thus waste thy time héere slothfullie knowing the great and continuall trauails thy Ladye and Mistresse endureth for thée But I vowe to God this warre finished I will not abide in the Soldanes Courte tenne dayes but intende to sette forwarde to sée the Iewell of of my welfare And were it not to my perpetuall discredit as also that I should be iudged a faynting coward I would begin my iourney presently Thus all the night continued Palmerin such like coâ—plaints considering his Fréendes misfortune and his owne with such déepe impressions as thence forward hee liued in meruailous melancholie and would not delight himselfe 〈◊〉 before hee was accustomed Chap. XVIII Of the Combat betweene Palmerin and two of Aâ—aranoes Brethren whom he valiantly ouercame and killed FOllowing the true discourse of our historie the King of Balisarca Lieuetenant generall of the whole Armie caused the next morning to bée proclaimed by souÌ„d of Trompet that euery man should attend on his Ensigne and not go robbing and forraging the Uillages on paine of death to be inflicted on the offender So marching on in good array in short time after they encamped themselues before a citie where the enemies kept themselues in garison and planting themselues there for their aduantage the next morning they determined to giue the assault All yâ— night they were ordering the maner of their batterie the Pyoners making Trenches and such defences as are requisit in warlike occasions Euery thing in due and perfect order at Sun rysing they beganne to assaile the Cittie rounde about following their intent with such courage and alacritie as with scaling Ladders and other Engines in lesse then two hâ—wres they gotte vpon the walles and in despight of their enemies entred the Cittie murdering and expulsing the Phrygians and sharing the spoyle among themselues All other Citties Townes and Uillages that were taken by the enemie within sixe dayes after were recouered they not daring to withstand the Soldans power Gramiell Amaranoes eldest Brother amazed héereat hauing vndertaken to reuenge his Brothers death with his men betooke himselfe to open Fielde determining to giue the Assirians battaile and that way to make triall of their fortune in which resolution they came within halfe a dayes iourney of theyr enemies The King of Balisarca aduertised héereof dislodged immediatlie taking aduauntage of a little Mountaine which was in the open sight of the enemie And Palmerin who
about midnight with bag and baggadge and so to coast the Mountain feigning a fearefull departure For quoth hée the enemie aduertised of our retyre will imagine that we despayre of our successe by reason of the death of the two slaine Princes Thus our dissembled flight will cause them disorderlie to pursue vs which we will suffer till espying our aduantage when returning valiantly vpon them I dare gadge my life we shall eyther kill them downe right before vs or at least driue them to a shamefull foyle This deuise was generallie allowed for good and at the howre appointed was executed By chaunce this morning Gramiell came among his menne verie earlie and vnderstanding the Soldans power was departed with such silence presentlye cryed alarme charging all his men to followe them for he doubted they woulde enter a Cittie néere at hande which was so stronglye fortefied as they should neuer entise them foorth to skirmish therefore he desired to preuent them of that helpe Héereupon the Horsemen galloped after them amaine crying vpon them my Fréendes vpon them the day is ours Palmerin the Prince Olorico the King of Balisarca Gueresin his Sonne with a thousande men at Armes séeing howe they were disordered returned vppon them and made such a slaughter among the Phrygians as the Field was couered all ouer with their bodies Gramiell séeing that of the first sallie not one came backe againe sette forward with his battaile wherein hée had a thousand Horsemen and furiouslye runnning on the Soldans power by misfortune hée mette with the Prince Olorico to whome he gaue such a cruell stroke on the head as had almost sette him beside his Saddle Olorico greatly discontented héereat turned valiantlie towards his eneme and betwéene them continued a very daungerous fight but in the ende Gramiells Helmet béeing cutte from his heade hee beganne to despayre when Olorico following his intent noblie at one blowe smote his heade from his shoulders This mishap was séene by one of his yonger Brethren who running fiercelie with his Launce against Olorico was suddainlye preuented by Palmerin in that hée stroke him beside his Horse where hee was troden to death with the trampling of the Horsses Then came foorth the two hundred swoorne Knightes from their ambush who had vndertaken Palmerins death and him they hemde in so subtillie as hée was brought into very great daunger Which the Prince of Arabia beholding made way through the thickest to assist his Fréende after whom followed Gueresin with an hundred Knights without which supply both Palmerin and Olorico had béen slayne for theyr Horsses were killed vnder them and they enforced to fight on foote But when they beheld this fortunate succour theyr courage nobly increased and then beganne the sharpest encounter for the winges on eyther side approched the Archers and Crossebowes likewise sending their Arrowes as thicke as hayle among them so that the battaile endured till darke night Then the Brethren sounded the retraite for which the King of Balisarca was not sorrie hauing so ouertrauailed himselfe that day as he could no longer â—itte on Horsebacke notwithstanding before hée woulde enter his Tent he sawe the Fieldâ— assured the watch placed and all the Souldiours planted in good order Chap. XIX How the Brethren of Gramiell with all their traine tooke themselues to flight and how Palmerin suddainly pursued them with his power and tooke them prisoners IMmediatlie after that these two Phrigian princes had thus souÌ„ded the retrait and considered how they had lost fiue of theyr brethren thrée in single fight with Palmerin and the other in the battaile the greatest part of their power likewise almost vtterly dismaid to know the certaintie of their strength they commaunded a deuision to bee made of the whole and wounded and séeing how small their number was they concluded not to stay in any place til they came to the Realme of Pasmeria whereof Maurice was King and their kiseman from whom Palmerin tooke the enchaunted Crowne where they thought to supply their want with men actiue and able to Armes The next day the king of Balisarca raunged a thousand men in order to giue a fresh assault on the enemie but he was suddainlie aduertised by his espiall how the Phrygians were fledde He not a little glad of these newes sent word to Palmerin thereof who though he was sore wounded Armed himselfe commaunding his Captaines to prouide sixe thousand men presently to goe sée the certaintie of these tydings With this strength he ioyned the Kings power and so went to the ememies Campe where they found no resistanuce nor any but such as laye gréeuonslye wounded of whome hee enquired which way the cowards were fled which the poore Souldiours reporting to him hée vowed to followe till hée ouertooke them The resolution agréede vpon betwéene the King of Balisarca and him with tenne thousand light Horsemen hée determined to pursue them and the King to staye there with the rest of the Armie to recouer the Townes againe to the Soldane which before had béene taken of the enemie and to bee in readines with assistaunce if he shoulde happen to stande in any néede While Palmerin made election of his company a horseman was dispatched with these newes to the Soldane how the enemies had béene foyled and of their flight The messenger béeing come before Maulicus and the Letter open and read how valiantly Palmerin dealt with his enemies before all his nobility the Soldane sayde By all the Oracles of Delphos I may well perswade my selfe that whersoeuer Palmerin is for vs wee are assured of the victorie The Princesse hauing heard these newes sent for the messenger and after shee vnderstoode by him howe Palmerin bare her Shéelde in the face of her enemies and had slaine in Combat two of Amaranos Brethren shée was meruailous ioyfull and rewarded the Messenger so well for his paynes as for euer hée might extoll the bountie of the Princesse The Messenger dispatched againe with the Soldans Letters brought spéedie aunswere to the King of Balisarca and Palmerin of their packet wherein the Soldane hartylie thanked them desiring them to followe theyr fortune Palmerin vnderstanding the will of the Soldane and Alchidiana and howe they desired him to pursue the Brethren of Gramiell determined to set forwarde next morning aduertising the Prince Olorico thereof that hée might put himselfe in readines But notwithstanding all theyr dilligence their enemies gotte before them into Pasmeria where they rested theÌ„selues in hope to be assisted by their Cozin Maurice And he was giuen to vnderstand how the dumbe Knight named Palmerin followed them wherfore he commaunded them to depart his Realme for hee would not ayde them against his déerest Fréende This repulse droue them into great dispayre yet séeing they coulde not helpe it they were constrained to make a vertue of necessitie and so secretly as they coulde deuise by little and little stole toward their owne Countrey Maurice hearing how Palmerin was come into his Realme rode thrée or
worthily deserue all which at my returne feare not shal be effected So well could Palmerin dissemble the matter as the Princesse was somewhat better pacified and taking his leaue of her returned to the Soldane before whome he caused to bee brought the Princes and Lords that were prisoners and at his request Maulicus gaue them libertie with this charge notwithstanding that they should serue him in his warre Which that they might the better accomplish he commanded them horse armour and all other things necessarie making all possible spéed could be deuised that his armie might set forwards to sea Chap. XXII How Palmerin sailing with the Soldanes armie was brought by tempest into the Sea of Allemaigne where hee tooke landing with the prince Olorico QUickly Palmein consented to embarke the Armie desiring the Prince Olorico to accompanie him to the Hauen to make choyse of the best vessel for themselues and suruaying them all they found a goodly Carricke new and very well appointed wherein many prisoners lay chained which had beene taken by the Soldanes gallies and other Rouers of the Moores of whom Palmerin demaunded what people they were they answered that they were christians and had long time liued there in that thraldome Palmerin not a little glad of these newes asked of what Countrey they were whereupon one of them that could well spâ—ake the Arabian tongue answered Wee are all of Allemaigne to whome Fortune hath excéeded in crueltie These wordes were maruailous welcome to Palmerin and for which inwardly he thanked his God but the better to dissemble his ioy he thus spake This Countrey should séeme to be very farre from hence because I neuer heard thereof before So finding this vessell fitte for his purpose hée appointed it for himselfe and the Prince Olorico discharging all other that were therein two Knights onely excepted to whose charge hee committed the Christians causing his Horses Tents and all other necessaries to be carried abroad as well the Prince Oloricos as his owne accomplishing euerie thing in such order as within thrée dayes after the Souldiers were readie to depart and nowe the day is come to launch away when the Soldane and other Taborlanes accompanied the King of Balisarca to the Hauen But the faire Alchidiana would not bee séene by reason of her great greefe for her Friendes departure for when shee came to take her leaue of Palmerin in his Chamber shee fell in a manner dead at his féete soone after shee deliuered these lamentable spéeches This is no common farewell my beloued Lord which you now take of me but say it is my very last adiew for my heart perswades mee that I shall neuer sée you more because the extremities of my sorrowes are such as well I know I cannot long endure Adiew my sweete Fréende who in stéede of my ioy and comfort leauest me in despayre which neuer can haue ende but by immediate death God Madame say not so quoth Palmerin for I hope right soone to sée you againe So leauing her Olorico and he went towards the Hauen the Prince beeing so passionate to leaue her sight by whose swéete lookes his life was maintained as had not his friendly companion comforted him vnable was hee to departe the Pallace But béeing nowe come to the Port and féeling the winde and sea seruiceable loth to trifle the time with any longer stay they came to take their leaue of the Souldane who tooke great care for theyr contentment and many times embracing Palmerin commending to him the disposition of all his affayres sayd My noble Sonne and friend I vowe to you in presence of our Gods that if you returne hither againe with victorie with such honours I will endowe you as shall be sufficient for the whole worlde to talke on Palmerin humbly kissing his hande went aboord the Marriners hoysing sayle launched foorth into the Sea with such a braue noyse of Drums Trompets Clarions Cornets Fifes and other instruments as though Heauen and earth would haue encountred together Palmerin thus floting on the gouernment of Neptune imagined how with safety he might forsake his companie wherefore he commanded to vnbinde all the Christians For quoth hee to Olorico séeing they are Marriners and well skilled in the art of Nauigation they may stand vs in good stéede if time so require or any sodaine tempest should assaile vs but the better to beguile his owne people he caused them to sweare their faithfull seruice to him The neght being come and he séeing that euerie one slept soundly called two of the Christians and in the Allemaigne tongue thus beganne My Friends giue thanks to God for your fortune in that you Christians haue founde one of your faith and religion who hath good hope shortly to deliuer you from these heathen helhoundes therefore set feare apart and regarde well your Quadrant if you can compasse any meane to get the coast of Allemaigne The Christians more glad then can be expressed answered that they would accomplish his commandement and therefore he should repose his trust in them About midnight as God would beganne a great tempest and blustring of winde so that in despight of the Pylots and Marriners the Fléete was seuered in many parts but the Christians perceiuing that this winde serued well for their auaile knâ—w so well how to order their course that in short time they got farre inough from their companie and thus continued the winde for tenne or twelue dayes for which Palmerin deuoutly 〈◊〉 God So happily strained Palmerin with his Allemaignes that one of them at length tolde him they were neere the straites of Gibraltare for which Palmerin not a little ioyfull said that they might passe Spaine without any feare and so the sooner reach Allemaigne But when they began to coast the straight the Turkish marriners were amazed saying that the Christians knew not their course beeing more then eight hundred thousand leagues foorth of theyr compasse Palmerin fearing to be discouered before hée came to his intent aunswered in choler that the Christians knewe their course much better then they did and they to prate no more on paine of their liues which threatning presently droue them all to silence Afterwarde they sayled with so good winde as they tooke landing at a Port in Allemaigne which at this day is called Tolledo when the Christians said to Palmerin how that was the place where they were borne where if so he pleased they desired their libertie Palmerin assuring them of their request answered that hée himselfe would land there and therfore went first on shore feigning to séeke fresh water and all ihings accomplished to his owne desire he caused his Horse to be brought forth and Oloricos likewise who was importunate to beare him companie No sooner was Palmerin on shore but he knéeled downe giuing thanks to God for his safe deliuerance The Marchants and Marrines of the Citie séeing them whome they thought lost in the Sea more then tenne yéeres before were greatly abashed welcomming
King to sende for two of his Nephewes who were sonnes to the Duchesse of Ormeda his sister the one named Promptaleon and the other Oudin to be his Lieutenants in Hungaria during his absence Upon their presence before the Ambassador of Constantinople the King Tarisius tooke their oathes for their loyall and faithfull gouernment But because we must now reuiue matter long expected as concerning the noble Prince Florendos of Macedon I am loth to spende any further time in vaine and will now report what happened at Buda during the time of this determination Chap. XXV How the Prince Florendos of Macedon accompanied with none but his Cozin Frenato departed from his Countrey in a Pilgrims habit iourneying in Hungaria where he killed the King Tarisius and how he and the Queene Griana were taken prisoners LOrdings let vs nowe remember how after that Palmerin was departed from Macedon hauing recouered the health of the olde king Primaleon Father to the noble Prince Florendos who during the time of Palmerins presence was somewhat more pleasant then of long time he had béene appeasing his complaints for the Princesse Griana by the happie tidings of the ancient knight that sent the shéeld to Palmerin at his knighting But now Florendos hearing no newes of him returned to his former heauines and languished much more then euer he did so that when the Macedonian Princes Lords pressed him with continuall request of marriage that hee might haue issue to succéede in the Kingdome hee was constrained by their importunitie to make them promise of their request crauing a yéeres respite before in which time he intended to make a deuout voyage whereto they consented in respect of his promise Nowe did he not demaunde this time of his Subiects for any desire he had to bée a Pilgrim or any superstitious zeals to the Spanishe Leather Cape Shooes Frocke and such like but for he longed to sée his swéete mistresse Griana whom he serued in heart with such loyall affection as till death he would not marrie with out her consent and licence The day being come that he would depart he tooke his leaue of all the Princes Lords and Gentlemen and accompanied with Frenato Father to Pâ—olome both caped after the manner of Pilgrimes mounted on two Palfrayes of small value and without anie weapons except each of them a little short Dagger departed the Cittie making such haste in their iourney as they arriued at Buda where as then the King kept his Court prouiding to set forwarde to Constantinople There were they lodged in one of the best Osteries in the Cittie and the next morning went to the great Church where the Quéene was euer woont to heare diuine seruice and so well it fortuned that at the time these two Pilgrims entred the Church the Quéene her selfe was in the Chappel Florendos who was maruaileusly disguised stoode not in doubt to bee knowne but séeing the Chaplaine had begunne seruice hypocritically he approched to Aultaâ— with holie deuotion to the ende hee might the better beholde the Quéene Regarding her swéete countenaunce he remembring the courtesies he sometime receyued of her and what excéeding affection as then shée bare him but now being in the custodie of another and he out of hope to haue any more gracious pittie his spirits were so wonderfully troubled and so manie passionate sighes hée breathes from his heart as he fell downe in a swoune that euerie one reputed him for dead The Quéen who manie times had noted his pitâ—ious lookes commaunded Tolomestra one of her Ladies shée that had the charge of her in the Tower of Constantinople that shee should go vnderstand the Pilgrims disease and do the best to recouer him againe which Frenato had done before she came Tolomestra demanded of Frenata the cause of his sicknesâ—â— who answered Madame we are newly come from the holy voyage of Ierusaâ—em and hee who was wont to endure many vehement alterations which the contrary ayres by the waye doâ— bréede féelyng the freshe coolenesse of this Church hath therewit béene ouercome as it should appeare My friendes quoth Tolomestra withdrawe your selues to the Court and enquire for the Gallery in which place the Quéene dooth daily giue her almes there shall be prouided some remedie for you and I will giue you certaine precious Drugges which shall héereafter comfort you when any such humour offendeth you A thousand thankes good Ladie sayd Frenato we will doo as you haue commaunded vs. Seruice béeing ended they went to thâ— Gallery whither soone after came the Quéene and opening the Casement of her Window as shée was wont stood to behold the Almes giuen to the poore Pilgrims Frenato and his companion had gotten so neare the Windowe that the Quéene might easily heare any thing they sayd After most humble reuerence made Florendos thus beganne Most excellent Quéene renowmed beyond all other Ladies among so many of your daily charities may it please you to pittie the most poore and miserable Knight in the world The Quéene at these wordes knewe him and was in such feare least the King should know of his being there as shée could hardly sustaine her selfe but satte downe on a Pallet by Tolomestra who séeing her suddaine alteration sayd What ayle you Madame that your colour changeth in such sort Ah my trustie friende quoth the Quâ—â—â—e the Pylgrime that swouned in the Church is the 〈◊〉 Florendos of Macedon I pray thée goe to him and 〈◊〉 him presently to depart hence for if the King come to the knowledge of him all the worlde cannot shéelde him from death For the rest will him follow no further what he lost by his owne default and that the sauour héeretofore graunted my duetie and honour now forbiddeth mée Tolomestra entring the Gallerie saide the message to the Prince Florendos who vnderstanding this sharpe answere shed manie teares with gréefe saying Ah my déere Fréend Tolemestra desire my gracious mystresse Griana that in requitall of so manie tormenting passions which nowe twentie yéeres I haue patiently endured shée will affoord me once so speake with her and kisse her hand before I depart Tolomestra brought this answere to the Quéene perswading her to heare him speake which shée might do with safetie vnder colour of requesting to know the maruales of Palestine with the precious and worthie monuments of the holie Citie I am content to graunt so much quoth the Quéene but I greatly feare the issue of his spéeches go then and cause him secretly to enter Ah gentle habit where-under many doe often beginne their delight which in the ende proues woorsse then Tragicall The two Pilgrims béeing entred Florendos â—ell on his knée before his Ladie and kissing her hand sayd O my God thy name be praysed through all worldes permitting mee to kisse these handes so long time desired Sée héere swéete Mistresse your Florendos that with such loyaltie hath loued you and hitherto hath kept the fayth which hée vowed to you at Constantinople
giue the better credite to the Princes wordes Yet notwithstanding all their excuses these two Pilgrims were taken into sure custodie and shut vp both togither in a strong Towre which was verie long before they could accomplish because in leading them thither many sought meanes to kill them and they had done it but that the Duke verie strongly defended them Chap. XXVI The sorowfull complaints made by the Queene Griana seeing her Huâ—band dead and her friend taken And howe the Duke of Pera conueyed her to Constantinople causing Florendos and Frenato to be brought thither by fiue hundred armed Knights VErie sorrowfull was the Quéene Griana séeing so manie misfortunes succéede one another as euerie houre her death was expected and saâ—s she woulde haue committed violence on her selfe but that Cardyno with diuerse Knights attended on her that none of the Kinges kindred shoulde offend her while the Duke of Pera led Florendos and Frenato to the Tower At whose return as he thought to comfort her shée fell on her knées before him saying Ah noble Duke of Pera if euer pittie had place within your heart for Gods sake make an end of my vnfortunate life and execute on me without any fauour the sharpest rigour of equall iustice not suffering longer life to a woman so dispised and miserable O God doost thou permit a happie life to enioy so bad an end Thou that onely knowest the inward secrets of the heart séeing I stand suspected in this treason let my spéedie death deliuer mine innocencie Ah inconstant Fortune that in my yonger yéeres was so aduerse to mee how might I credite thy continuall mallice but by this strange and vnexpected accident Ah gentle Prince Florendos it was not for loue that thou camest to sée mée but for a secret hatred more then deadly séeing that by thée and that with great shame I shall remaine for euer defamed Where was that loyaltie and the great feare to offend mée which sometime thou séemedst to haue Knowest thou not that in a royall and noble minde one onely note of infamie is an extreame torment Doubtlesse if thou wouldest well consider the wrong thou hast done me thou shalt finde it to excéede all other worldly iniuries But I may perswade my selfe that my destinie was such for being long since by thée dishonoured it must fall out for a finall conclusion that by thée also I shall receiue death In this maner the Quéene complained with such effuse of teares and bitter sighes as the Duke pitying her case sayd I beséech you Madame to endure this mishap paciently séeing now it cannot be recalled and consider that these teares and lamentations can yéelde yée no amendes but rather threaten daunger and will in the ende not onely weaken your bodie but hazard desperation The King is dead he must be buried Florendos hath offended hée shall be punished your people are wounded they must be cured Offende not then your selfe with these bootlesse regrâ—â—tes but commaund that the proofe of your innocencie be followed Hereupon the Duke caused preparation for the funerall pompe and brought the king to the bed of honor not without many teares and lamentations of his Subiects When the obsequies were finished Promptaleon and Oudin came and exclaimed on the Duke because hée brought not the Quéene and Florendos to open punishment My friends quoth the Duke haue I not heretofore tolde you that wée must not inconsiderateâ—y put such persons to death let the Councell bee called togither and as they determine I will procéede Then were all the Princes and Lordes assembled among whome the Duke was intreated to speake his opinion which hée did in this maner I thinke it conâ—enient vnder correction of you my noble Lords that the Prince Florendos and the Queene ought to bée sent to my Lord the Emperour and there to haue iustice extended on them as well for the sureâ—ie of your owne persons as for the conseruation of the Realme For except iustice and by probable causes you condemne the Prince Florendos hardly may you perswade the Macedonian Princes beside the Lordes may say that without hearing hee was cut off and likewise by his open enemies Againe thinke you that the Emperour will let passe in silence so great a wrong to punish his Daughter and not arquaint him with her offence Considering this indifferently you shall finâ— your selues on eyther side endangered your goods will be spoyled your liues endamaged for hardly can you resist agaynst such power So well coulde the Duke sette foorth his discourse with confirmation of Hystories both auncient and moderne that in despight of the Kings Nephewes it was concluded how the prisoners should be sent to Constantiople If they were hereat offended it is not to bee doubted but hearing the Counsuâ—les resolution prepared themselues to goe to the Emperour determining a sharpe and seuere accusation trusting so much in their strength and prowesse that if the Emperour for proofe of the cause shoulde committe it is the Combat they easily thought to compasse their intent So were the two Pilgryms committed to the Dukes Nephew with an hundred Knights of Greece for their guard and foure hundred Hungarians who would néedes followe for the loue they bare the Quéene she béeing maruellousâ—â—â— fauoured in her countrey for her many vertues and chiefly charitie The Quéene her selfe with the yong Princesse Armida her Daughter and all her Ladyes and Gentlewomen were committed to the Duke of Pera his charge and the rest of the traine that came with him in the Ambassade When the Quéene vnderstoode shée should be caried to the Emperour shée 〈◊〉 further out of pacience then shée was before rather desiring a thousand deaths then is come with this reproach before her Father yet notwithstanding all her intreaties shee was conueyed into a Litter and not so much as a pinne left about her for feare of inconuenience To comfort her her Daughter Armida was placed in the Litter without whose companie such was her gréets to come before her Parents as shée was diuerse times in daunger of death by the way But the yong Princesse béeing twelue or thirtéene yeares of age coulde so well comfort her sorrowfull mother as her talke expelled many bitter imaginations If the Quéene was in heauinesse wée must thinke Florendos griefes nothing inferiour séeing his Ladie led in such sort and accused of a crime wherein none but himselfe was culpable yet made hee no account béeing reuenged of his auncient enemie so the Quéene were deliuered though himselfe endured the death But nowe are they come to Constantinople yet not so soone but the Nephewes of the deceassed King were before them where they had blazed a false and most shamefull reporte And but for the aduise of certaine noble Princesse that fauoured Florendos and the Quéene Griana vpon the trothlesse spéeches of these twaine the Emperour had concluded to burne his Daughter and the Prince so soone as they came such horrible slaunders had these traytours spread of
too much their enemie Then declared hée their troublesomâ— time on the Sea in what manner he lost them and how he now trauailed to finde them againe Since fortune hath so appointed quoth Frysoll that this loue and friendship should bee begunne betwéene vs to continue the same I will beare you companie and will not forsake you till yée haue found them may it like you to accept me for your companion If it like mée quoth Palmerin you néede not doubt thereof and rather you then any man that I knowe for which noble kindnesse I thinke my selfe most fortunate In this manner beganne the concorde betwéene Palmerin and Frysoll which continued with vertuous and perfect constancie as in the Chapters following you shal perceiue Thus soiourned these Knights there louingly togither till Palmerin being recouered and able to beare armes they departed thence leauing the poore Lady Leonarda in great heauinesse because her friend Frysol left her so soone Chap. XXX How Palmerin the prince Olorico and Frysoll went to Buda thinking to finde the Court there where beeing arriued they heard newes howe the prince Florendos was taken whom they went to succour with all diligence at Constantinople FFysol because he would not haue his Ladie Leonarda too much discontented made promise of spéedie returne to her which words somewhat pleasing her he departed with his two friendes and such quicke hast they made in theyr iourney and within sixe daies after they arriued at Buda There were they aduertised of the Kings death whereof the Prince of Macedon was accused and the Quéene likewise for which cause they were as prisoners conuaied to the Cittie of Constantinople At these tydings Palmerin was very displeasant wherefore he sayde to his companions Beléeue mée good Friends my heart will neuer be in quiet till I haue beene before the Emperour who ought to bée an indifferent Iudge to Florendos and hée is the onely man of the world to whome most gladly I would do any seruice therefore let vs make hast to Constantinople to the end we may succour him if he stand in any néede of our ayde I am ready quoth Frysoll and let vs sette forwarde when you please Héerewith hee remembred his father to whom the Crowne by right appertayned if Tarisius deceased without anie heire where to by this meane hée might attaine right soone Perswading himselfe with assuraunce héereof hée was now more â—arnest to be gone and hastened his companions in such sort as they came to Constantinople two daies before the appointed time for the Combat As they entred the Cittie they met a Knight riding on hunting whome after they had saluted Palmerin questioned with all if hée knew any thing of the Prince Florendos his misfortune what the Emperor intended to doo with him Sir quoth the knight the Emperour hath resolutely set down that the Prince and his daughter shall receiue their triall by Combate against the two Nephewes to the deceased King and furnished they must bée of their Champions before the limitted time of ten dayes bée expired and nothing else as yet is doone to my knowledge I thank you good Syr quoth Palmerin it is happie the matter is no further forward So leauing the â—â—ight they prauncâ—d merrilie into the Cittie and because it was 〈◊〉 soone to take vp their lodging they rode to the Pallace to knowâ— at full the certainetye of the matter thus beeing all Armed except their Helmets which their Squirâ—s carrâ—â—d after them they made a séemely shew as they rode in thâ—t they were all thrée of one stature and verye beautifull young Princes they were especially noted and followed by many Knights and Gentlemen who imagined suâ—h persons went to the Pallace for other matters then Coâ—â—tlie dauncing These thrée companions béeing entred the great Hall which was hangâ—d rounde about with blacke veluet in signe of mourning â—â—ey meruailed what might bée the occasion thereof wherefore Palmerin falling on his knée before the Emperour and hauing humblye kissed his hande thus spake Most renowmes Monarch of the worlde my Fréendes héere and my selfe within these fâ—we dayes as we trauailed through the Realme of Hungaria were aduertised that you kéepe in pryson the Prince of Macedon whom so please your Maiestie to vouchsafe I woulde gladlie sée in respect that hée is my Lord as for the desire I haue to deale in the Combat appointed if it like him to make choyse of me The Emperour perceiuing Palmerin so faire modest and couragious began with himselfe to conceiue well of him and imagined that his Sonne Caniano was againâ— receiued so néere did he resemble him in countenaunce stature and all proportions of the bodie wherefore hée returned him this answere It shall not in ought displease mée my Fréende to let you sée him to the ende you may conceiue no suspition of iniustice So calling a Gentleman Usher commaunded him to conduct the Knight to the Towre where the Prince Florendos was afterwarde enquiring of the Prince Olorico and Frysoll what the Knight was that so hardily did enterprise the Combat Dreade Lord quoth Frysoll he is called Palmerin d'Oliua a Knight in my iudgment of the verie highest qualitie in the worlde Then hée and the Prince Olorico rehearsed the prowesse and déedes of Chiualrie by him accomplished in France England Allemaigne Bohemia and Turkie which béeing heard by a Bohemian Knight then present he came to Frysoll saying I pray you Sir is this that Palmerin who kild the Serpent on the Mountaine Artifaeria and brought the water from the Fountaine which healed the good King Prymaleon Father to Florendos It is he Sir quoth Frysoll and no other Then dare I say gracious Lorde quoth the Knight that you haue séene the most valiant and vertuous Gentleman that euer came in Thrace Héereuppon he discouered the noble victorie he obtained in Bohemia against the two Gyants Daâ—â—aco and Mordano whome hée slew before his woorthy Combat on the behalfe of Dyardo Coâ—i◠〈◊〉 to the King and fayre Cardonya against the Counte of Ormeque and his Cozins in the Companie of Prince Adrian and Ptolome Héereat were all the Princes and Knights present amazed so that the Emperor himselfe saide Well maye Florendos nowe aduenture the tryall of his rause hauing the onelye Champion of the woilde on his side and in this manner they deuised of him till his returne from the pryson againe Palmerin entring the Tower Florendos was astonied because no person was wont to come sée him but chiefely when he sawe him on his knées to him vsing these spéeches Alas my Lord Florendos how gréeuous to mée is your imprisonment in vnhappie time did you knowe him that hath caused you to bée so ill intreated I pray you my Lord comfort your selfe and take courage for héere may you beholde your Seruaunt Palmerin who will be hewed in a thousand péeces but hée will deliuer you from this miserie Florendos whole eyes and facâ— were greatlie swolne with incessant wéeping onelye with the
hee would conferre with you and haue your wounds attended by his owne Chirurgions So turning again to the Pallace they entred the Hall where the Emperour méeting them said Right welcome are ye my noble Fréendes who hauâ— so happilie defended my Daughters honor for whose sake I shall make ye such recompence as shal be hencefoorth an encouragement to all Knights to aduenture the Combat on the behalfe of anie distressed Ladye Imediatlye in theyr presence by sounde of Trompet hée caused to bee declared that the Prince Florendos and the Quéene Griana were innocent of the trayterous accusation and therefore in open Fielde bad they should bee deliuered commaunding likewise his most expert Chirurgions to giue diligent attendaunce on the wounded Knights causing them to be lodged in the most statelie Chambers of his Pallace Afterwarde hée suffered the bodies of the vanquished to bee buried giuing expresse charge on paine of death that none of the knights of Hungaria should depart from Constantinople without his leaue because hée woulde while they stayed there prouide for the gouernment of the kingdom as appertaining to his yong Daughter the Princesse Armida The Empresse was so ioyfull for the deliueraunce of Griana as shee had soone forgotte her Nephewes misfortune the Quéenes Ladies likewise were not a little glad but aboue all the yong Princesse Armida her comfort could not be expressed that her Mother was so graciouslie defended and now the Duke of Pera who hadde the Prince Florendos in custodie fetching him foorth of prison said My Lord thanke God and the Knights that fought the Combat for you for by theyr meanes the Emperour declareth you absolued and set at libertie The Prince lifting his eyes to Heauen thus began Ah my God how happie is the man that trusteth in thy mercie doubtlesse he that beléeueth in thy promises shall neuer perish Noble Duke in all mine afflictions I haue euermore founde your speciall fauour but if God prolong my life I will not be vnmindfull of your gentlenesse In sooth my Lord quoth the Duke for so good a Prince any honest minde would gladlie endeuour himselfe and if I haue pleasured you in anie thing I did no more then my dutye which christian amitie requireth of each other So taking him by the hand hée brought him before the Emperour when falling on his knées the Prince thus spake If héeretofore dread Lord both I and my people gaue our selues to â—rauaile and aduentured desperate hazard in your defence at this time I count my selfe sufficientlie recompenced séeing your displeasure qualified and the hard opinion you conceiued against me chaunged into princely and honorable iustice Syr Florendos aunswered the Emperour when I remember the wrong you did my Daughter leauing such a scandalous report of her at the first time you came to this Cittie I thinke you woorthie of the sharpest death But placing mercie before rigorous iustice I am desirous to let you knowe that it liketh me better to be loued then feared forgetting quite the offence against our person the murder of our Sonne without any regard to the murmur of the people whose ignoraunce cannot consider of Princes mercie Nor will I stayne mine aged yéeres with mine owne proper bloud or the death of a Prince so noble whereby I shoulde leaue to my following posteritie as a Trophe of my life an endlesse memorie of tirannous crueltie but rather shall my chéefest aduersaries stop their mouthes with remembrance of my clemencie and princelie bountie as your owne conscience shall well witnesse with me You therefore my Lorde the Duke of Pera see that the Prince Florendos be lodged in the best place in our Cittie and kéepe him companie vntill his traine shall come from Macedon With great humilitie the Prince kissed the Emperours hande acknowledging his manifolde and princelie courtesies desiring the Duke likewise before his departure that hee might speake with the two Knightes Frysoll and Palmerin Béeing brought to their Chambers the embracings and gracious courtesies hée vsed to them I am not able to vtter and verie loth was hee to parte from them but that hée woulde no way preiudise theyr health wherefore giuing them the good night he was conducted to his lodging leauing Palmerin verie sadde and pensiue remembring what the Quéene of Tharsus had saide to him howe hée should deliuer his Father from death before he could know him which was likewise confirmed by the apparition of the Ladie to him vnder the name of his best and déerest Fréendes O that the Heauens did so fauour me quoth he that I were the Sonne of the Prince Florendos and Quéene Griana then woulde I imagine my selfe the happiest man in the world Yet can I not forget that the Fayries tolde mée on the Mountaine Artifaeria that one daie I shoulde bée Lord of all Greece but God is my witnesse that I couet not such honor and preferment were it not for the loue of my Ladie to the ende her Father might not dislike of our contract And hence will I not depart before I vnderstand the truth héereof and to what ende this aduenture will happen Frysoll on the other side he deuised how to make himselfe knowne to the Emperour and Empresse because he had good hope when himselfe might bée knowne that his Father Netrides shoulde enioy the Kingdome of Hungaria The Prince Florendos likewise coulde take no rest for his great desire to recouer the Quéene Griana Such were the passions of these thrée Princes eache one liuing in hope of good successe which happens according to their expectations as you shall reade héereafter Chap. XXXII How the Queene Griana with the yong Princesse Armida went to visit Palmerin and Frysoll and howe the Queene knew Palmerin to be her sonne to the no litle ioy of the Emperour and the Prince Florendos TWo daies after the deliueraunce of the Prince Florendos the yong Princesse Armida deuising with the Quéene her Mother said Me thinks gracious Madame we are to be reprooued of ingratitude in that we haue not as yet visited the poore wounded knights considering how greatly we are beholding to them I beséech you let vs this morning go sée how they fare Alas Daughter aunswered the Quéene hast thou the heart to bring me among such persons when I am saide to bee the cause of thy fathers death Then the Princesse breaking foorth in teares replied Beléeue me Madame if you remember your selfe well you are in as little faulte as Iam and so hath an honorable victorie declared but had you béene anye way culpable therein yet nowe you ought to comfort your selfe hauing had such a famous proofe of innocencie In signe whereof and to declare your thankfulnesse to those gentle Knights it will bée counted a speciall point of courtesie to visite them that ventured for you Go we then said the Quéene séeing you thinke it so necessarie and are so desirous So accompanied with manie Ladies clothed all in mourning blacke they went first to Frysoll greatlie thanking
no Ladie may comparâ— her felicitie with mine Ah my sonne by thée are my sorrowes chaunged into ioy my dispaire into content and from death it selfe am I brought againe to life for if my husbands hard hap made me dâ—spise life now may you be assured how much I desire it Then declared shée how to saue the Prince Florendos life whose faithfull loue brought him to such extremitie by sicknesse she aduentured her honor for his safetie and entering the paradise of loue bestowed that iewel on him which she most of all estéemed And so maist thou quoth shée report to the Emperour yet in this manner that not by carâ—all impudicitie I so consented for God is my witnesse that notwithstanding the perill wherein I sawe him no perswasion could cause me yéeld him that especiall remedie before he had first solemnly vowed marriage to mée which against all right was broken by the Emperours commaundement Madame quoth Palmerin Florendos is of such valour and his honorable actions so well receiued among men that albeit he had made you no such promise yet reason may excuse you in this matter But if by promised faith and to saue the life of so gentle a Knight who happilie by your refusall might haue miscaried you honoured the Temple of Loue with so swéete an offering among people of good minde it ought rather to bée tearmed a vertue then anie bad affection or vnlawfull lust And therfore Madame comfort your selfe for shortly I hope to assure your peace with the Emperour and séeing I haue you for my mother and the Prince Florendos for my Father I féele my selfe frée from any gréefe or vexation assuring you that I will driue it to no further delay but this morning will I confer with his Maiestie The Quéene béeing fearefull that her long stay should cause anie bad opinion hauing kissed her sonne gaue him the good morrowe and so went to her Chamber where shée found Cardyna her Gentlewoman to wâ—om she shewed the Crucifixe her sonne had giuen her saying Tell me I pray thée Cardina doost thou remember that heeretofore thou hast séene this Crucifixe and in what place Beléeue me Madame quoth shée I thinke I haue seene it before nowe but in what place I am not certaine Why forgetfull creature knowest thou not that this is the Crucifixe which was tied about my sonnes necke when thy selfe did carrie him to the mountaine In gooâ— faith the Knight is hée who fought the Combate for my Lorde Florendos Nowe sée the great mercie and bountie of our God who preserued his life then and from infinite daungers hath defended him hitherto Notwithstanding bee thou secret and on perill of thy life reueale it to none vntill the Emperour my Father be acquainted therewith Cardyna was so ioyfull héereof as shée must néedes goe presently to sée Palmerin and finding the Chirugions with him visiting his woundes shée fetched a gorgious Mantle of purple Ueluet broydered round about with Pearles Diamonds and Rubies as wel might beséeme the greatest Monarch to weare As Cardina holpe him to put on this Mantle she noted the marke on his face which she remembred since thâ— time of his birth and in this maner goes Palmerin chéerefully to the Emperour whom he founde conferring with his Lords and Barons but his presence caused them breake off talke imagining him the comeliest person that euer they sawe The good olde Emperour Remicius reioycing to sée him in so good and able plight demaunded of him howe he fared Right well quoth he I thank God and your highnesse readie to aduenture on any occasion shal like you to commaund me and now am I come to aduertise your Maiestie of such matters as will not a little glad ye in the hearing so please your grace to vouchsafe me priuate audience Hereupon the Emperour commaunded euery one to depart the Hall and they béeing nowe alone Palmerin thus began Dreaâ— Lord and mighty Emperour till this time haue I frequented the Courts of manie Kings and Potentates without desire of requesting anie thing vntill this present when faine would I request one boone of your Maiestie the grant whereof shall returne you both profit and honor My noble Fréend Palmerin aunswered the Emperour what euer thou pleasest demaund and on my worde it shall bée graunted Palmerin with humble obeysaunce kissing the Emperours hand sayd In sooth my Lorde all that I haue to request is onely to desire your highnesse that all offences committed by the Prince Florendos and Madame Griana your Daughter may not onely be forgotten but also forgiuen For thy sake Palmerin quoth the Emperour I forgiue all their offences whatsoeuer May it then please your Maiestie quoth he to remember howe when Florendos came to doo you seruice during your warres agaynst Gamezio because you denied to giuâ— him your Daughter hée was so sicke as euerie howre his death was expected It then so fortuned my Lord the Princesse your Daughter acquainted with the cause of his sicknesse to giue him some comfort as also to defend so good a Prince from death by gracious spéeches shée gaue him such hope of her loue and such for trueth as before they parted a solemne promise of marriage was concluded betwéene them I know not the conditions of their agréements but it séemed the Articles consisted on no difficult accorde for each receyued of other the swéete desires of loue in so much as that night was I begotten And for a trueth my Lord I am the Sonne to the Prince Florendos and Madame Griana your Daughter who as I vnderstand by the Empresse perswasion against all right you compelled to marrie with the Prince Tarisius Florendos notwithstanding my Mothers wrong was verye great hath continued so loyall as hée would neuer accept anie other for his Wife nor as yet will but onely her Nowe my Lord that this matter may not séeme a fantasticall inuention I can resolue you of the place of my byâ—â—h which was in the Tower where my Mother remained prisoner by your commaundement vnder the charge of a Ladie named Tolomestra who to defende your daughters honor caused me to be carried to a place not far hence which is called the Mâ—unt of Oliues from whence my surname is likewise deriued in that place was I â—ound by a Countrey pesant vnder a Palme Trée who in signe thereof named me Palmerin d'Oliua My sorrowfull Mother hoping one day to sée me againe diligently noted diuerse markeâ— I haue and hung about my necke a golden Crucifixe which this day I gaue her againe and by this marke 〈…〉 like a Crosse shée well remembers me to be her Sonne In this respect my Lord that your Daughters offence was occasioned by true and faithfull loue and hauing likewise promised to forgiue all causes of displeasure graunt my father nowe at length to enioy his lawfull Wife that I béeing their Sonne may not bée estéemed as illegitimate the dâ—â—ing whereof will renowme your name for euer and loue
I to match with him then any other you named heretofore And this one speciall cause that he laboureth to bring home my noble Brother which Heauen graunt hee may otherwise can I not marry without verie great impeach to mine honour The Emperour well perceiued by the grace of her answere and her countenance nowe nothing sadoe or melanchollie that shee was nothing offended with this motion wherfore he said Happie may I count my selfe faire daughter that among all the Christian Princes you haue chosen such a Husband therefore apparrell your selfe to morrow in the best sort you may for then shall my Lordes the Ambassadours see you So departed the Princesse to her Chamber and no more spéeches were vsed till the next day when the Emperour sent for the Ambassadours of Constantinople and in the presence of the principall estate of the Empire ratefied the mariage betwéen Palmerin and his daughter And for further confirmation thereof promised to send his owne Ambassadours with them to satisfie on his behalfe the Emperour Florendos and Palmerin For which excéeding gentlenesse the Duke of Mecâ—ena in the Emperours name thanked his Maiestie earnestly entreating him to dispatch them thence so soone as might bee because their charge was to returne with all possible spéede This resolution absolutely sette downe the Emperour for the greater honour caused them to dine with him at his owne Table and grace being said by the Lord Almoner the Duke of Mecana desired his Maiestie that hée might sée the Princesse Polynarda whereof hée made promise so soone as Dinner was done when taking the Duke of Mecaena by the one hande and the Countie of Reifort by the other brought them to the Empresse Chamber where they founde the Princesse in such sumptuous ornaments and accompanied with such rare grace and exquisite beautie as they iudged her rather an Angell then anie earthly creature And greatly was the Duke abashed at such a singular spectacle not knowing how to frame his opinions but hauing humbly saluted the Empresse came to the Princesse and on his knée reuerently kissed her hand with these spéeches Let it not displease ye faire Madame that I vse this honourable dutie to you for I doo it in this respect as to the gracious Ladie and Empresse héereafter of Constantinople By this meane hée secretly conueyed Palmerins Letter into her hande for which the Princesse gaue him many deuout thankes which were coupled with such magesticall gestures as neither to Nero or Galba were done the like no not by Constantine himself to the Pope And though the Dukes words had raised a swéete blush in her chéekes yet could she with such choyse answeres excuse the same as gaue greater countenaunce to all her behauiour Then turned the Duke to the Emperour and smiling saide Trust me my Lord nowe doo I verely beléeue what hath heretofore bene told me of the Prince Palmerin that hée is an especiall Iudge of the beautie of Ladies for in mine opinion hée hath chosen one without a second and of her may truly be affirmed what the Poets described of Helena tearming her the Goddesse of beautie With this rare Princesse to be matched an Husband so famous well may be saide the couple to be without compare for the faire formed Paris may not be equalled with Palmerin So the Ambassadours departing the Princesse withdrewe her selfe to her Chamber where reading her friends Letter her ioyes and pleasures redoubled because shée might now boldly credite her fortune And before she would forget the inuention her spirite offered â—hée presently wrote an answere earnestly entreating him to hasten his returne to abreuiate her languishing desires which nowe made her life but a shadow of death Hauing close sealed her Letter shée sent it to the Duke by one of her most trustie Ladies with diuers other rich gifts and presentes The Duke of Lorraine and his companie readie departed thence with the Ambassadours and winde and weather seruing so well they arriued at Constantinople the day before Florendo's his nuptialls Newes being brought héereof to the Courte Palmerin accompanied with many Princes and Knightes went to the Hauen and at the landing of the Ambassadours Palmerin embraced the Duke of Lorrâ—ine and the Marquesse of Cicena and so ryding to the Pallace beguiled the time with diuers discourses where among the Duke of Lorraine thus spake Syr Palmerin I alwayes did imagine that those straunge aduentures aâ—chiued by you during the obscuritie of your yonger yeares would in the end reueale your honourable parentage and make your name for euer immortall and were the Prince Tryneus with you nowe for the verie best condition in the world would I not leaue your companie Gentle Duke answered Palmerin if I did not perswade my selfe how greatly I should comfort your minde by recouering your Prince Tryneus I should account my life so vnhappie as presently I would â—â—sire my death God graunt quoth the Duke that you may finde him againe for that will bee the greatest good that euer came to our Empire considering the vertues magnanimitie and speciall chiualrie which is as currant in our yong Prince as in any other And thus they spent the time till they came to the Pallace where the Duke of Lorraine after hee had saluted the Emperour and the Princes deliuered the message committed to his charge Wherewith Palmerin was not a little pleased considering what he had read in his Ladies Letter which discouered the sorrowes shee endured for his absence but being assured of her firme loyaltie as also that shée was now promised him in marriage his cares were the lesse commaunding the Duke to be lodged neare his owne Chamber that he might the better conferre with him of his Mistresse whom he loued as deare as his owne life Chap. XXXVII Howe after the Prince Florendos and Queene Griana were espoused togither Palmerin was sworne Prince and heire of Greece and Macedon by the consent of the Lords of the Empire and the Realme THe Ambassadours of Allemaigne being now come the Emperour was aduertised thereof and considering that the Princes of Thrace and Macedon had expected their presence for the space of sixe dayes it was appointed that on the morrow the Prince Florendos Griana should be married And the day being come of this long desired wedding shée was cloathed in such rich and costly garments as though she had bene still a virgine But héere to set downe the sumptuous vestures of her her husband the Emperour the Empresse with diuers other Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen also the solemnitie and ceremonies both at the Church and at the Pallace would waste a great deale of time in vaine and without any pleasure or profit to the Readers and therefore I will let it passe vnder your conceit and speake of such things as are most néedfull After that the Prince Florendos and Griana were espoused by the Patriache of Constantinople the whole traine returned to the Pallace where before the Gate was erected a goodly Theater hanged
their health quoth he how are they called The one said the Quéene is named Palmerin the other Trineus And I quoth he am Orzadine King of Galappa to whome fortune hath béene more fauourable in loue then in riches making me Fréende to the faire Oronia Daughter to the Calife of Siconia and Sister to the Prince Donadell who was slaine in the battaile against the King Abimar shée in my iudgement not hauing her second in beautie at whose request I haue trauailed the greatest part of Asia to spread her name and honorable reputation which I haue doone â—o her perpetuall fame and returning to her when my labours were finished in sted of ioy and pleasure I found her sad and pensiue for the death of her Brother These newes were worse to me then death and to comfort her I promised to reuenge her Brothers misfortune and this is the onelie cause of my comming for hauing Combatted with him that slâ—w the Prince her loue to mee will be the greater and mine honour shall be spread with more aduantage I belâ—eue well quoth the Quéene if you escape with life from the Combat but tell me Sir Knight why beare you such ill will to him that slâ—w the Prince considering that it was doon in plaine battaile and he his enemie who would haue doone as much to him if he could Not for this cause alonâ— will I enter the Combat said Orzodine but for I am desirous to let him knowe that I am more fauoured in loue then hee and as I am one of the most happie Louers so am I the best Knight in the world which I will maintaine against anie that dare gain-say it Happy louer Dieu Vous gard said Trineus If the Poets had hetherto spared the discription of Cupid Sonne to the Goddesse of loue now might they iustly haue sette him downe for blind yet is hée worthilie to be condemned that hee would vouchsafe anye fauour to the most foolish among men hée hauing dedicated me to the seruice of a Ladie to whom your gentle Ironia Oronia I should saye dooth not deserue the name of her seruant For the rest where you vaunt your selfe to bée the best Knight in the world your follie is too apparaunt for there are manie Knightes errant in the worlde who can giue you a braue caâ—uazado at the Launce and after they haue foyled you in the Ioust bestowe a little paines to take your gréene head from your grosse shoulders My selfe that flew the Brother to your Goddesse of beautie will doo you so much pleasure as to heale the incurable disease wherewith you are day and night tormented O diuine spirites cryed the Pagan fauour me so much that this Knight may but dare to enter the Fielde with mee Yes I dare sayde Tryneus and before we part I doubt not but to make thée quiet enough Ozodine presentlie threwe his Gauntlet as his gage and Tryneus a Golden bracelet which Aurecinda had giuen him entreating Zephiâ—a to kéepe them which she refused to doo fearing the daunger of the Prince Tryneus Héereupon the Soldane entred the Hall leading Palmerin by the hand but when they sawe the Armed Knight thus contend with Trineus they meruailed greatly what might be the occasion thereof When Orzadine sawe the Soldane was sette he entred into these spéeches Soldane I am hither come to accuse thée of a villainous act which thou hast committed harbouring in thy Court the man that â—lewe the the valiant Donadell whose murther thou canst not so cunningly couer but thy treacherie shall be openly discouered What art thou said the Soldane that darest speake thus presumptuously in our presence Orzodine King of Galappa quoth he of whom thou hast heard heretofore and now haue I presented my gage against this Knight which I will maintaine in despight of the proudest The Soldane abashed at this euent sought to disswade them from the Combatte because hée had heard great spéeches of the Kings prowesse but all was in vaine for Orzodine was so obstinate and Tryneus so earnest to reuenge the Turks proud blasphemie against his Ladie as they would not be pacified till the Fielde was graunted them Let vs haue Iudges presently quoth Orzodine and the Fielde assured for our Combat that I may discipline this glorious straunger Make not such haste sayd Tryneus for I feare thou wilt thinke thy comming too soone Immediately were the the two Combattants Armed the Iudges placed in their Tent when the Soldane and Palmerin with manie Princes went to beholde this exployt But such a mightie man was the King of Galappa as Palmerin feared his fréends successe The Trâ—mpets souâ—â—ding the Knights brake their Launces brauelie and mette togither so furiouslye with their bodies as they were both throwne out of their Saddles but they quickly recouering themselues drâ—we theyr swordes and marched against eache other with lyke courage as did Achilles against noble Hector Long continued the fight with danger on either side but the king of Galappa strooke such peasant strokes béeing a man of equall stature with a Giant as hée wounded Trineus in manie places and such was his ill fortune after long trauersing about hee sette his foote vnwarilye on the Trunchion of a Launce whereby he fell downe backward to the ground Orzodine taking aduauntage of this fall sette his foote on the Princes breast striuing to pull his Helmet from his head but God knowes in what agonie Palmerin was newe when he breathed foorth these spéeches to himselfe Ah Heauens quoth he haue I taken such paine and trauaile to finde my Fréend and must he now die among his enemies Aureeinda likewise readie to yéeld vp her ghost with gréefe seeing Palmerin readie to swoâ—ne as he stood Alas quoth she is it not enough that my Fréend must die but his noble câ—mpanion will beare him companie While this doubtfull feare was among the Courtiers Tryneus had so well scufled with Orzodine as he laye along by him likewise when drawing a pocket dagger he stabbed it through his Helmet into one of his eyes so that he nailed his head to the ground Orzodine féeling himselfe wounded to the death gaue a very loude cry when Tryneus hauing gotten his Helmet off presentlie smote his heade from his shoulders If the Knights of Galappa were now dismaide and the soldane Palmerin Zephira Tomano and all the rest ioyfull I leaue to your iudgements especially Palmerin who reioycing that Trineus had thus conquered his enemie entred the Lystes and embraced him and bringing him foorth of the Fielde â—he was welcommed to the Pallace with wonderfull honor The bodie of the dead King was giuen to them that came with him with meruailous reprehension of theyr Maisters audacious challenge and so with great heauinesse they returned home againe Nor would the Soldane longer stay in his Court the Assirian Ambassadour But excused himselfe to the Babylonian Mysos that he could not giue him anie assistaunce couering this aunswer vnder his vnfortunate battaile against the King Abimar Maucetto
his companion know thereof it may arise to further inconuenience And because Palmerin should not misdoubt this treason all Supper-time the Soldane held him in familiar talke he hoping by this fetch to staie them still in his Courte but it fell out afterward to bâ—e the cause that manie of his best and chéeâ—est Knightes were slaine Not long had the ambushed Knightes waited where they were appointed but the Princesse Aurecinda opened the doore and came foorth with her Fréendes as she was accustomed where they were suddainlie taken Tryneus not hauing the leysure to drawe his sworde so was hee caried prisoner to one of the strongest Towers in the Pallace and Aurecinda at the same time to another Tryneus sâ—eing himselfe thus betraide fell into these lamentable discourses Unfortunate wretch that I am haue I so lately escaped by my fréende the cruell enchauntments of the hellish Malfada wherein I endured so manie paines and torments and am now come to the place where they shall be redoubled Ah Palmerin my good Brother and companion what wilt thou say when thou hearest of my taking but most of all when thou vnderstandest the cause thereof Miserable wretch how often did my Fréend warne mee of this inconuenience yet had not I the grace to credite his Cousaile doubtlesse my very conceit of shame when thou shalt bee acquainted with my soule offence will bee more gréeuous to me then death What dishonour paine torment and punishment shall bee sufficient for my misdéede Forlorne and despised Catife could not the feare of God which hath hitherto so graciously protected thée nor the loyaltie of Agriola who forsooke Parents Fréendes and all for thée haue kept thée from this monstrous acte O eternall God the man that forsaketh thee is vile and abhâ—minable When I had thy feare before mine eyes I was at rest and quiet in conscience estéemed and beloued of all men but when thou gauest mée raynes of libertie I became dissolute and forgetfull of thée as also of them that honoured me so much Ah miserable occasion and those deceits entisements and subtill perswasions howe mightie are they in operation neither men nor diueâ—â— could bring mée into such daunger as you haue plunged mée in vp to the eares Ah villainous Page that first brought mée thither and thou the falsest LadÃe in the world art cause of my euill Nor are they to be accused but my wretched selfe who séeking mine owne hurâ— â—ound it and hauing found it continued in it Thus sorrowfully wayled Tryneus where on the contrarie side Aurecinda reioyced for when shée considered the estate of her Fréende shée perswaded her selfe by this meane that the Soldane her Brother woulde enforce him to marrie her which hope made her as ioyfull Tryneus was sadde and pensiue When the Captaine had imprisoned Tryneus and Aurecinda he came to the Soldan sitting at the Table saying Will your Maiestie commaund me any further seruice I haue enclosed the knight Tryneus in one Tower and your sister Aurecinda in another Why quoth the Soldane did you find them togither I did my Lord quoth the Captaine your sister leading him by the hande out of the Ladies hote-house By Mahâ—met quoth the Soldane but that you speake it hardly coulde I beléeue it what shamefull villainie is this committed in our Pallace by the greatest God the facte shall be so worthiâ—y punished as it shall remaine for a perpetuall memorie At these spéeches Palmerin was not a little amazed and dissembling his anger so well as he could said to the Soldane I cannot be perswaded my Lord that Tryneus would commit so vile an acte without entisement thereto by your sisters treason shée béeing vnder your Maiesties correction the most shamelesse Girle that euer I sawe for twentie and twentie times haue I séene her followe him with gestures farre vnfitting one of her calling Then starting from the Table quoth he Consider what hée is and what thou intendest against him for neuer was imprisonment so dearely bought as this will be and before thou puttest him to death it shall cost mee my life and the liues of an hundreth thousand Knightes beside in reuenge of his wrong Béeing thus enflamed with ire hée could not so giue ouer but thus beganne againe By God Soldane thy treason is so manifest as thou canst not hide it full well doo I vnderstand thy flatteries whereby thou hopest to kéepe vs in thy seruice but farre art thou from thy reckoning for rather will I be torne in a thousande péeces then endure the reproach of such a mans seruice who vnder colour of friendship imprisoneth his Knightes and afterward threatneth them with death Tomano Drumino Corax and many other knights belonging to the King Abimar séeing Palmerin in such a rage as it séemed the fire did sparkle from his eyes endeuoured to perswade him and Tomano thus spake to the Soldane My Lorde vnder my safe conduct and your faith promised are these two Knights come with vs to your Court and yoâ— haue now imprisoned one of them aduise your selfe of spéedie iustice for this shame doone him is against all right and foreuer shall you be noted with breache of faith beside I repute his iniurie as done to my selfe The Soldane séeing the Princes thus mooued although himselfe procured those fifâ—â—e Armed knights to take Tryneus yet with smooth countenance hée thus answered Content your setues my friends Tryneus in right shall be defended and if I finde my Sister culpable shee shall be punished as she were a straunger More I demaund not said Palmerin for I am assured that by her flatteries Tryneus hath bene seduced So departing to his Chamber he met his two Squires Bellechino and Colmelio of whom he demaunded if they at any time perceiued the loue betwéene Tryneus and the Princesse Aurecinda They answered that they did perceiue it and diuers nightes they sawe him goe to the Princesse Chamber And why did you not reueale it to me quoth he worthilye haue you deserued death in concealing the shame of your Maisters Fréende wherein my selfe cannot escape vntouched Héereupon he Armed himselfe and sending for the Prince Tomano said to him I thinke it best my Lord that you kéepe your ordinarie guarde about your person till we knowe how the soldane will deale with Trineus As for my selfe I intende if your Brother Drumino and the Prince Corax will ioyne with mee to keepe the Fielde with the thousand Knightes that came hither with vs that none may enter into the Cittie without our licence In meane while you may sende a Courtier to the King your Father that he presentlye sende vs what helpe he may Sir Palmerin answered Tomano not onelie my Knightes shall enter the Fielde for you but my selfe likewise so please you to commaund mee and what you thinke best for the deliueraunce of your Fréende Tryneus I will bee willing to accomplishe to my vttermost Presentlye will I send a Horseman to Grisca and conferre with my Brother Drumino that his Knights
and Gentlemen may be Armed that came from Sauata as also they that came with my Nephewe Corax from Garara which will be in number a thousand more your selfe in meane time may get foorth your necessaries Who then had séene the Knights Arming the horses prouiding the bag and baggage carrying would haue said that Palmerin was as much feared and beloued in a strange Countrey as in his owne Such was the dilligence of the Nobles and Souldiours of Grisca Sauata and Garara as they were right soone before the Pallace attending for Palmerin who commaunded Tryneus his Horse and rich Armour shoulde be brought foorth by his Squires leauing in his Chamber all the riches and treasure that the soldane and the Princesse Zephira had giuen him and mounting on his owne Courser he came and embraced the prince Corax saying Let vs depart my Lord from these ingratefull 〈…〉 Chap. LVI Howe the Soldan seeing hee coulde not perswade Trineus to marrie his sister condemned him to death and what followed afterward TOmano who by the aduise of Palmerin 〈…〉 for the deliueraunce of the Prince Trineus and comming to the Quéene Zephira thus spake Madame séeing 〈…〉 〈…〉 him that so willingly aduentured his life for you Ah my Lord sayd Zephirâ— I feare the Soldane will hardly heare â—ée for when suâ—â— mightie persons are in anger little account make they of loue or vertue yet will I willingly too what lies in me So bidding the Prince good night shée went wéeping to the Soldanes Chamber which his Maiestie perceiuing came and embraced her demaunding who had anie way offended her Euen you my Lorde quoth shée and in such sort 〈…〉 and there before all his Knights said You haue heard my Lordes the confession of them both and withall haue séene their great obstinacie therefore by sentence irreuocable I condemne them to death and this day shall they be burned in the place accustomed none of you all mooue me to the contrarie for I will not be otherwise perswaded By heauen saie the Prince Tomano vnhappie should I be to stay with you any longer wherfore at this instant I forsake your alliaunce and henceforth will shew my selfe your mortall enemie Alas my Lord quoth the yong Princesse Bel-sina will ye so soone abandon my companie Follow me then answered Tomano where I go for no more will I be séene in this tyrannous Court where nothing but dishonour and crueltie is vsed Presently the Princesse and hée mounted on Horsebacke and with their traine came to Palmerins Campe who hauing heard the Soldanes sentence was readie to haue slaine himselfe but that hée hoped to saue the life of Trineus at the fatall houre Alas my Fréendes quoth hée to his companie this day must you assist mée to deliuer the most gentle Knight that euer bare Armes Set forwarde couragiouslie agaynst the Tyrant whom with the ayde of my God wee shall easily vanquish Zephira hearing that Tomano and Belsina were gone and how the Soldane had iudged Tryneus and Aurecinda to death entred into maruailous regrets and acclamations whereat the Soldane was so enraged as hée commaunded that Tryneus and his Sister shoulde presently bee led to the place of execution and vnder the charge of fiue thousand soldiours they were brought on horsebacke foorth of the Citie but when Aurecinda sawe herselfe so hardly vsed wringing her hands and renting her comely locks of haire shée brake forth into these pittifull spéeches Alas Gentlemen why are you the instruments to execute a Tyrants will what recompence can you expect at his handes that for gréedie desire of my patrimonie sendeth mee to death So piercing were these wordes in the eares of the Souldiours as they verie much lamented her case but Tryneus neuer chaunged colour ryding on with resolute constancie not once listning to the mones of the Princesse When they were come within sight of Palmerins power they raunged themselues in battell array committing Tryneus and Aurecinda to fiftie Knights who should conuey them to the Furnace where their death was appoynted which was a good quarter of a league from the Cittie Trineus nowe séeing death before his eyes and no succour néere to reskewe him prepared himselfe to the latest extremitie and with many sorrowfull farewels to Agriola and Palmerin was fully perswaded to endure the torment Palmerin knowing which way his Fréend should be led to death with a sufficient traine lay secretlie ambushed and espying oportunitie gaue summons to his men wherevppon they all issued foorth verie couragiouslie But as they rushed out from their secrete ambushment the ayre was suddenly obscured and such thunder haile and raine fell as neuer was the lyke heard or séene before the Soldanes squadron séemed to bée all in a flaming fire The poore Persians thinking the end of the world was come vppon them fledde towards the Cittie but notwithstanding all theyr haste the greatest part of them remained dead in the field If the natural fire prepared for Tryneus made him fearful doubtlesse this fire raysed by coniuration made him much more aâ—righted but suddainly came to him an Armed Knight with his Sworde drawne and mounted on a horse of mightie bignesse who tooke the Horse of Tryneus by the brydle saying Come Sir Tryneus in despight of the Tyrant thou shalt not die At these wordes arriued Palmerin who embracing Tryneus said Ah my déere Fréend and Brother what villanous minds beare they that would doo you this outrage 〈…〉 my Squire hath brought hither that wée may with honour reuenge this shame As they thought to goe set on the enemie the Armed Knight who was Muzabelino thus spake My Lorde let vs not tarrie tryfling time héere but summonâ— your people togither and sette forwarde to Grisca where you shall 〈…〉 The disolate Tryneus what with his former feare and present ioy to beholde his Fréende was not able to speake one worde but Palmerin hauing well noted the Armed Knight at length knewe him to bée Muzabelino wherfore embracing him sayd Ah my Lorde for euer be the King of Kings praysed in graunting me to haue knowledge of you let me be worthilie condemned of ingratitude if I doo not acknowledge this great fauour to my Fréend which I account as déere as doone to my selfe After many courteous salutationâ— passed on all sides they set forwarde to Grisca with theyr men and prouision where wée will leaue them to shewe what afterward befell to the Soldane and his people After a long and verie dangerous tempest with whirle-windes lightnings and straunge apparitions to the great discomfort of all the Persians one of the Princes came to the Soldane saying My Lord the lightning hath fallen so terriblie in the Court as all the Ladies of honour are â—laine therewith An other brought newes that thrée partes of the soldiours which conducted Tryneus and Aurecinda foorth of the Cittie lay all slaine in the rough tempest While these strange mishappes were discoursing Aurecinda entred the Chamber saying Now soldane maist thou behold thy sinne Séest thou
not that the celestiall spirits haue reuenged our wrong with the death of thy people and for my escape I râ—nder thanks to the highest not to thée that gaue my life to the fire yet much better would my death haue contenteâ— mée then to liue without him whose absence is my torment and did not the hope of his life giue mee some comfort thou shouldest perceiue how little I estéeme of my life Then entred the Quéene Zephira and she falling at the Soldanes féete thus began Ah my Lord the dishonour you haue this day done mée is vnspeakeable Haue my deserts béene so simple in your eyes that I might not intreate the libertie of one Knight who this day I feare hath perished by your ingratitude Neuer shall I sée those noble Knights againe whose liues haue béene endaungered for my welfare Ah my Lorde if you looke into the weight of your offence you shall perceyue my teares are not shedde without great reason Madame quoth the Soldane and you faire Sister at this time excuse my fault committed and patientlie beare what hath happened for I vowe to you by the fayth of a Prince that I will make sufficient amendes for my trespasse When hée now thought to bée no further troubled his Sister Lyzanda entred mad and raging and snatching his Fauchion from his side said Sée villaine sée what happeneth by thy commaundement one of thy Sisters is for euer defamed and the other will presently and her life before thée Héerewith shée stâ—â—d the weapon to her heart and felt downe dead at the Soldans féets to the no little sorrow of his Maiestie and all that were present but Zephira causing the bodie to bée taken away the Soldane commanded she should be honourablie buried and erecting a goodlie Tombe of Marble ouer her graue caused the maner of her death to be thereon described Afterward by the counsell of the Lords of Persia hee sent the Prince Tomano and the straunge Knights all the riches and treasure they had left behinde them the Princesse Aurecinda remaining in continuall heauinesse and within short time shée felt her selfe to be conceiued with 〈◊〉 Héere in shée somewhat comforted her selfe though Fortune would not suffer her to enioy the companie of her Fréend yet one day shée hoped to sée his liuely image which at the time appoynted by Nature shée did béeing deliuered of the goodlyest male Childe that euer was séene in Persia naming him Ryfarano whâ— carried the beautifull complexion of his Mother as hee did the hardinesse and magnanimitie of his Father Chap. LVII Howe Palmerin and Trineus hauing soiourned a while at Grisca with the king Abimar departed to the Isle of Malfada where by the meanes of Dulacco and Palmerin all the enchauntments were finished BY the way as the Princes rode towards Grisca Palmerin vsed these spéeches to Trineus Howe happie is the Prince that giues credit to good counsell and will not be led by flatteries or subiect himselfe to his own passions and how vnfortunate are they that fall into the the contrarie Can ye haue a better example héere of then the trayterous Soldane who first causelesse disquieted the good King Abâ—mar and afterwarde at his sisters motion I imprisoned his Friend for your good successe héerein my Lord you must thanke Muzabelino and the Prince Tomano whose power was so readie to defende you Tryneus remembring his follies past was still so ashamed thereof as hee could make no aunswere wherefore Palmerin thus spake againe Why my Lorde hath the imprisonment for fayre Aurecinda strooke you dumbe leaue this bashfulnesse to Women and remember your former courage Stoute Hercules whose honors are yet so rise in memorie did not hée for the loue of Iole weare feminine garments and spin among women Did not Achilles the like when hée was with his faire friend in the Courte of King Lycomedes Marke Anthonie the Romaine Emperor did not he follow Cleopatra before Octauius although his armie on the Sea was two folde the number of his enemies And you for a little familiar loue to a yong Princesse who conquered you onely by 〈…〉 sute remaine thus confounded Doo you imagine your selfe to excell in strength prowesse and knowledge Hercules Achilles and the Emperour Anthonie Alas déere Brother aunswered Tryneus well may you 〈◊〉 of your especiall graces béeing able to tryumph ouer coâ—cupisâ—ence but so yrkesome is my offence in mine owne conceit as I thinke myselfe vnworthie to be séene among men of vertue What shall I say to my Agriola when she shall vnderstand my hainous offence howe shall I dare to present my selfe before her For that saide Palmerin we shall doo well enough but I would it were so welcome to passe that we were with her to abide her censure Continuing these spéeches they arriued at Grisca where the king béeing aduertised of their comming came to méete themâ— vsing these words at their gracious enterâ—â—â—â—ment Righâ— welcome are ye my noble Friendes no maruaile though the Soldane sought to wrong you remembring howe for my sake you vsed him in the battaile In sooth my Lord aunswered Palmerin well doth your nobilitie deserue our seruice and his iniurious dealing sharpe reuenge which happily héereafter hée may féele to his cost vsing strangers so vnhonorably but héere we present your Daughter Belsina to your Maiestie after whose marriage al these troubles began Welcome faire Daughter saide the King much better then my soâ—ne hath béene to your Fathers Court. When my Father quoth the Princesse hath considered his furie doubtlesse he will be heartly sorrie therefore and make satisfaction for any thing misâ—oone till then I beséech your highnesse to conceiue the best And according as the Princesse had spoken it came to passe for within thrée dayes after the Soldane sent Ambassadours to the King Abimar to excuse the imprisonment of Trineus and the sentence of death hée gaue against him sending to him and Palmerin all their treasure and sumptuous presents in signe of satisfaction and to his Daughter Belsina and the Prince Tomano he sent sixe Camelles laden with gold as the dowry of their marriage Nowe are Palmerin and Trineus wearie of theyr so long stay from their friendes wherefore they desired leaue of the king to depart who séeing hée coulde not well intreate their longer aboade right thankfully yéelted to their request giuing them all things néedefull for theyr iourney as Horses Armour men money and diuers other gifts of inestimable value For which kindnesse they humbly thanked his maiestie refusing to trouble themselues with such riches in their trauaile nor would they take that the Soldane sent them or what they brought from the ten Roâ—ks except the Birde and the two Crownes giuing all the rest to Muzabelino desiring him to continue them in remembrance My Lordes quoth he no seruice can bee lost that is doone to such liberall Princes as nowe you giue mée good occasion to confesse and though both I and mine should spend all our following daies in your seruice
Emperour said I beseech you my Lord graunt me one request which shall be no way preiudiciall to your Maiestie Arise sir Palmerin quoth the Emperour aske what thou wilt and thou shalt haue it My Lord Tryneus and the Princesse Agriola saide Palmerin are religiously married betweene themselues let me intreate your highnesse to confirme it witâ— open solâ—mnization before the Duke of Mecaena héere present whom I meane to send into England that he may resolue the King howe himselfe was an eye witnesse of their marriage The Emperour liked so well of Palmerins motion as soone after the wedding was solemnized and he comming to Bryonella courteously taking her by the hand said My good friend Brionella I am now to be discharged of the promise I made at my last being here in witnesse whereof I haue brought your knight sir Ptolome and him I commend to your further fauour So highly am I beholding vnto you my Lord quoth shée as neuer shall I bee able to returne sufficient recompence but were we equall in ioy with the Prince Tryneus and faire Agriola then would I think no storme could wrong vs. Palmerin at these words presently left her and perswaded the Emperour so well as Ptolome and Brionella were likewise espoused togither when Palmerin conferring with the Princesse Agriola thus spake to her Now may you iudge Madame whether I deceiued ye or no and if the estate of my Lord Tryneus be any lesse then I told ye Had I not giuen faithfull credit to your spéeches answered Agriola I would not haue forsaken my Parents and friendes so rashly but I hope they will pardon me in that I haue done nothing but to their honour On the morrow with excéeding ioy and rare tryumphs were Palmerin and Polinarda married togither and thus was long and faithfull loue worthily requited Ptolome was now created Duke of Saxon and Dyardo tooke his leaue to goe sée his wife Cordonya whom he had not heard of since the time he was taken by the Pirates Chap. LXI Howe Palmerin sent Ptolome Duke of Saxon as his Ambassador to the King of France and the Duke Eustace of Mecaena to the King of England to treate of the peace betweene them CErtaine dayes before the departure of Dyardo toward Bohemia Palmerin in the presence of the Emperour and all the Princes gaue the charge of his Embassade to the Duke Ptolome which he should deliuer not onely to the most Christian King of France himself but also to his yongest sonne who now had espoused the Duchesse of Buroundie So departed Ptolome from Vienna accompanied with many Lordes and knights and at length arriued at Digeon where the Prince Lâ—wes being acquainted with the cause of his comming thus answered the Ambassadour My Lorde sometime I had acquaintance in Fraunce with the most renowned Palmerin and because hée is the onely man of the worlde to whom I owe all friendly affection I will perswade my Father to ioyne in peace with him Nowe was Ptolome in good hope that his trauaile woulde sorte to successiue ende wherefore they presently iourneyed to the King who as then was with his estates at Paris and hauing hearde Palmerins request who nowe was wedded to the Princesse Polynarda and therefore his intended warre with the Emperour would extende to the hurt of the man he loued thus answered Duke of Saxon I am sufficiently acquainted with the bountie of thy Maister and verie well I doo remember that at his béeing in Fraunce he combatted for his Ladie Polinarda yet was I ignoraunt till nowe of that hath happened But leaste hée should conceiue that I séeke to make a commotion in Christeâ—dome let him enioy his Ladie and Wife in peace although shée was sometime promised to mine eldest Sonne reseruing the conditions of our amitie that our first Nephewes and Néeces may match togither in marriage therby to continue the honour of their predecessours As for the Kings of Spaine and England who moued me to giue them assistaunce on there behalfe I can make you no certaine answere vntill my Messengers be returned home againe Gracious Lord quoth Ptolome I dare assure you in the name of my Maister that hée hath euermore estéemed your fauour among the best Christian Princes and will not refuse the marriage betwéene your Children héereafter And this coniunction of your amitie will cause that neither the Kings of Spaine or England will séeke to molest him but with your highnesse ioyne in loue and friendship With this answer Ptolome returned to Vienna where the Emperour and Palmerin welcommed him with excéeding honour and by this time had the Duke Eustace taken landing in England where deliuering the summe of his charge to the King his highnesse returned him this answere Although my Lord Ambassadour both your Maister and the Prince Tryneus did me manifest dishonor yet not to withstand peace which still ought to bâ—â— preferred before warre I graunt his request and will presently call home my Garrisons shaking hands with him in honourable concord As for the wrong doone to my Daughter I am content to excuse it beléeuing that shée was not conueyed hence but with her will thanking the Prince for the honour he hath done her séeing she would leaue her Parents and friendes so lightly I thinke my gracious Lord answered the Duke that when you consider what your Daughter hath done you will not touch her with want of witte or iudgement for in respect of the long enmitie betwéene the Emperour and you shée desired that her marriage might sort this happie ende Nor would she haue departed hence with the Prince Tryneus without a faithfull and resolued promise of marriage which is performed with as great honour as euer was done to the daughter of a King Thinke you quoth the King that had not the great friendship of Tryneus when against his Fathers will he came with Palmerin to assist me quallified the weight of mine anger against him but I woulde haue pursued the iniurie he did to me yet did I referre his seruice to the iudgements of my Lords of England who perswaded me to reuenge which you well perceiue as yet I haue not done Prince Palmerin quoth the Duke is so vertuous as rather woulde hée haue runne on a thousande deathes then your daughters honour shoulde anie way haue béene impeached but béeing assured of this fortunate issue both hée and Tryneus aduentured as they did And sorrie am not I said the King that all things are come so well to passe but séeing we are entred thus farre in spéeche tell mée I pray you how Palmerin came to the knowledge of his Parents and howe hée finished the aduentures at the Castle of the tenne Rockes and the daungerous Isle of Malfada which neuer any Knight could compasse before Then the Duke rehearsed euerie accident how amourous the great Turke was on the Princesse Agriola and each seuerall occasion as they fell out at which report the Quéene with her Ladies were present who hearing the discourse