and shall ioye in their vertues that the ioy which thou shalt haue héereafter shall surmount the paine wherein thou remainest at this present Assure thy selfe therefore that as all shall come to passe which I haue foretolde thée so were it good to kéepe it in memorie thereby to strengthen thy courage the better to resist the mallice of thy aduersarie Fortune whose whéele as it is round in continuall motion so perswade thy selfe when it is at the lowest must néedes tourne againe vpwardes and restore thée thy damages Farewell and hope no more to speake with me till all be accomplished which I haue said In this sort preparing the Princesse to the conflict with hir aduersitie the faire Nimph vanished away diuing downe into the depth of the well and the Princesse deuising vpon this saieng was as it were besides hir selfe not fully knowing whether she had heard those words or dreamed them For as she vnderstoode of the one parte that Prince Edward was dead and of the other that she should once againe sée hir husbande she was so confused in hir thought that she knewe not what to iudge and sayd to hir selfe that peraduenture she had mistaken the Nymph In the ende resting vppon the hope which she had made promise off she was somewhat comforted not doubting the accomplishment Yet she remained in the Monestarie not willing to goe out of hir lodging and clothed alwaies in blacke mourning apparell and delighting in nothing so much as in little Rosicleer Rosicleer as he increased in yeares so he excéeded also in beautie goodlynesse of bodie excellent qualities that a man might well prognosticate thereby of his valiauncie But because the historie shall more specially talke of him I leaue him for this time to his nurse there to be instructed till he shall be called foorth to greater matters Now it is time to goe to the succour of Donzel del Febo his brother who is all this time vpon the riuer ¶ The pedegree of the valiant Prince Florion and other matters as touching him Cap. 16. BY the most auncient and true recordes of the Assirians it appeareth that in that time when Theodoro predecessour of the great Emperour Trebatio ruled in the Empyre of Greece there gouerned among the Persians the mightie Orixerges king of Persia Souldan of Babylon for his greate power among the Pagans much renowned and feared This man after he had liued in great prosperitie dyed leauing behinde him thrée sonnes the eldest king of Persia the second Souldan of Babylon the third Lorde of the Crimson Iland which is in the red Sea whence also it taketh the name because all the land is dyed with the coulour This third brother from his youth was verie studious and giuen aboue all to Astrologie and other vnknowen sciences In these hée became so exquisite that scarce in his time might anie hée compared vnto him The greatest part of his life time hée dwelt in that Ilande choosing that place as most conuenient for his studie The eldest of the thrée brethren béeing king of Persia dyed about 40. yeares after this distribution of their inheritance hauing for heire a sonne of his 40. yeares olde called Florion a valiaunt and strong knight bigge made and of a goodly statute This Florion béeing a young man but of a great courage putting in his roome a vizeroy for his kingdome wandered as a knight arrant through the world to séeke aduentures where he did great and noble déedes of armes At the ende of thrée yeares after this his absence from his Countrie he stroke ouer towardes the Court of the Souldan of Babylon his vnckle Where he remained sometime verye well welcomed and beloued of the Souldan for hée was a good Knight The Souldan had a little sonne and a meruailous faire daughter whose name was called Belisea of her Florion became enamoured and requiring her to wife of her father she was graunted him and the marriage celebrated betwéene them with great solempnitie of feasts and triumphs While hée was thus within doores sporting there was worse newes abroad For a mightie Pagan called Africano the brauest and boldest knight that euer was in all the coasts of Affricke had transported ouer into Asia and by his great force in few dayes subdued the whole Countrie of Media and two other kingdomes adiacent belonging to two great Pagan Princes These thus vanquished after became tributaries as subiects and vassalls The fame wherof was bruted farre and néere that there were fewe kings in those partes which requested not his amitie for all accounted him the lustiest warriour in the world and sooth it is that in all Asia was neuer borne so proude and fierce a Pagan But hée was gainesayde by him vnto whose courtefie not onely our liues and liuings but wée our selues stande thrall and subiect otherwise he had in fewe dayes made himselfe Lorde of the greatest part of all Asia This Pagan was a huge and mightie man large lymmed of the bignesse of a Gyant and so strong and weightie with all that the strongest horse which was he coulde make to bow betwéene his legges any péece of armour how fine so euer it were he would bend and wreath in his handes as easily as if it had béene framed of Waxe This man well knowing his owne forces and estate and not contented with that he had gotten in few dayes determined to inuade the kingdome of Persia to bring that also to his subiection Into it he entered and in a little time he conquered many Cities plaining Townes and Castles all this while the Prince Florion béeing in Babylon The Péeres of his kingdome sent messengers vnto him declaring the whole state of the Countrie howe vnable it was to make resistaunce without the leauieng of a new armie some forreine succours Then the Prince assembled the royallest army that he might in the land of the Souldan and shipped into Persia there to giue battayle vnto Africano and to punish by armes his enimies intrusion But he reckoned without his host For he had not rode tenne miles in his owne kingdome when the mightie Africano came and pitched néere with his whole armie and in the first fielde discomfited Florion the most part of his people béeing slaine The Prince Florion hasted into Babylon for euer dispayring to be reuested in his segniories and Africanos power was so great that he wel knew all the Souldans power to bée of little force to withstand him The Souldan receiued him gladde of his escape but yet sorrie againe for his people and disheriting of his nephewe of so noble a Kingdome As they were thus sorrowfull within a fewe dayes after came into the Court the third brother Lyrgandeo which as the storie saith inhabited the Crimson Ilande at his comming they were much quieted he bad them be at rest and not take care for the kingdome of Persia for that there was among the Christians a childe borne in the happyest and most fortunate houre that euer
giuing intelligence before vnto the King Tiberio of his comming The King knowing the succours which came vnto him appointed a daye when all his Hoast should méete together and finding himselfe of so great power in the meane while vntil the prince came he resolued to make a roade into Greece sacking all the little townes he might before that the Emperour Trebatio should perceiue it Afterwardes if the Emperour Trebatio should come to succour his subiects then to ioyne battayle with him at such time as the Prince shuld approch which thing he put in practise diligentlye For with that power which he had he entered into Greece forraging the countrey taking little townes of no great force burning wasting so much as he might to the intent that the people of other fenced Cities stroken with feare might abandon thēselues to flight enféeble their forces Howbeit King Tiberio had not passed in Greece xxx miles when the Emperour Trebatio hauing knowledge of it came agaynst him with an hoast of knights so valiant that at the first alarme the Hungarian reculed by the chase of his enimies was forced to retire home into the citie of Belgrado which is in Hungary Ther he fortified himselfe manned the towne vnwilling as yet to goe into the field vntill the Prince of great Britaine should arriue by whose comming their powers being ioyned he thought he might giue the battayle vnto the Emperour Trebatio Albeit he caried about him a mayme incurable in his bodie not by anie stroke lent him by his enimie but by the onely conceipt of the Emperours vertue For he had séene the Emperour demeane himselfe more worthely then any of those that came with him namely in a kinsman of his a very strong Knight whom the Emperour at one blowe as it were deuided in two péeces This as it might be made him kéepe his chamber because he himselfe confessed the valor of the Emperor to be aboue the report of men notwithstanding he had heard sufficiently of the Emperours prowesse But because these things are not mentioned but to giue beginning to this historie we run them briefly ouer not rehearsing the great déeds of armes that the Emperor and his people did in besieging the Citie because we haue other matters more noble in hand in comparison whereof these things wer néedlesse The storie héereof begins in the chapter following ¶ The Emperour Trebatio by the hearesay of hir beautie was surprised with the loue of the Princesse Briana ca. 3. CErtaine daies the Emperour Trebatio lay at the siege of Belgrado hoping that the King Tiberio would come out to giue them battaile for that he had great desire to be aduenged of the great harmes which he hadde receyued in Greece but the King would in no wise leaue the towne still abiding the comming of Prince Edward his armie out of England The Emperor meruailing much at it commanded a prisoner to be brought before him whom he had taken in the former battaile of him he demaunded the cause why the King Tiberio held himselfe so close with so many good knights mewed vp in the citie why he came not out to giue the battaile with promise of life libertie if he told troth otherwise the certaintie of most cruell death The prisoner thus placed before the Emperor what with feare of death and hope of libertie durst not declare other then the truth and therefore thus made aunswere vnto him Prisoners oration Know you mightie Emperour that when the King of Hungary my master first tooke vppon him the entrie into Greece he wold not haue done it although he hath so mightie an hoast as is séene but in hope that before he shuld be espied met withall there should come to his help Prince Edward sonne to the king of great Britaine with 20000. knights This number was promised vpon condition that the Prince should haue the Kings daughter the Princesse Briana to wife which Princesse I beléeue is the fairest maid in all the world by such fame the prince is become enamored of hir so as we heare that he is already departed from great Britaine with the number appointed and shall take landing very soone in this country the King Tiberio abideth his comming and is determined to giue the onset as soone as their forces shall be vnited This sayd the prisoner but the Emperour minding to knowe more of the matter demaunded of him where the Princesse Briana remained and of what age she might be The prisoner aunswered him My Lord she is with the Quéene Augusta hir mother in the Monestarie of the Riuer which is néere Buda a pleasaunt and delectable house wherin none are lodged but Nunnes the Quéenes Gentlewomen The Princesse is of the age of 14. yeares be assured that so many as shall sée hir will iudge hir rather a goddes then a woman so much hir beautie doth excel all the gentlewomen of the world Now so soone as the Prince shall land he will straight waies take his iourny towards the Monestarie of the riuer because it is so appoynted by the King hir father The King himselfe will not be there because he will not be absent in such a busie time from the Citie When the prisoner had thus sayd the Emperour Trebatio commaunded him to be set frée without speaking other thing to his people but with a sorrowfull troubled countenaunce he withdrew himselfe into a secret chamber of his Imperiall tent Where tossing in his conceit diuers sundrie fancies he endured a wilfull imprisonment with out any baile or maynprise Thus that force which neither by till turney nor barriers neither by speare nor sworde neither by mallice of the enimie nor pride of the mightie might at anie time be subdued was now vanquished by the onely heare-say of a Gentlewomans commendation Nay the valiant heart which he held forcible inough against all the world failed in his owne defence against a delicate damzell whom he had neuer séene What force is it that may repulse this euill sith that with such flattering closes it ouerthroweth so many noble hearts and strong bodies But to returne the Emperour Trebatio so much burned in loue with the Princes Briana that alreadie he hath forgotten the damage receiued in his Countrey his trauaile out of his Countrey with a huge armie the consuming of his treasure for to wreake his anger on the King Tiberio onely he deuised vpon this how to giue remedie vnto to his amorous passion For as the fire was great which enflamed him so was the remedie by all semblaunce farre from him Because that on the one part he was hindred by the enmitie betwéene him and hir father so that he durst not require hir for wife and on the other side she was alredy promised to the Prince of great Britaine who had put himselfe on his iourney for the attaining of hir person so that likewise the King could not take hir from him to giue vnto his
Thus they fought halfe an houre and no man might iudge who should haue the better The great rouer strake with all his force at his enimie but the finall houre of his owne lyfe nowâ— edging néere him so it was that the couragious Prince anoided it and as he was alreadie entered into the good successe of his voyage hauing in his power the Gentleman of the Sunne so fired all with wrath his coulour as a man might say bewraieng his cholar hée gaue the rouer with both his hands such a blowe vppon the head that he felled him to the ground and before the rouer might get on his knées he gaue him another betwéene his helmet and his necke péece and laide him flat vpon the planks of the ship There the wretched Mambriniano with his gluttenous desire spit out his stinking and corrupted spirit and the noble Florion rested not héere but with a braue stout courage entered in the ship and laid about him on both sides The knights of the rouer to reuenge their Lords death wounded him on all parts but by by there boorded them twentie knights of the Prince all chosen men of warre and helped their Lord in such wise that in short time the greatest parte of theyr enimyes were slaine and the rest séeing their fall yeelded themselues to his mercie The battayle thus ended the Prince woulde sée what was in the ship for he beléeued that there was within great riches according as the dealings of the rouer had ben There was much treasure found but searching euery place of it they founde in a cabbin a knight of an indifferent age clothed with rich garmentes and by his graue countenaunce seeming to be of good account and néere vnto him a young Gentleman of foure or fiue yeres olde verie beautifull and seemely arayed in cloth of golde and about his necke a coller of golde set with rich and precious stones The young Gentleman was so gracious in behauiour that if Florion had not before seene the Gentleman of the Sunne hee had beleeued him to be the fairest and proprest Gentleman that euer hée had séene and desiring to knowe who they were he saluted them curteouslys willing the knight to tell him who they were He which had alreadie knowen Florions greate vertue in the battaile that hée had with the rouer rose with the young Gentleman from the place where hée was set and vsing an humble duetie to him aunswered Sir knight I am a prisoner to the rouer Mambriniano which tooke me and this young Gentleman at a place néere a hauen of the Sea and sith God by Fortune hath béene so fauourable vnto you that in a righteous battayle you haue slaine him wée remaine now for yours to doe with vs that which shall séeme best vnto you and we haue good hope that with a knight of so greate valour there cannot happen vnto vs so much euill as with him which tooke vs prisoners The Prince accepted well that which he sayde vnto him and prayed him to goe on in declaring who hée was for that by lacke of knowledge hée might forslacke to doe to them the honour that they merited Albet nowe the knight wished that hée might dissemble it for the daunger that might ensue yet in the ende putting his affiaunce in the Prince he sayde vnto him Sith it liketh you sir knight to know who we be onely to please you I will tell it you though I woulde gladly haue suppressed our names till Fortune somewhat more friendly vnto vs shoulde haue bewrayed it But knowe you that this young Gentleman is called Claueryndo and is the sonne of the king Oristeo King of Fraunce onely inheritour and successour of that great kingdome and I haue to name Armineo béeing brother to the king Oristeo and vnkle to this young Gentleman The whole order of this misfortune was in this sorte One daye for to sporte our selues in the company of many other knights we rode to a faire forrest néere vnto the Sea and the Knights which came with vs the most of them delighting in hunting seuered themselues for their disport in such manner that the young Gentleman and I with onely ten knights wer lest in a fresh and faire arbour about a well neere adioyning vnto the Sea In this time while our knights followed their game this great Rouer Mambriniano whether espieng vs or by chaunce taking land for fresh water wee knowe not but with more then twentie knights he beset vs and although we defended our selues some time in the end this Gentleman and I were taken prisoners and our ten knights slaine sore wounded before the other knights which hunted in the forrest might vnderstande of it He caried vs to his ships where it is more then a month that we haue bene in this manner as you haue séene vs close pent vp in this cage For my selfe Sir as I neuer hope for libertie so I respect not my imprisonment but for this faire young Gentleman my heart is sore wounded I had rather suffer ten deaths then any such misfortune shoulde happen to him Because that when such newes shall bée reported to his father he will beare it more impatientlye than his owne and that which worst is to me onely will he attribute this fault sith hauing committed his onely sonne to my gouernance I haue giuen so ill account of him Vnto these words the knight lent manie a teare sliding downe his face which well shewed the griefe he bore in hart The prince Florion in great compassion comforted him promising libertie of returne into his country when but by and by remembring the wordes which the wise man his vnckle had sayd he called it backe againe and in steede of his first promise he tourned his tale to the narration of his owne mishaps being on this wise I thancke you heartely for your courtesie in recounting to mée the whole discourse of your imprisonment and of this young Gentlemans captiuitie and I call the high Gods to witnesse what paine your misfortune hath caused in me and how ready my power shall be to remedie it when I maye For I meane toâ—giue you libertie of returne and with my men to conduct you homewards into Fraunce thus much occosioned in me by the deserts of your estate But fortune hath bene so contrary to me that except your retourne bée delayed I my selfe shall want my necessary help the whole state of the matter lyeng thus if it so please you to heare I am by name Florion king of Persia my father deceasing which was king thereof and so by iust title as to his onely sonne and heire the crowne of the kingdome descended to me This charge I sustained in mine owne person a good while but being young and lustie and in good age to follow armes I was desirous to wander in the world So leauing a gouernour in my kingdome I trauailed through diuers countries vntill the ende of thrée yeares at which I tooke ouer into Babylon where
past broad day euery minute in this time séeming an houre euery houre xi for his magnanimous stomacke alwayes coueted to put himself in praise wher to exercise his valor and so when it was now time casting a faire horne about his nâ—cke tipt with golde and hauing a horse vnder him the â—â—st that the Souldan had as the night before he had taken his leaue of the Souldan and the other knights of the Court so he priuely put himselfe on his iourney without being seene of any of the Court and making those gates of the Citie to be opened which were shut to Africanos Campe he rode through and by softe paces comming with in a bowe shot of Africanos owne Tent he winded his hornâ— so loud that it was easely heard in both the enimies Câ—â—pe and the Citie of Babylon Immediately the Souldan the Prince Florion Claueryndo and other knights cried alarme and issued foorth of the gates in battaile aray to see what the good Knight of the Sunne would doo and by and by the walls and high towers were full fraught with as well nobles as communaltie The king Africano in his Tenâ— buâ—â—ed about other matters hearing the shrilnes of the souâ—de was some-what disquiet not thinking anie knight to haue had the hardinesse to summon him to the battaile and desirous to know who he was he called before him one of the two Giants which came with him naâ—â—â—â— Herbyon a strong man and king of the Camarians a 〈◊〉 regiâ—â— adioyning to Media to him he sayd Take thy â—â—â—â—e and armour and ride toâ— and that knight which hath â—â—â—ded his horne and fâ—ile not for any entreatie to bring 〈◊〉 before vs â—éere in our presence to declare his message â—â—â—e grant hauing his charge delayed no time but hastelye â—â—â—ing himselfe with fine stéele he tooke a strong speare in 〈◊〉 hand â—ode toward the Knight of the sun who in the midst way abode his comming very glad when he sawe so great a Gyaunt come against him as desirous to purchase honour vpon his likenesse But the Gyaunt sayd vnto him What art thou knight so bolde and venterous that hast in such wise disturbed our Campe with the noyse of thy horne The Knight of the Sunne replyed I am a Knight of the Souldans which come to the king Africano to make him answere to the letter by him sent vnto the Souldan Now returne you backe and tell him I am héere to doe my message and if he will heare it bidde him come armed and well horsed for otherwise I will not make him aunswere The gyant very scornfully tooke vp a great laughter and giuing the Knight a lyttle sowce on the helmet with his gauntlet he sayd vnto him Now I tell thée that thou art the maddest Knight in the worlde to challenge him to battayle at the onely hearing of whose name the greatest part of all Asia doth tremble and if thou wert not a simple foole thou wouldest not in such sort discouer thine impotencie If thou hast any message to the King Africano from the Souldan come with mée and thou shalt be brought to his presence for hée is not such a one as to come into the field against one sely Knight The king Afrinano himselfe must heare my message sayde the Knight of the Sunne and hée must heare it armed for otherwise I will not open it The strong Herbyon was angrie at the knightes words and thinking him to bée but as other knights were or amongest the meanest he offered to haue set the knight beside the saddle and so to haue drawne him perforce to the king shewing héerein no lesse pride and disdaine then the gréedie Fawlcon doth in the pursute of the simple Pigeon to carrie it to the ayre among the young ones But his lot was farre otherwise for the knight perceiuing his intent turned the point of his speare strake him so strongly on the chest that though his armour were good it entered a lyttle and left him windlesse for a time Herbyon thought himselfe nowe not well at ease and therefore returning to himselfe hee neuer studyed at the curtesie of the knight in sparing him in this traunce but taking one parte of the fielde and broching his horse with the spurs his Speare béeing in the rest with deadly rage he ranne against the knight of the Sunne who was nothing slow in the receipt Their shockes were such in their méeting that the heauie speare of the strong Herbyon brake into shiuers in the fine helmet of the knight of the Sun not diseasing him But the knight of the Sunne hit the Gyant with such dexteritie that he ouerthrew him and the great waight of his body made the Gyant weare his necke on the to side lyke a sidler which was no lyttle paine vnto him Yet he gate vppon his féete rising with much a doe Then the knight of the Sunne finding him vprisen bad him defend himselfe The Gyaunt aunswered that hée coulde not therefore doe with mée what you will The Knight of the Sunne sayde no but retourne to the king Africano thy Lorde and tell him that a Knight of the Souldans doth awaite him héere to make aunswere vnto his letter and if so bée hée bée minded to heare it will him in his armour to come foorth for in no other order will I vtter it The Gyant aunswered he would doe it and not béeing able to sit on horsbacke hée was compelled to goe on foote through the campe driuing in his thought the remembraunce of the Knightes prowesse so that hée was perswaded that not twentie knights Assyrians could haue done him so much harme as this one knight had done The Souldan with the Princes Florion and Clauerindo were no lesse amazed in their contemplation to beholde the euent of the first welcome and they gaue greate thanks to their Gods for sending them so good a Knight Herbyon came before the king Africano his Lorde and without failing in anie part declared to him that which had chaunced with the knight and the message which was sent by him Moreouer telling the king that hée thought that knight to bée the strongest knight in the worlde for that with these two blowes which he had giuen him hée had throwen him to the ground and might haue killed him The king Africano not a little sorrie to sée the strong Herbyon so ill intreated abashed at the force of one onely Knight woulde therevpon haue put on his armour to haue bene auenged on the knight and to heare his message But the other Gyaunt then in presence called Dardario and much about Herbyons pitch béeing of no lesse value then the first in his choler menacing the knight swore a great oath that he would bring the knight bound hand and foote vnto the king wherefore taking a great horse he passed through the campe and approching néere the Knight of the Sunne he would not salute the Knight but as his anger was throughly kindled with a greate speare as
enimie These things bred such griefe vnto the Emperour as that he hoped for nothing but to die And so turning and ouerturning in his thought a thousand sort of remedies without finding any which might satisfie him he conuaied himselfe into his most secret Tent and there remained three dates not suffering any of his people to haue accesse vnto him or speach with him except some squiers seruitors from whome likewise he would willinglye haue exempted himselfe but that he would not die so desperately Those of the Camp which saw the sodain change and alteration in the Emperour as they knew not the cause of it so wer they much abashed and careful to know what it might be Some imagined that the delaye of the warre and the comming of Prince Edward were the occasions of his trouble and so hoping that he shoulde well ouercome that griefe shortly they left him to his rest vntill he had resolued vpon the pursute of this which foloweth in the next chapter ¶ Prince Edward entereth into Belgrado The Emperour bethinketh himselfe of his remedie Cap. 4. FOure daies after that the Emperor Trebatio was thus wounded with the loue of the Princesse Briana Prince Edward with xx M. entred into the citie of Belgrado wher he was welcomed by the King who had great desire to sée him for be thought not onely to depart with the Citie but also to adde thervnto a great part of the Empire of Greece So soone as this newes were spred in the enimies campe the Emperour was cast into greater melancholy as by the shortnesse of time not being able to find an issue for his late deuise onely this he thought that for to assure this vncertein hope if there might be any he had none other way then to cut off prince Edwards enterprise so by shortning his life better more easie to compasse the obteining of the Princes Vpon this resolution he made to call into his tent 12. knights the most valiant worthiest of all his hoast among whom one was Alceo father of Rodomarte prince of Sardinia of whom there is made great account in this history the second was Alpineo L. of the Iland Lemnos the third was called Alfonte L. of the Iland Sicile the 4. was called Alcino king of Thrace the fift Liberio L. of Nicroponte the sixt Boristhines whose sonne was Rodopheo Prince of Rhodes the. 7. was Dardante Prince of Dalmatia the. 8. Melides L. of Ithaca where Vlysses reigned king the. 9. Argante L. of Pathmos ye. 10. Arimont L. of the Ilands Cyclades ye. 11. Artedoro prince of Candia the. 12. last Nicoleonte L. warden of the streights wher Corinth stood All knights of great account young very strong for to vndertake any enterprise all subiects vnto the Emperour and all welbeloued of him because he was priuie vnto their great vertues Now when the Emperour saw al those knights in presence with some shame fastnesse which the weight of the matter caused he reueled to them wholy his griefe giuing them to vnderstand withall that vnlesse he had some helpe his lyfe were spilt Among al the best which he had found he reckned specially vpon one which was that secretly they shuld auoide the campe follow him The knights hauing great desire to serue him esteeming themselues happie that he would communicate with them part of his mind they freely offered vnto him their persons for the accomplishing of that which he should command them they all agréed to depart with him in such order as he had deuised Then the Emperour made to call before him the king of Boheme which was his vnckle a very wise expert man in armes to whom he declared that he had vrgent occasion to be absent a while from his armie the circūstances wherof saith he you shall further know at our returne in the meane time I commend vnto you the charge of my war for your greater credit with the people I deliuer vnto your hands the Imperiall Scepter The king meruailing at this that the Emperor did without more demanding of him whether or wherabout he would go accepted the charge promised therein to employ his trauaile Wel the night approching with the houre agreed vpon the Emperour with 12. knights armed at all pointes with rich costly armour with Hungarian bases secretly left the campe without being heard or knowen of their enimies wherein they trauailed all night vntill the day appeared then they alighted to rest their horses fed vpon such victuals as they had brought with them after taking againe their horses they posted on their iourney till they were in the mid way betwéene Buda Belgrado which way prince Edward of force must haue passed when he would go to the monastery of the riuer There in a thicke wood somewhat aside out of the way they put themselues hauing prouision furniture of all things necessarie where they remained verie close vntill that Fortune friendly to the Emperour and enimie to the prince gaue the prince into the Emperours hands which shall be shewed in the chap. following Prince Edward riding toward the monasterie of the riuer was by the Emperor Trebatio encountred slaine cap. 5. WHen prince Edward bad once set footing in Belgrado he had great desire to sée the princes so that the third day after his comming he would néeds depart towards the monasterie of the riuer The king Tiberio vnderstanding his desire albeit he himselfe might nat accōpanie him yet he set him on his way thether ward onely to haue his aide assistance in the battaile with 4. aged knights in his companie being best knowen by the queene the princes These should bée in the princes retinue other 12. knights mo which be had brought out of his country by these the king sent letters to the Q. the princes Briana the contents whereof wer that the prince might spéedely be bethrothed vnto her but more cōpanie would he not send therby to haue the match kept secret till the war which he held with the Emperour were finisht For this matter was husht no man almost being priuie vnto it yet the prisoner which bewraied it vnto the Emperour had vnderstanding of it by means of the kings seruice In this time the Quéene and her daughter hauing intelligence of the princes cōming attended his comming in the monastery with preparation for his enterteinment Prince Edward departing from the king one night the most couertly that he might went out of the citie with his owne 12 knights 4. of the kings with these he tooke his way a whole night a day with all the hast he might to end the great desire he had to sée the beautifull princes This way albeit short yet it seemed long vnto him as being ignorant of the sower sauce wofull wedding which was in prouiding O marriage that slender weake foundation of worldly things how is it not onely regarded by men but highly
reuerenced How seldome was it euer steadfast and how many thousands hath it beguiled I meane not the base and common people but euen kings and Emperours O how many impediments be therein left to hinder vs from enioyeng it O what a common thing is it to die and how manie euer sawe happie end in it How ioyfull and pleasaunt was to Paris the desired match of Helena and how sorrowfull and lamentable was the ende not onely to him but to his parents and bretheren and the greatest parte of all Asia For not onely in Greece but in all the out Ilandes thereaboutes was bewept his bitter Bridall With how great care and dilligence doe men hasten on the causes of their care occasions of their heauinesse meanes of their paines and matter for theyr griefe and doe not content themselues with the continuall affliction wherein Fortune schooleth them But by new meanes they inuent new mathers of daunger which crosseth them at euery step they frame new causes as it wore forge vnto themselues sharpe spurs to pricke forward this wofull life where they thinke to finde pleasure rest there they finde for their losse trauaile trouble for the death which they wold flie from To escape either nipping colds or scalding heat this onely one remedy they haue to climb vp into the mountaines where yet the winde hath most force and the sun doth soonest parch aboue all this hath not the vnsatiable couetousnes of man broken through the sturdy waues of the sea cut out new passages in the mountaines But why do we complaine on fortune do we not bend her armes to fight with vs doe we not mainteine her weapons which peraduenture lighteth on our owne neckes As for example if Paris had not made a way through the déep waues of the sea Aegean which the Gods had placed as a peaceable bound between Europe Asia if he had not sought Greece sith Asia was large inough to haue found a faire wife in so it may be much more honest then Helene was then the Achians had not transported themselues into Asia to destroy Troie And turning againe to our matter Prince Edward might haue sought him a wife in his own country or more néere home of whose beautie his owne eies might haue ben witnesses not haue sought her in a straunge land by the onely brute of a cunning tale especially vppon so hard and sore conditions as to bring his owne person and people to the warre Whosoeuer comes to séeke pleasure and delight for his youth let him take that he findes and thinke it not straunge because that vnkinde Fortune hath vsed the like vnto at her The Prince now being on his way two of the kings knights were dispatched before by some secret by wayes very well knowen vnto them to aduertise the quéene princesse of the approching of the Prince These two held on their way not ascried by the ambush but so soone as the prince with his knights had entred in the thicket they wer presently discouered by the Emperour who was alreadie armed with his rich armour mounted vppon a strong light horse The Emperor taking a great speare in his hand verie sharpe well stéeled for the purpose went alone aside out of the woode with a softe pace to encounter with the Prince his knightes and being come right before them said vnto them Know you knights that this passage is forbidden except you leaue your shéelds your names in them For that a Lady whom I honour serue hath commaunded me to do it whose loue I could not otherwise obteine The Prince Edward was by nature verie stout by inclination giuen to somewhat lesse modestie in his talke then behoued such a Prince howbeit for this and other faults he was a verie valiant strong knight such a one as neither in great Britaine neither in the kingdome of Hungarie was thought to haue his péere But as he vnderstood the demaund of the knight very wroth he answered him By God knight if the king Tiberio were as certeine of the victorie against the Emperour Trebatio as I hope to chastice thy folly then the Prince of England should not néede to come from so farre a countrie to giue him helpe Take thou quickly that part of the fielde as shall séeme good vnto thée and with one onely choise thou shalt sée how déere and bitter thy loue hath bene vnto thée As the Prince had said this and had pronounced with his owne mouth that cruell dome not well foreséeing his owne fall hee tooke a great speare from one of his knights and broched his horse with the spurres to méets the Emperour This he did not for that his knightes woulde not haue put themselues in the aduenture before him euerie man claiming to be first but for that no reason sufficed him For his stoutnesse and his vnmeasurable pride made him to forget the force of his enimie and yet his enimye stoode before him so great and so bigge made that hée séemed to be a Gyant But this Princes aduerse fortune and vnhappie destinies woulde him to be the formost so that the mightie Trebatio knewe it as well by the rithes of his armour as by the talke which had passed betwéene him and his knights and béeing verie glad to see him the first which he met he sayd vnto himselfe O that my Speare were now greater and stronger the bead forged by Vulcan that it might not staye in the armour of this Knight for that according as I see him great and strong so I feare hée will escape my handes and then my trauaile shall bée all in vaine Thus as he sayde they by and by did put both their Speares in their restes and giuing either horse his bridle they ranne together with such furie that they made the earth to tremble and yet the lightnesse of theyr horses was such that it séemed the grasse yéelded not vnder theyr féete The Prince hit the Emperour in the middest of the shéelde and pearcing farther left the head remaining in the fine and well stéeled armour whereby the staffe broken in many shéeuers made a great whisteling in the ayre But the Emperours stroke was much more fell for hée leuelled it with such force that it entered not onely into the shéeld and strong armour of the Prince but passed through vnto his amorous heart all bedewed with bloud a whole armes length Then the Prince fell dead executing the sentence which hée had giuen in these woordes that that loue shoulde bee very déere and bitter When his people sawe him stretched vppon the ground there might no sorrowe bée compared vnto theirs and as raging madde they ranne all together vpon the Emperour thinking to put in practise theyr deadly anger vpon his carcasse Some with Speares and other with Swoordes strake him on all partes with great rage and hast so that if his armour had not béene verie good in short space they had
great paines For this cause I say although the Knightes rode so fast as they might yet they could not come within the sight of him nor find which way he was gone yet with sorrow griefe especiallye through the feare which they conceiued by his meddeling with the Giants they parted companies euery man taking a seuerall way to séeke the Emperour they agréed at the moneths end to méete at one place The month came when as yet none of them heard any newes of him although they sought him in diuers parts They all meruailed but not knowing what to say in the ende they determined at some other time to méete to enter into this quest againe For this time they altogether tooke towards the campe which they left before the citie of Belgrado where they abode not long but remembring thēselues of their promise they met at the place appointed deuided themselues accordingly The foure Hungarian knights fearing to be descryed by those which went to séeke Prince Edward the couertlyest which they might they went toward the campe of the Emperour and there remained some time after they followed into Greece where they tarried till the returne of the Emperour according as shall be mentioned héereafter Now by this time with no lesse care and diligence Prince Edward was sought by manie Knights in all the kingdome for that the King had giuen him no longer time to remayne in the Monestary of the riuer then thrée daies There was already told xx daies when he came not First then he sent many of his knights to knowe the cause of his tarrieng these returned vnto the king with an aunswere that they neither found him in the Minster nor could beare tidings of him by the waye Then the King dispatched other messengers to enquire after him his knights in all the land but they brought the like answere yet againe he sent more then 1000. well prepared for warre with authoritie of search through all his kingdome that they might bring newes of life or death but all was one Last of all fearing least peraduenture he had bene taken prisoner by his enimies he wrote vnto the Emperours campe to knowe the truth to the end he might raunsome him if so it were but not hearing anie newes he then bewailed the losse of the prince became very sorrowfull like as contrary wise the Emperials bemoned their Emperour These things happened so in the necke one of another that Tiberios iudgment failed to decide the truth and he pittied him with no lesse griefe then if he had bene his owne sonne partly for his daughters sake who must néeds be partner of hir husbands misaduenture partly for the Princes parents who could not without some sorow conceiue of his missing albeit all this happened more by the misgiuing of his owne minde then by anie certaintie he found You haue heard particularly the care of the king Tiberio now you must consider of the diligence of the king of Boheme by the semblable Another month had end and the knights botaries sped them homewards to the campe of the Emperour without anye newes of their Lord which no doubt much molested the whole hoast but in especiall it afflicted the king of Boheme to sée them come without him As they made declaration of the whole months trauaile it little pleased the king only for the loue he bare to the Emperour and the want of his presence in a time so daungerous he wept as sore for him as if he had séene his little childe giue vp the ghost The losse of the Emperour thus published through the armie there was no one which sorrowed not inwardlye for he had the loue of all his subiects Albeit this was bootlesse yet his loue beguiled him for the king yet charged more then 2000. knights with the search of the Emperor in all places as well by sea as by land but it naught auailed for the Ilande of Lindaraza helde him so sure that hée could not be found and if he had bene found yet he was so well garded that the whole hoast had not ben able to haue deliuered him from the inchanted castle While these things were in dooing the king of Boheme himselfe set the remainder on work to assault the Citie with full purpose not to leaue the siege till either he knewe where the Emperour was or had lien a halfe yeare longer at the end whereof he wold raise the siege so depart into Greece againe In this time the Hungarians issued out of their Citie against the Grecians there was betwéen them many cruell bloudie skirmishes the Greeks did nobly as you may read in their seuerall histories At this time because they are not of the substance of my matter I wil not name them only I wil recount vnto you the perticular truth of that which followeth ¶ The Princesse Briana taketh great sorrowe at the losse of Prince Edward Cap. 11. GReat was the diligence which the King of Hungarie commaunded his Knightes to make in séeking the Prince Edward and as great was his griefe in not finding him by the consideration of the towardnesse of the noble Knight and the dole of his Parents béeing their deere and onely sonne But greater must néedes be and inexpressible the mortall dalour which the Princesse Briana conceiued when she once heard of the misse of Prince Edward And as I read at the thrée moneths ende when nothing was reported for very anguish of heart besides hir often sowndings after when the recouered out of that traunce she seemed to them néerer the death then the Prince hir husband was as they thought for beléeuing that he was dead she woulde neither eate drinke nor sléepe but became weake and feeble and wasted hir dayes with sorrowe She layd a part all hir Princely roabes and precious Iewells and tired hir selfe in course mourning wéedes of a widdowe She kept hir selfe in a secret chamber onely with the comfort of hir Gentlewomen and comming not foorth one steppe demeaned rather the life of an Anchresse or religious woman then of a Princesse The Queene mother then abiding at Buda came oftentimes to visite hir and in hir companye other great Ladyes but they coulde not remooue the dulnesse of hir melancholy Ere the Princesse had long led this solitary life she felt hir selfe quicke with childe whence she tooke some ioy but yet fearing the disclosing of it vnto hir friends whom she wold not haue pertakers of it for all Hungarie before the solempnization of the mariage was openly performed and being notwithstanding desirous in time to séeke remedye therevnto she concionated hir secrete onely with one of hir Gentlewomen named Clandestria whom she best loued and with whome she was best acquainted for the good counsayle she often gaue hir She which was wise and discreete kissed hir Ladyes handes for the honour she did vnto hir in reuealing such a secrette onely a lyttle withstanding hir intent of concealement at the first and
pleasure and highlye magnifieng the noble Knight of the Sunne so as this discourse as an argument of greate good will canuased betwéene these knights and Princes brought them ere they were well aware before the Pallaice gate where the Princesse Balisea welcommed them with torch light the first whom she embraced was the Knight of the Sunne to whome shee said on this wise Sir knight we 〈◊〉 great cause to giue thanks to our Gods for your hether ariuall First you deliuered my Lord the Souldan and me from death now you haue set all vs frée from sorrowfull captiuitie But madame answered the knight of the Sunne to my Lord the Prince Florion and to these other knightes you ought to attribute this for they are those which haue destroyed Africanos hoast Then the Princesse tourned vnto Clauerindo and thanked him likewise for his paines in the defence of her fathers Citie and so to the rest in that order which best liked her After this they supped in the greate hall continuing there their sports till bed time as likewise the citizens well shewed their good liking of the victory by bonfires and other reuelling sport The next day they ordeined that which followeth ¶ The knight of the Sunne the two Princes Florion and Clauerindo with a great hoast enter into Persia and there put Florion in possession of the Crowne Cap. 25. THE next day after dinner the Souldan himselfe entered into the counsaile chamber and other affaires being laid a part the wise Lyrgandeo made this Oration It is apparantly knowne vnto vs all how bountifully our high Gods haue dealt with vs as well touching my Lord the Souldan as the Prince Florion and the whole nation of the Assyrians in bringing to this Court the knight of the Sunne and the Prince Clauerindo who by theyr notable vertues not onely haue kept this citie from sacking but also as we make account haue left the realme of Persia naked for resistaunce not one speare remaining to bée tossed against vs. For the attayning of either of these things we are not ignoraunt how weake and vnable we were that were it not for these two young Gentlemen not onely our home bred power but also thrice as many of forreine succours coulde not haue hindered Africano from his purpose Wherefore I thinke it conuenient that sith the Gods haue graunted vs this victorie and that we haue the winde at our backes that we followe our good Fortune while we haue her least by ouerslipping the opportunitie we to late repent our too much daintinesse My meaning is that with such spéed as may be the Prince Florion and these Lordes depart the realme into Persia there to make claime of his right by armes whilest euery man is occupied in complaining on his owne harmes For although as yet there dare no man stand against vs yet for a certeintie there is a king of Media Africanos sonne which ere it be long will bée our heauie neighbour he is not yet made Knight but his destinie foresheweth vs that if hée once come to boorde in Persia we shall bée no lesse disquieted with his companie then we were with Africano his Father The wise Lyrgandeo made an end of his Oration knitting vp his matter with this clause that it were not out of the way to aduise themselues notwithstanding for good resons this was his iudgement They which would neuer contrarie him in any point tooke no further respite but consenting to the effect of Lyrgandeos Oration concerning the conquest of Persia tooke this order The Prince Florion the Knight of the Sunne Clauerindo and Armineo his vnckle with fiftéene thousand Knightes and fiftie thousand footemen within ten dayes shoulde prepare themselues for this aduenture the Princesse Balisea abiding with the Souldan her Father till the kingdome were well setteled from tumult and the Prince in peaceable fruition of the crowne This they dealt in effectually for within the compasse of the dayes limitted they left Babylon the Souldan and the Princesse onely comforted with the hope which Lyrgandeo made promise of The fiftéene thousand Knightes with the foote men by long iourneyes entering into Persia and comming néere vnto one of the chiefest Cities of the Kingdome there in the plaine vnloaded their carriage to erect theyr tentes there But the Citizens hauing vnderstanding of Africanos death by the fugitiues in the last discomfiture of Africanos hoast and thinking it not safetie for themselues to rebell against their liege naturall Lord Florion especially he hauing the aide of the whole floure of Babylon set their gates wide open for his armie and sent of theyr worthiest knightes to Florions tent to inuite him to his owne Citie and to craue pardon for their former reâ—â—ulting in that time when they were lefte destitute of mans succour not béeing able of themselues to withstande the force of Africano And also excusing themselues that they had neuer a guide to conduct them into the fielde against so strong an enimie hauing in his power the greatest part of all Asia The Prince lightly excusing their fault easily condescended vnto theyr requests and béeing gladde of so good enterteinement of the first the next daye rode into the Citie with the ioyfull acclamations of the whole multitude There he resumed the Crowne and Scepter and béeing in quiet seyzure the subiectes of the Realme by the fame of his thether arriuall came from all partes to doe him homage so that in halfe a yeares space all the principall Cities of the kingdome submitted themselues and there was lefte no more memorie of the vsurpers name The King Florion seyzed of his lande in such a friendly manner nowe tooke counsayle how to haue the Quéene his wife conuayed thether and for that it was requisite that the king himselfe should tarrie behinde for the appeasing of all tumults if anie should arise in so rawe a possession hée gaue the charge of fetching the Quéene with all reasonable pompe vnto the knight of the Sunne and the Prince Clauerindo they to take with them 200. knightes for their safetie They tooke it gladly and frayted their shippes with necessarie prouision and other furniture for warre determining to trauaile by sea the sooner to come vnto their iourneies end When euerie thing was in a readinesse the knights tooke theyr leaue of the king Florion and the wise Lyrgandeo But the wise man not refraining from teares and louingly embracing the Knight of the Sunne burst out into these speaches in such sorte as the Sibilles in ancient time were wont to read mens destinies Noble and worthie Knight you are determined to see Babylon but you are vncerteyne whether euer to see it or to retourne to Persia and as little knowe I what shall befall For truth it is that all the heauenly sphéeres warrant more vnto you then to to any knight what that is it is kept from me I cannot finde the entrie therevnto wherefore I am in doubt of your hether retourne But if the fates or
Raiartes is one of the strongest and worthiest knights that is among the Pagans and his pride is so great that he alone would not refuse to ioyne with an C. knights and would well thinke to haue the masterie of them all before he would be taken Thus the bench was not idle and the Princesse Radamira very busely attended vpon hir knight and watched euery turne more then halfe ioyfully speaking thus vnto the Princesse Balisea standing by I beléeue for a certaintie Princes Balisea that our high Gods now at length cloyed with my mishaps haue prouided this knight for me for in respect of his beautie great bountie he séemeth rather heauenly then terrestriall Yea so I thinke then aunswered the Princesse Balisea and that not onely for your succour but to ayde me and my cause the Gods haue sent him hether for by him I looke to bée quéene of Persia Do you so madame sayd Radamira now I pray our Gods that he well escape this battaile to fulfill your heartes desire and truely if he become victour not only I shall be auenged on him for my fathers death but I will make account that I am now risen from death to life for sooner had I purposed to kill my selfe then to lie in Raiartes armes But all this while the good knightes plied the combat fighting couragiously till they were fore wearied euerie one misconstruing the euent For Raiartes seeing that the longer the battaile lasted the farther he was from the victory with all the force he might he stroke the knight of the Sunne such a blow on the helmet that his sences wer bereft him had he not taken hold of the saddle bow he had kissed the ground So the fray was renued but the knight of the Sunne gaue Raiartes another blow as strong which bewitched his vnderstanding for his horse carried him about the field tossing him on the pomell of his saddle as if he had bene dead The knight of the Sunne thinking it no glory to smite a man halfe dead pursued him not but Raiartes reuiuing his face all bloudy with both his hands hit the knight of the Sunne vppon the head péece that if the helme had not bene the surer it had riuen him to the belly but the stroke amased him and the goare bloud ran out of his month and nostrells and his horse féeling part of the great blow carried his master from thence the good knight lieng vpon the crouper of his horse in an extasie as if hée had bene quite dead Raiartes hasted to haue giuen him another blow those which saw it were verie sad but none were euer so wofully begon as was the Princesse Radamira who with great griefe tourning hir selfe from that sight and fell on wéeping bitterly But Raiartes had not followed him foure paces with his horse when the good knight start vp and féeling his face wet with bloud in great fury spurred his horse and met Raiartes with such a blow that the fine helmet could not denie him passage but that he cloue Raiartes head in sunder Heere the shoote of the people and the Princesse Baliseas calling hir awaked the Princesse Radamira as it had bene out of a sound fléep and little looking for so good newes and the good Knight Raiartes béeing dead put vp his sword into the sheath demaunded of the Iudges if there were ought els to doo to make the Princesse frée The Princesse heard this gladly and the Iudges aunswered him no for that had sufficed which he had done Then with the noyse of instruments and much honour the Iudges led the knight of the Sunne from that place to the Pallaice where with great ioy and pleasure of the Souldan and Florion he was well receiued they shewing as much good will to him as if they had neuer inough in making of him The Gentleman Claueryndo and Brandizel glad of their friends conquest holp to vnarme him Then the Princesse Balisea came the Princesse Radamira dooing hir dutie to the knight of the Sun and as not able els to requite the courtesie he had showen hir she offered to him both hir lands and hir person the better to serue him Thus they tooke their rest many dayes the good knight was much honoured of them all And ther was a great feast made and diuers Iustes and Turnayes there proclaimed for the dubbing of Clauerindo and other Gentlemen Knights At this feast the Prince Claueryndo behaued him best so that all men iudged him to be a valiant knight And after this the Princesse Radamira minding to returne desired a safe-conduct of the Souldan who sent with hir an hundred knights and other men of war which sawe hir safely landed in hir countrey and in full possession of the crowne For after they knew that Raiartes was dead willingly they gaue hir place and the Princesse remained Ladie of it although not verye frée o◠hir thought from the knight of the Sunne whom she loued so well that in long time she forgate him not and it fell out so that in the ende she pleasured him wherefore he gaue vnto hir a mightie Prince for husband as shall be declared héereafter ¶ Africano king of Media and Persia inferred warre vpon the Souldan of Babylon Cap. 22. THe historie hath told you before that the strong mightie Africano transporting frō Africk into Asia by his force and valiante made himselfe Lord king of Media and after entered into the kingdome of Persia conquered it and ouerthrew Florion comming to succour his owne people after which time the Prince Florion recoiling backe to Babylon there remained very sorrowfull without hope to recouer his kingdome Now the storie retourneth to the same Africano and sayth that when he had appeased the people and brought these two kingdomes in quiet subiection as this is an imbecilitie of mans nature euer coueting to amplifie and inlarge our possessions so this stout and proud Pagan not content with that which he had alreadie got by disorder and rapine he aduentured yet farther to winne Babylon with all the kingdomes of the Assirians bordering in those parts reckoning himselfe alreadie in possession of them for the power of the Souldan was insufficient to repulse his forces hoping moreouer to adde to his dominions all those countries lieng in the coast of the middle earth-Sea For this cause he assembled his power as well Medians as other his subiects Hauing this greate armie in a readinesse yet trusting more in his owne person then in all his people he tooke the waye toward Babylon minding not to staie till hée came néere to Babylon This was some daies after the combat which the Knight had with Raiartes And as it fell out it was at the same time as the Souldan and the Prince Florion were deuising of the order which they should take for to recouer the kingdome of Persia that the newes came how the puissaunt Africano was on his way with a huge armie toward Babylon for which cause
they were cast into double doubts séeing that the enimie whom they purposed to finde abroad came to séeke them at theyr owne doores Well with great care and diligence they began to prepare all thinges necessarie for the welcomming of such a gest by gathering his people out of all partes of the kingdome raysing the walies higher and fortifieng the Towers once builded by Semiramis all which woulde lyttle haue helped the great Babylon against the power of Africano if the puissaunt arme of the youâ—â— Gréeke had not defended it But thus the Assyrians were almost at their wits-end not knowing how to repell him for the brute of his fanâ—â— was greatly noysed The Souldan of Babylon well experimented in warfare commaunded all which could beare armour to come to Babylon that his forces béeing vnited he might be of greater power against his enâ—mies Africano stayed not till he came to the very walls of Babilon where he gladly behelde the Citie because of the same it had to be so great and so well peopled he highly commended of the sumptuous edifices and high walls enâ—â—â—ng it which inflamed his desire to be Lord of it Presently 〈◊〉 made to pitch his tents in a large field enuironing yeâ—als as far as he might for it was impossible to compasse them rounde about with two of Xerxes armies He had in his campe 20000 knights and 30000. hors-men two strong Giants beside the one of them called Herbyon and the other Dardario through whose force he thought to haue ouercome the Assyrians So soone as he had trenched round about his campe and prouided for the sauegarde of his armie before he would enterprise any father he sent a messenger with a letter to the Souldan containing this that followeth Africanos letter I the great and mightie Africano king of Media and Persia send gréeting vnto thée Souldan of Babilon sonne of Orixerges Know that the report of thy Citie of Babilon hath procured me to cut the seas to arriue in this countrey rather with desire to haue it as mine owne then for any pleasure to offend thy person or molest thy people for thy father and mine during their liues were great friends which friendship I would willingly shuld endure betwéen vs if thou wilt as willingly satisfie my desire albeit I am content in recompence thereof to giue thée the kingdome of Persia or Media chuse thée whether Now thou knowest my whole meaning faile not to accomplish my desire for vnlesse I haue it with thy good will I wil force thée thervnto maugre thy ill will Fare-well The messenger comming to the gates of the citie was let in being brought into the pallaice he deliuered the letter to the Souldan in the presence of Prince Florion and the other knights of the Court The letter was read and they all said that in great pride the Pagan had so written but because Prince Florion the most part of those which were there knew the strength and power of Africano in the battailes fore-passed they would not make aunswere nor speake a worde vntill they had heard the Souldans minde Being in this order all husht the knight of the Sun rose vp demaunded license of the Souldan to giue aunswere to the messenger The Souldan graunted it him Then the Knight of the Sunne aduauncing his voyce that it might be heard spake to the messenger thus Returne to thy Lorde for it is now too late to answere his letters but in the morning my Lord shall call his counsell shall send thy Lord an answere by one of his knights to whom he must giue credit in this behalfe Thus the messenger dispatched from the Souldan went to his Lorde who little delighted in the fore-flowing of the Souldans answere for he lesse wayed the Souldans power Therefore he determined in few dayes to destroy the great citie burning and wasting all for all that that he wished rather to haue bene owner of it by exchange or couenaunt then by rasing and battering the wals which wer so goodly The messenger auoiding the pallaice the knight of the Sun directed his spech to the Souldan in this wise Sith your excellencie wel vnderstandeth the arrogancie and high disdaine of Africano and hath giuen me in commission to deuise the aunswere I humbly beséech your grace to be content therewith if to morrow in the morning I alone take vpon me this message to satisfie him as shall séeme best vnto me and according as his pride deserueth When the knight had so said the suâ—â— which he made gréeued the Souldan very much although the great exployts which he had already done which were diuined to be done by him some-what abated his griefe yet greatly preferring the valour of Africano aboue that which he had heard of all the Princes Pagans for ther might none be compared to him he put of the knight of the Sunne for that time with this aunswere that hée would not haue him to hazard himselfe in such daunger vntill he had growen to more ripe yeares But if the Souldan was in any perplexitie for loue to the knight much more was prince Florion troubled which had had experience of Africanos puissaunce and had séene Africano in his owne person demeane himselfe so iustely in the battale betwéene them that he thought him to be vnparagonized for mandhood therefore he was more then vnwilling that the knight shuld alone deale in this matter albeit he had well worthely acquited himself against Brandafileo the stroÌ„g Raiartes for it was not a thing conuentent in his iudgment that he being as yet of tender yeres shuld proue his body vpon Africano But were it that the Souldan the Prince Florion wer loth of this as at the first it appered yet they thought it best to dissemble their conceits least the knight should take displesure at their litle account of him therefore in the end after some consultation had with the wise Lyrgandeo with a milde countenaunce the Souldan agréed to the knights request saieng That he would put into his hands both his honor the cause to the end that he should ans were Africano as best should like him The knight of the Sun wold haue kissed the Souldans hand but the Souldan imbraced him there it was solemnly enacted that the next morrow that the knight of the Sunne shuld be the onely messenger Clauerindo the prince Florion lay at him earnestly to beare them in his company but be shifted them off with this that it behoued him to be alone for the aunswere which he should giue to Africano ¶ The Knight of the Sunne maketh aunswere to Africano as to his letter Cap. 23. AT the day péepe before the gray morning the valiant worthy knight of the Sunne got him vp in the meane time while he ought to execute his charge he armed himselfe with that armour which the wise Lyrgandeo had bestowed on him so stayed a great while vntill it was