Cittie and that they prepared themselues to take landing and the Emperour caused himselfe to be carryed vp into a high Tower of his Pallace because hée would sée how Fortune disposed of his happinesse King Edward was no sooner arriued where the Enemie was but he placed his Armie on the Sea-shoare to hinder the Enemie from comming on Land but therein he was deceyued for the multitude of the Galleys and Ships were such as it was impossible for him to doe as he would Albayzar who was accompanied with the most renowmed knights of his Armie and two the most ougly and fearefull Giants that euer were seene made offer to take Landing first of all but they of the Emperors Court stepped before them and entertayned them in such sorte as diuers both of Turkes and Christians were very dangerously wounded Albayzar was so offended because he could not haue libertie to get foorth of his Galley as hee commaunded the Gyants to step into the Water to whose commaundement they preâ—ently obeyed and with theyr Maâ—es of Iron they began so to breake thorowe the preâ—sse and they which before hindred Albayzar from comming on shoare began to giue place as it were for his landing Which when Dramusiande perceiued hee stept into the water vp to the nauill and couering himselfe with his shield hee encountered the Giant that aduanced himselfe foremost and king Edward leaped into the Sea to hinder the other Giant from dealing with Dramusiande but while these foure were thus encountring together the other knights of the Emperours Court seeing their Captaine on foote began to follow after so that Albayzar was constrained to come neere the Giants because they thought he would want his ayde Palmerin of England being busie on the other side seeing the Horses round about the field without their masters doubted least some misfortune had fallen to his friends whereupon he gaue his horse the spurs and galloped to the place where he saw the greatest bickering and séeing King Edward his father standing in the sea dealing with such an ougly and monsterous Giant he presently came to him and stepping before him entred into these speeches I desire you my gracious Lord and father to giue ouer this enemy and giue succour to your friend Dramusiande for if any misfortune should happen to you your losse would be gréeued through all Christendome King Edward esteeming light the words of his Sonne would not leaue the Giant so greatly hee desired to remaine victor but the necessity wherein hee perceiued diuers of his friends caused him to step backe and giue place to the Noble Palmerin of England Albayzar behaued himself in such braue manner as diuers were glad to shunne his presence which when Florendos beheld hee aduanced himselfe to him and such knightly prowesse was shewen on eyther side as between them began a cruell and dangerous combate Dramusiande preuailed so well against his enemy the Giant as hee tumbled downe dead before him but himselfe was sore wounded as King Edward commaunded him to be carried into the Citie And Palmerin of England slew the other Giant likewise which his father left him fighting withall but himselfe was so dealt withall as in fiue dayes after he could weare no Armour Albayzar no sooner perceiuing the Giants slaine but he presently retired into his galley and so did diuers of the Turkes beside but when Edward saw the Turkes betake themselues to their Galleys againe hee mounted on horsebacke giuing a signe to his company to withdraw themselues desiring the Soldane Beâ—lagris the King Arnedes the King Recinde and the Prince Belcar who were dealing with another Vessell that sought to take landing to follow him but they gaue him to vnderstand how Florendos Platir Blandidon and the Giant Almaroll were carried into the Citie so sore hurt as they were not able to sustaine themselues The King Recinde Palmerin and Belcar were likewise grieuously wounded which made king Edward desire them to goe into the Citie and in the meane while Primaleon entred the field accompanied with seauen hundred knights desiring earnestly that King Edward and his traine would withdraw themselues that they might come with a fresh assault on the enemy But King Edward would not suffer it should be so therefore they altogether went into the Cittie being very much grieued that the principall knights of their Armie so sore wounded CHAP. LVI Of the griefe and sorrowe made in Constantinople for the dangerous estate wherein the Giant Dramussande was brought And how the Turks placed their Campe before Citie of Constantinople WHen the Emperors Captaines were thus come into the citie with their traines they passed the night in vsiting them that were so sore wounded at whose ill lucke Primaleon greatly grieued for he iudged the want of their helpe to be such as he was out of hope to defend the enemy from entring on land the next day And most of all for that Palmerin of England Florendos the King Recinde Belcar Berold Don Rosuel and Bellizart were in such case as they could not endure to beare Armes againe so soone Vpon this he concluded to let the enemies take landing and to suffer them to bâ—ild their Tents and prouide for the field in the meaâ—e while the wounded persons would be in better disposition and the succour they looked for would be likewise arriued wherewith they had good hope to bid the enemy a braue battaile in the meane time they daily gaue Albayzar and his company sundry assaults King Edward going to visite the wounded persons found the Prince Palmerin talking with the faire Polinarda whose company made him forget the griefe of his hurts for in her alone consisted the onely medicine to restore his health in like manner he found Florandos and Miragarda Platir and Sidelia Polendos and Francelian Berolde and Onistalda of Normandie Gracian and Claritia Don Rosuell and Dramatiana Bellizant and Denâ—sa Francian and Bernarda Guerin and Clariana and diuers others of the Knights with them to whom they bare most affection But Dramusiande was not in like case as these fortunate Louers were for his wounds were so yangerous as he could not enioy the swéete company of his best beloued Arlencea towards whom he remained maruellous affectionate so that I assure you the Emperour and all of his Court were so sorie for his misfortune as if the Citie it selfe had béene brought into extreame danger King Edward whose minde was not on such pleasure as he made any account of rest or quietnesse kept his friend Dramusiande company hauing his wife and Quéene Flerida with him onely to comfort the heauie and pensiue estate of Arlencea whose sad case may be easily iudged by young married louers Florendos and Miragarda visited the Giant Almaroll whose danger almost was in the same estate with Dramusiande yet he was able to walke behaue himselfe more pleasant in company then the other whose case was pittied and lamented of all in generall Soone after arriued there the Sage Aliart by
iudged him to be the Prince Florian of the Forrest It was not long before foure knights from the Prince Albayzar presented themselues in the field very brauely Armed whome the strange knight vnhorsed one after another presently whereat Albayzar was much offended so that hee desired the knight to rest himselfe a while to which wordes the knight thus answered You see Sir I haue two Launces yet left and I am very willing to bestow the breaking of them therefore send the Giant that standeth next you and he and I will trie our fortunes together Alas Sir answered Albayzar you are too forward in wishing Fortune to turne her face from you therfore I pray thee Framustant quoth the Giant that thou wilt graunt the knight his honest request The Giant was so glad to doe any thing that might content Albayzar as he armed himselfe immediately and giuing his horse the spurres against the knight they met together so forcibly as the knight was constrained to catch hold about the necke of his horse being sorie to receiue such a foyle in the presence of so many good knights Wherefore to reuenge himselfe on his enemie he tooke the second Launce wherwith he encountred the Giant so worthily as himselfe was almost cast out of his saddle but such was his fortune against the Giant as the point of his Launce entred the Beuere of his Helmet whereby he cast him on the croup â—r of his horse and the Giant thinking to recouer himselfe pulde the bridle of his horse so strongly to him as the horse fell downe kackward vpon him which fall â—id so astonish him as he was carried out of the field depriued of his senses This mishap disliked the Prince Albayzar to whom the straunge knight came with these spéeches If thou thinke it good Syr Albayzar I will now depart into the Citie for that the Ladie desireth me so to do it draweth towards Night and the entertainement you will allowe me heere I iudge shall be very slender I see well then aunswered Albayzar that it is not your will to vse me in any thing neuerthelesse for the prâ—wesse I haue seene in you I am content to accompanie the Lady to the Gate of the Citie not doubting of my assurance beeing lycenced by the King Recâ—nde and these other Princes King Edward and his friends tooke in â—ood part the words of Albayzar and when he had brought them to the gates of the City he tooke his leaue of the king Recinde and all the rest desiring the strange knight to tell him who he was You demaund the thing answered this knight which I force not greatly to make knowne vnto you wherefore you shall vnderstand that I am the knight of the Sauage man your principal enemie and this Lady is the Queen of Thrace my Wife then he tooke off his Helmet saying he was glad to meete him in the place where he would haue occasion to deale further with him At thâ—se wordes Albayzar was so offended as he would not speake to any all that night King Edward and his friendes rode into the Citty ioyfully certifying the Emperour of the arriuall of Florian. The Queene of Thracâ— was very graciously entertayned by the Empresse and the other Ladyes who maruailed much at her strange apparrell wâ—ich was the workmanship of the Queene Milia wherof the 〈◊〉 to make a present tâ— one of the daughters of the king Armato her brother as I haue already declared to you The Emperour was so glad at the arriuall of his Nephew as hee would hardly suffer him out of his presence hee kissed the hande of the Empresse his grandmother and of the Quéene Flerida his Mother and after hee had saluted all his friends hee was conducted to his chamber to haue his wounds visited which he receiued in the Ioust against the Prince Albayzars Knights CHAP. LIX ¶ Here shall be declared after what manner the Prince Florian of the Forrest arriued at Constantinople and of manie things that happened after his comming SO soone as the Prince Florian had recouered his Quéene and Wife by ayde and assistance of the Sage Aliart he followed Aduentures a certaine time because she should perceiue his valiant and Noble disposition but when he vnderstood the hard case wherinto his déere Friendes at Constantinople were brought he changed his former determination and caused his Quéene to decke her selfe in the Turkish Attyre and tooke his way to the place where his troubled Friends remained And because he could not enter the Cittie but he must first passe the Campe of his Enemyes he disguised himselfe very strangely couering his Shielde with the Sauadge deuise and carryed the Shielde whereof I haue spoken alreadie which he found in one of the chambers of the Castle where the Quéene Leonarda was Enchaunted In this manner hee presented himselfe before Albayzars Tents where he sped in Iousting as you haue hearde before and after he had rested himselfe two dayes he desired the Emperour to giue his Enemyes Battell because he thought euery day a yeare till he might encounter with the Prince Albayzar but his Maiesty deferred the matter so long as he could because he would be assured of the good disposition of all his Armie The Turkes tooke it very strangely that they had trauelled so farre to lay siege to the principall Citie in all the Empire and yet to 〈◊〉 so long before they ioyned in Battell but Albayzar knew very wel the aduantage that they of the City might get of them in that they were compassed wiâ—hin such strong Walles of defence besides that Cittie was plentifully stored with good and hardie Knightes who would murther many of his ere they would yéeld themselues Therefore he changed his mind from giuing the assault and made hauocke and spoyle of them about the Citie thereby to prouoke the Emperour to seeke reuenge but in the meane while they continued their spoyling the Soldane of Persia sent a Messenger to the Emperour who beeing brought into his Maiesties presence setting his knée to the ground he began in this manner Most puissant Emperour the Soldane of Persia my Soueraigne Lord with the licence of the Prince Albayzar his captaine and the consent of the whole Turkish Armie saith that he is greatly offended at that which hath happened in the seuerall Iousts against his Nephew Florian with whom he would once more gladly hazard himselfe on condition that you willl suffer twelue Knights of your Court to come into the Fielde to morrowe morning to Ioust and Combate against twelue Turkes of which companie my Lord will be the captaine And thus much we will graunt that the Combat shall be fought before the Empresse Chamber windowe to the ende that these Princesses and Ladies may see the valour and prowesse which shall be shewen on both sides and they will agree to giue ouer and ende the Combate when these Ladyes shall thinke good so to command them Moreouer he humbly desired the Empresse that it may stand with her
Christians with incredible prowesse and such resistaunce he made with his fresh company as the Battaile endured a long time very blody and cruell so that a man could not iudge which side had the most aduantage But then came a newe assault vpon the Christians by a great number of Turkes on the left wing among whome were sixe monstrous and terrible Giants which Assault was so hote for the time as the Christians were enforced to retyre The Giant Almaroll who had all this while kept companie with the King Recinde his Lorde séeing the Christians withdrawe themselues addressed himselfe to one of the Giants called Dramorant and with a mighty Mace that hee had gotten in the Battell hee kept him such rough playe as he could not passe on forwards as he willinglie would haue done And the King Recinde séeing another Giant named Trafamor coÌ„ming to strike at Almaroll behinde his backe stepped before him to hinder his determination but hée being Aged and feeble and not able to resist the mercilesse stroaks of this bloody-minded Giant Trafamor was so pittifully wounded as he fell downe at the Giants féete who tooke his sword and thrust it to the heart of the King Recinde Which when the Prince Palmerin perceyued hée was very ry sorrie and comming in a rage to the Giant Trafamor neuer left him vntill such time as hee had layde him downe dead on the ground but he was so sore but himselfe as he was glad to get foorth of the Battell and by the commandement of the Prince Primaleon â—hee was carryed into the Cittie where they made great doubt of his life by reason he had lost such aboundance of his Blood Almaroll and Dramorant were sundred whervpon the death of Recinde K of Spayne was blazed through the Army which was such heauy newes to Arnedes King of France his Couzin and singular good Friend as making no account of his life hee threw himself amongst his enemies where séeking to reuenge the death of the King of Spayne hee lost his owne life and by him was slaine Onistalde Sonne to the king Recinde who followed Arnedes to reuenge his Fathers death King Edward and the other Princes were so offended when they sawe theyr déerest Friendes thus cast to the ground as they ranne amongst the thickest of their Enemyes and layd on loade like desperate men the Knight of the Sauadge-man likewise on whose shield no manner of Deuise could be discerned it was so hackt and broken in pieces came vnto the Giant Dramorant and handled him in such Knightly order as he made him tumble downe dead before him Belcar and the King Polendos entring on the king of Aetoliaes Troupe were in the ende enforced to paye the sharpe tribute which Death demaundeth of Nature by dutie this vnfortunate successe caused no little heauines among the Christians but in especilly to the Prince Berolde of Spayne who vnderstanding that the King Recinde his Father and Onistalde his Brother were slaine by the enimies he rushed in fiercely vppon them determining eyther to reuenge theyr losse or leaue his life among them for company And the Prince Floraman of Sardignia followed close after him butchering the Turkes on euery side whereby hee manifested to the Prince Berolde the entyre good will and affection he bare him but the valiaunt Florendos did most of all iniury the Enemie this day for the Knightly stroakes that were to bee séene on his Shield deliuered a true testimony of the great dangers he had escaped all which he made of no account such was his earnest desire to reuenge the death of his déere Friends So that this Battell may be reputed for the moste cruell and perillous that euer was séene in that so many grieuous and tragicall Spectacles were to be séene that dismall Day with the losse of a number of famous Princes and most renowmed Knightes for there you might haue séene Don Rosuell and Bellizart to breake hardily through the preasse of theyr Enemyes without eyther feare or regarde of theyr owne liues to looke for theyr noble Father the Prince Belcar and Francian on the other side came to searche for his Father the King Polendos which the Enemies perceyuing and knowing them to be néere allyed to the Emperor followed fiercely after them to sée who could first murther them The Prince Berolde was no sooner come to the place where his Father lay slayne but hee sawe how the Giant Almaroll had lost his Helmet and his face so pittifully besmiered with his blood as it was a great griefe to all that behelde him for hee had in that place laid seuen hardy Knights slaine at his foot and determined not to forsake the dead body of the Prince before he had lost his owne life likewise in that place The enemies resisted the Prince Berolde so strongly as had it not béene for the succour of the Emperor Vernar Primaleon Florendos and Blandidon he had béene sent to kéepe his father company and Primaleon laboured very earnestly to get the Giant Almaroll foorth of the battaile because he was destritute of a Helmet his Armour broken very much and his body wounded in many places but such was the loue and fidelitie he bare to his Prince as it was impossible for Primaleon to cause him withdraw himselfe Vpon this reskew of the Princes to Berolde the enemies came running amaine to this place where they were with the Soldane of Persia conducting them who hearing how Almaroll continued manfully killing all that came before him galloped thorow the rancke till he came at Almaroll but who so had seene the gallant behauiour of Primaleon and Florendos his Sonne in defending Almaroll from the enemies fury would haue imagined the very type of Knightly valour to consist in these two famous champions who were not a little grieued to sée Almaroll so willing to séeke his owne death and could not bee perswaded from that minde by any of his friends The Giant Gramato who came in company with the Soldane of Persia aduanced himselfe to deale with Almaroll but the hardy Florendos stepped before him and had slaine him outright if Almaroll had not caught him about the body but he being so grieuously wounded as no succour whatsoeuer would saue his life fell down dead before the Giant Gramato whom Berolde afterward charged so roughly as Gramato ended his life to accompany the Giant Almaroll Now began the courage of the Christians to encrease worthily in that they were stronger in that place then the Turkes for the Soldane of Persia was conueyed foorth of the Battaile by reason of a wound that he had receiued in his throate by the push of a Sword so that the Soldane Bellagris found good opportunitie to carry the bodies of the King Recinde and Onistalde his sonne forth of the field the Prince Berolde helping to conduct the bodies because himselfe had lost so much blood as he could scantly hold out any longer Primaleon hauing a regard to the troupes of men dispersed
but yet they kept their horses valiantly whereupon they drew their swordes and began to charge each other very furiously The Christians behaued themselues so worthily at this first encounter as the King of Aetolia whose traine were twise so many in number as they with the Prince Primaleon was glad to retyre being not able to endure the hardy stroakes of the Princes Palmerin Florian Florendos but they were faine to betake themselues for refuge to the second squadron which was conducted by the King of Caspia who came brauely vpon Primaleon and his company yet not able to enforce theÌ„ to retyre one foote back from them for Palmerin and the other princes maintained the sight so sharply against them as they were once more coÌ„pelled to recoyle backeward Which the Soldane of Persia perceiuing he came to assist them with his company when in sooth he had made a great slaughter of the wearied Christians if it had not béene for the Prince Floraman who séeing the Soldane of Persia come so fast forward with his Squadron he rushed in vpon them with his Band of men and resisted them in very gallant manner Palmerin bare great malice to the Soldane of Persia because he was so amorous of yâ— Princesse Polinarda his wife wherefore he ran fiercely against him and brake his Launce so brauely on him as the Soldane tumbled headlong backward out of his Saddle but the Turkes laboured earnestly to mount the king againe and Primaleon went to ayde the Prince Floraman who was likewise cast beside his horse Thus were they helping one another of them néerest at hand so that they had forgotten Dramusiande and Framustant who hauing forsaken their horses fought so long together in such cruell manner as their bodies were wounded in many places but Dramusiande was like to sustaine the worst in that Framustant was assisted against him by another Knight named Grantor and Dramusiande had beene slaine betwéene them if it had not beene for the Prince Florian his déere friend who came and buckled with Grantor in such sort as he laide him dead at his foote immediatly When the Turkes beheld that Grantor was slaine they enuironed the Prince Florian and Dramusiande so terrible on euerie side as their lines were brought into some daunger but the king Estrellant of Hungaria who had the charge of the third Christian Squaâ—ron entred vpon the Tuâ—â—es and droue them backe perforce till they saw their friendes brought into safetie againe and Framustant was very néere discharged of his life but the Soldane Albayzar seeing his daunger commaunded them altogether to runne on the Christians the like did King Edward to his men because they should helpe their fellowes in their necessitie Florian seeing Albayzar comming with his Launce charged in his rest gaue his horse the spurres to méete him these two worthy knights encountred together so nobly as Albayzar was glad to catch holde about the necke of his horse to shun the fall but the Prince Florians horse was so starke with trauaile as he fell to the ground vnder his Maister who leapt out of the Saddle quickly so that he sustained no harme by the fall Albayzar laboured very earnestly to get Dramusiande and the Prince Florian within the rankes of his men because hee sawe how cruelly they hacked and hewed the Turkes that he thought himselfe happiest who could auoid their presence but yet such a company of men had Albayzar hemd them in withall as the losse of their liues were now determined if the Soldan Bellagris Polinarda had not arriued there with expedition for they walking vp and downe with their Bandes of men to giue aide where they perceiued necessitie required saw the dangerous estates of Dramusiande and Florian and thrusting in vpon the Turkes with great puissance they reskewed Dramusiande and brought him foorth of the Armie to rest himselfe a while and they mounted Florian on horsebacke againe notwithstanding all the practises of the enemy to the contrary but they were glad to conuey Framustant foorth of the Battaile likewise for they sawe him so sore trauailed as he was scant able to stand on his feete After that these two Giants were out of the Field the greatest hurley burly was by the prince Psimaleon because Palmerin of England and the Soldane of Persia they being on foote fought maruellous fiercely togither the like did Polinard with a stout Turke named Ferrebrocque which caused the men on all sides to hasten to this conflict The King of Aetolia accompanied with fiue hundred knights on foote came to reskew the Soldan of Persia but Berolde of Spaine remembring the death of the King Recinde his Father ioyned in fight with the King of Aetolia King Edward came thither with his troupe of men to assist his friends and so did Albayzar on the behalfe of the Soldane of Persia he bringing with him many Knights beside foure stoute and cruel Giants whose presence did much terrifie the Christians so that many of them durst not enter the fight with such Monsters Yet could not all these knights and Giants dismay the noble Palmerin of EnglaÌ„d but he continued in fight so brauely with the Soldane of Persia as he would not leaue him till he saw him slaine at hia foote for whose death tha Turkes lamented very much in that he was the principall captaine vnder the Prince Albayzar who likewise tooke the Soldanes death so heauily as he came with his men vpon the Christians like a mad man The victorie of the Prince Palmerin against the Soldane was but little comfort to him in that he saw the prince Polinard who fought still against Ferrebrocque fall downe dead to the ground Ferrebrocque with diuers other Turkes fall downe slaine on each side of him likewise but the death of Polinard was very gréeuous to his friends and companions in that the Emperor Vernar his brother was kilde in the first battail and the Empresse Bazilia seeing her lord and husband gon reposed al her hope and comfort on the prince Polinard Florendos whose griefe could not be expressed for the death of his friend Polinard because they had bene nourished al their youth together in the Emperors court to reuenge the death of her déere friend and companion he ran fiercely amongst the thickest of his enemies and the first he met withal was the giant Pandolfo who holding a mightie mace in his hand aduanced himselfe to receiue the prince Florendos Then began a fierce and terrible combat betwéene them so that within a whyle the giant Pandolfo railed and exclaimed against his gods horribly finding himselfe not able to resist the force of one knight he being woont to vanquish euery one that entred fight with him but Florendos not regarding his railling words brought him into such féeble estate as at length he fell downe on his knées when Florendos taking off his Helmet strookeâ— of his head from his shoulders Berolde of Spaine lekewise slew the king of Aetolia which when
whose presence the former feareful and vncertaine doubts were somewhat calmed in that he certified the Emperour how Florian would not be long absence from thence which newes did much ioy his Maiestie as he caught the Sage Aliart in his armes and embraced him with a gracious countenance Then came the Empresse to entertaine him with the same fauour the like did Bazilia the Empresse of Allemaigne Gridonia Polinarda and the other princesses and Ladies among whom the Quéene Flerida was most glad of his presence as well to perceiue the loue King Edward her husband bare him as also because he had sundry times preserued the liue of his Children by his knowledge The same day came to the Emperours Court the Prince Floraman who trauailed to finde the Prince Florian of the Forrest and being aduertised how the enemies had laid siege at Constantinople he left his Realme of Sardignia giuing charge to the Gouernours he had left there that they should leuey a great Armie with all expedition and send them after him to Constantinople as you may read more at large hereafter The same day likewise there arriued King Estrellant of Hungaria accompanied with two thousand horsemen and tenne thousand footmen being vnder the conduct of the Prince Frisoll his Sonne Albayzar was greatly grieued at the losse of his men wherfore he gaue charge to his Chirurgions in his campe that they should bee carefull and respectiue to them which were wounded and commanded the â—laine to bée buried And when all things were accomplished that he thought expedient he called the principall estates of his armie to councell with whome hee concluded that all persons should be vigilant and carefull of themselues that night because the next morning he should take landing at a certaine watch-word he would giue them The day had no sooner chased away the vncomfortable and obscure night but the Ships Gallies Brigandines Gaâ—â—ots and other prouision for war tooke landing about a league distance froÌ„ Constantinople being not hindred or forbidden by any whereupon they sounded the drums trumpets cornets clarions and other instruments wherewith they made such a triumphant noyse as the people in the Citie were much amazed thereat The Sage Aliart and Floraman desiring to sée the Campe of the enemie requested the Emperour that he would lycence them to goe thither which his Maiestie would not graunt to any yet had hée such assurance in the knowledge of the Sage Aliart as in what place soeuer he was he néeded not to feare him These two knights thus departed the Citie being armed with no other defence but onely their swordes and because the day was faire and cleare they betooke themselues to a little hill where they might at pleasure discerne the enemies Armie Diuers thought it good to scout out and take them because by them they might vnderstand the strength of the Citie but Albayzar would not grant it should be so wherefore he sent an Esquire vnto them who attended on him when he was in the Emperours court to let them vnderstand that if they would come néere and see his Campe he who was then in authoritie to commaund them was such an indifferent friend vnto them as they might come and depart without any danger These two knights gaue such credit to the message Albayzar sent them as they went in the Esquiers company which Albayzar perceiuing he came forth with two Pages in very rich apparrell attending on him to receiue them Afterward hee went with them thorow the Campe because they should sée the mightie strength thereof and he declared to them the names of the Princes in his companay among whome were verie many Giantes as terrible and ouglie as they which were slaine by Dramusiande and Palmerin of England All this while Albayzar had diligent regard to these two Christian Knights to sée if all this sight he had showne them could discourage them with feare or doubt of theyr Wellfare but they contained such a stoute and vndaunted countenaunce as they seemed to disdayne those occasions which Albayzar thought should most dismay them whereat he did not a little maruaile After they had séene the whole Army Albayzar accompanied hem very neere the Citie desiring them to salute the Emperour and Empresse from him then taking his leaue courteously of them he returned â—o his Campe and they walked on very sadly especially the Sage Aliart who hauing foreséene what would happen could not hide the sorrow hee conceiued in his minde Neuerthelesse they behaued themselues pleasantly at their entraunce into the Cittie because they would not discourage the mindes of the people but when they were come to the Pallace into the Emperors presence the Prince Floraman by the commaundement of his Maiestie entred into these speeches My gratious Lord the riches which your enemies hath brought before your Cittie were incredible in rehearsall for if I should take vppon me to make rehearsall thereof I should wast a great deale of time which I may apply to better purpose in certifying your excellencie of your enimies strength wherefore this is to let your Maiestie vnderstand that your enimies can be no lesse in number then two hundred thousand the very simplest whereof carryeth such a brauerie of minde as he will abide the Féeld to the latest houre of death The King of Aetolia being thirtie yéeres of age hath the conduct this day of them which are vnder his charge being tenne thousande Horsemen and fortie thousand Footemen so brauely armed as surely I must of necessity commend them But aboue all the rest the pride of the Prince Albayzar doth much amaze me for no small estimation he made of your puissance as himselfe gaue vs the sight of his whole Armye graunting the like assuraunce to any of your Court as hee did to vs if so be they will desire to sée his Garrison a thing which I haue diligently noted and which cannot greatly profite himselfe as for the rest whereof perhappes I may be forgetfull my good Lorde the Sage Aliart can at large discourse vnto your Highnesse You haue behâ—ued your selues so well my Friends sayd the Emperor as it is not possible for any other to bring vs a more certaine assurance in this cause wherefore it is necessarie that we enter into councell how we may auoyd the enterprise of Albâ—yzar and his Souldiours And I am content that he shall likewise sée our Cittie so that charge be giuen to our Captaines to behaue themselues with such circumspection as our Enemies may not get any sudden aduantage against vs. When the Emperour had set downe this for a determination the Princes betooke themselues to their seuerall charges that they might better respect the practiâ—es of the Enimie CHAP. LVII ¶ Of that which Albayzar did after he had well prouided for his Armie and of the succour which came to the Emperour Palmerin ALbayzar prouiding for the strength of his Armye caused such Trenches and Rampiers of Defence and Fortification to bee made round about
in the Field beheld King Edward and his traine driuen to the retire for that Albayzar accompanied with thrée Giants and a number of knights séeing the Christians fore trauailed came vpon them with a fresh charge but king Edward met his proud enemie with such puissance as he was glad to draw backe to rest himselfe a while assuring you that the King of England behaued himselfe so nobly in the field as the whole Christian campe reposed themselues on him Pompides Basiliart the Sage Aliart Platir Frisol Germain of Orlnance Luyman of Burgundie Rodamont Albanis of Frize Dragonalt Don Rosiran de la Bronde Tremoran Tenebrant Don Rosuell Bellizart and diuers other of the Christian Knights resisted the enemy verie valiantly and followed so fast vpon Albayzar and his company as had not fresh supplies still come they had made a notable conquest of their aduersaries Primaleon left to gouerne these the Soldane Bellagris and Blandidon went with Florendos and Floraman to the noble King Edward of England and as they would haue approched to him they espyed the Emperour Vernar and Polinard his Brother on foote enclosed with such a number of Turkes as their liues were greatly to be feared for the King of Bythinia had slaine the Emperour Vernars Horse and falling to the ground brake one of his Maisters legges in the fall so that the Emperour was faine to stand vppon one legge to defend himselfe in which hard case hee was verie neare his death but that his Brother Polinard stept presently before him and defended him with such manly prowesse as the enemy could not any way come to hurt the Emperour Primaleon séeing the misfortune of the Emperour of Allemaigne and how the Turkes sought euery way to take his life from him was so ouercome with inward griefe as the teares trickled downe his chéekes and fearing now the vtter ruine of Constantinople he ran with such courage vpon the enemies as downe they tumbled dead to the groūd on euery side of him And Florendos thought his Armour was shiuered and he had no shéeld to defend himselfe yet accompanied with the Prince Floraman he folowed his father shewing incredible prowesse Floraman setled himselfe against the king of Bithinia and preuailed so well against him as he sent him headlong to the groūd depriued of his life but Primaleon séeing Floraman to bee somewhat sore hurt desired him to withdrawe himselfe out of the Battell When the Turkes that were conducted by the king of Bythinia sawe theyr Captain slaine they beganne to retire very speedily by which meanes Primaleon recouered and mounted Polinard on Horsebacke againe but hee could not imagine howe to got the Emperour Vernar out of the field which made him aduenture with his men in such daunger as it was doubtfull he should haue fallen into his enemies hands For the king of Armenia came vppon them againe with foure thousand men hoping to recouer that which the other Kings had lost so that Primaleon was faine to alight from his Horse for the defence of the Emperour Vernar in like manner did most of the Princes and Knights fearing least any harme should come vnto the Prince and the Emperour but many of them were slaiue in this newe assault and so was the king of Armenia with fiue hundred of his best tryed Soldyers The Emperour Vernar séeing Death ready to entertaine him and that there was no meanes for him to shun it embraced it mildely and patiently but when the young Princes saw the Emperour slaine they carryed him foorth of the Fielde and brought him with great heauinesse into the Cittie which was now become in a manner desolate The most vertuous and valiant King Edward séeing himselfe left alone with the Soldane Albayzar whome hee dealt so stoutly withall as Pompides Platir and the other Princes might rest themselues and cause their Friends that were there slaine to be transported thence in the ende hee brought Albayzar into such estate as he had kilde him in the Fielde if hee had not bene the sooner reskued by the Giants that came with him Neuerthelesse hee taught him his dutie so well as hée tooke the English Prince for a very sharpe Schoolemaister While King Edward and Albayzar continued theyr Fight the night drawing on apace the Trumpets sounded the retrait so that euery one hasted vnto his Ensigne the King Edward summoned his men together they all thinking so well on theyr Generall as they iudged themselues happy to be vnder his leading and gouernment Bellagris and Primaleon brought their traines likewise to him and after they were all places in array the Christians betooke themselues to the Cittie and the Turkes returend to theyr Campe. CHAP. LXIII ¶ Of that which they did at Constantinople before they gaue the Enemies the second Battell and of the great misfortunes which hapned in the Citty amongst which chanced the vntimely death of the aged Emperour Palmerin AFter that the Christian and Pagan Princes with theyr forces on eyther side were thus retyred to theyr seuerall holds by the consent of Albayzar Palmerin the Princes and Knights that were slaine in the battell were carryed thence to be interred and theyr funeralls to be performed but for the grieuous complaints made in the Cittie for the losse of so many noble and renowned Princes I leaue them to the iudgement of the courteous Reader who must néedes thinke the griefe to be great in that Christendome receiued such a losse as in many yéeres could not be recoured againe The consideration here of entred so déepe into the aged Emperours heart as he forsooke this earthly vale of misery yéelding his soule to God and his body to the bowelles of his mother from whence it came at first at which time the enchaunted bird that he kept in his pallace sung thrée times together with a very pittifull note so that both olde and young in the Court did not alittle maruaile thereat Of this birde you may reade more at large in the notable and famous History of the Emperour Palmerins life which Booke is called Palmerin d'Oliue a History plentifully stored with discourses of singular delight being for the worthinesse thereof estéemed of many Nations as this History is likewise and therefore for the excellency of this aforesaide History and in respect it dependeth on matters briefely touched in this booke so that it is accounted as a parcell of this History I entend God ayding me to publish it shortly when I doubt not but the Gentle reader shall finde it worthy of the commendations that I haue vsed of it in this place The Obsequies and Funeralles of the Emperour were solemnized with great pompe and dignitie in like manner did they honour the Emperour of Allemainge and the other Kings that were slaine in the battaile Not many dayes after the wounded Princes found themselues in good disposition againe weerevpon they determined to enter the field because the enemies demaunded the battaile but first of all they prouided for the safegard of
pittifull Lamentations hée yéelded vp the Ghost leauing the Cittie so comfortlesse and dispayring within themselues as they desired to finish their liues forsaking quite all hope in them that were in the Fielde to whome happened what Fortune had ordained as you may read in the Chapter following CHAP. LXV ¶ Of the second Battell betweene the Christians and the Turkes and what happened therein THe darke cloud being gone out of fight and the Sage Aliart hauing brought the Empresse and her Ladies to the Perillous Isle the day began to waxe cléere againe and the Armie marched forward to méete together But as they were about to enter the skyrmish they heard a most lamentable and pittifull outcrye which made them staye their hands and looking about to sée the cause of this noyse they saw a great many of Ladyes and Damosells come foorth of the Cittie with their haire dispersed abroade ouer theyr shoulders and wringing their handes in very grieuous manner And for that they had lost the King Tarnaes and the Sage Aliart whom they knew were left for their succour and Defence they came into the Christian Campe to their Husbands Brethren Sonnes and Kinsmen For séeing they could promise themselues no assurance in the Cittie they would liue and die with them in the Fielde King Edward and Primaleon were so amazed at the clamor of these Women as they caused theyr Ensignes to stay and commanded the Horsemen not to breake theyr Array till they had vnderstood the cause of this disorder but when it was told them how that the King Tarnaes and the Sage Aliart had forsaken the Cittie they were both driuen into a great admyration with themselues whereupon they sent Pompides and Platir into the Cittie to bring them certaine tydings of this vnlooked for mischaunce When these two Knightes were come into the Cittie and heard after what manner the King Tarnaes dyed as also howe the Sage Aliart was gone no man could tell whether they beganne to thinke within themselues that both they and all theyr Traine were brought to such extremitie as Fortune had concluded to finish the memorie of theyr Knightly déedes by deliuering theyr liued to the swords of theyr enemies They did likewise perswade themselues that the Sage Aliart absented himselfe for no other occasion but onely because he perceyued theyr generall destruction was at hand in this respect they iudged hée had prouided some refuge for the Empresse and the Ladies that their Enemies might not triumph in theyr misfortunes to the great discontentment of theyr Lordes and Husbandes With these heauy Newes they returned to their Camp againe certifying King Edward and Primaleon how the Sage Aliart was departed Whervpon they concluded by generall determination to withdraw themselues into the Cittie to make prouision for the Defence thereof before they would enter the Battell with their Enemies But I assure you it was a pittifull sight to behold how the Men Women and Children came and fell down at the Princes féete yea the Ancient Citizens with their gray heads and white beards being so weake and féeble with Age as they were glad to support themselues with their staues they all made their humble requests that they might rather enter the Battell and thereto end their liues then to be destroyed at home with their Wiues and Children by the enemie King Edward Primaleon and all other Princes were not a little abashed finding the Pallace in such a desolate manner neyther the Empresse the Princesses nor any of the other Ladyes to be founde this vexed their mindes with vnexpressable griefe They went into theyr accustomed Chambers and not finding them there to whome they were most affectionate their very soules were ready to forsake theyr bodyes for the young Princes enioying theyr swéet Ladyes so short a time for whose sakes they had suffered so many bitter brunts they thought themselues not able to liue any long time being depriued of their company whom they honored with most pure and vnfained affection For now their paines were greater then euer they had béene before and this mishap was more irkesome to them then all the dangers past because their Ladies were the rewardes of their knightly victories but hauing thus lost them on such a sodaine they were out of hope to enioy the sight of them any more wherefore they séemed as men depriued of their sences looking gastly and fearefully one vpon an other knowing not which way to comfort or redrâ—sse their present heauinesse In this case the Christian Princes remained for the space of thrée daies hauing no minde at all to giue their enemies battaile during which time Primaleon maide conueiance of the aged men with their wiues and children in the night time to diuers of his Castles and Fortresses néere adioyning knowing them farre vnable to helpe in this extremitie and then he caused the wals of the Cittie to be beaten flat to the ground which was thought good by the aduice of euery one to bee so done and that for two especiall causes The first that it would more animate and imbolden the Christians in the time of battaile séeing themselues dispoyled of the place wherein they reposed their assurance of safety The other that the enemies should not vaunt how they had destroyed the City but that it was defaced by the Christians themselues if so be Fortune suffered them to enioy the victorie They of the citie séeing the walles so spoyled euen to the very first foundation thereâ—f conceiued such hatred against the Turkes whome they reputed to cause the subuersion of their strongest defence as they prepared themselues altogether to enter the Field to reuenge themselues on their proud and vsurping enemies and so they marched all with the Princes into the Field who went in the same manner as they did before when Aliart conueied the Empresse and her Ladies from Constantinople to the Perillous Isle Albayzar knowing well the intent of his enemies coÌ„manded his Captaines to place their men in aray afterward the Trumpets summoning them brauely to the Battaile he commanded the king of Aetolia to giue the onset with his Band to the enemy whereto the king presently obeyed and comming on gallantly with his troupe of men the Prince Primaleon prepared himselfe to receiue him and giuing his horse the spurres he preuailed so fortunately in the encounter as he made the King of Aetolia measure his length on the ground but hee was quickly succoured by his men otherwise Primaleon had giuen him his deaths wounde Palmerin of England ran against the Prince Argelao and met him with such puissance as his Launce pierced cleane thorowe his body so that he fell to the ground starke dead the like did the Knight of the Sauage man to a valiant Knight named Richard who was estéemed a singular Captaine amongst the Turkes the Prince Florendos Platir Gracian Berolde and the other knights slew them outright likewise that encountred them in the Ioust Dramusiande and Framustant brake their Launces
enterprised to guard the Shield of the Princesse Miragarda chap. 8. Of a strange aduenture which chaunced before the Castle of the Giant Almarol and what happened to the Prince Florendos chap. 9. Here shall be declared what and who the Knight was that came in the company of the Princesse Arnalte for what cause he and she trauailed to the castle of the Giant Almaroll and of the great entertainement that was made in the Court c. chap. 10. How the Emperour with his noble company entred the city of Constantinople of the gracious entertainment which was made to Leonarda c. chap. 11. Of an aduenture which happened in the Court of the Emperour Palmerin and of c. cha 12. Here shall be discoursed what and who the Damosell was that had thus gotten the Prince Florian c. chap. 13. Of that which happened to the knight of the Tiger following the search of the prince Florian c. cha 14. Of that which happened to the Knight of the Sauage man c. cha 15. Of the aduentures which chaunced to the Knight of the Sauage man conducting these Ladies to the king of Spaines Court and of that which happened to the knight of the Tiger c. cha 16. Of the combat betweene the Giant Espouuantable and the noble knight of the Tiger and of the battaile betweene Berolde Plaetih and the Sage Aliart c. cha 17. Of that which happened to the noble Prince Palmerin of England c. cha 18. Here is yet conteined what happened to Palmerin of England c. chap. 19. How Alfernao arriued at the Emperours court of Constantinople c. cha 20. How the princes and knights which were prisoners to the great Turke arriued at the court of Constantinople whervpon the king Recinde deliuered out of prison c. ch 21. How the knight of the Sauage man accompanied with the damosels arriued in the king of Spaines court and of that which hapned to him there against the P. Albayzar ch 22. How the Damosels knight and Albayzar iousted together chap. 23. Of that which happened to the Damosels knight in going to the Castle of Almaroll cha 24. How Trafolant and these other three knights yeelded themselues in the Spanish court And how the damosels knight arriued at the Castle c. cha 25. Of the Iousts which were enterprised betweene the Damosels knight and him that kept the shield of the Princesse Miragarda and of the combat at which the knight c. c. 26. Of that which happened to the damosels knight as he returned to the Court of Recinde c. chap. 27. What the Prince Florēdos did to the vāquished knight And how those knights whom the prince Florian had conquered c. chap. 28. Of that which happened to the Knight of the Sauage man when he came to the Castle where Arnalte the Princesse of Nauarre c. chap. 19. How the Prince Albayzar embarqued himselfe to sayle into Turkie after he had presented himselfe to Leonarda the Princesse of Thrace c. chap. 30. Of that which happened to the knight of the Tiger after he was departed from the Perillous Isle c. chap. 31. How the Knight of the Tiger tooke his leaue of Meliadus the King of the Scots and of the Princesse Armisia his daughter c. chap. 32. How the knight of the Tiger arriued at Constantinople and of an aduenture which was c. chap. 33. Of the talke which the Prince Palmerin had with the princesse Polinarda his Lady chap. 34. How certaine Knights arriued at the Court of the Emperour Palmerin who were aduertised how the Turks had prouided a great Armie c. chap. 35. Of an aduenture which happened during the trouble at Cōstantinople in the Realme of France and after what manner c. chap. 36. Of that which hapned to certaine other knights who would prooue the aduenture of these c. chap. 37. Of that which happened to the knight of the Sauage man in prouing the aduenture with these foure c. chap. 38. How the strange knight entered the field to Ioust vnder the name of madame Latrania chap. 39. Of that which happened to the strange knight the first day he guarded the passage of the Valley chap. 40. The complaints which the strange Knight made in the night time vnder the window of the chamber where the foure Ladies c. chap. 41. What hapned to the strange knight the second day he guarded the passage of the valley chap. 42. Of that which happened to the strange knight the third and c. chap. 43. Of that which happened to the strange knight this night how the Knight of the Sphere entred the combate the day following chap. 44. Of that which the strange knight did the day following garding the Valley chap. 45. Of that which happened to the strange knight the last day he guarded the passage vnder the name of Madame Torsia chap. 46. How the knight of the Sauage man arriued at the Court of Constantinople how Dragonalt Arnalte the Queen of Nauarre c. chap. 47. How Arnedes king of France and his Queene Recinde king of Spaine and his Queene accompanied with the princesse Miragarda and the Giant Almaroll arriued at c. chap. 48. Of the conference which the Emperor had with the Princes and how the mariages which he had appointed were now c. chap. 49. How the Soldan Bellagris was baptized and how afterward the Emperor caused him to be marryed to Pandritia and how c. chap. 50. How the Queene of Thrace was conueied away by a strange aduenture while the knights c. chap. 51. How by the ayde of the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley the noble knight of the Sauage man deliuered out of the Enchantment his c. chap. 52. Of that which the Christians did in Constantinople at what time the Princesse Targiana sent tidings to the Court of the Emperour Palmerin of the comming of his enemies chap 53. How the enemies sent an Ambassadour vnto the Emperours Court and of the answer was c. chap 54. How the Armie of the great Turke arriued at the Port of Constantinople and of the noble and valiant prowesse of the Christians c. cha 55. Of the griefe and sorrowe made in Constantinople for the dangerous estate wherein the Giant Dramusiande was brought And how the Turkes placed their campe before the citie of Constantinople cha 56. Of that which Albayzar did after hee had well prouided for his army and of the succour which came to the Emperour Palmerin cha 57. Of an aduenture which happened by the arriuall of a strange knight accompanied with a Lady in the Prince Albayzars campe cha 58. Heare shall be declared after what maner the Prince Florian of the Forrest arriued at Constantinople of many things c. cha 59. How the combate betweene twelue Turks and twelue Christians was begun and how the Ladies caused it to be giuen c. cha 60. Of a noble and valiant combate betweene Dramusiande and the Giant Framustant cha 61. Of the battaile betweene the Turkes and the Christians and of that which happened cha 62. Of the first battaile betweene the Christians and the Turkes and the successe thereof cha 63. Of that which they did in Constantinople before they gaue the enemy the second battaile cha 64. Of the second battaile betweene the Christians the Turks and what happened cha 65. The counsell and aduise that the Sage Aliart gaue to them of the Empire of Constantinople And how he caused the bodies of the Emperour Palmerin and the other Princes c. chap. 66. The end of the Table
knights closed the dore so that Primaleon had not the meane to answer her neuerthelesse he staied to heare the sorrowfull clamors they made within which was no lesse irksome to his heart then had he séene the perfect interring of his brother Don Eodard At last hee departed dyrecting his course into such places where he thought soonest to heare tydings of his straied friend So trauayling on in good hope we wil leaue him a while And declare more at large the cause of Pandritia her great mourning as also what fortuned to the two yong Princes nourished in the Caue of the Sauadgeman CHAP. VII ¶ The cause why Pandritia led this solitary kind of life And how the yong Prince Florian straied from the Caue of the Sauadge man and by Sir Pridos was brought â—o the English Court and what further happened THe occasion why Pandritia bare such great affection to the Prince Don Edoard is at large declared in the Booke intituled Primaleon How that after the Prince had deliuered her Brother Tarnaes out of the Enchaunted Castle wherein his Father had deuised the way to enclose him and the came home with him into Lacedemonia Shee oftâ—â—â—â—emed to mooue good liking on her behalfe to the Prince Don Edoard but hee by no meanes could direct his fancy after her course for that his promise before passed to the Princesse Flerida withheld the consent she gladly looked for To auoyd therefore what might happen he refused to vse her company in talke as before hee was wont which very much displeased Bellagris who was SoldaÌ„ of Niquee after the death of Molerin his eldest brother For hee vnderstanding the secret affection and great good will that she entirely bare to the noble Prince Don Edoard aduentured to trie Fortune who so fauourably prospered his intent that vnder the tytle of Don Edoard he entred his sisters Chamber where acquainting himselfe with her to his desire and her deceit time brought thoâ—â— pleasure to a goodly Sonne named Blandidon of whom hereafter you shall be more largely certified But Pandritia giuing credite to her selfe that the noble Don Edoard had receiued the estimation of her honour grouuded such firme affection on him as was more then we ought and more then he would grant So kéeping his Picture in his absence and vnderstanding of his supposed death she vsed this soleunitie in honour of his Funeralles and attyred her selfe according as became her misfortune departing from the Garden of Damoselles to her House of sadnesse supposing thereto end her life with the losse of her loue So remaineth she in place where she shut the dore against the Prince Primaleon who is likewise endeuoring himselfe in his aduentures Returne we now to the two young Princesso whom the Sauage mans wife had carefully nourished vp as had they béene her owne Children she could not haue vsed more motherly compassion In short time they grew to such estate that their whole delight was to hunt the sauage Beastes in the Forrest wherevnto Florianâ— had more affection then his brother Palmerin for he vsed euery day to beare his bowe and leade the two Lyons that hee became more expert then the Sauage man himselfe and thus for ten yeares space liued these two young Princes beloued wâ—ll of him who before was their greatest enemie It fortuned on a Sunday morning the Princes Fletida walked forth into the Forrest as well to sorrow for her Luue as to lameÌ„t the estate of her infortunate life hauing accomplished what she desired she returned At this time Florian wandred about the forrest with his Lyons which he tyed vp meaning to take by force the first wilde Beast that should appeare in his sight Hauing long stayed without any prey he determined to returne but at last he espyed a mighty Hart in a groue of trées whereat he let slie an Arrow with such force that it passed cleane through the body of the beast The Hart féeling himselfe wounded prosently tooke flight which he perceiuing let slip the Lions after him but all in vaine for the swiftnesse of the Hart outreached the spéedy pace of the Lyons And Florian strayed so farre that he had lost the sight of the Lyons and the Harte as also the way to the Sauadge mans house which caused him to wander in heauinesse till the darke Night ouershadowed him when he espyed two Shepheards making a little Fire of stickes to warme them because the Night was excéeding colde Florian being there arriued hee sate him downe by a Riuers side in the very same place that his Mother brought him into the World where sitting a pretty while he espyed a Knight come ryding attyred in blacke Armor spotted with red bearing in his Shielde the figure of a Gryffon with a certaine Poesie which was vnknown to any his Lady and himselfe excepted This Knight was named Sir Pridos who still aduanced himselfe in the search of the noble Prince Don Edoard and he rode very pensiue and sad till casting his eyes vpon Floran his heart beganne somewhat to conceiue a maruellous inward Ioy for that his countenance bare the perfect Image of his noble Father Whereupon Sir Pridos fell in diuers demaundes with him which Florian very courteously answered So that Syr Pridos fell into great desire that he would beare him company to London wherein the Kings Court he would present him among the number of those whome renowmed Fame did euer accompany The young Prince Florian more desirous to leade his life among the braue Gallantes then so to passe his time so solitarie among the vnfrequenten places in the Wilde Forrest gaue his consent and iournyed with Sir Pridos to the English Court where he presented him to the King cloathed in the Skinne of an Harte a thing of no small admyration to the King yet did hee receiue him very graciously in that he supposed him to be one of the Sonnes of the Princesse Flerida vnto whose Chamber he walked with this young Prince and in this manner beganne to salute her Fayre Daughter among all the grieuous vexations that afflict your weake Nature loe heere the Honour Syr Pridos doeth present you withall who in searching your Noble Lord and my Sonne hath found this Iewell which hee offereth to you as the frustes of his labours And trust me the oftner I beholde his sweete countenance the more I conceyue Opinion of his Allyance to my Sonne Don Edoard The Princesse Flerida was not a little pleased with so glad a present in signe whereof shée imbraced her Sonne albeit vnknowen and went straight way to Sir Pridos who certified her that he found him sitting in the same place where the Sauadge man came with his two Lyons and tooke her two Children from her This mooued Flerida to suppose him for her Sonne but Fortune would not as yet suffer a perfect assuraunce that eyther hée should know her for his Mother or shee him for her Childe Neuerthelesse shée gaue him the name of Desart training him vp in the
puissant Kings in Christendome and himselfe as victorious as â—uer was any Wherefore let his entertainment be such as his honour doth deserue and his estimation according as his valure doth declare for he it is must needs defend the Diadem of thy domiminions when it shall remaine destitute of wished defence and he it is that shall make thee lauded of Fortune and loued of thy enemies as of thy dearest friends Likewise the two most infortunate Princes of the world shall enioy their libertie by him in which many haue and shall attempt but he alone is oidained to finish this Exployr for that he is aboue all in the Fauour of Fortune and he shall exell all in the Nobilitie of Knighthood Thus leauing the summe of my promise to your gratious triall I wish the noble Emperour of Greece may liue in eternall honour and felicitie By her who is more in dutie then by pen or words she can any way disclole The Lady of the Lake The Emperor no lesse amazed at this happy aduenture then contented at the glad newes of this noble yong Prince desired of the Damosel who might be the Lady of the Lake To whoÌ„ the Damosell replied Noble sir she is altogether vnknowne of me but thus much I dare boldly assure your Maiestie that what her Letter presenteth shall be performed in this worthy young Prince These spéeches ended the Damosell departed which the Emperor perceiuing sent for the yong Prince vpon whom vsing many chéerfull countenances he desired his noble Gentlemen standing by that he might be tearmed of all Palmerin after his owne name for that he thought he should be the better estéemed of his Lady Polinarda in whose fauor he was greatly estéemed as the wearing of his Ladies colors he might giue some cause of beliefe But the Empres and Gridonia still lamented the losse of Primaleon whose absence from the court was chiefest cause of their sorrow CHAP. IX Of that which happened to Vernar the Prince of Allemaign in his search of Don Edoard and of the controuersie betweene him and Belcar the Duke of Duras in the vnfortunate Forrest of England I Haue declared to you before how Vernar the Prince of Allemaigne and sonne to the Emperour Trineus and the faire Agrigola left the Court of Constantinople when Palmerin departed to séeke the Prince Don Edoard In which affaires this gentle Prince likewise behaued himselfe so worthily in many rare exploytes that his Fame remaineth as a perfect type of his hononr in the Allemaigne Chronicles for which cause I leaue to rehearse them returning to that which happened this Prince and is in my charge to speake of It fortuned that hee hauing spent no small labour in trauaile arriued at last in great Brittaine where he had good hope to heare some newes to end his labour And being entred into this vnfortunate forrest ryding very sadly for yâ— his mind was somwhat distracted with remeÌ„brance of his faire Bazilia at length there met him a comely Knight very brauely mounted attyred in gilt armour whereon was wrought many Leopards by Artificiall deuice yet crazed and broken by some rough encounter that he had béene in And in his Shéeld he bare a Serpent in a field of Siluer trauailing also in the search of the strayed Prince as likewise to méet with such who professed the magnanimitie of minde to combate in the honour of their owne good Fortune for which cause he left the Ladies in the English Court among whom he was called The Knight of the Serpent Passing by the Prince Vernar he vsed such courtesie vnto him as beséemed his Knighthoode and was méete for such a Noble person but he altogether vsing his thoughtes on his fayrest Bazilia had no leysure to beholde the Knights courtesie The Knight of the Serpent supposing that eythere hee willingly would not perceyue or séeing scorned the gentle Salutations he vsed reuiued the Prince Vernar with these spéeches Syr Knight mee thinkes it might stand with your Honour and profession and no blemish to you any way but bounty euery way to haue thought well of him who meant no ill to you and to haue gratified him like a Courtier that disdained to passe by you and not vse courtesie The Prince being driuen foorth of his dumps whereto hee had more pleasure then to the Knights gentle proffer betwéene Iset and earnest thus answered Sir I muy be offended without blame and iudge your behauior to be very bald that would constraine me to speake not hearing your spéeche when I had more matters in minde then would suffer me to sée you much lesse to heare you Syr quoth the Knight of the Serpent this excuse is farre too simple in denying both your Hearing and Sight for though statelynesse would not suffer you to sée me yet the leawdnesse of my spéech doth iustifie you might heare me Vernar hearing the large language of the Knight which might quickly mooue him to anger being before subiect to ouer much Melancholie thus shortly replyed Syr Knight you haue better licence to depart then leaue to stay here for that my minde is troubled with such metters as rather requireth your absence thea alloweth your presence Giuing you farther to vnderstand that your companie is so much to my heart that the strife which may arise betwéene vs will be to your great harme When the Knight perceyued what small estimation Vernar had of him thus roundly replyed Syr either your bringing vp hath bene ouer churlish or your present behauior scant currant in that you estéem courtesie more like a Carter then a Courtyer and Ciuile demeanour more fitte to holde the Ploughe then fine qualities to honour your person I estéeme it both méete and modest that you expresse such a Friuolous motion as doth represse abruptly the nature of Friendly manners for greater danger is in concealing what I desire then damage in concealing such a simple demand I desire rather quoth Vernar mine owne ruine then I should be so simple to graunt what you request In so much that it is expedient none should know my thoughts shee onely excepted that must be priuie to what I thinke Wherefore esteeming thy Manhoode as small to commaund as thy might to compell I will bury my Thoughts with my Death before I intend to satisfie thy desire So leauing off words they fell to their weapons where shiuering their Speares and Armour they Encounted with such Brauerie that they were glad to take breathing when the Knight of the Serpent beganne thus to charge him I belieue Sir you finde this Skirmish more hote then your concealed thoughtes may be estéemed wisedome and that your Estate standeth in a more sharpe hazarde then your mute conceyts are of force to yéeld you any sure helpe which I hope shall shew you the difference betweene a carelesse Groome and a Courtly Gentleman Syr aunswered the Prince Vernan your opinion is as yet farre beyond my purpose for that you are as wide from your hope as you are
haue discouered what hee was for that if the Emperor sent he durst not disobey his will which the better to preuent he rode till he resolued himselfe he was far enough from recalling But as he was greatly contented with his honourable Conquest so was hée heauily oppressed in thinking on his Lady whose angry countenance made a more déepe wound into his heart then the weapon of his Enemy had power to enter But Syluian who was Chyrurgian to his Maisters Passions vsed his good perswasions which was of more force with the Prince then any other that might offer to talke to him For Nature willed him to accept his intreaty when neyther courage nor crueltie in any other might compell him CHAP. XXVII How the knight of the Sauage man leauing Blandidon in the Tristfull Valley in the Realme of Lacedemonia tooke shipping to trie the aduenture of great Brittain but chancing to go on land in Ireland he came to the castle of the Giant Calfurnien who kept three Ladies prisoners in his Castle And how the knight of the Sauage man encountred Calfurnian and slew him HEre haue I thought good to remember the knight of the Sauage man who leauing Blandidon in the Tristfull Valley came to the cittie of Lambel where he imbarked himselfe toward the Forrest of great Brittaine minding to visite King Fredericke and the Princesse Flerida and then to séek the Castle of Dramusiande which was greatly talked on for the losse of the knights And now had Dramusiande set the Esquires of the knights at libertie but carryed them forth in such pollitique manner that they could neither returne againe to the Castle nor giue any report in what place it stood The knight of the Sauage man had such a prosperous winde that at last they had sight of the coast of England but on a sudden arose such a tempest as carryed them perforce vpon the coast of Ireland taking hauen at the mount of Saint Cyprian because they could not reach the port of Moricque The knight of the Sauage man had a great desire to land but the maister perswaded him to the contrary with these words I desire you Sir to take good respect in what you enterprise for well you know vnhappinesse dwelleth next doore to hardines and danger is the neighbour to earnest desire therefore in all your actions vse a good foresight so may you the better preuent any For on yonder Mountaine dwelleth a Giant of no lesse vglynesse of person then renowned in his puissance hee hath to name Calfurnien whose crueltie is such that if any chance into his hands it is their present death Wherefore good Sir be ruled by your friend who would be loath you should fall into so great folly Syr quoth the Knight of the Sauage man I giue you as great thankes as I perceiue your counsell tendeth to my welfare But it he be so cruell as you speake of it were good to teach him some courtesie if he can conceiue none of himselfe And so much trust do I repose in Fortune that shee will suffer me to deale with him albeit not to conquer him which if it returne the losse of my life I estéeme it the lesse in so much as he shall perceiue courage and courtesie in one that would wish as much in himselfe The maister seeing no perswasion might auaile sent him with his Esquire Artifer on land in the little Cocke committing him to the reward of all good Fortune The knight of the Sauage man accompanyed with his Esquire trauelled vp the Mountaine which was very thicke beset with Trées till at last he came to a little Pauilion before which lay a great many Trunchions of Speares and broken Armour belonging to such knights as were there foyled in seeking the Castle Walking on farder in a litlle path which he saw traced with very fresh blood he was lead by the droppes thereof to the sight of the Castle gate which was placed on such an vnmeasurable height that he was faine to alight and walk vpon foot his armour being very troublesome vnto him and walking thorow such a narrow passage that hee was very wearie When he had attained the top of the hill hee saw the Giant being such a man as the Master of the Ship reported before him stoode seuen well appointed men at Armes holding fowre knights on their knées before the Giant Thrée Ladies looking foorth at the Castle window which the Giantesse kept there as Prisoners perforce séeing the Knight of the Sauage man and sorrowing any good knight should come to such a Tyrant they all began a grieuous and sorrowfull lamentation The Giant espying the knight of the Sauage man sent thrée of his knights to take him and bring him to his presence who stood leaning vpon his Sword for that he was very wearie with comming vp the high hill then they came to him commaunding him to yéeld or else they would slay him The knight of the Sauage man hearing their rough wordes stoode not waiting for nice tearmes but made this answere I rather chuse to abide the danger in denying your command then to trust to your courtesie in yéelding my selfe for as I little estéeme your friendship so doâ— I make lesse account of your furie With these wordes he saluted one of them so friendly vpon the head that hee fell downe dead at his footâ— as for the other twaine he dealt with them so reasonably that hee paid them their debt in the same coine Then aduancing himselfe to the Castell gate Calfurnien who had knowledge of this mishap came foorth very stronglie armed with a mightie shield and a great Mace of Iron hauing the head very thicke beset with Azure nailes that no shield nor armour but it would enter into and in this manner he spake to the Knight of the Sauage man Alas poore knight Fortune was not ouermuch thy friend when she conducted thee hither but rather thought her selfe much cumbred with thée and that I should sacrifice thée to her for mine owne honour The abuse thou hast offered me in â—laying my knights hath prepared a rod so sharpe for thée as thou wilt wish thy boldnesse had béen better gouerned The courteous knight who had neuer séene any Giant before and maruelling at his mightie stature would not vse any perswasion to himselfe of prosperous successe but in this manner gaue him his answere Me thinks sir it were more commendation for you and greater honour euery way to disburden your heart of cruell attempts and embrace a courteous and ciuill kinde of life For as God hath made you more mighty then other men so to those that are your inferiours you should vse a gentle demeanour which would better agrée with Knighthood then with sauage qualities Calfurnien was in such a rage at these wordes that he presently returned him this answere I would there were before me tenne of the strongest Knightes on the earth that I might reuenge these taunting wordes on them because thy death can
pure in modesty so precise of her personage and so exquisite in her vsuall behauiour that many noble Gentlemen haue put their liues in hazard to deserue her good liking that was liked of all Great hath bin the intreaty of many Honorable personages to haue her in mariage which I haue alwaies denied till now making choyse of one aboue all the other I haue agréed to accomplish his importunate desire This being knowne to a knight who had long time béene a Suter yet neuer so fortunate as to gaine his intent now presumeth vpon his strength to take her from me perforce to iniure him that hath obtained my consent to espouse her In signe wherof pointing to the Pauillions of the other knight on the farder side of the riuer behold where he hath placed his Tents to inuade my Castle and through the helpe of his friends purposeth to ruinate this mine ancient dwelling to vse violence to her who is betrothed to another When I considered there was no meane to remedy the necessity of my case but eiter to kéepe my Hold and there be famished or yéeld me selfe to my foes and so be dishonoured I sent one of my Damosels to the English Court at whose request you are here arriued in this place where you may behold my vsurping enemy and the great danger I stand in of the hard award of fortune And once more haue I sent by way of intreaty to will them breake vp their siege and not to trouble me for her whom they cannot haue though they vse neuer such violence But such is the great mallice of this knight and his intent linked to such an extreme purpose that neither gentlenesse may intreate him nor faire demeanour serue to perswade him Wherfore noble Gentlemen as you respect the honour of an oppressed Virgin and the oath that your knighthood hath auouched in this behalfe stand now her friend who is voyd of all defence and maintaine her cause which is both for your renowne and her good fame for euer She hauing thus ended her coined protestation they stood debating with themselues what answer they ought to make herat last the prince Gracian they hauing referred all to his disposition tooke the Damosell by the hand and thus shaped his answer Faire Lady since this honorable company haue appointed me vn worthy to answer on their behalfe and that we are perswaded you would not informe vs of any misreport thus I dare awareant for them all that you shall finde them as ready to defend you as your enemy dare presume any way to molest you The Damosell hearing the answer of the Prince Gracian to be such as serued fit for her purpose gaue theÌ„ all hartg thanks and calling her teares againe into remembraunce vrged the knights to such pittie that they greatly desired to enter Combate with the other company Then returned the Damosell that had beene with the other knights informing them likewise of such a false report when being entred the Pauillion to the Damosel with curtesie she gaue forth these spéeches Mathe enemy to your honour and friend to his owne damage wil not be perswaded but will follow his enterprise and in derision scoffeth at this noble assembly reporting them to be so weake that they dare not shew themselues These words vrged Onistalde vnto such anger that he presently brake forth into these spéeches I beléeue that had they tryed those whom they haue aduentured to dare they should finde the chastisement of their peremptory bragges to be aunswerable in effect as they haue iustly deserued Tush quoth Polinarda it is easie for our enemy to talke his pleasure but when he shall find his trechery rewarded with due recompence hee will wish he had vsed himselfe more fréendely to this Ladie whom he hath so greatly iniuryed Then Francian was desirous to send them defiance which the Damosell would not suffer lest her dealings should be espyed but to worke the surer in her deceite she sent the other Damosell once more to will them to depart presently whereto if they made denyall that she should summon them in armes to prepare for the fight In maane while she was gone on her message this other craftie Gyrle vsed such familiaritie with the Prince Gracian and the other Knights that their heats were enflamed against them beyond the Riuer To whom the other Damosell had reported that the Prince Gracian and his company did endeuour themselues to take the Castle from her Mistresse perforce whereupon shée requested them to defend her Mistresse right and to cause them know they went about a disloyall enterprise The Prince Floraman hauing well pondered the words of the Damosell returned her presently this aunswer Albeit out duettie is to defend any distressed person and so gainsay the mishap of any iniuried Lady yet reason willeth vs ere we presume too hastily to be acquaiâ—ted with the cause and well aduised ere we begin such a rash attempt else may our enemie iudge we come more vpon a brauerie then Knighthood may awarrant our behauiour and so runne into danger our selues for that the rightful cause hath alwaies the victory Wherfore thus resolue your selfe wee will first know if your reportes be of trueth or no least we enter into such defectes as we may perhappes repent vs. With that the Demosell began to rehearse their promise at such time as she deliuered them Horses and Armour in their great necessitie for which cause she desired then to accomplish their promise threatning them that their Nobility might be defaced in denying their words Trust me answered Platir I haue such a good opinion in her dealings that she would not vse perswasion to vs of an vntroth Wherfore tell vs faire Lady doth your enemy still remaine resolute in his determination albeit my Companions deny to ayd you as they haue auouched yet will I abide by you to the death in what I haue promised Then the Prince Berolde coming to the Damosel began as thus Can we faire Lady sée you in such great hazard and not Imploy our selues to giue you succour No assure your selfe for mine owne part and so I dare auouch for the rest of my company that we will pawne the blood of our hearts ere we will sée you remaine in such a heauinesse The Damosel at these words returned to the Prince Gracian certifying them of their willingnesse to the fight and not long she stayd but returned to them againe her face all be sprent with teares which was chéefe vaile to couer her treason and thus she spake Now Gentlemen your quarrel is of more force then before for they haâ—ing my Lady and Mistres in their hold haue vowed not to let her depart without she will render to them her castle And moreouer they send you word by way of defiance that they are so ready to deale with you as they iudge you dare not come forth to them either to defend the cause of my Lady or to make proofe of your loyaltie
This report prouoketh such an earnest desire in the knights that they mounted on Horseback and beganne to shew themselues in the field vsing such behauiour with their often recourses that the other knights could enioy no rest till they were likewise prepared For such was the enuious dealings of Eutropa that in this fight she set the Sonne against the Father one Brother against another and the dearest fréend to be enemies one to another and to sée how furiously they behaued themselues not knowing them they fought against would haue made one iudge there was no other meanes but present death Such was the force of her diuellish deuises in the Treasonable attempts the Damosell vndertooke that neiter ciuilitie was regarded nor their owne safetie at this time respected CHAP. XXXVIII How after the Damosels had ended their subtle perswasions the knights ioyned themselues together to a dangerou◠and doubtfull fight wherein they had so sore endamaged one another that their liues stood in hazard of any recouery And how the Sage Aliart seeing the intent of Eutropa to worke the vtter spoyle of these couragious knights came and charmed them in such order that they quickely left of the battaile When as the Giant Dramusiande came forth wirh the captiue Princes who greatly lamented to see their sonnes and kindred in such doubtfull estate and tooke them all prisoners into his Castle NOw that the Damosels had accomplishe◠the disloyall practise of their Mistresse Eutropa they departed leauing the knights in readinesse to enter battaile who had so changed their Armour and the deuices of their Shéelds that they had no knowledge of one another The Prince Gracian was attired in gréene Armour mingled with spots of white and a Coate of Maile ouer it of the same colour in his Shéeld he bare a red Lyon rampaunt in a field of Sinople Onistalde had his Armour blacke whereon in artificiall deuise was made pretie things resembling the scales of a fish and in his shéeld he bare a Gorgons head his Brother Dramian being armed in the same manner The Armor of Bazilliart was somewhat gréene very thicke beset with Lyonesses of Gold bearing in his shield for his deuise an Eagle Francian had his Armor resembling litle flames of fire in his shielde likewise the same order of deuise Dridan was armed in blacke bearing in his shield the Tower of Babilon Polinard had his Armour of a sandy colour whereon was painted many broken Speares in token he had lost the victory against the noble Floraman whē he aduentured for the beautie of faire Polinarda hauing for his deuise in his shield a speare broken in the middest Frisol had his Armour in colour red beset with sundry pretie antiques faces of Sable and in his shield he bare a white Lyon in a golden field Tremoran was attyred in a Carnation coloured Armour very brauely beset with golden Pellicans and the deuise in his Shield was the Image of Sagittarius Luyman of Burgondie and Clariball of Hungaria had their Armour white and theyr shieldes alike in deuises Flauian and Emeralde the Faire had their Armour blacke finely bespotted with red and in their shieldes the resemblance of a faire Clowde in a field of siluer The Knightes on the other side of the Riuer were in like manner disguised giuing shewe to their enemies of their hautie courage and magnanimitie The Prince Berolde first aduanced himselfe in the field his Armour blacke whereon was cunningly besprent the teares of a Louer and in his Shield a bléeding heart rent violently in a number of péeces Don Rosuell and Belizart came next him their Armour of gréene and carnation colour bearing in their shieldes the amorous passions of a Louers minde in a fielde of Azure Estrellant would not change his Armour but defaced the deuise of his shield that he could not be knowen Trofollant had his Armor gréene whereon was figured many golden Doues and in his shielde he bare the Troyan Horse in a field of Sable Guerin was in white Armour bearing in his shielde a Pecocke in a fielde which resembled the coullour of many Needles Rotandor and Crispian of Macedon were both Armed alike Germayne of Orleance had his Armour of Azure bearing in his Shield a beautifull Damosell which he kept in remembrance of the fayre Florenda Daughter to Arnedes King of France for whose sake he determined to trye the aduentures of great Brittaine Platir Floraman Blandidon and Pompides to whom the Damosell of Eutropa had deliuered Horses and Armour came forth their Horses all alike and their Armour blacke beset with siluer Swannes their Helmets very sumptuously guilded and adored with rich Pearles and in their Shieldes their deuises were all alike which was the smokie Forge and Anuill of God Vulcan the Smith Both the companies marching forward till they met where they beheld each other in maruailous great contempt when taking occasion as it serued they couched their Speares and encountred together very valiantly Betwéen them continued such a dangerous fight what with the sore hurtes they receiued as also the great debilitie they were all brought into that the effusion of their blood witnessed their earnest desire of victory and the aduerse estates of them all remained as a patterne of their great perill Don Edward Primaleon Recinde Arnedes Belcar Vernar and the Soldan Bellagris standing with Dramusiande in a window of the Castle beheld the fierce assaults of these couragious Knights whereto they gaue such commendation as the most hauty exployt that euer they had séene which moued Don Edward to say I haue in times past not onely séene many a notable skirmish but also haue had experience of the behauiour of many noble knights yet comparing them past with this which I now behold I must néedes say all the rest hath béene counterfeite and this is onely worthy eternall commendations Indéede quoth Primaleon the aduentures in this place is meruailous which maketh mée to suspend my iudgement of this couragious assembly but if it bée a naturall fight indéede and no imagination giuen vnto vs by the practise of Euchantment I must commend this for the most knightly aduenture that in all my life time I could gaine the sight of Dramusiande likewise was abashed at this present spectacle and knowing it had come to passe by the meanes of his Aunt and fearing least in this Battaile some of them should be slaine he went to her and intreated her to pacifie this grieuous Stratageme but her minde was bent to such cruelty that she would vse no respect to his words So long endured their violence to each other that faintnesse made them let fal their weapons and catch hold of one another in the manner of wrastling which was great griefe to the Princesse in the Castle to behold and sore paines to themselues to continue fight so long The Sage Aliart vnderstanding of this great mishap and scorning that Eutropa should attribute the triumph of this victory wholly vnto her self came to the
place where these knights were assembled and entring into the Campe like an ancient olde man hauing a rodde in his hand where about was wound a Serpent he strooke vpon the ground with it when presently the knights fell all to the earth in such a strange and marueilous alteration that one would haue iudged they had béene depriued of their liues After he had there finished what pleased him he weÌ„t vp to the Castle of Dramusiande sending such a darke smoke ouer all the Valley wherein might be perceiued great flashes and flames of fire that the Princes in the Castle were marueilously affrighted This moued Eutropa to such great anger because shée could not gaine the knowledge how this had hapned no worke her will on â—he knights as she had certainly purposed that shée went raging all about the Castle mooued to such disquietnesse that no body could perswade her At last this great darknes vanished away and nothing could bee séene but the Knights that lay all grouelling vpon the ground which caused Dramusiande with his noble Prisoners to goe foorth and fetch them all into his Castle When they had taken off their Helmets the King Recinde knew his children and the king Arnedes his sonnes Polendos knewe Francian his sonne and Bazilliart and Don Rosuel were visited by the valiant Belcar Dridan was carried the armes of Maiortes and Platir was borne in by his noble Father Primaleon who because he had left him wheÌ„ he was somewhat yong did hardly knowe that it was his sonne In briefe they all lamented to sée their kindred and friendes in such great misfortune and conueyed them into the Castle where they were so honorably vsed that in short time they had good hope to recouer them from this danger When they had attained some part of their former health they reioyced greatly that they had happened into the company of their dearest friends and declared in what maner they were deluded by the two Damosels which was not strange to them who perceiued the daily practises of Eutropa to be grounded on such trecherous deceits Now did Dramusiande greatly commend his good Fortune in gaining so many couragious and well approoued knights as he was fnlly resolued he should now easily conquere the Isle of the Lake which as yet hee would not make knowne to any of the Knights but vsed himselfe so pleasant in their company and frequented them daily with such delightfull exercises that generally they bare him great good will and affection For this opinion he conceiued that vsing them with gentlenesse and shewing himselfe curteous in all attempts he should winne their good wils which hée made more account off then all the riches in the world As it is alwaies séene that friendship sooner winneth the gentle minde theu the rich promises and deliuery of Coyne can purchase any faithfull perswasion which craueth a more couetous interest then the persons estéeming vertue will straine their mindes to amount vnto CHAP. XXXIX How Eutropa after she had obtained all the Knights prisoneners in her Castle began a new trechery to bring to ruine the Emperour and Citie of Constantinople by sending Letters to the Soldan of Babylon declaring how the Emperour was destitute of his chief knights how he might easily ouercome the citie And how the noble knight of the Sauage man after he was healed of the wounds he had receiued by the knight of Fortune left the Court of England and trauelled to seeke the aduentures of great Brittaine in which endeuour he arriued at the castle of the Giant Dramusiand where he vnhorsed the Prince Primaleon and his noble Father the Prince Don Edward Likewise how he preuailed against the kings Arnedes and Recinde and foiled the Gâ—ants Pandare and Alligan so that he entred combate with the Giant Dramusiande each of them fore wounding the other yet neither could enioy the victory And how the Sage Aliart came againe and made such a maruellous darkenesse that the knight of the Sauage man was carried away no body could whither GLad was Eutropa that she had gotten these Knights her prisones whom she stood in great feare of and Christendome in most néed of and yet not contenting her selfe with this extreame crueltie would practise another mischiefe to bring to destruction all the noble knights on the earth It so fortuned that by politike meanes she was aduertised of the death of Olorique Alchediane the great Soldan of Babylon and deere friend to the Emperour Palmerin who had a sonne remaind aliue not of the gentle nature of his father but a great enemy to the whole estate of Christendome This seruing for fit her diuellish purpose she gaue him by Letters to vnderstand what great and gréeuous mischances his Progenitors had receiued by the Emperours of Greece in that many Princes of his blood and linage had béene cruelly slaine before the walles of Constantinople which naturall loue and dutie did inforce him to reuenge else should he be iustly contemned and reproched of the whole world where if now he would vexe his enemy vpon so iust occasion vrge him to the small defence he had left for his succour he might be Monarch of the whole world and haue more at command then all his Predecessours had As for a conuenient time he could with for no better then was at that present when if he would lay siege to Constantinople it had no other Rampier of defence then the aged Emperour whose yeares forbad him to enter the field and whose dominions lay ready at his owne appointment As for the noble couragious knights whom all the world feared and were the onely safegard to that famous City were in such place where they had more néed of succour themselues then come to defend the aged Emperour Yea and all other realmes were so vnprouided of those that were the meane to let this determination that neither could they helpe him or promise safety to themselues so that if he would he might bring vnder his obeysance the most of all Christendome There letters were conueyed to the Soldan of Babylon who prouide for the attempt which Eutropa had willed him where to his determination we will forsake him at this time till we gaine more fit occasson to discourse of procéedings The hardy knight of the Sauage man was purposed now to sée the aduentures of great Brittaine for which cause when his wounds were perfectly healed he tooke leaue of King Fredericke and the Princesse Flerida procéeding in his trauell till fortune brought him to the Valley of Perdition where he presently espoed the Castle of Dramusiande Not long had he stood to take view of this Castle but hee perceiued to issue forth a braue company of well appointed knights among whom were Giants of a monstrous stature which gaue him occasion to suppose that hée was arriued at the place where so many famous Knights were detained Prisoners yet was ge driuen into a great doubt in that such comely Knights should kéepe company with
Princes out of the cruell Enchanted castle of Eutropa and Dramusiande ARgolant who by the commandement of the king of England was departed on his voyage towards Constantinople to declare vnto the Emperour Palmerin the good successe of his sonne Primaleon and the other Prince indeuoured himselfe so well in his iourney thorow the helpe of good wind and weather that at the last he attained the end of his trauaile And as he rode through the Citïe he espied the Emperour among a great many of Souldiours whose beard was growne so white with anguish of minde and his face so wanne by reason of his continuall mourning that he stood in doubt whether it were the Emperour or no but that he was certified thereof by the people which made their recourse thorow the stréetes Who told him that report was giuen abroade how the Soldans of Babylon and Persia had gathered a mightie Armie intending to besiege their Cittie which made the Emperour in his owne person to goe sée to the fortifying of the walles that his Rampiers of defence might bée readie to resist the enemie Argolant comming before the Emperour who presently knew him alighted and knéeling downe humbly kissed his hand to whom the Emperour thus spake You may sée Argolant in what necessitie the citie of Constantinople is now vnhappily falne which in times past hath vrged me to the opinion that neither warres could surplant it treasons inuade it nor any disloyall accident once vse spight against it But such is the alteration of times and so vncertaine the fauour of Fortune that the famous monuments of most honour and antiquitie are as soone subuerted as the weakest defence so that it remaineth to me to say which once I could iustly say I haue béene happy For such is the danger threatened to our estate and so doubtfull the mischance that may suddainely annoy vs as my Subiects stand euery houre in feare of their liues and my selfe in dispaire of mine own safety Because I want those whose names in the eare of mine enemy hath carried as great estimation of hot resistance as they now being absent doe ouercharge me with a cold comfort But how fareth thy Soueraigne Lord the king of â—ngland to demand for other tidings were as néedelesse as I suppose them helpelesse If it shall like your Highnesse answered Argolant the king my Soueraigne and Lord saluteth your imperiall estate with all happinesse that he can wish or you possibly desire as for my charge if you will vouchsafe the place where the Empresse Gridonia and the other Ladies may be present you shall all be certified I trust to your contentations The Emperour at these wordes rode straite to his Pallace not staying till he came where the Empresse Gridonia and the faire Polinarda were sitting altogether but Argolant missing Bazilia wife to the Prince Vernar began on this wise to intreate the Emperour Let it not be offensiue to your highnesse in that I trifle time so long because I want one here to be partner of my happy tydings which is the faire Bazilia whose heart I am right sure thought the absence of her Lord Vernar too long The Emperour supposing there was some glad tydings toward in that they concerned not one alone but all such as had long time béene oppressed with heauinesse and knowing likewise the Princesse Bazilia would hardly leaue her Chamber tooke the paines to gâ—e for her himselfe when being al set down together Argolant in this manner vttered his Ambassage As it is not vnknowen to you most mightie Emperour as also these gracious Ladies who since that time haue endured no small oppression of heauy conceits that at my last being in this place I brought the vnfortunate report which caused as you know ful well a grieuous mishap ensuing vpon the losse of our no lesse famous then redoubted Prince Don Edward which prouoked your noble sonne Primaleon with a number of valiant Princes and Knights of your court to pursue in his search So now I durst not present my selfe where my former newes caused such griefe without I might bring those tidings as shuld in recompence cause a mutuall and generall gladnesse which loath to conceale from you too long thus it is The knight of Fortune the myrrour of Chiualrie the onely Lampe and Load-stone to draw the aduenterous minde to all valiant attempts as his exploytes in your Court against Floraman who for his fayre Altea made the onely challenge for the supreame title of beautie may not onely remaine a witnes but as a perfect example of all worthinesse to such as shall ensue after him for his memory and their learning This worthy Champion attempted the aduenture of great Brittaine where by the Magique of Eutropa and might of Dramusiande sonne to the Giant Frenaque whom you slew before your departure forth of England our Prince Don Edward your sonne Primaleon with a number of Princes and noble Knights were all this while kept as prisoners onely to reuenge the death of the aforesaid Giant Frenaque Wherein he spedde so happily that notwithstanding the cruell enchantments dispersed ouer the whole forrest and retaining the knights in such a seruitude as they might doe nothing without the consent of this wicked Eutropa he withstood her helliâ—â— charmes the force of her nephew the giant fulfilled that hauty attempt which could be finished by no other And our Prince Don Edward chancing first into this mishap was appointed to endure the first Iust against all that came so that through the helpe of two Giants whom the Knight of Fortune hath valiantly foyled all the wandring Knights were caught captiue in this Castell In fine when this famous Conquerour had found the way to this Fortresse and behaued himselfe against the resistaance with singular magnanimitie hée entred the Combate with Dramusiande where a bloody and doubtfull fight was presently begun The Emperor suddenly staying Argolant at these words in a maze and great feare put forth this demand Good Argolant before you procéed any further resolue me of a doubt wherein the last report of your discourse hath brought me know you where as now the knight of Fortune remaineth and whether he be aliue as yet or no for if he fare otherwise then well my state cannot endure without bearing him company to which Argolant replyed At such time my gratious Lord as I departed from the Realme of England I left him in such good disposition as himselfe could wish or your Maiesty desire when euery one reioyced for the good successe he had against the Gyant Dramusiande But may I quoth the Emperor vpon your faith and knight heed assure my selfe of this report If it may please you my good Lord answered Argolant to giue credite to my Message then beléeue me that the knight of Fortune is in good estate of health and hath done what I haue manifested before this honourable assembly Likewise the Forrest of that disloyall Eutropa is subdued from all her Enchantments so
in protestation let vs now goe to the Court of the great Turke where I will make thée confesse before the Princesse Targiana that Albayzar is the most honorable knight liuing on the earth and she the onely and perfect Goddesse for beauty Beside if thou thinkest he hath offred thée any wrong if thy stomacke serue thée thereto reuenge thy selfe on me who will die in his cause for proofe wherof receiue there my Gloue if thou dare Florian who desired to manifest his valour in strange countries receiued very gladly the challenge of Arduramet who thinking to honour his Brother with the Conquest of Florian went to the Court of the great Turke where to their determination at this time we will leaue them Let vs now remember Pompides who trauailed with the Damosel till they came to a thicket of Trées where he heard one make a very great clamour and looking aside beheld a Knight offering monstrous dishonour to a Lady and two Knights sitting by on Horsebacke laughing at the simple shift she made to defend her selfe from the villainous intent of the knight Pompides not able to suffer so great shame in his sight couched his launce against him that abused the Lady so that he ran him cleane thorow the head and laid him dead on the ground before him and dealing roughly a while with the other twaine he serued them both of the same sauce as the iust desert of them that would abuse themselues in so vile a sort Then came the Lady and submitted her selfe at the féete of Pompides but the feare she sustained by their crueltie would hardly suffer her to vse any spéech wherefore Pompides taking her in his armes and seing the heauy estate and great perplexitie he comforted her in this manner Faire Lady let no feare as now séeme to dismay your mind for here is no body but such as will imploy themselues in your defence My Lord quoth shee these bloodie minded men haue brought me into such feare that albeit I sée dead before my face yet the remembrance of their crueltie doeth still make me afraide wherefore I desire you to depart and leaue me to mourne my great mishap else shall I still be fearefull as the Bird on the branch in danger of the Fowler Pompides began to smile to sée the little trust the Lady reposed is his company neuerthelesse minding to satisfie her desire who was very beautifull as also of a vertuous and honest disposition he departed from her accompanied with the Damosel that had brought him thither Who reported to him how the Knights that would haue rauished the Lady met with her as she trauailed toward the Court of king Frisol who were newly come from the slaughter of Sortibran and méeting with her endeuoured by their faire spéech to allure her to their lust but when they sawe she would not consent they would vrge her to it perforce So Pompides departing from her followed after Palmerin because he desired to trauell still in his company CHAP. LXXVIII Of that which happned to Palmerin of England after he was departed from the Prince Florendos and how while hee was fighting with the Giant Bracandor Albayzar arriued there and holpe him to ouercome his enemies AFter that Palmerin had left Florendos sléeping at the Trée he came into a Forrest halfe a mile from the Citie of Buda where the King of Hungaria lay and there he perceiued a company of Knights and Ladies by a Fountaine wherefore fearing least their company might bee some hinderance to is trauaile he turned his Horse to ride an other way for it was all his intent to abandon place of resort because hee might the better commune and dispute of his Loue. As he was ryding he turned his head and espied these pleasant company by the Fountaine to be very fiercely fighting together wherfore he turned againe to goe thither where he sawe this great conflict but before he came all was done and quiet because the enemy had takē them that gladly stroue with resistance who were the Duthesses of Pontus and Duracā trauailing to the Court of their noble Father in the company of the prince Ditree who in this vnfortunate skirmish was slain Which vrged Palmerin to great heauinesse when he saw him as also the heauy cry the Ladies made being in the hold of Bracandor a mightie Giant inhabiting there in a Rocke and had ten Knights there daily waiting on him Palmerin pitying the Ladies mishap couched his speare and ran against the Giant with such force that he laid him along on the earth in manner as though he were starke dead which the ten Knights standing by séeing came altogether running vpon him but he defended himselfe so wel that they had not the power to vnhorse him for his hardy blowes made them quickly coole their courage Bracandor being risen vp againe commanded the knights to retire because he would reuengo his iniury himselfe wherevpon they gaue ouer when the Giant and Palmerin sternly dealing with one another Bracandor in the ende began greatly to faint The Knights seeing the danger he was in forced not of their Maisters commaund but came and beset the Prince Palmerin who albeit he receiued many dangerous hurts paide them their due but little to their profit The Ladies continued in prayers for his good assistance estéeming him the best knight that euer they had seene and Bracandor seeing the maruellous force of one onely knight beganne to blaspheme his God and ran in such violent manner against the Prince that had not God indued him with great pollicie and force the least of his blowes was sufficient to haue slaine him Bracandor beholding six of his knights slaine through his dangerous woundes and dispaire of himselfe fell to the ground Palmerin being well pleased to be rid of such an enemy in short time sent the other foure to beare their Maister company to whom he came offering to take off his Helmet that hée might haue presently cut off his head But Astapardo came foorth accompanied with ten knights and charged him so sudainly that he had not leisure to commend himselfe to his Mistreffe Palmerin was reduced into very great perplexitie yea and his death appointed in this furious skirmish had not the puissant Albayzar presently arriued there who seeing the great iniury was offered to one knight and that it was he which gaue him his speare when he fought against Dramorant the Cruell he ran against Astapardo in such manner that his speare went quite thorow his body and Armor and the other behaued themselues so well that the most part were slaine the rest saued their liues by flight Palmerin séeing himselfe deliuered from so great a perill came offered great thanks to the Prince Albayzar but he not suffering him to vse any such courtesie without making knowne what or who he was set spurres to his Horse and rid away in great haste Then Palmerin returned to Bracandor and finding him to be as yet aliue he commanded
displeasure without vsing any remembrance at all of the Prince Florian of the â—esart whom shée had now altogether thrust into forgetfulnesse and was so sore troubled for want of the presence of the Prince Florendos as she tooke her farewell of the restored prisoners to whom for griefe she could not vse such gratious behauior as she had done the day before Florendos rid certaine dayes in the company of Albayzar and Floraman when he concluded to trauell to the Castle of Almaroll to sée what entertainment the faire Miragarda would make to the Prince Albayzar and whether she could now â—nde contrary to her former custome his noble imployed seruice agréeable to her curious nature These thrée knights following their enterprise they perceiued after they were entred somewhat within the Realme of Spaine at the foote of a mountaine a knight standing very sadly betwéen two great Oakes he was armed in blacke Armour and bare in his Shield a white Bull in a fielde of Sable and mounted on a very gallant Courser so that these thrée Knights conceiued very good opinion of him and to him they would haue approached but that suddenly an Esquier stept before them who hauing saluted them very courteously deliuered his minde after this order Gentlemen the knight which standeth by these Dakes giueth you to vnderstand that he hath enterprised to guarde this passage in that he hath kept it a loÌ„g time against many knights not for that he hath desire to offer any knight discourtesie but onely to satisfie the will of a Lady to whom he remaineth affectionate loyal and obedient Therfore if it may stand with your liking to grant such things as he will demand the passage shall be at libertie for you but if you enterprise to doe the contrary he will put in triall to make you confesse perforce that which you cannot reasonably deny or refuse to grant Declare vnto vs quoth the Prince Florendos first the wil of thy Master and soone after we will make thée answere because very hardly can we determine of the matter whereof we are ignorant by reason that thou concealest it so closely Hee will cause you to confesse answered the Esquier that Arnalce the Princesse of Nauarre is the fayrest creature vnder heauen and most worthy of knightly seruice It séemes to me sayd Albayzar that we shall find this same knight who to shunne the Combate at her Castle hath accorded and promised to fulfill her impecious conditions Therefore I iudge it in mine opinion for good cause I know it assuredly that his enterprise is very dangerous and ought no longer to be maintained Let it happen what pleaseth Fortune sayd Florendos and afterward turning to the Esquire he answered him in this order My friend you may goe assure your maister of the Iouste While the Esquire was busie in spéech to the Prince Florendos Floraman no sooner perceiued him to returne to his maister but he desired Florendos that he would graunt him the Combate against the Knight that kept the passage which request he would not denie him wherevpon Floraman gaue the spurres to his horse and ran couragiously against the Knight of the princesse Arnalte they both encountring together with such great force that they were both dismounted to the earth with their héeles vpward but they recouered themselues promptly and like good knights set their hands to their swords wherewith they began to strike one another very daungerously vsing such knightly dexteritie as Florendos and Albayzar greatly delighted to behold them And for that Floraman was reputed for a good Knight they were abashed greatly that any aduantage should happen to the Knight of the Princesse Arnalte for the loue of whom hée fought very brauely But that which was most displeasant to Floraman who did his dutie like a good and vertuous knight was least the Princesse Florendos and Albayzar shoulde take any euill opinion of him On the other side the Knight of the passage thought on the bonde wherein the loue of the Princesse Arnalte had tyed him which did the more harten and encourage him These two knights continued Combate so long that being ouercome with extreame trauaile they were constrained to retire to take breath the straunge knight reioycing thereat began to vse this language towardes Floraman I know Sir knight that you might better breake your will and saue your life then be depriued of them both for when you shall come to confesse that the Princesse Arnalte is the fayrest Lady aliue you shall not be any iote spared by fauour alwayes considered that you shall but confesse the truth If I did consent to thy will answered Floraman I should maintaine a thing farre beyond any dutie for in how much Arnalte is faire and worthy to bée serued by so much the rather thou makest me to thinke that the world enioyeth some such to whom she is not in any thing to be compared for that diuine beautie hath made them so singular faire as the Princesse of Nauarre may in no wise be equalled with them And on the other side I haue in time past loued a Lady my selfe in respect of whom the whole world being filled with the report of her prayse I will rather die then accord to the presumption thou wouldest haue me confesse Floraman had no sooner concluded his spéech but they returned a fresh to yâ— Combat charging one another more suriously then they had done before so that it could not be iudged whether the one had any aduantage of the other or who was likelyest to win the victory they maintained the sight so brauely But in the end the Knight that kept the passage beganne by a little and a little to feele that feeblenesse somewhat assailed him and that stroke by stroke his word turned in his hand and his Armour was broken in many places and likewise the Armour of Floraman was in no better case then his enemies but he followed his strokes more wisely and dealt so gallantly at this second charge that once againe they were constrained to retire Floraman who was accompanied with such gratious gifts as imbraceth the heart of a vertuous Prince would proue if he might possible chaunge the Knight from his fonde opinion Whereupon he spake to the Knight in this maner Sir Knight you sée very well that your enterprise is not truth according as you haue iudged it in conceit wherefore I pray you to confesse that there are many Ladies in the world whose beautie the Princesse Arnalte may no way paragon I know well Sir sayd the Knight of the passage that the weakenesse where into you sée me brought giueth you the hardinesse to vse me with such perswasions of reproofe but so it is that I am so greatly affectionate towards the Princesse Arnalte as I haue deliberated with my selfe to sustaine yâ— death before I will graunt to that which you say When he had deliuered the end of his purpose he charged Floraman afresh who in short time laide
which he alighted speaking thus to the Damosell I sée well Damosell that you haue taken a place of small assurance to your selfe for that your knight will deliuer you into my hands which if he should not doe he should presently perceiue the estate of my displeasure whereto the knight of the Sauage man thus answered Trust me Syr you are deceiued as farre as I can perceiue for here is none that oweth you dutie much lesse any that will stand in feare of you and I doubt not but the disloyall tyrannie which thou vsest shall well enough be tempered ere thou and I part These wordes caused a sore Combate betwéene them the brauery whereof much delighted the aged Hermit who still prayed for good successe to happen to the Knight of the Sauage man but so gallantly did hee continue the fight that the Giant was enforced to take a breathing which was very acceptable to the Prince in that his Shielde was greatly defaced and himselfe surcharged with very much trauaile but yet he was in farre better state then the Giant who séeing his blood trickle downe his Armour so fast began to vse these spéeches How comes it to passe that one Knight hath the power to preuaile so much against me Certainly I feare me that the hope I haue alwayes had to vanquish those Knights that slew my Brethren by this one Knight will be brought into some doubt yet if I must néedes end my life I had rather it might be at one of their handes for that their valour carrieth so large commendation then by this Knight who is vtterly vnknown to me Thus concluding he began to charge the Knight of the Sauage man with very rough and forcible strokes who notwithstanding so duly awaited his oportunitie as at length he brought his enemie vnder his subiection when taking off his Helmet he presently parted his head from his shoulders the sight hereof was no small ioy to the aged Hermit as also to the Damosell who came and humbled her selfe to the Prince in this manner It is vnpossible for me Sir Knight to render you thanks according to your worthy deserts neuerthelesse I will report such laudable language of your Knightly déedes in the Court of Vernar the Emperor of Allameigne whither at this present I direct my course as your Fame shall remaine in continuall memory And very gladly would I bee acquainted with your name which I the more earnestly desire for two causes the one that I might the more exactly discourse your noble valour to the amazement of all other that cannot deserue so well the other that I might know the noble Gentleman whose gratious bountie I might repay with my contiuuall prayers Faire Damosell quoth the Prince if you desire to knowe my name that I may doe you seruice to the vttermost of my power I will declare it vnto you rather for that cause then any other but I assure you my déedes are of so small estimation as credite me you may more worthily cast into discountenance then giue them any such praise as it hath pleased you to vtter And let it not séeme in your eares as an vnaduised spéech which at this present of necessitie I must disclose because mine eye and my heart haue tasted both on fierie Plannet but rather let it obtaine such an acceptable opiniō of beliefe in your modest thoughts as I remaining captiue and at your mercy may finde you as ready to pittie me as your beauty was to wound me vpon these spéeches the Hermit tooke occasion to begin thus Sir Knight it is a déepe point of wisedome to flée the subtill temptatiō of beautie which is not so glorious in the eye as it is grieuous in the heart nor so swéete in conceite as it is sower in triall the reason is for that iealouzie frenzie beggerie murder with many other mischiefs are always waiting on her as yok-fellowes You haue already escaped one extreame danger and now are like to fall into a more greater for the one could haue béene but hnrtfull to the body the other hangeth more waity on the soule remember this my son for thy fall will be as grieuous to me as to thy selfe Father said the Prince Beautie is so familiarly welcome into the eyes of all men as you sée they haue no power to escape from her and her delights so agréeable in their hearts likewise as were they of flint she would mooue affection euen so if you did but contemplate the heauenly grace of this beautifull Damosell you could not otherwise chuse but offer your selfe as her humble seruant which if you did refuse to doe I should perswade my selfe that good nature had altogether forsaken you as also I might iudge him very colde in kindnesse that could not be moued by such a forcible motion I see well quoth the Hermit that the pleasure of the flesh makes thee forgetfull of the health of thy soule wherefore I will pray that thou maiest be conuerted in time least thou féele the punishment of thy follie when it will be too late for thée to helpe thy selfe whereto the Prince answered thus I pray you Father tell me can you conquere these earthly delights when you sit wresting many matters in your Study Or wil the looking on your booke abate the secret inflamations of your heart I haue heard of many of your calling and profession that haue laboured to kill that in other which for all their learning hath quickned in themselues and by seeking to draw a throne out of anothers heele haue prickt themselues therwith to the very heart tush father be religious in reason I haue seen an olde Billet burne fresher then a young Bauen and you for all your holinesse if I should inueigh against the secret delight of Loue would take me for an heretique but it is good that I argue to shew my folly and that you allow not to declare your wisedome Well quoth the Hermit I will betake my selfe to my Oratorie and you to your youthfull and worldly pleasure the desert whereof will no doubt in the end reward you And so he went into his Cel making such speed til he had shut the doore after him as if the Giant Brocalon had beene aliue againe and had followed him wherat the knight of the Sauageman laughed heartily then comming vnto the Damosell he began to salute her in these tearmes I could wish faire Lady to be seruant to so kiude a Mistresse if it might as shall like you to allowe me your seruice in sooth I iudge you would like of my behauiour if you doe not I will be content to auoide when it is your pleasure Worthy Sir answered the Damosell I cannot be so much ingratefull for your great good will in defending me when I was in greatest distresse but that to my power I must witnesse some shew of a thankfull minde in mean time I desire to haue your company for these two or thrée dayes till I be out of these places
makes thee thinke none so good as thy selfe so shalt thou learne how to vse thy betters and deale more courteously with the people of this countrey And because I will mooue the mallice the greater against me thou shalt vnderstand that I am he that hath slaine Dalfurnien and Brocalon thy brethren and haue good hope to send thée after them wherefore put thy selfe in a readinesse to entertaine me for I as much disdaine to haue any aduantage of thee as thou proudly thinkest me vnable to deale with thée The Giant extreamely moued to heare the braue language of the Prince began to rage after this manner Thou cruel destroyer of my blood thou maist assure thy selfe to haue in thy presence the greatest enemy vnto thée in the world and therefore shew the vttermost of thy manhood for I carry that hope with me to bathe these hands of mine in thy blood and beside to rent thy cursed heart in péeces and throw it for foode to the Fowles of the aire Then they began a fierce and cruell Combat wherein the Prince so nobly behaue himselfe that the forcible stroakes of the Giant were deliuered te small purpose but at length he perceiuing what subtilty the Prince vsed beganne to strike vere roughly at him so that his swoord was broken in thrée pieces and his body wounded in diuerse places whereat the Damosell was very much displeased doubting least she should now sée the ende of him who had all this while so valiantly defended her The Prince séeing himselfe in danger cast his Shield before him to receiue a mightie stroke which the giant gaue but the blowe lighting on the Shield entred so farre in as he could not pull it out againe which the Prince perceiuing closed with him and driuing him still backward till he came to the Riuers side he strooke his legs from him so that he fell ouer the bancke into the water where with the waightinesse of his fall and his head going forward he brake his necke to the no small ioy of the Damosell as also of the Prince who reioyced he was rid of such an enemy Then mounting on horsebacke they rid againe to the Cell of the olde Hermit for that the Princes woundes were somewhat dangerous in the meane while the Esquires of Baleato returned to the Knights which were in the Castles to giue them vnderstanding of their Masters death how that hee which had slaine his brother Brocalon had now likewise dispatched him When they were come to the Cell the good olde Hermit albeit he was somewhat offended with the Prince yet be receiued him very louingly and on such a poore bed as he had he caused him to lie down vsing such good regard vnto him as within fewe dayes his dangerous estate was well recouered Then did he desire the Prince that he would suffer the Damosell to depart on her iourney giuing her to vnderstand how she might now trauaile without danger for that she knowe her selfe the Giants were both slaine and also he said it stood not with her honest report that she should so kéepe company with a Knight at Armes whose affaires lay in so many sundry places as it was not decent for her nor honour to him to be séene after such effeminate order The Prince was very well content that she should depart albeit the Damosell found her selfe greatly agreeued that he did vse no more estimation of her hauing sealed the Fort of her maidenly honour which none had the power to obtain before neuerthelesse when she saw no remedy but that she was forced to make a vertue of necessity with teares she tooke her leaue of the Prince who feigned himselfe in amourous spéeches very sad and sorrowfull for her departure CHAP. VII How the knights which belouged to the Giants Brocalon and Baleato surrendred vp the Castles vnto the noble knight of the Sauage man And of that which happened to the Prince Florendos after he arriued at the Castle of the Giant Almarol where remained the faire Princesse Miragarda ON the next day following the knights which belonged to the Giants had now intelligence of the death of their Lords whereupon they presently determined with themselues to go sée if the knight of the Sauage man would entertaine them into his fauour for since they had no refuge or defence left them wherin they might repose any hope of assurance they concluded to surrender vp the castles into his hands knowing themselues farre vnable to withhold them from him In this determination they came to the Hermits Cell where they found the knight of y◠Sauage man lying on his bed for that he was not very well disposed they comparing his yong yéeres with the noblenesse of his late exploites receiued great cause of admiration at last he that iudged himselfe to be the hardiest of courage amongst them suddenly entred into these spéeches If I should deny sir knight that Fortune hath entertained you into especiall regard I should séeme very much forgetfull of my selfe in that the puissance of Brocalon and Baleato two Giants reputed of no small courage as by your noble hardinesse brought to vtter confusion therefore this remaineth as a chosen argument that she not onely hath called you into the dignity of her fauour but also that she maintaineth her affection towards you with inestimable bountie let not any then séeme so hardie as to offer a checke or reproofe to your valour for that their best Fortune is vnlike to be equall with yours but let them rather imagine themselues happy if they may deserue the good countenance of so worthy a Champion The due consideration hereof hath constrained vs to enter into such hardinesse as to come and present our selues to your noble mercy this good opinion guided vs that he which hath so worthily ouercome and remaineth in the honour of a famous conquerour will not staine that laudable title by offering discourtesie to those who humble themselues as obedient seruants in signe whereof receiue at our hands the keyes of the Castles which our Lords sometime enioyed and withall receiue the hearty good will and affection of them who remaine onely at your noble comandement to which courteous words the Prince returned this answer Your spéeches are so honest and so well repleate shith ciuill courtesie as I am sorry that my present case will not suffer me to let you vnderstand how thankefully I accept your great gentlenesse but you shall beare me company to the Court of England where I will cause the king my Grandfather to satisfie that which my dishablity will not suffer me Then tooke he the keyes of the Castles wherewith he was very much contented séeing the issue so fortunate where the beginning seemed so doubtfull The knights still kept the Prince company in respect of the honourable promise he had made them wherof they were not a little glad in that they hoped to gaine good fauour in the Court of England where the report of this noble Conquest
she would report to her the welfare of the Princesse Targiana that had so friendly giuen them to vnderstand before of the tidings which were brought thither by the Ambassadour who beiug arriued at Constantinople the Emperour sent the chiefest Princes and knights of his Court to receiue him with very friendly and courteous entertainment but when the Damosell heard that the Ambassadour was come she presently departed thence towards Spaine to go find out the Prince Albayzar promising the Princesse Polinarda to returne by Constantinople before she made her returne into Turkie The Emperour dessred the Damosell to present the message of his good will to the king Recinde as also to the Prince Albayzar and after that he had bestowed diuers rich and costly giftes on her she betooke her selfe to trauaile being verie glad that she was espyed by none of them which came with the Ambassadour who as I haue already declared was receiued in very Princely order not as he were an enemie but as became best the estate of him to whom he was sent who in sooth was of such a noble and vertuous minde as when he should deale roughly and extreamely with his enemies hee would entertaine them as his vowed and professed friends and such was his courtesie to this Ambassadour To the Emperours pallace he was conducted very worthlie riding among the chiefest Princes and knights of the Court and the Emperour himselfe to doe him the greater honour came and receiued him at the gate of his Pallace but the proud Turke would not one vouchsafe to vaile his bonnet or offer any honourable signe to the Emperour such was his malicious stomacke towards him who had in no case offended the Turke his Lord. The Emperour perceiued well the small regard he had of him by the words which the Princesse Targiana had sent him by her Damosell but yet he suffred him to do what he thought best vsing still so great courtesie vnto him as at last he was constrained to shew more decent iesture when he presented the Emperour with a letter from his Lord the Turke the seale thereof was of pure Gold and fastened about with a sumptuous Chaine The Emperor receiued it at his hands very gratiously and hauing viewed the tenour thereof he desired the Turke to go take his rest in his Chamber and the next day he would satisfie him in the occasion of his Ambassage I desire your grace answered the Turk that it may so stand with your pleasure as to make me presently answer without deserâ—ing any furder time which when I haue receiued I will goe â—est my selfe in mine owne Tents which I haue commanded to be prouided for me without the walles of your citie for if I should do otherwise the great Turk my gratious Lord would find himselfe much offended with me the Emperour replyed in this fashion You shall doe what you imagine conuenient in your owne conceit neuerthelesse I should not be any whit agreeued if my Ambassadour did lodge in the Pallace of the great Turke that he might the better fulfill his dutie in the charge committed to him I beséech your grace said the Turk to let these néedlesse spéeches goe and remember your selfe of the hundred Knights of your Court which are held as prisoners by my Lord the Turke and sée that you make some prouision for them for my Lord hauing them in his power to reuenge diuers iniuries which he hath receiued by some of your Subiects he determined to put them to death but to witnesse his gratious and noble nature he is content at the earnest intreatis of his daughter the faire Princesse Targiana to giue them their liues and to restore them in change for the Prince Albayzar who is kept prisoner in the Court of the King of Spaine by the commandement of the Princesse Miragarda But trust me you are to thinke your selfe in no small fauour with the Princesse Targiana whose teares were of such power as to sâ—ue the liues of your knights whom my Lord the Turke had determined you should neuer sée againe vntill your Highnesse had sent him the knight of the Sauage man that he might reuenge the iniurie which he too forgetfull of himselfe committed in carrying away by Sea his daughter Targiana a deed truly worthy of sharpe punishment the Turke there pausing the Emperour tooke occasion to beginne thus Certainly I confesse my selfe greatly bound to the Princesse Targiana but farre more to the faire Princesse Miragarda in that had not her wise foresight beene the greater my Knights had suffered the extreame rigour of death but this I assure you that since cruell Fortune had so throwne the Dyce on mee I rather would haue loste twice so many more as they are then to send your Lord the Turke my Knight of the Sauadge man in the presence of whome here I faithfully promise to deliuer the Prince Albayzar prouided alwayes that you make me sufficient assurance of them whome the Turke holdeth in vnkinde seruitude whereof how I may be certainly perswaded I pray you vouchsafe me the knowledge how and in what manner the case must be ordered The course which you must take in this matter answered the Turke is thus your Maiestie must send vnto my Soueraigne and Lorde the Prince Albayzar vppon his inuiolable Oath which by mee he voweth to you and which you may account of so great and sufficient truth and he will not faile by so great a bond to send you the prince Polendos your sonne with the other Princes and Knightes that are in his companie and this you may be bolde of that my Lorde more willingly would loose his life then falsifie his faith towards your Excellencie The Emperour leaning vpon his arme and noting well the words of the Embassador paused a good space without making any answere which the Prince Florian perceiuing being better acquainted with the infidelitie of the Turkes then the Emperour was and fearing least hee would haue giuen credite to this subtill assurance presently started vp and began as thus Most worthy Emperour if you but consider the cause why the great Turke detayneth your Knights in Prison you shall well perceiue the smal trust you ought to repose in him in that the occasion was so little and the assurance of his troth is much lesse Againe if you suffer the Prince Albayzar to escape vpon his worde you may chaunce sooner then you would to repent your selfe For if you remember his vnfaithfull dealing to the Giant Dramusiande in the time hee kept the Shield of the Princesse Miragarda how contrary to his vowed promise he brought it from the Castle of Almaroll in the night and comming with it into the Court did brauely giue it foorth in speeches that he had woon it by his knightly endeuour which dishonourable dealing he found in the end too costly Therefore it is very necessarie that the King Recinde regard him more carefully then hitherto he hath done in that the libeâ—tle of his person will
fancie preuailed so much with her as he changed her angry moode wherevpon he began as thus You haue no accasion Madame to feare that the knight wil escape from you hauing brought him into such an extreame alteration wherefore I pray you to change this sharpe and seuere humor and reserue his life till you haue brought him vnto your Mother who will take pleasure in séeing him die that hath cut off the flowres of her honourable linage and that we may deliuer him the sooner I thinke it best that wee doe imbarque our selues to goe séeke the Island where she remaineth Albeit my minde was otherwise bent answered Arlencea yet will I not refuse to followe your counsell wherefore I desire you to goe to morrowe morning very earely to the Port and there sée prouided for me a proper Ship for I cannot enioy any quietnesse in that I feare to loose this Knight againe So breaking off her minde Arlencea and the Damosels left the Prince Florian in the Chamber brought into such vnhappy subiection as to suffer and endure the sharpe sentence of his enemies CHAP. XIII Here shall be discouered what and who the Damosell was that thus had gotten the Prince Florian and of that which happened to him during the time of his voyage REmembrance is made in this history that Collambra had no sooner intelligence of the death of the Giants Brocalon and Baleato her Sonnes whom the Prince Florian of the Forrest had slaine but she concluded to couer her griefe practise all the meanes she could deuise or that fortune would present onto her whereby she might be reuenged on him that had done theâ—e muâ—ders for such was the earnestnesse of her damnable and wicked minde as the compassed a thousand horrible inuentions but the immeasurable rage wherein she was continually would not suffer her to determine certainely of any thing Herevpon she came into an Island somewhat nearer where she had good hope to finde succour and aide in her preâ—ent purpose by the meanes of an auncient Knight named Alfarnao who had béene nourished long time by her husband and made his aboade within that Island hauing very great knowledge in the acte of Nigromancy and a man altogether brought vp in subtill and craftie deuises hée hearing the continuall complaints that Collambra made was mooued to take compassion on her so that he promised to helpe her in any thing hée could possible to take reuengement on the knight of the Sauage man whome hée knewe by his arte to be in the Court of Constantinople wherevpon he came to Collambra vsing to her these spéeches Madame if so be it shall like you to follow my counsell I dare promise to make you forgoe this extreame griefe wherewith you are accompanied wherto Collambra thus replied I would not haue come to you from so farre off if I had not perswaded my selfe on your assured friendship for the good opinion I conceiued of you did cause me to addresse my voyage hither being altogether minded to follow your friendly counsell Since I perceiue good Madame said Alfernao that you repose so great assurance on my fidelity you shall perceiue what a platforme I haue laid for you It is so that the knight of the Sauage man is at this present in the Court of the Emperour of Greece his grandfather where he is growne so amorous in loue that he intendeth not to depart of a long time from Constantinople and he hath made himselfe so aduenturous in promise onely for the loue of his swéete Saint as he will not forsake the greatest danger wherein any one shall haue occasion to vse him Vpon this I am determined to goe to the Court where hée now remaineth and there prostrating my selfe before the emperour in spéeches very sad and pittifully couched beside no teares shall want to grace the matter I will earnestly request of his Maiesty that it may be his pleasure to succour me in affaires of great importance whereout it is impossibly for me to escape or also helpe my selfe whereout the aide of one of his best Knights euen he that is esteemed the hardiest amongst them all I wil desire that I may haue no other but onely him This request I know hée will not denie me shaddowing my intent with such behauiour of vertue as I can well enough so that he will present mée his Nephew Florian in that he is estéemed the most Noble and valiant amongst you all and hauing once gotten him I will conduct him to a Castle which is vpon the frontiers of Greeece and Hungarie where abydeth the Ladie Arlencea your onely Daughter vnto whom I wâ— make knowne the horrible shame which this Knight hath doone her and that shee ought to take sharpe vengeance on him who hath offered her so great and famous iniurie for without her aide I shall not so easily execute the summe of my enterprise But you must not forget to deliuer mee your King which hath the power to depriue the sences of any man if once he put the â—ame vpon his finger and this King will I cause one of the Damosels attendant on your daughter to put into the hands of this Knight which he will presently put on his finger and then will not I faile to bring him to you to receyue such due reward as you shall thinke your selfe sufficiently contented withall Collambra ioyfvlly returned this answere My deare friend Alfernao I know well that the remedy of my passed trauells and the vengeance for my children lyeth altogether in you which if you accomplish as I know you can I shall thinke my selfe for euer beholding to you and well you may perswade your selfe that you doe bestow your paines for her who will not shew her selfe ingratefull towards you but as I intend to follow your aduise so will I compasse some meane or other that may declare my thankfulnesse Then Collambra did presently prepare a Ship wherein her Daughter was embarqued accompanyed with foure Damosells and as many Knightes the Winde and Sea seruing them so well as in fewe dayes they tooke Landing on a plaine not farre from the Castle which the ancient Knight Alfernao had named to the Damosell Arlencea wherein hee left her with her companie and tooke his way to the Court of the Emperour of Greece from whence by the subtill meanes you haue hearde before hee brought the Prince Florian of the Forrest whome hée deliuered into the Castle where this Arlencea the Damosell Giant made her abode and how hee was vsed there you haue hearde declared alreadie Nowe come wee to the place where wée left giuing to vnderstand that the Auncient Knight on the next morning had prouided a Coatch wherein with as much speede as could be they poasted to a Porte of the Sea fearing least by the way the Knight of the Sauadge-man would be knowne of some but after Arlencea was imbarqued with this good Knight the Marryners hoysed theyr Sayles and hauing a pleasant gale of winde they
the Prince Platir answered the Esquire thus Trust me my friend I cannot thinke it méete to receiue thy Maisters armor which we thanke him for that he would so courteously send vs because I carry this mind with me that it is better for vs to loose our liues without his aid them hauing his armour to fall into his hands vanquished for our armour his not so much spoyled but we may very well endure the triall of this Combate wherefore we will trie our Fortune in this armor we haue considering skill must be vsed as well as defence which if we imploy as we ought there is no doubt but we shall haue the victory I am content to follow the aduise of Platir said Berolde And since you find it so conuenient quoth the Sage Aliart me thinkt it were good the messenger returned backe to his Maister and let him vnderstand that he may come when please him into the field I reioyce greatly saide the Esquire in the counsell of this young knight that you will not take this Armor which my Lord the Giant sendeth you therefore let him that hath the aduantagr boast of his winning in the end Thus the Esquire departed into the Castle of Collambra againe giuing the Giant to vnderstand what the Knights had said whereat he fumed and fretted greaely to sée what disdaine these Christian knights made of him wherevpon he tooke his leaue of his Sister in this maner Madame I pray you abide at this window all the while the Combate endureth for I shall be greatly iniuried if I want your presence So departing he went vnto his Couzins who were all in blacke armor conformable to their griefe and sorrow and bearing for their deuices in their shéelds the portraitures of Brocalon and Baleato their Couzins figured in a field of Sable they promising neuer to change their deuises vntill they had reuenged the death of the Giants the sons of Collambra who were déerely beloued of their vnckle the Giant Espouuantable With them he tooke his way to the place appointed for the combate the people reioycing when they saw him comming with his Couzins who were in stature able to deale with sixe such as the thrée knights were which made the Giant to ride very merily perswading himselfe that the knight of the Tiger and his companions should loose their liues in the field that day then comming somwhat néere them he began to vse these words In sooth my friends it were better for you to yéeld your selues then to abide the terrour of my combate Not so sir answered the Knight of the Tiger but albeit thy arcogant pride should séeme to fray vs in these peoples iudgements we are content to abide the vttermost not doubting God aiding vs but to bring downe thy haughty stomacke and these likewise that beare thée company Vpon these words the Giant ran against the knight of the Tiger and his Cozins against the other knights that the trampling of the horses made the earth to groane and they were not so quicke and spéedy in their course but the knight of the Tiger and his companions were as nimble as they méeting so brauely in the middest of the Carrire where the Giant broke his lance on the Prince Palmerins shéeld with so great force as he was constrained to catch hold on the mane of his horse otherwise he had fallen beside him neuerthelesse the Giant was cast out of his Saddle with great violence against the ground whereat he was maruailously offended but the knight of the Tiger reioyced that he had broken his lance so well The other six knights were all likewise dismounted except the Prince Flatir who kept his Saddle still yet was the charge so rough vpon him as he had almost borne his fellowes company but that he recouered himselfe gallantly hauing lost both his stirreps The knight of the Tiger séeing the Giant comming towards him cast himselfe beside his horse quickly because he feared the Giant would haue kiled his horse then being on his féete he spake to the Giant thus Content thy selfe a while thou counterfeit Monster and let thy Cozins procéede in that they haue enterprised for they that deale with him are such as they shall find sufficient to abate their lofty minds and after they haue tried their fortune because we will not hinder them neither do they the like to vs thou and I will quickly decide our controuersie when do not doubt but thou shalt perceiue the little regard I haue of thée and the vttermost thou canst doe I sée well answered the Giant that because thou hadst so good fortune to dismount me it makes thee so bold to speake thus brauely but I receiue greater contentment thē thou canst deuise to see thee here in this place where at mine owne pleasure I shall giue thee punishment and with my sword repay the shame of my fall Then drew he his sword forth of the scabbard saying to the Prince that he had caused that weapon to be made onely to take reuenge therewithall for the death of his Couzins Brocalon and Baleato with these words he ran fiercely on the Knight of the Tiger and gaue him such cruell and forcible stroakes as had he not defended them worthily his life would haue bene in great danger Verie rigorous was the blowes the Giant gaue the prince so that most part of his shield was cut in peeces and he had very little left to award his enemy and a great while it was before he could wound the Giant yet at length he gained such opportunitie as he wounded him grieuously in three or foure places which made the Giant to faint and waxe somewhat wearie both with the great losse of his blood and also with his extreame sweating and chafing to see himselfe so hardly matched by one knight but all his fretting the prince regarded not he followed his intent so worthily and redoubled stroake after stroake so roughly vpon him as the Giant was constrained to retire to take breathing awhile The knight of the Tiger was not sorry therat for that he as gladly desired rest of the giant though not by any such extreame occasion considering also he desired to see how his three friends continued the fight with the giants three Couzins who in sooth were brought to such a narrow point as they had not the power to defend their enemies for they both had and did charge them so worthily as the Prince did much delight himselfe in beholding them they being so couragious nimble and quicke as they were at the beginning of the Combate But the Prince Platir dealt so gallantly with him that was his enemy as he had the general praise and was iudged worthy the honour of that day aboue his other two companions The Giant beholding his Couzins in such danger and himselfe to haue lost the most part of his blood likewise that he had such a strong and puissant enemy his heart began to faint but because he would not haue them
with mine own poore house where it liked you to accept a lodging and whereof I pray you to dispose as your owne alwayes at commaundement and to thinke of me who during my life time vowe my selfe your humble vassaile and obedient Subiect The people hearing the wordes of Argentao who was a Christian Knight one of very good life and alwaies a great enemy to the Giants did very well allow to accept him for their gouernour promising generatly before the Prince that they would honour him with dutifull loue and obedience The Prince Palmerin sent to call the Sage Aliart commaunding Siluian to stay the meane while in the Shippe who being come thither and entred into the Ship he was presently taken with exceeding feare when he beheld the ougly frowning countenaunce of Collambra which he iudged as ill fauoured as the report went of Espouuantable her Brother whom the people of that countrey thought to be inuincible before they saw him so nobly conquered by the valiant Palmerin of England Siluian hauing declared the pleasure of his Lord the Sage Aliart presently departed to the Citie and being come to the Princes his friendes hee found them determining to send to Constantinople the Esqurer of the Prince Berolde who was named Albanis willing him to depart thence with the Ship and to present the Emperour of Greece with the newes of this happy victory in that Island also to deliuer to his Maiesty the Giantesse Collambra When they had concluded on the Esquiers message he departed from them to the Ship to Collambra when the Pilot hoysing his Sayles and the winde seruing them very gallantlie they rode on at pleasure and cut the Seas with maruellous expedition But the Prince Palmerin peceiuing that his thrée friends had written their mindes to them they best thought on he was sorry that he had done as much neuerthelesse he thought it not fit he should venture so boldly to commit his secrets to any one else sauing his friend Siluian Then to driue fancies out of his mind he desired his friends to beare him company in visiting the Isle whereto they willingly consented and Argentao caused two of the Giants Foists to be put in a readinesse wherein he and the principall Lords of the Island bare them company in riding about the Island After they had séene the most part of the Profound Isle they came to another which was called the Perillous Isle being very well peopled and fortified with a number of goodly Towers and Castles of no small riches that the noblest Prince in the world could not wish for a more stately gouernment Argentao who was very well acquainted with the customes and maners of that Island gaue them to vnderstand the rare singularities thereof desiring them not to thinke it strange that they saw the people so scant and they that were there so fearefull for it was the extreame cruelty of the Giant Brauorant that made them forsake their houses looking euery houre when they shold be put to the Sword These knights receiued great pleasure in beholding these two Islandes and so they rowed about vntill it was the next day in the morning when then came they to the place as you may reade in the first part of this History where Palmerin went on shore to end a strange aduenture there they landed and mounted on their Horses to get vp on the high Rocke but the way was so narrow and the Rocke so steepe as they were faine to alight againe and giuing their horses to their Esquires they went vp the Rocke on foote after one another But before they were come to the place where Palmerin found the Monument with these letters engrauen thereon Take heed thou passe no further they were so weary as they were glad to mount on their Horses againe and so in short time they attained the top of the rocke where they rested themselues being abashed to see such a huge mountaine But when Argentao and the thrée knights were come to the Fountaine they had then a greater cause of astonishment then any they had séene as yet for their they saw monstrous huge Beastes like vnto them which Palmerin flew when they would not suffer him to drinke of the water and I assure you that these Beasts were so cunningly and artificially framed as one wold haue iudged them to be aliue they made such a vigorons and fearefull shew being chained by the neckes with the selfe same chaines as they were whom Palmerin by his noble valour discomfited This rare and ingenious figure declared what great study and practise Vrganda compassed to leaue such a strange edifice in remembrance of her knowledge Palmerin seeing this rare monument to surpasse all that euer he had séene before suspected that the Sage Aliart had done it by his Art to cause them wonder at it Wherefore he desired that he would satisfie him whether it be so or no the Sage Aliart made this answer My Lord she which inuented the aduenture of this fountaine did will that he which was so happy to atchieue the honour thereof should be recompeuced according to his worthy deserts and to leaue to all postericies a perpetual remembrance of him she ordained that these cruell beasts which are framed in the naturall shapes of them which you slew should remaine still in this place to the end that they which chance to come into this Island may render continual laude and commendation to your worthy prowesse Yet thinking this not sufficient enough to your prayse she caused to be erected the portraitures of those knights which belonged to the Enchantnesse Eutropa and whom you worthily brought vnder your obeysance they being liuely carued in marble of the same height and proportiō as they were and here they are figured defending their shields which you may yet sée hanging on their seuerall Pillers euen in the same manner as they were when you fought for them before this Island was conquered And for the Isle it selfe it sometime belonged to the Sage Vrganda to whom you must thinke your selfe greatly beholding séeing that by her meanes your noble déedes remaine registred for perpetuall memorie Certainely answered Berolde I cannot deny but he must néedes iudge himselfe well fauoured of her yet ought we to regard him the more who had the power to end such a perillous aduenture and I may say to you that some would make them as fearefull as these Beastes made by Arte because they giue shewe of such rauenous crueltie as they would of them which were one here aliue Doe you not sée said Platir the poesie engrauen on this Piller which doth inuite vs to drinke at this Fountaine And then the letters which are within commaundeth vs to defend our selues trust me since the danger is awarranted by the Prince Palmerin I will yet sée further into this aduenture With these words he approached to the Fountaine and hauing drunke of the water commended the swéetenesse thereof aboue all other waters Argentao and they of the
very louingly and vsed such gratious courtesie towards him as he did vnto the Prince Primaleon his son as well for that he had bin brought vp in his Court as also because he was the sonne of his owne sister and the hardy Frisoll king of Hungaria his brother and especiall good friend As he continued this fauorable vsage to Belcar Onistalde son to the King Recinde and his owne sonne Polendos came and knéeled downe before him then leauing Belcar he returned to them very gratiously declaring in the sight of euery one his incomparable beauty so departing from the Port he walked with them on foote towards the pallace refusing to mount on horsebacke his mind was busied with such excéeding ioy as well for the recouery of them as for the Princely commendations Targiana had sent him whō he had now proued his speciall friend The Prince Primaleon went in the middest betwéene Belcar and Onistalde and the other Prince and knights came louingly cōmuning with their friends in which order they all followed the Emperour who being no sooner come to the Pallace but there he found the Empresse accompanied with her ladies attending their comming at the outtermost Gate she hauing giuen the knights her amiable welcome the Emperour commanded they should be brought to their chambers for that their great trauaile on the Seas required some rest The Princes were conducted into the Emperors chamber according as it was the custome for those whom he estéemed at their arriuall and they were scant out of the great hall when they perceiued to enter a Turkish Esquire who coming before the Emperor began to salute him with these words My gratious Lord Almaneor Ambassador from the great Turk commanded me to let your maiestie vnderstand that he is loth as yet to take landing fearing lest he should hinder the pleasure your highnesse conceiueth séeing your knights so safely returned he being come with them and hath here sent them vnto your maiestie wherefore he desireth you would not iudge amisse of him in that he hath done and if so be he haue in ought mooued offence to your Highnesse he will to morrow morning come and be sorie for it when he wil make you acquainted with the summe of his ambassage which will cause you to loose part of the contentment which at this present your knights hath animated you withall Certainely my friend answered the Emperour I am sorry that I did not make more remembrance of him but let him commit the fault to my knights with whom I will enioyne in making amends againe to morrow because I shall sée him to day he being willing to rest himselfe this night in his galley The esquire departed with this courteous answere of the Emperor who taking the Empresse by the hand withdrew themselues into their chamber where they passed the night with greater contentment then they had done of many daies before But when faire Phoebus in the morning had displayed his golden face on the earth the Empresse walked to the Chappell to heare seruice the Emperour and the knights being farre behind her and seruice being ended they all dined with the Empresse in her chamber for that she had determined to feast Polendos Belcar Onistalde and the other Princes who were serued at dinner with maruellous great state The Tables being withdrawne the Emperor commanded the principall knights of his court to goe welcome on land the great Turkes Ambassadour to whom he would shew himselfe honourable as well for that he would not be thought vngreatefull hauing recouered home againe his knights as also to vnderstand the will of the great Turke Polendos Belcar and the rest of them that had béene prisoners went foremost to receiue him on shoare because they would not haue him thinke that they had forgotten the kindnesse he shewed them on the Seas where Primaleon was somewhat displeased because his nature could not suffer him to vse such kindnesse towards them he knewe his professed enemies Polendos with his company being come to the Port hée with such as he thought good tooke a Barge and went aboord the Galley to the Ambassador and brought them on shore with them very nobly with such a noise of drums phifes trumpets clarians as the Turkes wondred at this royall entertainment The Ambassador nothing the great courtesie of Polendos who was diligent in shewing him the greatest honour might be knew very well that this excéeding humanitie came from him that was their Lord and gouernor wherevpon he considered that a Prince so wel beloued of all as the Emperour Palmerin was should finde more friends to aid him in his necessity then enemies to molest him All this while the Emperor attended the Ambassadors comming to the Empresse chamber accompanied with his sonne Primaleon and many Princes and Knights of his Court and the Ambassador who was the same man that came before to request in the great Turks name the fréedome of Albayzar in change of those Princes that were prisoners in Turkie being in the Presence of the Emperour made him such humble reuerence as his Maiestie well deserued and not vsing any such proude behauiour as he did at his first comming to Constantinople The emperor welcommed him very gratiously desiring him not to be offended because he did not accept of him y◠day before according as willingly he would haue done Most worthy Emperour sayd the Ambassadour I am not of so small discretion but I knew well how busie you were yesterstay in receiuing home them whō you haue so long looked for but letting these néedlesse matters passe I must request to know your highnes minde as concerning the libertie of the prince Albayzar whom you would not sende to the great Turke my Lord for that you doubted he would not sende home them whom he kept as prisoners As touching the deliuerance of them my Lord hath bin so hardy as to trust to your gentlenes onely at the intreatie of his daughter Targiana hée hauing no assurance for the Prince Albayzar his daughters husband but onely the word of her who is your great friend desireth that you would now send home her beloued Lord Albayzar of whom the great Turke himselfe willed not me to vse any spéech hauing ioyned me to speake of those things which will but little please you in the hearing them the Emperour returned him this answer I know not what the great Turke your Lord hath determined to make me acquainted withal but I am so accustomed to doubtfull occasions as let his mallice stretch neuer so far and his deuises purchase what scope he can yet haue they no power to make me feare But for the Princesse Targiana I am to thinke my selfe highly in her debt in that her earnest intreatie wonne the libertie of knights and surely it gréeueth me that her father would be so enuious towards me who would with all my heart haue his daughter againe in my Court that I might recompence some part of her gentlenesse she hath vsed
imaginations Arlencea who was marnailously affected towards him seeing her companions were all fast asleepe went to the place where the Prince Florian was laid where sitting downe by his side she began to fall into these spéeches It séems to me most worthie knight of the Sauage man that the iniury which I heretofore haue done you doth as yet remain fresh in your memory in that you make no account of her who liueth and dieth onely for your loue And that I speake the truth you may be perfectly resolued in that without regard of mine owne honour I come to séeke you out the cause being this that my intreatie might moue you pittie her who preferreth the loue of none aliue but you which courtesie if you shall seeme to refuse my conceite of griefe will be so extreame as I must needs giue entertainment to my latest enemy who will set both soule and body in quietnesse when you that might haue comfort of both remaine dease and will make no account of me So breaking off she laid her head on the Princes breast fetching so many grieuous sighes and groanes as though the life would haue forsaken her body whereupon the Prince tooke her in his armes and with very amiable speeches though not such as she gladly looked for he began to comfort her thus Madame Arlencea I do not so little esteeme of you that I would willingly consent to doe the thing which should seeme displeasant or offensiue to your honour desiring you to thinke that before I was so much bound to you as now I am I inteÌ„ded to accomplish that which your selâ—e desireth but since the time that your great fauour deliuered me out of the daunger whereinto Alfernao brought me I forsooke altogether the folly of so vaine a humor being loath to reward her so vngently whose courtesie neither time nor death can make me forget And thus perswade your selfe that I haue prouided a husband for you according as your noble bountie doth well deserue yea he is so good a Knight as you will refuse to make choyse of the Knight of the Sauage man whom you may at all times vse as your friend and seruant There pausing he kissed her hand and brought her again to the place where the other Ladies sleyt and he departing againe to his owne lodging she began to be ashamed of her folly noting well the wittie words of the Knight of the Sauage man for whose loue she was so extreamely passioned as she was coÌ„strained to discouer the flame that did so torment her to one of her Damoselles the very same that gaue the fatall ring to the prince To her she ripped vp her whole discourse of the words which had passed that night desiring her earnestly with the teares trickling down her chéekes that she would giue her such assistance as she might enioy the loue of the Knight of the Sauage man the Damosell answered her Lady thus Trust me Madame you haue not any occasion to finde your selfe agréeued for by good reason the Knight ought not to satisfie your will in that such a Prince as he is ought not to trauell himselfe for Damoselles and then to receiue shame and dishonour by them but yet to content your minde and because you thinke me willing to doe you what pleasure I can I will goe to the knight and vse such friendly perswasions with him as I will vnderstand the depth of his intent Arlencea imbraced the Damosell for this genile answere and spake to her againe in this manner I know well my swéete wench that if I shall haue any remedie in this case I must enioy it by thy meanes wherefore I pray thée goe and fortune be with thée But if it come so to passe as neither perswasion nor any thing else will mooue him to loue me I pray thee intreate him that he would pardon the fault I committed in disturbing him of his quiet ease Madame said the Damosell repose yourselfe altogether on me and so she went to the Knight of the Sauage man whom she found in a slumber when sitting downe by him she began in this manner Me thinkes that he which enforceth Ladies to liue in sorrow because he wil vse no more regard vnto them ought not so easily to take his rest The Knight of the Sauage man hearing the voyce of a woman opened his eyes and séeing it was not Arlencea but the Damosell whom he loued best amongst them all he beganne friendly to embrace her giuing her better words then he did to the Giantesse her Lady whervpon the Damosell beganne to him thus againe Syr Knight I desire that you would vouchsafe to tell me what is the cause you make no more account of my Ladies loue séeing she hath for your sake forsaken her mother forgotten the cruell murdering her Brother and likewise hath lost the libertie of her selfe Madame answered the prince I feare I shall not haue time enough to discourse the whole matter to you because it is now vpon this point of day wherefore I intend to set Madame Arlencea a part a while and demaund of you for what occasion you haue forgotteÌ„ me séeing I remaine yours in affection since the day that Alfernao deliuered me into the power of your Lady Arlencea I pray you Syr said the Damosel that you would not be offended at my nicenesse all this while it was but onely to auoid the malice of my Lady in her abscence I pray you thinke so wel on me as you may be pleased for my displeasing you and I haue the better will to come to mooue my Ladies sute againe The Knight of the Sauage man hearing her courteous answer and that he might now breake a Launce in the face of Venus he tooke her in his armes but because the day came on apace and they vnwilling that any should sée their secret pleasure I durst not sée what they did for feare I should be shent for my labour CHAP. XXIIII Of that which happened to the Damosels Knight in going to the Castle of Almaroll VPon the point of day breaking the Damosell gaue her Ladie Arlencea to vnderstand the answere of the K. of the Sauage man the prince séeing the Ladies walking came and gaue them all the mornings courtesie afterward when they were all mounted on horseback they beganne to set forward on their iourney and because Arlencea was somewhat mooued with her euill Fortune that night past which the P. perceiued very well he came vnto her and vsed such kinde and gentle language to her as in a while she forgot the cares which had troubled her so much The Prince began to deuise pleasantly with the foure Damosels he woonne in the Forrest and iested with them in such merry conceites as the iourney séemed nothing troublesome vnto them but this pleased not Polyphemia who was the Damosell that Arlencea sent to mooue her sute to the Prince for she thought that shée deserued better countenance at his hands then all the
say vnto you that it was no small griefe vnto him since fortune would not present him with any especial occasion whereby he might declare the good will he bare you neuerthelesse he desired you very humbly that you would make acceptance of this his first seruice though it be not of so great estimation as your singularitie deserues And now I remaine to know in what cause it shall like you to imploy me that I may doe you seruice Albayzar being well knowne in the Emperors court great ioy was made on all side for his arriual and the Emperor himselfe was very well pleased to sée him come in so good disposition for the good regard he had of the Princesse Targiana his Lady whose vertuous deserts had bound him to be very carefull of Albayzars health prosperity and safe deliuerance The Princesse of Thrace arose and taking Albayzar by the hand spake thus vnto him I pray you Sir Albayzar to doe what it shall please the Emperour to command you which I iudge will be nothing hurtfull vnto you séeing the great desire he hath to reioyce the Princesse Targiana with your presence Albayzar tooke in very good part the gentlenesse which the Princesse of Thrace vsed towards him and hauing giuen her hearty thankes for her courtesie he came and saluted the Empresse and the Princesse Gridonia afterward he came to the Emperour who taking him in his armes entred into these spéeches I assured am Sir Albayzar that the Soldane Olorique your Father receiued more great contentment when I imbraced him then I can doe yet am I desirous to doe you all the honour you can as well from the friendship I beare to your father as to recompence some part of the great courtesie which I haue receiued by the Princesse Targiana your espoused Lady who may commaund any thing she shall thinke good in my court and I am sory that you cannot perswade your selfe how you may doe as much My gracious Lord answered Albayzar I am not of so simple vnderstanding but I can well perceiue what great honour you haue alwayes offoorded me but yet I cannot forget the shame I receiued here in your Court when I was vanquished and likewise how you haue not done Iustice to the Prince Florian for the iniury he offered the Princesse Targiana albeit the great Turke her Father requested it at your hands which is no more but right and Iustice and which you daily permit to euery one but kindred preuaileth so in you towardes him as you will not heare what Iustice calleth for I sée well then said the Emperour that reason cannot preuaile with you I certifie you once more yet that the princesse Targiana came hither more on her owne good will then compelled or enforced therto by Florian of the Forrest my Nephew But referring this talke because it is not to be vsed among friends I pray you imagine your selfe welcome and goe rest your selfe in your Chamber while the Gallies be prouided which haue expected here your comming since my sonne Polendos and the other Knights arriued at Constantinople My Lord said Albayzar I take the time so commodious for mée now to saile as I will not vse so good opportunitie and therefore I intend to stay no longer in this Countrey Eeuen as please you for that answered the Emperor it is not méet that I should disswade him that is so resolute The ambassador who had staied there all this while came very reuerently to the Prince Albayzar and to hold that the Gallies were ready the Sea in good case and the winde very well for their voyage The Prince Albayzar tooke his leaue of the Emperor the Empresse and her Ladies and being accompanied with the princes Primaleon Polendos Belcar the Giant Dramusiande and others they came to the Port where the Galleys lay but the Giant Dramusiande séeing the small account Albayzar made of the Princes that bare him company he spake vnto him in this manner I sée well Albayzar that the Emperor is worthy to be blamed for shewing honour to such an vnthankefull person as you are who seemes not to regard the Prince Primaleon he at his Fathers request coÌ„ming to grace you with his company albeit he needed not to abase himselfe so much Tush Sir answered Albayzar it is long since I knew the small good will thou couldest allow me but this I tell thée that a noble mind disdaineth familiarity to them whom he accouÌ„teth for his better enemies and thus thou maist perswade thy selfe that I am an enemy to all of the Emperors Court and so thou maist tell him from me wherefore then should I vse any courtesie to the Prince Primaleon to whom I will shewe the very worst I can Wherefore sir Dramusiande grieue not to see me behaue my selfe as I doe among mine enemies for I promise you I will returne with as much expeditions as I can to witnesse before the walles of his Citie that which I haue at this houre in my minde I could wish saide Dramusiande that thou hast béene there where thou wouldst be and wert returned hither againe that I might reuenge the iniurie thou didst me when thou wast so bold as to cary away the shield of the princesse Miragarda Albayzar was about to make him answere but the Prince Primaleon tooke DramusiaÌ„de by the hant with the other knights returned to the pallace where they gaue the Emperor to vnderstand what good will the Prince Albayzar bare him The Gallies being launced into the déepe the Marriners hoyâ—ed their sayles hauing their wind so at will as in short time they reached the great Caire where the great Turke made his abode who iudged that the Emperour Palmerin would be offended for the had entertainement he gaue his Knights But when he had knowledge of the arriuall of the Galleys he was so ioyfull as he came himselfe to receiue the Prince at the hauen being not desirous to question of the Emperors honest vsage towards him for then he feared least his owne intent of treason would reprooue him Albayzar remained a certaine time in the great Turkes Court attending the comming of the principall estates of Babilon whom he would haue there preseÌ„ted at the second solemnizing of his marriage which was honoured with the presence of the Soldane of Persia the King of Bythinia the King of Gasplia the King of Terbifonde beside many other Princes and Knights who concluded all together to passe the Seas and lay siege to the citie of Constantinople and because they would the more suddainely execute their intent they seuerely returned into their dominions to make preparation for their traiterous enterprise CHAP. XXXI Of that which happened to the Knight of the Tiger after he was departed from the Perillous Isle taking his iourney towards the Citie of Constantinople THe Knight of the Tiger of whom our History hath beene silent along time entred the Foyst with Argentao the Gouernour of the ProfouÌ„d Isle at what time the wind was so
deliuered out of the grieuous passions wherein I haue long time remained for you shall vnderstand that the Knight whom you haue conquered is the very same that flew my brother Doriell for whose death the King my father liueth in extreame heauinesse The knight of the Tiger marking her words spake in this order to his friend Siluian I sée wel it is more dangerous to fall into the hands of a woman who is desirous of vengeance then to deale with a hundred good and hardy knights Wherefore I pray thée take my horse a while and I will goe sée if by my entreatance his life may be saued Then came he to the Bridge and desired the Knight of the Bull that would not offer the knight any more cruelty and turning to the Princesse Armisia he saluted her with these spéeches Madame if any anciant enmitie causeth you to desire the death of this Knight I pray you admit to memorie that a Lady of so great calling as you are ought not to be void of lenitie and pittie and chiefely at such a time when you haue most power to execute the extremitie of your will And if my reasons be not sufficient to appease your anger I pray you yet consider with your selfe that no persons vse crueltie where they may shew pittie but they repent themselues afterward when their collericke moode is ouerblowne and past The honest and vertuous language of the knight of the Tiger had not the power to mooue any pittie in the Princesse Armisia but she commanded the knight of the Bull that he should cut off the head of her enemie then the Prince gaue her these wordes I promise you Madame if neither pittie nor perswasion may preuaile with you I will stand such an eye-sore in your way my selfe as you shall not execute your malicious humour I would with all my heart said the Knight of the Bull that it might please the Princesse to grant this knight his life but since you presume so boldly to defend him I will not refuse albeit I am so sore wounded to let you vnderstand that you neither can nor shall hinder me in fulfilling what my Lady hath commanded The knight of the Tiger did not vse these wordes to the end that hee would enter the Combate with Pompides but onely to change the rigorous humour of Armisia and because he saw the Knight in such danger But such was the cruell minde of the Princesse as shée continued still in one song calling for the head of the vanquished knight Adraspe who with the great expence of his blood and griefe to sée the wreakefull will of Armisia ended his life while the knight of the Tiger and Pompides were preparing themselues to the Combat Armisia séeing Adraspes was dead could not be yet contented therewith because his head was not smitten off as she commanded Wherefore because Pompides did not accomplish what she willed him shée flang away in a furie and went into her Chamber Pompides who was brought into great extremitie for her loue did so grieue at her departure as he was constrained to set him downe vpon the bridge but the knight of the Tiger perceiuing his heauines tooke pitty on him and came to comfort him which Pompides séemed to disdaine because he iudged that his presence procured his misfortune Siluian séeing his maister not returne came walking with his horse before the bridge whom Pompides hauing espied he knew presently that the knight of the Tiger was the renowed Palmerin of England in which perswasion for the great ioy hee conceiued he came to him with these words I am well assured my gratious Lord that the comfort I receiued at this present instant will deface and extinguish all my former mishaps Palmerin tooke off his Helmet and hauing imbraced Pompides beganne to perswade him in good hope of his Lady who had no sooner forgotten her anger but shee reprooued her selfe of great vnkindnesse and then shee sent to intreate Pompides that he would pardon her and if so it were his pleasure to bring the knight into her house with him whoō she saw so familiar with him Pompides vnderstanding the will of the Princesse took his brother by the hand and walked into his Chamber where when they were vnarmed the Princesse came her selfe to visit them entring into these spéeches to the knight of the Tiger I beséech you Sir knight to excuse me in that I made no more account of your honest and courteous words for I assure you the great danger wherein I was at that instant would not suffer me to regard any perswasion whatsoeuer but onely to reuenge my selfe on my cruell enemy And because you shal not conceiue any ill opinion of me I will tell you for what cause I enuied the Knight so much You shall vnderstand Sir that I am the daughter of Meliadus the king of Scots in whose Court Adraspe the eldest son to the Duke of Sizana whom Pompides hath slaine beganne to waxe very amourous of me but because I knew him to bée one of very bad conditions I made no regard of his earnest suite Neuerthelesse he was so importunate and voyde of reason as he would not be answered Wherupon I was constrained to complaine to the Prince Doriell my Brother of whom when Adraspe perceiued himselfe to bee hated and despised he practised which way he might best be reuenged on him and following his secret trayterous intent it was not long after before he had the opportunitie for to execute his mallicious stomacke It so chanced that one day my brother and he had appointed to walke abroade together when Adraspe being priuily armed and hauing at hand such as prouided for his purpose he slew my Brother whose death the King my father could not accomplish to reuenge because hée should then deale with one of the chéefest Princes of his Realme and his best assured friend Yet was not his heart frée from continuall vexation in respect that nature could not otherwise chuse which I pittying and willing to assist my father to the vttermost I could I left the Court and caused this house to be erected in this place which being the chiefest passage in all this Realme I enterprised to haue some valiant Knight defend this Birdge promising to marry with him if he could be so happie as to kill Adraspe And he as he was alwayes accustomed bearing a proude and loftie minde would oftentimes come to show himselfe here onely to vexe me with the remembrance of my Brothers death and still hee would Combatte with my Knights being euermore so fortunate as to vanquish and kill them But after the knight of the Bull tooke this charge vpon him Adraspe who had heard of his noble prowesse remained two moneths before he could come hither againe yet at the last came to trie his Fortune against the Knight of the Bull who hath depriued him of his life as you sée and satisfied my wil that made me to ordaine this custome Madamy
strength to defend you against me So without any more words he strooke at the Prince with his Mace who put his Shield before him to resist the stroke which was so rigorous as his Shield flewe in two pieces the Prince was somewhat offended hereat wherefore drawing his sword he gaue the Giant such a blowe on the arme as afterward he could hardly strike to any great purpose The Damosell remaining still in extreame feare by the cruell intreatance the Gigant had vsed to her would haue departed to hide her selfe in the Forrest because she iudged the Knight of the Tiger vnable to subdue her enemy which Siluian perceiuing came vnto her and counselled her to see the end of the Combat wherevpon she gaue him these words I pray you gentle esquier and my friend that you would not séeme to hinder me for this Giant nay rather a Deuill whose force none is found able to resist will assuredly put me to death after that he hath slaine your maister I would yet said Siluian that you would stay to sée the ende of the fight for peraduenture it may happen otherwise then you expect The knight of the Tiger who was destitute of a Shield to auoid the cruell strokes of his strong enemy behaued himselfe so politiquely and nimbly as hee lent the Giant many sore blowes who was cōstrained because he could not lift his mace in his right hand to vse his left thinking yet to deale well enough with the Knight of the Tiger but the Prince was so fierce vpon him hauing giuen him many grieuous and mortall wounds as his heart began to faile him so that he retired not able to resist so many waighty strokes neuertheles the prince séeing he had almost brought him to buy let flie still so fiercely on him as he could not haue the meane to charge him againe The Giant perceiuing himselfe in such extremitie leaned his backe against a Trée when he defended himselfe a great while so well that the Prince could hardly reach to hurt him hee waged fight euery way so precisely with his Mace which hee held in both his hands watching the time when he might giue the Prince such a stroke as he willingly would The knight of the Tiger he might not preuaile against the Giant without hazarding his person in great danger he went and rested himselfe against a Trée like wise which when the Giant beheld he spake vnto him in this order I pray thee Sir Knight let me find so much friendship at thy hands as to let me vnderstand what is thy name because I haue euermore thought that no ten of the best knights on the earth could not do as much as thou hast done neither that they could haue bene able to resist me halfe this while I am content answered the knight of the Tiger to satisfie thy will so much on condition thou wilt promise to tell me thy name and the cause why thou doest pursue this Damosell So much quoth the Giant thou shalt commaund at my handes wherefore thou shalt vnderstand that I am called Vascalion of Ocrance Sonne to the Giant Lucran who was slaine at Constantinople by the hands of Primaleon with whō he was so hardy as to enter the Combate to reuenge the death of Don Perrequin of Duas and to haue in marriage Gridonia the duchesse of Ormeda who was afterward espoused to Primaleon At what time my father was slaine he left me in the kéeping of one of my Brethren named Dramoque who is likewise slaine be one of the sonnes of the Prince Don Edward of England and this Knight is yet in the search of Knightly aduentures But I assure you I am not a little agréeued to sée my selfe in this case becanse I am almost depriued of any hope to reuenge the Death of my Father and his Brother before I dye And for this Damosell it is so that fortune caused me to méet with her to day and as I vnderstood by her she is going to the Court of the Emperor Palmerin to visite Leonarda the Princesse of Thrace now for that I am desirous to do all the iniurie that I may to any of that Emperours Court I endeuored my selfe to rauish this Damosell But at the time I was about to fulfill my pleasure on her an Esquire of hers who had escaped my hands came and hindered me with the ayd of fiue Knights whom I haue left to hold Combat with ten of my Knights because I would follow this Damosel who tooke her selfe to flight so soone as the fiue Knights began to charge me Thus haue I told you the whole circumstance of my minde now it remaineth that you reueale your selfe to me according as at first you promised Beléeue me Vascalion answered the Knight of the Tiger it is necessary that thou shouldest receiue sharpe chastisement for vsing thy life in such wicked actions the proofe hereof thou mayst now behold thy selfe for thou being not content with the death of thy Father and his Brother séekest to reuenge thy villainous will on this innocent Damosell I let thée know therefore that I am a kinseman to Primaleon and the same man that slew thy Fathers Brother which made me be called Palmeran of England Sonne to prince Edward and faire Flerida the Sister of Primaleon for whose sake I intend to take thy life from thée before I depart Vascalion at these words began greatly to dismay himself for he knew well that his strength was not sufficient to hold out long against him but yet he presently aduanced himselfe to shew what desire he had to be reuenged on him that had slaine his Vuckle Palmerin being very glad when he perceiued the Gianc had forsaken the Trée which serued him all the while as a Rampire of defence assayled him with such furious strokes as the Giant would gladly haue rested himselfe againe but the Prince followed him still so earnestly as at length he tumbled on the ground before him when not content to sée him so conquered he set his foote vpon him and when he had taken off his Helmet he presently parted his head from his shoulders The sight hereof made the Damosell so glad as she had now forgotten the feare wherein she was when the Giant pursued her and then came the Knight of the Tiger to her with these words Faire Damosell I iudge that the fiue Knights who are in Combate for your occasion cannot otherwise chuse but be in great daunger wherefore I will goe séeke them foorth to succour them in the meane while you may come faire and softly after with my Esquire who for your better ease shall take you vp behinde him on his horse Then tooke he that way which he saw the Giant come when he pursued the Damosell and it was not long before he heard the clanching of the Swordes wherevpon he gaue his horse the spurs and neuer left gallopping till he came to them where he sawe they had slaine foure of the Giants knights and of the
wordes fearing hee should not long enioy his Queene and Wife but the Sage Aliart séeing these two Louers restored to their liberty tooke his leaue of them to trauell to Constantinople where his presence was long desired and looked for and he gaue charge to the knight of the Sauage man that he would come thither with all speede possible because his friends might be greatly furthered by his company But to let you vnderstand by what occasion the Quéene of Thrace was thus enchanted the History discourseth how the Princesse Targiana could not forget her anger and heauy displeasure towards the knight of the Sauage man but dayly thyrsting and desiring for reuengement entertained as partner in her purpose an Enchantresse whose dwelling was in the Realme of Persia named Drusia Velonna Targiana expecting the time when she might open her intent to this Enchauntresse Drusia at length consented to fulfill her mind and one day when the Princesse was bathing her selfe at a Fountaine Drusia came suddainly to her thorow the window of an high Tower and presenting her selfe so straungely before her the Princesse Targiana was so amazed and frighted thereat as she called to her seruants to come and helpe her But Drusia reuealing her selfe the Princesse was quickly remooued from this feare whereupon she rehearsed her earnest desire to be reuenged on the knight of the Sauage man requesting her fauour and furderaunce in the cause The Enchauntresse being one that loued the Princesse well and was glad to compasse any thing that might yeeld her content spake vnto her in this manner Madame I haue well pondered the matter wherewith you haue made me acquainted and haue deuised the meanes to releaue your ouercharged and troubled thoughtes and very easâ—y might we be reuenged on the knight of the Sauage man if it were not for his brother the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Vally whose great experience and knowledge may be some hinderance to vs neuerthelesse I haue found out one practise wherby you may bring him into great trouble and daunger Oh Velonâ—a quoth Targiana it is the onely thing I desire to hinder or offend him by any way whatsoeuer You know well Madame aunswered Drusia Velonna that he is but slenderlie affected to them who notwithstanding loue him with most especial good will yet is he so amorous of the Queene of Thrace his Wife as it is not possible for any man to be more wherefore I intend to conuey her into such a secret place where the Sage Aliart shall haue no power to helpe her vntill the Empire of Greece be all poyled and brought to confusion neyther shall the knight of the Sauage man bee able to finde her but shall spend his time in seeking after her yet shall his labour be bestowed to no such ende she would Targâ—ana was very well contented with that the Enchauntresse had tolde her wherevpon she enchaunted the Queene of Thrace in the manner as I haue declared to you already Afterwards she returned to the Princesse Targiana whom she likewise conducted by her Arte to the Castle of the Quéene Melia at what time Albayzar was gone vnto Babylon and when Targiana had sufficiently pleased her selfe beholding the rare and strange alteration of the Quéene of Thrace she desired Drusia to shut the doore and to hang the Key at the chaine about the Serpents necke wherevpon Targiana departed thence to the place of the Great Turke her Father afterward tooke her Iourney into Persia being of the opinion that the Sage Aliart could not helpe the pittiful estate of the Queene of Thrace In the Castle of Melia she remained thus Enchaunted vntill the Knight of the Sauadge man and the Sage Aliart met together and deliuered her But now wee will returne to the Prince Albayzar who is comming to laye Siege to the Cittie of Constantinople whither the Knight of the Sauadge man trauelled speedily for that it were against reason that such a Noble and redoubted Knight should be absent from the place where his déerest Friends were assembled together CHAP. LIII ¶ Of that which the Christians did in the Citie of Constantinople at what time the Princesse Targiana sent tydings to the Courte of the Emperour Palmerin of the comming of his Enemyes IT is rehearsed in the Chronicle of the Emperour Palmerin how the Kings of England Spayne France Lacedemonia and Thessalia were desirous to depart to theyr seuerall Kingdomes after the Triumphes sports for the Mariages of their Friends were somewhat ouerblowne and past And euen as they were preparing themselues to their iourney Fortune who would make them partners of yâ— Emperors daungers towardes presented them with such occasions as they were constrained to breake off theyr former determination in that the Princesse Targiana sent news at the very same instant to the Emperour of the huge Nauie which Albayzar had prepared to besiege Constantinople withall Moreouer shee gaue to vnderstand how the Armie of the Great Turke her Father was as then arriued in the Porte of Armenia and stayed but onely for the Winde likewise that the Turke her Father had appointed Albayzar chiefe captaine Generall of his Armie because hee surpassed all the other in valour and courage The report of this Armie caused great astonishment in manie and chiefly to them who were not able to endure the trauell of Armes and the Emperour Palmerin himselfe was so ouercharged with yéeres as that hée could not walke out of his Chamber yet was hee able to comfort and encourage his deerest Friends with good Counsell wherby their troubled mindes were greatly cased Primaleon who was naturally giuen to be couragious and brauely minded did not make account of any misfortunes that might happen to him and the rather because the valiant Princes and Knights in his companie could not be summoned at a better time to witnesse theyr Nobilitie The Kings Court sent to â—he Gouernours of their Realmes and Signories that they should leuey what power they could possible and come thither to them with all speede to assist them CHAP. LIIII ¶ How the Enemies sent an Embassadour to the Emperours Court and of the answer which was made him AFter the manner as I haue declared to you already the Emperour prouided for the entertaining of his Enemies and as his Maiestie was aduising himselfe about these Affayres he was aduertised that an Embassadour was arriued at the Porte of the Cittie who demaunded safe conduct before hée would come on shoare His Maiesty with the counsel of the Kings and Princes was content to graunt his request Wherevpon the Embassadour tooke Landing and being accompanyed with foure Knights hee tooke his way to the Emperours Pallace The Kings and Princes determined that the Embassadour should rehearse the cause of his arriuall to the Prince Primaleon before they would suffer him to come into the Emperours presence but diuerse of them were of a contrary opinion affirming that the presence and noble Answere of the Emperour himselfe would more daunte and
terrifie the Enemie then all they were able to doe Vpon this determination they were agréede and the Emperour was brought in his Chayre into the great Hall where the Embassador stayed who hauing viewed the strength of the Citie knew well they should bestow good labour before they could conquer it The Emperour according to his milde and Noble nature receyued the Embassador from his enemie very gratiously and after the Kings and Princes were in theyr due and appointed places and a generall silence amongst them all the Embassadour began in these speeches Illustrious and most puissant Emperour I could wish to sée thée in the Flourishing estate of thy yeares as well to be a participate of many troubles imminent to them that dare take vppon them to defende thy Empyre as also to enlarge the contentment of them who shall be so happie as to gaine the victorie in the fielde of Battell which is now presented to thy Maiestie I am to let thée vnderstand that Albayzar the great Soldan of Babylon and Prince of Turkie accompanyed with other Soldans Kings puissant Princes hath sent me to thée to let thée know that they are determined with theyr strength and power to besiege this Citie to reuenge the death of manie theyr especiall Friendes who receyued their dishonour before this Cittie Neuerthelesse the Soldane Albayzar hauing not forgotten the gracious courtesie thou didst sometimes vse towards Oloricque Alchidiana and the Princesse Targiana hath thus concluded fearing to be noted of ingratitude to make thée this offer eyther to surrender the Cittie of Constantinople and the knight of the Sauage man King of Thrace thy Nephew into his hands or depart leaue thine Empyre subiect to his power without offering any resistance to his determination On this condition hee will not bring his Armie into thine Empyre and hée thinketh it more necessary for thée rather to loose one Cittie then the whole Empyre and better it were for thée to deliuer one man into his hands then to sée the death of a number thy especiall Friends To which words the Emperour thus answered My Friend I can hardly endure to let thée passe any further in spéeches but I must néedes answer you thus that I account it well for my profite to follow his counsell in this matter if by the sending him one man I may make sure account of the safetie of the rest But if that one man be found so good a Knight as his Valour is sufficient to redeeme the Captiuitie of all the other I must not be so forgetfull of my honour as to render a State of assurance to your Lordes mercie Besides it were a thing much against reason and duety to yeelde that Cittie into the hands of Heathen Infidells where the true God is to be worshipped in spirit and truth And truely I cannot but maruell much that hée should offer to come thus into my Empire considering what promises hath past betweene him and mée for I was of the opinion that I should rather be furthered by his aide and assistance then hindered or impeached thus maliciously But for all this my trust is in GOD that I shall prepare his graue before the Walles of this Cittie as I haue done alreadie to many of his Predecessours who without regarde of theyr owne Honour or my courtesie haue come to assaile me in this manner I perceyue then my Lord answered the Embassaâ—our that because Fortune hath daily fauoured you to this present you will not dreade the misfortunes whereinto you may suddenly fall therefore I intend to returne with this answere to my Lord who sent me So taking his leaue he returned to his Galley where it lay at Anckor being accompanyed with many Princes and Lords of the Emperours Court and after they had giuen him a very friendly Farewell his Galley set forward with such expedition as in short time it came to the rest of the Armie CHAP. LV. ¶ How the Armie of the Great Turke arriued in the Port of Constantinople and of the noble and valiant prowesse of the Christians before they would suffer the Pagans to take Landing THe Embassadour from Albayzar to the Soldane of Babylon being thus departed the Emperour Palmerin called together all the Princes and Nobles in his Courte to giue present order to euery one that they should with all the best spéede possible prouide themselues in Armes to forbidde the entraunce of the Enemie and to haue good regard to the affaires of the Citie and safety of the same which was committed to the Guard of the Emperour Vernar and the King Polendos accompanyed with a thousand fiue hundreth Knights on Horsebacke and foure hundreth Footemen King Edward of England was chosen by Generall consent chiefe Captaine and Gouernour of the Fielde hauing vnder his conduct two thousand Knightes beside the Giant Dramusiande who by his Noble behauiour in that expedition wonne very great estimation Maiortes Pridos the Duke of Galles Don Rosiande de la Bronde his Sonne Argolant the Duke of Horten Pompides and fifty Knightes that were come in theyr company So diuiding theyr Knights into foure parts they were in number eight thousand to euery thousand was a Generall Captain Arnedes King of France had the ordering of fiue hundred being attended on likewise by his Sonnes Gracian Guerin and Germaine of Orleance beside fifty good and hardy French Knights A thousand fiue hundred more were conducted by Recinde King of Spayne the Princes Berolde and Onstalde his Sonnes awayting on him with the Giant Almaroll and one hundreth Spanish Knights The Soldane Bellagris was Captaine ouer foure hundred Knights being his owne Subiects and for the guard of his owne person he had prouided one hundred of the chiefest knights of his Court among whom was his Sonne Blandidon whose noble behauiour deserued commendations To Belcar Duke of Pontus and Durace was committed the like charge as to the Kings Recinde and Arnedes hauing for the Guarde of his owne person Don Rosuell and Bellizart his Sonnes To the King Tarnaes of Lacedemonia who was an Ancient and noble Prince was giuen the Guard of the Pallace and for the more security of the Empresse the other Queenes and Ladyes hée had attending on him two hundred Knightes Primaleon was chosen Lord Generall for the Cittie hauing in his charge seauen hundred Knightes wherewith he had regarde as well to the Field as to the Cittie Palmerin Florendos Platir and diuers other Knights had the charge of the vtter wings of the Armie as lost children to giue succour where they perceyued most necessitie Thus was the Emperours Court well stored with noble and renowmed Knights yet his Maiestie and King Edward greatly desired the presence of the Prince Florian of the Forrest in whose absence both the Horsemen and Footemen were ordained as I haue alreadie declared On the next morning King Edward commaunded to strike vp Allarum for hee was giuen to vnderstand that the Enemie was within halfe a league of the
his Camp as they were imagined sufficient to withstand and resist any furious Batterie whatsoeuer And for that he would haue some knowledge of the valour of his Enemyes hee appoynted his principall Captain in places of importance for most assurance of his Campe and afterwards by the consent of his Councell he set his Galleys and Shippes on fire reseruing but a certain number of his swiftest Brigandines So that the sight of the Fâ—re made such astonishment in Constantinople as they fully resolued and determined to hazarde theyr liues or to subdue the pompe and glory of their enemies séeing they presumed so much on themselues The Emperour sitting in his Chaire in one of the Turrets of his Pallace perceyued very well that hee should not driue his Enemyes out of his Empyre without the great effusion of Blood and losse of his Friends For the space of seuen dayes they continued burning theyr Shippes leauing themselues destitute of prouision to depart from thence if Fortune should oppose her selfe against them and at the ende of seuen dayes they of Constantinople began to skyrmish The wounded Princes had recouered their former estates except Dramusiande and the Giant Almaroll yet the Chirurgions assured the Emperor how the greatest danger was past and they likely to doo well enough In the meane while as King Edward and Primaleon endeuored themselues to fortifie the Cittie the Gouernours of those Realmes belonging to the Kings present in Constantinople sent such good prouision of strength forces as they could possibly make ready on the sudden but I will rehearse them vnto you who had in this necessitie chiefest succour sent them from theyr Kingdomes and Signories First of all the Emperour Veâ—nar of Allemaigne had sent him two thousand Horsemen and twelue thousand Footmen King Arnedes of Fraunce had the like number Recinde King of Spayne had two thousand light Horsemen and eyght thousand Footemen The Prince Floraman had foure hundred Horsemen and foure thousand Footemen Tarnaes King of Lacedemonia had foure hundred Horsmen and foure thousand Footemen From Thrace to honour their King Florian of the Forrest came foure hundred knightes on Horsebacke and foure thousand Footemen From England came foure hundred knights and tenne thousand Footmen From Nauarre came two hundred light horsemen From Denmarke came two hundred light Horsemen Drapo the Duke of Normandie came thither with two thousand Knights on Horsebacke and foure thousâ—nd braue Footemen To the Prince Belcar came foure hundred Horsemen and one thousand Footemen Roramant King of Bohemia sent foure thousand Footemen Estrellant arriued there accompanyed with eyght thousand and foure hundred gallant Knightes on Horsebacke and tenne thousand hardy fighting men on foote who ioyning with them of the Cittie were in number twenty thousand Horsemen and threescore thousand Footemen The Emperour and his Counsell appointed that they which were thus come to assist him should rest themselues for certain dayes because they had sustained a weary Iourney so that during the time the wounded persons were able to beare Armor with the ayde of these they gaue Battell to their enemies CHAP. LVIII ¶ Of an aduenture which happened by the arriuall of a straunge Knight accompanied with a Ladie in the Prince Albayzars Campe. WHile they that were come to the succour of the Emperour reposed themselues the young Princes and Knights of the Court of Constantinople gaue the Enemie sundry Assaults and skirmishes preuailing alwayes so happily as the aduauntage still came on theyr side During the time they skirmished in this manner the Emperour with the Empresse and her Ladyes being on a high Tower to see these braue Attempts they perceyued to enter the Cittie towardes the Enemyes Campe a Knight that séemed to haue so good opinion of himselfe being mounted on a braue and gallant Courser and himselfe attired in guylte Armour whereon was wrought diuerse Ingenious knottes and Deuises in siluer beside his Armour was bloody in many places which gaue sufficient testimony that the Knight daylie enioyed but little rest and in his Shielde was Loue artificially figured being roughly helde by the hayre of the head by a bloody minded Tyrant This Knight seemed to carry his Launce as it were on the neck of his Horse and hauing on the point thereof a little white Ensigne which hee wore in signe of Peace and quietnesse His Esquire bare another Shielde after him couered ouer with the skinne of a wilde Beast and another Launce in his hand by him rid a Lady on a blacke Palfray shée being attyred after the Turkish manner in a Robe of white Sattine which was cutte and pinked in many places so that the Blacke silkes lying vnder the white gaue a very braue grace vnto her Apparell because the body and sléeues was very thicke beset with Pearles and stones of great estimation This Ladies haire was spread abroad ouer her shoulders and her face was couered because she would not be knowne So soone as the Knight was come néere the Prince Albayzars Tent he stayed for a pretie space whereat the Turks were somewhat abashed because they knewe not on which part this Knight should be in that they iudged him by his Armour to be a Christian and the Apparell of the Ladie being Turkish they could not imagine any certaintie in this case In the meane while the Princes in the Campe were thus regarding and beholding the Knight they perceyued him to sende his Esquyre to the Prince Albayzars Tent hauing his Face couered least hee should be knowne when hee beganne his minde in this manner My Lorde the Knight which you sée presumes so néere your Campe by mee giueth you to vnderstand that hee hath many yeeres serued the Lady in his company yet not able to winne or once enioye her Loue and for that shee could not well dryue him off with any more delayes or excuses shee desired him to bring her vnto this place where he must Enterprise to Ioâ—st against foure Knights on her behalfe And if it so fall out that Fortune fauoureth him with the victorie shee will not faile to requite his labour with her Loue but if the Knightes in your Camp shall refuse to trie their valours against him she hath giuen him leaue to offer the same conditions to the Emperours Knights in Constantinople where if refusall be made likewise the Lady must consent to recompence him as if hee had vanquished where she made the challenge Therefore my Lords you may determine with your selues which of you dare make tryall of the valour of this Knight I would gladly know said the Soldane of Persia who was a gallaunt young Prince and very braue in Armour what recompence the Knight will make him to whom the victory may happen You shall then my Lord answered the Esquyre send him your owne Esquier for I haue reported to you what was giuen me in charge So without any more words hee returned to his Maister accompanyed with an Esquyre from the Soldane of Persia to whome the Knight
that came with the Ladie made this aunswere I see well my Friend that the request of thy Lord standeth with good reason wherefore thou may 〈◊〉 say vnto him that if thy misfortune bee such as that any of these foure Knightes chaunce to vnhorse me I will not faile to deliuer him my Horse and Armour Besides I will shew obeysance to any he shall commaund me on condition that this Lady may remaine at her libertie to doo what shee shall imagine conuenient for herselfe 〈◊〉 Pagan Princes were as well contented as could be with this good offer of the Knight wherefore they ordained to Ioust against the foure young Kinge who were very brauely and gallantly attyred in rich and costly Armour The first of them was the king of 〈◊〉 the second the king of Trebisond the thâ—rd the king of Caspia and the fourth was the hardie Soldane of Persia King Edward Recinde Arnedes Palmerin of England and Dramusiande departed from the Cittie of Constantinople with a safe Conduct from the Prince Albayzar to see these Iousts to them came Albayzar mounted on horsebacke being vnarmed except only a Lance which he carryed in his hand being accompanied with â—iue other Princes and a Giant When they were 〈◊〉 neere the Princes that came from the Cittie Alâ—â—yzars saluted them very graciously but the Knight that came with the Lady spake to them in the Greeke tongue that they shuld apply their mindes to other affaires 〈◊〉 to wast the 〈◊〉 in saluting them whom they could not affect 〈◊〉 fauour or friendshyp when he had thus said he returned to the Lady and prouided himselfe to enter the Ioust It seemes to me said Albayzar that the Knight no doubt is both hardy and valiant because he makes shew of such a braue 〈◊〉 Wherefore I thinke it best that wee accord to his will rather then abide the daunger of our owne liues So concluding he granted the first Ioust to the king of Trâ—bâ—zonde who was mounted on a goodly â—aye Courser his Armour of greene colour and in his Shielde was figured in a fielde of Sinople a Giant slayne in witnesse that hee conquered him nobly in a Combate After the King of Trebisund had taken his leaue of Albayzar he presently ran against the strange Knight but he encountred him with such force as his Launce slewe in pieces vp into the Ayre neuerthelesse the king of Trebisond sped so vnfortunately as hee was sent to measure his length on the ground so fore shaken and amazed as he was same to be â—arried foorth of the Field In the meane while the Knight rid to the Lady who was very glad that hee had sped so well the king of Caspia presented himâ—elfe in the Field being in Carnation Armour and a Hartâ—â— Siluer portrayed on his Shield in a fielde of Sable he gaue his horse the spurâ—es against the Knight but he was sent to keepe the king of Trebisond companie Which the king of Bithinia perceyuing he being armed like the king of Caspia ran against the strange Knight valiantly and meeting with him in the middest of the Carrieâ—â— broke his Launce brauely on his Shield but the strange Knight failed of the breaking his Lance yet hee mette the king so roughly in Iousting against his bodie as he was throwne out of his Saddle and the straunge Knight forced to forsake his Styrrops But when hee had recouered himselfe he went to the Ladie desiring her not to thinke amisse of him for that little â—ayle and he would make her amends on the fourth King Then the Soldan of Persia being brauely mounted in guilt Armour and bearing in his Shielde Fortune stately placed in her Charryot of Tryumph in a Golden fielde aduanced himselfe into the Course and Albayzar did him the honour to clap downe the 〈…〉 Helmet deliuering him likewise the Launce hee carryed in his owne hand whereat the Straunge Knight was 〈…〉 his Enemy made such account of so taking his leaue of the 〈◊〉 he pricked foorth to receyue the Soldane 〈…〉 they meeting both together with such â—orce as theyr Launces were broken 〈…〉 through the middest yet themselues nothing 〈…〉 whereâ—pon the Sâ—ldane of Persia seeing the 〈◊〉 prowresse of his Enemy came vnto him with these wordes I thinke it good Syr Knight that wee yet once more hazard the tryall of the Ioust but because I see you destitute of a Launce I will intreate the Prince Albayzar to bestowe one vpon you Syr answered the strange Knight I am content to allow any thing you shall ordaine yet am I somewhat offended with my selfe that I did not make you partaker of your fellowes misfortune Marrye I perswade my selfe that the faulte consisted in my Horse who is so sore laboured with trauell as hee can hardly performe his dutie Syr Knight answered the Soldane you shall not complaine for so small a matter therefore I will bestowe one of my owne Horses vpon you In troth Sir answered the strange Knight I am so vnacquainted with this Countrey as I knowe not at whose handes I might request such a fauour yet for all my want is great and your offer very courteous I cannot with good will make choyse of your horse My Friend saide Dramusiande for that I thinke well of your behauiour and gentlenesse I pray you to accept this Horse whereon I am mounted Good Sir answered the strange Knight in that you graunt him such courtesie who is a straunger and vnknowne to you your good will in the offer would highly impeach mee if I should refuse it So hée alighted from his Horse and mounted on that which Dramusiande had sent him giuing a signe to the Soldane that without delay he should defende himselfe Then each of them taking a Launce they encountred in the middest of the Carriere so brauely as the straunge Knight loste both his Styrrops but the Soldane of Persia was throwne to the Earth so sore hurt as there came foure knights to carry him foorth of the fielde The straunge Knight returning againe hée came vnto the Prince Albayzar with these wordes You see Syr that I haue accomplished the Challenge which I presented vnto you on this Ladyes behalfe therefore Syr Albayzar if you will graunt licence to any more of your Knightes to deale in the same triall with me I will attend theâ— the Ioust héere till night or so long as my horse is able to hold out I perceiue well Sir aunswered the Prince Albayzar that the pride wherewith you are accompanied maketh you so gallant in speeches but assure youre selfe it doth not a little gréeue me that I am generall of this armie which is a hinderance to me for dealing with you Neuerthelesse for the desire I haue to pull downe your glorious stomacke I am content that all my knightes shall hazard their fortune against you King Edward and the other Princes with him did highly commend the courage of the strange knight and but for that he spake the Greeke language so perfectly they would haue
beautie might not compare with theirs and gréeuing that Leonarda had escaped so well from the place where she caused her to be enchaunted she came to the Princesse Miragarda with these spéeches I cannot chuse Madame but estéeme meruailous well of their paines that aduenture their honour in the field in the defence of your beautie which is the cause that I must take in very good part the labour that the Prince Albayzar bestowed on your behalfe To the Quéen Leonarda she would not speak one word because she was married to the Prince Florian whome she condemned as her mortall enemie The Princesse of Armenia sitting betwéene Miragarda and Leonarda was very much abashed in that she was not acquainted with any of the Ladies of the Emperors Court who notwithstanding entertained her very honourablie thus they continued their Princelie courtesies one to another till the night drawing on Targiana tooke her leaue of the Emperor desiring his Maiestie to excuse her for the warre which was commenced contrary to her will The Empresse and the Ladies brought them to the Pallace gate where on eche side they parted with such heauinesse as they could not speake to one another but the Emperor himselfe accompanied them without the Cittie and because Targiana excused her selfe of the warre which Albayzar had enterprised against his Maiestie he tooke her by the hand speaking to her in this manner I promise you Madame it is not a little griefe to me that I cannot at this time witnesse how leâ—th I am to be iudged vngratefull vnto you who deserues to be honoured with most gratious seruice And as for the malicious dealing of Albayzar trust me it cannot diminish one iote of the good will I beare you but this I assure you you may dispose both of me and my Court at your pleasure and may make your selfe as bolde and welcome héere as if you were in the great Turke your Fathers Court. So breaking off and saluting eche other with great courtesie the Emperour was carryed backe to his Pallace and Targiana was conducted to the Camp accompanied with the Emperour Vernar the Kings of England Fraunce and Spayne and many other Princes of the Emperors Court who hauing brought her to the Campe tooke their leaue and returned to the Citty deuising seuerally among themselues to whose lotte Targiana and the other Ladyes should fall if so be the victory chanced on theyr side for it is oftentimes the nature of Souldiers to share diuide the spoyle among themselues before Fortune hath deliuered it into theyr hands CHAP. LXII ¶ Of the Battell betweene the Christians and the Turks and of that which happened NOt many Dayes after the arriuall of the Princesse Targiana the Princes as well on the one side as on the other concluded to ioyne in Battell Marrie the Christians were more desirous thereto then the Turks because the Victuals beganne to waxe scant within the Cittie Besides Albayzar came oftentimes and prouoked them also with his Standard and Ensigns displayed which vrged the Knights to cry call to theyr CoÌ„manders and Captains to suffer them to saillie foorth of the Cittie for it was a griefe to them to be so enclosed within and theyr Enemyes come daring so boldely to them without Vppon this Primaleon would gladly haue issued foorth if the other Princes would haue bin ruled after him but they would not Aduenture so rashly because many of them were weake and sickly with trauelling on the Seas therefore they determined to recouer themselues in perfect assurance of their health before they would thuste themselues into the face of daunger After they had well rested and recouered themselues and found that they were strong and able to deale with the Enemie the Commaunders summoned their traines into the Field and King Edward being Generall of the whole Forces commaunded both Horse-men and Foote-men to prepare themselues to Battell The first Squadron was conducted by the Soldane Bellagris to whome was committed fiue thousand good Soldiers being all his owne Subiects The second was giuen in charge to Recinde King of Spaine who had the conduct of thrée thousand but then sent him from the Kingdome of Spayne The third was led by Arnedes King of Fraunce who had the charge of the like number as the King of Spaine had with the two thousand Souldiers that were sent him from France The fourth was vnder the conduct of Polendos King of Thessalie who had attending on him the like number The fift was in the charge of the Emperour Vernar of Allemaigne and the sixt and last being foure thousand was conducted by King Edward of England Primaleon would not this day take vpon him any charge that he might the better giue succour to those places where he perceiued most daunger because he iudged it a pollicie to be vsed in Warre All these that followe were brauely séene in the Fielde this Day Belcar Drapos of Normandie Maiortes otherwise called the Great Dog Palmerin of England Florian of the Forrest Florendos Platir Blandidon Berolde Prince of Spayne Floraman of Sardignia Gracian of France Don Rosuell Bellizart Onistalde Tenebrant Francian Pompides the Sage Aliart the King Estreliant Frisoll Albanis of Frieze Rodamont Dragonalt King of Nauarre Luyman of Burgundie Germaine of Orleance Tremoran Don Resiran de la Bronde Dramusiande Almaroll and all the most renowmed Knightes of the Emperors Court who were in the Squadron vnder the conduct of the Soldane Bellagris they all concluding with themselues that so soone as the Battell should be begunne they would each of them take part on that side where theyr dutie and affection did best serue them The King Tarnaes accompanyed with many valiaunt Knights had committed to his charge the defence of the Cittie and of the Footemen were chosen fiftie thousand such as were accounted the most wisest and expert Souldiers that were vnder the conducting of the King Tarnaes to helpe to preuent any danger imminent to the Cittie King Edward himselfe being very braue and gallantly Armed ceased not to visite his charge of Horsemen and likewise hee came among the young Princes and Knightes encouraging them in noble spéeches and with a countenance bewraying the inuincible minde of a Conquerour desiring them to remember theyr Knightly déedes passed which might be an occasion to stirre them vp more nobly in defence of the flower of all Christendome With these and other such like spéeches he did so animate and embolden all his Traine as they that were the most fearefull and had least minde to deale with their enemies séemed as willing and forwards to the Battell as hée that was the brauest Souldier in the Field which when the King perceiued he withdrew himselfe and his company commanding the Soldane Bellagris to giue the first assault Albayzar diuided his Horsemen in ten companyes giuing to euery Squadron fiue thousand men The first Squadron was conducted by the Soldan of Persia who was accompanied with the Giant Framustant and about fiue hundred wel approued
the City which was committed to the charge of the King Tarnaes of Lacedemonia and the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley they hauing their conduct fiue hundred Knights on horsebacke and foure thousand able footemen and for the rest of the Christians they were deuided into sixe seuerall Bands The first was conducted by the Prâ—nce Primaleon who had atiending on him two thousand and fiue hundred Knights The second Band being of the same number was committed to the Prince Floraman of Sardignia The third to the king Estrellant The fourth to Albanis of Frieze The fifth to Drapos Duke of Normandie all these fiue hands being like in number The sixt was vnder the charge of the noble king Edward to whom came all the rest of the Christian souldiers The Soldane Bellagris with his traine had the charge of the vtter wings to giue ayde where he saw néede required When these Knights departed from the citie toward the field they were all in blacke Armour and their shields of the same colour without any deuices their horses were likewise trapped in blacke and the more to expresse their inward heauinesse they would haue neither Drumme Trumpet nor any kind of instrument vsed in warre with them Neuerthelesse albeit this sad procéeding to the battaile declared their owne heaninesse yet was it likewise a feare and terror to the enemy séeing them comming farre from them and euery man had closed the Beuer of his helmet because the enemy should not perceiue their mournfull countenances When they were come to the place where the Battaile should be fought they spread themselues abread in the field after the deuice of their Captaines without making any maner of noyse at all The footemen came after being all attired in black likewise and without either Drums Phifes or Trumpets wherby they gaue the enemies to vnderstand what vnfained loue and affection they bare to their Emperour and how they could not forget what gracious and friendly entertainement he was woont to make to his very enemies A thing which all Princes ought to haue in regard and in remembring the great vertue of this famous Emperour to gouerne their Kingdomes in such sort as the people may rather know what a gréeuous losse they haue by the death of such a Prince then to behaue themselues in such manner as their Subiects shall reioyce to be rid of their Gouernour The Turks were greatly abashed séeing their enemies come marching in this order they knew well by their mourning habits that they would in this battell make no account of their liues But Albayzar séeing the astonishment of his Souldiers came to encourage them like a noble captaine laying before them the renowme of the victorie which should be the recompence of all their trauailes and a sufficient reuenge for the death of many of their parents and friendes who lost their liues before the walles of Constantinople for which cause this warre was first enterprised When he had a good space vsed these and such like spéeches to them they began to waxe desirous of the battaile and chasing all their formerfeare out of remembrance they marched on after the same manner as they did in the first battaile sauing that they were vnder the charge of other captaines for that they which conducted them before were slaine Their Armour was very much broken and bruised and so died with the blood that issued from their bodies that it was almost as strange a sight in the field as the Christians sad and mournefull habites of blacke King Edward séeing his men placed in decent order and the backwings in such regard as hée thought méetest hée gaue charge to Primaleon to giue the consent with his company for he had with him the noble Palmerin of England Florian of the Forrest Florendos Platir Pompides Blandidon Don Rosuel Bellizart Dragonalt King of Nauarre the Giant Dramusiand and the most renowmed princes of the Court. On the enemies side the King of Aetolia was first in the field because he conducted the formost troupe wherein was the most puissant knights in all the Turkish Armie beside the Giant Framustant who desired aboue all other things to preuaile against Dramusiande The Christians finding themselues in a readinesse the Turkes sounded their Drummes and Trumpets to beginne the Battaile but sodainely came on them so great a tempest as they returned backe againe being not able to ioyne in fight for the space of two houres after In the meane time as this tempest continueth let vs returne to the Citie of Constantinople which as you haue heard before was committed to the chargs of Tarnaes king of Lacedemonia and the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley who finding by his Art that the Cittie of Constantinople would bee brought to destruction and that king Edward of England and the Prince Primaleon with the rest of the Princes Knights that maintained the warre would stand in great hazard of loosing their liues being not able to auoyd the cruelty of the Turks who would get the Cittie into their possession vpon these aforesaid considerations he determined to prouide for the safety of the Princesses and Ladies of high authority who were most of them great with childe and neare the â—ime of their deliuerance Wherefore that the fruit of their bodyes might not perish in this extremity he raised a very darke and obscure cloude which shadowed the light of the firmament in such sort as not onely they in the field were couered therewith but also the Cittie was so wrapt in the cloud as it was not possible for them to discerne it In the meane while both the Armies remained in great amazement by this darkenesse as they had not the power to méete together Aliart conueyed through this daâ—ke Cloud the Empresse the Princesse Polinarda and all other Princesses and Ladyes beside to the Perillous Isle which the Prince Palmerin of England had bestowed on him and he shaddowed the Isle likewise by his Enchantment in such manner that it remained as it were inuisible vntill Aliart conceiued so well of the time and reason as he thought good to discouer it These Ladies were surprised with maruellous admiration whâ—n they found themselues not in Constantinople but in a strange land where they could not haue their company who had endured so many hard and dangerous conflicts for their sakes this aboue all other causes did most offend and trouble their consciences yet at length when they saw no other remedy they were glad to practise and content themselues with often visiting each other in their Chambers to expell all other cogitations that séeme irksome vnto them Thus wil we leaue the Empresse and her ladies in the Perillous Isle and returne to the King Tarnaes at Constantinople who after the cloude was vanished away and the day cleare againe séeing that the Empresse with her Ladies and the Sage Aliart had forsaken his Companie conceyued such extreame griefe within himselfe doubting least some mischaunce had befallen them as amidde his
Albayzar perceiued hee came running on Berolde and twentie knights with him so that they had murdred the Spanish prince amongst them but the Soldane Bellagris hindered their determination for he came with his band of men and reskewed him commanding foure knights to carrie him forth of the battaile for that he seemed rather a dead man then one that had any life left in him and in this order he was brought to Pacentio the Emperors cheefe Chamberlaine who had the charge giuen him for the wounded persons because he was verie skilfull therein and being a man of very auncient time he was not iudged fit to enter the fight The Prince Beroldes misfortune was such griefe to his friendes as they rather desired to beare him company then to liue in hope of an vncertain victorie which was the more doubtfull to them when they remembred the losse of the Emperor Vernar the King Recinde and the other Princes But the knight of the Sauageman seeing the great slaughter that Albayzar made of his friendes pricked thorow to the place where he was and came vnto him with these wordes Now is the time Albayzar which alloweth vs opportuuitie to satisfie our long desired reuenge of eche other and because we two are the occasions of all this trouble I pray thée let this quarrell be ended betwéene thée and mee and let not those who are innocent in this matter loose their liues for our offences I am so glad aunswered Albayzar that it is my good happe to méete with thée at this time as I would not chaunge my preseÌ„t fortune for the most renowmed estate in the world So breaking off these two valiant Princes began a fierce CoÌ„bat wherein Albayzar was brought into great daunger but that a Giant named Altrope came and defended him which Giant the knight of the Sauadgeman soone depriued of his life and would haue gone afterward forth of the Battaile to rest himselfe a while but the king of Sparta came with a great many knightes and compassed the knight of the Sauageman in such sort as he was fully determined to loose his life amongst them Yet so it chaunced that Primaleon and Palmerin who saw the hard case of his Brother Florian arriued there and at this â—ickering they slew the king of Sparta Luymeno his Sonne and Antistes his Brother beside many other knights and personages of great account and on the Christians side were slaine Tenebrant and Francian whose losse the Christians did very much lament Then was tidinges brought to the Soldane Bellagris that one had kild his sonne Blandidon which report was so gréeuous to him as hée brake thorow the thickest of his enemies till he came where his Sonne laye then presently he alighted from his horse and comming to his Sonne he made such sorrowfull lamentations ouer him as it would haue mooued a stony heart to pittie Blandidon who had yet some life left in him hearing the voice of the Soldane of Niquee his Father opened his eyes and offered to lift vp his head to speake vnto him but such was his feeblenesse as he could not mooue his head whereupon he was caried forth of the Field and committed to the custody of the olde Pacentio Bellagris tooke the matter so heauily for his sonne as he concluded to finish his dayes in that place and so cruelly was he assaulted by his enemie as he likewise resigned vp his vitall spirite after that he had kilde the Giant Malearque In this conflict were slaine of the Turkes the king of Gamba and his two Brothers the Giant Pisistrato the king of Caspia the Giant Framustant who was slaine by the noble Dramnsiande beside a number of famous Turkes and on the Christians side were slaine Germayne of Orleaunce Luyman of Burgundie Pompides the king of Scots and diuers other worthy Christian Souldiers But then to amaze them the more a number of the Cittizens of CoÌ„stantinople brought forth such richesse as was left in the Citie and set it on fire before the enemies face to the end that if the enemie remayned victor hée should not vaunt of the spoyle of their goodes but they being not so content when they had burnt their riches went and set on fire the brauest buildinges in the Cittie and one after another brought them all into Cinders which was no small griefe to the Christian Armie seeing such a renowmed Cittie so set on fire which had triumphed ouer all other Nations Albayzar séeing the christiaÌ„s striken in a maze at the sight of the fire came with a fresh BaÌ„d of men vpon theÌ„ and the knight of the Sauadgeman séeing Albayzar comming buckled himself against him where on eyther side was showne incredible prowesse but in the end the Prince Florian preuailed so well against his enemies as he yeelded vp the ghost at his foote which the Turkes beholding they beganne to faint very much in that their whole hope and refuge lay in the Prince of Babylon neuerthelesse such was their affection to him as they would not depart from his dead body but hemde in the Knight of the Sauage man so hardly on euery side as they had almost slaine him but that he was reskewed by diuers of his friendes who in short time got the better of the Turkes and the Knight of the Sauage man was caried to the olde Pacentio who iudged him almost past recouery Thus did the Christians obtaine the victory of the Turkes albeit with little pleasure to themselues for such small account they made of the honour they had gotten as no man had any mind to goe fetch the riches which was left in the Turks tents so grieuously did they take the losse of their friends and the absence of their Ladies whom they thought neuer to sée againe The common Hindes and Boores of the Countrey came to ransacke the Turkes Tents and because they had more knowledge of the Gold then of the infinite riches of the precious Stones and other Iewels they tooke their fill of the worst leauing those things behinde them of greater estimation not much vnlike to Aesopes Cocke that for sooke a precious Stone for a Barley corne but it is to be committed to the brutishnes of the people in that they had not béene brought vp in places of knowledge and good iudgement CHAP. LXVI The counsell and aduise that the Sage Aliart gaue to them of the Empire of Constantinople And how he caused the body of the Emperour Palmerin and the other Princes that were wounded in the Battaile to be conueied to the Perillous Isle WHen the Christians had thus preuailed against the Turkes the Sage Aliart came into the Christian Campe and set downe order that all they which had béene flaine in the Battaile should be buried in such maner as their posterity after them should remember their singular prowesse in this Battaile against the great Turke And as for them that were liuing yet very sore wounded he annointed them with a certaine kinde of oyntment the vertue wherof