be very grateful to and abundantly reward us Which of you my Lords Knights and Brethren will follow me in this Enterprize for gaining that which indeed hitherto we have not obtained Then all with one voice answer'd they would follow him and would lay down a thousand lives for the Crown of their Sovereign Olivaires seeing their willingness gave them many thanks and told them that by this Adventure they should surprize and come upon the Kings unawares and that he feared not by their Fortitude and Valour to acquire a glorious Conquest CHAP. XLIII Olivaires leaves England and enters the Dominions of the Kings of Ireland and lays siege to a strong City and of his other Sieges and Fights THE Ships and every thing being fitted and all things whatever were needful in readiness carrying Tents and Pavilions for the Camp the next morning Olivaires â—eparted and imbarqu'd his whole Army wherefore with a prosperous Gale he arrived in few days at an Irish Port and got on Land sooner than he could have expected A fair Town stood upon the Haven compassed with Walls and when the Inhabitants perceived that such an Armado was coming upon them they shut and barr'd their Gates and put themselves in posture of defence but quickly was the Town taken and they put to the Sword the same did Olivaires to two more as also to a third all large Towns so that he struck fear into the hearts of all the Country and many Cities surrendered themselves without resistance and many of the Kingdom beholding the brave Valour of Olivaires and contracting a love for him went over to his side and fought against their own Sovereigns Olivaires in his march came unto a strongly fortifi'd Pass where 't was necessary for him to take a strong and well-garrison'd City in which was the Son of the King who was kill'd at the Turnament therefore he lay siege round it and gave it a brisk Assault but could not conquer it and many were slain on both sides Mean while News flew all over the Kingdom and came to the Ear of the Kings that Olivaires was come to the great damage of their Crowns and that he had taken many places that he would also take this City Therefore giving order instantly for refitting the Soldiery Foot and Horse and marching away with those they had in readiness the Kings went to relieve the City and engage with the Enemy Olivaires having put his Army in good posture and ordered his Battalions in his Campaign expected the Adversary's Assault being well prepared in right method and full of courage 't was in the morning when the Kings came upon them and now the Armies confront each other so the Drums beat and to Arms. Olivaires confiding in God's Assistance and also in derived Valour thought fit to present himself before them and to challenge the Kings to single Combat one after another judging it most certain that after he had defeated their Chiefs 't would be easie to give a great blow to their vast Army with his little One. So he commanded 'em to leave off pitching their Tents and when he had fought one or two of the Kings the Army moved to engage the Enemy and taking a strong Launce and flourishing it he exposed himself to publick view One of the Kings more fool-hardy than truly valorous yet in his own Conceit stouter than the rest hastily mounted his Horse and with his Launce on his Thigh went to meet Olivaires turning about and in the strokes they gave each other the King received a sharp blow whereby both Man and Horse were cast to the ground so he was quickly taken Prisoner Then a second King suddenly assaulted Olivaires and he was laid wounded on the ground And now a cruel Battel was joyn'd and for divers Hours the mad contest lasted Olivaires's Captains seemed so many Thunderbolts which terrifi'd and struck down the Enemy And Olivaires by his mighty strength made a wide lane before him infusing Courage into his Soldiers reducing them into Order and running about here and there as was need The Noon time of Day being past and the Armies being wearied the Kings betook themselves to flight seeing Olivaires making a â—arge Shammels of their Army So they gave their Horses the Reins and Routed and Conquered and with all speed fled away All the Field run with Blood and all the Victor's Soldiers were smeared with humane Gore So the one Party fled and â—he other withdrew and Night comâ—ng on the Battel ceased Olivaires â—efore he would sleep caused the Wounded to be taken care of and â—ut in Order the remainder of his â—oldiers and made them refresh themselves and take some repose After having bid the Trumpet sound he said Invincible Cavaliers now is the time to compleat the Victory and pursue the Foe who unexpectedly flies before us Therefore whoever among you either loveth Me or is solicitous of his own Honour let him follow Me. And so early in the Morning he came upon the timerous Enemy and having dexterously drawn his to a head he entered among 'em ever as he went on encouraging his Forces Whereupon the Kings and their Army being surprised at the sudden sounding of the Trumpet were mightily afraid And those fighting Manfully and these defending themselves Cowardly they were almost all slain and discomfited But the Kings being made Prisoners and some principal Persons besides remained alive Thus they became Masters of their State and Kingdom wherein much Treasure was found but all was distributed among the Soldiers for Olivaires like a noble General kept nothing to himself CHAP. XLIV The other King being in a strong City the same is besieged by Olivaires and surrenders to his Favor and Mercy THE Army having taken some repose and being refresh'd anâ— enliven'd Olivaires gave Order 〈◊〉 pitch their Tents and Pavilions round â—he City wherein was that other King with many Guards So putâ—â—ng fire to the Gates scaling the Walls making Engines of portable Wood to annoy those which were within they made assault against it â—or two Days and on the third took 〈◊〉 putting all to the Sword that had â—ot yielded themselves up to them Olivaires suddenly commanded a Proclamation That the Churches and the Ladies they should not violate or disorder which accordingly was obey'd The King when he saw the City taken and his Captains slain and Soldiers retired into a strongly fortify'd Castle and seemingly inexpugnable But the indefatigable diligence of Olivaires and couragiousness of his Soldiers gave many Batteries against it which wearied out the King who finding no way for escape yielded himself to Olivaires craving his Parâ—on for his refractoriness Olivaires â—â—ceived him kindly embraced him gave him his Life and him he made Prisoner together with the other Kings under strong and well-armed Guards However Olivaires ordered those Royal Captives to be more waited and attended on than his owâ— Person and he continually entertained them with Feasts honorably and aâ— his own Table The
places of the Countrey the Enemy might fly to and save themselves Wherefore having accommodated and provided every thing and given all his Soldiers Arms and ranked 'em in fit posture for Combat he made unto them this short Oration Valorous Lords worthy Knights my Brethren and Companions I believe you are well satisfi'd of the good Nature of our Sovereign the King of England my Father and of the great Liberality he hath expressed toward you in Gifts Presents and fair Promises And I believe that you have a Courage lodged in your Breasts ready to requite as much as you are capable what he has deserved of you But this I am most sure of as a shining Truth that the Glory of an honourable Death is far rather to be elected than the living with more ease and perhaps not so even to the most faint-hearted under the brand of Cowardise and consequently the disgrace of Scorn and Affronts This Day therefore offers a fair Opportunity to make honourable Proof of our Valours and to dilate the Soul of our King to harbour still greater Kindness and Affection if it be possible for us all And I can plainly behold in all your looks Hardiness and a rising Courage and a longing after Battel and Fame and for the rendering more honourable and noble your Blood Summon up then all your Strength and Vigour and contract them into a stout Heart to expel out of your Dominions such arrogant haughty and proud Invaders and spread abroad their Infamy and Disgrace whilst you procure to your selves a happy Memory and leave the inheritance of a valorous Name upon your Families and whosoever is of another temper is a reproach and shame to his native Countrey Here they all with one consent cry'd aloud We are ready to undergo a thousand Deaths for our King for your Highness and for our own Honour and we will follow you wheresoever you shall lead and we will give such demonstrations both of our Fidelity and Courage as to make you plainly understand how much we think our selves engaged to our Sovereign and how mindful we are of our Allegiance Olivaires having drawn out his Men divided them into three Parts on the right Wing he set 3000 Horse and 4000 Foot under the Command of Edward the noble English Cavalier on the left he gave to Robert his Lieutenant the Command of 6000 Horse and 2000 Foot ordering him not to assault the Enemy's Army before Edward had joyn'd his Battalions In the Night with all the silence possible he approach'd the Camp and in the Morning he bid the Drums beat and the Trumpets sound and heading the main Body himself he gave the Adversary Battel The first that advanced to encounter Olivaires was a fierce Irish Captain Stout and Gallant and engaging with him two such grand Blows were given that the very Earth shook both their Horses fell and their thick Launces â—ere broken into a thousand splinters Olivaires quickly without any harm â—eceived rose up on his Feet But â—he dismay'd Captain with a piece â—f Launce sticking in his Breast reâ—ain'd on the ground half dead And â—â—ddenly did begin a sharp and terriâ—le Fight every one valiantly labourâ—ng his Sword and slashing round â—bout him mean time Edward on the â—ight Wing made but a bad Encounâ—er of it Whereupon he begun to â—quare his Ranks And they of the City beholding an Army favourable â—o 'em did great damage to their Reer â—utting them in mighty Confusion This Assault being made in little â—ime Robert during it was in the Flank and so violent was the Onset and so briskly did they bear up to them that the Enemy constrained by Olivaires's Valour who having remounted like a Lion made a vast Shammels and fresh Assistances coming in from all Parts being able to make small Opposition to their Fury fled Whereupon the Kings ran to catch their Bridles and having obtained a Port enter'd a Ship for sail Great was the Mortality of that day's Action about Four thousand English having been slain and we may venture to affirm it near Twenty thousand of the Irish King's Forces So Olivaires after Victory dispos'd himself to resettle the Army to take care of the Wounded to bury the Dead and to celebrate with Encomiums and Triumphs the valorous Deceased acknowledging himself eternally obliged to the Living for their admirable Fortitude and Courage and in a word for the Victory CHAP. XLII Of the News which the King receiv'd of the Victory and of Olivaires who resolves to pursue the Enemy COuriers were quickly dispatch'd away to Court with Olivaires's Letters signifying the Victory unto the King and having in a short time arrived at the Palace and the News presented the City and Kingdom were fill'd with great rejoycing and with Bonefires Feasts and Triumphs they gave mighty demonstrations of their gladness Helena was much comforted and a thousand times read over her dear Olivaires's Letter whom she lodged in her heart day and night And another thousand by day discours'd with her Father of him in that respectful and decent manner as was agreeable repeating to one another their Dreams and had great satisfaction betwixt themselves On the other part Olivaires seemed not to himself to have performed any thing in putting the Enemy to flight and was resolved to make a total destruction of and perfect conquest over them Wherefore considering the slaughter he had made among them he perceived they could not readily recruit their Army fortify their Cities act defensively and offensively and so he resolved to follow them His Soldiers therefore being refreshed he caus'd them with quick dispatch to make a great many Ships and having set his Army all in Order in a large Campaign he went on Horseback into the midst of 'em and thus spake Most Noble Cavaliers Valiant Combatants my Brethren and Friends I think my self very happy for having been Spectator of your Valours and that the Enemy has felt your hands how rough they are and for this acknowledge kind Stars have shed their benign influence on me But ah what have we done in banishing them out of our Territories We must expel them their own if it be a right Victory there will be seen our Puissance in such an enterprize there will your Hardiness Valour and Vertue appear Are you pleased Brethren and dear Friends that we pursue them and banish them out of their own Dominions Are you pleased that we should revenge our selves on so great an Affront their presumption to have driven us from our State will it not be a just recompence to expel them theirs to take from them their Kingdoms their Cities and Life Whom would you have to take vengeance for this Insolence offer'd if we our selves have not resentment enough to do it how can you imagine our Posterity should have a warmth for it Our Sovereign the King seeing our brave and victorious Courage will know how much we are the loving Children of the Father of our Country and will
whom they were so strangely obliged O Olivaires I am that Master John Talbot I am that Cavalier whom thou didst conduct to his Native Country that Gentleman I am whom being excommunicated for a large Debt thou didst at thy own Expences discharging the Sum cause to be re-blessed and have Christian burial God for such Charity Brotherly love and thy goodness did command me to do such kindnesses for the Possessor of so honest an heart He delivered thee in all thy Distresses he at length hath tried and fully known that precious Soul which he has given thee That Elemosinary Pity which thou shew'd unto me shall also prepare thee a Mansion in the Heavens My giving the Black Habit signify'd my being in the state of damnation the Red Livery intimated the ardent Fire of Purgatory which hath purged away my sins the White Vestment manifested the Celestial Country which was opened unto me I served thee therefore with Arms Horses and Men I directed Arthur to the place and made him take thee out of Prison At that instant I seized the City I gave the Lion for a Companion to Arthur who killed the Monster and who fought like an Army in the Campaign I healed his Wound I gave the Ring of the King thy Father to Helena and I begged of the Lady to act with hers for giving thee her to Wife Therefore thou hast had every thing through me but acknowledge all from God as the Author And let each of you render infinite thanks unto him who hath delivered you out of so great Afflictions and who for the future will fill your hearts with joy and gladness All these words spoke the Cavalier and at last being surrounded with a Divine Splendor said Peace be with you fare you well for I mount to Eternal Life and vanished CHAP. LXXII The King and Queen pay their gratitude unto God and of the coming of the King of Dalgarve with the Espousals of Clarisia THE King and Queen rendered infinite thanks to Almighty God ever amazed and admiring at so strange a matter and terrible Accident as had befall'n them and they ordered that a solemn Thanksgiving should be made throughout the whole Kingdom unto the Lord Jesus Christ Arthur having in this time setled his Realm of Dalgarve went to the Court of Olivaires his Brother in-Law where he could never enough satisfy himself with looking on Clarisia both for her Beauty and Behaviour and in consideration that it was her Blood out of her own Veins that had cur'd him for which he every day gave thanks unto God One day Olivaires call'd to him and said My Brother who art ever in my heart and who hast done so much for me I much desire that you should marry if you fancy such a state I like your Majesty's Proposal very well reply'd Arthur but whom may you bestow upon me whom might it be convenient that you should give me my Clarisia who hath saved your life she shall be your right Eye your Soul and dear Companion for by your good deeds and carriages towards me you have deserved her And as they were designing to make this Alliance four Lords came post from England to signify to Olivaires that the King had been seiz'd with an Apoplexy whereof he died in a day's time which news made a melancholy Court and they all went into mourning The Funeral was ordered and the solemn Ceremonies duly performed After some time the Nuptials of Arthur and Clarisia were concluded on and all things prepared and fitted for the celebration and Arthur was crowned King of England by Olivaires The report whereof spread suddenly all over the Realm Whereupon Counts Knights and Barons came to the Feasts and Justs and all the Cities sent to make congratulation then after a convenient time's stay Arthur went to England and gave the Government of Dalgarve to his Natural Son and constituted him Vice-roy a person of a gentle virtuous valiant and admirable Genius CHAP. LXXIII Arthur King of England goes to London and Henry is made Commander of an Army against the Infidels HE who would have taken a true estimate of the love between Olivaires and Arthur should have been present to see their parting when he went from Spain For I believe his heart was well nigh burst with sorrow and Helena seeing her Daughter go away was fill'd with extream grief at last they took leave and departed with a great comely and honourable Train A few days after an Embassy from the King of Cyprus arrived to Olivaires to demand Aid of him against the Enemies of the Catholick Faith and Olivaires designed to go suddenly himself in person for such an Enterprize But his young Son Henry hearing of it begged of his Father to leave the conduct and management of his Forces to him for that he desired to get a name and honourable repute among famous Cavaliers which favour though with difficulty he obtained Having made him then General Royal he gave him Twenty five thousand well armed Men and when he had put them all in right order and had made ready their Ammunition and all things necessary for the War and their March he departed for Cyprus 'T was a grand affliction to Helena to see her self deprived of both her Children at once At his going away a great number of Spanish Cavaliers accompanied him and some went with him to Cyprus others joined with him in battel and assisted him When Prince Henry was arrived in the Kingdom of Cyprus he united his with the other Army and with mighty fury fell on the Enemy and got a glorious Victory Wherefore all following and adhering to him as a prudent and valorous Prince he resolved to give them a total rout and destroy them all and take many Countries before he made his return into Spain The news of this his so successful first Attempt was brought to Olivaires and Helena which wonderfully pleased them and rejoyced the whole Kingdom CHAP. LXXIV Arthur's Entry into England and of the Feasts Triumphs and other Justings made for the Nuptials and of a Rebellion of the Kingdom WHEN King Arthur made his Entry into England a thousand Lances and a thousand Men on Horseback all clad in Silk came to meet him Cavaliers Counts Marquesses and an infinite number of Knights and Gentlemen received and attended on him with his Consort Clarisia and they admired her for being the Daughter of so beautiful a Lady the Daughter of one of their Kings and fancied they had got Helena again so much she resembled her Thither to the Nuptials was concourse of all the most valiant Knights that were in the whole Kingdom and infinite Turney and Justing they made and many days the Court was abroad After that Arthur was publickly inaugurated and with the assistance of Excellent Counsellors he put in good order his whole state and disposed every thing for the best it pleased God that Clarisia conceived and at the due time brought forth a lovely Boy and