THE Famous pleasant and variable Historie of Palladine of England Discoursing of honorable Aduentures of Knightly deedes of Armes and Chiualrie enterlaced likewise with the loue of sundrie noble personages as time and affection limited their desires Heerein is no offence offered to the wise by wanton speeches or encouragement to the loose by lasciuious matter Translated out of French by A. M. one of the messengers of her Maiesties Chamber Patere aut abstine AT LONDON Printed by Edward Allde for Iohn Perin dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Angell And are there to be sould 1588. ¶ TO THE RIGHT Honorable Robert Deuorax Earle of Essex and Ewe Viscount of Hereford and Bourchier Lord Ferrers of Chartley Bourchier and Louayne Maister of the Queenes Maiesties Horsse A. M. wisheth increase of all happinesse AMong those right Honorable that offered incense in the Temple of Iupiter in plates of Golde according to the custome a simple Heardsman religiously affected brought his offering on a broken potsheard for which he being reprooued by Iupiters Priest boldly returned this answere The Gods that dispose all knowe all rich men are discerned by their great gifts and poore men by their simple yet happily their zeale is not alike for rather had I be thought vnmannerly by this homely present then vndutifull by want of better abilitie In like manner right noble Lord among those ripe and curious wittes that offer to your learned view matter of valew squared and leueld by deepe knowledge and experience a simple zealous man more deuoted in affection to your honors welfare then able to expresse the same as other can presents this rude and vnpullished peece of worke not handled with arte because I want it nor glozed with borrowed phrases because I am loth to become indebted but equall with the poore Heardsmans potsheard and with him chusing rather to be thought homely then vndutifull knowing that the Eagles eyes of Iupiter can search into the substance of the one and other This woorke of Palladine with all his imperfections I humblie commit to your honorable protection knowing that in respect of your owne loue to Chiualrie you will thinke well of him and because he is an English man in the better sort fauour him For my selfe as I neuer knew honor partiall in opinion but with vpright iudgement to ballance each mans deseruing so in this assurance with reuerence I end as forward as any in affection to your Honor. A. Monday To the corteous and freendly Readers MY promise was that by Easter Tearme this worke should be published and according to my promise heere doo I send it not doubting but you will so fauourably censure theron as my paynes and the pleasure of the Historie deserueth If you happen to fynde any mislike in the translation or that it is not so currant English as fyne eares hunt after let this serue as a sufficient excuse for mee that in translating men are bound to their Writers words and such as roue at random may set downe what they please And this I am to intreate on the Printers behalfe and mine owne whereas in dyuers places there are faultes escaped as woordes verie much mistaken many left out and others common that you will freendly let passe such ouer-sightes and at the next Impression they shall bee amended for I beeyng often absent and the Printer carefull to end his worke by appoynted time haue beene the cause of all these escapes Thus committing my Booke and my selfe to your fauourable iudgement I ceasse From my house without Cripple-gate this 23. of Aprill Yours to bee commaunded Anthony Monday THE Famous pleasant and variable Historie of Palladine Discoursing of Knightly and woorthy deedes of Armes and vnfolding the loue of many great Princes and Lords but especially of PALLADINE Soone to the King Milanor of England and the faire Selerina sister to the King of Portugall c. CHAP. I. * Of the birth of Prince PALLADINE and the strange aduenture that happened on the day of his birth in the Citie of London before the Pallace of King Milanor AT what time the puissant and spacious Empire of Greece and most fertile Asia was held in subiection by the great Turke and the Romaine Monarchy was commaunded by the wise Emperour Iustinian Gouernour of both high and nether Allmayne raigned in great Brittayne now called England a King named Milanor who from his youth was so well instructed in good letters and the Sciences liberall as among the most learned Doctors he was reckned peerelesse before he came to the age of eightéene yéeres During this time of his education his Gouernors to make him perfect in all things beseeming so great a Prince caused him to practise the managing of great Horsses to vse the Tilt and Tourney with all other-feates of agilitie incident to Armes wherein right soone he grew so prompt and excellent as all the Lords and Subiects of his Realme were not onely abashed at his forwardnes but thought themselues especially blessed to liue vnder the regiment of so braue a King Nor was this ioy alone to them but many other nations and forreigne Princes did participate therein especially the Kings of Scottes and Norgalles his neighbours who hearing of the great bountie prowesse magnanimitie and other lawdable vertues in this King determined to be freends to him and his holding this opinion that beeing confederate with England in loue no other King or Prince durst molest them with warres Upon this consideration they sent their Ambassadours to his Maiestie to promise and sweare peace amitie and inuiolable concord with obeysance and acknowledging him their Superiour where they were receiued honourably and with content a matter greatly auailing them afterward as you shall perceiue by the following discourse of our Historie The King of Portugall vnderstanding the manifold vertues and power of King Milanor as also that so many Kings and Princes desired his fréendly alliaunce preuayled so well by his sundry Embassades as the King of England married with his Sister named Selerina faire in perfections yong and gratious among all the Ladies in her time and to continue holy loue betwéene this King and Queene soone after she was conceyued with a goodly Sonne at whose birth happened such a maruelous aduenture as no registred memorie records the like At what time the Quéene was in trauayle suddenly was the Citie of London couered with a darke and fearefull Clowde the heauens deliuering such thunder and lightning the earth likewise shaking and trembling so straungely as the Citizens expected death euery moment imagining the end of the world was come vpon them For the space of two houres this wonderfull tempest endured vntill the Quéene was deliuered of her burthen when the Clowde began to vanish away and the heauens looked fayre and cheerefull as before After this despairing Storme the people who with feare and terror of the thunder had hid themselues in vaultes and caues amazed and fearefull began to shew themselues but
wanne whereby the Damosell judged that he was wounded wherefore she said I perceiue my Lord you are scant well let us enter this Tent I pray ye where you shall be unarmed and these Knightes likewise that I may see what woundes you haue receiued for my Lady Orbiconâ—e gaue me at my departure from her a bore of most pretious and arteficiall ointment so that let your wounds be how dangerous soeuer in four and twentie houres I will awarrant they shall be perfectly healed Upon this aduise they entred the Tent where when they were vnarmed the Damosell verie cunningly dressed their wounds finding these of Orliman and Durandell to be most doubtfull yet her comfortable speeches made them expect speedie recouerie Afterward they sate downe to refresh themselues with such viands as they found there readie in the Tent and Palladine calling for the prisoner said Knight if thou desire the safetie of thine owne life tell me without fabling what the Knight was that first proffered to take the Sheeld from the Damosell and vpon what occasion you kept the passage heere to forbid the course of Knightes errant Nor will I Sir quoth the Knight hide bne iote of the truthe from you Knowe then that he which would haue taken the Sheeld from the Damosell was brother to a Gentleman who not long since by the Kings commaundement was put to a most shamefull death for that vniustly he detayned a Knightes wife to whose Castell came two strange Knightes and by the ayde of Lydiseo Prince of Hungaria they tooke the Gentleman sore wounded who was afterward executed slew many of his seruants as also his two brethren deliuering the Lady to her husband againe who now liue in quiet in their owne Castell This Knight that stroue for the Sheeld was likewise brother to that Gentleman who hearing the misfortune of his brethren vowed to take vengeance on those two Knightes by whose meanes he was now left freendlesse in the world Upon this determination heere caused he his pauillion to be erected sending his espials abroade to allure all Knightes by this passage hoping at length to finde those twayne which I thinke he imagined to be they that conducted the Damosell because he commaunded vs all to assaile them but whether they be the same or no he is now greatly deceiued of his hope and thus haue you heard the verie truth of our being heere Thanks be to heauen sayd the Prince Palladine that kept vs out of this danger for if we had passed this way we had either beene slaine or taken by these viâ—e minded men But my hazard was greatest quoth the Damosell had I not met with these two noble Knightes who in my defence thrust their owne liued into question Damosell aunswered Durandell of Cleue we haue done no more then our dutie and what all true Knightes are sworne vnto After they had stayed so long as them pleased they rode to a Towne not farre distant thence leauing the Knight to prouide buriall for his companions and help for such as yet remained aliue swearing him neuer after to be seene in any such bad action At this Towne they abode two or three dayes to furnish themselues of what they wanted as also to repaire their Armour which was much brused At length the Damosell tooke Palladine aside framing her speeches to him in this manner My Lord seeing you finde your selfe in good estate of health let me intreate ye to bid your freends adiew that carely in the morning we may depart to the place whether my Lady commaunded me to conduct ye because you must be assistant to such a one as shall héereafter doo very much for you Damosell quoth Palladine presently shall you see me bid them farewell for great is my affection toward your mistresse seruice seeing she fauours the man so much she neuer sawe Then turning to the three Princes he sayd My noble companions you knowe my promise to this Damosell to follow her whither she shall guide me now is she importunate for my departure wherefore let me intreate ye not to be offended if earely in the morning I take my leaue assuring you that neuer shall I forget your manifold courtesies And let my solemne promise perswade yée that these earnest affaires once dispatched to you will I presently shape my course meane while commaund me as your freendly seruant My Lord aunswered Manteleo albeit this seperation is gréeuous to vs yet séeing it a cause concerning your honor and may aduantage some distressed person kéep your promise right paciently shall we beare your absence hoping to see you shortly in England at the King your Fathers Court for thither shall we presently direct our iourney Palladine hauing intreated them to doo his humble dutie to the King his Father to the Quéene likewise and his two Sisters embraced them all thrée right louingly each one with teares shewing their gréefe of departure Like courteous farewell tooke they of the Damosell who gaue them many thanks for their fréendly succour and so each one entring their chamber for that night Lycelio the Squire to Palladine prepared all things readie for his maister who determined to be on horssebacke by breake of day CHAP. XV. ¶ How Palladine went with the Damosell that came from the wise Orbiconte and Manteleo Durandell and Orliman trauayled toward England and were seperated from each other by a strange aduenture EArly in the morning Palladine Lycelio and the Damosell set forward on their iourney directing theyr course to the Realme of Ireland leauing the thrée Princes soundly sleeping who the same day rodâ— toward England without finding any aduenture on land or Sea worthie the rehearsall After they had refreshed themselues thrée or foure daies at Douer a Towne that stands on the Sea coast of England they concluded to ride to London where they heard the King as then kept his Court. When they had ridden eight or ten miles they sawe comming foorth of a Forrest two poore men all besmeared with blood and verie sore wounded wherevpon they imagined that some théeues had thus vsed them and therefore rode toward them to vnderstand the cause Good Gentleman cried one of them so wounded for Gods sake helpe vs. Of whence are ye sayd the Prince Manteleo We are Sir quoth the poore man of Bohemia trauailing from the King of Englands Court home againe and to his Maiestie were we sent with thrée young Lions which two Knightes trauailing through our Countrey gaue vs charge to carie thither And as we came through this wood thrée théeues suddenly set vpon vs who wounded vs as you see tooke the money from vs we receyued of the King and haue slaine two of our compaâ—ions Manteleo remembring the poore men how Palladine and he had sent them with the Lions was meruailous sorie to see them so misused demaunding if the theeues were on horssebacke or on â—oote The poore men aunswered that they were on foote and could not as yet be gone verie farre Without any
separated them as you shall presently heare CHAP. XIX ¶ How a strange aduenture happened in the Citie of Varne by the ending whereof the Prince Palladine determined to depart from the Duchesse Brisalda HEere must I intreate ye to remember the Princes of Norgalles and Scots Landastines and Simprinell whome we left in the King of Englands Court Landastines being enamoured on the Princesse Florea Sister to Palladine as Manteleo was of his faire Marcelina Simprinell loth to part them that agréed so well left his companion in England trauailing to the King of Norgalles Court where he certified his Maiestie of the good estate of his Sonne Landastines Which newes were so welcome to the King as he intreated Simprinell to abide in his Court that he might shew him the pleasures of his Realme whereto the yong Prince right willingly condiscended as one desirous to behold nouelties But rather the chéefest cause was his affection to the faire Princesse Belanicia daughter to the King of Norgalles with whose beawtie he was meruailously enthralled and not daring to acquaint her with his loue he fell into a dangerous sicknes to the great gréef of the King who loued him as he had béene his owne Sonne In the end the Phisitions hauing declared to Simprinell how perillous his case stood by concealing his gréefe made him thus resolued that before he died he would make knowne to the Princesse Belanicia who oftentimes came her selfe to visit him and sent him many comfortable meates in his sicknesse the originall cause of his extremitie And one time among other the Lady that was most vsually sent by the Princesse and in whome she reposed greatest confidence desired him to bewray from whence his sicknesse grew promising withall that she would labour to her vttermost to procure his health The yong Prince very modest and bashfull taking the Lady by the hand thus aunswered Faire freend I thanke ye for your readie good will in séeking my helpe which is a matter not impossible to bee done but as for the cause of my languishing disease I will not acquaint ye therewith vnlesse ye sweare to keepe the same secret not reuealing it to any one but such as I shall name Assure your selfe thereof said the Lady by the faith of a virgin Know then sweete Lady quoth Simprinell that my extreame sicknesse happened by no other cause then the loue and affection I beare to your mistresse and feare to offend her or the King hath by silence of my loue brought me to this daunger Why my Lord quoth she you that are of so high and honorable discent can ye offend my Lady by louing her or you that are as good as she doo not deserue loue for loue she is the child of a King and so are you beside she is humble and gracious as any Princesse liuing then feare not to let her knowe your daunger Alas Madame quoth he neuer shall I dare to speake to her but may it please you to solicite my cause yet with carefull héed of her dislike I shall confesse my life preserued by you And so much will I doo for ye my Lord quoth she without giuing her any occasion of offence but rather shall I doo it in such sort as by a speedie answere you shall perceiue her mind Go then good madame said the Prince and boldly may ye assure her that my life or death is in her hand So went the Lady to her mistresse to whome she imparted what you haue heard wherewith she was so well pleased as she presently sent to him againe this aunswere that she entertained his loue with the like and that as he would witnesse his affection towards her he should practise what spéed he could deuise for his health These words breathed such life into the Prince as within few dayes he was perfectly recouered when after many amorous parlees with Belanicia she to make a triall how his loue was grounded hauing heard report of the faire Duchesse Brisalda desired him to trauell to Varne in Bulgaria carying with him her liuely counterfeit and there to maintaine against all Knightes whatsoeuer that she was fairer then the Duchesse Brisalda on which condition she would accept him as her Knight and loyall seruant Simprinell glad to be so commaunded the next day hee departed with his foure Squires and comming to Varne where the Duchesse remained heard what braue imployment was there in Chiualrie wherefore comming to the accustomed place of the Tourney on a faire Piller he placed his Ladyes picture saying he would maintaine against all commers that his mistresse excéeded the Duchesse Brisalda in beautie The Knightes attendant on the Duchesse were amazed héereat preparing themselues to defend her cause but Simprinell willed them first to bring the Duchesse counterfeit and it to be placed by his Ladies and the conquerour should carie them both with him Right soone was the Duchesse figure set on the Piller and Simprinell this first day dismounted twelue Knights Palladine being ridden abroade on hunting which made Brisalda despaire of her fortune fearing the strange champion would depart vnconquered This dayes good successe emboldened Simprinell to try the second when Palladine entring the Listes among the other Knightes whome one by one he saw brauely vnhorsed he came to Simprinell with these spéeches In sooth Sir Knight I commend your enterprise beeing a cause that maketh many forward in Armes but as for the Lady whome you extoll beyond my Lady the Duchesse héer present I say and will auerre the contrary against you and all other till the houre of death If affection hath blinded your eyes I soone shall alter that opinion when your owne selfe shall confesse that your Lady is no way to be compared with mine I imagine by your words Sir answered Simprinell that you will defend your mistresse by the toong onely but let vs goe to the matter roundly for you are not yet so good an Oratour as to perswade me from a resolued assurance You thinke then quoth Palladine that I thinke to escape the Combate by my words Not so for you shall sée me effectually defend the honor of her beautie who is my mistresse So giuing the spurres to their horsses they encountred with such violence as Palladine lost his stirrops but Simprinell was cast foorth of his saddle to the great ioy of the Duchesse and her freends that his presumptuous arrogancie was so worthely checked Afterward they fell to the Combate with the Sword and long they fought without any aduantage till Palladine by tripping his enemie got him downe and himselfe vpon him when holding his Sword ouer him he sayd Now must thou confesse the Duchesse Brisalda to be a Lady farre excelling thine in beautie elfe art thou not like to sée her again◠Seeing fortune hath throwne me into this extremitie said Simprinell I confesse my selfe vanquished but to say that my mistresse is inferiour to thine I will not though I die therefore nor am I otherwise bound by my owne conditions
strange Knightes whatsoeuer They not misliking this councell went presently to the Abbey where the Abbot welcommed them as beseemed their estates and while their Supper was prouiding the skilfull man hauing visited their woundes they walked into the faire Orchards and Gardens recounting to each other their seuerall fortunes since they were together in the Court of England Simprinell discoursed his loue to Belanicia of Norgalles and the cause of his comming to the Citie of Varne which when Palladine heard he determined not only to forget his affection to Belanicia but also to assist his freend to his vttermost in obtaining her loue saying My noble fréend I knowe what manner of disease loue is if one haue not receiued the swéetes thereof albeit when I sawe you in England I had no knowledge at all therein wherefore if I shall accompanie you to Norgalles such good speeches will I vse of you to your Lady as she shall not be offended for not bringing her portrait againe or that of the Duchesse which she sent ye for Simprinell thanked the Prince for his offer but he was farre otherwise addicted saying he had promised his Lady a further iourney for her loue wherein he would not haue any companie With this answere was Palladine well contented directing his course another way so hauing stayed two daies at the Abbey and either of them being able to beare Armour he left Simprinell there and courteously taking his leaue of the Abbot set on whither fate and fortune would guide him And after he had ridden fiue or sixe dayes he met a horsseman with whome falling in talke he vnderstood that the great Prince Caesar of Roome had at Paris enterprised a noble Tournament for the loue of the faire Rosamonde of Fraunce a Princesse estéemed incomparable in beautie And I quoth the Courrier am sent to the King of Norgalles Court who hath a faire Daughter named Belanicia before whome I must reueale my message and declare the Prince Caesars challenge in presence of all the Kings Knightes Afterward I must trauaile to Bulgaria and in the Court of the Duchesse Brisalda a Lady likewise renowmed for her beautie I must make knowne of this famous Tournament Palladine glad to heare the Duchesse so commended and that now he had the meanes to see the Princesse Belanicia accompanied the messenger to Norgalles and by the way méeting Belanicia riding in her Litter abroade for her recreation with diuers Knightes that attended on her Palladine was prouoked to Ioust with them by a contemptuous challenge of one of her Knightes But such was their ill lucke as all her champions were dismounted till her brother Landastines tooke the cause in hand hauing left the English Court to come sée the King his father and after they had broken many Launces not being able to preuaile against each other they ended the sport and Landastines knowing Palladine tooke him with him to the Court where he was welcommed honorably by the King as also the faire Belanicia his daughter CHAP. XXI ¶ How Simprinell being healed of his wounds returned to Varne where he vanquished the Prince Alfian of Ireland and brought away the portrait of Brisalda WHen Simprinell felt himselfe well recouered and remembred how he had not onely failed in winning the portrait of the Duchesse but in the attempt had lost y e figure of his mistresse Belanicia he determined not to goe to Norgalles vnlesse he could accomplish his Ladye commaundement Wherefore taking his leaue of the Abbot he rode backe againe to Varne and comming to the place of triumphes found the Duchesse with her Ladyes placed on the Scaffolds and the Prince Alfian of Ireland the Champion for Brisalda who preuayled woorthely against all that encountred with him Simprinell looking on his Ladyes picture and séeing it embased vnder the Duchesse had such a violent impression strooke him to the harte as he intended to recouer her honor againe or else to leaue his life in the feeld And in this resolution he encountred the Irish Prince passing two or three courses brauely the shiuers of their Launces flying vp into the aire but at the third attaint he met Alfian so roughly as both horsse and man were sent to the ground When Alfian had recouered his feete hee drew his Sword and comming to Simprinell who by this time was alighted and prepared for him when they began a fierce and cruell combate whereof Simprinell in the end had the honor Then comming to the Duchesse with courteous reuerence he demaunded of her if she would permit him to carie thence the portraites whereto she made no answere but in a great anger strong from the Scaffold because her champion had defended her cause no better Heereupon the Iudges as the equitie of the case required deliuered the portraites to Simprinell which he giueing to his Squires mounted on horssebacke returning presently backe to the Abbey not alittle glad of his high good fortune At the Abbey he stayed thrée or foure dayes to heale such woundes as he tooke in the last combate and afterward departed toward Norgalles where he arriued without any aduenture by the way to hinder him If he were welcome to the Lords and Ladies I referre to your opinions and how the Princesse Belanicia liked thereof when she sawe her Knight returned with the Duchesse counterfeit let Ladyes desirous of especiall account imagine her content but in requitall of his great paines so confidently did she loue him afterward as by imparting the same to her brother Landastines who highly fauoured his freend Simprinell the King was made acquainted therewith and Ambassadours sent to the King of Scots such good liking thereof beeing found betweene them both as the mariage was consumated and long loue requited with desired recompence Afterward Simprinell imparted to Landastines how at first he was foyled by the Prince Palladine and in his absence had woon his Ladyes credit againe which Landastines tooke so vnkindly as they concluded to trauaile to Paris whither the English Prince was gone before to reconcile this wrong to former amitie And thither are ridden Landastines and Simprinell to the great gréefe of the King and Quéene but chéefely of Belanicia so soone to forgoe her Lord and husband Palladine entised with the report of this braue Tournament held at Paris by the Prince Caesar for faire Rosamonde of Fraunce would néedes be séene in those worthie exploites and landing at Callis loth to be knowne in England least the King his Father should hinder his intended iourney he met with the Duke of Gaule accompanyed with twentie Knightes brauely mounted he likewise riding to the Prince Caesars Tourney by the commaundement of the faire Agricia of Naples whome he honored as his Lady and mistresse After they had saluted each other Palladine presently knew the Duke remembring he had séene him in his Fathers Court yet would not he make any shew thereof because he was so slenderly accompanyed hauing no one with him but his Squire Lycelio and
said the Princesse much more must I be then for me thinkes it is impossible to finde his second so would you haue said had you but seene his valiant combate with the Giant Sulberne If then quoth Orbiconte you knowe so well what he is he louing you as his own life you him in like sorte I would aduise ye with all speede to consumate the mariage betweene ye albeit vnknowen to the King Queene and let me deale for their good will afterward Alas Madame quoth the Princesse héerein would I willingly obay ye but that in religion we are too farre a sunder For that take you no care saide Orbiconte in that before it be long all your Fathers Kingdomes shall be conuerted to Christianitie therfore boldelye make promise to the Knight that you will be baptised so soon as you come into England he hauing first sollemnely sworne to marrie with you as well I knowe he hath no other intent Héerewith shall his parents be well pleased and yours heereafter likewise for then and not before they shall vnderstand that this is for your eternall honor and profit Nonparelia who desired nothing more then the conquest of his loue and withall the swéete benefite ensuing thereby whome she had made Lord and maister of her heart thus answered I knowe Madame that my honorable preferment is the full of your intent and that you will sheeld me from any blemish or reproch I therefore commit all to your discretion and will obey whatsoeuer you commaund me This night then said Orbiconte shall you be assured of your louely Knight and holy vowes of mariage shall be passed betwéene you afterward agrée as you can your selues for I will accoÌ„plish what I haue promised So went they both to the Princes chamber where they found him walking with Captaine Broantine one that knew the deapth of his desire yet ignorant what Orbiconte and the Princesse had concluded Many deuoute courtesies passed betwéene them and Orbiconte taking the Prince aside thus spake to him You remember my Lord your vowe when you called your selfe the Knight without rest that you would neuer entertaine quiet of minde till you had found your onely beloued in the world to whome you were destenied before your birth now be of good chéere for this night shall you be resolued of the Lady who being frée in affection from all other doth honor you with the vnspotted loue of a virgin estéeming of you as her Lord and husband No meruaile if these newes were welcome to the Knight without rest who giuing credit to the words of Orbiconte sealed many a sweete kisse on the daintie lippes of Nonparelia as pledges of a full contract in the sight of heauen not to be recalled but by death onely Short tale to make Orbiconte that night brought them together and ioyned their hands with sollemne and sacred vowes he to carie her with him into England and she there to receiue the faith of a Christian. And thus will we leaue them in their amorous purposes each comforting other with the arguments of loue and now let vs returne to the Princes and Knightes whome we left in Fraunce England and elsewhere CHAP. XXXIII ¶ How the Prince Don Robert of Freeze surnamed the Knight of Fame hauing taken his leaue of the King Milanor of England and Lydiseo the Prince of Hungaria found a Knight wounded to the death and what hapned to him afterward YOU remember how the Knight of Fame being vanquished and sore wounded by the Prince Palladine at y e Iousts which Caesar maintained for loue of the faire Rosamond departed with Lydiseo of Hungaria and crossed the Sea into England where they were graciously entertained by the King Milanor to whome Lydiseo presented Letters from the Prince his Sonne and an other from Landastines to his Daughter Floraea These two Princes hauing soiourned awhile in the Court of England tooke leaue of the King and the Ladyes and afterward sundered themselues in trauaile Lydiseo iorneying toward Hungaria to sée the King his Father who as he vnderstood was fallen into a verie dangerous disease And the Knight of Fame coasting through a part of Brittayne and Normandie went to Burdeaux and from thence into Spayne as much to expell the mellancholly which the remembrance of faire Rosamonde charged his thoughts withall as also to make proofe of his valour against the Knightes of Spayne who accounted themselues the most valiant in Europe Being thus landed in Spayne he trauailed through diuers Forrests till night ouertaking him he was constrained to alight while his Squire cut down certaine boughes of trees for his maister to rest himselfe vpon After they had laid themselues downe as willing to sleepe not farre from them they heard the voice of a man breathing foorth many bitter and dollorous complaints and as it séemed to them he was nigh his end for his words faultred in the vtterance as wanting abilitie to deliuer them whereupon the Knight of Fame awaking his Squire said doost thou not heare one complaine very greeuously I doo my Lord answered the Squire and belike he is in some great danger I pray thee then quoth Don Robert let vs go a little néerer that we may vnderstand what he saith So claspping on their Helmets and Sheelds they walked soft in to the place where they heard the voice when they alight heare him continue his complaints in this manner Unhappie that I am must I néedes die by the traitorous hand of him whome I trusted as mine owne selfe Ah wretch why didst thou not tell me thy cruell pretence it might â—e I would haue found meanes to haue satisfied thâ—e of if thou hadst yeelded me better reason I might haue desisted from my pursuite Pansnite alas Madame all the torments in the world shall not withdraw me from your gracious loue nor death it selfe which I feele hath aâ—endicentred me O monstrous treason oh false dissembling and traiterous Câ—stillian Prince What say I Prince if thou be a Prince thou art one of the very worst that euer liued Ah my Lord quoth the Squire to this wounded Knight you may well beléeue and hold for certaine as I haue sayd to you many times that loue can abide no companion so by the often comming and going of this traytour to Madame Minoretta he could not but seeke to deceiue ye and to frustrate the hope you had in her all which you must now endure with pacience seeing we are all subiect to fortunes changes If fortune then reward me with death quoth the Knight iustly may I accuse her of treason as one that procureth all the mischiefes in the world Ah traiteresse and wreakefull Lady why didst thou not suffer me to enioy that honor which her diuine nature and beautie had grounded in my heart and whereto I was sollemnely vowed and dedicated Alas I féele my strength more and more to forsake me Ah Minoretta Minoretta what wilt thou say when thou hearest of my misfortune I feare thy loue is
King would not deny him then againe he dispaired of the matter reputing himselfe vnlikely to enioy her by reason of their contrarietie in faith and religion the King being an earnest maintainer of the Pagan lawe Nor would this imagination serue wherefore he intended to steale her thence secretly and to carie her with him into England while Orbiconte laboured at home to appease the trouble that might follow In the end he reposed himselfe on the faithfull promise of Orbiconte and desired his Lady to doo the like because he had found her so iust in all his former fortunes But now are the Ambassadours come to the Court where being entertained with great pompe and royaltie he that was appointed chéefe in the embassade thus deliuered his message to the King King of Aquilea the high and mightie Lord my maister being aduertised of the rare vertues wherewith thy Daughter is endued hath sent me to intreate thée that thou wouldest bestowe her on him in marriage and in so dooing he vowes himselfe thy fréend and a continuall enemie to thy ill willers Heerewith he deliuered the Letters of credit signed with the hand and scale of the great Turke whereat the King no lesse ioyfull then amazed that his Daughter should arise to so high fortune without crauing any aduise in the cause thus answered I thanke my gracious Lord with all my heart that he will so honor me with request of my Daughter in marriage and her do I fréely giue him with all that is mine at his disposing Then did the Ambassadour present the King sixe goodly Coursers of Turkie sent him from his Lord and maister and to the Princesse he gaue a sumptuous Carbanet garnished with Carbuncles Orientall Pearles and stones of inestimable valew which she receiued with good countenance albeit God knowes with a heauie heart in which gréefe the Knight without rest bare her company yet durst not outward shew therof This costly Iewell the Queene immediatly fastened about her Daughters neck being commended for the rarest that euer was seene afterward the King walked with the Ambassadours dooing them all the honor he could any way deuise While all the Court were busied Orbiconte came with Nonparelia to Palladines chamber and there concluded that he should on the morrow take his leaue of the King framing his iourney directly toward England where the Princesse and she would in short time méete him willing them to make no shew of sorrow at their departure least suspition might preuent what she had intended but to resolue them assuredly that all her promises should sorte to effect The Knight without rest did as he was aduised and albeit it was long ere the King would giue consent because he loued him very déerely yet at length with muche adoo he preuailed the Prince Zorian obtaining leaue of his Father to accompanie him in trauaile because his Maiestie thought he could neuer haue a brauer companion Many rich giftes the King bestowed on the Knight without rest especially one of the Coursers sent him from the great Turke and other thinges néedfull to be vsed in trauaile and thus he prepared him selfe toward his iourney reposing his confidence in the wise Orbiconte that she would bring his Lady safely into England CHAP XXXVI ¶ How the knight without rest and the Prince Zorian departed from Aquilea toward England and how the Knight without rest by the waye discouered him selfe to the Prince Zorian who when he came into England was baptized and betrothed to the faire Graciana daughter to the Earle of Flaunders and the like was Mantelio and Landâ—stines to their Ladies EUery thing being in redines for our Knightes trauaile after all the ceremonious conges at the parting of freendes the knight without rest Zorian Broantine Lyboran and Lycelio all brauelye mounted in seemely equipage they leaue the Courte of Aquilea and toward England iourney with all conuenieÌ„t speede the Knight without rest being especially induced to this haste because he expected the promise of Orbiconte soone after would followe him with the faire Nonparelia Many woorthy aduentures they had by the way as defending chaste Damoselles from forced violence and helping distressed Ladies to their suborned right which growing to more tediousnes theÌ„ delightfull matter I haue thought good to abridge as lothe to speake of any thing but what is woorth the hearing When our Knightes were entered the Realme of Almaigne and the Englishe Prince had made good triall of Zorians loue to him one night as they laye in Bed togeather he entred into these spéeches My Lord Zorian the fréendship solemnely sworne betwéene vs and the proof of your ready good will in all my actions will not let me hide one thing fâ—â—â— you which till this present I haue kept with great secrecie both from the knowledge of the King your Father and you onely by the perswasion of the Lady Orbiconte your Aunt to whome I am more beholding then any other liuing creature For in my iourney toward Aquilea oftentimes did she preserue me from the danger of death and by her meanes I left the Court of the King of England my Father by her promise that I should enioy your faire Sister in mariage in recompence of some seruice I should doo to the King your Father and this by her secret knowledge she likewise tolde me that all your Fathers dominions shall be shortly conuerted to the Christian faithe which I professe and will doo till death Then he recounted how Orbiconte sent him the Shéeld he bare and shewed the Swoord wheron the name of Aquilea was engrauen being brought to him by the enchaunted knight and two Damosells He likewise declared how he changed his name because he would not be knowne and that Liboran only counterfeited dumbnes being not able to learne the Aquilian language all the rest of his trauailes at full he opened his right name and whether he now iournied In sooth my Lord Palladine answered Zorian such resolute opinion of your vertues haue I imprinted in my hart as though you be contrary to me in loue and profession yet shall not my good will slack or I forgoe your companie but I would the time were come wherein my Fathers kingdome shall embrace Christianitie which I already begin to like so well beleeuing that your God is of greater power then ours as all our successefull déedes of armes beare witnes that I ere long will become a Christian Yet one thing cheeflye dooth displease me that my Sister is promised in mariage to my Lord the great Turk which will be the occasion that my Aunte Orbiconte cannot keep her woord with you My Lord and companion saide Palladine that I haue your good liking in this cause in sooth it dooth not a little content me but as for your Sister there is nothing yet doone but may easily be altered Madame Orbiconte hath promised to content the great Turke and your Father and in fewe dayes will safelye arriue with your Sister in England I would we
his Father had done in his youthfull time Thus continued he sixe or seauen moneths in this desire not daring to aquaint the King his Father therewith least he should refuse his request in respect of his yong yeeres but the destenies who foresawe the maruellous déedes of Armes he should accomplish and the straunge enchaâ—â—â—ments that should be finished by him would not suffer 〈◊〉 remaine long slothfull in his Fathers Court among 〈◊〉 Ladies and beautifull creatures but bringing his 〈◊〉 to perfection found the meane that he should be Knigâ—â—â—d by the King his Father as héereafter you shall readâ— more at large CHAP. V. ¶ How the Duke Temoreo of Millaine sent his Sonne Manteleo into England to be made Knight with the Prince Palladine and how Manteleo became enamoured of the Princesse Marcelina DUring this time the Duke of Millaine had a Sonne named Maâ—â—eleo a yong Prince and of vertuous nature brauely disposed to Knightly resolutions and being aged about eightéene yéeres He hauing oftentimes heard the famous report euery where bruted of the Prince Palladine of England and what a strange aduenture happened at his birth which could not as yet be ended by any was very desirous to go see him that he might be aquainted with the Prince so renowmed And one day finding the Duke his Father walking in his Garden he came and knéeled before him desiring licence for three or foure moneths to trauaile into England that he might be aquainted with the Prince Palladine of so especiall report as also the wise and debonaire King Milanor his Father with whome quoth he all Kings and Princes louers of vertue haue euermore desired fréendly allyance Witnesse héerof is the King of Portugall the Kings of Scots and Norgalles and diuers other Princes straungers by his hand my Lord so it stand with your liking would I receiue my order of Knighthood which he I hope will not denie me in respect of his owne gratious humanitie and the consideration he will haue of your person when he shall vnderstand that I am your Sonne The Duke hearing his Sonne in these tearmes was well pleased to behold him of so good a mind and contented likewise to graunt what he demaunded saying In sooth my Sonne seeing Fraunce and England are now in peace together the lesse do I doubt of thy going thither and boldly mayst thou assure him that he hath a perpetuall fréend of me determine then to depart when thou wilt foorthwith shall I giue order for thy prouision in trauaile but returne not till thou hast tried the aduenture so renowmed which hapned before the Kings Pallace on the day of his Sonnes birth and if thy good fortune may bring it to an end well mayst thou intreate the King for thy Order in that thou shalt well deserue thy Knighthood seeing so many haue fayled in triall thereof Manteleo hauing humbly thanked the Duke his Father for graunting him the thing he onely desired said I promise you my Lord that I will not returne thence without proofe of my fortune albeit I were sure to be repulsed more sharply then any hath béene heeretofore yet since the aduenture is so ordeyned let me dye ere I be dishonored with feare or dismaying Héereupon the Duke called the maister of his Horsse to whome he gaue charge to prouide his Sonnes estate toward England and that all things might be readie for his departure within thrée daies following which was accordingly perfourmed and so the Prince Manteleo with his trayne set forward from Millaine in the wéeke next after Pentecost making such expedition in trauaile as hauing passed the fairest Cities in Fraunce which he was desirous to see he came to Bullin where he tooke shipping and with a merry gale of winde in lesse then eighteene houres he landed in England The King Milanor aduertised of his arriuall was greatly contented therewith commaunding in all the Townes where-through he should passe that he should be receyued and intreated honorably And when he drew néere London the Gouernours were charged to méete him on the way the Prince Palladine likewise to welcome him at the Citie gates and the King with his Quéene and Ladies remained at the Pallace to entertaine him Euerie thing thus perfourmed in greatest maiestie the Prince of Millaine was receiued with generall ioy of the Citizens and the Prince Palladine accompanied with many great Lords of England to whome Manteleo behaued himselfe with honorable modestie as well he could his Courtship in those affayres and riding along with the English Prince he entred into these speeches The fame of so many lawdable vertues accompanyed with heroicall prowesse and magnanimitie which amply are discerned in your dayly cogitations hath earnestly prouoked me good Prince to be aquainted with you for which onely occasion I left my natiue Countrey to see this Realme euery where named happie by the honorable regiment of the King your Father whose vertues you imitate so effectually as you remaine a wonder to them that neuer saw you And long may good successe attend your dayly actions heauen making me so fortunate to winne acceptance in your eyes in that I haue deuoted my selfe to estéeme of you aboue all other Sir Manteleo answered the Prince Palladine as I knowe my selfe farre vnworthie these titles of prayse so am I perswaded that your speeches proceed of good affection towards me flying reports are oftentimes found vntrue yet do not I mislike your opinion of me which hath sorted out the meane to sée and knowe you in this Countrey as our honorable and well wishing fréend Of the King my Father haue I heard of your parents and good acquaintance hath he had with the Duke your Father when as a Knight errant he sought after aduentures assure your selfe therefore right welcome hither and gladly shall I accept of you as my freend and companion Thus beguiled they the time til they came to the Pallace where the Prince of Millaine stayed to behold the Statues reading the deuises he had so long desired to see whereat not able to maruaile sufficiently they went on into the great Hall where the King embraced him verie louingly the Princes and Lords likewise present entertained him with excéeding kindnesse and humanitie in that they had heard the King many times report the worthie chiualrie of the Duke of Millaine his Father After the King had welcomed this stranger with manyfold courtesies and had vnderstood the cause of his comming to his Court he sent him with the Prince Palladine to salute the Quéene and her Daughters But loue whose puissance as yet he had neuer felt finding time and opportunitie so conuenient when Manteleo had done his reuerence to the Queene comming to the Princesses that attended on her hauing kissed the first named Marcelina he found his sences so strangely inueigled as he stoode silent before her a prettie while being not able to deliuer one word so was he rauished with contemplation of her beautie Which the Princesse well noting and imagining this
her swéete lookes so effectuall in piercing as the most deuoutest minde was halfe rauished yea double charged with the baptisme of these twelue Aquileans Manteleo Landastines and the Queene were her sureties at the Font and diuers honorable persons for the Ladies who changed none of their names at Palladines request They were no sooner returned to the Pallace â—ut newes was brought that Don Roderigo the King of Portugall was come to London which tidings pleased the King to well especially all the louers whose mariages stayed onely for his comming as I thinke the riches of the whole world could not more content them Roderigo thus arriued is saluted by the people embraced by the King his Brother welcommed by Palladine and the other Princes kissed so courteously by Nonparelia his two Nieces and Graciana Daughter to the Earle of Flaunders as he imagined himselfe in the like place as héeretofore was feigned on the Isle of Aualon and the Kingdome of Feria On the morrow was the sollemnitie of the espousalles and because the Kings Princes and great Lords there arriued stroue who should giue place to each other it was in the end concluded that each Bridegroome should leade his Bride himselfe therefore they went to the Church in this manner Nonparelia was lead by the Prince of England Marcelina by Manteleo Florea by Landastines Graciana by Zorian Doronea Daughter to the Duke of Rostock by Broantine Erinnea Duchesse of Rimandria by Liboran Héere doo I omit the description of their sumptuous ornaments chaines and iewelles because you are able to conceiue that such persons at such a time want nothing that may set foorth themselues to the vttermost The feastes at Dinner and Supper ended the Maskes Mommeries and other pastimes giuen ouer Hymen entred among them whose Comedie was so bréefe as he vsed but one acte and two persons in the scene and that without any auditours present but those whome the play and partes concerned But cléere Dyan arising gaue fauour to some and offence to other so for that time the pastime ceassed because the Lords and Ladies came to giue them the good morrowe especially to Nonparelia who in time they hoped to sée Queene of England She hauing with modest and amiable gestures thanked them demaunded of Marcelina and Florea her Sisters how they fared and how her Brother Zorian did with his faire Princesse of Flaunders they all replying that loue that night rewarded their long trauailes and Venus courteously fauoured her Sonnes procéedings But leaue we this to such as haue made experience thereof and now let vs come to a matter long time kept in silence CHAP. XL. ¶ What end the aduenture of the Statues had namely that of the Goddesse Cytherea and her Sonne Cupid and the braue Tournament after the proofe thereof in honor of the marriage of Palladine and Nonparelia IN honor of this great sollemnitie the Princes had concluded on a Tournament at Armes which to behold the Ladies of the Court put themselues in comely equipage when Palladine before them vsed these speeches Faire Ladies you knowe how long I haue beene desirous of this day to make proofe how the aduenture of Loues Images might be brought to end namely by one of the race of the King my Father And albeit I am not that happie Knight to whome it is destenied and whome the heauens will regard with such fauour as in beawtie and firme affection to God beyond all other yet will not I faile to hazard my triall being thus farre assured that in matters appertaining to a noble minde no one hath beheld me inferiour to any And if my vertues are not came to perfection it will be some greefe to me because the abilitie of a man shall be prized according to his successe in this triall But to the end these Images newly called to remembrance may breede no obscure and difficult vnderstanding you must hâ—ere note that in the great waste place before the Court at London at the top of a great paâ—â—e of staires stood these Statues the one representing Venus holding in her hand a lighted Torche not to be extinguished but by the conquerour of double passions and the other was her Sonne Cupid with an arrowe drawen in his loâ—â— as readie to shoote which likewise could not be discharged but by her that was as much ouercome as victorious in amorous affections Now although these Statues were made of Marble yet were they so excellently carued and approching so neere to the life as Venus being attired in habit after the English manner was able to entise the thoughts of a verie stayed person Yet resteth one matter to declare namely that the man not deseruing the name of a louer might not present himselfe before these Images for the sight of such men was so offensiue to them as they would disdaine to looke vpon them and exalt themselues vp into the aire because such vnwoorthie people should not touch them Returne we now to Prince Palladine againe he who by generall opinion had not his second in England and by his new entraunce into the fellowship of the maried caried this estimation in his owne conceit that he should beare away this long desired honor in triall whereof so many had fayled héeretofore Yet heerein his high opinion was beguiled for he must yeeld and giue place to those whome the fates had especially appointed to wit his owne Sonne the Prince Florano of England and the faithfull Lady Pamphilia of Greece his wife as in their historie at large it is discoursed For this cause that the chéefest honor might remayne to him beyond all the other he caused Broantine and Liboran to begin the triall first then the Prince Zorian followed yet all of them so slenderly fauoured as they could not attaine to any shew of possibilitie Which when Landastines and Manteleo beheld the desire of glorie they had before made them now of so high and resolute courage as impacient of delay they would not tarie for each other attempting their fortune together but this vnkindly heate caught such a sudden cooling as their timeritie grew insupportable whereby the Images turned their backs to them Then they heereat offended said that the vertue of loue in this triall had not his due therefore they ought not to be any way dishabled As for this pâ—ece of Witchcraft quoth they héere beawtie is preferred before loyaltie therefore it must consequently followe that he and she who should despoile these Images must be the most faire and loyall of all louers So such as had not exquisite beawtie and loyaltie to be tearmed incomparable were repulsed thence with such discontent as the open foyle was more gréeuous then death to them Palladine heereat thoroughly moued yet more reioycing at anothers fault then distrusting his owne sufficiencie aduanced himselfe and proffering his owne hand to the Torche and the other to the Bowe the Images making obeysance and shewing amiable countenance to him mounted vp on high from him which