by this request and all things are now preparing for the Baptisme of this noble yong Prince At the arriuall of these two Kings great ioyes and triumphs were made by the Citizens of London and as concerning their entertainment at the Court you must thinke it was according to their high estates withall that Englishmen are not to learne to welcome Strangers When the day was come that the yong Prince should be Christened as the King his Father had requested he was named Palladine and afterward to honor the tune and the royall companie there wanted no worthy deuises with exquisite Chiualrie perfourmed both at the Tilt and Tourney wherein the King of Scots bare great estimation being a yong Prince aged sixe and twenty yéeres and one that in Knightly exercises carried especiall account Yet was not this ioy alone in the Court but in London likewise the Citizens shewed the like where the Conduits ranne diuers sorts of Wines the Stréetes were stored with Tables before the dores and all kinde of good chéere placed thereon with such ringing of Belles and making Bone-fiers as neuer was the like seene before that time It were too long a matter to rehearse what braue Theatres were erected and therein presented most excellent Comedies with Maskes Mommeries and all kinde of delightfull inuentions during the time of this Feast which continued fifteene dayes together It shall suffise me to tell yee how the King Milanor hearing that the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles would now returne home againe was desirous to haue the aduenture tried of the thrée Statues before they went and therefore caused to be proclaimed by sounde of Trompet through all the streetes in London that all Knights and Gentlemen should on the morrow come to the Pallace to aduenture their fortune for the rich Sheeld and the God Cupid so that if any one could take them from the Statues with right good will they should enioy them The like protestation was made of the Image of Venus and the rich Crowne which was destenied to the most accomplished Lady in beautie the fame whereof called faire beauties darlings to the Court on heapes each one thinking to beare away the Crowne by the benefite of her amiable lookes Wherefore the place and houre being appointed God knowes how they laboured to augment their naturall beautie by arteficiall meanes as oyntments distilled waters perfumes and other like extraordinarie matters which many Gentlewomen who haue any naturall imperfection at this day vse to make them seeme more amiable But now is the day come to make triall of the aduenture when the King Milanor with the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles and all the Ladies of the Court went to the voyde place before the Pallace and there on a faire Skaffolde couered with rich Tapistrie sate downe to take view of the valiant Knightes who durst presume to take the Sheeld from the Piller No sooner were they placed as beseemed their estates but twelue English Knightes esteemed of greatest courage and valour in the Countrey presented themselues well armed to trie their fortune After they had done reuerence to the Kings and Estates present he that imagined himselfe of highest resolution among them stept vp on foure of the staires before the Piller thinking to reach the Shéeld that hung thereon but the enchaunted Image drawing his fauchion with such furious strokes repulsed him downe againe as he durst not presume to meddle any more to the no little maruaile of the King and his companie who were not wont to behold such vncouth spectacles Next came a gallant yong Knight well prouided with a Romaine Target and a short arming Sword and with maruellous valour he ranne vp the steps before the Collomne and attained to the highest step of all but he went downe againe sooner then he expected for the Image threw him so violently backe againe as he tumbled headlong downe the staires to the ground Like fortune fell to the rest of the twelue some shewing greater magnanimitie in fight then other did yet their foile was alike and this Shéeld of honor could not be wonne by any of them Then came the Quéene to the Skaffold where the Kings sate and vnderstanding how the Knightes had sped in this first Aduenture she sayd Straunge is it my good Lords that no one of our Knightes can preuaile let the Gentlemen prooue the aduenture of the second Statue whereon the God of loue sheweth himselfe which must be conquered by none as I heare but by the most loyall Knight in the world by this meane shall we know them that haue best deserued toward their Ladies and who excéedeth all other in constancie Madame aunswered the King Milanor we thinke your councell verie necessarie for long will this Sheeld hang heere if no other Knightes then of our Realme come to trie their fortune such therefore as hold best opinion of their owne loialtie make triall of your vertue at the God of Loue and frée libertie we graunt to all straunge Knightes as to them of our Realme which our Heralds shall signifie for their better assurance CHAP. III. ¶ How many Knightes and Gentlemen of England Scotland and Norgalles aduentured to winne the Image of Cupid destenied to the most loyall and how they were all repulsed and the Ladies likewise in â—heir triall for the rich Crowne WHen the Herald had publikely deliuered his charge the King commaunded all the Knightes to vnarme themselues for loyaltie quoth he is not to be discouered by armes but by the hidden vertue thought consisting in the hart of a man My Lord sayd the Quéene had you not assured me to whome this aduenture is reserued I would haue intreated your Maiestie to make the first triall Then Madame quoth the King you haue some suspition of my loyaltie Not so my Lord sayd she for nothing is lesse in my thought and so certaine perswasion do I hold thereof as I feare not that all present should behold your vertue to the greater enlarging of your honor and mine owne While these spéeches passed a yong English Gentleman came to mount the steps that enuironed the Collomne whereon the God of Loue stoode but as he lifted his foote to the nethermost step the Statue tumbled him backe with his héeles vpward so that euery one laughed hartely thereat In sooth my fréend said the King verie little loyaltie remaines in you whome loue cannot abyde the sight of if your Lady be in this company good occasion hath she to get her a better seruant Then came another who had many times inuocated on the name and fauour of his Mistresse and he without any impeachment mounted on the third step making an offer to attaine the fourth but the Statue thrust him downe againe whereby he might perceiue his owne insufficiencie Beleeue me quoth the Quéene he hath done much better than the other and the Lady he loueth is greatly beholding to him for iustly may he be accounted loyall in that the Image suffered him to ascend
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
so high Then one of the King of Norgalles Knightes came to trie his fortune whome the Statue repulsed with such shame as all the day after he would not be séene I promise ye Gentleman said the King his maister you might haue spared the labour in comming so farre to returne home with so foule a rebuke and little néede had ye to shew vs your great inconstancie brother quoth the King of Scots be not offended with him for well he knowes that his Mistresse is not in this companie You say true brother aunswered the King of Norgalles but if I knew her I would aduertise her of his exceeding vertue Héere commes another of my Knightes to make a better proofe and yet perhaps will amend his fellowes dishonor The Knight attained the highest step without any disturbance and as he lifted his hand to take the Image of Cupid the Statue tooke him by the arme and set him on the ground againe I see then said the King of Norgalles each one must heere be iudged according to the greatnesse and defect of his loyaltie Afterward came a little Scottishman as thicke as tall his beard growing scattering like bristles his nose flat to his face two teeth standing before gagd out of his mouth a man in euery part very much mishapen and seruing as a Iester to make the King laugh he had married a woman as handsome as himselfe yet was he iealous of her out of all measure This proper Squire séeing so many repulsed by the Statue by breach of their loyaltie to their Wiues and Ladies considered with himselfe that he had neuer violated the bonds of marriage but euermore kept his faith to his wife therefore he would hazard his good hap not doubting but to carie the Image of Cupid with him into Scotland Hauing demaunded leaue of the King his Maister with a little cudgell in his hand he came to the Collomne and went vp to the verie highest step the Statue not offering any signe of resistance but as this deformed fellow would haue embraced the Image of Cupid the Statue snatched the cudgell out of his hand and so rapt him therewith about the shoulders as he was constrained to hye him downe againe the Kings and all present merily laughing at this iest Alas poore foole said the King of Scots how durst thou presume to shew thy selfe in this action Why my Lord aunswered the Queene your little man is yet found the most loyall and no Gentleman this day hath witnessed the like Beléeue me Madame aunswered the King of Scots it is against his will that he is so loyall for being so euill fauoured and deformed how can he finde any woman to offend with him Come hether little fellow said the King Milanor you haue beene beaten with your owne cudgell because ye came no better prouided but that the honor of the day may remaine to you I will that at this present no further triall shall bée made enough hath beene done my men let now the Ladyes by their beautie aduenture for the rich Crowne of Venus and let it suffise that a little fellow hath strained all our Knightes The Quéene in person began the enterprise but reiected as vnworthy of the fatall Crowne and after her followed the Ladies of the Court whose fortunes were like or worsse in effect to their no little disgrace in their owne conceites who prized their beauties at the highest rate The London Danies had likewise their time of proofe yet could their daintie faces carie no pawne in this attempt for the Crowne was reserued for the onely Lady who might not be paragonned by any other whatsoeuer CHAP. IIII. ¶ How after all the Triumphs were ended perfourmed at the Baptisme of the yong Prince Palladine and the aduentures thus left of the three Statues the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles tooke their leaue of the King Milanor and the Queene and returned from England into their owne Countreys BY this time were all the Princes and Ladyes throughly satisfyed with the pastimes wherefore with sound of Trompets Clarions and Cornets they returned to the Pallace where was prepared for them a most roiall banquet and bicause the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles were to depart on the morrow the Citizens of London in honor of their Prince came with diuers stately Maskes to the Pallace where they behaued themselues to their credit and the Kings good liking Afterward entred the hall twelue Gentlemen of the Court in complete Armour with blunt Foyles and Targets when deuiding themselues sixe against sixe hauing for their barre two Pykes which were held ouerthwart by two of the Kings Guard they layde on each other such eager strokes as their swords flew in péeces and their Armour was battered in many places Then they withdrew themselues giuing place to twelue other who Combatted with the Pyke arming Sword and Battle-Axe and thus was the night consumed in such disports to delight the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles who in the morning tooke their leaue of the King and Quéene and were conducted on their iourney by many English Lords The King Milanor and his Quéene beeing not a little contented that the Princes had done them such honor in their Realme but greatest of all was their comfort in their Sonne Palladine who in prowesse and loyaltie should surpasse all other of his time and was carefully nourished by a vertuous Gentlewoman wife to an aged Squire named Romandrin of Gaule with whome he remained till he came to the age of fiue yeeres About this time the Quéene trauailed againe and was deliuered of two goodly Daughters béeing Twinnes the one whereof was named Marcelina and the other Floraea these swéete babes were tenderly regarded in the Court and there will we leaue them with the Quéene their Mother remembring yong Palladine who is in the custodie of graue and learned tutors enstructed in the Languages as also Greeke and Latine wherein he profited so well as at tenne yeeres he could speake them as perfect as his English toong Héerewithall he practised Knightly Chiualrie to manadge great Horsses and all Gentlemanlike exercises searching the bowelles of the chéefest Historians from them to learne the practises and sleights of Millitarie profession And when the time would not serue him to Hawke and Hunt he would kéepe himselfe from idlenesse with his Lute Bandora and Uirginalles with diuers other sweete Instruments wherein he tooke delight and grew verie excellent This yong Prince thus giuen to all honest and vertuous quallities began to haue some feeling of his high and magnanimous spirit so that to experiment and trie his owne strength he would cope with diuers yong Lords Gentlemen of his age to runne in the Listes to breake Launces to Combate with the Mace the Arming-sword and all other weapons both on horssebacke and on foote In all which exercises he found not his equall which made him desirous of the order of Knighthood to the end he might séeke after strange Aduentures as the King
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
Knightes appointing the Marquesse of Villereal and the Countie of Marialne Iudges of the feeld All this while the Princesse Minoretta continued her pensiue mones praying for the prosperous successe of the newcome Knight and the confusion of the traitour Galitreo On the morrow was this doubtfull combate tried being fought on either side with such exceeding valour as they both fell downe foote to foote that each one reputed them both for dead but when the Knight of Fames helmet was opened and he had receiued the fresh aire he came to himselfe againe albeit Galitreo was slaine outright and therefore condemned as foyled in fight The King glad of this happie victorie intrâ—ated the Knight of Fame as he had beene his owne Sonne causing his Chiruâ—gions to take care of his wounds and during the time of his abode there for his health the continuall good countenance shewed by the Princesse Minoretta made him liue in hope to obtaine but he was preuented by the King of Nauarre who sending his Ambassadours to demaund the Princesse in marriage had his request graunted by the King The Knight of Fame séeing himselfe so infortunate in obtaining a wife so soone as his wounds were thoroughly cured tooke his leaue of the King and departed with intent after he had seene his owne countrey to trauaile into England againe to be reuenged on Palladine for the foyle he susteyned at the Ioustes at Paris so mounting on horseback he tooke his way directly toward Freezeland And not able to continue there any long time because his conceiued hate was such toward the English Prince he trauailed thorough Scotland who méeting suddenly with Simprinell and not knowing him a quarrell arose betweene them the Knight of Fame discommending Palladine and vowing reuenge on all those that durst take his part which Simprinell vndertaking they fell from words to strokes and such was the good fortune of Don Robert as hauing the better of Simprinell he departed leauing him there very sore wounded Manâ—eleo the Prince of Millayne whome long since we left in his iourney toward Normandie desirous to see his sweete mistresse Marcelina by good hap found Simprinell thus dangerously wounded and hauing vnderstood the whole summe of his misaduenture promised to follow the Knight who had thus wronged him and to reuenge his cause though it cost him his life Now must I giue you to vnderstand that Manteleo and the Knight of Fame were very neere allyed the Father to Temoreo the Duke of Millayne beeing brother to Don Roberts mother yet this kindred being forgotten betwéene them or at least their angrie displeasure preuailing aboue the remembrance thereof caused them meeting together to put each others life in very great danger And being afterward brought by their Squires to a Gentlemans Castell néere at hand where Simprinell likewise lay for the recouerie of his woundes they had knowledge of each other when sorrowing their méeting was in such vnhappie sort with fréendly gréetings they excused all that had passed riding with Simprinell to the King his Fathers Court where they were entertained as beseemed their honorable calling CHAP. XXXV ¶ How the great Turke sent his Ambassadours to the King of Aquilea to request his Daughter Nonparelia in marriage and what sorrow it was to her and the Knight without rest when they heard the King giue his consent ALL this while remained Palladine with his faire Nonparelia in the greatest pleasure and delight that could be imagined till fortune enuious of their successe sought to crosse them with her wunted frowardnesse which Orbiconte by her knowledge well perceiuing and that now if she layd not to her helping hand all the promised good hap would be squandered for euer to terrefie the two louers alittle she came and brake it to them in this manner It is a common saying my good fréends that dangers foretold hurt the lesse when they come to passe heereby am I to aduertise ye that such a matter will shortly happen as can not but be to your great disliking yet be of good cheere and endure it with resolued pacience for I will preuent the effectuall working thereof But to hold ye in no longer suspence knowe that this night past I made a figure to vnderstand thereby if your mariage were to be hindered by any contrarie accident and I finde that a mightie Lord euen he that commaundeth ouer all these countries will shortly send to request my Niece in mariage whereto the King her Father will gladly giue consent At these words the Princesse fell in a swoune and the Knight without rest was meruailous impacient but Orbiconte hauing recouered her in this sort began to perswade her Why faire Niece doo you dispaire or doubt that I can not hinder the mariage betweene you and the great Turke knowe you not that I haue done things of greater valew then that I neuer thought you had such diffâ—dence in me Who brought Sir Palladine into this countrey but I and who gaue you the honor of his loue but I and if I haue beene able to doo all this thinke ye I can not wade through matter of lesse moment Quiet your selfe and feare not but I will compasse your mariage to your owne content without displeasing my Lord the great Turke or the King your Father notwithstanding his promise Alas my good Aunt said the Princesse it is not for my Fathers ease to purchase himselfe so great an enemie as is the great Turke who in thrée dayes is able to ruinate our whole countrey and hauing so bad a neighbour as is the King of Panoma who doubtlesse would gladly with the great Lord in reuenge of the late foyle he sustayned I see no way to preuent fatall danger Why Madame quoth the Knight without rest victorie consisteth not in strength or multitude but in the pollicie of the Captaines and discretion of the Souldiours to pursue an enterprise as many examples are left among Romaines Carthaginians Athenians and infinite other where a small power hath preuailed against the greater onely by the wise foresight of their leaders and withall hauing truth and iustice on their side Let vs said the Princesse not stand vpon pollicie or the truth of our cause we can not be more subtill or hardie then they are and as for our right in the matter what reason shall my Father haue to denie so great a Lord great I may boldly say because in all the world he hath not his second both in riches puissance or any thing whatsoeuer Alas good Niece said Orbiconte merily stand not on these doubtfull tearmes for the case shall neuer be aduentured so farre cast all your care on me as yet I thinke I neuer fayled ye So parted they to their chambers where the Princesse remained in a hell of greefe such was her intire affection to the Prince of England And he likewise could resolue on nothing for now he thought to request the Princesse in mariage before the comming of the Ambassadors perswading himselfe that the