did cause me in sort to imagine that you were somewhat intangled in those nets But now to the purpose as she is my daughter so doe I thinke shee will not make her choise without my consent neither I being her father will force her consent where she doth not loue but if by faire meanes shee may be wonne héereunto assure your selfe that the house of Fraunce is most willing to linke it selfe in loue and amitie with the Prince of England whose noble vallour deserues to bée highly had in estimation The Prince for this his kinde graunt would néedes haue kist his royall hands which the King would not suffer him to doe but imbracing him in his armes departed immediately into the Pallace and comming into the Queenes chamber of presence called for the Princesse Emilia and willing all saue the Quéene and her to a voyd the presence hee demaunded of her whether there were any loue betwéene her and the English Prince at which demaunde she dying her Princely chéekes with a maidenly blush and falling on her knées aunswered Most gracious father considering that in concealing the truth from you being therof demaunded I shall not only breake the bounds of duty by being disobedient but also offende God in making of a lie know therefore that since the day wherein he ouercame the Duke of Orleance I haue so intangled my selfe in his loue which before being by him sued vnto I made scorne of that I can finde no way to alter the same but by death only which rather then it should be to your dislike I would willingly indure were it neuere so cruell The King beeing ioyfull héereat yet séeming to be discontented said In faith and is it possible that thou most fond and foolish gearle shouldest so much forget the bounds of dutie and vertue as without my consent so to settle thy fancie on a stranger but I doubt not but thou wilt as soone repent thy choise as thou hast forgotten thy duty in choosing for who knowes whether he being a young amorous Prince hath not made some other choise already where then are thy hopes or what will become of thy loue The Princesse hearing her father in these tearmes knewe not well what aunswere to make but at length with teares in her eies and fetching a déepe sigh from her hart shée besought him to consider she force and power of loue which was of such might that who most sought to striue against it was the more cruelly therewith in the end wounded and that as yet her loue being knowne to none séeing it so greatly disliked his Maiestie she would for euer kéepe close although it did cost her her life which shée was sure it would doe séeing it had taken already such déepe rooting in her hart The King séeing her constancie loth to grieue her any farther tooke her by the arme raising her from the ground bid her to be of good comfort for séeing that her affection procéeded from vertue and not of any wanton or lustfull appetite hee did both alowe of it and yéeld consent vnto the choise which she had made willing her farther to estéeme of the Prince as one who not only déerely loued her but also was worthy to be beloued both for his vallor magnanimitie of mind of the greatest Lady in Christendome Thus leauing her not a little comforted he went to impart the same to the Prince vnto whom this newes was more welcome then to haue béene made Lord of the greated Kingdome of the world And taking order with the King for the day of their marriage against which time there should be prepared a great Turny hee also sent ouer into England the Duke of Yorke to certifie the King his father héereof which was to him most welcome newes béeing now greatly striken in yeares Also there were many Heraults sent foorth to proclaime this great Turny which should beheld in the Citty of Parris at the nuptials of the Prince of England and the beautifull Emelia against which time there came daily many braue and gallant Knights from diuers Kingdomes as well Christians as Sarasines for that the King had graunted by his proclamations a safe conduct for all commers Now in this meane time the Duke of Orleance being throughly recouered of his wounds which he had receaued against Don Edward and finding that with the losse of his honor he had likewise lost his loue grew therewith into so great rage that he would haue slaine himselfe had it not béene for some of his seruants who alwaies gaue dilligent attendance vnto him and deuising with himselfe on reuenge at last resolued by vnknowne trechery to bring it thus to passe There was in this his Dukedome a great Inchaunter who with his accursed spells was able in a manner to pull the starres out of their places to this man the Duke resorted and making him priuie to his intent desired him to deuise some meanes how vnknowne hée might be reuenged on the English Prince The Inchaunter willing to showe his loue vnto the Duke immediately deuised a meane how not only to be reuenged on the prince but also on as many as were welwillers vnto him which he did bring to passe in this sort There was in the Kingdom of Fraunce some tenne leagues from Parris a great Forrest in which this Inchaunter by his deuilish art erected a stately Castle inuironed about with high walls déepe ditches so as it séemed one of the strongest and fairest Castles of the Kingdome likewise he inchaunted it in such sort that though a thousand Knights had sought for it yet notwithstanding there should none haue found the same but such as they thought should not be of such force as to conquer the gardants who were two fierce mighty Gyants farre excéeding the common stature of others of that kind Also there was a Knight a kinsman of the Dukes who being accōpanied with 20 or 30 attendants alwaies remained héerein the Giants who kept the gard the one of them was called Brandofell with him first must those Knights haue to doe that came to make triall of this aduenture the other was named Furioll excelling in strength all the Giants of his time to him belonged the combat with those Kinghts to whom fortune was so fauorable as to ouercome Brandofell In this manner hauing prouided for the garde of this inchaunted Castle they deuised a meane by which to bring the Prince vnto the same which was in this manner The Inchaunter Ligustargo for so was he called had a daughter indifferent faire who in dissimulation was as skilfull as her father in the art of Magicke for she had her teares at commaund and could so well frame her countenance to sorrowe that there was none but would haue taken her to be very sorrowe it selfe to her was referred the meanes to seduce the Prince who comming vnto the Court with her haire disperssed about her shoulders her garments rent and torne and beeing conducted into the
Adresto to be sent for and his wounds to be dressed declaring vnto the Prince Iago that it was the same Knight for whom he left Saxonie to goe into Ireland to combat with all Héere after they had rested themselues by the space of fiue daies hauing sent word of this fortunate deliuerance to the Court of Fraunce they determined altogether to ride thether where in thrée daies they arriued with easie iournies by reason of the wounds of Adresto And at their comming foorth of the Castle with a mighty clap of thunder the Castle and dead bodies of the Gyants were vanisht cleane out of sight to the great astonishment of them all And now being as I haue sayd come to the Citty of Parris they were royally welcomed and intertained by the King the Quéene the Princesse Emilia Oliua and all Nobles of the Court vnto whom the Prince of England declared the whole discourse of euery particuler accedent touching their imprisonment and deliuery Which when the King had heard he made a solemne vow to be reuenged on the Duke of Orleance and his whole family but at the intreaty of the Prince he pardoned Sir Pestrell who afterwards prooued a good and hardy Knight Thus passed they away the time in the French Court by the space of thrée wéekes each friend recounting to other their seuerall aduentures and making preparation for the solemnizing of the marriage betwéene Prince Edward the Princesse Emilia in which time Adresto was fully recouered of his wounds and being desirous to see his old loue the Dutches Lenarda hastned on the Knight of the Lions to depart whereunto he was very willing by reason of the desire he had to speake with Adriano CHAP. XIX How the Knight of the Lions departing from the French Court with Adresto landed in Holland where comming to the Castle of Coruew hee deliuered the King his Father ANd now beeing ready prouided to depart they came both into the great Hall where with many ceremonious courtisies they tooke their leaue of the King the Quéene the Princesse Emilia and Oliua with all the rest of the Nobles of the Court The two Princes Edward and Iago séeing they would néedes depart accompanied them two daies iourny onwards on their way during which time the Prince Iago desiring pardon of his brother for not bearing him company made knowne vnto him his loue to the Princesse Oliua which by his abode in Court he doubted not but to obtaine considering the great loue and amity which was betwéene him and her father The Knight of the Lions being well contented héerewith desired him at his returne or sending into Saxonie to remember his duty to the Duke and Ductches and his beautifull sister the Princesse Egisena whom hee intirely loued assuring him that as soone as he could learne any certainty of that which he now went to séeke for he would returne thether likewise which hee did not doubt but would hapen very shortly Then taking their leaue of each other with many kind imbracements the Prince Edward most earnestly intreated him to sée him at his returne out of Spaine at the English Court to which he easily consented Thus they departed the two Princes towards the Court the Knight of the Lions Adresto towards the Sea-side where their ship remained for them where béeing arriued and setting into Sea they sailed merrily by the space of two daies but on the third day the wind altring and the Seas growing very foule they were forced to put to hull and being thus tost to and fro by the wind and Seas by the space of fiue daies they were at last put on shore on the coast of the Dutchy of Holland where going on shore and taking their horses and Armor minding a little to take the aire after their storme at Sea they rode onwards in a narrow way fast by a pleasant groues side where they heard one very pittifully weeping and listning attentiuely they might heare these few words pronounced And is it possible that God will suffer such cruell and iniust customes to continue to the destruction of so many braue and hardie Knights as haue béene by this wicked custome of Coruew destroyed O false and disloyall Griffory that fearing to shew thy malice openly hast ordained so vild a custome The two Knights hearing this complaint and imagining thereby that there was some cause extraordinary which mooued the party so to complaine alighted and went into the Groue where they found a Squire lying on the earth his face all blubbred with teares and demaunding him the cause of his sorrow was giuen by him to vnderstand of the custome of Coruew where not long since the Duke of Litsenburge his Lord and Maister hauing bin by the space of 20. yéeres trauelling in search of his soueraigne the noble King Frederick of Denmark during which time he had accomplished many great and hardy déedes of Armes and now returning home into his owne Country with intent no longer to séeke after the which was impossible to be found trauailing along by a Castle not passing a daies iourney hence where the Duke of this Country hath erected a custome that no Knight shall passe that way but first he shall leaue his horse and Armor behind him vnlesse hee conquer the Gardants which is a thing impossible because of the number and then he declared the fame as it is more at large expressed in the first part of this history The Knight of the Lyons and Adresto hearing of this custome and greatly pittying the losse of so many hardie Knights as were there daily imprisoned beganne to grow into a great longing to make triall of the same wherefore sending backe Gillimo vnto the ship for such things as they wanted and to giue direction to the Marriners that if with in ten dayes they did not returne that then they should direct their course for Spayne whether they would peraduenture trauell by Land and willing Gillimo to follow them with as much spéede as hee could they departed towards Coruew that night lying at a Village not passing a league and a halfe from the Castle And the next day early in the morning hauing heard Diuine seruice and taking a small repast they rode directly towards the Castle Adresto hauing desired to make the first triall of his vallour and now beeing come vnto the place where the Shield hung at the bridge-foote Adresto strooke the same so hard and rudely with the blunt end of his Launce that he caused the whole Vally to resound with the noyse thereof Presently issued foorth one of the Knights gardants and mounting on his horse came vnto Adresto demaunding what hee sought Entrance aunswered Adresto which if it be denied I will purchase with my sword Then setting spurres to theyr horses they met together with such fury that the Knight of the bridge was sent headlong to the ground and after him came foorth another who was likewise sent to beare him company breaking his necke with the
féet out of the stirrups lightly recouered himselfe againe and adressing his shielde on his arme with his sword in his hand hee marched towards the Castle gate minding séeing that he had procéeded so farre either to enter or die in the pursute But before hee was come fully to the entrance the fiue Knights who were appointed to combat first with him came foorth and all at once assaulted him then beganne there a most fierce and bloody fight very hard and vnequall by reason they béeing fiue and he but one and also before ouerlabored with his former trauell was not able to doe as otherwise he would yet notwithstanding he layd on such cruel blowes that euery one iudged himselfe happiest when as he was farthest from him the lookers on admiring how it was possible for one alone Knight to shewe such prowesse as by defending himselfe against so many but at last being ouer-wearied wounded in many places hauing lost much of his blood was forced through faintnes to fal to the ground hauing before his fall slaine two of them out-right and very sorely wounded the others then béeing no longer able to resistance he was carried prisoner into the Castle where he had his wounds bound vp dressed being pittied of many who had beheld his vallor but béeing cured of his wounds and examined of whence he was hee was committed prisoner into the dungion where the wofull King lay thereby thinking the more to grieue him Who no sooner was let in-the dungion but they one knew the other making the greatest lamentation and sorrow that might be but at length comforting themselues as well as they might they made relation of their fortunes each to other hoping that in time God would send them deliuerance from all theyr troubles Héere will we leaue them to tell a little what hapned in the Kingdome of Denmarke through the mallice of the Gouernours one to another CHAP. XIX How the Archbishop of Maiance the County Hermes the Lord Harding disliking the gouernment went about to make a King amongst them THe Kingdome of Denmarke hauing béene without their King by the space of 17 yeares and vnder the gouernment of a certaine company of States elected as is before declared many beganne to dislike with the gouernment therof amongst whom the chiefe and principall were the Archbishop of Maiance a man very well learned but giuen altogether vnto nouelties and change the County Hermes and the Lord Harding all thrée great men and such as were in a manner the only Authors of that gouernment and the first yeare were themselues chiefe gouernours in that established estate as appeareth in the fourth Chapter of this present Booke Yet notwithstanding al this and their solemne vowes ratified vnder their hands and seales for the continuance and performance of that kind of state and gouernment they were in a manner the first that repined against it séeking by all the meanes they could to ouerthrow and extinguish the same either for the enuy they bare towardes those who were Gouernors or for that themselues had neuer since the first yeare hapned to be of the twelue or else and that which I thinke to be most likeliest beeing stirred vp by the deuill they desired greater superiority then either became them or by any waies they were worthy of yet doubting to agrée within themselues being but thrée hauing the gouernance in their owne hands determined therefore to elect and chuse a King who beeing by them so raised could not chuse likewise but to be rulde by them and that vnder the cullour of the King they might reuenge themselues of their enemies and likewise preferre their friends to honor and dignitie And hauing thus resolued betwéene themselues they solicited the Scottish King to accept of the Diadem promising him by their letters that if he would but send ouer tenne thousand Souldiers vnder the conduct of some expert Leader or Captaine that then they would so ayde him that in lesse then a yeare he should haue all Denmarke in his subiection conditionally that they thrée might continually haue and inioy to themselues the chiefe offices belonging to that Kingdome The Scottish King harkning vnto this iolly proffer at the first made small account thereof but afterwards waying with himselfe the great benefits and proffits which thereby might rise not onely to him but to all his Kingdome and Subiects if he might so easily obtaine the same as in their letters they made showe of and beeing againe by them solicited anew writing vnto him in their letters that vnlesse he accepted thereof they would giue it vnto the King of England or some other Prince whom they knew would more thankefully accept of their kind offer The County Hermes in a priuate letter besides wrote how that if his Maiestie would hauing conquered the Kingdome make him Viceroy or Deputy thereof he would send ouer his eldest sonne to remaine as pledge vntill such time as he had performed whatsoeuer hee made promise of and that then he would render him such tribute as by his Maiestie should be thought fit Now when he had himselfe perused these letters and cast all doubts he could he made them knowne to his priuy Counsell who after long deliberation at length gaue him this answere that they were also of the minde his Maiestie should accept their proffer of the Kingdome a gift well worth the acceptance and farther to graunt them their owne desires in that which they should demaunde till such time as beeing Maister of the Country hee might at his pleasure then alter any thing that he would In the meane time to receaue pledges of their meaning least otherwise he might repent too late Thus hauing determined the King sent ouer secretly vnto them to certifie them of his intent assuring each of them the greatest dignities and honor that the Kingdome would yéeld intreating thē likewise to send ouer their Hostages vpon whose arriuall his forces should be ready to be shipped vnder the conduct of his Cosen the Lord Douglasse a man for his experience and vallor excellent These letters being thus secretly conuaied were most welcome newes vnto those arch Traytors to their Country who foorthwith sent for Hostages the County Hermes his eldest sonne a gallant young youth and one whom in time might haue prooued an honorable man The Lord Harding had but one only daughter and her he sent vnder cullour to be brought vp with the Scottish Princesse for the Arch Traytor Archbishop I would say was sent an Nephew of his an excellent good Scholler a notable Pollitician These being sent into Scotland they appointed the Kings forces to be ready by the tenth of May then next insuing and they in the meane time made all the prouision that might be where we will likewise leaue them CHAP. XX. Of a strange aduenture hapning in the Court of Saxonie and how the Gentleman of the Forrest and Iago were Knighted and how the aduenture was ended THere was in the
time he would a little wash and annoint the same with such water and oyntment as hee had for the same purpose brought with him the Knight glad hereof gaue him harty thanks and hauing had his wounds drest departed with him towards his Cell where his wounds were cured as hereafter you shall heare with the occasion of the Monsters beeing in that place In the meane time wee will roturne to speake somewhat of the Lord of Menew and Sir Henault whom the former part of of this history left remaining in the Court of Fraunce in the company of the English Prince and diuers other Noblemen CHAP. III. How Sir Henault and the Lord of Menew departed from the Court of Fraunce and arriued in Holland where they heard of the aduenture of Coruew and how they were both taken prisoners AFter Prince Edward had ouercome the Duke of Orleance and continued the defence of the Princesse Emelias beauty to his great honor and renowne hee remained a while in the French Court greatly feasted where for a time he stayed with him the two noble Danes the Lord of Menew and Sir Henault intertaining them with great familiaritie and kindnesse But béeing at length weary of idlenesse and desirous to follow after their quest they departed towards Belgica being earnestly intreated by the English Prince to haue accompaned him into England Thus departed they onwards on their iourny still making diligent inquiry after their King of whom nor of Sir Gwaltero they could learne any certainty In this manner rode they together through most part of Fraunce leauing behind them in all places a famous memoriall of their vertuous acts which caused their names to bée spred farre and néere But at length passing the spacious Kingdome of Fraunce they arriued in the vnfortunate Dukedome of Holland infortunate in regard of the many vilde customes erected by the tirrany of their vngodly Duke as is in the first part of this History declared Scarce were they entred one whole daies iourny within this prouince before that Fame the Herault of reports had brought vnto their eares the custome of the Castle of Coruew with the many famous explots there exercised with the innumerable number of Knights which had there lost themselues among whom there was one Knight for his excéeding vallor farre famoused aboue the rest who by the description of body and Armes which he bare they presently imagined to be the Lord Gwaltero Wherefore determining either to recouer him or loose themselues they set on thetherwards where the next morning they arriued so me two houres before that Phoebus vntired stéedes with their neuer resting Chariot had attained the mid heauens and comming within the view of the Castle the strength thereof strake a sudden amazednesse in them but considering the cause of their comming was to deliuer him whom they intirely loued and also that to a valiant hart nothing should séeme difficult and withal the harder the enterprise the more is the honor obtained by the victor they determined rather to die then to returne not making triall of the aduenture being sonéere which would be for euer a great dishonor vnto thē The Lord of Menew desiring to make the first triall whereunto Sir Henault willingly consented hoping that if hee were ouercome his honor in obtaining the victory would be the greater Thus being agréed tthe Lord of Menew went presently vnto the shield giuing it such a blow that he cleft it in two in the midst which beeing séene by those that garded the bridge immediately one of them arming himselfe came foorth mounted on a mighty stéede of a browne bay cullour with a little white starre in the forehead and one white foote and comming with an easie trot vnto the Lord of Menew demaunded of him wherefore he sought and what was the occasion of his so outragious striking of the shield The Lord of Menew aunswered that his comming thether was to séeke for a Knight which bare in his shield two Lions rampant sable in a féeld argent who as he vnderstood had béene by treason subdued and imprisoned within that Castle and for the striking of the shield hée listed not to giue him any other reason then that he hoped with the fame Launce to pierce both his shield and his hart The other replied that such a Knight indéede was there imprisoned whose hauty hart caused him attempt that which he could not accomplish in pursuing whereof by force and not by treason he was vanquished and according to the custome of their Castle made forfeiture of his life but that for his vallor they were contented hee should a while liue to helpe to strengthen their gard if hee could thereto be wonne Then turning about his horse they both prepared to fetch their carrere and placing their staues in their rests they met together so rudely that the Knight of the bridge was sent to measure his length on the ground being mortally wounded with a splinter of the Launce in the visage the Lord of Menew likewise beeing so sore shaken with the incounter as he had much to doe to kéepe his Saddle then presently came foorth other two Knights well armed and mounted crying to him to prepare himselfe to incounter them which he presently did and méeting together strake one of them so stronge a blow that missing toward it with his shield his Launce passed cleane through his body but the other Knight breaking his Launce in the midst of his shield caused him to tumble ouer his horse taile but it was not long before such time as he had recouered his féete his Squire beeing ready with the horse of the first Knight on which he presently mounted and drawing foorth his sword was presently ready to assault the other who séeing him dismounted made no great hast but with vaine glorious brauery passed on his carrere when turning about and perceauing him to bee remounted drew foorth his sword saying Sir Knight well may you thanke your Squire for so quicke puruaying of a new horse for you but I feare me hee shall but little stéede you against the force of my arme which hath once already sent you to measure your loutish length vpon the ground The Lord of Menew being madded with rage stayed not to aunswere him with words but with his sword lent him so friendly a blow that caused him to bend his head euen to his brest but quickly recouering himselfe againe he strake the other such ablow that had hee not warded the same with his shield he had gone néere to haue cleft his head in two thus continued they a while sometimes the one sometimes the other séeming to haue the better Fortune so equally guiding the ballance that it was hard to iudge whether side should obtaine victory At last the Lord of Menew imagining with himselfe that to be long in conquering would be a cause that himselfe in the end should be ouercome determined either to obtaine a spéedy conquest or a spéedy death wherefore
Ireland and knew well how to defend himselfe but yet farre vnequall to the other who pursued him with so many huge weighty blowes breaking his shield and Armor in péeces that he caused the blood to issue foorth abundantly himselfe through the goodnes of his Armour not hauing receiued any wound so that it manifestly appeared which way the victory would bend it selfe had it not béene that the rest of Callapins company who perceiued him almost ouercome put themselues in his defence Héere againe the battell began to grow doubtfull they béeing eyght and all on horsebacke whereby they had the far greater aduantage which the good Knight perceiuing and séeing there was no way to auoyde this danger but by his owne prowesse gaue Callapin so sound a blow on the head that cleauing both Helme and head to the téeth caused him to fall dead to the ground and making as if he would haue fled hee came to Gillimo and mounting himselfe on horseback he incountred one of them who breaking his staffe on his good shield was sent besides his saddle to measure his length on the ground where to make him sure for dooing any further harme Gillimo tooke paynes to cut off his head But now was the other seauen come vnto him who all at once charged him with their Launces in such sort that his horse not béeing able to indure the incounter fel vnder him but soone was hée againe remounted by his Squire who brought him Callapins horse then began hee to lay on such blowes as well he gaue them to vnderstand that they could not long indure against him frō some cutting their armes from their bodies ouerthrowing others to the ground who neuer could rise againe for that the two Squires and Gillimo made them safe by cutting their throats thus continued the battell two long howres the Knight of the Lyons neuer hauing leisure to breathe himselfe so obstinate were they in the séeking of theyr owne deaths which by thys time sixe of them had gained the other two séeing theyr fellowes all slaine betooke thēselues to flight hoping thereby to saue theyr liues but béeing pursued by the Knight they were soone ouertaken leauing theyr liues for a satisfaction of theyr former offences Which when Molenda perceiued with her Daughter who by this time was come vnto her cast themselues at his féete and gaue him most hartie thankes for theyr deliuery proffering him all that they had if hée would accept thereof But hee raysing them from the ground willed them to render thankes to GOD who had sent him as a scourge to punish such wicked offenders as were those whom hee had vanquished Then taking theyr way into the Castle they remained there all that night where they were feasted by the Mother and the Daughter who séeing him so young and beautifull admired how he could be of such force to effect such déedes as hee had brought to passe therefore desiring to know what hee was Molenda beganne in this sort Most valiant Knight séeing you will not receiue any thing of vs whereby we might manifest vnto you the thankfulnes of our mindes yet I beséech you let vs know vnto whom we are so much bounden whereby in our prayers we may record this your memorable action The Knight aunswered As for that you demaund I cannot satisfie you because I know not mine owne estate but where I am knowne I am called the Knight of the Lyons by reason of these Lyons which I beare on my shield Farther they would haue questioned with him but fearing to displease him they gaue ouer and hauing brought him vnto his Chamber they committed him to GOD where that night by reason of his extreame wearinesse and his watching the night before hée slept very soundly Where wée will leaue him awhile and returne to declare what hapned in the meane time to Prince Edward of England whom you may remember in the former part of this History intended to demaund the beautifull Princesse Emilia of her Father the King of Fraunce CHAP. VII How the Prince of England demaunded Emilia of her father in marriage and of the strange aduenture that hapned in the French Court whereby all the chiefe Knights were forced to forsake the Court. IT is declared in the first part of this history how that Prince Edward of England being in the French Court where he ouercame the Duke of Orleance and after maintained the Princesse Emilia to be the beautifullest Lady in the world of whom hee grew so farre inamoured that hee determined to demaunde her of the King her father Wherefore one day being in a melancholly humor walking in a delightfull garden ioyning to the Pallace to recreate himselfe the King likewise came thether being accompanied with one page only and finding the Prince somewhat pensiue demaunded the cause thereof to which he replied The cause of this my dumpes in which you say I now am in procéedes partly from your selfe in regard I feare your deniall in a matter for which I minde to be a suter vnto you which feare driues me into a doubt whether I were best to speake in the same fearing to bee denayd or else conceals the same to my selfe which likewise may bréede a farther danger The King a while studying with himselfe what the matter might be at length gaue him this aunswere Most noble Prince the loue which I bare vnto you is such that it causeth me not to dissemble with you wherefore knowe that I cannot chuse but take these your spéeches in very vnkind part howsoeuer by you spoken for if the matter be reasonable which you would request then how farre you wrong mee in doubting my consent therein I referre to God only who knowes the thoughts of my hart If vnreasonable to your selfe who knowes what it is from ones friend to expect those things which hee cannot well without his great preiudice graunt wherefore declare boldly what it is that troubles your minde and assure your selfe you shall finde me willing to satisfie you therein if it bée not greatly to the preiudice of my honor and state of this my Kingdome The Prince hearing this friendly and to him ioyfull conclusion replied that he did greatly thanke his Maiestie for that great loue which hee did assure him of wherefore now putting all feare and doubte aside hée would declare the same vnto him which was this that being greatly wounded with the vertues and beauty of the Princesse Emilia his daughter whom in hart he had vowed to loue and fearing least he had otherwise disposed of her indéede was the cause of his pensiuenesse Which when the King heard with a smiling countenance made him this aunswere and is it possible that beautie can cause such alteration in you or else that loue can so soone take possession of your hart as comming frée to this my Court where you haue scarcely remained one month but indéede your combat with the Duke our Cosin and after hazarding your selfe in the same Challenge
the decke with his sword drawne in his hand his shield vpon his arme replied that they meant to defend themselues as not béeing accustomed with wordes to be daunted The Pirat Geroll hearing this aunswere commaunded to grapple with the English shyp The prince at the first incountring with a great lubber who proffered to leape aboord their shyp gaue him so sound a blow on the sconte that it caused him out of the shrowdes to tumble headlong into the Sea and after him another and another so that in the part of the ship where hée was the fight began to grow excéeding hote many of the Pirats souldiers béeing gotten aboord but by the helpe of his Squire and the Maisters mate who was a lustie fellow they quickly cléered theyr shippe againe and the Prince hauing receiued a wound by one of the Pyrats who was aboord theyr owne shyp not knowing which way to be reuenged leapt foorthwith into theyr shyp béeing inraged laid on such blowes that euery one thought himselfe happiest when they were farthest from him for by this time there were slaine aboue twenty of the Pirats Which Geroll perceiuing knowing right well that if the Knight were slaine he should easily vanquish the rest and hoping to performe it with his owne hands he came stealing behind him but the Prince who was ordained to finish greater matters perceiuing his intent turned his face towards him giuing him such a salutation with his sword that it caused him to bend with one of his knées euen to the deck Now began betwéene them two a most cruell Combat the Pyrat béeing a strong and lustie fellow one that had foughten many dangerous battels and also béeing ayded by those of his partie assaulted the Prince with great fury and were as gallantly by him resisted to theyr no smal preiudice for within lesse then halfe an howre hee had slaine sixe of them wounding the rest very grieuously And by this time the English Ship hauing tackt about came to the rescue of the Prince which so dismayed the Pyrats that béeing but tenne of them left aliue and they for the most part hurt as before-said determined to intreate for mercy and falling downe vpon theyr knées besought the Prince with one voyce to saue theyr liues which he easily yéelded vnto And taking course for the safe custodie of the shyp they hauing with great deuotion giuen thankes vnto almighty GOD for this so happy victory which they had so luckily obtained without the losse of any one man dressing those that were hurt with such salues and other néedfull things whereof they found good store aboord the Pyrat they directed theyr course for Douer where the next day they safely arriued where the Prince at the request of the Owner of the Ship stayed by the space of three dayes during which time there arriued many of the Country people to behold him for by this time was his fame spred abroad by the Marriners to his great renowne And the Lieuetenant that had the gouernment of that Fort vnder the King of England béeing then returned from certaine affayres which he had to doe entertained him with the greatest honour that might be To whom the Prince would not make himselfe knowne but as a Knight arrant minding to trauell to the Court of the King of England the fame whereof had brought him from his natiue Country And now hauing rested himselfe by the space of tenne dayes for the curing of such wounds as he had receiued in the former conflict and séeing the Pyrats executed according to the Lawes of that Realme determined to depart the next day towards London where the King then kept his Court hauing remained a long time in great pensiuenesse for the losse of his sonne Prince Edward CHAP. X. Howe Jago comming to the English Court tooke in hand the defence of a Lady falsly accused and what hapned thereof THE Prince Iago hauing taken his leaue of the Gouernour of Douer tooke his way directly towards London accompanied onely with his Squire vnto whom for the more pleasant passing of the time hee recounted his dreame in a vision which hée had séene at his comming out of Saxony Thus past they away theyr wearisome iourney till on the fourth day comming within fiue miles of the Citty they heard one most pittifully wéeping and drawing somewhat néere the same there béeing a high banke betwéene them and the voyce which they heard they stayed awhile to vnderstand the cause of that lamentation When suddenly they might heare the wéeping cease and the party to fetch a déepe and grieuous sigh saying Is it possible that God will altogether forsake the distressed innocent and suffer such great iniustice not raysing vp any one to helpe or succour theyr rightfull cause against so euident a treason O that it would please him to raise vp another Daniell to find out theyr accursed forgeries and to frée this his distressed Susanna or that it would please his almighty power to indue mée with strength and courage whereby I might force them to confesse theyr most wrongfull and false accusation against the most vertuous Lady liuing but alas I sée mine own forces béeing a weake and féeble woman too too far vnable to accomplish the same and the eares of the Almighty so stopt against my prayers that he dooth not heare thē But what doo I meane so much to blaspheme his holy Name as to say hée dooth not heare when alas it is our sinnes which causeth him not to grant what we require or peraduenture he may deferre the same to the greater setting forth of his glory that when all hope is past euen then hee may shew his omnipotent power by some strange deliuerance Héere againe she paused And Iago mounting vp the banke perceiued that shee was a comely young Gentlewoman whom hee saluted and béeing by her againe resaluted he demaunded the cause of her griefe which by her complaint he imagined to be very great assuring her withall that if the matter were correspondent vnto truth and to be tryed by dint of sword she had met with one who would willingly hazard his life in defence of the innocent The Damsell hearing his kind proffer and withall viewing the comly proportion of his body began somewhat to comfort herselfe hoping that God had sent him of purpose to defend the iust cause of her distressed Lady answered him Most curteous and valiant Knight for so much my mind dooth assure you to be I render you infinite thanks for this your kind willing offer hoping by the time you haue heard my wofull narration you will be throughly assured of the equity of the cause which hath mooued in me many more this sorrow which euen now you found in me and the vniust and trecherous dealing of the most disloiallest Knight that liues Knowe then that whilst this Court of England enioyed their most vallerous Prince Don Edward who now by the space of eyghtéene yeres hath continued
of men readie to incounter theyr enemies so much had the lacke of vse of Armes since the losse of theyr King altered that florishing kingdom which in former time did greatly abound with many stout hardy Knights a great number whereof were either dead or lost in the search of their King The one halfe of which Armie béeing giuen in charge vnto the Lords of Opencade Londen marched towards the Archbishop and his confederates who with the number of 12 or 14. thousand souldiers being on the other side the riuer of Estate began to spoyle and sack the Country putting to sword all those that made any resistance against them and hauing taken Cargue and Londen two Townes of great strength placed therein garrisons then marching towards Opencade they heard of the comming of the Lords of Opencade Londen and fearing to be taken at aduantage they altered theyr course towards Rensborge where the Earle Dowglasse with his forces was landed hoping to ioyne with him which the Lords of Opencade Londen vnderstanding pursued him so eagerly that béeing come within sight almost of the Scots they set vpon their rereward putting a great number of them to the sword and euen at the same instant was the other Army which which was ledde by the Lord Itsenho and the County of Mildrop likewise come in sight which caused a great feare in the harts of the Traytors so that had it not béene for a company of two thousand Scots which came to their rescue vnder the conduct of Sir Iames Lewrence Cosin german vnto the Earle they had béen all eyther slaine or put to flight but the comming of this succor so animated theyr almost fainting courages that where before they were in a manner ready to turne theyr backes they now began to recouer theyr ground that they had lost the fight growing very hote and bloody on both sides there béeing slaine of the States aboue a thousand souldiers and of the Rebels 800. Longer had the fight continued but that the Lord Harding and the Count Hermes fearing the comming of the other power which was hard at hand caused the retraite to be sounded and so with an easie pace marched to the Scottish Campe not minding if they could chuse to fight in two or thrée daies because of the wearines of his souldiers who comming newly from Sea were many of them distempered The States likewise hauing ioynd both theyr Armies intrenched themselues thus lay they by the space of seauen dayes within view of each other daily skyrmishing together in which the States alwaies had the worst through theyr vnskilfulnesse in martiall discipline where we will for a while leaue them and returne to speake of other matters CHAP. XV. Howe the Prince Iago naming himselfe the Knight of Fortune departed out of England and arriuing in Fraunce trauailing through the Forrest of Towers hee deliuered a Lady from a mighty Giant PRince Iago hauing deliuered the Lady Beleriza naming himselfe the Knight of Fortune was greatly honoured in the English Court where at the intreatie of the King hee stayed by the space of a month where daily hee heard many strange reports of the Inchaunted Castle in the Kingdome of Fraunce and beeing desirous to try the aduenture thereof his Squire giuing him to vnderstand that there was a shippe ready bound for the Riuer of Nainse determined to passe ouer therein wherefore taking his leaue of the King and Quéene and others who had shewed him great honour during his abode in England the Lady Beleriza hauing made him many large proffers for the vnspeakeable kindnesse which shee had receiued at his hands all which hee refused but because hee would not shew himselfe altogether discurteous hee receiued a fayre Diamond which he promised alwaies for her sake to weare vpon his finger And now hauing prouided all such things as he had néed of and agréeing with the Maister of the ship for his passage he went aboord and hauing the wind fayre they set to Sea in so happy a time that within sixe dayes they arriued at a Port called Old-bay where going on shore they directed theyr course towards the Citty of Nanse where he staying awhile to rest himselfe he vnderstood that the Quéene with a great trayne of Lords Ladies were lately arriued at the Citty of Towels whether because it lay not much out of his way he determined to trauell to sée the fashion of the French Court which then florished with noble Dames among whō was the Princesse Emilia and her fayre daughter Oliua whom as before wee haue saide was begotten by the famous Prince Edward her betrothed husband the night before he departed towards the inchanted Castle together with a goodly sonne called Hendritio both which Children were very carefully educated by the good King Carolus theyr grand-father And béeing nowe come vnto the age of sixtéene yéeres the young Hendritio was exercised in riding of horses running at tylt wherin he shewed himselfe not any way vnlike to the noble Prince his Father hauing a great desire to be knighted whcih by no meanes his Grand-father would permit fearing least he would hazard himselfe in that aduenture whereof there had so many failed The Princesse Oliua in like sort béeing of most singuler and rare beautie could scarce be suffered to be once out of the sight of her Grand mother who loued her more then any of her owne Children and being now as we haue said at the Citty of Towers the Quéene partly for her owne content but chiefely for to delight the Princesse Emilia her Daughter who continually since the losse of the English Prince had spent her time in great sorrow onely the comfort which shée had in her children did a little mittigate the same did daily vse to ride foorth on hunting into the forrest which was euen hard adioyning to the Citty in which forrest there was great store of all manner of wilde Beastes And béeing the same day that the Knight of Fortune was comming to the Court gone foorth very early the Huntsmen had roused a mighty Hart which making way before the hounds caused all the Lords and Ladies to follow after and gallopping very swiftly through the Forrest had quickly separated themselues into many companies so that with the Quéene there was left no more but the Princesse Oliua and two or thrée other Ladies and some three or foure Knights when suddenly a mighty great Giant all armed issued out from the thickest of the wood and with a meruailous fierce countenance came towards them to the great astonishment of the Quéene the other Ladies who began to flie as fast as their horses could carry them One of the Knights that was with the Quéene béeing more hardie then his fellowes stayd to make resistance whilst the others escaped but alas small was the defence which hee could make being vnarmed against so mighty a foe whose huge Armour he was not able to pierce although thereon he brake his Borespeare which