seeing him in so good disposition and Melissa his Wife so sage be autifull and vertuous So at the first Fatherly embraced them both and after that hée had welcommed them with a thousand welcomes hee ledde them both into his lodgings purposing quicklie to solenmize the marriage in his Court Which he did and after warces liâ—erally bestowed many presentes vpon the Greekes and Hungarians which came to accompany Melissa who returned all verie well pleased from him towards King Frisoll their Soueraigne But the Princesse Philocrista was receaued with no lesse sumptuoslâ—y by the King of France and all other Dukes Marquesses Carles and Barrons of that Kingdome where they helde manye Ioustes and Tournyes for her newe and ioyfull entrance wherein purchased great honour Arnasin Duke Tolomus Sonne and Peynedin hee who reseued so brauelye the French Prince when Lecheâ—â— slewe the Hermite in combatting him as you may yet verie well remember Yet did hee nothing in comparison of Tyrendos who would néedes go along with this new married couple to conducte them into Gaule For that falling there in loue with a verie faire and beautifull Princesse neere Cosen to Prince Aruedes and shee likewise beeing inaâ—â—â—red of him did meruallous thinges in Annes to get her further fauour In somuch that the King and the Prince his Sonne perceauing their Loues married them together soone after and gaue them so great Treasure for a dowrie that the feaste beeing ended they returned all to Constantinople feeling the liberalitie and bountie of the King of Fraunce But to returne to the order of our Historie the Emperour remayned almost alone by reason of the departure of the new married Princes and of somany other Knights which did accompany them Likewise the King of Thessalie tooke his leaue of him to the end to goe visite a little his Kingdome where Palmendos and Francheline were most Honourably receaued with great signes of ioy and gladnesse And the King liued three yeares there onelie after his returne After whose death immediatelie was the Knight Palmendos Crowned who by meanes of his valour and prowesse 〈…〉 greatly the consines and demaynes of his Kingdome waging continuall war against the Turkes hauing conquest in manye battails skirmishes and assaults of Citties Like hostilitie receaued that nation by Belcar who incontinent after the Tourney and all their Feastes were finished in Constantinople departed thence to returne to Dâ—uace where as soone as hee had solemnely celebrated his Nuptiais hée set forth on foote a numerous and bloud Host to goe against these Infidels and to reuenge himselfe for faire Laurena In like maner euery one of the other great Princes which came to Constantinople tooke their way homeward towards their Countries Especially King Frisol and the King of Sparta and very willingly would the King Florendos haue returned into Macedon had it not béene for the Emperour who be sought him humbly to tarry a little longer with him Neuerthelesse many dayes were not come and gone before the good old Prince found himselfe cast downe with a grieuous sickenes wherewith by reason hee was already drooping and decrepit he died within one month afterward The Quéene Griana saing him abandoned by the Phisitions and out of all hope euer to recouer againe fell also sicke with the sorrow and griefe shée tooke for him And a maruelous thing it was that these two both rendring their tribute vnto nature left on one day this mortall and transitory life The Emperour and the Empresse conceiued such inwarde griefe and anguish at this occurrence that thorough the continuall teares wherewith they bewayled them or through the abundance of melancholicke humours which stufft their braines they made account to goe kéepe them company in the other world Yet for all that afterward recomforting themselues as well as they might they caused them to be both buried in a rich and most stately Tombe with great funerall Pompe and Ceremonies And if this Court had a long time before continued in sollace and gladnes yet was it nowe as farre in mourning and griefe after this death without any token of ioy or myrth at all So that Primaleon all this time of tribulation and heauy chears gaue himselfe to nothing but hunting hauking retayning many braue Knights with him who alwaies kept him company which way soeuer he went CHAP. XV. How after that the Duchesse of Ormeda had knowledge of Perrequins death her Daughter Gridonia made anoath neuer to marry with any man if first he did not reuenge her vpon Primaleon of Greece and for what occasion the Castel of the Coc-fendu was builded whereinto the old Duchesse with Gridonia retiring themselues how as they rested themselues hard by a faire Fountaine there issued out of a Forrest a Lion which put all their traine to slight and the Princesses in great feare PErrequin being slaine the greatest parte of the Knightes who behelde him in this lamentable taking being alwaies at his side alighted strait complaining greatly for his so great disaster but knowing his life irreuocable blamed him without any dread who had seperated it from his body the which they tooke vp and conuayed out of the field And after long lamentation and shedding of many teares ouer it they did most honourably bury it in an Abbey that stoode in the suburbes of the Citty Soone after without any long soâ—ourning there they embarqued themselues againe and set sayle to the first Port of Ormeda not daring to returne into Polland so that the Duchesse and her Daughter had the first newes of this mishâ—p At the comming whereof it were impossible to recount the sorrow and wayling that they made but especially Gridonia who loued Perrequin with a most perfect lone Bymeanes whereof shée vowed and sware an oath in presence of many neuer to accept of any other man for her husband but him onely who shoulde giue her for an earnest of her marriage Primaleons heade And if shée and her mother made great mourning for the death of Perrequin their kinsman it was nothing in respect of that of the King his father and of all the Kingdome of Polland hauing knowledge of this mischance It fortuned that many Princes afterward sending to the Duchesse to demaund Gridonia in marriage when they vnderstoode the conditions they doubted greatly whether they might euer be able to accomplish it or no Albeit some surceased not for all that to prosecute their demaunde menacing the Mother that if she would not giue them her Daughter with a good will they would ere long take her away by force And the principall who vsed these threatninges was the Prince of Clarence a most prowd and arrogant knight Insomuch that the good Lady fearing left for this effect he wold come to make warre vpon her sent both her Daughter and the old Duchesse her Mother vnto one of her Castels called the Roc-fendu which the great Grandfather of Gridonia had caused to bee builded informe of a Fortresse for this occasion This auntient Duke had an
before day which displeased Rifarano verie much for that hee could not take his leaue of the Emperour nor of Palmendos whom he destred to sée aboue all other Wherefore calling to him the Squire of the Countesse who followed him hee commaunded him before his departure from thence he should present himselfe before the Emperour and to tell him that Rifarano recommended himselfe most humbly to the good grace of his Maiestie beseeching him of excuse if he could not come him selfe to doe the message for that by reason of some businesse which was of great importance he was coniured to depart in all haste to the end to arriue with more spâ—d in Germanie and that he would ere long returne to make amends by his humble seruice for the Honour which he had receaued in his Court Then giuing him manie rich presents as well for himselfe as his Mistris commaunded him assoone as hee had discharged his dutie towardes the Emperour he should returne to hir strait to pray her learn him shee should not thinke amisse of him if during his aboue with her he neuer told her the name of his house and linage For which he would come to make amends hauing remayned some few daies in Almaine whether he was going with Ledefin to sée the Emperour Trineus his Father and that in the meane time she should make account of him as of the most affectionate seruant shee might finde in the vniuersall world After these spéeches the Pilot began to cut with his ship the spacious pliane of salt waters leauing vppon the shore the Squire verie pensiue and sorrowfull to abandon thus his Master but after he had called his courage to him he went to do his embassage to Palmendos and the Emperour who was wil sorrie for his secret departure because he would soone haue sent Rifarano home to his Father wish more honour The Countesse of Islande vnderstanding by her Squier that her Paramour was an Infidell and had nâ—â—eadie taken his way towards Germanie shee had almost 〈◊〉 for sorrow So that tooing afterwardes some â—â—llere pennance for her offence after the end of nine Moneths shee brought into this world a goodlie Sonne who inherited the â—arâ—â—dome of Island after the discease of his mother and following military Discipline did atchieue 〈◊〉 many strange thinges in Fraunce whether he went to sée his Father who was Duke of Burgundie as you shall vnderstand by the discourse of our Historie With this Childe the Countesse tooke so great comfort that by little and little she forgot the loue of Rifarano whom ' wee will nowe come to finde making saile in the Adrâ—aticke Sea where he had so happie Nauigation that within fewe daies hee came vppon the coast of Germanie and casting his ankers in a Porte foure dayes iourney distant â—â—om the Emperour Trineus Court they went thither in compleate armes except the head In breefe béeing arriued at the Pallace Rifarano sell on his knées before his Father demaunding his hande to kisse it The good Prince Trineus who vnderstoode long time before by letters from the Emperour of Greece of his Sonnes arriuall in Constantinople which hee then presentlie imparted to the Empresse his wife who greatly desired to knowe what they were séeing these two strange Knightes mistrusted lest the one should be him whereof serued for a good testimonie the gladnesse which hee shewed in his heart when he saide Sir Knight to giue you my hand I may not willingly consent before I knowe who you are My Lorde replyed hee againe in places where I am knowne they call mee Rifarano and this my companicâ— â—echefin Sonne to the Solton of Persia and to 〈◊〉 most affectionate friends O then you are thrice welcome quoth the Emperour into the place where your arriuall ouercommeth mee with gladnes So said he embracing them hauing for very â—ole so râ—re the teares in his eyes that he could hardly abstaine but some one did fall to the ground when he began thus Ah! my sonne happie may I thinke the perill and danger I past to be get you séeing that I see you no 〈◊〉 proued such fruite of my labour that all my life I shall for my part praise God for so great a grace but how could you stay so long away before you would come to see me considering your valour and Chiualrie did much increase my desire thereunto â— Alas It was the heauen which beeing enâ—â—ous and iealous of my blisse could not permit me to enioy your presence Hauing done this speech hee welcomed verie courteouslye Lechesin in the meane time they had this honest and gratious communication came in many Nobles who vnderstood newes of Rifarano to entertaine him the most Honourablâ—â— they could So that the Emperour who knew verie well the Empresse would be most glad of this occurrence taking the two Knights the one in the right hand and the other in the left went to finde her in her Chamber saying Madame these Princes the one who is of the Soldan of Persiaes sonnes and the other ouer whom you haue absolute power to commaund come to do you their humble reuerence and to offer you their seruice in any thing whatsoeuer wherein it shall please you to employ them Then the Empresse rising from her 〈…〉 to embrace them both with great loue especially Rifarano to whome she saide My sonne I haue now good occasion to reioyce mee of your presence and to cherrish you as mine owne Childe seeing you resemble him so naturally who following his destante gaue you your essence among men whome I loue aboue mine owne person with zeale so entire and perfect that it extendeth and redoundeth far ouer yours Madame quoth Rifarano nature hath so fullie accomplished you with all vertues that there can procéed from you nothing but a sincere good will for which I thanke you most humblie in mine owne behalfe albeit it much surpasseth my little merite which shall cause me to put this kindnes into the number of manie others which you haue so well heaped on mee that all my life I shall finde my selfe much boundeâ— vnto you Then bee kist her hand with the honour and reuerence which appertaineth to so high a Ladie and next did embrace Vernan her eldest sonne a Prince surely carefullie instituted in good manners and vertuous education which well hee could shew by the gentle entertainment he made him in recognisance of this new fraternitie albeit he were verie young of yeares Hee held the second place of thrée male Children and of two female which they had at one birth whereof the first liued not long because this was not in age marriageable the alliance of the houses of Almaine with that of Constantinople could not be redoubled giuing him to Philocrista whome the Prince of Fraunce had neuer other wise espoused their eldest Daughter of the age of fourtéene called Bellerisa was verie faâ—re yet not so faire as the younger But the Emperour caused the two Knights to bee disarmed and
brauâ—ly was in so profound a thought calling to minde the happy tune that he purchased so much renown in trauersing the â—eltique Belgicke Gaule that he shewed outwardly some apparent token of gladnes and seeming to be in the Countesse thoughts and to feele the same pleasure which he receiued remembring the perfections of his Lady answered him merrily in this sort My Lorde I foresèe well the paine and trauell which will lie vppon your necke in this charge and howe much courage she giueth you whom you loue so perfectly that in her fauour you enterprise so Knightly an exployt Whereuppon I assure my selfe that beside the praise which shall remaine vnto you shee shall estéeme you much more considering the great hazard into which you expose your owne person But that I may condiscend vnto your request albeit I should bee very sorry if I shoulde accorde you any thing which might turne you to any hurt I grant you fréely to execute your enterprise therein and in all other honest and loudable 〈…〉 of Chiualry Gratious Lord replied the Countie as long as my soule shall dwell in his passible bodie I will alwaies endeuour in all places to manifest the praise of her merite according to the small puissance that it hath pleased God to giue me whollie vowed yea fatally destinated to her seruice when my forces shall not answere my hart which in this respect is mexpugnable I shal augment onely but the number of these who cannot bring their driftes about thanking you in all most humble affection of the fauour which you shewed me in giuing me such licence in your house After these speeches and manie other which they had together the Countie retired himselfe into his lodging whereas soone as he was come he commaunded that on the morrowe they should plant in the place before the Pallace an inclosure which should haue in Diameter and circomference of the Center vnto the ends foure and twentie sethome in latitude and eight and thirtie in longitude which was done with high railes in so sufficient proportion that sixe Knights might easily fight together afront besides hee would haue a doore made hard by where he gaue order to set vp a Tent a Bedde a Kitchin with Offices al which was necessarie for so sumptuous a recreation The next day at Sunne rising be armed himselfe at all points and mounting vpon a double Courser hee came to appeare within the listes where were manie Knights disarmed to kéepe him companie whome he vsed verie magnificently in the feast The first man who came within the listes was the Duke of Drante vassall to the King of Thessalie young in age but lustie and verie skilfull in managing Armes who loued with a singular affection a daâ—nsel his subiect faire and marueilous gracious who finding the doore of the Tilt shutte thrust it open with the great end of his Launce to enter in therefore soone mounted the Earle on horsebacke and taking his sworde in his hand demaunded the Duke whether hee would Iouste or Combat wiâ—â— him I will haue but the Iouste quoth the Duke for that I thinke quicklie to make you confesse her whome I loue to excell in beautie and good grace the Ladie for whome you enterprise an exploit which seemeth to passe your cunning It were a thing almost miraculous replied the Earle if with so great reason as I haue to make good mine enterprise I should be vanquished by the first assailant Saying so they went to campe themselues at the two ends of this place then comming violently to encounter they shiuered both their Launces and dashing one another with their shields they passed brauely the rest of the carriere whereof the Earle was verie sorrie when he cried to his aduersarie Knight take yet one staffe more for the encounter of this first Iouste hauing béene so fauourable vnto you I will see how you will behaue your selfe in the second Then shall bee séene manifestlye the iust occasion I haue to Iouste answered the Duke taking another Launce with the which comming couragiouslye to charge him he mist his blow in striking which the Countie did not but running aright carriere sent him ouer his horse croupper with a tumbling cast downe to the ground Saying with a ioyfull courage An other time venter not with me in the listes if you haue no better reason to combat To that the Duke answered him nothing for hee founde himselfe ashamed to haue voyded the Aâ—son before Francheline his soueraigne Ladie and many other Lords and Knights who beheld them through the Pallace windowes But rising vp he put off gently his Coate of Armes and afterward beeing remounted he departed out of the Tilt-yeard to goe whether it pleased God to conduct him whereof Palmendos had so great remorse because of the vassalage which hee owed vnto the Father of his affianced Ladie that with some apparance of reason hee would haue entred the listes himselfe to haue reuenged him Afterwards there appeared nine or ten Knightes from whome the Countie still carried away the honour and hanbergions So that about Sunne setting when hee retired for that day he felt himselfe verie wearie and ouerpressed with the burthen that he was faine to sustain notwithstanding the iâ—iâ— which rauished his spirites more and more made him forget the dolour and wearines of his members Thether came Arnedes with all the French Knightes to feast him and to kéepe him companie the greatest part of the night where to stay our selues no longer the Earle continued sir whole daies before he was vanquished of anie doing marueils of Armes as well at the Iouste as at the Combat at the sword making great cheare and banquetes to those who visited him whereof the Emperour meruailed much no lesse of his prowesse and valour than of his magnificence and sumptuositie which hee continued vntil the seauenth day following when there came thither two Knightes one whereof tooke awaie within few houres from the Earle all the honour hee had wonne in the former dayes as you shall presently heare CHAP. VII How Belcar Recindes and Tyrendos being departed from Constantinople passed by the Duchy of Bort where Tyrendos vanquished at the Iousts the Knight who kept a passage out of the Cittie for the loue of the Duchesse and what fell out afterward vpon this occasion WEE declared a while since how Belcar Recindes and Tyrendos departed vnknowne from Macedon to go to Constantinople and riding great iournies passed by the Duchy of Bort whereof was Lord an aged and grayheaded father who in his youthfull yeares loued rest and his delights better than the Courtlie life or any millitarie exercise He had two faire Daughters and one Sonne estéemed a verie valiant Knight who against his Fathers will was gone to Constantinople and at his second mariage did this oldman take to wife a verie yong Ladie excéeding his daughters in beautie whereof a rich gentle Knight called Dirdan was much enamoured before and after the Duke
quoth Malfada then séeing you finde it not best to dwell any longer with me I am of aduise that you depart assoone as it shall please you to the end to take your â—ourney where you may find better entertainment than here And for that I haue loued you extreamely I will present â—ou a shippe verie well rigged with all that is néedfull for your commodious nauigation vnto your own Countrie Ten thousand thankes I giue you Madame replyed Robert for the good will you beare me and albeit I do not merâ—ie the least part of this fauour yet will I not cease to remayne your perpetuall bounden and a great deale the more if you refuse not to giue mee this Dog which I woulde craâ—â— at your handes Surely I should bee verse ingrately and little curteous quoth the Fayrie if I should denie you so small a thing albeit that heretofore this beast hath beene a Giant Lorde of the Ile of Escania who that I may in thrée words count you his History desiring at eighteene yeares of age when he receaued his Knighthood to doo some seates of Armes in the world embarqued him selfe néere his owne house for the same purpose And such was his fortune that a great storme which rose vpon the Sea cast him a shore in this Iland where presently hee found himselfe inchaunted vnder the forme of this Beast that you sée which I giue you also fréely as a thing wherewith you may helpe your selfe at you néede and shall be peraduenture sometime occasion for you to call to minde the remembrance of mée which I recommende vnto you as much as you haue knowne the singular and perfect loue I too heare you After many accustomed embracinges Robert tooke his leaue of Malfada thanking her againe for his Dogge to whom for that the Giant of whom hee had once the forme was called Maiortes and for that he was also the greatest of all that Iland he gaue the same name of Maiortes and afterwardes setting sayle towardes England passed by hard passages where his Dogge stood him in good stoode But in the meane season whilest Prince Edward was so highly estéemed in his fathers Kingdome the Knight Robert fell sicke who knowing the ende of his dayes were at hand purposed to make him inheritour of his Dogge as the person of all the English Nation whom he knewe worthy of such a present and sent the Dogge to him by a Squier of his beseeching him to take him alwaies with him in company and that he would not neglect him in that hee shoulde make great account of him one day when he knew his quallities better The young Prince was woonderfull glad of this Dogge when making as much of him as might be hée shewed him selfe so louing and gentle as if hee had brought him vp from a little whelpe therefore he sent in recompence of this Dogge great riches to the Knight Robert who in the meane season passed out of this world into the other Euer the Prince would haue Maiortes at his side whome he loued as a humane creature But facre more he estéemed him knowing the wondrous thinges hee did in hunting to which sport he lead him forth almost euery day During which idle and pleasant life it befortuned him vppon a day to see a thing which caused him afterward to haue iâ—â—umerable trauels For that the Knight his Father delighting much to build as well Castels as other pleasant and delightfull houses for aboue all his most sumptuous buildings hee caused to be builded with all magnificency one sumptuous Pallace whither he was woont to goe to take his disport with the Quéene his wife It fortuned that amongst many maister workemen who did worke in this new building there was a Painter of Ormeda who by chaunce was present at the Fountaine when Gridonia was met there by the Lyon who to the ende hée might at his ease fully behold the fauour of the Princesse hée followed her into the Castell with others that were there for those of that profession are very desirous to sée the Idea of so perfect beauty with whose lineament and perfect feature they may helpe themselues in their portraitures And for that hee founde not any store of worke to employ himselfe in the City of Ormeda he resolued to goe séeke in other Countries So that being arriued in England after hée had gotten acquaintance to bee knowne hee tooke charge to paint this goodly Pallace which the King caused to bee built néere his chiefe Citty Wherein among many excellent things which hee inuented there by his Art and skill hauing as yet fresh in his memory the beanties of Gridonia hée pourirayed her so naturall that shée séemed a liuing creature séeming euer to them which behelde her that shée woulde open her mouth to speake vnto them and there hee set her in a place as it were in a prison seiâ—â—ate vpon a Rocke and a Lyon couched vppon the sky it of her Coate holding his heade betwéene this Ladies handes who did gently stroake his heade and all the rest of hys body Prince Edward who went much abroade to hunt 〈◊〉 oftentimes so make his mâ—â—ing in this place where beholding vpon a time the worke of this Painter sawe there amongst other thinges Gridonia paynted as you haue heard And woondring in himselfe at so admirable beauty especially to sée a Lyckrepayre so peaceably néere a woman coulde not cheese but â—all for the Paynter vnto him saying I pray thée interprete vnto me a little the meaning of this picture and how a Lyon may be made so tame that one may sée him couched so still 〈◊〉 a Damosell for that it so mâ—th to me to be a thing fit rather for little Dogges than for such sauage animals which are cruell and indâ—mptable by nature You say very true quoth the Paynter but knowe yée my Lorde that in the world are many strange thinges a among the which I sweare vnto you by him that giueth vs life to haue séene with mine owne proper eyes the true Modell of this my poore among liuing creatures Thou he began to make discourse vnto him of the Estates and perfections of this Princesse Whereat the Knight remayned much amazed and troubled uâ—minde but answered him thus It is a very rare example that a beast without reason as this especially hath so much foresight as to knowe the valour and bounty of a Lady so well accomplished and that shée presumeth in her selfe to recouer the heade of Primaleon for the earnest of her marriage The Painter affirmed to him againe it was as true as hée had in euery word recounted to him Whereupon Prince Edward began to beholde a little better than he did before his busines and because he reputed him one of the best Artists that as yet hee had euer seene to handle Pensill hee researched with such dilligence and remarked so exactly many times the lineature and grace of Gridoniaâ—s countenance disputing in himselfe whether shée might bee so faire a
then cried the old woman in presenting him the sworde against this Knight who will take from mee by force the rarest Iewell in this world which hee is not worthie so much as to looke vppon Whereuppon he began to speake vnto the Prince in this manner Knight let that good Lady alone to deale with me who hoping to chastice you quickly for this great presumption by which you haue beene so hardy and bolde as to enter within this place in despite of me I am verie glad quoth Prince Edward to haue to doe with thée séeing the small honour a man may purchase to vanquish women beeing but feeble creatures by nature and of small resistance After these speeches they beganne a terrible skirmish in the which albeit the Prince charged his enemie with many fell strange knockes for the ardent zeale hee had to finish this aduenture his aduersarie neuerthelesse hauing in his hande the best sword which was to be founde in the circute of the earth deliuered fewe blowes but made the maile of his harnesse or shield vpon his arme flie in péeces By reason whereof Prince Edward seeing his life ineuident perrill knowing not well what to doe resolued to put this Battaile in hazard so that couring himselfe as well as he could with his buckler he cared not to endure two or thrée blowes of his enemie to come to gripes Which he did when the Knight which founde himselfe a little wearie hauing not strength enough to holdeing with him was constrained to fall with him to the grounde where it fell out so well on the English Knightes side that he was vppermost Notwithstanding béeing out of breath hee could hardlie winde himselfe from his aduersarie Who by reason of his lumpish heauie fall sounded vnder the Prince who séeing him in that passion would not wrong him further than to ceaze vppon his sworde then looking rounde about him hee perceaued at that instant how the old woman vanished away behinde a little yron doore He resolued to follow her to know what might be the pursute of this aduenture séeing by the cleare brightnesse of a cleare glasse windowe some light within the next Chamber which did prouoke him the rather vppon this occasion clasping on the vanquished knights Armes to play the surest part they fitted him so iust as if they had bin forged for his backe Moreouer he tooke his shield which he beganne to be hold with great admiration and féeling afterward his force and courage to encrease double entred without feare into the next roome In the middest whereof he was a ware of a faire Sepulcher of Marble whose couering was so high and so much separated from the sides that a man might easily behold all that was within In this place hee heard some body make such a 〈…〉 noyse that approching softly néere it to know what strange matter it might bee he sawe two armed Knights 〈…〉 couched flat vpon their bellies did cruelly wound one 〈◊〉 with daggers whch each one of them helde betwéene their handes Whereupon hauing compassion of so much blood inhumainely spilt vnder them by the wounds which they giue themselues without ceasing remained a while perplexed what he should best doo in so tragicall a spectacle In fine beséeching the diuine prouidence to aide him to pacifie them he pushed the couering of the Sepulcher off with such a violence that it remained vncouered which of a â—roth had neuer any other Knight béene able to doo but hée or Primaleon who was more valiant than himselfe The two Knights séeing the heauy Marble throwne downe which had a long time kept them locked fast in that Sepulcher rose vpon their féete incontinent and after they were come foorth they call themselues downe at Prince Edwards feete saying Praised â—ee she incomprehensible goodnes of God who hath endowed you with such prowesse and magnanimity which deliuereth vs now at the last from this intollerable martyrdome which we both did endure the which we know right well coulde neuer be brought to ende but by the vertue of the best Knight who was euer borne in the house of England and the one of them procéeding did Know faire Lorde it is a long time that wee were in this paine that we descend of the most Royal bloud of the English Nation as I will recount vnto you seeing you haue deliuered vs out of this torment At this strange accident the Prince much merualled especially for that these two personages as soone as they were out of the Sepulcher had receaued the perfect healing of their woundes and that of so cruell enemies they were so soone become peaceable friends so that taking them both by the hands hee made them stande vp saying my deare brethren happy may I tearme my selfe at this present to haue freed you from this mortall passion offering my selfe beside to pursue your entier deliuerance if peraduenture any further encumbrance molest you Likewise to continue your perpetuall friend in all places where you shall know my small power may stand you in any stéede beseeching you to make relation to me of your hard aduenture the History whereof I would willingly enioy Then began one of them we are brethren and sonnes to the Duke of North-wales and to the sister of the King Prince Coward in the house of whom for he loued vs both as his owne children we were brought vp from our infancie But afterwards as our euill fortune would knowing nothing one of anothers loue wee were both enamoured onely by the same and renowne of the Duke of Borsaâ—s Daughter estéemed at that time the fayrest and most vertuous Lady of the westerne world Now in a Tourney being helde at a certaine time in preheminence of her at this Dukes principall Pallace we purposed both to bee present at it in good equâ—page of furnitures to the ende the better to enter in grace of this Princesse So that her father being a wise and learned Magitian knowing our néerenes of lignage with the King entertained vs most honourably into his house And after that we had séene the Damosell in face the flame which from day to day consinned the force and vigour of our vitall spirites did augment in such strange manner that had not the hope béene which fed vs with future fruition of case wee had made both some lamentable and tragicall ende beeing ignorant one of anothers pursute and aduising it for the best neuer to make priuy to one another of our loues Both of vs perfourmed maruelous seates in this Tourney to incline this Princesse to loue vs the more wherein I exceeded my brother because I was his elder by byrth So that hauing by this meanes more opportunity to speake vnto her I made her prmy to my desire whereupon there succeeded such a conclusion betweene vs that shee assured mee to bee content to accept mee for her husband Then I aduentured my selfe to speake vnto the Duke her father who answered mee hee had already promised her to the
hands of any Knight who were issued out of that so noble and generous race of Palmerin de Oliua Notwithstanding séeing without doubt it is an inâ—uitable extremity I must patiently yéeld my selfe his humble captiue beséeching God I may finde so much curtesse in him as once did my mother in the like accident receaue of the so redoubted Prince Palmerin de Oliua Prince Edward afterwardes hauing vnderstoode by the More the interpretation which the Infant had accompanied with so heauy a sigh he would take the charge of her himselfe saying to the Master of the shippe that of all the booty they had taken he demanded nothing els for his share but this Damsell So Prince Edward lead away into his Chamber the Princesse Zerphira with fower of her principall Damsels onely who carryed with them theyr rings and iewels giuing the rest of the pillage to the Merchant and his companions then procéeding in theyr voyage the Knight called to minde how there were diuers Christians within his shippe who did him seruice with great reuerence whereupon mistrusting lest they should know him he tooke aside a little the Master of the Shippe saying thus vnto him my friend I perceaue you know who I am whereby men may thinke great simplicity in me to conceale my selfe hereafter Understand therefore that I departed out of the King my fathers Court with an vnspeakable desire to come to sée as well the good Knights which are in the Court of King Frisol as also in that of the Emperour of Constantinople therefore I must request you not to manifest mee to any one considering that what I doo now is but for some good respect And â—o the ende wee may auoyde the inconuenience which might ensue by the enquiry made of mée you shall doo mee hereafter the least honour you can reputing me but for a simple and poore wandring Knight whom you shall call the Knight of the Dogge and say I am of some farre Nation to you vnknowne who wandring thorough the world to séeke strange aduentures and arriuing at the King of Englands Court soiourned there a while with Prince Edward his sonne with whome I was so well acquainted that he would haue kept me there a long time with him whereby it procéedeth that I can better speake that language than any other yea than mine owne naturall tongue And if yee doo so and God giue mee grace to liue the age of a man I will reward you so that you shall thinke it a blessed hower wherein you first met me Syr replyed the Merchant you haue already done me more grace than I shall euer bee able hereafter to deserue at your hands which may well assure you I shall neuer dare disclose you seeing the great care and dilligence you your selfe vse not to bee descried of any whatsoeuer and whereas there is others beside in this vessell who knowe you as well as I doo I will make them all come before you to the ende they may promise not to make knowne your name but when and to whom you shall please So it fell out when they arriued afterward with great gladnesse at Arriace which was the place of the birth and dwelling of the chiefe Merchant who was owner of the ship Being a Cittie verie strong and of good defence situate in the Kingdome of Hungarie on the one side confining with the Countries of the Soloan of Nicea There came they into a Hauen and for the Merchant was rich and had a faire lodging hee tooke the Knight with him into his house who would néedes bring along Zerphira with him leading hir by the arme where they were Honourably entertained by the Merchants wife who at their arriuall vnderstood secretly by meanes of her husband the discourse of this Nauigation But all those of this ship hauing purchased by the helpe of the Knight of the Dogge great riches from the Instdels the brute thereof came quickly to the eares of this Ladie who found her selfe at that instant in a wofull case because King Frisoll went about by his Soueraignâ—ty to take from her this Cittie to fortesie it as beeing the next frontier to the Mores Country And also because her deceased husband had rebelled in his tune against Netrides his Father when after the conquest of this Kingdome hee sought to inuest himselfe with the principall Citties wherein no man gaintsaide him but he onely who died in this reuolte Under this pretexte then sent King Frisoll for this Lady to come vnto him so dispossesse her of the Cittie promising neuerthelesse to recompence her in good sort But shee who had but one only Sonne as yet a tender pupill vnder age would not exchange it for any other Cittie of his Kingdome as well by reason that hers was well seated for all kinde of commodities as also for that she saw all her subiects and inhabitance growne very rich and wealthy So that this Lady had no more but eight dayes of tearme remayning when she was to appeare before the King when also Prince Edward arriued at Arriace and hauing not as yet found out any that durst appeare to answere for her so that she wared very sad beeing in perplexety knowing not howe to resolue what was best to be 〈◊〉 in this cale when she vnderstoode of the prowesse and magnanimitie of the Knight of the Dogge bruted abroad in her Cittie Whereuppon it fortuned that shee sent incontinent for the principall Merchant to come to her Castell who arriued there soone after with two handmaides of Zerphira which fell to his share whereof he made a present vnto her and declared vnto her as much as yon haue read before wherewith thee had her minde so troubled that she lost almost both her sence and reason and therefore she prayed him to moue the Knight to haue some compassion of her woefull distresse Whereuppon he protesting vnto her of a troth the great curtesie and generousnes of Prince Edward shee made no farther enquirie but beeing accompanied with the Marchant with some one of her Damsels she went presently to him and falling downe prostrate before him thus she began Braue Knight if the affliction of any poore desolate widdow hath euer found place of pittie in your noble minde I beseech you most humbly you will now vouchsafe to regard mée in the necessitie wherein I am And after shee had vnfolded the whole matter vnto him the Prince made her this aunswere Madame I am verie sorie and sore displeased at your sadnesse and cause of melancholie on the other side I am verie glad that so good an occasion doth offer it selfe now to make you knowe the desire I haue had euer since mine Infancie to helpe and succour to my small power all Ladies who would employ mee and especially those who feele themselues oppressed and destitute of aids and counsell And for this cause will I willingly present my selfe before your King making him to vnderstand that corrupting the inuiolable lawes of Iustice he