this his disquiet did in a great measure mitigate his for row yet did it not keep him from such an agitation of mind as did imbitter all his contentment The King who seemd to be on the mending hand and almost perfectly recovered did much solicit the Physitians that he might now be permitted freely to imbrace his beloved wife within his arms which they had promised him to give way unto within four days in which interim of time he fell into a dangerous relaps with very small hope of ever recovering There came unto his Majestie likewise at this time an express dispatch away in haste from the Consuls of the Town of Siari informing him that great part of the Soldiery of the Commonwealth of Famagosta had in an insolent and barbarous manner begun to prejudice them by killing their men and firing their Countrey which caused them to flie unto the wisdom and valour of his Majestie for succour and reparation to these great evils That many of their neighbours and Soldiers drawn out of the adjacent Garisons had valiantly opposed the Enemy but that 't was hard for a few men without any Commanders in chief or good Warlick Discipline long to resist a multitude of armed men provided with all things fitting to fight That they had not as yet taken any Walled Towns but only two Villages wherein they had fortified themselves and went on destroying the corn which was already almost ripe throughout all those fruitfull fields The King was highly afflicted at this news presaging this to be the preludium of his death so as calling together his Councell of State that morning after they had considered the business 't was joyntly resolved that all possible forces should be presently raised to resist these first insolencies That the mean while order and consultation should be taken for all Occurrences and that the King should in his due time name the Heads and chief Commanders of the Army the charge of providing Arms was confer'd upon the Count Angebertus of Monagria with Orders that the Kings Exchequer being immediately opened the Drums should beat up and people should be taken into pay who joyned to the other Soldiers that were in Garison and such as might be drawn out of the Gallies without much weakening the Maritin forces should be ready to march at an hours warning in a short space an Army was raised of 8000 foot and 2500 horse all of them Soldiers well enough appointed but little experienc'd in Military affairs for not only the Arms but the very minds of the whole Kingdome were as it were rusted over by means of long peace Prince Doralbo was by the King declared General Filarbo one of Nissena's Cousens Lieutenant General and his Brother Theocastro General of the Horse Other Commands and Places were confer'd to other Noblemen and Gentlemen according to the Kings pleasure who knew very well the worth and abilities of all his Subjects At the very instant that Doralbo received the place of Generall he began to exercise his Command fighting against his own thoughts which in a rebellious manner began to mutiny against him He esteemed that preferment a misery not an honour which by keeping him far from Nissena divided him from himself but knowing that of necessity he was presently to obey he prepared for departure not forgetting to thank the Kings munificence for so great a dignity confer'd upon him and protesting that to shew himself in some sort worthy thereof he would upon all occasions be ready to oppose his breast to the enemies Weapons Nissena found her self touched with an affection not formerly known unto her For though she thought she had loved nothing in the Prince but his worth she was then aware that she likewise loved his presence not being able to imagine him in the wars where he might notwithstanding exercise that valor which she thought the onely object of his soule without great trouble The fatall hour of departing approached and the Prince was already call'd upon by the Trumpets when taking his leave of Thoas with a minde much confused he went to kiss her hand who could not so much suppress the inward resentments of her soul but that they appeared visibly by her often changing countenance Few were the words which they spake to one another but they vied whose eyes should speak most Nissena far from her own beliefe as she turn'd her face from the Prince saying God be with you and be sure you return was inforced to wipe the tears from off her eyes which would have fallen in abundance had not her wisdome with-held them In fine their griefs were equall Whilst the Army is on its march towards Liuri let us see what it was that made Famagosta which had formerly faithfully paid Tribute to the Crown of Cyprus wage war against Thoas and that some particulars may be the better known let us understand how the whole Island being subject to Kingly power this onely part was then governed Aristocratically by the name of a Common-wealth The issue of that famous Ptolomy vvho built those foure Cities vvhich vvere called Arsinoe being all dead nine of the chief Lords of Cyprus divided the Kingdome amongst them and for a while ruled by the Title of Petty Kings Affroditius the powerfullest amongst them occasioned by his death the subversion of that divided Empire vvhilst dispute arising vvhich of the rest should succeed to the command of that part of the Crown vvhich vvas now vacant Byamartes the most valiant not to say the most rash endeavoured and did therein succeed to get the possession thereof by force of Arms. His naturall desire of inlarging his confines not being herewithall satisfied being beyond measure gallant and as vvise as he needed to be he took from five of the others their little Scepters and the other two fortifying themselves in the Citie of Famagosta seated upon the banks of the Sirian sea and having received recruits of Men and Victuals from Soria made Biamartes dispair of overcomming them by force of Arms he betook himselfe to plots and stratagems vvhich proved all vain Retiring from the siege he still ruminated how he might make himselfe master of Famagosta vvithout vvhich his glory and dominion seemed to be imperfect and cut short He advised hereupon so long as at last he pitcht upon an enterprize vvhich by how much more dangerous it vvas so much vvas the event thereof more successfull if out of no other reason perhaps because Fortune hath alvvayes been observed to be as favourable to Rashness as an enemy to Wisdome He chose twelve of his most valiant and adventurous Souldiers and making them be appareld Country-like some like simple foot Souldiers some like mercenary Artificers and some like Mechanick Plebcians He willed them to get into Famagosta under severall pretences and to tarry there in expectation of his coming who soon after having cut short and altered the colour of his haire and beard went thither in a flovenly manner and Shepheard-like
not by her who quite lost in the passions of grief and revenge minded nothing but her own fury and affliction The Kings Funerals were by Mintaurus orders celebrated with no extraordinarie Pomp upon whom by reason of his dignitie the Government and interest of the Kingdom depending he indeavor'd by unusual kindnesses to win into the good opinion of the great ones and by liberalitys never by him before practis'd to to make the soldiery the common people his friends he notwithstanding made many to be imprison'd and amongst others one of the late Kings secretarys pretending that they were complices in the murder of one of the chief Gentlemen of Nicosia who was slain some daies before He acquainted the Queen with all proceedings whose grief not being yet over committed all affairs and expeditions to his charge This was the only thing which he gaped after who desires to strengthen his own authoritie with the people and to weaken the Queens power hasted apace towards the accomplishing of his vast and proud designes Melaspus ceased not to wait often upon Nissena indeavouring by his obsequiousness and service to work himself into her good opinion as being in love I know not whether more with her or with the Kingdom This his new waie of proceeding was known by al men to be but craft which aimed at the Crovvn and made him more hatefull in the eies of many then had his detestable conditions done before The Court was sufficiently aware to what end Mintaurus actions tended as also those of Melaspus and both Eurania and Nissena perceived it too though too late who finding her Guards to be changed how she was attended by none but Mintaurus his friends and kindred and even deprived of the company of her most intrusted waiting women knew she had almost totally lost her Princely power or was rather of a Queen become a servant whilst every vvhere and in all things Mintaurus vvas more obeyed then she She desired that a Councel of State might be called but it vvas deferr'd under pretence of his indisposition of health and of the absence of many of the chief Lords vvho after the Kings death had vvithdravvn themselves not only from the Court but from the Citie She desired to be inform'd of many Occurrences of the Kingdom more particularly of the War of Famagosta and vvhat had succeeded since the Prince Doralbo's expedition But she could learn nothing but Ambiguities and falshoods In fine she found her self utterly lost not having any one left her vvith vvhom to advise and make knovvn her mind save only Eurania vvho amongst the rest of her vexing cares she acquainted vvith her amorous inclination vvhich since the Kings death did much increase in her tovvards Doralbo Melaspus this mean while who by his Fathers persvvasions did often visit Nissena could no longer hold commerce with those fair eyes without becoming in reality her very fervent Lover and forgetting his Fathers sordid and avaritious ends which aimed at the unjust possessing of the Kingnom he aspired to nothing else but the possession of Nissena's beauty 'T is a folly to expose ones self to the flames with a thought of not remaining if not burnt at least throughly warmed Nissena was at all times exceeding handsome but being atired in Widovvs aparrel and vails she appeared to out-do her self It was no wonder therefore if Melaspus vvho vvas vvont formerly onely to follow after vvanton and lascivious love suffered himselfe at this time to be taken by that countenance which though it breathed forth nothing but noble flames did notwithstanding ravish with a redoubled violence he therefore sollicited his father to such resolutions as might give him Nissena in possession so as his sons intreaties joyned to the conatural goads of Ambition Avarice Mintaurus resolv'd himself to propound Melaspus to Nissena for Husband She blushing but wisely keeping in the height of her disdain took time to give answer so as the vvary vvicked fellow perceiv'd she was not much inclin'd to such a marriage And though he feigned yet inwardly inraged he said within himselfe Thou shalt either marry Melaspus or have Death for thy Bridegroom The Queen saw her self afterwards worse treated then ever and the ill usage practised hitherto by Mintaurus with hidden Art began to degenerate into evident neglects She was no more acquainted as formerly with the affairs of the Kingdome nor for all that she could do could she ever get the Councell to meet She was attended as meanly as might be onely in what concern'd necessity not as became her greatness the number of her Courtiers and Servants in her waiting rooms being every day decreased and the number of Souldiers every day increased Melaspus only whose flames grew daily greater continued to serve her though the little correspondency or gratitnde that he met withal might have made him see he was not at all respected The Niece and Aunt perplext between these straits resolved it not onely needful for them but necessary to acquaint Doralbo by Letters how barbarously they were treated by Mintaurus after the Kings death And this Nissena was the willinger induced unto now that she saw the way open unto her to make with honour her affection known to that gallant Prince whose love she now esteem'd a greater fortune then the Crown ' I was hard for them to get the letter safely conveyd unto him but wary Eurania sent it by a very trusty Messenger For what remain'd they resolved to shew themselves for the future more inclin'd to the proposition of Nissena's marriage with Melaspus whose affection should be fed and nourisht by her with some seeming content yet so cunningly as a sudden change might not cause suspition The sad couple were tossed between the billows of these anxious thoughts and Nissena opprest with unwelcome Melancholy was more afflicted then usually when a young man appear'd before her of a noble enough aspect though not very richly attir'd who having bowed reverently unto her spake to her in this manner The weight of affairs vvherein your Majesties life and the possession of this kingdom are concern'd required that I should come before your presence and for that I was often denied entrance by the guard I who am a Merchants son of this Citie have abused the Souldiers making them believe that I was sent for by you with direction to bring you some Looking-glasses wherewith the better to colour over the Fiction I have brought good store with me and to that purpose Madam I will present you with a Glasse wherein you shal see the wicked practises of others and the imminent dangers which hang over you Be not I beseech you offended that Fortune hath made choyce of me your unworthy servant and most humble subject as an instrument to withdraw you from those misfortunes to which you are so much the more expos'd for that you doe the lesse discern them as long as my Relation shal serve to your reliefe you need not care who I am
NISSENA AN EXCELLENT NEW ROMANCE WRITTEN Originally in ITALIAN BY FRANCESCO CARMENI AND Now Englished by an Honorable ANTI-SOCORDIST LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Princes Arms in St PAULS Church-yard 165â— NISSENA THOAS King of Cyprus being somewhat aged was much afflicted for that he wanted one to succeed him in his Kingdome having utterly lost all hopes thereof by the death of his wife Almira daughter to the late King of Macedon who died being with child He thought it unbecoming Kingly Majesty to marry a Subject though he wanted not good store of Noble bloud and cry'd up beauty And to ally himselfe with his neighbouring Princes suited not with his politick ends wherefore moved thereunto by his naturall inclination he resolved to take unto him such a wife as might acknowledge her being made partner of the Regall Throne onely to the merit of her beauty Rhodes a neighbouring Island though but of a small circuit was in those dayes so famous for handsome women and did so much abound therein as young Travellers flockt thither from farre distant Provinces onely to feed their greedy and curious eyes with beholding those countenances which multiplied Venus'es on earth and out-did the starres in Heaven Thoas therefore putting on a strange resolution determined to send thither three of the ancientest and wisest Gentlemen of his Court with free liberty to bring her unto him whom of all the Virgins of that Island they should judge to be the fairest that he might make her a Companion both of his Bed and Kingdome to the end that the one might be blessed with issue the other with successors He recommended three qualities to be by them observed in her whom they were to chuse to be his Queen That she should be of Noble Birth Of an excellent Temper And of a befitting Age. And for a fourth he gave them in charge that she should be rarely handsome to witness to the World that he did not marry meerly out of a desire to satisfie his lust The Ambassadors departed with two of the most glorious and best rig'd Gallies which were ever made in the Kings Arsenall attended on with a number of Gentlemen Souldiers and Servants answerable to the decencie and greatness of him that sent them Having had a very prosperous passage they cast Anchor not far from the Haven which on the East is shut in by two strong necks of land thrust out by the Island to rest her self upon The usuall friendly Salute being given by Canon shot they sent Albericus one of the Gentlemen upon the Peere with the Royall Ensignes who made Fermondo the then Prince understand That three Ambassadors from Cyprus desired his good leave to come on shore and to have audience He being full of Civility and a friend to that Crown sent forthwith many of his Gentlemen unto the Haven who went forth in three stately vessels to meet and reverently to receive the Ambassadors When they were come on land and being put into rich Coaches they were waited upon to the Palace by many of the chiefest of the Rhodian Nobility They were met at the stairs head by Fermondo's selfe and after multiplied Embraces and Welcomes they were brought into the Kings lodging they were well pleased to see themselves treated with greater respect and state then they expected or could have imagined Being somewhat weary by reason of those unavoidable troubles which are suffered at Sea were buried in sleep when the Sun was well advanced from the east and when they were awakened by the gladsome sound of Trumpets and the beating of Drums which in warlike wise congratulated the arrivall of such conspicuous personages As soon as they were drest they were invited to Audience by the Prince who very affably meeting them said What is it that is desired by the Ambassadors of King Thoas whom I so love and reverence as I have taken but little rest all the last night out of my desire speediy to execute the commands of so worthy a King With all due reverence and as much eloquence as they were Masters of they delivered their Ambassie desiring that his Highnesse would be pleased that out of all the fairest and best born Maids of Rhodes one may be chosen to make happy by her Marriage and Succession the Bed Bloud Royal of Cyprus The Prince gave way unto their desires saying with a pleasing countenance How fortunate are you the Virgins of Rhodes for whom your propitious Stars and Thoas his goodnesse hath prepared so considerable fortunes Return my acknowledgements unto your King who vouchsafes to chuse a Companion out of my Subjects who though I command over them am yet his humble servant Thankfull Civilities were paid on all sides and in execution of the request publick proclamation was made That all the fairest and best born Virgins of Rhodes should withing a certain prefixt time come to Court where she who should be judged to be the handsomest should be crowned Queen of Cyprus This was soon noysed over the whole Island to the great wonder of every one and to the particular alteration of the hearts not onely of the young Maids but of their Lovers There was no so conceal'd corner in the breasts of all those Maids which was not fild with ambition womanish vainglory the belief which all Lovers have that the object of their affection is the onely true Idoll of beauty did much torment the young men every one of them fearing to lose her whom they thought to be as worthy of a Crown as she appear'd to them to be the Queen of Beauty Some of the Virgins more passionatly in love then the rest would have refused to have appeared at the time and place appointed though a Scepter depended thereupon lest they might lose their Sweet-hearts had not their Parents ambitious hopes forced them to goe The houre and place were appointed which was to be the fatall moment and Capitoll to the Triumph of that Beauty which should happiliest incounter the Genius of those Paris'es who being to be Judges the older they were would be the less passionate in favourably deciding the question wheron the possession not of an Aple but of a Crown did depend 'T was a Spectacle indeed worthy to be seen by the whole world to behold fourscore exceeding handsome and nobly born virgins within one room whose pomp riches quaintness of dress and aparrell added to their prerogatives of Nature made up so pleasing a miracle to the eyes of the lookers on as they doubted whether what they saw was mortall or heavenly 'T was then apparently seen what womens industry can do in inventing rich costly apparell and extravagant dressings to increase by Art the worth of their native beauties whilst what the innocent want of experience in virgins could not doe was by more cunning women by studied Art effected with all their whole might Here did some appeare with hair elaboratly
apparell loaded with greasie Wooll His intension was to expose himselfe to all danger so as he might kill those two petty Kings who hindred him from intirely possessing that Kingdome which without that Citie seemed to his ambition but a Body that had some joynt lopt off He imagined that either he or some of his getting into the Courts of those petty Kings might possibly come to mingle poyson whereof each of them was well provided amidst their meats or else by night to bring such a of powder into the lower Vaults of the Palace as might suffice to blow up the Walls thereof wherewithall both to kill and bury his enemies at once If nothing else should succeed he should learn the exact quantity of the people their plenty or penury of Ammunition the condition of their Souldiery their inward provisions and fortifications of the Citie and finally all such occurrences as might facilitate unto him the way how to take that Citie by storm which he could not doe by stratagem He determined and performed but if he went to vanquish he was vanquished though the loss did at the last occasion his Victory His feigned condition of a Shepheard getting him access without suspition into all places he made use therof to pry into all particulars which might conduce to the execution of his designs Being one morning invited by his curiosity to see the inside of a sumptuous Palace the great men of Cyprus using in those dayes freely to permit every one to enter their habitations he stept into a garden and gazing upon a side of the House which was all made of purest Marble he might see a Woman sitting upon a little rise of a Hill drying her wet black hair at the Sun beams She sitting a good while still and seeing one look fixtly on her in a habit which made her beleeve him to be some simple Countrey Clown who dazled with her more then usual beauty stood greedily gazing on her broke forth into a lowd laughter and said unto him What is' t you look so earnestly upon Companion Did you never see a woman before Yes Lady said he I have seen other women but never any of so exquisite a Beauty Look thy belly full upon me then said she whilst a Gentlewoman came with an Ivory Comb to put her hair in order Biamartes forgetting what personage he represented had almost by speeches and behaviour befitting his true condition and mind discovered himself to have nothing in him of Clownish but his apparell But knowing how much it imported him to be taken for what he appeared to be he began with divers sensless words and speeches to little purpose masked over with simplicity to move them to laughter who had delighted a good while to make themselves merry with him At last they departed from the little rise of the Hill and he went out of the Palace so far in love with this Lady as he found it much a harder matter to withstand his own thoughts then to fight a numerous Army 'T was a wonder that being blinded by love he could yet see that he could hope for no success neither in his martial affairs by the death of his Enemies nor yet in his love Wherefore he wisely resolved to leave Famagosta where he had reaped nothing but the loss of his heart and the having exposed himself to the evident danger of his life liberty and renown which he had won at such expence of valour He left the City as did severally those that depended on him except one of the craftiest amongst them who by his command staid to prie into the proceedings of the petty Kings and to discover that Ladies condition whose merit had wrought upon a Kings affection Byamartes perceived afterwards how rash his enterprise was but according to the custom of great ones yea of all such as have been favoured by fortune he attributed that to the goodness of his own wit which was the meer gift of a friendly fortune He ceased not this mean while at a great expence of treasure and the full extent of his power to raise all such men and arms as he could to assault Famagosta again which being impossible to be besieged on that side towards the sea was not to be taken but by assault Though he were busied about so hard an enterprise yet could he not forget her vvho had rob'd him of his heart but thirsted the more to make himself master of the City This mean vvhile he vvhom he had left in Famagosta having inform'd himself touching the Lady found that she vvas of a noble and rich Family allyed to the best houses of the City though her husband as having too great and numerous a retinue vvas not vvell looked upon but rather held under by those petty Kings vvho knevv their uncertain Dominion to be yet but vveakly grounded vvhich made her be better inclin'd to Biamartes his Party then to theirs The crafty Officer thought it therfore his best course to let it come to her knowledge by one of her houshold servants whom he had by great sums of gold corrupted that Biamartes being come into that City by stealth and unknown was falne mightily in love with her in so much as he was sent by him to offer her together with his soul whatsoever his Crown was able to do she being the sole Mistress of his will Telisbe for so was this Lady called thought it impossible that a great King should have hazarded himself within the precincts of an Enemies Wall and that having such important affairs of War upon his hands he could have leasure to think of love but did rather imagin that this was a plot of some one or other that was in love with her to make tryal of her chastitie or else that it was some of Biamartes stratagems whereby to make himself Master of that City which was only wanting to compleat his Dominion over all Cyprus Were it then that she desired to know whether she were grown so ingenuous or no as to discover the plots of others or that eg'd on by the itch of ambition she would gladly know the certainty whether her beauty were such or no as to have operation in the heart of a great Prince and valliant Warrler she would be punctually inform'd by this her domestick servant who it was that had prevailed so far with her as to make her venter upon so rash a business She wrought so much by intreaties and by threats as she learn'd all she knew out of her Which was no more but that dazled by the brightness of the gold whereof a stranger had been very liberal unto her she was induced to deliver such messages believing she should not find her easie to consent but yet ready enough to pardon the folly of a fault which had got her so much wealth The Lady seemed to be appeas'd and asked her whether she thought the stranger would be perswaded to speak with her her self or no charging her that when
excited nay necessitated that state to the violent resolution of taking up Arms against its Lord and Master Who this wicked one was and to what mischievous ends he complotted these revolutions we shall shortly know together with some other fatall successes Let it suffice for the present to know That an Order from his Majesty authenticated and sealed by his Kingly Seal was read in full Senat by the Kings Vicegerent in Famagosta that without any reply or intermission of time to boot with the ordinary Tribute four thousand Talents should be by them disburst towards the occurrent affairs Those Fathers were astonished to hear of so unaccustomed burthensom a demand there not being moneys enough neither in the publick Exchequers nor yet in mens privat purses to make up so great a payment they desired a prorogation of the Vicegerent protetesting howsoever that they were altogether unable to satisfie his Majesties desires They were answered that they were speedily to resolve and to take into their considerations the particulars exprest and contained in the Order without further reply or loss of time The poor Senators knew not what to say in all meetings both publick and privat the Kings indiscretion was the sole subject of discourse when many of them received privat advertisements by Letters that Thoas taking a Caprichio to annull the Republick had made use of a pretence of exacting a Contribution from them which was impossible for them to pay That if they should make ready payment of what was demanded either in part or in whole he was resolved to make use thereof to wage war with them at their own expence That if they did not execute his Order he would declare them to be disobedient and proclaim them Rebels and Enemies to the Crown That the very Inhabitants of Nicosia asham'd scandaliz'd at the apparent injustice desir'd that so famous ancient a Common wealth should now make some glorious resentment against that King who having lost his reason in his love to a base Woman had already crowned her Queen to the end that the people might be governed by a mungrell succession of an ignoble stock mixt with the Royal Bloud That the onely remedy they had to prevent their imminent ruine was to put on a noble resolution of preventing him speedily with Arms. That they would not want assistants and part-takers even in the very Court it self Those of Famagosta provoked by so violent incitements resolved to prevent Thoas by setting on his state on the side of Siuri and though they were provided but with a few Soldiers they lead them into the Field not ceasing this mean while to raise men with all their might And to this purpose they dispatcht away Commissaries into Soria from the King whereof they promis'd themselves upon all occasions assistance and succour They soon heard how that Prince Doralbo was marching towards them with a numerous Army When the chief Commanders of the Famagostan Troops who being disperst abroad sack the Countrey every where to the terror and loss of the poore Countrey people summon'd them all back into the two Towns which were already taken fortifying themselves there with cutting deep Ditches and Trenches they waited for the enemy whilst the Militia of the Citie was drawn forth and Forces were raised in divers parts that they might afterwards appeare in the field ready to fight Thoas his Army incampt it self between the Town of Siuri and the Castle of Pigadia and all the neighbouring places being by the provident Prince provided with Garrisons he sent forth six Troops of Horse ten Companies of Foot giving them order to use all means possible whereby they might draw the Enemies out of those Towns wherein they had fortified themselves This was not easily to be done For after a long resistance made by them of Famagosta they received succours so that it behoved Doralbo's forces to fight which though they did with little loss of men yet lost they much reputation failing in their first enterprise True it is that the Famagostians growing hereupon bold sallied out with a great many men and being too far advanc'd in pursuit of the Enemies Horse who did of purpose leasurely retreat they found the way shut up as they returned so as intercepted in the midst the greatest part of them were taken prisoners or cut in pieces some of them who had the fortune to escape withdrawing themselves into a neighbouring Wood. In Nicosia this mean while the sick King grew daily worse and worse so as his Case was thought desperate so much the rather for that being grown exceeding weak the Physick which was prescribed either wrought not at all or wrought contrary effects to the ends it was given In fine he must die and in stead of going into a nuptiall Bed to rejoyce within the Arms of his Beloved he must be put into a doleful Coffin and laid in the bosome of Death Unfortunate Thoas I wish at least the Heavens had never suffered thee to have seen Nissena thou then wouldst not in departing from this world have known the sorrow of parting from her Knowing himselfe neer the unavoidable passage of Death he called in to the help of his oppressed heart that native generosity which in his life had never forsaken him and with a deep sigh wherewith he seemed to banish all fear he with a cheerful countenance wherein undauntednesse might be discerned commanded that Nissena together with all the chiefe Lords and Barons of the Court should be sent for to him The sorrowfull Queen being come she sate her down by the Kings bed side and taking between her fairest hands the fading and languishing left hand of her dying Husband she said unto him Oh Sir How doe you feel your selfe Well said he Now that I have all my content by me but I must die I must die O Nissena neither do I grieve thereat for I know I was born mortall but onely because I am to leave you and to leave you before you be wholly mine At the hearing of words exprest with such tender affection tears in abundance began to fall from the eyes of the afflicted Lady which at the arrival of the Court Lords she with much adoe detained The Lords and Rulers of the Kingdome entred the dismall Chamber with silent reverence and many of them being by this time got together and standing bare-headed before the Bed the King commanded them all to sit down Here a melancholy and short Preludium being made by an universal silence to the Kings discourse he with a fainting voyce having first looked them all in the face feebly spoke thus At last my Friends or rather my dear Children after so many years wherein I have upheld the Crown of Cyprus I am come to pay my last duty to Nature by Death I die and die contented knowing that I have never upon any occasion been wanting to any one either in justice or in clemency I have always loved my subjects more
signes yes yes 't was thus thou meanedst to point me out the way that to imitate and follow thee I must die Be sure my soul I will follow thee but I will first revenge thee I will first have these stains washt away with that Traitor Mintaurus his heart-bloud But good gods what have these infernal monsters done with my Queens body perhaps her wounds were not mortal Why then wretch that I am came not I time enough at least to wash them with my tears to binde them up with my lips and then die 't will be time enough though to die when I shall have ript his heart from out his bosome who hath slain thee my fair and adored soul Thus born away by blind fury he went in haste from those lodgings and being resolved either to revenge the death of his beloved or else to perish in the enterprise he went thither where he thought to have found Mintaurus but meeting with Melaspus at the stair head followed by a great many of the Nobility and Souldiers he presently laid his hand upon his sword crying out Traytor the wicked Son of a greater Traytor and more wicked Father thou shalt the mean while pay for what shall afterwards be divided between so infamous a Son and cruell a Father His voyce was thunder his sword fire and his arm lightning wherewith he let flye at Melaspus his breast and the wound he gave him being the glory of one onely blow neither could Melaspus nor as many as were about him with their Swords all drawn save him from it save onely that falling a little side-long the wound lighted amongst his ribs which was intended at his heart stepping a little backward rash and desperate Doralbo would have redoubled his thrust but Melaspus having already drawn his sword and all his followers interposing themselves or else opposing the Prince he could neither hurt any more nor yet come neer his abhorred enemy A noise and tumult of weapons and voyces was suddenly heard throughout the whole Palace Whereupon Mintaurus himself comming in charged that the Rebel and Traytor who had trayterously indeavoured to kill his sonne even within the Court should be taken and bound but neither struck nor wounded The valiant Prince laid about him like Mars in defence of his liberty and wounded four or five of them but at last overcome by the numerous press of rude Souldiers and his weapons taken from him he was led or rather carried to a moist narrow dark Dungeon Mintaurus not knowing that it was desperation which had made Doralbo attempt to kill his sonne could not imagine why alone and armed onely with his Sword he had exposed himselfe to the so evident danger of bootlesly losing his life He thought this was the beginning of some mine laid for his ruine and fearing lest he might be insnared he became a watchfull Argus to guard that Kingdome the Crown whereof he intended for his own head That he might become formidable to such of the Nobility as did not adhere unto him he the next day made the heads of the Baron Timis and of the Count Pentaia be struck off in the midst of the market-place pretending that they had backt Doralbo in his attempt against Melaspus He gave great summes of money to all the Militia and changed their Commanders And that he might win the peoples love by whom he saw himselfe to be but smally esteemed and almost hated he gave order for plenty of victuals and at his own charges bated half their prices He sent for some from their Governments changing the Presidents and chiefe Officers of the Cities and other places being reverently and punctually obeyed by all out of the customary use he had even in Thoas life freely and with authority to doe so as President General His pleasure was that Melaspus should with due circumspection live in the Kings Palace and he himself retired into the Castle as into a place of the greatest safety the possession whereof was of great importance to the preservation of government Two things onely remain'd to settle him in the Kingdom as he thought the one to disband the Army which was already sent by the late King against the Commonwealth of Famagosta or to make himself independent Governor thereof The other to secure himself for ever of Doralbo who was esteemed by the Nobility of great power in the Army and much beloved by the people The first required well weighed determinations and preponderated execution The second was to be establisted in the death of the unfortunate Prince So sending for the chief Marshal he with a frowning countenance strictly commanded him that taking the Headsman a long with him as few bloud-suckers as he judged necessary for the execution not making any the least mention therof no not so much as in a word he should go that very night about midnight to the Dungeon where Doralbo was and that having strangled him he should cause his head to be cut off and bring it secretly into the Castle to him O how oft doth the impiety of wicked men whilst it thinkes to triumph over the fall of the innocent rest opprest by those very ruines which they unjustly threatned others withall Nissena having acquainted Eurania with all the traps and treacheries which she had understood was laid and prepared for them by Mintaurus she being a Woman of a great courage and resolute wit betook her self quickly to remedy those evils which threatned not onely the losse of the Kingdome but even the losse of their lives Next morning about break of day whilst two women who lay in the Queens lodgings were yet asleep she clothed her self and made Nissena also cloath her self in Pages apparell and afterwards having horridly besmear'd the Queens sheets the chamber floor with bloud which shee had formerly prepared ready she began to cry out Ah Traytors Are Queens thus butchered and murthered in their own Houses and own Beds Help help Souldiers Ladies unless you be all confederates in the treason O Traytors Help O you good Gods At this noyse the Guards hasted into the Chamber and the women leaping out of bed throwing their clothes about them and almost naked did the like whilst at this very instant Nissena and Eurania hid themselves behind the Arras in the outward room and in this confused tumult escaped away unknown and unseen not only out of that Chamber but out of the Court and being got out of the Citie went towards the Haven The Souldiers and women half clad finding nothing but great quantity of bloud panting and full of tears sought every corner of the lodgings and struck with amazement they could not imagine from whence those dolefull cries could proceed nor whither the murtherers were fled and the murthered vanisht They spent much time in searching in contemplating the bloudy sheets and Pavement and not knowing what to think nor what to resolve on some of them ran to acquaint Mintaurus with it who wakened out of