most strange and extreame not hauing any to comfort and help her she fell againe into her wonted passion of dolour complaining of her cruell fortune which had depriued her of all helpe and comfort had brought her into this extreame sorrow paines But euen then in the midst of her complaints God pittying her griefe sent her safe deliuerance of a most goodly and beautiful boy which when she beheld according to the saying of the Scripture she forgate all her former sorrow reioycing that a man child was borne into the world and giuing thanks vnto God she tooke the child vp in her armes and beholding it she imagined that in him she saw the liuely figure of the King her husband And making such shift as shee could to wrap him vp in clothes shee beheld on his right shoulder a well proportioned crosse which séemed farre redder then the rest of his body wherat shée greatly meruailed then calling to minde her vision she hoped that in time he should prooue a famous man and a scourge vnto the enemies of the Christian faith as shee thought the signe of the Crosse did already foreshew then likewise remembring the name which the Angell had tolde her in her vision as soone as she had recouered strength to goe went with her sonne to the fountaine where shee baptized him naming him as she was willed Euordanus then returned she againe to the Caue where wee will leaue her for a while with her young Infant and returne to speake of the King her husband CHAP. II. How King Fredericke being carried away by the Out-lawes after a great storme at sea arriued in Holland whereas he was sold to his mortall enemie the Duke Griffory AFter the Out-lawes had brought theyr bootie and good King aboord and had set sayle minding to haue gone for some place of Fraunce where they might haue secretlie stolne ashore to learne some newes of theyr owne affayres and hauing the wind large determined to haue landed in a small cricke not farre from Rotchell because most of them were héeretofore inhabitants of that Towne but euen as they were come within the sight of Land on a sudden the Skyes began to ouercast the sunne was clowded and the face of heauen was so darkned that one could not discerne at that present time beeing about no one dayes from the darkest midnight the winds began to blow on all sides as if that Eolus had vnstopped all his ayrie Caue and had determined with one assault to haue subdued Neptunes Regiments Or as when the angry Goddesse Iuno gréeuing at the quiet passage of the poore vanquisht Troians desired Eolus to sinke them in the sea so fared it with them by reason that the seas on all sides béeing so assaulted of the windes did so cruelly rage and storme that sometimes theyr small Barks did séeme to touch the very clowdes and presently againe were throwne downe vnto the sands euery man imagining that to be the last houre of theyr liues Some as is commonlie the custome of such people béeing in extremity fel to prayer othersome to cursing and swearing the Maister cries in with the sayles others cry downe with the Mast some againe to lighten their Barke of her burthen the more yarly to rise with the Seas beginne to throw ouer boord all whatsoeuer comes to hand hoping thereby as with a pleasing sacrifice to appease the angry Seas But euen as they were thus busied some on one thing others on another thing a mighty gust in manner of a Whirlewind comming out of the South-west beares both masts and sayles by the burden The Barke wherein the King was hauing spent both their fore and maine Mast were forced to put to hull yéelding themselues to the pittilesse mercy of the wind and seas which euery minute was ready to haue deuoured swallowed them vp Thus continued the storme by the space of thrée dayes the wind sometimes in their forshyp then in theyr poupe nowe in the quarter and presently againe in theyr bowe continuing with such force that the best man aboord was scarcely able to stand on the hatches But at length as euery storme hath an end so now Neptune rousing himselfe out of his fayre Quéene Amphitries bosome and beholding she poore distressed Marriners tooke pitty on theyr miseries and lifting his hoary head aboue the waters asswaged them and with his thrée-forked Mace rebuked the Windes threatning to punish theyr arrogant presumption if he héereafter hapned to find them with the like offence The storme béeing thus broken vp and the Sunne beginning againe to lighten the earth with his splendant beames the weather-beathen Marriners looking abroade for theyr comfort espied the Land which after they had a while with ioy beheld they made to be the Land of Holland Who then so glad as Martinus for so was hée called which had the King to his prisoner for whom he hoped ere long to receiue such a summe of money as for euer should make him rich the King on the other side was in as great perplexity knowing that they were arriued on the coast of his greatest enemy yet comforting himselfe somewhat with the hope of not beeing knowne as also of not knowing Martinus meaning he shewed himselfe the more chéerefull Thus betwéene hope and feare they altogether passed away the time in merry discourses of theyr former danger till such time as they were come on land at a Port called Alentmaer where Martinus fayning himselfe to be verie ill at ease by reason of the late storme craued leaue of the rest of his company to goe with his prisoner vnto the Citty of Hanstance which was not passing thrée leagues of now called Ansterdam where hee determined to rest himselfe vntill such time as hee found himselfe throughly amended which they soone graunted him not knowing his intent and beeing also willing to be ridde of his company because of his double charge So departed Martinus with his prisoner whom he swore so continue true vnto him as fearing his escape being to trauell but they two together but the King being in his enemies country durst not make himselfe knowne which he must needes if he had made any resistance Thus trauelling on together towards Hanstance they ariued there at such time as the blushing sunne plucking in his smiling beames making his steedes to mende their wonted place and plunging downe into the Ocean streames there in the frothy waues did hide his face leauing the earth couered with nights darksome shade wherefore that night they tooke vp their lodging Martinus learning of his haost how Duke Griffory hauing euer since she marriage of the King of Denmarke and the faire Lady Allison of Flaunders giuen ouer all pleasure was withdrawne from his Court into the Country some eight miles distance from the Cittie where hauing built a lodge in a maruilous solitarie place hee passed the time in mellancholly humors somewhiles playing on the Lute some mournefull ditties otherwhiles ingrauing in the trees on the ground
of to speake of these Louers and returne a little to speake of the Gentleman of the Forrest and his education CHAP. XV. How the young Princes of Denmarke and Saxonie beeing brought vp together were so like that they could scarce be knowne one from the other of theyr mutuall loue YOV remember how the Duke of Saxony bringing with him the young Prince of Denmarke into his Dutchie caused him to be brought vp with his own sonne calling him by the name of the Gentleman of the Forrest because they knew no other name that he had The Dutches partly by the commandement of her husband partly for the beautie shee beheld in him made great account of him vsing to play and dandle with him as much as with her owne sonne by meanes whereof in short time he beganne to recouer a fresh and liuely colour and still the elder they grew the more like the children séemed the one to the other and as in likenes so also grew they in loue one to the other delighting alwaies to be together And béeing but children if any one had hapned to wrong either of them the other would alwaies helpe to be reuenged which bred in the Duke and Dutches so great content as might be But comming to the age of 7. yéeres they were instructed in the Latine and Gréeke tongues by a Tutor whō the Duke had appointed them for their bringing vp Hée béeing a very wife and discréet Knight who in former time had spent his youthfull dayes in traueling strange Countries and seeking after aduentures as was the vsage of Knights arrant hee hauing as before is said the charge of education of the two Princes committed vnto him instructed them so well that in short time they profited very much in those languages especially the Gentleman of the Forrest as béeing of a more quick and readie wit but otherwise theyr dispositions constitutions both of mind and body were so like that the Duke was forced to set marks whereby to know them and theyr loue in like manner was so great that had the one béene sicke or ill at ease the other séemed to be a partner in his griefe if the one laughed the other was ioyfull if the one wept the other must néedes mourne to bare him company such a simpathy of loue had Nature infused in them that it was almost impossible for the one to liue without the others company And comming to the age of twelue yéeres they were instructed by theyr Tutor to ride and manage horses wherin they so much profited that in short time they wexed very skilfull especially the Gentleman of the Forrest who both in aptnes of mind and agilitie of body passed the most exquisite of his time which caused the Duke so much the more to loue and estéeme of him hoping that in time God would manifest from whence and of what parentage he was discended imagining as well by his beauty as also by his rare forwardnes that he must néedes be issued of noble blood The Dutches likewise grew into so great a liking of him for his diuers rare and singuler vertues that she many times deuised with herselfe how and by what meanes she might cause him to loue her daughter whom hee estéemed as his Sister a Lady for beauty excellent and for the perfections of the mind able to compare with any then liuing Shée I say béeing of this mind oftentimes resolued to motion the matter vnto him and to discouer vnto him the manner of his finding which vnto him was vnknowne by reason he was alwaies held and accounted as their naturall Childe yet thinking that course might be a meanes whē he should come to age for to forsake their Court to séeke for his true Parents shee gaue ouer that determination minding to conferre with the Duke her husband thereof And finding him one night very merry and pleasantly discoursing and commending of both the young Princes vnto her shee declared vnto him her mind and affirmed that in her conscience there could be no better match for her daughter séeing his vertuous behauiour which was more to be estéemed then my riches whatsoeuer The Duke did not greatlie dislike héereof but yet thought it fitter to bee left alone vntill such time as both of them should attaine to a more riper yeares for as then he was but 12 yeares old and shée nine yeares old Héere againe will we leaue them to speake of the Lord Gwaltero and his companie who after they departed from the Ladies Castle tooke their waies towards the confines of Germanie CHAP. XVI How the Lord Gwaltero trauelling through Germanie arriued in the Citty of Viena in Austria where hee vndertooke the defence of a distressed Lady wrongfully accused THe Lord Gwaltero departing from the Ladies Castle whom he had rescued at time such as he parted from the Lord of Menew and Sir Henault being accompanied with Sir Cadrus Sir Brewes and his Squire rode on a long time without finding any aduenture worth the remembrance euer inquiring after Sir Henault and the Lord of Menew with the rest of their companie At length passing through many Townes of Germanie they arriued in a Citty of the Dukedome of Austria called Viena bordering almost on the confines of Hungaria being as then the chiefe Citty of that prouince and as then vnder the gouernance of a most stirne and rigorous Prince named Duke Otho Who for his tiranous cruelty was greatly feared of all his neighbour Potentates and scarcely beloued of his owne naturall Subiects hee was a man for vallor and hardinesse greatly estéemed and had not his outragious crueltie and beastly sensuallity stayned his Vertues hée might well haue béene compared with any Prince then liuing within the confines of Christendome but rage and sensuall appetites doth commonly so abound especially in the harts of great men whom God hath giuen ouer to themselues that vertue is altogether choked and swallowed vp in vice as might well appeare in this Duke Otho Who so he might haue cared not by what meanes he came by it as by the sequell of this Chapter you shall more plainly vnderstand This Duke had within his territories a most gracious and vertuous Ladie beeing sole heyre vnto her father who was a man of large possessions and greatly beloued in his Country for his vertuous and vpright dealings to euery man This noble Gentleman dying and leauing his daughter about the age of 15 or 16 yeares was sought vnto of many great and mighty Lords some for her lands and liuings others for her beauty and vertues and diuers for both But to make short this discourse shee was at last wooed and wonne by a Knight of that Country called Hostinius a man who for his vertues and vallor in Chiualry might be thought equal with any Knight in Austria and being married vnto the young Lady Vitella they so well loued and liked together that they scarce one euer gaue cause of dislike to the other which caused
and béeing prickt in conscience with the guilt of his fault grew halfe into dispaire and would willinglie if it might haue béen with his honour haue desisted from the Combat But God who hardned the hart of Pharao likewise hardned his thereby the more euidently to make knowne vnto the world his mercy and louing kindnes towards them that feare him and his iustice on them which against their owne consciences commit sinne and iniquitie So that causing first the Lady to be conuayed towards the stake the trumpets were sounded but no Knight was séen to approch which caused him to grow more proude and insolent thinking then that no man dared to combat against him But at the second warning the Lord Gwaltero appeared mounted on a mighty Courser with his Launce on his thigh and his Helmet on in this sort came hee before the Iudges and lifting vp his beuer made a little shew of reuerence then procéeding on with his spéech he said that béeing accepted of Vitella as her Knight hee was come to defend her innocencie and that he marueiled that they being appointed Iudges of the fielde would contrary to all reason send her towards the place of execution before the Combat were ended then desiring that she might again be sent for he held his peace which they foorthwith caused to be done placing her whereas she might behold the issue of the battell In the meane time the Duke comming vnto Gwaltero demaunded what and of whence hee was who aunswered that he was a Knight arrant of the kingdome of Denmarke and passing through his Country had heard of his cruelty shewed vnto the distressed Lady and béeing mooued with pitty was come to vndertake her defence which he hoped so well to performe as before night to cause him confesse his treason against her The Duke raging hereat replied that doubtlesse he was some one of her Minions that béeing weary of his life was come for company to be burnt with her which should be performed with all the torments that might be Now by this time Vitella béeing brought backe and placed the Iudges caused both Knights to be sworne then being warned by a Herault euery one to doe his best they set spurres to theyr horses and incountred so rudely that the Duke was throwne out of his saddle béeing wounded a little vnder the right breast and sore brused with the fall Gwaltero was not wounded at all but yet by reason of the mightinesse of the encounter his horsebacke brake vnder him wherefore he was in like sort driuen to alight and being both on foote they began a cruell and fierce fight cleauing their shields and hewing their armor in péeces so that euery blow caused the blood to trickle downe dying the gréne grasse into a scarlet hue Thus continued the fight a long time very vncertaine no man knowing to whō victory would incline some-whiles the one tryumphing in the others losse and by and by againe the other reioycing to sée his enemy stoope Thus continued they the space of thrée houres the beholders meruailing they could indure so long at length standing to breathe themselues the Duke spake vnto him saying Knight thou séest that as yet I haue the aduantage but the great vallour which I haue found in thée makes me to pitty thy estate wherefore I am contented to remit thée the Combat conditionally that thou wilt remaine with mee and also I will giue vnto thée halfe of her lands whom thou defendest Nay nay replied Gwaltero I scorne thy proffers but if thou wilt restore the Lady and her goods and confesse héere before this company thy treason committed against her I will grant thee thy life otherwise looke for no mercy at my hands Then taking theyr swords in their hands and couering themselues with the remnants of their shields they fell againe to their former conflict which cōtinued not long before that Gwaltero deliuered a mighty blowe on his head which cleft his Helme in two and wounded him so sore that hee fell to the ground which Gwaltero séeing stept vnto him and would haue slaine him out-right had not he intreated mercy promising to confesse the whole circumstance of the treason Then the Iudges cōming vnto him hee confest first his loue to Vitella then the murder of Hostinius and lastly his hate towards her for refusing him from whence grew this manner of reuenge which be intended No sooner had he made his confession but turning about his face he immediatly dyed Then the Iudges caused his body to be carried away to the intent to haue him interred but they were saued of that labour for a flock of Wolues comming from out of the woods there adioyning deuoured his accursed carkasse to the great admiration of all the beholders Then immediatly was Vitella brought downe and greatly honored and Estonio being apprehended was burned in the fire prepared for his Lady Gwaltero béeing conducted to his lodging by the Nobility and Vitella was by them vnarmed his wounds very carefully looked vnto where hee remained the space of eyght wéekes during which time hee had many great prosfers made him by Vitella as the inioying both of herselfe all her inheritance and by the Nobilitie hee was proffered to be accepted as theyr soueraigne Prince and Duke if so be hee would accept of Vitella to be his wife But hee who had setled his minde in another place gaue thē all harty thanks for theyr good wills towards him excusing himselfe as well as hee might and desiring them to bestowe it on some one more worthy then himselfe with whom Vitella might be coupled in marriage Thus excusing himselfe from receiuing that which most men would haue coueted hee remained there till his woūds were throughly whole then taking his leaue of Vitella and the rest he departed towards the confines of Belgica hauing receiued of Vitella both horse and Armor for a remembrance of her in steed of his owne which in the battell against the Duke was broken and spoyled CHAP. XVIII How Gwaltero passing through Belgica arriued in Holland and comming to the Castle of Coruew was taken prisoner THus being departed from Viena hee was accompanied by diuers of the Nobilitie till such time as passing the bounds of Austria hee directed his iourny towardes Flaunders at which time the Austrians commending him to God and desiring him at his returne to come that way they departed againe towards Viena by whom Gwaltero commended to Vitella In this sort being departed hee rode onwards towards Flaunders disguising himselfe because he would not be knowne in that Country where he was beloued of many at last comming to the Citty of Gaunt he found it still defended and kept vnder the Subiection of the Danes there likewise he heard of the custome of the Castle of Coruew in the Duchie of Holland made by the Duke Griffory Which was that whosoeuer would enter the sayd Castle must first alone Iust with the fiue Knights
deliuered him out of this iminent danger of death Then calling for his Armor he foorthwith armed himselfe and giuing Gillimo thankes for his good seruice willed him to tel by what meanes he came to the knowledge of this treason to whom Gillimo declared the forme before recited Then went hée vp and downe the Castle killing such as hee thought any way culpable in the same and comming into the chamber where Adresto was in the company of the Lady and her daughters who by this time had heard of all that which was hapned they came and fell downe at his féete pittifully wéeping beséeching him to haue compassion of them and not to reuenge the fault committed by one vpon them all assuring him they were not any way priuy to the which had hapned The Knight partly through compassion which he alwaies bare towards Ladies and Damsells and partly at the intreaty of Adresto whom had hee not intirely loued hee should likewise haue suspected to be consenting to this treason willed them to stand vp and warning them euer héereafter for attempting the like treason against any one he forgaue them then taking order for their safety that night they betooke them to their rests where they slept soundly vntill the next day when taking their leaue of the Lady and her daughters whom they left busie in burying of the dead bodies they departed onwards on their iourny towards Waterford where within two daies they safely arriued not hauing met with any aduenture worth the reciting comming to the Harbor they found the Barke in a readinesse all the company earnestly expecting his comming Where we will for a while leaue them looking for a winde for Spaine CHAP. XIIII How the Scottish King sent ouer into Denmarke vnder the conduct of his Cosin the Earle of Douglasse tenne thousand Souldiers and how the Arch-Bishop and the other Traytors ioyned their forces with him YOu may remember how in the former part of this History that the Arch-Bishop of Maiance the Count Hermes and others of the chiefe states of Denmarke disliking the gouernment whereof themselues were in a manner the chiefe and first beginners had practised with the Scottish King for the sending ouer forces promising to deliuer the Kingdome of Denmarke into his hands and farther to that end had deliuered pledges for sure performance thereof Now therefore the King of Scots hauing mustred vp his forces made choise of tenne thousand of his approoued and best men of Armes and hauing fitted them of all things néedfull for that warre gaue them in charge vnto his kinsman the Earle of Douglasse a man for his vallour and courage highly to bee commended and for his wisdome and pollicie to bee compared with most in Christendome as hauing great experience especially in matters of affaires wherein he had spent the greatest part of his time being now about the age of forty eight or fifty yeares vnto him did the King deliuer this Armie with frée commission to dispose thereof of the whole affaires of Denmarke With this Armie he departed towards the Sea-coast accompanied with many braue and hardy Knights who vollentary went to beare him company with hope in these warres to gaine same by their vallour and being come to the towne of Helfue they tooke shipping and the winde seruing thē they directed their course towards Denmarke hauing before hand sent intelligence of their comming vnto the traytors to their Country their confedrats who likewise vpon this newes vsed all the dilligence they could for the leauying of their forces to ioyne with the forren power causing Libels and other meanes to be wrote to seduce others likewise from their loyaltie towards their Gouernors and Country and to fall into the same treason with them Of which sort there were a great many who for diuers causes were soone drawne into the same especially such as by any meanes had offended the lawes and feared the penaltie thereof which by the Gouernors was seuerely executed Who now vpon this rumor and hurliburly were not a little troubled and perceauing such great men to be actors héerein feared a generall reuolt wherefore drawing themselues together into counsell they deuised all the meanes they could to preuent the same and hauing sent vnto the Arch Bishop and his complices by faire meanes to haue caused them to lay downe their weapons and not like madmen as it were to rip their owne bowels which they must néedes doe in stirring vp this ciuill contention which is the greatest enemie that possible may happen to any common-wealth and that in calling in forren powers was not only to bring into bondage their Country and natiue soyle but also themselues and their whole posteritie for what Conquerer is there that hauing brought into subiection any Kingdome or Prouince will not cause his owne lawes customes to be imbraced by the vanquished which he cannot well doe except first he not only roote out those whom he thinkes may be any way a hindrance vnto his procéedings then likewise must hee place as Gouernors and Rulers ouer his people such as he shall thinke readiest to obey and fulfill his commaundements which can be no other but of his owne natiue Country and then how grieuous it will bee vnto you to be commaunded by strangers doe but consider But peraduenture you will say that the King of Scots hath promised not only to continue you in your former estates but also preferre you to higher dignities and you will relie vppon his royall promise Consider wee beséech you how that he nor no man liuing whatsoeuer he be hath any terme or assurance of his life in this world and that though hee kéepe his promise with you yet your felicity is of no longer assurance then his life but suppose he should liue a long time knowe you not that he that by ambition gaineth a Crowne no sooner commeth to the possessions thereof but he presently cutteth downe the prope by which himselfe did clime thereunto fearing by the same likewise to fall as he did rise This or the like exhortation the Gouernors at the first vsed towards the rebellious Traytors which could nothing at all mooue them to giue ouer theyr pretended treachery and then séeing there was no way but by force to withstand their fury knowing also that the Scottish forces were on the coast and daily expected to land they tooke order forth-with for the leauying of forces placing new and great supplies in their garrison Townes furnishing them both with munition and vittailes as well as the shortnes of the time would permit them And now hauing gathered togethers thirty thousand souldiers the greatest part whereof were men taken from the Plow and Cart fitter with the sharpe Colter to teare vp the ground then with sword and speare to incounter with the enemy in the fielde and their Leaders most of them as vnskilful as theyr soldiers knowing how better to daunce a galliard or a Pauine in a Ladies Chamber then to marshall a band