as remained aliue which was but the third parte of those which came from the gran Tartaria fled and ranne awaie towards the sea coast whereas they embarked themselues so that there remained but certaine kings and nobles such as were knowen and were prisoners vnto the Gréekes At which time the Emperour Trebatio with all his nobles hauing a great good will to celebrate with triumph the great and ioyfull victorie which God had giuen them were greatlie disturbed by the absence of the knight of the Sunne for without him it seemed that they could not reioyce nor take anie ioy or pleasure for which occasion at that instant departed many knights from the Court in the demaund and seeking of him amongest whom Rosideer was one who departed al alone from Constantinople and in such sorte that he was not knowen neither would he carrie anie bodie with him for that hee had great desire for to méete with Bramarant and to conclude with him the battaile before that anie knight be present for to separate or part them and comming vnto the sea side whereas he could not heare anie newes of him he straight waies there embarked himselfe into a ship whereas we wil leaue him and all the rest in Constantinople for to tell you of the knight of the Sunne who being verie desirous for to ouertake the Emperour Alycandâ—o and the Princesse Lyndabrides naâ—â—gating by Sea was lykewise the same night constrained with the torment that tooke the Emperour for to loose his waie But whether it was by the will of God it should so fall out for that the end thereof was verie good or else by the arte of the wise Lyâ—gandeo or else by good fortune that gouerned his shippe in such sorte the worthie knight of the Sunne was throwen by force of the sayde storme and tempest into the porte of the strong Ilande the which béeing perceiued and knowen by the Mariners they would straight wayes haue departed from thence hauing that quiet pâ—rte farre more perillous than to bée at the Sea with that great storme and tempest whose great feare béeing manifest vnto the Knight of the Sunne hee was verie desirous to knowe the occasion thereof and they declared the cause verie much extolling the force and strength of Roboan and of his sonnes as also of the great crueltie that was vsed there with such knights and damsells as they did take And although the knight of the Sun would first haue accomplished his voyage in following of the Emperour Alycandro and haue left that enterprise vntill some other time yet for all that séeing that it woulde lyttle profite for to returne vnto the Sea by reason that the waues were greatlie increased with the force of the storme hée determined with himselfe to go a land and in the meane time till it pleased God to appease the rage of the weather he would put in practise to sée if hée could doe anie thing against those people for to cause them to breake that euill and diuellish custome and as hée was determined within himselfe hée put it in vre but the marriners would not enter into the Port nor boord their ship aland with a good will but he did so threaten them that he made them by force to doe all that he commanded When that hée was a land and had not well mounted vpon his horse which was that which hée wonne from the king of the Gandaros in the battaile there came forth against him ten knightes on horsebacke and as many on foote all armed with their hatchets of armes in their hands and bad him to yéeld to them as prisoner and some of them approched to laie hands on his horse bridle But this good knight answered not one worde vnto these villanous people but hauing his Speare in his hande stroke one of them such a blowe therewith that his strong armour dyd not profite him but hée ouerthrew him backwardes starke dead vnto the ground and as one that as then was not to learne to shedde the bloud of such vnhappie wretches in a short time hée made such slaughter amongest them that there escaped no more aliue but thrée of them who fledde and ranne with all hast possible vnto the Castle which was vppon the little mountaine whereas were the two oldest bretheren Langereon and Andricardo with Roboan their Father for that after that they had carried prisoner vnto the Castell the Emperour Alycandro and his companie vntill that time they had not descended vnto their Towers whereas they were wont to bée continuallie which was the occasion that the knight of the Sunne was not assaulted but by their Knightes and footmen who remayned belowe in the Towers for to kéepe and defend them for that all the rest were gone into the Castell with their riche praie But when the knight of the Sunne sawe himselfe cléere of all those that came forth against him and that there came no more people out of the Towers hee imagined within himselfe that the Gyantes shoulde bée in that highe Castle which hée sawe before him somewhat a farre off which caused him to take the waie thetherwardes and it seemed vnto him to bee one of the most fayrest and strongest that euer before hee had séene and as yet hée was not come vnto the plaine that was before the entrie which was in manner of a Court when that hee sawe come forth of the Castle by a false doore one of the Gyantes all armed with thicke plates of stéele and mounted vppon a mightie great and strong horse with a great cutting hatchet of Steele in his handes who seemed vnto the knight of the Sunne to bée one of the best furnished and well made and proportioned Gyants that euer hee saw in all his lyfe And this was Langereon the eldest and most valyantest of all the foure brethren who béeing aduertised by one of them that ranne awaie of the great slaughter and destruction that that alone knight had made amongst his people he issued out to séeke him for to take reuengement of the same and at such time as the knight of the Sunne came into the plaine ground by the Castell the Gyant approched nigh vnto him and lyfte vp the beauer of his healme But when hée sawe him of so bigge and gallant proportion and considered the newes which his men had declared vnto him hée helde him straight wayes in reputation and thought him to bée a knight of a most singular and valyant courage but making no account of him he said By thy vnaduised ariuall and comming hether Sir Knight I doe vnderstand that thou knowest not who is Lord of this Iland neither the vse and custome that is héere maintained for if thou haddest béene aduertised thereof then wouldest thou not haue come hether to séeke him whom thou hast so much grieued and angered in the slaying of his knightes With as little feare and gallant semblaunce as hée spake the knight of the Sunne aunswered him and sayd Gyant I doe verie well
all those y â— haue anie notice of this Iland doe not onelie refuse to land vppon it but also they dare not come nigh it with their ships for that many times this possessed Fauno hath ben séene enter into the sea a great stones cast when that anie ship or barke were nigh the shore and if that by misfortune those vnhappie trauailers doe fall into his hands there is none that escapeth with their lius for that with the horne that he hath in his forehead at one only blow he teareth a ship in péeces then after with his strong armes and vnmercifull téeth he rents teares in péeces all that is before him and there is no strength of man nor armour so strong that can withstand his â—urie for that his hoarie skin is of so great hardnes y â— it is not possible for anie weapon to enter it This is y â— occasion gentle knight y â— this Iland is so much spoken of and so feareful vnto all sailers that passeth this waie and why it is called the Iland of the diuell and that fire which we doe sée with that thicke smoake that ascendeth into the aire is all that which procéedeth out of the terrible and horrible mouth of that diuellish Fauno for that it is full of infernall diuells By this you may iudge what the monster should be that throweth from him such wonderfull and terrible infections This worthie knight of the Sun at this discourse of the olde Pilot was greatly amazed and so were all the knights of Candia that came in the same ship the which thing seemed vnto them to be one of the straungest that euer happened in all the world yet the straungenesse thereof was not so terrible vnto all the rest of the hearers as it gaue great desire vnto the valiant worthie knight of the Sun to go a land at that Iland and to goe and seeke out that possessed Fauno for that the hearing thereof did not cause anie feare or dread in his couragious heart as he who for such like attempts aboue all other stout knights was created did litle estéeme the venturing of his life whereas the honour and glorie of such worthinesse is put in aduenture and in especiall in that time abhorring himselfe in consideration of his fact he was so furious and desperate that he neither feared nor dreaded the entrie into hell much lesse the Iland Thus he béeing fullie determined to goe a land called vnto him Aurelio and Biniano his squires and calling them apart in shedding many salt teares which ranne down his graue countenance he sayd these wordes My good friends God doth know what great griefe it is vnto me for to declare this which I haue to saie and what sorrow I doe féele at my heart before I doe vtter it not so much for that it doth touch me although my misfortune aboue al other in the world is most strangest as it is for that I doe sée at such time as I should doe some thing for you to giue you reward for your great good seruice done vnto me I am constrained to abandon and leaue you alone without any hope euer to sée you more this is the thing that doth so grieue me ioyntlie to consider how my losse will bée lamented of my father and mother my brother and all my friends that to declare it my tongue doth faile mee Ah my good friends you shall vnderstand that my departure out of Constantinople was for no other intent but for to leaue the worlde and for to goe whereas I might shorten my daies and thether whereas it might not bée knowen vnto anie whether I be aliue or dead for that my euill fortune is such that it doeth not atcomplish mée for to liue anie longer héere amongest men and in consideration heereof I dyd at our departure so much request you that you should haue remained with the Emperour my Father for that he and my brother Rosicleer might reward you for the great seruice done vnto me for that I am not able to doe it and being at that time so much importuned by you that by anie meanes I could not leaue your companie but now the time is come that my sorrowfull destinie hath permitted that from this daie forwardes I am constrained to leaue you and to make reckoning that of you nor of my father and brother I was neuer knowen The occasion therof I will not declare vnto you for that alonelie my hart who doth suffer the inconuenience shal know it But thus much I will saie vnto you that if the perill in loosing of my soule did not disturbe me I haue sufficient cause to giue my selfe a thousand deaths with my owne handes and for that my life is so heauie and grieuous vnto mée and that my force strength is not sufficient for to suffer the same I am determined for to go a land on this Iland of y â— Fauno and there to end my vnhappie daies and if it so fall out fortune to be fauourable vnto me in that I do ouercome and kil the monster I shall doe great seruice vnto God in taking out of the world a thing so fierce and abhominable then afterwarde shall that Iland be verie solitarie and fit for my purpose where I meane to end my sorrowfull daies And if my fortune be such that I die in the power of the Fauno as sure I am that I owe a death then shall I there paie the death that is due vnto this my mortall bodie and the debt that is due vnto this vnhappie and troublesome world Therefore my good friends I doe most heartelie desire you for the great good loue which you dyd alwaies beare vnto me that at this present you will shew it to be more than héeretofore and to be conformable vnto my will and to thinke well of this my pretence and to haue patience and perswade with your selues in this my departure and to comfort your selues in that it is a great griefe vnto me for to leaue you and to conclude the lyfe of man is briefe and short and full of miserie and anguish and I praie and beséech the vniuersall creator that we may in the other world with more ioy quietquietnesse and pleasure So my will is that after I am departed you go with these knights vnto Transiluania and from thence to returne into Grecia and there to establysh your selues with the Emperour my father without giuing him to vnderstand of anie thing that hath happened vnto me since my departure out of the mightie Citie of Constantinople but saie that you lost me in the wildernesse of Grecia and remaine with him for that I am sure that hée and my brother Rosicleer will doe as much for you as though I were there my selfe and if at anie time by fortune you doe méete with the Empresse Claridiana you shall saye vnto her that at such time as I departed from you I left your companie for that I went out
thing â—he which he cannot obtain to put from him that which is impossible to leaue All creatures borne as wel as those that are to be borne although there be a great 〈◊〉 of liuing of their deaths yet to die is naturall vnto them all What do you thinke to flie from that which your fathers grandfathers their predecessors yâ—â— Emperours kings could neuer escape let vs turne our backes all that euer we can froÌ„ death auoide the perils thereof yet in the end it shall happen vnto vs as vnto hint thâ—â— sâ—utteth his â—ies at the blow of his enimie suffering the griefe thereof because hée would not sée it And whereas you saie that it is good for mée to liue longer and not to procure my death before my time I 〈◊〉 vnto you that there is none that dieth before his time for that all men dieth not at one time and as wise men saie euerie one hath his time appointed the which béeing accomplished hée concludeth his fine and for that wée haue not so much lisence to call time backe againe neither to staie of necessitie wée must procéede forwards No man ran die but at his time appointed sauing 〈◊〉 hee take the time for him that himselfe hath assigned and not by him that dooth assigne nature and fortune It is a small matter touching the immortalitie of the soule some to liue foure score â—éeres and other to liâ—e eight yéeres the time being past it séemeth the one to bée no 〈◊〉 than the other Men do deceiue themselues in many thinges but in especiall concerning their death not for that all men doe thinke to die but because they hope the time will bée long séeming to be farre of that which one waie by the briefnesse of life and swiftnesse of time and another waie by the force of fortune and by the diuersities of humane chaunces béeing alwaies at hand Death vnto a young man should neuer seeme grieuous although he made reckoning of no other goodnesse for abiding the time of auncient yéeres there procéedeth thereof nothing but sadnesse and miseries The young man doth well-knowe what he hath passed in his time but yet he knoweth not what he shall passe if that he endure long In this cruell and inconstant kingdome of Fortune hée that first dyeth doeth deceiue and mocke his fellowe You will now saie vnto me that séeing that death is necessarie and of force it were better to abide the time of naturall death than to goe and receiue it of that diuellish Fauno Then you might well saie if that I were certaine thereof that the death that I shoulde die shoulde bée more happie than fortunate but whosoeuer doth knowe it for that many a one haue hoped to die in their beddes when that afterward they were hanged and some throwne from the toppe of a mountaine some torne with Lions and some eaten with wilde Bores yea that Euripides the light of al great pollicy next vnto Homer was cruellie â—â—rne in péeces with dogges Likewise Luâ—recio Prince of Poets by drinkes that were giuen him by his concubine did raue in such sort that he thought it the best remedie to kill himselfe with a knife with what great good will would the Emperour Adriano suffered himselfe to haue bene torne in péeces of a furious Lion if his people would haue suffered him rather then haue abidden that terrible sicknesse whereof he dyed Many other mo as is well knowen did hope to die of their naturall deathes and yet in the ende they died of verie desperate and cruell deathes and possible before they eschewed farre worse And you who doth giue couÌ„sell for to flie from death I would you would tell mée how farre you are from it your selfe of trueth if you doe consider verie well you shall finde that there is but a thin borde betwixt you and death and not yet two daies past when that you thought the houre was come Oh false and folish world of men that flyeth with great diligence from one little perill on the land in resisting wherof there is no honour to be gotten yet putteth not doubt to put themselues vnto these déepe seas wheras their liues is at the courtesie of the windes to ouerthrow them and of the terrible waues to drowne them they flie from one follie on the land and putteth their liues in foure farre worse vppon the seas in a shippe that is alwaies mouing the mariners neuer in one accord the water that neuer staÌ„deth still and the winde that neuer resteth What Dragon or furie is vpon the land that doth feare vs more then vpon the â—ea whereas it is well knowen an innumerable sort of men hath bene drowned There is no furie nor wilde beast vpon the lande but that it is possible by the force and strength of man to make defence and resistance but vpon y â— sea if you ioyne together all y â— strengthes of the most valiantest men in all the worlde yet are they not able to make any resistaÌ„ce against one storme or teÌ„pest but if they please they may make thrusts with their speares into the water and strike with their swordes against the windes And now séeing that ther is all these perills on the sea wherefore my good friend doe you not take the counsel for your selfe the which you doe giue vnto mée What doe you thinke that it is not more possible for mée for to ouercome the diuelish Eauno then you to haue y â— victorie of two so terrible Elements as is the water and winde Finallie to conclude when that man thinketh himselfe most farthest from death it is then nighest at hande therefore barons that be stout and couragious in nothing they should feare the death wheras they doe venter themselues to get honor and not to apart themselues from perills and dangers for that they be alwaies readie at hand and in the ende when that it shal please God that they shal die it is no other thing but a cléering of the soule out of this miserable captiuitieâ— prison and to leaue this troublesome wearie world where in I doe sée that there is no pleasure without sodaine misthiâ—ousnesse no peace without discord no loue without suspition no ease without feare no aboundance without lacke nor no estate without complaints all doth wéepe all doeth sigh all doth complaine all doth shrike and sobbe and all things doth ende I sée none that liueth content I sée nothing that is firme and stable I sée all in confusion tossed vpside downe as wel in things liuing as insensible as wel the brute beastes as reasonable creatures the high mightie towers be torne and rent with thunderboults walles be ouerthrowen with Canon shot great flouds doth carrie away Cities and townes Trées be eaten with wormes the gréene corne with the Grassehoppers Timber doth rot and moulder away the brute and wilde beastes doth fight 〈◊〉 with an other betwéene the Ownce and the Lion there is great
the which fléet was so great y â— it couered from the port Tenedon a great part of the Egean sea and all the Hellesponto vnto the Proponte and it was not to bée meruailed that so great and mightie a fléete of shippes should be ioyned together for that many dayes before the Emperour Alicandro caused all the maisters and shipping that was to bée found in all the coastes of Asia to bée brought thether so that in a short space after that they were ioyned together this mightie Fléete was furnished with all kindes of victualls and other necessaries abiding winde and weather for to depart the which when that it came they hoysed their sailes and began to take their iourney towardes Grecia with so great a noise of diuerse kindes and sortes of instruments that euerie Nation brought that it was a wonder to heare So in this their iourney the Hystorie doth leaue them till time doth serue How the Emperour Trebatio had newes of the comming of the Pagans and how he made all things in readinesse to receiue them Chap. 18. AS the Emperour Trebatio was aduertised of the comming of the Pagans before they deuarted out of their Countrie euen so had hâ— intelligence by certaine scouts messengers at such time as they were ioyned together and imbarked in the Port of the Tenedon and how that they were all at the Sea at which time the Emperour was readie and had all things in good order although there were not come vnto him the aide and helpâ— that hee looked for from many other places but yet of his owne Countries and other kingdomes subiect vnto his Empire he had ioyned together one hundreth and twentie thousands of verie good knightes and chosen men for besides al Grecia ther was subiect vnto his Empire the kingdome of Macedonia and the kingdome of Epiro and the Kingdome of Arcadia all Ciâ—ilia was his and Italia Pannonia Dalmasia Dardania Hungaria Bitania Sueuia Saxonia the Ilandes Ciclades Creta and Rhodas and many other Ilandes which I leaue in the Tirreno Sea whose gouernment is by mightie Princes all subiectes vnto the Empire and are at the commaundement of the Emperour at all times when that hée will call them vnto the warres So that the Emperour Trebatio was in a readinesse as well with all these people as also with those valiant and worthie Knightes which were at that time in the Court and others which hée looked for euerie daie and although hée receiued greate sorrowe and griefe for the absence of his sonne the knight of the Sunne in the time of so great necessitie and for that it was long since his departure and neuer to that houre hée coulde heare anie newes of him his heart gaue him that he should not heare of him so quicklie for the which hée was verie sadde and heauie although his valiant heart and courage was of so great force that hée dissembled his sorrowe and shewed so pleasâ—nt and ioyfull a countenaunce vnto all people that of none it was perceiued And in all this time that they were awaiting the comming of the Pagans hée nor his sonne Rosicleer were not idle but alwayes procured to fortifie and strenthen the Citie with armour armes and victualles in amending the walles and trimming the gates causing the fieldes to bee made cleane for disturbing of themselues So that this good Emperour was alwaies occupied and readiâ— at all pointes as he who looked for against him the greatest power and mightiest armie that euer was séene Héere the Hystorie doth leaue to speake of him and returne to speake of the greate and puisaunt Fléete that was ordaining in England Of the great and mightie armie the which the King Oliuerio ioyned together in great Britaine for to passe into Grecia Chap. 19. NOw saith the Hystorie forsomuch as the King Oliuerio had verie gréene in his memorie the death of his sonne the Prince Edward and also Don Siluerio the robbing and taking awaie of that precious and faire Princesse Oliuia the which hée hoped to haue to wiâ—e both the one and the other dyd procure to make reuenge with all diligence and spéede possible So that Don Siluerio was not contented with such 〈◊〉 as hée coulde take out of the Kingdome of Lusitania but also hée went vnto the king Zenodoro who was at that present king and Lorde ouer the Godos in 〈◊〉 who were the richest and mightyeâ—â— people that were to be founde in all Christendome who for that they were neighbours and friends he gaue vnto him twentie thousands knights all very good and well armed amongst them there were some young knights of the Godos who for to show foorth the worthinesse of their persons thought iâ— good to goe foorth in these warres and dyd vse themselues very valiaâ—tly as shall be declared vnto you in the processe of this Historie With these and other thirtie thousand more that Don Siluâ—rio brought out of his countrie which made to y â— number of fiftie thousand very good souldiers he went to great Britaine and at his ariuall theâ—her the king Oliuerio had in a redinesse other fiftie thousand chosen men out from amongst all other kingedomes that were subiect vnto him as Scotland Ireland Wales and Cornewall and other mightie Lordes of 〈◊〉 so that there was ioyned together in great Britaine one hundreth thousaÌ„d fighting men Likewise he receiued letters from the king of Hungaria that he had in a redinesse for his comming fortie thousand knights very good and chosen men and well armed in all points this he had besides others of great number which would méete him by the way the which did giue courage stomacke vnto king Oliuerio not alonely to assalt the Emperor Trebatio but also to conquer a great part of y â— world So making his fléetâ— in a redinesse and all other necessaries néedefull for such an enterprise the historie doth leue them and retourne vnto the Emperour Alicandio How the great and mightie fleet of the Emperor Alicandro came vnto the port of Constantinople and forcing to goe a land the Pagans had with the Christians great and rigorous encounters Chap. 20. THE time is come that the great and puisant fléete of the barbarous Nations did faile and nauigate with prosperous winde and wether to wards Grecia with so great 〈◊〉 and power that it séemed they were sufficient for to conquere the whole compasse of the world for that since the arte of Nauigation was firste inuented there was neuer so puisant and mightie a â—léete séene on the seas for the first onset of them did couer the greatest parte of the Proponto besides these that remained for to passe the straights into Egeo Upon a daye earely in the morning at such time as the Sunne began to spred abroade his beames vpon the earth this great and puisant fléete of shippes was so nighe vnto the lande that they were discouered by them of Constantinople that dyd abide their comming who were not a little amazed when that they saw
the seas couered with so great and innumerable companie of shippes and it séemed vnto them that there could not remaine any more people in all Asia that was of any accompt but that they were come in that fléete and with the great ioye and contentment that they receiued for the discouerie of the lande there was so great a noyse of diuers kindes of instruments that it séemed all the world to ioyne together as at the daye of the vniuersall iudgement They that came formost and first to the lande was the king of Media the king of the Partos who with an infinit number of small Piâ—ises and boates made for the purpose began to put a land a great multitude of their people y â— came in their great shippes wherein they vsed great diligence and made all hast possible because they would not disturbe but giue place vnto them that followed after Being a land and not yet put in good order neither had they taken a shore their horse and munition when that by the commaundement of the Emperour Trebatio there issued out of the mightie citie of Constantinople the prince Rodomarte armed with very good and sure armour and in his company ten thousand knights likewise very well armed and went towards the sea side who with so valiant courage and furious force did put themselues in the middest amongst the Pagans that were landed a shore that they flew many of them many they ouerthrew to the ground very sore wounded so that there were very fewe of them but were sorie that they were the first that came a lande but by reason that they were verye manie in number and continually they did disembarke more and more they returned vpon the Gréekes so that betwixt them there began a mightie and terrible battaile for that the Medianes and Partes were stoute and valiant men and were all well armed and defended well themselues Likewise the Greekes were all chosen knights and the great courage the which they receiued by the hearing of their valiant captaine dyd cause them to put the Pagans in so great extremitie that of force they retyred towards the sea in which time there was so great hast in that mightie fléete for to disembarke themselues a land that all was in an vprore and so great a noyse that the one could neither heare nor vnderstand the other till such time as the Emperour Alicandro with great anger for that he could not with his people goe and ayde them that were a land commaunded that they should all retire back and that euerie nation in his order as he ariued should disembarke themselues the wich being obayed straight waies there went a land the Sâ—sas Arianos and the Gandaros who when they ioyned with the other that were before a land were so many in number y â— the Grâ—â—kes began to loose ground and to retire towards the citie The Emperour séeing that commaunded to issue foorth y â— Prince of Dalmacia and y â— Prince of the Rodes with fiftene thousand knights who entred into the battaile with so furious yre that in killing slaying many of y â— Pagans they made them to loose that which before they had gotten of the field and to retire backe vnto the sea side There might you see thesâ— Princes do so great actes that they were all embrued with bloud of their enimies Likewise the king of Media of the Partes other kings princes captaines of the pagans were all a great defence vnto their knights for that they were of great high stature of their persons verie valiant strong and stoute which caused great destruction amongst the Christians In all this time was Bradaman and Bramarant his sonne so angrie furious outragious y â— there was no one that belonged vnto them that dâ—rst abide their presence for that they were appointed for to come in y â— middest of all that great fléete in the garde companie of the Emperour Alicandro and they séeing so many shippes before them the which should first vâ—sembarke and they so farre from y â— those whereto they could not by anie meanes send anie of their men for to aide helpe the Pagans that were in battaile and oppressed by the Christians were readie to teare themselues in péeces with anger and griefe and commanded the marriners that they should with all sailes bearing rush through the thickest of all the fleete with all spéede possible for to come first to the shore and for that the passage was verie perilous for to passe through where as to manie shippes were at an anker in the port the pylot did withdraw himselfe in all y â— euer he could not to passe forwards the which being perceiued by the stout Bramarant his anger was so great that he had against the pylot that he tooke him by the héeles and threw him headlong into the sea and said goe thy waies whereas thou shalt lose all the feare and dread that thou hast of the Sea for that marriners ought not to haue anie more feare at the Sea then knights on the land and therevpon he tooke the gouernement of the shippe to himselfe who with stretched sailes thrust himselfe amongst the thickest of the fléet with so great furie that all pylots procured to let slip their cables for to giue waie vnto him that he might passe and by reason of his first course there were some shippes that had not so much time receiued the wracke and sunke into the Sea Thus by force hasting to the shoreward launching out the shippe boate both the father and sonne went to gether and there were so great a number of them and their barkes at the sea side discharging of souldiers that they could not gette to the shore and they not minding to staye for anie turnes or degrées made no more a doe but leapt from one â—oate vnto an other for to recouer the lande and yet were they forced for to leape into the water vp to the knées before they could get a shore who when they found themselues vpon the firme lande against them a number of Gréekes that dyd disturbe their disembarking they did in suche sort beginne to besturre themselues amongst them that in a shorte time with their wonderfull and terrible blowes they dyd so intreate them that of very force they were constrained to retire for that they neuer stroke blow but that they slew or ouerthrew a knight to the ground that by their mightie force they had place for to diseÌ„barke the rest a land And in this sort being a foote as they were they put themselues into the middest of the battaile by whose comming many Gréekes lost their liues and they carryed the flower of the victorie for that whereas they went there was not one that saw their terrible blowes but did flye away before them as from the death so that by reason hereof y â— Gréekes lost a great parte of the field and retyred themselues towards
almightie God in that he did know her to be his soueraigne Ladie and sister Then the good Troyan Oristedes went and offered to kisse her handes and yéelded himselfe wholie vnto her grace The Princesse did surrender vnto him thankes and receiued great contentment to haue in her companie so high and valiant knights For with iust reason might be sayd that there was ioyned together all the bountie and prowesse of the whole world So all together with great ioy and pleasure they commanded their shippes to be made in a readinesse and sayled together towardes the Empire of Grecia And being at sea they met with a great and mightie shippe wherein came the worthie and valiant Prince Clauerindo who with the company of his vnkle Flamides brought with them the faire Princesse Lindaraza And when they knew the one the other there was great reioycing of all theyr partes buâ— in especiallie béeing giuen to vnderstand by what strange aduenture the Prince did bring her and of the good will which he had for to marrie with her at such time as they should ariue at the mightie Citie of Constantinople in the presence of the Emperour the ioy of the brethren was the more and they receiued Lindaraxa with great loue vnto whom she séemed to be in all points of great valour and she lykewise with more ioy and pleasure than euer she receiued before in all her life went along with them and gaue great thankes vnto God for that good fortune she had to meete them Then she embraced with great loue the Princesse Oliuia who with great ioy dyd receiue her being either of them verie much amazed at the strange beautie the one of the other and verie gladde that they should enter together into Grecia So with great ioye and delight they sailed on their voiage and had so gallant conuersation amongst themselues that they neuer felt the trauaile of the sea There dyd the Princes Zoylo Bargandel and Lyriamandro vnderstand of Rosicleer all his aduentures and what he had passed in them after that he departed out of England who receiued great pleasure to heare him although to the contrarie they did complaine much of him for that they taking so great paines in séeking of him with great desire of his companie he woulde not discouer himselfe vnto them So passing the time with these and other such like sports they sailed towardes Grecia and in few daies with prosperous windes they ariued at the port of Constanstinople and thinking it great reason before that they did disâ—mbarke theÌ„selues to giue the Emperour Trebatio vnderstanding of their ariuall it was concluded and agréed amongst them that the king Sacridoro should goe vnto Constantinople for that he knew the whole discourse of Rosicleer and sawe by experience the most part of his valiant worthinesse that hée might declare the same vnto the Emperour and Empresse and in what sort he doth bring with him the Princesse Oliuia and Clauerindo Lindaraza and how they are all together in the port of that Citie readie for to come a shore and by reason that the daie was farre spent and the night drew on they dyd inferre it till the next morning when that the king Sacridoro went a land and did his message How the knight of the Sunne Rosicleer and the other Princes and knigâ—tes with the Princesses Oliuia Lindaraza went a land and were meruailouslie receiued by the Emperour Trebatio and the Empresse Briana Chap. 7. WHen the next morning was come the good King Sacridoro went a land beeing armed with his whole armour verie richlie alonely with one Squire and entered into Constantinople who finding the Emperour Trebatio and the Empresse Briana in the great hall together without anie dolour he came in whereas they were who when they sawe him receiued him with great ioy and pleasure as well for that he was so great a friend vnto their sonne Rosicleer as also because they hoped to heare some newes from him the which they longed verie much for for of long time they had not heard from him Then the king went to kisse the hands of the Emperour who did embrace him with great loue and said King Sacridoro my verie good friend you are heartelie welcome into this Countrie for with your comming I doe receiue great ioy and pleasure Therefore tel me what is become of your greatest friend Rosicleer for that I meruaile greatlie that he is not come in your companie I am fullie perswaded that it is a great thing that should depart you a sunder Then the king after that he had done his due reuerence answered him and said Mightie Emperour I came in the companie of Rosicleer and God forbidde that so long as I liue I shoulde separate my selfe out of his companie for therewith I receive more honour and contentment than with all the whole kingdome of Antiochia the which I holde by his valyant worthinesse And héere I giue you to vnderstand most high renowmed princes that your mightie valiant most worthie sonnes the knight of the Sunne and Rosicleer are in the port of this Citie accompanied with worthie valiant princes and knights and doe bring in their companie the most excelent and faire princesse Oliuia daughter vnto the puisant king Oliuerio whome Rosicleer falling in loue with did by force of his strong arme take out of the court of the king her father and with one alone shippe in the which we are come made his defence at the sea against more theÌ„ sire thousand knights there did he shew vnto him a great part of all that had passed in that enterprise and of the great sorow which he receued for the worthie knight of the Sunne and of Oristedes his friend as also how by fortune at the sea they met with the prince Clauerindo who brought in his companie the faire Lindaraza with her vnckle Flaâ—nides with the whole discourse how he brought her out of the castle in such sort as he tolde them at the sea But wheÌ„ the Emperour and the Empresse heard these newes they receued great ioy and comfort thereat as those who haue great experience in cases of loue did not greatly meruaile at that which Rosicleer did for the loue of Oliuia likewise they receued content for that he had accomplished his desire being fullie certified that the princesse should inherit the kingdome of great Britaine after the deceace of the king her father and how that Rosicleer could not marrie with a damsell in all the world of more higher estate Also theyr ioy did encreace at the newes of the comming of the knight of the Sunne Then the Emperour and the Empresse dyd render vnto the king Sacridoro great thankes for that he would come to bring them so ioyfull newes And the Emperour did straight waies commaund his nobles and worthie princes knights that were then present in his court to be in a redinesse for to goe and receue them who in companie with them all with great pomp
the Fauno should discouer the shippe and before that we could doe anie thing for to saile from him he would ouertake vs and giue vs all cruell deathes as he hath done to manie others heretofore In conclusion at these words the knights consented not to â—â—aie but to departe and according vnto the great feare which they receued they thought they tarried to long but the two squires when they saw that they departed and caryed them in their companie leauing their Lord in so great perill it cannot be declared the great complaints that they made requesting y â— knights and pylot for to carrie them vnto the Ilande wherewith they should receiue great contentment and be ioyfull but all their requestes were in vaine for that they would not consent that they should dye so desperate a death as also for the great peâ—ill which should be vnto them all they would not consent therevnto wherewith these good squires were so desperate that if time had serued them therevnto they would haue throwen themselues into the sea and by swimming as well as they could they would haue gon to the Iland of the Fauno but the knights caused them to be kept in the shippe and put into a cabin and locked the dore and caryed them in their companie till in the ende of certaine daies they ariued at Transiluania whereas they did disembarke themselues and went a â—and but the Squires were so leane so féeble for that they would not eate anie thing and againe by shedding of so manie teares that they could scarce stand vpon their féete And now to returne to the knight of the Sunne the Historie maketh no more mencion of them but when they came vnto Transiluania after that they had remained there two daies for to refresh and strengthen themselues they sought an other shippe where in they returned to seeke the Ilande of the diuelish Fauno with determined good will there to dye with their Lorde in which iourney they were taken prisoners so that they could not accomplish their desire as shal be declared vnto you in the processe of this Historie ¶ How the knight of the Sunne ariued at the Iland of the possessed Fauno and of the wonderfull and perillous battaile that he had with him Chap. 15. SO when the knight of the Sunne was departed from the knights of Candia he made such hast in rowing w t his great mightie strength that small bote that in a short space he ariued at the solitarie Iland and surelie it was a thing of great meruaile worthie to be put in memorie all that happened with this valiant and happie knight for one way the water stode in his eies and his heart was reâ—die to breake with soâ—â—w griefe and pittie to sée his Squirâ—s remaine so sorowâ—ull and without all comfort an other waie acknowledging in what peril he was of his life in that iourney and how he went to put himselfe in the greatest perplexitie that euer was man he remâ—mbred and armed himselfe with so great hardinesse courage that he thought the time long till he did sée that diuelish Fauno When that he came a lande he sawe that all the Iland was plaine and verie fragarant and fresh replenished with greene Trées although there appeared manie buildings the which were destroyed and fallen downe to the ground in such sorte that it well appeared that the people that there dwelled to be diuelish and abhoiminable And as he was beholding y e countrie which séemed to be verie good and fertill he straight waies discouered where the diuelish Fauno was yet was he not nigh him but a great waye of neither did he sée him but that which proceeded from him which was an infernall fier which seemed to reach vp vnto the Skies with so great a noyse as though it had thundred and as y â— wise Lirgandeo saith that there was no humane heart of so sufficient courage for to séeke out so terrible and wonderfull attempt as was this of that worthie valiant knight in whose heart neuer entred any feare but with so valiant and couragious a stomacke determined to seeke that mishapen and infernall beast â—ull of so manie legions of diuells And for that he would not that there should remaine any thing that might carrie him out from that Ilande hée drew the bâ—te that brought him thether a lande and with one of the oares with the which he rowed he broke it all to peeces and scattered them abroade alongst the water syde that the force of the waues might carrie awaie the péeces But before he departed from that place where he ariued he fell downe vppon his knées and with manie sorowful sighes triikling teares which ranne downe his chéekes in signe that he was a true and faithfull Christian he sayde as followeth OH soueraigne creator both of heauen and earth without whose good will there is no diuell that hath any power neither without it can men fowles nor brute beastes liue vpon the face of the earth nor be sustained nor gouerned without it the Elements would be confounded the heauens lose their course and naturall mouings The earth would quake and the high and mightie mountaines would fall The waters of the Seas would ouer flow the lande and no liuing thing should finde where to be sustained but thou by thy infinit goodnesse and mercie doest ordaine and sustaine all not for that it is to thée necessarie but for the profit of man Therefore séeing that thou doest vse so great pittie and mercie with them here Lorde I doe desire thée that in this perillous danger thou wouldest not leaue me and if I haue anie desire herein to gette the victory it is not for anie honor nor vaine glorie that I hope to maintaine thereby but onely to haue a little more time for to liue in this dispeopled and solitarie Ilande whereas I may fully repent mée for the life which hetherto I haue lead and for to doe some penance for the euills which I haue committed against thy diuine magestie But if it be thy will that I dye in this trance I doe most hartely desire thée not to looke vpon my sinnes and wickednesse but to haue mercie vpon this my soule which is immortal and by thée created to thy similitude and likenesse for eternal liâ—e and diddest redéeme it with thy most precious bloud the which I pray thée to pardon and to receiue at such time as it doth depart out of this wretched bodie my death doth not greue mée so much as that I haue not time enough to serue thée When this good kâ—â—ght had saide these wordes he arose vp vpon his féete and looking towards that part the which was toward Grecia with deepe profound sighes he saide OH Empresse Claridiana how ioyfull would it be vnto my heart if y â— I did know of certaintie that thou wert acquainted with this my daungerous attempt with the which I am bestead for that seeing that my
his saddle bow and embraced his horse necke yet notwithstanding this stout Pagan did not much aduance himselfe of his valiantnesse for y â— this worthie Gréeke being kindled with ire did with mortal courage so charge him in such sort that his téeth did breake the 〈◊〉 against the other by the force of his blowes that great abundance of bloud ranne out at his mouth and many times he was so amazed y â— he was readie to fal from his horse so that betwixt them the battaile grew so terrible that all those that were in the field forgot themselues and did beholde them and were greatlie amazed that so much power and force shoulde be in humane creatures No lesse worth for to be looked on at that present was the mightie battaile that passed betwixt the stout Bramarant the two good knights the Tartarian the Troyan for that Bradaman was the strongest that was to be found amongst all the Gyants in the whole world at that time Likewise the two knights were the best that were to be found in all that great hoast next vnto Rosicleer and Bramarant which was the occasion that the battaile which was betwixt them was the more rigorous for that the stout Tartarian stroke Bradaman such terrible blowes on the one side that he astonied him and the valiaunt Troyan so charged him on the other side that he made the bloud to runne out both at his nose and mouth yet for all that the mightie Pagan did not dismaie himselfe but was so couragious that euerie blowe that hée fastned on his enimies did make them to double their bodies in their saddles and many times to loose their remembrance and if they had not béene both against him together either of them alone should haue passed verie euill Thus after that this battaile had endured betwéene them the space of halfe an houre the night drew on and then was there disembarked a land so great and infinite a companie of Pagans that the Greekes could not suffer them but were constrained to retire the which Rosicleer séeing and considering the great perill that might happen vnto them for to remâ—ine there alone and so farre from their companie presently left Bramarant with whom he did combat and called vnto his friends who did the like so that in short space with their light and swift courses they put themselues amongst the Greekes and returning backe in verie good order they got into the citie the which was no griefe vnto the Pagans although the gran Campeon and Bramarant remained verie angrie and furious for that they could not be reuenged on those knightes that dyd so much abase them And by reason that the night drew on a pace the Emperour Alycandro commaunded his Tents to bée pitched and all that night they had inough to doe to disimbarke the rest of the people that came in that fléete But when that the next morning was come they might sée all the field of Grecia so replenished with barbarous people that neuer before that time was séene so many people in one armie there was so many that they could not be numbred to know how many they were but that they might discerne euerie Nation was diuided by themselues and knowen the one from the other Likewise to sée the great difference they had the one from the other in their tents the fashion of their armour the diuersities of spéeches and the contrarietie of their customes and manners that no man whatsoeuer he were that should haue séene them but woulde haue meruailed and receiued great admiration the Emperial tent of the Emperour was all wrought with gold and siluer full of an infinite number of fine prcious and glistering stones and was of so huge bignesse that a thousand armed knights might walke therin Within the same tent was the Emperiall seate of the Emperour and round about it the seates of all the other kings his vassals in such order placed as it was in the emperiall hall of his pallace and round about the same Tent was placed the tents of the Tartarians and of the Scitas with an infinit number of tents and pauillians belonging vnto them In like order was placed the tents of the other kings his vassals euerie one in his degrée These Pagans were eight daies and had inough to do to fortefie their tents and trenches in which time the Gréekes gaue no attempt against the Pagans for that the Emperour Alycandro dyd send and asked truce of the Emperour Trebatio for eight daies the which was for no other thing but onelie that the Gréekes might fréelie enter into their campe for to sée discerne their mightie power and so they did for in the space of that eight daies the Gréekes did no other thing but goe and come into the camp and hoast of the Pagans and were greatlie amazed to sée so many and so different Nations ioyned together and so conformable for to obey and accomplish the commandement of their Lord. Likewise in this time the good Emperour Trebatio hearkened to no other thing but to send to his knights from one place vnto another in the demand and séeking of the knight of the Sunne and when that he could not heare anie newes by them hée was verie sad and sorrowfull for the same as well for the suspition hée had of some misfortune that might happen vnto him as also for the great lacke of his aide and helpe that they might haue in that time of necessitie The Princesse Lyndabâ—ides likewise in the time of these eight daies of truce was informed by certaine Gréekes how that the knight of the Sunne was absent from the Court and that many daies since they neuer could heare anie newes of him for the which newes she was meruailouslie sad and heauie for that she was determined to enter into Constantinople that vnder coulour to speake with the Empresse Briana she might sée him who was the onelie occasion of her comming out of her Country and it séemed vnto her that in onelie séeing of him her hart should receiue great comfort ease and she had great hope onelie for to eschue the great warres that were ordained against them that they would thinke it the best that he shuld be her husband but when that shée sawe that all fell out contrarie to that which she thought she beganne a new to grieue her selfe and to féele her misfortune whereas the Hystorie doth leaue her to tel of all that happened afterwards Of the great succour that came to the Emperour Trebatio and of a cruell battaile that the Christians had with the Pagans Chap. 21. THE last daie of the truce that was put betwéene the two Emperors ariued in Grecia the Prince Claueryndo who came in aide and succour of the Emperour Trebatio with twentie thousand knightes of the best proportioned and armed that were at that time ioyned together in Grecia and they disimbarked themselues in the sight of all the Pagans and entered into Constantinople at whose
slashing and cutting all that euer they could reach and some they cloue from the head downe vnto the girdell with the which their aduersaries receiued so great feare that they fled before them as sheepe before wolues on the contrarie part the two brethren dyd such maruailes and wonders vpon the Paganes that their déedes were to be noted that day therewithal the first two battailes were ioyned together which was as gallant a sight to be séene as euer was the brauerie of the knightes was such for that in the forefront came the twelue kinges Giantes with the two thousand that came with them from their Ilands against whome there went to receiue them twelue knights of the Godos who séeing them so great and huge vpon the Elephants made their encounter in such sort that the one and the other were ouerthrowen to the ground likewise all y e rest made their encounters so that in a moment there were more then ten thousand ouerthrowen and their horses roming about the fielde fighting one with an other so that betwixt them there was a new battaile begunne here in this conflict did the knights of Spaine show their great valour for that there was none that did make their resistance with so great force against those Gyants killing some of them and recâ—uing their owne deathes with great courage In this battaile Don Claros slew one of the twelue knights of Bradaman with a speare that he thrust through and through his bodie with a forcible and strong encounter And Arcalus slewe an other with the strength of his arme in tormenting him with his terrible blowes vppon the head which was the occasion that they were in great perill of death if that the valiaunt knights of Spaine had not come in time to haue succored them for that a great number of those monsters had compassed them about who were mightie and verie strong so that those two valiant bretheren should euill haue escaped their hands but being ioyned together their battaile was more equall then before and better fought yet all dyd profit verye little the Christians for the getting of the field for that the bushment of those Orientall Gyants made so great slaughter amongst them that they were not able to make any resistance but to receiue cruel death On the other side was those infernal pagans father sonne Bradaman and Bramarant killing and slaying with great crueltie all that euer they could reach with their swords they made so great destruction that it séemed there were not people enough in y e campe for to hold them play that daye which was the occasion that within halfe an houre after that the battaile was begon the Christians began to lose ground and to retyre towards their armie and in some place they were not content to retyre little and little but turned their backes and ranne away all that euer they could in especial there whereas was Bradaman and Bramarant and the rest of the other Gyants who were sufficient for to destroy a whole armie Then when that Don Siluario sawe that the Christians lost ground he straight waies commaunded y â— all those of his charge should march forwards who straight waies with great fiercenesse put themselues into the battaile at whose entre many of the Pagans lost their liues and the Christians began to get ground againe but straight waies that mightie knight Rodaran and the king of Media and the other kings that were with him put themselues â—orwards with their people and when they came vnto the battaile by reason that they were so many and their captaines so valiant they did make great slaughter vpon their came in the enimies and to conclude the power of their enimies was so great that they made the Christians to runne awaye almost round about the fielde in such sort that the valiant knights of spaine could not succour them for that they were enclosed in battailing with the Gyants and had enough to doe to defende themselues from them Then straight vpon that came in the knig hts of Hungaria at whose entrie the battale was renewed and began to get ground and had put them to the foyle if that the third armie of the Pagans had not stepped forwards in the which came that worthie prince Meridian and the stout knight Brandimardo who entred into y e battaile with so great furie that that day was wonderfull vnto the Christians and knew not how and in what sort the Emperour Trebatio should haue so great a power of knights and gyants except they should come out of Persia for that they knew and vnderstoode that all that countrie were in great friendship with the knight of the Sunne and manie there were that repented themselues of their comming into Grecia in especiall Don Siluerio when he saw so great destruction amongst his men and the field so full of dead bodies the teares fell from his eyes with the great sorow griefe which he receiued at his heart and accused himselfe of the euill counsell which he gaue vnto the king Oliuero When that two howers was passed since the beginning of the battaile all the people of his part began to retire for that they could not suffer the great furie of the Pagans so that of verie force and necessitie it did accomplish the king Oliuerio to enter into battaile with all those knights that remained on his charge who were manie in number and verie good And although the Pagans were Lordes of the field yet at their comming they lost all that euer they had got before and the battaile renewed and better fought and the field so full of dead bodies that the liuing could scarce passe for them Here was to be noted the diuelishnesse of Bramarant and his father and the high knighthood of Meridian and of Brandimardo and of that stout knight Rodaran and of the king of Media that it might be saide they were sepulchres vnto the Christians which was not a litle griefe vnto Rosicleer who from that little hill did behold all that passed for to sée so much Christian bloud so spilt and shed with those heathenish Pagans although he thought all might be well suffered for to eschue a greater inconuenience that vnto the contrarie might happen vnto Christendome To conclude the day passed awaie and there remained no more but one houre of the Sunne setting when that the battaile was in equall sorte and the one got no ground of the other but followed their entresse the one killing the other without all pittie at which time the fourth armie of the Pagans entred which were many in number and entred with so great furie into the battaile that those of the king Oliuerio not being able to suffer their force began to loose ground The which being perceiued by Rosicleer that by no meanes they could not but be ouercome and dispersed as one that was a good knight verie pittifull would vse charitie with them for that the king Oliuerio was Father vnto the princesse Oliuia
starres and all the compasse of the Firmament as also the whole face of the Earth Alas when shall I sée the houre that all the teares and anguishes by mée passed and caused by your absence I may make manifest vnto you and that your troubles told vnto mée I may excuse being heard but alas what doth it profit mée all this desire for that mée thinketh that I shall not liue for to enioy so soueraigne ioye and pleasure Let that day come quickly make no longer tarying for the death which vnto this daye hath bene so desirous of mée I 〈◊〉 not now alonely hate but the naming thereof doth make mee agast These and many other things sayd the royall Princes and she had not fullie concluded these her words when that she felt the windes to begin to rage and the waters to arise striking against the shippe sides as though they would breake it in peeces and the Mariners began to crie out publishing euell fortune and fearing to be drowned for that in a verie short spare the Ayer which was verie faire and cléere was tourned to be verie darke and cloudie and from the Heauens procéeded soorth so great aboundance of thunder and lightnings as though the heauens and seas would ioyne together and the Mariners sayde that they neuer saw at the Sea in all their life time so great a storme and tempest But this worthie Princes who was at that time vppon her knées â—earing nothing of the tempest sayde as followeth LORD if it be thy blessed will that I shall sée againe the knight of the Sunne I doe verely beleue that this tempest commeth by thy prouidence and apointment for that this my Shippe being forced by the furie of these baysterous windes I may the soner come vnto the place whereas he is And if it be so Lord as vnworthie thou hast not heard my prayer and petition but that all things doth worke according vnto their nature yet héere I doe desire thy diuine maiestie for that it is in thy power to stay the celestial powers in such sort that they may not disturbe mée in this my iourneie nor bée contrarie vnto mée And I am fully perswaded Lord that if it were thy will that I should die before that I doe sée y â— knight of the Sun it were not néedefull the force of the Elements nor the noyse of so great thundering and lightening for to kill mée for alonely thy will is sufficient for to sinke this my ship downe to the center of the sea And againe if it be thy wil that I shal be saued then wherefore should I feare fortunes tempestes or the force of the great and furious waues the good Prophet was in greater peril when that he was swalowed vp by the mightie whale and the mightie Apostle in the deapth of the sea and for that it was thy will for to deliuer them those perills did little trouble them The wrath and yre of Esau did little profit against Iacob nor that of the Chaldes against Abraham nor that of Pharao against thy people nor that of Holophernus against Iudith nor that of the Lyons against Daniel and little can this tempest hurt mée if it be thy will for to saue and deliuer mée as thou diddest deliuer them So in saying these words the royall Princes it séemed vnto her that the storme encreased more and more and so dyd all that day the night following without any hope of calmenesse The next day in the morning whether it was by the will of God for that his pleasure was that the troubles sorowes of the knight of the Sunne should haue ende or whether it was by arte of the wise Lirgandeo I know not but the shippe with that torment was ariued at the solitarie Iland whereas happened vnto the royall Princes as shal be tolde you in the next Chapter following ¶ How that the Princes Claridiana went a lande at the Iland of the diuelish Fauno what she dyd there Chap. 28. WHen that the ship of the princes Claridiana was ariued at the solitarie Iland she her damsels and the Mariners were verie glad and gaue great thanks vnto God for that he had deliuered them out of that great storme and tempest and being somewhat wearie of the sea the Princesse determined to go a shore as well for to sée the fertilenesse of the Ilande as also for that her heart did giue her that by the hande and will of God all those things were ordained Then straight waies she disembarked her selfe and commaunded her damsells to tarrie in the shippe tilâ— she returned backe againe so that all alone with her horse and armour she went a shore And being a land she was greatly amazed to sée the countrie so plaine and no habitation therein she found it voyde of all people and the foundation of certaine houses which in times past had bene there builded but now ouerthrowen and fallen downe with the wether She saw that the Iland was very fresh gréene and full of trées but not a beast nor bird she could sée in all the Iland but as an vnpeopled and desert place and being very much amazed at all this she could not iudge otherwise but that should be the Iland of the diuelish Fauno coniecturing of all things as hath bene tolde her before of that Iland it dyd plainely appeare that it was in all thinges conformable vnto that which she hadde heard declared by the mouth of others And being in this troubled thought she saw vppon the sea side somewhat aparted from the place whereas she was a boate broken all to péeces the which was the boate that brought the knight of the Sunne thether and he brake it all to péeces because he would haue nothing to carie him from thence but when she came nigh vnto it she saw the prints of the blowes which gaue her plainly to vnderstand how it should be broken with the oares the which laye by sheuered all to péeces she being greatly amazed thereat passed further into the Iland wheras she discouered the saddle and brydle with all the trappings of the good horse Cornerino scattered vppon the ground which although it was euill intreated with the wether raine and dust yet might shée well perceiue that they were of estimation and verie rich for that they were all wrought with silke and golde and the pomell and arson of the Saddle gold was of purefiâ—e set full of prâ—cious stones which caused her straight waies to suspect that it should be the saddle and trapping of Cornerino for that many times she had séene the knight of the Sunne with them and he waâ— them of the Prince Meridian When that she saw this with a 〈…〉 from her horse and the better to satisfie her selfe she tooke the trappings in her hands and wipte of the dust that was on them then did she perfectly know them to be the knights of the Sunne for that in all her life she neuer saw the like
that curtesie at her hands knéeling downe before her he tooke and kissed her lilie white hande perforce receiuing thereby more glorie then if he had bene made Lord ouer all the world Then the Princes a new did embrace him and almost by force dyd cause him to arise saying your highnes worthie Prince doth not consent that you vse with anie this courtesie much lesse with mée that am whollie yours Then the good knight said ah mistresse as you are all onely she in all the world next vnto God that may shew me courtesie so haue you now this my mortall bodie glad ioyfull and happie I am not onely bound vnto you to kisse your hands but if so be that the great loue which I beare vnto you doe not deserue it then is not my high estate sufficient that I deserue to enioye so great courtesie and héere in I doe receiue so great glorie that if continuallye I may enioy your presenâ—e with a verie good will I would forget all highnes and royall estates and liue and leade my lyfe here with as great ioye and pleasure in your companie better then in any royall pallace and thinke my selfe verely to be in eternall Paradise I would to God replyed the Princes that with our honors and emperial states we might accomplish the same leading our liues here together in this solitarie Iland for that for my pleasure and contentment I request no other thing but onely the enioying of your companie in place whereas I might not be desturbed one minute of an houre but for that fortune hath exalted vs vnto so high estate and that God hath not created vs with so great callings onely to serue our selues but we must as we are bound accomplish and performe our duties to our subiects and goe and sustaine our emperiall estates and in especially you hauing so excelent parentage you are the more bound for to goe and see them and to take from them by your presence the great and long heauinesse which they haue receiued by your absence Then the good knight saide Mistresse I doe receiue so great ioye and contentment of heart onely in beholding of you that as the happie saints vnto whome the losse of parents nor any worldly thing can cause them to féele anie paine sorow and griefe euen so I being in your presence there is no absence nor any other thing that can giue or cause vnto mée sorow and griefe but yet for all this vse you your will and discretion for that I haue no will but whereas is yours These and many other mo amorous words passed béetwixt these two true and perfect louers and yet could neither of them manifest entirely the great ioye and pleasure the which they receiued at their hearts After a while that they had passed the tune in this their ioyfull méeting they sate themselues downe vpon y â— gréene grasse in the shadow vnder those huge and mightie trées whereas with swéete words still more amorous then eloquent they discoursed the one with the other of all thinges that hadde happened vnto them since their departure out of Constantinople And the princes did giue the knight of the Sunne to vnderstand the occasion why and wherefore she made battaile with him and how much sorow and griefe the supition thereof dyd cause vnto her and how and in what sort she was put out of all doubt concerning the same Likewise she tolde him of all the great preparation to the warres which was made in Grecia at her departure and how she vnderstoode that all the whole Paganisme and a great part of Christendome came against the emperour Trebatio for which cause he dyd put himselfe in a redinesse to receiue them and was verie sad and sorowfull for his absence all which when the knight of the Sunne vnderstood he straight waies had a great desire to be in Grecia séeming that in time of so great necessitie there was no reason that he should be absent in especiall for that the chiefest occasion and greatest part of those warres were for his sake Being in this communication they could not be certified the one to heare the other they saw comming towardes them two damsells vpon two palfraies whome the princes dyd straight wayes know to be her Damsells whome she left in the shippe and being greatly amazed that the princes taryed so long and not retourned came a land and went in her demaunde with great sorow and heauines because they could not finde her but when they sawe her and knew the knight of the Sunne they were wonderfully glad as well for the ioye which theyr mistresse receiued therein as also for the strange things which they had séene in that Iland And surely they were verie sad thinking that the knight of the Sunne hadde bene dead because he had not bene heard of a long time When these two Damsells came vnto them they left ceased their amorus communication and receiued them verie courteously Presently vppon the gréene grasse they dyd eate of such vittailes as the Damsels had brought a shore from the ship for their Ladie mistresse whereas y â— knight of the Sunne with the great ioye and pleasure that he receiued at his heart the coulour and semblant of his face was chaunsed so that he séemed an other maner of man and shewed the true and perfectâ—perfection in coulour and presence the which nature had wrought in him And the Princes for to sée him in that sort was so glad ioyful that ther was no pleasure that might be compared vnto hers After that they had eaten well refreshed themselues the knight of the Sunne séeing his good horse Cornerino in companie with that of the Princesse he lured and straight waies he came vnto him for that he had vsed him therevnto so he tooke him and after that that of the Princes and being both desirous to depart from thence they tooke each other by the hande and went vnto the place whereas the knight of the Sunne had left his good armour there he armed himselfe againe with them being holpen by the princes for that her Damsells with the great feare which they had of the diuelish Fauno the which was dead durst not come nigh them And the knight of the Sunne séeing him so fauoured and holpen by the hands of his Ladie and mistresse was in that case that he knew not whether he was in heauen or vppon the earth and being in this glorie readie for to depart out of the solitarie Iland the Historie doth leaue them till time doe serue ¶ Of the strong and well foughten battaile that was betwixt the fiftene knights of the Emperour Trebatio with the fiftene of the Emperour Alicandro Chap. 30. WHen that the day was come of the challenge and that the battaile should be tryed betwéene the fiftene knights of the Emperour Trebatio and the other fiftene of y â— Emperour Alicandro they were all in a redinesse and the field whereas the battaile should
the Princesse Claridiana and that her suspition fell out to be true she remained as one dead and knew not what to saie nor to doe but to complaine of her Gods and of fortune and it is to beléeued that her lyfe had not endured long if that shée had not béene wonderfullie succoured as shal bée declared vnto you héereafter in this Hystorie How the stout and furious Pagan Bramarant ouerthrew and destroyed all the Idolls in the Campe and how the Emperour Alycandro for to appeale him caused to be brought with great honor the bodie of the gran Campion that was in the wildemesse of Grecia and what happened ouer and aboue this Chap. 36. THe great wrath and furie was so excéeding of that proude and barbarous sonne of the gran Campion for the death of his Father that there was not roome inough for him in all that mightie campe of the Pagans but he ranne vp and downe from one place to another like vnto a mad man or one from himselfe crying out making a great and terrible noise casting vp his firie eies vnto the heauens blaspheming and deâ—ieng his Gods vttering wordes of great reproch and anger thinking thereby to prouoke them vnto wrath to cause them to descende vpon the earth against him where he might execute his wrath vpon them As he was wholie ignorant of the immortall paines which these false Gods in whom the Pagans do beleeue and worship hath in hell and for that in no place he could take anie rest or be in quiet hée went into all the Tents of the Campe whereas he found many Idolles verie rich and of great price whome hée ouerthrew and cut in peeces with his sword and left not one standing neither was there anie king or knight of so great hardinesse that durst make anie resistance against him but onelie those two mightie and valiant knightes the Prince Meridian and Brandimardo who with a verie good will woulde haue baunted the pride of that proude and insolent Pagan if the Emperour had not disturbed them in requesting them not to returne to renue anie more their contention and anger so that finding not one that durst make anie resistance against him the pride of this furious and fierce Pagan Bramarant encreased so much that he neuer stayed till that hée came into the Emperiall Tent of the Emperour Alycandro within the which was a verie greate and rich stature of golde full of precious stones dedicated vnto the God Iupiter the which was made by the diuells arte in such sort that the Diuell was within the same and spake by the mouth of that Idoll deceiuing those wicked and miserable Pagans who with great reuerence and dutie did prostrate themselues vnto the ground and worshipped him it was set vppon a verie rich Alter whereas none durst be so bold as come nigh vnto it except certaine Priestes which were consecrated for to doe sacrifice vnto him dailie Besides this the Emperour Alycandro had in many places round about his great Tent many other Idolles whome hée dyd worship and all his subiects and being that daie in his great Tent accompanied with all those mightie kings and Lords of his whole Campe ordaining for to giue battaile vnto the Emperour Trebatio this mightie Pagan armed with his strong armour mounted vpon his mightie horse entered into the Tent and when hée sawe the stature of the God Iupiter vppon the Alter as soone as he was entered in hée went towards the same and in drawing out his sword hée sayd Now will I sée if the power of that Christian Knight bée more than thine And in saying these wordes he stroke him such a right downe blowe that although it were made of massie golde yet hée cloue it downe to his breast and falling one peece from another there was sodainlie hearde a great and timerous thunder clappe wherewith it séemed that the heauens woulde haue rent a sunder and in the middest of the great Tent was séene a vestigell or spirite so dreadfull and horrible to beholde that it séemed to bée some infernall vision casting out fire at his nose and eyes and in both his handes he had a great mase of yron with the which he made a shewe as though he would haue stroken Bramarant vpon the head as those which had no more power but onelie for to put in feare with those his visages and semblances so that alone with the sight of him there was not one in all that Tent but dyd tremble ansd was afraide thinking verilie that they should be destroied for that which Bramarant had done But this proude Barbarian who feared not all that infernall companie with no more dreade than if it had bene a weake and féeble damsell he did abide his comming and as this vestigell or diuell did make a profer to strike him with his mase the Pagan stroke a terrible blow at him with his sword and thinking to haue clouen him a sunder in the middest hee stroke at nothing but at the aire for that the vestigell as a fancie consumed awaie and was no more séene in the Tent. But the Emperour and all those that were with him were verie sorrie for that which Bramarant had done mistrusted that there would happen vnto them great euill and misfortune for the same yet for all that there was not one amongest them all that durst retourne against him in the quarrell of their Gods but one Meridian and Brandmardo who because they would not anger the Emperour were in quiet wherewith Bramarant went out of the tent with great furie Then the Emperour thought within himselfe that it were good somwhat to appease his furie for to send for the bodie of the gran Campion which laie dead in the wildernesse of Grecia and to burie him with that honor and solempnitie as is vsed in their Countrie euen so as he thought he put it in vre and straight waies commaunded that thirtie crowned kings the most principallest of all the armie should put on mourning apparell and cause him to be laide vpon a béere and so brought vnto the Campe and commanded to accompanie them ten thousand armed knightes and all those Gyants that came from the Orientall Ilands that were subiect vnto Bramarant shoulde goe with them And in this sorte these thirtie kings with all their companie departed according vnto the vse and manner of their Countrie which was a strange thing to sée when they came into the wildernes they straight waies found the bodie of y â— gran Campion which was begun to bée eaten with the fowles and after that they all for a while had made great lamentation and bewailed his death those kings for to doe him more honour did balme him and then laid him vpon a Béere which they brought with them that was verie rich and couered with a faire cloth of Tissue and so carried him towards the Campe whereas he was receiued with great honour by the Emperour and all those mightie Princes that were
vnto him the victorie in that battaile and not to permit that that worthie crew of Knighthoode should bee vanquished and lost in that battaile and did confesse and acknowledge that his great power and all that mightie Campe was in effect as much as nothing if that bée of his beneuolence dyd not aide and succour him These and such like things sayd the good Emperour in his heart and neuer rested in going from one place to another putting his people in good order with a Tipstaffe in his hande lyke a valiant and expert Captaine wherein there was not one that dyd passe him neither in his owne Campe nor in the whole Campe of the Pagans was there anie dyd so well The first battalle that he ordained was of the Gréekes saying that in the defence of their Countrie it was greate reason that they shoulde haue the foreward wherein there was foure and twentie thousand knightes all verie well armed and excéeding expert and committed the charge and gouernment thereof vnto that valyant and worthie Alphebo the lyght of all Chiâ—alrie and knighthoode and put in his companie that worthie and royall Princesse Claridiana for that they being together y â— one for the other would force themselues to worke the greater wonders and on the otherside he placed with them his great friend Oristides that valiant Troyan so that they thrée being together they were sufficient for to put feare and dread in all the whole Pagan hoast The second battaile he dyd commend vnto that valiant and worthie Rosicleer called by an other name the knight of Cupid who dyd so great wonders that day that so long as the world doth endure his fame will be mencioned therin he gaue with him in company his very good friends the Tartarian Zoylo and the king Sacridoro with twentie thousand Gréeke knights of great courage who followed after his brother The third battaile he gaue vnto that mightie king Florion with all his knightes that he brought with him out of Persia and other tenne thousand of his owne people and in his companie that valiant prince Brandizel being father and sonne that made great destruction amongst the Pagans that day The fourth battaile he gaue vnto the worthie prince of Fransia and vnto the king of Lidra with all the people that they brought out of their countries The fift baitaile he gaue vnto the gouernment of the king Oliuerio and vnto the prince of Lusitania with all the people that câ—me out of great Britaine and in this battaile went those two worthie princes Bargandel and Liriamandio with other worthie princes and valiant knights that belonged vnto the king Oliuerio The sixt battaile the Emperour Trebatio tooke vnto himselfe with all the rest of the knightes that remained which were to the number of thrée score thousand knights There went in this battaile in companie with the Emperour the king of 〈◊〉 the two princes of 〈◊〉 and Transiluâ—nia with the two gallant princes Rodomarte and Rodoteo and the two most valiant worthie knights Don Clarus and Arealus who in this daye dyd not a little exalt the honour of the Godos of Spaine There went also with the Emperour those two good knights Flamides and Florinaldes who were great friends vnto the knight of the Sunne Also there went with him those foure brethren sonnes vnto the gran Torcato with that stout Rogelio who were so couragious that there were fewe in all the whole armie that were more valianter then they being but young youthes There went also with him the King of Bohemia and many other mightie Lords belonging vnto the Emperour of Grecia whose names be not héere rehearsed for to auoiâ— tediousnesse So that this mightie Emperour hadde about him such a companie of valiant and worthy knights and of high estate that neuer the like was séene who little and litle in the order aboue mencioned dyd begin to fill those fields and plaines that it was a thing worthie to be séene so great number of worthie and valiant knights to be ioyned together although they saw before their eies put in good order their enimies and occasions of the great destruction looked for as also those fearefull signes and tokens which the heauens and the earth dyd shew vnto them the which was a thing of great wonder and dread to behold in especiall for those Ladies and gentlewomen that were in Constantinople who séeing their husbandes and children to depart in that sort their clamors and cryes seemed to assend vnto the heauens And in the mightie citie of Constantinople there was séene no other thing but olde men women and children who went bare foot bare legged through the stréetes from one church vnto as other praying vnto God to graunt the victorie on their parts and to defend his christian flock At this time was the Empresse Briana and the fayre princesse Olima with the beautifull Linderaza the Queene Radamira and Arquirosa and many other mo verie faire and beautifull Ladies and gentlewomen mounted vp into a high tower of the mightie pallace from whence they might at their ease discouer and sée all the whole armies but when they sawe so great a multitude of infidells against them whome they loued more then themselues they receiued great sorow and dread at their hearts which caused them to shed many teares and to pray vnto God for the victorie from the bottome of their hearts Now let vs leaue them and tell of the Pagans who were so many in number that all the night past with good part of the morning they hadde enough to doe for to set all things in good order and in a redinesse for the appointed battaile The first battaile ordained by the Emperour Alicandro he gaue vnto the rule and gouernement of that proude pagan Bramarant who like vnto an hungery Lyon or wolfe wold be the first and he had with him fiftie thousand horsemen the most furious and fiersest that was to be found in all the whole campe amongst whome he caryed all those giants that his father the Gran Campion had brought out of his owne countries which were more then one thousand and all mounted vppon Elephants who with certaine engens that they brought with them made them to be verie swifte Bramarant hadde with him in that battaile all the kinges of the Orientall Ilandes who as you haue heard were little inâ—erour vnto gyants and were the most strrongest and stoutest that was in all the whole Ilands and beeing this braue Barbarian in the middest amongst them he thought verely that all the whole world if they had bene ther together were not able to make resistance against him The second battaile was gouerned by those two mightie Pagans Meridian and Brandimardo who hadde with them three score thousand horsemen all of the Gran Tartaria meruailously well armed although the most part of them were armed with the hard skinnes of wilde beastes there were in this battaile twentie braue and furious Gyants whereof twelue of the most furious
seemed not to be anie humane creatures But now was the time come of the good fortune and destinie promised vnto the Emperour Trebatio to shewe it selfe fauourable and the Prophesie before sayde by the olde king of Gedrosia to worke effect and accomplish the truth thereof in confirming of the same for that the Pagans began to retire and night drew on and it wared darke they receiued great feare in such sorte that they put themselues vnto flight and ranne awaie with great shame so that a little before the shutting of the euening the Pagans put themselues in such feare and hast in running that there was no force of resistance in them but to be all slaine by the Gréekes who followed them at their héeles And the Emperour Alycandro when that he sawe himselfe left alone without his strong gard and mightie kings his vassals that were wont to kéepe and beare him companie and all his people to run awaie before him ouercome and cleane without anie hope of victorie he larged the raines vnto his horse and ranne about the field complaining verie much against the Gods whome he tooke to bée his parents and kinsfolke as also against Fortune for shewing her selfe so contrarie against him but most he complained against himselfe for putting so great confidence and trust in his owne power in that hée would not giue anie credit vnto the good and true counsailes of the olde king of Gedrosia and going in this sort he came vnto his Tents and taking the faire Princesse Lyndabrides and the rest of the Ladies and Damsels that were with her with other such things as conueniently he could hée fled downe vnto the sea side whereas was all his whole Fléete whereof the Christians had burnt a great part of them such as were at the Sea for although the saide ships of the Christians were but few in number yet when that they sawe the great destruction that was made on the land they recouered great courage â—or to assault them that were at the Sea in such sorte that they set fire on manye shippes that were in the Fléete in spite of them that were there for that they found small resistance Thus as I haue saide before when the Emperour came vnto the Sea side there was so great hast of embarking that with great trauaile hée embarked himselfe into a shippe with those that came with him and being embarked yet he thought not himselfe in anie securitie but in great hast caused the Sailes to bée spread abroade and launched themselues into the Sea leauing all this troupe and power ouerthrowen in Grecia Then the Prince Meridian and Brandimardo when that they sawe how that the people were dispearsed and that by no meanes possible they coulde not staie them from flying and running awaie Then went they from one place vnto another séeking of the Emperour Alycandro but could not finde him till such time as they came vnto the Sea side whereas it was tolde them how that hée was embarked into a shippe and departed with the Princesse Lyndabrides and the other Ladies and Gentlewomen that were in her companie amongst whome was the faire Princesse Floralinda spouse vnto the Prince Meridian who when that hée vnderstoode of their departure dyd straight wayes embarke himselfe in another shippe and followed after them In all this while the Gréekes vnderstoode in no other thing but in killing and slaying of Pagans as they ranne awaie and made such slaughter as in all the daie before was not the lyke at which time all the water in the Tirreno sea from the â—geo vnto the Euxino was redde and turned into the coulour of bloud with the great quantitie that were slaine as well on the sea as on the land which was a thing of great terrour and wonder to beholde But the knight of the Sunne when he sawe that the battaile was dispearsed and how that the Pagans sledde before them hée made no farther account of them but went and sought for the Emperour Alycandro and the Princesse Lyndabrides fearing that in the moouing and running of the people they should receiue some damage or harme The which he would not that it should so fall out for anie thing in all the world for that hée considered verie well in his minde how much he was bound vnto them for the great loue which they bare vnto him And when he came vnto the Tents he went from one vnto another enquiring for the Emperour and it was tolde him how they were fled and gone wherewith he gallopped his horse till hée came vnto the sea side whereas hée sawe the Pagans making great hast for to embarke themselues and many of them did swimme aboord because they would not abide the furie of the Greekes a land Then the Knight of the Sunne came vnto one of those Pagans and put the point of his sword to his face and sayd that hee would kill him if hée dyd not tell him newes of the Emperour Alycandro Then the Pagan who sawe him depart for feare of death tolde him how that he was departed from thence in a ship with the princesse Lyndabrides and all her Ladies and gentlewomen Whereat when the knight of the Sunne heard of their departure he was verie sorrowfull as well for the perill in the which they put themselues as also for that hée would haue done vnto them the honourâ— and seruice that they deserued and for that his valiant courage could not suffer that they should depart in such sorte with a setled purpose and determination full of vertue he put himselfe into a Boate and caused the Marriners to rowe him vnto a good ship that was there at hande whereas he found certaine knights that did resist him at his entrie whom he slew and threatned the Maister and Marriners that he woulde lykewise kill them if they did not gouerne the ship right that waie which the Emperour Alycandro was departed and gone Then they who sawe the great destruction that hée had made in so short a time being greatlie amazed thereat and with great feaâ—e did obey all that he commanded so that in companie with the other ships they hoised saile and departed through that bloudie sea whereas we wil leaue them in their iourney and returne vnto them that were left in the field At this time the good Emperour Trebatio when he saw the night come on a pace and that it waxed darke being verie wearie he all his companie in killing of pagans began to blow and sound his rich horne which lyke a good Captaiâ—e he carried alwaies about his necke and he dyd sound it iâ— such sort that in all those broade and wide fields it was heard at which sound all his people dyd obey his commandement and gathered themselues together But yet in all this time the battaile betwixt Rosicleer and Bramarant neuer ceased but rather as then was more furious and kindled in wrath and they did no other thing but procure to charge the one the other with