they set on her and her husband as the Squire informed them By this time the Lady being let goe by the two Squiers that held her who séeing their Maister slaine made hast by flight to saue their owne liues which they might easily doe for that no man pursued them came vnto the Lord Gwaltero and falling on her knées before him gaue him most humble thankes as well for the safegard of her owne honor which shée estéemed farre afore life as also for reuenging her husbands death whom Brandoll in the former fight had slaine with some two or thrée of their seruaunts who put themselues in their defence with all offering him many large proffers for reward But Gwaltero taking her by the hand raised her from the ground willing her to be of good comfort assuring her whatsoeuer hée had doone for her was but his and the dutie of euery good Knight and therefore willed her to attribute it not to him but to God who is the reuenger of all wrongs and to account of him but as an instrument appointed by God to minister iustice on those murderers Then the Ladie entreated him and the rest to conduct her vnto a Castle of hers some two leagues of where she would intreate them to rest themselues vntill such time as his woundes were throughly cured which should be doone by a damsell of hers very expert in the Art of Surgery Vnto which request they easily consented especially the Lord Gwaltero whose hart was already wounded with the Ladies beutie Then binding vp his wounds as well as they could they mounted on horsebacke directing their course towards the foresaid Castle the better to passe away the time Gwaltero beganne to question with the Lady of many matters especially of the cause of the late combat which shee declared vnto him with such a modest and comlie grace that hée béeing before a little wounded with Cupids shaft was now so altogether ouercome with loue that either he must néedes sue for grace or die by concealing his affection so feruent was the flame and so weake his resistance By this time were they passed most part of theyr way and were come vnto the Castle euen about the time that the Sunne drawing into the West séemed to take leaue of the view of these hether Regions where by the Lady they were most kindly receiued and welcommed with such chéere as the suddennes of the time could affoord After Supper the Lorde Gwaltero béeing brought into a most goodly and fayre Chamber had his wounds carefully looked vnto and dressed Then beeing layd in a ritch bedde imbrodred very costly with gold and pearle and curiously wrought with imagry and other sumptuous shewes where beeing layd the good Lady curteously bad him good night willing him to commaund for all things in the Castle as his owne Then departing away leauing him in a world of imaginations shée tooke order for the interring of her Husbands bodie which the next day was effected with great solemnitie according to the custome of the country then vsed CHAP. X. Howe Gwaltero with his company staying the healing of his wounds made his loue knowne to the Lady with his successe therein and of his departure in his quest THE Lord Gwaltero and his company staying the curing of his wounds which were most carefully looked vnto and dressed by the same Damsell which had them in cure was euery day visited continually by the Ladie of the place who shewed herselfe so thankfull vnto him that she almost neuer would depart frō his presence which bred in him such ardent desire that not béeing able longer to conceale his loue one day shée béeing sitting by his bed-side none béeing in presence but his Squire and the damsell that attended his wounds taking her by the hand and fixing his eyes stedfastly on her face said Gracious Lady I doe not knowe nether can I immagine how these my speeches which at this time I shall bée forced to vetter may be by you accepted yet trusting in the gentlenesse of your kind nature haue made choise rather to open my griefe vnto you then by concealing thereof or euer to languish in paine Know then that since the first time it was my hap when I fought with Brandoll and his companie for to see you that then your rare and singular beauty wounded me more farre deeper then did either their swords or Launces which since by your continuall courtisies and by your many exquisite vertues which I haue behold in you are so much augmented and increased that vnlesse you of your excellent bounty take pitty and compassion on me and with spéede yeeld some reliefe vnto this my oppressed passions I knowe not what to expect saue death onely which if you should prooue pittilesse it would be most welcome vnto me wherefore let me intreate you to consider these my passions and to ease them with pitty and thereby shall you gaine vnto your selfe for euer a true Knight and a constant louer Thus concluding his speech with a most déepe sigh procéeding from the bottome of his hart he remained silent attending her answere which should be to him either as life or death to which she replied My Lord I cānot but muse at this your discourse neither can I chuse but smile to sée your honor so merrily disposed to iest at me in this kind of sort hoping that mirth is a signe of the amendment of your wounds which to me would bee most ioyfull séeing that in my defence you receaued them But if these your spéeches procéede from you in earnest knowe then that the beauty which you say hath inflamed you in my conceit is of no such force as to wound a man of your worth neither is it likely that so sudden a liking as you speake of should bee able to work any such effect if my curtesies haue béene the cause they were neuer more then you deserued and therefore to be estéemed by you as a debt due from mee to be payd if my vertues which you speake of they alas are so fewe and small that they are not to be accounted of but yet such I hope which rather should giue you an occasion to séeke to others then any show to yeild vnto your lawlesse loue for know for a suerty that Menea for so was she called regardeth more her honor good name then she doth all the riches or wealth of this world knowing the one to be but momentarie the other perpetuall wherefore I beséech your honor to giue of these vaine sutes But if you séeke to inioy me as your wife which I thinke you will take scorne of I being but a poore Lady and descended but of a meane Parentage in respect of your Lordship yet notwithstanding consider I beséech you the late death of my husband whom if I should so soone forget it would for euer be accounted a great ignomie and shame vnto me The Lord Gwaltero at these last spéeches interrupting her replied most
beautifull Lady thinke not that I goe about any way to dishonor you neither that those my former speeches to be fained but whatsoeuer I haue spoken to procéede from the sinceritie and bottome of my harf which is and for euer shall remaine yours whilst the fates shall permit me to inioy this breath which I wish no longer to continue then I remaine your faithfull and constant Knight protesting before the almighty God neuer to accept of any other wife so you thereto consent in witnesse whereof I héere deliuer you this ring then taking a faire Diamond from one of his fingers he would haue put it on hers but she withdrawing her hand made him answere that shee had made a solemne vowe to God which shée was minded to performe which was that for one whole yeare shee would neuer consent to marry with any one whatsoeuer but if it pleased his Lordship so to estéeme of her as to accept her for his wife at the end of that appointed time which she had set he should find her most ready willing to obey vnto his will in any that might not bée to her dishonor Gwaltero gladded to the hart with this heauenly conclusion and beeing as one newly reuiued out of some dead traunce tooke her in his armes and kissed her protesting that he would most willingly remaine so contented vntill the fixed time were expired and then God willing he would returne and espouse her in the meane time he intreated her to accept of that his small Ring which should be a cause for her to remember him by which she then most willingly accepted and in requitall thereof gaue vnto him a Iewell of hers which hee alwaies after either in Tilt or Turnie wore being fastned in the crest of his Helme and which at all times put him in minde of his Lady and Mistris Thus by the comming in of Sir Cadrus and Sir Brewes with diuers Gentlemen and Damsels which came to sée the Lord Gwaltero their loue talke gaue ouer for that time entertaining the others with diuers pleasant and merrie discourses wherewith they accustomed to passe away the time euer thinking it long till they might be in their former quest which was the sooner for that Gwaltero being comforted with the hope of future pleasure and content was healed much the sooner of his wounds so that within fiftéene daies hee was able to beare Armor and finding himselfe indifferent strong tooke order with the rest of his companie the next day to depart onwards on their way towards the confines of Denmarke where they hoped to haue some ioyfull tidings of him whom they sought or at least waies to méete againe with the Lord Menew Sir Henault whom the Lord Gwaltero déerely loued Thus hauing taken order for the preparing of their iourny the next day they all tooke their leaue of their kind hostis and Gwaltero taking her aside desired her with the teares standing in his eyes to be mindefull of her former promise assuring her if God did grant him life and liberty hee would returne against the fixed time by her appointed to solemnize their marriage in the meane time he would commend her into the protection of the almighty God But she good Lady not being able to speake for wéeping held him about the necke often kissing him as one loth so soone to forgoe his companie yet at the last séeing no remedie intreated him to remember her and his promise vntill which time of his returne she would spend her daies in prayer for his safe and prosperous successe Thus departed these two Louers whom we will leaue for a while to speake of other matters CHAP. XI How the Lord of Menew and Sir Henault hapned to arriue in the Cittie of Parris of the Turnie there proclaimed by the Duke of Orleance THe Lord of Menew and Sir Henault taking the direct way which they were informed to rescue the Lady and her husband rode on a great pace till such time that comming vnto the place where the battaile had béene fought but a little before found the dead bodies of the auncient Knight and diuers of his seruants but for the murtherers they could not knowe what was become of them because they had taken a bie and vnknowne way which ledde them as before is sayd vnto their destruction Wherefore taking their way towards the next Towne they rode on hastily minding to stay there vntill they might heare some newes of the Lord Gwaltero whom they imagined would likewise arriue there the next day at the farthest But héereof being deceaued by reason of the occasions before recited after they had remained there some thrée daies looking for him they departed towards the Sea-side and comming to a Towne called Forefront they found diuers Ships bound to seueral coasts wherfore deuiding their selues some to one Country some into another the Lord of Menew Sir Henault being loth to part companie shipped thēselues for Fraunce hoping there either to find him whom they sought for or else to purchase fame by their prowesse within that Kingdome and sooner then in any other might it be obtained if they showed themselues valerous by reason of the continual turnaments which were dayly vsed there by the Nobles and Knights of tha region And being shipped and hauing wind at will they set saile so prosperously that within eight daies after they landed at Calice where they a while stayed as well to refresh themselues after their comming from the Sea as also to view the Towne and Country thereabouts and to make inquirie if peraduenture they might heare of him in whose Quest they went Thus hauing stayd there twelue or fourtéene daies not learning any newes at all of their infortunate King they tooke their way towards the royall Cittie of Paris where the King then kept his Court with a great assemblie of Lords and Ladies which were then drawne together to behold a great Turny proclaimed by the Duke of Orleance by the Kings consent against all strangers the occasion of which Turny grew by this meanes The Duke béeing a lustie young Knight was inamoured on the Kings eldest daughter a most beautifull and goodly Lady who for her grace vertues and beautie had not her equall in all the kingdome of Fraunce beeing called Emilia whose perfections had so intangled his hart that hee could not by any meanes frée himselfe from béeing thrall to her beautie and thinking no meanes better to winne a fayre Lady then by shewing himselfe valiant hee continually frequented Tylts and Turnyes oftentimes carrying away the cheefest prizes of valour which was a meanes not onely to obtaine great loue and fauour of the King but also drew to him some liking of his Lady and Mistris the Princes Emilia which she sometimes would make shewe of by her kind countenaunce and pleasant spéeches to him which curtesies put him in such an excéeding hope and pride withall that thinking himselfe halfe sure of her loue and that béeing grast
with the same no man was able to compare with him neither in happines nor valour one day perceiuing the King to be walking alone in a pleasant delightfull Garden adioyning to the Pallace came vnto him and falling into some conference with him at last intreated his Maiestie to grant him leaue to proclaime a Turny which hee and some certaine number of Knights of the Court would defend against all commers for the space of 3 daies And that after by the space of sixe dayes more hée himselfe would kéepe the field and defend against all commers his Mistresse the Princesse Emilia to excell all others in beautie whatsoeuer The King hearing his demaund and considering the great danger which thereby might happen to him disswaded him from it assuring him that it would be impossible to continue against so many as would hazard themselues in that enterprise and that although he by his valor might ouercome many hardie and gallant Knights yet at length béeing wearie tyred with ouermuch labour might peraduenture be vanquished by one inferior to those whom before he had subdued whereby hee should lose his former reputation gotten with no small perrill and danger This and many other matters did the King alleage vnto him to cause him to giue ouer that enterprise But hee béeing as is before said so puffed vp with a selfe conceit assurance of Fortunes fauour imagining that on whom Venus smiled Mars would not séeme to frowne continued still verie importiue till at length the King béeing ouercome by his earnestnesse granted to his sute Presently causing Heraults and messengers to be sent abroade into diuers places to giue notice thereof that euery one which desired to try his fortune in his Loues commendation might be there to make triall at the day appointed In the meane time the Duke ordained a place for the Tylt-yard which was hard adioyning to the Pallace which he caused to be inuironed in with railes of great height appoynting at each end a large gate or entrance that tenne Knights on horsebacke might enter in front The space within the rayles was of that bignes so that 5000 knights might well turny togethers round about were scaffolds erected for the beholders to sit on sauing that part next to the Pallace which was open for the King the Quéene and their Lord Ladies who standing in the windowes and battlements of the Pallace might with more safety behold the Turny Likewise he caused another place to be inclosed with onely one gate or entrance hard adioyning to the part of the Pallace where the King with the rest might more conuenietly stand to behold the single combats which by him should be foughten and at the other end he caused a rich Tent to be pight which was of Blew veluet sette thicke with starres of gold and Flowre-deluces shewing that he was descended from the blood royall Vpon the top thereof stoode Cupid all naked with his bow and arrowe in his hand ayming directly at a faire picture of Marble which stoode fast by the said Tent on the top wherof was placed the portrature of the beautifull Princesse Emilia which was so artificially made that it séemed to be the princesse herselfe vnder whose féete were diuers places made for placing of their pictures whose Knights should be ouer come by the Duke In this sort was all things ordained against the turnie when the Lord Menew Sir Henault and diuers other Knights came into the Cittie some two dayes before the Turny began where they tooke vp their lodging in an honest Burgesses house making preparation for such things as they should want against the day CHAP. XII How the Duke and the rest of the Lords and Knights bare themselues in the Turny and how Prince Edward the last day bare away the Prize THe day béeing come that the Turny should begin and many Knights and great Lords of diuers Countries come thether some only to sée others to prooue themselues therin The Duke of Orleance as chéefe Challenger accompanied with the Duke of Aniowe the Lorde Mompenscer the Duke Robert of Normandy the Marshall de Berone Francis the yong Prince of Condy together with two thousand other Knights entred the Lists at one end at the other entred Charles the young Prince of Spayne accompanied with Edward Prince of England the Duke of Yorke the Lord Mowbray the lord Dowglasse of Scotland the County of Zeland the lord Mongomery the young Henry of Burbon two French lords who because they were not intreated by the Duke and partly by reason they meant to prooue themselues against him in the behalfe and triall of their Mistrisse beauty entred the field against him with the number of two thousand taking their places as he before had done The King and Quéene béeing placed all the other princes Lords and Ladies tooke also their places where Emilia sitting amongst the rest séemed like Cinthia placed amongst the lesser Starres béeing in the fulnes of her power or like Diana following her chase thorow the woods and launes accōpanied with her traine of Nimphs whose paine in pursute had raised in her Alablaster chéeks a liuely vermilion die so séemed the beautifull Princesse hauing in her well proportioned face the louely rose and lilly striuing for maisterdome which caused the lustie young Duke to be of such a couragious mind that not beeing able longer to desist from the battaile desired the Duke of Brittaine and the County Palatine of Rene who were appointed Iudges of the field to cause the signall of battaile to begin which was presently done by the sound of a trumpet and the Heraults crying to the Knights euery man to doe his best Then ranne together the Duke of Orleance and Edward Prince of England and met so fiercely together that the Duke breaking his Launce on his enemies shield caused him to stagger and had hee not taken hold by his maine hee had gone to measure his length on the ground but the English Prince met him with no lesser might for piercing his shield his Launce lighted on his Gorget causing him to loose both his stirrups with his head almost to touch the pummel of his saddle which being séene by the King was greatly commended the Prince Charles of Spaine and Robert of Normandie met likewise and breaking their speares past on without once moouing on the other the Marshall of Berone was dismounted by the Lord Mowbray but rescued by the Duke of Aniow and others By this time were the greatest part of the Knights met together so that the cloudes séemed to be couered with the splinters of the Launces which were broken many on both sides were vnhorsed and againe remounted by their fellowes there might you haue séene some vsing swords other maces of Iron twise that day was the Prince Charles beaten from his horse and againe remounted by the Duke of Yorke and Henry of Burbon The Lord Douglas this day showed that the Scots were not much inferriour vnto any
his Helme desired his Maiestie to grant him leaue to continue the Dukes challendge when the King beheld him and saw that it was the Prince who had subdued the Duke his griefe for his hurts and ouerthrow was somewhat eased Then speaking to the Prince hee sayd my Lord I did not thinke you would haue thus delt with vs as vnknowne thus to haue put vs into such griefe as you haue doone by the wounding and vanquishing of the Duke our Cosin yet seeing it was his owne folly in making the challendge it doth the lesse grieue vs. But for your request in continuance thereof I would wish you rather to giue it ouer then to indanger your selfe therein but if so be you are so minded we fréely grant you leaue praying to God send you better hap then the Duke hath had before you The Prince humbly thanked his Maiestie and then turning to the Princesse Emilia intreated her likewise to graunt him leaue as her father had doone to defend her beautie séeing that it was his hap to obtaine the same by his good Fortune The Princesse being before hand a little touched with his loue and now séeing the paines and danger which he vndertooke for her sake was altogether ouercome wherefore dying her chéekes with a maidenly blush she told him the paines which he already tooke and that he would againe indure for her sake was vnknowne vnto her yet because she would not prooue discurtious nor ingratefull séeing the King her father had thereto consented she was content to accept him for her Knight and to alow of that which he requested The Prince héerewith beeing meruailous contented returned her harty thankes and so departed againe to the Tent where hee was met by the Spanish Prince the Duke of Yorke and Sir Henault and many others and was by them disarmed and after dinner his wounds being bound vp hee armed himselfe againe in a most costly Armor set all with true loue knots wrought of pure gold and beeing attended by the foresayd Lords he entred the Lists where hee had not long remained before such time that there came a Knight of the Kingdome of Naples a man in those parts famoused for his valor and hardinesse and being inamored on a young Damsell of that Country promised her to come into France whereby his valor hee would cause her to bee for euer famoused but his hap was so hard that at the first encounter he was sent to measure his length in the ground not being able to combat After him that day and the next day he vnhorsed to the number of 40 Knights the last day there came very fewe to try themselues the most part hauing in the fiue former daies béene by the Duke foyled by meanes whereof he past away the time in companie of the Spanish Prince and other great Lords vntill it was almost Sun set at which time there entred an ill fauoured withered face fellow something heigher then thrée horse loaues by birth a pagan but brought vp by the Quéene of Portugall as her Dwarfe this proper aplosquire falling in loue with a Damsell almost as hansome as himselfe being likewise attending on the Queene and hauing obtained her good liking on that condition that he should in all places maintaine her beauty desired the Quéene that hee might be made Knight assuring her that he would so behaue himselfe that thee and all others should thinke the order well bestowed vpon him The Quéene séeing his earnestnesse yéelded vnto him and caused him to be Knighted who no sooner hauing receaued the order and hearing of the Duke of Orleance challendge but he determined to fight against him and cause him to confesse his peate to more beautifull then Emilia Continuing in this imagination he caused her Picture to be drawne and therewith came vnto Parris entring the Lists at such time as the Prince with the other Lords were ready to depart and comming vnto the Spanish Prince demaunded which was he that had ouercome the Duke The Prince meruailing to sée such a gallant in that equipage demaunded what he would with him marry quoth the Dwarfe fight with him and cause him to confesse that the Damsell which I loue doth excell in beauty all others the Prince smilling hauing much adoe to containe himselfe from laughter demaunded who was his Lady and where her Picture was Hee aunswered she was attending on the Quéene of Portugall and therewith drew foorth her Picture at sight whereof euery one burst foorth in a great laughter The Dwarfe being héerewith angry asked the Prince whether it were he or no that he had inquired for the Prince aunswered no but showed him the English Prince withall telling him that the time was past whereby hée had lost his labor vnlesse hée could intreate him to Iust willingly Then the Dwarfe comming vnto him intreated him if the time were past that yet in courtisie he would breake a Launce with him he smilling aunswered that betwéene that and Sunne set hee was bound to Iust with any that should come wherefore he was contented Then taking each of them a Launce they ranne together the Prince missing his course of purpose but the Dwarfe with much adoe brake his Launce almost dismounting himselfe with his owne stroke The King Quéene withall the Lords and Ladies laughed hartily héereat the Dutches of Burbone telling Emilia that now her Knight was like to loose all his former honor The Dwarfe had no sooner broken his Launce but presently he drew forth his swoord but the Prince intreated him to runne one course more which he easily yéelded vnto then taking a new speare they ranne againe the Prince taking him in the midst of his Shield bare him out of his saddle a whole speares length not béeing able to rise from the ground Then was sent vnto him by the King the young Prince Phillip his sonne to intreate him to come to the Pallace whether he went béeing accompanied with diuers great Lords and Knights and was very roially receiued by the King the Quéene and their fayre daughter and feasted with many sumptuous and rare sorts of viands after supper they fell againe to theyr wonted sports of dauncing and masking where the English Prince againe made his loue knowne vnto Emilia assuring her that vnlesse shée pittied his estate he was but dead for without her he was but as a shadow without substance or as a body without a soule The Princesse who by this time was as much scorched with the flame as hee and did féele as great force of loue knew not well what to aunswere but at last yéelding to loue she told him that if he loued her as hee made shew of shée had no reason but to requite him with the like but as yet shée was young and at her Parents disposition without whose consent she could not make her owne choyse but if he could obtaine her Fathers consent shee was likewise contented to accept of him as her Lord and husband Héere will we leaue
them to bée commended and praised through all the Dukedome and the confines there abouts but this ioy and content had not continued fully the space of thrée yeares before that froward Fortune enuying their blessed state caused her fame to be resounded in the eares of the Duke Otho Whose lustfull hart beeing set on fire with report of her beauty caused both her and her husband to be sent for to his Court where beeing arriued hee at the first most kindly receaued them and as the old prouerbe is made much of the childe for the Nursses sake so hee intertained Hostinius vsing him with all the familiarity that might bee for his wifes sake alwaies séeking opportunity to make knowne his lustfull loue vnto Vitilla And one day finding her standing at a window looking into the Pallace garden hée came vnto her and after a little idle prattle fetching a déepe fained sigh he declared vnto her his loue vowing and protesting vnlesse she tooke pitty on him and yeeld to his desire there was no way but death with him aleaging that as her beauty had wounded him so was it her part to reléeue and comfort him againe declaring that as by nature she was faire so likewise ought she to bee kind mercifull The good Lady béeing halfe in a maze with this vnlooked for proces and scarce knowing how to aunswer him considering his nature to be such that an absolute deniall might cause him to grow into choller both with her and her husband and therby to worke both theyr confusions And likewise to féede him on with fained spéeches of loue might bring her name in question of slaunder though for a time by that meanes she might put him off yet in the end séeing himselfe deluded he would reuenge himselfe with the greater crueltie determined therefore of two euils to chuse the least wherefore she replyed in this manner My gracious Lorde I doe not thinke that you will so much dishonour your selfe as by forcing of mee to violate the holy rites of marriage and to wrong my Lord and husband in that sort as by your spéeches you pretend which if you goe about to performe know for certainty that God who created all things of nought will seuerely punish and reuenge so great a crime and likewise assure your selfe my Lord that whilst I haue power and strength to resist you shall neuer obtaine the same wherefore I would wish your honor to giue ouer all such wicked imaginations And herewith she flung away frō him in a great chafe leauing him musing on her short aunswer and deuising which way hée might bring his will to passe at last resolued with himselfe that there was no way to accomplish the same but onely by the death of her husband hoping that hee béeing dead shée might be brought to any thing And béeing thus resolued he went downe into the great Hall where finding diuers of Hostinius seruaunts hée made choice of one whom he saw continually most néere vnto him and taking him a side declared vnto him his intent and at last with large promises wonne him both to consent and also to be the Actor of his Lords tragedie which in this sort was acted About some thrée nights after their agréement Estonio for so was that false seruaunt named hauing gotten a sléeping powder so cunningly cōuayde it into the wine which both his Lord and Lady dranke of with some of the rest of their néerest attendants that béeing layd in their bedds none of them awaked till the morning In the meane time euen about midnight when both by nature and effect of theyr drench they were soundest asléepe then entred the damnable Traytor and draue into his Lords head a naile which he had no sooner performed but hiding the hammer wherwith he had committed that cruell homicide vnder the bed he departed to his owne bed where he remained vntill the next day that all the rest of his fellowes were risen and the Chamberlaine as was his custome came and softly knocked at his Lords chamber-doore wherewith the Lady awaked and turning about shée found her Lord and husband as cold as Ice which strake such a terror in her hart that fetching a great shréeke she likewise fell into a traunce Her damsels which attended her hearing the shréeke fearing shée was not well entred the Chamber where they found their Lord dead and theyr Lady in little better case but at length hauing recouered life in her they called in the Gentlemen his attendants who béeing entred it is vnpossible to describe the sorrow and lamentation which was made where Estonio in outward shewe séemed not to be least sorrowfull so well knew he how to dissemble the matter At last the rumor heereof came to the eares of Duke Otho who presently like a man inraged with griefe hee came posting to the Chamber where at his first entrance to make shew of the loue which hee bare to the dead bodie béeing liuing hée rent his hayre beating his breast protesting that he would haue giuen halfe his dukedome to haue him aliue againe although GOD knowes he himselfe was the onely cause of his death The good Lady shee in the meane time swounded and reswounded and had it not béene for the damsels without all doubt shee would haue borne her husband company amongst the dead séeing shée was depriued of him amongst the liuing so extreame was the gréefe which she felt so great the loue which shee bare him The Duke in the meane time for the better obtayning of his purpose caused the dead body to be imbaulmed saying he would haue him buried with the greatest solemnity that might be as the man whom he most loued and because it was impossible to be performed so suddenly he would haue him kéept vnburied by the space of a month against which time he warned all the chéefe of his Subiects to be there Hoping in the meane time by one meanes or other to worke Vitella to his will wherefore euery day he would come to visite her many times declaring his passions vnto her desiring her to consent and yéeld thereto But she good Lady not minding so soone to forget him whom she loued so déerely neither yet to make choise of one whom for his wicked life she could not chuse but hate and also by his important sute imagining that to gaine her he might by some kinde of poyson haue made away her husband séeing that so suddenly he died gaue him this aunswere My Lord I know not the cause of this your importunate sute neither can I thinke but that it procéeds from a vild and sinfull minde that professing so great loue as you did to my late Lord and husband you would tempt me his wofull wife so soone to forget him and commit so vile an offence before God wherfore know for a certainty that I neither can nor will cōsent to loue him whom my minde perswads me to bee the destroyer of my late deceased Lord husband for
of men readie to incounter theyr enemies so much had the lacke of vse of Armes since the losse of theyr King altered that florishing kingdom which in former time did greatly abound with many stout hardy Knights a great number whereof were either dead or lost in the search of their King The one halfe of which Armie béeing giuen in charge vnto the Lords of Opencade Londen marched towards the Archbishop and his confederates who with the number of 12 or 14. thousand souldiers being on the other side the riuer of Estate began to spoyle and sack the Country putting to sword all those that made any resistance against them and hauing taken Cargue and Londen two Townes of great strength placed therein garrisons then marching towards Opencade they heard of the comming of the Lords of Opencade Londen and fearing to be taken at aduantage they altered theyr course towards Rensborge where the Earle Dowglasse with his forces was landed hoping to ioyne with him which the Lords of Opencade Londen vnderstanding pursued him so eagerly that béeing come within sight almost of the Scots they set vpon their rereward putting a great number of them to the sword and euen at the same instant was the other Army which which was ledde by the Lord Itsenho and the County of Mildrop likewise come in sight which caused a great feare in the harts of the Traytors so that had it not béene for a company of two thousand Scots which came to their rescue vnder the conduct of Sir Iames Lewrence Cosin german vnto the Earle they had béen all eyther slaine or put to flight but the comming of this succor so animated theyr almost fainting courages that where before they were in a manner ready to turne theyr backes they now began to recouer theyr ground that they had lost the fight growing very hote and bloody on both sides there béeing slaine of the States aboue a thousand souldiers and of the Rebels 800. Longer had the fight continued but that the Lord Harding and the Count Hermes fearing the comming of the other power which was hard at hand caused the retraite to be sounded and so with an easie pace marched to the Scottish Campe not minding if they could chuse to fight in two or thrée daies because of the wearines of his souldiers who comming newly from Sea were many of them distempered The States likewise hauing ioynd both theyr Armies intrenched themselues thus lay they by the space of seauen dayes within view of each other daily skyrmishing together in which the States alwaies had the worst through theyr vnskilfulnesse in martiall discipline where we will for a while leaue them and returne to speake of other matters CHAP. XV. Howe the Prince Iago naming himselfe the Knight of Fortune departed out of England and arriuing in Fraunce trauailing through the Forrest of Towers hee deliuered a Lady from a mighty Giant PRince Iago hauing deliuered the Lady Beleriza naming himselfe the Knight of Fortune was greatly honoured in the English Court where at the intreatie of the King hee stayed by the space of a month where daily hee heard many strange reports of the Inchaunted Castle in the Kingdome of Fraunce and beeing desirous to try the aduenture thereof his Squire giuing him to vnderstand that there was a shippe ready bound for the Riuer of Nainse determined to passe ouer therein wherefore taking his leaue of the King and Quéene and others who had shewed him great honour during his abode in England the Lady Beleriza hauing made him many large proffers for the vnspeakeable kindnesse which shee had receiued at his hands all which hee refused but because hee would not shew himselfe altogether discurteous hee receiued a fayre Diamond which he promised alwaies for her sake to weare vpon his finger And now hauing prouided all such things as he had néed of and agréeing with the Maister of the ship for his passage he went aboord and hauing the wind fayre they set to Sea in so happy a time that within sixe dayes they arriued at a Port called Old-bay where going on shore they directed theyr course towards the Citty of Nanse where he staying awhile to rest himselfe he vnderstood that the Quéene with a great trayne of Lords Ladies were lately arriued at the Citty of Towels whether because it lay not much out of his way he determined to trauell to sée the fashion of the French Court which then florished with noble Dames among whō was the Princesse Emilia and her fayre daughter Oliua whom as before wee haue saide was begotten by the famous Prince Edward her betrothed husband the night before he departed towards the inchanted Castle together with a goodly sonne called Hendritio both which Children were very carefully educated by the good King Carolus theyr grand-father And béeing nowe come vnto the age of sixtéene yéeres the young Hendritio was exercised in riding of horses running at tylt wherin he shewed himselfe not any way vnlike to the noble Prince his Father hauing a great desire to be knighted whcih by no meanes his Grand-father would permit fearing least he would hazard himselfe in that aduenture whereof there had so many failed The Princesse Oliua in like sort béeing of most singuler and rare beautie could scarce be suffered to be once out of the sight of her Grand mother who loued her more then any of her owne Children and being now as we haue said at the Citty of Towers the Quéene partly for her owne content but chiefely for to delight the Princesse Emilia her Daughter who continually since the losse of the English Prince had spent her time in great sorrow onely the comfort which shée had in her children did a little mittigate the same did daily vse to ride foorth on hunting into the forrest which was euen hard adioyning to the Citty in which forrest there was great store of all manner of wilde Beastes And béeing the same day that the Knight of Fortune was comming to the Court gone foorth very early the Huntsmen had roused a mighty Hart which making way before the hounds caused all the Lords and Ladies to follow after and gallopping very swiftly through the Forrest had quickly separated themselues into many companies so that with the Quéene there was left no more but the Princesse Oliua and two or thrée other Ladies and some three or foure Knights when suddenly a mighty great Giant all armed issued out from the thickest of the wood and with a meruailous fierce countenance came towards them to the great astonishment of the Quéene the other Ladies who began to flie as fast as their horses could carry them One of the Knights that was with the Quéene béeing more hardie then his fellowes stayd to make resistance whilst the others escaped but alas small was the defence which hee could make being vnarmed against so mighty a foe whose huge Armour he was not able to pierce although thereon he brake his Borespeare which
of the thieues but fell into as great or greater ill For whilst the King and the other Lords held the thieues somewhat short by defending themselues as is before declared the fearefull Quéene flying into the wood for safety strayed two and fro shee wist not whether At length béeing wearied with running and fainting still with feare shée sate her downe vnder a Iuniper bush to refresh her selfe where after shee had awhile rested her selfe shée began to call to mind and consider in what great danger shée had left her Lord husband then reprouing herselfe for that she had not rather made choyce to haue stayed and ended her dayes with him then thus to haue romed she wist not whether Then rising vp shee determined to haue returned to the same place where she left them fighting but strayed further so that tracing and trauersing vp and downe the wood shee spent the whole day to her no small griefe And now darke night hauing spred her sable mantle ouer the face of the earth the sorrowfull Quéene not knowing what to doe or whether to goe determined to take vp her lodging for that night vnder a broade branched Oake fast by a fountaines side wheras the wild beasts of the Forrest did commonly resort to drinke where good Lady shée was forced to content herselfe with a hungry pittance teares béeing her daintiest dish whereon shée fedde sometimes exclayming on cruell fortune whom shée accused to haue brought her into these miseries then presently her husbands portrature séemed to appeare vnto her minde whom she thought to be murdred by those robbers which was such a griefe vnto her that many times she was minded to haue slaine her selfe had not God mightily preserued her to a further setting forth of his glory Thus past shée away most part of the night with weeping and lamentations vntill such time that Somnus with his leaden wings seased her eye-lids and caused her for a while to slumber In which sléepe shee thought an Angell sent from God being clothed all in white rayment appeared vnto her saying Bee of good hart and feare not for these crosses which now are come vpon thée the Lord hath sent to proue thée with all and therefore it behooueth thée to beare it patiently vntill such time as the Lord shall ease thée of them As for the King thy husband he liueth but yet in bands and shall doe still vntill such time as the childe that now is in thy wombe shall be his deliuerer whom thou at his birth shalt name Euordanus this nowe am I sent to tell thee because thou shouldest not dispayre The Quéene héereat awaked out of her slumber and looking about if she might sée any body but could not then perceiuing it to be a dreame or vision meruailed what it might signifie was greatly troubled with deuising thereof so that all the night after shee could take no rest sometimes thinking of her husband and sometimes what the childes deliuerance might meane at length determined to referre all to the mercifull prouidence of God Thus sits shée poore sorrowfull Lady till such time as by the singing of the chéerefull Larke by the roaring of the wild beasts shée was preparing to forsake Dame Thetis lodging and that nights sable mantle was changed into a hoary gray When loe as was their wont the sauage beasts came vnto the well to drink there did shee with feare beholde the statelie Vnicorne with the cruell Tiger the roaring Beare and gaudy Panther the bellowing Bull foming Bore the rauening Wolfe and craftie Foxe with diuers more which put her in such feare that she had thought presently to haue béen deuoured when salling on her knées and holding vp her hands she said these or such like words O most mercifull Lord God I doe here acknowledge before thy diuine maiestie my manifolde and innumerable sins committed against thy diuine maiesty both in thought word and déed O Lord I am not worthy so much as once to looke vp to heauen much lesse to receiue any thing at thy hands O Lord. Yet mercifull Father trusting in the merits of thy déerely beloued sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus I come vnto thée in his name crauing forgiuenesse of all my sinnes and iniquities And further O Lord God I humbly beséech thée to saue and deliuer mée from this present danger and perrill of my wretched life O Lord bow downe thy heauenly eye and behold mee thy wofull handmaide and likewise this poore infant that is within my wombe defend it O Lord and grant that according vnto the vision which thou by thy holy Angell hast shewed mee it may liue to set foorth thy glory and power and in the end when it shall be thy blessed will to call vs out of this wretched vale of wickednes thou wilt receiue and place vs in thy Celestiall kingdome whether O Lord for thy sonnes sake bring vs I beséech thée These or such like were the words which she distressed Lady then vttered when behold a mightie surious Lyon came rushing out of the wood towards her bringing in his mouth a cake of Bread which he most gently layd downe at her féete fawning vpon her as if of long time he had bin acquainted with her and would not depart from her At length somewhat to recomfort herselfe then smoothing his rough bristles with her tender hand she made much of him laying his head on her lap wherat he séemed to take great content Then taking vp the cake of bread which hee had brought her and giuing thanks vnto God imagining as sometimes in the wildernes hee had sent Rauens to feede the Prophet Elias so likewise had hee now sent the Lion to comfort and bring her foode she refreshed therwith her hungry stomacke After which repast the Lyon very softly paced towards the wood againe euer casting backe his head as if he looked whether the Lady followed him or not which shée at length perceiuing determined to follow him hoping thereby either to get out of the wood or else to finde some better place of safety Thus went they together till at last he brought her vnto a Caue vnderneath the ground with a very narrow entrance in but béeing entred shée found it a reasonable large roome Thus determining for a while to remaine thâ—◠〈◊〉 such time as God should send her better fortune passing away the time some whiles with walking about the woods néere the Caue otherwhiles with playing with the Lyon who euery day brought her in meate such as he got abrode in the Forrest which she sometimes scorched and dryed in the sunne otherwhiles was forced to eate it raw vntill such time as by hap one day walking abroad she found a flint stone with which afterwards shee vsed to strike fire and therewith would broyle her meate Thus continued she vntill such time that according to the naturall course of women her time of childe-birth was come When as good Lady féeling the paines thereof to her
Citty all full of heauines by reason of the late newes which at their comming was so much the more augmented being returned without any certaine knowledge what was become of the King and Quéene There might you haue séene the true discription of sorrow not in one onelie creature but in generall through the whole Cittie some fell to shutting vp their doores and windowes as minding for very griefe to inclose themselues prisoners in their own houses shunning the day light which had giuen light to those Robbers who had dispoyled them of their ioy and comfort Others againe clad in blacke mournfull attire with their chéeks be spred with teares which like streames trickled downe from the fountaines of their eyes went vp and downe lamenting and bewailing the losse of theyr so louing and gracious Prince The late costly shewes and stately Pagants were turned into sadde obiects yea no noyse was heard through the whole Cittie but wéeping and lamentation so that the sorrow sustained by the Troians for the losse of their chiefe Champion Hector when by the Gréeks at the commaundement of cruell Achilles he was thrée times dragd about their Cittie walls béeing before hand cowardly slaine with his accursed Speare was not to bee compared with this of Maiance The graue and modest Matrons were séene with theyr garments rent and their haire dispersed about their shoulders in most dolefull manner to repayre to the Temples where before the most Highest they poured foorth theyr prayers for their Soueraigne bathing themselues with the teares which fell from their eyes The young damsels pleasant songs which with cléere and chéerfull brests they were wont to record were now turned into sad mournfull ditties bewailing the losse of their Countries protector Yea so generall was the gréefe vnto all manner of estates that for the space of fortie dayes together there was neither shops opened nor any wares or merchandise solde in their markets So that the towne which was wont to be so filled with all sorts of people now séemed in a manner to be voyde desolate none or very few séene at any time to walke in the stréets Neither was the griefe in the country any lesse yea throughout the whole kingdome so generally was he beloued of all his subiects that hee was counted not onely a iust Prince but also a louing Father to his Country alwaies defending the poore from the oppression of the rich and the desolate widdowes and Orphans from the violence of those who by any meanes sought to wrong them Sir Henault as we haue before said béeing returned to Maiance caused foorthwith some small Barkes to be well manned and sent foorth after the Pyrats with commaund not onely to scoure their owne Coast but also to pursue thē vnto the borders of Fraunce where they tooke many but could not méet with any of thē which they sought for Then calling a generall Counsell of all the Nobility and Péeres of the Land where after a long learned Oration by him pronounced describing vnto them the fickle and dangerous estate wherein their Country now stoode by reason of this sudden and vnlooked for alteration of crooked Fortune with the mutabilitie of the minds of the common people whose natures are alwaies to listen after nouelties which things being considered it could not chuse but to appeare vnpossible to kéepe the Common-wealth in safetie without some certaine forme of gouernment to be established Desiring all of them to bend and ioyne theyr willing minds together to deuise some course or meanes for the same vntill the King might againe be heard of and recouered Which hee thought could by no meanes better be effected then by a generall search made by a chosen number of Knights who should trauell through all the Dominions and kingdoms of Christendome and else-where as by them it should be thought fit and conuenient of which number he himselfe God willing intended to be one who would either finde him out or end his dayes in the search This his spéech was listned vnto of all but especiallie applauded and commended by the Lord Gwaltero and the Lord Menew who as then were indifferently recouered of their wounds which they receiued at the losse of theyr King and béeing both young and valerous especiallie Gwaltero who was then the absolute best Knight in all the kingdome of Denmarke hoped by this meanes not onely to find out their King if so be he liued but also to winne to themselues eternall renowne by their haughtie déedes of Chiualrie which they hoped to obtaine in strange Countries where their fortunes should conduct them But as for the gouernment of the Common-wealth in theyr conceits they thought none more fit then Sir Henault himselfe who béeing both sage and discréete and also béeing as we haue said before Lorde Treasurer alwaies in great fauour with their late King had in a maner the whole managing of the affaires of the Kingdome in his owne hands by which meanes as they supposed he knew how better then any other to continue the same in the former estate which would be farre better then to alter the same by any other order of gouernment This their opinion was held for currant of many and consented vnto by most of those that were present who desired no alteration but thought their former manner of rule to be best and without fault But as there is no man so vertuous but shall haue some that will enuy at his goodnes especially great and mightie men who no sooner grow into the good liking and fauour of the people be it by neuer so iust or well deserued occasion yea though by him onely the Common-wealth hath béen in a manner preserued and defended from the inuasiue power of their enemies yet shall you haue some like dogges in a manger that will neither doo good themselues nor willingly heare of others well dooings beeing prickt forwards with enuy will not stick to turne any his good deseruings into euill and all their counsels be they neuer so profitable to the Common-wealth they will goe about to perswade that it is rather to benefit rayse themselues then to doe good to their Countries yea further let them accomplish any notable péece of seruice for their country they will not be afraide to whisper into mens eares that it was doone but for vaine glory Euen such there were in this Counsell who not onely for enuie disliked the choyse which the Lord Gwaltero and the rest had made but also disliked of the search which Sir Henault had motioned for the séeking of the King alleaging that by making such a quest they should not onely dispoyle themselues of theyr chiefe Captaines and leaders but also leaue theyr Country naked and ready for euery inuasion of the enemy when it would be too late to call home those for theyr defence whom they should not know where to find Some againe thought it better to send forth Embassadors into diuers Nations thereby hoping to gaine
which he continually saw the Prince to giue caused the Iudges to make an end of the battaile which was presently doone euery one attributing the chéefe honor to the English Prince especially the King causing foorthwith a Herault of Armes to proclaime him the cheefest Knight in the asembly and being brought to the windowe where the King saie by the Iudges of the field had a Garland of flowers set vpon his head by the faire Emilia Which as she was doing vnawares was something touched with loue towards him which being by her then suffred to kindle afterwards grew into a great flame Thus being crowned as King of all Knights hée was conducted with great honor to the Pallace the Duke of Orleance being mightily grieued with his disgrace as also fearing the dislike of Emilia retired to his Tent minding not to come foorth of the Listes till such time as hée had recouered some part of his lost honor CHAP. XIII How the Duke defending his Ladies beautie ouercame diuers Knights how the English Prince being disguised entred the Lists THe next day no sooner had bright Aurora vnbard her christall gates and bridgrome like stept foorth the glorious sunne spreading her siluer raies on old Neptunes face but that the lusty Duke prickt on with his former dayes disgrace hoping to recouer his lost honour was all armed sitting on horseback with his Launce in his hand causing the trumpets to sound to summon vnto the battel those who in defence of their Ladies beauties would hazard thēselues to try the doubtfull verdit of angry Mars The Duke bare in his shield the portrature of a man with the one hand renting his owne bowels and with the other presenting his hart to a fayre Lady which séemed little to regard or to estéeme the same with this word or motto written ouer their heads I liue through hope all the rest of his Armor was set full of flaming harts which séemed very liuely to burne Hee had not long remained on horsebacke before such time that the King and most part of the Lords and Princes hauing taken their places to behold the issue of his enterprise there entred the listes a gallant young Knight sonne vnto the Marcus of Ferara his Armor all gréene and in his Shield he bare two harts combind in one with these words Nil timeo Hée brought likewise a small chest couered ouer with thinne plates of siluer in which was inclosed the liuely portrature of his Lady who was daughter vnto the Duke of Millaine In this sort comming vnto the Duke he told him vnlesse he were misinformed the contents of his Challenge was that those Knights that by him were ouercome should leaue behind them their coate-armors and also their Mistrises portrature to be placed at the féete of the fayre Emilia and so to depart but whosoeuer should ouercome him should likewise haue the desposing of the portratures that there were hanging and to defend the Challenge the rest of the time except he hapned likewise to be vanquisht The Duke aunswered that the same was his Challenge but the coate-armors were to be put of presently if they were vnhorsed and afterwards if they would hazard the Combat with him they should And as for the portratures hee hoped his should be the first which should be placed séeing the difference of their beauties did already manifest it Then departing the one from the other they placed their Launces in theyr rests and setting spurres to their horses they met together so fiercely that their Speares flew into the ayre and comming together with their bodies they strake one the other so rudely that the Duke lost both his stirrups and was forced to stay himselfe by his horse neck but the other was ouerthrowne horse man to the ground and by chance not able to cléere himselfe was sore brused by his horse not beeing able to get vp againe then the Duke dismounting holpe to get him from vnder his horse which curtesie the other perceiuing presently put off his coate-armor and departed the Listes béeing by reason of his bruse not able to combat Then the Duke caused his Ladies picture to be placed at the féete of Emilia and calling vnto him one of his Pages sent her the Coate-armor which she receaued willing him to tell his Maister hee had doone more then she desired Next vnto him of Ferrara entred the Lists that day the Lord of Montgomery bringing with him the picture of the Duke of Poyters daughter whom he earnestly loued and was likewise at the second course vnhorsed to his great sorow but yet not minding to hazard the Combat because the Duke was accounted the best combatter on foote in all Fraunce departed After him came diuers others who were all serued in the same sort for that day he vnhorsed in all the number of 22. Knights placing their Ladies Pictures according to their deserts The next day came into the Listes young Henry of Burbon very desirous to be reuenged for the disgrace of the Lord Montgomery his cosin yet also bringing with him the picture of a Damsell whom he somewhat loued but his comming was more to winne honour on the Duke then to obtaine his Mistrisses fauor He bare in his Shield Paris and the thrée Goddesses but giuing the Apple to neither with this motto Cuique nescio signifying therby the vnconstancie of his mind in loue At the first course they brake their Launces to their hands not so much as once moouing one the other then taking new Launces they met againe so furiously that Henrie had much to doe to keepe his saddle and the Duke loosing one of his stirrups and his raines of his bridle past on likewise and making an end of their carreare Henry returned with his sword in his hand which the Duke perceiuing drew forth his also beginning betwéene them a right fierce and dangerous conflict But the Duke béeing better experienced fought with the greater aduantage giuing Henry leaue a while to follow the rage of his furie thereby the sooner to weary himselfe Which indéede he did when the Duke more fiercely then before assaulted him causing him to séeke how to couer and defend himselfe vnder his shield At length béeing wounded in many places and hauing lost very much blood he fell from his horse in aswound to the great griefe of the King all the beholders who greatly feared least he had béen slaine But béeing conuayed out of the field and his wounds bound vp and stanched hee was soone brought to himselfe After him the Duke ouercame twelue other Knights not any of them béeing able to indure against him so intollerable were his blowes which the English Prince perceiuing and grieuing to behold the next day determined vnknowne to any one to enter the Listes disguised where he did not doubt but hée would soone abate his pride and resoluing hereof the next morning he armed himselfe and béeing mounted on a good horse his Armor séeming all rustie and his
considering withall the goodnesse of his Armor vnwillingnesse of the defendants to come foorth determined to enter whilst the wicket was open wherefore stepping a little to the right hand he gaue one of them so sore a blow on the left shoulder that caused him to fall to the ground and héerewithall hee lept suddenly to the wicket and got in thereat which they of the Castle perceauing and with all fearing the sequell bee ganne to arme themselues and all at once to assault him some with swords other with Launces some others againe betooke them to throwing of stones diuers engines of iron at him where with he was greatly troubled But seeing no remedy but either to conquer or die he couered himselfe with his shield and with his trusty blade in his hand hee made such way amongst them that he thought himselfe surest that was farthest off from him so that within the space of two houres he had not left aboue sixe of them liuing all which were likewise very sore wounded beeing vtterly voyd of hope to escape his conquering arme determined to submit themselues to his mercy hoping thereby to saue their liues which otherwise they could not long preserue Wherefore falling on their knées with one voice they craued mercy which he soone graunted vnto them being as I haue many times before said naturally inclined to pitty And willing them to stand vp hee demaunded what prisoners there were in the Castle and for what occasion that custome was there erected all which one of them at large recounted declaring how that the King of Denmarke as yet remained there with diuers other noble and gallant Knights Which when the Knight of the Lions heard hée commaunded straight waies to be conducted vnto the prison and likewise that Adresto should be brought in and his wounds dressed by the Surgian of the Castle which was a man greatly experienced in that science all which was presently performed And one of the Knights running to one of them that was slaine tooke from him a bunch of keyes wherewith he opened a little iron doore and discending downe a narrow paire of staiers they came to a dungion vnderground at the entry whereof was another iron doore which they likewise opened then hauing a torch lighted in their hands they vnchained all the prisoners amongst whom they found King Frederick the Lord Gwaltero his Cosin the Duke of Litsenburge the Lord of Menew Sir Henault and diuers others to the number of a hundred all or most part Knights of Denmarke Many of which were sore pined away and almost famished through their extreame griefe and course fare but the King the Lord Gwaltero Sir Henault were little or nothing altred for all their long imprisonment And now being all brought foorth into the great Hall of the Castle they with one accord gaue harty thankes vnto the Knight of the Lions and then falling on their knées with one consent they gaue praises to almighty God which being ended the King with the noble men came vnto the Knight of the Lions desiring him to declare who hee was that they were so much bound vnto for their deliuerance To which hee aunswered that hee was commonly called the Knight of the Lions But as touching his parents or Country he knew not only this he had heard that being a child he was taken vp in a Forrest in the Kingdome of Denmarke by the Duke of Saxonie who since that time had carefully brought him vp as his sonne Which when the King had heard hée imbrast him in his armes desiring him to accompany him into his Kingdome where hee would showe himselfe so thankfull vnto him as hee should not thinke his labour ill bestowed The Knight beeing by the instinct of nature greatly affected vnto the King soone consented héereto although it were farre out of his way towards Spaine whether he was trauelling For which the King gaue him harty thankes and withall beganne to haue an inward loue towards him héere continued they by the space of eight or tenne daies to refresh their weake bodies as also for the curing of the wounds of Adresto and making preparation for their Armors whereof they had great store in the Castle some horses others they got abroade in the Country néere adioyning for their monies And now hearing that Grifforie was gathering his forces to come against them they departed towards Flaunders where hearing of the warres and rebellion in Denmarke they determined vnknowne to hasten thether and naming themselues to be all Knights arrant met together by chance and hearing of these warres were minded to entertaine themselues in the armie of the States With this determination arriued they at the Citty of Gaunt which was still held by the Danes and héere they remained to prouide themselues of such things as they néeded CHAP. XX. How King Fredericke the Knight of the Lyons and the rest of theyr company arriued in the Army of the States and how the next day they gaue battell vnto the Scots where by the vallour of the King the Knight of the Lyons and theyr company the States got the victory and howe the King made himselfe knowne THe King and the rest of his company hauing prouided themselues of all things necessary for theyr iourney departed from Gaunt towards Denmarke béeing in all to the number of an hundred Knights wel furnished and prouided for the warre And marching thus together through Flaunders and other prouinces of Germany they arriued within thirtie dayes at Rensberge where the two Armies by the space of sixe daies had line incamped one against the other continually skirmishing but neither side daring the one to assault the other And now béeing héere arriued the King and the rest béeing disguised for feare of being knowne came vnto the States desiring entertainement and withall declared a long fained circumstance how they had met together and béeing all minded to ayde theyr right and iust cause against the Scots and traytors they were come together to proffer their seruices The States béeing glad of this succor and withall knowing diuers of them as the Duke of Litsenburge and others whom they receiued with great ioy and gaue entertainment to all the rest who by the meanes of the Duke were placed in commaund and entring into counsell they determined to send presently vnto the Scots to demaund battell which by the Earle Dowglasse was soone graunted and the next day it was appointed that it should be tryed by a pitched battell who should haue the victory The morning béeing come and both Armies ranged in the field the States had deuided their forces into thrée battalions the first whereof was ledde by the Lord Louden and the County of Mildrope containing eight thousand the second or maine battell was ledde by the Duke of Litsenburge and the Lord of Opencade containing twelue thousand the third last battalion contayning nine thousand was led by the Lord Itzenho and the Lord of Rensberge The King the
Knight of the Lyons with their cōpany some others to the number of two hundred would not at all ioyne themselues with any of the troopes but in a loose manner would make a tryall to breake in on the backs of their enemies as soone as the battell should begin each one of thē for their better knowledge to theyr friends wearing on their Helmes a crosse of gréene and corronation coloured silke in this sort was ranged the whole battell of the States On the contrary side the Earle Dowglasse placed his Army in another maner making as it were but one maine battaile of his whole Armie in the midst whereof he placed for his owne gard fiue thousand Scots the rest he intermixed with the Danes the greatest part whereof hee placed in the forefront of the battaile his wings consisted most of a light kind of people which did vse to cast Darts beeing armed onely with a short sword and target with which when they came to ioyne blowes they did great spoyle to theyr enemies And now both Armies béeing thus ranged in battaile aray the Drummes Trumpets sounded making a most ioyfull sound to them whose harts not daunted with feare desired to incounter with their enemies euery Captaine incouraging his men to fight valiantly and to doe their best to winne the victory The chiefe of the states incouraging theyr souldiers with the iustice of theyr cause as beeing vrged to fight for their fréedome and liberty of their Country By this time were both Armies come together the Lord Louden giuing the first charge vpon his enemies brake his Launce valiantly and drawing out his sword beeing followed by his company made way through his enemies ranks but soone he was stopped from going farre and had it not béene that the Duke of Litsenbege and the Lord of Opencade came with fresh succours they had béene all put to the sword For the Scots séeing the violent rashnesse of the Lord Louden and the Count Mildrope opened theyr ranks of purpose and hauing suffered them to enter inclosed them round about but now at the cōming of the Duke the battell began to grow very hote insomuch that there were many slaine of both sides The Scots euer kéeping themselues close together made themselues the stronger whereas the States for want of skill and knowledge suffered theyr troopes to breake theyr ranks to theyr great dammage Which the Earle Dowglasse perceiuing with some twelue or fouretéene thousand entred in amongst thē making great slaughter where they went The Earle this day shewing that his yéeres had not any way taken away the vallor which in his former dayes he had showed for it was thought that this day hee slew with his owne hands aboue thréescore Knights Now beganne the Danes to fly trusting rather to their héeles then the defence of their swords which the Lord Itzenho and the Lord Rensberge perceauing came in with the rereward and againe renewed the fight which before was almost ended gathering together the disperced troops of the Duke But alas to small purpose had this their new onset béene had it not béene that the King with his company of Venturers hauing fetched about a great hill which lay on the side of the battaile came at the same instant on the backe of their enemies and withall their might charging them entred pell mell amongst them killing a great many before such time as they could turne their faces to knowe from whence this mischiefe came The King accompanied with the Knight of the Lions Adresto and the Lord Gwaltero made a plaine way for the rest to follow them especially the Knight of the Lions who neuer strake stroke but was either the death or dismembring of some Knight The Lord of Menew and Sir Henault did likewise the part of noble Knights so as in short space the odds beganne to appeare on the side of the States who before were euen vanquished Which when the Earle Dowglasse sawe and grieuing to behold he with his elected company came to make head where he sawe most danger and perceauing that the Knight of their Lions was in a manner the whole ouerthrow of his Armie hée set spurres to his horse and comming vnto him gaue him a great blowe on his Helme causing him to bend his head forwards But he soone requited the same for lifting vp his sword he gaue the Earle such a blowe that had he not warded the same with his shield hee had ended therewith his life for notwithstanding his defence it caused him to fall from his horse in a traunce and so was taken prisoner to the great discouragement of the whole Armie who presently put themselues to flight but were so hotly persued that they were but few that escaped but were either slaine or taken prisoners Of men of name there was slaine of the States the Duke of Litsenburge the Lord Londen and the Count of Mildrope And of the Scots traytors there was slaine Sir Iames Lewrence the Earles Cosin the Lord Crecon a Scot and the Count Hermes with some twenty thousand of the Commons There was taken prisoners the Earle Dowglasse the Vicount Barwicke the Archbishop of Maiance and the Lord Harding which two latter were the next day executed for their rebellion Thus the victory béeing obtained by the States they gaue thanks to GOD with publique solemne prayers then causing the wounded to be cured they called a counsell to determine on their affaires where all the chiefe of the Armie béeing assembled euery man commended the great vallour of the Venturers but especially that of the Knight of the Lyons the gréene Knight which was Adresto and the two tawny Knights whereof the one was the King the other the Lord Gwaltero The King now séeing it was not good longer to conceale himselfe stoode foorth in the midst of the Assembly and taking of his Helme discouering his face spake with a resonable loude voyce My friends welbeloued Countrimen I perceaue the long absence of your King hath worne out in many theyr naturall loue obedience which they ought to haue to theyr natiue Country and also in most of you the knowledge of me who by the prouidence of God and vallour of this noble Knight poynting to the Knight of the Lyons am deliuered from a long and grieuous imprisonment which my Cosin Gwaltero and many others héere present can well witnesse and now am come vnto the ayde of you my true and louing Subiects Wherefore it is my will that the chiefe of those conspirators who haue raised this rebellion be to morrow next to the example of all others hangd drawne and quartered The whole Assembly hearing séeing theyr King who for the space of twenty yéeres they all imagined to be dead with one voyce cryed aloude Long liue King Fredericke to raine and rule ouer vs and withall ranne each striuing to come first to kisse his hands and welcome him into his kingdome greatly desiring to heare the cause of his long absence which was deferred till some other more conuenient time This newes was presently spred through the whole Army to the great ioy of all men which they euidently shewed by their shoutes and bonfires which they made that night The next day the King hauing séene the execution of the chiefe Traytors and pardoning the rest dismissing all his Army sauing some few which he sent to the Townes that were in rebellion which presently yéelded vnto his mercie he departed towards Maiance hauing still in his company the Knight of the Lyons and Adresto whom he intirely loued and to whom he made many large proffers if they pleased to haue stayed in his kingdome And being come to Maiance he was receiued with the greatest ioy that might be by the Cittizens where he remained by the space of a month in the greatest ioy that hart could wish saue onely the remembrance of his Quéene did something hinder the fulnes thereof which was awhile swéetned with the delightfull company of his vnknowne sonne where I will leaue them and so conclude the second part of this history FINIS
Nation for feats of Chiualrie for beeing acompanied with the Lord Montgomerie the Lord of Menew Sir Henault the Countie of Zeland and some tenne or twelfe other Knights beate downe all those which put themselues against them which being séene to the Duke of Orleance was worse thē death who being held very short by Prince Edward the Lord Mowbray and others so that he could hardly helpe any others yet séeing the hauocke which was made by the Scot and his companie fearing least they were preuented he should loose the day set spurres to his horse and with his sword in his hand made such way that at last he came where they were and lifting vp his sword gaue the Scottish Earle such a blow that brusing his Helme caused him to fall besides his saddle which blow beeing séene by Sir Henault was likewise partly reuenged for with one blow which he strake hee cleft the Dukes shield and sliding downewards wounded his horse in the shoulder In the meane time the Spanish and English Princes with their companie were like to haue wonne the day for that the French no longer able to indure their extreame blowes began for to turne their backes which being perceaued by the Iudges they foorthwith caused the retreate to be sounded thereby to saue the Challengers from shame Then departed euery man the Lists for that night returning to their lodgings to refresh themselues against the next day the King to showe the more honor vnto the strange Princes sent for them desiring them for that night to sup and rest themselues in his Pallace vnto which many of them cōsented where at supper they were roially feasted and welcomed by the King and Quéene And after the Tables being with-drawne they fell to dauncing masking and courting of the Ladies and damsels where the young Prince Edward dallying with the fire was scorched by the flame for taking the Princes Emilia by the hand to daunce after they had ended their measure fell to court her with pleasant spéeches which shee still most wittily answered which Cupid beholding wounded his hart with a poisoned shaft of loue turning his iest into earnest thus past they away most part of the night in dauncing and reuelling vntill such time that Ioue his eternall lampes wherewith hee lights the nether world were halfe spent and Atlas moist daughters stroue into the Ocean déep to driue their weary droue then departed these to their beds where euery one quietly tooke their rest except the English Prince who of all the night could not inioy any sléepe so sorely did the remembrance of his new loue torment him sometimes determining to aske her of her Father then thinking the Duke to haue a former promise of her séeing hee vndertooke the defence of her beauty was minded to fight with him for her hoping either to kill him and so to get her or else by vanquishing him to winne away her loue With these and many such like imaginations past he away the wearisome night vntill about the breake of the day Somnus seased on his ouer-watched eies so that he slept vntill the sunne was two degrées from the earth ascended then rising vp hee apparrelled himselfe and went downe into the great Hall where he found the King withall the other Princes and great estates ready to goe to the Chappell to heare diuine seruice whether likewise hee accompaned them afterwards returning to the Pallace they found the Tables couered for dinner where they were all serued according to their estates with most costly and daintie cates Dinner being ended euery one went to arme themselues for the Turnie where the strangers bare themselues so valiently that they wonne the honor from the Courtiers which was such an extreame griefe vnto the Duke of Orleance that for that night hee would not come to the Pallace vowing the next day to be reuenged especially on the English Prince and his companie who twise that day had beaten him from his horse Most part of the rest spent the time as they did the night before in dauncing and such like pastime where againe the English Prince found meanes to Court his Ladie declaring vnto her his loue affection but she who as yet was another waies minded made small account of his prattle scarce belieuing any thing that he sayd touching loue The next day the trumpets sounding warned the Knights to prepare for the Turnie euery one desirous to showe himselfe valiant and hardy when entring the Lists at the first encounter the English Prince séeing the cheefe Challenger comming against him and looking vp to the window where Emilia sate calling to minde his former determinations was resolued to doe him the greatest disgrace he might the Duke on the other side was of the same opinion for hee greatly feared least the Prince would prooue his coriuall in loue by the ofen casting vp of his head to the window where shée sate Thus being both resolued they met together so furiously that the Duke was forced to forgoe his saddle and measure his length on the grasse the Prince passing forwards sorely shaken hauing lost both his stirrups at length recouering himselfe entred the prease where on all sides he beate downe Knights and vnbarred Helmes making such way where he went that he might easily be followed of his companie especially the Prince Charles Henry of Burbon Sir Henault the Lord of Menew the Lord of Yorke the Lord Mowbray and others who following the young Prince ouerthrew all they met causing the French to giue backe and retire euery man thinking himselfe happiest when he was farthest of On the contrarie side Robert of Normandie the Prince of Condie the Duke of Aniow and the Marshall with the aide of their followers made that part where they were very hote and dangerous to the strangers vnhorssing and beating downe many The Duke of Aniow with his Launce before he brake strake downe thrée Knights to the earth at last being incountred by the Lord Douglasse was dismounted and taken prisoner in dispight of all his company The Duke of Orleance being againe remounted went raging vp and downe séeking for the English Prince and comming to the Lord of Menew gaue him such a blow that hee draue both horse and man to the ground which being séene by Sir Henault like a man inraged rod to him and gaue him such a blow that he caused him to bow his head to his brest But the Duke recouering himselfe returned him the like payment Thus continued they two laying the one on the other like two Smithes striking with their sleadges on an Anuill till such time as the English Prince with a mace of stéele in his hand returned gaue the Duke so puissant a blow therewith that breaking his shield in péeces so amased him that his horse carried him from place to place in a sound which being séene by the King and thinking the Duke to be sore hurt imagined likewise that it was impossible for any man to indure those mighty blowes