they had receiued at his hands but offred vnto him all that they had And for that he found in them so great good will hée determined to way there certaine dayes to comfort and ease himselfe for that hee found his bodye in many places brused ill intreated with the battailes which he had with the Knights of the King Tiberio the Gyaunt and with his Knights when he set at liberty the Quéene Augusta for although his good armour did defend him from being wounded yet his body could not but receiue great damage hée tormented by the heauy waight and strength of the blowes which he receiued he felt himselfe vory sore therwith in such sort that he had great néede to be cured therof All which he declared vnto the lord of the castle vnto his sonnes who were very ioyfull receiued great contentment at the same as those who were very desirous to serue pleasure him in all that euer they could So the knight of the Sunne remayned ther certaine daies in which time he was meruailously well cured of his bruses by the gentlewoman who was cunning expert in chirurgery did it with a very good grace The Gentlewomans name was Oliuia and hir fathers name was Onorio and his sonnes names were Aurellio Binnano and they all did loue him very much and would that he should neuer depart from thence from their companie But at such time that hée would néeds depart the father requested the Knight to graunt him a bowne which was that he should receiue into seruice his two sonnes and cary them with him for his pages The Knight of the Sun knowing them to be young men of great vertue well proportioned and couragious in what so euer necessitie should happen hée tooke them with him and they did serue him for pages And time did serue that they did very well serâ—…e him and their Father and mother did recompence the loue which they bare vnto him as shall bée told you in the second part of this History So at this present wee wil leaue them departed from the Castell to tell you of other things which chaunced in this time Of the great triumphes which were made in Constantinople for the comming of the Emperour Trebatio and how the death of the Prince Edward was bruted in great Britaine and of all that happened Chapter 11. THe great sorrow and heauinesse which the Grecians receiued for the losse of their Emperour Trebatio was not so much but that the ioye and pleasure was much more which they possessed for his vnlooked for retourne and that was well séene and perceiued generally in all estates the knights in ordeining and making great Iustes and Tourneies and other militarie exercises and others in inuenting new deuises of playes and occasions of ioy and pleasure in such sort that throughout all the whole Empire they practised no other thing but pastimes and pleasure as well in the one sort of people as in the other that which was most to bee considered of was that this mightie Emperour the more for to reioyce and pleasure his owne subiects dyd commaund to bée proclaymed a solempne Iust not onely in the Countries bée longing vnto the Empire but also in all the Kingdomes and Prouinces thereto adioyning giuing and graunting safe conduct to all that euer would come thether as well Pagans as Christians of what kinde of law and sect so euer they were and for that these Iusts were published in many parts and that the Emperour gaue frée and safe conduct what with some for to sée what passed and other some to proue themselues in the iusts there came so many knights that it was a straunge thing to beehold and euery day there was great Iusts and 〈◊〉 in the mightie Citie of Constantinople whereas the worthy and valiant knights dyd giue testimony of their great bounty and either of them did labour and trauaile for to get honor but they which did shew theÌ„selues most gallantest and valiant in those iusts were Rodamarte Pâ—…ince of Sardenia sonne vnto Alselo who was one of the twelue that went with the Emperour Trebatio to the Monasterie of the riuer Alpino Lord of Lemos and Rodofeo Prince of the Rhodes Artidoro Prince of Candia all yong men and amoroâ—…s who for their great knighthood dyd get exceeding same at these feasts and iusts In these pastimes ther passed many daies and euery day there came new and strange knights vnto whom y e Emperour Trebatio did much honour and did spend liberally amongst them a great part of his terasury and for that these feasts pastimes did indure very long that ther succéeded in them many strange things as shal be told you in this History let vs leaue them new béegun and tell of other things that succéeded in this tiâ—…e which is very needfull for this present Historie for as much as the returne and comming of the Emperour Trebatio was published in all places and that the manner of the death of prince Edward was knowen The newes of all this came vnto the eares of the king Oliuerio who although hée had almost forgot the losse of the Prince by reason of the long time passed since it happened yet these new news of his death was so dolorous that it did renue within his thought the great loue which hee bare vnto him as vnto his sonne that in a small time they thought verely hée would die with very sorrow but the principal remedy that he tooke for his comfort was to determine himselfe to take reuengement for the Princes death vppon the Emperour and although hiâ—… power was not so great as the power of the Emperour yeâ—… hée thought that the king Tiberio to fulfill the great oblygation in the which hée was bound vnto him would giuâ—… him aide and succour and againe the Prince Don Silueriâ—… would likewise succour him with all his power which waâ—… very great giuing him for spouse his daughter the Prince Oliuia according as he had determined And besides this the king of Spaine who was his very friend would succor him all that hée could héere with he might very well reuenge himselfe vpon the Emperour and destroy all his Empire All this the king determined in his thought the great passion and griefe which hée had for the death of his son would not suffer any other thought to enter in his breast with this determination he sent messengers vnto the king Tiberio to giue him to vnderstand how hée was determined to hée reuenged for the death of his son desired him of al friendship to aide him in his determination knowing how much hée was bound therto for that he was slaine in his seruice And touching all his determination he did write him a letter at large of the which he had an answere againe to his desire for that y e king Tiberio acknowledging how much hee was bound vnto him could doe nothing to the contrary but
that place to séeke water for the great necessitie they had thereof and there the Emperour requested them that at theyr retourne into theyr Countrie they would go vnto the Court of King Tiberio and kisse his handes in his beehalfe and declare vnto him how and in what sort they found him at the Rock When these Knights vnderstood the whole matter by the Emperour they could not satisfie them in musing at so soddayne and straunge a méeting And falling on theyr knees beefore the Emperour and the Princesse they required theyr hands to kisse them but they with great ioye and pleasure dyd make them arise from the ground and after that beetweene them there had passed many delightfull words of cōference the Emperour sayd that hée would go sée what was within the Rock and so hée ascended vp the stayers tyll hée came to the doore which hée found shut in such sort that by no meanes hee could get in neyther would they open the doore for all his great knocking And as they might perceiue those that remayned within that Rock were household seruaunts and two sonnes of those Gyaunts béeing about the age of tenne yéeres whom they saw at the windowes béeholding all that had passed and they shut the doore very fast and durst not open it for that they thought verily y t Knight would destroy them all in so much that the Emperour was constrayned to retourne back agayne After a while that the Emperour and all the rest of the companie had eased and refreshed themselues by the Fountaine hée and the Princesse determined to depart and the Knights with their wiues would haue borne him company and dyd desire very earnestly the Emperour to suffer them so to doe yet hée wold not consent thereto but desired them to returne vnto theyr owne Countrie and to let them so alone as they were for that he had greater pleasure to trauaile in that sort then with any more company When these Knights vnderstood his determination they would not stand in contention with him nor importune him any farther but taking theyr leaue of the Princesse they and theyr wyues dyd retourne vnto theyr owne countrie hauing inough for all their lyfe tyme to declare that which they saw of the worthie Emperour Trebatio and of his high bountie béeléeuing that in all the world there was not a Knight like vnto him And when they came into theyr Countrie they left theyr wyues there and strayght way departed toward the Court of King Tiberio to shew vnto the King theyr Embassage from the Emperour to declare vnto him the whole matter how and in what order they were delyuered from theyr great perill as shall in this Historie by declared And when they came vnto the Court they were meruaylously well receiued as you shall heare in this Chapter following How the Emperour Tiberio and the Princesse Briana ariued in the Empire of Grecia Chap. 3. WHen the comming of the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana into Grecia was knowen vnto the Prince of that Prouince who was a yong Knight and one of his subiects hée was very much amazed and lykewyse all his Subiects for that they thought verily that many yéeres past hée had béene dead and there was no other reckoning made of him neyther would they béeléeue his comming to bee true till such time as euerie one of them dyd sée him with their owne eyes And béeing certefied thereof they dyd receiue him with such maiestie as the Emperour dyd remaine and would not procéede any farther but first wholy and perfectly informed himselfe of the estate of all things with-in the Empire And there was giuen him to vnderstand how that the King of Bohemia had béene and was gouernour of all the whole Empire and how that hée had ruled and gouerned it with great discretion and iustice And how that all people generally were very wel content with his gouernement at the which the Emperour receiued great pleasure and sent vnto him giuing him to vnderstand of his comming with the Princesse Briana certifying him by a briefe letter of all that hée had passed and willed him to méete him at Constantinople When the King and all the nobles of the Empire who at this present were in Constantinople heard these newes I am not héere able to expresse the great admiration that they had and the excéeding ioye that they in theyr hearts conceiued for that sodaine newes in such sort that if each of them had receiued his owne Brother they could haue possessed no more pleasure hée was so well beeloued So in a short space these newes was published throughout all Constantinople and was a meruailous thing to beehold the great pleasure and sports that were in the Cittie and generally amongst all the people Then the King of Bohemia with all those noble Princes and Lords dyd ioyne themselues together and departed toward Dardania whereas they receiued the Emperour and the Princesse Briana and conducted them vnto the great Cittie of Constantinople with such maiestie and pomp that neuer Prince nor Romane Emperour was so receiued into his countrie And when they were come vnto Constantinople that faire and royall Princesse Briana was crowned Empresse of Grecia at which coronation was made the greatest Feasts and Triumphes with such pompeous solempnity as neuer was in all the world béefore that time To which Triumph and Feasts there dyd not onely come all the Princes noble men and valyant Knights naturall of the Empire but also of all the Kingdomes and Prouinces which were nigh adioyning vnto whom the newes came of the ariual of the great Emperour Trebatio And for that the excellent and mighty déedes which the worthy Knight of the Sunne did in the Castell of Lindaraza should bée manifest vnto all people and that the memory thereof should not bée forgotten the Emperour commaunded to call together all the best Painters that were in Grecia and commaunded them to paynt vpon the fore front of his Pallaice which was next adioyning vnto the great Court in singular perfection naturall sort all the whole Iland the Castle the gates and the terrible and wonderfull kéepers and gards with the mightie and perilous battayle that the Knight of the Sunne had with them and of all the rest that happened for to cléere him of that inchantment as hath bane told you in this Historie past And when it was concluded and set foorth in coulours it was a thing very straunge to béeholde and of great admiration to all people that dyd looke thereon insomuch that they could not béeléeue that any humane man was able to dooe so great déedes of armes as was done by the Knight of the Sunne And all people had great desire to sée him although the Emperour had much more desire with no lesse loue and good will then if hée had knowen him to bée his naturall Sonne And for that this great triumph shall bée more spoken of in this Historie at this present it doth leaue them tyll
trée and he went a foot towards that wonderfull caue When hée came nigh vnto it hée saw towards the right hand ingrauen in the hard Rock certaine Letters very fayre which séemed to bée of great antiquity and hée read them finding them to be as followeth This is the caue of the wise Artidon who dyed for the loue of Artidea daughter vnto king Liberio the onely heyre of this Kingdome who in recompence of hir cruelty doth and shall remaine héere giuing true aunsweres vnto all that shall bée demaunded of hir till such tyme as a Knight shall come who with his great bounty and force can ouercome the terrible kéepers of the entrie héereof and set hir at lybertie and then shall this entrie bée frée vnto all those that will know any thing of the wyse man When the Knight of Cupide had well read these Letters and vnderstood them hée very much meruayled at that straunge aduenture and strayght way it mooued in him a great good will and desire to prooue the same both to sée and know what was within the caue and euen as one that dyd abhor his owne lyfe so hée delyghted not in any other thing but in great and perillous aduentures indeuoured to giue the attempt vnto them when hée had opportunitie but by reason it was late and that it waxed dark he determined to let the enterprise alone till the next morning for that the night might be a hinderance vnto him for the performance And therewith hée pulled off his Horse Bridle to let him féede vpon the grasse there abouts and he as one that had no care of himselfe layde him a long vpon the gréene grasse and then his minde béegan a new to bée troubled with his accustomed thoughts not remembring that in all the day béefore hée had not eaten any thing neyther dyd he know where to get any meat to refresh himselfe at that tyme of the nyght and calling to his remembraunce the cruell words in the Letter of the Princesse Oliuia his heart suffered so great gréese and passions that tumbling himselfe vpon the grasse from the one side to the other hee sayde Oh earth that for all mortalytie thou openest thy selfe and receiuest them into thy bosome wherefore doost not thou now at this present open thy bowells and receiue mée into thée for béeing buried I should receiue great contentment I know not wherefore I lyue any longer or wherefore I am suffered in this world for that I haue lost all hope to sée any more the Princesse Oliuia Oh that this aduenture which I meane to prooue might bée the last and that I might dye héere within this caue although the occasion of my death bée neuer knowen nor heard of So these and many other words of great lamentation hée vttered that it was most gréeuous to heare and passed away a péece of the first part of the night with great sorrow And the nyght béeing very darke vppon a sodayne hée heard a noise and murmuring of people which caused him to aryse vp to sée what it should bée and hée saw at the foote of the Rock a great fire and round about the same there were a company of Shepheards and those were they which made that noyse And béeing desirous to know what they could say more of that caue hée determined to goe whereas they were and when hée came vnto them hée saluted them with very curteous words When the Shepheards saw him of so goodly a stature and armed with so precious and rych armour they receiued him as a Knight of estimation and gaue him very good intertainment and dyd inuite him to theyr supper which they had in a readinesse and after that hée had surrendered vnto them thankes for theyr courtesie hée sat downe amongst them by the sier Then one of the shepheards who séemed to be the chéefe among them and that had more vnderstanding and was of a better conuersation then all y e rest did demand of the Knight of Cupide what aduenture had brought him at that tyme of the night to that place The Knight aunswered and sayde I am a straunger in this Countrie and now it is three dayes since I first entered into this Kingdome and for that I dyd not know nor yet doo this countrie my fortune hath brought mee hether this euening and séeing that the night drew on fearing to bée intangled in vnaccustomed wayes I determined to remaine there hard by the Court till the morning pretending to prooue that aduenture when the day was come And afterward when I saw you together héere I thought it best to come into your cōpany as well to eate somewhat for that I am very hungrie as also to informe my selfe of you touching the aduenture of this caue of Artidon for till this euening that I did come hether and sée it I neuer béefore heard any mention therof Then the shepheards sayd sir Knight séeing that you haue given vs to vnderstand the occasion of your comming hether wee will now giue you to vnderstand what wée know and what at any time we could learne of the aduenture of this cause possiblie after you vnderstand it it will withdraw you from this great good will and determinatyon that you haue to giue the proofe and enterprise And in the meane time that which wée haue for our supper shall be made ready of such as wée haue with a very good will you shall eate your part for that your person and presence doth deserue no lesse Now that which wée doo know and of long time past haue heard say touching this Caue is that in time past almost out of memorie there was in this Kingdome of Russia a Knight called Artidon who being a Knight of great courage and high lynage and gentle of disposition was also the wysest in the magicall art that could bée found in many countries And in the chiefest time and flower of all his Knighthood and science this Kingdome was gouerned by a Ladie called Artedea who at the death of the King hir father was very yong but when shée came vnto the state of marryage thée was so fayre and of so great beautie that many Princes and Knights desired to haue hir for wife but among all those that in their seruice dyd most indeuour to obtaine hir loue there was not one of them that in so noble and valyaunt manner did demeane himselfe as Artedon dyd for not alone in déedes of armes but also by his science he dyd mighty wonderfull things in hir seruice But his fate misfortune was such that the quéene did not onely withdraw hir loue from him but did also hate abhorre him to the death all that euer he did in hir seruice did moue hir to be melancholike very angry This worthy Artidon had his loue so intirely fixed vpun hir that he would doe any thing for hir delight but all that he dyd was not estéemed of the Quéene which was the occasion that after he
boat by Florion And in â—…aying these words he did open his shirt at his breast dyd how the signe of the Sun which was vpon his right side So when Rosicleer had well vnderstood what the worthy Knight of the Sunne had sayde and knowing him by his face and by the signe of the Sun on his body He saw before him the present romedy of all his sorow which was such of so great force that neuer in all his life he receiued the like And againe in knowing his brother the knight of the Sun he receiued so great ioy and pleasure and was so glad that as one halfe amazed and from himselfe he imbrased him and so remained a good while without any power to speake not knowing whether it was of a truth that which he had séene or some false vision with the which many times he hath beâ—… deluded But after many amorous and comfortable words of the knight of the Sun he was fully certified and put out of all doubt returned a new to embrace him shedding many salt tears which distilled downe his brest he said as followeth Oh diuine power maiestie of him that the heauens and earth doth gouerne how haue I deserued so great merite that at such time as I was in the greatest fauour of fortune I was vpon a sodaine brought vnto the estate to be ouer throwen downe into the pit And by thée I am reserued comforted haue attained to know him to bee my brother which is the most famous knight in all the world whom I thought to be my great and mortall enemie Oh my Lord and knight of the Sunne acknowledge this knight of Cupid which is the same Rosicleer who you going in the small bark at the Iland of the gyant did deliuer froÌ„ death although I doe not deserue so great a benefit yet I giue you to vnderstand that I am your brother and both borne at one time at one byrth of the high mighty empresse Briana at such time as she was at the Monestary of the Riuer being with childe by our high mighty father the Emperour Trebatio And by a misfortune which happened vnto the nurse who did nourish bring and vs vp for hir owne children you were lost in a small boate which by the furious force of a mighty deepe perillous Riuer and with the swift course therof you were caried into the maine sea and ther was tossed vp downe till such time as you were found by Florion the Prince of Persia. The two pages which was in another quadran hard by to watch them with the noise which the Knight of the Sun did make at such time as he arose out of his bed they did awake heard all that passed betwixt the two Knights who being almost from themselues with the great ioy pleasure they receiued they toke a torch that was light in that quadran without making themselues ready they went running vnto the place wheras the Emperour Trebatio the empresse Briana lay were a sléepe And neuer rested knocking giuing great blowes at the dore till such time as they were answered by the gard that kept them And the pages in great hast willed them to open the dore for that they brought vnto the Emperour the most ioyfullest newes that euer in all his life he receiued The gard who did know the pages by their speach béeing very much amazed therat did open the dore and they without any staying went in with the burning torch in their hands wheras the Emperour the empresse were a sléepe and with a high and loud voice they sayd Oh high mightie Emperour Trebatio and you soueraigne Empresse Briana arise vp from your beads and you shall sée the knight of the sun and the knight of Cupid aliue And by the great prouidence of God they are knowne to be bretheren The one is the gentleman of the Sunne and the other is Rosicleer both your lost sonnes So when the Emperour Trebatio and the Empresse Briana heard that newes of so great ioy and pleasure without any more tarrying they arose out of their beds and couered them selues with certaine mantells which were very rich and in great hast they forthwith went â—…nto the quadran or lodging whereas they left them So when the Empresse came vnto their lodging she did behold â—…he christalline face of Rosicleer who did know the same although she had not séene him of long time againe hée was very much growne in bignesse of his body person But when she was fully certified that to be most true which was told hir without tarrying for the Emperour she ran vnto him did imbrace him with great loue ioy and toke him out of the armes of the knight of the Sun who was in his shirt embraced with him But the great ioy which the Empresse receiued to haue him in hir armes was such that she had no power to speake in a great space But in the end with shedding of great abundance of teares she did reprehend him for being so long away from hir In this time the Emperour came did imbrace the knight of the Sun with so great pleasure that scarcely he could kéepe himselfe vpright Who when he saw the Emperour he kneeled down before him asked of him his hands for to kisse them said It may please your highnesse to giue vnto me your hands as vnto the knight of the Sun your faithfull seruant where with I may wholy intirely reioyce my selfe enioy that great benefit which the high gods this night hath permitted that I should know for father him whom vnto their diuine power doth make equall The knight of the Sun had noâ—… more time for to speak for that the Emperour did embraceâ—… him made him to arise from the ground kissed him with great loue as much for that he was the knight of the Sun as for that hee knew him to bee his childe And in shedding many teares which ranne downe by theiâ—… chéekes for great ioy he embraced him again said Oh 〈◊〉 loyall faithfull friend and louing sonne with what wordâ—… shall I giue thanks vnto my soueraigne Lord god for thâ—… great benefit which he hath shewed vnto me this night tâ—… acknowledge my selfe to be father vnto him who is the flâ—… wer of all knighthood in the world without knowing hiâ—… to be sonne is the onely person that I most loued anâ—… made accompt of in all the world Surely I know nâ—… what to say but to receiue it for so great a merit that it séemeth vnto me that I doe lack force and strength for to conceiue it In this time the pleasant amorous words which passed betwixt the faire Empresse Briana hir son Rosicleer was with so great ioy pleasure they receiued so great contentment that I know not wherto to compare it but vnto that ioy which the Emperour Trebatio the
Empresse Briana receiued when they met together in the monestarie of the Riuer after long time that the Emperour was absent So with this soueraigne ioy the Empresse did not remember the knight of the Sunne till such time as Rosicleer said May it please your highnesse to speake vnto my brother the Knight of the Sun to acknowledge him for the best son that euer was borne of mother Then the Empresse all astonyed amazed as one awaked out of hir sléepe vpon a sodaine she left Rosicleer went vnto the knight of the Sun who was still in his shirt at the opening of his shirt béefore she did sée the signe of the Sunne that was on his brest wherat she receiued so great ioy pleasure that if the Emperour had not ben who did sustaine hir she had fallen down vnto the ground Then the knight of the Sun did knéele down before hir toke hir hands kissed them very often till such time as she being rauished with ioy threw hir armes about his neck fell downe vpon him and kissing him on that faire face with a terrible sigh of great loue she said Oh Knight of the Sunne the loyall and perfect friend of my Lord the emperour Trebatio how shall I now reioyce my selfe in this great benefit which my Lord God hath shewed vnto mée to haue the knowledge of so worthie a sonne if the feare which I haue of Fortune doe not disturbe me in remembring the solitary life which I lead and reloycing my selfe in your childhood and with what sodayne chaunge Fortune did carrye you away from me Likewise the great sorrow and griefe which I receiued for your loue was such that as yet I am not perfect in my selfe neither can I beléeue that in one who was inuironed with so great sorrow bitter anguish should receiue so great mirth and ioy so that in the remembrance of all troubles past if it should not be reioyced with this present ioy to mitigate the fury therof my feminine force strength were not iufficient to suffer the fury of this great pleasure the which is come vnto me in acknowledging such a valiant worthy knight to be my sonne Oh how now doe I giue great thanks vnto my God for the trauailes troubles which your losse the absence of my Lord the Emperour hath caused vnto me seeing that I am now paied with so high a gift ioyfull reward Saying these many other words the Empresse Briana had the knight of the Sun so fast imbraced in hir armes with hir face ioyning vnto his that hee had no power to make any answere And for that these two bretheren were still in their shirts the pages which were nigh them in the quadran had belonging vnto them two mantels wherwith they did couer themselues the Knight of Cupid with the greatest pleasure that euer he felt in all his life went kneeled down before the Emperour said Let it please your soueraigne highnesse to know mée the Knight of Cupid who hath not receiued small trauaile for your absence for the losse of my brother the Knight of the Sun in séeking of you both in strange Countries very far aparted froÌ„ these countries although it was not in so ample maner as was requisite to the seruice of my Lord the Emperour Trebatio for that at that time we had him rather for an enimie then for a Father but for the accomplishment of that which I was bound vnto my Lady the Empresse And for to know who was the occasion that my Lady the Empresse should lead so straight solitary a life which she maintained in the monestarie of the Riuer which was a thing that touched me very much But now knowing the occasion ground therof I doe not meruaile so much but onely how she could sustain hir self liue one moment without his presence And againe if she had not said that he was called the prince Edward I doe beleeue that she wold not haue ben deceined being innocent she did not mistrust any such deceit So vath no lesse ioy and pleasure then vnto the knight of the Sun the Emperour did imbrace him made him to arise from the ground said Oh my son Rosicleer how it seemeth vnto me that you were not content neither receiued any pleasure at this deceit or pollicy as you doe say I vsed with the Empresse your mother but in consideration of the fruit that I receiued in doing the same I may compare it vnto your loâ—… suffering being quiet delating of the time that I could not receiue the great ioy pleasure that I should in the acknowledging of such a Sun Tell me for Gods loue what hath béene the occasion that you haue refrayned your selfe so long time delated to giue me this soueraigne ioy which now I do receiue if it befor the deceit pollicy which I vsed with the Empresse your mother The fruit which procéeded therof is sufficient to excuse that errour done if it had ben of greater importaunce but what reason haue I to excuse my selfe from the occasion that made me to doe it Then Rosicleer not a little abashed at that which the Emperour had said vnto him answered If the ouer-plus oâ—… the reason which I haue to reioyce mee in the acknowledging of such a father I had to incourage mée to publike my selfe for his sonne Then had your highnesse reason to blame mee in the detayning my selfe so long héerein And because I doe find my selfe not worthy to deserue so great a benefâ—… I did make detraction thereof till this time should supply the great lacke which was in my valour So that your highnesse may of truth vnderstand that all that which happened vnto me by the Knight of the Sunne my brother had beene done by some other Knight First I would haue consented to the death then with so great shame to haue acknowledged my selfe to bée sonne vnto such parents The Emperour would very â—…ayne haue aunswered Rosicleer but that the Empresse and the knight of the Sun came vnto them altogether they did a new embrace each other in such sort that they had no time for to speake the ioy pleasure was so much in the Empresse Briana that shée was almost from hir selfe could not well satisfie hir eies in the beholding of hir sonnes shewed vnto the emperour the signes tokens which they had vpon their brests brought them into the world at their birth So that betwixt them there passed a great discourse of many things which did greatly augment their ioy pleasure of all that had happened vnto theÌ„ that if I should héere make perticuler relation I should neuer make an end therfore to auoide tediousnesse I doe let it passe it is sufficient that the readers heere of doe vnderstand the great reason as well of the parents as of the children for to recoice themselues of this new sodaine
out of their wittes not knowing what to say but looking the one vpon the other and séemed vnto them as though it had ben a dreame But when these newes came to the hearing of the Empresse hir sorrowfull greefe was so great that as one dead shée fell down into the lap of the princes Claridiana who sat next vnto hir procured with all hir force to bring hir to hir selfe againe and did comfort hir saying that she had no reason so much to set vnto hyr hart the imprisonment of Rosicleer how that she was fully perswaded that it was a thing impossible except it wer by treason requested hir to pacifie hir selfe for that there remained such knightes behind who very quickly would discouer the secret therof when that this will not serue Rodaran is still in your country out of the which you néed not let them to depart and carry away their prise At which time the knight of the Sun without any more tarrying arose out of the place whereas hée was with so great anger that his faire and white coulour was turned into sanguine and black And asking licence of the emperour he departed out of the great hall went vnto his lodging armed himselfe with his strong and bright armour mounting vpon his strange light horse he departed out of Constantinople toke his way towards the bridge of the Iaspe with as great desire to sée himself with Rodaran as to returne wheras he might comfort and reioyce himselfe with the sight of his Ladies without whose sight in such like passions it séemed that it was not possible that he could liue who at this present this History doth leaue for to tell you of other things that passed in the meane time in England ¶ How the Prince Don Siluerio returned and demaunded of the king his daughter the Princesse Oliuia to wife and because she would not marrye with him shee returned with hir knights and of all that chanced therin Chap. 43. YOu haue heard what great sorrow griefe the newes of the death of Rosicleer did cause in the Court of the King Oliuerio likewise how ioyfull the prince Don Siluerio was for that the king had giuen him his word promise that the princesse Oliuia should marrye with him but he did not so much desire it as the princes did hate him For although that the heauy newes of the death of Rosicleer did touch hir very neere yet she repented hir selfe so much for that crueltie which she had vsed vnto him the great loue that the remembrance of him did cause in hir that rather she would consent to death then agree vnto that which the king hir father had requested of hir diuers and sundry times And for that the prince Don Siluerio dyd many times importune the king to performe his promise which was the thing he most desired Who answered him that till such time as he had ended the wars which hée had with the emperour Trebatio hee could not by any meanes conclude with the princes which was the occasion that continually he passed the time in grieuous passions supposing that it was for no other thing but a pollisie to cause the princesse to giue hir father such an answere as should be contrary to his will desire And because the time to giue case and remedy vnto his desire was so long and he not able to endure his sorrow and griefe was such the delay thereof Upon a day at such time as he found the princesse Rodasilua all alone he did verye earnestly desire hir that by all wayes and meanes possible she should learne to know of the Princesse Oliuia the truth of the aunswere which shée made vnto the king hir father at such time as he tolde hir that he would marry hir with him whether it was with good will and determined purpose to accomplish the same at the time appointed or whether she did it to prolong the time being moued by some hatred towards him for that according vnto hir answere he would determine what were best for him to doe Then the princesse Rodasilua who had great desire to vse remedy and to case the sorrowfull passions of hir brother did promise him to doe all that euer in hir power was possible to be done so tooke hir leaue departed from him waited hir time It chanced afterward vpon a day at such time as the princesse Oliuia was alone in hir closet she went knocked at the doore being knowen who she was the doore was opened straight waies she went in found the princesse with hir countenance very heauy sorrowfull and hir eyes swollen with continuall wéeping hir faire chéekes which before were wont to be rudy full was now so leane wan as though she had ben new risin out of some great sicknesse or infirmity And finding hir in this order being moued thereby vnto great compassion she said What is this my lady mistres is it not sufficient the time wherin I serued you for maid of honor the great good will that continully I had in any thing that did appertaine vnto your seruice in the which I was alwaies faithfull true do I not now deserue to know the occasion wherefore and from whence doth procéede that wheras at other times you were wont to be very merry ioyfull giuen to pleasure pastimes now vpon the sodaine to be so sorrowfull sad for that I haue séene your great beauty fairenesse to snrmoūt all other damsels gentlewomen in the world now I doe sée all lost in a mortall hew Tell me the occasion for gods sake wherfore it should grow that I might do my good will and therin shew the great loue that I doe beare vnto you in séeking remedy for the same And héere I do protest that if you will not giue me to vnderstand the occasion héereof that forth with I wil depart from hence vnto mine own country for that I do not determine to serue any more those that so euill doe reward them that doe trauaile in their seruice At which words of the princesse Rodasilua the princesse Oliuia receiued no ioy nor pleasure but rather did the more increase hir paine griefe for that she knew not what to answere vnto such an importunat demaund although after a while that she held hir peace with great desire that she had to turne hir of to send hir away shée said Lady it is very doubtfull and hard to thinke that any person in the world can perseuer in their great pleasure contentment neuer to receiue any sadnesse nor griefes in their liues no for sure it is a thing that onely is receiued for those happy creatures who doe reioyce themselues in the celestiall glory if at this present that I am so sad discontented as you do sée me it is not a thing to be meruailed at for y t it
night with much more care then any of the rest How the Knight of the Sunne and the King Lyseo went out into the camp of their enemies of the cruell battaile that thy had with them Chapter 45. THe next day very earlye in the morning the good king Lyseo and the valiant knight of the Sunne after that they had committed themselues to God and broken theyr fastes they armed themselues with theyr strong and rich armour and went out into the great court of the Pallaice whereas were ioyned together before the king all the knights of the citie who did exhort them to be valiant to put their liues in aduenture fighting seeing that the goodnesse of God had brought him back againe in his company so valiant worthy a knight who did offer themselues vnto death in whatsoeuer it pleased the king to command them The king gaue them great thanks for their great loyaltie did animate their couragious harts in the best wise he could saying My good friends and loyall subiects I haue alwaies had before mine eies the great loue which you do beare me now you doe shew it more amply that you haue kept defended this my citie in the time that I haue ben from you in procuring this aid succour God for his infinit goodnesse mercy sake graunt vs victory ouer our enemies that I may haue opportunitie to gratifie you for this your great loyalty trauaile And I haue good hope in my Lord Iesus Christ that it will so fall out onely for that I haue this happy worthy knight in my company whose fame doth sound throughout all the whole world all you together ought to haue him in greater estimacion then if I had brought a meruallous huge mighty army of knights And in saying these words he commanded to number the people that were in the citie they found that ther was to the number of one thousand of very good knights valiant two thousand other that might wel beare armour turning towards the knight of the Sun héâ—… said Ualiant worthy knight my very friend your pleasure is to command what is best to be done for all we will obey you as our principall captaine and defender Then the knight of the Sun humbling himselfe very much said Worthie King I am not come hether into this Country but to serue you with my person therefore I pray you commaund what wée shall doe for I purpose to bée the first that shall obey it and for my part I giue you to vnderstand that forasmuch as all these your knights are very wearyâ—… of the battayles past I my selfe alone this day will goe foorth into the camp and there to procure all that is in my power agaynst your enimies for that principally with the fauour of almightie God I will doo so much that they shall receiue damage and griefe But when the King Lyseo and all his Knights heard those woords they meruayled greatlie at the mightie stomake and courage of the Knight of the Sunne and with great admiration did béeâ—…olde him and it dyd seeme vnto them a thing impossible that in a Knight of so few yéeres should remaine so great force and strength that hée alone should offer to put himselfe into the â—…field against more then twentie thousand Knights and as many more souldiers that were in the camp of the King of Arcadia whereas was amongst them the brauest Knights and Gyants that were in the Pagan Countrie Then the good king Lyseo who could not by any meanes abide to remaine in the Cittie sayde that hée might doo all that his pleasure was to commaund but hée would not in any manner of wise remaine béehinde in the Citie but that hee would also goe out in his companie Then doo what your pleasure is my Lord sayde the knight of the Sunne for hauing you in my companie I will not feare all these our enimies And so contrarie vnto the wills of all the other Knights they prepared for to go forth they two alone together and before the time that the Sunne had mounted to mid day these two valiant worthie warriours béeing armed with theyr strong and rich armour and mounted vpon theyr mightie and furious courses they commaunded the gates of the Citie to bée opened and at such time as the Quéene and all the rest of the Ladies Knights and people were vpon the towâ—…rs and battlements of the Citâ—…ie for to béehoulde all that should passe they went foorth of the Citie and when they â—…ad passed a mightie long broade bridge which was nigh â—…nto the walls vnder the which ranne a great and déepe â—…ater and putting themselues a little out of the way for â—…o view the Camp whereas they remained a while and béeâ—…ors they entered into the armie the knight of the Sunne tooke from his neck a very fayre and rich Bugle and blew it with so great strength that it made all the hearers therof in the campe for to tremble And béeing discouered by theyr enimies the King of Arcadia dyd strayght wayes vnderstand that it should bée the Knight that so troubled them the night past and therewith commaunded that the best of all his Knights should bée armed and that they should goe foorth for to know what was their demaund The first amongst all those Knights that went foorth was Brother vnto the King called Momfriero a valiant Knight and stout of his person and worthie in feates of armes and such a one that in all the Pagan Countrie there was found verie few so gallant and so liuelie in any kinde of exercise and meruailous presumptious who béeing mounted vppon a great and furious courser whet out of the camp and with great threatnings and oaths hée swore that with the first encounter that hee should make with his speare for to bring him prisoner vnto the King When hée came vnto the place whereas the Knight of the Sunne was with great pride and arrogancie hée sayde Tell mée thou simple and captiue Knight what great boldnesse and folly is this of thine that thou béeing but one alone darest for to sound thy horne against so great an armie as this is wheras ther be knights sufficient for to conquer the whole world and héere I dooe sweare vnto thee by the high Gods that béefore it bée long I will giue thée thy reward for this thy great follie béecause thou shalt not aduaunce thy selfe héere after how that before Momfriero thou diddest this or that And in saying those woords hée drew nigh vnto him reseruing that which was requisit for the course of his horse and with his speare in his hand he came against the Knight of the Sunne who wished and desired no other thing and with the force of his horse Cornerino hée made against him and although the course was very long yet with a trice they met together with so great fury that the earth seemed to tremble vnder them they
die or to be at liberty like mad dogs they put theÌ„selues amongst their enemies slew many of them but in especiall the good king Liseo who neuer stroke blow but that he slew or ouerthrew a knight to the ground by reason of the great hurt damage which they of the camp receiued on that side hauing great néed of aid succour they all did leaue the battaile at the tent and went thether although there remained not so few agaynst the Princesse but that she had mough to doe Now when the Knight of the Sunne was cleere of his enemies he saw the prisoners wheras they were in a corner of the Tent all of them with great chaines at their legges and knowing them on the one part he shed many salt teares from his eies for to see so high and mightie Princes brought into so great extremitie and on the other part he was as ioyful as euer he was in all his life because his fortune was so good to bring him to giue them their liberty and lifting vp the beauer of his helme he went and knéeled downe before the Emperour his father and tooke his hand and kissed them but the emperour with a tender loue more then of a father in shedding many teares that ranne downe by his chéekes with great ioy and pleasure he did embrace him saying I was very certaine sure my welbeloued son that we should not lack your aid succour in the time of this our great necessitie heere I giue great thanks vnto the soueraigne creator that by his mightie power you were sent at this time to giue vs liberty Then Rosicleer and all the rest of those mighty princes and knights did embrace him could not beleeue that he should be the knight of the Sun with the great ioy contentment they receiued when they saw him who pulled off all their chaines set them at liberty tooke from one of them that was ther slaine the keies of certaine chests wheras was all their armour so that they lacked not one peece of them for that Rodaran the queene Carmania commanded all to be kept very well that none should be lost All this time was the quéene Carmania hidden in a closet of the same tent so heauy sad to see all y t passed that she thought with very sorrow to haue died And in the meane time that the emperour the rest were arming of themselues in great hast the knight of the Sun returned to succour and help that Knight whom he left defending of the doore of the tent that none should enter in therat it was that worthy royall princesse Claridiana whom he found very brauely and stoutlye combatting with a great number of knights and hadde before hir at the entry of the Tent very many slaine and wounded and for that she kept hir selfe in the inside of the entry she defended hir selfe the better from all that came against hir But when hée came amongst them with his mightie blowes he made all his enemies to a part themselues from the doore of the Tent for when they saw him comming euery one dyd procure to make way all that euer they could from him for that they thought verily hée could be no mortall man doing that which they saw him doe At this time the good king Liseo came with all his knights together in an ambushment in the midst of the camp killing and wounding his enimies that they thought them to be all rauening Lions but yet in the end if they had endured long ther could not one of theÌ„ haue remained aliue for they were but a small number their enemies very many valiaunt So at this time the good emperour and all the rest of those worthy princes knights were armed with their swords drawen in their handes with the greatest fury in all the world they went out of the tent and as those which had a great desire to reuenge themselues in a small time they made such a slaughter amongst their enimies that they thought it best to giue them way so that they had time space inough to prouide themselues of horses of those which ran round about the field of the knights that were slaine when they were all mounted on horsback they ioyned themselues together in an ambushment put themselues in the midst of all the battaile with so great fury stroke such cruell mortall blowes that ther were none in all the camp that durst abide beefore them Who so had séene the good Emperour Trebatio at that present in the middest of his two sons killing wounding so many that hee was all to be bathed in blood did well appeare by the blowes hée gaue the great good will which he had to reuenge himselfe that valâ—…aunt prince Rosicleer did strange feates that whosoeuer had séene him might well know him to be brother vnto the knight of the Sun Likewise the mightie furious Prince Brandizell with king Sacridoro Rodamarte it might well be said that all they were a sepulchre vnto their enimies for that they were very many that were slaine that day for that ther was none that did know the princes Claridiana seeing the mortall blowes which she gaue and the wonderfull things which shee did they all meruailed much not knowing who that mighty strong Knight should be they had a meruaâ—…lous great desire to know him To conclude for that this excellent company kept themselues together they made such a slaughter amongst their enimies that which way so euer they went they made a broad way in a small time they came ioyned with the good king Liseo his knights who were wonderfully amazed when they saw the knight of the Sun accompanied with so many stout valiant knights and could not by any meanes imagine what it should meane being all ioyned together those that were with the king Liseo receiued great conrage their enimies harts failed and much the more because they had no captain to gouerne theÌ„ put them in courage mistrusting the worst many of theÌ„ ran away out of the campe procuring each one to saue his owne life when the rest saw some of their coÌ„panions run away they out of hand did the like in such sort that in the end of one houre the prisoners were at liberty ther remained not one in all the camp of the king of Arcadia except it were those that were slaine wounded which were more then halfe of them And when they saw themselues at liberty cléere of their enemies not finding one with whom to â—…ight the king Liseo went vnto the knight of the Sun and pulled off his belme and embraced him saying Ah my good Lord and perfect friend how can I gratifie this great good benefit the which this day I haue receiued of your great worthinesse for by you I haue recouered my lost Kingdome therfore worthy
shée tolde him how that she was damsell vnto the faire Princesse Oliuia how that she brought him a letter from hir How is this said the king is not the princesse Oliuia as yet married No surely said Fidelia for first she will consent to die a thousand deaths then to forget the great loue which shee doth beare vnto Rosicleer Oh lord haue mercy vpon me said the king how hath Rosicleer ben deceiued for that it was told him that Oliuia was maried which was the occasion that a thousand times he hath ben at y e point of death And in saying these words with the great ioy hée receiued he went vnto Rosicleer wheras he lay toke him by the arme did shake him in such sort that he made him somwhat to come to his remembrance Then the damsell Fidelia went vnto him and said My lord wherfore will you not speake vnto me who with so great trauaile griefe hath wandred through all the world this two yeares in strange countries in seeking of you And being at this time wholly in his remembrance vnderstood what the damsell had said with great anguish of mind and pale couler hee said Ah Fidelia how wouldest thou that I should liue before hir who brought me the sentence of my death How can I liue one moment calling to remembrance the â—…ast houre that thou didst see me when thou didst leaue me more dead then aliue from that time hetherto ther hath not entred one â—…ot of ioy or mirth in my hart And if it had not ben for the great regard which I haue as a christian vnto my soule I could not hetherto haue sustained my selfe but a thousand times I had slaine my self for that I would not liue without the loue of the princesse Oliuia What hart is that so diamant hard strong that séeing and knowing my fortune the pernersenes thereof that would not be moued vnto compassion For that in all the world the sight of the princes Oliuia was demed neither vnto the vnreasonable beasts of the fieldes nor vnto foules of the ayer that flyeth neyther vnto the stars and plannets of the heauens vnto all these were nothing hidden but vnto all thing permitted the sight and presence of Oliuia but all onely that vnfortunate Rosicleer whose life was sustâ—…ined onely with the sight of hir was prohibited a forbidden hir presence Ah my good Fidelia what aduensure hath brought thée into this country tell mee I pray thee giue me to vnderstand something of the princesse Oliuia my Lady mistresse to whom my name is so greatly abhorred Yet for all that it shall be to me great quietnesse to here tell somthing of hir And in saying these words he went vnto the damsell did imbrace hir with some contentment more then he haâ—… before for that he saw before him the faithfullest trustiest secretary of y e princes Oliuia his mistresse of whom he might very perfectly informe himselfe of that which his hart did desire Then Fidelia who could not refraine hir selfe from wéeping when she remembred the cruell letter which she deliuered vnto him in england the great sorrow griefe which he receiued by occasion of the same she tooke foorth a letter out of hir bosom the which she brought with hir deliuered it vnto Rosicleer saying My goodlord take beeâ—…e this letter which is sent you from the princesse Oliuia my mistresse and by it you shall vnderstand what part she hath sustained had of your griefe sorrow and what griefe it hath ben vnto hir your absence as a witnesse of the same I can giue you to vnderstand doo verely beleeue that ther is not a damsell in all the world at this present borne that hath sustayned so heauy sorrowfull a life as she hath done since y t you departed out of england My lord what shall I say vnto you I haue had hir in my armes more then a thousand times for dead without any hope of life And hir sorrow griefe is so much for that she hath done against you y t ther is nothing y t she hath desired so much as for the death Thrée times haue I gone foorth into the world trauailing all about to séeke you and euery time I haue béene foorth halâ—…e a yéere But when I returned vnto the princesse Oliuia without giuing hir any word of you hir sorow griefe care was such that I being moued with great compassion came foorth agayne in your demaund And that with the great perill of my own person and the newes which I heard of your death did giue me occasion for to returne backe againe And vnto the contrary vnderstanding the great sorrow which my Laâ—…ye wold vse with me I was determined rather to die trauayling from one country to another then to return into England but God who knoweth the harts of all creatures hath permitted that this should proceede no farther but hath giueu me so good fortune as to finde you When Fidelia had ended these words the ioy which Rosicleer receiued was such when he heard that swéet newes from his mistres not beléeuing that that which he heard should be true but rather a dreme comming againe vnto himself he went vnto Fidelia said My good friend and welbeloued Fidelia I desire you by him which created all things by the dutie which you owe vnto my lady the princes Oliuia that you doo tell me if this which I haue heard hath ben the principall occasion of your comming or whether you haue spoken it to comfort me in this sorrowfull life which I haue had continually for I cannot beléeue that the princes Oliuia hath receiued any griefe for me hauing bannished me out of the kingdome of England as 〈◊〉 by the cruell words of the letter which she sent me by my faithfull friend if it be now true which you haue told me happy am I more happy is the life in which I haue liued so long in sorow for y t I am now recompenced with so soâ—…er agine a reward it hath ben told me that my mistres the prinâ—…es Oliuia was maried which was the occasion of my greater sorow And how is it possible that all this should be true which you haue told me Then Fidelia answered I haue told you the truth of all my lord in that you say that she is maried it is the thing y t is 〈◊〉 off from hir hart foâ—… although the king hir father would haue married hir vnto the prince of Lusitania did importune hir very much to accept the same yet could he neuer conclude with hir to accept the mariage but first she would rather consent to receiue a thousand deaths theÌ„ to doo it so that to performe all that which doth owe vnto your loue she hath â—…en brought into great extremitie and daunger with hir father The great ioye which Rosicleer receiued hâ—…reat was such that he thought himself to be
battayle endured more then two houres béetwixt them with so great force and strength that there was no iudgement to bée giuen béetweene them who should haue the victorie All those which béeheld this braue battell were very much amazed at the fury and force of Bradaman and much more at the bountie of that valyant knight how hee could so long endure agaynst him Then the Emperour Alicandro although hee had great doubt of the battaile yet hée meruayled very much and sayd vnto Oristedes the singular bountie of the Knight of the Sunne is to bée wondered at who likewise with words of great prayse sayde that there was not a knight in all the world that in bounty strength was lyke vnto him In this time the fayre Princesse with the out ward shew of hir heauy countenaunce and the going and comming of hir rubicond coulour gaue to vnderstand what great sorrow and griefe hir heart receyued for to see hir welbeloued knight put into so great perill and trouble and occupyed hir selfe in no other thing but praying vnto hir Gods for to giue him the victorie at which time the splendant Sun drew nigh vnto the Occident regions and the sad darknesse of the night began to couer the earth wheÌ„ the furious Bradaman and the good Knight of the Sunne had endured thrée houres in the battayle without taking anie rest yet at that time they stroke so fierce and furious one agaynst an other as though it dyd but as then béegin and Bradaman laboured with great courage for to fasten one sure blow vpon the Knight of the Sunne beeléeuing verelie ther with to make an end of that battayle but all that euer hee dyd procure to dooe was to little purpose for that this worthie knight knowing the great perill and daunger of his mortall blowes dyd procure by all meanes to defende and cleere himselfe froÌ„ them and with great fury and lightnesse hee dyd still strike and wound him on his big legs in such sort that although his armour was made of fine and hard bones of Elephaunts yet when the night drew on hée had more then ten wounds on them whereout ranne so great abundance of blood that all the place was barayeâ—… therwith as though ther had ben two bulls slaine the quantitie was so much by reason whereof the giants force and strength abated in suth sort that he did not execute his blewes with so great strength as he did at the first the which being knowen by the knight of the Sun his fury â—…orce increased the more Bradaman fainted by the losse of so much bâ—…ood being without all power strength he fell downe vnto the ground whose fall was so terrible heauie that it made the whole pallace with all the towers to shake which was as great â—…oy pleasure vnto them that did behold it as it was sorrow griefe vnto all the giants the companions of Bradaman who were ready to burst with pure anger to see their lord to be ouer come loose the victory the knight of the Sun giuing thanks vnto almighty god for that great victory went vnto Bradaman â—… pulled off his helme to sée if he were dead or not and when he saw that he was but in a sound he commanded straight waies that he should be caried from thence wheras he might be cured of his wounds The which was straight way done and his wounds washed and bound vp found that he was in no perill of death although if the knight of the Sun had knowen at that time what would haue hapned with a very good will he would haue câ—…t off his head before he would haue commanded him to bâ—… 〈◊〉 for that euery drop of blood which was ther spilt cost full deerly the emperour of Greece Thus this braue perillous battaile being concluded the horse of the knight of the Sun was straight waâ—…es brought vnto him 〈◊〉 theron all those kings mighty lords came for to beare him company with such gallant noise of musick that it shewed the great malestie of those kings Princes that were ther present In this sort they bare this knight company till hee came vnto the mightie pallace dooing him such honour as the like was neuer done vnto any Prince or Knight and beeing entered into the pallace in company with those Kings â—…ordes and knights the mightie Emperour Alicandro came 〈◊〉 into the galleries for to receiue him embracing him with great loue he 〈◊〉 Oh my doore weibeloued son how happy ioyfull was that day when first I knew you I may accoâ—…nt my selfe happy in that I had a daughter for to deserue so â—…aliant a knight Then the knighâ—… of the Sunne knéeling dâ—…wne before him saiâ—… In this am I onely bound to giue great thanks vnto God to accâ—…unt myselfe happy fortunâ—…te for that I acknowledge for my father so soueraignâ—… a lord And being in this conference the empresse came embraced him with great loue although vntill that time shée did with him euill for the great loue which she bâ—…re vnto hir son the prince Meridian yet hauing seene that day the great meruailes by him done hir mallice was turned into great loue accounted hir selfe happy in obtaining such a son in law Then they altogether entered into a very great quadraâ—… wheras he was vnarmed being supper time the fairâ—… princâ—…s Lindabrides was brought thether with great torch light much musiâ—…ke whereas they supâ—…ed altogether with great ioy 〈◊〉 the knight of the Sun the faire princes Lindabrides were set together whereâ—…s passed betwixt them many amorous questions the which did greatâ—…ye increase their amorous desires by reason of the great quantity of lights that were in the quadran their beauties dyd redouble more then before gaue great contentmâ—…nt vnto all the lookers on So after that they had sâ—…pped began the feasts of dancing in the which the knight of the Sun did 〈◊〉 with the princes with so notable excellent grace with the like disposition that it was a thing worthâ—… of beholding Likewise thâ—…se kings lords did dance with the lâ—…dies and damsells of the princesse who were very faire in the which mirth and pastime they passed away the greatest part oâ—… the night and for that the Knight of the Sunne was verye wearie of his great trauayle the past the Emperour would not that that night they should bée made sure together but commanded it to be referred till the next day following Thus midnight béeing past all men went vnto their rest and the knight of the Sunne at two of the clocke in the morning tooke his leaue of the Princesse Lindabrides with great sorrow griefe for that his desired glorye was put off and delaied till the next day So béeing departeâ—… the one from the other the knight of the Sunne was carryed into his chamber wheras hée euer lay since his comming thether and béeing laid in his rich
enimies come forth of the citie thou all these knights shall haue no other charge but to take the three knights which went from hence and bring them prisoners before mee for that I doe sée that in those three onely resteth the force strength of our enimies The Gyant who was no lesse wrathfull then the King with a very good will did promise to accomplish all that he had commaunded And so he departed from the king began to choose out the knights that should serue his turne for that attempt and vnto euery one perticularly he gaue his charge what he should doe So they were all in a readinesse tarying the time when their enemies should come forth And all the rest of the souldiers were continually in very good order verye destrous to be reuenged of the harme which they had before receiued When the next morning was come these thrée Princes had great desire to finish that which they had béegunne for that they would follow proserute their enterprise wherfore they determined to goe forth of the citie as they did the day before And for the same purpose they gathered together the best souldiers that were in all the citie and commaunded the gates to be open they issued out in very good order Now when they were passed the bridge they set vppon their enimes whom they found not vnprouidâ—…d as the day béefore but in a readinesse tarrying their comming so that beetwixt them there beegan a very stout and well foughtâ—…n battaile and there these three princes went all together béefore working wonders wounding killing and ouerthrowing all that euer they met in such sort that they made large way whereas they went In this sort indured the battaile more then one houre and all things went well with them of the Citie but sodeinly came vpon them the Gyaunt Fulgoso with his thousand knights and for that they hadde no other charge but to take these thrée Princes they straight waies compassed theÌ„ about in such sort that not one of their companie could come nigh them by a great space Then this mightie Gyaunt béegan the battayle alone with these three knights for that according vnto his force and strength they had mough to doe with him in the meane time that they were in battaile with the Gyaunt the knights of the Gyaunt did kill their horses and in falling vnto the ground they all together charged themselues vpon them and with the help of the Gyaunt they were not able to make any resistance neither was theyr great prowesse and strength sufficient to defend themselues but that they must néedes bée taken prisoners When they tooke away theyr swords and pulled of their Helmes and carried them béefore the king who was in his Tent very ioyfull when hee saw them brought prisoners And by reason that the three princes did lack in the battaile those of the Citie could not make any farther resistance against their aduersaries and therefore they did retire in the best wise they could into the Citie and when they found missing in their companie the thrée knights and vnderstoode that they were prisoners I am not able to declare their great sorrow and griefe which they receiued for that béesides the loue they bare them they hoped also by their help to make defence against theyr foes and if theyr absence and lacke was left amongst the common people much more was the griefe that the Quéene Laâ—…ima and hir Daughter receiued when they heard that sorâ—…owful newes so that it seemed that they were past all hope of remedie for that they had lost those thrée knights which caused them to bée verie heauie and could dooe nothing but weepe And now to returne to them that were in the camp the Historie sayth that the King and all the rest were very ioyâ—…ull for that hée had in his power the thrée knights and thought that hée could not reuenge himselfe vppon them to commaund them straight wayes to bée put to death but would vse some other straunger reuengement intending to kéepe them prisoners in such cruell prisons whereas they should by little and little bee consumed and die and to giue them euery day torments béecause their ende should continue long and would not suffer that at once they should bée slaine and therewith hee commaunded the Gyaunt Fulgoso that hée should take vnto him twentie knights and carriâ—… them vnto the castle of stone which hée had taken that was but thrée miles from that place and straight way the giant put all things in a readinesse and bound fast the hands oâ—… the Princes and so put them vpon their Horsses and with twentie Knightes they tooke the way towards the Castle whereas the king had commaunded to carrie them When these thrée Princes saw themselues so carried with their hands bound like vnto malefactors they were very heauie and sad with themselues knew not what to do but to haue patience at that sodaine chance and mis fortune not hauing any other comfort but to receiue their death with a verie good courage in what sort so euer they would giue it them The loue of these Princes was so much the one vnto the other and their great valour and bountie was so apparant amongst them that they receiued as great griefe the one for the other as though it had béene perticularly to each of theÌ„ and either of them desired to dye for to saue the other two of his companions So when they had trauailed from the campe the space of two miles they passed by the foote of a smal mountaine and when these thrée Princes lift vp their eyes for to béehould that Mountayne they saw descending from the top thereof a knight of a mighty stature of his bodie and of a good disposition verie well armed and mounted vpon a good Horse who séemed by his demeanour to bee a knight of estimation who descended the mountaine a resonable pace and came towards them and for that this History héer after will declare vnto you who this knight was hée doth leaue all at this present till time doe serue to tell of other matters How the Knight of the Sunne going towards the Empire of Grecia should haue been taken by treason at a Bridge and of all that passed therein Chapter 15. THE Historie sayth that the knight of the Sunne remained eight daies in the Castle of Onorio at such time as he found himselfe whole and sound and felt no griefe of his great trauaile which hée receiued with the Gyant his knights so hée tooke his leaue of the Lord of the Castle and of his daughter Oliria carried with him his two sonnes Aurelio and Bynano whom hée gaue vnto him for to bée his Pages and after hée had a long time trauailed it happened vpon a day somewhat late towards the euening they came vnto a Bridge which was vpon the riuer Danubia vpon the which there was a mightie great and well towred Castell one of the most
this extremitie and as though hée had knowen theÌ„ to bee his sons hée withdrew himselfe from the window descended downe into the great place accompanied with many Knights hée went whereas these knights were and found that they were compassed about with their perfect friends the two Princes and the king Sacridoro who lamented with great abundance of teares and caused theyr Helmes to bee pulled of and to throw water in theyr faces thinking therewith and with the aire they would come againe to themselues but all was in vaine that they did for that there was in them no other signe but as though they had béene starke dead For which occasion with dolorous griefe the Emperour commaunded them to bée carried vnto his Royall Pallace and caused their armour to bée taken off and to bée laide in seuerall beds which was in two quadrans very richly hanged ioyning the one vnto the other Then were called together the best Hhisitions and Surgions that were in all the whole citie of Constantinople who did béehold and peruse them very well tolde vnto the Emperour that they were not dead although they were in great peril of their liues Who being somwhat comforted therby commaunded that foorth-with theyr faces should be washed and made cleane that were all to bée rayed with boold and swollen and did not a little meruaile in their mindes when they saw the great beautie of the Knight of Cupid and the small quantitie of yeeres which hée séemed to haue And how that hee resembled very much the Knight of the Sunne and hée had so great loue vnto both those Knights that hée would haue giuen halfe his estate to haue seene them out of that great perill So after the Phisicions and Surgions had well perused them they found that the greatest euill which they had was wearinesse of theyr bodies and all their bones and flesh brused by the mightie force of theyr terrible blowes So they ministered vnto them very swéet and comfortable ointments and all that was necessay for them and most conuenient and commaunded that euerie man should depart from thence and lette them alone that they might sléepe and take theyr rest with onely two Pages which were in another chamber ther by with great silence that whensoeuer these knights should come vnto themselues they should call the Phisitions and Surgions In this time there was not a knight in y e citie of Constantinople neither in that great place nor in their Tents in the field as well straungers and Countrie men that did occupie themselues in any other communication but in the wonderfull and timerous battaile of these two Knights and of their mightie blowes perticularly euery thing as it was and sayde that there was neuer seene in all the world such lyke contention béetwixt two knights with so great strength force and perill neyther was any Damsell or Gentlewoman that saw the perill of these two Knights but dyd verie much lament the same and sayde that if these two Knights dyd die that the flower of all knighthood in the world was finished and ended But in this time what dyd those two Princes Brandizel and Claueryndo and his verie friend Florinaldus Surely no other thing all that night but lament for theyr very friend the Knight of the Sunne and making so great sorrow that it would haue mooued anie to haue had compassion that should haue heard them But what shall I say of that valyaunt and worthy King Sacridoro his perfect friend that when the night was come hée found himselfe all alone in that great place without the companie of his very friend the Knight of Cupid and not knowing where to lodge himselfe surely his sorrow and griefe was such that if hée thought to finde his friend the Knight of Cupid in the profound depth of the sea hée would haue throwen himselfe therin as hée did into the déepe fountaine of the sauage people for to take reuengement on that monster who carryed his friend away So hée went foorth of the Citie and béeing in the fields hee dyd alight from his horse laid himselfe downe vpon the gréene grasse whereas hee passed away all that night with great lamentation béewayling y e misfortune of his perfect friend The history doth not declare any thing of the faire Princesse Lindabrides but that shée passed all that night in sorrow and griefe But hée saith that the princesse Claridiana when she was alone in hir chamber there was no sufficiencie in the highnesse of hir estate neither in the generositie of hir couragious hart for to draw hir froÌ„ the lamenting of y e misfortune of hir knight in such sort that all the night she did no other thing but shed abundaunce of teares which ranne downe by hir Christall chéekes and spake such lamentable and sorrowfull words that it séemed hir life could not haue endured till the next day if it had not pleased God to haue giuen remedy therin as in the next Chapter shall bée declared How the knight of the Sunne and the knight of Cupid were come againe vnto themselues how they were knowen to bee bretheren by a meruaylous meanes Chapter 36. NOw was the time come that the vniuersall creator and maker of all this would that these straunge meruayles should bée manifest vnto all men and that the great trauailes and biter complaints of the Empresse Briana should come to an ende his diuine prouidence doth so ordaine all things that at such time as the losse of the Gréeke Princes was very certaine vnto them and that there was great suspition and doubt in the liues of the two worthie Knights of the Sunne and of Cupid at that time were the lost princes found againe and these famous knights cléere of their perill and knowen to be sons vnto their royall fathers for that with more honour they might celebrate the triumphes and feasts of theyr naturall Princes So after that this rigorous furious battaile was ended about midnight the knight of the Sun came vnto himselfe and awaked out of his long and heauie place And when he was well setled in his remembrance hée called so minde the passed battell but séeing himselfe naked alone in that bed with a torch burning in the quadran â—…e straight way suspected what it should be and thought verily that the knight of Cupid had got the victorie hee ouercome Wherat he reciued so great sorrow and griefe that hée though it better to bée dead then to remaine with life and was the occasion that hée fell againe in a sound and so remained more then one houre at which time hée returned againe vnto him selfe with mortall anguish and inward griefe hée sayd Oh false and deceiuable Gods how much haue you béene by mée honoured and worshipped now I dooe béeleeue that your sect is false euil and all we which doo beléeue therin wée doo erre and are out of the right way How could your diuine prouidence if you haue any aboue men permit
Balisea Great thanckes doe I giue vnto the high and immortall Gods for that I was fully certified within my selfe that so valyant a knight as thou art could not bée borne in this Countrie therefore héere once againe I doo desire thée that thou wilt tell mée the occasion that so mightie a Prince as thou art and beeing a Pagan that thou dooest abide and recreate thy selfe in straunge Countries and to shew thy selfe so great a friend vnto Christians Tell mée I pray thée if thou hast receiued their lawes and customes and left the law of the Pagans Thou doost demaund of mée great account sayd the Prince but for that thou shalt not béeléeue all that which thou hast saide I will bee briefe giue thée to vnderstand in few words I doo béeléeue that thou doost know or at the least wayes hast heard of the great battailes and contentions that passed betwixt my Father the King Florion and the mightie Africano who had vsurped and taken away my Fathers kingdome I haue heard the same said Rodaran and I was called vnto the sayd warres and for that I did sée that Africano had neither reason nor iustice I dyd refuse the iourney and would not goe with him Then the Prince sayde you shall vnderstand that in these warres my Father got the victorie and recouered all his lands the which hée had lost but especially by the great force strength and bountie of the valyaunt Knight of the Sunne and Sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio who at this present remayneth in his Court and by the prowesse of the Prince Clauerindo sonne vnto the king Oristeo of Fraunce both the which béeing verie young were lost and both found at the Sea by the king my father who carried them with him whereas they two and I were brought vp all thrée together and from that time there dyd grow so great loue and friendship béetwixt vs which was the occasion ioyntly with the dutie which I owe vnto them that I am come in theyr company into this Countrie cannot certifie my selfe neither am I at quyet but when I am with them and in their companie and conuersation This is the occasion wherefore I am come into this countrie béecause you are so desirous to know héere I meane to remaine so long as these princes abide in y e Emperours Court Oh Prince Brandizel saide Rodaran now I plainely sée and perceiue how that the high Gods are very angrie with the Pagan people and will plague and punish vs by the hands and power of the Christians for that wée haue now at this present more then at any time héeretofore so great confidence in them Oh Prince of Persia if the losse and destruction of thy naturall Countrie doo cause in thée any sorrow or the destruction of the Pagan people doo cause any griefe then would thy hart lament and cause thée to leaue off this great friendship which thou hast with the Christians and take vpon thée mortall warre against them for héere I doo giue thée to vnderstand béefore the great Cane king of the Cambalos and Emperour of Tartaria and béefore all Kings and Lords his subiects and vassals the King Gedrosia who is one of the wisest in deuination and Astrologie that is to bée found in all the world to whom at that present I gaue but small credit hee dyd declare and pronounce that in our dayes and times should be stayne and destroyed the most part of all the Pagan people in the fields of Greece by the mightie force and power of the Knights that bée therein and that there the greatest and mightiest Kings in all Asia shall loose theyr gouernment estates Unto whose words I made no contradiction for that it séemed vnto mée to bée a thing impossible And moreouer hée said that in the Empire of Greece there were such Knights that if meanes were not found by one way or other to disturbe them that they alone were sufficient to accomplish and bring to passe all this which I haue sayd And for this occasion I departed out of my Kingdome and Countrie and dyd promise the Emperour Alycandro neuer to retourne againe vnto the same till such time as I came vnto the Empire of Greece and there with my power and force to take prisoners the best Knights that bée in all the Empire and to carrie them away with mée vnto the Emperour Alycandro now séeing that you doo know my determination and purpose and the great profit that will grow thereof vnto all Asia I doo desire thee by the seruice and dutie which thou dost owe vnto the high Gods that leauing the great friendship which thou hast with the Christians let vs two procure to take and carrie them prisoners into our Countrie that by them wée may raunsome and set our selues at libertie from the great destruction which is prognosticated to bée done vnto vs by them which by no meanes can bée excused except first wée doo this which I haue tolde thée Then the Prince Brandizel answered and saide Let the Pagans remaine in their Countrie and let the Christians alone in theyrs for that this remedie which thou hast taken in hand Rodaran will verie little profit to excuse the harme which thou hast spoken of béeing a thing determined by the high powers And héere I dooe giue thée to vnderstand that there doth remaine many Knights in the Citie of Constantinople and such as ten such knights as thou art be not sufficient to take one of them and to bring him vnto prison And héere I doo advise thée to take good héede and béeware of the furie of the Knight of the Sunne béefore whom there is no humane â—…reature able to make any resistance And in that thou â—…oost request mée to leaue of theyr friendship and to béeâ—…ome theyr enimie speake no more thereof vnto mée for I â—…oo more estéeme their friendship and loue and to bée friend â—…nto the sonnes of the Emperour Trebatio and his friends â—…hen to bée a Prince yea more then to bée Lord ouer all Aâ—…ia And if thou wilt leaue off this demaund which thou bringest with thée and goe vnto the Court of the Emperour Trebatio and become a brother in our friendship there shall bée done vnto thee the honour that to such a knight belongeth and if not let vs returne againe vnto our battell and hée which of vs two shall bée ouercome let him doo all that the other who winneth the victorie shall commaund and so shall bée excused all the requestes that are béetwixt vs two Héere Rodaran was very sorrowfull béecause hée found so small comfort of the Prince in this his determination and beléeuing that onely in the ouercomming of that knight dyd consist the accomplishing of his aduenture and that it might so fall out by the victorie of him to end his demaund for that which the Prince had tould hée could not béeleeue neyther giue credite that those knights which dyd remayne béehinde in the court should bée
in the aide succour of the king Priamus quéene of the Amazons named Pantasilla who hauing heard many times in hir owne Countrye to praise extoll the great strength valiantnesse of Hector more for his loue then for any zeale she had to defend Troy she came together with very many people of hir for to sée him in the time of that siege the queene declared vnto Hector the great loue shée bare vnto him he who was no lesse affectioned vnto hir granted hir all that euer she would demand so that the quéene was begotten with child by Hector was deliuered of a son whom they called Pireo the troyan who very secretly not knowen to any body was giuen vnto a nurse borne in that citie to be brought vp as hir owne child So after the death of king Priamus all his sons the destruction of the citie ther remained certaine citizens of a base sort such as y e greekes made no account of amongst whom it chanced the nurse who brought vp Pireo was one of them who knowing whose son he was did bring him vp with great care till such time as he was a man by nature he was enclined to the exercise of armes so he gaue himself onely thervnto had delight in no other thing for that it was manifest vnto him whose sonne he was for to sustaine some memory of the citie of Troy of his father he caused this bridge to be made this castle and ordained a custome that no knight might passe that way but first to combatte with him to leaue héerein his shield his name saying that he was ouercome by him in the time of his life he ouercame so many knights that they are without number when he died hee left beehinde him a young sonne and commaunded that all those that did discend from him should maintaine that custome which of long time hath beene maintained at that bridge so that all those which haue succeeded in this Countrye from him vntill this time hath maintayned kept that order custome and hath ouercome so great a number of knights that in all that great forrest which you doo sée there is no roome almost to hang their sheelâ—…es And in saying these words he shewed vnto theÌ„ the forrest whose trées were all full of shéelds which dyd hang vpon the boughes branches some of them were glistering other some with great antiquitie had lost their colours ther were so many of them that without great difficultie they could not be told proceeding forwards Oristedes said This is the occasion why wherefore this custome is kept maintained at this bridge And I will keepe and defend the same so long as I doo liue for that my lineall descent doth come from that noble stock of Pireo his father Hector for that ther hath remained no other remembrance of Troy this shal remain for a memory of the noble blood that was ther spilt The knight of the Sun reioyced very much at that which Oristedes had told him did estéeme him little for that hée came of that royall blood of Troy séemed vnto him according to his disposition that he could not but be like in valiantnes vnto his predecessours giuing him great thankes for that which he had told him of his life custome hée sayd vnto him Well gentle knight séeing it is so that you cannot choose but kéepe maintaine this your custome neither I nor all these that dooe come with mée cannot passe this bridge without making battaile or els to returne agayne the way which we haue come Let vs if you please procure to do all that in vs doth lie vnto him that doth lack fortune let him doo all that the other doth commaund And in saying these words the knight of the Sun descended out of the chariot commaunding his horse to be brought foorth he mounted vpon him with his speare in his hand he went put himselfe at the entry of the bridge of the which Oristedes was very much amazed and séeing him comming with so great maiestie in the company of so faire a damsell hée did verily beléeue him to be some knight of high estate of great bountâ—…e of armes although he was a very valiant knight his mightie demeanour did not cause in him any faintnes although he had had perfect intelligence that he had ben the most valiantest knight in all the world yet he had no doubt to combat with him for that he had kept maintained that bridge more then eight yéeres in which time he had ouercome more then one thousand knights yet he neuer met with knight that by very much might compare himself with him And then with as valiant a courage as appertayned vnto his progenie he went put himselfe right against the knght of the Sun and both of them at one time did broach their horses with their spurs and with so great fury that the bridge seemed to be ouerthorwen both the Knights to be on fire with the great quantitie of sparkes that came foorth of that paued pauement and in the midst of the bridge they made their encounter in such sort that their speares were shée uered all to péeces they passed the one by the other as though they had done nothing and with a trise they turned about their horses with their swoords in their hands they assalted one another the first blowes that were striken it séemed that all that valley was full of the sound thereof béeing stâ—…iken vppon their inchaunted healmes whereas all those were executed and beeing nothing amazed nor astonied therwith but with great furye and wrathâ—…ulnesse they did assalt each other with their sound blowes and being meruailousâ—…ie ouercharged with the great force of them it made them to decliâ—…e their heads to their breasts so that eyther of them did feele the great force of his aâ—…uersarye and Oristedes said vnto himselfe that neuer in all the daies of his life did hée combat with a more valiaunter and worthyer Knight but beeing determined to giue to vnderstand his great force and strength without any feare or dread hee béeganne to charge the knight of the Sunne with his terrible blowes and with so great force and strength that he made him to bestur himselfe from the one part to the other because that he should not fasten a full blow vpon him this valiant knight of the Sun said vnto himselfe that not without iust cause great reason the fame of that worthie Hector endured so long in the world and now prouing that knight who doth proceede of that ancâ—…ent stock he doth finde him doo beleeue that ther is not a more valianter knight then he is to be found in all the world seeing that it was necessary stood him vpon to vse against him all his power strength he presently charged him
siâ—…e they were all entered into theyr ship and the Greeke master of the same beeing all in a readynesse brought whom his ankers and hoysed foorth his sayles and beegan to nauigate vppon the calme waters of the Ocean sea for that at that present they found fortune and winde fauourable vnto them there was no glory in all the world that might bée compared vnto this of the perfect louer Rosicleer when hee saw so much at his ease and will and in his power hir for whom hée had passed so great sorrow and griefe Then when the Princesse Oliuia was come agayne vnto hir selfe shée tooke him in hir armes kissed him very often vttering woords of perfect loue although as yet shée was not cleane voyde of the alteration in the which shée was brought yet finding hir selfe in the armes of him whom shée so much loued shée receiued great pleasure contentment and much more to sée hir selfe frée from that great force which the king hir father agaynst all reason and iustice would haue constrained agaynst hir will to marrie with the Prince Don Siluerio and agayne calling to remembraunce what great sorrow and griefe which the absence of Rosicleer dyd cause hir to â—…ustayne shée therewith receiued so great contentment and â—…lorie to sée him in hir presence that shee thought hir â—…elfe to bée new risen from death to lyfe comforting and â—…eioycing hir selfe with the presence of him that shee so long â—…ooked for Then when the king Oliuerio and the Prince Don Silâ—…erio and the other Princes and knights that came with â—…hem when they approched vnto the water side and saw that the ship was departed and perfectly informed how that the knights and the princesse were therin they receiued so great sorrow griefe that the king was at the point of death and the Prince if they had not held him would haue leaped into the sea and for that they could not vnderstand nor know in whose power the Princesse was carried away their payne and griefe was the greater and in great hast they caused a great company of ships to bée made in a readinesse to follow them beeing all in very good order there entered into them many knights as well those of Lusitania as knights of England and being in this preparation ther was a marriner of another ship which came vnto y e king and said Mightie Prince a Damsell which was in the ship that is departed gaue mée this Letter to giue vnto your highnesse if that by fortune you should come hether Then the king béeing very much amazed not knowing who it should bée that left that letter hée tooke it opened it and saw that it was the firme of Fidelia and read the contents as followeth HIgh and mightie king of Englang Fidelia Damsell and seruant vnto the Princesse Oliuia dooth wish vnto thée health that therwith thou maist put away all sorrowfull passions from thy hart and to know how far the power of almightie God doth extend how subiect all Knigs and Princes and mightie Lords ought to bée vnto his ordinances and lawes as well for that they are good and iust as also béecause man hath not power to resist them Thou pretendest to marrie thy one and onely Daughter and heyre vnto all these kimgdomes giuing hir a husband vnto 〈◊〉 shée should bée continually obedient without any respect or consideration of hir good will and loue neyther of hir 〈◊〉 and quietnesse but onely for a desire which you haue to goe and take reuengement for the death of Prince Edward thy Sonne Béehold king Oliuerio that the lawes of God dooth not permit that thou shouldest dooe this force of matrimony which thou hast pretended to doo vnto thy daughter for that the reuengement of all things is reserued for vnto him who hath power for to doo it The soueraigne creator of all things would not permit that thou shouldst be an homicide vnto thine owne daughter as thou hadst ben if this present remedye had not preuented the same for that the princesse Oliuia had ordained to kill hir selfe the same nyght that they should haue ben made sure together but the diuine prouidence did so ordaine prouide that the greeke Prince Rosicleer thy very friend who being wounded with the loue of the princes thy daughter should come set at liberty this great outrage of forcing to take hir out of thy power to cary hir vnto the soueraigne empire of his father whereas with great maiesty conformable vnto hir highnes shall their mariage be celebrated therfore they I doo desire thee for that thy honor the honor of thy daughter shall be by this change greatly augmented that thou wouldst conceiue well 〈◊〉 to haue patience for that it can be no otherwise alwaies obeying as our duty is the diuine prouidence When the king had read this letter well vnderstood the â—…ontents therof he was one way greatly amazed to vnderâ—…tand that Rosicleer was aliue another way his paine and â—…riefe did double in him considering the two great iniuries â—…hat were done vnto him by the father the sonne as one 〈◊〉 himselfe with the great sorrow he receiued he wept 〈◊〉 out with a loud voice saying Oh fortune my great 〈◊〉 how much doo you shew your selues to be my eniâ—…ie that thou art not content that the emperour Trebasio 〈◊〉 my welbeloued son the Prince Edward but that now 〈◊〉 is come his son hath robbed me of my daughter 〈◊〉 onely heire of these kingdome Oh soueraigne creator â—…herefore dooest thou suffer so great arrogancy in these 〈◊〉 why dost thou not at once destroy them throw 〈◊〉 out of this world as thou threwest Lusifer out of heauen Oh kings princes of the world come ioyne your â—…elues all together in my fauour giue me aide for to take reuengement of two so notable iniuries Behold that the pride of Greece doth eueryday increase in such sort that in time they will be Lords gouernours ouer all the whole world put you all from your mightie kingdomes high estates Likewise the great lamentations that Don Siluerio made when he saw his mariage so changed was such that ther was none that heard him but was moued vnto great compassion In great hast was made in a readinesse twelue great ships diuers other small ships in the which ther was imbarked more then ten thousand knights very well armed and likewise with them did imbarke themselues the prince Don Siluerio with the thrée princes Bargandel Liriamandro the tartarian Zoylo in great hast they made saile that way which Rosicleer went although the thrée princes had another determination contrary vnto Don Siluerios for wheÌ„ they vnrerstood that he who had caried away the Princesse was Rosicleer they were as glad as euer they were in all their liues although they could not perfectly beléeue that hee should be aliue Then they called to remembraÌ„ce all that
we may well dessemble the great loyalty that it told of other knights for that it is to tell of things surmounting nature or els it is so â—…ar to extoll knights for to make them to beare off to be men So that if the knight of the Sun with the presence of the princesse had forgot himselfe to the contrary the princes with the presence of him was the pleasantest lady in all the world receiued great contentment onely in thinking that at their comming vnto the court of the emperour hir father their marriage should straight wayes be celebrated So after that they had trauailed one mooneth in the mighty Asia they entred into the second Scithia wheras they saw so many so strange formes of people and customes that the Knight of the Sun went very much amazed and although many things worthy of telling hapned vnto them in this iourny yet this history doth leaue them for that if he should detaine himselfe in telling of them he shuld leaue off to declare the principall for that the greater part is vntold To conclude in the end they entred into the country oâ—… the gran Cataia Then the emperour when he vnderstood that they were within a daies iourney of Neptaia whereas hée was hée went foorth to méet them accompanied with morâ—… then fiftie kings lords his subiects euery one a crowne 〈◊〉 gold vpon his head and more then a thousand knights thaâ—… went in gard And when they came whereas they met thâ—… triumphant chariot they alighted from their horses wenâ—… kissed the hands of the princes Lindabrides embraced thâ—… knight of the Sun hée receiued them with great ioy coâ—…tentment when the emperour drew nigh the knight of thâ—… Sun knéeled downe before him for to kisse his hands but thâ—… emperor with great pleasure meruailed at his mightie prâ—…portion gallant semblance would not consent therevntâ—… but embraced him with great loue kissed him saying dooe desire the high mighty gods my sonne to graunt you health that you may enioy many yéeres your youthfulnesse for that your comming into this country hath made me very glad ioyfull And I doo desire them my good lord said the knight of the Sun to preserue your person emperiall estat for that all we your subiects may doo our duties in your seruice Then Oristedes the troyan came vnto him as one that had a great desire to see him the knight of the Sun embraced him with great loue all those kings knights meruailed much at his mightie proportion musing how that 〈◊〉 knight of so few yéeres should consist so great force streÌ„gth So after that all had giuen him entertainment the emperour went vnto the triumphaÌ„t chariot ascended vp into it the faire princes did fall downe vpon hir knees kissed his hands the emperour likewise kissed hir receiued hir with great loue passing béetwéene them many words of great pleasure he set himself downe in the triumphant chariot in the midst betwéene the princes the knight of the Sun all the other kings lords mounted vpon their horses compassed the Chariot round about taking their iourney towards the mightie Citie of Neptaya whereas of an infinit number of people as well women as men with great solempnitie they were receiued being all much amazed at his gentle and gallant disposition Likewise the knight of the Sun did very much meruaile at the mighty greatnes of that citie and of the great abundance of people that were therin and saide vnto himselfe that not without great reason the Emperour was estéemed for the mightiest Prince in all the world So likewise when they came vnto the mightie pallace he was no lesse amazed to sée the great sumptuousnes and riches thereof for that in all his life hée neuer saw the like no not by a great deale for that it seemed â—…o bée a citie compassed about with verye strong walles and high towers When they came thether they all alighted from their horses entred into that mighty pallace whereas they passed away the rest of the day that remained all that night in great solempne feasts And it was concluded amongst theÌ„ all that within fifteene daies they should begin to make the great triumphs feasts for the mariage of the knight of the Sun the princes Lindabrides at the which triumph shal be present the most strongest king and knights in all the pagan country for to see by experience the great bounty that hath ben published of the knight of the Sun who all this time receiued great ioy contentment for the time drew on to finish his great desire although the loue of the princes hir great desert were the principall occasion that he should bée desirous to marry with hir Likewise considered he might thinke himselfe happye to haue to wife the daughter of so mightie an emperour heire vnto so high estate With this determination firme loue he passed away that time verie much honored of the emperour respected of all those lords kings his vassailes for that they all had a great delight pleasure in him Whom the historye doth leaue at the present to tell of other things that hapned in the meane time ¶ How the two Princes Brandizel and Clauerindo departed from the Court of the Emperour Trebatio what happened vnto them being at the sea Chapter 62. AFter the departure of the knight of the Sun the two princes Brandizel Clauerindo did a bide certaine daies in the court of the emperour Trebatio of whom likewise of all his knights they were honoured esteemed by reason of the great loue which the Prince Brandizel bare vnto the princesse Clarinea she could not take any rest nor be at quiet Sâ—… vpon aÌ„ day béeing in conuersation with his friend Claueryndo hee sayd That for so much as the Knight of the Sunne was not there with them mée thinckes it should bée good in the meane time till hée returned agayne to fly from this idlenesse in the which wee are and to go and seeke some aduentures for to increase our honour and to exercise militarie Knighthood The which counsayle lyked the Prince very well and vnderstanding the will of Brandizell hée strayght wayes sayde that hee should dooe all that his pleasure was for that hee should receyue great contentment therein So both of them asked lisence of the Emperour for to depart promising him to returne againe so soone as they heard that the Knight of the Sunne was returned agayne So the Emperor although very much against his will and by theyr great importunancie did grant leaue vnto them So these two perfect friends departed from Constantinople and when they came vnto the waters side they entered into a ship which they found readie to depart towards the kingdome of Polonia After that they were departed had sayled on theyr voyage foure dayes there beegan to
beauty With what reason and boldnesse dare I before the Empresse binde my selfe vnto your seruice seeing that in so short time I haue found my equall What reason is ther to the contrary that you being in the most extremity of all the damsells in the world that likewise he to be the most valiantest amongst all knights that durst be so bold to set his mind on you So these valiant Knights saying these other words vnto themselues did so much animate their couragious stomacks that eight houres were past since the beginning of their rigorous battaile at that time their wonderfull blowes séemed to be with more force strength and their horses with their great continuall labour waxed weary but these two valiant knights at that time séemed to fight with new force strength neuer ceased striking one another such terrible blowes that the standers by had their eares filled with the sound of their fine tempered armour and were so greatly amazed to sée the great trauaile that they suffered in that bartaile likewise to sée with what great force strength they did execute the same in the end of long time that they had indured séemed that ther was neuer done by them the like prowesse nor actiuitie as was done at that prelent as truth was for that neither of them in all their liues was euer brought into the like extremity or perill as they wer in this battaile nor neuer had the like feare to be ouercome But the great shame reproch with the iealousie of their honor did so much touch either of them that it made them without feeling any trauaile to procure all that in them lay for to get the victory or ele to die in the demaund So at this time the golden Diana began to shew hir light in the orientall Regions and the worthy Knight of Cudid not esteeming his owne life if hée should not get the victory of the Knight of the Sunne with both his hands raising himselfe in his stirops hée stroke him so terrible a blow that it did depriue him of his vnderstanding made him to fall backwards vpon the backe of the saddle that his head touched the horse crouper and his weary Horse carried him about that great place in such sort that all those which saw him thought that hée had béene dead But when the Princesse Claridiana did sée him in that plight hir blood waxed could within hir body and béeing sore troubled shée asked the Emperour if hée were dead or no but hée was at that wonderfull blow so troubled that hée had no power at all for to answere hir but whosoeuer at this time had séene the face of the faire Princesse Lindabrides would haue knowen by hir coulour the great loue that shée did beare vnto him but at such time as the Knight of the Sun did come agayne vnto himselfe there was neuer Lion nor furious beast more outragious then hée was and considering the great danger and perill that hee was in his out ragious heart was so full of mortall anguish with vnmeasurable wrath y t hée stroke his light horse with the Spurs and crushed his téeth together that it séemed sparkes of fire procéeded from his eyes and like vnto a whirle winde hée ran towards the Knight of Cupid who seeing him recouered againe made likewise against him with so great fury that the ground where his Horse dyd runne séemed to tremble Oh how great was the feare which the fury of these valyaunt knights caused in them that did béehold their mortall wrath comming the one against the other terrifying their vnderstanding to abide the end of their mortall blowes I doo beleeue certainly that ther was not one knight in all that place of what force and strength so euer hée was that séeing the fury of those valiant knights but hée would haue béene terrified neither was there any friend although hée had béene fully satisfied of the bountie of any of them but would haue prayed vnto God for them séeing them in that great perill The Emperour Trebatio with the great loue that hée bare vnto the Knight of the Sunne and the desire that hée had to know the knight of Cupid receiued no lesse feare then all the rest and sayd Oh mightie God thou who madest these Knights of nothing I praie and desire thee to aide and succour them and let them not execute theyr great wrath the one vppon the other neyther doe not permit that the Knight of the Sunne bée slaine béefore hée doo acknowledge thy great power and turne vnto thy lawes that his soule bee not condempned to immortall paine So the swift course of theyr furious Horses ioyned theyr encounters and the two wrathfull Knights raysing themselues in theyr stirrops pretending to make an end of theyr long and doubtfull battell with the extremitie of all theyr force and strength they stroke one another with so great wrath vpon theyr fine Helmes that although the fine edges of theyr mightie cutting swoords could not enter nor cut theyr inchanted armour yet these valiaunt Knights were so ouerlayd with the great might and power of theyr blows that the knight of Cupid was constrained to decline himselfe on the one side and therwith hee fell downe to the ground wheras he lay and mooued neither hand nor foot but was as one that were dead and the inuinsible knight of the Sun by the force of the blow was cleane voide of any vnderstanding and had likewise fallen to the ground if Fortune had not fauoured him that he fell forwards vpon the saddle bow that his head touched the Horse necke and his armes hung downe on both sides and voyded great abundance of blood out of his mouth eyes in such sort that they thought him likewise to bée as dead as the Knight of Cupid and his horse beeing tormented with that terrible blow did founder vnder him and remained without any moouing as though the bones of his legges had béene broken At which sight all those that were in that great place receiued so great sorrow and griefe at the extremitie of these two valiant Knights that thinking they had béene dead they lamented as though they had béene theyr naturall bretheren But the Princesse Lindabrides when shée saw hir Knight in that estate not hauing any power to resist so mortall a griefe had not the power to gouerne hir selfe but fell in a sound had fallen out of hir Chaire wheras shée sat if hir Gentlewomen had not ben who séeing hir in that case tooke hir in their armes and carryed hir into hir closet and laide hir vppon hir bed whereas shée had more semblaunce to bée dead then as one hauing any lyfe Likewise the Princesse Claridiana with no lesse paine and griefe did béeholde hir knight who with the mightinesse of hir couragious heart did make resistance against that amorous thought which loue caused within hir Who with no lesse sorrow and griefe when hée saw the Knights in