considering her rare beutie which though it were not set foorth by any Art or abiliments yet in that carelesse and couert sort did it appeare to be most singuler demaunded of her many questions which she answered in such good and modest sort that shée grew thereby in great liking and good opinion of her entertaining her amongst the rest of her Sisters where shee behaued herselfe in such good sort that in short time she gained to herselfe not onely the loue of all the house but also the fame of her godly liuing was spredde abroade through all the country adioyning to the great commendation and famousing of the Monestry Where wee will leaue her in her godly meditations and returne a little to declare what hapned to the Lord Gwaltero and Sir Henault with the rest of their company that tooke on them the search of their King CHAP. VIII How the Lord Gwaltero the Lord of Menew and Sir Henault with diuers others were deuided by a strange aduenture and what hapned vnto the Lord Gwaltero thereby IT is to be remembred before how the Lord Gwaltero the Lord of Menew and Sir Henault with diuers others taking on them the search of their King began their iourney from Maiance resoluing not to returne with out some certaine newes of him whō they sought for thus trauailing on together through most part of Denmark they hapned at length cōming into a Forrest to méet a Squire on horsback making all the spéede that possibly he might euer looking backwards as if some body had pursued him At length méeting with the Lord Gwaltero and the rest of the company who were in all to the number of twelue Knights besides their Squires and thinking by the costly Armor which he ware him to be the chiefest in the companie alighted from his horse and falling on his knées with the teares standing in his eyes spake as followeth Most curteous Knight for so much my minde assureth you to be I humbly beséech you and the rest of your company heere present for the honour of knight-hood and the loue that you ought to beare to all distressed Ladies and Damsels that you wil doe so much as succour and reuenge a most beautifull Lady who euen now in this Forrest béeing trauailing to a brothers house of hers some 3. leagues distance from her owne béeing accompanied with her husband my Lord and Maister and some foure or fiue attendants more whom I feare mee by this time are all neere-hand slaine or grieuously wounded by a ranck Traytor who hauing long time sued vnto my Lady for lasciuious loue and not béeing able to maintaine the same by reason of her chast and honest denials this morning knowing that she was to passe this way accompanied himselfe with some tenne or twelue as wickedly disposed as himselfe whom hee had made acquainted with his villainous pretence vnawares set vppon vs at the first incounter grieuously wounded my Lord by reason he was vnarmed hauing nothing but his sword to defend himselfe as not douting any such euill Thus concluding his tale with whole floods of teares which issued from his sorrowfull eyes which mooued pitty in all the beholders especially in the Lord Gwaltero who not long before had tasted the like mishap willing the squire to stand vp and comfort himselfe assuring him that he had met with those who would reuenge the wrong which hee had declared vnto them Wherefore willing him to shewe which way he should take he set spurres to his horse and galloped as fast as hee could hoping to come soone enough to their succour which when the rest of his companie beheld they followed after as fast as they could but had not rodden long before they had lost sight of him by reason of the thicknesse of the wood and the swiftnes of his horse which was accounted to be the best in all the Kingdome Thus galloping onwards at length he came where the way deuided it selfe into thrée seuerall paths and taking that on the right hand as thinking it to be the right way hee rode on still neuer looking backe for his cōpany so earnest was his mind set on the rescue of the Lady and her husband The rest comming after when they came vnto the place where the way deuided it selfe knew not well what to doe nor which way to take yet at length béeing directed by the Squire the most of them as Sir Henault and the Lord of Menew tooke that way which ledde directly foorth betwéen the other two appointing some to take the other wayes to follow the Lord Gwaltero if peraduenture he had missed in his way Amongst which his Squire two other Knights the one named Sir Brewes the other Sir Cadrus tooke the way which he before had roden The Lorde Gwaltero as wee haue said before beeing pricked on with a desire to rescue those which were distressed made such hast that after he had passed the place where the wayes deuided it selfe and hauing rodden about two miles from the place met with a peasant driuing of cattell before him of whom he inquired whether he had séene any company thereabouts fighting or any Knights or gentlemen slaine The peasant made aunswere he saw no such but some halfe a mile before he met foure Knights crossing the way towards a little Castle some two leagues of leading a very faire Lady pittifully wéeping whō he thought they constrained to goe onwards against her will When Gwaltero had heard this he assured himselfe that this was the same Lady whom he went to rescue wherefore demanding which way they went the peasant shewed him where they were riding vp a little hill almost a mile before him which when he beheld he spurred on faster then before hée had doone so that before they were attained vnto the sight of theyr Castle he had ouertaken them in a fayre meddow betwéene two small hills And calling to them sayd Traytors turne and deliuer me that Lady whom so villainously you haue carried away or your liues shall pay my sworde her raunsome They hearing him call and looking backe séeing but one Knight alone persuing them stayed and he who ledde the Ladies horse by the raines being a very bigge and comly Knight answered foolish and most simple Knight thinkest thou me so fond or faint harted that only at thy threats who art able to performe nothing but in words I will deliuer this my prize whom I haue gotten so hardly and with the price of much bloud or that my loue towards her is so small so lightly to part from her No no I counsell thée rather for thy owne safegard to depart away or else this my Launce shall make your passe-port to old Caron Gwaltero hearing this and being no longer able to indure those braues placed his Launce in his rest and setting spurres to his horse they ranne together like lightning and at the encounter their speares slew into the aire Gwaltero passing on without any hurt at
them to bée commended and praised through all the Dukedome and the confines there abouts but this ioy and content had not continued fully the space of thrée yeares before that froward Fortune enuying their blessed state caused her fame to be resounded in the eares of the Duke Otho Whose lustfull hart beeing set on fire with report of her beauty caused both her and her husband to be sent for to his Court where beeing arriued hee at the first most kindly receaued them and as the old prouerbe is made much of the childe for the Nursses sake so hee intertained Hostinius vsing him with all the familiarity that might bee for his wifes sake alwaies séeking opportunity to make knowne his lustfull loue vnto Vitilla And one day finding her standing at a window looking into the Pallace garden hée came vnto her and after a little idle prattle fetching a déepe fained sigh he declared vnto her his loue vowing and protesting vnlesse she tooke pitty on him and yeeld to his desire there was no way but death with him aleaging that as her beauty had wounded him so was it her part to reléeue and comfort him againe declaring that as by nature she was faire so likewise ought she to bee kind mercifull The good Lady béeing halfe in a maze with this vnlooked for proces and scarce knowing how to aunswer him considering his nature to be such that an absolute deniall might cause him to grow into choller both with her and her husband and therby to worke both theyr confusions And likewise to féede him on with fained spéeches of loue might bring her name in question of slaunder though for a time by that meanes she might put him off yet in the end séeing himselfe deluded he would reuenge himselfe with the greater crueltie determined therefore of two euils to chuse the least wherefore she replyed in this manner My gracious Lorde I doe not thinke that you will so much dishonour your selfe as by forcing of mee to violate the holy rites of marriage and to wrong my Lord and husband in that sort as by your spéeches you pretend which if you goe about to performe know for certainty that God who created all things of nought will seuerely punish and reuenge so great a crime and likewise assure your selfe my Lord that whilst I haue power and strength to resist you shall neuer obtaine the same wherefore I would wish your honor to giue ouer all such wicked imaginations And herewith she flung away frō him in a great chafe leauing him musing on her short aunswer and deuising which way hée might bring his will to passe at last resolued with himselfe that there was no way to accomplish the same but onely by the death of her husband hoping that hee béeing dead shée might be brought to any thing And béeing thus resolued he went downe into the great Hall where finding diuers of Hostinius seruaunts hée made choice of one whom he saw continually most néere vnto him and taking him a side declared vnto him his intent and at last with large promises wonne him both to consent and also to be the Actor of his Lords tragedie which in this sort was acted About some thrée nights after their agréement Estonio for so was that false seruaunt named hauing gotten a sléeping powder so cunningly cōuayde it into the wine which both his Lord and Lady dranke of with some of the rest of their néerest attendants that béeing layd in their bedds none of them awaked till the morning In the meane time euen about midnight when both by nature and effect of theyr drench they were soundest asléepe then entred the damnable Traytor and draue into his Lords head a naile which he had no sooner performed but hiding the hammer wherwith he had committed that cruell homicide vnder the bed he departed to his owne bed where he remained vntill the next day that all the rest of his fellowes were risen and the Chamberlaine as was his custome came and softly knocked at his Lords chamber-doore wherewith the Lady awaked and turning about shée found her Lord and husband as cold as Ice which strake such a terror in her hart that fetching a great shréeke she likewise fell into a traunce Her damsels which attended her hearing the shréeke fearing shée was not well entred the Chamber where they found their Lord dead and theyr Lady in little better case but at length hauing recouered life in her they called in the Gentlemen his attendants who béeing entred it is vnpossible to describe the sorrow and lamentation which was made where Estonio in outward shewe séemed not to be least sorrowfull so well knew he how to dissemble the matter At last the rumor heereof came to the eares of Duke Otho who presently like a man inraged with griefe hee came posting to the Chamber where at his first entrance to make shew of the loue which hee bare to the dead bodie béeing liuing hée rent his hayre beating his breast protesting that he would haue giuen halfe his dukedome to haue him aliue againe although GOD knowes he himselfe was the onely cause of his death The good Lady shee in the meane time swounded and reswounded and had it not béene for the damsels without all doubt shee would haue borne her husband company amongst the dead séeing shée was depriued of him amongst the liuing so extreame was the gréefe which she felt so great the loue which shee bare him The Duke in the meane time for the better obtayning of his purpose caused the dead body to be imbaulmed saying he would haue him buried with the greatest solemnity that might be as the man whom he most loued and because it was impossible to be performed so suddenly he would haue him kéept vnburied by the space of a month against which time he warned all the chéefe of his Subiects to be there Hoping in the meane time by one meanes or other to worke Vitella to his will wherefore euery day he would come to visite her many times declaring his passions vnto her desiring her to consent and yéeld thereto But she good Lady not minding so soone to forget him whom she loued so déerely neither yet to make choise of one whom for his wicked life she could not chuse but hate and also by his important sute imagining that to gaine her he might by some kinde of poyson haue made away her husband séeing that so suddenly he died gaue him this aunswere My Lord I know not the cause of this your importunate sute neither can I thinke but that it procéeds from a vild and sinfull minde that professing so great loue as you did to my late Lord and husband you would tempt me his wofull wife so soone to forget him and commit so vile an offence before God wherfore know for a certainty that I neither can nor will cōsent to loue him whom my minde perswads me to bee the destroyer of my late deceased Lord husband for
without you had therein béene guiltfull you would not haue persisted in this your wicked persute after my honesty The Duke knowing himselfe guilty in that wherewith she had accused him also growing into chollor with her rude deniall briefly replied Lady I perceaue that that which cannot be obtained by faire meanes must now at length be wonne by foule and séeing that you wil not willingly consent vnto the thing which in kind and milde sort I haue intreated of you know for a certainty that I will winne it by force whereas you accuse me of murdering of thy vnfortunate husband assure thy selfe that the guilte thereof shall lighten on thy owne head which I my selfe will iustifie against thée And thus saying he departed her chamber changing all his former loue into cruell hate alwaies pondring in his minde reuenge till such time as his Nobles being come together for the solemnizing of the funerals at which time comming as if hee would haue viewed the dead corpes with some of his nobillity laying his hand on his head on a sudden he séemed to féele the nayle when fetching a déepe sigh hee cryed out that his déere friend Hostinius had béene slaine by treachery The nobles beholding this sudden accident came and beheld the same euery one imediatly iudging that by that wound he receaued his death The Duke aboue all others séemed most to wounder héereat and at length turning to the company sayd that he hoped to find out the murtherers séeing God so strangely had giuen knowledge of the déede which vntill now was not so much as once dreampt of Wherefore presently causing Vitella with all her Damsells and attendants to be atached he examined them euery one and comming to Estonio whom hee before had instructed examined him in such sort that he declared how that the Lady Vitilla had many times made proffer of her loue vnto him and that he as often had denied her because he would not wronge his Lord and Maister how that she had proffered him both to murder her husband and afterwards to marry with him if he thereunto would giue his consent still clearing himselfe as much as it was possible This confession being vttered shee poore distressed Lady was foorthwith condemned not being suffered so much as once to speake for her selfe Estonio was likewise committed to prison there for to remaine a while to bléere the peoples eyes who could hardly belieue that which hee had iustified The same day the Duke procéeded in iudgement against Vitella where he iudged her for her fault to loose all her lands which he imediatly seased on and that except within sixe months she could find a Knight that should maintaine her cause against the Duke in single combat for he as a déere friend vnto her deased husband would be the man that would prooue that she had comitted treason and murder against him with these conditions that if he were vanquished that then she should be deliuered frée and all her lands and goods restored vnto her but if it hapnēd that he remained Victor that both shee and the weake Knight which should put himselfe in her defence should be burned a liue at one stake which he caused for the same purpose to be set vp in the midst of the Market place This sentence pronounced she good Lady was committed vnder safe kéeping no body but such whom the Duke appointed being suffered to come vnto her Which caused many to iudge the Duke rather to be guilty then she especially such who had knowne the great loue betwéene her and her deceased husband considering also that onely by this meanes he had gotten her inhearitance into his hands which was the chiefest marke he aimed at Now to returne againe to our purpose the Lord Gwaltero and his company comming as before wee haue said into Viena hapned to take vp his lodging in a kinsmans house of the Lady Vitellas who by reason of her mishap was very sad pensiue and béeing sitting at supper was demaunded the cause of his sorrow by the Lord Gwaltero vnto whom hee declared the former discourse with the loue of the Duke vnto Vitella which he had likewise learned of her not forgetting in any one poynt to declare the cōmon wickednesse of the Duke therby the easier to perswade his crime likewise in this Gwaltero hauing attentiuely listned vnto this discourse meruailed greatly at the strange tyranny of the Duke and béeing halfe resolued of the Ladies innocencie determined with himselfe to put himselfe in her defence wherefore demaunding how hee might come to speake with the Ladie and also how néere the time appointed for her execution was expired for that he was loth to tarry ouer-long in any place because of his returne vnto his Lady Mistrisse his Host replied that the time of her death was now within sixe dayes and that as yet shee was not prouided of any Champion because the Duke was a strong puissant knight and the condition of the combat such that euery one feared to entermedle therein and as touching the meanes to speake with her if he would vouchsafe to take the paynes he would supper béeing ended conduct him to the place where hee should from her owne mouth heare what shee would say to cléere herselfe Gwaltero béeing by nature pittifull and also by oath of Knight-hood bound to helpe and succour those that were distressed consented to goe with him to the prison Where béeing come and brought into the presence of Vitella her Cosin declared the cause of their comming who after thanks to them giuen and lifting vp both her eyes and hands towards heauen protesting her innocencie she declared as much as she knew touching the same vtterly denying any loue towards Estinio or any other saue onely her Lord Hostinius Gwaltero being fully resolued of her innocencie demaunded if she would put her case into his hands who would for her deliuery aduenture his life and no doubt but her cause béeing iust God would prosper theyr quarrell Shée humbly thanking him answered that séeing he so curteously offered himselfe to him and God onely she committed her case desiring that according to her innocencie he might spéed therein and no otherwise Then taking theyr leaue till the day came he departed leauing her somewhat comforted with hope of her Knights good successe and equitie of her cause CHAP. XVII How Gwaltero combatted with the Duke and slew him of the kind proffers that were made him by Vitella the Nobility with his departure thence THE day béeing come wherin the Lady Vitella was either to bring foorth her Champion or else to commit her body to the fire the Duke béeing royallie accompaned entred the Lists causing her in continent to be sent for and béeing come demaunded for her Champion shée aunswered that God had prouided her one who at the sound of the trumpet would likewise appeare The Duke hearing that shée was prouided of a Knight wondred what he should be
Kingdome of Spaine a noble man called Segnior Adresto famous for his vertues and Chiualry and hauing passed ouer a great part of the world in séeking and following of strange aduentures alwaies hauing fortunate successe in all his enterprises especially in his loue which hee bare towards a noble Lady of his owne Country called Leonarda daughter and sole heyre vnto the Duke of Tolledo one who for beauty and comlinesse of body was the only paragon of all Spaine sought vnto by many but only inioyed by Adresto betwéene whom there grew so great loue that whosoeuer had séene or knowne the same would haue sworne that then loue there had béene no greater dietie Which when the Duke her father vnderstoode being loth to match her vnto one of so meane estate although for his vertues he might compare with any yet was his liuings very small therefore he often warned her to auoyd his company and at length grew in great displeasure with her threatning to disinherit her if she did not obey vnto his will héerein Which the young Lady doubting at their next méeting made him priuy withall assuring him that for his loue she could be contented to forsake all But yet séeing that in time her fathers good will might bee obtained she would intreate him for a while to absence himselfe assuring him that for her part she would alwaies continue faithfull and constant vnto him and neuer accept of any other husband though thereby she were disinherited Adresto hearing her kind and louing spéeches aunswered that séeing it was her pleasure he was contented although to be out of her presence would bee a hell vnto him and whereas shée had made him so frée a graunt of her loue he protested before the heauens likewise neuer to forsake her and that before he would consent to loue any other thē herselfe he would be torne to péeces with wilde horses then deliuering each other asigne of their passed faiths he departed And within short time after left the Kingdome trauelling many strange and vnknowne Regions till at last comming into the Kings of Ireland hee hapned to fall in likingly with a beautifull Damsell of that Country but of meane parentage her father being but a Marchant of that Country On whom he so doted that he had cleane forgotten and forsaken the chast and vertuous Lady Lenarda although the good Lady hauing intelligence héereof by a friend of hers a skilfull Magitian oft times sent vnto him to cause him to call to minde his former loue At length the Duke her father dying and leauing her sole Mistirs and Dutches of his Dukedome shee hauing with great pompe solemnitie celebrated his funerals one day sent for her friend the Magitian to come vnto hor of whom she demaunded if there were no meanes to recall her louer Adresto againe without whom she was like to spend her life time in care and heauinesse Adriano for so the Magitian was called made her aunswere that he could not directly aunswere her demaunde because that she whom he so loued wore alwaies on her finger a Ring which was the only stay of his loue which except they could get from her it was impossible euer to remooue his affection Also this Ring had one other vertue which was that whosoeuer did weare it should not loose so much as a drop of blood in any battaile whatsoeuer wherefore when he combatted with any one as oft times he did for her loue then had he the Ring And vnlesse there could be found a Knight that might by force conquer him in single battaile and take away the Ring from him it was impossible to get the same by any deceit whatsoeuer Lenarda hearing this was as one halfe besides herselfe but being comforted by Adriano who assured her he would trie the vttermost of his skill to find out the Knight as he had spoken of Then taking his leaue of her he returned home where by his art he framed a most rich and faire sword excellent curious to the eye and to cut the best that was then in the whole world this sword he inchaunted in such sort that no man but hée to whom the conquest of Adresto appertained might drawe the same then bringing it to Lenarda willed her to send one of her Squires therwith to séeke out the Knight who should by his vallor recouer her loue then deliuering it to one of her Squires whom she estéemed for his truth and secricie with this commaunde that whosoeuer should offer to draw foorth the sword should first make promise of a boone which was to goe ouer into Ireland and to combat with Adresto accusing him for falcifying of his faith to Lenarda Thus the Squire hauing the sword trauelled to all the Princes Courts in Spaine and Countries thereabouts then into Fraunce Italie and Germanie neuer finding any one that could once mooue it in the Scaberd although many stout hardy Knights made triall thereof to this great griefe fearing his trauell should neuer haue end nor his Lady ease of her sorrowe In this manner hauing trauelled through most part of Germanie he arriued at the Court of Saxonie desiring the Duke that his Knights might make triall if it were any their fortunes to accomplish that for which hee had trauailed she greatest part of Christendome Then shewing his sword hee declared that bearing the same a whole yeere he could neuer finde any one that might draw the same The Duke wondring héereat immediatly after Dinner caused all his Knights to make triall therof himselfe béeing the first but al to no end applyed they their forces Which when the young Prince Iago and the Gentleman of the Forrest beheld they presently fell on theyr knées before the Duke desiring his grace to grant them the order of knight-hood hoping that for one of them this Aduenture was reserued The Duke béeing vnwilling at the first by reason of their young age that béeing knighted they would hazard themselues in séeking after strange aduentures aduised them to stay a yéere or two more before they tooke so waitie a charge on them affirming that it was vnlawfull to dubbe any one before the age of twenty at which time they would be strong and able to indure the weight of their Armour and trauell and not before All which could not cause them to desist from theyr sute but still more earnestlie they craued the same alleaging many sundry examples of those who at younger yéeres had inured themselues to as great labours as Reynaldo at the age of fiftéene yéeres stealing from his fathers court went into Palestina to the Christian Armie where vnder great Godfry of Bullen he obtained to be the chiefe scourge to the Sarasins and without whom it had béene impossible to haue wonne the holy Citty of Ierusalem This and many other such like arguments they alleaged wherby at length they obtained the Duke to consent vnto them willing them for that night according to the auncient custome to watch in the Chappell Then
his Helme desired his Maiestie to grant him leaue to continue the Dukes challendge when the King beheld him and saw that it was the Prince who had subdued the Duke his griefe for his hurts and ouerthrow was somewhat eased Then speaking to the Prince hee sayd my Lord I did not thinke you would haue thus delt with vs as vnknowne thus to haue put vs into such griefe as you haue doone by the wounding and vanquishing of the Duke our Cosin yet seeing it was his owne folly in making the challendge it doth the lesse grieue vs. But for your request in continuance thereof I would wish you rather to giue it ouer then to indanger your selfe therein but if so be you are so minded we fréely grant you leaue praying to God send you better hap then the Duke hath had before you The Prince humbly thanked his Maiestie and then turning to the Princesse Emilia intreated her likewise to graunt him leaue as her father had doone to defend her beautie séeing that it was his hap to obtaine the same by his good Fortune The Princesse being before hand a little touched with his loue and now séeing the paines and danger which he vndertooke for her sake was altogether ouercome wherefore dying her chéekes with a maidenly blush she told him the paines which he already tooke and that he would againe indure for her sake was vnknowne vnto her yet because she would not prooue discurtious nor ingratefull séeing the King her father had thereto consented she was content to accept him for her Knight and to alow of that which he requested The Prince héerewith beeing meruailous contented returned her harty thankes and so departed againe to the Tent where hee was met by the Spanish Prince the Duke of Yorke and Sir Henault and many others and was by them disarmed and after dinner his wounds being bound vp hee armed himselfe againe in a most costly Armor set all with true loue knots wrought of pure gold and beeing attended by the foresayd Lords he entred the Lists where hee had not long remained before such time that there came a Knight of the Kingdome of Naples a man in those parts famoused for his valor and hardinesse and being inamored on a young Damsell of that Country promised her to come into France whereby his valor hee would cause her to bee for euer famoused but his hap was so hard that at the first encounter he was sent to measure his length in the ground not being able to combat After him that day and the next day he vnhorsed to the number of 40 Knights the last day there came very fewe to try themselues the most part hauing in the fiue former daies béene by the Duke foyled by meanes whereof he past away the time in companie of the Spanish Prince and other great Lords vntill it was almost Sun set at which time there entred an ill fauoured withered face fellow something heigher then thrée horse loaues by birth a pagan but brought vp by the Quéene of Portugall as her Dwarfe this proper aplosquire falling in loue with a Damsell almost as hansome as himselfe being likewise attending on the Queene and hauing obtained her good liking on that condition that he should in all places maintaine her beauty desired the Quéene that hee might be made Knight assuring her that he would so behaue himselfe that thee and all others should thinke the order well bestowed vpon him The Quéene séeing his earnestnesse yéelded vnto him and caused him to be Knighted who no sooner hauing receaued the order and hearing of the Duke of Orleance challendge but he determined to fight against him and cause him to confesse his peate to more beautifull then Emilia Continuing in this imagination he caused her Picture to be drawne and therewith came vnto Parris entring the Lists at such time as the Prince with the other Lords were ready to depart and comming vnto the Spanish Prince demaunded which was he that had ouercome the Duke The Prince meruailing to sée such a gallant in that equipage demaunded what he would with him marry quoth the Dwarfe fight with him and cause him to confesse that the Damsell which I loue doth excell in beauty all others the Prince smilling hauing much adoe to containe himselfe from laughter demaunded who was his Lady and where her Picture was Hee aunswered she was attending on the Quéene of Portugall and therewith drew foorth her Picture at sight whereof euery one burst foorth in a great laughter The Dwarfe being héerewith angry asked the Prince whether it were he or no that he had inquired for the Prince aunswered no but showed him the English Prince withall telling him that the time was past whereby hée had lost his labor vnlesse hée could intreate him to Iust willingly Then the Dwarfe comming vnto him intreated him if the time were past that yet in courtisie he would breake a Launce with him he smilling aunswered that betwéene that and Sunne set hee was bound to Iust with any that should come wherefore he was contented Then taking each of them a Launce they ranne together the Prince missing his course of purpose but the Dwarfe with much adoe brake his Launce almost dismounting himselfe with his owne stroke The King Quéene withall the Lords and Ladies laughed hartily héereat the Dutches of Burbone telling Emilia that now her Knight was like to loose all his former honor The Dwarfe had no sooner broken his Launce but presently he drew forth his swoord but the Prince intreated him to runne one course more which he easily yéelded vnto then taking a new speare they ranne againe the Prince taking him in the midst of his Shield bare him out of his saddle a whole speares length not béeing able to rise from the ground Then was sent vnto him by the King the young Prince Phillip his sonne to intreate him to come to the Pallace whether he went béeing accompanied with diuers great Lords and Knights and was very roially receiued by the King the Quéene and their fayre daughter and feasted with many sumptuous and rare sorts of viands after supper they fell againe to theyr wonted sports of dauncing and masking where the English Prince againe made his loue knowne vnto Emilia assuring her that vnlesse shée pittied his estate he was but dead for without her he was but as a shadow without substance or as a body without a soule The Princesse who by this time was as much scorched with the flame as hee and did féele as great force of loue knew not well what to aunswere but at last yéelding to loue she told him that if he loued her as hee made shew of shée had no reason but to requite him with the like but as yet shée was young and at her Parents disposition without whose consent she could not make her owne choyse but if he could obtaine her Fathers consent shee was likewise contented to accept of him as her Lord and husband Héere will we leaue
not to rest nor inioy quiet abode in any place vntill such time as I haue found out those from whom I am descended In the meane time I humbly intreate you to estéeme of mée though vnworthily as your faithfull and deuoted seruant farther desiring that Princesse Egisena to honor me with the title of being her Knight vnder whose protection I cannot looke for ought other then good successe The Dutches being as ioyfull of this his conclusion as sorrowfull for his vowed determination stood still a while making no aunswere at all But at last being resolued in her minde that now or neuer it was time to follow her deuised drift fixed her eyes stedfastly on him turning her spéeches to her daughter sayd Egisena I perceaue now that which I alwaies feared is come to passe concerning the loue betwéene you and this our new Knight which since I perceaue to be true and that to striue againe destenie is bootelesse I both will and commaunde you on paine of incurring my displeasure and by the natural loue you ought to beare me I coniure you not to conceale but to make knowne vnto me whether there be any such loue-liking betwéene you as outward showes séeme to make manifest which if there be I will séeke some meanes to worke both your contents which will be a cause to drawe this Gentleman the sooner againe vnto this our Court. The Princesse that had already béene instructed in her mothers drift and being likewise thereunto of her selfe very willing dying her chéekes with her maidenly blush made her this aunswere Most gracious Princesse and louing mother I doe not well knowe whereunto these your spéeches may intend considering that these vaine toyes of loue as yet I was neuer acquainted with but yet thus much I must néedes confesse that the liking which I haue alwaies had to this Gentleman of the Forrest procéeded as I haue still thought from the naturall loue of a sister towards her brother and since the knowing of the contrary hath continued or I may say bred a greater liking then to any other whatsoeuer but not in such sort as by making choise of him either to displease you or my father The Knight being as ioyfull as might be to heare them in these tearmes for howsoeuer darkly she spake yet loue had so sharpned his wits that he gessed very neere their meaning and comming to the Princesse kissed her hands for those vnséene kindnesses desiring her in all humility to accept him as her humble seruant and faithfull Knight in token whereof she would bestow some thing on him which in all his aduentures might put him in minde of her excellency although her kind curtesies were already so setled in his hart as it was for euer impossible to bée worne out Farther would he haue procéeded but that the Squire earnest of his Mistrisses charge sent vp to hastē him away which both the Dutches and her daughter vnwilling to yéeld vnto at last consented Egisena for a fauor deliuered him a faire Diamond which alwaies she worne on her finger Thus taking his leaue of them beeing accompanied with the Prince Iago and diuers other noble men he was conuaied vnto the Sea-side where they found his ship ready prouided hauing winde at will were ready to set saile There he tooke his leaue of the Prince and others his friends imbracing one another with such showes of sorrowe that caused the whole company and beholders to dew their chéekes with teares The Prince Iago many times intreating to accompanie him in his voyage regarding more his company then his fathers displeasure But hee hauing determined a longer voyage in his minde then suddenly to returne would by no meanes consent vnto the Princes request Thus at length as each thing hath his time and end séeing no intreaty would serue hee committed him to the tuition of the almighty God desiring his prosperous and spéedie returne CHAP. II. How the Gentleman of the Forrest sayling towards Ireland landed in Northwales where he fought with a huge Monster and what was the successe thereof THE Gentleman of the Forrest beeing aboorde and hauing taken his leaue of the Prince and the rest of his friends they set saile hauing the wind fayre and the Seas calme euen as if Neptune had roused vp himselfe to welcome some déere friend the Dolphins Porpises and other strange fishes playing aboue the waters round about the Shippe as béeing sent of purpose to shewe pleasure to the passengers whereat our new Knight tooke no small content Thus passing away the time somewhiles in beholding the fishes and other sea sights and in pleasant and merry talke with the Pilot and Maister of the Ship concerning the customes and maners of the Seas they sayled by the space of eyght dayes with a prosperous and large wind when towards the euening the Maister looking abroad to sée whether he could discerne any land happened to sée in the West north west a small clowde rising in manner of a mans hand which the more he beheld the blacker still it séemed which caused him to doubt some insuing storme therefore willing his company to take in their top sayles and also to vnlace theyr drablets and bannets determining to try with theyr Cosses onely Scarce had they obeyed halfe his commaundement when the Sky béeing before very cléere began to ouercast and the winds to blow in such sort that in lesse space then an houre the Seas were growne so outragious that it séemed euery billow straue one with the other which should first boord their distressed burthen the boat-swaine and his fellowes indeuouring with all theyr might to take in that little saile which they bare and although it were but their cosses yet could they not doe it without great danger paine Others found themselues busied in pomping and casting foorth the water each man imploying his best help for their liues ayde And the Prince although vnskilfull yet laboring as hard as any of the rest sometimes taking his turne at the pumpe sometimes to lift ouer-boord such thinges as might any waies be a hinderance to the more light working of their shippe on the Seas so that his labour was profitable two waies the one of it selfe wherein he did asmuch good as any man the other his example which caused euery one to be the more willing to performe their labor Thus continued the storme for the space of two daies to the great discomfort of all the company but especially of the Knight who béeing ouertrauailed with labour and his bodie not béeing to-fore vsed vnto the Sea repaired into his Cabin and casting himselfe on his bed hoping to take some easement to his restlesse body but sléepe the comforter of those that are weary yéelded him small reliefe for no sooner were his eyes closed but that the memory of the Princesse Egisenas beauty represented it selfe vnto him then would he consider with himselfe the likelihood of his obtaining her as the great fauor which both the
had séene when first he left his owne Country Whilst they were thus discoursing of loue they perceaued a great troope of Knights comming galloping towards them which when they were come néere vnto them the Princesse knewe them to be the Quéenes Knights who being gathered together and finding her wanting were sent to pursue the Giant and now hauing found her so well rescued they were not a little glad thereof meruailing greatly how she had escaped And demaunding of her were giuen to vnderstand the whole discourse before recited wherein shee did not faile to extoll the Knights vallor to the vttermost but hee attributed his victory more to her beauty then his owne vallour Thus rode they on till they came to the Citty one of the Knights carrying the Giants head to the great wonder of the whole Citty who highly commended so vallerous a déede And comming to the Court they were receaued with great ioy by the Quéene and the Princesse Emilia who assuredly estéemed her lost but when they vnderstood the manner how shee was deliuered they gaue God harty thankes greatly honoring and commending the Knight of fortune feasting and intertaining him with all the kindnesse that might be and being lodged in the Pallace was euery day during the cure of his wounds visited by the Princesse Emilia and her daughter vnto whom many times hee declared his passions which the Princesse perceauing to be extreame beganne something to pitty him which Cupid perceauing and minding to showe his diuine power wounded her to the hart with one of his impoysoned shafts whereby shee could neuer bée in quiet but in his presence which hee perceauing beganne farre sooner then otherwise he could haue done to recouer his strength so that within fiftéene daies he was throughly whole and being able to beare Armor againe determined to trauel towards the inchaunted Castle but first he thought good once more to try the Princesse as you shall heare in the Chapter following CHAP. XVI How the Knight of Fortune made himselfe knowne to the Princesse Oliua and hauing obtained her loue departed towards the Inchaunted Castle and how he was there taken prisoner THE Knight of Fortune béeing throughly healed of his wounds which he had receiued in fighting with the Giant Latron when as he deliuered the Princesse Oliua and minding to make triall of the aduenture of the inchaunted Castle one day finding the Princesse sollitarie walking in the Pallace garden came vnto her and after salutations past betwéene them began as followeth Most excellent beautious Princesse if the cruell paines of a faithfull Louer may any way mooue compassion in a Ladies hart or the endlesse sighes and teares of a Knight wounded by Cupids shafts may deserue to be pittied then I beseech you Madam to behold him that not onely languisheth but is euen ready through the extreame passions which I féele to suffer death for your loue béeing appointed by the Destinies to loue you before euer I had sight of this your heauenly and diuine beauty since which time it hath so increased in me that I finde no other remedy if you prooue cruell but death onely which if you should would be to me most welcome The Princesse hearing this which vnto her was most pleasant answered Knight of Fortune what other name to call you by I am vtterly ignorant of the loue which you say you beare vnto me may be great neither doo I thinke the contrary as the hazarding of your selfe to saue my life I must néedes confesse deserues the greatest recompence that I can bestow on you But how farre vnfitting it is for one of my estate to place my affection on a stranger whose name nor Country I know not yea peraduenture on such a one who though now he seemes to loue yet hauing gayned what he séekes for may as soone leaue me but put case I were so fondly bent as not looking before I leapt should place my affection on you doo you thinke that eyther the King my Grandfather or the rest of my friends would giue consent to my choise surely I am perswaded they would neuer yéeld thereto The Knight hauing attentiuely listned to her discourse and withall noting her change of culler whilst that she was speaking especially when shée séemed to make doubt of his constancie replyed Worthy Princesse whose beautie excelleth the most fayrest and whose wisedome excelleth that beautie my name which vnto none since I left my owne Country I haue declared is Iago my natiue soile the Dutchie of Saxony where my aged Father gouerns not knowing what is become of me his vnhappy sonne who for the desire of séeking strange aduentures stale secretly out of his Court what since hath befalne me I thinke partly by my selfe and my Squire you haue already heard But where you séeme to doubt of my loyaltie I beséech God no longer to permit my life then vnto you I proue faithfull whereas you likewise doubt your friends consents thinke not but both your Grandfather yea and the Prince your Father likewise who I doubt not ere long to sée at libertie wil easily giue their consents séeing you desirous to accord thereto The Princesse no longer able to conceale the loue which she bare him and knowing him to be the Prince of Saxonie whose forwardnesse long before by fame had béen bruted in the French Court together with that of his supposed Brother the Gentleman of the Forrest demaunded whether it were himselfe or his Brother that had atchieued the aduenture of the inchaunted Sword The Knight answered that it was his supposed brother whose absence was the chiefest cause of his trauell And herewithall hee declared vnto her the strange finding of Euordanus together with the great loue and affection betweene them as is before declared at which discourse the Princesse tooke great delight and in the end hauing fully resolued with herselfe she was contented to take him for her husband And hauing thus vowed each to other fayth and loyaltie hee tooke his leaue of her with many a chast kisse the next day preparing himselfe to trauell towards the inchaunted Castle where within sixe dayes after hee arriued reasonable betimes in the morning And béeing come euen to the Bridge foote hee was willed by a Squire to passe no further then presently came foorth the Giant Brandofell mounted on a mightie Courser bearing in his hand a Lance big enough to haue béen the Mast of a small shyppe Which when the Knight of Fortune beheld hee greatly admired the same yet not béeing any thing afraid he set spurres to his horse addressing his shield and placing his Launce in his rest which he directed right against the Giants breast who by reason of his huge stature bare his Launce so hie that cōming together he ranne the same cleane ouer his head not so much as once touching him therewith but the Knights Launce hitting in the midst of the Giants shielde brake into a thousand shiuers causing the huge tower to bend backwards
Knight of the Lyons with their cōpany some others to the number of two hundred would not at all ioyne themselues with any of the troopes but in a loose manner would make a tryall to breake in on the backs of their enemies as soone as the battell should begin each one of thē for their better knowledge to theyr friends wearing on their Helmes a crosse of gréene and corronation coloured silke in this sort was ranged the whole battell of the States On the contrary side the Earle Dowglasse placed his Army in another maner making as it were but one maine battaile of his whole Armie in the midst whereof he placed for his owne gard fiue thousand Scots the rest he intermixed with the Danes the greatest part whereof hee placed in the forefront of the battaile his wings consisted most of a light kind of people which did vse to cast Darts beeing armed onely with a short sword and target with which when they came to ioyne blowes they did great spoyle to theyr enemies And now both Armies béeing thus ranged in battaile aray the Drummes Trumpets sounded making a most ioyfull sound to them whose harts not daunted with feare desired to incounter with their enemies euery Captaine incouraging his men to fight valiantly and to doe their best to winne the victory The chiefe of the states incouraging theyr souldiers with the iustice of theyr cause as beeing vrged to fight for their fréedome and liberty of their Country By this time were both Armies come together the Lord Louden giuing the first charge vpon his enemies brake his Launce valiantly and drawing out his sword beeing followed by his company made way through his enemies ranks but soone he was stopped from going farre and had it not béene that the Duke of Litsenbege and the Lord of Opencade came with fresh succours they had béene all put to the sword For the Scots séeing the violent rashnesse of the Lord Louden and the Count Mildrope opened theyr ranks of purpose and hauing suffered them to enter inclosed them round about but now at the cōming of the Duke the battell began to grow very hote insomuch that there were many slaine of both sides The Scots euer kéeping themselues close together made themselues the stronger whereas the States for want of skill and knowledge suffered theyr troopes to breake theyr ranks to theyr great dammage Which the Earle Dowglasse perceiuing with some twelue or fouretéene thousand entred in amongst thē making great slaughter where they went The Earle this day shewing that his yéeres had not any way taken away the vallor which in his former dayes he had showed for it was thought that this day hee slew with his owne hands aboue thréescore Knights Now beganne the Danes to fly trusting rather to their héeles then the defence of their swords which the Lord Itzenho and the Lord Rensberge perceauing came in with the rereward and againe renewed the fight which before was almost ended gathering together the disperced troops of the Duke But alas to small purpose had this their new onset béene had it not béene that the King with his company of Venturers hauing fetched about a great hill which lay on the side of the battaile came at the same instant on the backe of their enemies and withall their might charging them entred pell mell amongst them killing a great many before such time as they could turne their faces to knowe from whence this mischiefe came The King accompanied with the Knight of the Lions Adresto and the Lord Gwaltero made a plaine way for the rest to follow them especially the Knight of the Lions who neuer strake stroke but was either the death or dismembring of some Knight The Lord of Menew and Sir Henault did likewise the part of noble Knights so as in short space the odds beganne to appeare on the side of the States who before were euen vanquished Which when the Earle Dowglasse sawe and grieuing to behold he with his elected company came to make head where he sawe most danger and perceauing that the Knight of their Lions was in a manner the whole ouerthrow of his Armie hée set spurres to his horse and comming vnto him gaue him a great blowe on his Helme causing him to bend his head forwards But he soone requited the same for lifting vp his sword he gaue the Earle such a blowe that had he not warded the same with his shield hee had ended therewith his life for notwithstanding his defence it caused him to fall from his horse in a traunce and so was taken prisoner to the great discouragement of the whole Armie who presently put themselues to flight but were so hotly persued that they were but few that escaped but were either slaine or taken prisoners Of men of name there was slaine of the States the Duke of Litsenburge the Lord Londen and the Count of Mildrope And of the Scots traytors there was slaine Sir Iames Lewrence the Earles Cosin the Lord Crecon a Scot and the Count Hermes with some twenty thousand of the Commons There was taken prisoners the Earle Dowglasse the Vicount Barwicke the Archbishop of Maiance and the Lord Harding which two latter were the next day executed for their rebellion Thus the victory béeing obtained by the States they gaue thanks to GOD with publique solemne prayers then causing the wounded to be cured they called a counsell to determine on their affaires where all the chiefe of the Armie béeing assembled euery man commended the great vallour of the Venturers but especially that of the Knight of the Lyons the gréene Knight which was Adresto and the two tawny Knights whereof the one was the King the other the Lord Gwaltero The King now séeing it was not good longer to conceale himselfe stoode foorth in the midst of the Assembly and taking of his Helme discouering his face spake with a resonable loude voyce My friends welbeloued Countrimen I perceaue the long absence of your King hath worne out in many theyr naturall loue obedience which they ought to haue to theyr natiue Country and also in most of you the knowledge of me who by the prouidence of God and vallour of this noble Knight poynting to the Knight of the Lyons am deliuered from a long and grieuous imprisonment which my Cosin Gwaltero and many others héere present can well witnesse and now am come vnto the ayde of you my true and louing Subiects Wherefore it is my will that the chiefe of those conspirators who haue raised this rebellion be to morrow next to the example of all others hangd drawne and quartered The whole Assembly hearing séeing theyr King who for the space of twenty yéeres they all imagined to be dead with one voyce cryed aloude Long liue King Fredericke to raine and rule ouer vs and withall ranne each striuing to come first to kisse his hands and welcome him into his kingdome greatly desiring to heare the cause of his long absence which was deferred till some other more conuenient time This newes was presently spred through the whole Army to the great ioy of all men which they euidently shewed by their shoutes and bonfires which they made that night The next day the King hauing séene the execution of the chiefe Traytors and pardoning the rest dismissing all his Army sauing some few which he sent to the Townes that were in rebellion which presently yéelded vnto his mercie he departed towards Maiance hauing still in his company the Knight of the Lyons and Adresto whom he intirely loued and to whom he made many large proffers if they pleased to haue stayed in his kingdome And being come to Maiance he was receiued with the greatest ioy that might be by the Cittizens where he remained by the space of a month in the greatest ioy that hart could wish saue onely the remembrance of his Quéene did something hinder the fulnes thereof which was awhile swéetned with the delightfull company of his vnknowne sonne where I will leaue them and so conclude the second part of this history FINIS