by this request and all things are now preparing for the Baptisme of this noble yong Prince At the arriuall of these two Kings great ioyes and triumphs were made by the Citizens of London and as concerning their entertainment at the Court you must thinke it was according to their high estates withall that Englishmen are not to learne to welcome Strangers When the day was come that the yong Prince should be Christened as the King his Father had requested he was named Palladine and afterward to honor the tune and the royall companie there wanted no worthy deuises with exquisite Chiualrie perfourmed both at the Tilt and Tourney wherein the King of Scots bare great estimation being a yong Prince aged sixe and twenty yéeres and one that in Knightly exercises carried especiall account Yet was not this ioy alone in the Court but in London likewise the Citizens shewed the like where the Conduits ranne diuers sorts of Wines the Stréetes were stored with Tables before the dores and all kinde of good chéere placed thereon with such ringing of Belles and making Bone-fiers as neuer was the like seene before that time It were too long a matter to rehearse what braue Theatres were erected and therein presented most excellent Comedies with Maskes Mommeries and all kinde of delightfull inuentions during the time of this Feast which continued fifteene dayes together It shall suffise me to tell yee how the King Milanor hearing that the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles would now returne home againe was desirous to haue the aduenture tried of the thrée Statues before they went and therefore caused to be proclaimed by sounde of Trompet through all the streetes in London that all Knights and Gentlemen should on the morrow come to the Pallace to aduenture their fortune for the rich Sheeld and the God Cupid so that if any one could take them from the Statues with right good will they should enioy them The like protestation was made of the Image of Venus and the rich Crowne which was destenied to the most accomplished Lady in beautie the fame whereof called faire beauties darlings to the Court on heapes each one thinking to beare away the Crowne by the benefite of her amiable lookes Wherefore the place and houre being appointed God knowes how they laboured to augment their naturall beautie by arteficiall meanes as oyntments distilled waters perfumes and other like extraordinarie matters which many Gentlewomen who haue any naturall imperfection at this day vse to make them seeme more amiable But now is the day come to make triall of the aduenture when the King Milanor with the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles and all the Ladies of the Court went to the voyde place before the Pallace and there on a faire Skaffolde couered with rich Tapistrie sate downe to take view of the valiant Knightes who durst presume to take the Sheeld from the Piller No sooner were they placed as beseemed their estates but twelue English Knightes esteemed of greatest courage and valour in the Countrey presented themselues well armed to trie their fortune After they had done reuerence to the Kings and Estates present he that imagined himselfe of highest resolution among them stept vp on foure of the staires before the Piller thinking to reach the Shéeld that hung thereon but the enchaunted Image drawing his fauchion with such furious strokes repulsed him downe againe as he durst not presume to meddle any more to the no little maruaile of the King and his companie who were not wont to behold such vncouth spectacles Next came a gallant yong Knight well prouided with a Romaine Target and a short arming Sword and with maruellous valour he ranne vp the steps before the Collomne and attained to the highest step of all but he went downe againe sooner then he expected for the Image threw him so violently backe againe as he tumbled headlong downe the staires to the ground Like fortune fell to the rest of the twelue some shewing greater magnanimitie in fight then other did yet their foile was alike and this Shéeld of honor could not be wonne by any of them Then came the Quéene to the Skaffold where the Kings sate and vnderstanding how the Knightes had sped in this first Aduenture she sayd Straunge is it my good Lords that no one of our Knightes can preuaile let the Gentlemen prooue the aduenture of the second Statue whereon the God of loue sheweth himselfe which must be conquered by none as I heare but by the most loyall Knight in the world by this meane shall we know them that haue best deserued toward their Ladies and who excéedeth all other in constancie Madame aunswered the King Milanor we thinke your councell verie necessarie for long will this Sheeld hang heere if no other Knightes then of our Realme come to trie their fortune such therefore as hold best opinion of their owne loialtie make triall of your vertue at the God of Loue and frée libertie we graunt to all straunge Knightes as to them of our Realme which our Heralds shall signifie for their better assurance CHAP. III. ¶ How many Knightes and Gentlemen of England Scotland and Norgalles aduentured to winne the Image of Cupid destenied to the most loyall and how they were all repulsed and the Ladies likewise in â—heir triall for the rich Crowne WHen the Herald had publikely deliuered his charge the King commaunded all the Knightes to vnarme themselues for loyaltie quoth he is not to be discouered by armes but by the hidden vertue thought consisting in the hart of a man My Lord sayd the Quéene had you not assured me to whome this aduenture is reserued I would haue intreated your Maiestie to make the first triall Then Madame quoth the King you haue some suspition of my loyaltie Not so my Lord sayd she for nothing is lesse in my thought and so certaine perswasion do I hold thereof as I feare not that all present should behold your vertue to the greater enlarging of your honor and mine owne While these spéeches passed a yong English Gentleman came to mount the steps that enuironed the Collomne whereon the God of Loue stoode but as he lifted his foote to the nethermost step the Statue tumbled him backe with his héeles vpward so that euery one laughed hartely thereat In sooth my fréend said the King verie little loyaltie remaines in you whome loue cannot abyde the sight of if your Lady be in this company good occasion hath she to get her a better seruant Then came another who had many times inuocated on the name and fauour of his Mistresse and he without any impeachment mounted on the third step making an offer to attaine the fourth but the Statue thrust him downe againe whereby he might perceiue his owne insufficiencie Beleeue me quoth the Quéene he hath done much better than the other and the Lady he loueth is greatly beholding to him for iustly may he be accounted loyall in that the Image suffered him to ascend
separated them as you shall presently heare CHAP. XIX ¶ How a strange aduenture happened in the Citie of Varne by the ending whereof the Prince Palladine determined to depart from the Duchesse Brisalda HEere must I intreate ye to remember the Princes of Norgalles and Scots Landastines and Simprinell whome we left in the King of Englands Court Landastines being enamoured on the Princesse Florea Sister to Palladine as Manteleo was of his faire Marcelina Simprinell loth to part them that agréed so well left his companion in England trauailing to the King of Norgalles Court where he certified his Maiestie of the good estate of his Sonne Landastines Which newes were so welcome to the King as he intreated Simprinell to abide in his Court that he might shew him the pleasures of his Realme whereto the yong Prince right willingly condiscended as one desirous to behold nouelties But rather the chéefest cause was his affection to the faire Princesse Belanicia daughter to the King of Norgalles with whose beawtie he was meruailously enthralled and not daring to acquaint her with his loue he fell into a dangerous sicknes to the great gréef of the King who loued him as he had béene his owne Sonne In the end the Phisitions hauing declared to Simprinell how perillous his case stood by concealing his gréefe made him thus resolued that before he died he would make knowne to the Princesse Belanicia who oftentimes came her selfe to visit him and sent him many comfortable meates in his sicknesse the originall cause of his extremitie And one time among other the Lady that was most vsually sent by the Princesse and in whome she reposed greatest confidence desired him to bewray from whence his sicknesse grew promising withall that she would labour to her vttermost to procure his health The yong Prince very modest and bashfull taking the Lady by the hand thus aunswered Faire freend I thanke ye for your readie good will in séeking my helpe which is a matter not impossible to bee done but as for the cause of my languishing disease I will not acquaint ye therewith vnlesse ye sweare to keepe the same secret not reuealing it to any one but such as I shall name Assure your selfe thereof said the Lady by the faith of a virgin Know then sweete Lady quoth Simprinell that my extreame sicknesse happened by no other cause then the loue and affection I beare to your mistresse and feare to offend her or the King hath by silence of my loue brought me to this daunger Why my Lord quoth she you that are of so high and honorable discent can ye offend my Lady by louing her or you that are as good as she doo not deserue loue for loue she is the child of a King and so are you beside she is humble and gracious as any Princesse liuing then feare not to let her knowe your daunger Alas Madame quoth he neuer shall I dare to speake to her but may it please you to solicite my cause yet with carefull héed of her dislike I shall confesse my life preserued by you And so much will I doo for ye my Lord quoth she without giuing her any occasion of offence but rather shall I doo it in such sort as by a speedie answere you shall perceiue her mind Go then good madame said the Prince and boldly may ye assure her that my life or death is in her hand So went the Lady to her mistresse to whome she imparted what you haue heard wherewith she was so well pleased as she presently sent to him againe this aunswere that she entertained his loue with the like and that as he would witnesse his affection towards her he should practise what spéed he could deuise for his health These words breathed such life into the Prince as within few dayes he was perfectly recouered when after many amorous parlees with Belanicia she to make a triall how his loue was grounded hauing heard report of the faire Duchesse Brisalda desired him to trauell to Varne in Bulgaria carying with him her liuely counterfeit and there to maintaine against all Knightes whatsoeuer that she was fairer then the Duchesse Brisalda on which condition she would accept him as her Knight and loyall seruant Simprinell glad to be so commaunded the next day hee departed with his foure Squires and comming to Varne where the Duchesse remained heard what braue imployment was there in Chiualrie wherefore comming to the accustomed place of the Tourney on a faire Piller he placed his Ladyes picture saying he would maintaine against all commers that his mistresse excéeded the Duchesse Brisalda in beautie The Knightes attendant on the Duchesse were amazed héereat preparing themselues to defend her cause but Simprinell willed them first to bring the Duchesse counterfeit and it to be placed by his Ladies and the conquerour should carie them both with him Right soone was the Duchesse figure set on the Piller and Simprinell this first day dismounted twelue Knights Palladine being ridden abroade on hunting which made Brisalda despaire of her fortune fearing the strange champion would depart vnconquered This dayes good successe emboldened Simprinell to try the second when Palladine entring the Listes among the other Knightes whome one by one he saw brauely vnhorsed he came to Simprinell with these spéeches In sooth Sir Knight I commend your enterprise beeing a cause that maketh many forward in Armes but as for the Lady whome you extoll beyond my Lady the Duchesse héer present I say and will auerre the contrary against you and all other till the houre of death If affection hath blinded your eyes I soone shall alter that opinion when your owne selfe shall confesse that your Lady is no way to be compared with mine I imagine by your words Sir answered Simprinell that you will defend your mistresse by the toong onely but let vs goe to the matter roundly for you are not yet so good an Oratour as to perswade me from a resolued assurance You thinke then quoth Palladine that I thinke to escape the Combate by my words Not so for you shall sée me effectually defend the honor of her beautie who is my mistresse So giuing the spurres to their horsses they encountred with such violence as Palladine lost his stirrops but Simprinell was cast foorth of his saddle to the great ioy of the Duchesse and her freends that his presumptuous arrogancie was so worthely checked Afterward they fell to the Combate with the Sword and long they fought without any aduantage till Palladine by tripping his enemie got him downe and himselfe vpon him when holding his Sword ouer him he sayd Now must thou confesse the Duchesse Brisalda to be a Lady farre excelling thine in beautie elfe art thou not like to sée her again◠Seeing fortune hath throwne me into this extremitie said Simprinell I confesse my selfe vanquished but to say that my mistresse is inferiour to thine I will not though I die therefore nor am I otherwise bound by my owne conditions
then to leaue her portrait to the will of the conquerour The Iudges of the féeld gaue sentence accordingly wherevpon Palladine left Simprinell and went to place the Duchesse counterfeit aboue Belanicia albeit he perceiued her figure much more beautifull by which conceit he gathered that this was she of whome the wise Orbiconte told him wherefore he onely minded Belanicia purposing right soone to forsake the Duchesse As he was vnarming in his chamber he began to thinke how he might leaue Brisalda and what excuse would serue for his departure yet when he considered his good entertainement and what especiall fauour he had receiued at her hands he altered his mind reputing the words of Orbiconte for méere illusions And as he continued in this déepe musing he thought he heard one whisper in his eare saying It is not heere Palladine that thou must abide wherefore follow the good fortune that is promised thée Héerevpon he concluded what euer happened he would depart on the morrow and thereof that night he meant to aduertise the Duchesse to whome he went right soone afterward CHAP. XX. ¶ How Palladine aduertised the Duchesse of his departure and how trauailing to the Realme of Norgalles he had a dangerous Combate with Simprinell whome he knew afterward SUch were y t troublesome thoughts of Palladine in hastening his departure toward Belanicia as without any longer stay he came to the Duchesse who séeing him looke so sad desired to knowe the cause thereof In sooth Madame quoth he I can not forget the strange Knight that I Iousted withall this day right sorie I am that I demaunded not his name for I imagin I haue sometime seene him in England If that be all sayd the Duchesse we will send for the Knight hither but her sending was in vaine for he departed immediatly after the Combate When Palladine sawe no excuses would serue but she would néedes presse him with earnest request of his penstuenesse he said Let it not dislike ye good Madame if I haue intended any thing for your honor and mine owne but rather conceiue thereof as it deserueth Full well you knowe faire mistresse that hardly can we continue our loue together enioying the benefite y t good hap affoords vs without iealous suspition of your Lords and Ladyes and affection maketh amorous fréends oftentimes forgetfull of themselues so that béeing subiect to the iudgement of many they shall hardly escape without scandalous and peremptorie spéeches And nothing sweet Madame is more hurtfull to our honors especially yours in respect of your greatnesse and authoritie to preuent which danger and that héereafter we may stand out of the reach of wounding toongs I meane to trauaile to England to the King my Father whome I wil acquaint with the intended mariage betwéene vs and his good will obtained right soone shall I returne to haue it accomplished In the meane while you may conferre thereon with the Lords of your Councell who I thinke will not dislike thereof when they vnderstand my birth and parentage so shall our credits be safely defended and what hath past alreadie be sufficiently recompenced When Brisalda heard these spéeches her heart was so swollen with gréefe as she was not able to make any aunswere whereat he could not but meruaile considering his words tended to great reason yet with such zealous perswasions he still laboured her making faithfull promise of his spéedie returne as in the end he obtained her consent albeit God knowes verie vnwillingly Giuing her then an amorous conge he tooke two bracelets from his armes verie richly embellished with pearle and stone and presented them to the Duchesse saying On the same day I came to your Court swéete Madame you gaue me a iewell which I will kéepe for your sake while I liue that you may likewise remember me I beséech ye to weare these bracelets which were giuen me by my mother on the day I was Knighted Alas my Lord quoth she I doubt you haue left me such a remembrance as except you spéedily returne againe will beare me company to my latest home Yet will I kéepe one of the bracelets for your sake and when you come againe I will haue the other So putting the bracelet on her arme she vowed neuer to take it off vntill she sawe her Knight returned With many kind embracings and deuoute kisses he returned to his lodging and the Duchesse to her chamber where calling her trustie maiden to her who was a captiue Moore and one not a little in her fauour being acquainted with all that had passed betweene the Prince and her with many bitter sighes and teares she telles the Moore the summe of her greefe The Moore perswaded her that the Prince heerein had done aduisedly for safetie of both their honors if their loue as greatly she doubted had sorted to effect for secrecie must be the meane to couer such matters which she would so substancially bring to passe as none but themselues should be acquainted therewith With much adóo the Duchesse was pacified and on the morrow when Palladine departed she sent him a pursse of gold to spend in his trauaile causing her Lords to accompanie him two or thrée miles on his way and so though loth these louers are seperated the Duchesse abiding â—olitarie in her Pallace and Palladine hauing bidden the Lords adiew is iourneying in haste toward Norgalles He had not ridden halfe part of the day but a Knight with thrée Squires gallopped after him crying Stay Sir Knight for héere commes one that must speake with thée Palladine presently turning his horsse tooke his Launce from his Squire thus aunswering What is he that would speake with me let him kéepe out at the length of my Launce till I haue better knowledge of him why he should come to seeke me in such haste Because thou wouldest so faine knowe me aunswered the Knight thou shalt vnderstand that I am the man thou didst vanquish yesterday more by fortune then prowesse therefore I would now trie againe how well I can reuenge my former foyle So fetching their carire they encountred together so brauely as they were both dismounted and while their Squires laboured to catch their horsses that ran about the féeld they fell to the combate with the Sword and wounded each other very dangerously till in the end Palladine got the aduantage and as he made proffer to smite off his enemies head he knew him to be Simprinell Sonne to the King of Scots Soone was all the former vnkindnesse pacified and each embraced other verie louingly reproouing themselues of great wrong to fréendship yet excusing the same by ignorance When their Squires sawe how they were wounded one of them thus spake In this wood my Lords is a faire Abbey and there remaineth one verie skilfull in Chirurgerie so please ye to goe thither the Abbot will entertaine ye gently because he is brother to a worthie Gentleman who spent his time as a Knight errant and for his sake he loueth all
the other he went vp into the great Hall where the Quéene the Princesse and all the Courtly Ladies being choisely tricked in their brauest accoustrements welcommed them with meruailous kindnesse especially Nonparelia who shined like the morning Starre among the other virgins her courtesies to the Prince excéeded all comparison These Courtly ceremonies ouerpassed the Knightes were conducted to their chambers to refresh themselues and change their habites while the roiall supper was preparing Now was the Knight without rest thoroughly set to worke with consideration of the Princesse supernaturall beautie and longer would he haue continued in this rauishing studie but that the Prince Zorian came to aduertise him that the King stayed onely his comming So walked they together into the great Hall where the King caused the Knight without rest to sit next him at the table and the Princesse Nonparelia right ouer against him a thing to her no little contentation that she might behold the worthie personage who had gained the onely priuiledge of her heart All supper time these two louers fed on no other viands then the one regarding the other with piercing lookes for their amorous affections so ouermaisterd their sences as they forgot to receiue any sustenance The supper ended the Lords and Ladies of the Court fell to dauncing meane while the Princesse Nonparelia hauing noted the gracious behauiour of the Knight without rest took the hardines vpon her to come néere him and hauing with great modestie saluted him thus spake As I vnderstand Sir Knight the King my Father and all his are highly beholding to you in respect of your honorable paines in the late battell against our enemies Alas Madame quoth he if I had not as then beene present yet doubtlesse you had béene assured of victorie little then is the glorie that I haue deserued Heerein you must pardon me Sir aunswered the Princesse for I haue heard credibly reported that but for you we had lost the day yet let me intreate so much fauour as to tell me of whence you are and what might be the occasion of this great kindnesse that for my fathers sake you should so gladly thrust your life into danger Madame quoth he so long since did your diuine name ouercome me and such is your present authoritie ouer me as death shall not make me conceale or disguise the truth to you Knowe then sweete Lady and hold it for certaine that nothing procured me to assist the King your Father in his late warres but onely your loue beautie and good grace all which I haue heard so generally commended as now I confesse report hath not feigned In sooth my Lord quoth she such vertues as you speake of are hard to be sound in me but let it be as you please to alleadge yet no one is so much bound to thanke you as my selfe for if the King my Father had lost the honor of the battell too late had it beene for me to renew the peace falling into the subiection of the verie worst man in the world to whome my selfe denied the request of marriage and héere hence grew the warre betwéene my Father and the King of Panonia So much good Madame quoth he did I heare before by the Gouernour of Enna and the wise Lady Orbiconte who intreated me and my companie verie honorably at her Pallace and if in this action I haue done you any seruice I account my labour well bestowed and repute my selfe beyond all other in fortune hauing disappointed a Prince so contrarie to the vertues and perfections wherewith your gracious nature is accompanied for a man of so bad conditions ought to haue sorted out one like to himselfe In déede my Lord quoth she you haue said the truth notwithstanding his euill disposed and deformed bodie made me not refuse him but his great defect of vertue and honestie for the gifts of the mind are to be preferred before those of nature yet was he acquainted neither with the one or other Longer would they haue continued in talke but that the King commaunded to ceasse the dauncing because the Knightes should goe rest themselues in their chambers wherefore the Princesse breathing a vehement sigh from her inward soule gaue the courteous good night to the Knight without rest who hauing deuoutly kissed her faire white hand followed the King to his lodging and there committing his highnesse to the fauour of the night was by the two Princes brought to his chamber they both louing him as he had béene their brother especially Zorian the yongest who determined to accompanie him when he left the Court and to séeke aduentures with him as a Knight errant As each one thus departed to his lodging the Princesse called Broantine to her and enquired of him what and of whence the knight without rest was Madame quoth Broantine at this time I can hardly satisfie you yet thus much I dare assure ye as I vnderstood by the wise Lady Orbiconte that he is discended of royall linage and one that I am especially bound to hauing receiued vnspeakable fauours at his hands In sooth said the Princesse he may well be said to procéede of royall parentage in that his ordinarie behauiour declares no lesse but doo you knowe the cause of his comming into this Countrey so slenderly accompanyed and why he entred a quarrell nothing concerning himselfe The cause as I haue heard good Madame quoth Broantine was the renowme of a Ladies beautie famed through the world to excell the fairest At these words the Princesse began bashfully to blush séeing these spéeches agréed with those the Prince himselfe spake which encreased the amorous fire alreadie kindled in her heart and that did Broantine very well perceiue yet he dissembled as though he knew nothing So departed the Princesse to her chamber and Broantine went presently to the knight without rest to whome he reuealed his talke with Nonparelia aduising him to follow a matter so well begun for there was hope of good successe to be expected The Prince embracing Broantine gaue him thanks for his freendly tidings and the next day happened a notable occasion both to the honor of the knight without rest and to assure him of the Princesse For Sulbern cousin to the Giant Muzimalde came and challenged the Combate against him that slew his kinseman which the knight without rest accepting in open feeld ouercame his proude enemie and thereby wonne the especiall good liking of the King and the whole Court Yet was not this Combate sought without great daunger in respect Sulbern was a man in stature equall to Muzimalde and two such monstrous aduersaries would put an approued champion to his triall but though the Knight without rest was verie sore wounded and many times brought in hazard of his life yet at length he bare away the honor of the féeld and the head of his enemie as a present to his mistresse Now doth Venus lighten all her Lampes and the religious louers approch her altars offering
when the Gentlemen in the Kings Pallace came to open the windowes they beheld in the great waste place before the Court thrée Statues of Copper each one about eight foote in height and by each of them stoode a Collomne of blacke Marble on the formost whereof hanged a Shéeld of fine and pure Steele right curiously engrauen and pollished and enriched with many pretious stones and iewelles in bréefe such was the workemanship and deuise thereof as neyther sword launce or bullet from an Harquebuzo could any way pierce or enter it Aboue this Sheeld on the same piller was engrauen these verses in faire gréene letters whereto the Statue pointed with one of his fingers Pallas the wise Goddesse whose skill thus framed me Ordaind I must be giuen vnto the cheefe in chiualrie The second Statue shewed on his Piller the God of loue Cupid being framed of massie Orientall Pearle holding a golden bowe in his hand and his arrowes in a Quiuer of golde by his side vnder his féete on the Piller was engrauen these verses in Romane letters No one so stout or affable can take me from this place Except in loyaltie of loue all other he surpasse The third Statue made in forme of a goodly beawtifull woman shewed on the Collomne standing by her the Image of the Goddesse Venus in white Alablaster hauing on her head a Crowne of Golde embellished with many Rubies Diamonds Emeraulds and other precious Stones of great value This Image of Venus held in her left hand a flaming strebrand and pointed with her right hand to the Crowne Under her feete hung a Table wherein was written two French verses thus Englished This Crowne is for the Ladie framd That chiefe in beautie shall be namd The two first Statues séemed like two fierce and strong Sauage men each of them hauing a great fauchion hanging in Skarffes by their sides and in such sort were they charmed as whosoeuer made offer to take the Crowne or touch the God of Loue was immediatly assayled by one of the men who would not giue ouer till he had vanquished him Many Knightes of England and other Countreys aduentured their fortunes at these Statues but were still repulsed vntill the Knight came that conquered these monstrous men as héereafter in the Historie shall be declared In like manner at the Image of Venus the Ladyes profered to take away her Crowne but the Statue standing by repelled them continually so that they which once had assayed durst meddle no more wherefore the Crowne remayned vnconquered vntill the Lady came that surpassed all other in beawty to whome the honor of the Crowne was vowed After they had long beheld and considered this aduenture so admirable and vnable to coniecture the meaning thereof diuers went to aduertise the King of this accident who was no lesse abashed héereat then the other were especially the Queene whose feare was not a litle hearing the terrible thunder and tempest that happened by which occasion she had more spéedie deliuerance then was expected and with greater ease then commonly women haue yet was the child in such goodly shape resembling his Father as the Mother was highly pleased therewith hoping this Infant would remaine an inuiolable league of loue betwéene the King and her and the rather the intelligence of this new spectacle animated her therewith The King giuing little credite to this strange report went in person with all the Princes and Lords of his Court to behold the same and séeing that it was true indéede confessing likewise the thing in strangenesse to surpasse the memorie of all former aduentures he sent immediately for the most skilfull Philosophers in his Realm who hauing learnedly considered thereof assured the King that at the instant appearing of those rare spectacles a Child should be borne that in bountie prowesse and loyaltie should exceede all the Knightes in the world for whose renowne a wise Nigromancer had appointed that occasion that each curious eye might discerne his rare vertues among all that should aduenture for the Shéeld and Trophe of Cupid Nor can we iudge my Lord sayd these wise men that the same is reserued for any other then your new borne Sonne at whose houre of birth the Statues appeared or at leaste some other that shall issue from him for our iudgemente in his Astracisme doth perswade vs that he shall be valiant and renowmed in feates of Armes and in loyaltie was neuer man found his second As for the Image of Venus that beareth the rich Crowne we gesse my Lord it is meant to some Daughter you shall haue héereafter who in beautie and gratious nature shall excéede all of her time If it like your Maiestie to make experience of what we haue sayd you must send for all the fairest Ladies in your Realme and permit them to trie their vertue in taking the Crowne from the head of the Image in which attempt you shall receiue occasion of excéeding pleasure for the brazen statue which you behold standing by it will repulse the Ladies in such sort as they shall repent their bold aduenture The King very ioyfull to heare these newes said By the faith of a Prince I will cause proofe to be made héereof within these few dayes and first the Ladies of our Citie of London shall begin if they can not speede in their attempt the Ladies through our Realme shall be aduertised thereof as also they of Scotland and Norgalles which haue commendation beyond other Nations for beautie In the meane while I will go conferre with the Quéene héereon who as I thinke will not be a little glad to heare that such good fortune is reserued for our yong Sonne As he was about to depart thence he beheld the inscriptions engrauen on the Pillers which causing to be read and vnderstanding the effect of them all three In sooth quoth he I will for the loue of Pallas who framed this faire Sheeld that my Sonne at his Christening shall be named Palladine which came so to passe as you shall reade héereafter CHAP. II. ¶ How the King Milanor recounted the meruaile of the three Statues to the Queene and of the great Triumphs was made at the Baptizing of the yong Prince who was named Palladine THE King hauing aduisedly considered this strange accident and vnderstood to what end it was appointed went very ioyfully to the Quéenes Chamber and there to her rehearsed what the wise men had said which newes were so welcome to her as nothing could be more I know behoueth vs Madame quoth he to forethinke on the Baptizing of our Sonne who shall be his Sureties in that holy Sacrament to which I can request no fitter persons then our freendly breethren and neighbors the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles so please you Madame to ioyne with me in opinion The Queene was so well contented with this motion as Ambassadours were immediately dispatched who so well executed the trust committed to their charge as the Kings reputed themselues highly honored
set with Starres of gold and in his Sheeld a Lady reskewed from a Giant the other bare for his deuise Fame triumphant in a siluer feeld The Knight in azure Armour made signe to Caesar that he would first aduenture for his Lady yet such was his ill hap in the end as both horsse man were throwne to the ground When the Knight of Fame sawe his fréend dismounted he came to Caesar with these speeches Sir Knight I confesse as well as thou doost that my Lady Rosamonde excelleth all other in beautie but this will I make good on thy body that I am more woorthie to be her seruant then thou art It should séeme then answered Caesar that I deserue not to be so accounted this controuersie shall the strength of my Launce presently discide and thou or I will be her onely seruant Heereupon they encountred verie valiantly breaking many Launces yet neither able to mooue the other whereat they both grew angrie desiring the King to let them haue stronger Launces or else to permit them the Combate with the Sword but the King would not suffer them to meddle with Swords commanding each of them a very strong Launce at which charge the Prince Caesar was brauely dismounted and the Knight of Fame had almost borne him companie A great murmuring presently grew among the people some auouching that because the strange Knight so hardly recouered himselfe therefore Prince Caesar should not be held as vanquished but that they should prooue their fortune once more But the Iudges gaue verdict to the contrarie attributing the conquest to the Knight of Fame which when Caesar heard he went to the King to intreate his Maiestie for the Combate with its Sword but he denyed it him saying that the Ioustes being enterprised for loue ought not to be ended in hatred At these words Prince Caesar went to his Lady Rosamonde who gaue him many thanks for his honorable paines and though his successe happened so ill in the end yet would not she withdraw her loue But now commes Palladine into the feeld being sorie he had not the conquest of Caesar yet determining to end his choller on the Knight of fame to whome he approached saying It gréeues me Sir Knight that I Iousted not with noble Caesar for if I had little praise couldest thou haue gotten to day Your reason aunswered the Knight of fame Because I had woon y e honor ê™ Palladine which thou vsurpest and yet remains in doubt among a number which if thou darest say thou hast deserued I will auouch the contrary beside y t it appertaines not to thee to be seruant to the faire Lady Rosamonde nor to the very meanest among her Ladies for as I vnderstand she is prouided of one beyond thee many degrees Good Sir aunswered the Knight of fame you are very bold and braue in spéeches What mooueth ye so much to abase me seeing you knowe not of whence or what I am nor hast thou seene any matter in me deseruing these words But I perceiue the cause héereof groweth by the desire thou hast to deale with me wherein thou shalt haue thy desire either at the Launce or Sword so pleaseth the King to graunt vs that libertie Then turning to his Maiestie the Knight of Fame intreated the combate with the Sword if they could not finish their quarrell at the Launce Loth was the King to suffer such danger but the Iudges with many Lords and Barons there present noting the earnest desire of the Knight and that they were both strangers perswaded his highnesse intending to cause them giue ouer if in fight either of them should be in perill of life When they had thus obtained what they would they gaue their horsses the spurres and with a verie rough encounter they were both dismounted whereat Palladine verie angrie drew his Sword and marching against the Knight of Fame such a cruell combate continued betwéene them as neuer had the like beene seene in Fraunce The King beholding their Armour broken and the ground coulored with their scarlet blood sent his Sonne the Prince Lewes to intreate them giue ouer which they immediatly did the Knight of Fame being not a little glad thereof because he was brought into verie great debilitie onely by the exceeding aboundant losse of his blood Lewes bringing them before the King his Father caused them both to be graciously entertained and taking Palladine by the hand sayd Sée heere my Lord the man that slew Brulanfurior and his brother who deliuered me from imprisonment and many Knightes that were held captiue in the Castell The King not alittle ioyfull of these newes arose and embraced Palladine saying Worthie Knight I am more indebted to you then any man else in the world for you alone haue done that to me which neither with strength or pollicie I was able to compasse I enioy my Sonne againe by your meanes and my people are deliuered from those mercilesse villaines whome neyther law nor loue could bridle let me vnderstand of whence you are that I may knowe the man to whome I am so highly beholding My Lord aunswered the Prince my name is Palladine Sonne to the King Milanor of England your louing brother and vowed fréend At these words the King was much more glad then before and casting his armes about his necke with inward conceite of ioy the teares trickled downe his face then came the Quéene and faire Rosamonde her daughter who welcommed the Prince with maruailous courtesie the like did Landastines Simprinell and Lydiseo of Hungaria who was the man that came with the Knight of Fame and at report of these Triumphes trauailed into Fraunce As for the Knight of Fame himselfe he was called Don Robert the Prince of Freeze a stout couragious and hardie champion greatly deuoted to the loue of faire Rosamonde The King presently departed to his Pallace there to honor these braue Knightes as they worthely deserued but Caesar of Roomâ— highly thanked Palladine for reuenging his foyle on the Knight of Fame swearing to him an inuiolable league of amitie which grew to such effect as you shall héereafter behold CHAP. XXIII ¶ How the Princes Don Robert of Freeze and Lydiseo of Hungaria being healed of their woundes departed from Paris and of a letter which the wise Orbiconte sent to Palladine who was passionate for the loue of faire Rosamonde of Fraunce DOn Robert of Freeze hauing kept his chamber certaine dayes by reason of the dangerous woundes he had receiued and Palladine likewise in the selfesame estate yet carefully attended on by the Kings Chirurgions a greater corsey happened to them both then either their woundes or doubt of health For Don Robert séeing he was not regarded of the faire Princesse Rosamonde whome he loued as déerely as his own life thought to haue committed violence on himselfe but that by good aduise he was better perswaded and being out of hope to compasse his desire when he was somewhat recouered he and Lydiseo of Hungaria tooke
said the Princesse much more must I be then for me thinkes it is impossible to finde his second so would you haue said had you but seene his valiant combate with the Giant Sulberne If then quoth Orbiconte you knowe so well what he is he louing you as his own life you him in like sorte I would aduise ye with all speede to consumate the mariage betweene ye albeit vnknowen to the King Queene and let me deale for their good will afterward Alas Madame quoth the Princesse héerein would I willingly obay ye but that in religion we are too farre a sunder For that take you no care saide Orbiconte in that before it be long all your Fathers Kingdomes shall be conuerted to Christianitie therfore boldelye make promise to the Knight that you will be baptised so soon as you come into England he hauing first sollemnely sworne to marrie with you as well I knowe he hath no other intent Héerewith shall his parents be well pleased and yours heereafter likewise for then and not before they shall vnderstand that this is for your eternall honor and profit Nonparelia who desired nothing more then the conquest of his loue and withall the swéete benefite ensuing thereby whome she had made Lord and maister of her heart thus answered I knowe Madame that my honorable preferment is the full of your intent and that you will sheeld me from any blemish or reproch I therefore commit all to your discretion and will obey whatsoeuer you commaund me This night then said Orbiconte shall you be assured of your louely Knight and holy vowes of mariage shall be passed betwéene you afterward agrée as you can your selues for I will accoÌ„plish what I haue promised So went they both to the Princes chamber where they found him walking with Captaine Broantine one that knew the deapth of his desire yet ignorant what Orbiconte and the Princesse had concluded Many deuoute courtesies passed betwéene them and Orbiconte taking the Prince aside thus spake to him You remember my Lord your vowe when you called your selfe the Knight without rest that you would neuer entertaine quiet of minde till you had found your onely beloued in the world to whome you were destenied before your birth now be of good chéere for this night shall you be resolued of the Lady who being frée in affection from all other doth honor you with the vnspotted loue of a virgin estéeming of you as her Lord and husband No meruaile if these newes were welcome to the Knight without rest who giuing credit to the words of Orbiconte sealed many a sweete kisse on the daintie lippes of Nonparelia as pledges of a full contract in the sight of heauen not to be recalled but by death onely Short tale to make Orbiconte that night brought them together and ioyned their hands with sollemne and sacred vowes he to carie her with him into England and she there to receiue the faith of a Christian. And thus will we leaue them in their amorous purposes each comforting other with the arguments of loue and now let vs returne to the Princes and Knightes whome we left in Fraunce England and elsewhere CHAP. XXXIII ¶ How the Prince Don Robert of Freeze surnamed the Knight of Fame hauing taken his leaue of the King Milanor of England and Lydiseo the Prince of Hungaria found a Knight wounded to the death and what hapned to him afterward YOU remember how the Knight of Fame being vanquished and sore wounded by the Prince Palladine at y e Iousts which Caesar maintained for loue of the faire Rosamond departed with Lydiseo of Hungaria and crossed the Sea into England where they were graciously entertained by the King Milanor to whome Lydiseo presented Letters from the Prince his Sonne and an other from Landastines to his Daughter Floraea These two Princes hauing soiourned awhile in the Court of England tooke leaue of the King and the Ladyes and afterward sundered themselues in trauaile Lydiseo iorneying toward Hungaria to sée the King his Father who as he vnderstood was fallen into a verie dangerous disease And the Knight of Fame coasting through a part of Brittayne and Normandie went to Burdeaux and from thence into Spayne as much to expell the mellancholly which the remembrance of faire Rosamonde charged his thoughts withall as also to make proofe of his valour against the Knightes of Spayne who accounted themselues the most valiant in Europe Being thus landed in Spayne he trauailed through diuers Forrests till night ouertaking him he was constrained to alight while his Squire cut down certaine boughes of trees for his maister to rest himselfe vpon After they had laid themselues downe as willing to sleepe not farre from them they heard the voice of a man breathing foorth many bitter and dollorous complaints and as it séemed to them he was nigh his end for his words faultred in the vtterance as wanting abilitie to deliuer them whereupon the Knight of Fame awaking his Squire said doost thou not heare one complaine very greeuously I doo my Lord answered the Squire and belike he is in some great danger I pray thee then quoth Don Robert let vs go a little néerer that we may vnderstand what he saith So claspping on their Helmets and Sheelds they walked soft in to the place where they heard the voice when they alight heare him continue his complaints in this manner Unhappie that I am must I néedes die by the traitorous hand of him whome I trusted as mine owne selfe Ah wretch why didst thou not tell me thy cruell pretence it might â—e I would haue found meanes to haue satisfied thâ—e of if thou hadst yeelded me better reason I might haue desisted from my pursuite Pansnite alas Madame all the torments in the world shall not withdraw me from your gracious loue nor death it selfe which I feele hath aâ—endicentred me O monstrous treason oh false dissembling and traiterous Câ—stillian Prince What say I Prince if thou be a Prince thou art one of the very worst that euer liued Ah my Lord quoth the Squire to this wounded Knight you may well beléeue and hold for certaine as I haue sayd to you many times that loue can abide no companion so by the often comming and going of this traytour to Madame Minoretta he could not but seeke to deceiue ye and to frustrate the hope you had in her all which you must now endure with pacience seeing we are all subiect to fortunes changes If fortune then reward me with death quoth the Knight iustly may I accuse her of treason as one that procureth all the mischiefes in the world Ah traiteresse and wreakefull Lady why didst thou not suffer me to enioy that honor which her diuine nature and beautie had grounded in my heart and whereto I was sollemnely vowed and dedicated Alas I féele my strength more and more to forsake me Ah Minoretta Minoretta what wilt thou say when thou hearest of my misfortune I feare thy loue is
thereof In truth said the Quéene I see the Letter imports great matter let vs vnderstand what is contained therein Palladine not daring to denie this commaundement causing the Gentleman that brought the Letter to withdraw himselfe thus answered My gracious Lord and Father this Letteâ— deliuers none but good newes the Sister to the King of Aquilea and faire Nonparelia his Daughter are come to visit your Maiestie Right welcome are they said the King and I will doo them all the honor I may but what may be the cause of this kindnesse séeing our Realme is so farre from Aquilâ—a Then Palladine declared the whole discourse of his voiage how by the aduise of the wise Orbiconte he had promised the Princesse Nonparelia after she had receiued her Christendome to take her in mariage in that she was accomplished with as rare perfections of beawtie and vertue as any Princesse in the world beside You place that formost quoth the King which you loue best preferring corporall beawtie before vertue but héerein you are to be pardoned for loue and affection so alter the sences as makes men put one word in anothers place I spake of that first my Lord quoth Palladine which I first sawe in so faire a creature namely a choise grace of corporall beawtie and hauing afterward by frequenting her companie gathered sufficient knowledge of her inward endowments I placed them as they came to my acquaintance And such is my hope good Father that your selfe wil iudge no lesse then I doo when you haue seene her For the rest Madame Orbiconte her Aunt shall resolue ye giuing you to vnderstand matters of weight and such as you will thinke your selfe happie to knowe this being the meane to bring to the Christian faith the great and mightie Kingdome of Aquilea Thou tellest me wenders my Sonne quoth the King but why didst thou not sooner acquaint me heerewith Because I feared answered Palladine that misfortune on the Sea might alter my intent or the promise of Orbiconte might be preuented by some other sinister meane Well my Sonne quoth the King I pray that thy desires may haue a fortunate end and such things as thou speakest of may come to passe meane while let vs prouide to receiue these two Princes and make them such entertainement as their calling deserues Foorthwith he commaunded that the Pallace should bee adorned with most sumptuous Tapistrie and calling for the Uiceadmirall willed him to prepare certaine Ships that might go meete the Ladies as they came wherein Palladine Zorian Manteleo Landastines and many other great Lords were embarqued And béeing come to the Ile of Tennet they espied the Ships sayling amaine toward them and entring among them Palladine seeing Orbiconte aloft on the deck knew well where the Princesse Nonparelia was wherefore going aboord that Ship catching Orbiconte in his armes he thus spake Welcome good Lady into this Countrey this day doo you giue me life and the onely comfort I desire in this world for had not your assurance at my departure from Aquilea perswaded me I had ere this beene consorted with the dead As he was thus embracing Orbiconte the Princesse Nonparelia came foorth of her Cabin and with a sweete smiling countenance came to him saying Haue you not doone yet my Lord I am not content that you giue all the welcome to mine Aunt and allow me no portion thereof I thinke I haue deserued some part At these words he suddenly leauing Orbiconte embraced his mistresse with such zealous affection as neither of them were able to speake one word in which time Zorian and the other Princes had leisure to welcome the wise Orbiconte During this time of greeting and salutation they sayled on with so good a winde as in short time they entred the Port of London where this honorable companie were receiued with great magnificence the Citizens conducting them thorough the streetes with such pompe and sumptuous deuises as neuer was the like seene in London before The King and Queene for the greater honor of their Sonne came to the Court gate to welcome the Princesse at whose rare beawtie as they did not a little wonder so there wanted no kinde of courtesie whereby their good will might at large be expressed So walking on into the great Hall there began againe new shewes of entertainement whereby both Orbiconte and her Niece perceiued that the Court of England was incomparable for gracious behauiour While the King and Queene were conferring with Orbiconte Palladine tooke his Lady aside to the windowe where she at large declared to him the dangers sustained in their voyage and their good deliuerance by the Admirall of England and Broantine Héerof sweete Lady quoth Palladine your Aunt already hath aduertised me and I knowe assuredly that you haue escaped greater perill then you can report to me all for my loue wherein I am religiously bound to you while I liue yet heerewithall consider that you haue endured all this for your faithfull freend and husband who now bids you welcome as his loyall and espoused wife Alas my Lord quoth the Princesse you well knowe that I haue no other intent and the sooner our nuptials are solemnized the better shall I be quieted least any dishonor should ouertake me in respect of what hath passed betweene vs heeretofore Madame answered Palladine this â—ace concerneth me as néere as your selfe and to preuent such danger we must héerein be aduertised by your Aunt Orbiconte the rest shall be accomplished with all possible spéede In all this time Orbiconte had so preuailed with the King and Quéene declaring that this mariage was forepointed in their infancie and should by her meanes be â—atâ—fied by the King of Aquilea her Brother as they both promised that so soone as the King of Portugalâ— was arriued who was sent for to the mariage of his two Nieces the wedding should be sollemnized at that instant likewise Untill which time the Princesse should be enstructed in the Christian faith and be made partaker of that holy Sacrament which is the badge and cognisance of all Christians so should her obscure thoughts be cléerely illuminated and the mariage would be more acceptable in the sight of God The Kings deuise was generally well liked and the Princesse her selfe willing to vnderstand the rules which were so farre different from her Pagan profession in which exercise she had her whole studie and delight till the time came that she should be Baptized CHAP. XXXIX ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia and all her Ladyes were with great pompe and solemnitie Baptised and all the honorable mariages afterward finished BY paineful diligence of diuers learned Diuines the Princesse was wonne to receiue the faith of a Christian and all her Ladies likewise that came with her from Aquilea so they being all attired in white garments were conducted to the Cathedrall Church in London with such royall pompe and magnificence as euery eye was set to wonder Such was her stately maiestie in going and
THE Famous pleasant and variable Historie of Palladine of England Discoursing of honorable Aduentures of Knightly deedes of Armes and Chiualrie enterlaced likewise with the loue of sundrie noble personages as time and affection limited their desires Heerein is no offence offered to the wise by wanton speeches or encouragement to the loose by lasciuious matter Translated out of French by A. M. one of the messengers of her Maiesties Chamber Patere aut abstine AT LONDON Printed by Edward Allde for Iohn Perin dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Angell And are there to be sould 1588. ¶ TO THE RIGHT Honorable Robert Deuorax Earle of Essex and Ewe Viscount of Hereford and Bourchier Lord Ferrers of Chartley Bourchier and Louayne Maister of the Queenes Maiesties Horsse A. M. wisheth increase of all happinesse AMong those right Honorable that offered incense in the Temple of Iupiter in plates of Golde according to the custome a simple Heardsman religiously affected brought his offering on a broken potsheard for which he being reprooued by Iupiters Priest boldly returned this answere The Gods that dispose all knowe all rich men are discerned by their great gifts and poore men by their simple yet happily their zeale is not alike for rather had I be thought vnmannerly by this homely present then vndutifull by want of better abilitie In like manner right noble Lord among those ripe and curious wittes that offer to your learned view matter of valew squared and leueld by deepe knowledge and experience a simple zealous man more deuoted in affection to your honors welfare then able to expresse the same as other can presents this rude and vnpullished peece of worke not handled with arte because I want it nor glozed with borrowed phrases because I am loth to become indebted but equall with the poore Heardsmans potsheard and with him chusing rather to be thought homely then vndutifull knowing that the Eagles eyes of Iupiter can search into the substance of the one and other This woorke of Palladine with all his imperfections I humblie commit to your honorable protection knowing that in respect of your owne loue to Chiualrie you will thinke well of him and because he is an English man in the better sort fauour him For my selfe as I neuer knew honor partiall in opinion but with vpright iudgement to ballance each mans deseruing so in this assurance with reuerence I end as forward as any in affection to your Honor. A. Monday To the corteous and freendly Readers MY promise was that by Easter Tearme this worke should be published and according to my promise heere doo I send it not doubting but you will so fauourably censure theron as my paynes and the pleasure of the Historie deserueth If you happen to fynde any mislike in the translation or that it is not so currant English as fyne eares hunt after let this serue as a sufficient excuse for mee that in translating men are bound to their Writers words and such as roue at random may set downe what they please And this I am to intreate on the Printers behalfe and mine owne whereas in dyuers places there are faultes escaped as woordes verie much mistaken many left out and others common that you will freendly let passe such ouer-sightes and at the next Impression they shall bee amended for I beeyng often absent and the Printer carefull to end his worke by appoynted time haue beene the cause of all these escapes Thus committing my Booke and my selfe to your fauourable iudgement I ceasse From my house without Cripple-gate this 23. of Aprill Yours to bee commaunded Anthony Monday THE Famous pleasant and variable Historie of Palladine Discoursing of Knightly and woorthy deedes of Armes and vnfolding the loue of many great Princes and Lords but especially of PALLADINE Soone to the King Milanor of England and the faire Selerina sister to the King of Portugall c. CHAP. I. * Of the birth of Prince PALLADINE and the strange aduenture that happened on the day of his birth in the Citie of London before the Pallace of King Milanor AT what time the puissant and spacious Empire of Greece and most fertile Asia was held in subiection by the great Turke and the Romaine Monarchy was commaunded by the wise Emperour Iustinian Gouernour of both high and nether Allmayne raigned in great Brittayne now called England a King named Milanor who from his youth was so well instructed in good letters and the Sciences liberall as among the most learned Doctors he was reckned peerelesse before he came to the age of eightéene yéeres During this time of his education his Gouernors to make him perfect in all things beseeming so great a Prince caused him to practise the managing of great Horsses to vse the Tilt and Tourney with all other-feates of agilitie incident to Armes wherein right soone he grew so prompt and excellent as all the Lords and Subiects of his Realme were not onely abashed at his forwardnes but thought themselues especially blessed to liue vnder the regiment of so braue a King Nor was this ioy alone to them but many other nations and forreigne Princes did participate therein especially the Kings of Scottes and Norgalles his neighbours who hearing of the great bountie prowesse magnanimitie and other lawdable vertues in this King determined to be freends to him and his holding this opinion that beeing confederate with England in loue no other King or Prince durst molest them with warres Upon this consideration they sent their Ambassadours to his Maiestie to promise and sweare peace amitie and inuiolable concord with obeysance and acknowledging him their Superiour where they were receiued honourably and with content a matter greatly auailing them afterward as you shall perceiue by the following discourse of our Historie The King of Portugall vnderstanding the manifold vertues and power of King Milanor as also that so many Kings and Princes desired his fréendly alliaunce preuayled so well by his sundry Embassades as the King of England married with his Sister named Selerina faire in perfections yong and gratious among all the Ladies in her time and to continue holy loue betwéene this King and Queene soone after she was conceyued with a goodly Sonne at whose birth happened such a maruelous aduenture as no registred memorie records the like At what time the Quéene was in trauayle suddenly was the Citie of London couered with a darke and fearefull Clowde the heauens deliuering such thunder and lightning the earth likewise shaking and trembling so straungely as the Citizens expected death euery moment imagining the end of the world was come vpon them For the space of two houres this wonderfull tempest endured vntill the Quéene was deliuered of her burthen when the Clowde began to vanish away and the heauens looked fayre and cheerefull as before After this despairing Storme the people who with feare and terror of the thunder had hid themselues in vaultes and caues amazed and fearefull began to shew themselues but
passion to procéede by bashfulnesse or feare which oftentimes preuents yong Gentlemen when they enter the presence of great Ladies she tooke the Prince by the hand and thus began My Lord you are so welcome as your owne hart can wish great hath béene your payne and trauayle comming so farre to see this Court no sufficient recompence can the King our Father make yée nor we poore Ladies for this excéeding kindnesse These words forcing Manteleo to recouer his spirits caused him returne this aunswere In comming hither swéete Madame haue I sustayned no paine or trauaile but rather comfort pleasure and pastime For long since is it that I desired to offer my seruice to the King your Father as well for the rare vertues which makes him farre renowmed as also to renew the auncient amitie that yée and the Duke my Father haue had together when they as Knightes errant trauayled straunge Countreys Another and chéefe cause was to see my Lord your Brother whose second in prowesse is not to be found and you likewise faire Ladies whome heauen hath not onely enriched with especiall vertues but also with rare and most perfect beautie And though my Starres alotted me no greater good héereby then to behold the surpassing worke of nature in you both yet would I repute my trauaile more largely requited then were I created Emperour of the world adioyning héere to if any seruice remayned in me that might be to your liking During these spéeches he threw many piercing lookes on the Princesse Marcelina and she returned the like on him thinking she had neuer seene a more comely Knight in all perfections her Brother Palladine excepted gathering by his lookes and yéelding countenance that she had wonne some earnest in his loue with which imagination her hart was highly contented and to continue him in this good affection she thus replyed Not a little doo I think my selfe beholding to you my good Lord noting your forward zeale to the King my Fathers seruice loth am I to presse yée with such regard towards me in that my deseruings are altogether too simple let my good will then excuse my want assuring your selfe of a maydens prayers wheresoeuer you go As Manteleo would haue aunswered the Prince Palladine came and thus brake off their talke I beséech yée my Lord and companion to withdraw your selfe into your Chamber there to repose your selfe after your iourney for of necessitie you must be sore wearied hauing spent so little time betwéene Millaine and England Manteleo departed to his Chamber with Palladine and in two lodgings ioyning together lay these new fréends There did the Millayne Prince cloath himselfe in braue and sumptuous garments not forgetting the graâ—ious spéeches of fayre Marcelina who likewise so soone as he departed could not kéepe in her owne opinions but with her Sister fell in commendation of Manteleo setling the loue of him so néere her heart as she resolued neuer to haue any other Husband so pleased the King and Quéene to giue their consent Continuing in this determination thence forward her extreame desires made her pensiue and solitarie yet would she not impart her disease to any one because she would first make triall of the Princes constancie least his loue might be impeached with dissembling â—alliaunce But now is the houre of Supper come when the amorous Prince Manteleo was placed at the table right ouer against his beloued Marcelina neither of them being offended at this good hap but vsing the same as an especiall benefite with secret glaunces to court each other Which the Princesse Floraea dilligently marked and seeing her Sister so often to chaunge her couller coupling therewith many bitten in sighes she tofore hauing neuer shewed the like became iealous of the matter thinking the Prince should as soone affect her as her Sister yet made she no outward shew of this conceite But when the Tables were withdrawne and each one preparing themselues to daunce Manteleo tooke his Lady Marcelina without making any offer to Floraea wherewith she became so mal content as to despight them she would euery day after sit so néere them as they could not speake one word to each other but she might easily vnderstand what they said The Prince well noting how hee was crost would the oftner entertaine Marcelina to Daunce taking the benefite at the end of each Measure which gaue them libertie to conferre together no one in those excused times being able to impeach them whereat Floraea greatly repined séeing them talke with such affectionate protestations The Pastimes ended the King and Queene went to their lodgings Manteleo humbly giuing them the good night not forgetting the Saint he serued in desires and afterward the Prince Palladine accompanied him to his Chamber where after many other spéeches betwéene them they concluded on the morrow to request their Knighthood of the King So Palladine left Manteleo for that night whose mind was busied with his Ladies fauorable words not doubting but to shew himselfe so forward in Armes as the Princesse should receiue good occasion to affect him and graunt him the honor he earnestly desired In this good hope he laid him downe to rest the Princesse Marcelina nothing inferiour to him in amorous opinions and that night her brother Palladine had told her that Manteleo and he would intreate their Order of the King wherewith she was not alittle contented determining thence forward to entertaine the Prince of Millaine as her Knight CHAP. VI. ¶ How the Princes Palladine and Manteleo with many other great Lords were Knighted by the King Milanor and of an aduenture that happened in the Court which Palladine and Manteleo ended FAire Aurora chasing away the clowdie night the Prince Palladine accompanied with many Gentlemen came to bid Manteleo good morrow Why my Lord and companion quoth he it séemes you haue forgotten what we determined yesternight Pardon me good Prince aunswered Manteleo my memorie is not so short but so swéetly haue I slept this night as hindered me from rising sooner Then went they to salute the King and intreated his Highnesse to graunt them their Knighthood When his Maiestie perceiuing their forwardnesse and noting the earnest desire of Manteleo thus aunswered Loth am I to denie your request albeit as yet you are ouer-yong but the good opinion I haue of your prowesse and fortunate successe that may befall ye héereafter doth supply your want of yeeres wherefore this night perfourme the holy watch and to morrow will I giue ye your Order The two Princes humbly thanking his Maiestie went to giue order for their Armour and furniture and at night they entred the Chappell where spending the time in the accustomed religious exercise they expect the houre of their long desired honor In the morning the King with his Nobilitie entred the Chappell and as he was busied in the Ceremonies vsed in such affaires there entred two Damosels verie brauely apparelled each of them hauing a goodly Sword in her hand and with them was an
successe which she could not but take in good part considering that intire loue couers all occasions of dislike CHAP. VIII ¶ How Manteleo wun the honor of the Tournament and vanquished two straunge Knightes NOw is the day come when the yong Knightes should shew themselues in open féeld except the Prince Manteleo who excused himselfe by riding on hunting and therefore borrowing his freend Palladines hounds left the Court causing his horsse and armour to be secretly conuaide to a keepers Lodge which was a mile and more from the Citie because he would not haue any one knowe what he intended Meane while the Ioustes began the King maruelling at the absence of Manteleo especially Palladin and faire Marcelina who missing her freend at dinner imagined he was gone without bidding her adiew and the occasion thereof to be because he had failed in the aduenture of Cupid The Champions comming into the féeld the foremost were Mustiell of Rostock and Brunifort his brother on the other side came Durandell of Cleue and Orliman of Flaunders with all their companie in séemely equipage When the Heralds had commaunded the Knightes to their deuoire Mustiell and Durandell gaue the spurres to their horsses and after they had broken thrée Launces a peece with braue chiualrie at the fourth encounter they met together so furiously as they were both cast foorth of their saddles to the ground Next followed Brunifort and Orliman who dismounted each other at the first attaint but Brunifort recouered his horsse againe quickly when Sedonis Sonne to the Duke of Suffolke bad him play yet accompanied Orliman in his misfortune Heereupon Grinday sonne to the Duke of Orton reuenged his fellowes wrong and such valour they shewed on either side as the honor of the day was giuen to them the King with all his Nobles being readie to depart when suddenly entred the Lystes two strange Knightes in white Armour resembling each other the one bearing in his Sheeld thrée Griffons Sable volant in a feeld Argent the other three Griffons Argent in a Sable feeld After these Knightes had shewen many carires and braue voltages with their horsses before the Ladies one of them encountred Brunifort with such courage as he was throwne to the ground with his heeles vpward the like successe had Mustiell Orliman and the rest to the no little admiration of the King and all the Ladies and great vexation of Palladine who would not Ioust because his companion Manteleo was not there As the King was about to depart giuing the prize to these two strange Knightes there entred the Lystes another Champion in white Armour bearing in his Shéeld a Hart Guelles bound with a golden chaine and without making any reuerence or shewing any brauadoes with his horsse he met one of the strange Knightes so roughly as he was sent to measure his length on the ground The other strange Knight to reuenge his fellowes iniurie came couragiously against this new-come Knight and after the breach of two or thrée Launces was sent to kéep his fréend companie whereat not alittle enraged he drew his Sword and comming to the Knight said I confesse Sir that thou hast the maistrie ouer me at the Launce let me now try my fortune better or worsse in Combate Whereto the other willingly consented but the King intercepted them saying Not so Gentlemen I will not that any Combate shall now be fought in respect the Ioust was ordeyned for pleasure and to exercise our Knightes to delight their Ladies enough therefore is done for this day let anger ceasse betwéene yée and fréendly embrace each other letting me vnderstand of whence you are that I may doo you the honor you haue deserued With right good will my Lord aunswered the vanquished Knight my companion and I are freends with this Knight who deserues great estimation for his worthie prowesse As for our names and of whence we are I am called Landashnes Sonne to the King of Norgalles and my freend is named Simprinell Sonne to the King of Scots When the King Milanor and the Prince Palladine had knowledge of the Knightes they came from the Scaffold and embraced them with excéeding courtesie but when they knew the Conquerour to be Manteleo I leaue their maruellous ioy to your imaginations Is it true my Lord quoth the King haue you stollen such an occasion to expresse your valour Your Maiestie knowes aunswered Manteleo that I am but newly Knighted and therefore but little experienced in Armes nor durst I discouer my selfe before your Highnesse least my fortune should haue prooued as contrary as it did yesterday which you must imagine I tooke discontentedly You néede not feare héereafter said the King to shew your selfe in chéefest places of Chiualrie in that a beginning so good and fortunate must néedes in continuance be as prosperous Heereupon the three Knightes verie louingly embraced each other swearing a perpetuall league of amitie betweene them which they religiously held irreuocable as in the discourse of our historie you may behold Manteleo hauing saluted the Quéene and her Ladyes Palladine came to welcome his freend rebuking him for not acquainting him with his intent which he excused as he did to the King hauing more mind to regard his sweete Mistresse then to be entertained with all these ceremonies And you must thinke her ioyes were beyond common conceit seeing her Knight returned whom she feared was lost nor was she so suspitious at his repulse against the God of loue as she was now â—â—alous of his honorable successe These bien venues and embracings passed ouer the King and all of them returned to the Pallace where the two new-come princes had their lodgings appointed Palladine and Manteleo keeping them companie recounting the aduenture of the two Damosels and the enchaunted Knight with whome on the morrow they were to depart Therefore they spent that night in dauncing and courtlye disports the Princes of Norgalles and Scots deuising with the Ladies wherewith the Court of England was plentifully stored and whome they commended to excell all other nations in beawtie CHAP. IX ¶ How the Princes Palladine and Manteleo departed from London with the Knight that was enchaunted and the two Damosels and what happened to them by the way ON the morrow earely in the morning Palladine and Manteleo armed themselues with the Knight that was enchaunted and the two Damosels they came and tooke their leaue of the King and Queene afterward they went to the yong Princesses chamber when Marcelina perceiuing her Knight would néedes be gone brake foorth into feares and sad regrets What meane yee Sister quoth Palladine is our departure displeasing to you Not so good brother answered she but I doubt least your returne should be hindered by any misfortune for you are as yet but yong and little acquainted with the contrary nature of straunge Countreys I confesse that Sister quoth Palladine but euery one must haue a learning beside you knowe ouâ— promise to this Knight constrayneth vs héereto
nor would I for all the world breake my word as for our returne perswade yourselfe it will be sooner then you imagine I assure yée thereof Madame sayd the Knight that was enchaunted for I will not leade them farre from this Realme nor into any place of danger Manteleo had his heart so scaled vp with gréefe beholding his mistresse to shed so many teares as he was not able to speake one word whereby Palladine presently gathered suspition that secret loue betwéene them had caused this chaunge wherefore bidding his Sisters adiew he departed the chamber with the Knight and the Damosels leauing Manteleo to say what further hée would but greefe brake him off with these spéeches You knowe Madame what I haue promised with which words the teares trickling downe his cheekes he kissed her and the Princesse Floraea likewise and so went to séeke Palladine whome he found readie mounted with their Squires at the Court gate So departed these two companions in armes with their trayne with resolution before their returne to make the world aquainted with their bountie and prowesse chéefely Manteleo for the loue of his Marcelina who presently after her Lords departure withdrew her selfe alone into her Cabinet and continuing her teares breathed foorth these sad laments Ah loue who euer thought thy strength to be of such puissance so violent hath thine entrance beene into my hart as impossible is it for me to liue long vnlesse my loyall fréend giue me remedie for none but he can giue me remedie Alas why is it not permitted vs to trauaile straunge Countreys as well as men had fortune so fauoured our sexe thou shouldst not swéete fréend be long without me but miserable is our condition to be thus subiected Many other amorous complaints made the sorrowfull Marcelina whom we will now leaue and returne to the Princes being scant a mile on their way when Palladine intreated the Knight that was enchaunted to tell him whether they should trauaile of whence he was how and wherefore he had béene enchaunted My Lord answered the Knight right gladly would I satisfie your demaund but hardly can I recount my infortunes without extreame greefe so greatly doth the verie remembrance thereof displease me therefore I pray yee be contented that my Sister be the reporter heereof for well can she reueale euery accident Trust me sayd Palladine and well it liketh me to heare her speake so riding along and the Damosell betweene them she began her discourse in this manner Séeing it pleaseth you to vnderstand the fortunes of this Knight willingly will I discouer them vnto you beeing farre otherwise then I rehearsed in the presence of the King on the day when you receyued your Knighthood but the cause why I so disguised the truth was through feare least his Maiestie would haue hindered your going with vs. Understand then that this Knight my Brother this Lady my Cousin and my selfe were all three borne in the Realme of Hungaria at what time it was vnder the gouernment of the great Turke My Brother was there married to one of the most beautifull Ladies in the Countrey and dwelt in a small Uillage on the frontiers of the Realme where a Gentleman much about your yéeres fell in aquaintance with him the continuance whereof bred such amitie betwéene them as my Brother intreated him to lodge in his house and two of his neerest kinsemen with him But in an vnhappie houre chaunced this fréendship for this Gentleman too vncourteous for this great kindnesse seeing my Brothers wife so perfect in beautie became enamoured of her in such sort as he onely desired the knowledge of her forgetting the honor and regard of his fréendly hoste Yet could not intreaties sollicitings giftes and faire prouâ—ses obtaine that of her he thirsted after wherefore despairing of his successe he went to a Sorcerer who gaue him a drugge of such force as should depriue my Sister of her speech by meanes whereof hee might rauish her or carie her whether him pleased she béeing not able to defend her selfe or call for any ayde This Gentleman hauing enstructed his two kinsemen in the matter came one night into my Sisters chamber and being assured that my Brother and his seruants slept soundly tooke her thence against her will afterward giuing her to his freends who caried her thence into a Ship was readie to set Sayle In short time they had gotten whether they would landing at a strong Castell belonging to this Gentleman where though he had her in his custodie yet could he obtayne nothing but refusalls and sharpe disdaynes yet in time he imagined to make her more tractable My Brother in the morning seeing his wife and guests thus gone suspected the ill that happened for diuers that met them toward the Sea came and told him what they sawe wherevpon he tooke this iniurie so greeuously as he was euen at the point to despaire Aâ—â—â—â—loâ—all Traytor quoth he is this the recompence for my good will to thee for the honor and good entertainement thou hast had in my house doost thou reward me with this villanie Come my freends let vs follow them and either by fire water or weapons destroy the adulterer that hath thus robd me of my onely delight May it be sweete wife that this happened with thy consent couldst thou serue him so y e loued thee as his life no well may I be assured of thy loyalty An Aunt of ours who sometime was wife to a sage Nigromancer seeing my Brother wel-neer beside himselfe such was his gréefe for the losse of his wife tooke pittie on him and to preuent the ill which she foresawe was like to ensue she wrote a letter to a wise matrone in the Realme of Aquilea commaunding vs to carie it to her and that my Brother should trauaile thither with vs which we did finding the good old Lady where the Letter directed vs which was in a little Desert of mountaines hauing no other habitation then in the caues which séemed olde and greatly ruinated in the middest wherof was a fountaine ouershadowed with the boughes of a great Elme tree So soone as she beheld vs she demaunded for the Letter we brought which when she had read she commaunded vs to rest our selues by the fountaine while she went into her Caue for the two Swords you now enioy and returning she bathed them in the fountaine mumbling certaine spéeches softly to her selfe and comming to vs sayd Sée héere Ladies two Swords which can be drawne out of their sheathes by none except the two best Knightes in the world by whose assistance this Gentleman shall recouer his losse and be reuenged on the Traytor that thus wronged him Take these Swords with yée and search the Courts of Kings and most renowmed Princes to finde those gentle Knightes excelling in vertues and them twaine that can drawe foorth these Swords shall you conduct to the place where the Lady abideth for whome this noble Gentleman is so tormented to whome for her
punishment The two Damosels glad of this happie victorie humbled themselues before the Prince Lydiâ—eo thanking him for this gratious assistance the like did Palladine and Manteleo confessing their liues preserued onely by hys meanes Afterward he requested to knowe the cause of their fight which the Knightes Sister effectually discoursed wherevpon they went to â—â—â—he the Lady that was imprisoned whome they could not tell where to finde tell a poore old Gardiner came vnto them saying that the key of the dungion where the remained his maister alway kept at a string fastened about his necke not trusting anâ—one to see her but himselfe Lydiseo coomming to the Gentleman found that he had some life left in him wherefore taking the key from about his necke and causing his men to bring him into the Castell that further iustice might be showen on him for his offence by the old Gardiner they were brought to the Ladyes dungion where they found her so spent with greefe and her farre face so martired with great effuse of teares as would haue moued a stony hart to pittie her How ioyfull the Knight was to see his Lady how glad she likewise was to behold her husband I leaue to the opinion of long absent true louers yet this was her cheefest comfort that her husband enioyed her againe free from any spot of dishonor and though she had endured long miserie yet could not the villayne abuse her chastitie Lydiseo sent the trayterous Gentleman to the King his Father and with him other of the chéefest offendors with Letters describing their notorious villainie wherevpon they were drawne in péeces by wilde horsses as such a notorious offence full well deserued CHAP. XIII ¶ How the wise Orbiconte appeared to Paâ—ladine in his sleepe and what talke she had with him LYdiseo the Prince of Hungaria hauing heard by the enchaunted Knight and the Ladyes the noble vertues of Palladine and Manteleo remained still in the Castell with them vsing them with verie kinde and princely courtesie being sorie for certaine dangerous woundes they had receiued in fight which he caused to be tended with carefull dilligence The enchaunted Knight likewise told his Lady the successe of his iourney into England how he receiued the Swords of the wise Sorceresse and how the two Princes by drawing them ended his enchauntment they hauing at his request trauailed so farre onely for her deliuerance from the cruell Gentleman Now thankefull she shewed her selfe for their honorable paines her great care in curing their woundes and readie seruice to supply all wants declared the vertues of so good a minde Needlesse were it to tell ye how Lydiseo procured from the King his Father many presents of good will to the Princes and dayly accompanied them with his owne person as the men in whome he most of all delighted I shall therefore reueale what happened to Palladine while he attended the cure of his woundes in this Castell As one night the Prince lay soundly sléeping in his bed the Lady that before had appeared to him presented her selfe now to him againe speaking to him in this manner Know Sir Palladine that I am a Pagan named the wise Orbiconte who through the assertion thy vertues cause me beare thée am come to aduertise thée that I framed those two Swords which the Knight enchaunted brought to thée and Manteleo that you twaine might helpe him to recouer his lost Lady And because I haue fore-seen by my magique and hidden knowledge that by thee I shall one day attaine to high estate of honor I will not conceale from thee that the destenies haue reserued onely to thée the atchiuement of many great and braue enterprises as also the finishing of rare aduentures and enchauntments wherein thou shalt endure much paine and trauaile Beside I am to let thée vnderstand that fortune hath sorted thée out a Lady who at this day is estéemed peerelesse in beautie whome to finde thou shalt trauaile many strange regions with labour that will be long and troublesome yet shalt thou still be protected by me and comforted by the great fame thou shalt heare of her beautie surpassing all the Princesses in the world Begin the search of her so soone as thou canst possible and thinke not my spéeches friuolous for thou shalt finde them vndoubtedly true So vanished away the wise Orbiconte leauing the Prince in meruailous doubts what this Pagan woman might be that seemed to beare him so great affection In the end such deliberate aduise he tooke of her words perswading himselfe of their truth and certaintie as he concluded to seeke the Lady the onely Phenir among the fairest in beautie Of her immediately he became amorous determining to depart from the Prince Manteleo because he would haue no competitour in his loue But before we passe any further and to bewray the cause of this aduertisement by the wise Orbiconte you must note that she was Sister to the King of Aquilea hauing béen espoused to a Duke one of the greatest Lords in that Realme by whome she had three faire Daughters All her life time she spent in the superstitious sciences of Nigromancie and Geâ—mancie and casting the reuolution of her daughters natiuitie she found by her arte that 〈◊〉 the Prince Palladine might be brought into that Countrey each of her daughters should haue a Sonne by him that should in chiualrie surpasse all the Knights of their time the one of them being destenied to be an Emperour and the other two to be Kings of wonderfull possessions Now to compasse the meane whereby Palladine might be brought to this farre distant Countrey you must likewise note that the King of Aquilea brother to Orbiconte had the fairest daughter that euer was seene by which occasion this enchauntresse appeared to the Prince inciting him to follow the search of the fairest Lady in the world promising him to enioy this rare virgin named Nonpareha And when he should be thus brought into that Countrey she deuised to exercise her arte in such sort as he should haue the honor of her daughters to the ende she might expect the fortune of the children who were appointed to so high dignities Resolued on this intent she betooke her selfe to dwell among the mountaines where she framed the two enchaunted Swords as the first motion to draw Palladine toward Aquilea where at the time appoynted he shall arriue But now he is with the Prince Lydiseo at the Castell where he and Manteleo hauing their woundes healed the enchaunted Knight with his Lady and Sister returned to their owne home the vision of wise Orbiconte calleth Palladine thence and faine would Manteleo returne toward England because he liued by the onely remembrance of his mistresse Marcelina so comming to Lydiseo Palladine thus began Worthie Prince your care for our health hath excéeded our deserts yet we remayne with humble dutie to make requitall hauing accomplished our promise to the enchaunted Knight who with his Lady and fréends are safely where they would be
after he had saluted he requested to knowe whether he trauailed I go Sir answered the Knight to Bulgaria to make proofe of my fortune against a strong and puissant champion who maintaineth the Ioust against all that come for the loue of the Duchesse Brisalda estéemed the fairâ—st Princesse in the world being yet scant seuenteene yéeres of age I like well his attempt said Palladine whatsoeuer he be but knowe ye not how he is called Dardalon the prowd men name him quoth the Knight and fitly doth that surname agrée with him for he is one of the most vaineglorious men that euer was heard of beside excéeding in crueltie to Knightes that deale with him for if he vanquish any one he neuer pardons him no though he yéeld himselfe to his mercie Beleeue me said Palladine small commendation gets he thereby being rather esteemed a coward then valiant for he vseth such crueltie to terrify those as shall afterward deale with him But the enterprises of Tourneys for the loue of Ladyes should not extend to such extremitie but rather for honor and fame onely yea though to a mortall enemy mercy should be giuen him when he yéeldeth himselfe The brute beasts shew greater humanitie as we may reade in examples of Lyons Beares Dogs and diuers other who ceasse from rage and furie on a yéelding pray It is necessarie then answered the Knight that such men should haue such measure serued them and no greater mercie ought they to haue then themselues tofore haue shewed to other as for my selfe if fortune fauour me against him he shall find as little pittie as he hath giuen By my Sword quoth the Prince I so desire to see that cruell Knight as I will beare ye companie so you please to accept thereof for perhaps the great villaine is some Deuill and then it is necessarie he should be well coniured Great honor and pleasure quoth the Knight shall you héerein doo me for I desire nothing more then companie So leauing the marches of Dace they tooke Shipping on Danubium and coasting Valachia entred Bulgaria landing at the Citie of Varrâ— where Dardalon kept his Iousts and Triumphs But the Duchesse Brisalda tooke small pleasure in his labours for as he was a man of huge and monstrous stature so was he mishapen and of ougly countenance yet by his prowesse he imagined to gaine her loue wherein he was greatly deceiued albeit the feare of his mightie kinred chéefely of a Giant that was his Cousin made the poore Lady giue him good looks because by rigour he held the whole countrey in awe Palladine and the Knight being come on shore went presently to the place where the Ioustes were kept 〈◊〉 they entred the throng they sawe that Dardalon had euen then ouercome a Knight who knéeling on his knees cryed I confesse my selfe vanquished I yeeld I yeeld But Dardalon feigning he heard him not nor the Princesse who called to saue his life because the Knight was néere allyed to her smote his head from his shoulders shewing it in great brauerie to the Duchesse Palladine séeing the monstrous crueltie of this huge villaine could stay no longer but stepping to him sayd Dardalon I neuer saw thée before this instant when I beheld thée to shew horrible crueltie putting the Knight to death that yeelded himselfe vanquished had it béene but for the Ladyes sake 〈◊〉 called to thée to saue his life me thinks of dutie thou shouldest haue spared him and were it not I sée thée wounded thou shouldest perceiue I dare iustify my words Dardalon beholding Palladine without his helmet and so yong in yéeres scoffingly thus aunswered Alas good Gentleman didst thou neuer sée me before I thinke thou wilt say thou séest me too soone as for any wound I haue it cannot hinder me from correcting such a saucy companion Without any more words they mounted on horssebacke and Dardalon taking a verie strong Launce thought to giue the Prince an vnhappy welcome but he sate more sure then he expected and but that himselfe caught hold by his horsse mayne he had béene sent to fetch an errand on the ground A long and dangerous Combate was fought betwéene them the Prince many times in danger but worthely escaping and in the end so wearied his monstrous enemie as he got him downe vpon his backe Then taking off his helmet looked to the Duchesse Brisalda if she would haue his life preserued but séeing that neither she or any of the Ladyes made signe for it he tooke off his head to the great ioy of all the standers by except such as were allyed to Dardalon who presently drew their weapons to reuenge his death but other Knightes stept in to assist the Prince so that not one of them escaped aliue yet Palladine and his company receyued no wounds of danger The Duchesse noting the valiant prowesse of a Knight so yong and louely would faine knowe of whence he was wherefore causing the Ioustes to end for that day she sent to intreate him come lodge in her Pallace where her Chirurgions should haue care of his wounds Which courteous offer the Prince accepted not so much for the daunger of his hurts as for his desire to be fauoured of the Duchesse whome he imagined the fairest that euer he sawe Then was he conducted by two Gentlemen into one of the seemeliest Chambers in the Pallace where he was vnarmed and his wounds visited by the Chirurgions attending on the Duchesse who sent him a faire night mantle of blew Sattin embroidered with gold and furred with Martins for which most humbly he thanked her carying good opinion to enioy her loue so he could compasse the meane to speake with her For he imagined this to be the Lady or whome the wise Orbiconte had foretold him and for whose loue he should passe many dangers as now he had done against the prowde Dardalon CHAP. XVIII ¶ How the Duchesse Brisalda came to see Palladine what speeches they had together and how he slew the Gianâ— Brandidoll Cousin to Dardalon the prowde BRisalda the yong beautifull Duchesse to whom the inueigling God had giuen a liuely attaint of loue to the Prince Palladine determined to go see him in his chamber to vnderstand of his health and in such sort to perswade him as he should still remaine in her Court. So clothing her selfe in most sumptuous garments and being attended on by her wayting Ladyes she went to the Princes lodging and after two or three gracious courtesies passed betwéene them she said Sir Knight right welcome are ye to our Court commaund me or any thing else héere to your liking for so much doo I account my selfe indebted to you hauing slayne the cruell and proud Dardalon as while I liue I shall neuer returne sufficient recompence The Prince falling on his knée and killing her faire white hand thus answered If I haue done any thing Madame that contents you I am very glad thereof thanking the God of heauen that fauoured me in the attempt
and if in ought else I can doo ye any seruice till the latest houre of death will I willingly imploy my selfe Brisalda who was as it were rauished with contemplating his beautie tooke him by the hand and causing him to arise sayd With all my heart gentle Sir I thanke ye and accept your offer so freendly made for I greatly doubt ere long I shall neede your assistance against the Giant Brandidoll Cousin to him whome you haue slaine for no sooner shall he heare of his death but hither will he come and accuse me as authour thereof because Dardalon being enamoured of me ordeyned this Tourney thinking to espouse me either by loue or force In this did Brandidoll promise his ayd and diuers other of their faction as bad as they many of them being now slayne which so contents me as nothing can do more And were I as well rid of cruell Brandidoll hencefoorth should I liue in peace without feare or suspition of any one for when the mightie enemies are quailed the meaner dare not presume to stirre Madame quoth Palladine perswade your selfe in this that in respect of your innocencie God will not suffer you to take any wrong but that your enemies shall worke their owne confusion Longer they would haue continued in talke but that the Gentleman Ussher gaue warning of dinner wherefore the Duchesse went and sate downe at the Table Palladine sitting iust opposite to her who tooke so great pleasure in hearing him speake as she had no mind to eate or drinke All which Palladine heedfully noted and God knowes how well it liked him for if the one were passionate in loue you may think y e other was in the same predicament Oftentimes would they throwe such wounding lookes on each other as neyther had power to speake a word but to couer this alteration the Prince feigned to listen to the consort of musique which plaied all dinner time maruellous swéetly The Tables withdrawne she tooke him by the hand and caused him to sit downe in a chaire by her while many yong Lords and Ladyes daunced after that Countrey manner You may not daunce Sir quoth she because our Chirurgions doo thinke it hurtfull for your woundes beside rest is verie néedfull for you in respect of the rough combate you had with Dardalon whome to your great honor you worthely conquered For any thing I haue done swéete Madame quoth he let the credit thereof remaine to your selfe and thinke me as readie to doo you seruice as he that is most forward among your seruants of which number I desire ye to accept me as one Unsâ—emely were it good Knight quoth she to account of you as my seruaÌ„t but if you please to stay in this Cuntry you shall perceiue by my endeuours heereafter that I both honor and reuerence such men as you are As she would haue proceeded further her Gouernesse came and said it was time she should resort to her Chamber wherevpon they parted not without sufficient shewes on either side that betweene them was a sympathie of affection What seuerall afflictions they endured in absence let them imagine who haue no comfort but in the presence of their fauourite As for the Duchesse she on the morrow sent the Prince a rich Diamond by one of her Ladies with this message y t it was her determined iewell to the best combatant and therefore his due as hauing deserued it beyond all other Palladine receiued it verie thankefully returning this aunswere by the Lady that in requitall of that gentle gift he would that day enter the Listes and against all commers maintaine the beautie of the Duchesse As for his wounds Lycelio had annointed them with the precious vnguent which the Damosell brought from the wise Orbiconte so that they were verie soundly healed For ioy of this aunswere the Duchesse caused a goodly Scaffold to be erected whereon she and her Ladies would stand to see the Iousts and at each end of the Listes were sumptuous Trophees curiously placed decked with diuers impreses and mots of loue in artificiall Tables hanging thereon While Palladine and the other Lords were arming thâ—â—selues he was aduertised of an other Knight new entred the féeld who was the Prince Alâ—ian of Iâ—elaâ—â— a yong braue and gallant Knight at armes one that was highly affected to the Duchesse Brisalda So soone as he was entred the Listes he was encountred by a Moore Knight vnknowne who was dismounted at the first course the like successe had eight or ten more which Palladine perceiuing he gaue his horsse the spurres against this lustie champion lifting him halfe a foote in height from his Saddle And as they were taking new Launces for the second race there entred a mightie man armed cap a pe who furiously said Where is the villaine that slew my Cousin Dardalon by the great God this day will I giue his flesh to the dogs and hers likewise that was the cause therâ—of pointing to the yong Duchesse Brisalda And because he had heard that a yong Knight did his kinseman to death he ranne in a rage on the Prince Alfian of Ireland giuing him such a stroke on the head with his great Semitarie as the gentle Alfian fell beside his horsse Palladine thinking this to be Brandidoll and séeing him readie to smite off the Princes head ranne to him saying It is with me that thou must deale I slew thy Cousin Dardalon as his villainie and crueltie well deserued Brandidoll without making any aunswere left the Prince of Ireland and ioyned with Palladine when continued betwéene them a long and terrible combate Each one verily expected Palladines death such was the great oddes betwéene him and his enemie but so happily it fell out in the ende that Brandidoll by treading on the trunchion of a Launce fell downe backward when the Prince taking his aduantage got sure hold of him and smote off his head For ioy of this victorie the Trompets chéerefully sounded and the Duchesse discending from the Scaffold commaunded the Ioustes to ceasse for that day and comming to the Prince gaue him many thanks in that he had deliuered her from two such cruell enemies who sought the subuersion and spoile of her honor With meruailous signes of ioy they returned to the Pallace where Palladine was immediatly brought to his chamber and such wounds as he had receiued in fight were dilligently regarded by the Duchesse Chirurgions Each day would she duly come to sée him and vnderstanding that he was Sonne to thâ— King of England practised how to vnite her selfe with him in marriage And as an earnest of her perfect loue she permitted him to gather that daintie flower which many had with long pursuite laboured for he not refusing so braue a conquest because he verily perswaded himselfe that Brisaldâ— was the Lady of whome the wise Orbiconte had told him wherefore during the space of sixe wéekes he continued there in this heauen of delight till fortune iealous of so mutuall agreement
their leaue of the King shaping their course through Piccardie toward Bullin where they embarqued themselues and sailed into England for that they were desirous to sée the good King Milâ—nor to whome they brought letters from his Sonne Palladine Landastines likewise as not vnmindfull of his Florea sent the message of his heart vnder seale by Lydiseo excusing his absence which should not be long and hoping to bring her brother home with him As for Palladine he became so affected to the Princesse Rosamonde whome he imagined to be the Lady foretold by the wise Orbiconte as he wasted and consumed in pensiue thoughts practising how to obtaine her loue albeit he aduentured the hard stratagemes of death Oftentimes would he priuately conferre with her and she would aunswere him with such rare modestie as increased his torments aboue the compasse of reason Nor was she forgetfull of his dangerous paines in deliuerance of her brother Lewes from imprisonment ioyning therewithall the common benefit by the death of Brulanfurior and his brother Frucidant but as for the priuiledge of her loue the Prince Caesar of Roeme was Lord thereof and her setled affection impossible to be remoued All which he perceiued by such manifest signes as made him were frantike in silent cogitations sometime thinking to forestall his fréend by making the first request of her in mariage then againe intending the death of Caesar rather then to misse of the faire Rosamonde And though the Romaine Prince loued him déerely yet the furie of blinde loue made Palladine so impatient as he minded nothing but Caesars death which with a sharpe Launce in the Ioust he imagined might easily be done or with an infected cup of poyson giuen him in his chamber But the wise Orbiconte still directing Palladines course and knowing by her arte his secret intent onely by being deceiued in his owne opinion would separate Palladine from Caesar by calling him to his destenyed Countrey whereof we spake in the beginning of our Historie and thus it happened The Prince being in his Chamber with Landastines Simprinell and his Squire Lycelio imagining how to finish his determination on a sudden there entred a little deformed Dwarffe who saluting Palladine gaue him a Letter saying My Lord the wise Orbiconte hath sent ye this Letter the contents whereof she commaunds you to fulfill otherwise great harme will happen to you He had no sooner spoken these words but immediatly he vanished away How now quoth Landastines whether is the little Iack an Apes gone oftentimes haue I séene the craftie deceits of Iugglers but neuer sawe I such a trick before I hold my life the Deuill fetched him away This strange accident made Palladine remember the voyce that whispered in his eare at Varne when he determined to depart from the Duchesse Brisalda and desirous to knowe the newes from Orbiconte he feigned that he would lie downe vpon his bed wherefore Landastines and Simprinell withdrew themselues when he opening the Letter read as followeth The Letter from Orbiconte the wise to Palladine the Prince of England HAuing certaine knowledge vertuous Prince of the extreame loue thou bearest to the beawtifull Rosamonde and the doubtfull estate whereinto her amiable lookes hath brought thée I am to aduertise thee in respect of the loue I beare thée as also the good support I shall one day receyue by thee that the Prince Caesar of Roome is appoynted for her and no other then hée shall she haue in marriage Therefore withdrawe thy earnest desire and the execution of that thou hast determined which is to demaund her for thy wife and to preuent the life of Caesar whome she entirely loueth and honoreth in heart assuring thée that another is reserued for thée who excelleth in beawtie the faire Rosamonde and all the other Ladyes of Christendome whose liuely portraite thou shalt sée to morrow brought to the place where thou art by a Knight whome thou shalt vanquish in Combate and by that meane recouer her picture Then taking leaue of the Court thou shalt trauaile to seeke her in her Countrey which shall be named to thée by the Knight and neuer feare any dangers in thy iourney for thou shalt be fauoured by fortune and me who haue foreséene all these things that shall happen Thy good freend Orbiconte the wise and Prophetesse Palladine hauing read this Letter was meruailously perplexed in his spirit doubting whether he might credit the aduertisement of Orbiconte or execute his intent touching faire Rosamonde whome he reputed so accomplished with all perfections of beawtie as he iudged it impossible to finde her second in the whole world Beside he was throughly inueigled with her loue as he despaired how he could diuert his fancie on the other side he was as greatly displeased to vnderstand that she would loue none but Caesar and that to him she onely was vowed In these diuers opinions he spent the whole night yet in the end considering by the Letter of Orbiconte that what he had pretended was knowne to her he concluded to credit her message and especially if the Knight came accordingly on the morrow with the portrait of her he desired so much to sée vpon this determination he slept till morning CHAP. XXIIII ¶ How a Pagan Prince came to the Court of Fraunce bringing with him the portraite of the Princesse Nonparelia and of the Combate betweene him and Palladine who hauing woon the portraite departed from the Court. THE next morning the King and all his Barons being in the great in the great Hall Palladine Landastines and Simprinell likewise in companie there entred a Squire attired after the Morisco manner who making great reuerence thus began Mightie and redoubted King I am sent from the Prince Zarcanell of Chipre who yet abideth without the Citie to craue licence of your Maiestie that he may report before you and your Lords an enterprise which he hath determined to execute before you Squire aunswered the King say to thy maister that he shall be welcome and boldly let him enter our Citie for we graunt him frée accesse to our presence to open any thing he hath intended The Squire returned presently to his Lord who vnderstanding the Kings gracious answere commanded his seruants to goe to the playne before the Court and there with all spéed to set vp his Tent in meane while himselfe accompanied with thrée Gentlemen came before the King and hauing humbly saluted his Maiestie before all the Princes and Lords thus spake Gracious Prince I am perswaded that your highnesse well doth knowe what authority loue hath ouer humaine creatures and how vnable they are to resist his power therefore I beséech ye not to thinke it strange if I declare what loue hath enforced me to doo So it is that hauing heard the beawtie of faire Nonparelia so highly renowmed aboue all Ladyes in the world as one couetous to sée a thing so excellent I trauailed to Aquilea and there sound by proofe that fame had
and bound vp they were estéemed as their vertues deserued the good Lady vsing all the meanes she could deuise to expresse her thankefulnes for this noble courtesie But the knight without rest still minded Nonparelia thinking each houre a yéere till he might sée her and therefore practised as much as in him lay the speedie recouerie of Broantine and Liboran that he might set forward to the mistresse of his thoughts CHAP. XXVIII ¶ How the Knight without rest was conducted by Broantine to the Pallaâ—e of the wise Orbiconte and of the good entertainement she made him NOW haue our Knightes well rested themselues at the Castell and being now readie to depart while Liboran Lycelio prepared euerie thing readie the Knight without rest and Broantine walked together in the Garden where among many other matters the Prince perceiuing the faithfull affection of Broantine bewraied his loue to him which was the onely cause of his trauaile to Aquilea And as for the Princesse Nonparelia quoth he the renowme of her exceeding beawtie and vertue hath so conquered me as I haue resolued neuer to loue any other and might I purchase the fauour of her and the King her Father I â—â—all repute my selfe the happiest man that euer liued But true it is and which gréeueth me not alittle she differeth from me in religion yet time that preuaileth against all things may wiling her to become a Christian. In sooth my Lord aunswered Broantine the Princesse Nonparelia is the most accomplished Lady liuing both in beawtie good grace and all vertuous qualities and well may you perswade your self to obtaine her loue in that you are stored with those perfections that may prouoke Ladyes to loue a man For if question should be made as concerning your estate you are the childe of a King as well as she not inferiour to him in riches and renowme If the case be alleaged of your vertue prowesse and magnanimitie my selfe will not be iudge héerein but innumerable that haue made experience thereof The Knight without rest hearing the words of Broantine brake him off in this manner Leaue these prayses good Sir to God to whome they onely pertaine and from whome commeth all the good we enioy let vs imagine by what meane she may haue knowledge of me without preiudiciall daunger of whence and what I am My Lord quoth Broantine I shall haue good accesse to the King when I shall present you to his Maiestie and then may you both see and speake to the Princesse for she is very gracious and affable what other stead I can stand ye in vntill the houre of death you shall commaund me For this gentlenes aunswered the Knight without rest I shall héereafter be carefull to make some part of recompence and to begin our freendship as also to preuent the name of ingratitude I giue you the Countie of Orthon which is my patrimonie and which you shall freely enioy if you like to goe with me into England I thanke ye my Lord quoth Broantine for your liberall offer let vs follow our intent to the King and madame Nonparelia whom we shall finde at the Court with his Maiestie where he expecteth the succour from Illiria which doubtlesse will be heere within eightéene dayes for then must the battell be fought at Baldina And as we trauaile thither I will shew ye one of the chéefe singularities in this Countrey which is the Pallace of madame Orbiconte the wise the most excellent and sumptuous spectacle that euer was séene I pray thee good fréend said the Knight without rest let vs depart and stay no longer for such report haue I heard of that good Lady as loth would I be to returne and not to sée her hauing so fit opportunitie to doo it for since I came into this Countrey I vnderstand that she is allyed to the King being his Sister albeit base borne Without any more speeches they went foorth of the Garden and taking their leaue of the Knight and the Lady mounted on horssebacke directing their course toward Baldina and after certaine dayes trauaile they came to the Pallace of the wise Orbiconte the building whereof was so rare and stately as in all the world the like might not be found Long stood the knight without rest to behold this wonder which Orbiconte her selfe well perceiued standing in her windowe wherefore she sent one to open the gate and they entring began to admire much more then they had done seeing the great Court paued with Iasper and Porphire and in the middest thereof a gorgeous Statue being the Goddesse Venus curiously carued in Alablaster and from her two dugs spouted exceeding cléere water which fell into a huge great Basen of siluer By her stood her Sonne Cupid with an arrowe drawne in his bowe as being readie to shoote but so arteficially framed after the life as neuer was a more choyse péece of workemanship séene From thence they walked into meruailous goodly Galleries which were painted round about with Poeticall Histories as the contention betwéene the thrée Goddesses Pallas Iuno and Venus the iudgement of Paris the strange alteration of many metamorphosed louers and the banquet of the Gods where angry Tisiphone shewed her selfe On the other side were the labours of Hercules the destruction of famous Troy and the voyage of the Argonantes There likewise was liuely portraied the triumph of Venus drawne in her Chariot by two Turtle Doues the loue of her Sonne Cupid and faire Psyches the battailes of many Romaine Emperours their seuerall triumphs in Roome so liuely figured to the eye as if the persons had béene there in action While they thus stood to behold these deuises the wise Orbiconte caused her three Daughters to attire themselues in most sumptuous ornaments and afterward came downe with them into the Gallery which when the knight without rest perceiued he came and saluted her with great reuerence and after many sollemne and kinde courtesies to the auncient Lady as also her daughters the wise Orbiconte thus spake Sir Palladine right welcome are ye to this place for long it is since I desired to sée you heere that I might entertaine you as your vertues deserue Madame answered the Knight without rest vnséemely is it that you should so much abase your selfe as to regard me that am but a poore Knight errant Not so my Lord quoth she conceale not your selfe for well I knowe of whence and what you are welcome are ye to my Pallace where it shall be néedlesse for ye to feare any thing though you are so farre from your owne Countrey for heere you may assure your selfe of safetie So entring into the great Hall which was hanged round about with rich Tapistrie wherein the Historie of great Mahomet was curiously wrought she welcommed them all againe Broantine Lycelio and Lyboran who still counterfeited himselfe to be dumbe to whome she said My fréend speake your language and feare not for in this place you are in no danger I knowe that
the Tables were couered for Supper wherfore Orbiconte and the Princesse tooke their leaue and went into the great hall where the King and the Quéene stayed their comming who welcommed their Sister with meruailous kindenes spending the time of Supper with repetition of many matters The Tables were no sooner with-drawen but Orbiconte taking her Niece aside to one of the windowes began with her in this manner Since my comming hither faire Niece I haue perceiued that some thing tormentes ye excéedingly reueale the occasion thereof to me and if I may stand ye in any stéede for your helpe be well assured I will doo it right willingly The Princesse at these woordes was so astonyed as she was not able to shape any answere but shaking like a leafe on the trée her cullour went and came very strangelye such was her feare that her loue should be discouered And hauing stayed in this quandarie a good while at last she perswaded her selfe that her Aunt by her secret knowledge vnderstood her gréefe wherefore with the teares in her eyes she thus replied Let me intreate you good Aunt to suffer me endure my mishap in silence without constraining me to tell ye from whence my great alteration procéedeth it is vertue in a maiden to suffer patiently and shame to bewraye her owne thoughtes though euery hower addeth a worlde of miserie and burdeneth her minde with more then common cares Yet this I would haue ye to thinke that my extremities as yet haue not stretched so farre but to make me skilfull in iudging of a passion from which heeretofore I haue defended my selfe indifferently accounting it an offence to modestie to heare so much as spéech therof Orbiconte desirous rather to encrease her passion then any way to diminishe it thus recomforted her You doo well good Niece in respect of your calling to conceale the tormentes you endure and which my arte acquainted me withall ere I came hither for it is a signe of speciall gouernement to be carefull of disclosing such a secret as carieth greatest regard among all women But if you are so liuely touched with loue as your gentle hart may be empaired therby by meanes of the woorthy Knight without rest who hath doone more for you then all your Fathers subiectes could without him you must vnderstand that this is a disease common to euery one nor are you alone or the first that hath felte the furie of this passion but many noble Ladies bashefull and right modestlye gouerned haue felt the power of the God of Loue who ruleth and commaundeth when and where him pleaseth For this cause expect the good houre and before your infirmitie ranckle too farre giue order and remedie thereto in the best sorte you can I think it not amisse that you make some experience of Loues authoritie but you haue let him enter too farre within your hart that euen your very soule is penitrated therwith the best and most auayling counsaile I can giue ye is to practise some chaste and honest meane wherby to enioy the summe of your desire and so shall you preuent infamie and dishonor which euery creature ought carefully to auoide Alas Madame quoth the Princesse I know no mean more honest then the mariage of him and I togeather but how can that be compassed or what honor is it to me to moue any spéeche therof he is a stranger vnknowen to me of whence or what he is I am not acquainted with so much as his name Assure your selfe faire Niece asnwered Orbiconte that he is Sonne to a most vertuous King as greatly renowmed as any one in the world and further I will tell ye as concerning him so you will promise and sweare to me to kéep it secret for otherwise you shall put him in great danger of his life Ah good Aunt quoth Nonparelia rather let me dye ten thousand deathes then be the cause of any displeasure to him therfore acquainte me with his estate and I will be directed by you in all my after opinions But by reason that the King arose and went to his Chamber their talke drake off the Quéene and her daughter conducting Orbiconte to her lodging so remained the Princesse 〈◊〉 all that night and earnestly longing for the morning that she might end the talke betwéene her Aunt and her for further knowledge of the Knight without rest who likewise was no lesse forward in desire because after Supper he had not séene the Princesse and Orbiconte CHAP. XXXII ¶ How the wise Orbiconte tolde the Princesse Nonparelie what and who the Knight without rest was and how by her meanes promise of mariage passed between them ORbiconte béeing in her Chamber was both pleased and somewhat offended pleased in that she had so sounded the thoughts of her Niece and offended because she had not concluded her tale concerning the knight without rest But no sooner was morning come when the princesse sent many times to knowe if her Aunt were stirring and so soone as she was assured therof she went to her Chamber where hauing giuen her the good morrowe she saide Madame I haue not forgotten the promise you made me yesternight Neither haue I good Niece answered Orbiconte therfore presently will I be as good as my woorde So walking with her into the Warderobe and being none but them selues together she began her discourse as followeth Faire Niece vnder assurance of the promise you made me yester night I giue you to vnderstād that the Knight without rest is a Christian Sonne to the King of England and his right name is Palladine giuen him in honor of the wise Goddesse Pallas And I hauing foreséene ere the time of his birth that he should be the most vertuous and valiant Prince of his time and the Children engendred by him should very farre excell all other whatsoeuer I then made choyse of him to be your Husband séeing your Mother likewise at that time great with Childe and she deliuered of you sixe monthes after his birthe That mine intent might sorte to effect and to make you the onely happy Lady of the world by enioying a Husband the paragon among all Princes I sollicited him by dreams and nightly visions yea by letters and messages in such sorte as by my meanes he trauailed hether desirous to sée that rare beautye wherwith I renowmed you beyond all other Ladies And had it not béen for my dilligent admonition he had ere this time béene maried to faire Rosamonde of Fraunce where record remaineth of his famous chiualrie as it dooth in many other places of the world But needelesse is it to vse many woordes in this matter you knowe that I desire nothing more then your aduauncement and no man in the worlde is more accomplished with all perfections either in riches vertue braue minde and all other good qualities so that if my iudgement faile me not I think him equall to you euery way more woorthy to enioy you then any other If you be deceiued Madame
Knightes appointing the Marquesse of Villereal and the Countie of Marialne Iudges of the feeld All this while the Princesse Minoretta continued her pensiue mones praying for the prosperous successe of the newcome Knight and the confusion of the traitour Galitreo On the morrow was this doubtfull combate tried being fought on either side with such exceeding valour as they both fell downe foote to foote that each one reputed them both for dead but when the Knight of Fames helmet was opened and he had receiued the fresh aire he came to himselfe againe albeit Galitreo was slaine outright and therefore condemned as foyled in fight The King glad of this happie victorie intrâ—ated the Knight of Fame as he had beene his owne Sonne causing his Chiruâ—gions to take care of his wounds and during the time of his abode there for his health the continuall good countenance shewed by the Princesse Minoretta made him liue in hope to obtaine but he was preuented by the King of Nauarre who sending his Ambassadours to demaund the Princesse in marriage had his request graunted by the King The Knight of Fame séeing himselfe so infortunate in obtaining a wife so soone as his wounds were thoroughly cured tooke his leaue of the King and departed with intent after he had seene his owne countrey to trauaile into England againe to be reuenged on Palladine for the foyle he susteyned at the Ioustes at Paris so mounting on horseback he tooke his way directly toward Freezeland And not able to continue there any long time because his conceiued hate was such toward the English Prince he trauailed thorough Scotland who méeting suddenly with Simprinell and not knowing him a quarrell arose betweene them the Knight of Fame discommending Palladine and vowing reuenge on all those that durst take his part which Simprinell vndertaking they fell from words to strokes and such was the good fortune of Don Robert as hauing the better of Simprinell he departed leauing him there very sore wounded Manâ—eleo the Prince of Millayne whome long since we left in his iourney toward Normandie desirous to see his sweete mistresse Marcelina by good hap found Simprinell thus dangerously wounded and hauing vnderstood the whole summe of his misaduenture promised to follow the Knight who had thus wronged him and to reuenge his cause though it cost him his life Now must I giue you to vnderstand that Manteleo and the Knight of Fame were very neere allyed the Father to Temoreo the Duke of Millayne beeing brother to Don Roberts mother yet this kindred being forgotten betwéene them or at least their angrie displeasure preuailing aboue the remembrance thereof caused them meeting together to put each others life in very great danger And being afterward brought by their Squires to a Gentlemans Castell néere at hand where Simprinell likewise lay for the recouerie of his woundes they had knowledge of each other when sorrowing their méeting was in such vnhappie sort with fréendly gréetings they excused all that had passed riding with Simprinell to the King his Fathers Court where they were entertained as beseemed their honorable calling CHAP. XXXV ¶ How the great Turke sent his Ambassadours to the King of Aquilea to request his Daughter Nonparelia in marriage and what sorrow it was to her and the Knight without rest when they heard the King giue his consent ALL this while remained Palladine with his faire Nonparelia in the greatest pleasure and delight that could be imagined till fortune enuious of their successe sought to crosse them with her wunted frowardnesse which Orbiconte by her knowledge well perceiuing and that now if she layd not to her helping hand all the promised good hap would be squandered for euer to terrefie the two louers alittle she came and brake it to them in this manner It is a common saying my good fréends that dangers foretold hurt the lesse when they come to passe heereby am I to aduertise ye that such a matter will shortly happen as can not but be to your great disliking yet be of good cheere and endure it with resolued pacience for I will preuent the effectuall working thereof But to hold ye in no longer suspence knowe that this night past I made a figure to vnderstand thereby if your mariage were to be hindered by any contrarie accident and I finde that a mightie Lord euen he that commaundeth ouer all these countries will shortly send to request my Niece in mariage whereto the King her Father will gladly giue consent At these words the Princesse fell in a swoune and the Knight without rest was meruailous impacient but Orbiconte hauing recouered her in this sort began to perswade her Why faire Niece doo you dispaire or doubt that I can not hinder the mariage betweene you and the great Turke knowe you not that I haue done things of greater valew then that I neuer thought you had such diffâ—dence in me Who brought Sir Palladine into this countrey but I and who gaue you the honor of his loue but I and if I haue beene able to doo all this thinke ye I can not wade through matter of lesse moment Quiet your selfe and feare not but I will compasse your mariage to your owne content without displeasing my Lord the great Turke or the King your Father notwithstanding his promise Alas my good Aunt said the Princesse it is not for my Fathers ease to purchase himselfe so great an enemie as is the great Turke who in thrée dayes is able to ruinate our whole countrey and hauing so bad a neighbour as is the King of Panoma who doubtlesse would gladly with the great Lord in reuenge of the late foyle he sustayned I see no way to preuent fatall danger Why Madame quoth the Knight without rest victorie consisteth not in strength or multitude but in the pollicie of the Captaines and discretion of the Souldiours to pursue an enterprise as many examples are left among Romaines Carthaginians Athenians and infinite other where a small power hath preuailed against the greater onely by the wise foresight of their leaders and withall hauing truth and iustice on their side Let vs said the Princesse not stand vpon pollicie or the truth of our cause we can not be more subtill or hardie then they are and as for our right in the matter what reason shall my Father haue to denie so great a Lord great I may boldly say because in all the world he hath not his second both in riches puissance or any thing whatsoeuer Alas good Niece said Orbiconte merily stand not on these doubtfull tearmes for the case shall neuer be aduentured so farre cast all your care on me as yet I thinke I neuer fayled ye So parted they to their chambers where the Princesse remained in a hell of greefe such was her intire affection to the Prince of England And he likewise could resolue on nothing for now he thought to request the Princesse in mariage before the comming of the Ambassadors perswading himselfe that the
might finde them there quoth Zorian at our comming you maye be assured I would not hinder your mariage but assist it to the vttermost of my power for more account doo I make of your loue and fréendship then all the wealthy possessions af my Lord y e great Turk And one thing will I intreat ye faithfully to promâ— me that the next day after our arriuall at your Fathers Court you will take such order as I maye be baptised in the faith of a Christian for I féele my conscience that way earnestly addicted Palladine not a little ioyfull of this request promised to perfourme what he had desired so sléep causing them to breake off talke the nexte morning they were earlye on Horsse backe and passing the Rheme they entred Lorrayne Afterward trauersing the Ardeines Luxenbourge and Liege they came into Brabant and from thence after many aduentures ended they crossed through Flaunders taking shipping at Callis and in shorte time landed at Douer in England where they stayed two or three daies to refresh them selues Then comming to London to the Court God knowes what ioy was there made for their arriuall the King to see his Sonne returned Manteleo and Landastines their long absent fréend and the Citizens their yong Prince whome they feared was lost let all their ioye be compared together and thinke of what efficacie so great a matter is because pen and paper cannot disclose it Palladine not vnmindefull of his passed promise acquainted the King his Father with the state of Zorian how graciouslye him selfe was entertained in the Court of Aquilea and how the Princes Sister was comming after with her Aunt a Ladye of incomparable vertues and graces and her noble brother renouncing his paganisme desired to be receiued into the fellowship of Christians not being able to enioy peace in conscience till he were deliuered of his vnbeleefe The King excéeding glad of these good newes caused such royall preparation to be made against the next daye as at a matter of such solemnitie is required there was Zorian and his Squire christened the King the Queene and the Earle of Flâ—unders witnesses to the Prince and Palladine Manteleo and Marcelina to the Squire Ligasto Returning from the Church to the Pallace there was ordained a sumptuous feast and Zorian well regarding the Ladies of England among them all liked Graciana daughter to the Earle of Flaunders being then sodenly so enchaunted with her as he secretly vowed neuer to loue any other while he liued Palladine perceiuing his amorous glaunces on Graciana and noting the many alterations of his countenaunce immediatly knew what disease he was troubled withall which he desirous to â—â—ttigate and to pleasure the Prince Zorian to his vttermoste the tables being withdrawen he tooke Graciana by the hand and bringing her to Zorian thus spake My Lord and noble companion for my sake loue this beautifull Lady she is named Graciana and I hope you shall finde her nature answerable to her name to wit gracious vertuous and honest I promise ye my Lord quoth Zorian you haue doone me the greatest pleasure in the World bringing to me a Lady so woorthily accomplished that I might learne to imitate her vertues which haue pearced my hart in such sorte as would she accept me to be her Knight and seruant neuer should any other Lady haue the honor of my loue I perceiue well then said Palladine that you are touched to the quick doo you twaine deuise togeather and in meane while I will goe talke with the Countie her Father So taking the Earle of Flaunders aside he rehearsed to him the manifolde vertues of the Prince Zorian and how intirely he loued his Daughter thinking it a great preferment to her if she ioyned with him in mariage Like spéeches hid he vse to the Queene his Mother who was Cosin germaine to the Carle of Flaunders and betweene them bothe handled the matter so effectuallye as within two dayes Zorian and Eraciana were affianced together their mariage being deferred because of Ambassadours were gone to Norgalles and Millaine to conclude the mariages betwéene Landastines Manteleo Marcelina and Florea and the Princes Fathers consent obtained all these mariages should be sollemnelye perfourmed togeather But twenty dayes being now past and Palladine hearing no tidinges of Nonparelia he began to waxe melanchollye halfe distrusting the promise of Orbiconte yet did not this pensiuenes continue long for she arriued soone after as you shall presently perceiue CHAP. XXXVII ¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia was deliuered to the great Turkes Ambassadours and how by the sorceries of the wise Orbiconte the Ships were scattered and what perswasions she vsed to the Mariâ—â—ers who were very lothe to saile into England WIthin thrée dayes after the departure of Palladine and Zorian from Aquilea Nonparelia was honourably deliuered to the great Turks Ambassadours and with meruailous royaltye conuaied on Ship boorde accompanyed with her Aunt Orbiconte and a séemelye traine of Ladies beside The Ankers weyed and the sayles hoysed they launche into the deepe the Princesse still fearefull to loose the true owner of her loue yet comforted by her Aunt that in few dayes they would sée England Being entred the Mediterranean Sea Orbiconte saw it was time to set her practise abroche and seeing the Pilots and Mariners were all at rest with a Booke in her hand she came vp on the deck where brething her charmes into the aire and filling the sayles with her vnhallowed spelles the windes began to blowe terribly and the Seas were troubled with wonderfull roughnes that the Mariners awaked with the horror of the storme awaiting euery hower their vtter destruction In this tempest the ships were seperated so farre a sunder as the Turkes dispaired of euer méeting againe so that the vessell wherin y e Princesse and Orbiconte were by daye was on the borders of Scicilie and very néere to the Labean promontarie albeit the Pilot could not tell in what Cuntrie they were Then Orbiconte calling the Gouernours of the Ship to her and the Gentlemen appointed to attende on the Princesse in the presence of her Niece thus spake to them You haue seene my good freendes in what extreame danger we haue beene this night past and I thinke there is no one amonge yee but is perswaded that our Gods haue especially preserued vs yea by wonderfull miracle from shipwracke wherwith euery minute of an hower we were threatned In like sorte you may imagine that not without some secret and hidden cause we are caste into these partes and scattered from the Ships of my Lordes Ambassadours héerby doo our Gods euidentlye manifest that men how strong or puissant so euer they be cannot bring to end any intended enterprise vnlesse it be ordered by their fauour and direction and heerehence ariseth the the common prouerb That men purpose and the Gods dispose It is well knowne to you that the King my brother hath graunted in mariage my Niece Nonparelia to our Lord the great
beside I will procéed no further but heere giue ouer all cause of quarrell And that your desire may be the more satisfyed I will bring ye to the man you imagined me to be and likewise you shall knowe with whome you haue now twise dealt without aduantage My name is Manteleo Sonne to the Duke of Millayne and Brother by marriage to the Prince Palladine of England But the accustomed humours among new married folkes had charmed Palladine in such sort as he sawe not when Manteleo thus ventured before him yet afterward séeing two enemies so louingly embrace he meruailed who the Knight of the Phenix should be at length these two pacefyed came toward the Prince and in offering to salute him this cause of stay hindered them While Palladine was fastening his Ladies Bracelet about his arme a Squire came before him who on his knees presented him a Letter saying Worthie Lord my Lady and Mistresse the Duchesse of the rich Isles whome you verie well knowe commending her selfe to your good grace hath sent you this Letter desiring as the latest good you will doo her to aunswere the same with all conuenient spéed This message chéefely the verie last words amazed the Prince and béeing assailed with diuers imaginations he brake open the Seale and opening the Letter read there these lines following The Letter from Brisalda Duchesse of the rich Islands to Palladine the Prince of England AT what time my Lord I was so happie as to sée you héere in the rich Islands I thought assuredly my good hap had taken such effect as death it selfe could no way bring to end Not so much iâ— knowing my selfe to be your beloued as to remember that my first freend was the Sonne of a King whose good partes I engraued so liuely in my hart as none but he was made Lord therof reseruing to my selfe this onely regard that loue had made me no more yours then dutie had confirmed you mine Considering héerewithall that as a gadge of my good will you being surprized with some part of my graces and passionate beyond measure as your selfe sayd if my liking did not consort with yours I gaue you that remedie for your sicknes which a Lady of such calling as I am would not haue bestowed on the greatest Pritice in the world Notwithstanding our desires had then such a Simpathie of affection as in all matters we were alike hauing each others honor in equall commendation our nobilitie parentage and what else beside combined together in a rich procall knot But so it is come to posse that of our first sight affection and familiaritie such a testimonie remaineth as may not be forgotten for since your vnkind departure leauing me in a laborinth of endlesse greef I am deliuered of a Sonne begotten by you whom I haue named Vnyon now aged twentie monethes who bearing the perfect image of his Fathers graces is the onely comfort his sorrowfull mother hath And heerein you may beléeue me that an hundred times he hath preserued my life hauing so weightie a burthen at my hart as is the small account you haue made of me since your departure and the wrong you doo mée in racing mée foorth of your remembrance not vouchsasing once to acquaint mée with the cause thereof Heerein is my hap so hard and regretable as death were more welcome to mee then life to asswage which insupportable burthen I haue no comfort but your little Sonne whome hourely I hold in mine armes meruailing so swéete a babe should haue so sowre a Father Yet beeing thus cast off and disdained the sorrow can not be so irkesome to me as the blame would to you were your discourtesie openly knowne but such is my loue to you that my nature vanquished none but your selfe shall knowe how you haue wronged me nor further reuenge will I seeke then with mine owne death to burie your shame What would your new loue Nonparelia say if she knew my bed abused by her husband and she wife to him who by flesh and blood is maried to mee she beeing the second might well thinke the first to be hardly intreated But let not any doubt héereof offend you for from her will I safely conceale it not in respect of any loue to her but by remayning euermore Your faithfull and immooueable freend Brisalda Duchesse of the rich Islands After he had read the Letter he was strooken into such â—umpe and oppressed with such remorse of conscience as scantly could he endure from falling beside his horsse the best meane to preuent the same was the arriuall of Caesar and Manteleo which made him quickly change his countenance when the Emperours Sonne thus spake to him Sir Palladine the courtesie showen me by the Prince of Millayne your Brother hath deliuered me from great trouble enforcing me to forbeare armes to entertaine him in stead of your selfe The happie Bridegrooâ—e are you to faire Nonparelia whose praises soare aboue the Eagle in height nor can I forget your famous chiualrie perfourmed in defence of her portrait when you conquered in Fraunce the prowd Zarcanell her vnworthie seruant that brought her figure thether I can not denie my Lord answered Palladine but the representation of my Ladies beawtie hath made me conquerour in diuers slender enterprises woon from such as had no abilitie to keepe them wherein if I haue deserued any reporte as freends are easily intreated to commend one another farre inferiour are they to the faire Rosamonde and those aduentures that noble Caesar hath accomplished for her I see well my Lord quoth Caesar that you will binde mée to you in such sort as I shall haue no meane to compasse y e least part of gratification but let vs end this needlesse talke and goe sée the rare creature whose vertues hath allured hither so many braue Gallants So walked they to the Pallace where the King entertained Caesar verie royally and all the Ladyes with excéeding courtesie Landastines and Zorian dooing the lyke nothing ashamed that the Emperours Sonne had the honor of the Tourney CHAP. XLII ¶ What answere Palladine sent to the Duchesse Brisalda and how Caesar returned to his faire Rosamonde Landastines and Manteleo likewise into their countreys and of the birth of Florano the Prince of England Sonne to Palladine and Nonparelia CAesar being thus welcommed in the Court of England both by the Lords and Ladyes especially Nonparelia Palladine feigning to goe vnarme himselfe tooke the messenger from the Duchesse Brisalda with him saying My freend you must néedes haue a little pacience and according to your Ladies request presently you shall haue a bréefe answere from me Then calling for meke and paper he went alone into the Warderobe because he would not be suspected by any and answered the Letter in this sort The Letter from Palladine to the Duchesse Brisalda MAdame matters hauing so strangely passed hitherto yet without any cause of offence you haue had some occasion to complaine being ignorant of my hinderance in trauaile but