fathers sonnes vnto whom my minority denyed such reuenewes and liuinges as might sufficiently maintaine my estate which caused me to employ my stock in trade of merchandize by which in time of peace I gained in your countrie wealth sufficient which with my body I offer in your highnesse seruice and doubt not but to frée thy princely daughter from this vsurper whose vertue the worlde so much renowneth for by that faith which I receiued at the Font-stone so long as I may breath life neuer shal vnhalowed Cur triumph in your Graces ouerthrow nor in her dishonor The king ouer ioyed at these frank affaires of his champion expressing by his outward signes the inward delight of his heart and the desire he had to accept this yonglings offer taking great pleasure in his countenance which was louelie and no way inferiour to the best in his court for person wisedome and other good graces which with aduise considered he saith Pheander wel doest thou showe thy selfe a Gentleman for vnder the habit of a Merchant Gentilitie cannot be hid no poore estate can blemish the Noble nor aduerse fortune whatsoeuer but as golde is soone brought from the baser mettels to his forme by the skilfull finer so are the Noble knowne by their vertues Pheander I haue cause to honor thée for thy loue and forwardnesse as also for thy countrey which without slattering thée or any ther abiding I loue for your Kings sake But to our matter thou séest my déer Pheander the millions of cares heaped vppon my gray head through the oppression of this heathen Prince whereby I am made more miserable than the meanest subiect in my dominions and the more is my miserie by recounting the wretched estate of my louing subiects whom I hold as deare as my life and with that by resigning my life and crowne I might frée them from bondage were it nothing els the tyrant required But toward Gentleman whose loue wretch that I am I cannot requite my daughter oh sorrow worse thaÌ„ death to recount Nutania the only solace of my life and lines sole good in whose weal consisteth my good by violence offered her what good can be tide me she she my deare Pheander it is that drencheth my soul into so déep a hel that almost forgetting my self liuing I dayly dy only recounting the miseries â—he should endure if y â— tyrant triumpht in our ouerthrow but he that in extreams sendeth comfort hath reuiued me relieued my ouercharged hart by thy kind offer whose courage and hope of victorie being such as thou wilt hazard thy déerest blood for my daughters fréedom Thanks my good Pheander is all that I can yet yéeld thée yet tâ—ad more courage to thy noble mind fighting for vs our honor my daughter for whose good thou aduenturest shall inuest thée with the order of Knighthoode the first honour that euer she gaue to man of Armes and shal pray for thy good successe so calling for the Princesse who was so discontent that nothing could be pleasing vnto her who being come before him after her humble dutie done desirous to knowe her kingly Fathers will hée recounted the zeale of the merchant vnto her who had not onely offered his goods but also his proper life to trie in battel his fortunes against their enemie wherefore Nutania quoth the king for that he hath so voluntarily offered the same for thy sake and I relying on my God and in his prowes haue accepted him for my Champion by thy hand he shall receiue the honour of knighthood his title The maiden Knight and so prosper he in his honorable action and in all others as we wish and himselfe desireth The Princesse which diuers times had noted the courtlie behauiour of Dionicus was not a little pleased at her fathers motion as one that in hartie good wil wished him better then modestie would suffer her to vtter yet harkening to her fathers speaches shee behelde him with more gracious countenaunce and vewing the lineamentes of his person each grace well regarded she inwardly bewailed his hard hap that the goddes had framed him of no better reputation than a marchant who might well deserue the title of a king put from her memento by recounting her fathers wordes pausing thereon sometime with modest blushing countenance she said Kind sir whose honorable seruice offered for my fathers good and all our weales his subiectes if I yéelde you not such recompence as your desertes doe merit blame me not of discourtesie which haue no better knowledge of you but accept the hartie thanks of a Virgin vnto whome I holde my selfe so farre indebted as I can no other way recompence then wishing your good yet in earnest of better good refuse not at my hand to receiue the honour of Knighthood séeing my Lords pleasure is such and drawing his rapier the Prince knéeling shee inuested him with the order by name of the Maiden Knight pulling a iewell of rich price froÌ„ her gowne she tied the same in a most beautiful scarffe beséeching him to weare it for her sake wishing all happie fortune in his attempts The new adopted Knight whose heart ouer ioyed for so great a fauour receiued from the saint his heart wholy honoured with manie thankes dutifully rendered kissed the Princesse hand vowing himselfe her humble seruant and in all places to maintaine her modest bewtie Princely honour with his dearest bloud The time thus passed word was brought the King that dinner was readie whereby they were interrupted whome for a time we leaue to their repast discoursing diuersly at table of the valour of the Mayden Knight whose towardnesse the King admired which made his hopes the greater not doubting but his Champion would proue no lesse valiant in Armes then they exspected At which the Princesse gloried not a litle and the Nobles pleased at both their comforts passed the time with more content then many dayes before whome we leaue to their mirth and the Mayden Knight to the ordering of his affaires The Numedian King exiling himselfe from his Court in habite of a Pilgrime trauelled many vncouth places in search for his sonne of whom he could hear no tidings neither could Barnardine for all the industrie he could vse attaine to any knowledge of him his heart so much desired through which the heauines both of the Péeres Comons were daily increased And no maruel when their soueraign the mirror of all princely curtesie had thus vnknowne in the declining of his age when his yeares required rest banished himselfe his countrey louing subiects and what else he enioyed the griefe of which so oppressed the heart of the Quéene that nothing might yéeld her any comfort But pining in continuall sorrow vtterly abandoning the worlds comfort to séeke her comforter whose dwellings are in the highest heauens she yéelded her due to death whose funerals with the effusion of many brinish teares of the Nobles and sorrowfull lamentations of her subiects was performed with
ought will do me good if not vse me no more thus vnkindly least ouercome with the extreme of my griefe I chance to say with my tongue what my heart will repent or vse my hands with such rygor as becommeth not a mayden The Gentlewoman séeing the wind blow so warme fearing as much as was promised séeing the Princesse impatience such thoght not good to tempt her aboue her strength for women being by nature warme with a litle fâ—wel will be made hotte past reason wherefore making a preamble to her discourse like an eloquent Orator began thus Pheander with that word making a long pause to note the Princesse countenance on the sodain naming her beloued was interrupted thus Pheander Guenela what franticke humor causeth thée to name him in this manner with whome thou hadst neuer anything to say Madame quoth Guenela attend the rest before you either condemne me or commend me Then procéed quoth the Princesse This Pheander of whom my tale is before your Exellence to be told is that Knight who of your maiestie is called the Mayden Knight this Knight as it is told me loueth a Lady but whoÌ„ I cannot declare before I know but as it is told me by his dear friend which knoweth the secrets of his heart so tormented is he in his passions that the night naturally made for rest restlesse he consumeth in great discontent the day wherein all creatures delight is vnto him loathsome so that through watching and refusing his dyet with other cares which cloyeth his stomake his louely face is altered from the sanguine vnto the yealow coloured Saffrone yea Madame these mine eyes are witnesses of it who this day sawe him passe into the Court so féeble that his weake legges might hardly endure the waight of his bodie No more of this my swéete Guenela least thy tongue busied too long on this Tragedie ouercome with the extremitie of my griefe I â—e enforced to seeke an ende of my torments by dispatching my owne life Oh Guenela is this thy comfortable confection Is this the reliefe thou preachest off which would yéeld me such quiet of minde Vnhappie Lady why should I liue to sée another enioy my Loue Is not Pheander my seruaunt haue not I made choyse of him and shall another no way worthie to enioy him haue that interest which might delight the Goddesses Peace Nutania whither romest thou let reason subdue rage let not euery one knowe thy loue to Pheander but conceale it as thou maist and séeke some secret deuise to giue thy hart ease by death which is thy best remedy yet would I liue to become a succour for the well deseruing Knight and gaine his hearts desire for him if I might Cruel were that â—ame not worthy to inioy the simplest groom which causâ—es for loue consumeth such a man in all perfections and liniaments of body as Pheander without yéelding him loue But hearken Guenela that thou maist in time when my bodie shall be intombed among the dead report vnto my Loue and louing Knight how deare I held his loue as my countenance often shewed though he carelesse of loues toyes neuer regarded it for he shall well know at my last ende how I wish his welfare doo but this for me by his friend to learn the Ladies name whoÌ„ the Knight is so inthralled This is all the seruice that I will euer command thée that knowing hir I may become an intercessor for him whom my hart more desireth than all the worlds possessions with this teares which trickled downe from her eyes restrayned her tongue In which sorrowful passion her maiden became a partner and grieued for her follie committing so haynous a faulte in procuring the same she excused in this maner Most gacious Princesse how much I grieue to sée your discomfort I can not say but hope your Grace will pardon me which haue bene more bold presuming on your fauour then beséemeth mée neyther what I haue done gracious Lady was of any intent to offend you but to acquite my selfe of blame in a matter which I haue of curtesie vndertaken as the sequele shall manifest if it shall please your Ladiship to peruse this letter which will no doubt resolue you without further paines to me or trouble to your Grace what she is that is best beloued of the Maiden Knight on the earth This letter I receiued at his handes who hearing of your disquiet desirous as it should séeme to acknowledge his dutie to you coniured mée by many faire words and proffrrs of good to deliuer it vnto your hands which albeit for modesty I did long refuse thrusting that from me with my finger which I woulde willingly haue drawne to me with all my force in the end I consented the rather for your Ladiships quiet which as I suppose will bid it welcome for the maisters sake who if my iudgment in the Planet Venus deceiue me not wil prooue shortly a coniunction or Ile neuer trust my skill again for Venus being in the signe Leo hath domination ouer both houses viz. he and she or hée and you The Princesse at her last shift when she heard Guenelas tale voyd of all hope to enioy her beloued Pheander after shée had a while paused as one at length awaked from her memento as from a sléepe she saith Now trust me wench thou hast cunningly gone about the bush and hast daintily sought to enter into my déepest secretes yet how cunningly so euer you haue dealt there may be a quilitie to deceiue both thée and him but I pray thée Guenela tell mée what spéeches vsed the Maiden Knight at the deliuery therof tell me swéet gyrle in friendship The despairing Knight good Madam for so I must call him howe euer his vallour showes it selfe in fielde as no doubt woorthily so saith report yet in loue I sée his dastardnesse who loueth yet dare not reueale the sum of his desires but must commit it to a tell-tale paper languishing to the death wanting his delight and prolonging his sorrowes by silence his lookes bewraying more than he can vtter for be it said he that had séen not long since his beautie and gallant grace the abilitie of his bodie and noted euery particular lineament at this time with the debility thereof should sée a metamorphosis which might mooue the most hardest hart to pittie the cause to me vnknowne but suspected The assurance I doubt not but your Grace wil soon vndestand if you vouchsafe to teare the seale and peruse the contents The Princesse which thought euery minute a yeare till she had knowledge of the Knights minde put her maiden from her prattle with a fained message when being all alone with a number of sorrowfull sighes for the Knights perplexitie she read and manie times reade those lines which gaue her first comfort of enioying her heartes coutent how welcome they were vnto her it may better bée imagined than explaned whose head was wholly busied in answering the same
they boorded and by hundreths entered my shippes and gallies who were valiantly repulsed But men can doo no more then God will giue them leaue so long they continued the fight that the scupars gushed bloud as they had often with the water deliuered by the Pompe And here laye one maimed and there a number slaine This pittifull stratageme when my heart with heauinesse behelde being so hardly assailed my selfe after that I was cleared from the Fléete the winde fauouring mée with a happie gale and my ship being good of saile I forsooke the fight in hope to haue recouered in my owne Countrey and by a new supply haue giuen him welcome thither But my hopes herein deceiued a boysterous storm growing the sea who is mercilesse arose in extremitie swelling with such outrage that my weak barke no longer able to endure her crueltiâ— was put against our wils on thy coast my Pylot vnacquainted with the same and a hoary myst ouer spreading the land sodeinly the ship stucke being neare the shore which draue vs to great terror To remedy the which the Mariners did their best but in vaine striue they that labour against his will that commaundeth all What should I say the outrage of the storm was such as forced the ship vpon the Lée shore which gaue vs all cause to remember our maker and with heartie prayer to craue his assistance but our comfort was comfortlesse our shyp split and we all driuen to make what shift we might my self happening on the main yard after that I had bene gréeuously beaten at sea the whole night was driuen a shore on your Confines I neuer heard of any other that were saued With this the teares restrained his spéech that he could not speake which moued the King to more pittie of his estate and friendly imbracing him he sayd No more my Lord at this time I am sorie that I haue giuen you such cause of griefe thus by recounting so lamentable a state renew your passed griefes But comfort good King when tides be at the lowest they spring againe If the Egyptian King be so extreame reason with curtesie will not content him the cause being no other but to force the loue of a woman vnto him of which perhaps he were better be without On the word of a King and by my honor I sweare I will not leaue you vntill I sée you setled in your kingdome Thus the King whome sorrow had ouerburthened was by the comfort of this noble King his hoast recomforted whose whole studie was now in preparing of an Army to ayde him to which care we leaue them Nutania whose restlesse passions neither time nor place could alter burning in these remedilesse thoughts considering the penance her louing heart was like to endure she fell into this humor Nutania how haue the Fates ordeined to make thée vnhappie that thou being deliuered from an oppressing enemy then steppes in loue to beginne a new Tragedie Thou seest her fawnings is but flattery then séek to eschue them enter not too far in the forde least minding but to wet thy shoe thou plunge ouer head and eares Thy yeares albeit not many with the examples of others whom then hast read may learne thée to be wise if thy fancie be fixed on such vanitie as may bréed thy sorrow expell it as thou maist suffer not loue to harbour in thy heart for harbored he commonly pleades possession and once possest neither force nor entreatie may remoone him so ambitious a tyrant is he that voyd of pittie against law and all hostility he holdeth what hée list Alasse Nutania if thy enemy be such what auayleth thée thou maist wish to be fréed from his tyrannie but canst neuer auoyd it so imperious is hée yet not manly but as a Coward making the breach where the wall is weakest poore women is the marke whereat most commonly he aymeth who being by nature pittifull are easie to beléeue and by â—oo light credite are taken by them they best like of Thus poore wench doest thou nothing but heaue feathers against the winde which returne into thine owne eies thy speaches vttered in loues dishonour will be challenged and like a traiterous Rebel to his Deitie shalt thou be conuicted arraigned and condemned for deprauing his Godhead If it be death fondling to speake against the maiestie of a Prince what is it to contemne the powers aboue The best remedie thou hast is reconciliation wherewith the Gods are pleased and hartily sorrowing for thy misse yéeld thy selfe vanquished yéelding séeke by fauour to attaine the end of thy desires Thy loue is matchlesse and doubtlesse honourable his countenance sheweth the true badge of Nobilitie and his valour and bountie doe answere what his other perfections promise I haue often heard it spoken that womens helpes in extremitie haue bene great if that be true proofe Nutania cal thy wittes together and so end thy tormentes by enioying thy heartes content so much discontent by yéelding to the same Thus resolued without longer stay shée called vnto her Guenela her chiefe attendant who from her infancy had bene brought vp with her In this Guenela she conceiued her greatest hope vnto whome she saide Guenela since I had reason to discerne good from euill thou knowest how I haue tendered thée and how willing I would be to séeke thy preferment make triall when thou please so shalt thou be assured of that which iustly thou maist hold in suspence But leauing these coniuring words I must Guenela commit vnto thy secrets a matter of import wheron my honor and reputation dependeth for I tell thée Guenela I haue made choyce of thée amongest all those which I may command as of her I loue and haue best cause so to do hauing had such societie else should I rather chuse to dye ten thousand deaths then reueale it Guenela which had her whole hope of good from the Princesse hearing her spéeches with teares standing in hir eyes procéeding of ioy for the honor done her by her Lady protested vnto her by heauens maker and what else he framed to be secret in her determinations and do her best endeuour to accomplish whatsoeuer she commaunded The Princesse taking her word for currant in whom she neuer found deceit said Guenela that it is incident to all creatures in their kinde to loue I know thy wittes be not so simple but thou canst conceiue and he that frameth vs directeth our likings as best pleaseth him be it prince or begger from the highest to the simplest and he my Guenela hath linked my liking to a most braue toward Gentleman on whom I thinke if affection which is blind deceiue me not is worthie to be mated with the greatest in degrée on the earth To kéepe thée with friuolous spéech is no time now hauing other matter inough to discourse therefore that thou maiest knowe him to whome my loue is vnited Pheander the new adopted Knight is hée Pheander famous for his valour renowmed for his
for which the thought it not vnfit to vse the help of Guenela wherfore resting from her former studies we leaue her contemplating on her loue til Guenela her returne who séeing her Ladies callour somwhat reuiued began to smile Madame quoth shee though I made a fault in detayning so long the physicke that I promised you yet I hope your Maiestie will pardon that offence considering the good it doth in working howe you disgest it I know not but hée that hath least skill in iudging complexions will say your mariage is mended by twentie in the hundred if you recouer but so much of your losse euery two dayes there are few in one wéeke wil beleeue you haue bene sicke Well wanton well answered the Princesse you haue bene pretily disposed to play your parte and take your pastime in beholding the follie of both our loues which I am the more willing to forget in that thou hast so rightlie iudged of both our griefes But leauing iest I pray thée say my swéet Guenela what sayd my seruant when hée deliuered these letters vnto thée Madame to say trueth nothing touching his loue but imported with such earnestnesse for the presenting them vnto your handes as might haue made many proude to doe so charitable a déeâ—e crauing it with spéech so pitifull and lookes so ruthfull for mine owne part my heart imagining by your affection that the Goddes which caused your grief had fettered him and wel knowing where loue is vnited the ones weal is the others good though I were hardly won to the same I vndertooke the hazard of your good wil promising to returne to him an answere thereof wherein I shall breake promise without you graunt your consent Oh Guenela doubts thou of my consent for answering of his kinde letters which haue endured so many nights of vnrest and carefull dayes for his sake No heauens neuer graunt me good in this world if I séeke not his content that with so good loue and affection as hée offereth his loue and seruice to me vnkind were I els that louing am beloued should suffer my dearest loue to languish who may remedy it Therefore Guenela as thou hast plaide the Aduocate so make I thée my principall and chiefe Secretorie peruse these lines and in right consider if that his griefe deserue not to be pittied then let me sée thy skill in enditing to the which thou shalt haue my helpe Delay the time no longer hunger my Wench is sharp sawce as those say which haue good stomackes and I measuring his desires by mine owne imagine that meate cannot bee more pleasing to the hungry then the vnexspected tydings of consent from his new acknowledged Loue. Soft fire Madame quoth Guenela makes the swéetest Mault say our huswiues your Ladiship is farre wide what no sooner at the style but ouer haste makes waste looke before you leape least a blocke vnthought of chaunce to breake your shins What if these letters impart his loue how are you assured thereof Men are subtil and can cast many cullours to deceiue women all is not gold that glistereth nor al sugar that hath a swéete taste vnder the gréenest grasse lurketh y â— poysoned Adder the Crocadile sheadeth most tears when he séeketh most to deceiue try ere you trust Madam repentance comes too late therefore howsoeuer you affect him conceale it Lightly wonne is as lightly lost The Labourer that gayneth his mony by hard labour is more chary in parting therewith then the purloyning théefe or the ryotous youth which by subtill practises draweth all he can from his kind parents to maintaine his inordinate expences Let him bite on the bridle a while yet gently line his curbe that he galle not a litle thing pleaseth a childe and a good countenance is woorth golde to him that regardeth it as he professeth Weigh your own estate which are heir to this most famous crowne of Thrace with the basenesse of his calling which was no better than a Marchant consider what a corrasiue this loue of yours woulde be to your honorable father should he know it and how your Nobles would stomacke him for his birth grieuing to liue in obedience to one so farre their inferiour The enuious regard not what vertues he is possest with which I must néedes say deserue to bée accounted the man gayning honour by vertue and valour is more woorthy to gouerne the State then the Noble which ignobleth his house by his bad demeanor How many such there bée in this Court I grieue to sée who liuing licentiously abuse themselues in such odious maner that if your Ladishippe heard the pitifull complaints of the Commons crying out on the Prince for iustice against them and how by fauour of their friends ruling both the King and the State they are suborned cleared of the cryme and the poore Complainant returned with a checke able to breake the heart of a simple man abuses which may be more lamented then easily remedied But touching the Mayden Knight from whom I haue digrest I speake not any thing to disparage his loue nor to draw your lyking from the Knight but wish you temper your affection in such sort that you may long enioy it with content to you both and so gouerne your Graces lookes and countenances that the lightnesse of the one nor the liberall bestowing of the other giue iealous heads any cause of suspition For Princes be great markes and haue many eies beholding them and once perceiued what peril it may procure to either part your wisedome can conceiue Thus in dutie haue I spoken and deliuered a grosse aduise which I referre to your Graces better consideration Well hast thou said my Guenela quoth the Princesse but what auaileth counsell to a desperate minde no more then he that séeking to quench the flame powreth Oyle to it I finde thy loue so great towards me that I cannot requite it which with such good regard balanceth each perill incident to both our states if thou canst as well deuise how we may enioy our delight without which we perplexed cannot long endure what is it that Nutania shall euer enioy but Guenela shall command Then as thou tenderest my good bethinke thée of some remedie for my loue to him is such as nothing may extinquish Say my swéet Guenela shall I by writing answere his Letters or no In this I wil be ruled by thée how gladly soeuer I wish his comfort in whom of al earthly creatures consisteth my most comfort Experience is the best wisedome quoth Guenela who would euer haue beléeued loues power to be of such effect how imperious soeuer he séemed had they not séene and heard what I doo through which I am compelled to recant my heresie and say Loue is a God or how is it possible he could command Princes But to your Graces request wheras you haue referred the answere of Pheanders Letters to me I was neuer so voyde of reason nor so desirous to be counsellor to your
excellence to take so great a matter vpon me yet shal I so please it you to heare me deliuer my simple opinion as I would do my selfe in the like action The olde wiues say they that féede with the deuill must haue a long spoone and they that goe about to master Loue had néed of manie good precepts disswade your Grace I will not to forget it for I sée it is vain neither would I wish you to answere by writing for a paper is soone lost and lost to whose finding it shall come tis vncertaine as soone to some enuious enemie as a wel-willer in which some word simplie meant of you or me may be construed by them at their pleasure whereby your name may be brought in question and a slaunder raised is not so easily suppressed writing is a specialtie whereof the subtill Lawyer takes no small aduantage to auoyd all which casualties this may you doe pretend some matter of conference with him and appoint the time when hée shall attende your pleasure at your lodging comming secretely vnto you and at such time as the King your father shall bée employed in serious affaires so may you vse your spéech at your pleasure this would Guenela doe your Grace may vse your discretion I like thy deuise wel good wench and giue thée manie thankes quoth the Princesse therefore faile not to méete him for thy promise what els I refer to thy best indgemeÌ„t Nowe in faith Madame quoth Guenela you haue made a good choyce for a solliciter but take me as I am this is the first suit that euer I was retained for nor I doubt not if I spéed well now of manie elpantes As they were thus pleasant betwéene themselues they heard a trumpet sound to horse which caused the Princesse to sende her Page to enquire the cause who returned her answer that the king with his traine were setting forward to hunt a wilde bore which his Forrester had roused this newes gaue them cause of ioy hoping that Fortune fauoured them with a happy time which they were both loth to omit doubting the like opportunitie the Princesse especially who coulde not be quieted in minde vntill shée heard her Knight aunswere for himselfe wherefore a Page was presently commanded to search for y e Knight willing him with such conuenient spéed as hee could to meet Guenela in the garden the Page vsed such diligence y e soone he was brought vnto the Knightes presence whome he found solitary as a holie father at his Orizons whome the Page awaked with his ioyful message which was welcom vnto him albeit doubtfull whether of weale or woe either to augment his sorrowes or vtterly to extinguish them The sudden hearing of which caused him to pause a while when hauing determined curteously returned answere to the Gentlewoman that he would attend her he rewarded the Page so bountifully as he had cause to boast him of his wel employed seruice Guenela hauing receiued his answere by the Page aduertized the Princesse thereof who commaunded her to haste least she gaue the Knight cause of discontent by her long stay but for al her spéed Pheander was long there before atteÌ„ding her comming who was no sooner of him perceiued to enter the place but his heart prâ—â—aging some good was more delighted thereat theÌ„ all the motions that could be imagined after his curteous salutations done thus said Swéet Guenela I know not what to imagine of thy sudden message yet willing to be resolued as one that by thy answer exspecteth his doome either of life or death I attend thy pleasure say therfore swéet Lady what faith the Princesse to my letters with whom Guenela purposed to be somthing pleasant not to cloy his stomacke with such plesant confections that he should surfet therewith and framing a countenance to her spéech she said Sir Knight of all the Gentlemen in the Courte of Thrace my good opinion was such of you that on your word I durst haue hazarded my greatest credit which expectation thou hast farre deceiued and therefore not worthie to be accounted among such honorable men at Armes which take their principall honor holding their word with Gentlewomen At the deliuery of which spéech he that had tooke regarde to the Knightes countenaunce might haue thought him past phisickes recure And withall standing so mute it verely perswaded Guenela that he was readie to deliuer his interest of life whiche made her alter her rough words and with a smoother methode new file them doubting that her Comedie begun in mirth should prooue a Tragidie to the great grief of the whole Country which generally honored him Wherfore taking him by the hand she sayd Sir Knight I am sorie I haue charged you so far what cause soeuer I had but tis womanlike to be slaine with words and no fit passion for a man of your profession That you may comfort your selfe I first pardon the offence against me committed and enioyne you as you tender your credit with the Princesse Nutania that you faile not to repaire at such conuenient time as you best can to her lodging where if you hold your word you will excuse your messenger Oh Guenela how haue thy spéeches tormented me filling my entrailes with suche a confusion of comfortlesse thoughts as haue ouercome my senees Yet Guenela if thou be curteous or haue any sparke of gentilitie abide in thée Say my good Lady what countenance gaue the Princesse to my bashfull paper Vouchsafed she the reading of them Or how to discomfort you good Knight quoth Guenela it were pittie being alreadie at so low a datum which pitieth me to behold Comfort can I giue none to thy desires but this thy sute is loue as your Letters import in which dispaire not for thy mistresse is a woman though a Princesse and how pitifull our sexe is I will not boast but wish thée not dispaire If thy birth were as great as thy vertues thou mightst boord and bedde as good as the Princesse Nutania vnto whom I wil be a faithfull soliciter Mistake me not Pheander I speake as a friend and so leaue thée vntill thy comming to my Lady which detract not for time lost is such a precious thing as can neuer be recalled Before whom when thou shalt come pleade thine owne cause and discouer thine owne grie And so farewell Pheander which had some greater hope by Guenela her last spéeches was so ouer ioyed that he could not bid her farewell yet after his memento past he saith farewell the faithfullest friend in my distresse that euer I founde Oh Guenela happy maist thou be in thy loues and highly honored amongst men by whom my cares are thus comforted faithfull Guenela the worker of my hearts happie content by whom past all hope I am by thy faithfulnesse and trueth in deliuering my message freed of so heauie a burthen as was likely to haue torne my poore oppressed heart in a million of péeces Thus vplawding Guenela he had almost
of his Countrey which by his carelesse sonne is blemished who neglecting the dutie of a child without regard of father crowne or kingdome exiled himselfe no man knowes where or whether he rest aliue or no since which time the king his father who loued him too dear if fathers loue may be too deare hath likewise absented himselfe and liueth in exile The mother Quéen hath resigned her due to death leauing by losse of those honorable persons their country without a head and their state by subiectes to bée gouerned wherby a ruine of the kingdom is like to ensue all procéeding from the Prince A miserable country is that quoth the Princasse to be lamented but more the losse of so noble a race the father hauing bene such and the sonne as report saith so toward But say good Knight quoth she was there neuer cause supposed of their departures nor did not the father through his harsh demeanor for youth in these times take vnkindly their fathers vnkindnes age is froward which frowardnes might minister great cause of discontent Madam quoth the Knight to my knowledge this I wil say my father being a Courtier in some regard whereby I became familiar with the Prince and as youth will make choise of some one to participate with so it pleased the Prince louing my father wel to vse my company in all his exercises through which I saw his demeanor with such reuerent duetie to the king acknowledged and as kindly requited of the king as on the earth might not bee found loue more perfect til his speach fayling in his mouth he could vtter no more The Princesse giuing héed to each word by him pronounced albeit she sawe the repeating of the Princes life was somewhat cumbersome vnto him yet ceased he not to vrge him to shew such sorrowe in deliuering the storye so of her desired Ah Madame quoth the knight at his departure began our Countries grief and my sorrow from whome in life I could neuer bée seperated such was my loue to him which refused himselfe his Crowne and dignities Adolefull tale hast thou deliuered quoth the Princesse which I perceiue mooueth you to impacience wherefore one demaund and an ende The Prince Dionicus made choyse of you for his companion Then vnder benedicitie let me craue all law of friendship exempted did he not acquaint you with his determinations for me thinkes it is scant credible that such an vnity should be amongst men their loues being so perfect but he should disclose each secret intent whatsoeuer many reasons draweth me to suppose it which I will omit for I perceiue I am too tedious Your Ladiship vrgeth me far yet will I accomplish your request who haue power to commaund me The Gentleman who neuer offended but in committing of this great offence long before his departure hauing belike some motion of desire in his thoughtes became of a pleasant Gentleman the most melancholiest that could be found that quite abolishing all company hée best contented himselfe with his secrete cogitations continuing this homour so long that he fell sicke of an extream Feuer which so encreased vpon him as all Physickes reliefe was quite giuen ouer so that small was the hope of his recouerie whose distresse the kind King with the mother Quéene grieued in such wise to beholde as in shorte time it was hard to be iudged which of the thrée endured most extreames But God that in aduersity sends comfort restored the Prince to some streÌ„gth belike receiuing some comfort in his imaginations by his recouery the King Quéene were both so comforted as in short time they were raised from their sicke cabinets to frolike it amongst their noble subiects who ioyed in nothing so much as in their healthes But how soone the Sunshine of their happinesse was ouershadowed with cloudes of comfortlesse care grieueth me to recount yet dare I not gainsay your Ladiships request The Prince recouered of his maladie made semblance of such content that none but himselfe could witnesse vy the least suspition his hearts discontent yet oftentimes should I being seldome from his company sighing with a number of far fetched sobs heare him say Péerlesse Ladie would my loue were as wel known to thée as to mine own heart then doubtles wouldst thou pitie me which lanquish for thée that art the only Princesse on the earth excelling in al vertues which beautifie the honourable the report of which hath fettered my fancies to thée that I protest to bée thine or neuer mine owne then looking with a gastly loook about him to sée if any ouerheard him hee woulde fall into some other discourse euer applauding y e rare perfections of his mistresse who was vnknowne to all but only to himself I who froÌ„ the first he acquainted with y e same briefly Lady for I weary you with my discourse the loue of his Lady hath drawn him from his country whose absence caused the kings exile the Kings exile the Quéens death The Princesse hearing all these extreams to grow from affection knowing well her owne hearts discontent with a sigh from the déepest which wroong tears from her heart she said Alasse noble Gentleman whose ioy so soone ouerwhelmed hath heaped so many cares vpon me what folly was there in thée that wouldest not disclose thy loue which burned so vehementlie was the dame so base that thou fearest thereby to ignoble thy issue or of such high estate thou doubtest to obtaine her if either by perswasions all griefs might haue bene mittigated if a Monarch why thou by report deseruest her if a begger thou mightest make her noble what ere she were hearing thy distresse could she forbeare to pitie thée No no were her heart more harder then the Diamond it could not choose at y e hearing therof but relent else wel woorthy were she to bée scorned of al Ladies and neuer to bee named amongst the number of women The Prince séeing the Princesse in this pitiful humour thought it good striking wheÌ„ the iron was hot taking the opportunity answered her thus Is your Ladiships censure such of hard-hearted Ladies wil not be entreated of him whose loue to you is no whit inferior to the Pr. Dionicus as himself wold confesse wer he present hard me recount y e many griefs wherwith loue hath afflicted me might he â—e Iudge wold allow me recoÌ„pence for my seruice in loue But Madame if without offence I might demaund this say Nutania the Princesse of Thrace were the Saint vnto whome this vnhappie Prince had vowed his deuotions and that all the passions he hath endured are for your loue would you vouchsafe him loue in recompence thereof The Princesse driuen to her shiftes at this demaund could not tell what to answere yet sharpening her wittes as women can doe she said Pheander Loue is not to bée dallied with as I haue heard them say which speake by experience therefore I cannot directly answere thy question but were
I the Physitian that could cure his maladie and had so good iudgement of his affects as of mine owne charity would I shoulde minister vnto his disease what effect soeuer the potion would worke prouided this that he disclosed his griefe in time mistake me not Pheander and pardon mée if I conceale what I would vtter my thoughtes are mine owne Trueth Ladie quoth the Knight neither was y e same demaunded to vrge any thing more theÌ„ standeth with your good liking yet for the prince this I say it were pittie he shoulde die for loue So say I quoth the Princesse for few men ther be of that condition and as seldome is such a one séene as multitudes of blacke Swans Your errour is great Madam quoth the knight for many haue bene with loue so ouercome that Kinges haue bene enforced to stoop to their subiectes and the greatest conquerours whose valour many volumes recorde by loue compelled to forsake themselues taking sundrie shapes and many toyles to gaine the loue of their Ladies I speake now Madam for the Prince whom I loue well and challenge your charity may bee to him continued for your loue is the only physick that must cure him or els all other helps are friuolous in hope wherof he breaths a lingring life til your gracious consent finish his griefs yéelding to his desires in whom it resteth to restore him banished to his regal dignities who is y â— cause of his exile dastardnesse hath caused him to conceale it bearing the extremitie of his passions with intollerable pain whose flames encreaseth by viewing your exellent perfections The want of whose grace haleth him on to desperation not able any longer to resist loues assaults which with such hot allarmes assaileth him that longer he cannot endure them The Princesse hearing her Knight pleade for the Prince with such earnestnesse leauing his owne sute to draw her to loue him of whom her thoughts were least on thought it some pollicy of the Knight which imagined loue had vanquished her swelling with anger at these new imaginations heâ— colour changed into so many formes that the least child which had séene the same might easily haue gest what small content those last vttered spéeches wrought But doubting least with silence it should be perceiued with a heart full fraught with fury she sayd Deceitfull wretch vnworthy the fauour of the simplest drug that by thy subtil practises hast sought to insinuate thy selfe into my secrets was it not false varlet sufficient that I forbeare the punishing of thy own bold writings but to my face in colorable maner deludest me with tales of I know not what Haue I euer graced thée since I first sawe thée and requitest thou my fauour thus dallying with me as with thy inferiour or some of thy base Trulles No no vse thy ieast with such that can better disgest them and from henceforth be warned and warned take héed how thou dare either by word or writing vse any like motions least I acquaint y â— world with thy impotent dealings and by death thou receiue the guerdon of thy ill and so fare as thou maist for neuer expect farther fauour at my hands The Prince hearing this finitiue sentence from her whose tongue was to pronounce his life or death thought it high time to speake for himselfe before she departed and staying her as she would haue gone he humbly besought her not in displeasure to leaue him but with patience endure what he could say which albeit she might hardly be wonne to grant yet her former affection banished chollor in such wise that he had libertie to speake saying Gracious Lady that I offended your Exellence whom of all earthly creatures I most honor I hartily sory for it iudge me not so impudeÌ„t or senslesse to moue matter without some reason especially enduced therunto by your exellent fauour and charitable pittie of the wretched estate of that vnhappie Prince who hath vowed to loue your grace to the death and by granting him your loue you shall draw him from death thereby not onely restore him but fill the hearts of many thousands with ioy which with teares continually lamenteth his losse which is lost to them for euer and shortly will be losse to himselfe the whole world Vnhappy Prince why name I him Prince whose miseries is more theÌ„ the most wretched slaue that liueth who not able to endure the force of loue hath forsaken himselfe to follow his own affectioÌ„s without knowledge of father kin or subiects Muse not Madam at the straungenesse of the Tale I haue to deliuer nor let it séeme incredible that I am that vnhappy Dionicus lawfull heire of the Numedian Crown that Prince through whom so many miseries is befallen his country his fathers care cause of his careful mothers vntimely death who fettred in loues bands by report of thy péerlesse bewtie vertues hath drawne me to take the habit of a merchant vsurping the name of Pheander the more vnsuspected to attain the sight of thée whom my heart so desired whom if thou pitie liueth by thy loue to do thée honor and without thée may no longer inioy this life in pursuit of whose loue if I die my ghoast among the rest of louers shal sing hymnes in laude of thy péerlesse bewtie The Princesse as one in a trance could not tel whether she heard him speak or dreamed yet noting his countenaÌ„ce which shewed a troubled spirit tickled with a sodain ioy as women be proud in their Loues that her loue to Pheander was methamorphosed to Dionicus the Numedian Prince of whome her fathers Courtiers reported such honours she sayd Pheander or how I shall call thée I know not thou hast filled my sences with a world of coÌ„fused thoghts in recounting the straungenesse of thy fortunes which I can hardly be drawne to beléeue nor is it possible that the Prince Dionicus could liue in the Court of Thrace so long concealed without knowledge of some one if I might by reason be induced to beléeue the same I would say more Madam quoth the Prince howsoeuer I haue disguised my selfe heretofore as loth to be dishonored yet beléeue me in this that I said no more then is truth Therefore if thou couldst not loue Pheander being a merchant for ignobling thy noble house yet as I am Prince of Numedia vouchsafe me thy liking by whome thy honor can no way be disparaged but by exchanging loue for loue with him aduance thy honor far higher Say nâ—w Madame all nicenesse set apart can you loue The Princesse whose loue was equall though willingly she would haue coloured the same yet moued with a pitifull desire to ease his griefe which farre surpassed as also to ease her owne heart which was not a litle infected with the self disease their welfares depending both on her grant or deniall After she had deliberated a while fixing her hand in his which she easily grasped and leaning her head on his shoulder to
liegeman shall I euer continue and be readie at your pleasure to do you seruice Here Gentlemen the story telleth vs that the Thracian King as flesh is mortall vexed with an extreme sicknes was so oppressed therewith that nature failing through weake age all phisicke helpes were friuolous so that perforce he must pay his due to death which commandeth all whose breath failing at the sommon of this tyrant which may not be intreated his soule departed this earthly trunk to sée the ioyes of the euerlasting kingdome whose death his subiects so with pittious plaintes bewailed as might haue changed the most hardest heart into a Caos of lamenting sorrowes beholding their teares whose bodie was most royally intombed amongst his Ancestry But among those which sorrow ouerwhelmed and had like to haue drowned in deaths gulph the Princesse whom nature forced in some sort to lameÌ„t as a child hauing lost her father was so weakened with her plaints and hearts sorrow that long time it was not to be thought she could recouer it so much was her tender heart touched eftsoones bewailing her fathers death and then againe gréeuing for the want of her Loue and Lord the Mayden Knight of whose safetie whom she more desired then to be Lady of the whole earth could not be perswaded Long did she languish in these extreames and could not be comforted in so much that she rather desired death then to liue But he that in extreames is our best comfort preseruing her for the Commons benifit sent her health who being recouered the Coronation finished and the Crown by common consent of the Parliament confirmed vnto her many offers of marriages were made vnto her for which humble sutes of her Councâ—ll were not omitted who desired nothing more then to haue the issue of her noble bodie succeed her But no perswasions might moue her from the Knight who had the chiefe interest of her hart to whom she had vowed her selfe protesting likewise neuer to grant her loue or liking to any one but onely to him This resolution so much gréeued her nobles that nothing could breed more discontent yet as dutie commanded framed themselues to her gouernment who with such wisedom directed all things for the benefit of her common weale that it was admirable to behold that wisdome in one of her sexe But to return to our matter The Thessalian King who minding his honourable word with the noble Pheander finding opportunitie ganne question his sister in this maner Phedera since the decease of our deare parence thou hast bene left vnto my gouernment for whom without boast or desire of benefit of thée or any I haue had that care as of mine owne good and euer will so thou be ruled by me And for I sée thy yeares requireth to be linked in marriage that thou maist participate in loue with thy husband and spend the prime of thy yeares as is fitting thy estate I haue found a Gentleman of honor and valour such a one as on my word loueth thée and I haue cause for his paines in my seruice imployd to honor Therefore good sister if thou loue me as a brother and hast not bestowed thy loue elsewhere in this matter be ruled by mée and in dooing whereof thou shalt finde mée thy brother and most assured friend who will euer be as carefull of thy well doing and honor as of mine good Say therefore thy minde plainly and let me knowe whether thou doest loue or canst loue The Lady whose wisedome was such as balanced her honor not knowing whether her brother were in in iest or earnest thus modestly said Gracious Lord and my dread soueraigne pardon I humbly beséech you your subiect and suffer mée not through my fond answering so friuolous a question which you vrge but for my triall to procure your displeasure or mine owne shame Why Phedera quoth the King you mistake me if you thinke I ieast for on my honor I meane what I say therfore dally not with mée if you hope of my good But tell me if thou doest loue or wilt loue my friend The Ladie hearing the King in earnest although shée could be well content to haue enioyed the swéet pleasures of loue in marriage thus sayd Dread Lord and my most gracious soueraigne sithence it is your pleasure I should answere your demaunde Know that as modestie is the ornament of Maydes and chastitie the garland that bewtifieth all our sexe so haue I carefully weyed mine honor in such manner that I neither loue nor as yet euer made choyce of any in loue but haue eschewed all such friuolous motions of the flesh to my greatest power as beséemeth a Lady of such honor That I may loue I doubt not because it is the commandement of our maker and incident to all creatures who in their kindes make choyce of some one to participate with yet shall my loue neuer be such as may disparage your highnesse loue towards me but such as shall be to your content And for your graces pleasure is to bestow me on a man so honorable so standeth it with your will to let mée knowe him I will answere more directly God a mercy for that wench quoth the King then I doubt not but wée shall haue a match or else thy wisedome is not such as I wish it were But tell mée vnfeinedly my Phedera canst thou loue the Lord Cariolus a man for birth honorable for valour to compare with most aduenturing Knightes in the worlde in person comely and so dibonire in his behauiour as for curtesie hée is to bee matched with the best Hée is the man Madame whom if you can fancie thou honourest mée in thy loue and thou shalt finde mée a brother nay a father if fathers loue may excéed the brothers Say therefore thy minde and let me know thy answere The Ladie whose hope was her brothers sute had bene for the Mayden Knight with whose loue she was a little touched yet modestie mastering such fond motions would not let affection take such roote but that shée could at her pleasure expell it After the Lady had heard her brother whom she perceiued by his earnestnesse in vttering his sute would not willingly be denied she said Pardon me my good Lord if I passe modestie considering your great praise of the Gentleman beléeue me he is much beholding vnto your Grace who could haue thought you would haue prooued so good a soliciter had your studie bene the Lawes of this Realme no doubt but you should haue had many Clyants were the Gentleman here himselfe he could not haue sayd thus much and therefore he may thinke himselfe beloued and honored of your highnesse But for answere as I would not haue you in your first wooing disgraced least it discourage you in your owne enterprises being a batcheler so can I say little of my selfe who is to be gouerned by you to whom in all humblenesse I referre me and shall so you be pleased be content if it were
with one not so worthie as the Lord Cariolus And yet Nay Madam quoth the King leaue not off so abruptly with an aparentizes your words are doubtfull Tell mée therfore is there any other before me if there be and thou hast made choyce and you both agreed I will not gainsay it nor tye thée to any other then thy owne content in mariage Therefore say what those words and yet imported Pardon my ouer boldnesse gracious Lord answered the Lady which vnaduisedly ouerpast those spéeches and credit my word which haue no loue fixed in my heart but will endeuour my selfe to the liking of him whom you shall commaund me yet will I answer your demaund and meaning of those words taken so by your grace at rebounde though I must and will frame me to the loue and liking of the Lord Cariolus Yet had the noble Generall bene pleased and with that a déep sigh staid her tongue in such wise as she could go no farther The King vnderstanding which way the winde of her desire blew though he could haue bene better content with her choyce yet to put her from other thoughts and to haue his sute take effect he perswaded her to let slip such fonde imaginations for that he had placed his loue on a Ladie of his Country whom he would not leaue for all the world With these happie tidings for the Lord Cariolus after some other kinde spéeches to y ◠Lady the King departed so ioying in his good successe y ◠he could not rest vntill he had comforted the Lord Cariolus with his answer whose mind egged on by the Mayden Knight was so fixed on the Lady that she was become the mistresse of his heart and he ioyed in nothing but in contemplating of her loue thinking euery day a yeare and euery houre a month vntil he heard the Kings answere musing thus on his Loue tossing with a minde disquietted from one side the bedde to the other his Page brought him word that a Gentleman from the King attended to speake with him which sodaine newes reuiued so his spirits as made his heart more light then long time before it had bene hoping to here such happie tidings as his louing sute required The Messenger hauing deliuered his messuage iudge you that be louers whether you could slack any time vntil you heard the doome of your mistresse which he was assured to do by the King vnto whom he hasteneth with such spéed as he could To whose presence being come the king as ioyful for his good successe and his sisters grant as the Lorde Cariolus to heare it with a smiling countenance which shewed the ioy of his heart said My Lord though my skill in wooing be but small hauing neuer accustomed my selfe to any such practise yet haue I playd the cunning Aduocate for your Lordship and will assure you so you holde your word and promise the Princesse shall be yours and thereon take my word of honour Cariolus so ouer ioyed at these tydings could not well tell whether he heard the King speake or dreamed of this happinesse But standing a while in an extacie his sences being come againe with eyes gastly beholding the King thus said My honourable and gracious Lord what may I doo to requite your Princely fauour who hath vouchsafed me so great honor not onely to bestowe your onely sister on me but to become my honorable soliciter what I would say modestie compelleth me to conceale Only this I assure your Maiestie my loyall seruice shall euer be ready at your commaund in such dutifull maner that your Maiesty shall haue no cause to repent you of so great a good done vnto a stranger Inough my Lord fewe words doth suffice among friendes wherefore forbeare these spéeches loue my sister and for her sake thinke of me as a friend which will be euer ready to do you what pleasure I can To giue you some interest of my faith appoint the marriage day at your pleasure and for her dowry accept this kingdom of Egypt which shall remaine to you and your heires for euer onely this homage shall you yearely tender in my Court of Thessaly two swift running Coursers of this Countrey and so God make you happie in your loue and a ioyfull father of many children With this the Mayden Knight entered his presence vnto the King what man so welcome his dutie done the King louingly imbracing him said Sir Knight I haue not long sithence comforted your friend with my happie tydings and not onely assured him of a wife which I hope will prooue louing and kinde vnto him but haue inuested him with the tytle of King of Egipt of both which I wish him so much ioy as I desire to haue ioy his wedding day let him appoynt at his pleasure which shall with the greatest honour I can be performed Most gracious and dread Lord quoth the Knight how this your honourable curtesie haue tyed mee vnto your seruice I omit that at my request hath thus fauoured my deare friend whose good I estéeme as mine owne and euer will be readie with my best endeuour to serue at all times and places where my force or seruice may do either your Maiestie or my Lord Cariolus good And séeing it is wrought to his content and your Graces good lyking let mée intreate this fauoure of you both that the wedding may sodainly be solemnized for that my staie may not be long here such desire I haue to sée my soueraigne Lorde who I am sure exspecteth my return long before this time Sir quoth the King did you knowe how displeasing those spéeches of your departure were to me that desire nothing in the whole world so much as your company you would neuer harpe so much on that string But how long so euer your staie shall be this day eight dayes I doo appoint for the wedding so my Lorde Cariolus be agreed and say Amen Neuer quoth Cariolus let him be allowed for Clarke which refuseth to say Amen to such a parson the Orizons bringing such content séeing your Maiestie referres it to me Amen say I and humbly thanke your Grace for your honourable fauour The wedding day appoynted and assigned the King sent for the Princesse who that night supped all togither which being ended the Princesse in presence of many of the Lordes of Thessaly and Egypt was betrothed vnto the Lord Cariolus and the marriage day appoynted against which time were all the nobles sommoned to be at Court to attend the King by whose commandement all the preparation for honour of that day might be deuised was ordeined the time of night being spent sommoned their watchfull eyes to sléepe wherefore after many solemne adues taken one of the other they hastened on all sides to their rest onely Cariolus and the Princesse best content shée ioying in her Loue and kingly brothers lyking and he blessing a million of times the day wherein he first saw the Prince procurer of his so great good What
in short time his body was so weakened that rather he desired to accompany the dead then liue in such discontent the mother Quéene with ouer much care and watching néere pined and few which felt not some part of the Princes griefe such was their faithful loues vnto him whereof the father gloried not a little and the mother if women may be proud was not a litle spiced with y â— disease But neither the heauines of the father the extreame griefe of the mother the daylie lamenting of the Courtiers nor the complaints of the Commons might any way auail the Prince who smothering his own sorrowe could not by al art Physicke allowed for mens reliefe be any way comforted The ouer grieued burthen of whose miseries the Quéene with his kinglie father séeking to ease and coulde not as he desired accomplish such extremity likewise assailed them that the learnedst coulde not iudge the difference betwéene them so that by their ill suppose the subiectes griefe which reuerently honoured them and could willinglie haue offered their owne liues for their reliefe and ease But in vaine striue they that séeke helpe for him whome none but the beautifull Nutania could release who was the Load-starre of his life and the loue of her the speciall Physicke which muste restore him or dye hee would past all recouery but by Nutania that Paragone of fame Dianaes glorie Natures onely darling and delight Weake and féeble past recure of Physicke became the King and Quéen voyd of hope euer to see their Princely sonnes recouerye wherefore forgetting all worldly pleasure and Princely delightes such as become Princes ofso high estéeme quyte abolishing all the vanities of the worlde they minde wholly the euerlasting comfort and ioye in nothing but his death that from death by his blood redéemed them In this extremity when all hopes wer past help of men behold the mercy of him that preserueth and destroyeth at his pleasure who mooued no doubt at the intercession of some their vertuous subiectes or taking pittie of their distresse as wee read in holie writ testimony of our soules comfort how Abraham beloued of God mooued his diuine Deitie for those Cities for sinne by his iust iudgment consumed if fiue godlie people had bene founde within their walles they had bene preserued so either for the vertues of the King or the intercession of those sorrowing subiects the giuer of all comfort sent them comforte as you shall heare The Numedian King whose prime of youth was spent in manie honourable actions holding in great regard the loue of his neighbour Princes liued in such tranquility that he was honoured of all that heard of his gouernment The report of whose long sicknesse and weake estate moued the Kings of diuers regions by their embassage to comfort them and to bee aduertized of the trueth of their estates Amongst which those honorable Princes that held his health in such regard Thelarchus King of Thrace dispatched his Ambassadour Who for the more honour of their King was accompanied with diuers Gentlemen both of honour and great worship These Ambassadors ariuing at the Court of Numedia their cause of comming vnknowne many matters were of the commons supposed who will entermeddle with Princes affairs so that amongst them diuers things were imagined and sundrie dangers suspected but no assurance of anie vntill their day of hearing which the king appointed to be as sodaine as they could require Against which time royall preparation was made with all the pompe could be deuised where for feasting there wanted no daintie how rare soeuer nor diuersitie of Vyandes to please the appetite with many pleasing showes and pastimes the better to giue them occasion of welcome all which notwithstanding the Kings weaknesse was so exquisitlie performed that it was admirable The day of hearing come as time stayeth not Manpelious hauing summoned his councell and chiefest Nobilitie against that time to attende his pleasure these seuerall Ambassadors were brought to his presence where with more shewe of hartie welcome then his weak bodie could deliuer hee gaue them such honourable entertainment as beséemed the messengers of such Princes and highly contented them whose curtesie the strangers Nobles applauded and gréeued the more at his extremity by how much the more they saw his debilitie After some talke passed betwéen the King and these Nobles and that hee had enquired with all kindnesse of the health of their Princes and welfare of their countries and receiued their Letters with diuers Princelie presentes they were dismissed but yet not suffered to depart without gracious thanks to their kinges and kind shew of good acceptance of their paines leauing them to their repose with great charge to his Nobles and those in authoritie to sée their entertainment such as if their soueraigne Lordes were present which charge was not forgotten of those which prized their Princes honours as dear as their liues but with such pompe and coste accomplished each seuerall commaunde of his Highnesse as the Strangers might wel admire to beholde it Their diets so diuerse and so aboundant as they had neuer séene the like furnished with so much sundrie musicke and so cunningy vsed as might well delight the Goddes To acquaint you with other pastimes for recreation as Playes Maskes Tilting Turneying Barriours and other Courtly pastimes besides their hunting of Tygers wilde Bores and Lyons which mooued suche delight as other sportes pleasure vnto them Thus in vsing dayly those pleasures when the Nobles had spent some time in the Court euerie one content with his royall entertainment hearing amongst the Nobles of the countrie such generall honour of the Prince Dionicus whome they had not yet seene an especiall desire mooued them to visite the Prince bewayling greatly that mooued such aduerse chances should nip so braue and honorable a Prince in the blooming time of his princely yeares The Prince Dionicus albeit the imbecility of his body denied those nobles his preseÌ„ce at their pastimes in which seueral sport he much delighted yet that they might not depart of him vnséen he commanded a sumptuous banquet in his lodging to be ordained â—o which he inuited the straÌ„ger Nobles their companies who wishing to sée the Prince were as glad to accompany him as hee desirous of their companie and graciously with many humble thankes accepted the Princes good wil. The youthfull Nobles attendant on the Prince carefull to sée each thing ordered for the honour of his Maiestie wanted nothing that might bée desired only exspected the comming of their guestes who not vnmindful of their promise as dinner time drew nigh prepared themselues towards the Prince vnto whome by his Nobility in most gorgious maner they were conducted no sooner entred they his presence but Dionicus whose curtesie was such as gained the loue of his subiects and all strangers that had séen his demeanor yet at this time had better knowledge how to entertaine them then abilitie to performe what he would stretching himselfe in his
yeares honourably reputed amōgst them euer in tranquilitie and by thy cruel slaughtering thy friend shall their peace be broken Was it not for his comfort and thy good these strangers came into this country and for their kindnesse canst thou reward them with such despight Thou enuiest the happinesse of a toward gentleman for thou knowest not what say he loued the Princesse what is that to thée intrest hast thou none to debarre him from it Nutania thou knowest not but by hearesay hée a Noble man of her country a toward Gentleman and woorthily may obtaine her Nature hath made him of the mould of the earth whereof thou art framed the begger is as subiect to amorous passions as the prince Nutania is beautifull wise faire and in the principall time of her flourishing estate louely as the dewe on the swéete Roses Cariolus valiant well featured wise and toward in all honorable actions all which are load-starres to draw ladies to loue and Nutania is but a woman though a princesse If then thou hast neither feare of God or lawe of humanity to perswade thée from so great a mischiefe yet let his kindnesse offered thée which hath bene as much as euer thou requiredst be of some regarde The fiercest beast seldome harmeth those whose societie they vse and wilt thou be found more cruel then vnnreasonable creatures No no Dionicus let die thy malice to Cariolus who is innocent and far from any thought of pretended euill against thée for so much the more shall his blood with extremitie be reuenged by how much the more thou vniustlie iniuriest him yea rather choose to die a thousand deaths if euerie life were a legion of liues then holde so base a minde Thou hast long though to thy great griefe and much sorrow concealed thy loue to Nutania now wilt thou murther him that wisheth thée wel for her loue No no Dionicus let honor be the marke whereat thou aimest account death more precious then life with ignominie honour by murther blemished is such a staine as can neuer be raced out but the continuall ignomine thereof will remaine while there is any being Yea and what is more to bee regarded the welfare of thy subiectes on whom the bloud of so noble a man wil be with great effusion reuenged thy country like those ruinous monuments of Troy laid waste and desolate which was spoyled for a fact nothing so odious Sithence thou hast all these reasons to reduce thée from this vile thought dally no longer with thy shadowe as in the tale of Esope thou maist read of y ◠dog who mooued with enuie of anothers welfare not only hazarded his life but what els he had in possession Though the comparison bée ridiculous yet the example may mooue thee to feare thine owne fall For if the goddes be so iust in punishing such offences in vnreasonable creatures howe much more shalt thou bée plagued whom God hath not onley endued with reason but inuested with titles of maiestie and honour whose life should shine on the earth as the glorious Sun and by thy vertues drawe such as liue vnder thy gouernmēt from their desire to commit euil for such as is the Pastor such will be the flocke if the Prince bee vertuous the Subiect will feare to offende if hée bee vicious who will care to liue in obedience of him or his lawes Thou séest Dionicus the peril surcease therfore thy base thoughts and as Cariolus is Noble where thou hast without desert bene iealous become zealous from enuying him that no way wished thée euill admit him to thy friendship to him thy kindnesse may be acceptable and in vsing such fauours maist thou in time learne the trueth of what thou now supposest If Cariolus loue Nutania he cannot be so secrete but in some sort or other thou shalt attaine to the knowledge thereof and as thou shalt in conuersing with him finde his Honourable dealinges so maist thou either trust him or refuse him If Nutania haue vowed her loue vnto him séeke to master thy affection and wish them ioy if not his friendshippe may the sooner bring thée to thy desires by acquainting the Princesse with thy loue in explaining the passions for her thou hast indured Nutania saith the wrolds report is beautifull wise and honorablie demeaned and therfore cannot be cruell her father a king beloued of all y ◠haue heard of him whose kindnes hath bin such to thy father thée as thou canst not deserue if such loue remain in the parents the children shuld not hate then fondling if thou hast wronged thy selfe in concealing thy grief accuse thy owne follies and condemne not thy friends of euil nor let thy iealosie blame Cariolus who neuer had thought of pretēded euil against thée if thou faile in thy loue blame none but thy selfe spare to speake spare to spéed Cowards neuer were Loues champions nor faint-hearted swad obtained Ladies loue women though neuer so base wil be sued sought and courted with manie deuises allured to win them and their loues obtained as sundry means sought to continue it A Nouice art thou Dionicus and neuer came to knowe what many a hardy man at armes hath endured histories are diuers which shewe the extreames of Princes and famous Conquerors that they endured through loue yet hast thou neuer read of any that euer wooed by silence courted their mistresses with imaginations or obtained their loue being mute Longer maist thou smother thy griefe which may cureles consume thée fire suppressed burneth w t more vehemencie and loue concealed consumeth the intrals and slayeth remedilesse How long may thy shoo wring thy foot before any that looke thée in the face can tell where it pincheth thée Many of meane birth haue obtained the loue of Princes and ladies of great woorth by daring to attempt wedded and bedded them If the ignoble haue had such successe in loue Rouse thée dastard from this loathsome cabinet arme thée with hopes of thy Mistresse fauour and with courage séek to obtaine it let griefe no longer oppresse thée but like the sonne of thy renowned father shew thy self let not daring loue which by many good motions may bée vanquished ouerthrow thée by subiecting thy selfe ouermuch vnto it but in the face of the enemie shewe thy selfe and there by prowesse purchase such renowne as the report of thy valour may gaine thée the loue of her thou most desirest Womens loues for the most are setled on the valiant and such as aduenture holding in rgarde such as by their valour can and will maintaine their honours bearing in triumph their fauours in the field and gaining honour in their titles I thus Dionicus should be thy thoughts holde thée there and no doubt of good successe Nutania is but a woman though a Princesse thou sonne to a King and no way her inferiour Then continue this resolution and Nutania may in time aswell séeke thy fauour as the noble Amozonia Alexanders loue Scantly
had hée ended this his tedious premeditation when worde was brought vnto him by one of his Pages that the Lorde Cariolus was come to visite him which did put him from all further imaginations at that time Cariolus no sooner come to his presence but Dionicus with a blushing countenance bad him welcome ashamed of his rash suspition yet concealing the same as he might framed such kinde spéech as he best coulde the better to assure his welcome not sparing oftentimes to render great and hartie thankes for his kindnesse in comming to visite him and more to shewe how glad hée was of his companie hée called to rise which he had not done long before but for necessitie making his bed Thus when long time was spent betweene them discoursing of manie matters to both their contentes Dionicus called for meat where to accompanie Cariolus he receiued more sustenance than he had in manie dayes before to the great ioy of his attendant Barnardine who by messengers certified the King and Quéene thereof who ioyed and were not a little comforted at this report Dinner ended Cariolus with the Prince deuising to beguild y e time loth suddenly to leaue him called for a Chésse boord wherwith they sported a while Dionicus whō griefe of minde procured soone to melancholy loosing two or thrée faire games became verie impacient to agrauate whose chollor and make his furie the more Cariolus playing for cunning to make game tooke his quéene and gaue checke to his king whereat the Prince forgetting both himselfe and other those motions so lately by him minded first violently striking him with the board ranne fiercely on him and taking him by the throate cried mainly out thus Villaine quoth he shamest thou not to robbe me of my Ladie my Loue my life and soules comfort but to my téeth must check me therewith in my owne Country base fugitiue thou shalt beard me no more therewith for by thy miserable death will I recouer to mine owne possession my loue my Ladie my Quéene yea in despight of thy head Nutania shall be my mistresse swéete Princesse the onely soueraign of my thoughts Barnardine and his Noble attendants séeing this friendship lately profest so suddeinly forgotten taking him with much adoo from Cariolus were not a little perplexed but as men past themselues hauing neuer séene the like could imagine no cause greatly doubting that suddeinly he was growne lunaticke Cariolus vexed at this hard vsage of the Prince was no sooner freed from him but in great chollor would haue departed Protesting to be reuenged for this discurtesie offered him Affrming that his entising spéeches in cullour of kindnesse was to no end but to draw him from his honorable friends to murther him Barnardine carefull what might ensue hereof weighing each occasion which might hereat be taken besought Cariolus of that loue he beare the King his maister which had vsed them honourablie of his loue to his owne King and all that might be imagined to conceiue of this wrong offered as of no such pretended matter as he supposed but rather with patience to consider the long extreame sicknes of the Prince and how subiect by reason of his infirmitie he was vnto melancholy vndertaking on his faith and honest reputation how euer the occasion grew it was not in mallice assuring him the Prince when he should call to mind this vnkind action would with griefe lament it and sorrowing for the same submit himselfe crauing hearty forgiuenesse for his rashnesse Barnardine vexed at the heart for this vnkind dealings of the Prince entreating his associates to perswade Cariolus went himselfe to the prince and after dutiful speach to his grace recounted vnto him in what euill part Cariolus tooke this abuse by him offered humbly beséeching him as he estéemed the loue of his Princely father and the honour reputation of his country to acknowledge in some curteous maner the wrong committed and so reconcile himself Dionicus whose passion had not it left him albeit in his health none might more perswade him then Barnardine yet hearing him preach repentance being in this humour forgate their passed friendship and moued with his talke albeit it was vsed for his good with a looke as gastly as a ghoast risen from the graue drew neare Barnardine and laying hands on him had like to haue mischieued him had he not made the more spéed away Cariolus vnderstanding what had bene offred the aged man and hearing in what regard the Prince held his loue passing by his chollor began with great heauinesse to lament the Prince his agonie and sorrowing for him besought the heauens creature so to comfort the Prince as himselfe would wish in the like extreame And so leauing Barnardine and the Nobles to their charge departed The Nobles whose griefe was not little with hearts ouer charged with sorrow thinking it not conuenient to leaue him alone doubting som worse matter shuld happen vnto him went to visit the Prince chéerfully enquiring of his welfare which with so good countenances as he could vse was kindly answered of the Prince who hauing past the extremitie of his fury calling to minde those notable abuses offred his friends greatly lamenting his folly therin he said Where where my honourable friends may I hide my head to shelter me from the worlds reproach who voyd of all reason more brutish then the sauage beast haue sought to murder my dearest friends Oh how might I blush with shame and ashamed of my euill committed neuer behold the faces of those whom I haue so euill entreated what fury bewitched me to this mischiefe Or what diuellish sorcery enchanted my spirits and captiuated my sences so to offend thée Lord Cariolus who of thy zealous affection and curtesie came to visit me delighting so greatly in thy company as I did And thou the father of grauitie my greatest hope in the world Barnardine thou whose honest care and loue to me hath bene euer showne from my Cradle Oh Barnardine how vngratefull haue I bene rewarding thy good with the hazard of thy blood Woe is me vnhappie and thrise vnhappie that I haue liued to behold the light of this day wherein past my self I haue so highly offended Pardon pardon my Lord Cariolus as thou art honorable and thou Barnardine whose aged yeares I haue so highly offended Forgiue my misse and remit that euill I haue committed against thée or let me neuer behold the dayes light againe Why should I liue whom mine owne conscience so highly accuseth of such impietie Will not the fowles of the aire soaring ouer thy head as thou walkest cry out vngrateful Dionicus that wouldest haue murdred thy frends each creature that God hath made wil exclaime against thée for this euill following thée with cries of horror to thy euerlasting reproach Therefore vnhappie Dionius since by thy owne doings this reproach is happened vpon thée whereby for euer thou art dishonoured and no man hereafter will dare to vse any familiaritie with thée no
sooner arriued he at that so long desired place but Fortune who had bent his thoughts to trauaile entending after her many crosses to sauce his sowre with some swéets and like a comfortable Phisition after many bitter Pilles ministred for cloying the stomacke of his Patient comforteth him with some consarue or other more pleasing his appetite so the Prince now in the beginning of his fortunes found this fauour to arme him with the better hope of ensuing good for at his first comming to the Citie after enquiry made for some ship bound for Thrace he had intelligence of a Barke alreadie haled out of the harbourgh into the roade her yardes crossed and her Marriners exspecting the comming a boord of the maister and her marchaunts and so to depart Which newes how pleasing it was to the prince suppose you gentils that haue your harts so full fraught with desire as this noble Dionicus who no sooner was informed hereof but diligently went himselfe to search the maister marchants of this ship whō he found in an Ostria carowsing healthes to their good voyage and taking leaue of their friends in the citie to whose company the Prince being come albeit nothing acquainted with the conditions of those people yet he so framed his behauiour to his habit that it might haue bene admired amongst the Courtiers his quaint behauiour had they bene beholders thereof pleasing so well these humorous companions with his carowsing curtesie and bountifull expences that nothing he could require was denyed him A woonder it were to tell you whē he required passage with what willingnes they graunted it and what large proffers were made him of their cabbins and other sea curtesies all which he accepted with such kindnesse and none more welcome than Dionicus who standing on thornes to be cleare of his land whō loue enforced without regard of father crowne or subiects to leaue he hasteneth the rest aboord of whose company the Mariners were not a litle ioyfull for y ◠the wind serued thē in such pleasing maner to bring thē to their desired hauen whither following the Masters direction for their course sailing with a faire gale we leaue them for a time to tell you of the griefe of Manpelius the Numedian king for the losse of his son of whom no maner of news might be heard You haue heard Gentles with what pollicie the prince wrought the better to bring his purposed intent to passe and what seuerall pastimes were by him deuised in which seuerall actions it was supposed by the Courtiers himself would haue bene a chiefe or at least a beholder of their sportes But hée which had more hammers working in his brains than one taking that time as fittest for his opportunity gaue them a cause of great sorrow as you shall heare Whose sportes ended and euerie thing with great credite to the actors and pleasure to the beholders finished the King and Quéene whome age nowe called to rest after kinde countenances and manie thanks to the Noble men Gentiles bad thē good night who were in all humblenes and heartie loue cōmended to their rests wher let thē rest vntil the newes of their sons departure be brought them by the wofull Barnardine whose hearts surcharged with sorrow could hardly be comforted but that through the extremitie of his griefe he had resigned his latest gaspe to him who first gaue him breath This wofull newes was two whole dayes and more kept from the king by that mirrour of fidelitie Barnardine who by all meanes either Art or trauell could imagine enquired after the Prince but of him could heare no tydings whereby many supposed hee was slaine some coniectured one thing some another But most of al the King Quéen their happinesse was such as may not without great effusion of teares be remembred which caused a generall griefe throughout the whole Regiment But neither sorrow of the subiects nor lamentation of their King might recall him who they all so much desired to sée which caused the King ouercharged with melancholy rather desiring death then life breathe out these spéeches Vnhappie Manpelius and more vnhappie in being father to so gracelesse a childe oh Dionicus why haue I liued to sée thée growne a man tenderly caring to bring thée to that estate and now my chiefest hope was in thée to haue comfort thus by thy vnkind demeanour to cause my grief how happie be those parents whose children liue in obedience but thrise accursed those fathers which giueth y e bridle of youth into their hands who ought to be held in as the Colt vntamed with the hardest bit Though wisedome presageth lawes of gouernment to fathers and experience of the Auncient which haue liued in elder times giueth aduise crying out of such as giueth libertie to yonglings yet law of nature whereunto we vnhappie parents are too much tyed forgetting all counsels are so besotted on those carelesse yonglings that if they desire any thing whether it be profitable for their instruction or haleth them to destruction it may not be denied them how many of high estate by the carelesse regarde of their vntoward children haue bene brought to great heauinesse Or who taking pleasure in his ofspring can sée him restrained I but vnhappie man hast thou not heard the learned Surgion often tell his tender Patient that it is better to smart once then endure griefe euer And thou that mightest haue kept thy deare sonne vnder his Tutors custodie wherein he liued in obedience might so haue had him still if thy owns foolishnesse had not bene so carelesse of him Then since thou hast bene the cause of thine owne sorrow blame thy selfe and sigh to think on thy follies and as thou hast bene the originall of this mischiefe not onely robbing thy countrey of a towarde braunch to succéede thée but hast lost to thy selfe the ioy of a father in wanting thy sonne thy lifes sole happinesse Perswade thée that as many Countries haue bene punished for the Princes offences so this plague is laide vppon thy subiects for thy misse Wherefore in sorrowing for thy sinnes and that God may shewe his mercy vpon thy kinde Countrey men sorrow for thy foppery and abiuring thy selfe from kingdome wife and Countrey betake thée to some vnknowne place where thou maiest spende the remainder of thy ouer worne yeares in contemplation for thy sinnes so may that God of all mercie which neuer turneth his face from the penitent receiue thée to his grace and restore thy sonne calling him from his youthfull desires to become a comfort vnto those which with manie fault teares and hearts full gorged with sorrow bewayle his absence Thus powring foorth his griefe with sighes and manie brinish teares vttering his sorrow hée resolued to leaue all his earthly possessions and altogither forsaking the companie of all mankinde liue sollitarie in some vnfrequented place vntill it woulde please God some tydings should be sent him of his sonne or else by death call
where she had but begun to like him before Cupid that commandeth the mightiest began most furiously to assaile her that her tender heart vanquished therewith was enforced to yéeld her selfe a slaue to his deitie and giuing ouer other courtlike delightes bend her whole studie in séeking which way to win her best beloued to her liking for the accomplishing of which many waies were deuised but none thought sufficient so that resting in a laborinth of confused thoughts commanding her attendants from her she said Nutania what wretch that liueth enioyeth not more swéet content then thy selfe who yéelding to follow the follies of thy youthful mind hast planted thy loue thou knowest not on whome a straunger and of no more reputation then a Merchant a base Trade and most frawdulent as I haue heard many Nobles discusse whereby they obtaine to great wealth and by their extraordinary meanes wring such yoong Gentlemen as are forced to haue to doo with them from their auncient Patrimonies making of Noble men Gentiles of great worship beggers and their owne base-born brats to become yoong maisters which in time and small time consumeth that in ryot which their miserable fathers by extortion false reckonings vnsatiable vsery and other loose dealings sold their soules the precious Image of our Sauiour to the diuel But wretched wretch whither wandrest thou these be no points for thée to stand vpon thou hast now vied the game and art bound by such a band as there is no remedie but sée it thou must therefore leaue to discourse what he was or hath bene Thou hearest by generall report of all men he is honorable in wars valiant bountifull and endued with all maner of Gentilmanlike conditions which argueth him descended of better parentage then he will acknowledge And therefore cease not to loue him who by all coniectures if outward shewes procéede of the motion of the heart regardeth thy honour then requite his seruice Nutania and séek in time to quench that flame which beginneth but yet to warme lest encreasing by litle and litle it consume thée In extremes the Noble mind is best knowne happie are they accounted which forewarned can eschue a mischiefe If thou canst win thy Loue what creature may be compared with thée for happie content Be resolute Nutania feare no colours thy loue is planted on such a one who for his vertues may be mated with the greatest Princesse on the earth then stand not on termes of his being but determine to loue him faint hearted souldier neuer gained conquest if he be base thou maist aduance him Thou art heire to the Crown of Thrace and thy fathers sole delight who then should gainsay thy will herein fathers sole delight said I yea there Nutania lieth a block which thou canst hardly remoue Thy father what will he aged King say when he shall heare of thy loue so basely planted which hast refused to be wife to two famous Kings requiring thée with great sute in marriage Refraine fondling from this rash determination let thy fathers loue be a raine to hold thy vnbrideled will feare his displeasure which gaue thée life and séeke not by thy folly to bring his head with sorrow to his graue which if thou persist will be such a corasiue to his heart and such a staine to thine honour as the memorie of Nutanias disobedience will neuer be raced out With these and such like motions of good she sought to withdraw her loue from him that for birth and other noble actions deserued her better albeit vnknowne to her but what euer hée be the more shée sought to suppresse the flame of her loue the more it encreased that without regard of fathers good or her own honour she determined to loue him yea the Mayden Knight with his Prize was arriued at the Court whom the King and Nobles welcomed with all curtesie they could shewe as ioyfull of his safe returne who had so honourably borne himselfe in that action as if he had conquered Europe which kindnesse to the knight was recompence sufficient for all his charge and hard aduenture The Princesse who was awaked from her studies by report of the knightes comming sumptuously attired as she could as beséemed her estate accompanied with all her troupe of Ladies and maides of honour came vnto the Presence who no sooner approached the place where the knight was but beholding the exquisite perfection of her bewtie which he so much delighted in was sodeinly bereaued of his sences so that he stood as a mā which had lost himselfe yet reuyuing loath to make manifest what with great griefe hée had consealed so long humbly on his knées presented the glorie of his enterprise vnto her saying Most gracious Princesse as by your moste excellent hands I receiued my first steppe to honour and fighting for your Graces and Kingly fathers sakes it hath pleased God to prosper me with a happy victorie for which good hauing nothing worthie to present your Grace as I desire yet in knowledge of my dutie to your Exellence to whom my life and seruice is deuoted I humbly beséech you accept this Gentleman my prisoner and your Noble fathers mortall enemie The Princesse to whom nothing could be more pleasing thē the sight of the beloued knight graciously accepted the prisoner rendering great thankes for the same as also for his valour shewed in their defence And then turning to the captiued Prince she said My Lord you sée the chaunce of Fortune and how mutable she is in all actions sometimes fawning sometimes frowning but whether by your fortune or cowardise or both you are now at their mercy whose ouerthrow you assured your selfe of and which you more desired then all territories of the earth but our God which neuer suffereth his seruants to perish hath mightily defended vs it is not your mightie powers can daunt the hearts of Christians whose God is their guide neither regard we them at all as a matter of any trust your eyes can witnesse who hauing an Army able as you thought to haue vanquished all Christendome is by a handfull to your multitudes surprized Yet dismay not my Lord a Maiden is your Iaylor who wil vse you more honourably then you can imagin or your hard threats deserueth The Prince which saw the bewtie of the Princesse whom he so earnestly vpon reports had desired was astonied greatly holding the fame that was bruted to be nothing to her worthinesse therfore accusing himselfe of great impietie that had borne Armes against the onely Paragon of the earth and not by curtesie haue continued his loue begun ashamed of himselfe he saith Renowmed Lady Fortunes darling Bewties chiefe pride though mishap hath made me of a Prince and heire to the mightiest Potentate of the earth a captiue and that by thy champion I am dishonored and my power vanquished crosses which may cause the stoutest that euer liued to cry out on Fortune to curse the Destinies yet am I comforted in y
these comfortable words albeit she hoped of small reliefe from him partly to ease her heart and a litle to disgrace her aduersary which was mightie all the reuenge she could take thus said 〈…〉 that I may not séeme discurtious to you whose curti 〈…〉 ed is more then I can any way deserue but in 〈…〉 your welfare which pittieth a poore widowes e 〈…〉 e weale is the good of her poore fatherlesse Or 〈…〉 with pittie my case and consider thereof as 〈…〉 ease Then drying her eyes which like gutters bedeawed her chéeks she said Not far from hence gentle sir is my poore cabinet where this fiftie winter I haue mainteined y e port of a poore woman my husband in his life delighting in hospitality on his death bed gaue me charge to do the like which I haue obserued hurting none nor neuer denying anie good to them that sought me the néedie I 〈…〉 bored whom with my bread such vyands as God sent 〈…〉 e fed But now sir quoth she and therwithall a déepe 〈…〉 itnesse of her harts heauines restrained her spéeches 〈…〉 some pause said But now sir such is the oppressi 〈…〉 couetous in authoritie that my liuing is taken froÌ„ 〈…〉 ith my family compelled to séek harbor where we can 〈…〉 if God the comfort of the distressed prouide not within 〈…〉 e months for vs longer we haue not there to abide Telâ— me woman quoth the King what he is that thus iniureth thée and the maner how and as I am a true subiect to the king I wil neuer leaue thée til thou art with iustice reueÌ„ged on him Oh sir quoth she vrge me no more to that for my aduersary being honorable of account with y e king although y â— wrong I sustain be great yet wil he reueÌ„ge him self so on me mine as my life wil be the least last such is his bloudy mind who hath neither conscience nor thought of any good â—le after so many yeares of peaceable possession of this tennement in name of my husbands auncestry as our euidence doth specifie he wold not thus extréemly deal with those whome charitie would he should comfort but such is his crueltie who ought to be curteous that his couetousnes is neuer satisfied halling all from the poore profitting none but himselfe his children or seruantes who reape the benefite of manie mens labours for whâ—â— suite passeth but what he must like of or what w 〈…〉 King denie that he will grant Lamentable is it 〈…〉 the complaints of the commons of al estates ho 〈…〉 they murmure nay not onely against him bu 〈…〉 by others reportes that the Kings name is 〈…〉 stion of many all procéeding of this canka 〈…〉 guiding all abuseth all The Souldier seruing 〈…〉 his countries honour wanteth his pay which causeth him fall to robbery and other vnlawfull exercises The Farmer Grasier and such that liue of the benefite of their tillage féeding cattell and other hard labours haue their cattell taken their corne and what they enioy and driuen to séeke their mony by long suites and in the ende glad to besto 〈…〉 the one halfe to be assured of the other yet dare none 〈…〉 plaine how great so euer the oppression be Thus sir 〈…〉 tisfie you I haue spoken the truth what I haue he 〈…〉 partly that I know which I and many more ma 〈…〉 but cannot remedy it But sir what I haue spoke 〈…〉 you will conceale for if you be friend to him w 〈…〉 not name yet you can imagine If vnder your f 〈…〉 words lurke deceit and that you haue sifted me to beâ—ay me to his cruelty such il befall thée as I wish him whom I haue cause to curse others with me whoÌ„ he hath likewise wroÌ„ged But had the king knowledge how hée vseth his subiects especially his tenants who is our good Landlord and thus many yeares hath bene he wold redresse it but he hauing y e charge of al hath receiued a great fine to thrust me from my right which God remedy and grant our king to vnderstand his tyrannie Amen quoth the king May it bée possible that he whom I know the King hath loued so déer and fixed where their cause should bee heard and restitution made which in such sort was accomplished that his lands leases plate and Iewels were distributed to the wronged The widow who first gaue notice thereof the King enriched with greater possessions to maintaine her hospitality and Zachary for that his Dania shuld not for want of welth refuse him he bountifully rewarded so that euery one was pleased and returned content to their homes Now Gentiles the History shall shews you how Theophilus King of Thessaly expected the ayd of Thrace for restoring him to his kingdom which promise the King so regarded that in short time through the diligence of those Captains to whom the charge therof was committed the number appointed was furnished with shipping munition and victualls for the Army of whome the Thracian king tooke the Muster appointing their leaders The chiefe by name of Generall for the seruice was the Mayden Knight who was vrged vnto it by the two kings in such maner that no excuses nor delaies which he could make might be accepted vnlesse he should by his too much refusall purchase the name of coward this choyse greatly disliked the Knight whose warres in loue had but newly begunne to take successe who scarcely assured of the Princesse although her promised faith might put him in comfort yet weighing the vnstability of their sexe he doubted least his absence might drawe her to that which he would héedfully regarde being present The tydings of her fathers election made of her loue for generall as nouelties are rife and flieth with swift wings came vnto the hearing of the Princesse vnto whom if they were irksome suppose you that know how gréeuous the parting of two faithfull louers are who hauing her only felicitie in contemplating of her beloued Dionicus their ioyes but now in the blossomes was so nipt in the spring as care banished all future happinesse and sorrow began to claime her wâ—nted place in both but especially the Princesse who framed of the weaker mould heauinesse had taken the more impression in her so that forsaking all company her chéefest delight was to be solitary where shee might with déepe sighes and many brynish teares vnburthen her ouercharged heart cursing bitterly the cause and causer of seperating her loue In this melancholy vttering such spéech of dispaire as though shée sawe the dreadfull messenger Death alreadie seized vpon the valiant knight The knight who could take as litle rest as his Lady pleasure could finde content in no place vntill hée came to the Princesse lodging whome founde in this passion which was more gréeuous then all the rest her blubbred eyes pressyng bloud from his heart beholdyng her in that plight whose happy content was his onely ioy But how cumbersome so euer it was vnto him with
with grief WheÌ„ they had passed some time in parley about their affaires and that some offers were made by these Nobles of their ayde and assistance a generall Councell was called where by consent of such as had gouernment vnderstanding the power of Donatio the vsurper was no more but such as guarded his holdes it was determined after the army had refreshed themselues two or thrée daies to martch forewarde to the Cittie there to beleager the King and cut off from them all supply of prouision for victualles whereof they had small store In the meane time the Lordes of Thessaly to giue notise to all their friends with all spéede as they tendered their owne liberties to repaire with such power as they could make vnto the Campe. This deuise was no sooner determined on but the Noble Mama Bacha without returning to the King spared not his paines and all others which hée could command or entreate proclaiming in euery place as they passed Theophilus their lawful king straightly charging all naturall subiects of Thessaly to make repaire vnto the Campe. These tydings at first were hardly beléeued yet such was the rumour of a forreine power landed that all which could beare Armes repaired to the King whome they founde at the assault of the Cittie where the vsurper kept such was the multitudes of people which from all countries in his Regions came vnto him that in short time he had power sufficient to ouerrunne a kingdome The vsurper Donatio who had least thought euer to heare or sée the Thessalian King when the report of his being in the Campe was brought vnto him his courage quailed and his hope of enioying the Crowne was quite extinguished so that dispairing he became lyke a man lunatike that nothing whatsoeuer might moue him to any mirth or content so that giuing ouer all he cared not what became of himselfe or his yâ—t was he carefully counselled by his Nobles who regarded both his honour and their owne safetie but whatsoeuer they might counsell or determine was ill imployd at his hands was nothing to be had wherefore after they saw his small care and that he was not to be aduised they determined either in field with vnappoynted battell to try their fortunes or by some such composition as might be for their Courtries safetie and their reputation to giue ouer their tytle pretended to the Crowne of Thessaly Before that any thing was of them resolued the Mayden Knight which had his minde on his Lady as well as of other affaires could not rest in content vntill he had finished and either gained what they came for or séene the euent of fortune Wherefore to auoyd further delaies hée summoned the Citie to parley wherein he required their answere whether they would receiue their lawfull King or no if yea they should suffer him in peace to enter or otherwise vpon their answere to abide the hazard incident to Armes which he protested should be voyd of all fauour if he preuailed and they refused this offer of his These summons caused the Nobilitie to looke with better aduise into their estates and with consideration to wey each particuler perill which they found to be very many and daungerous especially séeing the multitude who were naturall subiects and did rather affect their owne King how so euer they professed in outward appearance then the vsurper which made them the more earnest with their King vnto whom they declared the offers made by the Maiden Knight with y â— doubts they had of his successe who were nothing in number to the Kings power which daily increased and contrary his decreased wherfore they aduised him to yéeld vnto such Articles of honour as they would require which should be both for his honour and safetie of him and his The vsurper hearing these perswasions from them wheron his chéefest hope consisted forgetting all former friendship and loue to any of them with most odious words reuiled them calling them traytors dastards and vpbraiding them with cowardise which were neuer founde but euer forward in all his actions onely this excepted wherin was no hope These spéeches moued his Nobles to such furie that departing from him in discontent they resolued for their owne safetie to séek what means they could and not by delaies to incurre his displeasure whose friendship they were by all meanes they could vse to intreat Wherfore in name of all the rest the Lord Philiago principall Treasuror vnto the King by whose direction the rest would be gouerned sent for the Princesse Phedera from prison whom he vsed with honorable spéeches comforting her with hope of her kingly brother who liued and was in person come with a strong power to deliuer her from that captiuitie which so long she endured humbly beséeching her grace to become a fauourable soliciter to his Highnesse for them who were to be commaunded by their soueraigne whose subiects they were protesting that neither for enuy to him or his they vndertooke the action but at commaundment and to auoyde the ignomious tytle of cowardize which all of honorable birth or mind ought to detest The good Princesse which could not tell whether she might giue credit to his words or no answered him thus My Lord Philiago vnder the gréenest grasse lurketh the most perillous poyson and experience hath taught me in my durance the knowledge of friends these sodeine offers of loue to my brother whom you all know is long sithence dead causeth me the more to dread I am going to him and that your proffered friendship is but to that end to bereaue mée of that which long since I wished to leaue if it bée so good my Lorde hyde not the truth thereof from mée for therein shall you shewe your charitable minde to a distressed Captiue Farre be it from my thought Noble Ladie quoth Philiago that I should any way delude you or moue you to credit any thing other then truth whom I haue my greatest hope of good to assure you of which so pleaseth your Exellence I will my selfe bring you to his Maiesties presence When the Princesse heard him make these proffers of fauours and perceiued by his iesture he did not counterfeyt ouercome with ioy she was in a traunce from which reuiued by the carefull industry of the Lady Vrania wife to the Lord Philiago shée gaue the Noble man great thanks for his tydings assuring him on her word that she would so recompence that good as hée nor his should haue any cause to complaine of her vngratefulnesse Vrging him with her curteous spéech to detract no time but to bring her to the Campe where the King was which he willingly yéelded vnto and causing a stately Charyot to be ordeined and richly apparrelling the Princesse as befitteth her accompanied with his Ladie and two daughters of rare bewtie himselfe wayting on her disrobed issued out of the gates and in short time came neare the Campe and were by the Sentronelles discouered and brought to the
such there is which shall be found by thee Keturne thou then â—â—â—e dread thy guiltlesse blood Whose life preserued is for thy Countries good When the aged Pilgrime had perused thâ—se lines musing at the darknesse of the same which he construed many wayes yet had no certaintie wherefore resoluing on the mercifull fauour of the God which had so pittifully heard his prayer he passed on his iourney in search for those princes which hée hoped was liuing whom to his trauaile we leaue to returne vnto the Princesse Phedera who hauing the company of the Mayden Knight had sundry motions of desire to enioy his Loue euermore applauding his person curtesie and valoure which so farre excéeded all mens in her iudgement that shée honoured him for the Paragon of the world holding her for the most happiest Lady on the earth which should enioy his loue wishing that she were worthy of his loue and framyng her selfe by all meanes that modestie would permit to gaine it But hée whose heart was fixed on his Lady had no motion of any other onely wished to bee with her whome hee so much honoured whose presence he more desired then all the riches the worlde could offoord Tormented with these restlesse passions which was of the King and Courtiers noted especially of the Lady Phedera many imagined the cause yet none so good a phisition to finde the truth or cause thereof as continuall care weakeneth the bodie and causeth many extreames so Pheander féeling in himselfe a weakenesse of nature and looking for some disease through his melancholy to ensue finding the king at conuenient time he humbly besought him of fauour to depart alleaging that the aire and contagiousnesse of those Confines was nothing agréeing with his body and that his longer staie might be by his confusion The king which loued him as his owne soule and tendered his welfare more then the wealth of his kingdome whom he had found so kinde and forward aduenturing his life for his good in many broyles though loth to leaue him in whome so much he delighted yet noting his melancholike humours which had much altered his complexion imagined it was no excuse and therefore the rather condescended to his request appoynting a time as he desired when if God sent winde and weather to be readie with their shipping to conduct him to Egypt whither the king promised with his sister and nobles to accompany him for which iourney a strict commaund was giuen to all Officers to sée each thing necessary puruayde which with such diligence was performed as in short time all things was as they could wish or desire furnished onely attending a faire winde to set sayle which they stayed not long for But a gale fitting their purpose the kyng with his sister the Mayden Knight and their train embarqued themselues for Egipt where by the good furtherance of him that commaundeth all they shortly arriued in safetie whose comming being knowne vnto the Vizeroy Cariolus with such prouision as they could make on the suddaine repaired vnto the place of landing where the king ioyfull to sée the good recouery of Cariolus in most kinde maner imbraced him And so generall welcomes being giuen on all sides by the Nobles they passe on towards the Pallace of the king who with a generall loue of his Commons was to his great delight welcommed with such shewes of ioy as on the sodaine they could prepare Thus after some time spent in banquetting and other pastimes for their welcomes to beguile the time the better the Mayden Knight standing on thornes vntill he might behold the swéete content of his liues comfort finding Cariolus in place where they might discusse at large theyr mindes The knight not forgetting his promise made to Cariolus in his own country and willing to make amends for the wrong he had there thus said My Lord what I haue to impart vnto you as one that wisheth your good is such as becommeth a friend vowed to do your Lordship what seruice my abilitie can stretch vnto onely I beséech you promise on your honor to conceale what I shall discouer Cariolus who both honored and loued the knight musing to what these spéeches tended relying on the fidelitie of him whome he neuer had heard or séene to commit any dishonorable action gaue him his word and honor to be as secret in all things as he could desire which the knight accepting thus said My Lord first I humbly beséech your fauourable loue to be continued and pardon my great offence committed against you in Numedia where not being my selfe I committed a most hainous offence and dishonorable for which I am willing to make such satisfaction as you can require Cariolus hearing the knight vse these spéeches of submission noting them well and bethinking himselfe what had fortuned being in Numedia could not call to minde any vnkindnesse offered him by any inferiour person neither did he well remember the princes discurtesie yet leauing nothing vnsought calling his wittes togither bethought him of the prince whom they forbeare to answeare vntill he had with earnestnesse noted the phisnomy of the knight whose face with long sicknesse wherewith he was at that time possest was quite altered from the forme it now had which made him more to admire But calling to mind the resemblance of the aged king he conceiued by some signes of his fauour that it was doubtlesse the prince yet doubtfull he was for that being so nobly borne he came to the Numedian Court with no better countenance then a Merchant After many thoughts not willing to offend through rashnesse or to offer any vnkindnesse he humbly besought him in true friendship which he had found to pardon him which could not call to minde no wrong done him nor any familiaritie that euer had bene betwéene them Well my Lord quoth the knight I sée your minde is frée from reuenge that know not those that haue endaungered your life and therefore am the more willing to reueale my selfe to cleare you of this doubt Know that I am Dionicus the vnhappy Prince of Numedia who in my fathers Court so much abused you whereof I repent me and haue sorrowed for it But pardon me good Cariolus and accept that friendship I vowed vnto you which wil endeuour to deserue thy loue in all occasions wherein true loue consisteth To giue you some cause to credit what I say I haue thought good to find this opportunitie not onely to reueale myselfe to you whose fauour I desire but to doo my best indeuour to deserue the same and to aduance thy estate if so you can lyke of my offer Cariolus amazed at these spéeches after he had with more aduised eyes beheld the Prince was assured it was he prostrating himselfe on his knée humbly besought his grace of pardon which had so vnreuerently behaued himselfe But gratious Prince quoth he faultes vnwillingly committed deserue the lesse punishment I speake for my selfe which am ready to make amendes in performing
â—â—y penance it shall please your highnesse to enioyne me yéelding many millions of thankes for that fauour you haue vouchsafed in giuing me that credit to reueale your selfe to the vnworthiest of many in high estéeme which desireth your highnesse knowledge vowing by the honour of my Noble auncestry to be gouerned and directed by the Prince Dionicus and shall so please it your highnesse follow your grace where soeuer it shall stand with your good pleasure to conduct me The Prince interrupting his spéech louingly imbraced the Lord Cariolus giuing him many thanks for his kinde offers which he was assured was faithfully spoken In recompence of which my Lord quoth he and to make you some satisfaction for my former wrong offered you I will enâ—uour to aduance your estate so it stand with your good liking in this maner You sée my Lord though with some trouble and effusion of blood on either part the King in peace and quiet enioyeth his owne Countrey and with the Crowne of his enemie is like wise inuested Alluring baytes are kingdomes and haue caused many Nobles who not content with their owne estates to hazard honour life and whatsoeuer else they enioyed to attaine vnto them But my Cariolus if thou canst frame thy lyking to my wish and bend thy minde to the loue of Phedera the Princesse my endeuour shall be to obtaine her for thy Ladie and the Kingdome of Egypt for her dowry besides shée is heire to her brother who dying without issue shall to higher honours preferre thée This is all my Noble Cariolus that I haue to say and so much I say for that I wish thy aduancement if thou lyke the Ladie and haue not bestowed thy lyking elsewhere Say thy minde as to him which not onely in this but in all other matters wherein I may doo thée good commaunde mée as thy selfe Cariolus who was wise and well demeaned endued with valour and curtesie as much as might be required humbâ—â— returned many thankes for this vnexspected good moued with a desire of kingly dignitie well content to enioy so braue a princes for his loue without farther stay said My honored Lord I cannot frame my tongue to yéelde such thankes as my heart would vtter onely this good I craue that your highnesse continue your gracious fauour towards me whose will shall be euer a lawe to Cariolus who will euer be directed by your maiesties aduise And séeing most honourable Prince you haue motion of willingnesse to do me this good I humbly beséech you continue it and binde Cariolus in euerlasting bands of true friendship to your seruice Here were they interrupted by the comming of the King who hearing that the Prince was gone that way delighting in his company more then in any others came sodainly on them yet not in such maner but he was espied of them The King which saw them so earnest in their spéech comming vp with them saide Sir Knight were my Lord Cariolus a Lady as he is a honorable Gentleman I should be very suâ—pitious of you both that you would find time to stretch a point farther then became you In faith Gentlemen quoth he as there is brotherly loue betwéene you which the world well noteth let be a trinitie and accept me for the third person so shall you honor me more then I will say and endue me with such happines as I wil not for auoiding of flattry vtter Your Maiesty quoth the prince may iest but would it were knowne vnto your grace our loues to your highnesse you might then say you haue such poore friends of vs as wil euer be ready to aduenture our liues in your honorable seruice Experience good Knight answered the King long sithence hath taught me that whose eies are witnesses of your loyaltie which I wil endeuour to requite as when you please to make triall you shall finde especially you my Lord whose bloud lost in aduenturing for me I can no way requite Séeing quoth the prince your highnesse is thus disposed to iest pardon I beséech you what I haue to say and fauour me so much as to heare my humble sute and hearing let me obtaine it at your gracious hands in granting which your grace shall more honor me then I dare report Honorable Knight answered the King among friends what should néed distrust my heart gréeueth that the noble Knight Pheander should doubt to obtaine what euer resteth in my power to grant Wherfore swéet friend say on for by the honor of the Thessalian kingdom whose crown I enioy through thy good industry what euer thou requirest shall not be denied Thankes gracious Lord not for my self I intreat but for this gentleman whose heart hauing sworne fayaltie to loue which is the soueraigne guide of all men hath framed his lyking vnto the Princesse Phedera whose seruant he hath vowed himself if then noble Prince it shall stand with your highnesse good leisure to accept of him whose honourable birth and haughtie déeds of Chiualry may merit some estéeme with persons of worth I haue my desire by graunting of which and obteining the Princesse good lyking I shall be more honored then if your grace had inuested me with both the kingdomes of Thessaly and Egipt Pheander quoth the King if thou hadst required as much for thy selfe as thy friend thou couldst not haue honored me more whose amitie I desire to participate with aboue all men of what account so euer but séeing thy request is for him whose aduancement I desire and for thou shalt know in what regard I hold thy loue I will do my best to procure her loue women haue fancies and are headstrong in their affects whether she haue granted her loue I know not neither can I force her lyking if I could it were not conuenient for a forced beast is froward and women wedded to their will If in their loue they should be contraried were better lost then found their reuenging mindes are such as they will not be quiet vntill for their husbandes safetie they haue armed his head with such proofe that hée may walfe in safetie amongst the best headed stags in my Forrest But leauing this iest Pheander that thou maist assure thee of my loue my industry shall be to gaine her for thy friend whom I both honour and loue and for you my Lord I giue heartie thanks that will accept of her whom I may say I loue as a brother who if I can perswade to your wish her large dowry shall testifie Our pleasant parley hath procured me a good appetite my stomacke telleth me it is dinner time wherefore Gentlemen leauing this talke which is as much conquest as the greatest of Hercules which did neuer conquere woman vnto me let vs walke and doubt not but I will play the Orator in such wise as shall procure your content Lord Cariolus and satisfie your request Thanks gracious Prince quoth Cariolus which is all I haue to requite so great a benefit onely your true
other imaginations assailed them let those suppose and thinke which haue felt the swéet cōtent in loue To which I leaue them to recount vnto you y ◠sorrow of the Thracian Quéen who ruling with honor beloued both of Pheres and Commons in as much royaltie as might be desired endured so many sundry torments of minde wanting her most desire that the day was irkesome vnto her and the night ordeined for rest restlesse she consumed that with her continual watchings and others passions he◠bodie became weake and a gréeuous sicknesse assailed her the cause none could imagine neither might phisicke minister any cure to her disease so that giuen ouer to the death she lanquished in great extremities not daring for modestie to reueale the cause onely this was her chéefest comfort when she could be freed from the company of such Ladies and counsellers which visited her with Guenela to recount her loue sometime extolling his valour and person and eftsoones accusing him of disloyaltie exclaiming on her hard fortune which had engaged her libertie to a Knight carelesse of her honour and good cursing and accusing Guenela being soliciter for such a wretched Knight whose spéeches oftentimes was so answered by the Mayden Guenela as in iesting wise would she turne her words of despight into laughter such was the sharpnesse of her wit which left no meanes vnsought that might procure in the least maner her content Oppressed with great griefe we leaue the Princes for a while to returne vnto Cariolus whose wedding day being come great was the ioy on his side but more the preparation of al courtiers who were ready with many costly shewes at y ◠Tilt Turney and Barriers to try their valour and fortunes in Armes But as the fairest day is ouercast with cloudes so was their mirth chaunged to great and gréeuous lamentions and their ioy to sorrowfull complaints which thus befell The King now in prime of yeares desirous to try his force at the Tilt with his presence to honour his Nobles and do the Princesse fauoure at her marriage in these pastimes made choyce of the Mayden Knight to encounter him as the worthiest in Armes who being of all others most vnwilling to deale against him humbly besought his grace of pardon and accept of some his Nobles who was more worthier of that honor But the King with whom no intreaties might preuaile wold not be denied which made the Knight with great heauinesse of heart to wish hée had not Armed him that day such was his discontented minde which doubtlesse presaged some ensuing euill as to y ◠great griefe of all the whole company hapned them Thus when no denials might preuail the trumpets sounding a charge they set forward with such swiftnesse as the earth trembled vnder their horses both breaking their staues in such manner as all the company with ioyful shoutes applauded their excellent skill in that exercise But alasse in midst of this pleasing practise how suddainly their ioyes were eclipsed woe is me to recount The King and his elected companion at the trumpets sound setting with courage forward to encounter one the other in braue maner brake again their staues but in an vnhappie time a splinter of the knights staffe by most vnfortunate chaunce entered the sight of the Kings Beauer which pearced the head to the brain in such wise that with the heate of his trauaile and griefe of the wound he was enforced to forsake his horse This suddaine mishap to the company brought such discontent that all their mirth layd apart sorrow was made Lady of the feast But amongst those that most lamented this vnfortunate chaunce the Maiden Knight had his part whose griefe was such that had not the Lord Cariolus bin by fortune present in the extreame of his melancholy passion he had slain himselfe such was the wisedome of the Noble Cariolus as his reasonable perswasions preuailed so with him as he caused him forsake his dolefull Lodge to accompany him to the presence of y ◠king whose masters of Chirurgery had newly ended their trauaile of dressing his woundes them the Knight questioned of the danger therof and besought them in curtesie to acquaint him therewith whether hée held it mortall or no which how vnwilling so euer they were as loath to discomfort the King or those which loued him such was the curteous entreatie of the Knight as he could not conceale the daunger thereof but reuealed vnto him the little hopes they had of his life and the reasons that induced them thereunto which newes was little pleasing vnto the Knight who with many teares lamented that mishap but griefe ministreth no phisicke to the diseased nor sorrow auaileth not to mittigate extreames Wherefore by Cariolus comforted hée ceaseth in so excéeding maner to lament determining to abide the Kings doome vnto whom he purposeth to reconcile himselfe and to that intent awaiteth the waking of his Maiestie who was after his dressing fallen a sléepe whose griefe was such as hée could take small rest But rowsing himselfe awaked from his slumber called for the Lord Cariolus who was wayting for the same purpose vnto whome being come hée saith Cariolus let no man boast himselfe of happinesse which is mortall for that they are subiect to crosses and casual mishaps as thy selfe maist witnesse with me and many others that haue séene this mischaunce befallen mée when I least expected it the originall of my griefe procéeding from my selfe which woulde perforce my good friend to the action whereunto he was so vnwillingly drawne but what heauens haue ordeined what man can gainsay The omnipotent power of the Almightie hath laid his crosse on me for my greater good to call me from these worldes vanities to séeke his euerlasting kingdome Yet ere I leaue this fraile life swéete Cariolus let me sée that honourable Knight by whose hands death sent his sommance deare he was vnto mée and his loue worthie to be imbraced of the mightiest Monarke Oh Pheander couldest thou but imagine with what faithfull loue I loued thée thou maist sorrow for my losse whome thou and all the worlde cannot reclaime from this great hazard wherein I remain With this the knight which was not farre off presented himselfe vnto him who knéeling at his beds side said Most gracious soueraign might my gréeued hart which ouerwhelmed in sorrow is 〈…〉 in a sea of many miseries consume it selfe with griefe for my euill committed against you how happie a creature were I which haue bin the occasion of your highnesse so great vnrest yet how vnwilling heauens record with me And therefore my dread soueraigne pardon my fault so vnwillingly committed against your Maiestie as deare to me as mine owne soule whose life if ten thousands liues depended thereon I wish might be sacrificed for thy health and the louing subiects of of my gracious soueraigne whom by my ouer-hardinesse I haue robbed of so louing a Prince Let me I say chiefe causer of your sorrow reape the guerdon
due to a murtherer and reuēge your kings death by taking my life which had I a million of thousands liues could not make satisfactiō for my euil committed against you Here teares interrupting him denyed his tongue libertie of spéech whose lamentation filled all the nobles with such heauinesse as for teares they could not vtter a word especially the King whose grief being great was encreased by his dolefull lament yet casting of this womanish humor drying his eyes doubting the nobles and those present shuld accuse him of fear dreading to die wherunto we are all born with a soft voice tenderly wringing the Mayden Knight by the hand hée saith Noble Gentleman cease thy heauinesse thy griefe so augments mine that the thought thereof wrings teares from my heart thy vnwilling offence with my heart I forgiue and to shew how deare in life thou wast vnto me my good Pheander accept at my dying hand my kingdom of Thessaly the lawfull inheritance of thy faithfull friend loue those people my kind subiects so gouern them with fauour and lenity as they haue no cause to complain of my dead course for my life which by thy hand through y ◠apointmēt of him that gaue it me I must leaue I heartily forgiue thée and accursed be he or them which shal euer impute i◠vnto thée in dishonour any fault against me committed That thou louedst mée thy tender care of my good hath shewed suche proofes as tyed me in true friendship to be thine for euer Death is not so irkesome vnto me but that I must leaue thée and the swéete content I receiued in thy company grief of my deaths grief my own Pheander compelleth me omit what I would say wherefore briefly thus Forget not thy dying friend and shew that loue to my Lord Cariolus whom for thy sake I haue to this Crowne of Egipt aduanced as I euer found and in extremes comfort him with thy aide as thou hast done me my sister Phedera forget not whom to thy charge I commit leauing her to thée and thée to be in my place a brother who liuing loued her as my hope is thou wilt And so deare friends heauens blessednes befall you all and so prosper you as I loued you And you Pheres of Egipt and Thessaly whose loue I haue found as subiects in all dutifull maner let be continued vnto these your elected Kings who will with honour gouerne you so shall the giuer of all happinesse blesse your lands with the blessing of peace and plenty for they that honor their king doth reuerence the Lord who created him and he wil giue them plenteous rewards Noble Gentlemen griefe cutteth me off flesh must yéeld to earth how loath soeuer the mightiest death hath vanquished Therefore as my Vltenam vale remember my words and pray God to send vs the abundance of his grace that we may through his mercy haue a ioyfull méeting in his kingdome that neuer shall haue end I féele the heauy messenger approaching therefore farwell to thée my deare sister whom I charge as thou louedst mée liuing be louing and kinde to thy husband doing him that honor is due vnto him thy children bring vp in fear of their maker and so God blesse thée with happinesse And thou Pheander vnto me no creature in life more deare remember my parting spéeches loue the Lord Cariolus as I haue loued thée and thou my adopted brother Cariolus honour him during thy life that I am sure faithfully tendered and loued thée so shall God be pleased for no sin in sight of his diuine deitie is more intollerable then that monstrous vice of Ingratitude which for auoyding the heauy wrath of of God I wish thée eschue Nobles and you all my very good friends to exhort you to remember your duties whose wisdomes is more then I will recount were a matter friuolous and perhaps may moue some offence yet take my simple meaning which speake to you that haue ouer-loued me which loue let be continued honor your Kings with reuerence and loue for what you do to them is done to God which are his Vize-Regents on earth and his annoynted Moue no rebelliō nor be mainteiner of euil for such faults how secret so euer God will to your ouerthrowes reueale Remember his word which hath commanded you to be obedient without murmuring and feare him which gouerneth all I can say no more my spéech faileth me therefore generally my Lords farewell and so turning his weak bodie to the wall surrendered his soule to the heauens from whence it had his being to the intollerable griefe of all his subiects who with many brinish tears lamented his death but especially the Knight Pheander and Cariolus whose marriage the louing King honoured with his funerall which in the most honourablest maner Art or honor could deuise was solemnized lamented generally of all his subiects but especially the Egyptians who more dearly loued him for his clemency then their owne naturall King The funerall finished a Parliament was sommoned in which time the Mayden Knight so preuailed with the Nobles of Thessaly and Egipt that by common consent of the whole assembly in both houses temporall and spirituall the regiment of both kingdomes was deliuered vnto the Lord Cariolus and the Mayden Knight resigned his interest for euer vnto him and the Lady who was lawfull inheritrix vnto the same The Parliament proroged according to the custome of the Country great preparation was made for the Coronation which in most solemne and honourable manner was accomplished with so many sundry showes and delightfull pleasures as might weary you to reade Let it suffice to the great ioy of both Realmes all things to so honorable an action was so exquisitely performed as no man but tooke great delight in beholding therof praying with an vniuersall voice for their long liues to be in happinesse amongst them continued Thus all things to the ioy of the noble Pheander accomplish and to the high content of the King Cariolus and his Quéen by the aduise of the Mayden Knight an election was made of a Vizeroy to goe for Thessaly the King making choyce of two euils the least conceiuing this opinion of the naturall subiects of Thessalie that they would liue in their dutifull obeisance when a conquered nation gathering hed vppon many light occasions was easily drawne to reuolt These considerations with great wisdom weyed the Lord Fardinand one of the priuy Councell of Thessaly was elected for that gouernment vnto whome the King after his Commission signed and honorable gifts giuen so wisely exhorted to obedience and care of his loue and dutie that as many of the nobles as were present and noted the same admired him reioysing that God had prouided so for them to leaue them in the gouernment of so toward a Prince of whom so much ensuing happinesse was exspected Order taken for his affaires of waight the Vizeroy imbarqued for Thessaly and his Nobles departed each one to their seuerall mantions
your highnesse with what I haue heard the truth thereof being proued I hope will procure my pardon Guenela quoth the Quéene ten thousand times I thanke thée for thy tydings which I wil so requite as it shall be the best newes that euer passed thy mouth to giue thée som assurance therof take this Diamond which she pulling from her finger deliuered her and looke for a better reward The hastie approaching of the Councell interrupting their spéech caused them cease their farther parley who staying the Quéenes pleasure sent her word they had some matter to impart vnto her who were presently admitted to her presence accompanied with the Mayden Knight The Councell hauing done their duties the Mayden Knight presented himselfe vnto her Maiestie whose sight so appalled her as she could say nothing shamefast modestie striuing with her willingnesse to bid him welcome which she could not doo as she would least her countenance should disclose her hearts desire yet not omitting such honorable fauour as she could do him she offered her hand to kisse which in al humblenesse he accepted acknowledging his most bounden dutie vnto her highnesse whom the questioned in this maner Seruant quoth shée we had thought your lyking had bene such to the Dames of Thessaly as we should haue bin inuited to your wedding or that your entertainment had bene so euill in our Court as you were weary of the same that you haue thus long absented your selfe from our Presence vnder Benidicitie seruant as you owe dutie to your mistresse make mée your ghoastly father and before my Lordes here present tell me and dissemble not what hath bene the cause of your long staie Gracious soueraigne quoth the Knight if I answere what is truth I hope your Maiestie will accept it and pardon mée if in my harshe answere I passe those duties which I would not willingly doo For my loue to forraine Ladies I may iustly deny which neither sawe any since my departure from your Confines in whose presence I tooke pleasure During my long staie how vnwilling that hath bene I call to reccord these Nobles strangers which can testifie my long desire to haue tendered my dutifull seruice vnto your highnesse whereunto I am bound Therefore dread Lady pardon my offence therein who being at a forraigne Princesse commandement must obey it Well seruant quoth the Quéene I must giue credit to your words else should I do you wrong but how so euer you are welâ—â—â— to your mistresse who is a debtor of yours The sight of this Noble Phâ—â—tiâ—â— wrought more effects then all the medicines Art could minister whose presence quite expelled all former cares from her Princely heart though her bodie weakened with her long lanquishing could not be so sodâ—inly restored But time and short time with the comfort she conceiued of her louing Prince restored her to her former health as you shall heare in the ensuing history Now returne we to the Nobles who awaited her highnesse pleasure for which the Quéene counting of her spéech with the knight thus said Honorable Lords if it be no matter of counsel for which your comming is at this time let vs know the cause my seruant I dare commit some trust vnto who shall participate of these your affaires Mightie Princesse quoth the Lord Parsinio matter of state concerning the gouernment or affaires of your Common-weale we haue not to vtter but onely do beséech your highnesse to commaund for your honor that these noble strangers be enterteined according to their estates with such curtesie and bountie that they many haue cause to speake of your Court and honorable entertainment as of a worthy deseruing Prince And more to do your noble subiects honor the Lord Cariolus who by marriage of the deceased Kings sister is Crowned lawfull King both of Thessalie and Egipt This is all most gracious Lady whereof if you please to conceiue and giue order for the same accordingly you shall highly honor vs your subiecs and gain to your selfe the famous report of strangers which is the garment that bewtifieth Princes and gouernors of states Thanks noble Gentlemen quoth the Quéene for your honorable care of vs which are not acquainted with anie such matters wherefore I beséech you my Lord Parsinio to kéepe them company during their staie here let my Officers attend them and their allowance be such as may not impaire our bountiful minde thereby to deserue honor if feasting be honorable especially let their traine be wel purueyed for both in large allowance of vyands and lodging for those are they by whom fame will ring being of the baser sort either of honor or dishonor as for their Embassage we will omit the hearing vntill God endue vs with some more strength and so farewell The Nobles hauing done their duties and gone it may be imagined whether the Knight departed with consent or no on whom the Quéene bestowed so gratious a looke as he might well iudge of his welcome but commaund his longer stay she would not to auoyd the suspition of iealousie or that her loue should be in the least sort suspected Contented with the â—ight of her beloued after their departure commanding the rest of the company from her deteining onely Guenela betwéene them began some pleasant parly wherein first the Quéene and then Guenela descanted at their pleasure of the Knight emitting no iesture he vsed in his spéech his person and what else greatly delighted the Princesse who would often say how mannerly is my seruant become yea quoth Guenela it is hard to say whether he learned the same of man or woman nay on my word quoth the Princesse I dare acquit him for any company kéeping with women his maydenly blush assureth me that he hath learned no courting fashions of the Thessalian Ladies Credo quoth Guenela and Madame so euer beléeue for a good beliefe is a step to saluation or by my hollydom your chéefest chaplin is not so iust a man as he ought to be Thus pleasantly discoursing we leaue them to recount vnto you the royall entertainment of the Thessalian nobles and their traine The Lord Parsinio to whom the Quéene had deliuered this charge as you haue heard tooke such care in performance thereof that as he was noble and euery way endued with honorable conditions so was his care in discharge of that trust committed vnto him as the nobles admyred their royal cheare their diuersitie of sports to beguile time with costly showes each accident so exquisitely performed as the thoughts and imaginations thereof moâ—ed thâ—se strange nobles when the company had left them to their rests in contemplating of their gracious entertainment to consume sometime the most of the night admiring the bountie of the Quéene whom they with earnest mindes desired to sée As these Nobles consumed their time with pleasure which made it séeme the shorter so the Queene which had care for receiuing their messuage after the first fight of her seruant began so to comfort
witnesses The Quéen hauing giuen them these hononorable welcomes each man taking his place Ormania the chéefest in Commission from their King thus said Magnificent Prince our King your highnesse late subiect acknowledging his humble dutie to your Exellence hath sent vs his liegemen and sworne seruants to signifie the same who in faithfull loue voweth neuer to be allienated in minde from that dutie which becommeth each naturall subiect to owe his Prince and country By vs he presents his offer of seruice which shall be with all his power ready at your highnesse pleasure the rest his honourable Letters shal import which humbly kissing on their knées they deliuered into her Princely handes who returned many thanks to their King for his loue with lyke to them which had vouchsafed that trauaile to sée her Court and Presence beséeching them to take in worth a maydens entertainment in doing which shée should thinke her selfe much beholding vnto them With pleasant parley and discoursing of sundry matters and questions by the Quéene propounded touching their Countries they passed the time vntill dinner not without great admiration of the straungers which beheld her stately grace her sumptuous attire the dutie and honour done by her nobles and Ladies which with their costly apparrell and rare exellence in bewtie greatly delighted them The time of dinner drawing neare the tables couered and all things prepared for the same the Quéene taking her place the Embassadors were likewise placed at another table in her presence The maner of her seruice with the diuersitie of vyands of all sorts was such as they could hardly beléeue so many sundry kindes of sowle fish and other chéere for them prepared were to be found in the limits of the earth Thus with wonderfull delight cheared still by her highnesse they passed the time vntil the end of dinner neuer forgetting the maiestie of her grace which so honorably bare her as no Prince could in her time compare with her Dinner ended the Quéene curteously bidding those strangers welcome shée was conducted by her Nobles into a Gallery which for bewtifull showes with rare pictures and deuises of rich price was so adorned as the strangers had neuer séene the lyke Not long had they passed the time in noting those glorious deuises but the Courtiers who had prouided themselues to doo her highnesse honor and cause her delight which had so long time withdrawne her self from all pleasures armed in al parts with each man his seueral deuise they entered the yard appointed of custome for the Tilt where a window opening from the gallery the Quéene with the strangers were set to behold those pastimes The whole company come each one for honor of hir grace deliuered his Scuchion of deuise vnto her Princely hands Where Gentiles suppose you that know Ladies praises or dispraises what happened Where to beguile the time was each deuise by the Quéen and her Ladies surueyed with such vigilant eyes as nothing was vnremembred euery one giuing their iudgement according to that affection they beare the presenter While they were thus descānting and the Marshall with the Iudges appointing each man in his degrée to try himselfe behold a prettie Page mounted on a light running Courser with his guide before him winding his horne in poasting manner comming neare the place where y ◠quéene was lighted from his horse and being not of heigth answerable to deliuer his Letters with his hand putting them on his wande after his dutie done humbly kissing them he deliuered them vnto her maiesties hand which y ◠quéene perusing questioned the Page if he had ought else to impart Who answered Most famous Prince my Lord and maister hearing of this assembly which fame hath bruted to the honor of this royall company and high commendations of these nobles hath sent as not daring to approach the place without their lawfull fauour obteined who for honor of his mistresse which he affirmeth and will maintaine to be the most exquisit Lady for all perfections in the confines of the earth he offereth at the Tilt with each gain-sayer to breake sixe staues If there be any such that will accept his challenge in mainteining his mistresse honour let mée know him who shall soone be answered The Page being vnknowne the nobles wondred what he might be which without exception had made this chalenge imagining that he was some man of valour and y ◠it were discurtesie to deny a man at armes whatsoeuer Theron generally concluding they returned him by the Page this answere Page though thy masters peremptory chalenge deserue rather to be maligned then accepted yet such is the nobilitie of Thrace as honouring Armes and all professors therof accept the same and where we had appointed euery one his companion we are content to remit that election and to bind all our force to his dishonor and so to him vnknowne commend vs whom we intreat to Arme sodeinly and spéed him hither The Page receiuing his answer of the nobles the Quéene calling him which mounted was ready to depart said Sir Boy to thy vnknowne Knight commend vs whom we thanke for vouchsauing vs that honor his Letters import which our nobilitie haue without any sute of mine accepted of whom he shal finde men endowed with courage The Page departed sundry were the imaginations what the Knight might be who had offered them this proud chalendge in midst whereof a trumpet sounding they expected the challenger who entered armed in all partes with blacke armour which was garnisht with many wounded harts on the brest a Lady with a cloth of fine lawne whipping them ouerspreading as many as she could reach with a scarfe carnation coloured his word in Greeke dispaire not pacing on with easie paces according to the vse of the place comming neare that ende of the Tilt which was opposite with the Quéenes window vayling his head to her Maiestie shée graciously hadde him welcome shaking her hand Long had he not staid but the Lord Marshall in lyke maner with show of great curtesie bad him welcome and desired him to prepare himselfe for the defendants attended him My Lord quoth the Knight at their good pleasures when they shal put themselues forward at the trumpets sound I wil méete them Thus warning giuen them without longer stay the Lord Vrelia his copartner in Thessaly set forward whom the Mayden Knight met with such force as his féete were too big for his stirropes and he likely to haue taken a more disgrace being vnhorsed This first encounter was noted of all the nobles who commended his strength regarded him nothing but with such valour met him that he made him to his great disgrace forsake the saddell at which a generall showt to the Knights great commendations was giuen The Lord Vrelia hauing had his part another came in place who went not away without some disgrace so generally behaued he himselfe and with such honour and valour bare him that the Iudges fathers of Armes gaue the
honor of the day to him whom they all though a stranger highly commended The Knight comming before the Quéen humbly doing his dutie was with his Trumpet sounding ready to depart whom the nobles would not suffer without his knowledge beséeching him not so much to dishonor them of whome he had deserued honor in such maner to leaue them The Mayden Knight who would as willingly haue reuealed himselfe as they desired though he made show of some discontent yet wold not deny their request but calling for his Armourer opened his Beauer who béeing knowne to be the Mayden Knight they were all the more honored taking no disgrace to be foyled of him by whose hands so many had lost their liues which were honorable and expert in Armes Being discouered he presented himselfe to her maiestie who not a litle ioyfull of her seruants good fortune whom the graced in this maner Seruant quoth she thanks for your paines and honoring vs at this time for which I ensure you I thinke my selfe much beholding it had bene pittie truant-like you shuld haue left these honorable Lords your frends without hauing acknowledged your selfe vnto vs them who you shall sée will be carefull to procure a Surgion who doubtlesse shall cure those bleeding hearts if any such there be ofskill in Thrace Honored Lady quoth the knight the well spring of curtesie nobilitie most humble thanks I yéeld your maiestie for this grace without whose fauour and grace to whom in dutie I am so bounden I desire not life This said the Quéene and the straunge nobles departing supper being readie and they set their table talke was of the braue behauiour of the Knight who had all the honor attributed to him that was to be required wherin the strangers were ioyed louing him dearly and to encrease the fame which generally was giuen him they in presence of the whole assembly declared the honors her maiesties Champion had gained in Thessaly and Egipt with the death of their King who of a wound by his hand at the Tilt dyed leauing nothing vnspoken which might any way honor him whereof the Quéene ioyed not a litle though shée concealed the same Supper ended and some part of the night spent in dauncing masking and other Courtlike pastimes the Quéene commending the nobles to their restes bad the company good night who entering her lodging it might haue ioyed the heart of any Lady in loue to heare the generall laude of the Ladies giuen to the Mayden Knight of whom no other talke was to be heard each honourable part in him commended to his desert and of his valour in Armes no praise was sufficient wherewith the Quéene was not a litle pleased nor Guenela discontent to heare the onely Prize of honour giuen her Lord by whome shée had hope for her passed seruice to bee preferred Thus ioying on all parts wée leaue the Quéene with her company to their rests and returne to the Nobles straungers whose commendations and honorable reports of the Knight was such that nothing could be more pleasing vnto them applauding the wisedome and noble demeanour of the Quéene whose lyke in her time was not as they supposed to bee found with such sundry discourses passed these Nobles the night to which wée leaue them for a time These Princely pastimes ouerpast the care of the Quéene was for dispatch of the Nobles of Thessaly whom she was loth to detaine from that desire they had to sée their Countrey Wherefore after some two or thrée dayes spent in discoursing of their countries and state of their realmes with the commodities therof eftsoones enterlacing their discourses with some pleasant parley wherein the Nobles were much delighted the Quéene tooke order with her Councell for their answere limitting a time therefore to the good content of the strangers Against which prefixed time the Quéene hauing care of her honorable word had their Letters all written and signed when omitting them to a banquet shée in such honourable manner deliuered their answere with such words of loue and desire of good to their King as ouercome with ioyes thereof the strangers were not able long time to answere presenting their King and Quéene with gifts of high estéeme and highly rewarding their honourable pains which they gratefully accepted taking order for Gallies with victualls and other necessaries to be purueyed with spéed and beuntie This honourable entertainment of the Quéene to those straungers being in the prime of her gouernment gained her such honour through their reportes that those which heard the same admired her whom they imagined was péerlesse for wisedome bountie and curtesie not omitting the fauour and loue of the Nobilitie of whose worthinesse they could neuer speake sufficient As time finisheth the greatest affaires so the carefull trauaile of those to whome the prouision of the Fléet was commended was such that there was no wants in short time left vnfurnished that lacking nothing but a faire winde which hée that commaundeth winde and seas sent in such happie time as they could with which not willing to loose they commend the health and happie gouernment of the Quéene to him that ruleth all And so accompanied with the Mayden Knight who was loath to leaue them and many other Phéeres of the lande they were conducted each one to his seuerall Gally where being imbarqued their Sayles cut and they affore the winde they gaue their farewell with such a braue ringing peale of great Cannons and then likewise their small Artillery as wonderfully reioyced the beholders which by the Gunners from the Quéenes Forts a shore was as worthily answered Thus parted these nobles who in short time arriued in safetie in Egipt with their King vnto whome hauing deliuered the Princes Presents with their letters they omitted no reports of their honorable entertainment of the Quéene and her nobles in such maner that where they or any of their traine long time after became their table talke was onely of their honorable welcoms in Thrace euer applauding the magnificent grace wisedome bountie of the Quéene whome they gaue the Prize vnto of all that liued in her time leauing nothing vnremembred which might any way impaire the honourable reputation of her nobles which vsed them with al the curtesie bountie becomming their estates but especially the Mayden Knight the discourse of whose valour and maner of behauiour bred more delight then the rest for that the nobles and commons had knowledge of his valour and worthinesse These honorable commendations of the nobles ioyed the King who in his secret thoughts applauded her highnesse fauour and curtesie that for his sake and honour had vsed those his subiects in all Princely manner But amongst those which tooke pleasure in hearing those discourses of the nobles the Quéene enflamed with their reports burned with desire to sée this péerlesse Princesse as the second part of this historie shall shew you Till when leauing the King with his Phéers to their solace return we to Thrace
curtesie to say My Lords all and you of the Communaltie you haue in yéelding to these honorable motions by me made highly contented her whose desire in loue made me not so head-strong to consent without your generall lyking my choise being such as may be mated with the oneliest Lady of highest estéeme in the worlde as I doubt not your selues will confesse when he shalbe knowne vnto you my high estéeme of him laid apart for that you may say affection is blinde And as the Prouerb saith The Negro by nature black and loathsome in our eyes estéemes her Infant faire so Loue which commandeth all creatures caused many Princes and Ladies of worth to submit themselues to base estates Imperious loue so ouer mastering their hearts to assure you that my lyking is not such and to satisfie you which with your curteous consent hath contented me know your so elected souaraigne and he that I haue subiected my loue vnto is of no lesse worth then a Prince royally borne and descended from the loynes of a King famous and a Quéene endowed with much honor himselfe shewing his royall desent by his demeanour which is valiant wise and curteous such a one I know your desires is to chuse for your soueraigne all offection set apart such a one haue I chosen which shal cause al your ioies if you ioy in any good Where breaking off your spéech with other words of curtesie yéelding them great thankes she called Guenela whome shée commanded to send some trustie messenger for the Prince willing him all businesse set apart to repaire vnto her which done framing pleasant discourses which delighted the nobles she sought to their contents to beguile the time vntill the messenger returned which made such haste that he found the Knight vnto whom he imparted the Quéens pleasure which albeit the sodeinesse thereof was troublesome vnto him cloying his head deuising of sundry matters which her hastie sending for him should import yet neglecting no time he spéedeth him to the Presence where to the Quéene he was the welcommest man liuing as her countenance declared who calling him vnto her commanded a chair to be brought and seating him on her left hand to the admiration of all the beholders which done she said My Lords and you our louing subiects muse not at this vnwoonted fauour vsed to this Gentleman nor repine not for that it is your owne choyse This is my choyse and hée that I haue sworne my loue and loyall affection vnto who albeit hath thus long subiected himselfe to our seruice dooing vs many high fauours as your owne eyes can witnesse enduced vnto it by that high commander of men who hath procured many Princes to the lyke for our loue as I am assured he abandoned his Kingly seate disguised in the base attire of a Merchant came to our Court where what honors he hath gained by his valour and curtesie not one of you but know Numedia being his natiue soyle and the kingdome his by lawfull desent from the King his father Let it not dismay you my friends nor iudge my words spoken of him for his honor to be more then truth so shall you wrong him whose woorth you may be by my reports assured off and iniury her which had neuer intent but to deserue well of you all Therefore as you haue your desire knowing him in token of your loue and generall consents by whom hée is your adopted King shewe by your signes of content howe pleasing my choyce and lyking is vnto you The Nobles amazed at the Quéenes spéech although they could hardly be enduced to beléeue what shée had sayd yet such was the loue they honored her with that giuing credit vnto her words without longer pause of the matter that the Quéene might the rather be wonne to credit their former spéech with a vniuersall voyce prostrating themselues before him they cryed God saue the King Quéene vowing vnto him loyaltie and failtie as vnto their King and soueraigne Thanks good my Lords quoth the Prince for your good consents and doubt not of my loue to you which with such heartie affection shall be shewed that my dearest bloud shal be shead ere the least haire of the basest of your heads shall perish Which said the Quéene standing vp requested the Nobles that as they had with consent elected him their King so they would appoynt the time for solemnizing the marriage with the Coronation chaunging his name from Pheander the Mayden Knight to Dionicus the lawful heire of the Numedian Crowne for that was his right and the name of Pheander but vsurped Which request of her Maiestie they easily granted appoynting the marriage thrée dayes following and the Coronation presently to follow which to their great ioyes was accomplished with all the honour might be done by their subiects the costly showes and all maner of delightfull pastimes there vsed I omit albeit it was pleasing both to their King and Quéene and brought great ioy and comfort to all beholders The marriage with the Coronation past the Commons delighted with their King assured his grace to be so honorable as the Quéene had reported him and they found who in that Parlament to honor the Thracians the more and let them know his loue was no whit inferiour to theirs he entailed the Crowne of Numedia to the lawfull heire of Thrace succéeding assuring them that his Nobles and Commons should confirme and assure the same Which curteous fauour the Nobles so gratefully accepted as they returned him for the same many gracious thanks the Parliament proroged according to custome of the Country their dutie in all humblenesse done the Nobles with the chéefest of all parts in the land wished the Quéene and King many happy dayes to their ioy and harts content which they requited with such shewes of loue as might delight them and giue them cause to ioy in their Princes election of whom their comfort was great their assurance of tranquillitie with forraine Princes through his magnanimitie to be such as al true subiects might haue pleasure to recount Their leaue taken euery one departs well content to his home Thus the King and Quéene enioying hearts content their loues more and more encreased that there was no talks but of their faithfull loue and hearts lyking through which the Commons liued in peace praying for their long liues to be continued To which content in loue the story leaueth them recounting the arriuall of the aged Barnardine in Thrace who with his long trauaile came vnto the Court where wandering Pilgrimelike liuing by the deuotion of bountifull people he spent some time in contemplation others in viewing the bewtie of the Court and maners of the people eftsoones commending their religion and seruing their creature taking much pleasure in discoursing with such Pilgrime strangers as he méete of the diuerse conditions of those Nations whose Countries hée had séene which being many he affected no Princes Region as this Country of Thrace