out of their wittes not knowing what to say but looking the one vpon the other and séemed vnto them as though it had ben a dreame But when these newes came to the hearing of the Empresse hir sorrowfull greefe was so great that as one dead shée fell down into the lap of the princes Claridiana who sat next vnto hir procured with all hir force to bring hir to hir selfe againe and did comfort hir saying that she had no reason so much to set vnto hyr hart the imprisonment of Rosicleer how that she was fully perswaded that it was a thing impossible except it wer by treason requested hir to pacifie hir selfe for that there remained such knightes behind who very quickly would discouer the secret therof when that this will not serue Rodaran is still in your country out of the which you néed not let them to depart and carry away their prise At which time the knight of the Sun without any more tarrying arose out of the place whereas hée was with so great anger that his faire and white coulour was turned into sanguine and black And asking licence of the emperour he departed out of the great hall went vnto his lodging armed himselfe with his strong and bright armour mounting vpon his strange light horse he departed out of Constantinople toke his way towards the bridge of the Iaspe with as great desire to sée himself with Rodaran as to returne wheras he might comfort and reioyce himselfe with the sight of his Ladies without whose sight in such like passions it séemed that it was not possible that he could liue who at this present this History doth leaue for to tell you of other things that passed in the meane time in England ¶ How the Prince Don Siluerio returned and demaunded of the king his daughter the Princesse Oliuia to wife and because she would not marrye with him shee returned with hir knights and of all that chanced therin Chap. 43. YOu haue heard what great sorrow griefe the newes of the death of Rosicleer did cause in the Court of the King Oliuerio likewise how ioyfull the prince Don Siluerio was for that the king had giuen him his word promise that the princesse Oliuia should marrye with him but he did not so much desire it as the princes did hate him For although that the heauy newes of the death of Rosicleer did touch hir very neere yet she repented hir selfe so much for that crueltie which she had vsed vnto him the great loue that the remembrance of him did cause in hir that rather she would consent to death then agree vnto that which the king hir father had requested of hir diuers and sundry times And for that the prince Don Siluerio dyd many times importune the king to performe his promise which was the thing he most desired Who answered him that till such time as he had ended the wars which hée had with the emperour Trebatio hee could not by any meanes conclude with the princes which was the occasion that continually he passed the time in grieuous passions supposing that it was for no other thing but a pollisie to cause the princesse to giue hir father such an answere as should be contrary to his will desire And because the time to giue case and remedy vnto his desire was so long and he not able to endure his sorrow and griefe was such the delay thereof Upon a day at such time as he found the princesse Rodasilua all alone he did verye earnestly desire hir that by all wayes and meanes possible she should learne to know of the Princesse Oliuia the truth of the aunswere which shée made vnto the king hir father at such time as he tolde hir that he would marry hir with him whether it was with good will and determined purpose to accomplish the same at the time appointed or whether she did it to prolong the time being moued by some hatred towards him for that according vnto hir answere he would determine what were best for him to doe Then the princesse Rodasilua who had great desire to vse remedy and to case the sorrowfull passions of hir brother did promise him to doe all that euer in hir power was possible to be done so tooke hir leaue departed from him waited hir time It chanced afterward vpon a day at such time as the princesse Oliuia was alone in hir closet she went knocked at the doore being knowen who she was the doore was opened straight waies she went in found the princesse with hir countenance very heauy sorrowfull and hir eyes swollen with continuall wéeping hir faire chéekes which before were wont to be rudy full was now so leane wan as though she had ben new risin out of some great sicknesse or infirmity And finding hir in this order being moued thereby vnto great compassion she said What is this my lady mistres is it not sufficient the time wherin I serued you for maid of honor the great good will that continully I had in any thing that did appertaine vnto your seruice in the which I was alwaies faithfull true do I not now deserue to know the occasion wherefore and from whence doth procéede that wheras at other times you were wont to be very merry ioyfull giuen to pleasure pastimes now vpon the sodaine to be so sorrowfull sad for that I haue séene your great beauty fairenesse to snrmoūt all other damsels gentlewomen in the world now I doe sée all lost in a mortall hew Tell me the occasion for gods sake wherfore it should grow that I might do my good will and therin shew the great loue that I doe beare vnto you in séeking remedy for the same And héere I do protest that if you will not giue me to vnderstand the occasion héereof that forth with I wil depart from hence vnto mine own country for that I do not determine to serue any more those that so euill doe reward them that doe trauaile in their seruice At which words of the princesse Rodasilua the princesse Oliuia receiued no ioy nor pleasure but rather did the more increase hir paine griefe for that she knew not what to answere vnto such an importunat demaund although after a while that she held hir peace with great desire that she had to turne hir of to send hir away shée said Lady it is very doubtfull and hard to thinke that any person in the world can perseuer in their great pleasure contentment neuer to receiue any sadnesse nor griefes in their liues no for sure it is a thing that onely is receiued for those happy creatures who doe reioyce themselues in the celestiall glory if at this present that I am so sad discontented as you do sée me it is not a thing to be meruailed at for y t it
in the aide succour of the king Priamus quéene of the Amazons named Pantasilla who hauing heard many times in hir owne Countrye to praise extoll the great strength valiantnesse of Hector more for his loue then for any zeale she had to defend Troy she came together with very many people of hir for to sée him in the time of that siege the queene declared vnto Hector the great loue shée bare vnto him he who was no lesse affectioned vnto hir granted hir all that euer she would demand so that the quéene was begotten with child by Hector was deliuered of a son whom they called Pireo the troyan who very secretly not knowen to any body was giuen vnto a nurse borne in that citie to be brought vp as hir owne child So after the death of king Priamus all his sons the destruction of the citie ther remained certaine citizens of a base sort such as y e greekes made no account of amongst whom it chanced the nurse who brought vp Pireo was one of them who knowing whose son he was did bring him vp with great care till such time as he was a man by nature he was enclined to the exercise of armes so he gaue himself onely thervnto had delight in no other thing for that it was manifest vnto him whose sonne he was for to sustaine some memory of the citie of Troy of his father he caused this bridge to be made this castle and ordained a custome that no knight might passe that way but first to combatte with him to leaue héerein his shield his name saying that he was ouercome by him in the time of his life he ouercame so many knights that they are without number when he died hee left beehinde him a young sonne and commaunded that all those that did discend from him should maintaine that custome which of long time hath beene maintained at that bridge so that all those which haue succeeded in this Countrye from him vntill this time hath maintayned kept that order custome and hath ouercome so great a number of knights that in all that great forrest which you doo sée there is no roome almost to hang their sheelâ—…es And in saying these words he shewed vnto theÌ„ the forrest whose trées were all full of shéelds which dyd hang vpon the boughes branches some of them were glistering other some with great antiquitie had lost their colours ther were so many of them that without great difficultie they could not be told proceeding forwards Oristedes said This is the occasion why wherefore this custome is kept maintained at this bridge And I will keepe and defend the same so long as I doo liue for that my lineall descent doth come from that noble stock of Pireo his father Hector for that ther hath remained no other remembrance of Troy this shal remain for a memory of the noble blood that was ther spilt The knight of the Sun reioyced very much at that which Oristedes had told him did estéeme him little for that hée came of that royall blood of Troy séemed vnto him according to his disposition that he could not but be like in valiantnes vnto his predecessours giuing him great thankes for that which he had told him of his life custome hée sayd vnto him Well gentle knight séeing it is so that you cannot choose but kéepe maintaine this your custome neither I nor all these that dooe come with mée cannot passe this bridge without making battaile or els to returne agayne the way which we haue come Let vs if you please procure to do all that in vs doth lie vnto him that doth lack fortune let him doo all that the other doth commaund And in saying these words the knight of the Sun descended out of the chariot commaunding his horse to be brought foorth he mounted vpon him with his speare in his hand he went put himselfe at the entry of the bridge of the which Oristedes was very much amazed and séeing him comming with so great maiestie in the company of so faire a damsell hée did verily beléeue him to be some knight of high estate of great bountâ—…e of armes although he was a very valiant knight his mightie demeanour did not cause in him any faintnes although he had had perfect intelligence that he had ben the most valiantest knight in all the world yet he had no doubt to combat with him for that he had kept maintained that bridge more then eight yéeres in which time he had ouercome more then one thousand knights yet he neuer met with knight that by very much might compare himself with him And then with as valiant a courage as appertayned vnto his progenie he went put himselfe right against the knght of the Sun and both of them at one time did broach their horses with their spurs and with so great fury that the bridge seemed to be ouerthorwen both the Knights to be on fire with the great quantitie of sparkes that came foorth of that paued pauement and in the midst of the bridge they made their encounter in such sort that their speares were shée uered all to péeces they passed the one by the other as though they had done nothing and with a trise they turned about their horses with their swoords in their hands they assalted one another the first blowes that were striken it séemed that all that valley was full of the sound thereof béeing stâ—…iken vppon their inchaunted healmes whereas all those were executed and beeing nothing amazed nor astonied therwith but with great furye and wrathâ—…ulnesse they did assalt each other with their sound blowes and being meruailousâ—…ie ouercharged with the great force of them it made them to decliâ—…e their heads to their breasts so that eyther of them did feele the great force of his aâ—…uersarye and Oristedes said vnto himselfe that neuer in all the daies of his life did hée combat with a more valiaunter and worthyer Knight but beeing determined to giue to vnderstand his great force and strength without any feare or dread hee béeganne to charge the knight of the Sunne with his terrible blowes and with so great force and strength that he made him to bestur himselfe from the one part to the other because that he should not fasten a full blow vpon him this valiant knight of the Sun said vnto himselfe that not without iust cause great reason the fame of that worthie Hector endured so long in the world and now prouing that knight who doth proceede of that ancâ—…ent stock he doth finde him doo beleeue that ther is not a more valianter knight then he is to be found in all the world seeing that it was necessary stood him vpon to vse against him all his power strength he presently charged him
that place to séeke water for the great necessitie they had thereof and there the Emperour requested them that at theyr retourne into theyr Countrie they would go vnto the Court of King Tiberio and kisse his handes in his beehalfe and declare vnto him how and in what sort they found him at the Rock When these Knights vnderstood the whole matter by the Emperour they could not satisfie them in musing at so soddayne and straunge a méeting And falling on theyr knees beefore the Emperour and the Princesse they required theyr hands to kisse them but they with great ioye and pleasure dyd make them arise from the ground and after that beetweene them there had passed many delightfull words of cōference the Emperour sayd that hée would go sée what was within the Rock and so hée ascended vp the stayers tyll hée came to the doore which hée found shut in such sort that by no meanes hee could get in neyther would they open the doore for all his great knocking And as they might perceiue those that remayned within that Rock were household seruaunts and two sonnes of those Gyaunts béeing about the age of tenne yéeres whom they saw at the windowes béeholding all that had passed and they shut the doore very fast and durst not open it for that they thought verily y t Knight would destroy them all in so much that the Emperour was constrayned to retourne back agayne After a while that the Emperour and all the rest of the companie had eased and refreshed themselues by the Fountaine hée and the Princesse determined to depart and the Knights with their wiues would haue borne him company and dyd desire very earnestly the Emperour to suffer them so to doe yet hée wold not consent thereto but desired them to returne vnto theyr owne Countrie and to let them so alone as they were for that he had greater pleasure to trauaile in that sort then with any more company When these Knights vnderstood his determination they would not stand in contention with him nor importune him any farther but taking theyr leaue of the Princesse they and theyr wyues dyd retourne vnto theyr owne countrie hauing inough for all their lyfe tyme to declare that which they saw of the worthie Emperour Trebatio and of his high bountie béeléeuing that in all the world there was not a Knight like vnto him And when they came into theyr Countrie they left theyr wyues there and strayght way departed toward the Court of King Tiberio to shew vnto the King theyr Embassage from the Emperour to declare vnto him the whole matter how and in what order they were delyuered from theyr great perill as shall in this Historie by declared And when they came vnto the Court they were meruaylously well receiued as you shall heare in this Chapter following How the Emperour Tiberio and the Princesse Briana ariued in the Empire of Grecia Chap. 3. WHen the comming of the Emperour Trebatio and the Princesse Briana into Grecia was knowen vnto the Prince of that Prouince who was a yong Knight and one of his subiects hée was very much amazed and lykewyse all his Subiects for that they thought verily that many yéeres past hée had béene dead and there was no other reckoning made of him neyther would they béeléeue his comming to bee true till such time as euerie one of them dyd sée him with their owne eyes And béeing certefied thereof they dyd receiue him with such maiestie as the Emperour dyd remaine and would not procéede any farther but first wholy and perfectly informed himselfe of the estate of all things with-in the Empire And there was giuen him to vnderstand how that the King of Bohemia had béene and was gouernour of all the whole Empire and how that hée had ruled and gouerned it with great discretion and iustice And how that all people generally were very wel content with his gouernement at the which the Emperour receiued great pleasure and sent vnto him giuing him to vnderstand of his comming with the Princesse Briana certifying him by a briefe letter of all that hée had passed and willed him to méete him at Constantinople When the King and all the nobles of the Empire who at this present were in Constantinople heard these newes I am not héere able to expresse the great admiration that they had and the excéeding ioye that they in theyr hearts conceiued for that sodaine newes in such sort that if each of them had receiued his owne Brother they could haue possessed no more pleasure hée was so well beeloued So in a short space these newes was published throughout all Constantinople and was a meruailous thing to beehold the great pleasure and sports that were in the Cittie and generally amongst all the people Then the King of Bohemia with all those noble Princes and Lords dyd ioyne themselues together and departed toward Dardania whereas they receiued the Emperour and the Princesse Briana and conducted them vnto the great Cittie of Constantinople with such maiestie and pomp that neuer Prince nor Romane Emperour was so receiued into his countrie And when they were come vnto Constantinople that faire and royall Princesse Briana was crowned Empresse of Grecia at which coronation was made the greatest Feasts and Triumphes with such pompeous solempnity as neuer was in all the world béefore that time To which Triumph and Feasts there dyd not onely come all the Princes noble men and valyant Knights naturall of the Empire but also of all the Kingdomes and Prouinces which were nigh adioyning vnto whom the newes came of the ariual of the great Emperour Trebatio And for that the excellent and mighty déedes which the worthy Knight of the Sunne did in the Castell of Lindaraza should bée manifest vnto all people and that the memory thereof should not bée forgotten the Emperour commaunded to call together all the best Painters that were in Grecia and commaunded them to paynt vpon the fore front of his Pallaice which was next adioyning vnto the great Court in singular perfection naturall sort all the whole Iland the Castle the gates and the terrible and wonderfull kéepers and gards with the mightie and perilous battayle that the Knight of the Sunne had with them and of all the rest that happened for to cléere him of that inchantment as hath bane told you in this Historie past And when it was concluded and set foorth in coulours it was a thing very straunge to béeholde and of great admiration to all people that dyd looke thereon insomuch that they could not béeléeue that any humane man was able to dooe so great déedes of armes as was done by the Knight of the Sunne And all people had great desire to sée him although the Emperour had much more desire with no lesse loue and good will then if hée had knowen him to bée his naturall Sonne And for that this great triumph shall bée more spoken of in this Historie at this present it doth leaue them tyll
haue parted and made peace betwixt them but the tumult was such and so farre out of order that by no meanes they could reforme it till such time as the King Tiberio heard that great rumour and noyse in the hall he came forth out of his closet and tooke his royall Septer in his hand and pressed in amongst the thickest of them very furiously and with great anger And when he came where as the Knight of the Sunne was and saw round about him so many dead persons and amongst them the Troyan Earle with great anger hée layde hold on him and sayd what is this O Knight that in such order thou dâ—…st disquiâ—…t my court and hast slaine my Knights so all the rest when they saw the King they immediatly dyd retyre backe and were in quiet Then when the valyaunt Knight of the Sunne knew him to be the King and heard what hee sayd hée forthwith dyd moderate his anger all that euer hee could and sayde it is your Knights that doth disquiet your Court and not I and if I haue slaine any it is in defending my self from the death which they doe procure to giue me Of this sayde the King I will informe my selfe punish them that hath bene the occasion héereof And in saying these words he demaunded of him his sword which he gaue him more for curtesies sake then for any other thing hauing it he also tooke the sword of Florinaldus and of all the rest that he suspected to be on his partye and straight wayes called beefore him all his Knights gard commaunded them to take the knight of the Sunne prisoner to carry him into a strong Tower which was on the one side of the Pallace likewise to take Florinaldus all those that were on his side to carry them vnto another Tower that was on the other side of his Pallace so that both the one the other were put in good kéeping but if the Knight of the Sunne had bene armed before he would haue ben taken prisoner he would haue made the King to haue giuen eare to hearkeâ—… vnto that hée would haue said in discharging himself but by reason that he was as it were naked he yeelded and had patience with all that which the King commaunded so they lead them vnto the Tower which was very high well walled And when hée was therin they made fast a very great chaine to his leg and for to kéepe him there was put thirty armed Knights and as many mo other men Then the Dutchesse of Panonia did send vnto him a very good Surgion to heale him of his woundes At this time the death of the Troyan Earle was published throughout all the Court and there was made for him great lamentacion for that the most noblest Princes and Knights that were there were of his kinsfolks So both the one the other complayned very much vnto the King of the Knight of the Sunne in such sort that hée was verye much inflamed agaynst him At this time there entered into the pallace the Countesse Lady and wife vnto the Troyan Earle in mourning appareâ—…l bringing with hir two young sonnes who entering into the Hall whereas the King was beeganne to powre foorth sorrowful complaynts destring iustice agaynst them that had slayne hir Husband and seeing him lye dead vppon the floore shee threw hir selfe vpon him and made such lamentation that it was a heauie thing to béehold at which sight if the King béefore were inflamed against the Knight of the Sunne his indignation dyd the more increase against him in béeholding the great sorrow of the Countesse and determyned in himselfe to doo iustice vpon the death of the Earle and hée ioyned vnto his indignation the great authoritie that hée had to bée called an executer of iustice which vnto manie yea very mightie Monarches oftentimes is very hurtfull the ende of those extremities obtaine them the infamous names of Tyrants Then the King commaunded that the dead bodyes should bee carryed out of the hall and buryed and the Troyan Earle was buryed with great honour and accompanyed with the most noble and principall Knights of the Court. Now hee béeing very sorrowfull for the death of the Earle many Knights that had affection vnto the Knight of the Sunne dyd labour with him for his discharge of béeing in any fault of that tumult and dyd informe him of the great cause that he had to do that which he did in his owne defence but there was nothing that dyd profit at all with the King but rather hée dyd shew himselfe very angry and wrathfull against them that dyd speake vnto him in the Knights béehalfe which was a great griefe vnto many which dyd know the valure and desert of the Knight of the Sunne for it séemed vnto them no reason that hée should bée intreated in that sort And béecause that the King Tiberio was daylie and hourely vrged on all parts the one crying and asking iustice and the other gayne-saying the same hée was for certaine daies very doubtfull not knowing how co determine what was best to bee done but aunswered them all to their little delyght By this tyme the â—…night of the Sunne was healed of his wounds and the Dutchesse of Panonia prouided for him all things necessarie in the prison performing it with as great care and diligence as myght bée But when hée knew the King was doubtfull of his determination and of the great iudignation hee shewed against him it dyd repent him that hée suffered himselfe so to be taken And hée immagined with himselfe what meanes might best be wrought sor to cléere himselfe of that imprisonment for that the nobilitie of his valyant courage could not abide to bée so shut vp and abyde the curtesie and pleasure of the King So in this order the storie doth leaue him till the tyme serue How the Knight of Cupido dyd take his leaue of the Queene Arguirosa and entred into the kingdome of Rusia where he found a strange aduenture Chap. 4. THE mightie déedes of the Emperour Trebatio and the worthy knighthood of the valiant Alphebo hath put almost in obliuion that excellent and worthy Knight Rosicleer whose amorous loue and inuincible deedes doo deserue a more eloquenter writer then my vnskilfull pen can performe Now if you doo remember in the Historie past how that one way Fortune caused him to be the most saddest and sorrowful Knight that euer was seene so full of bitter heauinesse that whatsoeuer thing hée dyd accomplish and bring to passe was not sufficient to make him merry And on the other side Fortune dyd show him very 〈◊〉 in putting beefore him marueilous and wonderfull things and aduentures of so great strangenesse that ouer comming them by his surmounted valoâ—…r in all the world was spred a broad the fame of the Knight of Cupido So after that hée had slaine that valyant 〈◊〉 from all the parts of Thesalia and the confines
round about there came many people for to sée him as a thing of great admiration in the time that hée there remainâ—…d for to place the Queene Arguirosa in full possession of all hir landes and that all hir vasalls and subiectes were quieted and setled in good order For by reason that he was on the Quéenes side in few dayes they were all in peace and quyet Now when hée saw that there was no more to bée done hée was very desirous to go vnto some other place wheras in recompence of the great honour and seruice done vnto him hee might bee in some solytarie desart to béewayle his misâ—…ortune Then remembring himselfe hee determined to take his leaue of the Queene Arguirosa who bare him great good will and dyd loue him as hir selfe And if shée had not perceiued that his heart was prisoner in some other place shée would with a verie good will haue chosen him Lord of hirs and receiued him for hir husband without any desire to bée informed farther of his estate and discent for she rested wholely satisfied in that which shee saw by experience of his royall worthinesse and bountie And when the Knight of Cupido dyd declare vnto hir his desire to depart and craued licence for the same she receiued so great sorrow therat that in a long space she could not make him any aunswere So after a whyle that shée had remained in that traunce distilling from hir christaline eyes abundaunce of teares which ran downe vpon hir faire and lyllie white chéekes lyke vnto orientall pearles shée vttered vnto him these words Worthie Knight this thy departure which thou dost pretend is vnto mee so great a griefe that I hartely wish I had not knowen you although it had cost mée a great part of this my Kingdome For considering how much I am bound vnto you and remembring the great desert and baâ—…our of your person I doo not thinck neither can I wel béeâ—…éeue that there is any thing in all the world able to make me merry or minister vnto me any pleasure or contentment but onely your presence Oh I would God if hee were so pleased that I might know your hart at libertie 〈◊〉 therby â—…ée able to repay you part of the great benefit whicâ—… you â—…aue showed vnto mée in making you Lord ouer all this â—…ingdome and there-with I should accompt my selfe the happiest Gentlewoman in all the world but séeing it is so that another hath possessed that place before mée and deserued to bee Lady of your libertie this one thing I doo desire of thee that wheresoeuer you become to remember mée and this my Countrie and Kingdome the which you may take as your owne at all tymes when occasion shall serue for that there cannot bée a greater pleasure vnto mée then for you to commaund mée in any thing that is requisit And if at any tyme Fortune bring you into this countrie with more delight then at this time you séeme to be indued with all I shall thinck my selfe most happie that as I haue râ—…ceiued at your hands this kingdome so I may lykewise obtaine a husband at your appoyntment for receiuing him at the hands of so worthy a Knight it cannot be but very conformable vnto my honour and conuenient for my estate All this the Quéene spake for the great loue shée bare vnto Rosicleer giuing him honestly to vnderstand that if it were his pleasure to receiue hir for his wife shée was very wel content therwith but Rosicleere who had his thoughts very far from hir purpose would not aunswere any thing wherby shée might take any hold yet gaue hir great thanks for hir curteous proffer made vnto him and promised hir alwayes to haue hir in remembrance and to serue hir in all that euer hée could And although at that time â—…e dyd excuse himselfe as much as hee might to cléere himselfe of that charge in prouiding hir a Husband of his owne choyce yet time did serue that Rosicleer had opportunitie 〈◊〉 dyd estéeme it very much hée dyd pacifie very great and troublesome controuersies hatreds and discords by which shée might haue receiued great damage harme as in this History shall bée shewed vnto you So in the ende of many curtesies béetwéene them Rosicleer tooke his leaue of thâ—… Quéene and would receiue nothing of hir but onely a good horse which she commanded to bée giuen him so hée departed out of the Citie and in few dayes after out of the kingdome and in passing through Dardania and Dacia hée trauayled many dayes in the which there chaunced sundry aduentures that I omit to come vnto the effect of this historie And béeing foorth of the Realme of Dacia the history sayth that hée entered into the kingdome of Russia wheras it was told him there were great and meruaylous aduentures So it happened that the third day in the morning he entered into that Countrie and came vnto a plaine mountaine so fresh and delectable as might be posâ—…ible and he trauayled so long therein till at the last his way dyd part in twaine the one way was more vsed then the other and by reason that his minde was troubled in thincking vppon his Lady the Princesse Oliuia hée was so far from his remembrance that hée respected not which way hée tooke but followed that way which his horse voluntarily went who entered into that which was lesse vsed hée trauailed forwards in that way the most part of all that day and béeing tormented with his loue he remembred not to eate neither had hée mynde of any other thing til such tyme as his horse for very hunger stayed and would goe no farther but striued to eate of the gréene grasse which was in the way And by this occasion the Knight of Cupide came vnto himselfe and saw that hee had lost his way and was entered into that path and considering the most part of the day was already past hee quickened vp his spirits and trauayled with better remembrance then béefore hée had done making great hast to come vnto some place where hée might haue somwhat to eate and not suffer himselfe to dye desperately with hunger So hée followed that euill accustomed way till such time as it was almost night and it brought him vnto the sight of very high and mightie Rocks which were in the middest of that wildernesse vnder the which he saw a thing that dyd put him in great admiration which was that out of the mouth of a caue vnder those Rocks there came foorth great flames of fyer accompanied with darke and thick smoake which seemed to bée some infernall den the mouth of the Caue was so great that a Knight on Horsebacke myght well enter in thereat and béeing â—…rous to know what it should bée hée drew nigh vnto it but his horse was so fearefull that hée could not come so nigh as the Knights will was but was constrayned to alight from his back and made him fast vnto a
was fully certified vnderstoode hir great crueltie hée sell into a mortall sickenesse being without all hope of remedy of the Quéene hée determined to reuenge himself on hir before he dyed So on a night by his great learning he tooke the Quéene out of hir bed brought hir vnto his caue that night there was thundring lightning that with the great noise therof they thought verely the whole world would haue sonke But in the morning when they saw that the Quane was gone could not finde hir they sought for hir in all parts but all was in vayne for that chauncing to come this way reading that which is there grauen in the Rocke they straight wayes vnderstoode that the wise Artidon had brought hir thether in reuenge of the great cruelty that she vsed to him Whervpon ther was diuers Knights that would proue the entrie into the caue and it fell out with them as you shall beare All such Knights as were in loue dyd enter in thorough the fier without receyuing any hurt but within a while after they were put back throwen out againe some â—…arke dead and other some very sore hurt and ill intreated And when it was demaunded of them what they saw within the caue and what happened vnto them they sayde â—…hat at the entry thereof ther was a great Bull which dyd â—…efend the entry and at the first encounter he stroke them with his hornes and dorue them out of the caue and this Bull was of so great and wonderfull bignesse and fierceâ—…esse that the like hath not béene séene his hornes were â—… so great hardnesse that they séemed to be stéele all such Knights as did not loue at the hoore that they gaue the enterprise they felt so great heate torment that they were constrayned to returne back again so y t they could not come vnto the knowledge of the Quéene neyther vnto this day hath ther bene any that hath had so much prowesse to come vnto the knowledge of hir although there haue come many Knights out of diuers and sundry countryes to proue this aduenture and it is now a great time past since any enterprise hath ben giuen and yet all the people of this Country do liue in hope that their Quéene shall be deliuered out of this inchantment so that euer since the time of hir inchanting this Kingdome hath ben ruled by gouernours and not one hether to hath borne the name of King but at such time as any doe enter into this ground they are sworne to deliuer the Kingdome vnto the quéene Artidea at such time as she is deliuered out of that inchaunted caue At this present he y t is gouernour of this country is a yong knight of great vertue wisdome whose name is Luziro and diuers then be y t be cunning in Art magicke that haue told him y t in the time of his gouernment the quéene shall be set at libertyâ—… from the Inchantment of Artidon so y t they doe looke for hir deliuery daily This is sir Knight that which I haue heard declared and spoken by ancient men and héere I do tell you of a truth that the kéepers of that caue haue caused so great seare in all this country that of long time there hath benâ—… no Knight so hardy to giue the enterprise vnto the caue â—… I doe not thinke him to be a wise man that will put himselfe to proue this aduenture for that hether to ther hath not bell a Knight of so much prowes as to conquer the first kéeper it is to be beleeued that the caue is not kept by that alone bull but y t ther is some other keeper as ill or worse then heâ—… The Knight of Cupid was glad and did very much reioyce at this good newes which the shepheard had told him of this aduenture giuing him great thanks for the same he said that for any thing he would not let but giue the en ter prise thereto if the day were come Whereat the shep heardes were greatlie amazed and did request him aâ—… that they might to leaue and giuâ—… ouer this determination and not to put himselfe into such perill for y t by no meanes he could escape the death or els to be very sore hurt At this time theyr poore supper was ready and set vpon the gréene grasse wheras they sate downe to supper together when they had supped the Shepheards went and tooke their rests slept the Knight of Cupid did solitarily put himself a part and sate downe vpon the grasse vnder a trée there passed that night with great desire to proue the entry of the caue thought the night a thousand yeere til that day was come How the Knight of Cupid entered into the dreadfull caue of Artidon and of all that happened there Chap. 5. SO the next day in the morning when the Sunne began to shew himselfe ouer all the earth the worthy Knight of Cupid arose vp and looked for the shepheards and saw them where they lay all a long vppon the gréene grasse and were all a sléepe very soundly without all care as those that were not troubled with any kind of sorrow for to disturbe them of their rest and calling to remembrance the great number of nights y t he had passed wholy without any sléepe or taking any rest of his great â—…ares and profound thoughts that did not all onely bannish â—…way all sleepe in y e night but also in y e day time it brought â—…im into excéeding admiration which did sore trouble his â—…houghts caused him to lift vp his eyes to heauen say Oh Fortune how little are we bound vnto thée all we whom thou hast brought into this world with dignitye â—…nd honour and caused vs to exercise and vse all military Knighthood it had béene much better for vs and with greaâ—…er ease quiet rest void of all care â—…to passe our times in â—… meane and a base estate héere in these gréene and flouriâ—…ing fieldes whereas is all the quietnesse in the world And not with so much pleasure in the courts of Kings and Princes whereas we doe see make captiue our owne liberties and venture our liues and honours euery houre agayne if it be not with losse of bloud and great perils he is not worthy of honour nor to beare the name of a Knight but doth greatly defame the order of Knighthoode wharas they sléepe passe the sweet nights with great quietnesse receiue no infamie nor rebuke but doe comfort and reioyce themselues all night long with the peceable freshnes of the aire wheras is all quietnesse of the wild beasts the silence of the birds the pittering noyse of the running of waters y e great freshnesse of the trees the swéet odoriferous smels of all flowers which I say is vnto the soule hart a continuall peace concord in the breake of the day a
oportunitie where they might imploy their force strength to doe mischiefe And to conclude he came away with them carying with him ten of his Knights who were very big of stature of great strength with whom he durst giue the enterprise against a thousand Knights And when they came vnto the blacke wood Egion dyd chuse other ten Knightes of the best and strongest that hee had So béeing ioyned together they dyd depart and tooke theyr way towards the Monestarie of the Riuer and entring into Hungaria they went three and three to gether because ther should grow no suspicion and the most of their trauayle was by night In this order they trauayled that at length they came to the Monestary of the Ryuer and were not suspected of any whereby theâ—… might haue occasion to follow them to see what they pretended So tarying the one for the other they ioyned all together and being in good order vpon a very fayre and cleare moneshine night they set vpon the monestary brake the doores entred in and tooke the Quéene with all hir Gentlewomen out of theyr chambers at whose great shrickes and cryes the Knightes which were of their gard beeing lodged in certaine houses out of the monestary did awake being all amased they began to arme themselues in such great hast that ther wer ioyned together more then fortye who went vnto the place where as the no se was so that beetwixt the Knightes and the Gyant began a great conflict but it fell out very euill with them for that the most part of them were armed with out light and vpon a sodayne so that they lacked many peâ—… ces of their armour And more the power of the Giant with Egion and Farmonte was so strong that they alone had beene sufficient to destroy them all so that in a small time there was the most part of them slayne and the rest that remained did hide themselues for the great feare that they had Insomuch that they had time and space to take the Quéene and many of hir gentlewomen into their power And for that purpose they brought with them a Coach with foure whéeles drawen with six mightie Horsses and very swift such as in a short space wold cary them a great way into the which coach they put the Queene and hir gentlewomen whose lamentacions were so loude that they might bee heard a great way Then they all together placed themselues round about the coach and stroke the horse in great hast they beegan to trauaile towards theyr countrie vyry glad and ioyfull for the rich pray which they had obtayned And continually as the Knights which were of the garde and keeping of the Queene came thether at theyr great shreckes they dyd not cease to follow the coach and had battayle with the Gyant and their Knights in the way but the Gyaunt did intreate them all in such sort that some dead and other some very sore hurt hee left them lying along the way whereas they went This was the great noyse of râ—…mour the cryes which dyd wake the Knight of the Sunne out of his sleepe in the Forrest thinking vpon that great trauaâ—…e which hee had with the Knights of the King Tiberio in the Citie oâ—… Ratisbona and in the verie same night dyd this wrong happen vnto the Quéene and the coach dyd draw neere the place whereas hée was a sleepe And as this good Knight awaked vppon a sodayne almost amased and beaâ—…d a far of the great shrikes of the Gentlewomen hee straight way laâ—…d on his Helme and went to seeke his horse who was feeding on the greene grasse and brideled him leapt into the saddle at which time the Gyaunt and the Knights came right against him wheras hée was And by reason that the moone dyd shine very bright hee saw them comming in this order Beefore the coach went the Gyant Barbario mounted vpon a mightie Horse all armed with a great Iron Mase in his hand all bloody with the great companie of Knights which he had slaine that night and according vnto his furious and dreadfull countenaunce there were few Knights that durst abâ—…e beefore him And on both sides of the Coach rode the two valiant knights Egion and Farmonte with ech of them a battaile axe in their hands And their furious and fearse semblaunce which they showed was no lesse to bée feared by reason of the greatnes of their bodies then the Gyants And after the coach ther followed to the number of fiftéene knights which remayned of twentie that they brought foorth all on horsebacke and well armed who went kéeping of the Gentlewomen that they should not fall out of the coach All this the Knight of the Sunne stayed to béehold and by the shricks which the gentlewomen gaue and by the words which they spake hée dyd well vnderstand that the Gyant and those Knights dyd carrie theÌ„ away by force And although it séemed to bée an vnequall match and verie terrible that one alone Knight should thinck to set them at lybertie yet this mightie and valyant Gréeke made no stay but with a valyant courage set spurres vnto his Horse and issued out of the forrest whereas hée abode and came into the high way and put himselfe béefore the Gyant and sayde these words Tell me Gyaunt what is the occasion that thou dost carry these gentele women perforce against their wils When this great Barbario in that sort saw the Knight béefore him and the great hardinesse wherewith hée spake vnto him without making any answere hée lift vp his great mase of Iron and went against him to haue stroke him vpoâ—… the head with a right downe blow but the Knight of the Sunne had his sword drawen in his hand â—…et spurs vnto his Horse side and made him giue a great and a light leape on the one side wherewith hée cleared himselfe from that terrible blow and the mase fell downe to the ground and with the great force and strength where with it was stroken it lackt little that the Gyaunt had not fallen to the ground after the mase for that hée stoped with all his body forwards vpon the saddle bow And before hée had any time to settle himselfe againe the Knight of the Sunne entred in with him and raysing vp himselfe in his Styrops hée stroke with both his hands so furious and terrible a blow at his waâ—… that by reason the ioynts of his armour was in that place in a maner broken with his former conflicts hée cut the body in two péeces in such sort that the one halfe remained in the Saddle and the other halfe from the wast vpward fell downe to the ground and it was so quicklie done that when Egion and that mightie Farmonte béehelde the battaile with that wonderfull and terrible blow saw the halfe body of the Gyant fell vnto the earth And béeholding the knight which had done that déede with his sword in his hand all bloody
not moue one iot from the place whereas he was but cried out vnto the knights that they should come forth against him all thrée But when hée saw his words did little profit him with great fury infernall courage he made his course against the valiant Tartarian who with a worthy courage as one that was both stout strong of hart broched his horse with the spurs and went forth to méet him in the middest of their course they met so strongly together y t their great speares were broken into small shiuers this stout Tartarian did double with his body backwards in such sort that his head strike diâ—… vpon y â— Horse crouper being somewhat astonied with that strong incounter he passed forwards on his Horse straight waies did settle himselfe agayne in the saddle but the strong deformed Gyant Horse all fell downe vnto the ground with which fall they made a meruaylous great noise he had his saddle fast betwixt his legges When the King Balachia saw his Gyant on the earth he was very heauy in his hart and commaunded that no more Knights should come forth to the iust but that the three Princes should be brought before him at which time the monstrous giant did arise from the ground and drew out a great mighty fauchon which he had at his girdle went towards the Princes said that they all thrée together should make battaile with him The thrée Princes not making any reckoning of his wordes on horsebacke as they were went before the King and asked him if he were content to pay them theyr bargaine that was made betwixt them if not they would depart vnto some other place whereas they thought best Then the King who was meruaylous angrye and offended with them aunswered and sayd I will that you serue me in this my warres and afterward it shall be at my pleasure to pay you for your seruice and if you will graunt vnto this with a good will doe it if not I will make you perforce Then these three Princes who had no desire to tary ther although the King would giue them all the treasure that hee had but onely intended to serue and helpe the Quéene Lauinia for that it seemed vnto them that shée had most right without speaking any word vnto the King tourned about their horses and tooke their way towardes a great bridge of stone which passed ouer the riuer and at the farther end therof was the gate of the Citie and vpon the said brige and walâ—… of the Citie there were many people and because the campe was very nigh the citie they might well discerne all that had passed with the thrée Princes and what they had done and very much meruailed to what purpose it was done and could not imagine who those thrée valiant knights should be Now when the King Balachia saw that the thrée Princes went their way with great wrath anger he began to cry out with a loude voice vnto his knights commaunding them to take them perforce At which commandement many of his Knightes did follow them with as great speâ—…d as their horses could run but before they could ouertake them these three Princes were entred vpon the bridge And when they saw so many people following theÌ„ they drew out their swords turned backe vpon them And wounded many of them But by reason of the great company that assualted them they were put to great extremitie forced to retire backewards towards the citie And by reason that the bridge was somwhat narow it did profit them very much in that their enimies could not assault them but all before to whom they did very great harme This battaile indured betwixt them more then halfe an houre in which time they slew of their enemies more then twentie Knights And when those which were within the citie saw all that passed they thought it best to open the gates vnto those Knights that so valiantly with great strength defended themselues determined to retaine them on their part to help them to make defence against their enimies for that they did withdraw themselues towards the Citie This determination they performed for as these thrée Princes did by little and little retire towards the gates of the citie so when they came nigh them they that were vpon the walles and battilments of the citie did shoote many arrowes and threw stones and other things at their enimies with the which they did them very great harme and made them to retire backwards by reason whereof they had space for to open a 〈◊〉 doore of the Gates by the which the thrée Princes entered in and the Posterâ—…e being 〈◊〉 againe they of the citie receiued them very wâ—…l and gaue them good intertainment and much meruailed at their great valour strength the Princes with like curtesie did returne them thankes for that which they had done and that in their defence they would doe all that euer was in their powers There was amongst these people a knight who was principall of them had the charge ouer that gate and this Knight carryed the three Princes before the Quéene Lauinia accompanied with many other knights Gentlemen and when they came before hir they gaue hir to vnderstand of all that they had seene those three knights doe how they came of their owne good will to serue hir in hir wars The Quéene when she heard that which the knight had told hir receiued great ioy in their gentle disposition good proportion receiuing them very curteously and doing them all the honour she could offering hir selfe wholy vnto them like did aduertise them of the small reason that the King had to besiege them These Princes answered hir with wonted curtesie and did offer themselues vnto the Quéene so liberally that she was almost satisfied of the sauegard of hir citie Then they remayned ther all that day without doing any other thing and the King of Balachia remayned in his campâ—… with great anger and sorrowfull heauinesse that those thrée Knights were gone from him in that order and did sweare a mightie oath that he would make them die an euill death if he might get them into his power And although hée had at this present great wrath against them ther did not passe very long time after but that they did grieue him much more and made him repent himself for that he did not giue them better intertainment when they first entred into his campe as in this chapter following shall be told you ¶ How the three Princes Bargandell Lyriamandro and the Tartarian Zoylo issued forth with such people as were in the citie vnto the camp of their enimies and of the mighty deed of armes that they did there Chap. 13. WHen the next day was come these thrée princes were very desirous to go forth of the citie against their enimies and to raise vp the sege that was against the citie and set
at libertie the Queene Lauinia from that inconueniens They requested to know what coÌ„pany of people were in the citie And mâ—…stering them they found that ther were in all a thousand Knights three thousand footemen all well armed very couragious for to doe all that which was commaunded vnto them And they were certified that in the campe of their enemies ther might bee fiue thousand Knights and vi thousand footemen Yet for all that it seemed vnto the valiaunt stomakes of these Princes that they might goe forth with the people which they had to giue the assalt and attempt against their enimies So straight way they commanded that euery man should make him ready this being done they left the citie well prouided in good gard commaunded the gates of the citie to be opened they issued out in very good order In the foreward went these three mightie and worthy Princes and all the rest when they saw them so mightie and well proporcioned of members and very stout receyued great courage Then those which were in the companie without when they saw the people of the citie came forth they were greatly amazed and did verely beléeue that those thrée Knightes had hartened and giuen them courage to attempt the field The King strayght way commaunded that all his people should bee put in order with all spéeâ—… possible but by reason that their enimies came vpon them vnawares before they could be in order they were assalted of them receiued great damage and yet it could little haue aduauntaged them if the three Princes had not beene ther who beeing in the fore front dyd wounde kill and ouerthrow all that came before them and put themselues so far amongst their enemies that their owne people could not follow them without great trauaile So when the King saw this great destruction which the thrée Knights made amongst his Knights he pulled himselfe by the beard and blasphemed against himselfe for that when he had them in his tent he dyd not coÌ„maund that they should be taken put to a cruell death Then the huge monstrous Gyant which was ther left the King pressed in great hast towards that place whereas the thrée Princes were the first that he met with all was with the Tartarian Zoylo when he knew him to be the same that did ouerthrow him in the Iust he was very ioyfull therof made towards him When this aproued and worthy Tartarian saw him comming with a valiant stout courage he did abide him so that betwixt them there began a stout well foughten battayle And although the Giant was very great monstrous and had aduantage by his mightie members and great strength yet to oppose against the same the Prince of Tartarie had very good armour made by art magicke in such sort that by no meanes it could not be cut nor broken So that he did strike at this furious Gyant so mighty terrible blowes that many times he pearced both his armour flesh that the blood ran out in diuers places At the same time the other two worthy Princes Bargandell and Lyriamandro did meruailous déedes of armes and were all to be brewed in blood with the great number which they hadde slayne were so feared amongst their enimies that whersoeuer they went they made them way And when their owne people dyd sée the great valiantnesse and worthy déedes which they did they receiued great courage and dyd very great harme and damage vpon their enimies And although this dyd indure for a while yet it could not endure no longer then the whole campe was gathered together put in order And for that they were a great number more then those of thec itie with great violence they pressed vpon them in such sort that these two Princes could not chuse but perforce they must retyre backewardes And when the Tartarian Zoylo who was in battaile with the Giant perceued that his companions did retire he thought it not wisdome to remaine there alone amongst so many but at that instant he left the Gyant put himselfe amongst his companions making them to retire in very good order that their enimies might not do them any harme The giant when hée saw himselfe cléere from his enemie he was not sory for it but departed made no accompt of him for that his courage was abated in méeting his match So all those of the citie retired vntill they came vpon the bridge in good order they entred into y â— citie And although their enimies would haue entred in with them yet the thrée Princes which were the last those souldiers which were vpon the wals and battilments did defend the entry so that they returned vnto the camp wher as they found the King very heauy sad to sée the great damage which he had receued that day of his enimies the great number which he saw those thrée Knights to kill who before he had in little estimaâ—…ion On the other side those of the citie receiued great ioye as well for that which they had done as to haue on their part those three knights with whom they recouered more hart courage theÌ„ before In the time of all this conflict the Quéene Lauinia hiâ—… daughter Olimpia were vpon the top of a tower that was night the walles of the citie from which place they did sée all that passed And when they saw the thrée Princes comming with great ioy and pleasure they went farther to receiue them did them snch honor as vnto those next vnto God she put hir whole trust confidence in not doubting by them to be deliuered from that great wrong done vnto hiâ—… So ther they rested themselues the rest of the day which remained till the next day was come in the which they dyd all as shalbe told you in this chapter following ¶ How these three Princes went forth the second time into â—…he camp and were taken prisoners by their enemies ea 14. THE sorrow griefe which the King of Balachia receued was very much as well for the slaughter harm don 〈◊〉 his people as also for the comming of those thrée knights to them of the citie by whom they had recouered such courage whereas before they were at a point to yéelde themselues And it séemed vnto him that according as that day they came forth vpon them so they would doe it oftner did imagine within himselfe how by what meanes he might be reuenged on those thrée knights take away from his aduersaries the force and aide which they had of them And hauing determined with himselfe what was best to be done he commaunded to call vnto him the Gyant whose name was Fulgoso when he came before him he sayd doe thus which I commaund thee choose in all the whole campe a thousand knights of the best thou canst finde and in a readinesse with them when thou dost see our
enimies come forth of the citie thou all these knights shall haue no other charge but to take the three knights which went from hence and bring them prisoners before mee for that I doe sée that in those three onely resteth the force strength of our enimies The Gyant who was no lesse wrathfull then the King with a very good will did promise to accomplish all that he had commaunded And so he departed from the king began to choose out the knights that should serue his turne for that attempt and vnto euery one perticularly he gaue his charge what he should doe So they were all in a readinesse tarying the time when their enemies should come forth And all the rest of the souldiers were continually in very good order verye destrous to be reuenged of the harme which they had before receiued When the next morning was come these thrée Princes had great desire to finish that which they had béegunne for that they would follow proserute their enterprise wherfore they determined to goe forth of the citie as they did the day before And for the same purpose they gathered together the best souldiers that were in all the citie and commaunded the gates to be open they issued out in very good order Now when they were passed the bridge they set vppon their enimes whom they found not vnprouidâ—…d as the day béefore but in a readinesse tarrying their comming so that beetwixt them there beegan a very stout and well foughtâ—…n battaile and there these three princes went all together béefore working wonders wounding killing and ouerthrowing all that euer they met in such sort that they made large way whereas they went In this sort indured the battaile more then one houre and all things went well with them of the Citie but sodeinly came vpon them the Gyaunt Fulgoso with his thousand knights and for that they hadde no other charge but to take these thrée Princes they straight waies compassed theÌ„ about in such sort that not one of their companie could come nigh them by a great space Then this mightie Gyaunt béegan the battayle alone with these three knights for that according vnto his force and strength they had mough to doe with him in the meane time that they were in battaile with the Gyaunt the knights of the Gyaunt did kill their horses and in falling vnto the ground they all together charged themselues vpon them and with the help of the Gyaunt they were not able to make any resistance neither was theyr great prowesse and strength sufficient to defend themselues but that they must néedes bée taken prisoners When they tooke away theyr swords and pulled of their Helmes and carried them béefore the king who was in his Tent very ioyfull when hee saw them brought prisoners And by reason that the three princes did lack in the battaile those of the Citie could not make any farther resistance against their aduersaries and therefore they did retire in the best wise they could into the Citie and when they found missing in their companie the thrée knights and vnderstoode that they were prisoners I am not able to declare their great sorrow and griefe which they receiued for that béesides the loue they bare them they hoped also by their help to make defence against theyr foes and if theyr absence and lacke was left amongst the common people much more was the griefe that the Quéene Laâ—…ima and hir Daughter receiued when they heard that sorâ—…owful newes so that it seemed that they were past all hope of remedie for that they had lost those thrée knights which caused them to bée verie heauie and could dooe nothing but weepe And now to returne to them that were in the camp the Historie sayth that the King and all the rest were very ioyâ—…ull for that hée had in his power the thrée knights and thought that hée could not reuenge himselfe vppon them to commaund them straight wayes to bée put to death but would vse some other straunger reuengement intending to kéepe them prisoners in such cruell prisons whereas they should by little and little bee consumed and die and to giue them euery day torments béecause their ende should continue long and would not suffer that at once they should bée slaine and therewith hee commaunded the Gyaunt Fulgoso that hée should take vnto him twentie knights and carriâ—… them vnto the castle of stone which hée had taken that was but thrée miles from that place and straight way the giant put all things in a readinesse and bound fast the hands oâ—… the Princes and so put them vpon their Horsses and with twentie Knightes they tooke the way towards the Castle whereas the king had commaunded to carrie them When these thrée Princes saw themselues so carried with their hands bound like vnto malefactors they were very heauie and sad with themselues knew not what to do but to haue patience at that sodaine chance and mis fortune not hauing any other comfort but to receiue their death with a verie good courage in what sort so euer they would giue it them The loue of these Princes was so much the one vnto the other and their great valour and bountie was so apparant amongst them that they receiued as great griefe the one for the other as though it had béene perticularly to each of theÌ„ and either of them desired to dye for to saue the other two of his companions So when they had trauailed from the campe the space of two miles they passed by the foote of a smal mountaine and when these thrée Princes lift vp their eyes for to béehould that Mountayne they saw descending from the top thereof a knight of a mighty stature of his bodie and of a good disposition verie well armed and mounted vpon a good Horse who séemed by his demeanour to bee a knight of estimation who descended the mountaine a resonable pace and came towards them and for that this History héer after will declare vnto you who this knight was hée doth leaue all at this present till time doe serue to tell of other matters How the Knight of the Sunne going towards the Empire of Grecia should haue been taken by treason at a Bridge and of all that passed therein Chapter 15. THE Historie sayth that the knight of the Sunne remained eight daies in the Castle of Onorio at such time as he found himselfe whole and sound and felt no griefe of his great trauaile which hée receiued with the Gyant his knights so hée tooke his leaue of the Lord of the Castle and of his daughter Oliria carried with him his two sonnes Aurelio and Bynano whom hée gaue vnto him for to bée his Pages and after hée had a long time trauailed it happened vpon a day somewhat late towards the euening they came vnto a Bridge which was vpon the riuer Danubia vpon the which there was a mightie great and well towred Castell one of the most
thereof was garnished with very fine golde and precious stones wrought very strangelie beside that they were of much more force then if they had bene of fine steele and tempered by art magicke they were so straunge and faire in shew that any king or Emperour of high estate would gladlie desire to haue the like Hée hadde also a swoord at his girdle girt vnto him the hangers and the scabbard were all of fine golde and the pommell and ball was of a fine Emeraude He hadd vppon his head a Hat of gréene Silke all full of small Rubies and hadde a very faire brouch in it And for that hée was white and faire of face it did béecome him meruaylously well he carried his arme vppon the chaire leaned his head on his hand lookeing downewards w t his eies somewhat with a sad countenaunce that â—… seemed â—…ee had some care and at the feete of this knight of the Damsell that sat by him ther sat siâ—…e Gentlewomen all apaâ—…ailed in cloth of sâ—…uer brodered with very straunge rich worke of gold stones who were crowned with crownes of gold vpon their heads like vnto Queenes had in their hands certaine instruments in forme of Lutes with the which they made very swéete musicke And before this Chariot came on foote twelue Gyants of a meruailous great huge staâ—…ure all armed with very fine shining stéele and euery one of them had a hatchet of armes in his hand and according vnto the fierce furious figure which they shewed it was a wonderfull terrible sight to behold Likewise behinde this Chariot ther came other twelue Gyants in such order as the first did but these came all mounted vpon great mightie horses had in their hands heauie clubbes they came riding two two together In this sort did this triumphant Chariot passe by the knight of the Sun with so great a maiestie and high estate that it was very meruailous straunge to beholde When the knight of the Sunne had well behelde all that passed by him and had contemplated himselfe in beholding that faire Damsell which sate by the knight hée thought verily that he had ioyed in some celestiall and dinine vision So when the Chariot was passed by and out of sight he remayned as one blinde and astonied euen as the Sunne vppon a sodaine should loose hir light or as if the day should bée tourned to night Euen so didde hée remaine as one halfe amazed for a while and as one that had not knowen what had passed and for that hée would the more better satisfie himselfe of that which he had séene as one which still remayned in a great doubt hée broched his Horse with the spurs and rode before the chariot and staied himselfe till such time as they should passe by him againe Now when he saw that Damsell had contemplated on that strange soueraigne beautie straight way his hard strong hart that neuer was ouercome by loue was in such sort wounded that of long time after many difficult remedies were sought to heale that cankering wound and he that no humane power was sufficient to moue out of his saddle was by the shew of that faire sight so troubled in his vnder standing that his strength failed him in such sort that if his Page Bynnano had not ben who did very well perceius his perturbation and staied him otherwise as one without anie remembraunce he had fallen downe to the ground but his Page Bynnano very quicklie came to his Lord the knight of the Sun held him fast in his armes with all his strength hee could saying What is this my Lord that before this faire company you doe shew your selfe so feeble weake Unto which the knight of the Sun did aunswere neuer a word but as one amazed astomed he knew not what to say In the meane time the damsells which rode before the Cahriot on their Unicornes did very much beehold the kinght of the Sunne he seemed vnto them that he was the best proportioned knight that euer they had seene one of these damsells who seemed to be more pittifull then all the rest 〈◊〉 his great alteration how his Page did sustaine him in his armes supposing that hée had beene in a sound she let the Chariot passe forward came where the knight of the Sunne was said vnto his Pages Bretheren I pray you tel me what is the sicknesse of this knight for that it seemeth to me he is in a sound The Knight of the Sunne when he saw the Damsell of whom he might informe himselfe of that which he so much destred comming somewhat vnto himselfe answered hir and sayde Fayre Damsell there hath happened vnto 〈◊〉 â—… sodayne sicknesse that I my selfe doe not know 〈◊〉 to name wherefore I cannot aduertise you thereof but now séeing it hath ben your pleasure to haue some care ouer me I doe most hartelie desire you to declare vnto me what they are that ride in that Chariot whether they are going in such triumphant sort for it may so fall out in the meane time that you doe giue me to vnderstand therof this my sicknesse will leaue me heerein I shall be much bound vnto you and if I may require that courtesie The damsell who receiued great contentment in his company said Of a truth sir knight although it will be somewhat tedious to declare vnto you all this which you doe demaund of me yet I will tell it you with a very good will for that your behauiour doth deserue that I accomplish this yea much more for you The knight of the Sun did giue hir great thankes for hir gentle offer she began to tell vnto him that which was his desire saying You shall vnderstand sir Knight that in the Gran Caâ—…aia within the Orient all Regions owelleth an high and mightie Lord called Alicandro who is Emperour of Tartaria the great and of the Scitiha and Lord ouer all the Ilands Orientales and Meridionales who by his mightie power hath brought in subiection almost all the kings mightie Lords of Asia for the which hee is called the mightie Emperour king of kings and Lord of Lordes and commeth of the linage of the diuine Gods whome we doe honour worship for which cause all we that by his vassals subiects haue him in more reputation then any humane creature This mightie Emperour when he was a young man was married vnto a damsell who for hir great bountie beauty was had in reputation for a deuine Goddesse and béeing with childe by the Emperour when hir time was come she was delyuered at one birth of a sonne and a daughter which be those two that are in the Chariot vnder the two rich arkes and the Damsell is called Lindabrides and the Knight Meridian and as you sée hir without comparison faire and beautifull so is he neither more nor lesse without comparison in
remembrance hee béegan to bee angry with himselfe for that hée séemed to bée of so smal a courage and striking his horse once againe with the spurs hée ouer tooke the triumphant Chariot and putting himselfe béefort it hée commaunded the dwarfes to stay the Unicornes and comming as nigh as euer hee could vnto the Prince the princesse with a troubled voyce hée sayd these words The diuine Gods bée in your gard and kéeping mightie and worthie Prince of the Scithians by one of your Damsels I doo vnderstand the manner and occasion of your comming hether into this Countrie béeing so far from yours and although I thinke my selfe vnworthie of so high a recompence as is granted vnto him that shall ouercome you yet mée thinkes by all reason I am bound to answere in the iustice of this soueraigne Princesse Lyndabrides for that according vnto hir great beautie shée deserueth to bée Lady and Gouernesse not onely of the Emperour of the Scythians but of all the whole world certainly I had rather serue you and bee at your commaundement then giue occasion of your discontentment but séeing that it canot be done by any other menaes I desire you y t you wold take it in good part that in consideration thereof wée may enter in the battell and pardon this my enterprise for that surelie it doth not proceede so much of the confidence that I haue of mine owne power and strength as it doth by the dutie I owe vnto so diuine and soueraigne a Princesse In the meane time that the Knight of the Sunne was speaking these wordes the Prince Meridian dyd very much béehold him and it séemed that hée was the best proportioned knight that euer hée had séene although hée had the beauer downe and receiuing no lesse delight at his words then at his gentle disposition with a great and seuere countenance hée answered him saying Sir Knight I doe gratifie very much your courteous words as well for them as for your gentle disposition And I doo certainely beléeue that your bountie cannot be small And the battaile which you doo demaund of mée I accept for that I come for no other thing in this sort and manner as you sée And in saying these words hée arose from the chaire whereas hée sat And straight way two of these Gyaunts which went a foote entered in vnder the Chariot brought foorth there a horse the most fayrest and strongest that euer was séene and somewhat disforming from other horses for that he had his body very bigge and the hinmost halfe was all as blacke as any Ieate and the halfe forwards was as white as the driuen snow his head was very little and in the midst of his forehead was there a little horne like vnto an Unicorne and in his legges hée had foure ioynts for which cause hée was very light and did runne as swift and quick as the winde and as yet there was neuer Horse that could ouertake him and some saide that this Horse was ingendered of a mare and a Unicorne the which they affirme for certainty as well for his forme and making as for that they haue in that Countrie of Scythia Tartaria many Unicornes and oftentimes they are séene in the fields féeding with the Mares To conclude this horse as well in his strength as in his swiftnesse was the best Horse that euer was séene and was called Cornerino by reason of the horne that hée had in his forehead They brought him foorth all couered with cloth of golde and with a bush of white feathers on his head and all his Saddle was enameled and brodered about with Orientall Pearles the styroppes were of fine golde and his bridle and all the other trappinges were of fine golde and silke and for that the Horse was very great and faire and his furniture so rich certainely hée séemed to bée the Horse of some mightie Prince So this worthie Prince Meridian did mount vpon his horse and it was a thing greatly to bée mernailed at to sée him on horseback with that strange and rich armour that hée brought with him and his mighty and big proportion and gentle disposition dyd meruailously béecome him and this worthie Knight of the Sunne reioyced very much to sée him in that order and had great contentment to sée him But if this Prince Meridian did seeme so braue on horsebacke what shall wée say of that gran Alphoebo in whom all the proportion and gentle disposition of humane was comprehended for vnto all them that dyd béehold him hée caused great admiration and therewith hée béegan to mooue his Horse and to tourne him in the fielde and the Prince Meridian did béehould him very well and did straight way conceiue within himselfe that it should bée a Knight of great prowesse for that béefore hée neuer saw a Knight better set and well made and hée tooke great pleasure to béehould him Likewise this beautifull and soueraigne Princesse was ouercome by that sodayne and vnlooked for sight for in lifting vp with great maiestie hir gray and Christaline eyes shée saw the Knight of Sunne and his goodly proportion and gallaunt demeanour wherewith hir hart did so alter that she bare him better good will and had him in more estimation then any other knight that shée had séene So these stout and valiaunt Knights did put themselues in a readinesse to the battaile and what happened therein shall bée tolde you in this Chapter following Of the stout and well foughten battaile betwixt the Knight of the Sunne and the Prince Meridian and of all that happened afterward Chapter 22. IT was so straunge as worthie to béehelde those two stout and valiaunt warriours the Knight of the Sunne and the Prince Meridian who were with their Speares in their hands one against another with so furious semblaunce that all those which dyd behold them were amazed and seemed by their furious demeanour that the battaile betwixt them would be very rigorous and well foughten therewith the Knight of the Sunne did cast vp his eyes vpon the faire Princesse Lyndabrides and when hee saw that faire and celestial face which séemed to bee an Angell of heauen straight way hée felt all his strength and force to fayle him and that hee had not the hart that he was wont to haue neyther the courage and force wherewith hée was wont to enter into battayle and beeing very much amazed thereat hée lift vp his eyes vnto heauen and sayd Oh immortall Gods at whose will and commaundement all things are roled and gouerned doe not now shew your selues contrarie in this battaile which I doo determine to make against this Knight and although hée dooe descende from your diuine progeme this heauenlie Princesse Lindabrides his sister doth the lyke and with no lesse reason then hée doth deserue to bée Lady and gouernesse of that mighty and consecrated estate of the Emperour Alicandro hir Father And if it bée so that héerein I shall not haue your fauour consent that
Knighthoode of hir Knight and was fullie perswaded that hir Gods had created him to bee the worthiesâ— and strongest in all the world and chosen him for hir 〈◊〉 which was the occasion that shée did loue him so much and in such sort that shee could not bée out of his presence onâ— moment as one that was very certaine and sure that therâ— was no other Knight of so great bountie nor any peruerâ—â— fortune of so great force to seperate the loue that was béâ—twixt them But yet for that all humane things are 〈◊〉 such sort that there is no firmenesse nor stabilitie in them Long time did not passe but this souerainge Princesse haâ— great feare of Fortune as héereafter you shall vnderstand And heere the Historie doeth leaue the court of the mightie Emperoor Trebatio to declare of a damsell whom nature had endued with beautie aboue all creatures in the world which was able to ouerthrow the great pleasure of the soueraigne Prince of the Scithians Of a straunge aduenture which happened vnto the Princesse Claridiana being a hunting Chap. 26. AFter that the thrée Princes Bargandel Liriamandro the Tarrarian Zoylo were departed from the empire of Trabisond as the Historie hath told you the royall princesse Claridiana who receiued the order of knighthoode vsed for hir exercise to goe on hunting and shée tooke great pleasure therein that ther was no oâ—her thing that did like hir but onely that and the game wherin she most delighted was the wild Boare Lyons and Beares other sauage beastes that were perillous difficult to be slaine And for that she could not at all times find these wild furious beasts when she would it was the occasion y t one day she determined to go vnto the mountaines of Oligas in Galatia sixe daies iourny from Trabisond wheras it was told hir that ther were many wild beasts for â—hat the mouÌ„tains were very high void of all inhabitants 〈◊〉 vpon the top of them ther were great forrests full of trées â—nd very thick bushie So she asked lisence of hir parents who graunted it vnto bir with a good will as they which were desirous to pleasure hir in all things for y t she was so â—aire couragious So this faire princesse did take with hir â—iftie knights to beare hir company and sixe gentlewomen â—o wait vppon hir and to serue hir béesides a great number 〈◊〉 other seruants and hunts-men and they departed from Trabisond and in the end of eight dayes they came vnto the â—ountaines of Oligas whereas she commaunded to be pitched many tents pauilions for to lodge hir self hir people for that hir determination was to tarrie ther a whole moneth because the country did like hir very well although the mountaines were excéeding high they found in them many plaines valleys very pleasant delightfull for that time of the yeare for that the same was very hot ther the Princesse found great abundance of all kinde of game wher she did satisfie hir whole desire it was a strange thing to sée hir when she rode a hunting vpon a mightie great and light horse apparailed in gréene veluet a hat of the same wherwith she couered hir golden haire the which was knit vp in a call of gold she carried in hir hand a boare speare with a very sharp fine stéeled head at hir neck a horne of Iuorie so that in hir demeanour she séemed to be some Seraphin come downe from heauen In this order she went forth to séeke hir game when she had found any wild beast she ran after them like a whirle wind although they were very great furious yet she would euer quell kill them with hir bâ—…are speare so that in the space of fiftéene dayes that she was ther she had slaine many wild boares heares two Lions at the which she receiued great contentment and as it happened vpon a day she did enter into the mountaines more then at thrée times being alone without any company she came into a mightie great and broad plaine wheras she saw come forth of the thickest of the forrest a very great hart faire as whiâ—…e as snow who although he came forth without any feare yet at such time as he saw y e princesse he began to take his course through the plaine â—… when she saw y e hart to be so gâ—…eat faire as one y t had great desire to ouertake him she began to run hir horse after him with great swiftnesse with such lightnesse y e it séemed shâ—… did not hurt any grasse wheras hir horse did tread So shée ran a great way but the Princesse could not ouertake thâ—… hart neither was the hart far from hir til such time as 〈◊〉 were at the farthest part of that great plaine wheras thâ—… Hart did enter into a thicket and as the Princesse woulâ—… haue entered in to haue followed the Hart vpon a sodaine ther was before hir a very great dreadfull Lion such a one as would haue put any good knight in great feare which raising vp himselfe on his hinder féete was as high as the Princesse on horsbacke who pretending to make his pray would haue griped hir with his great heauy pawes vpon the shoulders but she with a valiant and manlike courage stroke him in the midst of his breast with hir boare spearé so terrible a blow that it passed through his body hée fell downe dead to the ground When she had done this being very desirous to ouertake this white hart she followed hir course after him running a while in that thicket in the end she came into a little plaine which was compassed about with that thicket in the midst of the which she saw a great hole in manner of a caue which entred into y e ground straight waies shée saw comming forth thereat a mightie great serpent wonderfull to behold who beating with his wings giuing terrible shricks went towards the Princes Claridiana with his terrible mouth open so great wide that a man might very well passe in therat When the roâ—…all Princesse did sée him comming wich a stout hart valiant courage she did abide him till he came nigh vnto hir hauing in hir hand that bloudy boare speare wherwith she flew the furious Lion shée stretched out that warlike and strong arme threw it at the Serpent with so great force and strength chaunced to strike him in the midst of that â—…nmeasurable mouth which he had open thinking to haue made his pray vpon the Princesse that almost all the boare Speare was hidde in his bodie and passed through his â—…owelles in such sort that this monstrous and dredfull Seâ—…pent could not 〈◊〉 himselfe out of that place hée was so wounded with the Boare Speare and giuing manye great and terrible shrikes within a little time â—…e fell downe dead to the ground This béeing
so big and againe the great waight of his armour which was more and béeing on Horseback hée had a mightie great big speare in his hand of so great waight that a Knight had inough to doo to lift it froÌ„ the ground therwith he put himselfe right against the knight of Cupid in the presence of many Knights y t were gathered together to sée what should passe béetwixt them So both of tham did broch theyr horses with their spurs with so great fury that it séemed the ground wold sincke wheras theyr horsses ran So they met together and made theyr encounter which was with so great strength that their mightie great and bigge speares dyd flie into the aire all in shéeuers and the Gyant lost his saddle and had a great fall vnto the ground but the Knight of Cupid kept his course forwards on somwhat astonied with the force of that incounter which made all the Knights of the gyant those which were ther gathered together to sée that contention and all those which had séene the worthie knight of y e Chariot said that without all doubt it was hée and that hée had gone abroad with other armor béecause hée would not bée knowen to proue himselfe with the Gyant for that in his gentle disposition and great force strength in his incounter hée did resemble him very much So when this mightie Gyaunt saw himselfe ouerthrowen to the ground hée knew not whether it was a dreame or truth which hée saw hée was so amazed and séemed that it was not possible that hée should bée ouerthrowen and his enimie remaine in his saddle whom hée saw returning back againe on Horsback and when hee came vnto him hée sayd It is great right and reason Gyant that thou possessest the same order and condition that thou diddest ordaine for them with whom thou hast iusted which is that hée who so euer is ouer throwen to the ground to loose his Horse and to bée his oâ—… whom he receiued the incounter that did ouerthrow him Then the Gyant did looke vpon him with a very fierce and furious countenance that it séemed ther flew out of his eyes great lightning and sparckles of fire and â—…ayde Héere I doo giue and yéelde vnto thée my Horse for that â—…hou â—…ast won him but I wil so handle thée that liuing thou â—…hal not inoy him although all the gods doo come downe froÌ„â—…eauen to aide help thée And in saying these words hée aâ—…ose from the ground and drew out a very great and heauy â—…auchon that he had at his side went towards the knight â—…f Cupide with it in his hands who would not abide him â—…n Horsback but with great lightnesse hée leapt foorthwith 〈◊〉 his Horse-backe and drew out his sine cutting â—…woord which hée had wonne béefore of Candramarte that was of the Quéene Iulia and went forth with the same in his hand to receiue the Gyant and as they met to strike both to gether at one time the Knight of Cupid did stay his sword in the aire and tarrteâ—… till such time as the Gyaunt had discharged first his blow and at such time as his great Fauchon did descend hée leaped on the one side with great lightnesse that his blow could not fasten vppon him and beeing downe hee entered into him with a stout and couragious stomacke and giue him such an ouerthwart blow vpon the thigh that hee cut both armour and flesh vnto the hard bone out of the which wound there issued great abundance of blood The Gyant did complaine very much of this wound and beegan with a great noise to cry out against the heauens and with great ire and courage hée turned againe and uâ—…t vp his curting fauchon and beecause hée would not misse his blow hée stroke the Knight of Cupid ouerthwart his wast with so great fury that if his armour had not béen made by the great wisdome of Artemidoro hée had cut and parted him in two peeces And therewith hée made him to flie on the one side more then six paces and thought verily that all his bones had béene broken and béefore that hée could settle himselfe for to returne against him to giue him his paâ—…ment this great and mighty Gyant was vpon him and lift vp his mighty fauchon and would haue stroke him a right downe blow but this valâ—…ant and good Knight seeing himselfe in so great extremity with soueraigne courage and with a valiant hart strength hee let loose the sword out of his hand and before that the Gyant could execute his blow for that hee had his armes all a high hee entered in with him and embraced him with his strong armâ—…s abouâ—… his wast that hee made him to loose the force of his blow and with so great strength hée charged him vpon that thigâ—… which was wounded that sore against his will hee ouerâ—… threw him to the ground who fell in such order that it sée med a great wall had fallen downe The Gyant when hâ—… saw himselfe vnder foote hee did force himselfe all that eueâ—… hee could for to â—…se vp againe and thrust with his strong armes at the knight of Cupid for to get him froÌ„ ouer him but he did vse so great policie that hée did recouer his sword againe which dyd hang by the wrist band and putting the point therof to his visor of his helme hée thrust it in therat in such sort that hée thrust it through and through his head so that ther was slaine that great and famous Giant Mandroco with so great wonder vnto them which dyd sée him slaine as though he had béene an immortal man for that no humane strength had béen sufficient to haue slaine him And when his knights did sée him lying a long vpon the ground and dead beeing very desirious to reuenge the death of their Lord they all together did assault the worthy knight of Cupid did compasse him round about for to kill him So wheÌ„ the valiant king Sacridoro saw his very friend in that great extremity he stroke his horse with his spurs and put himself amâ—…gst the thickest of them and the knight of Cupid began to strike vpon his enimies in such sort that euery blow that hée â—…oke was with so great fury that either hée slew one or ouerthrew one to the ground And the king Sacridoro did hâ—…lp him with so great strength that more then six he ouerthrew dead to y e earth at which time the knights that were there gathered together for to sée the battell when they saw the giant dead and the high bounty of the two knights more then twenty of them returned in their behalfe so that in a little time after that they came to help them the knights of the Gyant were all slaine and all those receiued great contentment and pleasure at the death of the Gyant for that they were all amazed had great feare of him And séeing the high mighty prowesse of
the pallace who would not let but to bée present at the acknowledging of the knight of the Sunne in consideration whereof shée determined to goe in such sort that she might assure y â— feare which the princesse Claridiana did put hir in So after that shée was by hir damsels made ready and put in gallant and rich order shée commanded to call vnto hir two of the principallest Gyaunts that were there amongst the rest and taking him by the hand shée discended out of the Chariot and before hir went a great number of damsels with Torches burning in theyr hands and were so richly apparailed that either of them séemed to bée a quéene and hir traine was carried vp by two very fayre damsels with crowns of gold vpon theyr heads because they were quéenes and they had other two damsels which carried vp theyr traines and came last and in the midst amongst the Damsels that carried the burning Torches béefore the Princesse there went foure Gyants of those of the gard all armed with very bright and glistering armour and each of them a mightie Fauchon in his hand who were so furious and terrible to béeholde that the sight of them to all that did looke on theÌ„ was a sufficient sauegard vnto the Princesse And in the same order ther went other foure Gyants after the princesse who were no lesse sauegard vnto hir and for that shée was one of the fayrest damsels that was in all the world and so richly apparailed shee séemed by the light of the Torches to bée so excéeding fayre that many which were reioycing themselues in the citie and celebrating these great feasts did forget themselues in theyr owne inuentions and sports and remayned astonied and amazed in béeholding the straunge beautie and soueraigne highnesse and estate which y e Princesse had In this sort she passed through the great place till shée came vnto the mightie Pallace and entered in therâ—…at When the Emperour vnderstood of hir comming and all those which were with him they went â—…oorth to meete receiue hir and all that were ther present â—…ere not a little amazed at the strange beauty of the prinâ—…esse vnto whom when they had done all their dutie reueâ—…ence the Empresse Briana receiued hir and tooke hir by the â—…and and tooke the Princesse Claridiana in the other hand So they went all thrée into a very faire and well garnished quadran wheras thay did passe all the rest of the night which remained with so great mirth and pleasure that it is better 〈◊〉 bée thought on then tolde althought the 〈◊〉 Claridiana was in no such securitie as béefore who at times did béehold the knight of the Sunne and séemed vnto hir that there lack no reason for to loue the Princesse Lindabrides if there remained any remnaunt of loue in him after that hée had séene hir although on the other part with great reason shee hir selfe in estimation and was in all things assured if that shée had béene satified that by reason the Knight of the Sunne would gouerne himselfe yet the great feare of the Princesse Claridiana was nothing in comparison to that which the princesse Lindabrides felt with hir perilous grace and countenance For when she saw the great vantage that shée had ouer all that euer shée had séene and the great reason that the knight had for to loue hir she was in great perplexitie of mind and thought that shée did very much repent hir selfe for comming thether Likewise in this time the Knight of the Sunne was not so firme in the loue of the one but many times hée was ouercome with the sight of the other neither had he brought himselfe into such bondage but that he had liberty for to renue the loue lost although his minde was brought into such alteration and contensious battell as hée neuer found himselfe in the like yet his body in such sort did refraine the desire which his couetous eyâ—…had for to beholde that he gaue vnto none of all them that were there present any occasioâ—… of suspition of his griefe neither vnto any of the Damsellâ—… occasion for to thinke any thing but the feare of theyr beauties and the great reason that either of them had for to 〈◊〉 béeloued which desert surmounted in eyther of them In this time the Emperour Trebatio and the 〈◊〉 Briana neuer ceased to enquire and asked of their preciouâ—… sonnes what things had chanced vnto them in aduentures vntill that time that they were knowen Unto the which sometimes their sons sometimes their fathfull friends did satisfie themselues in such sort that not onely the emperour the Empresse but also all those that were present to heare them were greatly amazed gaue great thankes vnto god for his miracles shewed vpon those knights Although they had greater reason to meruaile within a while after because the wise Artemidoro came thether did shew the chronicle of all that two worthie knights had done wherin was declared perticularlie the worthy déeds of either of them likewise of their friends So in declaring what had happened vnto them they passed away the rest of the night which remained with so great contentment vnto the hearers therof that they wished the night longer so that he might not leue off declaring those things ¶ Of the great feasts triumphs that were made in the great Citie of Constantinople for the acknowledging of the princes and of a certaine aduenture which came at that time thether whereat all the Knightes of the Court were at the point to be lost Chapter 37. THe next day in the morning the reioycing pleasure that was in the great city of Constantinople with the inuentions that the citizens had the more to increase the same was in such sort that the strange Knights which found themselues present therat had great reason to say that it was the best most richest citie that any prince had in all the world the people thereof so loyall faithfull as any subiects might possibly be Likewise the Gréekish knights mounted vpon very good horses garnished and béetrapped with very rich cloth of Golde and 〈◊〉 and did passe throughout all the great Citie and made a great noise vpon tâ—…e paued stréets which did not a little augment the great feasts amongst whom there dyd not lacke princes of great estimation and knights of great fame And for that they were subiects vnto the Emperour Trebatio they did as well shew themselues very gallant ioyfull in acknowledging of their new princes And all of them went did kisse their hands who receiued them with great loue embrasing of them acknowledging some of theÌ„ for very good faithfull friends more then for subiects but in especiall the good valiant prince Rodafeo prince of the Rhodes Rodamarte other valiant princes knights which the knight of the Sunne in the Iust did know them to bée of great bounty worthy to be estéemed So this day
so great will determined mind as though he had ben a long time before instructed therin for hée had alwaies before his eyes could not be fully satisfied that it should be good that law in the which he had liued hether to which was the occasion that with the more ease he did attaine to the perfection of the law of god In which hée continued his life time like a true faithfull Christian. At the which the precious Princesse Lindabrides did receiue so great sorrow and griefe that she séemed to prognosticate vnto hir selfe that the Knight of the Sunne was not ordained for hir neyther for to be Lord and raigne ouer the great Empire of the Seythians And to the contrarie the princesse Claridiana was so glad ioyfull for that she was wholy perswaded of hir securitie therby also void of the feare y t she had of y e great beauty of the faire Princesse Lindabrides although time did serue that shee could haue had a much greater in effect So the diuine seruice was ended euery one of them in such order as they went forth returned backe againe vnto the royall pallace whereas they dined together in the one part of the pallace more then two thousand Knights in the other part in a faire great quadran which opened vpon a very fresh odiferous gréene garden wheras the Empresse dined with all hir Ladies Damsels gentlewomen in the meane time while they wer at dinner ther was so great melody musicke with strange inâ—…entions of mirth the grear abundance that ther was of all thinges for their seruice that with great reason all the straungers in generall did say that it was the most highest and royallest Court that was in all the world the emperour to be y e most worthiest prince for y t in ample maner hée did know how to honour all good worthy knights And to sée the Emperour Princes with all other Knights so gallantly apparalled with cloth of golde and silke adorned full of precious stones ond pearles with their faces proporsions of so exquisit beautie And on the other part the Empresse with the Princesse Lindabrides and the princesse Claridiana with all their Damsels and Gentlewoman the Knights being serued with Squires and Pages excéeding gallantly apparailed and the Ladies were serued at their Table with very faire Gentlewomen and well apparailed that surelye it séemed ther was comprehended all the bounty and beautye in the world And there were many Knightes at the boorde that did forget to eat and were as halfe amazed or astonied in beeholding the mighty and strange thinges that were done in that great hall all the dinner time which séemed vnto them to be the straungest that euer they had séene So being in this order all together as you haue heard and dinner being done all the tables taken vp they saw entering in at the doore of the great hall a gentlewoman who did very much digresse from all those that were in the quadran as well in apparell as in hir person disposition in such sort that all which were ther present did beholde hir for that she was very faire of face and so high of person that she did surmount all the knights that were ther foure fingers shée came apparailed with a large roabe which couered all hir body downe to hir féet was wrought with so many diuersities of silke full of precious stones pearles from the top vnto the lower part was made fast before with gold precious stones of great price which did become hir very well the haire of hir head was very yeolow curled knit behind hir eares in such sort that being seperated in the midst they were brought ouer hir shoulders and hung ouer hir breasts downe to his knées and at the endes of the partition of hir haire she had hanging two precious stones either of them as big as a reasonable apple the which did augment hir beauty the more This Gentlewoman brought leading by the hand a knight of a very big body and members resembled very much the prince Brandizel who was ther present but that he was higher then he was by a fingers breadth was armed with armour that was very well guilt that it séemed to be of very fine gold was wrought by meruailous cunning garnished so full of precious stones that it did manyfest vnto them all to be a Knight of great estimation his shéeld was all of fine Stéele in the golden field therof ther was grauen two Lyons of Siluer and a knight with a bloudie sword in his hands who at two blowes did part them both a sunder in the midst he had the beauer of his healme lifted vp in such sort that they might discouer sée his face to bee swartish and boystrous and his countenaunce very fierce that it gaue them all to vnderstand that he should be very proud arrogant after them came two dwarfes very little of so ill fauoured semblaunce that it made all them that were in the hall greatly to laugh The one of them caried vp the traine of the damsell the other dwarffe caried the knights shéeld which was a great deale heauier higher then he was for that béeing at his backe ther was nothing seene of the dwarfe but seemed that the shield was caried in the aire without helpe of any person When this Knight y t gentlewoman were in y e midst of the great hall euery one held his peace ther was great silence to heare what their demand should be knowing the Emperour for that he was set at the vpper end of the Table and againe be the Emperiall armes that was ouer wheras he sate they turned themselues towards him And the gentlewoman began with a loud voice that all that wer ther present might heare hir and said The high mighty power the diuine prouidence of the high Gods kéepe increase the mighty estate of thée emperour Trebatio of all the worthy valiant Knights of this thy Court for that they being ouercome the victory of the Arabicall prince may be the more extolled the better to obtaine deserue the loue of the quéene of Carmania You shall vnderstand emperour Trebatio that this knight who is héere present is called Rodaran prince lord of Arabia the great of that which is called Felix for that it is a country of great abundance wheras the influences of the same all the celestiall operations doth most reioyce themselues And I am called Carmania for that I am quéene of Carmania the occasion that wée are come hether into these far Countries is for that this being a young man and a Knight doubtfull to finde such another in all the worlde for his valiauntnesse and force being very desirous to get honour hée departed out of his owne Country after that hée had done meruailous and incredible feates of armes
hée ariued in my kingdome of Carmania where when hée had séene my gréat and strange beautie I being a damsell and not married it chanced that hée fell in loue with mée and vttered vnto mée all his whole mind but first he told who he was requested mée to receiue him for my husband The which so that it might not bée preiudiciall to my honour nor hurtfull vnto my fame but profitable vnto my estate for that he is so high and mighty a prince so valiant a knight I did cōclude and grant him my loue vpon this condition that first hée should doo such feats of armes as I should sée vnderstand that he was the best most valiantest Knight in all the world and if not it was not for him to procure my loue for y t I would by no meanes marry with him neither with any other For as I haue my selfe in estimation to excel in beautie highnesse of birth estate all the damsels that are now liuing So likewise hée whom I will take for to bée my husband shal surmount all other knights The which condition this knight did accept and grant vnto and moreouer he said that the choice should bée mine to appoint wherin he shuld proue himselfe and how that he would in all points performe my request hée would speake no more words therin till such time as all should be very manifest and plaine And I being very desirous to know the truth therof not giuing any credit vnto those mightie acts which I herd to be told of him I caused an vnckle of mine to come vnto mée who was very expert in the art magicke and I desired him that by his art hee wold aduertise wherin and how I should proue this knight to bée as it was reported the best knight in all the world Who after that hée well perused his bookes studied in this my request hée tolde mée that hée had found by his art that in the Court of the Emperour Trebatio in the citie of Constantinople that there should bée in this day in the great hall ioyned together the flower of all Knighthoode in the world and the most famous and valyauntest Princes and Knights therein And that it séemed vnto him that there was no better opportunitie to accomplish my desire then this and how that this Knight and I should come vnto this court and hée to defend and maintaine the quarrell in saying that I am the most precious and fairest Damsell in all the world against all amorous Knights that shall say the contrarie and hée to bée the onely Knight aboue all other that dooth deserue my loue The which counsaile séemed so conformable vnto my great desire and hée graunted vnto the same At the same very instaunt wée departed on our iourney and in the ende of much trauaile wée are come hether the selfe same day that the wise man dyd tell mée and according vnto that which I dooe sée in this great hall I doo finde it to bée true although I am doubtfull amongst so goodly a companie of Knights to finde anie that is to bée compared vnto this valyaunt and worthie Prince Rodaran and how that the fame of this court is much more then the déedes thereof And for that this our long iourney shall not be ended without receiuing some benefit and profit héere I doo desire you most high mightie Emperor to giue leaue and lisence vnto these your knights that in this case they may procure to do their best otherwise with great reason they might haue shame to come béefore their amorous Dames if that you too refraine the consentment héereof and not to defend them in this case with all their might power but first I doo giue you to vnderstand that béefore that this valiant Prince Rodaran doo enter into battell with any of these knights it shall bée vpon this condition that if hée bée by any knight ouercome that both hée I to be prisoners vnto him y t getteth the victorie to do with vs all that his will pleasure shall bée And if it bée so that hée doth ouercome any knight that likewise in the same order he to bée his prisoner to carry him into his Countrie or to doo his pleasure w t him And againe although the Prince Rodaran as one that is without all feare would in the midst of the place of this great Citie make the proofe of his great bounty for that it should be the more manifest vnto you all yet I béeing no man and somewhat timerous for the great loue which I doo beare vnto him haue requested him that it might not bée héere in this citie for that the imprisonment of so high Princes knights as be héere present might grow vnto great perill danger and great disturbance to vse his will of his prisoners after they bée ouercome And for that the security of all parts shall be more certaine to auoid the inconueniences that may happen to the contrarie it shall be good and seemeth vnto me very conuenient that these trials do passe at the bridge of the white Iasper ston that which is on the first arme of the fiue Riuers which runneth into the Riuer of Danubia and runneth into the Sea Maditaraneo which is in the confines vtter parts of this mightie Empire wheras the Prince Rodaran shall tarrie and abide the comming of all such knights as will combat in the defence of this demand and neuer to depart the field till such time as hée bée ouercome or else to remaine with the victorie of all Knights of what estate and same so euer they bée And for securitie that y e prince Rodaran shall performe kéepe all that is said according vnto the order of knighthood hée shall giue his gage afore all and vnto all that is in this great hall And therewith the Prince Rodaran did throw his gantlet so high that all those which were there might sée it in token of defiaunce And without saying any more or dooing any reuerence they departed out of y e great hal leauing amongst all them that were therein a great laughter as well at the demaund of the Gentlewoman as at the disposition of the Dwarfes although they receiued great contentment at the disposition of the knight and ther were many that were very desirous to make the first proofe with him and béeléeued of a certaintie that according as hée was of members and stature that hée should bée of great force and strength With this desire there were diuerse that arose vp from the table and went vnto the Emperour asked lisence that they might go prooue themselues with that knight amongst the which the first was that good Knight Rodamarte Prince of the Rhodes a yong Knight one of the valiantest that was in the Emperours Court. Likewise the valiant Prince Rodafeo who was also a very good Knight and both of them in loue with faire ladies that were with
of Greece by reason that the people which doth inhabit on the one side of the fiue armes which procéedeth from Danubia and runneth into the sea Fuxino they are very barbarous furious and beastlie and many times they doo enter into that Countriâ—… and doo very much harme therein And although the Emperour would make a conquest ouer them as diuers times hée hath put it in practise yet hee cannot for that they haue neyther Cities Townes nor villages neyther any dwelling houses but onely great Caues vnder the ground whereas they doo make theyr habitation béecause they are so beastlie and brutish In consideration whereof it dyd behoue the Emperour to haue that bridge very stronge and excéeding well kept and it was for that alongst the Riuer there was none other passage When this valiant Rodaran and the Quéene ariued at that bridge saw it to bée a place very conuenient for their purpose straight way the prince Rodaran did prepare himselfe for to win the same béeing armed in very good order hee tooke the quéene by the hand and without any more company they went towards y e gate of the bridge knocked therat for that they were all alone the gate was straight way opened When they were entered within the first Tower this valiant Rodaran commanded those that were the keepers therof that they should yéeld vp the towers and bridge and that they should depart with quietnesse Who séeing him alone they so many wold not obey his commandement but did procure to defend the towers the bridge and wold not suffer him to perswadge any farther But this valiant Rodaran in a smal time did so béehaue himselfe amongst them that wounding and killing the most part of them the rest were constraynd thought it good for the sauegard of their liues to yéeld and to doo all that hée commaunded them And so they deliuered vnto him all the keyes of the gates and towers and departed thence at their liberty with the losse of the most part of their companions and although they were ashamed so manye to bée slaine and ouercome by one alone Knight which made them to refraine comming into the Emperours presence yet ther did not lack who béefore Rodaran did enter into Constantinople that did aduise the Emperour thereof At such â—…ime as hée came thether hée was very angrie with himâ—…elfe for that hée was so bolde to giue that enterprise and if â—…t had not béene for the disturbing of their great feasts and â—…riumphs which were made there for their sons hée would â—…aue sent thether such as should haue rewarded him vnto â—…is contentment for his boldnesse But when that Rodaâ—…an was come vnto the Court and the Emperour fullie saâ—…sfied of his demaund hée was very glad and ioyefull for that hée had so good opportunity whereby hée should receiue his pâ—…yment for his boldnesse and small account that hée made of him and his estate So when this valyant Rodaran and the Quéene of Carmania saw themselues Lords and gouernours ouer the whole bridge and their Towers they commaunded all those that came in theyr companie to enter in thereat whereas they dyd establish their abiding and caused the ship wherein they came thether which was at the sea to enter into the riuer and to surge close vnto the bridge wheras they did let fall their ancker and made hir very fast for that in the same Ship Rodaran did determine hauing ouercome the most part of the best and principallest knights in all Greece to put them prisoners into the same ship and returne with them into his owne Countrie So after that the Quéene of Carmania had well perused the scituation of the bridges of the towers she saw that the tower that was in the midst of the Bridge was made in such sort that beneath it was round like vnto an arke and hollow without any gate but as broad as the bridge was wheras shée caused the net of yron to bée hanged in the highest part of the hollownesse within in such sort that it could not bée séene nor descerned without but it was so large that it occupied all the bignesse of the vaut within and in such sort the Quéene of Carmania caused it to be hanged that in pullling of a cord ordained for that purpose the whole nâ—…t should fall downe When Rodaran saw the net hanged vp and put in good order he was very desirous to know to what purpose it was put there and did importune the quéene so much that in the end shée was constrained to declare it vnto him saying You shall vnderstand my Lord that the great loue which I dooe beare vnto you hath caused mée to feare that which your valyaunt and singular bountie doth assure mée and put mée in great doubt of and although that I am fully perswaded that there is not in all the world a knight that can compare his bounty vnto yours yet it séemeth vnto mo that hauing to do with so many who wil prooue themselues against you it cannot bée chosen but there must néedes bée some amongst them that will trouble you so much béeing wearie that you shall receiue some harme on your person And therefore béeing mooued with the great loue that I doe beare vnto you I haue caused to bée made and put in this yron net which you sée that at what time so euer béeing in battaile with those Knights you shall finde your selfe to bée in any extremitie that then you may retire your selfe with him whom at that present you doo combat till that you are both right vnderneath this net and béeing there then presently both you and your aduersarie shall take your ease And this Sir is the whole cause and effect why I haue caused this net to bée made And if it bée so that this which I haue done dooe cause in you any disconentment or griefe héere I doo craue pardon and doo request you to attribute the occasion as a fault committed by a woman for when an offence is committed for loue and good will it is the easier to bée pardoned and forgiuen This valiaunt Rodaran in all his life time dyd not receiue so great grife and sorrow as at that present when hée did vnderstand sée what the Quéene had ordayned and it seemed â—…nto him that she had doubt of the victorie that hée hoped to haue of the Greekish Knights yet for all that the loue that hée bare vnto hir was such that hée would not say against that which shée had done but shewing himselfe to bée very angrie for the same hée saide Lady and mistres it doth griue mée very much that the Prince of Arabia is so little knowen vnto you What â—…oo you thinke that in all the world there is one for one â—…hat is of so great strength that of himselfe hée is sufficyâ—… to bring mée into so great extremitie in battaile that I â—…hall bée driuen to séeke for rest and succour for to bring
armes of so high estate for to commit so great treason against one alone knight making battaile against thée his body against thine Tell mee traitour how canst thou consent to be called knight when thou dost vse so great villanie vnto the noble order of Knighthood How canst thou praise and extoll thy selfe in the great Asia to haue ouercome and gotten the victory ouer knights of Grecia when that with so great falsehood treason thou hast apprehended them Rodaran was verye much amazed at this which the Quéene had done and at the great subtilnesse of the arte where with shée did assure him of this victory against those Grecian Knightes And for that béefore this time he dyd not know the secret of hir polesie making himselfe very ignorant therof he answered said Thou hast no reason prince of Persia to call me traitour for that in all my life time I haue not committed any treason And héere I doe sweare vnto thée by the high godâ—… that I was as ignorant of this which the quéene hath done as thy selfe And retiring backwards towards hir was for that I being weary in the battaile very faint I thought by the sight of hir to recoyer some force and strength for that the loue which I doe bearâ—… vnto hir is very much Well said the Prince séeing it is so that thou art without fault do so much that my helme may be brought vnto me again that this chaine may be taken away let vs returne againe vnto our battaile I will not consent ther vnto said the quéene for that thou art my prisoner And Rodaran shall not giue vnto this liberty Then lady said the prince giue it you vnto me for no longer time then to make an end of our battaile that being finished I doe promise you by the faith of a knight to returne againe vnto your person For vnto such a lady as you are what so euer knight he be wil thinke well to be your prisoner Truely I doe like as ill of this as of the other sayde the Quéene of Carmania for that at such time as the battayle shalbe finished betwéene thée Rodaran thou shalt remaine in such pitifull case that I shall receiue no profit of thy imprisonment Therfore goe your wayes at this time beare company with the other Knights of the emperour Trebatio and giue them some comfort for that they are very sad and sorrowfull to finde themselues prisoners and very shortlie we will send others for to comfort thée also And take this of a certainty that we will not carry you from hence till such time as we haue all the best Knights that the Emperour Trebatio hath héere prisoners to beare you company And forth with they carried the prince away from thence who was so angry and furious that it séemed that he felt no wearynesse of the battaile past but rather if all the world were his he would giue it vpon condition that he had on his healme his sword in his hand for to take reuengement of this treason vpon Rodaran So they tooke him put him in to a deepe dungion next the water which was in the second tower wheras the other two knights Rodamarte Rodaseo were who were greatly amazed when they saw the prince Brandizel to be brought in that order thinking that hee had ben ouercome by Rodaran but the prince who knew them very well with the great sorrow and griefe that he receiued when he saw them he gaue them to vnderstand of all that which had happened betwixt him Rodaran of the great treason which the Queene had ordained wherby they were fully perswaded that all the rest of the knights which remained in the court of the emperour Trebatio would be brought thether prisoners if they had not some aduertisment giuen them therof With this thought which grieued them not a liâ—…le these thrée good knights did passe away the time tarryâ—… to sée what fortune would dispose of them And straight waies after that the Quéene Carmania vnderstood who the prince was she sent a damsell of hirs vnto him who did vnarme him caused him to be laid in a bed which was brought thether whereas he was cured with very good comfortable ointments of those great blows which he receiued wher with all his body was full his flesh all to brused whereby was giuen to vnderstand the great contention that was betwixt him Rodaran The squier of the Prince who remained without receiued great contentment when he saw Rodaran retire backwards ready to yéeld the victory hauing lost the sight of both these two Knights when they entred in vnder the second tower he remained ther to vnderstaÌ„d what the end would bée till such time as hée saw Rodaran returne with his sword in his hand who commaunded the gates of the first tower to be opened and being very much amazed because he could not sée his Lord hée ran vnto the gate méeting with Rodaran with a heauie chéere he asked what was become of his Lord To whom Rodaran said he is ouercome hath lost the victory doth remaine prisoner therfore doe thou returne vnto the emperour bid him send other knights such as can better defend themselues then those which he hath sent hetherto for that these doe remaine my prisoners The squier durst not giue him any answere but departed from thence very sorrowfull with great weping he returned vnto Constantinople at such time as the emperour was accompanied with all his princes knights he entred into the great hall wheras they wer ther he declared vnto them the newes and all that had passed with is much sorrow that he was scarce able to tell it vnto them When the Emperour and all that were there present had heard vnderstood the words of the squier they were very much amazed that such a knight as the Prince was should be ouercome by Rodaran but amongst them all the knight of the Sun the Prince Clauerindo were amazed most for they knew very well his great bounty prowesse could not beleeue that it should be true for that ther was not â—… knight in all the world that was sufficient to abate his courage get the victory but the sorrow griefe which euery one of them receiued was such that out of hand they would haue armed themselues for to goe combat with Rodaran but this stout valiant king Sacridoro who was the fourth person that did demand the enterprise did disturbe them of their desire and straight way arose vp from the place wher as he was set and put himselfe before the emperour and asked lisence of him who straight waies did graunt it vnto him saying Ualyant King I pray God grant vnto you the victory agaynst that strong stout pagan deliuer thée from treason for I doe beléeue that y e imprisonmeÌ„t of such knights can not bée without some
it giue anie remidie or ease vnto this great griefe the which I haue for hir cause receiued yet it shall suffice me that another shall not boast himselfe to haue obtained and got that which I haue lost neither any other to reioice himselfe with that which doth cause my sorrow and griefe And although that this shall â—…ée against all reason that Don Siluerio doth dot deserue 〈◊〉 at my hands yet shall it bée comfortable vnto my heart 〈◊〉 that it is so captiue vnto loue it dooth consent vnto no â—…eason Rosicleer in saying these words and other lyke in efâ—…ect after much trauaile hée came vnto the bridge of Iaspe â—…ho straight waies was knowen by Rodaran by the deâ—…se that hée had of Cupid whose great fame and renowne 〈◊〉 that time was spread throughout all Asia more then any Knight therein When hée was armed with his heauie and strong armour hée straight waies mounted vpon one of the biggest and lightest horses that hée had and the Quéene béeing in hir royal seat of estate commanded the gate of the first tower to bée opened wherein this valiant Rosicleer entered without any suspition And when hée drew nigh vnto Rodaran hée dyd salute him and sayde The knight of Cupid and sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio is verie welcome vnto me for that his great fame which flieth throughout all the world of his great and valiant deeds as also the great desire which I haue to prooue his great strength with mine more then the desire that I haue to apprehend the knights of the Emperour hath caused mée for to come hether into these Countries Both the one the other might haue béene excused Rodaran sayde the knight of Cupid for that men beeing in their owne Countries are subiect vnto the blowes of Fortune and haue â—…nough to doo for to cleerâ—… themselues thereof much more to come and seeke the perils and daunger in a straunge Countrie it were much better for thee to haue friends in Greece And if the Quéene oâ—… Carmania doo beare thée so great loue as shée hath published wée would rather procure thy rest and quyetnesse and not thy troubles and trauailes wherein thou doost so much puâ—… thy life in aduenture It had been better excused of thy part saide Rodaran the seeking of the aduenture vnder the water of the Fountaine of Phenicia then my comming hether to séeke the Knights of Grecia but for that both Kinges Princes and Knights are no more but as the world dooth yeeld vnto them honour and promotion for theyr deserued déedes Then it is not much that wée aduenture our liues the more to increase our honours for that according as thou hast saide in all places men are subiect vnto the perills and dangers of this world and vnto the terrible blowes of fortune when shée listeth to strike vs notwithstanding if thou doost pretend to make battayle with mée vpon the occasion which you know choose the aduantage of the bridge to the contentment if not returne back againe from whence thou commest and make no more preaching vnto mée But the answere 〈◊〉 the valiaunt Rosicleer made vnto him was hee turned about his light Horse and put downe the beauer of his helme with his speare in his hand hée went put him selfe at the end of the bridge Rodaran dyd the like beeing both setled they stroke their horsses with so great fury with theyr spurs that they made them run like the winde and in the middest of theyr furious course they made theyr encounter executed the strength of their mightie speares in such sort that glauncing vpon their shéelds they lighted vpon theyr fine harneis and shéeuered all to péeces and the splinters â—…ew a great way into the field yet these two valiant Knights remained as firme in their saddles as though they had made no encounter at all and passed the one by the other without touching and with a trise they returned againe with their Horsses and their swoords in their hands and assaulted one another so stronglie that the first blow that Rodaran stroke at Rosicleer lighted vpon his Healme with so great strength that hée made him decline his head to his breast but the first blow that Rosicleer stroke at him was such a one that the shéeld which hée lift vp for to ward the same was cut in peeces hard by his hand but the fine cutting Swoord of the Queene Iuha not remayning there did descend downe vpon his healme with so great fury and force that hee made him decline his head downe vnto his Horse necke who felt such great griefe with that terrible blow that hée thought verily that all his head had 〈◊〉 in â—…eeces and beâ—…gan to say vnto himselfe Oh high and immortall Gods in whom I and all the Arabians doo béeléeue â—…et héere thy diuine power defend mée from this strong and â—…aliant Knight for if it fall out so that I receiue many such â—…lows as this was it cannot bée otherwise but that needes â—… must héere ende my dayes Oh old King of Gedrosia who â—…ould haue beleeued that I shuld haue found in the Christiâ—… knights so much strength Oh you immortall Gods saue and defende the mightie Emperour of the gran Tartaria that hée come not into this Empire of Greece for to acknowledge prooue the knights of the Emperour Trebatio his Court for that I doo assure you if you come hether that you nor none of yours will returne againe vnto Arabia for that these alone knights are sufficient to destroy you all if that now by my power and force I doo not make resistance and put order for to disturbe them And in saying these words Rodaran with great courage stroke at Rosicleer great mightie blowes who likewise receiued such by the hands of his aduersarie that if it should haue endured long hée must needes haue receiued the worst And hauing great confidence in his mighty strength and in the bignesse of his body determined to assault his aduersarie by proofe thereof and therewith hée threw his Swoord from him and caught Rosicleer in his armes and trauailed with his streÌ„gth all that euer he could for to hoise him out of his saddle or to ouerthrow him to the ground but Rosicleer who was as strong as hée dyd not refuse the wrastling but likewise threw his Swoord from him and caught him béetwixt his strong armes and dyd so stronglie crush him that Rosicleer dyd well perceiue that his determination dyd not fall out as hée thought So in this sort for a good space they trauayled the one to ouerthrow the other but there was no aduauntage perceiued béetwéene them neyther could the one ouerthrow his aduersarie till in the end after gret trauayle they both together dyd force themselues so much clasping theyr knées hard vnto theyr saddle hauing one another in their armes they did so much that both theyr Horsses foundered and fell with theyr masters vnto the ground and being downe for to arise
Prince I doe most hartelye desire you to tell me who these valiant knights be and from whence so excellent a companye should come Then presentlie the knight of the Sunne who did esteeme verye much of him declared vnto him who they were and by what aduenture he had found them there At this time the Emperour and all the rest of the Princes and knights had taken off their â—…elmes and the king Liseo was the gladdest man in all the world and went to kisse the emperours hands saying May it please your soueraigne highnesse to giue your handes to kisse them for that through you I am restored vnto my lost kingdome This high and worthy Emperour did embrace him with great loue so likewise did all the other Princes knights ther passed betwixt theÌ„ many curtâ—…ous words yet for all this was not the royall princesse Claridiana knowen And being desired by the emperour all the other princes knights to giue them vnderstanding who what hée was she straight way pulled off hir helme wheras he dyd discouer hir yeolow haire which was bound vp with a net of gold very richly wonderfullye wrought by reason of hir great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which she receiued in the passed battaile hir colour was somewhat mooued wherwith she shewed so perfect singuler beauty that verily she séemed vnto them all to be rather some diuine creature then any humane person ther was neuer a one there but she séemed vnto them to bee some celestiall thing Then the Emperour and all the rest of the knights that did know hir being as much amazed at hir beauty as to see hir ther at that instant went all vnto hir did welcome hir with great curtesie And the emperour said My Lady mistres this liberty the which I and all these princes knights haue receiued it cannot bee but by the hands of so high a damsell as you are I pray God that we may be able to gratifie you for the same Unto the knight of the Sunne said the Princesse ought you to surrender and giue these thankes for that for him is ordayned and kept the atchiuing of all good aduentures and to giue the finall conclusion of y â— same What might heere be thought of the great ioy and pleasure which this amorous and valiant knight conceiued when that in that time and place hée found himselfe in the presencé of his Lady and mistres hauing seene what shee had done for him beefore hee knew hir Truely this mirth and gladnesse was so much that hée thought all his vnderstanding to bee transported into a celestiall glory whereas the chosen doth remaine and going towards hir he said Your soueraigne beauty may please to giue vnto mee your seâ—…re hands that I may kisse them in acknowledging of the great curtesie which all wee haue receyued by your soueraigne aide and succour and for that all enterprises which I doe take in hand may haue credit it shall be done in your seruice and prayse as I am bound and likewise all good and valyaunt Knights in the world Then the Princesse who receiued great contentment at his words layd hir armes vpon his shoulders and sayd Worthie Prince your politike dealings and excellent bountie sooth so far excell that it is not needefull for mée to expresse the same neyther any other but onely to béehold what is done by your valiant hands heere in this Camp and vnto this there is good witnesse who is the king Liseo and all his knights And passing beetwixt them many other amorous words the Knight of the Sunne dyd tell them all how and by what aduenture hée came thether and all that happened with him after hee departed out of Greece The like dyd the Princesse Claridiana so that all the whole companie vnderstood by what order they were there assembled and ioyned In the meane time that they were in this acknowledging one another those of Lidia were not idle for they minded no other thing but to robbe and destroy all that were in the Tents and Campe of the King of Arcadia and finding there great store of riches and treasure which the king had brought euery one of them did so lade themselues that euer after they remayned very rich and thought their long and great trauaile to bee well employed the end fell out so prosperous vnto them Then the Emperour Trebatio out of hand commaunded that the Quéene Carmania should bée brought béefore him for there should bée no harme done vnto hir who when shée thought verily that Rodaran had béene slayne tare hir haire and dyd such iustice on hir selfe that they thought verily it would bee hir death And asking of them whether the king of Arcadia and Rodaran were aliue or dead they went straight wayes vnto the place whereas they lay a long vppon the ground and commaunded that theyr Healmes should bée pulled off and fresh water to bee throwen vpon their face to refresh them straight wayes they came agayne vnto themselues and when they vnderstood in what estate and perplexity they were all this time their sorrow and griefe was such that they thought it had béene better for them to haue beene slaine then to suffer so great misfortune but when the King of Arcadia dyd lookâ—… about him for his armie and could sée neuer a Knight on his part but those that were slayne and lay in the field with very sorrow and griefe hée thought verely his heart would haue burst Likewise when Rodaran saw all his prisoners at libertie and hée ouercome by one alone Knight the great sorrow and griefe which he receiued could not bée héere expressed and if hee had had his helme and his swoord and on horsebacke hee would haue tarryed there no longer Then strayght wayes the King Lyseo dyd desire all these worthie warriers to repaire vnto the Citie for to refresh themselues and to take their ease who consented vnto his request and went towards the citie and carryed with them theyr prisoners whereas they were receiued of all the Citizens and nobles of all the kingdome that were there present with so great ioy and triumphes that the whole Citie seemed to bée on 〈◊〉 with the great bonefiers other lights which were made in euery streete of the Citie not remembring any of their troubles past So when they came vnto the Queenes pallace who was very wyse and discréete shée receiued them with such courtesie as was requisit to so noble persons whereas they were all vnarmed and recreated with verie swéet waters and oyntments requisit for such hurts and bruses as they had receiued For although theyr armour dyd defend them from wounding yet could not their flesh bée free from bruses by the force of such terrible blowes as they receiued And in especiall the knight of the Sunne in the battaile which hée had with Rodaran and the King of Arcadia although hee estéemed it in nothing with the great contentment and pleasure which hee receiued in seeing
pray you whether I doo sléepe or dreame and whether it bee true this which I doo sée The King did not meruayle much at all this which passed béecause hée dyd very well vnderstand the operation of loue but embracing him he tooke him by the hand and sayde Oh my Lord Rosicleer and perfect friend now I doo sée the great wonders of God and how great his mercie is for that hée dooth forget none that doth put their trust in him for when I was very prosperous in riches high 〈◊〉 estate and accompanied with all my vassalls and subiects and in soueraigne hope for to ouercome and haue that which I most desired straight waies I found my selfe very far from the easement of my griefe and the ende of al my desire separated for that I was ouerthrowen from my estate and all my kingdome destroyed my people ouercome and left desolate without my vassalls and bannished out of mine owne Countrie and throwen out into the world sunke into a lake whereas I found all that which I desire remedie for my sorrow and recouered againe my Kingdome and restored vnto mine owne estate and aboue all things I recouered a good perfect friend of you therefore all affâ—…iction and tribulation in the world God dooth permit it vnto them that hée doth not forget and when they dooe thincke themselues most afflicted and troubled ouerthrowen and brought most low and most without all hope and voyde of all goodnesse at such time with a trise and in a moment they are brought into more higher estate then they were béefore with ioy and prosperitie giuing them occasion for to estéeme and haue in more honour the thing that they most desire and so hath it happened vnto you my good friend Rosicleer for that at such time as thou didst abhorre thy owne lyfe and when thy sorrow and griefe had most gouernement ouer thée and when that all hope of remedie was past and farthest off from thee vppon a sodaine hath come vnto you remedie for all things and in so high order that you your selfe cannot bée léeue it and you doo thinke your selfe vnworthie of that which God hath ordained for you therefore surrender vnto god thanks for the same and gratifie this Damsell for hir great trauaile which shee hath taken for you and doo not â—…ay that it is a dreame or mockage that which wée doo all sée with our eyes At which words of the King Rosicleer came wholie to himselfe and hauing no hart to speake with the great ioy hée receiued hée embraced the King and Fidilia many times and by exteriour tokens and signes hée dyd communicate his pleasure and ioye vnto them Then afterwards Rosicleer demaunded of Fidelia all what had 〈◊〉 by whome hée vnderstoode all that euer shee dyd know of the Princesse Oliuia for there shee made manifest vnto him hir lyfe hir passions and hir cares and all that euer had passed in the Letters and how by them shee vnderstood him to bée Sonne vnto the Princesse Briana and afterward it was published that hée was sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio Likewise shee toulde him the occasion of the writing of the first Letter and the great repentance which she had for the same the great anguish and griefe shee had for Don Siluerio the great good will of the king hir father and the great importance hee vsed also the great 〈◊〉 of the Princesse Oliuia all which when Rosicleer heard hee was as you may iudge of all them that faitfully and truely dooe loue at such time as they are giuen to vnderstand any thing of their best beeloued the which things vnto such as are free from all loue are counted but trâ—…fles and childrens toyes whereas to the contrarie vnto them they are pearles and precious stones Then the King séeing them in this profound and déepe rehearsall tooke him by the hands and sayd My good Lord let all these matters passe for this time and let vs vnderstand that which dooth most accomplish you which is to goe into England whereas you shall vnderstand and know all these matters of the Princesse Oliuia for that I doo perceiue by the long trauayle in the which Fidelia hath gone in seeking of you that you delay the time very long Then Rosicleer as thouâ—…h hée did awake out of a sound sléepe came vnto himselfe and savd Oâ—… high and soueraine Lord and God héere I doo giue infinite thanckes vnto thy holy name for that it hath pleased you to put remedy in the life of this your Knight with this vnlooked for remedie And vnto you my very good friend Fidelia I doo giue great thanks for the great trauaile the which you haue passed and taken in seeking of mée that I may goe comfort and recreate my selfe in the sight and countenance of my Lady and Mistresse And I doo desire of God to graunt mée lyfe that I may gratifie your large pilgrimage which you haue passed â—…n seeking mee And tourning himselfe vnto the King hee sayde Pardon mee I pray you my good Lord these my amorous passions and let vs goe whether your pleasure is to command vs without tarrying any longer So straight wayes they commaunded the knâ—…ghts of Fulmineo to bring before them all the Ladies and damsels that were in all the Castels And béeing brought béefore them they were more then thirtie all very faire and full of sorrow All the which Rosicleer dyd commaund that they should goe and present â—…hemselues béefore the Emperour of Russia in saying that â—…wo 〈◊〉 Knights hath slaine Fulmineo and that they doo â—…urrender and yeeâ—…d vnto him all his Countrie and lands â—…or that Fulmineo hath left no heire And vnto the Damsels â—…ée did giue all such riches as hee found within the Castells â—…nd for to set order in this and in all 〈◊〉 things they tarâ—…ed there that day and that night and for that his desire â—…as so great for to goe into England the night séemed so 〈◊〉 that hee thought the day would neuer haue apeared So the next day at such time as the Sunne did scarce appeare when they were armed with their rich bright armour and mounted vpon their good horses these two valyant knights and perfect friends went forth of the castle and in their company the damsell Fidelia leauing a good Knight which was Fulmineos in the gard and kéeping of the Castle and all the rest till such time as the Emperour of Russia dyd commaund his pleasure to bée done with them So all they together tooke their right way towards the sea whereas they might embarke themselues for England where the historie dooth leaue them til time dooth serue So the Ladies and damsels of Fulmineo went béefore the Emperour declared vnto him the embassage of the knights of all that euer had passed for the which hée receiued great ioy pleasure meruailed greatly that one alone knight had slayne Fulmineo was very sorrowfull for the departure of those two knights
hir selfe Then the king knowing hir will mind to be contrary vnto his pretence commanded hir to be put into a tower alonely in the company of hir damsels commanded that none should either see or speake with hir beléeuing that therby she would reclaime hir selfe yéeld vnto his request In the meane time the prince Don Siluerio made ready put in order all that was requisite néedefull for those feastes with so great expenses now inuentioâ—…s as neuer the like hath beâ—… seene for that this was one of the most riches princes in all the world had brought with him more then fiftie thousand knights into England amongst them were such that they thought that in all the world was not their equals These were the great triumphs and feaâ—…ts that were told vnto Rosicleer the king Sacridoro in the ship whereas they came passengers all the which they beléeâ—…ed to be as Fidelia had told vnto them with the great desire that Rosicleer had to méete with Don Siluerio he thought to be very slow the swift course sailing of thâ—… ship as though she did not moue out of the place So in this sort the ship did nauigate a leauen daies in the end wherof they ariued in a port of Scotland which was a prouince of England disiâ—…barking themselues they gaue great thanks vnto them which came with them in the ship for their good conuersation they tooke their leaue of them departed all alone it was consented betwéene them that Fidelia should goe before and giue vnderstanding vnto the princesse Oliuia of their comming and afterwards finding hir conformable vnto their will they would determine what was best to bée done ¶ How Fidelia went to the Prince Oliuia and gaue hir vnderstanding of the comming of Rosicleer Chapter 57. AS you haue heard before it was concluded betwéene the two knights that Fidelia should goe before vnto the Citie of London for to carry newes vnto the princesse Oliuia of thâ—… comming of Rosicleer to vnderstand the estate of all things So she tooke hir leaue of them departed on hir tourney they two remained in a monestary of religious men which was foure miles from London in great confusion not knowing how to determine themselues in these matters that they stoode them so much vpon seeing with what great hast they did prouide all things necessary for those triumphs feasts the celebrating of y e mariage of the princesse Oliuia for that within foure daies the time would bée expired of the two moneths which were appointed as it was told theÌ„ of many that they ouertoke going vnto the triumphs And Rosicleer hearing the same was so full of anguish in hart that he seemed like a foole furious from himselfe would neither eate nor drinke neither all that euer the king Sacridoro could say or doo was sufficient for to appease him many times he did arme himselfe and would haue taken his horse for to goe and seeke the prince Don Siluerio and wheresoeuer he had found him to haue slâ—…ine him but by the great wisedome and gouernment of the king by force and against his will hée did stay and detaine him alwaies putting before him the ill successe that would proceede in doing the same and how that hée might therein bring himselfe into a meruailous perplexitie and bee an occasion that the princesse Oliuia shall bee put wheras hee shall neuer sée hir Likewise y t he should consider how Fidelia was gone to speake with the princes Oliuia that it was not good till such time as she had sent hir answere giuen vs to vnderstand hir purpose not to giue any attempt With which pâ—…rswasions Rosicleer staiâ—…d himsâ—…lfe although very sorrowfull and without any contentment or hope of remedy He did abide the returne of Fidelia the answere she should bring from hir ladye the princesse Who when she came vnto the citie of London she went vnto the great pallas whereas she found not the princes but it was told hir how that the king had commanded hir to be caried into a strong tower wheras no bodie could neither see hir nor speak with hir but only two damsels who did serue hir without opening any doore to any body all such things as was necessary for hir was drawen vp at a window This tower was scituated vpon a high rock very strong nygh vnto a very broad déepe riuer walled round about And the king kept the keies therof for that he would that none should enter in therat for to visit the Princes for that she seeing hir selfe so solitary in so great straightnes would be the occasion that she would yéeld hir selfe vnto mariage to doo all that the kings pleasure was to command hir although it were all onely for to be cléere of so straight solitary life So when Fidelia came vnto the gates of the tower saw that they were shut she knocked at a ring that hong therat till such time as a damsell whom she did know very will did looke out at a window who when she knew Fidelia being very much amazed to sée hir she said What hath ben become of you my sister Fidelia that in so long time you haue not come to visit the princes our mistresse for that your absence hath grieued hir very much and hath thought long for your comming To whom Fidelia answered said my good friend I haue ben all this time in Scotland in my mothers house for that I was very sick till now she would neuer let me depart from hir Then the other damsell said if you doo meane to come in hether you must goe vnto the king for that he hath the keies of the tower Then Fidelia very heauy when she heard these newes she would stay ther no longer but went vnto the kings pallas And entring into his chaÌ„ber finding him all alone she knéeled downe before him and kisâ—…ed his hands Then the king when he knew hir he was very glad ioyful of hir comming said my friend Fidelia wher haue you ben so long that you haue not come to sée vs vnto whom shée said in Scotland with my parentes héere I doe desire your highnesse to pardon me For that by reason of a great infirmitie which my father had was the occasion that I haue deteyned my selfe so long haue not come to acknowledge my duetie seruice vnto the princesse my lady mistresse Thou art welcome said the king héere I doe desire thée to goe see the princesse to declare vnto hir the great benefit which will come vnto hir in taking for husband the prince Don Siluerio And ther the king did declare vnto hir all that was appointed to be done for that he had hir in reputation for hir grauitie wisdome and thought that the Princesse would giue more credit vnto hir words then vnto any other Then Fidelia who
and if hée did come see me hauing my perfect remembrance my pleasure contented ioy should be such that in all things I should thinke my selfe happy if death did take me in Rosicleers armes Lady saide Fidelia let all such matters passe and let vs be diligent in that which is most conuenient to reserne the life of you and Rosicleer and to make all things sure for that which is to come for with death you can put small remedy in that which is past Ah my Fidelia said the Princesse one euill béeing past another is come doo you not sée this my close kéeping and how fast my Father hath mée in this tower that of a thousand other damsells I cannot bée seene And aboue all this hée hath promised vnto Don Siluerio that within these foure daies hée will marry mée vnto him and deliuer mée in his power to lead my life with him therefore my good friend imagine with your selfe what is best to bee done in this my great trouble for that I know not what I should say Fidelia likewise was at hir wittes end not knowing what was best to bée done for that the tower whereas they were was so strong and the windowes of so great height that it was not possible for any to enter into the tower except it were by the gate So that both of them passed away the day in great confusion and likewise the night without sleeping any whit at all but talking and imagining what was best to bée done in that so dangerous and perillous a case How Fidelia departed from the Court and went to speake with rosicleer at the Monasterie wheras shee left him Chapter 58. WHen the next morning was come Fidelia said vnto the princesse that forasmuch as beetwixt them two they could finde no remedie how and by what meanes Rosicleer might come and speake with hir that if it were hir pleasure shee would goe vnto the place whereas shée left them sée if they could determine some meanes for to disturb this that the king did determine to doo with Don Siluerio set hir at liberty out of that secret bondage The which counsaile séemed very good vnto the Princesse and commaunded hir presently to goe foorth and put it in vre But how is it possible to go forth the king hauing y e keyes of the tower Feare not for this said Fidelia for I haue good remedy for the same And in saying this she went vnto a window and séeing an ancient man thát passed vp downe calling him vnto hir she bad him to come nigh vnto the tower and said vnto him Good man for gods loue I do desire thée to do so much for me as to go vnto the king to tell him that Fidelia the damsell of the Princesse Oliuia would speake with him about certayne matters which dooth accomplish very much hir highnesse that I would desire him to commaund the gate of the tower to bée opened that I may come foorth This ancient man tooke his leaue of hir promised to performe hir request So he went vnto y e king and declared the message of Fidelia who wheÌ„ he heard it was very glad and ioyfull beeléeuing that it was concerning that which he had sayd vnto hir deliuered the keyes vnto his chamberlaine who was a very honest old man and commanded him to go to open the tower gate that Fidelia might come out Then the chamberlaine did as hée was commanded Fidelia tooke hir leaue of the Princesse went vnto the king and taking him on the one side somwhat a part shée sayd Soueraigns Lord you shall vnderstand that I haue got the victorie of the princesse shée sayth that seeing it is your pleasure shée is very wel content to marry with the prince Don Siluerio and if she hath not hetherto consented the occasion hath ben hir yong tender age and also considering the great wars which is looked for shée knew not how God would dispose with hir husband for that hée is a young and very couragious by reason wherof he would put himselfe wheras should bée the greatest peril and danger At which words the king receiued so great contentment that hee sayde vnto Fidelia There is nothing in the world that doeth so much content mée for to marry hir against hir will would bée a griâ—…uous corsiue vnto my hart and therewith hée cast his armes about hir neck and embraced hir and gaue hir great thanks for hir trauaile therein and promised hir for hir paines taken to marry hir very honourably If it please your highnesse sayd Fidelia the Princesse my Lady willeth mée to goe vnto the Monastery of Nuns that is twelue miles froÌ„ this Citie to commÌ„aund them to make certaine workes which shee hath great neede of Let it bee done in Gods name sayd the King goe thy wayes and God send thee good speede And heerwith Fidelia tooke hir leaue of the king very ioyfull and shee beeing gone the king presently sent for don Siluerio and when hee came hee sayde vnto him how the Princesse was content to bee married vnto him and that all things should bée made readie for the marriage But when the prince don Siluerio heard that newes there was no ioy and pleasure in the world that might bee compared vnto his and béeing proud with the same hée went and gaue all his knights vnderstanding therof and presently it was published throughout all the Citie for the which they were very ioyfull and the preparation for the feasts and triumphs went forwarde more then it dyd beefore Then Fidilia who in all this time dyd not sleepe but in great hast trauayled towards the monasterie whereas shee left the two knights and at hir comming thether Rosicleer receiued hir with great pleasure for hée thought euerie houre hée trauailed to bée a whole yéere And when shee had declared vnto him the whole estate of all things and of the great ioy which the Princesse receiued for his comming one way hée was very ioyfull for that his Lady shewed him so great loue and another way hée was in great confusion not knowing what order might bée taken for to deliuer his Lady and mistresse out of that great perplexitie in the which shée was brought with the which shée was brought with the marriage of the prince Don Siluerio but in the ende after great debating beetwéene them the king Sacridoro who receiued as great griefe for the sorrow of his friend as though it had been vnto himselfe My good Lord and friend that which I can say is this that for these and such like attempts god did ordaine knights in the world for to surpasse others and so likewise to bee in greater perâ—…ls for to doo such things that should séeme to surpasse and exceede nature and to appeare straunge vnto others for if the lustaining of perils were equall in all degrees then for very little should serue the extremitie of knights for that they should not finde
manner as you shall quickly sée in such sort that if there be any knight that in part and defence of the Princesse Lindabrides did enter into battaile with the Prince Meridian and ouercome him that the same knight should possesse the place of the Prince and for the space of two months defend and maintaine the beautie of this Princesse in thy Court. And if it so fall out hée bée not ouercome by any nother knight that theÌ„ hee shall haue for spouse the faire Princesse Lyndabrides and shall bée successour with hir in the great Empire of Tartaria and hee that shall ouercome the other and make hir defence for the space of two months shal haue the like And to the contrary if the Prince Meridian after that hée hath trauailed throughout all the kingdomes and prouinces of thy Empire is not ouercome but doth maintaine still the victorie that then hée should bée sworne for Prince and euerlasting successour of the whole Empire So that in this sort and for this occasion they came vnto your Empire And after that the Prince Meridian had trauayled through some kingdomes and ouercome many Princes and knighis the diuine gods did permit them at length to meete with a knight of so much bountie and force that entering into battaile with the Prince hee got the victorie and dyd ouerthrow him from his horse to the ground with one blow with his sword that hée gaue him and that béeing done hée entered into his place and béeing readie with the Princesse to come hether to this thy court they first determined to send vs hether vnto you from them wée should desire to kisse your Emperiall hands and to request you that you would accept and receiue their comming in good part for that their intension is for no other thing but to serue you This is onely our comming hether therefore your pleasure may bée to consider héereof and to giue vs our aunswere The Emperour and the Empresse and all those which heard what the Gyants had sayd very much meruailed at so straunge an aduenture and the Emperour did not let to thinck within himselfe that possiblie the knight which dyd ouercome the Prince Meridian should bée the knight of the Sunne his great friend for whom hée looked euery day and did very much meruaile at his long tarrying whom hée loued with no lesse good wil then if hée had knowen him to bée his sonne and was very desirous to know of the Gyaunts what signes tokens hée had and the deuise vpon his sheeld and armour but hée could not learne of theÌ„ by any means for that they were willed béefore that they should not tell him For the knight of the Sunne was determined to enter into the Court vnknowen and dyd call himselfe the knight of the Chariot Then the Emperour arose vp from the place whereas hée sat for to giue answere vnto the Gyaunts of their Embassage and sayd Friends you may declare vnto your Lady the Princesse Lyndabrides and vnto the knight that doth come with hir that the Princesse and I receiue great pleasure for their comming into this Countrie and wee shal deeme it no small courtesie that they wil come vnto this court at what time so euer their pleasure is and I promise you héere shall bee done vnto them all the seruice wee can although it will not bée sufficient for so high and mighty a Lady And héere with the Giants tooke their leaue of the Emperour and the Empresse and retourned vnto the Princesse declaring vnto hir and the knight of the chariot the whole answere of the Emperour who decréede the next day to enter in Gonstantinople When the night was past they did the day following that which shall bée tould you in the next Chapter Of the entering of the knight of the Chariot and the faire Princesse Lyndabrides into Constantinople Chapter 25. YOu remember the great feasts triumphs which the Emperour Trebatio commanded to bée published not onely in the Grecian Empire but also in other kingdomes lands and Prouinces adioyning there vnto and of the safe conduct that he gaue vnto al knights as wel Pagans as Christians that wold come vnto him Now the Historie saith that when the time drew nigh that these feasts and triumphs shuld bée celebrated ther were so many knights gathered together as wel strangers as naturals y t they could not bée all reciued into y e great citie but that the Emperour was constrained to commaund to arme a great number of Tents in the fielde wherein were lodged verie many Knights and neuer in Grecia vntill that day was séene so great gallant a number of knights together for that the most part of all them that came vnto those feasts were knights of estimation and armed very richle and the mightie Emperour héereat receiued great delight and dyd shew vnto them great liberalitie in such ample sort that they all greatly meruailed and said that hée was the mightiest Prince in the whole earth So these feasts béeing béegun ther was one day in the great place of Constantinople meruaylous iustings and full of armed Knights and all the windowes and galleries were replenished with people And those which that day dyd best béehaue themselues was Artidoro Prince of Candia and Alpino Lord of Scicilia and Dardante Prince of Dalmatia but they which more then all these dyd shew themselues gallant and stout were Rodomarte Prince of Sardenna and Rodafeo Lord of the Iland of the Rhodes who had ouerthrowen so manie Knightes that day that all people did thinck verily they would carrie away the price of the iust thée which was very rich which the Emperour dyd ordayne and apoint for them who most worthiest and stoutest dyd béehaâ—…e themselues in those triumphes The mightie Emperour Trebatio the Princesse Briana was at a window of their great Pallace béeholding those iustes with very great ioye and contentment to sée such a number of glistring Knights as were in that great place and at such time as they were in the chiefest of the iustes and most hottest with all their force and vigor vpon one side of the place there beganne amongst the people a great â—…umult or wondering straight way they heard a noyse and sound of Trumpets wtih so great violence and force that it made houses to tremble in such sort that one could not heare another what was spoken So after that the Trumpets had left sounding they heard Musicke of sundrie Instruments whose melodie was so Heauenly and sweet that all those which heard it thought they had béene rauished in their sences and the noise of that Musicke was so loude that it might bée heard throughout all the whole place At which sodaine and swéet noyse all the people tourned theyr eyes that way whereas they saw entering into the great place a number of Damsells mounted vpon Unicornes meruailous richly apparailed so that euerie one of them séemed to bée a Quéene and they entered in order in two
rankes and each of them had in theyr handes an Instrument wherewith they made that swéet and concordant Musicke Straight after them they saw comming in the triumphaunt Chariot the fayre Princesse Lyndabrides with hir Damsells and the twelue Gyaunts béefore them who came with so great a maiestie and soueraigntie that it put straunge admiration in all them that did beehold it and this faire Princesse and the knight of the Chariot were set in their Chaires vnder those triumphant â—…rkes and at theyr féet sat the sixe Quéenes with crowens of golde vpon their heads but when the soueraigne fayre princesse was well séene noted of all it séemed wonderfull vnto them Likewise they saw the Knight of the Sunne armed with that fayre and rich armour of the Prince Meâ—…idian and his helme vpon his head because hée would not be knowen of the Emperour hée put them in great admiratiâ—…n In this sort dyd this triumphant Chariot passe through the great place till such time as they came vnder the windowes wheras the Emperour and the Empresse were where the Dwarfes did stay the Vnicornes that did draw the chariot and being right ouer against one another by reason that the chariot was very high and the window wherin the Emperour stood was very low The faire Princesse and y e knight of the Chariot did arise vp froÌ„ their seates and made reuerence vnto the Emperour and the Empresse who with no lesse curtesie did receiue them shewing great pleasure and delight for their comming And returning all foure they sat theÌ„selues downe againe into their places wher there passed béet wixt them many words of conference wherein was vsed great reuerence and câ—…rtesie and héerewith they departed and passed forwards and the triumphant Chariot was put on the side of that great court wheras all the Damseuls did alight from their Vnicornes and went vnto the chariot and the Gyants did put the Vnicornes in the nether part of the chariot and likewise their horses theÌ„ all the foure twenty Gyants placed themselues round about the chariot to gard and kéepe the same put all the people in feare at their furious countenaunces and straight way one of them tooke a Letter of parchment which had the seales of the Emperour Alicandro and read it out aloud that all people might well heare it did declare the forme of all that aduenture and the great promise and preferment which the Emperour had graunted vnto him that did defend the beautie of the Princesse Lyndabrides for the space of two moneths in the court of the Emperour Trebatio When hée had made an ende of reading thereof and that this aduenâ—…ur was well vnderstood many of those most estéemed Knights were very ioyfull and tooke great pleasure therein euery one thinking in himselfe to haue his part therein and thought long till such time as they might proue themselues with the knight of the chariot who tarried not long but did giue them â—…ul satisfaction of their desire for that as soone as the letter was read two of those Gyants dyd bring foorth his Horse Cornerino very richly trimmed in such sort as hée was brought fâ—…orth for y e Prince Meridian at whose sight they not a little meruaile and the knight of the Sun making great reuerence vnto the Princesse descended froÌ„ the chariot and lept on horseback béesides his mighty proportion the great beauty and riches of his armour and of the saddle and all other trappings necessaryes belonging to his Horse he was a spectacle for all the Knights that were in that place taking a speare in his hand hée went put himselfe in place wheras the iusts were made with such gallant demeanour gentle disposition that béefore they saw him strike a blow with speare or sword they all iudged him to bee of great bounty and strength and to bée a knight of woonderfull estimation and price hée was not well setteled in his place of iust with his horse Cornerino when there came béefore him a big and well proportioned knight who amongst all the Greeks was had in greatest estimation this was the stout Alpino Lord of the Iland of Lemos who had done that day many déedes of Knighthood and haing both of them theyr Speares in theyr hands one of the Gyaunts of the Chariot dyd sound a Trumpet at which sound these two knights did béegin to mooue themselues one against the other and with the great â—…wiftnesse of the Horse Cornerino it séemed in a moment they ioyned togethr This strong A lpino who thought to â—…aue part of that precious Ladie by the great force and strength of the encounter which hée receiued lost the sadâ—…le of his Horse and found him along the ground lying so â—…uill intreated therewith that hée tooke his spéech from him â—…or a great season and the knight of the chariot passed forwardes in his course so vpright in his Saddle béefore as â—…hough hee had made no encounter The Emperour and all â—…e rest that were in that assembly were amazed to see that â—…ighty Alpino ouerthrowen but yet in a short time they 〈◊〉 more at the knight of the Sun had him in greaâ—…r estimation for that presently there came against him to 〈◊〉 Artidoro Prince of Candia Alfonte Lord of Sicilia and 〈◊〉 Prince of Dalmatia called Dardante the two Princes 〈◊〉 and Rodafeo the valyantest of all the Gréekes all which hée dyd ouerthrow to the ground at the first encounter not one of them did once moue him in his saddle To conclude that day hee did ouerthrow all knights that came to the iust against him which were to the number of more then fiftie as well strangers as naturals of the Empire of Grecia and the like hee did to all them that came against him in eight dayes following and in some dayes hée dyd ouerthrow more then an hundreath and there was not one that dyd abide him the second encounter So that the great Chiualrie and worthie déedes of Kighthoode of the knight of the Sunne was manifest in the court of the mightie Emperour Trebatio and hée knew not what to say but that the Knight of the Chariot was the best Knight in all the world and that hée had made more strength then any humane creature and the Emperour Trebatio who had continually his minde vppon his friend the Knight of the Sunne was in a great doubt for that hée could not heare any newes of him and it séemed vnto him that the Knight of the Chariot dyd resemble him very much as well in proportion as in his great strength which hée saw in him and could not by any meanes perswade with himselfe but hée should bée the same but yet hée had great credite and was fully resolued that if it were his friend hée would not but make himselfe knowen for the great friendshippe that was béet wixt them In the same time the precious and soueraigne Princesse Lyndabrides was very ioyefull to 〈◊〉 the mightie