ease to graunt the marriage of the princesse his daughter And because there was no likelyhood by that meane to obtaine her by force he minded after his returne to haue the Lady and this Mauspasian said that the Sophie had disclosed to him But all would not giue credit to his spéeches for many resisted to doo as he commanded thus vrging the contrary that séeing they found the Christian religion good and profitable to their consciences as also the saluation of their soules séeing likewise their king had caused them to vndertake that religion and beléefe and since had giuen them no commaund to the contrary the present Gouernour being but a deputie ought not constraine them to forgoe the religion but the same king might do it when he should be present Beside what once he had so fréely granted and established could not so suddenly displease him to the preiudice of his people for as they did owe loyaltie and fidelitie to their prince by submission which they voluntarilie made to his power so are all princes bound againe toward their people to guarde defend and kéepe them by his power and to entertaine them vnder the obedience and assurance of conuentions made betweene them and the laws of the land Upon this debate rose many perticuler quarrels and partialities betwéene such as had auouched Christianitie and them that continued idolaters to their false Gods who hauing chosen the Prince Mâ—uspasian for theyr head and gouernour withdrew themselues to their houses and forciblie would depriue them of the other part of theyr houses and possessions whereby is nowe growne in Persia a ciuill warre the most straunge and cruell that euer was For betweene the inhabitants of on selfe same kingdome hath alreadie beene séene sundry bloodie battels where on each side are slaine many Christians and Pagans especially two most signall and markable persons one on the coast of Tyrisir where the Christians by the prowesse and valiancie of the braue knight Ariodant wun the day and draue the Infidels in disorder the other neere the cittie of Tauris where the Pagans had ioyned with their forces the ayde of the Medes Syrians Aâ—â—irians and Arabes compelled the christians to flye the field with great losse of their men to make themselues strong in the citties of Tauris Susa and diuers other townes beside where they are at this instant begirt with very sharpe siedge So despairing of theyr former trust in God the valiant prince Ariodant determined secretlie to leaue the cittie of Tauris where hee was Generall of the Christians accompanyed onely with twelue chosen knights among whom I was one to go require ayde of the Emperour of Constantinople against the Pagans with promise to subiect to the Christian Empire all the whole Monarchie of Persia. As we were on the way to effect our voyage by ill hay we met about a league hence a troupe of Pagans consisting of about three hundred men all well appointed and knights of marke who hauing pitched theyr pauillions in a medowe that butted harde vppon our way we quickly were descryed vnto them and knowing by our Enâ—ignes as also the badge of the crosse which all of vs bare open in our armes that we were Christians they cryed aloud that we should passe no further without speaking to theyr prince and conducter who was the puisâ—ant king of Thuris named Adylas and was there in a very â—ayre large lion minding to vnderstand what we were that hee might make further enquiry of the Perâ—â—an warre Now albeit this rude summons was greeuous to vs yet we durst not refuse to go speake with the king Adylas perswading our selues that although he was a Pagan yet would 〈◊〉 be no enemie to vs as wee were aduertised a daye before beeing in quest of his coosen germaine the king of Phez one of the hardyest knights in the world He questioned with vs concerning the affayres of Persia wherein the prince Ariodant truly answered him as also both what hee and wee were with the present occasion of our iourney wherevpon hee would arrest and detayne vs as prisoners a thing very yrkesâ—me to vs and which we were not able to endure but more gladly would loose our liues then see our selues captiue in our enemies hands and subiected to their wils Heerevpon wee fell to our best endeuour that our foes might get no aduantage of vs and in such sorte did wee defend our selues that twentie of them were layd dead on the ground before any of vs sustayned any iote of harme Which when the king Adylas perceiued immediatly hee put himselfe in armes and hauing assembled all his people assayled vs so fiercely that six or seauen of my companions were slaine outright the other taken prisoners and my selfe escaped in such plight as you now beholde mee but the prince Ariodant I hope is fled like wise Thus heare yee sir Knight the estate of my misfortune for releefe wherein and to reuendge my iniurie receiued I desire that wee might haue one bought more with them assuring yee for certaintie that whatsoeuer my harme alreadie is yet could I imploye and bestirre my selfe a fresh but I see wee shall be so feeble that all our courage will bee but friuolous and vayne and accounted as cowardise The wounded Knight hauing thus spoken presently fell into a swoune which greatly greeued Gerileon who did his best to helpe him and hauing ransacked his golden bottle wherein the Nimphe Olympia brought him the precious vngents that healed his woundes receiued from the Polyppe he got out a little which he applied to the knights wound when soone after hee felt himselfe of more able disposition and this beeing doone how they resolued yee shall read heereafter CHAP. 13. Of the aduentures that happened to the knights Gerileon and Taffinor and how after they had slaine Argontes and ten or twelue of the best Knights in the hoste of Adylas Gerileon went and tooke the king himselâ—e and of the conference they had together THe daye after the Persian knight had recounted all his aduenture to Gerileon according as ye haue read in the former Chapter they departed from the Polyppes Den to goe combate with Adylas and his people and albeit imminent death stood before theyr eyes yet could nothing withdrawe them from such a daungerous enterprise as not the intreats of Phynander and the fayre Orphisa who by many meanes laboured to diswade them to the contrary For the Fayrie knight euermore resolued not for dread of death to let slip any opportunitie when he might combate or performe any generous act whence might growe fame and reputation the onely wadges for a man of valour and vertue And as for the Persian knight it was such despight to him to bee vanquished that as a man hâ—lfe desperate an hundred times he wished the fatall death so he might in any sort reuenge the shame and iniurie doone him then feare of death was no matter for him to stand vppon In this enflamed desire taâ—ing their leaue
he cannot liue without ye as hauing caused his people to change their religion to take away the former allegation of refusall he is departed long since from his kingdome and commeth in person into this country only to require ye once more in marriage when if he be denied he meanes to carry ye hence wherof it behoues ye to take héed for he will doe his vttermost which ye must perswade your selfe will proue no little matter But I hope my Lady Ozyris will assiâ—t ye wiâ—h such good councell as in the end ye shall escape the hands of this tyrant who to speake sâ—oth beareth ye entire earnest affection But soone after when once he might glut himselfe with the swéetnes of your loue and fauours he will so hate and setâ—e his heart agaynst you as the most foule woman in the world shall be more fayre and amiable in his eye then 〈◊〉 such is the nature of this barbarous king Now while hee trauailes in vaine about these affayres he shall one day sée himselfe depriued of Crowne and Scepter which he will take from him whom he seekes to rob of his greatest good for this effect Sée héere alreadie his kingdome troubled and deuided for you must note that all the people in his realme are reuolted one against another because some are good and true Christians and others onely gouerned by frenzie fearing that their king will renye his Christianitie by force of armes seeke to reduce the rest to their former religion which beeing vnable to compasse such venemous hatred and despight is kindled amongst them as hee must hope of another remedie for so great an euill but euen a new mutation of the kingdom and gouernment which will so come to passe in very short while For your knight who is arriued heere but lately since shall prooue to be their new Lord and king after he hath somewhat more trauailed and suffered for the same Then when he hath brought all into quiet and gathered the people vnder his obeysance the destenies who will not staye his course from better fortunes in a place so straunge and with so few exploits of his vertue and prowesse shall fill his sailes to more high desires especially the incomparable loue he beareth you and extreame affection in him to let you sée by effects the seruice hee hath vowed to your diuins beautie this shall make him for some while abandon this famous Monarchie for euer to continue in dooing déedes of vertue laudable and worthie of great admiration During which pursuite these people being againe reuolted he shall send hither a strong and valiant knight who with great paine and trauaile shall once more bring these mutinous rebels vnder his awe and obedience his name by reason of his generous acts and braue enterprises shall be knowne from this part to the other side of the Pole yea hee shall bee so redoubted and feared as the verye hardiest shall tremble to heare him spoken of In this time the Sophie transported with amourous affections not able to compasse his desseignes and enterprises will vnfortunately end his dayes as your selfe in time shall perfectlye beholde You tell me meruayles answered the princesse but yet yee shewe me not where the knight is according to your former promise of whom though I was desirous to heare yet should I be much more pleased so behold him Lady quoth the Nimphe it is as necessarie for yee to knowe all these things as it is expedient for you to sée him because I am assured both the one and other is agreeable to yee Looke now then on this Orientall region which is called Persia of Perseus the sonne to Iupiter and fayre Danae daughter to Acrisius king of the Argiues according as poeticall fables testifie Regard I pray ye how many thousand armed men are heere asseâ—bled euen for the occasion so lately expressed See this famous Cittie called Tauris neighbour to the Medes a people not long since spoken of behold how it is besieged by the Persian pagans vnder the conduct of a young foole named Mauspasian brother to the Sophie hee that hath caused all this warre behold into what extremitie these poore Christians are brought that are within the Cittie they haue nothing left but bread and wine to preserue life withall and within these fewe dayes they were constrained to â—éede vppon the flesh of their horsses which was openly solde in the butcheries of this faire goodly cittie yet will they not for all this yeeld to theyr enemies or forsake their religion but trusting in succour from aboue because else-where they cannot expect anye rather desire héere to finish their liues miserablie Sée the other goodlie Cittie of Susa almost in the same necessitie looke on distressed Ariodant the prop and sole comforte of the Christians who by flight escaped the hands of Adylas king of Thunis that would haue slaine him by treason because he refused to yéeld him selfe prisoner On this other side beholde the braue minded knight Taffinor who halfe dead by good hap fell into your knights company and he healing him of a mortall wound vndertakes to reuenge the iniurie doone him by the traitour Adylas O inestimable and not to bee comprehended curtesie of so braue a knight Sée I pray ye with what deuoyre he begins to pursue this vengeance see Argontes the fauourits of king Adylas dead on the ground vnder his horsse slaine by the valiant right hand of this renowmed knight with many other of his complices the most apparaâ—t and best knights in the host of Adylas Not contented heerewith note with what fierce hardinesse hee assayles the mightie pagan euen within his Tents notwithstanding he is accompanied with three or foure hundred knights of name and marke euen the men of greatest valour in all the kingdome It will not be long before a hot and dangerous fight happen betweene them from which Adylas shall not escape by my aduise so well as he weeâ—eth Thus spake the fayre Nimphe and euermore as shee discoursed shewed all these things vnto the princesse who was so ioyfull seeing her knight represented to the life as shee forgot to vse any more questions and albeit the figure of him was very little yet I thinke no tongue can expresse no pen can set downe neither hath any heart the power to comprehend the surpassing câ—ntentment she enioyed at this instant The historie reporteth it to bee so great that she wept with conceit of ioy and loosing all countenance so far forgat her selfe that she offered to run and embrace him in her armes yea to salute him with a sweete kisse but her labour was in vaine as well in regarde that the workmanship and visâ—on of all these things were not to bee touched by humaine creatures as also because the fayre Nimphe hindered her and would not permit her to come neere it Ouer and beside all the former representations she shewed her the dead figure of the Sauage Polyppe recounting the wonderfull combats Gerileon had
such an exceeding cleerenes and light as dooth the Moone when she is in hir fullest perfection He sometimes wun it from a great and puissant king of Assiria whome he had conquered in combate that for the prize of victorie had set his kingdome against a part of Persia but after the conquest he released him and in recompence of such wonderfull courtesie the Assâ—â—ian gaue him this Helmet which he estéemed more then all his good Héere vpon the Sophie did vsuallie weare it when he went in any notable or signall expedition and especiallie when he had any occasion to trauaile by night about any affaires of importance as this which now he had vndertaken leauing his kingdome in weake and poore estate through diuersitie of religions which there he suffered And this oftentimes is cause of the intire ruine and desolation of the very greatest Monarchies and common-wealths yet left he the rule to one of his bretheren a young man voyd of experâ—â—nce in such high affayres And albeit hee was apt to armes and a good knight in triall of his person yet had hee not sence and vnderstanding to gouerne the helme of so huge a vessell as was the monarchie of Persia. Thus was the Sophie not assured of his suffiencie and but that his head was troubled with amorous conceits he would not haue reposed any such trust in him but let it be he did it by indisâ—retion or else for more assurance of his secret departure not thinking his voyage would be so long as afterward it prooued suffice it he did not wisely as you shall perceiue by the discourse following in the historie Hauing committed this poore kinde of order to his very greatest affaires he departed in equipage as ye haue heard riding many dayes and nights together vnder cléerenes of his meruailous shining helmet without finding any aduenture worthy the writing and passed thorow diuers Citties of his owne kingdom vnknowne of any one and made such quick expedition as he came to the vtmost merge of Persia where finding a Barque readie to depart in few dayes hee landed in the desert of Arabia and from thence by great trauayle not without enduring sundrie hazards and perrils on the way he reached the countrey of Palestine still carryed on with the inward remembrance of his loue as he little regarded whether he rode right or wrong Being thus arriued in this countrey he entred into a Forrest thick beset with trées which contained many miâ—es both in length and breadth wherein he had not ridden any long while but he met two pilgrimes conferring together the one of them being young of age and endued with very singuler beautie for his haire was yellow like wyers of gold and the prettie downe on his chéekes and chin was of the same couler in his face like wise stood the liuely couler of the Rose his stature was neither great nor smal but indifferent euery way his broad haâ— was garnished with Scallop shels round about and Medialles of gold and siluer intermingled with little pilgrime stones of Iuorie very artificially framed his Cassock and hose was of fine linnen cloth and at his girdle hung a little bottle wherein hee had both wine and water according as he had occasion to vse them and in his hand a staffe piked at both the ends The other pilgrime was an old man the haire of whose head and heard was of reddish couller grizâ—led among with many white haires his visage drie and withered and tand with blacknesse almost like a Moore flat nosed the tooth standing in his head very vgly to behold of very euill fauour was he and disposition his stature was grosse and short big bulkt before downe to the girdle and on his back arising mountaine his garments were of old besmered lether all ragged and torne and his hat in stéed of shels was garnished with skales of some young Tortoise his Medailles were of saffronned lead where among stood little staues of the bones of dead beasts The Sophie drawing néere them saluted them very courteouslie and addressing his spéech to the younger man demanded of whence he was whether he went and wherfore he was disguised in that sort considering that his countenance deliuered him to be a man of other qualitie then his garments made shew of and if I be not deceiued sayd the Sophie you are discended of some noble linage and are a man likewise of no meane valour Sir answered the pilgrime if ye will somewhat slack the pace of your horsse and withholding his bridle make him goe according as we do if likewise ye will vouchsafe such patience as to heare my discorsiue answere to all your questions I shall satisfie ye concerning the matters enquired and beside acquaint yee with other things whereat yee will not a little meruaile Beléeue me said the Persian king I am very well contented and I thinke my horsse would gladly ease his pace awhile then the pilgrime thus began My Lord because I perceiue both by your wordes and behauiour that you are a man more accustomed to commaund then obey I would intreat yee not to be offended if talking familiarlie with yee perhaps I haue indiscréetly said that to listen what I conceiue worthie of meruaile you should enforce your Stéed to a more gentle pace that happily would run so fast as he could according to the weightie affaires of importance you goe about which hardlie will permit yee to stay my discourse being in regard of your selfe not so worthie hearing as I estéemed but rather may yéeld yée more discontent then pleasure If then I haue offended héerein or shall do by ouer tedious circumstance I beséech yee imagine I was not well aduised which in respect of my submission may the more easily be pardoned Well well quoth the king vse no more words concerning me but answere what I haue demanded for were I not so desirous to knowe I would not shew my selfe so inquisitiue and if your discourse be worthie the hearing as you haue sayd it cannot be too long for me to listen or displeasing any way but verie acceptable First then quoth the Pilgrim you must vnderstand that albeit in this estate you behold me yet am I discended of noble linage for my father beares the title and crowne of a king and my mother was sister to the puissant Emperour of Constantinople a man that for his manifold vertues deserueth to be highly estéemed and accounted of In whose Court both in my youngest age and since the time of mine infancie I was carefully nourished and brought vp vntill the houre I receiued knighthood which is no long time since Notwithstanding after I began to enterprise my first exploites of good or bad fortune trusting more to the strength and dexteritie of my body then reason would I should for a proofe or triall what I could do I was so hardie one day to goe in person alone to aduenture on the Den or Caue of Rock Alpine and there assayled the horrible
venture to continue on his waye and sée what might be doone in this little â—lender habitation builded in a desert so barren for some vnlooked for body might perhaps abide there Resoluing thus he discended from the horse and brought the knights body before the doore of the house which hauing thrust open he saw an olde man with his head and beard as white as snowe sitting before a little pan of fire chafing his bloodlesse and withered vaynes and reading in a booke which he held vppon his knee The good olde man was somewhat astonished when he sawe the pilgrime but much more when he beheld the Knights halfe dead body before his doore In like case was Pharisor séeing the old mans head and beard so vener able with an aspect of holinesse much to be admired so that albeit he was an assured hardie knight yet was he surprised in such sort as he durst not open his mouth to speake vnto him but with more great honor and reuerence yea with more regard then if he had spoken to the greatest Monarch on the earth Beside the historian speaking heereof saith that he set his knée on the threshold of the olde mans doore and spake vnto him in this manner Father for that thy white head and beard with the venerable aspect of thy countenance makes me conceiue that thou hast experience in many affayres and that in thée abideth more good then in other men by reason of the holinesse of life which thou leadest in this desert farre from all euill company or conuersation of the wicked who oftentimes by their frequenting induce the good to doo ill whereby they incurre the wrath of God and his indignation where contrarywise hee regardeth with a chéerefull eye such as doe well and as thou hauing repented their sinnes despise the manner of dissolute life full of voluptuous and carnall concupiscence lead a life austere and full of solitude to temper and appease by these meanes the violence of inordinate appetites and euill desires whereby they are naturally incited and prouoked to doo badly enclining rather to vice then to vertue If thou haue any humanitie and art not altogether naked of swéete amitie whereby humaine societie is preserued I desire thée in the name of God to haue pittie and compassion on the miserable estate of one of the most valiant and braue Knights that the Sunne euer vouchsafed to looke vpon whome thou beholdest cruelly wounded and readie to die heere before thy doore Father do thy best endeuour to cure his wounds wherewith thou séest hee is vnnaturally iniured and if the heauens haue not so fauoured thée that by humaine cunning thou canst giue remedie or if thou perceiuest them to be incurable and that he must néedes presently dye yet to the end the soule may not perish together with the body let him receiue by thy hands the holy Sacrament of Baptisme by the meane whereof and the grace of God assisting men are washed and made cleane from originall sinne For he hath told me that by nation he is a Pagane contrary to the beléefe that Christians doo professe doo thou then thy dutie and God shall yeeld thée thy recompence in heauen If my wordes may not incite thee to this christian worke yet let the hardnes of the pittious estate wherein thou beholdest him at the least mooue thée to humaine compassion Thus spake the sayre pilgrime whereto the good olde man thus answered Hee to whome all that liue and die doo seruice and obeysance the great Father of the world he that created it and all things that inhabite therein commandeth me pilgrime to doo what thou requirest for it is his will that wee doo good one to another and likewise that we should render good for euill as well to our enemies as to our freends And although the contrarietie of his religion from ours might somewhat withhold me from accomplishing thy desire yet will I vse my very vttermost endeuoure for thy sake whom I know to be a Christian because I am commaunded from aboue to do so Not that I haue any skill in the art of medicine or Chirurgerie for I vnderstand nothing tending therto much lesse knowledge haue I in the nature or vertue of hearbes but I helpe and giue remedie to the body by such meanes as thou shalt perceiue bring him then into my lodging and bow thy knées in prayer to God as thou beholdest me to make my orisons Pharisor obeyed the Hermits commandement brought in the body of the Knight which could not mooue or stirre more then a dead man the old man knéeling downe by him opening his eyes and lifting vp his hands hauing thrée times made the signe of the Crosse vpon the body and softly vttered certaine priuate suffâ—ages and Orisons the pilgime being likewise on his knées with an high voyce and a hart full of deuotion he sayd a prayer of this substance or effect The Hermits prayer O Mightie Sonne of God Sauiour and redeemer of the world whome God thy Father vouchsafed to leaue the essence of thy diuinitie and to forsake thy supreme throne to come heere on earth taking the habit of our humanitie and following the same tookest humaine flesh and birth in the wombe of a virgin of long time chosen and elected by thée pure white and immaculate of the race and linage of Iesse to abide and endure with vs the self-same troubles and aduersities which our miserable life is subiect vnto thou God almighty all good and which euermore hast thy â—eat full of mercie and looue wide open to rereiue the praiers and requests which we make to thée in our necessities and art alwayes readie to doo vs good receiue vs euermore in thy mercie O God of peace and concord who being diuine immortall and most mightie hast power to quench the thirst of the thirâ—â—ie the hunger of the famished to clothe the naked heale all maladies and comfort the afflicted Thou I say who hast not only taken humaine flesh for life subiect to endure many euils and afflictions amongst men but also didst beare vppon thy diuine forhead the cruell sweat of death and endure the seuere passion therof to saue vs from eternall death whereto for our sinnes we were condemned Thou O God who only hast power with one woord or with one winke of thine eye to arrest the strong horrible tempests of the winds that canst trouble the earth that roullest and calmest the waters in the Seas and ridest on the heauens when thou pleasest or slackest as thou likest the celestiall fierie lights Thou that long since hauing taken humanitie amongst vs being in Samaria hadst power to giue health to ten poore lepers they beleeuing in thee prayed and were healed Then a poore man troubled with the palâ—â—e and one that was sick of the dropsie by thee were likewise cured they being one day of the Sabaoth presented before thee by the selfe-same power and goodnes a poore crooked woman that could not help her selfe and shee
their Launces without any further iniurie vnto him but hee had better successe for the first he met felt so soundly the sharpnes of his launce as piercing quite thorow his bodie layd him dead on the earth Two other that maâ—e out after these foure began very fiercely to assaile Taffinor but for all that they vnhorssed him not yet one of them receiued a deadly wound on his shoulder at his hand and so was forced to fall to the ground They that came after hauing their swordes naked in their handes couragiously aduentured on the Christian knights who being ready prepared receiued the valiant strokes of the Pagans on their sheelds without any hurt vnto their bodyes marie each of them stood so stiffely to the Pagans as Gerileon sent one of their heads roundlie from his shoulders and Taffinor slicing off an others arme from his bodye made both Gerileons stroke and his owne agree in an hermonie for the first Pagan dyed immediatly and the other caught such a sudden sicknes as his bloud abâ—undantly streaming foorth called his life soone after The rest of their companions were not a little amazed heereat especially at the puissant strokes of Gerileon with the exceeding vertue valiancie and addresse that they discerned in him so that sixe of theyr fellowes lying dead before theyr faces the other fearefully fled to the troupe of Adylas that they might to him declare theyr misfortune but they were followed euen thither by Gerileon and Taffinor at whose hardinesse Adylas stood greatly abashed and the rather because in his presence Gerileon ouertaking two of the tardyest fugitiues from one he lopt the eare cheeke and shoulder together and tooke off the others head so neatly as if the kéenest Rasor in the world had beene the instrument All the troupe standing affrighted heereat durst not boudge one foote but taryed to heare the pleasure of theyr king who was surprised with no common kinde of pensiuenes imagining that Gerileon was one of the Gods whom he adored to wit Mars the God of battailes and as they supposed that hee was highly displeased with them When hee beheld what hauock the Fayrie knight made of his people hee came foorth from the middest of his troupe to know for certaintie what he was and if he were one of theyr gods with praiers oblations and sacrifices he would appease his anger but Gerileon that made no regarde of such folly prepared to endure the braue against all the rest And for this cause hee entred further in among them with Taffinor where sundring themselues no one durst stirre to approach néere them for in Gerileons countenance they noted such high resolution as they reputed him alone able to foyle a farre greater hoste of men Euen as a lustie Mower in the haruest time in the middest of a well growne field with a sharpe Scithe in his hand cuts downe the grasse and hearbes about him in very great quantitie euen like â—eare had the Pagans of this noble warriour verily thinking him to be some celestiall deitie and many times had they béene brought into such errour for when they beheld any one who by his haughtie déedes séemed to surpasse the common valour of men and had some thing in him to out goe other in hardinesse they easily were induced to beléeue that this was one of their imaginarie Gods This false perswasion serued very well for these two Christians because if all the troupe had risen against them you quickly may conceiue their daunger but the good Angell that conducted them by the helpe of God assisted them in such sort as Adylas alone offered spéech to Gerileon and that in this manner I pray thée if thou bee one of the Gods whose habitations is in heauen tell or shew me by some signe if I haue offended theâ— and wherein I haue giuen cause that thou shouldst thus destroy me and my people assuring thée that if by prayers oblations and sacrifices thine anger is not to bee appeased and thy furie qualified thou shalt no sooner bee returned to thy celestiall mansion but presently thou shalt in aboundance feele the pleasant perfume and exquisite Sabeene odour with large gifts in thy Temple and offerings on thine Altar by me bestowed to thine honor and glory Or if thou be some mortall creature that hast reason thus to come and assayle me killing Argontes my faithfull Achates beside so many of my souldiours then onely tell to me the cause heereof and assure thy selfe that I will repaire whatsoeuer iniurie which thou pretendest to haue receiued by me neither shall any of my men once mooue to offend thée for the great valour and vertue I estéeme to be in thée But if without any reasonable occasion thou hast dared thus boldly to abuse me thou mayst be well assured that thou shalt be chastised according to thy deserts Knight answered Gerileon I imagine thée to be the most apparant man of al thy troope and as I haue heard thou art called Adylas king of Thunis a knight verye famous and of great reputation as I gather because I see thée affable and courteous Wherfore I fréely tell thée that I am none of the supposed Gods thou talkest of but credit me I am a knight errant ignorant of the place wher I was borne and the parents that gaue me life but trauayle thorow the worlde whether fortune and my deâ—â—â—â—e conducts me in search of such aduentures as merrit fame Not long since and not far hence I slew a cruell monster called the sauage Polyppe where I met this knight who told mee what causeles shame both thou and thy company being ods of too great aduantage offered a Christian prince called Ariodant one of whose traine he was thou hauing discomfited him and his men detainest some of them as prisoners which iniurie he intreated me to reuenge and I haue vndertaken it both vpon thée thine for well thou knowest that by the lawe of chiualrie inuiolably obserued among such as are woorthie to beare the title of knighthood all errant knights séeking aduentures are bound to reuenge the opprobrious wrongs that the ouerstrong offer to the ouer weake hauing no iust cause or reason therefore and to defend them against all forcible violence indirectly throwne vppon miserable and afflicted persons maintaining euermore the quarrell of the wronged that haue no helpe Beside the quarrell for which thou hast so hardly dealt with Ariodant and his people is publique touching all good Christians of which number I am one and for euer will be so by consequence it appertaineth to mee inciting mee to wreake reuenge for the iniurie doone to my confederates that are of selfe same religion as I am against all that are of the contrarye and aduersarie faith Because then thou hast nothing else now to do prouide thée presently to the combate with me if thou be so desirous as thou hast expressed for thou séest I haue reason to assaile thée and for whatsoeuer else I haue doone beside Hauing thus spoken
his least that our enemies who are Pagans and in whome yet neuer appeared any sparke of loyaltie or fidelitie as well we knowe should intend some thing against our prisoner both hurtful vnto them and vs and I am of opinion that if vnbeléeuing men containe such good thoughts as to vse kindnes and benignitie towarde their enemies the like or more ought appeare in them that professe faith and loyaltie Wee then that follow the right path of a farre better religion should thinke on no fraude or trumperie whatsoeuer and much lesse in time of a kinde intreaty as we promise to our prisoned enemie vnder hope whereof they whom our enemies detaine of ours may receiue such fauour from them as they shall not be compelled to doo any thing hurtfull to themselues Let vs not then constraine him to any thing against his will much lesse let vs speake or once open our mouthes concerning any marriage in that it will seeme a matter incredible to our enemies that against the lawes of our religion wee would permit the marriage of a Pagan with a Christian this were but to make them veryly beléeue that we would altogether forsake our God and the conâ—idence we haue hitherto reposed in him to worship with them their false gods Iupiter Mahomet Mercurie Phoebus and such like idols as they reuerence as things celestiall so altogether to take their parte whereas we ought not shew them the least attaint of our thoughts but firmely to stand on our strong faithfull foundation toward God who euermore hitherto hath maintained and preserued vs by his exceeding mercie and inuincible dower And still in his goodnes we ought to resolue with our selues that all the Bethulians were in times past deliuered from the miserable and cruell siedge of cruell Holofernes onely by power diuine that for their deliuerance raised vp a woman who by vndauntable stomach cut off the head of their chéefest enemie we by the like or greater miracle by his supreame and diuine grace shall be deliuered from our proud enemy for whose destruction if our strength be two feeble or in any sort wanteth hee can by his will if we firmely trust in him make flye on them againe eyther the Sword of Gedeon or Aioth or else an other Iudeth to ouerthrow and exterminate theyr dayes altogether so to preserue and deliuer them that abide in faithfull obedience and trust continuing theyr firme hope and assurance onely in him We sée by many holy and sacred misteries and examples wherewith the diuine and holy Scriptures are plentifully stored and furnished from how many euils and mischiefes he deliuered and miraculouslie preferued the Children of Isaack and Israell that trusted in his goodnesse and mercie and did with hearts full of deuotion and penitence call for his helpe and succour in theyr calamities and afflictions let vs then altogether trust hope in him beleeuing that he is at this present euer hath beene and for euer will bee as gracious and mightie as then hee was and in this hope let vs take paine valiantlye and couragionslie to defend our selues for if we had this resolution in vs though we were as men without hart or power I am perswaded that fiue hundred of vs shall suffise to impeache the entrance of our enemie were they as many more in number as they are and so attend the arriuall of our hoped succour albeit they should tarry a moneth yet longer in comming when he had concluded in this sorte the wise and vertuous king Floridamant seeing by â—xteriour demonstration that the greater part of the assistants approoued and highly praysed the good councell of the valâ—ant olde Candior Duke of Normandie fastened on his words and thus began himselfe My good friends and faithfull companions if in this aduersâ—tie which hath not béene common with you or mee I haue some cause of greefe to sée my selfe in extreame danger of loosing my estate and Crowne which my predecessours by their prudence and vertue so long time happilie preserued in all flourishing ioy and prosperitie yet withall I haue now great reason to comfort my selfe séeing so manie vertuous and valiant persons embarqued in the same ship readie to run in like daunger of fortune with me who not onely by effects of their prowesse and valour lets mee apparantly behold what good will they beare to the conseruation of the christian weale publique but likewise do trauaile by their aduise and councell to acquaint both mine eyes and certaine experience with what zeale and affection they embrace the conduct of mine estate and howe forward they are for the preseruation of all Christendome which would bee meruaylously shaken if this wofull distressed kingdome at this instant the most flourishing estate of all where the name of Iesus Christ is knowne honored and glorified should fall as a praye to the enemie that séeke to take and vtterly ruinate it For which I ought chéefely to thanke my God as vnfaynedly I doo that he hath not altogether forsaken mee in this calamitie and miserie but not onely hath prouided me of such valiant knights and warriours as you all are but withall hath lent me men so skilfull and aduised It séemeth then good to me that according to the discréet councell of Duke Candior of Normandie that we should not séeke to delay but patiently endure the enemies assault when they shall againe with their great number giue the attempt and without any shew of feare eyther without or within the Cittie carrie no regard of our liues or goods but imploye our selues together manfully to defend so iust a quarrell as this for which we fight And let vs so behaue our selues that our enemies may know how the Lord God that assisteth vs and can if hee please take our caâ—se in hand is onely mightie and will by vs deliuer such testimonie of fortitude to the worlde as neither is in their power or the false idolatrous Gods which they worship to doo in vaine then shall they thinke to feare vs or worke such ruine to vs as they intended In this deliberation each of you take courage and he assured that whosoeâ—dr dyeth in hardie tryall of this fight it shall bee a perpetuall honor to him in this world and a glorious life to him in the endlesse world where he shall triumphe of the fayrest victorie Neuertheles I doo not reiect the good councell and aduise of the king Ferrand Grandilaor and others agréeing with them whereto if we sée vrgent necessitie constraine vs wee may vse them as we find cause to vphold our selues on our feete what euer betide vs marie yet we must not so slightlie condiscend thereto without further feeling of our enemies force then as yet we haue without any great disaduantage Hauing thus sayd ech commended and agréed on this resolution and so rysing from councell they went to prepare to withstand the assault as héereafter ye shall read because we must héere conclude this chapter CHAP. 18. How the Pagans prepared