The sixth booke of the Myrrour of knighthood Being the first booke of the third part, immediatly follovving the fourth and fifth bookes printed. Conteining the knightly actions and amorous conuersations of Rosicleer and Rosabel his sonne, vvith diuers other their princely frends and kinsmen. Translated out of Spanish by R.P.

What the end of the battell was, betweene the Troyan Oristides and the faire Sarmacia: and also what hapned to Rosicleer with the knight of the Forrest.

Chap. 12.

A Thousand suspitions wrought in the Troyans heart when hee sawe the Soue∣raign Princesse of Lacedemonia Sarmacia, armed with fresh shining armor all ful of F S. gilt, and the field of them blew, with so many precious stones that there was no Prince in the world but would estéeme her, her helme and shield of the same, had each a plume of feathers, & on her shield the same deuise of armor, with F S. & this Posie.

Firme faith will discouer, The intention of a Louer.

She entred in, forcing her horse with such a grace, that all the Princes said, shee much resembled the Empresse

Claridiana in her gallant proportion, when the worthie Princesse came she said, come foorth knights, for now you may shew how you can defend your Iustice. It is hard to me (answered the timerous youth) for that my fortune hath brought me to be against them whome I worshippe. The gentle Lady made no answere, but turned about her horse and came against the Troyan, who made shewe of the like: but at the encounter he lifted vp the point of his Launce, but shee shewing the promptnes of her balor, made her encounter in the middest of his shield so strong∣ly that it made him somwhat to decline backwards vpon his h••rse crouper, and passed forwards with a slow pace, till being settled, he returned and threwe his speare from him a good way off, which was noted of al them that were in the place, neither would hee drawe his swoord. The Grecian séeing occasion to effect what he determined, did come to the Meridian and said. It séemeth vnto mee that Oristides hath met with one which bringeth him out of the opinion wherein he was, and I beléeue he will not nowe fight with the knight of the Forrest: whether I request you, in the conclusion of this, that you will bring him, where as that faire youth doth tarrie for vs, where I will stay for you without faile: and it is not conuenient that you goe with me, for any thing that might héere happen▪ The Prince promised to follow the Grecian, who as swift as an Eagle, tooke vp a Launce which one of the knightes left, and threw his shield at his back, he went thorow the companie of people vpon his inchaunted horse, leauing them all maruelling at his gallantnes: but their desire to sée the battell of the Princesse did take from them that im∣magination. The warlike matron when shée came nigh vnto him said: That knight who hath taken vppon him the busines of Ladies, what so litle ouersight he ouerslips is a notable fault, howe much more this which you hau•• done, for it is noted of all. This were Lady (said the Louer) if the battaile were made with knights and not

with Angels, against whom my Lance and swoord haue no power, neither may my selfe doo lesse then worship thē. You do me wrong Sir knight said she, so to driue off the battaile. But it is more wrong said he, that I should en∣ter in combat with her I so affect. The Lady somewhat angry, stroke him such a blowe vpon his shield, that it sée∣med a rock had fallen vpon him: & seconded another with a thrust, that she made him almost to loose his saddle, and gaue him the third with so great courage nigh vnto the skirt, that she disarmed all that part: yet for all this the Troyan did nothing but breake her blows, and put a side his body by the lightnes of his horse. The minds of some that were present were in doubt, although the Prince of Laodicea was secure. Contrarie thoughts were in the rigorous Damsell, who made so great hast, that some∣times it tooke away her breath. The Troyan did beare her a mightie blow, and in crossing his swoord for that it was of better mettle than the Ladies, it cut hers asunder in the middest, whereat he receiued great discontent, for that which his Goddesse shuld receiue: but loue wroght so in that small time, that it forced him to shewe a gentle tricke, and gaue great suspition to all that did behold it. Which was, he seperated himselfe a little, and tooke hys swoord by the point, and offered it vnto his Ladie, saying: Let your highnes pardon mee in that you haue lost your swoord by my occasion, with this you may conclude the battaile, in taking away my life: which is the most readi∣est in all the world to serue you. I haue no néed of other weapons (answered the valorous Damsel) hauing a dag∣ger wherwith to succour me, you haue not any thing to do but with your swoord to doe your best. It is not vsed, god∣desse of my life, said hee, in our Country, to make any battaile with weapon of aduantage: and therwith he put it vp into the sheath, wherat they all maruelled, and also the king, who could not refraine but say. This knight doth much estéeme of women, for that he hath no power against

them, not attributing it vnto her new affection. Now doth the Troyan fully vnderstand the letter which the wise Gelasio did send, when they were vpon departure from the Iland of Fangomadan, that he should sée his head in the hands of hys most cruell enemy. And for that it might the sooner ve accomplished, he closed with the Infant, and laid his amorous armes on her: but hee found a contrary an∣swere in the angry Lady, blaming her owne ouersight, she did wound him cruelly with her dagger betwéene the ioynts of the vambrace, that it made him giue a pittifull grone, which caused the Lady the more to respect him, as though be had done al the seruice possible. And it could not be but that the gentle Sarmacia when she saw the bloud of him that loued her, vpon her dagger, ••ut that she took some new compassion, and although it was but a litle it increa∣sed so much that it endured to the death. The amorous Troyan séeing himselfe hurt, tooke hold of her dagger by the hylt, with so great force that hee wrung it out of her hands, and left her without, and offered his vnto her say∣ing: it doth not profit gentle Lady, the procuring of re∣uengement with your weapons, for if you wil it must be with mine, although vnworthy for that they are dedicated to your seruice. In this contention and amorous wrast∣ling, they continued till Sunne set, which gaue him occa∣sion for to leaue his Lady, & a ligh••ing from his horse, went whereas the Iudges were, who gaue him the glory of the victory, at the sound of an infinite number of instrumentes: but séeing that with reason his Lady might be greened, he would not leaue her so, but went whereas she was, & knée∣ling down, gaue her his weapons for to do with them and himself her pleasure. I for this time (said the somwhat af∣fectioned Sarmacia) wil none of your weapons, neither ac∣cept you till such time as with mine own, I take reueng∣ment to your cost. For the rest the Prince of Laodicea is frée, the heauens hath ordained it, & my sister wife to him that I loued more than my soule: but I will first pul it out

with my own hands, than loue him that doth not consider my desert. Neither doe I thinke to put on any more har∣nes, if I doe not let him vnderstand the euill he hath vsed toward me. And therewith so fast as hir horse could run she went foorth, the same way which the Grecian went, and none was able to stay her, although the King cryed out that they should doe it: for she rid threatning of them that did offer it, & knowing her will they did let her passe, where as the Prince within a litle while did sée her enter into the Forrest that was so nigh vnto the Cittie. The worthy Lady being departed out of the place, leauing the Louer in obscure darknes with the absence of his Sunne, hee went vnto the King, requesting that foorthwith they might be married, hauing confidence that Liuio the prince of Laodicea had committed no offence. There néeded no great perswasions, for the king greatly loued the Youth. Euery one requested him to pull off his helme, and to tell them who he was: but he séeing that Rosicleer was lack∣ing, and that it would be troublesome to stay, he excused it as wel as he could, remitting it vnto the Damsell, of whō he tooke his leaue and said, that she shuld tel them whom he was the next day, for that he wold not méet with them. She did promise him not with a few teares, to sée her selfe absent from so valiant and worthy Princes: but for that she could doe no otherwise, she forth with made them to be knowen vnto her mistresse Thomiriana, that accepted it with great content, requesting her not to make it known vnto any til that day was past. All reioyced with the new Prince, for he was of all welbeloued, & remained greatly bound vnto the princes, when as he knew who they were, where as we a while will leaue them.