The third and last part of Palmerin of England Enterlaced with the loues and fortunes of many gallant knights and ladies: a historie full of most choise and sweet varietie. VVritten in Spanish, Italian, and French, and translated into English by A.M. one of the messengers of her Maiesties chamber.

CHAP. XXXVII. Of whence and what this King was, and what passed betweene Oliuanto & the Lady, likewise how he accomplished the aduenture.

THe Indian Histories doo report, that a King, the graund-father to Tamerco, hauing a daughter of excéeding beautie, he did not re∣spect her with that care and dili∣gence, as was necessary to be v∣sed to a Lady of such merit: and her selfe beeing likewise lesse mindful of her owne reputation, then became those perfections wherewith she was endued, grewe amorous of a Prince, (yet a subiect to her father) and permitted the follies of idle

loue to procéede so farre, that the key of virginity being lost, shée grew with childe by him: but when she could conceale her shame no longer, by reason of the apparant witnes de∣liuered by her grossenes, shée concluded to trust a Nursse of hers with this secrete, who as shee was willing to pleasure her Lady in such an vrgent necessitie, yet shee handled the matter with such indiscretion, that when the very exigent came of best stedding the poore Princesse, it fell out to be her greatest hurt, for the childe beeing heard to cry, onelie through the Nursses negligence, from diuers parts of the Pallace the Ladies and Gentlewomen (not accustomed to heare so vnlookt for an accident,) came running to the chamber, and chaunced to méete the King by the way, who demanding the reason of their running so amazedly, though they were in a manner much daunted with his presence, yet they told him what a cry they had heard, whereat hee not a little meruailing, offred to enter the chamber where his daughter was, yet modestly staying till the Women were entred: and standing where he was not easily discer∣ned, he heard the Nursse speake, (as standing nowe vppon her owne iustification) & these or the like were the wordes she vsed.

Alas Madame, what haue you doone? haue you had no more regard of your honour, but thus to shame your father, and staine your owne credite for euer? Hath your priuate conferences with Rouino, (for so was the other partie of∣fendour called) sorted to this ende? Why then you may boldly make this conclusion, that his shame and lyfe shall end together, and your blame and life depend vpon the king your Fathers sentence.

The King (vppon these spéeches vttered by the Nursse) became acquainted not onely with his daughters offence, but likewise with the man that had so heauily trespassed, which made him enter the Chamber with more then com∣mon rage, and catching her fast by the haire of the heade, drew her from off the bead along vppon the ground, and so would haue strangled her with her owne locks, but that

the Ladies by, séeing the young Princesse in such a dange∣rous case, cryed all out so loude, as their noyse was easilie heard through the Pallace.

This cry brought the Quéene with all spéede thether, where hearing the wretched estate of her daughter, she fell into such extremitie of passion, knowing well how impla∣cable the King her husband was, and pittying the seuere castigation he would inflict vpon his daughter, as the verie conceit heereof rent her hart strings in sunder, and so shee fell downe, and presently died. The King confounded with this lamentable spectacle, left his daughter, and ran to em∣brace his Quéene & comfort her, but finding life gone, and no hope of recouerie, hee appointed his daughter to be pre∣sently imprisoned.

Newes heereof was presently carried to Rouino, who béeing in suspect of some strange disaster, that might be in∣flicted on his elected Princesse: in rage and mad fury went directly to the Court, where beeing foorth-with apprehen∣ded, he was cōmitted vnto another close prison. The next day following, the Nursse was brought face to face before the Princesse, where shée remaining as the sole accuser, at length Rouino was sent for, who stoutly denying all mat∣ters alleaged, was enforced afterward by torments to con∣fesse, and the childe béeing brought in publique presence, re∣sembled the true father in all such euident manner, that as the fault caused in sort a iust detestation, yet y^e childs good∣lie forme, and the parents kinde loue, pleaded on the other side as much compassion.

Neuerthelesse, the King ouerswayed by too much furie, taking the infant by both the feete, made it be cleft through the midst before the Father and Mothers face, whereon, forgetting all dutie of a daughter, in heate of blood shee v∣sed these speeches to her Father. Thou monster and mur∣derer of thine owne flesh & blood, why with life didst thou let me see so inhumane a spectacle? In iustice of the cause, thou shouldst first haue slaine me, rather then after y^e death of my infant to leaue me perpetually tormented.

Rouino likewise, séeing his childe thus bloodily disseue∣red, dreadlesse of any extremitie, (for hee knew some vio∣lent ••nd was intended him) gaue all the iniurious spéeches he could imagine to the King, that hee might ••ashly in his mad moode f••••e vppon him, & murder him to with the wea∣pon which he held in his hand. But the King, who coulde not be contented with so speedy a dispatch of them, commit∣ted them both againe to prison, and sent for a skilfull Ne∣gromancer, which dwelt in a vast place of old ruined Babi∣lon, where, though hee was enuironed with numberlesse wilde beasts, yet liued he securely among them all.

The Wizard vnderstanding the minde of the King, that these two Louers were to suffer a lingering kind of death, to y^e end they should not endure such implacable torments, went thether with the Messenger, where béeing by the King entertained with great honour, and very serious dis∣course past betweene thē vpon the matter already reported, the Sorcerers aduise was required concerning the offen∣ders, and in his aunswere replied as followeth. My Lord, if you would punish this offence according as it deserueth, yet not to kéep from your sight their bodies in affliction, be∣cause your spleene will hardly be satis-fied with tormenting them, I will enchaunt them in such sort, that you shal euer behold them before any punishment be imposed, and yet to eithers greefe be with violence endured.

Your Maiestie is now so aged, that I gather by the ce∣lestiall aspect at your natiuitie, you cannot liue aboue the space of two yéeres, yet will I make you suruiue an hun∣dred yéeres by an enchauntment which I will order in ma∣ner following. Rouino will I first trans-forme into a most fierce Lyon, of whom the Princesse your daughter shall e∣uer liue in feare, and when time comes that he shalbe van∣quished by a Knight, then shall he assume the shape of a Gi∣ant, and the Lady be changed into a V••per or Serpent, by which meanes they shal neuer haue any kinde community together: for altering their shapes so often, and then ouer∣come by that warriour himselfe, they shall alwayes liue in

such dissimilitude, as the one shall euer abhorre the other. As for your selfe, because you haue no hande in this trans∣gression, you shall spend your dayes in this Pallace and in the Garden: but when any one comes to combate with the Lyon, you shal be fast a sleepe in your Chayre of estate, and the Knight whose fortune shall fauour him so much as to mount the third degree of your throne, that man shall giue end to the whole aduenture.

The King, desirous to sée Rouino and his daughter in continuall torment, yeelded the more willingly to be thus enchaunted, taking hold of his former promise withall, to enioy the benefite of life for so long space: and leauing the kingdome to a Nephew of his, the Graund-father to the Princesse Auriana, came thus into the Castel. But by rea∣son this aduenture continued long time, and fewe Knights were so hardie as to vndertake it, he would needes haue all the people of the Castell enchaunted to in such sort, that they might sée and negotiate their affaires among them∣selues, yet not to be seene or heard of any, but onely by soft murmurings and whisperings: which strange kinde of in∣uisible noyse, made many so timerous, as when they were engirt with these audible whisperers, they would present∣lie turne backe againe, without attempting the aduen∣ture.

The Lady that was daughter to the fore-named King, endued with exquisite beauty and behauiour, hauing seene (for many yeeres together) no other liuing person but her aged offended Father, who alwayes vsed threatnings of worse and worse extremities to her, and the fierce Lyon, of whom shée liued in continuall feare: durst neuer be so ad∣uenturous as to walke about the Castell, onely to auoyde the causes of her terror, and yet Rouino, albeit he was thus trans-formed into a Lyon, loued the Lady still exceedingly, offering diuers times to sport and play with her, but shee would flie from him in regard of feare: so much to acquaint you with the whole course of the historie, now returne wée to the place where we left before.

When the Lady had well noted this gallant young Knight, seeing him to be of such vertue and admired valour, shée grew greatly enamoured of him, hoping by his means to get out of that enchauntment: wherfore, about the mid∣night houre shée went to the bed where he slept, and laying her hand gently vpon his breast, awaked him, and then v∣sed these spéeches. I come to doo kinde offices to thee fayre Knight, whose good starres haue béene thy guide to so high an aduenture, which when thou hast finished, thy recom∣pence is to enioy me in mariage, being daughter to a king, and onely heire vnto the Crowne of India.

Oliuanto, who neuer let slippe the least minutes space, without continuall remembrance of his beauteous Auria∣na, perceiuing this Lady so much to resemble her, grewe halfe perswaded that it might be shée indéede, till viewing her more aduisedly, and checking his owne error, he thrust her aside from him, which shée taking very vncurteouslie, and hardly restraining her womannish furie, beeing like∣wise now vpon the instant of her trans-formation, (because Rouino was already become a Giant, & shée to alter with∣in certaine houres after) which happened euen then in this discontented moode, for shée felt her necke to shoote foorth in length, and her parts to change in aunswerable proporti∣on, so that suddainly shée was become a very fierce Ser∣pent, when without any intermission of time, shee leapt vp∣pon the Knight, and doubtlesse had staine him, but that by good hap he quickly drew his sword, wherewith he deliue∣red so many strokes at her, as shee was glad to shift for her owne safetie, without any further damage to the Knight, then immediatly hee armed him, as expecting to be further assailed.

The old King and the Giant came running thether vp∣on this tumult, and finding the Knight armed, the King stood and leaned himselfe against the doore, but the Giant entred with his Mace, yet otherwise quite disarmed, wher∣at Oliuanto meruailed not a little, but when he came to be∣labor him with his sword, he found his body impenetrable,

and himselfe very strangely beaten with his Mace, because he had not in the beginning well lookt to himselfe.

Heereon, growing some-what doubtfull of his life, hée leapt forth of the Chamber, to try if in larger compasse hee could better resist his enemie: at which instant he bagan to imagine in his thoughts, that the Lyon had thus assumed the shape of a Giant, which made him y^e more diligent and respectiue, in what part of his body he might soonest attaine to wound him, as not doubting but some place or other was to be offended: but the blowes of the Mace so showred vp∣pon him, that he needed Argos eyes in attendance to auoid them.

The fight continued betwéene them about two houres, and Oliuanto finding his breath to faile him, remembred his former helpe in that case, which was, to get foorth at the Hall gate, & then he should be as fresh as euer hee was, whereupon, he laboured thether so much as he might: but the Giant perceiuing it, hindered him from it so much as possibly hee could: neuerthelesse, Oliuanto casting a full thrust at the Giants face, by good hap sore wounded him, which put him in good hope that the aduenture was fini∣shed, for the Giant did nothing nowe but stand wiping a∣way his blood, which gaue Oliuanto the better meanes to get out of the Hall, where hee felt his courage in such sort restored, that he thought himselfe able to conquer two Gi∣ants.

Béeing entred the Hall againe, hee met the olde King comming towards him with his Scepter, and the Viper or Serpent with him, which diuers times offered to wind her selfe about him, whereby she did endanger him very often, but still the young Knight preuented her valiantly, and al∣beit the King gaue many maine strokes, yet by his dexteri∣tie he still so auoyded them, that hee coulde not fasten one stroke vpon him. The Serpent, notwithstanding all her subtile slights, was yet glad to kéepe off from the kéene ed∣ged sword, and one blowe happening to strike the Scepter out of the Kings hand, he presently vanished: whereupon,

because he would loose so little time as might be, he made at the Serpent very resolutely: but she leaping vp sudden∣ly at his Helmet, byting the laces thereof in sunder, grypt him so violently by the throate, as his immediat death was much to be doubted.

Oliuanto, seeing himselfe in such extremitie, so stronglie gryped her about the necke with his hand, that the Viper in humane voyce thus cryed out: Put me to no more paine, for indeede thou canst not kill me, but if thou giue ouer and let me goe, the aduenture for this time is concluded. By the voyce, Oliuanto knew the Serpent was the Lady, that was before so enamoured of him, wherefore, pittying her hard fortune, he let her goe: when presently the King came with the Giant into the Hall, and mounting both vpon the Viper, flew altogether foorth of the window, but the King first vsed these speeches to him.

Thinke not (Sir Knight) that thou hast fully finished with vs, nor that our patience can permit, that Auriana, discended of our Indian blood, shall euer be thine, if wee can hinder it. So fled they thence to another enchaunted Ca∣stell, where Oliuanto had afterward toyle enough with them, as in his owne history is more at large declared.

Great comfort in minde brought these words to Oliuan∣to, y^t yet hee might hope to enioy Auriana at length, though some difficulties might long time be his hinderance. Now began the Castell to shake and tremble, yea, and y^e whole Iland likewise, as if it woulde haue suncke into some bot∣tomlesse depth, and within lesse then an howres space, hee might sée out at the windowes the people of the Ile, walk∣ing and talking vpon the Market-place, & heare the noyse of diuers artificers at theyr handy trades, whereby it ap∣peared manifestly vnto him, that the enchauntment there was fully ended.

So descending downe the stayres, he met the Dwarffe which had béene his conducter thether, who vsing great reuerence to the Knight, guided him backe againe to the Barque, whereinto they were no sooner entred, but the

Dwarffe vanished as before, and in one night the Barque arriued at the Porte of Tubante, among the Christian Ar∣mie, and béeing come on Land, by Platir and the Christian Princes he was most kindly entertained, and they desirous to know the reason of his absence all this while, at large he discoursed to them the whole aduenture: so entred they the Citty together, and then tooke order for the warres pre∣paration.