The famous, pleasant, and variable historie, of Palladine of England Discoursing of honorable aduentures, of knightly deedes of armes and chiualrie: enterlaced likewise with the loue of sundrie noble personages, as time and affection limited their desires. ... Translated out of French by A.M. one of the messengers of her Maiesties Chamber.

CHAP. III.

¶ How many Knightes and Gentlemen of England, Scot∣land, and Norgalles, aduentured to winne the Image of Cupid, destenied to the most loyall, and how they were all repulsed: and the Ladies likewise in ••heir triall for the rich Crowne.

WHen the Herald had publikely deli∣uered his charge, the King com∣maunded all the Knightes to vn∣arme themselues, for loyaltie (quoth he) is not to be discouered by armes, but by the hidden vertue & thought, consisting in the hart of a man. My Lord, sayd the Quéene, had you not assured me to whome this aduen∣ture is reserued, I would haue intreated your Maiestie to make the first triall. Then Madame, quoth the King, you haue some suspition of my loyaltie. Not so my Lord, sayd she, for nothing is lesse in my thought, and so certaine per∣swasion do I hold thereof, as I feare not that all present should behold your vertue, to the greater enlarging of your honor and mine owne.

While these spéeches passed, a yong English Gentle∣man came to mount the steps, that enuironed the Col∣lomne whereon the God of Loue stoode, but as he lifted his foote to the nethermost step, the Statue tumbled him backe, with his héeles vpward, so that euery one laughed hartely thereat. In sooth my fréend, said the King, verie little loyaltie remaines in you, whome loue cannot abyde the sight of, if your Lady be in this company, good occasion hath she to get her a better seruant.

Then came another, who had many times inuocated on the name and fauour of his Mistresse, and he without

any impeachment mounted on the third step, making an offer to attaine the fourth, but the Statue thrust him downe againe, whereby he might perceiue his owne insuf∣ficiencie, Beleeue me, quoth the Quéene, he hath done much better than the other, and the Lady he loueth, is greatly beholding to him, for iustly may he be accounted loyall, in that the Image suffered him to ascend so high.

Then one of the King of Norgalles Knightes came to trie his fortune, whome the Statue repulsed with such shame, as all the day after he would not be séene, I pro∣mise ye Gentleman, said the King his maister, you might haue spared the labour in comming so farre, to returne home with so foule a rebuke, and little néede had ye to shew vs your great inconstancie, brother quoth the King of Scots, be not offended with him, for well he knowes, that his Mistresse is not in this companie. You say true bro∣ther, aunswered the King of Norgalles, but if I knew her, I would aduertise her of his exceeding vertue.

Héere commes another of my Knightes to make a bet∣ter proofe, and yet perhaps, will amend his fellowes disho∣nor. The Knight attained the highest step, without any disturbance, and as he lifted his hand to take the Image of Cupid, the Statue tooke him by the arme, and set him on the ground againe, I see then, said the King of Nor∣galles, each one must heere be iudged according to the great∣nesse and defect of his loyaltie.

Afterward came a little Scottishman, as thicke as tall, his beard growing scattering like bristles, his nose flat to his face, two teeth standing before gagd out of his mouth, a man in euery part very much mishapen, and seruing as a Iester to make the King laugh, he had married a wo∣man as handsome as himselfe, yet was he iealous of her out of all measure. This proper Squire séeing so many re∣pulsed by the Statue, by breach of their loyaltie to their Wiues and Ladies, considered with himselfe, that he had neuer violated the bonds of marriage, but euermore kept

his faith to his wife, therefore he would hazard his good hap, not doubting but to carie the Image of Cupid with him into Scotland. Hauing demaunded leaue of the King his Maister, with a little cudgell in his hand, he came to the Collomne, and went vp to the verie highest step, the Statue not offering any signe of resistance: but as this deformed fellow would haue embraced the Image of Cu∣pid, the Statue snatched the cudgell out of his hand, and so rapt him therewith about the shoulders, as he was con∣strained to hye him downe againe, the Kings and all pre∣sent merily laughing at this iest. Alas poore foole, said the King of Scots, how durst thou presume to shew thy selfe in this action? Why my Lord, aunswered the Queene, your little man is yet found the most loyall, and no Gentleman this day hath witnessed the like. Beléeue me Madame, aunswered the King of Scots, it is against his will that he is so loyall, for being so euill fauoured and deformed, how can he finde any woman to offend with him. Come he∣ther little fellow said the King Milanor, you haue beene beaten with your owne cudgell, because ye came no better prouided: but that the honor of the day may remaine to you, I will that at this present no further triall shall bée made, enough hath beene done my men, let now the Ladyes by their beautie aduenture for the rich Crowne of Venus, and let it suffise that a little fellow hath strained all our Knightes. The Quéene in person began the enterprise, but reiected as vnworthy of the fatall Crowne, and after her followed the Ladies of the Court, whose fortunes were like or worsse in effect, to their no little disgrace in their owne conceites, who prized their beauties at the highest rate. The London Danies had likewise their time of proofe, yet could their daintie faces carie no pawne in this at∣tempt, for the Crowne was reserued for the onely Lady, who might not be paragonned by any other whatsoeuer.