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. IIII.

¶ How after all the Triumphs were ended, perfourmed at the Baptisme of the yong Prince Palladine, and the ad∣uentures thus left of the three Statues, the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles tooke their leaue of the King Milanor and the Queene, and returned from England into their owne Countreys.

BY this time were all the Princes and Ladyes throughly satisfyed with the pastimes, wherefore with sound of Trompets, Clarions and Cornets, they returned to the Pal∣lace, where was prepared for them a most roiall banquet: and bicause the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles were to depart on the morrow, the Citizens of London in honor of their Prince, came with di∣uers stately Maskes to the Pallace, where they behaued themselues to their credit, and the Kings good liking.

Afterward entred the hall twelue Gentlemen of the Court, in complete Armour, with blunt Foyles and Tar∣gets, when deuiding themselues sixe against sixe, hauing for their barre two Pykes, which were held ouerthwart by two of the Kings Guard, they layde on each other such eager strokes, as their swords flew in péeces, and their Ar∣mour was battered in many places. Then they withdrew themselues, giuing place to twelue other, who Combatted with the Pyke, arming Sword and Battle-Axe, and thus was the night consumed in such disports, to delight the Kings of Scotland and Norgalles, who in the morning tooke their leaue of the King and Quéene, and were conducted on their iourney by many English Lords. The King Mi∣lanor and his Quéene beeing not a little contented, that

the Princes had done them such honor in their Realme, but greatest of all was their comfort in their Sonne Pal∣ladine, who in prowesse and loyaltie should surpasse all o∣ther of his time, and was carefully nourished by a vertu∣ous Gentlewoman, wife to an aged Squire, named Ro∣mandrin of Gaule, with whome he remained, till he came to the age of fiue yeeres.

About this time the Quéene trauailed againe, and was deliuered of two goodly Daughters béeing Twinnes, the one whereof was named Marcelina, and the other Floraea: these swéete babes were tenderly regarded in the Court, and there will we leaue them with the Quéene their Mo∣ther, remembring yong Palladine, who is in the custodie of graue and learned tutors, enstructed in the Languages, as also Greeke and Latine, wherein he profited so well, as at tenne yeeres he could speake them as perfect as his English toong. Héerewithall he practised Knightly Chi∣ualrie, to manadge great Horsses, and all Gentlemanlike exercises, searching the bowelles of the chéefest Historians, from them to learne the practises and sleights of Millita∣rie profession. And when the time would not serue him to Hawke and Hunt, he would kéepe himselfe from idlenesse with his Lute, Bandora and Uirginalles, with diuers o∣ther sweete Instruments, wherein he tooke delight, and grew verie excellent.

This yong Prince thus giuen to all honest and vertu∣ous quallities, began to haue some feeling of his high and magnanimous spirit, so that to experiment and trie his owne strength, he would cope with diuers yong Lords & Gentlemen of his age, to runne in the Listes, to breake Launces, to Combate with the Mace, the Arming-sword, and all other weapons, both on horssebacke, and on foote. In all which exercises, he found not his equall, which made him desirous of the order of Knighthood, to the end he might séeke after strange Aduentures, as the King his Father had done in his youthfull time. Thus continued

he sixe or seauen moneths in this desire, not daring to a∣quaint the King his Father therewith, least he should re∣fuse his request in respect of his yong yeeres, but the deste∣nies, who foresawe the maruellous déedes of Armes he should accomplish, and the straunge encha••••••ments that should be finished by him, would not suffer 〈◊〉〈◊〉 remaine long slothfull in his Fathers Court among 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ladies and beautifull creatures, but bringing his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to per∣fection, found the meane that he should be Knig••••••d by the King his Father, as héereafter you shall read•• more at large.