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. V.

¶ How the Duke Temoreo of Millaine, sent his Sonne Man∣teleo into England, to be made Knight with the Prince Palladine, and how Manteleo became enamoured of the Princesse Marcelina.

DUring this time, the Duke of Mil∣laine had a Sonne named Ma••••eleo, a yong Prince, and of vertuous na∣ture, brauely disposed to Knightly resolutions, and being aged about eightéene yéeres. He hauing often∣times heard the famous report, e∣uery where bruted of the Prince Palladine of England, and what a strange aduenture happened at his birth, which could not as yet be ended by any, was very desirous to go see him, that he might be aquainted with the Prince so renowmed. And one day finding the Duke his Father walking in his Garden, he came and knéeled before him, desiring licence for three or foure moneths, to trauaile into England, that he might be aquainted with the Prince Palladine, of so espe∣ciall report, as also the wise and debonaire King Milanor his Father, with whome (quoth he) all Kings and Princes

louers of vertue, haue euermore desired fréendly allyance. Witnesse héerof is the King of Portugall, the Kings of Scots and Norgalles, and diuers other Princes straungers: by his hand my Lord, so it stand with your liking, would I receiue my order of Knighthood, which he I hope will not denie me, in respect of his owne gratious humanitie, and the consideration he will haue of your person, when he shall vnderstand that I am your Sonne.

The Duke hearing his Sonne in these tearmes, was well pleased to behold him of so good a mind, and conten∣ted likewise to graunt what he demaunded, saying. In sooth my Sonne, seeing Fraunce and England are now in peace together, the lesse do I doubt of thy going thither, and boldly mayst thou assure him, that he hath a perpe∣tuall fréend of me, determine then to depart when thou wilt, foorthwith shall I giue order for thy prouision in tra∣uaile: but returne not till thou hast tried the aduenture so renowmed, which hapned before the Kings Pallace on the day of his Sonnes birth, and if thy good fortune may bring it to an end, well mayst thou intreate the King for thy Order, in that thou shalt well deserue thy Knighthood, see∣ing so many haue fayled in triall thereof. Manteleo hauing humbly thanked the Duke his Father, for graunting him the thing he onely desired, said. I promise you my Lord, that I will not returne thence without proofe of my for∣tune, albeit I were sure to be repulsed more sharply then any hath béene heeretofore: yet since the aduenture is so ordeyned, let me dye ere I be dishonored with feare or dis∣maying. Héereupon, the Duke called the maister of his Horsse, to whome he gaue charge to prouide his Sonnes estate toward England, and that all things might be rea∣die for his departure within thrée daies following: which was accordingly perfourmed, and so the Prince Manteleo with his trayne set forward from Millaine, in the wéeke next after Pentecost, making such expedition in trauaile, as hauing passed the fairest Cities in Fraunce, which he

was desirous to see, he came to Bullin, where he tooke ship∣ping, and with a merry gale of winde, in lesse then eigh∣teene houres, he landed in England.

The King Milanor aduertised of his arriuall, was greatly contented therewith, commaunding in all the Townes where-through he should passe, that he should be receyued and intreated honorably. And when he drew néere London, the Gouernours were charged to méete him on the way, the Prince Palladine likewise to welcome him at the Citie gates, and the King with his Quéene and La∣dies, remained at the Pallace to entertaine him. Euerie thing thus perfourmed in greatest maiestie, the Prince of Millaine was receiued with generall ioy of the Citizens, and the Prince Palladine accompanied with many great Lords of England, to whome Manteleo behaued himselfe with honorable modestie, as well he could his Courtship in those affayres, and riding along with the English Prince, he entred into these speeches.

The fame of so many lawdable vertues, accompanyed with heroicall prowesse and magnanimitie, which amply are discerned in your dayly cogitations, hath earnestly prouoked me (good Prince) to be aquainted with you, for which onely occasion, I left my natiue Countrey, to see this Realme, euery where named happie, by the honorable re∣giment of the King your Father, whose vertues you imi∣tate so effectually, as you remaine a wonder to them that neuer saw you. And long may good successe attend your dayly actions, heauen making me so fortunate, to winne acceptance in your eyes, in that I haue deuoted my selfe to estéeme of you aboue all other.

Sir Manteleo, answered the Prince Palladine, as I knowe my selfe farre vnworthie these titles of prayse, so am I perswaded, that your speeches proceed of good affecti∣on towards me, flying reports are oftentimes found vn∣true: yet do not I mislike your opinion of me, which hath sorted out the meane to sée and knowe you in this Coun∣trey,

as our honorable and well wishing fréend. Of the King my Father haue I heard of your parents, and good acquaintance hath he had with the Duke your Father, when as a Knight errant he sought after aduentures: as∣sure your selfe therefore right welcome hither, and gladly shall I accept of you as my freend and companion. Thus beguiled they the time, til they came to the Pallace, where the Prince of Millaine stayed to behold the Statues, rea∣ding the deuises he had so long desired to see, whereat, not able to maruaile sufficiently, they went on into the great Hall, where the King embraced him verie louingly, the Princes and Lords likewise present, entertained him with excéeding kindnesse and humanitie, in that they had heard the King many times report, the worthie chiualrie of the Duke of Millaine his Father.

After the King had welcomed this stranger with ma∣nyfold courtesies, and had vnderstood the cause of his com∣ming to his Court, he sent him with the Prince Palladine to salute the Quéene and her Daughters. But loue, whose puissance as yet he had neuer felt, finding time and oppor∣tunitie so conuenient, when Manteleo had done his reue∣rence to the Queene, comming to the Princesses that at∣tended on her, hauing kissed the first, named Marcelina: he found his sences so strangely inueigled, as he stoode silent before her a prettie while, being not able to deliuer one word, so was he rauished with contemplation of her beau∣tie. Which the Princesse well noting, and imagining this passion to procéede by bashfulnesse, or feare, which often∣times preuents yong Gentlemen when they enter the pre∣sence of great Ladies, she tooke the Prince by the hand, and thus began.

My Lord, you are so welcome, as your owne hart can wish, great hath béene your payne and trauayle, comming so farre to see this Court, no sufficient recompence can the King our Father make yée, nor we poore Ladies, for this excéeding kindnesse. These words forcing Manteleo to re∣couer

his spirits, caused him returne this aunswere.

In comming hither (swéete Madame) haue I sustay∣ned no paine or trauaile, but rather comfort, pleasure, and pastime. For long since is it, that I desired to offer my ser∣uice to the King your Father, as well for the rare vertues which makes him farre renowmed, as also to renew the auncient amitie, that yée and the Duke my Father haue had together, when they as Knightes errant trauayled straunge Countreys. Another and chéefe cause, was to see my Lord your Brother, whose second in prowesse is not to be found: and you likewise faire Ladies, whome heauen hath not onely enriched with especiall vertues, but also with rare and most perfect beautie. And though my Starres alotted me no greater good héereby, then to be∣hold the surpassing worke of nature in you both, yet would I repute my trauaile more largely requited, then were I created Emperour of the world, adioyning héere to, if any seruice remayned in me that might be to your liking.

During these spéeches, he threw many piercing lookes on the Princesse Marcelina, and she returned the like on him, thinking she had neuer seene a more comely Knight in all perfections, her Brother Palladine excepted, gathe∣ring by his lookes and yéelding countenance, that she had wonne some earnest in his loue: with which imagination, her hart was highly contented, and to continue him in this good affection, she thus replyed.

Not a little doo I think my selfe beholding to you, my good Lord, noting your forward zeale to the King my Fa∣thers seruice: loth am I to presse yée with such regard to∣wards me, in that my deseruings are altogether too simple, let my good will then excuse my want, assuring your selfe of a maydens prayers wheresoeuer you go.

As Manteleo would haue aunswered, the Prince Pal∣ladine came, and thus brake off their talke. I beséech yée my Lord and companion, to withdraw your selfe into your Chamber, there to repose your selfe after your iourney, for

of necessitie you must be sore wearied, hauing spent so little time betwéene Millaine and England.

Manteleo departed to his Chamber with Palladine, and in two lodgings ioyning together lay these new fréends. There did the Millayne Prince cloath himselfe in braue and sumptuous garments, not forgetting the gra••ious spéeches of fayre Marcelina. who likewise so soone as he departed, could not kéepe in her owne opinions, but with her Sister fell in commendation of Manteleo: setling the loue of him so néere her heart, as she resolued neuer to haue any other Husband, so pleased the King and Quéene to giue their consent. Continuing in this determination, thence forward her extreame desires made her pensiue and solitarie, yet would she not impart her disease to any one, because she would first make triall of the Princes constan∣cie, least his loue might be impeached with dissembling ••alliaunce.

But now is the houre of Supper come, when the amo∣rous Prince Manteleo was placed at the table, right ouer against his beloued Marcelina, neither of them being of∣fended at this good hap, but vsing the same as an especiall benefite, with secret glaunces to court each other. Which the Princesse Floraea dilligently marked, and seeing her Sister so often to chaunge her couller, coupling therewith many bitten in sighes, she tofore hauing neuer shewed the like: became iealous of the matter, thinking the Prince should as soone affect her as her Sister, yet made she no outward shew of this conceite. But when the Tables were withdrawne, and each one preparing themselues to daunce, Manteleo tooke his Lady Marcelina, without ma∣king any offer to Floraea, wherewith she became so mal con∣tent as to despight them, she would euery day after sit so néere them, as they could not speake one word to each o∣ther, but she might easily vnderstand what they said.

The Prince well noting how hee was crost, would the oftner entertaine Marcelina to Daunce, taking the

benefite at the end of each Measure, which gaue them li∣bertie to conferre together, no one in those excused times being able to impeach them, whereat Floraea greatly repi∣ned, séeing them talke with such affectionate protestations.

The Pastimes ended, the King and Queene went to their lodgings, Manteleo humbly giuing them the good night, not forgetting the Saint he serued in desires, and afterward the Prince Palladine accompanied him to his Chamber, where after many other spéeches betwéene them, they concluded on the morrow to request their Knighthood of the King. So Palladine left Manteleo for that night, whose mind was busied with his Ladies fa∣uorable words, not doubting but to shew himselfe so for∣ward in Armes, as the Princesse should receiue good occa∣sion to affect him, and graunt him the honor he earnestly desired. In this good hope he laid him downe to rest, the Princesse Marcelina nothing inferiour to him in amorous opinions, and that night her brother Palladine had told her, that Manteleo and he would intreate their Order of the King, wherewith she was not alittle contented, deter∣mining thence forward, to entertaine the Prince of Mil∣laine as her Knight.