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. XXVIII.

¶ How the Knight without rest was conducted by Broantine, to the Palla••e of the wise Orbiconte: and of the good entertainement she made him.

NOW haue our Knightes well re∣sted themselues at the Castell, and being now readie to depart, while Liboran & Lycelio prepared euerie thing readie: the Knight without rest, and Broantine, walked toge∣ther in the Garden, where among many other matters, the Prince (perceiuing the faithfull affection of Broantine) bewraied his loue to him, which was the onely cause of his trauaile to Aquilea. And as for the Princesse Nonparelia, quoth he, the renowme of her exceeding beaw∣tie and vertue hath so conquered me, as I haue resolued neuer to loue any other: and might I purchase the fauour of her and the King her Father, I ••••all repute my selfe the happiest man that euer liued. But true it is, and which gréeueth me not alittle, she differeth from me in religion, yet time that preuaileth against all things, may wiling her to become a Christian. In sooth my Lord, aunswered Broantine, the Princesse Nonparelia is the most accompli∣shed Lady liuing, both in beawtie, good grace, and all ver∣tuous qualities: and well may you perswade your self to obtaine her loue, in that you are stored with those perfecti∣ons, that may prouoke Ladyes to loue a man. For if que∣stion should be made as concerning your estate, you are the childe of a King as well as she, not inferiour to him in riches and renowme. If the case be alleaged of your ver∣tue, prowesse, and magnanimitie: my selfe will not be iudge héerein, but innumerable that haue made experience

thereof. The Knight without rest hearing the words of Broantine, brake him off in this manner. Leaue these prayses (good Sir) to God, to whome they onely pertaine, and from whome commeth all the good we enioy: let vs imagine, by what meane she may haue knowledge of me, without preiudiciall daunger of whence and what I am. My Lord, quoth Broantine, I shall haue good accesse to the King, when I shall present you to his Maiestie: and then may you both see and speake to the Princesse, for she is very gracious and affable, what other stead I can stand ye in, vntill the houre of death, you shall commaund me. For this gentlenes, aunswered the Knight without rest, I shall héereafter be carefull to make some part of recompence, and to begin our freendship, as also to preuent the name of ingratitude: I giue you the Countie of Orthon, which is my patrimonie, and which you shall freely enioy, if you like to goe with me into England. I thanke ye my Lord, quoth Broantine, for your liberall offer, let vs follow our intent to the King and madame Nonparelia▪ whom we shall finde at the Court with his Maiestie: where he expecteth the succour from Illiria, which doubtlesse will be heere within eightéene dayes, for then must the battell be fought at Bal∣dina. And as we trauaile thither, I will shew ye one of the chéefe singularities in this Countrey, which is the Pallace of madame Orbiconte the wise, the most excellent and sumptuous spectacle that euer was séene. I pray thee good fréend, said the Knight without rest, let vs depart and stay no longer, for such report haue I heard of that good Lady, as loth would I be to returne and not to sée her, hauing so fit opportunitie to doo it: for since I came into this Coun∣trey, I vnderstand that she is allyed to the King, being his Sister, albeit base borne. Without any more speeches, they went foorth of the Garden, and taking their leaue of the Knight and the Lady, mounted on horssebacke, directing their course toward Baldina: and after certaine dayes trauaile, they came to the Pallace of the wise Orbiconte,

the building whereof was so rare and stately, as in all the world the like might not be found. Long stood the knight without rest to behold this wonder, which Orbiconte her selfe well perceiued standing in her windowe, wherefore she sent one to open the gate, and they entring, began to admire much more then they had done: seeing the great Court paued with Iasper and Porphire, and in the mid∣dest thereof a gorgeous Statue, being the Goddesse Venus curiously carued in Alablaster, and from her two dugs spouted exceeding cléere water, which fell into a huge great Basen of siluer.

By her stood her Sonne Cupid, with an arrowe drawne in his bowe, as being readie to shoote: but so arteficially framed after the life, as neuer was a more choyse péece of workemanship séene.

From thence they walked into meruailous goodly Gal∣leries, which were painted round about with Poeticall Histories: as the contention betwéene the thrée Goddesses, Pallas, Iuno, and Venus, the iudgement of Paris, the strange alteration of many metamorphosed louers, and the ban∣quet of the Gods, where angry Tisiphone shewed her selfe.

On the other side were the labours of Hercules, the de∣struction of famous Troy, and the voyage of the Argo∣nantes.

There likewise was liuely portraied the triumph of Venus, drawne in her Chariot by two Turtle Doues, the loue of her Sonne Cupid and faire Psyches, the battailes of many Romaine Emperours, & their seuerall triumphs in Roome: so liuely figured to the eye, as if the persons had béene there in action.

While they thus stood to behold these deuises, the wise Orbiconte caused her three Daughters to attire them∣selues in most sumptuous ornaments, and afterward came downe with them into the Gallery: which when the knight without rest perceiued, he came and saluted her with great reuerence, and after many sollemne and kinde

courtesies to the auncient Lady, as also her daughters, the wise Orbiconte thus spake.

Sir Palladine, right welcome are ye to this place: for long it is since I desired to sée you heere, that I might en∣tertaine you as your vertues deserue.

Madame, answered the Knight without rest, vnséemely is it that you should so much abase your selfe, as to regard me that am but a poore Knight errant.

Not so my Lord, quoth she, conceale not your selfe, for well I knowe of whence and what you are: welcome are ye to my Pallace, where it shall be néedlesse for ye to feare any thing, though you are so farre from your owne Coun∣trey, for heere you may assure your selfe of safetie. So en∣tring into the great Hall, which was hanged round about with rich Tapistrie, wherein, the Historie of great Maho∣met was curiously wrought: she welcommed them all a∣gaine, Broantine, Lycelio and Lyboran, who still counter∣feited himselfe to be dumbe, to whome she said. My fréend, speake your language and feare not, for in this place you are in no danger. I knowe that thou art Liboran the well aduised, who with the ayde of Captaine Broantine, deliue∣red a Knight and his Sonne from death, therefore seeke not to hide thy selfe from me.

When Liboran heard what she sayd, he imagined she was some Diuineresse, or one that had a familiar spirit, who acquainted her with matters of secrecie: wherefore in the French toong he replied, thanking her for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 excée∣ding courtesie, and offering her his vttermost seruice. For which, she was not forgetfull to thanke him, causing cer∣taine of Gentlemen to conduct them to faire Chambers readie prepared for them: and in the Chamber appointed for the Knight without rest, was ingeniously wrought in Tapistrie of cloth of gold, the adulterie of Venus with God Mars, and how lame Vulcane came and found them, with diuers other lasciuious Histories, to prouoke the Prince to carnall delight.

After the Knight without rest was vnarmed, he came and walked with the wise Orbiconte in her Garden, wher∣in were many beawtifull fountaines, and great aboun∣dance of wholesome hearbes, wherwith she made precious vnguents, which she sent to Knightes errant, especially such as defended the honor of Ladies. She walked with them likewise into her Parke, and shewed them what braue game she had there prouided, with all other deuises incident to delight, onely to allure the Knight without rest to stay there, till she had perfourmed her intent for her Daughters, which within few dayes after she cunningly compassed in this manner.

The wise Orbiconte calling her Daughters to her, the first whereof being named Iunona the second Palladia, and the third Veneria: gaue them especiall charge, to vse them∣selues in such sort to the Knight without rest, that he might enter into that familiar acquaintance with them, as each thing might sort according to her determination.

And one night while the Knightes and her Daughters were dauncing, she walked into her Garden, hauing in her hand a little Booke of parchment, couered ouer with black veluet: there framed she such spelles and charmes, and with secret muttering to her selfe, sent such a coniuration abroade, as nothing should preuent what she had conclu∣ded. Now doo the Knightes repaire to their chambers, thinking to rest themselues as they did the nightes before, and so in déede did Broantine, Liboran, and Licelio, for their chambers were so charmed, as they could not awake till the next day was verie farre spent: but as for the Knight without rest, while he soundly slept, and thought no harme, Iunona in her night mant••e came to visit him, and so well (it séemed) they agréed together, as the English Prince had the honor of her virginitie. Palladia and Vene∣ria follo••ed their Sister in fortune, the issue whereof was such, as when time came of natures appointment, they were deliuered of three goodly Sonnes, named Clariseo,

Clarisa••do, and Clarisano. These thrée children were care∣fully nourished, and in their life time perfourmed Knight∣ly deedes of armes, whereof we will speake héereafter as occasion serueth.

By this time had the Knight without rest remayned héere seuen dayes, when Orbiconte knowing by her arte, that the King her Brother would bid his enemie battell within foure daies, she came to the Prince in this manner.

Sir Palladine, séeing your affection is so forward, that you will assist my Brother in this warre against the King of Panonia, it is now high time to thinke on your depar∣ture, for I can assure ye, that within foure dayes the fight will begin. Nor can I entertaine any doubt or sorrow for the matter, because I haue alreadie foreseene, that our enemie will sustaine great detriment, losse and destruction onely by your noble and worthie behauiour, prepare yée therefore to set forward to morrow.

Madame, answered the Knight without rest, if it like you we will depart presently, the sooner shall we come to our iourneyes end. Not so, quoth she, you shall be ruled by my direction, for you haue time enough to trauaile thi∣ther. So taking him and his freends into her Cabinet, she gaue the Prince a meruailous costly gréene Armour, to Broantine she gaue one of Azure couller, with a Shéeld, wherein was portrayed, how he deliuered the Knight and his Sonne from death: and to Liboran she gaue a carna∣tion Armour, figuring in his Sheeld, the Shepheards life he led by the Castell of Brulanfurior. As for you Sir Palla∣dine, quoth she, I will not giue you any Shéeld, because, that you haue alreadie is better then any one héere, yea, beyond all other in the world, except one that is at London before your Fathers Pallace, which is reserued for one as yet vnborne, whose Father and Mother I knowe not, or the place from whence he is discended. After many other familiar spéeches, the knight without rest thus spake to the wise Orbiconte.

Madame, because I am loth to trouble your rest in the morning, I and my freends will now take our leaue of you, requesting you to dispose of me at your pleasure, in that I haue dedicated my life to your seruice.

Sir Palladine, answered Orbiconte, I know that my longe desires are now sufficiently acquited, and your readie good will I haue tried and found: depart in the morning what time you please, and still will I aduertise ye as concerning my affaires, ayding you to my power in all places where you shall come, especially to obtaine your destenied honor. Thus went the Knight without rest and his fréends to their chambers, where passing the night in some sleepes, they arose earely in the morning, and moun∣ting on horssebacke, they rode away merily. But the Knight without rest remembred, how this night he had not béene visited with his accustomed dreames, nor could he forget the words of the wise Orbiconte at his depar∣ture, when she said, that her long desires were sufficiently acquited, whereby he began to suspect, that she by enchant∣ment had caused him companie with her Daughters, but not knowing certainely what to thinke, he remoued his thoughts to matter of more valew.