This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
Of Olivaires coming to the Turnament, and of the Dresses, and of his Victory.
NExt Morning, when day appear∣ed, Olivaires rise from his Bed, and went to prayers with the Hermit and when the Devotions were over, he opened the Door, and saw his Knight coming towards him with a Vesture of Crimson Velvet, which reached down to his Feet, and his Retinu•• clad in Red, with high mettl'd Steed•• deck'd with Trappings of Cloth o•• Gold, with golden Bridles and Orna∣ments
of beaten Gold admirable to ••••ok upon; two Pages led by the Bri∣••le a most gallant and Warlike Horse, ••lood-speckled, and on his Saddle∣••ow he bore a Helmet much more ••eautiful and strong than the former, ••nd also other noble Armour which Olivaires in a trice was armed with: And having left the holy Father to ••he Divine Protection, they went to ••he Turnament; when they were ar∣rived at the Piazza, they found that Helena, with the King and the La∣••••es had already got into their Seats to ••ehold the Justing, and give the glo∣••y to the Victor. He, having first ••aid low respects unto them, began to ••allop about, and make trial of his ••ew-made Steed, and he appeared as ••f it had been the God of Battel des∣cended from above to subdue the World: And after he had shew'd his ••exterity in managing, leaping, and ••oursing his Horse, he broke a strong ••ance against the ground, whose Splin∣〈…〉〈…〉s were burnt to Ashes in the Ele∣ment
of Fire, so far they flew alost▪ every one became astonished to see th•• Red Knight do such amasing things a•• he performed; yet known by all to b•• the same who the day before was Vi∣ctor at the Tilting: These admired Preludes being ended, the King 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Scotland's Son enter'd the Lists attend∣ed on by many armed Knights, the King of Ireland, the Duke of Brita〈…〉〈…〉 the Duke of Borbon, the Earl of Fla••∣ders, with an innumerable Compan•• of lusty and honourable Cavaliers. Al•• the Combatants and Maintainers of th•• Fray having enter'd the Field, 'twa•• judged three thousand had passed o•• either side; the Standard of Victor•• was defended by sixty Knights; an•• he who would have the honour o•• that day was to take it by force afte•• the Combating: All the Combatant had only one Lance apiece, and that being broken, they were with Fauche∣ons to determine the Victory. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from that part where the King was proclamation was given. Olivaires
as Victor of the Field, took his Stand before the fair Helena, and ravish'd with the splendor of her beauteous Eyes, as much as was sufficient to continue him Victor, made a Chal∣lenge with motion of his Lance to combat whatever Champion would come against him. Suddenly the Trumpet and Military Instruments began to sound, which caused the highest Heavens to re-eccho: King Maquenor would be the first 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make proof of his Lance, because he hated Olivaires, for that he had got the bet∣ter of him the day before; and spur∣ring on his Horse, he came suriously up to smite him; but Olivaires struck him into the Breast, and having past his Armour, stabb'd him to the Heart, so that down he falls dead on the ground; and also two other Cava∣liers came to incounter him in po∣lish'd shining Armour; he dealt like hasty Death, or laid them wounded flat on the Plain. so the Fray was spread from one part to the other,
and Olivaires appeared like a Lio•• among so many Herds, wounding and tearing Heads, Limbs, Bones, Flesh and Nerves; dismounting ma∣ny, and breaking the Horses Necks, or dashing their Brains out against the ground by a rapid overthrowing them: And when it came afresh into his mind, that for a divine Lady he was acting all this, it inspir'd double strength, and gave increase to his daring hardiness: His Sword was dy'd red with Blood, and his Arm was bath to his Elbow, and his Gantlet was full of, and all steep'd in Blood; his blows were more vio∣lent at the latter end, than in the beginning of the Battel; he cours'd about the Field from one side to the other, smiting, and laying prostrate all that offer'd to oppose him; so he made such way before him by his Valour, that he could easily gain the Standard without Blood, all scamper∣ing away; wherefore with great vi∣gor, and fierce aspect, he spurs for∣ward,
and press'd into the midst of the Sixty Knights, alone, without aid from any part; and laying hold on the shaft, wrests it out of the hand of the strongest man amongst them: This brave Exploit did above all the rest please the Judges, the King, and He∣lena, who was troubled at so much Blood being shed upon her account; but with great difficulty he broke forth from the crowd of the Horses and Men, holding fast the Standard in his Hand, and well commanding his Horse, and defending himself, and repulsing the Knights that came on him to redeem their Honour; then not being able to make any defence, and seeing the Standard born away, all the Knights fled, and the Combatants, as worsted and overcome, retired. Now Olivaires's Knight came to sa∣lute him with all his Train, and em∣brac'd him, and gave him much joy and honour of his Conquest.