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.
The Confusion of the Court and City, up∣on the Rumour of Rhoxenors Death. Lucinda dies (with griefe) over her dead Sonne. The City being divided, the one part for Amandus; the other for Clodo∣mer; there happeneth a soure Skirmish. Amandus, and Pallante, taking an Arme of the Sea, recover the Kingdome of Polonia.
SUch a confused clamour as men make when eager fire hath fallen upon many Fa∣bricks at once, in some po∣pulous City, Mulciber chal∣lenging
the Heavens; or such a Tragick tone, as the Inhabitants of some besieged Town accord in, when their Furious E∣nemies are already entred their Chiefe Fort; Slaughter, and Rapine, Revelling in each corner: Such, and no other, was the wild Alarme given throughout the Court, and City, men mingled together in multitudes, but the more part knew not wherefore they were met together, the Courtiers being afraid every man of his fellow, and the Citizens expecting every minute to be buried in their own ruines.
Newes being brought to Clodomer and Lucinda, of the murther of their Sonne, (by their Generall Amandus hand) Grief, and Wonder (like two contrary winds striving for Soveraignty) a long time maintained a Civil War within them; but at length, Griefe got the upper hand, and so prevailed over their Senses, that for some minutes, their tongues wanted the use of their Creation; but at length, re∣covering themselves, (like another di∣stressed Priam, with his forlorne Hecuba) they set forward, to visit their dead Son,
whom when they beheld, what griping pangs their hearts endured, only those can imagine, whom Fate hath exposed to the like affliction. Clodomer could not speak for weeping; but Lucinda, falling upon her dead Sonne, tore her haire, bath∣ing his bloudy wounds, with briny drops, making this pitifull complaint over him.
Ah my deare Sonne (said she) is this the fulfilling of that expectation, my Selfe, thy Father, and all Lombardy had cause to have of thee? Could the cruell Destinies finde no other subject whereon to practice their Tyranny, save thee? Poore Lucinda! why did Lucina (pitying thy pangs) propi∣tiously ayd thee, for the production of a Son, predestinated to so direfull an exit?
She would have said more, but the greatnesse of her grief, at once bereft her, both of speech, and life, so that she fell down dead by her murthered Son.
This to behold, so exasperated the King Clodomer, that like one bereft of his wits, he ran raving up and down the City, be∣seeching his subjects to take pity on their distessed Soveraigne, and unanimously to
ayd him, in the discovery of Amandus and Pallante, who had at once bereft them of a most hopefull Prince, and a gracious Queen.
It was not long ere he had levied a Power, which he put under the command of Lucius, and Pamelius, (sometimes re∣nowned Captaines, though now by reason of their Age, they affected privacie) who marshalling his Forces, marched towards Amandus, and Pallante; who, with their handfull of men, had intrenched them∣selves on a plaine, three Leagues distant from the City: The King himselfe (re∣solving to fight in person leading them on as their chief Guide, and Captain.
Amandus perceiving their approach, re∣solved to give them Battell, and disposed his Forces accordingly.
Both Armies being now so neare one another, that they might easily heare the disputes passing on both sides; the King chusing a piece of ground, by nature ele∣vated above the rest of the continent, so that he might see (and be seen) of his whole Army, began to say as followeth.
I Dare be confident, that none of my loyall Subjects here, who (according to their du∣ties) are congregated with me, for the cap∣tivating, and punishing the treacherous, bloudy-minded Amandus, and his trayterous Associate, Pallante, but are able and willing to attest, with what Gentlenesse, and Pater∣nall care (as becommeth the Father of his Countrey) I have hitherto governed them: As also, what an hopefull Prince, and what promising Vertues were obvious in my Son Rhoxenor; and that my Queen, Lucinda, excelled all former Queenes, for the Love, and affectionate Zeale she demonstrated to me, her King, and Husband, and to the Sub∣jects of this Nation; both which, are made away by meanes of the afore-mentioned Traytors. Therefore, I shall not endeavour with elaborate orarory (my loyall Subjects) to kindle courage in your hearts, or to make you sensible, that (besides the losse) great, and infinite shame, not to be expiated by any after performances, will brand us all with the deepest tincture of infamy, unlesse we take just (but severe vengeance) on these sanguine homicides. Not doubting there∣fore
of your courage in so good a cause, goe on, and may Heaven crown your attempts with Victory.
Neither was Amandus slack to encou∣rage his men, but standing in the midst of them, made this Oration.
My fellow Subjects,
VVHom Love to wronged Amandus, (and in him to Justice, and Honour) hath invited to hazard your Lives and For∣tunes; be confident, that I desire not War, or have requested your Ayd, for the Vindi∣cation of any private grudge, or sinister ends of mine owne, but meerly for the preservati∣on of my own Person, and your Rights; both which (unlesse defensive armes prevent it) are like to be swallowed up, in that bottom∣lesse gulfe of Kingly Prerogative, and Arbi∣trary Power. It is not unknown to you (I am sure) with what faithfulness I have ever ser∣ved this faithlesse King; how often I have brought him home conquest, putting the necks of his enemies under his feet: And is it my reward, to have her, whom I love dearer then my life, (whose Vertues are so
splendid, that envy it self cannot fully them) thrown into a nasty Gaole, and branded with the ignominious Epethites of Whoore, and Strumpet, and all, because she denied to sa∣tiate Rhoxenors beastly Lust, whom Ju∣stice, and not my hand, hath sent to the o∣ther World. If this be tolerated, not one of you here present, shall claime the least pro∣priety in her whom he affecteth. Time will not permit me to dilate my self, suffice, you fight with me in a just and righteous cause; the truth whereof, I hope your swords will prove, (though your enemies treble you in number) On then couragiously in the name of Heaven.
Having finished this Oration, he led on his Army to joyn Battell with the Kings, dividing them (being all foot) into foure Battailes: The first, himself guided; the second, Pallante took charge of; and the third, and fourth, followed Venantius, and Palladius.
Clodomer ordered his Army (after the old Roman manner) in the fashion of an half-moone; the hornes whereof, were managed by Lucius, and Pamelius, and the main Body, by himself.
Both Armies joyning, it was Amandus hap to encounter Lucius; and Pallante, Pa∣melius; all (save the King, being on foot on both sides, for the suddennesse of the action would not permit the mounting of men, or to observe the method of Mar∣tiall Discipline.) Amandus had soon made an end of Lucius, cleaving his head, that his brains dropt out at his feet; and Pal∣lante had given Pamelius so deadly a blow on the face, that he cut his jawes clean in sunder. The King Clodomer shewed himself very valiant, with his own hands having killed Venantius, and Palladius, and massacred above an hundred of the vulgar sort, white Amandus, and Pallante, mowed down all before them, so that their hands were weary of the work of death, their weapons were drunk with bloud, and their bodies were burdened with bloud and sweat; so that, notwithstanding their forces were clean cut in peices, (being raw, unexperienced souldiers, meere Citizens, who till now had never been accustomed to the rigour of War) they had, by their single valours, vanquished the Kings for∣ces,
and taken himselfe Prisoner, had not an huge multitude (from the City) ap∣peared to his reliefe, armed with prongs, pitchforks, and bils, who come on so fu∣riously, that it was impossible, (and had been madnesse) to oppose them: And therefore (overpowred with numbers) A∣mandus having even then encountred Clo∣domer on foot, and forced him to forsake his horse (who was presently protected by those about him) leapt into the Saddle, ta∣king Pallante up behind him, being forced (on a desperate adventure) to take an Arm of the Sea, and swam over, to a part of that continent belonging to the King of Polonia; and Clodomer having gained this bloudy Victory, returned (with those of his Army, whom the late conflict had spa∣red, to the Citie.