The First and second part of the history of the famous Euordanus Prince of Denmark With the strange aduentures of Iago Prince of Saxonie: and of both theyr seuerall fortunes in loue.

CHAP. X. Howe Gwaltero, with his company, staying the healing of his wounds, made his loue knowne to the Lady, with his successe therein, and of his departure in his quest.

THE Lord Gwaltero and his company, stay∣ing the curing of his wounds, which were most carefully looked vnto, and dressed by the same Damsell which had them in cure, was euery day visited continually by y^e La∣die of the place, who shewed herselfe so thankfull vnto him, that she almost neuer would depart frō his presence, which bred in him such ardent desire, that not béeing able longer to conceale his loue, one day shée béeing sitting by his bed∣side, none béeing in presence, but his Squire, and the dam∣sell that attended his wounds, taking her by the hand, and fixing his eyes stedfastly on her face, said.

Gracious Lady, I doe not knowe, nether can I imma∣gine, how these my speeches, which at this time I shall bée forced to vetter, may be by you accepted, yet trusting in the gentlenesse of your kind nature, haue made choise ra∣ther to open my griefe vnto you, then by concealing there∣of, or euer to languish in paine. Know then, that since the first time it was my hap (when I fought with Brandoll and his companie) for to see you, that then your rare and singular beauty, wounded me more farre deeper, then did either their swords or Launces, which since by your con∣tinuall courtisies, and by your many exquisite vertues, which I haue behold in you, are so much augmented and increased, that vnlesse you of your excellent bounty, take pitty and compassion on me, and with spéede yeeld some reliefe, vnto this my oppressed passions, I knowe not what to expect saue death onely, which if you should prooue pit∣tilesse, it would be most welcome vnto me: wherefore let me intreate you, to consider these my passions, and to ease them with pitty, and thereby shall you gaine vnto your

selfe for euer, a true Knight, and a constant louer. Thus concluding his speech with a most déepe sigh, procéeding from the bottome of his hart, he remained silent, attending her answere, which should be to him either as life or death, to which she replied.

My Lord, I cānot but muse at this your discourse, neither can I chuse but smile, to sée your honor so merrily disposed, to iest at me in this kind of sort, hoping that mirth is a signe of y^e amendment of your wounds, which to me would bee most ioyfull, séeing that in my defence you receaued them. But if these your spéeches procéede from you in ear∣nest, knowe then, that the beauty which you say hath in∣flamed you, in my conceit is of no such force, as to wound a man of your worth, neither is it likely that so sudden a liking as you speake of, should bee able to work any such effect, if my curtesies haue béene the cause, they were neuer more then you deserued, and therefore to be estéemed by you as a debt due from mee to be payd: if my vertues which you speake of, they alas are so fewe, and small, that they are not to be accounted of, but yet such I hope, which ra∣ther should giue you an occasion, to séeke to others, then any show to yeild vnto your lawlesse loue: for know for a suerty y^t Menea, for so was she called, regardeth more her honor & good name, then she doth all the riches or wealth of this world, knowing the one to be but momentarie, the other perpetuall: wherefore I beséech your honor to giue of these vaine sutes. But if you séeke to inioy me as your wife, which I thinke you will take scorne of, I being but a poore Lady, and descended but of a meane Parentage, in respect of your Lordship, yet notwithstanding consider I beséech you, the late death of my husband, whom if I should so soone forget, it would for euer be accounted a great ignomie, and shame vnto me.

The Lord Gwaltero, at these last spéeches interrupting her, replied, most beautifull Lady, thinke not that I goe a∣bout any way to dishonor you, neither that those my for∣mer speeches to be fained, but whatsoeuer I haue spoken

to procéede from the sinceritie, and bottome of my harf, which is, and for euer shall remaine yours, whilst the fates shall permit me to inioy this breath, which I wish no lon∣ger to continue, then I remaine your faithfull and constant Knight protesting before the almighty God: neuer to ac∣cept of any other wife, so you thereto consent, in witnesse whereof, I héere deliuer you this ring: then taking a faire Diamond from one of his fingers, he would haue put it on hers, but she withdrawing her hand, made him answere, that shee had made a solemne vowe to God, which shée was minded to performe, which was, that for one whole yeare, shee would neuer consent to marry with any one whatsoeuer, but if it pleased his Lordship, so to estéeme of her, as to accept her for his wife, at the end of that appoin∣ted time which she had set: he should find her most ready & willing to obey vnto his will, in any that might not bée to her dishonor.

Gwaltero gladded to the hart, with this heauenly conclu∣sion, and beeing as one newly reuiued out of some dead traunce, tooke her in his armes and kissed her, protesting that he would most willingly remaine so contented, vntill the fixed time were expired, and then God willing, he would returne and espouse her: in y^e meane time he intreated her, to accept of that his small Ring, which should be a cause for her to remember him by, which she then most willingly ac∣cepted, and in requitall thereof, gaue vnto him a Iewell of hers, which hee alwaies after either in Tilt or Turnie wore, being fastned in the crest of his Helme, and which at all times put him in minde of his Lady and Mistris. Thus by the comming in of Sir Cadrus, and Sir Brewes, with diuers Gentlemen and Damsels, which came to sée the Lord Gwaltero, their loue talke gaue ouer for that time, entertaining the others with diuers pleasant and merrie discourses, wherewith they accustomed to passe a∣way the time, euer thinking it long till they might be in their former quest, which was the sooner, for that Gwaltero being comforted, with the hope of future pleasure and con∣tent,

was healed much the sooner of his wounds, so that within fiftéene daies, hee was able to beare Armor: and finding himselfe indifferent strong, tooke order with the rest of his companie, the next day to depart onwards, on their way towards the confines of Denmarke, where they hoped to haue some ioyfull tidings of him whom they sought, or at least waies to méete againe with the Lord Menew, & Sir Henault, whom the Lord Gwaltero déerely loued. Thus ha∣uing taken order for the preparing of their iourny, the next day they all tooke their leaue of their kind hostis: and Gwaltero taking her aside, desired her with the teares stan∣ding in his eyes, to be mindefull of her former promise, as∣suring her, if God did grant him life and liberty, hee would returne against the fixed time by her appointed, to solem∣nize their marriage, in the meane time he would commend her into the protection of the almighty God. But she good Lady, not being able to speake for wéeping, held him about the necke, often kissing him, as one loth so soone to forgoe his companie, yet at the last, séeing no remedie, intreated him to remember her and his promise, vntill which time of his returne, she would spend her daies in prayer, for his safe and prosperous successe. Thus departed these two Lo∣uers, whom we will leaue for a while, to speake of other matters.