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THe Lord of Menew, and Sir Henault, ta∣king the direct way which they were infor∣med, to rescue the Lady, and her husband, rode on a great pace, till such time that com∣ming vnto the place, where the battaile had béene fought but a little before, found ye dead bodies of the auncient Knight, and diuers of his ser∣uants:
but for the murtherers, they could not knowe what was become of them, because they had taken a bie and vn∣knowne way, which ledde them as before is sayd, vnto their destruction. Wherefore taking their way towards the next Towne, they rode on hastily, minding to stay there vntill they might heare some newes of the Lord Gwaltero, whom they imagined would likewise arriue there, the next day at the farthest. But héereof being de∣ceaued by reason of the occasions before recited, after they had remained there some thrée daies looking for him, they departed towards the Sea-side, and comming to a Towne called Forefront, they found diuers Ships bound to seueral coasts, wherfore deuiding their selues, some to one Coun∣try, some into another, the Lord of Menew, & Sir Henault, being loth to part companie, shipped thēselues for Fraunce, hoping there either to find him whom they sought for, or else to purchase fame by their prowesse within that King∣dome: and sooner then in any other might it be obtained, if they showed themselues valerous, by reason of ye continual turnaments, which were dayly vsed there by the Nobles, and Knights of tha region. And being shipped, and hauing wind at will, they set saile so prosperously, yt within eight daies after they landed at Calice: where they a while stay∣ed, as well to refresh themselues after their comming from the Sea, as also to view the Towne and Country therea∣bouts, and to make inquirie, if peraduenture they might heare of him, in whose Quest they went.
Thus hauing stayd there twelue or fourtéene daies, not learning any newes at all of their infortunate King, they tooke their way towards the royall Cittie of Paris, where the King then kept his Court, with a great assemblie of Lords and Ladies, which were then drawne together to behold a great Turny, proclaimed by the Duke of Orle∣ance, by the Kings consent, against all strangers: the occa∣sion of which Turny grew by this meanes. The Duke béeing a lustie young Knight, was inamoured on ye Kings eldest daughter, a most beautifull and goodly Lady, who
for her grace, vertues, and beautie, had not her equall in all the kingdome of Fraunce, beeing called Emilia, whose perfections had so intangled his hart, that hee could not by any meanes frée himselfe from béeing thrall to her beautie: and thinking no meanes better to winne a fayre Lady, then by shewing himselfe valiant, hee continually frequented Tylts and Turnyes, oftentimes carrying away the chee∣fest prizes of valour: which was a meanes not onely to ob∣taine great loue, and fauour of the King, but also drew to him some liking of his Lady and Mistris, the Princes E∣milia, which she sometimes would make shewe of, by her kind countenaunce, and pleasant spéeches to him: which curtesies put him in such an excéeding hope, and pride with∣all, that thinking himselfe halfe sure of her loue, and that béeing grast with the same, no man was able to compare with him, neither in happines nor valour: one day percei∣uing the King to be walking alone, in a pleasant & delight∣full Garden, adioyning to the Pallace, came vnto him, and falling into some conference with him, at last intreated his Maiestie to grant him leaue to proclaime a Turny, which hee, and some certaine number of Knights of the Court, would defend against all commers, for the space of 3 daies. And that after, by the space of sixe dayes more, hée himselfe would kéepe the field, and defend against all commers, his Mistresse the Princesse Emilia, to excell all others in beau∣tie, whatsoeuer.
The King hearing his demaund, and considering the great danger which thereby might happen to him, disswa∣ded him from it, assuring him, that it would be impossible to continue against so many, as would hazard themselues in that enterprise: and that although he by his valor might ouercome many hardie and gallant Knights, yet at length, béeing wearie, & tyred with ouermuch labour, might per∣aduenture be vanquished, by one inferior to those whom before he had subdued, whereby hee should lose his former reputation, gotten with no small perrill and danger. This and many other matters, did the King alleage vnto him,
to cause him to giue ouer that enterprise. But hee béeing as is before said, so puffed vp with a selfe conceit, & assurance of Fortunes fauour, imagining that on whom Venus smi∣led, Mars would not séeme to frowne, continued still verie importiue, till at length, the King béeing ouercome by his earnestnesse, granted to his sute. Presently causing He∣raults and messengers to be sent abroade into diuers pla∣ces, to giue notice thereof: that euery one which desired to try his fortune in his Loues commendation, might be there to make triall at the day appointed.
In the meane time, the Duke ordained a place for the Tylt-yard, which was hard adioyning to ye Pallace, which he caused to be inuironed in with railes of great height, ap∣poynting at each end a large gate or entrance, that tenne Knights on horsebacke might enter in front. The space within the rayles, was of that bignes, so that 5000 knights might well turny togethers, & round about were scaffolds erected for the beholders to sit on, sauing that part next to the Pallace, which was open for the King, the Quéene, and their Lord & Ladies, who standing in the windowes, and battlements of the Pallace, might with more safety behold the Turny. Likewise he caused another place to be inclo∣sed, with onely one gate or entrance, hard adioyning to the part of the Pallace, where the King with the rest, might more conuenietly stand, to behold the single combats which by him should be foughten: and at the other end, he caused a rich Tent to be pight, which was of Blew veluet, sette thicke with starres of gold, and Flowre-deluces, shewing that he was descended from the blood royall. Vpon the top thereof stoode Cupid, all naked, with his bow and arrowe in his hand, ayming directly at a faire picture of Marble, which stoode fast by the said Tent: on the top wherof was placed the portrature of the beautifull Princesse Emilia, which was so artificially made, that it séemed to be the prin∣cesse herselfe: vnder whose féete were diuers places made, for placing of their pictures, whose Knights should be ouer come by the Duke.
In this sort was all things ordained against the turnie, when the Lord Menew, Sir Henault, and diuers other Knights, came into the Cittie, some two dayes before the Turny began, where they tooke vp their lodging in an ho∣nest Burgesses house, making preparation for such things as they should want against the day.