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. XX. Of a strange aduenture hapning in the Court of Saxonie, and how the Gentleman of the Forrest, and Iago were Knigh∣ted, and how the aduenture was ended.

THere was in the Kingdome of Spaine, a noble man called Segnior Adresto, famous for his vertues and Chiualry: and hauing passed o∣uer a great part of the world, in séeking and following of strange aduentures, alwaies hauing fortu∣nate successe in all his enterprises, especially in his loue, which hee bare towards a noble Lady of his owne Coun∣try, called Leonarda, daughter and sole heyre vnto y^e Duke of Tolledo: one who for beauty and comlinesse of body, was the only paragon of all Spaine, sought vnto by many, but only inioyed by Adresto, betwéene whom there grew so great loue, that whosoeuer had séene or knowne the same,

would haue sworne, that then loue there had béene no grea∣ter dietie. Which when the Duke her father vnderstoode, being loth to match her vnto one of so meane estate, al∣though for his vertues he might compare with any, yet was his liuings very small: therefore he often warned her to auoyd his company, and at length grew in great displea∣sure w^t her, threatning to disinherit her, if she did not obey vnto his will héerein. Which the young Lady doubting, at their next méeting, made him priuy withall, assuring him that for his loue she could be contented to forsake all. But yet séeing that in time her fathers good will might bee ob∣tained, she would intreate him for a while to absence him∣selfe: assuring him, that for her part, she would alwaies continue faithfull and constant vnto him, and neuer accept of any other husband, though thereby she were disinherited. Adresto hearing her kind and louing spéeches, aunswered, that séeing it was her pleasure, he was contented, although to be out of her presence would bee a hell vnto him: and whereas shée had made him so frée a graunt of her loue, he protested before the heauens likewise neuer to forsake her, and that before he would consent to loue any other thē her∣selfe, he would be torne to péeces with wilde horses: then deliuering each other asigne of their passed faiths, he depar∣ted. And within short time after left the Kingdome, trauel∣ling many strange and vnknowne Regions, till at last comming into the Kings of Ireland, hee hapned to fall in likingly with a beautifull Damsell of that Country, but of meane parentage: her father being but a Marchant of that Country. On whom he so doted, that he had cleane forgot∣ten, and forsaken the chast and vertuous Lady Lenarda: although the good Lady hauing intelligence héereof, by a friend of hers, a skilfull Magitian, oft times sent vnto him, to cause him to call to minde his former loue. At length the Duke her father dying, and leauing her sole Mistirs and Dutches of his Dukedome, shee hauing with great pompe & solemnitie celebrated his funerals, one day sent for her friend the Magitian to come vnto hor, of whom she demaunded if there were no meanes, to recall her louer

Adresto againe, without whom she was like to spend her life time in care and heauinesse. Adriano, (for so the Magi∣tian was called) made her aunswere, that he could not di∣rectly aunswere her demaunde: because that she (whom he so loued) wore alwaies on her finger a Ring, which was the only stay of his loue, which except they could get from her, it was impossible, euer to remooue his affection. Also this Ring had one other vertue, which was that whosoe∣uer did weare it, should not loose so much as a drop of blood in any battaile whatsoeuer: wherefore when he combatted with any one, (as oft times he did for her loue,) then had he the Ring. And vnlesse there could be found a Knight, that might by force conquer him in single battaile, and take away the Ring from him, it was impossible to get the same by any deceit whatsoeuer. Lenarda hearing this, was as one halfe besides herselfe, but being comforted by Adriano, (who assured her he would trie the vttermost of his skill to find out the Knight, as he had spoken of.) Then taking his leaue of her, he returned home: where by his art he framed a most rich and faire sword, excellent curious to the eye, and to cut, the best that was then in the whole world: this sword he inchaunted in such sort, that no man but hée to whom the conquest of Adresto appertained, might drawe the same: then bringing it to Lenarda, willed her to send one of her Squires therwith, to séeke out the Knight who should by his vallor recouer her loue: then deliuering it to one of her Squires, whom she estéemed for his truth and secricie, with this commaunde, that whosoeuer should offer to draw foorth y^e sword, should first make promise of a boone, which was to goe ouer into Ireland, and to combat with Adresto, accusing him for falcifying of his faith to Lenarda.

Thus the Squire (hauing the sword) trauelled to all the Princes Courts in Spaine, and Countries thereabouts: then into Fraunce, Italie, and Germanie, neuer finding any one that could once mooue it in the Scaberd: although ma∣ny stout & hardy Knights made triall thereof, to this great griefe, fearing his trauell should neuer haue end, nor his Lady ease of her sorrowe. In this manner hauing trauel∣led

through most part of Germanie: he arriued at the Court of Saxonie, desiring the Duke y^t his Knights might make triall, if it were any their fortunes to accomplish that, for which hee had trauailed she greatest part of Christendome. Then shewing his sword, hee declared, that bearing the same a whole yeere, he could neuer finde any one y^t might draw the same. The Duke wondring héereat, immediatly after Dinner, caused all his Knights to make triall therof, himselfe béeing the first, but al to no end applyed they their forces. Which when the young Prince Iago, and the Gen∣tleman of the Forrest beheld, they presently fell on theyr knées before the Duke, desiring his grace to grant them the order of knight-hood, hoping that for one of them this Aduenture was reserued.

The Duke béeing vnwilling at the first, by reason of their young age, that béeing knighted, they would hazard themselues in séeking after strange aduentures, aduised them to stay a yéere or two more, before they tooke so wai∣tie a charge on them: affirming that it was vnlawfull to dubbe any one, before the age of twenty, at which time they would be strong, and able to indure the weight of their Ar∣mour and trauell, and not before. All which could not cause them to desist from theyr sute, but still more earnestlie they craued the same, alleaging many sundry examples of those who at younger yéeres had inured themselues to as great labours, as Reynaldo at the age of fiftéene yéeres stealing from his fathers court, went into Palestina to the Christian Armie, where vnder great Godfry of Bullen, he obtained to be the chiefe scourge to the Sarasins, and without whom, it had béene impossible to haue wonne the holy Citty of Ie∣rusalem. This and many other such like arguments they alleaged, wherby at length they obtained the Duke to con∣sent vnto them: willing them for that night, according to the auncient custome, to watch in the Chappell. Then tur∣ning to the Squire, hee intreated him to tarry till the next day, séeing the two young Gentlemen were so desirous. The Squire, to satis-fie the Duke, willingly consented, al∣though

he had no great hope of theyr successe.

The two Princes carefull of their charge, hauing theyr Armor and other necessaries prouided, kept theyr deuout watch all night, sometimes accompanied by the young Princesse, and diuers other Ladies, they passed away the time till the morning: at what time the Duke cōming vn∣to them, accompanied with many Lords & Knights, with his owne hands buckled on theyr spurres, and then draw∣ing foorth their swords, gaue them the gentle Accolado. Then raysing them vp, desired GOD to make them both good and valiant Knights. Then hearing deuine seruice, they returned into the great Hall, to make triall of the in∣chaunted Sword, where first the Prince Iago as the elder, made tryall, but by no meanes was able to draw it, then taking it to the Gentleman of the Forrest, he said, Brother God giue you better luck then I, or else this Squire is like to indure more labour. True replied he, & I doubt it great∣ly, séeing that you haue mist: then putting his hands on the Hilts, he drew it foorth as easily, as if it had béene an ordi∣nary sword, to the great wonder of the Duke, and all the beholders. Then the Squire falling on his knees, tolde him, that the boone which he required, was to goe into Ire∣land with him, where he should combat with a Knight, bée∣ing the falsest Louer that might be: and therewith declared the whole discourse of his Lady and Adresto, as is before recited. Héere wee will leaue the Gentleman of the For∣rest, preparing himselfe to goe with the Squire into Ireland, to combat Adresto, concluding the first part of our History.