TO beginne particularly to wright of these attempts, and briefly to runne ouer [...]ache s [...]uerall action, the cause of the same is firste to be considered. After the arriuall of the French Ambassadours, and vpon thei [...] comming to the English court, The Nobles and Gentlemen of the same, desirous to sh [...]w them alcourtesie poss [...]ble fittest for such estates, and to sporte them with all courtly pleasure, agreede among them to prepare a Triumphe, whiche was very quickly concluded, and being deuised in moste su [...]ptuous order, was by them performed in as valiant a manner, to their endlesse fame and honour. The cheefe, or challengers in these attemptes, were these. [Page] The Earle of Arundel, the Lord Windsore Master Philip Sidney, and Master Fulke Grevill, Who calling themselues the four Foster Children of Desire, made their in­uention of the foresaide Triumphe in this order and forme following.

The Gallary or place at the end of the Tiltyard adioining to her Maiesties house at Whiteball, The excel­lent ineun­tion of the Triumph. whereas her person should be placed, was called and not without cause, the Castle or Fortresse of perfect beautie, for as much as her highnes should be there included, whereto the said Foster children layde Tytle and claime as their due by discent to belong vnto them. And vppon deniall or any [...] cpulse from that their d [...]s [...] ­red pa [...]rimonie, they vowed to vanquishe & conquer by force who so shoulde seeme to wit [...]stand it. For the accomplishing wher­of they sent their challenge or first defiance to the Q [...]eens maiestie: which was vttred by a boy on Sunday, the sixt [...]enth of April last, as her Maiesty came frō the Chappel, who being apparrelled in red and white, as a Martial messenger of Desires fostered Children, without making any pr [...]cise re­uerence [Page] at all, vttered these speeches of de­fiaunce, from his masters to her Maiestie, the effect whereof ensueth.

O Lady,The first de­fie or chal­lenge. that doth intitle the titles you possesse with the honour of your worthinesse, rather crow­ning the great crowne you holde, with the fame to haue so excellinge an owner, then you receiuinge to your selfe any encrease, keeping that outward or­nament? Vouchsafe with patient attention to heare the wordes which I by commandement am here to deliuer vnto you, wherein if your eares (vsed to the thankes giuing of your people and the due prayses of the earth) shall feele a stately disdayne to heare once the sounde of a de [...]ie? yet dare I warrant my selfe so farre vpon the reply deceiuing show of rare beauty, as that malice can not fall from so fayre a minde vppon the sely messenger, whose mouth is a seruant to others direction. Know ye therefore al onely Princesse, that hereby (for far of they are ne­uer) there lyes encamped the foure long h [...]ples, now hopeful fostered children of Desire: who hauing bin a great vvhile nourished vp vvith that infectiue milke, and to [...]o much care of their fiery fosterer, (though full oft that dry nurse dispaier indeuered to vvaine them from it) being novve as strong in that nurture, as they are vveake in Fortune, incouraged vvith the valiaunt counsaile of neuer fainting DE­SIRE, and by the same assured, that by right of inhe­ritaunce euen from euer, the FORTRESSE OF BEAVTIE doth belong to her Fostered Children, Lastly, finding it blazed by all tongues, ingraued in all hearts, and proued by all eies that this fortresse [Page] built by nature is seated in this Realme: These foure I say and say againe, thus nourished, thus animated thus entituled, and thus enformed, doe vvill you by me, euen in the name of Iustice, that you wil no lō ­ger exclude vertuous DESIRE frō perfect BEAV TIE? VVhereto if you yelde, (O yelde for so al rea­son requireth) then haue I no more to say, but re­ioice that my sayings hath obteined so righfull, and yet so blissefull a request. But if (alasse but let not that be needful) BEAVTIR be accompanied vvith disdainfull pride, and pride vvaighted on by refusing crueltie. Then must I denounce vnto you (VVoe is me, ansvvere before it be denounced) that they de­termine by request to accomplish their claim, And because they vvill better testifie to the vvorlde, they haue bene brought vp vnder the vvings of honora­ble DESIRE, this honourable forevvarning they sende you. That vpon the xxiiii day of this month of April they vvill besiege that fatal FORTRESSE, vowing not to spare (if this obstinacie continue) the svvoorde of faithfulnesse, and the fire of affection? Novve if so it fall out, the vvorthie knights of your Court (moued vvith passion in them selues) disdaine of my senders boldenesse, or partiall liking (vvhiche I moste doubt) to the maiestie of your eyes, will ei­ther bid them battell before they approch, or suffe­ring them to approch, will after la [...]or to l [...]uye the siege, They protest to meet them in vvhat sort they vvill chuse, vvihning onely it may bee perfourmed before your ovvne eies, vvhome they knovv as euen in iudgement, as daintie in chusing, vvhere if so they list. First at the Tilte in so many courses, as your self shall please to appoint. And then if any wil call them to the course of the field vvith Launce and svvord, [Page] they hope to giue such true proofes of their valler, as at least shal make their desires more noble, vovving on the other side, that if before the night part the fray, they do not ouercome al thē that come in against them, they vvil yeeld themselues slaues vnto you for euer? This therefore O Queene (greater in that you are Queen of your selfe, then in passing the vvhole compasse of the earth) haue I deliuered my charge, not as a challenge to your knightes? againste vvhome, (but in so iust a cause) they acknovvledge themselues vnable to match the meanest, But as a plaine proclaimation of VVarre, vnlesse the FOR­TRESSE OF BEAVTIE, that hath vvoon so ma­ny to lose themselues, be speedily surrendered: And novv it shalbe seene vvhat knights you haue, whom BEAVTIE may draw to resist a rightful title, And I for my pore part moued by that I see in you (thogh I serue your enemies) vvill daily pray that all men may see you, & then you shal not feare any arms of aduersaries: Or if enimies you must haue, that either they may haue the mindes of them that send me, or their fortunes in that they haue long desired.

At which day abouesaid for certain vrgent occasions,Vrgent ca [...] ­ses why the Challenge was deferd. the saide Challenge and Tri­umph by her Maiesties commādement, was deferted till the first day of May. At which day for like causes it was further deferred til the next Munday following, beeing the eighth day of May: And so till Whitson Munday, when they first began to perfourme it.

[Page] The said day being come, the foure Fo­ster children had made preparation to be­siege the Fortresse of Beawtie. And thereto had prouided a frame of wood which was couered with Canuas, & painted outwardly in such excellent order, as if it had bene ve­ry naturall earth or moulde, and caried the name of a Rowling trench, The order of the rovvling trench vvith most excel­lent inuen­tions. which went on wheeles, which way soeuer y^• persons with in did driue it. Upon the top whereof was placed two Cannons of wood, so passing well coullered, as they seemed to be in deed two fayre field [...] peeces of ordinances, and by them was placed two men for Gunners clothed in Crymson Sarcenet, with their baskets of erth for defēce of their bodies by them. And also there stood on the top of the trench, an Ensigne bearer, in the same sute with the gunners, displaying his ensigne, and within the saide trench was cunning­ly conueyed, diuers kinde of most excellent musicke against the castle of Beauty. These things thus al in a readinesse, the Challen­gers approched, & came from the Stable toward the Tyltyard, one after another in braue and excellent order. And the manner of their seueral entrings was as foloweth.

[Page] First,The Earle of Arundels entrie the firste day. the Earle of Arundell entred the Ty [...]teyarde, all in Gylt and engrauen Ar­mour, with Caparisons and furniture rich­ly and brauely embrodered, hauing atten­daunt on him, Two gentlemen vshers, iiii. Paages riding on foure spare horses, and twentie of his Gentlemen. Al which afore­sayde were apparayled in shorte Clokes and venetian hose of Crymson veluet, layd with gold lace, doublets of yellow Satten, hattes of Crymson veluet with gold bands and yellow fethers, and yellow silke stocks. Then had hee sixe tump [...]ers that soun­ded before him. And xxxi. [...]eomen that wai­ted after him apparailed in Cassock coats, and venetian hose of Crimson veluet, layde on wich red silke and golde lace, Duble [...]s of yellow taffatie, Hats of crimson Taffa­tie, with yellowe feathers, and yellowe worsted stockings.

After him proceded the Lord Windsore, The Lorde VVindsors entrie the first day. in gilte and engrauen Armour, with capa­risons and furniture, richely embroydered with golde, hauing attendant on him foure Pages riding on foure spare horses, and foure and twentie gentlemen, All apparai­led [Page] in short cloaks of scarlet, lined through with orange tawnie taff [...]tie, & laide about with siluer lace, Dublets of orange taw [...]y Satten, venetiāhose of orange tawnie vel­uet, blacke veluet caps, with siluer bandes and white feathers, and silu [...]red rapiers & daggers, with scabberds o [...]blacke velue [...]. Foure trumpetters, and [...]wo footemen in cassocke coats and ven [...]tian hose of orange tawnie veluet, and black veluet caps with siluer bands & white fethers, foure gromes of his stable leading of his foure horses, in cassocke coats and venetian hose of orange tawnie [...]affatie, and orange tawnie feltes with siluer [...]ands, and white fethers. Then had he three score yeomen in coates of O­renge tawnie clothe, with the Vnicorne of of siluer plate on their sleeues, and orange tawnie feltes with siluer bands and white feathers.

Then proceeded M. Philip Sidney, M. Sydneys entry. in very sumptuous maner, w^t armor part blewe, & the rest gilt & engrauen, with foure spare horses, hauing caparisons and furniture veri riche & costly, as some of cloth of gold embroidred w^t pearle, & some embroodred [Page] with gold and siluer feathers, very richly & cunningly wrought, he had foure pages y^• rode on his four spare horses, who had cas­sok coats & venetiā hose al of cloth of siluer, layd with gold lace, & hats of y^• same with golde bands, and white fethers, and eache one a paire of white buskins. Thē had he a thirtie gentlemen & [...]eomen, & foure trum­petters, who were all in cassoke coats and venetian l [...]ose of yellow veluet, laid w^t siluer lace, yellowe veluet caps with siluer bands and white fethers, and euery one a paire of white buskins. And the had vppon their coates, a scrowle or bande of siluer, which came scarse wise ouer the shoulder, and so downe vnder the arme, with this po [...]e, or sentence written vpon it, both before and behinde, Sicnos non nobis.

Then came M. Fulke Gr [...]uill, in gylt ar­mour,M. Fulke Greuils en­try. with riche and fayre caparisons and furniture, hauing foure spare horses with foure Pages riding vpon them, and foure Trumpeters sounding before him, and a Twentie men gentlemen and yeomen at­tending vpon him, who with the Pages & Trumpe [...]ers were all apparelled in loose [Page] Ierkins of Tawnie taffatie, cut and lined with yellowe sarsenet, & laied with golde lace, and cut downe the arme and set with loopes and buttons of golde, Uenetian hose of the same lined as asoresaid, laied with golde lace downe the side with loopes and buttons of golde, with each a paire of yel­low worsted stockings. And ha [...]ts of Taw­nie Taffarie with golde bands and yellow Fethers. Hauing thus all entred the Tilte yard, they proceeded on with the rowling trenche before them, which staied against the Queene, and they passed by, as though they would behold the Fortresse of Beauty. And so went about the Tilt, At last the boy that vttered the firste deflaunce pronounced these speeches to her Maiestie.

If the message lately deliuered vnto you had bene beleeued and followed.The second defie or cha­lenge. (O Queene) in whom the whole story of vertue is written with the language of BEAVTIE. Nothing should this violence haue needed in your inuiolate presence, your eyes which til now haue bene onely wont to discerne the bow­ed knees of kneeling heartes, and inwardly tourned, found alwaies the heauenly peace of a sweete mind, Shoulde not nowe haue their faire beames reflec [...] with the shining of A [...]moure, shoulde not nowe be driuen to see the furie of Desire, nor the fyery force of fury: But since so it is (alasse that so it is) that in [Page] the defence of obstinate refusal ther neuer groweth victory but by compassion? They are come, what neede I say more, you see them, ready in hart as you knowe, and able with handes as they hope, not only to assailing but to preuailing. Perehance you dispise the smalnesse of number, I say vnto you, the force of DESIRE goes not by fulnesse of company. Nay rather Vew with what vnresistable determination themselues approch, And howe not onely the hea­uens send their inuisible Instrument to ayde them. But also the very earth the dullest of al the Elements which with naturall heauinesse still striues to the sleepie Center,Meaning the musicke vvithin the mount. yet for aduancing this enterprise is cōtented actiuely as you shal see to moue it self vpō it selfe, to rise vp in height, That it may the better command the high & high minded FORTRESSE? Many wordes when deedes are in field are tedious both to the speaker and hearer,VVhervvith the mount moued and rose vp in height. you see their forces but know not their fortunes, if you bee resolued, it boots not, and threats dread not, I haue discharged my charge, which was euen when all thinges were ready for the assaulte, then to offer partlie a thinge not so much vnused as gratious in besiegers, you shal nowe be sommoned to yeld, which if it be reiected, then looke for the affectionate Allarme to bee fol­lowed with desirous Assaulte: The time approcheth for their approches: But no time shall stay me from wishing, that how soeuer this succeede, the worlde may long time enioy her cheefest ornament, which deckes it with her felfe, and herselfe with the loue of goodnesse.

Which speach being ended, the Rowlling [Page] trench or Mounte of earth was mooued as nere the Queenes Maiestie as might be, which being setled, the musike played verie pleasauntly, and one of the Boyes being then accompanied with Cornets, summoned the Fortresse with this song.

When that was ended, another Boye tur­ning him selfe to the Foster children and their retinue, sung this Allarme.

Which ended, the two Canons were short off,The shoo­ting of, of the tvvo Canons, the one vvith svveet vva­ter, and the other vvith svveet poul­der. the one with sweet poulder, and the other with sweete water, very o [...] oriferous and pleasaunt, and the noyse of the shoo­ting was very excellent consent of mello­die within the Mounte: And after that, was store of prettie scaling ladders, and the footemen threwe Flowers and such fancies against the walles, with all such deuices as might se [...]me fit shot for De­sire, All which did continue till time the Defendaunts came in.

Then came in the defendaunts in most [Page] sumptuous maner,The maner of the defendants com­ming in. with euery one his ser­uaunts, Pages, and trumpeters, (hauing some more, some lesse) in such order as I haue here vnder placed thē, with euery one his sundrie inuention, which for that some of them be mistical and not knowen to ma­nie, I omit therefore for bre [...]ties s [...]ke to speake of anie, yet such speeches as weare spoken or presented for them to her Ma­iestie, so manie as were, or at the least as I c [...]uld come by, I haue [...]re in their order placed them, whereby their inucntions for whome they were spoken, are therin plain­lie declared. Therefore I refer you to the reeding of them hereafter, But thus the desendaunts, entred the title yarde, one af­ter an other as followeth.

First M. Henry Grey, Sir Thomas Pa­rat, The defen­dant names that run at Tilte. M. Anthonie Cooke, M. Th [...]mas Rat­cliffe, Master Henrie Knowles, M. William Knowles, M. Robert Knowles. M. Frauncis Knowles, M. Raffe Bowes, M. Thomas Kel­way, M. George Goring, M. William Tre­sham, M. Robert Alexander, M. Edwarde Dennie, M. Herculus Meautus, M. Edward Moore, M. Richard Skipwith, M. Richard [Page] Warde, M. Edward Digibie, M. Henry No­well, M. Henry Brunkerd. And afterwards in the middest of the running, came in Sir Henry Lea, as unknowen, and when he had brokē his sixe staues, went out in like ma­ner againe.

So passing on one after another, when sir Thomas Parat and M. Cooke came to the end of the Tilt, ouer against the Queens Maiestie, one of their pages arraied like an Angel, vttred these speches vnto her.

Dispayre,The speeche of sir Tho­mas Parrat and master Cooke, to the Queene no not dispaire (moste high and happie Princesse) could so congeale the frozen knighte in the ayer but that DESIRE, (ah sweete DESIRE) enforced him to behold the Sun on the earth, wher­on as he was gasing with twinckling eye (for who can behold such be [...]mes stedfastly) he begun to dis­solue into droppes, m [...]lting with such delighte that hee seemed to preferre the lingering of a certaine death, before the lasting of an vncertaine life, suche is the nature of engrauen loyaltie, that it chuseth ra­ther to haue the body dissolued then the minde dis­liked, Thus consuming with con [...]ent, (a sweete sic­nesse is conceite) and pining with more then spea­kable passions, he suddenly beheld that Sunne to be besieged which he so deuoutly serued, wherewith boiling in no lesse disdain [...], then surprised with im­moderate pensiuenesse, he vttered these wordes: O Ioue, if thou mean to resolue nature into contraries, why doe I liue to see it, if into nothing, why doe I liue at all, if the foote scale the head, there is no rest [Page] if DESIRE ouershoote duetie, there is no reason, and where either of these are, there can be no rule. And so setting more sighes then may bee numbred by syphers, this present time, (ah greefe) this present time, that honest and fayre harted frozen Knighte died, (what said I) euen that which againe with grief I must say died, whose ghost making speedy passage into the ELISIAN fieldes (for what more swifte then a soule) in the middest of the infernall multi­tude, with s [...]re [...]ches, cryes and clamers, made both Heauen and hell to redouble this Eccho,By the Sun is meant her Maiestie, called before the Fortres of Beavvtie. O times, O men, O cu [...]uption of manners, the Sunne is besieged, the Sunne (O mischiefe) the Sunne is besieged which strange and vnacquainted tea [...]es, caused not onely murmuring amongest the Ghosts beneathe, but amusing among the Gods aboue, who aswell to represse the tumultes whiche might haue risen among the shaddowes, as to reuenge the pride which began to growe on the earth, sente downe an Angell with this commaundemente,Sir Thomas Parrat and M. Cooke vvere both [...]n like ar­ [...]our beset, vvith apples and fruite, he one sig­ [...]ifiyng Adā, [...] the other [...]ue, vvho [...]ad haire [...]ung all [...]ovvn his [...]elmet. Goe discende, and cause ADAM and EVE to ap­peare on the earth in that sort as they were in Para­dise, that the world may know them and wonder at them, [...]or seeing out of their loines haue issued those preposterous lymmes, I know none more fit to cor­rect them! Certes none more willing: They will at­tempte any thing for thy sake and seruice of that earthly, and yet (O straunge consceite) moste hea­uēly Sunne, for as they were before driuen frō their DESIRE, because they desired to knowe the best, so now shall they be driuen to their DESIRE whi­che they couet to honour most, This shall be their rewarde, they shall come neeere and yet shall not searche, and bee they farre of, it shall warme, A cloud may sometimes barre their sight, but nothing [Page] shall depriue them the sauegarde, yet commaunde them to be humble in affection, thoughe [...]uente, leaste they seeme to disdayne that pride [...], whiche they desire themselues,The Angell speaketh to the Queene The [...] [...]he higheste, delighteth in the shaddowe whiche [...] shortest, and nourisheth the tree whose roote grow­ [...]th deepest, not whose toppe springeth loftiest. This commission and counsell ended all thinges were in a moment accompli [...]ed with suche seleritie (for to the Gods time is tied) that they were sped as soone as they were spoken, And now most renoumed and deuine Sunne, Adam & Eue being present, vouch­safe to heare somwhat in their behalfs pronounced, Sir Knights, if in besieging the sunne ye vnderstood what you had vndertaken, ye would not destroye a common blessing for a priuate benefite: VVill you subdue the sunne,He speaketh to the chal­lengers in the behalfe of the tvvo knights, A­dam & Eue. who shal rest in the shadow where the weary take breath, the disquiet rest, and all com­forte, wil ye bereaue all men of those gl [...]stering and gladsome beames, what shall then prosper in the shining, but you will limbe it by the rayes. O rare exhalations, brothers you may bee to DESIRE, but sonnes ye are to ill hap, whiche thinkes you can not sincke deepe enoughe into the sea, vnlesse you take your sal from the sunne, Desist you knights, de­sist, sithe it is impossible to resist, content your se [...]es with the sunnes indifferent succour, suffer the Ieni­per shrub to growe by the loftie Oake, and claime no prerog [...]tiue where the sunne grauntes no priui­ledge, for being of the same mettall that others are, the sunne wil work the like effects, as she doth [...] o­thers, The Giants wold haue ben gods, if they could haue scaled the heauens & you no lesse then star [...]es, could you cōquer the same But as their throwing hil vpō hil did manifest their pride, but nothing further [Page] their pretence, So your laying challenge vpō claim, & conquest vpon challeng, may wel proue a wil but no worthinesse, A desire to reach, but no possibility to recouer, In which your soaring attemptes if you chāce to fal, the only cōfort you haue, is to cry with PHAETOn MAGNIS EXCIDIMVS AVSIS: But if no perswasions may moue your minds: Know ye proud Knights, there are that haue hearts as big as moun­taines, and as far aboue you in provvesse, as ye are aboue all in presumption, yet not so vaine (vvhiche ye terme valiant) to assault the sunne, and vvhy, be­cause it is impregnible, vvee content to enioy the light, ye to ecclipse it, vve to rest vnder the feete, ye to run ouer the head, we to yeeld to that vvhich no­thing can conquer, you to conquer that vvhich ma­keth all men Captiues. But vveare it possible, that head could deuise, courage attempt, or hand execute any thing that might shevv the depth of our vnspot ted Loialty, soone should be seene (and for your sel­ues to soone) that your enterprises should bee of as small account then, as novv they are of lightlihood, to deepe an impressi [...]n is engrauen in our thoughts, for the maiestie of that sunne vvhich novv pearcing our eyes hath fully subdued our hearts, that vve are prest in her defence to offer the vvhole vvorld defi­ance, In proofe vvhereof I am charged to throvve dovvne his Gauntler, vvhich vvho so dareth take vp, shall feele both the heate of their iuste conceiued quarrell, and the reproch of their ovvn deserued fol­ly, not my riding in breaking a fevve staues to ende the strife, but at Tournie or vvhat else so euer they can deuise or dare aduenture for to vvin the bene­fite of BEAVTIE, Thus moste renoumed and deuine BEAVTIE, vvhose beames shine like the Sun, haue ADAM and EVE aduentured to defend the Sunne, [Page] the same I call Beautie the lighte of the vvorlde, the maruel of men, the mirour of nature, on vvhich their encounter, if those fauourable gleams may fall, they vvil not onely thinke to haue done good herein, but to be restored ag [...]ine to Paradi [...]e, the one meaneth to repose his trust in a vvoman, vvho like Eve can­not be beguiled, t [...]e other to rest on a Saint, vvhich by a Serpent vvill not be tempted, Thus being pla­ced in the Garden of your Graces, O of all thinges moste gratious vvhere vertues grovve as thicke as leaues did in Paradise. They vvill take heedeto taste of the forbidden fruite, contented to beholde, not coueting to take holde, And for that it hath bin long argued, [...]nd no arguing can end? vvhether the first offence came by the crudelitie of ADAM, or the simplicitie of Eve, the one defending his faulte by sounde arguments, the other excusing hers by sharp ansvveres, they most humbly s [...]e for this, that either by Six courses betvvene them the quarrell may bee ended, or by your highnes peremptory sentence de­termined, for they both being in the vvorld are de­sirous that one might beare the blame of both, And vvhat herein your excellencie shall set downe, there is none shall gainsay, For whensoeuer the question shall be moued, No other reason shall bee allovved then this.

Elizabetha dixit.

This speech being thus ended, Sir Tho­mas Parat, and M. Cooke proceded back­ward on the other side of the Tilte, And when M. Ratcliffe came likewise against the Q [...]ene, one of his Pages pronoun­ced [Page] these speeches in his Masters behalf to her Maiestie.

So manie vvere the misfortunes, (most renoumed and beavvtifull Princesse) of the desolate knight my master,M. Ratcliffes speech to the Queene as neither the shortnes of the time vvil suf­fer me to repeat, nor the greatnes af the misterie to remember? But let this su [...]ise that some there vvere and so manifold, that Geometrie vvhere on the bo­dy of man hangeth coulde not beare being intolle­rable, not the minde vvhich consisteth in Arithme­ticke, number being infinite. Thus alvvayes crossed by fortune, vvhose crossing is no blessing, he deter­mined to seperate him selfe as farre from societie, as his actions vvere from successe, vvho vvandering through many desertes, yet finding as he thought no place desolate, happened at the last to come to a Cliffe adioyning to the maine Sea, couered all vvith moste vvhereon he vvas vvalking, much delighted vvith the sol [...]arie seate, but not vvell liking the cold scituation, he suddenly sunke into a hollovv vaulte, surprised at the first vvith feare, but seeing it at the last a place of succour, he accounted his former mi­series mee [...]ly appeased by this present fortune. In this Denne he vsed for his bed mosse, for his candle mosse, for his ceeling mosse, and vnlesse novve and then a fevve coales, mosse for his meate. A dry food God vvot and a fresh, but so moistened vvith vvette t [...]ares, and so salt, that hard it vvas to coniecture, vvhether it vvere better to feede or to fast. Here he gaue himselfe to continuall meditation, seperating his mind frō his body, his thought from his hart, yea deuorcing him self frō himself, in so much that with [Page] his strange diet & nevv conceites, he became so en­chaunted, that neither the remembrance of others, nor a thought touching himselfe coulde enter into his minde: An alteration seldome heard of, that the place vvhere [...]s he vv [...]s shrovvded in, shoulde make him to forget vvho he is? Liuing thus a long time for that no limme should seeme short, rising accor­ding to [...]s maner to vvalke in the mosse in the gris­ping of the day hee espied vpon the shore certaine men either cast avvay by shipvvrake, or cast ouer­borde by Pyrattes, vnto vvhome he vvent and per­c [...]ing by their pl [...]ints one vvhich lay dead amōgst thē to be their master, enquired vvhence they vvere, but they not vvilling to repeate their misfortunes, opened the bosome of the gentleman, and pulled out as crovvle containing a claime, a challenge, nay a conquest of BEAVVTIE. At the sight vvherof, sud­denly (quoth he) Beavvtie, and therevvithall apalled paused, entring by litle and litle out of his present M [...]LANCHOLI [...]S into his former misfortunes, who as one avvaked out of a long dreame, beganne thus to debate. O Beavvtie vvhere thy Fortresse is soun­ded I knovv, but what these brethren should mean I mar [...]ile, for as I am assured that to vvinne thee none coulde be so fortunate, so did I [...] that to claime thee none coulde be so fonde, vvhen as thou O deuine BEAVVTIE art of euery one to be desired, but neuer to be conquered of DESIRE. But as the Eagle beholding the sunne, cou [...]teth to builde her [...]est in the same, and so dimmeth her sight. So they vevving the brighnesse of BEAVVTIE are incensed to conquer it by DESIRE. And vvhat then? because she is inuincible shall I be indifferent. No, I vvill forsake this caytifly Cottage, and vvill take Armes [Page] to defende that BEAVVTIES CASTLE. Nothing shall remoue me from mine attempt, which being per­fourmed, nothing can mooue me, yea but shee hath seruantes alreadie a number, I but vnlesse I be there, not the vvhole number, but many vvere famous but none more faithfull, yet alasse, if thou go, thou shalt euer be infortunate, better alvvaies infortunat, then one disloyal, vvhich vvords being ended, he demāded vvhether they vvoulde in like case aduenture vvith one of no lesse courage then their master, but cer­tainly of greater affection: VVhose seruice he hauing vpon small entreatie obteined, for that belyke they were desirous to see the euent for the vvhich they had suffe [...]ed such aduentures, hee departed to his caue, hevving a shield out of the hard cliffe enri­ched onely vvith soft mosse: A double signe of his desire, thinking that nothing could manifest BEAVV­TIE so well as PITHAGORAS wallunt, a tender [...]yne and a hard shell. And novve most excellent and de­uine BEAVVTIE, deuine it must needes be that vvor­keth so heauenly,Here the boy deliue­red M. Rat­clifs shild to the Queene sith he is called from his solitarie Caue to your sumptuous Court, from bondage to liberty, from a liuing death to a neuer dying life, and all for the sake and seruice of BEAVVTIE: Vouchsafe his shielde vvhich is the ensigne of your same to be the instrument of his fortune. And for prostrating himselfe to your feete, he is here readie prest to ad­uenture any aduentures for your gracious fa [...]r.

Which speeche beeing ended,Here entreth the iiij. sons of S. Francis Knovvles. he retyred back as the rest. And af [...]er him came the foure Sonnes of Sir Frauncis Knowles, on after another, according to their age, [Page] and all in like armour, who comming to the end of the Tilt, stayed till these spee­ches were vttred by one of their Pages, who being apparailed like vnto Mercu­rie, pronounced these speeches in the Knights behalues to her Maiestie.

Report hath bruted all abroad,The speech of the foure sonnes of sir Frauncis Knovvles, pronounced by their page being appa­relled like vnto Mer­curie. that desperate DE­SIRE vvith a vvonderfull armie of affections hath laid his siege against the inu [...]ncible FORTRESSE OF PEEERELESSE BEAVVTIE, and that the chiefest cham­pions of this most famous enterprise, are foure of [...]incies fellovves, Fosterbrothers to DESIRE, and drie nurst by dispaire, valiant Knights, and honourable personages, vvhose hautie hearts deserue renovvne at least, for venturing to vvin the goldē fleece vvith­out MEDEAS helpe. The Gyaunts long agoe did scale the cloudes men say, in hope to vvinne the fort of IVPITER. The vvantō youth, vvhose vaxed vvings did ftie vvith soaring vp aloft, had scapt vnscorcht if he had kept a meaner gale belovv. So falles it ou [...] in this attempt, DESIRE vaunts to conquer BEAVV­TIES FORTE by force, vvherin the goddesse keepes continually vvatch and vvarde, so that DESIRE may dispaire to vvin one ynche of her against her vvill. Her stately seate is set so high, as that no leuell can be laid against her vvalles, and sooner may men vn­dertake to hit a starre vvith a stone, then to beate her braue bulvvarkes by batterie. No vndermining may pre [...]aile, for that her forte is founded vpon so firme a Rocke, as vvill not stirre for either fraude or force: And is there any hope to vvinne by famine such a forte as yeeldes continuall foode to all her foes, and [Page] though they feede not fat therevvith, yet must they either feede thereon or fast, for BEAVVTIE is the on­ly baite vvhereon DESIRE bites, and loue the chiefe restoritie that lady BEAVVTIE likes, so that she cā no more be left vvithout meat, then men can liue vvith out mindes: Of all affections that are, DESIRE is the most vvorthie to vvoe, but least deserues to vvinne BEAVVTIE, for in vvinning his sainct he looseth him selfe, no soner hath desire vvhat he desireth, but that he dieth presently: So that vvhen BEAVVTIE yeel­deth once to desire, then can she neuer vaunt to bee desired againe: VVherefore of force this principle must stād it is conuenient for DESIRE euer to vvish, nec [...]ssarie & that he alvvaies vvant, O rare & most renovvmed BEAVVTIE, O goddes to be honored of all, not to be equalled of any, become not novve a prisoner, your FORTRESSE is inuincible, no doubt DESIRE vvill content him selfe vvith a fauourable parley, & vvaight for grace by loyaltie not chalenge it by lavvnce, although he make nere so braue, the vvordle doth knovve, that Ladi [...] BEAVVTIE needes no rescue to rayse this siege, for that she sits aboue al reach, her heauenly looks aboue when she so listes can dazell all mens eyes. But though she liste not vse those meanes, yet it is meete that all her seruantes come and shevve them selues deuout to do her vvil [...] perchaunce her pleasure is to see the fortes tried of these iiii. FOSTER friendes. O happie, tenne times happy they vvhose happe shalbe vvith fauour of her D [...], to take in hand this braue attempt: In hope wherof these iiii legitimate sonnes of Despaire, bre thren to hard mishappe, suckled vvith sighes, and svvathed vp in sorovv, vveaned in vvo, & drie nurst by DESIRE, long time fostered vvith fauourable [Page] countenāce, & fedde vvith svveet fancies, but novv of late (alas) wholy giuē ouer to griefe & is disgraced by disdain, are come vvith readie hearts and hands, to proue against these other 4. that DESIRE doth not deserue one vvinke of good fauour from Ladie BEAVTIES smiling eyes, for threatning to winne her, forte by force? They dout not the victorie if on­ly they may find some litle shew from their Saint in fauour of their enterprise. If Mercurie haue saide amisse, blame those bright beames vvhich haue be­ [...]eft him of his wit, if well, v [...]uchsafe one becke to bid him packe avvay.

These speeches beeing ended, both they & the rest marched about the Tyl, [...]and so going backe to the nether ende thereof prepared themselues to run,The run­ning of the Tilte. euery one in his tourne, each defendant six courses againste the former challangers, Who perfourmed their partes so valiantly on both sides, that their prowesse hath de­merited perpetuall memory, & worthely woone honoure both to them selues and their natiue countrie. As Fame hath the same reported.

When this dayes sporte was thus accom­plished, the boy that vttered the defian­ces, in these fewe speeches tooke his goodnight of the Queene.

[Page] In the tryall of this debatefull question (O your selfe) then vvith vvhat can be saide more,the boy that vttered the defiance, in this speeche tooke his goodnighte of the Queene. you see that seeing begins to faile. Might the ordinary truce maker though no truce be treated, (if at least your presence make it not lightsome to vvrappe all in her blacke and mourning vveedes) perchaunce mour­ning that since night first, vvas the noblest DESIRE, haue bene subiect to vndeserued tormentes: And therefore these knightes by thaucthoritie of dark­nesse verie vndesirously are compelled to departe from vvhence they came. (neuer part yet ere they goe) Thus much they command me in their names to confesse. That such excellencie they find in your knights and in comparison of them, such vnablenes in their selues. That if Desire did not banish dispaire as a traytor out of his kingdome, it vvoulde haue al­ready vndermined their best grounded determina­tion: but no invvard nor outvvarde vvounde, no vveakenesse, no vvearinesse, can daunt Desire, nor take avvay the natural effects that follovve it. T [...]er­fore hauing left them no other courage then Desire, no other strength then Desire, no other beginning or ending cause but Desire. They vvill continue this harde and hardie enterprise to morrovve, in the meane time they can finde no place in their heartes that doeth not vvish you as svveet rest, as Psiche vvas conueyed vnto by the gentle Zephirus, and if it be p [...]ssible by the same gueste visited. They vvishe that vvhen your liddes looke vp, their Iuelles they may preserue them, to see to morrovv a better day thē this, & yet not so singuler successe, s as you may long, freely, & ioifully enioy; your selfe, to the delight of lookers, and vvonder of maikers: this said, the Knightes in order as they came departed.

The seconde dayes sport.

The nexte dayes showe was done in this order.Here ente­reth a most excelling, & braue chari­ot, with rare curious, and costly vvork vvith the four chal­lengers in it, vvhich cha­riot vvas very curiously shadovved vvith fine Lavvne. The four foster children of Desire, entered in a braue Charriot, (very fine­ly and curiously decked) as men f [...]re­wearied & half ouercome, The charriot was made in suche sort as vpon the top the 4 knights sate, w^t a beautiful Lady, representing Desire about them. Wher­unto their eyes were turned, in token what they desired, In the Lu [...]ke of [...] Charriot was conueied roome [...]or a full consort of Musicke, who plaied still very doleful musicke as t [...]e Charriot moued, the charriot was drawne by four horses according to the foure knightes, which horses were apparelled in White and carnation silke, beeing the colloures of Desire, and as it passed by the vpper end of the Tylt, a Harrault of Armes was sent before to vtter these speeches in the knights behalfe to her Maiestie.

No confidence in themselues,The firste speech the second day. O most vnmach­ed Princesse, before whome enuy dieth, wanting all merenes of comparison to susteine it, And admira­tion is expressed, finding the scope of it void of con­ceaueable [Page] limits, Not any slight regarding the force of your valliant knights, hath encoura [...]ed the Foster children of Desire to make this day an inheritour of yesterdayes action: [...]ut the wing of Memorie alasse the sworne enimie to the wofullmans qui [...]tnesse, being constantly helde by the hande of perfection, And neuer ceassing to blow the cole of some kind­led Desire, hath broughte their invvard fyer to blaze forth this flame vnquench [...]ble by any mean [...]s [...] by death the whole fewel be consumed, and ther [...] ­fore not able to maister it, they are violently bo [...]e vvhether desire dravves. Although they must con [...]es (alas [...]) that yesterdayes braue onse [...] should come to such a confession: That they are not greatly com­panied vvith hope, the common supplie [...] to Desi [...]es army. So as novve from summoning this Cast [...]l to yeld, they are fallen lowly to beseech you to vouch­safe your eyes out of that Impregnable Fortresse to beholde vvhat vvill fal out betvvixt them and your famous knights: vvherein though they bee so eu [...] ­pressed vvith the others vallure that a [...]ready they could vnnethe haue bene able to come [...] ▪ if the charriot of Desire had not carried them, yet vvill they make this vvhole assemblie vvitnesses so fai [...]e of their vvil, That sooner their souls shall leaue their bodies then Desire shall leaue soules: In that on [...]lye standes their strength that gaue them th [...] fi [...]st cou­rage, and must be their last comfort. For vvhat re­sistance is there vvhere not onely they are met with fo [...]ren enemies, such as stately disdain, vvhich looks from so high a Tower to pore Desire. That though (in it selfe) it bee greate yet in her eies (so seated) it seemes small or such on the other side as vnfortunat dispair, vvhich makes the count [...]ie so barren vvhere [Page] they lay their siege, that it woulde take avvay all the foode of fancie: But euen ciuill warre yesterdaye grew betwixt them and others, who beares the same badge of Desire: that they do so, as thus bestead they are brought to this fayer passe, to desire no more, but that this death or ouerthrowe, may be seen [...] by those eyes who are onely vnhappy, in that they can neither finde fellowes nor see them selue [...].

Which speech being done, the defendants came in, in such order as they came in the day before, therefore I shal not need to make a newe repetition of the same, sith al hath bene touched already. Then wente they to the Tourney, where they did very Nobly,Tourneyes, and Barri­ers couragi­ously tried. as the shiuering of the swordes might very well testefie, And after that to the barriers, where they lashed it out lustely, and fought couragi­ously, as if the Greekes and Troians had dealt their deadly dole, no partie was spared, nor estate expected, but eache knight indued to win the golden fleece, that expected eyther fame or the fa­uoure of his maistresse, whiche sporte continued all the same daye, And to­wardes the euening the sport being en­ded, ther was a boy sent vp to the queen being clothed in Ash colored garments [Page] in t [...]ken of humble submission, wh [...] hauing an Oliue brauch in his hande, and falling down prostrate on his face, and then kneeled vp, concluded this noble exercise with these wordes to her Maiestie,

Most renoumed Princesse of Princesse,The last speeche to the Queene in wh [...] can nothing obtein victorie, but vertue, The Foster children of Desire, (but heires onely to misfortune) [...]end me to deliuer in such wordes as sorrowe can a [...]orde their most humble hearted submission, they acknovvledge this Fortresse to be reserued for the eye of the whole vvorlde, farre listed vp, from the compasse of their d [...]tinie, They acknovvledge the blindenes of their error, in that they did not knovv [...] (hovv strong so e [...]er it be) vvithin it self to be no stronger vvithout it selfe then it pleased the de­sired, they acknowledge they haue degenerated frō their Fosterer in making violence accompany De­sire, They acknovvledge that Desire receiued his beginning and nourishment of this [...], and therefore to committe vngratefulnesse in b [...]ing Armes (though desirous Armesl) against it [...] They ac­lovvledge Noble Desire should haue desired no­thing so much, as the flo [...]ishing of that For [...]esse, vvhich vvas to be esteemed according to it selfes [...] They acknovvledge the least determination of vertue (vvhich stands for guard of this Fortresse) to be to strong for the strongest Desire, And there­fore they do acknovvledge them selues ouercome, as to be [...] to this [...] for euer, which Tylt [Page] they will beare in their foreheades, as their other [...] i [...] engrauen in their hea [...]s: For witnesse ther­of they present this Oliue branch to your presence, in token of your Triumphant peace, And of their peaceable seruitude.

VVhereby they present themselues as bondmen by those bondes, vvhiche the losse of life, can onely loose: Only from out of that vvhich was theirs they craue thus much, to giue sōe token to those knights vvhich may be iudged to hauedon best in each kind of vveapon, or vvho by his deuise hath come in best sort in this desirous strife, this being don, they being now slaues (in whom much duetie requires) for fear of offēce, dare say no further, but wish from the bottom of their captiued hearts, That while this realm is thus fortified and beautified: Desire may be your [...] aduersarie.

Which speech being ended her maiestie gaue them al praise and great thankes, which they esteemed so well & thought themsel [...]es rewarded according to their own wishing, And so they departed each [...] in order, according to their first com­ming i [...].