CHAPTER XIII
After all these most excellent Princes were come into the counsel chamber, the Herald sounded his trumpet after the Turkish summons, then did all the states draw into the Great Hall, wherein a high Imperial throne richly ordered with shining cloth of Gold, every noble and estate placed correspondently to his degree, where in presence of them all the Herald was admitted, who coming with his coat of Arms lying upon his right arm into the bottom of the Hall, made three obeisances down with the right knee unto the ground, with a loud and distinct voice spake unto the Duke only, telling him that his sovereign and Master Sultan Alias Chan, the son of Murad Chan, the son of Rabeck Chan, the son of Mahomet Chan, and so upwards till he came to their great Prophet Mahomet, God on the earth, and Emperor of all the East. And then he began to reckon five hundred titles, with a long etc.... Unto thee Alphonsus Arch-Duke of Austrich, and there he declared the whole effects of his message, and at last with a great Bravado ended, and then he did on his gay coat of Arms, expecting their answer. When as the Duke craving licence of the Emperor to speak, answered ye Herald in most gallant and triumphing terms, commanding him to say unto the proud Turk his Master, that ere five days came about, he would trample his victorious horns under his feet, and ride in triumph upon his stubborn neck, and that in defence of himself and of brave Christendom he would leese[70] the uttermost drop of his blood, and to make it good he would not be in quiet till he had met his Master in the midst of the field, and therewith he drew out his sword, and all they with him, crying God and Saint Michael for the right of Christendom: then stood up the Emperor and avowed all that they had said afore him, commanding moreover the Herald to say to the proud Usurper, that seeing the quarrel would breed great effusion of blood, and yet he never the nearer, that he a man every way equal to himself, not only for the speedier advance of his battles, but also to have a certain end to such an uncertain enterprise, he would fight with him body to body, armed at all points after their own guise at any time within this fortnight, and Herald, bring me word (quoth he) that he will so do, and by my Honour I promise to give thee for thy tidings 10,000 Ducats. Then the Herald being highly rewarded was dismissed, and reported their brave answers unto the Turk, with all the great majesty of the Christian Princes, who presently went to counsel together, and so continued till other like necessary business called them away.
Footnotes
[70] Lose.