Page 491

of the same colours: And the other sixe, their sailes, flagges, and streamers of mur∣rey sattin with yellow shrouds and tackling to the same. Their oares were brauely gilt all ouer; and they came decked, strowed, and adorned with many sweete flo∣wers, and garlands of Roses. In euerie one of them were sixe Nymphes apeece, ap∣parelled with short moresco gownes: they of the one fleete with crimosin veluet laid on with siluer lace and fringe; and they of the other, of murrey veluet embro∣dered with curious workemanship of gold, hauing on their armes a sleeue of golde and siluer made fit vnto them, and carrying their targets on their armes after the manner of the valiant Amazones. They that rowed these fiue ships, were certaine Sauages, crowned with garlands of Roses, and bound to their seats with chaines of siluer. There arose amongst them a great noise of drums, trumpets, shagbotes, cornets, and of many other sorts of musicke; at sound of which two and two togi∣gither with a maruellous sweete concent keeping iust time and measure, entered in∣to the riuer, which caused great woonder in them that looked on. After this they parted themselues into two nauies, and out of both of them one ship apeece of de∣fiance and answere came out, the rest remayning beholders on either side. In each of these two ships came a Sauage apparelled with the colours of his owne side, stan∣ding bolt vpright in the forecastle, carrying on his left arme a shield, which couered him from top to toe, and in his right hand a launce, painted with the selfe same co∣lours. They both at one time hoysted saile, and with force of oares ran one against the other with great furie. The Nymphes and Sauages, and they that fauoured each partie, made great shootes and cries to encourage their sides. They that ro∣wed, emploied all their force, the one side and the other striuing to saile with greater violence, and to make the stronger encounter. And the Sauages being welny met togither, and armed with their targets and launces, it was the greatest delight in the world to see how they were encouraged to this encounter, and how they sped in it: For they stoode not so surely, nor had not so great dexteritie in their fight, but that with the great violence that the ships met one another, and with the pushes that they gaue with their launces vpon their targets, they were not able to stande on their feete, sometimes falling downe vpon the hatches, and sometimes into the riuer. Wherewith the laughter of them on the shoare encreased, and the reioycing and triumphes of them, whose side had done best, and the musicke to encourage them on both sides. The iusters, when they fell into the water, went swimming vp and downe, vntill being helped by the Nymphes on whose side they fought, they made a fresh encounter, and falling into the water againe, redoubled the laughing of the beholders, and the sport with exceeding glee and meriment. In the end the ship with white and crimosin sailes came on so fast, and with such force, and her champion so steadie in his place, that he stoode still on foote, bearing downe his ad∣uersarie before him into the riuer. Which when the Nymphes of his squadron per∣ceiued, made such triumphe, with hallowing, and ringing such a strange peale of musicke, that the other side was halfe abashed, and dasht from any farther enter∣prise: But especially one proude and stoute Sauage amongst the rest, who, being somwhat ashamed and angrie at their foile, said. Is it possible that there is any in our company of so small courage and strength, that is not able to abide so feeble and light blowes? Vnlocke this chaine from my legs, and let him that hath prooued himselfe so weake a iuster, row in my place, and you shall see how I will make you conquerours, and confound our enemies in their owne foolish triumph. He had no sooner saide the word, but deliuered from his chaine by a Nymphe, with a braue