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This news pleased Aurelius so much, that he resolved to make one among them, and shew his prowess for the honour of the English nation, against the proud infidels, and thereupon he provided armour, with a horse, sword, and a strong lance beating on his shield a golden Phoenix, to signify he was a loyal subject to the Virgin Queen and under it Neptune ⟨briding⟩ the ocean, shewing, that the sovereignty of the sea depended upon her will, as for his armour it was white, signifying innocency
Thus bravely accountered, he hasted to the lifts, to wait the trumpet's sound, where all the noblemen and ladies were in their different degrees clad in gold end gems, When on a sudden three turks, well mounted and richly armed, advanced with their fine mooned shields, and with a loud voice bid defiance, as the bridegroom's champions, to all the Knights in Christendom, which made Aurelius impatient to let them know what English valour was; but perceiving the champions of other nations preparing for the encounter he forebore until he might see their fortune, so that his honour might be the greater, by overcoming the conqueror's; nor did he amiss: for the Turks being of a monstrous size, and well experienced in feats of arms, at the first encounter cast them
