lde, and there Aparelled in rich
Vestures, the Laurel Crowne was set on his head, and so
continuinge for a certayne space, the garment and Crowne was
taken of agayne together with his other Apparell. The
executioner attendinge for commaundement to do his office, and
lifting vp his sworde to do the fact, the king desired to see
the countenaunce of Ariobarzanes, who neuer chaunged coloure for
all that terrour of death. The king seeing the great constancy
and inuincible mind of Ariobarzanes, spake aloud that all men
might heare hym, these wordes: "Thou knowest Ariobarzanes, that
it is not I, which haue wroughte thy condemnation, ne yet by
enuious desyre haue sought thy bloude, to brynge thee to thys
extremity, but it hath bene thy ill disordred life, and the
statutes of this Realme, which haue found thee guilty, and
thereupon sentence and death pronounced, and execution now ready
to be done, and the minister ready to aduaunce his arme, to play
the last acte of this Tragedy: and yet for that our holy lawes
doe geue liberty that I may assoyle and delyuer whom I list, and
them restore to their former state, if nowe thou wilt
acknowledge thy selfe vanquished and ouercome, and accepte thy
lyfe in gratefull part, I will pardon thee, and restore thee to
thyne offyces and promotions." Ariobarzanes, hearying these
wordes, kneeled downe wyth hys heade declyned, and expecting the
blow of the Sworde, lyfted vp himselfe, and turnynge his face to
the kinge, perceyuing his malice not so sore bent against hym as
the enuy and malice of his ennemies desired, he determined to
proue and vse the pitiful liberality and fauour of his
Soueraigne Lorde, that his Foes by his death might not Triumph,
ne yet attayne the thinge, for which so long they aspired.
Wherefore in reuerent wyse kneelinge before his maiesty, with a
stout and perfect voyce sayd these words: "Most vyctorious and
mercifull Soueraygne Lord, in equall worship and honour to the
immortall Gods, sith of thy abundant grace and mercy it hath
pleased thee to graunt me lyfe, I do most humbly accept the
same, which if I wyst should be prolonged in thy disgrace and
wrath, could not be pleasaunt vnto me, and therefore do confesse
my selfe in curtesie and liberality altogether surmounted and
ouercome. I most humbly then do geue thee thankes for
preseruation of my lyfe, hopinge hereafter to employ the
vttermost of myne endeuour for the benefite and honour of thy
Crowne and dignity, as ready