Gandalin shewed him from point to point what spéeches had passed betwéene the Princesse and him not only before the Emperour but also in the garden And of my faith sir saied hée you do her wrong considering the good meanes you haue both to satisfie her and your self for what excuse soeuer you can make you are not so sore charged on this side that you may not spare some time to goe and sée her which shee craueth at your hands That I wil doe saied Esplandian but I must find the meanes take you care for that said Gandalin and let me go sléepe for I neuer had more néed Goe said Esplandian be here again betimes in the morning Wherewith Gandalin tooke his leaue leauing Esplandian alone in great care how hee might find some conuenient excuse to leaue his companions in the extreamity but God prouided for him for the same night about an hour before day as he began to slumber he heard a most pleasant sound of musick which you must vnderstand came out of the great serpent that hee left in the castle La montaigne defendu which at the time was arriued before the town of Galatia but little did he thinke of any such thing or that Vrganda had ben therein because he thought her to bée in great Brittaine This mellody continued for the space of half an houre and more which done he heard such a noise of trumpets Clarigals Phifes and Tabers that sounded so high that the sentinels of the town thought verily the enemies nauy had ben arriued before the same to lay siege vnto it wherevpon they caused an alarum in the town each man running to the wals being all of that mind till day when they might be hold the great serpent wherein Vrganda was all hung with long pennons and streamers wherat Esplandian was so glad that going downe vnto the Hauen hee presently entered into a boat with Talanque Manely and diuerse other of the principall captaines to sée who might bee there And rowing néere vnto it they knew Vrganda that staied for them on the hatches stretching forth her armes spake vnto them said My good friends you are most hartily welcome I pray you come vp into my ship that I may imbrace you With that Esplandian entered and as he meant to salute Vrganda she knéeled on the ground to kisse his féet whereat he being ashamed tooke her vp and saied vnto her Madame I neuer thought you would haue takē pleasure to mock with me séeing I account my self much more bound to you then to any creature liuing in the world And therfore for Gods cause if at any time I chaunce to offend you punish mee I pray you in some sort or other Most happy Knight sayed shée The aide I hope for at your hands before manie dayes shall passe mooued mée to doe as I haue done wherefore I beséech you take it in good part And with that shee embraced him and after him Talanque Manely and all the rest euery man doing her great honour desiring her to shewe them the cause of her so suddaine comming thether My good friends saied shee you shal know it at some other time when better laisure serueth mean while I am to tell you that it is necessary for you shortly to go vnto the city of Constantinople where you shall enter all armed apparelled in the same armor I haue brought hither for you and thus must I tell you that if you should deferre it till another time it would be preiudiciall to you all Wherfore I counsel you to do it vpon the first day of the next wéeke assuring you to be as well receiued of the Emperor as euer were any knights which your ease and pleasure in his company shall continue vntil the rolling whéele of Fortune turning about shall bring with it manie trauels passions and aduentures which shal cause many gréefes and sorrowes both to you and others And the better to make you beléeue that all I say is true I tell you that I my selfe shall fall into two of the greatest dangers of my life that euer I had whether it bee here or in another place I knowe not And which is worse I cannot by any means auoid the same not knowing any cause how nor wherefore it should be so although it be in a manner ready to fall vpon mee Madame saied Esplandian before you shall receiue any hurt in our presence wee will all lose our liues to succour you My good child said she mans destiny of force must bee accomplished But I pray you let vs enter into some other talke for this maketh mee melancholy Madame saied Manely Is it not your pleasure to goe into the Towne I saied she and I pray you send for Norandel who at this present I knowe is at Alfarin and I wil giue you as great cause to reioice as euer you had for that within my shippe I haue brought the king of Denmarke wounded in a combate that hee fought against Garlante Lord of the Isle of Calafre that by force would haue taken two Gentlewomen from him And although Garlante bee estéemed a hardy and valiant knight yet did the king bring him in such case that vnlesse hee had craued mercy the king would haue stricken of his head which he spared vpon condition that during his life hee should neuer after iniury any knight which Garlante sware and vowed in my presence for that by chance arriuing there during their combate I heard what passed betwéene tham And because I perceiued the King to bee in danger of his person by reason of the great number of wounds he had vpon his body I would not leaue him but caused him to enter into my shippe and layed him in the best bed where now hée is almost healed Ha saied Esplandian What good newes are these of my faith I thought verily he had ben dead wherefore madame I pray you for Gods cause let mée craue the means to sée him with the Vrganda led him where he lay but when they saw each other Esplandian could not refraine wéeping with the great pleasure hée took to sée the king Neuerthelesse for that time they had no great spéech together neither would Vrganda permit them to do it doubting least the king being yet but weake and féeble might therby bée hindered of his health Wherefore she caused Esplandian to go forth and entring with her into the boat they rowed to the shoare from whence they led Vrganda to the best lodging in the town with as much honor as they could haue done to the Quéenes Brisenne or Oriane if any of thē had ben there in presence The next day Esplandian pitying the great number of women little children that had ben kept within the town from the time that it was takē said to his companions that it would be better to giue them leaue to depart from thence then to hold them stil for the the longer they continued in the town the
importunity he was content wherewith hee tooke his leaue of all the court and vpon a monday in the morning taking horse accompanied onely of maister Elizabeth and Sergil his squire hee tooke his way towards the Ferme Isle hoping to finde the great Serpent there wherein they might imbarke themselues CHAP. XV. How Esplandian riding towards the Ferme Isle was assailed by a strange knight that watched him in the forrest ESplandian departed from the king and hauing taken his leaue of all the court as you heard before tooke the crookeddest way hee could through woods and forrests towards the Ferme Isie thinking not to bee perceiued of any that might hinder his enterprise And hauing ridden thrée miles he entered into a forrest which hauing almost passed hée came vnto a great riuer wherevpon the king had built a house called Bellerose where oftentimes being on hunting hee vsed to resort And as he thought to passe the bridge he perceiued on the other side a knight armed at all points ready to fight that cried vnto him with a loud voice and said Sir knight you must aske me leaue if you wil come ouer for according to my promise I haue taken vpon mee to kéepe this bridge for the space of one whole yeare wherefore if you thinke good you may take some other way With that Esplandian was much gréeued perceiuing that either of force he must fight or séeke another passage wherfore he would willingly haue excused himselfe said Sir knight I pray you then shew mee which way I were best to goe for by me you shall haue no cause at this time to trouble your selfe You must returne again to London said he for other passage is there none vnlesse you will loose your horse and goe on foot Rather the I would doe so said Esplandian I will proue if I can win yours and therewith lacing his helmet tooke his launce and road vnto the knight who no sooner perceiued him comming but setting spurres to his horse ranne towards him whereby they met so fiercely together that both the knights fell off their horses in such manner that maister Elizabeth and Sergil thought verily they had slaine each other but they staied not long before they rose againe and laying hand on their swordes there began betwéene them the cruellest and most daungerous battell that euer was séene whereat maister Elizabeth much abashed said vnto himselfe Good God what may this meane I beléeue for certain that some diuell of hell hath transformed himselfe into humane shape to destroy vs all Meane time the two knights continued in most cruell fight still increasing their mights cleauing shields and armours in such sort that all the field was couered with péeces of the harneis and died with blood that issued from their bodies till at the last the knight of the bridge stept backe said vnto Esplandian Sir knight take another way and I am content to quite you of the combate for you are the valiantest knight that euer I dealt withall and it should displease mee much if by your wilfulnesse you would be cause of your owne death In good faith saied he I had done it at the first had it not beene the feare I had that you would estéeme me a coward but knowing very wel that the honour of this combate cannot bee had but onely by the death of one of vs or both together I will trie my fortune till I bee no longer able to weld a sword Is that true said the knight Then let vs sée to whom fortune will be fauourable And therewith couering themselues with that little of their shields that rested in their hands they began the combate crueller then before as though all the day they had not giuen a stroke so that after many cruel blowes with their swords they closed together and wrastling long time they sought to cast each other to the ground But séeing the little aduantage gotten thereby they began againe to lay on with their swords with such fury that Sergil looked for no other but when they should fall dead vpon the ground not béeing able to iudge who would haue the victory Whereat maister Elizabeth was so much displeased that hee could not abstaine from wéeping saying vnto himselfe Alas what fortune is this must the best knight liuing in the world and in the flower of his age lose his life at that time by so hard a chaunce Cursed be the day that euer he met with him that is the cause of so great losse And to say truth if God had not prouided for them the father had slain the sonne and the sonne the father for the knight of the bridge was Amadis de Gaule who being ouer curious of his sonnes glory would proue his force and the better to doe it the day before Esplandian tooke his leaue hee departed secretly from the court and staied for him at the bridge bearing an vnknowne armour where after many attempts on either part giuen Amadis perceiuing both their dangers said vnto Esplandian Knight you sée well you cannot ouercome mee and I assure you I neuer had to doe with any knight that euer put mee to so great extreamity wherefore I am content to let you passe But not I you saied he vnlesse you tell me your name I will not deny you that saied Amadis wherefore cause maister Elizabeth to come hether for I thinke we haue both néed of his helpe Then Esplandian called him vnto them meane time Amadis put off his helmet so faint and weary that hée was constrained to leane vnto a trée But when Esplandian knew him and perceiuing the fault he had committed he cast forth a grea◠crie and saied Alas wicked wretch that I am and therewith he fell vpon the ground whereat maister Elizabeth and Amadis thinking him to bee in a sound ranne to lift him vp but it was not so onely that it gréeued him hée had dealt in such manner with his father who said vnto him sonne although I am as sore wounded as possible may bee without death yet haue I not receiued so much hurt as conceiued pleasure perceiuing the valour I find to be in you wherefore bee not discomforted Notwithstanding he could not content himselfe but cursed his owne life being as he said the most vnhappy man that euer was borne of woman And continuing in that gréefe the blood in diuers places ranne out of his body whereby he waxed faint which maister Elizabeth perceiuing and knowing assuredly if remedy were not spéedily had they were both in danger of their liues hee saied vnto them I pray you for this time leaue off your sorrow and let vs presently go to Mirefleur not far from hence for you both haue greater néede of rest then of longer staying in this place wherewith he and Sergil set them on their horses and with great pain brought them to the castle where their wounds were dressed Such was the combate betwéene the two knights as you haue heard yet some write that
desire that daily more more increaseth in him to be your faithfull knight But before you procéed further it is conuenient you grant me two requests the one that neither you nor any other shall looke into the tombe vntill the morning that I returne againe with the keye to open a Cedar chest that you shall find therin the other that after you haue opened it you shall giue it me to carry with me to the place where my father kéepeth his hermitage therein to bury the bones of Matroco that died a christian as you haue vnderstood Carmelle my friend said the princes that am I content to doe neuerthelesse I am much abashed why Esplandian deferreth the time so long before he commeth to sée the Emperour Madame said shee I will tell you that to morrow meane time I pray you determin where you will haue our men to set downe their charge In the great hall said Leonorine that my gentlewomen may sée it at their ease In faith madame you shall pardon me said Carmelle this place is too open and ouer common to leaue so precious a thing standing therein I denie not to let them haue the pleasure to behold it but hauing séene it for the more safetie it shall be set into your owne chamber wherof you and none other shall haue the keye With that they that bare the tombe entered into the hall and set it downe till Leonorine and the rest of the gentlewomen had beheld it long and if Carmelle had not béene there assure your selues it had béene better visited than it was but she would not depart from thence till it was shut vp Which done taking her leaue as shée went out she tooke the Princes aside and giuing her the keye of the chest wherein Esplandian lay said vnto her Madame I leaue you in this tombe two inestimable treasures although their difference be great as you may will perceiue you being alone for it is sure that vnder this keye lyeth the thing that in all the world you most desire to sée without staying Leonorines answer she went out of the chamber and with Gandalin and his company returned to the ship leauing the princes in a maruellous doubt by reason of the words shee vsed vnto her there with did so certainely persuade her selfe that her friend Esplandian lay dead within the same that she was constrained to cause all her gentlewomen to depart the chamber only quéene Minoresse that staied to beare her company with that she threw her selfe on her bed almost drowned in teares began to make the greatest sorrow in the world Quéene Minoresse abashed at so suddain alteration knew not what to think but perceiuing her gréefe to increase still more more went vnto her and said Madame I pray you hide the cause of this sorrowe from me no longer for I sweare vnto you of my faith if by any means I may reléeue the same I will deale therin as for my selfe Leonorine that neuer ceased sighing could not answer her one word but with much importance at the last answered her and said Alas my good friend for Gods cause let me be in rest and let it suffice you that you know that I neuer was so desirous for to liue as I am at this present to die What Madame said the Quéene will you tell me nothing els No said shée In good faith then said the Quéene you shall do me wrong and I shall haue good cause to thinke the loue and fauour that in times past you haue shewen vnto me to bee altogither fained whereat I am much gréeued séeing I haue borne such a mind to you that I would neuer haue failed to hazard not only my honor but my life and soule both for your sake When the princes heard her speake with such affection she was somwhat better assured and thereupon said vnto her Séeing you are so desirous to know the cause you shall heare it presently vpon condition you shall promise me to be a meanes rather to hinder my daies than any waies to further them séeing I am fully determined to die You may yet well remember said she the first time that Carmelle came hither to bring vs newes of Esplandian sonne to the good knight with the gréen Sword that had commandement from his father as she said to come hither to serue vs in his place according to the promise he had made vnto vs being in this court Carmelle said that for that cause onely Esplandian had sent her vnto Constantinople to giue the Emperour and vs to vnderstand therof but there were other matters in the wind for shée came expresly to intreat me to be good vnto her master who for the great loue and affection he bare vnto me liued in the greatest paine that possible could be Whereupon it happened that being vanquished ouercome with an infinite number of reasons that she made vnto me I confirmed in my heart that which his renowme had alreadie imprinted in my mind and there with determined for to wish more good to him that to my selfe not that I euer thought to commit any fault that might redound to my dishonour but onely for the glory to haue so worthy a knight readie at my commandement whereby this fire did so augment in me that euer since I could not thinke on any other thing that vpon Esplandian with whose loue my mind hath béene to mooued that his long absence hath almost procured my death yet the hope I had from day to day to sée him hath made me able to sustaine my griefe with so great patience that neither you nor any other as I thinke could euer perceiue it in me But as the Saylor on the sea being in a tempest thinking at length to arriue at some hauen for to saue himselfe suddainly méeteth with a rocke that breaketh his shippe in péeces so I most vnfortunate Ladie hoping by the presence of him I so much desire to sée to be at the end of my great sorrowe am now fallen into the gulfe of desperation considering the spéech which Carmelle vsed to me who speaking softly saied in this manner Madame I leaue you within this tombe two inestimable treasures the one is the thing that in all the world you most desire to sée which maketh me verily thinke it can be no other thing than the dead bodie of Esplandian and that as it is very likely hée hath desired at his death to be brought vnto me to wéepe and lament ouer him as I meane to doe during the terme of my life which if it pleaseth God shall not be very long And saying so shée cast forth a great sigh sowning in Quéene Minoresses armes who being abashed to hear the princesse vse those words so far from the estimation she alwaies had conceuied of her knew not at the â—câ—â— what counsell or comfort to minister vnto her neuertheles considering the extremitie shee was in minding to prouide for two accidents that both at
talking with king Luisart Esplandian and other good knights Where knéeling on the ground she asked which of them was the knight of the great Serpent and his father Amadis spake vnto her and saied Gentlewoman I am the one and this is my sonne Is it your pleasure to speake with vs The gentlewoman casting hir eie vpon Esplandian maruelling at his great beautie spake said In good faith king Amadis I verily beléeue that this is hee for I haue heard him in diuers places estéemed for the same that nowe I doe behold in him Gentlewoman said Amadis if you came into our camp only to sée him you now haue your desire That hath not ben only the cause said she but to bring this letter which the Souldan of Liquie and Quéen Calafre send vnto you both wherfore hauing read it I pray you returne an answere With that Amadis hauing taken it in his hand the Gentlewoman departed out of the tent attending their resolution King Amadis hauing read it shewed it to King Luisart and the rest that were in presence wherewith there rose great controuersie among them concerning the refusall or acceptation of the combat for that the most part of them were of aduise it should not be accepted shewing diuers great and euident reasons to confirm the same as the greater number of enemies they had before them readye to giue them battaile if it happen said they that fortune should be contrary to king Amadis and Esplandian in whome partly consisteth our hope such hard chance would bréed great fear in diuers men that are now very willing ready to do the best they can Others held the contrary saying that it would be shame vnto them al for that that refusal only would much incourage the enemy but they were of this opinion that it might wel be required that the number of the combatants might be greater In good truth saie Amadis be it of two against two twenty against twenty or of greater number the victory is in the hands of God Wherefore in refusing thereof I should doe my selfe wrong and cause a great blemish to all Christendome that would not be defaced in long time after Besides I haue great hope of Gods helpe herein for whose faith and honour I haue vndertaken this voiage When Esplandian heard his fathers mind he spake boldlier and said That he would take that combate vpon himselfe alone not onely against the Souldan and the Quéene but against two others more with them rather then it so should be refused whereupon it was concluded that Amadis and he would fight and sending for the messenger into the tent Amadis saied vnto her Gentlewoman you shall tel the Souldan and the Quéene that I and my son are content to doe as they require wherefore let them chuse what arms they will and for the place it shall bee betwéene their campe and ours assuring them on the faith of a king that not one of our soldiours shall once remoue how soeuer we spéed which wee desire likewise at their hands and if it bée their desire to haue the combate fought this day we are content to doe it With that the gentlewoman returned and comming to the Souldans tent shée declared her message vnto thē being such as you haue heard wherof the Souldan was glad but especially the Quéene for the great desire she had to sée Esplandian wherefore shee asked the Gentlewoman what she thought of him Madame saied shee I haue in my life time séene many men and women that nature had indued with great beautie but by the gods I confesse it is all but painting in regard of that I haue found in him for hee is so faire and beautifull that the more I thinke thereon so much the more it maketh me cōceiue such beauty to be rather deuine thē humane That is much said the Quéene I know not said the gentlewoman what you meane by that word Much but I am wel assured if you had séene him as I did that you would say as much as I doe and it may be more Truly saied the Quéene before I enter in combat with him I will first sée him vnarmed and speak with him not as an enemie to an enemy but as friends commonly do one vnto the other Madame saied the Souldan séeing it is your desire it were good our Gentlewoman went againe vnto them to desire them to giue you leaue to come and visite them in their campe not to procure them any cause of enuy but to do them honour and for that cause to desire their safe conduct This counsell séemed good vnto the Quéene and without longer staying she sent the Gentlewoman backe againe vnto Amadis and Esplandian whom she found yet in the Tent whereas she left them With that she told them what her message was and the great desire the Quéene had to sée them before they entred into combat King Amadis could not refraine laughing to hear the Gentlewoman expresse the affection her mistresse had asking king Luisart what he thought therein Sonne saied hee deny not her request for I assure you since our comming hether I haue heard the Quéene to bée estéemed a wise and beautifull Princesse You heare our answere saied Amadis to the Gentlewoman let the Quéene come hether when she thinketh good for she shall be heartely welcome With that the Gentlewoman returned to the Quéene who being greatly pleased with that answere determined the next daye to goe vnto them But she knew not well what manner of apparell she were best to weare sometimes shee thought it fit to goe as she vsed when she went to bataile and then presently changed opinion thinking a womans apparrell would bee more séemely and conuenient séeing she went not to trie their forces but only to win the loue and fauour of Esplandian if she might procure the same And thinking on it all night long in the morning when she meant to apparrell her self she was resolued to dresse her as women vse to do thinking she had means inough afterward to shew her selfe in habite of a knight whereby shee might bee séene both in the one and the other sort Whervpon she caused her most precious robes to be brought vnto her and apparrelling her self forgot not any thing that might once beautifie or adorn her person or that in her opinion would deck her well the better to be liked And to bear her company she tooke twelue of her own gentlewomen so well furnished and set forth with stones and pearles that the like was neuer séene That done she sent vnto her ships for a most strange and monstrous beast wherevpon sometimes shee vsed to ride in great pomp It was as big as a great Dromadary the hair long somewhat yellow black spots his two eares hanging downe vnto his knées hauing but one eye shining brighter then a burning glasse and stood right in the midst of his forehead out of his mouth there issued two great téeth like hornes and although his
fountaine not farre from thence and was passing by when the knight spake vnto him saying Father God saue you which when the good man heard he was in so great a mase that for feare his pitcher fell out of his hand and brake in péeces Neuerthelesse by little and little he came to himselfe againe and perceiuing him that spake vnto him answered and said My sonne it is now twenty years past fithence I left the pleasures of this world and forseek my natiue soile to obtaine the grace of God and that which most abasheth mée is that since the time whereof I speake I neuer found man that as yet saluted mee in this manner and I thinke verely you are a stranger in these countries or els your spéech and apparell disguiseth you much Father said the knight true it is I am a stranger brought hether by such meanes that I neither know the country where I am nor any man or womā inhabiting therin for you are the first creature that I met since I arriued here of whom I might enquire assuring you that when I perceiued this crosse it reioiced my heart for it is the armes of the maister that I serue What saied the Hermit doe you then know the vertue thereof I answered the knight that I doe being well assured that vpon the like crosse our Redéemer whereof I speak suffered death and passion Alas saied the holy man you say true praised be his holy name that once before I die he hath giuen me the grace to let me sée a man on this side the sea that beléeueth in him assuring you sir knight that you and I are onely the two creatures in this country that are Christians for all the restare Pagans and idolaters And as he would haue procéeded further his spéech failed him doubting that hee to whom hee spake was but a fantasie or shadow of a man but at the last he waxt bolder and in maner of coniuration asked him if he were a mortall man or not Mortall answered the knight that I am for certain and withall a sinner which displeaseth mee much and if it abasheth you at this present to sée mee here I am my selfe no lesse abashed to sée you for without doubt the manner of my arriuall in this countrey hath béen such and so strange that I can render you no reason thereof but if you know the countrey where in wée are I beséech you good Father tell it me to put me out of doubt Gladly said the Hermite and with that he tooke him by the hand led him to his Hermitage and there sitting downe together vpon a log of wood the old man began to speake in this maner and said Now sir knight tell mee I pray you what countryman you are Father said he Great Brittaine is the countrey where in my youth I was borne and bred I know not if euer you were acquainted therewith How long is it said the Hermite since you came from thence It is fiftéene daies more since I was there said the knight did you neuer know king Lisuart saied the Hermite that in my time raigned therin Yes truly said the knight for I haue séene him many times how did hee when you came from thence said the Hermite That can I not certainely shew said the knight for hée was lost and led away from thence but by whom or in what manner no man cantell notwithstanding the great paine and diligence diuers of his knights haue vsed to find him out When the Hermite heard that he séemed very pensiue which the knight perceiuing thought in his mind that hee could tell him some newes where vpon he began to behold him well in the face to sée if hée changed colour with that the Hermite that well perceiued the Knights meaning said vnto him Truly Sir Knight not without cause haue I enquired so much touching King Lisuart but before I will shew you my reason why you shal vnderstand that I am of great Brittaine as well as you where as yet the greatest part of my kindred are liuing whome I forsooke at the same time that a Gyant lord of this country married with a lady who as then I serued and with her passed the sea not only hoping to reape some reward for my former seruice but as yong men are moued with a great desire to sée strange countries but it fortuned that my mistresse being forsaken of God as soone as shee arriued in this countrey left his holy law to receiue the law of her husband wherefore considering with my self that by reason as wel of my natural weakenesse as by often frequenting the company of these countrymen I might fal into some error I determined to withdraw my selfe into this place wherein I haue endured much paine and misery to the great daunger of my life by reason of the controuersie betwéene the law of Iesus Christ which I hold and the law of the Pagans that séeke daily to destroy it that without the fauour of my mistresse that would not suffer them to displease me I had not liued so long as I haue done among them but when it pleaseth God I wil depart hence and returne again into mine own country now you haue heard how I haue hetherto liued I pray you sir knight said hee shew mee your aduentures and who hath brought you into this place from whence very hardly you will euer be able to returne again but rather are in danger of most cruell death or to indure the most horrible imprisonmēt that euer was heard of which would gréeue me much not only for the great beauty and young yeares that I perceiue to be in you but for that you are my natiue countryman Father answered the knight you haue done mee great pleasure to shew me the manner of your life and bringing vp neuerthelesse before I satisfie your request tell mee if it pleaseth you wherfore when you spake of king Lisuart you séemed so sad which made mee coniecture that you know some thing touching him Sonne said the Hermit you shall vnderstand that a doughter of mine seruant to the lady whereof I spake not long since came hether to sée me and told mee that hee mistresse returning from great Brittaine whether shee went to deliuer a brother of hers out of prison brought with her very secretly a knight of great estimation as shee said neuerthelesse I cannot assure you who it is but as I haue learned since they say the two Giants sonnes were much pleased therewith which maketh mee doubt considering the newes you haue shewed mee touching king Luisart that he is most likely to be the man for shée is so well séene in the art of Nigromancy and Magicke that oftentimes shee procureth mischief vnto those that neuer offended her And in what countrey are wee now said the knight You are betwéene the marches of Turky and Gréece said the Hermite for this mountaine parteth both the countries but it is so strong not onely by
within them Thou speakest said the blacke knight as thy nature yéeldeth and I as vertue bindeth me for the rest let God worke his will Come in then said Frerion and defend thy selfe from mee if thou canst With that the black knight entred into a faire court paâ—â—d with white marble all galleried about and supported with pillers of Purphire in the middest whereof stoode the portall that entered into the house where an old lady accompanied of diuers yong gentlewomen stoode looking forth to whom the Giant went and knéeling on his knée said vnto her Madame I most humbly beséech you that neither for good nor euill which may happen vnto me in fighting with this knight not one of your house bée so bold to help or fauour me in any sort for I my selfe wil put him to death with this my trenchant blade and rising vp againe holding his shield before him with his cimiterre in his hand he marched towards his enemy who hauing God on his side to whom he recommended himselfe stood ready to receiue him Then there began such a combate betwéen them that their blowes séemed two smiths forging vpon their anuiles séeming like fire that the wind kindleth in the aire and surely the blacke knight had sped but hardly at that time had it not béene for the armour Vrganda gaue him that could not bée cut by any weapon for the good sword hee conquered in the rocke of the Enchantresse whâ—â—ewith hee strooke not one blow but he drew blood on the Giant â—rerion who neuerthelesse did meruellously both defend himselfe and assaile his enemy but by euil fortune as he thought to strike the knight on the right arme hee started backe and stepping forwards againe gaue the Giant such a blow vpon the helmet that hee cut away a great péece thereof together with the buckle that made it fast but although the blow was maruellous great and in a manner incredible yet was not the Giant any thing therewith abashed but still shewed himselfe as fresh as if hee had not fought all the day long Neuerthelesse the blood in such aboundance issued out of his body that the white pauement of the court was chaunged into red and therewith he grew so weake that it might easily be iudged he had the worst whereby he stil began to reuile séeking only to defend himselfe from his enemies blowes whereat the old lady that beheld them considering her sonnes extremity cried out and said alas my child is it possible I should sée thée murthered before my face and therewith in great hast shee ran thether thinking to part them but it was too late for as she began to goe towards them the Giant felde aâ— on the ground with two blows that the black knight gaue him one vpon the head where he was vnarmed the other right in the middle of his leg where with hee cut it from his body whereat the old lady was so gréeued that she swouned in the place being by her Gentle women carried from thence into hir chamber where they laied her on a bed cursing him that was the cause thereof neuerthelesse hee followed them to the chamber dore where the old woman being reuiued perceiuing him to enter began againe to lament and mourne and shedding great abundance of teares she said vnto him Alas thou cruel knight the only bereauer of all my ioy and felicitie art thou not satisfied yet But wilt thou like wise haue my life and my sonnes both Then I pray thée with spéed either execute thy wil or else depart from hence and take what thou thinkest good permitting mee to liue the rest of my miseraale daies in sorrow and care with these poor women but all her intent was to make him enter into the chamber which was so inchaunted that no man could passe the threshold of the dore but presently hee lost all his sences and fell downe vâ—on the ground as if hee were dead but little did the inchauntment â—â—aile her against the blacke knight because the shining sword had such a propertie in it that no enchantment whatsoeuer could hurt the bearer thereof Therefore the knight hearing the sorrow the old lady made hee went into the chamber speaking courteously vnto her said Madame me thinkes you should take the offence I haue committed on your behalfe in much better part considering such hazards are common vnto knights desiring to win honour and therefore I pray you appease your sorrow and shew mee the knight you brought hether out of great Brittaine When the old lady perceiued him so farre within the chamber without let and that he desired to sée the king she being as it were out of her wits cried as lowd as she could and saied alas vnhappy wretch that I am what haue I done for thinking to reuenge another mans death I haue procured the destruction of mine owne children and therewith shee sighed in such manner as if her heart would burst within her body and lamenting that absence of her other son said Alas Matroco where art thou now What vnhappy fortune hath thus seperated thée from thy brother and mee Surely when thou hearest of his death and at thy returne shalt find another lord of this castle I am in doubt thou wilt not haue the patience to put vp so great an iniury but thinking to reuenge thy selfe I feare this deuill will handle thée in the like sort he hath done the rest for sure he is no mortall man for if hee were hee had found more resistance in this place then he hath done Then speaking vnto the knight she asked him if he knew the man she held in prison I truly saied he it is king Lisuart whereof I am right sorry being well assured that kings elected of God as hee is for the gouernement of his people ought not to be vsed in that manner Wherefore I would haue you shew me where he is otherwise I will doe worse then I haue hetherto done I know not said she who thou art nor by what meanes thou hast so great power but I am well assured and I would neuer haue thought that twenty such knights as once this day I did estéeme thée could euer haue attained to the achieuing of so great an enterprice and much lesse to haue withstood my art as thou hast done so that considering thereof I suppose that this thy power procéedeth from him in whoÌ„ in my yong yeares I did once beléeue and since that haue forsaken him to follow the workes of the common enemie of all mankinde who according to his naturall instinction hath iustly rewarded me to my desert therefore it were but folly to denie thée any thing that art so surely defended by him to whome all thinges are obedient Follow me then said she and I will shew thée the king but as I thinke it is not he thou séekest And with that shee rose vp went into a darke chamber the knight following her then she opened an yron gate and said vnto
him goe in and there shalt thou finde the prisoner Ladie saied the knight if it were to fight I would not faile to doe your commandement but if by subtiltie I should be shut in prison you would laugh at me that I had no more wit but to put my trust in you wherefore goe you in first that whatsoeuer happeneth you may haue your part I sée well saied the lady that my labour is in vaine and all my art is nothing in respect of thée therefore I am content to doe thy will but we haue no light to sée Care you not for that saied he for I will prouide you light and with that hee pulled of the taffata that couered the scabberd of his sword whereby there was so great a brightnesse in the place as if the sunne had shone therein Then they descended into a caue where the knight perceiued king Luisart lie vpon a couch of straw with a great coller of yron about his necke and fetters on his legs whereby he indured no little paine whereat hee was so gréeued that for sorrow the teares ranne downe his eies yet would hee not disclose himselfe vnto him neither once vtter what hee thought but without making himselfe knowne said vnto him Noble king you haue beene ouerlong within this filthy place rise vp I pray you and follow mee When the king heard him speake in that manner hée made no other account but to end his daies at that time wherewith he could not refraine to wéepe and speaking vnto the old lady asked her if she knew him For saied hee since I entered into this place I neuer saw any knight nor any one that spake vnto me but that little sustenance I had was let downe at a hole from the top of this dungeon TheÌ„ she answerd him and in great despight said Thou accursed king if I had not knowne thée I would neuer haue taken paines to fetch thée so farre from hence as I haue done cursed bee the time when first I tooke it vpon mee for thou onely art the cause of my great sorrow and the sole instrument of my bereaued ioies In faith lady saied the king I know not what you meane and am very sorry for your heauinesse for I neuer sought but to doe honour and pleasure vnto all ladies and Gentlewomen that desired the same and for them haue I oftentimes enterprised many dangerous aduentures to the great perrill and hazard of my life and if it hath happened otherwise vnto you it is altogether vnknown to mee and wholly against my will wherefore I be séech you bee not offended with me but tell me where I am and in whose power I now remaine a prisoner in so great misery or by my soule I know it not neither can I so much as conceiue which way I came into this place only I remember that to second a Gentlewoman that a villaine would haue forced I entered into a tent but what happened vnto mée after that I know not but that now I find my selfe lying on straw like a théefe with yrons on my legs King said she the short time of thy continuance in this darknes hath not satisfied as I well hoped it would the great mischief I doe wish thée and that for good cause séeing that by thée onely I haue indured so much sorrow that if the heart and bowels were taken out of my body they would bee found as burning whote as flaming fire and especially for the new displeasure I haue nowe conceiued to sée thée so soone deliuered out of my hands being in good hope by thy long imprisonment to satisfie my losses past but yet I am deceiued for that fortune hath now made mee pay the vsury of my forepassed ioies hauing giuen thée into my handes from whence by the exquisite force of this diuell incarnate thou art now deliuered who hauing put to death the Gardians of this castle and slaine mine owne sonne hath constrained mee to bring him vnto thée which I neuer thought hée could haue done much lesse that euer I should haue yéelded vnto his request knowing the wrath of a woman not to haue any bridle or meanes of mittigation vntill her desired reuenge hath wrought the effect and so had it happened vnto thée without the force of this my enemy but in despight both of him and thée with mine owne handes I will slay my selfe if my aâ—cursed fortune bereaue mee not the sooner of my wretched daies Cursed bée both thou and thy King thou now hast found saied shee vnto the knight Now take him and doe thy pleasure with him I pray you then lady said hée vnlose his irons and helpe mee to lead him vp with that shee tooke the keies out of her pocket and opened the lockes of his chaines whereby the King rose vp vpon his féet and embracing the blacke Knight saied vnto him What great good or pleasure sir Knight did I euer doe you whereby you should purchase this liberty vnto me By my soule I sweare that besides the honour you haue obtained in this place you haue so much bound me vnto you that during my life I shall neuer forget your courtesie wherefore if you loue me let me know your name Noble King said the knight whosoeuer I am I account my selfe happy if many sort I may be able to doe you seruice as for the rest pardon mee if it pleaseth you and let vs goe out of this caue thanking God that oftentimes sendeth scourges vnto those hee loueth as in his heauenly wisedome he thinketh conuenient thereby to kéepe them in obedience vnto him The King pecreiuing well by the knights words that he desired not to be knowne and for the same cause kept his helmet on his head therefore hee determined not to mooue him any more but with that they went all thrée out of the caue and came into a goodly hall when the sunne began to goe downe CHAP. V. How that after King Luisart was deliuered out of prison Matroco Frerions elder brother with his ships arriued at the foot of the rocke called La Roche defendu and of the battell betweene the said Matroco and the blacke knight KIng Luisart the black knight and the lady being entred into the hall as they looked out at the windowes into the sea there entered a Gentlewoman and doing reuerence vnto the lady shee saied Madame your sonne Matroco with his ships is euen now arriued at the foote of the rock with him great numbers of other vessels that he hath taken vpon the seas What is your pleasure to say vnto him When the ladie heard her shee waxed pale and with teares in her eies answered her and said I would to God he were as farre from hence as hee is néere for my heart giueth mee he will spéed in the like maner that others haue done before him And as shee spake king Luisart and the knight looked into the sea and perceiuing the Giants fléet surging on the shoare out of wind
and weather among the which they knew Elizabeth Libee his nephue and diuers others that were bound in chaines making great sorrow but none of Matrocos men durst set foot on land hauing already ben aduertised by some of the castle of the great misfortune happened therein and for the same cause staied so long without till the Giant espied at the windowes the knight and the king looking vpon them wherewith in a great rage hée cried vnto the blacke knight whom he perceiued all armed and saied vnto him Thou accursed slaue is it thou that so cowardly hath slaine my vncle my brother and the porter of my castle When the knight heard him he answerd him and said I haue done my endeuour to make thée know that it belongeth not to such as thou art either to imprison kings or to molest and gréeue so many men as continually thou doest By all my gods said Matroco fortune fauoureth thée too much when at my arriuall I finde thée armed with the wals of this my castle for if I had thée here vpon the shore I would soone send thée fishing into the sea as I haue done many other rash and bold fooles like thy selfe that hast enterprised without cause to inforce my castle but if I continue here tenne yeares together I will neuer depart hence till I haue thée in my hands then shalt thou know how I vse to handle such as thou art Stay a while said the black knight there is much more difference betwéene saying and doing then there is distance of place betwéene thée and me Thy threatnings make me more assured wherefore now I feare thée lesser then I did before and that thou maiest well know it to bee so take thy choice whether I shall come downe to fight with thée or thou come vp to me Then shalt thou plainely sée to whome God will giue the victory either to thée that trustest in thine owne strength or to mee that trust onely in him The greatest oxen and fattest buls are oftentimes brought vnto the slaughter as well as lesser beasts So thou great beast I aduise thée to remember thy former life before worse happen vnto thée forsaking thy accursed faith which thou now holdest with might maintainest otherwise bee thou assured the wrath of God will fall vpon thée as it hath already done vpon thy friends That shall bee séene saied Matroco and if thou hast the courage to stay for mee I assure thée thou wilt bee glad to denie the villainous wordes thou now hast vttered Therefore cause the gate to bee opened for séeing thou puttest mée to my choice I will come vp to thée were it into the dungeon from whence thou hast deliuered that villaine standing by thée and therwith leauing his company behind him being all armed he began to mount vp the rocke and went vnto the castle but when he came to the yron gate which he found open because the watch had left it and were gone and saw Argantes lying dead hee was in a manner out of his wits not so much for the prowesse he knew to be in him as that he had from his youth beene nourished and bred vp in the castle by the Giant his father Neuerthelesse hée dissembled his griefe hoping to bee reuenged at his pleasure and going further in another place hee found the Giant armed all in gréene dead and freshly bléeding wherewith he was so moued that he staied and stood still and casting forth a great sigh began to crie out and saied alas Arcalaus my good vncle how néere doth the losse of thee goe to my heart wheresoeuer it had happened but especially being done within mine own castle wherein I thought long time to liue and make merry with thée Alas is fortune so cruell vnto thée that after so many trauailes and dangerous aduentures with infinite perils that in the flower of thy youth thou hast sustained thou must in thine old yeares come and receiue so cruell a death within my house which I estéemed as an assured hold and defence not only for me but for thée and the rest of our kindred and friends O immortall gods what vengeance can I take vpon the Traitor that hath so much offended me séeing that to cause him to die each day a hundred times were nothing in respect of the mischiefe he hath done vnto mée At the least if it were Amadis de Gaule so much estéemed of all men or any of his two brethren or all they thrée together my griefe would bee somewhat eased by reason of the sorrowes I would cause them to indure But what Now I am constrained to fight against one alone who by reason considring the trauell hee hath taken all this day ought already to estéeme himselfe ouercome and vanquished What glory then can I obtaine by winning victory against him Trewly as much as if I fought against a simple woman being as by nature shee is both weake and féeble so hee vnworthy of my presence will bee much prowder if I doe but make a countenance to fight with him neuerthelesse what blot soeuer may happen vnto mine honour of force hee must die In this manner did the Giant lament ouer the body of Arcalaus his dead vncle not mouing from thence till at last hee perceiued the blacke knight that stoode to heare him wherewith being somewhat ashamed he marched towards him thinking without hinderance to enter into the dungeon but hee found the blacke knight at the gate that boldly thrust him backe and saied vnto him Thou brutish and vnreasonable beast thinkest thou to enter in by force Whereat the Giant all abashed staied without and said Thou biddest me to come vp haue I thē done thée wrong to come at thy commandement No saied the knight but beholding thy countenance it séemeth thou wouldest enter by authority and therewith stepping aside he saied Now come in and doe what thou canst When the old woman with whom king Luisart talked perceiued thē ready to fight in great feare she ran out of the hall and fel downe at her sonnes féet crying out and said alas Matroco I pray thée and by the duty a child oweth vnto the mother I commaund thée not to enter into this combate for thou knowest well that of all thy brethren thou art onely left aliue wherewith my heart is so gréeued that had it not been for the loue I beare thée thou haddest found mee now at thy returne in as pittiful estate as thou séest thy brother Frerion neither is there any woman at this present liuing in the world that ought with better reason to wish for death then I. Alas what fortune is this that now again I must renue the sorrows which both time and long patience as I thought had buried in obliuiuion Alas miserable woman that I am I only haue forged the weapon that hath giuen the wound whereby at this present I receiue this dommage for vpon the day of my husbands decease thinking to reuenge the griefe
that my soule sustained I haue to the contrary aduanced mine owne shame and vtter ruine iustly receiuing the reward that belongeth vnto such as refusing the better part thinke to remedy one mischiefe by procuring a worse vpon themselues Madame said the Giant if at this present you haue receiued great losse by the death of some of your friends neuerthelesse you ought not to take it so offensiuely séeing they haue ended their daies in honourable combate as behooueth all worthy knights such as they were And as for me think you that for feare of death I will refuse to doe that whereunto by knighthood I am bound No no likewise what reason or what excuse should moue me being as I am both fresh and wel disposed to refuse the combat alone against one simple knight I deny not madame but confesse that affection causeth you to vse these words and shew the nature of a woman but you must conceiue think with your selfe that I answere you as it becommeth me preferring mine honour before your teares wherefore I beséech you suffer mee to take the small vengeance I can vpon the villaine that hath so much offended mee Matroco saied the knight thou reckonest before thine host I would not for all the gold in the world lose such an occasion offered as I now haue both for mine honour and aduantage Beléeue mee that neither thy mothers teares nor the duty thou owest vnto her as being her child can by any meanes prolong the end of thée or me if without dissimulation thou doest not by oath promise and assure mée to liue in as good sort from this time fâ—rwards as in times past thou hast liued wickedly Wherefore it were better for thée to make mee know by effect the Prowesse thou vauntest thy selfe to haue and for me to let thée sée the curtesie which it may bee thou shalt find at my hands if I ouercome thée When the lady perceiued that her prayers could take no place she left them and the two knights began to runne one vpon the other so brauely and with such fury that king Luisart beholding them thought he neuer saw so cruel a battell the which abashed him more was that hee could not presume how or in what manner the blacke Knight had found him in so strange a place and yet he knew him not sometime hee thought him to be Amadis but when he remembred the loue he bare vnto the lady Oriana that hee had newly married hee was otherwise persuaded and likewise hee remembred very well the combates hee had séene Amadis de Gaule make at Windsore against Dardan le Superbe and after that with Ardan Canile wherein hee vsed all his forces yet were they not comparable to those of the blacke knights who as then found himselfe as fresh and wel disposed to fight as if hee had not fought all the day before Againe when he thought it to be his nephew Esplandian for that Vrganda had foreshewed many wonderfull things of him he was soone dissuaded from that opinion by reason hée left him with the quéen his mother not once séeking to receiue the order of knighthood and although that since his departure out of Brittaine he might haue obtained that honour yet did hee estéeme it impossible for Esplandian to doe so valiantly at the first Further Vrganda had alwaies prophesied of him that the first valiant acts he should atchieue should be renowned and spoken of by his strange fearefull nauigation in the great serpent wherein he should be imbarked and for the blacke knight he knew he arriued there in a little barke vnfurnished whereby he estéemed it vnlikely to be his nephew Esplandian But hée thought hee neuer had séene so valiant and hardy a knight for the longer he fought the more he wearied and laboured Matroco Neuerthelesse hee continued fighting for the space of two hours together before it could be iudged who should haue the victory but in the end the Giant féeling himselfe wounded in so many places his armour altogether broken and his shield halfe clouen in two began to mistrust his owne force Wherefore stepping backe he staied his hand and saied Knight I pray thée let vs breath our selues a while and hear what I wil offer thée which cannot bee other then to thy honour and aduantage With that the knight stood still and Matroco began to speake saying I wonder sir knight what mooued thée to venture in this manner vpon this rocke wherein neuer any but thy selfe durst enterprise to come during my fathers life neither yet sithence that by his death I haue ben lord therof and besides this thy enterprise wherein thou hast done the thing that all others feared to doe before thée thoâ—â—â—st also slaine thrée of my friends whereof two of them as I thinke were the best knights in their time liuing on the earth whereby I haue iust cause to hate thee more then any man liuing But when I call to minde that thou hast done therein like a valiant and hardy knight I haue some reason to pardon thée and to estéem thee for one of the valiantest champions that euer I saw in all my life although I haue both prooued and vanquished many others longer practised in armes stronger then thy selfe Wherfore if the onely cause of thy arriuall in this place was to deliuer the king that looketh on vs I am content thou take and lead him hence in safety and for the same cause likewise I quite thée of the combate vpon condition that without long soiourning here thou shalt presentlie depart out of this castle that belongeth vnto mee When the blacke knight had heard him hée answered him and saied Giant as farre as I perceiue thou estéemest it a great enterprise that I haue done to come hether and find thée here within thy castle where by mee those that thou so much lamentest haue ben slaine but if thou knewest the maister that I serue to whom as duty bindeth mée I am obedient thou shouldest presently perceiue and plainely sée this enterprise by thée estéemed much to bee nothing in comparison of that hee is able to doe and bring to passe for that from him onely and none other procéedeth all whatsoeuer I haue done whereby of good right the glory belongeth vnto him and to the contrary you that are idolaters serue those that are accustomed to rocke and lul you asléepe in all kind of vices cruelties outrages thefts murthers and infinite other wickednesse which for a time doe prosper with you whereby you liue in honour riches and all worldly pleasures and so are nulled in all filthinesse but surely such manner of life may well bee compared to buildings erected vpon the sands that cannot â—ontinue long but are most sure to haue an euil end euen then â—hen they are estéemed to bee at the top of all their worldly felicity Like as it happened vnto Lucifer and his fellswes whereof it may be thou hast heard spoken Neuerthelesse if thou wilt
all that day hée had not eaten hauing supped they laied him in a bed where the Hermites doughter when shee came to sée her father vsed to lie and visiting his body to sée if he were hurt they found it much brused and blacke in diuers places but not wounded by reason of the goodnesse of his armour which no sword or other weapon could pierce then they annointed him with certaine ointments that appeased the sorenesse of his bruses wherewith hee fell on sléepe till the next morning CHAP. VI. Of the great displeasure king Luisart tooke for the departure of the blacke knight and what conference he had with Arcabonne mother to Matroco touching her vnfortunate life THe black knight being departed out of the castle he had newly conquered the prisoners entred therein among the rest king Luisart knew maister Elizabeth wherfore he rose vp sitting by Arcabonne Matrocos mother who as then leaned on her lap went to imbrace him asking him what fortune had brought him thether at that time to saue the Giants life being in so great extremity And it pleaseth your grace said he once this day I did not thinke hee would haue had so much néed of my helpe as he now hath But as I vnderstand by a knight that I met going downe the hill hee is in great danger of his life Neuerthelesse for the honour of him that commanded mee to helpe him I will doe the best I can I pray you doe so saied the king Then maister Elizabeth caused Matroco to be softly laied vpon his bed and being vnarmed searched his wounds and perceiuing them to bee deadly would not for that time doe any thing vnto them but stanch their bléeding leauing the rest till hee had slept wherein hee was newly fallen In the meane time king Luisart not forgetting what maister Elizabeth at his comming in had said vnto him asked him what was become of the blacke knight and it pleaseth your grace saied he as we entred into the castle I met him going secretly from hence and not minding to returne againe By Saint Mary saied the king haue I receiued so great aid at his hands and am I so vnfortunate that hee should depart from hence without knowing him Truly I am sorry I staied here to sée what would become of Matroco if I had not I would surely haue followed him and with much importunity haue craued his name Maister Elizabeth said he will you vpon your faith tell mee truly whether you know him or not If it be so if you will do doe me any pleasure hide it no longer froÌ„ mée for I neuer had so great desire to know any knight not only for the aid he hath done me but for the valiant enterprise at this present atchieued by him Your grace shall pardon mé◠if it pleaseth you said maister Elizabeth for it is true that I know him well but if I tel you any more I should do him wrong for hee hath expressely forbidden mee to doe it I sée well saied the king you will but increase the desire I haue to kâ—â—w him and that is worse by the same means bereaue me of all hope euer to sée him againe With that they entered into the hall where they met Arcabonne halfe dead with sorrow whome the king in courteous manner praied to stay a while asking her how her son did He doth saied shee as one in whome I haue as little hope of life as of the other that lieth dead in the court and to say the truth it séemeth that fortune hath wholly bent her selfe against me not ceasing continually to heap sorrow vpon sorrow to make me desperate Notwithstanding I know ful wel how to bee reuenged and that is in despight of her and her cruelties to bereaue my selfe of life whereby shee shall lose her power which by good reason I cannot well prolong séeing she hath not spared me one hower of rest since she first began still playing her part in tormenting mee but of all other my misfortunes none hath gréeued mee so much as the force of this knight by whose power saied she vnto the king I sée thée now deliuered out of my handes and from the cruell torments I had prepared for thée if accursed fortune had not withstood them Madame saied the king I pray you declare vnto me the cause of this your great mallice towards mee whether at any time I haue done you wrong or iniury whereby I should deserue it that wil I shew thée said Arcabonne not therein to doe thée pleasure but rather to gréeue thee more when thou shalt know and vnderstand that I was borne and bred in the same country wherein to my great despight thou hast raigned ouerlong for there I and Arcalaus my brother by father and mother were both begotten and brought vp in the art of Nigromancy which oftentimes we haue practised put in effect therewith to torment diuers persons that neuer did offend vs. In the which art as age and knowledge increased I growing very expert in the end became acquainted with Cartadaque as then lord of this castle with whom I grew in so great familiarity that he married me and with him euer fithence haue dwelt here in this castle where not long after I was deliuered of a sonne called Lindoraque after that of another named Matroco that now lieth in this bed and lastly of the third called Frerion whome thou hast slaine and my brother also that went to helpe Argantes the Porter of this castle And being thus married vnto such a husband as Cartadaque was so much feared and redoubted in all places and hauing thrée of the most valiant and worthy knights to my sons that euer liued I was so eleuated in pride and so little estéemed of cruell fortune that I thought it vnpossible for her to work me any woe But by tract of time I found it otherwise for by little and little shee hath wholly chaunged my ioy into most gréeuous sorrow and wilt thou know how Then I thinke thou doest yet remember the discord that long sithence happened betwéene thée and Childadan king of Ireland and of the battaile wherein thou ouercammest him where my deceased husband minding to bee present expressely departed from hence thether and as accursed fortune would tooke my sonne Lindoraque with him and hauing trauailed many countries at the last arriued at the place where my brother staied for them trauailing all three together with full purpose and intent to doe thée all the iniury they could and they had scarce entered into a forrest not farre from London but they met a knight as then surnamed Le Beautenebreux riding in company of a Gentlewoman that ware on her head a Cal all set with strange flowers whome my sonne as accursed fortune would liked so wel that with a great desire to haue hir to present vnto the Lady Madasine his loue commanded one of his squires to go fetch her to him which the knight
satisfie our desires defend your selfe from mee Wherewith hee set spurres to his horse and Esplandian likewise who at the first encounter cast him so strongly out of his saddle that in long time after hee could not rise againe and therewith his launce brake with that the second knight came forwards willing Esplandian to take another launce for he meant to reuenge his companion Which Amadis hearing sent him his launce that he willingly receiued and being in a rage to sée himselfe assailed without cause hée ranne against the knight and strake him so surely on the brest that he ouerthrew him both horse and man Well said the king to the standers by iudge you if it be possible to doe better My lord said Agraies I neuer saw two fairer strokes giuen with a launce the rest I will leaue to consider of till I know those that ranne against him Let vs sée the end saied the king and calling a Squire hee sent his launce vnto Esplandian for as then the third knight prepared himselfe to runne and spurring their horses set forwards so fiercely that breaking their launces they met so strongly body and shields and heads together that Esplandian had much adoe to sit vpon his horse and the other had such a fall that he lay stil vpon the ground Whereat the fourth knight being abashed saied vnto himselfe Truly both the king and Vrganâ—â— â—â—ue good reason as they do to assure the valor and Prowesse of this knight séeing it is much more then they warrant it to bee Neuerthelesse I must of force trie him otherwise I should doe both my selfe and him wrong And with that he called Esplandian and said Knight Although I well know the small courtesie that I and my companions haue shewed vnto you yet I must not refuse to doe the same that they haue done before me wherefore I pray you send to some of your company for another launce that we may sée who shall beare the honour of this enterprise I will doe it saied hee séeing you constraine me therevnto vpon condition that if I can I will serue you in the like sort I haue done your companions With that Gransador that heard them speake gaue him his launce which he presently charging they met together with such force that their launces brake close vnto their hands neither of them remouing out his saddle wherefore the knight of the forrest turned to Esplandian and saied Sir Knight let vs yet trie one blow more and I will quite you for this time You might content your selfe said hée with that is done but séeing you are so void of reason I am content to trie it with you till one of vs bee beaten off his horse Then he sent Sergil to fetch another lance and he brought him one some what bigger and shorter then those hee had before wherewith hee strooke the knight of the forrest so valiantly that he ouerthrew him himself being constrained to imbrace his horse about the necke or else he had fallen as the other did that lay on the ground yet he rose before Esplandian had runne out his course and as he returned barke he staied him by the armour and saied vnto him Before God sir knight you haue sufficiently shewed that in valour and Prowesse you are second to none but to your selfe but hee answered not a word but holding downe his head ashamed of that had happened vnto him passed forth With that the king came thether to knowe what knights they were that had ben ouerthrowne among the which he knew Galaor for hee had put off his helmet to do him honour when he saw him come wherat the king was so well pleased that he alighted of his horse and ranne to imbrace him the like did Amadis saying vnto him with a smiling countenaunce How now brother Galaor how long haue you vsed to be a kéeper of the high waies You sée said hee that I and my companions haue sought to trie whether this knight be of such force as we haue found him and what hath happened you may well iudge when Esplandian vnderstood his vncle Galaor fearing to haue offended hee lighted off his horse and knéeling downe before him asked pardon for his fault Nephew saied hée it is I that haue done the wrong and therefore I tolde the king that you are a better knight then I and maruaile not if I sought to prooue it Because I thought to doe it with mine honour but I found the contrary which from henceforth shal make me thinke the things foreshewed of you will bee accomplished so well that the glory of your father and the reputation by many knights in times past obtained shall from henceforth bee extinguished you hauing so easily ouerthrowne thrée of the best knights in great Brittaine and my selfe the fourth What are they said the king My lord said Galaor the first that ranne was Sendale of Gonaste the second Galuanes the third Angriote d'estrauaulx and my selfe hath done worse then they Wherat the king and al the company began to laugh And imbracing them caused them to mount on horsebacke riding towards London where in the way the King praied them to tell him howe this enterprise was deuised My Lord saied Galaor hauing vnderstoode by the danish Gentlewoman that my lady Oriane not long since sent vnto the Quéene to bring her newes of your returne and what had happened vnto you during your imprisonment the valiant acts by you declared of my nephew Esplandian wee conceiued such a iealousie against him estéeming the honour you did him thereby to procéed rather of fatherly loue then otherwise that wée determimined secretly to depart out of London to proue his force as now you haue well séene and to moue him therevnto we sent the gentlewoman with the message you haue heard Of my faith saied the king the deuise was good and hath fallen out well In this manner deuising of sundry things hee came to Mirefleur where the Quéen met him praising God for his vnexpected return and considering his trouble past with the gréefe shee had for his long absence séeing him there safe and in good health shee thought her selfe well recompenced with his presence The next day in the morning they set forwards towards London where the people receiued him with such signs of gladnesse that most part of them wept for ioy to sée him for there was neuer Prince better loued of his subiects theÌ„ he Being there Esplandian began to be weary of the place longing to heare news of Carmelle that he had sent to Constantinople as you haue heard before And therefore euery day hee deuised meanes to get licence to depart from thence pretending a cause of returning to the castle called La montaigne defendu shewing the king what promise he had made to his companions which if hee did not performe they should haue cause to complaine of him but the king would not in any sort graunt to his request yet in the end ouercome with much
Amadis was so wounded by Esplandian that in the end with a thrust of a launce into the right shoulder and other blowes with his sword hee was slaine in the field which Oriane hearing threw her selfe out of a window and brake her necke But it is not true for they raigned after that both in Fraunce and great Brittaine and had another sonne named Perion and a doughter no lesse beautifull then her mother that married Arquisil sonne to the Emperour of Rome But I cannot conceiue from whence those lyers could inuent such a thing if they vnderstand not by death the shadowes that Esplandian caused his fathers valiant acts to bee couered withall by the light and pleasant shining of his owne wherby his fathers were so much had in obliuion that there was no more brute of them then if they had neuer beene done But to returne againe vnto our matter you must note that newes went presently vnto the court what had chanced to the two knights Wherewith the king and Oriane much displeased departed from London came to Mirefleur when maister Elizabeth began the second time to dresse their wounds Whereby he perceiued them out of danger and cured them so well that within seuen daies after they could walke about the chamber which put Oriane in better comfort then before and it fell out well for her for if her malancholy had longer indured she had for certain died at that time And because the king had not as yet vnderstoode the reason that mooued them to fight one day when hee found Amadis in good disposition hee praied him to tell him In faith my lord saied hee I was desirous to haue the difference of our two forces knowne being assured that whatsoeuer chaunced thereby it could not bee but to mine honour for if my sonne bee a better knight then my selfe his honour for the present time will increase my glory past Before God saied the king your enterprise was but rashly vndertaken I pray you another time let vs leaue such youthfull partes for those that are but entring into arms Beléeue me and it pleaseth your grace saied hée I was neuer better beaten in all my life It is no matter saied the king séeing you haue both escaped with your liues now séeke meanes to bée healed of your wounds with as much spéede as you may and from henceforth let vs war only against Harts and other wild beasts that are within this forrest as my huntsmen haue shewed me this day CHAP. XVI How the King of Denmarke Garinter and Manely succoured Vrganda that certaine knights would haue slaine because she aided the Emperors sonne of Rome YOu heard before of the aduentures of Esplandian Ambor and Talanque after they had receiued the order of knighthood now you shall heare what became of Garinter king of Denmarke and Manely who sléeping as others did by the sound of sixe trumpets that plaied on the shore the next night they found themselues with their squires in a little barke so farre out of al knowledge that although they had landed they knew not where they were and it was so darke that they could not sée each other till at the last they perceiued a fire not farre from thence that moued them to goe thether to sée if they could find any that would shew them in what country they were therefore leauing their squires to kéepe their barke they tooke their shields and mounting vp a little hill they perceiued a fire burning circle wise in the middle whereof they saw a woman holding a yong child in her armes and about the fire stood tenne knights all armed that sought to take her but by no meanes they could come néere her she was so well defended by the fire And as they went néerer vnto it they heard one among the rest that said vnto her Ha thou false and accursed wretch thy diuellish spirits and familiars can now no longer helpe thée but at this time thou shalt surely die And although Manely and Garinter had their helmets on their heads yet the woman they so threatened knew them well calling thē and said Help me my sonnes and faile me not I pray you at this time With that Manely and the king of Denmarke knew her by her voice wherefore laying hands on their swords they marched towards the tenne knights wherof one of them stepped before the rest asking them if they knew that wicked woman that had done him the greatest mischiefe that euer was By God sir knight said Manely you lie in your throat she is not wicked but faithfuller for her part then you for yours Wherewith they ran each vpon other and there began the combate of tenne knights against two and although the match was not equall Manely and the king of Denmarke setting their backes together laied valiantly vpon them yet in the end they could not haue resisted but Vrganda playing her part put out the fire and taking her two knights aside left the rest in the darke striking each other as if Manely and the king of Denmarke had beene with them Meane time Vrganda and her company got into the thicket of the wood and hauing trauailed long at the last the moone began to shine when they were weary whereby they determined to stay a while and rest themselues till day appeared Meane time the two knights desired Vrganda to shewe them how shee came thether and whether she knew the country My good friends said she hauing long since learned by my art that this little child son to the Emperour of Rome and of the Empresse Leonor his wife should bee stollen away by the Traitor that assailed you who is sonne to Garadan that Amadis as then called the knight of the gréene sword put to death in the countrey of Bohemia in defending the right of king Tafmor As soone as you fell on sléepe in the great Serpent I made al the hast I could vnto this place to succour it according to my promise made being in the Ferme Isle in presence of Amadis and diuers other knights where I arriued at so good a time when the villaines which you saw came to a shepheards house where a poore nurse dwelt to whom they deliuered this little child to giue it sucke And séeing it was time to put my enterprise in practise I went out of my barke and making as if I had ben robbed by certaine théeues ranne towards them crying out and wéeping bitterly wherewith they all came forth to sée what it might be and perceiuing me in that manner asked the cause of my gréefe Ha my lords said I It is so that as my husband I passed through this wood wée met eight théeues that slew him and not content therewith haue taken away my horse and my budget wherein there is a great summe of money Which they beléeuing to bee true not that they were mooued with compassion for my losse but respecting their owne particular benefite hoping to get a booty by them
the sea although hee is well known by the name of Frandalo for by his valor hée hath brought in subiection the greatest part of all this sea pilling and taking all hée findeth and by force of weather hath beene constrained to put into this Island his other vessels being scattered so farre heare him named Notwithstanding one thing ouercommeth him and vanquisheth his most couragious heart which is your grace my good lady said she whom he loueth honoureth and desireth to serue while life indureth But knowing not if his seruice would be accepted of he durst not presume to come himselfe in person to offer you the same although by him that next after your selfe may most commaund him hee had expresse charge to present it vnto you as bound thereto by promise And to the end you may giue credite to my wordes hee sendeth you this ring which is the very same you gaue to Amadis being in this Court if your grace can call it to remembrance With that Leonorine tooke it in her hand and beholding it long time she saied vnto the Gentlewoman Truly this ring was sometimes mine which I gaue vnto the best knight nowe liuing in the world In faith said the Gentlewoman a better knight then hée hath sent it you againe and that is my lord Esplandian his sonne I neuer sawe him that I know off said she True it is maister Elizabeth told me of a yoong Gentleman sonne to the knight with the greene sword that not long since was made knight in the Ferme Isle Vrganda being present and the next day was carried away in a strange ship of whome as then they could beare no newes Madame said Carmelle I know not who the knight with the gréen sword may be but he whereof I shew you hath had such a beginning in armes that if it be your pleasure to heare it you will bee abashed thereat tell it I pray you said the Princesse But as the Gentlewoman began to speak one brought the Princesse news the Emperour her father was come from hunting and asked for her wherewith shée knowing what pleasure her father would take to heare newes tooke Carmelle by the hand and led her into the Emperours chamber and doing reuerence vnto him she said My lord here is a strange Gentlewoman that can tell you newes of the good knight with the gréene sword and of his sonne likewise of whome maister Elizabeth made a long discourâ—â— and she hath ben conducted hether by two knights of the Ferm Isle whereof one of them hath fought with Frandalo and hath presented him vnto me and staying your returne I haue sent them into a chamber to refresh themselues Doughter said the Emperour both they and the Gentlewoman are most heartely welcome My lord saied Carmelle God preserue your grace without further honour vnto him shee stoode still and held her peace whereat all the company began to smile thinking that want of ciuilitie caused her to forget her selfe But not long after they changed their opinion Carmelle beginning to speak in this maner My lord I haue beene nourished all my life among the best knights liuing in the world yet let not your grace find it strange if at the first being in your maiesties presence I haue vsed so little honour to your grace whereby your Gentlemen should haue cause to laugh at mee For that want of vnderstanding howe to behaue my selfe in presence of so great a Prince is not the cause thereof but onely the ioy I conceiue in my selfe to bee a seruant vnto him whom I more estéeme then any man liuing and I only hold for my lord and maister not knowing any worthier then he And if it pleaseth your grace to know who it is together with the cause of my arriuall in this countrey I pray you send for the two knights that brought mée hether I will shew such things whereat it may be your grace will be abashed Gentlewoman saied the Emperour you shall therein doe mee great pleasure Wherewith hee commanded a Gentleman to goe fetch the two straunge knights who comming into the Emperours presence hauing kissed his handes and he welcommed them in courteous manner he willed two chaires to bee brought wherein hee set them being a Prince that alwaies entertained straungers with great honour especially if hee knew them to be of forraine countries That done all the knights Gentlewomen and ladies went néere to heare the Gentlewomans spéech when shee turning vnto the Emperour said in this manner My lord I thinke your grace hath long before this time knowne the castle called La montaigne defendu the which during the life of valiant Chartadaque and since that time you and the king of Turkie haue diuers time assailed to winne although in vaine it hath alwaies been so well defended by the Giants Matroco and Frerion yet in one day a knight alone hath conquered it slain the two giants whereof I spake with their vncle Arcalaus and Argantes the Porter of the same And which is more hath deliuered king Luisart that lay prisoner therein no man knowing it for hée had ben surprised in great Brittaine and secretly brought from thence by Arcabonne lady of the castle The which lady falling in despaire threw her selfe out of a window into the sea And to the end your grace may knowe how all hath happened it is so saied shee that Arcabonne who as then I serued hauing intelligence of her brothers imprisonment in the Ferme Isle departed expressely from the castle hoping to deliuer him but before she got thether he was set at liberty Notwithstanding she being loth to loose her labour to bee reuenged thereof did so much by her art that she got king Luisart as then hunting in the forrest into her tent the king thinking to succour a Gentlewoman that as hee thought a knight would haue defloured where he was so cruelly inchaunted that losing all his sences hee was transported without any mans knowledge into the dungeon of the castle where my lord and maister found him And continuing her discourse she shewed in what manner Esplandian was made knight and séeking to find the king hée was carried by the boat of the great serpent into the Isle of the Enchauntresse where he conquered the shining sword and after that brought in a little barke to the foote of the rocke called La montaigne defendu the spéech hee had with the Hermite the combates with Argantes Matroco and Frerion the desperatenesse of Arcabonne the determination she had to kil him when she found him sléeping in the hermitage the loue wherwith she was sodainly surprised And lastly the means how king Luisart knew him for my lord said she he is son of Amadis his son and of the Princesse Oriane And because at his departure froÌ„ his father he gaue him in coÌ„mandement to come serue the Princes Leonorine your doughter with the other ladies according to his promise he hath expressely sent me hether humbly beséeching theÌ„
imbarking to take sea and what time they were at sea before they discouered any land till in the end saied hee we espied this country where Sergil and I tooke land in good time for Gandalin and Lazinde as hereafter they may shew you But you saied hee to Norandel tell me of your faith how was it your chance in so good time to méet with vs In truth saied Norandel the peace made betwéene Amadis and the king I departed from the court to séek some strange aduentures that commonly are found in this country of Almaigne where I had no sooner arriued but I had certaine newes of my fathers absence whereat I was so gréeued that to find him out I haue trauailed the countries of Denmark Poland Russia Sweathland Hungarie and all this country euen vnto this place where it is said there dwels two giants who as they are all of one nature exercise innumerable cruelties against those they méete the yonger of them waiting continually about this place for such as passe this way And therefore when I saw you first I thought one of you thrée to be the Giant thinking to fight with him or lose my life therefore which I wil yet doe if you let me passe By God saied Gandalin you lost your labour séeking for the king so shall you likewise doe if you take this enterprise in hand Wherefore saied Norandel Because saied he you sée him here in presence that easeth you of that burthen With that he shewed him in what manner Esplandian had fought with the Giants and how he Lazinde and diuerse others were prisoners in their house from whence Esplandian had deliuered them Before God saied Norandel the newes liketh mee wel for I neuer thought in long time any such aduenture would haue happened vnto him not knowing he had receiued the order of knighhood You sée it is so saied Esplandian and maister Elizabeth can tell you more if it pleaseth you to goe with vs. Let vs goe then said Norandel for I would gladly sée him With that they rode towards the sea till they espied the great Serpent wherein they imbarked themselues where Norandel Gandalin and Lazinde vnderstood by master Elizabeth what had happened to Esplandian from the day hee receiued the order of knighthood And although Norandel determined with all spéed to return into great Brittaigne yet hee chaunged his mind when hee heard so strange and maruailous news of his nephew Esplandian to whoÌ„ he said My lord séeing fortune hath brought vs so well together I pray you let me not leaue your company till some occasion bee ministred vnto vs. Vncle saied Esplandian I am content and I pray you let it be so In that manner they passed the rest of the day in the great Serpent minding the next day because shée stirred not to take land againe to sée if they could finde any more aduentures And they had scarse fallen asléepe but the Serpent began of it selfe to saile forward so swiftly that by sunne rising they had lost the sight of any land not ceasing for to saile sixe daies together before they espied land the seuenth day when the sunne began to shine it staied at the Isle Saint Mary which maister Elizabeth presently knew as hauing ben there before with Amadis de Gaule when he fought with Landriaque wherefore he saied vnto the knights In good faith I remember that once as I trauailed on the sea with my lord Amadis wee were cast vpon this Island by so great a tempest that we thought verily to haue béen drowned And if then at sea wee had great feare of death béeing landed our feare did more increase and that with so good cause that I cannot chuse but tremble to remember it What saied Esplandian Can a danger so long time past bréed so great a feare as you séeme to haue Sir saied maister Elizabeth some men to hide the truth make a great matter of a small but if you had séen as much as I then saw and that which as yet you may behold if it pleaseth you to goe where I was once you shall find that I haue no lesse occasion and there is Gandalin that can witnesse it as wel as I. I pray you bring vs thether said Esplandian with that they caused the horses to be vnshipt and going to land they mounted vp the Island til they came to the castle where Amadis staied certain daies to be healed of his wounds where they found a knight that kept it forthe Emperour who being aduertised by maister Elizabeth what knights they were hee had brought thether bad them heartely welcome offering them all the pleasure he could shew but they staying not there went forwards to the place where Amadis fought with Landriaque where the Emperour had erected both their Images so like vnto them that there wanted only life to expresse the same Which maister Elizabeth shewed vnto the knights and to the end said he you beléeue mee better another time I pray you behold well the forme of this great diuell who before my lord Amadis arriued had vtterly destroied this most fertile Island And therewith hee shewed them from point to point what had passed touching the same as you haue heard at large set downe in the third booke of this our hystorie whereat they were all abashed especially to think how Landriaque could bee slaine or ouercome by one knight alone For although this image were but a sencelesse thing yet it made theÌ„ abashed which hauing long time beheld and visiting other places worthy memory they returned to the great Serpent which presently departed from the Isle and with a good winde in fiue daies after arriued within half a mile of Constantinople where it began to cast forth fire in so furious manner that the saylers and others that perceiued it fled all away doubting the fury of that monster wherewith the Cittizens were in such a feare that newes was brought vnto the Emperour who as then was talking with the ladies whom he led vnto the towers of his pallace to sée what it might be when they perceiued the great Serpent and the sea raging so sore about it that it séemed a gulfe of fire wherewith they were in such a feare and the Emperour likewise that he coÌ„manded al men to be armed fearing it would come into the Towne and so destroy them al. But Gastilles that had séene it oftentimes assured the Emperour that it was the ship of the knight Esplandian which Vrganda brought first into great Brittaigne And to the end my lord saied hee you shall not doubt thereof if it pleaseth you I will goe sée if the sonne of Amadis be there and bring him vnto you Doe so I pray you saied the Emperour With that Gâ—stilles went vnto the Hauen entring into a Gally that hee found ready to put to sea commanding the maister thereof to row vnto the great Serpent but whatsoeuer hee could say the maister would not stirre one foote till such time hee
rather then threatnings would become him better Haue you already forgotten the prison wherein you are and in the handes of those that haue so small occasion to wish you well My lord vertue is neuer better knowne to bee in man but then when hee is in most distresse Wherefore if vntill this time you haue not knowne what constancy doth meane learne hereafter to discerne the same vsing words worthy your estate and not such nor so iniurious as you haue vttered vnto my lord Gastilles who in this place representeth the person of an emperor a greater lord then you in whose mercy your life or death consisteth for we are all his souldiours ready to doe him seruice The king perceiuing well that hee had done them wrong and fearing to bee hardlier vsed then hee was accustomed to bee saied vnto Esplandian Sir Knight I pray you pardon my impatience considring with your selfe the great gréef and melancholy humour wherein I am when I that was wont to be feared and redoubted of al the princes in Asia am now constrained to obay the will and pleasure of my greatest enemies which vnto me is so extreame gréefe that I die each day a hundred times because I cannot die But Esplandian answered not one word but leauing him with his gard taking Gastilles by the hand led him into one of his best chambers where they supped The next day they assembled all together and after many matters propounded it was agréed among them according to Frandalos aduise that they should enter into Turkie being as then in great perplexity as well for the taking of king Armato as for the ouerthrow of his army as it shall bee shewed vnto you hereafter for at this time wee will cease to speake thereof returning to shew you of king Luisart that during this time for the most part held his court in the citty of London CHAP. XXVIII How the greatest part of the knights that vsed to be at king Luisarts court returned vnto their owne houses and of the coronation of Amadis and Oriane at London YOu haue heard before of the combat betwéene Esplandian and Amadis his father and how after long time of their abode at Mirefleur staying the healing of their wounds Esplandian desiring to returne vnto the castle La montaigne defendu tooke his leaue of king Luisart the like did diuers of the knights that as then were at the Court as Galaor king of Sobradise Agraies Gransador Balan Galuanes and Angriotte d'estrauaulx some to sée their wiues others to tast the ease and pleasant rest of their mansion houses whereby it happened the court was lesse replenished with knights then it had beene in long time before especially by reason of the newes they heard from the castle La montaigne defendu whether diuers yong knights trauailed to aide Esplandian King Luisart therefore so meanely accompanied as I said before being very old and decrepit began to bée melancholy and to haue the palsie setting aside all Hunting Hawking Armes and Chiualry or any other pleasure whatsoeuer And with a remēbrance of death so much abhorred all things past present and to come that he estéemed them vaine and altogether transitory whereby he determined to depose himselfe of all kingly estate and gouernment of his realme to passe the rest of his time in a solitary and religious manner specially when he called to mind the great perils from whence he had escaped and aboue all his last most dangerous and cruell imprisonment Neuerthelesse for a time hee kept it secret vntill one night hee being a bed with the Quéene where they lay talking of the sicklenesse of this world hee discouered his whole mind vnto her and how hée determined to make Amadis his sonne king and gouernour of his country to the end he might fréely and without any interruption withdraw himself to his castle of Mirefleur where by Gods helpe he meant to liue a solitary life The Quéene that was one of the wisest and deuoutest ladies in her time confirmed him so well in his opinion that they agréed to returne to London there to accomplish their pretence And the next day they departed from Mirefleur accompanied of Amadis Gransador and others and comming to London after they had remained there a certaine time the Quéene sent for all the nobilitie who being arriued at the court caused a scaffold to bee made in the principall place of all the citty where the people might repaire And as he and the Quéene both apparrelled in their roiall robes each set in a chaire of estate Amadis sitting somwhat lower on his right hand and Oriane on the left were come thether a Herauld crying thrice that all the people should kéepe silence ◠the king with a stately countenaunce and Princely magnanimitie turning to the people saied vnto them My good friends and loial subiects before I begin to shew you the cause why I haue made you to repaire vnto this place I wil put you in mind of part of the dangers and great hazards wherein I haue often fallen since the death of my brother of famous memory king Falangris whē it pleased God to call me vnto the gouernment of this land and as I thinke there are yet many of you liuing that can wel remember the danger wherein both I and my country thought to fall when by the meanes and subtletie of Arcalaus the inchanter I was deliuered into their hands that long time before had conspired my death from whence my sonne Amadis deliuered mee Yet not long after by euill counsell I made warre against him which ended as all men know fortune enuious of my felicitie afterward prepared mee such a banket that without his helpe I had beene prisoner with king Arauigne and vtterly ouerthrowne And that which hath yet more astonished mee was that when I thought my selfe sure and out of danger of all mishaps a worse then all the former suddainely chanced vnto me the which considering the place wherein I was I thought verely to haue ben the end and consumation of my daies Neuerthelesse the Lord God regarding me in pitty sent my yong sonne Esplandian to my sorrowfull prison from whence hée hath deliuered mee as no doubt you haue heard Now my good subiects you all sée mée to bee very old and white haired hauing already attained to the thréescore and tenth yeare of mine age which maketh me think it time now to forget all wordly pleasures and to serue God to whom I am so much bound And for this cause I haue determined from henceforth to forsake all royall dignity and leaue you my son Amadis for your king to whome at this time I yéeld both my Crowne Scepter and all the right I haue vnto the gouernement of this land praying you all as much as possibly I may that hereafter you will bee faithfull and true subiects vnto him as you haue alwaies ben to me And although hée bée but my sonne in law if I knew him vnworthy of the place beléeue
of their long staying with the Princesse to whom Frandalo in most courteous maner saied Madame Is it not your pleasure meane time that I and my companion goe vnto the towne to stay here for vs with this Gentlewoman and my cousin Foron I truly said Heliaxa and I will not depart from hence before I heare of you againe With that Frandalo and Esplandian ranne in great hast towards the Towne where they found their companions fighting with those of Alfarin among the which were Talanque Ambor the king of Denmarke Gandalin and Lazinde that had giuen the town a hard skirmish on that side thinking to giue them so much to doe that in the meane time the army by sea might assaile the water gate but they were too soone discouered whereby they found great resistance on all sides Neuerthelesse Norandel and Belleris had gotten the Barriers and repulsed the enemies vnto the pallisadoes Which Esplandian and Frandalo perceiuing they lighted on foot and being couered with their shields their swords in their hands passed through the prease and with bold courage went so farre that they slewe great number of the enemies for the Alfarins to defend their citty issued out of the gates and the Christians to winne it did most valiantly but the place was so narrow they could not hurt their enemies so much as in the opeÌ„ field Whereby it happened that Frandalo and Esplandian minding either to winne or loose stepped so farre forward that the Alfarins flying into the towne and they after found themselues alone within the same among their enemies and that so farre that had it not ben for Frandalo Esplandian that tooke no care but only to kill and ouerthrow the enemy had ben inclosed by them but hee pulled him backe Whereby the two knights perceaued the danger they were in wherefore by little and little they got vnto the steps that went vpon the wallâ— where they sustained many hard assalts without being hurt although the enemy ceased not to throw Launces Stones Darts and all other weapons at them they could find none of theÌ„ daring come to handle strokes for if any aduanced himselfe to shew his Prowes it cost him his life or els was throwne downe headlong Meane time Norandel and his company that had séene Frandalo and Esplandian shut into the towne sought by all meanes to scale the wals or else to breake the gates but all in vaine for they within defended it so well with Oile scalding Water Logs and Stones that diuers of them were ouerthrowne and ended their liues most miserably And fighting in that sort a knight all armed came from the Hauen crying with a loud voice and said Be of good courage my children be of good courage defend this quarter well for our enemies on the sea side haue not as yet found meanes to set one man on land and yet haue lost aboue two hundred of their men By God saied one of them I sée not one that standeth idle yet can we not ouercome these two knights Why so said the other They are saied he entered in among vs and wee haue ben these two howers fighting with them but all in vaine for the yoongest of them fighteth so valiantly that wee dare not approch them And which is more hee and his companion in despight of vs all haue gotten those staires where they now defend themselues and that so well that we can find no means to driue them thence although many of our men haue been slain by them others cruelly wounded I am of opinion said the knight that wee receiue theÌ„ vnto mercy for it may bee they are such men that for to haue them againe the enemy will bée glad to giue king Armato in exchange and returne againe into their country Wherevnto they all agéed and therewith the knight that had giuen them that counsell made signes vnto Esplandian that they would parley with them whereby the assault ceased for a time and the knight spake vnto them in this manner Sir knights you sée it is impossible for you to escape from hence and it were great pitty that two so valiant knights should die so yoong now in the flower of your ages But this wee will doe yéeld your selues and wee will saue your liues Sir knight saied Esplandian If wee die at this time we are quit for euer after but so much there wanteth therof and wee haue so good hearts and so sure a confidence in Iesus Christ in whose quarrell we fight that wee hope he will giue vs meanes not only to escape this danger but to spoile the Towne and lead you prisoners with vs Wherefore take this counsell for your selues and yéelde you vnto vs before the wrath of God bée further moued against you When they that stood about them heard those wordes both great and small began to crie with a lowd voice saying Stay that villaine let him die or wee will die here at his féet wherewith they assailed them so fiercely that they were constrained to get vpoÌ„ the highest steps But not long after they repulsed the enemy so valiantly with stones whereof they found great quantity vpon the Portall that from that time forwards they had no longer stomacks to assaile them But Norandel and the rest being without vnderstanding the noise and the voice of their companions whome they estéemed dead or taken prisoners determined to set fire on the gates while the rest assailed the towne Wherewith euery man ranne to fetch wood which the Alfarins perceiued but to conclude they could not shun it but whether they would or not the draw-bridge and the gates were set on fire wherewith they were so abashed that most part of them began to flie vnto the great temple of Iupiter the principall place of strength within their citty the rest staying behind with full determination rather to die then suffer the Christians to enter the Towne And séeing the gates burnt downe so many of them ranne to fetch water that not long after the Christians had meanes to assaile the towne on that side which assault continued so long that day failed yet could they not enter by reason of the great resistance the Alfarins made but the two knights that were aboue did them so much hurt with blockes and stones that not any of them durst appeare whereby the Christians became maisters of the towne Wherin great number of people both men women and children were put to the sword and more had died had it not ben night specially on the water side where Gâ—stilles and his army entred with most great fury Neuerthelesse fearing least the Alfarins should assemble againe and in the night they might bee repulsed hee commanded a retraict to bee founded being well assured the next day to haue the towne at their pleasure And for the same cause he sent to the army on land that they should do the like wherewith euery man retired setting watch in those places where most néed required The towne in this
your promise In the meane time I will goe comfort them for I am in doubt most part of them are rather dead then liuing with that she desired Carmelle to bear her company they two going to the Temple gate which they found fast shut and rampired vp then shée called so lowd that some of them spake vnto her but neuer did men by pardon from their Prince brought backe againe from the Gibbet more reioice nor were better comforted then they when they knew her thinking the prince Alphorax had made some agréement with their enemies Wherefore they opened a little wicket whereat shee and the Gentlewoman entered into the Temple they asking the Princesse howe it was her chaunce to come thether in so good a time to succour them that looked for no other fauour then most cruell death My friends saied she I haue done so much with the Christians by Frandalos meanes whome I haue knowne long time that they are content to let you issue foorth your liues saued and goe where it pleaseth you and my selfe likewise that had fallen into their hands as well as you wherefore chuse whether you will follow mee to Tesifant where my lord Alphorax is who for my sake will shew you all the fauor and courtesie he may When the poore people vnderstood the agréement made for them by the Princesse Heliaxe they all agréed to goe with her and not forsake her giuing her most hearty thankes for the good shee had wrought them Then saied Heliaxe let those that haue armour put it off and come all forth with mee Then she being accompanied in that manner came vnto Esplandian and shewing him great numbers of women and little children that stood about her said vnto him I pray you sir knight behold the good whereof you are the cause and thinke what domage it had beene if these poore sâ—lly soules had suffered death for no offence wherein you are worthy great commendations And yet said shée smiling while I liue I shall not forget the small account you made of me when Frandalo and you found mee before my pauillion after the ouerthrow of my knights Wherefore madame saied Esplandian I maruaile saied shée why you aske mee such a question séeing you might well conceiue what gréefe I had in mind yet did you not so much as once salute me or vse word vnto mee in good truth it was but discourteously done of you Madame saied hee I beséech you pardon mee for the fault I committed in your behalfe was not done for want of bringing vp but fearing to bréede some iealousie in Frandalos mind séeing him so much affected to doe you seruice together with the good countenaunce you shewed vnto him although you had lost your men This excuse said Heliaxe is not to be accepted neither shal you escape so easily therewith which shee spake with so good a countenance that her séeming to bee offended contented all the company wherefore Esplandian saied vnto her Madame I am content to make amends for this great fault or to doe what pennance it pleaseth you The pennance said she that you shall haue shall be that according to the promise of mercy you haue made vnto these poore people as also of fauour in mine owne behalfe you giue vs leaue to go vnto the citty of Tesifant to my husband that for the same we thinke the better of you Madame said Esplandian you haue already vnderstood our minds wherefore you may fréely go whether it pleaseth you and I my self will be your guide if it be your pleasure With that Heliaxe gaue them many thankes and taking her leaue got vpon her palfrey and being accompanied of Foron with a great number of the poore people tooke the way that went to Tesifant Frandalo going with her aboue a league and more and further would haue gone although hee were wounded in diuers places of his body but she desired him to go back againe For said she although like a good curteous knight you haue had the means not onely to serue mee but also to saue the life of me and mine it may bee I shall not haue so the like to doe the same for you if you fall into my lord Alphorax hands who as I thinke ere now is aduertised of my misfortune whereby I am in doubt hee is already in the field with great number of men to succour me And if it should be so I know him so impatient that if hee méet with you being already moued with the losse of Alfarin as also the iniury my knights haue receiued and my selfe likewise as hee will suppose the pleasure that you doe me would bréed a danger to your person and to me great gréefe wherefore I pray you goe no further but turne backe againe Frandalo knew her counsell to be good wherewith hee committed her to God leauing her in the guard of his cousin Foron and therewith returned the same way that hee came It was then somewhat late wherfore Heliaxe hauing trauailed vnto the aduenturous fountain and finding her pauillion as yet standing vp determined not to depart from thence till the next day in the morning that shee tooke the way that led to Tesifant And hauing ridden till noone shee met the Prince Alphorax with a great number of knights that all night had staied vpon the way to the castle La montaigne defendu thinking those that had takeÌ„ his wife would lead her thether to haue her in safe kéeping and such was their opinion that brought him newes thereof But they met not any man in the way wherfore they returned againe to go vnto the aduenturous fountain much gréeued when they perceiued the Princesse Heliaxe comming towards them to whom Alphorax ranne and imbrasing him with a louing kisse asked her how she had escaped from the enemy My lord said she when I shall haue told you how yet am I in doubt you will hardly beléeue it And to say the truth it séemeth fortune hath taken pleasure in one day to make mee know both the good and euill shee could doe vnto mee Then shee shewed him of the ouerthrow of her knights the words that passed betwéene Frandalo Esplandian and her and lastly the honest intertainement they vsed in her behalfe Truly madame saied Alphorax it is very strange and I cannot imagine how these Christian dogs hauing taken my Towne of Alfarin by assault haue vsed so much humanity not only to these people but haue saued your honour being such and so beautifull a lady as you are But it is to bee thought that our gods hauing compassion on me haue preserued you as the thing I loue and most estéeme off in this world Yet if I liue but one yeare longer I sweare and promise vnto you to assemble so many men together that the citty of Constantinople and her periured Emperour shal suffer and indure much woe in such manner that the memory thereof shal not be extinct for one thousand yeares after my decease Heliaxe that
perceiued him enter into choler to pacefie the same answered vim and said My lord you may doe it when it pleaseth you but at this present you sée here a great number of poore desolate people I beséech you speake vnto them and comfort them as wel as you may for their whole trust is in you with that Alphorax going vnto them gaue them many gracious and comfortable spéeches and with them returned to the citty of Tesifant CHAP. XXXI How Gastilles tooke his leaue of Esplandian and sailed to Constantinople and of the arriuall of Palomir Branfil and other knights of great Brittaigne at the towne of Alfarin THe Towne of Alfarin brought vnder the subiection of the knights of the castle La montaigne defendu as you heard before Gastilles hauing prepared himselfe to return to Cōstantinople went vnto Esplandian and saied vnto him My lord when I departed from the Emperour hee gaue me expresse commandement with al spéed to aduertise him what I had done to the end he might determine either to come himselfe in person if occasion serued with the army hee is already preparing or else wholly to breake off his enterprise for it now beginneth to bee Winter and séeing as it is Gods will that your affaires on this side are in good estate I am determined as to morrow to depart hence to Constantinople that the Emperour vnderstanding by mee what hath passed on this side the sea he shall not bee forced for this yeare to bee at further charges wherof before this time I had willingly certefieed him had it not ben the daily expectation I had to sée the end of this our last enterprise which God bee thanked is fallen out as we desired My lord saied Esplandian séeing the Emperour as you say by your returne may receiue both pleasure and profite you shall doe well to make hast thether one thing I beséech you doe for me that is most humbly to commend me vnto his grace assuring him that not any subiect hee hath is or shall bee readier to obey him then my selfe and as touching our proceedings for that you haue personally both séene and béene an actor in the same you can aduertise him at large Shew him likewise I pray you that I kéepe king Armato as his prisoner attending his pleasure what shall bee done with him but not the castle of La montaigne defendu for I haue conquered the same in fauour and vnder the protection of the Princesse Leonorine kéeping the same at this present onely to her vse and as her seruant as I meane to continue during my life But if it pleaseth his grace to giue the Towne of Alfarin to Frandalo not onely thereby to increase his will and desire to serue him but also for that hee deserueth a greater reward so dooing mee thinketh hee shall therein shewe the part of a liberall Prince considering the seruice and fidelitie hee hath done and shewed in all places where hee hath beene employed You shall tell the Emperour also that according to my fathers will and commandement I hope shortly to bee in Constantinople to present my selfe before his grace and the ladie Leonorine as by the Gentlewoman Carmelle I haue giuen thē to vnderstand wherewith I think you are not vnacquainted praying you in the meane time to make my excuse to them in that I haue deferred it off so long for in a manner you are not ignorant what hath béene the cause My lord said Gastilles the Emperour my vncle so much desireth your company that I neuer saw man more gréeued nor woman than the Princesse my cousin when they perceiued the great serpent passe before Constantinople to crosse the straightes of Bosphore I will shewe them what you say and in the morning about breake of day I meane God willing to set saile Will you not said Esplandian first goe visit Frandalo Manely and others that lie wdunded in their beds to know if they will send any message to the Empeperour That I will said Gastilles Goe then said Esplandian and I will beare you companie With that they went to Frandalos lodging where they were no sooner entred but the watch that stood vpon the tower ouer the water gate discouered about thrée miles in the sea a great shippe that with full saile made towards the towne whereof they aduertised Gastilles who presently caused two Brigandines to goe forth to sée if they were friends or enemies and they were not long before they returned againe with the great shippe in their company wherin were Palomir Branfil Helian le delibere Garuate du Val Craintif Brauor sonne of the gyant Balan that king Amadis had newly made knight Imosel de Burgoigne Ledarin de Faiarque Listoran de la tour Blanche Trion cousin to quéene Briolanie Tentilles le Superbe Guil le bien esteme Grodonan brother to Angriote Destrauaux and the two sonnes of Isamie gouernour of the firme Isle with many others that had imbarked themselues in great Britaine to goe to aid Esplandian and comming to the castle La montaigne defendu they had intelligence by the fishermen at sea of the ouerthrow of Armatos nauie his captiuitie with the taking of the citie of Alfarin whereat they much reioyced especially when they knew by Gastilles souldiers that not any of their companions were slaine in the assault They béeing arriued at the towne as they began to lande Esplandian with diuers others went thither to receiue them where betwéene them were many salutations and welcomes giuen which done Esplandian led them to his lodging where they refreshed themselues about two houres before they went to visit Frandalo of whome Esplandian gaue such commendations that they desired him to bring them where he lay which hée presently did but when Frandalo knew who they were béeing ashamed to sée them vse such courtesie to him could not well tel what to say and as he entertained them Palomir spake vnto him and said Sir knight I and my companie haue heard so great commendation of your valour that there is not one of vs but would be ready to obey and serue you as our chiefe commander wherefore we beséech you vse all diligence you may to be healed of your wounds that we may presently go into the field vnder your conduction My lords said Frandalo I pray you pardon me I am well assured that my valour is none such as you report whereby I deserue not the praise you giue me neither did I euer any thing worthy commendation but only by my lord Esplandians meanes Neuerthelesse I hope if God spareth me life and health so to behaue my selfe that all men shall know the desire I haue to doe seruice vnto Christendome and particularly vnto euery one of you Companion said Esplandian I pray you take care to be cured of your griefe that done wée will take order for the rest and for that these knightes are wearie with their long trauaile on the sea I pray you giue them leaue for to depart and in the
so well that Esplandian could neuer take him before hée had ouerthrowne him and pulled off his helmet wherewith hée yéelded meane time Frandalo and his companions being in the middle of the enemies laide so well about them slaying horses pulling away shields and doing so valiantly that woonder it was to behold them yet did not the Turkes once séeme abashed but still fought most couragiously vntil such time they perceiued their captaine taken prisoner which caused them to flie and turne their backes but not all of them for there lay more than one hundred and fiftie of them dead vpon the ground the rest saued themselues by meanes of the darke night It was then about an houre before day and Frandalo fearing that those of Tesifant hearing of the ouerthrow would issue foorth to cut off their passage presently caused captaine Eiraca to be remounted and all the Christians that wanted horses and with all spéed rode backe againe to Alfarin not the same way they came but another way somewhat farther about wherein they trauailed so long that about sunne rising they entred into a great woode where they alighted to refresh both themselues and their horses and staying not long there least they should bée surprised they made such spéed that about sunne setting they arriued in the town meane time newes came to Tesifant of the ouerthrowe of their men wherewith Alphorax was in such a rage that in a manner hée séemed desperate But for this time wée haue sufficiently discoursed of martiall affaires now wée meane to bring Loue in place who desiring to minister some comfort to the Princes Leonorine that liued in great paine expecting the arriuall of her friend Esplandian caused him to depart from Alfarin to visit her in the citie of Constantinople as in the Chapters following you shall heare CHAP. XXXIII Of the great griefe Esplandian had vnderstanding by the messenger that Gastilles sent vnto him what displeasure the Princesse Leonorine had conceiued against him YOV heard before how Gastilles shewed the Emperour what Esplandian had done and what message hée sent vnto him and to the Princesse Leonorine as also what answere she made which Gastilles by his Squire writ and sent vnto him hauing charge from the Emperour so to doe thereby to procure his spéedier arriuall in Constantinople The Squire with his lether made such hast that hée arriued at Alfarin about fiue daies after the taking of Eiraca and méeting Carmelle at the gate asked her if he might find Esplandian at conuenient leisour to deliuer him a letter from Gastilles but Carmelle being subtill suspecting it to be some newes from the Princeâ—â—e Leonorine that might mooue Esplandian who as then séemed discontent answered him said My good friend you can hardly speake with him at this time but follow me and giue me the letter and I will present it vnto him and cause him to returne you an answere The Squire did as she willed him and followed her to Esplandians lodging where entring into his chamber she found him sitting vpon his bed talking with the king of Denmarke and deliuered him Gastilles letter which when he read the teares ranne out of his eyes and therewith cast forth a great sigh saying O Lord but Carmelle that beheld him doubting the cause to be as she suspected asked him if he were ill at ease Ill said he I that I am and so ill that I would to God I were dead and looke I pray you said he whether I haue cause or not wherewith stretching forth hish hand he gaue Carmelle the letter and turning his face began to make the greatest sorrow in the world but when shée had read the contents shée estéemed not thereof but said vnto Esplandian What my Lord are you abashed at so small a matter By my soule I now perceiue very well that the affections and loues of men are farre different and much vnlike the passions that we simple women endure when we fall into the like extremities and knowe you how you men doe most commonly take pleasure to manifest and make known your loue either by word of mouth or outward shewes and many times dissemble more than you meane to doe and which is worse how much the more the Lady or Gentlewoman you loue is of great desert or high linage so much more glory doe you take to make it knowne not onely that you beare her affection but that you are beloued and fauoured of her aboue all others which is cleane contrary to the nature of women I meane such as may bée tearmed wise and of good vnderstanding for how much the greater their parentage is so much more feare they haue to manifest their amorous passions in such manner that most commonly both in word gesture and countenaÌ„ce they outwardly denie that which they haue most déepely engraued in their hearts and mindes and not without good cause for that the thing which redoundeth to your praise and commendations as you think which is the manifesting of your loue bréedeth to them a certaine spot in their honour which often times they can not easily deface Wherefore it is more than expedient to obserue this modestie and constancie in vs not that I meane to restraine my selfe vnto this lawe séeing that all my glory and felicitie dependeth vpon you in such manner that I desire no greater happinesse in this world then that the loue and dutifull obedience I beare vnto you should be published and made knowne vnto the world to the end that all those that shall heare of your great valour and my meane estate may know my great good fortune to haue the meanes to serue you as I doe Wherefore my Lord in my opinion you ought to take the spéeches Gastilles hath written vnto you to be vsed by the lady Leonorine in good part and greatly to your aduantage for I dare warrant you on mine honour that your affections are both alike and to say the truth she hath behaued her selfe most wisely to dissemble the matter so well as she hath done in the Emperors presence I deny not but she hath some cause to be impatient considering the message I deliuered vnto her in your behalfe but that is easie to be cured although the loue shée hath borne you so long time should be wholly extinguished which I can hardly beléeue euen as a bone that is broken in two péeces set togither againe is stronger in that place than in any other part so you being there and in her companie shall winne that you finde broken and by that meanes make it stronger than euer it was before Therefore I am of aduise that fulfilling her desire you goe vnto her and that as soone as possibly you may Alas Carmelle said Esplandian what good or what seruice did I euer doe vnto her thereby to haue deserued at her hands the least fauour among an infinite number I haue receiued from her specially by the report of your owne mouth If therefore shee hath iust
cast anker and going on land staied till day appeared CHAP. XXXIII How Esplandian and his company went vp vnto the broken pallace of the Enchaunteresse and of the straunge thinges they found there ESplandian and his company being on land not knowing the place where they were arriued caused a great fire to bee made about the which they thought to lie downe and sléepe but they heard such a noise from the top of the rocke that they were all abashed with that the winde began to cease and the sea to waxe calme the skie shewing full of starres and withall the mone shone so bright that it séemed as light as if it had ben day wherefore Esplandian desirous to know what the noise might bee determined to mount vp the rocke but he was counselled by his company to stay till the next day in the morning When Esplandian knew it certainely to be the rocke of the Enchauntresse and saied vnto the king of Denmarke In good truth I thinke I haue beene here before and take it to be the place whether the great Serpent brought me the same day I receaued the order of knighthood which putteth mee in better hope of our voiage then I had before which he saied remembring the scroll with the prophesie that he found in the lions paw Then he told the king of Denmarke how he conquered the sword he bare the death of the serpent all that he had séene vpon the rocke it is called said he the rock of the Enchauntresse By God said Gandalin you say trew for I remember that pursuing after a knight that led a Gentlewoman away I found your father king Amadis Grandasor here the knight likewise that I sought that had hiddeÌ„ himself in the old pallace vpoÌ„ this rock theÌ„ he told theÌ„ froÌ„ point to point what had happened vnto him the great loue the knight bare vnto the gentilwomaÌ„ he had carried away by force but said he before we departed she agréed with him they promised mariage to ech other although before the time shée hated him most deadly neuertheles vnderstanding that the force he vsed vnto her was only done for the loue he bare her she clean forgot her former hatred chaÌ„ging it to a most excéeding loue In good faith saied Carmelle as farre as I perceiue no man ought to dispaire of any thing hée taketh in hand no more will I during my life which shee said in respect of Esplandian who in time as shée thought might loue her whollie forget the Princes Leonorine And so long they talked that day began to apear theÌ„ Esplandian said to the king of Denmark CoÌ„panion I pray you stay here forme while I goe vp for I wil haue no body with me but Gandalin Enil they shal go with me not that I fear any danger that may happeÌ„ vnto me but only because they may help me to lift vp the tomb wherof I told you eueÌ„ now My lord said the king I pray you offer me not so much iniury for I will not leaue you though it cost mee my life especially in this place where I haue most great desire to sée that I neuer saw before Séeing it is your pleasure said Esplandian let vs go let our squires bring some victuals with them if we néed to eat before we come backe againe which the squires did wherwith they began to mount vp the rock and trauelled so long that about sunne setting they came vnto the hermitage where the great image was erected wherof you heard before where they stayed all night the next day they trauelled again came vnto the lake that ran before the old pallace because it began to be dark they determined not to trauel any further for the time to say the truth they were weary but all night the serpeÌ„ts the issued out of their holes to drink of the water ceased not to hisse and passe before about them to assaile them which they had not failed to doe had it not beene for the vertue of Esplandians sword wherevnto no venomous thinges might once approch or come néer Neuerthelesse they rested not but as soon as they might sée rose vp went on their way and passing by the ruinated monumeÌ„ts they came vnto the pallace of the enchantresse where they found the gates shut wherat Esplandian gaue so great a blow with his foot that they opened they entred into the place where the shining tombe stood with the lion vpon it Then Esplandian said vnto the thrée knights In good faith when I was here before I could not lift vp this plate I pray you each man prooue what you can do then I wil sée if I be grown stronger in the back theÌ„ I was at that time wherwith the king of Denmark assailed to doe it but what strength so euer hée vsed it was impossible for him the like did Gandalin Enil but they sped no better then the king wherat Esplandian began to laugh taking it by the two ends lifted it vp so easily as if it had been a péece of dry wood yet was it a péece of christall of thrée fingers thick about ten or twelue foote long vnder it they found an azure stone the fairest most orient color that euer was séene the couered a Ceader chest which smelt as swéet as any balme the chest being shut with a locâ—â—â— emerald stone hauing a key of diamoÌ„ds that hong by it at a chaâ—â— of fine gold al most artificially coÌ„posed the stone takeÌ„ vp the chest opened they found the image of Iupiter lying therein all of massy gold garnished with many pearles rubies other inestimable rich iewels especially a crown that he ware on his head about that which were placed certain Carboncles inform of Gréeke letters with these words Iupiter is great god of all gods in his right hand he bare a table coÌ„taining this prophesie WheÌ„ time shal come that my art knowledge shal faile the hart of the Hind inclosed herein life restored by theÌ„ that were the cause of death the Grecian sheep long time norished in plesant pastures shal be coÌ„strained to feed on a herb bitterer theÌ„ gal by means of the extremity the huÌ„gry sea wolues shal put theÌ„ vnto whose number shall be so great that they shall couer the sea in diuers places in such wise that the poore sheep inclosed in their great forrest diuers of their lambes being dead and torn in peeces their sheepheard hauing in a maner lost all hope of restoring theÌ„ againe with anguish of heart and mind in abundance of teares shall lament their great misfortune Then shall come the braue Lions whelpe by whose meanes that great troope of wolues shall be driuen away and destroyed Neuerthelesse hee shall take from the sheepeheard his great power and the best beloued of his sheepe wherevpon he shal seaze in such sort that his strong teeth and sharpe clawes shall enter into her
heart and the entrailes of her body the rest of the flocke resting in the power and gouernement of him and his fierce company whereby not long after it shall come to passe that the great deceitfull Serpent the inchaunted sword and this high rocke shal sink into the bottome of the sea and shall neuer after be seene againe of any man But although Esplandian vnderstoode the Gréeke tongue yet could he not giue any interpretation or exposition to this prophesie no more could any of his company wherefore they determined not to stay long about the same but were more busied to behold the stones and great riches they sawe within the tombe which they determined to take with them and return vnto their ships without staying any longer for their victuals began to fail wherefore Esplandiâ—â— willed Carmelle to take the Lion hee and the king of Denmarke tooke the plate of christall Gandalin and Enil the azure stone and the Squires the Ceader chest with the Image of Iupiter And in that sort they issued out of the pallace descending downe the rocke till about euening they came vnto the hermitage where they staied all night the next day they went on till they found their ship wherein about sunsetting they imbarked themselues and because Esplandian would not be séene in Constantinople without the great Serpent hée commanded the master of the ship to direct his course to the castle called La montaigne defendu which he did But hauing sailed about two daies more as the king of Denmark sat talking with Esplandian about the letter that was sent vnto him hee asked him if he thought not good that he should make a voiage vnto the Princesse Leonorine to vnderstand the truth of her affection towards him For saied hee it may be Gastilles hath mistaken her words or the Emperor himselfe hath commanded him to write vnto you in such sort that therby you should make the more hast to goe thether at the least I shall know of her what her pleasure is and how you shal gouern your selfe in respect of her Ha my good friend said Esplandian you haue toucht me now euen at the quicke If you would doe me so much fauour you shall bind mee for euer vnto you meane time I will stay for you in the gulfe where I found you with Frandalo when we raised the siege of the castle La montaigne defendu Assure your selfe said the king I will do my good will There was belonging to their ship a little Pinnace which the maister tooke with him besides the boat to saue himselfe and his people if any tempest should happen wherin the king with certain martiners to guide him entred and taking their leaue of Esplandian sailed forwards with so good a winde that in short space they lost the sight of the great ship But the next night following there happened such a teÌ„pest that at the breake of day their Pilot knew not where hee was without knowledge of the place he was constrained to abandon the Pinnace vnto the mercy of the waues which continued for the space of forty daies together in which time they indured so many fortunes that it would be ouertedious to recount them and wée should likewise digresse from the matter whereinto wee are entered to bring our history vnto an end â—et it therefore suffice you to know that their victuals being spent they chanced to arriue in the Island of the Giant Drapheon where the king of Denmarke and his squire lost their wits and became mad by force of a water that they drunk out of a fountain called The fountain of Forgetfelnesse that sprang in that Isle where they were taken kept in a cruel prison froÌ„ whence in short time after they were deliuered by the meanes of a Gentlewoman that fel in loud with the king and caused him to recouer his health armes horse and a ship with all things necessary for himselfe and his squire and hauing done she with them put to sea and coasting the countrey of Treuisane they came vnto an Island where the people of the countrey would haue burnt a Gentlewoman because shee could not find a knight for to maintaine her quarrel but the king fought for her and ouercame him that accused her taking the Gentlewoman with him put to sea againe sailing sixe daies together along the coast hée perceiued a maid out of a tower where in the lord of the country kept her prisoner for the cause which shee declared to the king out of a window that looked into the sea for whose sake the king took land to fight with the lord till hée deliuered the poor gentle woman out of prison such were the aduentures of the king of Denmark which are rehearsed at large in the great chronicles that master Elizabeth wrote not long after the coronation of Esplandian wherein the prowesse aduentures of the Brittish knights and others remaining at Alfarin are likewise registred orderly set downe For this time content your selues to vnderstand the maner how in what sort Esplandian and the Princesse Leonorine saw each other how afterward Vrganda came to Constantinople of the armies both â—y land sea of the cruell battaile betwéen the Turks Christians which ended our history likewise shall be finished but hauing many things to describe before I come to that point we will returne to Esplandian that was not smally abashed at the long absence of the King expecting froÌ„ day to day some newes of him that had left his company only for the cause you heard before CHAP. XXXV How Esplandian hauing staied Garinter king of Denmarks returne about two weekes space and perceiuing no news of him determined by the counsell of Carmelle to goe in person to the citty of Constantinople AFter that Garinter King of Denmarke had set saile towards Constantinople as it is saied before Esplandians ship arriued at the gulfe where he promised to stay and there lay at anker for the space of two wéekes not hearing any news of his desired message wherewith he doubted either that the king of Denmarke should bee drowned or that fortune had carried his vessel some other way wherfore he thought to send one of his marriners to enquire of him But before hee did it he determined first to speak with Carmelle and taking her aside saied vnto her My great friend you know for what cause the king of Denmarke left vs the reason of his voiage as also the promise he made vnto me to returne again with all spéed but we can heare no news of him at all which maketh me assuredly beléeue either hee is dead or that the storme hee was in hath cast him in some country so far off that he cannot by any meanes doe as he hath promised wherefore I pray you giue mee your aduise what I were best to doe for those that are in the like mind that I am although in some thinges they haue their vnderstandings whole and perfect
said Esplandian you may command me and likewise set me forth for a coward hardy or any other what it pleaseth you to tearme me In which manner talking togither they came vnto his lodging where master Elizabeth newly come from Alfarin visited his wounds and the rest likewise that had cause to vse his helpe CHAP. XLII How the Knights of great Brittaine that were at Galatia imbarked themselues with Vrganda in the great serpent to saile vnto Constantinople and what happened vnto them THe Knightes that had béen hurt at the last encounter for the space of fiftéene daies after were forced to kéepe their chambers vntill their woundes were healed during which time Vrganda tooke great pleasure in reading Melies bookes which Esplandian caused to bée brought vnto her wherein shée found such wonderfull coniurations and deuises of Magicke Art that she was abashed how shée that had had them so long time in her possession knew no more than yet shée did estéeming the Enchantresse Lady to haue béen the perfectest schollar that euer studied in that art as it well appeared by her bookes Now the time approched wherein it was expedient according to the destinies appointed that Esplandian and his companions should goe vnto Constantinople wherefore as soone as their wounds were healed Vrganda caused them to bée assembled and standing in the middest of them all she said vnto them My good friends knowing part of the prosperities and aduersities which the heauens foreshewe vnto you all I came hither specially to sée Esplandian and you of whome I haue receiued great pleat pleasure perceiuing at my arriuall the loue and amitie that is among you with the great desire you haue to accomplish the order of knighthood not for the glory and recompence of this world but onely for the increasing of our faith and the seruice of God that shall reward you for it and to the end you may continue in this forwardnes and that the thing which I pretend may happily fall out I will from henceforth not only imploy my person but my Arte which hath pleased God to lend me wherewith I will aduise you what I shall find conuenient and necessarie for the augmentation of your honours alreadie spread throughout the world which to begin I am of opinion that you all imbarke your selues with me in the great serpent that shall bring vs vnto Constantinople to the Emperour for without him it is impossible that this great enterprise you haue taken in hand can come to good effect as also that hee himselfe before many yéeres are past shall be found in maruellous necessitie and such that he shall account himselfe most happie to haue your aid and with good reason for that in the end both hee and you shall ouercome those hazzards according to your desires Then shall you plainely knowe that this that I foreshew vnto you is most true While Vrganda vsed these wordes all the company stood still intentiue for to heare her and had it not béen that they estéemed her words to be most true they had doubted of the threatnings shée vsed against the Emperour he béeing so great and puissant a Monarch Neuerthelesse the issue of that trouble which shée assured vnto them gaue them some ease and contentation of minde in expectation whereof they made account in the meane time to prooue their strengths and forces that thereby their valour and magnanimitie might be further spread abroad And as touching their voiage to the Emperour as Vrganda gaue them direction it was onely the thing wherevnto Esplandian did aspire hoping that if the warres were openly proclaimed in the Grecian Empire and the Emperours daunger so imminent to shewe such valour and prowesse in martiall exploits that hée would not onely frée and acquite his father of the promise he had made to serue the Ladies but confirme the loue that the princes Leonorine bare vnto him in such sort that he might obtaine her for his wife which caused him to speake for all his companie assuring Vrganda that not one of them but was readie to obey and goe where it pleased her My friends said she then I pray you to morrow in the morning cause your horses to be shipped in my shippe and for armour take you no care I will prouide you thereof so well that ech man shall find himselfe content let it suffice you to imbarke your selues and set saile for often times an enterprise deferred ouer long falleth not out as mē desire it should not for want of good and wise counsell but by the negligēce of those that are appointed to execute the same Thus was their voiage to Constantinople agréed vpon in such sort that all the knights of great Brittaine entred into the great serpent taking with them Frandalo Melie and the captaine of Tesifant that had béen taken prisoner as you heard before leauing the Admirals souldiers for garrison in the towne Which done the ship went forward of it selfe sayling towards the castle La montaigne defendu where being arriued they tooke Armato king of Turkie and his two captaines with them for Vrganda willed them so to doe and sixe daies after the great serpent arriued within halfe a mile of Constantinople where she staied Then Vrganda caused her Knightes to be armed with the armour shée had brought which were white with a red crosse both before and behind most comely to behold They were in all fortie knights whose names are as followeth Esplandian Frandalo Norandel Talanque Manely the wise Ambor of Gandel Grauate of the fearfull valley Gandalin Enil Trion cousin to quéene Briolanie Brauor sonne of the giant Balan Belleris Elion le delibere Licoran of the white Tower Listoran of the siluer bridge Landin of Sariaque Imosil of Burgondie Ledadrin of Ferraque Sarquiles cousin to Angriotes Palomir Branfil Tantiles the proud Galbron sonne of Isamel Carpin his brother Carin of Carante Attalio sonne of Oliuas Bracele sonne of Bandoyuas Garamante sonne of Norgales Amphinio of Almain Brandonie of Fraunce Penatrie of Spaine Flamene his brother Culspicio of Bohemia Amandario of litle Brittaine Siluester of Hungaria Manely of Swethland Galfarie of Italie Galiot of Scotland Amandalie his brother and Calfeur the glorious Being arriued the shippe was presently espied by the citizens which they knewe hauing séene it before when it put them in such feare as you haue heard but hoping for him that vsed ordinarily to saile therein they all ranne vnto the walles and along the shore to sée him land wherwith the noise and rumour was so great that the Emperour had newes thereof béeing as then talking with the ladies Those newes pleased the Princes Leonorine so well that she no sooner heard the great serpent named but she rose vp and went vnto the windowes to sée if shée could espie her loue Esplandian but the ship was somewhat too farre off neither did it mooue from the place whereas it lay Wherfore fearing to be deceiued as she had béen before she began to
the foot of the Riffee mountains This countrey whereof I speake was sometimes peopled with good knights and men of all quarters but the women vpon malice deuised a meanes to kill them all establishing a law among themselues that from that time forwardes they would acknowledge for Ladie and Quéene one of their owne country women gouerning themselues as the Amazons vsed to doe Whereby it was not lawfull for any of them to vse the companie of men aboue once or twice a yéere vpon the daies and times by them appointed when they went out of their owne countrie and vsed their neighbours helpe with whom God knoweth if they found not meanes to make them pay the vsurie of the time lost in such sort that most of them returned home with child but the bringing vp of their children was far different for the maiden children were kept aliue burning their right paps but not the 〈◊〉 children for as soone as they were borne they put them to death hauing agréed not to suffer one aliue or els so few that they very easily might ouercome them For this cause often times they warred against the Tartarians bordering on their country putting them to great trouble by diuers and continuall inuasions as well by sea as by land In their lawes and customes they obserued so great rigour as that if any man by casualtie or otherwise fell into their hands he prooued for food vnto a great number of griffoâ—s nourished among them when they were young being so tame and gentle that neuer any hauke knewe better the Faulkoners lure then those gentle birds knew the voice of her that ordinarily fedde them To come vnto the point this quéene of Califorine being a woman of great spirit valiant hardie young faire and of good behauiour hearing of the warres vndertaken against the Christians was desirous to be there not for any ill shée wished them but onely for to know them and to sée their countrey that bare so great renowme And for that cause she assembled great numbers of the principall ladies of her countrey shewing them what honour they might obtaine in that voiage which may peraduenture be such said shée that by our force and great prowesse wée may greatly augment our Empire béeing feared and redoubted of each man and not continue alwaies buried among these mountaines as they in times past did of whome at this present wée now possesse and enioye the place The Quéene in this sort could so well persuade them that they being mooued with a marueilous desire to goe with her presently prepared their shippes and set saile for Thracia with so good and prosperous a winde that the tenth day after the assaults of Constantinople they arriued in the armie of Armato where they were honourably receiued after diuers spéeches vsed by the Souldan of Liquie and other princes of the campe vnto the quéene of Califorine specially touching their determination concerning that great enterprise shée being sorrie they had done so little against the towne desired them that she might once haue leaue to try her fortune against it by means that she would vse And the better to induce them thereunto she told them she had fiftie griffons that would not faile béeing let out of their cages to sease vpon the Christians without hurting of her women because they knewe them and had béen nourished with them And while they take their flight said she I will giue such an assault against the towne that without doubt wee will enforce the same for if the Emperors souldiers appeare but to defend the wals my Griffons shall be ready to carrie them clean away as the Merlin doth the larke But to the end said she your men receiue no hurt let them abide within their tentes till they be shut into their cages When king Armato and the Souldan of Liquie heard the great zeale and affection she shewed to employ her forces as also the inuention that she had they all agréed that the next day after she should doe what liked her WhereupoÌ„ she sent presently to her that kept the griffons that shée should giue them nothing for to eate of all that day that when they meant to vse them at the assault they might be gréedier and further sent worde by sound of drumme that all her companies should be readie the next day early in the morning to giue assault vnto the citie Quéene Calafre hauing in this maner prouided for her enterprise at the time appointed all her women armed according to their manner the most part of them bearing bowes ranne with great furie vnto the walles and with their ladders began to mount vp with that the alarme went about the citie all men running to defend the same and as they were some vpon the walles and other places of defence the Quéene made signe to let the Griffons loose which being hungry and flying ouer the towne seazed vpon such as they could find abroad wherewith the Emperours souldiers were in so great feare that most part of them that fought forsooke the walles to hide themselues Alas what pitie was it to sée souldiers citizens knights and others yea women and little children and all whatsoeuer they could get into their clawes taken vp into the aire and somtimes hauing taken them vp they let them fall vpon the stones whereby they had a strange and cruell death surely if God had not kept the Cittie better than those that had the charge it is most sure it had béene taken at that time But there happened a strange case for as the Griffons helde their prey and that the Knights of great Brittaine with some small number of others resisted the assault made by the women the Turkes that had béen aduertised not to come out of their tents while they assailed the towne mooued with too gréedy a desire to sacke the Citte which they thought surely had béen taken ranne vnto the assault making such a noise that the Griffons féeding on their preyes left the bodies they had seazed vpon and flying vp againe seased on them that they sawe come running to the towne whereof in short space after they made so great a butcherie that more than foure hundred Turkes were presently slaine by them meane time those within the towne perceiuing that good fortune did so fiercely repulse the Californiens that their principall women lay dead within the ditches wherewith the Quéene was forced to retire knowing her enterprise would not take effect as shée desired it should not by reason of her souldiers but in that they kept not in as they had promised Wherewith she commanded to take the birdes againe but the Falconers could not by any meanes make them to come in before they had slaine and deuoured aboue a thousand Turkes and others whereof they onely suckt the blood Wherewith king Armato and the Souldan of Liquie were so grieued that from thenceforth they began to shew so hard a countenance to the Quéene that shée was in the minde
women to return to sea kéeping apart from all the Pagans without once stirring from thence for any thing whatsoeuer should fall till shée receiued further newes from her which was partly the cause of the enemies ouerthrow for they doubting some treason being separated in that sort from that time forward were in some feare and in greater suspition than before and not without cause for that if Lyote had aided king Armato both by sea and land as shée might haue done if her sister had not forbidden her it is likely her esquadron of women being twentie thousand strong and somewhat more had done great mischiefe to the Christians but God of his goodnes prouided better for them CHAP. LIIII How after the Pagans were driuen out of Thrace the Emperour of Constantinople renouncing his Empire inuested Esplandian therwith marrying him to his doughter the princesse Leonorine THe obsequies and funerals of the Kinges Princes Lords and others that died in the battell being finished the wounded cured and all things set at rest the Emperour of Constantinople knowing that Amadis and those that were come with him from the Westerne parts would retourne againe into their countries desired them to assemble shewing them that his meaning was to let them know what hée determined to doe before they went from thence The next day in the morning they all met in the emperors great hall and he standing in the middest spake vnto them and said My brethren lords and good friends the bond wherein I stand bounden vnto you is so great that although it hath pleased God to make me Emperour of all Grecia yet am I well assured it is far beyond my poore hability to satisfie you for the same estéeming the honour and riches that I now haue next vnder God be it little or much to procéed from you I am now thréescore yeares of age wholly aged decrepit by reason of the paines that in my youthfull yeares I haue continually taken in following armes so it is I haue but one child which is a daughter the onely staffe hope of my old yeares whome I haue determined if you thinke good to giue in marriage vnto the valiant knight Esplandian and with her likewise to inuest him with the Empire and gouernement of all my countries And the better to liue solitarily and to seperate my selfe from worldly company I haue determined to goe with the Empresse my wife into the monastery that I caused to bee made there to liue religiously calling vpon God and doing pennance for the euils I haue committed heretofore Wherefore my good lords and friendes I pray you if this my determination like you well let euery man giue consent and you first saied hee vnto king Amadis to whom the matter toucheth néerer then to any of the rest as being father and sonne My lord said he my sonne shal doe as you command him I will tell you said the Emperour I remember that among other Prophesies which ought to happen in this our time there is one that maketh me as I think agrée with you in one consent Esplandian hath vpon his body as I haue vnderstood certaine carracters which shew his name and others that in no wise can be read but only by the woman that is ordained to be his wife let vs now sée if it be my daughter or not with that he sent for the Princesse Leonorine who being brought thether by the Empresse and diuers other ladies the Emperour desired Esplandian to open his doublet and shew them the letters hée had borne vpon his body from his mothers wombe which hée refused not but before them all shewed them openly where euerye man might easily perceiue the white carracters containing this word Esplandian but they could not know the red wherefore the Emperour caused his daughter to come néere asking her what she could doe therein My lord said she not long before Melie betraied Vrganda she and I being alone in my chamber she sent to fetch one of the bookes that had ben taken from her couered with gold whereon the Enchauntresse was ingrauen and I remember that I saw therein the like carracters that Esplandian beareth on his body and ouer them their signification which is nothing else but his name and mine Daughter said the Emperor if you haue the booke still cause it to be brought hether wherevnto shée obaied The booke being brought shee shewed him the place that Melie had read vnto her containing that which followeth The happy knight that shall conquer the sword the great treasure inchaunted by me shall from his mothers wombe bear his name in white carracters and the name of her that shall be his wife in red carracters vpon his body which red carracters shal be so difficult to vnderstand that no man liuing in that time how wife or learned soeuer he be shall expresse the same without he sée this booke which wil teach him what the seuen carracters do signifie representing the seuen words that follow Leonorine daughter of the Emperour of Greece In good faith saied the Emperour here is a strange case and sheweth well that the Enchantresse lady had more knowledge in art Magicke then any that liued in her time and séeing my daughter hath so wel deuined I am determined that you said he vnto the archbishop of Thrace do grant vnto Esplandian that which nature before his birth had promised vnto him which is my daughter Leonorine By which meanes the marriage was solemnised and finished the same day with no great ceremonies the Court being as yet troubled for the death of so many Princes and great lords that were slaine in the battaile but let it suffice to knowe that those two louers enioyed the thing which they so long desired Esplandian the same day being proclaimed Emperor of Gréece according to the commandement of his father in lawe who within two months after with the Empresse his wife went vnto a monastery place of deuotion And because quéene Calafre had alwaies pretended to marry with Esplandian perceauing her intent frustrated she could not refrain to speak in presence of theÌ„ all said vnto them My lords I beséech you giue me leaue to declare my mind It is certain said she that those which know me are not ignorant that I am one of the greatest most puissant princesse in all the cast parts by reason of the great quantity of golde and precious stones that are within my countries As touching my linage I am daughter of a quéene of ancient race and as noble as any that euer was in the world so it is that fortune brought me into these marches promising me shortly to returne laden with great number of flaâ—es abundance of treasure but to the contrary I that pretended sought the captiuity of others and my selfe takeÌ„ better holden prisoner theÌ„ they ytâ—â— in their mortal enemies hands This imprisonmeÌ„t wherof I speak is not that whervnto I am bouÌ„d by the faith I haue
With that they were abashed that the great serpent began to leape and labour in the water as if it had ben in the greatest storm that euer was although the sea was very calme but only about the serpent where it raged in most horrible maner but that which most abashed the beholders was that the vessell cast forth such horrible cries that not one among them but his haire stood vpright vpon his head for fear And hauing continued in that maner about 〈…〉 more the serpent thrust his head into the water wherewith it sunk and neuer was séen again And with that they perceiued a farre off a great rock which being driuen by the waues came within half a bow shot néer vnto the shore on the top whereof stood a woman bareheaded and couered only with a linnen cloth to hide her priuities being inuironned by more then a thousand serpents as wel great as small which stung her in such sort that she wept and lamented in most pittiful maner wherat the knights of great Brittaine had so much coÌ„passion that they thought to enter into the ships and go to help her which Vrganda forbad them For said she besides the dangers that may happeÌ„ vnto you you shal lose your labors because she whom you behold which is the inchauntresse lady hath ordained it to be so With that the rocke sunk into the water and the gentlewoman vanished out of sight but not long after she appeared again vpon the waues flying from the fury of a monster of the sea that with his throat opeÌ„ followed after ready to deuour her in such manner that she came right vnto the hauen crying with a loud voire vnto Esplandian Gentle Emperor I pray you help me for none but you can do it wherewith Esplandian stepped forward holding the sword hee conquered in the old pallace of the inchaunted rock in his hand ran vnto her thinking to go néere the monster the gentlewoman that fled from it caught hold of his sword whether he would or not took it away wherwith she threw her self into the sea the monster after her Whereat euery man began to laugh saying to the emperor that if a gentlewoman had predestinated the same vnto him kept it long time another gentlewoman or she her selfe vpon a suddaine had taken it from him againe With that Vrganda was led vnto the pallace accompanied by the emperor with all the kings knights where not long after the Souldan of Liquie was deliuered sent to Tesifant about the beginning of the next wéek after the westerne princes took shipping and being imbarked with Vrganda recommending the emperor to God failed forwards till at the last euery man arriued at his desired hauen namely king Amadis that found Oriane very sad for the death of her mother newly deceased which much more increased wheÌ„ she knew hir father king Luisart was dead But in the end time made hir to forget her sorrow but not so soon as Amadis could haue wished CHAP. LV. How the Emperour Esplandian sent Norandel to take possession of the country he had giuen him and of the taking of Tesifant NOt long after the westerne princes were departed into their countries the emperor Esplandian would that Norandel should goe vnto the castle La montaigne defendu and other towns that he had giuen him to make warre against king Armato for which cause he gaue him a great number of soldiors with the which to make short he assailed the king of Turky had battell together wherein many a valiant knight lost their liues neuerthelesse the victory fell on Norandels side wherby he caused Armato to flie away retiring to his city of Tesifant which being known vnto the Emperour he departed from Constantinople with a great army going into Turkie ioyned with Norandels power and besieged Tesifant but feare seased so wel vpon Armato that he found means to flie away leaue the town which not long after was taken the princesse Heliaxe brought vnto the emperor who vsed her courteously and sent her againe vnto her father Ampheon king of Medea giuing her diuers rich presents News being spred throughout the country of Turky of the flight of king Armato as also of the taking of Tesifant diuers towns and citties yéelded to Esplandian that gaue them likewise to Norandel and because winter came on hee returned into Thrace where two of his nephewes sonnes of Galaor came to visite him and to receiue the order of knighthood which he gaue vnto them with both armor and horses minding to request them to trauell to Tesifant vnto Norandel thereto begin their first entrance into arms but they desired rather to take the way to Californie where Mâ—â—â— and Taâ—anque had great war against their neighbors which the emperor perceiuing caused al things necessary for so long a voiage to bee giuen them with so good Piloteâ— that in the end they arriued at their desired Hauen where they attained to great honor and estimation among their â—panâ— But 〈◊〉 to enter further to discouâ—â— of them 〈…〉 this present let them rest And let it suffice you to knowe how that as time passed Perion succéeded in his fathers feat and Garinter married in the east parts with Heletria quéen of Citharee and was the best knight in all the world And because it is declared at large in the sixt and seuenth bookes of this our historye we will passe it ouer at this time CHAP. LVI How Vrganda sent to desire king Amadis the Emperor Esplandian Don Galaor king of Sobradise and others to come vnto the Firm Isle and of the maruellous inchauntments that she made ouer theÌ„ VRganda being in her Isle not as yet discouered taking great pleasure to read Melies bookes knewe by her art death to be néere vnto the kings and princes whom she most loued and hauing great sorrow that worms should consume the flesh of so valiant king hes deuised to preuent the same which to do she took sea accompanied of her two cousins Iuliande and Solisee with diuers other gentlewomen and went vnto the Firme Isle where being arriued she sent to the emperor Esplandian Amadis Galaor Florestan Agraies and Gransador praying them most earnestly to come vnto her to the pallace of Apolidon for matter that touched theÌ„ most néer otherwise she sent theÌ„ word if they did it not that before long time past euil would happeÌ„ vnto theÌ„ and the master Elizabeth should bring with him the book that he made of the aduentures of the knights liuing in his time as also that they should bring their wiues with Ardan the dwarf Carmelle Gandalin the Gentlewoman of Denmarke Those princes hauing vnderstood Vrgandas mind failed not therin so that about the same time she willed theÌ„ to come they all arriued there where Vrganda receiued them not with a smiling counâ—â—nance as â—â—er vsed ordinary to doe but with teares in her eies whereat they being much abashed desired her
to shew the cause thereof which at the first she could not doe her heart was so full of gréete Neuerthelesse in the 〈◊〉 shee tooâ—◠〈◊〉 againe and saied vnto them My good friends 〈…〉 of almighty God al things haue 〈…〉 teÌ„poral things should passe away by death haue an end according to the qualities of his creatures Which diuers great persons considering with themselues haue trauailed during their liues in many sorts after their deaths to leaue some memorie of them not minding to bury their renowme togither with their bodies Now I know for certaine that the end of your daies is néere wherefore it is most requisite that you bée constant and shew your selues to be the same you were at the beginning Neuerthelesse before that death shall seaze vpon you I will shew the loue that I haue alwaies borne vnto you and with the helpe of God will doe so much that without death you shall remaine asléepe vntill the time that one descended of your race shall deliuer you froÌ„ thence and after that shall bée in as good case and raigne againe within your countries as you did before otherwise assure your selues that before sixe moneths do come vnto an end not one of you shall be aliue but all buried in the earth Wherefore let euery man shew me his opinion and for the rest said shee let me prouide Surely that spéech and newes of death was so harde for them to endure that not one of them but changed colour their hearts béeing seazed with an extreme sorow And as they beheld ech other king Amadis séeming least astonished answered vnto Vrganda and said Madame we know for certaine that not one of vs nor any other liuing creature can perfectly knowe what is necessarie for vs but only you alone wherefore doe with vs as you thinke good and wée will all obey you that is sufficient said Vrganda therefore let euery man put on his armour in the same maner hée vseth when hée goeth to the fielde and each man hold his sword naked in his hand that done she caused them to goe into the forbidden chamber setting them in their roiall seates with all their wiues by them which done Vrgandas two cousens Iuliande and Solisde in two basons of gold brought a certaine composition wherewith shée desired them to wash their faces which they did Whereby it happened that on a suddaine Beautie which Age and Time had decaied in them began againe to appeare within their faces in as great perfection aâ— euen it had done which aduenture pleaseâ— the Ladies so â—â—ll that they began to behold ech other and their husbands thereat to be much abashed Then Vrganda called master Elizabeth taking him by the hand led him into the next chamber where she caused him to sit downe putting the booke that he had brought into her hands she made signes to Gandalin and the gentlewoman of Denmark that they should follow her and passing through the Arke of faithfull louers they entred into the garden where the images of Apolidon and Grimanaise were placed ouer the which she set them and Ardan the dwarfe hard by them wherwith she said vnto them My friends the true and faithfull louers haue béen worthy to sée these images before the Arke sometime inchanted so you deserue this place for the faith and true and affection that you haue alwaies borne to your masters Wherefore vpon your liues sée you depart not hence whatsoeuer you shall heare or sée that done she went vnto the chamber where shée left the Emperour and taking Carmelle by the hand before them all she said vnto her Carmelle you were but of meane parentage but the vertue and great curtesie of your heart hath so much inabled you that you shall bée placed at the Emperors féet to fulfill the promise made vnto him which was neuer to forsake him while you liued With that she spake vnto king Amadis and all the other princes praying them not to flie till shée returned againe and going vp into one of the towers of the pallace shée tooke with her the best of Medeas bookes which Melie had that sometime belonged to the Enchantresse lady and being in the tower shée vncouered her head with that she began to read certaine coniuâ—â—ations and looking into all the foure quarters of the earth making signes and tokens with her fingers her face became so redde â—hat it séemed fire had issued out of her eyes Whereupon there â—appened such an earthquake so great tempests of lightning and â—hunder as though the Elements had fought togither This tempest continuing for the space of thrée quarters of an houre those whome she had caused to sit downe as you heard before remained in a trance without all knowledge as if they had béene dead and with that there appeared a cloud so obscure and thicke which inuironed the place that neuer after it could be séen till Luisart of Gréece sonne to Esplandian brought that enchantment to an end by meanes of a sword which he conquered as it shall be declared to you in the sixt Booke wherein is described one of the most pleasant and delectable histories that euer was read At which time all the Princes and the rest were reuiued againe and not before The Emperor Esplandian at that time had a sonne after his grandfathers name called Luisart as then about the age of eight yéeres King Amadis a sonne and a daughter the sonne named Perion and the daughter Brisene that married the eldest sonne of the Emperour of Rome King Galaor two sonnes the one named Perion the other Garinter of whome I haue shewed you before Florestan the King of Sardaigne two sonnes the one named Florestan after his father that raigned after him and the other Palmindan of Almaine after his grandfather Agrayes Earle of Salandrie two sonnes the one called Languines the other Galmenes King Bruneau one sonne named Vallade and a daughter named Helisenne that married Quedragants sonne and bare his fathers name King Childadan two sonnes the eldest called Abies of Ireland after his grandfather whome Amadis slewe the first day hée entred into Knighthood And although these princes left such heires as you heard before yet would they not during their fathers absence take on them the names or titles of Kings hoping by Gods helpe that they should once returne as well as euer they were For the which cause they hauing â—â—â—tained to the age and strength to bear armes passed 〈◊〉 â—reland there to bée made knights by King Childâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 very weake and withered with age 〈…〉 followed strange aduentures doing many 〈…〉 feates of armes which are at large declared in the bookes that followe which in time may come vnto your handes when it pleaseth God FINIS
sort being conquered and the people gotten into the great temple of Iupiter Esplandian minding not to lose the Princesse Heliaxe nor the Giant Foron that he and Frandalo left with Carmelle desired Gandalin and Lazinde to goe fetch them and with them hee sent Sergil his Squire to bring them to the place which they presently did and made such hast that they found her sitting by a great fire that Foron had made where lighting off their horses saluting Heliaxe Gandalin said Madame my lord Esplandian praieth you to come vnto the place where hee staieth for you My friends saied shee I knew him not true it is I was brought hether by two knights whereof one is Frandalo that I haue knowne long time but for the other I assure you as farre as I remember I neuer sawe him before Madame saied Carmelle hee is sonne to the valiant knight Amadis de Gaule whose fame is spread so farre about the world Truly saied Heliaxa I haue heard of him so haue you as I thinke said Carmelle of my lord Esplandian his sonne for hee alone conquered the castle La montaigne defendu and now lately hath taken king Armato your father in lawe and I can assure you hee is one of the courteous knights liuing in the world I am much abashed then saied she how he shewed himselfe so vncourteous in my behalf not speaking vnto me while I was in his company yet me thinketh being his prisoner hee could haue done no lesse then comfort mée either with good spéeches or faire promises whereof hee hath vsed so few that while I liue I shall neuer thinke well of him Madame saied Carmelle you take the matter otherwise then it is for if hee refrained to speake vnto you it was by reason of the great acquaintance hee perceiued Frandalo to haue with you vnto whome he is so great a friend that hee was not onely content to giue him leaue to entertaine you but much greater fauour would hee doe vnto him if hee can You may say what you will saied shee Neuerthelesse if he haue no other excuse then that you alledge in his behalfe hee shall neuer lose the disliking hee hath gotten at my hands Madame saied Gandalin I am well assured hee will amend that fault when it pleaseth you wherefore I pray you determine what you meane to dâ—e for hee hath commaunded vs to doe as pleaseth you My friendes saied Heliaxe I would gladly sléepe till it bee day then I will bee ready to goe where you thinke good but I pray you tell mee what noise it was I heard of late within the Towne Madame saied Lazinde It is not yet thrée howers since the Towne was taken by assault Good God saied she what miserable fortune was that for the poore inhabitants I thinke they are all put vnto the sword No madame saied Lazinde the greater part haue saued themselues in the great Temple of Iupiter but they will hardly escape when it is day for our Generals are determined to burne the Temple If it bee so saied shee that Frandalo hath any credite with his companions and that hee that sent you bee so courteous as this Gentlewoman reporteth him to bee I hope they will take pittie on the poore people at least if not for the loue of them I trust vpon request for my sake they will not refuse it And to the end I come not thether for late I pray you when day appeareth let vs presentlie depart wherewith laying her downe vpon a cloke shee passed the rest of the night not greatly to her ease CHAP. XXX How Gandalin and Lazinde brought the Princesse Heliaxe and the Giant Foron into the Towne of Alfarin to Esplandian and Frandalo and of the honourable intertainment they had HEliaxe that had not slept all that night being gréeued for the losse of the towne of Alfarin the ordinary abiding place of Alphorax her husband and withall the pleasantest and most delicious place of all Turkie perceauing day to appeare waked the two knights making her account if shee might get into the towne before the destruction of the temple the people that were fled into it by her request and humble supplication to Esplandian and Frandalo should bee saued With that they all mounted on their horses and made such hast that they entred into the town as the Christians began to assault the fortresse and when Frandalo perceiued the Princesse Heliaxe hee rode vnto her bidding her God morrow and taking her palfry by the bridle bareheaded brought her to Esplandian and his company that did her great honor knowing her to be a kings doughter and wife to so great a Prince With that shee asked Frandalo which of them was Esplandian Madame saied hee pointing vnto him here he is ready to do you any seruice that he can as hee hath assured mee But when shee perceiued him to bee so yoong and of so great beautie shee was abashed to think how nature had furnished him with so many good perfections especially of so great and incomparable force wherof he had the commendation among the most valerous knights wherewith shee saied vnto Frandalo In good faith I haue heard him commended in diuers places for one of the best knights liuing in the world and of mine owne knowledge I haue séen him doe that which I would neuer haue thought to bee in him considering his yoong yeares so that if hee abound as much in courtesie as he doth in valour and beautie I thinke him to bee the brauest Gentleman that may bee found which I shall presently sée if he graunt me one request Madame saied Esplandian blushing at the praises she vsed in respect of him If I doe it not you shall be the first that euer I refused gift vnto in all my life and considering your great beautie and most courteous behauiour howe should it be possible for me to disobay your will I pray you then sir knight said she to pardon the poore people that are within the Temple and graunt them vnto mee with leaue to send them where I shall thinke good not hurting them any more In good truth madame said Esplandian you shall not be refused for so smal a matter and I will doe so much with the other knights that they shall giue consent as also to your owne libertie and the Giant Forons to guide you where it pleaseth you which Frandalo did most earnestly desire at our handes before you arriued here And for his sake looke what else you will command at our hands wee are ready to performe it with all our hearts For the which the Princesse Heliaxe thanked him most heartely and turning to Frandalo saied vnto him Sir Knight the good that you and your companions doe vnto mee shall neuer bee forgotten on my part but I will by all means séeke to acknowledge the same although presently I cannot doe it wherefore if it pleaseth you cause your souldiours to retire that these poore distressed people may come forth according to
the launce that stucke within his forehead But the Quéene rose presently and with her sword in hand went towards Amadis the like did the Souldan to Esplandian that had suffered him to take breath and lace his helmet not for any good he wished him but that at the end of his carere hée espied the princes Leonorine standing on the walles of Constantinople whereat he was so abashed that euery man saide the Souldan had hurt him in the bodie Neuerthelesse within short space after they knew the contrarie for hée lighted on foote where betwéene them two was fought the most perillous combat that euer was séene for Rodrigue was as valiant a knight in armes as any in his time but Esplandian handled him in such manner that often times he made him cleane forget the subtilties that commonly he vsed in such affaires and in the end vsed him so hardly that it might euidently be séene the victorie would be his Meane time the Quéene vsed all her force to ouercome king Amadis who holding in his hand a great truncheon of a launce instead of a sword gaue her such a blowe on the crest of her helmet that hée made her eyes start within her head Wherewith shée being much offended spake vnto him and said What sir Knight doe you thinke me either to he a dogge or else a countrey clowne that you séeme to beat me with a staffe By my head before you escape out of my handes there is no armour you haue but will be néedfull for you to the safegard of your life Calafre said Amadis all my life time I haue béene a seruant vnto Ladies and if at this time I should begin with you to wish them ill the good that others haue receiued at my handes would be lesse estéemed You account mée then said the Quéene one of that number but you shall presently féele that I am something more with that shée tooke her sword in both handes and in great choller gaue him such a blow that shée claue his shield in two and thinking to double her stroke Amadis stepped vnto her and plucked hers from off her necke with such force that shée was constrained to knéele vpon the ground Neuerthelesse shée rose presently againe and thinking to be reuenged vsed all her force to charge Amadis who turning aside gaue her such a blowe with his truncheon hard by the eare and therewith made her so astonished that her sworde fell out of her hand wherewith he stepped forward and taking her by the helmet said vnto her Now you shall be my prisoner whether you will or not as well as the Souldan is prisoner to my sonne With that the Quéene looked aside and perceiued that Amadis said true wherefore shée said Truly I am your prisoner séeing fortune will haue it so and therewith Rodrigue and Esplandian came vnto them and they foure going out of the lists went vnto the Christians campe the Pagans that saw them ledde away in whome in a manner consisted most of their hope when the campes should ioyne in battaile made countenance to rescue them which caused the Christians to stand all day in order of battaile meane time they agréed among themselues to send the Souldan and the Quéene vnto Constantinople Gandalin hauing charge to bring them thither and present them to the Princesse Leonorine from Amadis and Esplandian who thanked them most heartily And before hée returned againe vnto the campe a souldier of Thrace that had dwelt in Tartaria aboue twentie yéere togither came and yéelded himselfe vnto the Christians and tolde King Perion and Luisart that their enemies determined the next day in the morning to surprise them before they were aware whereof they aduertised the Emperor of Constantinople to the end he might be readie There were in the citie fortie thousand men whereof he appointed thirtie thousand to issue forth vpon the enemies rereward as soone as they perceiued the battaile once begon and gaue likewise intelligence to King Childadan and Quedragant that his spies had brought him newes that Alphorax had vnfurnished his shippes of men to strengthen their armie on land trusting to the straights which they meane to kéepe hoping thereby to saile into the Maiorque seas if fortune fauour not their enterprise and there it would be good with the other Christian princes aduise that they should set vpon him and that Frandalo with his fléete should second them Which newes vnderstood by the two Generals of the armie by sea they sent vnto king Amadis and the rest of the Commaunders in the campe to knowe their aduise whereunto answer was returned that they should followe the opinion of the Emperour of Constantinople which they should execute vpon the next day in the morning wherevpon Frandalo ceased not all night to make and prepare diuers kindes of artificiall fires wherewith he made account to burne the most part of Alphorax ships which he did as hereafter you shall heare But to returne to king Armato and his forces About an houre before day according to their former determinations they began to march against the Christians thinking to find them sléeping and thereby to slay their watch before they should haue meanes to set themselues in order of battaile Neuerthelesse they found themselues deceiued for they were alreadie set in order of battaile standing close with great desire to receiue their enemie as they did the Emperour of Rome had the vantguard and with him king Luisart king Amadis king Perion Galaor and Esplandian the maine battaile Florestan Bruneo and Balan the rereguard On the Pagans side there marched first the Souldan of Alaxa thréescore knightes two Califfes and foure Tamorlanes that in great furie set vpon the Emperour of Rome and his battaile where at their first arriuall many a braue knight was stroken downe both on the one side and the other for Esplandian and the Christian princes being fayned togither gaue not one blowe but it was a deadly stroke yet at the first they were repulsed by the great quantitie of arrowes the enemies shot against them which flew in so great number that hailestones neuer fell thicker out of the skies wherby it fell out that both vantguard maine battaile and reregard indured much paine with that Norandel Talanque Manely Trion Landin Licoran Imosill Palomie Enil Ellan and to conclude all Esplandians companions with thirtie thousand men chosen by the Emperour issued out of the citie which small troupe resolutely determined did so abash the Pagans that in a manner they all lost their courages whereby they presently began to recule as farre backe as they aduanced themselues wherewith those that before had béen in feare tooke courage againe and turning their faces on the enemie recouered the ground that they had lost in such sort that with good cause they might well crie Victorie On the other side Quedragant and Childadan setting saile made towardes the straights at the entrie whereof Frandalo ouertooke them with fourescore vessels of all sorts and as they
had spoken togither touching their enterprise considering the great power of their enemies it was agréed that Frandalo that had prooued them at other times should first set vpon them wherwith he began to saile forwards and Alphorax likewise against him giuing a signe of battaile to his men who with great courage entred vpon ten of the best gallies that the Christians had and sunke them in the sea yet Frandalo nought abashed set fire on more than an hundred of their shippes before Childadan entred into fight but not long after hée and Quedragant came vnto them where good defence preuailed In which fight they continued for the space of eight houres without any signe vpon which side the victorie would fall vntill Quedragant borded Alphorax shippe and entred by force slaying all that were therein What néed I stand longer to discourse The Turkes séeing their captaine dead and their manifest ouerthrow before their faces being ready to fall into the Christians hands began to flie and by force of oares entred into the Maiorque sea but not all for there were taken burnt and drowned about two or thrée hundred Gallies Galleasses Fustes and Brigandines the rest saued themselues in such sort as you heard before to whom night was so much assistant that the chase endured not so long as els it would haue done Alphorax dead and his armie ouerthrowne the Christians assembled themselues togither staying to heare newes from their armie on land which in the meane time had had so much to endure that wonder it was how they could hold out and among the rest the good olde king Perion and Luisart séeing Esplandian raging like a lyon followed by the hunters would not leaue him fearing to loose him and so long they followed him striking both on the right side and the left that they found themselues inclosed by aboue a thousand Turkish horsemen not hauing any other aid by them than Grumedan the Duke of Bristowe Guilan Brandoyuas Nicoran of the siluer bridge Cendil de gonate and a few others Surely those eight or nine caused those that met them to buy full déerely their approch as not being the first danger wherein they had fallen neuerthelesse in the end being ouer wearie and sore trauailed with the blowes they had giuen and receiued they were cleane out of breath and the worst was their horses were slaine vnder them and they themselues so sore wounded that they were all slaine in the place only Esplandian that in a manner could scarse lift vp his armes when king Amadis his father with great number of Frenchmen found him there whereat the battaile begun fiercer than euer it had béene for Amadis and his company séeing the Kings dead and their companions lying on the ground and Esplandian fighting in the middle of them on foote they were in a manner mad and therwith made such slaughter that the Turks were forced to separate themselues and Esplandian horsed again and being on horsebacke notwithstanding all his woundes hee shewed well that his body was not weary for hee followed the enemies in such sort mooued with gréefe to sée his friends dead that in short space by the aide of his father and the rest that followed him hée forced the Sâ—uldan of Alaxa and his souldiers to turne their backes and flie and in his flight gaue him such a blowe with his sword vpon the head that hée strake him dead and more than an hundred Pagans with him Amadis like wise did so valiantly with all the Knightes of Fraunce great Brittaine and Swethland specially the King of Denmarke Talanque Manely Ambor and Norandel that woonder it was to sée yet had their valour little preuailed without the aide that the Emperor of Constantinople brought thither with a great troup of horsemen that the Emperour of Rome had likewise gathered togither by which meanes king Armato with thirtie other Kings and their retinue were cleane ouerthrowne and the most part of them put to the sword the Christian Knightes making such slaughter that the blood ranne about the field in such abundance as if it had rained blood a whole day togither and greater had the abundance béene if night had not come on which separated them the Westerne Princes remaining incamped in the field till day opened that they might accomplish their desires Meane time Amadis caused watch and Sentinels to be set in all places because hee had béen aduertised that King Armato that had fledde away assembled his men by little and little which to doe hée caused hornes and drummes to sound throughout the field making fire round about the place where hee had retired sending two knights to the sea side to know what had happened to his sonne but newes was brought him that he was slaine and all his shippes burnt and drowned except fiftie or thréescore that were at the end of the straights of the Maiorque sea staying to heare newes of him assure your selues that such newes pleased him not too well neuerthelesse perceiuing it more conuenient to supply his owne necessitie than to spend the time in sorrow and teares hée called such captaines as hée had togither with whome he determined presently to depart and before day to imbarke that small number of men that rested before the Christians should perceiue the same With that he commanded from place to place that euery man should presently retire and without noise make towards the sea where being arriued they entred into their shippes flying towards Tartaria in all the hast they could wherof the Emperor of Constantinople being aduertised sent Frandalo diuers gallies with him to follow them but all in vaine in the meane time the hurt Knightes and souldiers were brought into the citie and the dead buried each according to his degrée wherein the Emperour shewed great affection especially as touching the buriall of the Kings Perion and Luisart for whome Esplandian comming to the Empire and those that succéeded after him caused two Pyramides to be made not any thing inferiour to those which sometime were erected in the citie of Memphis as well for the Kings Miris Chemnis as others and hard by them they buried the bodies of the valiant knights Balan Helian Polimner Enil Grumedan the good olde man and diuers other knights that died in that battaile fighting in the defence of the faith of Iesus Christ with whome their blessed soules do now remaine in ioy And because no menâ—ion hath béen made of Quéene Calafre since her captiuitie neither of the aide that shée had brought vnto the Pagan kings it séemeth reason that I should declare the occasion why her women fought not with the rest you must vnderstand that the Quéene perceiuing her in one day to be taken not only with the loue of the knight Esplandian but by the force of his father King Amadis not long after she had béen in the company of the princes Leonorine to whome Gandalin brought her shée sent vnto her sister Lyote to will her with her