equal whereby I perceive my self unworthy either to be wife or companion unto him I have somewhat moderated my first deliberation in such manner that I will hold my self more then satisfied if it please him I may only continue with him to serve at his commandment during my life which in reason he cannot well deny me for let him do what he will so long as life is in my body I will never forsake him if I be not constrained thereunto Wherefore my Lord for the honor of God I beséech your Grace to finde the means my poor request may once be granted and you Gentlemen said she to Ambor and Talanque I pray you put to your helps that by your favors the life of me poor lover not beloved may be prolonged The King hearing the Gentlewoman that while she spake sometime blushed and other whiles waxed pale make this discourse could hardly abstain to laugh thinking how inconsiderately she had fallen into so great extremity whereby he feared if he should make an answer other then pleased her she would kill her self but with courteous spéech he said unto her Gentlewoman your request is so reasonable that I am of opinion he will not deny it and for my part I will intreat him as much as possible I can My Lord said Esplandian I will do what your Grace commandeth Grant her then I pray you said the King what she craveth at your hands that from henceforth she may be called your faithful servant her honor always saved as in the Knighthood you are bound I will do it answered Esplandian and thereof I assure you saith he speaking to Carmelle who knéeling on the ground kissed his féet and thanked the King and him most heartily reputing her self most happy in obtaining so great favor CHAP. XI How Talanque and Ambor shewed the King what adventure they had found seeking for Esplandian their companion after they had received the order of Knighthood YOu heard before in what sort King Luisart was delivered cut of prison by his nephew Esplandian but as yet he knew not the manner how he received the order of Knighthood Wherefore as they rose from dinner the King desired him to tel him how he was made Knight as also what happened unto him since that time to the end said he that Talanque and Ambor may do the like Then Esplandian told how Urganda came unto the Ferm Island in the great Serpent what spéech she had with Amadis De Gaule and others that were with him the order she used to dub him Knight together with Talanque Ambor Manely and the King of Denmark The sléep wherein they fell and that when he awaked he found himself at the foot of the Rock of the Enchantress in company of Sergil his Squire and two dumb men also how he conquered the Sword with his arrival at the mountain where he found the Hermit that disswaded him from fighting with the Giants By my head said the King I never heard stranger things And now Ambor said he what became of you My Lord said Ambor my companion and I were likewise asléep and when we awaked we found our selves in a little Barque with our two horses in a Haven of the Sea called Armata in the Countrey of Norway as then unknown to us where we landed before a Town not onely to know in what countrey we were but also to séek for victuals And as we went towards it the watch of the town by reason of certain dissension not long before moved betwéen them and their neighbors sent to know what we would have Wherewith we made them answer we were Knights adventurous that came from the Ferm Isle cast upon that shore by tempest of weather In good truth said he that spake unto us our king hath so great cause to use your helps that if you go unto him I am well assured he will bid you welcome We asked him the Kings name and what Countrey we were in My Lords said he the Countrey is called Norway whereof Adroni father in law to Agraies son to the King of Scots one of the best Knights in the world is our King I know not whether you know him And what cause said we hath your King to use our help I will tell you said he he is so old that one of his nephews his Sisters son procured thereto by evil counsel is risen in Arms against him séeking to have the Government of the Countrey in respect as he saith his Vncle is no more able to rule the same And under that pretence hath already usurped a great part thereof and now lieth in Camp before one of the best Cities in this Land which the King by no means can relieve by reason that most of his trustiest friends have forsaken him and hold with the young presumptuous fool that winneth them by fair promises a thing that oftentimes happeneth unto such as fortune favoreth not and when men are fallen they are not onely abandoned of strangers but by their own kindred and friends that properly may be tearmed friends for the present time In good faith said we if the Town will give us victuals and one to guide us we will gladly go and present our service unto him not only for the love of Agraies to whom we are companions but for the right he hath as you have told us That shall be done said he and therewith desired us to stay till he came again from the City where he stayed not long but he brought what we desired and a guide that conducted us so well that the next day about dinner time we arrived where the king lay Who being advertised of our coming and that we were of Agraies companions entertained us most courteously commanding one of his Gentlemen to unarm us in one of his best chambers whither he came and after he had bidden us welcome began in the same manner to shew us all what the watch had before declared unto us and what an unnatural part his Nephew shewed unto him procured thereunto by two Knights in whom onely he putteth his whole trust because said he they are well assured that not any of my Knights dareth enter into combate with them they are estéemed so valiant and hardy But who hath moved them and your cousin said we to undertake so foul an action Because said the King I have no issue male and my cousin alledgeth I am over old to govern the country saying it is fitter for him then for me to do it but if I can I will hold him from it and kéep it for my daughter Olâ—nde and Agraies her husband By my soul said I I am of this opinion that séeing this war is begun onely to try the title you both pretend in one thing it were good your quarrel should be ended by the Combate of two Knights of both parts without the death and destruction of so many poor innocent people as daily perish by the same means remitting the issue thereof to those
beginner in arms for that like a valiant and hardy knight he entred among the Christians and being seconded by his men did most valiantly defend themselves and assailed the enemy although at their first encounter ten of their bravest soldiers were unhorsed and overthrown And as Eiraca entered into the prease Norandel and he met together with such force that Norandel was wounded in the left shoulder but not sore hurt and the Captain of Tesifant loosing his stirrops was thrown over his horse with so great strength that with the fall he was forced to lie upon the ground and could remove neither hand nor foot which the Lurks perceiving to relieve their Captain did so valiantly that they overthrew four of the Brittish Knights who nevertheless rose presently again and with their swords in hand thrust so many of the Turks horses into the sides and flancks that in short space more than twenty of the Turks were overthrown likewise and many slain outright at that charge Enil and Gavarte were hurt and the rest so bardly handled that without Frandalos company that came to succor them they had all béen overthrown and in truth they had almost strayed too long but the squire that Belleris sent unto them could not overtake them before they were in the valley where they should have met And although they had heard the sound of their blowes yet did they not suspect any such peril until the squire had done his message wherewith they ranne with all the spéed they could unto the place where Belleris and his companions being out of breath did nothing but recâ—il and defend themselves against their enemies blows that had slain divers of them but that the captain of Tesifant would have them to be taken and presented to the Prince Alphorax Nevertheless Frandalo Esplandian and the rest of their company made them change opinion for when they perceived their companions so hardly matched by the enemy they entered among them with such fury that had it not béen for Eiraca who at that time behaved himself most valiantly they had overthrown the Turks at their first on-set but by reason of the great resistance he made they continued fighting half an hour after wherein he maintained himself so well that Esplandian could never take him before he had overthrown him and pulled off his Helmet wherewith he yielded mean time Frandalo and his companions being in the midst of their enemies laid so well about them staying horses pulling away shields and doing so valiantly that wonder it was to behold them yet did not the Turks once séem abashed but still fought most couragiously until such time they perceived their Captain taken prisoner which caused them to flie and turn their backs but not all of them for there lay more then one hundred and fifty of them dead upon the ground the rest saved themselves by means of the dark night It was then about an hour before day and Frandalo fearing that those of Tesifant hearing of the overthrow would issue forth to cut off their passage presently caused Captain Eiraca to be remounted and all the Christians that wanted horses and with all spéed rode back again to Alfarin not the same way they came but another way somewhat farther about wherein they travelled so long that about Sun-rising they entred into a great wood where they alighted to refresh both themselves and their horses and staying not long there lest they should be surprized they made such spéed that about sun-setting they arrived in the town mean time news came to Tesifant of the overthrow of their men wherewith Alphorax was in such a rage that in a manner he séemed desperate But for this time we have sufficiently discoursed of Martial affairs now me mean to bring Love in place who desiring to minister some comfort to the Princess Leonorine that lived in great pain expecting the arrival of her friend Esplandian caused him to depart from Alfarin to visit her in the City of Constantinople as in the Chapters following you shall hear CHAP. XXXIII Of the great grief Esplandian had understanding by the messenger that Gastilles sent unto him what displeasure the Princess Leonorine had conceived against him YOu heard before how Gastilles shewed the Emperor what Esplandian had done and what message he sent unto him and to the Princess Leonorine as also what answer she made which Gastilles by his Squire writ and sent unto him having charge from the Emperor so to do thereby to procure his spéedier Arrival in Constantinople The Squire with his Letter made such haste that he arrived at Alfarin about five days after the taking of Eiraca and méeting Carmelle at the gate asked her if he might find Esplandian at convenient leisure to deliver him a Letter from Gastilles but Carmelle being subtil suspecting it to be some news from the Princess Leonorine that might move Esplandian who as then séemed discontent answered him said My good friend you can hardly speak with him at this time but fâ—llow me and give me the letter and I will present it unto him and cause him to return you an answer The Squire did as she willed him and followed her to Esplandians lodging where entring into his chamber she found him sitting on his bed talking with the king of Denmark and delivered him Gastilles letter which when he read the tears ran 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 look I pray you said he whether I have cause or not wherewith stretching forth his hand he gave Carmelle the letter and turning his face began to make the greatest sorrow in the world but when she had read the contents she estéemed not thereof but said unto Esplandian What my Lord are you abashed at so small a matter By my soul I now perceive very well that the affections and loves of men are far different and much unlike the passions that we simple women endure when we fall into the like extremities and know you how you men do most commonly take pleasure to manifest and make known your love either by word of mouth or outward shews and many times dissemble more than you mean to do and which is worse how much the more the Lady or Gentlewoman you love is of great desert or high linage so much more glory do you take to make it known not onely that you bear her affection but that you are beloved and favored of her above all others which is clean contrary to the nature of women I mean such as may be tearmed wise and of good understanding for how much the greater their parentage is so much more fear they have to manifest their amorous passions in such manner that most commonly hath in word gesture and countenance they outwardly
King of Denmark assailed to do it but what strength so ever he used it was impossible for him the like did Gandalin and Enil but they sped no better then the King whereat Esplandian began to laugh and taking it by the two ends lifted it up so easily as if it had béen a piece of dry wood yet was it a piece of Christal of thrée fingers thick and about ten or twelve foot long under it they found an azure stone the fairest and most orient colour that ever was séen that covered a Ceder chest which smelt as swéet as any Balm the Chest being shut with a lock of Emerald-stone having a key of Diamonds that hung by it at a Chain of fine Gold all most artificially composed the stone taken up and the Chest opened they found the Image of Jupiter lying therein all of massy Gold garnished with many Pearls Rubies and other inestimable rich Iewels especially a Crown that he ware on his head about the which were placed certain Carbuncles in form of Gréek Letters with these words Jupiter is great God of all Gods and in his right hand he bare a Table containing this prophesie When time shall come that my art and knowledge shall faile the heart of the hand inclosed herein and life restored by them that were the cause of death the Grecian sheep long time nourished in pleasant pastures shall be constrained to feed on a herb bitterer then Gaul by meanes of the extremity the hungry Sea-Wolves shall put them unto whose number shall be so great that they shall cover the Sea in divers places in such wise that the poor sheep inclosed in their great Forrest and divers of their lambs being dead and torn in pieces their shepheard having in a manner lost all hope of restoring them again with anguish of heart and mind in abundance of tears shall lament their great misfortune Then shall come the brave Lions whelp by whose means the great troop of wolves shall be driven away and destroyed Nevertheless he shall take from the shepheard his great power and the best beloved of his sheep whereupon he shall seize in such sort that his strong teeth and sharp clawes shall enter into her heart and the entrailes of her body the rest of the flock resting in the power and government of him and his fierce company whereby not long after it shall come to pass that the great deceitful Serpent the Inchanted Sword and this high Rock shall sink into the bottom of the Sea and shall never after be seen again of any man But although Esplandian understood the Gréek tongue yet could he not give 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 saw within the tomb which they determined to take with them and return unto their ships without staying any longer for their victuals began to fail wherefore Esplandian willed Carmelle to take the Lion he and the king of Denmark took the plate of Christal Gandalin and Enil the azure stone and the Squires the Ceder Chest with the Image of Jupiter And in that sort they issued out of the pallace descending down the rock till about evening they came unto the hermitage where they stayed all night the next day they went on till they found their ship wherein about Sunsetting they imbarqued themselves and because Esplandian would not be séen in Constantinople without the great Serpent he commanded the master of the Ship to direct his course to the castle called the defended mountain whith he did But having sailed about two days and more as the King of Denmark sat talking with Esplandian about the Letter that was sent unto him he asked him if he thought not good that he should make a voyage unto the Princess Leonorine to understand the truth of her affection towards him For said he it may be Gastilles hath mistaken her words or the Emperor himself hath commanded him to write unto you in such sort that thereby you should make the more haste to go thither at the least I should know of her what her pleasure is and how you shall govern your self in respect of her Ha my good friend said Esplandian you have toucht me now even at the quick if you would do me so much favor you shall bind me for ever unto you mean time I will stay for you in the gulf where I found you with Frandalo when we raised the siege of the castle the defended mountain Assure your self said the King I will do my good will There was belonging to their ship a little Pinnace which the master took with him besides the boat to save himself and his people if any tempest should happen wherein the King with certain marriners to guide him entred and taking their leave of Esplandian sailed forwards with so good a winde that in short space they lost the fight of the great ship But the next night following there happened such a tempest that at the break of day their Pilot knew not where he was and without knowledge of the place he was constrained to abandon the Pinnace unto the mercy of the waves which continued for the space of forty days together in which time they indured so many fortunes that it would be over-tedious to recount them and we should likewise digress from the matter whereunto we are entered to bring our History unto an end Let it therefore suffice you to know that their victuals being spent they chanced to arrive in the Island of the Giant Drapheon where the King of Denmark 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 Forgetfulness that sprang in that Isle where they were taken and kept in a cruel prison from whence in short time after they were delivered by the meanes of a Gentlewoman that fell in love with the King and caused him to recover his health armes horse and a ship with all things necessary for himself and his Squire and having done she with them put to Sea and coasting the country of Trevisane they came unto an Island where the people of the countrey would have burnt a Gentlewoman because she could not finde a Knight for to maintain her quarrel but the King fought for her and overcame him that accused her and taking the Gentlewoman with him put to Sea again and sailing six days together along the coast he perceived a maid out of a tower wherein the Lord of that countrey kept her prisoner for the cause which she 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 he delivered the poor Gentlewoman out of prison such were the adventures of the King of Denmark which are rehearsed at large in the great Chronicles that master
thee therefore I am content to do thy will but we have no light to see Care you not for that said he for I will provide you light and with that he pulled of the taffata that covered the scabberd of his Sword whereby there was so great a brightness in the place as if the Sun had shone therein Then they descended into a Cave where the Knight perceived King Lisuart lie upon a couch of straw with a great collar of Iron about his neck and fetters on his legs whereby he indured no little pain whereat he was so grieved that for sorrow the tears ran down his eyes yet would he not disclose himself unto him neither once utter what he thought but without making himself known said unto him Noble King you have been overlong within this filthy place rise up I pray you and follow me When the King heard him speak in that manner he made no other account but to end his days at that time wherewith he could not refrain to weep and speaking unto the old Lady asked her if she knew him For said he since I entred into this place I never saw any Knight nor any one that spake unto me but that little sustenance I had was let down at a hole from the top of this dungeon Then she answered him and in great despite said Thou accursed King if I had not known thee I would never have taken pains to fetch thee so far from hence as I have done cursed be the time when first I took it upon me for thou onely art the cause of my great sorrow and the sole instrument of my bereaved joys In faith Lady said the King I know not what you mean am very sorry for your heaviness for I never sought but to do honor and pleasure unto all Ladies and Gentlewomen that desired the same and for them have I oftentimes enterprised many dangerous adventures to the great peril and hazard of my life and if it hath happened otherwise unto you it is altogether unknown to me and wholly against my will wherefore I beseech you be not offended with me but tell me where I am and in whose power I now remain a prisoner in so great misery for by my soul I know it not neither can I so much as conceive which way I came into this place onely I remember that to second a Gentlewoman that a villain would have forced I entered into a tent but what happened unto me after that I know not but that now I finde my self lying on straw like a thief with Irons on my legs King said she the short time of thy continuance in this darkness hath not satisfied as I well hoped it would the great mischief I do wish thée and that for good cause séeing that by thée onely I have indured so much sorrow that if the heart and bowels were taken out of my body they would be found as burning hot as flaming fire and especially for the new displeasure I have now conceived to sée thée so soon delivered out of my hands being in good hope by thy long imprisonment to satisfie my losses past but yet I am deceived for that fortune hath now made me pay the usury of my forepassed joys having given thée into my hands from wheâ—ce by the exquisite force of this devil incarnate thou arâ— now delivered who having put to death the Guardians of this Castle and slain mine own Son hath constrained me to bring him unto thée which I never thought he could have done much less that ever I should have yielded unto his request knowing the wrath of a woman not to have any bridle or means of mittigation until her desired revenge hath wrought the effect and so had it happened unto thée without the force of this my enemy but in despight both of him and thée with mine own hands I will slay my self if my accursed fortune bereave me not the sooner of my wretched days Cursed be both thou and thy King thou now hast found said she unto the Knight Now take him and do thy pleasure with him I pray you then Lady said he unlose his Irons and help me to lead him up with that she took the keys out of her pocket and opened the locks of his chains whereby the King rose up upon his féet and embracing the Knight said unto him What great good or pleasure sir Knight did I ever do you whereby you should purchase this liberty unto me By my soul I swear that besides the honor you have obtained in this place you have so much bound me unto you that during my life I shall never forget your courtesie wherefore if you love me let me know your name Noble King said the Knight whosoever I am I account my self happy if in any sort I may be able to do you service as for the rest pardon me if it pleaseth you and let us go out of this Cave thanking God that oftentimes sendeth scourges unto those he loveth as in his heavenly wisdom he thinketh convenient thereby to kéep them in obedience unto him The King perceiving well by the Knights words that he desired not to be known and for the same cause kept his Helmit on his head therefore he determined not to move him any more but with that they went all thrée out of the Cave and came into a goodly hall when the Sun began to go down CHAP. V. How that after King Luisart was delivered out of prison Matroco Frerions elder brother with his Ships arrived at the foot of the Rock called The Defended Rock and of the Battel between the said Matroco and the black Knight KIng Luisart the black Knight and the Lady being entred into the hall as they looked out at the windows into the Sea there entred a Gentlewoman and doing reverence unto the Lady she said Madam your Son Matroco with his Ships is even now arrived at the foot of the Kock and with him great numbers of other vessels that he hath taken upon the Seas What is your pleasure to say unto him When the Lady heard her she waxed pale and with tears in her eyes answered her and said I would to God he were as far from hence as he is néer for my heart giveth me he will spéed in the like manner that others have done before him And as she spake King Luisart and the Knight looked into the sea and perceiving the Giants Fléet surging on the shoar out of wind and weather among the which they knew Elizabeth Libee his nephew and divers others that were bound in Chains making great sorrow but none of Mattocos men durst set foot on land having already béen advertised by some of the Castle of the great misfortune happened therein and for the same cause stayed so long without till the Giant espyed at the windows the Knight and the King looking upon them wherewith in a great rage he cryed unto the black Knight whom he perceived all armed and said
me think you that for fear of death I will refuse to do that whereunto by Knighthood I am bound No no likewise what reason or what excuse should move me being as I am both fresh and well disposed to refuse the Combate alone against one simple Knight I deny not Madam but confess that affection causeth you to use these words and shew the nature of a woman but you must conceive and think with your felf that I answer you as it becometh me prefeirving mine honor before your tears wherefore I beseech you suffer me to take the small vengeance I can upon the villain that hath so much offended me Matroco said the Knight thou reckonest before thine host I would not for al the gold in the world lose such an occasion offered as I now have both for mine honor and advantage Believe me that neither thy mothers tears nor the duty thou owest unto her as being her childe can by any means prolong the end of thee or me if without dissimulation thou dost not by oath promise and assure me to live in as good sort from this time forwards as in times past thou hast lived wickedly Wherefore it were better for thée to make me know by effect the Prowess thou vauntest thy self to have and for me to let thée sée the courtesie which it may be thou shalt finde at my hands if I overcome thée When the Lady perceived that her prayers could take no place she left them and the two Knights began to run one upon the other so bravely and with such fury that King Luisart beholding them thought he never saw so cruel a battel and the which abashed him more was that he could not presume how or in what manner the black Knight had found him in so strange a place and yet he knew him not sometime he thought him to be Amadis but when he remembred the love he bare unto the Lady Oriana that he had newly married he was otherwise perswaded and likewise he remembred very well the Combates he had séen Amadis De Gaule make at Windsore against Dardan le Superbe and after that with Ardan Canile wherein he used all his forces yet were they not comparable to those of the black Knights who as then found himself as fresh and well disposed to fight as if he had not fought all the day before Again when he thought it to be his nephew Esplandian for that Urganda had foreshewed many wonderful things of him he was soon disswaded from that opinion by reason be left him with the Queen his Mother not once séeking to receive the order of Knighthood and although that since his departure out of Britain he might have obtained that honor yet did he estéem it impossble for Esplandian to do so valiantly at the first Further Urganda had always prophesied of him that the first valiant acts he should atchieve should be renowned and spoken of by his strange and fearful navigation in the great Serpent wherein he should be imbarqued and for the black knight he knew he arrived there in a little Barque unfurnished whereby he esteemed it unlikely to be his nephew Esplandian But he thought he never had séen so valiant and and hardy a Knight for the longer he fought the more he wearied and labored Matroco Nevertheless he continued fighting for the space of two hours together before it could be judged who should have the victory but in the end the Giant feeling himself wounded in so many places his armor altogether broken and his shield half cloven in two began to mistrust his own force Wherefore stepping back he stayed his hand and said Knight I pray thee let us breath our selves a while and hear what I will offer thee which cannot be other then to thy honor and advantage With that the Knight stood still and Matroco began to speak saying I wonder sir Knight what moved thee to venture in this manner upon this Rock wherein never any but thy self durst enterprise to come during my Fathers life neither yet sithence that by his death I have been Lord thereof and besides this thy enterprise wherein thou hast done the thing that all others feared to do before thee thou hast also slain three of my friends whereof two of them as I think were the best Knights in their time living on the earth whereby I have just cause to hate thee more then any man living But when I call to minde that thou hast done therein like a valiant and hardy Knight I have some reason to pardon thee and to esteem thee for one of the valiantest Champions that ever I saw in all my life although I have both proved and vanquished many others longer practised in arms and stronger then thy self Wherefore if the onely cause of thy arrival in this place was to deliver the King that looketh on us I am content thou take and lead him hence in safety and for the same cause likewise I quit thee of the combate upon condition that without longer sojourning here thou shalt presently depart out of this castle that belongeth unto me When the black Knight had â—eard him be answered him and said Giant as far as I perceive thou esteemest it a great enterprise that I have done to come hither and finde thee here within thy Castle where by me those that thou so much lamentest have been slain but if thou knowest the master that I serve to whom as duty bindeth me I am obedient thou shouldst presently perceive and plainly see this enterprise by thee estéemed much to be nothing in comparison of that he is able to do and bring to pass for that from him onely and none other procéedeth all whatsoever I have done whereby of good right the glory belongeth unto him and to the contrary you that are idolaters serve thâ—se that are accustomed to rock and lull you asléep in all kind of vices cruelties outrages thefts murthers and infinite other wickedness which for a time do prosper with you whereby you live in honor riches and all worldly pleasures and so are nusted in all filthiness but surely such manner of life may well be compared to buildings erected upon the sands that cannot continue long but are most sure to have an evil end even then when they are esteemed to be at the top of all their worldly felicity like as it happened unto Lucifer and his fellows whereof it may be thou hast heard spoken Nevertheless if thou wilt acknowledge thy former life and of a wicked wretch as thou hast always lived become a vertuous Knight and as thou hast béen most cruel and inhumane become courteous and pitiful forsaking thy vain and foolish faith to believe in my God who is the most true and mighty Lord of all Lords I will not onely pardon thée the Combate whereof thou hast the worst but will leave thée thy castle frée unto thy self so wil be thy friend upon condition nevertheless that from hence forth both thou
Of the great displeasure King Luisart took for the departure of the black Knight and what conference he had with Arcabonna Mother to Matroco touching her unfortunate life THe black Knight being departed out of the Castle he had newly conquered and the prisoners entred therein among the rest King Luisart knew master Elizabeth wherefore he rose up sitting by Arcabonna Matrocos Mother who as then leaned on her lap and went to imbrace him asking him what fortune had brought him thither at that time to save the Giants life being in so great extremity And it pleaseth your Grace said he once this day I did not think he would have had so much néed of my help as he now hath But as I understand by a Knight that I méet going down the hill he is in great danger of his life Nevertheless for the honor of him that commanded me to help him I will do the best I can I pray you do so said the King Then master Elizabeth caused Matroco to be softly layed upon his bed and being unarmed searched his wounds and perceiving them to be deadly would not for that time do any thing unto them but stanch their bléeding leaving the rest till he had slept wherein he was newly fallen In the mean time King Luisart not forgetting what master Elizabeth at his coming in had said unto him asked him what was become of the black Knight and it pleaseth your Grace said he as we entred into the Castle I met him going secretly from hence and not minding to return again By Saint Mary said the King have I received so great aid at his hands and am I so unfortunate that he should depart from hence without knowing him Truly I am sorry I stayed here to sée what would become of Matroco if I had not I would surely have followed him and with much importunity have craved his name Master Elizabeth said he will you upon your faith tell me truly whether you know him or not If it be so if you will do me any pleasure hide it no longer from me for I never had so great desire to know any Knight not onely for the aid he hath done me but for the valiant enterprise at this present atchieved by him Your grace shal pardon me if it pleaseth you said master Elizabeth for it is true that I know him wel but if I tell you any more I should do him wrong for he hath expressely forbidden me to do it I sée well said the King you will but increase the desire I have to know him that is worse by the same means bereave me of all hope ever to sée him again With that they entred into the Hal where they méet Arcabonne half dead with sorrow whom the King in courteous manner prayed to stay a while asking her how her son did He doth said she as one in whom I have as little hope of life as of the other that lyeth dead in the court to say the truth it séemeth that fortune hath wholly bent her self against me not ceasing continually to heap sorrow upon sorrow to make me desperate Notwithstanding I know full well how to be revenged and that is in dispight of her and her cruelties to bereave my self of life whereof she shall lose her power which by good reason I cannot well prolong séeing she hath not spared me one hour of rest since she first began still playing her part in tormenting me but of all other my misfortunes none hath grieved me so much as the force of this Knight by whose power said she unto the King I sée thée now delivered out of my hands and from the cruel torments I had prepared for thée if accursed fortune had not withstood them Madam said the King I pray you declare unto me the cause of this your great malice towards me and whether at any time I have done you wrong or injury whereby I should deserve it that will I shew thée said Arbaconne not therein to do thée pleasure but rather to grieve thée more when thou shalt know and understand that I was born and bred in the same country wherein to my great despight thou hast raigned overlong for there I and Arcalaus my brother by father and mother were doth begotten and brought up in the art of Nigromancy which oftentimes we have practised and put in effect therewith to torment divers persons that never did offend us 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 and with him I grew in so great familiarity that he married me and with him ever sithence have dwelt here in this Castle where not long after I was delivered of a Son called Lindoraque after that of another named Matroco that now lyeth in this bed and lastly of the third called Frerion whom thou hast slain and my brother also that went to help Argantes the Porter of this Castle And being thus married unto such a husband as Cartadaque was so much feared and redoubted in all places and having thrée of the most valiant and worthy knights to my sons that ever lived I was so elevated in pride and so little estéemed of cruel fortune that I thought it unpossible for her to work me any woe But by tract of time I found it otherwise for by little and little she hath wholly changed my joy into most grievous sorrow and wilt thou know how Then I think thou doest yet remember the discord that long sithence happened betwéen thée and Childadan King of Ireland and of the battel wherein thou overcamest him where my deceased husband minding to be present expresly departed from hence thither and as accursed fortune would took my son Lindoraque with him and having travelled many countries at the last arrived at the place where my brother stayed for them travelling all thrée together with full purpose and intent to do thée all the injury they could and they had scarce entered into a forrest not far from London but they méet a Knight as then surnamed Le Beautenebreux riding in company of a Gentlewoman that ware on her head a Call all set with strange flowers whom my Son as accursed fortune would liked so well that with a great desire to have her to present unto the Lady Madasine his love commanded one of his Squires to go fetch her to him which the Knight called Le Beautenebreux whereof I speak would not permit but sent the messenger back again well beaten wherewith my Son being moved thought to have her by force but it fell out otherwise for him for at the first encounter the Knight with one blow with his Sword thrust him into the body whereof he died and as much had chanced to his Vncle Arcalaus if his horse had not saved him by running away having first lost four of his fingers on the right hand Yet fortune not contenting her self with this mischief
fairer strokes given with a launce the rest I will leave to consider of till I know those that ran against him Let us sée the end said the king and calling a Squire he sent his launce unto Esplandian for as then the third kinght prepared himself to run 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 ado to sit upon his horse and the other had such a fall that he lay still upon the ground Whereat the fourth knight being abashed said unto himself Truly both the king and Urganda have good reason as they do to assure the valor and prowess of this knight séeing it it much more then they warrant it to be Nevertheless I must of force try him otherwise I should do both my self and him wrong And with that he called Esplandian and said Knight although I well know the small courtesie that I and my companions have shewed unto you yet I must not refuse to do the same that they have done before me wherefore I pray you send to some of your company for another launce that we may sée who shall bear the honor of this enterprise I will do it said he séeing you constrain me thereunto upon condition that if I can I will serve you in the like sort I have done your companions With that Gransador that heard them speak gave him his launce which he presently charging they met together with such force that their launces brake close unto their hands neither of them removing out his saddle wherefore the Knight of the forrest turned to Esplandian and said Sir Knight let us yet try one blow more and I will quire you for this time You might content your self said he with that is done but séeing you are so void of reason I am content to try it with you till one of us be beaten off his horse Then he sent Sergil to fetch another launce and he brought him one somewhat bigger and shorter then those he had before wherewith he stroke the Knight of the forrest so valiantly that he overthrew him himself being constrained to imbrace his horse about the neck or else he had fallen as the other did that lay on the ground yet he rose before Esplandian had run out his course and as he returned back he stayed him by the armor and said unto him Before God sir Knight you have sufficiently shewed that in valor and prowess you are second to none but to your self but he answered not a word but holding down his head ashamed of that had happened unto him passed forth With that the King came thither to know what Knights they were that had béen overthrown amongt the which he knew Galaor for he had put off his Helmet to do him honor when he saw him come whereat the King was so well pleased that he alighted off his horse and ran to imbrace him the like did Amadis saâ—ing unto him with a smiling countenance How now brother Galaor how long have you used to be a kéeper of the high ways You sée said he that I and my companions have sought to try whether this Knight be of such force as we have found him and what hath happened you may well judge When Esplandian understood his uncle Galador fearing to have offended he lighted off his horse and knéeling down before him asked pardon for his fault Nephew said he it is I that have done the wrong and therefore I told the king that you are a better knight then I and marvel not if I sought to prove it because I thought to do it with mine honor but I found the contrary which from henceforth shall make me think the things foreshewed of you will be accomplished so well that the glory of your father and the reputation by many knights in times past obtained shall from henceforth be extinguished you having so easily overthrown thrée of the best knights in Great Brittain and my self the fourth What are they said the king My Lord said Galaor the first that ran was Sendale of Gonaste the second Galuanes the third Angriote d'estrauaulx and my self hath done worse then they Whereat the king and all the company began to laugh and embracing them caused them to mount on horseback riding towards London where in the way the king prayed them to tell him how this enterprize was devised My Lord said Galaor having understood by the Danish Gentlewoman that my Lady Oriane not long since sent unto the Queen to bring her news of your return and what had happened unto you during your imprisonment the valiant acts by you declared of my Nephew Esplandain we conceived such a jealousie against him estéeming the honor you did him thereby to procéed rather of fatherly love then otherwise that we determined secretly to depart ouâ— of London to prove his force as now you have well séen and to move him thereunto we sent the Gentlewoman with the message you have heard Of my faith said the king the device was good and hath fallen out well In this maner devising of sundry things he came to Mirefleur where the Quéen met him praising God for his unexpected return and considering his trouble past with the grief she had for his long absence séeing him there safe and in good health she thought her self well recompenced with his presence The next day in the morning they set forwards towards London where the people wept for joy to sée him for there was never Prince better loved of his subjects than he Being there Esplandian began to be weary of the place longing to hear news of Carmelle that he had sent to Constantinople as you have heard before And therefore every day he devised means to get licence to depart from thence pretending a cause of returning to the Castle called the defended mountain shewing the king what promise he had made to his Companions which if he did not perform they should have cause to complain of him but the king would not in any sort grant to his request yet in the end overcome with much importunity he was content wherewith he took his leave of all the Court and upon a munday in the morning taking horse accompanied onely of master Elizabeth and Sergil his Squire he took his way towards the Ferme Isle hoping to finde the great Serpent there wherein they might imbarque themselves CHAP. XV. How Esplandian riding towards the Ferm Isle was assayled by a strange Knight that watched him in the Forrest ESplandian departed from the King and having taken his leave of all the Court as you heard before took the crookeddest way he could through woods and forrests towards the Ferm Isle thinking not to be perceived of any that might hinder his enterprize And having ridden thrée miles he entred into a Forrest which having almost passed he came unto a great river whereupon the king had built a house called Bellerose where
the Empire as he pretended determined not onely to revenge himself upon this little childe but to kill the Emperor likewise if ever he have the means By God said the king of Denmark he is a wicked and cruel-hearted man but assure your self that God will not permit it to be so Nevertheless I am in doubt this childe will endure much woe séeing you have no means to give it suck Let me alone with that said Urganda for I have certain herbs about me with the juice whereof I will nourish it if néed be eight days together What said he will you then stay here so long No said Urganda for as soon as it is day I will return unto my Boat that stayeth here at the shoar But Madam said they what shall become of us for we are arrived here not knowing who brought us hither But for Gods sake if you have heard any news of our Companions let us know it and where we may go to finde them My friends said she you must first let destiny have his course and endure many hard adventuces when time serveth you shall have your desires And in that manner sometimes talking and sometimes sléeping they passed the time away till day began to appear when they thrée together went to the Sea-side where they entred into Urgandas Boat wherein four Gentlewomen and two Dwarfs stayed for her CHAP. XVII How Vrganda departed from the two Knights and being guarded by two Dragons went unto the Emperors Court to deliver them their young Son for the loss whereof all the Court was in an uproar FOr a time Urganda stayed with the two Knights not minding presently to ease the Emperors minde with the recovery of his Son in the end she caused them to return unto their Barque willing them from that time forwards to arm themselves against the assaults of fortune although she séemed never so variable and unconstant For said she therefore was the Order of Knighthood instituted and appointed that thereby it might appear more excellent And they were no sooner departed but she set foot on land and mounted on a palfrey with the childe in her lap she rode forward with two Dragons to guard her one upon her right hand the other upon the left that bare her company till she came to Triol where the Emperor held his Court. And approaching the Town she met great companies of knights that went to séek the childe who séeing those horrible beasts casting fire out of their mouthes for fear they began to flie whereat Urganda smiled At last Florestan King of Sardinia coming that way having ridden a great compass about to pursue Garadans son and returning as then all weary and sore travelled with his horse tyred perceiving the people to run so fast asked them the cause wherewith they shewed him a far off what they had séen but he not abashed went towards the Dragons thinking if it were possible to fight with them and as he came nearer unto them he knew Urganda and spurring his horse he thought to salute her but the more he prickt him forwards the more the horse gave back whereby he was constrained to light down and saluting her he took her by the hand but the Dragons vanished away whereat he was abashed which Urganda perceiving said unto him In faith sir knight they have good cause to give you place knowing well the magnanimity of your invincible courage And for my part I estéem my self better guarded being in your company then I did before wherefore I pray you leave me not till I have delivered this childe unto his mother which I have recovered from the villains that had stollen it from her Is it possible Madam said Florestan that the Emperor should receive so great a pleasure by your means Shew me I pray you if it pleaseth you how you procured the same You shall know it said she when time serveth till then content your self and mounting on horse-back I pray you bring me to the City of Triol With that they rode together till they came to the Emperors Court where they found the Empress half dead with sorrow but when she heard the good news Urganda brought her sorrow turned to excéeding joy And for that the Emperor being armed was ridden out to séek the childe as others did she sent men on all sides to certifie him thereof he having intelligence thanked God with all his heart and turned back to sée Urganda that told him in what manner she found the childe as you have heard before Where we leave her and return to shew you of Manley and the King of Denmark who in the mean time were at Sea in so horrible a tempest that they thought to have béen drowned CHAP. XVIII Of the strange adventures that the King of Denmark and Manley had after they departed from Vrganda and what pastime they had with two great Apes in an Island where by chance they arrived AFter the king of Denmark and Manley departed from Urganda they entred into their Barque where their two Squires stayed for them and so imbarqued presently hoised sayl and put to sea the weather very peaceable calm but they had not sayled long when a contrary wind began to rise wherewith the waters grew so high and the sea began to swell so big that one while it séemed to mount to the skies again to descend as low as the bottomless pit of hell wherby their little barque was oftententimes covered with water having neither Mast Sail nor Cable but all rent in pieces And that which abashed them most was that night coming upon them it was so dark they could not sée the length of their boat in which torment they continued for the space of thirty days together till at the length it cast them upon an Island where being arrived about San-setting they landed Then commanding one of their Squires to keep their boat being armed at all points they went into the Island to sée if they could finde any fresh water or other victuals for they had not sufficient in their barque to serve them for a wéek at the last they found a goodly fountain shadowed with many great trees whereby they sat them down and putting off their helmets for to drink Argenton their Squire that was with them said unto them if you think good you shall stay here while I go up this high rock where it may be I shall find a house or some countrey man that will shew us in what place we are arrived Go said the King of Denmark but take héed thou loosest not thy self With that the Squire left them and took his way through the wood but he had not gone a long bowes shot when he perceived a great Bear coming towards him wherewith he was in such fear that with a loud voice he cried out for help and finding no other remedy he was constrained to climb into a high trée The knights hearing their squires cry supposed he
submit your self unto her mercy In faith said Gandalin my companion and I were determined not to leave your company so soon but séeing it is your pleasure we are content to do it You and he said Esplandian shall kéep me company till you mean to travel further the rest shall do as I required them Sir Knight said he that shewed him the prison they shall finde within the house all the furnitures and other things that were taken from them shew them where they be said Esplandian Whereunto he willingly obeyed which done they all left the Giants house the prisoners taking the way towards Constantinople and Esplandian with Gandalin and Lazinde armed at all points went towards master Elizabeth that stayed for them in the great Serpent and as they were about half a mile from the Giants house they met a knight all armed with two squires attending on him who in courteous manner saluting Esplandian and his company asking them what country men they were Sir knight said Esplandian we are all of great Britain Alas said he can you tell me any news touching a thing that hath grieved me full sore What is that said Esplandian can you tell me said he what is become of King Luisart For I have bin certified of a truth that he is lost not knowing where how nor for what cause And for my part I swear unto yâ—u I have already sought for him in divers countries and can hear no news at all and I am determined never so leave travelling before he be found again if it be pâ—ssible for mortal man to do it You are bound thereunto said Esplandian séeing he deserveth it as you know right well Nevertheless if it pleaseth you to put off your Helmet and make you known unto us that have bin bred and nourished in his house I assure you we will satisfie your mind so well as touching him that we cannot chuse but like it My Lords said he putting off his helmet I am Norandel his son When Esplandian and the rest perceived that they made themselves known unto him imbracing each other most courteously Ha my lord said Norandel I pray you for Gods cause if you know any thing touching the king hide it not from me Vncle said Esplandian about a moneth hence I left him at Mirefleur in good health God be thanked making good chear shewing him in what maner he had delivered him out of prison with all that passed touching the same I marvel then â—aid Norandel what adventure brought you hither By my soul said Esplandian that can I not well tell onely that I was brought hither by the great Serpent which I left at the Sea-side wherein master Elizabeth stayeth for me Then he shewed him how he departed from the Court his arrival in the Ferm Isle his imbarquing to take Sea and what time they were at sea before they discovered any land till in the end said he we espyed this country where Sergil and I took land in good time for Grandalin and Lazinde as hereafter they may shew you But you said he to Norandel tel me of your faith how was it your chance in so good time to méet with us In truth said Norandel the peace made betwéen Amadis and the king I departed from the Court to séek some strange adventures that commonly are found in this country of Almaigne where I had no sooner arrived but I had certain news of my fathers absence whereat I was so grieved that to find him out I have travelled the countries of Denmark Poland Russia Swethland Hungary and all this country even unto this place where it is said there dwells two Giants who as they are all of one nature exercise innumerable cruelties against those they méet the yonger of them waiting continually about this place for such as pass 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 do if you let me pass By God said Gandalin you lost your labor séeking for the King so shall you likewise do if you take this enterprise in hand Wherefore said Norandel Because said 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 diverse others were prisoners in their house from whence Esplandian had delivered them Before God said Norandel the news liketh me well for I never thought in long time any such adventure would have happened unto him not knowing he had received the order of Knighthood You sée it so said Esplandian and master Elizabeth can tell you more if it pleaseth you to go with us Let us go then said Norandel for I would gladly sée him With that they rode towards the Sea till they espied the great Serpent wherein they imbarqued themselves where Norandel Grandalin and Lazinde understood by master Elizabeth what had happened to Esplandian from the day he received the order of knighthood And although Norandel determined with all spéed to return into great Britain yet he changed his mind when he heard so strange and marvellous news of his Nephew Esplandian to whom he said My Lord séeing fortune hath brought us so well together I pray you let me not leave your company till some occasion be ministred unto us Vncle said 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 she stirred not to take land again to sée if they could find any more adventures And they had scarce fallen asléep but the Serpent began of it self to sayl forward so swiftly that by sun rising they had lost the sight of any land not ceasing for to sayl six days together before they espyed land the seventh day when the Sun began to shine it stayed at the Isle Saint Mary which master Elizabeth presently knew having bin there before with Amadis de Gaule when he fought with Landriaque wherefore he said unto the Knights In good faith I remember that once as I travelled on the Sea with my lord Amadis we were cast upon this Island by so great a tempest that we thought verily to have béen drowned And if then at sea we had great fear of death being landed our fear did more increase and that with so good cause that I cannot chuse but tremble to remember it What said Esplandian Can a danger so long time past bréed so great a fear as you séem to have Sir said master 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 go where I was once you shall find that I have no less occasion and there is Grandalin that can witness it as well as I. I
great alarum for Norandel and his company had issued out of the castle with white scarffes about their heads for to be known and had so well surprised the watch about the base court that they had slain them all whereof Armato had intelligence as also that the enemies had gotten the issue of the Portal wherewith he was so moved that in a great rage with very small company he went thither himself Esplandian Frandalo following after as if they had béen of his company But before their arrival Norandel had recovered the pallasadoes of the fortress and there sustained the whole Turkish forces staying Gandalins coming Now the entry of the Court was so narrow that more then thrée men could not pass through it at once whereby those of the castle had in manner as much advantage as their enemies Which Ambor Talanque Gandalin and Libee made them well féel coming likewise upon them for as the king arrived they thrust them clean out of the place whereby they fled in great haste till the Turk himself caused them to stay and séeing him they took courage turning their faces whereby the Skirmish began much hotter then before Armato himself shewing great prowess when Esplandian that was still behind him took him by the middle and in despight of them all carryed him unto the walls of the Castle crying with a loud voice Be of good chear my companions we have taken the King At the which cry the Turkes set so fiercely on them that had it not bin for Frandalo who as yet had not shewed himself they had recovered him again but he jâ—yned himself with Manley Norandel and the rest that sustained the force of all the enemies so valiantly that Esplandian had means to put Armato in sure kéeping and to return again unto the battel before it was ended But it continued not long after for that news was presently carryed to the Camp that the king was prisoner with two of his chief captains taken by Grandalin and the King of Denmark wherewith they were so much abashed that by little and little they began to retire the like did they of the Castle contenting themselves with the booty they had gotten CHAP. XXVII How Armato King of Turky was committed unto the custody of Gandalin and what conference he had with Frandalo THose of the Castle retired as you heard before Esplandian called Gandalin and Libee praying them to look unto King Armato as also to the two Turkish captains and appointing the watch as time required went and laid him down upon his bed not ceasing all the night to think on the spéech Carmelle used him touching the Princess Leonorine whereby he could not fléep till day began to appear when Frandalo and the rest of his Knights entred into his chamber to talk with him not onely as touching the intertainment of their prisoners but of other things that much imported them And as they were in counsel together Grandalin came unto them shewing them that King Armato desired for to speak with them whereupon they went out of the chamber to hear what he would say Frandalo could speak the Arabian tongue better then the rest for that he had served the King of Turks and he knew him very well wherefore Esplandian destred him to speak for all the rest And entring into the Chamber Frandalo went first who knéeling on the ground kissed the Kings hand With that Armato thinking he had béen prisoner asked him where he was taken My Lord said he I am now become a Christian and a Knight of Iesus Christ that hath done me so much grace not long time since to call me to be one of his A Christian said the King is that possible By my soul it maketh me more abashed then the cruel fortune that is now happened unto me for that all Knights following arms ought patiently to bear those hazards that they fall into using necessity as a vertue But thou unhappy wretch that through fear and want of courage haste forsaken our just and holy law wherefore takest thou not a râ—pe and hangest thy self as unworthy to go upon the earth My Lord said he you may say what pleaseth you as being priviledged for the greatness of your estate yet I can assure you I never had so cowardly a heart as you estéem I have but rather account my self happy to have done that I have done Yet will I not refuse to do you service my honor still reserved in any thing I can With that Armato remembred himself and thought he did him wrong wherefore moderating his choler he said unto him Friend Frandalo If it grieveth me to have lost you let it not séem strange unto you séeing now I had greater hope then ever I have had to be served by your means But séeing it is so you know how I have used you heretofore now I pray you if you may do any thing for me to finde the means with your companions that I may be delivered from hence by some reasonable composition My Lord said Frandalo pointing to Esplandian This is he that hath all power and authority in this place both over you and me With that Armato looked upon him and perceiving him so young without a beard thought Frandalo said it to excuse himself wherefore he asked if he mocked him God forbid I should do so my Lord said Frandalo but I pray you believe me for it is true that my Lord Esplandian standing here before you is be and none other that slew Matroco Frerion Arcalaus the inchanter Argantes the Porter of the castle which he conquered as you have béen advertised By my head said the king I would hardly have estéemed him for so brave a man but séeing it is so I pray thée do somewhat with him touching the thing I told you of even now Believe me my lord said Frandalo there shall want no good will in me and with that he had him God morrow and leaving him with his guard they went into the Hall where they found the table ready covered for dinner for it was about noon time But as Esplandian rested ill that night so be made but a mean dinner not being able to withdraw his mind from thinking on the princess Leonorine which was the cause that the Tables being uncovered he went in his chamber without any company onely the king of Denmark whom he loved as himself where being together he began to shew him the cause why be sent Carmelle to Constantinople as also what affection he bare to the Princess Leonorine And to the end said he you be participant of my joy I pray you let us have her here that she may shew us what she learned in her voyage My lord said the king of Denmark if you saw her apparrelled in the gown the Princess gave her I am assured you will scarse know her at the first Will you that I send her word to bring it hither It is well said said Esplandian with that he
the principal place of all the City where the people might repair And as he and the Quéen both apparrelled in their royal Robes each set in a chair of Estate Amadis sitting somewhat lower on his right hand Oriane on the left were come thither a Herauld crying thrice that all the people should kéep silence the King with a stately countenance and Princely magnanimity turning to the people said unto them My good friends and loyal subjects before I begin to shew you the cause why I have made you to repair unto this place I will put you in mind of part of the dangers and great hazards wherein I have often fallen since the death of my brother of famous memory king Falangris when it pleased God to call me unto the government of this land and as I think there are yet many of you living that can wel remember the danger wherein both I and my country thought to fall when by the means and subtilty of Arcalaus the inchanter I was delivered into their hands that long time before had conspired my death from whence my son Amadis delivered me Yet not long after by evil counsel I made war against him which ended as all men know fortune envious of my felicity afterward prepared me such a banket that without his help I had been prisoner with king Aravigâ—e and utterly overthrown And that which hath yet more astonished me was that when I thought my self sure and cut of danger of all mishaps a worse than all the former suddenly chanced unto me the which considering the place wherein I was I thought verily to have bin the end and consummation of my days Nevertheless the Lord God regarding me in pity sent my yong son Esplandian to my sorrowful prison from whence he hath delivered me as no doubt you have heard Now my good subjects you all sée me to be very old and white haired having already attained to the thréescore and tenth year of my age which maketh me think it time now to forget all worldly pleasures and to serve God to whom I am so much bound And for this cause I have determined from henceforth to forsake all royal dignity and leave you my son Amadis for your King to whom at this time I yield both my Crown Scepter and all the right I have unto the Government of this Land praying you all as much as possibly I may that hereafter you will be faithful and true subjects unto him as you have always bin to me And although he be but my son in law if I knew him unworthy of the place believe me my good friends I would sooner chuse a néer stranger for my sâ—ccessor than I would do him but there is not one among you but knoweth well his great deserts and of what Race he commeth that at this day may well be called one of the most noble and happiest Linages in all the world as being descended from the valiant Trojans whereof the memory shall endure for ever He is a Kings son heir unto the Crown of France and now your Prince and Governor and so I leave him unto you with my Daughter your Queen and lawful Princess holding to my self onely the Castle of Mirefleur where with Gods help the Quéen and I will end our days religiously serving God as we are bound to do Then calling Amadis giving him his Royal Mantle he willed him presently to put it on the like did the Queen to Oriane Mean time the silence was so great that nothing could be heard among the people but cries and lamentations moved with pity and compassion to sée the determination of their Prince who being apparrelled in a simple robe of black cloth took his son and the Queen his daughter set them in their Regal Seats and in presence of all the people set each of them a crown of Gold upon their heads causing them to be proclaimed by the Heralds King and Quéen of great Britain That done every man departed some wéeping and others glad for the advancement they hoped from the new king who from thenceforth began so wisely to govern his country that never was any prince better beloved nor obeyed of his subjects King Luisart within short time after accompanied of the Quéen and Grumedan went unto Mirefleur as he had determined to do where they lived so austerely helping and being present at every hour when service was to be said as readily as the poorest of the old men that remained there for the administration and service to the religious women in the Monaster of the devâ—ut Abbesse Adalasta But when king Amadis perceived his means to recompence those of whom in his yong years he had received great pleasure and service he began to exalt Arban de Norgalles giving him one of the fairest Islands in his country to Gandales the lands of the Duke of Bristow to Gandalin as then absent he gave the lands of Arcalaus the inchanter he made Angriotte d'estrauaulx great master of his horse Guilan de Pensife high-steward of his house Ardan le nain his chief carver and married the Gentlewâ—man of Denmark very richly Not long after the Quéen was brought to bed of a goodly Son and a fair Daughter both at one birth the Son named Perion and the Daughter Brisenne At whose nativity great joy was made throughout all the country especially at London where the same day one of Norandels Squires arrived that told king Amadis how Esplandian and his master met together in Almaigne where the day before he had slain two Giants and deliver â—o Gandalin with divers other Knights Squires Ladies and Gentlewomen out of prison Knowest thou said the King what way they took afterward My lord said the Squire they made account to go unto the castle called the defended Mountain to help them that are therein being in great necessity which the King understanding sent presently for all the Pilots that might be found and in all haste caused to rig and arm the greatest ship he had to sayl into the East to his son who in the mean time moved thereunto by Frandalo departed from the castle of Matroco with the Emperors army to invade the Turks country as in the next chapter you shall hear CHAP. XXIX How the Town of Alfarin in Turky being assaulted was taken by Esplandian and the rest of his company NOt long after the Siege of the defended Mountain was raised and Gastilles arrived at the Castle as you heard before Frandalo had advise by Belleris his Nephew that returned out of Turky where he had béen to sée what news in the Countrey that Alfâ—rax Son to King Armato and Governour of the great City of Tesifant understanding the imprisonment of his Father with the overthrow of the Turkish Army was departed from the town of Alfarin where he had left the beautiful Princess Heliaxa his wife daughter to Amphirion King of Medea to go with all dilligence to set order in his own government and raise more men
Iesus Christ in whose quarrel we fight that we hope he will give us means not onely to escape this danger but to spoil the Town and lead you prisoners with us Wherefore take this counsel for your selves and yield you unto us before the wrath of God be further moved against you When they that stood about them beard those words both great and small began to cry with a loud voice saying Stay that villain let him die or we will die here at his féet wherewith they assailed them so fiercely that they were constrained to get upon the highest steps But not long after they repulsed the enemy so valiantly with stones whereof they sound great quantity upon the Portal that from that time forwards they had no longer stomacks to assayl them But Norandel and the rest being without understanding the noise and the voice of their companions whom they estéemed dead or taken prisoners determined to set fire on the gates while the rest assailed the town Wherewith every man ran to fetch wood which the Alfarins perceived but to conclude they could not shun it but whither 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 unto the great temple of Jupiter the principal place of strength within their City the rest staying behind with full determination rather to die then suffer the Christians to enter the Town And séeing the gates burnt down so many of them ran to fetch water that not long after the Christians had means to assayl the town 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 above did them so much hurt with blockes and stones that not any of them durst appear whereby the Christians became masters of the town Wherein great number of people both men women and children were put to the sword more had died had it not bin night specially on the water side where Gastilles and his army entred with most great fury Nevertheless fearing lest the Alfarins should assemble again and in the night they might be repulsed be commanded a retreat to be sounded being well assured the next day to have the town at their pleasure And for the same cause he sent to the army on land that they should do the like wherewith every man retired serâ—ing watch in those places where most néed required The town in this sort being conquered and the people gotten into the great temple of Jupiter Esplandian minding not to lose the Princess Heliaxe nor the Giant Foron that he and Frandalo left with Carmelle desired Grandalin and Lazinde to go fetch them and with them he sent Sergil his Squire to bring them to the place which they presently did and made such haste that they found her sitting by a great fire that Foron had made where lighting off their horses saluting Heliaxe Grandalin said Madam my lord Esplandian prayeth you to come unto the place where he stayeth for you My friends said she I know him not true it is I was brought hither by two Knights whereof one is Frandalo that I have known long time but for the other I assure you as far as I remember I never saw him before Madam said Carmelle he is Son to the valiant Knight Amadis de Gaule whose same is spread so far about the world Truly said Heliaxe I have heard of him so have you as I think said Carmelle of my Lord Esplandian his Son for he alone conquered the castle the defended mountain and now lately hath taken king Armato your father in law and I can assure you he is one of the courteous knights living-in the world I am much abashed then said she how he shewed himself so uncourteous in my behalf not speaking unto me while I was in his company yet me thinketh being his prisoner he could have done no less then comfort me either with good speeches of fair promises whereof he hath used so few that while I live I shall never think well of him Madam said Carmelle you take the matter otherwise then it is for if he refrained to speak unto you it was by reason of the great acquaintance he perceived Frandalo to have with you unto whom he is so great a friend that he was not onely content to give him leave to entertain you but much greater favor would he do unto him if he can You may say what you will said she Nevertheless if he have no other excuse then that you alledge in his behalf he shall never lose the disliking he hath gotten at my hands Madam said Gandalin I am well assured he will amend that fault when it pleaseth you wherefore I pray you determine what you mean to do for he hath commanded us to do as pleaseth you My friends said Heliaxe I would gladly sléep till it be day then I will be ready to go where you think good but I pray you tell me what noise it was I heard of late within the Town Madam said Lazinde It is not yet thrée hours since the Town was taken by assault Good God said she what miserable fortune was that for the poor inhabitants I think they are all put unto the Sword No madam said Lazinde the greater part have saved themselves in the great Temple of Jupiter but they will hardly escape when it is day for our Generals are determined to burn the Temple If it be so said she that Frandalo hath any credit with his companions and that he that sent you be so courteous as this Gentlewoman report him to be I hope they will take pity on the poor people at least if not for the love of them I trust upon request for my sake they will not refuse it And to the end I come not thither too late I pray you when day appeareth let us presently depart wherewith laying her down upon a cloke she passed the rest of the night not greatly to her ease CHAP. XXX How Gandalin and Lazinde brought the Princess Heliaxe and the Giant Foron into the Town of Alfarin to Esplandian and Frandalo and of the honorable entertainment they had HEliaxe that had not slept all that night being grieved for the loss of the town of Alfarin the ordinary abiding place of Alphorax her husband and withal the pleasantest and most delicious place of all Turky perceiving day to appear waked the two Knights making her account if she might get into the town before the destruction of the temple the people that were fled into it by her request and humble supplication to Esplandian and Frandalo should be saved With that they all mounted on their horses and made such haste that they entred into the town as the Christians began to assault the fortress and when Frandalo perceived the Princess Heliaxe he rode unto her bidding her God morrow and taking her palfry
Elizabeth wrote not long after the Coronation of Esplandian wherein the prowess and adventures of the Brittish Knights and others remaining at Alfarin are likewise registred and orderly set down For this time content your selves to understand the manner how and in what sort Esplandian and the Princess Leonorine saw each other how afterward Urganda came to Constantinople of the armies both by Land and Sea of the cruel battel betwéen the Turks and Christians which ended our History likewise shall be finished but having many things to describe before I come to that point we will return to Esplandian that was not smally abashed at the long absence of the King expecting from day to day some news of him that had left his company onely for the cause you heard before CHAP. XXXV How Esplandian having stayed Garinter King of Denmarks return about two weeks space and perceiving no news of him determined by the counsel of Carmelle to go in person to the City of Constantinople AFter that Garinter King of Denmark had set saile towards Constantinople as it is said before Esplandians ship arrived at the gulf where he promised to stay they 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 Denmark should be drowned or that forturne had carried his vessel some other way wherefore he thought to send one of his marriners to enquire of him But before he did it he determined first to speak with Carmelle and taking her aside said unto her My great friend you know for what cause the King of Denmark left us and the reason of his voyage as also the promise he made unto me to return again with all spéed but we can hear no news of him at all which maketh me assuredly believe either he is dead or that the storm he was in hath cast him in some countrey so far off that he cannot by any means do as he hath promised wherefore I pray you give me your advice what I were best to do for those that are in the like mind that I am although in some things they have their understandings whole and perfect yet are they commonly to séek in that which concerneth them as touching those points My lord said she séeing it is your pleasure to use my counsel I wil tel you truly what I think therein and so much I can assure you that if you should search throughout the world you shall hardly find one that can come néer me in judging the passion wherewith you are molested for the same is in me that is in you and I féel it as well as you do and it may be more but the ease and great contentment I receive by your presence hath given me so many remedies that I delight in my grief and live not but only to cause my sorrow to indure To tell you truth at such time as you began to use spéeches unto me of the king of Denmark I thought upon his long absence and me thinketh it were best we sailed unto Constantinople assuring you that I have devised a means to bring you unto the Princess Leonorine whereby you may both sée and speak with her without being known of any other then her self if you think it good And to bring it to pass we being arrived there it shall be necessary that all those of our ship be advertised if any man asketh for you to say that you stayed in the castle the defended mountain mean time you shall lie in the bottom of the ship and I with Gandalin and Enil will go unto the Emperor to whom I will say that you sent me to the Princess Leonorine to present unto her in your behalf that which you have conquered in the Rock of the Enchantress and for the rest let me alone When Esplandian heard her speak in that manner he beheld her for a while and at last said unto her My good friend I fear not death neither can it be more bitter or sharper unto me then the life I now indure but I fear the dishonor of my Lady and the injury that thereby I might do unto the Emperor who by his courtesie hath so much bound my father unto him as if I should wrong him it would be a blemish to my honor while I live Nevertheless I am content to hazard my self in all the dangers you shall think convenient that is sufifcient said Carmelle I pray you then be merry and make good chear for if ever woman accomplished the thing she took in hand I will bring this to pass Wherewith leaving Esplandian she called the Patron and willed him to set sayl for Constantinople whereunto he obeyed and had so good a winde that within thrée days after they entered into the haven where being arrived Esplandian told his men what by the counsel of Carmelle he had determined to do commanding them expresly not to make it known to any man of his being there but that they should say they left him in the castle the defended mountain For said he I am not now in such estate as I would be to present my self before so great a Prince as the Emperor is And to the end you be not found liars I will stay in the bottom of the ship till you return again then he Carmelle Gandalin and Enil spake together where the gentlewoman shewed them at large how she meant to bring her enterprise to pass I will presently said she cause the tomb we brought from the Rock of the Enchantress to be set up in the same sort we found it upon the hatches of the ship then will I go tell the Emperor that I have one of the singularest things abord that ship that ever was séen and we finde means to bring him hither where I will shew him the Lion with Jupiter and all the rest of the furniture which having séen and perused I will tell him that you send it to the Princess Leonorine He being gone unto his palace you shall go into the Cedar Chest and so will I cause you to be carryed into the princess chamber lying in the same whereof I will secretly advertise her and by this means she may speak to you and you to her what you think good I but said Esplandian â—ell me how I shall come out again I will desire her said she to give me the Cedar Chest therein to bury the body of Matroco that died a Christian wherein you shall be inclosed and to morrow in the morning I will cause you to be brought hither again By God said Gandalin it is the prettiest devise that ever I heard now I confess that I was never but a fool in regard of Câ—rmelle Meddle you not with any thing said she but rest content let me alone to work my will and to the same end let us presently begin then Esplandian went down into the bottom of the ship and the gentlewoman prepared the tomb as
doubting any treason by Melie prepared went and sat down by her and next her King Armato so that she sat betwéen Melie and him where Melie began to turn the book shewing them certain prophesies and other strange devises which continued not long but the air began to be covered with a round black cloud and therewith it séemed so dark that they could not sée each other at the last the cloud opened and they beheld two horrible Dragons coming down out of the cloud that drew a waggon and stayed right before Urganda who by Armato and Melie was so straitly embraced that whither she would or not they thrust her in and they after her Wherewith the Dragons séeing their waggon charged flew up into the air and carried them away Urganda crying for help but all in vain for in less than the twinckling of an eye she was out of sight wherewith there was such a noise among the company that Esplandian Talanque Ambor Manley and the rest of the Knights that came thither with her swear never to rest above one night in a place before they found her out so that the same day taking their leaves both of the Emperor and others that by them were left in sorrow they entred again into the great Serpent but before Esplandian went he spake unto the Princess Leonorine beséeching her not to take in evil part his enterprise taken in hand for the love of her to whom he found himself so much beholding promising her that presently having found Urganda he would return again My good friend said she me thinkes you should do this at better leisure and not in so great haste as now you do yet am I well content to do as pleaseth you but forget not I pray you said she to return again as you have promised Which Esplandian vowed upon his faith mean time Norandel and Quéen Minoresse as much grieved as might be knew not what countenance to hold having their hearts so seized with care that the Quéen was constrained to withdraw her self into her chamber and lay upon her bed shutting the door whereby Norandel had no meanes to take his leave but imbarqued himself charged with an infinite number of griefes and sorrowes with that the great Serpent began of it self to set forward and within two days after arrived at the Castle of the defended mountain CHAP. XLV How the two Dragons set Vrganda Melie and King Armato in the middle of the City of Tesifant and of the great army that Armato prepared to enter into Greece THe Dragons bearing Urganda Melie and King Armato in the air flew so swiftly that before day they were right over the City of Tesifant where they set down their charge that done they flew away and never were séen again King Armato was excéeding glad when he perceived himself to be in place whereas he might command and went unto his pallace where finding the guard he made himself known unto them they presently went to advertise the Prince Alphorax who much abashed at those news start out of his bed and casting a furred gown upon his shouldiers ran to imbrace his father who séemed to be so changed not onely because his beard was longer than he used but by reason of the great grief and melancholly he had so long endured that the Prince began to wéep and say unto him My Lord you are more than heartily welcome for Gods cause I beséech you tell us how fortune hath béen so much your friend to deliver you out of the misery wherein you have continued so long to my no little grief Son said he Melie can tell you better than my self for she is the only meanes of my good hap and hath brought with her Urganda discogneve of whom heretofore you have heard And as he left speaking Melie and Urganda entred into the hall wherewith the rumor of the Kings return was so great within the City that all the people ran unto the palace for to sée him being as glad of his arrival as Urganda sorry to sée her self in such a place and that which grieved her more was that Melie in presence of them all spake unto her and said Urganda two things move me to save thy life the one for that in my captivity thou hast not once suffered an evil word to be used to me neither permitted that any man should do me harm the other because I certainly know that King Armato hath by thy means received all the good intertainment he had during his hard imprisonment Nevertheless the mischief thou hast procured unto this country being the onely cause the Christians entered into the same is sufficient to make thée indure perpetual imprisonment wherein by mine art I will so straightly inclose thée that thy Art shall nought avail thée ever to get forth But although that sentence might well abash Urganda yet she shewed such constancy that she never changed colour determining with her self to indure whatsoever should fall out wherefore she said unto Melie Madam you may do with me as pleaseth you but in reason you ought not to use me otherwise then you your self were used when I had the like authority over you as you have now of me otherwise you shall do wrong both to your self and me To me that am old and ancient putting me in prison wherewith you threaten me not having offended you and to your self in preferring cruelty before the courtesie that hath bin found in you where to Melie answered her not a word but commanded her to be shut into a great tower standing in the midst of thy City over the which she wrought such conjurations that Urganda knew without Gods help it would be impossible for her ever to come forth yet she lived in hope considering the mutability of fortune and the King Armato himself had ben casually delivered who continued certain days in his great City of Tesifant without making any shew to be revenged But in the end he sent Embassadors to all the Princes in the East that were his allies and confederates desiring them to enter into arms not onely to drive the Christians out of Galatia Alfarin and other places that they had usurped in his Countrey but to destroy Constantinople with all the Christian Monarchs and therefore wrote a Letter unto them the Contents whereof do follow ARmato by the providence of our immortal gods called to the Government of the puissant Countrey of Turky the Frontier and Bulwark of all the Pagan Land to all Caitifs Kings Soldiers Admirals and Governors of the Countreys scituated in the East parts sendeth greeting Being returned out of prison from whence we are now delivered I thought good to give you to understand that not long since there is a Knight come out of the South into the Marches descended as men say of the Race of Brutus the Trojan to whom for our injustice as it is very likely our gods have given power to conquer the Castle of the defended
go with him My Lord said he to morrow I will send to all my Ports and Havens that all the Ships of War that can be found may be in a readiness mean time I will in all parts assemble men to do as my Nephew Esplandian hath required My Lord said Enil my Lord Esplandian hath written by Gandalin to king Amadis and other of his friends whom he hath desired to joyn with you so that I hope about one time all your Armies will be ready and that without long staying for each other you will assemble all together Truly said king Florestan it was well devised With that divers captains were dispatched into sundry places to give order for their men and to ballast rigge and prepare Vessels for their Voyage into the East Gandalin on the other side coasting the Isles of Majorque and Minorque leaving Guinea and Barbarie passed the straits of Gibraltar and had so good a wind that in few days without staying in Spain he arrived in Great Brittain with King Amadis who as then continued in London and presented him with the Letter that Esplandian sent shewing him likewise his charge by word of mouth the good and evil adventures that he had since he departed from Mirefleur and among the rest the overthrow of the Turkish army on the Sea the taking of King Aâ—mato the occasion why the siege rose up before the Castle of the defended mountain the arrival of Gastilles the taking of Alfarin and of the captain of Tesifant the surprising of Galatia the loss oâ— Urganda and lastly all what you have read at large in the chapters going before And to the end my lord said he that order may be had to prevent the inconvenience he foreséeth to be prepared against all Christendom if it be not succored he hath expresly willed me to shew you that he hath had certain intelligence that all the Kings of the East parts have sworn and promised together to over-run all Christendom which is very likely considering the great preparations assembly of men they have already made in the Isle of Tenedos which is such that as our spies report they are at least six hundred sail of Ships and about four or five hundred thousand men God will help us if it pleased him said the King Amadis for my part I will do what possible I may and will likewise advertise King Perion my father and my brother Galaor My Lord said Gandalin I have also charge to travel unto them and likewise unto Gasquillan Don Brunean Quedragant and others to whom Esplandian hath written in like sort as he hath done to you and hath expresly given me in charge to sée King Luisart and do his humble commendations unto him It is great reason said the king nevertheless I am of this opinion that before my mother the Queen you do not once declare the occasion of your coming but give her to understand that all is well but not unto the king if you find him alone for he is a man as every one well knoweth to take all things with patience as they shall fall out and because my Sons affairs require no delay I pray you Gandalin after you have refreshed your self a day or two go on your journey as you have in charge So Gandalin that day remained there during which time Quéen Oriane talked long with him the next day he departed to sée King Luisart and Quéen Brisanne at Mirefleur who knowing he came of message from Esplandian were excéeding glad the Quéen although she were wise and very aged yet could not change her womans nature but before the king spake any word asked him for her son but Gandalin accustomed readily to devise excuses as he had béen instructed by King Amadis told her that he had left him in the firm Isle not well at ease by reason of his long travel but not so ill said he as that he could not have taken pain to come hither and sée you but he feared lest his sickness would encrease where he thought it better for him to kéep his chamber a while than to entertain a long and envious ague for a long space which the Quéen easily believed and for the hope she had shortly to sée him she made no account thereof nevertheless the same evening Gandalin told King Luisart all that you heard before wisely excusing himself of the spéech he used before him unto the Quéen as King Amadis had given him charge wherein king Luisart commended him for the rest he promised to think thereon while he travelled unto those with whom he had to do In this sort Gandalin being dispatched returned to king Amadis who in the mean time perswaded by Quéen Oriane wrought a marriage for him as you shall hear You have read in the beginning of our history of the services the gentlewoman of Denmark did for them and the things wherein she Gandalin had béen exercised wherefore it was reason that having béen partakers of their youthful toys she should also taste some of their prosperous fortunes Wherefore Quéen Oriane moved king Amadis to make a marriage betwéen them two but he thought the match unfit because the gentlewoman was already aged Gandalin being yong lusty nevertheless as all women that are wise and of a quick conceit can bring their enterprises to effect the Quéen found means to get the kings consent wherby Gandalin was no sooner come from Mirefleur but he took him aside said unto him Gandalin the quéen is desirous to have you stay with us not only for the love she knoweth I bear unto you but also for the good she wisheth you And for this cause she would have you marry with the gentlewoman of Denmark whom she loveth and will do much both for her and you if you consent thereto you know her long time since both to be wise good vertuous and for my part I pray you and counsel you thereunto Gandalin would gladly have excused himself and to say the truth he was too yong for so old a match nevertheless having from his infancy learned to confirm his will to that of Amadis he was content to do as pleased him in such sort that in less than three days after the marriage was celebrated and ended Mean time king Amadis took the letters and instructions that Gandalin should carry to Gasquillan and king Brunean and sent them by a gentleman of his named Handro cousin german to the Countess of Flanders desiring them as much as possible they might to aid his son in his so good a cause but the next week following Gandalin more affected to the service of Esplandian than to court his wife departed from thence to travel into France unto king Perion and from him to Sobradise to Galaor Mean time king Amadis sent for all the Pilots masters and marriners of his country that he could find commending King Arban of Norgales to take care for all things requisite for the enterprise and
in the army Whereof the Souldan and Quéen Calafie being advertised determined together to write unto them the contents whereof do follow Rodrigue Souldan of Liquie mortal enemy to the enemies of our gods and Calafre Queen of Califorine a country most rich and abundant in Gold and precious Stones give you Amadis de Gaule King of Great Brittain and your son Knight of the great Serpent to understand that the occasion of our arrival in these countries hath been for these two causes The one in hope to destroy all Christendom and the other to prove if we may 〈◊〉 from you the renown that is spread abroad of you to be the two best Knights living in the world for we account our selves for such as that if you will accept the combate of your persons against ours we will evidently make it known that our valor is no less then yours And to the end the glory of the victors may be known the vanquished shall remain in their powers to dispose of them as they shall think convenient Advise your selves therefore to answer us herein by this our messenger to whom we have given charge to declare unto you if you refuse this combate that from henceforth we shall have just occasion to attribute to our selves the advantage of the praises and endless glories that fortune heretofore hath given you and to esteem of you as meanly in time to come as you have been highly renowned heretofore This Letter given to the Gentlewoman that bare the first to Norandel she went unto the Christians camp and being advertised which was Amadis tent entered therein as he sat 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 unto her and said Gentlewoman I am the one and this is my Son Is it your pleasure to speak with us The gentle woman casting her eye upon Esplandian marvelling at his great beauty spake said In good faith king Amadis I verily believe that this is he for I have heard him in divers places esteemed for the same that now I do behold in him Gentlewoman said Amadis if you came into our camp onely to sée him you now have your desire That hath not bin only the cause said she but to bring this letter which the Souldan of Liquie and quéen Calafre send unto you both wherefore having read it I pray you return an answer With that Amadis having taken it in his hand the Gentlewoman departed out of the rent attending their resolution King Amadis having read it shewed it to King Luisart and the rest that were in presence wherewith there a rose great controversie among them concerning the refusal or acceptation of the combate for that the most part of them were of advise it should not be accepted shewing divers great and evident reasons to confirm the same as the greater number of enemies they had before them ready to give them battel and if it happen said they that fortune should be contrary to King Amadis and Esplandian in whom partly consisteth our hope such hard chance would bréed great fear in divers men that are now very willing and ready to do the best they can Others held the contrary saying that it would be shame unto them all for that refusal onely would much incourage the enemy but they were of this opinion that it might well be required that the number of the combatants might be greater In good truth said 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 do my self wrong and cause a great blemish to all Christendom that would not be defaced in long time after Besides I have great hope of Gods help herein for whose faith and honor I have undertaken this voyage When Esplandian heard his fathers mind he spake boldier and said That he would take that combate upon himself alone not onely against the Souldan and the Quéen 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 said unto her Gentlewoman you shall tell the Souldan and the Quéen that I and my son are content to do as they require wherefore set them chuse what arms they will and for the place it shall be betwéen their camp and ours assuring them on the faith of a King that not one of our soldiers shall once remove how soever we spéed which we desire likewise at their hands and if it be their desire to have the combate fought this day we are content to do it With that the Gentlewoman returned and coming to the Souldans tent she declared her message unto them being such as you have heard whereof the Souldan was glad but especially the Quéen for the great desire she had to sée Esplandian whereof she asked the Gentlewomen what she thought of him Madam said she I have in my life time seen many men and women that nature had indued with great beauty but by the gods I confess it is all but painting in regard of that I have found in him for he is so fair and beautiful that the more I think thereon so much the more it maketh me conceive such beauty to be rather divine them humane That is much said the Queen I know not said the Gentlewoman what you mean by that word Much but I am well assured if you had seen him as I did that you would say as much as I do and it may be more Truly said the Queen before I enter in combate with him I will first see him unarmed and speak with him not as an enemy to an enemy but as friends commonly do one unto the other Madam said the Souldan seeing it is your desire it were good our Gentlewoman went again unto them to desire them to give you leave to come and visit them in their camp not to procure them any cause of envy but to do them honor and for that cause to desire their safe conduct This counsel seemed good unto the Queen and without longer staying she sent the Gentlewoman back again unto 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 Queen had to see them before they entred into combate King Amadis could not refrain laughing to hear the Gentlewoman express the affection her mistress had asking king Luisart what he thought therein Son said he deny not her request for I assure you since our coming hither I have heard the Queen to be esteemed a wise and beautiful Princess You hear our answer said Amadis to the Gentlewoman let the Queen come hither when she thinketh good for she shall be heartily welcome With that the Gentlewoman returned to the
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 slain in the battel But let it suffice to know that those two Lovers enjoyed the thing which they so long desired Esplandian the same day being proclaimed Emperor of Greece according to the commandment of his father in law who within two months after with the Empress his wife went to a monastery and place of devotion And because quéen Calafre had always pretended to marry with Esplandian perceiving her intent frustrate she could not refrain to speak in presence of theÌ„ all said unto them My Lord I beséech you give me leave 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 princess in all the east parts by reason of the great quantity of gold and precious stones that are within my countries As touching my linage I am daughter of a Quéen of ancient race and as noble as any that ever was in the world so it is that fortune brought me into these marches promising me shortly to return laden with great number of slaves and abundance of treasure but to the contrary I that pretended and sought the captivity of others finde my self taken and better holden prisoner then they that are in their mortal enemies hands This imprisonment whereof I speak is not that whereunto I am bound by the faith I have given unto king Amadis having vanquished me by force which I certainly know to be wholly subject to fortune but the imprisonment whereof I now complain is that wherein my heart hath inclosed it self and hath the onely moving by the sole beauty and favor I have found in the new and most happy Emperor estéeming my self to be such that I hoped leaving my law to accept of yours to have had him for my lord and husband although my hope by little and little began to diminish when I perceived the Princess Leonorine to be more recommended in al perfections then any that ever I heard of or ever have séen so that speaking against my self it had béen impossible to finde a more equal match nor more conformable one unto the other then the marriage of them together which maketh me believe that fortune extendeth wholly to eternize this my passion wherein I will if I can sâ— much impeach her that forgetting my first affection and if it will please him to give me another husband worthy my estate I will accept it willingly together with baptism and the law of Christ which you do hold When the Emperor Esplandian saw her good pretence he began to comfort her in the best manner he could and calling Talanque a fair lusty and well disposed Gentleman he said unto the Quéen Madam this Gentlewoman I offer unto you is my cousin and son unto King Galaor one of the best knights as I think living in the world I pray you at my request refuse him not for your lord and husband assuring you that I know no Princess how great soever she be living in the world but might content her self with him The Quéen beheld him with so good affection that she easily believed Esplandian and said unto him Vpon your word my Lord I will accept of him and from this time forward yield my self to be his wife and will for his sake do so much that the Island wherein I and others my predecessors would not suffer a man to live shall from henceforth be governed by him as other câ—untries are by their Kings and Princes And because her sister Liote was not at that assembly but with her ships lying in the straights as Quéen Calafre had commanded her as you heard before she desired the Emperor to send for her who presently sent the admiral Tartary to fetch her she being come and having heard her sisters mind easily agréed thereto and by the same meanes was married to Manley the wise both espoused at one time and being baptised caused all their army to do the like which done not long after those new married couples taking their leaves of the Kings Princes Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Court they imbarqued themselves Manley having with him the vessels wherein Childadan his father arrived in the east and Talanque those of king Galaor which they caused to be fraighted and laden with all things necessary for so strange a country And setting sail for Californie not without great trouble which in the end they overcame they arrived in safety where afterward they had many battels with their neighbors bordering about them whom they overcame augmenting their dominions with many great lands and territories But because the subject of our History is not further to intreat of them we will for this present leave them to go on with that which afterward was done in the City of Constantinople You heard before of the love of Norandel and Quéen Minoresse that daily increased in them more and more which the Empress knowing full well caused them to be married together the Emperor giving to Norandel the Castle of the defended mountain with the towns of Alfarin and Galatia for the which he recompenced Frandalo with the rich fertile and well peopled Isles of Galatines Mean time the Emperor Esplandian not forgetting the imprisonment of Urganda one day among the rest not long before the Princes of the West imbarqued themselves to return into their countries he shewed them in what sort Melie had taken her away and by inchantment carried her to the great city of Tesifant where he held her prisoner in a great tower desiring them most earnestly to give him counsel what he might do therein Son said king Amadis it were good you sent unto Armato to offer him for her the Souldan of Liquie that is your prisoner and if he refuse you so to do we will enter into his country and fetch her thence by force Whereunto they al agréed so that without longer delay Carmelle was sent to Tesifant iâ—barquing her self with four squires and thrée gentlewomen and with a good wind arrived at the castle of the defended mountain where she remained certain days staying for king Armatos pasport which by one of her women she sent to fetch who found Armato as melancholly as might be féeling as yet his fortune past specially the death of his son Alphorax which without ceasing he continually lamented With that the gentlewoman gave him to understand the cause of her arrival wherewith he was so well pleased that presently he caused Carmelles safe conduct to be made and giving it to the messenger said unto her My friend return unto your mistriss and assure her from me that she may come unto my court as often as it pleaseth her remembring well the pleasures she shewed unto me during my imprisonment The gentlewoman thanked him most heartily and returned to Carmelle who within
few days after went to Tesifant to Armato where she declared at large the effect of her embassage which heard by king Armato and considring with himself that for Urganda he might recover one of his greatest friends and thereby cause the Christian Princes for a time to refrain the overrunning of his country sent presently for Melie desiring her in all affection for his sake to grant to his desire and the pleasure of the Christians considring the offer made by them was both advantage unto him and his Melie desirous to please Armato brake her inchantments and without delay Urganda was delivered unto Carmelle upon condition that she being arrived in the city of Constantinople should likewise set the Souldan of Liquie at liberty which she swore and promised to do which done taking their leave of Armato they travelled so long that they came unto the castle the defended mountain where Urganda caused them to leave Carmelles ship to enter into the great serpent that as yet she found there which presently of it self began to sail as it had always done before Urganda was in prison in such manner that without impeachment they arrived in the Haven of Constantinople where the Princes and lords being on shoar descended to the water side to receive Urganda And thinking to bring her to the palace she desired them to stay there till a prophesie were accomplished that should be done before the sun went down which they agréed unto not onely to please her mind but likewise desiring to sée what it should be With that they were abashed that the great serpent began to leap and labor in the water as if it had bin in the greatest storm that ever was although the sea was very calm but only about the serpent where it raged in most horrible maner but that which most abashed the beholders was that the vessel cast forth such horrible cries that not one among them but his hair stood upright upon his head for fear And having continued in the maner about half an hour more the serpent thrust his head into the water wherewith it sunk and never was séen again And with that they perceived a far off a great rock which being driven by the waves came within half a bow shot néer unto the shore on the top whereof stood a woman bareheaded and câ—vered only with a linen cloth to hide her privities being invironned by more then a thousand serpents as well great as small which stung her in such sort that she wept lamented in most pittiful maner wherat the knights of great Brittain had so much compassion that they thought to enter into the ships to go help her which Urganda forbad them For said she besides the dangers that may happen you shall lose your labors because she whom you behold which is the inchantress lady hath ordained it to be sâ— With that the rock sunk into the water the gentlewoman vanished out of sight but not long after she appeared again upon the waves flying from the fury of a monster of the sea that with his throat open followed after ready to devour her in such manner that she came right unâ—o the haven crying with a loud voice unto Esplandian Gentle Emperor I pray you help me for none but you can do it wherewith Esplandian stepped forward and holding the sword he conquered in the old pallace of the inchanted Râ—ck in his hand ran unto her and thinking to go neer the Monster the Gentlewoman that fled from it caught hold of his sword and whether he would or not took it away wherewith she threw her self into the sea and the monster after her Whereat every man began to laugh saying to the Emperor that if a gentlewoman had predestinated the same unto him and kept it long time another gentlewomen or she her self upon a sudden had taken it from him again With that Urganda was led unto the palace accompanied by the Emperor with all the kings and knights where not long after the Souldan of Liquie was delivered and sent to Tesifant and about the beginning of the next wéek after the western pinces took shipping and being imbarqued with Urganda recommending the Emperor to God sailed forwards till at the last every man arrived at his desired haven namely king Amadis that found Oriane very sad for the death of her mother newly deceased which much more increased when she knew her father king Luisart was dead But in the end time made her to forget her sorrow but not so soon as Amadis could have wished CHAP. LV. How the Emperor Esplandian sent Norandel to take possession of the country he had given him and of the taking of Tesifant NOt long after the western princes were departed into their countries the Emperor Esplandian would that Norandel should go unto the Castle of the defended mountain and other towns that he had given him to make war against king Armato for which cause he gave him a great number of soldiers with the which to make short he assailed the king of Turky and had battel together wherein many a valiant knight lost their lives nevertheless the victory fell on Norandels side whereby he caused Armato to fly away retiring to his city of Tesifant which being known unto the Emperor he departed from Constantinople and with a great army going into Turky joyned with Norandels power and besieged Tesifant but fear seized so wel upon Armato that he found means to flie away and leave the town which not long after was taken and the Princess Heliaxe brought unto the emperor who used her courteously and sent her again unto her fathr Ampheon king of Medea giving her divers rich Presents News being spread throughout the country of Turky of the fight of king Armato as also of the taking of Tesifant divers towns and cities yielded to Esplandian that gave them likewise to Norandel because winter came on he returned into Thrace where two of his nephews sons of Galaor came to visit him and to receive the order of knighthood which he gave unto them with both armor horses minding to request them to travel to Tesifant unto Norandel there to begin their first intrance into arms but they desired rather to take the way to Californie where Manley and Talanque had great war against their neighbors which the Emperor perceiving caused all things necessary for so long a voyage to be given them with so good Pilots that in the end they arrived at their desired Haven where they attained to great honor and estimation among the best Knights But not to enter further to discourse of them we will for this present let them rest And let it suffice you to know how that as time passed Perion succéeded in his fathers seat 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 sixth and seventh books of this our Histdry we will pass it over at this time CHAP. LVI How Vrganda sent to desire king Amadis the Emperor Esplandian Don Galaor king of Sobradise and others to come unto the Firm Isle and of the marvellous inchantments that she made over them URganda being in her Isle not as yet discovered taking great pleasure to read Melies Books knew by her art death to be near unto the Kings and Princes whom she most loved and haing great sorrow that worms should consume the flesh of so valiant Knights devised to prevent the same which to do she took sea accompanied of her two cousins Juliande and Solisde with divers other Gentlewomen and went unto the Firm Isle where being arrived she sent to the Emperor Esplandian Amadis Galaor Florestan Agraies and Gransador praying them most earnestly to come unto her to the palace of Apolidon for matter that touched them most near otherwise she sent them word if they did it not that before long time past evil would happen unto them and that master Elizabeth should bring with him the book that he made of the Adventures of the knights living in his time as also that they should the space of thrée quarters of an hour those whom she had caused to sit down as you heard before remained in a trance without all knowledge as if they had béen dead and with that there appeared a cloud so obscure and thick which invironed the place that never after it could be séen till Luisart of Greece son to Esplandian brought that inchantment to an end by means of a sword which he conquered as it shall be declared to you in the sixt Book wherein is described one of the most pleasant and delectable Histories that ever was read At which time all the Princes and the rest were revived again and not before The Emperor Esplandian at that time had a son after his grandfathers name called Luisart as then about the age of eight years King Amadis a son and a daughter the son named Perion and the daughter Brisene that married the eldest son of the Emperor of Rome King Galaor two sons the one named Perion and other Garinter of whom I have shewed you before Florestan the King of Sardaigne two sons the one named Florestan after his father that raigned after him and the other Palmindan of Almain after his grandfather Agrayes Earl of Salandry two sons the one called Languines the other Galmenes King Brewneo one son named Vallade and a daughter named Helisenne that married Quedragants son and bare his fathers name King Childadan two sons the eldest called Abies of Ireland after his grandfather whom Amadis slew the first day he entred into Knighthood And although these princes left such heirs as you heard before yet would they not during their fathers absence take on them the names or titles of Kings hâ—ping by Gods help that they should once return as well as ever they were For the which cause they having attained to the age and strength to bear arms passed into Ireland there to be made Knights bâ— King Childadan being as then very weak and withered with age which done they followed strange adventures doing many valiant feats of Arms which are at large declared in the Book that follow which in time may come unto your hands when it pleaseth God FINIS