one of those which you receiued in Greece from Queene Menoressa well then said Amadis seeing it is so it shall be fittest for you that the night before you goe to the battel you performe the watch in the King my fathers Chappell in the morning I will present you Armed to him according as to order appertayneth because I holde it impossible to receiue your knighthoode from a wortheir man Vpon my faith my Lord quoth Gandalin I neuer had any other desire but to receiue it from your selfe Be it said Amadis as you please Lasiuda Squire to Brunâ—â— replied Gandalin not long since tolde me that his Master had likewise yeelded to his knighthâ—od and that hee and I should performe our watch together and so be companions in the battaile Aâ—adis answered him not a word but went into the Kings Tent who had giuen order that the Campe should march on earely the next morning because his scouâ—es and spies had assured him that the enemie approached neare So marched the two Armies each against other and on the third day following they came in sight halfe a mile off and there encamped performing many aduenterous skirmishes as well on horsebacke as on foot especially the Romanes who still pressed them of the Enclosed Isle to fight because they found the place aduantageable for them But King Perion vnderstood their meaning well enough fortefying his Campe with great trenches defending all passages with his artilery Thus they maintained them-selues three daies together skirmishing well-neare from morning to night and longer time they had thus temporised but that they receiued information how Archalaus had induced King Aranigne to the leuying of a powerfull Army and marched on speedily to encounter with them Hereupon the two Camps grew iealous of one another not knowing to whether side they inclined for King Lisuart imagined they came in ayde of Amadis and Amadis presumed the like for King Lisuart and this was their onely motiue of their falling to fight according as you shall heare hereafter But before it came so to passe Gasquilan King of Swetia who had expressely left his courtrie to fight with Amadis sent a Trompet to him who being come into his presence spake in this manner Lord Amadis the King of Swetia my Master sends you worde by mee that at such time as King Lisuart vndertook the warre against Galuaues in the Isle of Mongoza he then departed from his kingdome with intention onely to approue his manhood against you not for any hatred or malice hee beares you but onely in regarde of your great fame and renowne And being no way able to meet with you he was enforced being then wounded to returne home againe frustrated of his expectation And hee had not now left his owne lande againe but that hee was aduertised by King Lisuart of your vndertaking this hardy enterprise And continuing still in his former deliberation hee entreates you in meere curtesie that to morrowe you would breake three Lances with him for if you delay it till the day of battaile hardly shall you approue your selues each against other according to his honourable desire Trompet answered Amadis I haue long since heard of this which thou tellest me and of thy Masters earnest desire and doe also verily beleeue that it proceeds from true magnanimity of spirit in him Now although there is great difference betweene my actions and the fame noysed abroad of mee yet I am well contented that hee should holde such reputation of me as he doth and knowing him to bee no lesse then he is I could rather wish that his proofe of mee might be in some such place where hee might receiue more seruice by me My Lord said the Trompet he well remembers how matters past between you and Madraque the Giant of the Sadde Island and albeit they concerned him somewhat neare as a sonne to a father yet being aduertised of the curtesie you extended towards him hee reputeth you rather worthie of commendation then any manner of reuenge So this desire in him of triall with you is not for any enuiâ— he beares to your iust reputation but only thus that if hee happen to preuaile hee shall winne that which by no meanes else he could attaine vnto If hee sâ—staine the â—oylâ— yeâ— hâ—â— will holde his eâ—… the lesse the worlde beeing so 〈◊〉 ently informed of your maniâ—odâ— victories not only against the â—ery â—toutest and strongest Giants but likewise against most cruell and supernaturall beasts Depart then replied Amadis and to morrow morning thy Master shall fiâ—de me here ready on this plaine to accomplish his pleasure and so the Tromper returned thence before we passe any further I wil reporte the principall cause which mooued this great Prince Gasquilan to trauaile through so many countries onely to approoue him selfe against Amadis In the third Booke of our History hath been related to you that he was the soâ—ne of Madraque and of the sister to Laucine King of Swetia which Laucine dying without heires Cosquilan beeing knowne in many places to bee one of the most gentle Knights that the worlde yeelded was called by them of Swetia and elected to bee their King Afterward he fell in loue with a yong and beautifull Princesse named Pinela who was both an heire and orphane by death of her father and mother and many lands Seigneuries bordering and adioyning to them of Gasquilin belonged to her as her right and inheritance His extreamity in affection to her prouoked him to vndertake many bolde aduentures which hee worthily effected not without great perill to his person neuerthâ—lâ—sse kindnesse in her was but coole to him in regarde hee was deriued from a Giant so proude and cruell as by no meanes thee would accept him for her husband notwithstanding his most earnest and honest pursuâ—e Whereat Gasqâ—ilâ—â— growing discontented threatned intire â—…ine and detestation both of her and hers which one of her faithfull subiects fearing aduised her to vse a little dissimulation and to temporise hereon so well as shee could She lent such liking to this perswasion that at one time among many other Gasquilan vsing his wonted opportunities with goodly discourse protestations as louers in like afflictions can easily performe she as a Lady discreet and quicke of apprehension answered him in this manner My Lord seeing Heauen hath endowed mee with such riches as I now enioy no dread of danger or of death it selfe can make mee falsifie the promise I made to my deceased father which was neuer to marrie but vpon one especiall condition What was that sayde Gasquilan I solemnely swore quoth she to him before hee died neuer to ioyne in marriage but with the best Knight in the world if it lay in my power to winne him and although he were neuer so poore yet I would haue no other husband Hereupon I made diligent inquisition who might be this only man of men and haue receiued credible intelligence that Amadis de Gaule cannot be seconded
because I receiued Letters some few dayes since from him whereby he gaue me to vnderstand that neither he nor Florestan would stirre out of Gaule vntill they heard some newes from me I cannot chuse then replyed the King but maruaile of whence and what they are I know not quoth Galaor but whatsoeuer they are heauen shreld them from any il successe for neuer in my life did I looke on more braue and worthie Knights or men that could doe more for you then this day they haue done So spent they out the rest of the day in no other discourse almost but onely concerning the knights of the Serpents And raising their Campe on the morrow they went to Gandale where the Queene and Ladies awayted the Kings comming there also hee brake vp his Atmy discharging euery man to his owne home CHAP. VI. How the three Knights of the Serpents returning homeward into Gaule were by contrary fortune cast on the place where Archalaus the Enchanter dwelt who resolued on their death and what afterward befell them THree whole dayes together King Perion his two Sonnes kept theÌ„selues closely hidden in the Forrest as well for ease and refreshing after so great toyle as in expectation of a conuenient winde for shipping which on the fourth day fortunatly happened so they set sayle with a purposed intent for returning home into Gaule But it fell out farre otherwise with them for hardly had they attained into the maine Sea but it began to swel and rise in such dreadfull manner being stirde and enraged with contrary windes as if Heauen and earth had contended together and the Ship was so hurried by impetuositie of the waues that notwithstanding all the paines and endeauours of the Mariners they were constrained and driuen backe againe towardes the coast of Great Brittaine to land farre enough from the place where they tooke shipping There the three knights went on shore and mounting on their horses without any Squire to attend them they would needs seek after some aduenture vntill the Sea should be better setled hauing left expresse command with their men not to depart thence till their returne They had not ridden any great length of ground but descending downe a Rocke to a goodly plaine they â—…et with a Lady attended by threâ— Squires and two Damosels each carrying a Falcon on their fist as if they intended an hourely flight The Lady beholding them made way with her Palfray towards them deliuering mostâ— gracious gesture for their happy meeting and vsing ceremony of kinde salutation gaue them to vnderstand by apparant signes that she was bereft of speech and dumbe Most louely and faire she appeared to the knights which moued them to compassionat greatly her hard fortune and she going to him that had the golden Helmet making signes of embraces and offers to kisse his hand gaue outward notice both to him and the rest of request to haue them accept alodging in her castel which was at hand And lest the knights should mistake her meaning she made the like signs to her Squires who fully acquainted them with her desire entreeting them at their Ladies motion to accept of one nights entertainment in her Castell The knights being somewhat crazie and wearied with the rough tempest endured on the Sea imagined that her will accorded with their words and that no treason lay hid vnder this honest out-side yeelded to hers and their request riding softly on with her and entring into a pleasant seated Castel where they were most graciously entertained and conducted to a very goodly Chamber and there they vnarmed themselues When they were set downe at the Table for Supper diuers Damosels came each of them hauing an instrument and began to play most melodiously passing the time away in these pleasing recreations vntill the houre for rest drew neere Then withdrew the Musicians and the thred knights being left all alone layed â—hrm downe in one bedde together where soone after they fell asleepe as men that had some neede of repose Heere yee are to obserue that the Bed wherein the knights lay was fixed vpon a vice or screw to bee let downe and mounted againe without any noyse at all into a dungeon of twenty fathome deepe and there the knights found themselues in the morning at their awaking whereat they were not a little amazed perceiuing themselues to bee betrayed for they could not discerne any light at all nor deuise how they should bee transported thither At length they arose to finde either some window for aire or doore for passage to get forth but all was in vaine no likelyhood appeared anywhere of opening or that might yeeld them the smallest comfort But continuing on in this doubtfull maze they could heare the steppes and treadings of people ouer their heads and about seauen or eight houres after they saw a window opened vp aloft and a knight but meanely aged putting thorow his head demaunding very vnmanerly what new-come guests came so willingly to looke for good entertainment there By my faith lustie Roisters quoth hee since I haue gotten hold of yee I shall bee soundly reuenged of the wrongs ye haue done me but that your liues is not any part of sufficient payment I am not now to â—…arn that you are they which caused the ouerthrow of Aranigne and his Army maintaining the quarrell of that wicked Lisuart and let me now tell ye that you are in the power of Archalaus who will soone enough make knowne what loue hee beares yee Looke well vpon mee and if you neuer saw mee before this instant take good notice of me now to know me againe if you can scape from me Oh how glad a man should I bee if that villaine Amadis de Gaule were one among yee By my soule I would not sleepe till I had cut off both his nose and hands and put him to the most cruel death that euer was deuised Presently came the Lady who the day before counterfeited her selfe to be dumbe and said Vncle yonder youngest man pointing to Amadis is the knight that wore the golden Helmet who you said had so brauely behaued himselfe in Armes This Lady we now speake of was the daughter to Ardan Canile naming her selfe Dâ—…raa the most malicious and subtile woman that those times affoorded and had not come into these parts but only to take Amadis and procure his death which was the principall reason why she dissembled her selfe to be dumbe No sooner had she vttered these words but Archalaus went frem the window and shutting it againe in most churlish manner said to the knights Be as merry as yee may for before night I wil haue your heads cut off and then I le send them to king Aranigne in satisfaction of the iniuries hee receiued by your meanes Much more amazed now then euer was King Perion and his sonnes to see themselues thus in the power of Archalaus and perceiuing so palpably that vnder the counterfaited shew of dumbnes the
blood issuing from the wound receiued in his arme hee had giuen his enemie more occasion of trouble and daunger then as now hee could doe in so weake an estate At length he found himselfe so spent and weary that to recouer breath hee thus spake vnto him Beleeue mee Knight of the greene Sword in regard that I now know yee better then euer I did I haue iuster reason of wishing worse to ye then before Notwithstanding because it appeares to mee that you beginne to waxe faint I am well contented to suffer yee for a while to rest and ease your selfe How replyed Amadis doest thou now talke of rest and madest vaunt not long since to haue my head so lightly Assure thy selfe thou shalt take no rest nor I neither till one of vs two rest in death on the ground and therefore looke to thy selfe I would aduise thee Thus speaking hee charged him fierce and fiercer and at last let fall such a weightie blow on the toppe of his Helmet as cleft quite thorow the steele head and braine together so that he fell downe dead in the field Whereat the Knight of the greene Sword was not a little glad not so much for the ill-will he bare him as for the displeasure he imagined to haue done the Emperour and especiall contentment of King Tafinor So wiping his Sword he put it vp into the sheathe rendring thankes to GOD for the victory he had giuen him Then came the King and embracing him demaunded how hee fared So well my Lord answered Amadis as I haue no wound at all to hinder mee from entring a fresh fight to morrow morning with whomsoeuer you shall please to appoint mee Nay by my faith quoth the King you haue done enough for this businesse Then was hee conducted into the Citty with the greatest triumphe that possibly could bee In the meane while the Romanes carried thence the body of Garadan so daunted with his death that all desire of farther fighting was vtterly lost but concluded together to tell the Emperour that their companion had engadged them in meere despight adn his owne rashnes to decide this difference by Armes wherein he would needes ouer desperatly aduenture himselfe alone and so lost the day No one was against this determination but a young knight named Arquisil a neere kinsman to the Emperour who perceiuing the bad disposition of the rest and the iniury they not onely should doe to the Emperour Patin and to them-selues but likewise to the whole Empire spake thus vnto them How now Lords will you thus forget your selues and lose the reputation of our Empire Shall it bee bruited abroade that eleuen Romane knights thorow feare of death were so cowardly-minded as not to combate with twelue Allemaignes grosse-headed fellowes and very slenderly experienced in Armes So helpe me God put me alone vpon the enterprise and if you stand in doubt of him that hath foyled Garadan leaue him onely to me and settle your selues to the other for I dare assure yee if our hearts bee good wee cannot but speed successefully and recouer that blemish to our honour which the misfortune of our friendes hath throwen vpon vs. Let vs fight then and die euery man of vs rather then deferre it any longer considering we rather ought to make choice of a death so honourable then liue hereafter in perpetuall shame or so wretched a condition of life as ours must needs be Assuredly the valiant words of this young Prince preuayled so farre vpon the others pusillanimity and made them so confounded with shame as they all resolued to tempt their fortunes and euen prostitute their liues to any perill rather then to depart thence with such dishonour They were not so prompt and ready for the Combate but the knight of the greene Sword hating all sloth and negligence was as forward to moue the King therein desiring that the next morning hee would appoint the other knights to be in readines acording to promise they would accompany them to the field But the King would faine haue deferred it longer in regard of the woundes he receiued by Garadan and being vnable to preuaile with him he thus spake Knight of the greene Sword you haue already done so much for me as I dare not well deny you any thing you can demand of mee And seeing you will needs haue an end of this controuersie my Sonne Grasandor shall beare you company for in a better occasion he can neuer aduenture his life nor with a man of greater merit Sir answered Amadis you should reserue him for a more serious businesse without hazarding him in so meane a matter and where there is so slender need Ah Sir knight replyed Grasandor would you offer me a greater wrong then any man else can doe By the faith I beare to my King and Father if I had so much power ouer you as I freely graunt you haue on me I would then entreat you so farre to honour me as that I might keepe you company all my life-time and I could rather wish that I had neuer beene borne then not to make one in this elected number and in a case of such importance Seeing it is your pleasure quoth the knight of the greene Sword and that you will needs be one in the fight I make no doubt but God will assist vs for being in your company it cannot chuse but wee all shall speede the better So euery one withdrew vntill the next morning when the King came to see his knight whom hee found ready armed and perceiuing his Armour to be greatly impaired he said My worthy Friend I think it not fit that you should enter into so dangerous a fight so slenderly prouided as you are Wherefore let me entreatye to take other Armes which in my iudgement will bee more conuenient for ye both in security ease and aptnes Heereupon he sent for an Armour which hee had kept a long while for one of the best in the world and presenting it to the knight of the greene Sword said Essay Sir whether it will sit ye or no and for my sake arme your selfe therewith which I bestow on yee with as good a hart as euer I kist Lady in my life Most humbly did Amadis giue him thankes and looking on the Sword perceiuing it so well appointed he drew it forth of the sheathe when it appeared so fair and goodly to him as he said to himselfe that he neuer saw one of more perfection then that belonging to King Lisuart and his owne which he dearely affected aswell for the goodnes thereof as because he wonne it by the power of loue as we haue formerly declared in the second Booke in which respect he would not leaue it for the best in the world But seeing that this other weapon did well deserue to come to the hand of some worthy knight he entreated the Prince Grasandor to accept it whereof he made no refusall As they were beholding the rest of the
a Robe of shame as quite altered her determination Thus for more then a moneths space shee continued in these agonies till one day among other meeting with Gandalin at apt leysure she thus bespake him Friendly Squire in the loue that you beare to God your Maister let me entreate to mooue one question to ye concerning him which cannot but returne to his great honour and profit and by mee shall not bee discouered to any liuing Madame quoth Gandalin if your motion be within the compasse of my capacity assure your selfe that I will resolue ye Tell me then sweet Friend said Grasinda doe you know of his affection to any woman that may contradict his loue to another if it should grow to such a purpose Madame quoth he it is but a little while as yet since the Dwaife and I became his seruants whereto nothing more incited vs then his admired vertues and renowne And he hath expressely forbid vs to enquire either of his name or any of his affaires but to declare the fidelitie of our duty in knowing no more then he thinkes fit for vs. But thus much I dare tell yee that wee haue already seene such valour in him as you may well credit without all question that he is the best knight in the world Now as Gandalin made a more ample relation of his Maisters fortunes she held her eyes fixed on the ground and in sighing shewed her selfe so pensiue that hee easily perceiued the loue shee bare to his Lord. But tell me then Sir I pray ye quoth she why did hee fall a-weeping the other day in our presence Truely Madame said he it is a matter continually happening to him and so often doth hee sighe both by day and night that I maruaile much how he can liue Yet I know him to be such a man and of so great spirit that this proceedeth not from any dread of peril or from any hazardous enterprise he can vndertake whereby it may bee easily presumed that it is entire loue and affection which he beareth to some Lady that I know not So God help me replyed Grasinda I do beleeue as much and highly thanke yee for this courtesie Now you may go to him when you please and heauen send him as speedie a remedie for his hurts as I could willingly wish to mine Hauing thus spoken shee with-drew thence into her Chamber perswading her selfe assuredly that she was preuented in her hopes where-upon she promised by all discreete meanes to quenche the fire already too much kindled Neuerthelesse Loue still gaue a maine opposition and fed her imaginations with idle conceit that in time shee should hit the marke she aymed at But it fell out otherwise for so soone as our knight felt himselfe able for Armes he commaunded Gandalin to make all things ready because he meant to ride away the next morning At that very instant Grasinda came into his Chamber where talking together as they were wont to doe and falling from one discourse to another the knight of the Dwarse at last spake thus Madame I feele my selfe so exceedingly well recouered thankes be to God and you as I am purposed so you bee not therewith displeased to part from hence very earely to morrow morning coueting nothing more in my defiâ—es then to study how I may during my life-time best acknowledge the good and honor you haue done me Therefore Madame I most humbly entreate you to consider with your selfe if there be any seruice that you shal please to command me my imployment therein shall stretch so farre as my lifes extreamity When Grasinda heard these wordes she fell into such a heauinesse as she could not returne him any answere neuerthelesse at length she thus replyed Knight of the greene Sword I make no doubt but that your heart and tongue are relatiues the one agreeing with the others intention as well for the good which you say you haue receiued in my house as for a matter of farre higher moment which neither the time nor your forward intent will now permit to be discouered Therfore when the happy houre shall come best fitting mee to vrge my recompence assure your selfe I will demaund it so secretly of you without either blushing feare or shame as you shall well perceiue it to be a matter which I haue hitherto kept concealed in my heart and neuer reuealed to any one liuing In the meane while let me entreate you to tell me which way you purpose to direct your trauaile Beleeue me Madame answered our knight I hope in short time to bee in Greece as well to see the country as the Emperour of whom I haue heard many good reports Truely Sir replyed Grasinda I wishe all happy successe to attend yee and I meane to prouide a Ship for ye and to furnish ye in such sort as your voyage shall be the easier perfourmed Moreouer I will giue ye Maister Elisabet for your health and welfare when any disaster or inconuenience shall befall ye with this promise that if you finde your body apt and able you shall come againe hither to mee within a yeares compasse Our knight had small reason to refuse so great kindnes but in returning Grasinda most harty thankes said Madame I were the most abiect wretch in the world and no way worthy the name of knight if I should not endeauour to acknowledge so many gracious fauours as you haue bestowed vpon me and I should think the wearing of Armes farre vnfit for me if either by dread of death or any other accident whatsoeuer I should deferre the fulfilling of what you haue inioyned me What I desire quoth she to haue you doe for me shal be respitted till your backe returne and it is no other thing but what shal be for your honor and aduantage Madame said he such is my confidence in your true appearing vertues that you will not vse me in any other seruice No vpon my faith quoth she Then she sent for Maister Elisabet to whom she gaue charge for prouiding a good Ship in readines and all necessaries else fit for trauaile during the knights voyage to Constantinople Which he accomplished with such care and diligence as the fift day following our knight taking leaue of Grasinda went aboord with Maister Elisabet Hoysing their sayles they passed many Islands of Romania in the more part whereof he performed such rare deedes of prowesse that his fame flew in short while through the whole Country But by reason he had no more then a yeares limitation for his returne to Grasinda the Mariners importuned him to more speedines giuing him to vnderstand that it was impossible for him making so many delayes by the way to finish the voyage so soone Whereupon he concluded to land no more till he came into Greece and therefore launched forth into the maine where for this time wee will leaue him to speake of matters happening in Great Brittaine during the long voyage of Amadis It hath bin tolde yee in
his blow that lighting on his snout it entred into one of his nostrils which were great and wide staring so farre that it pierced the braine extreamely This made Endriagus so mad that hee got our knight fast about the body and with his sharpe-pointed clawes tore his coate of maile yea and entred through the flesh to the bone when questionlesse he had quite kild him but that his owne blood so ouerstifled his stomacke that letting loose his hold he fell downe back-ward And as he rendred his spirit the deuill came out of his body causing such a clap of thunder as all the whole Island shooke with the sound thereof This noyse being heard by them in the Castell they perswaded themselues thereby that their knight was then at the Combate and albeit they were in a safe and well-defenced Fort yet the best and boldest man of them all was ouercome with extraordinary feare Endriagus being thus vanquished our knight rose very faintly and purposing to goe finde Gandalin who was then comming towards him hee fell downe againe in a swoune by a little perling brooke that descended from the mountaine Then Gandalin imagining his Maister to bee dead fell into most dolefull lamentations but comming neere him he beheld him to breath wherupon he vnarmed him Then recouering his spirits called to Gandalin saying My deare Friend Gandalin now thou shalt see the ending of my dayes let me entreate thee by the kinde nourishing which I receiued from thy father and mother that as thou hast been loyall to me in my life thou wilt continue so in death and so soone as my vitall spirits haue forsaken me to take out my heart and beare it to my dearest Mistresse Tell her Gandalin that as it veelded it selfe hers the same day I first saw her and euer since hath continued better and better in her seruice while it was lockt vp in this brest or sad habitation neuer wearied in any obedience to her that shee would be pleased so to receiue it now in remembrance of him that kept it for her and in so doing I beleeue that my soule shall haue the happier rest in another world As hee meant to speake more words fayled him and againe hee swonded Then Gandalin without staying to answere him mounted on the top of the Rocke and winded the horne which he caryed to giue signall of the death of Endriagus so loude that Ardan the dwraff who was then on the highest of one of the Castle Towers easily heard it Wherevpon hee ranne downe presently to acquaint Maister Elisabet therwith desiring him to make haste to his Maister who perhaps stood in great neede of his helpe Maister Elisabet hauing all things in a readinesse mounted on horse-backe directing his course as fast as hee could ride towards the place where hee still heard the sound of the Horne Not long had he iourneyed but he espyed Gandalin who comming to meete him cryed out afarre off Alas Maister Elisabet Endriagus is dead but if you prouide not the sooner for my Lord hee is gon likewise How man quoth he Alas said Gandalin he hath already lost so much blood as hee is not a ble to speake a word Very sadde and sorrowfull was Maister Elisabet at these newes and ran quickly to the place where the Knight lay so weake and ouer spent as hee had no motion of his pulse yet his eyes were wide open wherefore to comfort him Maister Elisabet sayd How Sir Kinght will you declare such debilitie of courage hauing brought to end so great and glorious an interprise doe yee not know that I am heare to make you sound and well againe so soone as pleaseth God When the Knight heard him hee stroue to make answere but could not Then they layd him softly vpon a cloake and hauing wholly vnarmed him Maister Elisabet viewed his wounds which he found to be so many and dangerous as hee stood in great doubt of his recouery Neuerthelesse hee resolued to performe so much as possibly he could and instantly applyed so soueraigne vnguents as both stanched his bleeding and so assawaged all vigour of paine that his speech came to him againe when with a very feeble and low voyce he thus spake Oh my Lord God who to redeeme mee tooke humaine flesh in the blessed Virgins wombe and afterward didst suffer a most dolorous and painefull Passion take pitie on my soule for I well knowe that my bodie is no better then earth Truely Sir answered Maister Elisabet you haue good reason to recōmend yourself to him considering that by his assistance you shall receiue the speedier helpe As he ended these words there arriued diuers of the Marriners who taking him vp gently in their armes conuayed him thence to the Castle where laying him in his bed he was so voyd of allhis sences as hee felt not any thing was done to him Thus he continued all night complayning continually as one that endured much yet without vttering any one worde till about breake of day he fell asleepe Hereupon Maister Elisabet commanded all to auoyd the chamber to preuent any noise for offending him and sate downe close by him till hee heard him wake and cry Gandalin Gandalin shield thy selfe from this deuill so cruell and daungerous In good faith Sir replyed Maister Elisabet if you had been as safely shielded as hee your health were the surer and your recouerie the lesser At these words our Knight opened his eyes and knowing Maister Elisabet said vnto him Oh Maister where are we Where quoth hee in such a place where you shall doe well enough by the grace of God And perceiuing his Feauer to haue left him hee brought him food to eate was so diligent in care ouer him that before night hee recouered his memorie perfectly and beganne to know and speake to euery one Maister Elisabet seeing all danger to be well quallified both hee and all the rest gaue thanks to God for it and continued still so respectiue of him as hee grewe hourely better and better notwithstanding for twentie dayes hee kept his bed without any habilitie of rising At length Maister Elisabet perceiuing that without any great perill to the his person hee might endure the Sea especially his Feauers beginning to forsake him one day as they sate deuising together he sayd My Lord thankes be to God you are soundly recouered and in mine opinion when best shall please you you may goe aboard your shippe whereto I so much the rather counsell you because our victuals growe so short that if wee dislodge not hence the sooner we shall be quite emptied My louing friend answered our Knight I may iustly say that next vnto God you are the man to whom I am most beholding deliuering mee from the great daunger wherein I was And let mee assure yee that so long as my soule liueth as a guest in this bodie you haue a Knight ready to bee employed for you without reseruation of hazard or perill whatsoeuer for you haue
of the Greene Sword perceiuing he gaue his horse the spurre and before any blow was smitten came among them saying to Angriote who had not till then seene him To them my noble companion to them and feare not but heauen will defend thee in all extreamities Much amazed but yet greatly comforted was Angriote seeing the Knight of the Green Sword whom by notice of his Armes he imagined to be Bruneo and as he purposed to make him answer our knight ranne against his enemies meeting first with Brandasidel hee that formerly would haue forced him to ride with his face backward to the horse tayle compell him to come to Grasinda who thought him to be the most absolute Knight in al the Islands of Romania as already you haue heard but his Launce gaue him such a sound salutation betweene his Helmet and the Cuirats as caried him quite out of his sadle and there hee lay entranced on the ground The other three charged Angriote all together against whom he maintained his cause so stoutly as his courage gaue perfect apparance of it selfe And now beganne the fight betweene two to three manfully performed on either side but in the end our knight of the greene Sword and Angriote had such aduantage as they were glad to turne their backes because the best man among them all fell down to the ground Which the other two beholding they were quite out of heart and flying thwart the Forrest as Fortune best guided them the one chaunced into a maâ—isâ—e where hee was drowned while Angriote hewed the other in pieces This being done hee purposed to follow his companion whom still hee conceiued to be Bruneo albeit his stroakes and rare Chiualry vrged a contrary suspition and hee knew not what to imagine till hee beheld Amadis returning towards him who had then put off his Helmet to take the aire by which means Angriote knew him Then as one much amazed he rode to him and stretching forth his armes louingly embraced him saying My worthy Lord what high good happe befell me to meet you so luckily considering that but by your assistance I had doubtlesse bin dead By my faith Sir quoth our Knight you owe many thankes to Lasinde who was the cause of our happy meeting for he perswaded me that you were gone to a neere adioyning Monasterie for cure of a wound receiued in your legge Indeed Sir said Angriote such was my determination and thitherward I went till these Traytours came to assaile me But know you what is become of Brunco I am perswaded hee is either dead or in very great daunger Be of good cheare man replyed our Knight I hope his greatest perill is past for I lately left him in the caâ—e of one of the best Chirurgions in the world Then he reported in what maner he found him and what complaints he made exspecting nothing else but death whereby I perfectly vnderstand quoth hee what tedious trauailes you both haue endured onely in the search of me for which while I liue I stand highly obliged to you I would it were in my power quoth Angriote to let you know how much more I could find in my heart to doe for you then should you well perceiue that this which you please to terme trauaile is nothing else but pleasure and delight to me And let me tell you that I liue not but onely by your meanes for you holpe me to the wife which I haue now married without whose comfort I had no longer breathed Leaue we this talke said our knight till some fitter time and let vs goe see whether yonder dismounted varlets bee dead or no or else to put them out of their paine So they returned to the place of encounter and found one of them offering to rise but the Knight of the Green Sword going neere him made a proffer to smite him saying Trayterous villaine how duâ—st thou vpon no occasion assault any Knight errant that neuer did thee the least displeasure Confesse the truth or else thou diest Before God Sir â—â—swered Angriote this is one of them that so cruelly wounded our friend Brunco and to prooue it true I left him with him and two other Knights beside that came to seeke succour for their Sister as they said that should bee burned most shamefully But them-selues afterward confessed the treason to me in returning from a place where at the same instant I was desired to deliuer the Son of an ancient Knight who was kept prisoner by diuers villaines Which I did setting him at libertie and imprisoning the other in his steed by which occasion I and Bruneo were sundered whom since I neuer saw Is not this true speake wretch but hee answered not a word lying still with his eyes fast fixed on the ground Heereupon the Knight of the Greene Sword called to Lasinde saying Alight from thy horse and smite off his head Lasinde presently dismounted and as he lifted vp his arme to strike the other cried out Alas Sir for Gods sake take pitty on me and I will tell you the trueth instantly Make haste then said Angriote or another shall bee hastier with thee then thou wouldst haue him to be Then by litle and litle hee began to relate what had happened saying Vnderstand my Lords I and my companions being aduertised that two Knights errant were newly arriued in this Country to enquire after the knight of the Greene Sword we resolued to kill them as thinking by that meanes to doe displeasure to him whom they desired to finde because we hate him deadly And in regard wee feared to set on them both together we deuised to sunder them by misinforming them as already you haue heard But when we came to the Fountaine of the high Beeches he whom we conducted in pretence of deliuering the condemned Lady suffered his horse to water there and as hee let loose the reynes of his bridle we ran vpon him giuing him so many hurts with our Swords and Axes before hee had the least meanes of defending himselfe that he fell down dead as we supposed for he appeared not to moue any limbe Villaine answered Amadis durst thou commit such detestable treason vnder colour of thy hatred to me How Sir quoth the other are you the Knight of the Greene Sword Looke villaine said Amadis and see it heere hanging by my side Then Sir quoth the other you may partly hold me excused because what I haue done was by the perswasion of a kinseman of mine whom you haue slaine and heere you may behold him lying at my feete A yeare is not yet fully expired since he receiued by you the greatest shame that any man could haue and his name was Brandasidel whom I know not whether you remember as yet or no. You made him mount vpon his horse with his face backward and to hold the taile in steed of a bridle with his Shield renuersed and so presented him to Grasinda Heereat hee conceiued such displeasure that in meere malice
awake your silent cogitation and tell me truely what you think Sir quoth he I beseech you to hold me excused for I finde my capacitie ouer feeble to yeeld you any faithfull counsell in a case so important Moreouer you are minded to congregate the chiefest Lords of your Land to commune with them in so serious a businesse and they no doubt like loyall subjects will direct you as becomes a King But yet quoth the King I would gladly first haue your aduice else you will giue mee cause to misconceite you God shield me Sir said Galaor from so doing rather I will liberally lay my heart open to you according to mine owne poore iudgment and the true integrity of my minde Sir said he whereas you say that in marrying your Daughter Oriana with the Emperour there remaines no possibility of a fairer fortune surely I am of a quite contrary opinion for she being your principall Heire and sent into so remote a Country to lose a kingdome already prouided for her you shall leaue her poore without meanes and subiect to a people but slenderly agreeing with the manners and conditions of this Nation And whereas you conceite that in being wife to an Emperour and dignified with the name of an Empresse her authoritie and renowne is the surer afterward before God Sir let mee plainely tell you that you wrong both your iudgement and reason therein Fore-thinke what may ensue and say shee haue heires male by her husband which is the sole comfort of any kingdome she becomming a widdow the first fauour her owne childe shall doe for her is to vrge her retreate to hold possession of the Empire by himselfe If he take a wife then it falles out far worse for her because the new Empresse will be second to none and then it is most certaine that your Princely Daughter lyes open to a thousand inconueniences and vnauoydable grieuous extreamities For first shee hath lost this Country which was certaine to her as being her naturall place of birth and breeding to liue in a strange land farre from parents subiects and seruants which is no common kind of affliction And whereas you alleage that by his alliance and fauour you are sure to be succoured and much feared Surely Sir I must tell you that thankes be giuen to our Lord for it you haue so many true friends and trusty Knights at your command as without any helpe of the Romaines you may easily extend your limites when you please And I am perswaded that in exspectation of support from them they will rather seeke to ruinate and destroy you then furnish you with any such assistance as you may imagine scorning all equality or any to bee greater then themselues Moreouer it is most certaine that they can couet no better meanes then by compassing some apt occasion to register you downe in their Chronicles to your shame and their glory vnder the shadow of some sleight fauour irregularly affoorded then which no greater mischiefe can happen to you and yours And alas Sir what reason haue you to send the Princesse Oriana so farre from you being your Daughter and chiefest Heire onely to aduance the Princesse Leonora who is her yonger Sister By my soule of a most vpright and vnpartiall King renowned through the wide world for the Authour of Iustice you will procure the greatest scandall to your reputation and wound your vntainted honour so deepely as neuer powerfull Prince or King did the like But I hope that Heauen will better direct your iudgement and settle more surer cogitations in your soule which I as the very meanest Knight in your Court doe hartily desire And beleeue it Sir that I durst neuer haue beene so bold to tell you the free censure of my soul but that you pleased so expressely to command me and I as a loyall seruant could doe no lesse And let this be your perswasion of me that during my life time I will keepe my promise faith and fidelity to you as one that stands much obliged to you for infinite good turnes and fauors done me Well declared King Lisuart by his countenance that he was scarsely pleased with Galaors remonstrance and he likewise as quickely apprehended it wherefore continuing on his speech he said Sir King Perion my Father hath commaunded mine attendance on him in Gaule so soone as possibly I can and because I meane to set hence to morow morning to the end you may not conceiue but that I haue counselled you faithfully if you bee so pleased whatsoeuer I haue spoken I will set downe in writing that you may acquaint them with it whom you intend to assemble together I pray you doe so answered the King And at these wordes they were come neere vnto the City which made them alter their discourse Being alighted the King betook himselfe to his Chamber where he sate downe very sad and pensiue and would not all that day be seene in any company The next morning Galaor tooke shipping according to his former determination for hâ—…ould not bee present at the resolution of this mariage as knowing certainly that the King would not bee altered from his purpose notwithstanding all aduice and councell to the contrary More-ouer he knew some part of the priuacies betweene Amadis and Oriana who all this while remooued not from Mirefleure whither the Queen Sardamira came to see her as you haue heard already finding her to be the onely fairest Princesse in the world What would shee then haue thought if she had seene her in her former condition before this continuall melancholy seized her for the absence of her Amadis and this new purpose for marriage which grieuously oppressed her Being now somewhat meagre pale and pensiue yet she appeared as if Nature had studied all her life-time to make her the mirrour of choicest perfection The Queene finding the day no way fauourable to acquaint Oriana with the cause of her comming deferred it till the next morning when resorting againe to see her and hauing first heard Masse together they walked along the allies of the Garden and proceeded so farre into the businesse that she told her how dearely the Emperour affected her what pursuite he made to enioy her as his wife and what supreme felicity attended her onely by this mariage But the answere of Oriana was so vntuneable as the Queene durst proceede no further with her but in the interim Florestan came to them who purposing to take his leaue that he might returne to the Enclosed Isle she tooke him aside declaring what infinite afflictions hourely encompassed her how shamefully the King her father dealt with her by compelling her to marry into a straunge Country and to the onely man of the world whom she least respected But beleeue it Sir quoth she if he continue in this humour the first newes he shall heare of me after my departure hence will be my death For come what may if he sunder me from this Country Death and the
protest before God this dealing of King Lisuart is both vile and dishonourable yea and so farre off from common reason that I had rather die a thousand deathes if it were possible for me then not to be reuenged and already I haue acquainted the King my Father herewith that he may prouide some remedie for it In the meane while let me entreate you al my honorable Lords and friends to lend me your assistance especially you whom this iniurie toucheth as neerely as my selfe it being offered not only to the person of my Sister your Cousin and neere kinred but also to Olinda others for whom according to our solemne oath and promise as my Lord Amadis hath well remembred wee ought in duty to steppe forth and stand as their protectors and defenders Lords said Quedragant as for my selfe I am ready to depart when it shall please the company and if I make any spare of my paines let me be excluded from all good opinion and I beleeue there is no man heere among vs but he will say as much as I haue done For if wee hazard our liues often and vpon little or sleight occasion we haue great reason now to aduenture further and not to be sparing of our very vttermost endeauour How say ye my friends haue I not spoken the trueth Then euery one answered that no danger or death should cause any deferring but it required quicke and speedy diligence to keepe the Romanes from passing through the straites of the Mediterranean Sea before any fight were made vpon them Easily quoth Amadis shal we make this prouision for to morrow morning wee will be all well shipt and winne the way before them which was set downe for a full resolue Now Grasinda was present at all this conference and she to giue them the more encouragement said Before God Gentlemen your enterprise is high and worthy of the greatest commendation considering that beside the good you shall doe to her whose helpe and rescue you intend you shal giue example to many other worthy Knights either of this or any other strange Country that heereafter by your imitation they suffer no shame or wrong to be done to any Lady or Gentlewoman whatsoeuer Wherein you will make your selues so memoratiue to them that she or they that now liue or shal many hundreds of yeares hereafter will sing rare Peans of your praises Madame answered Amadis God enable vs to effect our enterprise according as I know you heartily wish it In the meane while if you be so pleased you shal remain here in the company of Ysanie the good old Gouernour of this Island who shall be as obedient to you as to my selfe Maister Elisabet must go with me because I repose great trust in him My Lord quoth she you may dispose of me and mine according as to you seemeth best Amadis humbly thanked her and gaue command that euery man should bee prepared to go aboord those Ships by breake of day which Agraies and Florestan had there readily furnished according as they had order sent them by Gandalin Then the next day being all embarqued they set saile directly for Great Brittaine hoping to meet with the Romans as afterward they did CHAP. XVIII How King Lisuart deliuered his Daughter Oriana to the Ambassadors of the Emperour and other Ladies with her to be conueyed to Rome And how they were soone after rescued by the Knights of the Enclosed Isle THe day being come according to King Lisuarts promise that he would deliuer his Daughter to the Romanes to be conducted to the Emperour hee continuing constant in his wilful opinion without any possibility of alteration either of pitty to her importunity vsed by the Queene and all the graue aduice of his Lords to the contrary To effect the full issue of his owne humour he went to her Chamber where sitting downe by her and taking her by the hand thus he spake Daughter you haue euermore shewen your selfe obedient to my will neuer vsing any contradiction will you now hold on in the same mind according as Reason doth require You haue put on a sad and melancholy disposition at the marriage which I haue determin'd for you whereat I am not a little amazed Do you imagine that I would doe any thing but for your benefite and honor or can you conceipt any euill in clination in me towards you I sweare to you vpon my faith that the loue I beare you is so certaine as I do no lesse grieue for your farre absence from me then you can doe your selfe But you doe well know that it is impossible to prouide such an happines for you neerer home Wherefore I pray you that in vsing your wonted wisdome and discretion you would shew a more chearefull countenance reioyce in the great fortune ordained for you being wife to the greatest Prince in the world If you doe besides the high estimation generally to be made of you you shall glad your fathers soule who grieues at your strange alteration as no man possibly can doe more During all these speeches Oriana had her spirits so contracted that she was not able to shed a teare and therefore as a woman out of sense of her own sorrow seeing there was now no further remedy for her with a bolde and stedfast resolution thus shee replied My Lord you haue then for ought I can otherwise perceiue resolued on my mariage to the Emperor but therein happily you haue committed one of the greatest errors that any Prince aliue can doe For first so long as my life lasteth I shall neuer loue the husband you haue chosen for mee and next I am very certaine as oftentimes I haue told you already that I shall neuer see Rome rather shall the fishes vse their mercy to me then I will goe to a home that is my hell or dwel where I can haue no affection or desire And I am of the minde that you could not be heereto induced or perswaded but onely in the loue you beare to my Sister being desirous to leaue your inheritance to her and make mee heire to all the miseries in the world Neuerthelesse God who is iust will neuer suffer this your vnreasonable purpose to take effect sooner he will marry mee to my death When the King heard Oriana answere in this manner pitty and anger mixing themselues together made him likewise change his former language and thinking to win her by menaces said You play the foole with me and you will not yeeld for all the entreaties I can make but if you dallie thus with me any longer insteed of wiuing you to the Emperour I will wed you to the Tower and where you shall see neither Sunne nor Moone My Lord quoth she you can not commit me to a more hatefull prison then Rome and you shall doe me a great grace to make me an euerlasting dweller in your Tower Then arose the King very highly displeased and leauing her went to the Queene
a thousand deaths then redeliuer her to Patin without whom hee could not liue an houre He made no doubt of compassing some meanes to regaine her the former grace of the King her father and to breake the alliance else-where intended which that he might the better attaine vnto hee gaue the Prince Agrates and Quedragant to vnderstand that the Princesse had sent to pray this fauour For otherwise quoth he she intendeth rather to make a Sacrifice of her selfe then to fall into his power whom she more hateth then any man liuing Beside it shall no way redound to our honour to suffer such a monstrous shame hauing made so great and good a beginning for her deliuerance Quedragant returned him this answere I sweare vnto you Sir at our first and giddie-headed eye-sight we see so great a fire already kindled as we may easily presume is impossible to be quenched without a hard and daungerous warre which we may not well maintaine and endure for any long time without the ayde and succour of our deare friends and companions wherefore I thinke it expedient that all the rest which are here should be made acquainted there-with to know their opinions to the end that they may be the better enclined to sustaine the businesse if they shall conclude on warre I pray you then said Amadis that we may all meete together tomorrow and take the charge if you please to summon them wherto Quedragant gladly condiscended Hereupon the day following they met together and Amadis sitting in the midst of them beganne in this maner Honourable Lords yesterday Madame Oriana sent to pray me that we all would consider one some good meanes to winne againe the lost grace and fauour for her with the offended King her father qualifying in him if it bee possible that strange conceit of his to marry her with the onely Prince in the world to whom she beareth the least affection otherwise death will be much more welcome to her And therefore I thought it good after I had spoken with some of this company particularly to vnderstand from you all in generall what you thinke thereof For seeing wee haue beene friends and companions in the procuring of her libertie it is much more reasonable that we should all agree to maintaine it But before I enter into further speech I humbly desire you to fixe before your eyes that already your fame renowne is so knowne through the world by reason of the rare actions of Chiualry by you performed that at this day there is neither King Prince nor State but stand in feare of your high valour For they all well know that to winne immortall honour you haue contemned not onely the sumptuous treasures and kinde entertainments inherent to you in your owne houses but the deare blood of your owne bodies where-of you haue made no spare in giuing the boldest spirits to know the sharpe and keene edges of your swords to the mightie perill of your owne persons And as markes and testemonies of your prowesse the wounds receiued in many parts of your bodies may render such apparant faith as Fortune thinkes her selfe much obliged to you being willing to shew you how much her owne selfe is in debted to you And being desirous to recompence your former high deseruings she made plaine proofe thereof by deliuering this glorious victorie into your hands which you haue had against the two chiefest Princes of Christendome King Lisuart and the Roman Emperor Nor doe I speake concerning the ouerthrow of their men onely being farre inferiour to you in merit but of the worthie succour you haue giuen to the most wise debonnaire and vertuous Lady this day liuing Wherein you haue done a very acceptable seruice to God by executing that dutie whereunto you are expressely called namely to succour the a◅ted whē they are to endure wrongs beyond all reason Now if the King and Emperour thinke it good to be angrie yet seeing right is on our side and God who is iust will stand for vs also let vs giue them to vnderstand that if their owne experience cannot teach them iustice but by might and power they meane to assaile vs we are able to meete them with such resistance as shall remaine in memory while the world endureth Therefore let euery man speake his minde in this case what he conceiueth meetest to be done either to finish the war begun or else to motion peace by restoring Madame Oriana to the King her father according to her owne desire For as concerning my selfe know that I will neuer yeeld thereto except you be so pleased nor shall fond opinion ouersway me in this matter beyond the compasse so your liking I know you to be men indeed and your vertues of apparant as nothing can withdraw you from true valour and magnanimitie neither to aduenture on any action whereby your honour in how small a degree soeuer may receiue any base imputation So he ceased leauing the mindes of all the companie highly contented and satisfied by such an humble and gracefull remonstrance as he had made vnto them Then Quedragant commaunded thereto by all the assistants stood vp and answered Amadis in this manner Lord Amadis it is most certaine that our attempt made vpon the Emperour was not for any hatred wee bare to him but onely to keepe the faith whereto euery good Knight standeth obliged in maintayning and defending afflicted persons from wrong especially all vertuous Ladies of whom it is our dutie to be protectours And therefore I would aduise that before we vndertake any further warre wee should send to King Lisuart to let him fully vnderstand vpon what occasion we dealt with the Romans And if he be found discontented then in the verie mildest manner can bee deuised to shew him withall gracious demeanour what shamefull iniurie he offered to Madame Oriana vnder collour of marrying her to a forraigne Prince vtterly to disinherit her at home a matter euery way offensiue to God and not to bee suffred by his owne Subiects Pausing a very little while and clapping his fist vpon the boorde thus he proceeded If therefore it may stand with his good pleasure to forget his conceiued anger against her if there be any entred into his royall brest then we to offer deliuerie of her againe on this condition and not else If he refuse or disdaine the dutie wherein we send vnto him then to tell him resolutely wee feare him not a iote but if he will make warre vpon vs we are as ready to defend our selues In the meane while I hold it very necessarie that wee strengthen our selues with all such things as an action of such importance doth require as this is At least that he may not come vpon vs vnprouided whensoeuer hee determines to assaile vs if he be so minded albeit in mine opinion peace were much better then warre But this conclusion is not to be tardied by any meanes rather we must put our selues in due preparation dispatching hence
some Scots among them and six hundred light horse to sallie forth and skirmish vnder the Ensigne of Bâ—anâ—â—ll For the battaile Gastâ—les was Coronall of fiue hundred foote almost all Greekes making a battalion separately of seauenteene hundred Archers who were so industrious in vse of the Turkie bow that at each loose they could deliuer fiue Arrowes together ouer whom Libeâ— â—â—phew to Maâ—ter Elisabet was Captaine and Commander King â—â—rion with Gaudales followed theÌ„ attended with eighteene hundred horse accoasted by Brian with the reâ—eguard of 15 hundred Knights for the more part of Spaine sustained by three thousand foot of whom Sadamon had the conduct Then as apointed to supply and â—uccour as also to re-enforce and help at all needfull occasions such as were most oppressed Tiron with seuen hundred horse and Madaran for guarding the bagage followed with fiue hundred foot This being thus ordayned euery man was coÌ„manded to attend his Colours make ready for departure earely the next morning But now not to swerâ—e far from our purpose and from that which Archâ—laâ—â— all this while laboured to compasse you must vnderstand that so soon as he receiued credible information that the Kings Pâ—rion Lisuâ—rt marched one against the other hee suddenly sent away Garin sonne to Grumell who waâ—â—lame by Amadis when hee holpe Oriâ—â—â— as you haue heard in the first Booke of this History giuing him expresse charge to stay in no place by day or night vntill â—ee had aduertised King Aranigne and others of his league and combination of this their proceeding and that with all possible speede they should set forward their Armie and enter into the kingdome of Great â—rittaine where he would attend them with his troupes Garin obeying the command of Archalaus trauailed so expeditiously that hee ariued in the great Citie of Araâ—igâ—e of which place all the Kings ruling that countrie took their names and there hee found the man hee was directed vnto He acquainted him with the cause of his comming thither and did the like to others to whom hee had the same employment and they hauing their Armies in readinesse concluded to make their generall meeting before the towne of Califan in the countrie of Sansuega there they encamped together to take shipping from thence as accordingly they did so that vpoÌ„ the day apointed they found their power to consist of twelue thousand and more Setting sayle away they prepared directly for Great Brittaine where they landed neare vnto a Castle which appertained to Archalans who there waited their comming with six hundred Knights all deadly enemies to King Lisuart and Amadis After they had refreshed them-selues some two or thre dayes hauing receiued aduertisement what haste King Lisuart made against them of the Enclosed Isle they dislodged away marching on forward by easie daies iourneyes The aâ—antguard was conducted by the King of the Profound Isle with sixe hundred horse and three thousand fiue hundred foot the charge wherof was giuen to Barsiuan a young Knight as yet and very aduenterous King Aranigne led the main battaile accompanied with fifteen hundred horse and three thousand fiue hundred bold voluntaries vâ—der conduct of six Knights near kinsmen to Brâ—nâ—ayer whoÌ„ Amadis vanquished in the battaile of the seuen Kings and came now expresly from the Isle Sagâ—â—arie as hoping to reuenge the death of their kiâ—sman To Archalaâ—s was giuen charge of the rereguard with 5 huÌ„dred horse and fifteen hundred foot And because the young Duke of Bâ—stroâ—e arived there with the latest with some number of light horse hee was apointed for discouery preuention gf way-layings In this order they entred vpon King Lisuâ—â—ts Land by the closâ—â—â— and most hidden waies they could chuse as fearing to be seen vntill they had brought their enterprise to conclusion CHAP. XVII How Gandalin Squire to Amadis and Lafinde Squire to Bruneo de bone Mer were made Knights And of the battaile betweene the two Kings Lisuart and Perion WE haue declared here-tofore that Gandalin had order giuen him by Amadis passing into Gaule to entreate the Queene his mother to send Melitia to keep company with Oriana which King Perion wel allowed of but beholding Galaor still so sickly she was loath shee should depart vntill he were a little stronger Wherefore Gandalin remained there for her conduct so soon as Galaors danger were past which happened within a short while after Hereupon the Queene caused her to bee embarked well accompanied with Ladies and Gentlewomen hoping shee should as yet finde King Perion in the Enclosed Isle But he was departed thence before her ariuall to the no little griefe of Gandalin because he hoped to receiue his Knighthood before the battell should be fought therfore because he might the sooner attain therto he departed theÌ„ce and without staying in any place ceased not tilâ— he came to the camp When Amadis saw him he demanded what was become of his Sâ—ster My Lord quoth hee shee is at this instanâ— in the Enclosed Isle with the faire Princesse Oriana and humbly commends her selfe to your gracious fauour And my brother Galaor said Amadis is he yet recouered Hee findes himselfe answered Gandalin in much better estate then formerly hee did but yet continueth so weake as hee is not able to leaue his Chamber and come into the open ayre Afterward hee reported all that to him which you haue heard alreadie and said Beleeue me Gandalin thy rydings doe not please mee a little and I am glad thou art returned in so apt a season in regard I hope wee shall haue the battaile before three dayes be fully expired That made me make such haste replyed Gandalin for you knowe my earnest desire to bee knighted and I can neuer receiue it at a more conuenient time nor euer shew my selfe worthie of so great an honor as now And credit me my Lord that but for the knowledge I now haue of your easre sparing mee hauing Madame Oriana in your owne power I would not haue vsed these speeches Wherefore most humbly I desire you to grant mee that this battaile may not bee fought vntill I may bee comprehended therein and that I may reach my longing expectation Amadis sitting silent a while at length thus answered Gandalin the fulfilling of thy request is so irksome to mee that it piâ—â—ceth my very 〈◊〉 and therefore if it were possible I would acquit my selfe thereof Notwithstanding finding it to bee very reasonable I will soâ— aside all passion to please thee only being sorry that wee are in such a place where I can get no Armes to giue thee and to doe beside what else is requisite and answerable to thy deseruing My Lord said Gandalin your brother hath out of his especiall grace herein furnished mee for at my parting from him he knowing my determination gaue mee his owne Armour and the very best horse hee had moreouer he would haue bestowed his Sword on mee but I tolde him that you had promised to giue me
buriall then any man can wish for For the whole earth in generall is the rightfull graue wherein to interre the bodies of men illustrious and famous whose memories are not so well preserued by priuate inscriptions epitaphes as by their owne legittimate renowne which extendeth and publisheth it selfe in the remotest nations who doe more discreetly consider in their soules the height and aduancement of their courage then the disaster which hath befallen them For it hath bin vniuersally obserued that negligence the fittest attendant for shame is much more irkesome and distastefull to a man that hath a found and entire minde then any death whatsoeuer happening to him by valour with vnconquerable hope of publike glory All this confirmeth my beleefe deare and worthie friends that scorning to degenerate from your famous predecessors you will performe so much that the world shall witnesse your great vertue and constancy and that the death of your Prince is not the stroke that strikes you all dead Wherefore I desire you to let mee vnderstand how you are addicted to the end that according to your resolution I may set in order such affaires as are needfull for my selfe Assuring you in the worde of a King that were I sure to dy a thousand deaths yet will I not depart from hence till I see the end of mine enemies or they of me These words so exalted the harts of the hearers that they answered as with a common consent they were now more willing to fight then euer for which King Lisuart thanked them most hartily All this beeing done hee gaue order that the Emperours body should be carried to the Monastarie of Lubania vntill better opportunity should serue to performe such sollemne obsequies funerall pompe as in like cases is required Then he sent his Chirurgions to haue dilligent care of the wounded to whom he gaue great gifts and promises as also to many Captaines of the Armie And this hee did not without great cause for euery mans hope next to the fauour of his Prince of honest â—eeâ—mpence for his pains makes hin Nâ—oft-times fight and aduenture 〈…〉 life the more boldly as now all these men were resolued to doe at their next encounter But God in whose hands all things doe consist ordered matters farre otherwise as forthwith shall be declared amply to you The fame of the marriage of Oriana with the Emperour of Rome had spread it selfe in so many places that the good olde Hermit who nourished Esplandian in his infant daies had intelligence therof especially of the Kings subiects dislike in compelling his daughter against her will to vndergoe a businesse so displeasing to her and lastly what succour was sent to Amadis in the Enclosed Isle wherupon two great Armies were met in field together Here I must also tell you that hee well knew the successe of their loue the estate and conscience of Oriana how she and Amadis had promised marriage ech to other vnder which contracted couenant Esplandian was begotten and therefore she could not be giuen in marriage to any other but our Lord would be highly displeased therewith For this cause hee concluded to trauaile to the Enclosed Isle to obtaine leaue licence of her to acquaint King Lisuart with so much as hee knew Here-upon so ouer-spent with yeares as hee was hee mounted on his Asle and accompanied onely with another good man bequeathed him-selfe to trauaile and ariued at the Pallace of Apolidon immediately after King Perions departure wherwith he was not a little discontented fearing hee should not execute his enterprise so speedily but that the two Armies would preuent him Oriana was quickelod quainted with his comming aâ—…ee entertained most humanely but she was much amazed why he should vndetake so long a iourney and at a time so vnbefitting hee being aged aboue three score yeares wherein shee being desirous to be resolued and taking him alone with her into her Cabinet falling into teares thus she spake Ah my good father it is much worse with menow then when I first saw you yet heauen I hope will send mee comfort Madame answered Nascian for this cause onely did I leaue my small Hermitage hauing heard that the Emperor of Rome and the King your father marched towards these limits to bid battaile to Amadis and others with him Now foâ—…ing what inconueniences will ensue if their intent growe to execution as well by the slaughter of many who must needes perish in such a purpose as also by the haâ—â—ous offence to heauen because as I am enformed this cruell warre began about your marriage to Patin I trauailed hither to you to vnderstand the truth of all and to esâ—ay â—f it bee possible to pacifie these troubles to the glory of God and to the honour and profit of his people For you know Madame that I aâ— not ignorant in some secrets of your conscience and what sinne you shall commit in beeing giuen as wife to any other then to him who already is your owne as heretofore you haue disclosed to me Pawsing a while and giuing a great sigh thus hee proceeded againe But deare Madame because I receiued this secret in confession it is not lawfull for me to reueale it without your owne good will and consent Wherefore matters standing on such tearmes as they doe mee thinkes you ought to be well aduised and to compasse some meanes whereby the King your father may be acquainted with the promise past between you and Amadis to the end that hee may no further sinne thorough ignorance And so much the rather because you are now in such a place where he is not able to do you any harme But if you should happen into his power as heretofore you haue bin yet you ought to preferre the feare of God before any other respect whatsoeuer although it extend to his displeasure which I hope well to moderate if you will permit me to speake with him Alas father said Oriana in you only lieth my remedy and comfort doe therefore what shall please you and entiâ—ate our Lord to respect mee in pittie Madame replyed Nascian I am assured hee will helpe you for hee listeneth to any sinner that turnes to him with a contrite heart and is sorrowfull for offending him And by his fauour also grace will be granted me to finish the taske I haue vndertaken both to his seruice and your contentment And because the two Armies are neare to one another and I feare their meeting before I shall bee come to them may it please you to let mee part hence this day least some inconuenience may happen by my negligence and the fruite I expect by my labour perish not through slothfulnesse Father said Oriana no doubt but God will be your guide and I earnestly entreat you that if you see young Esplandian to preuaile so much by your endeauour as to bring him hither at your returne Then shee commanded dinner for him and after hee had refreshed himselfe hee mounted on his