nephew of that called the Well so named of a great profound well that stoode hard by it And causing the other gates to bee rampired vp prouided for all things as a wise valiant captaine should do in such a case With that a Grecian that had ben takeÌ„ by the Turks came into the city and assured theÌ„ for certaine that the Soudan of Liquie was himselfe in person with king Armato and almost all the kings of the east hauing two hundred Gallies as well great as small fifty great ships thirty mahoiâ—es and one twenty cafords that are ships not much vnlike to gallies besides thirtie foistes and diuers brigandines barkes galions and sciffes wherein they had laid their victuals other munitions and for their number of footmen they might be about some thrée hundred and fifty thousand men saying likewise that Alphorax had the chéefe charge at sea and Armato on land and that their determination was neuer to depart from Constantinople till they had destroied it and from thence would go to Rome further if they rould The sixt day after this great army passing the gulfe of Propontide came into the straights of Constantinople entering in the great sea where they remained during the siege robbing all the countrey about where first they staied a wéeke before they landed any of their men meane time certain gallies and small ships set forward to make an alarum in the hauen from whence to their great losse they were repulsed for the sixe of the principallest of them were sunk in the sea Neuertheles the next day following they began to land in great numbers thought to win the gate there were many braue blows both with sword and speare giuen on both parts and many a valiant man ended their daies became meat to fishes There the knights of great Brittain shewed theÌ„selues not to bée vnacquainted with such dangers who so had beheld Norandel Frandalo Manely Talanque repulse the enemy that thought to aduaunce themselues might eastly iudge with what desire they fought But what shuld I stand longer to describe this conflict To conclude the gate was defended the enemies repulsed from the same yet their number was so great the notwithstanding the valour of the Emperours men they landed lay within two bowes shot of the city they of the city being forced to retire The Pagans being on land deuided themselues into four parts in such sort that the city was so well besieged that not a man could enter or come forth without their leaue Wherefore king Armato presently caused great number of ladders to bee prepared the most part of them double hoping before the wéeke were ended to assault take spoile and destroye the City But they within slept neither night nor day but made artificiall fires with all other things requisite for such a charge The Pagans staied not long to execute their purpose so that vpon a munday in the morning they came in great fury to set fire on the gates and to scale the Town although for the time they lost their labors many of theÌ„ their liues where in the end they were coÌ„strained to retire to their no litle shame great confusion And in their retraict Norandel with four or fiue hundred men issued at a postern gate set vpon them behind which put theÌ„ in such fear that they draue them to their tents Yet not being content with this first repulse they determined on friday after either to die or enter into the town And the day appointed ran vnto the wals where the number of the assailants was so great the assault giuen in so many places both by sea land that if God had not prouided for them it is most certain the town had ben takeÌ„ especially on Frandalos side for the most part of his men fled away from their guard wherby it happened that more then a hundred Turks mounted on the wals but they staied not long for that the emperor who during the assault staied in the midst of the city with the rest of all his power to aid such places as had most néed aduertised therof marched to Frandalos quarter and with such force repulsed the enemy that hée made theÌ„ glad to get them thence in such sort that they receaued no lesse losse at the second assault then at the first It is true the ten of the knights of great Brittain were slaine at the conflict which much gréeued their companions specially for the losse of Ledarin of Feiarque of Trys and Imosil of Burgundy This second assault hauing had such issue as you heard before Armato went to counsell with all the other kings and princes to know what they shold do where it was concluded to kéep their tents and so inclose the town for to get it by assault they knew ful wel they shuld but lose their labors wherfore they ment no more to try the same but many times made skirmishes with the citty to their no litle losse Thus they passed aboue a month without doing any thing worthy the rehearsing till one day among the rest a gentlewomaÌ„ belonging to the souldan of Liquie came on message to the gate the Norandel had in charge of whoÌ„ she asked if the knight of the great serpent were among them Wherfore said Norandel I bring him said she a letter from the chéef and most courteous knight in all Asia Norandel desirous to vnderstaÌ„d the contents of the letter said hée was the man Then looke vpon it saied shee at your leisure And if you thinke it good returne an answere with that shée turned her horse and rid the same way that shee came Which done Norandel opened the letter the contents whereof are these Rodrigue great Soudan of Liquie friend to the gods and enemy to their enemies defendor of the Pagan law to thée that callest thy self knight of the great serpent gréeting Know thou that the cause of our long voyage by Sea to enter into these countries hath béene in hope to bee reuenged of the outrages that my vncle Armato king of Turky hath receiued at the hands of thée and thy coÌ„panions not hauing once offeÌ„ded thée and although we are most sure of the destruction of the wicked emperor the fauoureth thée in thy so wicked and damnable enterprises and that before long time be past both hee and his shall end their liues by our hands yet should I be much gréeued that this misfortune should happen vnto thée before I haue prooued my body against thine because of the renowne that is spread of thée throughout the world Wherfore chuse whether thou wilt accept of the combate betwéene vs two alone of tenne to tenne a hundred to a hundred or of greater number as thou thinkest good Swearing vnto thée by all our gods that those thou shalt bring with thée for that cause shall receiue no more displeasure then my self vnlesse it be by such as are ordained to fight with them according to
the agréement we shall make Wherefore make mée an answere worthy such a Knight that thereby thy honour be not stained Norandel hauing read this letter shewed it to his friends who were all of aduise to graunt the Soudan his request But Norandel would determine nothing before hée made the Emperour acquainted vnder whose conduct during the siege he had submitted himselfe whereupon hee went to speake with him and hauing shewed him the contents of the letter that hée had receiued in Esplandians name and the counsell of his companions the Emperour asked him what hee thought therein My lord saied hee if it pleased you that I and nine others which I will chuse shall vndertake this combate you shal doe vs great fauor My good friend said the Emperor you sée the estate wherein I am and the time wherein I ought to kéepe not onely you and others wherein I put my whole affiance but the meanest souldiour in this Cittye Neuertheles I will so much agrée vnto your will that if you and your companions thinke it good I am content you do it My lord said Norandel both I and they most humblye craue it of your grace Wel then said the Emperour If it pleaseth God you shal win honour thereby as you haue done before in many as perrillous aduentures as this is Norandel thanked the Emperour and the same day caused his Knights of great Brittaigne to bee assembled together by whose aduise there was an Aunswere framed to the Soudans letters the contents whereof doe follow The knights that are seruants to Iesus Christ being at this time with the Emperor of Constantinople for the defence augmentation of the Christians name to thée Rodrigue Souldan of Liquie like gréeting thou hast sent vnto the knight of the great serpent a gentlewoman that saith shee belongeth vnto thée that hath giuen vs a letter directed vnto him the contents wherof are in two points In the first thou complainest of the enterprises he hath made against thine vncle king Armato in the other thou shewest a desire thou hast to proue thy person against his or a greater number against a greater as he shal think it good But for that the knight thou writest vnto at this present is not here nor in place wheras he can return thée answer we thought it conuenient in his behalf to satisfie thy request to accept the offers thou hast made vnto him assuring thée that here is the son of a king nine other knights with him that wil fight with thée and as many more of thine if thou be content therwith Aduise thy self thē herein hauing receiued thy answere with safe conduict safely to go and come we wil not faile to be in the place where you shall appoint This letter sealed vp Norandel gaue it to one of his squires to bear it to the soudan who made him answere that he desired only to proue his body against the knight of the great serpent none other But saied he if those that sent you hether haue any desire to fight against ten of my knights they shall find thē ready being as great gentlemen and of as high a linage as they are And as touching their safe conduict I wil so wel prouide for it that they shall haue occasion to think wel of me wherfore return thou vnto thē and let me know their answere With that the squire hauing his dispatch went and came so often betwéene them that in the end the combate of ten to ten was fully agréed vpon and the lists appoint hard before the Towne where they the next morning the tenne knights went whose names were as followeth Norandel Garuate du Val Craintif Talanque Manely Ambor de Galdel Elian le delibere Brauor son of Balan Trion cousin germane to Quéene Briolanie Imosil de Burgoigne and Listoran of the siluer bridge CHAP. XLIX How the ten Christian knights entred into the lists and of the combate betweene them and tenne Pagan knights that belonged to the Souldan of Liquie ALL that night the ten Knights watched in the principallest church of Constantinople confessing thēselues and praying vnto God as if they should presently die The next day as the sunne began to appeare the Emperour accompanied of diuers Noblemen the Empresse the Princesse Leonorine Quéene Minoresse with diuers other Ladies and Gentlewomen came vnto them where they heard masse deuoutly that done they returned vnto the pallace where Norandel and his nine companions armed themselues the ladies seruing them for squires in such sort as Norandel receaued such fauor at quéen Minoresses handes that shee found meanes to helpe to buckle on euery péece of his armour one after the other As shee was busie about him he found meanes to say vnto her Madame the honor that you doe me maketh mee so couragious that this day I hope to make it knowne to those that shall beholde vs fight how much my strength is now increased by your meanes But if it pleased you to bestow some fauour vpon me that I might bear the same about my armour I should account my selfe for one of the most happy knights liuing on the yearth My good friend saied she the most precious iewell that I can giue vnto you is my heart that shal accompany yours to the end that being vnited together they may the better preserue both your life mine And taking a bracelet of gold that from her infancy she had alwaies kept shee tied it about his right arme And this circle saied she being round as you behold it shall without ceasing bee witnesse of our loues seruing for a rampart to this army which if it pleaseth God in defending it shal so wel defend his master that he shall return in as good health as I desire he should Norandel thanked her most heartily mean time Leonorine intertained Talanque Manely the rest to whom she said My friends I hope the Lord wil shew you so much grace that the victory shall be yours for the combat you take in hand is not for to defend the honour of a Gentle woman but the glorious faith of Christ If therfore it be so the strength procéedeth from him be you thē wel assured that he wil impart so much to you as you shal want Madame said Talanque at other times we haue ben at the like feast from whence we haue returned to the great expence of those that called vs thither as if it be Gods wil we hope this day to do the like Wherwith taking their leaues of her they went to find their horses and being mounted the emperor with great number of knights and gentlewomen brought them to the gate And committing them to God the ten knights marched brauely to the place of combat where the souldan with a great number of his friends met thē asking them whom the emperor had appointed iudge on their side Souldan said Norandel wée desire no other iudge then your self that are accounted a curteous and most faithfull
from my infancy haâ— brought the vp and being moued by reason of my no little losse with a desirâ— to reuenge both my selfe and my friendes I thoughâ—â—o kill him â—â—d was so neere the point to execute my will that as I held the 〈◊〉 drawne in my hand and began to lift vp mine arme to giâ—e the blow he séemed so faire within mine eie that suddâ—inâ—y I was surprised with loue and that so feruently that were 〈◊〉 not for the promise you haue made me I had not ben aliue at thâ—â— present time Neuerthelesse hauing sithence vnderstood that hee by whome I am in this extremitie in estate and degrée â—ot to bee my equall whereby I perceiue my selfe vnworthy eiâ—â—er to be wife or companion vnto him I haue somewhat moderated my first deliberation in such manner that I will hold my selfe more then satisfied if it please him I may only continue with him to serue at his commandement during my life which in reason he cannot well deny me for let him doe what hee will so long as life is in my body I will neuer forsake him if I be not constrained therevnto Wherefore my lord for the honour of God I beséech your grace to finde the meanes my poore request may once bée granted and you Gentlemen saied she to Ambor and Talanque I pray you put to your helps that by your fauours the life of me poore louer not beloued may bee 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 shee had fallen into so great extremitie whereby hee feared if hée should make an answere other then pleased her she would kill her selfe but with courteous spéech hee saied vnto her Gentlewoman your request is so reasonable that I am of opinion hee will not deny it and for my part I will intreat him as much as possible I can My lord said Esplandian I wil do what your grace commaundeth Graunt her then I pray you saied the king what shée craueth at your hands that from henceforth shee may bee called your faithfull seruant her honour alwaies saued as in knighthood you are bound I will doe it answered Esplandian and thereof I assure you saied hee speaking to Carmelle who knéeling on the ground kissed his féete and thanked the king and him most heartely reputing heâ— selfe most happy in obtaining so great fauour CHAP. XI How Talanque and Ambor shewed the king what aduentures they had found seeking for Esplandian their companion after they had receiued the order of knighthood YOu heard before in what sort king Luisart was deliuered out of prison by his nephew Esplandian but as yet he knew not the manner how he receiued the order of knighthood Wherefore as they rose from dinner the king desired him to tell him how he was made knight as also what happened vnto him since that time to the end saied hée that Talanque and Ambor may doe the like Then Esplandian tolde how Vrganda came vnto the Ferme island in the great serpent what spéech shee had with Amadis de Gaule and others that were with him the order shee vsed to dub him knight together with Talanque Ambor Manely the king of Denmarke The sléepe wherein they fell and that when hee awaked he found himselfe at the foot of the rocke of the Enchantresse in company of Sergil his Squire and two dumb men also how he conquered the sword with his arriuall at the mountain where he found the Hermite that dissuaded him from fighting with the giants By my head said the king I neuer heard stranger things And now Ambor saied hee what became of you My lord saied Ambor my companion and I were likewise asléepe and when we awaked we found our selues in a little barke with our two horses in a Hauen of the sea called Armata in the country of Norway as then vnknowne to vs where wee landed before a towne not only to know in what countrey wee were but also to séeke for victuals And as wee went towards it the watch of the towne by reason of certain dissension not long before moued betwéene them and their neighbours sent to knowe what we would haue Wherewith we made them answere wée were knights aduenturous that came from the Ferme Isle cast vpon that shore by tempest of weather In good truth said he that spake vnto vs our king hath so great cause to vse your helpes that if you goe vnto him I am well assured hee will bid you welcome We asked him the kings name and what country wee were in My lords said he the country is called Norway wherof Adroni father in lawe to Agraies sonne to the king of Scots and one of the best knights in the world is our king I know not whether you know him And what cause saied wee hath your king to vse our helpe I will tell you said he he is so old that one of his nephewes his sisters sonne procured therevnto by euil counsel is risen in armes against him séeking to haue the gouernement of the countrey in respect as hee saith his vncle is no more able to rule the same And vnder that pretence hath already vsurped a great part thereof and now lieth in campe before one of the best citties in this land which the king by no meanes can reléeue by reason that most of his trustiest friends haue forsaken him and hold with the yoong presumptuous foole that winneth them by faire promises a thing that oftentimes happeneth vnto such as fortune fauoureth not and when men are fallen they are not only abandoned of straungers but by their owne kindred and friends that properly may be tearmed friends for the present time In good faith said we if the towne will giue vs victuals and one to guide vs we will gladly goe and present our seruice vnto him not onely for the loue of Agraies to whom wee are companions but for the right he hath as you haue told vs. That shall be done said he and therewith desired vs to stay till he came again from the cittie where he staied not long but hee brought what we desired and a guide that conducted vs so wel that the next day about dinner time we arriued where the king lay Who being aduertised of our comming and that wée were of Agraies companions entertained vs most courteously commaunding one of his Gentlemen to vnarme vs in one of his best chambers whether hee came and after hee had bidden vs welcome beganne in the same manner to shew vs all what the watch had before declared vnto vs and what an vnnaturall part his nephew shewed vnto him procured therevnto by two knights in whome onely hée putteth his whole trust because saied hee they are well assured that not any of my knights dareth enter into combat with them they are estéemed so valiant and hardy But who hath mooued them and your cosin said we to vndertake
desire that daily more more increaseth in him to be your faithfull knight But before you procéed further it is conuenient you grant me two requests the one that neither you nor any other shall looke into the tombe vntill the morning that I returne againe with the keye to open a Cedar chest that you shall find therin the other that after you haue opened it you shall giue it me to carry with me to the place where my father kéepeth his hermitage therein to bury the bones of Matroco that died a christian as you haue vnderstood Carmelle my friend said the princes that am I content to doe neuerthelesse I am much abashed why Esplandian deferreth the time so long before he commeth to sée the Emperour Madame said shee I will tell you that to morrow meane time I pray you determin where you will haue our men to set downe their charge In the great hall said Leonorine that my gentlewomen may sée it at their ease In faith madame you shall pardon me said Carmelle this place is too open and ouer common to leaue so precious a thing standing therein I denie not to let them haue the pleasure to behold it but hauing séene it for the more safetie it shall be set into your owne chamber wherof you and none other shall haue the keye With that they that bare the tombe entered into the hall and set it downe till Leonorine and the rest of the gentlewomen had beheld it long and if Carmelle had not béene there assure your selues it had béene better visited than it was but she would not depart from thence till it was shut vp Which done taking her leaue as shée went out she tooke the Princes aside and giuing her the keye of the chest wherein Esplandian lay said vnto her Madame I leaue you in this tombe two inestimable treasures although their difference be great as you may will perceiue you being alone for it is sure that vnder this keye lyeth the thing that in all the world you most desire to sée without staying Leonorines answer she went out of the chamber and with Gandalin and his company returned to the ship leauing the princes in a maruellous doubt by reason of the words shee vsed vnto her there with did so certainely persuade her selfe that her friend Esplandian lay dead within the same that she was constrained to cause all her gentlewomen to depart the chamber only quéene Minoresse that staied to beare her company with that she threw her selfe on her bed almost drowned in teares began to make the greatest sorrow in the world Quéene Minoresse abashed at so suddain alteration knew not what to think but perceiuing her gréefe to increase still more more went vnto her and said Madame I pray you hide the cause of this sorrowe from me no longer for I sweare vnto you of my faith if by any means I may reléeue the same I will deale therin as for my selfe Leonorine that neuer ceased sighing could not answer her one word but with much importance at the last answered her and said Alas my good friend for Gods cause let me be in rest and let it suffice you that you know that I neuer was so desirous for to liue as I am at this present to die What Madame said the Quéene will you tell me nothing els No said shée In good faith then said the Quéene you shall do me wrong and I shall haue good cause to thinke the loue and fauour that in times past you haue shewen vnto me to bee altogither fained whereat I am much gréeued séeing I haue borne such a mind to you that I would neuer haue failed to hazard not only my honor but my life and soule both for your sake When the princes heard her speake with such affection she was somwhat better assured and thereupon said vnto her Séeing you are so desirous to know the cause you shall heare it presently vpon condition you shall promise me to be a meanes rather to hinder my daies than any waies to further them séeing I am fully determined to die You may yet well remember said she the first time that Carmelle came hither to bring vs newes of Esplandian sonne to the good knight with the gréen Sword that had commandement from his father as she said to come hither to serue vs in his place according to the promise he had made vnto vs being in this court Carmelle said that for that cause onely Esplandian had sent her vnto Constantinople to giue the Emperour and vs to vnderstand therof but there were other matters in the wind for shée came expresly to intreat me to be good vnto her master who for the great loue and affection he bare vnto me liued in the greatest paine that possible could be Whereupon it happened that being vanquished ouercome with an infinite number of reasons that she made vnto me I confirmed in my heart that which his renowme had alreadie imprinted in my mind and there with determined for to wish more good to him that to my selfe not that I euer thought to commit any fault that might redound to my dishonour but onely for the glory to haue so worthy a knight readie at my commandement whereby this fire did so augment in me that euer since I could not thinke on any other thing that vpon Esplandian with whose loue my mind hath béene to mooued that his long absence hath almost procured my death yet the hope I had from day to day to sée him hath made me able to sustaine my griefe with so great patience that neither you nor any other as I thinke could euer perceiue it in me But as the Saylor on the sea being in a tempest thinking at length to arriue at some hauen for to saue himselfe suddainly méeteth with a rocke that breaketh his shippe in péeces so I most vnfortunate Ladie hoping by the presence of him I so much desire to sée to be at the end of my great sorrowe am now fallen into the gulfe of desperation considering the spéech which Carmelle vsed to me who speaking softly saied in this manner Madame I leaue you within this tombe two inestimable treasures the one is the thing that in all the world you most desire to sée which maketh me verily thinke it can be no other thing than the dead bodie of Esplandian and that as it is very likely hée hath desired at his death to be brought vnto me to wéepe and lament ouer him as I meane to doe during the terme of my life which if it pleaseth God shall not be very long And saying so shée cast forth a great sigh sowning in Quéene Minoresses armes who being abashed to hear the princesse vse those words so far from the estimation she alwaies had conceuied of her knew not at the â—câ—â— what counsell or comfort to minister vnto her neuertheles considering the extremitie shee was in minding to prouide for two accidents that both at