your doughter in a certaine thing of great importance shee hath not had the means to come and visite you Then presenting the packet to Esplandian said vnto him Gentle knight My mistresse that loueth and fauoureth you as it is well knowne giueth you these armes and sendeth you word by mee that as shee gaue you the blacke armes that hetherto you haue borne to testifie thereby the sorrow for the losse of the king that as then was common among all his true subiects and friends So in these you shal finde the deuise of the lady that in beautie and comelinesse of person surpasseth all the ladies in the world as Amadis your father in time past well proued when shee set the crowne vpon her head in remembraunce whereof shee hath euer sithence borne the like deuise Who from henceforth shall bee so strongly fixed in your heart that you shal neuer giue stroke with sword nor launce but you will remember her Which she said in respect of the princesse Leonorine doughter to the Emperour of Constantinople that by destinie was appointed only vnto him And opening the pack shee pulled out a helmet shield Haubert and a Caparisson for a horse all of white imbrodered with crowns of gold and set with Diamonds and Pearles which hée most willingly receiued saying to the Gentlewoman I pray you in my behalfe giue Vrganda hearty thankes for the great honour and much good shee hath continually done vnto me assuring her that wheresoeuer I become she hath a knight of mee ready to obay her and that for the loue of her will beare these armes as long as it pleaseth her Bée it so in the name of God saied she but before long time bee past you shall haue another mistresse that will constraine you to doe greater matters for shée shall rauish both your heart and libertie in such manner that you should loose ouermuch if at sometimes you loose not your selfe for her And to conclude I tell you that my mistresse féeleth her selfe as yet so much bound and beholding to my lord Amadis your father because that by his meanes shee recouered her friend that during her life she wil vse al the means shee can to doe him plasure and you likewise for his sake And as shee deliuered the message vnto him Carmelle came thether and hearing her speake in that manner answered her and said Gentlewoman I pray you tell your mistresse from mée that she hath great cause to recompence them well by whom she enioieth her friend she loueth so entirely and tell her I know many to whom if such chance should happen that would not fail to acknowledge it with the price of their déerest blood and their soules likewise if néed were In faith said the gentlewoman I know not in whose behalfe you speake it but I know assuredly you touch mée at the quick which she vttered with so good a grace that the king could not refraine to smile hauing in times past felt the fury of loue when hée first saw the Quéene in the country of Denmarke Yet bee chaunged his countenance asking the Gentlewoman from whence that musicke came that hee heard in the morning before breake of day My lord said she being sometimes in greater passions then willingly I would I passe my melancholy humours with a Lute that I haue especially when I cannot sléepe which as I thinke was it you heard What company haue you in the Serpent said the king None said she but Esplandians Squire that I found in a manner dead for the desire he had to hear news of his maister to whome also I haue brought the goodliest white horse and the best harnaised that euer was séene which my mistresse sendeth him likewise Did she commād you to say nothing else vnto me said the king Yes my lord saied shee shee sendeth you word that at my arriuall here you and hee should enter into this ship that of it selfe will bring you into great Brittaine and that the fortunes that not long since happened vnto you are snares the world setteth to intrap those it séeketh to deceiue séeming to ioine gréene and flourishing age with that which already is dried vp and withered And further willeth you to put in effect that which in your selfe you haue determined to doe which was to forsake his kingly estate and liue a solitary life but hee wondered much that Vrganda knew it yet he made no shew therof but speaking to the Gentlewoman he saied Your mistresse bindeth mee daily more and more vnto her being well assured that without her helpe I could hardly haue found any to haue brought me into my country Wherfore I pray you tell her that whatsoeuer I haue is at her commandement and as touching my determination which as soone as I conceiued in my mind I perceiued it was knowne to her being at home if God giueth me life I meane to put in execution My lord saied shee she praieth you to commend the kéeping of this castle to Talanque and Ambor not taking any with you but Esplandian Sergil maister Elizabeth knowing for certaine that hereafter they shall doe such things that their renoume will spread throughout the world Wherewith my lord I will take my leaue and returne againe to her with the dumbe men that shall guide me in this little barke God haue you in his kéeping saied the king Then the Gentlewoman with her two Marriners entered into the barke that brought Esplandian thether and setting saile put to sea CHAP. XIII How King Luisart imbarked himselfe in the great Serpent and of the message Esplandian sent by Carmelle vnto the Princesse Leonorine doughter to the Emperor of Constantinople THe Gentlewoman that brought the message with the two dumbe men imbarked and put to sea farre from the rocke king Luisart and the rest went vnto the castle where he staied not long for according to the aduise Vrganda had giuen him hee desired Ambor Talanque with Libee and the rest of the company to kéep the castle promising with all spéed to send them prouision of all thinges necessary whereof they wanted But when Esplandian saw there was no remedy but of force he must obey the king much displeased to depart so farre from the borders of Constantinople where he hoped to find her whereof maister Elizabeth had brought him the first newes hée tooke his faithfull seruant Carmelle aside and said vnto her My good friend I was in mind neuer to falsifie the promise I haue made you nor the gift you required at my hands neuerthelesse trusting more in you then any other I pray you take it not in euill part if to saue my life I send you to a place whether I thought to haue gone my self in person but it pleaseth the king as you wel know that I shal beare him company My lord saied shee I most humbly thanke you for the honour it pleaseth you to shew mee swearing vnto you by the liuing God that I take no pleasure
acknowledge thy former life and of a wicked wretch as thou hast alwaies liued become a vertuous knight and as thou hast been mâ—â— cruell and inhumane become courteous and pittifull forsaking thy vaine and foolish faith to beléeue in my God who is the most true and mighty Lord of all lords I wil not only pardon thée the combate whereof thou hast the worst but will leaue thée thy castle frée vnto thy selfe and so wil be thy friend vpon condition neuerthelesse that from henceforth both thou and I shall imploy our forces to ouerthrow and destroy all those that as thy selfe do walke in darkenesse from whence if thou wilt beléeue me thou shalt come out This answere of the blacke knight moued the Giant in such manner that like a wilde Beare hee began to fome at the mouth and saied vnto the knight Thou accursed wretch and of all others the most vile doest thou so little estéem my force that thou thinkest me already ouercome and vanquished And there with hee pulled away the péeces of his shield that hung about his necke and threw them on the ground and taking his sword in both his hands he strooke at the blacke knight thinking to cleaue his head but hee perceiuing the stroke stepped vnder the blow and closed with the Giant whereby the sword passing ouer his head hit vpon the pauement with so great force that it brake in péeces and therewith the pummell fell out of his hand so that the two knights being closed together could not hurt one the other but with their fists or pummels of their swordes whereby the blacke knight much gréeued the Gyant before hee could finde the meanes to recouer the handle of his sword but in the end he found meanes to vnlose himselfe from the knight and as hee reculed backe shunning the fury of his enemy the old woman séeing her sonne in so great danger went betwéene them and â—â—â—â—ing most bitterly saied vnto the knight alas Gentleman if euer you came of woman or haue compassion of a poore widdowes estate I beséech you for the honour of him in whome you beléeue to pitty my miserie and leauing me this only sonne content your self with the death of those that most cruelly you haue slaine before my face Ladie saied the knight then cause him to aske mercy and hee shal find it in mee otherwise you labour but in vaine To aske mercy of thée saied the Giant I can neuer be dishonoured thereby knowing it by experience to bee most true that such power strength as I find in thée commeth not from thy selfe but procéedeth and is only caused by the fauour of thy God for without his helpe thou haddest no more ben able to indure against mee then straw against the flaming fire therefore it were great folly in mee to fight both against God and man but I had rather perceiuing my end to approch aske him mercy and forgiuenesse then beléeue any longer in those in whom I haue hetherto put my trust whereof I am right sorry so that whether I fight or sight not or whether I liue or die I protect and make a vow from henceforth neuer to worship other then Iesus Christ thy Lord and maister Meanest thou as thou saiest saied the knight I truly answered Matroco and therewith knéeling on the ground and lifting both his eies and hands vnto heauen he cried out and saied Iesus the sonne of the virgine Mary I most certainely beléeue thée to bee the only infalible true and liuing God and that all others whom during my life I haue worshipped and adored are of no power wherfore forsaking their false doctrine to worship thée according to thy holy law I most humbly beséech thée to be mercifull vnto me and making the signe of the crosse vpon the ground hee stooped downe and kissed it Which the blacke knight beholding for ioy thanked God with all his heart and taking his sword by the point presented the handle to Matroco saying vnto him Truly valiant knight among so many triumphant victories that in times past you haue obtained there neuer happened any one so honourable as this for that herein you haue not onely vanquished mée but your self also that for strength of body are inuincible wherefore as a victorious knight I present my sword vnto you It shal not be so said Matroco but the contrary for I being vanquished submit my selfe vnto your pleasure and from this time forwards dispose of me my goods and honour as you shall thinke conuenient I pray you then saied the blacke knight haue pitty vpon the poore prisoners that euen now I saw bound within your gallies and let them be sent for hether that I might speake with them Withall my heart saied the Giant and therewith calling his mother saied vnto her Madame I pray you send downe vnto the ships to fetch the prisoners that the knight desireth to sée and let none of my men set foot on land till I send them further commission which she presently did But when maister Elizabeth Libee and the rest of the prisoners heard the message they made no little sorrow thinking the best comfort they could haue would be a most miserable and cruell imprisonment but when they entered the first gate of the castle where the porter and Arcalaus lay dead they were somewhat reuiued and in better hope then at the first specially when they saw the blacke knight that came to méet them who without making himselfe knowne to any but to maister Elizabeth tooke him by the hand and saied vnto him My good friend because I will not that any but you alone shall know who I am I pray you in the morning come and visite me in an Hermitage that standeth at the foot of this hil where I wil stay for you in the meane time you shall finde king Luisart in the castle who I leaue behind me but as you loue your life be secret and tell him not who I am Maister Elizabeth was much abashed when hee knew him to bee Esplandian and willingly would haue had more conference with him had it not been for the charge he had giuen him before as also that at the same time a Gentlewoman came vnto him and saied Sir knight if euer you will sée Matroco aliue make hast and come vnto him for he is euen now fallen vpon the ground and as I thinke is dead hee hath lost so much of his blood Goe said he to maister Elizabeth and help him what you can for your helpe will doe him more pleasure at this time then my presence can comfort him wherewith hee left maister Elizabeth with the Gentlewoman and went vnto the Hermitage where the night before he had lodged but he got not thether before the sonne went downe being so weary and sore with fighting all the day that he could not goe further where he found the Hermite and the dumbe man sitting together by whome hee was presently vnarmed and meat set before him for
you put off your â—â—â—â—ets that I may sée your faces which they did whereby he knew the one to bee Talanque sonne of Galaor the other Ambor de Gâ—â—el sonne of Angriote destrauaulx whoÌ„ he friendly imbraced saied vnto them In faith my good friends it is not without cause if it liketh you well to sée mee here for all my life haue I desired the companies of your fathers the like doe I of their children wherefore for the loue of God I pray you shew mee what straunge aduenture hath brought you into this country And it pleaseth your grace said Talanque we séeke after a knight armed all in blacke of whome as yet wee can heare no newes Doe you know his name said the king That wee doe said Ambor for it is your nephew Esplandian that contents me said the king doe but follow mee and I will bring you where hee is With that Ambor who before was alighted to honour the king mounted againe on horsebacke and Talanque on the Giants horse for his owne was slaine and all thrée together rode the way the king came thether till such time they espied the Gentlewoman that staid for him who perceiuing them to ride in such hast towards her was in mind to haue fled away fearing they had taken the king and forcibly had him with them but perceiuing them by their gestures to be his friends shée staied till they came vnto her saying to the king My lord where hath your grace gotten company so soone Gentlewoman said he you shall know it all in good time but what haue you done saied hee with the man that I left with you Let vs know what newes he hath told you Truly said she I had no sooner assured him of the death of Matroco and the rest of the castle but hee fled ouer this hill as if all the deuils in hell had ben behind him yet he tolde mée that the Giant his maister had heard some rumour thereof and for the same cause was comming to the castle to know the truth accompanied only with two knights that he caused to ride before him but to their hard fortunes for he found them both slain not knowing who had done it but only that not long after hee met with two strange knights that assailed him and left them fighting as hee saied together By God saied the king if the first two knights sped hardly their maister that followed after them had little better entertainement for they are all slain â—pon the way and here are the knights that did it whome I pray you let vs take with vs for they are friends and companion vnto the knight you haue promised to shew me Let vs goe then saied shée séeing it is your graces pleasure and therewith they rode vnto the Hermitage at the entery whereof they found the Hermite set vpon a stone who being abashed to sée his doughter in such company asked whether shee went Father saied shee here is king Luisart your Prince and mine whom I haue brought to sée you And although the Hermite had not séen him in long time before yet he presently knew him where with hee stepped to kisse his féete which the king would not suffer him to doe but imbraced him and lighting off his horse followed the Gentlewoman till hée met the dumbe man that hearing the noise and trampling of horses came to see who they were and perceiuing the king hee bowed his head before him Neuerthelesse the king went forward not staying to speake vnto him entring presently after Carmelle into the chamber where he found the knight set vpon the beds side Wherwith Esplandian presently knew him and knéeled downe before him but the king taking him vp wéeping for ioy imbraced him With that Talanque and Ambor entred in and perceiuing their companion that they so long had sought were maruellous glad and comming to imbrace him the king said to Esplandian My sonne although you haue sought by all meanes to hide your selfe from vs yet God hath so wrought that at one instant we haue al thrée found you out wherefore I pray you let vs depart hence and go with vs vnto the castle where you shall bee better at your ease then in this simple Hermitage My lord saied hee I am at your commaundement with that hee went to imbrace Talanque and Ambor asking them and they him what had happened vnto theÌ„ since Vrganda caused them to be dubbed knights By Gods helpe said the king you shall stay to he 〈◊〉 the sequell vntill wee bee in the castle for then you shall haue better leisure to declare the same With that he called Carmelle willing her to returne with all dilligence to th◠〈◊〉 and commaund Libee to bring one of Matrocos horses 〈◊〉 splaâ—â—ian My lord saied Ambor it will bee late before he common hether he shaâ—â— rather haue my horse and I will goe on foote but 〈◊〉 shall not saied the king get you vpon Carmelles horse and let 〈◊〉 sit vp behind you In which manner they road vnto the castle after whom the Hermite and the dumb man followed as fast as they could But they scarce alighted off their horses Ambor and Talanque being vnarmed but Carmelle moued with the extreame passions of loue she bare vnto the blacke knight had almost slaine her selfe with the sword that the day before she had stollen from him the occasion wherof procéeded from a conceit that he would disdaine her as vnworthy of him hee being the sonne of Amadis de Gaule as shee vnderstood yet in the end she remembred the promise the king had made wherefore she determined to desire so much of him to be a meanes vnto Esplandian that he would graunt she might neuer be absent from him but would serue him during her life with all fidelitie and to the same end putting her determination in effect as they sat all together she knéeled before the king and saied My lord now your grace séeth I haue kept my promise That is true saied he and while I liue I will not be vnmindfull of it My lord said shée then I trust your grace hath not forgotten the gift you promised mee and to performe your word I pray you be a meanes to the black knight that hee will graunt mee my request Gentlewomen saied the king bee you assured I will doe it with all my heart Your grace saied she as yesterday gaue mee leaue to visite my father in the Hermitage who as it fortuned when I came thether was gone forth whereat I was abashed because he neuer vsed to bee farre from thence And finding the dore open I went into a chamber that I caused to bee furnished wherein sometimes I vse to lie when time or foule weather would not permit me to returne vnto the castle where I found this knight pointing to Esplandian which you all so much desired to sée fast sléeping his sword hanging at his beds head where with not long sit hence he hath slaine those that
heart and the entrailes of her body the rest of the flocke resting in the power and gouernement of him and his fierce company whereby not long after it shall come to passe that the great deceitfull Serpent the inchaunted sword and this high rocke shal sink into the bottome of the sea and shall neuer after be seene againe of any man But although Esplandian vnderstoode the Gréeke tongue yet could he not giue any interpretation or exposition to this prophesie no more could any of his company wherefore they determined not to stay long about the same but were more busied to behold the stones and great riches they sawe within the tombe which they determined to take with them and return vnto their ships without staying any longer for their victuals began to fail wherefore Esplandiâ—â— willed Carmelle to take the Lion hee and the king of Denmarke tooke the plate of christall Gandalin and Enil the azure stone and the Squires the Ceader chest with the Image of Iupiter And in that sort they issued out of the pallace descending downe the rocke till about euening they came vnto the hermitage where they staied all night the next day they went on till they found their ship wherein about sunsetting they imbarked themselues and because Esplandian would not be séene in Constantinople without the great Serpent hée commanded the master of the ship to direct his course to the castle called La montaigne defendu which he did But hauing sailed about two daies more as the king of Denmark sat talking with Esplandian about the letter that was sent vnto him hee asked him if he thought not good that he should make a voiage vnto the Princesse Leonorine to vnderstand the truth of her affection towards him For saied hee it may be Gastilles hath mistaken her words or the Emperor himselfe hath commanded him to write vnto you in such sort that therby you should make the more hast to goe thether at the least I shall know of her what her pleasure is and how you shal gouern your selfe in respect of her Ha my good friend said Esplandian you haue toucht me now euen at the quicke If you would doe me so much fauour you shall bind mee for euer vnto you meane time I will stay for you in the gulfe where I found you with Frandalo when we raised the siege of the castle La montaigne defendu Assure your selfe said the king I will do my good will There was belonging to their ship a little Pinnace which the maister tooke with him besides the boat to saue himselfe and his people if any tempest should happen wherin the king with certain martiners to guide him entred and taking their leaue of Esplandian sailed forwards with so good a winde that in short space they lost the sight of the great ship But the next night following there happened such a teÌ„pest that at the breake of day their Pilot knew not where hee was without knowledge of the place he was constrained to abandon the Pinnace vnto the mercy of the waues which continued for the space of forty daies together in which time they indured so many fortunes that it would be ouertedious to recount them and wée should likewise digresse from the matter whereinto wee are entered to bring our history vnto an end â—et it therefore suffice you to know that their victuals being spent they chanced to arriue in the Island of the Giant Drapheon where the king of Denmarke and his squire lost their wits and became mad by force of a water that they drunk out of a fountain called The fountain of Forgetfelnesse that sprang in that Isle where they were taken kept in a cruel prison froÌ„ whence in short time after they were deliuered by the meanes of a Gentlewoman that fel in loud with the king and caused him to recouer his health armes horse and a ship with all things necessary for himselfe and his squire and hauing done she with them put to sea and coasting the countrey of Treuisane they came vnto an Island where the people of the countrey would haue burnt a Gentlewoman because shee could not find a knight for to maintaine her quarrel but the king fought for her and ouercame him that accused her taking the Gentlewoman with him put to sea againe sailing sixe daies together along the coast hée perceiued a maid out of a tower where in the lord of the country kept her prisoner for the cause which shee declared to the king out of a window that looked into the sea for whose sake the king took land to fight with the lord till hée deliuered the poor gentle woman out of prison such were the aduentures of the king of Denmark which are rehearsed at large in the great chronicles that master Elizabeth wrote not long after the coronation of Esplandian wherein the prowesse aduentures of the Brittish knights and others remaining at Alfarin are likewise registred orderly set downe For this time content your selues to vnderstand the maner how in what sort Esplandian and the Princesse Leonorine saw each other how afterward Vrganda came to Constantinople of the armies both â—y land sea of the cruell battaile betwéen the Turks Christians which ended our history likewise shall be finished but hauing many things to describe before I come to that point we will returne to Esplandian that was not smally abashed at the long absence of the King expecting froÌ„ day to day some newes of him that had left his company only for the cause you heard before CHAP. XXXV How Esplandian hauing staied Garinter king of Denmarks returne about two weekes space and perceiuing no news of him determined by the counsell of Carmelle to goe in person to the citty of Constantinople AFter that Garinter King of Denmarke had set saile towards Constantinople as it is saied before Esplandians ship arriued at the gulfe where he promised to stay and there lay at anker for the space of two wéekes not hearing any news of his desired message wherewith he doubted either that the king of Denmarke should bee drowned or that fortune had carried his vessel some other way wherfore he thought to send one of his marriners to enquire of him But before hee did it he determined first to speak with Carmelle and taking her aside saied vnto her My great friend you know for what cause the king of Denmarke left vs the reason of his voiage as also the promise he made vnto me to returne again with all spéed but we can heare no news of him at all which maketh me assuredly beléeue either hee is dead or that the storme hee was in hath cast him in some country so far off that he cannot by any meanes doe as he hath promised wherefore I pray you giue mee your aduise what I were best to doe for those that are in the like mind that I am although in some thinges they haue their vnderstandings whole and perfect
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
the Porter that was behind staying him saied vnto him Villaine leaue thy armour here and I will bring thée where the lords of the castle shall reward thée according to thy desertes It were better saied the knight without so much trouble to bring mee thether in as I am and I will follow thée But I will not saied he least I lose too much by thée for then my companion will haue thy armour which by right is mine and with that he lifted vp his hatchet thinking to cleaue his head whereat the blacke knight stept backe and with his sword gaue him such a blow that hee ouerthrew him on the ground and stepping vpon him thrust him into the body and as hee had done there entered at the gate that went out of the vaut a villaine all armed who thinking to speak to the Porter with a rude and churlish voice said Argantes why stayest thou so long to bring vp that accursed wretch that euen now entred at the gate Be content a while said the black knight I will bée there soone inough both for thée and those that sent thée if the gates be open With that he villaine perceiued himselfe to be deceiued for he espied Argantes dead vpon the ground wherefore without longer staying he turned his backe and pulling the dore after him left the knight shut â—nto the vaut whereat he was abashed fearing to be famished for want of meat but it fell out otherwise for not long after he saw the gate opened whereat there entred a Giant armed all in gréene who perceiuing the partie dead and the knight that had slaien him standing by him was in such a rage that he saied vnto him Thou accursed wretch I am much abashed how thou hast thus intangled thy selfe within this place from whence while thou liuest thou shalt neuer bée able to escape but when thou hast indured along and most hard imprisonment shalt bee constrained to end thy miserable daies with a thousand cruell torments that are prepared for thée Art thou at that point saied the knight I hope rather before wee depart to make thée beare this villaine company that at my entring spared not to threaten me as thou doest now What saied the Giant I assure thée I loued this dead knight as well as I loue my selfe and now I find him in this manner slaine before mine eies yet art thou not afraid to boast thereof By my head said hee thou shalt déerely buy it Behold I pray thée answerd the knight how thy vnhappy fortune followeth thée at once here before thy face thou séest thy friend dead and by the same meanes thou shalt likewise loose the soule out of thy body which the deuill hath waited for since thou first beganst to lead an euill life That shall soone bee séene said the Giant and with that they encountered and at their méeting laid vpon each other so fiercely that with the noise they made it séemed tenne knights fighting together and so long they continued the combate that in the end the Giant waxed faint which hee perceiuing hauing lost the greatest part of his shield and in a maner all his blood hée began to flie and the black knight after him so fast that before hee could get out of the vaut with one blow that claue his head to the téeth hée slew him in the place And as the knight stepped forth hee met two Squires that came to sée the combat who perceiuing the knight with his sword bloody in his hand asked him what was become of their guard I haue dealt with them said hee as it hath pleased God to dispose And how is that saied they to send them both saied the knight an vnhappy end of their wretched liues that their soules might bee tormented in the euerlasting paines of hell With that they looked in and perceiued Argantes on the one side and the Giant on the other as yet shaking their legs with the panges of death whereat they had so great feare that in great hast they presently retired crying with a lowd voice Come foorth my lords come forth for your vncle and the Porter are both slaine wherewith at the gate of the dungeon there appeared another Giant vnarmed very yoong and of a huge stature named Frerion who perceiuing the blacke knight marching so boldly towards him held the dore half shut and with a loud voice spake vnto him and said By my fathers soule thou must surely be some deuill disguised in humane shape otherwise it had beene vnpossible for thée to haue slaien two of the best knights in the world and in despight of theÌ„ to enter thus farre within the castle but of one thing am I well assured that what paine or torment soeuer I shall cause thée to indure I cannot bee reuenged of the least wrong and iniury I haue receiued at thy handes Thou brufish vnreasonable beast said the knight thou art surely worse theÌ„ he of whom thou speakest for that he being already iudged of God hath neither mean to repent his wickednes nor hope of saluation but thou to whom it hath pleased God to giue sence and reason to knowe both good and euill doest still perseuere in thy wickednesse making of vice a vertue in such manner that by good right I may better tearme thée a deuill then those that are wearied and waxe melancholy to haue so long attended for thy accursed soule which I will shortly send them if thou come forth into this court or let mee enter in Then stay said Frerion and thou shalt sée how I will teach thée to preach in other sort and with that hee shut the dore and went in to arme him meane time the blacke knight sate downe vpon a marble stone and he had not rested long but the Gyant came againe who bringing a great cimitere vpon his shoulder would haue issued at the gate when the knight spake vnto him saying Stay a little I pray thée before thou commest foorth and graunt me one request which in right thou canst not well deny mee for although neither courtesie nor any part thereof did euer lodge within thy breast that habite of knighthood wherewith thou art inuested ought more to mooue thée to humanity then thy nature of it selfe affordeth Aske what thou wilt saied the Giant and it may be thou shalt be refused both thou and I said the knight are now on foote I pray thée then let vs fight in the other court that those of thy castle may behold the pastime which hee saied to the end that if he ouercame his enemie as he doubted not therof they should not shut him out By my head said the Giant at the first I thought thou wouldest haue asked mercy at my handes which would not much auaile thée but séeing thy request is no other I am content to graunt it although a meanes to flie away were much more aduantage vnto thée which these high wals will not permit thée if thou be once inclosed
of comfort bâ—â— the other as much cause to rest If then it bee so as it is mâ—â—â—rue that we are all subiect to thâ— Tyrant he that hath past the flower of his youth not tasting of hâ—â— fury may not thinke himselfe in any thing more happy séeing it is his manner to constraine yoong men to loue and â—â—â—entimes old fooles to dote In that sort the Gentlewoman 〈◊〉 â—ennance for the euill shee conceiued against the blacke knight and had continued longer there had it not been for feare to bee discouered Wherefore with the sword in her hand she returned backe again towards the castle without being once perceiued entered at a posterne dore whereof she had the key and so went vp into her chamber departing from the hermitage not long before her father and the dumbe man returned from the barke and found the knight sléeping who presently awaked and missing his sword asked them if they had taken it away No truly saied the Hermite for we came but now from the sea side Wherewith Esplandian estéeming it lost made account that as he had conque◠〈◊〉 after a strange maner so hée had lost it by a stranger meanes but the Hermite and the dumbe man sought it about the house and could not find it CHAP. X. How King Luisart being aduertised by Carmelle where the blacke knight was departed with her alone to find him out CArmelle returned to the castle as it is said before went to the king who at the same time was talking with master Elizabeth touching the wrong hee thought the blacke knight did him in departing thence without being knowne séeking by that meanes if it were possible to draw from him what hee knew as touching the knight but all in vain for the king was not so subtil to vndermine him but master Elizabeth was as crafty to preueÌ„t him not intending to falsifie the trust reposed in him and although the Gentlewoman had determined to shewe the king what shee had learned of the knight hoping thereby to obtaine her purpose Neuerthelesse séeing maister Elizabeth in presence shée held her peace till he went away and perceiuing the king alone said vnto him My lord if it pleaseth your grace to shew mee so much fauour as to assist mee in a thing that importeth as much as my life in behalfe of the knight that you so much desire to sée before to morrow at night I will shew him vnto you if you think good in such a place where you may easily speake with him and to the end you shall not suspect me of vntruth I wil shew you a certaine token that when you sée it I am assured you will easily beléeue me Gentlewoman said the king if you doe so I wil not faile if it be possible to satisfie your request I beséech your grace saied she when you are both togither it would please you to be a mean vnto him in my behalfe to graunt me a gift that I shall ask him By the faith of a Prince saied hée I will not faile to doe it nor a greater matter then that if it lieth in my power Then follow me saied the Gentlewoman bringing him where shee had laied the sword and shewing it vnto him asked if he had neuer séene it That I haue said the king and I would to God the knight that knoweth so well how to handle it were as néere vnto mee as it is You shall sée him in the morning saied she if it pleaseth you to follow me That will I doe saied the king armed or vnarmed I estéeme not whether so I may sée him Then be you ready saied she when I shall call and let no man go with you Content said the king wherewith hee went out of the chamber and passing through the court he met Libee and others to whome hee saied that in the morning he meant to walke along the rocke because maister Elizabeth had certefied him it was so goodly a countrey and that none but Carmelle should beare him company and falling into other spéeches they passed the time till they went to rest but the king could not sléepe for the great desire he had to sée the knight whereby he was hardly fallen asléep when Carmelle came to awake him saying My lord may it please your grace to remember your promise Let vs goe saied hée and there with making himselfe ready commanded two horses to bée sadled one for himselfe the other for Carmelle and issuing out of the castle rode towards the Hermitage And they had not trauelled farre but they perceiued a man comming towards them in great hast and as hee came néereâ— the Gentlewoman knew him asking what he meant to make such hast and whether hée rode I ride to the castle said hee to fetch Matroco and his brother Frerian with all spéed to helpe their vncle Lindoraque who comming to sée theÌ„ hath met with two knights armed all in white that haue slaine his men and as I thinke I left him in as great danger as possible may bee When the king heard him hee thought them to bee of the blacke knights company and said vnto the GentlewomaÌ„ I pray you stay here with this man and I will ride to sée them and with that hee set spurres to his horse and taking the same way the other came he perceiued a far off the two knights fighting with the Giant that defended himselfe most valiantly with his mare forcing them oftentimes to recule but the two knights as bold and nimble handled him in such sort that hee knew not how to defend himselfe and if hee had not slaine one of their horses it had gone worse with him Neuerthelesse the knight on horsebacke seeking to reuenge his companion was nothing abashed but when the other rose vp set fiercelier vpon the Giant then before in such manner that they closed and striuing together sought by all meanes to vnhorse each other Mean time the knight on foot went vnto the Giant and taking him by the left leg pulled him by such force that both hee and the other knight fell off their horses and holding each other fast the Giant fell vnder with his face vpwards wherewith the knight that threw him downe thrust him into the face that hee was constrained to let goe his hold neuerthelesse rising vp againe with great force and laying hold vpon the knight that had so wounded him hee threw him on the ground meane time the other gaue the Giant such a blow vpon the head that hée began to réele and therewith stretching out his legs yéelded vp the ghost With that the king rode somewhat néerer and perceiued the two knights to beare black crosses that shewed theÌ„ to be Christians wherefore riding boldly vnto them hee went so néere that they knew him wherevpon they went to doe him honour much abashed to sée him But the king perceiuing the honour they did him was no lesse abashed and saied vnto them My good friendes I know you not I pray
wraths wil not be so much increased against me as that you will not giue me leaue to be reuenged on him And as hee vttered those words beeing couered with his shield hee went vnto Esplandian and holding his sword in hand stroke him flatlâ—ng with the same vpon the arme in such maner that he was astonished and with the force of the blow the sword sliding downe vpon a stone brake in thrée péeces wherewith Esplandian stepped to him and with great dexterity strooke him so fiercely on the face that the blood in great abundance ran out of his forehead Whereat the Giant was in such a rage that casting downe his shield tooke the péece of his sword in both his hands and with all his force strooke at Esplandian that stept aside and perceiuing the Giants arme comming towards him with one blow cut off his hand whereby his sword fell downe Neuerthelesse he séemed not abashed but imbracing Esplandian with his left arme thought to crush the breath out of his body but it happened otherwise for as hee held him Esplandian hauing his right arme at libertie thrust his sword into the Giants body wherewith he died TheÌ„ calling Bramatos thrée squires that he brought thether to shew him the prisoners hee asked where they were My lord said one of them on that side the vaut is the two Giants lodgings that you haue slaine and vnder it are the prisoners that you séeke in a most darke prison aboue a hundred paces long and but two paces broad whereby the prisoners in great number haue no meanes to rest themselues beeing constrained to stand vpright for the narrownesse of the place Goe before said Esplandian with that the squire went forward and Esplandian followed after and they had not gone long but they entred into a goodly pallace and going lower hee heard the lamentable voices of the poore prisoners dying for want of food whereat he tooke such compassion that the teares ran downe his eies asking the squire for the keies there they hang said he vpon a naile Open the dore said Esplandian which he presently did wherein they entred and Esplandian calling the poore wretches that lamented saied vnto them My good friends come all forth and thanke God for your liberties You may well iudge if they were glad to heare those newes for that some of them had remained therein aboue thirtie yeares together being in all twenty Gentlewomen thirtie squires and fiftie knights among the which Esplandian knewe Gandalin and Lazinde who by euill fortune after the conquest of Sansuegue trauailing the country were met by the Giants and kept in prison with the rest where they indured great miserie CHAP. XXV How Esplandian commanded the prisoners he had deliuered to goe vnto Constantinople there to thank the Princesse Leonorine the Emperours doughter keeping only Gandalin and Lazinde with him THe Giants slaine and the prisoners set at liberty Esplandian that as yet had not taken off his helmet not long after made himselfe knowne to Gandalin and Lazinde that were no lesse abashed to sée him in so straunge a place then wondered at the great Prowesse he had shewed for their deliuery It was then about sunnesetting and Esplandian had neither eat nor dronke of all that day wherefore hée determined not to depart thence till the next day in the morning for hee found great store of victuals in the place Commanding Sergil with one of the squires to go séeke the Bay horse he left at the house where hee slew Bramato for his owne was slaine which they presently brought vnto him passing the night in the Giants house with the best victuals they could finde The next day in the morning Esplandian called the prisoners that he had deliuered asking them what they meant to doe Sir Knight saied they wee are wholly bent to doe as pleaseth you Then my friends said he you shal go to Constantinople and there giue thankes vnto the Princesse Leonorine for the grace it hath pleased Gâ—d to giue you by means of a knight that belongeth vnto her Anâ— if shee asketh you my name tell her only what manner of armes I beare shewing her that I willed you to submit your selfe vnto her mercy In faith saied Gandalin my companion and I were determined not to leaue your company so soone but séeing it is your pleasure wee are content to doe it You and he said Esplandian shall kéepe mee company till you meane to trauaile further the rest shall doe as I required them Sir Knight saied hee that shewed him the prison they shall finde within the house all the furnitures and other things that were taken from them shew them where they be said Esplandian Wherevnto he willingly obayed which done they all left the Giants house the prisoners taking the way towards Constantinople and Esplandian with Gandalin and Lazinde armed at all points went towards maister Elizabeth that stayed for them in the great Serpent and as they were about halfe a mile from the Giants house they met a knight all armed with two squires attending on him who in courteous manner saluting Esplandian and his company asked them what countrey men they were Sir knight said Esplandian wee are all of great Brittaigne Alas said he can you tell me any newes touching a thing that hath gréeued me full sore What is that saied Esplandian can you tell mee saied hee what is become of king Luisart For I haue ben certefied of a truth that hee is lost not knowing where how nor for what cause And for my part I sweare vnto you I haue already sought for him in diuers countries and can heare no newes at all and I am determined neuer to leaue trauailing before he be found againe if it be possible for mortal man to doe it You are bound therevnto said Esplandian séeing hee deserueth it as you knowe right well Neuerthelesse if it pleaseth you to put off your helmet and make you knowne vnto vs that haue ben bred and nourished in his house I assure you wee will satisfie your mind so wel as touching him that you cannot chuse but like it My lords saied hee putting off his helmet I am Norandel his sonne When Esplandian and the rest perceiued that they made themselues knowne vnto him imbracing each other most curteously Ha mâ— lord said Norandel I pray you for Gods cause if you know any thing touching the king hide it not from me Vncle saied Esplandian about a moneth hence I left him at Mirefleur in good health God bee thanked making good cheare shewing him in what maner hée had deliuered him out of prison wiih all that passed touching the same I maruaile then said Norandel what aduenture brought you hether By my soule saied Esplandian that can I not well tell only that I was brought hether by the great Serpent which I left at the sea side wherein maister Elizabeth staieth for me Then hee shewed him how hee departed from the court his arriuall in the Ferme Isle his
hee could not sléepe till day began to appeare when Frandalo and the rest of his knights entred into his chamber to talke with him not only as touching the intertainement of their prisoners but of other thinges that much imported them And as they were in counsell together Gandalin came vnto them shewing them that king Armato desired for to speake with them wherevpon they went out of the chamber to heare what hee would say Frandalo could speake the Arabian tongue better then the rest for that hee had serued the king of Turkie and hee knew him very well wherefore Esplandian desired him to speake for all the rest And entring into the chamber Frandalo went first who knéeling on the ground kissed the kings hand With that Armato thinking hee had beene prisoner asked him where he was taken My lord saied he I am now become a Christian and a knight of Iesus Christ that hath done mee so much grace not long time since to call mee to bee one of his A Christian said the king is that possible By my soule it maketh mee more abashed then the cruell fortune that is now happened vnto mee for that all knights following armes ought patiently to beare those hazards that they fall into vsing necessitie as a vertue But thou vnhappy wretch that through feare and want of courage hast forsaken our iust and holy law wherefore takest thou not a rope and hangest thy selfe as vnworthy to goe vpon the earth My lord saied hee you may say what pleaseth you as being priueledged for the greatnesse of your estate yet I can assure you I neuer had so cowardly a heart as you estéeme I haue but rather account my selfe happie to haue done that I haue done Yet will I not refuse to doe you seruice my honour still reserued in any thing I can With that Armato remembred himselfe and thought hee did him wrong wherefore moderating his choler he saied vnto him Friend Frandalo If it gréeueth mee to haue lost you let it not séeme strange vnto you séeing now I had greater hope then euer I haue had to bée serued by your meanes But séeing it is so you knowe howe I haue vsed you heretofore now I pray you if you may doe any thing for mee to finde the meanes with your companions that I may bee deliuered from hence by some reasonable composition My lord saied Frandalo pointing to Esplandian This is hee that hath all power and authoritie in this place both ouer you and mee With that Armato looked vpon him and perceiuing him so yoong without a beard thought Frandalo saied it to excuse himselfe wherefore hee asked if he mocked him God forbid I should doe so my lord saied Frandalo but I pray you beléeue me for it is true that my lord Esplandian standing here before you is he and none other that slew Matroco Frerion Arcalaus the inchanter and Argantes the Porter of the castle which hee conquered as you haue been aduertised By my head saied the king I would hardly haue estéemed him for so braue a man but séeing it is so I pray thee doe somewhat with him touching the thing I told you of euen now Beléeue mée my lord said Frandalo there shall want no good will in me and with that hee bad him God morrow and leauing him with his guard they went into the hall where they found the tables ready couered for dinner for it was about noone time But as Esplandian rested ill that night so hee made but a meane dinner not being able to withdraw his mind from thinking on the princesse Leonorine which was the cause that the Tables being vncouered hee went into his chamber without any company onely the king of Denmarke whom he loued as himselfe where being together he began to shew him the cause why he sent Carmelle to Constantinople as also what affection hee bare to the Princesse Leonorine And to the end said he you bee participant of my ioy I pray you let vs haue her here that shee may shew vs what shee learned in her voyage My lord saied the king of Denmarke if you saw her apparrelled in the gowne the Princesse gaue her I am assured you will scarse knowe her at the first Will you that I send her word to bring it hether It is well saied saied Esplandian with that he called a Squire sending him to Carmelle that as theÌ„ was in company of Arcabonnes Gentlewomen but vnderstanding Esplandians pleasure went presently to apparrell her selfe as hee had willed her and hauing a mantle on her shoulders because she would not be séene went to him in his chamber where she found him and the king of Denmarke talking together but as soon as he espied her he tooke her in his armes and setting her in a chair couered with veluet saied vnto her My goodfriend I meane to shew my companion you sée here how much I loue and estéeme him wherefore I pray you shew me before him what intertainement the princesse Leonorine gaue you knowing you came from me and whether I find any fauour in her sight My lord said she as soone as I was arriued and that she vnderstood the cause of my comming vnto her I found her no lesse yours then you hers whereby I may estéeme you the happiest knight liuing in the world And know you why She is so faire and of so comely personage that vnlesse it bee her selfe none can resemble her and of truth shee dooth farre surpasse all other ladies for being alone in her priuate chamber playing on some instrument or singing for her pleasure she stealeth and rauisheth the harts seperated from the bodies of such as either heare or sée her and if at sometimes she attireth her selfe after the Italian manner with a cap of that country fashion then you may sée her faire and glistering haire part giuing a certaine shadow on her vermilion chéekes the rest knit vp together inuironing her head shewing with farre better grace then any crowne that she could weare bée it of stones laurell or the finest gold that may be found But if that be a temptation vnto man her two humble and modest eies like two suns giue them as many deaths as they at times behold the same and againe reuiueth them better â—hen at the first and all at one instant whereat you must not 〈◊〉 abashed séeing that loue it selfe doth often skirmish and striue in them thereby to yéeld both pain and pleasure vnto those that doe behold the same and if hée touch her he feareth to hurt her as being in most extreame passions of loue And not without a cause for that nature hauing made her brake the mould that shee might be the only perfect creature accompanied with so many vertues that loue findeth nothing in her but bones to gnaw vpon And I assure you my lord that speaking vnto her of those thinges you had giuen mee in charge I plainely perceiued her by the changing of her countenance to be charged with the
mee my good friendes I would sooner chuse a méere stranger for my successor then I would doe him but there is not one among you but knoweth well his great deserts and of what race hee commeth that at this day may well bee called one of the most noble and happiest linages in all the word as being descended from the valiant Troyans whereof the memory shall indure for euer He is a kings sonne heire vnto the crowne of France now your Prince and Gouernour and so I leaue him vnto you with my daughter your Quéene and lawfull Princesse holding to my selfe only the castle of Mirefleur where with Gods helpe the Quéene and I will end our daies religiously seruing God as we are bound to doe Then calling Amadis giuing him his royall mantle he willed him presently to put it on the like did the quéen to Oriane Mean time the silence was so great that nothing could bée heard among the people but cries and lamentations mooued with pitty compassion to sée the determination of their Prince who being apparrelled in a simple robe of blacke cloth tooke his sonne and the Quéene his daughter set them in their regal seats and in presence of all the people set each of them a crown of gold vpon their heads causing them to be proclaimed by the Heralds King and Quéene of great Brittaigne That done euery man departed some wéeping and others glad for the aduancement they hoped from the new king who from thenceforth began so wisely to gouerne his country that neuer was any prince better beloued nor obaied of his subiects King Luisart within short time after accompanied of the Quéen and Grumedan went vnto Mirefleur as hee had determined to doe where they liued so austerely helping and being present at euery houre when seruice was to be saied as readily as the poorest of the old men that remained there for the administration and seruice to the religious women in the monaster of the deuout Abbesse Adalasta But when king Amadis perceiued his meanes to recompence those of whome in his yoong yeares hee had receiued great pleasure and seruice hee began to exalt Arban de Norgales giuing him one of the fairest Islands in his country to Gandales the lands of the duke of Bristow to Gandalin as then absent hee gaue the lands of Aâ—calaus the inchanter he made Angriotte destrauaulx great maister of his horse Guilan le pensife high steward of his house Ardan le nain his chéefe caruer and married the Gentlewoman of Denmarke very richly Not long after the Quéene was brought to bed of a goodly sonne and a faire daughter both at one birth the sonne named Perion and the daughter Brisenne At whose natiuitie great ioy was made throughout all the country especially at London where the same day one of Norandels Squires arriued that told king Amadis howe Esplandian and his maister met together in Almaigne where the day before hee had slaine two Giants and deliuered Gandalin with diuers other knights Squires Ladies and Gentlewomen out of prison Knowest thou saied the King what way they tooke afterward My lord saied the Squire they made account io goe vnto the castle called La montaigne defendu to helpe them that are therein beeing in great necessitie Which the king vnderstanding sent presently for all the Pilotes that might bee found and in all hast caused to rig and arme the greatest ship he had to saile into the East to his sonne who in the mean time mooued therevnto by Frandalo departed from the castle of Matroco with the Emperours army to inuade the Turks country as in the next chapter you shall heare CHAP. XXIX How the towne of Alfarin in Turkie being assaulted was taken by Esplandian and the rest of his company NOt long after the siege of La montaigne defendu was raised and Gastilles arriued at the castle as you heard before Frandalo had aduise by Belleris his nephewe that returned out of Turkie where hee had been to sée what newes in the countrey that Alforax sonne to king Armato and gouernor of the great Cittie of Tasifant vnderstanding the imprisonment of his father with the ouerthrow of the Turkish armie was departed from the towne of Alfarin where hee had left the beautifull Princesse Heliaxa his wife doughter to Amphirion king of Medea to go with all dilligence to set order in his owne gouernement and raise more men thereby to resist the Christians power if they entred further into the countrey Which vnderstood by Esplandian Gastilles Ambor Manely and the king of Denmarke they determined to enter into Turkie wherevnto by many reasons Frandalo persuaded them shewing them what meanes they had to besiege the town of Alfarin not aboue two daies iourney from them being hardly prouided of victuals and no Garrison therein Wherfore it was agréed among them that Gastilles with his Nauie of ships should depart the next euening in as secret manner as hee could to sée if he might surprise their Hauen and that they on the other side would trauaile all night whereby they might besiege the Towne both by land and sea entring therein before the Turkes should hear news thereof And as they agréed they put the same in execution in such maner that Gastilles giuing forth that he would returne againe vnto Constantinople about sunne setting tooke ship when hee put to sea the moone shone bright wherfore hoising vp their ankers they set saile And they had not sailed long but he called his chéef Captaines together discouering his enterprise vnto theÌ„ wherewith presently leauing the way to Constantinople they made towards the towne of Alfarin On the other side Frandalo slept not when he perceiued his time all the company being alreadie aduertised that he meant to goe by night they issued out of the castle euery man carrying victuals with him for the space of four daies And they trauailed so long that about the breake of day they came vnto a great forrest where they staied in ambushmeÌ„t till the nert night following when they issued forth and about thrée of the clocke at night they came vnto a path that went two waies where Frandalo caused them to stay and calling Esplandian said vnto him My lord I pray you let vs two and no more take the way that leadeth on the left hand and Belleris my nephew shall guide the rest of our company to the mountaigne of Yarebreh from whence they may easily sée if our Nauy be néere the citty of Alfarin and then as they finde the enterprise goe forward they may assaile the place or else remaine in ambush til occasion serueth You and I wil follow on this way that wil bring vs to the aduenturous fountaine by the which lieth the great way that leadeth to Tesifant where most commonly are found diuers strange aduentures and if by fortune wee might méete the Princesse Heliaxe that as to morrow should depart from Alfarin to goe vnto her husband we shall not loose our labours Let
vs goe said Esplandian with that Belleris and his company went their way and Frandalo Esplandian Sergil with the Gentlewoman of Denmarke tooke the other way who about the breake of day arriued at the aduenturous fountaine where there stoode foure great copper pillers all gilded and at each piller hong a table with certaine writings therein the contents whereof when time serueth you shall heare declared as also the occasion why they were set vp Being arriued there not farre off they perceaued a light that issued out of a Taffata pauillion that stoode vpon the side of the fountaine wherevnto they approched as couertlie as they could where they perceiued a most beautiful Gentlewoman combing of her haire and not farre from thence twenty knights all armed kéeping watch about her among the which was a squire holding a horse all trapped with cloth of gold But Frandalo and Esplandian were no sooner arriued but they were discouered yet they fearing a greater ambush the most part of them losing courage began to flie away which the two knights perceiuing entred among them and at their first comming ouerthrew foure or fiue of them vnto the ground forcing them that were behind to returne againe wherewith there began a fierce and cruell battaile for those that first began to runne away looking backe and perceiuing only two knights that set vpon their fellowes were so ashamed that they turned again to help them neuerthelesse without the force of thrée Giants that held against the knights they could not haue indured so long against Esplandian and Frandalo but they thrée fought so valiantly with them that the two knights were in the greatest danger then euer they were before And as you sée a Boare foming at the mouth followed of a troope of dogs set his taile against a trée and with his tuskes teare and rent the flesh of the boldest dogs that doe assaile him so were Frandalo and Esplandian among the knights they had assailed striking both on the right hand and the left with so great fury that at one instant two of their principall enemies were slaine so that there remained but one Giant to fight with them with whom Frandalo made his party good while Esplandian followed the rest that as then began to flie But when the Giant perceiued Esplandian returne being in feare of death he stepped aside and said vnto Frandalo Sir Knight you and I haue often beene companions in many haulty enterprises I pray you therefore shew mée the fauour to receiue mee vnto mercy otherwise you might bée blamed of those that know vs both for I am your cousin Foron Whereat Frandalo was much abashed could hardly bee persuaded therevnto wherefore hee praied him to put off his helmet and if it be true said he that thou art Foron I wil vse thée both like a friend and kinsman Wherewith the Giant disarmed his head whereby Frandalo knewe him and imbraced him whereat Esplandian was much abashed not knowing what had passed betwéene them with that hee went néerer vnto them asking vpon what cause that salutation procéeded Then Frandalo tolde what the Giant was desiring him likewise to take pittie on him which Esplandian agréed vnto then they thrée together went vnto the pauillion at the entry wherof they found the gentlewoman talking with Carmelle no more abashed at the ouerthrow of her men then if shee had séene them iustle for their pleasures She was apparrelled in a gowne of Damaske all imbrodered and set wih Pearles and precious stones Frandalo presently knew her as hauing séene her oftentimes especially the same day shee was married to Alphorax where hee iusteled and did so valiantly that she intertained him for her knight wherfore lighting on foote and pulling off his helmet hee saluted her in most humble manner Wherewith shee being abashed to sée him that she estéemed wholly to be hers so to haue behaued himself against her guard said vnto him How now Frandalo is this the seruice I looked for at your hands hauing receiued you for my knight The diuell take such seruants séeing you are so fainthearted vnto her that hetherto hath reputed you one of the most courteous knights that euer was girl with sword but now I find I am deceiued for I should rather haue suspected any other then you to be a doer in this enterprise whereby I cannot but bee much abashed Madame said Frandalo since the time I became your knight at the last tourney that I ranne a lord of greater power hath intertained me into his seruice whom I wil serue during my mortall life séeing it hath pleased him to shew me so great fauour being wel assured that when you know him as I do you wil estéem me happy how cowardly or villainous soeuer you account mee now What is he said she tel me of your faith it is Iesus Christ said Frandalo yet wil I neuer faile to do you all the honour and seruice that I can as also now at this time so my companion bée content for without him I cannot doe it Frandalo said Esplandian you may command mee for I am ready to doe what pleaseth you Wherefore delay not to do all the pleasure seruice you can vnto this lady if it be your will Wherewith Frandalo thanked him most hartely and saied to Heliaxe Madame séeing hee will haue it so I pray you from henceforth put all your trust in mee and I will not faile to be carefull for you Mean time I pray you get vpon your palfrey that I may bring you to a place where you may sée farre better tourneyes then any at your wedding afterward if it pleaseth God to fauour vs you shall easily perceiue how much I estéeme and haue in remembrance the fauours you haue heretofore shewed vnto mee being but a simple knight and you a great Princes to command farre better then my selfe for neuer was Princesse more honoured and estéemed among her owne subiects then you shall bee of them to whome I meane to bring you which may bee an example vnto kings and mightie Princes to whome God hath giuen power and authoritie who being aduertised of the honourable and good intertainment made to you by vs they may be moued hereafter to take pleasure in intertaining the meaner as wel as the greater considring the mutabilitie of fortune as by your selfe it well appeareth Frandalo saied she you may make as many excuses and faire promises as you list yet can you not deny but you haue done mee wrong yet in doing as you saie you will your reputation will bee better to the world although your faith hath failed to our gods wherefore let vs goe where it pleaseth you With that she got vpon her palfrey and Frandalo bareheaded leading her horse till they came néere vnto the towne where they heard a great noise that made the two knights thinke either their enterprise to be discouered or that their Souldiours assailed the Towne And fearing they had ben repulsed began to repent themselues
sort being conquered and the people gotten into the great temple of Iupiter Esplandian minding not to lose the Princesse Heliaxe nor the Giant Foron that he and Frandalo left with Carmelle desired Gandalin and Lazinde to goe fetch them and with them hee sent Sergil his Squire to bring them to the place which they presently did and made such hast that they found her sitting by a great fire that Foron had made where lighting off their horses saluting Heliaxe Gandalin said Madame my lord Esplandian praieth you to come vnto the place where hee staieth for you My friends saied shee I knew him not true it is I was brought hether by two knights whereof one is Frandalo that I haue knowne long time but for the other I assure you as farre as I remember I neuer sawe him before Madame saied Carmelle hee is sonne to the valiant knight Amadis de Gaule whose fame is spread so farre about the world Truly saied Heliaxa I haue heard of him so haue you as I thinke said Carmelle of my lord Esplandian his sonne for hee alone conquered the castle La montaigne defendu and now lately hath taken king Armato your father in lawe and I can assure you hee is one of the courteous knights liuing in the world I am much abashed then saied she how he shewed himselfe so vncourteous in my behalf not speaking vnto me while I was in his company yet me thinketh being his prisoner hee could haue done no lesse then comfort mée either with good spéeches or faire promises whereof hee hath vsed so few that while I liue I shall neuer thinke well of him Madame saied Carmelle you take the matter otherwise then it is for if hee refrained to speake vnto you it was by reason of the great acquaintance hee perceiued Frandalo to haue with you vnto whome he is so great a friend that hee was not onely content to giue him leaue to entertaine you but much greater fauour would hee doe vnto him if hee can You may say what you will saied shee Neuerthelesse if he haue no other excuse then that you alledge in his behalfe hee shall neuer lose the disliking hee hath gotten at my hands Madame saied Gandalin I am well assured hee will amend that fault when it pleaseth you wherefore I pray you determine what you meane to dâ—e for hee hath commaunded vs to doe as pleaseth you My friendes saied Heliaxe I would gladly sléepe till it bee day then I will bee ready to goe where you thinke good but I pray you tell mee what noise it was I heard of late within the Towne Madame saied Lazinde It is not yet thrée howers since the Towne was taken by assault Good God saied she what miserable fortune was that for the poore inhabitants I thinke they are all put vnto the sword No madame saied Lazinde the greater part haue saued themselues in the great Temple of Iupiter but they will hardly escape when it is day for our Generals are determined to burne the Temple If it bee so saied shee that Frandalo hath any credite with his companions and that hee that sent you bee so courteous as this Gentlewoman reporteth him to bee I hope they will take pittie on the poore people at least if not for the loue of them I trust vpon request for my sake they will not refuse it And to the end I come not thether for late I pray you when day appeareth let vs presentlie depart wherewith laying her downe vpon a cloke shee passed the rest of the night not greatly to her ease CHAP. XXX How Gandalin and Lazinde brought the Princesse Heliaxe and the Giant Foron into the Towne of Alfarin to Esplandian and Frandalo and of the honourable intertainment they had HEliaxe that had not slept all that night being gréeued for the losse of the towne of Alfarin the ordinary abiding place of Alphorax her husband and withall the pleasantest and most delicious place of all Turkie perceauing day to appeare waked the two knights making her account if shee might get into the towne before the destruction of the temple the people that were fled into it by her request and humble supplication to Esplandian and Frandalo should bee saued With that they all mounted on their horses and made such hast that they entred into the town as the Christians began to assault the fortresse and when Frandalo perceiued the Princesse Heliaxe hee rode vnto her bidding her God morrow and taking her palfry by the bridle bareheaded brought her to Esplandian and his company that did her great honor knowing her to be a kings doughter and wife to so great a Prince With that shee asked Frandalo which of them was Esplandian Madame saied hee pointing vnto him here he is ready to do you any seruice that he can as hee hath assured mee But when shee perceiued him to bee so yoong and of so great beautie shee was abashed to think how nature had furnished him with so many good perfections especially of so great and incomparable force wherof he had the commendation among the most valerous knights wherewith shee saied vnto Frandalo In good faith I haue heard him commended in diuers places for one of the best knights liuing in the world and of mine owne knowledge I haue séen him doe that which I would neuer haue thought to bee in him considering his yoong yeares so that if hee abound as much in courtesie as he doth in valour and beautie I thinke him to bee the brauest Gentleman that may bee found which I shall presently sée if he graunt me one request Madame saied Esplandian blushing at the praises she vsed in respect of him If I doe it not you shall be the first that euer I refused gift vnto in all my life and considering your great beautie and most courteous behauiour howe should it be possible for me to disobay your will I pray you then sir knight said she to pardon the poore people that are within the Temple and graunt them vnto mee with leaue to send them where I shall thinke good not hurting them any more In good truth madame said Esplandian you shall not be refused for so smal a matter and I will doe so much with the other knights that they shall giue consent as also to your owne libertie and the Giant Forons to guide you where it pleaseth you which Frandalo did most earnestly desire at our handes before you arriued here And for his sake looke what else you will command at our hands wee are ready to performe it with all our hearts For the which the Princesse Heliaxe thanked him most heartely and turning to Frandalo saied vnto him Sir Knight the good that you and your companions doe vnto mee shall neuer bee forgotten on my part but I will by all means séeke to acknowledge the same although presently I cannot doe it wherefore if it pleaseth you cause your souldiours to retire that these poore distressed people may come forth according to
your promise In the meane time I will goe comfort them for I am in doubt most part of them are rather dead then liuing with that she desired Carmelle to bear her company they two going to the Temple gate which they found fast shut and rampired vp then shée called so lowd that some of them spake vnto her but neuer did men by pardon from their Prince brought backe againe from the Gibbet more reioice nor were better comforted then they when they knew her thinking the prince Alphorax had made some agréement with their enemies Wherefore they opened a little wicket whereat shee and the Gentlewoman entered into the Temple they asking the Princesse howe it was her chaunce to come thether in so good a time to succour them that looked for no other fauour then most cruell death My friends saied she I haue done so much with the Christians by Frandalos meanes whome I haue knowne long time that they are content to let you issue foorth your liues saued and goe where it pleaseth you and my selfe likewise that had fallen into their hands as well as you wherefore chuse whether you will follow mee to Tesifant where my lord Alphorax is who for my sake will shew you all the fauor and courtesie he may When the poore people vnderstood the agréement made for them by the Princesse Heliaxe they all agréed to goe with her and not forsake her giuing her most hearty thankes for the good shee had wrought them Then saied Heliaxe let those that haue armour put it off and come all forth with mee Then she being accompanied in that manner came vnto Esplandian and shewing him great numbers of women and little children that stood about her said vnto him I pray you sir knight behold the good whereof you are the cause and thinke what domage it had beene if these poore sâ—lly soules had suffered death for no offence wherein you are worthy great commendations And yet said shée smiling while I liue I shall not forget the small account you made of me when Frandalo and you found mee before my pauillion after the ouerthrow of my knights Wherefore madame saied Esplandian I maruaile saied shée why you aske mee such a question séeing you might well conceiue what gréefe I had in mind yet did you not so much as once salute me or vse word vnto mee in good truth it was but discourteously done of you Madame saied hee I beséech you pardon mee for the fault I committed in your behalfe was not done for want of bringing vp but fearing to bréede some iealousie in Frandalos mind séeing him so much affected to doe you seruice together with the good countenaunce you shewed vnto him although you had lost your men This excuse said Heliaxe is not to be accepted neither shal you escape so easily therewith which shee spake with so good a countenance that her séeming to bee offended contented all the company wherefore Esplandian saied vnto her Madame I am content to make amends for this great fault or to doe what pennance it pleaseth you The pennance said she that you shall haue shall be that according to the promise of mercy you haue made vnto these poore people as also of fauour in mine owne behalfe you giue vs leaue to go vnto the citty of Tesifant to my husband that for the same we thinke the better of you Madame said Esplandian you haue already vnderstood our minds wherefore you may fréely go whether it pleaseth you and I my self will be your guide if it be your pleasure With that Heliaxe gaue them many thankes and taking her leaue got vpon her palfrey and being accompanied of Foron with a great number of the poore people tooke the way that went to Tesifant Frandalo going with her aboue a league and more and further would haue gone although hee were wounded in diuers places of his body but she desired him to go back againe For said she although like a good curteous knight you haue had the means not onely to serue mee but also to saue the life of me and mine it may bee I shall not haue so the like to doe the same for you if you fall into my lord Alphorax hands who as I thinke ere now is aduertised of my misfortune whereby I am in doubt hee is already in the field with great number of men to succour me And if it should be so I know him so impatient that if hee méet with you being already moued with the losse of Alfarin as also the iniury my knights haue receiued and my selfe likewise as hee will suppose the pleasure that you doe me would bréed a danger to your person and to me great gréefe wherefore I pray you goe no further but turne backe againe Frandalo knew her counsell to be good wherewith hee committed her to God leauing her in the guard of his cousin Foron and therewith returned the same way that hee came It was then somewhat late wherfore Heliaxe hauing trauailed vnto the aduenturous fountain and finding her pauillion as yet standing vp determined not to depart from thence till the next day in the morning that shee tooke the way that led to Tesifant And hauing ridden till noone shee met the Prince Alphorax with a great number of knights that all night had staied vpon the way to the castle La montaigne defendu thinking those that had takeÌ„ his wife would lead her thether to haue her in safe kéeping and such was their opinion that brought him newes thereof But they met not any man in the way wherfore they returned againe to go vnto the aduenturous fountain much gréeued when they perceiued the Princesse Heliaxe comming towards them to whom Alphorax ranne and imbrasing him with a louing kisse asked her how she had escaped from the enemy My lord said she when I shall haue told you how yet am I in doubt you will hardly beléeue it And to say the truth it séemeth fortune hath taken pleasure in one day to make mee know both the good and euill shee could doe vnto mee Then shee shewed him of the ouerthrow of her knights the words that passed betwéene Frandalo Esplandian and her and lastly the honest intertainement they vsed in her behalfe Truly madame saied Alphorax it is very strange and I cannot imagine how these Christian dogs hauing taken my Towne of Alfarin by assault haue vsed so much humanity not only to these people but haue saued your honour being such and so beautifull a lady as you are But it is to bee thought that our gods hauing compassion on me haue preserued you as the thing I loue and most estéeme off in this world Yet if I liue but one yeare longer I sweare and promise vnto you to assemble so many men together that the citty of Constantinople and her periured Emperour shal suffer and indure much woe in such manner that the memory thereof shal not be extinct for one thousand yeares after my decease Heliaxe that
or some of his companie if they chaunced to stray abroad Frandalo not willing to deny them any reasonable request agréed with the consent of Esplandian to depart the next night following and to take with thē to the number of fourescore knights and no more which Esplandian liked well he minding to bee one Where vpon those that were appointed for the iourney prepared themselues and about sunne setting issued out of Alfarin Frandalo and Belleris knowing the country so well that they néeded no other guides but trauailed strait towards Tesifant and hauing ridden till eleuen of the clocke at night they came vnto a crosse way where Frandalo aduised them to deuide themselues in two companies willing the knights that before that time had neuer ben in Turkie to hold close together For said he the warres in these countries are far otherwise then they are in great Brittaigne where knights vse most commonly to trauaile alone without company and although they chaunce sometimes to ride in companies the least occasion that happeneth maketh them seperate themselues but here those that vse armes trauaile in great companies together whereby the combates that are fought here most commonly are rather battailes then incounters And more then this if thrée hundred Turkes chance to surprise one hundred thirtie twenty or lesse number of their enemies they take a pride to put them to death preferring reuenge before a certaine kind of honour that as I haue vnderstoode is kept and obserued in the West parts where combates are in a manner equall Wherefore my friends saied he I pray you seperate not your selues but march all in a company assuring you that in the place whether wee goe wee shall not faile to finde men sufficient against whome wee may imploy our forces and shewe what valour is in vs. I knowe that within halfe a mile of Tesifant Alphorax vseth oftentimes to lie at a house that hee hath caused to bee made called Gruobinach where if it bee our good fortunes wee may chaunce to finde him wherefore I am of aduise that we deuide our selues in two companies my nephew Belleris shall take the left hand and lie in ambush néere vnto the village of Ientinomele from whence hee may easily perceaue when any man issueth out of Tesifant and I with Esplandian and the other halfe of our companie will followe this way that bringeth vs vnto a valley néere to Gruobinach where we will secretly stay if néed require to succour each other whereunto they all agréed but before they departed thence they found their enterprise to be far more dangerous than they estéemed it as hereafter you shall heare Belleris and his companie leauing Frandalo trauailed so long that about two houres before day they met fixe souldiours whome Belleris saluted in the Arabian language asking them of what place they were My Lord said they we are going to the towne of Srasse My good friends said he we trauaile this night to Tesifante to aduertise the prince Alphorax of the great dommage and destruction the Christian dogges continually doe and within short spade haue done vnto the countrey round about for they are issued out of Alfarin haue taken and carried away all they can find and as yet are abroad not ceasing to execute all tyrannie they can deuise neuertheles if it pleaseth him to giue vs aid wée know the place of their retrait where we may easily inclose them not one of them shall escape What are you said the souldiours that bring vs these newes Friends said Belleris I am Roussan cousin to Eiraca ehiefe captaine of Tesifant We can tell you good newes of him said the souldiours wherewith we thinke you will be well pleased for he is not farre from hence being ridden out of Tesifant with two hundred knights to goe vnto Falandie to sée the same be not so lightly surprised as Alfarin was But because he willed vs to ride before wée will stay no longer wherewith they hadde them farewell Friends said Belleris the good fortune I wish you I pray God may happen vnto you With that the souldiours passed on their way but they had not gone farre when Belleris sent after them and fearing they would discouer his enterprise caused them to be slaine and therewith presently dispatched one of his Squires on message to Frandalo to aduertise him of the enemies béeing abroad with a verie strong and huge companie whereupon hée wished him to ioyne with them The Squire made all the hast hée could but before the newes came to Frandalo Belleris met with Eiraca and his company about the village of Ientinomele béeing vpon them before they had time to put on their helmets There did the captaine of Tesifant shewe himselfe to be no yoong beginner in armes for that like a valiant and hardy knight hee entered among the Christians and being seconded by his men did most valiantly defend themselues and assailed the enemy although at their first encounter ten of their brauest souldiours were vnhorsed and ouerthrowne And as Eiraca entered into the prease Norandel and he met together with such force that Norandel was wounded in the left shoulder but not sore hurt and the captaine of Tesifant loosing his stirrops was throwne ouer his horse with so great a strength that with the fall hee was forced to lie vpon the ground and could remooue neither hand nor foote which the Turkes perceauing to reléeue their captaine did so valiantly that they ouerthrew foure of the Brittish knights who neuerthelesse rose presently againe and with their swords in hand thrust so many of the Turkes horses into the sides and flanckes that in short space more then twentie of the Turkes were ouerthrowne likewise and many slain outright at that charge Enil and Gauarte were hurt and the rest so hardly handeled that without Frandalos company that came to succour them they had all beene ourthrowne and in truth they had almost straied too long but the Squire that Belleris sent vnto them could not ouertake them before they were in the valey where they should haue met And although they had heard the sound of their blowes yet did they not suspect any such perrill vntill the squire had done his message wherewith they ranne with all the spéed they could vnto the place where Belleris and his companions being out of breath did nothing but recule and defend themselues against their enemies blowes that had slaine diuers of them but that the captain of Tesifant would haue them to bee taken and presented to the Prince Alphorax Neuerthelesse Frandalo Esplandian and the rest of their company made them change opinion for when they perceaued their companions so hardly matched by the enemy they entered among them with such fury that had it not beene for Eiraca who at that time behaued himselfe most valiantly they had ouerthrown the Turks at their first onset but by reason of the great resistance hee made they continued fighting halfe an houre after wherein hée maintained himselfe
so well that Esplandian could neuer take him before hée had ouerthrowne him and pulled off his helmet wherewith hée yéelded meane time Frandalo and his companions being in the middle of the enemies laide so well about them slaying horses pulling away shields and doing so valiantly that woonder it was to behold them yet did not the Turkes once séeme abashed but still fought most couragiously vntil such time they perceiued their captaine taken prisoner which caused them to flie and turne their backes but not all of them for there lay more than one hundred and fiftie of them dead vpon the ground the rest saued themselues by meanes of the darke night It was then about an houre before day and Frandalo fearing that those of Tesifant hearing of the ouerthrow would issue foorth to cut off their passage presently caused captaine Eiraca to be remounted and all the Christians that wanted horses and with all spéed rode backe againe to Alfarin not the same way they came but another way somewhat farther about wherein they trauailed so long that about sunne rising they entred into a great woode where they alighted to refresh both themselues and their horses and staying not long there least they should bée surprised they made such spéed that about sunne setting they arriued in the town meane time newes came to Tesifant of the ouerthrowe of their men wherewith Alphorax was in such a rage that in a manner hée séemed desperate But for this time wée haue sufficiently discoursed of martiall affaires now wée meane to bring Loue in place who desiring to minister some comfort to the Princes Leonorine that liued in great paine expecting the arriuall of her friend Esplandian caused him to depart from Alfarin to visit her in the citie of Constantinople as in the Chapters following you shall heare CHAP. XXXIII Of the great griefe Esplandian had vnderstanding by the messenger that Gastilles sent vnto him what displeasure the Princesse Leonorine had conceiued against him YOV heard before how Gastilles shewed the Emperour what Esplandian had done and what message hée sent vnto him and to the Princesse Leonorine as also what answere she made which Gastilles by his Squire writ and sent vnto him hauing charge from the Emperour so to doe thereby to procure his spéedier arriuall in Constantinople The Squire with his lether made such hast that hée arriued at Alfarin about fiue daies after the taking of Eiraca and méeting Carmelle at the gate asked her if he might find Esplandian at conuenient leisour to deliuer him a letter from Gastilles but Carmelle being subtill suspecting it to be some newes from the Princeâ—â—e Leonorine that might mooue Esplandian who as then séemed discontent answered him said My good friend you can hardly speake with him at this time but follow me and giue me the letter and I will present it vnto him and cause him to returne you an answere The Squire did as she willed him and followed her to Esplandians lodging where entring into his chamber she found him sitting vpon his bed talking with the king of Denmarke and deliuered him Gastilles letter which when he read the teares ranne out of his eyes and therewith cast forth a great sigh saying O Lord but Carmelle that beheld him doubting the cause to be as she suspected asked him if he were ill at ease Ill said he I that I am and so ill that I would to God I were dead and looke I pray you said he whether I haue cause or not wherewith stretching forth hish hand he gaue Carmelle the letter and turning his face began to make the greatest sorrow in the world but when shée had read the contents shée estéemed not thereof but said vnto Esplandian What my Lord are you abashed at so small a matter By my soule I now perceiue very well that the affections and loues of men are farre different and much vnlike the passions that we simple women endure when we fall into the like extremities and knowe you how you men doe most commonly take pleasure to manifest and make known your loue either by word of mouth or outward shewes and many times dissemble more than you meane to doe and which is worse how much the more the Lady or Gentlewoman you loue is of great desert or high linage so much more glory doe you take to make it knowne not onely that you beare her affection but that you are beloued and fauoured of her aboue all others which is cleane contrary to the nature of women I meane such as may bée tearmed wise and of good vnderstanding for how much the greater their parentage is so much more feare they haue to manifest their amorous passions in such manner that most commonly both in word gesture and countenaÌ„ce they outwardly denie that which they haue most déepely engraued in their hearts and mindes and not without good cause for that the thing which redoundeth to your praise and commendations as you think which is the manifesting of your loue bréedeth to them a certaine spot in their honour which often times they can not easily deface Wherefore it is more than expedient to obserue this modestie and constancie in vs not that I meane to restraine my selfe vnto this lawe séeing that all my glory and felicitie dependeth vpon you in such manner that I desire no greater happinesse in this world then that the loue and dutifull obedience I beare vnto you should be published and made knowne vnto the world to the end that all those that shall heare of your great valour and my meane estate may know my great good fortune to haue the meanes to serue you as I doe Wherefore my Lord in my opinion you ought to take the spéeches Gastilles hath written vnto you to be vsed by the lady Leonorine in good part and greatly to your aduantage for I dare warrant you on mine honour that your affections are both alike and to say the truth she hath behaued her selfe most wisely to dissemble the matter so well as she hath done in the Emperors presence I deny not but she hath some cause to be impatient considering the message I deliuered vnto her in your behalfe but that is easie to be cured although the loue shée hath borne you so long time should be wholly extinguished which I can hardly beléeue euen as a bone that is broken in two péeces set togither againe is stronger in that place than in any other part so you being there and in her companie shall winne that you finde broken and by that meanes make it stronger than euer it was before Therefore I am of aduise that fulfilling her desire you goe vnto her and that as soone as possibly you may Alas Carmelle said Esplandian what good or what seruice did I euer doe vnto her thereby to haue deserued at her hands the least fauour among an infinite number I haue receiued from her specially by the report of your owne mouth If therefore shee hath iust
deserue one sparke of fauour at your handes considering your estate and the small valour that is in him although at this day hée is estéemed the best knight that euer bare armes for these hundred yeares Neuerthelesse séeing you accuse him of that that ought most to excuse him I promise you of mine honor leauing all thinges apart presently vpon my retourne hee shall come hether vnto you to doe whatsoeuer it shall please you to commaund him Gandalin saied the Princesse Leonorine thinke not whatsoeuer I say that I either take pleasure or displeasure at his presence or his absence but onely as my Father dooth and I for his sake knowing the great loue and affection hée hath alwayes born to King Amadis his Father and continueth the same to his sonne But hereof am I well assured that hée cannot so excuse himselfe or make vs thinke other then that herein hée hath done vs wrong Neuerthelesse séeing it is the Emperours pleasure I will kéepe the Present hée hath sent mée vppon the promise and assurance you haue made of his comming hether as soone as you shall bee arriued at Galatia Truely Leonorine played her part very cunningly herein for hardly would it haue béen thought or once imagined that Esplandian and shee had so faithfully giuen their handes and harts as they had done in the presence of quéene Minoresse as you heard before and Gandalin for his part knew not what to think although he had borne Esplandian in the tombe and set him in hir chamber as you likewise heard Then the Emperour asked him how long hée meant to stay My lord said Gandalin as little as I may for it were not fit for me to line at rest while my cōpanions are in armes Wherefore I most humbly beséech your grace to giue mée my dispatch as soone as possible you can Gandalin saied the Emperour I will presently send for my admirall wil cause men in al hast to be prepared that within sixe or seuen daies they shall bée ready to depart With that hee went into the Garden to recreate himselfe and the Ladies with him where when Gandalin perceiued Leonorine in an herbor of Mirtle trées walking pensiuely alone hee went vnto her and saied Madame my lord Esplandian commanded mee to certefie your grace that since the time hee departed from you and that he receiued so great fauour at your handes his heart that wholly is yours hath so longed after you that hee hath thought to die a thousand times with gréefe for the losse of your presence And to say the truth I haue knowne many men troubled with the passions of loue but I certainely beléeue there was neuer his like nor that more wisely could dissemble it which maketh mee greatly to doubt his person For that it is impossible considering the gréefe hee still indureth together with the small comfort hee receiueth of his familiar friends not knowing his disease but that hee must in short time end his daies whereby great dommage should then arise vnto all Christendome considering the straunge beginning of Knighthoode and great Prowesse that is in him which is such as that if hee continue as hee hath begun he will bring that order in greater estimation then euer it hath béene before wherefore Madame séeing I haue alwaies as it may bee you are alreadie aduertised beene a seruaunt to his father and that I am acquainted with the nature of his sonne and the daunger wherein hee is like to fall into if you shewe him not some fauour I haue presumed to shewe your Ladyship the hard case wherein he was when I left him as also that hee hath expressely commaunded mee to asure you that his only intent and desire is to be in your presence Yet perceiuing the danger wherin his companions do remain he knoweth not what excuse to make whereby he might take occasion for to leaue them wherfore he be séecheth you to impute his long absence vnto fortune and not to him that is born only to loue serue and obay you In vttering whereof Gandalin shewed so sorrowfull a countenance that hee made Leonorine ready to wéepe In which kind of office hee had so well ben exercised from his youth that no man could surpasse him in the same Friend Gandalin said the princesse Leonorine I know not what you mean I should do for him more then already I haue done nor yet for what cause you should imagine that I séeke to be the means of his death séeing that if he were but sick I know my selfe so féeble and impatient that with gréefe sorow I should not be able to liue one hour after Let it therfore be far from you once to thinke that I would euer be any other mans then only his and think it not strange if in the Emperors presence or before the world I dissemble as I do for I would not in any case that the least inckling of the burning loue wherein my heart continually flameth towards him should as yet bee once perceiued chéefly for the great good I wish vnto him Madame said Gandalin I am well assured hee will receiue an extream pleasure to hear these newes and that he wil leaue all things to come hether if you thinke it good That is my desire said she and I pray him so to do and you to persuade him therevnto While they were deuising Tartarie the admiral so called of the place of his birth entred into the garden being a man issued of a mean house but aduanced vnto great authority by his great wit valiant courage so that he commanded ouer all the Grecian seas The Emperor and hée talked long time touching Gandalins message concerning aid to bee sent vnto Galatia and in the end he willed in all hast to prepare thirty gallies Foistes with two thousand of the best souldiers he could find to man the same The admirall Tartary according to his charge executed his commission in such sort that within sixe daies after he was ready with his nauie to set saile and depart from thence CHAP. XXXIX How Vrganda arriued at Galatia and of the danger wherein shee was by the subtletie of Melie the Enchauntresse THe admirall Tartarie and Gandalin hauing taken their leaues of the Emperor set saile and passed the straights of Constantinople and without any aduentures arriued at Galatia within one wéek after their departure if they were wel receiued by the Christian knights it is not to be doubted for their number was so small and so dispersed that they were in doubt to bee able to kéepe that Towne with Alfarin and the castle La montaigne defendu But when they saw such aid they were in better hope and hauing receaued the admirall they deuided their two thousand men as néed required Mean time Esplandian had no small desire to know of Gandalin if he had spoken with the Princesse Leonorine how she did for the which cause being in his chamber hée sent for him Where talking together
Gandalin shewed him from point to point what spéeches had passed betwéene the Princesse and him not only before the Emperour but also in the garden And of my faith sir saied hée you do her wrong considering the good meanes you haue both to satisfie her and your self for what excuse soeuer you can make you are not so sore charged on this side that you may not spare some time to goe and sée her which shee craueth at your hands That I wil doe saied Esplandian but I must find the meanes take you care for that said Gandalin and let me go sléepe for I neuer had more néed Goe said Esplandian be here again betimes in the morning Wherewith Gandalin tooke his leaue leauing Esplandian alone in great care how hee might find some conuenient excuse to leaue his companions in the extreamity but God prouided for him for the same night about an hour before day as he began to slumber he heard a most pleasant sound of musick which you must vnderstand came out of the great serpent that hee left in the castle La montaigne defendu which at the time was arriued before the town of Galatia but little did he thinke of any such thing or that Vrganda had ben therein because he thought her to bée in great Brittaine This mellody continued for the space of half an houre and more which done he heard such a noise of trumpets Clarigals Phifes and Tabers that sounded so high that the sentinels of the town thought verily the enemies nauy had ben arriued before the same to lay siege vnto it wherevpon they caused an alarum in the town each man running to the wals being all of that mind till day when they might be hold the great serpent wherein Vrganda was all hung with long pennons and streamers wherat Esplandian was so glad that going downe vnto the Hauen hee presently entered into a boat with Talanque Manely and diuerse other of the principall captaines to sée who might bee there And rowing néere vnto it they knew Vrganda that staied for them on the hatches stretching forth her armes spake vnto them said My good friends you are most hartily welcome I pray you come vp into my ship that I may imbrace you With that Esplandian entered and as he meant to salute Vrganda she knéeled on the ground to kisse his féet whereat he being ashamed tooke her vp and saied vnto her Madame I neuer thought you would haue takē pleasure to mock with me séeing I account my self much more bound to you then to any creature liuing in the world And therfore for Gods cause if at any time I chaunce to offend you punish mee I pray you in some sort or other Most happy Knight sayed shée The aide I hope for at your hands before manie dayes shall passe mooued mée to doe as I haue done wherefore I beséech you take it in good part And with that shee embraced him and after him Talanque Manely and all the rest euery man doing her great honour desiring her to shewe them the cause of her so suddaine comming thether My good friends saied shee you shal know it at some other time when better laisure serueth mean while I am to tell you that it is necessary for you shortly to go vnto the city of Constantinople where you shall enter all armed apparelled in the same armor I haue brought hither for you and thus must I tell you that if you should deferre it till another time it would be preiudiciall to you all Wherfore I counsel you to do it vpon the first day of the next wéeke assuring you to be as well receiued of the Emperor as euer were any knights which your ease and pleasure in his company shall continue vntil the rolling whéele of Fortune turning about shall bring with it manie trauels passions and aduentures which shal cause many gréefes and sorrowes both to you and others And the better to make you beléeue that all I say is true I tell you that I my selfe shall fall into two of the greatest dangers of my life that euer I had whether it bee here or in another place I knowe not And which is worse I cannot by any means auoid the same not knowing any cause how nor wherefore it should be so although it be in a manner ready to fall vpon mee Madame saied Esplandian before you shall receiue any hurt in our presence wee will all lose our liues to succour you My good child said she mans destiny of force must bee accomplished But I pray you let vs enter into some other talke for this maketh mee melancholy Madame saied Manely Is it not your pleasure to goe into the Towne I saied she and I pray you send for Norandel who at this present I knowe is at Alfarin and I wil giue you as great cause to reioice as euer you had for that within my shippe I haue brought the king of Denmarke wounded in a combate that hee fought against Garlante Lord of the Isle of Calafre that by force would haue taken two Gentlewomen from him And although Garlante bee estéemed a hardy and valiant knight yet did the king bring him in such case that vnlesse hee had craued mercy the king would haue stricken of his head which he spared vpon condition that during his life hee should neuer after iniury any knight which Garlante sware and vowed in my presence for that by chance arriuing there during their combate I heard what passed betwéene tham And because I perceiued the King to bee in danger of his person by reason of the great number of wounds he had vpon his body I would not leaue him but caused him to enter into my shippe and layed him in the best bed where now hée is almost healed Ha saied Esplandian What good newes are these of my faith I thought verily he had ben dead wherefore madame I pray you for Gods cause let mée craue the means to sée him with the Vrganda led him where he lay but when they saw each other Esplandian could not refraine wéeping with the great pleasure hée took to sée the king Neuerthelesse for that time they had no great spéech together neither would Vrganda permit them to do it doubting least the king being yet but weake and féeble might therby bée hindered of his health Wherefore she caused Esplandian to go forth and entring with her into the boat they rowed to the shoare from whence they led Vrganda to the best lodging in the town with as much honor as they could haue done to the Quéenes Brisenne or Oriane if any of thē had ben there in presence The next day Esplandian pitying the great number of women little children that had ben kept within the town from the time that it was takē said to his companions that it would be better to giue them leaue to depart from thence then to hold them stil for the the longer they continued in the town the
said Esplandian you may command me and likewise set me forth for a coward hardy or any other what it pleaseth you to tearme me In which manner talking togither they came vnto his lodging where master Elizabeth newly come from Alfarin visited his wounds and the rest likewise that had cause to vse his helpe CHAP. XLII How the Knights of great Brittaine that were at Galatia imbarked themselues with Vrganda in the great serpent to saile vnto Constantinople and what happened vnto them THe Knightes that had béen hurt at the last encounter for the space of fiftéene daies after were forced to kéepe their chambers vntill their woundes were healed during which time Vrganda tooke great pleasure in reading Melies bookes which Esplandian caused to bée brought vnto her wherein shée found such wonderfull coniurations and deuises of Magicke Art that she was abashed how shée that had had them so long time in her possession knew no more than yet shée did estéeming the Enchantresse Lady to haue béen the perfectest schollar that euer studied in that art as it well appeared by her bookes Now the time approched wherein it was expedient according to the destinies appointed that Esplandian and his companions should goe vnto Constantinople wherefore as soone as their wounds were healed Vrganda caused them to bée assembled and standing in the middest of them all she said vnto them My good friends knowing part of the prosperities and aduersities which the heauens foreshewe vnto you all I came hither specially to sée Esplandian and you of whome I haue receiued great pleat pleasure perceiuing at my arriuall the loue and amitie that is among you with the great desire you haue to accomplish the order of knighthood not for the glory and recompence of this world but onely for the increasing of our faith and the seruice of God that shall reward you for it and to the end you may continue in this forwardnes and that the thing which I pretend may happily fall out I will from henceforth not only imploy my person but my Arte which hath pleased God to lend me wherewith I will aduise you what I shall find conuenient and necessarie for the augmentation of your honours alreadie spread throughout the world which to begin I am of opinion that you all imbarke your selues with me in the great serpent that shall bring vs vnto Constantinople to the Emperour for without him it is impossible that this great enterprise you haue taken in hand can come to good effect as also that hee himselfe before many yéeres are past shall be found in maruellous necessitie and such that he shall account himselfe most happie to haue your aid and with good reason for that in the end both hee and you shall ouercome those hazzards according to your desires Then shall you plainely knowe that this that I foreshew vnto you is most true While Vrganda vsed these wordes all the company stood still intentiue for to heare her and had it not béen that they estéemed her words to be most true they had doubted of the threatnings shée vsed against the Emperour he béeing so great and puissant a Monarch Neuerthelesse the issue of that trouble which shée assured vnto them gaue them some ease and contentation of minde in expectation whereof they made account in the meane time to prooue their strengths and forces that thereby their valour and magnanimitie might be further spread abroad And as touching their voiage to the Emperour as Vrganda gaue them direction it was onely the thing wherevnto Esplandian did aspire hoping that if the warres were openly proclaimed in the Grecian Empire and the Emperours daunger so imminent to shewe such valour and prowesse in martiall exploits that hée would not onely frée and acquite his father of the promise he had made to serue the Ladies but confirme the loue that the princes Leonorine bare vnto him in such sort that he might obtaine her for his wife which caused him to speake for all his companie assuring Vrganda that not one of them but was readie to obey and goe where it pleased her My friends said she then I pray you to morrow in the morning cause your horses to be shipped in my shippe and for armour take you no care I will prouide you thereof so well that ech man shall find himselfe content let it suffice you to imbarke your selues and set saile for often times an enterprise deferred ouer long falleth not out as mē desire it should not for want of good and wise counsell but by the negligēce of those that are appointed to execute the same Thus was their voiage to Constantinople agréed vpon in such sort that all the knights of great Brittaine entred into the great serpent taking with them Frandalo Melie and the captaine of Tesifant that had béen taken prisoner as you heard before leauing the Admirals souldiers for garrison in the towne Which done the ship went forward of it selfe sayling towards the castle La montaigne defendu where being arriued they tooke Armato king of Turkie and his two captaines with them for Vrganda willed them so to doe and sixe daies after the great serpent arriued within halfe a mile of Constantinople where she staied Then Vrganda caused her Knightes to be armed with the armour shée had brought which were white with a red crosse both before and behind most comely to behold They were in all fortie knights whose names are as followeth Esplandian Frandalo Norandel Talanque Manely the wise Ambor of Gandel Grauate of the fearfull valley Gandalin Enil Trion cousin to quéene Briolanie Brauor sonne of the giant Balan Belleris Elion le delibere Licoran of the white Tower Listoran of the siluer bridge Landin of Sariaque Imosil of Burgondie Ledadrin of Ferraque Sarquiles cousin to Angriotes Palomir Branfil Tantiles the proud Galbron sonne of Isamel Carpin his brother Carin of Carante Attalio sonne of Oliuas Bracele sonne of Bandoyuas Garamante sonne of Norgales Amphinio of Almain Brandonie of Fraunce Penatrie of Spaine Flamene his brother Culspicio of Bohemia Amandario of litle Brittaine Siluester of Hungaria Manely of Swethland Galfarie of Italie Galiot of Scotland Amandalie his brother and Calfeur the glorious Being arriued the shippe was presently espied by the citizens which they knewe hauing séene it before when it put them in such feare as you haue heard but hoping for him that vsed ordinarily to saile therein they all ranne vnto the walles and along the shore to sée him land wherwith the noise and rumour was so great that the Emperour had newes thereof béeing as then talking with the ladies Those newes pleased the Princes Leonorine so well that she no sooner heard the great serpent named but she rose vp and went vnto the windowes to sée if shée could espie her loue Esplandian but the ship was somewhat too farre off neither did it mooue from the place whereas it lay Wherfore fearing to be deceiued as she had béen before she began to
countrey CHAP. XLVI How the Pirate Crescelin nephew to the admiral Tartary brought certaine newes to Esplandian of the great army that the lordes of the east parts prepared to come vnto Constantinople THe report that Belleris Talanque and Manely vsed to their companions as touching the great preparation the Pagans made to inuade the Empyre of Constantinople and all Christendome caused them to thinke thereon in such sort that they tooke counsell to determine among themselues whether it were better for thē to augment the garrisons of the castle La montaigne defendu Alfarin and Galatia or goe to Constantinople to aide the Emperour And as they were in debating of the matter Crescelin nephewe to the Admirall of Gréece that not long before had stollen tenne Gallies from the Emperour to roue vpon the sea came to aduertise the Knights that as he sailed into Phrigia he had discouered in the isle of Tenedos so many Gallies Foistes and other vessels of the enemies that the sea séemed couered therewith who without doubt assembled to ouerrun the Emperour destroy all Christendome wherefore said he I thought to let you vnderstand the same not onely because you might prouide for them but also to desire your fauours to entreate the Emperour in my behalfe assuring you that if hee pardon the offence I haue committed against his maiesty I will frō henceforth do him so good seruice that he shall like it well My lord Cresceline saied Esplandian I haue alwaies heard the emperor reported to be one of the best princes liuing in the world most easie to bée appeased whē with reason men reconcile themselues vnto him wherefore I am assured that if he know you mean faithfully to serue him as you protest that he wil not only forget your fault but do you much more good thē to others of his mē and the better to incite him thereunto I am of this opinion that with your ships you presently returne to the goulfe Propontide there if it be possible shall find the means to take some Turkish gally thereby to know the truth of their intent and if you will Belleris shall go with you and according to your reports we will determine what were best for vs to do wherevnto the pirat willingly condiscended so that the same day he put to sea and with Belleris they coasted the countrey of Thrace vnto Solombre where staying secretly at the entrie of the goulfe they continued certaine daies to bring their enterprise to passe meane time Esplandian not being idle thinking vpon the newes that Crescelin brought was of aduise that Frandalo all the other knights of great Brittain should returne to Constantinople to aid the Emperor which he desired them to do I said he with the king of Denmarke Gandalin and Enil with the garrison of this place will stay the returne of those that are gone to Tenedos and hauing spoken with them either we will remaine here still or presently follow you Estéeme I pray you if this opinion of Esplandian were liked of by Norandel for that from the day he left quéen Minoresse he had not shewen a pleasant countenance but was so melancholly that euery man wondred thereat and although the rest were not infected with the like disease yet was there none that started backe but all agréed to Esplandians mind whervpon without long delay they imbarked themselues with so good a wind that the seuenth day after they arriued at Constantinople whereof the Emperour being aduertised was excéeding glad going to méet them at the hauen and hauing embraced them one by one not séeing Esplandian in their company hee asked where they left him with that the knights told him what intelligence they had receiued by Crescelins means from out of Asia the great danger prepared against him by the kings of the East how hée and Belleris were returned to sée the countenance of the enemie and to know more certaine newes and lastly what the occasion was why Esplandian stayed behind in the castle La montaigne defendu with the king of Denmarke Gandalin and Enil The Emperour hearing these newes was much abashed yet like a stout and valiant prince dissembled what he thought and not long after minding to preuent all inconueniences in all hast caused Constantinople and his other townes places and hauens of the sea to be prouided of victuals and munition as hée thought méetest for them meane time sending forth his captaines throughout all his Empire to assemble men in all places that might be readie when occasion serued Thus did the Emperour take care to prouide for his affaires and Norandel meane time to gouerne Minoresse who minding to trie him like gold within the fornace one day among the rest shewed him a harder countenance than vsually she did faining she had receiued newes that he loued a ladie in great Brittain wherein Norandel by all meanes sought to excuse himselfe but the more he séemed constant so much more did the Quéene make him beléeue shée thought the worse of him wherewith he was in such perplexitie that hee could not choose but say In faith madame as farre as I perceiue you meane to end my daies for the wrong you do me is so great that it can not well be iudged but by such as know your crueltie and yet the affection I beare you is so great that neither I nor any other can well expresse the same if presently they doe not shew the beauty and perfection wherewith nature hath adorned you Wherefore estranging me from your wonted fauour I perceiue my life begin to shorten wherewith I am not grieued were it not that dying I should loose the meanes to doe you seruice but not the benefite of loyaltie for whether I liue or die the same shall still accompanie my soule vnto the place of rest Which wordes when Norandel had vttered the tears trickled down his chéekes Whereat Quéene Minoresse tooke such pitie that forgetting her dissimulation with a smiling countenance shée answered him and said My good friend I now beléeue you well and therefore I pray you pardon my indiscretion for so it is that this that I haue done hath béene onely to auoid the meanes that should procure you to attempt the same Now I well perceiue your constancie according to my counsell at your last departure hence remember I beséech you how necessarie dissimulation is to such as are infected with the like disease I meane it should not bée betwéene vs two but before the world that they perceiue it not Madame said Norandel I will not if I may offend your Grace knowing mine owne constancie so well that impossible it were for me to withdrawe my loue from you as also not to serue and honour you yea though you should reward mée with the greatest cruelties that all such as loue are not loued might endure While they thus deuised togither the Princesse Leonorine that serued them as a watch entertained Frandalo and the rest and making as
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