the sea although hee is well known by the name of Frandalo for by his valor hée hath brought in subiection the greatest part of all this sea pilling and taking all hée findeth and by force of weather hath beene constrained to put into this Island his other vessels being scattered so farre heare him named Notwithstanding one thing ouercommeth him and vanquisheth his most couragious heart which is your grace my good lady said she whom he loueth honoureth and desireth to serue while life indureth But knowing not if his seruice would be accepted of he durst not presume to come himselfe in person to offer you the same although by him that next after your selfe may most commaund him hee had expresse charge to present it vnto you as bound thereto by promise And to the end you may giue credite to my wordes hee sendeth you this ring which is the very same you gaue to Amadis being in this Court if your grace can call it to remembrance With that Leonorine tooke it in her hand and beholding it long time she saied vnto the Gentlewoman Truly this ring was sometimes mine which I gaue vnto the best knight nowe liuing in the world In faith said the Gentlewoman a better knight then hée hath sent it you againe and that is my lord Esplandian his sonne I neuer sawe him that I know off said she True it is maister Elizabeth told me of a yoong Gentleman sonne to the knight with the greene sword that not long since was made knight in the Ferme Isle Vrganda being present and the next day was carried away in a strange ship of whome as then they could beare no newes Madame said Carmelle I know not who the knight with the gréen sword may be but he whereof I shew you hath had such a beginning in armes that if it be your pleasure to heare it you will bee abashed thereat tell it I pray you said the Princesse But as the Gentlewoman began to speak one brought the Princesse news the Emperour her father was come from hunting and asked for her wherewith shée knowing what pleasure her father would take to heare newes tooke Carmelle by the hand and led her into the Emperours chamber and doing reuerence vnto him she said My lord here is a strange Gentlewoman that can tell you newes of the good knight with the gréene sword and of his sonne likewise of whome maister Elizabeth made a long discourâ—â— and she hath ben conducted hether by two knights of the Ferm Isle whereof one of them hath fought with Frandalo and hath presented him vnto me and staying your returne I haue sent them into a chamber to refresh themselues Doughter said the Emperour both they and the Gentlewoman are most heartely welcome My lord saied Carmelle God preserue your grace without further honour vnto him shee stoode still and held her peace whereat all the company began to smile thinking that want of ciuilitie caused her to forget her selfe But not long after they changed their opinion Carmelle beginning to speak in this maner My lord I haue beene nourished all my life among the best knights liuing in the world yet let not your grace find it strange if at the first being in your maiesties presence I haue vsed so little honour to your grace whereby your Gentlemen should haue cause to laugh at mee For that want of vnderstanding howe to behaue my selfe in presence of so great a Prince is not the cause thereof but onely the ioy I conceiue in my selfe to bee a seruant vnto him whom I more estéeme then any man liuing and I only hold for my lord and maister not knowing any worthier then he And if it pleaseth your grace to know who it is together with the cause of my arriuall in this countrey I pray you send for the two knights that brought mée hether I will shew such things whereat it may be your grace will be abashed Gentlewoman saied the Emperour you shall therein doe mee great pleasure Wherewith hee commanded a Gentleman to goe fetch the two straunge knights who comming into the Emperours presence hauing kissed his handes and he welcommed them in courteous manner he willed two chaires to bee brought wherein hee set them being a Prince that alwaies entertained straungers with great honour especially if hee knew them to be of forraine countries That done all the knights Gentlewomen and ladies went néere to heare the Gentlewomans spéech when shee turning vnto the Emperour said in this manner My lord I thinke your grace hath long before this time knowne the castle called La montaigne defendu the which during the life of valiant Chartadaque and since that time you and the king of Turkie haue diuers time assailed to winne although in vaine it hath alwaies been so well defended by the Giants Matroco and Frerion yet in one day a knight alone hath conquered it slain the two giants whereof I spake with their vncle Arcalaus and Argantes the Porter of the same And which is more hath deliuered king Luisart that lay prisoner therein no man knowing it for hée had ben surprised in great Brittaine and secretly brought from thence by Arcabonne lady of the castle The which lady falling in despaire threw her selfe out of a window into the sea And to the end your grace may knowe how all hath happened it is so saied shee that Arcabonne who as then I serued hauing intelligence of her brothers imprisonment in the Ferme Isle departed expressely from the castle hoping to deliuer him but before she got thether he was set at liberty Notwithstanding she being loth to loose her labour to bee reuenged thereof did so much by her art that she got king Luisart as then hunting in the forrest into her tent the king thinking to succour a Gentlewoman that as hee thought a knight would haue defloured where he was so cruelly inchaunted that losing all his sences hee was transported without any mans knowledge into the dungeon of the castle where my lord and maister found him And continuing her discourse she shewed in what manner Esplandian was made knight and séeking to find the king hée was carried by the boat of the great serpent into the Isle of the Enchauntresse where he conquered the shining sword and after that brought in a little barke to the foote of the rocke called La montaigne defendu the spéech hee had with the Hermite the combates with Argantes Matroco and Frerion the desperatenesse of Arcabonne the determination she had to kil him when she found him sléeping in the hermitage the loue wherwith she was sodainly surprised And lastly the means how king Luisart knew him for my lord said she he is son of Amadis his son and of the Princesse Oriane And because at his departure froÌ„ his father he gaue him in coÌ„mandement to come serue the Princes Leonorine your doughter with the other ladies according to his promise he hath expressely sent me hether humbly beséeching theÌ„
to pardon the slow performance of his fathers wil but to amend his fault committed he will shortly be here to fulfill his charge as long as pleaseth theÌ„ GentlewomaÌ„ said the Emperor I knew his father for one of the best knights liuing in the world notwithstaÌ„ding you haue shewed such strange things of his son that I certainely beléeue he farre surpasseth him He shall bée heartely welcome when he commeth but if my daughter will follow my counsell she shall not pardon his long absence till he come in person to desire the same and let him bee assured hee shall not depart so soone from hence as Amadis hath done At the least we will make him so good cheare and my doughter likewise to whome I giue expresse commandement to doe it that hee shall not haue occasion to dislike our company Mean time the two knights shal remain with vs for pledges assuring you I will giue them all the honor and good intertainement that I can deuise My lord said shee the desire they had to vnderstand the things declared to your grace hath caused them for to come hether with whome by great good fortune I met for Frandalo whom he pointing to Manely hath most valiantly conquered had taken mee prisoner not farre off from the place where I first imbarked but as fortune would there rose so great a storme at sea that all his vessels seperated one from the other his ship was cast vpon an Island wherein by the same tempest these two knights not long before arriued And with that shee shewed what spéech they had with Frandalo and what passed betwéene them Wherefore my lord acquiting my promise made vnto them I haue at large declared the aduentures of the good knight their companion In faith saied the Emperour they haue shewed themselues right valiant knights and made a worthy present vnto my doughter for which I giue them thankes My Lord said Manely wée humbly beséech your grace that from henceforth you will accept his seruice for it is his only desire as he hath promised vs. Is that possible saied the Emperour For he is the vildest villaine that euer liued on earth and hath more wronged my subiects then euer any did My lord saied the king of Denmarke he will become a new man and therefore my companion did present him to your daughter which promised for to saue his life which we beséech your grace likewise to performe I am content to doe it said the Emperour at your requests though he deserues it not While they sat talking Gastilles that staied in the forrest to looke vnto the hounds entred into the hal and presently knew Manely the king of Denmark hauing séene theÌ„ in great Brittain before they were made knights where with hee asked when they came thether and being made acquainted with the Gentlewomans message he asked her if she knew the names of the other two that staied in the castle for séeing they are armed saied he vnto Manely in the like armes it is certaine they are of your company That is true saied the Gentlewoman for they were all made knights together the one called Ambor the other Talanque I know them wel said Gastilles for Ambor is the sonne of Angriote d'estrauaulx one of the best knights in the country of great Brittaine In truth said Manely wee were in great care how to finde them out but séeing they are in the castle called La montaigne defendu if it pleaseth the Emperour we will goe vnto them I am content said he so you promise mee not to depart before eight daies are past My lord said they wee are at your commandement Being dinner time the Emperor rose vp and went into the hall with the two knights and the Princesse Leonorine tooke the Gentlewoman with her as desirous to heare further nâ—â—es of the knight Esplandian CHAP. XXII What passed betweene the Princesse Leonorine and Carmelle touching the message she had brought YOu heard before howe Carmelle in presence of the Emperour shewed the great desire shee had to slay Esplandian and when shee thought to doe it she was so ouercome with loue that during her life shee determined not to loue any other which the Princesse Leonorine that already pretended part in him had not forgotten but returned with Carmelle into her chamber with a smiling countenance shee said vnto her Is it possible Gentlewoman said she you louing the knight with the black armes so wâ—l as you report that you could leaue his company so soon Madame saied shee I was presently giuen to vnderstand hee loueth another wherewith I comforted my selfe iudging his hart like vnto mine own that he could not chuse but sometimes féele the like swéet passion he caused mée indure What hope then resteth said the Princesse vnto you The same said shée I know to be farre different betwéene him and mee for when I am in presence beholding the excellency of his person I then receiue some comfort which to him is vtterly denied séeing that already hee indureth for her sake that as yet he neuer saw and the madame said she is your owne person as I said before Surely said the Princesse his loue is very strange the foundation whereof I cannot well conceiue Madame said Carmelle I feare ere it be long hee will not be able to indure the great extreamitie wherein he now is fallen onely for your sake specially if at his arriuall here hee find himselfe reiected of your grace hauing no desire but to fulfill your pleasure whereby he may account himselfe your own estéeming it the greatest fauour that euer hee can haue In good faith said she I will not refuse him to small a thing nor a greater as occasion serues but I pray you tell mée why hee calleth himselfe the blacke knight That can I not well doe said Carmelle onely that vpon a night as king Luisart â—â—e Talanque and Ambor were all asléepe in one chamber they heard so pleasant a sound of musicke from the sea that they rose out of their beds to heare it and it was so darke theâ— could not sâ—e but when day appeared they espied the great Serpent at the Hauen whereat they were so glad that descending downe the hill they went vnto the shoare where they perceiued a Gentlewoman in a little boat comming to land bearing in her armes a packe couered with blew Taffata which from her mistresse Vrganda shée presented to Esplandian saying vnto him Sir Knight my mistresse sendeth you these armes and willeth you by mee to leaue the same shee gaue you when you were in sadnesse and to arme your selfe with these that beare the deuise of her which at this day is the beautifullest creature liuing in the world as Amadis your father well did witnesse when he set the crowne vpon her head And for the loue of her your power and courage shall so much increase that your renowme shall spread throughout the world your mind mooued with so amorous a passion that
With that they were abashed that the great serpent began to leape and labour in the water as if it had ben in the greatest storm that euer was although the sea was very calme but only about the serpent where it raged in most horrible maner but that which most abashed the beholders was that the vessell cast forth such horrible cries that not one among them but his haire stood vpright vpon his head for fear And hauing continued in that maner about 〈…〉 more the serpent thrust his head into the water wherewith it sunk and neuer was séen again And with that they perceiued a farre off a great rock which being driuen by the waues came within half a bow shot néer vnto the shore on the top whereof stood a woman bareheaded and couered only with a linnen cloth to hide her priuities being inuironned by more then a thousand serpents as wel great as small which stung her in such sort that she wept and lamented in most pittiful maner wherat the knights of great Brittaine had so much coÌ„passion that they thought to enter into the ships and go to help her which Vrganda forbad them For said she besides the dangers that may happeÌ„ vnto you you shal lose your labors because she whom you behold which is the inchauntresse lady hath ordained it to be so With that the rocke sunk into the water and the gentlewoman vanished out of sight but not long after she appeared again vpon the waues flying from the fury of a monster of the sea that with his throat opeÌ„ followed after ready to deuour her in such manner that she came right vnto the hauen crying with a loud voire vnto Esplandian Gentle Emperor I pray you help me for none but you can do it wherewith Esplandian stepped forward holding the sword hee conquered in the old pallace of the inchaunted rock in his hand ran vnto her thinking to go néere the monster the gentlewoman that fled from it caught hold of his sword whether he would or not took it away wherwith she threw her self into the sea the monster after her Whereat euery man began to laugh saying to the emperor that if a gentlewoman had predestinated the same vnto him kept it long time another gentlewoman or she her selfe vpon a suddaine had taken it from him againe With that Vrganda was led vnto the pallace accompanied by the emperor with all the kings knights where not long after the Souldan of Liquie was deliuered sent to Tesifant about the beginning of the next wéek after the westerne princes took shipping and being imbarked with Vrganda recommending the emperor to God failed forwards till at the last euery man arriued at his desired hauen namely king Amadis that found Oriane very sad for the death of her mother newly deceased which much more increased wheÌ„ she knew hir father king Luisart was dead But in the end time made hir to forget her sorrow but not so soon as Amadis could haue wished CHAP. LV. How the Emperour Esplandian sent Norandel to take possession of the country he had giuen him and of the taking of Tesifant NOt long after the westerne princes were departed into their countries the emperor Esplandian would that Norandel should goe vnto the castle La montaigne defendu and other towns that he had giuen him to make warre against king Armato for which cause he gaue him a great number of soldiors with the which to make short he assailed the king of Turky had battell together wherein many a valiant knight lost their liues neuerthelesse the victory fell on Norandels side wherby he caused Armato to flie away retiring to his city of Tesifant which being known vnto the Emperour he departed from Constantinople with a great army going into Turkie ioyned with Norandels power and besieged Tesifant but feare seased so wel vpon Armato that he found means to flie away leaue the town which not long after was taken the princesse Heliaxe brought vnto the emperor who vsed her courteously and sent her againe vnto her father Ampheon king of Medea giuing her diuers rich presents News being spred throughout the country of Turky of the flight of king Armato as also of the taking of Tesifant diuers towns and citties yéelded to Esplandian that gaue them likewise to Norandel and because winter came on hee returned into Thrace where two of his nephewes sonnes of Galaor came to visite him and to receiue the order of knighthood which he gaue vnto them with both armor and horses minding to request them to trauell to Tesifant vnto Norandel thereto begin their first entrance into arms but they desired rather to take the way to Californie where Mâ—â—â— and Taâ—anque had great war against their neighbors which the emperor perceiuing caused al things necessary for so long a voiage to bee giuen them with so good Piloteâ— that in the end they arriued at their desired Hauen where they attained to great honor and estimation among their â—panâ— But 〈◊〉 to enter further to discouâ—â— of them 〈…〉 this present let them rest And let it suffice you to knowe how that as time passed Perion succéeded in his fathers feat and Garinter married in the east parts with Heletria quéen of Citharee and was the best knight in all the world And because it is declared at large in the sixt and seuenth bookes of this our historye we will passe it ouer at this time CHAP. LVI How Vrganda sent to desire king Amadis the Emperor Esplandian Don Galaor king of Sobradise and others to come vnto the Firm Isle and of the maruellous inchauntments that she made ouer theÌ„ VRganda being in her Isle not as yet discouered taking great pleasure to read Melies bookes knewe by her art death to be néere vnto the kings and princes whom she most loued and hauing great sorrow that worms should consume the flesh of so valiant king hes deuised to preuent the same which to do she took sea accompanied of her two cousins Iuliande and Solisee with diuers other gentlewomen and went vnto the Firme Isle where being arriued she sent to the emperor Esplandian Amadis Galaor Florestan Agraies and Gransador praying them most earnestly to come vnto her to the pallace of Apolidon for matter that touched theÌ„ most néer otherwise she sent theÌ„ word if they did it not that before long time past euil would happeÌ„ vnto theÌ„ and the master Elizabeth should bring with him the book that he made of the aduentures of the knights liuing in his time as also that they should bring their wiues with Ardan the dwarf Carmelle Gandalin the Gentlewoman of Denmarke Those princes hauing vnderstood Vrgandas mind failed not therin so that about the same time she willed theÌ„ to come they all arriued there where Vrganda receiued them not with a smiling counâ—â—nance as â—â—er vsed ordinary to doe but with teares in her eies whereat they being much abashed desired her