equall to your daughter And therefore by her meanes wee may all enter this day into Apolidons Chamber and there finish the solemnitie of this festiuall Sonne answered King Lisuart these are matters not appertaining to me and it is to bee doubted that such an enterprise as this is may induce some trouble or molestation in so worthy an assembly as heere are met together For we see many times desire to compasse a case of importance may dimme both the eyes and vnderstanding of the attempter and that in such sort as he may mistake one thing for another and so runne riot from all course of reason whereby he seemed at first to make his entrance My Lord said Amadis I still containe my former opinion and that the successe will be answerable to my desire free from all harme or offence but rather to the content of all this companie Well quoth the King your will shall be fulfilled So hee called Oriana whom the kings Perion and Cildadan Bride-like guyded by eyther hand and thus hee spake to her Daughter your husband hath requested a boone of mee which I haue granted although I greatly doubt that very hardly in my opinion it will bee accomplished according to his hope neuerthelesse you know that I haue alwayes kept my word and therefore aduise your selfe in doing that you shall bee enioyned Oriana being not a little ioyfull to heare the King her father speake so familliarly performing very great reuerence to him thus replyed My gracious Lord and father commande what you please I amready to obey you Then daughter quoth the King before you sit downe as a Bride at the table you must essay the aduenture of the Arch of loyall louers and likewise that of the Defended Chamber this is the boone I haue granted to Amadis When these wordes wher heard by the other Ladies a secret murmur ran suddenly among them some for the loue they bare to Oriana fearing least shee should not finish so high an enterprise and to her honour others more addicted to selfe conceit made promise to them of going beyond her Notwithstanding this striuing had but a small continuance because the King had a hand in the businesse and he well knowing that Olinda and Melicia were desirous to accompanie his daughter in her fortune entreated them thereto very earnestly But theire choyce friends and new married husbands were of a quite contrarie minde and laboured to alter them from this humor fearing their falling into danger of loosing that which they were not able to winne themselues and therefore they desired no such triall but were satisfied with enioying their long expectation By the faith I beare to God said the King you can no way mislike their forwardnesse but rather should highly allowe thereof because for ought I can perceiue they couet to make testimonie of their loyalty by better meanes then you your selues are able to iudge of and it is my minde that they shall make their proofe before my daughter Oriana do attempt it This pleased Amadis extraordinarily knowing wel that they could not enter into the Defended Chamber before her and this disfauour to them would be the higher augmentation of her honour So Melicia and Olinda went on towardes the Arch of loyall louers vnder which they passed without any impeachment Then the Brazen Statue began to sound so melodiously as euery one tooke great delight to heare it but especially Agraies and Bruneo aboue all the rest Going on further the two ladies entred into the Garden where they beheld the Statues of Apolidon and Grimanesa As they were busily looking on them they espied Orania almost vnder the Arch looking behinde her if Amadis followed her and instantly such an amiable blush mounted vppe into her face that with her owne naturall pale complexion made her appeare most sweetly beautifull No sooner was she iust vnder the vault of the Arch but the Image soūded much more harmonious pleasing then euer before had been heard by any casting forth of his Trumpet Gilliflowers Pinkes Daisies Colonbines Pauuces and a thousand other kinde of flowers the most oderiferous that euer were smelt Then entring into the Garden Melicia and Olinda called her to shew her the figures of Apolidon and Grimanesa but she was alreadie come to the Iasper piller where shee found all their names newly engrauen but could not ghesse how or by what meanes Herupon she called them to see what shee had done and thence they returned to the Images which they found to be so ingeniously framed as nothing wanted but life it selfe and speech especially that of Grimanesa which seemed so exceeding faire as Oriana grew distrustfull of her entrance into the Defended Chamber But this doubt had no long lasting for shee going neare to the Venus made of Agate only to take water of the fountaine the Statua put forth her right hand presenting her the Apple while snatching away the most excellent pearle hanging in her eare she made the like tender of it with the other hand Now albeit her two companions loued her very singularly yet could they not preuaile ouer their owne passions but beholding this extraordinary fauour some secret sparks of enuy took fire against her yet she beeing willing to leaue nothing vnperfected went to the Dedalus in the midst where-of as I haue alreadie tolde you was the Colossus of Brasse holding the Lanterne where the diuine fire was kept by the Serpents who looking on Oriana beganne fawningly to moue their tailes and bow downe their heads in signe of humiliation By this meanes without any other hinderance shee passed on to the midst of the Labirinth there beheld at her owne pleasure the theft of Prometheas which in the presence of the three Ladies vanished away and neuer was after-warde seene by any one nor the Serpents neither Wherefore the Ladies returned backe againe to the place where the Knights and other of the company attended for them If now their amorous friends were in the maine height of contentment iudge you faire Ladies that haue made proofe of loues sweetest fauours For mine owne parte I would gladly make you beleeue that they all felt such a heauen of happinesse as I could hertily wish to my selfe Now listen what followeth and perhaps you shall heare matters no lesse pleasing and delightfull The Ladies hauing ended these aduentures ás you haue lately heard Grasinda beeing much offended that shee had not followed on with them concluded in her selfe to approue that of the Defended Chamber before any of the other and thereupon comming to Amadis spake thus My Lord although my beauty cannot satisfie mine owne desire yet it is not so distrustfull of it selfe but it dare essay the aduenture of the staires or ascending to the Defended Chamber For if that be likewise ended without some of my paines imploiment all my life time afterward will be but irkesome and tedious to mee Therefore let come what can or may if I obtaine entrance my minde will bee satisfied
any counsell that comes from you because if I should doe otherwise it will be the ending of my dayes Well vnderstood Melicia to what effect this answere tended yet would â—hee not seeme to yeeld any apparant note thereof but hauing concluded his first dressing sayd my Lord Brunco for my sake I pray yee receiue a little sustenance and afterward take some rest if you can Then calling for such foode as shee knew meerest for him and with a hand more white then Alablaster making it ready for his eating she quickened such delicate apprehensions in his soule that his eye went farre beyond his appetite So commanding euery one to depart the Chamber that the least noyse might nor offend him she said You haue promised mee that you will essay some repose let me see how obedient you will be herein till such time as I come to visite you againe Then her selfe departing she called Lasinde Bruncos Esquire and said vnto him Friend you know better then any other your Maisters conditions make demaund therefore of such things as you thinke fittest for him The Squire was not now to learne what entercourse of affection had passed betweene them and therefore presuming more boldly in his owne wit then one lesse skilfull hee returned her this answere Madame I wish no worse to my worthy Maister then that good fortune would conduct him to some such place where he might make acknowledgement of the fauours you affoord him But it appeares to me that such as are desirous to recouer a wounded body first of all they should apply helpe to the place principally offended Which kinde of Physick instructeth me to entreate your pittie to my poore Maister who endureth not so much paine by the hurt so lately receiued as by a disease of greater antiquity and you that are the onely cause can best minister the mittigation Friend quoth shee I can tell how to helpe an infirmity wherewith I am acquainted but secret soares are quite out of my curing Trust me Madame replied the Squire if the one seeme plaine to you the other is no lesse apparrant for you are not ignorant that the extremitie of his affection to you was the maine motiue why he went to behold the Images of Apolidon and Grimanese in the Enclosed Island Lasinde quoth shee they that become sicke by such a strange meanes had neede haue much time to compasse their amendment without vrging any other remedy then that which experience shall repute most necessarie And so she left the Squire who went forthwith and acquainted his Lord with all the conference that had past betweene him and the Infanta Melicia wherewith hee was not any way displeased perswading himselfe that she had thus discreetly answered reposing as yet but slender confidence in the Squire And like as true louers often vse to doe he conuerted all to his owne best aduantage being much better contented then euer heretofore and thanking God that Andadones hurting him had fauoured him with such an extraordinary felicity For vnder the happie fortune of this wound he oftentimes enioyed her gracious companie without whom life was most tedious to him Some few dayes after Amadis Galaor and King Cildadan walking together Galaor perceiuing the nere approch of King Perion hee went vnto him with these words Sir I most humbly entreate your Princely aduise in a matter something questionable with mine owne iudgement You know my Lord quoth hee to his Brother Amadis that you gaue me to King Lisuart commanding me to serue him and that I should be wholy his whereof I made him faithfull promise and you likewise Now beholding how great a differeÌ„ce hath happened betweene you two during the time of my absence I finde my selfe very strangely perplexed considering what errour I may commit by taking part with him against you as also how iustly I may be blamed by him forsaking him in a time of such vrgent necessity Wherefore most Royall father I humbly craue your opinion in this case to preuent my dishonour on either side and that reason may bee preferred before mine owne will Sonne answered King Perion you may not fayle to follow your Brother against a King so head-strong and vngratefull for if you gaue your selfe to his seruice against all men yet your brothers cause caâ—ies an exception herein in which respect you may well forgoe your attendance on him not onely because hee declares himselfe to Amadis in his owne person a deadly enemy but also to all his kinred and friends amongst whom you ought to hold the prime place Sir replied Galaor it appeares to me vnder correction that I shall greatly forget my selfe and runne into no meane blamefull imputation by withdrawing my seruice from him before his owne permission to that purpose for seeing in the times of peace hee gaue mee honour and good entertainment what will be noysed abroade of mee to forsake him when affaires of importance be fall him Well knew Amadis whereto the speeches of Galaor aimed and that hee had no will to keepe him company wherefore formalizing him-selfe answerable to his Brothers fantasie hee thus answered him Brother although we both stand highly obliged to obey the councell and commaund of the King our father yet I will humbly desire his pardon in telling my minde concerning your intention Seeing you are so earnestly addicted to returne into Great Brittan and to continue in the seruice of King Lisuart it likes mee well that you should doe so For in the case that concerneth our difference I doubt not but â—â—w many good Knights soeuer shall come to attend him God who is a iust Iudge will in the end make him know what wrong he hath done vs and his ouer-great ingratitude especially to mee that haue honoured him with so many well deseruing seruices Therefore may it so please our Kingly father hee may licence your departure for I am contented with it Why then quoth the King God be your guide and I will rest in this hope that you may one day be the meanes of compounding peace in so vnhappy a warre Thus Galaor obtayned his desire for departure and because King Cildadan would shape some honest excuse to goe along with him hee began in this manner My Lords it is sufficiently knowen to you all to what issue the battaile came which I had against King Lisuart who only by your meanes got the glorie of the day to my no little disaduantange for such honor as in Iustice appertained to mee conuerted to my great confusion in regard that by the couenants on either side concluded before I was constrained for a limitted time to acknowledge him as my Commander and to serue him 〈…〉 with all my knights which was no meane griefe in me to accomplish But valuing mine honor much dearer then life I yeelded to controule and checke mine owne will and according to my promise to bring him a number of my subiects in his assistance whereof already he hath giuen mee summons and no
which hath so long time layen wast and ruined Moreouer for the earnest desire hee hath to see you hee entreateth you by vs to passe with what conuenient speede you may towards Constantinople where hee will welcome you according to your due merit Lord Gastilles answered our Knight I haue so often heard of the Emperours goodnesse and magnificeÌ„ce that although I neuer saw him yet am I earnestly desirous to doe him any seruice and to be employed as hee shall please to command me I must further entreate you said Gastilles to let vs see the Monster Endriagus that his liuely portraiture may be taken by an expert painter which for the same purpose is sent hither with vs. Here is Maister Elisabet said our Knight and Gandalin my trusty Squire also who was present wheÌ„ I fought with the beast they can easily conduct ye where he lieth But I feare his body is so infectious as you will hardly bee able to come neere it Let vs make triall of that replyed Count Salender to giue the better report to others how and in what manner we found him Our Knight perceiuing their vnalterable desire praied Maister Elisabet to guide them to the place where hee was assailed and to let them know the truth of all So they mounted on horse-backe for it was somewhat farre from the Gyants Castle and by the way Gandalin reported to them the manner of the sights beginning the doubt hee had of it and little hope or expectation of his Maisters returne And in this time of conference they were come to the place where Endriagus lay so stinking as if Maister Elisabet had not formerly giuen them excellent preseruatiues they had beene in great danger of their health But by this meanes they might come the neerer to him while the Painter drewe his Figure so artificially as nothing was wanting but life it selfe But the more they obserued him the more they found the aduenture to be so that no iust comprehension could haue been made of the substance except their eyes were reall witnesse Afterward they returned back to the castle again and soiourned there with our knight three dayes visiting the Isle in euery part and the day following they tooke shipping thence with so good a gale of wind that they took landing in the porte of Constantinople not long after The Emperour hauing intelligence thereof sent Chariots and horses for the Knights more honorable conuoye to his Court and himselfe accompanied with a goodly Traine of Princes and great Lords rode in person to meete him Our Knight offred to kisse his hand but the Emperour embraced him telling him that hee was heartily welcome as he that iustly deserued by his valour to hold ranke among the greatest Lords of the world For if I quoth he and such as resemble me are constituted in the preeminence and authoritie of Emperours of Kings it comes to vs by the meanes of our Predecessors whe got and conserued such fortune for vs but you hauing performed such rare deeds of Chiualrie are not only worthy of an Empire but euen of the Monarchie of the whole world and that meerly by merit You haue power mighty Prince answered our Knight to paint me in what coulours you please not withding all that I am or can bee is no more then your humble vassaile and seruant would it pleased God to afford such means as might expresse my earnest loue to you in any serious or importaÌ„t seruice So ceasing the Emperour walked along with him to a chamber which he had caused to be prepared for his lodging being so faire sumptuously furnished as neuer had the like bin seen except that belonging to Apolidon in the Firme Island The Emperour with-drawing left him accompanied with Gastilles and Count Salender went to the Empresse giuing her to vnderstand that the Knight of the Greene sword so much renowned through the world was come to Court To whom he purposed all the kinde entertainment could be deuised And therefore Madame quoth he be not sparing towardes him in the very best graces may be affoorded commanding your Ladyes so to decke and adorne themselues that it may mooue his desire to continue in our Court. For beside his repute and estimation of being the very best Knight in the world and bringing vnder awe and obedience that goodly Island so long time dispeopled I am vndoubtedly perswaded that hee can bee none other then some great Lord disguised for his better veiwe of strange Princes estates therefore let mee commend him to your very choycest respect My Lord quoth she seeing it is your pleasure I will not fayle in effectuall performing what you haue commanded me By this time it waxed and grew somewhat late and our Knight finding himselfe not halfe currant after his sayling on the Sea departed not out of his chamber till the next morning when hauing bin with the Emperour at Masse he brought him afterward to see the Ladyes all of them giuing him most gracious welcome Especially the Empresse But hee fell on his knee before her to kisse her hand and as shee tooke him vp hee said Madame among all the blessings of heauen bestowed vpon mee I esteeme this one of the chiefest to haue the meanes of seeing the magnificence of the Emperours Court famous in all places of the world and that with such affable lookes and entertainment as I take no little care how or which way my power can euer stretch it selfe to acknowledge this fauour by any dutious seruice And I would I could tell you in good Greeke Language how much I am and desire to be wholly yours but the slencer power I haue in this countrey may excuse my ill speaking and referre to full effect any thing wherein you please to command mee and that shall best witnesse my good will Knight of the Greene Sword said she the Emperour hath long time desired to haue your company wisheth with al his heart that your mind were answerable to his for your coÌ„tinuance still heere with him So falling out of one discourse into another the Empresse beeing wise and curious in vnderstanding all Nouelties especially the qualities and fashions of strange remote Countries enquired many matters of him whereunto he knew how to answere with so good a grace and discretion that she sayd within her selfe it is impossible but hee must be of as great prowesse as prudence All this while the Emperour entertained the Queene Menorâ—ssa and other of the principall Ladyes to whom hee said Can you giue such welcome to our newe Knight as may make him ours alwayes heerâ—… after It may be sweete Ladies that therein you should performe so famous a conquest as neuer any beauties did the like for I haue credibly heard that infinite dangers of death can neuer daunt him to maintaine all their rights that request it of him In good faith answered the Dutchesse mother to Gastilles we are all then highly beholding to him seeing he is so ready
protest before God this dealing of King Lisuart is both vile and dishonourable yea and so farre off from common reason that I had rather die a thousand deathes if it were possible for me then not to be reuenged and already I haue acquainted the King my Father herewith that he may prouide some remedie for it In the meane while let me entreate you al my honorable Lords and friends to lend me your assistance especially you whom this iniurie toucheth as neerely as my selfe it being offered not only to the person of my Sister your Cousin and neere kinred but also to Olinda others for whom according to our solemne oath and promise as my Lord Amadis hath well remembred wee ought in duty to steppe forth and stand as their protectors and defenders Lords said Quedragant as for my selfe I am ready to depart when it shall please the company and if I make any spare of my paines let me be excluded from all good opinion and I beleeue there is no man heere among vs but he will say as much as I haue done For if wee hazard our liues often and vpon little or sleight occasion we haue great reason now to aduenture further and not to be sparing of our very vttermost endeauour How say ye my friends haue I not spoken the trueth Then euery one answered that no danger or death should cause any deferring but it required quicke and speedy diligence to keepe the Romanes from passing through the straites of the Mediterranean Sea before any fight were made vpon them Easily quoth Amadis shal we make this prouision for to morrow morning wee will be all well shipt and winne the way before them which was set downe for a full resolue Now Grasinda was present at all this conference and she to giue them the more encouragement said Before God Gentlemen your enterprise is high and worthy of the greatest commendation considering that beside the good you shall doe to her whose helpe and rescue you intend you shal giue example to many other worthy Knights either of this or any other strange Country that heereafter by your imitation they suffer no shame or wrong to be done to any Lady or Gentlewoman whatsoeuer Wherein you will make your selues so memoratiue to them that she or they that now liue or shal many hundreds of yeares hereafter will sing rare Peans of your praises Madame answered Amadis God enable vs to effect our enterprise according as I know you heartily wish it In the meane while if you be so pleased you shal remain here in the company of Ysanie the good old Gouernour of this Island who shall be as obedient to you as to my selfe Maister Elisabet must go with me because I repose great trust in him My Lord quoth she you may dispose of me and mine according as to you seemeth best Amadis humbly thanked her and gaue command that euery man should bee prepared to go aboord those Ships by breake of day which Agraies and Florestan had there readily furnished according as they had order sent them by Gandalin Then the next day being all embarqued they set saile directly for Great Brittaine hoping to meet with the Romans as afterward they did CHAP. XVIII How King Lisuart deliuered his Daughter Oriana to the Ambassadors of the Emperour and other Ladies with her to be conueyed to Rome And how they were soone after rescued by the Knights of the Enclosed Isle THe day being come according to King Lisuarts promise that he would deliuer his Daughter to the Romanes to be conducted to the Emperour hee continuing constant in his wilful opinion without any possibility of alteration either of pitty to her importunity vsed by the Queene and all the graue aduice of his Lords to the contrary To effect the full issue of his owne humour he went to her Chamber where sitting downe by her and taking her by the hand thus he spake Daughter you haue euermore shewen your selfe obedient to my will neuer vsing any contradiction will you now hold on in the same mind according as Reason doth require You haue put on a sad and melancholy disposition at the marriage which I haue determin'd for you whereat I am not a little amazed Do you imagine that I would doe any thing but for your benefite and honor or can you conceipt any euill in clination in me towards you I sweare to you vpon my faith that the loue I beare you is so certaine as I do no lesse grieue for your farre absence from me then you can doe your selfe But you doe well know that it is impossible to prouide such an happines for you neerer home Wherefore I pray you that in vsing your wonted wisdome and discretion you would shew a more chearefull countenance reioyce in the great fortune ordained for you being wife to the greatest Prince in the world If you doe besides the high estimation generally to be made of you you shall glad your fathers soule who grieues at your strange alteration as no man possibly can doe more During all these speeches Oriana had her spirits so contracted that she was not able to shed a teare and therefore as a woman out of sense of her own sorrow seeing there was now no further remedy for her with a bolde and stedfast resolution thus shee replied My Lord you haue then for ought I can otherwise perceiue resolued on my mariage to the Emperor but therein happily you haue committed one of the greatest errors that any Prince aliue can doe For first so long as my life lasteth I shall neuer loue the husband you haue chosen for mee and next I am very certaine as oftentimes I haue told you already that I shall neuer see Rome rather shall the fishes vse their mercy to me then I will goe to a home that is my hell or dwel where I can haue no affection or desire And I am of the minde that you could not be heereto induced or perswaded but onely in the loue you beare to my Sister being desirous to leaue your inheritance to her and make mee heire to all the miseries in the world Neuerthelesse God who is iust will neuer suffer this your vnreasonable purpose to take effect sooner he will marry mee to my death When the King heard Oriana answere in this manner pitty and anger mixing themselues together made him likewise change his former language and thinking to win her by menaces said You play the foole with me and you will not yeeld for all the entreaties I can make but if you dallie thus with me any longer insteed of wiuing you to the Emperour I will wed you to the Tower and where you shall see neither Sunne nor Moone My Lord quoth she you can not commit me to a more hatefull prison then Rome and you shall doe me a great grace to make me an euerlasting dweller in your Tower Then arose the King very highly displeased and leauing her went to the Queene
order By my faith Madame said Briolania to Oriana vpon this discourse of Grasinda I now call to minde how when I came first to see you at Mirefleure Lord Amadis passed by the Tents and Pauillions there raised on the way while I tooke the fresh ayre Diuerse Knights were then in my company who fell into the like fortune as her Brandasidell did for they thinking to cause him come speake with mee vpon compulsion were all disgraced sore wounded You haue tolde me that oftentimes answered Oriana who receiued all these reportes to her owne aduantage as being well assured that this melancholy humor of Amadis had no other ground but only by his ardent affection to her So instantly they went all to rest because it grew to be very late CHAP. X. Of the report deliuered by Quedragant and Brian to the Knights of the Enclosed Isle concerning their Embassie to King Lisuart And of that which thereupon was resoluedly determined QVearagant and Brian Ambassadours sent to King Lisuart being returned back againe to the Enclosed Isle as hath already been amply declared beeing desirous to render a reason of that they had done mette on the morrow at Councell purposely so appointed by Amadis and the other Knights Whereupon Quedragant beeing to speake for himselfe and his companion began at large to rehearse his speeches to the King and the answer thereon made him Which quoth Quedragant was so short as wee can conceiue no otherwise but that he will deale with vs as hardly as hee can considering his prouiding of men for all partes making full account to shew vs no mercy And we haue no great cause to be agreeued thereat because our honour and chiualrie will thereby bee more renowned more then at any other time we can attaine vnto for if we beare away the victory it will bee spoken of through the world to our fame his reproach Now as oftentimes in the like attempts men declare themselues to bee of diuerse opinions so here it fell out for some allowed of war and others were more leaning to peace But Agraies who bare but little loue to King Lisuart for those reasons before alleadged vndertaking to speak for them all beganne thus Honourable Lords I know not how with any honesty we can giue ouer our intention of warre considering what iust occasion wee haue and beside our enemy is in some forwardnesse to come against vs. Notwithstanding it is no wisdome in vs so to suffer him but rather to muster our forces speedily and march directly into his countrie to let him wel vnderstand what wee are For if wee permit him to come seeke vs heere beleeue it vndoubtedly it will so puffe him vp with pride that hee who of his owne nature is presumptuous enough will thinke he hath wonne the day at the very first landing Besides we shall runne into our owne dis-reputation many waies in giuing occasion to the ill-iudging world not only to msconster the iustice of our cause but also to throwe some sinister opinions on Madame Orianaes iniuries for which wee are thus entred into Armes For my selfe I sweare to you vpon mine honour had not her earnest and incessant entreaties to me not to speake against peace been so vehement I had neuer consented that any Embassie should haue bin sent to Great Brittaine beeing so much abused as wee are But seeing our enemy makes such manifest shew of his mallice towards vs I am now discharged of my promise and absolutely resolued neuer to enter league of loue or friendship with him vntill hee haue felt how well wee can stand vpon our owne defence beeing enabled by as warlike powers as any hee can bring against vs. Therefore my Lords I am on the minde that wee should conclude on warre and without any further deferring so soon as our supplies are come to set away directly for London and there bid him battaile if hee dare come forth to resist vs. This resolution was wonderfully pleasing to Amadis who til then was in a continuall perplexity as fearing that warre would be deferred and hee enforced to render backe his Oriana than which no greater misery could befall him Wherefore seeing the greater part ioyned with Agraies to aduantage farther this opinion thus he spake Noble Cosen as yet I neuer noted any man in this company but hee was alwaies as forward to these affaires as any one could be If any man haue questioned those inconueniencies which commonly doe happen in warre hee is not therefore to be taxed as one that would exempt himself from the businesse but vseth rather such prouident speeches as in these cases are fit and iust And whereas you think it conuenient that wee should enter into King Lisuarts countrie rather then giue him the least leasure to seek vs here that deliberation hath alwaies dwelt on my thoughts if the rest of you my Lords and worthy friends will haue it so For by these meanes perceiuing vs to come so neare him hee may suddenly alter his former opinion and yeeld to that which wee haue requested There was not a man in the whole assembly but freely gaue his voice to this conclusion And warre being fully agreed on men were sent forth and scouts appointed to all places as well to heare newes from Great Brittaine as also for mustering men together CHAP. XI How Master Elisabet ariued in the countrie belonging to Grasinda and passed from thence for Constantinople to the Emperour according to the charge giuen him by Amadis AFter that Master Elisabet was embarqued he had so good a gale of wind as in few daies he landed in Romania where sending for the chiefest lords of the countrie hee gaue them to vnderstand his charge expressely commanding them to make ready a sufficient number of horse and foot for passing thence to the Enclosed Isle so soone as he should be returned from the Emperour to whom hee was going for the same cause Which they promised effectually to performe and hee leaft a Nephew of his named Libeo a young Knight and of good spirit still to solicet them in the businesse and hee set sayle for Constantinople where hee ariued without any impeachment Being landed he went to the Emperour whom he found accompanied with many Princes great Lords and doing him humble reuerence hee presented him a Letter from Amadis de Gaule The Emperour who had known him a long time welcomde him very graciously demanded of him where hee had mette with Amadis de Gaule of whom hee had heard so many great speeches Sir answered Master Elisabet I deale plainly with you I neuer knew his name to be Amadis vntill we were ariued in the Enclosed Isle and then he declared it himselfe vnto vs. For before that time hee called himselfe the Greek Knight as fearing to be knowne by his other borowed name of the greene Sword after his departure from you And that was in regarde of his promise to my Lady Grasinda for conducting her to the
hee hath receiued any great fauours Neuerthelesse our Lord hath hitherto preserued him and gaue him me at the first to loue and instruct him as mine owne childe At these wordes the King began to conceiue that hee would not conferre any further with him before so many by-standers therefore tooke him aside but the Hermite changed his discourse saying I beseech you Sir to beleeue that considering the condition whereto I haue been long time called and so many aged yeares already ouer-gone me I would not haue forsaken my Cell to bee seene among warres and contentions had it not been that my slacknes in so important a businesse might haue procured much euill wherewith our Lord would haue been highly offended And his displeasure would not only haue extended it selfe to you the people assembled in both these Campes but also to many other vnskilfull in the discords betweene you and King Lisuart with whom I haue already conferred so well perswaded him to peace as hee is ready both to listen thereto and to entertaine it according as I haue imparted to Lord Amadis your sonne who wholly referreth all to you Therefore I desire you Sir that preferring the good and tranquile estate of so many people before priuate spleens and passions not to disdaine what is freely offered you and which you ought rather striue to purchase Father replied King Perion God is my witnesse what griefe I haue endured for matters that are alreadie past with the losse of so many worthie men and how gladly I would haue gone another way if King Lisuart would haue listened thereto But hee alwaies carried so high a hand as notwithstanding all remonstrances made to him by our Ambassadours especially in reguarde of Madame Oriana whom hee sought to disinherite he made no account of vs at all presuming so much vpon himselfe that by the ayde of the Romane Emperour hee would ouer-run the whole worlde By this meanes hee made refusall not only to admit this difference to iustice but likewise contemned all hearing thereof Neuerthelesse if hee will yet submit to reason I dare repose such trust in my followers as they will bee ordered by mine aduice I haue euermore descanted on this discourse proceeding from no other occasion but whereto hee stands bound by right of nature and to his owne blood So that if hee will yet repeale the princesse his daughter into his former gracious fauour and not marrie her to any other person not onely to her and his owne people but to all them that know or heare thereof wee will deliuer her to him and continue his kinde friends if hee bee as desirous as wee Sir answered the good old man if God bee so pleased all this will come to passe Therefore if you thinke it conuenient elect two Knights on your behalfe to determine the differences where-about so many harmes haue alreadie happened King Lisuart shall likewise nominate two other for him and I standing in the midst between them will labour to ende all strife and contention Bee it so quoth the King Sir said Nascian I will not sleep before I hope to speed with such successe as the effects shall be answerable to your owne desire Instantly hee tooke leaue of him and the rest returning whence he came to finish what he had begun And presently King Perion sommoned all the chiefe of his Armie together speaking to them in this maner Lords endeared friends as we are bound to put our goods and persons in danger not onely for the defence of our honour but also to maintaine equity iustice so are wee likewise obliged to set aside all hatred and passion to reconcile our selues with our enemie when of himselfe hee profers vs peace For although it cannot be gaine-saied but that the beginning of warre may goe on without offence to God yetnotwithstanding in the end if through rash opinion fantisie and want of knowledge we estrange our selues from reason that which at the first appeared honest conuerts it selfe into iniustice And doe not thinke that I vse these speaches to you without cause Nascian a holy Hermite well knowen to the most part of you came lately to mee as you sawe to practise peace betweene vs and our enemie where-to King Lisuart is willing to yeeld if you mislike not Neuerthelesse I would not giue him any resolution till first I heard your deliberations For to mee it seemeth very reasonable that as you haue been made partakers of toyle and trauaile so should you also be of ease and tranquility And therefore I pray you that without any dissimulation you would all aduise for the best and God will therin further your counsell For my selfe according to the opinion of olde Nascian I holde it very meet that wee should make choyce of two Knights amongst vs and giue them ample power to determine with two other appointed by King Lisuart of all differences whereby this warre receiued originall Albeit I desire not to be credited in this case but rather will allowe of such aduise as you conceiue fittest for the good of all together Hereupon Angriote d' Estreuaus first presented himselfe of whom the King required his opinion Sir said hee you haue beene chosen chiefe of this enterprise as well for the dignity of a king shining in you as for the fauour and esteeme generally helde of you whereby you may resolue on the businesse of this warre as it shall seeme best vnto your selfe Notwithstanding seeing it is your pleasure that I shall first speake my minde I like it well vnder correction that if peace be presented vs by our enemy wee ought to accept it For as it falles out it is to our no meane aduantage hauing not onely the better of him already but Madame Oriana also in our owne power for whose cause wee first entred into the field Now for the naming two choyce men among vs to accord as you say all differences I know none more meet for such a businesse then the Lords Quedragant Brian de Moniaste They at the first vnderwent this charge when they were sent into Great Brittaine to excuse vs to King Lisuart for that which we had done in rescuing his daughter from the Romanes and I am peswaded they will vndertake the same charge againe if they were thereto entreated Now because this aduise found generall allowance Brian and Quedragant yeelded presently thereto whereat king Perion was highly pleased hoping the warre so hotly begun would by these meanes be calmely ended CHAP. XX. How Nascian returned towards King Lisuart with the answere heâ—receiued from King Perion THe Hermite being returned backe to King Lisuart gaue him to vnderstand all that he had agreed on with king Perion assuring him withall that hee would make them good friends before hee parted from them For I left him quoth hee with a purpose to conferre with the chiefe of his Army to winne them thereto if hee can Father saide the King hee dealeth most wisely therein
ought to take in good part and allowe of very worthily Neuerthelesse the election of an Emperour is of such importance as it is good reason to acquaint the other Romaine Captaines therewith to morrow we will send to them all and haue the matter in deliberation thâ—â— will wee answere Amadis what wee thinke best Flamyan did according to his speeches and after they were all assembled hee reuealed the occasion of their meeting and the request of Amadis for Prince Aâ—quisâ—… By right of linage quoth he the Empire â—s his More-ouer hee is wise hardy and vertuous what is to bee resolued vpon that either we may excuse or yeeld to Amadis in his request Euery man answered according to his minde but in the ende Arquisill was named Emperour wherof Amadis was soone aduertised and all the other Prince and Lords were well pleased there with especially the Kings Lisuart Perâ—on and Cildadan who with goodly troupes on the day following went and conducted him to the Church where before all the people hee was proclaimed Emperour of the Romaines and at dinner Amadis serued as his Cup-taster Gastilles as Pantler and Agraies as Caâ—uer After the tables were withdrawne King â—…suâ—rt beeing seated some-what beneath him reporting what aduentures had happened to him since he was crowned King of great Brittaine fell into discourse what good turnes and seruices hee had receiued by Amadis and proceeded on so farre therein that he said to him before them all Lord Amadis albeit very few can be ignorant in what you haue done for me since your first ariuall in my Court when you vâ—â—quisâ—ed Ardan the Pâ—oude so will I not now spare to speake somewat else for reasons which hereafter will be better vnderstood Then particularly he reported all the maâ—… which would be tedious to trouble you with againe But quoth hee for many high worthie seruices Lord Amadis I giue you my daughter Oriana as your wife leauing her as mine heire after my decease to my kingdome of Great Brittaine Then Amadis more glad and highly pleased then euer before falling on his knee most humbly thanked him Well Sonne said the King let it not offend you if I entreat olde Nascian to tell the Emperour how Esplandian was begotten and whose Son hee is that euery one may know how the marriage of you and Oriana was long since contracted The Hermite beeing present to satisfie the Kings request declared all the precedent fortunes and the promise past betweene Amadis and the Princesse whereby Esplandian became his sonne We neede make no doubt concerning the inwarde ioy of the noble youth beeing ignorant till then whose sonne he was Wherupon King Lisuart called him and auouched him for his Grand-child before them all to the no little contentment of Amadis who knowing the Emperours minde how desirous hee was to enioy Orianaes sister in mariage spake thus to king Lisuart Sir seeing you haue giuen mee that which aboue all things else in this world I most desired let mee likewise most humbly entreate you to giue the Princesse Leonora to the Emperour and then his ioy will be equall to mine By my troth answered the King this good motion shall neuer be denied if hee will haue it so Then I take your highnesse at your word replied Arquisill And I giue her you quoth the King with all mine heart Moreouer I will bring her with me to the Enclosed Isle that both these mariages may bee there accomplished together To morrow I purpose to parte hence for Vindilisore where she keepeth company with my Queen In the meane while you may expect mee at the Pallace of Apolidon whither my kingly brother may send for Galaor and because nothing else may be omitted to compleate our ioy and contentment I will send for my Cosen Galuanes Madasima The Marshalls of the lodgings appertaining to the Kings Lisuart and Perion gaue present order for their departure the one side to the Enclosed Isle and the other to Vindilisore CHAP. XXIIII How King Lisuart ariued at Vindilisore where his Queen Brisenia attended his comming whom soone after he caused to remoue thence and with her daughter Leonora accompany him to the Enclosed Isle AFter that King Lisuart was dislodged from the Citie of Lubania accompanied with the rest of his Armie hee iournied so expeditiously that hee ariued at Vindilisore where his Queene Brisenia expected his comming according to former intelligence sent her And although hee was greatly perplexed in minde seeing his reputation much impaired by those disfouours receiued from fortune notwithstanding the agreement hee had made with Amadis yet neuerthelesse like a wise and iudicious Prince hee dissembled his griefe shewing much better outwarde carriage then otherwise willingly hee would haue done And his owne knowledge was no meane incitation thereto by hourely pressing his conscience with a sensible apprehension that hee had beene the onely cause of shedding ouer-prodigally so much Christian blood vnder an vniust colour of reuenge which he preferred before all counsell and aduice giuen him by the Princes and Lords of his Land wherewith our Lord being iustly offended had scourg'd him with there rods not to make him murmur or gruge against him but rather to thank him for inflicting no heauier vengeaÌ„ce on him In meditation of these matters hee went to the Queenes lodgings and she being before aduertised by Brandoynas of all that had happened in his voyage welcommed him most graciously and looking vpon young Esplandian who followed next to the King folding him in her armes sweetly kissing him thus she spake My worthie sonne blessed bee the houre of thy birth hauing in thy young dayes done such seruice to the King as but by thy good aduise as I haue vnderstood he had neuer seene his owne kingdome any more Madame answered the King I hope seeing hee hath begun so well not any one houre shall passe him but will encrease in him both will and power of proceeding on better better For I assure you that beside the right of nature which iustly incites mee to wish him well no day can passe ouer my head but I must needs confesse a perticuliar affection to him for the great happinesse I enioy by him While thus the King and Queen conferred together concerning Esplandian the other Princes and Lords were kindely entertained by the Ladies Gentlewomen who beeing curious in inquiry how the fights had beene performed betweene the Kings people and them belonging to Amadis were a long while without any other language But when they heard of the purposed marriages that they must likewise goe to the Enclosed Isle this raised much more pleasure in them then the recitall of colde feares and Alarums whereon they wholly conferred before For now one made full account to try the Arch of loyall louers others the Defended chamber and the other singularities in the Isle and in these delightes they spent the whole day But the houre of rest beeing come the King withdrew into the
Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen Son quoth she to Galaor we will part hence this next ensuing weeke in the meane while take order for shipping and all things needefull for our voyage And therefore presently sent for sailers who hauing vnderstood his pleasure made immediate prouision of the very best Ship the King had and went aboarde the sixt day following Not farre had they sailed from the coast of Gaule but they descried a vessell on the Sea well fitted with the winde and making nimble speed the Pilot or Master striking saile so soone as hee espyed the Queenes shippe Whereupon the Knights of the Enclosed Isle thinking them to be Coursaires or Pirates forthwith armed themselues and to vnderstand the truth sent one of their Squires in a Squiffe towardes them to demand of whence they were and whither they intended The Squire drawing neare vnto them called out aloude vnto them saying Hoe aboard there they in the Shippe here not farre off from you in kindnesse sent to knowe what you are and whither you are bound My friend quoth a knight standing on the Decke there is a Ladie of honour in this vessell whose voyage tendeth to the Enclosed Isle Beleeue mee Sir replied the Squire then shee hath met with company if she be so pleased for they that sent mee to you are sayling thither and you may safely come aboard them Which words being ended he returned to them he came from In the meane space that knight that was aboue went downe to the Ladie and acquainted her with the Squires message by meanes wherof shee sent one in a Frigate presently away to vnderstand the truth and whether vpon the Squires words shee might safely come to them or no and so went nearer to the Queenes Ship where Angriote being first of all seene the other Knight spake thus vnto him Sir a Squire of yours not long since came to vs to know what wee were and whither our trauaile intended Wee gaue him answere that wee were bound directly for the Enclosed Isle and thither hee said was likewise your intention now Sir because wee haue in charge a Princeste of great esteeme we pray you giue vs some assurance of your companie Knight answered Angriote if you please to come aboord of vs the Ladie you talke of shall finde a Queene heere who wil gladly welcome her into her company and giue her as gracious entertainment as shee can desire to haue Sir said the knight I heartily thanke you for her and this I dare assure you that hauing heard her cause and the reason of her trauailing thus on the Sea you will so much compassionate her case as not to deny her your helpe if shee require it of you So taking leaue hee returned to the other vessell which presently came and ioyned with the Queens Then came vp a Ladie in a garment of black cloath shewing both she and all her companie very sad and disconsolate lookes whereat Angriote who well obserued them was much abashed reputing her by her countenance to bee a Lady of good discent and reputation And courteously saluting her demanded if shee pleased to ascend and visit the Queene Sir Knight quoth shee I will doe what shall please you neuerthelesse I pray you name her to me and them that are in her companie Madam said Angriote she is the Queene of Gaule my Lord Galaor her sonne is with her and three other knights of the Enclosed Isle whither we are sayling Then will I attend vpon her and you thither replied the Lady So Angriote supporting her by the hand brought her into the Queenes Cabin and shee hauing vnderstood all that you haue heard already welcommed her most gratiously but the Lady â—…ing much oppressed with griefe fell downe at her feete intending to kisse them which the Queene would not permit put raysed her gently desiting to know the cause of her sorrow Madam quoth shee though now I am left quite naked of all fortunes blessings and fauours hauing no other comfort or repose but only the recytall of my misfortunes yet you may beleeue mee that I was not long time since a â—…dy of great qualitie and married to the disceaâ—ed King of Dacia by whom I had two Sonnes and one only infortunate daughter and so much the more infortunate in hir Birth by being the death of the King hiâ— Father and the totall ruine of mee and her brethren for you must vnderstand Madam that after shee was married to the Duke of â—…tia one of the greatest neighbouring Princes to my Countrie by how much the day of her Bridall was pleasing by so much the more was this mariage wretched and miserable For very soone after the solemnitie the Duke my new sonne in Law beeing yong and ambitious of rule conspired the death of my husband and of my two other children the eldest of them hauing not as then attained to the age of fourteene yeares According to his proiect so did he performe it vpon my Lord appointing a day pretending an honest visitation of vs accompanied with a great number of his people which as hee said were brought with him for our greater honour the King my husband no way misdoubting the premeditated treason rode foorth to meete him and as hee embraced him tâ—… villaine drewe a pocket-dagger and cruely murdered him Both my sonnes in a faire fortunate hoâ—â—e for them came riding a good distance behinde their father and heairng of this bloody tumult returned in a maine gallop backe to the Citie where the traytor holds them as yet sharply besieged Then was I absent in a pilgrimage to our Ladie at a very ancient Church builded on the top of a high Promoâ—â—oâ—â—e and there I was aduertised of my mis-hap If then I was in woefull extreamâ—…y or no be you my iudge good Madame considering I in a moment found my selfe vtterly destitute of all remâ—â—â—e and forsaken of any hope so that but for the comfort and aduise giuen mee by these two Knights which keepe me company I had not liued one only houre They called to remeÌ„brance one nan ed Amadis de Gaule who is said to be the refuge and support of all afflicted Ladies neuer denying them his assistance Whereupon I haue attempted this long voyage to finde him at the Enclosed Isle where hee is affirmed certainely to be with a great number of other good Knights his companions in Armes When the wrong done me by this wicked sonne in lawe shall be knowne to that noble Lord and his other friends how extreamly hee maintaines the siege against mine owne naturall sonnes I hope hee and they will take compassion on me and giue mee such succour as by meanes thereof I shall expell the enemy out of my countrie for my subiects attend nothing else but to vndertake Armes against him they want but only a comamnder to leade them Greatly was the Queen mooued to pittie hearing the misfortunes which besell the Queene of Dacia and the three Knights were so nearly
THE THIRD BOOKE Of Amadis de Gaule CONTAINING THE DISCORDS and warres which befell in Great Brittaine and there about occasioned by the bad counsell which King Lisuart receiued from Gandandell and Brocadan against Amadis and his followers whereby many good Knights afterward on either side cruelly concluded their Liues Written in French by the Lord of Essars Nicholas de Herberay Commissarie in Ordinarie for the Kings Artillerie and his Lieutenant in the Countrie and Gouernement of Picardie vnder Monsicur de Brissac Great Master and Captaine Generall of the said Artillerie Translated into English by A. M. LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES dwelling in Foster-lane 1618. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE SIR PHILLIP HERBERT Knight Earle of Montgomerie Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter c. RIght honourable according to the saying of Cicero writing in the commendation of Histories he auoucheth them to be the Treasure of things past the patterne of those that are to come the picture of mans life the touch-stone of our actions and the full perfecter of our honour And Marcus Varro saith They are the witnesse of Times the light of Truth the life of Memorie the Mistresse of life and the Messenger of Antiquitie And in very deede Noble Lord Histories cause vs to see those things without danger which millions of men haue experimented with losse of their liues honour and goods making many wise by others perill and exciting imitation of precedent mens vertues only to reach the like height of their vnconquerable happinesse Wisdome wonne by experience proues oftentimes very perillous and questionlesse is so long in the comming that a man may die before hee can come neere it so that a second life were necessarily required and all in imployment only about it It is therefore to be hastened forward by the search of passed examples where of Historie affordeth the greatest plentie Warranted then by so worthie presidents but more especially by an honourable Ladies earnest importunitie for these two labours by mee vndertaken and now after longer delay then was intended fully concluded I am bolde to present your honour with these two Bookes or parts of Amadis de Gauâ—e the Third and the Fourth neuer extant before in our English and which long since had been with your Honor but that I had a purpose according to my promise to that most Noble Ladie to haue published the whole first five volumes together where-of three haue formerly though very corruptly beene translated and printed but these not till now May it please your Honour to accept these two in the meane time and to make amends for so long iniuring your worthie expectation in Michaelmas Terme next ensuing the two former parts the First and Second somewhat better suted then before will come to kisse your Noble hand And then the Fift and Sixt shall immediately followe with all the speed conueniently may be vsed and so successiuely the other volumes of the Historie if time will giue leaue to finish them all So humbly crauing pardon of your Honour for this my present boldnesse and but such kinde acceptation of my good will as may encourage mee to goe on with therest Among them that are fairliest affected to your continuall Noble and flourishing happinesse and wish it to eternall perpetuity Remaineth your Honors in all dutie A. M. THE THIRD BOOKE OF AMADIS DE GAVLE Contayning the discords and warres which befell in Great Brittaine and there about occasioned by the bad councell which King Lisuart receiued from Gandandell and Brocadan against Amadis and his followers whereby many good Knights afterward on either side cruelly concluded their liues CHAP. I. THE sonnes of Gandandell and Brocadan being as you haue formerly heard ouercome the Knights of the Enclosed Island came to seeke Angriote and his Nephew and with great ioy conducted them into their Pauillions But King Lisuart some small while before this victorie had with-drawne himselfe into his Chamber not for any good that he wished to the vanquished knowing alreadie the Treason of their wicked Fathers but because hee would behold nothing that might redound to the glorie of Amadis whom hee held in so great hatred as to let him the more familliarly vnderstand it he would hardly admit leisure to the two Conquerors to haue their wounds respected But very hastily sent commaund vnto them that they should depart out of his Country neuer presuming afterward to enter it againe least they would haue worse welcome then stood with their liking whichnewes were so displeasing to them that instantly they complayned to Dâ—n Grumedan Brian de Moniaste and other Gentlemen who often vsed to visite them And to them they said that seeing the King forgetting theâ— former seruices done vnto him held his fauours so far off and in such strange manner from them that himselfe likewise should not count it strange hauing thus forsaken them if they sought to displease him to their vtmost power Suddenly therefore arming themselues and mounting on horse-backe both they and their companions rode toward the Enclosed Island and the third day following arriued at an Hermitage where they found the Neece to Brocadan the friend of Sarquiles by whose meanes the treason had beene before discouered and because her Vncle had threatned her shee secretly absented her selfe from the Court when beholding Sarquiles shee came and embraced him and preuailed so fairelie with her as to leade her along with them But you must vnderstand that soone after Angriote and his associates were departed Grumedan who had beene their Conductor 〈◊〉 to King Lisuart and acquainted him with all that he had heard of Angriote whereon when hee had long considered he thus answered I know right well that patience is a vertue highly to bee commended and beneficiall Neuerthelesse often times of a slender euill it begetteth a most mightie ruine For proofe where of if I had at the first shewen such countenance to Agriote the rest as I should haue done and not entertained them so kindely as I haue done it may bee they had neuer entred into such boldnesse not onely to vse threatnings against me but also to enter my Country so preuily Notwithstanding hauing done according as reason perswaded me God with his owne good liking will allow it and it will no doubt redound wholly to my honour and their confusion which that it may bee the better knowne vnto them it is my will without any longer temporizing to send defiance to them and especially to Amadis who is the onely Authour of all this euill and so much the rather that by the very same meanes their pride may be chastised At this very instant Arban King of North-wales one of the wisest and most vertuous Princes in all the Land was there present who looking with discretion on this sodaine enterprise in the King spake thus vnto him Sir I am of the minde that before you doe what you haue intended you would vse the aduise of the chiefest men in
of child-birth then which nothing could more content him Notwithstanding his enforced absence from her bred in him such extremity of affliction as his spirits forsooke their ordinary functions and caused him to send foorth sighes in stead of words Hereupon hee purposed to goe visite his father King Perion and passe into Gaule commanding Gandalin to prouide shipping for him for on the morrow he would away in the company of Brunco Gandalin very diligently fulfilled his charge so that the day following they set to sea with a prosperous gale at the beginning but at length it grew so tempestuous and turbulent that they were throwen vpon an Island which appeared very pleasing to them by the plentie of goodly trees therein planted And because they were much wearied with long being at sea Bruneo said to Amadis Behold Sir here is a pleasant resting place after our tedious trauaile if you like thereof so well as I do and perhaps wee may meete with some aduentures I am well content answered Amadis and commanded the Patrone to make to the land Marie God defend ye quoth he from so great an euill And why quoth Amadis Because ye are but dead men replyed the Patrone if you take landing heere for this is the Sad Isle where the cruell Gyant Madraque liueth who is the bloodiest Tyrant in all the Isles about this Sea and let me tellyce that for the space of fifteene yeares neither knight or damosell hath entred heere but either they suffered a piteous death or else were detayned in shamefull imprisonment When Amadis and Bruneo heard this it was no meane motiue to enflame courage in them their maine desire ayming at the destruction of such damnable customes and therefore they said to the Patrone that he should take no care for landing them there which if hee would not willingly yeeld to they meant to enforce it So arming themselues and mounting on horseback without any other company then their Squires Gandalin and Salinde they rode on into the Isle giuing them charge that if they chanced to be assayled by any other then knights they should assist them to their power So long they iourneyed til comming vpon a plain they discouered a Castell which appeared to them very faire and goodly and directing their course thither they heard a horne so strongly winded that the whole Isle made report thereof I remember quoth Bruneo that the Patrone of the Ship told vs when such a horne sounded the Gyant went abroad from his fortresse to fight with such as his people could not conquer and his fury is often times so extreame that euery man dieth he can meete with all yea and his owne followers may not escape him Let vs on then said Amadis to finde out this deuill and they had not gone any great way of ground but they heard a great noise of men and blowes betweene them which caused their greater haste to defend any that were iniuriously assayled At last they espyed two knights very violently pursued by a great number of horsemen but on foote were they thus cruelly oppressed very neere breathlesse for their horses had beene slaine vnder them and yet they defended themselues couragiously Now as they approched neerer to them Ardan the dwarfe knew Amadis by his Shield whereupon he cryed out aloud Ah my Lord helpe your brother Galaor and the King Cildadan his intimate friend Amadis and Bruneo astonished at these newes without returning any answer to Ardan put spurs to their horses in their rescue But instantly they espied Madraque making towards them mounted on a great blacke horse very thick couered ouer with plates of yron In his hand hee held a Speare of such weight as hardly could any knight lift it vp from the ground Threatning his owne men he said Ye vile dogges are ye so many and can yee not foyle two poore tyred knights Giue place ye Catiues and let mee delight my selfe with sluicing the blood out of their bodies Amadis seeing him make towards his brother and the King Cildadan with more then an ordinary kind of furie and doubting their ability of resistance said to Bruneo Louing companion succour you my Brother and let me alone to encounter which vnfortunately tooke the thigh of Bruneo and passing quite thorow brake afterward in pieces against the Orelope And so vehemently did she labour in sending more Darts to them that her feete slipping shee fell downe from the Rocke into the sea making such a dreadfull noise in her fall as if some huge Tower had beene battered in pieces they in the shippe verily supposing hee had beene drowned But afterward they beheld her to swim so nimbly and to cut through the waues with such agility that no fish could performe it more actiuely but out of the shippe they let flie Arrowes at her and wounded her in three seuerall places All which notwithstanding so soone as she recouered landing she fled so swiftly among the thickets as if the diuell had borne her on his wings or a whirle-winde hurried her away Shee was couered with the skin of a blacke Beare and appeared so hideous and dreadfull to behold that shee might easily haue beene reputed some maine monster or diabolicâ—â— phantasma so affrighting them in looking on her that they blessed theÌ„selues with the signe of the Crosse Now because Bruneo lost much bloud by this vnhappie hurt they committed him to the Chirurgions care and attendance who opening the wound to see the daunger thereof the Gyantesse shewed her selfe againe aloft on the Rocke crying to them with a loude voyce You damned dogges doe yee thinke me to be a diuell that yee make such crossing signes No no I am Andadone who will doe yee all the mischiefe I can not sparing all possible paine trauaile to performe it They shooting two or three Arrowes more at her she ran ouer-thwart the Island and so they all lost sight of her But if Bruneo had not beene so ill they would haue pursued her and taken her if they possibly could to haue punished her as she well deserued but fearing least wâ—rse might befall him the griefe of his wouâ—… would grow to more extremity they launched foorth into the sea And now had Amadis leisure to acquaint his Brother with all that had happened in the Court of King Lisuart since the time he had beene there especially how hee and the great part of his kinred and 〈◊〉 had left Great 〈…〉 regard of the Kings refusall to Don Galuanes concerning the 〈◊〉 of Mongaza as also the outrageous speeches hee sent them And beleeue me Brother quoth he he will vndoubtedly repent it for within these fifteene dayes a great Armie hath past the burning Lake conducted by Galuanes Agrayes Florestan and 〈◊〉 all proposing to bring the 〈◊〉 vnder obedience to 〈…〉 as reason iustly reâ—…th And had not I made conquest of it for King Lisuart I would haue gone my selfe in person but I much rather desire to visite Gaule hauing no hope at all
passage not a little wondring where and how shee had found it Approching neerer to her in threatning manner hee thus spake to her Cruell beast who made thee so bold to offer iniurie to a creature sent by God into the world to doe him seruice and honour It is no food for thee or thy whelpes The Lyonnesse seemed to bee fearefull and euen as if she had vnderstood the commaund of Nascian couched downe presently on the ground and moouing her eares and taile in louing manner layde downe the infant and beganne to lick it Then the good olde man tooke it vp in his armes and in blessing it said Alas little Babe thy mother that hath thus vnmercifully left thee is well worthy to be curssed of God The childe beganne to cry and make much moane which mooued the aged man to such compassion that the teares streamed aboundantly downe his reuerend beard And not knowing how to quiet it with any present sustenance concluded in the end to driue the Lyonnesse into her denne and there to suckle it among her whelpes which as hee did hee said I commande thee by the power of God to whom all things liuing doe owe obedience that thou giue nourishment to his creature and to bee as carefull of it as to any of thine owne The Lyonnesse made no refusall but suffred the child to suck so long as it listed and then the Hermit taking it from her carried it a long with him louingly to his Hermitage Presently hee sent for his Sister to come to him to aduise what should be done with the child and his young Nephew was dilligent in the businesse but fortune was so contrarie that hee found not his mother at home because the day before shee and her husband was gon to a village somewhat farre off so as they could not be returned in the space of eight whole dayes During which time Nascian found himselfe much encombred for hee was but badly acquainted with the office of a Nursse and therefore finding no other remedie till they were returned he made his best meanes by the Lyonnesse as also a faire Ewe that had newly eaned and these holpe to foster our poore forsaken infant But returning now to Durin thinking to finde the child at the fountaine where he had left it he was greatly astonished when he perceiued his purpose defeated Neuerthelesse he so earnestly endeuoured to know what was become of it that at last he found the tracke of the Lyonnesse which had carried it thence and presuming that she had deuoured it in mournfull teares he returned to his Sister She vnderstanding this haplesse fortune fell downe as one entranced and breathing forth many pittifull lamentations 〈…〉 ssed the houre of her owne birth hauing lost thus all her hope and comfort wretch that I am quoth she what shall I doe where shall I bestow my selfe what answere shall I make to my Lady when shee heares of this misfortune O deare God wouldst thou permit so yong a creature to perish that neuer in it selfe offended thee It is I that am iustly worthy of the seuearest punishment and I would that this mishap had falne vpon my selfe for life is now but loathsome to mee Sweet Babe thy Father euen as yong as thou beganne to proue the dangers of this world and yet our Lord in his great goodnesse pleased to preserue him But thy mis-fortune is much more strange then his because when he was left to the mercie of the waues Gandales in a happy houre met with him and afterward did foster him as euery one well knoweth But alas little darling thou didst fall into the mercy of a brute beast that had no more pitty then his owne nature gouerned and so didst thou finish thy dayes before they were wel neere begunne These lamentations were sleeped in many floods of teares Durin being no way able to comfort her because for a long while death more appeared in her then life NotwithstaÌ„ding he knew so wel how to manage arguments of reason that hauing somewhat preuailed ouer her passion he thus spake to her Sister it may so fall out that heauen hath beene gracious to him in pitty for many other haue beene borne away by wilde beasts and yet afterward attained to great perfection Therefore the best way is to comfort your selfe for you may doe yet many seruices to the Princesse and to Lord Amadis who in loosing you shall sustaine a double losse What would you aduise me quoth shee to do marie this answered Durin that we mounting both vpon your horses 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ce to Mirefleure and soiouâ—â—e there two or three dayes before wee doe returne to Court. And when your Lady enquireth concerning her childe you may tell her listening somwhat to the counsell of Mabila that he is in the gouernment of a very good Nurse This aduice being allowed for good they departed thence taking the direct roade way to Mirefleure where they remained for a time before they would returneâ— to the Court and there let vs leaue them we going backe againe to the good olde Hermite About tenne dayes after hee had sent for his Sister shee came vnto him accompanied onely with her husband Then he declared to her how and in what manner he did find the childe in the deuouring mouth of the Lyonesse carying it as food for her young ones but by Gods permission hee recouered it from her and awayâ—â—g for the time of her comming to him the Lyonnesse and an Ewe had suckled and nourished it Wherefore Sister quoth he questionlesse our Lord hath reserued it for his seruice preseruing it from such dreadfull danger in which respect let me entreate you to prouide for it hereafter and bring it vp till it bee capable of such learning as I will teach him And if it be the will of Heâ—uen to blesse him with long life I make no doubt but he will prooue a worthy man and acknowledge the good which wee shall doe for him Then the Hermite brought her where the Infant lay sleeping vpon a bedde of leaues and mosse and shee no sooner saw him but his very appearance pleased her beyond measure and she asked of him what was his name In troth quoth he that is as yet vnknowne to me but to cleare vs of all doubt I will presently baptiâ—e him And so hee willed her to vnswaddle him and she espying the Caracters vnder his brests shewed them to the Hermite He bestowed such paines to vnderstand them that hee found this word Esplandian in Latine letters but his skill reached not so far as the Greeke Hereupon perswading himselfe that he brought his name from his mothers wombe hee would not rob him of it but confirmed it by Baptisme naming him Esplandian and so was he afterward knowne in many strange Countries where he broght to end many great aduentures as we shall reade heere-after But for the present wee spare to speake of them let it therefore suffise ye that the child being christened
for hauing a while absented my selfe from Armes whereby it appeareth to many that I am growne cold in the pursuite of aduentures for the dangers elsewhere hapning where-of I neuer dreamed Therefore that euery one may take true notice of me if heauen be so pleased I will in such affaires make such reall apparance of my duty that my renown which seemeth to lye buried shall reuiue it selfe againe and with much more glory then euer it yet gained Sonne quoth the king you well know that I haue euer beene a louer of good men and goodnesse and perceiuing king Lisuart to bee one of that number I haue iust cause to affoord him any ayde and fauour wheresoeuer I am able to compasse the meanes And if I should deferre it this instant the cause is easily knowen onely the difference betweene him and you But seeing that your intention is changed and that you will make one in so worthy a busines I will goe along with yee for company grieuing at nothing else but that the time is too short for leuying our people For if I had the leysure to prepare an Army assure your selfe I would leade along with me a Royall assembly But that defect shall not stay my present purpose I will onely take such knights as are readiest for me and so away vpon my iourney When Florestan heard this deliberation hee stood silent a long while as vnable to vtter a word but at last he said to the King By my faith Sir when I consider the cruelty of king Lisuart which but for the fauour shewen to vs by Lord Galaor in the Isle of Mongaza had cost the deare price of all our liues I hold it impossible for me to doe or wishe him any good Your Highnesse is not ignorant how long a time before then he deadly hated vs many times making his vaunt to bee the vtter ruine and extirpation of vs all Neuerthelesse seeing matters stand on such tearmes as now they doe I am wel contented both in the honor of you and for you are thereto so nobly affected to forget all iniuries at this time and will follow you as it is my duty to doe Moreouer by our agreement made at the Burning Lake for the space of two yeares I may beare no armes against him whereby I stand partly bound that if I will bee seene at all in the action I must needes bee for him Sir said Amadis the best course that we can take then is closely to pursue our enterprise without any other company then we three onely For if our number should be greater whatsoeuer we can doe will but deserue the latest welcome and therefore if it were possible in mine opinion wee would not willingly be knowne of any Let it be so then replied the king I like the motion well and I haue three Armours alike in all respects very apt and proper to our intent for our better knowledge and assisting of one another let vs goe presently and make proofe of them So leauing the Chamber they descended downe into the Court where presently entred before them a Damosell very richly attired mounted on a beautifull Palfray shee being accompanied with three Squires onely each bearing a goodly square Chest before her and the king thinking she demaunded for him went towards her with Amadis and Florestan saluting her courteously and demaunding if shee would speake with the Queene No Sir quoth she my errand is onely to you and these two knights to whom I am sent by the Lady of the Vnknowne Isle with these three presents which heere you behold Then causing the chests to be set downe and opened three Shieldes three Helmets and three Coat-Armours were taken out of them The Shields were Siluer seamed all ouer with golden Serpents so artificially wrought that they appeared neere to life The Coat-Armours were all alike but the Helmets differed for one was white the other greene and the third gold The white was presented by the Damosell to the king and the Coate-Armour thereto belonging the green to Florestan and the gold to Amadis with these words Sir my Lady hath sent you these Armes and desires you by me that you will heere-after imploy them better and your selfe also then for too long a time you haue done heere Amadis hearing her so forward in speech stood in feare lest his loue affaires with Oriana should be discouered therefore to breake her off from any further language in that kinde hee answered Faire Damosell I pray yee most humbly thanke your Lady on my behalfe and tell her I make much lesse account of her counsell sent me then I doe of her present which I will imploy according to my power My Lords replyed the Damosel she hath sent armes to you all three to the end that you may know and helpe one another if need bee in King Lisuarts warre How quoth the King doth your Mistresse know that we meane to be there and wee our selues within lesse space then an houre did not so much as dream thereon I know not that answered the Damosell but she assured mee that at this very houre I should finde yee all heere and in this very place further commanding me that after I had deliuered ye these Arms I should passe hence into Great Brittaine whither she hath likewise sent mee wherefore bethinke your selues if you will command me any seruice Now trust me Damosell replyed the King you shall not depart hence vntill you haue dined And so conducted her further into the Castel where the best entertainment that could be deuised was bestowed on her Hauing sustayned Nature and taken leaue of her three knights she set onward on her way to the Sea-side and instantly imbarked her selfe After her departure Amadis considered with himselfe that the day of battell was not farre off and that not without great cause Vrganda had sent them those Armes in regard whereof his desire grew much more earnest to be there then formerly it had done and therefore to hasten the enterprise he caused Gandalin secretly to prouide Shippint wherewith acquainting both the King and Florestan they resolued to set away the night ensuing Being all aboord the winde sate so conueniently for them that vnespied by any they launched forth into the maine Sea coasting about the Isle of Great Brittaine where very soon after they landed so neere as possibly they might to the place where the seauen Kings lay encamped hoping after they had once noted their disposition to ioyne them-selues with King Lisuart And to that intent they entred a Forrest where their Squires erected them a Pauillion and where they attended more ample newes of the Army sending daylie one of their followers to the enemies Campe to enquire when the day of battel should be Also they sent another to Galaor by whom they gaue him to vnderstand that they were in Gaule And the Squire had expresse charge to tell him that he left them al three together and earnestly desired that after
the ruin of so beautifull a place without any meanes in me to helpe it As they rode on the way at the entrance of a neere neighbouring Forrest they espied two knights refreshing themselues by the brim of a goodly Spring or Fountaine who seeing the Litter attended by fiue knights and two Damosels they imagined that some wounded body was therin where upon they made toward it to be resolued which when Archalaus perceiued he said Go bid yonder high-way spies come to me and if they make any deniall hew them in pieces but be carefull that you doe not tel them who I am lest they flye away with feare Heere you must note that these two thus sent for by Archalaus were Galaor and his companion Norandel to whoÌ„â—hen the other knights came fiercely they commaunded them to lay downe their Armes and come speake with him that was in the Litter What saucie Sir is hee said Galaor that would haue vs disarme our selues and then come to him You shall know no more then you doe replyed one of the other knights but if yee vse any longer contesting we wil make ye come to him with cudgelling I would laugh at tha tsaid Norandel I am sure you meane not as you say That shal appeare quoth they and so ranne against them but Galaor and Norandel vnhorsed the first two they met withall albeit they all fiue gaue the encounter together and yet could not stirre them in their saddles The fight grew fell and fierce betweene them but the knights belonging to Archalaus were not able to endure the blowes of the other two who tooke such order with them that three of them were slaine out tight and the other fled into the wood to saue themselues whom they resused to follow lest he in the Litter should get away from them in the meane while To the Litter they came found Archalaus left all alone because they that kept him company had quite forsaken him vpon the soile flight of the siue knights only there was a Boy remaining who guided the horses of the Litter Archalaus was not a little amazed to see him-selfe in the power of strangers who might well be reuenged on him for the outrage done them neuerthelesse be thinking himselfe on a sudden subtile shift he saluted them in very humble manner But they being iustly moued with choller comming neere and offering to strike him said Treacherous thiefe is this thy maner of behauiour to knights errant seeking their death that neuer offended theeâ— I sweare by heauen this is the last outrage thou shalt doe to any man liuing Galaor hauing spoken these words lifted vp his arme to smite him but Archalaus in great feare cryed out Alas my Lords for Gods sake mercy Mercy quoth Galaor If Grumedan iudge thee worthy of mercy thou mayest perhaps haue it otherwise not for to him shalt thou goe and by him shall thy vill any be sentenced Worthy Lords answered Archalaus you cannot doe me a greater pleasure then bring mee to my Cousin Grumedan who knowes me to bee another manner of man then you imagine me It is not vnknowne to him that at all times I haue laboured serued and honored Knights errant such as I now perceiue you are When Galaor and Norandel heard him speake so honestly and named Grumedan to be his kinseman they were halfe offended with themselus that they had giuen him such rough language and answered him thus What moued you then to send vs such an iniurious command by your men In good faith my Lords quoth he if you please but to heare me I will acquaint you with the whole truth Know then that as I not long since crossing the For est of the Black Lake I met with a Damosell who made complaint vnto me of a great wrong done her by a knight which my duty and order binding me to repairâ—e I pursued him according to her direction and entring the Combate with him before the Count of Ganceste soyled him But it chanced afterward as I returned hometo my Castell that villaine Traytour which first of all you slew accoÌ„panied with two other knights who lay closely ambushed to entrap me watching their fittest oportunity did all set vpon me and would forcibly compell me to make them Lords and Commanders of mine owne dwelling What shall I more say to ye They followed mee with such violence as notwithstanding all I could doe in my best defence they tooke me and sed me prisoner to a Fortresse not farre hence where they long time detayned mee in the most iniurious manner could be deuised not permitting so much as the dressing of such wounds as I had receiued in fight against them and are heere apparant to your view With these words hee shewed them diuers skarres and hurts And because quoth he they stood in feare lest I should escape froÌ„ them and go to the Court of good King Lisuart there to require ayde and instice of the gentle knight Amadis de Gaule or of his noble Brother Galaor by the suitherance of my Cousin Don Grumedan this very day they had me along with them in this Litter because I was not able to endure trauaile on horse-back purposing to carry me God knowes whether doubting the friendship and helpe of my honourable kinsmen that laboured to release mee out of their thraldome some few dayes since In which respect they no sooner espied you but thinking you to lye in waite for the same occasion they made no conscience in abusing you as they had done mee in most rigorous maner Worthy Sir replied Galaor on the faith of a knight by this discours of yours they were truely villaines For you being kinsman to one of the best-deseruing men in the world your wrongs haue bin too great and vnsufferable But let me entreat you to tell vs your name and to pardon the iniurie wee haue likewise done ye being ignorant of whence and what you were I am named quoth Archalaus Branfiles and know not whether you haue heard of me heere to fore or no. Yes that I haue and vnderstand your merit among the very best answered Galaor in doing all honorable courtesies to knights errant at what time soeuer you can compasse the meanes as Don Grumedan himselfe hath many times told me I am glad of it quoth Archalaus and seeing you haue receiued knowledge of me let me in kindnesse obtaine so much fauour at your hands as to take off your Helmets and to tell me your names that I may returne thankes to my Cousin Grumedan for your extraordinary curtesie This knight saide Galaor my deare friend and companion is called Norandel and he is Sonne to King Lisuart And I am Galaor brother to Amadis de Gaule Happy man that I am answered Archalaus dissemblingly lifting vp his eyes to heauen could any greater felicity befall me then to bee thus relieued with two of the best knights in the world This conference he continued the longer taking good note and obseruation of
Emperour let me therefore entreate yee faire Sir to aduise vs what you thinke meetest for our answere because the seuerall opinions of our Lords heere present are so different as wee know not which to elect for our best course Then he related to him in order all circumstances that had passed among them without omission of the least particle and the knight of the greene Sword returned him this answere Sir I am sure you can sufficiently vnderstand that the end and issue of such attempts are onely in the hand of Heauen and not guided or directed by the iudgment of man but in regard you would haue mine opinion in this case I will acquaint yee with my very vttermost power and ability If then Sir I had but one Castell onely and an hundred knights at my commaund and were besieged by such an enemy whose power twise exceeded mine If heauen affoorded mee so much happinesse to cause him condiscend to a peacefull conclusion vnder haxard of mine owne strength I should confesse my self beholding to him Neuerthelesse honourable Lords speaking to the other Barons and knights there present whatsoeuer I preferre as best in this case forbeare not you to counsell the King according to the fidelity wherein you stand bound and obliged to him Onely my most humble request is that hee would so much honor mee as to ranke mee among their number that shall be appointed for fight Let me tell you Sir replyed the King that I now call to minde what I heard once reported concerning King Perion of Gaule hauing the like occasion in hand as ours now is against King Abies of Ireland who forcibly had taken from him a great part of his kingdome Hee was deliuered by a single Combate which a young knight not aged fully eighteen yeares vndertooke against the said King Abies who was reckoned among the very best and boldest knights in the whole world yet was he slaine and King Perion put in possession of all hee had formerly lost But aboue all as a matter most deseruing note hee then knew him to be his owne Sonne that had wonne for him that worthy victory then tearmed the Gentleman of the Sea and afterward called Amadis de Gaule Thus our Lord in one day bestowed on him two mighty blessings by the recouery both of his kingdome and Son Wherefore then in the like case should not I imitate so worthy a man as King Perion and essay to deliuer my people out of those great tribulations as haue afflicted them by a warre so long and tedious Well may I graunt the Combat of twelue of my knights against as many of the enemy in regard that I am perswaded of them as by the help of heauen and the right of Iustice being on our side they will beare away the honour of victory What is your opinion Knight of the greene Sword Sir answered he I neuer had knowledge of that Amadis yet I long time frequented the Country of Gaule where it hath beene my good happe to see two of his brethren who are no way inferior to him in prowesse and I haue heard likewise that according as you haue declared so it fortuned to King Perion Now as concerning the fight of twelue to twelue whereas your Maiesty hath resolued before God I speake it had I beene in your place I should haue done the like Nay moreouer Sir if Garadan had demaunded a much lesse number let him be now assured he should not haue beene denyed were it to the aduenturing mine owne person against his And if it pleased you but to tell him as much I would willingly hazard my life to abate his pride that prates so contemptibly of all men else presuming vpon his owne vaine glory I hold it better quoth the King that you should be twelue equally in number and therefore I will bethinke my selfe to finde out eleuen of the best knights in my kingdome that may accompanie you in this attempt For which the knight of the greene Sword thanked him This being done the King returned to Garadan and spake thus Lord Garadan you haue demaunded the Combate of twelue to twelue and I haue yeelded thereunto vnder those conditions before offered and to morrow is the day if you are as ready as wee will be By my soule Sir answered Garadan you yeeld mee the greatest contentment that euer could happen to me and I could wish if it were possible that your men were as ready as those that aduenture for the Emperour Garadan replied the knight of the greene Sword so the King were so pleased and you possessed with the like desire of the Combate as heere you appeare to make shew of I would answere your heate this very instant houre What quoth Garadan doest thou doubt that I will flye from thee were I sure to be Emperour of Rome I would refuse that dignity rather then the offer thou hast made me For if I haue not man-hood sufficient whereby to ouer-come thee and take thy head from thy shoulders before it be night I will willingly forfeite mine owne in the Field The like hope of successe replyed the knight of the Dwarfe haue I ouer thee let vs then without longer trifling the time see whom Fortune will allow the best fauour vnto So both withdrew thence to arme themselues returning againe within a short while after and to the knights that accompanied Garadan thus he spake If euer you beheld a braue encoūter at the launce doe but obserue with what skill and dexterious iudgment I shall giue entertaine to this bold companion that dare make tryall of his poore fortune against me and repute me neuer to weare Helmet on my head if I doe not deliuer his head to the Emperour and leaue the Country quiet not suffering any of you to lay hand to weapon While Garadan held on these brauing speeches the knight of the greene Sword being at the other end of the Field cryed out aloud to him to defend himselfe Then couering themselues with their Shields couching their Launces and giuing spurre to their Coursers they ranne against each other with such violence that the knight of the greene Sword was halfe amazed But Garadan fell to the ground so farre lost in himselfe that hee lay a long while vnable to moue either hand or foote for the launce had pierced thorow his arme which did put him to intollerable anguish Then the knight of the greene Sword perceiuing him in such a strange perplexitie alighted from his horse to see whether hee were dead or no and as hee came neere him Garadan being restored from his trance started vp quickly laying hand to his Sword as if he had felt no harme at all Now beganne a very fierce and cruell battaile betweene them and it could not easily be iudged which side had the better because each stood so stiffely to the other as it mooued no meane admiration in the beholders And had it not beene for Garadans much enfeebling by the great abundance of
blood issuing from the wound receiued in his arme hee had giuen his enemie more occasion of trouble and daunger then as now hee could doe in so weake an estate At length he found himselfe so spent and weary that to recouer breath hee thus spake vnto him Beleeue mee Knight of the greene Sword in regard that I now know yee better then euer I did I haue iuster reason of wishing worse to ye then before Notwithstanding because it appeares to mee that you beginne to waxe faint I am well contented to suffer yee for a while to rest and ease your selfe How replyed Amadis doest thou now talke of rest and madest vaunt not long since to haue my head so lightly Assure thy selfe thou shalt take no rest nor I neither till one of vs two rest in death on the ground and therefore looke to thy selfe I would aduise thee Thus speaking hee charged him fierce and fiercer and at last let fall such a weightie blow on the toppe of his Helmet as cleft quite thorow the steele head and braine together so that he fell downe dead in the field Whereat the Knight of the greene Sword was not a little glad not so much for the ill-will he bare him as for the displeasure he imagined to haue done the Emperour and especiall contentment of King Tafinor So wiping his Sword he put it vp into the sheathe rendring thankes to GOD for the victory he had giuen him Then came the King and embracing him demaunded how hee fared So well my Lord answered Amadis as I haue no wound at all to hinder mee from entring a fresh fight to morrow morning with whomsoeuer you shall please to appoint mee Nay by my faith quoth the King you haue done enough for this businesse Then was hee conducted into the Citty with the greatest triumphe that possibly could bee In the meane while the Romanes carried thence the body of Garadan so daunted with his death that all desire of farther fighting was vtterly lost but concluded together to tell the Emperour that their companion had engadged them in meere despight adn his owne rashnes to decide this difference by Armes wherein he would needes ouer desperatly aduenture himselfe alone and so lost the day No one was against this determination but a young knight named Arquisil a neere kinsman to the Emperour who perceiuing the bad disposition of the rest and the iniury they not onely should doe to the Emperour Patin and to them-selues but likewise to the whole Empire spake thus vnto them How now Lords will you thus forget your selues and lose the reputation of our Empire Shall it bee bruited abroade that eleuen Romane knights thorow feare of death were so cowardly-minded as not to combate with twelue Allemaignes grosse-headed fellowes and very slenderly experienced in Armes So helpe me God put me alone vpon the enterprise and if you stand in doubt of him that hath foyled Garadan leaue him onely to me and settle your selues to the other for I dare assure yee if our hearts bee good wee cannot but speed successefully and recouer that blemish to our honour which the misfortune of our friendes hath throwen vpon vs. Let vs fight then and die euery man of vs rather then deferre it any longer considering we rather ought to make choice of a death so honourable then liue hereafter in perpetuall shame or so wretched a condition of life as ours must needs be Assuredly the valiant words of this young Prince preuayled so farre vpon the others pusillanimity and made them so confounded with shame as they all resolued to tempt their fortunes and euen prostitute their liues to any perill rather then to depart thence with such dishonour They were not so prompt and ready for the Combate but the knight of the greene Sword hating all sloth and negligence was as forward to moue the King therein desiring that the next morning hee would appoint the other knights to be in readines acording to promise they would accompany them to the field But the King would faine haue deferred it longer in regard of the woundes he receiued by Garadan and being vnable to preuaile with him he thus spake Knight of the greene Sword you haue already done so much for me as I dare not well deny you any thing you can demand of mee And seeing you will needs haue an end of this controuersie my Sonne Grasandor shall beare you company for in a better occasion he can neuer aduenture his life nor with a man of greater merit Sir answered Amadis you should reserue him for a more serious businesse without hazarding him in so meane a matter and where there is so slender need Ah Sir knight replyed Grasandor would you offer me a greater wrong then any man else can doe By the faith I beare to my King and Father if I had so much power ouer you as I freely graunt you haue on me I would then entreat you so farre to honour me as that I might keepe you company all my life-time and I could rather wish that I had neuer beene borne then not to make one in this elected number and in a case of such importance Seeing it is your pleasure quoth the knight of the greene Sword and that you will needs be one in the fight I make no doubt but God will assist vs for being in your company it cannot chuse but wee all shall speede the better So euery one withdrew vntill the next morning when the King came to see his knight whom hee found ready armed and perceiuing his Armour to be greatly impaired he said My worthy Friend I think it not fit that you should enter into so dangerous a fight so slenderly prouided as you are Wherefore let me entreatye to take other Armes which in my iudgement will bee more conuenient for ye both in security ease and aptnes Heereupon he sent for an Armour which hee had kept a long while for one of the best in the world and presenting it to the knight of the greene Sword said Essay Sir whether it will sit ye or no and for my sake arme your selfe therewith which I bestow on yee with as good a hart as euer I kist Lady in my life Most humbly did Amadis giue him thankes and looking on the Sword perceiuing it so well appointed he drew it forth of the sheathe when it appeared so fair and goodly to him as he said to himselfe that he neuer saw one of more perfection then that belonging to King Lisuart and his owne which he dearely affected aswell for the goodnes thereof as because he wonne it by the power of loue as we haue formerly declared in the second Booke in which respect he would not leaue it for the best in the world But seeing that this other weapon did well deserue to come to the hand of some worthy knight he entreated the Prince Grasandor to accept it whereof he made no refusall As they were beholding the rest of the
this tract it will guide yee thither for I must needs after my fellow to the Fountaine where wee must dresse the venison which wee haue gotten this morning Then the King left him and ascending vp the Rocke espied on the height thereof the poore dwelling of Nascian so enuironed with great bushes as well witnessed the wonderfull solitude of the good Hermite Alighting from his horse he entred into the first room where hee found the holy man vpon his knees clothed in a religious habit and reading in a Booke of deuotion which hee gaue not ouer at his arriuall but hauing finished his prayers hee arose demaunding of the King what he sought for Father quoth he not long since as I crossed the Forrest I met with a goodly childe leading a Lyonnesse in a leashe I pray ye for courtesies sake to tell me what he is for at the very first sight of him my minde gaue me that he is issued from some good place While the King continued on this speech the Hermite so heedfully obserued him that hee knew him as being the man to whom he had done many seruices during the time that he followed Armes In regard whereof falling down humbly vpon his knees hee craued pardon for his error in not giuing him such entertainment as beseemed so great a Maiestie But the King raysing him vp tooke him by the hand saying Good Father will you not resolue me concerning the young childe which I mentioned to ye Assure your selfe vpon my faith that the knowledge you may giue me of him cannot but redound to his great benefit Sir answered the Hermite our Lord hath hitherto shewen great signes of loue to that childe and seeing hee hath so carefully kept him as I shall relate vnto ye it stands with good reason that you as a King should loue defend him in such sort as no harme or displeasure should bee offered him You haue as appeareth by your speeches an carnest desire to know what he is In trueth Sir during the time that I haue nourished him he may be tearmed mine albeit it is not yet fully sixe yeares since I tooke him from the teeth of a Lyonnesse that was carrying him to her whelpes Wherein our Lord apparantly declared that hee is the preseruer of all his creatures because the beast neuer did him harme but onely suckled it among her yong ones so that by the milke of her and of a little Ewe which then I had I compassed the meanes of fostring him for more then a moneth In expectation still of mine owne Sister Mother to the other yong Lad that keepes him companie who afterward comming to me she became so good a Nurse and Gouernesse to him that thankes be giuen to our Lord for it I am perswaded he is one of the goodliest creatures this day liuing And one thing more strange then all the rest I am to tell yee vnderstand Sir that as I was about to baptize him my Sister hauing taken off very rich clothes wherein he was swadled shee shewed me a letter vnder his right pappe as white as snow contayning the word Esplandian and on the other side directly against his heart were other carracters as redde as blood which I could neuer vnderstand because they are neither Latine nor of our language Now in regard of that name which at his birth it seemes he brought with him into the world I haue euer-more since caused him to be called Esplandian accordingly In good faith Father saide the King you haue tolde me wonders but seeing you found him in such fort as you say it is to be presupposed verily that he was borne not far off from this Countrie That know not I answered Nascian neither couet I to vnderstand more then what our Lord hath permitted Well then quoth the King to morrow good Father I pray you meete me at the Fountaine of the seauen Beeches where I shall be with my Queene and a goodly company of Ladies Bring Esplandian the Lyonnesse and your young Nephew with you to whom I intend some good for his Father Sergils sake whom I somtime knew to be a good knight Sir replyed the holy man I am bound to doe what you haue enioyned mee and desire of God that all may be to his honour and glory The King giuing him the good morrow rode thence and arriued at his Tents about midday Now because none there knew what was become of him each man was diligent in enquiry after him and although his most intimate familiars desired to know where hee had bin yet would he reueale nothing but commaunded to couer for dinner As he was ready to sit downe at the Table Grumedan came to tell him that the Queene entreated him to see her Tent before dinner about some nouell occurrences lately happening Whereupon hee went thence to her and being alone by themselues shee told him that as they came ryding from the Citty a very beautifull Damosell mounted vpon a light ambling Hobbie and conducted onely by a Dwarfe presented her selfe before her And she being very sumptuous in her apparell rode by all my Ladies and women â—quoth the Queene not vouchsafing one word to them vntil such time as she came before mee when she gaue me this Letter telling me that you and I must reade it this day before dinner because thereby wee should bee acquainted with admirable matters And no sooner had shee spoken that word but she rode away from me so fast as her horse could gallop without permitting me the least leysure of any answere So she gaue the King the Letter sealed with an Emerauld chased in golde with these words engrauen about it This is the Seale of Vrganda the vnknowne Then opening the Letter the King read the contents following The Letter of Vrganda the vnknowne to the mightie King Lisuart MOst high and powerfull Prince Vrganda the vnknowne who loues and desires to doe you any seruice doth aduise and councell you to your great benefit that at such time as a Gentleman nourishea by three diuers Nurses shall appeare before your Maiestie you would embrace entertaine loue and dearely respect him for he is the cause of your quiet by deliuering you from the greatest danger wherein euer you were He is deriued from blood royall on both sides and partaketh somewhat in the natures of those creatures that gaue him sucke By the first of them he shall be so strong and magnanimous as hee will darken all the valour of the very best Knights that haue gone before being neuerthelesse so milde and gentle that hee will be loued and esteemed of all men occasioned by the nourishment receiued from his second Nurse As for the third beleeue it Sir that neuer was Gentleman of better spirit more Catholique and compleate in all good conditions so that he shall addict himself to actions pleasing to God auoyding all vaine affaires wherein the most of other Knights doe commonly spend their time And that which exceedeth all the
rest he will prooue the onely cause of planting immortall peace betweene you Amadis and all his Linage Therefore good King accept my counsell and you wall finde it for the best Yours in all seruices Vrganda the vnknowne These newes droue the King to no little admiration and but for the high esteeme hee made of Vrganda the vnknowen he should haue giuen slender credite thereto But presently he called to minde that this might be the childe which he found with the Lyonnesse wherevpon he sayd to the Queene I dare assure ye Madam that this day I haue spoken with him of whom Vrganda writes vnto vs and to morrow he will be heere with the good Hermit Nascian who hath reuealed strange matters to me Then he reported in what manner he met him and all that he had heard of the Hermit whereof the good Queene was not a little ioyfull as well because shee should see the childe as to haue some conference with the holy man in cases of Conscience and to be confessed by him Neuerthelesse Madame quoth the King I desire that you would not disclose this to any one vntill such time as hee bee in our presence Afterward they went and sate downe to dinner talking of nothing all that while but what goodly Harts and Hindes they had seene in the Forrest Then came Galaor and Norandell with their venison perswading the King to be earely sturring the next morning for they had fayled in the pursuit of a wilde Boare the most huge and strangest that euer they had seene But hee made them answere that he had receiued certaine letters from Vrganda which he would impart to them the day following and prayed them therfore in the meane space to cherish well the Houndes till all were perfourmed as he had determined Then rising from the Table the King went and conuersed with the Ladies so spending all the rest of the day vntill the houre of repose approached when each one with-drew to their lodgings and on the next morning hauing heard Masse each saluted other with the good morrow The day beganne to grow on apace and the weather was so extraordinary warme that the Queene commaunded the sides of her tents to bee turned vp for better receiuing the fresh coole ayre Then could she discerne a goodly company of Ladies flocking together beneath the toyles in whose presence the King being arriued the Ladies and knights conferring on what they best affected he drewe Vrgandaes Letter forth of his sleeue which hee had receiued the day before thus speaking to Galaor and the rest Now will I shew you an aduertisement that was sent vnto mee yesterday whereat I thinke you will no lesse wonder then I my selfe already haue done Then he read it out so loud among them that euery one might easily heare it Neuerthelesse they could not presume what this happy childe should bee to whom destiny had promised such gracious blessings onely the Princesse Oriana excepted whom it touched neerer then any of the rest not hauing in so long time heard of her lost Sonne This was a notice to raise suspition in her that this might be her child wherupon such an biguous perswasions ouer-tooke her thoughts that aboue ten times she changed colour yet vndiscerned of any there present for they were all attentiue to the Letters reading as also to the Kings speeches who demanded of Galaor to know his opinion Sir said he seeing that Vrganda hath sent it to yee we may well beleeue that it will fall out so considering the trueth of those things which so many times heeretofore she hath foretold and no doubt but God will so permit it for it wold be the greatest to mee that euer can happen in all my life-time to 〈…〉 faire a peace betweene you my Lord Amadis and all the rest of 〈◊〉 friends and kindred Welcome be it quoth the King and as the will of our Lord is so let all bee done As he ended these words afarre off he espied the good Hermite comming the two young Laddes Esplandian and Sergil with two vanassours kinsemen to olde Nascian in such order as I shall describe vnto ye Esplandian had a great Hare and two Partridges hanging on his shoulder which he had â—…in with his Bowe by the way as hee came Sergil led the Lyonnesse in a leashe fastened with a little cord and these followed Nascian and the two other the one of them carrying the Hart which the Lyonnesse had kilde the day before as formerly hath bin related and the other ledde the two Braches belonging to Esplandian coupled together When the Ladies saw the Lyonnesse so slenderly guarded they were so afraid that they came all sate about the king who for their more assurance said Let none be dismayed for he that is maister ouer this Lyonnes in power will defend vs from a more daungerous beast then this is I know not said Galaor who hath most commaund ouer the beast but if shee once waxe displeased the Huntsman that leades her will finde those reines ouer weake to rule and controule her at his pleasure Why quoth the King she is in the conduct of the holy man Nascian therfore boldly let vs goe meete him So each one arose and the King went and embraced the Hermite saying hee was most heartily wel-come Then taking the olde man by the one hand and Esplandian by the other hee presented them both to the Queene Beholde Madame the very goodliest Gentleman that euer you saw Then Esplandian eâ—… as faire forwardnesse as if all 〈◊〉 life-time he had bin brought vp in the Court made her a very gracâ—…s reuerence and presenting her his owne carriage said See heere Madame what hunting sport wee haue had by the way which you may dispose as best you please Pretty youth said the King that power remaines in you onely No Sir answered Esplandian rather in you or this Lady to whom I haue already giuen it Nay quoth the King she had much rather that you wold diuide it among her Ladies according to your owne vnderstanding then if any remaine we will expect our part As the King spake these wordes the Hermite cast his eye vpon the childe who fearing that hee had committed some errour in his talking blushed so sweetly that very pleasingly it became him to behold and pointing to the Hart câ—aâ—â—ng pardon of the King for his offence said My Lord I humbly beseech you to accept this Hart as your owne and my Lady shall haue this Hare but these Partridges are for the tother Lady standing by her This hee spake of Oriana his Mother who darted such a louing look at him as is easier for you to imagine then me to vtter How pretty Sir said the King will you giue nothing to these Gentlemen I haue no more to giue replyed the childe but if I come hither againe tomorrow I will bring them thus such as I can get in the mean while if you be so pleased you may let them
bee partakers of your venison All this young discourse was deliuered with so good a grace and such pleasing life of gesture by Esplandian that it procured much loue and admiration enterchanged with smiles and amiable regardes In good sadnesse said the King his gentle nature is not to be wondered at for by that which hath bin declared to me by him who hitherto was his foster-father faire destiny hath made large promises to him Therefore good Father quoth he to Nascian to the end that euery one heere present may vnderstand the trueth of his rare fortune I pray you once more to discourse that wherewith you acquainted me yesterday Sir answered the Hermite it is now more then fiue years since I found the childe in the mouth of this Lyonnesse carrying it to her young ones newly whelpt and I am verily perswaded that hee was not then fully a naturall day old Then hee declared the manner of his swadling clothes what countenance the Lyonnesse expressed when she first gaue him sucke and the care hee had all the while of his thus nourishing in expectation of his Sisters comming All this discourse was diligently listened vnto by Oriana Mabtla and the Damosell of Denmarke well knowing by the Hermites relation that Elplandian was vndoubtedly the Son to Amadis the Princesse which caused such pleasing contentment in them all that they knew not well how to dissemble it Old Father quoth the King to the Hermite you told me yesterday that seeing our Lord had hitherto so graciously preserued the childe I ought to haue care of him in his following-dayes wherefore if it like you to leaue him with me and his young companion likewise I will cause them to bee so commendably educated that if God be so pleased they shall both proue worthy men good knights and I desire that I may preuaile with you in this request Sir answered the Hermite they are yours seeing you are so desirous to haue them and I will heartily pray vnto our Lord God to endue them with such grace as they may hereafter do you some acceptable seruice Then he gaue them his blessing with these words My Sonnes seeing the King hath done ye so much honour to allow yee entertainment in his Court take paines to be obedient and pleasing to him The good olde man shed teares in great abundance during the time of this short sweete counsell when the King said vnto him Graue Father make no doubt but I wil so gouerne them that they shall become such men as I haue promised ye Then I beseech ye Sir said the Queene to the King that you would referre them to my direction till they bee more fitting for your seruice and your Daughter shall haue Esplandian and my selfe will haue care of Sergil Bee it as you please Madame answered the King I commit them both to your disposition Thus the childe was deliuered into his owne mothers gouerning who accepted him more gladly then any gift in the world that else could haue beene giuen her and long time hee continued with her vnknowen to any but those Ladies that were best acquainted with her most priuate occasions Now before Nascian departed thence she would needes be confessed by him wherupon vnder shrift she gaue him to vnderstand that Esplandian was sonne to her and Amadis and in what manner hee was lost by his carriage to nurse Beleeue mee Daughter answered the Hermite our Lord must needes be offended with you in offering such iniury to your owne soule thorow an inordinate and volupruous desire especially you being borne of so great parents and ought to be a miâ—… and example to all the other people aboue whom it hath pleased him to aduance yee Deare Father quoth she I know wel that I haue most grieuously sinned notwithstanding that which I haue done was as a woman to her husband for at the instant we affianced our souls mutually together Heereupon she reported how Archalaus had led her away and how shee was after succoured by Amadis according as already hath beene related in the precedent History Then the Hermit was reasonably well satisfied accounting the offence so much the lesse being vndergone with so good a condition for after this confession the effect followed because by this meanes though some long while before Nascian made peace with the King and Amadis being on the very point of entring into a sharpe and cruell battaile as you shall vnderstand more at large in the fourth Book following But Oriana hauing done pennance according as Nascian had appointed her he tooke leaue of the King and the whole Court to returne home to his Hermitage taking the Lyonnesse along with him and the King went back to the Citty to take order there for his further affaires CHAP. IX How the knight of the greene Sword being departed from King Tafinor of Bohemia came into the marches of Romania where hee met with Grasinda in the fieldes accompanied with many Gentle-men Ladies and Damosels Especially with a Knight named Brandasi dell who would compell him by force of Armes to come speake with the Ladie Grasinda and of the Combate they fought together YOu haue heeretofore heard how the knight of the greene Sword departing from King Tafinor tooke his way towardes the parts of Romania where hee made his abode no long time but had perfourmed so many worthy deedes of Armes that euery Prouince was filde with his praises But it was not without mighty sufferance of melancholy by continuall thinking on his Princesse Oriana It happened vpon one day among others that crossing the Country hee ariued at a Port or Hauen of the Sea whereupon was planted a Towne in the most pleasing manner of situation that euer hee had seene it being called Sarâ—… And because the houres of the day were not sufficiently spent he would not as yet make entrance but turned his course on euery side to make the better discouery at his owne best aduantage where obseruing the Sea coaste hee beganne to remember Gaule from whence it was now aboue two yeares since he parted which proued such an encreasing of his â—â—rrowes that the â—â—â—res trickled downe his cheekes amaine As hee continued in this pensiue humour he espyed a troupe of knights Ladies and Gentle-women comming towardes him among whom there was one more beautifull and goodly as it seemed to him then any of the rest for ouer her head was borne a Canopie of white taffata fastened to foure roddes of yron to keepe her from the heate of the Sun which was then very piercing and violent But because hee tooke no delight at that time to bee seene in such companie being so deuoutly addicted to solitude he kept off so farre as hee could from all resort that hee might with better disposition thinke on the former fauours he had receiued in Great Britaine Beholding this troupe to draw neerer and neerer hee wandred aloofe off yet was he not strayed so â—â—â—re but hee perceiued a comely Damosell comming
dinner our Knight accompanied with many Lords and Gentlmen rode into the Forrest There they met with great store of wilde beasts who being well nere spent with running made backe againe vpon the pursuing Houndes But as our Knight earnestly followed a Hart which had escaped from the toyles both hee and Gandalin were strayed so far into the woods as they were enforced to spend the whole night there by not knowing how to recouer againe their way of entrance And as they traced from one side to another at length they came neere to a very beautifull Fountaine enuironed round about with trees of such heighth as it was impossible almost to meet with taller There they resolued to abide till the next morning wherefore alighting from their horses they first watered them and after tooke off their bridles to let them graze And because our Knight could not so soone betake himselfe to rest hee walked along vnder the faire-spreading trees and discerned somewhat neere him a white horse lye dead all couered with fresh-bleeding woundes which hee had lâ—tely receiued Moreouer he heard the voyce of a man complayning very lamentably as one that felt intollerable paine and anguish but being vnable to discerne from whence it proceeded by reason that the night was so darke and cloudie he drew as neere to the clamour as he could to listen the cause why he thus complayned Then the voyce seemed louder to his attention then before and he could easily vnderstand the deliuery of these speeches Ab miserable man vnfortunate Bruneo de bonne Me now thou dost too plainly perceiue that thou art enforced to finish thy dayes and all thy affectionate desires wherewith thy loyall heart hath beene so long time afflicted Ah Amadis de Gaule my worthy Lord neuer more shalt thou see thy faithfull companion Bruneo for in the quest of thee according as thy well-beloued Sister Melicia commanded me I fell into the hands of Traytours who haue wrought my death without the ayd or succour of any friend to helpe me O vnkinde Fortune vtter enemy to my felicity thou hast throwen me so farre off from all remedy as I haue not so much as the meanes whereby I might make knowen my disaster to any one that should reuenge my wrongs which were no meane comfort to mee in this wofull case and the more contentedly would my poore soule part out of this wretched world Ah Melicia floure and mirrour of all vertuous perfections this night thou losest the most loyall seruant that euer Lady or Gentle-man had for my whole life-time was deuoutly dedicated onely to obey and please you in all faithfull seruices And vpon my soule if you well consider it perhaps you will finde this lesse extreame for you being assured that you shall neuer meete with any other so constant to you as your Bruneo Now doth the lampe of my life beginne to burne dimbe and my afflicted heart loseth all his forces wherewith by your remembrance onely I haue heeretofore performed many manly deedes of Armes and Chiualrie Now therefore I must needes recommend it to you entreating you so to fauour and respect it as neuer sinning against you in loyaltie Death that hath seazed on me thou shewest thy selfe too sharp and rigorous to me in robbing me of all my happines all my ioy and pleasure in one instant Nor doe I expressely blame thee for depriuing me of my life but because thou couldst not permit mee before my death to accomplish the charge imposed by Melicia on me which was to find out her brother Amadis Heere he paused awhile but presently proceeded on againe thus Alas this commaund was the very first that euer she did put me in trust withall and now as I too plainly perceiue must bee the last also Whereby I feele a double torment for if I could haue had the meanes to satisfie her heerein my trauaile though ending in death I should haue esteemed happy And that deare Mistresse is my chiefest affliction that my dayes are cut off before I had the power to acknowledge the infinitie of gracious fauours by you bestowed on me but rest you well assured and on my soul I protest it that I neuer stood in feare of death in whose face I haue oftentimes hazarded my fortunes but grieue to finishe my life thus in louing you too affectionately Then a heart-breaking sigh interrupted his speech which yet againe he quickly recouered saying Ah my deare friend Angriote Estrauaux where art thou now how hast thou forsaken me Thou hast maintained this quest with mee a long time together and now in need hast left me not affording mee any comfort or succour And yet I haue little reason to blame thee because my selfe was the meanes of our separation this day to both our great misfortunes that sundered vs from euer meeting any more Then began he to sigh extremely and the coldnesse of his stomack breaking foorth many hickoâ—… among innumerable sighes made a strange confusion of his words â—ollowly vttered In regard whereof our Knight who had well vnderstood all these wofull complaints could not refrain from teares neuerthelesse going at last to the place where he lay he thus spake to him My kind friend Bruneo what dismall mishap hath thus befalne thee I pray thee be of good cheare and put thy trust in our Lord God who hath done so much both for thee and me as to conduct mee to this place where I will compasse some meanes to helpe thee Bruneo conceipted in himselfe that these wordes came from his Squire Lasinde whom he had sent to seeke some Religious man by whom hee might be confest before his death wherefore he thus answered Alas my deare Lasinde thou hast tarâ—…d too long for I feele my fainting in such forwardnesse that I cannot accomplish now what I purposed Therefore let me entreate thee that so soone as my soule hath forsaken this her sad habitation thou wouldst returne into Gaule to faire Melicia whom when thou hast acquainted with my mischance present her the rightsleeue of my shirt thus tincturde in my true heart-blood and seauen letters foulded vp therein which I haue alwayes hitherto kept as carefully as mine own life And because strength fayleth me doe thou supply out the rest that should be said assuring her that the griefe she will conceiue for my misfortune by thinking her selfe to be the cause thereof sending me in search of her Brother Amadis did more torment me then any torture else could doe Why how now deare friend answered our knight doest thou thinke me to be Lasinde thy Squire why man I am thy companion Amadis for whose sake thou art falne into this great danger Therefore take heart man be of good comfort and I will bring thee to so worthy a man as shall restore thee to health againe very speedily Now albeit Bruneo was so weake by the great aboundance of blood which he had lost as hee was no longer able to speake yet knowing Amadis by his voyce
to you he enuied all other knights errant as wee did the like in loue to him Thus haue I declared the whole truth to you and humbly entreate you without any respect to mine offence to graunt mee mercy beyond all merit Our Knight beganne to be compassionate answering The mercy thou shalt haue is not to abridge the punishment thou hast iustly deserued but in hope that thou wilt become an honester man hereafter then hitherto thou hast bin in this regard thy life is spared But if thou fall to thine old byas assure thy selfe time will fitte me with a sharper reuenge r then now I can or will take on thee So leauing him they rode directly towardes the Towne and falling from one discourse to another our knight demanded of Angriote what newes he had brought out of Great Brittaine He resolued him all things that hee could and told him among other matters that a reuerend Hermite named Nascian had giuen King Lisuart one of the very goodliest young Gentlemen that euer was seene whom he recouered in his swadling clothes out of the teeth of a Lionnesse carying him for food to her young ones Also how the Queene had giuen him to the Princesse Oraina to serue her quoth he with my Sonne Ambor but there is very great difference betweene them because Ambor is mightily deformed and the other an incomparable creature You may quoth Amadis report of your Sonne as you please but if hee carry resemblance with his Father he wil proue a man of extraordinary merit To women let vs leaue beauty and faire feature who are curious and inquisitiue after such nicities would to God your Sonne were of age to follow me then should I require him of you and that very earnestly to keepe company with Gandalin on whom I purpose to bestow knighthood so soone as I shall returne into Gaule Trust mee Sir said Angriote Gandalin doth well deserue much at your hands and if my Sonne were so happy as you wish him my hopes would mount farre higher then as yet they can doe Falling from this into other talke Amadis demaunded how long since he and Bruneo had iourneyed together Since our departure from Great Brittaine answered Angriote we neuer abandoned one anothers company for any fight or Combat whatsoeuer could happen till yesterday and yet notwithstanding we haue ended many straunge and dangerous aduentures albeit all of them inferiour to your high fortune against that deuilish Monster Endriagus according as wee haue thereof bin aduertised Wherfore I beseech you to let me vnderstand how and in what maner you fought together We must referre that replyed Amadis till some more apt and conuenient leysure because we now are neere to the Towne and that will require a much larger discourse then the shortnesse of the way will permit vs. By this time they were arriued at Gransidaes Palace who hauing heard tydings of their comming came very kindly to welcome them conducting them to the Chamber where Bruneo lay who beganne to finde himselfe better and better by such good meanes as Master Elisabet had vsed to him But when hee saw them all three so well met together he was not a little ioyfull praising God for such a fortunate successe And as they parled on their passed aduentures our Knight of the Greene Sword declared to them the promise which he had made to Grasinda and what shipping shee prepared for passage into Great Brittaine whereof they were all exceeding ioyfull in regard of their long-desired returne thither In the meane while Bruneo grew to able strength and being in disposition to endure the Seas all things weare readily fitted for the voyage Grasinda and they going aborde with such a conuenient company as was thought meet So hoysing sayle they launched foorth into the Deepe where they were so assisted by successefull windes as in very few dayes they lost all sight of the Islands of Romania CHAP. XIII How the Queene Sardamira with the other Embassadours from the Emperour Patin arriued at the Court of King Lisuart hoping at their returne to beare thence the Princesse Oriana with them And of that which happened to certaine Romane Knights offering iniury to a Knight errant THe Embassadors from the Emperour Patin being come to King Lisuarts Court they were entertayned by him most honourably hauing vnderstood the occasion that drew them from Italie into Great Brittaine After audience graunted to their Embassie he told them that he would call a Councell of all his Lords together and then they should haue an answere yet hee gaue them this comfort that hee made no doubt but they should returne to the Emperour their Masters contentment At this time was not Oriana in the Court for hauing vnderstood the cause of their comming she feigned her selfe sick to auoyde all meanes of speaking with them and therfore was retired to Mirefleur The Queene Sardamira vpon this hopefull procrastination determined to go see the Princesse making her intention knowen to the King who liked well â—…of and for her better conuoy gaue the good olde Knight Grumedan charge of her On the morrow following shee set forth from the Court to let the Princesse vnderstand how the Emperour affected her dearely how honourably hee would receiue her and what rare singularities shee should see in Rome But herein she was much deceiued because her very meere remembrance of Amadis gaue her more sweete content in soule then any thing else in the world could doe Now was the season of the yeare exceedingly hot in which regard the Queene for her better refreshing on the way sent diuers of her seruants before to pitch her Tents neere a little Riuer that ran along within three miles of Mirefleure There she alighted accompanied with Grumedan and many Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen of her owne country among whom were fiue Romaine Knights who imagined so well of themselues as none in Great Brittaine could come neere them Being within their Tents their fiue Shields were hanged without at the entrance and their Launces likewise leaning against them which was a signall according to the custome obserued among Knights errant or trauayling that no one might passe by before them without triall of the Combate and these enstructions they receiued from Grumedan To whom they made answere that they would essay themselues against those of Great Brittaine to let them well know that they had better skill then they both in breaking a Launce and handling a Sword We shall see replied Grumedan how it will goe with you and yet I dare assure yee there may some such passe 〈◊〉 as will finde yee worke enough to doe As thus they held on their discourse they espied a farre off a Knight comming which was the gentle Prince Florestan who in vaine had trauayled through many countries to finde his Brother Amadis And now very pensiuely hee was riding to King Lisuarts Court hoping to heare some better news by the Romaines that so lately came thether as had beene told him by
the way and seeing the Tents there erected he rod toward them to vnderstand who was within them He happened to a Pauillion the linnen walls whereof were high exalted that the coolenesse of the fresh ayre might the better be conuayed to the Ladies within who sate deuising together on pretty and pleasing purposes Florestan sat leaning vppon his Launce regarding the Ladies very earnestly yet not deliuering so much as one word because his thoughts were otherwise busied which caused one of the Ladies to speake somewhat roughly to him in this manner Beleeue mee Sir Knight me thinkes you shew your selfe very vnmannerly to appeare thus boldly before so many great Ladies as are heere present not vsing any reuerence at all to them But perhaps there Shieldes heere hung vp called you hether to declare more duty towards their Maisters then you would seeme to owe to vs. In good faith Gentlewoman answered Florestan you haue great reason thus to check me and yet let me tell yee mine eyes were so seriously busied in behoulding such bright beauties as quite berest my bodies faculties and made them fall into this offence Therefore most humbly I entre at you all together to pardon this great neglect in mee for which I will make amends as you shall please to appoint me The Ladie would not so giue him ouer but said pardon is to be desired after the mends is made and not before with all my heart Lady aunswered he prouided that you interdict not my iousting against your Knights or else command them to hang vp their Shields within your Tent. How Sir quoth she doe you imagine that they hang heere vpon no stronger condition but to be taken downe so lightly Perswade your selfe before their Maisters can be thereto vrged they are absolutely determined to conquer other from such errant Knights as shall passe this way to triumph ouer them afterward in Rome whether they intend to beare them with their names vpon them to whom they appeâ—â—ained Wherefore if you shunne falling into such ineuitable daunger let me perswade you to depart hence with so much hast as possibly you can make In good sadnesse Madame aunswered Florestan although I finde little friendship and haue farre lesse knowledge of you yet will I not follow your councell nor stand in feare of the shame you speake of But in steed of my Shield which they may hope to beare with them to Rome I will haue all theirs and send them to the Firme or Enclosed Isle to beautifie the place among many other that are there already As thus he spake hee made an humble reuerence to the Ladies and so rod towards the other Pauillions Grumedan had heard all this discourse betweene the Knight and the Ladies which made him suddenly presume that he was some kinsman to noble Amadis and it mounted his spirits very iocondly with a hopefull perswasion that he would qualifie the ouer daring pride of the Romaines who vpon opinion of their owne worthinesse contemned all other nations in the world Comming forth of his Tent he beheld him to handle the Shildes each after the other and that in such manner as daring their Maisters to come to the loust afterward he with drew thence crossing ouer the little riuer in expectation of them that had any quarell against him The fiue Romaine Knights mounted on horsebacke intending all together to set vpon him but Grumedan stayed them in this manner saying How Lords would you offer to breake honorable custome and combate fiue against one Knight onely you ought to goe one after another according as your Shields haue beene touched and remember your selues well for by the Knights outward appearance hee will not easilie be put to disgrace Lord Gramedan answered Gradamor wee Romaines differ very farre from you because you commend before the deed be done and we after it is effected and let me tell yee you will hardly finde any Knight equall to vs. I know not replied Grumedan what they are whom you talke of and hold in such high estimation but if I were to deale with any of you that offered me the very least iniury I should hope to loose no honour thereby Grumedan Grumedan answered Gradamor you haue a good conceite of yourselfe and I could wish though it did cost me my fayrest fortune that we two were now as ready one for another as I shall quickely be for him that is so boldly come hether to seeke his owne shame And yet I feare it will neuer fall to my turne because hee whose Shield he first handled will handle him with such seuere chastisement as I shall not need to display mine arme against him Here at Grumedan smiled saying Well Sir take heed you hap not into the hazard for many times it comes to passe that they who thinke to vanquish others are disfauoured and foyled themselues by fortune who neuer was friend to the presumptuous I vnderstand you well said Gradamor and that thus we may contest heere till it be night So going to him whose Shield was first toucht he said Goe my deare companion and make it apparantly knowne what difference there is betweene well speaking and bad doing Be confident in me replied the other I am not made for prating enterparlaunce and neuer let any account be had of me if at our very first shock I make him not measure his length on the ground except he deliuer me his Shield and his horse to you Lord Grumedan which I perceiue is very faire and goodly So crossing the riuer and placing his Launce in his rest hee ran against Florestan and Florestan against him but fayled of breaking their Launces neuerthelesse they met with their Shields and bodies together so mainely as the Romaine being lesse expert then the other was cast downe from his horse and breaking his arme in the fall lay all along so am azedly confounded as hee was able to moue neither hand or foote Herevpon Florestan cryed out to his owne Squires to stay the horse which ran about the field and and to take the Shield from about the Knights neck and hang it vp vpon a tree where hee poynted him Then returning to the place where he began his course he attended for a second man to succour his companion who very soone after presented himselfe But if the first found a curst entertainement this other met with one much worse for Florestan gaue him such a wel-come with his Launce that it entred quite through his Shield coate of Maile and pierced farre into the flesh so that his girts braking by strength of the encounter he tumbled ouer and ouer with the horses saddle betweene his legges and hauing perfected his race Florestan turned back againe saying By my faith Knight the Saddle shall be yours but the horse mine vpon condition that hereafter you publish your prowesse in the Capitoll of Rome in what manner you attempted and how you sped These words were so audibly deliuered as the Ladies might easily vnderstand them
out farre otherwise then they did betweene our Knights and you Gentlewoman quoth he your selfe doth sufficiently know that the fault proceeded from themselues in demaunding such a matter of me as I could no way yeeld to but with mine owne deepe dishonour But tell mee I pray you did the Queene your Mistresse abide there all this day in the same place where I left her Behold Sir quoth the Gentlewoman a Letter which shee hath sent you And kissing it 〈…〉 shee humbly presented it to his hand Now because as I hâ—â—e formerly told you credeâ—â—e was absolutely committed to her charge Florestan desiâ—ed her to declare â—â—r mâ—ssage My Lord quoth shee seeing you haue disabled the Knights that had the charge of her conduct and the way which she must pasâ—e by is not safe as shee is gâ—â—en to vnderstand the Queene my Mistresse doth earnestly desire you that you would be her guide to Mirefleure where she hopes to finde the Princesse Oriana with whom shee hath especiall occasion of conference Truely Gentlewoman answered Florestan I should be very sorry to deny so goodly a Lady as your Queene is in any thing she pleaseth to command of me and most humbly I thanke her for the high honour she doth me in chusing me to her conduct but now the day is so farre spent and the Sunne declining to his rest that I thinke it necessary to tarry till the breake of day and to morrow morning wee will be so earely with her as if we had rested there all night Doe said the Gentlewoman as seemes best to your selfe Then food was brought them to eate and they supt together deuising on diuers things vntill it was a fit houre for rest Now because beside the place where the old Hermite slept himselfe there was but another very small Cell Florestan left it to the Gentle-woman and went to repose himselfe vnder the Trees vntill the houre of dislodging thence Being armed he called for the Gentle-woman and so they took their way towards the Queen who continually exspected when they would come Being arriued at the Tents Florestan entred that belonging to Grumedan who met him with kind embraces not a little 〈◊〉 of his presence And after â—…rs speeches passed betweene them Grumedan saide vnto him My Lord Florestan me thinkes the Queene hath sustayned no losse finding so good a change of you for her owne Knights and thus much let me assure you that shee is one of the very wisest Princesses I haue euer seene highly deseruing to bee honoured and serued Vpon my faith Lord Grumedan answered Florestan I account my selfe happy if I may accomplish any thing liking to her So walking vp and downe within the Tent with a louing embrace Grumedan said Tell me Sir I pray you what haue you done with the Shields you caried hence yesterday Why Sir quoth hee I haue sent them all to your deare friend Galuanes who now is at the Enclosed Isle because he may there rank them according to their merite And if any other Knights of Rome desire to re-obtaine them as in reuenge of their fellowes shame they may there also compasse the meanes by triall how well they deserue at the Arch of loyall Louers In the speaking of these wordes the Queene Sardamira entred into Grumedans Tent which caused Florestan to be silent and meeting her with humble reuerence fell on his knee to kisse her hand But the Queene stayed him by the arme and raising him vp gently from the ground said that he was most heartily welcome Madame quoth he I haue all my life time bin a seruant to Ladies by a much stronger obligation then euer doe I now stand engadged to imploy my very vttermost paines for you whose merit reacheth beyond them all In good faith Sir replied the Queene I must needes thanke you for the great paines you haue taken and seeing you are so ready to make amends for the fault wherein my Knights haue offended reason requires that I should likewise pardon you for any error against me or my women Me thinkes Madame answered Florestan that I can feele no paine or trauaile by obeying you in regard that your admired beautie doth well deserue the conduct of a farre better Knight then I am But in affording me this honour you bind me to ye in more then I shal be able to satisfie Let vs breake off this talke said the Queene and tell me shall wee now set forward on our iourney When you please Madame answered Florestan First quoth Grumedan I hold it meere to conuey these wounded Knights to a Towne not farre hence where they may be well attended vntill they bee able to mount on horsebacke Let it bee so said she Then was a goodly white palfray brought her whereon being safely seated shee set onward with her Ladies and Gentlewomen being guided by Florestan and Grumedan who entertained the time with such good discourse as the way seemed neither long or tedious Heere I must tell yee that the Princesse Oriana had long before heard of the Queenes comming to Mirefleure onely to see her which grieued her very greatly knowing she would talke with her concerning the Emperour whose very name was hatefull to her But when she vnderstood withall that Grumedan and Florestan came in her company her sorrow was indifferently asswaged hoping to heare by them some tidings of Amadis And as shee was busied in these thoughts newes came that they were alighted at the gate wherevpon shepresently went to welcome them The Queen Sardamira going for-most made a low reuerence to the Princesse with a proffer of kissing her hand but she tooke her by the arme and ledde her into a goodly Haule expressely prepared for her entertainment There they sate downe each by other and the two Knights neere vnto them and as they were in talke together Oriana perceiuing the Queene Sardamira lend an attentiue eare to a priuate discourse betweene her and Grumedan softly spake thus to Florestan aside In good sadnesse Lord Florestan it is a very long time since wee saw you in this Countrie to my no litle discontentment as well in regard of the good-will I euer bare you as for the great losse many a poore soule hath sustayned who were wont to finde helpe by you your brother Amadis and many other of your followers But cursed be they that caused this so long separation and I beleeue that I speake it not but vpon vrgent occasion for I know a poore Damosell in daunger of disinheriting because shee hath no man to right the wrong offered her But if Amadis were heere once againe and so many more as are too farre off absent shee might well assure her selfe that that which is hers in iustice should not so easily be taken from her whereas by reason of their absence she hath now no better hope or comfort then onely in death Oriana continuing on these speeches teares issued abundantly from her faire eyes as fore-seeing her vnfortunate end if the King should
Sea shall diuide me also For it is my full intent to drowne all my disasters in the waues who for euer shall remaine witnesses of my sorrowes and in them I exspect to find more compassion then in mine owne kinred countrie friendes and seruants And therefore honourable Lord Florestan I humbly beseech you for Gods sake to imploy some paines for disswading him from his intention otherwise vpon my faith it will be a great clogge of conscience to him and the very straungest mis-fortune wherein a poore disinherited Lady can fall being forsaken of God and men Thus speaking she wept so extremely that Florestan although he was one of the greatest spirited men in the world could not refraine from teares hauing his heart so confounded with compassion towards her as hee was not able to vtter a word Notwithstanding at last he got the maistrie of this oppressing passion and said Madame you shall doe me great wrong if you hold not this conceit of me that I am wholly yours ready to obey you in any seruice till death But to speake to the King your father as you would haue me it is a matter beyond all possibility for you your selfe do know what hatred he beares to me onely in the despight of my Lord Amadis forgetfull of so many high and worthy seruices as both he and all his linage haue euermore done to him And if he haue receiued any from me hee neuer needs to thank me for it considering I neuer did any for his sake but onely by the commaund of him who hath soueraigne power ouer me and whom I will not contradict at any time And that was the reason for my being in the last warre of the seuen Kings not as any helpe to them of Great Brittaine but onely for preseruation of your iust title and right thereto as shee that shall one day by Gods leaue bee Lady and Queene thereof Presume also Madame that you haue this interest in me that this which you haue told to mee I will thinke on and make knowen to King Perion and other good friends to procure some remedy for you in this distresse And I make no doubt but he will prouide for you in such sort as you shall haue occasion to rest contented Nor purpose I to soiourne in any place vntill I come to the Enclosed Isle where I shall finde the Prince Agraies who is very desirous to doe you any seruice as your selfe doth well know especially for the loue of his Sister Mabila There shall wee consult together what course is best to be taken in this case without spare of any thing remaining in our power But know you certainely quoth Oriana that Agraies is or will be there Yes Madame said he as Lord Grumedan hath assured me as hee receiued instruction by one of his Squires that came thence within these few dayes I beseech you then replied Oriana to relate vnto him amply what confidence I do repose in him And if you heare any newes of your Brother Amadis faile not to acquaint me therewith so soon as possibly you may There-of assure your selfe Madame answered Florestan With these wordes he tooke his leaue of her kissing her lillie-white hand and returning to the Queene Sardamira spake thus Madame I am constrained by force to leaue you and else where to seeke after my further fortunes but wheresoeuer I shall bestow my selfe be bold that I am alwayes your knight and seruant and so I pray you to account of me In good faith Sir said she they that refuse so faire an offer may wel be reputed but poore in iudgment because I am perswaded that you are held to be one of the best and most courteous knights this day liuing And God shield me from such monstrous ingratitude to deny a seruant of such honor and worth rather most louingly I accept your kindnes and returne you thankes with all my heart Florestan looking on her with an affectionate eye and beholding her to be so amiably faire said Madame I beseech our Lord who hath enriched you with such rare beautie to grant your own hearts best desires and thankefully I take your most gracious answere because now I can doe nothing else for you but remaine in ready willingnesse of seruice wheresoeuer you shall please to commaund me So taking leaue of her Mabila and the other Ladies he mounted on horsebacke desiring Lord Grumedan that if he receiued any tydings of Amadis he would let him vnderstand thereof so soone as he could at the Enclosed Isle whether he now went to see Agraies and his other associates CHAP. XV. How the Knight of the greene Sword who afterward stiled himselfe the Greeke Knight Bruneo de bonne Mer and Angriote d'Estrauaux embarked themselues in the company of the faire Grasinda and of that which happened to them afterward MAster Elisabet hauing taken good order for Shipping with all such necessaries answerable to the enterprise of Grasinda the windes also sitting faire and auspicious she went aboord attended by the Knight of the Greene Sword Bruneo Angriote and many other Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen as partly hath beene reported already Hauing weighed their Ankers and put forth into the large and spacious Seas sometimes be calmed and otherwhiles tempestuously afflicted at length by fauour of Heauen and the great diligence of Master Elisabet an extraordinary skilfull Pilot they passed by so many straites and Islandes that they discouered the coaste of Great Brittaine Then the Knight with the Greene Sword beholding the Country where he hoped to finde his best happinesse and comfort became exceeding ioyfull And because he would by no meanes be discouered he desired Grasinda and all the rest in his company to entitle him no other thence-forward but the Greeke Knight Then hee commanded Gandalin to bring the sixe Swords which the Queene Menoressa had giuen him at his departure from Coustantinople two of them he gaue to Bruneo and Angriote and himself guirded on one because he intended not to be knowen by that which hee vsually woare hauing a greene scabbard as oftentimes hath beene before remembred Comming neere to the place where King Lisuart then made his aboade Grasinda and hee being with-drawen aside he began to her in this manner Madame by gracious fauour of the Heauens wee are now very neere the Countrie whereto your heart hath alwayes pretended a most earnest desire and I dare assure ye that without spare of life or any trauaile I will endeauour to make knowen what bountifull graces you haue from time to time affoorded me Worthy Greeke knight quoth she such is my trust in God that he will not take his mercies from me and as he hath prouided mee of so good a knight to be my guide so hee will blesse me with the hope I aime at But I pray you Sir seeing wee are so neere to land let vs goe on shoare you Angriote Bruneo and my selfe without any more and there wee may priuately conferre together what is
first to bee done before I present my selfe to the Ladies of this Country Then Master Elisabet called for a Skiffe which instantly was broght whereinto they entred and as they made towards the Shoare they esspied a Ship lying at Anker Herevpon our Greeke Knight being desirous to know who was in it commaunded the Mariners to get neere it which being done Angriote called to them in the Shippe demaunding whence they were whether they were bound and who was aboord Surely Sir replyed our Patrone our Shippe is come from the Enclosed Isle and heere are two Knights aboord who will gladly tell ye what you desire to know When our Greeke Knight heard speech of the place whereto he was so much affected and that two of his companions were there his heart leapt with ioy and Angriote continuing his questions desired the Patrone to cause the two Knights to come vp on the Deck and in the meane while to tell him how they were named That may not I doe answered the Patrone lest they should grow discontented with me but I will call them vp to you and performed his word accordingly Then they came vp on the Orelop and Angriote saluting them demanded if they knew where King Lisuart lay Trust me Sir answered one of them wee will gladly instruct you in any thing we can but first we would entreate you to resolue vs in one matter if it consist in your power for which wee haue vndertaken this voyage and purpose not to soiourne in any place vntill wee can be therein satisfied If wee know it said Angriote you may be well assured that we will not conceale it from you Sir Knights quoth the other haue you heard any newes of a Knight named Amadis de Gaule in search of whom many of his friends haue endured much paines and trauaile and haue left few places without enquirie These wordes did so touch our Greeke Knight with ioy and compassion that hee could not refraine from teares considering what affection so many worthy men did beare him and what sorrowes they suffered for his sake First tell me said Angriote what and who you are and afterward you shall vnderstand so much as I know Then the other who all this while had bin silent stepping forward said Such as know me call me Dragonis and this my companion is named Enill both resolued to ore-run the whole Ocean and question Port by Port vntill we finde the men wee speake of Gentlemen quoth Angriote God be your speed and for your sakes I will gladly enquire of our Shippes wherein are straungers of many Nations what they can say to this demand of yours Our Greeke knight vrged him to this answer because hee would not be knowen so soone Angriote then began again saying I pray you Sir where may we finde King Lisuart and what newes is in his Court Sir answered Dragonis he is now in a certain City of his called Tagades an excellent Port of the Sea confronting Normandie And there is a great assembly of his knights sitting in coūsell about a motion made by the Emperour of Rome to enioy his Daughter Oriana in mariage wherto no one will giue consent Already there are arriued many Romanes to conuey her thence with them among whom is the Prince Salusta Quide Duke of Calabria other the greatest Lords of the Empire beside a worthy traine of Ladies and Gentlewomen and shee is already called Empresse of Rome But she mournes incessantly for it is much against her mind that this marriage should be so much as talked of We may well imagine that this was more then Greek to our Greek Knight for neuer was man strooken into such an astonishment especially vnderstanding the great regrates and grieuances of the Princesse Notwithstanding his spirits recouering chearefull vigour and being resolued withall that it was quite against her consent and contrary to the liking of the Lords of Great Brittaine hee might the more easily helpe her by Sea or Land wherein hee would not faile the very meanest Gentle-woman in the world Much greater duty then he owed to her without whose grace and fauour hee could not liue one houre as he was verily perswaded in his soule And highly thanked God for vouchsafing his arriuall in a time so opportune that hee might doe her any seruice As not doubting but to compasse the height of his attempt getting her into his power and without any blame by her and to ouercome all his misfortunes together And here in his soule he read a lecture to his Ladie discoursing his bitter sufferings and languishments the paines and perils by him endured since the time he saw her last and now the catastrophe of all contentment after a more then Herculean labour Now said Angriote to Dragonts you are sure that the Romaines are already come about this businesse On my faith quoth he it is yet but foure dayes since wee parted from the Enclosed Isle on the very same day there arriued Quedragant Landin his Nephew Garnate of the Dreadfull Dale Mandacian of the Siluer Bridge and Helye the Deliberate who came to know of Florestan Agraies when they should begin the quest of Amadis de Gaule And because Quedragant purposed to send to the Court of King Lisuart to vnderstand there some tidings by strangers Florestan made him answere that it wold be but lost labor in regard that himselfe had made the like question could know nothing But wee heard by one of his Squires that there happened some difference between them which he corrected in such sort as he is much commended in all places for it I pray you Sir quoth Angriote tel vs what is that Florestan He is answered Dragonis one of the sons of king Perion of Gaule who sufficiently resembleth the goodnes and worth of his two other brethren Hereupon at large he recited the contention between him the Romanes in presence of the Queene Sardamira how his Squire after-ward came to the Enclosed Isle with their Shields wheron in bloody caracters was written each mans name And because they were so shreudly handled by Florestan the Queene sent after to entreate him to be her conduct to Mirefleure whether shee went to see the Princesse Oriana These newes were highly pleasing to the Greeke Knight his associates neuerthelesse when he heard him name Mirefleure his hart began to tremble remēbring what delight and pleasure hee had there somtime receiued Wherfore with-drawing himself aside he called Gandalin to him saying My friend Gandalin thou hearest as wel as I these tidings concerning Oriana doest know withal that if they should take effect I could not liue one houre after therefore let me preuaile with thee to doe one thing which I will aduise thee and this it is Goe thou with Ardan to Grasinda and tell her that you two with these other Knights heere present will trauaile to finde out Amadis de Gaule Being come to the Knights secretly tell them that I am heere
and desire them with thee to returne to the Enclosed Isle Finding there Quadragant and Agrayes entreate them from me to keep them-selues there together vntil the time of my arriuall which shall be by Gods helpe within eight dayes little more or lesse Say also to my Brother Florestan and to thy father Gandales that I would haue them to take order for prouiding so many Shippes and other Vessels in a readinesse as they can procure For I purpose to be seene shortly in a place where if they be so pleased I would gladly request their company and thou knowest sufficiently Gandalin what diligence is required in a case so important as this is wherefore once more I desire thee not to bee slow or tardie heerein Then he called the Dwarfe to him and said Ardan goe with Gandalin and follow those instructions which he shall giue thee from mee So Gandalin according to his Masters commaund went to Grasinda in this maner Madame quoth he we two are determined to leaue the Greeke Knight and goe abord this Shippe because wee would trauaile along with these two Knights in the searche for Amadis de Gaule Therefore good Madame consider with your selfe if you haue any seruice to comand vs returning you most humble thankes for your manifold fauours done vs without any merite at all on our behalfe The like they said to the Greeke Knight Angriote and Brunco and so went aboorde the Shippe to Dragonis Heere I must tell ye that Angriote was made acquainted with this intention wherefore to palliate and conceale it the more cleanely he called to Dragonis saying Sir Knight this Squire and Dwarfe are desirous to keepe you company in your quest of Amadis de Gaule because as themselues say they somtime serued him Dragonis and Enili knew them immediatly which made them the more willing to accept their company entertaining them with very kinde and louing respect but much more welcome were they when they vnderstood what Gandalin tolde them which made them weigh Anker presently and set on towards the Enclosed Isle The like did our Greeke Knight and his company hoping that day to take harbour in the neerest Hauen to Tagades where as then King Lisuart kept his Court. Heere were assembled with him most of the worthiest Lords in his kingdome whom purposely he had called together to conclude the marriage of his Daughter Oriana with the Emperour But they respecting the good and welfare of the Realme as it became loyall and true Counsellers to doe were all of a quite contrary opinion shewing him by many sound and probable reasons that hee went against all right and equitie committing his chiefe Heire into the subiection of a presumptuous and giddie-headed stranger who as they approued by precedent examples might as quickly grow in hatred to her as he was haire-brained in his ouer-sudden affection All which notwithwanding the King would not listen to but alleage still such peremptorie reasons meete and conuenient for such a Prince as will allow nor like any aduice but his owne In which regard Count Argamont absented himselfe from this meeting to a Castell of his owne which was some two dayes iourney from the Court notwithstanding he was sent for againe and againe and so much importuned as he was brought thither in a Litter hee being so weake and impotent by age as hee was not able to sit on horse-backe The King being aduertised of his comming neere the Court mounted on horsebacke to meet him and the next day hee sate in councell among his Lords deliuering diuers considerations for maintenance of his former opinion till at length speaking to Argamont thus hee said Honorable Vncle you are sufficiently acquainted with the occasion why I haue called together this great assembly which plainly is for mariage of my daughter with the Emperour of Rome a matter by him most earnestly labored and desired Wherefore let mee entreate you first to tell mee what you conceite thereof to the end that these Lords may the more freely afterward acquaint mee with their seuerall opinions A long while the old Earle excused him-selfe till being vrged thereto by the Kings expresse commaund after some alligations for his owne defence he spake as followeth My Lord seeing it is your pleasure that I should speak my minde in this noble assembly concerning the Emperours marriage with the Princesse Oriana I most humbly beseech you to receiue in good part what I shall say I know it to be treason in as high a degree to dissemble with a Prince in matter of good counsell as otherwise to offend against his royall person and therefore without any clouding or dissembling credit what I speake in my poore aduice albeit I haue often enough told it you before Sir you know that Madame Oriana your eldest Daughter ought to succeede you and by iust reason is heire to the Countries which God and Fortune hath giuen to your charge whereto by the right of Nature she hath more true title then euer you had or could pretend For it fell to you onely by the death of King Falaugris who was but your Brother and shee is your owne Daughter and the eldest Therefore consider with your selfe that if the like had beene done to you which now you purpose to the Princesse Oriana you could not haue bin at this day so great a Lord as you are Why should you exile her as it were hence to plant my Niece Leonora in her place considering shee neuer offended you to our knowledge And if you thinke that by marrying her to the Emperour Patin you shall thereby make her a greater Princesse and most happily prouided for in your imagination Beleeue me my Lord you come very farre short of your account For you are not ignorant that if they haue children together she suruiuing the Emperour shall but simply remaine Dowager of Rome in steed of being after you Lady and Queene of this kingdome Nay which is much more doe you thinke that your Subiects will euer agree thereto I am perswaded in my soule if they should say yea it were against the Religion of their soules And therefore Heauen fore-fend that I should tell you otherwise then my conscience assures me to be true albeit I know to my no litle griefe that let vs alleage whatsoeuer we can you will be gouernde by your own fancie Wherfore most humbly I desire you to pardon what I haue said being compeld thereto by your seuere iniunction against which may bee no gain-saying Then he sate silent and the King gaue order that euery man should deliuer his minde but they all agreed with the opinion of Count Argamont which the King perceiuing he thus replyed My Lords I haue fully vnderstood your seueral iudgements all which notwithstanding how can I with mine honour reuocate what I haue already promised to the Emperours Ambassadours Therein quoth the Count and the rest you may doe as you please for wee haue discharged our dutie By this time the day
being faire and the Sea calme our Greeke Knight and his company coasting along the Mariners had descryed the mountaine whereof the Towne Tagades tooke his name and where King Lisuart as then resided as formerly hath bin related Some of them also went to Grasinda and assured her that if the winde chaunged not they would land her in the Hauen within an houre or lesse and our Knights walking aloft on the Deck of the Shippe declared them-selues thankfull to our Lord for escaping such infinite perils and ship-wrackes as euery minute was incident to them But whosoeuer had the greatest cause of contentment was farre inferiour in ioy to our Greek Knight who since hee set eye on the Country wherein liued all his hope happinesse and support of life was so delighted in his soule as no mans felicity could be answerable to his neither had he power to looke off that long-wished land Notwithstāding fearing left his folly should be too plainly perceiued he went downe into the Ship and going to Grasinda said Madame wee are now as your selfe may see at the place which you so much desired and where I hope by the perfection of beautie abyding in you to attaine the full issue of mine enterprise so that you shall safely returne home into your Country with such honour as is iustly due to you For right and reason being both on my side God who is a most vpright Iudge will wholly maintaine the cause for you and me Now albeit Grasinda stood in some doubt of her successe yet perceiuing shee was come so neere to the point where shee must either winne or lose what she much coueted shee made a manifest shew of a resolued assurance answering the Knight in this manner Beleeue me Sir my hope and perswasion is greater in your manhood and good fortune then all the beautie remayning in me But one thing let mee most humbly entreate you that when you are in the chiefest heate of your busines you would fixe before your eyes that you neuer attempted any conquest but you brought it to a full and finall effect In so doing your renowne will highly enlarge it selfe and my ioy likewise whereby I may the more iustly stile my selfe the only happy Lady now liuing It is very expedient replied our Greeke Knight that we now consider what is to be done You haue a Gentle-woman attending on you who hath a quicke and apprehensiue spirit being named Gonisesa and she speakes French very perfectly we will deliuer her a Letter which shee shall present to King Lisuart and his Queene Brisena who doe both of them well vnderstand and speake that language Expresse charge must bee giuen to the Gentlewoman that she make no answer to any question demaunded of her but in French onely After she hath concluded with them hee shall returne hither againe to vs because we purpose to stay in this place for her comming backe Grasinda liked this motion exceeding well wherefore without any longer delay the Gentlewoman was called and the Letter giuen her then shee entred into a small Barke with her father and two other Knights that were her brethren Not much differing from the same instant the Greeke knight gaue order to Lasinde Bruneoes Squire to follow after her without her knowledge thereof for a more certaine obseruation of her entertainment in the Court and what speeches should bee vsed to her after her leaue taken of the King And the better to colour his presence there hee had expresse command to pretend a diligent inquisition for his Master saying to such as demaunded any newes concerning him that he saw him not since hee left him sicke in Gaule when he vnder-tooke the quest of Amadis meaning to returne to him againe so soone as he could So departed Lasinde hoping right well to accomplish his enterprise Soone after the Gentle-woman arriued at the Town where she was heedfully obserued by euery one as well in regard of her beautie as for her commendable manner of attendance Passing from streete to streete enquiring where shee might finde the King shee chanced to meete Esplandian with two Merlinson his fist which he was going to flye in the field He perceiuing the Gentle-woman making towards him went and met her demaunding if shee would command him any seruice Faire youth quoth she I seeke for the Kings lodging whither I pray you to be my guide That will I Lady quoth he and gladly shall I shew it you if you do not know it A thousand thankes sweete youth answered the Gentle-woman Then Esplandian tooke hold on the reines of her Palfray and serued her as a Squire leading her Palfray to the Palace where after she was dismounted hee conducted her to the King whom they found walking in a Gallerie with the chiefest Ambassadours of Rome according for the marriage of his Daughter to the Emperour The Gentle-woman falling on her knees before him humbly saluted him with these words Sir if it might so please you that the Queen and all her Ladies were here in presence I should then deliuer a message to you from her that hath sent me hither to you And if it so fall out that any of them doe finde her selfe interessed by such matter as I am to let them all vnderstand she must essay if she thinke good to finde out one to defend her against a good knight who purposeth to be heere very speedily prouided that your Maiesty do graunt him safe conduct Truely Damosell answered the King wee will not hinder you in your charge Whereupon immediatly he sent Count Argamont his Vnkle and Arban king of North-wales for the Queene who stayed not long but came thither with her Ladies Then the strange Gentle-woman kissing her hand and making a low obeysance spake thus Madame if that which I haue in charge to deliuer from her who hath sent me hither shall seeme any way straunge to you you haue the lesse reason for it considering that this Court is renowned all the world ouer for the very greatest m◅a is and rarietie of aduentures heere happening which my selfe also haue knowen for truth and that neuer any knight Lady or Damosel returned hence discontented And thereby I am resolutely perswaded that I shall finde no lesse fauour heere then others formerly haue done wherefore receiue this Letter and if you please to allow of the contents therein set downe you shall soone see the most gentle Greeke knight and the fairest Princesse in the world of whom hee hath charge Then the King commanded the Letter to be publikely read that euery one might heare what it contained The Letter sent from Grasinda to the Potent King Lisuart MOST high and magnanimous Prince I Grasinda fairest of all the choycest beauties in Romania doe giue you to vnderstand that I am newly arriued in your land vnder the guard and conduct of a Greek Knight onely vpon this occasion that as I haue already bin precisely iudged and confessed for the fairest woman of al them in
Romania so for the maintenance of this glory which hath affoorded my soule no meane contentment I would be heere in like case reputed aboue all the Maides in your Court for otherwise my minde can neuer be satisfied because it is the thing that beyond all other I most desire And if there be any Knight that in his loue to any particular beautie or in the behalfe of all together will contradict mee hee must resolue himselfe on two things First for Combate against the Greeke Knight And next that hee bring a Crowne with him from his Lady according as I my selfe will weare another to the end that the Conquerour in signe of triumph and victory may make a present thereof to his Mistresse for whom hee vndertooke this triall And if you bee pleased Sir to graunt this my humble request then I likewise desire you to send a safe conduct by my Gentlewoman for me and all my company but especially for the Greeke Knight that hee may receiue no other discourtesie or out-rage except such as may happen to him from them with whom he shall combate And if hee chance to vanquish the first then let a second yea third sourth and fift or so many one after another as shall haue the courage to contend against me and my Knight Your Maiesties in all seruices else to bee commanded GRASINDA Before God quoth the King the Lady must needes be extraordinary faire and the knight bold and valiant that vndertakes so great an enterprise the end whereof will not be easie in the attayning because such fortunes are full of danger and opinions in this case as diuers Notwithstanding Damosell and faire friend you may returne when you please and while we attend for your Ladies arriuall heere safe conduct shall bee published according to her owne desire and if shee finde none to gain-say her challenge for beauty sheeshall in my minde haue the accomplishment of her owne desires Sir replyed the Gentlewoman you speake like a good and gracious King as euer-more you haue bin esteemed The Greeke Knight hath two Knights more in his company who are determined likewise to combate for the loue of their Ladies against all such as dare encounter with them and they desire also security from your Highnes for their safe comming and returning Faire friend answered the King you shall haue all that you can request and I am well pleased that it should bee so Sir then quoth she rest your selfe assured that you shall see them all here to morrow morning in the company of her who thinkes her selfe to be the onely beauty in the world Wherefore Madame said she to the Queene cause your choycest Ladies to put on their richest accoutrements and not to forget any thing that may illustrate their perfections if they hope to gaine any glory from her So taking her leaue she mounted on her Palfray and returned directly the same way she came where finding the Barke awayting for her she went aboord and had the winde so fitting for her that she was quickly with Grasinda to whom at large shee reported all that had passed betweene King Lisuart and her who had graunted all that she requested Hereupon the Greeke knight was minded to haue their Tents and Pauilions forth-with erected so neere to the Towne as might be and therefore concluded that both he and all his company would goe on land the day following But heere I must tell ye that so soone as the Damosell messenger was departed from the Court the Prince Saluste Quide who had bin present at the whole conference and heard what answere was made her stepped forth with other Romaine Knights and falling on his knee before the King saide as followeth Sir we that are Romaines and strangers here in your Country do most humbly beg one boone which we must needs craue of your Maiesty redounding highly to your honour and benefit Truely Sir answered the King there is no reason then that it should be denyed you All of them gaue him most hearty thankes and then the Prince proceeded on thus Let it then bee pleasing to your Highnes that we strangers may maintaine the cause for so many faire Maides as are here present in your Court. And if Heauen be as fauourable to vs as equity and reason shall shew themselues gracious in our attempt we make no doubt but to effect this busines much better then any of your Knights can doe because our long acquaintance with the Greeks man-hood hath sufficiently instructed vs how to deale with them being men commonly ouercome by vs as our manifold encounters can well witnesse and their very name shall more renowne our chiualry then any effect whatsoeuer can ensue by them to the men of this Country although they were all to grapple with them Don Grumedan hearing the presumption of the Romane and with what audaciousnes he spake could not endure it but rising vp thus hee said to the King Albeit Sir it is very high honour to Princes when such strange aduentures happen in their Courts whereby their renown and magnificence may be the more augmented yet notwithstanding many times they returne to their scandall and disgrace if they be not embraced with such discretion and reuerence as is euer more required in all potent Kings I speake these words Sir for the Greeke Knight who is so lately come into your land vnder hope of performing such matters as hee hath acquainted you withall wherein if he shall preuaile and conquer them that would contend against him though the danger will be theirs yet the shame and dishonour must be yours Wherefore if you were so pleased all should be deferred till the comming of Galaor and Norandell who will be heere within foure or fiue daies as I am credibly enformed by some Knights that haue seene them And by that time also Guillan the Pensiue will be recouered and able to beare Armes which in mine opinion would fall out better for you because they are meetest men to confront any challenger and to defend the honor and reputation of your Court with all the beauties therein abyding The King suddenly starting vp replied This may not be graunted because my promise is already past to the Prince Saluste Quide and these other Gentlemen his companions who must be the protectours of our best beauties and are able to answere a more high and daungerous enterprise then this is or can be It may be so said Grumedan but I am well assured that none of our Ladies or Damosells will consent thereto Let it suffice then quoth the King that I will graunt to nothing else for them then as alreadie I haue determined and my word past for it Hereupon Saluste Quide thanking the king most humbly addressed himself to Grumedan saying Lord Grumedan you may say what please you neuerthelesse I hope to winne the honor for these Ladies and to ouercome the Greek Knight in Combate of whom you make so great account And because there are two
the fight be ended either without his death or some other of his dearest friends or it might be of both together But these doubts being somewhat asswaged he thought the time ouer long till hee was at the combate whereupon hee said to Grasinda Madame if you bee so pleased to morrow morning wee will earely heare Masse in our Pauilions and then take our way towardes King Lisuart with such attendants as you shall appoint and I make no question but by the helpe of heauen you shall obtaine your long-wished desire Whereto she readily condiscended CHAP. XVI How the Greeke Knight and his confederates conducted the faire Grasinda to the place where the Combates were to be perfourmed And of that which ensued thereon LIttle rest tooke Grasinda all this night and much lesse the Greeke Knight in regard of eithers earnest longing to haue this enterprise successiuely accomplished Wherefore by breake of day the next morning they were conueyed ashoare with the company appointed to attend vpon them and after they had deuoutly heard Masse they all mounted on horsebacke shaping their course to the Towne of Tagades where King Lisuart with his Lords exspected their arriuall Now you need not make any doubt but that Grasinda was most rich and sumptuous in her attire and habit as hoping by the helpe of her Knight to winne the like honour from the Maydes and Virgins of Great Brittaine as shee had done from the fairest women of Romania And perswade your selues beside that if she were so respectiue of her owne adornements she failed not in the like care for her followers especially her Ladies and Gentlewomen which gaue good testimony to all such as saw them that their Mâ—stâ—is was a most rich and worthy Lady And yet the more to embellish her beautie she woare a coastly rich Crowne on her head which had biâ— long before conquered for her in the manifestation of her beauty Close by her side rode the Greeke Knight in very honourable equipage hauing on a rich Armour couered with a coate of Armes of his owne colours Next to him followed Brunco bearing a Shield of Sinople in the midst whereof was figured a faire Damosell with a Knight on his knees before her as seeming to require mercy and fauor of her his Armour being all ouerwauie with gold By him rode Angriose mounted on a gallant Courser armed likewise with a costly Armour all thicke seamed ouer with flowres of gold and he guided the Damosell that had bin Messenger to king Lisuart the day before In this manner came Grasinda to the place appointed by the King for this busines in the midst wherof was raised a square base of black marble containing the height of a man wherupon he that intended to enter the Combat was to fixe either his Helmet Shield Gauntlet or else some greene branch The Greeke knight looking on all sides about him beheld the King and many knights of Great Brittaine but most he obserued the Prince Salust Quide in an Armor thick seamed with Serpents which made him seeme so great of stature and being mounted also on a Horse of huge aduantage that he appeared to be a Giant TheÌ„ listing vp his eies he saw the Queen a faire troup of Ladies about her each one wearing a rich Crowne on her head But he could not see there his Oriana which beganne to touch him somewhat in soule wherefore he turned head to Grasinda who hauing her eye fixed on the Prince Saluste Quide he could easily gather thereby that she was in great doubt of her successe when smiling to him selfe he thus spake to her It appeareth to me Madame that the huge forme of this Knight makes you fearefull of my fortune notwithstanding before he and I part hence I shall let you plainly perceiue that although hee is higher mounted then I am I haue a heart as intire and able as his and right consisting on our side the victory must needs be ours Heauen stand so fauourable for you answered Grasinda Then the Knight took the Crown which she woare on her head and ryding gently toward the square base placed it thereon afterward returning to his Squire who had three mighty strong Launces each hauing a little Penon at the point enriched with faire flottes of fine gold and taking which of them he best liked rode afterward to the King speaking thus to him in the Greeke tongue Most excellent King I salute you as the onely absolute Prince on the earth Know that I am a knight of a strange Nation as my outward appearance makes manifest to you and I by commaund of the Lady who onely hath power ouer me am come into this Country to approue my fortune against the knights of your Court so great is their fame and renowne in all places But for ought I can perceiue my intent is wholly frustrated and you haue graunted that to Romanes which I desired of your owne But seeing it is so and that it may bee none otherwise may it stand with your Highnes liking without any further waste of time to commaund him that first intends the combat to take the Ladies Crown whose cause hee meaneth to maintaine and to place it on the Pâ—rrou according as alreadie I haue done mine Hauing spoken these words hee gaue the spurre to his Courser and made him bound curuet and carriere so dexteriously before them and with such a commendable pleasing performance as euery eye took delight to behold him with no meane praises aâ—d commendations Afterward hauing attained the length of the field hee turned with an extraordinary gallant grace exspecting who durst first present himselfe Now the King knew not what all this while had beene spoken to him because he vnderstood not the Greeke language wherfore Count Argamont who stood neerâ—st to him interpreted all that had beene said with this addition of his owne In good faith Sir quoth he it would highly please me to see the ouer-daring pride of the Romanes a little qualified by this Grecian knight Before God answered the king wee shall annon behold one of the stearnest encounters that euer was seene in this land for I perceiue the Prince Saluste Quide already is entred into the Lists And to speake truely he aduanced himselfe very proudly enuious and much displeased to heare what praises were generally giuen of the Greeke knight which made him rate and reuile the people crying out against them saying Fye on ye foolish sottes I diots and beetle headed Brittaines what mooues you to this sencelesse admiration of a blockish paltrie companion that shewes all the wit and courage he hath in tormenting a poore horse vpon no occasion Before God if he were a man of any wisdom he would make more spare of him for the better defending him selfe against me or else for his speedier flight before he be therto compelled Alas poore ignorant people you expresse your great want of knowledge concerning the name of a Romaine who is so dreaded throughout all
me Perhaps he brings me such good newes as may be very pleasing to me Madame quoth he the King hath commaunded vs on our liues that no one may come neere your person much lesse speak with you vntill you come to him The Squire returned his answere to his Master in the meane while Giontes misdoubting that hee must needes try the Combate made him ready for it As readily came the Knight who stiled himselfe the Greene Knight into the fielde and both giuing the spurre to their horses met together so furiously that their Launces flew in pieces and Giontes his horse being shouldered fell to the ground with his Maister vnder him so that he could not readily recouer himselfe Whereupon the Greene Knight trotting to him desired him once more that hee would permit him to speake with Oriana By my faith Sir answered Giontes if you do it is much against my will and by this mis-fortune of my horse Hardly had he concluded these words but the Greene knight heard Sadoce crying that hee should stand vpon his guard Wherefore leauing Giontes he ranne against the other and failed in the attaint which Sadoce did not but met him so manfully that his Launce flew in infinit pieces The Greene knight angry at his misse took another Lance and giuing his horse the spurre met Sadoce so powerfully that hee cast him quite out of his saddle Which Lazanor seeing and hoping to bee reuenged for his two companions couched his Launce against the Greene Knight with full perswasion to vnhorse him but they encountred so furiously with their bodies that Lazanors arme was broken and hee sate so amazedly on his horse as hee had not the power to stay him till hee had runne out his whole race because the Greene Knight in his passage by him had pluckt the bridle off his head and seeing him runne in that confused manner he fell a laughing at him Then came he to Oriana and humbly saluting her shee imagined him to be Amadis wherefore raysing her selfe in the Litter she welcomde him very graciously Then the Knight gaue her a Letter speaking thus to her Madame Agrais and Florestan doe duteously commend themselues to your acceptance and haue expresly sent me to you to bring you their mindes contained in that writ Wherefore consider with your selfe if you will command me any seruice to them for I must returne to them with all possible speed being well assured that although I am a man of slender valour yet they may stand in neede of my helpe before their enterprise will be ended Now trust me Sir quoth she they may well faile of meeting with a better Knight then you are witnes the paines you haue taken to speake with me But good Sir seeing you haue done so much for mee vouchsafe to let me know who you are to the end that I the more thankefully remember you heere-after when better I may performe it Madame they that know mee said he doe tearme me Garnate of the Dreadfull Dale whose griefe is not a little for your fathers vnkindnes and cruelty to you Notwithstanding hardly will he bring his purpose to passe it will first cost the liues of many good Knights who for your sake will defend you to their vttermost power Ah my deare friend Garnate quoth she I pray GOD giue mee the meanes whereby I may acknowledge this wonderfull loyaltie Madame said he I haue all my life-time desired to doe you some seruice as one that is your most humble seruant and now I must needes take my leaue of you For he saw the Queene Sardamira comming neere who beholding Oriana aduisedly imagined her lookes to be more chearefull and her present disposition much altered from the former whereupon she said Madame I doe not know the Knight that spake with you but he hath handled your guards as roughly as Florestan did them that had the charge of me so that now they need not mocke one another I know not whether it be the misfortune of the way or through their owne want of courage but well I wot that I neuer saw two worthier knights then this and Florestan Oriana faintly smyling answered I saw not how yours were dealt withall but as for these heere it seemes that they met with one who knew well enough how to chastise their harshnesse As they held on this merry mocking Giontes and the two other came towards them so much ashamed of themselues as they durst not hold vp their heads to looke them in the faces But setting on toward Tagades Oriana called Mabila into the Litter to her as desirous to haue her company So being together they closely read the Letter whereby Florestan aduertised the Princesse that Gandalin and Ardan the Dwarfe to Amadis were both arriued at the Enclosed Isle where they exspected their Master within eight dayes following according as hee had sent word thither and Galuanes Agraies beside many more good Knights were all purposely there met together onely to lend her succour so soone as they should haue intelligence of her shipping away to bee sent for Rome wherefore in the meane time she should comfort her selfe and be of good courage as now she had no other cause These newes were so welcome to both the Ladies as nothing else possibly could be more and they imagined that either they were newly reuiued from death to life or deliuered out of a darke dungeon into an incompatable glorious light And all the way as they rode along they could finde no other argument of talke neither so much as thinke on any thing else but only to reade and re-reade the Letter ouer and ouer which questionlesse they did an hundred times But being come to the Court new sorrow ouer mastered this iocund solace fearing lest the Knights of the Enclosed Isle should not be able to execute their enterprise Now so soone as Oriana was alighted she went to her own lodgings neuer going to the Queenes her Mother according as she was wont to doe making an excuse that she was not wel Whereof the King receiuing knowledge hee went to see her accompanied onely with Arban King of North wales No sooner was he entred the chamber but shee thrâ—w her selfe at â—is feet and euen as it were â—…wning her selfe in teares with a trembling voyce thus she spake Alas my King and Father for Gods sake remember your defolate daughter in compassion and bee not lesse fauourable to her then al your life-time you haue beene to meane Ladies Gentlewomen in requiring your ayde and assistance Ah my worthy Lord and Father when Archalaus led you away prisoner it was for the fame of your great goodnes in helping her that thereto vrged you And can it be possible that now you should forget so rare a vertue that euermore was most familiar with you will you deale worse with me then euer you did with any liuing body I haue heard that you will send me to the Emperor of Rome with intent that
beseech you so much as a man may doe that before you send her so farre hence you would maturely consider it and iudge thereof without any partiall affection For as we commonly see that a wise man seldome fals into any errour when he is guided and led by reason euen so we discerne the contrary when he pâ—esumeth so much vpon himselfe that he will allow of no counsell but out of his owne braine then he falles into greater dangers then all his after-wit can recouer as by wofull experience hath bin obserued in many Princes You see my Lord what extremitie your Daughter Oriana is in and if you well consider thereon you may easilie iudge what inconuenience may happen to her person by an inward violent-conceiued despaire which afterward all your life-time you may at leysure repent Beyond all this you will runne into an vnauoydable blame not only of strangers but euen of your owne subiects and thereby grow hatefull to them whereon must needes ensue many mis-fortunes Therefore beleeue the counsell of them that solie desire the good benefit and honour of you and your kingdome whereby no perill what-soeuer can happen to you in so doing but if it should fall out otherwise yet you stand clearely excused and they bound to prepare all possible remedies These considerations my royall Maister do importune my soule with endlesse imprecations that you would vse a fatherly pitty and please these Ambassadors by some other means then the precious price of your daughters blood Vncle quoth the King these words haue moued too much therefore if you meane to please me vse no more of them So turning from him he espied the Prince Saluste Quide and Brandaiell enter the Garden who being come neerer called them to him saying Lords my daughter is now come to court and she is somewhat sickly but I trust she will be better amended to morrow Sir answered Brandatell we gladly would haue her deliuered to vs so soone as may stand with your liking because the Emperour our Master exspects her day by day according as he hath written to you You know replyed the King that I haue conseâ—ted to his request against the whole opinion of the knights of my Court yea and contrary to her will too Notwithstanding I haue done it in regard of the Emperors vertues and the hope I haue of her honorable respect and entertainment In the meane while forbeare a little that she may forget what shee must forsake and prouide your shipping in a readines for this next weeke ensuing I will deliuer her to you fully furnished My Lord answered the Prince Saluste Quide it is not to bee wondred at if at the first she mouâ—ne for parting from you but I am well assured that so soone as she shall be arriued at Rome beholding so many great Lords to giue her obeysance the triumphes prepared to welcome her and aboue all the choyce loue and respect of the Emperour to her her ancient breeding will easily bee forgotten Moreouer if you please to grace Olinda with her company I meane to make her my wife so soone as she comes there because I finde her to be a wise and vertuous Lady Beleeue me quoth the King I wishe it might bee so And then he entred into a large discourse of such especiall vertues remaining in her as more could not be found in any Lady By this time the Tables were couered for dinner in the midst wherof they that intended to combate with Grumedan came and presented themselues speaking thus to King Lisuart Sir you know what words were vsed some few dayes past by Lord Grumedan to the great disgrace of the Romanes so that Prince Saluste and we with him do come to challenge him the combate Because hee shall well know that it ill becomes such an old dotard as he is to make comparison with knights of Rome therefore if you be so pleased it shall be performed tomorrow for it grieues vs that he should remaine so long vnpunished Don Grumedan hearing himselfe thus abused beganne to change colour and as hee was about to make answere the king seeing him in choler arose and said to him Grumedan you haue euermore hitherto beene wise and temperate especially in speech let mee then request you to conceale your displeasure and onely answere to the combat which these Knights doe vrge you to Sir said Grumedan seeing it is your will it shall be so and to morrow I will not faile to meete them in the field according to my promise where I hope to reuenge the wrong they haue done mee in your presence So the King rose from the Table and went into his Chamber with Grumedan demaunding there of him where were they whom he had chosen to take his part Sir said he first I know the right on my side and if Galaor come to morrow as I think he will I am well assured that hee will beare me companie but if hee come not then will I fight with them all three one after another That may not be answered the king for you haue consented to three against three and so the oath remaines before me recorded which makes me stand in great doubt of you because they are young and strong you aged and weake and without any to helpe you Sir said Grumedan God who hateth pride and presumption wherewith they are too much enflated can prouide helpe when it is least looked for But if the worst should happen I know two of mine owne kinsemen that wil not deny to ayde me against them were they farâ—e better knights then they are The King pausing a while suddenly said I haue considered otherwise for you I will disguise my selfe and second you in the cause for assure your selfe you and I shall well hold out against them all three God forbid Sir answered Grumedan that you should so endanger your royall person for me Why said the King in better place I can neuer doe it and neuer else can I iustly acknowledge the manifold seruices you haue done for me hazarding your life in so many seuerall dangers onely for the defence of me and my Realme Sir quoth he the present demonstration of your gracious goodnes towardes me hath so farre enlarged the obligation of my duty to you that if I could dye a thousand deathes in your seruice I should yet confesse my selfe more indebted to you â—ut neuer feare man replyed the king my heart hath yet courage enough and this arme is endued with sufficient strength to maintaine a quarrell of greater moment Pardon me Sir said Grumedan neuer will I giue consent thereto considering what wrong you shall doe to your selfe you being a king of vpright iustice should deale as truely with a stranger as him that is your familiar friend Well quoth the King seeing you are so earnest I will vrge it no further although it goes much against my minde goe then and prouide for your busines for you haue no time now of trifâ—ing delaying
long time in my house not like a great Prince and Lord as you are but rather in the nature of a meane Knight errant And you had reason to conceale your selfe from me for if I had so well knowen you then as now I do I should haue strouen with my best endeauour to doe such honour as you iustly deserue Sweete Madame said he neuer vse such words in regard you haue done so much for me as I remaine obliged vnto you while I liue Walking on in this conference they entred into the Palace of Apolidon where they found the Tables couered for dinner and the meate already serued in Scarcely were they set downe but Angriote Bruneo and the Damosell came in before them where we need make no doubt of their hearty welcome And as Amadis had questioned them what issue Grumedans Combate had against the Romanes they related to him that the King was fully minded to deliuer his Daughter to the Emper ours Ambassadours and that within three or foure dayes at the vttermost Heereat Amadis was so moued that his colour presently chaunged as being doubtfull that either they should not haue time enough for her rescue or that they of the Enclosed Isle would not partake with him in such an enterprise against King Lisuart Therefore to feele how they stood affected to his purpose so soone as the dinner was ended falling into much variety of discourse and growing into some reportarie of his long voyage at last thus he beganne with them My worthy and honourable friendes for ought I can perceiue matters are much altred in Great Brittaine since we haue bin out of it and the King hath got him another kinde of humour then he was wont to haue in precedent times For I haue seene and knowen that he would readily more regard the affaires of poore distressed Ladies then matters of most moment concerning himselfe Notwithstanding to my no little amazement he is bent to the destruction of his own naturall daughter that peerelesse Princesse Madame Oriana then whom neuer was childe more diligent and respectiue of her parents then from time to time she hath alwayes declared her selfe And yet as Angriote and Bruneo doe plainly tell me without regard of all this duty and obedience euen in the meere despight of her and contrary to the iudgement of all the Lords of Great Brittaine he hath relegated and confined her to the onely man in the world whom she most hateth which moueth me so much to commiserate her case as if you would both beleeue me and lend me your assistance we would free her from this thraldome and set her at libertie Sighing and pausing a while hee began againe in this maner What-soeuer I haue said my deare-esteemed kinsmen and friends assure your selues that I will not vndertake any thing without your counsell and furtherance And yet wee should all remember the solemne oath we made to the Queene Brisena at the very last Court held in the City of London where wee then sware neuer to suffer wrong to be done to any Lady or Damosell if she required helpe of vs. Shall we now then endure that she shall be captined and vyllie entreated of whom heeretofore we haue receiued so many honorable fauours Shall the Ladies and Virgins of her company be carried away perforce and for euer banished from their owne country Before God I speake it if we doe suffer this haynous indignity we are well worthy of eternall blame without any excuse or pretence to shield vs nay we shall fall into the base reputation of recreant and vnworthy knights regardlesse both of honour and Armes Let vs then aduise here together what you think meetest to be done For as concerning my selfe I determine to deferre a voyage long since by me intended as not many dayes since I made knowen to my Cousin Agraies Florestan and others by Gandalin and now with such Ships as I should finde heere labour so much as lies in me to breake the purpose of King Lisuart and rescue so many wronged Ladies Among whom next to the most wofull Princesse Oriana is vertuous Olinda whom the King in this new-deuised tyranny will compell to marry Saluste Quide albeit vtterly against his owne liking And now Lords let me mooue one matter to you I would gladly know by what autority he can warrant this crueltie to them that are none of his subiects neither borne within any of his Dominions There is my Cousin Mabila sent by the King her father into Great Brittaine not to be confined for Rome but to remaine with the Queene and keep the Princesse Oriana company to whom her loue hath alwayes bin such as neuer could bed greater betweene two Princesses And I much maruall that his whole kingdome doth not reuolt against him or at least some bold and hardy Knight vnder-take the cause to counter check his folly honorably by Armes We see deare friends that no one as yet steppes forth in the action and therefore I would entreate you that according to the ancient commendable custome diligently obserued among alknights errant you would be carefull that such a shamefull and dishonourable deed may not be done In so doing we shall winne more fame and true renowne then euer hitherto we haue done without any euill imputation or sinister misconstruction Tell me then what you thinke here-of to the end that according to some resolued conclusion we may take order for the most expedient execution Then Agraies whom it neerest concerned as well for his Sister as for the honorable affection he bare to Olinda as hath bin declared to you in the first booke answered before them all in this manner I know not where the man is that would be dull or slow in so acceptable an enterprise considering that before you my Lord and Cousin arriued here we were all assembled in this place to make prouision for this in conuenience And now that you finde vs so conformable to your will I am certaine that no man among vs is of any other minde but that Fortune meerely calles vs to vndertake the businesse and promises vs an vndoubted victory For she seemeth weary that she hath fauoured King Lisuart so long a time and he makes no acknowledgment thereof any manner of way Why should hee send my Sister against her wil into a strange countrie Did my Father giue her him to dispose of at his pleasure You all know that soone after our departure from Great Brittaine I demanded her of the Queene but she denyed me sending me word by Gandales that she would keepe and respect her as her owne person Is this then kindship or courtesie to keepe her in such sort as to ouer-throw all her fortunes in the end Mabila hath she no other place of retirement but to the Court of the Emperour Is not the kingdome of SCOTLAND of sufficient opulencie for her breeding and education Striking his hand on his brest with a very small pause he brake forth againe thus I
Queene Sardamira sent to entreate Florestan to be her conduct to Mirefleure to Oriana Because he had so curstly handled the Knights that kept her company as they were able to follow her no further Fol. 138. Chapter 15. How the Knight of the Greene Sword who afterward stiled himselfe the Grecke Knight Bruneo de bonne Mer and Angriote Estrauaux embarqued themselues in the company of the faire Grafinda and of that which happened to them afterward Fol. 147. Chapter 16. How the Greeke Knight and his confederates conducted the faire Grasinda to the place where the Combates were to bee performed And of that which ensued thereâ—â— Fol. 159. Chapter 17. How King Lisuart sent for his Daughter Oriana to Court that he might deliuer her to the Romanes And of that which happened to a Knight of the Enclosed Isle But more especially of the Combate which Don Grumedan had with them that defied him Fol. 166. Chapter 18. How King Lisuart deliuered his Daughter Oriana to the Ambassadours of the Emperour and other Ladies with her to be conuayed to Rome And how they were soone after resiued by the Knights of the Enclosed Isle Fol. 181. FINIS THE FOVRTH BOOKE Of Amadis de Gaule WHEREIN IS AMPLY DECLAred what end and successe the Warre had begun betweene King Lisuart and the Knights of the Enclosed Isle With the Marriages and aliances there-upon ensuing to the high contentment of many Louers and their faire Friends Written in French by the Lord of Essars Nicholas de Herberay Commissarie in Ordinarie for the Kings Artillerie and his Lieutenant in the Countrie and Gouernement of Picardie vnder Monsieur de Brissac Great Master and Captaine Generall of the said Artillerie Translated into English by A. M. LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES dwelling in Foster-lane 1618. TO THE TR VLY NOBLE AND VERTVOVS GENTLEMAN SIR PHILLIP HERBERT Knight Earle of Montgomerie Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter c. WIth the same deuotion and integrity of vnspotted affection most Noble Lord I present to your gracious acceptance this fourth Booke of Amadis de Gaule encouraged thereto by that truly vertuous Lady who hath promised to stand betweene me and your dis-fauour in presuming so boldly as herein I haue done The fift and sixt Bookes are shortly to succeed vpon your Honorable acceptation of these and whatsoeuer else remaineth in my poore power either in these or the like imployments are dedicated soly to your Noble seruice Your Honors in all duty A. M. The Printer to the Reader HAuing finished these two Bookes of Amadis de Gaule the third and fourth somewhat longer delayed then was at the first intended I am to intreate thy gentle fauour courteous Reader for such slips and errors as haue escaped mee in the Printing and where Sence shall seeme lame or defectiue in any place to helpe it with thy better vnderstanding as considering that not wilfully but rather vnwillingly those faults haue escaped the Presse By Michaelmasse Tearme next ensuing I haue made promise of the first and second Bookes of Amadis and so consequently the following parts as God and thy kinde fauour shall therein further me Till when accept these a speedie spurre to hasten on the other Thine to be commanded N. O. THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF AMADIS DE GAVLE Wherein is amply discoursed what end the warre had begun betweene King Lisuart and the Knights of the Enclosed Isle with the alliances and mariages therevpon ensuing to the no little contentment of many Louers and their faire friends Of the great sorrow made by the Queene Sardamira after she vnderstood the death of the Prince Saluste Quide And of the arriuall of Oriana in the Enclosed Isle CHAP. 1. BY the discourse of our Third Booke it hath beene declared to you how King Lisuart deliuered his daughter Oriaana to the Emperours Ambassadours contrary to the opinion of all the Princes and Lords of his Kingdome and that she with the other Ladies and Damosels that kept her companie were rescued by Amadis and his friends the nauie of the Romains vanquished Brandaiell de Rocque taken prisoner the Marques of Ancona the Archbishop of Tarente and many more beside Great was this ouerthrow wherein none of them escaped but was eithen slaine or taken prisoner After the conflict was fully ended and all the Ladies brought together Amadis euermore to conceale discreetly his loue and Orianaes went into hir Ship leauing Angriot and some other Knights to keepe company with the women I Passing from Ship to Ship to make such prouision as was thought necessary hee came neere to that wherein Agraies was and there hee heard the most woefull noyse that could be demaunding what might be the reason thereof answere was made him that the Romaines bewayled the death of the Prince Saluste Quide without any meanes of pacification Herevpon Amadis gaue command that the body lying still vpon the Orelope should be put into a Coffin till they might giue it buriall when they came to land Then they that before made such ruefull lamentation being now bereaued of the body encreased their cries and clamours so loude that they were heard by the Queene Sardamira who sat close by the Princesse Oriana When shee vnderstood the cause of their complaining she was suddenly surprised with such extreame sorrow as shee fell downe on the ground and weeping bitterly said Alasse Fortune hath now apparantly declared that her mallice extendeth not onely to the ruine of vs miserable captiues but also to destroy the Emperour and his whole Empire Ah poore Prince mishap hath had too much domination ouer thee Alasse what losse and what sorrow for euer will they endure that deerely loued thee when they shall heare of thine vnfortunate end I know not how thy maister himselfe is able to support this greefe I rather beleeue that he shall no sooner heare of these sad newes but he will immediatly die with extremity of impatience surely not without great reason hauing lost so many goodly Ships such a power of worthy men and a Prince of such admirable expectation Then turning to the Princesse Oriana shee thus proceeded Nay Madame his losse of you is the the greatest matter of all other whom he more desireth then any thing else in the world and for whom he will raise such rough and strange warres as will cost the deare liues of infinite famous and renowned Knights which cannot be long delayed except thou O Emperour doe shew thy selfe the most childish and cowardly minded Prince that euer any mother brought into the world During these lamentations she lay still vpon the ground her armes foulded one within another and meerely drowning her selfe in teares which mooued Oriana to such compassion as being ouercome with weeping shee was feigne to with-draw thence Whereupon Mabila being more strong constant then any of the rest came to the Queene and said In good faith Madame in mine opinion it ill becomes a Princesse so wise and well quallified as you haue
is so vrgently required by very strong reason then ought they to afforde it your daughter whom they haue knowne and well thought on so long a time Beleeue it my Lord they can receiue no shame by the deed and your selfe will confesse in the end that their attempt shold not bee displeasing to you they presuming it may be that you haue beene greatly importuned to this marriage and yeelded thereto against your liking I well perceiue quoth the King that you are not much offended with the matter but rather you can both like and allow thereof but I sweare by God I will make them dearely repent it So rising in a great rage hee flung out of the chamber entring into his owne sound there King Arban Grumedan and Guillan le Pensif who went not from him till hee had tolde them all the conference betweene him and the Queene and what an answere she made him Now because they saw him much incensed they thought good to conceale what the meant to say and mildely by little little brake off these speeches But it chanced on the morrowe following that as the Queene came from hearing Masse Durin brother to the damosell of Denmarke fell on his knee before her and presented her a Letter which Oriana had written to her as followeth CHAP. VII A Letter sent by the Princes Oriana beeing in the Enclosed Isle to the Queene her Mother MAdame although you cannot but be alreadie aduertised of my misfortune such as it is yet I thought it â—…ient to let you knowe part of my mournings And as a beginning to this Letâ—er I beseech you most humbly to consider how mishap hath continually followed mee since my banishment from your Countrie from the King my father and you also than which nothing could be more â—â—â—some to me Neuerthelesse not so satisfied I was burried by such a tempest that the Romans which conducted mee beeing ouercome wee were brought to the Enclosed Isle by them who knowing the wrong done vnto vs hazarded their liues to stay our passage any further And because I stand in doubt that such a matter will not be pacified betweene my father and them without great effusion of blood except you Madame haue some respect thereto I thought fit to send this bearer to you entreating you for the honor of God to take compassion on your poore desolate daughter and worke so much with the King that I may returne againe to him and reobtaine his â—…ed fauour hauing no way offended him except hee be displeased that I haue beene too obedient to him for therein onely I confesse my selfe culpable and not otherwise For the rest to tell you how they in whose power I am and the Ladies with me are minded they haue sent Ambassadours to my father as well to knowe how hee likes their succour giuen mee as also to mediate his pittie towards mee Herein Madame according as I haue giuen charge to Durin hee will further instruct you at his arriuall and lend a helping hand to plant peace if you can to such a dangerous warre begun by misfortune for her sake who remaineth Your most humble and obedient Daughter Oriana After the Queene had aduisedly read and re-read ouer this Letter but not without teares shee said to Durin that shee would speake with the King and afterwards giue him an answere And as shee was enquiring of him what entertainement Oriana and her company had in the Enclosed Isle the King came whom shee withdrawing into her Cabinet casting her selfe downe at his feet weeping bitterly shee thus spake to him Alas Sir for the honour of God take compassion on your daughter and read if you please this Letter which she hath sent me The King seeing the Queen so drowned in teares tooke her vp from the ground and receiuing the Letter from her read the contents thereof then to appease the extreamitie of her passions hee thus answered Madame the Ambassadours will soone be here that are sent from thence haue patience till I haue heard them speake They may perhaps giue me such satisfaction as the iniurie which I haue receiued will bee forgotten And they may bring such a message as I will rather consent to mine owne ruine and desolation of all mine estates than to peace Much better doe I affect to die with honour poore and disinherited than to liue amighty King miserably wretched faint-hearted clowded with the teares of you and your daughter Wherefore speake no more hereof to me except you purpose to offend me And so leauing her hee departed out of the chamber Afterward she called for Durin and said vnto him Friend Durin returne to my daughter Oriana and tell her that I can send her no answere vntill the Ambassadors shal be arriued here for the King till then knowes not how to determine on his businesse But assure her I will essay all possible meanes to do what she hath desired me And say I entreate her alwaies to fixe her owne honour before her eyes without which I shall desire her death Bid her remember that a wise and discreet soule is best discerned in aduersitie and not in the flattering times of prosperity And seeing our Lord hath suffered her to bee borne a Princesse and the daughter of so great a King reason doth require that vertue should bee more familier with her than with a body of baser condition in all aduersities whatsoeuer that can happen to her Alwaies committing the managing of her chiefest affaires to God whom I hartily pray to blesse her preserue her in his â—ase protection vntill such time as we shall meet againe together Durin being thus dispatched by the Queene tooke his way towards the Enclosed Isle and some few daies after his departure as the King was sitting downe to dinner in the great Hall an Esquire suddenly entred who gaue him a Letter of credence which when hee had read hee demanded of the Squire of whence and what hee was Sir answered the Squire I am seruant to Quedragant of Ireland who hath sent me to you about such a businesse as I will relate if you please to heare mee Honest friend said the King speak your pleasure Sâ—… quoth the Squire my Master Brian de Moniaste being sent from the Enclosed Isle are landed in your countrie to acquaint you with some especiall matters from Lord Amadis de Gaul and other Knights that are in his company But before they passe any further or come neare your Court they send you word by mee vnder your gracious fauor that they require safe conduct for their comming Otherwise they are determined to publish their message in all parts of your Land and in other kingdomes beside before they make returne to them that sent theÌ„ Wherefore Sir aduise your selfe and send them your intention Well knewe the King whereat the message aymed and therefore he thought it not conuenient that they should proclaime their cause thorough his kingdome a matter not to be done but
in the Enclosed Isle because we heard newes that hee was vtterly lost foure yeares agoe and now it amazeth mee not a little that he should be so suddenly found again and giue such succour to Madame Oriana Lord Grumedan answered Brian the King it may be will know in time both what we are and what seruices we haue done him And if he attempt any thing against vs hee will finde the issue to be more sharp and sower than the entrance was pleasing or delightsome As for Lord Amadis you sawe him not long since in this Court when hee conquered the Crowne from the Romans that maintained the beauty of the maides of Great Brittaine to bee more excellent than the Ladies that came with him Saint Mary said Grumedan what doe you tell me Is it possible that Amadis was the Greek Knight Beleeue it answered Brian it was he and none other By my soule said Grumedan I now well perceiue that I am a man of very poore iudgment seeing I might then haue wel assured my selfe that it was hard for any man to doe what he did I may doubt whether I haue eyes vnderstanding But faire Sir seeing you haue already done so much for me let mee further entreate you to tell mee who they were that lent assistance on my day of Combat Who answered Brian smiling why two of your very dearest friends Angriote d' Estrauaus and Brunco de bonne Mer. In good sadnesse quoth Grumedan if I had knowne them I should haue warranted my victorie more certaine than I did and am well content to confesse now that the honour of the day is more iustly due to them than to me and all my life time I am a friend and seruant to Amadis and to you likewise mine honour reserued As thus they rode on deuising together they met with Esplandian newly returned from hawking with Ambor sonne to Angriote d' Estra uaus carrying a Spar-hawke on his fist and comming somewhat neare them Brian de Moniaste demanded what he was This is answered Grumedan the young Gentleman Esplandian of whom the wise Vrganda hath spoken so many maruailes I haue heard of him sayd Brian heretofore I pray you cause him to stay a while that wee may the better beholde him Which Grumedan did for as hee was passing by them hee called to him saying Come hither Sir see heere the friends of the Greeke Knight who at your request pardoned the Emperours Knights at least wise send him some commendations from your selfe My Lord answered Esplandian I humbly entreate them to pardon me I knew them not but for my loue to that good Knight I would gladly haue the meanes to doe him any seruice and if they please to kisse his hand on my behalfe they shall binde me to them all my life time Faire Sir saide Brian that office shall be mine and I will doe it with a glad soule albeit hee hath changed his name since you last saw him for now hee is called Amadis de Gaule Amadis de Gaule answered Esplandian surely I cannot think it because I heard that he was dead whereat I conceiued no little grief for the renowned prowesse reported to be in him It is he doubtlesse said Quedragant Then Sir I dare assure you replied Esplandian I am not so forie for the losse of my hawke this day though I loued her dearely as I am ioyfull to heare what you haue tolde me because if I may liue to grow great I will begge so earnestly of the Queene that she shall not deny mee to goe see him and to receiue my Knight-hood from his hand if hee shall please so much to honor me Sweet youth said Brian God blesse and prosper you And so they tooke leaue each of other Brian and Quedragant following their way to the Enclosed Isle and Grumedan and Esplandian returning to the Court. CHAP. VIII How King Lisuart called a Councell concerning what hee intended to do against the Knights of the Enclosed Isle And what resolution was agreed vpon After that Quedragant Brian were departed from the Court King Lisuart found himselfe wonderfully discōtented seeing such weightie occasions to grow more and more vpon him he intended on the morrow to call a Councell only of Arban King of Norwales Grum den and Guillan le Pensit who being mette together the King beganne in this manner Honourable friends you know what iniurie I haue receiued by the Knights of the Enclosed Isle and what shame I should do to my selfe in suffering them to passe vnpunished Neuerthelesse not to shunne the way which all Princes should take doing nothing without counsell and deliberation I would first bee aduised by you in what manner I should shape my reuenge that hereafter they may remain an example to such as dare enter into the like attempts against mee Full well you knowe how dangerous it is to vse delay in such actions and of what consequence my occasion is therefore I pray you let vs consider together on some redresse and euery man freely speake his minde Arban King of Norwales was the first that answered speaking thus Sir seeing you are resolued to make warre against Amadis and those of his league accounting it vnmeete to accept the offer made you by them it is expedient to consider that the managing of the matter may bee so ordered as the glory must remaine to you For although we holde it vndoubtedly that victorie consisteth in the hand of heauen onely God giuing it when where and how hee pleaseth and commonly agreeing with the iustice of the cause yet diligent prouidence is not to bee neglected in all such cases as are required before any enterprise be attempted or any contempt made of the enemie It is good to imagine that he may prooue able enough to finde you play sufficient if fortune looke fauourably on his cause considering that when men are too confident either of their owne right or trusting to their owne strength it procureth their ruine and totall destruction through ouer-bolde presumption albeit the victorie were their due Fauour me Sir to tell you that if you well consider with whom you haue to deale mee thinkes an aduantageable peace were more honourable for you than a hazardous and doubtfull warre falling out more strangely then can bee imagined You know Amadis and the rest by whom hee is backt and supported to bee all good Knights men of great spirit and all of them nearely alyed to Kings and potent Princes who will not faile them for any disaster or death it selfe You know also on the other side that the most part of your subjects neuer liked or thought well of the deliberation meerly made by your selfe for marrying your daughter to the Emperour the onely motiue and occasion of this warre And therefore you may be well assured that how soeuer they beare it with a smooth brow and rankerous spleen inwardly they can be easily contented that all should goe but badly on your side by not following their
liking howbeit I make no doubt but that they will serue you in all loyalty You haue said well answered the King but wee are not now to stand vpon these tearmes I doe not craue your counsell whether I should determine peace or warre but only would know of you by what means I may be best reuenged Sir quoth hee by my former speeches you may easily knowe that Assemble your forces send to your friends for assistance especially to the Emperour of Rome because this case concerneth him as nearely as you Afterward your Army beeing ready march on without any dallying towardes them whom you meane to assault But before you doe this it were good in mine oppinion to practice some meanes whereby you may call home some that are farre off from your seruice partly through discontentment partly by wrongs offered I vrge this motion because if they be not willing to ayde you they should not resolue to offend you For being forth of your Land it would fal out dangerous if they should conspire and bend themselues against you if Fortune doe lowre that day vpon you For many times it comes to passe that distastes and dissents led by length of time doe soonest make their outward appearance when his power against whom the conspiracy is meant growes weake decayed Wherefore Sir this is one of the chiefest points whereof you are maturely to consider Truly said the King I know that you haue spoken to the purpose will do therein what I can Sir said Grumedan Amadis hath bin here-tofore so well accepted in your Court as no man posibly could be more and I could heartily wish that those villaines which caused this so long separation had neuer been borne into the world And although I am his friend intirely so shall I bee no enemy to you if you desist from beeing his Wherefore according to the aduice giuen you by King Arban it were good that aboue all other things you reconcile them to you that pertake with him winning their hearts and willes by little and little as easily you may doe giuing them good lookes and gracious language Then hauing the help of Rome and other your allies as the Kings of Ireland Suetia I make no question but you may with little ease attaine to your intention euen according to your owne minde But my good Lord said Guillan before any matter at all be attempted it were good to know if those men may bee resolued on whom you haue named Are you sure that the Emperour will meddle in the cause He is a man of very slender faith and as ill affected of his owne people as can be Are you certaine also that the King of Suctia will doe as you say If his Maiestie were so pleased Ambassadours should be sent to them speedily to entreate their fauour in this case shewing them apparantly that if reuenge for such a wrong were iustly inflicted it would with-draw any from attempting the like In good sadnesse saide the King you haue very well aduised and because you Lord Guillan doe sufficiently vnderstand the businesse I pray you take the charge vpon you to the Emperor for I know no Knight more able to preuaile with him then you are Sir saide Guillan I was not borne but for your seruice when and where you shall please to commande mee Make ready then quoth the King to morrow you shall haue Letters of credence only and the rest remaine to your owne report So they arose from Councell and each man returned to his lodging till the next morning when the King sending for Guillan saide vnto him Lord Guillan according to our conclusion yester-day you must depart towards the Emperor and with as much expedition as may be To him make knowne how matters haue come to passe that hauing deliuered my daughter to his Ambassadours shee was afterwards surprised from them and forcibly carried to the Enclosed Isle his men all slaine or taken prisoners whereof hee ought to haue respect this iniury redounding as much to him as me If he offer aid and will leuy an Army to be reuenged say that on my part shall be no defailance in any thing my power can stretch vnto If you find him willing to proceed effectually returne againe with all possible diligence that our enemies may haue no leasure to fortifie themselues as I am certaine they intend to doe Sir answered Guillan God giue me grace to accomplish your will in this and any thing else you shall please to employ mee in Worthy friend said the King there are your Letters of credence and if it bee possible set away to morrow morning early for one of my best Ships is made ready for you and waites your comming in the hauen Sir replied Guillan there shall bee no want of duty in me And so taking his leaue and giuing order for his further affaires he went aboard and set away The very same day Brandoynas also was dispatched for Galuanes in the Isle of Mongaza and from thence into Ireland to King Cildadan to make ready so many men as he could Philipinell was sent to Gasquilan King of Suetia who sometime came into Great Brittaine to approue his manhood against Amadis King Lasuart sent him word that if his spleene as yet continued hee should now haue better meanes then euer because the warre was intended against him So farre did these newes fly abroad that they came to the vnderstanding of Archalaus the Enchanter to his no little ioy and comfort intending by this occasion the vtter ruine of King Lisuart and likewise of Amadis And for his speedier attaining thereto he went presently to King Aramyne who hearing of his ariuall gaue him most royall entertainement presuming peremptorily that hee would not come into his countrie but vpon some very vrgent occasion Beeing priuately seated together Archalaus thus began Sir some few dayes since I receiued credible information that King Lisuart and Amadis de Gaule two of the deadliest enemies you haue are fallen vpon such a quarrell as without any hope of peace euer to come betweene them they muster men for a maine battell out of which they cannot escape but with the finall destruction of the one or other perhaps of them both together And because occasion doth expressely call you as wel to reuenge your former losses in times past as also to extend your limits by peaceable making your selfe King of Great Brittaine me thinkes you should not delay the mustering of your men and summoning all your friends together that while they cauill maintaine their quarrell so farre off you may take so apt an aduantage and make an easie entrance into Brittaine If they chance to meet and fight the field then without giuing the least leasure to the conqueror to breath or refresh his followers you may set vpon him so opportunately and bid him so hot an vnexpected battaile as none of them can escape with life Now Sir to acquaint you with the cause of
their enmity you must vnderstand that King Lisuart sending his eldest daughter for Rome hauing giuen her as wife to the Emperour Amadis de Gaule one of them who in your last lost battaile termed himselfe Knight of the Serpent and then wore as you well remember a golden helmet with a great many more met the Romans on the Sea set vpon them and ouercomming them slew the Prince Saluste Quide a near kinsman to the Emperour The rest were taken prisoners with the Ladies Gentlewomen whom they conueyed to the Enclosed Isle where as yet they keepe them Now indeede I cannot certainely resolue you what matter mooued them to begin this warre but I am well assured that King Lisuart in reuenge of this iniury gathers as great an Army together as hee can And Amadis hath sent into all parts for succour purposing to stand vpon his owne defence if he shall be assailed During these busie troubles Sir you haue an excellent occasion if you please to shew them as subtill a sleight as euer was done setting vpon them as I haue directed you And because at the very first sight you may discerne your victory to be certaine I will worke so much that Barsinan Lord of Sansuegna sonne to him whom the King burned at London and likewise all they of the linage of Dardan the Proude whom Amadis foyled at Vindolisore shall come to your aide with the King of the Profound Isle Wherfore perswade your selfe that being assisted with so great a number of good Knights there is no doubt to be made but you shall reach the height of your desire My worthy good friend Archalaus answered the King Aranigne you tell mee great matters and although I was fully determined neuer more to tempt fortune she hauing shewen me such slender fauor in times past yet me thinks it were a great folly to foreslowe such occasions as freely come to offer themselues for the augmentation of my honour and profit For if in such cases attempts managed by reason haue as happy issue as men can wish the fruit of such a labour is well gathered when desert holds vp the lappe to receiue it But if it should fall out otherwise yet at least that must be performed wherto all men stand bound by vertue for maintenance of their authority which is not to be valued by passed misfortunes as when a happy houre presents it selfe they should refuse to embrace it as declaring themselues to be dastardly minded and voide of all courage and magnanimitie Seeing then wee are so forward in tearms let it suffice that I faithfully credit you and desire you while I am prouiding mine Army to take order for the rest sending to Barsinan and our other friends for their effectuall ioyning with vs. Archalans hauing heard this resolution made no long stay with King Aranigne but taking leaue of him iournied so diligently that hee ariued in the countrie of Sansuegna where hee found Barsinan To him he tolde all the passed conference setting before his iudgement what an execrable iniurie King Lisuart had done to his father suffering to bee burned aliue by a tower from the toppe where-of afterward hee caused his brother Gandandell to bee throwne downe whom Guillan le Pensif had taken prisoner And doe you think quoth he that had it not been for this Amadis de Gaule but Barsinan your father had peaceably beene King of Great Brittaine But that villaine came and after hee had rescued Oriana from mee caused all the rest of my enterprise to bee vtterly voide But now you haue time conuenient to bee reuenged therfore except you will shew your selfe dull base minded delay no longer considering that King Aranigne is ready to assist you Easily did Barsinan beleeue all that hee had said and promised to appeare in field so soone as any need required So Archalaus departed thence to the King of the Profound Isle and gaue to him the very same instructions Hauing obtained what he desired he returned homeward and crossing the countrie aduised all the kindred of Dardan the Proude to be in a readiness to depart away when they should be commanded But at this instant our History speakes no more there-of but returnes to the fortunes of Quedragant and Brian being vnder saile for the Enclosed Isle CHAP. XI How Quedragant and Brian sayling on the Sea by a sudden and vnexpected tempest were cast so farre out of their course that hauing lost all knowledge of land they met accidentally with Queen Briolania And what happened to them QVedragant and Brian beeing on the maine Seas shaped their cōpasse for the Enclosed Isle but vpon a sudden the windes began to blow so stearnely and such a violent tempest arose as the best man of courage among them made little account of escaping seeing their saile yardes and tacklings broken in peeces and with such impetuous gusts of contrarie windes as trusting neither to stearne or any hope else but the mercy of God only and the waues they expected sinking euery minute So long they ran this disasterous fortune that the dead darke night ouer-tooke them with extreame thunders and flashes of lightning which was their best meanes for seeing one another till day-breake appeared the windes grew appeased and the Sea by little and little indifferently calmed Now they could plainely perceiue that they were cast farre enough out of their course for they discouered the coast of Sobradisa and as they were preparing thither they espied a goodly great Shippe sayling towardes them which they determined to call to to knowe who was aboard her Comming more neare they beheld vpon the decke diuerse Ladies and Gentle-women and some Knights among them discoursing together where-upon before they would presume any further they put forth a Frigate commanding one of their Squires to goe know of whence what they were The Squire performed his charge and going aboard the Ship humbly saluted such as he saw there saying Lords and Ladies there are Gentlemen in yonder ship who in curtesie desire to vnderstand what you are and whither you are bound Honest friend answered one of them say that the Queene of Sobradisa is here and longs to be at the Enclosed Isle These newes Sir answered the Squire will be very welcome to two Knights that sent mee to you who are also bound for the selfe same place Honest Squire sayde the Queene tell vs then their names if you may do it Indeed Madame quoth hee I stand charged to the contrary But thus much I dare tell you that they tooke shipping in Great Brittaine to returne to the Pallace of Apolidon where they had been before now if fortune had not hindred their voyage But I am very certaine that their ioy for meeting with you will make them forget all their passed danger wherefore I will returne againe to them and tell them what I haue heard of you So saying he went back to the Ship from whence hee came and declared to Quedragant Brian his answere
Court of King Lisuart there to maintaine against all commers that she was a fairer woman than the choicest Virgin in all that countrie Then hee related at large how all things had past especially his Combate about that cause against the Romanes who meerely in presumption vndertooke the fight but spedde according to their deserts And indeede Sir quoth hee they thought that they cōtended against a Greeke Knight so that before they entered the Combate they made little account of him speaking it publikely that neuer Greek durst be so bolde as to deale with a Roman man to man but easily should vanquish him as they had done many other before But the successe fell out contrary to their expectation for they were foyled one after another and indeede with no more then resistance of cōmon course Beleeue me saide the Emperour I reioyce in all his happie fortunes and credit it assuredly that if I had meanes whereby to doe him any pleasure hee should well knowe that I am his friend to my vttermost power Sir answered Master Elisabet your gracious offer can neuer shewe it selfe in a more needfull season and now hee doth most humbly require it Say you so said the Emperour let me know how Then Master Elisabet proceeded thus Sir after hee had abated the Ramanes daring pride he withdrew himselfe to the Enclosed Isle which is his owne by iust title and there he found a great number of Knights ready bound for the Sea in succour of Madame Oriana eldest daughter to King Lisuart whom against her will he would haue married to the Emperour of Rome and quite dis-inherited her to aduance his youngest daughter Leonara contrary to all aduice and opinion not only of the Princes and Lords of his land but also of his subiects in generall Whereof Lord Amadis beeing aduertised hee highly commended their enterprise so that on the day ensuing they put forth to Sea and hulled about the straites for them that had the Princesse in charge Manfully were they assayled after a long and fierce conflict vanquished taken prisoners and the Ladies thus rescued conuayed to the Enclosed Isle where now they abide at this present Neuerthelesse they sent Ambasdours to King Lisuart as well to let him vnderstand vpon what occasion they had thus rescued his daughter as also to entreate her home acceptation againe without sending her any more so farre from him considering the great wrong hee did therein to him selfe But as they doubted so it came to passe for without any regard to their honest offer hee stood mainely on his owne strength and would haue that by force which they tendered him freely For this cause Sir my Lord Amadis and all his worthy band of Knights with him do humbly entreate you holding the prime place among Christian Princes being Gods deputie and minister to maintaine right and iustice especially when such a vertuous Princesse is so highly wronged that you would be pleased to send them some succour wherein you shall binde them all to you while they liue or can bee imployed any way in your seruice with their vttermost paines All this while the Emperor lending an attentiue care to Master Elisabets wordes sate very pensiue as considering that hardly would this enterprise be ended without a long and doubtfull warre For hee well knew that King Lisuart was a Prince of vndauntable spirit and the Emperour of Rome was a man immeasurably proude too much opinionate of his owne fortune On the other side knowing what iust occasion the Knights of the Enclosed Isle had to rescue Oriana in so deep distresse and how highly him selfe stood obliged to Amadis not onely for the monster Endriagus death but also for taking such pains as to come see him in Constantinople and what bountifull offers hee had made him beside he resolued to send him succour with all speed speaking thus to Master Elisabet My worthy good friend Lord Amadis shall haue of mee his owne desire and such an Army will I send him as both Patin and King Lisuart shall well know how dearly I respect and esteeme him These royall words were so pleasing to all the Knights there present especially to Gastilles as presently hee fell vpon his knees saying Sir if euer I did you any acceptable seruice I most humbly entreate you that in recompence of all you would please to permit me that I may be one in the number of them apointed for this honourable succour for I neuer vndertooke any voyage that could bee more welcome to me than this Nephew answered the Emperour you the Marquesse Saluder shall goe together in my steede and therefore giue order that such shipping bee made ready as is needfull for passage to the Enclosed Isle with ten-thousand approoued warriours which shall goe with you Sir said Maister Elisabet I must needs returne speedily into Romania where Grasinda my Mistresse hath already taken order for an Army of men leauied in this cause and them to passe along with mee thither Wherefore may it please you to licence my departure to the end that in due time I may crosse the Seas and embarke our forces to ioyne with theirs Friend replied the Emperour rest your selfe here some two or three dayes and afterwarde depart at your owne pleasure CHAP. XII How Gandalin ariued in Gaule And of the speeches betweene him and King Perion GGandalin being parted from the Enclosed Isle preuailed so well by his diligence that in few dayes he ariued in Gaule euen at the place where King Perion as then soiourned who was not a little ioyfull to see him as being assured that hee brought some tydings of his sonne whom hee had not seene in six yeares and more Hereupon hee sent immediately for him and he hauing done such dutie as became him deliuered his Letters from Amadis declaring that he had left him in the Enclosed Island Now in regarde other matters of moment were referred to his report the King demanded of him what newes hee had to impart to him Sir said Gandalin my Lord and all his honorable companions stand in great need of succour from you What is the matter replied the King Then Gandalin without omitting any thing reuealed the whole businesse as you haue heard before discoursed Hereat the King was much amazed howbeit hee made no outward shew thereof and gaue command beside not to vse any speech of these newes especially to Galaor because as yet hee was very weake by reason of a disease hanging long vpon him But quoth hee if he demand wherefore thou art come hither tell him it was to vnderstand of my health and to morrowe I will take order according as thy Master hath required Galaor had immediate intelligence that Gandalin was come to Court wherefore hee sent to request the King that Gandalin might come to him to tell him some tydings of his brother Amadis And although hee was in such weake estate that hee could hardly support himselfe yet hee arose and embraced
him demanding how his Master fared My Lord quoth hee I left him at the Enclosed Isle in very sound health God be thanked for it and in good hope to see you shortly assuring you it will be no little griefe to him when hee shall heare of your long sicknesse As thus they discoursed Norandell entred the Chamber who knowing GaÌ„dalin asked if Amadis were come thither No my good Lord said he I left him at the pallace of Apolidon where hee refresheth him selfe after his many trauailes in Almaigne Romania and Constantinople My deare friend Gandalin quoth Galaor I pray thee tell mee what thou maist Gandalin declared all his Masters trauailes at large to the no little maruaile of the hearers especially when hee told all the manner of the fight with the monster Endriagus Alas said Galaor when shall I see him Soon enough answered Norandell if you would take some paines to recouer your health Beleeue it quoth Galaor I will do my vtmost endeauour not only for my health but to ease my longing desire to see him My Lord said Gandalin the King gaue me charge not to holde you with any long discourse in regarde of your feeble condition wherefore I pray you to spare my absence now and to morrowe I will keepe you longer company So Gandalin left them and returned to the King whom hee found studying on the businesse for his sonne Amadis and because hee would keep his purpose secret he determined to send Norandell into Great Brittaine although hee was but newly come to his friend hearing what a long sicknesse hee had Hereupon the next morning hee sent for him and euen as if instantly he had heard some nouell aduertisement hee said vnto him Worthy friend this day I haue receiued newes whereby for ought I can perceiue the King your father hath an enterprise in hand wherein your seruice may much auaile him and therefore I would aduise you to go to him But let me entreate you not to talke hereof to Galaor considering in what weake estate he is and it may bee greatly offensiue to him Sir answered Norandell I would bee loath to doe any thing hurtfull to him and humbly thanke your Highness for your good couÌ„sell to morrow with your leaue I meane to part hence and this day I meane to keep him company Changing this kind of discourse they fell to talke of other matters till Norandel withdrew to his friend Galaor speaking to him in this maner My honourable companion I promised King Lisuart when I parted from him to see him againe within a moneth after wherefore let not my departure so soone bee displeasing to you because I am thereto enforced and so much the rather in regarde I see that the worst is already past with you and you are much better amended then before Moreouer the small time of my Knighthoods employment many others may highly misinterpret by my so long remayning idle and hurle diuerse blamefull aspertions on me which I am sure will be but little pleasing to you knowing that you loue mine honour as deare as your owne Neuerthelesse if your sicknesse should holde on in any long continuance which heauen forefend I promise to see you againe so soon as possibly I can Galaor was much disconted at Norandels wordes because hee tooke great delight in his company notwithstanding thus hee answered vpon my faith albeit you haue great occasion to doe as you say yet your absence from mee will cause no meane griefe Neuerthelesse preferring your honor before my pleasure I am content to let you goe when you will desiring you most earnestly to doe my humble duty to the King assuring him that so long as life remaines in this body hee shall finde me his loyall and faithfull seruant So embracing each other very affectionately they parted but not without wette eyes Norandels Ship lying ready for him and hauing taken leaue of King Perion and his Queene the windes and Seas were so fauourable to him as in few dayes he landed in the port of Vindilisore where King Lisuart was preparing his Armie for the Enclosed Isle No sooner had Norandell set saile but King Perion mustered men from all parts and made shipping likewise ready for their passage to the Enclosed Isle so speedily as might be In the meane while Lasinde the Squire to Bruneo beeing come to the Marquesse diligently executed his commission and by pleasing perswasions compassed his intention also with Branfill who seeing his father somewhat slowe and tardie in the businesse cast himselfe at his feet saying My Lord I would I had beene with my brother to haue fought with the Romanes surely I should haue reputed it for one of the fairest fortunes that euer in this life can befall me But seeing my best starres haue fayled mee therein most humbly I entreat you in recompence of that losse to giue mee leaue to goe thither with such succor as you shall please to send I dare assure you father that it will be both for your honor and your sonnes who as you well know haue long time been much bounden to Amadis and his friends Sonne quoth he I am well contented and seeing you haue such desire to warre you shall haue Knights good store to beare you company As indeed hee had for while Branfill was fitting all things in due order for him selfe his father gaue charge for the other expedition of Souldiers Here you must likewise obserue that the good olde Gouernour Ysanio who was sent to King Taffinor of Bohemia found â—here very gracious entertainement knowing that hee came from the Knight of the greene Sword For after hee had deliuered his Letters and his further message fully vnderstood the King said vnto him I promise you Sir vpon my faith I will not fayle him in so serious a businesse but he shall haue all that hee can require Then he called his sonne Grasandor to whom hee declared all that Ysanio had tolde him and the cause of his comming demanding of him if hee would vndertake the voyage for the aide of Amadis who had called him selfe Knight of the greene Sword My Lord quoth he the greatest desire I haue in this world is to enioy the company of so good a Knight and I desire it of you most entirely But because I cannot leauy your army so soon may it please you to let mee goe on before accompanied onely with Twentie Knights then Count Galtines may follow mee and bring the rest with him Beleeue mee answered the King I am well contented and do allow of your aduice for beeing in so worthie a company your vertues will bee greatly encreased And I confesse my selfe so highly beholding to him that hee may well rest assured hee shall wholly dispose of mee and mine For which kindnesse â—sanio humbly thankt him and concluded to attend on Galtines to cause him make the more haste In the meane while Grasander embarked himselfe accompanied onely with twenty Knights and parting from the port put on
to Sea On the other side Landin who was secretly sent by Quedragant into Ireland found meanes to speake with the Queen who hauing vnderstood the cause of his comming to her called some of her trustiest seruants and commanded them that in the closest manner they could deuise they should gather a power of men to goe to her Vncle in the Enclosed Isle And although shee bare but little loue to Amadis hauing alwaies in memory the death of King Abies her father yet much more did shee hate King Lisuart for the yearely tribute he compelled her husband King Cildadan to pay Wherefore shee resolued helpe the one in hope to confound the other But now our History speaketh no more concerning her but leads you to another matter touching King Lisuart who had sent Guillan le Fensif to the â—…rour and other messengers to other friends to bee supplied in his purposed warre CHAP. XIII How Guillan le Pensif ariued at the Emperours Court of Rome Philipinell in Suâ—tia and Brandoynas in Ireland GVillan le Pensif being dispatched from King Lisuart had such speedie sayling taruaile as in lesse than three weekes hee landed in the nearest port to Rome Then taking horse according to the custome of the Knights of Great Brittaine he rode on to the Emperour who was then accompanied with a great number of Princes and Lords purposely sommoned to Court for the entertainement of Madame Oriana whose ariuall hee expected euery day For the Prince Saluste Quide and Brandaiell de Reque had written to him that King Lisuart had deliuered her to them and that they were continually vpon their parting towards him When the Emperour beheld Guillan he knew him immediately because he had seene him many times before and thinking hee brought him some newes of his long expected wish demanded where hee had left the Prince Saluste Quide and the rest of the traine Sir quoth hee King Lisuart my Master hath sent this Letter to you command that it may be read to you and then you shall be further satisfied in your demand then the Emperour tooke the Letter and although it contained some particular priuate credence yet he would needes haue it publiquely read and that hee in like manner should deliuer what hee had to say Sir said Guillan my Master King Lisuart greets you thus that in regarde of your perpetuall loue and alliance hee was well content according to the request made to him by your Ambassadours to giue you as wife Madame Oriana his eldest daughter principall heare And thereupon after many difficulties debated among the Princes Lords and Subiects of his Realme hee deliuered her to their hands who had power to receiue her on your behalfe but it came to passe that Lord Amadis de Gaule and diuerse others his complices well prouided with shipping lay as scouts in the way assayled them in their passage and after a long fight the Prince Saluste Quide was slame and most of the rest of your people led as prisoners to the Enclosed Isle where as yet they detaine Madame Oriana the Queen Sardamira and same others that were in their company Notwithstanding after-ward to make amends for the offence committed they sent Ambassadours to his Maiesty offring him diuerse good conditions which he would not accept before he vnderstood your minde because the iniury concerneth you as much or rather more than him Wherefore he commanded me to tell you that if you meane to reuenge this wrong hee will bring a good and sufficient Army into the field prouided that you for your part will doe the like And so your powers being ioyned together he and you shall easily drawe them to such reason as shall bee best liking to your selues When the Emperour had heard this neuer was man in greater choller and very apparantly he did declare it for like one improuident and vnfurnished of all foresight he began to sweare and euen enter into a meere lunacy saying to Guillan You know what is done returne to your Master and tell him I shall neuer enioy any rest vntill I be ioyned with him and with such a power as those Rake-hells of the Enclosed Isle shall well know how highly they haue offended me Sir answered Guillan you cannot come so soone as you shall finde the King my Master and his Army readie Haste home then answered the Emperour and make no longer tarying here Thus was Guillan constrained to get him gone without almost the leasure of receiuing any sustenance whereat hee was not a little offended especially for his slender entertainement and he made no long tarrying from Great Brittaine to make his complaint thereof to King Lisuart Beeing embarqued on the Sea he sayled directly to Vindilisore where hee landed not long after finding the King there expecting his ariuall to whom hee declared all that the Emperour had said and what small discretion hee bewrayed before so many Princes Lords And beleeue it Sir quoth he vndoubtedly that if they which come in his company haue as slender braines as hee neuer were seene men more vnmeet for warre nor worse gouerned then they will bee If they will be aduised by mee said the King I hope wee shall not be beaten for want of good guiding for they beeing mingled among vs we shall both help them and they vs. It shall suffice me that they be speedy in their comming because I haue this day receiued aduertisement that the Emperour of Constantinople and the Kings of Gaule Scotland Bohemia and Spaine doe enter Armes for the ayde of Amadis I heare also that King Aranigne with Archalaus and Barsinan do muster men from all parts but what their intent is I know not and therefore I holde it conuentent that wee should first bid our enemy battaile before hee win time to come vpon vs. Which wee may easily doe if they proceede not against the Romanes for Brandoynas is newly ariued from Ireland who assureth me that hee left King Cildadan mustring his forces and in forwardnesse to ioyne with vs. Philipinell likewise is comming home from Suetia and hath certified mee by his Letters that King Gasquilan will not faile to bee here within fifteene dayes with such a band of worthy Knights as are soundly setled in resolution As for the rest leauied heere at home in mine owne countries you may see all-ready more than fiue thousand trouping together in the next meddowe so that before a moneth be expired we shall be fully ready for marching hence But what of Galuanes said Guillan is he for you or no No answered the King hee hath entreated mee by Brandonynas that hee may at this time stand exempted Desiring rather to redeliuer vp the Isle of Mongoza into my hands then to go against Amadis and his Nephew And knowing that in other occasions hee may doe mee good seruice I am content to holde him excused So three weekes and more were passed ouer yet no newes heard either of the Emperour or of his Armie Whereat the King
humoured when I consider mine owne instant miserie For well you know that if the King my fathers power and this belonging to your kinsman doe but once ioyne or meete together it will prooue to the ruine of the one or other or perhaps of both together Which were an vnrecouerable mischiefe to me as well for the dutie which nature commandeth in mee to my father as also the affection I beare to Amadis How then can I any way haue coÌ„tentment would God I were deade rather than I should liue to see such mighty inconueniences With these words the teares streamed aboundantly from her faire eyes Why how now Madame saide Mabila doe you thinke that our Lord hath forgotten you I dare promise you hee will no more leaue you now then hitherto hee hath done if you repose your trust in him For your innocence is generally knowne and that against your will this great a doe hath beene begun therefore neuer grieue your selfe so much because it may fall out the worse for you and be offensiue likewise to my noble Cosen and all the other worthie Knights who desire nothing more than to doe you seruice All this while King Perion since his ariuall had not seene the Princesse Oriana wherefore after this pleasant battaile was ended he demanded of Agraies if hee could compasse the meanes to speak with her because hee would gladly doe her reuerence Agraies made him answere that hee would worke the way for him and presently went to the Princesse acquainting her with King Perions desire Hee shall be most graciously welcome quoth she whensoeuer it pleaseth him to come But deare Cosen what is your opinion of my misfortunes Am not I the most vnhappy creature in the world to see so many great Princes and good Knights troubled and all about my business Madame said hee we are all yours and there is not a man among vs that will not gladly with a good heart be employed in your seruice and all account their paines sufficiently rewarded if you but vouchsafe to accept it Alas Sir answered she I know not how I shal any way be thankfull to you all for this great grace but I will entreate our Lord to requite it Madame replied Agraies if you dislike not what wee doe would be a little more cheerfully humorous then hitherto you haue been you should binde vs all in much more dutie to you Beleeue it Cosen quoth shee I will 〈◊〉 with my paâ—… much as possibly I can And because I vnderstand that the 〈◊〉 to the King of 〈◊〉 is also 〈◊〉 â—riued I pray you to let him come along with King Perion So Agraies tooke leaue of her and went to seeke the King of Gaule and Grassandor to whom hee declared that Oriana attended their coÌ„ming and that they should be most kindly welcome Wherefore without any further delaying they went vnto her accompanied with Amadis Florestan and diuerse others Entring into the Princesse chamber shee attended on by the other Ladies and Gontlewomen went to entertaine them And then King Perion who had not seene or spoken to her since shee aboad with the Queene of Scots demanded of her whether shee knew him or no. My Lord quoth she although I neuer saw you more then once yet I do well remember the request you granted mee when you made your sonne Amadis Knight It is true answered the King and seeing you were the cause of the first honour that euer he receiued I hold it reasonable that hee should bee thankfull therefore to you so long as he enioyeth life While thus they talked together Grassandor conferred with Mabila whom hee found so discreetly wise and endued with such singular graces as thence forward he grew enamoured of her so that he married her as you shall read hereafter In the meane space Queen Briolania discoursing with Quedragant shee said vnto him Sir but for our former intelligence of your mornings battaile neuer had women beene in the like terrour and amazement How Madame answered Quedragant was it more dreadfull then the late attempt of your Cosen Tiron No by my faith said shee for then I expected nothing else but death and but for you I had been in the greatest danger that euer could happen to any Lady or Gentlewoman but thanks be to God and your good succor I now haue time to be fully reuenged Madame saide Brian your beauty and vertue doe plainely deliuer that you haue no power to take any such reuenge as you speak of but rather speakes pardon in the fairest language and presumes of more loyalty in him hereafter then precedent times haue warranted from him Truely Sir quoth she I could well like of so good an inclination in him and if you think it meet wee will send for him immediately to vnderstand how his minde is affected assuring you that it would be no little ioy to me if I could kindly reconcile him in regarde he is young my very neare kinsman and of better spirit as I thinke then euer was in his father or other brethren Madame replied Brian you could neuer speake more vertuously then now you do I pray you send for him to the end if hee stand so addicted hee may promise fidelity to you in the presence of so many good Knights as now are here It liketh me well answered she for hee is prisoner to you two and none of mine and therefore dispose of him as you please Instantly was Tiron sent for who being come before so great a company expected no other arrest then death and therefore was not a little amazed when hee heard Briolania thus speake to him Tiron these two Gentlemen whom you know well enough haue entreated mee to shew you mercy and I am well enclined thereto neuer minding the treason of your deceased father against me prouided that you deliberate and promise mee hence-forward to follow vertue as zealously as your life hither to hath beene lewde and wicked Also to make amends for the wrong you haue done mee and endeauour to become a loyall faithfull seruant and doing so I will not vse you as a prisoner but as my Cosen and nearest kinsman Therefore tell mee presently without any dissimulation how you stand resolued for being issued from the royall blood of a King you should highly shame your selfe to deliuer now such wordes as hereafter should not be effectually performed Alas Madame quoth hee if you please to take pitty on me while I liue I will neuer more offend you and therfore I most humbly entreat you euen for Gods sake to forgiue mee As for my fathers transgressions I cannot yeeld you any reason for them considering I was then so young as all remembrance of him is quite bereft me But for mine owne particular I protest and promis to you Madam that I wil be iust faithfull to you if you please to forget my former errour towards you which rather was the guilt of my youth then any other willing sinne If
you doe as you say answered she it will proue the better for you What I promise Madame replied Tiron I solemnely sweare vnto Nor did he euer faile therein and therfore it fell out to both their great honours Briolania extending such mercy to her enemy and hee no lesse man-hood to her may serue for an example to many in beeing lesse prompt and forwarde to reuenge then their cruell nature doth prouoke them And now returning to our former purpose Tiron beeing thus reconciled to the Queene and and shee desirous to declare what trust she would repose in him vpon this new agreement said vnto him Cosen it is my minde that you take charge and conduct of those forces which Tantiles hath caused to come hither from my countries you shal be their chiefe commander and they as obedient to you as to my selfe Tiron refused not this honorable 〈◊〉 but accepted it in most humble manner As thus they resolued King Perion and the rest tooke leaue of the Ladies returning back to the camp where they met with Balays de Carsanta who was newly there ariued accompanied with twenty Knights all his kinsemen whom hee had brought to doe seruice to Amadis as hauing heard before of his vrgent necessity Here you must obserue that this Balays was hee who parted him and his brother Galaor when first they fought together by the meanes of the Damosell who needs would haue the head of Ardaâ— the Dwarfe and formerly had deliuered him out of prison from Archalaus as hath been declared in the first booke of this History He also passed by Vindilisore to note King Lisuarts Army giuing assurance that the Romanes were there arriued and Gasquilan King of Suetia with a great number of Knights Report likewise was credibly enformed that the camp would dislodge thence within fifteene dayes at the vttermost and then march directly towards the Enclosed Isle wherfore king Perion determined to preuent him by the way and bid him battaile first CHAP. XV. How Patin Emperour of Rome landed with his Army at Vindilisore where King Lisuart lay in expectation of his comming and of that which happened vnto them SOme few dayes after Giontes had parted with Grasandor at Sea hee ariued at Rome where he found the Emperor embarking his Army for passage into Great Brittaine and he gaue him to vnderstand what he had receiued in charge from King Lisuart Hereupon without any 〈◊〉 delay hee commanded set sayles and weigh â—…to the maine 〈◊〉 for ariuall in the hauen of 〈…〉 where King 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ready come to him Great honour 〈…〉 at his ariuall and his â—…ged in the most commodious places for their refreshing and health for they were so wearie with long being on the Seas as eight daies were fully expired before they could march any further In which time King Lisuart feasted the Emperour 〈◊〉 not without much conference together concerning the bolde attempt of Amadis in rescue of the princes Orania but they intended to take such sharpe reuenge aâ— should for euer after be daily talked of and the Emperour 〈◊〉 to the King Brother let me 〈◊〉 you to grieue no more for your daughter because I will assure you that if I liue but the space of sixe whole moneths your Pirats and Prowlers on the Seas shall feele what iniury they haue done to mee for I will haue them all hanged and strangled on the very masts of their shippes but they did cast vppe their account without their Hoast as you shall well perceiue hereafter Now it came to passe that a day or two before their setting forward as the two Princes were visiting their Campe they espied Enâ—ll Nephew to Gâ—… accompanied onely with one Squire who carried his shield Comming neâ—re to the Sentâ—â—ells hee demaunded if a Knight named Aâ—… was there with the Empâ—… Patâ—â— or no And answere was 〈…〉 that he was there whereupon he desired to speake with him â—â—en two souldiers were apointed to conduct him to the Emperour who asked of him what hee would haue with his Nephew Sir quoth Eâ—â—ll I come from the Enclosed 〈◊〉 to doe a mes sage to him from my Lord Amadis de Gaule who hath sent me to him At these 〈◊〉 Arqâ—â—sill stept foorth and saide vnto him See Knight I am the man thou comest to boldly deliuer thy message Lord Arquâ—sill answered Eâ—ill my Lord Amadis de Gaule remembers you by me that at such time as hee ariued in the Court of the King of Boâ—emia calling himselfe then the Knight of the 〈◊〉 Sword hee combated 〈…〉 named Gâ—… 〈…〉 eleuen other 〈…〉 paâ—takers and of whichâ—…u were on◠〈…〉 full wâ—ll you 〈…〉 on the 〈…〉 agreement yâ—… to 〈…〉 riâ— râ—… to whom yâ—… prisoner Neuerthelesse that you might well knowe his gentle and veâ—tuous inclination vpon your owne requests hee granted you liberty vnder condition that you should returne to him at all times when he gaue you 〈◊〉 now by me he chaâ—… Beleeue Spanâ— answered Arâ—… 〈…〉 de Gâ—… 〈…〉 â—ed by some of 〈…〉 wâ—… was 〈…〉 faâ—le therein nâ—… enforce â—ee theâ—… bly I entreate you that 〈…〉 ture heere may not bee oâ—… to you for if I sâ—… I must not be taken for the 〈…〉 I am Then the 〈…〉 very 〈…〉 regard of the 〈…〉 his estate begâ—… saying to Eâ—â—â— Kâ—… that â—ent tâ—… eth neare to punish 〈…〉 for his many 〈…〉 the Dâ—… is shall not 〈…〉 câ—… from me Aâ—… you Aâ—… hiâ— prâ—… oâ—… When Eâ—â—ll heard tâ—… rours aâ—… dread 〈…〉 you haue expeâ—… knâ—w hâ—… â—…d if now 〈…〉 deale with him as 〈…〉 hee will appeare before yâ—… Prince and potent Lord as hee is and from him perhaps you will part againe with as little honor as you did before Well knew King Lisuart that the Emperour could not command his passions but would offer outrage to Enill except hee preuented it whereat hee was not a little offended and therefore to breake off their further difference he said to the Emperour My Lord let vs sit downe to dinner and leaue this messenger to enioy his priuiledge So departed both the Princes 〈…〉 who brought him to his Tent where he made him the best cheare could be 〈◊〉 and the next morning mounting on horseback they made such haste by their iourneys as they quickly ariued at the Enclosed Isle Where Arquisil found himselfe not a little amazed to see such an hoast of men assembled together neuerthelesse hee concealed his cogitations and alighted at the Pauillion of Amadis who after hee had demanded tydings of the Emperours Campe and his intentions spake vnto him Lord Arquisill your Master is a great Prince and powerfull yet hee may finde if he come to assayle vs that hee will be more manly answered than hee perswades King Lisuart hee shall be And because you may the better beleeue my wordes before we 〈…〉 I will cause you to take a full view of our Armie Hereupon two Knights
were commanded to conduct him thorow the Army 〈…〉 named so many friends that Arquisil began to 〈◊〉 doubtfull of the Romanes victorie accounting his owne fortune none of the best that he could doe his Master no seruice in so great a necessitie But then hee began to consider in the instant that perhaps if hee desired Amadis to set him at liberty vntill the businesse was passed ouer he would not deâ—â—â—â— him knowing him to be one of the 〈…〉 and gentle Knightâ— in the world Whereupon 〈…〉 beeing in the lodging of King Perion who had then the very chiesest of his Campe in his companie setting his knees to the ground thus he spake Sir I most humbly beseech you to permit me that I may â—â—eake one word to you in 〈…〉 Lord Amadis and these otâ—er Knights here Speake quoth the King whatsoeuer pleaseth you Then Arquisil rising began to relate at large the manner of the Combate betweene Garadan and Amadis and afterward of the eleuen Romanes against as many other Knights belonging to King Tassinor and all that which you haue formerly heard Moreouer that himselfe being in the greatest danger of death that euer hee had been before that time Amadis saued his life by taking him prisoner sending him safely away vpon condition he should appeare againe before him at all times and as often as he should receive summons from him in which respect and to 〈…〉 it pleased my Lord Amadis vsing but his wonted gentlenesse and 〈◊〉 〈…〉 he may 〈…〉 whereby he shall binde me all my life time to be wholly his because there can no greater crosse befall me then the losse of such an honour And to the end he may iudge that I speake for no other reason I sweare to come and yeeld my selfe againe vnto him on the morrow after if I be left among them that lâ—ue Amadis beeing very desirous to let all men perceiue how little hee stood in doubt of the Emperour or any helpe that Arquisill could giue him returned him this answer Arquisill although the Emperour your Master is too lauish of his tongue and ouer glorious and presumptuous without any occasion yet notwithstanding being not willing at this time to reuenge my selfe on him by any means of yours I am content to giue you libertie and that you shall be with him on the day of battaile Vpon condition if you scape with life you shall come againe to mee on the tenth day following in any place wheresoeuer I am to doe such seruice as I shall command you For which fauour Arquisill most humbly thanked him swearing on the Kings hand that hee would keepe his promise faithfully and beeing very earnest in desire for his return taking leaue of all the company hee mounted on horse-back and without any stay in any place came to the Emperours Camp who was not a little ioyfull of his returne demanding by what meanes he thus escaped Then Arquisill reported to him all that which you haue all-ready heard what powerfull strength Amadis had for sight and lastly the gracious curtesie and lâ—…â—ee had vsed towards him But beleeue mee Sir quoth he he will be ready to meet you as soone as 〈◊〉 shall set sooting in his countrie Whereat the Emperor was much amazed for hee imagined till then according to the trust he reposed in King Lisuarts perswasions that Amadis was voyde of all meanes for recouering of men whereby to resist so great a power and made full account to besâ—â—ge him in the Enclosed Isle and to regaine it by force or famine But vnderstanding now the coutrary â—ee concluded on other prouisions and 〈◊〉 King Lâ—… â—…dge thence 〈…〉 breake of day 〈◊〉 muster made of 〈…〉 â—orse as foote whereâ—… ded Vpon view of the Army they found of the 〈◊〉 three thousand horse and seauen thousand foot whereof two thousand were Harquebuziers Of King Lisuarts countrie two thousand horse and foure thousand foot fiue hundred whereof were good Archers The rest amounting to the number of a thousand coÌ„prehending two hundred from King Cildâ—dâ—â— were brought by Gasquilan King of Sâ—ctiâ— and the whole were ordered in this manner To the Emperour was apointed the auantgard which hee accepted and because his troupes were ouer-grâ—â—â— in regard of the rest hee leâ—t fiue hundred horse and as many foot referring them to the rereguard King Lisâ—â—rt led the maine battell accompanied with the men of his owne country 〈◊〉 Noranâ—… 〈…〉 goodly shew in marching â—…ir parting thâ—… Coroâ—all of the foot in thâ—… had ordered his 〈…〉 square the first â—…hereof were very richly armed and all of them excellent Souldiers In the midst of the Army the Ensignes waued pleasingly with the wind wel guarded with Halbardiers and on the flankes were two thousand Harquebuziers couducted by Arquisill wel fitted with Casks and Gorgets On the sides were the wings of the Emperours forces and himselfe in person and in them were so many Ensignes Guydoâ—s Banderoles as it was impossible to beholde a brauer troupe because the most part of them had their horses barbed and the Archers who neuer seperated from the rest all so well mounted as there appeared but little difference Betweene the men on horseback and foot marched a band of Artillerie with a great number of Pioners and the Carriage bearing powder and bullets only The rest wherein were the Cordages Cables Lanternes Cressets Iauelins Pâ—kes Shouels Spades Bils Axes Hammers Axeltrees Tents and all other things needfull for carriage came in the end of all the Armie sided by the bagadge The battaile proceeded on in very good order and the rereguard following comming to encampe three miles from thence CHAP. XVI How King Perion was aduertised of the dis-lodging of his enemies And what order â—ee tooke to march before and fight with them AFter that the Armie for the Knights of the Enclosed Isle had mette together and were wel refreshed by generall consent the good King Perâ—on was apointed chiefe head and conducter of this enterprise and each man swore obedience to him Hee was a gentle Prince wise and well foreiudging whereupon he considered in his owne thoughts with whom hee had to deale and of what importance such a battels losse would bee if fortune should not speake faâ—…ely to him Hereupon some few daies after he dispatched scouts and spies to all parts to vnderstand the day of setting forward and other tydings of his enemies receiuing certaine intelligence that without all doubt they bent their course for the Isle Whereupon he resolued to meet them before and to fight with them by the way if he should finde occasion conuenient which that hee might the better doe hee ordered his Army in such manner as shall be related to you First of all the charge of the auantgard was committed to Amadis accompanied with Agraies Bruneo two thousand three hundred hardy bold warriours on horse backe the most of them beeing Gaules Qâ—edragant had the charge of foure thousand foot of the like nation but mingled with
one of those which you receiued in Greece from Queene Menoressa well then said Amadis seeing it is so it shall be fittest for you that the night before you goe to the battel you performe the watch in the King my fathers Chappell in the morning I will present you Armed to him according as to order appertayneth because I holde it impossible to receiue your knighthoode from a wortheir man Vpon my faith my Lord quoth Gandalin I neuer had any other desire but to receiue it from your selfe Be it said Amadis as you please Lasiuda Squire to Brunâ—â— replied Gandalin not long since tolde me that his Master had likewise yeelded to his knighthâ—od and that hee and I should performe our watch together and so be companions in the battaile Aâ—adis answered him not a word but went into the Kings Tent who had giuen order that the Campe should march on earely the next morning because his scouâ—es and spies had assured him that the enemie approached neare So marched the two Armies each against other and on the third day following they came in sight halfe a mile off and there encamped performing many aduenterous skirmishes as well on horsebacke as on foot especially the Romanes who still pressed them of the Enclosed Isle to fight because they found the place aduantageable for them But King Perion vnderstood their meaning well enough fortefying his Campe with great trenches defending all passages with his artilery Thus they maintained them-selues three daies together skirmishing well-neare from morning to night and longer time they had thus temporised but that they receiued information how Archalaus had induced King Aranigne to the leuying of a powerfull Army and marched on speedily to encounter with them Hereupon the two Camps grew iealous of one another not knowing to whether side they inclined for King Lisuart imagined they came in ayde of Amadis and Amadis presumed the like for King Lisuart and this was their onely motiue of their falling to fight according as you shall heare hereafter But before it came so to passe Gasquilan King of Swetia who had expressely left his courtrie to fight with Amadis sent a Trompet to him who being come into his presence spake in this manner Lord Amadis the King of Swetia my Master sends you worde by mee that at such time as King Lisuart vndertook the warre against Galuaues in the Isle of Mongoza he then departed from his kingdome with intention onely to approue his manhood against you not for any hatred or malice hee beares you but onely in regarde of your great fame and renowne And being no way able to meet with you he was enforced being then wounded to returne home againe frustrated of his expectation And hee had not now left his owne lande againe but that hee was aduertised by King Lisuart of your vndertaking this hardy enterprise And continuing still in his former deliberation hee entreates you in meere curtesie that to morrowe you would breake three Lances with him for if you delay it till the day of battaile hardly shall you approue your selues each against other according to his honourable desire Trompet answered Amadis I haue long since heard of this which thou tellest me and of thy Masters earnest desire and doe also verily beleeue that it proceeds from true magnanimity of spirit in him Now although there is great difference betweene my actions and the fame noysed abroad of mee yet I am well contented that hee should holde such reputation of me as he doth and knowing him to bee no lesse then he is I could rather wish that his proofe of mee might be in some such place where hee might receiue more seruice by me My Lord said the Trompet he well remembers how matters past between you and Madraque the Giant of the Sadde Island and albeit they concerned him somewhat neare as a sonne to a father yet being aduertised of the curtesie you extended towards him hee reputeth you rather worthie of commendation then any manner of reuenge So this desire in him of triall with you is not for any enuiâ— he beares to your iust reputation but only thus that if hee happen to preuaile hee shall winne that which by no meanes else he could attaine vnto If hee sâ—staine the â—oylâ— yeâ— hâ—â— will holde his eâ—… the lesse the worlde beeing so 〈◊〉 ently informed of your maniâ—odâ— victories not only against the â—ery â—toutest and strongest Giants but likewise against most cruell and supernaturall beasts Depart then replied Amadis and to morrow morning thy Master shall fiâ—de me here ready on this plaine to accomplish his pleasure and so the Tromper returned thence before we passe any further I wil reporte the principall cause which mooued this great Prince Gasquilan to trauaile through so many countries onely to approoue him selfe against Amadis In the third Booke of our History hath been related to you that he was the soâ—ne of Madraque and of the sister to Laucine King of Swetia which Laucine dying without heires Cosquilan beeing knowne in many places to bee one of the most gentle Knights that the worlde yeelded was called by them of Swetia and elected to bee their King Afterward he fell in loue with a yong and beautifull Princesse named Pinela who was both an heire and orphane by death of her father and mother and many lands Seigneuries bordering and adioyning to them of Gasquilin belonged to her as her right and inheritance His extreamity in affection to her prouoked him to vndertake many bolde aduentures which hee worthily effected not without great perill to his person neuerthâ—lâ—sse kindnesse in her was but coole to him in regarde hee was deriued from a Giant so proude and cruell as by no meanes thee would accept him for her husband notwithstanding his most earnest and honest pursuâ—e Whereat Gasqâ—ilâ—â— growing discontented threatned intire â—…ine and detestation both of her and hers which one of her faithfull subiects fearing aduised her to vse a little dissimulation and to temporise hereon so well as shee could She lent such liking to this perswasion that at one time among many other Gasquilan vsing his wonted opportunities with goodly discourse protestations as louers in like afflictions can easily performe she as a Lady discreet and quicke of apprehension answered him in this manner My Lord seeing Heauen hath endowed mee with such riches as I now enioy no dread of danger or of death it selfe can make mee falsifie the promise I made to my deceased father which was neuer to marrie but vpon one especiall condition What was that sayde Gasquilan I solemnely swore quoth she to him before hee died neuer to ioyne in marriage but with the best Knight in the world if it lay in my power to winne him and although he were neuer so poore yet I would haue no other husband Hereupon I made diligent inquisition who might be this only man of men and haue receiued credible intelligence that Amadis de Gaule cannot be seconded
very fiercely And here you may be well assured that there was not only sharpe assailing but likewise as manfull defending some beeing grieuously wounded others slaine outright and many troden to death among the horses feet For King Cildadan came freshly in vpon them with a great number of his Irishmen and Gastiles also so well accompanied as heere now was the maine violence of the battaile because both the horse and foot were mingled together Neuerthelesse King Lisuarts side foūd themselues sorely oppressed by reason that Amadis Lasinde Gandalin Balays Landin and diuerse others their followers charged them in the rere and had driuen them to flight but for Floyan who shouldred vppe the re-enforce of the Romanes by him freshly rallied together againe Notwithstanding this hotte resistance lasted not long for Amadis meeting with Floyan slew him in the Emperours presence who hoping to reuenge his death ranne in vpon Amadis who knowing him well enough redoubling his strength only in the hatefull spleene he bore him as the Emperour lifted vp his arme with intent to smite him on the head Amadis aymed at him so directly that hitting iust in the shoulder ioynt hee parted it quite from his body and the griefe therof was so violent to him that instantly hee fell downe dead to the ground By meanes whereof the Romanes growing into great terrour and dismay began to turne their backes flying away so confusedly as neither King Arban or any other beside had power to stay them what-soeuer good wordes they spake vnto them Now did King Lisuart apparantly perceiue that Fortune stood not fauourable for him and his that day and the losse of the battaile could not bee auoided yet notwithstanding desiring rather to die with his sword in his fist than to saue life by a shamefull flight hee would needes enter in among the prease but King Arban staying him spake thus Alas Sir lose not your life desperately and with your owne consent Will you fight alone against a whole Armie doe you not see the Romanes in a confused disorder and the most parte of our owne men discomfited Oh let it please you to retire and saue the rest with whom wee may at some other time better deale with the enemy then now we can doe Wel knew King Lisuart that he spake no otherwise then true wherefore while his people retired he such as hee could best assure remained still vpon the rere defending them-selues against all pursute Slender warrant of safety had this beene to him or them but for Amadis who foreseeing what discontent it would bee to Oriana if the King her father should be vnterly foyled said to King Perion My Lord our enemies flie I pray you without arther hazarding our owne fortune let vs content our selues with the honour wee haue already this day receiued for if wee pursue on after him darke night will ouertake vs and it may bee like desperate men in reuenging their great losse wee may fall into no meane danger Leaue them then to their owne shame and let vs retreat our owne men that are ouer spent and wearie Be it so answered King Perion How said Agrates now that victory sweetely presents herselfe vnto vs shall wee willfully refuse her By God deare Cosen you are well worthie to be no better accounted of then as filly Knight errant Would you replied Amadis haue your men murder one another for lack of others to fight withall Is not the Sunne set and night so neare as if wee should holde on any further in fight wee shall not knowe our enemies from our friends I pray you Sir let vs rest thus satisfied Well knew Agraies to what end Amadis made this excuse wherefore without vrging any further reply in great choller hee turned bridle and gallopt on the other side because Amadis had caused retreate to be sounded Then euery man fell backe and King Perions Armie encamped in the same place where they had fought as a signall of victory hoping the next day to finish finally what they had begunne But soon after an Heralde came to demanded the the Emperours bodie and another truce for foure daies during which time they might bury their dead It was consented vnto contrary to the opinion of many but onely by the meanes of Amadis CHAP. XIX Of the conference which King Lisuart had with the Romanes after the fought battaile And how the holy man Nascian who had nourished Esplandian in his younger yeares hearing of this warre departed from his Hermitage to come to the two Kings to make peace betweene them THe truce confirmed as formerly hath been said King Lisuart gaue commande that the Emperors body shold be brought with the greatest magnificence that could be deuised and so to be placed in his owne Tent. Now because hee stood in some feare that the Romanes would fight no more because their chiefe commander was dead hee resolued to speake vnto them as well to encourage them as to vnderstand how they were affected Hereupon the day following hee sent to entreat Arquisill that hee would conduct them in order of battaile for their better apprehending what hee had to say vnto them Whereunto Arquisill gladly condiscended and hauing assembled them in a goodly meadow King Lisuart came vnto them and placing himselfe in the middle squadron spake as followeth Honorable and worthie friends you haue seene and experimented in these two encounters how Fortune hath showen herselfe our heauie enemy so that in bestowing her frownes on vs shee triumphes in the death of my kinde brother and your royall Master besides many other valiant Knights who by effects in seeking reuenge on his enemies were willing to finde what they sought for because it was the very fairest experience they could make of their vertue for gaining the glory they haue aspired vnto And for their better attaining thereto the hazard of their liues seemed as a matter of no moment vnto them but that it was much more honourable to die in defending themselues valiantly thē to escape by a shamefull recoile So that to auoide falling into such a high dishonour they rather gladly desired by expressing the very greatest magnanimity of courage to endure Fortune then yeeld to feare Nor doe I hereby vrge any taxation against them that haue escaped with life knowing well how worthily they haue all carried themselues but rather to entreate them that in preferring honour before sorrow for the losse of your friends companions you would essay the truce being ended to reuenge their misfortune fighting couragiously against them who swell in heart too proudly of their victory I am verily perswaded that wee ought no lesse expose our selues to hazards and dangers then if wee had preuailed against them as they haue done against vs nor to declare any abatement of courage either in assayling them or defending our selues if fortune should continue her disfauour to vs. Considering that if wee all die here it is an immortall glory to vs and a more honourable
Asse ryding directly towards King Lisuart His aged trauaile was not so speedy but that the two Armies had fought twice together according as you haue already heard and hee came thither on the day before the second truce was finished As hee passed by the Campe he saw on euery side the interment of many slaughtered bodies whereat hee was so grieued that falling into teares and lifting vp his eyes and hands to heauen hee said O my Lord God for the honour of thine owne great name I humbly beseech thee to take pittie on this people and grant mee grace that I may pacifie this great disorder Passing on further hee came neare to the Tent of King Lisuart who quickly espied him and immediately knew him whereupon hee went to welcome him for he held this man of holy life in high esteem and well considered that but vpon some great occasion he would not haue left his Hermitage take so great iourney to him whereupon as hee embraced him hee said Good father you are welcome then taking him by the hand he led him into his pauillion and seating him by himselfe in a chaire of veluet hee commanded all to depart and leaue them two alone together and afterwardes fell into this discourse Holy father I know you haue not vndertaken so tedious a trauaile and ill agreeing with your age but vpon some vrgent necessity wherein I humbly desire you to resolue me You haue great reason Sir answered Nascian to conceiue so of me for vndoubtedly extreamity of yeares and the condition whereunto it hath pleased our Lord to call mee may well excuse me from beeing seene among men of blood Neuerthelesse considering the harme that may ensue I haue not feared the danger of my person as hoping to performe a seruice acceptable to God and wholesome to your soule Let me then tell you Sir that being some few daies since in the Hermitage whereunto happy chance was your guide when you and I conferred together concerning the most strange nourishing of Esplandian I vnderstood the occasion of this warre attempted by you against Amadis and his friends Yet am I well assured that you cannot accomplish what you would doe namely marrie my Ladie your daughter to the Emperour of Rome by which enterprise many grieuous mischances haue already happened not onely because it is not agreeable to the greatest and meanest of your kingdome as many times already hath beene told you but for some other reason Sir beside concealed from you yet manifest to mee and against which by Gods lawe you cannot contrarie Knowe then Sir that Madame Oriana your daughter is already vnited in marriage to another as heauen hath appointed and stands well pleased to haue it so The King beeing much amazed to heare the olde man speake in this manner coniectured immediately that weakenesse of braine begot this kinde of language that hee was troubled in his vnderstanding or else had beene misinformed of that which he spake where-upon hee said vnto him How father my daughter was neuer married to my knowledge neither did I euer purpose to giue her to any other then to the Romane Emperour to whome I promised her accounting it for her honour and benefit And God is my witnesse that I neuer intended to dis-inherit her as many haue inconsiderately immagined but only to combine alliance with so great a Lord by meanes whereof he and I so vnited together Christian faith might be the more augmented And therfore my intention beeing iust mee thinkes I should not be therin blamed Sir answered the Hermite that which I haue tolde you concerning some matters hidden from you yet to mee apparant I will presently declare vnto you for from none other then my selfe can you know them Vnderstand then my Lord that the selfe same day when by your command I came to the Forrest where for more delight of the Ladies then present with you your Tents were erected for view of the sporte I knowe not whether you remember it or no I brought you young Esplandian who presented you the Lionesse that gaue him suck at the first The same day the Princsse Oriana your daughter was confessed by me tolde mee in her confession that she had promised mariage to Amadis de Gaule at such time as he deliuered her from the Enchanter Archalaus to whom you had giuen her a little before that the Damosell by whom you were enchanted had brought your state and person into the greatest danger that could bee possible from which Galaor freed you And beleeue it to be very likely that our Lord himselfe gaue consent to the mariage for Esplandian is the issue thereof and of him Vrganda the Vnknowen foretolde many maruailes as you your selfe doe very well know Now in my poore iudgement you should not be displeased there-with considering that Amadis is the sonne of a King and accounted in all places to be one of the best and most gracious Knights in all the world I would aduise you Sir that in shewing your selfe to be such as you euer haue beene you should defend the honour and conscience of your daughter and making an end of this warre call her home again to you vse her hereafter as reason requireth In so doing our Lord will be well pleased with you who else will doubtlesse bee offended with you for the effusion of so much blood which you haue caused to be shedde vpon no occasion When the King had all this while listned to this discourse he shewed himselfe to be very pensiue and at last saide Good father is it possible that my daughter should bee married to Amadis Yes truely replied Nascian hee is her husband and Esplandian is your grandchilde O God quoth the King how ill hath it been for mee that I could not know this matter till now vpon my faith many good Knights had yet beene liuing which now to my no little griefe are dead Alas father why could not you sooner haue reuealed this I might not doe it answered the Hermite for it was tolde mee in confession and if now I haue made it knowne to you thinke it is done by such permission as I receiued from the Princesse your daughter for otherwise you had neuer heard it from mee But she is therewith well contented as well for the clearing of her soule as also to take away all occasion from you of further sinning herein through ignorance At that very instant meere conceit in the King presented before the eyes of his soule the seuerall seruices hee had receiued by Amadis and his kâ—â—â—ed and such they were as hee had not then beene liuing but only by them hauing so many times â—olpen him in very serious affaires Desert in Amadis pleaded iustly for his daughter and a greater gift if hee could bestow it on him and so much the rather because the Emperor to whom he had promised her was dead and beside Vrganda had tolde him many wonders concerning Esplandiâ—â— but aboue all the rest
would set before your eyes the great obligations wherein you are indebted to our Lord to the ende that you may henceforth encline your selfe to do such things as are best pleasing to him I make no doubt but am well assured you haue often heard how in the very first daies of your life you were forsaken of all friends and giuen ouer to the mercie of the Sea in a matter of small defence and without any other guarde but God by whose goodnesse you fell into their hands who afterwardes gaue you nourishment euen vntil you came to be a Knight and the most compleate knowne at this day For our Lord hath induâ—d you with strength to gaine the maistery of many Giants Monsters Tyrants and most cruell beasts whereby your renowne hath extended it selfe into all partes of the worlde Now seeing he hath enriched you with so many great graces mee thinkes it is no more then reason that you should acknowledge him for your soueraign Lord and labour in thankefulness to him by humbling your selfe before his face for otherwise all the fauours hee hath bestowen vpon you will turne but to your shame and disgrace Sonne you see how olde and decrepit I am nature almost decaied in mee Notwithstanding I haue not feared to vndertake so long a iourney to you because I heard euen in mine owne poore Hermitage the discord betweene you and King Lisuart with whom I haue lately spoken and found him to be such a man as a good Prince and minister of God ought to bee and ready if nothing keep you to the contrary to listen to peace which me thinkes you ought not to refuse as well for the quiet of your conscience as for the safety of your person And to the end that you may make no disguising of your affections let me assure you that I know more of your most intimate affaires then you imagine I doe for Madame Oriana vnder the seal of confession hath tolde mee a chiefe secret concerning you both When Amadis heard him speake so plainely hee knew well enough that he spake nothing but the truth wherefore hee thus answered Father if I could serue my God according to his graces and mercies bestowed on mee I might well esteeme my selfe the most happie Knight in the worlde But beeing a grieuous sinner as I am preferring too often mine owne pleasure before his glory I must needs faile as other men doe to my no little griefe Yet I hope knowing mine owne defects to behaue my selfe better then heretofore I haue done Humbly beseeching you good father not to feare or defer in telling me what you best thinke I ought to doe that may bee most acceptable to him for I will therein obey you to my vttermost power Ah my good sonne quoth he you do enough in taking this wholsome way whereby I hope to bee your guide not only for the tranquility of your countrie but also for the good of many soules Then he recounted to him how hee had trauelled to the Enclosed Isle where hee had conuersed with Oriana and by her consent was sent to King Lisuart and acquainted him with all hee had in charge especially the troth-plight marriage of them both the issue where-of was Esplandian And beleeue me childe quoth the Hermite the King hath heerein carried himselfe so vertuously and takes all in such good part that if you fall not off I hope to vnite a perpetuall alliance betweene you Now you may diuine whether Amadis heard these tydings gladly or no but I dare assure you they were so welcome to him as hee had no power to dissemble his inward ioy but presently returned this answere to the Hermite If it shall please the King to accept me as his sonne I promise you good father that hee shall finde me so tractable to him as I will be diligent in doing him any seruice There remaineth no more then replied the Hermite but that you both may speake together therefore aduise with your selfe both how and when it may most conueniently bee done Let me tell you answered Amadis I would haue you first go to King Perion my father and tell him the cause of your comming to me likewise your owne opinion that king Lisuart will now accept those offers which lastly were made to him in Great Brittaine on our behalfe by Quedragant and Brian de Moniaste concerning the Princesse Oriana if they might be once more tendered to him Say moreouer you are well assured that hee shall finde him reasonable and a Prince of peace euen as any other what-soeuer in the world And you may tell him that you haue spoken with me but I haue referred all to his disposition For the honour of God said the good olde man I pray you without any longer delaying to let me be brought where hee is Father replied Amadis my selfe therein will serue as a guide to you and for so good an occasion Vpon these tearmes they went instantly to King Perion who being aduertised of Nascians comming came to welcome him but beholding Esplandian with him he could not guesse who hee should be only hee appeared to be a very goodlie creature as any he had euer looked on in his life wherefore he demaunded of the Hermite whether he were his son or no Sir quoth hee hee is partly mine as beeing a foster father to him in his younger yeares and our Lord bestowed him on me almost miraculously It is very true answered the King if this be hee to whom the Lionesse gaue sucke at his beginning as I haue often heard and of whom Vrganda the Vnknowen hath foretolde many wounders and among the rest that he shal be the cause of planting peace and amity between King Lisuart and my sonne Amadis which I pray God induâ— him with grace to doe And beleeue mee seeing such faire fruit is to fal from his fortune hee well deserues to be both beloued and esteemed In truth answered the Hermite this is hee of whom you speake and when you haue further knowledge of him you will affect him more then you imagine as at better leasure I shal hereafter tell you Then hee called Esplandian and commanded him to doe reuerence to the King when the young Gentle man setting his knee to the ground would haue kissed the Kings hand but hee tooke him in his armes saying Gentle Sir you are so faire and vertuously quallified that such as see you or haue euer heard of you doth both loue and highly esteeme you And I am perswaded you will proue so worthie a man that Knighthood were very desertfully bestowed vpoÌ„ you Esplandian hearing himselfe so coÌ„mended began to grow somewhat bashfull thereat and perceiuing the King to blush likewise desired to know of the Hermite if he could tell whose sonne hee was Sir said Nascian to the King this young man as yet knoweth not any thing concerning his owne demand and as for my selfe I am very certaine that hee hath neither father or mother from whom as yet
hee purposed to expect succour if hee should be pressed thereto stealing on by little and little from the mountaine and marching on vpon the plaine Which when Esclanor noted he sent to bid king Aranigne that hee should put on with all haste by the the most secret passages but the way was so straite and narrow as they could not march but two together at the the most By which meanes before they could attaine to king Lisuart hee and his were very neare to the Citie whereat Arauigne began to despaire fearing to faile vtterly in his enterprise By this time also Esplandian and Sergill whom the Hermite had sent to king Lisuart finding his Campe dislodged made such speed that they sawe the men both horse and foot descending downe the mountaine Then they presently coniectured that this was the Armie of king Arauigne whereof they heard the Queene Brisania speake before they parted from her Wherefore fearing this power to be ouer great for that of king Lisuart who had beene almost vtterly ouerthrone in the precedent battailes they grew to great dismay so that Esplandian said to Sergill Brother I pray you that wee may returne to Lord Amadis and let him vnderstand what wee haue seene Sergill was very willing and returning the same way they came they rode so dilligently that by the breake of day they alighted in king Perions Campe where hee had newly receiued intelligence that king Arauigne and his people marched thorough the countrie and therefore kept his Armie for the most part all that night in order of battaile Esplandian and Sergill going to the Tent of Amadis found there the Hermite Nascian who was not a little amazed to see thē so quickly returned demanded of them whither they went Father answered Esplandian it is very needeful that I should speake with Lord Amadis to let him know some matters that do greatly concerne king Lisuart and his troupes Now Amadis had but withdrawne himselfe a while only for a little refreshing because all the night hee had been in Armes notwithstanding when hee heard what the young Gentle-man had saide hee called him to him demanding of him the estate of the matter My Lord quoth he king Arauigne hath besieged the King my Master neare vnto the city of Lubania with such a power as if you send him not succour that speedily I thinke you shall neuer see him while you liue but either taken or slaine and all that are with him Wherefore I pray you doe so much for him as you are wont to do for many others who it may bee are not in such deepe distresse as hee When Amadis heard these news remembrance of displeasing his Ladic Oriana if her father should be discomfited and by his most deadly enemy in the world through defect of assistance from him enflamed so his soule that without answering so much as a worde hee went to king Perton speaking thus My Lord for ought I heare king Arauigne hath turned his backe on vs to fight with king Lisuart and is already so neare him that it is a great aduenture but hee will bidde him battaile Whereat I shall not be a little displeased knowing well that they of Great Brittaine haue lost so many of their men against vs as they are not able now to outstand a fresh force Moreouer if they should bee ouerthrowne being come forth of their Campe in hope of future peace betweene them and vs it will appeare to many that this ambuscado was laid for them by our inuention and that by our meanes king Arauigne was thus treacherously set vpon them to our most high disparagement among all them that shall so imagine of vs. Wherefore I entreate you Sir that with a part of this Armie I may go before and giue them succour Sonne answered King Perion doe what you think best and if you goe before I will follow and backe you if by mischance you should be preuented Amadis most humbly thanked him and parting thence met with Florestan Quedragant Garuate and Gastilles whom he acquainted with his enterprise where-to they gaue good allowance Here-upon they forthwith set their men in order marching directly for Lubania fully resolued to fight with king Arauigne and his men if they might meet them in the field CHAP. XXII How King Lisuart was assaulted by King Arauigne brought into great danger And of the succour giuen him by Amadis in his necessity WE haue heretofore very amply declared how King Lisuart had intelligence by his vant courers that the Armie of King Arauigne pursued him by meanes whereof hee dislodged hoping to gaine the Citie of Lubania before the fight For he knew well enough that he had not strength sufficient to stand against so great an hoste of men and freshly come into the field but he was suddenly set vpon and followed so hotly as hee had small meanes of helping himselfe The two Camps began to skirmish together continuing fierce assaults eace against other vntill darke night ouer-tooke them wherefore they were constrained to remaine encamped near one to another in expectation of the morning to beginne againe in better manner then before they had done King Lisuart by no meanes would retire as fearing to affright his followers and wholy disharten them and therefore making a vertue of necessity so soone as the night was spent he ordered his battaile so well as hee could determining to die among his men rather then blemish his honor in the least degree Barsinan who led the vantguarde for king Arauigne first gaue the onset with his troupes but before they came to handy blowes many were laide on the earth with the great Ordenance which plaied vpon then without ceasing Neuerthelesse at length they entred fight pell mell and Grisall who was Ensigne bearer to Archalaus was ouer-throwne in this first encounter by Norandell albeit Archalaus laboured his vtmost to releeue him But king Cildadan accompanied with many of his chiefest men began to breake through the prease whereby Barsinan had beene instantly foyled but for the re-enforce which king Arauigne sent by the Duke of Bristoy Now might you haue seen many Launces shiuering in the ayre and both horse foot weltring in their blood on the ground a sight most pitifull to beholde For king Lisuart playing at double or quit attended by the rest of his Armie came vpon the flankes of his enemies and the first hee met withall was the brother to Aluinas whom Florestan slew at the Fountaine of Oliues where the three Damosels were guarded by the Dwarsse whō hee vnhorsed so lubberly that hee brake his necke by his horses falling vpon him Pursuing on his purpose Archalaus espied him who knew him very perfectly and followed on so fast that hee shewed him to Barsinan saying You haue no other worke to doe but instantly to reuenge your fathers shamefull death for that is hee which made him so suffer Then Barsinan called to him ten of his Knights with whom hee came and set
the ancient Adage Grumedan answered king Lisuart smiling I know very wel that whosoeuer contests with you in matters concerning the honour of Amadis shall finde worke enough to doe but much more to defende himselfe if extreamity should question the case by weapons Sir said Amadis Lord Grumedan hath reason to wish mee well for he hath neither friend or kinsman that oweth him more dutie and obedient seruice then I doe and for such a one I am certaine he will acknowledge and esteeme me By this time king Perion drew nearer and nearer and thereupon king Lisuart made forth to meete him whereof Amadis aduertised him by Durin wherefore he commanded his men to march a slowe pace and taking Gastiles Grassandor Brian de Moniaste and Tiron with him left Agraies to conduct the troupes because king Perion wel knew the ill-will he bare to king Lisuart and feared least discourteous language might passe between them at their meeting whereby the purposed peace should bee quite made frustrate So the two Kings went to meete each other giuing the spurre to their horses and embraced together very louingly king Perion speaking thus to king Lisuart My Lord and brother me thinkes your Armour is much impaired since you departed from the camp albeit I am well assured it lay not rusting in your Armourie while the fight lasted betweene your men and mine And for ought I haue heard they that brought it thus out of fashion haue receiued a payment beyond their expectation and little to their liking So they haue answered king Lisuart thankes be giuen therefore to God and the good helpe that you Amadis and these other Knights brought mee in so vrgent a necessitie as I am sure you haue heard already In good faith said king Perion I haue all my lifetime desired that my children might bee yours in peace and true amity I hope replied king Lisuart that so they shall be before wee parte and our kindnesse neuer to faile especially on my behalfe But seeing Prince Agraies not to be one among them hee enquired expresly for him hauing vnderstood his hatred towards him and desirous to reconcile him and make him his friend if possible it might be Whereupon king Perion made answere that hee stayed behinde as a conduct to the rest of the Armie which followed I pray you Sir said king Lisuart that hee may bee sent for because I purpose not to parte from this place before I haue both seene and embraced him My Lord answered Amadis then I my selfe will goe for him It is well aduised quoth king Lisuart because hee will doe more for you then any other whatsoeuer So Amadis rode directly to Agraies whom hee met not farre off and tolde him what you haue heard already earnestly entreating him that forgetting all discontentment hee would goe with him and giue king Lisuart so good lookes as could be My Lord and Cosen said Agraies you know that my liking or disliking lasteth vpon your pleasure and I heartily desire that the succour which you haue giuen him of whom you speake may be better acknowledged then all the better acknowledged then all the former haue been And further I assure you I am content to requit all the wrongs done to you mee and many more meerely offered in despite of you and without any occasion at all Then they rode on together to King Lisuart who so soone as he saw Agraies left all the rest going to embrace him saying Cosen doe you thinke this embracing as dangerous to me as that was which you gaue mee on the day of our last being together Before God Sir replied Agraies I hope to find this much better then the other for I was neuer to my knowledge in the like danger We will talke therof said the King at better leasure But now you see the king my brother tarries for vs let vs goe conduct him to Lubania where I will make you all the best entertainement I can So they returnd to king Perion and tooke the way towards the Citie King Lisuart had receiued diuers wounds in his bodie but the Chirurgions hauing seene them gaue him hope of speedy recouery yet hee kept his bed ten daies together beeing often visited by the Princes and Lords of his owne country as also the other who to delight him had almost no other talke but of the tricks and stratagems of Archalauâ— by meanes whereof hee compassed his purposes especially when hee carried the Princesse Oriana away prisoner and after-warde King Perion Amadis and Florestan by the subtiltie of Dinarda also in what sorte hee escaped from Galaor and Norandell faining himselfe to bee Branfiles Cosen-germaine to Grumedan But most of all his proiect plotted by the helpe of Arauigne against them all which surely had preuailed but that Amadis was the onely hinderance Such accidents answered king Lisuart doe often come to passe by such wicked wretches as hee is who dare endanger themselues in doing euill and therein make their most delight finding the entrance sweete and easie onely by the instigation of the Diuell who depriues them of all apprehension concerning what dishonour may happen to them beside misery of life which makes death much more welcome to them then life can be As Arauigue himselfe hath now some cause to confesse being in the power of his chiefest enemies and may well serue as an example to all other that are to be taxed with the like vice As hee ended these wordes the good olde Hermite Nascian came to them who had softly followed after king Perion and finding the Princes in such peaceable quietnesse praised God for it and the good aduice of young Esplandian causing Amadis to depart so speedily when hee came to the rescue of king Lisuart as king Perion made knowen before them all In troth saide king Lisuart I would gladly know who gaue the youth so good counsell Sir replied Esplandian my father Nascian sent mee to you to tell you what hee had concluded with king Perion but I could not finde you in the Campe wherfore Sergill I passing on further discouered the Armie of king Arauigne as they descended downe the mountaine Then I called to mind what I heard the Queene my Mistresse say at my parting from her that hee was your enemy and fearing what afterwards happened to you I made haste to aduertise Lord Amadis to the end hee might giue you succour as he did Before God sweet youth saide king Lisuart I shall not while I liue forgette so great a blessing happening to mee And folding Esplandian in his arms sweetly kissed him on the cheeke At that time king Gasquilan was brought thither in a Litter hauing softly followed as beeing vnable to sit on horsebacke by reason of the shrewd fall hee had when he would needes trie his manhood against Amadis on the first day when the two battailes met Into a reserued chamber hee was conducted by some of the chiefe in the companie especially Amadis who came saluted him saying
consideration should be vsed for diuiding their estates goods amongyou As for my selfe I deny any part or portion belonging to mee holding my selfe sufficiently satisfied if I can compasse any means of doing you any perticular pleasure or seruice When they that were not meanly affected to their Ladies heard him vse these wordes and knewe what power he had to forward them that way you may well imagine that they did not lende any deaffe â—are to such a pleasing motion especially Agraies who earnestly entreated him to giue his honourable furtherance for his marriage with the faire Olinda Bruneo with Melicia Grasandor with Mabila and Quedragant who neuer loued till then declared his affection to Grasinda saying I now sufficiently vnderstand that youth and time haue heretofore been contrary to my quiet hauing then no other care but for the managing of my Horse and Armes but at this instant yeares and reason constraines mee to another kinde of condition so that if it like Madame Grasinda to accept me as her husband I shal account my happinesse equall to any mans of what condition soeuer he be Before God said Florestan I was once determined to returne into Aliemaine so soon as the businesse concerning my Lord Amadis was ended as well to see my mother as many other mine endeared friends Neuerthelesse I know not with what eie I obserued the Queen Sardamira but this I am well assured that if I could compasse the meanes to marrie her I should easily forget mine intended voyage and all things else whatsoeuer But others more free from loues imperious subiection hauing their mindes wholly addicted to follow Armes spake in a quite contrary language desiring Amadis to imploy them in the conquest of Arauignes kingdome the countries belonging to Barsinan or any where else And we request quoth they no other part of booty but the means of winning renowne honour and Chiualrie Hereupon Amadis returned theÌ„ answere Seeing you are of this disposition with the good liking of the company I will make a present diuision On Quedragant I bestowe the countrie of Sansuega for his larger portion in marrying with Grasinda To you Bruneo I giue the kingdom of Arauigne with my sister Melicia And as for my brother Florestan I will worke so with the Emperour that hee shall giue him the countrie of Calabria with the Queen Sardamira whom hee so dearely affecteth As for my Lord Agraies and Grasandor they are thankes bee to God rich and mighty enough by means of their fathers will content themselues as I thinke to enioy those beauties that affect them What else remaineth shall be distributed particularly according to the merit of euery man so soon as King Lisuart shall be heere ariued Which they all liked well and so we leaue them returning to their lodgings attending the time when they should goe and conuerse with their Ladies according to their wonted custome CHAP. XXVI How Bruneo de bonno Mer and Branfill were appointed to iourney into Gaule to fetch the Queene Elysena and Galaor and of those aduentures that happened to them in their returning back againe SOme fewe dayes after that K. Perion and the other Knights were come to the enclosed Isle Agraies Brunco and they that had hope of speedie marriage fearing least the absence of the Queene Elysena and Galaor might cause a further deferring of that long desired day Came and humbly requested King Perion that he would send for them whereto he presently yeelded Whereupon Bruneo made first tender of his seruice saying Sir I humbly intreate you that none other then my brother and I may haue this charge for otherwise you shall doe vs wrong Well then answered the King smyling to himselfe if I should graunt your owne request I am perswaded you would more gladly keepe company with Melicia then vndertake so long a iourney from her In good faith Sir replied Bruneo to be alwayes neere her is the only happinesse I can desire notwithstanding I am willing to goe for the Queene and Galaor only in my earnest affection to doe them seruice By my faith said Angriote you must not performe this voyage without my companie Why then quoth the King goe you all three and heauen grant that you may finde my sonne in better estate then when I left him Sir answered Ysanio some few daies since certaine Merchants comming from Gaule gaue mee credible assurance that hee was well recouered because they had seene him complayning only that his countenance was as yet pale and Wan by reason of his long sicknesse These newes were highly pleasing to the King and all the companie in regard whereof Bruneo and his two other friends tooke shipping the next morning and sayled with such prosperous Windes that in few dayes after they landed where the Queene then lay of whom they were most gratiously entertayned especially by Galaor because hee longed to heare tidings from his brother and other friends And as hee embraced them with the tears trickling downe his cheekes hee said By my faith my good Lords misfortune hath so long kept mee companie that considering what iniurie she hath done mee in with-holding me all this while from you and the exercise of Armes it hath beene well neere a Thousand deaths to me My Lord quoth Bruneo wee haue brought you such newes as will make a sufficient satisfaction for all the anguish you haue endured So hee declared before the Queene the encounter and battailes betweene the Kings Perion and Lisuart what great dangers and perils they were in by the sudden onset of King Arauigne and Archalaus And last of all the league of loue and amity combined on both sides and the seuerall marriages consulted and agreed vpon hereat Galaor was somewhat amazed hauing neuer heard any thing of such attempts and answered Bruneo thus Is it possible that my noble Lord king Lisuart should be in such extreamity and I not neare him Vpon my soule I must now confesse that Fortune loued mee much better then euer she did For had I not beene sicke whatsoeuer dutie I owe to the King my father I should haue made no spare of my life to succor the other Yet it had fallen out worse for mee if in the time of my sicknesse I had receiued any certaine tydings of this matter vndoubtedly it had beene my death to faile him in a necessity so vrgent It is much better saide Bruneo that all things are past in so good order Then taking him by the hand thus he proceeded I receiued charge from my Lord Amadis to doe his re-commendations to you and to desire you that you would cheere vp and recreate your spirits in the best manner you can deuise for he is minded if you thinke it so conuenient to haue you ioyned in marriage with Queen Briolania so soone as you shall be ariued there And wee were expressely sent from king Perion to conduct the Queen to the Enclosed Isle where he attendeth her comming with a goodly traine of
conflicts wherein so many famous and worthie men haue perished on either side And God is my witnesse if it had lien in my power to helpe it how gladly I would haue imployed my very vttermost paines But things beeing so ordained by the prescience of him to whom all creatures owe honour and obeysance it commeth to passe that these occurrences haue happened according to his apointment And to let you vnderstand that I was not ignorant of those things thus come to passe I think you remember yet very well Madame Oriana that being in the Citie of Fenusa you and I being bedfellowes together you entreated mee to reueale what fortunes were towardes you And albeit I did earnestly disswade you to cease from such curious questioning yet notwithstanding in the end ouercome with oportunitie I tolde you that the Lyon of the Doubtfull Isle should issue forth of his denne and by his loude cries and roarings affright his guardes so that in meere despite of them hee should seaze on your person and thereby appease his owne extreame hunger Now Madame let mee tell you how this Prophecie hath taken his full effect for if you heedfully obserue it Amadis your Lord husband more strong and inuincible then any Lyon came forth of that Isle which by great reason might be tearmed doubtfull and furiously assailed the Romaines that had you in guarde Them hee foyled took you into his owne power and if by you he hath giuen any ease to his owne affections you both doe best know it As for you Lord Amadis I tolde you also at the same time how constrained you should oppose your life euen to the vtter-most danger that could be and that the recompence you should receiue for all the liâ—…ll expence of your blood would be but a long large seperation from her whom you so dearely affected And euen so it came to passe for after you had combated and vanquished the valiant Ardan Canile where you fell into such perill as euery one doth well remember the benefit came to King Lisuart begetting you his hatred and a tedious absence from Madame Oriana And you Sir quoth she to King Lisuart haue not forgot the Letter which I wrote vnto you the same day as you found young Esplandian in the Enchanted Forrest hunting with his Lionesse wherby I gaue you to vnderstand if yet you remember it the strange maner of his nourishing hauing suckt three Nurses quite contrarie one to another a Lionesse an Ewe and a Woman Moreouer that hee should bee the cause of planting loue and peace betweene you and Amadis after that by his meanes you escaped the very greatest danger that euer befell you since you receiued the order of knighthood Whereof remayneth as a sufficient testimonie the sharpe assault giuen you by the King Arauigne only through the procurement of Archalaus and the succour you receiued from Amadis by the hastie dilligence of the young gentleman as also your instant alliance one with another Now may you easily perceiue if heretofore I reuealed true matters to you or no wherefore I will now proceed on further and foretell other fortunes yet remayning in the destynies of power First I will begin with you two quoth shee to King Cildadan and Galaor See you these two young Squires Talanque and Manely Assure your selues that in them I haue recompensed the seruices which you haue receiued from mee if I haue done you any heretofore causing you to begette them on two such Ladies whom I doe affect uery singularly And this I dare warrant that if heauen blesse them with life they will prooue to be Knights of great prowesse very bolde and actiue in Armes and as fortunate as any that haue fore-gone them Therefore you gentle Gentleman receiue them as your kinde companions louing them at they shall deserue for I dare assure you that they will bee faithfull making no spare of their persons to assist you in your greatest perills which Fortune prepared for you before the day of your natiuitie which partly to obuiat and preuent I caused the great Serpent which you sawe to bring mee hither within whose wombe you shall receiue the order of knighthood and there you shall be armed and there is a gallant horse carefuly kept for you Moreouer if hereafter you will remember it it will guide you to the first place where the courage of your gentle heart shall yeelde the first testimony of your magnanimity trauersing without perill or danger the deepes of the Sea accompanied with many Knights of your blood By it you shall beget a new name and bee called in many places the Knight of the Serpent and vnder that title you shall faile into diuerse strange countries with much labour both of minde and bodie for the loue of her that can reade the seuen red letters on your left shoulder which will witnesse by the liuely colour remayning in them that your hart is then enflamed with extreame loue Vntill such time as a flight of Rauens breed on the Sea Marches shall passe from the East partes ouer the proude waters of the Sea where the great Eagle will be brought into such extreamitie as he shall find no safety in his owne ayre When the proude peregrine Faulcon more faire and sound of wing and feathers then any other bird of prey shall assemble many as well of his owne kinde as of others to come and souccour the Eagle and they fighting with the Râ—…s in hot furie shall well neere kill them all by the power of their beakes and tallons constrayning them for their latest refuge to enter the mercie of the waues where a great number of them will be drowned Then the great Eagle acknowledging the benefit receiued by the gentle peregrine shall draw forth of his owne bodie a great many of his entrailes liberally giue them to his tallons that bestowed such fauor on him that he may at ease asswage the extreme hunger which had tormented him long time before and beside he shall giue him the free enioying of all the great Forests and mountains in his owne countrie At the same time the great Serpent shall drowne himself before the eyes of all present in the very deepest of the Sea giuing thereby to vndestand that then it will bee more conuenient for you quoth she to Esplandian to dwell more safely on the land then on the moouing waters Now necessitie enforceth that I must goe hence into other places where partely I cannot excuse my selfe neuerthelesse I will not faile to be heere againe at such time as you and your companions shall bee able to vndergoe Knight-hood For I am well assured that at that time for some occasion which is now concealed from you you will all meete heere againe and many more with you before whom I will discouer wonderfull things In the meane while I charge you all vpon your liues that none of you be so bold as to come neere the Serpent for I dare assure you
answered Darioletta you haue but one only meanes whereby to relieue mee in this vrgent extremitie and that is instantly to goe with mee whether I shall conduct you Amadis pausing hereon a while suddenly replied how Lady I haue no armes to fight withall but my Sword only and this bugle about my neck this hound in my leash I hope you will allow me some better fournishing then they are As for Armes replied Darioletta deferre no further dallying but vnâ—ase this dead Knight and put them on for if you stand on any trifling it redounds not only to my death but also such another as you loue as well if not more deerely then you doe me Speaking these words she drowned her faire cheekes in teares and held Amadis fast about the legs not suffering him to stirre from her whereby hee became so moued to pitty that he yeelded to her request Foreseeing very well that if hee returned back to Oriana hardly hee should gaine leaue to goe along with the Lady and as their necessity vrgently required Whereupon arming himselfe with the Armes of the dead knight and taking vp his Shield he entred into the barke As they were puting off from the shoare one of the huntsemen came to whom Amadis called saying friend goe seeke Lord Grasandor and tell him that I am constrained in meere pittie to goe with this Lady whom I met on the Sea-sands but ere while euen in such mournefull manner as thou beholdest her Pray him to pardon me and to intreate as much for me of Oriana not to be offended with my suddaine departure but rather to allow thereof because I could no way excuse it but to my great reproach and dishonour For thy selfe I pray thee giue buriall to that dead knights body in recompence of his Armes which I haue taken from him Scarcely had he ended these words but a lustie gale of winde filled the Sailes and in a moment they were so farre off from Land as Amadis could not heare the huntsmans answere As they sayled on Amadis seeing the Ladie to take no truce with her teares earnestly entreated her to relate whither she intended to conduct him and also the occasion of her mourning whereto gladly she yeelded beginning in this manner Vnderstand Lord Amadis that at such time as the Queen your mother departed from Gaule trauailing towardes the Enclosed Isle according as the King your father had sent for her she sent a Lackey to my husband in little Brittaine where hee was gouernour of your lands willing him that both he and I should meete her at the Pallace of Apolidon where the marriages of you my Lords your brethren were to be solemnised My husband ioying not a little hereat and my selfe much more suddenly prouided a good Ship wherein wee imbarqued our selues with my sonne whom you sawe dead on the sands and also my daughter hoping to bestowe her on Madame Melicia your sister But night comming on vs the waues and windes were suddenly tempestuously mooued so that by their extreame violence the sailes rudder and tacklings of our Shippe were all split in sunder Our Pilot also was so distracted in minde as all knowledge of his Compasse or Quadrant vtterly forsook him wherby it came to passe that our Ship remayning at mercie of the waues and weather we were driuen vpon the Red Island vtterly vnknowne to any of vs where the Giant Balan abydeth of whom you haue heretofore heard there we landed At that very instant we were enclosed seazed on by the Guards of the Port and forcibly brought before the Giant who presently demanded of vs if wee had euer a Knight in our companie My husband made answere that both hee and his sonne had long since vndergone that order It behooueth then saide the Giant that according to the custome of this countrie you fight with mee one after an other and if you can holde out but an houre only you and yours shall goe free but otherwise you must remaine my prisoners and therfore make choyce of which you thinke fittest for you And one thing I will acquaint you withall before hand that performing your manhoode as true Knights ought to doe you shall finde so much the more loue courtesie in me but if through faintnesse of courage you faile in any the least point whereto the honour of Chiualrie bindeth you I will vse yee like villaines and cowards and lay you where neither Sunne or Moone can be seene and so you shall remaine ten yeares together My husband hearing these threatnings and obseruing the high stature of the Giant could warrant no assurance of himselfe Neuerthelesse knowing what it was to faile any way forgetting all feare hee replied Basely are they bred quoth he and ill is Armes bestowed on them that through dread of danger shall refuse to fight for their owne liberty Nowitstanding what assurance shall we haue of your promise if wee maintaine an houres fight against you according as you haue proposed Nothing else said the Giant but my worde onely which neuer was or euer shall bee broken for any good or ill that can befall mee For rather will I consent not onely to mine owne death but likewise to my sonnes and kinred and seruants beside as alreadie I haue made them to swear and promise Before God answered my husband cause our horses to bee restored vs and the Armes belonging to my sonne and mee and then begin the combate when thou pleasest The Giant commanded them to be deliuered But my sonne too rash and ill aduised desired of his father that he might begin the first fight which being granted him he was so ill intreated by the Giant that euen in the first encounter he ouerthrew him so mainely and his horse vpon him that both their neckes were broken in the fall Whereat my husband beeing offended thinking to reuenge the losse of his sonne ran against Balan and brake his Lance manfully on his Shield yet the Giant stirred no more at the shock then if his bodie had beene a huge and strong Tower But as my husband perfected his carrire hee tooke him by the arme and in despight of all hee could doe to the contrarie lifted him out of his saddle and carried him into his Castle without any more harme done to him but shutting him vp in a chamber and I and my daughter with him Pondering there on our great misfortune hauing lost the life of my sonne my husband daughter and my selfe imprisoned and our seruants no way able now to sted vs I fell into sad complaints and spake so loude as it seemed that the Giant heard me All good king Perion said I if thou or any of thy sonnes were heere I am sure our wrongs would bee quickly reuenged but I knowe you are all too farre hence When the Giant had heard my wordes and the Kings name hee demanded of me what knowledge I had of him and whether he was the father to one named Amadis de
light vpon Vnderstand then sir that hee is Sonne to the fierce Giant Mandaffabull the same man that Amadis when hee tearmed himselfe the Bright Obscure slew and on the very day when the king my Master and he of Great Brittaine fought a hundred against a hundred wherein perished many other Giants all neighbours to this countrie and kinsemen to Balan whom you now enquire for By the death of his father he became and yet remayneth Lord of the Red Island where hee maketh his aboade at this instant it being one of the most fertill Islands in all the Easterne Sea and of the greatest reuenues by meanes of the frequent resort of strange Marchants that land there at all times of whom hee exacts an infinite tribute Now sir you are to obserue beside that if his father was valiant and not meanely experienced in Armes His sonne exceedeth him in all things only crueltie excepted For looke how much the one was a Tyrant and most inhumane the other is so much the more mild peaceable and gracious so that it appeareth almost a miracle in nature to see men issued of one the same linage to be so different in their qualities In this point I must tell you a generall opinion that this faire demeanour became hereditarie to him only by vertue of his mother who was one of the most modest benigne and affable Ladies then to be seene farre differing herein from the other Giantesse wife to Famongomad and her owne sister shee beeing the most foule deformed sluttish and vnhansome creature that euer was seen of her kind Whereby may bee collected that two such contrarie complexions seldome haue power to agree together being deriued from such discordant nature Notwithstanding the reason hereof in my poore opinion may be thus rendred that vertue most commonly is a companion with beauty and comely feature but is a meer stranger to vgly deformity and base disposition Now Sir I am further to tell you that it is more then twenty yeares since I was appointed Gouernour of the Isle where you found me therefore I can speake to you the more vnderstandingly as a man most frequent in knowledge of any thing you can demand of me For since the yongest years of the King my maister I neuer went out of this Climate by reason of the faithfull trust reposed in me especially in those daies when the rich golden Sunne shone not so aboundantly on him as in later times it hath done For by his prowesse and other high deseruings he married the daughter to King Abies of Ireland who was slaine by Amadis when hee entitled himselfe by the name of the gentleman of the Sea or the like kinde of appellation Beleeue mee Sir saide Amadis you haue done me a great pleasure so well to acquaint mee with the conditions of Balan whom I could wish for mine owne benefit to be of another kinde of Character then you haue now described him to me For if hee had beene indued with such plenty of vices as you haue giuen him to mee in vertues hee cannot expect when time shall serue for our meeting any hope in his owne ability of strength And let mee tell you till this instant I neuer stood in feare of his vtter-most power albeit I cannot now well resolue what to thinke of my selfe in a case of such strange contrariety Neuerthelesse come what can more precious to mee is mine honour then my life And let mee further entreate you to tell mee if hee be married and whence he had his wife In good faith quoth the Knight neuer man had better fortune in marriage then he enioying one of the most virtuous Ladies that can be she being daughter to Gandalack Lord of the Rocke of Galtares by whom he hath a sonne aged as I imagine about fifteen yeares Very sorrie was Amadis when he vnderstoode for a certaintie what alliance was between Balan Gandalack whom he loued dearely for the nourishing which his brother Galaor had of him in the time of his infancie and he could wel haue wished that this combate might haue been against some other person although it should fall out more doubtfull and dangerous to him But if it were against his owne brother hee could not now denie it in regarde of his promise passed to Darioletta And so long they held on discourse that darke night ouer-tooke them yet they sayled on merrily still till somewhat â—arely the next morning they discouered the Island with the red Tower whereby the whole countrey had her name because in the midst thereof was a goodly Castle builded enuironed with great Towers and such walles as were of no meane maruell to be seen Then the Knight seeing Amadis take some delight in beholding theÌ„ said Sir this Castle which you see yonder was not built as this day noâ— more then an hundred since but as you now see it so doe ancient Histories speake of it that he who first founded it was named Ioseph sonne to that Ioseph of Aramathia who brought the Sangreal into Great Brittaine at such time as the whole land consisted of Paganes But by his meanes the most part of the people conuerted to the faith of Iesus Christ not without suffering many incursions of hostile enemies that dayly came in vpon them grieuously molested them from time to time To preuent this annoyance this Tower was thus erected in manner as you now beholde it but after-wards as all things haue their changes with the alteration of times if fell into the hands of Giants who tooke great paines to re-people the Isle with worshippers of Idols excluded all them that honoured the true God Neuerthelesse our Lord prouided so wel for them that in despite of their enemies they still continued heere though not in so great a number or enioying such libertie as formerly they had yet partly by paying great taxations and tributes and other of lesse ability by continuall seruitudes to the Giants vntill such time as Balan came to bee Lord thereof who as I haue alreadie tolde you is debonnaire vertuous and of Catholique religion whereby hee is very naturally beloued of all his subiects Now although the Knight declared all these good qualities and many more in the Giant to Amadis yet all were but as fuell to fire enflaming him so forwardly that hee entreated him to goe before and to let the Giant vnderstand that a Knight of the Enclosed Isle was come thither with a Ladie whose sonne he had slaine and kept her husband daughter seruants prisoners And if by combating with him and vanquishing him they might be deliuered hee reque sted security against all men but himselfe otherwise let him not aduenture to come neare the Port because the challenger held it as his refuge The Knight forthwith entred into a small Skiffe leauing Amadis and his company at the hauen in expectation of his returne So soon as he came near the Giant he knew him as one whoÌ„ he had many times seene
and his mother But seeing this submission cannot coÌ„tent thee command what else thou wouldest haue and it shall be granted For matters past betweene thee and me answered Amadis I am sufficiently satisfied but not in the wrongs that concerne the Lady I am ready replied the Giant to suffer any such condemnation as thou thinkest best whereby to please both her and thee with this consideration that the vnrecouerable life of her sonne stands out of my reach and therefore must needes bee answered by some thing remayning in my power First of all then said Amadis my will is that thou deliuer her husband her daughter and all their attendants out of thy prisons Next in steed of her sonne flaine by thee condemne thy sonne to make her amends by present marriage of her daughter For lâ—t mee tell thee â—â—lan her husband is as good a â—â—ntleman as thy selfe and as sufficiently enriched with meanes euen so faire as hee is gouernour of all those countries which the King my father commands in the lesser Brittaine When Balan heard him speake in that manner he began to obserue him more iâ—… then before and thus replyed I pray thee in curtesie withouâ—â—…onger delay to tell mee 〈◊〉 â—…e and thy fathers 〈…〉 father answered Aâ—… is the King of Gaule and I am his 〈◊〉 Amadis At these wordes the Giant lifted vp his head saying Is it possible that thou shouldâ—… be â—…s who slew my father It is very true quoth he for I beeing in ayde of King Lâ—… and perceiuing him to bee in vnauâ—ydable daâ—ger of death I slew a 〈◊〉 who was reported to bee thy father Before God answered Balan it can nâ—uer enter into my vnderstanding how thou durst bee so bolde as to presume so sarre into my â—…diction but only by my euer knâ—… hâ—â—orable renowne of keeping my faith and worde inuiolate in any cause whatsoeuer Or else the meer magnanimity of thy soule which neuer made reckoning of the very greatest perill but fuâ—thered thee in the haughtiest enterprises is thy continuall good guiding Angell And therefore seeing fortune is so fauourable to thee it were against reason that I should contradict her in thy happinesse hauing made so deare a proofe thereof my selfe already As concerning my sonne I giue him freely tâ—… thee to be disposed of at thy pleasure not in any fauourable respect of mee but as beseemeth a villaine that durst presume to breake his fathers faith For no goodâ—â—sse else can now remaine in him but what his conâ—…ce may well learnâ—â—…f thee as â—â—â—ing a true teacher 〈…〉 â—â—â—dodoning him so great an offence Then reaching forth his hand Amadis meeting it gently with his hee thus proceeded The husband to this Lady her daughter and all the prisoâ—ers else in my custodie shall forth with bee released accouâ—… the very fayrest fortune 〈…〉 did or can befall mee to be â—…ed as thy friend and so I bâ—…h thee to accept me That will I with all my heart answered Amadis And embracing him as he lay said I am so farre engaged in seruice to thy Father in Law Gandalack as for his sake onely I hold it an Article of my dutie to loue thee truely And as a beginning of our aâ—…e let mee entreate and perswade thee to cease and giue ouer this wicked custome which both against God and reason thou hast heere so long time maintained Also forgiue thy Sonne Brauor whose error rather ensued by folly of youth then otherwise commanding him withall that to morrow hee marrie this Ladies daughter that so wee both may stand discharged of our promises Where-to Balan gladly condescended and Darioletta with her husband were also well pleased and satisfied And not without great reason and much to our purpose doth our Historie speake of this mariage For from them two issued a Sonne named Galeote that married one of the daughters to Galuanes and the faire Giantesse Madasima whence descended the second Balan succeding euermore from father to Son in this Island of the Red Tower Vntill it came to the gentle knight Segurades brother to the knight that came to the court of â—ing Arthur being aged aboue sixscore yeares he hauing in regard of his age for borne the vse of Armes the space of twentie yeares did yet without the helpe of any Launce vnhorse all the famous knights that came to Câ—melâ—t This Segurades whereof I now speake was in the time of king Vtâ—r Pendragon Father to king Arthur and left one only Sonne Lord of this Island who was named Brauor le Bran who was slaine by Sir Tristram de Lyons as he conducted fayre â—seult wife to King Marke into Cornewall Of this Brauor le Brun issued the valiant Galehaut le Brun Lord of the farre remote Isles a great friend to Sir Lancelot du Lake as you may well remember if you haue read the histories of the Round Table where mention is made of the Bruns who descended all from the stock of Balan With whom we wil leaue Amadis attending the curing of his Wounds to tell you what happened to Grasandor after the hunts-man had done his message to him and knew assuredly that he was embarqued thence with the Lady his conducter CHAP. XXXV How Grasandor followed in the quest of Amadis and what aduentures happened to him in his trauatie NOt long since you read that Amadis being entred the Barque of the Ladie who purposely came thither to seeke him one of the Huntsmen came along the shoare to whom he called commanding him to bury the dead Knight and acquaint Grasandor with the reason of his so sudden departure Which being imparted to Grasandor hee was a long time pensiue maruailing what aduenture had befallen him to drawe him so farre off from him and Madame Oriana Hereupon giuing ouer further pursuing the game he desired him to conduct him where the dead Knight lay and being there ariued hee sawe him lie along quite disarmed but neither Shippe or sayle could hee disâ—â—ne on the Sea So carrying the dead body into an Abbey neare adioyning which Amadis had founded Grasandor returned to Oriana whom hee found with the Infanta Mabila and the other Ladies who seeing him enter without Amadis demanded whence hee came thus all alone From point to point hee related the whole aduenture according as hee had receiued it from the hunts-man yet with some regarde as fearing to afflict her ouer much whom it most concerned I meane Madame Oriana whose heart was so seuerely shut vp with griefe as shee could not for a long while vtter one word But when her soule had wonne more liberty then shee thus answered Surely I am perswaded that seeing hee hath leâ—â— you and taken no farewell oâ— meâ— hee departed not but vpon some very great occasion By my faith Madame replied Grasandor I 〈◊〉 of your minde for hee sent me word by the Huntsman that I should excuse his absence to you Alas quoâ—h the Princesse I know not what excuse to allow of neither what wee are
the World with him from his mothers wombe and surely in mine opinion they are the very same Notwithstanding if you had not quickned my memorie I should neuer haue thought on it And therefore make no complaint of your Fortune if you faile in this enterprise because for ought I can perceiue you haue begot him that must carrie this honor from you Amadis musing to himselfe while suddenly starting said I am of your minde for so haue I gathered by the Table on the Image of Brasse Return we then back againe quoth Grasandor and leaue the rest to bee ended by him to whom the destenies haue made their promise So we must bee inforced to doe saide Amadis albeit I am somewhat offended that I may not carrie away his sword with mee By my faith replied Grasandor if you should offer to get it your hinderance may be more then you imagine and yet it may fal out not to proue so good a sword as your owne Moreouer when I consider how you obtained it neuer could any Knight attaine to a fairer fortune nor more beseeming a man than yours was then This hee spake in regard that Amadis wonne it by approouing himselfe to bee the most loyall and perfect louer that euer loued according as in the Second booke of this Historie hath been oftentimes declared vnto yee Hereupon they returned backe by the same way they came and passing againe among the Antiquities Amadis stayed there a while better to beholde them The more hee looked on them the more hee commended their rare perfections both in moldings friezes chapters lying among the ruines of those famous buildings And no way could hee turne his eye but he beheld many fractures of singular carued parsonages the very muscles obserued to the life and such perspectiue where occasion required it that in his opinion it relished more of some diuinitie then to be performed by the skill of man in workemanship As hee continued in these meditations a knight armed with a white Armour and holding his sworde ready drawen came to them courteously saluting them as they did the like to him Then he demanded of theÌ„ whether they were of the Enclosed Isle or no We are answered Grasandor but why doe you moue that question Because quoth the other I found a Batque beneath and men therein who tolde mee that two Knights belonging to the Pallace of Apolidon were ascended vp this Rocke but they concealed their names from mee as I did mine from them Nor desire I any thing else but peace and friend-shippe with them beeing casually come hither in pursuite of a knight who by trompery is escaped from mee with a Damosell forcibly carried away by him Friend said Grasandor in courtesie let me entreate you to take off your Helmet or to tell vs your name If you will swear to me replied the Knight whether you know my Lord Amadis or no and that you will doe the like to mee I am well contented otherwise you speake but in vaine By my faith quoth Grasandor we are two of the best friends hee hath and therefore you may well be knowen to vs. So the Knight disarmed his head saying You may now knowe mee well enough if you be such as you haue sworne your selues to mee Hardly had hee concluded his wordes but Amadis ran and caught him in his armes saying Brother Gandalin is it possible that fortune should cause vs to meet in this maner Much amazed was Gandalin to see himselfe thus embraced and by a man vnknowne to him and vnable to coniecture who he should be wherefore Grasandor suddenly said Why how now Gandalin Haue you forgotten your Lord Amadis Amadis answered Gandalin may it bee possible Then falling on his knee whether he would or no hee kissed his hand before Amadis could any way preuent him but then demanded of him how and by what meanes he came thither Beleeue me my Lords replied Gandalin your equalls in loyalty of affection would gladly know as much concerning you as you now demand of me you being as farre from them as this place is from their abyding Neuerthelesse to giue you content I will declare the whole truth vnto you Know then that being with Bruneo and others who are yet in conquering the countries of Arauigne Sansuegua returning from a cruell battayle which the Kings Nephew gaue vs at our entrance and wherein many worthy men lost their liues one day among other a Damosell belonging to the kingdom of Norway attired all in black came into the Tent of Agraies desiring him on her knees in no mean plenty of teares to giue her rescue in a wrong done vnto her Agraies causing her to rise and sit downe by him demanded the cause of her sad complaint and hee would redresse it so much as lay in him to doe Alas Sir quoth she you haue good reason to helpe mee because I am both a subiect and seruant to the King who is father to Madame Olinda your wife for whose sake and honour I desire you to assist mee with one of your Knights for recouery backe of my daughter whom the Lorde of the great Tower on the Sea shoare hath forcibly taken from mee being thereto onely emboldened because I would not giue him her in mariage And my reason is in regarde hee is neither so noble nor descended of so good a house as my husband was but rather is of base and seruile condition vsurping the place he possesseth vpon his neighbours whom he hath since expelled The father to my daughter was brother to Don 〈…〉 honour 〈…〉 of Great Brittaine 〈…〉 I at any meanes for the recoâ—… of her without you because notwithstanding all the earnest entreaties I haue vâ—ed to him the wicked man is so cruelly minded as hee doth dayly deny mee so that my dayes can haue no long continuance except by Armes he be compelled to restore her Damosell answered Agraies why doth not your King do you iustice as in right to him belongeth My Lord quoth she he is so ouerspent in yeares and decayed in bodie as hee is not able to gouerne himself or any other neither doth hee euer come forth of his bedde only through his extreamitie of age and sicknesse The man then you speaks of replyed Agraies is his abyding farre from hence No Sir quoth shee in lesse space then a day and a halfe the winde sitting conueniently wee may by Sea easily sayle thither Then I made tender of my seruice as willing to goe along with the Lady But my Lord Agraies would not consent thereto except I made him faithfull promise of returning backe againe to him after I should haue combated the Knight without attempting any further if with honour I might safely doe it My promise made to that effect and I sufficiently furnished I went aboard with the Damosell in a Barque which shee had purposely brought with her and the Sea was so calme and fauourable to vs that on the morrow about mid-day we
my selfe into his power prouided that he will bee so kinde vnto me as carry me back againe to the Ladie and there pleade my cause for mee that she will be pleased to suffer me enioy her daughters as my wife because now she hath made choise of me before any other Is that true quoth Amadis to the Damosell Yes sir said shee albeit heretofore hee detayned me against my will neuerthelesse obseruing the truth and integritie of his affection I am now fully minded to forget all former violences both pardoning and promising to accept him in marriage Beleeue me said Amadis I am very glad of it and Gandalin if you will follow mine aduice worke with the Mother so much as you can that this happy wedding may bee effected I shall Sir quoth hee with all my heart and reioyce to see so good a conclusion So they went on to returne to the Sea shoare but the night preuenting them they were enforced to stay in the Hermitage discending the next morning downe to their men who awaited their comming in the Barque As Gandalin tooke his leaue Amadis and Grasandor intreated him to recommend them to Agraies and their other friends there aduising him and them also to returne speedily to the Enclosed Isle where they should heare other tidings Thus Gandalin sayled thence to the Lady mother where hauing deliuered both her daughter and the Knight hee laboured the matter so effectually that notwithstanding all former spleene the mother quickly consented to her Daughters minde Gandalin was not a little amazed hereat but remembring that womens constancie was as certaine as the continuall turning tides of the Ocean hee could not chuse but smile and leauing them to their further affaires went aboarde the Barque returning to Agrates who was highly pleased with Gandalins good successe as also his fortunate meeting with Amadis and Grasandor in so strange a manner But now wee must change our purpose to them that were bound for the Enclosed Isle with an earnest desire to see their wiues whom they had left in no meane melancholie only for their absence Amadis and Grasandor departing from the Island of the Damosell Enchantresse found the Seas and Windes so fauourable that without any impeachment whatsoeuer they entred the port of the Enclosed Isle As they mounted vp the Rock and came to the Monasterie which Amadis had caused to bee builded they saw before the Gate a Damosell attired all in mourning and two Squires with her holding their Palâ—raies by the bridles They saluted her very courteously as she did the like to them and then they entred into the Church to performe their Orisons in the meane while the Damosell enquired of one of the Monks there standing what they were The religious man answered her that the one was the Lord of the Isle and the other was his noble friend and companion When the Dâ—â—osell knew that Amadis was there shee stayed in the porch of the Church and seeing him comming towardes her shee fell at his feet and weeping aboundantly said Alas Lord Amadis are not you he who knowes how to giue remedie to â—…re afflicted soule such as mine is at this instant Assuredly if it were not so your fame and renowne would neuer haue circled the worlde so oftentimes as already they haue don For this cause I the most vnfortunate of all other am come to to craue mercy and pittie of you Thus speaking she caught fast hâ—ld about his legges embracing them so strictly as Amadis could by no meanes gette from her for the more hee stroue to get loose the more violently still she pressed vpon him wherefore he said vnto her Faire Damosell I pray you tell me your cause of griefe as also what and whence you are and although I should refuse aâ—l other Ladies yet will I doe for you whatsoeuer I am able to release you out of the sorrow wherein I see you Pausing a while shee said My name you shall not know till I be certaine that you will performe what you are to promâ—se but the cause of my grieâ—e and tribulation grew in this manner I am wiâ—e to a Knight whom I loue with all my hart but such is both my misfortâ—… and his that hee is become a prisoner to the very greatest enemy hee hath in the world and it is impossible for him to be thence deliuered without such help as I hope for in your goodnesse and no man else whatsoeuer Beleeue it Sir quoth shee my knees shall neuer part from this earth nor mine armes from about your legges except thereto you forcibly constraine me till you grant what I am to demand of you Amadis perceiuing both her importunitie and obstinacie knew not wel what to say fearing to stand obliged by his promise for the vndertaking of some such matter which well he might repent at leasure as indeed hee did Neuerthelesse he was so moued to compassion seeing her teares flowe forth so incessantly that hee granted what shee desired requiring that hee might know her name Then she caught him by both the hands and whether hee would or no kissed them sweetly and addressing her speechâ—s to Grasandor beganne in this manner Sir Knight I pray you remember that Lord Amadis hath made this promise to me who am the wife to Archalaus the Enchanter and him hee keepeth in prison beeing the greatest enemy hee hath in the world But if Heauen were so pleased this hatred may conuert it selfe into the greater amity by such happy meanes as may bee wrought Much offended was Amadis to see himselfe deceiued by the subtilty of this woman and gladly hee would haue reuoked his promise sworne vnto her notwithstanding hee could not blame the woman who had iust reason to imploy her vtmost paines for the benefit of her husband as euery good wife else ought to doe and thus hee answered her By the faith I beare to God Ladie you haue made too large a request to me for in despite of any perill that can come to me I would not consent to such a matter but only in regarde of the promise I haue made yee and it is the first that euer I granted to Ladie or Damosell whereof I repented my selfe afterward With these words hee and Grasandor mounted on horsebacke commanding the wife of Archalaus to follow him to the Pallace of Apollidon but before they could get thither Oriana and Mabila had intelligence of their arriuall What pleasure they conceiued by this their so long expected comming it is impossible for me to expresse yet such it was that not only they but all the Ladies and Gentlewomen went to attend their entrance into the Parke At their meeting there needes no other question to bee made but the like kisses and embraces passed betweene them euen as yong married couples vse to doe vpon the very day of their choisest delighting to yeelde the truer testimonie of their Faiths firmnesse And these sweete ceremonies vshered them to their Chambers where no doubt
on their affaires the others left them alone and departed thence Then King Arauigne demanded of him what hee conceiued of his hard Fortune And breathing forth a sigh sufficient to haue broken a bigger heart hee stood along while silent as being vnable to deliuer a word till at last thus he spake Ah my deare friend Balan if your Father Mandafabull were now liuing how Irkesome would my mishap be to him And to speake truely matters are mightilie altered since his death For it is not fully a yeare since I stood vpon no meane tearms of being the very greatest King in all the West but now I am beecome the poorest and most miserable man in all the World How Sir replied Balan it seemes you distrust the mercy of the almighty in whose power it is to dispose of you as best liketh him If Fortune haue once frowned on you is her wheele so fast nayled or printed as shee cannot lift you to the place from whence you are fallen Let me perswade you Sir not to bee thus discomforted but in kingly patience to thanke God for all and hee will not forget you Walking on along with him hee beganne thus againe I knowe very well Sir that hardly can you expresse constancie or courage in such cases of so sharpe affliction and vneasie to bee endured as your imprisonement is Yet I can desire no better experience therein then the like misfortune hath ministred to mee in permitting mee to bee vanquished by the same man that was the worker of your downefall Notwithstanding let mee take it ill or well bee pleased or offended at my foyle I see no other remedy but only to arme my selfe with patience and sooner to forget the iâ—iurie I haue receiued then my selfe For the rest I am of opinion that it is possible to treate on some good agreement betweene you and these Princes who I am perswaded will therein listen to you if such a motion proceede from your selfe How can that be done quoth the King except in forgoing all which they pretend to haue conquered from me and I had rather die bearing the name of an imprisoned King then to liue a begger at libertie If after death saide Balan life were easie to bee recalled backe againe I should ioyne with you in this opinion but hauing nothing dearer to vs in this worlde wee should preserue it so long as is possible for vs. My worthy friend Balan replied the the King doe with mee what you please into your hands I commit my selfe my life my goods honour beseeching you intirely to remember my businesse in such nature as I make no doubt but you will Now because they saw Enill comming in to them they altred their discourse and Balan taking leaue of him went to finde Galuanes and Galaor who staied his returne in the Tent of Agraies There hee declared what speeches had past between him and the King Arauigne And in my minde quoth he considering the humor wherein I left him I thinke it were good to make him some offer giuing him some countrie of his own for a place of retirement where hee may weare out the remainder of his dayes and be contented to resigne vp all the rest The whole company was well pleased heere-with and highly allowed the aduise of Balan for to speake vnpartially hee was one of the wisest men and as sound in iudgement as any where else was to be found Wherupon they entreated him to mediate this matter with Arauigne committing all to his discretion because indeede they themselues were halfe tyred and grew wearie of the warre On the next morning hee went to the King Arauigne and among diuerse others remonstrances told him how at his request and only by his meanes hee had so well preuailed with the Princes of the Army that they were all contented to leaue him parte of the Isles of Landes in full and intire soueraignty Which liked him well considering it was much better for him to continue King of a little then to be Lord of nothing Hereupon the City was surrendred and certaine Shippes and victuals were giuen him for his retreate into the Isle of Liconia And the very same day Brunâ—o was crowned king with great magnificence So hauing receiued their homages and faithfull aleagance for the whole Countrie their Army being in this time well refreshed they set away to the Citty of Calaffan in the Realm of Sansuâ—gua Whereof the people being aduertised assembled themselues in great numbers and electing Captaines and Commaunders among them resolued to attend their comming and bid them battaile before they would suffer any besieging But they tarried so long for their mustered forces that I am loath to dâ—lâ—y you in so idle an expectation Let it suffice then that the Countrie of Sansuegua was conquered and because it is not any thing 〈…〉 or incident to our Historie to tell you in what manner it was performed we will bee silent therein at this time leauing the â—…e to them of the Enclosed Isle and now wee will tell you what happened to King Lisuart after his reâ—… into Great Brittaine CHAP. XXXVIII How King Lisuart being hunting was taken prisoner by Enchantment and very strangely ALthough our History hath long discontinued from speaking of King â—isuâ—â—t and of any thing happening to him since hee went imbarqued from the Enclosed Isle returning home to his Countrie of Great Brittaine yet I now finde apt occasion to bee no longer forgetfull of him but to declare how afterward hee caâ—ied himsese as being a matter fit for our purpose in this place â—…sten then to mee Lords and faire Ladies and you shall vnderstand a new kinde of subtiltie which fortune made him taste of to let him the better know what slender assurance he had of her fauours for at such time as hee thought to bee most at quiet after so many warres discords passed wherwith already you are fully acquainted this accedent ensuing hapned to him First he resolued with him selfe to make some indifferent long soiourning in the Citty of Fâ—nusa because it was seated in a very sweete ayre and highly comodious for Forests and faire Riuers well stored with all kindes of beasts fit for game wherein he tâ—…e no meane delight and pleasure And albâ—â—t his aged yeares required ease and rest as most meetest for him yet such was his forward will and noble magnanimitie of spirit as he would by no meanes yeelde thereto but rather daylie sighed and sorrowed that he could not performe what formerly he had done and bee seene in such aduentures and combats as continually befell him in the beginning of his raigne This disputable questioning betweene his desire and ability of body drew his soule into an vnacâ—ustomed sadnesse making him become so pensiue and melanâ—â—â—lie as hee would â—â—nder himselfe from all company and delighted in no other pastime but to walke abroad sometimes with his Cross-â—ow to strike a heart â—inde or â—idde in the Forrest Hereupon it fortuned that
into the Pallace and being dismounted from horse-backe they conducted her to the chamber of the Princesse who so soone as shee sawe her caâ—e and fell at her feet and weeping incessantly said Alas madame you that knowe future accidents as well as them present why did you not take order for the King my fathers mis-fortune hee beeing your so dearely esteemed friend I may well assure my selfe that when you fayle him his case is vtterly voide of any remedie Madame answered Vrganda I pray you doe not thus discomfort your selfe Know you not that the more men are mounted to high degrees the more subject they are to as great tribulations Although wee are all made of one and the same substance all obliged to vices and passions yea equall alike to death yet the omnipotent Lord of all hath made vs diuerse in enioying the goods of this world To some hee giues authority others are subiect to seruility and vassalage Some are made poore and very miserable others enioy aboundance and prosperity and all according to his owne good pleasure So worthy Madame comparing the great blessing you now enioy with such sorrowes and vexations as you haue sustained put all your present afâ—ictions into one seale and your passed fortunes into another and they will no way be answerable in weight As for the King your father I knewe long agoe this which hath happened to him and yet notwithstanding I could not help it For so it was appointed by diuine pre-science who in time will also permit that he shall returne home againe into his owne countrey with as much contentment as euer heretofore hee enioyed Then conuerting her speeches to Amadis others there present thus shee proceeded When I departed last from his companie I did then assure yee that at such time as Esplandian should receiue his order of Knight-hood I would meete you againe in this place for this cause to keepe promise both with you and him and to discharge you of a labour you are entring into I am come hither as you see And this I tell you that if all the men this day liuing and so many more as shall come hereafter doe attempt the quest of king Lisuart and to deliuer him out of the place where hee is they loose all their paines Therefore let mee aduise you to desist from the promise you haue made each to other Requesting you beside that you will all be my guests in the great Serpent with Esplandian Telanque Manelie the King of Dacia and Ambor Sonne to Angriote presently giuing order for your Horses for the houre now inuites vs. They not daring to denie her did as shee commanded and giuing good rest to Oriana accompanied her to the Sea side where they found a Barque ready which conueied them to the place where the great Serpent lay Entring thereinto they left their horses in the great Hall where taking Esplandian and his companions with her shee led them into a Chappell to performe their watch and prayer according to the ancient custome before any man might be made a Knight Afterward she returned againe to the rest and bad them sit downe to supper which they found ready prepared for them and in most royall manner The tables being with-drawne she sent them to keep company with them that watched in the Chappell Then shee and her two kinsewomen Solisa and her Sister followed them Vrganda carrying a Habbit or Coate of Male very black Salisa an Helmet of the same colour and the third a shield answerable thereto Now albeit at the beginning all other Knightes were armed with white Armour yet would shee needs haue him to differ from them in this manner So soone as shee was entred the Chappell shee called Esplandian to her saying Most happy yong Gentleman see what accoutraments I haue brought for you as testimonies of the power wherewith your heart will hereafter bee enueloped partaking in some measure with the naturall disposition of the king your grand-father Moreouer it is to put you in minde that as other when they are made Knights receiue this honor with white Armour and brightly polished in signe of ioy and cheerefulnesse so these thus black and vnsightly are bestowed on you by destinie to remember you many times of those sorrows and tribulations wherein all your friends are at this present So they three armed him from head to foote only his Sword excepted and demanded of Amadis his opinion therein By my faith Madam quoth he if he had a Sword hee were in case me thinkes both to defend himselfe and to assayle any other You know answered Vrganda as well or better then any other in this troup where one hath been kept for him aboue two hundred years past and you haue seene it in the Rock of the Damosell Enchauntresse who left it there by apointment of the fates only for him And therefore hee must needes goe thither to conquer it for I dare assure you hee will performe such actions of arms as shall eclipse the bright fames of many that haue shined most cleerely in all partes of the worlde As shee spake these wordes foure other Damosells came in each one bringing furniture for a horse and an Armour as white as snow hauing a blacke crosse in the midst thereof and these foure other Damosells armed him therewith All this while was Esplandian on his knees before the Altar deuoutly imploring the assistance of heauen to giue him grace and meanes wherby to accomplish those things destined to him as well for the deliuerance of King Lisuart as any other enterprise whatsoeuer wherein hee coueted not his owne priuate glory Thus remained the Knights all night in prayer euen vntill the next morning when a mishapen ill fauoured Dwarffe beeing mounted on the very height of the serpent winding a Cornet with such loudnes as the whole Island returned the Eccho therof from all parts the Ladies ranne vp to the Towers in the Pallace of Apolidon to see and obserue whence this noyse came Then went Vrganda from the Chapell with them that had watched all night whom she conducted vp near to the Dwarffe And inwardly came sixe other Damosels attired all in blacke each bearing a Trumpet of golde in her hand and Vrganda calling Balan to her saide Friend Balan euen as nature hath preferred you before all other of your linage making you an enemy to vice to follow reason and vertue so will I aduaunce you for the loue I know Amadis beares you and euery other Knight in this company and doe you such an honour this day as all that haue beene before you or are liuing at this present could not nor can attaine to the like And this it is that Esplandian who shall be esteemed the best Knight in the worlde must haue his order of Knighthood from your hand Balan fearing to displease Amadis and the rest excused himselfe very honourably but they all preuailing with him hee tooke Esplandian by the hand and asked
later then this very morning for at the ending of Masse I receiued Letters from him to that effect Wherefore my good Lords in doing no more then mine honor bindeth me to let me goe along to him with my friendly compaâ—â—â—n Galaor You may dâ—e as you please replyed King Perion albeit I am perswaded that in the end he will be as little courteous to you as to others casheered out of his fauour At the ending of these speeches they withdrew to their Chambers where they continued till such time as they went to rest and in the morning came to take their leaue of King Perion and Amadis embarking themselues in a good Ship that wayted there for them and the windes sitting prosperously for their departing So weighing Anker they sayled into Great Brittaine towards King Lisuart who the very same day had tydings of the Count Latins ouerthrow and his men Whereat he conceiued such displeasure that without attending his leuied Army he purposed to part thence with so few knights as were then in his Court. Neuerthelesse he concluded first to hunt the Hart with all the Ladies in his company wherefore mounting earely the next morning on horsebacke he met the whole assembly to the Forrest where his Tents were readily prepared for him Great delight had they in hunting but hee himselfe could not forget the iniurie receiued by the knights of the Enclosed Island at the Burning Lake minding nothing more then how he might be reuenged on them according as heereafter you shall heare declared CHAP. III. How King Cildadan and Galaor in trauayling towards the Court of King Lisuart met with twelue Knights and a Lady who conducted a young Gentleman that entreated the King to make him Knight DOn Galaor and King Cildadan arriuing in Great Brittaine immediately heard newes that King Lisuart prepared his Army for passage to the Isle of Mongaza and that his departure would be speedily in regard whereof they made all the haste they might to bee with him before he dislodged thence and comming neere to the place of his abiding they rested in the midst of a great Forrest On the next morning as they were ready to mount on horse-backe they heard not farre off the Bell of some hermitage and making thitherward to heare Masseâ—at their entrance into the Chappell they beheld twelue greene Shields each hauing a golden Tower painted in the midst all set in order about the Altar and by them stood another Shield wholly white garnished with fine Gold and enriched with many precious stones whereat they were somwhat amazed because they saw no knights to whom they appertained Notwithstanding as they kneeled at their prayers a Squire entred of whom Galaor demanded who had placed those shields there Sir quoth the Squire your request may not now bee answered but if you goe to the Court of King Lisuart there you will quickly know some â—…uelties Now as they were issuing foorth there entred twelue knights each of them guiding a Damosell by the hand the fairest and best formed that possibly could be seene all of them holding conference with a Gentle-woman more auncient in yeares that seemed as a conductres to the rest Well perceiued Galaor and King Cildadan by her habit that she was a stranger and maruailed the more what she should be but they deferred any further enquiry for that time because they beheld the Hermite readily habited to say Masse Which was no sooner ended but the elder Damosell addressed her selfe towards King Cildadan and Galaor demaunding of them whether they were of King Lisuarts Court or no. Why aske ye answered the King Because quoth the Damosell we earnestly desire your conduct thither so please it you to affoord vs such fauour For wee are aduertised that he is in this Forrest accompanied with his Queene and a goodly troupe of Ladies where he runneth the Hart. Beleeue mee Damosell replyed Galaor so please it you we will keepe you company Sir quoth she a thousand thankes and seeing wee finde you so gently disposed and are as wee imagine some of his followers our suite to you is that you would entreat him to bestow knighthood on this yong Squire heere present with vs assuring yee that he is deriued of so high birth as he well deserueth to haue that honour and much greater if possible it might be Truely Damosell answered Galaor I shall very gladly doe it and am perswaded that a King so good and gracious will not deny me a request so reasonable Let vs presently then replyed the Damosell set forward to him while our Gentleman according to commendable custome shall performe his deuotions heere in this Chappell So mounting on horsebacke she rode on alone in the company of Galaor and King Cildadan and as they descended downe an hill they espied the King crossing the Valley who perceiuing two knights armed in that manner imagined that they made their abode there to Iouste with any other that should first passe by And albeit he had thirty knights in his company as his guard and each man ready for any such encounter yet at that time he was not willing to haue any such tryall of the Launce but sent Grumedan towards Galaor and his company to request their instant repaire to the King which accordingly hee did and so soone as Galaor perceiued his neerer approch he presently knew him and shewing him to King Cildadan said This is old Grumedan quoth he who bare King Lisuartes Ensigne in the battell against you By my faith answered King Cildadan he is a very worthy man for on that day I contended more against him then any other in the whole band And I well remember that wee grew at last to hand-gripes when I stroue to wrest his weapon from him but it was a matter beyond my power and yet I brake it in the handle as himselfe fast held it Their helmets were off in regard of the heates extremitie by which meanes Grumedan quickly knew Galaor and giuing his horse the spurre he rode to embrace him saying My Noble Lord you are welcome behold the King who hath sent me to yee imagining you to bee otherwise then you are indeed and therefore desireth you to come speake with him Lord Grumedan answered Galaor king Cildadan is here with me and wee both will goe to salute his Maiesty In good faith quoth Grumedan hee will be very ioyfull for your returne and if you please I will ride before to acquaint him therewith Doe so replied Galaor and wee will follow yee Grumedan returning and the king hauing obserued his long conference with the two knights demanded at his arriuall who they were Sir answered Grumedan the one is my Lord Galaor who hath brought yee king Cildadan in his company How quoth the king is it possible Yes verily replied Grumedan It is said the king the highest good happe that could now befall me let vs therfore goe and kindely welcome them As he made towards them hee beheld Galaor and king Cildadan
or no account at all of vs or else being willing to bestow your horses on vs you are content to dismount so readily as for your â—â—kes we will doe the like The Romanes whose hearts before were so highly aduanced as none could reache a loftier pitch finding their proud hopes to bee thus frustrated were so confounded with shame as they would not answere so much as a word but holding downe their heads ranne vpon their enemies with such swiftnes as easily might their inward malice be discerned But if they shewed themselues rough and sharpe assayling the other were not negligent in defending especially Grumedan who in his earnest desire to be reuenged entred among them laying blowes hardly to be endured wounding others and receiuing some himselfe Notwithstanding in the end he and his two companions laying aside all care of perill layde such heauy loade vpon the other that they were compelled to recoyle and Maganil fell downe backward Then Brunco de bonne Mer who sharply pursued him stept vpon him and violently plucking the helmet from his head threw him against the Scaffold whereon the Queene and Ladies sate Where Maganil seeing him selfe in danger of death cryed out for pitty and compassion but Bruneo pretending not to heare him bade him yeeld himselfe or else hee would smite off his head Sir quoth he I will doe whatsoeuer you commaund me and heere I am ready to confesse that I haue lied falsely for the Romane Knights are not such as I haue boasted them to be nor any way comparable to them of Great Brittaine This acknowledgement was heard by the Queene and Guillan who pittying him that so earnestly sued for pardon saide to Brunco Worthy Grecian Knight mee thinkes you should haue little desire to that head which is full of nothing else but pride and vain-glory wherefore leaue it to himselfe as a matter of no value to the end that when he is returned to Rome hee may there make report what benefit he got heere by his insolence and presumption the Queene and her Ladies ioyne with me in this suite to you Since so vertuous a Princesse answered he doth command me and you whom as yet I know not doe also desire it farre be it from mee to deny it So taking his foote off from Maganil he returned to Grumedan who had beaten downe the second and he likewise fearing the losse of his head made the like amends as his fellow did Now there remained none but the third who had lost so much blood that he fell downe dead at the feete of Angriote wherefore he tooke him by one legge and dragde him out of the field In which while Grumedan remounted on horsebacke and imaging that his two new friends would follow him with-drew thence to his owne lodging that his wounds might be looked vnto But so soone as he was gone Bruneo and Angriote without putting off their Helmets as fearing to bee knowen presented themselues before the King and said vnto him Sir we must now take our leaue of you and returne to our worthy friend the Greeke Knight with whom we are so much honored and esteemed as in no place else we can deuise to finde the like Wherefore if you please to commaund vs any seruice to him we are ready to doe it with most willing mindes God be your guide answered the King for certainly both he and you haue made it sufficiently knowen that you are no new learners to deale in such combates Then the Damosell who had bin their conduct thither saide to the king that shee desired to speake in priuate with him concerning a matter much importing him That shall you faire Damosell said he So all being commanded thence she ascended the Scaffold to afford Bruneo and Angriote the better meanes of departure â—â—turning the same way as they came and she being come to the King beganne thus Sir quoth she you haue hitherto bin held for the most esteemed King of Christen â—ome a louer of all honour and vertue but aboue all the rest the onely protector of Ladies and Damosels bestowing on them infinite fauours and graces whereby they haue receiued iust occasion â—o loue you more then any liuing â—â—an beside But now by losing all the hope they had in you they finde themselues vtterly defeated of your wonted great and gracious goodnes by too euident a testimony of cruell vnkindnesse to your owne Daughter the fair Princesse Oriana diâ—…eriting her of that happinesse which in right belongeth to her after you Whereat how impossible a thing it is in their opinion that your wonted royall affable and beniâ—â—e nature should be so suddenly â—â—nuerâ—ed into cruelty almost the like neuer heard of Neuer more 〈◊〉 they exspect any kindnesse towardes them from you vsing such strange behauiour to her whom loâ—e and fatherly pity bindes you neere vnto beside your royall title of King whereby you ought to be an â—…right Iusticer and see that all are truely dealt withall Thinke not Sir â—ut much euill will ensue heereon bâ— the wretched example you giue to your people and the ceaselesse teaâ—es and bitter lamentations of Madame Oriana all which are before God calling for due vengeance so that if you take not good heed the end of your reigne will ensue but the beginning of these miseries wherein you will be more pittied then any other Prince that I know More I may not say to you because I am to follow the two knights who I feare haue long ere this exspected mee Damosel said the King heauen bee your conducter you haue spoke very wisely and like a woman of good spirit So the Damosell descended and departed and arriuing where the two knights were they rode on to the Sea finding a Brigandine there attending which Grasinda had appointed for them And because they knew for certainty that king Lisuart had set downe his determination to deliuer his Daughter the first day of the weeke ensuing they made what haste possibly they could to be with the Greek knight that he might also bee acquainted there-with And they stayed not aboue two dayes and two nights but they took hauen in the Enclosed Isle where the other were landed but a little before Whereof Agraies Plorestan and others being aduertised they went to meete them with no meane ioy There might you haue seene mutuall loue and amâ—… on all sides congratulations embraces and all the ceremonious offices of courtesie all done in honour of Lord Amadis whereat Grasinda being amazed knew not what to say vntill hee came vnto her saying Madame I pray you bee no way discontented that thus long I haue concealed my name from you which is Amadis de Gaule of whom your selfe haue often spoken These other are my kinred and companions friends and followers all resolued to doe you any seruice what-soeuer Lord Amadis answered she you need not desire any pardon of me considering you haue neuer offended me but rather I am highly to be condemned that haue had you so
declared such manly deeds of Armes as the Duke of Bristoye Barsinan were much impeached in their hopes On the other side King Cildadan Arquisill Flamian and Norandell who seemed to keep sure the nearest Cantons founde Arauigne that held them besieged such hotte worke as but for sixe Knights of the Isle Sagittarie hee had neuer gone any further For the women and children of the Citie were alost in the windowes hurling downe boyling Lead Oyle and water as much perplexed him and them in their passage Now did Norandell and such as were with him fully perswade them-selues there to end their liues yet not as cowards and recreants but like true borne bolde and couragious Knights And hereupon king Cildadan stepping to one of them of the Sagittarte Isle ran his Sword vp to the hilts in his bodie that downe he fell dead to the ground The sight heereof was so dreadfull to the other fiue that they beganne to retire and king Cildadan with them of his troupe pursued them very stoutly till king Arauignes forces came vppe to releeue them and there the day had beene vtterly lost but for the fresh supply of Amadis who was not a little dismayed at his ariuall to see the enemie haue such aduantage of King Lisuart whom hee greatly feared to be either slaine or taken Wherfore vowing a mercilesse reuenge he commanded all his horsemen to alight and entring in vpon them pell mell to cry aloud Gaule Gaule When the other heard such a sudden tumultuous noyse and found themselues so sharpely charged in the rere they plainely perceiued that their attempt had failed and all their hues to be in very great danger So that King Arauigne wholly discouraged fied with Archalaus into a house hoping there to strengthen themselues and rather to die there then yeeld to mercy But they had not long staied there before King Lisuart came thither and set vpon them so sternely that after some slender resistance they yeelded themselues to be prisoners At the very same instant Amadis met with the other fiue Knights of the Isle Sagittarie who fought against his people very boldly but hee making against them accompanied with Florestan and Angriote at length surprised them and commanded them to safe custodie Passing on further they met with Barsinan and the Duke of Bristoye fighting manfully yet they no sooner saw Amadis but they threw them-selues at his feete defiring mercie which hee would not denie them and so committed them to Florestan Now because a great parte of King Arauignes Armie had saued themselues by flight into the neighbouring mountaines and he found no further resistance in the Citie hee returned forth of the same gate whereat hee entred and meeting with Gandalin said Go I pray thee and will Quedragant to retreate our people for I would not be known to King Lisuart and I meane to stay for him halfe a mile hence Gandalin rode away presently finding Quedragant did his message to him who without any longer delay caused retreat to bee sounded rallying all his troupes together As thus they retired king Lisuart could not presume how or whence hee had receiued this high fauour and therefore demanded of Guillan le Pensif if hee knewe any thing in the case Before God Sir quoth he he must needs be a deafe man that could not hear Gaul Gaul cried so many times this day which may well assure you that Amaedis and no other hath done you this vnexpected kindnesse I pray thee said the King doe so much for me as to finde and stay him if it bee possible that I may haue some conference with him So departed Guillan who knew before that Amadis was already gone wherfore galloping the same way which he had takē at last he ouertook him deliuered the Kings message to him aduising him to returne backe againe with him Amadis perceiuing that hee could not honestly gaine-say him rode backe with him to King Lisuart and alighting from his horse did him most humble reuerence but the King imbracing him declared manifest signes of great loue to him At which instant King Cildadan came to them and many other Knights with Florestan and Angriote who were so louingly welcommed by king Lisuart as it was impossible to be bettered And as he was speaking vnto them Brandoyuas came to tell him that the inhabitants of the Citie made such slaughter of king Arauignes people as they would not admit any one man to mercie But beleeue it Sir quoth hee it wery good to cease this cruelty for if their leaders haue not deserued death their followers in seruice should not bee worse entreated Sir said Amadis giue order quickly to stay this proceeding and content your selfe with the victory gotten against thē Then the King called Norandell and gaue him charge to command a retreate that shedding of blood might be spared and the rest to be taken prisoners At that very time an Esquire ariued there from king Perion to aduertise Amadis that he was hard at hand with the rest of the Armie to giue him succour if neede re-required Not now answered Amadis thankes be to heauen And therefore Sir quoth hee to King Lisuart you may well giue vs leaue to depart to the end that without any further trauaile king Perion may send vs home againe Before God replied the King although you haue been hitherto alwaies inuincible yet shall you now bee so farre constrained by me as to abide here for his comming hither because hee must needs partake in the ioy which wee haue receiued by your meanes and succour Then looking vpon king Cildadan hee said Helpe mee I pray you with your entreatie and trie whether your request can more preuaile with him then mine Beleeue me Lord Amadis answered king Cildadan you may not deny the King considering he mooues the matter to you so earnestly Nor will I said hee if my companions thinke it conuenient What say you to it Lord Quedragant you ought to obey the King quoth hee and seeing you haue done so much for him doe more for him yet if it bee in your power So was Amadis stayed there and in this time of conference king Arban and Grumedan returned from their imprisonement hauing escaped thence with their hands bound hehinde them with strong cordes for their guardes seeing what supplie Amadis had brought with him betooke themselues to flight and so left them at their owne liberty When king Lisuart saw them neuer was man in greater ioy because hee was formerly perswaded that either they were slaine or eise worse wounded then they were wherefore with open armes he went and embraced them And while he was busied in these kindnesses they espied a farre off the Armie of king Perion come marching towards them which Grumedan shewed to king Lisuart saying Sir as I imagine here is some new succour comming to you but if the first of Lord Amadis had tarried so long wee might haue shut the stable doore after the Steed was gone according to