to whom he seemed no lesse beautyfull then he did to the Queene wherefore he commanded Gandales to fetch him for when I goe hence quoth he I will take him with me and haue him brought vp with mine one Son In sooth my Lord answered Gandales he is yet to yong to leaue his Mother but hauing brought him presented him to the King who said Faire Child will ye go with me to the Court My Lord answered the Childe I will goe whether you please if my brother shall goe with me And I quoth Gandalin will not tarry here without him I perceiue my Lord said Gandales that if you take the one you must needes haue the other for they will not be seperated I am the better pleased answered the King then calling Agraies to him said My Son I will that you loue these two Gentlemen as I do their Father When Gandales saw that the King would haue them away in good earnest with the teares in his eyes he thus spake in his hart My childe that so soone beginnest to proue fortunate now I see thee in the seruice of them who one day may happily serue thee if it please God to guide and protect thee as I shall humbly pray for suffer that the words of Vrganda the vnknowne spoken to me may proue true making me so happy as to liue to see the time of those great meruailes promised thee in Armes The King who noted Gandales seeing that his eyes were filled with teares came to comfort him saying Beleeue me I neuer thought you had bene such a foole as to weepe for a Childe Ah my Lord answered Gandales it may be vpon greater occasion then you thinke for and if it please you to know the truth I will presently tell ye heere before your Queene So he tolde the whole discourse how he found the Gentleman of the sea and in what equipage and he had proceeded with that which Vrganda foretold him but that he remembred the oath he tooke Now my Lord said Gandales deale for him as you shall please for so God helpe me according to his beginning I thinke him to be issued of great linage Whē the King heard this he esteemed much the better of him that he had so carefully nourished the child he found and thus answered It is great reason seeing god hath done so much for him as to preserue him frō so great a danger that now we be diligent in his education and endowe him with habilities when time shall serue In good faith my Lord said the Queene so please you he shal be mine during his young yeeres and when he comes to mans estate I will deliuer him to serue you Well Madame quoth the King I giue him you Now early on the next morning the King would set forward wherefore the Queene not hauing forgot the gift of her Lord tooke with her Gandalin and the yong Gentleman of the sea whom she commanded to be so carefully attended as her owne Sonne for she tooke such pleasure in beholding him that dayly she would haue him neere her owne person because he had such a cheerefull spirit and so well gouerned withall as he was well liked of euery ore so that whatsoeuer he did passed with generall allowance no other pastime had he but in shooting and cherishing dogges for the chase Now doth the Authour leaue this matter returning to that which happened to King Perion his new freind Elisena King Perion as you haue already heard being in Gaule where he vnderstood by his Philosphers the exposition of his dreame as also what the Damosell had told him That when he recouered his losse the Kingdome of Ireland should loose her flower he became more pensiue then before yet could he vnderstand nothing thereof As he thus sadly spent his dayes it chanced that another Damosell entred his Pallace who brought him a letter from Elisena whereby she gaue him to know that King Garinter her Father was dead and she remained alone and for this cause he should pitty her in that the King of Scots would take her Kingdome from her For the death of King Garinter was Perion somewhat sorrowfull but yet he comforted himselfe by thinking he should goe to see his friend towards whom he had not diminished one iot of his affection wherefore he quickly dispatched the Damosell saying to her Returne and say to your Mistresse that without staying one whole day I shall be in short time with her The Damosell well pleased with this answere returned and after the King had set his affaires in order he parted in good equipage to see his Elisena and iournied so speedily as he ariued in little Brittaine where he heard newes that king Languines had already gotten all the cheefe of the Country except those Cities which Garinter gaue to Elisena who now abode as he vnderstood at a place named Arcate whether he addressed himselfe If he were there well receiued I leaue to your iudgments and she likewise of him whom she loued so much After the welcomming feasting of one another the King told her that he would now marry her and for that cause she aduertised her kindred and Subiects which she did with all diligence could be deuised as also with so great contentation as her heart might desire for herein only consisted the summe of her affections Which being heard by the King of Scots and how to accomplish this King Perion was already arriued with his Sister he sent immediatly for all the noble men of his Realme to beare him company in doing honor and wel-come to the King his brother At his comming he was gratiously receiued by King Perion and after by embracings they had saluted each other and the nuptials likewise thorowly ended the kings determined to returne home into their owne Countryes King Perion trauailing toward Gaule with his Queene Elisena somewhat weary with tediousnesse of the way he would refresh himselfe along by a Riuer side while the tentes were erecting he rode softly alone by the waterbancke imagining how he might know the truth whether Elisena had a child aaccording as his Philosophertold him in expounding his dreame But so long continued he in this thought that riding on without any regarde he came to an Hermitage which was neere at hand wherefore finding him-selfe at a place of deuotion he alighted tying his Horse to a tree that he might goe in to say his prayers And entring the Church he found there a very antient religious man who comming to meete him said Knight is it true that king Perion is marryed to our kings daughter yea verily answered the king Praised be God said the good Hermit for I know certainly that she loueth him with all her hart How can you tell that replied the king Euen from her owne mouth said the good olde man The king then hoping he shoud heare of him the thing which he most desired to know said I pray ye Father tell me what
thou see quoth she At what time the two braâ—ches of one tree shall be ioyned which at this instant are seuered then did she tell me where I should find him of whome she spake and this is he I giue you in guard euen as you loue me By these meanes remained little Calaor in the holy mans charge and there he staied so long till he was of yeeres to receiue the order of Knight-hood as hereafter shal be recited to you At this time reigned in great Brittaine a king named Falangris who dying without children left one of his bretheren his heire no lesse prudent in all affaires then prompt at armes and Knightly chiualry being called Lisuart who maried not long before with Brisana daughter to the king of Denmarke the fairest Lady that then was to be found in all the North parts And albeit she had bene requested in mariage by great Princes of the country notwithstanding for feare of some the father durst not consent to the other for which he would prouide by choosing one himselfe and so maried her to the yong Prince Lisuart who for loue serued him nor was he ignorant of the vertues harbouring in hiâ— geâ—tâ—e hart Now after the death of Falangris the Princes of great Brittaine knowing the right of Lisuart sent for him to succeed in the Realme for he being in a strange country whereby his hauty deeds and chiualry he was maried in so good a place therefore they pispatched their Ambasladours to him intreating him to accept the Realme and subiects of great Brittaine and to come to inuest himselfe therein CHAP. V. How King Lisuart sayling by sea landed in Scotland where he was greatly honoured and well entertained PRince Lisuart vnderstanding his Subiects desire for his short returne prouided his equipage by Sea being aided and assisted by the king of Denmarke his father in law and afterward set saile toward great Brittaine And because he coasted along Scotland he tooke landing there whereof Languines being aduertised came and receiued him very royally Now was this new king of great Brittaine accompanied with the Queene his wife and a faire Princesse their daughter aged as is thought about ten yeeres named Oriana one of the fairest creatures that euer was seene and therefore during the time of her aboad in Denmarke she was commonly called The only because her paragon was not to be found in beauty This yong Lady Oriana being not vsed to trauaile on the sea found her selfe somewhat weary and her father fearing a worse mis-hap intreated the king of Scotland she might stay with him till he sent for her Right gladly did king Languines and his Queene accept this charge wherefore king Lisuart without longer stay in Scotland went to sea where weighing Anckers and hoising sailes in short time landed in his owne Country where being arriued before he could abide in quiet as in such occasions it often falleth out certaine rebels were found whom in time he ouer-maistred which was the cause he could not so speedily send for his daughter that he left in Scotland In this place the author leaueth the new King peaceably ruling in great Brittaine and returneth to the Gentleman of the sea who by this time hath attained the age of twelue yeeres albeit in stature he seemed past fifteene and for his good grace both of the Queene and the other Ladies was loued and esteemed more then any other Now according as hath beene already declared the yong Princesse Oriana daughter to King Lisuart was left with the Queene of Scots to refresh her selfe till the King her father should send for her and to her did the Queene vse all the gracious curtesies could be deuised saying to her withall Faire Madame henceforth so please you shall the Gentleman of the sea serue you and be yours Which the Princesse Oriana willingly accepted wherefore the yong Prince made such an impression of this kindnsse in his spirite as during life he ment to serue nor loue any other and therefore for euer bequeathed to her his heart but so well it came to passe that this loue was mutuall and equall betweene them both Notwithstanding the Prince for a while hauing no knowledge thereof thought him-selfe vnworthy so great good reputing it a very bold enterprise to thinke thereon which was the cause he durst not speake but shew his good will in outward semblance The yong Princesse who was of the fame minde and also in like paine forbare to talke more with him then any other thereby to auoyde all suspition but the eyes of the two louers doing their deuoire and office entercoursed the thing which most they esteemed and thus couertly they liued without acquainting each other with this amorous affectioÌ„ Soone after this yong vnknowne Prince seeing that to attaine the good grace of the Lady he loued it was necessary he should take Armes receiue the order of Knighthood he said to himselfe If once I were a Knight I would do such exployts as should deserue the fauour of my Lady or die in the attempt And in this destre one day finding king Languines at leysure for his request and comming to him in the garden where he walked he fell on his knee vsing these speeches My Lord might it stand with your pleasure I gladly would receiue my Knight-hood When the King heard him seeing his yong yeeres he was greatly abashed and thus answered How now Gentleman of the sea Do you thinke your selfe already strong enough for such a weightie charge In sooth it is an easie thing to receine honor but to maintaine it as behooueth 〈◊〉 may be is more hard then you esteeme so that oftentimes a right good hart is troubled therewith For if through feare or cowardise he forsake what he ought to doe more better is death to him then a shamefull life therefore by mine aduise I would haâ—e you yet a while to forbeare The Prince not contented with this answere replied I will not forgoe honor my Lord through any such feare as it pleaseth you to alleadge for if I had not the desire to doe all that appertaineth to Chiualrie I would not haue beene so bold to make this request but seeing by your gracious fauour I haue beene hitherto nourished most humbly I beseech ye to grant me this petition that I may receiue no occasion of loosing your seruice to seeke else where for obtaining my suite The king highly esteemed the courage of the youth and doubting least he would depart indeed answered Assure your selfe Gentle-man that I wil do it wheÌ„ I see it necessary for ye in meane while prouide your Armes and what else belongeth Yet tell me faire Sir to whome if I resused would you go for your order To King Perion said the Prince who is reputed a good and hardie Knight for he hath maried the Sister to your Queene who maketh me beleeue that he will not denie me when I shall let him vnderstand how shee hath nourished me and that I
passe I pray thee let assurance be giuen to my Souldiours that without iniury they may carry me into my Country and dying like a Christian I may pay my debt both to God men Faine would I haue councel for my ouer burdened Soule then afterward shall I render to King Perion what I vsurped from him And as for thee who hast vanquished me I despise not to dye by the valiance of so gentle a Knight as thou art but withall my hart pardon thee my death wishing thou mayest continue honorable and yet hereafter to remember me When the Prince saw him in such debilitie he was exceeding sorowfull for his death although he knew assuredly that if he had woon the glory of the combate he would haue dealt much worse with him During these speeches the Knights appointed on each side came to them wherefore King Abies commanded his Captaines to render King Perion what he had conquered in Gaule which was accomplished and by these meanes the Irish-men had assurance to carry home their King who dyed soone after order was gifor their affaires These matters thus ended King Perion Agraies and all the Lords of Gaule came to the Prince accompanying him with great ioy from the fielde into the Citie euen with such triumphant glory as to Conquerours is accustomed who by their prowesse not onely ouercome their enemies but restore the Country that is well neere ruinated Now must ye vnderstand that a little before the beginning of the Combate the Damosell of Denmarke who came from faire Oriana to the Prince was arriued at king Perions Courte and before shee would make her selfe knowne she desired to behold the issue of the fight Afterward seeing him returne with so honorable a victory she shewed her selfe and taking him aside said Knight may it please you to heare a word in secret of such matter as doth verie neere concerne ye Euen what you will answered the Prince with which words he tooke her by the hand and keeping her from the throng she thus spake The Princesse Oriana who is onely yours hath sent me to you and this Letter withall wherein you shall finde your name written When he heard her named by the remembrance of whom only he liued he was so perplexed that without vnderstanding what else the Damosel said hauing taken the Letter he let it fall being readie himselfe to beare it companie which the Damosell seeing shee tooke vp the Letter and came to him againe Euery one that beheld him in these passions meruayled what newes she brought to procure this alteration but she puld him by the arme so roughly as made him forget his former Traunce thus speaking What now my Lord Take you the Message in so ill part that comes from the onely Lady in the world and who aboue all other loueth you for whose sake likewise I haue taken so great paine to find you Ah Ladie quoth he on my faith I knew not what you sayd to me for euen as you began to speak I felt the paine to renewe in mee which heretofore you haue seene me endure It is true said the Damosell but now it is needlesse for ye to conceale your selfe any longer from me for I know more of your affayres and my Ladies then you imagine because her selfe hath bewrayed them to me And if you beare her affection you neede not be ashamed thereof in that she loueth you beyond all other in respect whereof she telleth you by me that she must goe to the King her father requesting after your departure from this warre you would come see her in great Brittaine appointing all things in such order as at your arriual you may remaine there in the Court vntill more amply you vnderstand her mind Beside she gaue me charge to tell ye how she certainly knowes you are Sonne to a King wherewith she is no lesse pleased then shee thinkes you will be and seeing being ignorant of your Linage you haue proued so good a Knight now vnderstanding your Nobilitie you should labour to increase your Fame if you can And then againe shee gaue him the Letter saying Take here the Letter wherein your Name is written and which you had hanging about your necke at such time as you were found in the Sea The Prince tooke the Letter and when he looked on it remembring to what good purpose his Lady had taken it from him fetching a vehement sigh somewhat softly he thus spake Ah happy Letter most diuinely wast thou found in respect thou hast beene kept by her who hath my heart in her custodie and for whom I haue so often assayed to die yet cannot For thinking on her perfection I seeke to augment it by strength and commendation but of so slender value is my puissance found that striuing thereby to gaine her fauor the least paine I feele surpasseth a thousand deaths which neuerthelesse are now recompenced by this present benefite O highest God when shall I see the time wherein I may giue her to vnderstand how great my deuotion is to obey her by some agreeable seruice Hauing finished these words he opened the Letter and saw his Name written therein which was Amadis then thus spake the Damosell againe to him I was charged Sir when I had done my Message to returne with all speed to her that sent me to you therefore be thinke your selfe if you will command me any thing You shall not depart so please you in such haste answered the Prince but stay with mee two or three dayes during which time for what occasion so euer it be you shall not forsake me and then will I conduct you whither you please In obeying-you sayd the Damosell I trust I doe seruice to my Ladie Oriana Their talke thus breaking off he returued to the King and Agraies who stayed for him him at the entrance of the Citie where the people were wonderfully assembled in the streetes Then came the Queene with her Ladyes Gentle-women to vnarme him and the Chirurgions to visite his wounds which when they had regarded albeit they were many and yrkesom to behold yet were they to bee healed without any great daunger of his person For this night the king desired that he and Agraies would supp with him but the Prince making his excuse by his wounds went to his Chamber willing to haue no other company then the Damosel to whom he did all the honour that could be deuised hoping through her to finde remedie for part of his griefes This Damosell soiourned with him certaine time and in respect of the good Newes shee brought him no wound could hinder him from visiting the great Hall there walking and conferring with euety one but most with her whom he caused to stay attending his dispositiō till he might beare Armes And betweene them happened a strange occasion which was cause of his longer abode in Gaule then hee expected so that the Damosell returned to Oriana without him as you hereafter shall vnderstand CHAP. XI How the
but the Damosell of Denmarke noting this change spake out aloud In an vnhappy houre did the Knight behold any Lady in this company whereby he hath lost what he wun of Dardan it is no time now for his heart to faint These words confounded Amadis with shame that gladly could he haue giuen entertainement to death fearing least his Lady would suspect cowardize in him For this cause lifting vp his Sword he gaue Dardan such a stroke on the Helmet as made him set both his hands to the ground then falling vpon him he rent the Helmet from off his head trampled in such sort on him with his feet as he fell downe like one depriued of his sences Afterward taking him by the locks of his haire he beate him on the face with the pummell of his Sword saying Thou dyest Dardan if thou confesse not the Lady free When Dardan saw himselfe in such estate he replied Ah gentle Knight for Gods sake mercy kill me not I will acquit her Now approached the King and the other Lords to heare what hee said and while they stood conferring with him Amadis as yet ashamed of his fault committed drew backe through the throng and seeing hee had gotten behinde them all so couertly as he could he ran toward the Forrest leaning them al musing at Dardan who filled the empty arie with his complaints In meane while his beautifull friend came to him who insted of giuing comfort for the foile he sustained through her began to detest and despise him saying Dardan hereafter seeke thee some other friend then me for while I liue will I neither loue thee or any other then the good Knight who valiantly ouercame thee How now Lady quoth he is this the reward of my honor life aduentured for you you then are not the friend to Dardan but to fortune who is no sooner contrary to me but presently you are mine enemy Haue I then escaped death by the mercy of my foe to endure worsse then death by the cruelty of my friend Heauen suffereth me to liue and yet you repine at my infortunate life now shal I make knowne to all women by your example that ingratitude is no lesse hurtfull to such as exercise it then to any one offended there with Hereupon he tooke his sword and before it could bee imagined what he meant to do he smote her head quite from her shoulders then as a man transported with madnes staring euery where round about him declared by his angry countenance that high and not vulgare was the enterprise he imbraced in such an extreamity The King sent his archers to conuay him thence but ere they came to him he stroke himselfe so violently to the heart as the bloud spouted in the archeis faces and then he cryed out saying Now friend art thou reuenged by my vengeance and thine enemy satisfied with the despised life thou lestst me So falling downe he deliuered the last figne of his death where at each one was confounded with maruaile as well for the nouelty of the case as pitting the very last words he breathed but whethey remembred his passed life wholly addicted to ouer-weening folly they reputed this vnfortunate end happened to him not so much by accident as the deuine ordenance which made them sorrow no more but couerted their thoughts to commend the conquerour CHAP. XV. How King Lisuart caused a Sepulchre to be made for Dardan and his friends with an Epitaph in rememberance of their death and the honor he did 〈◊〉 Amadis after he was found and kcowne AFter the vnfortunate end of these ill aduised Louers the King in memory of this strange accident coÌ„manded that in the fielde where they lay dead should be erected a sumptious Sepulchre of blacke Marble stone fashioned like a Romaine Obelisque and thereon was engrauen in the Brittaine language an Epitaph declaring the whole matter as it happened And when he had knowledge of the conquerour as hereafter the manner how is declared his name was placed thereon and foure great Lyons at the foure corners of the sepulchre importing the de uise which Amadis bare in his Shield But now the rumour being appeased and they teturned to the Pallace he called for the stranger that won the honor of the day but after long enquiry no one could certainly tell what was become of him albeit certaine comming froÌ„ the wood reported how they saw a Knight returne from the field thither-ward being alone and making great hast He that is worthy saide the King to beare him company may imagine himselfe happy enough for seeing he hath shewed himselfe so braue a combatant it is impossible but he should be a wise and vertuous Knight And for no lesse each one reputed him who vnderstood the iâ—uries of Dardan vsed to him and saw how he requited them with gentlenes and courtesie albeit I make no doubt but he knew right well that if Dardan had got the better he would not haue pardoned him Such as you haue heard were the words of king Lisuart but Oriana who day by day expected the arriuall of Amadis seeing the incomparible valour of him that fought against Dardan began to suspect that it was he for quoth she to the Damosell of Denmarke I am sure hee would not send me a fabulous message and this is the iust time he assured you of his coÌ„ming In good sooth Madame answered the Damosell you say very true which maks me conceiue the better hope is that he promised me to ride on a white courser with the like armes he had when he combated against King Abies and I remember how the knight who ouercame Dardan had the like horse But did you quoth Oriana take no regard of his Armes Yea mary did I replied the Damosell albeit the cruell strokes receiued thereon made me hardly perceiue what deuise was there figured yet me thought the ground was a golden field and the like I told ye he bare in Gaule with two azured Lions rampant portrayed therein which being battered all in pieces he presently made him such another assuring me to weare no other when hee came into this country and therefore I will doubt no further but it is he Sweete friend said Oriana if it be he either he will shortly come or send into the Towne therefore you must be watchfull diligent to heare thereof Madame quoth the Damosell referre these matters to my charge This conference caused Oriana to remainâ— very pensiue and breathing forth many bitter sighs she saide Ah gratious heauens what fauour haue you done me if this be Amadis now shall I compasse the meanes better then euer I could to speake with him So attended the Princesse for tidings from her friend who returned as he promised to the Damosels Tent yet was it somewhat late ere he came thither finding them ready to sit downe to supper After he had vnarmed himselfe they told him the misfortune of Dardan and his friend as also the whole
I may doe your Maiestie any seruice I am the man readie to bee commaunded and you the Prince whom most I desire to honour Good Friend quoth the King your departure must not be so soone except you delight to displease me God forbid answered Amadis in respect my endeauour is altogether to obey you Doe you thinke sayd the King it is any obedience if I may not entreat a longer stay In sooth my Lord quoth Amadis you may and shall command for in greater matters then this I will not offend ye Goe then and vn-arme you replyed the King and speaking these wordes him-selfe tooke him by the hand conducting him to a sumptuous chamber where he left him to take some refection with Arban King of Norgalles and the Duke of Glocester whom he commanded to keepe him companie for King Lisuart was a Prince that especially fauoured and honoured strange Knights Hauing left Amadis thus worthily accompained he went to the Queene and tolde her in what manner hee had stayed the good Knight who ouercame Dardan But doe yee my Lord quoth she know his name No verily answered the King for in respect of the promise I made him I durst not demaund that question of him It may be sayd the Queen he is the Sonne to King Perion of Gaule I would it might fall out so well answered the King Doe you know quoth the Queene who may put vs out of this doubt euen the Squire that talked with Mabila who came to search him in your Court and said how hee was aduertised of his arriuall in this Countrey long before Immediately the King caused Gandalin to be called and without declaring any thing to him thus spake Follow me for I must shew a Knight to thee that I may bee resolued if thou know him or no. Gandalin attended on the King entring the chamber where Amadis was and Gandalin viewing him very earnestly feigned to haue seene him long time since then setting his knee to the ground sayd Ah my Lord great trauaile haue I endured to finde you since I departed from the Scottish Court Gandalin my good friend right heartily art thou will-come to mee what newes doest thou bring None but good my Lord answered Gandalin all your noble Friendes are in perfect health commending them-selues to your Excellencie but hence-forth Sir you must conceale your selfe no longer then turning to the King â—e thus proceeded Mightie King hee that hath beene so long time vnknown is this braue Prince the famous Amadis Sonne to the inuincible king Perion of Gaule and then came his Fathet to vnderstand so much when he slewe in combate the puissant King Abies of Ireland by meanes whereof he recouered his Realme which was well-neere lost By these deuises was Amadis discoured and better wel-commed then before for till theÌ„ he was not knowne but through his famous deedes the renowne whereof was euery-where blazed abroad and now was hee so well honoured for his vertue as his Noblenesse required So spent they the whole day in honourable Feasting vntill such time as each one with-drew him-selfe when king Lisuart commanded the King of Norgalles that he should lodge in Amadis chamber afterward when they were alone to sound his minde vnderstand by all meanes possible if he would consent to remaine in his seruice Thus leauing them together hee returned to the Queene and to her thus spake Madame hardly shall I cause Amadis to stay as mine nor can I tell which way to compasse it albeit I neuer had greater desire to any Gentle-man of long time for the high account is helde of him would cause mee to bee much more feared and redoubted My Lord quoth the Queene graunt him any thing he shall demaund and doe your selfe present him what you imagine will best please him Hee requesteth nothing of me replyed the king for if he did I would consent thereto more willingly then he could desire Me thinkes it were good sayd the Queene to entreat him first by some other of our Court if they cannot preuaile will him to come see mee your daughter and our Cozin Mabila they likewise shall solicite the matter for they knew him when hee serued them as a Squire Then shall we let him vnderstand how all the Knights here are yours and none but thinks him-selfe honoured thereby him will we desire to be one of the Company that you may enioy his seruice when need shall require This will be a good meane answered the king to procure his stay and if he will not be wonne by you we may well iudge him of lesse ciuility theÌ„ Chiualry Now because it waxed some-what late the King bade his Queene good-night went to his Chamber On the other side the king of Norgalles perswaded his new-come guest that he would abide in the Court of king Lisuart but Amadis could so cunningly dissemble that he altogether disguised the chiefe point of his desire and might not by all these entreaties be wonne When he perceiued he laboured in vaine on the Morrow-morning hee brought him to the king of whom Amadis made offer to take his leaue But the king answered him in this manner My good friend you should haue done me pleasure not to depart so soone yet can I not constraine ye to tarrie against your will but my Queene would gladly see you before your departure Nor will I goe my Lord answered Amadis before I haue done my dutie to her where-upon taking him by the hand he brought him into her Chamber and thus spake to her See heere Madam king Perions Sonne of Gaule who is come to salute you before his departure In sooth my Lord answered the Queene he doth mee great honour and he is very heartily wel-come hither Then Amadis stepping to her fell on his knee to kisse her hand but she caused him to rise and sit downe by her when the king perceiuing they would enter into further talke with drew himselfe to discourse with his knights while they conferred together In mean while the Queene courteously entertained Amadis but the other Ladies and Gentle-women who had heard such fame of his beautie and excellent perferfections beganne to eye him very diligently maruailing that Nature had so enriched him with the onely thing they most desired Now knew Amadis by their countenances what iudgement they held of him yet durst he not turne his head aside fearing least seeing his Oriana by some sudden mutation hee might reueale what carefully he couetted to hide And as he continued in this perplexitie the Princesse Mabila came and did him reuerence where-upon the Queene the better to compasse her intent called her daughter who dissembled as if she scant knew him and thus shee spake to her Faire daughter remember you not the sonne of king Perion of Gaule who serued you well while he was your Squire and yet may doe if it please him now he is a Knight in soothe you must al assist me in desiring him to grant mee one
this time Hauing put on the armor of Arcalaus he demanded of Grindaloya what was become of Gandalin and the Dwarffe she tolde him they were imprisoned Euill befall the villaine that so hardly vsed them sayde Amadis and Lady quoth he to Ar◅ wife vpon your life looke to the safetie of this noble woman till I returne Comming fourth into the Court it was a pastime to see how Arcalaus seruants fled his sight but Amadis let them run and went to the darke vncomfortlesse prisons which were filled with captiues Now to tel ye in what distressed manner they were you must note the place was a vault of an hundred toyses long yet no more thē one foote and a halfe in breadth without aire or light and which was worst of all so ful of prisoners as they could scantly stand one by another Amadis called Gandalin who being in a manner dead hearing his maisters voyce began to tremble yet thinking it was not he because he verily imagined him to be dead entred into diuers doubts of himselfe whither hee dreamed or was enchanted All this while Amadis greatly grieued because Gandalin made no answer wherefore he called aloud againe Gandalin where art thou why dost thou make me trauaile so much speake I pray thee When he saw for all this Gandalin answered not he asked the other prisoners if a Squire so lately brought in there was dead or aliue but the Dwarffe remembering the voyce of Amadis cryed out Alas my Lord we are both heere together aliue as yet albeit we haue often enough wished for death Then Amadis caused candles to bee lighted at the lamp which hung at the entrance of the dungeon commanding them all to come forth to their no little ioy and comfort seeing themselues deliuered from such miserable seruitude and when they came into the open Court they fell on their knees before the Prince thanking God and him for this happie benefit Amadis beholding their faces so pale wan and ouer-spent seeming rather bloudlesse ghostes then liuing creatures was moued to exceeding compassion especially they being an hundred and fifty prisoners in all and thirty of them were Knights at Armes as he cast his eye euerie where among thē hee made more account of one then all the rest who notwithstanding his sicknes and debility seemed of braue and comely constitution and he perceiuing that Amadis noted him so much stepped to him in this manner Who shall we say my Lord hath done vs this grace by deliuering vs frō so long wretched thraldome Such as know me answered the Prince doe call me Amadis of Gaule Sonne to King Perion Knight to the Queene Brisana and domisticall seruant to king Lisuart her husband in search of a Knight I was brought hither by this Dwarffe to whom I made promise in a sute he had In sooth my Lord replied the other I am a Knight likewise and seruant to the same King who knoweth me full well as likewise the most in his Court doe with whom I haue been seene in greater honor then now I am because euer since my departure from the Court I haue liued in the miserie from which you redeemed me How may I call your name saide Amadis Brandoyuas answered the Knight Full well did the Prince remēber that he had heard report of him in the Court wherefore courteously embracing him he sayde Right glad am I my stars so fauoured me to deliuer you these other frō such a hellish place and though I neuer saw you til this present yet oft haue I heard the King and his Barrons talke of your Chiualrie your long absence beeing no little griefe to them The rest of the prisoners cōfessed their bounden dutie to him desiring him to appoint them what they should doe hee willing them to shape their course whether they thought best My Lord quoth they albeit we know not what seuerall Countryes may harbour vs yet will we still continue your deuoted seruants to attend on you when and wheresoeuer need shall require So each one kissing his hand they tooke their leaue limiting their iournys as they thought good not any of them tarying with Amadis but Brandoyuas Now go they to the wife of Arcalaus Amadis thus speaking to her Lady for your sake and these other Gentlewomen I forbeare to set this Castle on fire albeit the euill behauiour of your husband is sufficient warrant therefore but in regarde of the courtesie Knights owe to Ladies I am content to remit all at this time Alas my Lord quoth she heauen beareth record of the griefe my soule hath endured through the behauiour of Arcalaus my husband yet could I do nothing but shew obedience as beseemed a wife to her wedded Lord with intercession for his change notwithstāding I remaine at your disposition What I will doe answered Amadis I haue already toldeye it now remaineth that at my request you giue this Lady Grindaloya honorable attirements because her birth and behauiour deserueth no lesse in like manner I would haue an Armour for this Knight to requite his own which was taken from him and a horse as beseemeth one of his profession If you mislike of my demand doe more or lesse as you thinke good but so◅ owne part I will haue hence the armour of Arcalans in liew of mine and his horse by reason mine own was better yet must I tell ye withall that hee hath taken a sword from me more worth then all the rest Sir answered the Lady your request is so reasonable that beyond the power you alone haue heere I stand bound in dutie to fulfill your commandement Then sent she for the same armour belonged to Brandoyuas and caused a horse to be deliuered him as for the Lady she brought her into her chamber where she clothed her in most sumptuous accoustrements and returning to Amadis desired him to eate somewhat before he departed whereto he willingly condiscended Now was the best viandes brought foorth so short warning might affoord but Grindaloya was in such hast to be gone as she was loth to be troubled with any whereat Amadis and Brandoyuas merily smiled especially at the Dwarffe who looked so pale and wan with feare that it was impossible for him to offer one word which made Amadis thus to iest with him Tell mee Dwarffe wilt thou that we tarry heere till Arcalaus come and I to giue thee the suite thou desirest In sooth my Lord quoth the Dwarffe so deere hath the request cost me I made to you as while I liue neither of you or any other will I craue the like for Gods sake then let vs be gone ere the Diuell come againe for I cannot stand on the leg he hung me by beside my nose is so full of sulphurous and stinking smels as neuer shall I giue ouer sneezing till I die The Dwarffes words made them all laugh hartely and after they had repasted Amadis bidding Arcalaus wife farwel moūted on horse-back with his company the Lady thus speaking at his
then mine if so be I haue any at all yea it is darkened by the illustrate splendour of your Chiualrie Ah my Lord replyed Galaor neuer disguise matters in this order with me seeing not in deedes no not so much as in thought am I able to reach the height of such honour Leaue we then this talke said Amadis for our kingly father maketh no difference of vertue betweene vs but will ye know what I haue presently deuised I see well we must stay here longer for our health then otherwise we would for which tause I intend if you thinke good to send my Dwarff before to King Lisuarts Court that he may aduertise the Queene of our stay and so soone as we are able to trauaile we meane not to tarry long from her Doe as you please answered Galaor Presently was the Dwarffe dispatched thence who made such good speed in his iourney as within few dayes he arriued at Windsore where King Lisuart was then accompanied with many good Knights CHAP. XXIIII How King Lisuart being in the chase saw a â—…e off three Knights armed comming toward him and what followed thereupon IT chanced on a certaine day that King Lisuart summoned a meeting in Windsore Forrest which was well stored with red Deere and all other game needefull for hunting And as he was in chase of a Hart hee espied a good distance from him three armed Knights to crosse the way wherfore he sent a Squire to them with request that they would come vnto him vpon this message they immediatly obeyed returning with the Squire to the King and when they drew neere him he quickly knew Galuanes because he had seen him many times before when embracing him the King bad him hartily welcom and the rest in his company likewise for he was a Prince that most graciously entertayned all Knights especially strangers then hee demanded what the other were My Lord quoth Galuanes this young Prince is my Nephew Agraies son to the king of Scottes and one of the best Knights in the world I dare assure ye the other is Oliuas whom your Maiesty hath well knowne heretofore The King embraced them very louingly saying to Agraies Faire Cozin I must needes take this gentlenesse very kindely that you would voutchsafe to see me As for you sir Oliuas I thought you had forgotten vs confidering the long time since you were here and in sooth it is a matter very displeasant to mee when so good a Knight as you are would so absent himselfe Dread Lord answered Oliuas my earnest affaires kept mee hence against my will which hath made me the more negligent in your seruice and yet I am not free from them as if you please I shall let ye vnderstand Then he reported how Galuanes and Agraies came to his Castle by meanes of the Damosell that conducted them thither whom they very worthily deliuered from death likewise how the Duke of Bristoya treacherously slew his Cozin for which hee humbly craued Iustice with free liberty to combat before his Maiesty where he doubted not to make him confesse his treason After the King had well pondered his discourse and vnderstood the hard dealing of the Duke he was highly discontented for he knew Oliuas Cozin to bee a good Knight whereupon he thus answered Beleeue mee seeing the Duke hath committed such a fault you request iustice of me assure your selfe to obtaine it and I will send for him to come iustifie it in person Presently the King gaue ouer hunting returning with the 3 knights to his court conferring on many matters by the way among which the King demanded of Galuanes why the Duke of Bristoya would haue burned the Damosell whom they reskued Because Sir quoth he she brought a knight named Galaor into his pallace and as we vnderstand it was in the night time and no other reason had hee to alledge Why said the king Amadis is gone to seeke Galaor but since his departure wee were put in a terrible feare by Aâ—calaus who said hee had slâ—ine him But are you certaine sir answered Agraies that he liueth Yea indeede quoth the king Brandâ—yuas and Grindaloâ—a came hither since then and they gaue vs such credible testimony of his welfare as I may full well assure ye thereof for loth am I to offend any other because no one can desire his good and honour more then I doe It is the argument af your good nature replyed Agraies likewise in respect of his bounty and valour hee deserueth to be loued of you euen with like affection as good men wish to their like By this time are they come to the Court where these news were quickly brought to the Queene which reioyced very many especially faire Oliuiâ— who loued Agraies deereâ— then her selfe and the Princesse Mabila his sister was not sorry for as shee came from the Queenes chamber she met Oliuia who thus spake to het You cannot chuse Madam but bee well pleased with your Brothers comming Very true quoth Mabila for I loue him as mine owne heart Desire then I pray ye the Queene said Oliuia to send for him to her chamber to the end we may haue the meane to confer with him together so shall the pleasure of you both be fully satisfied That shall I doe answered Mabila so going to the Queenes chamber she thus spake to her Maiesty It were good Madam you should see my brother and mine Vnckle Galuâ—â—es in respect they are come hither to honour you with theâ—r seruice Sweete friend said the Queene I take it very gently that you haue so well aduâ—sed me for I promise ye I am very desirous to see them wherewith she sent one of her Ladies to the King desiring him that they mâ—gâ—t come to her which he liking very well said Gentlemen my Queene is desirous to see you all three let me then request your consent herein You must iudge if Agraies liked this motioÌ„ because he certainely knew to finde there the princesse Oliuia the choice Lady and Mistresse of his heart But when they came among the Ladies their entertainement was good and gracious especially by the Queene herselfe who caused them to sit downe by her as meaning matter of more priuate conference Many familiar speeches were enter coursed betweene them and practising by all meanes to welcom them honourably for she was the onely Queene of the world that soonest could win the hearts of Gentlemen and therein tooke no little pleasure by means where-of she was loued of most and least being reputed the most vertuous Lady liuing Now had Oliuia made choice of her place next Mabila thinking Agraies would soonest come to his sister when he left the Queene but while hee beguiled the time with her his eye glanced on the obiect of his heart which he being vnable to dissemble was compelled to a sodaine alteration of countenance and could not withdraw his lookes from the Adamant of his thonghts which the Queene somwhat noted yet imagined
be Lady you can tell me who hath caryed away the dead knight that lay vnder the tree not farre hence If you wil promise me quoth she to reuenge his death which is an exceeding great griefe to many I will resolue you therein I will not stick for that answered Galaor for it seemeth by your words it is an act of iustice to do it Very true said the Damosell mount vp before me on my Palfary and I shall direct ye to your desire WheÌ„ they had ridden about two miles shee shewed him a maruailous faire castle and alighting at the gate she bad him enter But remember quoth she what you haue promised And because I haue solicited you heereto I pray yee let me vnderstand your name I am called Galaor quoth hee and thinke you shall heereafter finde mee in king Lisuarts Court then any where else I am satisfied said the Damosell to God I commend yee then thee turned bridle and rode away but Galaor entred tâ—…stle where he found the dead laid in the middest of the Court by him stood many making great lamentation Neuerthelesse Galaor approching neere and stepping to an anciant knight demanded of him what the dead knight was Sir answered the olde man while hee liued hee was such a one as all the world may bemone his mis-fortune Do you know his name saide Galaor He is called Anthebon replied the other one of the most vertuous Gentlemen that euer liued in Gaul When Galaor heard he was a subiect to king Perion his father his heart began to storme and as hee pittied him the more so his desire encreased to reuenge his death whereupon hee entreated the knight to acquaint him with the truth of this tragicall accident Sir quoth he this infortunate Gentleman which you see was in respect of his bounty and vertue maryed to a wife who now lamenteth for him she being the Lady of this Castle In time they had a very faire daughter and she growing in yeeres was beloued by a knight our too neere neighbour but the young Damosell euer hated him and aboue all other could not abide him Where-of he getting intelligence determined by some meane or other to steale her hence and being so resolued forgetting God as also his owne honour watched when this goodknight as customely he vsed should goe to the cornered street there to sucour such as often were distressed because it is the most dangerous place in this countrey Knowing him thus to bee from home the disloyall wretch entred this Castle and finding the maiden in comâ—…y of her mother with diuerse Gentlewomen heere disporting mauger them all forcibly hee tooke her away before wee could fall the bridge to succâ—r her Hereupon as wee afterward vnderstood shee did nothing day and dight but grieuously mourne despising all the inticing blandishments the knight vsed to her which in the end displeased him so much as hee began in this sort to reprooue her Lady you know that I loue yee with all my heart desiring onely to haue the like of you meaning no otherwise then honorably to make you my wife but you scornefully disdaine me albeit I am discended of a more noble house then your father is which maketh mee maruell very much what should moue you thus to bee mine enemy In good faith I will tell yee quoth shee I heretofore made promise to my mother and such is still my deliberation that I would neuer match with any husband if hee were not so good a knight and comparable with my father in chiualry for which shee made choyce of him among all otâ—er knights to which wordes he thus answered By heauen I see you loue me now for â—re it bee long I will make sufficient proofe that I am a better man at armes then he Within a while after hee left his Castle beeing well mounted and armed placing himselfe vnder the tree where you sawe this knight dead to what intent I cannot tell but vnhappily the Lord of this Castle came that way hauing left his horse and Armour because hee onely intended to take the ayre The cowardly wretch seeing what aduantage hee had of him and remembring the promise hee made his Lady thought it place commodious to get him reputation and no witnesses by to report the contrary so without giuing him warning or speaking one word to him stealing behinde him smote his Launce thorough his necke as you heere beholde Thus vnprouided of defence likewise suddenly and most villainously was this good knight slain and yet the blody traytour not satisfied alighting from his horse gaue him many needlesse cruell woundes with his sworde and so despitefully left him there In good faith answered Galaor the deede is monstrous vnable to passe without common reprehension but seeing you haue vouchsafed mee this fauour I pray ye tell me why was he afterwarde laide on such a costly bed vnder the tree Because it being a continuall passage for knights errant said the olde man to try if any would be so honourably prouoked as to reuenge an act of such sâ—ame and contempt after wee had acquainted them with this sad discouse I found him alone at the tree replyed Galaor what was the cause then you left him so Your demaund is not amisse â—quoth the olde man for foure Squires were euer wont to guarde him but because the knight who did the murther came and threatened to kill them we were coÌ„strained to bring away the body hither I maruell sayde Galaor that I heard not the noyse it may well bee sayd I slept soundly Are you he replyed the old man whom we found leaning asleep on your helmet The very same man answered Galaor Why did you rest so homely there quoth the old man To reuenge his death sayd Galaor if by reason I might doe so much Ah worthy Sir answered the old man heauen grant the finishing thereof to your honour then taking him by the hand he brought him to the bed whereon the dead man lay thus speaking to the sorrowfull Lady Madame this knight saith to his power he will reuenge the death of your Lord. Alas gentle knight quoth she the God of heauen keepe you in that good minde for I can finde no kinred or friend in this countrey who will doe so much for me because my Lord was a stranger yet whlie he liuid euery one shewed great friendship in lookes but now their kindnes is cold enough Lady answered Galaor in respect both he and I were borne in one countrie my desire is the greater to reuenge his death Are you said the Lady the sonne to King Perion of Gaule whom my deceased Lord often told me was in king Lisuarts Court Neuer came I there Madame replyed Galaor in all my life but tell me what he is that did this treason and in what place I may find him Gentle Lord quoth she you shall be conducted thither if you please neuerthelesse I stand in doubt considering the perill you will mislike the enterprise as
from his shoulders This is quoth hee the rewarde of thy treacheries done to Anthebon and payment for thy treason in the action of his death The daughter of Anthebon being present at this deede hauing heard Galaor often name her father fell on her knees before him with these words Alas my Lord you haue bouÌ„d me in such duty to you as neuer shall I be able to requite your paines my selfe being of such simple and slender ability but the good will I haue to recompence this benefit hath imprinted daily prayers in my heart to God for you hauing so iustly reuenged the death of my father and the wrongfull forcing of this traytour Galaor curteously taking her vp embracing her in his armes thus answered On my faith faire friend hee were a man of little sence that would offer displeasure to such a one as you are seeing you much bettet deserue to be loued and serued then with griefe or fauour to bee offended but tell mee haue you any more enemies in this Castle No Sir replyed the Damosell those which remaine are to doe you honour and obeysance Let vs goe then quoth hee to let in two Damosels who were my guides hither from your Lady mother So taking him by the hand shee commanded the gate to bee opened the two Damosels entered leading Galaors horse but when they sawe their yong Mistresse they humbly made her reuerence demanding if her fathers death were reuenged to her desire Yea verily quoth shee I thanke God and this knight who hath done that many other could not doe It was now the vehement hot time of the day wherefore Galaor tooke off his helmet to refresh himselfe when the Lady seeing him so young and beautifull as also so valiant in deedes of armes began to bee touched with loue and setting aside both feare and bashfulnesse shee began to imbrace and kisse him saying My honorable Lord friend more cause haue I to loue you then any other creature liuing In good faith quoth he and I loue you likewise as well in respect of your beauty and good grace as also for your deceased fathers sake he and I being borne in one Countrie May if it please ye Sir sayde shee to tell mee your name Such as are acquainted with mee answered the Prince tearme mee Galaor In sooth my Lord quoth shee often haue I heard my father speake of Sir Amadis your brother and of you likewise saying you were the sons to the King of Gaul his liege Lord and Soueraigne As thus they deuised they entered alone into a chamber while the Damosels with the rest were pouiding viands wherefore Galaor seeing time and place so commodious to request the loue of her that vsed him so kindly shee being a Lady young fresh and faire named Brandueta himselfe likewise actiue and desirous of such sweete baytes thus spake Madame if Palingues loued you as I haue heard hee had great reason for it knowing you to bee such a one as I see you are for my selfe who haue so little acquaintance with you am already so deepe in deuotion to your gracious nature as I would repute my selfe happy if you granted me the fauour I desire accepting mee as your friend and seruant The Lady not one iot behinde him in amorous affection shaped him this answere I haue tolde yee my Lord that I loue you more then any other liuing creature therefore you 〈…〉 sured how mâ—… you in all things whatsoeuer â—…ring these speeches Galaor still held his loue in his armes kissing and toying with her so pleasantly as Diana soone after lost her interest in the maiden whereto Brandueta yeelded with greater contentment then all her former resistances to Palingues from whom shee kept her virginity so long that shee was now content to bestow it on the French Prince and hee hauing a good stomacke to such dainty dyet made her loue him the better for it while she liued But see an vnhappy inconuenience after many mabracings and amorous conferences as they would once more haue besieged the Footresse of loue the Damosels came to tell them that dinner was ready wherefore though loath they were forced to leane off accompanying the Damosels to the place where the tables were couered which was vnder a Gallery inuironed with trees As they sate at the table and discoursed of many matters among other things Brandueta declared to him how Palingues standing in feare of him and his brother Amadis caused this Castle to be kept so strongly considering that her Father Anthebon was of Gaule and king Perions subiect the sooner would they assay to worke reuenge for his death For this reason quoth she hee allowed no other entrance then by the basket into this Castle where I haue liued in maruailous griefe and sorrowe as neuer shall I desire to tarry here longer therefore right gentle Lord and friend might it so like you without any longer stay I would gladly see my mother who will not bee a little glad of my returne and yours likewise Galaor was very well contented and thoughâ—… were late yet got they to horse-backe departing from the Castle but for all their haste they were two houres benighted which brake no square in respect of the good newes the good Lady with all her family ioyfully receiuing them with all honourable meanes could bee deuised beside the comforted widow cast herselfe at his feete vsing these speeches Worthy Lord both I and mine are bound to you for euer referring to your disposition whatsoeuer wee enioy because you are the restorer confirmer of all I thank you Madame answered Galaor for your friendly offers but where no desert is the requitall must of force be farre more easie Now the greater part of the night beeing spent they brake off talke and bequeathed themselues to rest and Galaor being alone in his chamber remembred his louely breakefast before dinner with his new friend who likewise was so deepe in consideration thereof that shee could wish such another ere supper and whether she did or no iudge you For no sooner knew she euery one to bee in bedde but secretly shee came to Galaors chamber where shee had no churlish speeches to driue her away but most dainty sweete and gracious entertainement what else they did I know not but shee tarryed there till morning and then returned vnseene of any CHAP. XXVII How Amadis pursuing the Knight that misused the Damosel met another Knight with whom he combated and what happened to him afterward YOu haue heard what haste Amadis made after the Damosell whom the knight led away perforce bearing and misusing her very cruelly but hee happened to meet with another Knight who demanded of him why he rid so fast What haue you to do answered Amadis whether it be my pleasure to ride fast or soft In good faith said the knight Ispeake it as one willing to helpe you if you be offered wrong by any that you may goe in better asurance if you bee affraid
you grant me not a sudden and cruell death will take hold on me These words were accompanied with such aboundance of teares as was no small griefe to her to behold Alas my Lord quoth she forbeare these often repetitions of your death the thought thereof is insupportable to mee for should you die I were vnable to liue one houre after considering all the pleasure I haue in this world is in the ioy of your health and welfare Nor can I but be assured of your words by reason mine owne case is sufficient therein being copartner with you in euery torment but if yours seeme more violent this is the reason my will being equall with yours wanteth the strength you haue in suffering cannot effect the desire of our hearts which vrgeth loue and griefe more in you then me albeit my share is not one iote the lesse But this I promise you on my faith if fortune or our owne endeauour can compasse no meane to yeelde vs content my selfe will search some way whatsoeuer happen bee it hate of Father Mother Kinred Friends for we may not thus procrastinate our ioy and groane vnder the weighty burden of desire the flame whereof climeth so high as the martyrdome of our hearts may easily bee discouered No doubt these wordes were pleasing to Amadis and gaue such cheerefull life to his hope that hee was rauished with inwarde conceit thereof when shee seeing him mute trode vpon his foote saying Discomfort not your selfe my Lord for I will not fayle what I haue promised nor shall you depart till you perceiue it and shortly will the King hold open Court when both he and the Queen must depend on your assistance knowing well that your presence shall honour the company As they would haue continued in longer talke the Queene called Amadis causing him to sit downe by Galaor for the King was gone to his chamber Then began the Ladies to censure on the brethren but they resembled each other so like as little difference could bee discerned betweene them euery one being of the opinion that these twayne were the most perfect amongst all Knights both in beauty noblenesse bounty and good grace but Galaor was somewhat whiter in complexion and Amadis of bigger bone his locks more crispt and faire and hauing a little more red in his face then Galaor had Soone after the Queene willed Galaor to go see her daughter and the other Ladies when he regarding the excellent beaury of Oriana imagined such another was not to be found in the world and by her often sighing with alteration of colour he suspected her to be the onely cause that his brother liked so well to stay in King Lisuarts Court Right courteously was hee welcommed among the Ladies and diuerse familiar speeches passed betweene them till the King being set to meate sent for Amadis and Galaor to beare him company as also Agraies and his vnckle Galuanes CHAP. XXXII How King Lisuart departed from Windsore to the Cittie of London there to hold open and royall Court IN the beginning of this book it hath been declared how the diuine bountie calling Lisuart to the Realme of great Brittaine soone after of a disinherited Prince made him the peaceable King of such a Monarchy by the death of his elder brother Falaugris who dyed without any heire of his body begotten Likewise how he was reputed such a great Lord through the world as many Knights came from strange Countries to serue him not thinking themselues happy except they might bee named Knights of his Court But within a while after whether this fortunate king forgot the author of his good or else it happened by diuine permission this happy Realme fell into persecution and the illustrous state of King Lisuart was troubled and obscured that all men might know how he onely is Lord and King of all liuing creatures who exalteth and abaseth when him pleaseth according as you shall here vnderstand For King Lisuart hauing coÌ„cluded to hold the most royal and stately Court that euer king did in the Realme of great Brittayne commanded that on the 5. day following all the Lords of his Kingdom should appeare personally at London there to determine on matters of chiualâ—ie which he intended to maintaiue with all honour might be deuised But in the selfe-same place where he thought the greater part of the world should yelde him obeysance began the first mutabilities of Fortune bringing his estate and person in danger of vtter ruine according as you shall vnderstand at large King Lisuart departing with all his traine from Windsore to keepe his Court at the famous Cittie of London it was wonderfull to beholde the Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen that gaue their attendance especially so many young Gentlewomen beeing there present some to regard the magnificeuce of the Court other to do seruice to their louely mistresses and nothing now generally minded but pastime and pleasure The King likewist for greater maiestie of his Court ordained that none of this assembly should lodge in the Cittie but to erect their Pauillions in the fields and meddowes along the banckes that hemmed in the faire riuer of Thames least the extreame heate might be hurtfull to them all which being done according to appointment the fields seemed as a most royall Camp or as if the greater part of the world were there assembled But because the king arriued there two or three daies before the feast he went to his Pallace accompanied onely with his Queene Amadis Galaor Agraies Don Galuanes and certaine other his most fauoured the rest kept themselues in their tents according as the herbingers had in quarters limited them With sundry sorts of pastimes was the King entertained which continued till fortune enuying his felicitie changed them into griefe tears by the meanes of a Lord no subiect to the King but his nerrer neighbour then friend named Barsinan a man opulent in riches and endued with few vertues as may be gathered by the matter ensuing This Barsinan was Lord of a Countrey called Sansuegua and very familiar with Arcalans the enchanter who not long before came to him and conferred with him in this manner My Lord quoth hee the great desire I haue to doe you seruice hath made me inuent the meane if you like thereof to deliuer in short time the Realme of great Brittaine quietly into your hands without much hazarding your person or any great expence When Barsinan who was a very ambitious man heard the wordes of Asculaus who promised to make him King if he would he thus replied In good faith my deere friend Arcalaus if thou canst performe the thing thou vauntest of no feare shall hinder me to hazard my person much lesse will I reckon of expence if I see any likely-hood in the compassing It is a thing saide Arcalaus very easie to bee done and presently shall you vnderstand by what meanes prouided that you sweare to me after you are seated in the regiment to make me
the death You haue heard what Imosel and his fellowes haue saide vnto mee which I doe thinke to be good right wherefore it is time that you determine what to do For by the faith that I owe vnto God I will not permit that any other of my knights shall fight with them if you look not vnto it you shall bee answerable for all and the Damosels deliuered If it please your Maiesty answered they to morrow we will be ready to maintain what-soeuer we haue saide And for that time they departed to their lodging greatly troubled for that which they were to do Neuerthelesse seeing that now there was no remedy they determined to perseuer in their daurned opinion by argument of words onely without putting themselues or their children in danger knowing assuredly that they were not able to resist any of those that were come from the Firme-Island But it happened out so well for them as the very same night newes came vnto the King that Grumedaâ—a the olde Giantesse was dead and that a little before her death shee had yeelded vp her strong places into the hands of the kings people beseeching him to haue pitty vpon her daughter Madasima Whereupon the next morning at their returne from church hee caused the twelue knights of the Firme-Island to bee called vnto whom he said My friends you may carry away with you the Damosels which you demand when it shall please you for I set them at liberty because that this night the Earle Latin hath written vnto me that he hath the Isle of Mongaza in his hands and that the olde Giantesse is deceased If any were glad here-of you may beleeue that the two traitors Broquadan and Gandandel were nothing sorry for as much as they did perceiue that if this had not happened their treason had bid discouered TheÌ„ Imosel answered the king If your Maiestie doe but Madasima right shee must not remaine poor nor disinherited seeing your grace knoweth that children are bound to obey their parents as shee hath done more by feare then free will And so if it please your Maiesty vsing your accustomed liberality you should shewe her some grace and fauour shewing thereby an example to all other vertuous and couragious Princes to do the like Imosel sayde the king let it suffice you that the Damosels are at liberty for I cannot reuoke the gift which I haue made to my daughter Leonor of the land which you demand I most humbly beseech your Maiestie answered Galuanes to haue pitty vpon her and mee who at this preseÌ„t ought to hold the place descended froÌ„ her ancestors of whom shee is the lawfull inheretrix especially of the land which you doe take from her and if it please your highnesse in remembrance of the seruices which I haue done vnto you you may restore them vnto vs to hold them of your grace by fealty and homage I haue said enough my Lord Galuanes answered the king that which is done cannot be vndone Trust me answered he seeing I can neither haue right nor reason of you I will trie if I may get it some other way Doe what you can said the king I am in good hope seeing I haue won if froÌ„ greater then you to desend it against those that are lesse theÌ„ they Sir answered Galuanes he which got it for you hath bin very badly recoÌ„pensed therefore Care not you for that saide the King if he of whom you speake dare but aduenture to aide you I dare bee so bolde as to withstand him and to make him beshrew himselfe Agraies hearing these threats was exceeding angry and in great choller answered Sir although my Lord Amadis was neuer other theÌ„ a waÌ„dring knight yet did he that good for you which as yet you neuer recompensed for he hath many times defended you and deliuered you from death Florestan did well perceine that Agraies entred into farther tearmes then was fit hee should for which cause he a little pulled him back and said vnto the king Sir although you be a king and a great Lord yet it may be you shall finde somewhat to do to vse my Lord Amadis in such sort as you threaten him By my faith said Brian Amadis hath done you too many seruices to be thus badly requited especially he being sonne vnto a Prince as worthy as your selfe Soft and faire Don Brian saide the king we know wel enough that you are one of his friends I am and so ought to be said Brian for euery one knoweth that I am his cosin german and therefore it were a shame not to succour him in his neede Truely answered the King for the same cause doe I hold you excused And as they were in these tearmes Angriotta de Estrauaux Sarquiles his Nephew came before the King who beeing armed at all points did their duty vnto his Maiestie but when the knights of the Firme-Island did beholde them they greatly wondred for they knew nothing at al of this their enterprise Then Angriotta with a loud voice began his speech in this manner May it please your Maiestie my Nephew and I heere preseÌ„t do beseech your grace to cause two traitors that are in your Court Broquadan and Gandandel to appeare before your Maiestie vnto whom I will declare the treason which they haue done against you Much affrighted was Broquadan and his companion hearing Angriotta speake after this manner who continuing his speech saide If it like your highnesse these two wicked persons of whom I speake without respect or feare of God or men haue falsly accused my Lord Amadis other of a matter wherein they neuer so much as in thoght offended By means whereof I dare well say that you haue banished from you the best Knights that euer entered into Great Brittaine therefore if those traitours dare maintaine that they be not such as I tearme them I alone by the help of God and the edge of my sword will make them confesse it And if they ought to bee excused by reason of their age there is neither of them both which hath not a sonne of long time bearing armes and well enough esteemed of amongst the Knights of your court against whom I will fight if they will maintain the quarrell of their wicked fathers Most mighty soueraigne answered Gandandel doth not your grace see the boldnes of this proud iniurious fellow who is come into this countrey to no other end but onely to shame the Gentlemen of your court By my faith if your Maiestie would haue beleeued me long agoe so soone as hee had entred into your Realme hee should haue bin hanged vp vpon the first tree that he had come vnto but seeing that your grace doth suffer him you must not hereafter be abashed if Amadis in his owne person doe come euen hither to iniurie your owne selfe Notwithstanding thus much I protest that by the liuing God if I were as young now as when I began to enter into the seruice
of the late deceased king your brother vnto whom I haue done many great seruices I am well assured that Angriotta durst not so much as haue dreamed to vtter halfe these iniurious words of me as hee hath proferred now before your Maiesty But the gallant doth well know that I am olde and crased as well by the great number of my aged yeeres as by the infinit wounds which I haue receiued in a manner in all the parts of my body in the warres of your predecessors witnes wherof are yet these relikes Saying so he opned his breast vpon the which were many scarres apparrantly to be seene Villaine said Angriotta thou doest thinke to defend thee with the eloquence of thy tongue But by the faith of a Knight if the King do but iustice vnto vs both hee shall apparrantly perceiue thy great treason There-withall Sarquiles stepped forth and kneeling downe hee said vnto the King It is long since I did aduertise your Maiestie that so soone as my Lord Angriotta heere present should come vnto your Court. I would let you vnderstand that which with my two eares I did hear spoken by the mouth of these two traitors heereupon hee recited word by word the whole consultations which he had heard whereat al they that were present did greatly wonder to heare such conspiracies repeated And for as much if it like your Maiestie said Sarqailes as they can in no sort excuse them-selues my Lord Angriotta and I will combate with their three sons if they dare maintaine the contrary Now were they present of whō they spake who seeing the iniury that was done vnto their aged fathers and that euery one gaue credit to the words of Sarquiles in a great rage they thrust through the prease and falling on their knees before the King they said May it please your Maiestie Angriotta and Sarquiles haue most falsly and wickedly lied in the words which they haue saide before your Maiestie and wheresoeuer or whensoeuer they doe say so they shall lie and therfore it may please you presently to grant vnto vs the combate which they haue demanded Truely answered the King it is now very late but I am content that to morrow after seruice you shall do that which you can as well on the one part as on the other Then Damas one of the sonnes of Broquadan by the sister of Gandandel a valiant and expert man at arms but wholly adicted to villany stepped forth saying vnto the King Sauing the reuerence of your Maiestie Sarquiles hath vniustly and leaudly lied in all that he hath said and I shall be one of them that will maintaine it against him By my faith answered Angriotta if there were a fourth here too he should be as wel handled as I hope thou shalt Go too then saide the King depart you all for this day and to morrow thinke vpon your businesse Afterwards hee called Grumedan and Giontes his Nephewe and after hee had consulted with them a little while hee commanded Gandandel and Broquadan to come before him vnto whom hee sayde Come hether you haue so many times declared vnto me that Amadis and his associates had determined to betray me and to vsurpe vpon mee the land of Great Brittaine yet neuerthelesse when it is come to an issue you excuse your selues from the combate setting your sons to maintaine your wickednesse who cannot doe therewithall notwithstanding God is iust by all that I do owe vnto him it is very lewdly spoken of you neuer would I euer haue thought you such as you are May it please your Maiesty answered Gandandel our children seeing vs too slow in our iustification put themselues forward to maintaine the honour of their fathers They had reason sayd Grumedan for hardly could you haue recouered any other no doubt but you are men of little worth or reputation for the Diuell could neuer haue inuented such wickednesse as you haue set abroach so as if the King should cause a thousand such as you are to be hanged yet could hee not holde him satisfied for the treacherie which you haue done vnto him but your children shall beare the punishment for you My Lord Grumedan said they although you wish it so yet shall it not haphen so if God please for our sonnes deliuering vs from shame shall obtaine the victorie with honour You shall see sayd Grumedan what the issue will bee And because this talke continued longer then the King liked hee sent euery man vnto his lodging And the same night those which the next morning were to performe the combate did looke that nothing might be wanting in their armour especially Angriotta and his Nephew who withdrewe them vnto a Chappell where they continued in prayer vntill the day breake And because the King had receiued iniurious speeches by the twelue knights of the Island they went vnto their tents with Madasima and her Damosels where they remained all that night But the day appearing they all moūted on horseback came to accompany their fellowes Angriotta and Sarquiles vnto the place of combate there were already arriued the King Princes and Lords with the Queen the other Ladies Thus the combatants entred into the field Angriotta and Sarquiles on the one side Tarin Corian and Damas on the other side Then the trumpets sounded whereupon each of thē pulled downe the beauer of his helmet and with their Lances in their rests they set spurs to their horses running with such force one against another that Corian and Tarin brake vpon Angriotta Damas vpon Sarquiles but Angriotta hit Corian so sound a stroke with his Launce that he vn-horsed him Then turning his face he saw Tarin ready with his sword in his hand who beholding his brother ouerthrowne came with great rage against Angriotta thinking to strike him vpon the top of the helmet the blow fell short and lighted vpon the head of his horse wherewith hee was grieuously wounded Notwithstanding Angriotta finding that he was neere his enemy he hit him so soundly with his sworde that with the stroke hee vnhorsed him and at the same instant he himselfe perceiued his horse waxed faint with the wound hee had receiued vpon his head forsooke him and leaped on the ground Then with his shield on his arme he came against him whom he had first ouer-throwne who was already risen vp marched against Angriotta And thus began the combate betweene thē two where shortly after came Tarin in like sorte and Angriotta was to answere them both neuerthelesse he did make knowne that he was not to seeke in such an extreamity for hee had led them so roundly that hee gaue them not so much leasure as to take their breath so that in lesse space then an houre their armour was hacked in peeces they so wounded that the blood ran downe on all parts I belecue there is none of you all that doth heare this History who vnderstandeth not well enough that Angriotta could not defend
be answered the Prince vnlesse you thinke I haue done wrong in succouring the husband to this traiterous woman whom cruelly she hath caused to dy When the three Knights heard that they were very much abashed and then thought they had bene abused by their sister wherefore they thus replied In sooth my Lord so please you to assure vs we will shew on what occasion we assailed you You shall haue good assurance so to doe said the Prince yet will I not acquit ye from the combate Then he that first spake rehersed all the words of their sister according as hath beene already declared In good sooth quoth the Prince neuer was villanie disguised in such sorte for she hath done far otherwise as you may vnderstand by her husband himselfe who being nere his death I conuaied to an Hermitage hard at hand Seeing it hath so fallen out said the three bretheren dispose of vs as they that remain at your mercy And mercy shall ye haue answered the Prince if first ye will loyally sweare to me that you will cary this woman and her husband to the Court of King Languines there before him recite al that hath happened saying withall how you were thereto constrained by a yong Knight that sent ye thether who this day departed from his Court desiring him to censure on this mis-deed as he shall thinke good All this they promised and swore to performe wherefore commending them to God he rode away leauing them together CHAP. VI. How Vrganda the vnknowne brought a Launce to the Gentle-man of the sea THis quarrell thus ended with the three Knights the Gentle-man of the sea tooke the way which before he had left but they had not ridden long till they saw two Damosels come toward them by two sundry waies who addressed them-selues to meete together which when they had done they entred into communication One of them bare a Launce in her hand and whē they were come to the Prince she with the Launce aduanced her selfe to him saying My Lord take this Launce which I giue ye because I can assure ye that within three dayes it will stand ye in good steed as therewith you shall deliuer from death the house from whence ye are discended The Prince amazed at these words thus answered How can it be Lady that a house should liue or dye It shal be quoth she euen so as I haue said and this present I was desirous to bring ye as a beginning of recompence for two fauours I hope to receiue by you the first whereof shall be When one of your best friends shall by you haue one of the greatest honors that euer he can receiue whereby he shall fall into the deepest danger that any Knight hath done these ten yeeres space Beleeue me Lady answered the Prince such honor if God please I will not doe my friend Full well I known quoth the Damosell that so it shall come to passe then putting on her Palfray departed this Damosell you must note was Vrganda the vnknowne When the other Damosell who heard the words saw her forsake her company she determined for certaine daies to stay with the Prince to see what he should doe wherefore she said My Lord although I am a stranger if you thinke it conueneient I would gladly for a while abide with ye deferring a iourny that I haue to my mistresse The Prince well perceiued she was a stranger which made him to demand of whence she was where-to she replied that she was of Denmarke And that himselfe could not gain-say because her language gaue assurance thereof for hauing heard his Lady Oriana at her first comming into Scotland it made him the better remember that Country speech whereupon he said If you please faire Damosell to goe with me I will defend ye to my power but I pray ye tell me if you know the other Lady that euen now gaue me this Launce Truely Sir quoth she neuer did I see her till now I met her on the way and then she said to me that the Launce she caried she would giue to the best Knight in the world desiring me withall to let you vnderstand after her departure that she bare you great affection and how she was named Vrganda the vnknowne Ah God quoth he how infortunate am I ◅ot knowing her if I forbare now presently to follow her you must thinke Lady the cause is that I cannot find her against her will and thus deuising they rode on vntill the dark euening ouer-tooke them At this time it so chanced that they met with a Squire who demanded where they intended to find lodging trauailing so late Where we can answered the Prince In good faith said the Squire if you meane to haue lodging you must leaue the way which now you take for you cannot long time come to any that way but if you will follow me I will conduct you to a Castle belonging to my father who shall do you all the honor and good entertainment may be deuised The Damosel thinking this councel good desired the Prince to accept there-of which he did therefore the Squire rode before them as their guide leading them derectly forth of the way because he had neuer seene the combates of Knights errand and hoping to conduct them the day following to a Castell where such pastime was vsed but that night he brought thē to their lodging feasting and entertaining them very sumptuously yet could the Prince take no rest all the night for thinking on the Lady that brought him the Launce On the morrow very early they would be gone and taking leaue of their hoste the Squire said he would bring them againe into their way acquainting the Prince as he rode with the custome of the Castell which being very neere at hand he shewed them the Castell standing very strong and pleasantly for before it ran a huge swift Riuer and no passage thereto but ouer a long draw-bridge hauing at the end a faire Tower for defence thereof When the Prince beheld it he thought he must needs passe thether by the bridge yet he asked the Squire if there were any other way No my Lord quoth he for this is the vsaull passage March on then said the Prince wherewith the Squire the Damosell and their company set forward but the Gentleman of the sea remaining behind entred into such thought of his Lady Oriana as he had well neere forgotten himselfe but at length he heard the noyse of sixe Halberders armed with Corslets and Helmets who at the entrance of the bridge had arrested the Damosell and there would force her to take an oath that she should neuer beare loue to hir friend if he would not promise her to aide King Abies of Ireland against King Perion which she refusing cried to the Prince for his assistance This clamour made him forget his musing when adressing himselfe to the Palliardes he said Traiterous villaines who commanded you to lay hands on this Lady
as the knight of the Castle fell into the water where he was drowned and the conquerour rode on which the Halberders seeing presently drew vp the bridge againe after him When the Damosels saw he was thus closed in they cryed out aloud vnto him that he should returne as he was about so to do he espied three other Knights well armed come toward him who very audaciously thus spake Vnhappy was the houre to thee whē thou didest passe this bridge for thou shalt dye in this water where he is drowned that was of greater reputation then thou art Here with they all three together ran against him and met him so firmely as his Horse was like to haue fallen ouer backward yet hauing broken their Launces on him he was at this encounter wounded in two places neuerthelesse one of them he met in such order as his armour vnable to resist the pointe of the Launce pierced through with such violence that the trunchion still remained in his body This done couragiously he drew his sword adressing himselfe to the other twaine and they in like manner against him where-upon began a dangerous Combate betweene them but he with the Lions in his Shield doubting his death laboured so much as he could to ouer-come his enemies giuing one of them such a stroke on the right arme as being cut from the body it fell sword and all to the ground wherefore feeling himselfe thus wounded he galopped with all speed to the Castell crying Helpe my friends helpe your Lord who is in danger of killing When the Knight of the Lions heard that he with whom he must yet deale was the Lord of the Castell he deliuered him such a rigorous blow on the Helmet as made him loose his stirrops and ready to fall had he not got hold about the neck of his Horse in this staggering the Knight of the Lions rent his Helmet from his head and he perceiuing himselfe vnarmed thought to escape by flight as the other did but his enemy got betweene him and the Castell saying Thou art dead if thou yeeld not thy selfe my prisoner Alas answered the amazed Knight I am dead indeede if you please but as you are a Gentleman take pitty on me for I doe yeeld my selfe your vanquished Suddenly the Knight of the Lions looking about espied other Knights and armed men on foote that came in great hast from the castell to succour their Lord wherefore he stepped to his conquered prisoner and holding his sword against his throate said Command thy men to returne else shalt thou presently die Then he who faw his life in such perill cryed to them made a signe with his hand that if they loued him they should returne where-upon they beholding their Lords life at his enimies swords pointe obeyed his command with all possible speed Yet is not this enough said the conquerour cause now the bridge to be let downe which he did and they came both forth on the causey where the Ladyes taried but when the Knight of the Castell beheld them and that one of them was Vrganda the vnknowne Ah my Lord quoth he if you keepe me not from this Lady I am but dead Nay beleeue me answered the Knight that will not I do but rather am to deale with thee as shee shall command me then stepping to Vrganda he said Madame see here the Lord of the Castell what is your pleasure I shall do with him Smite off his head answered Vrganda if he will not deliuer you my friend whom he keepeth in prisō Here-with he lift vp his sword to feare him when the Knight falling on his knee cried Ah my Lord kill me not I will obey whatsoeuer she commandeth Dispatch it quickly then said the Knight of the Lions So caled the Lord to one of the halberders within saying Go to my brother and tell him if euer he intend to see me aliue let him quickly cause the imprisoned Knight to come hither and the Damosel that brought him with her Right soone was the messenger gone on this errand returning immediatly with the Damosell and the Knight to whom the Knight of the Lions thus spake Thanke this Lady who hath done so much for ye and truely great cause you haue to loue her in that she hath taken wonderfull paines to deliuer you from this thraldome I do loue her answered the restored Knight and so will continue better then I haue done heretofore But before he could finish these words Vrganda ran and embraced him the like did he to her afterward the conquerour demanded what should be done with her that brought him thither It is necessary that she dy replied Vrgà da to let her know the price of so hainous an offence Presently was the poore Damosel so strangely enchanted as she ran skipping ouer the marrish quag-mires and turning backe againe would haue throwne her selfe into the water had not the knight of the Lions intreated Vrganda to pardō her trespasse for this time Prouided saide Vrganda that she returne no more to offend me otherwise she shall pay for altogether Whē the Lord of the Castle saw the Damosell was remitted at his request who ouer-came him he thus spake My Lord I haue performed what hath bin commanded therefore I pray ye giue me leaue to depart from her that neuer loued me In sooth answered Vrganda for honor of him by whom you make your suite I am content and you may returne He being gone the Knight of the Lions who yet maruailed by what occasion the Damosell was driuen into that furie asked what moued her so to do Ah my Lord quoth she me thought one came round about me and would haue burned me with a lighted torch therefore to saue my selfe I sought to leape into the water At these words the Knight fell into a laughter saying Your folly hath beene ouer great faire Damosel to worke her ill who knowes how to reuenge it Galaor stood and had seene all these things where-upon he thus spake to the Giant Beleeue me father I very much desire that this worthy man should giue me my order for if King Lisuart be renowned it is for his possessions but this Knight deserues it by his strength and valour I am well content answered the Giant go and request it of him if he deny you the fault is his owne So Galaor went forward accompanied with foure squires and two Damosels ◠when comming to the Knight of the Lions he found him yet vnder the trees At his arriuall he was curteously receiued by the Knight who reputed him one of the most comely Gentlemen that euer he had seene afterward Galaor thus began Gentle Sir I am come to entreat a fauour at your hand Truely answered the Knight if your request be reasonable it will the sooner be granted My suite Sir quoth Galaor is for nothing else but that it might please you to giue me the order of knight-hood and in so doing you shall saue me a great
euer was heard of then sound not your speeches to any likely-hood for this Gyant surpasseth all other in strength cruelty Gentleman answered the Damosell the Knight I speake of hath done no lesse then I told ye wherewith she 〈◊〉 the whole manner thereof they reputing it strange and almost incredible which caused Agraies to aske her if she knew the Knights name His name quoth she is Galaor son to King Perion of Gaule Ah Lady said Agraies you declare the only newes of the world to content me withal naming my Cosin who more commonly was reputed dead then liuing Hereupon he reported to Galuanes what he had heard concerning Galaor how he was taken away by the Gyant and till this instant he neuer heard of him By my faith answered Galuanes the life of him and his brother is miraculous and their beginning of Chiualrie so famous as I thinke their like is not to be found through the world but Damosell what would you haue with that Knight My Lord quoth she I seeke his ayde on the behalfe of a Damosell who is imprisoned by the accusation of a Dwarffe the most villainous creature that euer was born hereto she added the whole discourse of Galaor and the Dwarffe as hath beene already declared to you yet she cōcealed the louely pranck of Aldena And because Sir sayde she the Damosell will not confirme what the Dwarffe hath auouched the Duke of Bristoya hath sworne that within ten dayes she shall be burned aliue which is an occasion of great griefe to the other Ladyes doubting least shee through feare of death will accuse some of them and tell withall to what end Galaor came into the Dukes Castle more-ouer of the ten dayes foure are already expired Seeing it falleth out so answered Agraies you neede trauaile no further for we will performe what Galaor should doe if not in strength yet in good will and therefore be you our guide to the place The Damosel turned her haqueney and led them with such speede to the Dukes Castle that they arriued there the day before the execution should be Now was the Duke set down to dinner when the two Knights entring the great hall humbly saluted him when he saw them he requested they would sit downe to dinner with him but they answered that hee should presently know the cause of their comming where-upon Galuanes thus began My Lord you detaine a Damosell prisoner by the false and disloyall accusation of a traiterous Dwarffe we desire that she may be deliuered seeing she hath no way mis-done and if it be needfull to proue her innocency by battaile let come two other to maintaine the quarrell for we are ready as her defēders Wel haue you sayd replyed the Duke and calling for the Dwarffe thus spake to him What answerest thou to these Knights challenge who say that falsely thou hast caused me to imprison the Damosell and will proue it against thee in open battaile it behoueth thee to find some defence for thy selfe For that I am not to seek my Lord quoth the Dwarffe I haue such on my behalfe who shall make known the truth of what I haue said Here-with he called a frollick Knight his Nephew so like him in pitch and proportion as one would haue thought he had no other father to him he sayd I pray ye Nephew maintain my quarrell against these two Knights Scarse had he thus spoken but his Nephew returned this answer to Galuanes and his companion Well Gentlemen what will you say against this loyal Dwarffe who was so iniured by the Knight the false Damosell brought hither It may be one of you is the man I speake off but whether it be or no I will proue in Combate he dealt villainously the Damosell ought to dy because she brought him into my Lord the Dukes Chamber Agraies who found himselfe most touched in his owne conceite stepped forth with this answer In sooth neither of vs is the man albeit we desire to imitate his vertues but wee auouch he hath done no wrong if the Duke please this difference shall be soone decided for on his behalfe will I maintaine that the damosel ought to be deliuered the Dwarfe in her stead burned as a traiterous villaine I iustifie the cōtrary replied the Dwarffes Champion then calling for his armour full soone was he mounted on a gentle Courser and turning to Agraies who presented him the Cōbare thus spake Would God Knight thou wert the man by whō this quarrell begā too high a price should I set on thy folly We shall quickly see quoth Agraies what thou canst doe but I am assured if he were present he would make no account of two such braggers as thou art how iust or vniust the cause were on his side by greater reasō then do I leaue thee to iudge how notably he would handle thee in this consisting on truth and equitie While these menaces thus passed on either side the Duke stirred not from the table till dinner was done when seeing the Knights prepared to execute their speeches he conducted them with a braue company of Gentlemen to the place apointed to end such controuersies where all accustomed ceremonies being obserued the Duke thus spake to Agraies Performe the vttermost of your habilitie yet shall not the Damosel be deliuered for to the Dwarffe hath not been offered iniury alone but to such beside as are of higher reckoning then your selfe My Lord quoth Agraies you caused her to be apprehended only by his false accusation and he hath deceiued your iudgement with a lye wherefore if my fortune make mee Conquerour you ought by good reason to deliuer her I haue tolde you what I meane to doe said the Duke and otherwise it shall not be Agraies tarrying for no more wordes turned his horse running a braue carrire against the Dwarfes Knight and in the encounter brake their staues gallantly meeting likewise so furiously with their bodies as they were both laide along on the ground yet quickly they recouered themselues and vnsheathing their weapons deliuered fierce and cruell strokes to each other their Swordes being verie sharpe the Knights valiant and hautily disposed by means where-of their Armour Helmets and sheeldes were in short time made of slender resistance yet Galuanes well saw how his Nephew had stil the better of his enemy if then he had before esteemed him a good Knight farre greater reason had he so to doe notwithstanding hee was so hot and vigorous as often-times he seemed out of breath which made euery one imagine regarding his violence that hee could not long endure But in him it proued farre otherwise for the longer the Combate endured his courage and strength the more increased by reason whereof he became the Conquerour as shall hereafter be declared The Nephew to the Dwarffe found him-selfe so hardly handled as he drew back a little thus speaking to Agraies Me-thinkes Sir Knight wee haue made proofe enough of what we are able to performe
beene auenged and accompanied with many other Ah sayde she the villaine Arcalaus shrewdly affrighted vs and euill death betide him for troubling this royall Court in this sorte By this time the King was ready to the table wherefore he sent for the three knights from the Queen commanding them to sit downe by him in company of many great Lords and Barrons And as the seruice came in two Knights entred the hall who falling on their knees before the King the first of thē thus spake God prospet your Maiestie with increase of ioy and honor most humbly I desire to know if Amadis of Gaule be in this Court. Not at this present answered the King but we could wish he were heere Right glad would I be sayd the Knight to finde him because by his meanes I hope to recouer what I am now farre from Tell vs my friend quoth the King if you please who you are My Lord replied the stranger I am a sad Knight named Angrioted ' Estranaus and this other is my brother when King Arban of Norwales who was there present heard him speake of Angriote hee started from the table and stepping to the King sayde Doth not your Maiestie know Sir Angriote such as haue dealt with him wil say he is one of the best knights in your Kingdome My friend quoth the king to Angriote I pray you arise and pardon me if I haue not honoured you according to your deserts for the fault was only cōmitted through ignorance but be sure you are welcome that with heart but say I desire ye how came you acquainted with Amadis My Lord replyed Angriote I haue knowne him no long time and my first ac quaintance was very deerely bought for I neuer thought to dye till I was wounded but he that did me the harme promised after-ward to giue me help which is very needfull now to cure me hereto he added the whole accidēt as you heard it before In sooth sayde the king I would be glad these matters should haue a good end but now come sit downe with vs to dinner afterward we will consider thereon as we may Next to king Arban was Angriote placed and as they were about to rise from the table Dardan the Dwarffe to Amadis entred the hall whom Angriote knowing called him demanding where he had left his Maister because he saw him last in his company Sir quoth the Dwarffe wheresoeuer I haue left him hee maketh good account of you then falling on his knee before the King hee thus began Amadis my Lord humbly saluteth your maiestie and all the rest of his friends in this Court Dwarffe sayd the king where didst thou leaue him In such a place my Lord quoth the dwarffe where he is of good cheere but if you would knowe any more it must be in the presence of the Queene With right good will answered the King and heereupon sent presently for the Queene shee quickly comming being attended on by diuers beautifull Ladyes the most part of them the amourous friends to the knights then wayting on the king whereby they purchased leaue during the Dwarffes discourse to deuise with them at better leysure then long time before they could but the Dwarffe beholding the Queen present thus proceeded Madame my Lord and master Amadis in all humble reuerence saluteth your excellency commanding mee to tell ye that he hath found Prince Galaor his brother hee sought for Now trust me said the Queene I am heartily glad thereof But on my credit Madame quoth the Dwarffe neuer was heard of such a perillous meeting of two brethren for if God had not the better prouided both the one and the other had neuer beene seene againe so neere were they both at the point of death but by hap a good Knight arriued there who names himselfe Balays and hee found the meanes to agree them Then tolde hee all the whole accident how Balays slew the Damosel that procured their quarrell for which Balays was highly commended of them all But where hast thou left them replyed the Queene At the Castle of Carsanta Madame sayde the Dwarffe where Balays dwelleth frō whence I was dispatched hither with this message But tel me Dwarff quoth the Queene what thinkest thou of Galaor I thinke Madame answered the Dwarffe that hee is one of the goodliest knights in the world carrying a resolution not one iot inferiour to the best and did you see him in company of my Lord you could make little difference betweene them I maruaile saide the Queene that they come not hither Assure your selfe replied the Dwarffe no sooner shall they recouer health but they will be here with you for so they expresly cōmanded me to tell yee So ioyfull was the King hereof that he minded to keepe open Court after they were come commanding his Lords Barons not to depart his Court whereto they all willingly cōdescended He likewise desired the Queen to send for all the chiefe Ladies in the Realme For the more honorably quoth hee you are attended on by Ladies the more Knights shall they finde heere to deserue their loue on whom I will bestow many rich gifts and presents CHAP. XXV How Amadis Galaor and Balays determined to trauaile to King Lisuart and what aduentures happened by the way betweene them SO long soiourned Amadis and Galaor at the Castle of Balays of Carsanta as their wounds beeing thorowly healed they intended to returne to King Lisuarts Court before they would enterprise any other aduenture Balays who desired to beare them company for the familiar acquaintance he had now with them intreated them to afford him so much fauour where-with they were very well cōtented Departing thence they rid toward Windsor and after they had iournied fiue dayes they came into a foure corned way 〈…〉 the middest whereof stood a tree 〈…〉 vnder it a dead Knight lay on a rich bed with great waxe tapers standing burning at the boulster and feete which notwithstanding any great winde could not be extinguished The dead knight was vnarmed not couered with any thing wherfore easily might a great many wounds be deserned on his head and a trounchion of a Lance peirced with the iron quite through his necke and throate beside in such manner did the dead Knight holde vp his hands thereon as if he would haue pulled foorth the Lance. Greatly was Amadis and the rest amazed hereat and faine they would know what the knight shold bee but they could see no body of whom they might enquire nor any place neere that was inhabited which moued Amadis thus to speake Doubtlesse without some great occasion this knight was not brought into this place beeing alone and furnished in this strange manner if wee stay heere a while some aduenture or other must needes ensue thereon And so think I answered Galaor whereupon hee thus spake Brother this rash oath some-what displeaseth me for I doubt it will be an occasion of our long tarying in this place What I
open and the Damosell with the knight to enter thereat on foot because they could not come neere it on horse backe then Amadis calling to the knight thus spake Stay a while I pray you Sir and tell mee before you shut the gate if you be the man that tooke a Damosell from mee If I tooke her from you answered the knight you had the lesse care of her keeping And the lesse manhood sayde Amadis was in you to steale her from mee while I slept beeing assured you could no otherwise haue carryed her from me so lightly My friend quoth the knight I haue her indeede and of her owne good will she came with mee without any manner of soliciting or forcing In good faith answered Amadis if you shew her me and shee affirme as much I shall rest contented It is not long to morning sayde the knight and then I will let yee see her here if you will enter vpon the custome of the Castle What is the custome replyed Amadis You shall be tolde it quoth the knight and I thinke you will finde it too hard for your enterprising If I would presently agree thereto said Amadis might I now enter Not as yet answered the knight but if you tarry till day light wee shall behold what you can doe So going in he clapped too the door wherefore Amadis was contented to awaite the breake of day vnder a tuft of trees hard by the Castle and when the Sunne began to appeare hee heard the gate open which made him quickely mount on horse backe then comming forwarde hee saw a knight armed at all points and vnder him a lusty courser whereupon the Porter called Amadis demanding if he would enter Why haue I tarryed heere else answered Amadis all this while But first quoth the Porter you must vnderstand our custome to the ende you may not say after-warde that you were deceiued I therefore thus aduise ye how whē you shall be entred here you must enter combate with this knight and if he get the victory you must sweare to doe the commandement of a Lady heere within or else be committed to a miserable prison If hee chance to be vanquished it is nothing in respect for you must be commanded to another gate and there enter combate with two other whom if your fortune likewise be so good as to ouer come you haue then to deale with three other they being right valiant and tryed men at armes and all these you must fight against vnder the first condition but if you beare away the honour in each of these attempts right shall bee done in whatsoeuer you demand On these conditions replyed Amadis I am well content to enter and the rather because I would see the man who tooke the Damosell from are this night past So soone as hee was entred the first Knight and he encountred together but Amadis ouerthrew his enemy so furiously as his right arme was broken in the fall which made him glad to yeelde for safety of his life At the second gate hee found the other two ready tarrying for him threatening him with prison if he did not well defend him-selfe I must buy my libertie quoth Amadis with your deerest blood keepe it therefore from me so well as you can Then couering them-selues with their shields hee met one of them so directly that he fell to the ground and his horse vpon him very sore shaken and brused with his fall then comming to the other with his sword drawne hee smote the helmet quite beside his head when being loth to proceed any further with him he said Now trust me knight it is the greatest folly in the world to fight thy head being bare Care not you for that answered the knight I will keepe as safe as you shall do yours And I wil trie your cunning quoth Amadis then striking a full blow at him which the knight shifting his body aside to escape lost his stirrops and fell beside his horse when Amadis quickly stepping to him got holde of him by the necke saying See knight how well thou defendest thy head art thou not well worthy to loose it for thy wordes When the knight saw what danger he was in he fell on his knee and thus spake to the Prince Ah worthy Sir for Gods sake mercy and seeing you haue so well aduised me neuer will I hereafter bee so rash in folly therefore I yeeld my selfe to your mercy Amadis being thus pacified took a fresh Lance mounted on horse-back againe riding now to the last gate where he espied Ladyes and Gentlewomen on the wales who said to each other If he passe the bridge in despite of our guardants hee shall performe a most rare deede of Chiualrie While thus they communed the three knights came foorth to assaile Amadis the first of them vsing these words Knight yeeld thy selfe or sweare to doe the commandement of this Lady These are but wordes answered Amadis from which I can defend my selfe well enough I cannot put on the minde to yeeld my selfe or accomplish the Ladyes will you speake of because I know not what she is Here-upon a fierce combate began betweene the Prince and the three who shewing themselues to bee right hardy knights and Amadis full loth to receiue the foyle made a long doubtfull iudgement of victory till at length by many wounds great losse of blood the knights were able to holde out no longer flying into the castle for safety of themselues yet one of them fell downe by the way whom Amadis sware should die if hee yeelded not presently Alas my Lord quoth he with all my heart I submit my selfe and so ought all other to do that combate against you considering your happy fortune since you came to this Castle With these words hee deliuered his sword to the Prince who gaue it him again and followed the other twaine into the Pallace where hee met diuers Ladies and Damosels when the choyce of them all in beauty thus spake to him Stay awhile Sir knight if you please for already you haue done so much as you shall obtaine what you demand Lady quoth Amadis command then your Champions to yeelde themselues vanquished And what shall you bee the better for that said she When I accepted the conditions of entrāce here answered Amadis it was saide that I must either be killed or vanquish him that I combated withall otherwise I haue not the right was promised You misunderstood it replyed the Lady for it was tolde ye that if perforce you entred thus farre you should haue reason in what you demanded say now therefore what is your pleasure I demand a Damosell quoth hee which a Knight tooke from mee this last night past while I slept by the riuers side not farre hence and hither hee brought her against her will I pray ye Sir said the Lady to sit downe and rest ye in meane while I will send for the Knight who shall answere ye Then sate they downe
but by renowne of his famous Chiualry Beside ech one reioyced to see Amadis who by the false report of Arcalaus was thought to be dead and graciously did the King entertain them all conducting them to a chamber where they were vnarmed blaming the vilanous inuention of Arcalaus and the Damosell that caused their Combat together practising the death of two so noble Princes who were but euen now in the prime and flower of their youth Right soone did the King aduertise the Queene of their arriuall when accompanied with Agraies Galuanes and King Arban he went with them among the Ladies but Amadis casting his eye on Oriana and she on him I leaue their ioyfull passions to your iudgment remembring that when long absent louers meete lookes sighs and teares are familiarly entercoursed being the only meanes to content ech others heart Yet Amadis thought it not best to stand still thus musing left euerie eye should grow cunning in coniecturing the cause which to auoide he fell on his knee before the Queen saying Madam according to your charge at my departure from the Court I haue brought this Knight whom I present as onelie yours I thanke ye Sir Amadis quoth the Queene both he and you are welcome to our presence In good faith Maddam said the King you doe me wrong if you take them both Amadis alreadie is yours me thinks you should be content with him and leaue Lord Galaor for mee You aske no small matter answered the Queene but if he be so pleased I am not against it albeit such a present was neuer giuen in great Brittaine Notwithstanding seeing you are the best King that euer raigned here so good a Knight is well bestowed on you But what say you Lord Galaor the King is desirous to haue you will ve then be his Madame quoth Galaor me thinks that any thing so great a prince demandeth should be granted if it were possible here am I to obey you in euery respect so please my Lord and brother to like thereof because he hath greatest authority ouer me It contents me very well said the Queene that you should doe as your brother commandeth for through him shall I haue title in you by reason he is mine I am yours indeede Madame answered Amadis and brother you must be my fellow seruant to the Queene With all my heart replyed Galaor I am content and seeing you haue giuen mee to her seruice for euer I shall remaine at her disposition I thanke you sir quoth the Queene now may I boldly giue you to the King for I see he would be glad of so good a friend then stepping to the King she said My Lord you are desirous of this knight I giue him you on this condition that you loue and intreate him according to his deserts which may not be valued at any meane rate Beleeue me Madam answered the King I take this gift most kindely at your hand assuring you he shall soone perceiue how I loue and esteeme him nor can I be so affectionate to him as he hath noble vertues whereby to induce me which none can value or compare withall But if Amadis durst haue spoken he gladlie would haue maintained the contrary for he perswaded him-selfe that he loued his Oriana beyond his brothers desert or any other whatsoeuer So remained Galaor in the Kings seruice from which he could not be separated for any quarrell concerning Amadis as wee shall haue occasion to declare hereafter All this while Oriana Mabila Oliuia had withdrawne themselues from the other Ladies likewise Agraies and Amadis were talking together when Galaor was thus gratiously entertained by the King and Queene wherefore Mabila called her brother saying I pray ye cause the knight to come hither that standeth with you conferring because we are desirous to see him Agraies returned where he left Amadis who dissembled as if hee thought not on the Ladies till the Prince thus spake My Lord these Gentlewomen would faine speake with you and desire you to come a little more neere them which he presentlie did But Mabila being wise and discreete no ◅gnorant what medicines should be applied to passionate mindes after they all three had saluted them Mabila took Amadis by the hand desiring him to sit between Oriana and her leauing Agraies to court his Oliuia they being set she merily thus began Although I am now among those foure friends whom I haue most cause to loue and regard yet haue I such present businesse else-where as I must of necessity leaue you a while Thus deuised she bring the louers together and by a pretty wile gaue them oportunitie to content their thoughts with secret communication Now beginneth Amadis to confer with his Ladie and thinking to declare the great affection which vnder good hope gaue him life and essence extreme loue took him frō the facultie of speech yet his eyes not vnmindfull of their office supplied the defect of the tongue deliuering testimony to their diuine obiect how farre the sad and languishing heart was transported by ease and pleasure Which Oriana perceiuing she secretly tooke his hand vnder her mantle and wringing him by the fingers sighing thus spake My lord and friend what dolour and griefe did the traytor procure in me who brought hither tidings of your death neuer was poore maiden in greater perill and not without cause for neuer did woman sustain such a losse as I should haue done in loosing you And as I am better loued then any other so hath my fortune graciously fauoured mee that it should be by him who is of higher desert then any other Here-with Amadis cast downe his lookes as bashfull to heare himself so praised by her to whom all commendation was due and feeling his spirits altered stroue to make answere but the words died in his mouth which caused Oriana thus to proceede How can it be otherwise my Lord but I must needes loue you aboue all other when they that neuer saw you do highly loue honor and esteeme you and I being shee whom you affect most deerely haue I not great reason to loue you better then my selfe On my faith Madam answered Amadis your sweete and gentle words are sufficient to make mee die a thousand deaths as many times to reuiue me againe but how I pray you at this time onely to excuse my extremity with pitty enduring worse then death by louing you too vehemently for if I had died as Arcalaus reported euen then had begun my rest and quiet if I had not known you before And albeit the houre of your acquaintance is my intire felicity yet am I assaulted with such violent passions as my heart would altogether consume in griefe without the pleasure it receiueth in doing you seruice and the good it sustaineth by your remembrance of me But necessity constraineth me to craue the mercy as yet vndeserued by such intreatance as no desert may value onely to increase my hability in seruing you which if
returne to Amadis and Agraies who staied with faire Briolania fiue daies together preparing their armour and euery thing in order which being done they set forward on their way accompanied with Briolania her Aunt certaine waiting Gentlewomen and squires to doe them seruice by the way When they drew neere the Realme of Sobradisa they came to the Castle of an ancient Lady named Galumba who sometime liued in Briolanias fathers Court and there they were welcomed very honouarbly yet whether Briolania trauailed thus accompanied the olde Lady Galumba could not chuse but maruaile which made her request to be satisfied therein Briolanias Aunt tolde her how Amadis was one of the best knights in the world and had promised to reuenge the murthered kings death likewise how hee discomfited them that guarded the Chariot and after-ward ouercame the rest in the Castle at what time the Lions escaped as you haue heard Galumba wondering at such singuler prowesse answered If he be such a one as you make report his companion must needes be of some estimation and well may they bring your enterprise to end considering the truth and iustice of the cause but take heede least the traiterous king worke some treason against them That is the chcefest pointe of my fear ianswered Briolania wherfore wee came to craue your aduise herein Heereupon shee wrote a letter and sealed it with the Princesses seale at Armes then caling a Damosell after shee had giuen her instructions she bad her make hast in deliuering the letter Presently went the Damosell to horse-back and trauailed so speedily that she arriued at the great Cittie of Sobradisa which the whole Realme tooke this name by There was Abiseos and his Sonnes Darison and Dramis and these three must the Combat be waged withall for Abiseos slew the Father of Briolania by couetous desire he had to the Crowne which he euer since vsurped and held more by tyranny then any consent in the Subiects The Damosell entred the Palace on hors-back when diuerse knights came to her requesting her to alight but she made answere she would not til she saw the king and that hee commanded her to leaue her Palfrey Soone after came the king accompanied with his two Sonnes and many great Lords and after shee had saluted him hee boldly bad her say what she would My Lord quoth she I shall fulfill your command on condition I may abide in your protection and receiue no iniurie for any thing I say By my Crowne said the king I warrant your safety whereupon the Damosell thus began Sir my Lady and Mistresse Briolania disinherited by you greetes you with this letter which may openly bee read before this royall company and I afterward receiue answere for my discharge whē the king heard openly the nāe of Briolania remorse of conscience touched him with the wrong hee did her yet was the letter openly read which was to giue credit to the Damosells words The most of the Lords there present who sometime were subiects to the slaughtered king seeing the messenger of their lawfull Queene indeede pittyed she was so vniustly disinherited and in their hearts desired of God to plague the treason done to her Father Proceede Damosell quoth the king and let vs heare your message My Lord said she by treason you murdred my Ladies Father and vniustly keepe her from her inheritance wherefore according to your former promise which you haue not once but often times made that you with your two Sons would maintaine by Armes the right you pretend to haue in this Realme shee sends you word by me if still you stand vpon such triall shee will bring two knights hither who shal in combat maintaine her cause making you know your disloyalty and treason committed Darison eldest Sonne to the king hearing his Father menaced in this sort grew into great choller and as one moued with despight he arose when without the kings consent hee thus spake Damosell if your Mistresse Briolania haue two knights with her men resolued to sight on her behalfe here do I accept the combat for my father and Brother and if I faile I promise in the presence of all these Lords to send her my head in requitall of her fathers whose death was not accomplished without great reason In sooth Sir Darison answered the Damosell you speake as a knight of haughtie mind yet may I doubt these words to proceed from choller because I discerne an alteration in your countenance but if you will request the king to confirme your speeches I shall thinke your proffer came from a heart of courage This answere Damosell quoth he may you boldly make her that sent you hither Cause then his Maiesty said the Damosell to giue my Ladies knights assurance that for any mishap you may receiue in the Combat they shall sustaine no iniurie nor be medled withall but by you three And if you purchase them such a safe conduct they shall bee here within three dayes at the vttermost Darison falling on his knee before the King said You heare my Lord the Damosells demaund and the promise I haue made before your Maiesty in the presence of all these great Princes and Lords humbly therefore I beseech you seeing my honor is yours that both you and all the rest will confirme her request otherwise to our great disaduantage the presuming knights who dare aduenture in the cause of foolish Briolania will imagine themselues conquerors and vs dismaide faint-hearted Cowards hauing openly published that if any one will touch your illustrious renowne for matters past by the combat of vs three you intend to be purged And albe it you would make them no such promise yet ought not we to refuse them for as I vnderstand they be some foolish knights of King Lisuarts Court who by their ouer-weening and aspiring thoughts make high acompt of their owne deedes in the contempt of others The King who loued Darison as himselfe though the death of his brother condemned him culpable and thereby made him feare the combat granted them safe conduit according as the Damosell requested for the two knights and such as came in their company Here is to be considered that the period of this traitours Fortune was now limited and the iust auenger of all wrongs pointed out rewarde for the treason of him acd his Sonnes as in this discourse may bee euidently seene The Damosel seeing her message had taken such effect as shee desired said vnto them Make your selues ready for to morrow without fayle shall this difference bee desided So mounting on her Palfrey she returned to the Castle of Galumba where being arriued before the knights and Ladies she reported her answere but when she told them that Darison reputed them foolish knights of king Lisuarts Court they were so offended as Amadis entred into these speeches By God there are such in company of that good king as can easily abate the pride of Darison and humble his head so low as they list but I
vpon his arme his sword in his hand hee marched right towardes the forbidden place But he went not farre forward when hee felt him-selfe layd at so sore and so often ouercharged with the stroakes of Launces and swords as hee verily beleeued that no man was able long to suffer them notwithstanding bearing his head lowe mauger all the resistance he marched forward laying about him heere and there but knewe not vpon whom Yet he thought that which hee did hit were so well armed as his sworde could in no sort hurt them and hee passed the piller of Brasse euen hard vnto the other of Marble against the which hee fell downe not being any longer able to stand vp for hee felt himselfe so wearie and bruised with the forcible blowes which hee had suffered that he thought he should die And in the same instant he was so rudely lifted forth of the place that hee lost all his vnderstanding wherewith Galaor was so displeased that he thought himselfe worthie of blame if he did not reuenge his wrong And therefore hee betooke him to his armes and ranne right vnto the forbidden chamber yet his haste was not so great but that hee was as suddenly resisted smitten and so violently layde at as very hardly hee came vnto the Marble piller against the which hee leaned thinking to take breath Notwithstanding the stroakes which on all partes lighted vpon him were so many and so waighty that hee was inflamed with rage in such sort as hee went on somewhat further hoping yet to withstand them Then did he imagine his enemies to bee so many that for euery one blowe hee had before he now thought that hee receiued twaine so as his strength quite failed him and hee fell downe on the ground a great deale more weake then Florestan was All this while Amadis and Agraies beholding the pleasantnesse of the place wherein they were entered perceiued a new writing in the Iasper piller which contained This is Amadis of Gaule the constant louer sonne to King Perion At the same instant was Galaor throwne foorth from the pillars wherewith the Dwarffe began to cry Out alas my Lord Galaor is dead This voyce was heard of Amadis and Agraies who presently came forth to see what the matter was and they asked the Dwarffe what moued him to cry so loud My Lord answered hee I beleeue your two brethren are dead in prouing the aduenture of the forbidden chamber for they haue beene so rudely repulsed as see where they lie without moouing hand or foot Trust mee saide Amadis worse could not haue happened to thee Then he went vnto them and hee found them so sorely bruised that they lay speechlesse But Agraies thinking because fortune had fauoured him vnder the arch of loyall louers that shee would bee as fauourable vnto him against the perill of the chamber without staying to beholde his Cosens any longer hauing his shield vpon his arme and his sworde naked in his hand bearing his head lowe hee ran right to the brasen piller yet had hee not marched farre beyond it when hee felt so many blowes that hardly could hee resist them But his heart was so great as mauger all lets he passed euen vnto the marble piller and there was hee constrained to stay hauing no power at all to stand any longer vpon his feet being so astonied that hee lost his remembrance and hee was as rudely cast out as his Cosens had beene before the which Amadis perceiuing beeing much displeased hee began to curse the houre of that their fond enterprise and approaching vnto Galaor who was now come to himselfe he said In troth brother I perceiue I must of force followe though I should die therein Ah my Lord answered Galaor it should suffice you to take warning by our example I beseech you flie such diuelish forceries for nothing but mischiefe can come from them Come what will saide Amadis accursed may I be if I faint in the matter Then drawing his sword hee well couered him with his shield and hauing first made his deuout prayers vnto God hee cryed O my deare Lady Oriana from you onely proceedeth all the strength and courage that euer I had I beseech you now not to forget him who so constantly craueth your ayde and good assistance Which sayd hee ranne so lightly towards the chamber as in spight of all impeachments hee came without taking breath euen vnto the first piller althought hee felt so many strokes light vpon him that hee did thinke hee fought with more then a thousand knights together yet his courage so much increased with the onely remembrance of Oriana that there were neuer any knight before which could come neere him Then was there heard the voyces of an infinite number saying If this knight do not end this aduenture neuer may any knight performe the same But for all these things hee left not to pursue his fortune for the further he went the more encreased his desire to approach the chamber so as notwithstanding the force of the Diuels or inuisible company which gaue him many sore and heauy strokes hee gained the entry of the chamber from whence he beheld a hand and an arme couered with green wosted to come forth which drew him in And presently there was heard another voyce which sayde Welcome is the gentle knight that exceedeth him in armes which established so many maruailes in this place who in his time was second to none but this surpasseth him and therefore the signiory of this Island of right belongeth to him hauing aboue all other deserued it He which had seene this hand would haue iudged it to haue beene the hand of a very ancient mā it was so withered the which vāquished away so soon as Amadis was entred into the chāber where he felt himselfe so fresh and in so good estate as if he had receiued neither blow nor trauell in comming thither Wherefore hee tooke his shield from his neck sheathed his sword and to Oriana he ascribed the glory for the great honour which he had gotten for hee imagined that all his strength proceeded onely from her and no other The most part of the Inhabitants in the Isle with many other strangers had seene the prowesse he had showne and how the hand brought him into the chamber especially hauing heard by the words of the voyce the soueraignty of the countrey was attributed to him for which cause they all reioyced very greatly But none were so ioyfull as Galaor and his fellows who in stead of emulation where-with they might wrongfully haue beene suspected they were all so glad of the good and honour of Amadis as if the like had chanced particularly to euery one of them and they caused themselues to bee carried to him in the chamber where they were thoroughly and presently healed by the vertue of the place Thither likewise came Isania Gouernour of the countrey accompanied with many of the inhabitants who all did their duty vnto
to rest him and vnarmed himselfe herewithall he beheld a very aged man clothed with a religious habit who tooke him by the hand as if he had pittied his trauaile spake to him certain words in a strange language which he did not vnderstand being in this trouble he awaked Vpon this dreame Amadis mused a great while thinking that oftentimes they foreshow some thing that followeth because he did see part of that which hee had dreamed to fall out Thus hee came to the gate where Gandalin and Isania stayed his with furniture there armed himselfe afterwards he mounted vpon his horse keeping neither way nor path vntill he came neere vnt an Hermitage then he demanded of Isania what place that was My Lord answered hee this Chappel is dedicated to the Vrgin Marie wherein oftentimes are diuerse strange miracles wrought For which cause Amadis allighted from his horse entred into the Church and kneeling downe with great deuotion hee made his prayers to God The which being ended hee rose vp called Gandalin to him whom he held a long time embraced in his armes not being able to speake one word yet in the end he thus said vnto him My deere Gandalin thou and I haue beene fostered vp with one milke and alwaies brought vp together and I neuer felt any paine or sorrow wherein thou hast not had thy part Thy father tok me vp in the sea whē I was yet but a small thing beeing but newly borne the very night before afterward he caused thy mother to cherish mee as tenderly as if I had their deeriest childe Now haue I oftentimes tried thy loyalty knowing very wel what seruice thou hast done for me the which I did hope in time with the fauour of God to haue recompensed but this great mis-fortune is fallen vpon me the which I feele more sharpe and cruell then death it selfe especially seeing I am constrained to forsake thee hauing no other thing to bestow vpon thee but the Isle which I haue newly conquered which I do giue thee commanding Isania with my other subiects vpon that faith and homage which they haue sworne vnto me to receiue thee as their Lord so soone as they shall be assured of my death Yet is it my wil that thy father and mother shal enioy the same during their liues and afterwards it shall remaine vnto thee which is in recompence of the good I haue receiued of thē whom I thought to haue better rewarded according to their deserts and my desire And as for you Lord Isania I pray you that of the fruits and reuenues of this Isle which of long time you haue had in your keeping you should build here in this place a Monestarie in the honor of the virgin Mary and to endow it with so much liuing as thirtie religious men may hence-forth liue vpon the same Ah my Lord said Gandalin I neuer forsooke you for any trauaile or perill which hitherto you haue suffered neither yet will I leaue you if God be pleased and if you dye I will not liue after you neither for all the world will I lose you Therefore you may if it please you bestowe this gift vpon my Lords your brethren seeing I will not haue it neither do I desire it in any sort Holde thy peace said Amadis let me heare these words no more vnlesse thou desirest to displease me but do as I would haue thee for my bretheren may prouide far greater liuings for thē and their friends then this small thing which I doe giue vnto thee But touching you my deere friend Isania it very greatly grieueth me that I haue not the means to gratulate you according to your deserts notwithstanding I leaue you amongst so many of my good friends as they shall supply that which I cannot I pray you my Lord answered hee suffer mee onely to accompany you that I may be partaker of any wealth or woe that shall happen to you Wherein you shall fully shew mee your loue and I rest satisfied to my liking My deere friend saide Amadis I doubt not but that you would follow with a good will notwithstanding my miseric is so excessiue as besides my maker none can ease it whome onely I humbly beseech to bee my conductour for I will haue no other companion And therefore Gandalin if thou desirest Knight-hood holde take it presently with my armour which I doe giue thee for since thou hast heeretofore so well kept them it is reason they should now serue thee considering how little I shall hereafter need them if not thou maiest receiue this honour of my brother Galaor vnto whom my Lord Isania here shall in my behalfe make request to the same ende and I entreate thee to serue him euen as faithfully as thou hast serued mee For my loue vnto him is so great as amongst all my most afflictions I shall bewaile his absence because I haue euermore foūd him an hūble obedient a louing brother You shall further request him to take into his seruice Ardan my Dwarffe whom I recommend vnto him to the Dwarffe say that I will him to serue my brother dilligently This sayd both hee and those to whom he spake burst forth into aboundance of teares comming vnto them he embraced them saying Now my friends seeing I neuer hope to see you any more I entreate you to pray to God for mee and vpon your liues I charge you that none of you doe follow mee Then hee got vpon his horse set spurres to his sides and galloped from them remembring not at his departure to take either Launce shield or helmet with him Thus he entred into a desert place at the foot of a mountaine taking no other way but whither his horse would carry him and so long hee rode vntill the most parte of the night was now spent when the horse entred into a little brook enuironed with many trees where he would haue drunken But as hee passed on further Amadis was strucken on the face with certaine branches of trees so rudely as it wakened him out of his study and therewithall looking vp hee perceiued that hee was in a couert and solitary place beset with store of thick bushes which greatly reioyced him because hee thought hee should very hardly bee found out in this thicket There he alighted tyed his horse and sate him downe vpon the grasse the better to meditate vpon his melancholy but hee had wept so long and his braines were so light that at the last hee fell asleepe CHAP. IIII. How Gandalin and Durin followed the same way that Amadis had taken brought the rest of his armour which he had left behinde then found him sleeping how he fought against a Knight whom he did ouercome AMadis beeing departed Gandalin who remayned in the Hermitage with Isania Durin as you haue heard began to make the greatest lamentation in the world and said Although he hath forbidden mee to follow him yet will I not stay
ended his song hee alighted vnder a tusted tree planted by the high way side thinking there to passe the rest of the night but worse happened to him then he hoped for Gandalin which had heard what hee sayde of Oriana doubting that Amadis had not marked it because his minde was otherwise occupied sayde vnto Durin It were best for mee to goe to my Master to know what hee intendeth to doe Then came hee forth of the bush where he was hidden beheld Amadis that sought for his horse to depart frō thence who as he looked here there he espied Gandalin When not knowing him at the first he cryed Who art thou that commest to surprise me speake and hide thy selfe no longer My Lord answered he I an Gandalin who will helpe you to finde your horse if so it please you When Amadis heard this Ah said hee how durst you persume to follow me hauing so expresly forbidyou beleeue mee thou hast greatly displeased mee let mee see thee no more but depart or else be sure thou shalt die My Lord answered Gandalin mee thinkes you should forget this manner of behauiour and bethinke you how to reuenge the foolish speeches which euen now were vttered by a knight who is not yet far from you for they are greatly to your disaduantage This sayde Gandalin to pacifie his displeasure towardes him that hee might bee the more incensed against the other I did heare him as well as you sayd he and therefore am I content to seeke rest else-where and to depart from hence where all misfortune doth follow me What sayd Gandalin is this all that you are determined to doe What wouldst thou more said he That you fight with him answered Gandalin to make him confesse his presumption I beleeue sayd hee thou wouldest say otherwise seeing thou knowest very well that I neither haue spirit heart not any force hauing lost all in losing her who gaue me life so as now I am no better then a dead man neither is there in Great Brittaine any knight so cowardly that could not easily ouercome mee if I should combate with him so haplesse and hopelsse am I. Trust me answered Gandalin you are in a great errour thus to suffer your heart to saint to let your courage faile euen whē it should most serue you to aduance the honour of her who so neerely toucheth you What report will Durin make here of thinke you who hath heard and seene all and is greatly abshed that now you behaue your selfe no better How sayd Amadis is Durin here I truely sayd Gandalin wee came both together and I beleeue hee followeth you thus to declare your manner of behauiour vnto her that sent him vnto you Get thee gone sayd Amadis thou vrgest mee too much Yet when hee thought that Durin should returne to Oriana his heart was so inflamed that hee called for his armes and mounting on his horse he went toward the knight whom hee found layd vnder the tree holding his horse by the bridle Then Amadis in a great rage sayde vnto him Sir knight who so greatly extollest thy fortune in loue I beleeue that against all right thou hast receined that good that loue hath doue for thee if good it may be tearmed and that thou neuer deseruedst it the which I wil proue with the losse of thy head What art thou answered the other that speakest so audaciously dost thou think that I am fauoured of the fairest Lady in the worlde for any other cause but onely for my valour and high knighthood wherewith I will make thee presently confesse that loue hath reason to fauour me and that it is not for thee to speake thereof It is but thy opinion sayde Amadis but thou must knowe that in despight of thee I am hee who hath least occasion to praise loue because hee hath so vildely deceiued me that I wil neuer dayes in my life put any trust in him knowing how falsely and treacherously he commonly vseth those that most faithfully do serue him And because I haue sufficiently prooued it I will maintaine that he can neuer be so faithfull as I haue found him false That it is so let vs see whether hee hath gained more in thee then he hath lost in me Then the knight mounted on his horse and beeing ready to fight he answered Vnhappy knight depriued of all good and banisht iustly from loue beeing vnworthy of his fauor get thee from my presence for I should commit a most horrible fact to lay my hands vpon such a vild miserable fellow So saying he turned his horse to haue fled away if Amadis had not staied him in calling him Villaine wilt thou then defend thy loue which so highly thou prisest onely with thy countenance and so get thee gone because thou wouldest fly the combat Trust me answered the other thou art in a right opinion for it is true that I haue no desire to proue my selfe against a person of so small desert but seeing thou wouldest that I should breake thy head I am content and if thy heart will serue defend it if thou canst Herewithall they ran one against the other with such force as their Lances flew to shiuers pearcing their shields quite thorough neuerthelesse their armour being good strong staied the stroke yet the knight fell to the ground carrying the raines of his horse with him wherefore he rose again lightly The which Amadis beholding he said vnto him Truely knight if the right which you pretend in so faire a friend bee not better maintained with your sword then it hath beene with your staffe Loue hath made but a bad choyce of you for a valiant champion your Lady a far worser match in lighting vpon such a carpet knight He made no account at all of these reproaches but boldly drew out his sword and comming neere to Amadis laid at him so lustily that hee had beene wounded if with his shield hee had not well warded himselfe wherein his sword was so farre entred that he could not pul it forth again but was forced to let go his holde leauing it sticking fast in the shield of Amadis Who lifted himselfe vp in his stirrops hitting him so sound a blow vpon his head-peece that it pearced euen vnto the quick the blow gliding downe it lighted vpon his horse neck wounded him to the death falling downe in the place and his master vnder him all astonied But Amadis seeing him arise said vnto him Gentle louer I am of the minde that Cupid henceforth should erect a trophie for the high prowesse which you haue shewed in his seruice that as long as you liue you should not cease to sing his praises declare those benefits which vpon you hee hath bestowed As for mee I will goe secke my fortune else where So he set spurres to his horse as he departed he beheld Gandalin Durin when cōming neere them he tooke Durin by the hand and sayd vnto him Friend
ended the which Isania performed For the day following when the Lords were ready to sit downe at the Table they perceiued that Amadis was absent and enquiring for him Isania told them that they should know after dinner where hee was become Thereupon they sat down thinking that he was gone somwhether for his pleasure After the Tables were taken vp Isania said vnto theÌ„ My lords the misfortune of my Lord Amadis is far worse then you thinke it is as I shall presently declare vnto you Then he recited in what order he deparded from theÌ„ the great sorrow wherein hee was and what he had commanded him to say vnto them especially how he had disposed of the Island and he earnestly intreated theÌ„ not to follow him seeing that he hoped for no remedy of his misery For his death was not to bee preuented When they heard these pittifull news there was not any of them whose eyes were not filled with teares and they began to make a most sorrowfull lamentation But Galaor made the greatest moane of all saying If I may releeue him from distresse the best knight in the world shall not in this sort die Although he hath commanded vs to stay yet shall he not be obeyed for me at this time but I will seeke vntil I shal haue found him wil know who hath wronged him that I may eyther reuenge it or die in the quarell Beleeue me answered Agraies we will not be far behinde you and if we cannot remedy his misfortune by force of courage or counsell yet at the least we will altogether die with him for company Moreouer said Isania he desireth you my Lord Galaor to make Gandalin a knight and take Ardan his dwarff into your seruice whom he recommendeth vnto you Then Galaor called the Dwarff and said vnto him Ardan thy master hath forsaken vs and willed that thou shouldst be mine assure thee that so long as I line I will not leaue thee for his sake How answered the Dwarffe is my Lord dead then So saying he fel down where he stood and began to teare his haires making so great sorrow as it was wonderfull said I might well be couÌ„ted a traytor to liue after my Master wherwithal he had slain himself if they had not takeÌ„ heed vnto him Florestan his heart was so ouercharged with griefe that he could neyther weep nor speak but sit leâ—iâ—g as if he had been in a traunce And when he recouered his speech he said vnto his fellowes my Lords it is no time for vs to weepe nor lament when we should rather indeuour to succour my Lord Amadis let women waile but let manly mindes conioyne together deuise how we may prouide a remedy for so great a mischiefe As for me I thinke that without longer delay we should all to horseback making as great speede as we may to finde him then we may know if there be any meanes to cure his malady for the time passeth his sorrow increaseth and he still goeth farther from vs. The Lord Isania as he saith hath brought him some part of his way he may shew vs then which path he hath taken but if we shall longer tarry wee may lose him without hope euer to see him againe Therefore my Lords I pray you let vs make hast to follow him Vnto the which they all agreed caused their horses to be presently brought Then Isania conducted them to the place where Amadis had left him and from thence they rode till they came whereas Patin lay wounded whom they beheld lying vpon the ground whilest his two esquires did cut down boughs and poles to make him a litter for he was so feeble with the losse of his blood that he could not sit on horseback nor answere one onely word vnto the knights who saluted him and enquired of him what he was that had done him such out-rage but he made a signe that his Squires should tell them Where-upon Galaor came and demanded the matter of them they answered him that he had iousted against a knight which came from the Firme Island by whom hee was ouer-throwne at the first encounter and how that afterwards thinking to reuenge him with his Sworde he sped so illas they might perâ—… by his hurt What is become of the knight said Galaor By our faith answered the squires we know not for we were not present at the coÌ„bat Notwithstanding we do think that we did meete him in our comming hither and he did ride ouer the forrest so fast as his horse could run hauing none following him but one Squire who wept bitterly carrying after him his Armour and shield vpon the which were 2. Lyons sables in a field Ore In faith said Florestan it is he whom we doe seeke Shew vs therefore what way he tooke the which they did Then the knights went after him and so long they rode vntill they came to a crosse way where they staid to aduise what was best to be done for there was not any body that might tell them any newes of that which they sought and therefore they determined to separate them-selues promising one vnto another to meete at the Court of king Lisuart vpon S. Iohns day next ensuing but if by that time they heard no news of Amadis then they would determine further what to do in the matter thus taking leaue of each other they departed with weeping and afterward they did what they might but it was all in vaine although they had ridden through many strange countries in which they found many great accidents perilous aduentures But you must know that so soone as Amadis had sent Durin away he set spurres vnto his horse neyther caring nor determining what way he should take he went euen as fortune guided him in the end hee came to the bottom of an obscure valley ful of vnderwood bushâ—s which place he thought most commodious to hide himselfe from being found out of any that might follow him Here did he alight letting his horse goe where hee would but vnbridled him not then he sate down by the side of a brook which descended from the mountaine and tooke a little water to refresh him withall By this time Gandalin had ouertaken him who had stayed behinde to deliuer Patin his Sword who finding Amadis laid all along vpon the grasse so still that he heard not one word to proceede from him hee durst not say any thing to him but sate downe hard by him and within a while after Amadis rose vp and beholding Gandalin laide vpon the ground by him hee pushed him with his foote saying sleepest thou Gandalin By my faith sir no answered he for instead of sleeping I thought vpon two things which concerne you greatly the which if it please you I will declare if not I will hold my peace Go to rise said Amadis and take our horses for I will get me gone because I should be very sory to be found of those who it may
the Faire Forlorne seeing that his blow had so well profited as that therewithall hee had slaine such a Gyant and deliuered the King in like sort hee began to cry aloud Gaule Gaule here is Amadis who is yet aliue So saying hee entred amongst the thickest of his enemies who had in a manner lost their hearts by seeing two of the principallest of their army in that sort to be slaine especially knowing that Amadis whom they long before thought to bee dead was present to their confusion And had not Gandaturiell one of the strongest Gyants in their troupe encouraged them againe they had then surely turned their backs but hee valiantly made head against his enemies which being perceiued by Amadis who was desirous to reuenge his brother Galaor whom hee imagined to bee dead he thrust himselfe amongst his enemies and entred into the thickest of the presse so farre that there he had remained without the ayd which King Lisuart brought vnto him who had recouered his horse and there were in his companie Bruneo Florestan Guillan Laâ—asin Galuanes Olinas and Don Grumedan who carryed his standard which was cut asunder betweene his armes All those seeing Amadis in so great danger although the most part of them were very sorely wounded had such exceeding ioy when they knewe that it was hee that they bestirred them in such sort as notwithstanding all the resistance that these Irishmen could make they gaue ayde vnto Amadis and passing on further they found Agraies Palomir Branfil and Dragonis manfully fighting on foote against those that had throwne them downe Yet they were so neerely driuen that they could not any longer withstand the force of their enemies although they had already slaine more then sixe as well Gyants as Irishmen which would haue ouer-runne them and without doubt they had beene so handled had not these succours come vnto them So that they which would haue forced them had enough to doe to defend themselues because that Amadis in spight of them made them to recoyle backe and that in such sort as with the ayde of his troupe hee was the meane that his Cosen Agraies and his fellowes did remount their horses Then the forces of King Lisuart encreased and the Irish troupes decreased who dispairing of all helpe had recourse vnto their vessels which were afloate hard by the shoare to saue their booty if Fortune had not contradicted them but Amadis pursuing the victory chased them with such fury that the most part of the vanquished desired rather to be buried amidst the waues of the Sea then on the shoare which was so died and watered with their blood The which Gandaturiell perceiuing being esteemed amongst all the Gyants one of the stoutest without any feare at all of his death which hee saw ready prepared for him desiring before the end of his dayes to bee reuenged bearing his head somewhat lowe and holding his sharp sword in his hand he would haue stroken at king Lisuart but Florestan stepped before him who hit him so sound a knock with his sword vpon the Helmet that hee made it flie from his head and the King who was hard at hand seeing him bare diuided his pate into two parts Then was there a great slaughter of the Irishmen for they were all now ouerthrowne by Amadis Florestan and Agraies who persued them euen into the Sea where they were swallowed vp with waues wherewith king Lisuart and his people retyred And because that Amadis had marked the place where hee had seene Galaor stroken downe hee prayed his Cosen Agraies others that they would helpe him to finde him amongst the dead Neuerthelesse they had not found him without the helpe of Florestan who knew him by a greene sleeue which hee did weare wrought full of white flowers but hee was so couered with blood dust that they could scant knowe him And I doe not knowe so hard a heart which had then seene the mone that Amadis did make for him that would not haue burst forth into teares for he beholding him in this estate fell down all along vpon him Whereby his wounds did open against which the congealed blood was already setled and I thinke that Amadis had died vpon him if twelue Damosels had not by chaunce come thither suddenly who were very richly attyred and had caused a rich bed to bee brought by their Esquires these finding Amadis so desperate sayde vnto him My Lord wee are come hither to seeke your brother Galaor and if you will euer see him aliue suffer vs to carry him presently away otherwise there is no Chyrurgion in all Great Brittaine that is able to heale him Herewithall Amadis was greatly ashamed because the Damosels had found him in that order and although that hee knew them not yet hearing them speak of his brothers health hee determined seeing the extreame perill wherein he was not to refuse their request though it was to his extreame griefe And therefore he answered them my faire gentlewomen may in please you to tell vs whither you will carry him Not now said they but if you will desire to haue him liue giue him vnto vs without any longer delay otherwise wee will be gone Alas answered he I pray let mee followe you You may not and yet for your sake wee are coÌ„tent that Ardan the Dwarffe and his Esquire shall accompanie him Then they layd him vpon the bed all armed as hee was they caused him forthwith to be carried into the ship from whence they were come which was yet close to the shoare Afterwards they returned againe vnto king Lisuart to entreate him that hee would giue them king Cildadan who lay among the dead and to induce him thereunto they shewed vnto him that although Fortune had fauoured him in this exployt yet hee should not exteÌ„d his cruelty vpon his enemy The which the King considering permitted them to carry him away dead or aliue wherefore the Damosels took him vp and carried him away with Galaor and so soone as they came into the ship they set sayle hauing the winde so faire that suddenly they were out of all mens sight Thus king Lisuart remayned coÌ„querour ouer his enemies going quite through the field to find out as well such of his owne people as those of his enemies that were not yet thoroughly dead to cause them carefully to bee looked vnto by skilfull Surgeons And as hee went from one place to another hee met with Amadis whose face was all to be blubbered with tears vnto whom he had not as yet spoken since his returne and seeing him so heauy after he had knowne the cause of his mone hee shewed an euident signe of the sorrow that he sustayned for Galaors sake whoÌ„ hee loued as dearely as himselfe not without cause for from the first day that hee receiued him for one of his knights he alwaies serued him faithfully neuer forsaking him for any warre or debate that happened betweene his maiesty Amadis as hereafter
or layd him in a place so strange as this was And no lesse abashed was king Cildadan to see that hee was locked vpon a strong Tower compassed about with the maine Sea although that the chamber wherein hee remayned was most richly hanged and he laid in a good bed Neuerthelesse hee was alone and he thought that he did heare some people talking right vnder the vault but hee could neither perceiue doore nor place where thorough any body might enter into his chamber Wherefore he rose vp and put his head foorth at the window and he could see nothing but the Sea whose waues did beat against the place wherein hee remayned shut vp the which was built vpon the top of a most steep and hard Rocke neither did hee know how hee was brought from the place where hee was smitten downe among the presse of people Notwithstanding hee knew very vell seeing hee was in such a place that he had lost the battaile and that his knights were either all dead or taken but yet he comforted himselfe as well as he could layd him downe againe vpon his bed bewayling greatly the griefe which hee did feele in his wounds Thus was Galaor lying sicke on the other side as hath beene recited who heard the little doore of the garden open which caused him to rise from his bed as well as hee could and hee perceiued a faire Gentlewoman comming vnto him being very richly attired the which did bring with her a knight so olde and crooked that it was wonder how hee could bee able to stand These approching nere vnto Galaor sayd to him through the grates of yron without opening the chamber dore Knight prouide for your soules health for we will not henceforth warrant you Then the Damosell tooke forth two littleboxes one of iron and the other of siluer and shewing them vnto Galaor she sayd vnto him Knight the party which hath caused you to come hither will not that you should die before she doe knowe whether you will accomplish her will or no and in the meane season she will cause your wounds to bee cured Gentlewoman answered Galaor if shee desire that I should do any thing contrary to mine honour I had rather die You may doe sayd she as you list although it is your choyce either to liue or die Herewithall the olde man opened the gate and so soonas they were entred into the chamber the the Gentlewoman presently gaue vnto him the yron boxe willing him to step back the which he did Afterwards she sayde vnto Galaor My Lord I am so sorry for your sicknesse that for to saue your life I will hazard mine owne death and I will declare that which I was put in charge to doe Which is that I should fill these two boxes the one with poyson and the other with oyntment to make you sleepe to the end that when you did awake you might feele such extreame paine that with the rage thereof you might cruely end your life but I haue done cleane contrary for I haue filled them with such a salue that if you vse it but seuen dayes together you shall finde your selfe whole sound and able to mount on horse-backe Then she rubbed his wounds with the oyntment the which was of such vertue that at the same instant his paine was appeased and hee felt such ease that he sayde vnto the Damosell Faire Gentlewoman you doe binde me so greatly vnto you that if euer I come forth from hence you may bee sure that neuer any Gentlewoman was better recompenced by any knight then you shall be by me neuerthelesse if you haue not the meanes to deliuer mee I beseech you at the least doe so much that Vrganda the vnknowne may be aduertised thereof for I haue euer-more had a great confidence in her The Gentlewoman began to laugh and answered him What doe you make such account of Vrganda seeing that hitherto she hath been so carelesse of your wealth or woe I know well sayd he that as she knoweth the secret thoughts of men so is shee not ignorant how much my desire is to serue her Neuer care you for any other Vrganda answered she theâ— me and haue only a good hope eâ—deuouring to hasteâ— your health taking vnto you the courage of a valiant man such as you haue alwaies bin esteemed seeing that you know that man-hood and valour is not onely requisit at combats and dangerous encounters but in other accidents that may suddainly happen like as at this present the caâ—e standeth And for the recompence of the perill that I doe vndertake to heale you and deliuer you from hence I pray you grant vnto me one gift which shall neither be hurtfull not dishonurable vnto you Trust me Damosell sayd hee you shall haue of mee euen whatsoeuer you shall please if it may well and lawfully be performed Goe to then answered shee let this suffice you now vntill it bee time for mee to returne againe to dresse you in the meane season couer you and feigne as if you slept soundly the which hee did Then the Gentle-woman called the olde man and sayd vnto him see how the knight sleepeth the poyson doth now worke vpon him All the better answered the olde man hee which hath brought him hither so farre as I see shall be sufficiently reuenged vpon him and seeing that you haue so well obeyed that which you were commanded I am content henceforth that you doe come without any guard at all to visite him But vse him after this manner fifteene dayes together for at that time they shall come hither who for the iniurie that hee hath done vnto them shall take such satisfaction of him as they please Galaor heard all their talke and hee knewe very well that the old man was his mortall enemie neuerthelesse hee had some hope in the Damosels promise who had assured him that hee should be healed in seauen dayes hoping if so shee did that hee might easily saue himselfe from their hands Hereupon the olde man and the Damosell departed but shee tarried not long before hee did see her returne with two other young virgins exceeding faire who brought victuals vnto Galaor and caused him to eate This done the Damosell commanded the other two to keepe him company and to reade before him some pleasant Histories to keepe him from sleeping in the day time so that Galaor being greatly comforted by the Damosels kinde entertaynement was thoroughly assured that shee would helpe him as shee had promised and so shutting the gate she departed left the two yong Gentlewomen discoursing with him Farre otherwise did it happen vnto king Cildadan who beeing shut vp within a Tower and layd vpon his bed did see a doore of stone to open the which was close fastened in the wall that it seemed as if it had beene the wall it selfe by the which there entred in a gentlewoman of middle age accompanied with two armed knights the which came close to his bed side
Bruneo answered thou declarest in plaine tearmes that which is needfull for thy selfe Wherefore I pray thee as lustie as thou art not to spare mee a whit Art thou ignorant of the occasion of our combate Knowest thou not that either thy head or mine must cease this strife I doe assure thee that I am no more determined to listen vnto thy preaching wherefore if thou determine not to dy presently looke to thine owne defence better then thou hast done here-tofore Immediately without any further disputations hee assailed Madamain afresh but hee was already so weake as not being able so much as to defend Bruneo his blowes hee drew himselfe by little and little to the top of a Rock euen to the place where Amadis had cast the body of Ardan into the Sea And there Bruneo thrust him so rudely downe that he sent him to be buried in the Sea but before hee came to the bottome his body was torne in twenty seuerall peeces Which the iniurious Damosell perceiuing she entred into such fury and dispaire that as a mad woman shee ranne vnto the place where Ardan and Madamain were throwne downe headlond where finding Madamain his sword she set it to her breast crying so loud that all the companie heard her Seeing that Ardan the flower of chiualrie my brother haue chosen their graue in this raging Sea I will beare them companiâ—… And so casting herselfe downe headlong she was immediately couered with the water Then Bruneo mounting on horsâ—backe againe was conducted by the King and many other knights to the lodging of Amadis where hee desired to keep him company in whose honour hee had vndertaken the combate And because that the Queene Briolania perceiued that Amadis was not like to be cured in a short space nor to accompany her as hee had promised she tooke her leaue of him to goâ— see the singularities of the Firme Island wherefore Amadis commanded Enil to conduct her and to desire Isania the Gouernor thereof to doe her all the honour and giue her the best entertainement hee could deuise So Briolania departed bidding Oriana farewell assuring her that she should be aduertised what happened vnto her in trying the aduentures of the Island but shee was no sooner gone from the Court when it seemed that Fortune endeauoured the ruine of the kingdom of great Brittaine which had so long time liued in happinesse Yea euen king Lisuart himselfe who forgetting not onely the seruices hee had receiued of Amadis of his kindred and friends but especially the aduice and counsell of Vrganda listened to flatterers two ancient knights of his house to whom vnder the colour of the long education they had receiued as well of the King Falangris his eldest brother as of himselfe hee gaue credit beleeuing their vntrothes which he ought not to haue done as you shall presently vnderstand These two of whom I speake as wel by reason of their ancient age as of a kinde of hypocrisie cloaked with wisedome tooke more paines to seeme good and vertuous then to bee so in deede by meanes whereof they entred into great authority and were often-times called and made priuie to the most secret affaires of their Lord one of them was named Brocadan and the other Gandandell This Gandandell had two sonnes who before the comming of Amadis and of his followers into great Brittaine were esteemed two of the most hardiest knights in all the countrey notwithstanding the prowesse and dexteritie of the other did abate the renowne of those whom I speake of Whereat their father was so displeased that forgetting the feare of God the faith which hee ought to his Prince and the honour which all men of honesty ought to be endued withall determined not onely to accuse Amadis but likewise all those whom hee esteemed as his friends and did conuerse withall hoping to build his treason in such sort that by the ruine of so many good knights he would worke his owne his friends profit Wherefore finding the King on a time at leasure hee vsed speeches of like substance vnto him It may please your Maiesty I haue all my life long desired to bee faithfull vnto you as to my King and naturall Lord euen as my duty bindeth mee and will yet continue if it please God for besides the oath of fidelity which I haue sworne vnto you you haue of your gracious fauour heaped so many benefiâ—â— a vpon mee that if I should not counsell you in that which did concerne your royall Maiesty I should commit a great fault both towardes God and men In consideration whereof if it like your Maiesty after I had long weighed with my selfe that which I will declare vnto you I haue often repented that I deferred the matter so long not for any malice I beare vnto any man as God is my witnesse but onely for the damage which I see ready to ensue if your Maiesty do not speedily and wisely seeke remedy to preuent it Your Maiesty knoweth that of long time there hath beene great controuersie betweene the kingdomes of Gaule and great Brittaine because that the Kings your predecessors haue alwaies pretended title of soueraigntie thereunto And albeit that for some time this quarrell hath line dead notwithstanding it is likely that those of that Countrey calling to minde the warres and domages they haue endured by your subiects haue secretly determined to take reuenge thereof And in my opinion Amanis who is chiefe and principall amongst them all is not come into this Countrey but to practise and gaine your people who ioyned with the forces which he may easily land heere will so trouble you that it will be hard for you to resist them And I beseech you to consider whither the likelyhood there-of bee not already very apparent Moreouer your Maiestie may bee pleased to consider that he of whoÌ„ I speake and those of his aliance likewise haue done mee so much honour and pleasure that both I and my children are greatly bounden vnto them and were it not that you are my soueraigne Lord I would in no wise pleake against Amadis but in those things which concerne your person let mee rather receiue death then that I spare any man liuing were he mine own sonne You haue receiued Amadis with so great number of his parents and other strangers into your Court like a good and liberall Prince as you are that in the end their traine will become greater then your owne wherefore if it like your Maiesty it were good to fore-see this matter before the fire bee kindled any further When the King heard Gandandel speake in this sort he became very pensiue and afterwards answered him In faith louing friend I beleeue that you aduertise mee as a good and faithfull subject neuerthelesse seeing the seruices that they of whom you speake haue done vnto me I cannot be perswaded in my mind that they would procure or imagine any treason against me May it please your Maiesty answered he that is
such braue viuacity of spirit as his enemy found he had a hard taske in hand At this instant an other knight chanced to passe by who seeing the combattants so â—ierce against each other determined to expect who should depart with victorie and placing himselfe by the Damosell demanded if shee knew them or the cause of their quarrel I must needes know them answered the Damosell because I set them together as you see and this good hap is not a little pleasing to mee for it is impossible but one of them must die nor doe I greatly care which of them it be but if both end together my ioyes would bee the greater Now trust me said the Knight full well doe you manifest a wicked disposition practising for your pleasure the death of two such braue men whose health and safety you rather ought to desire then imagine such a disloyall thought toward them but tell me I pray ye what reason you haue to hate them so That can I sufficiently quoth she He whose shielde is most defaced is the onely man of the world to whom mine Vncle Arcalaus wisheth most harme he being named Amadis And the other that combats with him is Galaor who not long since slew the chiefest man I loued It so fel out that Galaor hereâ—ofore made me promise of any thing I would request and because this day I was most affectionate to his death I haue brought him to deale with fuch a one as will hardly permit him to escape with life For I knew the other to bee one of the best Knights in the World on whom this Dwarffe which you see attendeth I therefore desired Galaor to giue the little villaines head being perswaded Amadis would rather die then suffer it Thus the one to deliuer me my request and the other for his Dwarffes defence are fallen into the extreamitie of their liues which doth me good at the heart to behold By my conscience Damosell replyed the Knight I neuer thought such malice had remained in a woman of your sort and I beleeue assuredly being yet so yong if longer you liue you will accustome your self to such vilainie as this you begin withall whereby you shall infect the ayre and the other elements to the disaduantage of the honest and vertuous Ladies liuing at this day But to shielde them from such danger and these two good Knights whom treacherously thou wouldest should kill each other I will make a Sacrifice of thee according to thy deserts then lifting vp his Sword he smote her head quite from her shoulders that it fell on the ground at her horse feete saying Take the reward of thy merits for the loue I beare to thine Vnckle Arcalaus who kept me his prisoner till the vertuous Knight Amadis deliuered me then running to the combatants he cryed out aloud Holde Lord Amadis hold your hand for the man you fight against is your brother Galaor When Amadis heard these words he threw down his Sword and Shield to the earth and embracing Galaor said Alas my friend my brother rightly may I be tearmed the most vnhappy Knight in the world offering you such outrage as I haue done Galaor amazed at this aduenture knew not what to say but seeing how Amadis humbled himselfe on his knee he fell downe likewise desiring pardon reputing himselfe wonderfull vnfortunate in wronging thus his Lord and brother then Amadis weeping with inward conceite of ioy thus answered Noble brother and my friend I esteeme the passed perill well imployed because it beareth witnes of what we are able to doe So taking off their helmets to refresh themselues they heartily thanked the Knight that rhus caused their acquaintance whereupon he told them all what the Damosell said the execution hee committed on her Now trust me quoth Galaor neuer was false strumpet more rightly serued and now am I dischargd of the promise I made her All the better for mee said the Dwarffe and thereby haue I saued my head yet I meruaile why shee should hate me so much in respect I neuer saw her till now to my knowledge Then did Galaor at large discourse what happened betweene him the Damosell and her friend as you haue heard already rehearsed but the Knight that seperated them seeing their Armour all couered with blood thus spake to them My Lords your Armours deliuer testimony enough how discourteously your Swords haue intreated your bodies wherefore me thinks long tarrying in this place will but endanger your wounds let me request ye then to mount on horseback and accompany me to the Castle whether you shall not onely be welcome but finde helpe for your hurts by one skilfull therein Wee will not refuse your gentle offer said Amadis Let vs set forward then answered the Knight and happy shall I thinke my selfe in doing any seruice that may be liking to you for you Lord Amadis deliuered mee from the cruell imprisonmeÌ„t as neuer poor knight endured the like Where was it I pray replied Amadis At the castle quoth he of Arcalaus the enchanter wheÌ„ you restored so many to liberty How are you named said Amadâ—…lays answered the Knight and because my Castle is cleped Carsanta I am often tearmed Balays of Carsanta therefore my Lords vse mee and mine as your owne Brother said Galaor seeing the Knight reputeth himselfe so much bounden to you let vs goe with him In short time they arriued at the Castle of Balays where they found Gentlemen and Ladeies that courteously entertained them by reason Balays had sent them word before how he brought with him the two best Knights in the world Amadis who deliuered him from the strong prison of Arcalaus and his noble brother Galaor For this cause were they welcommed much more honourably and brought into a goodly chamber to bee vnarmed where likewise stood two costly beds and a table furnished with soueraigne medicins for their wounds the cure whereof two Ladies being Neeces to Balays vndertooke for they were very learnedly skilled in Chirurgery Now did they imploy their vttermost cunning to recoÌ„pence Amadis for his worthy pains in restoring their Vnckle from the slauerie of Arcalaus so that within few daies they felt themselues indifferently amended and almost able to beare their Armour as they did before Here-upon Amadis comming with his brother Galaor declared how to seeke him he departed from the Court of King Lisuart promising not to returne without his company wherefore he intreated him to yeelde no denâ—all in respect no Princes Court was better frequented with Chiualrie nor could he finde more honour in any other place My Lord quoth Galaor I intend to accomplish what you please to command me albeit I desire not as yet to be knowne among men of account first would I haue my deedes giue some witnesse how desirous I am to imitate your proceedings or else to die in this religious affection Certes brother answered Amadis for this matter you neede not abandon the place seeing your renown is already greater
his Sister Mabila was the cause and that he was desirous to talke with her wherefore she thus spake to him My Lord Agraies will ye not see your sister whom you loue so deerly Yes Madam quoth he â—o it please you to giue me lâ—… with he arose and came 〈…〉 who stepping forward to meet him you must think Oliuia was not one iote behinde her but welcoÌ„med him both with semblable reuerence But Oliuia louing him as you haue heard ouermastring her will with reason as a most wise well aduised Princesse gaue little in outward shew till after sundry amiable speeches passing betweene them three they had some leysure to stand a while asunder from all the rest Yet did Agrates keep neere his Mistresse taking her by the hand and playing with her fingers often sent her a sweete kisse in imagination so that by intire regarding her he was transported with such singuler delight as he neither heard or made any answere to his sister She being ignorant as yet of his disease knew not well what to thinke for notwithstanding all her courteous speeches his minde was otherwise busied then on her yet in the end she discouered the cause of this suddaine mutation perceiuing that Oliuia and her brother were surprized with each others loue Whereupon she thought it best to fauor them with more libery feigning a desire to speake with her Vnckle Galuanes which she prettily coloured in this manner Brother quoth she I pray ye intreate the Queene that my Vnckle may come hither because it is long time since I saw him and I haue some that to acquaint him with all secretly I hope to obtaine so much of her answered Agrates whereupon he went to the Queene thus spake Madam if you could spare mine vnckle a little you might doe his Neece a very great pleasure for she is desirous to talke with him And reason good said the Queene at which words Galuanes went with him which Mabila seeing she humbly met him making great reuerence when Galuanes vsing the like to her began in this manner Fayre Neece I am glad to see you in such good disposition but tell me I pray ye do you like Scotland or this Countrey better We shall confer quoth she more conueniently at the window because I haue many things to tell ye which were needelesse for my brother to vnderstand nor shall he they being of such importance as they are These words shee vttered smiling and with a marueilous good grace cheefely because her brother might court his friend alone And well said Neece answered Galuanes our secrets are so great as they must needes bee kept from him So taking her by the hand they went aside to one of the windowes by meanes whereof Agraies and Oliuia were left alone When the Prince perceiuing hee had liberty to speake trembling in aboundance of affection he began thus Madam to accomplish your commandement when you parted from mee as also to satisfie my heart which neuer enioyeth rest but in the gratious contentment conueyed thereto through mine eyes by your presence I am come hither to serue and obey you assuring you on my Faith that being neere your person my spirits feele themselues viuified in such sort as they suffer with great strength the anguishes of continuall affection which makes them dead in time of your absence Therefore I desire ye if it bee your pleasure to limit mee some better hap hereafter in place where I may often see and doe you seruice And as hee would haue proceeded further Oliuia interrupted him in this manner Alas my Lord I am so assured of the loue you beare me and also of the griefe you endure we being absent one from another as no other proofe is required then what mine owne heart doth plainely testifie smothering a displeasure worse then death it selfe whereto oftentimes I could very gladly submit my selfe did not a cheerefull hope rebacke this despaire how one day our loue shall meet together with happy contentation And perswade your selfe that I daily trauaile in remeÌ„brance of our mutuall loue meane while sweete friend remporize and dismay not Mistresse sayde Agrates you haue already so bouÌ„d me to you as I must in duty temporize till time you please but I desire yee to consider how I haue no forces but such as you must fortifie mee withall so that if you continue your graces to me as you haue begun I shall haue strength to serue according to your deserts While I liue my Lord quoth she neuer will I faile yee be you then so well aduised as euery one may loue and esteeme yee whereby I may striue to loue you more then any other can in respect you are none of theirs or your owne but mine onely And if it happen some to speake of you you must thinke I receiue incomprehensible ioy therein for it cannot bee without recital of your haughty courage chiualry yet my heart dreading the dangerous occurrences which may ensue by ouer bold venturing accompanieth the former pleasure with as great a paine Agraies abashed to heare himselfe so praised vayled his lookes and shee loath to offend him altred her speech demanding what hee was determined to doe On my faith Madam quoth he I wil do nothing but what you please to coÌ„mand me I will then sayd Oliuia that hence-forth you keep company with your Cosen Amadis for I knowe hee loueth you intirely and if he counsell you to bee one of this Court deny it not Beleeue me Madam answered Agrayes both you and such good counselling will I obey for setting your diuine selfe aside there is no man liuing whom I wil more credite with mine affaires then my honourable Cosen Amadis At these words the Queene called him and Galuanes likewise hauing hnowledge of him in her fathers kingdome of Denmark where hee performed many braue deedes of armes and likewise in Norway so that fame reported him a right good Knight They being with her the Queene remembred Galuanes of her auncient acquaintance at which instant the Princesse Oriana came to them wherefore Agraies arose to salute her leauing Galuanes with the Queene and setled himselfe to conferre with Oriana who entertayned him maruailous kindely as well for Amadis sake whom hee loued as also the curtesie hee shewed her in Scotland when king Lisuart left her there at his returne from Denmarke as you haue heard before declared the Princesse thus speaking to Agraies Cosen we haue daily desired your presence heere especially your sister who not many dayes since was in great grief by false newes that came hither of Amadis death your kinseman as truly you would haue wondered therat Good reason had she Madam quoth Agraies to be sorrowful and not she alone but all the rest of his linage were bound to no lesse knowing when our Cosen dyeth the chiefe and most excellent of vs all dyeth yea the best Knight that euer bare Armour on his body and you must thinke his death would haue