Queene Sardamira sent to entreate Florestan to be her conduct to Mirefleure to Oriana Because he had so curstly handled the Knights that kept her company as they were able to follow her no further Fol. 138. Chapter 15. How the Knight of the Greene Sword who afterward stiled himselfe the Grecke Knight Bruneo de bonne Mer and Angriote Estrauaux embarqued themselues in the company of the faire Grafinda and of that which happened to them afterward Fol. 147. Chapter 16. How the Greeke Knight and his confederates conducted the faire Grasinda to the place where the Combates were to bee performed And of that which ensued thereâ—â— Fol. 159. Chapter 17. How King Lisuart sent for his Daughter Oriana to Court that he might deliuer her to the Romanes And of that which happened to a Knight of the Enclosed Isle But more especially of the Combate which Don Grumedan had with them that defied him Fol. 166. Chapter 18. How King Lisuart deliuered his Daughter Oriana to the Ambassadours of the Emperour and other Ladies with her to be conuayed to Rome And how they were soone after resiued by the Knights of the Enclosed Isle Fol. 181. FINIS THE FOVRTH BOOKE Of Amadis de Gaule WHEREIN IS AMPLY DECLAred what end and successe the Warre had begun betweene King Lisuart and the Knights of the Enclosed Isle With the Marriages and aliances there-upon ensuing to the high contentment of many Louers and their faire Friends Written in French by the Lord of Essars Nicholas de Herberay Commissarie in Ordinarie for the Kings Artillerie and his Lieutenant in the Countrie and Gouernement of Picardie vnder Monsieur de Brissac Great Master and Captaine Generall of the said Artillerie Translated into English by A. M. LONDON Printed by NICHOLAS OKES dwelling in Foster-lane 1618. TO THE TR VLY NOBLE AND VERTVOVS GENTLEMAN SIR PHILLIP HERBERT Knight Earle of Montgomerie Knight of the most Noble order of the Garter c. WIth the same deuotion and integrity of vnspotted affection most Noble Lord I present to your gracious acceptance this fourth Booke of Amadis de Gaule encouraged thereto by that truly vertuous Lady who hath promised to stand betweene me and your dis-fauour in presuming so boldly as herein I haue done The fift and sixt Bookes are shortly to succeed vpon your Honorable acceptation of these and whatsoeuer else remaineth in my poore power either in these or the like imployments are dedicated soly to your Noble seruice Your Honors in all duty A. M. The Printer to the Reader HAuing finished these two Bookes of Amadis de Gaule the third and fourth somewhat longer delayed then was at the first intended I am to intreate thy gentle fauour courteous Reader for such slips and errors as haue escaped mee in the Printing and where Sence shall seeme lame or defectiue in any place to helpe it with thy better vnderstanding as considering that not wilfully but rather vnwillingly those faults haue escaped the Presse By Michaelmasse Tearme next ensuing I haue made promise of the first and second Bookes of Amadis and so consequently the following parts as God and thy kinde fauour shall therein further me Till when accept these a speedie spurre to hasten on the other Thine to be commanded N. O. THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF AMADIS DE GAVLE Wherein is amply discoursed what end the warre had begun betweene King Lisuart and the Knights of the Enclosed Isle with the alliances and mariages therevpon ensuing to the no little contentment of many Louers and their faire friends Of the great sorrow made by the Queene Sardamira after she vnderstood the death of the Prince Saluste Quide And of the arriuall of Oriana in the Enclosed Isle CHAP. 1. BY the discourse of our Third Booke it hath beene declared to you how King Lisuart deliuered his daughter Oriaana to the Emperours Ambassadours contrary to the opinion of all the Princes and Lords of his Kingdome and that she with the other Ladies and Damosels that kept her companie were rescued by Amadis and his friends the nauie of the Romains vanquished Brandaiell de Rocque taken prisoner the Marques of Ancona the Archbishop of Tarente and many more beside Great was this ouerthrow wherein none of them escaped but was eithen slaine or taken prisoner After the conflict was fully ended and all the Ladies brought together Amadis euermore to conceale discreetly his loue and Orianaes went into hir Ship leauing Angriot and some other Knights to keepe company with the women I Passing from Ship to Ship to make such prouision as was thought necessary hee came neere to that wherein Agraies was and there hee heard the most woefull noyse that could be demaunding what might be the reason thereof answere was made him that the Romaines bewayled the death of the Prince Saluste Quide without any meanes of pacification Herevpon Amadis gaue command that the body lying still vpon the Orelope should be put into a Coffin till they might giue it buriall when they came to land Then they that before made such ruefull lamentation being now bereaued of the body encreased their cries and clamours so loude that they were heard by the Queene Sardamira who sat close by the Princesse Oriana When shee vnderstood the cause of their complaining she was suddenly surprised with such extreame sorrow as shee fell downe on the ground and weeping bitterly said Alasse Fortune hath now apparantly declared that her mallice extendeth not onely to the ruine of vs miserable captiues but also to destroy the Emperour and his whole Empire Ah poore Prince mishap hath had too much domination ouer thee Alasse what losse and what sorrow for euer will they endure that deerely loued thee when they shall heare of thine vnfortunate end I know not how thy maister himselfe is able to support this greefe I rather beleeue that he shall no sooner heare of these sad newes but he will immediatly die with extremity of impatience surely not without great reason hauing lost so many goodly Ships such a power of worthy men and a Prince of such admirable expectation Then turning to the Princesse Oriana shee thus proceeded Nay Madame his losse of you is the the greatest matter of all other whom he more desireth then any thing else in the world and for whom he will raise such rough and strange warres as will cost the deare liues of infinite famous and renowned Knights which cannot be long delayed except thou O Emperour doe shew thy selfe the most childish and cowardly minded Prince that euer any mother brought into the world During these lamentations she lay still vpon the ground her armes foulded one within another and meerely drowning her selfe in teares which mooued Oriana to such compassion as being ouercome with weeping shee was feigne to with-draw thence Whereupon Mabila being more strong constant then any of the rest came to the Queene and said In good faith Madame in mine opinion it ill becomes a Princesse so wise and well quallified as you haue
Lady â—…hom they meant al good to had thus deceiued them But that which redoubled the sorrowes of Amadis and Florestan was to behold their aged Father in such danger now vpon the very ending of his dayes this mooued them to such compassion as they could not refrain from weeping Neuerthelesse hee being a wise and vertuous Prince beganne not onely to be of courage but also to comfort them in this manner How now my Sonnes are yee so soone daunted at the dissemblings of Fortune are yee now to learne her mutabilities vpon my faith I did euer hold ye to be more strong and constant Let mee entreate one fauour from yee to lay no more affliction on me then I am possessed of already For your extremity of sadnesse doth so ouer weigh my soule as that is sufficient onely to be my death Therefore resume your wonted courage and let vs put our trust in God he is almighty and able to free vs from this place committing all care to him and resting perswaded of his prouidence But who could euer haue imagined that escaping the dangers in so bloody a Battaile we should fall into such an accident by the persuasions onely of a silly woman and vnder the couller of such a dumbe deuice Therefore louing Sonnes seeing we are not in case to dispose of our selues setting apart all naturall pitty and compassion which either you can haue of me or I of you let vs be patient and not mislike our fortune which we are not able any way to mend Amadis and Florestan hearing their Father speake with such a chearefull and constant resolution it appeared to them that they were disburdened of the heauiest load of their disaster and therfore concluded to reioyce in all tribulations whatsoeuer should happen vnto them And so they spent all the rest of the day without receiuing either meat or drinke till somewhat late in the euening at which time Archalaus came to them againe and opened the window accompanied with Danarda and two auncient knights bearing in their hands faire lighted Torches and calling to his prisoners he said Knights you that sleep so soundly at ease is not your appetite yet stirring to eate some good meate if you could come by it Sir answered Florestan if you were pleased to giue vs any By my soule replyed Archalaus I haue no will to giue yee any but rather to take meate from ye if ye had it Notwithstanding because ye shall not bee altogether discomforted to delight ye a little I haue some good tidings to tell yee whereof perhaps you will be ioyfull This euening two Squires and a dwarfe came hither making enquiry after certaine knights bearing Armes of Serpents them haue I also taken into my custody and allowed them as faire a lodging as yours is but if they tell me not to morrow morning of whence and what you are you cannot imagine a death more cruell then that I will put them to Heerein Archalaus did not dissemble with them for they in the Shippe perceiuing that not any of them returned againe sent forth Gandalin the Dwarfe and Orpheus the Arras-weauer to vnderstand what was become of them arriuing by chance at the same Castell where their Lords and Maisters were imprisoned The three knights hearing these newes were greatly discontented and not without especiall cause for they stood in doubt lest torment or some other meanes should cause them disclose whatthey would haue concealed Yet Amadis making no outward shew thereof returned this answere to Archalaus Trust me Sir when you shall know of whence and what we are I am well assured that you will allow vs better wel-come then hitherto you haue done For your selfe being a knight as wee are and perhaps heretofore falne into the trecheries of Fortune as now we are would finde the fauour of a friend as we could affoord the like to you stood you in the like necessity as we do And if any mater of manhood be in vs me thinks that might well instruct yee aboue all things else to offer vs no wrong How now Sir answered Archalaus haue yee learnde to prate so boldly you shall finde who it is that holdes dispute with ye and whether I offer ye wrong or right And let this bee your comfort that like fauous as I would vse to Amadis de Gaule were he in my power the very same and no other will I extend to you Vncle said Dinarda if you meane to send their heades to King Aranigne doe it not vntill seuerity of famine haue caused their death for suffering them to liue somewhile in misery death will then appeare the more welcome to them Beleeue me Niece quoth he it is well aduised and I am content to allow there-of whereupon hee said vnto them that they should haue some small mater of feding prouided they must resolue him whether hunger or thirst most offend them answere therefore on your faith which is the most irk esome to yee Seeing said King Perion you coniure vs so powerfully I could like well to haue meate but thirst doth afflict vs in much extreamer manner So quoth Archalaus I haue a piece of fat Lard which hath lien in powder aboue these three moneths that I am sure will quenche your thirst Presently it was brought and hee hurling it in at the grate said There take it friends make good cheare with it and say not now but you are kindly entertained So they departed leauing a Damosell at the window to listen what speeches should passe betweene them Much talke had she heard concerning the feature of person and manly prowesse of him that wore the golden Helmet especially that in the late battell against King Aranigne hee had declared such deeds of Armes as no knight else could performe the like This raised in her great pitty and compassion and for his sake she prouided a Flagon of wine and water which letting down softly to them she said Gentlemen be secret in this fauour I send ye and as I may I will defend ye from perishing The knights returned her most hartie thankes so shutting fast the window she bade them go to such rest as that foule place would assoord them Now concerning the entertainment of Gandalin and the two other that sought after King Perion and his company being falne into the hands of Archalaus as hath bin said already be it knowne to yee that they were suddenly shut vp in a darke vault ouer the Chamber where the supposed dumbe Lady had formerly lodged their Masters There they found two knights and a Damosell wife to the elder of the knights who had long time beene kept there as prisoners who declared to the Squires that by the window of their prison they saw three knights bearing Armes of Serpents brought in thither and very worthy welcome giuen them at the first Neuerthelesse quoth one of them at length they were let down into a deepe Dungeon by the most horrid treason that euer was heard of for the Bedde
Emperour let me therefore entreate yee faire Sir to aduise vs what you thinke meetest for our answere because the seuerall opinions of our Lords heere present are so different as wee know not which to elect for our best course Then he related to him in order all circumstances that had passed among them without omission of the least particle and the knight of the greene Sword returned him this answere Sir I am sure you can sufficiently vnderstand that the end and issue of such attempts are onely in the hand of Heauen and not guided or directed by the iudgment of man but in regard you would haue mine opinion in this case I will acquaint yee with my very vttermost power and ability If then Sir I had but one Castell onely and an hundred knights at my commaund and were besieged by such an enemy whose power twise exceeded mine If heauen affoorded mee so much happinesse to cause him condiscend to a peacefull conclusion vnder haxard of mine owne strength I should confesse my self beholding to him Neuerthelesse honourable Lords speaking to the other Barons and knights there present whatsoeuer I preferre as best in this case forbeare not you to counsell the King according to the fidelity wherein you stand bound and obliged to him Onely my most humble request is that hee would so much honor mee as to ranke mee among their number that shall be appointed for fight Let me tell you Sir replyed the King that I now call to minde what I heard once reported concerning King Perion of Gaule hauing the like occasion in hand as ours now is against King Abies of Ireland who forcibly had taken from him a great part of his kingdome Hee was deliuered by a single Combate which a young knight not aged fully eighteen yeares vndertooke against the said King Abies who was reckoned among the very best and boldest knights in the whole world yet was he slaine and King Perion put in possession of all hee had formerly lost But aboue all as a matter most deseruing note hee then knew him to be his owne Sonne that had wonne for him that worthy victory then tearmed the Gentleman of the Sea and afterward called Amadis de Gaule Thus our Lord in one day bestowed on him two mighty blessings by the recouery both of his kingdome and Son Wherefore then in the like case should not I imitate so worthy a man as King Perion and essay to deliuer my people out of those great tribulations as haue afflicted them by a warre so long and tedious Well may I graunt the Combat of twelue of my knights against as many of the enemy in regard that I am perswaded of them as by the help of heauen and the right of Iustice being on our side they will beare away the honour of victory What is your opinion Knight of the greene Sword Sir answered he I neuer had knowledge of that Amadis yet I long time frequented the Country of Gaule where it hath beene my good happe to see two of his brethren who are no way inferior to him in prowesse and I haue heard likewise that according as you haue declared so it fortuned to King Perion Now as concerning the fight of twelue to twelue whereas your Maiesty hath resolued before God I speake it had I beene in your place I should haue done the like Nay moreouer Sir if Garadan had demaunded a much lesse number let him be now assured he should not haue beene denyed were it to the aduenturing mine owne person against his And if it pleased you but to tell him as much I would willingly hazard my life to abate his pride that prates so contemptibly of all men else presuming vpon his owne vaine glory I hold it better quoth the King that you should be twelue equally in number and therefore I will bethinke my selfe to finde out eleuen of the best knights in my kingdome that may accompanie you in this attempt For which the knight of the greene Sword thanked him This being done the King returned to Garadan and spake thus Lord Garadan you haue demaunded the Combate of twelue to twelue and I haue yeelded thereunto vnder those conditions before offered and to morrow is the day if you are as ready as wee will be By my soule Sir answered Garadan you yeeld mee the greatest contentment that euer could happen to me and I could wish if it were possible that your men were as ready as those that aduenture for the Emperour Garadan replied the knight of the greene Sword so the King were so pleased and you possessed with the like desire of the Combate as heere you appeare to make shew of I would answere your heate this very instant houre What quoth Garadan doest thou doubt that I will flye from thee were I sure to be Emperour of Rome I would refuse that dignity rather then the offer thou hast made me For if I haue not man-hood sufficient whereby to ouer-come thee and take thy head from thy shoulders before it be night I will willingly forfeite mine owne in the Field The like hope of successe replyed the knight of the Dwarfe haue I ouer thee let vs then without longer trifling the time see whom Fortune will allow the best fauour vnto So both withdrew thence to arme themselues returning againe within a short while after and to the knights that accompanied Garadan thus he spake If euer you beheld a braue encoūter at the launce doe but obserue with what skill and dexterious iudgment I shall giue entertaine to this bold companion that dare make tryall of his poore fortune against me and repute me neuer to weare Helmet on my head if I doe not deliuer his head to the Emperour and leaue the Country quiet not suffering any of you to lay hand to weapon While Garadan held on these brauing speeches the knight of the greene Sword being at the other end of the Field cryed out aloud to him to defend himselfe Then couering themselues with their Shields couching their Launces and giuing spurre to their Coursers they ranne against each other with such violence that the knight of the greene Sword was halfe amazed But Garadan fell to the ground so farre lost in himselfe that hee lay a long while vnable to moue either hand or foote for the launce had pierced thorow his arme which did put him to intollerable anguish Then the knight of the greene Sword perceiuing him in such a strange perplexitie alighted from his horse to see whether hee were dead or no and as hee came neere him Garadan being restored from his trance started vp quickly laying hand to his Sword as if he had felt no harme at all Now beganne a very fierce and cruell battaile betweene them and it could not easily be iudged which side had the better because each stood so stiffely to the other as it mooued no meane admiration in the beholders And had it not beene for Garadans much enfeebling by the great abundance of
of the Greene Sword perceiuing he gaue his horse the spurre and before any blow was smitten came among them saying to Angriote who had not till then seene him To them my noble companion to them and feare not but heauen will defend thee in all extreamities Much amazed but yet greatly comforted was Angriote seeing the Knight of the Green Sword whom by notice of his Armes he imagined to be Bruneo and as he purposed to make him answer our knight ranne against his enemies meeting first with Brandasidel hee that formerly would haue forced him to ride with his face backward to the horse tayle compell him to come to Grasinda who thought him to be the most absolute Knight in al the Islands of Romania as already you haue heard but his Launce gaue him such a sound salutation betweene his Helmet and the Cuirats as caried him quite out of his sadle and there hee lay entranced on the ground The other three charged Angriote all together against whom he maintained his cause so stoutly as his courage gaue perfect apparance of it selfe And now beganne the fight betweene two to three manfully performed on either side but in the end our knight of the greene Sword and Angriote had such aduantage as they were glad to turne their backes because the best man among them all fell down to the ground Which the other two beholding they were quite out of heart and flying thwart the Forrest as Fortune best guided them the one chaunced into a maâ—isâ—e where hee was drowned while Angriote hewed the other in pieces This being done hee purposed to follow his companion whom still hee conceiued to be Bruneo albeit his stroakes and rare Chiualry vrged a contrary suspition and hee knew not what to imagine till hee beheld Amadis returning towards him who had then put off his Helmet to take the aire by which means Angriote knew him Then as one much amazed he rode to him and stretching forth his armes louingly embraced him saying My worthy Lord what high good happe befell me to meet you so luckily considering that but by your assistance I had doubtlesse bin dead By my faith Sir quoth our Knight you owe many thankes to Lasinde who was the cause of our happy meeting for he perswaded me that you were gone to a neere adioyning Monasterie for cure of a wound receiued in your legge Indeed Sir said Angriote such was my determination and thitherward I went till these Traytours came to assaile me But know you what is become of Brunco I am perswaded hee is either dead or in very great daunger Be of good cheare man replyed our Knight I hope his greatest perill is past for I lately left him in the caâ—e of one of the best Chirurgions in the world Then he reported in what maner he found him and what complaints he made exspecting nothing else but death whereby I perfectly vnderstand quoth hee what tedious trauailes you both haue endured onely in the search of me for which while I liue I stand highly obliged to you I would it were in my power quoth Angriote to let you know how much more I could find in my heart to doe for you then should you well perceiue that this which you please to terme trauaile is nothing else but pleasure and delight to me And let me tell you that I liue not but onely by your meanes for you holpe me to the wife which I haue now married without whose comfort I had no longer breathed Leaue we this talke said our knight till some fitter time and let vs goe see whether yonder dismounted varlets bee dead or no or else to put them out of their paine So they returned to the place of encounter and found one of them offering to rise but the Knight of the Green Sword going neere him made a proffer to smite him saying Trayterous villaine how duâ—st thou vpon no occasion assault any Knight errant that neuer did thee the least displeasure Confesse the truth or else thou diest Before God Sir â—â—swered Angriote this is one of them that so cruelly wounded our friend Brunco and to prooue it true I left him with him and two other Knights beside that came to seeke succour for their Sister as they said that should bee burned most shamefully But them-selues afterward confessed the treason to me in returning from a place where at the same instant I was desired to deliuer the Son of an ancient Knight who was kept prisoner by diuers villaines Which I did setting him at libertie and imprisoning the other in his steed by which occasion I and Bruneo were sundered whom since I neuer saw Is not this true speake wretch but hee answered not a word lying still with his eyes fast fixed on the ground Heereupon the Knight of the Greene Sword called to Lasinde saying Alight from thy horse and smite off his head Lasinde presently dismounted and as he lifted vp his arme to strike the other cried out Alas Sir for Gods sake take pitty on me and I will tell you the trueth instantly Make haste then said Angriote or another shall bee hastier with thee then thou wouldst haue him to be Then by litle and litle hee began to relate what had happened saying Vnderstand my Lords I and my companions being aduertised that two Knights errant were newly arriued in this Country to enquire after the knight of the Greene Sword we resolued to kill them as thinking by that meanes to doe displeasure to him whom they desired to finde because we hate him deadly And in regard wee feared to set on them both together we deuised to sunder them by misinforming them as already you haue heard But when we came to the Fountaine of the high Beeches he whom we conducted in pretence of deliuering the condemned Lady suffered his horse to water there and as hee let loose the reynes of his bridle we ran vpon him giuing him so many hurts with our Swords and Axes before hee had the least meanes of defending himselfe that he fell down dead as we supposed for he appeared not to moue any limbe Villaine answered Amadis durst thou commit such detestable treason vnder colour of thy hatred to me How Sir quoth the other are you the Knight of the Greene Sword Looke villaine said Amadis and see it heere hanging by my side Then Sir quoth the other you may partly hold me excused because what I haue done was by the perswasion of a kinseman of mine whom you haue slaine and heere you may behold him lying at my feete A yeare is not yet fully expired since he receiued by you the greatest shame that any man could haue and his name was Brandasidel whom I know not whether you remember as yet or no. You made him mount vpon his horse with his face backward and to hold the taile in steed of a bridle with his Shield renuersed and so presented him to Grasinda Heereat hee conceiued such displeasure that in meere malice
so much forget himselfe to deliuer her to the Romanes And she had solemnely vowed betweene God and her soule that she should be no sooner on Ship-bord but she would throwe her selfe into the Sea and this was her finall conclusion Very well vnderstood Florestan that this close-couched Enigma concerned her selfe whereupon he thus replied Madame God being all made of mercy will neuer bee vnmindefull of them that put their trust in him for as yet hee neuer did and doubtlesse he will not now beginne with so desolate a Damosell As for my Lord Amadis assure your selfe that he is in perfect health continually in quest of strange aduentures so that his famous deeds in farre distant Countries renownes his name in all parts of the world All these words were ouer-heard by the Queene Sardamira and perceiuing that they spake of Amadis she said to Oriana God keepe him from the Emperours fingers for hee is the onely man in the world that he hateth most next to another Knight who soiourned some while in the Court of King Taffinor of Bohemia This Knight I now speake of not much aboue a yeare since ouer-came in open field the most gentle Knight Garadan the onely man in all the Romaine Armie except the noble Prince Saluste Quide who is now come into this Countrie to the King your Father to conclude a marriage betweene his Lord and you And hee beares him this hatred for causing the ouer throw of eleuen other Knights beside whose hope was to reuenge the iniurie done to their friend on the day following the Combate with the first knight being appointed so many to so many This misaduenture so dismayed the whole Romaine Armie that the Emperor was compelled according to a former-made couenant to raise his Campe and to render back to King Taffinor whatsoeuer he had conquered from him Afterward so briefly as she could the Queene reported the whole manner of the seuerall fights and to what issue they sorted as you haue heard already at large So helpe me God Madame answered Florestan although your Emperour should neuer looue him yet there are many other worthy men that wishe him all true happinesse and honour and in my poore opinion Lord Amadis needes not care for his malice Notwithstanding make knowen to vs faire Queene if you can the name of the man so much commended by your selfe Vnderstand Sir quoth she one while he cals him-selfe the Knight with the Greene Sword and another while the Knight of the Dwarfe albeit I am verily perswaded that neither the one or the other is his true name indeed But because hee weares a Sword that hath a scabberd of greene colour and a Dwarfe doth ordinarily attend on him these names haue therefore beene imposed on him and vsually he makes answere to them When Florestan heard these wordes he was very ioyfull knowing for a certaintie that it was Amadis the like did Oriana who had noted the same reportes before by many And because shee was now some hinderance to her that she could not haue any longer priuate conference shee arose thus speaking to the Queene Sardamira Madame in regard of your tedious iourney this day you cannot chuse but be weary wherefore a place of repose is more conuenient for you Then shee conducted her into a goodly Chamber and there leauing her to her owne desseignes went downe into the Garden accompanied with Mabila and the Damosell of Denmarke to whom shee declared all her former intelligence concerning the knight of the Green Sword whom they knew assuredly to be Amadis On my faith Madame said Mabila if it be so let mee tell you the Dreame which I had this last night past Me thought that wee were in a Chamber close shut vp and that we heard a great tumultuous noise without which made vs fearefull beyond measure but your Amadis suddenly comming thither brake the doore calling for you out aloud Then I shewing you to him me thought hee tooke you by the hand and so brought vs forth placing vs in a very strong Tower saying to vs Abide heere without any dread or terror and therewithall I happened to wake This makes mee verily beleeue that hee will set you at libertie and free you from their power that hope to haue you hence Deare Friend and Cousin answered Oriana you giue mee great hope and comfort and if I were worthy of such a happinesse I could desire our Lord to heare your good wishes otherwise that wee might both dye in one instant Forbeare such words replyed Mabila for he that is aboue all fortunes whatsoeuer will send you at his good pleasure a better issue out of all troubles then you can wish or imagine But conferre with Florestan and earnestly desire him and his friends to doe their best endeauour to breake the Kings intention that no such conclusion may passe for currant Now let me tell you that Galaor had already done so much as was possible for him not by any aduertisement or entreaty vrged to him on the Princesses behalfe but because he plainely perceiued what shame would ensue by disinheriting Oriana for the aduancement of her Sister Leonora For some day or two before Florestans arriuall at Mirefleure King Lisuart being returned from hunting tooke Galaor aside as they rode on the way thus speaking to him My louing friend I haue euermore found such fidelitie in you and reposed such trust in your counsell as I neuer intend to conclude any mater of importance without imparting it first to you You vnderstand what honour the Emperour hath done me and his embassage so lately sent me requesting to haue my daughter Oriana as his wife wherein as I conceiue our Lord hath wrought most graciously both for her and me because he is the onely potent and redoubted Prince at this day liuing in all Christendome In which respect hee being thus allied with me I shall neuer haue any neighbour or enemy that dare presume any way to offend me and I shal be more respected and dreaded then euer any King of Great Brittaine heeretofore hath beene Moreouer it is a matter almost impossible to seeke any better prouision for her for shee being wife to so mightie an Emperour Leonora shall afterward remaine sole Lady of my Dominions which otherwise may happen to be diuided to our no little detriment and danger And yet let me tell you I purpose not to doe any thing in this case without the aduice of the Lords and Knights of my Court but more especially of you whom I coniure by the loue and affection you haue alwayes borne me to tell me freely your opinion and without any dissimulation Much amazed was Galaor to heare the King vse such language perceiuing apparantly heereby that he meant wholly to disinherite his eldest Daughter and right heire to aduantage the second For this cause he stood a long while very pensiue without answering so much as a word till the King began again thus to rouse him Come Sir
liking howbeit I make no doubt but that they will serue you in all loyalty You haue said well answered the King but wee are not now to stand vpon these tearmes I doe not craue your counsell whether I should determine peace or warre but only would know of you by what means I may be best reuenged Sir quoth hee by my former speeches you may easily knowe that Assemble your forces send to your friends for assistance especially to the Emperour of Rome because this case concerneth him as nearely as you Afterward your Army beeing ready march on without any dallying towardes them whom you meane to assault But before you doe this it were good in mine oppinion to practice some meanes whereby you may call home some that are farre off from your seruice partly through discontentment partly by wrongs offered I vrge this motion because if they be not willing to ayde you they should not resolue to offend you For being forth of your Land it would fal out dangerous if they should conspire and bend themselues against you if Fortune doe lowre that day vpon you For many times it comes to passe that distastes and dissents led by length of time doe soonest make their outward appearance when his power against whom the conspiracy is meant growes weake decayed Wherefore Sir this is one of the chiefest points whereof you are maturely to consider Truly said the King I know that you haue spoken to the purpose will do therein what I can Sir said Grumedan Amadis hath bin here-tofore so well accepted in your Court as no man posibly could be more and I could heartily wish that those villaines which caused this so long separation had neuer been borne into the world And although I am his friend intirely so shall I bee no enemy to you if you desist from beeing his Wherefore according to the aduice giuen you by King Arban it were good that aboue all other things you reconcile them to you that pertake with him winning their hearts and willes by little and little as easily you may doe giuing them good lookes and gracious language Then hauing the help of Rome and other your allies as the Kings of Ireland Suetia I make no question but you may with little ease attaine to your intention euen according to your owne minde But my good Lord said Guillan before any matter at all be attempted it were good to know if those men may bee resolued on whom you haue named Are you sure that the Emperour will meddle in the cause He is a man of very slender faith and as ill affected of his owne people as can be Are you certaine also that the King of Suctia will doe as you say If his Maiestie were so pleased Ambassadours should be sent to them speedily to entreate their fauour in this case shewing them apparantly that if reuenge for such a wrong were iustly inflicted it would with-draw any from attempting the like In good sadnesse saide the King you haue very well aduised and because you Lord Guillan doe sufficiently vnderstand the businesse I pray you take the charge vpon you to the Emperor for I know no Knight more able to preuaile with him then you are Sir saide Guillan I was not borne but for your seruice when and where you shall please to commande mee Make ready then quoth the King to morrow you shall haue Letters of credence only and the rest remaine to your owne report So they arose from Councell and each man returned to his lodging till the next morning when the King sending for Guillan saide vnto him Lord Guillan according to our conclusion yester-day you must depart towards the Emperor and with as much expedition as may be To him make knowne how matters haue come to passe that hauing deliuered my daughter to his Ambassadours shee was afterwards surprised from them and forcibly carried to the Enclosed Isle his men all slaine or taken prisoners whereof hee ought to haue respect this iniury redounding as much to him as me If he offer aid and will leuy an Army to be reuenged say that on my part shall be no defailance in any thing my power can stretch vnto If you find him willing to proceed effectually returne againe with all possible diligence that our enemies may haue no leasure to fortifie themselues as I am certaine they intend to doe Sir answered Guillan God giue me grace to accomplish your will in this and any thing else you shall please to employ mee in Worthy friend said the King there are your Letters of credence and if it bee possible set away to morrow morning early for one of my best Ships is made ready for you and waites your comming in the hauen Sir replied Guillan there shall bee no want of duty in me And so taking his leaue and giuing order for his further affaires he went aboard and set away The very same day Brandoynas also was dispatched for Galuanes in the Isle of Mongaza and from thence into Ireland to King Cildadan to make ready so many men as he could Philipinell was sent to Gasquilan King of Suetia who sometime came into Great Brittaine to approue his manhood against Amadis King Lasuart sent him word that if his spleene as yet continued hee should now haue better meanes then euer because the warre was intended against him So farre did these newes fly abroad that they came to the vnderstanding of Archalaus the Enchanter to his no little ioy and comfort intending by this occasion the vtter ruine of King Lisuart and likewise of Amadis And for his speedier attaining thereto he went presently to King Aramyne who hearing of his ariuall gaue him most royall entertainement presuming peremptorily that hee would not come into his countrie but vpon some very vrgent occasion Beeing priuately seated together Archalaus thus began Sir some few dayes since I receiued credible information that King Lisuart and Amadis de Gaule two of the deadliest enemies you haue are fallen vpon such a quarrell as without any hope of peace euer to come betweene them they muster men for a maine battell out of which they cannot escape but with the finall destruction of the one or other perhaps of them both together And because occasion doth expressely call you as wel to reuenge your former losses in times past as also to extend your limits by peaceable making your selfe King of Great Brittaine me thinkes you should not delay the mustering of your men and summoning all your friends together that while they cauill maintaine their quarrell so farre off you may take so apt an aduantage and make an easie entrance into Brittaine If they chance to meet and fight the field then without giuing the least leasure to the conqueror to breath or refresh his followers you may set vpon him so opportunately and bid him so hot an vnexpected battaile as none of them can escape with life Now Sir to acquaint you with the cause of
caried not this comfort farre for Bruneo ioyned with him suddenly and reached him such a mighty stroake on the Helmet as made him sit staggerring on his horse by which aduantage catching fast holde on his Gorget hee drew him so strongly to him that downe hee fell to the ground amazedly There lay the Knight shaking quaking while Bruneo diuerse times couruetted his horse ouer him euen as if hee meant to tread him in peeces as indeede hee had done but that he cryed out to him for mercy Arise then said Bruneo and see if thy companion be dead or no. The Knight beeing full of paine rose quakingly vp and comming to the other tooke off his Helmet when receiuing ayre hee began to breath Lift him vp saide Bruneo into thine owne saddle and sit behinde to supporte him vppe which the Knight accordingly did Then looking about hee sawe that the young Prince his guide were fled but they returned againe vpon fight of the victory and being come to him hee said to the Kings sonne My Lord heere I present you two prisoners aduise with your selfe whether I shall pardon them or put them to death before your face for more terrour to the rest that followe the treacherous Duke their Master Sir Knight replyed the Prince they should not pay penance for this offence I pray you send them backe to the Campe where if they will become ours I will cause them to be as well respected as lies in my power to doe This aduise was wel liked by Bruneo and much did hee commend the wisedome and good minde of the young Prince wherfore vpon receipt of their fidelity they rode together to the Citie Aumenta where they were no sooner ariued but the inhabitants knew both the guide their young Lord. Wherupon in a very small time all the people assembled about him to kisse his hand and offred him the very vttermost of their power whereof Bruneo being very ioyfull spake vnto them in this manner worthy Citizens the loue which you haue shewen to this young Prince your true and lawfull Lord bindeth him to you in endeared affection so long as hee shall liue and the trust which he reposeth in you should binde you to loue and honour him You see hee is but young and hath small meanes to expell the enemy out of your limits and that enemie as you all well knowe murdered by treason your late good and royall King Since when vsurping on the kingdome hee hath besieged the chiefest Cittie and keepeth his strength as yet so near about it that without your ayde it is in danger of vtter spoyle and ruine with all the noble Citizens and good Knights abyding therein Wherefore worthie Lords and Citizens now that occasion so louingly offers herselfe by returne of the Queene your royali Mistresse who hath brought with her three Knights of the Enclosed Isle whereof I am one conclude among your selues to reuenge such iniuries as you haue receiued by the traytor and doe so much that your legittimate Lords may be re-seated in their rights And this I dare assure you if you will follow me that I shall haue the meanes to surprise both him and his Army yea vtterly to ouerthrowe them only by the helpe of my companions who are alreadie within the Cittie and they will not faile to issue foorth so soone as I shall giue them the signall As thus hee continued on his Oration there ariued two peasants who came in great hast from the camp to aduertise theÌ„ of this citie for certaine That the besieged knights and Cittizens had made a fallie forth in the night vpon the Watch whom they had slaine as also a great number more before they could bee any way succoured Moreouer that the Duke himselfe was beaten downe from his horse taken led away prisoner into the Cittie by two strange knights as the report went Hereof said these fellows there neede no doubt to be made because we were in the camp when the Allarm was giuen where we were constrayned to abide by reason of the turbulent night which hindered vs from selling our victualls But wee were neuer in such a feare and not without great reason considering that the Souldiers were and yet are so mightily terrified as they ranne away confusedly striuing who shall get him-selfe first farthest off So helpe mee God said Bruneo these are happy newes Now bestirre your selues my friends let vs forth-with part hence and pursue them in the rere that wee may the sooner send them packing At these words euery man cryed to Armes but Bruneo vpon better aduice deferred this hast vntill the euening to the end they might come vpon them vnprouided in the meane while they went to receiue some sustentation that they might the better march away in the night His adâ—uice was geeerally allowed and they all resolued to liue and die with him Hereupon the houre for their departing being come they were all marshalled in order and each battalion appointed marching on in good order towards the Campe and about break of day they came neere it within a quarter of a league Then Bruneo by fiering of a Beacon gaue a signall to them of the Cittie aduertising them thereby what hee intended But the Dukes watch perceiuing it presently sent intelligence to their Captaines who doubting some immediat danger and not forgetting the precedent night and great losse caused their bagge and baggage closely to bee trussed vp and raysed their siedge so speedily as they were gone three leagues off before any knowledg could be had of them or where they were But so soone as these newes came to Angriote and Bruneo they and their people mounted on horse-backe to follow them finding them very conueniently driuing all their luggage before them then they beganne to skirmish each against other and although the harquebuziers kept themselues behind with the greater part of the Horse yet were they so sharpely charged by them of the Cittie that they fell from their ranckes and ranne into great disorder By meanes wherof very many lost their liues a great number were taken prisoners and more had receiued much greater damage but that they rallied them-selues together againe and kept in a fast combination Angriote well obseruing this and calling to minde that the pursuite of a desperat enemie causeth often times the losse of a battaile already wonne commanded retreate to bee sounded and the rather beecause darke night approached So returning backe to the Cittie each man betooke himselfe to rest till the next morning concluding then to goe visit the Queene who as you haue already heard remained still aboard her Shippe in expectation of tydings from the Knights of the Enclosed Isle and of her sonnes Accordingly they came thither to her finding her so oppressed with melancholy as no woman possibly could be more But when she saw them in so good disposition vnderstanding also the surprisall of her enemie and dissipation most ruinous of his Campe her soule became
â—…rmour newes was brought them that the eleuen Romaine knights were in the field and there attended their comming In regard whereof eachman quickly armed himselfe and the twelue knights rode forth accompanied with the King and many other but when Arquisil beheld them approaching neere he thus spake to his companions Lords friends and kinde companions let me entreate ye to remember that we go to fight not onely to winne land for the Emperour or to maintaine the promise made by Garadan but for the honour of the whole Romane Empire Moreouer I haue spoke it and once again do vrge it to permit me to combate him who yesterday had the victory of our associat I see him come foremost and he shall be the first I hope ouerthrowen prepare then to meete them and make spare of no man So taking their shields they marched directly against their enemies who perceiuing them to come nere placed their launces as they ought charging manfully one another Arquisil met the knight of the green Sword so full forward that he brake his Launce vpon him in many shiuers but if himselfe had not quickly caught hold by the mayne of his horse the knight had layde him along on the ground for he met him with such a direct opposition as he lost his stirrops and was quite out of his saddle Afterward perfecting his carriere he met with one of the other to whom he gaue so sound a salutation on the height of his Helmet as he disarmed him thereof At the same instant he was fresh charged by two together and wounded so grieuously in the thigh as he was neere falling whereat hee grew so offended that clasping hand to his Sword he gaue so great a stroke to him that was neerest him as if hee had not receiued it at his best aduantage he had beene immediatly slaine thereby But the blow slyding by lighted on the horses neck and on the legge of his rider bearing them both together vnto the ground When Arquisil saw that he came behinde him and gaue him such a stroke on the Helmet as made his eyes to sparkle fire notwithstanding hee knew so well how to reuenge himselfe that he cut off his left arme iust at the shoulder Then began the fight to bee more fierce then before because they all came together pell mell and although Arquisil felt great pain by his so late receiued wound and lost his blood so extraordinarily yet for all that he gaue the by-standers apparant testimony that his heart was vnconquerable and he stil maintained the fight continuing as fresh and couragious as any of the rest Neuerthelesse at length both he and his companions were so shreudly handled as the most part of them lay along on the earth and himselfe found no meanes for enduring the sharpe assaults of the knight of the greene Sword who followed on him still so incessantly not permitting him the least minutes space of breathing as he was well neere vnable to hold out any longer Then Grasandor buckled with him and charged him so mainely with all his might that he instantly fell downe in a swoune Whereupon he alighted from his horse making shewe as if he meant to smite off his head But the knight of the greene Sword perswaded him to the contrary and going to him tooke off his Helmet that he might receiue ayre when comming to himselfe againe he seemed not a little terrified when hee perceiued his death so nere where-upon he craued mercy of him On my faith quoth the knight thou dyest except thou yeeld thy selfe Alas said hee I submit to your mercy Then he tooke him vp and gaue him assurance of life At which very instant came King Tafinor who being ioyfull of so happy a victory demaunded of the knight of the Dwarfe how hee fared whether he were wounded or no. Sir quoth he I haue no wound so offensiue to me but I count it worthily receiued in regard that you are so honorably serued So mounting all on horseback they returned into the Citty where the people stood in mighty crowds along the streetes crying out aloud Blessed bee this good knight by whom if God bee so pleased we shall haue peace and a finall conclusion of warre In this manner they followed him to the Kings lodgings where Chirurgions came to visit him assuring him vpon their liues that in very few daies they would enable him to sit on horsebacke if he would be ordered by their aduice Now in regard that all the Romaine knights lay slaine in the field except Arquisil who was brought in as a prisoner he entreated the knight of the greene Sword to suffer him to depart thence vpon his faith that he might carry home his dead companions vpon condition that he would return to him at all times and as often as hee pleased to command him Arquisil answered Amadis you are a Gentleman and I am perswaded that you will performe what you haue promised goe returne hither againe so speedily as you can So departed Arquisil of whom our History now ceasseth to speake to tell yee that within some few dayes after the knight of the green Sword finding his hurts fully healed and his body able to beare Armour hee grew weary of longer tarrying with Tafinor and finding him at conuenient leisure he spake vnto him in this manner Sir thankes be to our Lord you are now in peace and out of all troublesome annoyances wherfore let my departure be with your good lyking for I am determined to set forward to morrow morning in pursuit of such good fortune as my fairest starres shall assigne vnto me But thus Sir assure your selfe that wheresoeuer I shall abide so long as I liue I am your humble seruant as the fauour and honour you haue done me doth iustly binde me How Sir knight answered the King will you leaue me Are you weary of this Country whereof you onely may dispose and of my selfe also I beseech you Sir to accept it as your owne by due desert and let mee for euer bee happy by your companie Sir said the knight I humbly entreat you to pardon me and to beleeue that if it consisted in my power my earnest desire to doe you any seruice considered I would yeeld to your request but my heart by no meanes can permit it The King knowing that it was small reason to detayne him against his will said To morrow morning I will tell ye more first wee will heare Masse together and then if it shall like you to graunt me one request which I am to demaund of ye you shall therein do me a singular pleasure Sir answered the knight you haue such power in command ouer me as â—mine owne especiall intention reserued I will not gaine-say whatsoeuer you shall vrge vnto me I thank ye Sir quoth the King So falling into other discourse and night drawing on the knight of the greene Sword commaunded Gandalin to make all things ready for departing thence the next morning
this tract it will guide yee thither for I must needs after my fellow to the Fountaine where wee must dresse the venison which wee haue gotten this morning Then the King left him and ascending vp the Rocke espied on the height thereof the poore dwelling of Nascian so enuironed with great bushes as well witnessed the wonderfull solitude of the good Hermite Alighting from his horse he entred into the first room where hee found the holy man vpon his knees clothed in a religious habit and reading in a Booke of deuotion which hee gaue not ouer at his arriuall but hauing finished his prayers hee arose demaunding of the King what he sought for Father quoth he not long since as I crossed the Forrest I met with a goodly childe leading a Lyonnesse in a leashe I pray ye for courtesies sake to tell me what he is for at the very first sight of him my minde gaue me that he is issued from some good place While the King continued on this speech the Hermite so heedfully obserued him that hee knew him as being the man to whom he had done many seruices during the time that he followed Armes In regard whereof falling down humbly vpon his knees hee craued pardon for his error in not giuing him such entertainment as beseemed so great a Maiestie But the King raysing him vp tooke him by the hand saying Good Father will you not resolue me concerning the young childe which I mentioned to ye Assure your selfe vpon my faith that the knowledge you may giue me of him cannot but redound to his great benefit Sir answered the Hermite our Lord hath hitherto shewen great signes of loue to that childe and seeing hee hath so carefully kept him as I shall relate vnto ye it stands with good reason that you as a King should loue defend him in such sort as no harme or displeasure should bee offered him You haue as appeareth by your speeches an carnest desire to know what he is In trueth Sir during the time that I haue nourished him he may be tearmed mine albeit it is not yet fully sixe yeares since I tooke him from the teeth of a Lyonnesse that was carrying him to her whelpes Wherein our Lord apparantly declared that hee is the preseruer of all his creatures because the beast neuer did him harme but onely suckled it among her yong ones so that by the milke of her and of a little Ewe which then I had I compassed the meanes of fostring him for more then a moneth In expectation still of mine owne Sister Mother to the other yong Lad that keepes him companie who afterward comming to me she became so good a Nurse and Gouernesse to him that thankes be giuen to our Lord for it I am perswaded he is one of the goodliest creatures this day liuing And one thing more strange then all the rest I am to tell yee vnderstand Sir that as I was about to baptize him my Sister hauing taken off very rich clothes wherein he was swadled shee shewed me a letter vnder his right pappe as white as snow contayning the word Esplandian and on the other side directly against his heart were other carracters as redde as blood which I could neuer vnderstand because they are neither Latine nor of our language Now in regard of that name which at his birth it seemes he brought with him into the world I haue euer-more since caused him to be called Esplandian accordingly In good faith Father saide the King you haue tolde me wonders but seeing you found him in such fort as you say it is to be presupposed verily that he was borne not far off from this Countrie That know not I answered Nascian neither couet I to vnderstand more then what our Lord hath permitted Well then quoth the King to morrow good Father I pray you meete me at the Fountaine of the seauen Beeches where I shall be with my Queene and a goodly company of Ladies Bring Esplandian the Lyonnesse and your young Nephew with you to whom I intend some good for his Father Sergils sake whom I somtime knew to be a good knight Sir replyed the holy man I am bound to doe what you haue enioyned mee and desire of God that all may be to his honour and glory The King giuing him the good morrow rode thence and arriued at his Tents about midday Now because none there knew what was become of him each man was diligent in enquiry after him and although his most intimate familiars desired to know where hee had bin yet would he reueale nothing but commaunded to couer for dinner As he was ready to sit downe at the Table Grumedan came to tell him that the Queene entreated him to see her Tent before dinner about some nouell occurrences lately happening Whereupon hee went thence to her and being alone by themselues shee told him that as they came ryding from the Citty a very beautifull Damosell mounted vpon a light ambling Hobbie and conducted onely by a Dwarfe presented her selfe before her And she being very sumptuous in her apparell rode by all my Ladies and women â—quoth the Queene not vouchsafing one word to them vntil such time as she came before mee when she gaue me this Letter telling me that you and I must reade it this day before dinner because thereby wee should bee acquainted with admirable matters And no sooner had shee spoken that word but she rode away from me so fast as her horse could gallop without permitting me the least leysure of any answere So she gaue the King the Letter sealed with an Emerauld chased in golde with these words engrauen about it This is the Seale of Vrganda the vnknowne Then opening the Letter the King read the contents following The Letter of Vrganda the vnknowne to the mightie King Lisuart MOst high and powerfull Prince Vrganda the vnknowne who loues and desires to doe you any seruice doth aduise and councell you to your great benefit that at such time as a Gentleman nourishea by three diuers Nurses shall appeare before your Maiestie you would embrace entertaine loue and dearely respect him for he is the cause of your quiet by deliuering you from the greatest danger wherein euer you were He is deriued from blood royall on both sides and partaketh somewhat in the natures of those creatures that gaue him sucke By the first of them he shall be so strong and magnanimous as hee will darken all the valour of the very best Knights that haue gone before being neuerthelesse so milde and gentle that hee will be loued and esteemed of all men occasioned by the nourishment receiued from his second Nurse As for the third beleeue it Sir that neuer was Gentleman of better spirit more Catholique and compleate in all good conditions so that he shall addict himself to actions pleasing to God auoyding all vaine affaires wherein the most of other Knights doe commonly spend their time And that which exceedeth all the
a Robe of shame as quite altered her determination Thus for more then a moneths space shee continued in these agonies till one day among other meeting with Gandalin at apt leysure she thus bespake him Friendly Squire in the loue that you beare to God your Maister let me entreate to mooue one question to ye concerning him which cannot but returne to his great honour and profit and by mee shall not bee discouered to any liuing Madame quoth Gandalin if your motion be within the compasse of my capacity assure your selfe that I will resolue ye Tell me then sweet Friend said Grasinda doe you know of his affection to any woman that may contradict his loue to another if it should grow to such a purpose Madame quoth he it is but a little while as yet since the Dwaife and I became his seruants whereto nothing more incited vs then his admired vertues and renowne And he hath expressely forbid vs to enquire either of his name or any of his affaires but to declare the fidelitie of our duty in knowing no more then he thinkes fit for vs. But thus much I dare tell yee that wee haue already seene such valour in him as you may well credit without all question that he is the best knight in the world Now as Gandalin made a more ample relation of his Maisters fortunes she held her eyes fixed on the ground and in sighing shewed her selfe so pensiue that hee easily perceiued the loue shee bare to his Lord. But tell me then Sir I pray ye quoth she why did hee fall a-weeping the other day in our presence Truely Madame said he it is a matter continually happening to him and so often doth hee sighe both by day and night that I maruaile much how he can liue Yet I know him to be such a man and of so great spirit that this proceedeth not from any dread of peril or from any hazardous enterprise he can vndertake whereby it may bee easily presumed that it is entire loue and affection which he beareth to some Lady that I know not So God help me replyed Grasinda I do beleeue as much and highly thanke yee for this courtesie Now you may go to him when you please and heauen send him as speedie a remedie for his hurts as I could willingly wish to mine Hauing thus spoken shee with-drew thence into her Chamber perswading her selfe assuredly that she was preuented in her hopes where-upon she promised by all discreete meanes to quenche the fire already too much kindled Neuerthelesse Loue still gaue a maine opposition and fed her imaginations with idle conceit that in time shee should hit the marke she aymed at But it fell out otherwise for so soone as our knight felt himselfe able for Armes he commaunded Gandalin to make all things ready because he meant to ride away the next morning At that very instant Grasinda came into his Chamber where talking together as they were wont to doe and falling from one discourse to another the knight of the Dwarse at last spake thus Madame I feele my selfe so exceedingly well recouered thankes be to God and you as I am purposed so you bee not therewith displeased to part from hence very earely to morrow morning coueting nothing more in my defiâ—es then to study how I may during my life-time best acknowledge the good and honor you haue done me Therefore Madame I most humbly entreate you to consider with your selfe if there be any seruice that you shal please to command me my imployment therein shall stretch so farre as my lifes extreamity When Grasinda heard these wordes she fell into such a heauinesse as she could not returne him any answere neuerthelesse at length she thus replyed Knight of the greene Sword I make no doubt but that your heart and tongue are relatiues the one agreeing with the others intention as well for the good which you say you haue receiued in my house as for a matter of farre higher moment which neither the time nor your forward intent will now permit to be discouered Therfore when the happy houre shall come best fitting mee to vrge my recompence assure your selfe I will demaund it so secretly of you without either blushing feare or shame as you shall well perceiue it to be a matter which I haue hitherto kept concealed in my heart and neuer reuealed to any one liuing In the meane while let me entreate you to tell me which way you purpose to direct your trauaile Beleeue me Madame answered our knight I hope in short time to bee in Greece as well to see the country as the Emperour of whom I haue heard many good reports Truely Sir replyed Grasinda I wishe all happy successe to attend yee and I meane to prouide a Ship for ye and to furnish ye in such sort as your voyage shall be the easier perfourmed Moreouer I will giue ye Maister Elisabet for your health and welfare when any disaster or inconuenience shall befall ye with this promise that if you finde your body apt and able you shall come againe hither to mee within a yeares compasse Our knight had small reason to refuse so great kindnes but in returning Grasinda most harty thankes said Madame I were the most abiect wretch in the world and no way worthy the name of knight if I should not endeauour to acknowledge so many gracious fauours as you haue bestowed vpon me and I should think the wearing of Armes farre vnfit for me if either by dread of death or any other accident whatsoeuer I should deferre the fulfilling of what you haue inioyned me What I desire quoth she to haue you doe for me shal be respitted till your backe returne and it is no other thing but what shal be for your honor and aduantage Madame said he such is my confidence in your true appearing vertues that you will not vse me in any other seruice No vpon my faith quoth she Then she sent for Maister Elisabet to whom she gaue charge for prouiding a good Ship in readines and all necessaries else fit for trauaile during the knights voyage to Constantinople Which he accomplished with such care and diligence as the fift day following our knight taking leaue of Grasinda went aboord with Maister Elisabet Hoysing their sayles they passed many Islands of Romania in the more part whereof he performed such rare deedes of prowesse that his fame flew in short while through the whole Country But by reason he had no more then a yeares limitation for his returne to Grasinda the Mariners importuned him to more speedines giuing him to vnderstand that it was impossible for him making so many delayes by the way to finish the voyage so soone Whereupon he concluded to land no more till he came into Greece and therefore launched forth into the maine where for this time wee will leaue him to speake of matters happening in Great Brittaine during the long voyage of Amadis It hath bin tolde yee in
his blow that lighting on his snout it entred into one of his nostrils which were great and wide staring so farre that it pierced the braine extreamely This made Endriagus so mad that hee got our knight fast about the body and with his sharpe-pointed clawes tore his coate of maile yea and entred through the flesh to the bone when questionlesse he had quite kild him but that his owne blood so ouerstifled his stomacke that letting loose his hold he fell downe back-ward And as he rendred his spirit the deuill came out of his body causing such a clap of thunder as all the whole Island shooke with the sound thereof This noyse being heard by them in the Castell they perswaded themselues thereby that their knight was then at the Combate and albeit they were in a safe and well-defenced Fort yet the best and boldest man of them all was ouercome with extraordinary feare Endriagus being thus vanquished our knight rose very faintly and purposing to goe finde Gandalin who was then comming towards him hee fell downe againe in a swoune by a little perling brooke that descended from the mountaine Then Gandalin imagining his Maister to bee dead fell into most dolefull lamentations but comming neere him he beheld him to breath wherupon he vnarmed him Then recouering his spirits called to Gandalin saying My deare Friend Gandalin now thou shalt see the ending of my dayes let me entreate thee by the kinde nourishing which I receiued from thy father and mother that as thou hast been loyall to me in my life thou wilt continue so in death and so soone as my vitall spirits haue forsaken me to take out my heart and beare it to my dearest Mistresse Tell her Gandalin that as it veelded it selfe hers the same day I first saw her and euer since hath continued better and better in her seruice while it was lockt vp in this brest or sad habitation neuer wearied in any obedience to her that shee would be pleased so to receiue it now in remembrance of him that kept it for her and in so doing I beleeue that my soule shall haue the happier rest in another world As hee meant to speake more words fayled him and againe hee swonded Then Gandalin without staying to answere him mounted on the top of the Rocke and winded the horne which he caryed to giue signall of the death of Endriagus so loude that Ardan the dwraff who was then on the highest of one of the Castle Towers easily heard it Wherevpon hee ranne downe presently to acquaint Maister Elisabet therwith desiring him to make haste to his Maister who perhaps stood in great neede of his helpe Maister Elisabet hauing all things in a readinesse mounted on horse-backe directing his course as fast as hee could ride towards the place where hee still heard the sound of the Horne Not long had he iourneyed but he espyed Gandalin who comming to meete him cryed out afarre off Alas Maister Elisabet Endriagus is dead but if you prouide not the sooner for my Lord hee is gon likewise How man quoth he Alas said Gandalin he hath already lost so much blood as hee is not a ble to speake a word Very sadde and sorrowfull was Maister Elisabet at these newes and ran quickly to the place where the Knight lay so weake and ouer spent as hee had no motion of his pulse yet his eyes were wide open wherefore to comfort him Maister Elisabet sayd How Sir Kinght will you declare such debilitie of courage hauing brought to end so great and glorious an interprise doe yee not know that I am heare to make you sound and well againe so soone as pleaseth God When the Knight heard him hee stroue to make answere but could not Then they layd him softly vpon a cloake and hauing wholly vnarmed him Maister Elisabet viewed his wounds which he found to be so many and dangerous as hee stood in great doubt of his recouery Neuerthelesse hee resolued to performe so much as possibly he could and instantly applyed so soueraigne vnguents as both stanched his bleeding and so assawaged all vigour of paine that his speech came to him againe when with a very feeble and low voyce he thus spake Oh my Lord God who to redeeme mee tooke humaine flesh in the blessed Virgins wombe and afterward didst suffer a most dolorous and painefull Passion take pitie on my soule for I well knowe that my bodie is no better then earth Truely Sir answered Maister Elisabet you haue good reason to recōmend yourself to him considering that by his assistance you shall receiue the speedier helpe As he ended these words there arriued diuers of the Marriners who taking him vp gently in their armes conuayed him thence to the Castle where laying him in his bed he was so voyd of allhis sences as hee felt not any thing was done to him Thus he continued all night complayning continually as one that endured much yet without vttering any one worde till about breake of day he fell asleepe Hereupon Maister Elisabet commanded all to auoyd the chamber to preuent any noise for offending him and sate downe close by him till hee heard him wake and cry Gandalin Gandalin shield thy selfe from this deuill so cruell and daungerous In good faith Sir replyed Maister Elisabet if you had been as safely shielded as hee your health were the surer and your recouerie the lesser At these words our Knight opened his eyes and knowing Maister Elisabet said vnto him Oh Maister where are we Where quoth hee in such a place where you shall doe well enough by the grace of God And perceiuing his Feauer to haue left him hee brought him food to eate was so diligent in care ouer him that before night hee recouered his memorie perfectly and beganne to know and speake to euery one Maister Elisabet seeing all danger to be well quallified both hee and all the rest gaue thanks to God for it and continued still so respectiue of him as hee grewe hourely better and better notwithstanding for twentie dayes hee kept his bed without any habilitie of rising At length Maister Elisabet perceiuing that without any great perill to the his person hee might endure the Sea especially his Feauers beginning to forsake him one day as they sate deuising together he sayd My Lord thankes be to God you are soundly recouered and in mine opinion when best shall please you you may goe aboard your shippe whereto I so much the rather counsell you because our victuals growe so short that if wee dislodge not hence the sooner we shall be quite emptied My louing friend answered our Knight I may iustly say that next vnto God you are the man to whom I am most beholding deliuering mee from the great daunger wherein I was And let mee assure yee that so long as my soule liueth as a guest in this bodie you haue a Knight ready to bee employed for you without reseruation of hazard or perill whatsoeuer for you haue
when he offers to speake he may well be laught at for his foolish babbling Indeed Sir quoth the Emperour I onely am the cause of all this contending and therefore we must needs make an end together The amends said our knight is too much made already my Lord prouided that I may remaine in your good conceit and that you will remember me hereafter Let me tell ye Sir answered the Emperor that heereof you cannot fail nor in any satisfaction that I can make ye although you should stand obstinat against the permissioÌ„ Now albeit the Emperour spake these words in iest yet followed a time that they fell out to good earnest as you will finde more at large in the fourth Booke following Sir knight said Leonorina I know that I haue done you wrong and seeing it is not in my power at this present to make you a sufficient amends I beseech you to accept this Ring euen with as good a heart as I was desirous to know of you all that I demaunded Taking it from off her finger he stepped forward to giue it him but in steed of the Iewell he tooke her by the hand saying Madame this white and delicate hand is more worthy to be kissed then any other that I haue seene within this yeares compasse and the Ring may well repute it selfe happy to be circled with so high an honor therfore pardon me I pray ye and suffer me to kisse it All this Sir quoth she cannot hinder the Ring to bee yours so she presented it to him again whereof he durst make no refusall but in setting one knee to the ground took it sweetly kissed her hand Assure your selfe Sir said she that you haue so excellent a stone as I esteeme it to bee the onely one of that kinde albeit I haue the very like in the Crowne which you gaue me backe againe which two stones indeed should be but one So help me God replied our knight it is not to be admired that a thing so rare should bee in the power of the worlds choycest Lady for like as such a precious Iewell is not easily come by as hardly I think can all the East yeeld another to go beyond you either in wisdome knowledge and all good graces else therefore this Iewell is only fit for you before any other With that the Emperor stept in saying Let me tell ye Sir when you know from whence it came you wil make much greater estimation of it if you obserue the excellency of the Ring you will find it worthy of right good keeping For it is of an Emerauld as faire as possible can be and the rest is a Rubie of two colours by nature the one red as blood the other white as snow Then know Sir that Apolidon my Grand-father whose renown hath long time circled the whole earth though I know not whether as yet it came to your ears holding the place that now I doe among many other singular things giuen him by Filipane King of India he sent him twelue Crownes the very richest that could be seene And although they were of inestimable value yet there was one to be prized aboue all the rest and that is it which my daughter presented you first wherin the stone being whole was then enchased But Apolidon finding it to be so strange caused it to be cut in twain leauing one of the parts in the Crowne which he gaue to his Queen wife Grimenesa whoÌ„ he loued so dearely as more loyall louers were neuer heard of kept the other moitie for himselfe which hee wore so long as he liued in this Ring and which I pray you keepe for her sake that gaue it you with so good a heart And if at any time you haue occasion to part with it let it be to some one of your kinred to the end that if Fortune conduct him into these parts hee may know and serue the Lady that gaue it you if she stand in need thereof And so it came to passe after-ward for it fell into the power of Esplandian who for the loue of her some short while after performed many deedes of Chiualry as you shall vnderstand in the fift Booke Sir answered our knight I haue often heard speech of that Apoliaon who builded the Arche of loyall Louers in the Firme Iâ—â—and where I my self haue bin trauailing through the country of Great Brittaine there also I saw the figures of him and his faire Grimenesa with many other singularities which are there at this present Perhaps then quoth the Emperour you know the knight that conquered the Enchanted Palace whereof I heard so much report Sir said he I haue diuers times spoken with him and hee cals himselfe Amadis Sonne to King Perion of Gaule who is talked of in many places It is he that was found floting on the water whereupon hee was tearmed the Gentleman of the Sea In a plaine field of battell he vanquished Abies the most potent King of Ireland and there the King his father and his mother knew him to be their Sonne On my soule said the Emperour but that I am perswaded that so great a Lord would not vndertake so long a iourney I should thinke it were your selfe that you speake of and I should hardly bee altered otherwise Our knight made him no aunswere at all but changing into other conference at length they brake off and sixe whole dayes he remayned in Constantinople during which time neuer had man more honourable entertainment And because the time drew neere of his promised returne to Grasinda againe he purposed to take his leaue causing his Ship to be in a readinesse and finding the Emperour at conuenient leysure hee thus closed with him Sir you haue bestowed so much honour and respect vpon me as I can come in no place wheresoeuer but you may boldly say that I am your seruant ready to obey all your commaunds as often as you shall please to imploy me And because I intend shortly to bee in the marches of Romania according to a solemne promise made I most humbly beseech you to licence my departure Worthy Friend answeced the Emperour if it were possible that you could afford longer abiding heere you might doe me an infinite pleasure but seeing your promise hath so strictly engadged you God forbid that I should cause you or any other to falsifie your word Sir said our knight I dare assure you that my honour will bee highly wrongd in doing otherwise as it is well knowne to Master Elisabet therefore I entreat you to detaine mee no longer Well then quoth the Emperour I am contented prouided that without any contradiction you graunt mee three dayes longer stay Your will bee done Sir saide our knight seeing it is your pleasure to haue it so The saire Princesse Leonorina nor being present at this parlie shee sent for him into her chamber and being in the midst of her Ladies she said vnto him Sir you haue graunted the
and seeing him so neere him hee â—weetly embraced him as he accordingly did the like to him enterâ—…ingling the teares together that fell from their eyes which was performed in such sort as they that had beheld them would haue thought they had seene one soule diuided betweene two most louing and intimate friends And as they were thus compassionating each other Gandalin who had all this â—…le heard their resounding of their words came thither to whom our Knight of the Greene Sword said 〈◊〉 come neere and helpe me to vnarme my kinde companion Bruneo which Gandalin did both perâ—oâ—…ming it so gently as they could and his Armour being 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sweet hearbs at more ease By this time the breake of day beganne to appeare and our knight commaunded Gandalin to go finde Maister Elisabet with all possible speed beside to entreate Madame Grasinda to send thither with him a soft horse-litter for conueying Bruneo to her Palace Gandalin heerein was so diligent that hee made a very speedie returne bringing Master Elisabet thither with him who seeing the two friendes thus disconsolate and making much moane each to other he said Good my Lords feare not any thing for by the grace and helpe of God I wil prouide whatsoeuer is needfull Then visiting the wounds of Bruneo he found them shut and closed by reason of the nights extreame coldnes notwithstanding hee applied such excellent ointments to them as before they parted thence his paine was well appeased and he fell fast asleep which gaue vndoubted hope to Maister Elisabet that the worst of daunger was past whereof when he had aduertised our knight no newes could be more comfortable to him As thus they sate expecting their sicke friends awaking they espied a man comming towards them carying the heades of two Knights at his saddle bow and holding an Axe in his hand all bloody He seeing so many sit there together grew fearefull but our Knight of the Greene Sword knowing him to be Lasinde the loyall Squire to Don Bruneo arose accompanied onely with Gandalin to meete him This made the Squire much more timorous and perceiuing them thus comming towards him he turned bridle to fly away After him followed our Knight running into a very deepe bottome or vallie where the thicknes of the brakes bushes hindred him from sight of the Squire wherfore he cryed so loud as hee could Whither fliest thou Lasinde stay many for I am one of thy friends When Lasinde heard himselfe named he turned his face and presently knew Amadis wherefore alighting from his horse most humbly he saluted him saying Alas my Lord doe not you know the heauy newes of my good Master who lies slaine in this Forrest At speaking these words he made most pittifull lamentation and then began again thus Surely Sir you wil not thinke what trauaile he hath endured onely in the search of you so earnest was his desire to find you which would to God he had done before this great misfortune befell him by the villainous treachery of two traytors whose heades you may heere behold not long since deliuered mee by Angriote Estrauaux He gaue me expresse command to present them to my Lord if hee were liuing if not to lay them so neere to his dead body as I could that the world might witnesse iust reuenge taken on them Lasinde answered our Knight he is liuing thankes bee giuen to God for it and I left him vnder yonder trees in better disposition then thou imaginest Notwithstanding hee is yet so feeble by his great expence of blood as he could not declare how or by whom hee was thus wronged and if thou wilt follow me thou shalt finde him in no worse estate then I tell thee But beware vpon thy life that before any whosoeuer thou call me none other then the Knight of the Greene Sword It shall bee done Sir quoth the Squire seeing it is your pleasure so to command me Come thou then with Gandalin replyed our Knight and I will haste thither before because I would haue no man to know that I haue spoken with theeâ— therefore remember what thou hast in charge Away goes our Knight leauing Gandalin and Lasinde together returning towardes Bruneo where soone after both the Squires arriued also Lasinde made a low reuerence to the Knight of the Greene Sword and as if he had neuer seene him said Blessed be the houre my Lord that conducted you hither so happily to meere with my good Master Bruneo who in the quest of you hath beene so abused as now your owne eyes are testimonies of his extremitie Friend Lasinde answered our Knight thou art wel-come and I pray thee tell me what fortune drew him and thee hither and by whom came hee thus wounded My Lord that you shall know presently giue me but leaue first to speake to him Now was Bruneo awaked from his sound sleepe and felt himselfe in indifferent disposition wherefore they admitted Lasinde to come neere him speaking thus Sir your kinde companion Angriote Estrauaux hath sent you the two Traytours heads whom he fought withall and slew knowing what iniury they had done to you And he is gone to a Monastery of Ladies in this Forrest to stenche the bleeding of a wound which hee receiued in his right legge and there hee will make no long abyding but intendeth to see you aliue or dead I pray GOD quoth Bruneo that hee will defend him from all euill but how couldst thou finde me out in this Desart place so farre estranged from all resort Sir said the Squire Angriote commanded me to goe directly to that part of the wood where I should discerne the taulest trees because hee vnderstood by the Traytours them-selues that there they had wounded you to death which vrged him to such extreme sorrow as no mans could be more Before God replyed the Knight of the Greene Sword it were great pitty that Angriote should suffer any wrong for he is a man of especiall merit and one that I would very gladly see Therefore Lasinde conduct mee if thou canst where hee is while Gandalin and these other conuey thy Maister to such a place where I know he shall be most kindly welcome So they layed him gently in the Litter and our Knight put on the Armes of Bruneo bruised and battered as they were and he rode with the Squire into the Forrest where they had not trauailed long together but they espied Angriote come ryding towardes them with his lookes deiected to the ground like to a man very sad and melancholly Behind him they saw foure knights also making haste after him all well armed and mounted pursuing amaine vpon the spurre and crying out so loud as they could Turne turne thee Traytour for thou must leaue thy head behinde thee in reuenge of both theirs whom thou hast treacherously slaine being men of much more desert then thy selfe At this crye Angriote turned backe and prepared for his owne defence which our Knight
out farre otherwise then they did betweene our Knights and you Gentlewoman quoth he your selfe doth sufficiently know that the fault proceeded from themselues in demaunding such a matter of me as I could no way yeeld to but with mine owne deepe dishonour But tell mee I pray you did the Queene your Mistresse abide there all this day in the same place where I left her Behold Sir quoth the Gentlewoman a Letter which shee hath sent you And kissing it 〈…〉 shee humbly presented it to his hand Now because as I hâ—â—e formerly told you credeâ—â—e was absolutely committed to her charge Florestan desiâ—ed her to declare â—â—r mâ—ssage My Lord quoth shee seeing you haue disabled the Knights that had the charge of her conduct and the way which she must pasâ—e by is not safe as shee is gâ—â—en to vnderstand the Queene my Mistresse doth earnestly desire you that you would be her guide to Mirefleure where she hopes to finde the Princesse Oriana with whom shee hath especiall occasion of conference Truely Gentlewoman answered Florestan I should be very sorry to deny so goodly a Lady as your Queene is in any thing she pleaseth to command of me and most humbly I thanke her for the high honour she doth me in chusing me to her conduct but now the day is so farre spent and the Sunne declining to his rest that I thinke it necessary to tarry till the breake of day and to morrow morning wee will be so earely with her as if we had rested there all night Doe said the Gentlewoman as seemes best to your selfe Then food was brought them to eate and they supt together deuising on diuers things vntill it was a fit houre for rest Now because beside the place where the old Hermite slept himselfe there was but another very small Cell Florestan left it to the Gentle-woman and went to repose himselfe vnder the Trees vntill the houre of dislodging thence Being armed he called for the Gentle-woman and so they took their way towards the Queen who continually exspected when they would come Being arriued at the Tents Florestan entred that belonging to Grumedan who met him with kind embraces not a little 〈◊〉 of his presence And after â—…rs speeches passed betweene them Grumedan saide vnto him My Lord Florestan me thinkes the Queene hath sustayned no losse finding so good a change of you for her owne Knights and thus much let me assure you that shee is one of the very wisest Princesses I haue euer seene highly deseruing to bee honoured and serued Vpon my faith Lord Grumedan answered Florestan I account my selfe happy if I may accomplish any thing liking to her So walking vp and downe within the Tent with a louing embrace Grumedan said Tell me Sir I pray you what haue you done with the Shields you caried hence yesterday Why Sir quoth hee I haue sent them all to your deare friend Galuanes who now is at the Enclosed Isle because he may there rank them according to their merite And if any other Knights of Rome desire to re-obtaine them as in reuenge of their fellowes shame they may there also compasse the meanes by triall how well they deserue at the Arch of loyall Louers In the speaking of these wordes the Queene Sardamira entred into Grumedans Tent which caused Florestan to be silent and meeting her with humble reuerence fell on his knee to kisse her hand But the Queene stayed him by the arme and raising him vp gently from the ground said that he was most heartily welcome Madame quoth he I haue all my life time bin a seruant to Ladies by a much stronger obligation then euer doe I now stand engadged to imploy my very vttermost paines for you whose merit reacheth beyond them all In good faith Sir replied the Queene I must needes thanke you for the great paines you haue taken and seeing you are so ready to make amends for the fault wherein my Knights haue offended reason requires that I should likewise pardon you for any error against me or my women Me thinkes Madame answered Florestan that I can feele no paine or trauaile by obeying you in regard that your admired beautie doth well deserue the conduct of a farre better Knight then I am But in affording me this honour you bind me to ye in more then I shal be able to satisfie Let vs breake off this talke said the Queene and tell me shall wee now set forward on our iourney When you please Madame answered Florestan First quoth Grumedan I hold it meere to conuey these wounded Knights to a Towne not farre hence where they may be well attended vntill they bee able to mount on horsebacke Let it bee so said she Then was a goodly white palfray brought her whereon being safely seated shee set onward with her Ladies and Gentlewomen being guided by Florestan and Grumedan who entertained the time with such good discourse as the way seemed neither long or tedious Heere I must tell yee that the Princesse Oriana had long before heard of the Queenes comming to Mirefleure onely to see her which grieued her very greatly knowing she would talke with her concerning the Emperour whose very name was hatefull to her But when she vnderstood withall that Grumedan and Florestan came in her company her sorrow was indifferently asswaged hoping to heare by them some tidings of Amadis And as shee was busied in these thoughts newes came that they were alighted at the gate wherevpon shepresently went to welcome them The Queen Sardamira going for-most made a low reuerence to the Princesse with a proffer of kissing her hand but she tooke her by the arme and ledde her into a goodly Haule expressely prepared for her entertainment There they sate downe each by other and the two Knights neere vnto them and as they were in talke together Oriana perceiuing the Queene Sardamira lend an attentiue eare to a priuate discourse betweene her and Grumedan softly spake thus to Florestan aside In good sadnesse Lord Florestan it is a very long time since wee saw you in this Countrie to my no litle discontentment as well in regard of the good-will I euer bare you as for the great losse many a poore soule hath sustayned who were wont to finde helpe by you your brother Amadis and many other of your followers But cursed be they that caused this so long separation and I beleeue that I speake it not but vpon vrgent occasion for I know a poore Damosell in daunger of disinheriting because shee hath no man to right the wrong offered her But if Amadis were heere once againe and so many more as are too farre off absent shee might well assure her selfe that that which is hers in iustice should not so easily be taken from her whereas by reason of their absence she hath now no better hope or comfort then onely in death Oriana continuing on these speeches teares issued abundantly from her faire eyes as fore-seeing her vnfortunate end if the King should
awake your silent cogitation and tell me truely what you think Sir quoth he I beseech you to hold me excused for I finde my capacitie ouer feeble to yeeld you any faithfull counsell in a case so important Moreouer you are minded to congregate the chiefest Lords of your Land to commune with them in so serious a businesse and they no doubt like loyall subjects will direct you as becomes a King But yet quoth the King I would gladly first haue your aduice else you will giue mee cause to misconceite you God shield me Sir said Galaor from so doing rather I will liberally lay my heart open to you according to mine owne poore iudgment and the true integrity of my minde Sir said he whereas you say that in marrying your Daughter Oriana with the Emperour there remaines no possibility of a fairer fortune surely I am of a quite contrary opinion for she being your principall Heire and sent into so remote a Country to lose a kingdome already prouided for her you shall leaue her poore without meanes and subiect to a people but slenderly agreeing with the manners and conditions of this Nation And whereas you conceite that in being wife to an Emperour and dignified with the name of an Empresse her authoritie and renowne is the surer afterward before God Sir let mee plainely tell you that you wrong both your iudgement and reason therein Fore-thinke what may ensue and say shee haue heires male by her husband which is the sole comfort of any kingdome she becomming a widdow the first fauour her owne childe shall doe for her is to vrge her retreate to hold possession of the Empire by himselfe If he take a wife then it falles out far worse for her because the new Empresse will be second to none and then it is most certaine that your Princely Daughter lyes open to a thousand inconueniences and vnauoydable grieuous extreamities For first shee hath lost this Country which was certaine to her as being her naturall place of birth and breeding to liue in a strange land farre from parents subiects and seruants which is no common kind of affliction And whereas you alleage that by his alliance and fauour you are sure to be succoured and much feared Surely Sir I must tell you that thankes be giuen to our Lord for it you haue so many true friends and trusty Knights at your command as without any helpe of the Romaines you may easily extend your limites when you please And I am perswaded that in exspectation of support from them they will rather seeke to ruinate and destroy you then furnish you with any such assistance as you may imagine scorning all equality or any to bee greater then themselues Moreouer it is most certaine that they can couet no better meanes then by compassing some apt occasion to register you downe in their Chronicles to your shame and their glory vnder the shadow of some sleight fauour irregularly affoorded then which no greater mischiefe can happen to you and yours And alas Sir what reason haue you to send the Princesse Oriana so farre from you being your Daughter and chiefest Heire onely to aduance the Princesse Leonora who is her yonger Sister By my soule of a most vpright and vnpartiall King renowned through the wide world for the Authour of Iustice you will procure the greatest scandall to your reputation and wound your vntainted honour so deepely as neuer powerfull Prince or King did the like But I hope that Heauen will better direct your iudgement and settle more surer cogitations in your soule which I as the very meanest Knight in your Court doe hartily desire And beleeue it Sir that I durst neuer haue beene so bold to tell you the free censure of my soul but that you pleased so expressely to command me and I as a loyall seruant could doe no lesse And let this be your perswasion of me that during my life time I will keepe my promise faith and fidelity to you as one that stands much obliged to you for infinite good turnes and fauors done me Well declared King Lisuart by his countenance that he was scarsely pleased with Galaors remonstrance and he likewise as quickely apprehended it wherefore continuing on his speech he said Sir King Perion my Father hath commaunded mine attendance on him in Gaule so soone as possibly I can and because I meane to set hence to morow morning to the end you may not conceiue but that I haue counselled you faithfully if you bee so pleased whatsoeuer I haue spoken I will set downe in writing that you may acquaint them with it whom you intend to assemble together I pray you doe so answered the King And at these wordes they were come neere vnto the City which made them alter their discourse Being alighted the King betook himselfe to his Chamber where he sate downe very sad and pensiue and would not all that day be seene in any company The next morning Galaor tooke shipping according to his former determination for hâ—…ould not bee present at the resolution of this mariage as knowing certainly that the King would not bee altered from his purpose notwithstanding all aduice and councell to the contrary More-ouer he knew some part of the priuacies betweene Amadis and Oriana who all this while remooued not from Mirefleure whither the Queen Sardamira came to see her as you haue heard already finding her to be the onely fairest Princesse in the world What would shee then haue thought if she had seene her in her former condition before this continuall melancholy seized her for the absence of her Amadis and this new purpose for marriage which grieuously oppressed her Being now somewhat meagre pale and pensiue yet she appeared as if Nature had studied all her life-time to make her the mirrour of choicest perfection The Queene finding the day no way fauourable to acquaint Oriana with the cause of her comming deferred it till the next morning when resorting againe to see her and hauing first heard Masse together they walked along the allies of the Garden and proceeded so farre into the businesse that she told her how dearely the Emperour affected her what pursuite he made to enioy her as his wife and what supreme felicity attended her onely by this mariage But the answere of Oriana was so vntuneable as the Queene durst proceede no further with her but in the interim Florestan came to them who purposing to take his leaue that he might returne to the Enclosed Isle she tooke him aside declaring what infinite afflictions hourely encompassed her how shamefully the King her father dealt with her by compelling her to marry into a straunge Country and to the onely man of the world whom she least respected But beleeue it Sir quoth she if he continue in this humour the first newes he shall heare of me after my departure hence will be my death For come what may if he sunder me from this Country Death and the
and desire them with thee to returne to the Enclosed Isle Finding there Quadragant and Agrayes entreate them from me to keep them-selues there together vntil the time of my arriuall which shall be by Gods helpe within eight dayes little more or lesse Say also to my Brother Florestan and to thy father Gandales that I would haue them to take order for prouiding so many Shippes and other Vessels in a readinesse as they can procure For I purpose to be seene shortly in a place where if they be so pleased I would gladly request their company and thou knowest sufficiently Gandalin what diligence is required in a case so important as this is wherefore once more I desire thee not to bee slow or tardie heerein Then he called the Dwarfe to him and said Ardan goe with Gandalin and follow those instructions which he shall giue thee from mee So Gandalin according to his Masters commaund went to Grasinda in this maner Madame quoth he we two are determined to leaue the Greeke Knight and goe abord this Shippe because wee would trauaile along with these two Knights in the searche for Amadis de Gaule Therefore good Madame consider with your selfe if you haue any seruice to comand vs returning you most humble thankes for your manifold fauours done vs without any merite at all on our behalfe The like they said to the Greeke Knight Angriote and Brunco and so went aboorde the Shippe to Dragonis Heere I must tell ye that Angriote was made acquainted with this intention wherefore to palliate and conceale it the more cleanely he called to Dragonis saying Sir Knight this Squire and Dwarfe are desirous to keepe you company in your quest of Amadis de Gaule because as themselues say they somtime serued him Dragonis and Enili knew them immediatly which made them the more willing to accept their company entertaining them with very kinde and louing respect but much more welcome were they when they vnderstood what Gandalin tolde them which made them weigh Anker presently and set on towards the Enclosed Isle The like did our Greeke Knight and his company hoping that day to take harbour in the neerest Hauen to Tagades where as then King Lisuart kept his Court. Heere were assembled with him most of the worthiest Lords in his kingdome whom purposely he had called together to conclude the marriage of his Daughter Oriana with the Emperour But they respecting the good and welfare of the Realme as it became loyall and true Counsellers to doe were all of a quite contrary opinion shewing him by many sound and probable reasons that hee went against all right and equitie committing his chiefe Heire into the subiection of a presumptuous and giddie-headed stranger who as they approued by precedent examples might as quickly grow in hatred to her as he was haire-brained in his ouer-sudden affection All which notwithwanding the King would not listen to but alleage still such peremptorie reasons meete and conuenient for such a Prince as will allow nor like any aduice but his owne In which regard Count Argamont absented himselfe from this meeting to a Castell of his owne which was some two dayes iourney from the Court notwithstanding he was sent for againe and againe and so much importuned as he was brought thither in a Litter hee being so weake and impotent by age as hee was not able to sit on horse-backe The King being aduertised of his comming neere the Court mounted on horsebacke to meet him and the next day hee sate in councell among his Lords deliuering diuers considerations for maintenance of his former opinion till at length speaking to Argamont thus hee said Honorable Vncle you are sufficiently acquainted with the occasion why I haue called together this great assembly which plainly is for mariage of my daughter with the Emperour of Rome a matter by him most earnestly labored and desired Wherefore let mee entreate you first to tell mee what you conceite thereof to the end that these Lords may the more freely afterward acquaint mee with their seuerall opinions A long while the old Earle excused him-selfe till being vrged thereto by the Kings expresse commaund after some alligations for his owne defence he spake as followeth My Lord seeing it is your pleasure that I should speak my minde in this noble assembly concerning the Emperours marriage with the Princesse Oriana I most humbly beseech you to receiue in good part what I shall say I know it to be treason in as high a degree to dissemble with a Prince in matter of good counsell as otherwise to offend against his royall person and therefore without any clouding or dissembling credit what I speake in my poore aduice albeit I haue often enough told it you before Sir you know that Madame Oriana your eldest Daughter ought to succeede you and by iust reason is heire to the Countries which God and Fortune hath giuen to your charge whereto by the right of Nature she hath more true title then euer you had or could pretend For it fell to you onely by the death of King Falaugris who was but your Brother and shee is your owne Daughter and the eldest Therefore consider with your selfe that if the like had beene done to you which now you purpose to the Princesse Oriana you could not haue bin at this day so great a Lord as you are Why should you exile her as it were hence to plant my Niece Leonora in her place considering shee neuer offended you to our knowledge And if you thinke that by marrying her to the Emperour Patin you shall thereby make her a greater Princesse and most happily prouided for in your imagination Beleeue me my Lord you come very farre short of your account For you are not ignorant that if they haue children together she suruiuing the Emperour shall but simply remaine Dowager of Rome in steed of being after you Lady and Queene of this kingdome Nay which is much more doe you thinke that your Subiects will euer agree thereto I am perswaded in my soule if they should say yea it were against the Religion of their soules And therefore Heauen fore-fend that I should tell you otherwise then my conscience assures me to be true albeit I know to my no litle griefe that let vs alleage whatsoeuer we can you will be gouernde by your own fancie Wherfore most humbly I desire you to pardon what I haue said being compeld thereto by your seuere iniunction against which may bee no gain-saying Then he sate silent and the King gaue order that euery man should deliuer his minde but they all agreed with the opinion of Count Argamont which the King perceiuing he thus replyed My Lords I haue fully vnderstood your seueral iudgements all which notwithstanding how can I with mine honour reuocate what I haue already promised to the Emperours Ambassadours Therein quoth the Count and the rest you may doe as you please for wee haue discharged our dutie By this time the day
beseech you so much as a man may doe that before you send her so farre hence you would maturely consider it and iudge thereof without any partiall affection For as we commonly see that a wise man seldome fals into any errour when he is guided and led by reason euen so we discerne the contrary when he pâ—esumeth so much vpon himselfe that he will allow of no counsell but out of his owne braine then he falles into greater dangers then all his after-wit can recouer as by wofull experience hath bin obserued in many Princes You see my Lord what extremitie your Daughter Oriana is in and if you well consider thereon you may easilie iudge what inconuenience may happen to her person by an inward violent-conceiued despaire which afterward all your life-time you may at leysure repent Beyond all this you will runne into an vnauoydable blame not only of strangers but euen of your owne subiects and thereby grow hatefull to them whereon must needes ensue many mis-fortunes Therefore beleeue the counsell of them that solie desire the good benefit and honour of you and your kingdome whereby no perill what-soeuer can happen to you in so doing but if it should fall out otherwise yet you stand clearely excused and they bound to prepare all possible remedies These considerations my royall Maister do importune my soule with endlesse imprecations that you would vse a fatherly pitty and please these Ambassadors by some other means then the precious price of your daughters blood Vncle quoth the King these words haue moued too much therefore if you meane to please me vse no more of them So turning from him he espied the Prince Saluste Quide and Brandaiell enter the Garden who being come neerer called them to him saying Lords my daughter is now come to court and she is somewhat sickly but I trust she will be better amended to morrow Sir answered Brandatell we gladly would haue her deliuered to vs so soone as may stand with your liking because the Emperour our Master exspects her day by day according as he hath written to you You know replyed the King that I haue conseâ—ted to his request against the whole opinion of the knights of my Court yea and contrary to her will too Notwithstanding I haue done it in regard of the Emperors vertues and the hope I haue of her honorable respect and entertainment In the meane while forbeare a little that she may forget what shee must forsake and prouide your shipping in a readines for this next weeke ensuing I will deliuer her to you fully furnished My Lord answered the Prince Saluste Quide it is not to bee wondred at if at the first she mouâ—ne for parting from you but I am well assured that so soone as she shall be arriued at Rome beholding so many great Lords to giue her obeysance the triumphes prepared to welcome her and aboue all the choyce loue and respect of the Emperour to her her ancient breeding will easily bee forgotten Moreouer if you please to grace Olinda with her company I meane to make her my wife so soone as she comes there because I finde her to be a wise and vertuous Lady Beleeue me quoth the King I wishe it might bee so And then he entred into a large discourse of such especiall vertues remaining in her as more could not be found in any Lady By this time the Tables were couered for dinner in the midst wherof they that intended to combate with Grumedan came and presented themselues speaking thus to King Lisuart Sir you know what words were vsed some few dayes past by Lord Grumedan to the great disgrace of the Romanes so that Prince Saluste and we with him do come to challenge him the combate Because hee shall well know that it ill becomes such an old dotard as he is to make comparison with knights of Rome therefore if you be so pleased it shall be performed tomorrow for it grieues vs that he should remaine so long vnpunished Don Grumedan hearing himselfe thus abused beganne to change colour and as hee was about to make answere the king seeing him in choler arose and said to him Grumedan you haue euermore hitherto beene wise and temperate especially in speech let mee then request you to conceale your displeasure and onely answere to the combat which these Knights doe vrge you to Sir said Grumedan seeing it is your will it shall be so and to morrow I will not faile to meete them in the field according to my promise where I hope to reuenge the wrong they haue done mee in your presence So the King rose from the Table and went into his Chamber with Grumedan demaunding there of him where were they whom he had chosen to take his part Sir said he first I know the right on my side and if Galaor come to morrow as I think he will I am well assured that hee will beare me companie but if hee come not then will I fight with them all three one after another That may not be answered the king for you haue consented to three against three and so the oath remaines before me recorded which makes me stand in great doubt of you because they are young and strong you aged and weake and without any to helpe you Sir said Grumedan God who hateth pride and presumption wherewith they are too much enflated can prouide helpe when it is least looked for But if the worst should happen I know two of mine owne kinsemen that wil not deny to ayde me against them were they farâ—e better knights then they are The King pausing a while suddenly said I haue considered otherwise for you I will disguise my selfe and second you in the cause for assure your selfe you and I shall well hold out against them all three God forbid Sir answered Grumedan that you should so endanger your royall person for me Why said the King in better place I can neuer doe it and neuer else can I iustly acknowledge the manifold seruices you haue done for me hazarding your life in so many seuerall dangers onely for the defence of me and my Realme Sir quoth he the present demonstration of your gracious goodnes towardes me hath so farre enlarged the obligation of my duty to you that if I could dye a thousand deathes in your seruice I should yet confesse my selfe more indebted to you â—ut neuer feare man replyed the king my heart hath yet courage enough and this arme is endued with sufficient strength to maintaine a quarrell of greater moment Pardon me Sir said Grumedan neuer will I giue consent thereto considering what wrong you shall doe to your selfe you being a king of vpright iustice should deale as truely with a stranger as him that is your familiar friend Well quoth the King seeing you are so earnest I will vrge it no further although it goes much against my minde goe then and prouide for your busines for you haue no time now of trifâ—ing delaying
their enmity you must vnderstand that King Lisuart sending his eldest daughter for Rome hauing giuen her as wife to the Emperour Amadis de Gaule one of them who in your last lost battaile termed himselfe Knight of the Serpent and then wore as you well remember a golden helmet with a great many more met the Romans on the Sea set vpon them and ouercomming them slew the Prince Saluste Quide a near kinsman to the Emperour The rest were taken prisoners with the Ladies Gentlewomen whom they conueyed to the Enclosed Isle where as yet they keepe them Now indeede I cannot certainely resolue you what matter mooued them to begin this warre but I am well assured that King Lisuart in reuenge of this iniury gathers as great an Army together as hee can And Amadis hath sent into all parts for succour purposing to stand vpon his owne defence if he shall be assailed During these busie troubles Sir you haue an excellent occasion if you please to shew them as subtill a sleight as euer was done setting vpon them as I haue directed you And because at the very first sight you may discerne your victory to be certaine I will worke so much that Barsinan Lord of Sansuegna sonne to him whom the King burned at London and likewise all they of the linage of Dardan the Proude whom Amadis foyled at Vindolisore shall come to your aide with the King of the Profound Isle Wherfore perswade your selfe that being assisted with so great a number of good Knights there is no doubt to be made but you shall reach the height of your desire My worthy good friend Archalaus answered the King Aranigne you tell mee great matters and although I was fully determined neuer more to tempt fortune she hauing shewen me such slender fauor in times past yet me thinks it were a great folly to foreslowe such occasions as freely come to offer themselues for the augmentation of my honour and profit For if in such cases attempts managed by reason haue as happy issue as men can wish the fruit of such a labour is well gathered when desert holds vp the lappe to receiue it But if it should fall out otherwise yet at least that must be performed wherto all men stand bound by vertue for maintenance of their authority which is not to be valued by passed misfortunes as when a happy houre presents it selfe they should refuse to embrace it as declaring themselues to be dastardly minded and voide of all courage and magnanimitie Seeing then wee are so forward in tearms let it suffice that I faithfully credit you and desire you while I am prouiding mine Army to take order for the rest sending to Barsinan and our other friends for their effectuall ioyning with vs. Archalans hauing heard this resolution made no long stay with King Aranigne but taking leaue of him iournied so diligently that hee ariued in the countrie of Sansuegna where hee found Barsinan To him he tolde all the passed conference setting before his iudgement what an execrable iniurie King Lisuart had done to his father suffering to bee burned aliue by a tower from the toppe where-of afterward hee caused his brother Gandandell to bee throwne downe whom Guillan le Pensif had taken prisoner And doe you think quoth he that had it not been for this Amadis de Gaule but Barsinan your father had peaceably beene King of Great Brittaine But that villaine came and after hee had rescued Oriana from mee caused all the rest of my enterprise to bee vtterly voide But now you haue time conuenient to bee reuenged therfore except you will shew your selfe dull base minded delay no longer considering that King Aranigne is ready to assist you Easily did Barsinan beleeue all that hee had said and promised to appeare in field so soone as any need required So Archalaus departed thence to the King of the Profound Isle and gaue to him the very same instructions Hauing obtained what he desired he returned homeward and crossing the countrie aduised all the kindred of Dardan the Proude to be in a readiness to depart away when they should be commanded But at this instant our History speakes no more there-of but returnes to the fortunes of Quedragant and Brian being vnder saile for the Enclosed Isle CHAP. XI How Quedragant and Brian sayling on the Sea by a sudden and vnexpected tempest were cast so farre out of their course that hauing lost all knowledge of land they met accidentally with Queen Briolania And what happened to them QVedragant and Brian beeing on the maine Seas shaped their cōpasse for the Enclosed Isle but vpon a sudden the windes began to blow so stearnely and such a violent tempest arose as the best man of courage among them made little account of escaping seeing their saile yardes and tacklings broken in peeces and with such impetuous gusts of contrarie windes as trusting neither to stearne or any hope else but the mercy of God only and the waues they expected sinking euery minute So long they ran this disasterous fortune that the dead darke night ouer-tooke them with extreame thunders and flashes of lightning which was their best meanes for seeing one another till day-breake appeared the windes grew appeased and the Sea by little and little indifferently calmed Now they could plainely perceiue that they were cast farre enough out of their course for they discouered the coast of Sobradisa and as they were preparing thither they espied a goodly great Shippe sayling towardes them which they determined to call to to knowe who was aboard her Comming more neare they beheld vpon the decke diuerse Ladies and Gentle-women and some Knights among them discoursing together where-upon before they would presume any further they put forth a Frigate commanding one of their Squires to goe know of whence what they were The Squire performed his charge and going aboard the Ship humbly saluted such as he saw there saying Lords and Ladies there are Gentlemen in yonder ship who in curtesie desire to vnderstand what you are and whither you are bound Honest friend answered one of them say that the Queene of Sobradisa is here and longs to be at the Enclosed Isle These newes Sir answered the Squire will be very welcome to two Knights that sent mee to you who are also bound for the selfe same place Honest Squire sayde the Queene tell vs then their names if you may do it Indeed Madame quoth hee I stand charged to the contrary But thus much I dare tell you that they tooke shipping in Great Brittaine to returne to the Pallace of Apolidon where they had been before now if fortune had not hindred their voyage But I am very certaine that their ioy for meeting with you will make them forget all their passed danger wherefore I will returne againe to them and tell them what I haue heard of you So saying he went back to the Ship from whence hee came and declared to Quedragant Brian his answere
order By my faith Madame said Briolania to Oriana vpon this discourse of Grasinda I now call to minde how when I came first to see you at Mirefleure Lord Amadis passed by the Tents and Pauillions there raised on the way while I tooke the fresh ayre Diuerse Knights were then in my company who fell into the like fortune as her Brandasidell did for they thinking to cause him come speake with mee vpon compulsion were all disgraced sore wounded You haue tolde me that oftentimes answered Oriana who receiued all these reportes to her owne aduantage as being well assured that this melancholy humor of Amadis had no other ground but only by his ardent affection to her So instantly they went all to rest because it grew to be very late CHAP. X. Of the report deliuered by Quedragant and Brian to the Knights of the Enclosed Isle concerning their Embassie to King Lisuart And of that which thereupon was resoluedly determined QVearagant and Brian Ambassadours sent to King Lisuart being returned back againe to the Enclosed Isle as hath already been amply declared beeing desirous to render a reason of that they had done mette on the morrow at Councell purposely so appointed by Amadis and the other Knights Whereupon Quedragant beeing to speake for himselfe and his companion began at large to rehearse his speeches to the King and the answer thereon made him Which quoth Quedragant was so short as wee can conceiue no otherwise but that he will deale with vs as hardly as hee can considering his prouiding of men for all partes making full account to shew vs no mercy And we haue no great cause to be agreeued thereat because our honour and chiualrie will thereby bee more renowned more then at any other time we can attaine vnto for if we beare away the victory it will bee spoken of through the world to our fame his reproach Now as oftentimes in the like attempts men declare themselues to bee of diuerse opinions so here it fell out for some allowed of war and others were more leaning to peace But Agraies who bare but little loue to King Lisuart for those reasons before alleadged vndertaking to speak for them all beganne thus Honourable Lords I know not how with any honesty we can giue ouer our intention of warre considering what iust occasion wee haue and beside our enemy is in some forwardnesse to come against vs. Notwithstanding it is no wisdome in vs so to suffer him but rather to muster our forces speedily and march directly into his countrie to let him wel vnderstand what wee are For if wee permit him to come seeke vs heere beleeue it vndoubtedly it will so puffe him vp with pride that hee who of his owne nature is presumptuous enough will thinke he hath wonne the day at the very first landing Besides we shall runne into our owne dis-reputation many waies in giuing occasion to the ill-iudging world not only to msconster the iustice of our cause but also to throwe some sinister opinions on Madame Orianaes iniuries for which wee are thus entred into Armes For my selfe I sweare to you vpon mine honour had not her earnest and incessant entreaties to me not to speake against peace been so vehement I had neuer consented that any Embassie should haue bin sent to Great Brittaine beeing so much abused as wee are But seeing our enemy makes such manifest shew of his mallice towards vs I am now discharged of my promise and absolutely resolued neuer to enter league of loue or friendship with him vntill hee haue felt how well wee can stand vpon our owne defence beeing enabled by as warlike powers as any hee can bring against vs. Therefore my Lords I am on the minde that wee should conclude on warre and without any further deferring so soon as our supplies are come to set away directly for London and there bid him battaile if hee dare come forth to resist vs. This resolution was wonderfully pleasing to Amadis who til then was in a continuall perplexity as fearing that warre would be deferred and hee enforced to render backe his Oriana than which no greater misery could befall him Wherefore seeing the greater part ioyned with Agraies to aduantage farther this opinion thus he spake Noble Cosen as yet I neuer noted any man in this company but hee was alwaies as forward to these affaires as any one could be If any man haue questioned those inconueniencies which commonly doe happen in warre hee is not therefore to be taxed as one that would exempt himself from the businesse but vseth rather such prouident speeches as in these cases are fit and iust And whereas you think it conuenient that wee should enter into King Lisuarts countrie rather then giue him the least leasure to seek vs here that deliberation hath alwaies dwelt on my thoughts if the rest of you my Lords and worthy friends will haue it so For by these meanes perceiuing vs to come so neare him hee may suddenly alter his former opinion and yeeld to that which wee haue requested There was not a man in the whole assembly but freely gaue his voice to this conclusion And warre being fully agreed on men were sent forth and scouts appointed to all places as well to heare newes from Great Brittaine as also for mustering men together CHAP. XI How Master Elisabet ariued in the countrie belonging to Grasinda and passed from thence for Constantinople to the Emperour according to the charge giuen him by Amadis AFter that Master Elisabet was embarqued he had so good a gale of wind as in few daies he landed in Romania where sending for the chiefest lords of the countrie hee gaue them to vnderstand his charge expressely commanding them to make ready a sufficient number of horse and foot for passing thence to the Enclosed Isle so soone as he should be returned from the Emperour to whom hee was going for the same cause Which they promised effectually to performe and hee leaft a Nephew of his named Libeo a young Knight and of good spirit still to solicet them in the businesse and hee set sayle for Constantinople where hee ariued without any impeachment Being landed he went to the Emperour whom he found accompanied with many Princes great Lords and doing him humble reuerence hee presented him a Letter from Amadis de Gaule The Emperour who had known him a long time welcomde him very graciously demanded of him where hee had mette with Amadis de Gaule of whom hee had heard so many great speeches Sir answered Master Elisabet I deale plainly with you I neuer knew his name to be Amadis vntill we were ariued in the Enclosed Isle and then he declared it himselfe vnto vs. For before that time hee called himselfe the Greek Knight as fearing to be knowne by his other borowed name of the greene Sword after his departure from you And that was in regarde of his promise to my Lady Grasinda for conducting her to the
to Sea On the other side Landin who was secretly sent by Quedragant into Ireland found meanes to speake with the Queen who hauing vnderstood the cause of his comming to her called some of her trustiest seruants and commanded them that in the closest manner they could deuise they should gather a power of men to goe to her Vncle in the Enclosed Isle And although shee bare but little loue to Amadis hauing alwaies in memory the death of King Abies her father yet much more did shee hate King Lisuart for the yearely tribute he compelled her husband King Cildadan to pay Wherefore shee resolued helpe the one in hope to confound the other But now our History speaketh no more concerning her but leads you to another matter touching King Lisuart who had sent Guillan le Fensif to the â—…rour and other messengers to other friends to bee supplied in his purposed warre CHAP. XIII How Guillan le Pensif ariued at the Emperours Court of Rome Philipinell in Suâ—tia and Brandoynas in Ireland GVillan le Pensif being dispatched from King Lisuart had such speedie sayling taruaile as in lesse than three weekes hee landed in the nearest port to Rome Then taking horse according to the custome of the Knights of Great Brittaine he rode on to the Emperour who was then accompanied with a great number of Princes and Lords purposely sommoned to Court for the entertainement of Madame Oriana whose ariuall hee expected euery day For the Prince Saluste Quide and Brandaiell de Reque had written to him that King Lisuart had deliuered her to them and that they were continually vpon their parting towards him When the Emperour beheld Guillan he knew him immediately because he had seene him many times before and thinking hee brought him some newes of his long expected wish demanded where hee had left the Prince Saluste Quide and the rest of the traine Sir quoth hee King Lisuart my Master hath sent this Letter to you command that it may be read to you and then you shall be further satisfied in your demand then the Emperour tooke the Letter and although it contained some particular priuate credence yet he would needes haue it publiquely read and that hee in like manner should deliuer what hee had to say Sir said Guillan my Master King Lisuart greets you thus that in regarde of your perpetuall loue and alliance hee was well content according to the request made to him by your Ambassadours to giue you as wife Madame Oriana his eldest daughter principall heare And thereupon after many difficulties debated among the Princes Lords and Subiects of his Realme hee deliuered her to their hands who had power to receiue her on your behalfe but it came to passe that Lord Amadis de Gaule and diuerse others his complices well prouided with shipping lay as scouts in the way assayled them in their passage and after a long fight the Prince Saluste Quide was slame and most of the rest of your people led as prisoners to the Enclosed Isle where as yet they detaine Madame Oriana the Queen Sardamira and same others that were in their company Notwithstanding after-ward to make amends for the offence committed they sent Ambassadours to his Maiesty offring him diuerse good conditions which he would not accept before he vnderstood your minde because the iniury concerneth you as much or rather more than him Wherefore he commanded me to tell you that if you meane to reuenge this wrong hee will bring a good and sufficient Army into the field prouided that you for your part will doe the like And so your powers being ioyned together he and you shall easily drawe them to such reason as shall bee best liking to your selues When the Emperour had heard this neuer was man in greater choller and very apparantly he did declare it for like one improuident and vnfurnished of all foresight he began to sweare and euen enter into a meere lunacy saying to Guillan You know what is done returne to your Master and tell him I shall neuer enioy any rest vntill I be ioyned with him and with such a power as those Rake-hells of the Enclosed Isle shall well know how highly they haue offended me Sir answered Guillan you cannot come so soone as you shall finde the King my Master and his Army readie Haste home then answered the Emperour and make no longer tarying here Thus was Guillan constrained to get him gone without almost the leasure of receiuing any sustenance whereat hee was not a little offended especially for his slender entertainement and he made no long tarrying from Great Brittaine to make his complaint thereof to King Lisuart Beeing embarqued on the Sea he sayled directly to Vindilisore where hee landed not long after finding the King there expecting his ariuall to whom hee declared all that the Emperour had said and what small discretion hee bewrayed before so many Princes Lords And beleeue it Sir quoth he vndoubtedly that if they which come in his company haue as slender braines as hee neuer were seene men more vnmeet for warre nor worse gouerned then they will bee If they will be aduised by mee said the King I hope wee shall not be beaten for want of good guiding for they beeing mingled among vs we shall both help them and they vs. It shall suffice me that they be speedy in their comming because I haue this day receiued aduertisement that the Emperour of Constantinople and the Kings of Gaule Scotland Bohemia and Spaine doe enter Armes for the ayde of Amadis I heare also that King Aranigne with Archalaus and Barsinan do muster men from all parts but what their intent is I know not and therefore I holde it conuentent that wee should first bid our enemy battaile before hee win time to come vpon vs. Which wee may easily doe if they proceede not against the Romanes for Brandoynas is newly ariued from Ireland who assureth me that hee left King Cildadan mustring his forces and in forwardnesse to ioyne with vs. Philipinell likewise is comming home from Suetia and hath certified mee by his Letters that King Gasquilan will not faile to bee here within fifteene dayes with such a band of worthy Knights as are soundly setled in resolution As for the rest leauied heere at home in mine owne countries you may see all-ready more than fiue thousand trouping together in the next meddowe so that before a moneth be expired we shall be fully ready for marching hence But what of Galuanes said Guillan is he for you or no No answered the King hee hath entreated mee by Brandonynas that hee may at this time stand exempted Desiring rather to redeliuer vp the Isle of Mongoza into my hands then to go against Amadis and his Nephew And knowing that in other occasions hee may doe mee good seruice I am content to holde him excused So three weekes and more were passed ouer yet no newes heard either of the Emperour or of his Armie Whereat the King
Asse ryding directly towards King Lisuart His aged trauaile was not so speedy but that the two Armies had fought twice together according as you haue already heard and hee came thither on the day before the second truce was finished As hee passed by the Campe he saw on euery side the interment of many slaughtered bodies whereat hee was so grieued that falling into teares and lifting vp his eyes and hands to heauen hee said O my Lord God for the honour of thine owne great name I humbly beseech thee to take pittie on this people and grant mee grace that I may pacifie this great disorder Passing on further hee came neare to the Tent of King Lisuart who quickly espied him and immediately knew him whereupon hee went to welcome him for he held this man of holy life in high esteem and well considered that but vpon some great occasion he would not haue left his Hermitage take so great iourney to him whereupon as hee embraced him hee said Good father you are welcome then taking him by the hand he led him into his pauillion and seating him by himselfe in a chaire of veluet hee commanded all to depart and leaue them two alone together and afterwardes fell into this discourse Holy father I know you haue not vndertaken so tedious a trauaile and ill agreeing with your age but vpon some vrgent necessity wherein I humbly desire you to resolue me You haue great reason Sir answered Nascian to conceiue so of me for vndoubtedly extreamity of yeares and the condition whereunto it hath pleased our Lord to call mee may well excuse me from beeing seene among men of blood Neuerthelesse considering the harme that may ensue I haue not feared the danger of my person as hoping to performe a seruice acceptable to God and wholesome to your soule Let me then tell you Sir that being some few daies since in the Hermitage whereunto happy chance was your guide when you and I conferred together concerning the most strange nourishing of Esplandian I vnderstood the occasion of this warre attempted by you against Amadis and his friends Yet am I well assured that you cannot accomplish what you would doe namely marrie my Ladie your daughter to the Emperour of Rome by which enterprise many grieuous mischances haue already happened not onely because it is not agreeable to the greatest and meanest of your kingdome as many times already hath beene told you but for some other reason Sir beside concealed from you yet manifest to mee and against which by Gods lawe you cannot contrarie Knowe then Sir that Madame Oriana your daughter is already vnited in marriage to another as heauen hath appointed and stands well pleased to haue it so The King beeing much amazed to heare the olde man speake in this manner coniectured immediately that weakenesse of braine begot this kinde of language that hee was troubled in his vnderstanding or else had beene misinformed of that which he spake where-upon hee said vnto him How father my daughter was neuer married to my knowledge neither did I euer purpose to giue her to any other then to the Romane Emperour to whome I promised her accounting it for her honour and benefit And God is my witnesse that I neuer intended to dis-inherit her as many haue inconsiderately immagined but only to combine alliance with so great a Lord by meanes whereof he and I so vnited together Christian faith might be the more augmented And therfore my intention beeing iust mee thinkes I should not be therin blamed Sir answered the Hermite that which I haue tolde you concerning some matters hidden from you yet to mee apparant I will presently declare vnto you for from none other then my selfe can you know them Vnderstand then my Lord that the selfe same day when by your command I came to the Forrest where for more delight of the Ladies then present with you your Tents were erected for view of the sporte I knowe not whether you remember it or no I brought you young Esplandian who presented you the Lionesse that gaue him suck at the first The same day the Princsse Oriana your daughter was confessed by me tolde mee in her confession that she had promised mariage to Amadis de Gaule at such time as he deliuered her from the Enchanter Archalaus to whom you had giuen her a little before that the Damosell by whom you were enchanted had brought your state and person into the greatest danger that could bee possible from which Galaor freed you And beleeue it to be very likely that our Lord himselfe gaue consent to the mariage for Esplandian is the issue thereof and of him Vrganda the Vnknowen foretolde many maruailes as you your selfe doe very well know Now in my poore iudgement you should not be displeased there-with considering that Amadis is the sonne of a King and accounted in all places to be one of the best and most gracious Knights in all the world I would aduise you Sir that in shewing your selfe to be such as you euer haue beene you should defend the honour and conscience of your daughter and making an end of this warre call her home again to you vse her hereafter as reason requireth In so doing our Lord will be well pleased with you who else will doubtlesse bee offended with you for the effusion of so much blood which you haue caused to be shedde vpon no occasion When the King had all this while listned to this discourse he shewed himselfe to be very pensiue and at last saide Good father is it possible that my daughter should bee married to Amadis Yes truely replied Nascian hee is her husband and Esplandian is your grandchilde O God quoth the King how ill hath it been for mee that I could not know this matter till now vpon my faith many good Knights had yet beene liuing which now to my no little griefe are dead Alas father why could not you sooner haue reuealed this I might not doe it answered the Hermite for it was tolde mee in confession and if now I haue made it knowne to you thinke it is done by such permission as I receiued from the Princesse your daughter for otherwise you had neuer heard it from mee But she is therewith well contented as well for the clearing of her soule as also to take away all occasion from you of further sinning herein through ignorance At that very instant meere conceit in the King presented before the eyes of his soule the seuerall seruices hee had receiued by Amadis and his kâ—â—â—ed and such they were as hee had not then beene liuing but only by them hauing so many times â—olpen him in very serious affaires Desert in Amadis pleaded iustly for his daughter and a greater gift if hee could bestow it on him and so much the rather because the Emperor to whom he had promised her was dead and beside Vrganda had tolde him many wonders concerning Esplandiâ—â— but aboue all the rest
hee hath receiued any great fauours Neuerthelesse our Lord hath hitherto preserued him and gaue him me at the first to loue and instruct him as mine owne childe At these wordes the King began to conceiue that hee would not conferre any further with him before so many by-standers therefore tooke him aside but the Hermite changed his discourse saying I beseech you Sir to beleeue that considering the condition whereto I haue been long time called and so many aged yeares already ouer-gone me I would not haue forsaken my Cell to bee seene among warres and contentions had it not been that my slacknes in so important a businesse might haue procured much euill wherewith our Lord would haue been highly offended And his displeasure would not only haue extended it selfe to you the people assembled in both these Campes but also to many other vnskilfull in the discords betweene you and King Lisuart with whom I haue already conferred so well perswaded him to peace as hee is ready both to listen thereto and to entertaine it according as I haue imparted to Lord Amadis your sonne who wholly referreth all to you Therefore I desire you Sir that preferring the good and tranquile estate of so many people before priuate spleens and passions not to disdaine what is freely offered you and which you ought rather striue to purchase Father replied King Perion God is my witnesse what griefe I haue endured for matters that are alreadie past with the losse of so many worthie men and how gladly I would haue gone another way if King Lisuart would haue listened thereto But hee alwaies carried so high a hand as notwithstanding all remonstrances made to him by our Ambassadours especially in reguarde of Madame Oriana whom hee sought to disinherite he made no account of vs at all presuming so much vpon himselfe that by the ayde of the Romane Emperour hee would ouer-run the whole worlde By this meanes hee made refusall not only to admit this difference to iustice but likewise contemned all hearing thereof Neuerthelesse if hee will yet submit to reason I dare repose such trust in my followers as they will bee ordered by mine aduice I haue euermore descanted on this discourse proceeding from no other occasion but whereto hee stands bound by right of nature and to his owne blood So that if hee will yet repeale the princesse his daughter into his former gracious fauour and not marrie her to any other person not onely to her and his owne people but to all them that know or heare thereof wee will deliuer her to him and continue his kinde friends if hee bee as desirous as wee Sir answered the good old man if God bee so pleased all this will come to passe Therefore if you thinke it conuenient elect two Knights on your behalfe to determine the differences where-about so many harmes haue alreadie happened King Lisuart shall likewise nominate two other for him and I standing in the midst between them will labour to ende all strife and contention Bee it so quoth the King Sir said Nascian I will not sleep before I hope to speed with such successe as the effects shall be answerable to your owne desire Instantly hee tooke leaue of him and the rest returning whence he came to finish what he had begun And presently King Perion sommoned all the chiefe of his Armie together speaking to them in this maner Lords endeared friends as we are bound to put our goods and persons in danger not onely for the defence of our honour but also to maintaine equity iustice so are wee likewise obliged to set aside all hatred and passion to reconcile our selues with our enemie when of himselfe hee profers vs peace For although it cannot be gaine-saied but that the beginning of warre may goe on without offence to God yetnotwithstanding in the end if through rash opinion fantisie and want of knowledge we estrange our selues from reason that which at the first appeared honest conuerts it selfe into iniustice And doe not thinke that I vse these speaches to you without cause Nascian a holy Hermite well knowen to the most part of you came lately to mee as you sawe to practise peace betweene vs and our enemie where-to King Lisuart is willing to yeeld if you mislike not Neuerthelesse I would not giue him any resolution till first I heard your deliberations For to mee it seemeth very reasonable that as you haue been made partakers of toyle and trauaile so should you also be of ease and tranquility And therefore I pray you that without any dissimulation you would all aduise for the best and God will therin further your counsell For my selfe according to the opinion of olde Nascian I holde it very meet that wee should make choyce of two Knights amongst vs and giue them ample power to determine with two other appointed by King Lisuart of all differences whereby this warre receiued originall Albeit I desire not to be credited in this case but rather will allowe of such aduise as you conceiue fittest for the good of all together Hereupon Angriote d' Estreuaus first presented himselfe of whom the King required his opinion Sir said hee you haue beene chosen chiefe of this enterprise as well for the dignity of a king shining in you as for the fauour and esteeme generally helde of you whereby you may resolue on the businesse of this warre as it shall seeme best vnto your selfe Notwithstanding seeing it is your pleasure that I shall first speake my minde I like it well vnder correction that if peace be presented vs by our enemy wee ought to accept it For as it falles out it is to our no meane aduantage hauing not onely the better of him already but Madame Oriana also in our owne power for whose cause wee first entred into the field Now for the naming two choyce men among vs to accord as you say all differences I know none more meet for such a businesse then the Lords Quedragant Brian de Moniaste They at the first vnderwent this charge when they were sent into Great Brittaine to excuse vs to King Lisuart for that which we had done in rescuing his daughter from the Romanes and I am peswaded they will vndertake the same charge againe if they were thereto entreated Now because this aduise found generall allowance Brian and Quedragant yeelded presently thereto whereat king Perion was highly pleased hoping the warre so hotly begun would by these meanes be calmely ended CHAP. XX. How Nascian returned towards King Lisuart with the answere heâ—receiued from King Perion THe Hermite being returned backe to King Lisuart gaue him to vnderstand all that he had agreed on with king Perion assuring him withall that hee would make them good friends before hee parted from them For I left him quoth hee with a purpose to conferre with the chiefe of his Army to winne them thereto if hee can Father saide the King hee dealeth most wisely therein
let vs goe on to the Pallace of Apolidon where the Ladies doe attend your comming for they are already aduertised of your ariuall and there we may much better conferre together With all my heart quoth shee and calling the two young Squires forth of the Frigate placing the one on her right hand and the other on her left she went on with the King and troupe then calling Esplandian to her thus shee spake I promise you faire youth I haue had better remembrance of you then you can imagine And beholde I haue brought hither these two Gentlemen to keepe company with you because you will stand in much need of their helpe when you shall bee in the greatest heate of all your businesse Wherefore hence forwarde I pray you to affect them euen as deare as your sefe Then perceiuing the Ladies cōming to meet them shee gaue ouer talking to doe them reuerence and as shee kissed each after other comming to Oriana shee spake out so loude as all might heare her Beleeue me Madame neuer was I better pleased then being in such cōpanie for hardly can elsewhere be found such store of bright beauties enriched with all rarietie of choyce perfections Madame answered Queene Brisena no doubt but your words would be very true if all here were such as you speake of So taking her by the hand she conducted her into her chamber where the Knights left them that they might conuerse more priuately together CHAP. XXIX Of the conference which Amadis had with his Cosen Dragonis in giuing him the kingdome of the Profound Isle and the Princesse Estoilleta to wife whom he had loued a long time DRagonis was not with Amadis when he made partition of king Arauignes countries and them belonging to the other prisoners but followed a Damosell that guided him from the Monastarie of Lubania to fight with Angriffort Lord of the Deep Gulffe who kept her father in prison to compell him surrender vp a Castle belonging to him And the Combate was wonderfull between them for Angriffort was the most hardy and valiant Knight then liuing in all that countrie Notwithstanding Dragonis had the victory and made him promise to meete him at the Enclosed Isle within twentie daies next ensuing there to craue mercy of the Princesse Oriana This Dragonis that we speake of was young actiuely disposed and an excellent warriour as hee well declared in the Isle of Mongoza when King Lisuart came thither to assault Galuanes For the more part of his confederates beeing defeated and fled he kept a narrow passage with very few men and performed there such deedes of Chiualrie as hee became famous thereby all his life time after Now he could not come to Amadis so soone but at his returne from the Deepe Gulffe he went to Galuanes and being both together they receiued Letters from king Lisuart whereby Galuanes was requested to come beare him company according as formerly hee had made promise By this meanes Dragonis and he iourneyed thither together and so soon as they were come to the Enclosed Isle Amadis remembring what good seruices his Colen Drogonis had done for him in the late foughten battailes what wrong should be offered him if hee did not pertake in the like pleasures and contentments equall with his other companions being alone by them-selues together thus hee spake to him Cosen since such time as you left vs diuerse marriages haue been cōcluded on of the chiefest knights here present and those gracious Ladies whom they haue so long time intirely affected Moreouer by generall aduice and consent the countries belonging to king Arauigne Barsinan and our other prisoners haue beene diuided and you therein forgotten by reason of your absence Yet there is further consideration had of you as you shall presently vnderstand I haue beene lately aduertised by a Squire that since our parting for Lubania the King of the Profounde Island being grieuously wounded before died on the Sea some fewe dayes after sayling homeward from recouerie of his health In which respect his kingdome shall become yours and likewise you shall enioy in marriage the beautifull Estoilletta by you long time beloued meerely as due desert she being a faire wise and vertuous Princesse descended from Kings by eyther side and as deerely esteemed by Oriana as any that I know mee thinkes that for your own contētment no better satisfaction can be made you Then to enioy her whom you loue and esteeme as choysely as your selfe Dragonis being not a little pleased to heare Amadis speake in this manner knew not at the first what answere to make For he was once purposed to goe along with Brunco and Quedragant in conquest of those lands which Amadis had diuided to them and from thence to seeke after strange aduentures in Sardaignia then to ioyne with king Florestan and assistt him in his serious affaires Notwithstanding considering how Amadis affected him and what zealous care hee shewed on his behalfe he promised to obey him Whereupon the next day following hee and Estoilletta were affianced together in presence of all the Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen to generall ioy on euery side expecting the long lookt for day when these marriages should bee celebrated and accomplished The same night Amadis desired of King Lisuart the Dukedome of Bristoy for Guillan le Pensif who gladly granted it and the widdow to the deceased Duke also for whose sake he had so much suffered as thereby he got the name of Pensiue CHAP. XXX How the marriages of Amadis with Oriana and the other Princes and Ladies Were solemnly Celebrated in the Enclosed Isle Where the selfe same day Oriana made proofe of the Arch of loyall Louers and likewise of the Defended Chamber THe day being appoynted when the amorous knights should receiue from their Ladies the fruite of their longing expectation and that the mariages so long time delayed were come to the pointe of celebration the holy man Nascian prepared himselfe for that office and after the solemnity in such cases vsed a comming from Masse Amadis spake thus to King Lisuart My Lord most humbly I begge one boone of you which reasonably you cannot deny me Son and my best friend quoth hee I grant it with all my heart what soeuer it bee Then I entreate you sir said Amadis command Madam Oriana your daughter before wee sit downe to dinner to make proofe of the Arch of loyall Louers as also of the Defended Chamber Whereto she would not as yet by any means listen by all entreaties made vnto her Howbeit I haue such confidence in her loyaltie and likewise in her excelling beautie that shee will obtaine the honor of the place whereinto for more then a hundred yeares neyther Lady or Gentlewoman could bee so happy as to enter And hereof I doe so much the rather assure my selfe hauing often times seene the statue of Grimanesa which is portrayed in hir chiefe and most eminent perfection neuerthelesse I am verily perswaded shee neuer was
and his mother But seeing this submission cannot coÌ„tent thee command what else thou wouldest haue and it shall be granted For matters past betweene thee and me answered Amadis I am sufficiently satisfied but not in the wrongs that concerne the Lady I am ready replied the Giant to suffer any such condemnation as thou thinkest best whereby to please both her and thee with this consideration that the vnrecouerable life of her sonne stands out of my reach and therefore must needes bee answered by some thing remayning in my power First of all then said Amadis my will is that thou deliuer her husband her daughter and all their attendants out of thy prisons Next in steed of her sonne flaine by thee condemne thy sonne to make her amends by present marriage of her daughter For lâ—t mee tell thee â—â—lan her husband is as good a â—â—ntleman as thy selfe and as sufficiently enriched with meanes euen so faire as hee is gouernour of all those countries which the King my father commands in the lesser Brittaine When Balan heard him speake in that manner he began to obserue him more iâ—… then before and thus replyed I pray thee in curtesie withouâ—â—…onger delay to tell mee 〈◊〉 â—…e and thy fathers 〈…〉 father answered Aâ—… is the King of Gaule and I am his 〈◊〉 Amadis At these wordes the Giant lifted vp his head saying Is it possible that thou shouldâ—… be â—…s who slew my father It is very true quoth he for I beeing in ayde of King Lâ—… and perceiuing him to bee in vnauâ—ydable daâ—ger of death I slew a 〈◊〉 who was reported to bee thy father Before God answered Balan it can nâ—uer enter into my vnderstanding how thou durst bee so bolde as to presume so sarre into my â—…diction but only by my euer knâ—… hâ—â—orable renowne of keeping my faith and worde inuiolate in any cause whatsoeuer Or else the meer magnanimity of thy soule which neuer made reckoning of the very greatest perill but fuâ—thered thee in the haughtiest enterprises is thy continuall good guiding Angell And therefore seeing fortune is so fauourable to thee it were against reason that I should contradict her in thy happinesse hauing made so deare a proofe thereof my selfe already As concerning my sonne I giue him freely tâ—… thee to be disposed of at thy pleasure not in any fauourable respect of mee but as beseemeth a villaine that durst presume to breake his fathers faith For no goodâ—â—sse else can now remaine in him but what his conâ—…ce may well learnâ—â—…f thee as â—â—â—ing a true teacher 〈…〉 â—â—â—dodoning him so great an offence Then reaching forth his hand Amadis meeting it gently with his hee thus proceeded The husband to this Lady her daughter and all the prisoâ—ers else in my custodie shall forth with bee released accouâ—… the very fayrest fortune 〈…〉 did or can befall mee to be â—…ed as thy friend and so I bâ—…h thee to accept me That will I with all my heart answered Amadis And embracing him as he lay said I am so farre engaged in seruice to thy Father in Law Gandalack as for his sake onely I hold it an Article of my dutie to loue thee truely And as a beginning of our aâ—…e let mee entreate and perswade thee to cease and giue ouer this wicked custome which both against God and reason thou hast heere so long time maintained Also forgiue thy Sonne Brauor whose error rather ensued by folly of youth then otherwise commanding him withall that to morrow hee marrie this Ladies daughter that so wee both may stand discharged of our promises Where-to Balan gladly condescended and Darioletta with her husband were also well pleased and satisfied And not without great reason and much to our purpose doth our Historie speake of this mariage For from them two issued a Sonne named Galeote that married one of the daughters to Galuanes and the faire Giantesse Madasima whence descended the second Balan succeding euermore from father to Son in this Island of the Red Tower Vntill it came to the gentle knight Segurades brother to the knight that came to the court of â—ing Arthur being aged aboue sixscore yeares he hauing in regard of his age for borne the vse of Armes the space of twentie yeares did yet without the helpe of any Launce vnhorse all the famous knights that came to Câ—melâ—t This Segurades whereof I now speake was in the time of king Vtâ—r Pendragon Father to king Arthur and left one only Sonne Lord of this Island who was named Brauor le Bran who was slaine by Sir Tristram de Lyons as he conducted fayre â—seult wife to King Marke into Cornewall Of this Brauor le Brun issued the valiant Galehaut le Brun Lord of the farre remote Isles a great friend to Sir Lancelot du Lake as you may well remember if you haue read the histories of the Round Table where mention is made of the Bruns who descended all from the stock of Balan With whom we wil leaue Amadis attending the curing of his Wounds to tell you what happened to Grasandor after the hunts-man had done his message to him and knew assuredly that he was embarqued thence with the Lady his conducter CHAP. XXXV How Grasandor followed in the quest of Amadis and what aduentures happened to him in his trauatie NOt long since you read that Amadis being entred the Barque of the Ladie who purposely came thither to seeke him one of the Huntsmen came along the shoare to whom he called commanding him to bury the dead Knight and acquaint Grasandor with the reason of his so sudden departure Which being imparted to Grasandor hee was a long time pensiue maruailing what aduenture had befallen him to drawe him so farre off from him and Madame Oriana Hereupon giuing ouer further pursuing the game he desired him to conduct him where the dead Knight lay and being there ariued hee sawe him lie along quite disarmed but neither Shippe or sayle could hee disâ—â—ne on the Sea So carrying the dead body into an Abbey neare adioyning which Amadis had founded Grasandor returned to Oriana whom hee found with the Infanta Mabila and the other Ladies who seeing him enter without Amadis demanded whence hee came thus all alone From point to point hee related the whole aduenture according as hee had receiued it from the hunts-man yet with some regarde as fearing to afflict her ouer much whom it most concerned I meane Madame Oriana whose heart was so seuerely shut vp with griefe as shee could not for a long while vtter one word But when her soule had wonne more liberty then shee thus answered Surely I am perswaded that seeing hee hath leâ—â— you and taken no farewell oâ— meâ— hee departed not but vpon some very great occasion By my faith Madame replied Grasandor I 〈◊〉 of your minde for hee sent me word by the Huntsman that I should excuse his absence to you Alas quoâ—h the Princesse I know not what excuse to allow of neither what wee are
so strictly am I bound by my vow I am verily perswaded answered the Gouernour that many other haue seene extraordinarie actions of Armes and doubtlesse performed with no meane honour but if they knew as well as I his admirable valor in this haughty attempt and resolution in the execution I thinke in my poore opinion they would confesse it to exceed all former presidents whatsoeuer Honor be attributed to heauen said Grasanaor for this blessed fauour And now there remaines no more to compleate my contentment but onely to stay no where till I haue found him may it therefore please you to lend mee some one skilfull Mariner of yours to be my helpe in this negotiation With all my hart said the Gouernour and victualls also for your vessell if you are in such necessity Then the Gouernour of the Isle called for one of his chiefest Pilots and presenting him to Grasandor said This man came from thence but yesterday and very well knowes how to conduct you thither I thanke you Sir replyed Grasandor So after some little time of rest his desire stil prouoking him to see the man he sought for the went aboard and without any sinister fortune landed the next morning in the Island of the Red Tower enquiring there of Balans people if Amadis were there as yet or no. You shall find him aboue at the Castle quoth they and if you please wee will conduct you thither So they ascended vp the Rocke as they set foot within the Castle gate Grasandor espied Amadis to whom he ran and caught him fast in his armes My dearest friend quoth Amadis what fortune hath conducted you hither How fares Madame Oriana and all the other Ladies in her companie Trust me Sir answered Grasandor all are in good health considering their griefe for your so sudden parting from them And by their aduice I put my selfe vppon your quest with solemne vow not to giue ouer till I found you otherwise Madame Oriana could not haue liued three dayes such was her extreame sorrow for your absence Yet she considered very wel that you would not haue parted so peremptorily if some earnest occasion had not enforced it My returne saide Amadis shall bee sooner perhaps then shee expects That will be no discontent to mee answered Grasandor onely let vs stay heere sixe or eight dayes because the Seas haue beene somewhat offensiue to mee With right good will replyed Amadis for I would also haue my wounds thoroughly cured before I did aduenture on any trauaile CHAP. XXXVI How Amadis being in the Island of the Red Tower conferring with Grasandor espied a small Foist on the Sea which put into the Port hauing people in her that told them tidings of the Armie which was gone for Sansuegua and to the Isles of Landes or the Profound Isle VPon a day as Amadis and Grasandor walked together in priuat conferrence concerning the Princesse Oriana being on the verie highest hill or Rock of the Red Island they descried a farre off on the Sea a Foist of no great bignesse making towards the Land Hereupon they began to descend to know what persons were in her and no sooner were they downe the Rocke but one of their Squires whom they had sent before for news returning backe told them that the vessell was in the hauen and it was a Master of the housholde to Madasima for by that name hee had stiled him-selfe Scarcely had he finished this report but Nalfon who was the man we now speake off came to meete them and Amadis knew him immediatly demanding of him whether he went and what newes hee could tell them Nalfon who likewise knew him perfectly humbly saluted him wondring not a little to see him in those parts where Balan commanded and knowing also his hatred to him because hee was the man that slew his Father Wherfore after some few courtesies passing betweene them Nalfon said Trust me my Lord I would neuer haue enquired for you in this countrie neither can I well imagine what aduenture should draw you hither My honest friend answered Amadis it was the will of Heauen to haue it so and for what reason I shall haue better leisure to tell you but first acquaint me in what estate you left my brother Galaor and Galuanes as also if you met with Dragonis My Lord quoth Nalfon they neuer were in better condition and I shall tell you some things that will content you Know then Sir that after Galaor and Dragonis were dislodged from Sobradisa with their Armie My Lord and Master Galuanes well accompanied with Souldiers which he had leuied in the Isle of Mongaza came to ioyne with them at a place commonly called the Rocke of the Damosell Enchantresse which is on a Promentary farre in the Sea I know not if euer you heard anie speech thereof or no. Yes that I haue replied Amadis Garnate of the Dreadfull Dale heretofore told mee of it how he being sicke sayled by this coast but in regard of his great infirmitie then hee could not make any proofe of that which gladly he would haue done Wherfore I pray you discourse at large what you know thereof because I haue beene credibly enformed that many Knights of name haue bin lost in that passage On my Faith sir answered Nalfon not anything I know shall be concealed from you and then he thus began The common â—ame is that this Rock was so called by reason of a Damosell there dwelling who was in her time very curious in vnderstanding all magicall Sciences and grew so expert in them that shee wrought wonderfull things and farre beyond the power of nature Among the rest shee erected there the most sumptuous building that euer was seene and afterward she preuailed so powerfully by her skil that she drew thither were they neuer so farre off all Ships passing to Ireland Norway Sobradisa the Isle of Lands or the Profound Isle they not hauing any power or meanes what windes soeuer blew to helpe themselues but by meere constraint were brought to take landing not farre from her abyding whence they could not be discharged except shee pleased There she stayed them and compulsiuely kept them taking of their marchandises or goods whatsoeuer liked her best especially errant Knights if they had any aboard and them she would make afterward to combate one with another euen to death many times and therein she tooke very great delight But as it often happeneth that suc as deceiue others come in the end to bee deceiued themselues so shee of whom I speake hauing heaped together infinite treasures and by such meanes as I haue related thinking still to liue by her Artes and contrarie to the course of nature as if she had power and command ouer the Starres was taken tardy in her owne strength For the awefull arme of Heauen no longer suffering the mischiefe which vndeseruedly shee had exercised vpon many did darken her vnderstanding in such sort that she who was wont to abuse the very best