to shew the cause thereof which at the first she could not doe her heart was so full of gréete Neuerthelesse in the 〈◊〉 shee tooâ—◠〈◊〉 againe and saied vnto them My good friends 〈…〉 of almighty God al things haue 〈…〉 teÌ„poral things should passe away by death haue an end according to the qualities of his creatures Which diuers great persons considering with themselues haue trauailed during their liues in many sorts after their deaths to leaue some memorie of them not minding to bury their renowme togither with their bodies Now I know for certaine that the end of your daies is néere wherefore it is most requisite that you bée constant and shew your selues to be the same you were at the beginning Neuerthelesse before that death shall seaze vpon you I will shew the loue that I haue alwaies borne vnto you and with the helpe of God will doe so much that without death you shall remaine asléepe vntill the time that one descended of your race shall deliuer you froÌ„ thence and after that shall bée in as good case and raigne againe within your countries as you did before otherwise assure your selues that before sixe moneths do come vnto an end not one of you shall be aliue but all buried in the earth Wherefore let euery man shew me his opinion and for the rest said shee let me prouide Surely that spéech and newes of death was so harde for them to endure that not one of them but changed colour their hearts béeing seazed with an extreme sorow And as they beheld ech other king Amadis séeming least astonished answered vnto Vrganda and said Madame we know for certaine that not one of vs nor any other liuing creature can perfectly knowe what is necessarie for vs but only you alone wherefore doe with vs as you thinke good and wée will all obey you that is sufficient said Vrganda therefore let euery man put on his armour in the same maner hée vseth when hée goeth to the fielde and each man hold his sword naked in his hand that done she caused them to goe into the forbidden chamber setting them in their roiall seates with all their wiues by them which done Vrgandas two cousens Iuliande and Solisde in two basons of gold brought a certaine composition wherewith shée desired them to wash their faces which they did Whereby it happened that on a suddaine Beautie which Age and Time had decaied in them began againe to appeare within their faces in as great perfection aâ— euen it had done which aduenture pleaseâ— the Ladies so â—â—ll that they began to behold ech other and their husbands thereat to be much abashed Then Vrganda called master Elizabeth taking him by the hand led him into the next chamber where she caused him to sit downe putting the booke that he had brought into her hands she made signes to Gandalin and the gentlewoman of Denmark that they should follow her and passing through the Arke of faithfull louers they entred into the garden where the images of Apolidon and Grimanaise were placed ouer the which she set them and Ardan the dwarfe hard by them wherwith she said vnto them My friends the true and faithfull louers haue béen worthy to sée these images before the Arke sometime inchanted so you deserue this place for the faith and true and affection that you haue alwaies borne to your masters Wherefore vpon your liues sée you depart not hence whatsoeuer you shall heare or sée that done she went vnto the chamber where shée left the Emperour and taking Carmelle by the hand before them all she said vnto her Carmelle you were but of meane parentage but the vertue and great curtesie of your heart hath so much inabled you that you shall bée placed at the Emperors féet to fulfill the promise made vnto him which was neuer to forsake him while you liued With that she spake vnto king Amadis and all the other princes praying them not to flie till shée returned againe and going vp into one of the towers of the pallace shée tooke with her the best of Medeas bookes which Melie had that sometime belonged to the Enchantresse lady and being in the tower shée vncouered her head with that she began to read certaine coniuâ—â—ations and looking into all the foure quarters of the earth making signes and tokens with her fingers her face became so redde â—hat it séemed fire had issued out of her eyes Whereupon there â—appened such an earthquake so great tempests of lightning and â—hunder as though the Elements had fought togither This tempest continuing for the space of thrée quarters of an houre those whome she had caused to sit downe as you heard before remained in a trance without all knowledge as if they had béene dead and with that there appeared a cloud so obscure and thicke which inuironed the place that neuer after it could be séen till Luisart of Gréece sonne to Esplandian brought that enchantment to an end by meanes of a sword which he conquered as it shall be declared to you in the sixt Booke wherein is described one of the most pleasant and delectable histories that euer was read At which time all the Princes and the rest were reuiued againe and not before The Emperor Esplandian at that time had a sonne after his grandfathers name called Luisart as then about the age of eight yéeres King Amadis a sonne and a daughter the sonne named Perion and the daughter Brisene that married the eldest sonne of the Emperour of Rome King Galaor two sonnes the one named Perion the other Garinter of whome I haue shewed you before Florestan the King of Sardaigne two sonnes the one named Florestan after his father that raigned after him and the other Palmindan of Almaine after his grandfather Agrayes Earle of Salandrie two sonnes the one called Languines the other Galmenes King Bruneau one sonne named Vallade and a daughter named Helisenne that married Quedragants sonne and bare his fathers name King Childadan two sonnes the eldest called Abies of Ireland after his grandfather whome Amadis slewe the first day hée entred into Knighthood And although these princes left such heires as you heard before yet would they not during their fathers absence take on them the names or titles of Kings hoping by Gods helpe that they should once returne as well as euer they were For the which cause they hauing â—â—â—tained to the age and strength to bear armes passed 〈◊〉 â—reland there to bée made knights by King Childâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 very weake and withered with age 〈…〉 followed strange aduentures doing many 〈…〉 feates of armes which are at large declared in the bookes that followe which in time may come vnto your handes when it pleaseth God FINIS
Amadis was so wounded by Esplandian that in the end with a thrust of a launce into the right shoulder and other blowes with his sword hee was slaine in the field which Oriane hearing threw her selfe out of a window and brake her necke But it is not true for they raigned after that both in Fraunce and great Brittaine and had another sonne named Perion and a doughter no lesse beautifull then her mother that married Arquisil sonne to the Emperour of Rome But I cannot conceiue from whence those lyers could inuent such a thing if they vnderstand not by death the shadowes that Esplandian caused his fathers valiant acts to bee couered withall by the light and pleasant shining of his owne wherby his fathers were so much had in obliuion that there was no more brute of them then if they had neuer beene done But to returne againe vnto our matter you must note that newes went presently vnto the court what had chanced to the two knights Wherewith the king and Oriane much displeased departed from London came to Mirefleur when maister Elizabeth began the second time to dresse their wounds Whereby he perceiued them out of danger and cured them so well that within seuen daies after they could walke about the chamber which put Oriane in better comfort then before and it fell out well for her for if her malancholy had longer indured she had for certain died at that time And because the king had not as yet vnderstoode the reason that mooued them to fight one day when hee found Amadis in good disposition hee praied him to tell him In faith my lord saied hee I was desirous to haue the difference of our two forces knowne being assured that whatsoeuer chaunced thereby it could not bee but to mine honour for if my sonne bee a better knight then my selfe his honour for the present time will increase my glory past Before God saied the king your enterprise was but rashly vndertaken I pray you another time let vs leaue such youthfull partes for those that are but entring into arms Beléeue me and it pleaseth your grace saied hée I was neuer better beaten in all my life It is no matter saied the king séeing you haue both escaped with your liues now séeke meanes to bée healed of your wounds with as much spéede as you may and from henceforth let vs war only against Harts and other wild beasts that are within this forrest as my huntsmen haue shewed me this day CHAP. XVI How the King of Denmarke Garinter and Manely succoured Vrganda that certaine knights would haue slaine because she aided the Emperors sonne of Rome YOu heard before of the aduentures of Esplandian Ambor and Talanque after they had receiued the order of knighthood now you shall heare what became of Garinter king of Denmarke and Manely who sléeping as others did by the sound of sixe trumpets that plaied on the shore the next night they found themselues with their squires in a little barke so farre out of al knowledge that although they had landed they knew not where they were and it was so darke that they could not sée each other till at the last they perceiued a fire not farre from thence that moued them to goe thether to sée if they could find any that would shew them in what country they were therefore leauing their squires to kéepe their barke they tooke their shields and mounting vp a little hill they perceiued a fire burning circle wise in the middle whereof they saw a woman holding a yong child in her armes and about the fire stood tenne knights all armed that sought to take her but by no meanes they could come néere her she was so well defended by the fire And as they went néerer vnto it they heard one among the rest that said vnto her Ha thou false and accursed wretch thy diuellish spirits and familiars can now no longer helpe thée but at this time thou shalt surely die And although Manely and Garinter had their helmets on their heads yet the woman they so threatened knew them well calling thē and said Help me my sonnes and faile me not I pray you at this time With that Manely and the king of Denmarke knew her by her voice wherefore laying hands on their swords they marched towards the tenne knights wherof one of them stepped before the rest asking them if they knew that wicked woman that had done him the greatest mischiefe that euer was By God sir knight said Manely you lie in your throat she is not wicked but faithfuller for her part then you for yours Wherewith they ran each vpon other and there began the combate of tenne knights against two and although the match was not equall Manely and the king of Denmarke setting their backes together laied valiantly vpon them yet in the end they could not haue resisted but Vrganda playing her part put out the fire and taking her two knights aside left the rest in the darke striking each other as if Manely and the king of Denmarke had beene with them Meane time Vrganda and her company got into the thicket of the wood and hauing trauailed long at the last the moone began to shine when they were weary whereby they determined to stay a while and rest themselues till day appeared Meane time the two knights desired Vrganda to shewe them how shee came thether and whether she knew the country My good friends said she hauing long since learned by my art that this little child son to the Emperour of Rome and of the Empresse Leonor his wife should bee stollen away by the Traitor that assailed you who is sonne to Garadan that Amadis as then called the knight of the gréene sword put to death in the countrey of Bohemia in defending the right of king Tafmor As soone as you fell on sléepe in the great Serpent I made al the hast I could vnto this place to succour it according to my promise made being in the Ferme Isle in presence of Amadis and diuers other knights where I arriued at so good a time when the villaines which you saw came to a shepheards house where a poore nurse dwelt to whom they deliuered this little child to giue it sucke And séeing it was time to put my enterprise in practise I went out of my barke and making as if I had ben robbed by certaine théeues ranne towards them crying out and wéeping bitterly wherewith they all came forth to sée what it might be and perceiuing me in that manner asked the cause of my gréefe Ha my lords said I It is so that as my husband I passed through this wood wée met eight théeues that slew him and not content therewith haue taken away my horse and my budget wherein there is a great summe of money Which they beléeuing to bee true not that they were mooued with compassion for my losse but respecting their owne particular benefite hoping to get a booty by them
mee my good friendes I would sooner chuse a méere stranger for my successor then I would doe him but there is not one among you but knoweth well his great deserts and of what race hee commeth that at this day may well bee called one of the most noble and happiest linages in all the word as being descended from the valiant Troyans whereof the memory shall indure for euer He is a kings sonne heire vnto the crowne of France now your Prince and Gouernour and so I leaue him vnto you with my daughter your Quéene and lawfull Princesse holding to my selfe only the castle of Mirefleur where with Gods helpe the Quéene and I will end our daies religiously seruing God as we are bound to doe Then calling Amadis giuing him his royall mantle he willed him presently to put it on the like did the quéen to Oriane Mean time the silence was so great that nothing could bée heard among the people but cries and lamentations mooued with pitty compassion to sée the determination of their Prince who being apparrelled in a simple robe of blacke cloth tooke his sonne and the Quéene his daughter set them in their regal seats and in presence of all the people set each of them a crown of gold vpon their heads causing them to be proclaimed by the Heralds King and Quéene of great Brittaigne That done euery man departed some wéeping and others glad for the aduancement they hoped from the new king who from thenceforth began so wisely to gouerne his country that neuer was any prince better beloued nor obaied of his subiects King Luisart within short time after accompanied of the Quéen and Grumedan went vnto Mirefleur as hee had determined to doe where they liued so austerely helping and being present at euery houre when seruice was to be saied as readily as the poorest of the old men that remained there for the administration and seruice to the religious women in the monaster of the deuout Abbesse Adalasta But when king Amadis perceiued his meanes to recompence those of whome in his yoong yeares hee had receiued great pleasure and seruice hee began to exalt Arban de Norgales giuing him one of the fairest Islands in his country to Gandales the lands of the duke of Bristow to Gandalin as then absent hee gaue the lands of Aâ—calaus the inchanter he made Angriotte destrauaulx great maister of his horse Guilan le pensife high steward of his house Ardan le nain his chéefe caruer and married the Gentlewoman of Denmarke very richly Not long after the Quéene was brought to bed of a goodly sonne and a faire daughter both at one birth the sonne named Perion and the daughter Brisenne At whose natiuitie great ioy was made throughout all the country especially at London where the same day one of Norandels Squires arriued that told king Amadis howe Esplandian and his maister met together in Almaigne where the day before hee had slaine two Giants and deliuered Gandalin with diuers other knights Squires Ladies and Gentlewomen out of prison Knowest thou saied the King what way they tooke afterward My lord saied the Squire they made account io goe vnto the castle called La montaigne defendu to helpe them that are therein beeing in great necessitie Which the king vnderstanding sent presently for all the Pilotes that might bee found and in all hast caused to rig and arme the greatest ship he had to saile into the East to his sonne who in the mean time mooued therevnto by Frandalo departed from the castle of Matroco with the Emperours army to inuade the Turks country as in the next chapter you shall heare CHAP. XXIX How the towne of Alfarin in Turkie being assaulted was taken by Esplandian and the rest of his company NOt long after the siege of La montaigne defendu was raised and Gastilles arriued at the castle as you heard before Frandalo had aduise by Belleris his nephewe that returned out of Turkie where hee had been to sée what newes in the countrey that Alforax sonne to king Armato and gouernor of the great Cittie of Tasifant vnderstanding the imprisonment of his father with the ouerthrow of the Turkish armie was departed from the towne of Alfarin where hee had left the beautifull Princesse Heliaxa his wife doughter to Amphirion king of Medea to go with all dilligence to set order in his owne gouernement and raise more men thereby to resist the Christians power if they entred further into the countrey Which vnderstood by Esplandian Gastilles Ambor Manely and the king of Denmarke they determined to enter into Turkie wherevnto by many reasons Frandalo persuaded them shewing them what meanes they had to besiege the town of Alfarin not aboue two daies iourney from them being hardly prouided of victuals and no Garrison therein Wherfore it was agréed among them that Gastilles with his Nauie of ships should depart the next euening in as secret manner as hee could to sée if he might surprise their Hauen and that they on the other side would trauaile all night whereby they might besiege the Towne both by land and sea entring therein before the Turkes should hear news thereof And as they agréed they put the same in execution in such maner that Gastilles giuing forth that he would returne againe vnto Constantinople about sunne setting tooke ship when hee put to sea the moone shone bright wherfore hoising vp their ankers they set saile And they had not sailed long but he called his chéef Captaines together discouering his enterprise vnto theÌ„ wherewith presently leauing the way to Constantinople they made towards the towne of Alfarin On the other side Frandalo slept not when he perceiued his time all the company being alreadie aduertised that he meant to goe by night they issued out of the castle euery man carrying victuals with him for the space of four daies And they trauailed so long that about the breake of day they came vnto a great forrest where they staied in ambushmeÌ„t till the nert night following when they issued forth and about thrée of the clocke at night they came vnto a path that went two waies where Frandalo caused them to stay and calling Esplandian said vnto him My lord I pray you let vs two and no more take the way that leadeth on the left hand and Belleris my nephew shall guide the rest of our company to the mountaigne of Yarebreh from whence they may easily sée if our Nauy be néere the citty of Alfarin and then as they finde the enterprise goe forward they may assaile the place or else remaine in ambush til occasion serueth You and I wil follow on this way that wil bring vs to the aduenturous fountaine by the which lieth the great way that leadeth to Tesifant where most commonly are found diuers strange aduentures and if by fortune wee might méete the Princesse Heliaxe that as to morrow should depart from Alfarin to goe vnto her husband we shall not loose our labours Let