and would make vse of him in our hunting When the reuerent man heard him speake so confidently he grew as resolute in perswasion and going neerer to Esplandian saw him kisse the Lyonnesse euen as familiarly as shee had bin a Spaniell Heereupon the Hermite said vnto him Sonne would you giue her somewhat to eate Yea Father answered Esplandian if I had any thing to giue her With that the Hermit tooke out of his Scrip the legge of a Deere which a Hunter had bestowed on him and giuing it to the Lad he threw it to the Lyonnesse saying Heere Dogge eate this The Lyonnesse tooke it and while shee was feeding on it Esplandian played with her eares pawes and taile euen as familiarly as himselfe pleased the beast offering him no other dislyking then if hee had bin one of her whelpes Such perfect knowledge did she take of him and euen by naturall instinct loued him so dearely as she followed him thence to the Hermitage and from that time forward would neuer willingly leaue his company except when she went to seeke some prey which she would also bring home with her euen as if she had beene a houshold seruant And both the Laddes grew into such familiarity with her that they would leade her oftentimes in a Leasse on hunting with them as if she had bin a Greyhound for game Which Nascian well noting prouided them Bowes fit fot their strēgth wherewith they continually vsed to kill Harts Hindes Roe-bucks and such like sending still the Lyonnesse after such game as they had wounded But heere wee purpose now to leaue them for a while returning to Amadis who being departed from Gaule entred the Country of Alemaigne where he perfourmed such rare actions of Chiualry that euery tongue talked onely of him and there he was commonly called the knight with the greene Sword or the knight of the Dwarfe because Ardan still attended on him and there he spent foure whole yeares before he returned to the Enclosed Island not hearing any tydings from his Oriana which was his very greatest affliction because hee found no pains labor or ill successe any way comparable to the want of her presence So long he trauailed from one part to another that about the beginning of the Spring-time he arriued in Bohemia neere to King Tafinor on whom Patin the Emperour of Rome made sharpe warre who hated Amadis more then any man else for the reason formerly declared in the second Booke Hee ryding purposely toward the camp King Tafinor who for a time had taken truce with his enemy was then flying his Gerfaulcon at a Heron which fell at the horse feete of Amadis Now because none of the horse-men could come at her in regard of the moist and marshie ground hindering them the knight of the greene Sword alighted and tooke her vp demaunding the Falconers if they were displeased thereat And they answered no. Soon after came the King who had coasted all along the Riuer for passage and seeing the knight so compleatly armed stood in some suspition of himself till he further noted the greene scabberd of his Sword being the same which he had in lone of the ancient knight as hath bin formerly declared The King had many times heard much fame of his prowesse and was so well pleased with his happy arriuall that he entreated his company to the City which Amadis denied him not but ryding along with him the King thus spake Sir I haue a long while desired that I might be but worthy of such a companion as you seeme to be My Lord answered Amadis the liberal renown of you and your bounty which makes you famous in many kingdomes drewe me hither onely to offer you my seruice if any way it may be acceptable to yee because I haue heard that you are warred on by a potent Prince that giues ye no meane molestation You say very true replied the King but I trust in heauen and by the meanes of your helpe to see a short issue out of these troubles Fortune hauing so conueniently guided you hither By this time they were arriued at the Palace where the King commanded he should be lodged and Grasandor his Sonne to keepe him company Now in regard that the truce taken betweene the two Armies was vpon the point of ending each side stood on their best defence and the seuerall Campes prepared for all attempts whatsoeuer King Tafinor walking one day abroade to vnderstand some tydings from the enemy hee beheld afarre off twelue knights come riding towards him and as they drew neerer he knew the Shield of Garadan borne by his Squire himselfe being a neere kinsman to the Emperour and they came not to fight but to parlee The King bare little affection to this Garadan because hee procured and raised this warre and well he knew that his comming was but to occasion some fresh grieuance which made stearne anger mount vp into his face so that hee could not forbeare but said Ah trecherous villaine thou hast already done me so many mischiefes that I haue iust occasion to hate thee so long as I liue Sir answered the Knight of the greene Sword it may be he commeth to yee for some good end therefore it shall well become ye now to dissemble all passion entertayning them with good lookes not taking offence at any thing they say in regard they come to yee as Ambassadours from the Emperour their Maister Kinde friend quoth the King I allow of your good aduice and wil be directed thereby though it is no meane griefe to me to haue so great an enemy neere me Scarcely were these words ended but Garadan and his troupe saluted the King who gaue them kinde welcome desiring them that before any speeches passed they would goe along with him to him to his Palace But Garadan made refusall shewing himselfe as brauely proud and presumptuous as formerly he was wont to do speaking thus King Tafinor thou must vnderstand the occasion of our comming to thee and before thou partest from this place thou must make vs answere such as shall seeme best to thy selfe without aduice or consulting with any one but thy selfe For in thee onely lyeth the conclusion of two things wherewith I am to acquaint thee from the Emperour otherwise assure thy self before three dayes can be passed ouer the battel will fall out to be so cruell and bloody as it exceedeth all possibility but thou and thy Country will bee vtterly lost With these wordes he deliuered him a Missiue of credence for further confirmation of his speeches Beleeue me Lord Garadan answered the King I hope that the Emperour and you wil be more kinde to me then appeareth by your message wherefore deferre no further time but deliuer the remainder of your Commission that I may yeeld you satisfaction to my power Garadan hearing the King to answere so mildely began somewhat to qualifie his owne choller replyed thus King Tafinor the Emperour my Maister hauing power sufficiently to
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
messengers to our kinred and friends to supply vs with their best succour when we shall require it Such was the answere of Quedragant and approued by all the Knights there present whereupon it was concluded that Amadis should send a messenger to his father King Perion of Gaule also Agraies into Scotland Brunco to the Marquesse his father and Quedragant to the Queene of Ireland of whom he should haue many able men if her husband King Cildadan brought no worse then he did to the ayde of King Lisuart This was made knowne to the Princesse Oriana and their finall deliberation for procurement of peace As thus they continued in these conferences some of them standing in the gazing windowes which had full view vpon the fields they espied comming from the coast that gaue entrance into the Isle a Knight all armed with fiue Squires attending on him who when hee drew neerer they knew him to be Briande Moniaste sonne to Lazadan King of Spaine of whose arriuall they were all right ioyfull for hee was an amiable bold and hardie Knight and as courteous as any whatsoeuer Hee espying so great a company there together vpon their comming foorth to meete him began to grow doubtfull that they had heard some euill tyding of Amadis for whose sake and search hee had expressely left the King his fathers Court But perceiuing that their intention was to salute him and seeing Amadis there among them he instantly alighted and running to embrace him said Trust me my Lord the quest I vndertooke to heare newes of you is sooner ended then I expected for I was giuen to vnderstand that you were so closely hid as it was a matter impossible to finde you but God be praised for it me thinkes I see you in very sound health Cousine quoth Amadis you are most kindely welcome hether assuring you that as Fortune hath released you from one toyle and trauaile so now she hath as readily fitted you with an other answerable both to to the time and place where your presence and imployment may much auaile vs as you hereafter shall heare more at large In the meane while I thinke it conuenient that you should be disarmed and then wee will tell you our mindes afterward So taking him by the hand hee conducted him to his lodging where as they were taking off his Armes seeing such store of Knights flocke more and more about him he sayd to Amadis My Lord I am verily perswaded that so faire an assembly of worthy and valiant men could neuer be thus met together but vpon some extreame vrgent cause therefore I pray you tell me what it is Hereupon Amadis amply related to him how and in what manner all things had past especially the churllish ingratitude which King Lisuart vsed not onely to the Knights that had done him infinite seruices but also to his owne children enforcing one of them through ouergreedie and great auarice to bee disinherited from her right and meerely against her will sent to Rome to be wife to the Emperour and that is Madame Oriana And this is the cause that so many of vs are here assembled together quoth Brian is the Princesse Oriana at Rome No replied Amadis we haue forcibly taken her from the Romans that had the charge of her conuoy And now at this present shee is here in this Pallace with all the Ladies and Gentlewomen that were in her companie Now shall we easily redeliuer thē except King Lisuart determine more respect of them then hitherto he hath done Afterward he told him what was resolued on by them all which Brian liked as well as they albeit hee conceiued that the iniuries of two such potent Princes by this defeature would not bee suddenly appeased Notwithstanding seeing that which was done could not be recalled he dissembled his cogitations and onely answered thus I know King Lisuart to be one of the most reuengefullest Princes this day liuing and very hard to endure an iniurie therefore you must quickly consider on some resistance if he shall offer to assaile you and I hold it more requisite to take order for all inconueniences which may ensue by his means then to consume time in friuolous words Of one thing I am highly glad that Madame Oriana and her women haue so happie a retirement and I would gladly see her if you please Let me tell you Sir answered Amadis my Cousine Agraies and my Brother Florestan are appointed to make her acquainted with our deliberation and you may goe along with them being well assured that it will be no meane ease to her to conferre with you on her misfortunes in priuate No time was delayed in going to her but before they would presume to enter her lodgings they sent her word that they came to her from the whole company Hereupon their entrance was admitted and she went to meete them especially Brian whom she had not seene in a long time and therefore as he did her reuerence she said vnto him Cousine you are come hither in a very good time to defend the libertie of a Lady who stands in great neede of such helpe as yours Madame said he I had not so long delayed my comming hither but that presently after the seuen Kings ouerthrow in Great Brittaine the King my father commanded my home returne to with-stand the warre which the people of Affrica made vpon him And scarsely was it ended but I vnderstood my Cousine Amadis was so farre distant from his friends through some conceiued griefe or displeasure as no tidings could be heard of him Wherefore fearing least he was lost for euer I resolued to enter vpon his quest both in the loue and reuerence I beare vnto him This was the occasion that drew mee from Spaine being fully perswaded that I should sooner haue notice of him here then in any other place else whatsooner And Fortune I thanke her hath guided mee hither where I haue met with apt occasion not onely to doe him seruice but also for you royall Princesse for which great kindnesse Oriana returned him infinite thankes But now before I passe on any further I thinke it very necessarie to tell you what was the principall motiue and reason why so many good Knights and worthy men should beare such honour and good will to this Princesse Asiure your selues it was not for any guifts or presents she had bestowed on them she being as yet voide of all meanes to that effect Much lesse for any fauour by Amadis borne to her the loue betweene them both being kept so secret as you haue heard at large in the precedent Bookes But indeed she was so humble wise and debonnaire that by her meere humility and courtesie shee knew how to steale the heartie affections of euery one A matter so apt and proper to heroyick persons and them deriued from great place as they haue no other powers or faculties but such as make them to bee more honoured praised and esteemed Consider then in what
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
where-of they were not a little ioyfull And drawing nearer ioyned their vessell with the Queenes and going aboard humbly saluted her Here I must tell you that shee many times formerly had seene them at London and in diuerse other places which made her the sooner take knowledge of them and entertayning them with all honourable respect shee spake thus vnto them Before God Gentle-men next to Amadis de Gaule to whom I stand very much obliged it were hard for mee to meet with more welcome men and I pray you tell mee what fortune hath conducted you hither because Tantiles Master of my housholde assured mee that hee sawe you sette saile for Great Brittaine about businesse for the Princesse Oriana Madame answered Quedragant Tantiles tolde you true and wee haue beene with King Lisuart and vsed our best endeauour to make peace betweene him and our friends in the Enclosed Isle but hee misliking so faire a conclusion wee are the more onward for tearmes of warre Then hee reported at large what speeches had past betweene King Lisuart and him and in what manner they parted But quoth hee we were no sooner put to Sea but so violent a tempest ouertooke vs as we expected nothing but drowning and by these meanes haue wee runne so farre from our right course In good faith saide she wee haue had our part of the tempest too and greatly feared the sinking of our Shippe considering what dangers shee hath endured And let mee tell you two whole daies are already past since we set forth from Sobradisa expressely to goe see Amadis and Madame Oriana and all the good company there with them Our hope was to make more haste thither than wee haue done as fearing least King Lisuart had already se◠his forces in refusing the honest offers you made him But for ought I can perceiue hee greatly forgets him-selfe whereat I much maruaile and it seemes that hee is wearied with his long continued good fortune beginning warre so rashly with them that haue done him so many great seruices whereof hee may repent him at leasure For Lord Amadis will finde so many sure friends and all ready at his command that King Lisuart it may be will see himselfe deceiued in his expectation As for my selfe quoth shee vpon this onely and no other cause haue I left Tantiles behinde with expresse charge to leuy in my territories twelue hundred able men for warre and to bring them away with all possible speed But if it might so please you wee would be very glad of your company seeing we are thus so well mette together Madame saide Brian seeing your Ship is much crazed may it please you to goe aboard ours and yours shall follow whereto all agreed And so they set on deuising together on many matters till at length they espied two men of warre vnder sayle which Tiron had purposely sent forth to disappoint and surprize the Queen Now concerning this Tiron whereof I now make mention to you hee was the sonne to Abiseos whom Amadis and Agraies contended withall in the citie of Sobradisa according as you haue alreadie heard in the first booke of this History By whose death and likewise of his two eldest sonnes Briolania remained peaceably Queene of the whole countrie except of one Castle only wherein this Tiron third sonne to the saide Abiseos was saued by an ancient Knight who had the charge of him and therefore there nourished him till he came to able age of bearing Armes and to receiue knighthood Then hee began to worke wonders so that hee was reputed for one of the best and boldest Knights then liuing Which the aged Knight perceiuing hee put him in minde to compasse the recouery of his lost country againe pressing him so importunatly to reuenge the death of his father and brethren that he resoluedly determined to aduenture the taking of Queen Briolania and afterward to make him self an absolute King if he could Hereupon hee being informed that shee embarked her selfe for the Enclosed Isle and but with a small company made ready two Ships with an hundred hardy Knights lay hulling on the Sea before to execute the full of his intent The sunne grew to declining and night not farre off wherefore Brian and Quedragant doubting to be assaulted stood on their guard because they saw the other make a pace towards them by help of their Oares Being come neare vnto them they heard the voyce of a man calling out aloud to them in this manner Knights you that accōpany Queen Briolania tell her that her Cosen Tiron is here and would speake with her commanding you her people not to stand vpon any defence against vs least wee hew you in peeces and bestow no better fortune on her When the Queene heard these wordes shee was surprised with a wonderfull feare and trembled exceedingly saying to Brian Alas Sir wee are all vndone this is the greatest enemy that I haue in the world and beleeue that he would neuer come in this manner but to deale with vs as cruelly as hee can Madame answered Quedragant feare not any thing if he assault vs hee will perhaps be better welcomed then hee lookes for For my companion ten of your Knights shall take charge for resisting one of their Ships and I and the rest will deale with Tiron vnto whom he spake thus Knight thou that desirest to see the Queene come hither aboard her Shippe and she will gladly heare thee otherwise not Come aboard quoth Tiron why that is my meaning in the despight of her and thee or any else whatsoeuer So turning instanstly the prow of his Ship siding the Queenes the grappling irons were cast forth to fasten them together and making a signe to his other Shippe to fight couragiously the assault beganne very sharpe and dangerous Wherein hee vsed but silly prouidence making small account of the Queenes strength which he found greater than hee was aware of And Tiron scuffling ouer negligently in his owne quarrell would needes step into the Queenes shippe but his tarrying there was longer then he looked for for Quedragant meeting there with him found him such tough play as Tiron was beaten downe and committed to safe custodie albeit his Knights did their vttermost endeauour to rescue him Neuerthelesse in the conclusion not one of them all escaped in their ressistance but was either slaine or taken prisoner This so daunted their courages that by little and little getting vp alost on the deck they began to cut the cords of the grappling irons which fastened the two Ships together But Quedragant perceiued it and seeing fortune was onely for him in the despight of Tirons Knights he entred their Shippe where hee made such a massacre as hee quickly became master thereof In the meane while Brian kept heade with them in the other Ship and although hee was grieuously wounded yet could they gaine nothing against him but seeing their companions lost gaue ouer fight and laboured to gette away by
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
was not a little mooued and fearing that hee would not keep promise with him a Brigandine was presently prepared and his Nephew Giontes sent in all haste to Rome to know the cause of this delay and so he parted from Vindilisore CHAP. XIII How Grasandor Sonne to the King of Bohemia sayling vpon the Sea met with Giontes and of that which happened to them YOu haue already heard that Grasandor hauing taken leaue of the King his father was shipt to Sea accompanied onely with twenty Knights sayling towards the Enclosed Isle Earely in a morning about sunne rising hee discouered the Brigandine wherein Giontes was which foorthwith hee boarded hauing the winde more at will than the other had Then Grasandor being desirous to know whether hee went commanded 〈…〉 should come before him for hee had no power of contradiction because hee had none but Manners aboard with him Wherefore hee gaue him to vnderstand that his voyage was to Rome thereto enioyned by King Lisuart entreating that hee might be no longer staied because his businesse required expedition Grasandor replied thus Before God quoth he hee that hath sent you is no well-wisher to Lord Amadis to whom I am an eternall vowed friend therefore you must reli mee your name and what commission you haue to Rome otherwise you cannot easily passe from me If by concealing what you demand answered Giontes the least iot of the King my masters honour might be deminished death could not compell me to disclose it But redounding to his fame with no meane aduantage being a matter of no great secrecy know Sir that my name is Giontes a Knight of Great Brittaine and Nephew to the King of whom I spake who hath sent me to the Emperour to hasten those forces formerly promised him for his intended warre against them that haue wrongfully surprised his daughter Oriana and diuerse other in her company vnder conduct of the Prince Saluste Quide and other Romanes whereof som were slain others takeÌ„ prisoners Now Sir hauing thus satisfied you I pray you let me be stayed no longer Goe a Gods name answered Grasandor and remember that your King and his Emperour shall sinde with whom they haue to deale if they aduenture to assaile Amadis and them that will be in his company So they parted Grasandor hastening towardes the Enclosed Isle 〈…〉 beeing ariued hee was most ioy fulle welcomed Amadis and the rest entertayning him in most 〈…〉 manner Then hee reforted to them how hee met with Gâ—…tes at Sea who went to hasten the Emperour of Romes Army and what other speeches had passed between them Also how the King his father was leuying men in his Kingdome to follow after him with all possible speed and very shortly they were to bee expected with Count Galtines and Ysario who stayed behinde only for their conduct In the meane while quoth hee I as one entirely affected to you am come before to offer you both my loue and seruice You are most heartily welcome answered Amadis the King your father binds mee more and more both to him and you in all I can Now obserue how from that very instant the Army for the Enclosed Isle gathered strength and grew compleate within fifteen daies after For King Perion ariued there with three thousand Gaules all well experienced and hardy warriours Galtines with fifteen hundred Tantiles for Queene Briolanis with 12 hundred Branfill brother to Brunes with six hundred Two thousand were sent by Ladasin King of Spaine to his sonne and other fifteene hundred came from Scotland sent to Agraies besides two thousand which Libeo Nephew to Master Elisabet brought from Grasindaes Prouinces all carrying Turkie Bowes Eight thousand likewise came vnder the conduct of Gastiles sent from the Emperour of Constantinople all these being encamped on a goodly plaine hard by the maine Rock of the Enclosed Isle couragiously expected the enemies comming And you must thinke that it was a goodly sight to behold so faire an assembly for there was not a man among them but his very lookes expressed the resolution of his soule and that hee was a warriour indeed which pleased Amadis so highly as nothing could more content him But the Princesse Oriana thinking continually on such mischances as might ensue in such cases had euermore her eyes filled with tears refusing all comfort that came from the women wherewith Mabila acquainted Amadis who was not a little grieued thereat And seeing he had no better meanes to delight her then to present before her eyes how many valiant men had vnder-taken Armes in her defence hee sent to entreate her that she would bee pleased to behold them on the morrowe all ordered in the forme of a maine battell and therefore secretly gaue the alarum which she and the other Ladies accepted verie pleasingly For from their windowes they could discerne all the field Amadis in the night time had closely ambushed an hundred men and three hundred Harquebuziers to confront them sayling all along the Sea shoar and about ten of the clock the next morning they entred into skirmish the Allarum being giuen on either side The morning after sunne-rising prooued very foggie and mistie so that the Ladies could not discerne any of the sport but after that the sunne had scattered the mists then the warriours ranged their battalions and the Harquebuziers plaied hotly with their shotte so that the Scouts and Centinells fearing to bee surprised on either side made their escapes queint and cunning Then was the whole campe so moued euen as if the heauens had thuÌ„dered by the noise of Drummes Trumpets and Clarions cheerfully sounding on euery side And as they laboured for winning of Ensines the men appeared like Ants very properly stealing abroad forth of their earth where all summer they made their prouision for winter In the meane while the Ladies were on all sides at their gazing windowes beholding this militarie controuersie which serued as a pleasing passe-time to them by reason of the intelligence Amadis had giuen them thereof the day before As thus they were pell mell together Mabila with a very gracious respect came to Oriana speaking thus By my faith Madame there are many great Princes and Potentates who haue not such plenty of men at command as you haue I referre my selfe to this instant spectacle before your eyes What say you yourselfe Is it not true How happy then were you in making due consideration hereof and how much you can command in him to whom this whole Army affordeth obedience I am perswaded that if King Lisuart and the Emperour which neuer shal be your husband did but beholde what you now doe they would consider twice on their enterprise before they ventured any further forth of their countries Wherefore it is no more then necessarie that hence-forward you should refraine your sighes tears and shew a much more cheerefull disposition then hitherto you haue done Deare Cosen answered Orania it is impossible for mee to be pleasantly
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
your Kingdome for you doe very well know that Amadis and they of his line are good and valiant Knights admired for their power and not neglected by their friends Moreouer there is no man ignorant how falsely they haue beene accused to your Maiestie as the victorie which Angriote and Sarquiles enioyed so lately against the acâ—… hath deliuered sufficient testimony for had not right and truth supported their cause although they are good and approued Knights indeed yet could they not so easily haue gone cleere from the soones of Gandandell nor of Damas whereby sufficiently appeareth that the hand of heauen was powerfull in maintayning their iustification And therefore Sir were you so pleased as to forget your concerned displeasure gone out against them and make a repeale of them to your seruice in my poore opinion it would be for the best considering it hath neuer past with any honourable allowance that a King should warre with them whom hee may easily and with his no meane dignitie commaund to yeeld him both loue and seruice whereas in doing otherwise oft times it prooueth to the losse of his people extreame expences and weakening his authoritie a matter so daungerous as vpon such aduantage inciteth neighbouring Commanders to thirst in desire o nouell attempts to hurle off awe and subiection and to winne more libertie then they could formerly aime at And therefore a wise Prince if possible it may be should neuer giue occasion to his subiects to runne from that feare and reuerence which in duty they owe vnto him but rather ought to essay by all meanes that his gouernment may rellish of temperate discretion winning their hearts and willes rather by cordiall louc then the least sauour of vigour and tyrannie as a faithfull Shâ—â—pheard respecteth his flocke Wherefore Sir it is requisite to quench the fire already â—ndled before it get head to a full â—…ne of deuouring for often times â—fter an errour is perfectly knowen the remedy falls out to be too farre off Amadis is so humble minded and so much yours as if you but send to recall him you may quickly haue him and all they that follow him of whom you may dispose to be much better serued then euer you haue beene I know well replled the King that your aduise is verie good but they vrged mee with such a demaunde as lay not in my power to grant them hauing made promise thereof before to my daughter Leonora And I know withall that their strength is no way equall to mine wherefore forbeare to proceed herein with me any further but prepare you and the rest to keepe mee company for to morrow Cendill de Ganote shall goe to defie them all in the Enclosed Island You may doe as seemeth best to your Maiestie answered King Arban who perceiuing the Kings anger to be highly prouoked would contest with him no longer but without any shew of discontentment retired into his owne lodging But you must vnderstand that Gandandell and Brocadan perceiuing their Treason to be so apparrantly published by the death of their sonnes and waxing weary of liuing any longer among people of vertue and honestie caused the dead bodies to be had thence and afterward they and their adherents embarked themselues in a Shippe and sayling away arriued in a small Island where they finished the remainder of their wretched lines wherefore our History will make no more mention of them Let vs now returne to King Lisuart who after hee had a long while considered on the message sent him by Angriote and what speeches had beene vrged to him by King Arban summoned a great companie of his Knights together and began a heauie complaint vnto them concerning Amadis and his followers declaring the bold speeches and insolent tearmes which Angriote had sent him by Grumedan Wherefore my louing friends quoth he I pray yee to counsell me how I shall gouerne myselfe in this case For if I endure this iniurie it will redound no lesse to your dishonour then mine owne disaduantage considering that a Prince cannot bee wronged without great blame to the Subiects if they suffer it and vse no defence against it Hereupon warre was concluded against Amadis and his allies and instantly he called Condill de Ganote saying thus vnto him Goe to the Enclosed Island where you shall finde Amadis and tell him that hence forward neither he nor any of his frieÌ„ds may attempt the boldnesse vpon any occasion whatsoeuer to enter my Countries for if any of them may be taken there I shall in such sort bestow them as they will hardly escape agine with ease Furthermore make this addition that I doe defie them and let them rest assuredly perswaded that I will be their vtter destruction both in body and goods wheresoeuer I can meete with them And because they make vaunt of ayding Galuanes against me I am determined to goe in person and will take possession of the Isle Mongaza whether if they dare persume to come I will cause them to be surprized and hanged In this manner departed Cendill de Ganote and the same day the King dislodged to soiourne in the Citie of Gracedonia and there also to assemble his Army whereof Oriana was most ioyfull knowing the time of her de speake whatsoeuer them pleased Sir replyed Gandales here is Sadamon who hath charge from all the Knights now abiding in the Enclosed Island to acquaint you with their ioynt deliberation As concerning my selfe I am sent particularly to you as I shall make knowen to you from my Lord Amadis if it may please you to let me haue a sight of your Queene as one that desireth to doe her most humble seruice and to your selfe mine honor reserued Beleeue me Gandales my good frâ—end answered the King I am not offended that you should take part with Amadis for I am perswaded that you account him as your owne sonne And whereas you desire to see the Queen I am well pleased therewith onely for your loues sake hauing so kindly entreated her daughter Oriana during the time shee â—oâ—ourned in Scotland In the meane while seeing Sadamon is the principall Ambassador in the businesse for which you are both sent hither he hath permission to speake his pleasure Then Sadamon aduanced himselfe and with a manly countenance began his speech declaring first to the King the wrong that he had done to Gaâ—â—anes and Madasima and generally to the kinred and friends of Amadis From whom quoth he King Lisuâ—rt I bring thee defiance and here pronounce that they are and will be thy deadly enemies so long as thou pretendest any â—…ght to the Islâ—… Mongaza which with shame constrâ—iâ—â—dly you enâ—oy Afterward particularly he deliuered all the rest not omitting the â—â—ast particle of his charge What replyed the King doâ— they thinke to feare mee with 〈◊〉 No no they shall not enâ—oy a â—â—te of their demaund much 〈◊〉 any peace with me And the better to manifest their folly I am well contâ—â—ted not to weare
the victory hee would write to them concerning his owne good health and their other friends Wisely did the Squires fulfill the charge committed to their trust so that on the third day following the first returned to them and reported that the Army of the seauen Kings was very great and strong by reason of infinit numbers of strangers who were lately there arriued and that they layed sharpe siege to a Castell which was said to belong to certain Ladies And albeit it was very strong and almost impregnable by power of Armes yet they were in great danger of yeelding it because food and sustenance greatly fayled therein And further quoth the Squire as I crossed thorow the Campe I heard Archalaus the Enchanter conferre with two of the Kings saying as hee walked along with them that within sixe dayes they would bid theÌ„ battel because no further order should bee taken for bringing them in any victuals by Sea and that their munition began to fayle them also Yet all goes well answered Amadis in the meane while we shall haue good leisure to refresh and recreate our selues The very same day the other Squire sent to the Campe of King Lisuart returned likewise who declared that he met with Galaor and what countenance hee shewed in reading the Letter And trust mee quoth he very hardly could he refraine from teares when he vnderstood that you were all three in Gaule for he made a setled assurance of the victory if the King could haue enioyed yee in his company Moreouer he sends ye word by me that if hee escape with life from the field he wil forthwith make haste to see ye But what quoth Amadis is thine opinion of their Army Trust me my Lord answered the Squire so few fighting men as they be yet are they al marshalled in exceeding good order and diuers worthy knights are said to be among them but they are all ouer few in regard of the others mighty multitude Notwithstanding King Lisuart is not daunted a iote but intendeth as I heard it credibly reported within two dayes to meete them or else the Castell of Ladies will be constrayned to yeeld it selfe hauing no supply of men nor meate Well said Amadis we shall see what will ensue on this busines Thus they continued in the Forrest vntill such time as they had intelligence that the two Armies prepared to ioyne whereupon they dislodged and drew neerer to the Campe of King Lisuart which was seated on the ridge of an hill and so neere to the enemy that but a little Riuer diuided them running thorow the plaine where King Aranigne earnestly desirous of fight had passed his men This King last mentioned to ye was chosen the chïefe and Coronall of the whole Army belonging to the seauen Kings and to him all the principall Captaines of the band had made solemne oath and promise the day before to obey him without any contradiction For he desired nothing else as he said neither could haue any iote more but onely the honour of the enterprise referring all the spoyle and booty to his companions the common Souldiers And that he might the better accoÌ„plish his intent he ordained nine battalions in each of which hee appointed twelue thousand knights reseruing to his owne charge fifteen hundred and more commaunding on the morrow by breake of day the Trumpets Clarions to giue summons for all to set themselues in order and bee in readinesse Before he would dislodge seeing his men forward to their deuoire for their encouragement he thus spake What need it Gentlemen that I should vse any great perswasion for your bold fighting considering you are the only authors of this war and wherein you haue elected mee for your chiefe conducter And that is the only reasoÌ„ mouing me to speak to the end you may the more heedfully fixe before your eyes the cause why you are assembled in so great a multitude Resolue your selus that it is not to defend your Country your liberty your wiues children nor your goods But it is to conquer and subdue a nation the most proud and arrogant people this day liuing who make of vs dwelling somewhat farre from them so small esteeme as of nothing lesse Neuerthelesse as neere as they are I hardly thinke that they dare abide vs for though they carry a kinde of fury in their marching yet if you note well their lookes there appeares an apparant testimony of doubt and difficulty in dealing with vs which may moue giue ye more heart to fight then all the words of â—â—â—ng men can do yea althougâ— ye were then ill ordered hâ—lâ—e tired We are heere the very stoure ful strength of most part of the Ocean Islands in such a gallant number that it were almost a sin to make any doubt of our certain victore And for our further assurance let vs remember that wee are in a strange Country a large long distance from our own not among our louers and friends but euen in the very midst of our enemies that euery houre expect our ruine death A matter which we cannot auoid if we be once broken disseuered For they haue worthy horse-men by whom we are certain to be pursued without any meanes oâ—retâ—â—ing to our ships wherefore we must resolue to conquer or dye because the necessity wherein wee are is much rather to be feared then their power Let each man therfore do his duty and I make no doubt but before darke night do check our forwardnesse we shall be Lords and Maisters of the whole Country and thereby be held dreadfull in other parts of the world King Aranigne hauing thus encouraged his Souldiers hee caused them to march in good order toward their enemies who likewise marched in maine battell on the hill top making such a glittering radiance with their Armes that it was a most goodly sight to behold And they were diuided into fiue squadrons the first being guided by Brian de Moniaste with a thousand knights of Spaine The second by King Cildadan with the like number of knights The third by Galuanes The fourth by Giontes And the 〈◊〉 by King Lisuart accompanied with Galaor and two thousand 〈◊〉 knights who seeing so great a 〈◊〉 titude come marching against him began to be very doubtful of the victory Neuerthelesse like a pâ—…nt and magnanimious Prince he went from battation to battalion to perswade his Cheualiers to fight brauely And for their better encitation thereto be gaue them to vnderstand that with great shame he was thus assayled by these enemies without any quarrell at all against them but onely through the perswasion and procurement of Archalaus the most disloyall traytour and villaine that euer liued they were thus entred his Country with an absolute hope of conquest And therfore my louing friends quoth he right being on our side God who is most iust in whose hand are all victories wil vndoubtedly assist vs. If they say that they war thus vpon
preuaile against yea vtterly to ruinate a more potent Prince then you are being desirous to make an end of this warre to prouide for other his more necessary occasions makes tender to you of two conditions whereby you may enioy peace if you please or else not First if Combate may be performed of an hundred of your knights against as many of his or a thousand to a thousand the conquerors leauing the vanquished in such case as to them shall seeme best Or if you finde this demaund to be ouer-great hee is content to allow of twelue against twelue of which number I meane my selfe to be one who doe thinke my selfe able to fight with sixe of your knights although your selfe made one in person Therefore of these two elections chuse which shall appeare the easiest to you for otherwise be well assured that setting aside all other affaires his Army shall neuer part from this Country till you be wholly vanquished which will be very speedily because you are not able long to withstand his potent proceedings Don Garadan answered the knight of the greene Sword were you to speake to a King of much lesse merit yet deseruing more respect and reuerence mee thinkes you should bee more mindfull of your owne behauiour in vsing such proud threatnings concerning your selfe ill beseeming a Gentleman appertayning to so great a Prince Notwithstanding he may make you what answere shall like him albeit in mine opinion he should first vnderstand what assurance you can make of your seuerall offers if hee consent to your demaunds When Garadan heard the knight of the greene Sword speake so resolutely in the Kings presence hee maruayled greatly what he should be and looking on him with a disdainfull eye he said Beleeue me knight it appeareth well by your language but much more by your boldnes that you are not onely a stranger in these parts but also to all honour and ciuility And it amazeth me that the King will suffer yee to speake so sottishly in his presence Neuerthelesse if his opinion of you be so good as not to disallow what you haue said let him first consent to my demaunds and then I will answere him as I see occasion Goe you on quoth the King with the rest of your message for whatsoeuer the knight of the greene Sword hath spoken on my behalfe shall bee maintayned if in our power it lye to perfourme it Garadan became now more amazed then formerly he had beene perceiuing that the man whom he had inburied in wordes was the knight with the greene Sword whose renowne had already spred it selfe thorow all Countries and made his stout heart somewhat to tremble Neuerthelesse he held it as his chiefest happinesse that hee should haue now so apt an occasion to combate with him for he was so ouer-weening and vaine-glorious that he made no doubt of preuayling against him and that very easily Which ydle fond opinion caused him to lose all the honour and high reputation wherein he had liued till that time promising himselfe an assurance of victory which afterward fell to his enemy And waxing more chollericke then before he returned this answere to the knight of the greene Sword Seeing that the King giues you such power and authority why are yee so slow in electing the fight Because answered the knight of the Dwarfe it is a matter of such importance as well deserueth to haue the aduice of the Princes and Ladies of this kingdome And it would highly content mee if the King pleased so much to honour mee as to entertaine me for one of the twelue hundred or thousand that are to bee appointed for this fight for no man can bee more desirous then I am to doe any seruice against you on whom I would not onely aduenture my best blood but serue for him in any place where he shall please to imploy mee My deare friend replyed the King I most heartily thanke you and will not refuse the offer you haue made me but doe request withall that you would make election of the fights in my behalfe according as you shall iudge it best and for our most aduantage In good sooth Sir replyed the knight of the green Sword therein you shall pardon mee if you please for you haue about yee so many good knights all louing and respectfull of your honour that if you demaund their aduice in this case their counsell will be both faithfull and honourable Neuerthelesse before you shall faile in this or any other matter that Garadan can vrge presume vpon my loyalty and ready seruice Onely let me entreate your Maiesty to demaund what power he hath receiued from his Maister to warrant the offers already proposed and accordingly you may shape your answere for the acceptance or refusall Saucie companion answered Garadan I know thy meaning well enough as seeking how to shrinke backe and shunne all the offers made for fight If you knewe mee well said the knight of the Dwarfe it may be you would hold better estimation of me then rashly your rash opinion seemeth to deliuer And doe not thinke it straunge that I gaue such aduice to the King as you haue heard for if your seuerall offers should afterward bee disallowed or disclaymed they may bee the cause of stearner warre then yet hath beene in steed of a milder purchasing peace Garadan could no longer forbeare but drew a Letter forth of his sleeue sealed with thirty faire Seales in the middest of all which Seales stood that that belonged to the Emperour And deliuering it to the King he bade him to consider on a speedie answere By my faith quoth the King seeing you are in such great haste you shall be answered before you part from this place So withdrawing thence calling some of the chiefest Lords of the company he entreated them to aduise him particularly what were best to be done in this vrgent necessity Then each man deliuered his opinion which fell out to be different and contrary because some approued the fight of an hundred against an hundred and others of twelue to twelue but the greater number temporized and gaue the like counsell for continuance of warre in manner and forme as it had beene begunne For quoth they to hazard a kingdome vpon the strength of so few men is a matter very dangerous And moreouer it appeareth by Garadans owne words that the Emperour himselfe first beginneth to grow weary of this warre and it may be is so ouerpressed in other places as he will be thereby enforced to withdraw his forces and leaue vs in peace against his owne will Sir said Count Galtines it were very expedient in my minde to craue the counsell of the knight of the greene Sword Now was not he present at this assembly and therefore hee was immediately sent for and being come the King thus spake vnto him My worthy Friend you haue heard at large the speeches of Don Garadan to mee so commanded as he saith by his Maister the
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
a thousand deaths then redeliuer her to Patin without whom hee could not liue an houre He made no doubt of compassing some meanes to regaine her the former grace of the King her father and to breake the alliance else-where intended which that he might the better attaine vnto hee gaue the Prince Agrates and Quedragant to vnderstand that the Princesse had sent to pray this fauour For otherwise quoth he she intendeth rather to make a Sacrifice of her selfe then to fall into his power whom she more hateth then any man liuing Beside it shall no way redound to our honour to suffer such a monstrous shame hauing made so great and good a beginning for her deliuerance Quedragant returned him this answere I sweare vnto you Sir at our first and giddie-headed eye-sight we see so great a fire already kindled as we may easily presume is impossible to be quenched without a hard and daungerous warre which we may not well maintaine and endure for any long time without the ayde and succour of our deare friends and companions wherefore I thinke it expedient that all the rest which are here should be made acquainted there-with to know their opinions to the end that they may be the better enclined to sustaine the businesse if they shall conclude on warre I pray you then said Amadis that we may all meete together tomorrow and take the charge if you please to summon them wherto Quedragant gladly condiscended Hereupon the day following they met together and Amadis sitting in the midst of them beganne in this maner Honourable Lords yesterday Madame Oriana sent to pray me that we all would consider one some good meanes to winne againe the lost grace and fauour for her with the offended King her father qualifying in him if it bee possible that strange conceit of his to marry her with the onely Prince in the world to whom she beareth the least affection otherwise death will be much more welcome to her And therefore I thought it good after I had spoken with some of this company particularly to vnderstand from you all in generall what you thinke thereof For seeing wee haue beene friends and companions in the procuring of her libertie it is much more reasonable that we should all agree to maintaine it But before I enter into further speech I humbly desire you to fixe before your eyes that already your fame renowne is so knowne through the world by reason of the rare actions of Chiualry by you performed that at this day there is neither King Prince nor State but stand in feare of your high valour For they all well know that to winne immortall honour you haue contemned not onely the sumptuous treasures and kinde entertainments inherent to you in your owne houses but the deare blood of your owne bodies where-of you haue made no spare in giuing the boldest spirits to know the sharpe and keene edges of your swords to the mightie perill of your owne persons And as markes and testemonies of your prowesse the wounds receiued in many parts of your bodies may render such apparant faith as Fortune thinkes her selfe much obliged to you being willing to shew you how much her owne selfe is in debted to you And being desirous to recompence your former high deseruings she made plaine proofe thereof by deliuering this glorious victorie into your hands which you haue had against the two chiefest Princes of Christendome King Lisuart and the Roman Emperor Nor doe I speake concerning the ouerthrow of their men onely being farre inferiour to you in merit but of the worthie succour you haue giuen to the most wise debonnaire and vertuous Lady this day liuing Wherein you haue done a very acceptable seruice to God by executing that dutie whereunto you are expressely called namely to succour the a◅ted whē they are to endure wrongs beyond all reason Now if the King and Emperour thinke it good to be angrie yet seeing right is on our side and God who is iust will stand for vs also let vs giue them to vnderstand that if their owne experience cannot teach them iustice but by might and power they meane to assaile vs we are able to meete them with such resistance as shall remaine in memory while the world endureth Therefore let euery man speake his minde in this case what he conceiueth meetest to be done either to finish the war begun or else to motion peace by restoring Madame Oriana to the King her father according to her owne desire For as concerning my selfe know that I will neuer yeeld thereto except you be so pleased nor shall fond opinion ouersway me in this matter beyond the compasse so your liking I know you to be men indeed and your vertues of apparant as nothing can withdraw you from true valour and magnanimitie neither to aduenture on any action whereby your honour in how small a degree soeuer may receiue any base imputation So he ceased leauing the mindes of all the companie highly contented and satisfied by such an humble and gracefull remonstrance as he had made vnto them Then Quedragant commaunded thereto by all the assistants stood vp and answered Amadis in this manner Lord Amadis it is most certaine that our attempt made vpon the Emperour was not for any hatred wee bare to him but onely to keepe the faith whereto euery good Knight standeth obliged in maintayning and defending afflicted persons from wrong especially all vertuous Ladies of whom it is our dutie to be protectours And therefore I would aduise that before we vndertake any further warre wee should send to King Lisuart to let him fully vnderstand vpon what occasion we dealt with the Romans And if he be found discontented then in the verie mildest manner can bee deuised to shew him withall gracious demeanour what shamefull iniurie he offered to Madame Oriana vnder collour of marrying her to a forraigne Prince vtterly to disinherit her at home a matter euery way offensiue to God and not to bee suffred by his owne Subiects Pausing a very little while and clapping his fist vpon the boorde thus he proceeded If therefore it may stand with his good pleasure to forget his conceiued anger against her if there be any entred into his royall brest then we to offer deliuerie of her againe on this condition and not else If he refuse or disdaine the dutie wherein we send vnto him then to tell him resolutely wee feare him not a iote but if he will make warre vpon vs we are as ready to defend our selues In the meane while I hold it very necessarie that wee strengthen our selues with all such things as an action of such importance doth require as this is At least that he may not come vpon vs vnprouided whensoeuer hee determines to assaile vs if he be so minded albeit in mine opinion peace were much better then warre But this conclusion is not to be tardied by any meanes rather we must put our selues in due preparation dispatching hence
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
rauishing beauties Now did Amadis steppe into the Emperours place so soone as hee was gone from Oriana feigning to doe him a great fauour in helping him to conferre with Queene Briolania But he had a quite contrary meaning and did it to no other end but that the rest of his friends should talke with their Ladies while hee might be alone with her whom hee most desired For hee had not conuersed familiarly with the Princesse since her ariuall in the Enclosed Isle wherefore finding time and place sufficiently commodious he beganne with her in this manner Madame I haue thought all my life time hitherto that no possibility remained in mee for acknowledgement of those great and gracious fauours which so long a while I haue receiued by your meanes only And last of all in being the cause that aged Nascian reuealed to the King your father what right wee had each in other whereby your sonne and mine became knowen to him and peace confirmed between them of Great Brittaine and vs. As for my selfe I shall stand much more obliged to you now then euer heretofore And therefore aduisedly consider what else remaineth for me to doe for I assure you I shall take no little delight in doing whatsoeuer you commande me When Oriana heard him deliuer such speeches hauing before her eyes what dutie euery woman of honour and discretion oweth to her husband shee thus answered My Lord in my poore opinion you doe both your selfe and me wrong and therefore I pray you speake to me henceforward as to your huÌ„ble wife seruant and not after those kind of phrases wheÌ„ I was no other then your friend Furthermore let mee humbly entreat you to tell me in what condition you left the King my father and how I am now esteemed of him Madame said Amadis if outward lookes may be true euidences I neuer saw man declare more contentment then he deliuered when we were together Albeit I coniecture considering his ineuitable danger in our last encounter when he hoped to recouer you from vs by meer force his thoughts are otherwise quite different Yet hee dissembles it so wisely as possibly can bee euen to hurle shame vpon himselfe and excusing what hath past betweene you and mee fully resolued as hee saith to bee more cheerefully disposed then euer hitherto he hath been Where-upon hee is returned backe to Vindilisore to fetch the Queene and your sister Leonora whom he hath promised in marriage to the Emperour Oriana was not a little glad of these newes saying My Lord these are matters of no meane comfort especially that I haue recouered my fathers grace againe for next to you I loue him aboue any man liuing notwithstanding all the hard sufferings as well you know hee hath put me to But further I pray you tell mee what is your opinion of Esplandian By my faath Madame quoth hee by his carriage and behauiour he plainely declares himselfe to bee yours And if good Nascian could haue preuailed hee had brought him hither to you But the King would needs haue him goe with him to please the Queene because shee knowes him not yet to bee her Grand-childe So breaking off this discourse King Perion who had all this while entertained Grasinda with talke tooke leaue of her and the company because it drew neare supper time Wherefore withdrawing thence into his owne lodging Amadis followed him there looking forth at a windowe till the tables were furnished hee thus spake Seeing sonne it hath pleased God that you haue ended all troubles with so great honour let the whole glory be ascribed to him and while you liue acknowledge thankfulnesse to your friends who to help you in so serious a business haue made no spare of their liues and goods which bindes you the more to loue and honour them recoÌ„pencing their kindnesse so much as in you lieth Considering that without their assistance it is most certaine you had beene in great danger not only of your liues losse but also of your honour which I account a thousand times dearer And because it is no more then reason that like as they haue beene pertakers of all paines and perils so they ought to be of pleasure and contentment which you haue receiued by their meanes let it therfore be no meane part of your care to respect them in especial manner by distributing such booty among them as is in your hands the Kings Aranigne Barsinan others being your prisoners Moreouer such as you knowe affected to those Ladies which keepe companie with the Princesse Oriana let them haue equal coÌ„tentment with your selfe by espousing them to whom their fancies are enclined For which cause I deliuer into your power your sister Melitia to giue her to him whom you thinke worthiest of her You haue likewise your Cosen Mabila and the Queen Briâ—lania to whom you stand highly obliged Grasinda also and the Queen Sardamira who haue suffered a great parte of Orianaes sorrowes me thinks they should participate in her fairest fortune and be aduanced as you think meetest Assuring you that the greatest comfort I can haue in mine aged yeares is to see your brethren Galaor and Florestan married that before I depart this life I may reioyce in issue from you all Consider hereof I pray you aduisedly further what I haue said to your vttermost power My Lord answered Amadis I will doe all that lies in me to please both you them It is enough quoth the King And so all things beeing aptly ordered they sate downe to supper In the morning a sudden summons was sent to all the chiefe Knights for an immediate meeting and when they were assembled Amadis entred into these speeches Honourable Gentlemen friends the great and labourious trauaile which you haue endured in these late warres doth very well deserue that now you should giue ease and respite to your spirits and in regarde of the deare debt wherein I stand engaged to you to essay my vttermost meanes to let you enioy those beatitudes which I know are pleasing to euery man among you For as by your most gracious assistance afforded in my very neerest extreamity I haue attained to that which I esteemed aboue all things else in the world namely the peaceable enioying of my long loued Oriana Euen so I beseech you with all my heart that each man would instantly declare if hee stand affected to any Ladie or Gentlewoman heere for I assure you on the faith of a Knight to preuaile so farre as I can with them that they shall not easily deny what I entreat on their friends behalfe Moreouer you know that king Aranigne Barsidan and many other beside are our prisoners defying those gracefull vertues whereto the order of knighthood truely tyed them and exercising so much as in them lay all cruelties and tyranny In regarde whereof they are not worthie of any ransome but iustly punishable for the grieuousnesse of their treasons and therefore I thinke it fit that
whosoeuer aduenters it shall perish without any remedy And for as much said shee to Amadis as you detaine in prison that wicked wretch Archalaus surnamed the enchaunter who at all times hath practised to worke you mischiefe and will hereafter attempt the like behold here are two Rings the one for you and the other for Madam Oriana the vertue of them is such as they that haue them or weare them none of his enchantments can hurt them or any in their company so being as he continueth in captiuity And therfore let me aduise you to haue him straightly kept and in a strong Cage of Iron where he may bee seene of all to the end that liuing in such miserie hee may die a thousand times a day For death is much more cruell in so prolonging a mans life then when he quickly makes an end of him in a moment Madam answered Amadis I well perceiue that you depriue mee of all hope of euer satisfying the fauours that I haue receiued from you and which day by day you still heape vpon me Lord Amadis quoth she you did so much for me when by your meanes I receiued my friend from the Castle at the Causey where you gaue knight-hood to your brother Galaor as I hold my selfe sufficiently recompenced for all that I haue done or can do hereafter in your behalfe Hauing thus spoken shee tooke her leaue of the whole companie and mounting vpon a Palfray brought thither ready for her shee rode to the port where the two Dwarfes awaited her comming Thither did all the Knights conduct her vntill shee entred into her Frigot which suddenly was wrapt in so black a cloude as they lost the fight of her and of the serpent also which lay houering halfe a league off and shewed not it selfe till three dayes after But the darkenesse being vanished away they beheld it in the same place where Vrganda left it at the first So the Knights â—…urning to the Pallace of Apolidon continued out their feasting which lasted yet eight dayes longer In the meane while the Emperour Arquisil sent to prepare the shipping which his predecessour Patin brought with his Armie to Vindilasore and they being come thither his people were imparked and the next day following for the earnest desire he had to be at Rome there to bee lawfully crowned hee went aboard with his Empresse Florestan and the Queene Sardamira The winde sitting fairely for them the weighed Anchors and hoysed sayles so that in short while they were a great way off from the coast of Brittaine crossing the straites of Gibraltare entred into the Leuant Sea where wee will leaue them sayling returning to King Lisuart and the rest in the Enclosed Isle the more part whereof prepared them-selues for the kingdome of Arauigne But others more affecting their ease made account of repayring home to their owne houses especially King Lisuart Neuerthelesse before hee dislodged thence knowing well how faithfull King Cildadan had been to him so long as all his serious affaires endured hee did the parte of a most magnanimous and bountifull Prince towardes him and before all them of the Enclosed Isle remitted the tribute hee paide him to the losse of many worthy knights hearts that had formerly serued him more by constraint then any inclination of good will So taking leaue of them all hee returned home to his country And the same day they remayned there with Amadis as well for the purposed warre in Sansuega as else-where held a Councell wherein was decreed that Don Quedragant Bruneo de bonne Mer Agraies Angriote d' Estrauaus and Brian de Moniaste should go together with them that were left of the Scots Irish and Spanish by whose helpe the countries of Arauigne and Sansuega beeing neighbours and butting one vpon another might be the sooner conquered And beecause the countrie of the Profound Isle confined on the kingdome of Sobradisa Galaor should grant supply of vittailes and passage to his Cosen Dragonis and his Armie which consisted of Gaules and Bohemians with the people that Galuanes could bring from the Isle of Mongoza Hereupon such as were named and set downe for the warre took shipping on the sixt day following and the rest returned home to their countries King Perion to Gaule King Cildadan to his Queene and Gastilles to Constantinople But Amadis and Grasandor kept them-selues at the Enclosed Isle with Oriana Melicia Grasinda Mabila Esplandian and the King of Dacia in expectation of newes from them that were gone thence with so great a power CHAP. XXXII How Amadis went away alone to reuenge the knights losse whom a Ladie had brought dead in a small Barke And of that which happened to him AMadis and Grasandor voide as it appeared to them of all trouble or offence hauing them in their company whom they most esteemed tooke no other care but how to spend their time in all pleasure and delight But Fortune vtter enemy to any mans ease and quiet when shee likes to play her changing prankes had prepared a new occasion for them of sorrow and sadnesse as presently you shall vnderstand One day among other when these two Knights were gone to hunt the Hart as Amadis held his hound in a leash for his best aduantage of the game hee espied a farre off from the coaste a small Barke on the Sea yet making towardes land imagining it should haue some strange occasion therin hee descended downe the Rocke to see what might ensue But before he could goe low enough the Barke was close at the shoare and a Ladie came foorth thereof and one Mariner who with much labour drew forth a dead Knight yet wholly armed Amadis made a stay somewhat short of them to trie what would ensue of this sad beginning hiding himselfe behind a â—ush for his better shelter and long he had not tarried there but he saw the Mariner and the Ladie lay the Knight along vpon the Sands placing his shield vnder his head This caused Amadis to conceale â—…lse no longer but going towards them the Lady presentlie knew him Whereupon suddenly throwing her selfe at his feete and fountaines of teares flowing from hiâ— eyes she spake thus Alas Lord Amadis take pittie on a poore woman and for the honor of Knight-hood giue her succour for I am shee that first laid hand on you because the Queene your mother had no other helpe then my poore selfe when you were borne into the World moreouer I can well tell you that all the harmes I suffer at this present hath happened to mee by the loue I haue alwaies carried to you Amadis seeing her so woe begon and euen meerely drowned in teares as it were could not know her at the first sight but looking on her more aduisedly heâ— remembred her to be Darioletta of whome wee haue spoken in the beginning of the first Booke and tooke so great compassion on her as raysing her vp very graciously he promised to assist her to his vttermost power Alas Sir