within them Thou speakest said the blacke knight as thy nature yéeldeth and I as vertue bindeth me for the rest let God worke his will Come in then said Frerion and defend thy selfe from mee if thou canst With that the black knight entred into a faire court paâ—â—d with white marble all galleried about and supported with pillers of Purphire in the middest whereof stoode the portall that entered into the house where an old lady accompanied of diuers yong gentlewomen stoode looking forth to whom the Giant went and knéeling on his knée said vnto her Madame I most humbly beséech you that neither for good nor euill which may happen vnto me in fighting with this knight not one of your house bée so bold to help or fauour me in any sort for I my selfe wil put him to death with this my trenchant blade and rising vp againe holding his shield before him with his cimiterre in his hand he marched towards his enemy who hauing God on his side to whom he recommended himselfe stood ready to receiue him Then there began such a combate betwéen them that their blowes séemed two smiths forging vpon their anuiles séeming like fire that the wind kindleth in the aire and surely the blacke knight had sped but hardly at that time had it not béene for the armour Vrganda gaue him that could not bée cut by any weapon for the good sword hee conquered in the rocke of the Enchantresse whâ—â—ewith hee strooke not one blow but he drew blood on the Giant â—rerion who neuerthelesse did meruellously both defend himselfe and assaile his enemy but by euil fortune as he thought to strike the knight on the right arme hee started backe and stepping forwards againe gaue the Giant such a blow vpon the helmet that hee cut away a great péece thereof together with the buckle that made it fast but although the blow was maruellous great and in a manner incredible yet was not the Giant any thing therewith abashed but still shewed himselfe as fresh as if hee had not fought all the day long Neuerthelesse the blood in such aboundance issued out of his body that the white pauement of the court was chaunged into red and therewith he grew so weake that it might easily be iudged he had the worst whereby he stil began to reuile séeking only to defend himselfe from his enemies blowes whereat the old lady that beheld them considering her sonnes extremity cried out and said alas my child is it possible I should sée thée murthered before my face and therewith in great hast shee ran thether thinking to part them but it was too late for as she began to goe towards them the Giant felde aâ— on the ground with two blows that the black knight gaue him one vpon the head where he was vnarmed the other right in the middle of his leg where with hee cut it from his body whereat the old lady was so gréeued that she swouned in the place being by her Gentle women carried from thence into hir chamber where they laied her on a bed cursing him that was the cause thereof neuerthelesse hee followed them to the chamber dore where the old woman being reuiued perceiuing him to enter began againe to lament and mourne and shedding great abundance of teares she said vnto him Alas thou cruel knight the only bereauer of all my ioy and felicitie art thou not satisfied yet But wilt thou like wise haue my life and my sonnes both Then I pray thée with spéed either execute thy wil or else depart from hence and take what thou thinkest good permitting mee to liue the rest of my miseraale daies in sorrow and care with these poor women but all her intent was to make him enter into the chamber which was so inchaunted that no man could passe the threshold of the dore but presently hee lost all his sences and fell downe vâ—on the ground as if hee were dead but little did the inchauntment â—â—aile her against the blacke knight because the shining sword had such a propertie in it that no enchantment whatsoeuer could hurt the bearer thereof Therefore the knight hearing the sorrow the old lady made hee went into the chamber speaking courteously vnto her said Madame me thinkes you should take the offence I haue committed on your behalfe in much better part considering such hazards are common vnto knights desiring to win honour and therefore I pray you appease your sorrow and shew mee the knight you brought hether out of great Brittaine When the old lady perceiued him so farre within the chamber without let and that he desired to sée the king she being as it were out of her wits cried as lowd as she could and saied alas vnhappy wretch that I am what haue I done for thinking to reuenge another mans death I haue procured the destruction of mine owne children and therewith shee sighed in such manner as if her heart would burst within her body and lamenting that absence of her other son said Alas Matroco where art thou now What vnhappy fortune hath thus seperated thée from thy brother and mee Surely when thou hearest of his death and at thy returne shalt find another lord of this castle I am in doubt thou wilt not haue the patience to put vp so great an iniury but thinking to reuenge thy selfe I feare this deuill will handle thée in the like sort he hath done the rest for sure he is no mortall man for if hee were hee had found more resistance in this place then he hath done Then speaking vnto the knight she asked him if he knew the man she held in prison I truly saied he it is king Lisuart whereof I am right sorry being well assured that kings elected of God as hee is for the gouernement of his people ought not to be vsed in that manner Wherefore I would haue you shew me where he is otherwise I will doe worse then I haue hetherto done I know not said she who thou art nor by what meanes thou hast so great power but I am well assured and I would neuer haue thought that twenty such knights as once this day I did estéeme thée could euer haue attained to the achieuing of so great an enterprice and much lesse to haue withstood my art as thou hast done so that considering thereof I suppose that this thy power procéedeth from him in whoÌ„ in my yong yeares I did once beléeue and since that haue forsaken him to follow the workes of the common enemie of all mankinde who according to his naturall instinction hath iustly rewarded me to my desert therefore it were but folly to denie thée any thing that art so surely defended by him to whome all thinges are obedient Follow me then said she and I will shew thée the king but as I thinke it is not he thou séekest And with that shee rose vp went into a darke chamber the knight following her then she opened an yron gate and said vnto
Amadis was so wounded by Esplandian that in the end with a thrust of a launce into the right shoulder and other blowes with his sword hee was slaine in the field which Oriane hearing threw her selfe out of a window and brake her necke But it is not true for they raigned after that both in Fraunce and great Brittaine and had another sonne named Perion and a doughter no lesse beautifull then her mother that married Arquisil sonne to the Emperour of Rome But I cannot conceiue from whence those lyers could inuent such a thing if they vnderstand not by death the shadowes that Esplandian caused his fathers valiant acts to bee couered withall by the light and pleasant shining of his owne wherby his fathers were so much had in obliuion that there was no more brute of them then if they had neuer beene done But to returne againe vnto our matter you must note that newes went presently vnto the court what had chanced to the two knights Wherewith the king and Oriane much displeased departed from London came to Mirefleur when maister Elizabeth began the second time to dresse their wounds Whereby he perceiued them out of danger and cured them so well that within seuen daies after they could walke about the chamber which put Oriane in better comfort then before and it fell out well for her for if her malancholy had longer indured she had for certain died at that time And because the king had not as yet vnderstoode the reason that mooued them to fight one day when hee found Amadis in good disposition hee praied him to tell him In faith my lord saied hee I was desirous to haue the difference of our two forces knowne being assured that whatsoeuer chaunced thereby it could not bee but to mine honour for if my sonne bee a better knight then my selfe his honour for the present time will increase my glory past Before God saied the king your enterprise was but rashly vndertaken I pray you another time let vs leaue such youthfull partes for those that are but entring into arms Beléeue me and it pleaseth your grace saied hée I was neuer better beaten in all my life It is no matter saied the king séeing you haue both escaped with your liues now séeke meanes to bée healed of your wounds with as much spéede as you may and from henceforth let vs war only against Harts and other wild beasts that are within this forrest as my huntsmen haue shewed me this day CHAP. XVI How the King of Denmarke Garinter and Manely succoured Vrganda that certaine knights would haue slaine because she aided the Emperors sonne of Rome YOu heard before of the aduentures of Esplandian Ambor and Talanque after they had receiued the order of knighthood now you shall heare what became of Garinter king of Denmarke and Manely who sléeping as others did by the sound of sixe trumpets that plaied on the shore the next night they found themselues with their squires in a little barke so farre out of al knowledge that although they had landed they knew not where they were and it was so darke that they could not sée each other till at the last they perceiued a fire not farre from thence that moued them to goe thether to sée if they could find any that would shew them in what country they were therefore leauing their squires to kéepe their barke they tooke their shields and mounting vp a little hill they perceiued a fire burning circle wise in the middle whereof they saw a woman holding a yong child in her armes and about the fire stood tenne knights all armed that sought to take her but by no meanes they could come néere her she was so well defended by the fire And as they went néerer vnto it they heard one among the rest that said vnto her Ha thou false and accursed wretch thy diuellish spirits and familiars can now no longer helpe thée but at this time thou shalt surely die And although Manely and Garinter had their helmets on their heads yet the woman they so threatened knew them well calling thē and said Help me my sonnes and faile me not I pray you at this time With that Manely and the king of Denmarke knew her by her voice wherefore laying hands on their swords they marched towards the tenne knights wherof one of them stepped before the rest asking them if they knew that wicked woman that had done him the greatest mischiefe that euer was By God sir knight said Manely you lie in your throat she is not wicked but faithfuller for her part then you for yours Wherewith they ran each vpon other and there began the combate of tenne knights against two and although the match was not equall Manely and the king of Denmarke setting their backes together laied valiantly vpon them yet in the end they could not haue resisted but Vrganda playing her part put out the fire and taking her two knights aside left the rest in the darke striking each other as if Manely and the king of Denmarke had beene with them Meane time Vrganda and her company got into the thicket of the wood and hauing trauailed long at the last the moone began to shine when they were weary whereby they determined to stay a while and rest themselues till day appeared Meane time the two knights desired Vrganda to shewe them how shee came thether and whether she knew the country My good friends said she hauing long since learned by my art that this little child son to the Emperour of Rome and of the Empresse Leonor his wife should bee stollen away by the Traitor that assailed you who is sonne to Garadan that Amadis as then called the knight of the gréene sword put to death in the countrey of Bohemia in defending the right of king Tafmor As soone as you fell on sléepe in the great Serpent I made al the hast I could vnto this place to succour it according to my promise made being in the Ferme Isle in presence of Amadis and diuers other knights where I arriued at so good a time when the villaines which you saw came to a shepheards house where a poore nurse dwelt to whom they deliuered this little child to giue it sucke And séeing it was time to put my enterprise in practise I went out of my barke and making as if I had ben robbed by certaine théeues ranne towards them crying out and wéeping bitterly wherewith they all came forth to sée what it might be and perceiuing me in that manner asked the cause of my gréefe Ha my lords said I It is so that as my husband I passed through this wood wée met eight théeues that slew him and not content therewith haue taken away my horse and my budget wherein there is a great summe of money Which they beléeuing to bee true not that they were mooued with compassion for my losse but respecting their owne particular benefite hoping to get a booty by them
talking with king Luisart Esplandian and other good knights Where knéeling on the ground she asked which of them was the knight of the great Serpent and his father Amadis spake vnto her and saied Gentlewoman I am the one and this is my sonne Is it your pleasure to speake with vs The gentlewoman casting hir eie vpon Esplandian maruelling at his great beautie spake said In good faith king Amadis I verily beléeue that this is hee for I haue heard him in diuers places estéemed for the same that nowe I doe behold in him Gentlewoman said Amadis if you came into our camp only to sée him you now haue your desire That hath not ben only the cause said she but to bring this letter which the Souldan of Liquie and Quéen Calafre send vnto you both wherfore hauing read it I pray you returne an answere With that Amadis hauing taken it in his hand the Gentlewoman departed out of the tent attending their resolution King Amadis hauing read it shewed it to King Luisart and the rest that were in presence wherewith there rose great controuersie among them concerning the refusall or acceptation of the combat for that the most part of them were of aduise it should not be accepted shewing diuers great and euident reasons to confirm the same as the greater number of enemies they had before them readye to giue them battaile if it happen said they that fortune should be contrary to king Amadis and Esplandian in whome partly consisteth our hope such hard chance would bréed great fear in diuers men that are now very willing ready to do the best they can Others held the contrary saying that it would be shame vnto them al for that that refusal only would much incourage the enemy but they were of this opinion that it might wel be required that the number of the combatants might be greater In good truth saie Amadis be it of two against two twenty against twenty or of greater number the victory is in the hands of God Wherefore in refusing thereof I should doe my selfe wrong and cause a great blemish to all Christendome that would not be defaced in long time after Besides I haue great hope of Gods helpe herein for whose faith and honour I haue vndertaken this voiage When Esplandian heard his fathers mind he spake boldlier and said That he would take that combate vpon himselfe alone not onely against the Souldan and the Quéene but against two others more with them rather then it so should be refused whereupon it was concluded that Amadis and he would fight and sending for the messenger into the tent Amadis saied vnto her Gentlewoman you shall tel the Souldan and the Quéene that I and my son are content to doe as they require wherefore let them chuse what arms they will and for the place it shall bee betwéene their campe and ours assuring them on the faith of a king that not one of our soldiours shall once remoue how soeuer we spéed which wee desire likewise at their hands and if it bée their desire to haue the combate fought this day we are content to doe it With that the gentlewoman returned and comming to the Souldans tent shée declared her message vnto thē being such as you haue heard wherof the Souldan was glad but especially the Quéene for the great desire she had to sée Esplandian wherefore shee asked the Gentlewoman what she thought of him Madame saied shee I haue in my life time séene many men and women that nature had indued with great beautie but by the gods I confesse it is all but painting in regard of that I haue found in him for hee is so faire and beautifull that the more I thinke thereon so much the more it maketh me cōceiue such beauty to be rather deuine thē humane That is much said the Quéene I know not said the gentlewoman what you meane by that word Much but I am wel assured if you had séene him as I did that you would say as much as I doe and it may be more Truly saied the Quéene before I enter in combat with him I will first sée him vnarmed and speak with him not as an enemie to an enemy but as friends commonly do one vnto the other Madame saied the Souldan séeing it is your desire it were good our Gentlewoman went againe vnto them to desire them to giue you leaue to come and visite them in their campe not to procure them any cause of enuy but to do them honour and for that cause to desire their safe conduct This counsell séemed good vnto the Quéene and without longer staying she sent the Gentlewoman backe againe vnto Amadis and Esplandian whom she found yet in the Tent whereas she left them With that she told them what her message was and the great desire the Quéene had to sée them before they entred into combat King Amadis could not refraine laughing to hear the Gentlewoman expresse the affection her mistresse had asking king Luisart what he thought therein Sonne saied hee deny not her request for I assure you since our comming hether I haue heard the Quéene to bée estéemed a wise and beautifull Princesse You heare our answere saied Amadis to the Gentlewoman let the Quéene come hether when she thinketh good for she shall be heartely welcome With that the Gentlewoman returned to the Quéene who being greatly pleased with that answere determined the next daye to goe vnto them But she knew not well what manner of apparell she were best to weare sometimes shee thought it fit to goe as she vsed when she went to bataile and then presently changed opinion thinking a womans apparrell would bee more séemely and conuenient séeing she went not to trie their forces but only to win the loue and fauour of Esplandian if she might procure the same And thinking on it all night long in the morning when she meant to apparrell her self she was resolued to dresse her as women vse to do thinking she had means inough afterward to shew her selfe in habite of a knight whereby shee might bee séene both in the one and the other sort Whervpon she caused her most precious robes to be brought vnto her and apparrelling her self forgot not any thing that might once beautifie or adorn her person or that in her opinion would deck her well the better to be liked And to bear her company she tooke twelue of her own gentlewomen so well furnished and set forth with stones and pearles that the like was neuer séene That done she sent vnto her ships for a most strange and monstrous beast wherevpon sometimes shee vsed to ride in great pomp It was as big as a great Dromadary the hair long somewhat yellow black spots his two eares hanging downe vnto his knées hauing but one eye shining brighter then a burning glasse and stood right in the midst of his forehead out of his mouth there issued two great téeth like hornes and although his
With that they were abashed that the great serpent began to leape and labour in the water as if it had ben in the greatest storm that euer was although the sea was very calme but only about the serpent where it raged in most horrible maner but that which most abashed the beholders was that the vessell cast forth such horrible cries that not one among them but his haire stood vpright vpon his head for fear And hauing continued in that maner about 〈…〉 more the serpent thrust his head into the water wherewith it sunk and neuer was séen again And with that they perceiued a farre off a great rock which being driuen by the waues came within half a bow shot néer vnto the shore on the top whereof stood a woman bareheaded and couered only with a linnen cloth to hide her priuities being inuironned by more then a thousand serpents as wel great as small which stung her in such sort that she wept and lamented in most pittiful maner wherat the knights of great Brittaine had so much coÌ„passion that they thought to enter into the ships and go to help her which Vrganda forbad them For said she besides the dangers that may happeÌ„ vnto you you shal lose your labors because she whom you behold which is the inchauntresse lady hath ordained it to be so With that the rocke sunk into the water and the gentlewoman vanished out of sight but not long after she appeared again vpon the waues flying from the fury of a monster of the sea that with his throat opeÌ„ followed after ready to deuour her in such manner that she came right vnto the hauen crying with a loud voire vnto Esplandian Gentle Emperor I pray you help me for none but you can do it wherewith Esplandian stepped forward holding the sword hee conquered in the old pallace of the inchaunted rock in his hand ran vnto her thinking to go néere the monster the gentlewoman that fled from it caught hold of his sword whether he would or not took it away wherwith she threw her self into the sea the monster after her Whereat euery man began to laugh saying to the emperor that if a gentlewoman had predestinated the same vnto him kept it long time another gentlewoman or she her selfe vpon a suddaine had taken it from him againe With that Vrganda was led vnto the pallace accompanied by the emperor with all the kings knights where not long after the Souldan of Liquie was deliuered sent to Tesifant about the beginning of the next wéek after the westerne princes took shipping and being imbarked with Vrganda recommending the emperor to God failed forwards till at the last euery man arriued at his desired hauen namely king Amadis that found Oriane very sad for the death of her mother newly deceased which much more increased wheÌ„ she knew hir father king Luisart was dead But in the end time made hir to forget her sorrow but not so soon as Amadis could haue wished CHAP. LV. How the Emperour Esplandian sent Norandel to take possession of the country he had giuen him and of the taking of Tesifant NOt long after the westerne princes were departed into their countries the emperor Esplandian would that Norandel should goe vnto the castle La montaigne defendu and other towns that he had giuen him to make warre against king Armato for which cause he gaue him a great number of soldiors with the which to make short he assailed the king of Turky had battell together wherein many a valiant knight lost their liues neuerthelesse the victory fell on Norandels side wherby he caused Armato to flie away retiring to his city of Tesifant which being known vnto the Emperour he departed from Constantinople with a great army going into Turkie ioyned with Norandels power and besieged Tesifant but feare seased so wel vpon Armato that he found means to flie away leaue the town which not long after was taken the princesse Heliaxe brought vnto the emperor who vsed her courteously and sent her againe vnto her father Ampheon king of Medea giuing her diuers rich presents News being spred throughout the country of Turky of the flight of king Armato as also of the taking of Tesifant diuers towns and citties yéelded to Esplandian that gaue them likewise to Norandel and because winter came on hee returned into Thrace where two of his nephewes sonnes of Galaor came to visite him and to receiue the order of knighthood which he gaue vnto them with both armor and horses minding to request them to trauell to Tesifant vnto Norandel thereto begin their first entrance into arms but they desired rather to take the way to Californie where Mâ—â—â— and Taâ—anque had great war against their neighbors which the emperor perceiuing caused al things necessary for so long a voiage to bee giuen them with so good Piloteâ— that in the end they arriued at their desired Hauen where they attained to great honor and estimation among their â—panâ— But 〈◊〉 to enter further to discouâ—â— of them 〈…〉 this present let them rest And let it suffice you to knowe how that as time passed Perion succéeded in his fathers feat and Garinter married in the east parts with Heletria quéen of Citharee and was the best knight in all the world And because it is declared at large in the sixt and seuenth bookes of this our historye we will passe it ouer at this time CHAP. LVI How Vrganda sent to desire king Amadis the Emperor Esplandian Don Galaor king of Sobradise and others to come vnto the Firm Isle and of the maruellous inchauntments that she made ouer theÌ„ VRganda being in her Isle not as yet discouered taking great pleasure to read Melies bookes knewe by her art death to be néere vnto the kings and princes whom she most loued and hauing great sorrow that worms should consume the flesh of so valiant king hes deuised to preuent the same which to do she took sea accompanied of her two cousins Iuliande and Solisee with diuers other gentlewomen and went vnto the Firme Isle where being arriued she sent to the emperor Esplandian Amadis Galaor Florestan Agraies and Gransador praying them most earnestly to come vnto her to the pallace of Apolidon for matter that touched theÌ„ most néer otherwise she sent theÌ„ word if they did it not that before long time past euil would happeÌ„ vnto theÌ„ and the master Elizabeth should bring with him the book that he made of the aduentures of the knights liuing in his time as also that they should bring their wiues with Ardan the dwarf Carmelle Gandalin the Gentlewoman of Denmarke Those princes hauing vnderstood Vrgandas mind failed not therin so that about the same time she willed theÌ„ to come they all arriued there where Vrganda receiued them not with a smiling counâ—â—nance as â—â—er vsed ordinary to doe but with teares in her eies whereat they being much abashed desired her
prince By all my gods said he I had rather die a thousand deaths then you should indure the least iniury in the world we beléeue it wel said al the knights With that he caused them to enter into the lists at one end and the ten pagans at the other but before they entred into fight he called Norandel his companions said vnto them My friends I pray you let me shew you what the custome of my country is in such affairs theÌ„ if you think good you may obserue it if not my knights shal kéep your custome if it be indiffereÌ„t Shew vs theÌ„ said Norandel what it is if the same be reasonable we wil not refuse it You shal vnderstand said he that all knights iustle one against one to the end that all men may know the excellency of the victor And if any one be ouerthrown he that is on horseback shall not assaile the other before their companions haue run out their course Then he that is on horseback shall alight and shall fight it out by dint of sword with him that before was ouerthrown Because it chanceth oftentimes that the best knights that are fall into such inconuenience only by the fault and means of bad horses which cause them diuers times either to faile in striking of their enemy or els not to run their right course Which cannot bee excused in those that are on foot to whome it is permitted to succour each other if néed require Truly said Norandel that custome is wel ordained and I and my companions will obserue the same Wherwith the soudan went out of the lists causing his Heralds to proclaim the fight With that a Pagan stepped forth against Norandel that refused him not but couering himselfe with his shield they met so fiercely that their spears were brokeÌ„ to their wrests méeting body to body with so great strength that the Pagan fell ouer his horse taile lying flat vpon the ground but Norandel had no hurt onely that his horses shoulder was thrust out of ioint so that he lighted of staying til the rest had runne their course as he had promised Then Garuate du Val Craintif ran against one of the other and they charged each other in such sort that their féet failing in their stirrops they were both cast out of their saddles Then Talanque ran against the third Pagan to whome fortune was more fauourable then to any of the rest for they ran so wel that neither of them once started aside or moued in their saddles and yet brake their speares in many péeces The like chanced to Manely and Ambor but not to Brauor the son of Balan for hee hit him that ran against him right in the breast and threw him from his horse And presently therewith Imosil of Burgundy had so great a stroke with a launce that his eies started in his head and was therewith so much astonished that his horse bare him to the side of the bâ—rriers where he fell downe flat Elian le delibere and hee that ran against him were constrained to holde by their horses maines Listoran of the siluer bridge missed his stroke and his enemy likewise the like happened to Trion and the last that ran with him That done all they that were on horsebacke lighted downe to fight with swords and there began betwéen them such a fight as the like had not béene séene of so few knights together maintaining themselues so brauely one against the other that the strongest of them was so wearie and out of breath that they were constrained to rest And as Norandel leaned vpoÌ„ his sword which he rested on the ground the bracelet that Minoresse gaue him fell downward vpon his arme which put him in so good remembraunce of her that cleane forgetting all the trauaile hée he had taken before he spake so loud that euery man might hear and said By God sir Knight this rest doth not beséeme vs many men will from henceforth be in doubt of the great glory that now we meane to win Wherefore let euery man shewe forth what he can doe and let no man spare Wherewith taking the little péece of his shield that rested in his hand and lifting vp his arme he gaue so great a blow vnto his enemie that he made him réele therewith and doubling it strake him so surely on the helmet that with the blow the Turke was forced to knéele downe and let his sword fall out of his hand which Norandel seased vpon being readie to strike off his head if he had not cried him mercie which Talanque and Manely perceiuing employed their forces in such manner that it might easily be iudged they would soon obtaine the victorie As for Brauor he had alreadie stricken his knight downe wherefore he ranne to helpe the rest and Norandel likewise With the which helpe it soone appeared that they which rested yet to ouercome would not long resist for in short space they found themselues in such extremitie that vnlesse the Souldan of Liquie had desired the Christian knights to stay a while they had all died but calling Norandel vnto him he said I pray you said he procéed no further in this combat and content your selues that I account my knights for vanquished as in truth they are and so hardly handled that the force you shall from henceforth vse against them shall more be holden for a kinde of crueltie than any chiualrie Neuertheles if my request may take no place with you doe as you thinke good Souldan said Norandel if they acknowledge it at our hands and aske vs mercie they shall not faile to haue it for it was neuer our custome to vse force to such as could not stand against vs. Content your selues saide he that I that am their Lord yéeld you the victorie and I pray you therefore shew mercie vnto them swearing vnto you by my crowne if you doe them so much good that while I liue I will not be vnmindfull of the same With that the ten Christian knightes went out of the fielde and mounting on their horses tooke their way vnto the citie where the Emperour staied for them for he had séene the issue of the combat and how they returned victors but he heard not what words had past betwéene them till they being lighted off their horses told him what was done for the which hee praised God estéeming more of them for their courtesie they had shewen vnto the enemy CHAP. L. How Queene Calafre came to aide the Pagans and of the maruailous and perillous assault that shee gaue to the citie of Constantinople THe renowne of this warre vndertaken by the Kings Taborlans Souldans Califfes and Princes dwelling in Tartaria India Arabia and other countries in the East against the Emperour and his Empire of Constantinople was spread so far abroad that it was knowne to the puissant Quéene Calafre reigning in Califorine a most fertile and pleasant countrey confining on the head of the riuer Boristenes hard by
the foot of the Riffee mountains This countrey whereof I speake was sometimes peopled with good knights and men of all quarters but the women vpon malice deuised a meanes to kill them all establishing a law among themselues that from that time forwardes they would acknowledge for Ladie and Quéene one of their owne country women gouerning themselues as the Amazons vsed to doe Whereby it was not lawfull for any of them to vse the companie of men aboue once or twice a yéere vpon the daies and times by them appointed when they went out of their owne countrie and vsed their neighbours helpe with whom God knoweth if they found not meanes to make them pay the vsurie of the time lost in such sort that most of them returned home with child but the bringing vp of their children was far different for the maiden children were kept aliue burning their right paps but not the 〈◊〉 children for as soone as they were borne they put them to death hauing agréed not to suffer one aliue or els so few that they very easily might ouercome them For this cause often times they warred against the Tartarians bordering on their country putting them to great trouble by diuers and continuall inuasions as well by sea as by land In their lawes and customes they obserued so great rigour as that if any man by casualtie or otherwise fell into their hands he prooued for food vnto a great number of griffoâ—s nourished among them when they were young being so tame and gentle that neuer any hauke knewe better the Faulkoners lure then those gentle birds knew the voice of her that ordinarily fedde them To come vnto the point this quéene of Califorine being a woman of great spirit valiant hardie young faire and of good behauiour hearing of the warres vndertaken against the Christians was desirous to be there not for any ill shée wished them but onely for to know them and to sée their countrey that bare so great renowme And for that cause she assembled great numbers of the principall ladies of her countrey shewing them what honour they might obtaine in that voiage which may peraduenture be such said shée that by our force and great prowesse wée may greatly augment our Empire béeing feared and redoubted of each man and not continue alwaies buried among these mountaines as they in times past did of whome at this present wée now possesse and enioye the place The Quéene in this sort could so well persuade them that they being mooued with a marueilous desire to goe with her presently prepared their shippes and set saile for Thracia with so good and prosperous a winde that the tenth day after the assaults of Constantinople they arriued in the armie of Armato where they were honourably receiued after diuers spéeches vsed by the Souldan of Liquie and other princes of the campe vnto the quéene of Califorine specially touching their determination concerning that great enterprise shée being sorrie they had done so little against the towne desired them that she might once haue leaue to try her fortune against it by means that she would vse And the better to induce them thereunto she told them she had fiftie griffons that would not faile béeing let out of their cages to sease vpon the Christians without hurting of her women because they knewe them and had béen nourished with them And while they take their flight said she I will giue such an assault against the towne that without doubt wee will enforce the same for if the Emperors souldiers appeare but to defend the wals my Griffons shall be ready to carrie them clean away as the Merlin doth the larke But to the end said she your men receiue no hurt let them abide within their tentes till they be shut into their cages When king Armato and the Souldan of Liquie heard the great zeale and affection she shewed to employ her forces as also the inuention that she had they all agréed that the next day after she should doe what liked her WhereupoÌ„ she sent presently to her that kept the griffons that shée should giue them nothing for to eate of all that day that when they meant to vse them at the assault they might be gréedier and further sent worde by sound of drumme that all her companies should be readie the next day early in the morning to giue assault vnto the citie Quéene Calafre hauing in this maner prouided for her enterprise at the time appointed all her women armed according to their manner the most part of them bearing bowes ranne with great furie vnto the walles and with their ladders began to mount vp with that the alarme went about the citie all men running to defend the same and as they were some vpon the walles and other places of defence the Quéene made signe to let the Griffons loose which being hungry and flying ouer the towne seazed vpon such as they could find abroad wherewith the Emperours souldiers were in so great feare that most part of them that fought forsooke the walles to hide themselues Alas what pitie was it to sée souldiers citizens knights and others yea women and little children and all whatsoeuer they could get into their clawes taken vp into the aire and somtimes hauing taken them vp they let them fall vpon the stones whereby they had a strange and cruell death surely if God had not kept the Cittie better than those that had the charge it is most sure it had béene taken at that time But there happened a strange case for as the Griffons helde their prey and that the Knights of great Brittaine with some small number of others resisted the assault made by the women the Turkes that had béen aduertised not to come out of their tents while they assailed the towne mooued with too gréedy a desire to sacke the Citte which they thought surely had béen taken ranne vnto the assault making such a noise that the Griffons féeding on their preyes left the bodies they had seazed vpon and flying vp againe seased on them that they sawe come running to the towne whereof in short space after they made so great a butcherie that more than foure hundred Turkes were presently slaine by them meane time those within the towne perceiuing that good fortune did so fiercely repulse the Californiens that their principall women lay dead within the ditches wherewith the Quéene was forced to retire knowing her enterprise would not take effect as shée desired it should not by reason of her souldiers but in that they kept not in as they had promised Wherewith she commanded to take the birdes againe but the Falconers could not by any meanes make them to come in before they had slaine and deuoured aboue a thousand Turkes and others whereof they onely suckt the blood Wherewith king Armato and the Souldan of Liquie were so grieued that from thenceforth they began to shew so hard a countenance to the Quéene that shée was in the minde