so hath my fortune graciously fauoured me that it should be by him who is of higher desert then any other Héerewith Amadis cast downe his lookes as bashfull to heare himselfe so praysed by her to whome all commendation was due and féeling his spirits altered stroue to make answere but the words dyed in his mouth which caused Oriana thus to procéede How can it be otherwise my Lord but I must needes loue you aboue all other when they that neuer sawe you doo highly loue honor and estéeme you and I being she whome you affect most déerely haue I not great reason to loue you better then my selfe On my faith Madame answered Amadis your swéete and gentle words are sufficient to make me dye a thousand deaths as many times to reuiue me againe but how I pray you at this time only to excuse my extremity with pittie enduring wursse then death by louing you too vehemētly for if I had dyed as Arcalaus reported euen then had begun my rest and quiet if I had not knowen you before And albeit the hower of your acquaintance is my intire felicitie yet am I assaulted with such violent passions as my heart would altogether consume in griefe without the pleasure it receiueth in dooing you seruice and the good it sustaineth by your remembrance of me But necessitie constraineth me to craue the mercy as yet vndeserued by such intreatance as no desert may value only to encrease my habilitie in seruing you which if you graunt me not a sudden and cruell death will take hold on me These words were accompanyed with such aboundance of teares as was no small greefe to her to behold Alas my Lord quoth she forbeare these often repetitions of your death the thought thereof is insupportable to me for should you dye I were vnable to liue one hower after considering all the pleasure I haue in this world is in the ioy of your health and welfare Nor can I but be assured of your words by reason mine own case is sufficient therein being copartner with you in euery torment but if yours seeme more violent this is the reason my will being equall with yours wanteth the strength you haue in suffering and cannot effect the desire of our hearts which vrgeth loue and griefe more in you then me albeit my share is not one iote the lesse But this I promise you on my faith if fortune or our owne endeuour can compasse no meane to yéeld vs content my selfe will search some way whatsoeuer happen be it hate of father mother kinred and fréends for we may not thus procrastinate our ioy and groane vnder the weightie burden of desire the flame whereof climeth so high as the martirdome of our hearts may easily be discouered No doubt these words were pleasing to Amadis and gaue such chéerefull life to his hope that he was rauished with inward conceit thereof when she séeing him mute trode vpon his foote saying Discomfort not your selfe my Lord for I will not fayle what I haue promised nor shall you depart till you perceiue it and shortly will the King hold open Court when both he and the Quéene must depend on your assistance knowing well that your presence shall honor the company As they would haue continued in longer talke the Quéene called Amadis causing him to sit downe by Galaor for the King was gone to his chamber Then began the Ladyes to censure on the bretheren but they resembled eche other so like as little difference could be discerned betwéene them euery one being of the opinion that these twayne were the most perfect among all Knights both in beautie noblenes bountie and good grace but Galaor was somewhat whiter in complexion and Amadis of bigger bone his locks more crispe faire and hauing a little more red in his face then Galaor had Soone after the Queene willed Galaor to go sée her daughter and the other Ladyes when he regarding the excellent beautie of Oriana imagined such an other was not to be found in the world and by her often sighing with alteration of couller he suspected her to be the only cause that his brother liked so well to stay in King Lisuarts Court Right courteously was he welcommed among the Ladyes and diuers familiar speéeches passed betwéene them till the King being set to meate sent for Amadis and Galaor to beare him company as also Agraies and his Unckle Galuanes CHAP. XXXII ¶ How King Lisuart departed from Windesore to the good Cittie of London there to hold open and royall Court IN the beginning of this book it hath béen declared how the diuine bountie calling Lisuart to the Realme of great Brittayne soone after of a disinherited Prince made him the peaceable King of such a Monarchy by the death of his elder brother Falangris who dyed without any heire of his body begotten Likewise how he was reputed such a great Lord through the world as many Knights came from strange Countryes to serue him not thinking themselues happy except they might be named Knightes of his Court But within a while after whether this fortunat King forgot y e authour of his good or else it happened by diuine permission this happie Realme fell into persecution and the illustrious state of King Lisuart was troubled and obscured that all men might knowe how he only is Lord and King of all liuing creatures who exalteth and abaseth when him pleaseth according as you shall héere vnderstand For King Lisuart hauing concluded to hold the most royall and stately Court that euer King did in the Realme of great Brittayne commaunded that on the fift day following all the Lords of his Kingdome should appeare personally at London there to determine on matters of chiualrie which he intended to maintaine with all honor might be deuised But in the selfe-same place where he thought the greater part of the world should yéeld him obeysaunce began the first mutabilities of Fortune bringing his state and person into danger of vtter ruine according as you shall vnderstand at large King Lisuart departing with all his traine from Windsore to kéepe his Courte at the famous Cittie of London it was wonderfull to beholde the Lordes Ladyes and Gentlewomen that gaue their attendaunce especiallye so many young Gentlemen beeing there present some to regarde the magnificence of the Courte other to doo seruice to their louely mistresses and nothing now generally minded but pastime and pleasure The King likewise for greater maiestie of his Courte ordayned that none of this assemblye should lodge in the Citie but to erect their Pauillions in the feeldes and meddowes along the bancks that hemmed in the faire Riuer of Themes least the extream◠heate might be hurtfull to them all which béeing doone according to appointment the feeldes seemed as a most royall Campe or as if the greater parte of the worlde were there assembled But because the King arriued there two or thrée dayes before the feaste he went to his pallace accompanied only with
if the traitour Arcalaus woorke no newe villainie by his enchauntments but as concerning my happye deliueraunce I like well that my Quéen should vnderstand therof Wher-upon Ladasin called a Squire whom the King presentlye sent to the Courte as Galaor aduised After they had well refreshed themselues they were conducted to their chambers and on the morrowe set forward on their iourney the King communing with the Nephewe of Arcalaus as concerning the enterprise of his kinseman which made him reueale the whole determination and how Barsinan was in hope to bée King of great Brittayne Héere-upon the King concluded to make the more haste thinking to finde Barsinan as yet at London and to punish him for his audacious presumption CHAP. XXXVIII ¶ How newes came to the Queene that the King was taken And how Barsinan laboured to vsurpe the Citty of Landon IF you haue well noted the former discourse you may easily remember how the poore labouring men not knowing the King and Oriana séeing how iniuriouslye they were intreated by Arcalaus and his complices were glad to hide themselues in the wood in like manner how afterward they vnderstood by Amadis and Galaor that the prisoners were King Lisuarts his daughters Where-upon so soone as the two Knights were parted from them they hasted to report these newes in London which caused such a murmuring thorough the Cittie especially among the Knights as they presently Armed them-selues and mounted on horsseback in such troupes that the féelds were quickly couered with men and horsses At this time was King Arban of Norgalles talking with the Quéene little thinking on any such misfortune when one of his Squires bringing his Armour sayd My Lord you tary héere trifling too long arme your selfe quickly and follow the rest who by this time haue gotten so farre as the Forrest What is the matter answered King Arban Ah my Lord quoth the Squire newes is brought to the Cittie how certaine villaines haue caryed the King away prisoner Prisoner replyed King Arban may it be possible Too true my Lord answered the Squire When the Quéene heard these vnhappie tidings not able to vnder-goe so great an oppression she fell downe in a swoune but King Arban hauing more mind on the King left her in her Ladyes armes hasting with all spéed he could to horsseback When he was setting foote in stirrop he heard the allarme sounded and the assault which Barsinan gaue to the Castell whereby hée gathered they were betrayed wherefore hée caused the Quéenes lodging to bée guarded and returning to the Cittie sawe euery one readie in Armes when choosing so many as he pleased as also two hundred well approoued Knights he sent two of the chéefest to the Tower of London to vnderstand the cause of the allarme To them it was reported how Barsinan had forcibly entred with his trayne killing and casting ouer the walles all that he met Héerein he followed the message of the Page from Arcalaus finding very slender resistance for most part of the Knights and men of account were gone to succour the King Highly displeased was King Arban at these newes perswading himselfe the King had béene betrayed wherefore to preuent such other inconueniences as might happen he dorayned his men in battayle placing good watch about the Quéenes lodging And thither Barsinan now prepared hoping to take her as he had done the Tower but he met with stronger resist then he expected and the skirmishes proceeding on either side Barsinan tooke a prisoner by whome he was aduertised how King Arban would withstand him euen to the death Now began he to deuise how by faire spéech and falshood he might take the King crauing a parle with him whereto King Arban willingly agréed and silence being made on both sides Barsinan began in this manner I euer thought till now my Lord that you were one of the best aduised Knightes in the worlde but by proofe I perceiue a man may finde the contrary yet this I thinke withall that what you doo is for safetie of your honor Heerin you appeare of simple iudgement considering in the end it will be but the losse of you and your men in respect King Lisuart your late Lord is dead for proof wherof euen he that slewe him will ere long send me his head Sith Fortune then hath dealt so hardly with him and I at this instant am the greatest Lord in this Countrey dare you deny to make me King Alas you abuse your selfe the best will be for you to yeelde your selfe louingly and I shall intreate you so well as any Prince in my Realme suffering you still to enioy the Countrey of Norgalles and particulerlye beside will so honor you as you shall haue great reason to be content Auaunt villaine answered King Arban full well doost thou manifest thy horrible treason for beside thy trecherye in compacting the death of my Lord thou wouldest haue me become a traytour to his freendes as thou thy selfe hast prooued Thou art deceiued doo the wurst thou canst thy villainie only will take vengeance on thee according to desert with such good helpe as we will put therto What saide Barsinan think'st thou to hinder me frō sitting as King in London Neuer shall traitour replyed Arban be King of London by Gods leaue while the most honourable King of the world liueth I called for thee quoth Barsinan in respect of thine owne good because I fauoured thee more then any other imagining thou wert of sound discretion but as I haue saide I finde my selfe deceiued wherfore reason requireth that thy ouer-weening should fall and in despight of thee I will reign King in great Brittaine Assure thy selfe answered Arban I will kéep thee from such climbing as if the King my Maister were héere personallye present Then began the assault afresh King Arban withdrawing him selfe to harden his men beeing meruailously offended at Barsinans woordes Now though he were very sharpely assailed yet stood he brauelye on his defence many beeing slaine and sore wounded neuer-thelesse he was euer-more formoste in the fight and last at the retreit which was caused by the night ensuing Nor néede we doubt considering the puissaunce of Barsinan and the fewe on the contrary side but King Arban would take his aduauntage in resistaunce by compelling them to the narrowe stréetes where foure on a side could hardly deale together which turned to the great disaduauntage of Barsinan because Arban well fortified euery place in good order and with freshe supply still encouraged his men The retreit being sounded either side with-drawen King Arban séeing his Souldiours sore wearied by the hot skirmishes they had endured as is the office of a good Captaine indéed he came and comforted them in this manner My louing companyons and fréends this day haue you so woorthily fought as none of you but deserueth estimation among the most forward men in the world and hauing begun so well I hope you will procéede better and better Remember the cause of your fight
this will not helpe thee therfore defend thy self So charging their Launces they brake so brauely on their sheeldes as the shiuers flew vp into the aire and with such violence met their horsses and bodies that they were both laide along on the ground Quickly they arose and with their swoordes began a bloodie combate wherin desire of victorie and hautie resolution of vnconquerable courage made them continue a long time till Arcalaus retyring aside thus spake to Amadis Knight thou art in danger of death and because I know not who thou art tell me that when I haue slaine thée I may yet commend thy boldenes in entring héere My death answered Amadis is in y e hand of God whom I reuerence and thine in the power of the Deuill who is weary of helping thée and bequeatheth thy body to so innumerable mischéefs as a present perishing of soule and all together But seeing thou wouldst so gladlye know my name I am commonly called Amadis of Gaule Knight to the Quéene Brisana let vs now then chat no longer but fall to the combate for on my parte I promise no more resting Arcalaus auauncing his shéeld came with foming fury against Amadis who knew full wel how to welcome him and such eager stroks past on either side as their shéeldes were scattered in péeces about them and likewise very many plates of their armour Now was it about the thirde hower when Arcalaus hauing sustained great losse of his blood was forced to seud vp and down before his enemye and séeing the imminent death before his eyes fled to that parte of the Castell where he came out yet Amadis by close pursuite stil continued his feare wherupon he stept into a chamber at the door wherof stood a Lady be holding the combate and he was no sooner entred the roome but he caught vp another swoord turning his face to Amadis saying Enter this chamber to make an end of our combate The open Court answered Amadis is more spacious and conuenient I will not come foorth quoth Arcalaus for thy pleasure What said Amadis thinkest thou so silly to escape so placing his sheeld before he entred the chāber but as he lifted vp his swoord to strike he was depriued of strength and the vse of his members so that he fell to the ground as he had been dead Yea mary said Arcalaus this is the way to make thée dye as I desired sléepe then till I wake thee Now say you Lady quoth he to her that stood by am I not in your opinion well reuenged on him Indéed saide she he is now altogether at your commaundement Presently he vnarmed him Amadis not féeling any thing was doone to him afterward Arcalaus put on him selfe the Princes Armour thus speaking to the Lady Madame looke on perrill of your life that no one remoue him hence vntill his soule haue forsaken his bodye then he intended to iourney to the court where ech one seeing him in the Armour of Amadis might thinke he had slayne him But now the sorrowfull Lady so lately deliuered from prison made such mone as would haue melted a hart of Adamant and what Gandalins countenaunce was you may easily iudge when Arcalaus saw the Lady lament he said Dame séeke some other to deliuer you from prison for I haue dispatched your hardie champion These woords made Gandalin in such dispaire as he fell downe like one sencelesse and Arcalaus called the Lady to him in this manner Come hither mistresse and you shall see him dead that durst so boldly combate with me When he had shewed him to her he demaunded if he were not now quiet enough The comfortlesse Lady séeing him in such estate wanted no teares to expresse the aboundance of her greefe and withall Ah God quoth she how irkesome will the reporte of his death be to many then Arcalaus calling his wife saide So soone as this wretch is dead imprison this Lady where she was before for I will goe to the Court of Ling Lisuart and there declare how I combated with Amadis by couenaunt that the conquerour should cut off the head of the vanquished and within fiftéen dayes following to publishe his victorie openly in great Brittaine By these meanes none shall quarrell with me about his death and I shall obtaine the greatest glory in the worlde hauing ouer-come him that conquered euery one Then went he where he left Gandalin and the Dwarffe commaunding them to be locked vp in a prison but Gandalin who wished death thinking his maister was dead indéed would not goe with him desiring some one to kill him and to enforce Arcalaus doo him so much fauour reuiled him with names of traytour and villaine hauing slaine the most loyall Knight in the worlde Arcalaus made no account of his woordes but because he would not goe willingly he dregged him by the eares and thrust him into the dungion saying If I presently kill thee thou shouldst endure no more paine but heere shalt thou suffer wursse then death So mounted Arcalaus on the horsse of Amadis and accompanied with thrée Squires rode toward the Courte of King Lisuart CHAP. XX. ¶ How Amadis was enchaunted by Arcalaus when he would haue deliuered the Lady Grindaloya and other from prison and how afterward he escaped the enchauntments by the ayde of Vrganda GRindaloya the Lady deliuered by Amadis from prison made such excessiue lamentations for him as euery one pittied her she thus speaking to the Wife of Arcalaus and the rest in the company Ah faire Ladyes behold yee not the beautie of this braue Gentleman who in so young yeeres was the only Knight in the world mishap attend on such who by enchauntment iniurie men of vertue D soueraigne creator why doost thou suffer so bad-minded people to liue The Wife of Arcalaus who though her husband was addicted to shamelesse crueltie yet she being of gracious and pittifull disposition grieued in her very soule to behold his dealings and continually prayed for his amendment comforting the wofull Lady so well as she could As thus they were deuising together they sawe two other Ladyes enter the chamber eche of thē bringing in her hād good store of candles lighted which they set round about on the cantons of the chamber finding Amadis thus lying before the Wife of Arcalaus and the rest they being not able to lift or stir him Then one of the Ladyes so lately there arriued tooke out of a little Casket she caryed a Booke whereon she began to reade and diuers times an other voice answered her As thus she continued her lecture many other voices were heard as they imagined them more then an hundred then came an other Booke flying into the chamber séeming as if the winde caryed it and fell downe at her féet that read she pulling it in foure parts burned it at the foure corners of the chamber where the candles stood This done she returned to Amadis and taking him by the right hand sayd Lord Amadis arise you haue