neuer since they durst approch so néere although wee haue giuen them diuers skirmishes but for the space of eight daies we neuer issued foorth by reason as you know if wee should often issue foorth it is impossible but some of our men must of force bee slaine and the death of one of ours would be more losse vnto vs then the slaying of a hundreth of their men would profite vs. You haue done well said Esplandian for all wise captaines ought to content themselues with the sure defending of a hold committed vnto them not hazarding themselues to losse as long as possible they may But for the further safetie of this castle I thinke it good wee take counsell what were best to bee done least wee bee surprised Wherewith they went into the chamber where Matroco died where they met together and among diuers things propounded it was concluded that the next night they would issue forth to slay the enemies watch which would easily bee done séeing they had not any alarme in long time before Wherefore euery man went to refresh himself till about eleuen of the clocke at night when Frandalo and the rest armed themselues And as they were all assembled in the court Esplandian standing in the middle spake vnto them and saied My good friendes wee are not now among the combates of great Brittaigne where combates are fought more for fantasie or vaine glory then vpon any iust occasion But this warre wee make against the proper enemies of our faith summoneth vs not onely to doe our indeuours but also to defend the honour and liberty of the name of Christians Wherefore my good companions I beséech you let euery man cast feare aside preferring vertue before any inconuenience whatsoeuer Assuring you if wee doe so that before it be day king Armato and his army shall well find we are not so fainthearted as he estéemeth vs. Then calling Norandel vnto him he said Vncle you Manely and the king of Denmarke with a hundred men shall issue first to flay the Sentinels and if you could doe the like vnto their watch our enterprise would bee brought to passe as wee desire But whatsoeuer chanceth set you vpon them and feare not the repulse for Gandalin and Lazinde shall second you with two hundreth more by which meanes you may easily retire if you be constrained therevnto Neuerthelesse let no man stirre from hence till Frandalo and I be first gone out for that wée two alone will goe into their campe to sée what countenance they make and as fortune fauoureth vs we will presently ioine with you With that hee sent for two gownes of cloth of gold and two Turkish caps whereof he gaue one vnto Frandalo and kept the other for himselfe and being armed vnder their apparrell were set downe by the ladder of oords on the sea side fainting to be some of the sea captaines went straight vnto the campe where they were staied by the Sentinels but Frandalo speaking the Arabian tongue could so well dissemble that hee made them beléeue they went to aduertise the great Turke of a thing of great importance whereby they let them passe Meane time Armato king of Turky sate deuising in his tent with his familiar friendes touching the losse of ships whereof not aboue an hower before he had receiued news by one of his marriners that saued himselfe in a small Frigate but the Turke could not by any meanes imagine how it came to passe séeing his spies that were newly returned from Constantinople had brought him newes that the Emperour stirred not neither made any preparation to assaile him And as Frandalo Esplandian entred the tent they heard the marriner tell how that cruell ouerthrow happened by meanes of a monster of the sea that came with the enemies fléet That saied hee put vs in such fear with casting fire out of his mouth nose and eies that thereby the most part of our men were burnt to ashes By all my gods said Armato it is some diuell that enuieth my prosperitie And it pleaseth your grace said one of his Bassaes that had sailed in the mediteranian seas and heard speaking of the great Serpent there is nothing but art Magicke vsed therein whereof I am most sure as hauing diuers times ben certefied thereof Wherewith they heard a great alarum for Norandel and his company had issued out of the castle with white scarffes about their heads for to bee knowne and had so well surprised the watch about the base court that they had slaine them all whereof Armato had intelligence as also that the enemies had gotten the issue of the Portall wherewith hee was so moued that in a great rage with very small company he went thether himselfe Esplandian Frandalo following after as if they had been of his company But before their arriuall Norandel had recouered the pallasadoes of the fortresse and there sustained the whole Turkish forces staying Gandalins comming Now the entry of the court was so narow that more then thrée men could not passe through it at once wherby those of the castle had in manner as much aduantage as their enemies Which Ambor Talanque Gandalin and Libee made them well féele comming likewise vpon them for as the king arriued they thrust them cleane out of the place whereby they fled in great hast till the Turke himselfe caused them to stay and séeing him they tooke courage turning their faces whereby the skirmish began much whotter then before Armato himselfe shewing great Prowesse when Esplandian that was stil behind him tooke him by the middle and in dispight of them all carried him vnto the wals of che castle crying with a lowd voice Bee of good cheare my companions wee haue taken the king At the which crie the Turkes set so fiercely on them that had it not ben for Frandalo who as yet had not shewed himselfe they had recouered him againe but he ioyned himselfe with Manely Norandel and the rest that sustained the force of all the enemies so valiantly that Esplandian had meanes to put Armato in sure kéeping and to returne againe vnto the battaile before it was ended But it continued not long after for that newes was presently carried to the campe that the king was prisoner with two of his chiefe captaines taken by Gandalin and the king of Denmarke wherewith they were so much abashed that by little and little they began to retire the like did they of the castle contenting themselues with the booty they had gotten CHAP. XXVII How Armato king of Turkie was committed vnto the custody of Gandalin and what conference he had with Frandalo THose of the castle retired as you heard before Esplandian called Gandalin and Libee praying them to looke vnto king Armato as also to the two Turkish captaines and appointing the watch as time required went and laied him downe vpon his bed not ceasing all the night to thinke on the spéech Carmelle vsed vnto him touching the Princesse Leonorine whereby
to returne into her countrey not offering from that time once to giue stroke with sword to their aduantage Yet not long after shée was appeased and fought with King Amadis as it shall bée shewed you at large in the end of this our fift Booke And that wée may haue the better meanes to attaine thereto wée will now returne againe vnto the Christian Princes that assembled their powers and forces to helpe the Emperour imbarking themselues as presently you shall heare But before they arriued at Constantinople many good knights both of great Brittaine and others were slaine within the citie not onely in the assaultes made against it by the Pagans but at the last assault made by the quéene Calafre among the which none were so much lamented as Ledarin de Faiarque Trys Imosill of Burgundie and the two sonnes of the gyant Balan CHAP. LI. How the Christian Princes as well of the East as West partes assembled their forces to aid the Emperour of Constantinople and of their nauigation IF you haue read the discourse of this our history it hath béene shewed you before how Enil went vnto the Emperour of Rome and Florestan king of Sardaigne and what became of Gandalin after he had passed the straights of Giberaltar and entred in the Ocean sea euen to great Brittaine and other places where hée found king Amadis and others to whome he had charge to goe Now we must declare the rest You shall therefore vnderstand that Gandalin hauing soiourned eight daies in London more by the commaundement of king Amadis and Quéene Oriane than for the pleasure that hee tooke in the woman they had caused him to marrie knowing the affaires wherein he had left his companions departed from thence and trauailed so long that he arriued in Fraunce and went vnto king Perion to whome he gaue the letters that his sonne and grand-child sent vnto him and withall declared the state of the East countries as they then were with the inconuenience that might fall vnto all Christendome if the Empire of Constantinople were in obedience to the infidels So well could Gandalin tell his tale that the good old king Perion mooued with a holy zeale determined to go himselfe in person and to take with him great quantity of ships and men furnished for the wars Gandalin stayed not long with him but while hee prepared himselfe hee went into Scotland Norway Sobradise Denmarke and Sweathland and did his Embassages so well that all the Kings and Princes to whome hee went determined with all spéede to aid Esplandian in such sort that in short time after their ships were ready and those of Sweathland Norway and Denmarke come vnto the port of Suer from whence setting saile they coasted along Freseland Holland and Braband till they arriued at Bulloigne where king Perion had prepared great number of Ships Hulkes and other vessels which being furnished with men victuals and munition necessarye for the warres hoised saile and put to sea And coasting Normandie came to little Brittaigne where they ankered in S. Mathewes Hauen where the Kings Luisart and Amadis accompanied of Grumedan and diuers other knights were arriued to refresh thēselues hauing passed the Isle of Sorlingue the Irish men imbarked themselues at the cape Antiquan and the Scots at cape Basso And hauing sailed the way that the Brittons had past ioined with the Westerne Princes that went that voiage in such sort that within thrée daies after they set saile hauing a Northeast wind they discouered the coast of Spaine passing the Port of Finis terre in compostelle after that the cape S. Vincent drawing on the left side they passed the straights of Gibraltar leauing Barbary and Guinde on the right hand sailed toward Tamar Austora and Lagarde minding to leaue Maiorque Minorque to enter into the straights of Busina and Monaco frō thence to saile to the ports of Elese and Corse where they met with Florestan king of Sardaigne his fléet but before they ariued there fortune was so contrary vnto them that certaine of their Gallions could not follow the ships but staied behind to the number of eight being so scattered that they made account they had been lost Neuerthelesse the next day they arriued all at Port S. Luce where without longer staying they passed forward to go to Regi where the army of the Emperor of Rome comming from Osty lay at anker staying for them Where they continued six daies not onely to take in fresh water but also to calke and mend their shippes and other vessels that had néed the seuenth day hauing a good wind they hoysed ankers and setting saile coasted along the country of Morea comming to cape de Maluasie where the winde fell somewhat contrarie but in the end the sea waxing calme put forward to Cape Calon and the Isle of Negrepont and entring into the Archipelago they discouered the side of the cape Athos till they approched Galiopi leauing the I le of Tenedos because they would not be discouered by the Turkes that Armato had set there to kéepe a passage for his victuals to bée brought vnto the armie where they staied not long but they entred into the goulfe of Propontide coasting Thrace till they came vnto the Port of Salombre which is not aboue thirtie miles from the citie of Constantinople where they landed that they might the better approch the Pagans campe with that they agréed among them that king Childadan and Quedragant should be Generals of the armie by sea and hauing left sufficient number of men for the furnishing and safe kéeping of their shippes their fléet sailed towards Constantinople hoping to set vpon Alphorax and his armie by sea before they should perceiue them But it fell out otherwise for the Turkes that had spies in all places discouered them not suffering Alphorax to fight desiring him most earnestly onely to kéepe the entrie of the straits to take all meanes from the towne to be victualled on that side Which king Childadan and Quedragant vnderstanding would not hazzard themselues but ankered within halfe a myle of the enemie staying for king Luisart the Emperour of Rome and those that marched by land meane time giuing diuers skirmishes to the enemie with their Pinnaces but Alphorax for all that would not leaue his hole lying as close as possibly he could on the other side Armato and his company being aduertised of the great aid that came towards the towne caused their forces to assemble determining to kéep the side of the great sea by the which they might easilier recouer victuals as well from Natolia as out of Tartaria The kings Amadis Perion others made such hast that the ninth day after they incamped themselues in the sight of Constantinople right before their enemies in a place that séemed most conuenient But if the Pagans at the first were much abashed to sée those succours the Emperor those within the town were not much lesse doubting it had béen some
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
acknowledge thy former life and of a wicked wretch as thou hast alwaies liued become a vertuous knight and as thou hast been mâ—â— cruell and inhumane become courteous and pittifull forsaking thy vaine and foolish faith to beléeue in my God who is the most true and mighty Lord of all lords I wil not only pardon thée the combate whereof thou hast the worst but will leaue thée thy castle frée vnto thy selfe and so wil be thy friend vpon condition neuerthelesse that from henceforth both thou and I shall imploy our forces to ouerthrow and destroy all those that as thy selfe do walke in darkenesse from whence if thou wilt beléeue me thou shalt come out This answere of the blacke knight moued the Giant in such manner that like a wilde Beare hee began to fome at the mouth and saied vnto the knight Thou accursed wretch and of all others the most vile doest thou so little estéem my force that thou thinkest me already ouercome and vanquished And there with hee pulled away the péeces of his shield that hung about his necke and threw them on the ground and taking his sword in both his hands he strooke at the blacke knight thinking to cleaue his head but hee perceiuing the stroke stepped vnder the blow and closed with the Giant whereby the sword passing ouer his head hit vpon the pauement with so great force that it brake in péeces and therewith the pummell fell out of his hand so that the two knights being closed together could not hurt one the other but with their fists or pummels of their swordes whereby the blacke knight much gréeued the Gyant before hee could finde the meanes to recouer the handle of his sword but in the end he found meanes to vnlose himselfe from the knight and as hee reculed backe shunning the fury of his enemy the old woman séeing her sonne in so great danger went betwéene them and â—â—â—â—ing most bitterly saied vnto the knight alas Gentleman if euer you came of woman or haue compassion of a poore widdowes estate I beséech you for the honour of him in whome you beléeue to pitty my miserie and leauing me this only sonne content your self with the death of those that most cruelly you haue slaine before my face Ladie saied the knight then cause him to aske mercy and hee shal find it in mee otherwise you labour but in vaine To aske mercy of thée saied the Giant I can neuer be dishonoured thereby knowing it by experience to bee most true that such power strength as I find in thée commeth not from thy selfe but procéedeth and is only caused by the fauour of thy God for without his helpe thou haddest no more ben able to indure against mee then straw against the flaming fire therefore it were great folly in mee to fight both against God and man but I had rather perceiuing my end to approch aske him mercy and forgiuenesse then beléeue any longer in those in whom I haue hetherto put my trust whereof I am right sorry so that whether I fight or sight not or whether I liue or die I protect and make a vow from henceforth neuer to worship other then Iesus Christ thy Lord and maister Meanest thou as thou saiest saied the knight I truly answered Matroco and therewith knéeling on the ground and lifting both his eies and hands vnto heauen he cried out and saied Iesus the sonne of the virgine Mary I most certainely beléeue thée to bee the only infalible true and liuing God and that all others whom during my life I haue worshipped and adored are of no power wherfore forsaking their false doctrine to worship thée according to thy holy law I most humbly beséech thée to be mercifull vnto me and making the signe of the crosse vpon the ground hee stooped downe and kissed it Which the blacke knight beholding for ioy thanked God with all his heart and taking his sword by the point presented the handle to Matroco saying vnto him Truly valiant knight among so many triumphant victories that in times past you haue obtained there neuer happened any one so honourable as this for that herein you haue not onely vanquished mée but your self also that for strength of body are inuincible wherefore as a victorious knight I present my sword vnto you It shal not be so said Matroco but the contrary for I being vanquished submit my selfe vnto your pleasure and from this time forwards dispose of me my goods and honour as you shall thinke conuenient I pray you then saied the blacke knight haue pitty vpon the poore prisoners that euen now I saw bound within your gallies and let them be sent for hether that I might speake with them Withall my heart saied the Giant and therewith calling his mother saied vnto her Madame I pray you send downe vnto the ships to fetch the prisoners that the knight desireth to sée and let none of my men set foot on land till I send them further commission which she presently did But when maister Elizabeth Libee and the rest of the prisoners heard the message they made no little sorrow thinking the best comfort they could haue would be a most miserable and cruell imprisonment but when they entered the first gate of the castle where the porter and Arcalaus lay dead they were somewhat reuiued and in better hope then at the first specially when they saw the blacke knight that came to méet them who without making himselfe knowne to any but to maister Elizabeth tooke him by the hand and saied vnto him My good friend because I will not that any but you alone shall know who I am I pray you in the morning come and visite me in an Hermitage that standeth at the foot of this hil where I wil stay for you in the meane time you shall finde king Luisart in the castle who I leaue behind me but as you loue your life be secret and tell him not who I am Maister Elizabeth was much abashed when hee knew him to bee Esplandian and willingly would haue had more conference with him had it not been for the charge he had giuen him before as also that at the same time a Gentlewoman came vnto him and saied Sir knight if euer you will sée Matroco aliue make hast and come vnto him for he is euen now fallen vpon the ground and as I thinke is dead hee hath lost so much of his blood Goe said he to maister Elizabeth and help him what you can for your helpe will doe him more pleasure at this time then my presence can comfort him wherewith hee left maister Elizabeth with the Gentlewoman and went vnto the Hermitage where the night before he had lodged but he got not thether before the sonne went downe being so weary and sore with fighting all the day that he could not goe further where he found the Hermite and the dumbe man sitting together by whome hee was presently vnarmed and meat set before him for
many times you shall desire death And opening the packet she tooke forth a white armour all set with crownes of gold inriched with Pearles and Diamonds most sumptuous to behold Which Esplandian with harty thanks vnto Vrganda and the messenger receiued willingly This as I thinke madame said Carmelle is the cause why he hath ben called the blacke knight but I suppose séeing hee hath chaunged his deuise he will likewise change his name The Princesse Leonorine knew thereby that all these thinges were saied as touching her wherewith shee felt an alteration in her mind for that loue by little and little began to burne her heart which shee had willingly couered but Carmelle by the changing of her colour which sometimes waxed pale and sometimes redâ— the sundry motions wherewith swéet loue did pricâ—e her 〈◊〉 heart perceiued it â—ull well in such manner that being no longer able to abstaine â—rom sighing as if she had spoken to her selfe she said I pray God his beginning may proue a happy end Wherâ—with Carmelle perceiuing her maisters suâ—â—â— prospeâ— with effeâ—t the better to encrease the desire of the lady 〈◊〉 said vnto her madame he hath commanded me not to stay long here for till my returne he doth continue in excéeding paine and neuer shall bée frée if hee receiue no comfortable answere from your â—race Gentlewoman saied â—he Princesse I were the most vngratefull Princesse liuing on â—he earth if I should doe so but tell him I pray you from me that I giue him hearty thankes for the courtesies hee offereth mee by you and when he once arriueth here hée shall soone know the great good will I beare him As also that I hold him for my knight for proofe whereof you shall on my behalfe present him with this â—airelace as being the first present that Grimanaise my grandfather gaue to his Appolidon being but her louer Wherewith taking a cloth of tissue from her head she vnbound her hair and deâ—iuered the hairelace vnto her and sending for a gowne imbroâ—ered all with crownes of gold gaue it her likewise But saied shee because the two knights haue promised the Emperour not â—o depart from hence till eight daies are past you shall stay for them and all together return vnto the castle called La montaigne defendu which she willingly graunted CHAP. XXIII How newes was brought vnto the Emperour that Armato king of Turkie had besieged the castle of La montaigne defendu and of the charge he gaue Frandalo with Manely and the king of Denmarke to goe succour it IN manner as you heard before the two knights of the Ferme Isle and Carmelle staied at Constantinople where there arriued a certaine shippe that brought a Squire on message from Talanque and Ambor to certefie the Emperour that Armatâ— king of Turkie aduertised of the death of Matroco had besieged the castle La montaigne defendu both by land and sea desiring him to send some aid otherwise they should bée constrained to yéeld the same not hauing victuals nor men for to defend it The Emperor hearing those newes and considering the truce betwéene him and the king of Turkes as also that hee had not any men prepared for to send neither Gally Galliace ship nor Brigandine ready for the sea stood somewhat in amase But considering with himselfe of what importaunce that Frontier castle might bee vnto him if the enemy should obtaine it he determined by all meanes to hinder him from the same Wherfore calling for Frandalo and taking him aside he said vnto him Well Frandalo you are now my prisoner and it lieth in me either to hang you like a théefe or deliuer you with greater riches then euer you possessed which I promise you to doe if from this time forwards you sweare to bee my loiall subiect and faithfully to serue me when you are imploied My lord saied hee I beséech your grace wholly to forget the faults by me committed to your Maiestie swearing of my faith if it pleaseth you to pardon my offence you shal from henceforth find a seruant of me that in time will make you knowe by effect how much I estéeme this fauour at your hands Will you doe it said the Emperor I and it pleaseth your grace said he What is become of your Nauie saied the Emperour that in times past you held vpon the sea My lord saied Frandalo the winds tempests that lately happened on the sea hath so scattered them that I can heare no newes of them Neuerthelesse I am of opinion they may easily be brought together wherewith I will doe your grace seruice if you thinke good Doe it then saied the Emperor and that with spéed for I haue determined to raise the greatest army that euer hath been séene therewith to driue Armato king of Turkie out of the Frontiers of my Empire who not long since hath besieged La montaigne defendu And while my forces are preparing you with the two knights that of late came hether shall goe before and vsing meanes to assemble your men shall in the meane time giue the Turkes somewhat to doe My lord said Frandalo God giue me grace to doe you faithful seruice then be you ready in the morning saied he to depart from hence wherewith hée commanded Frandâ—â—os ship to bee rigged and prepared with al things necessary and finding Manely and the king of Denmarke he told them that he had receiued news from Talanque and Ambor touching the â—astle of La montaigne defendu and what hee had determined to doe as concerning their reléefe shewing them what had passed betweene him and Frandalo touching the same Wherefore my good friends saied hee because I well perceiue the great desire you haue to sée your companions me thinketh it were good you imbark your selues with him who goeth before to aduertise them of the aide I meane to send them My lord saied Manely it is our whole desires In the morning said the king you shal haue your bark ready and furnished with all things necessary and some other of my ships likewise to second you attending the great army my selfe dooth meane to bring But before their departure hee gaue them diuers rich presents which they refused contenting themselues with the honor and courteous intertainement hee had already giuen them and taking their leaue of all the court especially of the Princesse Leonorine they took sea and Carmelle with them hoping to haue her maisters great good will for the good newes she brought him But before we passe further to shew you what became of them I thinke it not out of our hystory to leaue Esplandian no longer at Miresleur but shew you what became of him being healed of his wounds CHAP. XXIIII How Esplandian healed of his wounds tooke leaue of king Luisart and all the court to goe vnto the Ferme Isle where hee left the great Serpent wherein accompanied onely of maister Elizabeth and Sergil he imbarked himselfe to returne vnto the castle of La montaigne defendu MAny
daies and nights did Esplandian stay at Mirefâ—eur after the dangerous combat betweene him and Amadis his father before hâ—â— wounds were fully healed But in the end hauing license of the king others that might command him he took his way towards the Ferme Isle accompanied of â—aisâ—er Elizabeth Sergil his squire And trauelling without any â—duenture worthy the rehearsing at the last they arriued at the pallace of Apolidon at the foote whereof they found the great Serpent wherein presently they imbarked themselues but shee remooued not from thence till midnight following when she began to saile so swiftly that the next day they were out of sight of any land in which manner they continued for seuen daies together the eight day they discouered a goodly country hauing a calme wind the Serpent put a shore which Esplandian perceiuing determined to land and walke along the coast til he found some one or other that could shew him in what countrey hee had arriued And desiring maister Elizabeth not to depart thence before hee came againe hee Sergil and their two horses entered into a little boat and taking land they entered so far into the countrey that they came to a little hill at the foote whereof they perceiued a goodly meddow and certaine houses wherevnto they went And they had not ridden farre but a lacquie that kept foure horses whereof one was a Bay and greater then the rest came vnto Esplandian and speaking to him in the Almaine tongue asked him why he went to his own mischiefe Esplandian that in his youth had learned that language asked him wherefore Because said the lacquie that at the next house my maister is newly alighted and is at dinner and if he sée you you die therefore Thy maister saied Esplandian And what doth he He vseth saied he to kill or put in prison farre brauer fellowes then your selfe wherefore if you will beléeue me you shal returne againe if you mean not to spéed as I haue told you But Esplandian staying not passed forward till he came vnto the dore where he espied a Giant set at dinner and foure squires all bare-headed waiting on the bord But as soone as the Giant saw him hee rose vp and leaning on the cloth saied vnto him Thou vnhappy wretch whâ— hath sent thée â—â—ther in my presence armed as thou art By my great goe Iaâ—â—s I mâ—st néeds say thou art a foole or else art weary 〈◊〉 thy life Come hether to mee and put off thine armour because thou shalâ— not haue so much paine to go on foot to thy lodging that is prepared for thée Forwards you vilaines said he vnto his Squires throw him off his horse and carry him to his fellows Wherewith one of them thinking to play the diligent seruant ranne vnto Esplandian to serue him for a Squire but whether Esplandian was offended or for that hee held the left stirrop in stead of the right hée gaue him such a blow on the face with his Gantelet that hee felled him to the ground whereat the Giant was in such a rage that he scarse had the patience to arme himselfe to bee reuenged Wherefore sending to fetch his great Bay horse mounted thereon Mean time Esplandian lacing his helmet tooke his sword in hand staying for his enemy that ceased not to threaten him who staied not long before he came bearing a great launce vpon his thigh and so great a cimitere hanging at his saddle bow that a straunge man would haue much adoe to lift it vp But as you sée a Cocke holding vp his head and standing ready to receiue another Cocke wherewith he fighteth so Esplandian hauing felt the iniury hee had receiued at the Giants hands séeing him approch began to shake his leg ready for to charge his enemy But the Giant called him and said Vassaile Content thy selfe with the honour thou hast already gotten by putting me in so great choler that without any regard I haue taken armes against so vile and wretched a thing as thou art Flie then from hence without constraining me to do thée any hurt otherwise thou art most sure of death for twenty knights hardier then thy selfe cannot once remoue me Esplandian hearing his great brags made no account thereof but in mockery said vnto him Those thou hast already slaine can neuer hurt thée but I that come for to reuenge them hope before that wee depart to send thy soule vnto the diuell to whome thou hast commended it so often although it were much better for thée to take the counsell thou hast giuen me and shun thine own misfortune being well assured that in thy great mishapen body there resteth nothing but a base anâ— seruile heart â—hat causeth thée to speake in such sort aâ— thou doest That shalt thou presently see said the Giant and couching his launâ—e ranne towards Esplandian who did the like against him But the Giant missed his blow so did not Esplandian for with the force of his blow he made the Giant double his body in such sort that his Gaule brake in his body and ranne out at his mouth where with hee presently died They that beheld it were thereat abashed specially the Giants Squires who presently began to flie but they had not run farre when Esplandian ouertooke them threatning to slay them if they would not shewe him the place where their maister kept his prisoners which they promised to do And leading him along by the foot of the hill from whence hee had descended they came into a narrow way full of stones where stood a watch of twenty men all armed each man with a hatchet in his hand to defend the passage When the captain of that band perceiued the giants squires comming towards them hée asked theÌ„ where they found that vnhappy fellow and saying so thought to lay handes vpon Esplandians bridle but with a blow of his sword hee cut his arme in sunder wherewith the rest set all vpon him But in short time he dealt so well among them that hée laid most part of them dead vpon the ground But he had so many men about him that in the end his horse was slaine and he in danger to be ouerthrown Yet hee behaued himselfe so valiantly and with so great a courage that hee remained victor his enemies flying as fast as possibly they might and among the rest the laquie that he found kéeping the foure horses who sauing himselfe in a vaut cried with a loud voice and saied Come forth my lord come forth your sonne Bramato is slaine and all our companions likewise With that there appeared a great old Giant with a long white beard who séeing Esplandian with his sword bloody in his hand and most of his men lying dead about him he cast out a great sigh and said O immortall Gods wherein haue I so much offended you that you should suffer my only sonne and all my men to be slaine in such manner by this one knight But I hope your
tell it vs. Then Manely began to shew how he and the king of Denmarke when they awaked found themselues in a barke vpon the coast of Italy where taking land they found Vrganda and after that by cruell tempests they arriued in an Isle where a Beare assailed them in which Isle they saw two great apes that shewed them much sport But saied hee wee thought to haue starued therein for want of meat for our victuals were cleane consumed when by fortune Frandalo arriued in the same Isle with whome I fought and ouercame him And because our barke was cast away wee entered into his wherein wee found a Gentlewoman that told vs newes of you whom for your sake we conducted vnto Constantinople and from thence haue brought her backe againe As farre as I vnderstand said Esplandian you haue not alwaies slept and I beléeue that neuer any knight had fo straunge aduentures at their first entering into armes vnlesse it were my lord Amadis my father which I would hardly haue beléeued had it not ben for the signes and euident tokens that wee saw in the Isle Saint Mary What were they said the king of Denmark We saw the Image of Landriaque said Esplandian with whome he had so long and perrillous a combate It is true saied Argenton that such combates against monsters doe oftentimes strike the hardiest knights with feare and the combate of our Apes made sorrowfull knights reioice In good faith saied Esplandian thou hast reason and I like thée well for thy mirth but I pray thée heartely returne againe and fetch the Gentlewoman that is in thy maisters ship and bring her hether that I may speake with her which he presently did and as she entred into the great Serpent Esplandian imbracing her asked if she had séene the emperour and the beautifull Princesse Leonorine his doughter I my lord said she both of them desiring your arriual in that countrey especially the Princesse Leonorine with all the ladies and Gentlewomen being fully determined not to pardon the great fault you haue committed in their behalfes to haue deferred off so long before you come to serue them according to the promise made by Amadis your father as I assured thē Yet I thinke their displeasure is not so great but yee may well find meanes to pacefie the same My good friend saied Esplandian you are heartely welcome wee will talke together when better leisure serueth Which he said fearing she should haue procéeded further wherewith the standers by might haue intelligence of the loue he bare vnto the Princesse wherefore leauing the Gentlewoman and turning to Manely hee saied In faith I cannot well excuse my selfe but that I doe them wrong for the first commaundement my father gaue mee at such time I receiued the order of knighthood was that in his place I should goe and serue them to quit the promise he had made Neuertheles fortune hath euer sithence giuen mee so many crosses thereby to hinder my intent that I could neither fulfill his wil nor satisfie their expectations While they were thus deuising two of Frandalos Brigantines that by him were sent to espy the enemies nauy brought news they had séene great numbers of their Foistes and Gallies sailing to the East to fetch victuals for the Nauie and that the rest that remained behind would easily bee ouercome if it pleased them to set vpon them which the knights vnderstanding were of opinion that without longer delay they would assaile them and presently therewith hoised vp their ankers making as secretly as they could towards Armatos fléete yet they determined not to set vpon them before the breake of day hoping to take them sléeping which in truth fell out The first that set vpon them was the great Serpent that at her arriuall entering among the enemies cast fire so fiercely at her mouth and nosthrils that when they awaked it put them in such feare that losing courage without stroke giuen they all began to flie Neuerthelesse it could not saue their liues but that the greatest part of their vessels were drowned by meanes of a contrary wind that rose so suddainely on the sea whereby it raged in such sort that neither mast sayle bord nor oare could holde but were broken all in péeces yet did not Frandalo lose any of his fléet neither did the camp once moue thereat for they were not séene of any other then the sentinell of the castle that presently told Ambor and Talanque wherat they receiued great pleasure especially when they espied the great Serpent and Esplandian there 〈◊〉 with whome they talked long time before hee came to land At the last they concluded to auoid all danger that the rampiers they had made before the gate should for that time not bee broken but they would let down a lather of cords whereby they might mount vp into the castle Frandalo hauing giuen order for the safetie of his shippes which was presently done CHAP. XXVI How Armato king of Turkie had intelligence of the ouerthrow of his army at sea by Frandalo and his company and what enterprises happened on both parts THat aid entred into the castle of La montaigne defendu Esplandian desirous to sée the enemies campe presently mounted vpon the wals accompanied only of Talanque and Ambor that shewed him the tents of Armato the Bassias Begberbeys and Sangiaces whereof some were lodged within the Base court which they had conquered at their first comming thether wherwith Esplandian was much gréeued and asked Talanque how he suffered them to come so néer Assure your selfe said he it was not with our wils but we defended it as long as possible wee might and the Portaile like wise which at their first comming they assailed But we defended it so well that without their mine they had neuer won it yet did it profite them but little for that sodainly wee destroied all their mine that had cost them fiftéen daies labour Which Armato perceiuing sought to begin againe which we by diuers sallies would not suffer him to doe but whatsoeuer we could doe in the end their force preuailed and wee constrained to forsake the same and retire vnto the castle and that in good time for we were scarse entered into the dungeon but they fired it whereby the Portall fell downe giuing vs at that time one of the most cruell assaults that euer place sustained being so meanely guarded as it was and assure your selfe that there is neither loopehole nor window but they raised ladders or some other engins against it and with launces fire and sword gaue vs so much to doe that we were in doubt to be ouercome Neuerthelesse they were as whotely repulsed for Libee gaue them such intertainement with a dramme of pouder that hee set on fire as they began to crie out victorie but vpon a suddain their cry became so pittifull that nothing but sorrow and lamentation could be heard among them where with there were so many of them burnt and singed that
of their long staying with the Princesse to whom Frandalo in most courteous maner saied Madame Is it not your pleasure meane time that I and my companion goe vnto the towne to stay here for vs with this Gentlewoman and my cousin Foron I truly said Heliaxa and I will not depart from hence before I heare of you againe With that Frandalo and Esplandian ranne in great hast towards the Towne where they found their companions fighting with those of Alfarin among the which were Talanque Ambor the king of Denmarke Gandalin and Lazinde that had giuen the town a hard skirmish on that side thinking to giue them so much to doe that in the meane time the army by sea might assaile the water gate but they were too soone discouered whereby they found great resistance on all sides Neuerthelesse Norandel and Belleris had gotten the Barriers and repulsed the enemies vnto the pallisadoes Which Esplandian and Frandalo perceiuing they lighted on foot and being couered with their shields their swords in their hands passed through the prease and with bold courage went so farre that they slewe great number of the enemies for the Alfarins to defend their citty issued out of the gates and the Christians to winne it did most valiantly but the place was so narrow they could not hurt their enemies so much as in the opeÌ„ field Whereby it happened that Frandalo and Esplandian minding either to winne or loose stepped so farre forward that the Alfarins flying into the towne and they after found themselues alone within the same among their enemies and that so farre that had it not ben for Frandalo Esplandian that tooke no care but only to kill and ouerthrow the enemy had ben inclosed by them but hee pulled him backe Whereby the two knights perceaued the danger they were in wherefore by little and little they got vnto the steps that went vpon the wallâ— where they sustained many hard assalts without being hurt although the enemy ceased not to throw Launces Stones Darts and all other weapons at them they could find none of theÌ„ daring come to handle strokes for if any aduanced himselfe to shew his Prowes it cost him his life or els was throwne downe headlong Meane time Norandel and his company that had séene Frandalo and Esplandian shut into the towne sought by all meanes to scale the wals or else to breake the gates but all in vaine for they within defended it so well with Oile scalding Water Logs and Stones that diuers of them were ouerthrowne and ended their liues most miserably And fighting in that sort a knight all armed came from the Hauen crying with a loud voice and said Be of good courage my children be of good courage defend this quarter well for our enemies on the sea side haue not as yet found meanes to set one man on land and yet haue lost aboue two hundred of their men By God saied one of them I sée not one that standeth idle yet can we not ouercome these two knights Why so said the other They are saied he entered in among vs and wee haue ben these two howers fighting with them but all in vaine for the yoongest of them fighteth so valiantly that wee dare not approch them And which is more hee and his companion in despight of vs all haue gotten those staires where they now defend themselues and that so well that we can find no means to driue them thence although many of our men haue been slain by them others cruelly wounded I am of opinion said the knight that wee receiue theÌ„ vnto mercy for it may bee they are such men that for to haue them againe the enemy will bée glad to giue king Armato in exchange and returne againe into their country Wherevnto they all agéed and therewith the knight that had giuen them that counsell made signes vnto Esplandian that they would parley with them whereby the assault ceased for a time and the knight spake vnto them in this manner Sir knights you sée it is impossible for you to escape from hence and it were great pitty that two so valiant knights should die so yoong now in the flower of your ages But this wee will doe yéeld your selues and wee will saue your liues Sir knight saied Esplandian If wee die at this time we are quit for euer after but so much there wanteth therof and wee haue so good hearts and so sure a confidence in Iesus Christ in whose quarrell we fight that wee hope he will giue vs meanes not only to escape this danger but to spoile the Towne and lead you prisoners with vs Wherefore take this counsell for your selues and yéelde you vnto vs before the wrath of God bée further moued against you When they that stood about them heard those wordes both great and small began to crie with a lowd voice saying Stay that villaine let him die or wee will die here at his féet wherewith they assailed them so fiercely that they were constrained to get vpoÌ„ the highest steps But not long after they repulsed the enemy so valiantly with stones whereof they found great quantity vpon the Portall that from that time forwards they had no longer stomacks to assaile them But Norandel and the rest being without vnderstanding the noise and the voice of their companions whome they estéemed dead or taken prisoners determined to set fire on the gates while the rest assailed the towne Wherewith euery man ranne to fetch wood which the Alfarins perceiued but to conclude they could not shun it but whether they would or not the draw-bridge and the gates were set on fire wherewith they were so abashed that most part of them began to flie vnto the great temple of Iupiter the principall place of strength within their citty the rest staying behind with full determination rather to die then suffer the Christians to enter the Towne And séeing the gates burnt downe so many of them ranne to fetch water that not long after the Christians had meanes to assaile the towne on that side which assault continued so long that day failed yet could they not enter by reason of the great resistance the Alfarins made but the two knights that were aboue did them so much hurt with blockes and stones that not any of them durst appeare whereby the Christians became maisters of the towne Wherin great number of people both men women and children were put to the sword and more had died had it not ben night specially on the water side where Gâ—stilles and his army entred with most great fury Neuerthelesse fearing least the Alfarins should assemble againe and in the night they might bee repulsed hee commanded a retraict to bee founded being well assured the next day to haue the towne at their pleasure And for the same cause he sent to the army on land that they should do the like wherewith euery man retired setting watch in those places where most néed required The towne in this
perceiued him enter into choler to pacefie the same answered vim and said My lord you may doe it when it pleaseth you but at this present you sée here a great number of poore desolate people I beséech you speake vnto them and comfort them as wel as you may for their whole trust is in you with that Alphorax going vnto them gaue them many gracious and comfortable spéeches and with them returned to the citty of Tesifant CHAP. XXXI How Gastilles tooke his leaue of Esplandian and sailed to Constantinople and of the arriuall of Palomir Branfil and other knights of great Brittaigne at the towne of Alfarin THe Towne of Alfarin brought vnder the subiection of the knights of the castle La montaigne defendu as you heard before Gastilles hauing prepared himselfe to return to Cōstantinople went vnto Esplandian and saied vnto him My lord when I departed from the Emperour hee gaue me expresse commandement with al spéed to aduertise him what I had done to the end he might determine either to come himselfe in person if occasion serued with the army hee is already preparing or else wholly to breake off his enterprise for it now beginneth to bee Winter and séeing as it is Gods will that your affaires on this side are in good estate I am determined as to morrow to depart hence to Constantinople that the Emperour vnderstanding by mee what hath passed on this side the sea he shall not bee forced for this yeare to bee at further charges wherof before this time I had willingly certefieed him had it not ben the daily expectation I had to sée the end of this our last enterprise which God bee thanked is fallen out as we desired My lord saied Esplandian séeing the Emperour as you say by your returne may receiue both pleasure and profite you shall doe well to make hast thether one thing I beséech you doe for me that is most humbly to commend me vnto his grace assuring him that not any subiect hee hath is or shall bee readier to obey him then my selfe and as touching our proceedings for that you haue personally both séene and béene an actor in the same you can aduertise him at large Shew him likewise I pray you that I kéepe king Armato as his prisoner attending his pleasure what shall bee done with him but not the castle of La montaigne defendu for I haue conquered the same in fauour and vnder the protection of the Princesse Leonorine kéeping the same at this present onely to her vse and as her seruant as I meane to continue during my life But if it pleaseth his grace to giue the Towne of Alfarin to Frandalo not onely thereby to increase his will and desire to serue him but also for that hee deserueth a greater reward so dooing mee thinketh hee shall therein shewe the part of a liberall Prince considering the seruice and fidelitie hee hath done and shewed in all places where hee hath beene employed You shall tell the Emperour also that according to my fathers will and commandement I hope shortly to bee in Constantinople to present my selfe before his grace and the ladie Leonorine as by the Gentlewoman Carmelle I haue giuen thē to vnderstand wherewith I think you are not vnacquainted praying you in the meane time to make my excuse to them in that I haue deferred it off so long for in a manner you are not ignorant what hath béene the cause My lord said Gastilles the Emperour my vncle so much desireth your company that I neuer saw man more gréeued nor woman than the Princesse my cousin when they perceiued the great serpent passe before Constantinople to crosse the straightes of Bosphore I will shewe them what you say and in the morning about breake of day I meane God willing to set saile Will you not said Esplandian first goe visit Frandalo Manely and others that lie wdunded in their beds to know if they will send any message to the Empeperour That I will said Gastilles Goe then said Esplandian and I will beare you companie With that they went to Frandalos lodging where they were no sooner entred but the watch that stood vpon the tower ouer the water gate discouered about thrée miles in the sea a great shippe that with full saile made towards the towne whereof they aduertised Gastilles who presently caused two Brigandines to goe forth to sée if they were friends or enemies and they were not long before they returned againe with the great shippe in their company wherin were Palomir Branfil Helian le delibere Garuate du Val Craintif Brauor sonne of the gyant Balan that king Amadis had newly made knight Imosel de Burgoigne Ledarin de Faiarque Listoran de la tour Blanche Trion cousin to quéene Briolanie Tentilles le Superbe Guil le bien esteme Grodonan brother to Angriote Destrauaux and the two sonnes of Isamie gouernour of the firme Isle with many others that had imbarked themselues in great Britaine to goe to aid Esplandian and comming to the castle La montaigne defendu they had intelligence by the fishermen at sea of the ouerthrow of Armatos nauie his captiuitie with the taking of the citie of Alfarin whereat they much reioyced especially when they knew by Gastilles souldiers that not any of their companions were slaine in the assault They béeing arriued at the towne as they began to lande Esplandian with diuers others went thither to receiue them where betwéene them were many salutations and welcomes giuen which done Esplandian led them to his lodging where they refreshed themselues about two houres before they went to visit Frandalo of whome Esplandian gaue such commendations that they desired him to bring them where he lay which hée presently did but when Frandalo knew who they were béeing ashamed to sée them vse such courtesie to him could not well tel what to say and as he entertained them Palomir spake vnto him and said Sir knight I and my companie haue heard so great commendation of your valour that there is not one of vs but would be ready to obey and serue you as our chiefe commander wherefore we beséech you vse all diligence you may to be healed of your wounds that we may presently go into the field vnder your conduction My lords said Frandalo I pray you pardon me I am well assured that my valour is none such as you report whereby I deserue not the praise you giue me neither did I euer any thing worthy commendation but only by my lord Esplandians meanes Neuerthelesse I hope if God spareth me life and health so to behaue my selfe that all men shall know the desire I haue to doe seruice vnto Christendome and particularly vnto euery one of you Companion said Esplandian I pray you take care to be cured of your griefe that done wée will take order for the rest and for that these knightes are wearie with their long trauaile on the sea I pray you giue them leaue for to depart and in the
morning we will visit you againe Which he said fearing least too much talke might cause him fall into a feuer for Gastilles before that had béene deuising with him aboue two houres togither touching the conference betwéene him and Esplandian as concerning his returne vnto the Emperour With that the knights bad him farewell and went out of the chamber on the other side Gastilles made all the hast he could to depart from thence the next day in the morning and taking leaue of all his friends the same night he entred into his ship when day began to appeare he set saile with so good winde that within eight daies he discouered the city of CoÌ„stantinople entring into the hauen which the Emperor vnderstanding went to receiue him going with him to the palace asked him what he had done in his viage whether Armato were retired froÌ„ the siege or not My lord saied hee The good knight Esplandian and his company most humbly commend themselues vnto your grace especially Frandalo whom I can assure you to bee one of the best seruaunts that euer you had With that the Empresse accompanied with the Princesse Leonorine Quéene Minoresse and diuers other ladies and Gentlewoman came thether to whom Gastilles doing humble reuerence they bad him welcome and because hee staied to doe Esplandians commendations to the Princesse Leonorine the Emperour said vnto him Truly nephew you shall make an end to shewe vs what hath happened in your voiage then if it please you you may court the ladies Wherefore I pray you tell from the beginning what you haue done My lord saied he at our departure from hence wee had so good a winde that without any let wee arriued at the castle La montaigne defendu yet could wee not make such hast but that Esplandian with his great Serpent and Frandalos ships had already drowned and ouerthrowne certaine of the enemies ships and made the rest to flie and the next day after king Armato was taken prisoner his army ouerthrowne and put to flight but the sport was when I saluted the Turke and that hee knew mee then hee told the great rage the Turke was in the threatnings and spéeches hee vsed vnto him the ouerthrow of the twenty knights at the aduenturous fountaine the skirmishes and assaults at the Towne of Alfarin the danger wherein Esplandian and Frandalo found themselues the taking of the Towne and of Heliaxe her deliuery with the peoples that fled to the temple of Iupiter and how that before hee imbarked himselfe to returne a great shippe arriued there from great Brittaigne with diuers knights therin whose names and sirnames he rehearsed as hauing séene them with king Amadis Further my lord said he the good knight Esplandian willed me to shewe you that hee kéepeth king Armato till your grace shall dispose of him as also the citty of Alfarin but for the castle La montaigne defendu hee saith hee mindeth not to yéeld the same to any other then to the Princesse Leonorine in whose name hee hath conquered it hoping as her seruaunt and no other to defend the same When will he be here saied the Emperour With all the spéed hee may saied Gastilles as hee hath promised mee In good faith saied the Emperour I would it were this day before tomorrow I haue so great desire to knowe him by reason of the great chiualry that daily increaseth in him in such manner that if heretofore the knight with the Gréene Sword hath béen estéemed the best in all the world now his sonne diminisheth a great part of his glory And all being well considered I thinke that Amadis hath not done more in tenne yeares time then Esplandian hath accomplished in the space of tenne wéekes But touching Frandalo is hee so well disposed to our seruice as you make report My lord saied Gastilles It is not possible to doe better then he hath done wherefore my lord Esplandian willed mee to shew you that for the better entertaining him in his procéedings hée is of aduise that your grace should giue him the citty of Alfarin not knowing any man worthier then hee to kéepe it In good truth saied the Emperour Esplandian and his companions haue had the paines to conquer it wherefore I am content they haue the disposing thereof Neuerthelesse if they rest vpon my consent therein I am well content it shall bee so and I will not cease to shewe him greater fauour if hee perseuer as hee hath begun And you daughter saied hee to the Princesse Leonorine what say you to this that my cousin Gastâ—lles hath told you touching Esplandian that sayeth hee kéepeth the castle La montaigne defendu for you onely My lord saied she I know not how you and many others estéeme so much of him considering the small obedience hee sheweth to his father for if he were such a knight as hee is reported hee had long since come hether to acquite the promise wherevnto hee is bound which maketh mee verily thinke the spéech Carmelle vsed of him and all that hee hath sent you by word of mouth by my cousin Gastilles are onely but dissimulations And I for my part am not yet determined although hee reporteth himselfe to bee my knight to accept him for the same much lesse to pardon him before hee comes in person to excuse his fault then I will consider what I haue to doe The emperor that perceaued his doughter speak with such a choler therwith to blush more then ordinary could not refrain laughter and saied vnto her What daughter doe you refuse the seruice of the best knight in all the world I my lord saied shee and so should euery maister his seruant when hee flieth from his presence and obeyeth not his commandements no more then he hath done both yours and mine Truly swéet heart said the Emperour I like you well I would to God that nature had furnished you with a bodie like vnto your heart if shee had shee had made you a perfect man and not a woman as you are Nowe nephewe you heare my doughters answere I pray you let Esplandian know it that he may make hast hether least he lose not her good will And although the Emperour spake it as in iest Esplandian tooke it otherwise when he heard the newes by a squire that Gastilles sent vnto him CHAP. XXXII How Frandalo accompanied of fourescore Knights issued out of Alfarin towards Tesifant and of the taking of Eiraca captaine of the Towne THe knights of great Brittaigne arriued in the Towne of Alfarin as you heard before Frandalo and others that were hurt being healed of their wouÌ„ds Belleris that ceased not continually to hearken after Alphorax was aduertised by his spies that hee continued in the citty of Tesifannt which hee and Branfil told vnto the rest of their company who therewith being somewhat incouraged very earnestly desired Frandalo to lead theÌ„ forth and bring them to some place where they might lie in ambush to surprise Alphorax
or some of his companie if they chaunced to stray abroad Frandalo not willing to deny them any reasonable request agréed with the consent of Esplandian to depart the next night following and to take with thē to the number of fourescore knights and no more which Esplandian liked well he minding to bee one Where vpon those that were appointed for the iourney prepared themselues and about sunne setting issued out of Alfarin Frandalo and Belleris knowing the country so well that they néeded no other guides but trauailed strait towards Tesifant and hauing ridden till eleuen of the clocke at night they came vnto a crosse way where Frandalo aduised them to deuide themselues in two companies willing the knights that before that time had neuer ben in Turkie to hold close together For said he the warres in these countries are far otherwise then they are in great Brittaigne where knights vse most commonly to trauaile alone without company and although they chaunce sometimes to ride in companies the least occasion that happeneth maketh them seperate themselues but here those that vse armes trauaile in great companies together whereby the combates that are fought here most commonly are rather battailes then incounters And more then this if thrée hundred Turkes chance to surprise one hundred thirtie twenty or lesse number of their enemies they take a pride to put them to death preferring reuenge before a certaine kind of honour that as I haue vnderstoode is kept and obserued in the West parts where combates are in a manner equall Wherefore my friends saied he I pray you seperate not your selues but march all in a company assuring you that in the place whether wee goe wee shall not faile to finde men sufficient against whome wee may imploy our forces and shewe what valour is in vs. I knowe that within halfe a mile of Tesifant Alphorax vseth oftentimes to lie at a house that hee hath caused to bee made called Gruobinach where if it bee our good fortunes wee may chaunce to finde him wherefore I am of aduise that we deuide our selues in two companies my nephew Belleris shall take the left hand and lie in ambush néere vnto the village of Ientinomele from whence hee may easily perceaue when any man issueth out of Tesifant and I with Esplandian and the other halfe of our companie will followe this way that bringeth vs vnto a valley néere to Gruobinach where we will secretly stay if néed require to succour each other whereunto they all agréed but before they departed thence they found their enterprise to be far more dangerous than they estéemed it as hereafter you shall heare Belleris and his companie leauing Frandalo trauailed so long that about two houres before day they met fixe souldiours whome Belleris saluted in the Arabian language asking them of what place they were My Lord said they we are going to the towne of Srasse My good friends said he we trauaile this night to Tesifante to aduertise the prince Alphorax of the great dommage and destruction the Christian dogges continually doe and within short spade haue done vnto the countrey round about for they are issued out of Alfarin haue taken and carried away all they can find and as yet are abroad not ceasing to execute all tyrannie they can deuise neuertheles if it pleaseth him to giue vs aid wée know the place of their retrait where we may easily inclose them not one of them shall escape What are you said the souldiours that bring vs these newes Friends said Belleris I am Roussan cousin to Eiraca ehiefe captaine of Tesifant We can tell you good newes of him said the souldiours wherewith we thinke you will be well pleased for he is not farre from hence being ridden out of Tesifant with two hundred knights to goe vnto Falandie to sée the same be not so lightly surprised as Alfarin was But because he willed vs to ride before wée will stay no longer wherewith they hadde them farewell Friends said Belleris the good fortune I wish you I pray God may happen vnto you With that the souldiours passed on their way but they had not gone farre when Belleris sent after them and fearing they would discouer his enterprise caused them to be slaine and therewith presently dispatched one of his Squires on message to Frandalo to aduertise him of the enemies béeing abroad with a verie strong and huge companie whereupon hée wished him to ioyne with them The Squire made all the hast hée could but before the newes came to Frandalo Belleris met with Eiraca and his company about the village of Ientinomele béeing vpon them before they had time to put on their helmets There did the captaine of Tesifant shewe himselfe to be no yoong beginner in armes for that like a valiant and hardy knight hee entered among the Christians and being seconded by his men did most valiantly defend themselues and assailed the enemy although at their first encounter ten of their brauest souldiours were vnhorsed and ouerthrowne And as Eiraca entered into the prease Norandel and he met together with such force that Norandel was wounded in the left shoulder but not sore hurt and the captaine of Tesifant loosing his stirrops was throwne ouer his horse with so great a strength that with the fall hee was forced to lie vpon the ground and could remooue neither hand nor foote which the Turkes perceauing to reléeue their captaine did so valiantly that they ouerthrew foure of the Brittish knights who neuerthelesse rose presently againe and with their swords in hand thrust so many of the Turkes horses into the sides and flanckes that in short space more then twentie of the Turkes were ouerthrowne likewise and many slain outright at that charge Enil and Gauarte were hurt and the rest so hardly handeled that without Frandalos company that came to succour them they had all beene ourthrowne and in truth they had almost straied too long but the Squire that Belleris sent vnto them could not ouertake them before they were in the valey where they should haue met And although they had heard the sound of their blowes yet did they not suspect any such perrill vntill the squire had done his message wherewith they ranne with all the spéed they could vnto the place where Belleris and his companions being out of breath did nothing but recule and defend themselues against their enemies blowes that had slaine diuers of them but that the captain of Tesifant would haue them to bee taken and presented to the Prince Alphorax Neuerthelesse Frandalo Esplandian and the rest of their company made them change opinion for when they perceaued their companions so hardly matched by the enemy they entered among them with such fury that had it not beene for Eiraca who at that time behaued himselfe most valiantly they had ouerthrown the Turks at their first onset but by reason of the great resistance hee made they continued fighting halfe an houre after wherein hée maintained himselfe
ech other talking of their aduentures past CHAP. XXXVIII How Frandalo and his companie of Christian knights surprised the towne of Galatie and of their message sent vnto the Emperour of Constantinople by Gandalin to craue more aide THe Christian knights being met togither Esplandian asked Frandalo wherefore hée rode abroad with so great a company My lord said he this morning I was aduertised that Belleris my nephew had issued by night out of Alfarin with certaine knightes to sée if they could méet with our enemies and fearing they should find some ambush laid for them that would be stronger than themselues I told my lord Norandel your vncle by whose aduise we tooke this way to followe him but for that neither we nor you haue met with any company to prouoke vs to fight I pray you let vs returne again the best way we can vnto Alfarin but you my lord said he what aduenture hath brought you hither in so good time to find vs here What aduenture said he Truly you may well tearme it so for Gandalin Enil and I thinking to saile vnto the castle La montaigne defendu fortune by tempest of weather draue our shippe so néere this coast that wée might plainly behold Belleris and his companie fighting against a great number of the enemie that had driuen them among the rockes whereupon we landed and entred so farre among the enemies that in the end the victorie was ours after that by your nephewes counsell wee were riding towardes Galatie the which as he assureth vs will bée easily gotten without great resistāce considering the ouerthrow wée haue alreadie giuen them Truly said Frandalo it may well be so and séeing fortune most commonly aideth all hardy aduenturers let vs goe forward and follow me for I knowe a way whereby I will bring you thither without being discouered Let vs goe saied Esplandian and with that they followed Frandalo that went softly before them till they came vnto a litle hill within a mile of Galatie from whence they might easily perceiue who issued or entred the towne where they beheld great numbers of men as well horsemen as footmen who being aduertised of the ouerthrow of their men went to succour them thinking to find the christians in the place where they had fought but they were behind them which the two knights they had sent out to discouer perceiuing ranne to aduertise Frandalo and his company who being glad of the newes went forward in great hast and suddainly set vpon the gates where slaying the watch they entred and tooke the towne wherein there were none but impotent and weake people to defend the same which done they drewe the Bridges and went vpon the walles to kéepe watch and to behold the enemies countenance at their returne when they vnderstood thereof which was not long after for a country man leaping ouer the walles ranne presently to aduertise them If they were sorry it is not to be doubted for that besides the losse of their goods they lost their wiues and children thinking they should all be sent prisoners into a strange countrey whereat they were much gréeued but one Knight among the rest béeing a man of some stomacke perceiuing their sorrowe badde them be of good courage animating them in such sort that they all determined either to loose their liues or els to winne the towne againe and therevpon more mooued with rage than with reason they returned to the towne and assailed it in such furious and indiscrete manner that a great part of them lost their liues in the assault béeing repulsed and driuen away by Frandalo Esplandian Enil Gandalin Elian Tiron and tenne other of the most principall Christian knights who to encrease more feare in the Galatians issued out of the towne and slewe a great number of them but as a Cat that is inclosed and assailed before shée beginneth to defend her selfe séeketh by all meanes to shunne and auoid the furie of the man and finding her selfe out of her hole and no meanes of succour left her becommeth so furious and bolde that shée beginneth to assaile him from whome shée first fledde away and often times doth him mischiefe So these poore people séeing nothing but present death before their eyes by reason of the chase that the tenne Christian Knightes made after them béeing wholly desperate and out of all hope of obtaining mercie beganne to take courage againe and in such sort that desiring to reuenge their liues they turned their faces towards the enemie with such courage that hauing set vpon the Christians in the end Frandalo was stricken downe Esplandian and the rest béeing enclosed in such manner that they had all lost their liues in that place had they not béene aided of their companions and night that came vpon them which was the cause they left each other whereupon the Christians returned into the towne and the Turkes rode towards Tesifante to the Prince Alphorax who béeing aduertised of their misfortune to comfort them spake vnto them and said My friends I am not a little sorrie for your losses wherevnto if our gods permit vs I will take such order and be reuenged in such sort that it shall be spoken of so long as the worlde endureth For I hope not onely to driue these théeues out of my countrey but to goe in person to spoyle and vtterly destroy the cittie of Constantinople with his wicked and accursed Emperour and all the Christian Monarchie Which to bring to passe it is not long since I sent my Ambassadours vnto my friends and allies who haue all giuen mée their promise to ayde and succour mée with their forces and powers whereof some are alreadie arriued at Tenedo where wée vpon certaine matters touching our countries are to assemble togither and staying the time till I haue meanes to doe better for you I will giue order that certaine mony shall be giuen you to sustain your wants For the which the citizens of Galatia thanking him most heartily remaining in Tesifant where they continually lamented their great losses on the other side Esplandian Frandalo and the rest of the knightes that had gotten the towne considering with themselues that it would be impossible for them to kéepe defend so many places with so fewe men agréed among them to send Gandalin to Constantinople vnto the Emperour to shew him what they had of late done to Alphorax and woon the towne of Galatie being one of the most famous hauens in all those parts and for that cause besought him to send them Gastilles or some other of his captaines with some forces to aid them otherwise they should be constrained either to leaue Galatie or els Alfarin considering their small number and the continuall alarmes that the enemies gaue them and the better to mooue him thereunto they sent him the greatest part of the rich iewels they had conquered in the towne But they had neither Barke nor Pinnace ready to send wherefore they were constrained to take that
wherein Esplandian came thither which at that time as fortune would lay still at anker staying their pleasure Wherewith Esplandian sent Sergil to cause the ship to come thither which done Gandalin ready to imbarke himselfe Esplandian tooke him aside said vnto him Friend Gandalin you haue alwaies béene faithfull trustie to my father which giueth me cause to disclose my secret vnto you before all others When you come to Constantinople said hee you shall sée the Lady Leonorine to whome you shall present my most humble commendations shewing her that I will not faile very shortly to accomplish my promise and her cōmandement and withall you shall present her the two slaues that were giuen me which I send to wait vpon her that by their presence she may haue me in remembrance and knowing you are not to learne how to vse your spéeches in such cases I pray you Gandalin let me find in you that which I expect My Lord said he God giue me grace to doe you seruice Then fare you well said Esplandian With that Gandalin with all his charge entred into the ship and hauing set saile had a good wind that in short time after he arriued in Constantinople where being landed he caused two squires to beare the presents he had brought and entring into the palace he found the Emperor talking with diuers of his Noble men the Emperor perceiuing him went to imbrace him asking him where he had left the good knight Esplandian and whether he meant not shortly to come and sée him My Lord said Gandalin he commendeth himselfe most humbly vnto your Grace and hath sent you word by me that not aboue fiftéen daies past hée Frandalo and others of our companie haue taken the towne of Galatie Galatie said the Emperor By the faith I beare to God that is good newes for as I haue béen informed heretofore it is one of the richest townes in all Turkie but I know not well how they can kéepe it Full well my lord said Gandalin so it be your pleasure to send them some aid otherwise they shall bee constrained in the end either to abandon that to kéepe Alfarin or Alfarin for that which would bée a shame for them and great dommage both to your Grace and all Christendome Haue they found great riches therein said the Emperor or haue they lost any quantity of their men My lord said Gandalin some of the enemies were slaine in the taking thereof and with that he began to shew him the maner how it was done and causing the cases wherein the presents were to be opened amōg other things he shewed him the images of Nabuchodonosot king of Assiria of Alexander the great and that which he most estéemed the true and liuely representation of Hector of Troy armed at all points as he was when he fought against the Grecians and surely the Emperour had reason to make so much account thereof for that Agamemnon was content to receiue it for his part as being estéemed to be the richest iewell in all the citty of Troy for that Hector himselfe had caused it purposely to bée made while the Grecians lay before the citie by one of the cunningest workemen that could be found and set it vpon the chiefe gate of the palace of Ilion which long time after fell into the hands of the kings of Turkie that had erected it in the market place of Galatie placing it vpon a high marble pillar which Gandalin shewed vnto the Emperour as he hard reported in the country wherewith the Emperour was so well pleased that hée could not refraine to say In good truth I should not be better pleased with the taking of the Citty of Tesifante then I am at this time with this goodly Present and I pray you tell the knights that sent it that I thanke them for it with al my heart My lord said Gandalin so they did thinke it would bée more acceptable vnto your grace thē all the vessels of gold and siluer that they found within the Towne part whereof they haue likewise sent vnto you that are in this other case which hée presently caused to bée opened and after they had perused them Gandalin caused the two slaues that Esplandian sent to come néerer presenting them to the Princesse Leonorine saying vnto her Madame the good knight Esplandian not knowing what greater Present to offer you next vnto himselfe then these two yong maids hée sendeth them vnto you as your slaues to the end euery man may know that as you are the goodliest lady that euer nature framed so is there not any creature liuing on the earth that better deserueth to commaund such as command others then your selfe wherefore if you shew him the courtesie to accept them at his hands hee will estéeme it for one of the greatest fauours that euer hee receaued Leonorine that knew as well how to dissemble her affections as any womā liuing on the earth And desiring to haue the same opinion that alwaies had run of her to continue still with a dissembled kinde of anger answered Gandalin and said Sir knight it séemeth by your words that Esplandian is disposed to mock me and that you estéeme me to be a woman of light credite could you of your faith thinke me so very a child that I should not well perceaue that if Esplandian were so much at my commaundement as you say hee would not haue deferred the time so long to come hether vnto vs were it only but to acquite the promise king Amadis his Father made vs aboue sixe or seuen yeares past But I knowe his mind full well hée meanes to content vs with wordes and many messages that from time to time hée sendeth together with an infinite number of excuses but all to no purpose wherof while I liue I will not accept one of them for his discharge let him therefore come himselfe and then it may bee I will beléeue that to bée in him I haue so oftentimes heard reported When the Emperour heard her speake in that sort hee showed by his countenaunce that hée tooke great pleasure at his doughters choler and saied vnto her My swéet friend what wil Gandalin say to sée you so vncourteous towards him that honoureth you so much I pray you swéet heart moderate your colour and take that hée sendeth for if you refuse it hée shall haue great occasion to dislike thereof And you sée that for your sake hee dooth so many valiant acts that the good knight with the Gréene sword could neuer doe the like My lord saied shee I beléeue for valour hée is not inferiour vnto his father but for courtesie his father surpasseth him In faith Madame saied Gandalin if you knew him as well as I doe it may bée you would commend him more then now you blaspheame him séeing that if hee hath deferred the time to come hether it is onely because hee thinketh hée hath not as yet done sufficient in armes whereby hee should
Gandalin shewed him from point to point what spéeches had passed betwéene the Princesse and him not only before the Emperour but also in the garden And of my faith sir saied hée you do her wrong considering the good meanes you haue both to satisfie her and your self for what excuse soeuer you can make you are not so sore charged on this side that you may not spare some time to goe and sée her which shee craueth at your hands That I wil doe saied Esplandian but I must find the meanes take you care for that said Gandalin and let me go sléepe for I neuer had more néed Goe said Esplandian be here again betimes in the morning Wherewith Gandalin tooke his leaue leauing Esplandian alone in great care how hee might find some conuenient excuse to leaue his companions in the extreamity but God prouided for him for the same night about an hour before day as he began to slumber he heard a most pleasant sound of musick which you must vnderstand came out of the great serpent that hee left in the castle La montaigne defendu which at the time was arriued before the town of Galatia but little did he thinke of any such thing or that Vrganda had ben therein because he thought her to bée in great Brittaine This mellody continued for the space of half an houre and more which done he heard such a noise of trumpets Clarigals Phifes and Tabers that sounded so high that the sentinels of the town thought verily the enemies nauy had ben arriued before the same to lay siege vnto it wherevpon they caused an alarum in the town each man running to the wals being all of that mind till day when they might be hold the great serpent wherein Vrganda was all hung with long pennons and streamers wherat Esplandian was so glad that going downe vnto the Hauen hee presently entered into a boat with Talanque Manely and diuerse other of the principall captaines to sée who might bee there And rowing néere vnto it they knew Vrganda that staied for them on the hatches stretching forth her armes spake vnto them said My good friends you are most hartily welcome I pray you come vp into my ship that I may imbrace you With that Esplandian entered and as he meant to salute Vrganda she knéeled on the ground to kisse his féet whereat he being ashamed tooke her vp and saied vnto her Madame I neuer thought you would haue takē pleasure to mock with me séeing I account my self much more bound to you then to any creature liuing in the world And therfore for Gods cause if at any time I chaunce to offend you punish mee I pray you in some sort or other Most happy Knight sayed shée The aide I hope for at your hands before manie dayes shall passe mooued mée to doe as I haue done wherefore I beséech you take it in good part And with that shee embraced him and after him Talanque Manely and all the rest euery man doing her great honour desiring her to shewe them the cause of her so suddaine comming thether My good friends saied shee you shal know it at some other time when better laisure serueth mean while I am to tell you that it is necessary for you shortly to go vnto the city of Constantinople where you shall enter all armed apparelled in the same armor I haue brought hither for you and thus must I tell you that if you should deferre it till another time it would be preiudiciall to you all Wherfore I counsel you to do it vpon the first day of the next wéeke assuring you to be as well receiued of the Emperor as euer were any knights which your ease and pleasure in his company shall continue vntil the rolling whéele of Fortune turning about shall bring with it manie trauels passions and aduentures which shal cause many gréefes and sorrowes both to you and others And the better to make you beléeue that all I say is true I tell you that I my selfe shall fall into two of the greatest dangers of my life that euer I had whether it bee here or in another place I knowe not And which is worse I cannot by any means auoid the same not knowing any cause how nor wherefore it should be so although it be in a manner ready to fall vpon mee Madame saied Esplandian before you shall receiue any hurt in our presence wee will all lose our liues to succour you My good child said she mans destiny of force must bee accomplished But I pray you let vs enter into some other talke for this maketh mee melancholy Madame saied Manely Is it not your pleasure to goe into the Towne I saied she and I pray you send for Norandel who at this present I knowe is at Alfarin and I wil giue you as great cause to reioice as euer you had for that within my shippe I haue brought the king of Denmarke wounded in a combate that hee fought against Garlante Lord of the Isle of Calafre that by force would haue taken two Gentlewomen from him And although Garlante bee estéemed a hardy and valiant knight yet did the king bring him in such case that vnlesse hee had craued mercy the king would haue stricken of his head which he spared vpon condition that during his life hee should neuer after iniury any knight which Garlante sware and vowed in my presence for that by chance arriuing there during their combate I heard what passed betwéene tham And because I perceiued the King to bee in danger of his person by reason of the great number of wounds he had vpon his body I would not leaue him but caused him to enter into my shippe and layed him in the best bed where now hée is almost healed Ha saied Esplandian What good newes are these of my faith I thought verily he had ben dead wherefore madame I pray you for Gods cause let mée craue the means to sée him with the Vrganda led him where he lay but when they saw each other Esplandian could not refraine wéeping with the great pleasure hée took to sée the king Neuerthelesse for that time they had no great spéech together neither would Vrganda permit them to do it doubting least the king being yet but weake and féeble might therby bée hindered of his health Wherefore she caused Esplandian to go forth and entring with her into the boat they rowed to the shoare from whence they led Vrganda to the best lodging in the town with as much honor as they could haue done to the Quéenes Brisenne or Oriane if any of thē had ben there in presence The next day Esplandian pitying the great number of women little children that had ben kept within the town from the time that it was takē said to his companions that it would be better to giue them leaue to depart from thence then to hold them stil for the the longer they continued in the town the
do it minding only to draw her out of the vaut wherewith hee tooke her by the haire and pulled her with all his force With that hee espied a great old Ape with two eies burning like flaming fire that lept vpon him for to tear his flesh but hee gaue him such a blow with his fist betwéene the eies that he strooke him dead And passing forward brought Melie out of her caue and leauing her in Frandalos kéeping went in againe to sée if Vrganda were aliue where hee found her in such pain that it séemed the soule would depart out of her body wherat he had so great pittie that he tooke her in his armes and set hir in the aire the like hee did to Talanque and Manely who within one quarter of an hour after could not call to mind what had happened vnto thē but were as whole and as wel as euer they were before Wherefore they mounted on their horses taking Melie with them that sat vpon Sergils horse and he behind her holding her in his armes least she should escape And God knowes with what ioy Vrganda shewed them what feare she had ben in which as she said was such that she thought verily to die But said shée euen as one naile driueth out another so the ioy I haue of my deliuery maketh mee in a manner to forget the paine wherein I was And with that they entered into the Towne being almost night CHAP. XL. How Carmelle arriued at Tesisante and spake with Heliaxe and of the maruellous combat which Esplandian Frandalo Gandalin and Enil fought against three Gyants and twelue Turkish knights CArmelle trauelled so long with the women and children of Galatia that they arriued at Tesifant where they found both their fathers and husbands as many of them as had saued themselues as it is said before Estéeme I pray you what gréefe they had to thinke vpon their exile and losse of all their goods Surely there is no heart so hard but would haue wept with gréefe to behold great numbers of men and women with diuers litle children about them and not hauing any meanes to giue them bread or drinke Whereof the Prince Alphorax hauing newes hearing of their sorow could not refraine to say in presence of them all Ah immortall gods it must néeds be that either for some great sinne of me or mine this cruell warre is mooued in my countrey O gods immortall let your wrathes appease and of your infinite goodnes let it rather please you that all the mischiefe which you send vpon those impotent people fall only vpon mée that alone haue mooued your indignations if not then I beséech you giue me grace that to your glory I may driue these cursed Christians enemies of your holy lawes out of my countrey swearing vnto you that if you vouchsafe your aides I will make so great a slaughter of them that thereby your wrathes shall bée appeased if it be so that the small indeauour I haue hither to vsed to driue them hence be the occasion of your anger towards me Then hée asked them how they got away My Lord said hée that brought him newes a faire gentle woman named Carmelle as I heare say hath brought them hither and desireth to speake with you and the princesse Heliaxe Ladie said Alphorax to his wife doe you know her I my lord said Heliaxe for she bare me company all that day that I fell into Frandalos hands being very ready to do me all the pleasure and seruice that shee could deuise wherefore my lord I pray you let her haue that honour and entertainement she deserueth Lady said Alphorax I am wel content therewith With that some of them ran to fetch Carmelle who being come in presence of Alphorax went presently vnto the Princesse Heliaxe and without salutation said vnto her madame you know the lord and maister that I serue who only hath aucthority ouer me think it not therefore strange if in any sort I haue not humbled my selfe before the prince Alphorax or to you And to the end Madame that you should knowe the cause of my arriuall here I thinke the taking of Galatia is not vnknowne vnto you whereof at this present the Christians are Lords and maisters hauing conquered it from you by force not finding any Garrison therein but a number of women and little children which my lord Esplandian his company send vnto your grace committing them vnto your good discretion Assuring you their Religion onely excepted they are ready to doe you any seruice that they may Carmelle saied the Princesse this is not the first fauour they haue shewed vnto me I am of long time so much beholding to them that bee it in their aduersities or their prosperities I will neuer bee vnmindfull of the same Neuerthelesse I am assured that at this day I haue not neither yet shall euer haue the meanes to doe it as I thinke vnlesse that variable fortune turne her rouling whéele and abase them as much as now they are aduaunced then if it so fall out they shall full well perceaue howe much I estéeme their vertues and fauours they haue showne vnto mee Carmelle saied Alphorax haue they willed you to deliuer no message vnto mee No my lord saied shee but I tell you plaine they are determined verye shortly to come and visite you in such manner as will not greatly like you By all my gods saied Alphorax I will ease them of that burthen if they make not the more hast For I haue so many men preparing that I meane to goe in person to Constantinople to destroye the wicked Emperour and all the Christians Then shall my wife haue meanes if shee thinke good to acknowledge the fauours towards them which they haue showen vnto her as shee sayeth My lorde said Carmelle Mens enterprises doe oftentimes fall out contrarie to their expectations and God that is in Heauen aboue commaundeth and disposeth of all thinges as it pleaseth him and not as wee would haue it Nowe Madame sayed shee to Heliaxe I haue done the commaundement of those that sent mee hether wherefore I beséech you let mee be safely conducted to the place from whence I came My lord said the princesse to Alphorax I pray you shewe her so much fauour for it would gréeue mée much that shée should receaue the least iniurie in the world which hee graunted vnto her and withall Heliaxe gaue her for her paines one of the richest gownes shee had Wherewith shee caused her to bee conducted by twenty knights vnto the Towne of Galatia where being arriued shee shewed them what shee had done as also what spéeches the Prince Alphorax vsed vnto her which Vrganda marked well saying vnto the Knights In faith my good friendes as touching Alphorax high woordes they are the fruites of his nature being altogether prowd and arrogant Neuerthelesse I can assure you that fortune promiseth him great matters And because it will not bee long before they doe happen I
will nowe vse no wordes of them Praying some of you to shewe mee so much fauour to retourne againe vnto Melies caue to fetch her Bookes that wée left behind vs. Which being in my possession it may bee they will serue hereafter to doe both you and manie others pleasure Esplandian hearing Vrganda speake with such affection and knowing the desire shee had to haue the bookes answered her and saied Madame before I sléepe I will sée if I can fulfill your pleasure And without longer staying hee desired Enil Frandalo and Gandalin to beare him company who presently armed themselues and being on horsebacke without any other companye then their owne Squires issued out of the Towne leauing Vrganda with Norandel that was newly come from the city of Alfarin The four knights rode so long till they came vnto Melies rocke where not far from thence they found thrée giants and twelue knights that with a loud voice stood at the mouth of the caue calling Melie for the shepheards kéeping shéepe in the fields hauing séene her led vnto Galatia ranne to tell them newes and to know the truth they were expressely come thither Esplandian and his company knew them well to be their enemies wherfore they determined to giue them battaile although their number was far greater wherfore being couered with their â—hields and their swords readie in their hands they entred among them Esplandian met the first giant Frandalo the second and Gandalin and Enil the third and Esplandian gaue his giant so great a blow that therewith he made him take so great a leape that both master and horse lay vpon the ground not once remoouing hanâ— or foot But it fell out otherwise with the rest for they hauing broken their speares vpon Frandalo Gandalin and Enil their horses being loosely bridled bare them at least a mile from thence before they could make them stay With that the foure Christian knights were inclosed by twelue Turkes whereof thrée of them at â—â—e first charge were stricken dead vnto the ground wherewith â—â—e fight began to be most perillous and fierce in such sort that bâ—fore the two giants could returne againe fiue other of the Turkes were in such case that the best of them was hurt to death so there rested but four which Esplandian and Frandalo left fighting with Gandalin and Enil to méete the two giants that in great hast came towards them to helpe their companions and as they met togither neuer was there brauer fight for Esplandian thinking vpon the princes Leonorine gaue not one blowe but hée made the blood to follow on him that had the stroke whereby the rocke became all bloodie yet he found his enemy no lesse able to requite his blowes so that in short space his shield was so hewed and cut in pieces that there rested nothing but the lethers in his hands whereat he was in such a rage that rising in his stirrops hée gaue his enemie so great a blow vpon the coife of stéele that he strake it off wherewith the giants eyes started in his head which made him bowe his necke vpon the horses maine and withall let fall his sword With that Esplandian strake him such another blowe betwéene the necke and shoulders that he cut off his head wherewith the horse ranne vp and downe the fields with his dead Giant on his backe meane time Frandalo handled the other Giant in such sort that hee had put him out of breath Gandalin and Enil for their partes doing no lesse for they two fighting against foure behaued themselues so couragiously that they slewe two of their hardiest enemies yet the other two would neuer yéeld although they were still readie to flée especially when they perceiued Esplandian comming towardes them And to say truth it was not possible for them to make any resistance yet hée stayed a while because he perceiued some of them that were stricken downe to rise againe and take their swordes in hand whereat he turned about but it chaunced that his horses foote lighting betwéene a cliffe stucke fast and was fâ—â—ced to fall downe whereby Esplandian was in the greatest daunger of death that euer hée had by reason that his eneâ—â—es were on all sidâ—s about him ready to thrust their swordes into his â—elly a thing â—erie easie to be done if God had not prouided fâ—â— hâ—â— and giuen strength and agilitie to his horse to rise againe with his master on his backe who perceiuing himselfe at libertie and hauing his sword in hande made such execution on the Turkes that he left not one aliue wherewith those two that fought with Gandalin and Enil fledde along the mountaine as if all the deuils in hell had béene behind them and not béeing pursued saued themselues leauing the Gyant behinde them for a pawne to whome Frandalo graunted life not onely because hée asked mercie but for that hée was in a manner dead CHAP. XLI How Esplandian entred into Melies caue to fetch her bookes and of an assault made vpon him Frandalo Enil and Gandalin as they thought to returne againe vnto Galatia THe combat ended as you heard before ech man caused his woundes to be dressed and bound vp in the best manner they could then Esplandian entred into Melies caue to fetch the bookes he sought where hée went into a faire chamber béeing foure square about the which there grewe so much Iuie that it might verily be iudged to haue béene placed there for the hangings of the chamber in this chamber at ech corner there hung foure lampes that burnt both night and day and neuer went forth so cunningly could the Enchantresse shew her Art in thaâ— place and as Esplandian looked well about him he espied the 〈◊〉 of another chamber in the middle whereof stood a great candlesticke all of massie gold with seuen branches and in euery branch a waxe candle that burned continually hard by it stood a Cypres table whereon lay Melies bookes some couered with plates of gold and grauen vpon it others with siluer bound and embossed round about which Esplandian tooke and carried with him out of the caue giuing them to kéepe vnto his squire and mounting on their horses they rode the same way they came thinking presently to be at Galatia againe But they were stayed sooner than they looked for for the Turkes that fled away as you heard before made an alarme at a little towne not farre from thence whereby there issued twenty horse and fortie footmen who being assured that foure knights onely and no more had ouerthrowne their men made all the spéed they could to inclose them specially those that were wel horsed Frandalo and his company perceiued them a farre off yet could they hardly shunne them but of force must fight or els endure the shame to flie away Wherefore Esplandian was in mind to trie their fortune and to send one of their squires in all hast vnto Galatia to aduertise them of the danger they were in that they might succour them
whereto Frandalo would not giue consent shewing what great paine and trauaile both they and their horses haue endured all that day as also the great number of their enemies in regard of them in such sort said he that if we take vpon vs for to fight with them I am in doubt that thinking to winne honour we shall be counted rash and presumptuous fooles What then said Esplandian will you endure the shame to flie away In good truth said he for my part I had rather endure the hazzard of life or death what euer shall happen Then we will doe thus said Frandalo my squire shall runne vnto Galatia to aduertise Talanque and the rest how we staied behind Meane time I know a bridge not farre from hence whether wée will goe and defend the same till our aid shall come where we cannot be assailed by them all at once otherwise thinke with your selfe what meanes we haue to resist so many men both on horse and foot that come purposely to assaile vs. Let vs goe then said Esplandian wherewith leauing the way on the right hand they turned to the left as Frandalo ledde them and they had not ridden very farre but they came vnto a little riuer somewhat déepe ouer the which there stoode a bridge where they had no sooner arriued but they were presently charged by their enemies especially by one of the Turkes that was most braue and sumptuous and best mounted of them all as béeing their captaine who bearing a great launce in his hand began to crie most vehemently in the Arabian tongue vnto Esplandian and his companions saying You dogges you flye away but by our gods it shall cost you all your liues wherewith Enil that heard his threatnings better than the rest turned his face and set spurres to his horse the Turke and hée méeting so fiercely togither that Enil was hurt in the right arme and the Turke thrust cleane through the body wherewith hee fell presently starke dead vnto the ground Which set his companions in such a rage to sée their champion thus suddainly slaine that they thought to inclose Enil but he found means to recouer the bridge surely whosoeuer had séen the great prowesse of those four champions might with good reason estéeme them as they were specially Esplandian that stroke not one blowe in vaine And although they were but fewe in comparison of their enemies yet they did twice or thrice ouerthrow diuers of the Turkes that séemed boldest to aduenture forward in such sort that had it not béene for the footemen that came vpon them the horsemen had but little preuailed whereat it is not to be maruailed because the greatest part of them were citizens altogither vnexpert in armes and fitter to banket at a table than to guide a horse or breake a lance whereby in lesse than a quarter of an houre the foure knightes had done them great hurt and so much that neither the horsemen nor footmen durst once set forward to enter vpon the bridge till one of them determined to make proofe thereby if it were possible to inclose them round about This Turkes name was Tluacam a valiant and hardy knight as he well shewed before the combat ended for although the water was déepe and the other side hard to clime vp yet he waded through and at diuers times bare eight more of his companions ouer which Frandalo and the rest perceiuing they were constrained to deuide themselues Esplandian and Enil staying at the end of the Bridge where the combat first began Frandalo and Gandalin standing at the other and God knowes what trouble they had for Tluacam desirous to winne honour or to loose his life with his lance in hand charged Gandalin in such sort that both man and horse had like to fallen to the ground and withall he brake his speare wherfore taking his sword in hand striking on both sides and thinking to be seconded by his fellowes put his horse in such a fury that whether he would or not he bare him to the middle of the bridge where thinking to stay the horses féet slid from him whereby both hée and his master fell into the riuer and were drowned whereat the Turkes gaue so great a crie that they séemed madde and bowing downe their heads thinking to acquite their losse vsed all the force they could on both sides the bridge to enter vpon the foure knightes who susteined their assault so brauely that the Turkes at last were forced to recule wherof nine were thrown into the water but Esplandian and his company were so weary that in a manner they could fight no longer With that they perceiued their aid in all hast comming towards them the occasion why they stayed so long was because Frenace Frandalos squire that went to séeke Manely and the rest thinking to find his master where he left him had led them thither but not finding them there supposed them to be gone vnto the bridge and to say truth they arriued in very good time for that Esplandian and his thrée companions were almost cleane out of breath but when they perceiued their aide neuer did poore prisoners that were set at libertie more reioyce nor were better pleased and the Turkes on the contrary side neuer more astonished yet they held close togither determining rather to reuenge their deathes than once to yéeld vnto their enemies so that before the Knightes of Galatia could enter in among them they gaue them much to do although in the end they ouercame them whereby not one escaped aliue to carry newes vnto their friends Enil at the first onset had béen sore wounded as you heard before wherefore hée caused his wounds to be searched the like did the rest of the hurt knights Which done they set forward to Galatia contenting themselues for that day with the victory it had pleased God to send them And comming to the gate they found Vrganda readie to receiue them who knowing how all had past and the daunger wherein Esplandian had béen iestingly saide vnto him In faith my Lord said shée if I were afraid of death when I fell into Melies hands I beléeue you were not in much better case since that I saw you last as I vnderstand by those that know what dommage you were in Madame said he I know I am a mortall man and that my life and death are in the hands of God as it pleaseth him to dispose and I confesse vnto you if wée had not béene succoured that in the end we could not haue endured yet am I well assured that before it had come to passe we had laid so many enemies on the ground that the rest should haue had greater cause to lament their losse than boast of their conquest Vrganda perceiued by Esplandians words that he liked not her spéech whereupon shee said vnto him My Lord pardon me I beséech you and excuse the indiscretion of a woman specially in mée who at this present had forgotten my selfe Madame
Armato as knowing him not but when they shewed him which was he he imbraced him and said My lord and brother I beséech you pardon my ignorance in not entertaining you before this time as not knowing you but I will amend the fault when you think good My lord saied Armato I am now as it pleaseth fortune in place where you may command me yet I pray you call to mind who I was and what I may bee and doe for me as you would I should do for you if your case were mine Considering with your selfe that the like hard fortune may fall on you and that it is no lesse vertue to intertain the vanquished courteously then to ouerthrow the puissant enemie With that the Emperour led him into his pallace the rest following after him and when they were in the hall hee left them with the Empresse to speake vnto Frandalo and taking him aside saied vnto him Frandalo to let you knowe howe well I do account of the great good seruice you haue done for mée I will that from henceforth you shall bee my chéefe standard bearer in which place I nowe establish you For the which Frandalo thanked him most humbly accounting himselfe most happye to haue so great authoritie CHAP. XLIII How Norandel and Queene Minoresse fell in loue one of the other and what conference they had together THe Emperour being among his Knights making them all the cheare and honour that hee could deuise It happened that the Princesse Leonorine and Quéene Minoresse séeing the king of Denmark and Norandel together called Carmelle and asked her who they were My Ladies saied shée you haue séen him that hath the least beard here before which is the king of Denmarke for hee came hether with Frandalo the other is Norandel king Luisarts sonne estéemed for one of the hardiest knights liuing on the earth I pray you said the Princesse desire them to come hether that wée may speake with them With that Carmelle called them vnto her and as they were before the two Princesses the more they beheld the excellency of their beauties the more they maruailed at it and not without cause for next vnto Leonorine there could hardly be found in all Gréece one that matched quéene Minoresse especially in comelinesse and good behauiour but if shee had some perfection in her nature had not forgotten her selfe in forming the two knights especially Norandel who till that time had neuer felt the stings of loue no more had Quéene Minoresse Neuerthelesse that little théefe surprised them so couertly that hee bound them both making them captiues one to the other in such manner that after many Questions and Answeres propounded they drew themselues apart leauing the king of Denmarke talking with the Princesse Leonorine the Quéene asking Norandel what hee thought of the Princesse Madame said hée although I haue heard her estéemed for one of the goodliest ladies in the world yet did I neuer thinke her beautie had béene such as now I sée it is although you are little behinde her in that respect whereby I might estéeme my selfe most happy if I had ben asléepe that day I enterprised to take my iourney hether Wherfore said the quéen haue you had so ill intertainment in this court No madame said he but there is one hath stollen that from me which I haue most carefully kept during my life The Quéene not knowing what he meant was thereat abashed asking him what it was whether he knew the théefe I madame saied he and it resteth in you to do me iustice if it bée your pleasure for you none other haue that whereof I speake In good faith saied the Quéene you shall pardon mee for I haue nothing of yours that I cam remember Madame saied Norandel since the time I first did knowe what belonged to a man I kept my liberty not alienating it to any one But comming hether I had no sooner set mine eie on you but I found my selfe of a fréeman a bondslaue and captiue to your ladiship 's good fauor which I beséech you afore me in recompence of the liberty you now haue taken from me Truly sir knight saied she you haue at this presēt run too far astray for if you beheld me as you should you had not found me such a one as you say wold haue ben twice aduised to vse such spéeches as you do Neuerthelesse I will not take them at your hands being a stranger in so euill part as mine honour doth require and I think likewise you speake farre otherwise then you meane which she said to vndermine him thereby to sée if Norandels words were spoken from the heart who hearing that ouerthwart answere was much astonished but being moued with loue answerd her and said Madame pardon my boldnesse I beséech you but I sweare vnto you by the faith of a knight that I haue discouered the secret of my heart and if you will not beléeue me at this time I hope in time to come to doe so much that you shall well perceiue what great desire I haue to bee your Knight if it will please you to graunt mee so much fauour to accept mee for the same When Quéene Minoresse perceaued him so earnest as that in vttering those words hee shewed great affection shee estéemed in her minde to haue sufficient argument that might persuade her to beléeue his wordes wherewith shee answered him and saied My lorde Norandel If you doe as you promise I well beléeue that you say and for the accepting you to bee my Knight mee thinketh I should doe wrong to refuse so small a fauor to so courteous a gentleman as you are wherfore I both grant it and desire it of you With that she took a litle ring she commonly wore off from hir finger giuing it vnto him for a witnesse of their new confirmed aliance And had it not ben that the Emperor was ready to go to supper they had no sooner left talking but the Empresse went in whereby quéen Minoresse was constrained to follow after taking Melie Carmelle with hir to whom she did al honor good intertainmēt she could deuise supper being don the tables vncouered the princes Leonorine that had séen Norandel quéen Minoresse talking with so great affection doubted some feathers in the wind wherefore taking her aside said vnto hir Cousin I beléeue the knight that intertained you so long told you some news out of great Brittaine or somthing els that pleased you ful wel I pray you fair lady tel me what it was for you were very earnest to harken thervnto How now madame said she since when I pray you did you learn to mock cal you the mocking said she which is don in earnest I pray God the mockery I mean to you may fal out as I desire it wold thē shal I at the least haue as good aduātage at you as you haue had at me which wold please me wel not so much to haue a cōpaniō
nephew of that called the Well so named of a great profound well that stoode hard by it And causing the other gates to bee rampired vp prouided for all things as a wise valiant captaine should do in such a case With that a Grecian that had ben takeÌ„ by the Turks came into the city and assured theÌ„ for certaine that the Soudan of Liquie was himselfe in person with king Armato and almost all the kings of the east hauing two hundred Gallies as well great as small fifty great ships thirty mahoiâ—es and one twenty cafords that are ships not much vnlike to gallies besides thirtie foistes and diuers brigandines barkes galions and sciffes wherein they had laid their victuals other munitions and for their number of footmen they might be about some thrée hundred and fifty thousand men saying likewise that Alphorax had the chéefe charge at sea and Armato on land and that their determination was neuer to depart from Constantinople till they had destroied it and from thence would go to Rome further if they rould The sixt day after this great army passing the gulfe of Propontide came into the straights of Constantinople entering in the great sea where they remained during the siege robbing all the countrey about where first they staied a wéeke before they landed any of their men meane time certain gallies and small ships set forward to make an alarum in the hauen from whence to their great losse they were repulsed for the sixe of the principallest of them were sunk in the sea Neuertheles the next day following they began to land in great numbers thought to win the gate there were many braue blows both with sword and speare giuen on both parts and many a valiant man ended their daies became meat to fishes There the knights of great Brittain shewed theÌ„selues not to bée vnacquainted with such dangers who so had beheld Norandel Frandalo Manely Talanque repulse the enemy that thought to aduaunce themselues might eastly iudge with what desire they fought But what shuld I stand longer to describe this conflict To conclude the gate was defended the enemies repulsed from the same yet their number was so great the notwithstanding the valour of the Emperours men they landed lay within two bowes shot of the city they of the city being forced to retire The Pagans being on land deuided themselues into four parts in such sort that the city was so well besieged that not a man could enter or come forth without their leaue Wherefore king Armato presently caused great number of ladders to bee prepared the most part of them double hoping before the wéeke were ended to assault take spoile and destroye the City But they within slept neither night nor day but made artificiall fires with all other things requisite for such a charge The Pagans staied not long to execute their purpose so that vpon a munday in the morning they came in great fury to set fire on the gates and to scale the Town although for the time they lost their labors many of theÌ„ their liues where in the end they were coÌ„strained to retire to their no litle shame great confusion And in their retraict Norandel with four or fiue hundred men issued at a postern gate set vpon them behind which put theÌ„ in such fear that they draue them to their tents Yet not being content with this first repulse they determined on friday after either to die or enter into the town And the day appointed ran vnto the wals where the number of the assailants was so great the assault giuen in so many places both by sea land that if God had not prouided for them it is most certain the town had ben takeÌ„ especially on Frandalos side for the most part of his men fled away from their guard wherby it happened that more then a hundred Turks mounted on the wals but they staied not long for that the emperor who during the assault staied in the midst of the city with the rest of all his power to aid such places as had most néed aduertised therof marched to Frandalos quarter and with such force repulsed the enemy that hée made theÌ„ glad to get them thence in such sort that they receaued no lesse losse at the second assault then at the first It is true the ten of the knights of great Brittain were slaine at the conflict which much gréeued their companions specially for the losse of Ledarin of Feiarque of Trys and Imosil of Burgundy This second assault hauing had such issue as you heard before Armato went to counsell with all the other kings and princes to know what they shold do where it was concluded to kéep their tents and so inclose the town for to get it by assault they knew ful wel they shuld but lose their labors wherfore they ment no more to try the same but many times made skirmishes with the citty to their no litle losse Thus they passed aboue a month without doing any thing worthy the rehearsing till one day among the rest a gentlewomaÌ„ belonging to the souldan of Liquie came on message to the gate the Norandel had in charge of whoÌ„ she asked if the knight of the great serpent were among them Wherfore said Norandel I bring him said she a letter from the chéef and most courteous knight in all Asia Norandel desirous to vnderstaÌ„d the contents of the letter said hée was the man Then looke vpon it saied shee at your leisure And if you thinke it good returne an answere with that shée turned her horse and rid the same way that shee came Which done Norandel opened the letter the contents whereof are these Rodrigue great Soudan of Liquie friend to the gods and enemy to their enemies defendor of the Pagan law to thée that callest thy self knight of the great serpent gréeting Know thou that the cause of our long voyage by Sea to enter into these countries hath béene in hope to bee reuenged of the outrages that my vncle Armato king of Turky hath receiued at the hands of thée and thy coÌ„panions not hauing once offeÌ„ded thée and although we are most sure of the destruction of the wicked emperor the fauoureth thée in thy so wicked and damnable enterprises and that before long time be past both hee and his shall end their liues by our hands yet should I be much gréeued that this misfortune should happen vnto thée before I haue prooued my body against thine because of the renowne that is spread of thée throughout the world Wherfore chuse whether thou wilt accept of the combate betwéene vs two alone of tenne to tenne a hundred to a hundred or of greater number as thou thinkest good Swearing vnto thée by all our gods that those thou shalt bring with thée for that cause shall receiue no more displeasure then my self vnlesse it be by such as are ordained to fight with them according to
new forces come against the towne for they had not any intelligence of the sending of Gandalin Enil to the christian princes that brought with them a multitude both of ships men as well knights as others Now to returne to the Christians fléet King Childadan knowing that Alphorax plaied the foxe desired Quedragant hauing equall power with him to be content that he with thréescore pinnaces might skirmish with him that thereby if it were possible he might prouoke him to come out which he agréed vnto wherefore setting saile he made towards the enemie so néere that they were ready to fight hand to hand neuertheles Alphorax for that time would not touch the bait but entred farther in the straights wherewith king Childadan retired and came vnto the hauen of the citie making the brauest show that might be séene those of Constantinople perceiuing the bandirols and streamers of great Brtttain of other christian princes made him answer with the like and so high that the noise of the trumpets clerons tabers was so great that Armato and all the Pagans might easily hear it With that king Childadan was receiued by the Emperor Norandel others to whome he shewed what aide was come vnto them and what princes had taken the voiage in hand In good faith said the Emperor they bind me for euer vnto them yet am I much abashed how they vnderstood of the wars betwéene Armato me What my Lord said Childadan did Esplandian neuer tell you therof No I assure you said the Emperor nor any of his companions as far as I know Is he not in the city said the king In good truth said Norandel hee would not leaue the castle La montaigne defendu minding to kéep it if the Pagans came to besiege it Assure your selues said Childadan he will not long stay there before king Amadis sendeth for him for we determine presently to giue battell if he should faile at such a iourny it would gréeue him euer after Much other talketh had the knights of Constantinople with Childadan and those that bare him companie where he stayed till the next day in the morning that he entered into his ships to returne vnto Quedragant CHAP. LII How Esplandian and the king of Denmarke were sent for by Gandalin that went vnto the castle La montaigne defendu where they staied attending the succours of the Christian Princes and of a letter that the Souldan of Liquie and Queene Calafre wrot vnto king Amadis and Esplandian KIng Childadan returned to Quedragant as you heard before and the army on land incamped in sight of the enemy Amadis was aduertised by those that had ben in the city of Constantinople that Esplandian and the king of Denmarke were at the castle La montaigne defendu wherevpon he sent Gandalin to fetch them Gandalin tooke shipping and had so good a winde that without any aduenture hee arriued there where hee declared vnto them howe king Amadis and almost all the Christian Princes were incamped within halfe a mile of the Pagans host and all what hee and Enil had done considring their charge And because said Gandalin that our men are determined shortly to giue them bataile they pray you to come vnto them Truly saied Esplandian Gandalin my friend you haue wrought the matter well and I thanke you for the paines that you haue taken My lord saied the king of Denmarke are you not determined that we go vnto them For my part I had rather lose one of mine armes then faile thereof Brother saied Esplandian to morrow if it pleaseth God the great serpent shall bring vs thither before that time it had alwaies vsed to saile of it selfe but as then it failed For when they were entered into it it stirred not whereat Gandalin much abashed could not refraine to say By god this vessell is like to the horse with the white legge that faileth vs when we haue most néed Friend said Esplandian I am surely persuaded that this procéedeth by reason of Vrgandas imprisonment who at this time is in Melies power and so well inchaunted that her art profiteth her as little as this vessel doth vs that moued by her inchauntments which at this present hath no meanes to stirre as you may well perceiue And Esplandian saied true for at the same time the countrey wherein Vrganda dwelt called The vnknowne Island because it was alwaies inuisible was as then discouered and séene of all men With that Gandalin counselled them to enter into the Pinnace which Esplandian and the king of Denmarke did and hauing a good winde sayled towards Constantinople and on a sunday in the morning they espied the vessels of king Childadan and Quedragant which not long after they borded where Esplandian and the king of Denmark were receiued with great ioy after that hee went to sée his father and the rest of the knights that were on lande and after an infinite number of imbracings and welcomes on all sides they determined to visit their enemies somewhat néerer wherby many braue skirmishes were made where the women of Quéen Calafre were continually in armes and among the rest a sister of the Quéenes named Liote a hardy and valiant ladie that tooke a Frenchman prisoner which certefied the Souldan of Liquie that Amadis de Gaule king of great Brittaine and Esplandian his sonne were in the army Whereof the Souldan and Quéene Calafre being aduertised determined together to write a letter vnto them the contents whereof doe follow Rodrigue Souldan of Liquie mortall enemy to the enemies of our gods and Calafre Quéene of Califorine a countrey most rich and abundant in gold and precious stones giue you Amadis de Gaule king of great Brittaine and your sonne Knight of the great Serpent to vnderstand that the occasion of our arriual in these countries hath been for these two causes The one in hope to destroy all Christendome and the other to prooue if wee may take from you the renowne that is spread abroad of you to bee the two best knights liuing in the world for we account our selues for such as that if you will accept the combate of your persons against ours we will euidently make it knowne that our valor is no lesse then yours And to the end the glorye of the victors may be knowne the vanquished shall remaine in their powers to dispose of them as they shall thinke conuenient Aduise your selues therefore to answere vs herein by this our messenger to whome wee haue giuen charge to declare vnto you if you refuse this combate that from henceforth we shall haue iust occasion to attribute to our selues the aduantage of the praises and endlesse glories that fortune heretofore hath giuen you and to estéeme of you as meanely in time to come as you haue béen highly renowned heretofore This letter giuen to the Gentlewoman that bare the first to Norandel she went vnto the Christians campe and being aduertised which was Amadis tent entered therein as he sate
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
the launce that stucke within his forehead But the Quéene rose presently and with her sword in hand went towards Amadis the like did the Souldan to Esplandian that had suffered him to take breath and lace his helmet not for any good he wished him but that at the end of his carere hée espied the princes Leonorine standing on the walles of Constantinople whereat he was so abashed that euery man saide the Souldan had hurt him in the bodie Neuerthelesse within short space after they knew the contrarie for hée lighted on foote where betwéene them two was fought the most perillous combat that euer was séene for Rodrigue was as valiant a knight in armes as any in his time but Esplandian handled him in such manner that often times he made him cleane forget the subtilties that commonly he vsed in such affaires and in the end vsed him so hardly that it might euidently be séene the victorie would be his Meane time the Quéene vsed all her force to ouercome king Amadis who holding in his hand a great truncheon of a launce instead of a sword gaue her such a blowe on the crest of her helmet that hée made her eyes start within her head Wherewith shée being much offended spake vnto him and said What sir Knight doe you thinke me either to he a dogge or else a countrey clowne that you séeme to beat me with a staffe By my head before you escape out of my handes there is no armour you haue but will be néedfull for you to the safegard of your life Calafre said Amadis all my life time I haue béene a seruant vnto Ladies and if at this time I should begin with you to wish them ill the good that others haue receiued at my handes would be lesse estéemed You account mée then said the Quéene one of that number but you shall presently féele that I am something more with that shée tooke her sword in both handes and in great choller gaue him such a blow that shée claue his shield in two and thinking to double her stroke Amadis stepped vnto her and plucked hers from off her necke with such force that shée was constrained to knéele vpon the ground Neuerthelesse shée rose presently againe and thinking to be reuenged vsed all her force to charge Amadis who turning aside gaue her such a blowe with his truncheon hard by the eare and therewith made her so astonished that her sworde fell out of her hand wherewith he stepped forward and taking her by the helmet said vnto her Now you shall be my prisoner whether you will or not as well as the Souldan is prisoner to my sonne With that the Quéene looked aside and perceiued that Amadis said true wherefore shée said Truly I am your prisoner séeing fortune will haue it so and therewith Rodrigue and Esplandian came vnto them and they foure going out of the lists went vnto the Christians campe the Pagans that saw them ledde away in whome in a manner consisted most of their hope when the campes should ioyne in battaile made countenance to rescue them which caused the Christians to stand all day in order of battaile meane time they agréed among themselues to send the Souldan and the Quéene vnto Constantinople Gandalin hauing charge to bring them thither and present them to the Princesse Leonorine from Amadis and Esplandian who thanked them most heartily And before hée returned againe vnto the campe a souldier of Thrace that had dwelt in Tartaria aboue twentie yéere togither came and yéelded himselfe vnto the Christians and tolde King Perion and Luisart that their enemies determined the next day in the morning to surprise them before they were aware whereof they aduertised the Emperor of Constantinople to the end he might be readie There were in the citie fortie thousand men whereof he appointed thirtie thousand to issue forth vpon the enemies rereward as soone as they perceiued the battaile once begon and gaue likewise intelligence to King Childadan and Quedragant that his spies had brought him newes that Alphorax had vnfurnished his shippes of men to strengthen their armie on land trusting to the straights which they meane to kéepe hoping thereby to saile into the Maiorque seas if fortune fauour not their enterprise and there it would be good with the other Christian princes aduise that they should set vpon him and that Frandalo with his fléete should second them Which newes vnderstood by the two Generals of the armie by sea they sent vnto king Amadis and the rest of the Commaunders in the campe to knowe their aduise whereunto answer was returned that they should followe the opinion of the Emperour of Constantinople which they should execute vpon the next day in the morning wherevpon Frandalo ceased not all night to make and prepare diuers kindes of artificiall fires wherewith he made account to burne the most part of Alphorax ships which he did as hereafter you shall heare But to returne to king Armato and his forces About an houre before day according to their former determinations they began to march against the Christians thinking to find them sléeping and thereby to slay their watch before they should haue meanes to set themselues in order of battaile Neuerthelesse they found themselues deceiued for they were alreadie set in order of battaile standing close with great desire to receiue their enemie as they did the Emperour of Rome had the vantguard and with him king Luisart king Amadis king Perion Galaor and Esplandian the maine battaile Florestan Bruneo and Balan the rereguard On the Pagans side there marched first the Souldan of Alaxa thréescore knightes two Califfes and foure Tamorlanes that in great furie set vpon the Emperour of Rome and his battaile where at their first arriuall many a braue knight was stroken downe both on the one side and the other for Esplandian and the Christian princes being fayned togither gaue not one blowe but it was a deadly stroke yet at the first they were repulsed by the great quantitie of arrowes the enemies shot against them which flew in so great number that hailestones neuer fell thicker out of the skies wherby it fell out that both vantguard maine battaile and reregard indured much paine with that Norandel Talanque Manely Trion Landin Licoran Imosill Palomie Enil Ellan and to conclude all Esplandians companions with thirtie thousand men chosen by the Emperour issued out of the citie which small troupe resolutely determined did so abash the Pagans that in a manner they all lost their courages whereby they presently began to recule as farre backe as they aduanced themselues wherewith those that before had béen in feare tooke courage againe and turning their faces on the enemie recouered the ground that they had lost in such sort that with good cause they might well crie Victorie On the other side Quedragant and Childadan setting saile made towardes the straights at the entrie whereof Frandalo ouertooke them with fourescore vessels of all sorts and as they
had spoken togither touching their enterprise considering the great power of their enemies it was agréed that Frandalo that had prooued them at other times should first set vpon them wherwith he began to saile forwards and Alphorax likewise against him giuing a signe of battaile to his men who with great courage entred vpon ten of the best gallies that the Christians had and sunke them in the sea yet Frandalo nought abashed set fire on more than an hundred of their shippes before Childadan entred into fight but not long after hée and Quedragant came vnto them where good defence preuailed In which fight they continued for the space of eight houres without any signe vpon which side the victorie would fall vntill Quedragant borded Alphorax shippe and entred by force slaying all that were therein What néed I stand longer to discourse The Turkes séeing their captaine dead and their manifest ouerthrow before their faces being ready to fall into the Christians hands began to flie and by force of oares entred into the Maiorque sea but not all for there were taken burnt and drowned about two or thrée hundred Gallies Galleasses Fustes and Brigandines the rest saued themselues in such sort as you heard before to whom night was so much assistant that the chase endured not so long as els it would haue done Alphorax dead and his armie ouerthrowne the Christians assembled themselues togither staying to heare newes from their armie on land which in the meane time had had so much to endure that wonder it was how they could hold out and among the rest the good olde king Perion and Luisart séeing Esplandian raging like a lyon followed by the hunters would not leaue him fearing to loose him and so long they followed him striking both on the right side and the left that they found themselues inclosed by aboue a thousand Turkish horsemen not hauing any other aid by them than Grumedan the Duke of Bristowe Guilan Brandoyuas Nicoran of the siluer bridge Cendil de gonate and a few others Surely those eight or nine caused those that met them to buy full déerely their approch as not being the first danger wherein they had fallen neuerthelesse in the end being ouer wearie and sore trauailed with the blowes they had giuen and receiued they were cleane out of breath and the worst was their horses were slaine vnder them and they themselues so sore wounded that they were all slaine in the place only Esplandian that in a manner could scarse lift vp his armes when king Amadis his father with great number of Frenchmen found him there whereat the battaile begun fiercer than euer it had béene for Amadis and his company séeing the Kings dead and their companions lying on the ground and Esplandian fighting in the middle of them on foote they were in a manner mad and therwith made such slaughter that the Turks were forced to separate themselues and Esplandian horsed again and being on horsebacke notwithstanding all his woundes hee shewed well that his body was not weary for hee followed the enemies in such sort mooued with gréefe to sée his friends dead that in short space by the aide of his father and the rest that followed him hée forced the Sâ—uldan of Alaxa and his souldiers to turne their backes and flie and in his flight gaue him such a blowe with his sword vpon the head that hée strake him dead and more than an hundred Pagans with him Amadis like wise did so valiantly with all the Knightes of Fraunce great Brittaine and Swethland specially the King of Denmarke Talanque Manely Ambor and Norandel that woonder it was to sée yet had their valour little preuailed without the aide that the Emperor of Constantinople brought thither with a great troup of horsemen that the Emperour of Rome had likewise gathered togither by which meanes king Armato with thirtie other Kings and their retinue were cleane ouerthrowne and the most part of them put to the sword the Christian Knightes making such slaughter that the blood ranne about the field in such abundance as if it had rained blood a whole day togither and greater had the abundance béene if night had not come on which separated them the Westerne Princes remaining incamped in the field till day opened that they might accomplish their desires Meane time Amadis caused watch and Sentinels to be set in all places because hee had béen aduertised that King Armato that had fledde away assembled his men by little and little which to doe hée caused hornes and drummes to sound throughout the field making fire round about the place where hee had retired sending two knights to the sea side to know what had happened to his sonne but newes was brought him that he was slaine and all his shippes burnt and drowned except fiftie or thréescore that were at the end of the straights of the Maiorque sea staying to heare newes of him assure your selues that such newes pleased him not too well neuerthelesse perceiuing it more conuenient to supply his owne necessitie than to spend the time in sorrow and teares hée called such captaines as hée had togither with whome he determined presently to depart and before day to imbarke that small number of men that rested before the Christians should perceiue the same With that he commanded from place to place that euery man should presently retire and without noise make towards the sea where being arriued they entred into their shippes flying towards Tartaria in all the hast they could wherof the Emperor of Constantinople being aduertised sent Frandalo diuers gallies with him to follow them but all in vaine in the meane time the hurt Knightes and souldiers were brought into the citie and the dead buried each according to his degrée wherein the Emperour shewed great affection especially as touching the buriall of the Kings Perion and Luisart for whome Esplandian comming to the Empire and those that succéeded after him caused two Pyramides to be made not any thing inferiour to those which sometime were erected in the citie of Memphis as well for the Kings Miris Chemnis as others and hard by them they buried the bodies of the valiant knights Balan Helian Polimner Enil Grumedan the good olde man and diuers other knights that died in that battaile fighting in the defence of the faith of Iesus Christ with whome their blessed soules do now remaine in ioy And because no menâ—ion hath béen made of Quéene Calafre since her captiuitie neither of the aide that shée had brought vnto the Pagan kings it séemeth reason that I should declare the occasion why her women fought not with the rest you must vnderstand that the Quéene perceiuing her in one day to be taken not only with the loue of the knight Esplandian but by the force of his father King Amadis not long after she had béen in the company of the princes Leonorine to whome Gandalin brought her shée sent vnto her sister Lyote to will her with her
women to return to sea kéeping apart from all the Pagans without once stirring from thence for any thing whatsoeuer should fall till shée receiued further newes from her which was partly the cause of the enemies ouerthrow for they doubting some treason being separated in that sort from that time forward were in some feare and in greater suspition than before and not without cause for that if Lyote had aided king Armato both by sea and land as shée might haue done if her sister had not forbidden her it is likely her esquadron of women being twentie thousand strong and somewhat more had done great mischiefe to the Christians but God of his goodnes prouided better for them CHAP. LIIII How after the Pagans were driuen out of Thrace the Emperour of Constantinople renouncing his Empire inuested Esplandian therwith marrying him to his doughter the princesse Leonorine THe obsequies and funerals of the Kinges Princes Lords and others that died in the battell being finished the wounded cured and all things set at rest the Emperour of Constantinople knowing that Amadis and those that were come with him from the Westerne parts would retourne againe into their countries desired them to assemble shewing them that his meaning was to let them know what hée determined to doe before they went from thence The next day in the morning they all met in the emperors great hall and he standing in the middest spake vnto them and said My brethren lords and good friends the bond wherein I stand bounden vnto you is so great that although it hath pleased God to make me Emperour of all Grecia yet am I well assured it is far beyond my poore hability to satisfie you for the same estéeming the honour and riches that I now haue next vnder God be it little or much to procéed from you I am now thréescore yeares of age wholly aged decrepit by reason of the paines that in my youthfull yeares I haue continually taken in following armes so it is I haue but one child which is a daughter the onely staffe hope of my old yeares whome I haue determined if you thinke good to giue in marriage vnto the valiant knight Esplandian and with her likewise to inuest him with the Empire and gouernement of all my countries And the better to liue solitarily and to seperate my selfe from worldly company I haue determined to goe with the Empresse my wife into the monastery that I caused to bee made there to liue religiously calling vpon God and doing pennance for the euils I haue committed heretofore Wherefore my good lords and friendes I pray you if this my determination like you well let euery man giue consent and you first saied hee vnto king Amadis to whom the matter toucheth néerer then to any of the rest as being father and sonne My lord said he my sonne shal doe as you command him I will tell you said the Emperour I remember that among other Prophesies which ought to happen in this our time there is one that maketh me as I think agrée with you in one consent Esplandian hath vpon his body as I haue vnderstood certaine carracters which shew his name and others that in no wise can be read but only by the woman that is ordained to be his wife let vs now sée if it be my daughter or not with that he sent for the Princesse Leonorine who being brought thether by the Empresse and diuers other ladies the Emperour desired Esplandian to open his doublet and shew them the letters hée had borne vpon his body from his mothers wombe which hée refused not but before them all shewed them openly where euerye man might easily perceiue the white carracters containing this word Esplandian but they could not know the red wherefore the Emperour caused his daughter to come néere asking her what she could doe therein My lord said she not long before Melie betraied Vrganda she and I being alone in my chamber she sent to fetch one of the bookes that had ben taken from her couered with gold whereon the Enchauntresse was ingrauen and I remember that I saw therein the like carracters that Esplandian beareth on his body and ouer them their signification which is nothing else but his name and mine Daughter said the Emperor if you haue the booke still cause it to be brought hether wherevnto shée obaied The booke being brought shee shewed him the place that Melie had read vnto her containing that which followeth The happy knight that shall conquer the sword the great treasure inchaunted by me shall from his mothers wombe bear his name in white carracters and the name of her that shall be his wife in red carracters vpon his body which red carracters shal be so difficult to vnderstand that no man liuing in that time how wife or learned soeuer he be shall expresse the same without he sée this booke which wil teach him what the seuen carracters do signifie representing the seuen words that follow Leonorine daughter of the Emperour of Greece In good faith saied the Emperour here is a strange case and sheweth well that the Enchantresse lady had more knowledge in art Magicke then any that liued in her time and séeing my daughter hath so wel deuined I am determined that you said he vnto the archbishop of Thrace do grant vnto Esplandian that which nature before his birth had promised vnto him which is my daughter Leonorine By which meanes the marriage was solemnised and finished the same day with no great ceremonies the Court being as yet troubled for the death of so many Princes and great lords that were slaine in the battaile but let it suffice to knowe that those two louers enioyed the thing which they so long desired Esplandian the same day being proclaimed Emperor of Gréece according to the commandement of his father in lawe who within two months after with the Empresse his wife went vnto a monastery place of deuotion And because quéene Calafre had alwaies pretended to marry with Esplandian perceauing her intent frustrated she could not refrain to speak in presence of theÌ„ all said vnto them My lords I beséech you giue me leaue to declare my mind It is certain said she that those which know me are not ignorant that I am one of the greatest most puissant princesse in all the cast parts by reason of the great quantity of golde and precious stones that are within my countries As touching my linage I am daughter of a quéene of ancient race and as noble as any that euer was in the world so it is that fortune brought me into these marches promising me shortly to returne laden with great number of flaâ—es abundance of treasure but to the contrary I that pretended sought the captiuity of others and my selfe takeÌ„ better holden prisoner theÌ„ they ytâ—â— in their mortal enemies hands This imprisonmeÌ„t wherof I speak is not that whervnto I am bouÌ„d by the faith I haue