tooke Albert of Champaigne aside and said to him Thou knowest how thou hast sworne and promised to tell me what thou hast found by thy skil Sir answered Albert let then the rest be called into your presence for before them will I tell ye Well hast thou aduised said the King wherupon they were sent for afterward Alberte thus began My opinion is my Lord that the closed Chamber and him whome you sawe enter by the secret doore signifieth this Realme which is close and well garded notwithstanding by some right therto some one shall come to take it from you And like as he thrust his handes into your sides renting from thence your hart and afterwarde threwe it into the Riuer euen so shall your Townes and Castles bothe more and lesse be priuily stolen from you and put into his hand from whome you shall not easilye recouer them And what meaneth the other hart said the King which I dreamed should remain with me and yet he saide that some after I should loose it against the will of him that tooke the first from me It seemeth by this answered Albert that some other shall inuade your Country as the first did yet constrained more by force of an other that commaunded him to doo so then by any will therto in him selfe thus sée ye my Lord all that I can tell ye Now saide the King to the second named Antalles tell vs your aduise Me thinkes Sir quoth he that Albert hath very well saide and I am of his opinion except in this for ought I can learne as the cause sheweth me y t what he saith shall happen is already effected and by the person that most loueth ye notwithstanding I am greatly amazed therat séeing there is not as yet any parte of your Realme lost and if you doo loose any thing héerafter it must be by such an one as loueth ye déerely When the King heard this he nodded his head for it séemed to him that he came néere the marke but Vngan the Piccard who knew much more then the other fell into a laughter which he was sildome wunt to doo because he was a man very sad and mellancholly yet by chaunce the King perceiued it wherfore he saide Maister Vngan my fréend now remaineth none but you say boldely what you haue gathered My Lord quoth he peraduenture I haue seene into thinges which is not necessarye to be knowen to any other then your selfe and therfore let these giue place a while if you please At these woordes they withdrewe them selues leauing the King and Vngan alone who thus spake If your Maiesty sawe me ere while to laughe it was at one woord which little you thinke on yet it is true and will yee knowe what It was that which Antalles saide that what he found by your dreame was already happened and by the person that besâ—e loueth yee Nowe shall I reuâ—ale what you keepe in secret and thinke that no one knowes but your selfe You loue my Lord in such a place where you haue alreadye accomplished your will and she whom you loue is surpassing faire then tolde he all the gests and fashions of her as if she had béene there present But as for the Chamber you found shut you know Sir full well what if meaneth and how she whom you loue desirous to deliuer her hart and yours from gréefe and sadnes came to ye entring your chamber by the doore that was hid from you The handes that opened your sides is the coniunction of you twaine then the hart taken from ye sheweth that she hath by you a Sonne or a Daughter Now tell me saide the King what meneth y t casting therof into the Riuer My Lord quoth he that nothing concerneth you therfore neuer labour for further knowledge therof Yet would I saide the King faine vnderstand it and therfore feare not to tell me for any harme that may happen Seeing you will needes haue it answered Vngan I beseeche ye Sir assure me while you liue for any thing that I shall reueale you will not be displeased with her who loueth you so loyallye That promise doo I faithfully make thée saide the King In good sooth Sir quoth Vngan that hart that you saw throwen into the water is the first infant she shall haue by you who must of necessitie be forsaken And the other saide the King that shall remaine with me what meaneth that You may answered Vngan vnderstand by the one the desseigne of the other which is that she shall conceiue an other childe who shalbe caryed awaye againste the will of her that caused the losse of the firste Thou hast tolde me strange thinges said the King and would God the mis-fortune of my Children were not so true as what thou hast tolde me concerning the Lady I loue For thinges ordeyned and appointed by the highest answered Vngan none knoweth how to gain-say or remedy and therfore men of wisdom should neither be sad or reioyce at them because oftentimes the Lord disposeth matters beyond the capacitie of men and farre otherwise then they expect For this cause my Lord forgetting all that I haue said and which you haue béene so curious to vnderdstand referre all thinges to God desiring him in these your affaires and all other to limit the ende of them to his honor and glory and thus in mine opinion you ought to set downe your rest The King was highly contented with Vngan and so estéemed of him that from thence forward he had him néere his person by meanes wherof he receiued many great fauours Now it happened that at that instant as the King parted from the Philosophers a Damosell presented her selfe before him right costlye in garmentes and faire of beauty thus speaking Vnderstand King Perion that when thou recouerest thy losse the Kingdome of Ireland shall loose her flower So giuing her Palfray the bridle and the King not able to stay her she rode away these woordes made the good Prince more sad and pensiue then he was before For this time the Author leaueth this purpose and returneth to speake of the infant that Gandales caused to be nourished whome he made be called the Gentleman of the Sea Now was he curiously entertained wherfore in short time he grew and became so faire that all which beheld him meruailed therat but one daye among other it happened that Gandales rode to sporte him selfe in the féeldes arming him selfe as became a good Knight for he had dayly accompanied the King Languines at such time as he searched after aduentures and albeit the King discontinued Armes yet Gandales would oftentimes exercise him selfe and as he rode he met with a Damosell that thus spake to him Ah Gandales if many great personages were aduertised of what I knowe certainely I assure thee they would cause thée to loose thy head Wherfore quoth he Because saide the Damosell thou nourishest their death in thy house The knight know not the Woman that thus talked with him but
as she came to the prince at what time he was sporting with Oriana and the other Ladyes while the Queene slepte At that instant was he in such a sollemne thought of Oriana as not daring to lift vp his eyes to beholde her said within him selfe Ah God why hast thou endued this Lady with such excellent beauty that vnhappy I should suffer so extreame passions by louing her Ah mine eyes too high did ye looke when ye behelde her of whome you are not woorthy but if the woorst happen death shall satisfie this â—imeritie wherto my hart for her is humbled In this thought he was like to fall downe so had he forgotten and ouergone him selfe when a Page came to him saying Gentleman there is a strange Damosell attending without who hath brought ye certaine presents would speak with ye When she who loued him heard this message her hart began to tremble in such sorte as béeing not able to endure this new â—ame she called to the Prince saying I pray ye stay heere and let the Damosell come in that we may haue the sight of what she hath brought which he did and the Damosell being entred thus spake to him My Lord your good fréend Gandales saluteth you as the man whom he only loueth and hath sent ye this King this ware and this Swoord which he desireth ye for his sake to kéepe while you liue The Prince hauing receiued the presents â—aid the King and waâ— aside to beholde the Swoord which being without a sheath was wrapped in a fine linnen cloth wherat he greatly meruayled and while he was musing theron Oriana tooke the ware thinking it to be some other thing and said Beléeue me Gentleman for my parte I would haue this ware You may haue it if you please Madame quoth he but me thinks this faire King were better for ye I will haue nothing but this ware said Oriana and so tooke it During these discourses the King came who saide to the Prince What think ye of that Swoord My Lord quoth he I finde it a very faire one but I meruaile wherfore it hath no scabbard It is saide the King very néere fiftéene yéers since it had one and hauing so saide he laide it aside proceeding thus You would be a Knight and know not whether you ought be one or no therfore it is necessary y t you vnderstand what you are and I to tell you so much as I know Héerupon he declared how he was found in a Chest on the Sea with the Swoord and the King as you haue alreadye heard I beléeue my Lord quoth the Prince that for your pleasure you vse this inuention because the Damosell when she entred saide that my good fréend Gandales sent me these presents but I think she fayled in her woordes and would haue said my Father Gandales Notwithstanding my Lord if it be so as you haue rehearsed I am not displeased therat except in not knowing of whence I am nor they me yet doo I thinke my selfe a Gentleman for my hart perswades me of no lesse Now therfore it is more necessary that I be Knighted then before to the end I may labour to become such a one as may acquire honor and reputation séeing I haue no parents by whom I may be named not knowing what I am When the King heard him speak so vertuouslye he estéemed much better of him then before thinking him selfe that he could not but be a man of calling and hardie As thus they were deuising a Gentleman came to the King and said My Lord King Perion your brother is come to the Court The King very glad therof departed to receiue his Brother and embracing him thus spake I sée my good Brother you meant to take me vnprouided for little did I thinke of your so sudden arriuall in this Country Noble brother answered King Perion I come to request y e ayd of my fréendes because I haue more néede of them at this time then euer I had for Abies King of Ireland threatneth me with strong warre and is with great puissaunce entred my Kingdome so that he and Dagauel his Cozin haue laide very seuere siedge to me And which is woorst of all Fortune hath so hardly dealt with me that certaine whom I trusted haue forsaken me and the greatest part of my other fréends are ouerthrowen in the skirmishes we haue had together so that now I come to requeste your succour in this extreame need Truely Brother answered Languines you may be sure therof and your misâ—fortune gréeueth me not a little but I will prouide therfore so well as I can Agraies who was newly Knighted being hotte and ready to Armes hauing heard the request of his Unckle and the graunt the King his Father had made him of assistaunce came and â—â—ll on his knée before him saying I beséeche ye Father let me obtayne one boone at your handes The King who loued him as him selfe answered Demaund what thou wilt for it shall not be denyed thee I desire your sufferance quoth Agraies that I may goe to Gaule to aide the Quéen mine Aunte In good faith said the King well content am I and in good equipage shalt thou goe and stronglye accompanied When the Gentleman of the Sea heard this determination he was more earnest to compasse his enterprise then before and seeing King Perion was present he could not glut his eyes with beholding him only for the good reporte he had heard of him for he thought not theÌ„ of any affinitie or parentage but would rather be Knighted by his hand then any other in respect of his high and hautie déedes of Armes And to attaine his purpose he thought best to intreat the Quéen hoping that if she would doo so much for him as to mooue the King her brother therin she should not be gain-said for he saw her so sad that he durst not speake to her he boldely went to Oriana and setting his knee to the ground saide I pray ye Madame tell me what causeth the Quéene to be so pensiue Oriana beholding the man before her whom she loued in her very soule albeit neither he or any other knew it was surprized with such vehemencye of loue as she could hardly tell how to dissemble it yet thus she answered Gentleman of the Sea and my fréend I will take paine to know then shall I tell ye with all my hart seeing it is the firste request that euer ye made to me Madame quoth he I know in my selfe so small deseruing toward you that I account myself vnworthy to request any thing of you but I should think I were happy if I had the meane to obey you or that it would please you to commaund me What said she haue you so base a minde such small estimatioÌ„ of your self Madame answered he in what sort soeuer it be I haue no forces at all but such as haue left me in great desire to serue you for my hart is altogether yours
eyes and all together praised God for this good aduenture especially the Prince because he had beene preserued in so great danger and now at length to finde such honor and good hap as to méete with his Parents being all this while vnknowen to them As thus they deuised on the fortunes passed the Queene demaunded of him if he had no other name then that which now he called himselfe by Yes Madame quoth he but it is not fully three dayes past since I knew thereof for as I came from the Combate against King Abies a Damosell brought me a Letter which I haue and as she saith was fastened about my neck being wrapped in ware when I was found in the Sea wherein I finde that my name is Amadis and héere-withall he shewed the Letter to the Quéene which she full well knewe so soone as she sawe it Beleeue me sayd the Queene this truely is the Letter that Darioletta wrote when she made the seperation betweene you and me thus though I was ere while in great griefe and sorrow yet now praised be God I feele as much ioy and pleasure Now seeing assuredly your name is Amadis it is needlesse you should beare any other contrary title so thence forward he was called no more the Gentleman of the Sea but Amadis and sometime Amadis of Gaule It was not long before the bruite héereof was spread through the Cittie that the good and famous Knight was Sonne to King Perion and the Queene Elisena wherefore if euery one reioysed you must thinke the Prince Agraies was not sory for they were found to be Cozin germaines Among the rest the Damosell of Denmarke had knowledge heer-of wherefore considering what comfort this would be to the Princesse Oriana she laboured so much as she could to returne toward her knowing she would giue her friendly countenance bringing her so good newes what gracious fortune had happened to him whome aboue all other she loued For this cause she intreated Amadis to dispatch her returne to hir Mistresse In that I well perceiue quoth she you cannot so speedily depart hence as you would nor were it reasonable but you should giue some contentation to them who for the loue of you haue shead so many teares These words caused the teares to tricle downe his cheekes yet smothering his griefe so well as he could he made this answere to the Damosell Lady I will pray that the heauens may safely conduct ye yet let me intreate your friendly remembrance commaunding the vttermost of my endeuours for without your gentle care my life cannot endure withall I finde my selfe so indebted to my gracious mistresse as I dare not request any thing at her hand Neuer-the-lesse you may say to her that right soone shall I come to shewe my obedience and in like armour will I be clad as when you sawe me Combat with the King of Ireland because both she and you may the more easily knowe me if I can not compasse the meane to spake with you and in this manner departed the Damosell of Denmarke On the other side Agraies seeing his Cozin Amadis was to remaine longer in Gaule determined to take his leaue and calling him aside said Faire Cozin for this time I must be enforced to leaue ye albeit your company is more pleasing to me then any other but my passionate hart will allowe me no quiet vntill I be with her who both farre and neere hath power to commaund me It is Madame Oliuia daughter to the King Vanain of Norway who sent for me by the Damosell that brought me the Helmet of Galpan which you sent me in reuenge of the dishonor she receiued by him that I should come to her with all conuenient speede and therefore I neither may or dare faile which is the only cause of my parting with you Now must you note heerewithall that at the time as Don Galuanes brother to the King of Scotland was in the Realme of Norway with Agraies his Cozin this young Prince became so enamoured of the Lady Oliuia as he concluded neuer to loue any other then her and this made him the more earnest to depart by her commandement And to tell ye what this Galuanes was he had the name of Galuanes without land because all the portion his father left him was only a poore Castell for the rest he had spent in following Armes and entertaining Gentlemen whereupon he had the Sir-name of without land Such as you haue heard were the speeches Agraies had with Amadis of whome he requested to knowe where he should finde him at his returne from Norway Cozin quoth Amadis I hope at my departure hence to visit the Court of King Lisuart where I haue heard chiualrie to be worthily maintained with greater libertie and honor then in the Kingdome of any Emperour or King But seeing it liketh you to take another way I desire when you shall see the King your Father and the Queene to remember my bounden dutie to them both assuring them on my behalfe that they may commaund me in their seruice euen as your selfe or any other as well in respect of our alliaunce together as also for the gracious entertainement I had in my youth being by them most carefully educated and esteemed This done Agraies tooke his leaue being honorably conducted through the Cittie by the King and all the Lords of his Court but so soone as the King entred the feelds he sawe a Damosell comming toward him who boldly laying hold on the raine of his horsse bridle thus spake Remember thy selfe King Perion what a Damosell sometime said vnto thee That when thou didst recouer thy losse the Kingdome of Ireland should loose her flower Thinke now I pray thee whether she said true or no thou hast recouered thy Sonne whome thou reputedst lost and euen by the death of valiant King Abies who was the flower of Ireland and such a one as that countrey shall neuer haue his like vntill time the good brother of the Lady must come who shall by force of Armes cause to be brought thither the tribute of other Countreys and he must dye by the hand of him that shall accomplish for her the only thing of the world which most he loueth And so it happened by Marlot of Ireland brother to the Queene of that countrey whome Tristan of Leonnoys killed on the quarrell of tribute demaunded of King Marke of Cornewall his Unckle which Tristan afterward dyed for the loue he bare to Queene Yseul being the only thing of the world that he most loued Now must thou be mindfull héereof said the Damosell to the King for Vrganda my mistresse so commaundeth thee When Amadis heard her speake of Vrganda he tooke occasion thus to answere Damosell and my friend I pray you say to her who sent you hither that the Knight to whome she gaue the Launce commendeth himselfe to her good grace being now assured in the matter whereof then she spake how with that Launce I should
so hath my fortune graciously fauoured me that it should be by him who is of higher desert then any other Héerewith Amadis cast downe his lookes as bashfull to heare himselfe so praysed by her to whome all commendation was due and féeling his spirits altered stroue to make answere but the words dyed in his mouth which caused Oriana thus to procéede How can it be otherwise my Lord but I must needes loue you aboue all other when they that neuer sawe you doo highly loue honor and estéeme you and I being she whome you affect most déerely haue I not great reason to loue you better then my selfe On my faith Madame answered Amadis your swéete and gentle words are sufficient to make me dye a thousand deaths as many times to reuiue me againe but how I pray you at this time only to excuse my extremity with pittie enduring wursse then death by louing you too vehemētly for if I had dyed as Arcalaus reported euen then had begun my rest and quiet if I had not knowen you before And albeit the hower of your acquaintance is my intire felicitie yet am I assaulted with such violent passions as my heart would altogether consume in griefe without the pleasure it receiueth in dooing you seruice and the good it sustaineth by your remembrance of me But necessitie constraineth me to craue the mercy as yet vndeserued by such intreatance as no desert may value only to encrease my habilitie in seruing you which if you graunt me not a sudden and cruell death will take hold on me These words were accompanyed with such aboundance of teares as was no small greefe to her to behold Alas my Lord quoth she forbeare these often repetitions of your death the thought thereof is insupportable to me for should you dye I were vnable to liue one hower after considering all the pleasure I haue in this world is in the ioy of your health and welfare Nor can I but be assured of your words by reason mine own case is sufficient therein being copartner with you in euery torment but if yours seeme more violent this is the reason my will being equall with yours wanteth the strength you haue in suffering and cannot effect the desire of our hearts which vrgeth loue and griefe more in you then me albeit my share is not one iote the lesse But this I promise you on my faith if fortune or our owne endeuour can compasse no meane to yéeld vs content my selfe will search some way whatsoeuer happen be it hate of father mother kinred and fréends for we may not thus procrastinate our ioy and groane vnder the weightie burden of desire the flame whereof climeth so high as the martirdome of our hearts may easily be discouered No doubt these words were pleasing to Amadis and gaue such chéerefull life to his hope that he was rauished with inward conceit thereof when she séeing him mute trode vpon his foote saying Discomfort not your selfe my Lord for I will not fayle what I haue promised nor shall you depart till you perceiue it and shortly will the King hold open Court when both he and the Quéene must depend on your assistance knowing well that your presence shall honor the company As they would haue continued in longer talke the Quéene called Amadis causing him to sit downe by Galaor for the King was gone to his chamber Then began the Ladyes to censure on the bretheren but they resembled eche other so like as little difference could be discerned betwéene them euery one being of the opinion that these twayne were the most perfect among all Knights both in beautie noblenes bountie and good grace but Galaor was somewhat whiter in complexion and Amadis of bigger bone his locks more crispe faire and hauing a little more red in his face then Galaor had Soone after the Queene willed Galaor to go sée her daughter and the other Ladyes when he regarding the excellent beautie of Oriana imagined such an other was not to be found in the world and by her often sighing with alteration of couller he suspected her to be the only cause that his brother liked so well to stay in King Lisuarts Court Right courteously was he welcommed among the Ladyes and diuers familiar speéeches passed betwéene them till the King being set to meate sent for Amadis and Galaor to beare him company as also Agraies and his Unckle Galuanes CHAP. XXXII ¶ How King Lisuart departed from Windesore to the good Cittie of London there to hold open and royall Court IN the beginning of this book it hath béen declared how the diuine bountie calling Lisuart to the Realme of great Brittayne soone after of a disinherited Prince made him the peaceable King of such a Monarchy by the death of his elder brother Falangris who dyed without any heire of his body begotten Likewise how he was reputed such a great Lord through the world as many Knights came from strange Countryes to serue him not thinking themselues happy except they might be named Knightes of his Court But within a while after whether this fortunat King forgot y e authour of his good or else it happened by diuine permission this happie Realme fell into persecution and the illustrious state of King Lisuart was troubled and obscured that all men might knowe how he only is Lord and King of all liuing creatures who exalteth and abaseth when him pleaseth according as you shall héere vnderstand For King Lisuart hauing concluded to hold the most royall and stately Court that euer King did in the Realme of great Brittayne commaunded that on the fift day following all the Lords of his Kingdome should appeare personally at London there to determine on matters of chiualrie which he intended to maintaine with all honor might be deuised But in the selfe-same place where he thought the greater part of the world should yéeld him obeysaunce began the first mutabilities of Fortune bringing his state and person into danger of vtter ruine according as you shall vnderstand at large King Lisuart departing with all his traine from Windsore to kéepe his Courte at the famous Cittie of London it was wonderfull to beholde the Lordes Ladyes and Gentlewomen that gaue their attendaunce especiallye so many young Gentlemen beeing there present some to regarde the magnificence of the Courte other to doo seruice to their louely mistresses and nothing now generally minded but pastime and pleasure The King likewise for greater maiestie of his Courte ordayned that none of this assemblye should lodge in the Citie but to erect their Pauillions in the feeldes and meddowes along the bancks that hemmed in the faire Riuer of Themes least the extream◠heate might be hurtfull to them all which béeing doone according to appointment the feeldes seemed as a most royall Campe or as if the greater parte of the worlde were there assembled But because the King arriued there two or thrée dayes before the feaste he went to his pallace accompanied only with
to him the one of them vsing these woords King Lisuart spare the Knight otherwise thou shalt not reigne one hower If I dye answered the King so shall you all for me like traytours as you are Then one of them gaue him such a blowe with his Launce as not only sore hurt him but made him fall on his face to the ground yet did he recouer himselfe very quickly like one resolued to defend his life albeit he sawe death present before his eyes But béeing vnable to resist so many at length they got sure hold on him when renting off his helmet and his Shéeld they bound him fast with a double chayne Afterward they set him on a simple horsse two Knights still holding the ends of the chayne and so leading him along sought where they might finde Arcalaus Oriana and the Damosell of Denmarke but the Knight against whome the King first fought rode before apace and wauing his gauntlet aloft to Arcalaus said Behold Cozin King Lisuart is ours A very good prize answered Arcalaus hence-foorth shall his enemyes haue no cause to dread him Uillaine quoth the King well knowe I thou wast neuer other then a traytour and though I am wounded yet will I maintayne my woords if thou darest combate with me By God sayd Arcalaus neuer should I make reckoning of my selfe to vanquish such a Lord as thou art Thus contending as they rode they came to a double way where Arcalaus stayed thus speaking to his Page Sirra ride with all spéede to London and say to Lord Barsinan that he must execute what I willed him for I haue begun indifferently if he can make an end as well Gone is the Page toward the Cittie in meane while Arcalaus deuised to send the King one way and Oriana another wherefore he sayd to his Cozin Take ten Knights with you and conduct Lisuart to my prisons at Daguanel these other foure shall kéepe me company for I will leade Oriana to mount Aldin where I will shewe her straunge and woonderfull things This mount Aldin was the place of his most vsuall aboad beeing one of the strongest and fayrest in the world thus the ten Knightes caryed away the King and Arcalaus with the rest had charge of the Princesse But certaynely if héere we consider the properties of Fortune we may easily repute her as mutable or rather more toward great Princes and Lords then the meaner sort as well she witnessed by King Lisuart euen in the time when he intended most honorably to be thwarted with such a contrary chaunce For at one instant he sawe himselfe in the hands of his greatest enemyes his Daughter and heyre to his Kingdome taken from him and all his estate in daunger of ruyne He that was woont to bée honored of all was now iniuriously despised bound and led as a théefe by a villainous Enchaunter a meane Gentleman and out of any other hope then death Is not this then a faire example for such as at this daye are called to the greatest honors in the world wherewith oftentimes they are so blinded that they forget both God and themselues King Lisuart was a right good vertuous and wise Prince yet the diuine ordenaunce suffered him to fall in these dangers to the end he might remember how all creatures remayne at his heauenly disposition This lesson he taught him for in short time he was brought so lowe as might bée and afterward restored againe as you shall presently vnderstand CHAP. XXXVI ¶ How Amadis and Galaor vnderstood that King Lisuart and his daughter were caryed away prisoners wherfore they made haste to giue them succour WE haue before declared by what meanes Amadis and Galaor escaped from Madasima the Lady of Gantasi who would haue put them to death if she had known their names likewise how they tooke their waye toward London as men right ioyfull of their good successe But by the way they met Dardan the Dwarff so fast as horsse could gallop wher-upon Amadis thus spake to Galaor Brother me thinkes my seruant Dardan commeth toward vs and doubtlesse about some matter of importaunce for doo you not sée what speede he maketh By this time Dardan brake off their talke rehearsing euery thing that happened since their departure but when he tolde how the Princesse Oriana was caryed from y e Court against her wil what sorrowful lamentations she made Amadis entred into a dispairing fury demaunding which way they went that had her in charge In sooth my Lord answered Dardan they rode thorowe the Forrest which lyeth on the other side of the Cittie Without more woords Amadis gaue the spurres to his horsse galloping amaine toward London so confounded with the terrour of these newes as he could not speak to his brother Galaor who left him not but followed at hand Through y t Cittie they ride not making any stay enquiring which way they took that led away the Princesse and euery one shewed it him verye readily As Gandalin came posting after his Lord it was his hap to passe by the Quéens lodging where she standing at a window ouer-come with gréef espied Gandalin whom she called to her and asked where he had left his Maister Madame quoth he he is gone after them that haue away the Princesse Stay a little I pray thee saide the Quéene then sent she for the Kinges swoord which was accounted one of the best in the worlde saying I desire thee carry this swoord to Amadis and tell him the King for-sooke it this morning he beeing gone with a Damosell to combate for her and she hath giuen him another swoord as yet we heare no tidinges of him either when he will returne or whether he is gone Gandalin hauing receiued the swoord set away with speede after his maister whose impacience vrging him to more haste then care of his iourney made him ride so farre into a foule sloughe as he was faine to alight ere he could get foorth again And leading his horsse by the bridle to escape the mire Galaor and Gandalin ouertooke him acquainting him with the Queenes message and deliuering the Swoord she sent him When he heard how the King was likewise gon his desire of speed encreased to giue him succour but his horsse was so wearied with striuing in the bogge as he was constrained to take Gandalins which trauailed much wursse then his own yet with the helpe of his spurres he made him goe At length they found the tract of horsses and by good hap met with certaine poore labouring men whom they asked if they met not any by the way Yes my Lord quoth one of them we met certaine men leading a Knight two Ladies albeit we durst not shew our selues but kept vs hidden in the thickest of y e wood for doubtlesse they be some bad people heer to they added such a discription of the prisoners as they easilye gathered them to be the King and Oriana betraied But tell me good freendes saide Amadis know you none of the
not onely to maintaine your good King but your owne liberty against a tirant a traitour and what worsse who would buy his vsurping in this Kingdome with the blood of you your wiues and children Sawe you not how he vsed them he tooke in the Tower Beholde you not the end of his purpose which is to ruinate this noble Realme that hath by diuine prouidence beene so long time preserued and euermore continued in reputation floorishing with loyall subiectes to their Prince Heard you not the flattering perswasions which the Rebell vsed before the assaulte thinking to conquer vs by his golden tongue In vaine is his labour I am right well assured that no one of you but wil dye a thousand deathes before he shall conceiue any other minde in you I sée by your resolued countenaunces if I should thinke or say otherwise I were a monstrous offendour for if he haue more men then we we haue more hartes of courage then he which forbiddeth all occasions of dismaying setting before your eyes the famous account you shall liue in héer-after By their lookes you might discearne at their retire how vnwilling they will be to trye you againe and respect not the traiterous woordes of Barsinan our King liueth and will right spéedily come to succour vs. In meane while I intreat as my fréendly companyons let nothing dismay your hope but continue as you gaue begun with this famous resolution that it is more honourable to dye for libertie then to enioy a life by thraldome and slauerie vnder a wicked iniurious and trayterous Prince When the King had ended his oration there was no one in the company how sore hurt soeuer he was but would couragiouslye encounter Barsinans power and bid him brauely good morrow the next day in the Tower where-with the King not a little contented returned to the Queenes lodging his face couered with sweat and his Armour all bloodye by reason of fiue wounds he receiued in fight The Ladies seeing him in such pittious plight were meruaylouslye abashed especiallye the Queene who well-neere dead with greefe and feare together then as a woman in middest of dispaire she saide Alas deere Nephewe what shall we doo we are all but dead Madame answered King Arban all will goe well if God be pleased in vaine doo you thus discomfort your selfe for I hope to heare good tidinges of the King and the traitours that seeke to vsurpe his Kingdome by your good and loyall subiectes shall receiue deserued punishment God graunt it quoth she but you are so wounded as I think it impossible for you to be at the battell if Barsinan come to morrow againe nor can our men doo any thing without you Be not you troubled ther-with Madame replyed King Arban for while my soule suckes her spirit from the ayre I will not for-sake my charge So bidding her good night he went to haue his woundes dressed and after-ward turned to his Souldiours merilye passing the night among them Barsinan on the other side got into the Tower of London which he had wun and numbring his men found that his power was greatly weakened yet would he make no shew thereof for dismaying the rest but shewing a dissembling countenaunce thus spake to them My fréendes it suffiseth that I haue showen mine enemies what you are and they if I thinke good to stand at my mercie wherefore I am determined without any further losse of you to rest our selues fiue or sixe dayes till Arcalaus send me the head of King Lisuart and then the sight thereof will make them not dare to resist me any longer but in hope of fauour will yéeld them-selues Eache of you therefore reioyce and be of good chéere for when I am King right richly will I reward you all So went they to rest till the next morning when Barsinan being armed mounted on horsseback with twentie Knightes in his companye and came to a Port which one of King Arbans Knights kept who seeing this troupe presently sounded an allarme But Barsinan sent him woord how he came to parle only and desired truce beside for sixe houres whereof King Arban was immediatly aduertised who graunted the truce Barsinan required and likewise for fiue dayes Conditionally that he should offer no violence to any house in the Cittie or practise any entraunce during the limitted time beside if the King returned in that space the difference should bée left to his disposition Barsinan was contented with these conditions because he accounted King Lisuarts death certaine where-upon he said to Arban I hope this little truce will be an entrance into a perpetuall peace betwéene vs for I dare assure yee King Lisuart is dead and his Daughter must be my Wife as within these fiue dayes ensuing you shall euidently sée What quoth King Arban thou hast then put him to death and couldst thou deale so traiterously with him that gaue thée such honorable entertainement in his Court rather will I presently dye then continue one hower of peace with thee get thée gone therefore quickly or I will send thee hence in pieces Is it true quoth Barsinan well mayst thou threaten me but it is in me to make thee repent it Thus returned he to his Souldiours acquainting them with his honest offers to King Arban and the audacious answere he returned for them CHAP. XXXIX ¶ How Amadis came to the succour of the Cittie of London when it was in this distresse NOt long agoe we left Amadis in the wood familiarly deuising with the Princesse Oriana thinking on nothing but their swéete contentation and among other discourse Amadis intreated her to tel him what spéeches Arcalaus had with her by the way On my faith Sir quoth she he confounded my senses with perswading me to reioyce saying Before fiue dayes were expired I should reigne as Quéene in great Brittayne enioying Barsinan to my husband him-selfe likewise should be chéef gouernour and maister of his house in recompence of the seruices he did for him in giuing him my fathers head and me to be his wife Ah heauens said Amadis what treason is this in Barsinan who shewed him-selfe such a fréend to the King God shield he doo no wrong to the Quéene In sooth I greatly doubt it replyed Oriana it were good therefore we hasted to sée With all my heart quoth Amadis so mounting on horsseback they rode toward London méeting many Knights by the way that followed the King whome still he directed in their course certifying them that Galaor was gone likewise in his search Within a while after Oriana espyed Don Grumedan an auncient Knight of honor to the Quéen and twentie Knights more with him who all that night had searched the Forrest for the King but when he sawe her the teares stood in his eyes with ioy desiring to heare some newes of the King her father Credit me Sir quoth she not farre from the Cittie were we sundered when God ordained so well for me that Amadis deliuered me from the
and Briolania holpe to vnarme Amadis for she could not be satisfied with beholding him because she counted him the fairest knight that euer was séen being now but twenty yéeres of age And so piercingly did he regarde her as long time after she wexed very amourous so that when she had recouered her Kingdome she wished him sole Lord of her and her countrye togeather as shall heer-after be declared But Amadis was else-where addicted and gaue sufficient proofe to her that the extream anguishes he endured for his Oriana were manifest examples of his stedfast loyaltie Neuer-the-lesse the yong Lord of Portugall pittying faire Briolania would disguise this historye in another manner describing farre otherwise the loue of her and Amadis which reporte is woorthye of no credit For he saith that Briolania being restored into her Kingdome prouiding for the health of Amadis and Agraies who were wounded she continuing euer-more amourous of Amadis seeing by no meanes she could win him to be her fréend tooke aside the Damosell to whome Amadis Galaor and Agraies made the seuerall promises at what time she conducted Galaor to the Knight that iousâ—ed with them in the Forrest and discouering the secrets of her hart to her with aboundance of teares and affectionate sighes requested her councell and remedye in these amourous passions The Damosell compassionate on her Ladyes sickenesse promised to giue her redresse for it wher-upon she said to Amadis that the boone she would desire of him was his entrance into a Tower from whence he should not depart vntill he had begotten of Briolania a sonne or a daughter Amadis willing to kéepe promise with the Damosell yeelded therto yet without any will to touch Briolania wherby he grew into such melanchollye as he refused all bodily sustenaunce and fell into such danger of his person as euery hower he expected death Which beeing heard in the Courte of King Lisuart as also his deadly dangerous extremetie Oriana lothe to loose him sent him woord and licence that he should doo what the Lady requested Wherupon Amadis considering he might no way else escape and his gracious Mistresse pittyed him so much he begat a sonne and a daughter of Briolania wherof she was deliuered at one labour but this historye is altogeather false and faigned It might be that Amadis was prisoner in the Tower and Briolania behelde his dayly pining away but she desired the Damosell to remit him this boone on condition he should not departe till his brother Galaor returned as willing to comfort her selfe with the sight of him while she attended his brothers arriuall for Galaor espoused her afterward as you shall read in the fourth booke of this Historye Let it then suffice at this time that Amadis and Agraies soâ—ourne certaine daies in the Castell while all néedfull thinges were ready for their combate CHAP. XLII ¶ How Galaor went with the Damosell after the Knight that dismounted him and his companyons in the Forrest whom when he found they combatted together and afterward in the sharpest pointe of their combate they knew eche other FOure dayes together rode Galaor with the Damosell seeking the Knight that vnhorssed him in the Forrest for which he was so ouercome with anger as euery Knight he met withall déerly felt it because in combate manye receiued their death Then espying a faire Castell on the top of a high mountaine the Damosell tolde him there was no other place néere where they might lodge that night wherfore he béeing glad to accept therof they came to the Castell finding many Gentlemen and Ladies sporting together among whom was a Knight aged about thrée-score yeeres who taking Galaor by the hand did him all the honor might be deuised My Lord quoth Galaor your courtesie to vs is so great that albeit we were determined to passe further on our way yet for your sake we are conteÌ„t to stay with you this night Then the Knight conducted Galaor into a faire chamber leauing the Damsell among the other Ladyes after the Prince was vnarmed the Knight spake to him in this maner Héere Sir may you rest and take your ease calling for any thing you stand in néede of for God knowes I haue vsed such entertainemente not onlye to you but to all Knightes errant that passed this way because some-time I haue beene as now you are Yet hath nature giuen me two sonnes whose only delight is in search of aduentures but now they lye sick in their beddes béeing cruelly wounded by a Knight who with one Launce cast them bothe from their Saddles But they were so ashamed at this foyle as they mounted againe and pursued the Knight ouer-taking him as he entred a Barque to passe the water where my sonns saide to him that in respect he had iousted so well they would trye his fortune in combate with the Swoord but the Knight made answere he could not now intend it yet would they needes presse him so farre as to hinder his entraunce into the Barque Wher-upon a Lady béeing in his company said they wronged her ouermuch to stay her Knight but they were not to departe til he had combated with them at the Swoord Seeing it will be no otherwise replyed the Lady he shall enter fight with the better of you bothe on condition that if he be conquerour the other doo forbeare the combate They answered if the one were vanquished the other would reuenge his foyle which when the Knight heard he was so angry as he had them bothe come together in respecte they were importunate and would not rest contented In the triall one of my Sonnes sustained the wurst wherfore his brother séeing him in such perill stroue to reskue him from death yet all was in vaine for the Knight handled them so roughlye as he left them like dead men in the feeld and afterward passed away in the Barque No sooner heard I of this mishap but I sent for my sonnes and home were they brought in this dangerous plight but y t you may giue credit to my woordes beholde héere their Armour cut and mangled as I think the like strokes neuer came from any mans hand Galaor meruayling at this discourse demaunded what Armes the conquering Knight bare when he was answered his Shéeld to be of vermillion couller with two black Lyons figured therin By these tokens Galaor knew him that it was y e same man he trauailed to finde which made him demaund of his fréendly hoste if he had no further knowledge of the Knight No verily Sir quoth the auncient Gentleman For this night answered Galaor let vs take our rest and to morrow I intend to seek the man you talke on For alreadye I haue trauailed foure dayes in his searche but if I méete with him I hope to reuenge the iniurye of your sonnes and other likewise whome he hath offended or else it wil cost the price of my life I could rather wishe saide the Knight that leauing this perillous enterprise you would take some