said shée to returne againe as you haue promised Which Esplandian vowed vpon his faith meane time Norandel and quéene Minoresse as much gréeued as might be knewe not what countenance to holde hauing their hearts so seased with care that the Quéene was constrained to withdrawe her selfe into her chamber and lay vpon her bedde shutting the doore whereby Norandel had no meanes to take his leaue but imbarked himselfe charged with an infinite number of gréefes and sorrowes with that the great serpent began of it selfe to set forward and within two daies after arriued at the castle La montaigne defendu CHAP. XLV How the two Dragons set Vrganda Melie and king Armato in the middle of the cittie of Tesifant and of the great armie that Armato prepared to enter into Greece THe Dragons bearing Vrganda Melie and king Armato in the aire flewe so swiftly that before day they were right ouer the citie of Tesifante where they set downe their charge that done they flewe away and neuer were séene againe king Armato was excéeding glad when he perceiued himselfe to be in place whereas he might commaund and went vnto his pallace where finding the guard he made himselfe knowen vnto them that presently went to aduertise the prince Alphorax who much abashed at those newes start out of his bed and casting a furred gowne vpon his shoulders ranne to imbrace his father who séemed to be so changed not onely because his beard was longer than he vsed but by reason of the great gréefe and melancholly he had so long endured that the prince began to wéepe and say vnto him My Lord you are more than heartily welcome for Gods cause I beséech you tell vs how fortune hath béene so much your friend to deliuer you out of the misery wherein you haue continued so long to my no little griefe Sonne said he Melie can tell you better than my selfe for she is the only meanes of my good hap and hath brought with her Vrganda discogneue of whome heretofore you haue heard And as he left speaking Melie and Vrganda entred into the hall wherewith the rumor of the kings returne was so great within the Citie that all the people ranne vnto the palace for to sée him being as glad of his arriuall as Vrganda sorry to sée her selfe in such a place and that which gréeued her more was that Melie in presence of them all spake vnto her and said Vrganda two things mooue me to saue thy life the one for that in my captiuitie thou hast not once suffered an euill word to be vsed to me neither permitted that any man should doe mee harme the other because I certainly know that king Armato hath by thy means receiued all the good intertainement he had during his hard imprisonment Neuerthelesse the mischiefe thou hast procured vnto this country being the only cause the Christians entered into the same is sufficient to make thée indure perpetuall imprisonment wherein by mine art I will so straightly inclose thée that thy Art shal nought auaile thée euer so get forth But although that sentence might well abash Vrganda yet shee shewed such constancy that she neuer changed colour determining with her selfe to indure whatsoeuer should fal out wherfore she said vnto Melie Madame you may do with me as pleaseth you but in reason you ought not to vse me otherwise then you your selfe were vsed whē I had the like authority ouer you as you haue now of me otherwise you shal do wrong both to your selfe me To me that am olde ancient putting me in prison wherewith you threaten me not hauing offended you to your selfe in preferring cruelty before the curtesie that hath ben found in you whereto Melie answered hir not a word but commanded her to be shut into a great tower stāding in the midst of the citty ouer the which she wrought such coniurations the Vrganda knew without Gods help it would be impossible for her euer to come forth yet she liued in hope considring the mutability of fortune the king Armato himselfe had ben casually deliuered who continued certaine daies in his great Citty of Tesifant without making any shew to bee reuenged But in the end he sent Embassadours to all the Princes in the East that were his allies and confederates desiring them to enter into arms not onely to driue the Christians out of Galatia Alfarin and other places that they had vsurped in his countrey but to destroy Constantinople with all the Christian monarch and therefore wrote a letter vnto them the contents whereof doe follow Armato by the prouidence of our immortall gods called to the gouernment of the puissant country of Turky the frontier Bulwark of al the Pagan land to all caitifes kings soldiors admirals gouernors of the countries scituated in the east parts sēdeth gréeting being returned out of prison from whence we are now deliuered I thought good to giue you to vnderstand that not long since there is a knight come out of the South into the marches descended as men say of the race of Brutus the Troiane to whome for our iniustice as it is verie likely our gods haue giuen power to conquer the castle La montaigne defendu slaying Matroco and Frerion two of the best Knightes in all the East parts and which is worse the number of the Christians increasing more and more they haue fought all meanes to destroy our holy lawe which to preuent we entred into armes and hauing raised a mightie armie thought to driue them out of our quarters but hauing long time continued siege before the castle La montaigne defendu and brought it to such extremitie that they had no victuals to sustaine themselues he of whome we were most in doubt the first beginner of those warres found meanes by the aid of a villaine named Frandalo that sometime belonged vnto vs to enter therein and by subtiltie to take vs prisoners in such sort that our army being ouerthrowne we remained prisoners in their handes where they haue holden vs in straight kéeping almost for the space of a whole yéere togither meane time our fortune continuing worse and worse they haue by treason seazed vpon the townes of Alfarin and Galatia two of the best portes in all our Realme which they had neuer taken in hand without the aide of the traiterous and disloyall Emperour of Constantinople who for to aid and succour them hath falsly broken the truce concluded betwéen vs and raised so many men that without your aides we are in danger to fall into their hāds a thing that would concerne you much séeing we as you know are the frontire and rampart to you all Wherefore in the name of all our gods wee pray and desire you that not onely for the safegard of our law but for the profit and vtilitie of all the East countries you will assemble your forces in so great number that thereby we may driue these Christians out of our countrey and
imbarking to take sea and what time they were at sea before they discouered any land till in the end saied hee we espied this country where Sergil and I tooke land in good time for Gandalin and Lazinde as hereafter they may shew you But you saied hee to Norandel tell me of your faith how was it your chance in so good time to méet with vs In truth saied Norandel the peace made betwéene Amadis and the king I departed from the court to séek some strange aduentures that commonly are found in this country of Almaigne where I had no sooner arriued but I had certaine newes of my fathers absence whereat I was so gréeued that to find him out I haue trauailed the countries of Denmark Poland Russia Sweathland Hungarie and all this country euen vnto this place where it is said there dwels two giants who as they are all of one nature exercise innumerable cruelties against those they méete the yonger of them waiting continually about this place for such as passe this way And therefore when I saw you first I thought one of you thrée to be the Giant thinking to fight with him or lose my life therefore which I wil yet doe if you let me passe By God saied Gandalin you lost your labour séeking for the king so shall you likewise doe if you take this enterprise in hand Wherefore saied Norandel Because saied he you sée him here in presence that easeth you of that burthen With that he shewed him in what manner Esplandian had fought with the Giants and how he Lazinde and diuerse others were prisoners in their house from whence Esplandian had deliuered them Before God saied Norandel the newes liketh mee wel for I neuer thought in long time any such aduenture would haue happened vnto him not knowing he had receiued the order of knighhood You sée it is so saied Esplandian and maister Elizabeth can tell you more if it pleaseth you to goe with vs. Let vs goe then said Norandel for I would gladly sée him With that they rode towards the sea till they espied the great Serpent wherein they imbarked themselues where Norandel Gandalin and Lazinde vnderstood by master Elizabeth what had happened to Esplandian from the day hee receiued the order of knighthood And although Norandel determined with all spéed to return into great Brittaigne yet hee chaunged his mind when hee heard so strange and maruailous news of his nephew Esplandian to whoÌ„ he said My lord séeing fortune hath brought vs so well together I pray you let me not leaue your company till some occasion bee ministred vnto vs. Vncle saied Esplandian I am content and I pray you let it be so In that manner they passed the rest of the day in the great Serpent minding the next day because shée stirred not to take land againe to sée if they could finde any more aduentures And they had scarse fallen asléepe but the Serpent began of it selfe to saile forward so swiftly that by sunne rising they had lost the sight of any land not ceasing for to saile sixe daies together before they espied land the seuenth day when the sunne began to shine it staied at the Isle Saint Mary which maister Elizabeth presently knew as hauing ben there before with Amadis de Gaule when he fought with Landriaque wherefore he saied vnto the knights In good faith I remember that once as I trauailed on the sea with my lord Amadis wee were cast vpon this Island by so great a tempest that we thought verily to haue béen drowned And if then at sea wee had great feare of death béeing landed our feare did more increase and that with so good cause that I cannot chuse but tremble to remember it What saied Esplandian Can a danger so long time past bréed so great a feare as you séeme to haue Sir saied maister Elizabeth some men to hide the truth make a great matter of a small but if you had séen as much as I then saw and that which as yet you may behold if it pleaseth you to goe where I was once you shall find that I haue no lesse occasion and there is Gandalin that can witnesse it as wel as I. I pray you bring vs thether said Esplandian with that they caused the horses to be vnshipt and going to land they mounted vp the Island til they came to the castle where Amadis staied certain daies to be healed of his wounds where they found a knight that kept it forthe Emperour who being aduertised by maister Elizabeth what knights they were hee had brought thether bad them heartely welcome offering them all the pleasure he could shew but they staying not there went forwards to the place where Amadis fought with Landriaque where the Emperour had erected both their Images so like vnto them that there wanted only life to expresse the same Which maister Elizabeth shewed vnto the knights and to the end said he you beléeue mee better another time I pray you behold well the forme of this great diuell who before my lord Amadis arriued had vtterly destroied this most fertile Island And therewith hee shewed them from point to point what had passed touching the same as you haue heard at large set downe in the third booke of this our hystorie whereat they were all abashed especially to think how Landriaque could bee slaine or ouercome by one knight alone For although this image were but a sencelesse thing yet it made theÌ„ abashed which hauing long time beheld and visiting other places worthy memory they returned to the great Serpent which presently departed from the Isle and with a good winde in fiue daies after arriued within half a mile of Constantinople where it began to cast forth fire in so furious manner that the saylers and others that perceiued it fled all away doubting the fury of that monster wherewith the Cittizens were in such a feare that newes was brought vnto the Emperour who as then was talking with the ladies whom he led vnto the towers of his pallace to sée what it might be when they perceiued the great Serpent and the sea raging so sore about it that it séemed a gulfe of fire wherewith they were in such a feare and the Emperour likewise that he coÌ„manded al men to be armed fearing it would come into the Towne and so destroy them al. But Gastilles that had séene it oftentimes assured the Emperour that it was the ship of the knight Esplandian which Vrganda brought first into great Brittaigne And to the end my lord saied hee you shall not doubt thereof if it pleaseth you I will goe sée if the sonne of Amadis be there and bring him vnto you Doe so I pray you saied the Emperour With that Gâ—stilles went vnto the Hauen entring into a Gally that hee found ready to put to sea commanding the maister thereof to row vnto the great Serpent but whatsoeuer hee could say the maister would not stirre one foote till such time hee
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
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
and weather among the which they knew Elizabeth Libee his nephue and diuers others that were bound in chaines making great sorrow but none of Matrocos men durst set foot on land hauing already ben aduertised by some of the castle of the great misfortune happened therein and for the same cause staied so long without till the Giant espied at the windowes the knight and the king looking vpon them wherewith in a great rage hée cried vnto the blacke knight whom he perceiued all armed and saied vnto him Thou accursed slaue is it thou that so cowardly hath slaine my vncle my brother and the porter of my castle When the knight heard him he answerd him and said I haue done my endeuour to make thée know that it belongeth not to such as thou art either to imprison kings or to molest and gréeue so many men as continually thou doest By all my gods said Matroco fortune fauoureth thée too much when at my arriuall I finde thée armed with the wals of this my castle for if I had thée here vpon the shore I would soone send thée fishing into the sea as I haue done many other rash and bold fooles like thy selfe that hast enterprised without cause to inforce my castle but if I continue here tenne yeares together I will neuer depart hence till I haue thée in my hands then shalt thou know how I vse to handle such as thou art Stay a while said the black knight there is much more difference betwéene saying and doing then there is distance of place betwéene thée and me Thy threatnings make me more assured wherefore now I feare thée lesser then I did before and that thou maiest well know it to bee so take thy choice whether I shall come downe to fight with thée or thou come vp to me Then shalt thou plainely sée to whome God will giue the victory either to thée that trustest in thine owne strength or to mee that trust onely in him The greatest oxen and fattest buls are oftentimes brought vnto the slaughter as well as lesser beasts So thou great beast I aduise thée to remember thy former life before worse happen vnto thée forsaking thy accursed faith which thou now holdest with might maintainest otherwise bee thou assured the wrath of God will fall vpon thée as it hath already done vpon thy friends That shall bee séene saied Matroco and if thou hast the courage to stay for mee I assure thée thou wilt bee glad to denie the villainous wordes thou now hast vttered Therefore cause the gate to bee opened for séeing thou puttest mée to my choice I will come vp to thée were it into the dungeon from whence thou hast deliuered that villaine standing by thée and therwith leauing his company behind him being all armed he began to mount vp the rocke and went vnto the castle but when he came to the yron gate which he found open because the watch had left it and were gone and saw Argantes lying dead hee was in a manner out of his wits not so much for the prowesse he knew to be in him as that he had from his youth beene nourished and bred vp in the castle by the Giant his father Neuerthelesse hée dissembled his griefe hoping to bee reuenged at his pleasure and going further in another place hee found the Giant armed all in gréene dead and freshly bléeding wherewith he was so moued that he staied and stood still and casting forth a great sigh began to crie out and saied alas Arcalaus my good vncle how néere doth the losse of thee goe to my heart wheresoeuer it had happened but especially being done within mine own castle wherein I thought long time to liue and make merry with thée Alas is fortune so cruell vnto thée that after so many trauailes and dangerous aduentures with infinite perils that in the flower of thy youth thou hast sustained thou must in thine old yeares come and receiue so cruell a death within my house which I estéemed as an assured hold and defence not only for me but for thée and the rest of our kindred and friends O immortall gods what vengeance can I take vpon the Traitor that hath so much offended me séeing that to cause him to die each day a hundred times were nothing in respect of the mischiefe he hath done vnto mée At the least if it were Amadis de Gaule so much estéemed of all men or any of his two brethren or all they thrée together my griefe would bee somewhat eased by reason of the sorrowes I would cause them to indure But what Now I am constrained to fight against one alone who by reason considring the trauell hee hath taken all this day ought already to estéeme himselfe ouercome and vanquished What glory then can I obtaine by winning victory against him Trewly as much as if I fought against a simple woman being as by nature shee is both weake and féeble so hee vnworthy of my presence will bee much prowder if I doe but make a countenance to fight with him neuerthelesse what blot soeuer may happen vnto mine honour of force hee must die In this manner did the Giant lament ouer the body of Arcalaus his dead vncle not mouing from thence till at last hee perceiued the blacke knight that stoode to heare him wherewith being somewhat ashamed he marched towards him thinking without hinderance to enter into the dungeon but hee found the blacke knight at the gate that boldly thrust him backe and saied vnto him Thou brutish and vnreasonable beast thinkest thou to enter in by force Whereat the Giant all abashed staied without and said Thou biddest me to come vp haue I thē done thée wrong to come at thy commandement No saied the knight but beholding thy countenance it séemeth thou wouldest enter by authority and therewith stepping aside he saied Now come in and doe what thou canst When the old woman with whom king Luisart talked perceiued thē ready to fight in great feare she ran out of the hall and fel downe at her sonnes féet crying out and said alas Matroco I pray thée and by the duty a child oweth vnto the mother I commaund thée not to enter into this combate for thou knowest well that of all thy brethren thou art onely left aliue wherewith my heart is so gréeued that had it not been for the loue I beare thée thou haddest found mee now at thy returne in as pittiful estate as thou séest thy brother Frerion neither is there any woman at this present liuing in the world that ought with better reason to wish for death then I. Alas what fortune is this that now again I must renue the sorrows which both time and long patience as I thought had buried in obliuiuion Alas miserable woman that I am I only haue forged the weapon that hath giuen the wound whereby at this present I receiue this dommage for vpon the day of my husbands decease thinking to reuenge the griefe
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
from my infancy haâ— brought the vp and being moued by reason of my no little losse with a desirâ— to reuenge both my selfe and my friendes I thoughâ—â—o kill him â—â—d was so neere the point to execute my will that as I held the 〈◊〉 drawne in my hand and began to lift vp mine arme to giâ—e the blow he séemed so faire within mine eie that suddâ—inâ—y I was surprised with loue and that so feruently that were 〈◊〉 not for the promise you haue made me I had not ben aliue at thâ—â— present time Neuerthelesse hauing sithence vnderstood that hee by whome I am in this extremitie in estate and degrée â—ot to bee my equall whereby I perceiue my selfe vnworthy eiâ—â—er to be wife or companion vnto him I haue somewhat moderated my first deliberation in such manner that I will hold my selfe more then satisfied if it please him I may only continue with him to serue at his commandement during my life which in reason he cannot well deny me for let him doe what hee will so long as life is in my body I will neuer forsake him if I be not constrained therevnto Wherefore my lord for the honour of God I beséech your grace to finde the meanes my poore request may once bée granted and you Gentlemen saied she to Ambor and Talanque I pray you put to your helps that by your fauours the life of me poore louer not beloued may bee prolonged The king hearing the Gentlewoman that while she spake sometime blushed and other whiles waxed pale make this discourse could hardly abstain to laugh thinking how inconsiderately shee had fallen into so great extremitie whereby hee feared if hée should make an answere other then pleased her she would kill her selfe but with courteous spéech hee saied vnto her Gentlewoman your request is so reasonable that I am of opinion hee will not deny it and for my part I will intreat him as much as possible I can My lord said Esplandian I wil do what your grace commaundeth Graunt her then I pray you saied the king what shée craueth at your hands that from henceforth shee may bee called your faithfull seruant her honour alwaies saued as in knighthood you are bound I will doe it answered Esplandian and thereof I assure you saied hee speaking to Carmelle who knéeling on the ground kissed his féete and thanked the king and him most heartely reputing heâ— selfe most happy in obtaining so great fauour CHAP. XI How Talanque and Ambor shewed the king what aduentures they had found seeking for Esplandian their companion after they had receiued the order of knighthood YOu heard before in what sort king Luisart was deliuered out of prison by his nephew Esplandian but as yet he knew not the manner how he receiued the order of knighthood Wherefore as they rose from dinner the king desired him to tell him how he was made knight as also what happened vnto him since that time to the end saied hée that Talanque and Ambor may doe the like Then Esplandian tolde how Vrganda came vnto the Ferme island in the great serpent what spéech shee had with Amadis de Gaule and others that were with him the order shee vsed to dub him knight together with Talanque Ambor Manely the king of Denmarke The sléepe wherein they fell and that when hee awaked he found himselfe at the foot of the rocke of the Enchantresse in company of Sergil his Squire and two dumb men also how he conquered the sword with his arriuall at the mountain where he found the Hermite that dissuaded him from fighting with the giants By my head said the king I neuer heard stranger things And now Ambor saied hee what became of you My lord saied Ambor my companion and I were likewise asléepe and when we awaked we found our selues in a little barke with our two horses in a Hauen of the sea called Armata in the country of Norway as then vnknowne to vs where wee landed before a towne not only to know in what countrey wee were but also to séeke for victuals And as wee went towards it the watch of the towne by reason of certain dissension not long before moued betwéene them and their neighbours sent to knowe what we would haue Wherewith we made them answere wée were knights aduenturous that came from the Ferme Isle cast vpon that shore by tempest of weather In good truth said he that spake vnto vs our king hath so great cause to vse your helpes that if you goe vnto him I am well assured hee will bid you welcome We asked him the kings name and what country wee were in My lords said he the country is called Norway wherof Adroni father in lawe to Agraies sonne to the king of Scots and one of the best knights in the world is our king I know not whether you know him And what cause saied wee hath your king to vse our helpe I will tell you said he he is so old that one of his nephewes his sisters sonne procured therevnto by euil counsel is risen in armes against him séeking to haue the gouernement of the countrey in respect as hee saith his vncle is no more able to rule the same And vnder that pretence hath already vsurped a great part thereof and now lieth in campe before one of the best citties in this land which the king by no meanes can reléeue by reason that most of his trustiest friends haue forsaken him and hold with the yoong presumptuous foole that winneth them by faire promises a thing that oftentimes happeneth vnto such as fortune fauoureth not and when men are fallen they are not only abandoned of straungers but by their owne kindred and friends that properly may be tearmed friends for the present time In good faith said we if the towne will giue vs victuals and one to guide vs we will gladly goe and present our seruice vnto him not onely for the loue of Agraies to whom wee are companions but for the right he hath as you haue told vs. That shall be done said he and therewith desired vs to stay till he came again from the cittie where he staied not long but hee brought what we desired and a guide that conducted vs so wel that the next day about dinner time we arriued where the king lay Who being aduertised of our comming and that wée were of Agraies companions entertained vs most courteously commaunding one of his Gentlemen to vnarme vs in one of his best chambers whether hee came and after hee had bidden vs welcome beganne in the same manner to shew vs all what the watch had before declared vnto vs and what an vnnaturall part his nephew shewed vnto him procured therevnto by two knights in whome onely hée putteth his whole trust because saied hee they are well assured that not any of my knights dareth enter into combat with them they are estéemed so valiant and hardy But who hath mooued them and your cosin said we to vndertake
so foule an action Because said the king I haue no issue male and my cousin alledgeth I am ouer old to gouerne the countrey saying it is fitter for him then for me to do it but if I can I will hold him from it and kéep it for my doughter Olinde and Agraies her husband By my soule said I I am of this opinion that séeing this warre is begun only to trie the title you both pretend in one thing It were good your quarrell shoule bee ended by the combate of two knights of both parts without the death and destruction of so many poore innocent people as daily perish by the same means remitting the issue thereof to those whome it shall please God to make victorious and if it pleaseth you I and my companion will bee the two knights that shall fight for you But when hée heard mee speake in that manner hee paused a while séeming very pensiue till in the end he answered me and saied Sir knights I am not yet so well acquainted with you that I should venture to hazard so great a kingdome as this is vpon your valour Neuerthelesse if you will assure me for a truth that you are knights of the Ferme Island I am content to stand to it whatsoeuer may chance For there can none but valiant knights come from thence being assured as I suppose that otherwise the lord of the place would not giue them intertainement Then wee swore vnto him that what wee had saied was true Wherevpon hee presently dispatched a trumpet with message to his enemy to offer him the combate who hearing the newes séemed very glad making account that his two knights so much estéemed would easily ouercome any two of the best knights the king had So that returning the messenger againe hee sent one of his trumpets with him to conclude the combate with the day time and place where it should be done as also what pledges should on both sides bee giuen for performance thereof so that on the day appointed after ech party had solemnly taken their othes wée entred into the lists where wee had a cruell and dangerous combate one against the other but in the end right lying on our sides wee wan the victory And as we would haue striken off their heads the kings nephew desired vs most earnestly to graunt him their liues which wee agréed vnto vpon condition that from that time forwards hee should suffer his vncle to raigne in peace not molesting him any more which he promised to performe In this combate we were so wounded that of force we continued in Norway longer then wee meant to do where during our abode certaine marchants arriued in the cittie that had séene as they told vs vpon the sea néere vnto the rocke of the Enchauntresse a Serpent greater then any vessell which so much astonished them that they knew not what to doe whereby we heard newes of Esplandian With that although we were not altogether healed of our wounds yet we besought the king to cause vs to bee conducted thether which hee willingly graunted and wee tooke sea with so good a wind that within sixe daies after wee approched the rocke where the serpent staied that at the first made vs somewhat abashed although we had séene it oftentimes before Neuerthelesse we found it flashing such flames of fire out of the mouth and nosthrils thereof that wee feared the fire would fall into our shippe whereby not without much paine and trouble wee procured our maister and marriners to approch it and perceiuing no creature aboord to speake vnto we began to hallow vnto them with so loud a voice that at the last Sergil appeared vpon the hatches and wéeping told vs what had happened vnto his maister on the rocke of the Enchauntresse and how after that one of the dumbe men had caused him to enter into a little barke and there with put to sea so that hée knew not if hee were dead or liuing for hee had heard no newes of him and there hee staied with another dumbe man in the greatest care that might bée With that wee willed him to call the dumbe man vnto vs and when hee came by signes wée made vnto him we shewed him what pleasure he might doe vs if he would bring vs to the place where his fellow had carried Esplandian which as it séemed he was content to doe for presently thervpon he entered into our vessels and sailed so well that the tenth day after he set vs on land hard by the place where wee slew the Giant and the two knights â—nd so your grace hath heard what fortunes wee haue passed since wee receiued the order of knighthood Truly said the king if those of Manely the king of Denmarke be as strange it may well bée saied there neuer happened the like beginning vnto sixe yong knights CHAP. XII How one night as King Luisart was in his bed thinking how hee might returne againe into great Brittaine hee heard so pleasant a sound of instruments that hee rose vp to see where it might bee and what happened after that KIng Luisart coÌ„tinued so long in the castle on the mountaine that at the last hee waxed weary not so much for the desire he had to bee in his owne countrey as for the gréefe he certainely knew the Quéene would conceiue by reason of his long absence in which kinde of pensiuenesse hee continued certaine nights together that by meanes thereof hee could take no rest till at the last one night among the rest about halfe an hower before day he heard the swéetest musick that euer plaied wherewith hee rose out of his bed and without making any noise opened the window to heare it better But as then it was very darke and the wind blew so hard that the sea rising therewith beat against the hollownesse of the rocke in such sort that the noise thereof and the sound of the musicke made a new kind of harmony wherewith hee was so much delighted that hee awaked Esplandian Ambor and Talanque that slept soundly as yoong men without malancholy humours are accustomed to doe But when they heard the musicke they staied not long in their beds but went to the window to sée who it might bee but they could sée nothing till day began to appeare When they perceiued the great Serpent surging on the shoare wherwith they were excéeding glad making full account that the arriuall therof brought them some good newes Wherewith they made them ready and without longer staying issued out of the castle to sée who was in the same and as they stood on the shore they perceaued a smal boat and a Gentlewoman comming out of it bearing in her arms a packet couered with Taffata who comming vnto the king with most humble reuerence saied vnto him My lord and it pleaseth your grace Vrganda recommendeth her vnto your maiesty and hath commanded me to giue you intelligence that being busied to aide the Emperour and the Empresse
their barke to serue them for a wéeke at the last they found a goodly fountaine shadowed with many great trées whereby they sat them downe and putting off their helmets for to drinke Argenton their squire that was with them saied vnto them if you thinke good gou shall stay here while I goe vp this high rocke where it may be I shal find a house or some country man that will shew vs in what place we are arriued Goe saied the king of Denmarke but take héede thou loosest not thy selfe With that the squire left them and tooke his way through the wood but he had not gone a long bowes shot when he perceaued a great Beare comming towards him wherewith hee was in such feare that with a lowd voice he cried out for helpe and finding no other remedy hee was constrained to climbe into a high trée The knights hearing their squires crie supposed he had néed of them and with that they ranne in such hast to helpe him that forgetting their helmets behind them left them by the fountain and they had not runne farre but they espied the Bear climbing against the trée wherein the Squire was defending himselfe as well as he could but the beast forsaking her first pray ranne vnto Manely being next vnto her thinking at the first encounter to throw him on the ground but he stepping aside gaue her such a blow with his sword that therewith he cut off one of her eares with a péece of her iaw but the Beare turned again and taking him most fiercely about the body thought to strangle him wherwith he had almost lost his breath when the king of Denmarke came vnto her and with one blow cut one of her legs clean from the body whereby the beast in great anguish forsaking her pray fled into the thicket of the wood and the king after her and longer had followed had it not ben for the waight of his armor that wearied him ouermuch wherefore returning againe vnto his companion they two help their Squire Argenton to come down the trée who as yet for feare trembled like a leafe whereat they both began to laugh Manely asking him if he were a cold no said he but I was in the greatest feare that euer I had in all my life or euer I hope shall haue againe and surely I beléeue there are no other people in this Island then diuels disguised in straunge formes or else such proper Gentlewomen as she that of late imbraced you so courteously wherefore I am of this opinion that for our better security it were best for vs to stay by the fountain or in our barke till the sea bee somewhat pacefied In truth thou saiest well saied the king of Denmarke but in the meane time bee thou of a good courage and feare nothing I knowe not what courage I should haue saied he but I pray you for Gods sake let vs be gone vnlesse you will sée me die here As farre as I sée said Manely thou wilt neuer die in fight as long as thou findest meanes to runne away Not if I may saied Argenton for if I should it were done but like a foole In which manner talking together they came vnto the fountaine where they espied two old apes casting their helmets they had left behind them one at the other as lightly as if they had been at Tennise whereat the two knights and Argenton laughed so hartely that they were almost ouercome with laughter for the apes had no sooner spied them comming but in great hast they put the helmets on their heads and climbing vp the trées skipped from branch to branch sometimes vp and sometimes down like two tumblers As God helpe me said Manely I like these apes well for they knew wée were so melancholy on the sea that they meant to make vs merry on land yet I trust they shall not carry away my arms without a combate Wherewith they tooke vp stones and threw at them but they turning about grinned with their téeth making mouths and mowes sometimes scratching their arses Wherewith the king of Denmarke tooke such pleasure that hee desired Manely and Argenton to let the apes alone and as then it began to be night Wherefore they sent their squire to fetch his companion with the rest of the victuals they had in their barke because the sea rose so high that they doubted their barke would bee cast on shoare and breake in péeces who staied not long before they came againe and after the knights had eaten of such victuals as they had they put off their armour and slept till the next morning when they awaked finding their helmets lying by them but not their armour for those newe men of warre had put them on so properly that by their countenaunces it séemed they had some great combate to fight one against the other in the top of the high elmes whereof there were great plenty But that sport liked not the two knights that were loath to die in that place for want of food but made their account either to put themselues againe vnto the mercy of the waues or else goe further into the Island to séeke meat Wherfore making bowes of wood which they stringed with their garters and cutting arrowes to them sharpe at the points they shot at those woody champions so long that at the last they compelled them to skip downe whereby they tooke them and pulled off their armor which done they let them goe not doing them any hurt CHAP. XIX How Frandalo the Pyrat sailing on the sea was by tempest of weather cast vpon the Island where the king of Denmarke and Manely were against whom he fought and what happened vnto them YOu heard before how the king of Denmarke and Manely were by fortune cast vpon the isle of apes where their boat was cast away they hauing not victuals longer then for two daies but God holp them for the next day as they were vpon the top of one of the highest rocks they perceiued a ship at sea which being driuen with the wind not long after was cast vpon the shore hard by the place where they were Wherwith the two knights went downe to speake with them that were aboord and calling with a lowd voice vnto them there appeared a man vpon the hatches that asked them what they would We pray you in curtesie said Manely shew vs who is the maister of your bark it is said the man a great lord that before you escape will make you know how he vseth to haÌ„dle such youths as you are And though he doe so said Manely we are now in such necessitie that it shall please vs well to indure the worst that he can doe vnto vs to bée rid out of this hunger which we now indure and still beginneth to assaile vs wherefore cause vs to speake with him if it please you let vs know his name Those that haue falleÌ„ into his hands â—saied the man call him the diuell of
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
rather then threatnings would become him better Haue you already forgotten the prison wherein you are and in the handes of those that haue so small occasion to wish you well My lord vertue is neuer better knowne to bee in man but then when hee is in most distresse Wherefore if vntill this time you haue not knowne what constancy doth meane learne hereafter to discerne the same vsing words worthy your estate and not such nor so iniurious as you haue vttered vnto my lord Gastilles who in this place representeth the person of an emperor a greater lord then you in whose mercy your life or death consisteth for we are all his souldiours ready to doe him seruice The king perceiuing well that hee had done them wrong and fearing to bee hardlier vsed then hee was accustomed to bee saied vnto Esplandian Sir Knight I pray you pardon my impatience considring with your selfe the great gréef and melancholy humour wherein I am when I that was wont to be feared and redoubted of al the princes in Asia am now constrained to obay the will and pleasure of my greatest enemies which vnto me is so extreame gréefe that I die each day a hundred times because I cannot die But Esplandian answered not one word but leauing him with his gard taking Gastilles by the hand led him into one of his best chambers where they supped The next day they assembled all together and after many matters propounded it was agréed among them according to Frandalos aduise that they should enter into Turkie being as then in great perplexity as well for the taking of king Armato as for the ouerthrow of his army as it shall bee shewed vnto you hereafter for at this time wee will cease to speake thereof returning to shew you of king Luisart that during this time for the most part held his court in the citty of London CHAP. XXVIII How the greatest part of the knights that vsed to be at king Luisarts court returned vnto their owne houses and of the coronation of Amadis and Oriane at London YOu haue heard before of the combat betwéene Esplandian and Amadis his father and how after long time of their abode at Mirefleur staying the healing of their wounds Esplandian desiring to returne vnto the castle La montaigne defendu tooke his leaue of king Luisart the like did diuers of the knights that as then were at the Court as Galaor king of Sobradise Agraies Gransador Balan Galuanes and Angriotte d'estrauaulx some to sée their wiues others to tast the ease and pleasant rest of their mansion houses whereby it happened the court was lesse replenished with knights then it had beene in long time before especially by reason of the newes they heard from the castle La montaigne defendu whether diuers yong knights trauailed to aide Esplandian King Luisart therefore so meanely accompanied as I said before being very old and decrepit began to bée melancholy and to haue the palsie setting aside all Hunting Hawking Armes and Chiualry or any other pleasure whatsoeuer And with a remēbrance of death so much abhorred all things past present and to come that he estéemed them vaine and altogether transitory whereby he determined to depose himselfe of all kingly estate and gouernment of his realme to passe the rest of his time in a solitary and religious manner specially when he called to mind the great perils from whence he had escaped and aboue all his last most dangerous and cruell imprisonment Neuerthelesse for a time hee kept it secret vntill one night hee being a bed with the Quéene where they lay talking of the sicklenesse of this world hee discouered his whole mind vnto her and how hée determined to make Amadis his sonne king and gouernour of his country to the end he might fréely and without any interruption withdraw himself to his castle of Mirefleur where by Gods helpe he meant to liue a solitary life The Quéene that was one of the wisest and deuoutest ladies in her time confirmed him so well in his opinion that they agréed to returne to London there to accomplish their pretence And the next day they departed from Mirefleur accompanied of Amadis Gransador and others and comming to London after they had remained there a certaine time the Quéene sent for all the nobilitie who being arriued at the court caused a scaffold to bee made in the principall place of all the citty where the people might repaire And as he and the Quéene both apparrelled in their roiall robes each set in a chaire of estate Amadis sitting somwhat lower on his right hand and Oriane on the left were come thether a Herauld crying thrice that all the people should kéepe silence ◠the king with a stately countenaunce and Princely magnanimitie turning to the people saied vnto them My good friends and loial subiects before I begin to shew you the cause why I haue made you to repaire vnto this place I wil put you in mind of part of the dangers and great hazards wherein I haue often fallen since the death of my brother of famous memory king Falangris whē it pleased God to call me vnto the gouernment of this land and as I thinke there are yet many of you liuing that can wel remember the danger wherein both I and my country thought to fall when by the meanes and subtletie of Arcalaus the inchanter I was deliuered into their hands that long time before had conspired my death from whence my sonne Amadis deliuered mee Yet not long after by euill counsell I made warre against him which ended as all men know fortune enuious of my felicitie afterward prepared mee such a banket that without his helpe I had beene prisoner with king Arauigne and vtterly ouerthrowne And that which hath yet more astonished mee was that when I thought my selfe sure and out of danger of all mishaps a worse then all the former suddainely chanced vnto me the which considering the place wherein I was I thought verely to haue ben the end and consumation of my daies Neuerthelesse the Lord God regarding me in pitty sent my yong sonne Esplandian to my sorrowfull prison from whence hée hath deliuered mee as no doubt you haue heard Now my good subiects you all sée mée to bee very old and white haired hauing already attained to the thréescore and tenth yeare of mine age which maketh me think it time now to forget all wordly pleasures and to serue God to whom I am so much bound And for this cause I haue determined from henceforth to forsake all royall dignity and leaue you my son Amadis for your king to whome at this time I yéeld both my Crowne Scepter and all the right I haue vnto the gouernement of this land praying you all as much as possibly I may that hereafter you will bee faithfull and true subiects vnto him as you haue alwaies ben to me And although hée bée but my sonne in law if I knew him vnworthy of the place beléeue
heart and the entrailes of her body the rest of the flocke resting in the power and gouernement of him and his fierce company whereby not long after it shall come to passe that the great deceitfull Serpent the inchaunted sword and this high rocke shal sink into the bottome of the sea and shall neuer after be seene againe of any man But although Esplandian vnderstoode the Gréeke tongue yet could he not giue any interpretation or exposition to this prophesie no more could any of his company wherefore they determined not to stay long about the same but were more busied to behold the stones and great riches they sawe within the tombe which they determined to take with them and return vnto their ships without staying any longer for their victuals began to fail wherefore Esplandiâ—â— willed Carmelle to take the Lion hee and the king of Denmarke tooke the plate of christall Gandalin and Enil the azure stone and the Squires the Ceader chest with the Image of Iupiter And in that sort they issued out of the pallace descending downe the rocke till about euening they came vnto the hermitage where they staied all night the next day they went on till they found their ship wherein about sunsetting they imbarked themselues and because Esplandian would not be séene in Constantinople without the great Serpent hée commanded the master of the ship to direct his course to the castle called La montaigne defendu which he did But hauing sailed about two daies more as the king of Denmark sat talking with Esplandian about the letter that was sent vnto him hee asked him if he thought not good that he should make a voiage vnto the Princesse Leonorine to vnderstand the truth of her affection towards him For saied hee it may be Gastilles hath mistaken her words or the Emperor himselfe hath commanded him to write vnto you in such sort that therby you should make the more hast to goe thether at the least I shall know of her what her pleasure is and how you shal gouern your selfe in respect of her Ha my good friend said Esplandian you haue toucht me now euen at the quicke If you would doe me so much fauour you shall bind mee for euer vnto you meane time I will stay for you in the gulfe where I found you with Frandalo when we raised the siege of the castle La montaigne defendu Assure your selfe said the king I will do my good will There was belonging to their ship a little Pinnace which the maister tooke with him besides the boat to saue himselfe and his people if any tempest should happen wherin the king with certain martiners to guide him entred and taking their leaue of Esplandian sailed forwards with so good a winde that in short space they lost the sight of the great ship But the next night following there happened such a teÌ„pest that at the breake of day their Pilot knew not where hee was without knowledge of the place he was constrained to abandon the Pinnace vnto the mercy of the waues which continued for the space of forty daies together in which time they indured so many fortunes that it would be ouertedious to recount them and wée should likewise digresse from the matter whereinto wee are entered to bring our history vnto an end â—et it therefore suffice you to know that their victuals being spent they chanced to arriue in the Island of the Giant Drapheon where the king of Denmarke and his squire lost their wits and became mad by force of a water that they drunk out of a fountain called The fountain of Forgetfelnesse that sprang in that Isle where they were taken kept in a cruel prison froÌ„ whence in short time after they were deliuered by the meanes of a Gentlewoman that fel in loud with the king and caused him to recouer his health armes horse and a ship with all things necessary for himselfe and his squire and hauing done she with them put to sea and coasting the countrey of Treuisane they came vnto an Island where the people of the countrey would haue burnt a Gentlewoman because shee could not find a knight for to maintaine her quarrel but the king fought for her and ouercame him that accused her taking the Gentlewoman with him put to sea againe sailing sixe daies together along the coast hée perceiued a maid out of a tower where in the lord of the country kept her prisoner for the cause which shee declared to the king out of a window that looked into the sea for whose sake the king took land to fight with the lord till hée deliuered the poor gentle woman out of prison such were the aduentures of the king of Denmark which are rehearsed at large in the great chronicles that master Elizabeth wrote not long after the coronation of Esplandian wherein the prowesse aduentures of the Brittish knights and others remaining at Alfarin are likewise registred orderly set downe For this time content your selues to vnderstand the maner how in what sort Esplandian and the Princesse Leonorine saw each other how afterward Vrganda came to Constantinople of the armies both â—y land sea of the cruell battaile betwéen the Turks Christians which ended our history likewise shall be finished but hauing many things to describe before I come to that point we will returne to Esplandian that was not smally abashed at the long absence of the King expecting froÌ„ day to day some newes of him that had left his company only for the cause you heard before CHAP. XXXV How Esplandian hauing staied Garinter king of Denmarks returne about two weekes space and perceiuing no news of him determined by the counsell of Carmelle to goe in person to the citty of Constantinople AFter that Garinter King of Denmarke had set saile towards Constantinople as it is saied before Esplandians ship arriued at the gulfe where he promised to stay and there lay at anker for the space of two wéekes not hearing any news of his desired message wherewith he doubted either that the king of Denmarke should bee drowned or that fortune had carried his vessel some other way wherfore he thought to send one of his marriners to enquire of him But before hee did it he determined first to speak with Carmelle and taking her aside saied vnto her My great friend you know for what cause the king of Denmarke left vs the reason of his voiage as also the promise he made vnto me to returne again with all spéed but we can heare no news of him at all which maketh me assuredly beléeue either hee is dead or that the storme hee was in hath cast him in some country so far off that he cannot by any meanes doe as he hath promised wherefore I pray you giue mee your aduise what I were best to doe for those that are in the like mind that I am although in some thinges they haue their vnderstandings whole and perfect
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