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
sort being conquered and the people gotten into the great temple of Iupiter Esplandian minding not to lose the Princesse Heliaxe nor the Giant Foron that he and Frandalo left with Carmelle desired Gandalin and Lazinde to goe fetch them and with them hee sent Sergil his Squire to bring them to the place which they presently did and made such hast that they found her sitting by a great fire that Foron had made where lighting off their horses saluting Heliaxe Gandalin said Madame my lord Esplandian praieth you to come vnto the place where hee staieth for you My friends saied shee I knew him not true it is I was brought hether by two knights whereof one is Frandalo that I haue knowne long time but for the other I assure you as farre as I remember I neuer sawe him before Madame saied Carmelle hee is sonne to the valiant knight Amadis de Gaule whose fame is spread so farre about the world Truly saied Heliaxa I haue heard of him so haue you as I thinke said Carmelle of my lord Esplandian his sonne for hee alone conquered the castle La montaigne defendu and now lately hath taken king Armato your father in lawe and I can assure you hee is one of the courteous knights liuing in the world I am much abashed then saied she how he shewed himselfe so vncourteous in my behalf not speaking vnto me while I was in his company yet me thinketh being his prisoner hee could haue done no lesse then comfort mée either with good spéeches or faire promises whereof hee hath vsed so few that while I liue I shall neuer thinke well of him Madame saied Carmelle you take the matter otherwise then it is for if hee refrained to speake vnto you it was by reason of the great acquaintance hee perceiued Frandalo to haue with you vnto whome he is so great a friend that hee was not onely content to giue him leaue to entertaine you but much greater fauour would hee doe vnto him if hee can You may say what you will saied shee Neuerthelesse if he haue no other excuse then that you alledge in his behalfe hee shall neuer lose the disliking hee hath gotten at my hands Madame saied Gandalin I am well assured hee will amend that fault when it pleaseth you wherefore I pray you determine what you meane to dâ—e for hee hath commaunded vs to doe as pleaseth you My friendes saied Heliaxe I would gladly sléepe till it bee day then I will bee ready to goe where you thinke good but I pray you tell mee what noise it was I heard of late within the Towne Madame saied Lazinde It is not yet thrée howers since the Towne was taken by assault Good God saied she what miserable fortune was that for the poore inhabitants I thinke they are all put vnto the sword No madame saied Lazinde the greater part haue saued themselues in the great Temple of Iupiter but they will hardly escape when it is day for our Generals are determined to burne the Temple If it bee so saied shee that Frandalo hath any credite with his companions and that hee that sent you bee so courteous as this Gentlewoman reporteth him to bee I hope they will take pittie on the poore people at least if not for the loue of them I trust vpon request for my sake they will not refuse it And to the end I come not thether for late I pray you when day appeareth let vs presentlie depart wherewith laying her downe vpon a cloke shee passed the rest of the night not greatly to her ease CHAP. XXX How Gandalin and Lazinde brought the Princesse Heliaxe and the Giant Foron into the Towne of Alfarin to Esplandian and Frandalo and of the honourable intertainment they had HEliaxe that had not slept all that night being gréeued for the losse of the towne of Alfarin the ordinary abiding place of Alphorax her husband and withall the pleasantest and most delicious place of all Turkie perceauing day to appeare waked the two knights making her account if shee might get into the towne before the destruction of the temple the people that were fled into it by her request and humble supplication to Esplandian and Frandalo should bee saued With that they all mounted on their horses and made such hast that they entred into the town as the Christians began to assault the fortresse and when Frandalo perceiued the Princesse Heliaxe hee rode vnto her bidding her God morrow and taking her palfry by the bridle bareheaded brought her to Esplandian and his company that did her great honor knowing her to be a kings doughter and wife to so great a Prince With that shee asked Frandalo which of them was Esplandian Madame saied hee pointing vnto him here he is ready to do you any seruice that he can as hee hath assured mee But when shee perceiued him to bee so yoong and of so great beautie shee was abashed to think how nature had furnished him with so many good perfections especially of so great and incomparable force wherof he had the commendation among the most valerous knights wherewith shee saied vnto Frandalo In good faith I haue heard him commended in diuers places for one of the best knights liuing in the world and of mine owne knowledge I haue séen him doe that which I would neuer haue thought to bee in him considering his yoong yeares so that if hee abound as much in courtesie as he doth in valour and beautie I thinke him to bee the brauest Gentleman that may bee found which I shall presently sée if he graunt me one request Madame saied Esplandian blushing at the praises she vsed in respect of him If I doe it not you shall be the first that euer I refused gift vnto in all my life and considering your great beautie and most courteous behauiour howe should it be possible for me to disobay your will I pray you then sir knight said she to pardon the poore people that are within the Temple and graunt them vnto mee with leaue to send them where I shall thinke good not hurting them any more In good truth madame said Esplandian you shall not be refused for so smal a matter and I will doe so much with the other knights that they shall giue consent as also to your owne libertie and the Giant Forons to guide you where it pleaseth you which Frandalo did most earnestly desire at our handes before you arriued here And for his sake looke what else you will command at our hands wee are ready to performe it with all our hearts For the which the Princesse Heliaxe thanked him most heartely and turning to Frandalo saied vnto him Sir Knight the good that you and your companions doe vnto mee shall neuer bee forgotten on my part but I will by all means séeke to acknowledge the same although presently I cannot doe it wherefore if it pleaseth you cause your souldiours to retire that these poore distressed people may come forth according to
women to return to sea kéeping apart from all the Pagans without once stirring from thence for any thing whatsoeuer should fall till shée receiued further newes from her which was partly the cause of the enemies ouerthrow for they doubting some treason being separated in that sort from that time forward were in some feare and in greater suspition than before and not without cause for that if Lyote had aided king Armato both by sea and land as shée might haue done if her sister had not forbidden her it is likely her esquadron of women being twentie thousand strong and somewhat more had done great mischiefe to the Christians but God of his goodnes prouided better for them CHAP. LIIII How after the Pagans were driuen out of Thrace the Emperour of Constantinople renouncing his Empire inuested Esplandian therwith marrying him to his doughter the princesse Leonorine THe obsequies and funerals of the Kinges Princes Lords and others that died in the battell being finished the wounded cured and all things set at rest the Emperour of Constantinople knowing that Amadis and those that were come with him from the Westerne parts would retourne againe into their countries desired them to assemble shewing them that his meaning was to let them know what hée determined to doe before they went from thence The next day in the morning they all met in the emperors great hall and he standing in the middest spake vnto them and said My brethren lords and good friends the bond wherein I stand bounden vnto you is so great that although it hath pleased God to make me Emperour of all Grecia yet am I well assured it is far beyond my poore hability to satisfie you for the same estéeming the honour and riches that I now haue next vnder God be it little or much to procéed from you I am now thréescore yeares of age wholly aged decrepit by reason of the paines that in my youthfull yeares I haue continually taken in following armes so it is I haue but one child which is a daughter the onely staffe hope of my old yeares whome I haue determined if you thinke good to giue in marriage vnto the valiant knight Esplandian and with her likewise to inuest him with the Empire and gouernement of all my countries And the better to liue solitarily and to seperate my selfe from worldly company I haue determined to goe with the Empresse my wife into the monastery that I caused to bee made there to liue religiously calling vpon God and doing pennance for the euils I haue committed heretofore Wherefore my good lords and friendes I pray you if this my determination like you well let euery man giue consent and you first saied hee vnto king Amadis to whom the matter toucheth néerer then to any of the rest as being father and sonne My lord said he my sonne shal doe as you command him I will tell you said the Emperour I remember that among other Prophesies which ought to happen in this our time there is one that maketh me as I think agrée with you in one consent Esplandian hath vpon his body as I haue vnderstood certaine carracters which shew his name and others that in no wise can be read but only by the woman that is ordained to be his wife let vs now sée if it be my daughter or not with that he sent for the Princesse Leonorine who being brought thether by the Empresse and diuers other ladies the Emperour desired Esplandian to open his doublet and shew them the letters hée had borne vpon his body from his mothers wombe which hée refused not but before them all shewed them openly where euerye man might easily perceiue the white carracters containing this word Esplandian but they could not know the red wherefore the Emperour caused his daughter to come néere asking her what she could doe therein My lord said she not long before Melie betraied Vrganda she and I being alone in my chamber she sent to fetch one of the bookes that had ben taken from her couered with gold whereon the Enchauntresse was ingrauen and I remember that I saw therein the like carracters that Esplandian beareth on his body and ouer them their signification which is nothing else but his name and mine Daughter said the Emperor if you haue the booke still cause it to be brought hether wherevnto shée obaied The booke being brought shee shewed him the place that Melie had read vnto her containing that which followeth The happy knight that shall conquer the sword the great treasure inchaunted by me shall from his mothers wombe bear his name in white carracters and the name of her that shall be his wife in red carracters vpon his body which red carracters shal be so difficult to vnderstand that no man liuing in that time how wife or learned soeuer he be shall expresse the same without he sée this booke which wil teach him what the seuen carracters do signifie representing the seuen words that follow Leonorine daughter of the Emperour of Greece In good faith saied the Emperour here is a strange case and sheweth well that the Enchantresse lady had more knowledge in art Magicke then any that liued in her time and séeing my daughter hath so wel deuined I am determined that you said he vnto the archbishop of Thrace do grant vnto Esplandian that which nature before his birth had promised vnto him which is my daughter Leonorine By which meanes the marriage was solemnised and finished the same day with no great ceremonies the Court being as yet troubled for the death of so many Princes and great lords that were slaine in the battaile but let it suffice to knowe that those two louers enioyed the thing which they so long desired Esplandian the same day being proclaimed Emperor of Gréece according to the commandement of his father in lawe who within two months after with the Empresse his wife went vnto a monastery place of deuotion And because quéene Calafre had alwaies pretended to marry with Esplandian perceauing her intent frustrated she could not refrain to speak in presence of theÌ„ all said vnto them My lords I beséech you giue me leaue to declare my mind It is certain said she that those which know me are not ignorant that I am one of the greatest most puissant princesse in all the cast parts by reason of the great quantity of golde and precious stones that are within my countries As touching my linage I am daughter of a quéene of ancient race and as noble as any that euer was in the world so it is that fortune brought me into these marches promising me shortly to returne laden with great number of flaâ—es abundance of treasure but to the contrary I that pretended sought the captiuity of others and my selfe takeÌ„ better holden prisoner theÌ„ they ytâ—â— in their mortal enemies hands This imprisonmeÌ„t wherof I speak is not that whervnto I am bouÌ„d by the faith I haue
giuen vnto king Amadis hauing vanquished me by force which I certainely know to be wholly subiect to fortune but the imprisonment wherof 〈◊〉 complain is the wherin my hart hath inclosed it self hath the only mouing by the sole beauty fauor I haue found in the new most happy emperor estéeming my selfe to be such that I haued leauing my law to accept of yours to haue had him for my lord and husband although my hope by little and little began to deminish when I perceiued the Princes Leonorine to bee more recommended in all perfections then any that euer I heard of or euer haue séene so that speaking against my selfe it had béene impossible to finde a more equall match nor more conformable one vnto the other then the marriage of them together which maketh me beléeue that fortune extendeth wholy to eternise this my passion wherein I will if I can so much impeach her that forgetting my first affection and if it wil please him to giue me another husband worthy my estate I will accept it willingly together with baptisme and the law of Christ which you doe hold When the Emperour Esplandian saw her good pretence he began to comfort her in the best manner hee could and calling Talanque a faire lusty and wel disposed Gentleman hee saied vnto the Quéene Madame this Gentleman I offer vnto you is my cousin and son vnto King Galaor one of the best knights as I thinke liuing in the world I pray you at my request refuse him not for your lord and husband assuring you that I knowe no Princesse how great soeuer she be liuing in the world but might content her selfe with him The Quéene beheld him with so good affection that shee easily beléeued Esplandian and saied vnto him Vpon your word my lord I wil accept of him and from this time forward yéeld my selfe to bée his wife and will for his sake doe so much that the Island wherin I and others my predecessors would not suffer a man to liue shal from henceforth be gouerned by him as other countries are by their Kings and Princes And because her sister Liâ—â—e was not at that assembly but with her ships lying in the straights as Quéen Calafre had commaunded her as you heard before shee desired the Emperour to send for her who presently sent the admirall Tartarie to fetch her she being come and hauing heard her sisters mind easily agréed thereto and by the same meanes was married to Manely the wise both espoused at one time and being baptised caused all their armie to do the like which done not long after those newe married couples taking their leaues of the Kings Princes Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Court they imbarked themselues Manely hauing with him the vessels wherein Childadan his father arriued in the east and Talanque those of king Galaor which they caused to bee sraighted laden with all things necessary for so strange a country And setting saile for Californie not without great trouble which in the end they ouercame they arriued in safety where afterward they had many battels with their neighbors bordering about them whom they ouercame augmenting their dominions with many great lands territories But because the subiect of our history is not further to intreat of them we will for this present leaue theÌ„ to goe on with that which afterward was done in the city of Constantinople You heard before of the loue of Norandel and quéen Minoresse that daily increased in theÌ„ more more which the Empresse knowing ful well caused them to be married together the emperor giuing to Norandel the castle La montaigne defendu with the townes of Alfarin Galatia for the which he recompenced Frandalo with the rich fertile and well peopled isle's of Galatines Mean time the Emperor Esplandian not forgetting the imprisonment of Vrganda one day among the rest not long before the princes of the West imbarked theÌ„selues to return into their countries hee shewed theÌ„ in what sort Melie had taken her away by inchantment caried her to the great citty of Tesifant where she held her prisoner in a great tower desiring them most earnestly to giue him counsel what he might do therin Son said king Amadis it were good you sent vnto Armato to offer him for her the souldan of Liquie that is your prisoner if he refuse you so to doe we will enter into his country and fetch her thence by force Wherevnto they all agréed so that without longer delay Carmelle was sent to Tesifant imbarking her self with four squires thrée gentlewomeÌ„ with a good wind arriued at the castle La montaigne defendu where she remained certain daies staying for king Armatos pasport which by one of her womeÌ„ she sent to fetch who fouâ—â— Armato as melancholy as might be féeling as yet his fortune past specially the death of his son Alphorax which without ceasing he coÌ„tinually lamented With that the gentlewoman gaue him to vnderstand the cause of her arriual wherwith he was so wel pleased that presently hee caused Carmelles safe conduct to bee made and giuing it to the messenger said vnto her My friend returne vnto your mistresse and assure her from mee that shée may come vnto my court as often as it pleaseth her remembring well the pleasures she shewed vnto me during my imprisonment The gentlewomaÌ„ thanked him most hartily and returned to Carmelle who within few daies after went to Tesifant to Armato where shee declared at large the effect of her embassage which heard by king Armato and considring with himself that for Vrganda hée might recouer one of his greatest friends therby cause the Christian Princes for a time to refrain the ouerrunning of his country sent presently for Melie desiring her in all affection for his sake to grant to his desire the pleasure of the Christians considring the offer made by theÌ„ was both aduantage vnto him his Melie desirous to please Armato brake her inchantments without delay Vrganda was deliuered vnto Carmelle vpon condition that shee being arriued in the city of Constantinople should likewise set the Souldan of Liquie at liberty which she swore and promised to do which done taking their leaue of Armato they trauelled so long that they came vnto the castle La montaigne defendu where Vrganda caused theÌ„ to leaue Carmelles ship to enter into the great serpent that as yet she found there which presently of it selfe began to saile as it had alwaies done before Vrganda was in prison in such manner that without impeachment they arriued in the Hauen of Constantinople where the Princes and lords being on shoare descended to the water side to receiue Vrganda And thinking to bring her to the pallace she desired the to stay there til a prophesie were accoÌ„plished that should be done before the sun went down which they agréed vnto not onely to please her mind but likewise desiring to sée what it should be