CHAP. I. How Eſplandian ſleeping in the great ſerpent, when hee awaked, he found himſelfe to bee at the foot of the rocke of the Enchauntreſſe, and what happened vnto him.

ESplandian that had fallen aſléepe in the ſerpent by meanes of the melodious noiſe of trumpets, that the ſixe Gentlewomen ſounded along the ſhoare, after he had receiued the order of knighthood, as it hath ben declared vnto you in the end of our fourth booke, when hee awaked was much abaſhed that he ſaw not any of the company that were there preſent when the Giant Balan dubbed him knight, but found himſelfe alone betwéene the wings of that monſtrous beaſt, at the foot of a rocke vnknowne to him, which rocke was ſo high, that hee thought it impoſſible to climbe vp, but hee was perſuaded that Vrganda la Deſcogneue (whoſe workes and enterpriſes were moſt wonderfull) had ordained it to be ſo, and therevpon he comforted himſelfe, going down into the body of the ſhip (where the day before that great aſſemblie had ben) but he found no man; and ſéeking further, hee went into the chappel, where hee eſpied Sergil his ſquire faſt ſléeping, and hard by him two old men with rols on their heads, apparrelled like Turkes: with that he went to Sergil, and with his foot gaue him ſuch a thruſt, that on a ſodain he ſtarted vp, and ſpeaking to his maiſter (as though hee had neuer ſéene him before) aſked him what he meant, whereat Eſplandian began to laugh, and ſaid vnto him: Good God, Sergil, haſt thou ben in my company all thy life time, and knoweſt mee no better? and taking him by the hand, he drew him in ſuch maner to him that therewith hee awaked, much aſhamed to haue committed ſuch a fault: whereof ſéeking to excuſe himſelfe, hee ſaid vnto his maiſter, By my faith ſir, I was ſo faſt aſléepe when you called me, that I neither remembred you nor my ſelfe, and I am now more abaſhed then I was before to think how I fel into ſo ſound a ſléepe: That cannot I tel (anſwered Eſplandian) although as much hath happened vnto me. Then he told him that hee had ſlept, and when he awaked he found himſelfe alone betwéene the wings of the Serpent, without any of the company that were with him when hee receiued the order of knighthood, and now (ſaid he) we are arriued at the foot of the higheſt rocke that euer I ſaw, and withall it is ſo hard and difficult to climbe vp, that I can find neither path nor way how to doe it, yet haue I beheld it long, but (as I perceiue) it is enuironned with the ſea in ſuch manner, that conſidering the ſcituation of the place, I certainly beléeue it is the rocke of the Enchauntreſſe, whereof in times paſt thou haſt heard by Amadis my father. And as they were in this manner ſpeaking, Sergil heard the two old men ſnort (that as yet they had not once perceiued) and demanded of Eſplandian if he knew them not: As God helpe me no (ſaid Eſplandian) for as farre as I remember I neuer ſaw them before, but I iudge that Vrganda hath left them here to helpe vs if we néed. I pray you ſaid Sergil let vs awake them: then hee called them ſo lowd that they roſe vp, Eſplandian aſking them who brought them thether, but they made ſignes that they could not ſpeake. It was then about twelue of the clocke, and Eſplandian would willingly haue eaten if he had found meat, and ſaid vnto Sergil, Friend, neuer in all my life had I ſo good an appetite to eat as I haue now, but I doubt we ſhall find no victuals in the ſhip, I pray thée Sergil let vs go ſée, for as I perceiue, if we truſt vnto theſe dumbe men, we are like to fare but hardly: but the dumbe men perceiued well what he meant: wherefore going out of the chappell they entred into a chamber that ioined to the hall, from whence they preſently returned, bringing with them ſuch quantity of meate that Eſplandian and Sergil were neuer better ſatiſfied in all their liues: hauing dined & the tables vncouered, they went vnto the place where Eſplandian had ſlept, from whence hee ſhewed Sergil the rocke whereof hee had told him before, ſaying: Aſſure thy ſelfe Sergil, ſéeing the ſerpent ſtirreth not from hence, it is a ſigne that I muſt goe vpon this high rock to ſée if there be any aduentures, and if I can bring them to an end I know not (anſwered Sergil) what you will doe, but if you truſt to the coun • ell of our dumbe men we ſhall ſtay long ynough here before we haue any wordes of them. Let vs land (ſaid Eſplandian) and with that hee made ſignes to the old men, that they ſhould haiſe out the boat, wherevnto they willingly obeied: which done, the firſt that entred was Sergil, then Eſplandian (armed in the ſame armour he ware when the great Balan dubbed him knight) and rowing with their oares they made towards the rocke, at the foot whereof they deſcended out of the boat, leauing the two dumbe men alone in the ſerpent, and as they were looking for a way to get vp, they found ye ſame path that Amadis and Granſador had taken when they went vp to ſée the ſtrange aduentures that the Enchauntereſſe had left there, and they had not trauelled long, but that Sergil perceiued his maiſter to want a ſword, (for of all other armour he was wel furniſhed when hee receiued the order of knighthood onely of a ſword) wherefore he ſaid vnto him: ſir, I know not whether you meane to goe, but if we paſſe forward, and that vpon the top of this rock, if you find any dangerous aduenture, you haue nothing to defend your ſelfe withall, but if you will beléeue me, you ſhall rather take an oare out of our boat, for oftentimes the ſtouteſt man is ouercome, not for want of courage or ſtomacke to reſiſt, but for want of weapons to defend himſelfe, and with that hee went backe vnto the boat, and bringing one of the oares with him, gaue it to his maiſter, in which maner they began to mount vpon the rocke not without great paine, the way being ſo difficult, the aire hote, and Eſplandian heauily armed. Notwithſtanding they ceaſed not to trauaile day and night, till they arriued at the Hermitage, where the image of braſſe ſtood with a ſcrole of writing at his féet (as you haue read in the fourth book) which as then they could not diſcerne by reaſon it was darke, wherfore they determined to paſſe the night vnder the gate, not entering any further, for it was extreame whote. Then Eſplandian put off his helmet, and laying downe his ſhield, eate ſuch meate as his Squire had brought with him: which done, lying downe vpon the graſſe he ſlept till the morning that he and Sergil entered into the chappell, where they beheld the image and the writing, but neither of them could read it becauſe the letters were in Gréek, which they vnderſtood not. Then Eſplandian determining to goe further, ſaid to Sergil, Friend, it is beſt for you to ſtay here till I come againe, for if this be the rocke where my father & Granſador (whether it weare by fortune or willingly) did once arriue, I remember I haue heard them tell, that in Summer the aire is ſo whote therein that it bréedeth many venomous beaſts, whereby thou mighteſt receiue ſome harme, being no better armed thē thou art, but as for mee thou knoweſt I am predeſtined to thoſe aduentures that other men haue failed to accompliſh, which putteth me in hope either that I ſhall not liue long, or I ſhal accompliſh the things that are foreſhewed of me, and by that meanes ſhall conquer the ſword and the treaſure, that for certaine is ſaid to be in an old pallace within this rocke. What, ſaid Sergil, Doe you think that although I ſhould die a thouſand deaths I would refuſe to goe with you? No by my faith, for I know that without your company life wil be irkſomer to me then a thouſand deaths if a man could indure ſo many. Friend anſwered Eſplandian I beléeue it wel, neuertheleſſe if any inconuenience ſhould happen vnto thée, beſides the blame I might receiue thereby, thy deede would be more eſtéemed folly, then done of any courage: but not to me that haue both armor and ſhield to fight againſt the ſtrongeſt enemy that may bee found, wherefore I pray thée once againe doe as I would haue thée. Wherewith Sergil perceiuing no remedy, turned his head aſide and began to wéepe. In ye mean time Eſplandian laced on his helmet, and hanging his ſhield about his necke with the oare on his ſhoulder, kept on the pathes that at the laſt brought him to the top of the rocke, and being there hee went towards the broken caſtle, where hee perceiued the other Image with the table that ſhe held in her left hand, the contents whereof he could no more vnderſtand then that of the Hermitage, wherfore without longer ſtaying he paſſed forward towards the chamber where the treaſure lay, being continually guarded by a moſt great and horrible ſerpent: and as hee went néerer to it, he perceiued ye gates to be of hard ſtone, where there was a ſword ſo farre thruſt in, that nothing but the handle could be ſéene, wherewith he thought it to be the ſame whereof he had heard, and being moued with great deſire to haue it, he determined (although he had but a ſtaffe to defend himſelfe) to aſſaile the beaſt, whatſoeuer happened thereby. And to the ſame end with a bold courage he ſet forwards, but the ſerpent (that as thē ſlept) awaked, and looking with a cruell countenance vpon Eſplandian, began to hiſſe, and caſt out fire at he • mouth as if ſhee would deuour him. Neuertheleſſe Eſplandian couered with his ſhield went néere vnto her, and with his oare gaue her ſuch a blow betwéene the eares, that with the force hee vſed, it had almoſt fallen out of his hands. Notwithſtanding the beaſt made towards him ſo furiouſly that ſhe ouerthrew him on the ground and troad vpon his belly, whereat hée was not a little abaſhed, but perceiuing what danger hee was in, ſodainly • art vp, and by little and little got to the gate wherein the ſword ſtucke, which at the laſt hee laid hold vpon, and with both hands drew it to him with ſuch force that he puld it out: and with that the gates opened with ſo fearefull a noiſe, that preſently the ſerpent fell dead vpon the ground, and Eſplandian was ſo aſtoniſhed that he knew not what hee did, but it was no meruel for that Sergil that ſtaied in the hermitage, farre from thence was in the greateſt feare that euer he had, and beſides the ſaylers that as then ſayled along the coaſt, thought verely the rocke would haue fallen into the ſea, ſo great was the noiſe at the opening of the gate. Meane time Eſplandian lay in a ſwoune till midnight following that he opened his eies, when he ſaw a great brightneſſe in the place, perceiuing the ſerpent dead and the inchanted ſword lying by his ſide, which hee tooke in his hand, and riſing vp entred into the chamber, in the middle wherof he ſaw a tombe ſhining brighter then fire, and vpon it a great lion of braſſe, holding in his right paw the ſcabberd of the ſword, from whence the great brightneſſe iſſued, and in his left a roll of letters written in Latine, The contents whereof doe follow.

CHAP. II. How Eſplandian hauing read the writing contained in the roll that the Lyon held, tooke the ſhining ſcabberd, and what ſpeech hee and Sergil had together.

THe fearefull cries at the time of the great conſtraint, ſhal force thee (O thou Knight that haſt conquered the ſword) to returne againe to conquer the great treaſure wherby thy ioy ſhal be reſtored in ſuch ſort, that the kindled flames, by whoſe beames thou ſhalt farre off be wounded (ſhal bee extinguiſhed, & content thy ſelfe with this glorious conqueſt thou haſt made: for that variable fortune had aduanced thee before all others, and thou haſt obtained the honor whervnto ſo many good knights could neuer attaine, notwithſtanding all their Proweſſe.

Eſplandian hauing read and again peruſed the contents of the writing, for a time ſtood muſing thereon, and in the end perceiued thereby, that although hee had brought the aduenture of the ſword vnto an end, yet he ſhould be conſtrained to attend ye time appointed (according to the contents of the writing) neuertheleſſe hee knew not the meaning thereof, being as then at libertie and frée from all the paſſions of loue. Notwithſtanding the cruell Tyrant Loue, afterward obtained ſo great a conqueſt againſt him, that hee made him fall in loue with her that hee neuer had ſéene, nor neuer was in her company, as reading further in this hiſtory you ſhall at large perceiue. Then he laied hand vpon the ſcabbard, and put the ſword into it, thanking God deuoutly for the grace he had obtained. After that he went diuers times about the tombe to ſée if he could open it without breaking, but he perceiued the chriſtall, from whence iſſued part of the brightneſſe to be couered with another plate coloured like azure, ſo wonderfully wrought that it would ſcarſe bée iudged whether it were marble, mettall, or any other ſtuffe: whereupon he left off his enterpriſe, and returned into the hall where the dead ſerpent lay, but as then neither ye ſword nor the ſcabberd yéelded any ſuch brightneſſe as before they did, becauſe it was day: Then going out hée went downe againe towards the Hermitage where hee had left his Squier, who being melancholy and amaſed at the long abſence of his maiſter, (fearing ſome danger happened vnto him) was gone out of the Hermitage to ſéeke him, and he had not trauelled farre, but hee perceiued him comming with the ſword by his ſide, whereat he made ſuch ioy, that being yet farre from him, he cried out and ſaid, O my lord, bleſſed bee God that hath giuen you ſo good a beginning wherat euery man ſhal wonder. Friend (ſaid Eſplandian) he hath yet done more for mee then thou wouldeſt thinke, and with that hee began from point to point to ſhew him the danger wherein he was, and being in that diſcourſe, it waxed darke euen then when they arriued at the Hermitage: wherefore they determined not to trauel any further that night, but laied them downe vnder the next trées they came vnto, ſtill ſpeaking of the ſtrangeneſſe of the place: whereat Sergil being more abaſhed then before, could not refraine to ſay: As God help me Maiſter, by good reaſon you may bée eſtéemed a better knight then Amadis your father, that came into this place, and ſaw the Image at the Hermitage, the writing that ſtandeth vpon the arch of ſtone, the ſerpent, the ſword that ſtuck in the gate where you found it, and the ſhining tombe, yet durſt he neuer proue any of theſe aduentures, and hée ſaied true, for Amadis knew well by the contents of the letters written in Gréeke, that thoſe aduentures were ordained for his ſonne Eſplandian, and therefore vndertooke them not, but all others, onely Granſador and Vrganda knew it not til thē, but although Sergil thought to pleaſe his maſter vſing ſuch words in his commendation, yet Eſplandian tooke it not ſo well, ſaying: I pray thée Sergil neuer vſe ſuch ſpéeches, for if the Proweſſe and knightly aduentures of my Father had ben as well employed to the aduancing of the Chriſtian faith as they were to win and obtaine honour in this world, I thinke his like would not be found, but hauing paſſed his youth in things ſo vaine and tranſitory, doubtleſſe his glory is the leſſe, not that I preſume in any thing to accuſe him, and God forbid I ſhould, yet is hee knowne in ſo many places to bee ſo valiant a knight, that whoſoeuer he be can ſecond him may well eſtéeme himſelfe happy among the happieſt, wherefore I pray thée let vs talk of other matters. Thus ſometimes talking and other whiles ſléeping, day began to appeare, when they roſe vp, taking their way towards the ſea ſide, deſcending downe the rocke, till they came where the two dumbe men ſtaied for them, one within the ſhip, the other in a little barke, wherein Eſplandian entred, according to the ſign the dumb man had made, and Sergil went into the ſerpent, and with that they departed, and the barke ſayled ſo ſwiftly, that in ſhort ſpace they left the ſight one of the other. But we will leaue Sergil with his dumbe man, making extream ſorrow to ſée himſelfe bereaued of his maiſters preſence, and will ſhew you of Eſplandian that from this time forwards ſhal be called the blacke knight, by reaſon of the armes hee bare, who being in the little barke with his conducter, ſayled ſo long that they took landing néere the Port where king Liſuart lay priſoner.

CHAP. III. How the barke wherein the black Knight and the dumbe man ſailed, arriued in the borders of Turkie hard by the place called La montaigne defendu, and of the diſcourſe that an hermite and the Knight had together.

TEnne daies and as many nights together ye black knight and the dumbe man ſayled on the ſea, not knowing in what parts they were, for if he had enquired of his guide, it had ben but labor loſt: ye eleuenth day they diſcouered a great & pleaſant Iſland, where the knight being wearied with the impetuoſity of the waues, deſired his guide to put his barke on ſhoare, but he regarding not his words, thruſt it néere vnto a high rocke, by nature cut in ſuch manner, that it ſéemed a wall purpoſely made for the defence thereof: and the countrey was ſo 〈◊〉 of woods and buſhes, that it might be eſtéemed vnhabitable. Then the dumbe man ſhewed him a path that led him vp to the rocke, and made him a ſigne to goe thether, where with he iſſued out of the barke, armed at all points, and began to mount vp, the weather was then extreame hote, whereby the knight was ſo chaſed in his harneſs, yt he was conſtrained to put off his helmet & carry it in his hand, till he perceiued a little Hermitage among the buſhes, & before it ſtood a high croſſe, which pleaſed him well, not only for the hope he had to find ſome one of whom hee might enquire in what countrey hee was, but becauſe hee was aſſured that there dwelt a Chriſtian, and with that hée perceiued a man apparrelled like an Hermite, ſo old and withered that his long white beard hung downe to his girdle, carrying in his hand a pitcher of water, that he had drawne out of a fountaine not farre from thence, and was paſſing by when the knight ſpake vnto him, ſaying: Father, God ſaue you, which when the good man heard, he was in ſo great a maſe, that for feare his pitcher fell out of his hand and brake in péeces. Neuertheleſſe by little and little he came to himſelfe againe, and perceiuing him that ſpake vnto him, anſwered and ſaid, My ſonne, it is now twenty years paſt fithence I left the pleaſures of this world, and forſeek my natiue ſoile to obtaine the grace of God, and that which moſt abaſheth mée is, that ſince the time whereof I ſpeake I neuer found man that as yet ſaluted mee in this manner, and I thinke verely you are a ſtranger in theſe countries, or els your ſpéech and apparell diſguiſeth you much. Father (ſaid the knight) true it is I am a ſtranger, brought hether by ſuch meanes, that I neither know the country where I am, nor any man or womā inhabiting therin, for you are the firſt creature that I met ſince I arriued here, of whom I might enquire, aſſuring you that when I perceiued this croſſe it reioiced my heart, for it is the armes of the maiſter that I ſerue. What ſaied the Hermit, doe you then know the vertue thereof? I, anſwered the knight, that I doe, being well aſſured that vpon the like croſſe our Redéemer (whereof I ſpeak) ſuffered death and paſſion. Alas ſaied the holy man, you ſay true, praiſed be his holy name, that once before I die he hath giuen me the grace to let me ſée a man on this ſide the ſea that beléeueth in him, aſſuring you ſir knight that you and I are onely the two creatures in this country that are Chriſtians, for all the reſtare Pagans and idolaters. And as he would haue procéeded further, his ſpéech failed him, doubting that hee to whom hee ſpake, was but a fantaſie or ſhadow of a man, but at the laſt he waxt bolder, and in maner of coniuration aſked him if he were a mortall man or not? Mortall (anſwered the knight) that I am for certain, and withall a ſinner, which diſpleaſeth mee much, and if it abaſheth you at this preſent to ſée mee here, I am my ſelfe no leſſe abaſhed to ſée you: for without doubt the manner of my arriuall in this countrey hath béen ſuch and ſo ſtrange, that I can render you no reaſon thereof, but if you know the countrey where in wée are, I beſéech you good Father tell it me to put me out of doubt. Gladly (ſaid the Hermite) and with that he tooke him by the hand, & led him to his Hermitage, and there ſitting downe together vpon a log of wood, the old man began to ſpeake in this maner, and ſaid, Now ſir knight, tell mee I pray you what countryman you are, Father (ſaid he) Great Brittaine is the countrey where in my youth I was borne and bred, I know not if euer you were acquainted therewith: How long is it ſaid the Hermite ſince you came from thence? It is fiftéene daies & more ſince I was there ſaid the knight, did you neuer know king Liſuart (ſaied the Hermite) that in my time raigned therin? Yes truly (ſaid the knight) for I haue ſéene him many times: how did hee when you came from thence ſaid the Hermite? That can I not certainely ſhew ſaid the knight, for hée was loſt and led away from thence, but by whom or in what manner no man cantell, notwithſtanding the great paine and diligence diuers of his knights haue vſed to find him out. When the Hermite heard that, he ſéemed very penſiue, which the knight perceiuing, thought in his mind that hee could tell him ſome newes, where vpon he began to behold him well in the face to ſée if hée changed colour, with that the Hermite (that well perceiued the Knights meaning) ſaid vnto him. Truly Sir Knight, not without cauſe haue I enquired ſo much touching King Liſuart, but before I will ſhew you my reaſon why, you ſhal vnderſtand that I am of great Brittaine as well as you, where as yet the greateſt part of my kindred are liuing, whome I forſooke at the ſame time that a Gyant lord of this country married with a lady who as then I ſerued, and with her paſſed the ſea, not only hoping to reape ſome reward for my former ſeruice, but (as yong men are moued) with a great deſire to ſée ſtrange countries, but it fortuned, that my miſtreſſe being forſaken of God, as ſoone as ſhee arriued in this countrey, left his holy law to receiue the law of her huſband, wherefore conſidering with my ſelf, that by reaſon as wel of my natural weakeneſſe, as by often frequenting the company of theſe countrymen I might fal into ſome error, I determined to withdraw my ſelfe into this place, wherein I haue endured much paine and miſery, to the great daunger of my life, by reaſon of the controuerſie betwéene the law of Ieſus Chriſt, which I hold, and the law of the Pagans that ſéeke daily to deſtroy it, that without the fauour of my miſtreſſe that would not ſuffer them to diſpleaſe me, I had not liued ſo long as I haue done among them, but when it pleaſeth God I wil depart hence, and returne again into mine own country, now you haue heard how I haue hetherto liued, I pray you ſir knight (ſaid hee) ſhew mee your aduentures, and who hath brought you into this place from whence very hardly you will euer be able to returne again, but rather are in danger of moſt cruell death, or to indure the moſt horrible impriſonmēt that euer was heard of, which would gréeue me much, not only for the great beauty and young yeares that I perceiue to be in you, but for that you are my natiue countryman. Father anſwered the knight, you haue done mee great pleaſure to ſhew me the manner of your life and bringing vp, neuertheleſſe before I ſatiſfie your requeſt, tell mee (if it pleaſeth you) wherfore when you ſpake of king Liſuart you ſéemed ſo ſad, which made mee coniecture that you know ſome thing touching him. Sonne (ſaid the Hermit) you ſhall vnderſtand that a doughter of mine, ſeruant to the lady whereof I ſpake, not long ſince came hether to ſée me, and told mee that hee miſtreſſe returning from great Brittaine, whether ſhee went to deliuer a brother of hers out of priſon, brought with her very ſecretly a knight of great eſtimation as ſhee ſaid, neuertheleſſe I cannot aſſure you who it is: but as I haue learned ſince, they ſay the two Giants ſonnes were much pleaſed therewith, which maketh mee doubt, conſidering the newes you haue ſhewed mee touching king Luiſart, that he is moſt likely to be the man, for ſhée is ſo well ſéene in the art of Nigromancy and Magicke, that oftentimes ſhee procureth miſchief vnto thoſe that neuer offended her. And in what countrey are wee now (ſaid the knight?) You are betwéene the marches of Turky and Gréece ſaid the Hermite, for this mountaine parteth both the countries, but it is ſo ſtrong, not onely by nature, but by art, that neither of the two Princes of thoſe countries, what force ſoeuer they brought hether, could neuer win it. And now a Giant (ſonne vnto my lady and miſtreſſe) and one of the moſt ſtrongeſt and puiſſant knights in ye Eaſt parts, (as many of his neighbours, whoſe goods hee hath by force vſurped, and that in deſpight of the Emperour, or any other contradicting the ſame haue proued) is lord thereof. Where dwelleth hee (ſai • d the knight?) Aboue vpon ye rock (ſaid the Hermite) in a caſtle which he hath moſt ſtrongly fortefied, and is kept with all diligence and care by a Giant one of his brethren, with others, of as good condition as themſelues, and which is more, it is not poſſible to come néer ye caſtle, but by a little path way whereon the ſea continually beateth, at the end whereof there is a pair of ſtaires cut out of the rocke, whereby you mount vp till you come to an yron gate, where a villaine, in whom the lord of the caſtle putteth his truſt, watcheth continually, for there is no other entery, but onely the great gate that is defended with ſtrong platformes and great Towers, in the middle whereof there is a dore ſo ſtraight, that a man on horſebacke can hardly enter therein, and that way moſt commonly thoſe of the caſtle doe vſe to iſſue forth. Before it bee night ſaid the knight, I meane to ſée what manner of place it is, & if I can I will know who it is, that was ſo lately brought thether. God kéepe you from thence (ſaied the Hermite) for thereby you will either procure your owne death, or at the leaſt perpetuall impriſonment. Happen what may (ſaid ye knight) I wil proue what fortune it ſhall pleaſe God to ſend mee. That were but ill done of you (ſaid the Hermite) for that men are bound to imploy their forces only in things that ſtand with reaſon and poſſibilitie thereby to reap a benefit by their labors, otherwiſe they are to be eſtéemed deſperat fools, & not valiant & hardy knights aduēturing (without due reſpect) not only their bodies, but their ſouls which are of greater price, and Chriſt himſelfe hath by example plainely ſhewed it vnto vs, for when the Deuil came and tempted him, bidding him doe certain things, which in déed (as he was Chriſt) were poſſible, but as be was man were impoſſible to doe, hee anſwered him that hee ſhould not tempt the Lord his God. So my good ſonne (ſaid hee) I would aduiſe you to deſiſt from ſo vnreaſonable an enterpriſe. You may preach what you will to perſuade me to the contrary (ſaid the knight) but I muſt do that where vnto I am called, which is to prooue my ſelfe in thoſe aduentures that in mans iudgement ſéeme impoſſible: otherwiſe thoſe that haue foreſhewed of me, ſhould not onely haue trauelled in vaine, but bee eſtéemed liers and fooles. If then their ſayings bee true, what greater honour can I obtain then bringing moſt wonderful aduentures to an end, I may from henceforth therby reſtrain the rage and fury of ſuch men as hurt, and do iniury vnto others, contrary to the laws of God and man? And if they be found liers I had rather they ſhold be reproued for their want of knowledge then I accuſed of any point of cowardiſe. And if the worſt fal out I will imploy my force againſt ſuch accurſed people, (members and miniſters of the deuill) whom by the help of God I ſhal ouercome: and I beléeue and am certainely perſuaded (that if I die in thoſe aduentures) hee will receiue my ſoule into his heauenly ioy. The Hermite meruailed much to heare the blacke knight ſpeake ſo wiſely, and with ſo great a courage, neuertheleſſe the great beautie and yoong yeares hée perceiued him to haue, moued him to ſo great compaſſion, that the teares ranne downe his eies, and therewith he ſaied, Ha good knight, hee in whome thou truſteſt, preſerue thée and ſend thée long life, and ſéeing thou art reſolutely determined to paſſe forward, I pray thée deferre the time for this night, for it is already ſo late, that although thou ſhouldeſt haue time inough to get vnto the gate before the ſunne goeth downe yet ſhalt thou find it ſhut as it is accuſtomed to be, wherevpon the Knight kept the Hermite company till the next day in the morning.

CHAP. IIII. How the blacke knight went vp the rocke, where by force of armes he ſlue three Giants, and dliuered king Luiſart out of priſon.

AT the Hermites requeſt the knight ſtayed and • are him company all night, who entertained him in the beſt manner hee could, where after they had ſupped, they laied them downe vpon a little ſtraw till day began to appear, when they roſe vp, and the knight hauing ſaid his praiers in the chappell, being armed at all points, tooke his leaue of the Hermite, that brought him a great part of his way, and had gone further but he feared the Giants. Wherfore committing him to God, hee tooke his leaue and returned. Being gone, the knight trauailed ſo faſt, that hauing coaſted along the ſea ſhore, and paſſed the ſide of a great and thick forreſt, he deſcended into the goodlieſh meddow that e • er was ſéene, from whence hee perceiued the caſtle, ſcituated vpon the top of a high rocke, and making towards it, hee came t •• long bridge, finding no other way vnto it, at the end whereof was a broad cauſie paued, with ſtone, & the ſea ••• ting continually againſt the towers, out of the windowes hee eſpied two knights, one as hee thought was a Giant, the ladies ſonne▪ Notwithſtanding hee ſtayed not, but tooke his way on the left hand and • ounting vp the ſteppes, came to a marble gate kept by a knight all arme • , that before he came at him cried as loud as hee could, ſaying, Thou accurſed wretch, the colour of thy armor fore ſheweth not ſo much ſorrow and griefe as here thou ſhalt receiue confuſion. What deuill was bee that ſent thée hether being ſo yoong? Meane time the knight by little and little got vp the hill, making as if hee heard him not, for hee had worke inough to looke to himſelfe, the way was ſtrait and vneaſie to paſſe, and therefore hée bare his helmet vnder his arme. But when hée approched the gate and heard the other continue in his brauery, he anſwered him and ſaid, He that is afraid commonly threatneth a fa ••• o •• , as then b • e ſome, but if thou deſireſt to know the cauſe o ••• y comming, open mee the gate, and thou ſhalt ſée if I can ſatiſfie thy deſire. With yt the Porter came downe, (and while the knight put on his helmet) hee opened the gate, and looking out cried with a loud voice, come in thou vnhappy creature to the place where you 〈◊〉 any ſtraunger had good entertainement. Then the blacke knight went in, and entred into a vaut, meane time the gate was that whereby the place ſéemed very darke, for there entred no light but only by a little hole that came through the rocke, and as he paſſed forward, the Porter that was behind, ſtaying him, ſaied vnto him Villaine, leaue thy armour here, and I will bring thée where the lords of the caſtle ſhall reward thée according to thy deſertes. It were better (ſaied the knight) without ſo much trouble to bring mee thether, in as I am, and I will follow thée. But I will not (ſaied he) leaſt I loſe too much by thée, for then my companion will haue thy armour, which by right is mine, and with that he lifted vp his hatchet, thinking to cleaue his head, whereat the blacke knight ſtept backe, and with his ſword gaue him ſuch a blow, that hee ouerthrew him on the ground, and ſtepping vpon him, thruſt him into the body, and as hee had done, there entered at the gate (that went out of the vaut) a villaine all armed, who thinking to ſpeak to the Porter, with a rude and churliſh voice, ſaid Argantes, why ſtayeſt thou ſo long to bring vp that accurſed wretch that euen now entred at the gate? Be content a while (ſaid ye black knight) I will bée there ſoone inough both for thée and thoſe that ſent thée, if the gates be open. With that he villaine perceiued himſelfe to be deceiued, for he eſpied Argantes dead vpon the ground, wherefore without longer ſtaying he turned his backe, and pulling the dore after him left the knight ſhut • nto the vaut, whereat he was abaſhed, fearing to be famiſhed for want of meat, but it fell out otherwiſe, for not long after he ſaw ye gate opened, whereat there entred a Giant armed all in gréene, who perceiuing the partie dead, and the knight that had ſlaien him ſtanding by him, was in ſuch a rage, that he ſaied vnto him. Thou accurſed wretch, I am much abaſhed how thou haſt thus intangled thy ſelfe within this place, from whence while thou liueſt thou ſhalt neuer bée able to eſcape, but when thou haſt indured along and moſt hard impriſonment, ſhalt bee conſtrained to end thy miſerable daies with a thouſand cruell torments that are prepared for thée. Art thou at that point (ſaied the knight) I hope rather before wee depart to make thée beare this villaine company, that at my entring ſpared not to threaten me as thou doeſt now. What (ſaied the Giant?) I aſſure thée I loued this dead knight as well as I loue my ſelfe, and now I find him in this manner ſlaine before mine eies, yet art thou not afraid to boaſt thereof: By my head (ſaid hee) thou ſhalt déerely buy it. Behold I pray thée anſwerd the knight, how thy vnhappy fortune followeth thée at once, here before thy face thou ſéeſt thy friend dead, and by the ſame meanes thou ſhalt likewiſe looſe the ſoule out of thy body, which the deuill hath waited for ſince thou firſt beganſt to lead an euill life, That ſhall ſoone bee ſéene (ſaid the Giant) and with that they encountered, and at their méeting laid vpon each other ſo fiercely, that with the noiſe they made, it ſéemed tenne knights fighting together: and ſo long they continued the combate, that in the end the Giant waxed faint, which hee perceiuing, hauing loſt the greateſt part of his ſhield, and in a maner all his blood, hée began to flie, and the black knight after him ſo faſt, that before hee could get out of the vaut with one blow that claue his head to the téeth hée ſlew him in the place. And as the knight ſtepped forth, hee met two Squires that came to ſée the combat, who perceiuing ye knight with his ſword bloody in his hand, aſked him what was become of their guard. I haue dealt with them (ſaid hee) as it hath pleaſed God to diſpoſe? And how is that (ſaied they) to ſend them both (ſaied the knight) an vnhappy end of their wretched liues, that their ſoules might bee tormented in the euerlaſting paines of hell. With that they looked in and perceiued Argantes on the one ſide, and the Giant on the other as yet ſhaking their legs with the panges of death: whereat they had ſo great feare, that in great haſt they preſently retired, crying with a lowd voice, Come foorth my lords, come forth; for your vncle and the Porter are both ſlaine, wherewith at the gate of the dungeon there appeared another Giant vnarmed, very yoong and of a huge ſtature, named Frerion, who perceiuing the blacke knight marching ſo boldly towards him, held the dore half ſhut, and with a loud voice ſpake vnto him and ſaid, By my fathers ſoule thou muſt ſurely be ſome deuill diſguiſed in humane ſhape, otherwiſe it had beene vnpoſſible for thée to haue ſlaien two of the beſt knights in the world, and in deſpight of thē to enter thus farre within the caſtle, but of one thing am I well aſſured, that what paine or torment ſoeuer I ſhall cauſe thée to indure, I cannot bee reuenged of the leaſt wrong and iniury I haue receiued at thy handes. Thou brufiſh & vnreaſonable beaſt (ſaid the knight) thou art ſurely worſe thē he of whom thou ſpeakeſt, for that he being already iudged of God, hath neither mean to repent his wickednes nor hope of ſaluation, but thou to whom it hath pleaſed God to giue ſence and reaſon to knowe both good and euill, doeſt ſtill perſeuere in thy wickedneſſe, making of vice a vertue, in ſuch manner that by good right I may better tearme thée a deuill then thoſe that are wearied and waxe melancholy to haue ſo long attended for thy accurſed ſoule, which I will ſhortly ſend them if thou come forth into this court, or let mee enter in. Then ſtay (ſaid Frerion) and thou ſhalt ſée how I will teach thée to preach in other ſort, and with that hee ſhut the dore and went in to arme him, meane time the blacke knight ſate downe vpon a marble ſtone, and he had not reſted long, but the Gyant came againe, who bringing a great cimitere vpon his ſhoulder, would haue iſſued at the gate, when the knight ſpake vnto him, ſaying. Stay a little I pray thée before thou commeſt foorth, and graunt me one requeſt which in right thou canſt not well deny mee, for although neither courteſie nor any part thereof did euer lodge within thy breaſt, that habite of knighthood wherewith thou art inueſted, ought more to mooue thée to humanity then thy nature of it ſelfe affordeth. Aſke what thou wilt (ſaied the Giant) and it may be thou ſhalt be refuſed, both thou and I (ſaid the knight) are now on foote, I pray thée then let vs fight in the other court, that thoſe of thy caſtle may behold the paſtime: which hee ſaied to the end that if he ouercame his enemie as he doubted not therof, they ſhould not ſhut him out. By my head (ſaid the Giant) at the firſt, I thought thou wouldeſt haue aſked mercy at my handes, which would not much auaile thée: but ſéeing thy requeſt is no other, I am content to graunt it, although a meanes to flie away were much more aduantage vnto thée, which theſe high wals will not permit thée, if thou be once incloſed within them. Thou ſpeakeſt (ſaid the blacke knight) as thy nature yéeldeth, and I as vertue bindeth me, for the reſt let God worke his will. Come in then (ſaid Frerion) and defend thy ſelfe from mee if thou canſt. With that the black knight entred into a faire court pa •• d with white marble, all galleried about and ſupported with pillers of Purphire, in the middeſt whereof ſtoode the portall that entered into the houſe, where an old lady accompanied of diuers yong gentlewomen ſtoode looking forth, to whom the Giant went, and knéeling on his knée, ſaid vnto her: Madame, I moſt humbly beſéech you, that neither for good nor euill which may happen vnto me in fighting with this knight, not one of your houſe bée ſo bold to help or fauour me in any ſort, for I my ſelfe wil put him to death with this my trenchant blade, and riſing vp againe holding his ſhield before him with his cimiterre in his hand, he marched towards his enemy, who hauing God on his ſide (to whom he recommended himſelfe) ſtood ready to receiue him. Then there began ſuch a combate betwéen them that their blowes ſéemed two ſmiths forging vpon their anuiles, ſéeming like fire that the wind kindleth in the aire, and ſurely the blacke knight had ſped but hardly at that time had it not béene for the armour Vrganda gaue him, that could not bée cut by any weapon, & for the good ſword hee conquered in the rocke of the Enchantreſſe, wh •• ewith hee ſtrooke not one blow, but he drew blood on the Giant • rerion, who neuertheleſſe did meruellouſly both defend himſelfe and aſſaile his enemy, but by euil fortune as he thought to ſtrike the knight on the right arme, hee ſtarted backe, and ſtepping forwards againe gaue the Giant ſuch a blow vpon the helmet that hee cut away a great péece thereof together with the buckle that made it faſt, but although the blow was maruellous great, and in a manner incredible, yet was not the Giant any thing therewith abaſhed, but ſtill ſhewed himſelfe as freſh as if hee had not fought all the day long: Neuertheleſſe the blood in ſuch aboundance iſſued out of his body, that the white pauement of the court was chaunged into red, and therewith he grew ſo weake, that it might eaſily be iudged he had the worſt, whereby he ſtil began to reuile, ſéeking only to defend himſelfe from his enemies blowes, whereat the old lady that beheld them, conſidering her ſonnes extremity, cried out and ſaid, alas my child, is it poſſible I ſhould ſée thée murthered before my face, and therewith in great haſt ſhee ran thether, thinking to part them, but it was too late, for as ſhe began to goe towards them, the Giant felde a • on the ground with two blows that the black knight gaue him, one vpon the head where he was vnarmed, the other right in the middle of his leg, where with hee cut it from his body, whereat the old lady was ſo gréeued that ſhe ſwouned in the place, being by her Gentle women carried from thence into hir chamber, where they laied her on a bed, curſing him that was the cauſe thereof, neuertheleſſe hee followed them to the chamber dore, where the old woman (being reuiued) perceiuing him to enter, began againe to lament and mourne, and ſhedding great abundance of teares ſhe ſaid vnto him. Alas thou cruel knight the only bereauer of all my ioy and felicitie, art thou not ſatiſfied yet? But wilt thou like wiſe haue my life and my ſonnes both? Then I pray thée with ſpéed either execute thy wil or elſe depart from hence, and take what thou thinkeſt good, permitting mee to liue the reſt of my miſeraale daies in ſorrow and care, with theſe poor women: but all her intent was to make him enter into the chamber, which was ſo inchaunted, that no man could paſſe the threſhold of the dore, but preſently hee loſt all his ſences and fell downe v • on the ground, as if hee were dead, but little did the inchauntment •• aile her againſt the blacke knight, becauſe the ſhining ſword had ſuch a propertie in it, that no enchantment whatſoeuer could hurt the bearer thereof. Therefore the knight hearing the ſorrow the old lady made, hee went into the chamber, ſpeaking courteouſly vnto her & ſaid, Madame me thinkes you ſhould take the offence I haue committed on your behalfe in much better part, conſidering ſuch hazards are common vnto knights, deſiring to win honour, and therefore I pray you appeaſe your ſorrow, and ſhew mee the knight you brought hether out of great Brittaine. When the old lady perceiued him ſo farre within the chamber without let, and that he deſired to ſée the king, ſhe being as it were out of her wits, cried as lowd as ſhe could, and ſaied, alas vnhappy wretch that I am, what haue I done, for thinking to reuenge another mans death, I haue procured the deſtruction of mine owne children, and therewith ſhee ſighed in ſuch manner as if her heart would burſt within her body, and lamenting yt abſence of her other ſon, ſaid: Alas Matroco, where art thou now? What vnhappy fortune hath thus ſeperated thée from thy brother and mee? Surely when thou heareſt of his death, and at thy returne ſhalt find another lord of this caſtle, I am in doubt thou wilt not haue the patience to put vp ſo great an iniury, but thinking to reuenge thy ſelfe I feare this deuill will handle thée in the like ſort he hath done the reſt, for ſure he is no mortall man, for if hee were hee had found more reſiſtance in this place then he hath done. Then ſpeaking vnto the knight ſhe aſked him if he knew the man ſhe held in priſon, I truly (ſaied he) it is king Liſuart, whereof I am right ſorry, being well aſſured that kings elected of God, (as hee is) for the gouernement of his people ought not to be vſed in that manner. Wherefore I would haue you ſhew me where he is, otherwiſe, I will doe worſe then I haue hetherto done. I know not (ſaid ſhe) who thou art, nor by what meanes thou haſt ſo great power, but I am well aſſured and I would neuer haue thought that twenty ſuch knights (as once this day I did eſtéeme thée) could euer haue attained to the achieuing of ſo great an enterprice and much leſſe to haue withſtood my art as thou haſt done, ſo that conſidering thereof, I ſuppoſe that this thy power procéedeth from him in whō in my yong yeares I did once beléeue, and ſince that haue forſaken him, to follow the workes of the common enemie of all mankinde, who according to his naturall inſtinction, hath iuſtly rewarded me to my deſert: therefore it were but folly to denie thée any thing, that art ſo ſurely defended by him to whome all thinges are obedient. Follow me then (ſaid ſhe) and I will ſhew thée the king, but as I thinke, it is not he thou ſéekeſt. And with that ſhee roſe vp & went into a darke chamber, the knight following her: then ſhe opened an yron gate and ſaid vnto him goe in, and there ſhalt thou finde the priſoner. Ladie (ſaied the knight) if it were to fight I would not faile to doe your commandement, but if by ſubtiltie I ſhould be ſhut in priſon, you would laugh at me that I had no more wit but to put my truſt in you, wherefore goe you in firſt, that whatſoeuer happeneth, you may haue your part, I ſée well (ſaied the lady) that my labour is in vaine, and all my art is nothing in reſpect of thée, therefore I am content to doe thy will, but we haue no light to ſée. Care you not for that (ſaied he) for I will prouide you light, and with that hee pulled of the taffata that couered the ſcabberd of his ſword, whereby there was ſo great a brightneſſe in the place, as if the ſunne had ſhone therein. Then they deſcended into a caue, where the knight perceiued king Luiſart lie vpon a couch of ſtraw, with a great coller of yron about his necke, and fetters on his legs, whereby he indured no little paine, whereat hee was ſo gréeued, that for ſorrow the teares ranne downe his eies, yet would hee not diſcloſe himſelfe vnto him, neither once vtter what hee thought, but without making himſelfe knowne, ſaid vnto him. Noble king, you haue beene ouerlong within this filthy place, riſe vp I pray you and follow mee. When the king heard him ſpeake in that manner, hée made no other account but to end his daies at that time, wherewith he could not refraine to wéepe, and ſpeaking vnto the old lady, aſked her if ſhe knew him: For (ſaied hee) ſince I entered into this place, I neuer ſaw any knight nor any one that ſpake vnto me, but that little ſuſtenance I had was let downe at a hole from the top of this dungeon. Thē ſhe anſwerd him, and in great deſpight ſaid, Thou accurſed king, if I had not knowne thée, I would neuer haue taken paines to fetch thée ſo farre from hence as I haue done, curſed bee the time when firſt I tooke it vpon mee, for thou onely art the cauſe of my great ſorrow, and the ſole inſtrument of my bereaued ioies. In faith lady (ſaied the king) I know not what you meane, and am very ſorry for your heauineſſe, for I neuer ſought but to doe honour and pleaſure vnto all ladies and Gentlewomen that deſired the ſame, and for them haue I oftentimes enterpriſed many dangerous aduentures, to the great perrill and hazard of my life, and if it hath happened otherwiſe vnto you it is altogether vnknown to mee and wholly againſt my will, wherefore I be ſéech you bee not offended with me but tell me where I am, and in whoſe power I now remaine a priſoner in ſo great miſery, or by my ſoule I know it not, neither can I ſo much as conceiue which way I came into this place, only I remember that to ſecond a Gentlewoman yt a villaine would haue forced, I entered into a tent, but what happened vnto mée after that I know not, but that now I find my ſelfe lying on ſtraw like a théefe with yrons on my legs. King (ſaid ſhe) the ſhort time of thy continuance in this darknes hath not ſatiſfied (as I well hoped it would) the great miſchief I doe wiſh thée, and that for good cauſe, ſéeing that by thée onely I haue indured ſo much ſorrow, that if the heart and bowels were taken out of my body they would bee found as burning whote as flaming fire, and eſpecially for the new diſpleaſure I haue nowe conceiued to ſée thée ſo ſoone deliuered out of my hands, being in good hope by thy long impriſonment to ſatiſfie my loſſes paſt: but yet I am deceiued, for that fortune hath now made mee pay the vſury of my forepaſſed ioies, hauing giuen thée into my handes, from whence by the exquiſite force of this diuell incarnate (thou art now deliuered) who hauing put to death the Gardians of this caſtle and ſlaine mine owne ſonne, hath conſtrained mee to bring him vnto thée, which I neuer thought hée could haue done, much leſſe that euer I ſhould haue yéelded vnto his requeſt, knowing the wrath of a woman not to haue any bridle, or meanes of mittigation vntill her deſired reuenge, hath wrought the effect: and ſo had it happened vnto thée without ye force of this my enemy, but in deſpight both of him and thée with mine owne handes I will ſlay my ſelfe, if my a • curſed fortune bereaue mee not the ſooner of my wretched daies, Curſed bée both thou and thy King, thou now haſt found (ſaied ſhee vnto the knight,) Now take him and doe thy pleaſure with him I pray you then lady (ſaid hée) vnloſe his irons, and helpe mee to lead him vp, with that ſhee tooke the keies out of her pocket, and opened the lockes of his chaines, whereby the King roſe vp vpon his féet, and embracing ye blacke Knight, ſaied vnto him, What great good or pleaſure ſir Knight did I euer doe you, whereby you ſhould purchaſe this liberty vnto me? By my ſoule I ſweare, that beſides the honour you haue obtained in this place, you haue ſo much bound me vnto you, that during my life I ſhall neuer forget your courteſie, wherefore if you loue me let me know your name. Noble King (ſaid ye knight) whoſoeuer I am, I account my ſelfe happy if many ſort I may be able to doe you ſeruice, as for the reſt pardon mee if it pleaſeth you, and let vs goe out of this caue, thanking God, that oftentimes ſendeth ſcourges vnto thoſe hee loueth, as in his heauenly wiſedome he thinketh conuenient, thereby to kéepe them in obedience vnto him. The King pecreiuing well by ye knights words that he deſired not to be knowne, and for the ſame cauſe kept his helmet on his head, therefore hee determined not to mooue him any more, but with that they went all thrée out of the caue, and came into a goodly hall, when the ſunne began to goe downe.

CHAP. V. How that after King Luiſart was deliuered out of priſon, Matroco (Frerions elder brother) with his ſhips, arriued at the foot of the rocke called La Roche defendu, and of the battell betweene the ſaid Matroco and the blacke knight.

KIng Luiſart, the black knight, and the lady being entred into the hall, as they looked out at the windowes into the ſea, there entered a Gentlewoman, and doing reuerence vnto the lady, ſhee ſaied, Madame, your ſonne Matroco with his ſhips is euen now arriued at the foote of the rock, & with him great numbers of other veſſels, yt he hath taken vpon the ſeas, What is your pleaſure to ſay vnto him? When the ladie heard her ſhee waxed pale, and with teares in her eies, anſwered her and ſaid, I would to God he were as farre from hence as hee is néere: for my heart giueth mee he will ſpéed in the like maner that others haue done before him, And as ſhee ſpake, king Luiſart and the knight looked into the ſea, and perceiuing the Giants fléet ſurging on the ſhoare out of wind and weather, among the which they knew Elizabeth Libee his nephue, and diuers others yt 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 ye 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 ye 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 yt 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 that my ſoule ſuſtained, I haue to the contrary aduanced mine owne ſhame and vtter ruine, iuſtly receiuing the reward that belongeth vnto ſuch, as refuſing the better part thinke to remedy one miſchiefe by procuring a worſe vpon themſelues. Madame (ſaid the Giant) if at this preſent you haue receiued great loſſe by the death of ſome of your friends, neuertheleſſe you ought not to take it ſo offenſiuely, ſéeing they haue ended their daies in honourable combate, as behooueth all worthy knights ſuch as they were. And as for me, think you that for feare of death I will refuſe to doe that whereunto by knighthood I am bound? No, no: likewiſe what reaſon or what excuſe ſhould moue me, being as I am both freſh and wel diſpoſed, to refuſe the combat alone againſt one ſimple knight? I deny not madame, but confeſſe that affection cauſeth you to vſe theſe words, and ſhew the nature of a woman: but you muſt conceiue & think with your ſelfe that I anſwere you as it becommeth me, preferring mine honour before your teares, wherefore I beſéech you ſuffer mee to take the ſmall vengeance I can vpon the villaine that hath ſo much offended mee. Matroco (ſaied the knight) thou reckoneſt before thine hoſt, I would not for all the gold in the world loſe ſuch an occaſion offered as I now haue, both for mine honour and aduantage. Beléeue mee, that neither thy mothers teares, nor the duty thou oweſt vnto her (as being her child) can by any meanes prolong the end of thée or me, if without diſſimulation thou doeſt not by oath promiſe and aſſure mée to liue in as good ſort from this time f • rwards as in times paſt thou haſt liued wickedly. Wherefore it were better for thée to make mee know by effect the Proweſſe thou vaunteſt thy ſelfe to haue, and for me to let thée ſée the curteſie, which it may bee thou ſhalt find at my hands if I ouercome thée. When ye lady perceiued that her prayers could take no place ſhe left them, and the two knights began to runne one vpon the other ſo brauely and with ſuch fury, that king Luiſart beholding them thought he neuer ſaw ſo cruel a battell, & ye which abaſhed him more was, that hee could not preſume how or in what manner the blacke Knight had found him in ſo ſtrange a place, and yet he knew him not: ſometime hee thought him to be Amadis, but when he remembred the loue he bare vnto the lady Oriana that hee had newly married, hee was otherwiſe perſuaded, and likewiſe hee remembred very well the combates hee had ſéene Amadis de Gaule make at Windſore againſt Dardan le Superbe, and after that with Ardan Canile, wherein hee vſed all his forces, yet were they not comparable to thoſe of the blacke knights: who as then found himſelfe as freſh and wel diſpoſed to fight as if hee had not fought all the day before. Againe when he thought it to be his nephew Eſplandian, for that Vrganda had foreſhewed many wonderfull things of him, he was ſoone diſſuaded from that opinion by reaſon hée left him with the quéen his mother, not once ſéeking to receiue the order of knighthood, and although that ſince his departure out of Brittaine he might haue obtained that honour, yet did hee eſtéeme it impoſſible for Eſplandian to doe ſo valiantly at the firſt. Further Vrganda had alwaies propheſied of him that the firſt valiant acts he ſhould atchieue ſhould be renowned and ſpoken of by his ſtrange & fearefull nauigation in the great ſerpent, wherein he ſhould be imbarked, and for the blacke knight he knew he arriued there in a little barke vnfurniſhed, whereby he eſtéemed it vnlikely to be his nephew Eſplandian. But hée thought hee neuer had ſéene ſo valiant and hardy a knight, for the longer he fought, the more he wearied and laboured Matroco. Neuertheleſſe hee continued fighting for the ſpace of two hours together before it could be iudged who ſhould haue the victory, but in the end the Giant féeling himſelfe wounded in ſo many places (his armour altogether broken, and his ſhield halfe clouen in two) began to miſtruſt his owne force. Wherefore ſtepping backe he ſtaied his hand, and ſaied: Knight I pray thée▪ let vs breath our ſelues a while, and hear what I wil offer thée, which cannot bee other then to thy honour and aduantage. With that the knight ſtood ſtill, and Matroco began to ſpeake, ſaying: I wonder (ſir knight) what mooued thée to venture in this manner vpon this rocke, wherein neuer any but thy ſelfe durſt enterpriſe to come during my fathers life, neither yet ſithence that by his death I haue ben lord therof, and beſides this thy enterpriſe, wherein thou haſt done the thing that all others feared to doe before thée, tho • •• ſt alſo ſlaine thrée of my friends, whereof two of them as I thinke were the beſt knights in their time liuing on the earth, whereby I haue iuſt cauſe to hate thee more then any man liuing. But when I call to minde that thou haſt done therein like a valiant and hardy knight, I haue ſome reaſon to pardon thée, and to eſtéem thee for one of the valianteſt champions that euer I ſaw in all my life, although I haue both prooued and vanquiſhed many others longer practiſed in armes, & ſtronger then thy ſelfe. Wherfore if the onely cauſe of thy arriuall in this place was to deliuer the king that looketh on vs, I am content thou take and lead him hence in ſafety, and for the ſame cauſe likewiſe I quite thée of the combate, vpon condition that without long ſoiourning here, thou ſhalt preſentlie depart out of this caſtle that belongeth vnto mee. When the blacke knight had heard him, hée anſwered him and ſaied, Giant, as farre as I perceiue thou eſtéemeſt it a great enterpriſe yt I haue done to come hether and find thée here within thy caſtle, where by mee thoſe that thou ſo much lamenteſt haue ben ſlaine, but if thou kneweſt the maiſter that I ſerue, to whom as duty bindeth mée I am obedient, thou ſhouldeſt preſently perceiue and plainely ſée, this enterpriſe by thée eſtéemed much, to bee nothing in compariſon of that hee is able to doe and bring to paſſe, for that from him onely and none other procéedeth all whatſoeuer I haue done, whereby of good right the glory belongeth vnto him: and to the contrary you that are idolaters, ſerue thoſe that are accuſtomed to rocke and lul you aſléepe in all kind of vices, cruelties, outrages, thefts, murthers; and infinite other wickedneſſe, which for a time doe proſper with you, whereby you liue in honour, riches, and all worldly pleaſures, and ſo are nulled in all filthineſſe, but ſurely ſuch manner of life may well bee compared to buildings erected vpon the ſands, that cannot • ontinue long, but are moſt ſure to haue an euil end, euen then • hen they are eſtéemed to bee at the top of all their worldly felicity▪ Like as it happened vnto Lucifer and his fellswes, whereof it may be thou haſt heard ſpoken. Neuertheleſſe if thou wilt acknowledge thy former life, and of a wicked wretch (as thou haſt alwaies liued) become a vertuous knight, and as thou haſt been m •• 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 yu 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 •••• 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 yt 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 ye 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 all that day hée had not eaten, & hauing ſupped, they laied him in a bed, where the Hermites doughter when ſhee came to ſée her father vſed to lie, and viſiting his body to ſée if he were hurt, they found it much bruſed and blacke in diuers places, but not wounded by reaſon of the goodneſſe of his armour, which no ſword or other weapon could pierce, then they annointed him with certaine ointments that appeaſed the ſoreneſſe of his bruſes, wherewith hee fell on ſléepe till the next morning.

CHAP. VI. Of the great diſpleaſure king Luiſart tooke for the departure of the blacke knight, and what conference he had with Arcabonne mother to Matroco, touching her vnfortunate life.

THe black knight being departed out of the caſtle he had newly conquered, & the priſoners entred therein, among the reſt king Luiſart knew maiſter Elizabeth, wherfore he roſe vp (ſitting by Arcabonne, Matrocos mother, who as then leaned on her lap) & went to imbrace him, aſking him what fortune had brought him thether at yt time to ſaue the Giants life, being in ſo great extremity? And it pleaſeth your grace (ſaid he) once this day I did not thinke hee would haue had ſo much néed of my helpe as he now hath: But as I vnderſtand by a knight that I met going downe the hill, hee is in great danger of his life: Neuertheleſſe for the honour of him that commanded mee to helpe him, I will doe the beſt I can. I pray you doe ſo (ſaied the king.) Then maiſter Elizabeth cauſed Matroco to be ſoftly laied vpon his bed, and being vnarmed ſearched his wounds, and perceiuing them to bee deadly, would not for that time doe any thing vnto them but ſtanch their bléeding, leauing the reſt till hee had ſlept, wherein hee was newly fallen. In the meane time king Luiſart not forgetting what maiſter Elizabeth at his comming in had ſaid vnto him, aſked him what was become of the blacke knight: and it pleaſeth your grace (ſaied he) as we entred into ye caſtle, I met him going ſecretly from hence, and not minding to returne againe. By Saint Mary (ſaied the king) haue I receiued ſo great aid at his hands, and am I ſo vnfortunate, that hee ſhould depart from hence without knowing him? Truly I am ſorry, I ſtaied here to ſée what would become of Matroco, if I had not I would ſurely haue followed him, and with much importunity haue craued his name. Maiſter Elizabeth (ſaid he) will you vpon your faith tell mee truly whether you know him or not? If it be ſo, if you will do doe me any pleaſure, hide it no longer frō mée, for I neuer had ſo great deſire to know any knight, not only for the aid he hath done me, but for the valiant enterpriſe at this preſent atchieued by him. Your grace ſhall pardon mé • if it pleaſeth you, ſaid maiſter Elizabeth, for it is true that I know him well, but if I tel you any more, I ſhould do him wrong, for hee hath expreſſely forbidden mee to doe it. I ſée well (ſaied the king) you will but increaſe the deſire I haue to k •• w him, and that is worſe, by the ſame means bereaue me of all hope euer to ſée him againe. With yt they entered into the hall, where they met Arcabonne halfe dead with ſorrow, whome the king in courteous manner praied to ſtay a while, aſking her how her ſon did. He doth (ſaied ſhee) as one in whome I haue as little hope of life as of the other that lieth dead in the court, and to ſay ye truth, it ſéemeth that fortune hath wholly bent her ſelfe againſt me, not ceaſing continually to heap ſorrow vpon ſorrow to make me deſperate. Notwithſtanding I know ful wel how to bee reuenged, and that is, in deſpight of her and her cruelties to bereaue my ſelfe of life whereby ſhee ſhall loſe her power, which by good reaſon I cannot well prolong, ſéeing ſhe hath not ſpared me one hower of reſt ſince ſhe firſt began, ſtill playing her part in tormenting mee, but of all other my miſfortunes, none hath gréeued mee ſo much as the force of this knight, by whoſe power (ſaied ſhe vnto the king) I ſée thée now deliuered out of my handes, and from the cruell torments I had prepared for thée, if accurſed fortune had not withſtood them. Madame (ſaied the king) I pray you declare vnto me the cauſe of this your great mallice towards mee, & whether at any time I haue done you wrong or iniury whereby I ſhould deſerue it: that wil I ſhew thée, ſaid Arcabonne, not therein to doe thée pleaſure, but rather to gréeue thee more when thou ſhalt know and vnderſtand that I was borne and bred in the ſame country, wherein to my great deſpight thou haſt raigned ouerlong, for there I and Arcalaus my brother by father and mother, were both begotten and brought vp in the art of Nigromancy, which oftentimes we haue practiſed & put in effect, therewith to torment diuers perſons that neuer did offend vs. In the which art, as age and knowledge increaſed, I growing very expert, in the end became acquainted with Cartadaque, as then lord of this caſtle, with whom I grew in ſo great familiarity, that he married me, and with him euer fithence haue dwelt here in this caſtle, where not long after I was deliuered of a ſonne called Lindoraque, after that of another named Matroco, that now lieth in this bed, and laſtly of the third called Frerion, whome thou haſt ſlaine, and my brother alſo, that went to helpe Argantes the Porter of this caſtle. And being thus married vnto ſuch a huſband as Cartadaque, was ſo much feared and redoubted in all places, and hauing thrée of the moſt valiant and worthy knights to my ſons, that euer liued, I was ſo eleuated in pride, and ſo little eſtéemed of cruell fortune, that I thought it vnpoſſible for her to work me any woe. But by tract of time I found it otherwiſe, for by little and little ſhee hath wholly chaunged my ioy into moſt gréeuous ſorrow, and wilt thou know how? Then I thinke thou doeſt yet remember the diſcord that long ſithence happened betwéene thée and Childadan king of Ireland, and of the battaile wherein thou ouercammeſt him, where my deceaſed huſband minding to bee preſent, expreſſely departed from hence thether, and as accurſed fortune would, tooke my ſonne Lindoraque with him, and hauing trauailed many countries, at the laſt arriued at the place where my brother ſtaied for them, trauailing all three together with full purpoſe and intent to doe thée all the iniury they could, and they had ſcarce entered into a forreſt not farre from London, but they met a knight as then ſurnamed Le Beautenebreux, riding in company of a Gentlewoman, that ware on her head a Cal all ſet with ſtrange flowers, whome my ſonne (as accurſed fortune would) liked ſo wel, that with a great deſire to haue hir to preſent vnto the Lady Madaſine his loue, commanded one of his ſquires to go fetch her to him, which the knight called Le beau tenebreux, whereof I ſpeak, would not permit, but ſent the meſſenger back againe well beaten, wherewith my ſonne being moued, thought to haue her by force, but it fell out otherwiſe for him, for at the firſt encounter the knight with one blow with his ſword, thruſt him into the body, whereof hee died, and as much had chanced to his vncle Arcalaus, if his horſe had not ſaued him by running away, hauing firſt loſt foure of his fingers on the right hand. Yet fortune not contenting her ſelfe with this miſchiefe, prepared me a worſe, for my huſband (who for his valour and prowes was feared and redoubted throughout all Aſia and Europe) was cruelly ſlaine by ye ſame murtherer of Lindoraque, vpon the ſame day the battell was fought, if thou canſt remember it, whereby euer ſithence I remained a widdow with my other ſonnes as thē very yong and tender of age, with whom I haue paſſed the greateſt part of my daies moſt extreamely, wéeping and lamenting with continuall ſadneſſe, which had ben more gréeuous vnto mee, had it not ben for the hope I conceiued of their valour and proweſſe. But to come to the point of my diſcourſe, time & reaſon hauing in a maner ſuppreſſed my forepaſſed ſorrows, news was brought me of the laſt victory thou diddeſt obtaine by the Proweſſe of the knight named Le beautenebreux (now as it is ſaid, called Amadis de Gaule) and likewiſe of my brothers impriſonment, wherwith I was ſo gréeued, that reſpecting not my old yeares, I tooke vpon me to trauaile into Brittaine, hoping by ſome meanes to get him out of thy hands. But before I arriued there, I had certain newes of his deliuery, neuertheleſſe conſidering with my ſelfe the forepaſſed iniuries I haue receiued by thy kinſmen, namely by that wicked wretch Amadis de Gaule, I determined before my returne hether to finde the meanes to make him knowe that ſmall good will I beare him. But hauing imploied all my art, and finding it in vaine to worke any further therein againſt him, by reaſon of a ring he beareth daily on his finger, giuen him by that wicked enchauntreſſe Vrganda: I determined to proue my ſkill (which could not take effect in him) againſt thée, being aduertiſed of thy often riding to hunt, with very fewe in thy company, where I made thée ſée one of my Gentlewomen and a villaine that would defloure her, whom thou thoughteſt to ſuccour, and if thou now remembreſt mee, I am the very ſame thou foundeſt in the pauillion, following after him that fled before thée, and there thou remainedſt inchaunted, from whence wee carried thée into our barke, and without knowledge vnto any but mine owne ſeruants, thou waſt brought hether by ſea, with full deliberation to cauſe thée languiſh in priſon: in the meane time with the helpe of my allies and friends, thy countrey ſhould bée inuaded, but I find my ſelfe deceiued. For that this place (which neuer was conquered by any power whatſoeuer the kings of Turkie, or the Emperours of Conſtontinople could euer bring againſt it, in leſſe then one day is both conquered and taken by one ſimple knight, with the loſſe of my two ſonnes, and others, eſtéemed Paragons among the beſt knights in the world, whereby it may clearely be perceiued, that by means of thy captiuity there is much more miſchiefe happened vnto mee then ſorrow to thy perſon. While Arcabonne made this long diſcourſe, the king that ſtill beheld her in the face, remembred well it was ſhe to whom hée ſpake in the pauillion, wherefore hee ſaid vnto her, In good faith madame I now beléeue you better then at the firſt, yet mee thinketh you doe mee wrong to make mee beare the burthen of another mans offence. Thinkeſt thou ſo (ſaid ſhee?) No truly, for thy impriſonment only had wrought great domage vnto diuers men, but to me and mine great profit and aduantage. It might be ſo (anſwered the king) notwithſtanding I will not ceaſe to doe you all the fauour and pleaſure that I can. In the meane time I pray you take your aduerſity with as great conſtancy as you may. By my ſoule (ſaied ſhe) thou ſpeakeſt at thy pleaſure, and therewith in a great fury (ſhee went into Matrocos chamber) leauing the king that had not eaten all that day, wherefore hee called maiſter Elizabeth and the other company, that meane time had prepared his meate, and ſitting downe to ſupper, they diſcourſed of the talke hee and Arcabonne had together, till it was time to goe to reſt, when the king went to bed, leauing Libee to guard the caſtle.

CHAP. VII. How the Giant Matroco died, whereat Arcabonne was in ſuch a fury, that hauing failed to kill King Luiſart, ſhee threw her ſelfe headlong out of a window into the ſea.

KIng Luiſart was not fully aſléepe, but hee was forced to awake by meanes of a crie of women that hee heard, making great lamentation, wherefore ſtarting vp, and calling maiſter Elizabeth and the reſt of his company, he tooke a hatchet which he had laied vnder the bolſter of his bed, and went to ſée what it meant, and as he paſſed through the hall, hee perceiued Arcabonne comming towards him (couered onely with a mantle) wringing her hands & tearing her haire, making great ſorrow. Wherwith the king went to her, aſking her what ſhe meant? Alas (ſaid ſhe) that which I moſt feared, and euer ſithence yeſterday moſt aſſuredly expected is fallen out: and as ſhe vttered thoſe words ſhee pulled out a naked ſword that ſhee bare vnder her arme, wherewith ſhee meant to kill the king. But as fortune would, he perceiued ye blow comming, and ſtepped aſide, and with the force of the blow the ſword hitting vpon the pauement, fell out of the old womans hands, wherewith the king ſtepped vpon it, and when hee ſtooped to take vp, Arcabonne perceiuing the chamber dore where maiſter Elizabeth was, to bee open, ſhee ranne thether, and threw herſelfe out at a window into the ſea: the king followed her not, but went into the chamber where Matroco lay, and perceiuing him to bee dead, came foorth againe into the hall, where hee met maiſter Elizabeth, that tolde him newes of Arcabonnes death. In good truth (ſaied hée) there is no extremitie like to that of a woman, behold I pray you with what fury ſhe was poſſeſſed, for as I iſſued out of the chamber, I met her, and thinking with faire ſpéeches and good perſuaſions to comfort her, ſhée failed not much to kill mee with this ſword that I haue in my hand: and as they beheld it, the king knew it to bee the ſame he wore when hee was inchaunted, which pleaſed him ſo wel, that he ſaied, Ha good ſword, the beſt and faithfulleſt companion that euer man had, how many victories haue I had by thy meanes, and what combats and aduentures haue I brought to an end with thy helpe? And by great miſfortune hauing loſt thée, thou kneweſt mee, for being in a mad womans hands, that with thée would haue ſlaine mee, thou haſt not onely denied her that fauour, but haſt fallen out of her hands to returne again vnto him that neuer (while his arme is able to welde thée) will forſake thée. Now (ſaid he to Libee) if we chance to be aſſaulted, we haue wherewith to defend vs. Truly (ſaied maiſter Elizabeth) I beléeue all thoſe that could hurt vs in this place, are either dead or fled away, wherefore I am of opinion in the morning to bury them that are ſlaine, meane time expecting ſome means whereby we may returne into your graces country, we will enquire what is become of the blacke knight that you ſo much deſire to knowe. You ſhal do wel (ſaid the king) & therewith each man went to reſt til the morning, ye maſter Elizabeth & others of his company went to bury the Porter and the reſt of ye dead knights, among ye which they knew Arcalaus the inchaunter, that not fiftéen daies before had arriued in the caſtle, for at his deliuery out of priſon, being aduertiſed of king Luiſarts ſuddaine departure, he ſuſpected his ſiſter Arcabonne had ſtollen him away, and therefore came expreſſely to the caſtle armed in gréene as you haue heard, and although maiſter Elizabeth had ſéene him oftentimes before, yet at the firſt ſight hee doubted it was hee, conſidering where not long before hee had left him, wherefore hee ſent to tell the king, that preſently came to ſée him, who knew him well, yet I thought (ſaid he) he had ſtill ben priſoner in the Ferme iſle, and it pleaſeth your grace (ſaid maiſter Elizabeth) he was deliuered from thence before my departure, and therwith ſhewed him the means how, as it is at large declared in the end of our fourth booke. Behold (ſaid the king) how great are the iudgements of God: let his body be put into ſome cold place, for I am wel aſſured that his ſoule ſhall indure much more heat then euer it had in this world.

CHAP. VIII. How maiſter Elizabeth went to finde the blacke knight in the Hermitage, and what conference they had.

ARcalaus and the reſt being buried, king Luiſart went into his chamber, and as hée looked into the ſea, hee could not ſée the ſhippes that Matroco brought with him, wherefore inquiring which way they went, hee was certefied, that when Arcabonne threwe her ſelfe out of the window into the ſea, they tooke vp her dead body, and laying it in their veſſels, hoiſed ſailes, and put to ſea. Let thē goe to the deuill (ſaid the king) and wee to dinner if there bee any thing to eate, your dinner is ready (ſaid maiſter Elizabeth) when it pleaſeth your grace to ſit downe: wherewith the meate was brought in, and the king eat with a good appetite, but hee had taken ſo little reſt the night before, that as he ſate at the table he fel aſléepe. Wherefore riſſng vp, he laid him downe on his bed, commaunding his men not to wake him, wherewith maiſter Elizabeth was well pleaſed, knowing that in the mean time he might haue conuenient leiſure to goe vnto Eſplandian as hée had promiſed, wherevpon hee departed ſecretly out of the caſtle, and going downe the hill, went ſo long, that hee came to the Hermitage, where hee found the Hermite and the dumbe man ſitting at the dore, & he ſaluting them, aſked if the black knight were there, the Hermite ſaid no, but the dumbe man made ſignes that hee ſhould goe into the chamber, which he did, where he found him very melancholy lying vpon a bed▪ But when hee perceiued maiſter Elizabeth he tooke him by the hand and ſaid, My good friend maiſter Elizabeth you are welcome hether, tell mee I pray you how you left the Ferme Iſle in this maner to ſerue Matroco & his barbarous companions? Wherewith hee laughed, for the Giant had tied him to a chain • , and • ade him row in his Gallies as other ſlaues did. My lord (ſaid maſter Elizabeth) when you receiued the order of knighthood, and that king B • uneo, Quedragant, and al our company that were as then with your father Amadis de Gaule, ſlept by meanes of the melodious noiſe of nine trumpets yt ſounded on the ſhoare, Graſinde my miſtreſſe ſent me on a meſſage to the Marqueſſe Saluder her brother, to certefie him of her marriage with the Prince of Sanſuegue: wherefore I imbarked my ſelfe, and had ſo good a wind, that in ſhort time after I arriued at Conſtantinople, where I found the Emperour, that tooke great pleaſure to heare mee diſcourſe what had happened ſithence the returne of Gaſtilles his nephew. And the next day when I ment to returne, the Princeſſe Leonorine who in my mind is the beautifulleſt Princeſſe liuing at this time, ſent for me, moſt inſtantlie deſiring me that in the preſence of quéene Minoreſſe with diuerſe other ladies and Gentlewomen, I would ſhew her what I had heard touching the knight with the gréene ſword. For (ſaid ſhee) although yt now we vnderſtand hee is named Amadis de Gaule, yet will we not change his other name, till ſuch time hee ſendeth vs ſome other of his linage, or elſe returne himſelfe to doe vs ſeruice, according to his promiſe. Thē I ſhewed them of ye ſtrangeneſſe of the Arke of louers, the ſingularities of the Iſle, whereof they neuer had heard, the loſſe of king Luiſart, the manner how you receiued the order of knighthood, the ceremonies that at the ſame time Vrganda commanded to bée vſed, the commandement that your father Amadis de Gaule gaue you to come and ſerue them in this place, and laſtly how in the end we fel aſléepe in the great ſerpent, frō whence we were carried, (not knowing thereof) to the pallace of Apolidon, where when we awaked we found all our company together, (onely you,) Manely, the king of Denmarke, Ambor, and Talanque, not knowing what was become of you. And while I made this long diſcourſe, the Princeſſe Leonorine would not ſuffer me to make an end, qut interrupting mée in my tale, ſaid vnto me: Maiſter Elizabeth, when my couſin Gaſtilles returned from thence, I remember that among other things by him declared, he ſaid ſomthing touching the yong gentleman wherof you ſpeake; wherefore I pray you ſhew vs what you know of him: wherein ſéeking to fulfill her requeſt, I began to ſhew her the maner of your natiuitie, how king Luiſart found you in the forreſt with the lions, of the letters hee receiued that day, what letters you had on your body when you were borne, whereof ſome were as white as Snow, ſignifying your owne name, the reſt as red as blood, ſhewing the name of your loue, as yet vnknowne, by reaſon the car • acters cannot bée vnderſtoode. Then ſmilingly ſhee aſked mee how you would know it, and I anſwered her, that loue in time would learne, and that for certaine ſhe ſhould be of royal blood, and one that ſhould be the beautifulleſt lady liuing in her time. Truly (ſaid ſhe) hee deſerueth no leſſe, wherefore I pray you heartely when you ſée him, perſuade him to come hether and fulfill the promiſe that his father made vs, for I haue great deſire to ſée him, that hee might bee as much at our commaundement, as heretofore his father Amadis hath beene, which I promiſed her to doe, although I ſaid I doubted it would not be ſo ſoone as I could wiſh. So my lord I ſtaied certain daies at Conſtantinople, ſpeaking continually of you, that done, I imbarked my ſelfe againe, where by euill fortune wee fell into the hands of the Giant Matroco, who as then was vpon the ſea. While maiſter Elizabeth ſhewed the blacke knight of the beauty of the Princeſſe Leonorine, and what ſhée had inquired of him, loue entered ſo farre into his heart, that oftentimes hée changed colour, but for ye time he couered his intent as much as hée could: and entering into another matter, aſked maiſter Elizabeth how he found the meanes to leaue king Luiſart, As well as I would wiſh (ſaid he) for as ſoone as he had dined, hee lay downe to ſléepe, in the meane time I came hether to you. I pray you (ſaied the knight) let him know nothing touching me. And wherefore (ſaied maiſter Elizabeth) will you hide your ſelfe from him, Séeing there is no Prince liuing in the world, worthier then he to be honoured and ſerued of all good knights? It is true (ſaid the knight) but I haue done ſo little as yet, that I am aſhamed hee ſhould beare no better newes of mee, ſéeing I am in hope, that in time I ſhall doe great matters, which of themſelues will ſet foorth my renowne, without the praiſe of other men. Séeing it is your pleaſure (ſaid maiſter Elizabeth) I will doe ſo, although it would reioice him much, to heare that ſuch vnexpected aide ſhould come vnto him onely by your meanes. That ſhall bee at another time (ſaied the knight) and not now: Wherefore leaſt hée ſhould miſſe you when hee a maketh, I pray you returne vnto the caſtle, and when you ſée conuenient time, come hether againe to viſite mee. Wherewith maiſter Elizabeth tooke his leaue, bidding him farewell, and went the ſame way he came towards the caſtle.

CHAP. IX. How Carmelle the Hermites doughter found the blacke Knight ſleeping in the Hermitage, and thinking to kill him, perceiuing him ſo faire, ſhe fell in loue with him.

MAiſter Elizabeth gone from the Hermitage where hée left the black knight, went ſo faſt and made ſuch haſt, that hée came againe vnto the caſtle, not miſſed of any, yet the king was awake before hee came, who leaning in a window, and ſéeing him below in the court, aſked him if hee had ſlept, No, and it liketh your grace (ſaid he) I haue been abroad, walking along the countrey, which I finde enuironned with the goodlieſt meddowes that euer were ſéene, come vp hether (ſaid the king) and we will talke with you, but hee was no ſooner entered into the chamber, when Carmelle the Hermites daughter came to the king, and knéeling downe before him, ſaid, May it pleaſe your grace to entertaine mee into your ſeruice, that am one of your naturall ſubiects, and will bee during life: wherewith the king took her vp and ſaid, Gentlewoman, if you deſire any thing at my hands, aſſure your ſelfe it ſhall not be denied, for I did neuer during my life but honor and pleaſure ſuch as you are, and although ſuch ſauours haue oftentimes turned to my great trouble, therein doe I blame no man but my ſelfe, for that God iuſtly ſendeth hat • g ••• and euil, when, where, and to whome it pleaſeth him, wherefore I pray you ſhewe mee who you are. Then Carmelle made a long diſcourſe, how from her youth vpwards ſhee had ſerued her miſtreſſe Arcabonne, and what occaſion moued her father to become an Hermite, as you heard before. Truly Gentlewoman (ſaid the king) if you will returne into great Brittaine, I will take you with mée. I will doe (ſaied ſhee) what your grace commandeth: in the meane time I pray you grant me leaue to giue my father intelligence who you are, for he will be moſt ready and glad to doe your grace ſeruice. With a good will (ſaid the king) and tell him I deſire to ſée him, wherewith Carmelle thanked his grace, and becauſe it was late, ſhe went againe into her chamber till the next morning that ſhe roſe, and iſſuing out of the caſtle, about breake of the day went downe a certaine path ſhee ordinarily vſed to goe, whereby ſhee came into the Hermitage at ſuch time as the Hermite and the dumbe man were gone to the barke to fetch ſuch neceſſaries as the blacke knight wanted, who in the mean time ſlept in his bed, for after that maiſter Elizabeth had giuen him intelligence what the Princeſſe Leonorine had ſaid, hee could not reſt, till the very ſame time when ſhee entered into her fathers cell, wherein ſhee found him, and not doubting any thing went into the chamber, where ſhée heard the blacke knight ſnort, wherewith being abaſhed ſhe opened the window and perceiued him aſléepe, his ſword hanging at his beds head, which ſhe ••• e down, and ſoftly drew out of the ſcabberd, finding it freſhly poſted with blood, whervpon ſhe ſuſpected it was he that had ſlaine Frerion, Matroco, and others in the caſtle, and as ſhee looked about her ſhee knew his blacke armour, wherewith ſhee was in ſuch a feare, that ſhee had almoſt fallen downe, and let the ſwor • fall out of her hands, but taking courage, ſhe went néerer to the b • d, to know him better, being fully determined if it were hée • kill him as he lay, & therwith began by little and little to vncouer his face, but he ſhewed ſo faire, that ſuddainly the fury ſhe had, changed into ſo burning a loue, that during her life it was neuer quenched, in ſuch maner that the more ſhe beheld him, the more did her loue increaſe, and as hée fel on ſléep when his •• nd was buſied with the imagination conceiued of Leonorine, after Carmelle had beheld him long he turned towards her, & without waking, caſt foorth a great ſigh, ſaying in his ſléepe, Alas poore wretch what ſhall become of me? The Gentlewoman knew well hée had not ſéene her, wherefore ſhee imboldened her ſelfe to kiſſe him, and found his face all wet with tears, whereby ſhe feared he had ſome melancholy humour that troubled him, and although ſhée eſtéemed not thereof, féeling her new diſeaſe much more then his gréefe, taking all to her aduantage, 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 ſhee hoped from that time forwards to find the meanes to obtaine his loue, yet did ſhe faile thereof, for that loue (to ſhew his power) had wounded them both diuerſly in one place, and at one time, a thing almoſt incredible, for who would euer thinke that little god would enter into ſuch a place? Where a poore Hermite liued all alone in moſt ſtrict manner, with a fewe colde roots, and not his belly full of bread: yet did hee ouercome them both, in the moſt vnfit time (as it may bee thought) that could bee found, for the blacke knight had indured ſo great trauaile in fighting, and the Gentlewoman ſéene ſo many of hir friendes ſ • ine at one time, that the one had not ſo much néed of comfort, b •• the other as much cauſe to reſt. If then it bee ſo (as it is m ••• rue) that we are all ſubiect to th • Tyrant, he that hath paſt ye flower of his youth, not taſting of h •• fury, may not thinke himſelfe in any thing more happy, ſéeing it is his manner to conſtraine yoong men to loue, and ••• entimes old fooles to dote. In that ſort the Gentlewoman 〈◊〉 • ennance for the euill ſhee conceiued againſt the blacke knight, and had continued longer there, had it not been for feare to bee diſcouered. Wherefore with the ſword in her hand ſhe returned backe again towards the caſtle, & without being once perceiued, entered at a poſterne dore, whereof ſhe had the key, and ſo went vp into her chamber, departing from the hermitage not long before her father and the dumbe man returned from the barke, and found the knight ſléeping, who preſently awaked, and miſſing his ſword, aſked them if they had taken it away. No truly (ſaied the Hermite) for we came but now from the ſea ſide. Wherewith Eſplandian eſtéeming it loſt, made account, that as he had conque • 〈◊〉 after a ſtrange maner, ſo hée had loſt it by a ſtranger meanes, but the Hermite and the dumbe man ſought it about the houſe, and could not find it.

CHAP. X. How King Luiſart being aduertiſed by Carmelle where the blacke knight was, departed with her alone to find him out.

CArmelle returned to the caſtle (as it is ſaid before) went to the king, who at the ſame time was talking with maſter Elizabeth touching the wrong hee thought the blacke knight did him, in departing thence without being knowne, ſéeking by that meanes if it were poſſible to draw from him what hee knew as touching the knight: but all in vain, for the king was not ſo ſubtil to vndermine him, but maſter Elizabeth was as crafty to preuēt him, not intending to falſifie ye truſt repoſed in him: and although the Gentlewoman had determined to ſhewe the king what ſhee had learned of the knight, hoping thereby to obtaine her purpoſe. Neuertheleſſe, ſéeing maiſter Elizabeth in preſence, ſhée held her peace till he went away, and perceiuing the king alone, ſaid vnto him. My lord, if it pleaſeth your grace to ſhew mee ſo much fauour, as to aſſiſt mee in a thing, that importeth as much as my life, in behalfe of the knight, that you ſo much deſire to ſée, before to morrow at night I will ſhew him vnto you, if you think good, in ſuch a place, where you may eaſily ſpeake with him: and to the end you ſhall not ſuſpect me of vntruth▪ I wil ſhew you a certaine token, that when you ſée it, I am aſſured you will eaſily beléeue me. Gentlewoman (ſaid ye king) if you doe ſo, I wil not faile if it be poſſible to ſatiſfie your requeſt. I beſéech your grace (ſaied ſhe) when you are both togither, it would pleaſe you to be a mean vnto him in my behalfe to graunt me a gift that I ſhall aſk him. By the faith of a Prince (ſaied hée) I will not faile to doe it, nor a greater matter then that, if it lieth in my power. Then follow me (ſaied the Gentlewoman) bringing him where ſhee had laied the ſword, and ſhewing it vnto him, aſked if he had neuer ſéene it. That I haue (ſaid the king) and I would to God the knight that knoweth ſo well how to handle it, were as néere vnto mee as it is. You ſhall ſée him in the morning (ſaied ſhe) if it pleaſeth you to follow me. That will I doe (ſaied the king) armed or vnarmed I eſtéeme not whether, ſo I may ſée him. Then be you ready (ſaied ſhe) when I ſhall call, and let no man go with you. Content (ſaid the king) wherewith hee went out of the chamber, and paſſing through the court, he met Libee and others, to whome hee ſaied, that in the morning he meant to walke along the rocke (becauſe maiſter Elizabeth had certefied him, it was ſo goodly a countrey) and that none but Carmelle ſhould beare him company, and falling into other ſpéeches, they paſſed the time till they went to reſt, but the king could not ſléepe for the great deſire he had to ſée the knight, whereby he was hardly fallen aſléep, when Carmelle came to awake him, ſaying: My lord, may it pleaſe your grace to remember your promiſe? Let vs goe (ſaied hée) and there with making himſelfe ready, commanded two horſes to bée ſadled, one for himſelfe, the other for Carmelle, and iſſuing out of the caſtle, rode towards the Hermitage. And they had not trauelled farre, but they perceiued a man comming towards them in great haſt, and as hee came néere • the Gentlewoman knew him, aſking what he meant to make ſuch haſt, and whether hée rode. I ride to the caſtle (ſaid hee) to fetch Matroco and his brother Frerian, with all ſpéed to helpe their vncle Lindoraque, who comming to ſée thē hath met with two knights armed all in white, that haue ſlaine his men, and (as I thinke) I left him in as great danger as poſſible may bee. When the king heard him, hee thought them to bee of the blacke knights company, and ſaid vnto the Gentlewomā, I pray you ſtay here with this man, and I will ride to ſée them, and with that hee ſet ſpurres to his horſe, and taking the ſame way the other came, he perceiued a far off the two knights fighting with the Giant, that defended himſelfe moſt valiantly with his mare, forcing them oftentimes to recule, but the two knights as bold and nimble, handled him in ſuch ſort, that hee knew not how to defend himſelfe, and if hee had not ſlaine one of their horſes, it had gone worſe with him. Neuertheleſſe the knight on horſebacke ſeeking to reuenge his companion, was nothing abaſhed, but when the other roſe vp, ſet fiercelier vpon the Giant then before, in ſuch manner, that they cloſed, and ſtriuing together, ſought by all meanes to vnhorſe each other. Mean time the knight on foot, went vnto the Giant, and taking him by the left leg, pulled him by ſuch force, that both hee and the other knight fell off their horſes, and holding each other faſt, the Giant fell vnder with his face vpwards, wherewith the knight that threw him downe, thruſt him into the face, that hee was conſtrained to let goe his hold, neuertheleſſe riſing vp againe with great force, and laying hold vpon the knight that had ſo wounded him, hee threw him on the ground, meane time the other gaue the Giant ſuch a blow vpon the head, that hée began to réele, and therewith ſtretching out his legs, yéelded vp the ghoſt. With that the king rode ſomewhat néerer, and perceiued the two knights to beare black croſſes, that ſhewed thē to be Chriſtians, wherefore riding boldly vnto them, hee went ſo néere that they knew him, wherevpon they went to doe him honour, much abaſhed to ſée him. But the king perceiuing the honour they did him, was no leſſe abaſhed, and ſaied vnto them: My good friendes, I know you not, I pray you put off your •••• ets that I may ſée your faces, which they did, whereby he knew the one to bee Talanque ſonne of Galaor, ye other Ambor de G •• el, ſonne of Angriote deſtrauaulx; whō he friendly imbraced, & ſaied vnto them, In faith my good friends, it is not without cauſe if it liketh you well to ſée mee here, for all my life haue I deſired the companies of your fathers, the like doe I of their children, wherefore for the loue of God I pray you ſhew mee what ſtraunge aduenture hath brought you into this country. And it pleaſeth your grace (ſaid Talanque) we ſéeke after a knight armed all in blacke, of whome as yet wee can heare no newes. Doe you know his name (ſaid the king?) That wee doe (ſaid Ambor) for it is your nephew Eſplandian: yt contents me (ſaid the king) doe but follow mee, and I will bring you where hee is. With that Ambor, who before was alighted to honour the king, mounted againe on horſebacke, and Talanque on the Giants horſe, for his owne was ſlaine, and all thrée together rode ye way the king came thether, till ſuch time they eſpied the Gentlewoman, that ſtaid for him: who perceiuing them to ride in ſuch haſt towards her, was in mind to haue fled away, fearing they had taken the king, and forcibly had him with them, but perceiuing them by their geſtures to be his friends, ſhée ſtaied till they came vnto her, ſaying to the king. My lord, where hath your grace gotten company ſo ſoone? Gentlewoman (ſaid he) you ſhall know it all in good time, but what haue you done (ſaied hee) with the man that I left with you? Let vs know what newes he hath told you. Truly (ſaid ſhe) I had no ſooner aſſured him of the death of Matroco and the reſt of the caſtle, but hee fled ouer this hill, as if all the deuils in hell had ben behind him: yet he tolde mée that the Giant his maiſter had heard ſome rumour thereof, and for the ſame cauſe was comming to the caſtle to know the truth, accompanied only with two knights, yt he cauſed to ride before him, but to their hard fortunes, for he found them both ſlain, not knowing who had done it, but only that not long after hee met with two ſtrange knights, that aſſailed him, and left them fighting (as hee ſaied) together. By God (ſaied the king) if the firſt two knights ſped hardly, their maiſter that followed after them had little better entertainement, for they are all ſlain • pon the way, and here are the knights that did it, whome I pray you let vs take with vs, for they are friends and companion vnto ye knight you haue promiſed to ſhew me. Let vs goe then (ſaied ſhée) ſéeing it is your graces pleaſure: and therewith they rode vnto the Hermitage, at the entery whereof, they found the Hermite ſet vpon a ſtone, who being abaſhed to ſée his doughter in ſuch company, aſked whether ſhee went. Father (ſaied ſhee) here is king Luiſart your Prince and mine, whom I haue brought to ſée you. And although the Hermite had not ſéen him in long time before, yet he preſently knew him, where with hee ſtepped to kiſſe his féete, which the king would not ſuffer him to doe, but imbraced him, and lighting off his horſe, followed the Gentlewoman, till hée met the dumbe man, that hearing the noiſe and trampling of horſes, came to ſee who they were, and perceiuing the king, hee bowed his head before him. Neuertheleſſe the king went forward, not ſtaying to ſpeake vnto him, entring preſently after Carmelle into the chamber, where he found the knight ſet vpon the beds ſide. Wherwith Eſplandian preſently knew him, and knéeled downe before him, but the king taking him vp, wéeping for ioy imbraced him. With that Talanque and Ambor entred in, and perceiuing their companion (that they ſo long had ſought) were maruellous glad, and comming to imbrace him, the king ſaid to Eſplandian: My ſonne, although you haue ſought by all meanes to hide your ſelfe from vs, yet God hath ſo wrought, that at one inſtant we haue al thrée found you out: wherefore I pray you let vs depart hence, and go with vs vnto the caſtle, where you ſhall bee better at your eaſe then in this ſimple Hermitage. My lord (ſaied hee) I am at your commaundement, with that hee went to imbrace Talanque and Ambor, aſking them (and they him) what had happened vnto thē ſince Vrganda cauſed them to be dubbed knights. By Gods helpe (ſaid the king) you ſhall ſtay to he 〈◊〉 the ſequell vntill wee bee in the caſtle, for then you ſhall haue better leiſure to declare the ſame. With that he called Carmelle, willing her to returne with all dilligence to th • 〈◊〉 and commaund Libee to bring one of Matrocos horſes 〈◊〉 ſpla •• ian. My lord (ſaied Ambor) it will bee late before he common hether, he ſha •• rather haue my horſe, and I will goe on foote, but 〈◊〉 ſhall not (ſaied the king) get you vpon Carmelles horſe, and let 〈◊〉 ſit vp behind you. In which manner they road vnto the caſtle after whom the Hermite and the dumb man followed as faſt as they could. But they ſcarce alighted off their horſes, Ambor and Talanque being vnarmed, but Carmelle moued with the extreame paſſions of loue ſhe bare vnto ye blacke knight, had almoſt ſlaine her ſelfe with the ſword that the day before ſhe had ſtollen from him, the occaſion wherof procéeded from a conceit yt he would diſdaine her as vnworthy of him, hee being the ſonne of Amadis de Gaule, as ſhee vnderſtood: yet in the end ſhe remembred the promiſe the king had made, wherefore ſhe determined to deſire ſo much of him, to be a meanes vnto Eſplandian, that he would graunt ſhe might neuer be abſent from him, but would ſerue him during her life with all fidelitie, and to the ſame end, putting her determination in effect, as they ſat all together, ſhe knéeled before the king, and ſaied. My lord, now your grace ſéeth I haue kept my promiſe. That is true (ſaied he) and while I liue I will not be vnmindfull of it. My lord (ſaid ſhée) then I truſt your grace hath not forgotten the gift you promiſed mee: and to performe your word, I pray you be a meanes to the black knight that hee will graunt mee my requeſt. Gentlewomen (ſaied the king) bee you aſſured I will doe it with all my heart. Your grace (ſaied ſhe) as yeſterday gaue mee leaue to viſite my father in the Hermitage, who as it fortuned when I came thether was gone forth, whereat I was abaſhed, becauſe he neuer vſed to bee farre from thence: And finding the dore open, I went into a chamber (that I cauſed to bee furniſhed) wherein ſometimes I vſe to lie, when time or foule weather would not permit me to returne vnto the caſtle, where I found this knight (pointing to Eſplandian) which you all ſo much deſired to ſée, faſt ſléeping, his ſword hanging at his beds head, where with not long ſit hence he hath ſlaine thoſe, that from my infancy ha • brought the vp, and being moued by reaſon of my no little loſſe, with a deſir • to reuenge both my ſelfe and my friendes, I though • • o kill him, •• 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 gi • e the blow, he ſéemed ſo faire within mine eie, that ſudd • in • 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 th •• preſent time. Neuertheleſſe hauing ſithence vnderſtood, that hee by whome I am in this extremitie, in eſtate and degrée▪ • ot to bee my equall, whereby I perceiue my ſelfe vnworthy ei •• 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 wt 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 he • 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 ye 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 ye 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, yt 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 ye 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, • 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 cōtinued 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 your doughter, in a certaine thing of great importance, ſhee hath not had the means to come and viſite you. Then preſenting ye packet to Eſplandian, ſaid vnto him, Gentle knight, My miſtreſſe that loueth and fauoureth you, as it is well knowne, giueth you theſe armes, and ſendeth you word by mee, that as ſhee gaue you the blacke armes, that hetherto you haue borne (to teſtifie thereby the ſorrow for the loſſe of the king, that as then was common among all his true ſubiects and friends) So in theſe you ſhal finde the deuiſe of the lady, that in beautie and comelineſſe of perſon ſurpaſſeth all the ladies in the world, as Amadis your father in time paſt well proued, when ſhee ſet the crowne vpon her head, in remembraunce whereof ſhee hath euer ſithence borne the like deuiſe. Who from henceforth ſhall bee ſo ſtrongly fixed in your heart, that you ſhal neuer giue ſtroke with ſword nor launce, but you will remember her. Which ſhe ſaid in reſpect of the princeſſe Leonorine, doughter to the Emperour of Conſtantinople, that by deſtinie was appointed only vnto him. And opening the pack ſhee pulled out a helmet, ſhield, Haubert, and a Capariſſon for a horſe all of white, imbrodered with crowns of gold, and ſet with Diamonds and Pearles, which hée moſt willingly receiued, ſaying to the Gentlewoman: I pray you in my behalfe giue Vrganda hearty thankes for the great honour and much good ſhee hath continually done vnto me, aſſuring her, that whereſoeuer I become, ſhe hath a knight of mee ready to obay her, and that for the loue of her will beare theſe armes as long as it pleaſeth her. Bée it ſo in the name of God (ſaied ſhe) but before long time bee paſt, you ſhall haue another miſtreſſe, that will conſtraine you to doe greater matters, for ſhée ſhall rauiſh both your heart and libertie in ſuch manner, that you ſhould looſe ouermuch, if at ſometimes you looſe not your ſelfe for her. And to conclude, I tell you that my miſtreſſe féeleth her ſelfe as yet ſo much bound, and beholding to my lord Amadis your father, becauſe that by his meanes, ſhee recouered her friend, that during her life ſhe wil vſe al the means ſhee can to doe him plaſure, and you likewiſe for his ſake. And as ſhee deliuered ye meſſage vnto him, Carmelle came thether, and hearing her ſpeake in that manner, anſwered her and ſaid, Gentlewoman, I pray you tell your miſtreſſe from mée, that ſhe hath great cauſe to recompence them well, by whom ſhe enioieth her friend ſhe loueth ſo entirely: and tell her I know many, to whom if ſuch chance ſhould happen, that would not fail to acknowledge it with the price of their déereſt blood, and their ſoules likewiſe if néed were. In faith (ſaid the gentlewoman) I know not in whoſe behalfe you ſpeake it, but I know aſſuredly you touch mée at the quick, which ſhe vttered with ſo good a grace, that the king could not refraine to ſmile, hauing in times paſt felt the fury of loue, when hée firſt ſaw the Quéene in the country of Denmarke. Yet bee chaunged his countenance, aſking the Gentlewoman from whence that muſicke came that hee heard in the morning before breake of day. My lord (ſaid ſhe) being ſometimes in greater paſſions then willingly I would, I paſſe my melancholy humours with a Lute that I haue, eſpecially when I cannot ſléepe, which as I thinke, was it you heard. What company haue you in the Serpent (ſaid the king?) None (ſaid ſhe) but Eſplandians Squire, that I found in a manner dead, for the deſire he had to hear news of his maiſter, to whome alſo I haue brought the goodlieſt white horſe, and the beſt harnaiſed that euer was ſéene, which my miſtreſſe ſendeth him likewiſe. Did ſhe commād you to ſay nothing elſe vnto me (ſaid the king?) Yes my lord (ſaied ſhee) ſhee ſendeth you word, that at my arriuall here, you and hee ſhould enter into this ſhip, that of it ſelfe will bring you into great Brittaine, and that the fortunes yt not long ſince happened vnto you, are ſnares the world ſetteth to intrap thoſe it ſéeketh to deceiue, ſéeming to ioine gréene and flouriſhing age with that which already is dried vp and withered. And further willeth you to put in effect, yt which in your ſelfe you haue determined to doe: (which was to forſake his kingly eſtate, and liue a ſolitary life) but hee wondered much that Vrganda knew it, yet he made no ſhew therof, but ſpeaking to the Gentlewoman, he ſaied. Your miſtreſſe bindeth mee daily more and more vnto her, being well aſſured, that without her helpe I could hardly haue found any to haue brought me into my country. Wherfore I pray you tell her, that whatſoeuer I haue, is at her commandement, and as touching my determination, which (as ſoone as I conceiued in my mind, I perceiued it was knowne to her) being at home, if God giueth me life, I meane to put in execution. My lord (ſaied ſhee) ſhe praieth you to commend the kéeping of this caſtle to Talanque and Ambor, (not taking any with you but Eſplandian, Sergil, & maiſter Elizabeth) knowing for certaine that hereafter they ſhall doe ſuch things, that their renoume will ſpread throughout the world. Wherewith my lord I will take my leaue, and returne againe to her with the dumbe men, that ſhall guide me in this little barke. God haue you in his kéeping (ſaied the king.) Then the Gentlewoman with her two Marriners entered into the barke that brought Eſplandian thether, and ſetting ſaile, put to ſea.

CHAP. XIII. How King Luiſart imbarked himſelfe in the great Serpent, and of the meſſage Eſplandian ſent by Carmelle, vnto the Princeſſe Leonorine, doughter to the Emperor of Conſtantinople.

THe Gentlewoman that brought the meſſage with the two dumbe men, imbarked and put to ſea, farre from the rocke: king Luiſart and the reſt went vnto the caſtle, where he ſtaied not long, for according to the aduiſe Vrganda had giuen him, hee deſired Ambor & Talanque with Libee and the reſt of the company to kéep the caſtle, promiſing with all ſpéed to ſend them prouiſion of all thinges neceſſary, whereof they wanted. But when Eſplandian ſaw there was no remedy, but of force he muſt obey the king (much diſpleaſed to depart ſo farre from the borders of Conſtantinople, where he hoped to find her whereof maiſter Elizabeth had brought him the firſt newes) hée tooke his faithfull ſeruant Carmelle aſide, and ſaid vnto her: My good friend, I was in mind neuer to falſifie the promiſe I haue made you, nor the gift you required at my hands, neuertheleſſe, truſting more in you then any other, I pray you take it not in euill part, if (to ſaue my life) I ſend you to a place, whether I thought to haue gone my ſelf in perſon, but it pleaſeth the king (as you wel know) that I ſhal beare him company. My lord (ſaied ſhee) I moſt humbly thanke you for the honour it pleaſeth you to ſhew mee, ſwearing vnto you by the liuing God, that I take no pleaſure but in fulfilling your deſire, wherefore I pray you feare not to command mée what you thinke good, for whatſoeuer may happen thereby, I will bee obedient vnto you during my life. My good friend (ſaid Eſplandian) imbracing her, I wil one day recompence your good will, & ſéeing you are minded to do me ſo much fauour, you muſt then take your iourney to Conſtantinople, on meſſage to the Princeſſe Leonorine, the Emperours doughter, to whom (hauing preſented my moſt humble and harty commendations) you ſhall on my behalfe ſay, How that at ſuch time as I receiued the order of knighthood, I was commanded by my lord Amadis my father to repaire to her fathers court, there to diſcharge him of the promiſe hee made vnto her (which was either to returne againe to doe her ſeruice, or to ſend one of his linage thether in his place) Neuertheleſſe, conſidering with my ſelfe his great valour and Proweſſe, and the great beauty that is reported to bee in her, which my ſmall deſert in regard of him that gaue me the commandement, I am afraid to vndertake the ſame. Notwithſtanding, it hath pleaſed her (by maiſtee Elizabeth) to put mee in mind thereof, although while breath is in my body I will neuer faile to be her knight. And to the end ſhee may giue credite to your meſſage, you ſhal preſent this ring vnto her, which ſhe knoweth well, as being the ſame ſhe gaue vnto my father, to put him in remembrance of his promiſe. My lord (ſaied ſhe) I will fulfill your commandement, but if you goe ſo far from hence, where ſhal I find you, when I come backe again? In this place (ſaid Eſplandian) whether I will returne as ſoone as I haue brought the king into great Brittaine. Then calling Libee, hee commanded him, that preſently after hee had ſet ſaile, hee ſhould cauſe a ſhip to be prepared for Carmelle, to goe on meſſage where he would ſend her, that done, hee went to finde the king and maiſter Elizabeth, that ſtaied for him in the Serpent, the which preſently vpon his entring therein, of her ſelf began to ſet forwards with ſuch ſpéede, that in ſhort ſpace they left the coaſt of Turkie, and the twentith day after, they diſcouered ye Ferme Iſle, where ſhe ſtaied, which thoſe of ye country perceiuing, aduertiſed Amadis and the reſt of the company, who in great haſt ran vnto the Hauen, but they were no ſooner come thether, when they eſpied the king, Eſplandian, maiſter Elizabeth, and Sergil, landing out of a little boat. Wherewith being all abaſhed, but much more pleaſod, ſtepped forwards to receiue thē, and after many imbracings and ſalutations on either part, Amadis preſented the Giant Balan to the king, whom as yet hee had neuer ſéene, and therewith ſet forward towards the pallace of Apolidon, wherof Oriane and the reſt of the ladies hauing intelligence, the great ſorrow that ſo long time they had vſed for his abſence, was conuerted into ioy, which much more increaſed, when the king in preſence of them all, rehearſed the manner how Eſplandian deliuered him out of Arcabonnes hands, and the great Proweſſe he ſhewed againſt Matroco, Frerion, and Arcalaus their vncle. Oriane knew wel the great deſire and much gréefe the Quéene had, becauſe ſhee heard no newes of the king, wherefore the ſame day ſhee ſent her daniſh Gentlewoman to aduertiſe her of his arriuall, who made ſuch haſt, that within ſixe daies after ſhee arriued at London, at ſuch time the Quéene ſat downe to dinner.

CHAP. XIIII. How King Luiſart departed from the Ferme Iſle, accompanied of diuers knights, Ladies, and Gentlewomen, and being neere London, in a forreſt they met with foure knights, that ſent to ask four courſes with their launces againſt Eſplandian.

THrée daies king Luiſart continued in the Ferme Iſle, and the fourth day hee determined to goe ſee the Quéene, and to the ſame end, with all ye company of knights, ladies, and gentlewomen, he ſet forwards towards London, and trauailed ſo faſt, that they were within a daies iourney of the cittie. And as they entred into a forreſt, where they vſed commonly to chaſe the Hart, they ſaw in the high way foure knights, well mounted & armed at all points, each his Eſquire by his ſide, bearing their ſhield and launces, for they had their helmets on their heads. And with that they perceiued a Gentlewoman comming towards them, riding on a palfrey, and being néere them, ſpeaking to Eſplandian, ſhe ſaied, Sir knight with the white armes, thoſe foure knights you ſée in the high way before you, ſend you word by me, that they would gladly know the cauſe why you beare the deuiſe of crownes, wherin if you ſatiſfie their deſire, in ſuch ſort that their honours bee not ſtained, they will from henceforth refraine to inquire the ſame any more: otherwiſe, they giue you by me to vnderſtand, it were beſt for you to leaue them, or elſe that you defend them well, as being the moſt honourable deuiſe that is in all the world. When Eſplandian heard her ſpeake in that manner, in courteous ſort he anſwered her and ſaid. Gentlewoman, to ſatiſfie their requeſt I pray you tell them, that the deuiſe and the armes I beare was giuen me by Vrganda, but for what cauſe I know not, neuertheles I bear them for the loue of her, as alſo that they like me wel: and if this content them not, tel them, mee thinketh the occaſion of combate betwéene mee and them is ſo ſmall, that for this time I would deſire them to forbeare the ſame. In good faith (ſaied ſhee) ſmiling, you ſpeak with reaſon, for they are knights that ſéeme to haue much néed of your counſell, but notwithſtanding good ſir, I pray you bee not vnprouided, for your excuſes will not bee receiued. Gentlewoman (ſaid Eſplandian) if they aſſaile me, it ſhall bee againſt my wil. Truly (ſaid ſhe) as farre as I perceiue, the great beautie that is in you, together with the rich armes and goodly horſe you ride vpon are worſe beſtowed then euer was any, when you are not aſhamed •• make an anſwere ſo little to your credite. Neuertheleſſe, either you muſt forſake the way to London, and this good company, or defend the braue deuiſe you bear, as they haue ſent you word. The way (ſaied Eſplandian) is common to all men, and out of it (for them) I will not goe, wherefore if they aſſaile me, I muſt of force defend my ſelf. And becauſe the Gentlewoman was not knowne among them, they all muſed who ſhe might me, as alſo who the foure knights were that ſent her, to whom ſhée returned againe. Meane time Eſplandian laced on his helmet, taking his launce in his hand, ready to fight if occaſion ſerued. Wherewith Amadis and the reſt of the company were excéeding glad, doubting leaſt the king had ſpoken in fauour of him, when he ſhewed what he had done, but they had not ridden long, but one of ye four knights came riding ſoftly towards them, and about a carriers length from them, called to Eſplandian and ſaid, You ſir knight that would not ſatiſfie our deſires, defend your ſelfe from mee. Wherewith hee ſet ſpurres to his horſe and Eſplandian likewiſe, who at ye firſt encounter caſt him ſo ſtrongly out of his ſaddle, that in long time after hee could not riſe againe, and therewith his launce brake: with yt the ſecond knight came forwards, willing Eſplandian to take another launce, for he meant to reuenge his companion. Which Amadis hearing, ſent him his launce, that he willingly receiued, and being in a rage to ſée himſelfe aſſailed without cauſe, hée ranne againſt the knight, and ſtrake him ſo ſurely on the breſt, that he ouerthrew him both horſe and man. Well (ſaid the king) to the ſtanders by, iudge you if it be poſſible to doe better? My lord (ſaid Agraies) I neuer ſaw two fairer ſtrokes giuen with a launce, the reſt I will leaue to conſider of till I know thoſe that ranne againſt him. Let vs ſée the end (ſaied the king) and calling a Squire, hee ſent his launce vnto Eſplandian, for as then the third knight prepared himſelfe to runne, and ſpurring their horſes, ſet forwards ſo fiercely, that breaking their launces, they met ſo ſtrongly, body and ſhields, and heads together, that Eſplandian had much adoe to ſit vpon his horſe, and the other had ſuch a fall, that he lay ſtil vpon ye ground. Whereat the fourth knight being abaſhed, ſaied vnto himſelfe, Truly, both the king and Vrgan •• •• ue good reaſon (as they do) to aſſure the valor and Proweſſe of this knight, ſéeing it is much more then they warrant it to bee: Neuertheleſſe, I muſt of force trie him, otherwiſe I ſhould doe both my ſelfe and him wrong. And with that he called Eſplandian and ſaid, Knight, Although I well know the ſmall courteſie, that I and my companions haue ſhewed vnto you, yet I muſt not refuſe to doe the ſame that they haue done before me, wherefore I pray you ſend to ſome of your company for another launce, that we may ſée who ſhall beare the honour of this enterpriſe. I will doe it (ſaied hee) ſéeing you conſtraine me therevnto, vpon condition that if I can, I will ſerue you in the like ſort I haue done your companions. With that Granſador that heard them ſpeake, gaue him his launce, which he preſently charging, they met together with ſuch force, that their launces brake cloſe vnto their hands, neither of them remouing out his ſaddle, wherefore the knight of the forreſt turned to Eſplandian and ſaied, Sir Knight; let vs yet trie one blow more, and I will quite you for this time. You might content your ſelfe (ſaid hée) with that is done, but ſéeing you are ſo void of reaſon, I am content to trie it with you, till one of vs bee beaten off his horſe. Then he ſent Sergil to fetch another lance, and he brought him one ſome what bigger and ſhorter then thoſe hee had before, wherewith hee ſtrooke the knight of the forreſt ſo valiantly, that he ouerthrew him, himſelf being conſtrained to imbrace his horſe about the necke, or elſe he had fallen as the other did that lay on the ground, yet he roſe before Eſplandian had runne out his courſe and as he returned barke, he ſtaied him by the armour and ſaied vnto him, Before God ſir knight, you haue ſufficiently ſhewed that in valour and Proweſſe you are ſecond to none but to your ſelfe: but hee anſwered not a word, but holding downe his head (aſhamed of that had happened vnto him) paſſed forth. With that the king came thether to knowe what knights they were that had ben ouerthrowne, among the which he knew Galaor, for hee had put off his helmet to do him honour when he ſaw him come, wherat the king was ſo well pleaſed, that he alighted of his horſe and ranne to imbrace him, the like did Amadis, ſaying vnto him, with a ſmiling countenaunce, How now brother Galaor, how long haue you vſed to be a kéeper of the high waies? You ſée (ſaid hee) that I and my companions haue ſought to trie whether this knight be of ſuch force as we haue found him, and what hath happened you may well iudge, when Eſplandian vnderſtood his vncle Galaor (fearing to haue offended) hee lighted off his horſe, and knéeling downe before him, aſked pardon for his fault. Nephew (ſaied hée) it is I that haue done the wrong, and therefore I tolde the king that you are a better knight then I, and maruaile not if I ſought to prooue it, Becauſe I thought to doe it with mine honour, but I found the contrary, which from henceforth ſhal make me thinke the things foreſhewed of you will bee accompliſhed ſo well, that the glory of your father, and the reputation by many knights in times paſt obtained, ſhall from henceforth bee extinguiſhed, you hauing ſo eaſily ouerthrowne thrée of ye beſt knights in great Brittaine, and my ſelfe the fourth. What are they (ſaid the king?) My lord (ſaid Galaor) the firſt that ranne was Sendale of Gonaſte, the ſecond Galuanes, the third Angriote d'eſtrauaulx, and my ſelfe hath done worſe then they. Wherat the king and al the company began to laugh: And imbracing them, cauſed them to mount on horſebacke, riding towards London, where in the way the King praied them to tell him howe this enterpriſe was deuiſed. My Lord (ſaied Galaor) hauing vnderſtoode by the daniſh Gentlewoman (that my lady Oriane not long ſince ſent vnto the Quéene, to bring her newes of your returne, and what had happened vnto you during your impriſonment) the valiant acts by you declared of my nephew Eſplandian, wee conceiued ſuch a iealouſie againſt him, eſtéeming the honour you did him thereby, to procéed rather of fatherly loue then otherwiſe, that wée determimined ſecretly to depart out of London to proue his force, as now you haue well ſéene: and to moue him therevnto, we ſent the gentlewoman with the meſſage you haue heard. Of my faith (ſaied the king) the deuiſe was good, and hath fallen out well. In this manner deuiſing of ſundry things, hee came to Mirefleur, where the Quéen met him, praiſing God for his vnexpected return, and conſidering his trouble paſt, with the gréefe ſhee had for his long abſence, ſéeing him there ſafe and in good health, ſhee thought her ſelfe well recompenced with his preſence. The next day in the morning they ſet forwards towards London, where the people receiued him with ſuch ſigns of gladneſſe, that moſt part of them wept for ioy to ſée him, for there was neuer Prince better loued of his ſubiects thē he. Being there, Eſplandian began to be weary of the place, longing to heare news of Carmelle, that he had ſent to Conſtantinople, as you haue heard before. And therefore euery day hee deuiſed meanes to get licence to depart from thence, pretending a cauſe of returning to the caſtle called La montaigne defendu, ſhewing the king what promiſe he had made to his companions, which if hee did not performe, they ſhould haue cauſe to complaine of him, but the king would not in any ſort graunt to his requeſt, yet in the end, ouercome with much importunity, he was content, wherewith hee tooke his leaue of all the court, and vpon a monday in the morning taking horſe, accompanied onely of maiſter Elizabeth, and Sergil his ſquire, hee tooke his way towards the Ferme Iſle, hoping to finde the great Serpent there, wherein they might imbarke themſelues.

CHAP. XV. How Eſplandian riding towards the Ferme Iſle, was aſſailed by a ſtrange knight that watched him in the forreſt.

ESplandian departed from the king, and hauing taken his leaue of all the court, as you heard before, tooke the crookeddeſt way hee could, through woods and forreſts towards the Ferme Iſie, thinking not to bee perceiued of any, that might hinder his enterpriſe. And hauing ridden thrée miles, he entered into a forreſt, which hauing almoſt paſſed, hée came vnto a great riuer▪ wherevpon the king had built a houſe, called Belleroſe, where oftentimes being on hunting, hee vſed to reſort. And as he thought to paſſe the bridge, he perceiued on the other ſide a knight armed at all points ready to fight, that cried vnto him with a loud voice, and ſaid: Sir knight, you muſt aſke me leaue if you wil come ouer, for according to my promiſe, I haue taken vpon mee to kéepe this bridge, for the ſpace of one whole yeare, wherefore if you thinke good, you may take ſome other way. With that Eſplandian was much gréeued, perceiuing that either of force he muſt fight, or ſéeke another paſſage, wherfore he would willingly haue excuſed himſelfe, & ſaid: Sir knight, I pray you then ſhew mee which way I were beſt to goe, for by me you ſhall haue no cauſe at this time to trouble your ſelfe. You muſt returne again to London (ſaid he) for other paſſage is there none, vnleſſe you will looſe your horſe and goe on foot. Rather the I would doe ſo (ſaid Eſplandian) I will proue if I can win yours, and therewith lacing his helmet, tooke his launce and road vnto the knight, who no ſooner perceiued him comming, but ſetting ſpurres to his horſe, ranne towards him, whereby they met ſo fiercely together, that both ye knights fell off their horſes, in ſuch manner, that maiſter Elizabeth and Sergil, thought verily they had ſlaine each other, but they ſtaied not long before they roſe againe, and laying hand on their ſwordes, there began betwéene them the cruelleſt and moſt daungerous battell that euer was ſéene: whereat maiſter Elizabeth much abaſhed, ſaid vnto himſelfe, Good God, what may this meane, I beléeue for certain that ſome diuell of hell hath tranſformed himſelfe into humane ſhape, to deſtroy vs all. Meane time the two knights continued in moſt cruell fight, ſtill increaſing their mights, cleauing ſhields and armours, in ſuch ſort, that all the field was couered with péeces of the harneis, and died with blood that iſſued from their bodies, till at the laſt the knight of the bridge ſtept backe & ſaid vnto Eſplandian, Sir knight, take another way, and I am content to quite you of the combate, for you are the valianteſt knight that euer I dealt withall, and it ſhould diſpleaſe mee much, if by your wilfulneſſe you would be cauſe of your owne death. In good faith (ſaied he) I had done it at the firſt, had it not beene, the feare I had, that you would eſtéeme me a coward, but knowing very wel that the honour of this combate cannot bee had, but onely by the death of one of vs, or both together, I will trie my fortune, till I bee no longer able to weld a ſword. Is that true (ſaid the knight?) Then let vs ſée to whom fortune will be fauourable. And therewith couering themſelues with that little of their ſhields that reſted in their hands, they began the combate crueller then before, as though all the day they had not giuen a ſtroke, ſo that after many cruel blowes with their ſwords, they cloſed together, and wraſtling long time, they ſought to caſt each other to the ground. But ſéeing the little aduantage gotten thereby, they began againe to lay on with their ſwords with ſuch fury, that Sergil looked for no other but when they ſhould fall dead vpon the ground, not béeing able to iudge who would haue the victory. Whereat maiſter Elizabeth was ſo much diſpleaſed, that hee could not abſtaine from wéeping, ſaying vnto himſelfe, Alas what fortune is this, muſt the beſt knight liuing in the world, and in the flower of his age loſe his life at that time by ſo hard a chaunce? Curſed be the day that euer he met with him, that is the cauſe of ſo great loſſe. And to ſay truth, if God had not prouided for them, the father had ſlain the ſonne, and the ſonne the father, for the knight of the bridge was Amadis de Gaule, who being ouer curious of his ſonnes glory would proue his force, and the better to doe it, the day before Eſplandian tooke his leaue, hee departed ſecretly from the court, and ſtaied for him at the bridge, bearing an vnknowne armour, where after many attempts on either part giuen, Amadis perceiuing both their dangers, ſaid vnto Eſplandian: Knight, you ſée well you cannot ouercome mee, and I aſſure you, I neuer had to doe with any knight, that euer put mee to ſo great extreamity, wherefore I am content to let you paſſe. But not I you (ſaied he) vnleſſe you tell me your name. I will not deny you that (ſaied Amadis) wherefore cauſe maiſter Elizabeth to come hether, for I thinke we haue both néed of his helpe. Then Eſplandian called him vnto them, meane time Amadis put off his helmet, ſo faint and weary, that hée was conſtrained to leane vnto a trée. But when Eſplandian knew him and perceiuing the fault he had committed, he caſt forth a grea • crie, and ſaied: Alas wicked wretch that I am, and therewith he fell vpon the ground, whereat maiſter Elizabeth and Amadis thinking him to bee in a ſound, ranne to lift him vp, but it was not ſo, onely that it gréeued him hée had dealt in ſuch manner with his father, who ſaid vnto him, ſonne, although I am as ſore wounded as poſſible may bee, without death, yet haue I not receiued ſo much hurt, as conceiued pleaſure, perceiuing the valour I find to be in you, wherefore bee not diſcomforted. Notwithſtanding he could not content himſelfe, but curſed his owne life, being (as he ſaid) the moſt vnhappy man that euer was borne of woman. And continuing in that gréefe, ye blood in diuers places ranne out of his body, whereby he waxed faint, which maiſter Elizabeth perceiuing, and knowing aſſuredly, if remedy were not ſpéedily had, they were both in danger of their liues, hee ſaied vnto them: I pray you for this time leaue off your ſorrow, and let vs preſently go to Mirefleur, not far from hence, for you both haue greater néede of reſt, then of longer ſtaying in this place, wherewith he and Sergil ſet them on their horſes, and with great pain brought them to the caſtle, where their wounds were dreſſed. Such was the combate betwéene the two knights as you haue heard, yet ſome write, that Amadis was ſo wounded by Eſplandian, that in the end with a thruſt of a launce into the right ſhoulder, and other blowes with his ſword, hee was ſlaine in the field, which Oriane hearing, threw her ſelfe out of a window, and brake her necke. But it is not true, for they raigned after that both in Fraunce and great Brittaine, and had another ſonne named Perion, and a doughter no leſſe beautifull then her mother, that married Arquiſil ſonne to the Emperour of Rome. But I cannot conceiue from whence thoſe lyers could inuent ſuch a thing, if they vnderſtand not by (death) the ſhadowes that Eſplandian cauſed his fathers valiant acts to bee couered withall, by the light and pleaſant ſhining of his owne, wherby his fathers were ſo much had in obliuion, that there was no more brute of them, then if they had neuer beene done. But to returne againe vnto our matter, you muſt note that newes went preſently vnto the court, what had chanced to the two knights. Wherewith the king and Oriane much diſpleaſed, departed from London, & came to Mirefleur, when maiſter Elizabeth began the ſecond time to dreſſe their wounds. Whereby he perceiued them out of danger, and cured them ſo well, that within ſeuen daies after they could walke about the chamber, which put Oriane in better comfort then before, and it fell out well for her, for if her malancholy had longer indured ſhe had for certain died at that time. And becauſe the king had not as yet vnderſtoode the reaſon that mooued them to fight, one day when hee found Amadis in good diſpoſition, hee praied him to tell him. In faith my lord (ſaied hee) I was deſirous to haue the difference of our two forces knowne, being aſſured, that whatſoeuer chaunced thereby, it could not bee but to mine honour: for if my ſonne bee a better knight then my ſelfe, his honour for the preſent time, will increaſe my glory paſt. Before God (ſaied the king) your enterpriſe was but raſhly vndertaken, I pray you another time let vs leaue ſuch youthfull partes for thoſe that are but entring into arms. Beléeue me, and it pleaſeth your grace (ſaied hée) I was neuer better beaten in all my life. It is no matter (ſaied the king) ſéeing you haue both eſcaped with your liues, now ſéeke meanes to bée healed of your wounds with as much ſpéede as you may, and from henceforth let vs war only againſt Harts and other wild beaſts that are within this forreſt, as my huntſmen haue ſhewed me this day.

CHAP. XVI. How the King of Denmarke, Garinter, and Manely, ſuccoured Vrganda, that certaine knights would haue ſlaine, becauſe ſhe aided the Emperors ſonne of Rome.

YOu heard before of the aduentures of Eſplandian, Ambor and Talanque, after they had receiued the order of knighthood, now you ſhall heare what became of Garinter king of Denmarke, and Manely, who ſléeping as others did by the ſound of ſixe trumpets that plaied on the ſhore, the next night they found themſelues with their ſquires in a little barke, ſo farre out of al knowledge, that although they had landed they knew not where they were, and it was ſo darke, that they could not ſée each other, till at the laſt they perceiued a fire not farre from thence, that moued them to goe thether, to ſée if they could find any that would ſhew them in what country they were, therefore leauing their ſquires to kéepe their barke, they tooke their ſhields, and mounting vp a little hill, they perceiued a fire burning circle wiſe, in the middle whereof they ſaw a woman holding a yong child in her armes, and about the fire ſtood tenne knights all armed, that ſought to take her, but by no meanes they could come néere her, ſhe was ſo well defended by the fire. And as they went néerer vnto it, they heard one among the reſt that ſaid vnto her, Ha, thou falſe and accurſed wretch, thy diuelliſh ſpirits and familiars can now no longer helpe thée, but at this time thou ſhalt ſurely die. And although Manely and Garinter had their helmets on their heads, yet the woman they ſo threatened, knew them well, calling thē and ſaid: Help me my ſonnes, and faile me not I pray you at this time. With that Manely and the king of Denmarke knew her by her voice, wherefore laying hands on their ſwords, they marched towards the tenne knights, wherof one of them ſtepped before the reſt, aſking them if they knew that wicked woman that had done him the greateſt miſchiefe that euer was. By God ſir knight (ſaid Manely) you lie in your throat, ſhe is not wicked, but faithfuller for her part, then you for yours. Wherewith they ran each vpon other, and there began the combate of tenne knights againſt two, and although the match was not equall, Manely and the king of Denmarke ſetting their backes together, laied valiantly vpon them, yet in the end they could not haue reſiſted, but Vrganda playing her part, put out the fire, and taking her two knights aſide, left the reſt in the darke, ſtriking each other as if Manely and the king of Denmarke had beene with them. Meane time Vrganda and her company got into the thicket of the wood, and hauing trauailed long, at the laſt the moone began to ſhine, when they were weary, whereby they determined to ſtay a while and reſt themſelues till day appeared. Meane time the two knights deſired Vrganda to ſhewe them how ſhee came thether, and whether ſhe knew the country. My good friends (ſaid ſhe) hauing long ſince learned by my art, that this little child ſon to the Emperour of Rome, and of the Empreſſe Leonor his wife, ſhould bee ſtollen away by the Traitor that aſſailed you, who is ſonne to Garadan, that Amadis (as then called the knight of the gréene ſword) put to death in the countrey of Bohemia, in defending the right of king Tafmor: As ſoone as you fell on ſléepe in the great Serpent, I made al the haſt I could vnto this place to ſuccour it, according to my promiſe made (being in the Ferme Iſle) in preſence of Amadis and diuers other knights, where I arriued at ſo good a time when the villaines which you ſaw, came to a ſhepheards houſe, where a poore nurſe dwelt, to whom they deliuered this little child to giue it ſucke. And ſéeing it was time to put my enterpriſe in practiſe, I went out of my barke, and making as if I had ben robbed by certaine théeues, ranne towards them, crying out and wéeping bitterly, wherewith they all came forth to ſée what it might be, and perceiuing me in that manner, aſked the cauſe of my gréefe. Ha my lords (ſaid I) It is ſo, that as my huſband & I paſſed through this wood, wée met eight théeues, that ſlew him, and not content therewith, haue taken away my horſe and my budget, wherein there is a great ſumme of money. Which they beléeuing to bee true, (not that they were mooued with compaſſion for my loſſe) but reſpecting their owne particular benefite, hoping to get a booty by them that had robbed mee, ſcattered themſelues in companies to find them out, where they ſtaied ſo long, that the ſhéepheard and his wife went out of the houſe, and thinking to haue their parts, left mee alone with the child, that not long after I tooke in mine armes, and went away. But as it fell out, the nurſe came in, and miſſing the child, called to them for help, who running in great haſt, followed mée ſo faſt, (that had it not ben for night that ouertooke them) and the great fire you found about mee, I had neuer eſcaped their hands. And what would they haue done with this poore infant (ſaid Manely?) You ſhall vnderſtand (ſaid ſhe) that the ſonne of Garadan hauing conceiued a mortal hatred againſt the Emperour, either becauſe he could not haue the entertainement hee thought hee had deſerued, or elſe gréeued (as I thinke) that hee could not attaine vnto the Empire, as hee pretended: determined not onely to reuenge himſelfe vpon this little child, but to kill the Emperour likewiſe if euer he haue the means. By God (ſaid the king of Denmark) hée is a wicked and cruell hearted man, but aſſure your ſelfe that God wil not permit it to be ſo. Neuertheleſſe I am in doubt this child will indure much woe, ſéeing you haue no meanes to giue it ſucke. Let me alone with that (ſaid Vrganda) for I haue certain hearbes about me, with the iuice wherof I will nouriſh it, if néed be eight daies together. What (ſaied hee) will you then ſtay here ſo long? No (ſaid Vrganda) for as ſoone as it is day I will returne vnto my boat that ſtaieth here at the ſhoare. But madame (ſaied they) what ſhal become of vs? for we are arriued here, not knowing who brought vs hether. But for Gods ſake, if you haue heard any newes of our companions, let vs knew it, and where wee may goe to find them. My friends (ſaid ſhee) you muſt firſt let deſteny haue his courſe, and indure many hard aduentures, & when time ſerueth you ſhall haue your deſires. And in that manner ſometimes talking and ſometimes ſléeping, they paſſed the time away till day began to appeare, when they thrée together went to the ſea ſide, where they entered into Vrgandas boat, wherein foure Gentlewomen and two dwarfes ſtaied for her.

CHAP. XVII. How Vrganda departed from the two knights, and being guarded by two dragons went vnto the Emperours court, to deliuer them their yoong ſonne, for the loſſe whereof all the court was in an vprore.

FOr a time Vrganda ſtaied with the two knights, not minding preſently to eaſe the Emperours mind with the recouery of his ſonne, in the end ſhe cauſed them to returne vnto their barke, willing them from that time forwards to arm themſelues againſt the aſſaults of fortune, although ſhe ſéemed neuer ſo variable and vnconſtant. For (ſaid ſhée) therefore was ye order of knighthood inſtituted & appointed, that thereby it might appeare more excellent. And they were no ſooner departed, but ſhe ſet foot on land, and mounted on a palfrey with the child in her lappe, ſhee rude forward, with two dragons to guard her, one vpon her right hand, the other vpon the left, that bare her company till ſhée came to Triol, where the Emperour helde his court. And approching the Towne, ſhe met great companies of knights that went to ſéeke the child, who ſéeing thoſe horrible beaſts caſting fire out of their mouths, for feare they began to flie, whereat Vrganda ſmiled. At the laſt Floreſtan king of Sardinia comming that way, (hauing ridden a great compaſſe about to purſue Garadans ſonne) and returning as then all weary & ſore trauailed with his horſe tyred, perceiuing the people to runne ſo faſt, aſked them the cauſe, wherewith they ſhewed him a farre off what they had ſéene, but hee not abaſhed, went towards the dragons, thinking if it were poſſible to fight with them, and as he came néerer vnto them, he knew Vrganda, and ſpurring his horſe, hee thought to ſalute her, but the more hee prickt him forwards, the more the horſe gaue backe, whereby he was conſtrained to light downe, and ſaluting her, he tooke her by the hand, but the dragons vaniſhed away, whereat hee was abaſhed, which Vrganda perceiuing, ſaid vnto him: In faith ſir knight, they haue good cauſe to giue you place, knowing well the magnanimitie of your inuincible courage. And for my part, I eſtéeme my ſelfe better guarded (being in your company) then I did before, wherfore I pray you leaue me not, till I haue deliuered this child vnto his mother, which I haue recouered from the villaines that had ſtollen it from her. Is it poſſible madame (ſaid Floreſtan) that the emperour ſhould receiue ſo great a pleaſure by your means? Shew mee. I pray you (if it pleaſeth you) how you procured the ſame? You ſhall know it (ſaied ſhe) when time ſerueth, till then content your ſelfe, and mounting on horſebacke, I pray you bring mée to the citty of Triol. With that they rode together till they came to the Emperours court, where they found the Empreſſe halfe dead for ſorrow, but when ſhee heard the good newes Vrganda brought, her ſorrow turned to excéeding ioy. And for that the emperour being armed, was ridden out to ſéeke the child, as others did, ſhee ſent men on all ſides to certefie him thereof, hee hauing intelligence, thanked God with all his heart, and turned backe to ſée Vrganda, that told him in what manner ſhe found the child, as you haue heard before. Where wee leaue her, and returne to ſhew you of Manely and the king of Denmarke, who in ye mean time were at ſea in ſo horrible a tempeſt, that they thought to haue ben drowned.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the ſtrange aduentures that the king of Denmarke and Manely had, after they departed from Vrganda, and what paſtime they had with two great apes in an Iſland, where by chaunce they arriued.

AFter the king of Denmarke and Manely departed from Vrganda, they entered into their barke, where their two Squires ſtaied for them, and ſo imbarked, preſently hoiſed ſaile and put to ſea, the weather very peaceable and calme: but they had not ſailed long, when a contrary winde began to riſe, wherewith ye waters grew ſo high, and the ſea began to ſwell ſo bigge, that one while it ſéemed to mount vnto the ſkies, and againe to deſcend as low as the bottomeleſſe pit of hel, whereby their little barke, was oftentimes couered with water, hauing neither maſte, ſaile, nor cable, but all rent in péeces. And that which abaſhed thē moſt was, that night comming vpon them, it was ſo darke, they could not ſée the length of their boat, in which torment they continued for the ſpace of thirty daies together, till at the length it caſt them vpon an Iſland, where (being arriued about ſunne ſetting) they landed. Then commaunding one of their ſquires to kéepe their boat, being armed at all points, they went into the Iſland to ſée if they could find any freſh water or other victuals, for they had not ſufficient in 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 hādle 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 fallē into his hands • ſaied the man) call him the diuell of the ſea, although hee is well known by the name of Frandalo, for by his valor hée hath brought in ſubiection the greateſt part of all this ſea, pilling and taking all hée findeth, and by force of weather hath beene conſtrained to put into this Iſland, his other veſſels being ſcattered ſo farre 〈8 pages missing〉 heare him named. Notwithſtanding one thing ouercommeth him and vanquiſheth his moſt couragious heart: which is your grace my good lady (ſaid ſhe) whom he loueth, honoureth, and deſireth to ſerue while life indureth. But knowing not if his ſeruice would be accepted of, he durſt not preſume to come himſelfe in perſon to offer you the ſame: although (by him that next after your ſelfe, may moſt commaund him) hee had expreſſe charge to preſent it vnto you, as bound thereto by promiſe. And to the end you may giue credite to my wordes, hee ſendeth you this ring, which is the very ſame you gaue to Amadis, being in this Court, if your grace can call it to remembrance. With that Leonorine tooke it in her hand, and beholding it long time, ſhe ſaied vnto the Gentlewoman: Truly this ring was ſometimes mine, which I gaue vnto the beſt knight nowe liuing in the world. In faith (ſaid the Gentlewoman) a better knight then hée hath ſent it you againe, and that is my lord Eſplandian his ſonne. I neuer ſawe him, that I know off (ſaid ſhe:) True it is, maiſter Elizabeth told me of a yoong Gentleman ſonne to the knight with the greene ſword, that not long ſince was made knight in the Ferme Iſle, Vrganda being preſent, and the next day was carried away in a ſtrange ſhip, of whome as then they could beare no newes. Madame (ſaid Carmelle) I know not who the knight with the gréen ſword may be, but he whereof I ſhew you hath had ſuch a beginning in armes, that if it be your pleaſure to heare it, you will bee abaſhed thereat: tell it I pray you (ſaid the Princeſſe. But as the Gentlewoman began to ſpeak, one brought the Princeſſe news the Emperour her father was come from hunting, and aſked for her: wherewith ſhée knowing what pleaſure her father would take to heare newes, tooke Carmelle by the hand, and led her into the Emperours chamber, and doing reuerence vnto him, ſhe ſaid: My lord, here is a ſtrange Gentlewoman, (that can tell you newes of the good knight with the gréene ſword, and of his ſonne likewiſe, of whome maiſter Elizabeth made a long diſcour •• and ſhe hath ben conducted hether by two knights of the Ferm Iſle, whereof one of them hath fought with Frandalo, and hath preſented him vnto me, and ſtaying your returne, I haue ſent them into a chamber to refreſh themſelues. Doughter (ſaid the Emperour) both they and the Gentlewoman are moſt heartely welcome. My lord (ſaied Carmelle) God preſerue your grace: & without further honour vnto him, ſhee ſtoode ſtill and held her peace, whereat all the company began to ſmile, thinking that want of ciuilitie cauſed her to forget her ſelfe. But not long after they changed their opinion, Carmelle beginning to ſpeak in this maner. My lord, I haue beene nouriſhed all my life among the beſt knights liuing in ye world, yet let not your grace find it ſtrange, if at the firſt (being in your maieſties preſence) I haue vſed ſo little honour to your grace, whereby your Gentlemen ſhould haue cauſe to laugh at mee: For that want of vnderſtanding howe to behaue my ſelfe in preſence of ſo great a Prince is not the cauſe thereof, but onely the ioy I conceiue in my ſelfe, to bee a ſeruant vnto him, whom I more eſtéeme then any man liuing: and I only hold for my lord and maiſter, not knowing any worthier then he. And if it pleaſeth your grace to know who it is, together with the cauſe of my arriuall in this countrey, I pray you ſend for the two knights that brought mée hether, & I will ſhew ſuch things, whereat (it may be) your grace will be abaſhed. Gentlewoman (ſaied the Emperour) you ſhall therein doe mee great pleaſure. Wherewith hee commanded a Gentleman to goe fetch the two ſtraunge knights, who comming into the Emperours preſence, hauing kiſſed his handes, and he welcommed them in courteous manner, he willed two chaires to bee brought, wherein hee ſet them, being a Prince that alwaies entertained ſtraungers with great honour, eſpecially if hee knew them to be of forraine countries. That done, all the knights, Gentlewomen, and ladies went néere to heare the Gentlewomans ſpéech, when ſhee turning vnto the Emperour, ſaid in this manner: My lord, I thinke your grace hath long before this time knowne the caſtle, called La montaigne defendu, the which (during the life of valiant Chartadaque, and ſince that time) you and the king of Turkie haue diuers time aſſailed to winne, although in vaine, it hath alwaies been ſo well defended by the Giants Matroco and Frerion, yet in one day a knight alone hath conquered it, & ſlain the two giants whereof I ſpake, with their vncle Arcalaus and Argantes the Porter of the ſame. And which is more, hath deliuered king Luiſart, that lay priſoner therein, no man knowing it, for hée had ben ſurpriſed in great Brittaine, and ſecretly brought from thence by Arcabonne lady of the caſtle: The which lady falling in deſpaire, threw her ſelfe out of a window into the ſea. And to the end your grace may knowe how all hath happened: it is ſo (ſaied ſhee) that Arcabonne (who as then I ſerued) hauing intelligence of her brothers impriſonment in the Ferme Iſle, departed expreſſely from the caſtle, hoping to deliuer him, but before ſhe got thether, he was ſet at liberty. Notwithſtanding (ſhe being loth to looſe her labour) to bee reuenged thereof, did ſo much by her art, that ſhe got king Luiſart (as then hunting in the forreſt) into her tent, the king thinking to ſuccour a Gentlewoman, that as hee thought a knight would haue defloured: where he was ſo cruelly inchaunted, that loſing all his ſences, hee was tranſported without any mans knowledge into the dungeon of the caſtle, where my lord and maiſter found him. And continuing her diſcourſe, ſhe ſhewed in what manner Eſplandian was made knight, and ſéeking to find the king, hée was carried by the boat of the great ſerpent into the Iſle of the Enchauntreſſe, where he conquered the ſhining ſword, and after that brought in a little barke to the foote of the rocke called La montaigne defendu, the ſpéech hee had with the Hermite, the combates with Argantes, Matroco, and Frerion, the deſperateneſſe of Arcabonne, the determination ſhe had to kil him, when ſhe found him ſléeping in the hermitage, ye loue wherwith ſhe was ſodainly ſurpriſed. And laſtly, the means how king Luiſart knew him: for my lord (ſaid ſhe) he is ſon of Amadis his ſon, and of the Princeſſe Oriane. And becauſe at his departure frō his father, he gaue him in cōmandement to come & ſerue the Princes Leonorine your doughter, with the other ladies, according to his promiſe, he hath expreſſely ſent me hether, humbly beſéeching thē to pardon the ſlow performance of his fathers wil: but to amend his fault committed, he will ſhortly be here to fulfill his charge as long as pleaſeth thē. Gentlewomā (ſaid ye Emperor) I knew his father for one of ye beſt knights liuing in ye world: notwithſtāding you haue ſhewed ſuch ſtrange things of his ſon, that I certainely beléeue he farre ſurpaſſeth him. He ſhall bée heartely welcome when he commeth, but if my daughter will follow my counſell, ſhe ſhall not pardon his long abſence till he come in perſon to deſire the ſame: and let him bee aſſured hee ſhall not depart ſo ſoone from hence as Amadis hath done. At the leaſt, we will make him ſo good cheare, and my doughter likewiſe, to whome I giue expreſſe commandement to doe it, that hee ſhall not haue occaſion to diſlike our company. Mean time the two knights ſhal remain with vs for pledges, aſſuring you I will giue them all the honor and good intertainement that I can deuiſe. My lord (ſaid ſhee) the deſire they had to vnderſtand the things declared to your grace, hath cauſed them for to come hether, with whome by great good fortune I met, for Frandalo, whom he (pointing to Manely) hath moſt valiantly conquered, had taken mee priſoner, not farre off from the place where I firſt imbarked: but as fortune would, there roſe ſo great a ſtorme at ſea, that all his veſſels ſeperated one from the other, his ſhip was caſt vpon an Iſland, wherein (by the ſame tempeſt) theſe two knights not long before arriued. And with that ſhee ſhewed what ſpéech they had with Frandalo, and what paſſed betwéene them: Wherefore my lord, acquiting my promiſe made vnto them, I haue at large declared the aduentures of the good knight their companion. In faith (ſaied the Emperour) they haue ſhewed themſelues right valiant knights, and made a worthy preſent vnto my doughter, for which I giue them thankes. My Lord (ſaid Manely) wée humbly beſéech your grace, that from henceforth you will accept his ſeruice, for it is his only deſire, as he hath promiſed vs. Is that poſſible (ſaied the Emperour?) For he is the vildeſt villaine that euer liued on earth, and hath more wronged my ſubiects then euer any did. My lord (ſaied the king of Denmarke) he will become a new man, and therefore my companion did preſent him to your daughter, which promiſed for to ſaue his life, which we beſéech your grace likewiſe to performe. I am content to doe it (ſaid the Emperour) at your requeſts, though he deſerues it not. While they ſat talking, Gaſtilles that ſtaied in the forreſt to looke vnto the hounds, entred into the hal, and preſently knew Manely & the king of Denmark, hauing ſéene thē in great Brittain before they were made knights, where with hee aſked when they came thether, and being made acquainted with the Gentlewomans meſſage, he aſked her if ſhe knew the names of the other two that ſtaied in the caſtle: for ſéeing they are armed (ſaied he vnto Manely) in the like armes, it is certaine they are of your company. That is true (ſaied the Gentlewoman) for they were all made knights together, the one called Ambor, the other Talanque, I know them wel (ſaid Gaſtilles) for Ambor is the ſonne of Angriote d'eſtrauaulx, one of the beſt knights in the country of great Brittaine. In truth (ſaid Manely) wee were in great care how to finde them out, but ſéeing they are in the caſtle called La montaigne defendu, if it pleaſeth the Emperour, we will goe vnto them. I am content (ſaid he) ſo you promiſe mee not to depart before eight daies are paſt. My lord (ſaid they) wee are at your commandement. Being dinner time, the Emperor roſe vp and went into the hall with ye two knights, and the Princeſſe Leonorine tooke the Gentlewoman with her as deſirous to heare further n •• es of the knight Eſplandian.

CHAP. XXII. What paſſed betweene the Princeſſe Leonorine and Carmelle, touching the meſſage ſhe had brought.

YOu heard before howe Carmelle in preſence of the Emperour, ſhewed the great deſire ſhee had to ſlay Eſplandian, and when ſhee thought to doe it, ſhe was ſo ouercome with loue, that during her life, ſhee determined not to loue any other, which the Princeſſe Leonorine (that already pretended part in him) had not forgotten, but returned with Carmelle into her chamber: with a ſmiling countenance ſhee ſaid vnto her. Is it poſſible Gentlewoman (ſaid ſhe) you louing the knight with the black armes ſo w • l as you report, that you could leaue his company ſo ſoon? Madame (ſaied ſhee) I was preſently giuen to vnderſtand hee loueth another: wherewith I comforted my ſelfe, iudging his hart like vnto mine own, that he could not chuſe but ſometimes féele the like ſwéet paſſion he cauſed mée indure. What hope then reſteth (ſaid the Princeſſe) vnto you? The ſame (ſaid ſhée) I know to be farre different betwéene him and mee, for when I am in preſence, beholding the excellency of his perſon, I then receiue ſome comfort, which to him is vtterly denied, ſéeing that already hee indureth for her ſake, that as yet he neuer ſaw, and the (madame ſaid ſhe) is your owne perſon, as I ſaid before. Surely (ſaid the Princeſſe) his loue is very ſtrange, the foundation whereof I cannot well conceiue. Madame (ſaid Carmelle) I feare ere it be long, hee will not be able to indure the great extreamitie wherein he now is fallen, onely for your ſake ſpecially, if at his arriuall here, hee find himſelfe reiected of your grace, hauing no deſire, but to fulfill your pleaſure, whereby he may account himſelfe your own, eſtéeming it the greateſt fauour that euer hee can haue. In good faith (ſaid ſhe) I will not refuſe him to ſmall a thing, nor a greater, as occaſion ſerues, but I pray you tell mée why hee calleth himſelfe the blacke knight. That can I not well doe (ſaid Carmelle) onely that vpon a night as king Luiſart •• e, Talanque and Ambor, were all aſléepe in one chamber, they heard ſo pleaſant a ſound of muſicke from the ſea, that they roſe out of their beds to heare it, and it was ſo darke the • could not ſ • e, but when day appeared, they eſpied the great Serpent at the Hauen, whereat they were ſo glad, that deſcending downe the hill, they went vnto the ſhoare, where they perceiued a Gentlewoman in a little boat comming to land, bearing in her armes a packe couered with blew Taffata: which from her miſtreſſe Vrganda ſhée preſented to Eſplandian, ſaying vnto him, Sir Knight, my miſtreſſe ſendeth you theſe armes, and willeth you by mee to leaue the ſame ſhee gaue you, when you were in ſadneſſe, and to arme your ſelfe with theſe, that beare the deuiſe of her, which at this day is the beautifulleſt creature liuing in the world (as Amadis your father well did witneſſe, when he ſet the crowne vpon her head.) And for ye loue of her your power and courage ſhall ſo much increaſe, that your renowme ſhall ſpread throughout the world, your mind mooued with ſo amorous a paſſion, that 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 red • the ſundry motions wherewith ſwéet loue did pric • e her 〈◊〉 heart, perceiued it • ull well in ſuch manner, that being no longer able to abſtaine • rom ſighing, as if ſhe had ſpoken to her ſelfe, ſhe ſaid, I pray God his beginning may proue a happy end. Wher • with Carmelle perceiuing her maiſters ſu ••• proſpe • with effe • 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 • race. Gentlewoman (ſaied • he Princeſſe) I were the moſt vngratefull Princeſſe liuing on • 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 ye 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 • 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 de • iuered the hairelace vnto her, and ſending for a gowne imbro • ered all with crownes of gold, gaue it her likewiſe. But (ſaied ſhee) becauſe the two knights haue promiſed the Emperour not • 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 Armat • 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 Frand •• 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 • aſtle of La montaigne defendu, and what hee had determined to doe as concerning their reléefe, ſhewing them what had paſſed betweene him and Frandalo touching the ſame. Wherefore my good friends (ſaied hee) becauſe I well perceiue the great deſire you haue to ſée your companions, me thinketh it were good you imbark your ſelues with him, who goeth before to aduertiſe them of the aide I meane to ſend them. My lord (ſaied Manely) it is our whole deſires. In the morning (ſaid the king) you ſhal haue your bark ready and furniſhed with all things neceſſary, and ſome other of my ſhips likewiſe to ſecond you, attending the great army my ſelfe dooth meane to bring. But before their departure hee gaue them diuers rich preſents, which they refuſed, contenting themſelues with the honor and courteous intertainement hee had already giuen them, and taking their leaue of all the court, eſpecially of the Princeſſe Leonorine, they took ſea, and Carmelle with them, hoping to haue her maiſters great good will for the good newes ſhe brought him. But before we paſſe further to ſhew you what became of them, I thinke it not out of our hyſtory to leaue Eſplandian no longer at Mireſleur, but ſhew you what became of him, being healed of his wounds.

CHAP. XXIIII. How Eſplandian healed of his wounds, tooke leaue of king Luiſart and all the court to goe vnto the Ferme Iſle, where hee left the great Serpent, wherein (accompanied onely of maiſter Elizabeth and Sergil) he imbarked himſelfe to returne vnto the caſtle of La montaigne defendu.

MAny daies and nights did Eſplandian ſtay at Miref • eur, after the dangerous combat betweene him and Amadis his father, before h •• wounds were fully healed. But in the end hauing licenſe of the king & others that might command him, he took his way towards the Ferme Iſle, accompanied of • aiſ • er Elizabeth & Sergil his ſquire. And trauelling without any • duenture worthy the rehearſing, at the laſt they arriued at the pallace of Apolidon, at the foote whereof they found the great Serpent, wherein preſently they imbarked themſelues, but ſhee remooued not from thence till midnight following, when ſhe began to ſaile ſo ſwiftly, that the next day they were out of ſight of any land, in which manner they continued for ſeuen daies together, the eight day they diſcouered a goodly country, & hauing a calme wind, the Serpent put a ſhore, which Eſplandian perceiuing, determined to land and walke along the coaſt, til he found ſome one or other, that could ſhew him in what countrey hee had arriued. And deſiring maiſter Elizabeth not to depart thence before hee came againe, hee, Sergil, and their two horſes entered into a little boat, and taking land, they entered ſo far into the countrey, that they came to a little hill, at the foote whereof they perceiued a goodly meddow, and certaine houſes, wherevnto they went. And they had not ridden farre, but a lacquie that kept foure horſes, whereof one was a Bay, and greater then the reſt, came vnto Eſplandian, and ſpeaking to him in the Almaine tongue, aſked him why he went to his own miſchiefe? Eſplandian that in his youth had learned that language, aſked him wherefore? Becauſe (ſaid the lacquie) that at the next houſe my maiſter is newly alighted, and is at dinner, and if he ſée you, you die therefore? Thy maiſter (ſaied Eſplandian) And what doth he? He vſeth (ſaied he) to kill or put in priſon farre brauer fellowes then your ſelfe: wherefore if you will beléeue me, you ſhal returne againe, if you mean not to ſpéed as I haue told you. But Eſplandian ſtaying not, paſſed forward till he came vnto the dore, where he eſpied a Giant ſet at dinner, and foure ſquires all bareheaded waiting on the bord. But as ſoone as the Giant ſaw him, hee roſe vp, and leaning on the cloth, ſaied vnto him: Thou vnhappy wretch, wh • hath ſent thée •• ther in my preſence, armed as thou art? By my great goe. Ia •• s, I m • ſt néeds ſay thou art a foole, or elſe art weary 〈◊〉 thy life. Come hether to mee, and put off thine armour becauſe thou ſhal • not haue ſo much paine to go on foot to thy lodging that is prepared for thée. Forwards you vilaines ſaid he vnto his Squires, throw him off his horſe, and carry him to his fellows. Wherewith one of them (thinking to play the diligent ſeruant) ranne vnto Eſplandian, to ſerue him for a Squire: but (whether Eſplandian was offended, or for that hee held the left ſtirrop in ſtead of the right) hée gaue him ſuch a blow on the face with his Gantelet, that hee felled him to the ground: whereat the Giant was in ſuch a rage, that he ſcarſe had the patience to arme himſelfe to bee reuenged. Wherefore ſending to fetch his great Bay horſe, mounted thereon. Mean time Eſplandian lacing his helmet, tooke his ſword in hand, ſtaying for his enemy that ceaſed not to threaten him, who ſtaied not long before he came, bearing a great launce vpon his thigh, and ſo great a cimitere hanging at his ſaddle bow, yt a ſtraunge man would haue much adoe to lift it vp. But as you ſée a Cocke holding vp his head, and ſtanding ready to receiue another Cocke wherewith he fighteth, ſo Eſplandian hauing felt the iniury hee had receiued at the Giants hands, ſéeing him approch, began to ſhake his leg, ready for to charge his enemy. But the Giant called him and ſaid, Vaſſaile, Content thy ſelfe with the honour thou haſt already gotten, by putting me in ſo great choler, that without any regard I haue taken armes againſt ſo vile and wretched a thing as thou art: Flie then from hence without conſtraining me to do thée any hurt, otherwiſe thou art moſt ſure of death, for twenty knights hardier then thy ſelfe, cannot once remoue me. Eſplandian hearing his great brags, made no account thereof, but in mockery ſaid vnto him. Thoſe thou haſt already ſlaine, can neuer hurt thée, but I that come for to reuenge them, hope before that wee depart to ſend thy ſoule vnto the diuell, to whome thou haſt commended it ſo often, although it were much better for thée to take the counſell thou haſt giuen me, and ſhun thine own miſfortune, being well aſſured, that in thy great miſhapen body there reſteth nothing but a baſe an • ſeruile heart, • hat cauſeth thée to ſpeake in ſuch ſort a • thou doeſt. That ſhalt thou preſently ſee (ſaid the Giant) and couching his laun • e, ranne towards Eſplandian, who did the like againſt him: But the Giant miſſed his blow, ſo did not Eſplandian, for with the force of his blow he made the Giant double his body, in ſuch ſort, that his Gaule brake in his body, and ranne out at his mouth, where with hee preſently died. They that beheld it were thereat abaſhed, ſpecially the Giants Squires, who preſently began to flie, but they had not run farre, when Eſplandian ouertooke them, threatning to ſlay them if they would not ſhewe him the place where their maiſter kept his priſoners, which they promiſed to do. And leading him along by the foot of the hill from whence hee had deſcended, they came into a narrow way full of ſtones, where ſtood a watch of twenty men all armed, each man with a hatchet in his hand to defend the paſſage. When the captain of that band perceiued the giants ſquires comming towards them, hée aſked thē where they found that vnhappy fellow, and ſaying ſo, thought to lay handes vpon Eſplandians bridle, but with a blow of his ſword hee cut his arme in ſunder, wherewith the reſt ſet all vpon him. But in ſhort time he dealt ſo well among them, that hée laid moſt part of them dead vpon the ground. But he had ſo many men about him, that in the end his horſe was ſlaine, and he in danger to be ouerthrown. Yet hee behaued himſelfe ſo valiantly, and with ſo great a courage, that hee remained victor, his enemies flying as faſt as poſſibly they might: and among the reſt, the laquie that he found kéeping the foure horſes, who ſauing himſelfe in a vaut, cried with a loud voice and ſaied, Come forth my lord, come forth, your ſonne Bramato is ſlaine, and all our companions likewiſe. With that there appeared a great old Giant with a long white beard, who ſéeing Eſplandian with his ſword bloody in his hand, and moſt of his men lying dead about him, he caſt out a great ſigh and ſaid, O immortall Gods, wherein haue I ſo much offended you, that you ſhould ſuffer my only ſonne and all my men to be ſlaine in ſuch manner by this one knight? But I hope your wraths wil not be ſo much increaſed againſt me, as that you will not giue me leaue to be reuenged on him. And as hee vttered thoſe words, beeing couered with his ſhield, hee went vnto Eſplandian, and holding his ſword in hand, ſtroke him flatl • ng with the ſame vpon the arme, in ſuch maner that he was aſtoniſhed: and with the force of the blow the ſword ſliding downe vpon a ſtone, brake in thrée péeces, wherewith Eſplandian ſtepped to him, and with great dexterity ſtrooke him ſo fiercely on the face, that the blood in great abundance ran out of his forehead. Whereat the Giant was in ſuch a rage, that caſting downe his ſhield, tooke the péece of his ſword in both his hands, and with all his force ſtrooke at Eſplandian that ſtept aſide, and perceiuing the Giants arme comming towards him, with one blow cut off his hand, whereby his ſword fell downe. Neuertheleſſe he ſéemed not abaſhed, but imbracing Eſplandian with his left arme, thought to cruſh the breath out of his body, but it happened otherwiſe, for as hee held him, Eſplandian hauing his right arme at libertie, thruſt his ſword into the Giants body, wherewith he died. Thē calling Bramatos thrée ſquires that he brought thether to ſhew him the priſoners, hee aſked where they were: My lord ſaid one of them, on that ſide the vaut is the two Giants lodgings, that you haue ſlaine, and vnder it are the priſoners that you ſéeke in a moſt darke priſon aboue a hundred paces long, and but two paces broad, whereby the priſoners (in great number) haue no meanes to reſt themſelues, beeing conſtrained to ſtand vpright for the narrowneſſe of the place. Goe before (ſaid Eſplandian) with that the ſquire went forward, and Eſplandian followed after, and they had not gone long, but they entred into a goodly pallace, and going lower, hee heard the lamentable voices of the poore priſoners dying for want of food, whereat he tooke ſuch compaſſion, that the teares ran downe his eies, aſking the ſquire for the keies? there they hang (ſaid he) vpon a naile. Open the dore (ſaid Eſplandian) which he preſently did, wherein they entred, and Eſplandian calling the poore wretches that lamented, ſaied vnto them. My good friends, come all forth, and thanke God for your liberties. You may well iudge if they were glad to heare thoſe newes, for that ſome of them had remained therein aboue thirtie yeares together, being in all twenty Gentlewomen, thirtie ſquires, and fiftie knights, among the which Eſplandian knewe Gandalin and Lazinde, who by euill fortune (after the conqueſt of Sanſuegue) trauailing the country, were met by the Giants, and kept in priſon with the reſt, where they indured great miſerie.

CHAP. XXV. How Eſplandian commanded the priſoners he had deliuered to goe vnto Conſtantinople, there to thank the Princeſſe Leonorine the Emperours doughter, keeping only Gandalin and Lazinde with him.

THe Giants ſlaine, and ye priſoners ſet at liberty, Eſplandian that as yet had not taken off his helmet, not long after made himſelfe knowne to Gandalin and Lazinde, yt were no leſſe abaſhed to ſée him in ſo ſtraunge a place, then wondered at the great Proweſſe he had ſhewed for their deliuery. It was then about ſunneſetting, and Eſplandian had neither eat nor dronke of all that day, wherefore hée determined not to depart thence till the next day in the morning, for hee found great ſtore of victuals in the place: Commanding Sergil with one of the ſquires to go ſéeke the Bay horſe he left at the houſe where hee ſlew Bramato, for his owne was ſlaine, which they preſently brought vnto him, paſſing the night in the Giants houſe with the beſt victuals they could finde. The next day in the morning Eſplandian called the priſoners that he had deliuered, aſking them what they meant to doe? Sir Knight (ſaied they) wee are wholly bent to doe as pleaſeth you. Then my friends (ſaid he) you ſhal go to Conſtantinople, and there giue thankes vnto the Princeſſe Leonorine for the grace it hath pleaſed G • d to giue you by means of a knight that belongeth vnto her. An • if ſhee aſketh you my name, tell her only what manner of armes I beare, ſhewing her that I willed you to ſubmit your ſelfe vnto her mercy. In faith (ſaied Gandalin) my companion and I were determined not to leaue your company ſo ſoone, but ſéeing it is your pleaſure, wee are content to doe it. You and he (ſaid Eſplandian) ſhall kéepe mee company till you meane to trauaile further, the reſt ſhall doe as I required them. Sir Knight (ſaied hee) that ſhewed him the priſon, they ſhall finde within the houſe all the furnitures and other things that were taken from them: ſhew them where they be (ſaid Eſplandian.) Wherevnto he willingly obayed, which done, they all left the Giants houſe, the priſoners taking the way towards Conſtantinople, and Eſplandian with Gandalin and Lazinde, armed at all points, went towards maiſter Elizabeth that ſtayed for them in the great Serpent, and as they were about halfe a mile from the Giants houſe, they met a knight all armed with two ſquires attending on him, who in courteous manner ſaluting Eſplandian and his company, aſked them what countrey men they were. Sir knight (ſaid Eſplandian) wee are all of great Brittaigne. Alas (ſaid he) can you tell me any newes touching a thing that hath gréeued me full ſore? What is that (ſaied Eſplandian) can you tell mee (ſaied hee) what is become of king Luiſart? For I haue ben certefied of a truth that hee is loſt, not knowing where, how, nor for what cauſe. And for my part I ſweare vnto you, I haue already ſought for him in diuers countries, and can heare no newes at all, and I am determined neuer to leaue trauailing before he be found againe, if it be poſſible for mortal man to doe it. You are bound therevnto (ſaid Eſplandian) ſéeing hee deſerueth it, as you knowe right well: Neuertheleſſe if it pleaſeth you to put off your helmet, and make you knowne vnto vs, that haue ben bred and nouriſhed in his houſe, I aſſure you wee will ſatiſfie your mind ſo wel as touching him, that you cannot chuſe but like it. My lords (ſaied hee, putting off his helmet) I am Norandel his ſonne. When Eſplandian and the reſt perceiued that, they made themſelues knowne vnto him, imbracing each other moſt curteouſly. Ha m • lord (ſaid Norandel) I pray you for Gods cauſe, if you know any thing touching the king, hide it not from me. Vncle (ſaied Eſplandian) about a moneth hence I left him at Mirefleur in good health God bee thanked, making good cheare: ſhewing him in what maner hée had deliuered him out of priſon, wiih all that paſſed touching the ſame. I maruaile then (ſaid Norandel) what aduenture brought you hether. By my ſoule (ſaied Eſplandian) that can I not well tell, only that I was brought hether by the great Serpent which I left at the ſea ſide, wherein maiſter Elizabeth ſtaieth for me. Then hee ſhewed him how hee departed from the court, his arriuall in the Ferme Iſle, his 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 whō 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, yt 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 thē 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 cōmanded 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 ye 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 G • 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 threatned him with feare of being hanged. Wherefore hoiſing vp his anker, the company began to row forward, but it was impoſſible for them to come neare the Serpent by a good bow ſhot, and withall the ſea it was ſo hie, that the waues caſt them backe againe into the Hauen with ſo great a force, that the Gally was in danger to bee caſt away. Which the Princeſſe Leonorine perceiuing, (who till then thought aſſuredly Eſplandian had expreſſely come thether for to ſée her) began to deſpaire of her good hope, and making her complaint, ſaied vnto her ſelfe: Alas monſter, ſhip, Gally, or what veſſell ſoeuer thou art, wherefore art thou now ſo cruell vnto me, in not ſuffering him that is within thée to land at this our Hauen, to the end mine eies might enioy his preſence, but rather as if thou haddeſt conceiued a iealouſie towards vs, thou vſeſt all meanes poſſible to hinder the ſhip wherin my couſin Gaſtilles ſaileth, not to approch neare thee, that hee might bring him hether, or at the leaſt that wée might hear ſome newes of him. But in faith, all well waied and conſidred, I think thee rather to haue reaſon, and my ſelfe without conſideration, for that ſo excellent a thing ought not to bee ſo lightly ſet at libertie. Therefore it is no meruaile if thou refuſe him vnto vs, fearing leaſt thou ſhouldeſt looſe him, ſéeing thou maiſt well vaunt yt in thée there reſteth ſo valerous knight, as in regard of him all others may be nought eſtéemed. I would to God, that wee being both together, might neuer depart out of thy body: for being with him, his only preſence would bréed in mée ſo much contentment, that I ſhould thinke my ſelfe to haue attained vnto the top of all felicity: and if his loue bee ſuch as Carmelle hath aſſured mee, it cannot be, but that he ſuffereth the like paſſion I now indure, by ouermuch deſire to ſée his perſon. Wherewith ſhee remained in ſuch an extaſie, that by the changing of her colour, it might eaſily be iudged her heart was not at eaſe, which in the end compelled her to ſigh: and at the ſame inſtant to repent the ſpéeches ſhe had vſed vnto Carmelle, as alſo of the rich gowne that ſhe gaue vnto her. For (ſaid ſhe vnto her ſelfe) what know I, if my ſwéet friend ſéeing her apparrelled therin, would imbrace her, not for the loue of her, but for the gowne that once belonged vnto mee. And if it be ſo, it is not to bee doubted, but ſhee will by all meanes ſéeke to ioine her lips to his, yea and her body like wiſe: which would bee worſe, ſéeing ſhe is neither ſo euill fauoured nor of ſo bad behauiour, but it may be in a heat he would both forget himſelfe and me. But out alas what ſaid I? Truly I doe him wrong to bée ſo iealous of him, conſidering the chaſt loue that is betwéene them both, and therefore if it ſo fall out, that in reſpect of mee hee ſhall imbrace her body, beholding her apparrelled in a thing that ſomtimes ſerued me, it will bee much more glory vnto me till I my ſelfe may once imbrace his body, as in time I doubt not but I ſhall. But if Leonorine were in paine, Eſplandian had no leſſe, both ſollicited with like iealouſie, for the great diſtruſt of their not méeting at that time: and gladly would haue approched néerer to each other, had it not béene that the one was on land vnder the gouernement of another man, the other at ſea within a veſſell which he could not command. In the meane time the great Serpent ſetting forwards, made ſuch ſpéede, that in very ſhort ſpace it paſſed the ſtraights of Boſphore. Wherewith the Princeſſe Leonorine was like to ſound, but ſhée refrained it as much as poſſible ſhee might, fearing to manifeſt that, ſhe moſt deſired to kéepe ſecret. Whereby ſhe withdrew her ſelfe halfe dead into her chamber, and making as if ſhe deſired to ſléepe, threwe her ſelfe on her bed, commanding her Gentle women to depart the chamber: they being gone, ſhe began againe to renue her ſorrow, and almoſt drowned in teares, ſaid vnto her ſelfe: Alas, now I ſurely ſée and well perceiue my gréefe to be wholly without remedy, hauing ſéene the thing (that in all the world I moſt intirely loue) ſo néere vnto me, and at one inſtant ſo ſuddainly to depart, that it is vncertaine whether he is gone. Ha cruell torment that ſtill increaſeth in me ſo couertly, is it poſſible that from henceforth I can ſo well diſſemble as yet I haue done? Truly no, for if in time paſt I inforced my ſelfe to eſtéeme the deſire I had a ſingular pleaſure vnto mee, nowe ſéeing I well perceiue my accurſed fortune to approch, and my ioy to fade, in manner as ſoone as it was conceiued, I deſire nought but death: which to me would be more acceptable, then liue in ſo great paine, not hoping any eaſe. And leauing ſo, ſhee gaue ſo great a ſigh, that Quéene Minoreſſe heard it: Who fearing ſhee had beene ſicke, opened the chamber dore, aſking her how ſhe did. Wherewith the Princeſſe perceauing that diſcouery, to excuſe her ſelfe the beſt ſhe could, ſhee told the Quéene ſhee dreamed. Madame (ſaied the Quéene) it is not long ſince the Empereſſe ſent to ſée what you were doing? Is it not your pleaſure to riſe and goe vnto her? Let vs goe (ſaied ſhee.) In the meane time Eſplandian with his companions, ſailed ſo long, that within two daies after they perceiued the rocke of La montaigne defendu, and not farre from them the veſſels and men of warre Frandalo had aſſembled, that ſtayed for a wind to ſurpriſe the Turkiſh Army on the ſea: who perceauing the great Serpent making towards them, began to arme themſelues, thinking that it had beene ſome monſter that came to deuour them. But Manely and the King of Denmarke that had ſéene it oftentimes before, were very glad, giuing them to vnderſtand what ſuccours they might haue thereby, whereat they all reioiced, ſpecially when they perceiued Eſplandian, Gandalin, and the reſt, that Manely and the king of Denmarke knew, wherefore cauſing a boat to bee made ready, they with Frandalo and Argenton, the king of Denmarkes Squire (a very good marriner) entered into it, and rowing to the great Serpent, Eſplandian receiued them with great ioy, aſking Manely what fortune had brought them thether. In faith (ſaied he) it is not long ſince we departed from the citty of Conſtantinople, to diſcouer and to hinder the paſſage of victuals that are daily brought by ſea from the Towne of Norolia vnto Armato king of Turks, who not long ſithence hath beſieged the caſtle of La montaigne defendu: expecting daily the comming of the Emperour with a great army to driue the Turke from thence. But we haue had ſo contrary a wind, that it hath ben impoſſible for vs to effect our charge. In good truth (ſaid Eſplandian) I would neuer haue ſought you in theſe countries, neither doe I knowe what became of you after wée fell aſléepe in this veſſell, I pray you tell it vs. Then Manely began to ſhew how he and the king of Denmarke when they awaked found themſelues in a barke vpon the coaſt of Italy, where taking land they found Vrganda, and after that by cruell tempeſts they arriued in an Iſle, where a Beare aſſailed them, in which Iſle they ſaw two great apes that ſhewed them much ſport. But (ſaied hee) wee thought to haue ſtarued therein for want of meat, for our victuals were cleane conſumed when by fortune Frandalo arriued in the ſame Iſle, with whome I fought and ouercame him. And becauſe our barke was caſt away, wee entered into his, wherein wee found a Gentlewoman that told vs newes of you, whom for your ſake we conducted vnto Conſtantinople, and from thence haue brought her backe againe. As farre as I vnderſtand (ſaid Eſplandian) you haue not alwaies ſlept, and I beléeue that neuer any knight had fo ſtraunge aduentures at their firſt entering into armes vnleſſe it were my lord Amadis my father, which I would hardly haue beléeued, had it not ben for the ſignes and euident tokens that wee ſaw in the Iſle Saint Mary. What were they (ſaid the king of Denmark?) We ſaw the Image of Landriaque (ſaid Eſplandian) with whome he had ſo long and perrillous a combate. It is true (ſaied Argenton) that ſuch combates againſt monſters, doe oftentimes ſtrike the hardieſt knights with feare, and the combate of our Apes made ſorrowfull knights reioice. In good faith ſaied Eſplandian) thou haſt reaſon, and I like thée well for thy mirth, but I pray thée heartely returne againe, and fetch the Gentlewoman that is in thy maiſters ſhip, and bring her hether, that I may ſpeake with her, which he preſently did: and as ſhe entred into the great Serpent, Eſplandian imbracing her, aſked if ſhe had ſéene the emperour and the beautifull Princeſſe Leonorine his doughter. I my lord (ſaid ſhe) both of them deſiring your arriual in that countrey, eſpecially the Princeſſe Leonorine, with all the ladies and Gentlewomen, being fully determined not to pardon the great fault you haue committed in their behalfes, to haue deferred off ſo long before you come to ſerue them, according to the promiſe made by Amadis your father, as I aſſured thē. Yet I thinke their diſpleaſure is not ſo great, but yee may well find meanes to pacefie the ſame. My good friend (ſaied Eſplandian) you are heartely welcome, wee will talke together when better leiſure ſerueth. Which he ſaid, fearing ſhe ſhould haue procéeded further, wherewith the ſtanders by might haue intelligence of the loue he bare vnto the Princeſſe, wherefore leauing the Gentlewoman, and turning to Manely, hee ſaied: In faith I cannot well excuſe my ſelfe, but that I doe them wrong, for the firſt commaundement my father gaue mee at ſuch time I receiued the order of knighthood was, that in his place I ſhould goe and ſerue them, to quit the promiſe he had made. Neuertheles fortune hath euer ſithence giuen mee ſo many croſſes thereby to hinder my intent, that I could neither fulfill his wil, nor ſatiſfie their expectations. While they were thus deuiſing, two of Frandalos Brigantines, that by him were ſent to eſpy the enemies nauy, brought news they had ſéene great numbers of their Foiſtes and Gallies ſailing to the Eaſt, to fetch victuals for the Nauie, and that the reſt that remained behind would eaſily bee ouercome, if it pleaſed them to ſet vpon them: which the knights vnderſtanding, were of opinion, that without longer delay they would aſſaile them, and preſently therewith hoiſed vp their ankers, making as ſecretly as they could towards Armatos fléete, yet they determined not to ſet vpon them before the breake of day, hoping to take them ſléeping, which in truth fell out. The firſt that ſet vpon them was the great Serpent, that at her arriuall, entering among the enemies, caſt fire ſo fiercely at her mouth and noſthrils, that when they awaked it put them in ſuch feare, that loſing courage without ſtroke giuen, they all began to flie: Neuertheleſſe it could not ſaue their liues, but that the greateſt part of their veſſels were drowned by meanes of a contrary wind, that roſe ſo ſuddainely on the ſea, whereby it raged in ſuch ſort, that neither maſt, ſayle, bord, nor oare could holde, but were broken all in péeces: yet did not Frandalo loſe any of his fléet, neither did the camp once moue thereat, for they were not ſéene of any other then the ſentinell of the caſtle, that preſently told Ambor and Talanque, wherat they receiued great pleaſure, eſpecially when they eſpied the great Serpent and Eſplandian there 〈◊〉 with whome they talked long time before hee came to land. At the laſt they concluded to auoid all danger, that the rampiers they had made before the gate, ſhould for that time not bee broken, but they would let down a lather of cords, whereby they might mount vp into the caſtle, Frandalo hauing giuen order for the ſafetie of his ſhippes, which was preſently done.

CHAP. XXVI. How Armato king of Turkie had intelligence of the ouerthrow of his army at ſea by Frandalo and his company, and what enterpriſes happened on both parts.

THat aid entred into the caſtle of La montaigne defendu, Eſplandian deſirous to ſée the enemies campe, preſently mounted vpon the wals, accompanied only of Talanque and Ambor, that ſhewed him the tents of Armato, the Baſſias, Begberbeys, and Sangiaces, whereof ſome were lodged within the Baſe court, which they had conquered at their firſt comming thether, wherwith Eſplandian was much gréeued, and aſked Talanque how he ſuffered them to come ſo néer. Aſſure your ſelfe (ſaid he) it was not with our wils, but we defended it as long as poſſible wee might, and the Portaile like wiſe, which at their firſt comming they aſſailed. But we defended it ſo well, that without their mine they had neuer won it, yet did it profite them but little, for that ſodainly wee deſtroied all their mine, that had coſt them fiftéen daies labour. Which Armato perceiuing, ſought to begin againe, which we by diuers ſallies would not ſuffer him to doe: but whatſoeuer we could doe, in the end their force preuailed, and wee conſtrained to forſake the ſame, and retire vnto the caſtle, and that in good time, for we were ſcarſe entered into the dungeon, but they fired it, whereby the Portall fell downe, giuing vs at that time one of the moſt cruell aſſaults that euer place ſuſtained, being ſo meanely guarded as it was, and aſſure your ſelfe, that there is neither loopehole nor window, but they raiſed ladders or ſome other engins againſt it, and with launces, fire, and ſword, gaue vs ſo much to doe, that we were in doubt to be ouercome. Neuertheleſſe they were as whotely repulſed, for Libee gaue them ſuch intertainement with a dramme of pouder, that hee ſet on fire, as they began to crie out victorie, but vpon a ſuddain their cry became ſo pittifull, that nothing but ſorrow and lamentation could be heard among them, where with there were ſo many of them burnt and ſinged, that neuer ſince they durſt approch ſo néere, although wee haue giuen them diuers ſkirmiſhes, but for the ſpace of eight daies we neuer iſſued foorth, by reaſon (as you know) if wee ſhould often iſſue foorth, it is impoſſible but ſome of our men muſt of force bee ſlaine, and the death of one of ours would be more loſſe vnto vs then the ſlaying of a hundreth of their men would profite vs. You haue done well (ſaid Eſplandian) for all wiſe captaines ought to content themſelues with the ſure defending of a hold committed vnto them, not hazarding themſelues to loſſe as long as poſſible they may. But for the further ſafetie of this caſtle, I thinke it good wee take counſell what were beſt to bee done, leaſt wee bee ſurpriſed. Wherewith they went into the chamber where Matroco died, where they met together, and (among diuers things propounded) it was concluded, that ye next night they would iſſue forth to ſlay ye enemies watch, which would eaſily bee done, ſéeing they had not any alarme in long time before. Wherefore euery man went to refreſh himſelf, till about eleuen of the clocke at night, when Frandalo and the reſt armed themſelues. And as they were all aſſembled in the court, Eſplandian ſtanding in the middle, ſpake vnto them and ſaied, My good friendes, wee are not now among the combates of great Brittaigne, where combates are fought more for fantaſie, or vaine glory, then vpon any iuſt occaſion: But this warre wee make againſt the proper enemies of our faith, ſummoneth vs not onely to doe our indeuours, but alſo to defend the honour and liberty of the name of Chriſtians. Wherefore my good companions, I beſéech you let euery man caſt feare aſide, preferring vertue before any inconuenience whatſoeuer. Aſſuring you (if wee doe ſo) that before it be day, king Armato and his army ſhall well find, we are not ſo fainthearted as he eſtéemeth vs. Then calling Norandel vnto him, he ſaid: Vncle, you, Manely and the king of Denmarke with a hundred men, ſhall iſſue firſt to flay the Sentinels, and if you could doe the like vnto their watch, our enterpriſe would bee brought to paſſe as wee deſire. But whatſoeuer chanceth, ſet you vpon them, and feare not the repulſe, for Gandalin and Lazinde ſhall ſecond you with two hundreth more, by which meanes you may eaſily retire if you be conſtrained therevnto. Neuertheleſſe, let no man ſtirre from hence, till Frandalo and I be firſt gone out, for that wée two alone will goe into their campe to ſée what countenance they make, and as fortune fauoureth vs, we will preſently ioine with you. With that hee ſent for two gownes of cloth of gold, and two Turkiſh caps, whereof he gaue one vnto Frandalo, and kept the other for himſelfe, and being armed vnder their apparrell, were ſet downe (by the ladder of oords) on the ſea ſide, & fainting to be ſome of the ſea captaines, went ſtraight vnto the campe, where they were ſtaied by the Sentinels, but Frandalo ſpeaking the Arabian tongue, could ſo well diſſemble, that hee made them beléeue, they went to aduertiſe the great Turke of a thing of great importance, whereby they let them paſſe. Meane time Armato king of Turky ſate deuiſing in his tent with his familiar friendes, touching the loſſe of ſhips, whereof not aboue an hower before, he had receiued news by one of his marriners, that ſaued himſelfe in a ſmall Frigate: but the Turke could not by any meanes imagine how it came to paſſe, ſéeing his ſpies that were newly returned from Conſtantinople, had brought him newes that the Emperour ſtirred not, neither made any preparation to aſſaile him. And as Frandalo & Eſplandian entred the tent, they heard the marriner tell how that cruell ouerthrow happened by meanes of a monſter of the ſea, that came with the enemies fléet. That (ſaied hee) put vs in ſuch fear, with caſting fire out of his mouth, noſe, and eies, that thereby the moſt part of our men were burnt to aſhes. By all my gods (ſaid Armato) it is ſome diuell that enuieth my proſperitie. And it pleaſeth your grace ſaid one of his Baſſaes, (that had ſailed in the mediteranian ſeas, and heard ſpeaking of the great Serpent) there is nothing but art Magicke vſed therein, whereof I am moſt ſure, as hauing diuers times ben certefied thereof. Wherewith they heard a great alarum, for Norandel and his company had iſſued out of the caſtle with white ſcarffes about their heads for to bee knowne, and had ſo well ſurpriſed the watch about the baſe court, that they had ſlaine them all, whereof Armato had intelligence, as alſo that the enemies had gotten the iſſue of the Portall, wherewith hee was ſo moued, that in a great rage with very ſmall company he went thether himſelfe, Eſplandian & Frandalo following after, as if they had been of his company. But before their arriuall, Norandel had recouered the pallaſadoes of the fortreſſe, and there ſuſtained the whole Turkiſh forces, ſtaying Gandalins comming. Now the entry of the court was ſo narow, that more then thrée men could not paſſe through it at once, wherby thoſe of the caſtle had in manner as much aduantage as their enemies. Which Ambor, Talanque, Gandalin, and Libee made them well féele, comming likewiſe vpon them, for as the king arriued, they thruſt them cleane out of the place, whereby they fled in great haſt, till the Turke himſelfe cauſed them to ſtay, and ſéeing him, they tooke courage, turning their faces, whereby the ſkirmiſh began much whotter then before, Armato himſelfe ſhewing great Proweſſe, when Eſplandian that was ſtil behind him, tooke him by the middle, and in diſpight of them all, carried him vnto the wals of che caſtle, crying with a lowd voice, Bee of good cheare my companions, wee haue taken the king. At the which crie the Turkes ſet ſo fiercely on them, that had it not ben for Frandalo (who as yet had not ſhewed himſelfe) they had recouered him againe, but he ioyned himſelfe with Manely, Norandel, and the reſt that ſuſtained the force of all the enemies ſo valiantly, that Eſplandian had meanes to put Armato in ſure kéeping, and to returne againe vnto the battaile before it was ended. But it continued not long after, for that newes was preſently carried to the campe, that the king was priſoner with two of his chiefe captaines, taken by Gandalin and the king of Denmarke, wherewith they were ſo much abaſhed, that by little and little they began to retire, the like did they of the caſtle, contenting themſelues with the booty they had gotten.

CHAP. XXVII. How Armato king of Turkie was committed vnto the cuſtody of Gandalin, and what conference he had with Frandalo.

THoſe of the caſtle retired, as you heard before, Eſplandian called Gandalin and Libee praying them to looke vnto king Armato, as alſo to the two Turkiſh captaines, and appointing the watch as time required, went and laied him downe vpon his bed, not ceaſing all the night to thinke on the ſpéech Carmelle vſed vnto him touching the Princeſſe Leonorine, whereby hee could not ſléepe till day began to appeare, when Frandalo and the reſt of his knights entred into his chamber, to talke with him, not only as touching the intertainement of their priſoners, but of other thinges that much imported them. And as they were in counſell together, Gandalin came vnto them, ſhewing them that king Armato deſired for to ſpeake with them, wherevpon they went out of the chamber to heare what hee would ſay. Frandalo could ſpeake the Arabian tongue better then the reſt, for that hee had ſerued the king of Turkie, and hee knew him very well, wherefore Eſplandian deſired him to ſpeake for all the reſt. And entring into the chamber, Frandalo went firſt, who knéeling on the ground, kiſſed ye kings hand. With that Armato thinking hee had beene priſoner, aſked him where he was taken. My lord (ſaied he) I am now become a Chriſtian, and a knight of Ieſus Chriſt, that hath done mee ſo much grace, not long time ſince to call mee to bee one of his. A Chriſtian (ſaid the king) is that poſſible? By my ſoule it maketh mee more abaſhed, then the cruell fortune that is now happened vnto mee: for that all knights following armes ought patiently to beare thoſe hazards that they fall into, vſing neceſſitie as a vertue. But thou vnhappy wretch (that through feare and want of courage) haſt forſaken our iuſt and holy law, wherefore takeſt thou not a rope and hangeſt thy ſelfe, as vnworthy to goe vpon the earth? My lord (ſaied hee) you may ſay what pleaſeth you, as being priueledged for the greatneſſe of your eſtate, yet I can aſſure you, I neuer had ſo cowardly a heart as you eſtéeme I haue, but rather account my ſelfe happie to haue done that I haue done. Yet will I not refuſe to doe you ſeruice (my honour ſtill reſerued) in any thing I can. With that Armato remembred himſelfe, and thought hee did him wrong, wherefore moderating his choler, he ſaied vnto him: Friend Frandalo, If it gréeueth mee to haue loſt you, let it not ſéeme ſtrange vnto you, ſéeing now I had greater hope then euer I haue had to bée ſerued by your meanes. But ſéeing it is ſo, you knowe howe I haue vſed you heretofore, now I pray you (if you may doe any thing for mee) to finde the meanes with your companions that I may bee deliuered from hence by ſome reaſonable compoſition. My lord (ſaied Frandalo, pointing to Eſplandian) This is hee that hath all power and authoritie in this place, both ouer you and mee. With that Armato looked vpon him, and perceiuing him ſo yoong without a beard, thought Frandalo ſaied it to excuſe himſelfe, wherefore hee aſked if he mocked him. God forbid I ſhould doe ſo my lord (ſaied Frandalo) but I pray you beléeue me, for it is true, that my lord Eſplandian ſtanding here before you is he and none other that ſlew Matroco, Frerion, Arcalaus the inchanter, and Argantes the Porter of the caſtle, which hee conquered, as you haue been aduertiſed. By my head (ſaied the king) I would hardly haue eſtéemed him for ſo braue a man: but ſéeing it is ſo, I pray thee doe ſomewhat with him touching the thing I told you of euen now. Beléeue mée my lord (ſaid Frandalo) there ſhall want no good will in me: and with that hee bad him God morrow, and leauing him with his guard, they went into the hall, where they found the tables ready couered for dinner, for it was about noone time. But as Eſplandian reſted ill that night, ſo hee made but a meane dinner, not being able to withdraw his mind from thinking on the princeſſe Leonorine, which was the cauſe that the Tables being vncouered, hee went into his chamber, without any company, onely the king of Denmarke, whom he loued as himſelfe, where being together, he began to ſhew him the cauſe why he ſent Carmelle to Conſtantinople, as alſo what affection hee bare to the Princeſſe Leonorine. And to the end (ſaid he) you bee participant of my ioy, I pray you let vs haue her here, that ſhee may ſhew vs what ſhee learned in her voyage. My lord (ſaied the king of Denmarke) if you ſaw her apparrelled in the gowne the Princeſſe gaue her, I am aſſured you will ſcarſe knowe her at the firſt. Will you that I ſend her word to bring it hether? It is well ſaied (ſaied Eſplandian) with that he called a Squire, ſending him to Carmelle, that as thē was in company of Arcabonnes Gentlewomen: but vnderſtanding Eſplandians pleaſure, went preſently to apparrell her ſelfe as hee had willed her, and hauing a mantle on her ſhoulders becauſe ſhe would not be ſéene, went to him in his chamber, where ſhe found him and the king of Denmarke talking together: but as ſoon as he eſpied her, he tooke her in his armes, and ſetting her in a chair couered with veluet, ſaied vnto her: My goodfriend, I meane to ſhew my companion you ſée here, how much I loue and eſtéeme him, wherefore I pray you ſhew me before him what intertainement the princeſſe Leonorine gaue you, knowing you came from me, and whether I find any fauour in her ſight. My lord (ſaid ſhe) as ſoone as I was arriued, and that ſhe vnderſtood the cauſe of my comming vnto her, I found her no leſſe yours then you hers: whereby I may eſtéeme you the happieſt knight liuing in the world. And know you why? She is ſo faire, and of ſo comely perſonage, that vnleſſe it bee her ſelfe none can reſemble her, and of truth ſhee dooth farre ſurpaſſe all other ladies, for being alone in her priuate chamber playing on ſome inſtrument, or ſinging for her pleaſure, ſhe ſtealeth and rauiſheth the harts (ſeperated from the bodies of ſuch) as either heare or ſée her: and if at ſometimes ſhe attireth her ſelfe after the Italian manner, with a cap of that country faſhion, then you may ſée her faire and gliſtering haire part giuing a certaine ſhadow on her vermilion chéekes, the reſt knit vp together, inuironing her head, ſhewing with farre better grace then any crowne that ſhe could weare, bée it of ſtones, laurell, or the fineſt gold that may be found. But if that be a temptation vnto man, her two humble and modeſt eies (like two ſuns) giue them as many deaths, as they at times behold the ſame, and againe reuiueth them better • hen at the firſt, and all at one inſtant: whereat you muſt not 〈◊〉 abaſhed, ſéeing that loue it ſelfe doth often ſkirmiſh and ſtriue in them, thereby to yéeld both pain and pleaſure vnto thoſe that doe behold the ſame: and if hée touch her, he feareth to hurt her, as being in moſt extreame paſſions of loue. And not without a cauſe, for that nature hauing made her, brake the mould, that ſhee might be the only perfect creature, accompanied with ſo many vertues, that loue findeth nothing in her but bones to gnaw vpon. And I aſſure you my lord, yt ſpeaking vnto her of thoſe thinges you had giuen mee in charge, I plainely perceiued her by the changing of her countenance to be charged with the like diſeaſe whereof you ſtill complaine: for ſometimes ſhe bluſhed, and againe became pale, and otherwh • les was at ſuch an exegent, that ſhee could not anſwere mee a ready woord: eſpecially when I preſented her with the ring that ſhee once gaue to Am • di your father, as ſhe told mee afterwards: In recompence whereof ſhee ſendeth you this hairelace, which ſhee moſt earneſtly deſireth you to kéepe for the loue of her, and as the firſt Iewell her Grandfather Grimanaiſe gaue to the Empereſſe Appolidon, being but her louer. Expreſſely ſending you the ſame as an aſſured token of the loue ſhe beareth vnto you, and the good will ſhee will bee ready alwaies to ſhew you during her mortall life. With that ſhee tooke a little boxe out of her boſome wrapped in a péece of Taffata, and gaue it vnto him, which Eſplandian receiued, and taking it out of the boxe, he ſighed tenderly and ſaied: Ha moſt fortunate preſent, (the firſt witneſſe of the perfect alliance that the moſt loiall louers that euer liued had together, from whom is deſcended the Paragon of all beauty) happy to haue approched ſo néere her perſon: But I much happier that receiueth it, as more affectioned to ſerue her then any other liuing on the earth: and it pleaſeth God, while life indureth, I truſt thou neuer ſhalt depart from mee, but I will kéepe thée as carefully, as I deſire ſhe ſhould hold my heart. Yet this is not all (ſaid Carmelle) but behold the recompence of my labour, and ſaying ſo, ſhee caſt the mantle from her ſhoulders, ſhewing them her rich gowne all couered with crownes of gold, which put Eſplandian in minde of that Vrganda ſent him word by her Gentlewoman, when ſhee ſent him the white armour ſet with the like deuiſe, confirming in his mind the hope that vntill then he had holden doubtfull: wherat he felt the greateſt eaſe that poſſible he might. And as they beheld the great and excellent workemanſhip, with the great and coſtly imbrodery of Pearles and precious ſtones wherewith it was all couered, Gandalin came and knocked at the dore, to ſhew thé that there were a great number of veſſels diſcouered on the ſea, and fearing them to bee ſome new ſupply of Turkes, was of aduiſe they ſhould bee ready to receiue them. Wherevpon each man ranne to armes, cauſing more men to goe into their ſhippes for their better ſafetie: yet that alarme continued but a while, for that the Pennons and Banners of Conſtantinople were perceiued on their ſhips, by ſuch as they ſent out for to deſcry thē: ſome of them comming backe againe in great haſt to ſhew them that Gaſtilles as general of the army for ye Emperour, was comming to ſuccour them: whereof the Turks hauing intelligence, preſently brake vp their campe, being gone farre from the caſtle before any of the veſſels come neare the ſhoare: Neuertheleſſe, thoſe of the caſtle ſet vpon their reare ward, and in the chaſe ſlue ſo great a number, that had not night come on (conſidring the euil order they held) there had not eſcaped a man of all their campe. In the mean time Gaſtilles with his army came vnto the mountaine, where Eſplandian, ye king of Denmarke, and diuers others ſtoode ready to receiue him: and after many courteſies and welcomes on all parts giuen, Gaſtilles aſked them how they dealt with their enemies. As well as may be (ſaied Eſplandian,) but wée could not by any meanes cauſe them to ſtay till your comming, but they are fled from hence as ſoone as they heard newes thereof: Then hee tolde him of the larumes and iſſues by them made during the ſiege, as alſo of the taking of king Armato. That is good newes (ſaid Gaſtilles) God bee praiſed therefore, if mine vncle the Emperour had beene aduertiſed thereof before my departure from Conſtantinople, I had not found the meanes to come ſend to viſite you, which would haue diſpleaſed mée much, neither would he haue ben at charge to furniſh ſuch a Nauie: but he was in doubt you were in great neceſſity, that at my putting to ſea hée commanded me to make al the ſpéed I could, til he came in perſon with four hundred ſaile yt already are prepared if our forces ſhould not be ſufficient to ſuſtaine the Turkiſh army: but for this yeare he ſhall be excuſed, if there happē no other aduenture. I pray you (ſaid Eſplandian) come to land, & go with vs into the caſtle, where wee will conferre of all things with ſome better leiſure: Which he agréed vnto, wherewith he & ſome of the principall captaines of his army, entered into the knights boat, and with them went vp into the caſtle: where being arriued, Gaſtilles that knew king Armato) deſired Eſplandian before hee did any thing elſe, that hee might ſée him, wherwith hée brought him to the chamber, where he ſate as penſiue as any man could bee, Gaſtiles did him honour, as to his eſtate appertained. But king Armato would hardly looke vpon him, but ſaied vnto him: Gaſtilles, I maruaile much why the Emperour your maiſter (contrary to his faith and promiſe) hath broken the peace agréed vpon betwéene vs, and for a thing ſo little importing him as this place doth, wherevnto hee neuer had any right, as you well knowe. But I perceiue from whence the ſame procéedeth: becauſe hee would euery man ſhould knowe the little faith and leſſe loialty that is in him, which I ſhall one day make him know full well, if euer I eſcape out of this priſon. My lord (ſaid Gaſtilles, your honour ſaued) the Emperour my maiſter hath in him all the parts that belong vnto a wiſe, vertuous, and hardy Prince, ſuch as hee is, and it ſéemeth vnto mee (vnder your correction) that by good and iuſt cauſe he hath done no more then he might do: ſéeing it is euident that this caſtle hath ben conquered by Chriſtian knights, whom he is bound to fauour with all the aid hee can, not onely to defend our law, or becauſe they haue deſired his aide, as being the firſt and greateſt monarch in the world, but to ſuſtaine the right that both hee and his predeceſſors haue alwaies pretended to theſe marches. And where you threaten to make him féele the ſmall loialty whereof you accuſe him, at other times heretofore you haue met each other with your forces, where you ſped ſo hardly, that I rather beléeue you ſpeake in choler then with reaſon, ſpecially conſidering the eſtate wherein you are at this preſent. Gaſtilles (ſaied Armato,) Although I were dead, I haue ſufficient number of Captaines and good Souldiours in my country to reuenge my cauſe, and a ſonne likewiſe, that is not borne to indure the iniury done vnto his father: and thus much I aſſure thée, that if I thought him to bee other, I would ſlay him with mine owne hands as ſoone as I ſhould ſée him. My lord (ſaied Eſpl • ndian) that Prince, Knight, or Gentleman that vſeth ſuch vnfit ſpéech as you doe now, is commonly holden for a man of no capacity, eſpecially when hee is in a place where humility 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 mee my good friendes, I would ſooner chuſe a méere ſtranger for my ſucceſſor, then I would doe him: but there is not one among you but knoweth well his great deſerts, and of what race hee commeth: that at this day may well bee called one of the moſt noble and happieſt linages in all the word, as being deſcended from the valiant Troyans, whereof the memory ſhall indure for euer. He is a kings ſonne, heire vnto the crowne of France, & now your Prince and Gouernour, and ſo I leaue him vnto you, with my daughter your Quéene and lawfull Princeſſe: holding to my ſelfe only the caſtle of Mirefleur, where (with Gods helpe) the Quéene and I will end our daies religiouſly, ſeruing God, as we are bound to doe. Then calling Amadis, giuing him his royall mantle, he willed him preſently to put it on, the like did the quéen to Oriane. Mean time the ſilence was ſo great, that nothing could bée heard among the people but cries and lamentations, mooued with pitty & compaſſion to ſée the determination of their Prince: who being apparrelled in a ſimple robe of blacke cloth, tooke his ſonne and the Quéene his daughter, ſet them in their regal ſeats, and in preſence of all the people, ſet each of them a crown of gold vpon their heads, cauſing them to be proclaimed by the Heralds, King and Quéene of great Brittaigne: That done, euery man departed, ſome wéeping, and others glad, for the aduancement they hoped from the new king, who from thenceforth began ſo wiſely to gouerne his country, that neuer was any prince better beloued nor obaied of his ſubiects. King Luiſart within ſhort time after (accompanied of the Quéen and Grumedan) went vnto Mirefleur as hee had determined to doe, where they liued ſo auſterely, helping and being preſent at euery houre when ſeruice was to be ſaied as readily as the pooreſt of the old men that remained there, for the adminiſtration and ſeruice to the religious women in the monaſter of the deuout Abbeſſe Adalaſta. But when king Amadis perceiued his meanes to recompence thoſe of whome in his yoong yeares hee had receiued great pleaſure and ſeruice, hee began to exalt Arban de Norgales, giuing him one of the faireſt Iſlands in his country, to Gandales the lands of the duke of Briſtow, to Gandalin (as then abſent) hee gaue the lands of A • calaus the inchanter, he made Angriotte deſtrauaulx great maiſter of his horſe, Guilan le penſife high ſteward of his houſe, Ardan le nain his chéefe caruer, and married the Gentlewoman of Denmarke very richly. Not long after the Quéene was brought to bed of a goodly ſonne and a faire daughter both at one birth, the ſonne named Perion, and the daughter Briſenne: At whoſe natiuitie great ioy was made throughout all the country, eſpecially at London, where the ſame day one of Norandels Squires arriued, that told king Amadis howe Eſplandian and his maiſter met together in Almaigne, where the day before hee had ſlaine two Giants, and deliuered Gandalin with diuers other knights, Squires, Ladies, and Gentlewomen out of priſon. Knoweſt thou (ſaied the King) what way they tooke afterward? My lord (ſaied the Squire) they made account io goe vnto the caſtle called La montaigne defendu, to helpe them that are therein, beeing in great neceſſitie: Which the king vnderſtanding, ſent preſently for all the Pilotes that might bee found, and in all haſt cauſed to rig and arme the greateſt ſhip he had to ſaile into the Eaſt to his ſonne, who in ye mean time (mooued therevnto by Frandalo) departed from the caſtle of Matroco with the Emperours army to inuade the Turks country, as in the next chapter you ſhall heare.

CHAP. XXIX. How the towne of Alfarin in Turkie being aſſaulted, was taken by Eſplandian and the reſt of his company.

NOt long after the ſiege of La montaigne defendu was raiſed, and Gaſtilles arriued at the caſtle as you heard before: Frandalo had aduiſe by Belleris his nephewe, (that returned out of Turkie, where hee had been to ſée what newes in the countrey) that Alforax ſonne to king Armato, and gouernor of ye great Cittie of Taſifant, vnderſtanding the impriſonment of his father, with the ouerthrow of the Turkiſh armie, was departed from the towne of Alfarin: where hee had left the beautifull Princeſſe Heliaxa his wife, doughter to Amphirion king of Medea, to go with all dilligence to ſet order in his owne gouernement, and raiſe more men, thereby to reſiſt the Chriſtians power if they entred further into ye countrey. Which vnderſtood by Eſplandian, Gaſtilles, Ambor, Manely, and the king of Denmarke, they determined to enter into Turkie, wherevnto by many reaſons Frandalo perſuaded them, ſhewing them what meanes they had to beſiege the town of Alfarin, not aboue two daies iourney from them, being hardly prouided of victuals, and no Garriſon therein: Wherfore it was agréed among them, that Gaſtilles with his Nauie of ſhips ſhould depart the next euening in as ſecret manner as hee could, to ſée if he might ſurpriſe their Hauen, and that they on the other ſide would trauaile all night, whereby they might beſiege the Towne both by land and ſea, entring therein before the Turkes ſhould hear news thereof. And as they agréed, they put the ſame in execution: in ſuch maner that Gaſtilles (giuing forth that he would returne againe vnto Conſtantinople) about ſunne ſetting tooke ſhip, when hee put to ſea, the moone ſhone bright, wherfore hoiſing vp their ankers, they ſet ſaile: And they had not ſailed long, but he called his chéef Captaines together, diſcouering his enterpriſe vnto thē, wherewith preſently leauing the way to Conſtantinople, they made towards the towne of Alfarin. On the other ſide, Frandalo ſlept not, when he perceiued his time, (all the company being alreadie aduertiſed that he meant to goe by night) they iſſued out of the caſtle, euery man carrying victuals with him for the ſpace of four daies: And they trauailed ſo long, that about the breake of day they came vnto a great forreſt, where they ſtaied in ambuſhmēt till the nert night following, when they iſſued forth, and about thrée of the clocke at night they came vnto a path that went two waies, where Frandalo cauſed them to ſtay, and calling Eſplandian, ſaid vnto him: My lord, I pray you let vs two and no more take the way that leadeth on the left hand, and Belleris my nephew ſhall guide the reſt of our company to the mountaigne of Yarebreh, from whence they may eaſily ſée if our Nauy be néere the citty of Alfarin: and then as they finde the enterpriſe goe forward, they may aſſaile the place, or elſe remaine in ambuſh til occaſion ſerueth. You and I wil follow on this way, that wil bring vs to ye aduenturous fountaine, by the which lieth the great way that leadeth to Teſifant, where moſt commonly are found diuers ſtrange aduentures, and if by fortune wee might méete the Princeſſe Heliaxe, that as to morrow ſhould depart from Alfarin to goe vnto her huſband, we ſhall not looſe our labours. Let vs goe (ſaid Eſplandian:) with that Belleris and his company went their way, and Frandalo, Eſplandian, Sergil, with the Gentlewoman of Denmarke tooke the other way, who about ye breake of day arriued at the aduenturous fountaine, where there ſtoode foure great copper pillers all gilded, and at each piller hong a table with certaine writings therein, the contents whereof when time ſerueth you ſhall heare declared, as alſo the occaſion why they were ſet vp. Being arriued there, not farre off they perceaued a light that iſſued out of a Taffata pauillion that ſtoode vpon the ſide of the fountaine, wherevnto they approched as couertlie as they could, where they perceiued a moſt beautiful Gentlewoman combing of her haire, and not farre from thence twenty knights all armed kéeping watch about her, among the which was a ſquire holding a horſe all trapped with cloth of gold. But Frandalo and Eſplandian were no ſooner arriued, but they were diſcouered, yet they fearing a greater ambuſh, the moſt part of them loſing courage, began to flie away: which the two knights perceiuing, entred among them, and at their firſt comming ouerthrew foure or fiue of them vnto the ground, forcing them that were behind to returne againe, wherewith there began a fierce and cruell battaile, for thoſe that firſt began to runne away (looking backe and perceiuing only two knights that ſet vpon their fellowes) were ſo aſhamed, that they turned again to help them: neuertheleſſe without the force of thrée Giants that held againſt the knights, they could not haue indured ſo long againſt Eſplandian and Frandalo, but they thrée fought ſo valiantly with them, that the two knights were in the greateſt danger then euer they were before. And as you ſée a Boare foming at the mouth (followed of a troope of dogs) ſet his taile againſt a trée, and with his tuſkes teare and rent the fleſh of the boldeſt dogs that doe aſſaile him, ſo were Frandalo and Eſplandian among the knights they had aſſailed, ſtriking both on the right hand and the left with ſo great fury, that at one inſtant two of their principall enemies were ſlaine, ſo that there remained but one Giant to fight with them, with whom Frandalo made his party good, while Eſplandian followed the reſt, that as then began to flie. But when the Giant perceiued Eſplandian returne, being in feare of death, he ſtepped aſide and ſaid vnto Frandalo, Sir Knight, you and I haue often beene companions in many haulty enterpriſes, I pray you therefore ſhew mée the fauour to receiue mee vnto mercy, otherwiſe you might bée blamed of thoſe that know vs both, for I am your couſin Foron. Whereat Frandalo was much abaſhed, & could hardly bee perſuaded therevnto, wherefore hee praied him to put off his helmet, and if it be true (ſaid he) that thou art Foron, I wil vſe thée both like a friend and kinſman. Wherewith the Giant diſarmed his head, whereby Frandalo knewe him and imbraced him, whereat Eſplandian was much abaſhed, not knowing what had paſſed betwéene them, with that hee went néerer vnto them, aſking vpon what cauſe that ſalutation procéeded. Then Frandalo tolde what the Giant was, deſiring him likewiſe to take pittie on him: which Eſplandian agréed vnto, then they thrée together went vnto the pauillion, at the entry wherof they found the gentlewoman talking with Carmelle, no more abaſhed at the ouerthrow of her men, then if ſhee had ſéene them iuſtle for their pleaſures. She was apparrelled in a gowne of Damaſke all imbrodered and ſet wih Pearles and precious ſtones, Frandalo preſently knew her, as hauing ſéene her oftentimes, eſpecially the ſame day ſhee was married to Alphorax where hee iuſteled and did ſo valiantly, that ſhe intertained him for her knight, wherfore lighting on foote, and pulling off his helmet, hee ſaluted her in moſt humble manner. Wherewith ſhee being abaſhed to ſée him that ſhe eſtéemed wholly to be hers, ſo to haue behaued himſelf againſt her guard, ſaid vnto him: How now Frandalo, is this the ſeruice I looked for at your hands, hauing receiued you for my knight? The diuell take ſuch ſeruants, ſéeing you are ſo fainthearted vnto her, that hetherto hath reputed you one of the moſt courteous knights that euer was girl with ſword: but now I find I am deceiued, for I ſhould rather haue ſuſpected any other then you to be a doer in this enterpriſe, whereby I cannot but bee much abaſhed. Madame (ſaid Frandalo) ſince ye time I became your knight, at the laſt tourney that I ranne, a lord of greater power hath intertained me into his ſeruice, whom I wil ſerue during my mortall life, ſéeing it hath pleaſed him to ſhew me ſo great fauour, being wel aſſured, that when you know him as I do, you wil eſtéem me happy, how cowardly or villainous ſoeuer you account mee now. What is he (ſaid ſhe) tel me of your faith? it is Ieſus Chriſt (ſaid Frandalo:) yet wil I neuer faile to do you all the honour and ſeruice that I can, as alſo now at this time, ſo my companion bée content, for without him I cannot doe it. Frandalo (ſaid Eſplandian) you may command mee, for I am ready to doe what pleaſeth you: Wherefore delay not to do all the pleaſure & ſeruice you can vnto this lady if it be your will. Wherewith Frandalo thanked him moſt hartely, and ſaied to Heliaxe: Madame, ſéeing hee will haue it ſo, I pray you from henceforth put all your truſt in mee, and I will not faile to be carefull for you: Mean time I pray you get vpon your palfrey, that I may bring you to a place where you may ſée farre better tourneyes then any at your wedding: afterward (if it pleaſeth God to fauour vs) you ſhall eaſily perceiue how much I eſtéeme and haue in remembrance the fauours you haue heretofore ſhewed vnto mee, being but a ſimple knight, and you a great Princes to command farre better then my ſelfe: for neuer was Princeſſe more honoured and eſtéemed among her owne ſubiects then you ſhall bee of them, to whome I meane to bring you, which may bee an example vnto kings and mightie Princes, to whome God hath giuen power and authoritie, who being aduertiſed of the honourable and good intertainment made to you by vs, they may be moued hereafter to take pleaſure in intertaining the meaner as wel as the greater, conſidring the mutabilitie of fortune, as by your ſelfe it well appeareth. Frandalo (ſaied ſhe) you may make as many excuſes and faire promiſes as you liſt, yet can you not deny but you haue done mee wrong, yet in doing as you ſaie you will, your reputation will bee better to the world, although your faith hath failed to our gods: wherefore let vs goe where it pleaſeth you. With that ſhe got vpon her palfrey, and Frandalo bareheaded leading her horſe, till they came néere vnto the towne, where they heard a great noiſe, that made the two knights thinke, either their enterpriſe to be diſcouered, or that their Souldiours aſſailed the Towne. And fearing they had ben repulſed, began to repent themſelues of their long ſtaying with the Princeſſe, to whom Frandalo in moſt courteous maner ſaied: Madame, Is it not your pleaſure (meane time that I and my companion goe vnto the towne) to ſtay here for vs with this Gentlewoman and my couſin Foron? I truly (ſaid Heliaxa) and I will not depart from hence before I heare of you againe. With that Frandalo and Eſplandian ranne in great haſt towards the Towne, where they found their companions fighting with thoſe of Alfarin, among the which were Talanque, Ambor, the king of Denmarke, Gandalin and Lazinde, that had giuen the town a hard ſkirmiſh on that ſide, thinking to giue them ſo much to doe, that in the meane time the army by ſea might aſſaile the water gate: but they were too ſoone diſcouered, whereby they found great reſiſtance on all ſides: Neuertheleſſe Norandel and Belleris had gotten the Barriers, and repulſed the enemies vnto the palliſadoes. Which Eſplandian and Frandalo perceiuing, they lighted on foot, and being couered with their ſhields, their ſwords in their hands, paſſed through the preaſe, and with bold courage, went ſo farre, that they ſlewe great number of the enemies: for the Alfarins to defend their citty iſſued out of the gates, and the Chriſtians to winne it, did moſt valiantly, but the place was ſo narrow, they could not hurt their enemies ſo much as in the opē field. Whereby it happened, that Frandalo and Eſplandian minding either to winne or looſe, ſtepped ſo farre forward, that the Alfarins flying into the towne, and they after, found themſelues alone within the ſame among their enemies, and that ſo farre, that had it not ben for Frandalo, Eſplandian (that tooke no care but only to kill and ouerthrow the enemy) had ben incloſed by them, but hee pulled him backe. Whereby the two knights perceaued the danger they were in, wherefore by little and little they got vnto the ſteps, that went vpon the wall • where they ſuſtained many hard aſſalts without being hurt, although the enemy ceaſed not to throw Launces, Stones, Darts, and all other weapons at them they could find, none of thē daring come to handle ſtrokes, for if any aduanced himſelfe to ſhew his Prowes, it coſt him his life, or els was throwne downe headlong. Meane time Norandel and his company, that had ſéene Frandalo and Eſplandian ſhut into the towne, ſought by all meanes to ſcale the wals, or elſe to breake the gates: but all in vaine, for they within defended it ſo well with Oile, ſcalding Water, Logs and Stones, that diuers of them were ouerthrowne, and ended their liues moſt miſerably. And fighting in that ſort, a knight all armed came from the Hauen, crying with a loud voice and ſaid: Be of good courage my children, be of good courage, defend this quarter well, for our enemies on the ſea ſide haue not as yet found meanes to ſet one man on land, and yet haue loſt aboue two hundred of their men. By God (ſaied one of them) I ſée not one that ſtandeth idle, yet can we not ouercome theſe two knights. Why ſo (ſaid the other?) They are (ſaied he) entered in among vs, and wee haue ben theſe two howers fighting with them, but all in vaine, for the yoongeſt of them fighteth ſo valiantly, that wee dare not approch them: And which is more, hee and his companion in deſpight of vs all haue gotten thoſe ſtaires, where they now defend themſelues, and that ſo well that we can find no means to driue them thence, although many of our men haue been ſlain by them, & others cruelly wounded. I am of opinion (ſaid the knight) that wee receiue thē vnto mercy, for it may bee they are ſuch men, that for to haue them againe, the enemy will bée glad to giue king Armato in exchange, and returne againe into their country. Wherevnto they all agéed, and therewith the knight that had giuen them that counſell, made ſignes vnto Eſplandian that they would parley with them, whereby the aſſault ceaſed for a time, and the knight ſpake vnto them in this manner, Sir knights, you ſée it is impoſſible for you to eſcape from hence, and it were great pitty that two ſo valiant knights ſhould die ſo yoong now in the flower of your ages. But this wee will doe, yéeld your ſelues, and wee will ſaue your liues. Sir knight (ſaied Eſplandian) If wee die at this time, we are quit for euer after, but ſo much there wanteth therof, and wee haue ſo good hearts and ſo ſure a confidence in Ieſus Chriſt, in whoſe quarrell we fight, that wee hope he will giue vs meanes not only to eſcape this danger, but to ſpoile the Towne and lead you priſoners with vs: Wherefore take this counſell for your ſelues, and yéelde you vnto vs before the wrath of God bée further moued againſt you. When they that ſtood about them heard thoſe wordes, both great and ſmall began to crie with a lowd voice, ſaying: Stay that villaine, let him die, or wee will die here at his féet: wherewith they aſſailed them ſo fiercely, that they were conſtrained to get vpō the higheſt ſteps. But not long after they repulſed the enemy ſo valiantly with ſtones (whereof they found great quantity vpon the Portall) that from that time forwards they had no longer ſtomacks to aſſaile them. But Norandel and the reſt being without, vnderſtanding the noiſe and the voice of their companions, whome they eſtéemed dead or taken priſoners, determined to ſet fire on the gates, while the reſt aſſailed the towne: Wherewith euery man ranne to fetch wood, which the Alfarins perceiued, but to conclude, they could not ſhun it, but whether they would or not, the draw-bridge and the gates were ſet on fire: wherewith they were ſo abaſhed, that moſt part of them began to flie vnto the great temple of Iupiter, the principall place of ſtrength within their citty, the reſt ſtaying behind, with full determination rather to die then ſuffer the Chriſtians to enter the Towne. And ſéeing the gates burnt downe, ſo many of them ranne to fetch water, that not long after the Chriſtians had meanes to aſſaile the towne on that ſide, which aſſault continued ſo long that day failed, yet could they not enter by reaſon of the great reſiſtance the Alfarins made, but the two knights that were aboue did them ſo much hurt with blockes and ſtones, that not any of them durſt appeare, whereby the Chriſtians became maiſters of the towne. Wherin great number of people, both men, women, and children, were put to the ſword, and more had died had it not ben night, ſpecially on the water ſide where G • ſtilles and his army entred with moſt great fury. Neuertheleſſe fearing leaſt the Alfarins ſhould aſſemble againe, and in the night they might bee repulſed, hee commanded a retraict to bee founded, being well aſſured the next day to haue the towne at their pleaſure. And for the ſame cauſe he ſent to the army on land that they ſhould do the like: wherewith euery man retired, ſetting watch in thoſe places where moſt néed required. The towne in this 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 d • 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 your promiſe: In the meane time I will goe comfort them, for I am in doubt moſt part of them are rather dead then liuing: with that ſhe deſired Carmelle to bear her company, they two going to the Temple gate, which they found faſt ſhut and rampired vp: then ſhée called ſo lowd, that ſome of them ſpake vnto her: but neuer did men by pardon from their Prince, brought backe againe from the Gibbet, more reioice, nor were better comforted then they when they knew her, thinking the prince Alphorax had made ſome agréement with their enemies. Wherefore they opened a little wicket, whereat ſhee and the Gentlewoman entered into the Temple, they aſking the Princeſſe howe it was her chaunce to come thether in ſo good a time to ſuccour them, that looked for no other fauour then moſt cruell death. My friends (ſaied ſhe) I haue done ſo much with the Chriſtians (by Frandalos meanes) whome I haue knowne long time, that they are content to let you iſſue foorth, your liues ſaued, and goe where it pleaſeth you, and my ſelfe likewiſe that had fallen into their hands as well as you: wherefore chuſe whether you will follow mee to Teſifant where my lord Alphorax is, who for my ſake will ſhew you all the fauor and courteſie he may. When the poore people vnderſtood the agréement made for them by the Princeſſe Heliaxe, they all agréed to goe with her, and not forſake her, giuing her moſt hearty thankes for the good ſhee had wrought them. Then (ſaied Heliaxe) let thoſe that haue armour put it off, and come all forth with mee. Then ſhe being accompanied in that manner, came vnto Eſplandian, and ſhewing him great numbers of women and little children that ſtood about her, ſaid vnto him: I pray you ſir knight behold the good whereof you are the cauſe, and thinke what domage it had beene if theſe poore ſ • lly ſoules had ſuffered death for no offence, wherein you are worthy great commendations. And yet (ſaid ſhée, ſmiling) while I liue, I ſhall not forget the ſmall account you made of me when Frandalo and you found mee before my pauillion, after the ouerthrow of my knights. Wherefore madame (ſaied Eſplandian?) I maruaile (ſaied ſhée) why you aſke mee ſuch a queſtion, ſéeing you might well conceiue what gréefe I had in mind, yet did you not ſo much as once ſalute me, or vſe word vnto mee: in good truth it was but diſcourteouſly done of you. Madame (ſaied hee) I beſéech you pardon mee, for the fault I committed in your behalfe, was not done for want of bringing vp, but fearing to bréede ſome iealouſie in Frandalos mind, ſéeing him ſo much affected to doe you ſeruice, together with the good countenaunce you ſhewed vnto him, although you had loſt your men. This excuſe (ſaid Heliaxe) is not to be accepted, neither ſhal you eſcape ſo eaſily therewith: which ſhee ſpake with ſo good a countenance, that her ſéeming to bee offended, contented all the company: wherefore Eſplandian ſaied vnto her, Madame, I am content to make amends for this great fault, or to doe what pennance it pleaſeth you. The pennance (ſaid ſhe) that you ſhall haue ſhall be, that according to the promiſe of mercy you haue made vnto theſe poore people, as alſo of fauour in mine owne behalfe, you giue vs leaue to go vnto the citty of Teſifant to my huſband, that for the ſame we thinke the better of you. Madame (ſaid Eſplandian) you haue already vnderſtood our minds, wherefore you may fréely go whether it pleaſeth you, and I my ſelf will be your guide if it be your pleaſure. With that Heliaxe gaue them many thankes, and taking her leaue, got vpon her palfrey, and being accompanied of Foron with a great number of the poore people, tooke the way that went to Teſifant, Frandalo going with her aboue a league and more, and further would haue gone although hee were wounded in diuers places of his body, but ſhe deſired him to go back againe. For (ſaid ſhe) although like a good & curteous knight you haue had ye means not onely to ſerue mee, but alſo to ſaue the life of me and mine, it may bee I ſhall not haue ſo the like to doe the ſame for you if you fall into my lord Alphorax hands: who as I thinke ere now is aduertiſed of my miſfortune, whereby I am in doubt hee is already in the field with great number of men to ſuccour me. And if it ſhould be ſo, I know him ſo impatient, that if hee méet with you (being already moued with the loſſe of Alfarin, as alſo the iniury my knights haue receiued, and my ſelfe likewiſe as hee will ſuppoſe) the pleaſure that you doe me would bréed a danger to your perſon, and to me great gréefe, wherefore I pray you goe no further, but turne backe againe. Frandalo knew her counſell to be good, wherewith hee committed her to God: leauing her in the guard of his couſin Foron, and therewith returned the ſame way that hee came. It was then ſomewhat late, wherfore Heliaxe hauing trauailed vnto the aduenturous fountain, and finding her pauillion as yet ſtanding vp, determined not to depart from thence till the next day in the morning, that ſhee tooke the way that led to Teſifant. And hauing ridden till noone, ſhee met the Prince Alphorax, with a great number of knights that all night had ſtaied vpon the way to the caſtle La montaigne defendu, thinking thoſe that had takē his wife would lead her thether, to haue her in ſafe kéeping, and ſuch was their opinion that brought him newes thereof. But they met not any man in the way, wherfore they returned againe to go vnto the aduenturous fountain, much gréeued when they perceiued the Princeſſe Heliaxe comming towards them, to whom Alphorax ranne, and imbraſing him with a louing kiſſe, aſked her how ſhe had eſcaped from the enemy. My lord (ſaid ſhe) when I ſhall haue told you how, yet am I in doubt you will hardly beléeue it. And to ſay the truth, it ſéemeth fortune hath taken pleaſure in one day to make mee know both the good and euill ſhee could doe vnto mee. Then ſhee ſhewed him of the ouerthrow of her knights, the words that paſſed betwéene Frandalo, Eſplandian, and her: and laſtly the honeſt intertainement they vſed in her behalfe. Truly madame (ſaied Alphorax) it is very ſtrange, and I cannot imagine how theſe Chriſtian dogs (hauing taken my Towne of Alfarin by aſſault) haue vſed ſo much humanity, not only to theſe people, but haue ſaued your honour, being ſuch and ſo beautifull a lady as you are. But it is to bee thought, that our gods hauing compaſſion on me, haue preſerued you, as the thing I loue and moſt eſtéeme off in this world. Yet if I liue but one yeare longer, I ſweare and promiſe vnto you to aſſemble ſo many men together, that the citty of Conſtantinople and her periured Emperour ſhal ſuffer and indure much woe: in ſuch manner, that the memory thereof ſhal not be extinct for one thouſand yeares after my deceaſe. Heliaxe that perceiued him enter into choler, to pacefie the ſame, anſwered vim and ſaid: My lord, you may doe it when it pleaſeth you, but at this preſent you ſée here a great number of poore deſolate people, I beſéech you ſpeake vnto them and comfort them as wel as you may, for their whole truſt is in you, with that Alphorax going vnto them, gaue them many gracious and comfortable ſpéeches, and with them returned to the citty of Teſifant.

CHAP. XXXI. How Gaſtilles tooke his leaue of Eſplandian, and ſailed to Conſtantinople, and of the arriuall of Palomir, Branfil, and other knights of great Brittaigne at the towne of Alfarin.

THe Towne of Alfarin brought vnder the ſubiection of the knights of the caſtle La montaigne defendu, as you heard before, Gaſtilles hauing prepared himſelfe to return to Cōſtantinople, went vnto Eſplandian, and ſaied vnto him: My lord, when I departed from the Emperour, hee gaue me expreſſe commandement with al ſpéed to aduertiſe him what I had done, to the end he might determine either to come himſelfe in perſon, if occaſion ſerued, with the army hee is already preparing, or elſe wholly to breake off his enterpriſe, for it now beginneth to bee Winter, and ſéeing (as it is Gods will) that your affaires on this ſide are in good eſtate, I am determined as to morrow to depart hence to Conſtantinople, that the Emperour vnderſtanding by mee what hath paſſed on this ſide the ſea, he ſhall not bee forced for this yeare to bee at further charges, wherof before this time I had willingly certefieed him, had it not ben the daily expectation I had to ſée ye end of this our laſt enterpriſe, which God bee thanked is fallen out as we deſired. My lord (ſaied Eſplandian) ſéeing the Emperour (as you ſay) by your returne may receiue both, pleaſure and profite, you ſhall doe well to make haſt thether: one thing I beſéech you doe for me, that is, moſt humbly to commend me vnto his grace, aſſuring him, that not any ſubiect hee hath, is or ſhall bee readier to obey him then my ſelfe: and as touching our proceedings, for that you haue perſonally both ſéene and béene an actor in the ſame, you can aduertiſe him at large. Shew him likewiſe I pray you that I kéepe king Armato as his priſoner, attending his pleaſure what ſhall bee done with him, but not the caſtle of La montaigne defendu, for I haue conquered the ſame in fauour and vnder the protection of the Princeſſe Leonorine, kéeping the ſame at this preſent onely to her vſe and as her ſeruant, as I meane to continue during my life. But if it pleaſeth his grace to giue the Towne of Alfarin to Frandalo, not onely thereby to increaſe his will and deſire to ſerue him, but alſo for that hee deſerueth a greater reward: ſo dooing, mee thinketh hee ſhall therein ſhewe the part of a liberall Prince, conſidering the ſeruice and fidelitie hee hath done and ſhewed in all places where hee hath beene employed: You ſhall tell the Emperour alſo, that according to my fathers will and commandement, I hope ſhortly to bee in Conſtantinople to preſent my ſelfe before his grace and the ladie Leonorine, as by the Gentlewoman Carmelle I haue giuen thē to vnderſtand, wherewith I think you are not vnacquainted, praying you in the meane time, to make my excuſe to them, in that I haue deferred it off ſo long; for in a manner, you are not ignorant what hath béene the cauſe. My lord (ſaid Gaſtilles) the Emperour my vncle ſo much deſireth your company, that I neuer ſaw man more gréeued, nor woman than the Princeſſe my couſin, when they perceiued the great ſerpent paſſe before Conſtantinople, to croſſe the ſtraightes of Boſphore. I will ſhewe them what you ſay, and in the morning about breake of day, I meane, God willing, to ſet ſaile. Will you not (ſaid Eſplandian) firſt goe viſit Frandalo, Manely, and others, that lie wdunded in their beds, to know if they will ſend any meſſage to the Empeperour? That I will (ſaid Gaſtilles.) Goe then (ſaid Eſplandian) and I will beare you companie. With that they went to Frandalos lodging, where they were no ſooner entred, but the watch that ſtood vpon the tower ouer the water gate, diſcouered about thrée miles in the ſea, a great ſhippe that with full ſaile made towards the towne: whereof they aduertiſed Gaſtilles, who preſently cauſed two Brigandines to goe forth to ſée if they were friends or enemies: and they were not long before they returned againe with the great ſhippe in their company, wherin were Palomir, Branfil, Helian le delibere, Garuate du Val Craintif, Brauor ſonne of the gyant Balan that king Amadis had newly made knight, Imoſel de Burgoigne, Ledarin de Faiarque, Liſtoran de la tour Blanche, Trion couſin to quéene Briolanie, Tentilles le Superbe, Guil le bien eſteme Grodonan brother to Angriote Deſtrauaux, and the two ſonnes of Iſamie gouernour of the firme Iſle, with many others that had imbarked themſelues in great Britaine to goe to aid Eſplandian: and comming to the caſtle La montaigne defendu, they had intelligence by the fiſhermen at ſea, of the ouerthrow of Armatos nauie, his captiuitie, with the taking of the citie of Alfarin, whereat they much reioyced, eſpecially when they knew by Gaſtilles ſouldiers that not any of their companions were ſlaine in the aſſault. They béeing arriued at the towne, as they began to lande, Eſplandian with diuers others went thither to receiue them: where betwéene them were many ſalutations and welcomes giuen: which done, Eſplandian led them to his lodging, where they refreſhed themſelues about two houres, before they went to viſit Frandalo, of whome Eſplandian gaue ſuch commendations, that they deſired him to bring them where he lay, which hée preſently did: but when Frandalo knew who they were (béeing aſhamed to ſée them vſe ſuch courteſie to him) could not well tel what to ſay: and as he entertained them, Palomir ſpake vnto him and ſaid: Sir knight, I and my companie haue heard ſo great commendation of your valour, that there is not one of vs but would be ready to obey and ſerue you as our chiefe commander: wherefore, we beſéech you, vſe all diligence you may to be healed of your wounds, that we may preſently go into the field vnder your conduction. My lords (ſaid Frandalo) I pray you pardon me, I am well aſſured that my valour is none ſuch as you report, whereby I deſerue not the praiſe you giue me, neither did I euer any thing worthy commendation, but only by my lord Eſplandians meanes. Neuertheleſſe I hope, if God ſpareth me life and health, ſo to behaue my ſelfe, that all men ſhall know the deſire I haue to doe ſeruice vnto Chriſtendome, and particularly vnto euery one of you. Companion (ſaid Eſplandian) I pray you take care to be cured of your griefe: that done, wée will take order for the reſt: and for that theſe knightes are wearie with their long trauaile on the ſea, I pray you giue them leaue for to depart, and in the morning we will viſit you againe. Which he ſaid, fearing leaſt too much talke might cauſe him fall into a feuer, for Gaſtilles before that had béene deuiſing with him aboue two houres togither, touching the conference betwéene him and Eſplandian as concerning his returne vnto the Emperour. With that the knights bad him farewell, and went out of the chamber: on the other ſide Gaſtilles made all the haſt he could to depart from thence the next day in the morning, and taking leaue of all his friends, the ſame night he entred into his ſhip: & when day began to appeare, he ſet ſaile with ſo good winde, that within eight daies he diſcouered ye city of Cōſtantinople, entring into the hauen: which ye Emperor vnderſtanding, went to receiue him, & going with him to the palace, aſked him what he had done in his viage, & whether Armato were retired frō the ſiege or not. My lord (ſaied hee,) The good knight Eſplandian and his company moſt humbly commend themſelues vnto your grace, eſpecially Frandalo, whom I can aſſure you to bee one of the beſt ſeruaunts that euer you had. With that the Empreſſe accompanied with the Princeſſe Leonorine, Quéene Minoreſſe, and diuers other ladies and Gentlewoman came thether, to whom Gaſtilles doing humble reuerence, they bad him welcome, and becauſe hee ſtaied to doe Eſplandians commendations to the Princeſſe Leonorine, the Emperour ſaid vnto him: Truly nephew, you ſhall make an end, to ſhewe vs what hath happened in your voiage, then if it pleaſe you you may court the ladies. Wherefore I pray you tell from the beginning what you haue done. My lord (ſaied he) at our departure from hence wee had ſo good a winde, that without any let wee arriued at the caſtle La montaigne defendu, yet could wee not make ſuch haſt, but that Eſplandian with his great Serpent, and Frandalos ſhips had already drowned and ouerthrowne certaine of the enemies ſhips, and made the reſt to flie, and the next day after king Armato was taken priſoner, his army ouerthrowne and put to flight: but the ſport was when I ſaluted the Turke, and that hee knew mee, then hee told the great rage the Turke was in, the threatnings and ſpéeches hee vſed vnto him, the ouerthrow of the twenty knights at the aduenturous fountaine, the ſkirmiſhes and aſſaults at the Towne of Alfarin, the danger wherein Eſplandian and Frandalo found themſelues, the taking of the Towne and of Heliaxe, her deliuery with the peoples that fled to the temple of Iupiter, and how that before hee imbarked himſelfe to returne, a great ſhippe arriued there from great Brittaigne with diuers knights therin, whoſe names and ſirnames he rehearſed, as hauing ſéene them with king Amadis. Further my lord (ſaid he) the good knight Eſplandian willed me to ſhewe you that hee kéepeth king Armato till your grace ſhall diſpoſe of him, as alſo the citty of Alfarin, but for the caſtle La montaigne defendu, hee ſaith hee mindeth not to yéeld the ſame to any other then to the Princeſſe Leonorine, in whoſe name hee hath conquered it, hoping as her ſeruaunt and no other to defend the ſame. When will he be here (ſaied the Emperour?) With all the ſpéed hee may (ſaied Gaſtilles) as hee hath promiſed mee. In good faith (ſaied the Emperour) I would it were this day before tomorrow, I haue ſo great deſire to knowe him by reaſon of the great chiualry that daily increaſeth in him, in ſuch manner, that if heretofore the knight with the Gréene Sword hath béen eſtéemed the beſt in all the world, now his ſonne diminiſheth a great part of his glory. And all being well conſidered, I thinke that Amadis hath not done more in tenne yeares time, then Eſplandian hath accompliſhed in the ſpace of tenne wéekes: But touching Frandalo, is hee ſo well diſpoſed to our ſeruice as you make report? My lord (ſaied Gaſtilles,) It is not poſſible to doe better then he hath done: wherefore, my lord Eſplandian willed mee to ſhew you, that for the better entertaining him in his procéedings, hée is of aduiſe that your grace ſhould giue him the citty of Alfarin, not knowing any man worthier then hee to kéepe it. In good truth (ſaied the Emperour) Eſplandian and his companions haue had the paines to conquer it, wherefore I am content they haue the diſpoſing thereof: Neuertheleſſe, if they reſt vpon my conſent therein, I am well content it ſhall bee ſo, and I will not ceaſe to ſhewe him greater fauour, if hee perſeuer as hee hath begun. And you daughter (ſaied hee to the Princeſſe Leonorine) what ſay you to this that my couſin Gaſt • lles hath told you touching Eſplandian, that ſayeth hee kéepeth the caſtle La montaigne defendu for you onely? My lord (ſaied ſhe) I know not how you and many others eſtéeme ſo much of him, conſidering the ſmall obedience hee ſheweth to his father, for if he were ſuch a knight as hee is reported, hee had long ſince come hether to acquite the promiſe wherevnto hee is bound: which maketh mee verily thinke, the ſpéech Carmelle vſed of him, and all that hee hath ſent you by word of mouth by my couſin Gaſtilles, are onely but diſſimulations. And I for my part am not yet determined (although hee reporteth himſelfe to bee my knight) to accept him for the ſame, much leſſe to pardon him before hee comes in perſon to excuſe his fault, then I will conſider what I haue to doe. The emperor that perceaued his doughter ſpeak with ſuch a choler, & therwith to bluſh more then ordinary, could not refrain laughter, and ſaied vnto her. What daughter, doe you refuſe the ſeruice of the beſt knight in all the world? I my lord (ſaied ſhee) and ſo ſhould euery maiſter his ſeruant, when hee flieth from his preſence, and obeyeth not his commandements no more then he hath done both yours and mine. Truly ſwéet heart (ſaid the Emperour) I like you well, I would to God that nature had furniſhed you with a bodie like vnto your heart, if ſhee had, ſhee had made you a perfect man, and not a woman as you are. Nowe nephewe you heare my doughters anſwere, I pray you let Eſplandian know it, that he may make haſt hether, leaſt he loſe not her good will. And although the Emperour ſpake it as in ieſt, Eſplandian tooke it otherwiſe when he heard the newes by a ſquire that Gaſtilles ſent vnto him.

CHAP. XXXII. How Frandalo accompanied of foureſcore Knights, iſſued out of Alfarin towards Teſifant, and of the taking of Eiraca captaine of the Towne.

THe knights of great Brittaigne arriued in the Towne of Alfarin, (as you heard before) Frandalo and others that were hurt being healed of their woūds, Belleris that ceaſed not continually to hearken after Alphorax, was aduertiſed by his ſpies, that hee continued in the citty of Teſifannt, which hee and Branfil told vnto the reſt of their company, who therewith being ſomewhat incouraged, very earneſtly deſired Frandalo to lead thē forth, and bring them to ſome place where they might lie in ambuſh to ſurpriſe Alphorax or ſome of his companie if they chaunced to ſtray abroad. Frandalo not willing to deny them any reaſonable requeſt, agréed (with the conſent of Eſplandian) to depart the next night following, and to take with thē to the number of foureſcore knights and no more, which Eſplandian liked well, he minding to bee one. Where vpon thoſe that were appointed for the iourney prepared themſelues, and about ſunne ſetting iſſued out of Alfarin, Frandalo and Belleris knowing ye country ſo well, that they néeded no other guides, but trauailed ſtrait towards Teſifant, and hauing ridden till eleuen of the clocke at night, they came vnto a croſſe way, where Frandalo aduiſed them to deuide themſelues in two companies, willing the knights (that before that time had neuer ben in Turkie) to hold cloſe together. For (ſaid he) the warres in theſe countries are far otherwiſe then they are in great Brittaigne, where knights vſe moſt commonly to trauaile alone without company, and although they chaunce ſometimes to ride in companies, the leaſt occaſion that happeneth maketh them ſeperate themſelues, but here thoſe that vſe armes trauaile in great companies together, whereby the combates that are fought here moſt commonly are rather battailes then incounters. And more then this, if thrée hundred Turkes chance to ſurpriſe one hundred, thirtie, twenty, or leſſe number of their enemies, they take a pride to put them to death, preferring reuenge before a certaine kind of honour, that (as I haue vnderſtoode) is kept and obſerued in the Weſt parts, where combates are in a manner equall. Wherefore my friends (ſaied he) I pray you ſeperate not your ſelues, but march all in a company, aſſuring you that in the place whether wee goe, wee ſhall not faile to finde men ſufficient againſt whome wee may imploy our forces, and ſhewe what valour is in vs. I knowe that within halfe a mile of Teſifant Alphorax vſeth oftentimes to lie at a houſe that hee hath cauſed to bee made called Gruobinach, where if it bee our good fortunes wee may chaunce to finde him, wherefore I am of aduiſe that we deuide our ſelues in two companies, my nephew Belleris ſhall take the left hand, and lie in ambuſh néere vnto the village of Ientinomele, from whence hee may eaſily perceaue when any man iſſueth out of Teſifant, and I with Eſplandian and the other halfe of our companie will followe this way that bringeth vs vnto a valley néere to Gruobinach, where we will ſecretly ſtay if néed require, to ſuccour each other: whereunto they all agréed: but before they departed thence, they found their enterpriſe to be far more dangerous than they eſtéemed it, as hereafter you ſhall heare. Belleris and his companie leauing Frandalo, trauailed ſo long, that about two houres before day they met fixe ſouldiours, whome Belleris ſaluted in the Arabian language, aſking them of what place they were. My Lord, ſaid they, we are going to the towne of Sraſſe. My good friends (ſaid he) we trauaile this night to Teſifante to aduertiſe ye prince Alphorax of the great dommage and deſtruction the Chriſtian dogges continually doe and within ſhort ſpade haue done vnto ye countrey round about: for they are iſſued out of Alfarin, & haue taken and carried away all they can find: and as yet are abroad, not ceaſing to execute all tyrannie they can deuiſe: neuertheles, if it pleaſeth him to giue vs aid, wée know the place of their retrait, where we may eaſily incloſe them, & not one of them ſhall eſcape. What are you, ſaid the ſouldiours, that bring vs theſe newes? Friends (ſaid Belleris) I am Rouſſan, couſin to Eiraca, ehiefe captaine of Teſifant. We can tell you good newes of him, ſaid the ſouldiours, wherewith we thinke you will be well pleaſed: for he is not farre from hence, being ridden out of Teſifant with two hundred knights to goe vnto Falandie, to ſée the ſame be not ſo lightly ſurpriſed as Alfarin was. But becauſe he willed vs to ride before, wée will ſtay no longer: wherewith they hadde them farewell. Friends (ſaid Belleris) the good fortune I wiſh you I pray God may happen vnto you. With that the ſouldiours paſſed on their way, but they had not gone farre when Belleris ſent after them, and fearing they would diſcouer his enterpriſe, cauſed them to be ſlaine: and therewith preſently diſpatched one of his Squires on meſſage to Frandalo, to aduertiſe him of the enemies béeing abroad with a verie ſtrong and huge companie: whereupon hée wiſhed him to ioyne with them. The Squire made all the haſt hée could, but before the newes came to Frandalo, Belleris met with Eiraca and his company about the village of Ientinomele, béeing vpon them before they had time to put on their helmets. There did the captaine of Teſifant ſhewe himſelfe to be no yoong beginner in armes, for that like a valiant and hardy knight hee entered among the Chriſtians, and being ſeconded by his men, did moſt valiantly defend themſelues, and aſſailed the enemy, although at their firſt encounter ten of their braueſt ſouldiours were vnhorſed and ouerthrowne. And as Eiraca entered into the preaſe, Norandel and he met together with ſuch force, that Norandel was wounded in the left ſhoulder, but not ſore hurt, and the captaine of Teſifant looſing his ſtirrops, was throwne ouer his horſe with ſo great a ſtrength, that with the fall hee was forced to lie vpon the ground, and could remooue neither hand nor foote, which the Turkes perceauing, to reléeue their captaine, did ſo valiantly, that they ouerthrew foure of the Brittiſh knights, who neuertheleſſe roſe preſently againe, and with their ſwords in hand, thruſt ſo many of the Turkes horſes into the ſides and flanckes, that in ſhort ſpace more then twentie of the Turkes were ouerthrowne likewiſe, and many ſlain outright: at that charge Enil and Gauarte were hurt, and the reſt ſo hardly handeled, that without Frandalos company that came to ſuccour them, they had all beene ourthrowne: and in truth they had almoſt ſtraied too long, but the Squire that Belleris ſent vnto them, could not ouertake them before they were in the valey where they ſhould haue met. And although they had heard the ſound of their blowes, yet did they not ſuſpect any ſuch perrill, vntill the ſquire had done his meſſage, wherewith they ranne with all the ſpéed they could vnto the place, where Belleris and his companions (being out of breath) did nothing but recule, and defend themſelues againſt their enemies blowes, that had ſlaine diuers of them, but that the captain of Teſifant would haue them to bee taken and preſented to the Prince Alphorax: Neuertheleſſe Frandalo, Eſplandian, and the reſt of their company, made them change opinion: for when they perceaued their companions ſo hardly matched by the enemy, they entered among them with ſuch fury, that had it not beene for Eiraca (who at that time behaued himſelfe moſt valiantly) they had ouerthrown ye Turks at their firſt onſet, but by reaſon of the great reſiſtance hee made, they continued fighting halfe an houre after, wherein hée maintained himſelfe ſo well, that Eſplandian could neuer take him before hée had ouerthrowne him, and pulled off his helmet, wherewith hée yéelded: meane time Frandalo and his companions being in the middle of the enemies, laide ſo well about them, ſlaying horſes, pulling away ſhields, and doing ſo valiantly, that woonder it was to behold them, yet did not the Turkes once ſéeme abaſhed, but ſtill fought moſt couragiouſly, vntil ſuch time they perceiued their captaine taken priſoner, which cauſed them to flie and turne their backes: but not all of them, for there lay more than one hundred and fiftie of them dead vpon the ground, the reſt ſaued themſelues by meanes of the darke night. It was then about an houre before day: and Frandalo fearing that thoſe of Teſifant (hearing of the ouerthrow) would iſſue foorth to cut off their paſſage, preſently cauſed captaine Eiraca to be remounted, and all the Chriſtians that wanted horſes, and with all ſpéed rode backe againe to Alfarin, not the ſame way they came, but another way ſomewhat farther about; wherein they trauailed ſo long, that about ſunne riſing they entred into a great woode, where they alighted to refreſh both themſelues and their horſes: and ſtaying not long there leaſt they ſhould bée ſurpriſed, they made ſuch ſpéed, that about ſunne ſetting they arriued in ye town: meane time newes came to Teſifant of the ouerthrowe of their men, wherewith Alphorax was in ſuch a rage, that in a manner hée ſéemed deſperate. But for this time wée haue ſufficiently diſcourſed of martiall affaires, now wée meane to bring Loue in place, who deſiring to miniſter ſome comfort to the Princes Leonorine that liued in great paine, expecting the arriuall of her friend Eſplandian, cauſed him to depart from Alfarin to viſit her in the citie of Conſtantinople, as in the Chapters following you ſhall heare.

CHAP. XXXIII. Of the great griefe Eſplandian had, vnderſtanding by the meſſenger that Gaſtilles ſent vnto him, what diſpleaſure the Princeſſe Leonorine had conceiued againſt him.

YOV heard before how Gaſtilles ſhewed the Emperour what Eſplandian had done, and what meſſage hée ſent vnto him, and to the Princeſſe Leonorine, as alſo what anſwere ſhe made, which Gaſtilles by his Squire writ and ſent vnto him, hauing charge from the Emperour ſo to doe, thereby to procure his ſpéedier arriuall in Conſtantinople. The Squire with his lether made ſuch haſt, that hée arriued at Alfarin about fiue daies after the taking of Eiraca, and méeting Carmelle at the gate, aſked her if he might find Eſplandian at conuenient leiſour to deliuer him a letter from Gaſtilles, but Carmelle being ſubtill, ſuſpecting it to be ſome newes from the Prince •• e Leonorine, that might mooue Eſplandian, who as then ſéemed diſcontent, anſwered him & ſaid: My good friend, you can hardly ſpeake with him at this time, but follow me and giue me the letter, and I will preſent it vnto him, and cauſe him to returne you an anſwere. The Squire did as ſhe willed him, and followed her to Eſplandians lodging: where entring into his chamber, ſhe found him ſitting vpon his bed talking with the king of Denmarke, and deliuered him Gaſtilles letter, which when he read, the teares ranne out of his eyes, and therewith caſt forth a great ſigh, ſaying: O Lord? but Carmelle that beheld him, doubting the cauſe to be as ſhe ſuſpected, aſked him if he were ill at eaſe. Ill? ſaid he, I that I am, and ſo ill that I would to God I were dead: and looke I pray you, ſaid he, whether I haue cauſe or not: wherewith ſtretching forth hish hand, he gaue Carmelle the letter, and turning his face, began to make the greateſt ſorrow in the world: but when ſhée had read the contents, ſhée eſtéemed not thereof, but ſaid vnto Eſplandian: What my Lord? are you abaſhed at ſo ſmall a matter? By my ſoule I now perceiue very well, that the affections and loues of men are farre different and much vnlike the paſſions that we ſimple women endure, when we fall into the like extremities: and knowe you how? you men doe moſt commonly take pleaſure to manifeſt and make known your loue either by word of mouth or outward ſhewes, and many times diſſemble more than you meane to doe: and which is worſe, how much the more the Lady or Gentlewoman you loue is of great deſert, or high linage, ſo much more glory doe you take to make it knowne, not onely that you beare her affection, but that you are beloued and fauoured of her aboue all others: which is cleane contrary to the nature of women (I meane ſuch as may bée tearmed wiſe and of good vnderſtanding) for how much the greater their parentage is, ſo much more feare they haue to manifeſt their amorous paſſions, in ſuch manner, that moſt commonly both in word, geſture, and countenāce, they outwardly denie that which they haue moſt déepely engraued in their hearts and mindes: and not without good cauſe, for that the thing which redoundeth to your praiſe and commendations (as you think, which is the manifeſting of your loue) bréedeth to them a certaine ſpot in their honour, which often times they can not eaſily deface. Wherefore it is more than expedient, to obſerue this modeſtie and conſtancie in vs, not that I meane to reſtraine my ſelfe vnto this lawe, ſéeing that all my glory and felicitie dependeth vpon you, in ſuch manner, that I deſire no greater happineſſe in this world, then that the loue and dutifull obedience I beare vnto you, ſhould be publiſhed and made knowne vnto the world, to the end that all thoſe that ſhall heare of your great valour and my meane eſtate, may know my great good fortune, to haue the meanes to ſerue you as I doe. Wherefore my Lord, in my opinion you ought to take the ſpéeches Gaſtilles hath written vnto you, to be vſed by the lady Leonorine in good part and greatly to your aduantage, for I dare warrant you on mine honour, that your affections are both alike: and to ſay the truth, ſhe hath behaued her ſelfe moſt wiſely to diſſemble the matter ſo well as ſhe hath done in the Emperors preſence. I deny not but ſhe hath ſome cauſe to be impatient, conſidering the meſſage I deliuered vnto her in your behalfe, but that is eaſie to be cured: & although the loue ſhée hath borne you ſo long time ſhould be wholly extinguiſhed (which I can hardly beléeue) euen as a bone that is broken in two péeces & ſet togither againe, is ſtronger in that place than in any other part, ſo you being there and in her companie, ſhall winne that you finde broken, and by that meanes make it ſtronger than euer it was before. Therefore I am of aduiſe (that fulfilling her deſire) you goe vnto her, and that as ſoone as poſſibly you may. Alas Carmelle (ſaid Eſplandian) what good or what ſeruice did I euer doe vnto her, thereby to haue deſerued at her hands the leaſt fauour among an infinite number I haue receiued from her? ſpecially by the report of your owne mouth. If therefore ſhee hath iuſt occaſion to be offended with me, hauing offended her ſo much, can I hope for any other at her handes than méere diſdaine and mortall hatred? My lord (ſaid Carmelle) I am a woman and know the nature of women better than you doe, or then all the men in the world beſides, I pray you therefore beléeue me, and go and ſée her, and if ſo be ſhée entertaine you not according to your deſire, then neuer giue credit to my words againe. In faith my good companion (ſaid the king of Denmark) Carmelle giueth you ſo good and wiſe counſell, that either you ought to giue credit to her ſpéech, or els wholly driue this fantaſie out of your mind, conſidering (as is moſt true) that ſometimes, and very often, how much the more feruent and extreme the loue of a woman is, ſo much the ſooner is it dead and wholly extinguiſhed, for that their inconſtancie is ſuch and ſo great, that for the leaſt occaſion in the world they are ouer ready to loue, and much more inconſiderately doe they forget the ſame againe: not that I accuſe the Princes Leonorine of ſo great lightnes, but to ſay the truth as cōmonly we find, & for my part I know not vpon what occaſion you ground your loue, wherby you ſhould make ſo much accoūt of her, ſéeing yt ſhe neuer ſaw you, nor you her, but are only content to conceiue well of ech other vpon a certaine renowm yt hath ſpred abroad, & ſet forth the great perfections yt are reported to be in you both: which in truth may bée compared to a fire made of ſtraw, yt is no ſooner kindled but preſētly cōſumed: wherfore be not then ſo much abaſhed if ye princes Leonorine ſhew her ſelfe at this preſēt ſo ſmally affected towards you, for thoſe yt loue moſt déerly do oftentimes fall into diſcurteſies & coldnes of affection, that they diſdaine, or (at the leaſt) in the twinkling of an eie, wholly forget thoſe that for a long time they haue loued moſt intirely, & that for their ſakes ſhal haue hazarded their liues in moſt dangerous aduentures. Did you neuer heare how Briſarde behaued her ſelfe in regard of Troilus, after the deſtruction of Troy, ſhée loued him ſo well that ſhe would néeds die in his armes: whē ſhe was conſtrained to forſake him, the Gréekes thinking verily ſhe would haue ſlaine her ſelfe: & yet was ſhée ſcarſe iſſued out of Troy but ſhe wholly forgot her loue Troilus, & tranſported that vehement loue ſhe had borne him all her life, to Diomedes king of Thrace. O God? What inconſtancie? what lightnes? what foundation vpon a ſandy groūd was that? This vnconſtant woman among other precious ornaments giuen her by Troilus her friend, had a paire of perfumed gloues, which within one houre after her captiuitie ſhe gaue vnto her new friend Diomedes in token of the loue & amity ſhe bare vnto him. What had Troilus ſaid then if he had béen preſent? would he haue beléeued her? I thinke not. And what a point of honeſtie, I pray you, did Clitemneſtra ſhew vnto her huſband, when in ſtéed of welcoming him home at his comming from the ſiege of Troy, where he had remained ten yéers togither? ſhe cauſed him cruelly to be murdered by Egiſtus her ruffian. But will you heare more exāples of the like matter? & as he began to procéed, Eſplandian ſaid vnto him, My good friend, I pray you do not this wrong vnto my lady Leonorine, but let me here your counſell how I may from henceforth gouerne my ſelfe to ſatiſfie her deſire. Go & ſée her, ſaid ye king, & if you think good I will beare you cōpany. Shall we go & leaue our cōpanions? (ſaid Eſplandian) yt wil I neuer do: wherfore? ſaid ye king: are not Frandalo, Manely, & the reſt of their cōpany ſtrong inough to defend ye town in your abſence? I am of aduiſe yt you ſend preſētly for thē, & giue them to vnderſtand yt by reaſon of certain newes you haue of late receiued, you muſt be conſtrained to leaue them for the ſpace of eight or fiftéene daies: and in like ſort diſpatch Gaſtilles Squire, and write vnto his maſter, that you thanke him heartily for the good remembrance he hath had of you, and that with all ſpéed you will ſend a meſſenger expreſſely vnto the Emperour with an anſwere to that it hath pleaſed him to command to bée written vnto you: in the meane time, I will take order to prepare a ſhip to bring vs to the caſtle La montaigne defendu, where wée will imbarke our ſelues in the great Serpent, that will not faile (as I thinke) to bring vs vnto Conſtantinople, and determine with your ſelfe what companie you meane to take with you. My good friend (ſaid Eſplandian) doe as you thinke good, I am content to hazzard my life in your hands. It ſuffiſeth (ſaid the king) but I pray you ſpeake vnto our companions, and diſpatch the ſquire. With that Eſplandian called for inke and paper, and wrote vnto Gaſtilles as the king of Denmarke had aduiſed him. Next day in the morning Frandalo and the reſt of the companie came into his chamber as they vſed ordinarily to doe, and being togither deuiſing of diuers things, Eſplandian ſaid vnto them: My good friends, I am conſtrained to leaue your company for the ſpace of fiftéene daies or three wéekes, to goe about certain vrgent affaires yt import me much: I will take with me my brother the king of Denmarke, Gandalin, Enil, Carmelle, and no more. I pray you thinke it not ſtrange, for if I were not conſtrained thereunto, I ſweare vnto you of my faith, I would not do it. There was not any among them that once would aſke him whether he went, but anſwering him, ſaid: That he might goe whither it pleaſed him, & that they for their parts would kéepe ye place till he came againe, although he ſtaid a whol yéer before he returned; by this means Eſplandian by little & little framed himſelfe to take his voiage while ye king of Denmarke cauſed the ſhip that brought the knights of great Britain thither, to be made ready, & vpon a monday in the morning Eſplandian & his company imbarked themſelues to ſaile vnto the caſtle La montaigne defendu, but they were no ſooner put to ſea, but the wind falling contrary, the ſea roſe ſo high & ſo furious withall, yt neither maſt, ſaile, nor cord could hold, but brake all in péeces: in which maner they cōtinued for the ſpace of tenne daies and as many nights, ſo that neither maiſter nor marriners could tell in what part they were, for that during that time, the clouds were ſo thicke and the miſt ſo great, that it made the aire ſo darke and obſcure, that thoſe that were in the ſhippe could ſcarſe ſée one the other, expecting nothing elſe (without the mercy of God) then the ouerthrow of their ſhippe: which they thought verily had happened, when they arriued at the rocke of the Enchauntreſſe, wherevpon they were driuen about thrée of the clocke after midnight: wherewith the ſaylers caſt anker, and going on land, ſtaied till day appeared.

CHAP. XXXIII. How Eſplandian and his company went vp vnto the broken pallace of the Enchauntereſſe, and of the ſtraunge thinges they found there.

ESplandian and his company being on land, not knowing the place where they were arriued, cauſed a great fire to bee made, about the which they thought to lie downe and ſléepe, but they heard ſuch a noiſe from the top of the rocke, that they were all abaſhed: with that the winde began to ceaſe, and the ſea to waxe calme, the ſkie ſhewing full of ſtarres, and withall the mone ſhone ſo bright, that it ſéemed as light as if it had ben day: wherefore Eſplandian deſirous to know what the noiſe might bee, determined to mount vp the rocke, but he was counſelled by his company to ſtay till the next day in the morning. When Eſplandian knew it certainely to be the rocke of the Enchauntreſſe, and ſaied vnto the king of Denmarke: In good truth I thinke I haue beene here before and take it to be the place whether the great Serpent brought me the ſame day I receaued the order of knighthood, which putteth mee in better hope of our voiage then I had before: which he ſaied, remembring the ſcroll with the propheſie that he found in the lions paw. Then he told the king of Denmarke how he conquered the ſword he bare, the death of the ſerpent, & all yt he had ſéene vpon the rocke, & it is called (ſaid he) the rock of the Enchauntreſſe. By God (ſaid Gandalin) you ſay trew, for I remember, that purſuing after a knight yt led a Gentlewoman away, I found your father king Amadis & Grandaſor here, & the knight likewiſe yt I ſought yt had hiddē himſelf in ye old pallace vpō this rock: thē he told thē frō point to point what had happened vnto him, & the great loue ye knight bare vnto ye gentilwomā he had carried away by force, but (ſaid he) before we departed ſhe agréed with him, & they promiſed mariage to ech other, although before ye time ſhée hated him moſt deadly: neuertheles, vnderſtanding yt the force he vſed vnto her was only done for ye loue he bare her, ſhe clean forgot her former hatred, chāging it to a moſt excéeding loue. In good faith (ſaied Carmelle) as farre as I perceiue, no man ought to diſpaire of any thing hée taketh in hand, no more will I during my life: which ſhee ſaid in reſpect of Eſplandian, who in time as ſhée thought might loue her, & whollie forget ye Princes Leonorine. And ſo long they talked, yt day began to apear, thē Eſplandian ſaid to ye king of Denmark: Cōpanion, I pray you ſtay here forme while I goe vp, for I wil haue no body wt me but Gandalin & Enil, & they ſhal go with me, not yt I fear any danger yt may happē vnto me, but only becauſe they may help me to lift vp ye tomb wherof I told you euē now. My lord (ſaid ye king) I pray you offer me not ſo much iniury, for I will not leaue you though it coſt mee my life, eſpecially in this place where I haue moſt great deſire to ſée that I neuer ſaw before. Séeing it is your pleaſure (ſaid Eſplandian) let vs go, & let our ſquires bring ſome victuals with them, if we néed to eat before we come backe againe: which the ſquires did, wherwith they began to mount vp ye rock, and trauelled ſo long, that about ſunne ſetting they came vnto the hermitage, where ye great image was erected, wherof you heard before, where they ſtayed all night, the next day they trauelled again, & came vnto the lake yt ran before the old pallace, & becauſe it began to be dark, they determined not to trauel any further for ye time, & to ſay the truth they were weary: but all night ye ſerpēts ye iſſued out of their holes to drink of the water, ceaſed not to hiſſe and paſſe before & about them to aſſaile them, which they had not failed to doe, had it not beene for the vertue of Eſplandians ſword, wherevnto no venomous thinges might once approch or come néer. Neuertheleſſe they reſted not, but as ſoon as they might ſée, roſe vp & went on their way: and paſſing by the ruinated monumēts, they came vnto the pallace of the enchantreſſe, where they found ye gates ſhut, wherat Eſplandian gaue ſo great a blow with his foot, yt they opened, & they entred into the place where the ſhining tombe ſtood with the lion vpon it. Then Eſplandian ſaid vnto the thrée knights: In good faith when I was here before, I could not lift vp this plate, I pray you each man prooue what you can do, then I wil ſée if I be grown ſtronger in the back thē I was at that time: wherwith the king of Denmark aſſailed to doe it, but what ſtrength ſo euer hée vſed, it was impoſſible for him, the like did Gandalin & Enil, but they ſped no better then the king, wherat Eſplandian began to laugh, & taking it by the two ends, lifted it vp ſo eaſily as if it had been a péece of dry wood, yet was it a péece of chriſtall of thrée fingers thick, & about ten or twelue foote long: vnder it they found an azure ſtone, the faireſt & moſt orient color yt euer was ſéene ye couered a Ceader cheſt which ſmelt as ſwéet as any balme, ye cheſt being ſhut with a loc ••• emerald ſtone, hauing a key of diamōds yt hong by it at a cha •• of fine gold, al moſt artificially cōpoſed: the ſtone takē vp & ye cheſt opened, they found the image of Iupiter lying therein all of maſſy gold, garniſhed with many pearles, rubies, & other ineſtimable rich iewels, eſpecially a crown yt he ware on his head, about yt which were placed certain Carboncles inform of Gréeke letters, with theſe words.

Iupiter is great god of all gods, & in his right hand he bare a table cōtaining this propheſie, Whē time ſhal come, that my art & knowledge ſhal faile, the hart of the Hind incloſed herein, & life reſtored by thē that were the cauſe of death, the Grecian ſheep long time noriſhed in pleſant paſtures, ſhalbe cōſtrained to feed on a herb bitterer thē gal, by means of the extremity the hūgry ſea wolues ſhal put thē vnto, whoſe number ſhall be ſo great, that they ſhall couer the ſea in diuers places, in ſuch wiſe, that the poore ſheep incloſed in their great forreſt, & diuers of their lambes being dead and torn in peeces, their ſheepheard (hauing in a maner loſt all hope of reſtoring thē againe) with anguiſh of heart and mind, in abundance of teares ſhall lament their great miſfortune. Then ſhall come the braue Lions whelpe, by whoſe meanes that great troope of wolues ſhall be driuen away and deſtroyed. Neuertheleſſe, hee ſhall take from the ſheepeheard his great power, and the beſt beloued of his ſheepe, wherevpon he ſhal ſeaze, in ſuch ſort, that his ſtrong teeth and ſharpe clawes ſhall enter into her 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 Eſplandi •• 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 ye 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 yt he ſhould make a voiage vnto ye 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, yt 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 ye 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, yt in ſhort ſpace they loſt the ſight of ye great ſhip. But the next night following there happened ſuch a tēpeſt, 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. • et it therefore ſuffice you to know, that their victuals being ſpent, they chanced to arriue in the Iſland of the Giant Drapheon, where ye 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, frō 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 ye 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 ye 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 ye 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 ye armies both • 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 frō 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, yet are they commonly to ſéeke in that which concerneth them as touching thoſe points. My lord (ſaied ſhe) ſéeing it is your pleaſure to vſe my counſel, I wil tel you truly what I thinke therein, and ſo much I can aſſure you, that if you ſhould ſearch throughout the world, you ſhall hardly finde one that can come néere mee in iudging the paſſion wherewith you are moleſted: for the ſame is in me that is in you, and I féele it as well as you doe, and it may bée more, but the eaſe and great contentment I receiue by your preſence, haue giuen mee ſo many remedies, that I delight in my greefe and liue not, but only to cauſe my ſorrow to indure. To tell you truth, at ſuch time as you began to vſe ſpéeche • • nto mée of the king of Denmarke, I thought vpon his long ab • ente, and me thinketh it were beſt wee ſailed vnto Conſtantinople, aſſuring you that I haue deuiſed a meanes to bring you vnto the Princeſſe Leonorine, whereby you may both ſée and ſpeake with her, without being knowne of any other then her ſelfe, if you thinke it good. And to bring it to paſſe, (we being arriued there) it ſhal be neceſſary that all thoſe of our ſhip be aduertiſed (if any man aſketh for you) to ſay, that you ſtaied in the caſtle La montaigne defendu, meane time you ſhall lie in the bottome of the ſhippe, and I with Gandalin and Enil, will goe vnto the Emperour, to whome I will ſay that you ſent mee to the Princeſſe Leonorine, to preſent vnto her in your behalfe, that which you haue conquered in the rocke of the Enchauntreſſe, and for the reſt let mee alone. When Eſplandian heard her ſpeake in that manner, hee behelde her for a while, and at laſt ſaied vnto her: My good friend, I feare not death, neither can it bee more bitter or ſharper vnto me then the life I now indure: but I feare the diſhonour of my lady, & the iniury that thereby I might do vnto ye Emperor, who by his courteſie hath ſo much bound my father vnto him, as if I ſhuld wrong him, it would be a blemiſh to my honor while I liue. Neuertheleſſe, I am content to hazard my ſelf in all the dangers you ſhal think conuenient: that is ſufficient (ſaid Carmelle) I pray you then be merry & make good chear: for if euer woman accompliſhed the thing ſhe took in hand, I wil bring this to paſſe. Wherwith leauing Eſplandian, ſhe called ye Patron, & willed him to ſet ſaile for Conſtantinople, whervnto he obaied, & had ſo good a wind, ye within thrée daies after they entred into ye hauē: where being arriued, Eſplandian told his men what (by the coūſel of Carmelle) he had determined to do, cōmāding thē expreſſely not to make it known to any man of his being there, but yt they ſhould ſay they left him in ye caſtle La montaigne defendu. For (ſaid he) I am not now in ſuch eſtate as I would be to preſēt my ſelf before ſo great a prince as ye Emperor is. And to the end you be not found liers, I will ſtay in the bottome of the ſhip till you returne againe: then he, Carmelle, Gandalin & Enil ſpake together, where the gentlewomā ſhewed thē at large how ſhe meant to bring hir enterpriſe to paſſe, I will preſently (ſaid •• e) cauſe the 〈◊〉 he wee brought from ye rock of ye enchauntreſſe to be ſet vp in ye ſame ſort we found it, vpon ye hatches of the ſhip thē wil I go tel the emperor yt I haue one of the ſingulareſt things abord ye ſhip yt euer was ſéen, & we find means to bring him hether, where I wil ſhew him the lion with Iupiter, & al the reſt of the furniture, which hauing ſéene and peruſe • , I will tell him that you ſend it to the Princeſſe Leonorine, He being gone vnto his palace, you ſhall goe into the Ceader cheſt, and ſo will I cauſe you to be carried into the princeſſe chamber lying in the arme, whereof I will ſecretly aduertiſe her, and by this meanes • he may ſpeake to you; and you to hir what you thinke good. I 〈◊〉 (ſaid E • plandian) tell mee how I ſhall come out againe? I wil deſire her (ſaid ſhe) to giue me the ceader theft, therein to be by the body of Marroco that died a Chriſtian, wherein you ſhall had in cloſed, and tomorrow in the morning I will cauſe you to be brough •• 〈◊〉 againe. By God (ſaid Gandalin) it is the prettieſt deuiſe that euer I heard, & now I confeſſe that I was neuer but a foole in regard of Carmelle. Meddle you not with any thing (ſaid ſhée) but reſt content, let me alone to worke my will, and to the ſame end let vs preſently begin: then Eſplandian went downe into the bottome of the ſhip, and the gentlewoman prepared the tombe as ſhée had determined before: with that ſhée, Gandalin, and Enil, landed and went vnto the Emperour, whome they ſaluted moſt honourably, but Carmelle did him no reuerence: for (as it is ſaid before) ſhe eſtéemed not of any man liuing how great a Prince ſoeuer hee were, but only of Eſplandian: ſhée and Gandalin were knowne in Conſtantinople by reaſon of their being there before. Wherefore the Emperour receiued Gandalin very courteouſly, and with ſmiling countenance ſaid vnto him: Friend Gandalin, although your preſence hath procured great melancholly in my minde, remembring I haue often ſéene you here with the man, that in all Chriſtendome I moſt entirely loue, whome I am vtterly perſuaded I ſhall neuer ſée againe, yet you are heartily welcome, and I pray you tell me how doth the knight with the Gréene Sword. My lord (ſaid Gandalin) it is long ſince I left him to come into this countrey, neuertheleſſe I am aſſured whereſoeuer he is, he is a Prince ready to doe your grace any pleaſure he can. In good faith (ſaid the Emperour) I beléeue it well, and I am glad of the honour I vnderſtand hée hath receiued at the hands of king Luiſart, that voluntarily hath depoſed himſelfe of all princely dignitie to inueſt him therewith. My lord (ſaid Enil) that is true, I can aſſure your Grace thereof as one that was preſent as his Coronation: and although I could wiſh king Amadis the Monarch of all ye world, Truly when I beheld the geſture and humble countenance of good king Luiſart I could not refraine wéeping; for compaſſion I had to ſée him, and not I onely, but all the people that beheld him. I pray you, Sir Knight (ſaid the Emperor) ſhew me how it was, for that all wiſe men are bound not onely to enquire of all vertuous actions, but alſo to imitate them as néere as poſſibly they may: with that Enil ſhewed him at large the whole order of the ſame, as you heard it before. Whereat the Emperour (holding downe his head) muſed for a while, and then ſaid: I am certainly perſuaded it will be long before we find a better prince thā king Luiſart is, or one yt hath paſſed his young yéeres with more wiſedome and magnanimitie of courage, and as I vnderſtand, both fortune and vertue haue béen fauourable vnto him: fortune in giuing him force to ouercome and obtaine honour againſt diuers miſfortunes and hard aduentures that ſhe her ſelfe had prepared for him: and vertue, for that in the end of his daies ſhe hath ſet him in the way to enter into paradiſe. And leauing that d •• courſe, hée changed purpoſe and ſpake to Carmelle, of whome • nieſt he aſked, if ſhe were ſtill tormented with the extreame paſſions of loue towards Eſplandian as ſhe had béen in times paſt. My Lord (ſaid ſhe) if there be any chaunge ſince I ſpake with you, it is, that the loue, ſeruitude, & affection I beare vnto him, are augmented in me, and daily more and more increaſe. Whereat euery man began to laugh. In good faith (ſaid the Emperour) wée may then very wel perſuade our ſelues, that you came not to our Court to moue any of our Gentlewomen to loue the good knight your maſter, although he ſhould expreſſely commaund you to doe it. My lord (ſaid ſhee) you iudge as in reaſon it ought to • e, neuertheleſſe I take ſo great a pleaſure in ſeruing him to his contentment, that I will except no ſeruice whatſoeuer: and to ſpeake truth, my arriuall here is to aſke your Grace a gift, neither gold nor ſiluer, but onely that it would pleaſe you to goe vnto the hauen, to ſée a Preſent that my Lord Eſplandian ſendeth to the princeſſe Leonorine as her knight. In good truth (ſaid the Emperor) you require a thing at our hands, that we ſhould rather deſire at yours. Come then my Lord (ſaid ſhée) for I may not ſtay long here. With that the Emperour (accompanied of diuers Noblemen) went vnto the hauen, and being there, entred into Carmelles ſhippe, ſhee ſhewed him the chriſtall tombe, then that of azure ſtone, and laſtly the image of Iupiter: whereat the Emperour ſtayed longer to behold it than the reſt, not ſo much for the richneſſe thereof, as to read the prophecie it held; and hauing read it, was not a little abaſhed: which Carmelle perceiuing, ſpake vnto him and ſaid: My lord, all this you ſée hath continued aboue two hundred yéeres in the broken palace of the inchantreſſe, yet in all that time not any knight (how valiāt ſoeuer he were) could euer conquer the ſame, nor yet ſo much as ſée it, vntill my lord Eſplandian arriued there, that is become Lord and poſſeſſour of ye ſame, as you now behold. Truly (ſaid the Emperour) it is the goodlieſt preſent that euer I ſaw, and worthy the greateſt admiration: for although it be of incomparable riches, yet doe I eſtéeme it of no value in reſpect of the great ſcience and wonderfull knowledge that was in her to whome it firſt belonged, as ſhe maketh it well appeare by the threatnings ſhe vſed againſt vs in this table: God graunt all may fall out better than I doubt it will. My lord (ſaid Carmelle) although it be ſuch as you eſtéeme it, yet doe I feare that my Lady your daughter will not make ſo much account thereof, that in recompence of the ſame ſhe will acquite the good knight Amadis and the maſter that I ſerue, of the promiſe they haue made vnto her. I know not that (ſaid the Emperour) but I am well aſſured, that no earthly treaſure can be comparable vnto the valour & vertue of your maſter: neither will I euer giue my conſent that Leonorine ſhall make that exchange, as deſiring the company of Eſplandian, much more than to haue all the treaſures in the world within my coffers: and with good reaſon, for that the wickedeſt perſon liuing on the earth may be rich of gold and ſiluer, but not of vertue, which is not aboundant vnto any but to thoſe that ſéeke it: wherefore if you thinke good, carry your preſents backe againe, for Eſplandian can not be acquited vnto vs but onely by his preſence. My Lord (ſaid Carmelle) I am commaunded to leaue them with the Princes Leonorine, whether it bée vpon that condition or not and if it be your pleaſure (ſéeing ſhe is not come hither with you) I will cauſe it to be carried into her chamber. My daughter ( 〈◊〉 the Emperour) is with her mother the Empreſſe about a mi •• hence •• ake the aire, when ſhe commeth home you may preſent it vnto her, and aſſure your ſelfe ſhe will not refuſe it: not ſo much for the value thereof, as for the good I wiſh to him that ſent it her, as ſhée knoweth full well. Wherewith hée departed out of the ſhippe, and béeing a land walked towardes his palace, not without much talke with his knights & noble men, touching the excellencie of ye tomb. Which the more they ſpake of, the more they eſtéemed it, in ſuch manner, that they all acknowledged neuer in their liues to haue ſéene ſo rich nor ſo ſingular a preſent.

CHAP. XXXVI. How Eſplandian was put into the Cedar cheſt, and with the tombe carried into the Princeſſe Leonorines chamber, and what conference they had togither.

THe Emperour and his company gon as it is ſaid before, Carmelle called Eſplandian, that in the meane time lay in the bottome of the ſhippe, and told him the manner of their procéedings, as alſo the ſpéech the Emperour had with Gandalin and Enil, & all what had happened, as it is before rehearſed. By my ſoule (ſaid Eſplandian) I was neuer in the like paine, for hearing all you ſpeake, only the lady Leonorine, I could not tell what to thinke: but when ye Emperour told you ſhe was not in the citie, beléeue me, it comforted my heart. Did not I play my part well? ſaid Carmelle. That you did, and as well as one could wiſh, (ſaid Eſplandian) and if it be true which is commonly ſaid: That a good beginning makes a good ending, I hope I ſhall not faile to bring my purpoſe to paſſe. And while they deuiſed togither it waxed night, ſo that the Empreſſe returned into the citie which Carmelle vnderſtāding, cauſed Eſplandian preſent •• to lie downe in the Cedar cheſt, in ſuch ſort, that the aire entred therein on all ſides, and couering it with the Azure and Chriſtall ſtones, Gandalin, Enil, and their Squires tooke the tombe, and with the gentlewoman went out of the ſhip and came vnto the palace, where they found the Lady Leonorine (béeing already aduertiſed of the goodly Preſent ſent her by Eſplandian) in great deuotion ſtaying for Carmelle, for it had béene tolde her, that in the euening ſhe would bring it to her lodging: wherefore ſhe had no ſooner eſpied it, but ſhe (with many other ladies and gentlewomen no leſſe curious to behold ye ſame) met her in the hall. With that Carmelle (perceiuing her come) ſtepped forward, and doing reuerence vnto her, ſaid: Madame, ye good knight Eſplandian ſendeth you this Preſent, ye not long ſince he conquered in the rocke of the enchantreſſe, according to ye good fortune & happy deſtiny aboue a hundred yeres paſt predeſtinated of him: which he ſendeth vnto you, expreſly to giue you to vnderſtand the great deſire that daily more & more increaſeth in him to be your faithfull knight. But before you procéed further, it is conuenient you grant me two requeſts: the one, that neither you nor any other ſhall looke into the tombe vntill the morning that I returne againe with the keye to open a Cedar cheſt, that you ſhall find therin: the other, that after you haue opened it you ſhall giue it me, to carry with me to the place, where my father kéepeth his hermitage, therein to bury the bones of Matroco that died a chriſtian, as you haue vnderſtood. Carmelle my friend (ſaid ye princes) that am I content to doe: neuertheleſſe I am much abaſhed why Eſplandian deferreth the time ſo long before he commeth to ſée the Emperour. Madame (ſaid ſhee) I will tell you that to morrow: meane time, I pray you, determin where you will haue our men to ſet downe their charge. In the great hall (ſaid Leonorine) that my gentlewomen may ſée it at their eaſe. In faith madame, you ſhall pardon me (ſaid Carmelle:) this place is too open and ouer common to leaue ſo precious a thing ſtanding therein: I denie not to let them haue the pleaſure to behold it, but hauing ſéene it, for the more ſafetie it ſhall be ſet into your owne chamber, wherof you and none other ſhall haue the keye. With that they that bare the tombe, entered into the hall and ſet it downe till Leonorine and the reſt of the gentlewomen had beheld it long: and if Carmelle had not béene there; aſſure your ſelues it had béene better viſited than it was: but ſhe would not depart from thence till it was ſhut vp. Which done, taking her leaue, as ſhée went out ſhe tooke the Princes aſide, and giuing her the keye of the cheſt wherein Eſplandian lay, ſaid vnto her: Madame, I leaue you in this tombe two ineſtimable treaſures, although their difference be great, as you may will perceiue you being alone: for it is ſure, that vnder this keye lyeth the thing, yt in all the world you moſt deſire to ſée: & without ſtaying Leonorines anſwer, ſhe went out of the chamber, and with Gandalin and his company returned to the ſhip, leauing the princes in a maruellous doubt by reaſon of the words ſhee vſed vnto her: & there with did ſo certainely perſuade her ſelfe, that her friend Eſplandian lay dead within the ſame, that ſhe was conſtrained to cauſe all her gentlewomen to depart the chamber, only quéene Minoreſſe that ſtaied to beare her company: with that ſhe threw her ſelfe on her bed, & almoſt drowned in teares, began to make the greateſt ſorrow in the world. Quéene Minoreſſe abaſhed at ſo ſuddain alteration, knew not what to think, but perceiuing her gréefe to increaſe ſtill more & more, went vnto her and ſaid: Madame, I pray you hide ye cauſe of this ſorrowe from me no longer, for I ſweare vnto you of my faith, if by any means I may reléeue the ſame, I will deale therin as for my ſelfe. Leonorine that neuer ceaſed ſighing, could not anſwer her one word, but with much importance at the laſt anſwered her and ſaid: Alas my good friend, for Gods cauſe let me be in reſt, and let it ſuffice you that you know, that I neuer was ſo deſirous for to liue, as I am at this preſent to die. What Madame? (ſaid the Quéene) will you tell me nothing els? No, (ſaid ſhée.) In good faith then (ſaid the Quéene) you ſhall do me wrong, and I ſhall haue good cauſe to thinke the loue and fauour that in times paſt you haue ſhewen vnto me, to bee altogither fained: whereat I am much gréeued, ſéeing I haue borne ſuch a mind to you, that I would neuer haue failed to hazard not only my honor but my life and ſoule both for your ſake. When the princes heard her ſpeake with ſuch affection, ſhe was ſomwhat better aſſured, and thereupon ſaid vnto her: Séeing you are ſo deſirous to know the cauſe, you ſhall heare it preſently, vpon condition you ſhall promiſe me to be a meanes rather to hinder my daies than any waies to further them, ſéeing I am fully determined to die. You may yet well remember (ſaid ſhe) the firſt time yt Carmelle came hither to bring vs newes of Eſplandian, ſonne to the good knight with the gréen Sword, that had commandement from his father (as ſhe ſaid) to come hither to ſerue vs in his place, according to the promiſe he had made vnto vs being in this court: & Carmelle ſaid, that for that cauſe onely Eſplandian had ſent her vnto Conſtantinople, to giue the Emperour and vs to vnderſtand therof: but there were other matters in the wind, for ſhée came expreſly to intreat me to be good vnto her maſter, who for the great loue and affection he bare vnto me, liued in the greateſt paine that poſſible could be. Whereupon it happened, that being vanquiſhed & ouercome with an infinite number of reaſons that ſhe made vnto me, I confirmed in my heart, that which his renowme had alreadie imprinted in my mind; and there with determined for to wiſh more good to him that to my ſelfe: not that I euer thought to commit any fault that might redound to my diſhonour, but onely for the glory to haue ſo worthy a knight readie at my commandement: whereby this fire did ſo augment in me, that euer ſince I could not thinke on any other thing that vpon Eſplandian, with whoſe loue my mind hath béene to mooued, that his long abſence hath almoſt procured my death: yet the hope I had from day to day to ſée him, hath made me able to ſuſtaine my griefe with ſo great patience, that neither you nor any other, as I thinke, could euer perceiue it in me. But as the Saylor on the ſea being in a tempeſt, thinking at length to arriue at ſome hauen for to ſaue himſelfe, ſuddainly méeteth with a rocke that breaketh his ſhippe in péeces: ſo I (moſt vnfortunate Ladie) hoping by the preſence of him I ſo much deſire to ſée, to be at the end of my great ſorrowe, am now fallen into the gulfe of deſperation, conſidering the ſpéech which Carmelle vſed to me, who ſpeaking ſoftly, ſaied in this manner: Madame I leaue you within this tombe two ineſtimable treaſures: the one is the thing that in all the world you moſt deſire to ſée: which maketh me verily thinke it can be no other thing than the dead bodie of Eſplandian, and that (as it is very likely) hée hath deſired at his death to be brought vnto me to wéepe and lament ouer him, as I meane to doe during the terme of my life: which if it pleaſeth God ſhall not be very long. And ſaying ſo ſhée caſt forth a great ſigh, ſowning in Quéene Minoreſſes armes: who being abaſhed to hear the princeſſe vſe thoſe words ſo far from ye eſtimation ſhe alwaies had conceuied of her, knew not at the • c •• what counſell or comfort to miniſter vnto her: neuertheles conſidering the extremitie ſhee was in, minding to prouide for two accidents that both at one inſtant preſented themſelues, ſhe ranne in all haſt to fetch cold water, which throwing in her face, ſhe reuiued again. Where with the Quéene ſaid vnto her, What Madame, wil you throw the helue after ſhe hatchet? will you bée holden for a foole, and looſe the reputation that is ſpread of you throughout ye world? Where is the conſtancie, the modeſtie, and the wiſdome wherewith you were woont to be adorned? Muſt you for one word (which you miſvnderſtand) forget your ſelfe ſo much? Suppoſe it were true that Eſplandian ſhould be dead, can you call him againe by this tormenting your ſelfe? For Gods ſake be patient, and if the worſt be, you may prooue if it be ſo, and not fall into this kind of fantaſie vpon your owne imaginations: Carmelle hath tolde you that the thing you moſt deſire in all the worlde is incloſed in this tombe: is it therfore to be ſaid Eſplandian ſhould not be aliue? Thinke you he is the firſt man that hath done the like for his beloueds ſake? This I aſſure you, that although I breake ye tombe and all that belongeth to it, I will preſently ſée what may bée in it. Alas couſin (ſaid the Princes) I feare you will ſée it ouer ſoone for me, for if he be dead (as I thinke he is) aſſure your ſelfe I will beare him companie before it be day. I pray you (ſaid the quéene) be not vnhappy before your time, but let me worke the feat: hold then (ſaid Leonorine) here is the keye ye Carmelle left me: which the Quéene tooke in her hand, and entring into the chāber where the tomb ſtood, ſhe lifted vp the chriſtall plate; that done, ſhe ſpake aloud, and aſked if any bodie were within the ſame: Eſplandian (to whom one houre ſéemed a whole yéere) ſtaying for that time, and hearing the Quéene ſpeake, anſwered preſently, and ſaid: I Madame. Who are you? (ſaid Minoreſſe.) Madame, ſaid he, I am the happy or vnhappy knight Eſplandian, yt put my ſelfe into this tombe, ready to receiue either death or life, as it ſhall pleaſe the princes Leonorine to diſpoſe. Are you (ſaid the Quéene) Eſplandian, ſonne to the good knight with the Gréene Sword, that by meſſages hath ſo often times promiſed to come and ſerue vs? I madame (ſaid hée) and that to accompliſh my word, haue cauſed my ſelfe to be brought hether in this manner. If you wil promiſe me (ſaid the Quéene) and ſweare not to paſſe my commandement in that I ſhall appoint you to doe, I will cauſe you both to ſée and ſpeake to her you deſire ſo much to ſerue? That will I promiſe you, (ſaid he) and a greater matter likewiſe, ſo my lady be contēt. It is inough (ſaied the Quéene) wherewith ſhee lifted vp the ſecond plate, and then opened ye cheſt where in he lay, and comming out he vſed great reuerence to the Quéene, but as then he knew her not, till ſhe ſaied vnto him: Sir Knight, it may bee you haue heard of mée before this time, I am Minoreſſe, that to deliuer my Lady and you from the great paine you both indure, hath taken you out of this your priſon: Wherefore I pray you ſtay here a while, till I returne againe. With that ſhe went vnto the Princeſſe Leonorine (that meane time for feare ſhooke like an aſpen leafe:) and with a merry countenance ſaied vnto her: Madame, when wee haue a long and hard Winter, it is commonly ſéene there followeth a pleaſant Summer: and after great ſorow commeth excéeding ioy. You haue be wailed your knight Eſplandian for dead, but neuer in all my life haue I ſéene a dead creature buried that was ſo faire, and of ſo pleaſant countenance, as the dead man I haue found within the tombe: I pray you come and ſée it I be deceaued or not. When the Princeſſe heard the Quéene vſe thoſe words touching Eſplandian, and to laugh withall with ioie, her heart leaped in her body, and riſing out of her bed, without ſpeaking any word, ſhe ranne preſently into the chamber, at the entery whereof, ſhee eſpied him ſhee had ſo much lamented: who preſently knéeled downe to kiſſe her hands. But Leonorine was not as then diſpoſed to vſe ceremonies, but forgetting her accuſtomed modeſtie, and the grauitie required in her ſexe, eſpecially the ſhamefaſtneſſe that commonly is ſéene to be in wiſe and vertuous Ladies, could not ſo much command her owne affections, but caſt her ſelfe into Eſplandians arms, kiſſing him wiih ſo great affection, as if ſhee had ſéene, loued, and knowne him all her life time. And aſſure your ſelfe, if Quéene Minoreſſe had not drawne her backe, and reprooued her lightneſſe, that at that inſtant thoſe two louers had died in the place, for that both their ſpirits had abandoned all their vitall parts to méet together at their mouths, & to imbrace each other, euen to the extremity of their lips, ready to paſſe further. I ſay not but ye Quéene Minoreſſe did thē wrong: and likewiſe, if any man would accuſe Leonorine of folly or inconſtancy, I anſwere him againe that ſhe is moſt eaſily to be excuſed both of the one and the other, for although ſhee had neuer ſéene Eſplandian before that time, & that in reaſon ſhe ſhould haue known him better before ſhe ſhewed her ſelfe ſo priuat vnto him, you muſt ſuppoſe (as it is trew) that loue had of long time before ſo well ingrauen him in her mind, yt ſhe ſeaſed not to ſée him euery day with her inward eies. And as nature had ſtudied to make her moſt perfect in all perfections whatſoeuer, loue had likewiſe taken pleaſure to make her the beſt beloued and ye trueſt louer yt euer was before her time. Wherefore it is not to be maruelled, if at the firſt ſhee ſhewed ſo good a countenance to her friend, conſidring ye pain & great gréefe ſhe had indured ſince ye time Carmelle brought hir news. Theſe two louers being thus before each other (Eſplandiā ſtil knéeling) ſéemed to be ſo rauiſhed ye quéen Minoreſſe could not refrain to ſay to Leonorine: Madame, me thinketh you ſhould doe well to commaund the knight to riſe vp & lead him into your chamber, where you may talk together while ye night indureth, if you think géed: but to let him knéele ſtill on the ground, in good faith it is not wel. My good friend (ſaid Leonorine) he hath fled from vs for almoſt two years together, now I mean to kéep him ſo néer me, yt he ſhall not eaſily eſcape away: with that ſhée tooke him by the hand to lift him vp, but hée would not ſtir but ſaid vnto her: Madame, Gaſtilles not long ſince ſent me word being at Alfarin, that you were much offended with me, I pray you ſhew me the cauſe: for if I euer cōmitted fault againſt you, it hath ben only in louing you with all my heart, as I am bound to do. Neuertheleſſe, if in your aduiſe I ſéem to haue preſumed ouermuch, pardon me I pray you, & giue me what puniſhment you ſhal thinke good. My friend (ſaid ſhe) your abſence hath procured me ſo great cauſe of gréefe, yt I both pray you & command you, from henceforth not to abſent your ſelf from me long again. Madame (ſaid Eſplandian) hauing (with your leaue) made another voiage to my companions, that may thinke ill of me, leauing them in their chéefeſt néed to come hether for my pleaſure: I ſweare vnto you of my faith I will neuer offend you more in ye manner, or any other way whatſoeuer. I am content to graunt you that (ſaied ſhe) ſo you returne as ſoon as poſſible you may: and for the reſt I wil yt from henceforth you loue me in ſuch ſort, that not any other but my ſelf ſhall haue power ouer you, & that you be my knight: Now I pray you ſtand vp, & I will ſhewe you further of my mind. With ye Eſplandian roſe vp, and Leonorine taking him by the right hand, led him into her chamber, where ſhe ſet him a chaire, and ſhée ſat by him, there they began to ſhewe the paines each of them had indured, in what manner their loue did firſt begin, who was the meane thereof, and the end wherevnto they pretended, which was their future marriage. In which diſcourſe, they grew into ſuch alterations, that if quéene Minoreſſe had not béene there as witneſſe to their talke, conſidering the heat they then were in, I thinke not, but in time they would haue eaſily procéeded to a further matter. In that manner the two louers paſſed the night till day began to appeare: which quéene Minoreſſe perceiuing, went to Leonorine and ſaid vnto her: Madame, the ſecreteſt follies are alwaies beſt, it is almoſt day, and it may bee the Empreſſe may ſend ſome one of her women, or come her ſelfe in perſon to viſit you, for that yeſternight very late it was told her you were not wel. I pray you giue this knight leaue to depart, and let vs ſhut him in the cheſt, as wee found him at the firſt. Alas how hard were thoſe wordes vnto Eſplandian, and no leſſe vnto the Princeſſe, who foreſéeing the daunger that might fall out if they were found together, ſaid vnto him: My good friend, this happy night that hath fauoured vs ſo much, ſhall cauſe you if you thinke good, to remember the promiſe you haue made vnto mee: I pray you let mée ſée you againe as ſoone as poſſible you may. And as ſhee ended thoſe words, the quéene yt ſtood as a ſtout watch, heard ſome body come vp ye ſtaires, wherwith being in great fear, ſhe told ye princes Leonorine, which made Eſplandian preſētly go into ye other chamber, & without hauing time to take any longer farewell, laid himſelfe downe into the Ceader cheſt, yet Leonorine could not abſtaine, but muſt of force kiſſe him before hée was ſhut in, and as they had laied the chriſtall plate vpon the tombe, Carmelle knocked at the dore, and with her Gandalin and Enil, and the reſt of the company that the night bafore had brought him thether. With that quéene Minoreſſe opened the do •• and they entering into the chamber, Carmelle ſaw Leonorine that came vnto her, to whome after ſhee had done her reuerence, ſhe ſaied: Madame, I am commanded by him that ſent me vnto you, not to ſtay any longer here, is it not your pleaſure to giue me leaue to depart, and cauſe the cheſt to be deliuered vnto mee, according to your promiſe? Gentlewoman (ſaid the Princeſſe) I haue made you promiſe thereof, and I will kéepe it, although I had rather it ſhould ſtay together as it is, then to ſeperate it a ſunder. Take it when you will, you ſhal find it in ye ſame place where yeſter night you cauſed it to be ſet: with that the Ladies and gentlewomen being aduertiſed of her riſing, came into her chamber, which hindered Leonorine to ſpeak ſo ſecretly with Carmelle as ſhe would haue done, but onely gaue her the key of the cheſt, which ſhe cauſed to be takē out of the tombe: that done, Gandalin and Enil, and the two ſquires, tooke it vp betwéene them and carried it away, Leonorine ſaying to Carmelle: I pray you thanke the knight (in my behalfe) that hath had mee in ſo good remembrance. And find the meanes, if it be poſſible that (according to the promiſe and meſſages hee hath often ſent vnto the Emperour, part where of haue ben done by your ſelfe) he will as ſoone as he can, come he • her to ſée vs. Madame (ſaid ſhe) I will doe it with all my heart, as ſhe that deſireth to pleaſe, ſerue and obay you. Faile not then (ſaid the Princeſſe) and ſo God haue you in his kéeping. That done, Carmelle followed them that carried Eſplandian, leauing Leonorine accompanied both with ioy & ſadneſſe: with ioy, to haue ſéene him that ſhee helde dearer then her ſelfe, and with ſadneſſe, for his ſo ſuddaine departure. But the hope ſhee had of his ſpéedy returne, eaſed her gréefe much. Carmelle hauing brought hir purpoſe to paſſe as you heard before, deſiring not to omit any thing that ſéemed neceſſary to be done: and to auoid all ſuſpition, ſent Gandalin and Enil before vnto ye ſhips, and went vnto the Emperour, whome ſhe found walking in the gallery, who no ſooner perceiued her, but hée aſked if the Preſent that Eſplandian ſent vnto his daughter, were yet in her ſhip. No my lord, (ſaied ſhe) I cauſed it yeſternight to bee carried into her chamber as I promiſed you, and haue left it all with her, onely that which was giuen me for my part. What was that? (ſaide the Emperour.) The Ceader cheſt: (ſaid ſhe) wherein (if it pleaſeth God) I will cauſe the body of Matroco to bee buried, that as yet lieth in my fathers Hermitage. But my lord, becauſe as this morning I determined to ſayle vnto the caſtle La montaigne defendu, to him that ſent mee hether, I pray you giue me leaue to depart. Gentlewoman (ſaid the Emperour) when you were laſt here, I ſent him word by you, what ioy & great pleaſure it would be vnto me for to ſée him here, I pray you once againe ſhewe him what I ſaid: Aſſuring him, that being here, hee ſhall haue of mee all honour and good entertainement we can deuiſe. My lord (ſaid Carmelle) God preſerue your grace and ſend you life: And therewith taking her leaue, ſhe returned into her ſhip, where Eſplandian and his company ſtaied for her.

CHAP. XXXVII. How Eſplandian put to ſea, thinking to arriue at the caſtle La montaigne defendu, and of the great aduentures he found.

ESplandian entered into his ſhippe, and Carmelle being returned as it is ſaied before, they determined not to ſtay longer, fearing to be diſcouered: wherfore they cauſed ankers to be hoiſed, & ſetting ſaile, made towards the caſtle La montaigne defendu, but fortune by a great ſtorme and contrary wind caried them another way, driuing them along the coaſt of Alfarin, where the wind ceaſed, they ſayling almoſt hard by the ſhore, and at the ſame inſtant whē they eſpied among the rockes certaine horſe and footmen fighting together: whereat Eſplandian maruelled, and ſaid vnto Gandalin and Enil: I pray you, ſéeing wée are arriued here at this inſtant, let vs goe ſée from whence the occaſion of their combate procéedeth, and if we may, helpe them that haue the iuſteſt quarrel. Let vs go (ſaid the two knights) wherwith they preſently landed, and mounting on their horſes, commaunded the ſaylers to ſtay for them, and in great haſt ranne vnto the place where the combate was, and approching the ſame, they knewe their companions by the white croſſes they bare vpon their armour, and ſéeing them in danger, and incloſed on all ſides by great number of Turkes, Eſplandian ſpurred his horſe ouer the ſtones, and entered into the preaſe, but not very farre, by reaſon the Turkes kept a ſtrait place, where he muſt paſſe, from whence at the firſt hée was repulſed: Neuertheleſſe in ye end Gandalin and Enil ſeconded him ſo well with the helpe of thoſe that fought on the other ſide, that notwithſtanding the great reſiſtance the Turkes made, they incloſed them on all ſides, and beat them downe: yet ſome of them by the ſwiftneſſe of their horſes ſaued themſelues, whereby the Chriſtians remained victors, not loſing one man. The knights that had beene aided in ye manner, could not imagine which way the other thrée knights came: but when they knew them, neuer were men gladder, praiſing God of his great mercy ſhewed vnto thē. Wherwith Eſplandian aſked them how they came thether: My lord (ſaied Elianle delibere,) I and my companions had ſo much intreated Belleris to lead vs into the country, yt all this night he hath ben our guide: we being iſſued out of Alfarin, thinking to ſurpriſe the towne of Galatia that lieth vpon the ſea ſide not far from hence, and to the ſame end wée ſtaied in ambuſh, but perceiuing our enterpriſe to bée diſcouered, and thinking by little and little to retire, we were incloſed in ſuch maner yt if God had not holpē vs by your means, without doubt wee had all béene ouerthrowne and deſtroied. By the faith of a knight (ſaied Eſplandian) if you had conſidered the countrey where wee are, and that the loſſe of one of our men is greater to vs then a thouſand others, if we were in Chriſtendome, you would not haue hazarded your ſelues ſo much: but what is paſt, cannot bee vndone. And to the end wee ſpéedend worſe, let vs enter into my ſhippe that ſtayeth for mee. My lord Eſplandian (ſaied Belleris) Occaſion is offered now vnto vs, and let him goe that refuſeth it, when time ſerueth. You ſée the ouerthrow of the Turkes, which is ſuch, that I certainely beléeue, there is not one man left within the Towne. Wherefore I am of opinion, that wee ride thether in as ſecret manner as wee may, then if wee ſée occaſion, wee will ſet vpon the gates, and it may bee ſhall enter the Towne without reſiſtance, meane time ſend one of your Squires to certefie your ſaylers, that they ſaile vnto Alfarin, or elſe that they ſtirre not from thence before they heare newes of vs. This counſell liked them well, and they all agréed vnto it: with that Belleris marched on before, Eſplandian and the reſt following after, riding cloſe together vpon a Cauſie, where not farre from thence they eſpied one ſitting vpon a ſharpe rocke moſt hideous to beholde, whereat they ſpurred their horſes thether to ſée what it might bee, where they ſawe a woman ſo olde, impotent, and withered, that her breaſtes hung downe beneath her nauill, apparrelled in a Beares ſkinne, whereon hung her long, white, and knotted haire, where ſhee had liued among thoſe rockes in all tempeſts and ſtormye weathers for the ſpace of ſixeſcore yeares together. By which meanes, her naked bodie ſhewed like the barke of an Elme trée or ſome ancient Oke, whereby not one of them but began to laugh, aſking Belleris if hee had heard of her before. I truly (ſaied he) for ſhee is ſo neare of linage to king Armato, that ſhee was his great Grandfathers ſiſter. And although that in her yong yeares ſhee hath béene indued with all the gifts of nature, yet would ſhee neuer marry, what meanes ſoeuer her friendes could vſe, but gaue her ſelfe continually to ſtudie the Art of Magicke, in ſuch ſort, that none could ſurpaſſe her in the ſame, whereby ſhee hath foreſhowne long time ſince, that before ſhee died, the lande of Turkye ſhould bee ouerthrowne, and brought in ſubiection vnto ſtraungers. And for this cauſe thee hath cauſed this Rocke to bee hewen, wherein ſhe hath made two chambers, where continually ſhe abideth, apparrelled in the ſame manner you now behold her, and as it is commonly reported, ſhe is very neare nineſcore yeares of age, and that you may know her better, it is ſhee that cauſed the gilt pillers with the Tables hanging at them, to bée ſet vp at the aduenturous fountaine, which you my lord Eſplandian (ſaied hee) might peraduenture ſée, when you found the Princeſſe Heliaxe, and ouerthrew her guard in that place. Truly (ſaied Eſplandian) I would gladly know how ſhe paſſeth the time, being ſo ſolitarie as ſhe is. My lord (ſaid Belleris) that could neuer be knowne, yet it is thought, that ſhee hath carried great number of bookes into the caue, wherwith ſhe delighteth her ſelf. I maruell (ſaid Eſplandian) why no man euer aduentured to goe into the rocke? ſo they haue done: (ſaied Belleris) but they returned againe ſo well beaten and cruelly handeled, that at their comming foorth, ſome of them died. Let vs ſpeake vnto her (ſaid Eſplandian) and it may bée ſhee will tell vs no goodneſſe: wherewith they went néerer vnto her, but ſhe preſently roſe vp and fled into her caue, at the entery whereof ſhee ſtayed, ſaying to Eſplandian: Knight, Aboue a hundred years before thou waſt borne, I did foreſhew the deſtruction of this countrey by thy arriuall here, therefore I chuſe rather to lead this miſerable and cruell life, then to fall into thy hands, and liue in miſerable captiuity. With that ſhe went in, and could no more bee ſéene, wherat they all began to laugh, and without longer ſtaying went on their way, wherein they perceiued cōming towards them about ſixty or foureſcore knights, all armed ready to fight: wherevpon doubting them to be enemies, they ſtood ſtil, cauſing Enil and Belleris to ride forwards to know the truth, who croſſing the field, and ſtaying vnder a touffe of corke, they perceiued one of the company to bear a red ancient with a white croſſe, & therwith they knew Frandalo that marched before them, whervpon they returned to their cōpanions? who glad of thoſe news, went to méet thē, & comming in ſight each of other, Frandalo thinking to be ſurpriſed, willed his companions to ſtand cloſe, & ye better to prouoke his enemies to fight, he ſent two or thrée of the beſt horſes in his company to ſkirmiſh with thē, but they perceauing their white croſſes knewe them preſently to be Belleris and his company that they went to ſéeke, which Frandalo knowing, ſpurred his horſe forward, much abaſhed to ſée Eſplandian, whome hée verily thought to be in the caſtle La montaigne defendu: wherewith they embraced ech other, talking of their aduentures paſt.

CHAP. XXXVIII. How Frandalo and his companie of Chriſtian knights, ſurpriſed the towne of Galatie, and of their meſſage ſent vnto the Emperour of Conſtantinople by Gandalin, to craue more aide.

THe Chriſtian knights being met togither, Eſplandian aſked Frandalo wherefore hée rode abroad with ſo great a company: My lord, ſaid he, this morning I was aduertiſed, that Belleris my nephew had iſſued by night out of Alfarin wt certaine knightes, to ſée if they could méet with our enemies, and fearing they ſhould find ſome ambuſh laid for them that would be ſtronger than themſelues, I told my lord Norandel your vncle, by whoſe aduiſe we tooke this way to followe him, but for that neither we nor you haue met with any company to prouoke vs to fight, I pray you let vs returne again the beſt way we can vnto Alfarin: but you my lord ſaid he, what aduenture hath brought you hither in ſo good time to find vs here? What aduenture? (ſaid he) Truly you may well tearme it ſo: for Gandalin, Enil, and I, thinking to ſaile vnto the caſtle La montaigne defendu, fortune by tempeſt of weather, draue our ſhippe ſo néere this coaſt, that wée might plainly behold Belleris and his companie fighting againſt a great number of the enemie, that had driuen them among the rockes: whereupon we landed, and entred ſo farre among the enemies, that in the end the victorie was ours: after that by your nephewes counſell wee were riding towardes Galatie, the which (as he aſſureth vs) will bée eaſily gotten without great reſiſtāce, conſidering the ouerthrow wée haue alreadie giuen them. Truly (ſaid Frandalo) it may well be ſo, and ſéeing fortune moſt commonly aideth all hardy aduenturers, let vs goe forward, and follow me, for I knowe a way whereby I will bring you thither without being diſcouered. Let vs goe (ſaied Eſplandian) and with that they followed Frandalo that went ſoftly before them, till they came vnto a litle hill within a mile of Galatie, from whence they might eaſily perceiue who iſſued or entred the towne: where they beheld great numbers of men as well horſemen as footmen, who being aduertiſed of the ouerthrow of their men, went to ſuccour them, thinking to find the chriſtians in the place where they had fought, but they were behind them: which the two knights (they had ſent out to diſcouer) perceiuing, ranne to aduertiſe Frandalo and his company, who being glad of the newes, went forward in great haſt, and ſuddainly ſet vpon the gates, where ſlaying the watch, they entred and tooke the towne, wherein there were none but impotent and weake people to defend the ſame: which done, they drewe the Bridges, and went vpon the walles to kéepe watch, and to behold the enemies countenance at their returne, when they vnderſtood thereof, which was not long after, for a country man leaping ouer the walles, ranne preſently to aduertiſe them. If they were ſorry it is not to be doubted, for that beſides the loſſe of their goods, they loſt their wiues and children, thinking they ſhould all be ſent priſoners into a ſtrange countrey, whereat they were much gréeued: but one Knight among the reſt béeing a man of ſome ſtomacke, perceiuing their ſorrowe, badde them be of good courage, animating them in ſuch ſort, that they all determined either to looſe their liues or els to winne the towne againe: and therevpon (more mooued with rage than with reaſon) they returned to the towne, and aſſailed it in ſuch furious and indiſcrete manner, that a great part of them loſt their liues in the aſſault, béeing repulſed and driuen away by Frandalo, Eſplandian, Enil, Gandalin, Elian, Tiron, and tenne other of the moſt principall Chriſtian knights: who to encreaſe more feare in the Galatians, iſſued out of the towne and ſlewe a great number of them: but as a Cat that is incloſed and aſſailed (before ſhée beginneth to defend her ſelfe) ſéeketh by all meanes to ſhunne and auoid the furie of the man, and finding her ſelfe out of her hole, and no meanes of ſuccour left her, becommeth ſo furious and bolde, that ſhée beginneth to aſſaile him, from whome ſhée firſt fledde away, and often times doth him miſchiefe: So theſe poore people, ſéeing nothing but preſent death before their eyes, by reaſon of the chaſe that the tenne Chriſtian Knightes made after them, béeing wholly deſperate and out of all hope of obtaining mercie, beganne to take courage againe, and in ſuch ſort, that deſiring to reuenge their liues, they turned their faces towards the enemie with ſuch courage, that hauing ſet vpon the Chriſtians, in the end Frandalo was ſtricken downe, Eſplandian and the reſt béeing encloſed in ſuch manner, that they had all loſt their liues in that place, had they not béene aided of their companions, and night that came vpon them: which was the cauſe they left each other: whereupon the Chriſtians returned into the towne, and the Turkes rode towards Teſifante to the Prince Alphorax, who béeing aduertiſed of their miſfortune, to comfort them, ſpake vnto them and ſaid: My friends, I am not a little ſorrie for your loſſes, wherevnto (if our gods permit vs) I will take ſuch order, and be reuenged in ſuch ſort, that it ſhall be ſpoken of ſo long as the worlde endureth. For I hope not onely to driue theſe théeues out of my countrey, but to goe in perſon to ſpoyle and vtterly deſtroy the cittie of Conſtantinople, with his wicked and accurſed Emperour, and all the Chriſtian Monarchie. Which to bring to paſſe, it is not long ſince I ſent my Ambaſſadours vnto my friends and allies, who haue all giuen mée their promiſe to ayde and ſuccour mée with their forces and powers, whereof ſome are alreadie arriued at Tenedo, where wée (vpon certaine matters touching our countries) are to aſſemble togither: and ſtaying the time till I haue meanes to doe better for you, I will giue order that certaine mony ſhall be giuen you to ſuſtain your wants: For the which the citizens of Galatia thanking him moſt heartily, remaining in Teſifant, where they continually lamented their great loſſes: on the other ſide Eſplandian, Frandalo, and the reſt of the knightes that had gotten the towne, conſidering with themſelues, that it would be impoſſible for them to kéepe & defend ſo many places with ſo fewe men, agréed among them to ſend Gandalin to Conſtantinople vnto the Emperour, to ſhew him what they had of late done to Alphorax, and woon the towne of Galatie, being one of ye moſt famous hauens in all thoſe parts, and for that cauſe beſought him to ſend them. Gaſtilles or ſome other of his captaines, with ſome forces to aid them: otherwiſe they ſhould be conſtrained either to leaue Galatie or els Alfarin, conſidering their ſmall number and the continuall alarmes that the enemies gaue them, and the better to mooue him thereunto, they ſent him the greateſt part of the rich iewels they had conquered in the towne. But they had neither Barke nor Pinnace ready to ſend, wherefore they were conſtrained to take yt wherein Eſplandian came thither: which at that time (as fortune would) lay ſtill at anker ſtaying their pleaſure. Wherewith Eſplandian ſent Sergil to cauſe the ſhip to come thither: which done, & Gandalin ready to imbarke himſelfe, Eſplandian tooke him aſide, & ſaid vnto him: Friend Gandalin, you haue alwaies béene faithfull & truſtie to my father, which giueth me cauſe to diſcloſe my ſecret vnto you before all others. When you come to Conſtantinople (ſaid hee) you ſhall ſée the Lady Leonorine, to whome you ſhall preſent my moſt humble commendations, ſhewing her, that I will not faile very ſhortly to accompliſh my promiſe and her cō mandement, and withall you ſhall preſent her the two ſlaues that were giuen me, which I ſend to wait vpon her, that by their preſence ſhe may haue me in remembrance: and knowing you are not to learne how to vſe your ſpéeches in ſuch caſes, I pray you Gandalin let me find in you that which I expect. My Lord (ſaid he) God giue me grace to doe you ſeruice. Then fare you well (ſaid Eſplandian.) With that Gandalin with all his charge entred into the ſhip, and hauing ſet ſaile, had a good wind, that in ſhort time after he arriued in Conſtantinople: where being landed, he cauſed two ſquires to beare the preſents he had brought; and entring into the palace, he found the Emperor talking with diuers of his Noble men: the Emperor perceiuing him, went to imbrace him, aſking him where he had left the good knight Eſplandian, and whether he meant not ſhortly to come and ſée him. My Lord, ſaid Gandalin, he commendeth himſelfe moſt humbly vnto your Grace, and hath ſent you word by me, that not aboue fiftéen daies paſt, hée, Frandalo, and others of our companie haue taken the towne of Galatie. Galatie? (ſaid the Emperor) By ye faith I beare to God, that is good newes: for as I haue béen informed heretofore, it is one of the richeſt townes in all Turkie, but I know not well how they can kéepe it. Full well my lord (ſaid Gandalin) ſo it be your pleaſure to ſend them ſome aid: otherwiſe they ſhall bee conſtrained in the end, either to abandon that to kéepe Alfarin, or Alfarin for that: which would bée a ſhame for them, and great dommage both to your Grace and all Chriſtendome. Haue they found great riches therein (ſaid the Emperor) or haue they loſt any quantity of their men? My lord (ſaid Gandalin) ſome of the enemies were ſlaine in the taking thereof: and with that he began to ſhew him the maner how it was done, and cauſing the caſes wherein the preſents were, to be opened, amōg other things he ſhewed him the images of Nabuchodonoſot king of Aſſiria, of Alexander the great, and that which he moſt eſtéemed, the true and liuely repreſentation of Hector of Troy, armed at all points, as he was when he fought againſt the Grecians: and ſurely the Emperour had reaſon to make ſo much account thereof, for that Agamemnon was content to receiue it for his part, as being eſtéemed to be the richeſt iewell in all the citty of Troy, for that Hector himſelfe had cauſed it purpoſely to bée made while the Grecians lay before the citie, by one of the cunningeſt workemen that could be found, and ſet it vpon the chiefe gate of the palace of Ilion, which long time after fell into the hands of the kings of Turkie, that had erected it in the market place of Galatie, placing it vpon a high marble pillar, which Gandalin ſhewed vnto the Emperour, as he hard reported in the country: wherewith the Emperour was ſo well pleaſed, that hée could not refraine to ſay: In good truth I ſhould not be better pleaſed with the taking of the Citty of Teſifante, then I am at this time with this goodly Preſent, and I pray you tell ye knights that ſent it, yt I thanke them for it with al my heart. My lord (ſaid Gandalin) ſo they did thinke it would bée more acceptable vnto your grace thē all the veſſels of gold and ſiluer yt they found within the Towne, part whereof they haue likewiſe ſent vnto you, that are in this other caſe, which hée preſently cauſed to bée opened, and after they had peruſed them, Gandalin cauſed the two ſlaues that Eſplandian ſent, to come néerer, preſenting them to the Princeſſe Leonorine, ſaying vnto her: Madame, the good knight Eſplandian not knowing what greater Preſent to offer you (next vnto himſelfe) then theſe two yong maids, hée ſendeth them vnto you as your ſlaues, to the end euery man may know, that as you are the goodlieſt lady that euer nature framed, ſo is there not any creature liuing on the earth, that better deſerueth to commaund ſuch as command others, then your ſelfe: wherefore if you ſhew him the courteſie to accept them at his hands, hee will eſtéeme it for one of the greateſt fauours that euer hee receaued. Leonorine that knew as well how to diſſemble her affections as any womā liuing on the earth: And deſiring to haue the ſame opinion, that alwaies had run of her, to continue ſtill, with a diſſembled kinde of anger, anſwered Gandalin and ſaid: Sir knight, it ſéemeth by your words, that Eſplandian is diſpoſed to mock me, and that you eſtéeme me to be a woman of light credite, could you of your faith thinke me ſo very a child, that I ſhould not well perceaue, (that if Eſplandian were ſo much at my commaundement as you ſay) hee would not haue deferred the time ſo long to come hether vnto vs, were it only but to acquite the promiſe king Amadis his Father made vs aboue ſixe or ſeuen yeares paſt. But I knowe his mind full well, hée meanes to content vs with wordes, and many meſſages that from time to time hée ſendeth, together with an infinite number of excuſes, but all to no purpoſe, wherof while I liue I will not accept one of them for his diſcharge: let him therefore come himſelfe, and then it may bee I will beléeue that to bée in him, I haue ſo oftentimes heard reported. When the Emperour heard her ſpeake in that ſort, hee ſhowed by his countenaunce that hée tooke great pleaſure at his doughters choler, and ſaied vnto her: My ſwéet friend, what wil Gandalin ſay to ſée you ſo vncourteous towards him, that honoureth you ſo much: I pray you ſwéet heart moderate your colour, and take that hée ſendeth, for if you refuſe it, hée ſhall haue great occaſion to diſlike thereof: And you ſée that for your ſake hee dooth ſo many valiant acts, that the good knight with the Gréene ſword could neuer doe the like. My lord (ſaied ſhee) I beléeue for valour hée is not inferiour vnto his father, but for courteſie his father ſurpaſſeth him. In faith Madame (ſaied Gandalin) if you knew him as well as I doe, it may bée you would commend him more then now you blaſpheame him, ſéeing that if hee hath deferred the time to come hether, it is onely becauſe hee thinketh hée hath not as yet done ſufficient in armes, whereby hee ſhould deſerue one ſparke of fauour at your handes, conſidering your eſtate and the ſmall valour that is in him, although at this day hée is eſtéemed the beſt knight that euer bare armes for theſe hundred yeares. Neuertheleſſe, ſéeing you accuſe him of that, that ought moſt to excuſe him, I promiſe you of mine honor, leauing all thinges apart, preſently vpon my retourne hee ſhall come hether vnto you, to doe whatſoeuer it ſhall pleaſe you to commaund him. Gandalin (ſaied the Princeſſe Leonorine) thinke not (whatſoeuer I ſay) that I either take pleaſure or diſpleaſure at his preſence or his abſence, but onely as my Father dooth, and I for his ſake, knowing the great loue and affection hée hath alwayes born to King Amadis his Father, and continueth the ſame to his ſonne. But hereof am I well aſſured, that hée cannot ſo excuſe himſelfe, or make vs thinke other, then that herein hée hath done vs wrong. Neuertheleſſe, ſéeing it is the Emperours pleaſure, I will kéepe the Preſent hée hath ſent mée, vppon the promiſe and aſſurance you haue made of his comming hether as ſoone as you ſhall bee arriued at Galatia. Truely Leonorine played her part, very cunningly herein: for hardly would it haue béen thought or once imagined, that Eſplandian and ſhee had ſo faithfully giuen their handes and harts as they had done in the preſence of quéene Minoreſſe, as you heard before, and Gandalin for his part knew not what to think, although he had borne Eſplandian in the tombe, and ſet him in hir chamber as you likewiſe heard. Then the Emperour aſked him how long hée meant to ſtay. My lord (ſaid Gandalin) as little as I may, for it were not fit for me to line at reſt, while my cōpanions are in armes: Wherefore I moſt humbly beſéech your grace to giue mée my diſpatch as ſoone as poſſible you can. Gandalin, (ſaied the Emperour) I will preſently ſend for my admirall, & wil cauſe men in al haſt to be prepared, that within ſixe or ſeuen daies they ſhall bée ready to depart. With that hee went into the Garden to recreate himſelfe, and the Ladies with him: where when Gandalin perceiued Leonorine in an herbor of Mirtle trées, walking penſiuely alone, hee went vnto her and ſaied: Madame, my lord Eſplandian commanded mee to certefie your grace, that ſince the time hee departed from you, and that he receiued ſo great fauour at your handes, his heart (that wholly is yours) hath ſo longed after you, that hee hath thought to die a thouſand times with gréefe, for the loſſe of your preſence. And to ſay the truth, I haue knowne many men troubled with the paſſions of loue: but I certainely beléeue there was neuer his like, nor that more wiſely could diſſemble it, which maketh mee greatly to doubt his perſon. For that it is impoſſible, conſidering the gréefe hee ſtill indureth, together with the ſmall comfort hee receiueth of his familiar friends, (not knowing his diſeaſe) but that hee muſt in ſhort time end his daies: whereby great dommage ſhould then ariſe vnto all Chriſtendome, conſidering the ſtraunge beginning of Knighthoode and great Proweſſe that is in him: which is ſuch, as that if hee continue as hee hath begun, he will bring that order in greater eſtimation then euer it hath béene before: wherefore Madame, ſéeing I haue alwaies (as it may bee you are alreadie aduertiſed) beene a ſeruaunt to his father, and that I am acquainted with the nature of his ſonne, and the daunger wherein hee is like to fall into, if you ſhewe him not ſome fauour, I haue preſumed to ſhewe your Ladyſhip the hard caſe wherein he was when I left him, as alſo that hee hath expreſſely commaunded mee to aſure you, that his only intent and deſire is to be in your preſence. Yet perceiuing the danger wherin his companions do remain, he knoweth not what excuſe to make, whereby he might take occaſion for to leaue them: wherfore he be ſéecheth you to impute his long abſence vnto fortune, and not to him that is born only to loue, ſerue, and obay you. In vttering whereof Gandalin ſhewed ſo ſorrowfull a countenance, that hee made Leonorine ready to wéepe, In which kind of office hee had ſo well ben exerciſed from his youth, that no man could ſurpaſſe him in the ſame. Friend Gandalin (ſaid ye princeſſe Leonorine) I know not what you mean I ſhould do for him more then already I haue done, nor yet for what cauſe you ſhould imagine that I ſéeke to be the means of his death: ſéeing that if he were but ſick, I know my ſelfe ſo féeble and impatient, that with gréefe & ſorow I ſhould not be able to liue one hour after. Let it therfore be far from you, once to thinke that I would euer be any other mans then only his: and think it not ſtrange, if in the Emperors preſence, or before the world, I diſſemble as I do, for I would not in any caſe, that the leaſt inckling of the burning loue wherein my heart continually flameth towards him, ſhould as yet bee once perceiued, chéefly for the great good I wiſh vnto him. Madame (ſaid Gandalin) I am well aſſured hee will receiue an extream pleaſure to hear theſe newes, and yt he wil leaue all things to come hether, if you thinke it good. That is my deſire (ſaid ſhe) and I pray him ſo to do, and you to perſuade him therevnto. While they were deuiſing, Tartarie the admiral (ſo called of the place of his birth) entred into ye garden: being a man iſſued of a mean houſe, but aduanced vnto great authority by his great wit & valiant courage, ſo that he commanded ouer all ye Grecian ſeas. The Emperor and hée talked long time touching Gandalins meſſage, concerning aid to bee ſent vnto Galatia, and in the end he willed in all haſt to prepare thirty gallies & Foiſtes, with two thouſand of the beſt ſouldiers he could find to man the ſame. The admirall Tartary according to his charge, executed his commiſſion in ſuch ſort, that within ſixe daies after he was ready with his nauie to ſet ſaile, and depart from thence.

CHAP. XXXIX. How Vrganda arriued at Galatia, and of the danger wherein ſhee was by the ſubtletie of Melie the Enchauntreſſe.

THe admirall Tartarie and Gandalin hauing taken their leaues of the Emperor, ſet ſaile, and paſſed the ſtraights of Conſtantinople, and without any aduentures, arriued at Galatia within one wéek after their departure: if they were wel receiued by the Chriſtian knights, it is not to be doubted, for their number was ſo ſmall and ſo diſperſed, that they were in doubt to bee able to kéepe that Towne, with Alfarin, and the caſtle La montaigne defendu. But when they ſaw ſuch aid, they were in better hope, and hauing receaued the admirall, they deuided their two thouſand men, as néed required. Mean time Eſplandian had no ſmall deſire to know of Gandalin if he had ſpoken with the Princeſſe Leonorine, & how ſhe did: for the which cauſe being in his chamber, hée ſent for him. Where talking together, Gandalin ſhewed him from point to point what ſpéeches had paſſed betwéene the Princeſſe and him, not only before the Emperour, but alſo in the garden. And of my faith ſir (ſaied hée) you do her wrong, conſidering the good meanes you haue both to ſatiſfie her and your ſelf: for what excuſe ſoeuer you can make, you are not ſo ſore charged on this ſide, that you may not ſpare ſome time to goe and ſée her, which ſhee craueth at your hands. That I wil doe (ſaied Eſplandian) but I muſt find the meanes; take you care for yt (ſaid Gandalin) and let me go ſléepe, for I neuer had more néed: Goe (ſaid Eſplandian) & be here again betimes in the morning. Wherewith Gandalin tooke his leaue, leauing Eſplandian alone in great care how hee might find ſome conuenient excuſe to leaue his companions in ye extreamity, but God prouided for him: for ye ſame night about an hour before day as he began to ſlumber, he heard a moſt pleaſant ſound of muſick, which you muſt vnderſtand, came out of the great ſerpent yt hee left in the caſtle La montaigne defendu, which at ye time was arriued before the town of Galatia, but little did he thinke of any ſuch thing, or yt Vrganda had ben therein, becauſe he thought her to bée in great Brittaine. This mellody continued for the ſpace of half an houre and more, which done, he heard ſuch a noiſe of trumpets Clarigals, Phifes, and Tabers, yt ſounded ſo high, yt the ſentinels of the town thought verily the enemies nauy had ben arriued before the ſame to lay ſiege vnto it: wherevpon they cauſed an alarum in the town, each man running to the wals, being all of that mind till day, when they might be hold the great ſerpent (wherein Vrganda was) all hung with long pennons and ſtreamers: wherat Eſplandian was ſo glad, that going downe vnto the Hauen, hee preſently entered into a boat with Talanque, Manely, and diuerſe other of the principall captaines to ſée who might bee there. And rowing néere vnto it, they knew Vrganda that ſtaied for them on the hatches, & ſtretching forth her armes, ſpake vnto them & ſaid: My good friends, you are moſt hartily welcome, I pray you come vp into my ſhip, yt I may imbrace you. With that Eſplandian entered, and as he meant to ſalute Vrganda, ſhe knéeled on the ground to kiſſe his féet, whereat he being aſhamed tooke her vp, and ſaied vnto her: Madame, I neuer thought you would haue takē pleaſure to mock with me, ſéeing I account my ſelf much more bound to you then to any creature liuing in the world. And therfore for Gods cauſe, if at any time I chaunce to offend you, puniſh mee I pray you in ſome ſort or other. Moſt happy Knight, (ſayed ſhée) The aide I hope for at your hands before manie dayes ſhall paſſe, mooued mée to doe as I haue done, wherefore I beſéech you take it in good part. And with that ſhee embraced him, and after him, Talanque, Manely, and all the reſt, euery man doing her great honour, deſiring her to ſhewe them the cauſe of her ſo ſuddaine comming thether. My good friends (ſaied ſhee) you ſhal know it at ſome other time when better laiſure ſerueth: mean while I am to tell you that it is neceſſary for you ſhortly to go vnto the city of Conſtantinople, where you ſhall enter all armed & apparelled in ye ſame armor I haue brought hither for you, and thus muſt I tell you, that if you ſhould deferre it till another time, it would be preiudiciall to you all. Wherfore I counſel you to do it vpon the firſt day of the next wéeke, aſſuring you to be as well receiued of the Emperor, as euer were any knights, which your eaſe and pleaſure in his company, ſhall continue vntil ye rolling whéele of Fortune turning about, ſhall bring with it manie trauels, paſſions, and aduentures, which ſhal cauſe many gréefes and ſorrowes both to you and others. And the better to make you beléeue that all I ſay is true, I tell you that I my ſelfe ſhall fall into two of the greateſt dangers of my life that euer I had, whether it bee here or in another place I knowe not. And which is worſe, I cannot by any means auoid the ſame, not knowing any cauſe how nor wherefore it ſhould be ſo, although it be in a manner ready to fall vpon mee. Madame (ſaied Eſplandian) before you ſhall receiue any hurt in our preſence, wee will all loſe our liues to ſuccour you. My good child (ſaid ſhe) mans deſtiny of force muſt bee accompliſhed. But I pray you let vs enter into ſome other talke, for this maketh mee melancholy. Madame (ſaied Manely) Is it not your pleaſure to goe into the Towne? I (ſaied ſhe) and I pray you ſend for Norandel, who at this preſent I knowe is at Alfarin, and I wil giue you as great cauſe to reioice as euer you had: for that within my ſhippe I haue brought the king of Denmarke, wounded in a combate that hee fought againſt Garlante Lord of the Iſle of Calafre, that by force would haue taken two Gentlewomen from him. And although Garlante bee eſtéemed a hardy and valiant knight, yet did the king bring him in ſuch caſe, that vnleſſe hee had craued mercy, the king would haue ſtricken of his head: which he ſpared vpon condition, that during his life hee ſhould neuer after iniury any knight, which Garlante ſware and vowed in my preſence, for that by chance arriuing there, during their combate, I heard what paſſed betwéene tham. And becauſe I perceiued the King to bee in danger of his perſon by reaſon of ye great number of wounds he had vpon his body, I would not leaue him, but cauſed him to enter into my ſhippe, and layed him in the beſt bed, where now hée is almoſt healed. Ha (ſaied Eſplandian,) What good newes are theſe, of my faith I thought verily he had ben dead: wherefore madame, I pray you for Gods cauſe let mée craue the means to ſée him: with ye Vrganda led him where he lay, but when they ſaw each other, Eſplandian could not refraine wéeping, with the great pleaſure hée took to ſée the king. Neuertheleſſe, for yt time they had no great ſpéech together, neither would Vrganda permit them to do it, doubting leaſt the king (being yet but weake and féeble) might therby bée hindered of his health. Wherefore ſhe cauſed Eſplandian to go forth, and entring with her into ye boat, they rowed to the ſhoare, from whence they led Vrganda to the beſt lodging in the town, with as much honor as they could haue done to the Quéenes Briſenne or Oriane, if any of thē had ben there in preſence. The next day Eſplandian pitying the great number of women & little children yt had ben kept within the town from the time yt it was takē, ſaid to his companions, that it would be better to giue them leaue to depart from thence, then to hold them ſtil, for ye the longer they continued in ye town, the more charge they put them to: & to kéep them priſoners (ſaied he) or in longer ſeruitude, God may poſſible be offended with vs. Wherfore if you wil beléeue me, vſing rather mercy then rigour towards them, I am of opinion yt we ſend them al to Teſifant to the Princeſſe Heliaxe, who wil thank vs for it, & ſo ſhal we be ri • of ſo much charge. To this al the knights agréed, & Carmelle was appointed to execute the meſſage, & he yt had ſéen the great number of people yt were about her, eſpecially women, wéeping moſt bitterly to behold themſelues baniſhed & driuen from their own houſes, ſurely he could not chuſe vnleſſe he were hard harted, but haue pittied their eſtate. But let them goe, & let vs heare what danger fell vnto Vrganda the next day after, who being welcome to the knights, took great pleaſure to hear them ſhew of the aduentures they had found in the Turkiſh countrey, ſince the taking of Alfarin. And each man after the other diſcourſing what they knewe, Eſplandian remembred the old woman they had ſéene among the rocks, where ſhe continued, wherat he could not chuſe but ſmile, which Vrganda eſpying, aſked him the cauſe. Madame (ſaid hée) I thought vpon the beauty of a yoong maid, yt I & ſome of our company chanced to ſée not far hence, being the beſt furniſhed of all things for to beautifie her yt might be found, & ye better to deſcribe her vnto you, I can aſſure you (vpon Belleris word) yt it is at the leaſt eight or nine ſcore years ſince ſhe firſt could go & ſpeake, yet hath ſhe ſo freſh & gallant a colour, yt to behold her well, I cannot compare her better then vnto the bark of thoſe great Elmes wée commonly find along the high wayes as wée ride in great Brittaigne, her hair is as white as ſnow, and for want of combing all knotted together, which ſetteth her out ſo wel, yt to behold it ſpred abroad vpon a beares ſkin (which ſhe weareth for a gown,) there is not any man liuing yt would not bée ſurpriſed with a ſodain and vehement loue, in ye beholding of her Vrganda yt had heard of her before, & aboue all things was much deſirous to ſée her, becauſe of her great ſkill, ſaied vnto Eſplandian: In good faith I knowe her better then you think I do, & am wel aſſured, yt in her yong years ſhe hath ben one of the goodlieſt ladies yt euer you ſaw. For ſhée is both doughter, ſiſter, & aunt vnto a king & is called Melie, who for to learn ye perfect art & ſcience of Nigromancy, hath ſo much contemned the world, yt for her inheritance ſhée hath choſen a rocke, wherein ſhe hath cauſed a caue to bee digged, where ſhée now remaineth & liueth in great miſery, & I ſwear vnto you of my faith, yt it is aboue twenty yeares & more ſince I determined to come & ſée her, but other affaires yt touched me néerer, haue ſtill hindered my deſire. Madame (ſaied Eſplandian) ſéeing you are ſo néere, you may do it now, & all we wil be your guides. I pray you let it be ſo (ſaid ſhe) & let vs go as ſoon as we haue dined: which done, and the tables vncouered, euery man made preparation to goe with Vrganda to behold yt ſight: but Eſplandian would haue but thréeſcore with him, who being wel horſed & armed at al poinis, iſſued out of Galatia, Vrganda on her palfrey, riding among thē, Belleris was their guide, & when they came néer vnto the caue where they had found Melie, they eſpied her ſet croſſe-legged vpon the point of a rock, with that Vrganda praied them to ſtay, that ſhe alone might ſpeake ſecretly vnto her, which the knights agréed vnto. Wherwith ſhe rode forward, & being néere vnto her, ſhe ſaid: Madame, I pray you bee not offended that I come to ſée you, and offer you my ſeruice. Who are you? (ſaid ſhee) I am (ſaied ſhée) Vrganda la diſcogneue, yt haue alwayes had a great deſire to ſée you. Ha Vrganda, the wiſeſt lady among all others (ſaid Melie) your cōming hether pleaſeth mée right well, light downe I pray you, that you and I may talke of ſuch thinges as wée haue taken great paines to learne and vnderſtand: for although you haue béene the onely occaſion of the Chriſtians arriuall here, whereby our poor country indureth ſo much woe, yet I cannot but excuſe you, knowing the faith & duty you are bound to ſhew to your religion. Wherefore I pray you come néer, and ſit downe by mée. Vrganda perceiuing her to bée ſo old & féeble, did as ſhee required, hoping by force to ſtay her there whether ſhe would or no, till her company were come thether, minding to giue her vnto them to bring her to Galatia, but ſhee met with as crafty a mate as her ſelfe, for the olde woman perceauing Vrganda to bée néere her, went to the mouth of her caue, and ſaid vnto her: Vrganda, It would gréeue me that theſe Knights ſhould heare our talke, wherefore let vs goe in. Whereat Vrganda made no difficulty, thinking verily, that if ſhe might once lay hands on her, ſhee would vſe her at her pleaſure: wherewith ſhée followed her, but ſhee was no ſooner entered, but Melie ſtepped to hir and held hir ſo ſtraight by ye throat, yt ſhée had no means to cal Eſplandian or any of the reſt to help her. But they fearing the worſt, ran in all haſt vnto the caue, and the firſt that entred was Talanque, & after him Manely, and they had no ſooner ſtepped in, but they fell down as if they had béene dead, & their fall was ſo great, that Eſplandian that followed them heard it, but hée had a remedye about him againſt all ſuch aduentures, and that was his good ſword, againſt the which no inchauntment whatſoeuer could ought auaile, which he firſt found to bée true when hée entred into Arcabonnes chamber: he perceauing his two companions in ſuch caſe, being much gréeued thereat, willingly would haue reléeued thē, but yt he ſpied Melie holding Vrganda vnder hir knée, ſéeking by all means to ſtrangle her: which cauſed him firſt to ſuccour hir, threatning Melie if yt ſhe did hir hurt, ſhe ſhold déerly buy it, but for all his threatnings ſhee ceaſed not to vſe all the meanes ſhée could for to deſtroy her, vntill Eſplandian went neare vnto her, and with his ſworde thought to cleaue her head. wherwith ſhe began to flie, thinking to be ſafe within the chamber where ſhe wrought her charmes, but as ſhe ſtepped vpon the threſhold of the dore, Eſplandian caught her by the Beares ſkin, and whether ſhe would or not, held her ſo faſt, that ſhee could goe no further. And as hee lifted vp his arme to kill her, hee remembred that hee ſhould doe wrong, thinking it not conuenient for a Knight to defile his hands in the blood of a ſimple woman, not able to reſiſt: and ſurely yt thought of his, moderated his colour in ſuch ſort, that he purpoſed not to do it, minding only to draw her out of the vaut: wherewith hee tooke her by the haire, and pulled her with all his force. With that hee eſpied a great old Ape, with two eies burning like flaming fire, that lept vpon him for to tear his fleſh, but hee gaue him ſuch a blow with his fiſt betwéene the eies, that he ſtrooke him dead. And paſſing forward, brought Melie out of her caue, and leauing her in Frandalos kéeping, went in againe to ſée if Vrganda were aliue, where hee found her in ſuch pain, that it ſéemed the ſoule would depart out of her body, wherat he had ſo great pittie, that he tooke her in his armes, and ſet hir in the aire, the like hee did to Talanque and Manely, who within one quarter of an hour after, could not call to mind what had happened vnto thē, but were as whole and as wel as euer they were before. Wherefore they mounted on their horſes, taking Melie with them that ſat vpon Sergils horſe, and he behind her, holding her in his armes, leaſt ſhe ſhould eſcape. And God knowes with what ioy Vrganda ſhewed them what feare ſhe had ben in, which as ſhe ſaid was ſuch, that ſhe thought verily to die. But (ſaid ſhée) euen as one naile driueth out another, ſo the ioy I haue of my deliuery, maketh mee in a manner to forget the paine wherein I was. And with that they entered into the Towne, being almoſt night.

CHAP. XL. How Carmelle arriued at Teſiſante, and ſpake with Heliaxe, and of the maruellous combat which Eſplandian, Frandalo, Gandalin, and Enil fought againſt three Gyants and twelue Turkiſh knights.

CArmelle trauelled ſo long with the women and children of Galatia, that they arriued at Teſifant, where they found both their fathers and huſbands as many of them as had ſaued themſelues, as it is ſaid before. Eſtéeme I pray you what gréefe they had to thinke vpon their exile, and loſſe of all their goods: Surely there is no heart ſo hard, but would haue wept with gréefe to behold great numbers of men and women, with diuers litle children about them, and not hauing any meanes to giue them bread or drinke. Whereof the Prince Alphorax hauing newes, & hearing of their ſorow, could not refraine to ſay in preſence of them all. Ah immortall gods, it muſt néeds be, that either for ſome great ſinne of me or mine, this cruell warre is mooued in my countrey: O gods immortall, let your wrathes appeaſe, and of your infinite goodnes let it rather pleaſe you that all the miſchiefe which you ſend vpon thoſe impotent people fall only vpon mée that alone haue mooued your indignations: if not, then I beſéech you giue me grace, that to your glory I may driue theſe curſed Chriſtians (enemies of your holy lawes) out of my countrey, ſwearing vnto you, that if you vouchſafe your aides, I will make ſo great a ſlaughter of them, that thereby your wrathes ſhall bée appeaſed, if it be ſo that the ſmall indeauour I haue hither to vſed to driue them hence be the occaſion of your anger towards me. Then hée aſked them how they got away. My Lord (ſaid hée that brought him newes) a faire gentle woman named Carmelle (as I heare ſay) hath brought them hither, and deſireth to ſpeake with you and the princeſſe Heliaxe. Ladie (ſaid Alphorax to his wife, doe you know her? I my lord (ſaid Heliaxe) for ſhe bare me company all that day that I fell into Frandalos hands, being very ready to do me all the pleaſure and ſeruice that ſhee could deuiſe: wherefore my lord, I pray you let her haue that honour and entertainement ſhe deſerueth. Lady (ſaid Alphorax) I am wel content therewith. With that ſome of them ran to fetch Carmelle, who being come in preſence of Alphorax, went preſently vnto the Princeſſe Heliaxe, and without ſalutation, ſaid vnto her: madame, you know the lord and maiſter that I ſerue, who only hath aucthority ouer me, think it not therefore ſtrange, if in any ſort I haue not humbled my ſelfe before the prince Alphorax or to you: And to the end Madame, that you ſhould knowe the cauſe of my arriuall here, I thinke the taking of Galatia is not vnknowne vnto you, whereof at this preſent the Chriſtians are Lords and maiſters, hauing conquered it from you by force, not finding any Garriſon therein, but a number of women and little children: which my lord Eſplandian & his company ſend vnto your grace, committing them vnto your good diſcretion. Aſſuring you (their Religion onely excepted) they are ready to doe you any ſeruice that they may. Carmelle (ſaied the Princeſſe) this is not the firſt fauour they haue ſhewed vnto me, I am of long time ſo much beholding to them, that bee it in their aduerſities or their proſperities, I will neuer bee vnmindfull of the ſame. Neuertheleſſe, I am aſſured, that at this day I haue not, neither yet ſhall euer haue the meanes to doe it, (as I thinke) vnleſſe that variable fortune turne her rouling whéele, and abaſe them as much as now they are aduaunced, then (if it ſo fall out) they ſhall full well perceaue, howe much I eſtéeme their vertues and fauours they haue ſhowne vnto mee. Carmelle (ſaied Alphorax) haue they willed you to deliuer no meſſage vnto mee? No my lord (ſaied ſhee) but I tell you plaine, they are determined verye ſhortly to come and viſite you, in ſuch manner, as will not greatly like you. By all my gods (ſaied Alphorax) I will eaſe them of that burthen, if they make not the more haſt. For I haue ſo many men preparing, that I meane to goe in perſon to Conſtantinople to deſtroye the wicked Emperour and all the Chriſtians. Then ſhall my wife haue meanes (if ſhee thinke good) to acknowledge the fauours towards them, which they haue ſhowen vnto her, as ſhee ſayeth. My lorde (ſaid Carmelle) Mens enterpriſes doe oftentimes fall out contrarie to their expectations, and God that is in Heauen aboue, commaundeth and diſpoſeth of all thinges as it pleaſeth him, and not as wee would haue it. Nowe Madame (ſayed ſhee to Heliaxe) I haue done the commaundement of thoſe that ſent mee hether, wherefore I beſéech you let mee be ſafely conducted to the place from whence I came. My lord (ſaid the princeſſe to Alphorax) I pray you ſhewe her ſo much fauour, for it would gréeue mée much that ſhée ſhould receaue the leaſt iniurie in the world, which hee graunted vnto her: and withall Heliaxe gaue her for her paines one of the richeſt gownes ſhee had. Wherewith ſhee cauſed her to bee conducted by twenty knights vnto the Towne of Galatia: where being arriued, ſhee ſhewed them what ſhee had done, as alſo what ſpéeches the Prince Alphorax vſed vnto her, which Vrganda marked well, ſaying vnto the Knights: In faith my good friendes, as touching Alphorax high woordes, they are the fruites of his nature, being altogether prowd and arrogant: Neuertheleſſe, I can aſſure you, that fortune promiſeth him great matters. And becauſe it will not bee long before they doe happen, I will nowe vſe no wordes of them: Praying ſome of you to ſhewe mee ſo much fauour to retourne againe vnto Melies caue, to fetch her Bookes that wée left behind vs. Which being in my poſſeſſion, it may bee they will ſerue hereafter to doe both you and manie others pleaſure. Eſplandian hearing Vrganda ſpeake with ſuch affection, and knowing the deſire ſhee had to haue the bookes, anſwered her and ſaied: Madame, before I ſléepe I will ſée if I can fulfill your pleaſure. And without longer ſtaying, hee deſired Enil, Frandalo, and Gandalin, to beare him company: who preſently armed themſelues, and being on horſebacke without any other companye then their owne Squires, iſſued out of the Towne, leauing Vrganda with Norandel, that was newly come from the city of Alfarin. The four knights rode ſo long till they came vnto Melies rocke, where not far from thence they found thrée giants and twelue knights, that with a loud voice ſtood at the mouth of the caue calling Melie, for the ſhepheards kéeping ſhéepe in the fields (hauing ſéene her led vnto Galatia) ranne to tell them newes: and to know the truth they were expreſſely come thither. Eſplandian and his company knew them well to be their enemies, wherfore they determined to giue them battaile although their number was far greater: wherfore being couered with their • hields, and their ſwords readie in their hands, they entred among them, Eſplandian met the firſt giant, Frandalo the ſecond, and Gandalin and Enil the third: and Eſplandian gaue his giant ſo great a blow, that therewith he made him take ſo great a leape, that both maſter and horſe lay vpon the ground not once remoouing han • or foot. But it fell out otherwiſe with the reſt, for they hauing broken their ſpeares vpon Frandalo, Gandalin, and Enil, their horſes being looſely bridled, bare them at leaſt a mile from thence, before they could make them ſtay. With that the foure Chriſtian knights were incloſed by twelue Turkes, whereof thrée of them at •• e firſt charge were ſtricken dead vnto the ground: wherewith •• e fight began to be moſt perillous and fierce, in ſuch ſort, that b • fore the two giants could returne againe, fiue other of the Turkes were in ſuch caſe, that the beſt of them was hurt to death, ſo there reſted but four: which Eſplandian and Frandalo left fighting with Gandalin and Enil, to méete the two giants that in great haſt came towards them to helpe their companions: and as they met togither neuer was there brauer fight, for Eſplandian thinking vpon the princes Leonorine, gaue not one blowe but hée made the blood to follow on him that had the ſtroke: whereby the rocke became all bloodie, yet he found his enemy no leſſe able to requite his blowes, ſo that in ſhort ſpace his ſhield was ſo hewed and cut in pieces, that there reſted nothing but the lethers in his hands: whereat he was in ſuch a rage, that riſing in his ſtirrops, hée gaue his enemie ſo great a blow vpon the coife of ſtéele, that he ſtrake it off, wherewith the giants eyes ſtarted in his head, which made him bowe his necke vpon the horſes maine, and withall let fall his ſword. With that Eſplandian ſtrake him ſuch another blowe betwéene the necke and ſhoulders that he cut off his head: wherewith the horſe ranne vp and downe the fields with his dead Giant on his backe: meane time Frandalo handled the other Giant in ſuch ſort, that hee had put him out of breath. Gandalin and Enil for their partes doing no leſſe, for they two fighting againſt foure, behaued themſelues ſo couragiouſly, that they ſlewe two of their hardieſt enemies: yet the other two would neuer yéeld, although they were ſtill readie to flée, eſpecially when they perceiued Eſplandian comming towardes them. And to ſay truth, it was not poſſible for them to make any reſiſtance: yet hée ſtayed a while, becauſe he perceiued ſome of them that were ſtricken downe to riſe againe, and take their ſwordes in hand: whereat he turned about, but it chaunced that his horſes foote lighting betwéene a cliffe ſtucke faſt, and was f •• ced to fall downe, whereby Eſplandian was in the greateſt daunger of death that euer hée had, by reaſon that his ene •• es were on all ſid • s about him ready to thruſt their ſwordes into his • elly: a thing • erie eaſie to be done if God had not prouided f •• h •• , and giuen ſtrength and agilitie to his horſe to riſe againe with his maſter on his backe: who perceiuing himſelfe at libertie, and hauing his ſword in hande, made ſuch execution on the Turkes, that he left not one aliue: wherewith thoſe two that fought with Gandalin and Enil fledde along the mountaine, as if all the deuils in hell had béene behind them, and not béeing purſued ſaued themſelues, leauing the Gyant behinde them for a pawne, to whome Frandalo graunted life, not onely becauſe hée aſked mercie, but for that hée was in a manner dead.

CHAP. XLI. How Eſplandian entred into Melies caue, to fetch her bookes, and of an aſſault made vpon him, Frandalo, Enil, and Gandalin, as they thought to returne againe vnto Galatia.

THe combat ended as you heard before, ech man cauſed his woundes to be dreſſed and bound vp in the beſt manner they could: then Eſplandian entred into Melies caue to fetch the bookes he ſought, where hée went into a faire chamber béeing foure ſquare, about the which there grewe ſo much Iuie, that it might verily be iudged to haue béene placed there for the hangings of the chamber: in this chamber at ech corner there hung foure lampes, that burnt both night and day and neuer went forth, ſo cunningly could the Enchantreſſe ſhew her Art in tha • place: and as Eſplandian looked well about him, he eſpied the 〈◊〉 of another chamber, in the middle whereof ſtood a great candleſticke all of maſſie gold with ſeuen branches, and in euery branch a waxe candle that burned continually: hard by it ſtood a Cypres table, whereon lay Melies bookes, ſome couered with plates of gold and grauen vpon it, others with ſiluer, bound and emboſſed round about, which Eſplandian tooke and carried with him out of the caue, giuing them to kéepe vnto his ſquire, and mounting on their horſes, they rode the ſame way they came, thinking preſently to be at Galatia againe. But they were ſtayed ſooner than they looked for, for the Turkes that fled away (as you heard before) made an alarme at a little towne not farre from thence, whereby there iſſued twenty horſe and fortie footmen, who being aſſured that foure knights onely and no more had ouerthrowne their men, made all the ſpéed they could to incloſe them, ſpecially thoſe that were wel horſed: Frandalo and his company perceiued them a farre off yet could they hardly ſhunne them, but of force muſt fight, or els endure the ſhame to flie away. Wherefore Eſplandian was in mind to trie their fortune, and to ſend one of their ſquires in all haſt vnto Galatia, to aduertiſe them of the danger they were in, that they might ſuccour them: whereto Frandalo would not giue conſent, ſhewing what great paine and trauaile both they and their horſes haue endured all that day, as alſo the great number of their enemies in regard of them, in ſuch ſort (ſaid he) that if we take vpon vs for to fight with them, I am in doubt, that thinking to winne honour, we ſhall be counted raſh and preſumptuous fooles. What then? (ſaid Eſplandian) will you endure the ſhame to flie away? In good truth (ſaid he) for my part I had rather endure the hazzard of life or death, what euer ſhall happen. Then we will doe thus (ſaid Frandalo:) my ſquire ſhall runne vnto Galatia to aduertiſe Talanque and the reſt how we ſtaied behind. Meane time, I know a bridge not farre from hence, whether wée will goe and defend the ſame, till our aid ſhall come, where we cannot be aſſailed by them all at once: otherwiſe thinke with your ſelfe what meanes we haue to reſiſt ſo many men both on horſe and foot, that come purpoſely to aſſaile vs. Let vs goe then (ſaid Eſplandian) wherewith leauing the way on the right hand, they turned to the left, as Frandalo ledde them: and they had not ridden very farre but they came vnto a little riuer ſomewhat déepe, ouer the which there ſtoode a bridge, where they had no ſooner arriued, but they were preſently charged by their enemies, eſpecially by one of the Turkes that was moſt braue and ſumptuous, and beſt mounted of them all, as béeing their captaine: who bearing a great launce in his hand, began to crie moſt vehemently in the Arabian tongue vnto Eſplandian and his companions, ſaying: You dogges, you flye away, but by our gods it ſhall coſt you all your liues: wherewith Enil that heard his threatnings better than the reſt, turned his face, and ſet ſpurres to his horſe, the Turke and hée méeting ſo fiercely togither, that Enil was hurt in the right arme, and the Turke thruſt cleane through the body, wherewith hee fell preſently ſtarke dead vnto the ground: Which ſet his companions in ſuch a rage to ſée their champion thus ſuddainly ſlaine, that they thought to incloſe Enil, but he found means to recouer the bridge: ſurely whoſoeuer had ſéen the great proweſſe of thoſe four champions, might with good reaſon eſtéeme them as they were, ſpecially Eſplandian that ſtroke not one blowe in vaine. And although they were but fewe in compariſon of their enemies, yet they did twice or thrice ouerthrow diuers of the Turkes that ſéemed boldeſt to aduenture forward, in ſuch ſort, that had it not béene for the footemen that came vpon them, the horſemen had but little preuailed: whereat it is not to be maruailed, becauſe the greateſt part of them were citizens, altogither vnexpert in armes, and fitter to banket at a table than to guide a horſe or breake a lance: whereby in leſſe than a quarter of an houre the foure knightes had done them great hurt: and ſo much, that neither the horſemen nor footmen durſt once ſet forward to enter vpon the bridge, till one of them determined to make proofe, thereby if it were poſſible to incloſe them round about. This Turkes name was Tluacam, a valiant and hardy knight, as he well ſhewed before the combat ended: for although the water was déepe and the other ſide hard to clime vp, yet he waded through, and at diuers times bare eight more of his companions ouer: which Frandalo and the reſt perceiuing, they were conſtrained to deuide themſelues, Eſplandian and Enil ſtaying at the end of the Bridge where the combat firſt began, Frandalo and Gandalin ſtanding at the other, and God knowes what trouble they had, for Tluacam deſirous to winne honour or to looſe his life, with his lance in hand, charged Gandalin in ſuch ſort, that both man and horſe had like to fallen to the ground, and withall he brake his ſpeare: wherfore taking his ſword in hand, ſtriking on both ſides, and thinking to be ſeconded by his fellowes, put his horſe in ſuch a fury, that whether he would or not he bare him to ye middle of the bridge: where thinking to ſtay, the horſes féet ſlid from him, whereby both hée and his maſter fell into the riuer and were drowned: whereat the Turkes gaue ſo great a crie, that they ſéemed madde, and bowing downe their heads thinking to acquite their loſſe, vſed all the force they could on both ſides the bridge to enter vpon the foure knightes: who ſuſteined their aſſault ſo brauely, that the Turkes at laſt were forced to recule, wherof nine were thrown into the water, but Eſplandian and his company were ſo weary, that in a manner they could fight no longer. With that they perceiued their aid in all haſt comming towards them: the occaſion why they ſtayed ſo long was becauſe Frenace, Frandalos ſquire, that went to ſéeke Manely and the reſt, thinking to find his maſter where he left him, had led them thither, but not finding them there, ſuppoſed them to be gone vnto the bridge: and to ſay truth, they arriued in very good time, for that Eſplandian and his thrée companions were almoſt cleane out of breath: but when they perceiued their aide, neuer did poore priſoners that were ſet at libertie more reioyce, nor were better pleaſed: and the Turkes on the contrary ſide neuer more aſtoniſhed, yet they held cloſe togither, determining rather to reuenge their deathes than once to yéeld vnto their enemies: ſo that before the Knightes of Galatia could enter in among them, they gaue them much to do, although in the end they ouercame them, whereby not one eſcaped aliue, to carry newes vnto their friends. Enil at the firſt onſet had béen ſore wounded, as you heard before, wherefore hée cauſed his wounds to be ſearched: the like did the reſt of the hurt knights. Which done, they ſet forward to Galatia, contenting themſelues for that day with the victory it had pleaſed God to ſend them. And comming to the gate, they found Vrganda readie to receiue them: who knowing how all had paſt, and the daunger wherein Eſplandian had béen, ieſtingly ſaide vnto him: In faith my Lord, ſaid ſhée, if I were afraid of death when I fell into Melies hands, I beléeue you were not in much better caſe ſince that I ſaw you laſt, as I vnderſtand by thoſe that know what dommage you were in. Madame (ſaid he) I know I am a mortall man, and that my life and death are in the hands of God, as it pleaſeth him to diſpoſe, and I confeſſe vnto you, if wée had not béene ſuccoured, that in the end we could not haue endured: yet am I well aſſured, that before it had come to paſſe, we had laid ſo many enemies on the ground, that the reſt ſhould haue had greater cauſe to lament their loſſe, than boaſt of their conqueſt. Vrganda perceiued by Eſplandians words that he liked not her ſpéech, whereupon ſhee ſaid vnto him: My Lord, pardon me I beſéech you, and excuſe the indiſcretion of a woman, ſpecially in mée, who at this preſent had forgotten my ſelfe. Madame (ſaid Eſplandian) you may command me, and likewiſe ſet me forth for a coward, hardy, or any other what it pleaſeth you to tearme me. In which manner talking togither, they came vnto his lodging, where maſter Elizabeth (newly come from Alfarin) viſited his wounds, and the reſt likewiſe that had cauſe to vſe his helpe.

CHAP. XLII. How the Knights of great Brittaine that were at Galatia imbarked themſelues with Vrganda in the great ſerpent, to ſaile vnto Conſtantinople, and what happened vnto them.

THe Knightes that had béen hurt at the laſt encounter, for the ſpace of fiftéene daies after were forced to kéepe their chambers vntill their woundes were healed: during which time, Vrganda tooke great pleaſure in reading Melies bookes which Eſplandian cauſed to bée brought vnto her: wherein ſhée found ſuch wonderfull coniurations and deuiſes of Magicke Art, that ſhe was abaſhed how ſhée that had had them ſo long time in her poſſeſſion, knew no more than yet ſhée did, eſtéeming the Enchantreſſe Lady to haue béen the perfecteſt ſchollar that euer ſtudied in that art, as it well appeared by her bookes. Now the time approched wherein it was expedient (according to the deſtinies appointed) that Eſplandian and his companions ſhould goe vnto Conſtantinople: wherefore as ſoone as their wounds were healed, Vrganda cauſed them to bée aſſembled, and ſtanding in the middeſt of them all, ſhe ſaid vnto them: My good friends, knowing part of the proſperities and aduerſities which the heauens foreſhewe vnto you all, I came hither ſpecially to ſée Eſplandian and you, of whome I haue receiued great pleat pleaſure, perceiuing at my arriuall the loue and amitie that is among you, with the great deſire you haue to accompliſh the order of knighthood: not for the glory and recompence of this world, but onely for the increaſing of our faith and the ſeruice of God, that ſhall reward you for it: and to the end you may continue in this forwardnes, and that the thing which I pretend, may happily fall out, I will from henceforth not only imploy my perſon but my Arte, which hath pleaſed God to lend me, wherewith I will aduiſe you what I ſhall find conuenient and neceſſarie for the augmentation of your honours alreadie ſpread throughout the world: which to begin I am of opinion, that you all imbarke your ſelues with me in the great ſerpent, that ſhall bring vs vnto Conſtantinople to the Emperour, for without him it is impoſſible that this great enterpriſe you haue taken in hand can come to good effect: as alſo that hee himſelfe before many yéeres are paſt, ſhall be found in maruellous neceſſitie, and ſuch, that he ſhall account himſelfe moſt happie to haue your aid: and with good reaſon, for that in the end both hee and you ſhall ouercome thoſe hazzards according to your deſires. Then ſhall you plainely knowe, that this that I foreſhew vnto you is moſt true. While Vrganda vſed theſe wordes, all the company ſtood ſtill intentiue for to heare her: and had it not béen that they eſtéemed her words to be moſt true, they had doubted of the threatnings ſhée vſed againſt the Emperour, he béeing ſo great and puiſſant a Monarch. Neuertheleſſe the iſſue of that trouble which ſhée aſſured vnto them, gaue them ſome eaſe and contentation of minde: in expectation whereof, they made account in the meane time to prooue their ſtrengths and forces, that thereby their valour and magnanimitie might be further ſpread abroad. And as touching their voiage to the Emperour, as Vrganda gaue them direction, it was onely the thing wherevnto Eſplandian did aſpire, hoping that if the warres were openly proclaimed in the Grecian Empire, and the Emperours daunger ſo imminent, to ſhewe ſuch valour and proweſſe in martiall exploits, that hée would not onely frée and acquite his father of the promiſe he had made to ſerue the Ladies, but confirme the loue that the princes Leonorine bare vnto him, in ſuch ſort, that he might obtaine her for his wife: which cauſed him to ſpeake for all his companie, aſſuring Vrganda that not one of them but was readie to obey and goe where it pleaſed her. My friends (ſaid ſhe) then I pray you to morrow in the morning cauſe your horſes to be ſhipped in my ſhippe, and for armour take you no care, I will prouide you thereof ſo well, that ech man ſhall find himſelfe content: let it ſuffice you to imbarke your ſelues and ſet ſaile: for often times an enterpriſe deferred ouer long, falleth not out as mē deſire it ſhould, not for want of good and wiſe counſell, but by the negligēce of thoſe that are appointed to execute the ſame. Thus was their voiage to Conſtantinople agréed vpon, in ſuch ſort, that all the knights of great Brittaine entred into the great ſerpent, taking with them Frandalo, Melie, and the captaine of Teſifant that had béen taken priſoner, as you heard before, leauing the Admirals ſouldiers for garriſon in the towne. Which done, the ſhip went forward of it ſelfe, ſayling towards the caſtle La montaigne defendu, where being arriued they tooke Armato king of Turkie and his two captaines with them: for Vrganda willed them ſo to doe: and ſixe daies after, the great ſerpent arriued within halfe a mile of Conſtantinople, where ſhe ſtaied. Then Vrganda cauſed her Knightes to be armed with the armour ſhée had brought, which were white, with a red croſſe both before and behind, moſt comely to behold. They were in all fortie knights, whoſe names are as followeth: Eſplandian, Frandalo, Norandel, Talanque, Manely the wiſe, Ambor of Gandel, Grauate of the fearfull valley, Gandalin, Enil, Trion couſin to quéene Briolanie, Brauor ſonne of the giant Balan, Belleris, Elion le delibere, Licoran of the white Tower, Liſtoran of the ſiluer bridge, Landin of Sariaque, Imoſil of Burgondie, Ledadrin of Ferraque, Sarquiles couſin to Angriotes, Palomir, Branfil, Tantiles the proud, Galbron ſonne of Iſamel, Carpin his brother, Carin of Carante, Attalio ſonne of Oliuas, Bracele ſonne of Bandoyuas, Garamante ſonne of Norgales, Amphinio of Almain, Brandonie of Fraunce, Penatrie of Spaine, Flamene his brother, Culſpicio of Bohemia, Amandario of litle Brittaine, Silueſter of Hungaria, Manely of Swethland, Galfarie of Italie, Galiot of Scotland, Amandalie his brother, and Calfeur the glorious. Being arriued, the ſhippe was preſently eſpied by the citizens which they knewe, hauing ſéene it before when it put them in ſuch feare, as you haue heard, but hoping for him that vſed ordinarily to ſaile therein, they all ranne vnto the walles, and along the ſhore to ſée him land: wherwith the noiſe and rumour was ſo great, that the Emperour had newes thereof béeing as then talking with the ladies. Thoſe newes pleaſed the Princes Leonorine ſo well, that ſhe no ſooner heard the great ſerpent named, but ſhe roſe vp and went vnto the windowes to ſée if ſhée could eſpie her loue Eſplandian: but the ſhip was ſomewhat too farre off, neither did it mooue from the place whereas it lay. Wherfore fearing to be deceiued as ſhe had béen before, ſhe began to change colour: which Quéene Minoreſſe perceiued, and ieſting ſaid vnto her: Madame, doe you make this pitifull countenance to diſſemble the ioy you haue conceiued, or for feare I ſhould beguile you of him that commeth to ſée you? How now couſin (ſaid ſhe) how long haue you learned to mock? In faith I neuer thought vpon the firſt of thoſe two points, and much leſſe am I in doubt of the ſecond, for you know as much as my ſelfe, and yet I am not ignorant that when the great ſerpent was there where I now behold it, he whome we expect came not thither, wherefore I feare (and with good reaſon) that wée ſhall now be ſerued in like ſort: and as ſhe ended her ſpéech, the ſhippe came within a bow ſhot of the hauen where they might perceiue one of her ſides to open, from whence they put out a boat, and not long after they ſaw Carmelle and two other gentlewomen come forth, the two gentlewomen playing moſt ſwéetly vpon two inſtruments, which they did till they arriued at the ſhore: from whence they went vnto the Emperor, who knowing Carmelle, had better hope to ſée Eſplandian than euer he had before: & going vnto her to aſke what newes, ſhe made no more reuerence vnto him than ſhe vſed at other times to do, ſaying vnto him: My lord, Eſplandian my maſter (that you ſo much deſire to ſée) is now arriued before the town in ye great ſerpent with diuers other knights his friends and allies, and Vrganda la diſogneue, deſiring you to ſhew them the fauour to ſtay in your pallace, where they meane to come and viſit your grace. Truly Carmelle (ſaid the Emperor) I neuer heard meſſage in al my life that pleaſed me ſo wel, I am content to do as they deſire, although I was determined to méet them, and to giue them that entertainement they deſerue: But ſéeing they will haue it otherwiſe, I will ſatiſfie their deſires. That is ſufficient (ſaid Carmelle) we will then retourne to them againe, to certefie your graces anſwere. Goe (ſaid the Emperor) and tell them from me, that they ſhall be moſt heartily welcome. With that Carmelle with the two Gentlewomen departed towards the Hauen: meane time, whoſoeuer had beheld the Princeſſe Leonorine, might eaſily haue iudged the alteration of her heart, it was ſo full of ioy, that without Quéene Minoreſſe yt cauſed her to refraine, ſhe would peraduenture haue done done ſomthing whereby her honour had been blemiſhed, minding to leaue the Empreſſe her mother, and goe to méete Eſplandian, whoſe abſence had procured ſo great ſorrow in her mind. But the Quéene as a wiſe and diſcréet lady perſuaded her ſo much, that ſhée ſtayed at the window, whereby her alteration might not be perceaued. Carmelle ſtaied not long, but went into the boate, rowing to the great ſerpent, where being entered, there were preſently two boats more put forth, that brought horſes to land, which don, they returned again to fetch the knights, & thoſe yt would went forth, and among them ſix gentlewomen, thrée of thē ſounding ye recorders, thē ceaſing, the other thrée plaied on ye lute and vials, in that manner being landed & mounted on their horſes, they entred into the Citty, ye ſixe Gentlewomen marching firſt, after them ye two Turkiſh captaines yt were taken at ye ſiege of the caſtle La montaigne defendu, then ye captain of Teſifant, next followed Armato, & with him ye princeſſe Melie, apparrelled in ye beares ſkin as ſhée had ben taken, then followed ye forty knights two in a ranke, armed horſe & man in one ſort of armour, in ye middeſt of them road Vrganda, talking to Eſplandian and ye king of Denmarke. And as they approched ye pallace, ye Emperor▪ ye Empreſſe, and the ladies met thē, where ye emperor comming to Vrganda, did her as much honor as if ſhe had ben ye greateſt quéen in the world. Mean time the knights being among the Ladies, gaue occaſion to bee found no leſſe courteous, then prompt & valiant in armes, ſpecially Eſplandian, who comming to the princeſſe Leonorine, knéeled on the ground to kiſſe her hands, but ſhee refuſed it, making ye whole cō pany beléeue, ſhe was offended with him for delaying the time to come vnto the court as he had promiſed. Which the Emperour perceiuing, could not refraine to ſmile, and ſaied vnto her: How now daughter? Is this the good entertainement you ſhewe vnto your knight, and ye thankes you giue him, for comming expreſſely hether to ſerue you? I pray you call to mind, that he deſerueth a better countenance, were it only for his fathers ſake, to whome you are ſo much beholding. My lord (ſaid ſhee) yt is ye cauſe I am ſo much offended with him, for if he reſembled ye knight with ye gréen ſword as much in curteſie as in countenance, he had not ſtayed ſo long to obay his fathers wil, & to ſatiſfie ye requeſts yt you & I haue made vnto him by Carmelle and others, as your grace kneweth. Before God (ſaid ye emperor) you ſay true: yet I could neuer haue ben perſuaded you would conceiue diſpleaſure ſo long time, conſidring what he hath done, & ye rich preſents he ſent to you. My lord (ſaid ſhe) if he hath done any thing for me, it was without my cō mandement, I had rather he had done leſſe in thoſe things, & yt hée had ben more obedient to his fathers wil & mine. Madame (ſaid ye emperor to Vrganda) you ſée in my daughter how great ye choler of an angry woman is. My lord (ſaid ſhe) ſhe hath reaſon ſo to do, for yt Eſplandian obeying his father, ought to confirm himſelf both to her wil & yours. And hauing failed therin, all he ſaith yt he hath done for her ſake, may be accounted nothing, although I am aſſured, yt the remembrance of my lady your daughter hath made him (being in fight) enter into ſuch danger, that it was moſt ſtrange howe hee could eſcape. Wherefore Madame (ſaid ſhee to Leonorine) he deſerueth pardō for the ſame, & ſo I pray you grant him. While Vrganda ſpake, ye Princes beheld Eſplandian with ſo great affection, that in a maner ſhée liued and died in him: and he for his part by hir felt in what ſort loue vſeth thoſe he holds in his power. Wherby ſhe cōtinued a long time without anſwering Vrganda, not for any euill will to her in vſing of thoſe ſpéeches, but rather féeling ſuch alteration in her mind, that ſhe trembled like a leaf. But in the end ſhe remembred her ſelfe, and ſaied vnto her: Madame, ſéeing it is your pleaſure that I remit his offence, I am content to doe it, vpon condition, that if hée forget himſelfe as hée hath done heretofore, you ſhall beare the puniſhment for him. With that ſhe tooke him by the hand, and made him riſe vp, changing ſpéech, becauſe the Empreſſe (that in the meane time talked with the king of Denmarke) came thether, whereby Eſplandian was conſtrained to leaue the Princeſſe, and ſalute her. The emperor al that while had giuen no entertainement to king Armato, as knowing him not, but when they ſhewed him which was he, he imbraced him and ſaid: My lord and brother, I beſéech you pardon my ignorance, in not entertaining you before this time, as not knowing you, but I will amend the fault when you think good. My lord (ſaied Armato) I am now (as it pleaſeth fortune) in place where you may command me, yet I pray you call to mind who I was, and what I may bee, and doe for me as you would I ſhould do for you if your caſe were mine: Conſidering with your ſelfe, that the like hard fortune may fall on you, and that it is no leſſe vertue to intertain the vanquiſhed courteouſly, then to ouerthrow the puiſſant enemie. With that the Emperour led him into his pallace, the reſt following after him, and when they were in the hall, hee left them with the Empreſſe to ſpeake vnto Frandalo, and taking him aſide, ſaied vnto him: Frandalo, to let you knowe howe well I do account of the great good ſeruice you haue done for mée, I will that from henceforth you ſhall bee my chéefe ſtandard bearer, in which place I nowe eſtabliſh you. For the which Frandalo thanked him moſt humbly, accounting himſelfe moſt happye to haue ſo great authoritie.

CHAP. XLIII. How Norandel and Queene Minoreſſe fell in loue one of the other, and what conference they had together.

THe Emperour being among his Knights, making them all the cheare and honour that hee could deuiſe. It happened that the Princeſſe Leonorine and Quéene Minoreſſe ſéeing the king of Denmark and Norandel together, called Carmelle, and aſked her who they were. My Ladies (ſaied ſhée) you haue ſéen him that hath the leaſt beard here before, (which is the king of Denmarke) for hee came hether with Frandalo, the other is Norandel king Luiſarts ſonne, eſtéemed for one of the hardieſt knights liuing on the earth. I pray you (ſaid the Princeſſe) deſire them to come hether, that wée may ſpeake with them. With that Carmelle called them vnto her, and as they were before the two Princeſſes, the more they beheld the excellency of their beauties, the more they maruailed at it, and not without cauſe, for next vnto Leonorine there could hardly be found in all Gréece one that matched quéene Minoreſſe, eſpecially in comelineſſe and good behauiour, but if ſhee had ſome perfection in her, nature had not forgotten her ſelfe in forming the two knights, eſpecially Norandel, who till that time had neuer felt the ſtings of loue, no more had Quéene Minoreſſe. Neuertheleſſe, that little théefe ſurpriſed them ſo couertly, that hee bound them both, making them captiues one to the other, in ſuch manner, that after many Queſtions and Anſweres propounded they drew themſelues apart, leauing the king of Denmarke talking with the Princeſſe Leonorine, the Quéene aſking Norandel what hee thought of the Princeſſe. Madame (ſaid hée) although I haue heard her eſtéemed for one of the goodlieſt ladies in ye world, yet did I neuer thinke her beautie had béene ſuch as now I ſée it is, although you are little behinde her in that reſpect, whereby I might eſtéeme my ſelfe moſt happy if I had ben aſléepe that day I enterpriſed to take my iourney hether. Wherfore (ſaid the quéen) haue you had ſo ill intertainment in this court? No madame (ſaid he) but there is one hath ſtollen that from me which I haue moſt carefully kept during my life. The Quéene not knowing what he meant, was thereat abaſhed, aſking him what it was, & whether he knew the théefe. I madame (ſaied he) and it reſteth in you to do me iuſtice, if it bée your pleaſure: for you & none other haue that whereof I ſpeake. In good faith (ſaied the Quéene) you ſhall pardon mee, for I haue nothing of yours that I cam remember. Madame (ſaied Norandel) ſince the time I firſt did knowe what belonged to a man, I kept my liberty, not alienating it to any one: But comming hether (I had no ſooner ſet mine eie on you) but I found my ſelfe of a fréeman a bondſlaue and captiue to your ladiſhips good fauor: which I beſéech you afore me, in recompence of ye liberty you now haue taken from me. Truly ſir knight (ſaied ſhe) you haue at this preſēt run too far aſtray, for if you beheld me as you ſhould, you had not found me ſuch a one as you ſay, & wold haue ben twice aduiſed to vſe ſuch ſpéeches as you do. Neuertheleſſe, I will not take them at your hands (being a ſtranger) in ſo euill part as mine honour doth require, and I think likewiſe you ſpeake farre otherwiſe then you meane: which ſhe ſaid to vndermine him, thereby to ſée if Norandels words were ſpoken from the heart, who hearing that ouerthwart anſwere, was much aſtoniſhed, but being moued with loue, anſwerd her and ſaid: Madame, pardon my boldneſſe I beſéech you, but I ſweare vnto you, by the faith of a knight, that I haue diſcouered the ſecret of my heart: and if you will not beléeue me at this time, I hope in time to come to doe ſo much, that you ſhall well perceiue what great deſire I haue to bee your Knight, if it will pleaſe you to graunt mee ſo much fauour to accept mee for the ſame. When Quéene Minoreſſe perceaued him ſo earneſt, as that in vttering thoſe words hee ſhewed great affection, ſhee eſtéemed in her minde to haue ſufficient argument that might perſuade her to beléeue his wordes, wherewith ſhee anſwered him and ſaied: My lorde Norandel, If you doe as you promiſe, I well beléeue that you ſay: and for the accepting you to bee my Knight, mee thinketh I ſhould doe wrong to refuſe ſo ſmall a fauor to ſo courteous a gentleman as you are: wherfore I both grant it and deſire it of you. With yt ſhe took a litle ring (ſhe commonly wore) off from hir finger, giuing it vnto him for a witneſſe of their new confirmed aliance: And had it not ben yt ye Emperor was ready to go to ſupper, they had no ſooner left talking, but ye Empreſſe went in, whereby quéen Minoreſſe was conſtrained to follow after, taking Melie & Carmelle wt hir, to whom ſhe did al honor & good intertainmēt ſhe could deuiſe: ſupper being don, & ye tables vncouered, ye princes Leonorine yt had ſéen Norandel & quéen Minoreſſe talking wt ſo great affection, doubted ſome feathers in ye wind, wherefore taking her aſide, ſaid vnto hir: Couſin, I beléeue ye knight yt intertained you ſo long, told you ſome news out of great Brittaine, or ſomthing els yt pleaſed you ful wel, I pray you fair lady tel me what it was, for you were very earneſt to harken thervnto. How now madame? (ſaid ſhe) ſince when I pray you, did you learn to mock? cal you ye mocking (ſaid ſhe) which is don in earneſt? I pray God ye mockery I mean to you may fal out as I deſire it wold: thē ſhal I at ye leaſt haue as good aduātage at you, as you haue had at me, which wold pleaſe me wel, not ſo much to haue a cōpaniō in mine own eſtate, as to yéeld you in exchāge ye like pleaſure I haue receiued at your hands, whē you firſt were made acquainted with ye loue betwéen Eſplandian & me. Wherfore fear not to vtter your mind vnto me, otherwiſe I wil from henceforth haue you in a iealouſie, for that you haue already done, or yet would doe. Madame (ſaid ye quéene) rather thē you ſhould do ſo, I wil declare to you ye ſecreteſt thing I know. The knight (ſaid ſhe) wherof you ſpeak, (I know not by what means) hath ſo captiued my mind, yt I féel ye thing in my ſelf which I neuer thought could haue happened to me. And as they yt are moleſted with a cōtinual ague, do find ye taſt of water better thē ye hope of life to thē: ſo I likewiſe, ye was accuſtomed not only to cōtemn the force of loue, but blame al ſuch as yéeld to his might, (eſtéeming their eſtate rather voluntary then forcible) finde my ſelfe ſo much ſurpriſed, yt if God help me not, I am in the greateſt danger yt euer poore woman was. What (ſaid the princeſſe) think you my lord Norandel is of ſo hard a heart, and little courteſie, as that hee would diſdaine the loue of ſo faire and comely a Lady as you are? Doe you perceiue by him, that his mind is placed elſewhere? No madame (ſaied ſhe) but to the contrary, hee proteſted to be wholly mine, without any further aduantage, then that I haue accepted him for my knight. Truly (ſaied Leonorine) I am glad thereof, and if you had done otherwiſe, he might ſurely haue complained, and you much more to haue refuſed ſo great a good, when it is offered without diſſimulation: elſe if it bée otherwiſe, it is no good, but rather a curſe. I am of this opinion (ſaied ſhee) that my lord Norandel would rather die a thouſand deathes then beare that mind: Wherefore determine I pray you to vſe him well, aſſuring you, that I will not faile to ſuccour you in what I may, and will doe for you as you haue done for mée. So long they talked together, that the Emperour and his company riſen from the table, came to ſée the ladies. Neuertheleſſe, neither the Princeſſe nor Quéene Minoreſſe could haue the meanes to entertaine their friends, but onely with a looke, whereby (their hearts panting in their bellies) were ſome what eaſed: when night approching, euery man withdrewe him to his reſt, but when Quéene Minoreſſe found her ſelfe alone, and in her bed, ſhe began to think vpon the ſpéeches that Norandel vſed vnto her, ſometimes determining to aſſaie, if by any meanes ſhee could driue the ſame out of hir mind, and then preſently changed thoughts, and ſaied vnto her ſelfe: Alas, was there euer greater conſtancy in a woman, then that I alwaies had vntill this time? Muſt I nowe of force yéeld vp the fort, that againſt ſo many hard aſſaults I held inuincible? Alas, I nowe perceiue it is of force, wherefore it is better preſently to ſéeke for remedy, then to conſume thus ſecretly as I doe. But what? if I chaunce in this ſort to yéeld vnto mine own deſire, (poore ſoule that I am) then doe I manifeſtly perceiue the danger wherein I fall, and the thraldome that I bring my ſelfe into, from whence while I liue, I ſhall neuer eſcape. Wherefore it were far better for mée to bridle mine owne affection, and command that which commandeth me, then do that which hereafter I might repent. With that ſhee held her peace, and tourning on each ſide, like one not well at eaſe in body nor in mind, ſhe had no ſooner reſolued one thing, but preſentlye diſſolued it againe, ſo great was her inconſtancy therein. Neuertheleſſe, hauing well debated with her ſelfe al the pleaſures or diſpleaſures that might cha •• e thereby: In the end, with a lowd voice ſhee vttered theſe words: I knowe not what may come to paſſe, but Loue promiſeth me great things: Wherefore if the worſt fall out, and that from henceforth I forget my ſelfe, hee ſhall beare the blame, and not I, that will doe nothing but vnder his protection: In which opinion, ſhe fel aſléepe, and the next day Norandel and ſhe finding meanes to talke together, they confirmed their loue in ſuch ſort, that they determined to vſe the ſame more by wiſedome, then by paſſion: which thoſe that are in like caſe, ought to follow, thereby to attaine vnto the point of their deſired ioyes, which in times paſt before, was commonly called the gracious gifte of Mercy.

CHAP-XLIIII. How Vrganda declared vnto the Emperour the ſignification of the Propheſie that was found in the tombe, and of two dragons that carried her with king Armato and Melie vp into the aire, and ſet them in the middle of the citty of Teſifant.

YOV heard before howe Carmelle in her ſhip, ſhewed the Emperour the tombe that Eſplandian had conquered in the Rocke of the Enchauntreſſe with the image of Iupiter, and the Propheſie he held within his hand, which the Emperour remembred ſo well, that hee neuer ceaſed to thinke thereon. Whereby, the next day after the arriuall of that noble company in the citty of Conſtantinople, he calling to mind that there could no perſon be foūd in all the world better able to reſolue his doubt, then Vrganda was, cauſed her to goe into the cloſet, where the Empereſſe with the Princeſſe Leonorine, Quéene Minoreſſe, and no more, ſtayed for her: they fiue being together, the Emperor cauſed the image of Iupiter to be brought thither: which done, he ſaid vnto Vrganda: Madame, I pray you doe me ſo much pleaſure as to declare (if it be poſſible) what are the meaning of the letters that this Image holdeth. With that Vrganda read it, and hauing conſidered thereof, ſhe ſaid vnto the Emperour: My lord, the great knowledge and ſkill that this Idol hath fore ſhowen ſhall in time to come be loſt, is alreadie happened: for as you know, the power of Iupiter and of other gods, hath béen ſuppreſſed and aboliſhed by the comming of Ieſus Chriſt: and as touching theſe wordes, The bondſlaue of the bond of ſlauerie ſhall be buried here, and life reſtored by him that ſuffered death. Theſe are hard and obſcure tearmes, yet will I declare them to your Grace as well as poſſibly I may. With that Leonorine and quéene Minoreſſe thought ſhe would haue ſpoken of the knight Eſplandian that had béen put into a Cedar cheſt, as you heard before: wherewith they béeing ſurpriſed with a deadly feare, began to behold each other in moſt pitifull manner: which Vrganda well perceiuing, intending to eaſe their mindes, continued her diſcourſe in this manner: My lord (ſaid ſhée) this prophecie was written concerning Matrodo lord of the caſtle La montaigne defendu, who as you knowe was alwaies a Pagan till his latter day that he became a Chriſtian, whereby long time he continued a bondſlaue of the bond of ſlauerie: for ſuch ought the ſea of Idolatrie to be named: but Eſplandian perceiuing his repentance, ſuffered him to be buried in the hermitage, where as yet Carmelles father doth remaine: who ſince that time hath ſo much honoured the giants body, that ſhée hath buried his bones within the Cedar cheſt, yt you madam (ſaid ſhe to Leonorine) if you do remember, gaue vnto her: & touching theſe lines which containe theſe words, That life ſhal be reſtored by him that ſuffered death: that is likewiſe to be vnderſtood of him, for that looſing this tranſitorie life, he hath obtained the eternall in Abrahams boſome: ſo great grace hath he receiued at ye hands of God by the merit of his ſonnes paſſion, in whome he did beléeue, as I ſaid before: & ſo my lord (ſaid ſhe) you haue heard what I can ſay as touching this ſtrange prophecie. I but (ſaid the Emperour) what meanes the reſt? My lord (ſaid ſhe) I can tell you no more of it than can my lady your daughter or quéene Minoreſſe, but ſo much can I aſſure you, that in ſhort time you ſhall ſée it come to paſſe: and if in any point it concerneth you, the beſt is it will all fall out to greater good of your ſoule, than to any power or worldly glory: wherwith for this preſent I pray you content your ſelfe. I truly (ſaid the Emperor) & ſo will I alwaies do: for ſo my ſoule be well I eſtéeme not the miſery of torments of my bodie. And with that he left Vrganda with the Empreſſe, & went into the hall, where great number of knights & gentlemen ſtaied for him: with whome hée paſſed the reſt of the day in all pleaſant delightes: meane time fortune by little and little began to play her part, and to ſpread the nets wherewith ſhe meant to incloſe that troupe, thereby to worke the enuie and great tribulations that afterward fell vpon them: the beginning whereof was ſuch as you ſhall here. About a mile without the citie, the Emperor had built a ſumptuous pallace, called Vaelbeniatnof, as like to that of Apollidon in ye firme Iſle as well could be deuiſed: which place was compaſſed with a parke furniſhed with all things requiſite for mans delight, whither hée meant to lead the ladies, with Eſplandian and his companie, as alſo king Armato, to feaſt them in the ſame, and for that purpoſe within thrée daies after their arriuall, they departed from the citie of Conſtantinople, and went to Vaelbeniatnof, going into the parke, wherein they found the hunters, and at their firſt entrance a great Hart was ſingled out, which in the end after long chace was killed almoſt before the ladies: & going further, they eſpied a bore ſo fiercely hunted by dogs, yt they made him turn, & with his tuſkes ſtroke ye dogs, yt none durſt ſet vpon him: but at the laſt one of the hunters ſtrake him in the throat, & ſo he died: ſo long this ſport endured, ye ſupper time drew on, wherfore the lords & ladies entring into the palace found the tables couered, & ſitting downe, were ſerued in moſt ſumptuous maner: & hauing ſupped, they began to daunce, which continued till midnight, minding ye next day to begin their ſport againe: but fortune minding to beare a part, did ſo trouble the feaſt yt ſhe gaue them well to vnderſtand, how ſhe can worke in all things at her pleaſure: for the next day about euening the knights and ladies being in the Parke, ſome talking with thoſe to whom they bare affection, and cōtenting their mind with ſuch deuiſes as loue to paſſe the time in pleaſure, put into their heads, others running about and taking pleaſure to gather floures, and doe as moſt delighted them. Melie (from whō till then they could not heare one word) went vnto Vrganda, & before them all ſpake vnto her and ſaid: Madame, I maruell (if it be ſo that your learning and ſkill be ſuch as is reported) why you make no ſport vnto this company. Melie (ſaid Vrganda) where you are preſent I wil not vndertake to doe it before you, but you ſhould rather doe it, being well aſſured, that the Emperour would bee thankfull for the ſame. If it pleaſed him (ſaid ſhe) I am content, vpon condition, that after me you do the like, or better if you can. Truly (ſaid the Emperour) it is but reaſon: and I pray you both to doe it. My lord (ſaid Melie) then command Vrganda to lend mée a booke that I was wont to haue, whereon the picture of Medea, (& her name written ouer it) dooth ſtand, then ſhall you beholde ſome of mine art, and if Vrganda neuer knew it before, ſhe may learne it now of me. In good faith (ſaid Vrganda) that wil I not deny you: with that ſhe called one of her Gentlewomen, willing her to fetch the booke: meane time Melie tooke king Armato by the hande, and making as though ſhe would ſpeake a word with him, they walked a while together, then they ſat them downe hard by the place where the empreſſe and the ladies were talking with ech other, and ſtaying til the thing Melie had requeſted, were brought thether, which not long after Vrgandas Gentlewoman brought vnto her, ſhe hauing it in her hand opened the booke, and then began to read, making certaine ſignes with her eies lifted vp to heauen and calling Vrganda, praied her to come thether, ſaying ſhe ſhold ſée yt ſhee neuer had ſéene before. Vrganda not doubting any treaſon by Melie prepared, went and ſat downe by her, and next her king Armato, ſo that ſhe ſat betwéene Melie and him, where Melie began to turne the booke, ſhewing them certaine propheſies, and other ſtrange deuiſes, which continued not long but the aire began to be couered with a round blacke cloud, and there with it ſéemed ſo darke, that they could not ſée each other, at the laſt the cloud opened, and they beheld two horrible dragons comming downe out of the cloud that drewe a waggon, and ſtaied right before Vrganda, who by Armato and Melie was ſo ſtraitly embraced, that whether ſhee would or not they thurſt her in, and they after her. Wherwith the dragons ſéeing their waggon charged, flewe vp into the aire, and carried them away, Vrganda crying for helpe, but all in vaine: for in leſſe than the twinckling of an eye ſhe was out of ſight: wherwith there was ſuch noiſe among the company, that Eſplandian, Talanque, Ambor, Manely, and the reſt of the knights that came thither with her, ſware neuer to reſt aboue one night in a place before they found her out: ſo that the ſame day taking their leaues, both of the Emperor and others that by them were left in ſorrow, they entred againe into the great ſerpent, but before Eſplandian went, he ſpake vnto the princes Leonorine, beſéeching her not to take in euill part his enterpriſe taken in hand for the loue of her, to whome he found him ſelfe ſo much beholding, promiſing her that preſently (hauing found Vrganda) hée would returne againe. My good friend (ſaid ſhée) me thinkes you ſhould doe this at better leyſour, and not in ſo great haſt as now you doe: yet am I well content to doe as pleaſeth you: but forget not I pray you (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, yt ſhe neuer changed colour, determining wt 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, yt am olde & ancient, putting me in priſon, wherewith you threaten me, (not hauing offended you,) & to your ſelfe, in preferring cruelty before the curteſie yt hath ben found in you: whereto Melie anſwered hir not a word, but commanded her to be ſhut into a great tower ſtā ding in the midſt of ye citty, ouer ye which ſhe wrought ſuch coniurations, ye Vrganda knew without Gods help, it would be impoſſible for her euer to come forth: yet ſhe liued in hope, conſidring ye mutability of fortune, & ye 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 yt 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 ye Pagan land, to all caitifes, kings, ſoldiors, admirals & gouernors of ye countries ſcituated in ye 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 conquer the Empire of Conſtantinople, euen to Fraunce, and the countries of great Brittaine, which will be both eaſie and profitable vnto vs. Theſe letters written and the meſſengers diſpatched, they made ſuch haſt, yt before ye end of Iuly following, there were ſo many men aſſembled at the port of Tenedos, that the Chriſtians had newes thereof, as hereafter you ſhall heare. One day among the reſt as Belleris, Talanque, and Manely being iſſued out of the caſtle La montaigne defendu, hoping to take ſome Turke in the way to Teſifant that might tel them news, not only of king Armato, but of Melie & Vrganda, as day began to appeare came vnto the aduenturous fountain, where they beheld ye pillers of braſſe, ye pauillion, & ye field bed ye Heliaxe had left there, with a great ſerpent lying therein, which preſently began to run away, and the knights after, thinking to kill her, but their horſes durſt not go néere her, yet ſhe began to complain and wéep as bitterly as a womā trauelling wt child. Wherewith there appeared four men wel mounted & armed at al points, yt cried out and ſaied: Sir knights, depart frem hence & trouble not our gentlewoman in this ſort, or it ſhall coſt you your liues. And ſcarſe had they ended their ſpéech, but they ran ech at other, ye ſtrange knights breaking their ſpeares in ſuch maner vpon the Chriſtians, ye Manely and his companions thought they had run againſt thē with long ſtrawes. Yet could not one of thē couch his launce, but ran their courſe without once touching thē. Mean time, the ſerpent entred into a hole, and could no more be ſéene, & as they turned their horſes to run another courſe, the four knights would not abide, but flying away, cried vnto them and ſaid: Sir knights, our Gentlewoman is ſafe, for ye reſt contēt your ſelues if you think good. Get you hence to al the deuils (ſaid Talanque) and ill fortune might he haue yt followeth after you. With yt they thrée returned vnto the fountain, not without great laughing at their aduenture. And as they were before the pauillion, they perceiued a knight that watred his horſe, to whō Belleris riding, aſked him his name: What haue you to do therwith? (ſaid he.) So much (ſaid Belleris) that either you ſhal tell me preſently wt good wil, or els ſhal ſight wt me. You ſhal faile in the one, but not in the other: for although you bée thrée, yet am I well content to prooue what the knights of great Brittaine can doe. Whē Talanque heard him ſpeake ſo boldly, he could not refrain to ſay: By God ſir knight, that ſhall you prooue without delay, & ſetting ſpurs to his horſe, ran fiercely againſt the other that refuſed him not, but ſtrake him ſo ſure, yt he ouerthrew him to ye ground. Which Manely wondring at, ſet forward to reuēge his friend: but if ye firſt ſped ill, he ſped no better, no more did Belleris: all thrée riſing vp againe, aſhamed at their fals, which minding to amend by dent of ſwords, the other knight fled along the wood, crying ſo lowd, that they might heare him ſaie: Sir knights, another time ſit better on your horſes, and trouble not your ſelues to follow me, if you meane not to loſe your way. In Gods name (ſaid Talanque) what may this mean, ſhall wée haue no better fortune all this day, I thinke wee are inchaunted. Let vs mount vpon our horſes and follow after him, that wee may knowe whether God or all the diuels in hell haue determined to croſſe vs in this iourny. Wherewith they mounted, determining to follow after ye other, but they heard a lamentable voice, wherfore they ſtaied to ſée what it might bee. With that they eſpied a woman with her head vndreſt, crying out for helpe: And after her ran a lion ready to deuour her: whereat they being mooued with compaſſion, thought to ſtep betwéen thē, but the lion began ſo horribly to rore, yt the horſes ſtricken with fear, bare their maſters aboue two long bows ſhot from thence: meane time, ye woman and the lion vaniſhed away, whereat Talanque and Manely more abaſhed then before, aſked Belleris if euer hee heard of ſuch aduētures. In good faith (ſaid he) thoſe ye are deſirous to ſée ſtrāge things, muſt repaire vnto this fountaine: For there are manie (& ſuch as yet you haue not ſéene) ye wonder it is to hear, & wil you know how it commeth to paſſe? Melie had deuiſed thē long time ſince, wherfore it is not to be maruelled. No more I doe not (ſaid Manely:) neuertheles, were it not for ye enterpriſe we now haue takē in hand, by the faith of a knight (ſaid he) I would not depart from hence before I had ſéene them all. That ſhall bée at another time (ſaid Belleris:) let vs now kéepe on our way, yt wee be not diſcouered. With yt they held on the left hand, alwaies riding toward the citty of Teſifant: & hauing ridden about fiue miles ſpace, they met ten men on horſeback all vnarmed, leading two Gentlewomen, one of them being ſomewhat faire and well apparelled. But the ten men were in ſo great fear, ye leauing the Gentlewomen, they ran and ſaued thēſelues not being purſued, for the thrée knights ſtaied wt the gentlewomen, of whom they hoped to hear ſuch news as they deſired. And in effect, after they had ſomwhat aſſured them, they aſked them what news of king Armato, and whether he were ſtil priſoner. My lords (ſaid the eldeſt Gentlewoman) it is not long ſince hee eſcaped out of the Chriſtians hands, and is returned vnto Teſifant with Melie, that hath ſhut Vrganda in a tower, from whence ſhe ſhal neuer depart without her leaue. That is good newes for vs then (ſaid Belleris:) and what hath king Armato done ſince his returne? Doth he not (ſaied he) meane to bee reuenged on them that kept him priſoner ſo long? I truly (ſaid ſhe) for all the kings, Souldans, Cailiffes, and admirals of the Pagan law, haue promiſed him to arriue at Conſtantinople, and to deſtroy all Chriſtendome. And as it is ſaied, the moſt part of them are already arriued in the iſle of Tenedos. In good faith ſaid Belleris to his companions,) conſidering the ſpéeches of theſe Gentlewomen, I am of this opinion, that we meddle no longer with them, but returne vnto our hold. Wherevnto they both agréed, and letting the Gentlewomen depart, made ſo great haſt, that about two houres after ſunneſetting they arriued at the caſtle La montaigne defendu, where they ſhewed their companions what aduentures they found in the aduenturous fountaine. And at our departure from thence (ſaid they) we found tenne men on horſebacke leading two Gentlewomen, by whom wee haue for certaine vnderſtood, that Vrganda is ſtraightly ſhut vp in one of the towers of Teſifant, and ſo inchaunted therein by Melies coniurations, that ſhe is like neuer to come forth, as alſo that the Pagan kings aſſemble themſelues together in the iſle of Tenedos, to ouerrun the Emperour of Conſtantinople, and all the Chriſtians countrey.

CHAP. XLVI. How the Pirate Creſcelin, nephew to the admiral Tartary, brought certaine newes to Eſplandian of the great army that the lordes of the eaſt parts prepared to come vnto Conſtantinople.

THe report that Belleris, Talanque, and Manely, vſed to their companions as touching the great preparation the Pagans made to inuade the Empyre of Conſtantinople and all Chriſtendome, cauſed them to thinke thereon, in ſuch ſort, yt they tooke counſell to determine among themſelues, whether it were better for thē to augment the garriſons of the caſtle La montaigne defendu, Alfarin, and Galatia, or goe to Conſtantinople to aide the Emperour. And as they were in debating of the matter, Creſcelin nephewe to the Admirall of Gréece, (that not long before had ſtollen tenne Gallies from the Emperour to roue vpon the ſea) came to aduertiſe the Knights, that as he ſailed into Phrigia, he had diſcouered in the iſle of Tenedos, ſo many Gallies, Foiſtes, and other veſſels, of the enemies, that the ſea ſéemed couered therewith, who without doubt aſſembled to ouerrun the Emperour & deſtroy all Chriſtendome: wherefore (ſaid he) I thought to let you vnderſtand the ſame, not onely becauſe you might prouide for them, but alſo to deſire your fauours to entreate the Emperour in my behalfe: aſſuring you, that if hee pardon the offence I haue committed againſt his maieſty, I will frō henceforth do him ſo good ſeruice, that he ſhall like it well. My lord Creſceline (ſaied Eſplandian) I haue alwaies heard ye emperor reported to be one of the beſt princes liuing in ye world, & moſt eaſie to bée appeaſed, whē wt reaſon men reconcile themſelues vnto him: wherefore I am aſſured, yt if he know you mean faithfully to ſerue him as you proteſt, yt he wil not only forget your fault, but do you much more good thē to others of his mē: and the better to incite him thereunto, I am of this opinion, that with your ſhips you preſently returne to the goulfe Propontide, & there (if it be poſſible) ſhall find the means to take ſome Turkiſh gally, thereby to know the truth of their intent: and if you will, Belleris ſhall go with you, and according to your reports, we will determine what were beſt for vs to do, wherevnto the pirat willingly condiſcended: ſo that the ſame day he put to ſea, and with Belleris they coaſted the countrey of Thrace vnto Solombre, where ſtaying ſecretly at the entrie of the goulfe, they continued certaine daies to bring their enterpriſe to paſſe: meane time Eſplandian not being idle, & thinking vpon the newes that Creſcelin brought, was of aduiſe that Frandalo & all the other knights of great Brittain ſhould returne to Conſtantinople to aid ye Emperor (which he deſired them to do:) & I (ſaid he) with the king of Denmarke, Gandalin, and Enil, with the garriſon of this place, will ſtay the returne of thoſe that are gone to Tenedos, and hauing ſpoken with them, either we will remaine here ſtill, or preſently follow you. Eſtéeme I pray you, if this opinion of Eſplandian were liked of by Norandel, for that from the day he left quéen Minoreſſe, he had not ſhewen a pleaſant countenance, but was ſo melancholly that euery man wondred thereat: and although the reſt were not infected with the like diſeaſe, yet was there none that ſtarted backe, but all agréed to Eſplandians mind: whervpon without long delay, they imbarked themſelues with ſo good a wind, that the ſeuenth day after they arriued at Conſtantinople, whereof the Emperour being aduertiſed was excéeding glad, going to méet them at the hauen: and hauing embraced them one by one, not ſéeing Eſplandian in their company, hee aſked where they left him: with that the knights told him what intelligence they had receiued by Creſcelins means from out of Aſia, the great danger prepared againſt him by the kings of the Eaſt, how hée and Belleris were returned to ſée the countenance of the enemie, and to know more certaine newes: and laſtly, what the occaſion was why Eſplandian ſtayed behind in the caſtle La montaigne defendu, with the king of Denmarke, Gandalin and Enil. The Emperour hearing theſe newes, was much abaſhed, yet like a ſtout and valiant prince diſſembled what he thought, and not long after (minding to preuent all inconueniences) in all haſt cauſed Conſtantinople and his other townes, places, and hauens of the ſea, to be prouided of victuals and munition as hée thought méeteſt for them: meane time ſending forth his captaines throughout all his Empire, to aſſemble men in all places, that might be readie when occaſion ſerued. Thus did the Emperour take care to prouide for his affaires: and Norandel meane time to gouerne Minoreſſe, who minding to trie him like gold within the fornace, one day among the reſt ſhewed him a harder countenance than vſually ſhe did, faining ſhe had receiued newes that he loued a ladie in great Brittain: wherein Norandel by all meanes ſought to excuſe himſelfe: but the more he ſéemed conſtant, ſo much more did the Quéene make him beléeue ſhée thought the worſe of him: wherewith he was in ſuch perplexitie, that hee could not chooſe but ſay: In faith madame, as farre as I perceiue, you meane to end my daies, for the wrong you do me is ſo great, that it can not well be iudged but by ſuch as know your crueltie: and yet the affection I beare you is ſo great, that neither I nor any other can well expreſſe the ſame, if preſently they doe not ſhew the beauty and perfection wherewith nature hath adorned you. Wherefore eſtranging me from your wonted fauour, I perceiue my life begin to ſhorten, wherewith I am not grieued, were it not, that dying, I ſhould looſe the meanes to doe you ſeruice, but not the benefite of loyaltie: for whether I liue or die, the ſame ſhall ſtill accompanie my ſoule vnto the place of reſt. Which wordes when Norandel had vttered, the tears trickled down his chéekes. Whereat Quéene Minoreſſe tooke ſuch pitie, that forgetting her diſſimulation, with a ſmiling countenance ſhée anſwered him and ſaid: My good friend, I now beléeue you well, and therefore I pray you pardon my indiſcretion: for ſo it is, that this that I haue done, hath béene onely to auoid the meanes that ſhould procure you to attempt the ſame. Now I well perceiue your conſtancie (according to my counſell at your laſt departure hence) remember I beſéech you how neceſſarie diſſimulation is to ſuch as are infected with the like diſeaſe: I meane, it ſhould not bée betwéene vs two, but before the world that they perceiue it not. Madame (ſaid Norandel) I will not if I may offend your Grace, knowing mine owne conſtancie ſo well, that impoſſible it were for me to withdrawe my loue from you, as alſo not to ſerue and honour you, yea though you ſhould reward mée with the greateſt cruelties that all ſuch as loue & are not loued, might endure. While they thus deuiſed togither, the Princeſſe Leonorine (that ſerued them as a watch) entertained Frandalo and the reſt, and making as if ſhe knewe not the cauſe of Eſplandians returne to Conſtantinople, ſhée aſked it of them, faining to be diſpleaſed at the ſame, but they excuſed him: in like ſort they did vnto the emperour, as you heard before.

CHAP. XLVII. How Creſcelin and Belleris returned to the caſtle La montaigne defendu, with a ſhip that they had taken from the Turks, by whome they vnderſtood the enemies pretence.

NOt long after that Creſcelin and Belleris departed from the caſtle La montaign defendu, ſayling as ſecretly as they could along the coaſt of Phrigia, fortune fauoured them ſo well, that a Brigandine ſayling to Tenedos, charged with Turkes, fell into their hands, whereof they left but foure aliue: by whom they certainely vnderſtood, that the armie of the Princes of the Eaſt was to depart from thence within a moneth or ſixe wéekes after at the furtheſt, and ſaile to Conſtantinople, which they hoped eaſily to ſurpriſe, hauing by their eſpials had intelligence that the Emperour made no preparation to withſtand them. Which hauing heard, they returned without longer ſtay to giue aduiſe vnto Eſplandian, who fearing that the Emperour would not be able to withſtand their might, determined to vſe the ayde of all his feiendes, minding to ſend Gandalin and Enil vnto them, with letters to the ſame effect: ſpecially to his vncle the Emperour of Rome, to whome hée wrote as followeth.

My lord, the danger I ſée prepared againſt all Chriſtendome, conſtraineth me to ſend this meſſenger vnto you, by whome at large your Grace may vnderſtand how great and puiſſant an armie all the Kings and Potentates of the Eaſt (enemies of our faith) haue lately raiſed, by the perſuaſion of Armato king of Turkie, therwith to ouer-runne not only the Empire of Greece, but all the land of Chriſtendome, and wholly to extinguiſh our faith and holy lawe. And for that all thoſe of whome you hold the place, haue alwaies béene the true defenders of the Chriſtian faith, as alſo that the caſe toucheth you ſo néere, I am of this aduiſe (my lord) that you ought to ſpare neither mony nor men, but to aſſemble your forces in all haſt, and prepare your veſſels to aid and ſuccour the good prince, who is the frontier (as you knowe) both vnto you and all the potentates that hold the law of Chriſt. I write the like vnto the king my father, and to the moſt part of all the Chriſtian Lordes, to whome I ſend Gandalin. And for that Enil hath in charge to certifie your grace by word of mouth, what it ſhall pleaſe you to demand, I will not trouble you with many lines, beſéeching you to giue credit vnto him, as to my ſelfe. The like he wrote to the king of Sardaigne: which two meſſages Enil had in charge: to whome he gaue ample inſtructions and remembrances of all the aduertiſements and ſecret intelligences he had receiued from the Turkiſh coaſt: not onely of the number of men both on horſe and foot; but alſo of the multitude of their veſſels and other warlike inſtruments: commaunding Gandalin to goe with him till he came vnto Cicilia, where he ſhould prouide ſhipping to ſaile into great Brittaine to Amadis his father, and from thence to France vnto king Perion, then to Sobradiſe to Galaor, likewiſe to king Bruneau, to Quedragant, Dragonis, and Goſquilant: to whome he ſent like ſeuerall letters: Gandalin carrying them likewiſe the ſame inſtructions that Enil had vnto the Emperour, commaunding them expreſly to aſſure them all, that he would not depart from the caſtle La montaigne defendu, before their arriuall there, but meant to kéepe it while breath was in his body. Gandalin and Enil had ſo good and proſperous a weather, that in leſſe than fiftéene daies after their departure, they paſſed the countrey of Meſſine, and landed at Saragource, where Gandalin hired a Brigandine to execute his charge. And to the end you may vnderſtand what effect their meſſages did worke, I will leaue Gandalin trauerſing the Mediteranean Sea, and entring into the Ocean, and ſpeake of Enil that arriued at Oſtre, where as then he found the Emperour accompanied with king Floreſtan, deuiſing onely of haukes and houndes: but when they eſpied Enil, preſuming he brought ſome ill newes, they aſked him where hée left Eſplandian: Enil knowing how to behaue himſelfe, kiſſed the letters, and gaue one to the Emperour, the other to the king of Sardaigne: which hauing read, and perceiuing them to be of credit, tooke him apart where hee diſcouered vnto them all you heard before. With that the Emperour leauing Enil with king Floreſtan, went vnto the gentlemen and knights that then were preſent, and ſaid vnto them: My friends, wée muſt all to the warres: my nephew Eſplandian hath aduertiſed me (by this gentleman expreſſely ſent vnto me) that the king of Turkie and all his allies are in armes, and haue raiſed a mighty armie to aſſaile my brother ye Emperor of Conſtantinople: but I vow to God (if he giue me life & helpe) that before the moneth of September next enſuing, I will be there with ſuch a force, that I will make him twice repent how hee ſo raſhly dooth aſſaile, and learne him to defend himſelfe. Wherefore let euery man bée ready, for I will goe my ſelfe in perſon: and calling king Floreſtan he aſked him if hee would goe with him: My lord (ſaid he) to morrow I will ſend to all my ports & hauens, that all the ſhips of war that can be found may be in a readines: meane time I will in all parts aſſemble men to doe as my nephew Eſplandian hath required. My Lord (ſaid Enil) my lord Eſplandian hath written by Gandalin to king Amadis and other of his friends, whome he hath deſired to ioyne with you, ſo yt I hope about one time all your armies wil be ready, & that wiihout long ſtaying for each other, you will aſſemble all togither. Truly (ſaid king Floreſtan it was well deuiſed. With that diuers captaines were diſpatched into ſundry places to giue order for their men, and to ballace, rigge, and prepare veſſels for their voiage into the Eaſt. Gandalin on the other ſide coaſting the Iſles of Maiorque and Minorque, leauing Guinea and Barbarie, paſſed the ſtraits of Gibraltar, and had ſo good a wind, that in fewe daies without ſtaying in Spaine, hée arriued in great Brittain with king Amadis, who as then continued in London, and preſented him with the letter that Eſplandian ſent, ſhewing him likewiſe his charge by word of mouth, the good and euill aduentures that he had had ſince he departed from Myrefleur, and among the reſt the ouerthrowe of the Turkiſh armie on the ſea, the taking of king Armato, the occaſion why the ſiege roſe vp before the caſtle La montaigne defendu, the arriuall of Gaſtilles, the taking of Alfarin, and of the captaine of Teſifant, the ſurpriſing of Galatia, the loſſe of Vrganda: and laſtly all what you haue read at large in the chapters going before. And to the end my lord (ſaid he) that order may be had to preuent the inconuenience he foreſéeth to be prepared againſt all Chriſtendome (if it be not ſuccoured) he hath expreſly willed me to ſhew you, that he hath had certaine intelligence, that all the kings of the Eaſt parts haue ſworne and promiſed, togither to ouerrunne all Chriſtendome: which is verie likely, conſidering the great preparations and aſſembly of men they haue alreadie made in the Iſle of Tenedos: which is ſuch, that as our ſpies report, they are at leaſt ſixe hundred ſayle of ſhippes, and about foure or fiue hundred thouſand men. God will helpe vs if it pleaſeth him, ſaid king Amadis, for my part, I will doe what poſſible I may, and will like wiſe aduertiſe king Perion my father and my brother Galaor. My lord (ſaid Gandalin) I haue alſo charge to trauaile vnto them, and likewiſe vnto Gaſquillan, Don Bruneau, Quedragant, and others, to whome Eſplandian hath written in like ſort as he hath done to you, and hath expreſly giuen me in charge to ſée king Luiſart, and doe his humble commendations vnto him. It is great reaſon (ſaid the king:) neuertheleſſe I am of this opinion, that before my mother ye quéene you doe not once declare the occaſion of your comming, but giue her to vnderſtand that all is well, but not vnto the king, if you find him alone: for he is a man (as euery one well knoweth) to take all things with patience as they ſhall fall out: and becauſe my ſonnes affaires require no delay, I pray you Gandalin after you haue refreſhed your ſelfe a day or two, goe on your iourney as you haue in charge. So Gandalin that day remained there, during which time Quéene Oriane talked long with him: the next day he departed to ſée King Luiſart and Quéene Briſenne at Mirefleur, who knowing he came of meſſage from Eſplandian, were excéeding glad: the Quéene although ſhée were wiſe and verie aged, yet could not change her womans nature, but before the king ſpake any word aſked him for her ſonne: but Gandalin (accuſtomed readily to deuiſe excuſes, as hée had béen inſtructed by king Amadis) tolde her that he had left him in the firme Iſle not well at eaſe by reaſon of his long trauell, but not ſo ill (ſaid he) as that he could not haue taken paine to come hither & ſée you, but he feared leaſt his ſicknes would encreaſe: wherefore he thought it better for him to kéep his chamber a while, than to entertaine a long and enuious ague for a long ſpace: which the quéene eaſily beléeued: and for the hope ſhe had ſhortly to ſée him, ſhe made no account thereof: neuertheles, the ſame euening Gandalin tolde king Luiſart all that you heard before, wiſely excuſing himſelfe of the ſpéech he vſed before him vnto the Quéene, as king Amadis had giuen him charge: wherein king Luiſart commended him, & for the reſt he promiſed to thinke theron while he trauailed vnto thoſe with whome he had to doe. In this ſort Gandalin being diſpatched, returned to king Amadis, who in the mean time (perſuaded by quéen Oriane) wrought a marriage for him, as you ſhall heare. You haue read in the beginning of our hiſtory of the ſeruices the gentlewoman of Denmarke did for them, and the things wherein ſhe & Gandalin had béen exerciſed: wherefore it was reaſon, that hauing béen partakers of their youthful toies, ſhe ſhould alſo taſt ſome of their proſperous fortunes. Wherefore quéene Oriane moued king Amadis to make a marriage betwéen them two, but he thought the match vnfit, becauſe the gentlewoman was already aged, & Gandalin being yong and luſty: neuertheles, as all women that are wiſe and of a quicke conceit, can bring their enterpriſes to effect, the Quéene found meanes to get the kings conſent: wherby Gandalin was no ſooner come frō Myrefleur but he took him aſide, & ſaid vnto him: Gandalin, the quéene is deſirous to haue you ſtay with vs, not only for the loue ſhe knoweth I beare vnto you, but alſo for the good ſhée wiſheth you. And for this cauſe ſhe would haue you marry with the gentlewoman of Denmarke, whome ſhe loueth, & will doe much both for her & you, if you conſent thereto: you know her long time ſince both to be wiſe, good, & vertuous, and for my part I pray you and counſell you thereunto. Gandalin would gladly haue excuſed himſelfe, and to ſay the truth, he was too yong for ſo old a match: neuertheleſſe hauing from his infancie learned to confirme his will to ye of Amadis, he was content to doe as pleaſed him: in ſuch ſort, yt in leſſe than thrée daies after the marriage was celebrated and ended. Meane time king Amadis tooke the letters and inſtructions that Gandalin ſhould carry to Gaſquillan and king Bruneau, and ſent them by a gentleman of his named Handro, couſin german to the Counteſſe of Flaunders, deſiring them as much as poſſible they might to aide his ſonne in his ſo good a cauſe: but the next weeke following Gandalin more affected to the ſeruice of Eſplandian thā to court his wife, departed from thence to trauaile into Fraunce vnto king Perion, and from him to Sobradiſe to Galaor. Meane time king Amadis ſent for all the pilots, maſters, and mariners of his countrey that he could find, commending king Arban of Norgales, to take care for all things requiſite for the enterpriſe & charges of ſuch a vſage, both for men and veſſels. In this maner did the affaires touching theſe wars procéed through the greateſt part of Europe, while all the kings in the Eaſt by little & litle aſſembled themſelues togither, as you ſhall heare.

CHAP. XLVIII. How the great citty of Conſtantinople was beſieged by the princes of the Eaſt, and of the ſalies that were made by thoſe of the citty to keepe them from the ſame.

THe army of the Pagan kings daily aſſembling in the Iſle of Tenedos, ye emperor mean time fortified his citty of Conſtantinople both with men & victuals in ye beſt maner he could, cōmanding thoſe yt had charge of his army by ſea to cauſe all his veſſels to come into the Hauen of the town, which he cauſed to be barred with a chaine, that on that ſide he might be out of danger. Thē hee ſent diuers brigandines vnto Natolia, to diſcouer the Pagans army, and bring him certaine newes: Meane time, the countrey people reaped all their corn, and brought it to the citty. Within eight daies after the Brigandines yt were ſent forth, diſcouered in the ſtraights of Helleſpont the great fléet of the Turkes yt lay at Abides, where they ſtayed a certaine time to take in victuals and other munitions neceſſary for their ſhips. Whereof ye emperour being aduertiſed, cauſed his men to muſter, giuing Frandalo charge of the dragon gate, ſo called, becauſe yt at the foundation of the citty, when it was named Biſance, there was found a maruellous Dragon vnder the foundation of ye gate, which dragon was bound chained, and noriſhed, ſo long time, yt it was thought moſt ſtrange. Norandel had charge of the gate called quiline, & Gaſtiles his nephew of that called ye 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 takē by the Turks, came into ye city, and aſſured thē for certaine yt 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 mahoi • 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 ye 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 ye knights of great Brittain ſhewed thēſelues not to bée vnacquainted with ſuch dangers, & who ſo had beheld Norandel, Frandalo, Manely, & Talanque repulſe the enemy, yt thought to aduaunce themſelues, might eaſtly iudge with what deſire they fought. But what ſhuld I ſtand longer to deſcribe this conflict? To conclude, ye gate was defended, & the enemies repulſed from the ſame, yet their number was ſo great, ye 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, yt 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 ye time they loſt their labors, & many of thē their liues, where in the end they were cōſtrained 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 thē in ſuch fear, yt 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 ye wals, where the number of ye aſſailants was ſo great, & the aſſault giuen in ſo many places both by ſea & land, yt if God had not prouided for them, it is moſt certain ye town had ben takē: eſpecially on Frandalos ſide, for the moſt part of his men fled away from their guard: wherby it happened, yt more then a hundred Turks mounted on the wals, but they ſtaied not long, for yt 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 thē glad to get them thence, in ſuch ſort, yt they receaued no leſſe loſſe at the ſecond aſſault then at the firſt. It is true, ye ten of ye knights of great Brittain were ſlaine at ye conflict, which much gréeued their companions, ſpecially for ye 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 ye other kings and princes to know what they ſhold do, where it was concluded to kéep their tents, and ſo incloſe ye town: for to get it by aſſault, they knew ful wel they ſhuld but loſe their labors wherfore they ment no more to try ye ſame: but many times made ſkirmiſhes with ye citty to their no litle loſſe. Thus they paſſed aboue a month without doing any thing worthy ye rehearſing, till one day among ye reſt, a gentlewomā belonging to the ſouldan of Liquie came on meſſage to the gate ye Norandel had in charge, of whō ſhe aſked if ye 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 vnderſtād 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 ye great ſerpent, gréeting. Know thou that ye 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 cōpanions, not hauing once offēded thée: and although we are moſt ſure of ye deſtruction of the wicked emperor ye 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 yt 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 the agréement we ſhall make. Wherefore make mée an anſwere worthy ſuch a Knight, that thereby thy honour be not ſtained.

Norandel hauing read this letter, ſhewed it to his friends, who were all of aduiſe to graunt the Soudan his requeſt. But Norandel would determine nothing before hée made the Emperour acquainted, vnder whoſe conduct during the ſiege, he had ſubmitted himſelfe: whereupon hee went to ſpeake with him, and hauing ſhewed him the contents of the letter that hée had receiued in Eſplandians name, and the counſell of his companions, the Emperour aſked him what hee thought therein. My lord (ſaied hee) if it pleaſed you, that I and nine others which I will chuſe, ſhall vndertake this combate, you ſhal doe vs great fauor. My good friend (ſaid the Emperor) you ſée the eſtate wherein I am, and the time wherein I ought to kéepe, not onely you and others wherein I put my whole affiance, but the meaneſt ſouldiour in this Cittye. Neuertheles, I will ſo much agrée vnto your will, that if you and your companions thinke it good, I am content you do it. My lord (ſaid Norandel) both I and they moſt humblye craue it of your grace. Wel then (ſaid the Emperour) If it pleaſeth God, you ſhal win honour thereby, as you haue done before in many as perrillous aduentures as this is. Norandel thanked the Emperour, and the ſame day cauſed his Knights of great Brittaigne to bee aſſembled together, by whoſe aduiſe there was an Aunſwere framed to the Soudans letters, the contents whereof doe follow.

The knights that are ſeruants to Ieſus Chriſt, being at this time with the Emperor of Conſtantinople, for the defence & augmentation of the Chriſtians name, to thée Rodrigue Souldan of Liquie, like gréeting thou haſt ſent vnto the knight of the great ſerpent: a gentlewoman that ſaith ſhee belongeth vnto thée, that hath giuen vs a letter directed vnto him, the contents wherof are in two points. In ye firſt, yu complaineſt of the enterpriſes he hath made againſt thine vncle king Armato: in the other thou ſheweſt a deſire yu haſt to proue thy perſon againſt his, or a greater number againſt a greater, as he ſhal think it good. But for yt the knight thou writeſt vnto at this preſent is not here, nor in place wheras he can return thée anſwer, we thought it conuenient in his behalf to ſatiſfie thy requeſt, & to accept the offers thou haſt made vnto him: aſſuring thée, yt here is the ſon of a king, & nine other knights with him yt wil fight with thée and as many more of thine, if thou be content therwith: Aduiſe thy ſelf thē herein, & hauing receiued thy anſwere, with ſafe conduict ſafely to go and come, we wil not faile to be in the place where you ſhall appoint.

This letter ſealed vp, Norandel gaue it to one of his ſquires to bear it to the ſoudan, who made him anſwere yt he deſired only to proue his body againſt the knight of ye great ſerpent & none other. But (ſaied he) if thoſe yt ſent you hether haue any deſire to fight againſt ten of my knights, they ſhall find thē ready, being as great gentlemen and of as high a linage as they are. And as touching their ſafe conduict, I wil ſo wel prouide for it, yt they ſhall haue occaſion to think wel of me: wherfore return thou vnto thē, and let me know their anſwere. With that the ſquire hauing his diſpatch, went and came ſo often betwéene them, that in the end the combate of ten to ten was fully agréed vpon, and the liſts appoint hard before the Towne: where they the next morning the tenne knights went, whoſe names were as followeth. Norandel, Garuate du Val Craintif, Talanque, Manely, Ambor de Galdel, Elian le delibere, Brauor ſon of Balan, Trion couſin germane to Quéene Briolanie, Imoſil de Burgoigne, and Liſtoran of the ſiluer bridge.

CHAP. XLIX. How the ten Chriſtian knights entred into the liſts, and of the combate betweene them and tenne Pagan knights that belonged to the Souldan of Liquie.

ALL that night the ten Knights watched in the principalleſt church of Conſtantinople, confeſſing thēſelues, and praying vnto God as if they ſhould preſently die: The next day as the ſunne began to appeare, the Emperour accompanied of diuers Noblemen, the Empreſſe, ye Princeſſe Leonorine, Quéene Minoreſſe, with diuers other Ladies and Gentlewomen, came vnto them, where they heard maſſe deuoutly, that done, they returned vnto the pallace where Norandel and his nine companions armed themſelues, the ladies ſeruing them for ſquires, in ſuch ſort, as Norandel receaued ſuch fauor at quéen Minoreſſes handes, that ſhee found meanes to helpe to buckle on euery péece of his armour one after the other. As ſhee was buſie about him, he found meanes to ſay vnto her: Madame, the honor that you doe me, maketh mee ſo couragious, that this day I hope to make it knowne to thoſe that ſhall beholde vs fight, how much my ſtrength is now increaſed by your meanes. But if it pleaſed you to beſtow ſome fauour vpon me, that I might bear the ſame about my armour, I ſhould account my ſelfe for one of the moſt happy knights liuing on the yearth. My good friend (ſaied ſhe) the moſt precious iewell yt I can giue vnto you, is my heart yt ſhal accompany yours, to the end, that being vnited together, they may the better preſerue both your life & mine. And taking a bracelet of gold, that from her infancy ſhe had alwaies kept, ſhee tied it about his right arme. And this circle (ſaied ſhe) being round as you behold it, ſhall without ceaſing bee witneſſe of our loues, ſeruing for a rampart to this army: which (if it pleaſeth God) in defending it ſhal ſo wel defend his maſter, yt he ſhall return in as good health as I deſire he ſhould. Norandel thanked her moſt heartily: mean time Leonorine intertained Talanque, Manely & the reſt, to whom ſhe ſaid: My friends, I hope the Lord wil ſhew you ſo much grace that the victory ſhall be yours, for the combat you take in hand is not for to defend the honour of a Gentle woman, but the glorious faith of Chriſt. If therfore it be ſo, ye ſtrength procéedeth from him, be you thē wel aſſured, yt he wil impart ſo much to you as you ſhal want. Madame (ſaid Talanque) at other times we haue ben at the like feaſt, from whence we haue returned to the great expence of thoſe yt called vs thither: as (if it be Gods wil) we hope this day to do ye like. Wherwith taking their leaues of her, they went to find their horſes, and being mounted, the emperor with great number of knights and gentlewomen brought them to the gate: And committing them to God, the ten knights marched brauely to ye place of combat, where the ſouldan with a great number of his friends met thē, aſking them whom the emperor had appointed iudge on their ſide. Souldan (ſaid Norandel) wée deſire no other iudge then your ſelf, that are accounted a curteous and moſt faithfull prince. By all my gods (ſaid he) I had rather die a thouſand deaths, then you ſhould indure the leaſt iniury in the world: we beléeue it wel (ſaid al the knights. With yt he cauſed them to enter into the liſts at one end, and the ten pagans at the other: but before they entred into fight, he called Norandel & his companions, & ſaid vnto them: My friends, I pray you let me ſhew you what the cuſtome of my country is in ſuch affairs: thē if you think good, you may obſerue it, if not, my knights ſhal kéep your cuſtome if it be indifferēt. Shew vs thē (ſaid Norandel) what it is, & if ye ſame be reaſonable, we wil not refuſe it. You ſhal vnderſtand (ſaid he) yt all knights iuſtle one againſt one, to ye end, yt all men may know ye excellency of the victor: And if any one be ouerthrown, he yt is on horſeback ſhall not aſſaile ye other before their companions haue run out their courſe: Then he that is on horſeback ſhall alight, and ſhall fight it out by dint of ſword with him that before was ouerthrown. Becauſe it chanceth oftentimes, that the beſt knights that are fall into ſuch inconuenience, only by the fault and means of bad horſes, which cauſe them diuers times either to faile in ſtriking of their enemy, or els not to run their right courſe: Which cannot bee excuſed in thoſe that are on foot, to whome it is permitted to ſuccour each other if néed require. Truly (ſaid Norandel) that cuſtome is wel ordained, and I and my companions will obſerue the ſame. Wherwith the ſoudan went out of the liſts, cauſing his Heralds to proclaim the fight: With that a Pagan ſtepped forth againſt Norandel, that refuſed him not: but couering himſelfe with his ſhield, they met ſo fiercely, that their ſpears were brokē to their wreſts, méeting body to body with ſo great ſtrength, that the Pagan fell ouer his horſe taile, lying flat vpon the ground: but Norandel had no hurt, onely that his horſes ſhoulder was thruſt out of ioint, ſo that he lighted of, ſtaying til the reſt had runne their courſe, as he had promiſed. Then Garuate du Val Craintif ran againſt one of the other, and they charged each other in ſuch ſort, that their féet failing in their ſtirrops, they were both caſt out of their ſaddles. Then Talanque ran againſt the third Pagan, to whome fortune was more fauourable then to any of the reſt: for they ran ſo wel, that neither of them once ſtarted aſide, or moued in their ſaddles, and yet brake their ſpeares in many péeces. The like chanced to Manely and Ambor, but not to Brauor the ſon of Balan, for hee hit him that ran againſt him right in the breaſt, and threw him from his horſe. And preſently therewith Imoſil of Burgundy had ſo great a ſtroke with a launce, that his eies ſtarted in his head, and was therewith ſo much aſtoniſhed, that his horſe bare him to the ſide of the b • rriers, where he fell downe flat. Elian le delibere, and hee that ran againſt him, were conſtrained to holde by their horſes maines. Liſtoran of the ſiluer bridge miſſed his ſtroke, and his enemy likewiſe: the like happened to Trion, and the laſt that ran with him. That done, all they that were on horſebacke, lighted downe to fight with ſwords, and there began betwéen them ſuch a fight as the like had not béene ſéene of ſo few knights together, maintaining themſelues ſo brauely one againſt the other, that the ſtrongeſt of them was ſo wearie and out of breath, that they were conſtrained to reſt. And as Norandel leaned vpō his ſword which he reſted on the ground, the bracelet that Minoreſſe gaue him fell downward vpon his arme, which put him in ſo good remembraunce of her, that cleane forgetting all the trauaile hée he had taken before, he ſpake ſo loud that euery man might hear, and ſaid: By God, ſir Knight, this reſt doth not beſéeme vs: many men will from henceforth be in doubt of the great glory that now we meane to win. Wherefore let euery man ſhewe forth what he can doe, and let no man ſpare. Wherewith taking the little péece of his ſhield that reſted in his hand, and lifting vp his arme, he gaue ſo great a blow vnto his enemie, that he made him réele therewith: and doubling it, ſtrake him ſo ſurely on the helmet, that with the blow the Turke was forced to knéele downe, and let his ſword fall out of his hand: which Norandel ſeaſed vpon being readie to ſtrike off his head, if he had not cried him mercie: which Talanque and Manely perceiuing, employed their forces in ſuch manner, that it might eaſily be iudged they would ſoon obtaine the victorie. As for Brauor he had alreadie ſtricken his knight downe, wherefore he ranne to helpe the reſt, and Norandel likewiſe. With the which helpe it ſoone appeared, that they which reſted yet to ouercome would not long reſiſt: for in ſhort ſpace they found themſelues in ſuch extremitie, that vnleſſe the Souldan of Liquie had deſired the Chriſtian knights to ſtay a while, they had all died: but calling Norandel vnto him, he ſaid: I pray you (ſaid he) procéed no further in this combat, and content your ſelues that I account my knights for vanquiſhed, as in truth they are, and ſo hardly handled, that the force you ſhall from henceforth vſe againſt them, ſhall more be holden for a kinde of crueltie than any chiualrie. Neuertheles if my requeſt may take no place with you doe as you thinke good. Souldan (ſaid Norandel) if they acknowledge it at our hands and aſke vs mercie, they ſhall not faile to haue it: for it was neuer our cuſtome to vſe force to ſuch as could not ſtand againſt vs. Content your ſelues (ſaide he) that I that am their Lord yéeld you the victorie, and I pray you therefore ſhew mercie vnto them, ſwearing vnto you by my crowne (if you doe them ſo much good) that while I liue, I will not be vnmindfull of the ſame. With that the ten Chriſtian knightes went out of the fielde, and mounting on their horſes, tooke their way vnto the citie, where the Emperour ſtaied for them, for he had ſéene the iſſue of the combat, and how they returned victors: but he heard not what words had paſt betwéene them, till they being lighted off their horſes, told him what was done, for the which hee praiſed God, eſtéeming more of them for their courteſie they had ſhewen vnto the enemy.

CHAP. L. How Queene Calafre came to aide the Pagans, and of the maruailous and perillous aſſault that ſhee gaue to the citie of Conſtantinople.

THe renowne of this warre vndertaken by the Kings, Taborlans, Souldans, Califfes, and Princes dwelling in Tartaria, India, Arabia, and other countries in the Eaſt, againſt the Emperour and his Empire of Conſtantinople, was ſpread ſo far abroad, that it was knowne to the puiſſant Quéene Calafre reigning in Califorine, a moſt fertile and pleaſant countrey, confining on the head of the riuer Boriſtenes, hard by the foot of the Riffee mountains. This countrey whereof I ſpeake, was ſometimes peopled with good knights and men of all quarters, but the women vpon malice deuiſed a meanes to kill them all, eſtabliſhing a law among themſelues, that from that time forwardes they would acknowledge for Ladie and Quéene one of their owne country women, gouerning themſelues as the Amazons vſed to doe. Whereby it was not lawfull for any of them to vſe the companie of men aboue once or twice a yéere, vpon the daies and times by them appointed, when they went out of their owne countrie and vſed their neighbours helpe, with whom God knoweth if they found not meanes to make them pay the vſurie of the time loſt, in ſuch ſort, that moſt of them returned home with child: but the bringing vp of their children was far different, for the maiden children were kept aliue, burning their right paps, but not the 〈◊〉 children, for as ſoone as they were borne they put them to death, hauing agréed not to ſuffer one aliue, or els ſo few, that they very eaſily might ouercome them. For this cauſe often times they warred againſt the Tartarians bordering on their country, putting them to great trouble by diuers and continuall inuaſions, as well by ſea as by land. In their lawes and cuſtomes they obſerued ſo great rigour, as that if any man (by caſualtie or otherwiſe) fell into their hands, he prooued for food vnto a great number of griffo • s, nouriſhed among them when they were young, being ſo tame and gentle, that neuer any hauke knewe better the Faulkoners lure, then thoſe gentle birds knew the voice of her that ordinarily fedde them. To come vnto the point, this quéene of Califorine being a woman of great ſpirit, valiant, hardie, young, faire, and of good behauiour, hearing of the warres vndertaken againſt the Chriſtians, was deſirous to be there, not for any ill ſhée wiſhed them, but onely for to know them, and to ſée their countrey that bare ſo great renowme. And for that cauſe ſhe aſſembled great numbers of the principall ladies of her countrey, ſhewing them what honour they might obtaine in that voiage: which may peraduenture be ſuch (ſaid ſhée) that by our force and great proweſſe wée may greatly augment our Empire, béeing feared and redoubted of each man, and not continue alwaies buried among theſe mountaines, as they in times paſt did, of whome at this preſent wée now poſſeſſe and enioye the place. The Quéene in this ſort could ſo well perſuade them, that they being mooued with a marueilous deſire to goe with her, preſently prepared their ſhippes, and ſet ſaile for Thracia, with ſo good and proſperous a winde, that the tenth day after the aſſaults of Conſtantinople, they arriued in the armie of Armato, where they were honourably receiued: & after diuers ſpéeches vſed by the Souldan of Liquie, and other princes of the campe vnto the quéene of Califorine, ſpecially touching their determination concerning that great enterpriſe, ſhée being ſorrie they had done ſo little againſt the towne, deſired them that ſhe might once haue leaue to try her fortune againſt it, by means that ſhe would vſe. And the better to induce them thereunto, ſhe told them ſhe had fiftie griffons that would not faile (béeing let out of their cages) to ſeaſe vpon the Chriſtians without hurting of her women, becauſe they knewe them and had béen nouriſhed with them. And while they take their flight (ſaid ſhe) I will giue ſuch an aſſault againſt the towne, that without doubt wee will enforce the ſame: for if the Emperors ſouldiers appeare but to defend the wals, my Griffons ſhall be ready to carrie them clean away, as the Merlin doth the larke. But to the end (ſaid ſhe) your men receiue no hurt, let them abide within their tentes till they be ſhut into their cages. When king Armato and the Souldan of Liquie heard the great zeale and affection ſhe ſhewed to employ her forces, as alſo the inuention that ſhe had, they all agréed that the next day after ſhe ſhould doe what liked her. Whereupō ſhe ſent preſently to her that kept the griffons, that ſhée ſhould giue them nothing for to eate of all that day, that when they meant to vſe them at the aſſault, they might be gréedier: and further ſent worde by ſound of drumme, that all her companies ſhould be readie the next day early in the morning, to giue aſſault vnto the citie. Quéene Calafre hauing in this maner prouided for her enterpriſe, at the time appointed all her women armed according to their manner (the moſt part of them bearing bowes) ranne with great furie vnto the walles, and with their ladders began to mount vp: with that the alarme went about the citie, all men running to defend the ſame: and as they were ſome vpon the walles and other places of defence, the Quéene made ſigne to let the Griffons looſe, which being hungry and flying ouer the towne, ſeazed vpon ſuch as they could find abroad: wherewith the Emperours ſouldiers were in ſo great feare, that moſt part of them that fought, forſooke the walles to hide themſelues. Alas what pitie was it to ſée ſouldiers, citizens, knights, and others, yea women and little children, and all whatſoeuer they could get into their clawes taken vp into the aire, and ſomtimes hauing taken them vp, they let them fall vpon the ſtones, whereby they had a ſtrange and cruell death: ſurely if God had not kept the Cittie better than thoſe that had the charge, it is moſt ſure it had béene taken at that time. But there happened a ſtrange caſe, for as the Griffons helde their prey, and that the Knights of great Brittaine with ſome ſmall number of others, reſiſted the aſſault made by the women, the Turkes (that had béen aduertiſed not to come out of their tents while they aſſailed the towne) mooued with too gréedy a deſire to ſacke the Citte which they thought ſurely had béen taken, ranne vnto the aſſault making ſuch a noiſe, that the Griffons (féeding on their preyes) left the bodies they had ſeazed vpon, and flying vp againe, ſeaſed on them that they ſawe come running to the towne, whereof in ſhort ſpace after they made ſo great a butcherie, that more than foure hundred Turkes were preſently ſlaine by them: meane time thoſe within the towne perceiuing that good fortune, did ſo fiercely repulſe the Californiens, that their principall women lay dead within the ditches: wherewith the Quéene was forced to retire, knowing her enterpriſe would not take effect as ſhée deſired it ſhould, not by reaſon of her ſouldiers, but in that they kept not in as they had promiſed. Wherewith ſhe commanded to take the birdes againe, but the Falconers could not by any meanes make them to come in, before they had ſlaine and deuoured aboue a thouſand Turkes and others, whereof they onely ſuckt the blood. Wherewith king Armato and the Souldan of Liquie were ſo grieued, that from thenceforth they began to ſhew ſo hard a countenance to the Quéene, that ſhée was in the minde to returne into her countrey, not offering from that time once to giue ſtroke with ſword to their aduantage. Yet not long after ſhée was appeaſed, and fought with King Amadis, as it ſhall bée ſhewed you at large in the end of this our fift Booke. And that wée may haue the better meanes to attaine thereto, wée will now returne againe vnto the Chriſtian Princes, that aſſembled their powers and forces to helpe the Emperour, imbarking themſelues as preſently you ſhall heare. But before they arriued at Conſtantinople, many good knights both of great Brittaine and others were ſlaine within the citie, not onely in the aſſaultes made againſt it by the Pagans, but at the laſt aſſault made by the quéene Calafre, among the which, none were ſo much lamented as Ledarin de Faiarque, Trys, Imoſill of Burgundie, and the two ſonnes of the gyant Balan.

CHAP. LI. How the Chriſtian Princes as well of the Eaſt as Weſt partes aſſembled their forces to aid the Emperour of Conſtantinople, and of their nauigation.

IF you haue read the diſcourſe of this our hiſtory, it hath béene ſhewed you before, how Enil went vnto the Emperour of Rome, and Floreſtan king of Sardaigne, and what became of Gandalin after he had paſſed the ſtraights of Giberaltar, and entred in the Ocean ſea, euen to great Brittaine and other places, where hée found king Amadis and others, to whome he had charge to goe: Now we muſt declare the reſt. You ſhall therefore vnderſtand, that Gandalin hauing ſoiourned eight daies in London, more by the commaundement of king Amadis and Quéene Oriane, than for the pleaſure that hee tooke in the woman they had cauſed him to marrie, knowing the affaires wherein he had left his companions, departed from thence, and trauailed ſo long, that he arriued in Fraunce, and went vnto king Perion to whome he gaue the letters that his ſonne and grand-child ſent vnto him: and withall declared the ſtate of the Eaſt countries, as they then were, with the inconuenience that might fall vnto all Chriſtendome, if the Empire of Conſtantinople were in obedience to the infidels. So well could Gandalin tell his tale, that the good old king Perion mooued with a holy zeale, determined to go himſelfe in perſon, and to take with him great quantity of ſhips and men, furniſhed for the wars. Gandalin ſtayed not long with him, but while hee prepared himſelfe, hee went into Scotland, Norway, Sobradiſe, Denmarke and Sweathland, and did his Embaſſages ſo well, that all the Kings and Princes to whome hee went, determined with all ſpéede to aid Eſplandian, in ſuch ſort, that in ſhort time after their ſhips were ready, and thoſe of Sweathland, Norway, and Denmarke, come vnto the port of Suer, from whence ſetting ſaile, they coaſted along Freſeland, Holland, and Braband, till they arriued at Bulloigne, where king Perion had prepared great number of Ships, Hulkes, and other veſſels: which being furniſhed with men, victuals, and munition neceſſarye for the warres, hoiſed ſaile and put to ſea. And coaſting Normandie, came to little Brittaigne, where they ankered in S. Mathewes Hauen, where the Kings, Luiſart and Amadis accompanied of Grumedan and diuers other knights, were arriued to refreſh thē ſelues: hauing paſſed the Iſle of Sorlingue, the Iriſh men imbarked themſelues at the cape Antiquan, and the Scots at cape Baſſo. And hauing ſailed the way that the Brittons had paſt, ioined with the Weſterne Princes that went that voiage, in ſuch ſort, that within thrée daies after they ſet ſaile, & hauing a Northeaſt wind, they diſcouered the coaſt of Spaine, paſſing the Port of Finis terre in compoſtelle: after that the cape S. Vincent: & drawing on the left ſide, they paſſed the ſtraights of Gibraltar, & leauing Barbary and Guinde on the right hand, ſailed toward Tamar, Auſtora, and Lagarde, minding to leaue Maiorque & Minorque, to enter into ye ſtraights of Buſina and Monaco, & frō thence to ſaile to the ports of Eleſe and Corſe, where they met with Floreſtan king of Sardaigne & his fléet, but before they ariued there, fortune was ſo contrary vnto them, that certaine of their Gallions could not follow the ſhips, but ſtaied behind to the number of eight, being ſo ſcattered, yt they made account they had been loſt. Neuertheleſſe, the next day they arriued all at Port S. Luce, where without longer ſtaying they paſſed forward to go to Regi, where the army of the Emperor of Rome (comming from Oſty) lay at anker ſtaying for them. Where they continued ſix daies, not onely to take in freſh water, but alſo to calke and mend their ſhippes and other veſſels that had néed: the ſeuenth day hauing a good wind, they hoyſed ankers, and ſetting ſaile, coaſted along the country of Morea, comming to cape de Maluaſie, where the winde fell ſomewhat contrarie: but in the end the ſea waxing calme, put forward to Cape Calon, and the Iſle of Negrepont: and entring into the Archipelago they diſcouered the ſide of the cape Athos, till they approched Galiopi, leauing the Ile of Tenedos, becauſe they would not be diſcouered by the Turkes that Armato had ſet there to kéepe a paſſage for his victuals to bée brought vnto the armie: where they ſtaied not long but they entred into the goulfe of Propontide, coaſting Thrace, till they came vnto the Port of Salombre, which is not aboue thirtie miles from the citie of Conſtantinople, where they landed, that they might the better approch the Pagans campe: with that they agréed among them that king Childadan and Quedragant ſhould be Generals of the armie by ſea: and hauing left ſufficient number of men for the furniſhing and ſafe kéeping of their ſhippes, their fléet ſailed towards Conſtantinople, hoping to ſet vpon Alphorax and his armie by ſea before they ſhould perceiue them. But it fell out otherwiſe, for the Turkes that had ſpies in all places, diſcouered them, not ſuffering Alphorax to fight, deſiring him moſt earneſtly onely to kéepe the entrie of the ſtraits to take all meanes from the towne to be victualled on that ſide. Which king Childadan and Quedragant vnderſtanding, would not hazzard themſelues, but ankered within halfe a myle of the enemie, ſtaying for king Luiſart, the Emperour of Rome, and thoſe that marched by land, meane time giuing diuers ſkirmiſhes to the enemie with their Pinnaces, but Alphorax for all that would not leaue his hole, lying as cloſe as poſſibly he could: on the other ſide Armato and his company being aduertiſed of the great aid that came towards the towne, cauſed their forces to aſſemble, determining to kéep the ſide of the great ſea, by ye which they might eaſilier recouer victuals, as well from Natolia as out of Tartaria. The kings Amadis, Perion, & others made ſuch haſt, that the ninth day after they incamped themſelues in ye ſight of Conſtantinople right before their enemies, in a place that ſéemed moſt conuenient. But if the Pagans at the firſt were much abaſhed to ſée thoſe ſuccours, the Emperor & thoſe within ye town were not much leſſe, doubting it had béen ſome 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 ye 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 ye 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 ye world: for we account our ſelues for ſuch, as that if you will accept the combate of your perſons againſt ours, we will euidently make it knowne, that our valor is no leſſe then yours. And to the end the glorye of the victors may be knowne, the vanquiſhed ſhall remaine in their powers, to diſpoſe of them as they ſhall thinke conuenient. Aduiſe your ſelues therefore to anſwere vs herein by this our meſſenger, to whome wee haue giuen charge to declare vnto you (if you refuſe this combate) that from henceforth we ſhall haue iuſt occaſion to attribute to our ſelues the aduantage of the praiſes and endleſſe glories that fortune heretofore hath giuen you, and to eſtéeme of you as meanely in time to come, as you haue béen highly renowned heretofore.

This letter giuen to the Gentlewoman that bare the firſt to Norandel, ſhe went vnto the Chriſtians campe, and being aduertiſed which was Amadis tent, entered therein, as he ſate talking with king Luiſart, Eſplandian, and other good knights. Where knéeling on the ground, ſhe aſked which of them was the knight of the great Serpent and his father. Amadis ſpake vnto her and ſaied: Gentlewoman, I am the one, and this is my ſonne. Is it your pleaſure to ſpeake with vs? The gentlewoman caſting hir eie vpon Eſplandian, maruelling at his great beautie, ſpake & ſaid: In good faith king Amadis, I verily beléeue that this is hee, for I haue heard him in diuers places eſtéemed for the ſame that nowe I doe behold in him. Gentlewoman (ſaid Amadis) if you came into our camp only to ſée him, you now haue your deſire. That hath not ben only the cauſe (ſaid ſhe) but to bring this letter which the Souldan of Liquie and Quéen Calafre ſend vnto you both: wherfore hauing read it, I pray you returne an anſwere. With that (Amadis hauing taken it in his hand) the Gentlewoman departed out of the tent, attending their reſolution. King Amadis hauing read it, ſhewed it to King Luiſart and the reſt that were in preſence, wherewith there roſe great controuerſie among them concerning the refuſall or acceptation of the combat, for that the moſt part of them were of aduiſe it ſhould not be accepted, ſhewing diuers great and euident reaſons to confirm the ſame, as the greater number of enemies they had before them readye to giue them battaile, & if it happen (ſaid they) that fortune ſhould be contrary to king Amadis and Eſplandian (in whome partly conſiſteth our hope) ſuch hard chance would bréed great fear in diuers men that are now very willing & ready to do the beſt they can. Others held the contrary, ſaying that it would be ſhame vnto them al, for that that refuſal only would much incourage the enemy, but they were of this opinion, that it might wel be required that the number of the combatants might be greater. In good truth (ſaie Amadis) be it of two againſt two, twenty againſt twenty, or of greater number, the victory is in the hands of God. Wherefore in refuſing thereof, I ſhould doe my ſelfe wrong, and cauſe a great blemiſh to all Chriſtendome, that would not be defaced in long time after. Beſides I haue great hope of Gods helpe herein, for whoſe faith and honour I haue vndertaken this voiage. When Eſplandian heard his fathers mind, he ſpake boldlier and ſaid: That he would take that combate vpon himſelfe alone, not onely againſt the Souldan and the Quéene, but againſt two others more with them, rather then it ſo ſhould be refuſed: whereupon it was concluded, that Amadis and he would fight, and ſending for the meſſenger into the tent, Amadis ſaied vnto her: Gentlewoman, you ſhall tel the Souldan and the Quéene that I and my ſon are content to doe as they require, wherefore let them chuſe what arms they will, and for the place it ſhall bee betwéene their campe and ours: aſſuring them on the faith of a king, that not one of our ſoldiours ſhall once remoue, how ſoeuer we ſpéed, which wee deſire likewiſe at their hands: and if it bée their deſire to haue the combate fought this day, we are content to doe it. With that the gentlewoman returned, and comming to the Souldans tent, ſhée declared her meſſage vnto thē, being ſuch as you haue heard: wherof the Souldan was glad, but eſpecially the Quéene, for the great deſire ſhe had to ſée Eſplandian, wherefore ſhee aſked the Gentlewoman what ſhe thought of him. Madame (ſaied ſhee) I haue in my life time ſéene many men and women that nature had indued with great beautie, but by the gods I confeſſe it is all but painting in regard of that I haue found in him: for hee is ſo faire and beautifull, that the more I thinke thereon, ſo much the more it maketh me cōceiue ſuch beauty to be rather deuine thē humane. That is much (ſaid the Quéene.) I know not (ſaid the gentlewoman) what you meane by that word Much, but I am wel aſſured, if you had ſéene him as I did, that you would ſay as much as I doe, and it may be more. Truly (ſaied the Quéene) before I enter in combat with him, I will firſt ſée him vnarmed, and ſpeak with him, not as an enemie to an enemy, but as friends commonly do one vnto the other. Madame (ſaied the Souldan) ſéeing it is your deſire, it were good our Gentlewoman went againe vnto them, to deſire them to giue you leaue to come and viſite them in their campe, not to procure them any cauſe of enuy, but to do them honour: and for that cauſe to deſire their ſafe conduct. This counſell ſéemed good vnto the Quéene, and without longer ſtaying ſhe ſent the Gentlewoman backe againe vnto Amadis and Eſplandian whom ſhe found yet in the Tent whereas ſhe left them. With that ſhe told them what her meſſage was, and the great deſire the Quéene had to ſée them before they entred into combat. King Amadis could not refraine laughing to hear the Gentlewoman expreſſe the affection her miſtreſſe had, aſking king Luiſart what he thought therein. Sonne (ſaied hee) deny not her requeſt, for I aſſure you (ſince our comming hether) I haue heard the Quéene to bée eſtéemed a wiſe and beautifull Princeſſe. You heare our anſwere (ſaied Amadis to the Gentlewoman) let the Quéene come hether when ſhe thinketh good, for ſhe ſhall be heartely welcome. With that the Gentlewoman returned to the Quéene, who being greatly pleaſed with that anſwere, determined the next daye to goe vnto them. But ſhe knew not well what manner of apparell ſhe were beſt to weare: ſometimes ſhee thought it fit to goe as ſhe vſed when ſhe went to bataile, and then preſently changed opinion, thinking a womans apparrell would bee more ſéemely and conuenient, ſéeing ſhe went not to trie their forces, but only to win the loue and fauour of Eſplandian, if ſhe might procure the ſame. And thinking on it all night long, in the morning when ſhe meant to apparrell her ſelf, ſhe was reſolued to dreſſe her as women vſe to do, thinking ſhe had means inough afterward to ſhew her ſelfe in habite of a knight, whereby ſhee might bee ſéene both in the one and the other ſort. Whervpon ſhe cauſed her moſt precious robes to be brought vnto her, and apparrelling her ſelf, forgot not any thing that might once beautifie or adorn her perſon, or that in her opinion would deck her well, the better to be liked. And to bear her company ſhe tooke twelue of her own gentlewomen, ſo well furniſhed and ſet forth with ſtones and pearles, that the like was neuer ſéene. That done, ſhe ſent vnto her ſhips for a moſt ſtrange and monſtrous beaſt, wherevpon ſometimes ſhee vſed to ride in great pomp. It was as big as a great Dromadary, the hair long & ſomewhat yellow, black ſpots, his two eares hanging downe vnto his knées, hauing but one eye, ſhining brighter then a burning glaſſe, and ſtood right in the midſt of his forehead: out of his mouth there iſſued two great téeth like hornes, and although his féet were clouen like an ox, yet was there no Hart in all the world yt could outrun him, were it in plaine way, or ouer rockes. In that manner ſhe entered into the Chriſtans campe, of whom ſhe was not a little wondred at before ſhee came to King Luiſarts tent, where Amadis and in a maner all the principal captaines of the army ſtaied for her, praying Quedragant to goe out to welcome her, which he did with great courteſie: for he had no ſooner eſpied her, but hee ſtepped forward, and doing her great reuerence, holpe her to diſcend, and taking her by the arme, led her into the tent, where the lords were all aſſembled, of whome ſhee was moſt honourably receiued. But when ſhe beheld Eſplandians beauty, ſhe was ſo much ſurpriſed with the loue of him, yt ſhee repented her comming thether, not ſo much for the ſmall hope ſhee had to win him, (being diuers in religion) but doubting yt the fantaſy newly entred into hir mind would ſo much eſtrange hir force (by ouermuch thinking vpon him) when ſhe went to fight, yt therby ſhe ſhould be in danger to loſe the honour and reputation ſhee had gotten in arms among the beſt knights in all ye world: which to preuent, ſhee determined to ſtay the leſſe time there, knowing the nature of loue to bee ſuch, yt it can ſteale the hearts of all perſons, and commonly maketh himſelfe poſſeſſor of it, before hee that hath it in poſſeſſion, can perceaue it. And as the Princes entertained her with diuers ſwéete and pleaſant ſpéeches, ſhee tourned to Eſplandian and ſaied: Sir Knight, for two moſt excellent graces that are in you, I haue taken the paines to come and viſite you: The firſt is the gift of beauty, which is ſuch in you, as I could neuer haue imagined the ſame: The other is the force of your body and magnanimity of your courage, whereby you are accounted altogether inuincible. The one I haue ſéen with mine eies to be ſo perfect, that I neuer hope to ſée the like againe, although I liued a thouſand yeares and more: the other, ye combat you ſhal haue againſt the moſt puiſſant Souldan of Liquie will be a witneſſe vnto vs: and had it not ben that hée requeſted me to fight againſt king Amadis (becauſe his onely deſire is to prooue his body againſt yours) I would haue tried it my ſelfe. Of one thing can I wel aſſure you, that if the honour remaine to vs and life to you, I will afterward tel you a thing that much importeth me, and which I greatly deſire to let you know before I ſaile into my countrey. Now for this time I haue ſatiſfied my deſire: wherefore my lords (ſaid ſhe vnto all the Princes) I beſéech you pardon me in not vſing longer ſpéeches, for I know full well that my long ſtaying with you, (thinking to finde that I hoped for) might poſſible cauſe me to loſe my ſelfe, wherewith I ſhould be ouermuch diſpleaſed, for that before ſunneſetting I hope to bée in place where I will ſhew ſuch valour in armes, that hee which neuer could be vanquiſhed by man (as it is reported) ſhal now receiue an ouerthrow at a ſimple womans hand. Madame (ſaied king Perion) fortune can doe much when it pleaſeth her, if you do as you ſay, truly you ſhall doe more then we can well beléeue, but commonly ye workman is known by his worke, and becauſe the iſſue of the combat is the glory of him or you, til then we wil defer our iudgements. And although Amadis perceiued himſelfe much outraged by the quéen, yet he made no ſign thereof, but taking her by ye arm, led her where her company ſtaied, and as ſhée mounted to return, with a ſmiling countenance he ſpake vnto her and ſaid: Madame, whē we come to dealing of blowes I beſéech you ſhew me not the greateſt extremity you can, becauſe I was alwaies a friend to women, and euer will be during my life: wherevnto the quéen anſwered not a word, but rode vnto ye Pagans camp to arm hir ſelfe. Mean time Brian de Moniaſte arriued in the Chriſtians camp, who hauing ben ſent by the king of Spain his father with a great power of men into Africa, to beſiege the town of Ceſonie after called Centie, was aduertiſed by a pirate, of the Chriſtians enterpriſe, and how their army and great fléet had paſſed the cape of Finis terre, preſently ſent vnto his father to deſire him to giue him leaue to goe that voiage: whereunto by much importunitie he granted. For which cauſe Brian brake vp his ſiege of Cente, and entring again into his ſhips ſailed to Cicile, and from thence to Galipoli, and ſo to Conſtantinople, where he ioyned with the Chriſtian princes that receiued him moſt gladly.

CHAP. LIII. How king Amadis and Eſplandian his ſon, fought againſt the Souldan of Liquie and Queene Calafre, and of the battail fought the ſame day both by ſea and land, betweene the Chriſtians and the Pagans.

QVéene Calafre returned to the Pagans campe as you heard before, preſently armed her ſelfe, & the Souldan like wiſe, and ſtayed not long before they came vnto the place where the combat was aſſigned, where not long after they found Amadis and Eſplandian: and becauſe the two campes were not well aſſured of each other (notwithſtanding the oathes and promiſes on both ſides made) they ſet themſelues in order of battaile not ſtirring one foot: king Perion ſending word to Quedragant and king Childadan, that as they had intelligence from the enemy, they ſhould ſet vpon their armie by ſea: the like word was ſent vnto the Emperour of Conſtantinople, that he might likewiſe be prepared: and as the foure combatants were ready to ſtrike each other, the Souldan called Amadis and Eſplandian, aſking them if they would not ſweare and kéepe promiſe (according to the agréement ſent vnto them by his gentlewoman) that the vanquiſhers without impeachment ſhould lead away the vanquiſhed. I truly, ſaid they, therefore beware of vs. With that Amadis made towards the Quéene, and the Souldan againſt Eſplandian, to whome he gaue ſo great a blow with his launce into the ſhield, that he pierced it through: wherby diuers thought aſſuredly he had béen wounded to death, but it was not ſo, for the launce paſſed vnder his ſaddle without any further hurt: but Eſplandian gaue him his exchange, ſtriking him ſo fiercely, that hée made him looſe both ſtirrop and ſaddle and fall vpon the ground, with ſo great might, that he rolled twice or thrice before he ſtayed, in ſuch manner, that the helmet flew off his head. Quéene Calafre ranne againſt king Amadis, and he againſt her: and as they were in the middle of their courſe, Amadis turned the but end of his launce againſt her, & paſſing forward would not ſtrike her: yet ſhée held her launce downe and ſtrake his horſe in the ſtéele of his forehead, and withall they met ſo ſtrongly body to body, that therewith the Quéene fell downe, & Amadis was conſtrained to light, his horſe was ſo aſtoniſhed with the truncheon of the launce that ſtucke within his forehead. But the Quéene roſe preſently, and with her ſword in hand went towards Amadis, the like did the Souldan to Eſplandian that had ſuffered him to take breath and lace his helmet, not for any good he wiſhed him, but that at the end of his carere hée eſpied the princes Leonorine ſtanding on the walles of Conſtantinople, whereat he was ſo abaſhed, that euery man ſaide, the Souldan had hurt him in the bodie. Neuertheleſſe within ſhort ſpace after they knew the contrarie: for hée lighted on foote, where betwéene them two was fought the moſt perillous combat that euer was ſéene, for Rodrigue was as valiant a knight in armes as any in his time: but Eſplandian handled him in ſuch manner, that often times he made him cleane forget the ſubtilties that commonly he vſed in ſuch affaires, and in the end vſed him ſo hardly, that it might euidently be ſéene the victorie would be his. Meane time the Quéene vſed all her force to ouercome king Amadis, who holding in his hand a great truncheon of a launce inſtead of a ſword, gaue her ſuch a blowe on the creſt of her helmet, that hée made her eyes ſtart within her head. Wherewith ſhée being much offended, ſpake vnto him, and ſaid: What ſir Knight? doe you thinke me either to he a dogge or elſe a countrey clowne, that you ſéeme to beat me with a ſtaffe? By my head before you eſcape out of my handes, there is no armour you haue but will be néedfull for you to the ſafegard of your life. Calafre (ſaid Amadis) all my life time I haue béene a ſeruant vnto Ladies, and if at this time I ſhould begin with you to wiſh them ill, the good that others haue receiued at my handes would be leſſe eſtéemed. You account mée then (ſaid the Quéene) one of that number: but you ſhall preſently féele that I am ſomething more: with that ſhée tooke her ſword in both handes, and in great choller gaue him ſuch a blow, that ſhée claue his ſhield in two, and thinking to double her ſtroke, Amadis ſtepped vnto her and plucked hers from off her necke, with ſuch force, that ſhée was conſtrained to knéele vpon the ground. Neuertheleſſe ſhée roſe preſently againe, and thinking to be reuenged, vſed all her force to charge Amadis, who turning aſide gaue her ſuch a blowe with his truncheon hard by the eare, and therewith made her ſo aſtoniſhed, that her ſworde fell out of her hand: wherewith he ſtepped forward, and taking her by the helmet, ſaid vnto her: Now you ſhall be my priſoner whether you will or not, as well as the Souldan is priſoner to my ſonne. With that the Quéene looked aſide and perceiued that Amadis ſaid true: wherefore ſhée ſaid: Truly I am your priſoner ſéeing fortune will haue it ſo: and therewith Rodrigue and Eſplandian came vnto them, and they foure going out of the liſts, went vnto the Chriſtians campe: the Pagans that ſaw them ledde away in whome in a manner conſiſted moſt of their hope, when the campes ſhould ioyne in battaile, made countenance to reſcue them: which cauſed the Chriſtians to ſtand all day in order of battaile: meane time they agréed among themſelues to ſend the Souldan and the Quéene vnto Conſtantinople, Gandalin hauing charge to bring them thither, and preſent them to the Princeſſe Leonorine, from Amadis and Eſplandian, who thanked them moſt heartily. And before hée returned againe vnto the campe, a ſouldier of Thrace (that had dwelt in Tartaria aboue twentie yéere togither) came and yéelded himſelfe vnto the Chriſtians, and tolde King Perion and Luiſart, that their enemies determined the next day in the morning to ſurpriſe them before they were aware, whereof they aduertiſed the Emperor of Conſtantinople, to the end he might be readie. There were in the citie fortie thouſand men, whereof he appointed thirtie thouſand to iſſue forth vpon the enemies rereward, as ſoone as they perceiued the battaile once begon, and gaue likewiſe intelligence to King Childadan and Quedragant, that his ſpies had brought him newes that Alphorax had vnfurniſhed his ſhippes of men to ſtrengthen their armie on land, truſting to the ſtraights which they meane to kéepe, hoping thereby to ſaile into the Maiorque ſeas, if fortune fauour not their enterpriſe: and there it would be good (with the other Chriſtian princes aduiſe) that they ſhould ſet vpon him, and that Frandalo with his fléete ſhould ſecond them. Which newes vnderſtood by the two Generals of the armie by ſea, they ſent vnto king Amadis and the reſt of the Commaunders in the campe, to knowe their aduiſe: whereunto anſwer was returned, that they ſhould followe the opinion of the Emperour of Conſtantinople, which they ſhould execute vpon the next day in the morning: wherevpon Frandalo ceaſed not all night to make and prepare diuers kindes of artificiall fires, wherewith he made account to burne the moſt part of Alphorax ſhips, which he did, as hereafter you ſhall heare. But to returne to king Armato and his forces: About an houre before day, according to their former determinations, they began to march againſt the Chriſtians, thinking to find them ſléeping, and thereby to ſlay their watch before they ſhould haue meanes to ſet themſelues in order of battaile. Neuertheleſſe they found themſelues deceiued, for they were alreadie ſet in order of battaile, ſtanding cloſe, with great deſire to receiue their enemie as they did: the Emperour of Rome had the vantguard, and with him king Luiſart: king Amadis, king Perion, Galaor, and Eſplandian the maine battaile: & Floreſtan, Bruneo, and Balan, the rereguard. On the Pagans ſide there marched firſt, the Souldan of Alaxa, thréeſcore knightes, two Califfes, and foure Tamorlanes, that in great furie ſet vpon the Emperour of Rome and his battaile: where at their firſt arriuall many a braue knight was ſtroken downe, both on the one ſide and the other, for Eſplandian and the Chriſtian princes being fayned togither, gaue not one blowe but it was a deadly ſtroke: yet at the firſt they were repulſed by the great quantitie of arrowes the enemies ſhot againſt them, which flew in ſo great number, that haileſtones neuer fell thicker out of the ſkies: wherby it fell out, that both vantguard, maine battaile, and reregard, indured much paine: with that Norandel, Talanque, Manely, Trion, Landin, Licoran, Imoſill, Palomie, Enil, Ellan, and to conclude, all Eſplandians companions with thirtie thouſand men choſen by the Emperour, iſſued out of the citie: which ſmall troupe (reſolutely determined) did ſo abaſh the Pagans, that in a manner they all loſt their courages: whereby they preſently began to recule as farre backe as they aduanced themſelues: wherewith thoſe that before had béen in feare tooke courage againe, and turning their faces on the enemie, recouered the ground that they had loſt, in ſuch ſort, that with good cauſe they might well crie, Victorie. On the other ſide, Quedragant and Childadan ſetting ſaile, made towardes the ſtraights, at the entrie whereof Frandalo ouertooke them with foureſcore veſſels of all ſorts: and as they had ſpoken togither touching their enterpriſe (conſidering the great power of their enemies) it was agréed that Frandalo (that had prooued them at other times) ſhould firſt ſet vpon them: wherwith he began to ſaile forwards, and Alphorax likewiſe againſt him, giuing a ſigne of battaile to his men, who with great courage entred vpon ten of the beſt gallies that the Chriſtians had and ſunke them in the ſea: yet Frandalo nought abaſhed, ſet fire on more than an hundred of their ſhippes before Childadan entred into fight: but not long after, hée and Quedragant came vnto them, where good defence preuailed. In which fight they continued for the ſpace of eight houres without any ſigne vpon which ſide the victorie would fall vntill Quedragant borded Alphorax ſhippe and entred by force, ſlaying all that were therein. What néed I ſtand longer to diſcourſe? The Turkes ſéeing their captaine dead, and their manifeſt ouerthrow before their faces, being ready to fall into the Chriſtians hands, began to flie, and by force of oares entred into the Maiorque ſea: but not all, for there were taken, burnt, and drowned about two or thrée hundred Gallies, Galleaſſes, Fuſtes, and Brigandines, the reſt ſaued themſelues, in ſuch ſort as you heard before: to whom night was ſo much aſſiſtant, that the chaſe endured not ſo long as els it would haue done. Alphorax dead, and his armie ouerthrowne; the Chriſtians aſſembled themſelues togither, ſtaying to heare newes from their armie on land, which in the meane time had had ſo much to endure, that wonder it was how they could hold out: and among the reſt the good olde king Perion and Luiſart ſéeing Eſplandian raging like a lyon followed by the hunters, would not leaue him fearing to looſe him, and ſo long they followed him, ſtriking both on the right ſide and the left, that they found themſelues incloſed by aboue a thouſand Turkiſh horſemen, not hauing any other aid by them than Grumedan the Duke of Briſtowe, Guilan, Brandoyuas, Nicoran of the ſiluer bridge, Cendil de gonate, and a few others. Surely thoſe eight or nine cauſed thoſe that met them to buy full déerely their approch, as not being the firſt danger wherein they had fallen: neuertheleſſe in the end being ouer wearie and ſore trauailed with the blowes they had giuen and receiued, they were cleane out of breath, and the worſt was their horſes were ſlaine vnder them, and they themſelues ſo ſore wounded, that they were all ſlaine in the place: only Eſplandian that in a manner could ſcarſe lift vp his armes when king Amadis his father with great number of Frenchmen found him there: whereat the battaile begun fiercer than euer it had béene, for Amadis and his company ſéeing the Kings dead and their companions lying on the ground, and Eſplandian fighting in the middle of them on foote, they were in a manner mad, and therwith made ſuch ſlaughter, that the Turks were forced to ſeparate themſelues, and Eſplandian horſed again, and being on horſebacke, notwithſtanding all his woundes, hee ſhewed well that his body was not weary, for hee followed the enemies in ſuch ſort, (mooued with gréefe to ſée his friends dead) that in ſhort ſpace (by the aide of his father and the reſt that followed him) hée forced the S • 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 men • ion hath béen made of Quéene Calafre ſince her captiuitie, neither of the aide that ſhée had brought vnto the Pagan kings, it ſéemeth reaſon that I ſhould declare the occaſion why her women fought not with the reſt, you muſt vnderſtand, that the Quéene perceiuing her in one day to be taken not only with the loue of the knight Eſplandian, but by the force of his father King Amadis, not long after ſhe had béen in the company of the princes Leonorine, to whome Gandalin brought her, ſhée ſent vnto her ſiſter Lyote to will her with her women to return to ſea, kéeping apart from all the Pagans, without once ſtirring from thence, for any thing whatſoeuer ſhould fall, till ſhée receiued further newes from her, which was partly the cauſe of the enemies ouerthrow: for they doubting ſome treaſon being ſeparated in that ſort, from that time forward were in ſome feare and in greater ſuſpition than before: and not without cauſe, for that if Lyote had aided king Armato both by ſea and land, as ſhée might haue done, if her ſiſter had not forbidden her, it is likely her eſquadron of women being twentie thouſand ſtrong and ſomewhat more, had done great miſchiefe to the Chriſtians: but God of his goodnes prouided better for them.

CHAP. LIIII. How after the Pagans were driuen out of Thrace, the Emperour of Conſtantinople renouncing his Empire, inueſted Eſplandian therwith, marrying him to his doughter the princeſſe Leonorine.

THe obſequies and funerals of the Kinges, Princes, Lords and others, that died in the battell, being finiſhed, the wounded cured, and all things ſet at reſt: the Emperour of Conſtantinople knowing that Amadis and thoſe that were come with him from the Weſterne parts would retourne againe into their countries, deſired them to aſſemble, ſhewing them that his meaning was to let them know what hée determined to doe before they went from thence: The next day in the morning they all met in the emperors great hall, and he ſtanding in the middeſt, ſpake vnto them and ſaid: My brethren, lords, and good friends, the bond wherein I ſtand bounden vnto you is ſo great, yt 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 yt 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, yt 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 yt the Enchantreſſe lady had more knowledge in art Magicke, then any yt 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 thē all, & ſaid vnto them: My lords, I beſéech you giue me leaue to declare my mind. It is certain (ſaid ſhe) yt thoſe which know me are not ignorant yt 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 yt are within my countries. As touching my linage; I am daughter of a quéene of ancient race, and as noble as any yt 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 fla • es & abundance of treaſure: but to the contrary, I yt pretended & ſought the captiuity of others, and my ſelfe takē & better holden priſoner thē they yt •• in their mortal enemies hands. This impriſonmēt wherof I ſpeak, is not yt whervnto I am boūd 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 ye wherin my hart hath incloſed it ſelf, & hath ye only mouing by ye ſole beauty & fauor I haue found in ye new & moſt happy emperor eſtéeming my ſelfe to be ſuch, yt 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 ye 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, yt 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 Li •• 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 thē to goe on with yt which afterward was done in the city of Conſtantinople. You heard before of the loue of Norandel and quéen Minoreſſe, yt daily increaſed in thē 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 thēſelues to return into their countries) hee ſhewed thē 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 yt 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 yt without longer delay Carmelle was ſent to Teſifant, imbarking her ſelf with four ſquires & thrée gentlewomē, & with a good wind arriued at ye caſtle La montaigne defendu, where ſhe remained certain daies, ſtaying for king Armatos paſport which by one of her womē ſhe ſent to fetch, who fou •• Armato as melancholy as might be, féeling as yet his fortune paſt, ſpecially the death of his ſon Alphorax, which without ceaſing he cōtinually lamented. With yt the gentlewoman gaue him to vnderſtand ye 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, yt ſhée may come vnto my court as often as it pleaſeth her, remembring well the pleaſures ſhe ſhewed vnto me during my impriſonment. The gentlewomā 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, yt 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 thē was both aduantage vnto him & his. Melie deſirous to pleaſe Armato, brake her inchantments, & without delay Vrganda was deliuered vnto Carmelle, vpon condition, yt 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, yt they came vnto the caſtle La montaigne defendu, where Vrganda cauſed thē 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 accō pliſhed, yt 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. With that they were abaſhed that the great ſerpent began to leape and labour in the water; as if it had ben in the greateſt ſtorm yt euer was, although the ſea was very calme, but only about ye ſerpent, where it raged in moſt horrible maner, but yt which moſt abaſhed the beholders was, that the veſſell caſt forth ſuch horrible cries, yt not one among them but his haire ſtood vpright vpon his head for fear. And hauing continued in yt maner about 〈…〉 more▪ the ſerpent thruſt his head into ye water, wherewith it ſunk and neuer was ſéen again. And with that they perceiued a farre off a great rock, which being driuen by the waues, came within half a bow ſhot néer vnto the ſhore, on ye top whereof ſtood a woman bareheaded, and couered only with a linnen cloth to hide her priuities, being inuironned by more then a thouſand ſerpents as wel great as ſmall, which ſtung her in ſuch ſort, yt ſhe wept and lamented in moſt pittiful maner, wherat the knights of great Brittaine had ſo much cōpaſſion, yt they thought to enter into the ſhips, and go to help her: which Vrganda forbad them. For (ſaid ſhe) beſides the dangers that may happē vnto you you ſhal loſe your labors, becauſe ſhe whom you behold (which is the inchauntreſſe lady) hath ordained it to be ſo. With yt the rocke ſunk into the water, and the gentlewoman vaniſhed out of ſight, but not long after ſhe appeared again vpon ye waues, flying from the fury of a monſter of the ſea, yt with his throat opē followed after, ready to deuour her, in ſuch manner, that ſhe came right vnto the hauen, crying with a loud voire vnto Eſplandian: Gentle Emperor I pray you help me, for none but you can do it: wherewith Eſplandian ſtepped forward, & holding the ſword hee conquered in the old pallace of the inchaunted rock in his hand, ran vnto her, & thinking to go néere the monſter, the gentlewoman yt fled from it caught hold of his ſword, & whether he would or not took it away, wherwith ſhe threw her ſelf into the ſea, & the monſter after her. Whereat euery man began to laugh, ſaying to the emperor, that if a gentlewoman had predeſtinated the ſame vnto him, & kept it long time, another gentlewoman or ſhe her ſelfe vpon a ſuddaine had taken it from him againe. With yt Vrganda was led vnto the pallace, accompanied by the emperor with all ye kings & knights: where not long after the Souldan of Liquie was deliuered & ſent to Teſifant, & about the beginning of the next wéek after the weſterne princes took ſhipping: and being imbarked with Vrganda (recommending ye emperor to God) failed forwards, till at ye laſt euery man arriued at his deſired hauen, namely king Amadis that found Oriane very ſad for ye death of her mother newly deceaſed, which much more increaſed whē ſhe knew hir father king Luiſart was dead. But in the end, time made hir to forget her ſorrow, but not ſo ſoon as Amadis could haue wiſhed.

CHAP. LV. How the Emperour Eſplandian ſent Norandel to take poſſeſsion of the country he had giuen him, and of the taking of Teſifant.

NOt long after the weſterne princes were departed into their countries, the emperor Eſplandian would that Norandel ſhould goe vnto the caſtle La montaigne defendu, and other towns that he had giuen him, to make warre againſt king Armato, for which cauſe he gaue him a great number of ſoldiors, with the which to make ſhort he aſſailed the king of Turky, & had battell together, wherein many a valiant knight loſt their liues: neuertheleſſe, the victory fell on Norandels ſide, wherby he cauſed Armato to flie away, retiring to his city of Teſifant, which being known vnto the Emperour, he departed from Conſtantinople, & with a great army going into Turkie, ioyned with Norandels power, and beſieged Teſifant, but feare ſeaſed ſo wel vpon Armato, yt he found means to flie away & leaue ye town, which not long after was taken, & the princeſſe Heliaxe brought vnto the emperor, who vſed her courteouſly, and ſent her againe vnto her father Ampheon king of Medea, giuing her diuers rich preſents. News being ſpred throughout the country of Turky of the flight of king Armato, as alſo of the taking of Teſifant, diuers towns and citties yéelded to Eſplandian, that gaue them likewiſe to Norandel: and becauſe winter came on, hee returned into Thrace, where two of his nephewes, ſonnes of Galaor came to viſite him, and to receiue the order of knighthood: which he gaue vnto them with both armor and horſes, minding to requeſt them to trauell to Teſifant vnto Norandel, thereto begin their firſt entrance into arms, but they deſired rather to take ye way to Californie, where M ••• and Ta • anque had great war againſt their neighbors, which ye emperor perceiuing cauſed al things neceſſary for ſo long a voiage to bee giuen them, with ſo good Pilote • , that in the end they arriued at their deſired Hauen, where they attained to great honor and eſtimation among their • pan • But 〈◊〉 to enter further to diſcou •• of them, 〈…〉 this preſent let them reſt. And let it ſuffice you to knowe▪ how that as time paſſed, Perion ſuccéeded in his fathers feat, and Garinter married in the eaſt parts with Heletria quéen of Citharee, and was the beſt knight in all the world. And becauſe it is declared at large in the ſixt and ſeuenth bookes of this our hiſtorye, we will paſſe it ouer at this time.

CHAP. LVI. How Vrganda ſent to deſire king Amadis, the Emperor Eſplandian, Don Galaor king of Sobradiſe, and others, to come vnto the Firm Iſle, and of the maruellous inchauntments that ſhe made ouer thē.

VRganda being in her Iſle not as yet diſcouered, taking great pleaſure to read Melies bookes, knewe by her art death to be néere vnto the kings and princes whom ſhe moſt loued, and hauing great ſorrow that worms ſhould conſume the fleſh of ſo valiant king hes, deuiſed to preuent ye ſame, which to do ſhe took ſea, accompanied of her two couſins Iuliande, and Soliſee, with diuers other gentlewomen, and went vnto the Firme Iſle, where being arriued, ſhe ſent to the emperor Eſplandian, Amadis, Galaor, Floreſtan, Agraies, and Granſador, praying them moſt earneſtly to come vnto her to the pallace of Apolidon, for matter yt touched thē moſt néer, otherwiſe ſhe ſent thē word, if they did it not, yt before long time paſt euil would happē vnto thē, and ye maſter Elizabeth ſhould bring with him the book yt he made of the aduentures of the knights liuing in his time, as alſo yt they ſhould bring their wiues with Ardan the dwarf, Carmelle, Gandalin, & the Gentlewoman of Denmarke. Thoſe princes hauing vnderſtood Vrgandas mind, failed not therin, ſo that about ye ſame time ſhe willed thē to come, they all arriued there: where Vrganda receiued them, not with a ſmiling coun •• nance as •• er vſed ordinary to doe, but with teares in her eies, whereat they being much abaſhed, deſired her to ſhew the cauſe thereof, which at the firſt ſhe could not doe, her heart was ſo full of gréete. Neuertheleſſe, in the 〈◊〉 ſhee too •• 〈◊〉 againe▪ and ſaied vnto them: My good friends, 〈…〉 of almighty God, al things haue 〈…〉 tēporal things ſhould paſſe away, & by death haue an end, according to the qualities of his creatures: Which diuers great perſons conſidering with themſelues, haue trauailed (during their liues) in many ſorts, after their deaths to leaue ſome memorie of them, not minding to bury their renowme togither with their bodies. Now I know for certaine that the end of your daies is néere: wherefore it is moſt requiſite, that you bée conſtant, and ſhew your ſelues to be the ſame you were at the beginning. Neuertheleſſe before that death ſhall ſeaze vpon you, I will ſhew the loue that I haue alwaies borne vnto you, and with the helpe of God, will doe ſo much, that without death you ſhall remaine aſléepe, vntill the time that one deſcended of your race ſhall deliuer you frō thence, and after that ſhall bée in as good caſe and raigne againe within your countries as you did before: otherwiſe aſſure your ſelues that before ſixe moneths do come vnto an end, not one of you ſhall be aliue, but all buried in the earth. Wherefore let euery man ſhew me his opinion, and for the reſt (ſaid ſhee) let me prouide. Surely that ſpéech and newes of death was ſo harde for them to endure, that not one of them but changed colour, their hearts béeing ſeazed with an extreme ſorow. And as they beheld ech other, king Amadis ſéeming leaſt aſtoniſhed, anſwered vnto Vrganda and ſaid: Madame, we know for certaine, that not one of vs, nor any other liuing creature can perfectly knowe what is neceſſarie for vs, but only you alone: wherefore doe with vs as you thinke good, and wée will all obey you: that is ſufficient (ſaid Vrganda) therefore let euery man put on his armour in the ſame maner hée vſeth when hée goeth to the fielde, and each man hold his ſword naked in his hand: that done, ſhe cauſed them to goe into the forbidden chamber, ſetting them in their roiall ſeates, with all their wiues by them: which done, Vrgandas two couſens, Iuliande and Soliſde in two baſons of gold brought a certaine compoſition, wherewith ſhée deſired them to waſh their faces, which they did. Whereby it happened, that on a ſuddaine Beautie (which Age and Time had decaied in them) began againe to appeare within their faces, in as great perfection a • euen it had done: which aduenture pleaſe • the Ladies ſo •• ll that they began to behold ech other, and their huſbands thereat to be much abaſhed. Then Vrganda called maſter Elizabeth, & taking him by the hand, led him into the next chamber, where ſhe cauſed him to ſit downe, & putting the booke that he had brought into her hands, ſhe made ſignes to Gandalin and the gentlewoman of Denmark that they ſhould follow her: and paſſing through the Arke of faithfull louers they entred into the garden, where the images of Apolidon and Grimanaiſe were placed: ouer the which ſhe ſet them and Ardan the dwarfe hard by them, wherwith ſhe ſaid vnto them: My friends, the true and faithfull louers haue béen worthy to ſée theſe images before the Arke ſometime inchanted, ſo you deſerue this place for the faith and true and affection that you haue alwaies borne to your maſters. Wherefore vpon your liues, ſée you depart not hence whatſoeuer you ſhall heare or ſée: that done, ſhe went vnto the chamber where ſhée left the Emperour, and taking Carmelle by the hand, before them all ſhe ſaid vnto her: Carmelle, you were but of meane parentage, but the vertue and great curteſie of your heart hath ſo much inabled you, that you ſhall bée placed at the Emperors féet to fulfill the promiſe made vnto him, which was, neuer to forſake him while you liued. With that ſhe ſpake vnto king Amadis and all the other princes, praying them not to flie till ſhée returned againe: and going vp into one of the towers of the pallace, ſhée tooke with her the beſt of Medeas bookes which Melie had, that ſometime belonged to the Enchantreſſe lady: and being in the tower ſhée vncouered her head, with that ſhe began to read certaine coniu •• ations, and looking into all the foure quarters of the earth, making ſignes and tokens with her fingers, her face became ſo redde. • hat it ſéemed fire had iſſued out of her eyes. Whereupon there • appened ſuch an earthquake & ſo great tempeſts of lightning and • hunder, as though the Elements had fought togither. This tempeſt continuing for the ſpace of thrée quarters of an houre, thoſe whome ſhe had cauſed to ſit downe (as you heard before) remained in a trance without all knowledge, as if they had béene dead: and with that there appeared a cloud ſo obſcure and thicke which inuironed the place, that neuer after it could be ſéen, till Luiſart of Gréece ſonne to Eſplandian brought that enchantment to an end, by meanes of a ſword which he conquered, as it ſhall be declared to you in the ſixt Booke: wherein is deſcribed one of the moſt pleaſant and delectable hiſtories that euer was read. At which time all the Princes and the reſt were reuiued againe, and not before. The Emperor Eſplandian at that time had a ſonne after his grandfathers name called Luiſart, as then about the age of eight yéeres: King Amadis a ſonne and a daughter, the ſonne named Perion, and the daughter Briſene that married the eldeſt ſonne of the Emperour of Rome: King Galaor two ſonnes, the one named Perion, the other Garinter, of whome I haue ſhewed you before: Floreſtan the King of Sardaigne two ſonnes, the one named Floreſtan after his father, that raigned after him, and the other Palmindan of Almaine after his grandfather: Agrayes Earle of Salandrie two ſonnes, the one called Languines, the other Galmenes: King Bruneau one ſonne named Vallade, and a daughter named Heliſenne that married Quedragants ſonne, and bare his fathers name: King Childadan two ſonnes, the eldeſt called Abies of Ireland after his grandfather, whome Amadis ſlewe the firſt day hée entred into Knighthood. And although theſe princes left ſuch heires as you heard before, yet would they not during their fathers abſence, take on them the names or titles of Kings, hoping by Gods helpe, that they ſhould once returne as well as euer they were. For the which cauſe they hauing ••• tained to the age and ſtrength to bear armes, paſſed 〈◊〉 • reland, there to bée made knights by King Child •••• 〈…〉 very weake and withered with age: 〈…〉 followed ſtrange aduentures, doing many 〈…〉 feates of armes, which are at large declared in the bookes that followe, which in time may come vnto your handes, when it pleaſeth God.