The ancient, famous and honourable history of Amadis de Gaule Discoursing the aduentures, loues and fortunes of many princes, knights and ladies, as well of Great Brittaine, as of many other kingdomes beside, &c. Written in French by the Lord of Essars, Nicholas de Herberay, ordinarie commissarie of the Kings artillerie, and his lieutenant thereof, in the countrie and gouernment of Picardie, &c.

CHAP. XL. (Book 40)

How King Lisuart held open Court in the Cittie of London many dayes, in which time sundry great personages were there feasted, the greater part whereof remayned there long time afterward.

TWelue dayes toge∣ther (after these mis∣haps) did King Lis∣uart continue his Court in all magnifi∣cence, many noble personages be∣ing there assembled, as wel strāgers as others, hoping now to make lit∣tle stay but to return home to their owne houses: yet the greater part of them aboad with the King, in like manner did sundry worthy La∣dies accompany the Queene. A∣mong other knights attending on the King, were Don Guilan the pen∣siue, and his Cosen Ladasin, who (as I haue sayde) were very good knights: but Guilan was the better of the twaine, for very fewe were found in the Realme of Great Brit∣taine, that carried more account for deeds of Armes, and all other graces beseeming a knight, setting aside his musing and melancholy. By meanes whereof, fewe or none could bee pleasant with him, or haue any words from him in com∣pany: but loue procured these ex∣treames, busying his thoughts in such sort with his Lady, as hee had minde of none but her. And shee of whom wee speake, was endued with singular beauty, being named Brandalisia, sister to the Kings wife of Sobradisa, and ioyned in marri∣age with the Duke of Bristoya: who now was arriued at the Court, to answere the accusation Oliuas laide against him. The King gaue him very gentle welcome, and beeing in the presence of many great Lords, the Duke beganne in this manner. Sir, you haue comman∣ded my appearance here this day, to iustifie my selfe before your Ma∣iesty, concerning a crime Oliuas chargeth mee withall: whereof I hope sufficiently to cleare my selfe, by the rightfull iudgement your selfe shall giue, and hee rest con∣demned like a varlet as hee is: for here am I ready to approue against him, or any other hee shall bring, that I neuer committed treason or so foule a deed.

At these wordes Oliuas arose, and with him a great nūber of knights errant, all resolued to maintayne this quarrell against the Duke: when the King beheld them in such a mutiny, hee maruelled whence the cause should proceede, when

Grumedan speaking for all the rest, sayd. My Lord, because the Duke of Bristoia hath threatened and de∣fied all knights errant, we are rea∣dy to answere his challenge. In good faith, answered the King, if it bee so, hee hath attempted an ouer fond warre, for I thinke there is no knight in the worlde so puis∣sant, that will bee induced to such an enterprise. But forbeare at this time, and offer him no iniury, be∣cause he is heere to receiue iustice: which shall be done, according to the counsell of the Princes and Lords present, without fauouring any one. Then Oliuas falling on his knee before the King, beganne in this manner. My Lord, the Duke who standeth before your Maiesty, hath slaine a Cosen germaine of mine, hee neuer giuing him occa∣sion of offence: wherefore I will iustifie him to bee a villaine and a traytour, and will make him con∣fesse it with his owne mouth, else shall I kill him and cast him forth of the field. The Duke tolde him hee lyed, and hee was ready to ac∣complish what the King and his Court should ordaine: wherupon it was determined, that this emula∣tion should bee decided by com∣bate, which the Duke accepted, desiring the King to permit him & his two Nephewes in this cause, against Oliuas and two other knights. This being granted, the Duke was very glad thereof, for he made such account of his kinsmen, as hee thought Oliuas could not bring the like: notwithstanding, all was deferred till the morrowe following.

In meane while, Don Galuanes asked his Nephew Agraies, if hee wold assist Oliuas against the Duke, and hee consenting thereto, Galua∣nes came to Oliuas, saying. Sir O∣liuas, seeing the Duke is desirous to fight three against three, my ne∣phew and I are determined to take your part: which when the Duke heard, hee remembred that he had defied them in his owne house, when Agraies combated with the Dwarffes champion, at what time the Damosell should haue beene burned: wherefore hee became ve∣ry pensiue, in respect though he e∣steemed his Nephewes approued good knights, yet he repented his wilfull offer, & gladly would haue excused the matter if hee could, being so well acquainted with the behauiour of Galuanes & Agraies. But considering his promise past before the King, and so many no∣ble personages there present, hee must of necessity stand thereto: wherefore the next morning hee entered the Listes with his Ne∣phewes, and Oliuas on the contra∣rie with his copartners. Now were the Ladies standing at the win∣dowes, to beholde the issue of this quarrell, and among the rest stood Oliuia the faire friend to Agraies, who seeing him ready to enter such perill, was so dismayed, as she could scant tell what countenance to vse. By her stood Mabila, shee being in no lesse griefe for her Vn∣cle and brother together: likewise the Princesse Oriana, louing them both, in respect of the reasons heretofore declared, accompanied the two Ladies in sorrowe, fearing their danger: but the knights be∣ing ready to the combate, the King by a Herald commanded the Champions to doe their deuoyre. Heereupon with a braue carreer they encountred together, Agraies and Galuanes vnhorsing the two Nephewes, and albeit Oliuas re∣ceiued a wound on the stomacke, yet had not the Duke caught

hold about his horse neck, his for∣tune had proued as had as his Ne∣phewes. Thē drawing their swords, they smote so violently against ech other, as the standers by wondered at their fiercenes: beholding their shields defaced, their armour bat∣tred & coullered with their blood, that the victorie hung a long time in suspence. For Agraies horse be∣ing slaine vnder him, brought his life in maruailous hazard, because the Duke and one of his Nephews stroue to keep him downe, seeking to thrust their swords into his bel∣ly, or else to smite his head from his shoulders: but he was so well armed, and of such courage with∣all, as hee held them both play, though with exceeding perill. Well may you thinke, that his friends grieued to see him in this distresse, especially the three La∣dyes, of whom we spake so lately, whose cheekes were bedewed with whole fountaines of teares, and wofull Oliuia seemed rather dead then liuing. But had he long con∣tinued in this extreamity, her la∣test houer must needes haue ensu∣ed, yet at length he recouered him-selfe, charging the Duke and his Nephewes with such puissant strokes, as well declared his hardy courage. Oliuas all this while was in such case, by reason of the sore wound the Duke gaue him, that he could hardly defend himselfe: which the Duke perceiuing, hee left his Nephew with Agraies, and assailing Oliuas very roughly, made him fall downe in a great astonish∣ment. But as he would haue slaine him, Agraies stepped betweene thē (hauing dispatched his enemie of his head) and hindred the Duke from his determination, woun∣ding him in many places on his body, that he could scant tel which way to turne him. Don Galuanes, likewise hauing slaine the other Nephew, came to assist Agraies a∣gainst the Duke, who seeing his life at the latest exigent, turned his horse to escape away: but A∣graies gaue him such a stroke on the helmet, as hee fell beside his saddle, with one of his feete han∣ging in the stirrop, when the horse being at libertie, feeling his bur∣then hang on the one side, ranne flinging vp and downe, none be∣ing able to reskew the Duke, till his necke was broken with drag∣ging along. Hereupon Agraies left him, returning to his vncleto know how he fared. Very well I thanke God, answered Galuanes, but it grieueth mee that Oliuas is dead, for hee lieth still and moueth not. Right sorry likewise was Agraies to heare these words, wherefore commanding the Duke and his Nephewes bodyes to be throwne foorth of the field, they came both to Oliuas, and finding him aliue, as also his wounds not to be mor∣tall, they bound them vp so well as they could, saying. Friend Oli∣uas, be of good chee••e, for though you haue lost very much blood, yet doubt wee not of your health, because wee finde little danger in your hurts, Alas my Lords, quoth Oliuas, my heart fainteth, and al∣beit I haue beene heere••ofore wounded, yet neuer was I in such debilitie. Then the King desi∣red to knowe whether hee were dead or no, and when it was tolde him, how hee wanted no∣thing but speedy cure: hee com∣manded him to bee honourably caryed into the Citie, and his own cirurgions to attend on his health, euen as it were his owne person: which he did, promising, to deliuer him well againe within few daies.

Thus euery one returned, dispu∣ting diuersly on the end of the Combat, and according to their particular affections, so that soone after, the Queeene (who was one of the best Ladies in the world) was aduised to send for the wife to the deceased Duke, that in the Court shee might weare away the cause of her melancholly, and to dispatch this businesse, shee sent Don Grumedan to her requesting she would bring her, Neece Aldena with her, whereof Galuanes was not a little glad, especially Don Guilan, who was the friend and beloued of the Dutchesse. Not long after, she and her Neece arriued at the Court, where they were right no∣bly feasted and entertayned. Thus the King spent the time in the Cit∣ty of London, accompanied with many great Lords, knights and La∣dies, because the fame was blazed throught the world, of his honou∣rable courtesie to strange Knights: which drew an exceeding number to his court, whom he rewarded ve∣ry bountifully, hoping (by their meanes) not onely to confirme his Realme in peace, but likewise to conquere other, which some-time had beene subiect and tribu∣tary to his Crown, yet through the pusillanimity and negligence of the Kinges his predecessors, were lost and discontinued their former obedience.