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. VII. (Book 7)

How the Gentleman of the sea, combated with the guarders of Gal∣pans Castell, and afterward with his bretheren, and in the end with Galpan himselfe.

BY this time the Gen∣tlemam of the sea is come nere the castle, where he saw a Lady comming towards him greatly afflicted, hauing no other company then a Squire and a Page. This sorrow∣full woman breathed forth many griueous sighes, shewing a vio∣lent kind of warre, betweene her hands and the golden tresses of her haire, which she discheueled and rent very pitifully. Hereat was the Prince not a little amazed, and wil∣ling to know what moued her to these extreames, he came to her with these speeches. Faire Gentle∣womā, I pray ye tel me the cause of your sorrow. Ah my Lord, qd. shee, death would be now right welcome to me, being the onely friend to beare me company: for such is my misfortune, as teares are more con∣ueniēt for me then rememberance of the cause. In sooth Lady, saide the Prince, if in any respect I can do ye good, you shall find me rea∣dy withall my hart. Being sent Sir, quoth the Damosell, by my mis∣tresses commandement, to a yong Knight, a man of some account in these parts, and passing along this way: foure cruell villaines set vpon me, and (whether I would or no) brought me into this Castel where a traiterous Knight dishonorably forced me, compelling me after-ward to sweare, that I should ne-uer loue any friend but him. This complaint moued the Prince to great admiration, and thus he an∣swered. Follow me Lady, for your iniury shalbe reuenged, if God

giue me leaue. Heereupon the Da∣mosell immediatly went with him, and by the way he desired her to tell him, what the man was to whom she was sent. If you reuenge my wrong quoth she, I will tell ye: but I can assure ye he is such a one, as will be right sory when he hears of my misusage. Great reason, said the Prince, hath he so to do: and as thus they communed together, they came to the place where shee shewed him the foure Gardants, to whom he presently said. Disloyall varlets, wherefore haue ye abused this Lady as she trauailed on her iournie? Because (quoth they; wee stood in no feare of you: but if you get ye not the sooner, your enter∣tainment shalbe worse then hers was. Without any more talking he drew his Sword, and comming to one that heaued his hatchet a∣gainst him, quite cut away the right arme from his body: then turning to another, cleft him ouer the face to the very eares. When the rest saw their companions thus mained, they fled away so fast as they could, running through a by way along a Riuer side: but the Prince making no shew of pursu∣ing them, wiped his Sword and put it vp againe, then comming to the Damosell, bad her go forward. My Lord, quoth she, hard by is a gate, where I found two armed Knights attending. Well, said he, and I shall find them when I come thether. So rode they on, & as the Prince entred the base court, he saw the Dungeon dore open, and an armed Knight on Horse-back come forth, after whom they within let downe a Port-cullis, and shut the dore a∣gaine: then the Knight of the Cas∣tell aduancing himselfe, very bold∣ly thus spake to the Prince. Poore wretch, too soone art thou come hether to receiue shame and dis∣honor. Dishonor? quoth Prince, tush these are but words, leaue what shall happen to the presence of God, who only is skilfull there∣in: and tell if thou be the villaine that did force this Lady? No, an∣swered the Knight, but if it were I, what then? I meane, quoth the Prince, to reuenge her wrong if I can. Go to, said the Knight, I shall see then what kinde of reuendge you vse. So giuing the Spurrs to his Horse, ran as fiercely as he could against the Prince, yet he failed in the attaint: but the Prince meeting him with full carire, gaue him such a greeting with his Launce through the Sheeld, as the armour being vnable to resist it, let passe the yron through both his shoulders, whereby he fell downe dead in the place. Hauing with-drawne his Launce, prepared him-selfe for another that came to suc∣cor the first, who pearcing quite through the Princes Sheeld, left the head of his Launce in his ar∣mour, which was of sufficiēt profe: but in the encounter he met his e∣nimie so derectly, as he rent his Helmet from his head, casting him so violently off his Saddle, as hee was able to sit no more on Horse-backe. The Knight seeing himselfe thus vnarmed, cried for some o∣ther to come helpe him, whereup∣on three Halberders issued forth, to whom he said: Looke well my friendes that this man escape vs not. At these words, they ranne all three violently on the Prince, and buckled so neere him, as they slew his Horse betweene his leggs, whereby he was constrained to fight on foote: and so offended was he thereat, that hauing reco∣uered himselfe, he smote his

Launce through the Knights head, which made him presently yeeld the ghost. And now he bestirres himselfe against the other three, who cowardly stealing behinde him, woūded him on the shoulder, whereby he lost a great quantity of his bloud: but full well he recom∣pensed the villaine that did it, let∣ting forth the deerest bloud he had in his body, by cleauing him with his Sword as it bad beene an Axe. The other two terrified heer-with, ranne vp into a long Gallery, cry∣ing: Come my Lord, come quick∣ly, for we are all vanquished. In meane while, the Prince seeing his owne Horse was slaine, moun∣ted on that belonged to the knight he slew last: soone after he saw an∣other Knight stand looking forth at a dore, who perceiuing the Prince had espied him, said. What hath moued thee to come in heere and kill my people? No∣thing els, answered the Prince, thē the desire I haue to reuenge this Lady, who hath beene here wron∣ged most dishonorably. As thus he spake, the Damosell came to him, and knowing the Lord of the Castell that forced her, she said. Ah gentle Knight, see that this monster escape you not, for by him haue I lost my former honor. Libidinous Ruffian, quoth the Prince, deerely shalt thou pay for thy disloyall dealing: Goe arme thee, else will I slay thee naked as thou art, for to thee or such like villaines ought to be vsed no fa∣uour: but the Damosell more and and more still cried. Kill, kill the Traitour, that hereafter he liue not to abuse any more, otherwise will their shame be laid to your charge. Lewde woman, answered the Knight, in an euill hower came he hither by thy councell, and in thy company. And thou that threat∣nest me so brauely, attend my cō∣ming, and flie not away, for by no other meanes canst thou warrant thy selfe. So he departed, and soon after came armed into the Court where he mounted on a lusty white Courser: then comming to the Prince, he began to menace him, saying. Well maist thou cursse the time that euer thou sa∣west this Damosell, for it will cost thee the price of thy head. Each one, said the Prince, must keepe his head so well as he may, and he that cannot, let him loose it. With-out longer stay they coutched their Launces, which at their en∣counter ran into their Sheelds and armour, wounding some-what deep into their flesh: and so forci∣bly did their bodies meet toge∣ther, as they were both laid a∣long on the ground, when quickly recouering themselues, with their Swords drawne they prepare to the combate. Fierce and cruell strokes were giuen on either side, to the great admiration of such as beheld them, for many peeces of their Sheelds & armour was scat∣tred round about them: & which is more, their Helmets were so torne and battered, as often times their bare heads bore off the blowes, so that the ground was coloured with their bloud: but Galpan had receiued a wound through the sight of his Helmet, which made the bloud trickle into his eyes, and he to wipe them retited backe alit∣tle. What Galpan? said the Prince, desirest thou to breath? dost thou not remember that thou fightest for my head? if thou defendest not thine owne well, thou art like to loose it. Be patient a while, answe∣red Galpan, and let vs breath a lit∣tle, for we haue time enough to

make an end. It is no reasonable motion, said the Prince, seeing I fight not with thee for curtesie, but to reuenge the dishonor thou hast done to this Lady. With these words he gaue him such a stroke on the head, as made him fall to the ground on his knees, yet quick∣ly he arose and tooke hart a fresh: but the Prince would not let him range about as he desired, for hee was so out of breath, that he could hardly lift vp his Sword, wherefore he did nothing but croutch vnder his Sheeld, yet was it so sliced a∣way in peeces, as very little was left to defend himselfe withall. Gal∣pan seeing he had no other reme∣die, began to flye before the Sword of his enimie, and at length (as his last refuge) thought to saue him-selfe in a little Tower which his Gardants vsed to stand in: but the Prince following him hard at the heeles, got him by the Helmet and puld it off, and giuing a full stroke at him, therwith smot his head from the shoulders, afterward he came to the Damosell, saying. Faire Lady, now may you chouse an other friend if you please, for he to whom you promised, hath discharged ye of the bargaine. Thankes be to God and you Sir, quoth she: and as they returned from the Tower, they heard the dore shut too, wherefore he moū∣ted on Galpans Horse, which was esteemed one of the goodlyest in the world, and said to the Damo∣sell. I pray ye Lady, now let vs be gone hence. My Lord, quoth she, if it like you, I will cary his head to him whom I am sent, and pre∣sent it to him on your behalfe. Do not so, said the Prince, for the ca∣riage will be too troublesome, but take the Helmet if you will. The Damosell liking well of his aduise, commanded her Squire to cary it with him: and so they rode from the Castell, the seruants whereof were all gone, & had left the gates wide open. But the Prince not for∣getting the Damosels promise, that she would tel him the Knights name she was sent vnto: therefore earnestly he entreated her to satis∣fie him therein. Good reasō, quoth she, his name is Agraies, Sonne to the King of Scotland. Praised be God, said the Prince, who made me able to do so much, as so good a Knight shall be no more wron∣ged by traiterous Galpan: for you are (in mine opinion) well auen∣ged, and worthily may you call A∣graies a good Knight, in respect he is one of the best I know, and if for him you haue receiued dishonor, it now returneth to your commen∣dation. Go then and say to him, that a Knight of his, humbly salu∣teth him, whom he shall find at the warres in Gaule when he commeth thither. Gentle Sir, quoth she, see∣ing you loue him so well, I pray ye grant me one request. That will I, quoth the Prince. Let me then, said she, vnderstand your name. Lady, quoth he, at this time forbeare the knowledge thereof, and command what else you please, you shall not be denied. No other thing will I desire answered the Damosell. Be∣leeue me, said the Prince, it is lit∣tle courtesie to request the thing, which willingly I would not re∣ueale to any one. Yet must I needs know it, quoth the Damosell, or else you do not performe your promise. When he perceiued she would not be disswaded, some-what moued with anger he re∣plied. Such as know me, call me the Gentleman of the sea. So setting spurres to his horse, he gallopped away from the Damosell, who was

not a little glad that she knew his name: but when he was gone from her, he remembred the wound on his shoulder, which still bled very freshly, so that he might easily be tract by his bloud, & on his white Horse it had dropt in many places. At euening he came some-what neere a Fortresse, where he beheld a knight vnarmed comming to∣ward him, and after he had well viewed him, he said. My Lord, I pray you tell me where haue you beene so wounded? In sooth, quoth the Prince, at a Castle not very far hence. And how, said the Knight, came you by that goodly white Horse; I tooke it, answered the Prince, in requitall of mine owne, that was there slaine by traiterous villaines. But would Galpan, quoth the Knight, suffer ye so to do? Yea mary Sir, replied the Prince, he is now become more patient, for hee hath endured the losse of his head. When the Knight heard of Galpans death, he presently alighted fro•…•… his Horse, and ran to kisse the Prin∣ces feete: but he would not suffer him, yet could he not hold him from embracing his Sheeld, say∣ing. Ah Gentle Knight, how high∣ly am I indebted to you; you are to this place the most wellcome man in the world, for by your meanes haue I thorowly recoue∣red mine honor. Leaue wee this talke, said the Prince, & say where I may quickly finde some remedy for my wounds. In my house, an∣swered the knight, abideth a Neece of mine, who shal heale your hurts better then any other. So riding on they arriued at the castle, where being dismounted, they walked in∣to the great hall, the Knight repor∣ting by the way, how Galpan had kept him from bearing Armes one whole yeere and a halfe, compel∣ling him to change his name, and sweare to call himselfe while he li∣ued, the conquered by Galpan: but now, quoth he, seeing he is dead, mine honor is restored me againe. Afterwarde he caused the Prince to be vnarmed, and laid in a sump∣tuous bed, where his wounds were dilligently attended by the Lady, who assur him in short time to make him well againe: if he would be aduised by her councell, which he promised faithfully to do.