The famous and renowned history of Amadis de Gaule conteining the heroick deeds of armes and strange adventures, aswell [sic] of Amadis himself, as of Perion his son, and Lisvart of Greece, son to Esplandian, Emperor of Constantinople : wherein is shewed the wars of the Christians against the Turks, the death of Armato, King of Turkie, and the strange death of Melea the enchantress, the love of Perion de Gaule, otherwise the knight of the sphere, to Grieilerea, daughter to the Emperor of Trebisond, and of Lisvart of Greece, sometimes called the knight of the true cross to Onolerea, another daughter to the Emperor of Trebisond : together with the acts and strange adventures of many other great lords and princes, aswell [sic] Christians as pagans : being the sixt part never before published / translated out of French into English by Francis Kirkman.

CHAP. XV.

How the Emperour of Trebisond embarqued to goe a∣gainst the King Armato, and the sayling of the Pa∣gans to Constantinople.

THe Emperours Army being ready to em∣barque, and all his Vessels being furnish∣ed for Warre, and well fraught, he esta∣blished for his Lieutenant Generall, Par∣darea, Duke of Antelea, who he com∣manded before he embarqued, to make a generall Muster of his Souldiers. And sinding them to be the number of sixty thousand Horsemen, and fifty thou∣sand resolute Souldiers: wherefore the Emperour was so glad, that at that very houre he crowned Pard••rea King of Breigne, who was his Brother-in-Law, to the great con∣tent of all the Company. And the next day according to the advice of the Masters and Captaines, every one entred into his Ship; for the wind was faire to set saile, and the Emperour himselfe have left the Duke Delafonta with the Empresse, for Governour of his Country, commended her to the keeping of our Lord, and caused to weigh anchors. Then he who had seene at their departure from the Port this great equipage, surely he would easily thinke the greatnesse of this Lord and Prince; for the Sea was in a manner covered with Vessels, being hung with Flagges, Banners, and Streamers, with so many Trumpets, Fifes, and Drums, that it was a thing almost incredible. So then Alquefa would make no longer abode in Trebisond, seeing the departure of the Emperour; but so soon as he had left the Port, she went to the Empresse, of whom she tooke leave, and likewise Gricilerea, assuring her, that so soone as she had made one voyage to her Father, she would goe in search of the Knight of the Sphere. For which cause the Princesse delivered her a Letter to present on her part, pray∣ing

her with great affection, to perswade him to come to her as soone as he could possibly, which she promised to her: And re-entring into her Vessell, she set saile. So let us leave her on the Sea, and let us return to the Messengers who went to advertize the Christian Princes of the seige of Constantinople; who had so faire wind, that they gave Order ••o what they had enterprized. And the Emperours of Rome, King of Naples, and the rest were ready to dis∣lodge, at the time that they had knowledge, that the Ar∣my of Armato might goe into Thrace. For this cause en∣tering into their Vessels, according to the Region and Cli∣mate from when they dispatched, traversing so many Seas, that at last (not without great travell) they met in the Defended Mountaine, where they waited for the Earle of Frandalo and Morandell, with their equipage. At this very time, the King Armato accompanied with Almirin, brother to the Souldan of Liquie, the King of Jerusalem, and Sol∣dans of Persia, of Alapa, of Babilon, the Califs of Egypt, Taborlanes, and many other great Lords of the East, parted from Tenedos with so great a number of Ships, Brigantines, Galeaces, Gallies, and Foists, that the Sea seemed to be co∣vered. But they found not the Emperour so unaccompa∣nied, but he had thirty thousand Horsemen, and fifty thou∣sand bearing Armes Neverthelesse he seeing so great a number of his Enemies to approach so near to the great City, and not having had any news of them from whom he expected aid, he was somewhat grieved, which he hid: and the better to assure his men, he was of advice that they should (as much as they could possible) hinder the King Armatoes Army from Landing, giving them continuall Alarumes to vex and trouble them. For which purpose were appointed the Knight of the Sphere, Languines, Abies of Ireland, Argamont, and his Sonne, with ten thousand Horsemen, and two thousand chosen Souldiers. Who ha∣ving had notice of the place where the King Armato would take Land, they issued out in good equipage, and the same day they discovered the Vanguard of the Pagans, with

the King of Jerusalem, accompanied with three Giants' Brothers to him whom the Knight of the Sphere had kil∣led at the Fountaine, where he had delivered Alquif the Damsells Father. So the Christians remained close and in ambush, to see the countenance of the ochers; but they made there no long stay, before they saw the Pagans Ves∣sels by little and little to approach the Land, and lastly to throw Planks, and descend into Cock-boats, Skiffes, and other little Boats, wherby they might Land their men. I doe believe that those who were the most diligent, were not the bestused; for Perion and his company ranne upon them, and defeited a great many, before they could be suc∣coured, and untill their battail and Rear-guard could joyne together, and with full saile gained the shore, in such manner that Perion and his company were forced to re∣treat, and close themselves, untill the three Giants with a great band of Palestines, rushed on them with so much boldness, that he who had seen them, would have judged no otherwise, but that they had a desire to performe their utmost. Nevertheless they found much to doe when they came to Land, by reason that Perion and Argamont with their squadron held together; and at that time there was so great a Conflict, that many on both sides lost their lives there. And by reason that the Pagans gained I and, and forced ther•• ••••••llously, Argamen•• went to the Knight of the Sphere s••••wing him the eminent peril and danger they should fall into, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it were not provided for. Wherefore, he (as a wise and advised Captaine) began from hence∣forwards to retire, nevertheless they sustained the heat of the skirmish: which the Califfe of Egypt understanding, re-advanced, and entering further in the press then he should, he was met by Perion, who gave him such a blow on the head, that he separated his head in twaine. For which, one of the King of Jerusalems Giants that followed him, was so angred, that he lifted up his sword with both his hands, thinking to give Perion the like payment; But Ar∣gamont saw the blow comming, set his shield before him,

which entered into it above a foot and a halfe. Surely this force was esteemed marvellous among others: for Argamonts shield was of fine steele, and neverthelesse it was cut as it were in half; and as the Giant assayed to pull out his sword, Argamont gave him so great a blow with an Iron Crow which he had, that he bowed his head to his saddle, and in rising, Perion separated his shoulders from his sides, of which he dyed. When Golfon his brother saw him in such extremi∣ty, never was wild Boar so mad with Dogs, and he soone made Argamont understand it, for he sought for him out a∣mongst them all: and at his arivall, he gave him so many blows with his Mace, that without the helpe of his Sonne Ardadile Canile, he had lost his life: but be tooke Golfon at an advantage, and he thrust his sword through his body. What will you that I say? God did well declare this day, that he would aid the Christians: and it was so to be won∣dered at, how any one of them could escape, they being encompassed with the whole power of the Pagans. Never∣thelesse they found meanes to save themselves, and retreat with their honours unto the very walls of the City. There Abies of Ireland, Languines triumphed; for although they were wounded, yet they did as great Deeds of Armes, as any Knights could doe, and great part of the honour of so faire a retreat, might (without injuring the others) bee attributed to them. The Pagans having then pursued the Knight of the Sphere, and his company even to the trenches of the Town; they had so many darts thrown at them by those that were within, that they were forced to retreat, without daring to passe any further; and by this meanes, the Christians might enter with ease, not without great losse: for there was killed twelve or fifteen thousand on their side, and more then twenty thousand of the others. Then the Gates were presently rammed up, and a strick watch was set in all parts: and that same day the enemies encamped on the Sea shore, leave the Kings of Rabie and Galoffe, for Captaines of their Army on the Sea; with ne∣cessary equipage. And the night following they began to

draw near to the Towne, and fortifie their Camp; in the middest whereof Melia commanded to erect her Tents and Pavillions, and next to her were those of the King of Giants Island, and Gradafilea his Daughter, who had been to fetch Lisvart out of Trebisond as you have heard. During these transactions, the Emperour of Constantinople, and the befeiged did continually labour, expecting every hour the battery of the place, and the assault thereof: but that was not so soone as they thought: for Melia (without whose counsell nothing was enterprized) willed that those who had wearied themselves on the Sea, should first refresh them∣selves; and in the meane time shee commanded a great number of double Ladders to be made, to mount the Walls withall, when she should find opportunity, And although this was one of the occasions, why the assault of the Town was so long delayed, yet there was one greaten. The vil∣lanous woman would have Lisvart burnt before all: for she knew by her devilish act, that so long as he lived, the Em∣perour of Constantinople would be invicible: which shee declared to the chiefe of the Anmy: but she purposed, God prevented it otherwise, as you shall heare.