Glad were they to see Flamineo, albeit the great misfortunes which had befallen them, made their countenances sorrowful. They told him what had past, and the chiefs of the Romans were forthwith assembled. Then, when they were all met, Brondajel of the Rock thus began: Honourable Knight Flamineo, you, and these our good friends, know the misfortunes which have fallen upon us, since first we came to this Island of Great Britain, by command of the Emperor, whom God pardon! of this I will not speak. We were prisoners in the Firm Island, and it pleased Amadis of Gaul to send for us hither, where he hath shown us great honour, and spoken to us at length saying, that as our Empire is now without a Lord, and the succession more justly appertaineth to Arquisil than to any other, it would please him if we would chuse that Knight to be our Lord and Emperor, and that he would then set us free, and become our faithful friend
and ally; and so earnestly did he propose this, that it appeared to us he would rejoice if we did so with good-will, and that if we refused, he would employ his force to bring it otherwise about; for this cause ye are now summoned; and to me it seems that this which Amadis desires of us is what we ought most earnestly to have requested of him. For who is there, who either by his right, or for his courage, or for his virtues, deserves the Empire so well as Arquisil? Certes none. He is our countryman, brought up among us; we know his good disposition, and that we may ask privileges of him as our right, which a stranger belike would deny. Moreover, thus should we win the friendship of the famous Amadis, who, as when he was our enemy, he had such power to injure us, so being our friend, will he remedy the past with much honour and advantage. Now, then, Sirs, speak as you may think fit, having no regard to our captivity or tribulation, but only as reason and justice shall direct.
Such influence have those things that are just and reasonable, that even the wicked cannot easily withstand them. But these Knights were men of much discretion and understanding, and though on such occasions there are often many discordant
wills, they all agreed that what Brondajel of the Rock had advised was reasonable, and that what Amadis recommended should be done; that they and their Emperor might leave the land, in which so much evil had befallen them, and return to their own country. With this answer the chiefs returned to Amadis. Then all the chiefs and people of the Empire there present, being assembled in the church, they did homage to Arquisil as their Emperor, and he swore to maintain their privileges and customs, and granted them all the favours which they reasonably asked.
CHAPTER 37.
When King Lisuarte had left his bed, and was sufficiently recovered, and all the other wounded Knights had been healed by the skill of that great master Helisabad, the King on a day summoned all the Kings and Chiefs of both armies to the church of the Monastery, and addressed them in this manner, Honourable Kings and renowned Knights, I need not call to your remembrance the things which have now befallen us, for ye also were present; and if an end had not been found to them, we also who are living, should have been among the dead. Leaving this then apart, and knowing the great evil to the service of God and to our own person and kingdom if they had gone
on, I have detained the noble King Perion of Gaul and all the Princes and Knights of his army, that I may speak in their presence, and in yours. Then turning to Amadis, he said, Brave Sir Amadis of Gaul, it is not my custom to praise a man in his presence, nor is it your inclination to be praised; but I must call to the remembrance of these Knights all that hath passed between you and me, since you first abode at my court as the Knight of Queen Brisena my wife; these things were notorious to all, but they must see that I also acknowledge them, and that there is a good cause for the guerdon which I design to bestow. After you had defeated Dardan the Proud in my presence, and given me your brother Don Galaor to be my Knight, which was the best gift that ever yet was made to any King, I and my daughter Oriana were entrapped by the wicked Enchanter Arcalaus, and led away without any means of defence; for my Knights were all withheld by the word which I had given; so that she and I were in danger of death or cruel prison, and my kingdom in hazard of being lost. Then did you and Galaor, returning from adventure on which the Queen had sent you, put your lives upon the chance to help us, and we were both rescued, and
our enemies slain or put to flight, and immediately after the Queen my wife was succoured by you, and Barsinan, the father of this Lord of Sansuena, defeated, who besieged her in our city of London; so that as with great treachery and imminent danger I had been taken, I was by you with honour saved, to the safety of my kingdom. Again, when the battle of the Hundred Knights on each side was appointed between me and King Cildadan who is here present; before the day arrived you rid me of the enmity of this Knight Don Quadragante, and slew Famongomadan and Basagante, the fiercest giant of all the islands in the sea, and rescued my daughter Leonoreta with all her ladies and ten of my bravest Knights, when all my power could not have saved them. In the battle, such were the Giants and Knights whom King Cildadan brought against me, that I could not have won the victory but for you, who slew with one blow the brave Sardaman the Lion, and with another delivered me from Madanfabul of the Vermilion Tower, who had disabled me, and plucked me from the saddle to carry me on board his ship. You then conquered that most valiant and renowned Ardan Canileo the Terrible, to the great honour of my court; for no where else could