Page:The venture; an annual of art and literature.djvu/120

 down, as the knight of Portugal desired to speak; and he, not knowing enough of English to discourse in it, spoke thus in Latin, for he was a good scholar:

"Sir, these lords, nobles, and cavaliers are of such estimation and worship that they would be right in yielding obedience to none of lesser worth than your Majesty now present, could your Majesty's equal be found in the world, but since such hath not been found, nor, as I deem can ever be, it seems to me that they will do what is just for the service of your Majesty, being well affectioned to you as reason would. Wherefore before them all I beg your Majesty to hear me, and in his wisdom determine the issue of what I am to declare. Which is to let your Majesty know that I passed into Barbary, and it was God's pleasure that by great cost and labour of my person I should deliver the Princess, my Lady here present, who if I deceive not myself will remember how the matter came to pass, and of my poor service, which although it was not such as her great desert merited, was the best that my ability could render. Thus I brought her to Portugal, treating her with great honour, and though I knew nothing of her greatness, continually serving her as if I had known, and undergoing great dispeace with my father for her sake. Then I came to this kingdom, bearing to your Majesty the work she had wrought, and tidings of herself, and your Majesty was pleased to bestow on me the five thousand crusadoes I asked, which have been left in the galley which has brought her Highness here. And besides this money your Majesty, without my