Gonçalo Fernandes Trancoso

“ When the youth heard that they had departed he was ready to die with passion for the damsel, whom he loved more than his life, and moreover was consumed with remorse for not having brought the five thousand crusadoes from the galley, by aid of which he might have gone to seek her, but he had forgotten them for thinking of his lady, whom he prized above all the gold in the world. ”

“ Once upon a time there dwelt in a city of Portugal a rich merchant who had a discreet and clever son, well seen in all the accomplishments that would befit a youth of birth, versed in Latin and Greek, a graceful dancer, a skilful player on the guitar and all other instruments, a perfect horseman and expert in every warlike exercise ”

“ Were I but apparelled for this tourney I would be bold to enter it, and would so bear myself that with the aid of God I should win the prize; and since I see myself deprived of all that is necessary, and so placed that I cannot obtain it I die of passion, for I am losing all that I might have gained. ”

“ And the old man and his sons rode with him to his hostelry, where all alighted, and at the old man's importunity be removed to his house, where he gained the love of the sons until death, as though they had been brothers, and the old man treated him as a son, and gave him to eat of our dishes that are not made in Barbary, and showed him as much honour as if he had been a prince. ”

“ It cannot be, on the contrary I must spend more money to do them honour and put them where they will be esteemed, and thus, you having squandered the three thousand crusadoes you took with you, my honour will compel me to spend as much again for the honour of these bones." The youth would have excused himself, affirming that he had been promised much honour and profit, but his father would not hearken unto him, and in his passion drove him from the house. ”

“ The steward read them, and both wept for joy and grief, he and the King, and when their transport was over they agreed that the steward should go in a King's ship with the youth wheresoever the youth should guide him, and should see the damsel that should be shown him whom the youth should affirm to be she who wrought the linen, and if she were the Princess he should give him in whose house she had been kept, all he should say he had spent upon her, and two thousand crusadoes to boot, and promise him that if he would come with her the King would show him great favour, and to the youth also. ”

“ And had he had any means of discovering his necessities to the Princess, doubtless he would have done so, but not having any he remained awaiting his perdition and death, which must soon have come to pass if God had not put it into the hearts of the two musicians, perceiving his melancholy, to thus discourse with him: "Comrade," they said "we pray you much to disclose to us the cause of your discontent, which we trust in Christ to be able to remedy if remedy be in the power of man; our wills, powers, and persons being wholly yours. ”

“ Being thus accomplished, his father could not train him to traffic as he would fain have done, for this the youth disdained, and would rather mate with the nobles and show forth his skill in their exercises than earn all the treasure his father promised him. Insomuch that at four and twenty he was putting no hand to his father's business, not by reason of ill habits or disobedience, but following his own way, by which he deemed some time to attain to honour. One day his father bade him go and market at Medina fair ”

“ And the musicians and singers continuing their performance, which was the more lauded every time they came, the Princess manifested the greatest pleasure, and the King twice as much. And she, desiring to fulfil the promise of marriage which she had made to the Portuguese, and knowing what manner of man she had in him, spoke to her father; and he and the nobles of his realm decreed that a great royal tournament should be held, and that whoso won most honour should have the Princess to wife, and become heir to the kingdom ”

“ And there were many and fine encounters; sometimes with shocks so fierce that the armour of the knights was wrested from their bodies and sent flying through the air, and some who could not recover themselves came to the ground, and some fell, horse and man. But it so befell our Portuguese that while all the rest received some check, great or small, he received none, but did great displeasure to others, for in his three first courses he overthrew three famous knights who little deemed to have fallen so soon, and this without breaking his first lance. ”

“ They came forth from the boat to save their lives, and no sooner were they on land than they were taken and made captive, and my daughter, Princess of this kingdom, became the slave of a Moor, who having learned from those with her who she was, immediately put a price upon her of five thousand crusadoes, which this youth has paid, and brought her with honour to the land of the Christians. ”

“ If you would take to your own land what will bring honour and profit for you and your father, I counsel you to buy the bones of a holy Christian martyred here, whom the Christians hold in great veneration. These have come down by descent from father to son from him who first had them, and are rated at three thousand crusadoes, and are proved to be relics of the greatest worth ”

“ But when the presents had been seen, his son gave him the Moor's letter, by which he learned that the son had brought a Christian maiden appraised at five thousand crusadoes. At this he grieved mightily, and said, "That the Lord should send Saints is well, but what want we with sinners, especially female ones? Thou hast surely brought her here to satisfy thy carnal appetites, and hast never laid out thy money so ill in thy life." ”

“ He asks you all together, and each one severally, to abide by the judges' sentence, and to accept him whom they shall determine to have gained as their Prince and Lord, since it needs must be one and not all, and so doing you shall find him so propitious that he trusts in God that none of you shall ever at any time forfeit his friendship and favour. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Insomuch that all the diocese took note, and people flocked from all the country, who, having seen the Saints, wished to see the house and person of him at whose cost the relics had come. And as he was a rich merchant, and had all manner of goods in his house, they asked for them and bought freely, deeming that all stuff in that house was blessed, and that somewhat of its holiness accrued to themselves. ”

“ Whereat all the nobles of the court rejoiced greatly, and the jousts were proclaimed throughout the kingdom, and great and small had much contentment, having lately been in so great affliction. And the nobles and knights seeing how great a prize was to be given to the best champion desired exceedingly to enter the lists and show forth their strength, valour and wealth ”

“ And, by the way, marvels were not wanting which showed the sanctity of the relics, and they were greatly esteemed, and gained the repute they deserved in the bishopric, and the youth's father became better known than before, and his house was so frequented that this year he did more business than in the three years before it. And as he still would not take his son back some nobles who heard this interposed, and reconciled them and restored the son to his father's favour ”

“ And that the youth might be sure of his reward, the King gave him a writing, which the youth kept; and a galley being prepared the steward and his wife embarked, with her many ladies and with him many nobles and knights, and the youth who had brought the broideries ”