[This Golden King was a great and potent Prince, and during his stay at this place there used to be in his service none but beautiful girls, of whom he had a great number in his Court.  When he went to take the air about the fortress, these girls used to draw him about in a little carriage which they could easily move, and they would also be in attendance on the King for everything pertaining to his convenience or pleasure.[NOTE 2]]

Now I will tell you a pretty passage that befell between the Golden King and Prester John, as it was related by the people of the Castle.

It came to pass, as they told the tale, that this Golden King was at war with Prester John.  And the King held a position so strong that Prester John was not able to get at him or to do him any scathe; wherefore he was in great wrath.  So seventeen gallants belonging to Prester John’s Court came to him in a body, and said that, an he would, they were ready to bring him the Golden King alive.  His answer was, that he desired nothing better, and would be much bounden to them if they would do so.

So when they had taken leave of their Lord and Master Prester John, they set off together, this goodly company of gallants, and went to the Golden King, and presented themselves before him, saying that they had come from foreign parts to enter his service.  And he answered by telling them that they were right welcome, and that he was glad to have their service, never imagining that they had any ill intent.  And so these mischievous squires took service with the Golden King; and served him so well that he grew to love them dearly.

And when they had abode with that King nearly two years, conducting themselves like persons who thought of anything but treason, they one day accompanied the King on a pleasure party when he had very few else along with him:  for in those gallants the King had perfect trust, and thus kept them immediately about his person.  So after they had crossed a certain river that is about a mile from the castle, and saw that they were alone with the King, they said one to another that now was the time to achieve that they had come for.  Then they all incontinently drew, and told the King that he must go with them and make no resistance, or they would slay him.  The King at this was in alarm and great astonishment, and said:  “How then, good my sons, what thing is this ye say? and whither would ye have me go?” They answered, and said:  “You shall come with us, will ye:  nill ye, to Prester John our Lord.”

[Illustration:  The “Roi d’Or.” (From a MS. in the Royal Asiatic Society’s Collection.)

“Et en ceste chastians ha un mout bians paleis en quel a une grandisme sale la ou il sunt portrait a mont belles pointures tout les rois de celes provences que furent ansienemant, et ce est mout belle viste a voir.”]

NOTE 1.—­The name of the castle is very doubtful.  But of that and the geography, which in this part is tangled, we shall speak further on.