Hearing this, that other ship made up to the Queen's vessel, which seemed the richest in its appearance, and a Dame came forth covered with a black mantle, from head to foot, and asked who went in that ship. Angriote answered, it was the Queen of Gaul going to the Firm Island. Sir Knight, said she, I beseech you by the virtue to which you are bound, devise how I may speak with her. That may presently be done, replied Angriote; come on board; she is a lady who will willingly speak with you, as she does with all who require it. When the Dame was before Queen Elisena, she courteously welcomed her, and asked who she was: at that she began to weep, and said, I was the wife of the King of Dacia, and in his company was I a happy Queen. By him I had two sons and a daughter; the daughter who was begotten for our evil fortune, we gave in marriage to the Duke of Suecia, a great lordship which borders upon our country. Now, the Duke being a young man and covetous of dominion, thought that as the King my husband was in years, and our sons but boys, the eldest not passing fourteen years, he might kill the King and seize them, and thus obtain the kingdom in his wife's right: and as he thought, so did he; for, coming under pretext of a visit to our court, and with a large train, as if to do us honour, the King my husband went out joyfully to meet him, and that traitor slew him with his own hand. It pleased God to save the boys; for they were behind upon their palfreys, and turned round and gallopped into the city and the greater part of their Knights with them, and there are they now besieged. At this season I was gone upon a pilgrimage to a very ancient church of our Lady, which stands upon a rock half a league out at sea; there was I informed of their unhappy fortune, and having none other remedy, I resolved to go to the Firm Island to a Knight called Amadis, who is there with many other Knights of great renown, and beseech them to have pity upon those young Princes, and not suffer them to be so wickedly slain; for if there were but some to encourage and lead the people, that traitor would not dare continue there.