rent confidence, that
he was forced by his oath to return to the king whom he had lately
quitted, so soon as he should have settled the affairs of his own
country; that he had much to endure, much to accomplish; and that,
harassed as he was on all sides, he should never regain his former
gaiety till he should have extricated himself from all his difficulties.
In the mean time, his mere name had inspired the enemy with alarm; his
re-appearance at the head of the armies brought back victory to the
royal standard; he saw and seized the moment of making an advantageous
peace; and, having done so, prepared for the execution of a more
pleasing enterprise. Taking with him only two nephews, a chamberlain and
a trusty squire, all of whom he swore to secresy, he embarked for
Loegria; stationed his vessel at some distance from the harbour of
Totness; and landing his chamberlain alone, and in disguise, sent him,
with secret instructions to the princess. The confidant executed his
commission with address; made his way unobserved to the chamber of
Guilliadun, informed her of his master's arrival, and explained the
measures he had devised for her escape. They waited for the approach of
night; when Guilliadun, without any other attendant, having muffled
herself in a short and warm mantle, which concealed the richness of her
usual garments, followed him out of the town, to a small wood, where
Eliduc, who had deferred his landing till evening, awaited her. The
knight instantly placed her on a horse, springing on another, and taking
her rein in his hand, hurried forward to the sea, and embarked without
having excited the slightest suspicion of the enterprise, to which none
were privy excepting those on board. Both wind and tide were favourable;
they arrived near the coast of Bretagne, and were on the point of
entering the harbour, when a sudden squall from the shore split their
mast, rent their sail, and exposed them for some hours to the most
imminent danger. All exertions to guide the vessel being ineffectual,
they had recourse to prayers, invoking St. Nicholas and St. Clement, and
requesting the intercession of the blessed Virgin and her Son, that they
might be permitted to land in safety. The storm continued; when one of
the sailors suddenly exclaimed, "Sir knight, you carry with you the
cause of our calamity. In defiance of God, religion, justice and honour,
you are carrying off that lady, having already a beautiful and lawful
wife in