Vridebrant of Scotland and the men of his fleet had burned the land before retiring.

Now hear what befel our knight. Tossed thither by stormy seas and but narrowly escaping death he came sailing into the harbour up to the Queen’s palace, where he was observed by many eyes. He looked out on to the plain. Many tents were pitched all round the town, except towards the sea. Two great armies lay there. He sent to inquire whose town it was, for neither he nor any of his mariners knew of it. They told his envoys that it was Patelamunt and sent their message with friendly tokens, imploring him by their gods to aid them – they were in great need, fighting for survival.

When the young Angevin heard of their wretched sufferings he offered his services for hire, as many knights still do, else they must give him some other reason why he should endure their enemies’ spite. Sick and sound alike answered him then with one voice that their gold and jewels were his, he should be master of it all and want for nothing if he stayed with them. Yet he had no need of hire: for as to gold of Arabia he had brought numerous lumps of it with him! And the people of Zazamanc were all as dark as night – he had had enough of their company! Nevertheless he gave orders for quarters to be taken, and they were only too pleased to give him the best. The ladies were still reclining at their windows, looking on and taking careful note of his squires and of the details of his turn-out.

I do not know how many sable furs the generous warrior bore on his shield of ermine. The Queen’s Marshal made it out to be a great Anchor, and very glad he was to see it there. His eyes told him he had seen this knight before, or else his double. That must have been at the time of the Baruc’s siege of Alexandria, where Gahmuret’s prowess had been quite unequalled.

Thus great-hearted Gahmuret rode into town in style. He ordered ten sumpters to be loaded. These marched through the streets followed by twenty squires on horseback. His baggage-train could be seen ahead: unmounted pages, cooks and scullions, they had gone on in advance. After the squires rode twelve noble pages, some of whom were Saracens, well-bred and with engaging manners. After these, horses with trappers of cendale were led, eight in a bunch. The ninth carried Gahmuret’s saddle. The shield I mentioned was borne beside it by a merry page. Next rode trumpeters, such as are still in demand today. A drummer beat his tabor and tossed it high into the air. His lordship would have thought it a poor show had there been no flautists, no good fiddlers three! These all passed on with measured step. The great man brought up the rear himself with his master-mariner, an esteemed and experienced man.

All the inhabitants were Moors, every man and woman of them. The knight saw a profusion of battered shields pierced through and through by spears, many of them hanging on doors and walls. There was weeping there, and wailing. Numbers of men had been laid on beds in the windows for the fresh air, so badly wounded that even when they had had the doctor they could not recover. They had been in among the enemy, and such has always been the lot of those who would not flee. Countless horses were being led back past him gashed by spear and sword. He saw many dusky ladies on either side of him whose colour resembled the raven’s.

His host received him amiably.