第98章

How the King of Dily departed with his troops,and took to his kingdom the six captives that he had taken in the fortress,&c.

The King having departed to his own kingdom in consequence of the news that had been brought to him,leaving the kingdom of Bisnaga in the power of Meliquy niby,when it was known throughout the country how he was out of it,those who had escaped to the mountains,with others who,against their will and through fear had taken oaths of fealty for their towns and villages,rose against the captain Mileque neby,and came to besiege him in the fortress,allowing no provisions to go in to him,nor paying him the taxes that had been forced on them.And Meliquy niby,seeing how little profit he could get in this country,and how badly he was obeyed,and how far off was the succour sent by his lord the King,sent quickly to him to tell him how all the land was risen against him,and how every one was lord of what he pleased,and no one was on his side;and that His Highness should decide what he thought best to be done in such case.And when the King heard this news he took counsel,telling the great people of the realm of the letter and message which he had from Melinebiquy,his captain and governor of the kingdom of Bisnaga,and how badly the lords of the land obeyed him;so that each one was king and lord over whomsoever he pleased,as soon as he acquired any power,there being no justice amongst them,nor any one whom they wished to obey.What was it seemed best to them (he asked),and what in such case ought they,and could they,do,so that he should not lose so fair a territory and one so rich,the seizure of which had cost such labour,so much money,and the lives of so many of their fellows?All the councillors decided that the King should command the presence of the six men whom he held captive,and that he should learn from them who was at that time the nearest of kin,or in any way related to the Kings of Bisnaga;and,this questioning done,no one was found to whom by right the kingdom could come,save to one of the six whom he held captive,and this one he who at the time of the destruction of Bisnaga had been minister of the kingdom.He was not related by blood to the kings,but only was the principal judge;but (it seemed)good that His Highness should give the kingdom to that one.And this advice pleased the King and them all.

At once the six captives were released and set at liberty,and many kindnesses and honours were done them,and the governor was raised to be King and the treasurer to be governor;[485]and he took from them oaths and pledges of their fealty as vassals;and they were at once despatched and sent to their lands with a large following to defend them from any one who should desire to do them an injury.And when these six men had thus finished their journey to the city of Nagundy,they found only the ruined basements of the houses,and places peopled by a few poor folk.

In a short time the arrival of Deorao[486](for so he was called)was known in all the country,and now he had been exalted to be King,with which the people were well content,as men who had felt so deeply their subjection to a lord not of their own faith;and from this man have descended all those who have reigned up to now.And they made great feasts for him,and delivered up to him the lands taken by former kings and lost to them,and he was obeyed as King.And when the captain Meliquy niby became aware of this,he was very pleased and contented,and delivered up to him the fortress and kingdom as the King his lord had commanded;and making himself ready with all speed he departed,leaving the land to its proper owner.And after he had gone,King Deorao,entering on his rule,strove to pacify the people and those who had revolted,and to make them safe,and he did them many kindnesses so as to secure their good-will,and travelled about their fortresses and towns.He abandoned the lost lands since he knew that he could not regain them,having no army or forces for such a work,nor any cause for which he could make war;and also because he was very old.