Chapter 89

[423]Hard it healeth well. N.[424]Whence ye haue helpe. N.[425]Springs vertue take of vaines that they been in. N.[426]Fountaines hot and cold,To heale by them the sicke, both yong and old. N.[427]Extols vs to the skies,We look not downe from whence we first did rise. N.[428]Ambition will not wisdome’s counsell brooke,Pride sets her thoughts on things that vade away,Forsaken vertue which doth nere decay. N.[429]We might admire what monsters time did hatch. N.[430]Surpasse in his degree. N.[431]As all the rest in wisdome weaker bee. N.[432]Magicke arte. N.[433]Which in the end did proue my future ill. N.[434]Few men did euer vse like enterprise. N.[435]And turne and winde at last which way I would. N.[436]And in the fall I lost. N.[437]This was my race, this was my fatall fall. N.[438]In their effects they are. N.[439]Be wise in artes exceed not wisdome’s bound,The depth of arte by wit may not be found. N.[440]That nothing haue yet promise all to you. N.[441]All which by nature are abhor’d as euill,Practisde by fooles, inuented by the diuell. N.[442]——Beware of climing high,Lest that you helpelesse fall, as erst did I. N.The Authour.When Bladud thus had ended quite his tale,And tolde his life as you haue heard before:He toke his flight, and then a Lady paleAppeard in sight, beraide with bloudy gore:In hande a knife of sanguine dye she bore:And in her breste a wounde was pearced wyde,So freshly bledde, as if but than she dyde.She staide a while, her coulour came and went,And doubtful was that would haue tolde hir paine:In wofull sort she seemed to lament,And could not wel her tongue from talke refraine.For why her griefes vnfolde she would right faine,Yet bashfull was: at length an ende to make,Hir Morpheus wild, and then thus wyse she spake.[443]Cannot still keepe in my counsaile. ed. 1575.[444]And shew mishaps. ib.[445]That. ed. 1575.[446]May keep. ib.[447]And willing be to flye. ib.[448]For sith I see thee prest to heare that wilt recorde. ib.[449]What I Cordila tell. ib.[450]To thee that giu’st an eare to heare and ready art. ib.[451]Practisde for to flye and soare. ib.[452]Who dead his sonne my father. ib.[453]He had three daughters faire the first hight Gonerell. N.[454]My sister Ragan. ed. 1575.[455]And of vs all our father deire in age did dote. ib.[456]So. ib.[457]To giue where. ed. 1575.[458]Had more age. ib.[459]My prayse t’asswage. ib.[460]Gainst. ib.[461]But still. ib.[462]This stanza follows in the edit. 1575.Yet nathelesse my father did me not mislike,But age so simple is and easy to subdue,As childhode weake thats voide of wit and reason quite;They thinke thers nought you flatter fainde, but all is true,Once old and twyse a childe tis said with you,Which I affirme by proofe that was definde,In age my father had a childishe minde.[463]He thought to wed vs vnto nobles three, or peres. ib.[464]Sent. ib.[465]I must assaye and eke your frendships proue.Now tell me eche how much you do me loue.ib.[466]Lou’de him well and more. ib.[467]Would agayne therefore. ib.[468]But not content with this he minded me to proue,For why he wonted was to loue me wonders wel:How much dost thou (quoth he) Cordile thy father loueI wil (sayd I) at once my loue declare and tell:I lou’de you euer as my father well,No otherwyse, if more to know you craue:We loue you chiefly for the goodes you haue.Thus much I said, the more their flattery to detectBut he me aunswered therunto again with ire,Because thou dost thy fathers aged yeare neglect.That lou’de the more of late then thy deserts require,Thou neuer shalt, to any part aspireOf this my realme, emong thy sisters twayne,But euer shalt vndotid ay remayne.Then to the king of Albany for wife he gaueMy sister Gonerell, the eldest of vs all:And eke my sister Ragan for Hinnine to haue,Which then was Prince of Camber and Cornwall:These after him should haue his kingdome allBetwene them both, he gaue it franke and free:But nought at all he gaue of dowry mee.At last it chaunst the king of Fraunce to here my fame.My beuty braue was blazed al abrode eche where:And eke my vertues praisde me to my fathers blameDid for my sisters flattery me lesse fauour beare.Which when this worthy king my wrongs did heare,He sent ambassage likte me more then life,T’intreate he might me haue to be his wife.My father was content with all his harte, and sayde,He gladly should obtaine his whole request at willConcerning me, if nothing I herin denayde:But yet he kept by their intisment hatred still,(Quoth he) your prince his pleasure to fulfill,I graunt and giue my daughter as you craue:But nought of me for dowry can she haue.King Aganippus well a greed to take me so,Hee deemde that vertue was of dowries all the bestAnd I contented was to Fraunce my father froFor to depart, and hoapte t’enioye some greater rest.I maried was, and then my ioyes encreaste,A gate more fauoure in this Prince his sight,Then euer Princesse of a princely wight.But while that I these ioyes enioyd at home in Fraunce,My father Leire in Britayne waxed aged olde,My sisters yet them selues the more aloft t’aduaunce,Thought well they might, be by his leaue, or sans so bolde:To take the realme and rule it as they wolde.They rose as rebels voyde of reason quite,And they depriu’de him of his crowne and right.Then they agreed, it should be into partes equallDeuided: and my father threscore knightes and squiresShould alwayes haue, attending on him still at call.But in sixe monthes so much encreasid hateful Ires,That Gonerell denyde all his desires,So halfe his garde she and her husband refte:And scarce alowde the other halfe they lefte.Eke as in Scotlande thus he lay lamenting fates,When as his daughter so sought all his vtter spoyle,The meaner vpstart gentles, thought them selues his matesAnd betters eke, see here an aged Prince his foyle,Then was he fayne for succoure his, to toyle,With all his knightes, to Cornewall there to lye:In greatest nede his Ragan’s loue to trie.And when he came to Cornwall, Ragan then with ioye,Receiu’d him and eke hir husband did the like:There he abode a yeare and liu’de without anoy,But then they tooke, all his retinue from him quiteSaue only ten, and shewde him dayly spite,Which he bewailde complaining durst not striue,Though in disdayne they last alowde but fiue.On this he deemde him selfe was far that time vnwyse,When from his daughter Gonerell to Ragan heeDeparted erste yet eache did him poore king despise:Wherfore to Scotlande once againe with hir to bee,And bide he went: but beastly cruell, sheeBereau’de him of his seruauntes all saue one,Bad him content him selfe with that or none.Eke at what time he askte of eache to haue his garde,To garde his grace where so he walkte or wente:They calde him doting foole and all his hestes debarde,Demaunded if with life he could not be contente.Then he to late his rigour did repenteGainst me, and sayde, Cordila nowe adieu:I finde the wordes thou toldste mee to to true.And to be short, to Fraunce he came alone to mee,And tolde me how my sisters him our father vsde:Then I besought my king with teares vpon my knee,That he would aide my father thus by them misusde,Who nought at all my humble heste refusde:But sent to euery coaste of Fraunce for ayde,Wherwith my father home might be conueide.The soldiours gathered from eche quarter of the land,Came at the length to know the king his mind and wil:Who did commit them to my father’s aged hand,And I likewise of loue and reuerent mere goodwillDesirde my king, he would not take it ill,If I departed for a space withall:To take a parte, or ease my father’s thrall.This had: I partid with my father from my fere,We came to Britayne with our royal campe to fight:And manly fought so long our enmies vanquisht wereBy martial feates, and force by subiects sword and might.The Brityshe kinges were faine to yelde our right:And so my father well this realme did guide,Three yeares in peace and after that he dide.Then I at Leircester in Ianus temple, madeHis tombe, and buried there his kingly regall corse,As sondry tymes in life before he often bade:For of our father’s will we then did greatly force,We had of conscience eke so much remorce,That we supposde those childrens liues to ill:Which brake their father’s testament, and will.[469]Who for I could not flatter did lesse fauour beare. N.[470]Betwixt their husbands twaine they causde him to agree. N.[471]Of sixtie Knights that on him should attendant bee. N.[472]As thus in his distresse he lay lamenting fates. N.[473]Ill. N.[474]And I was Queene the kingdoms after stil to holde. ed. 1575.[475]Becke and bay I wolde. ib.[476]Two churlishe impes. ib.[477]This stanza follows in edit. 1575.The one hight Morgan th’ elder sonne of Gonnerell,My sister, and that other Conidagus hight.My sister Ragan’s sonne, that lou’de me neuer well,Both nephewes mine yet would against mee Cordell fight,Because I lou’de always that semed right;Therefore they hated mee and did pursueTheir aunte and Queene as she had bene a jewe.[478]This Morgane was that time the Prince. ib.[479]Licence. ed. 1575.[480]Was euer lady in such wofull wreckfull wo. ib.[481]Depriu’de. ib.[482]When first I left, the crowne of France did me exhalt. ed. 1575.When friends I left in France that did me first exhalt. N.[483]This. ed. 1575.[484]That drawes at length to ende. ib.[485]As in this pryson. ib.[486]Vile aliue. N.[487]Their. ed. 1575.[488]Carkas on couch of straw. ed. 1575.[489]A deadly. ib.[490]i. e.poniards.[491]Or libertie agayne. ed. 1575.[492]Get. ib.[493]My Hope. ib.[494]Nephewes. ib.[495]My wofull plight. ed. 1575.[496]Deadly. ib.[497]A mortal. ib.[498]That one. ib.[499]Nephewes. ed. 1575.[500]Which I, alasse, lament, bid those aliue beware. ib.[501]Their soules to hell, when as they vndertakeTo kill a corps, which God did liuely make.The Authour.Now when this desperate Queene had ended thusHir tale, and told what haplesse grace she had:As of hir talke some pointes I did discusse,In slomber faln I waxed wondrous sad,Hir nephewes dealings were me thought to bad:Which greu’de me much, but Morpheus had let bee,And therewithall presented one to mee.Of stature tall a worthy princely wight,In countenaunce he seemde yet mourning still;His complet harnesse not so braue in sight,Nor sure as ours, made now adayes by skill:But clampt together, ioynts but ioyned ill:Vnfit, vnhandsome, heauy, houge, and plaine,Vnweldy wearing, ratling like a chaine.Wherthrough he had receu’de a deadly stroake,By sworde, or other instrument of warre,And downe his thighes the bloud by sithes did soakeWhich I perceiued as he came a farre.Now sith (quoth he) to heare you present are:I will declare my name, life, factes and fall,And therewith thus he gan to tell it all. ed. 1575.[502]The tale of the gentle Cordelia and her unfortunate and too credulous father is better known from the pages of Shakespeare than those of History. Though in both, if not entirely sprung from, it is enlarged by fable, yet the interest that has been excited by the drama justifies the giving it here from manuscript, in one of its earliest shapes, which as such forms a valuable record.Of King Leir and of the answere of his yongest daughter that graciously was mariede to the kyng of Fraunce.After kyng Bladud regned Leir his sone: and this Leir made the toune of Leicestre and lete calle the toune after his name and he gouernede the londe welle and nobly. This kyng Leir had iij doughters the first hight Gonorill, the secund Rigan and the third Cordeill, and the yongest doughter was fairest and best of condicions. The kynge hire fader, become an olde man, and wolde that his doughtres had been maried or that he deide: but first he thought to assaie whiche of ham [them] loued him best and moste, for she that loued him best shuld beste be maried. And he asked of the first doughter how moche sheo [she] him louede? and she answerd and saide, better than hier oune life. Now certes quoth the fader that is a grete loue. Tho [then] axede he of the secunde doughter, hou moche sheo him louede? and sheo said more and passing alle creatures of the world. Ma foy, quath the fader, more may I nought axen. And tho axed he of the thirde doughter, hou moche sheo him louede? Certes fader quoth she, my sustres haue tolde you glosyng wordes, but for suthe I shalle telle you treuthe, for I loue you as moche as I owe to loue my fadere, and for to bryng you more in certeyn howe love goth, I shalle you telle, for as moche as ye be worthe so muche shal ye be louede. The kyng hire fader hadde wente sheo hadde hym scorned and become wonder wrothe and swore be heuen and erthe that she shuld neuer haue good of him: but his doughtres that loued him so moche shuld be welle auaunced and maried. And the first doughter he maried to Mangles kyng of Scotlande and the secunde he maried to Hauemos Erle of Cornewaille and so they ordeynede and speken betwene ham [them] that they shulde departe the reame betwene ham too after the dethe of Leir hire [their] fader. So that Cordeill his yongest doughter shulde no thing haue of his lande. But this Cordeill was wonderous faire and of so good condicions and maners that the kyng of Fraunce Agampe, herde of hire speke and sent to Leir, hire fader, for to haue hire vnto wife and prayed him therof. And kyng Leir hire fader sente him worde that he had departed his londe vnto his two other doughters and saide he hadde no more lande wherewith hire for to marien: And whenne Agampe horde this answere he sente anone ayeyn to Leir and said, that he axid no thyng with hire, but onliche hire clothyng and hire bodie. And anone king Leir hire fader sente hire ouer the see to the kyng of Fraunce and he receyuede hire with mochel worshipp, and with moche solempnite hire spousede and made hire quene of France.How Kyng Leir was driven oute of his londe thurz his foly and how Cordil his yongest daughter helped him at his nede.Thus hit felle afterwarde that tho two eldest doughtres wolde nought abide til that Leir hire fader were dede but werred vppon him whiles that he leued and moche sorwe and shame him dede. Wherfore thei benomen him holly the reame and betwene ham had ordeyned that one of ham shulde haue kyng Leir to soiourne all his life tyme with xl [lx] knyghtes and hire squiers, that he myght worshipfully gone and ride whider that he wolde into what contre that him likede to playn and to solacen. So that Managles kyng of Scotland had kyng Leir with him in the maner as is aboue seide and or other halfe yere were passide Corneill [sic] his eldest doughter that was quene of Scotland was so anoyed of him and of his peple that anone he and hire lorde speken togedres. Wherfore his knyghtes and his squyers half frame him were gone and no mo lefte but oneliche xxx. And whenne this was done Leir began for to make moche sorowe, for incheson that his astate was inpeired, and men had of him more scorne and despite thanne euere thei hadde beforne. Wherfore he wiste neuer what to done and atte the laste thought that he wolde wende into Cornewaile to Ragan his other doughter. And whenne he was come there, the Erle and his wife that was Leier’s doughter, him welcomede and with him made muche ioy, and there he dwelled with xxx knyghtes and squyers. And he had dwellede there scarsly tuelf month that his doughter of him nas fulle and of his companye, and hire lorde and shee of him had scorne and despite so that fro xxx knyghtes thei brougten vnto ten and afterwarde five and so there lefte with him no mo. Tho made he sorwe enough and said, sore wepying: allas that euere he come into that lande. And seid yit had me better for to haue dwellede with my ferst doughter. And anone wente thennes a yein to his first doughter: but anone as she sawe him come, she swore be God and his holy names, and be as moche as she myght that he shulde haue no mo with him but on knyght if he wolde there abide. Tho began Leir wepe and made moche sorwe and said, tho allas nou to longe haue I leuede that this sorwe and mischefe is to me nowe falle: for now am I pouer that somtyme was riche but nou haue I no frende ne kyn that me wolle dune eny goode. But whenne that I was riche alle men me honoured and worsheped and now euery man hath of me scorne and despite: And now I wote that Cordeil my yong doughter saide me treuthe whenne she saide as moche as I hadde so moche shulde I bene beloued. And alle the while that I hadde good tho was I beloued and honoured for my richesse: but my two doughteres me glosed tho and now of me thei setten litel price. And sothe [truth] tolde me Cordeil but I wolde nought belyve hit ne vnderstonde: And therefore I lete hire gone fro me as a thing that I sette litel price of and now wote I neuer what for to done sith my ij doughteres haue me thus deceyuede that I so moche louede. And nou mote I nedes sechen hire that is in another lande, tha lightely I lete hire gone fro me with oute eny rewarde of yiftes. And sheo said she loued me as moche as she aught hire fadre by al manere resonn: And tho I shulde haue axed of hire no more, and tho that me otherwise behighten thurgh hire fals speche nou haue me deceyued. In this maner Leir longe tyme him began to make his mone and at the laste he shope him to the see and passed ouer into Fraunce and axede and aspiede where the quene myghten bene founde and men tolde where that she was. And whenne he come to the cite that sheo was inne priuiliche be sente his squyer to the quene to telle here that hire fadere was comen to hier for grete nede. And whenne the squyer come to the quene be tolde hire euere dele of hire sustres fro the beginnyng vnto the ende. Cordeil the quene anone nome gold and siluer grete plente and toke hit to the squier in counsell that he shulde gone into a certeyn citee and him arrayen, bathen, and wesshen, and then come ayein to hire and bringe with him an honest companye of knyghtes, fourty atte the leste with hire mayne: and thanne he shulde sende to hire lorde the kyng and sein that he were comen for to speke with his doughter and him for to seen. And whenne the kyng and the quene herde that he come they hym receyued with mochel honour. The kyng of Fraunce tho lete sende thurgh alle his reame and comanded that al men to him shulde ben entendaunt to Lier the quenes fader in al maner of thing as hit were to himselfe. Whenne Lier hadde duelled their a monthe and more he tolde to the kyng and to the quene his doughter hou his tueyn eldest doughtres had him serued. Agampe anone lete ordeyne a grete hooste of Fraunce and sente hit into Brutaine with Leir, the quenes fader, for to conquere his lande ayein and his kyngdome. And Cordeill also come with hire fader into Brutaine for to haue the reame after heir fadres deth. And anone thei wente to shipp and passede the see and come into Brutaigne and foughten with the felons and ham scomfetede and quelde and Leir tho had his lande ayein and after leued iij yere and helde his reame in pees and afterward deid and Cordeil his doughtere him lete entere with mochel honour at Leycetre.—Whenne that kyng Leir was dede Cordeill his yongeste doughter helde and hadde the lande v yere and in the mene tyme deide here lorde Agampe that was kyng of Fraunce and efter his dethe she lefte wedowe. And tho come Morgan and Conadage, that wer Cordiell sistre sones, and to hire had enuye for as moche that hire aunte shuld haue the lande: so that betwene ham they ordeyned a grete pouer and vppon hire werrede gretely, and neuere they reste til that they hadde here taken and putte hire vnto dethe. M. S. Brute.[503]Selfe from blame, blame worthy I. ed. 1575.[504]Am. ib.[505]Mothers, ed. 1575.[506]Foe-mens. N.[507]I deem’d if that I might once put her downe. N.[508]By force or fraud I did intend alone,To sit as King vpon the Britaine throne. N.[509]Nephewes. ed. 1575.[510]O caytife vile, that did constraine a Queene. N.[511]Nay traytour I as nowe by proofe is seene. ed. 1575.[512]For vengeaunce and at length procurde. ib.[513]Cunedagius “slough Morgan that was rebel ayanst him in Glamorgan in Wales, and by cause of that happe that countree is called Morgan’s londe.”Polychronicon.[514]That. N.[515]The Authour.With that Morganus quickly past away,The night me thought likewise was far epast,Whereby it weried me so long to staye,But Morpheus bad me bide and see the last,“(Quoth he) the stories passe awaye as fast,“As doth the tyme, and sith th’art nigh th’ende:“Thou nedste not grutche, so short a space to spend.”And turning then him selfe from me asyde,He calde the next which therwithall in sightAppear’d, and all his breste with bloud bedide.What chaunce (quoth I) hath so thy corps bedight,Thou worthy prince, or what mishaps of fight?“I will (quoth he) with all my hart vnfolde“My fatall fall, and therwithall he tolde.”

[423]Hard it healeth well. N.

[424]Whence ye haue helpe. N.

[425]Springs vertue take of vaines that they been in. N.

[426]Fountaines hot and cold,To heale by them the sicke, both yong and old. N.

[426]

Fountaines hot and cold,To heale by them the sicke, both yong and old. N.

Fountaines hot and cold,

To heale by them the sicke, both yong and old. N.

[427]Extols vs to the skies,We look not downe from whence we first did rise. N.

[427]

Extols vs to the skies,We look not downe from whence we first did rise. N.

Extols vs to the skies,

We look not downe from whence we first did rise. N.

[428]Ambition will not wisdome’s counsell brooke,Pride sets her thoughts on things that vade away,Forsaken vertue which doth nere decay. N.

[428]

Ambition will not wisdome’s counsell brooke,Pride sets her thoughts on things that vade away,Forsaken vertue which doth nere decay. N.

Ambition will not wisdome’s counsell brooke,

Pride sets her thoughts on things that vade away,

Forsaken vertue which doth nere decay. N.

[429]We might admire what monsters time did hatch. N.

[430]Surpasse in his degree. N.

[431]As all the rest in wisdome weaker bee. N.

[432]Magicke arte. N.

[433]Which in the end did proue my future ill. N.

[434]Few men did euer vse like enterprise. N.

[435]And turne and winde at last which way I would. N.

[436]And in the fall I lost. N.

[437]This was my race, this was my fatall fall. N.

[438]In their effects they are. N.

[439]Be wise in artes exceed not wisdome’s bound,The depth of arte by wit may not be found. N.

[439]

Be wise in artes exceed not wisdome’s bound,The depth of arte by wit may not be found. N.

Be wise in artes exceed not wisdome’s bound,

The depth of arte by wit may not be found. N.

[440]That nothing haue yet promise all to you. N.

[441]All which by nature are abhor’d as euill,Practisde by fooles, inuented by the diuell. N.

[441]

All which by nature are abhor’d as euill,Practisde by fooles, inuented by the diuell. N.

All which by nature are abhor’d as euill,

Practisde by fooles, inuented by the diuell. N.

[442]——Beware of climing high,Lest that you helpelesse fall, as erst did I. N.The Authour.When Bladud thus had ended quite his tale,And tolde his life as you haue heard before:He toke his flight, and then a Lady paleAppeard in sight, beraide with bloudy gore:In hande a knife of sanguine dye she bore:And in her breste a wounde was pearced wyde,So freshly bledde, as if but than she dyde.She staide a while, her coulour came and went,And doubtful was that would haue tolde hir paine:In wofull sort she seemed to lament,And could not wel her tongue from talke refraine.For why her griefes vnfolde she would right faine,Yet bashfull was: at length an ende to make,Hir Morpheus wild, and then thus wyse she spake.

[442]

——Beware of climing high,Lest that you helpelesse fall, as erst did I. N.

——Beware of climing high,

Lest that you helpelesse fall, as erst did I. N.

The Authour.

When Bladud thus had ended quite his tale,And tolde his life as you haue heard before:He toke his flight, and then a Lady paleAppeard in sight, beraide with bloudy gore:In hande a knife of sanguine dye she bore:And in her breste a wounde was pearced wyde,So freshly bledde, as if but than she dyde.She staide a while, her coulour came and went,And doubtful was that would haue tolde hir paine:In wofull sort she seemed to lament,And could not wel her tongue from talke refraine.For why her griefes vnfolde she would right faine,Yet bashfull was: at length an ende to make,Hir Morpheus wild, and then thus wyse she spake.

When Bladud thus had ended quite his tale,

And tolde his life as you haue heard before:

He toke his flight, and then a Lady pale

Appeard in sight, beraide with bloudy gore:

In hande a knife of sanguine dye she bore:

And in her breste a wounde was pearced wyde,

So freshly bledde, as if but than she dyde.

She staide a while, her coulour came and went,And doubtful was that would haue tolde hir paine:In wofull sort she seemed to lament,And could not wel her tongue from talke refraine.For why her griefes vnfolde she would right faine,Yet bashfull was: at length an ende to make,Hir Morpheus wild, and then thus wyse she spake.

She staide a while, her coulour came and went,

And doubtful was that would haue tolde hir paine:

In wofull sort she seemed to lament,

And could not wel her tongue from talke refraine.

For why her griefes vnfolde she would right faine,

Yet bashfull was: at length an ende to make,

Hir Morpheus wild, and then thus wyse she spake.

[443]Cannot still keepe in my counsaile. ed. 1575.

[444]And shew mishaps. ib.

[445]That. ed. 1575.

[446]May keep. ib.

[447]And willing be to flye. ib.

[448]For sith I see thee prest to heare that wilt recorde. ib.

[449]What I Cordila tell. ib.

[450]To thee that giu’st an eare to heare and ready art. ib.

[451]Practisde for to flye and soare. ib.

[452]Who dead his sonne my father. ib.

[453]He had three daughters faire the first hight Gonerell. N.

[454]My sister Ragan. ed. 1575.

[455]And of vs all our father deire in age did dote. ib.

[456]So. ib.

[457]To giue where. ed. 1575.

[458]Had more age. ib.

[459]My prayse t’asswage. ib.

[460]Gainst. ib.

[461]But still. ib.

[462]This stanza follows in the edit. 1575.Yet nathelesse my father did me not mislike,But age so simple is and easy to subdue,As childhode weake thats voide of wit and reason quite;They thinke thers nought you flatter fainde, but all is true,Once old and twyse a childe tis said with you,Which I affirme by proofe that was definde,In age my father had a childishe minde.

[462]This stanza follows in the edit. 1575.

Yet nathelesse my father did me not mislike,But age so simple is and easy to subdue,As childhode weake thats voide of wit and reason quite;They thinke thers nought you flatter fainde, but all is true,Once old and twyse a childe tis said with you,Which I affirme by proofe that was definde,In age my father had a childishe minde.

Yet nathelesse my father did me not mislike,

But age so simple is and easy to subdue,

As childhode weake thats voide of wit and reason quite;

They thinke thers nought you flatter fainde, but all is true,

Once old and twyse a childe tis said with you,

Which I affirme by proofe that was definde,

In age my father had a childishe minde.

[463]He thought to wed vs vnto nobles three, or peres. ib.

[464]Sent. ib.

[465]I must assaye and eke your frendships proue.Now tell me eche how much you do me loue.ib.

[465]

I must assaye and eke your frendships proue.Now tell me eche how much you do me loue.ib.

I must assaye and eke your frendships proue.Now tell me eche how much you do me loue.

I must assaye and eke your frendships proue.

Now tell me eche how much you do me loue.

ib.

[466]Lou’de him well and more. ib.

[467]Would agayne therefore. ib.

[468]But not content with this he minded me to proue,For why he wonted was to loue me wonders wel:How much dost thou (quoth he) Cordile thy father loueI wil (sayd I) at once my loue declare and tell:I lou’de you euer as my father well,No otherwyse, if more to know you craue:We loue you chiefly for the goodes you haue.Thus much I said, the more their flattery to detectBut he me aunswered therunto again with ire,Because thou dost thy fathers aged yeare neglect.That lou’de the more of late then thy deserts require,Thou neuer shalt, to any part aspireOf this my realme, emong thy sisters twayne,But euer shalt vndotid ay remayne.Then to the king of Albany for wife he gaueMy sister Gonerell, the eldest of vs all:And eke my sister Ragan for Hinnine to haue,Which then was Prince of Camber and Cornwall:These after him should haue his kingdome allBetwene them both, he gaue it franke and free:But nought at all he gaue of dowry mee.At last it chaunst the king of Fraunce to here my fame.My beuty braue was blazed al abrode eche where:And eke my vertues praisde me to my fathers blameDid for my sisters flattery me lesse fauour beare.Which when this worthy king my wrongs did heare,He sent ambassage likte me more then life,T’intreate he might me haue to be his wife.My father was content with all his harte, and sayde,He gladly should obtaine his whole request at willConcerning me, if nothing I herin denayde:But yet he kept by their intisment hatred still,(Quoth he) your prince his pleasure to fulfill,I graunt and giue my daughter as you craue:But nought of me for dowry can she haue.King Aganippus well a greed to take me so,Hee deemde that vertue was of dowries all the bestAnd I contented was to Fraunce my father froFor to depart, and hoapte t’enioye some greater rest.I maried was, and then my ioyes encreaste,A gate more fauoure in this Prince his sight,Then euer Princesse of a princely wight.But while that I these ioyes enioyd at home in Fraunce,My father Leire in Britayne waxed aged olde,My sisters yet them selues the more aloft t’aduaunce,Thought well they might, be by his leaue, or sans so bolde:To take the realme and rule it as they wolde.They rose as rebels voyde of reason quite,And they depriu’de him of his crowne and right.Then they agreed, it should be into partes equallDeuided: and my father threscore knightes and squiresShould alwayes haue, attending on him still at call.But in sixe monthes so much encreasid hateful Ires,That Gonerell denyde all his desires,So halfe his garde she and her husband refte:And scarce alowde the other halfe they lefte.Eke as in Scotlande thus he lay lamenting fates,When as his daughter so sought all his vtter spoyle,The meaner vpstart gentles, thought them selues his matesAnd betters eke, see here an aged Prince his foyle,Then was he fayne for succoure his, to toyle,With all his knightes, to Cornewall there to lye:In greatest nede his Ragan’s loue to trie.And when he came to Cornwall, Ragan then with ioye,Receiu’d him and eke hir husband did the like:There he abode a yeare and liu’de without anoy,But then they tooke, all his retinue from him quiteSaue only ten, and shewde him dayly spite,Which he bewailde complaining durst not striue,Though in disdayne they last alowde but fiue.On this he deemde him selfe was far that time vnwyse,When from his daughter Gonerell to Ragan heeDeparted erste yet eache did him poore king despise:Wherfore to Scotlande once againe with hir to bee,And bide he went: but beastly cruell, sheeBereau’de him of his seruauntes all saue one,Bad him content him selfe with that or none.Eke at what time he askte of eache to haue his garde,To garde his grace where so he walkte or wente:They calde him doting foole and all his hestes debarde,Demaunded if with life he could not be contente.Then he to late his rigour did repenteGainst me, and sayde, Cordila nowe adieu:I finde the wordes thou toldste mee to to true.And to be short, to Fraunce he came alone to mee,And tolde me how my sisters him our father vsde:Then I besought my king with teares vpon my knee,That he would aide my father thus by them misusde,Who nought at all my humble heste refusde:But sent to euery coaste of Fraunce for ayde,Wherwith my father home might be conueide.The soldiours gathered from eche quarter of the land,Came at the length to know the king his mind and wil:Who did commit them to my father’s aged hand,And I likewise of loue and reuerent mere goodwillDesirde my king, he would not take it ill,If I departed for a space withall:To take a parte, or ease my father’s thrall.This had: I partid with my father from my fere,We came to Britayne with our royal campe to fight:And manly fought so long our enmies vanquisht wereBy martial feates, and force by subiects sword and might.The Brityshe kinges were faine to yelde our right:And so my father well this realme did guide,Three yeares in peace and after that he dide.Then I at Leircester in Ianus temple, madeHis tombe, and buried there his kingly regall corse,As sondry tymes in life before he often bade:For of our father’s will we then did greatly force,We had of conscience eke so much remorce,That we supposde those childrens liues to ill:Which brake their father’s testament, and will.

[468]

But not content with this he minded me to proue,For why he wonted was to loue me wonders wel:How much dost thou (quoth he) Cordile thy father loueI wil (sayd I) at once my loue declare and tell:I lou’de you euer as my father well,No otherwyse, if more to know you craue:We loue you chiefly for the goodes you haue.Thus much I said, the more their flattery to detectBut he me aunswered therunto again with ire,Because thou dost thy fathers aged yeare neglect.That lou’de the more of late then thy deserts require,Thou neuer shalt, to any part aspireOf this my realme, emong thy sisters twayne,But euer shalt vndotid ay remayne.Then to the king of Albany for wife he gaueMy sister Gonerell, the eldest of vs all:And eke my sister Ragan for Hinnine to haue,Which then was Prince of Camber and Cornwall:These after him should haue his kingdome allBetwene them both, he gaue it franke and free:But nought at all he gaue of dowry mee.At last it chaunst the king of Fraunce to here my fame.My beuty braue was blazed al abrode eche where:And eke my vertues praisde me to my fathers blameDid for my sisters flattery me lesse fauour beare.Which when this worthy king my wrongs did heare,He sent ambassage likte me more then life,T’intreate he might me haue to be his wife.My father was content with all his harte, and sayde,He gladly should obtaine his whole request at willConcerning me, if nothing I herin denayde:But yet he kept by their intisment hatred still,(Quoth he) your prince his pleasure to fulfill,I graunt and giue my daughter as you craue:But nought of me for dowry can she haue.King Aganippus well a greed to take me so,Hee deemde that vertue was of dowries all the bestAnd I contented was to Fraunce my father froFor to depart, and hoapte t’enioye some greater rest.I maried was, and then my ioyes encreaste,A gate more fauoure in this Prince his sight,Then euer Princesse of a princely wight.But while that I these ioyes enioyd at home in Fraunce,My father Leire in Britayne waxed aged olde,My sisters yet them selues the more aloft t’aduaunce,Thought well they might, be by his leaue, or sans so bolde:To take the realme and rule it as they wolde.They rose as rebels voyde of reason quite,And they depriu’de him of his crowne and right.Then they agreed, it should be into partes equallDeuided: and my father threscore knightes and squiresShould alwayes haue, attending on him still at call.But in sixe monthes so much encreasid hateful Ires,That Gonerell denyde all his desires,So halfe his garde she and her husband refte:And scarce alowde the other halfe they lefte.Eke as in Scotlande thus he lay lamenting fates,When as his daughter so sought all his vtter spoyle,The meaner vpstart gentles, thought them selues his matesAnd betters eke, see here an aged Prince his foyle,Then was he fayne for succoure his, to toyle,With all his knightes, to Cornewall there to lye:In greatest nede his Ragan’s loue to trie.And when he came to Cornwall, Ragan then with ioye,Receiu’d him and eke hir husband did the like:There he abode a yeare and liu’de without anoy,But then they tooke, all his retinue from him quiteSaue only ten, and shewde him dayly spite,Which he bewailde complaining durst not striue,Though in disdayne they last alowde but fiue.On this he deemde him selfe was far that time vnwyse,When from his daughter Gonerell to Ragan heeDeparted erste yet eache did him poore king despise:Wherfore to Scotlande once againe with hir to bee,And bide he went: but beastly cruell, sheeBereau’de him of his seruauntes all saue one,Bad him content him selfe with that or none.Eke at what time he askte of eache to haue his garde,To garde his grace where so he walkte or wente:They calde him doting foole and all his hestes debarde,Demaunded if with life he could not be contente.Then he to late his rigour did repenteGainst me, and sayde, Cordila nowe adieu:I finde the wordes thou toldste mee to to true.And to be short, to Fraunce he came alone to mee,And tolde me how my sisters him our father vsde:Then I besought my king with teares vpon my knee,That he would aide my father thus by them misusde,Who nought at all my humble heste refusde:But sent to euery coaste of Fraunce for ayde,Wherwith my father home might be conueide.The soldiours gathered from eche quarter of the land,Came at the length to know the king his mind and wil:Who did commit them to my father’s aged hand,And I likewise of loue and reuerent mere goodwillDesirde my king, he would not take it ill,If I departed for a space withall:To take a parte, or ease my father’s thrall.This had: I partid with my father from my fere,We came to Britayne with our royal campe to fight:And manly fought so long our enmies vanquisht wereBy martial feates, and force by subiects sword and might.The Brityshe kinges were faine to yelde our right:And so my father well this realme did guide,Three yeares in peace and after that he dide.Then I at Leircester in Ianus temple, madeHis tombe, and buried there his kingly regall corse,As sondry tymes in life before he often bade:For of our father’s will we then did greatly force,We had of conscience eke so much remorce,That we supposde those childrens liues to ill:Which brake their father’s testament, and will.

But not content with this he minded me to proue,

For why he wonted was to loue me wonders wel:

How much dost thou (quoth he) Cordile thy father loue

I wil (sayd I) at once my loue declare and tell:

I lou’de you euer as my father well,

No otherwyse, if more to know you craue:

We loue you chiefly for the goodes you haue.

Thus much I said, the more their flattery to detectBut he me aunswered therunto again with ire,Because thou dost thy fathers aged yeare neglect.That lou’de the more of late then thy deserts require,Thou neuer shalt, to any part aspireOf this my realme, emong thy sisters twayne,But euer shalt vndotid ay remayne.

Thus much I said, the more their flattery to detect

But he me aunswered therunto again with ire,

Because thou dost thy fathers aged yeare neglect.

That lou’de the more of late then thy deserts require,

Thou neuer shalt, to any part aspire

Of this my realme, emong thy sisters twayne,

But euer shalt vndotid ay remayne.

Then to the king of Albany for wife he gaueMy sister Gonerell, the eldest of vs all:And eke my sister Ragan for Hinnine to haue,Which then was Prince of Camber and Cornwall:These after him should haue his kingdome allBetwene them both, he gaue it franke and free:But nought at all he gaue of dowry mee.

Then to the king of Albany for wife he gaue

My sister Gonerell, the eldest of vs all:

And eke my sister Ragan for Hinnine to haue,

Which then was Prince of Camber and Cornwall:

These after him should haue his kingdome all

Betwene them both, he gaue it franke and free:

But nought at all he gaue of dowry mee.

At last it chaunst the king of Fraunce to here my fame.My beuty braue was blazed al abrode eche where:And eke my vertues praisde me to my fathers blameDid for my sisters flattery me lesse fauour beare.Which when this worthy king my wrongs did heare,He sent ambassage likte me more then life,T’intreate he might me haue to be his wife.

At last it chaunst the king of Fraunce to here my fame.

My beuty braue was blazed al abrode eche where:

And eke my vertues praisde me to my fathers blame

Did for my sisters flattery me lesse fauour beare.

Which when this worthy king my wrongs did heare,

He sent ambassage likte me more then life,

T’intreate he might me haue to be his wife.

My father was content with all his harte, and sayde,He gladly should obtaine his whole request at willConcerning me, if nothing I herin denayde:But yet he kept by their intisment hatred still,(Quoth he) your prince his pleasure to fulfill,I graunt and giue my daughter as you craue:But nought of me for dowry can she haue.

My father was content with all his harte, and sayde,

He gladly should obtaine his whole request at will

Concerning me, if nothing I herin denayde:

But yet he kept by their intisment hatred still,

(Quoth he) your prince his pleasure to fulfill,

I graunt and giue my daughter as you craue:

But nought of me for dowry can she haue.

King Aganippus well a greed to take me so,Hee deemde that vertue was of dowries all the bestAnd I contented was to Fraunce my father froFor to depart, and hoapte t’enioye some greater rest.I maried was, and then my ioyes encreaste,A gate more fauoure in this Prince his sight,Then euer Princesse of a princely wight.

King Aganippus well a greed to take me so,

Hee deemde that vertue was of dowries all the best

And I contented was to Fraunce my father fro

For to depart, and hoapte t’enioye some greater rest.

I maried was, and then my ioyes encreaste,

A gate more fauoure in this Prince his sight,

Then euer Princesse of a princely wight.

But while that I these ioyes enioyd at home in Fraunce,My father Leire in Britayne waxed aged olde,My sisters yet them selues the more aloft t’aduaunce,Thought well they might, be by his leaue, or sans so bolde:To take the realme and rule it as they wolde.They rose as rebels voyde of reason quite,And they depriu’de him of his crowne and right.

But while that I these ioyes enioyd at home in Fraunce,

My father Leire in Britayne waxed aged olde,

My sisters yet them selues the more aloft t’aduaunce,

Thought well they might, be by his leaue, or sans so bolde:

To take the realme and rule it as they wolde.

They rose as rebels voyde of reason quite,

And they depriu’de him of his crowne and right.

Then they agreed, it should be into partes equallDeuided: and my father threscore knightes and squiresShould alwayes haue, attending on him still at call.But in sixe monthes so much encreasid hateful Ires,That Gonerell denyde all his desires,So halfe his garde she and her husband refte:And scarce alowde the other halfe they lefte.

Then they agreed, it should be into partes equall

Deuided: and my father threscore knightes and squires

Should alwayes haue, attending on him still at call.

But in sixe monthes so much encreasid hateful Ires,

That Gonerell denyde all his desires,

So halfe his garde she and her husband refte:

And scarce alowde the other halfe they lefte.

Eke as in Scotlande thus he lay lamenting fates,When as his daughter so sought all his vtter spoyle,The meaner vpstart gentles, thought them selues his matesAnd betters eke, see here an aged Prince his foyle,Then was he fayne for succoure his, to toyle,With all his knightes, to Cornewall there to lye:In greatest nede his Ragan’s loue to trie.

Eke as in Scotlande thus he lay lamenting fates,

When as his daughter so sought all his vtter spoyle,

The meaner vpstart gentles, thought them selues his mates

And betters eke, see here an aged Prince his foyle,

Then was he fayne for succoure his, to toyle,

With all his knightes, to Cornewall there to lye:

In greatest nede his Ragan’s loue to trie.

And when he came to Cornwall, Ragan then with ioye,Receiu’d him and eke hir husband did the like:There he abode a yeare and liu’de without anoy,But then they tooke, all his retinue from him quiteSaue only ten, and shewde him dayly spite,Which he bewailde complaining durst not striue,Though in disdayne they last alowde but fiue.

And when he came to Cornwall, Ragan then with ioye,

Receiu’d him and eke hir husband did the like:

There he abode a yeare and liu’de without anoy,

But then they tooke, all his retinue from him quite

Saue only ten, and shewde him dayly spite,

Which he bewailde complaining durst not striue,

Though in disdayne they last alowde but fiue.

On this he deemde him selfe was far that time vnwyse,When from his daughter Gonerell to Ragan heeDeparted erste yet eache did him poore king despise:Wherfore to Scotlande once againe with hir to bee,And bide he went: but beastly cruell, sheeBereau’de him of his seruauntes all saue one,Bad him content him selfe with that or none.

On this he deemde him selfe was far that time vnwyse,

When from his daughter Gonerell to Ragan hee

Departed erste yet eache did him poore king despise:

Wherfore to Scotlande once againe with hir to bee,

And bide he went: but beastly cruell, shee

Bereau’de him of his seruauntes all saue one,

Bad him content him selfe with that or none.

Eke at what time he askte of eache to haue his garde,To garde his grace where so he walkte or wente:They calde him doting foole and all his hestes debarde,Demaunded if with life he could not be contente.Then he to late his rigour did repenteGainst me, and sayde, Cordila nowe adieu:I finde the wordes thou toldste mee to to true.

Eke at what time he askte of eache to haue his garde,

To garde his grace where so he walkte or wente:

They calde him doting foole and all his hestes debarde,

Demaunded if with life he could not be contente.

Then he to late his rigour did repente

Gainst me, and sayde, Cordila nowe adieu:

I finde the wordes thou toldste mee to to true.

And to be short, to Fraunce he came alone to mee,And tolde me how my sisters him our father vsde:Then I besought my king with teares vpon my knee,That he would aide my father thus by them misusde,Who nought at all my humble heste refusde:But sent to euery coaste of Fraunce for ayde,Wherwith my father home might be conueide.

And to be short, to Fraunce he came alone to mee,

And tolde me how my sisters him our father vsde:

Then I besought my king with teares vpon my knee,

That he would aide my father thus by them misusde,

Who nought at all my humble heste refusde:

But sent to euery coaste of Fraunce for ayde,

Wherwith my father home might be conueide.

The soldiours gathered from eche quarter of the land,Came at the length to know the king his mind and wil:Who did commit them to my father’s aged hand,And I likewise of loue and reuerent mere goodwillDesirde my king, he would not take it ill,If I departed for a space withall:To take a parte, or ease my father’s thrall.

The soldiours gathered from eche quarter of the land,

Came at the length to know the king his mind and wil:

Who did commit them to my father’s aged hand,

And I likewise of loue and reuerent mere goodwill

Desirde my king, he would not take it ill,

If I departed for a space withall:

To take a parte, or ease my father’s thrall.

This had: I partid with my father from my fere,We came to Britayne with our royal campe to fight:And manly fought so long our enmies vanquisht wereBy martial feates, and force by subiects sword and might.The Brityshe kinges were faine to yelde our right:And so my father well this realme did guide,Three yeares in peace and after that he dide.

This had: I partid with my father from my fere,

We came to Britayne with our royal campe to fight:

And manly fought so long our enmies vanquisht were

By martial feates, and force by subiects sword and might.

The Brityshe kinges were faine to yelde our right:

And so my father well this realme did guide,

Three yeares in peace and after that he dide.

Then I at Leircester in Ianus temple, madeHis tombe, and buried there his kingly regall corse,As sondry tymes in life before he often bade:For of our father’s will we then did greatly force,We had of conscience eke so much remorce,That we supposde those childrens liues to ill:Which brake their father’s testament, and will.

Then I at Leircester in Ianus temple, made

His tombe, and buried there his kingly regall corse,

As sondry tymes in life before he often bade:

For of our father’s will we then did greatly force,

We had of conscience eke so much remorce,

That we supposde those childrens liues to ill:

Which brake their father’s testament, and will.

[469]Who for I could not flatter did lesse fauour beare. N.

[470]Betwixt their husbands twaine they causde him to agree. N.

[471]Of sixtie Knights that on him should attendant bee. N.

[472]As thus in his distresse he lay lamenting fates. N.

[473]Ill. N.

[474]And I was Queene the kingdoms after stil to holde. ed. 1575.

[475]Becke and bay I wolde. ib.

[476]Two churlishe impes. ib.

[477]This stanza follows in edit. 1575.The one hight Morgan th’ elder sonne of Gonnerell,My sister, and that other Conidagus hight.My sister Ragan’s sonne, that lou’de me neuer well,Both nephewes mine yet would against mee Cordell fight,Because I lou’de always that semed right;Therefore they hated mee and did pursueTheir aunte and Queene as she had bene a jewe.

[477]This stanza follows in edit. 1575.

The one hight Morgan th’ elder sonne of Gonnerell,My sister, and that other Conidagus hight.My sister Ragan’s sonne, that lou’de me neuer well,Both nephewes mine yet would against mee Cordell fight,Because I lou’de always that semed right;Therefore they hated mee and did pursueTheir aunte and Queene as she had bene a jewe.

The one hight Morgan th’ elder sonne of Gonnerell,

My sister, and that other Conidagus hight.

My sister Ragan’s sonne, that lou’de me neuer well,

Both nephewes mine yet would against mee Cordell fight,

Because I lou’de always that semed right;

Therefore they hated mee and did pursue

Their aunte and Queene as she had bene a jewe.

[478]This Morgane was that time the Prince. ib.

[479]Licence. ed. 1575.

[480]Was euer lady in such wofull wreckfull wo. ib.

[481]Depriu’de. ib.

[482]When first I left, the crowne of France did me exhalt. ed. 1575.When friends I left in France that did me first exhalt. N.

[482]

When first I left, the crowne of France did me exhalt. ed. 1575.When friends I left in France that did me first exhalt. N.

When first I left, the crowne of France did me exhalt. ed. 1575.

When friends I left in France that did me first exhalt. N.

[483]This. ed. 1575.

[484]That drawes at length to ende. ib.

[485]As in this pryson. ib.

[486]Vile aliue. N.

[487]Their. ed. 1575.

[488]Carkas on couch of straw. ed. 1575.

[489]A deadly. ib.

[490]i. e.poniards.

[491]Or libertie agayne. ed. 1575.

[492]Get. ib.

[493]My Hope. ib.

[494]Nephewes. ib.

[495]My wofull plight. ed. 1575.

[496]Deadly. ib.

[497]A mortal. ib.

[498]That one. ib.

[499]Nephewes. ed. 1575.

[500]Which I, alasse, lament, bid those aliue beware. ib.

[501]Their soules to hell, when as they vndertakeTo kill a corps, which God did liuely make.The Authour.Now when this desperate Queene had ended thusHir tale, and told what haplesse grace she had:As of hir talke some pointes I did discusse,In slomber faln I waxed wondrous sad,Hir nephewes dealings were me thought to bad:Which greu’de me much, but Morpheus had let bee,And therewithall presented one to mee.Of stature tall a worthy princely wight,In countenaunce he seemde yet mourning still;His complet harnesse not so braue in sight,Nor sure as ours, made now adayes by skill:But clampt together, ioynts but ioyned ill:Vnfit, vnhandsome, heauy, houge, and plaine,Vnweldy wearing, ratling like a chaine.Wherthrough he had receu’de a deadly stroake,By sworde, or other instrument of warre,And downe his thighes the bloud by sithes did soakeWhich I perceiued as he came a farre.Now sith (quoth he) to heare you present are:I will declare my name, life, factes and fall,And therewith thus he gan to tell it all. ed. 1575.

[501]

Their soules to hell, when as they vndertakeTo kill a corps, which God did liuely make.

Their soules to hell, when as they vndertake

To kill a corps, which God did liuely make.

The Authour.

Now when this desperate Queene had ended thusHir tale, and told what haplesse grace she had:As of hir talke some pointes I did discusse,In slomber faln I waxed wondrous sad,Hir nephewes dealings were me thought to bad:Which greu’de me much, but Morpheus had let bee,And therewithall presented one to mee.Of stature tall a worthy princely wight,In countenaunce he seemde yet mourning still;His complet harnesse not so braue in sight,Nor sure as ours, made now adayes by skill:But clampt together, ioynts but ioyned ill:Vnfit, vnhandsome, heauy, houge, and plaine,Vnweldy wearing, ratling like a chaine.Wherthrough he had receu’de a deadly stroake,By sworde, or other instrument of warre,And downe his thighes the bloud by sithes did soakeWhich I perceiued as he came a farre.Now sith (quoth he) to heare you present are:I will declare my name, life, factes and fall,And therewith thus he gan to tell it all. ed. 1575.

Now when this desperate Queene had ended thus

Hir tale, and told what haplesse grace she had:

As of hir talke some pointes I did discusse,

In slomber faln I waxed wondrous sad,

Hir nephewes dealings were me thought to bad:

Which greu’de me much, but Morpheus had let bee,

And therewithall presented one to mee.

Of stature tall a worthy princely wight,In countenaunce he seemde yet mourning still;His complet harnesse not so braue in sight,Nor sure as ours, made now adayes by skill:But clampt together, ioynts but ioyned ill:Vnfit, vnhandsome, heauy, houge, and plaine,Vnweldy wearing, ratling like a chaine.

Of stature tall a worthy princely wight,

In countenaunce he seemde yet mourning still;

His complet harnesse not so braue in sight,

Nor sure as ours, made now adayes by skill:

But clampt together, ioynts but ioyned ill:

Vnfit, vnhandsome, heauy, houge, and plaine,

Vnweldy wearing, ratling like a chaine.

Wherthrough he had receu’de a deadly stroake,By sworde, or other instrument of warre,And downe his thighes the bloud by sithes did soakeWhich I perceiued as he came a farre.Now sith (quoth he) to heare you present are:I will declare my name, life, factes and fall,And therewith thus he gan to tell it all. ed. 1575.

Wherthrough he had receu’de a deadly stroake,

By sworde, or other instrument of warre,

And downe his thighes the bloud by sithes did soake

Which I perceiued as he came a farre.

Now sith (quoth he) to heare you present are:

I will declare my name, life, factes and fall,

And therewith thus he gan to tell it all. ed. 1575.

[502]The tale of the gentle Cordelia and her unfortunate and too credulous father is better known from the pages of Shakespeare than those of History. Though in both, if not entirely sprung from, it is enlarged by fable, yet the interest that has been excited by the drama justifies the giving it here from manuscript, in one of its earliest shapes, which as such forms a valuable record.Of King Leir and of the answere of his yongest daughter that graciously was mariede to the kyng of Fraunce.After kyng Bladud regned Leir his sone: and this Leir made the toune of Leicestre and lete calle the toune after his name and he gouernede the londe welle and nobly. This kyng Leir had iij doughters the first hight Gonorill, the secund Rigan and the third Cordeill, and the yongest doughter was fairest and best of condicions. The kynge hire fader, become an olde man, and wolde that his doughtres had been maried or that he deide: but first he thought to assaie whiche of ham [them] loued him best and moste, for she that loued him best shuld beste be maried. And he asked of the first doughter how moche sheo [she] him louede? and she answerd and saide, better than hier oune life. Now certes quoth the fader that is a grete loue. Tho [then] axede he of the secunde doughter, hou moche sheo him louede? and sheo said more and passing alle creatures of the world. Ma foy, quath the fader, more may I nought axen. And tho axed he of the thirde doughter, hou moche sheo him louede? Certes fader quoth she, my sustres haue tolde you glosyng wordes, but for suthe I shalle telle you treuthe, for I loue you as moche as I owe to loue my fadere, and for to bryng you more in certeyn howe love goth, I shalle you telle, for as moche as ye be worthe so muche shal ye be louede. The kyng hire fader hadde wente sheo hadde hym scorned and become wonder wrothe and swore be heuen and erthe that she shuld neuer haue good of him: but his doughtres that loued him so moche shuld be welle auaunced and maried. And the first doughter he maried to Mangles kyng of Scotlande and the secunde he maried to Hauemos Erle of Cornewaille and so they ordeynede and speken betwene ham [them] that they shulde departe the reame betwene ham too after the dethe of Leir hire [their] fader. So that Cordeill his yongest doughter shulde no thing haue of his lande. But this Cordeill was wonderous faire and of so good condicions and maners that the kyng of Fraunce Agampe, herde of hire speke and sent to Leir, hire fader, for to haue hire vnto wife and prayed him therof. And kyng Leir hire fader sente him worde that he had departed his londe vnto his two other doughters and saide he hadde no more lande wherewith hire for to marien: And whenne Agampe horde this answere he sente anone ayeyn to Leir and said, that he axid no thyng with hire, but onliche hire clothyng and hire bodie. And anone king Leir hire fader sente hire ouer the see to the kyng of Fraunce and he receyuede hire with mochel worshipp, and with moche solempnite hire spousede and made hire quene of France.How Kyng Leir was driven oute of his londe thurz his foly and how Cordil his yongest daughter helped him at his nede.Thus hit felle afterwarde that tho two eldest doughtres wolde nought abide til that Leir hire fader were dede but werred vppon him whiles that he leued and moche sorwe and shame him dede. Wherfore thei benomen him holly the reame and betwene ham had ordeyned that one of ham shulde haue kyng Leir to soiourne all his life tyme with xl [lx] knyghtes and hire squiers, that he myght worshipfully gone and ride whider that he wolde into what contre that him likede to playn and to solacen. So that Managles kyng of Scotland had kyng Leir with him in the maner as is aboue seide and or other halfe yere were passide Corneill [sic] his eldest doughter that was quene of Scotland was so anoyed of him and of his peple that anone he and hire lorde speken togedres. Wherfore his knyghtes and his squyers half frame him were gone and no mo lefte but oneliche xxx. And whenne this was done Leir began for to make moche sorowe, for incheson that his astate was inpeired, and men had of him more scorne and despite thanne euere thei hadde beforne. Wherfore he wiste neuer what to done and atte the laste thought that he wolde wende into Cornewaile to Ragan his other doughter. And whenne he was come there, the Erle and his wife that was Leier’s doughter, him welcomede and with him made muche ioy, and there he dwelled with xxx knyghtes and squyers. And he had dwellede there scarsly tuelf month that his doughter of him nas fulle and of his companye, and hire lorde and shee of him had scorne and despite so that fro xxx knyghtes thei brougten vnto ten and afterwarde five and so there lefte with him no mo. Tho made he sorwe enough and said, sore wepying: allas that euere he come into that lande. And seid yit had me better for to haue dwellede with my ferst doughter. And anone wente thennes a yein to his first doughter: but anone as she sawe him come, she swore be God and his holy names, and be as moche as she myght that he shulde haue no mo with him but on knyght if he wolde there abide. Tho began Leir wepe and made moche sorwe and said, tho allas nou to longe haue I leuede that this sorwe and mischefe is to me nowe falle: for now am I pouer that somtyme was riche but nou haue I no frende ne kyn that me wolle dune eny goode. But whenne that I was riche alle men me honoured and worsheped and now euery man hath of me scorne and despite: And now I wote that Cordeil my yong doughter saide me treuthe whenne she saide as moche as I hadde so moche shulde I bene beloued. And alle the while that I hadde good tho was I beloued and honoured for my richesse: but my two doughteres me glosed tho and now of me thei setten litel price. And sothe [truth] tolde me Cordeil but I wolde nought belyve hit ne vnderstonde: And therefore I lete hire gone fro me as a thing that I sette litel price of and now wote I neuer what for to done sith my ij doughteres haue me thus deceyuede that I so moche louede. And nou mote I nedes sechen hire that is in another lande, tha lightely I lete hire gone fro me with oute eny rewarde of yiftes. And sheo said she loued me as moche as she aught hire fadre by al manere resonn: And tho I shulde haue axed of hire no more, and tho that me otherwise behighten thurgh hire fals speche nou haue me deceyued. In this maner Leir longe tyme him began to make his mone and at the laste he shope him to the see and passed ouer into Fraunce and axede and aspiede where the quene myghten bene founde and men tolde where that she was. And whenne he come to the cite that sheo was inne priuiliche be sente his squyer to the quene to telle here that hire fadere was comen to hier for grete nede. And whenne the squyer come to the quene be tolde hire euere dele of hire sustres fro the beginnyng vnto the ende. Cordeil the quene anone nome gold and siluer grete plente and toke hit to the squier in counsell that he shulde gone into a certeyn citee and him arrayen, bathen, and wesshen, and then come ayein to hire and bringe with him an honest companye of knyghtes, fourty atte the leste with hire mayne: and thanne he shulde sende to hire lorde the kyng and sein that he were comen for to speke with his doughter and him for to seen. And whenne the kyng and the quene herde that he come they hym receyued with mochel honour. The kyng of Fraunce tho lete sende thurgh alle his reame and comanded that al men to him shulde ben entendaunt to Lier the quenes fader in al maner of thing as hit were to himselfe. Whenne Lier hadde duelled their a monthe and more he tolde to the kyng and to the quene his doughter hou his tueyn eldest doughtres had him serued. Agampe anone lete ordeyne a grete hooste of Fraunce and sente hit into Brutaine with Leir, the quenes fader, for to conquere his lande ayein and his kyngdome. And Cordeill also come with hire fader into Brutaine for to haue the reame after heir fadres deth. And anone thei wente to shipp and passede the see and come into Brutaigne and foughten with the felons and ham scomfetede and quelde and Leir tho had his lande ayein and after leued iij yere and helde his reame in pees and afterward deid and Cordeil his doughtere him lete entere with mochel honour at Leycetre.—Whenne that kyng Leir was dede Cordeill his yongeste doughter helde and hadde the lande v yere and in the mene tyme deide here lorde Agampe that was kyng of Fraunce and efter his dethe she lefte wedowe. And tho come Morgan and Conadage, that wer Cordiell sistre sones, and to hire had enuye for as moche that hire aunte shuld haue the lande: so that betwene ham they ordeyned a grete pouer and vppon hire werrede gretely, and neuere they reste til that they hadde here taken and putte hire vnto dethe. M. S. Brute.

Of King Leir and of the answere of his yongest daughter that graciously was mariede to the kyng of Fraunce.

After kyng Bladud regned Leir his sone: and this Leir made the toune of Leicestre and lete calle the toune after his name and he gouernede the londe welle and nobly. This kyng Leir had iij doughters the first hight Gonorill, the secund Rigan and the third Cordeill, and the yongest doughter was fairest and best of condicions. The kynge hire fader, become an olde man, and wolde that his doughtres had been maried or that he deide: but first he thought to assaie whiche of ham [them] loued him best and moste, for she that loued him best shuld beste be maried. And he asked of the first doughter how moche sheo [she] him louede? and she answerd and saide, better than hier oune life. Now certes quoth the fader that is a grete loue. Tho [then] axede he of the secunde doughter, hou moche sheo him louede? and sheo said more and passing alle creatures of the world. Ma foy, quath the fader, more may I nought axen. And tho axed he of the thirde doughter, hou moche sheo him louede? Certes fader quoth she, my sustres haue tolde you glosyng wordes, but for suthe I shalle telle you treuthe, for I loue you as moche as I owe to loue my fadere, and for to bryng you more in certeyn howe love goth, I shalle you telle, for as moche as ye be worthe so muche shal ye be louede. The kyng hire fader hadde wente sheo hadde hym scorned and become wonder wrothe and swore be heuen and erthe that she shuld neuer haue good of him: but his doughtres that loued him so moche shuld be welle auaunced and maried. And the first doughter he maried to Mangles kyng of Scotlande and the secunde he maried to Hauemos Erle of Cornewaille and so they ordeynede and speken betwene ham [them] that they shulde departe the reame betwene ham too after the dethe of Leir hire [their] fader. So that Cordeill his yongest doughter shulde no thing haue of his lande. But this Cordeill was wonderous faire and of so good condicions and maners that the kyng of Fraunce Agampe, herde of hire speke and sent to Leir, hire fader, for to haue hire vnto wife and prayed him therof. And kyng Leir hire fader sente him worde that he had departed his londe vnto his two other doughters and saide he hadde no more lande wherewith hire for to marien: And whenne Agampe horde this answere he sente anone ayeyn to Leir and said, that he axid no thyng with hire, but onliche hire clothyng and hire bodie. And anone king Leir hire fader sente hire ouer the see to the kyng of Fraunce and he receyuede hire with mochel worshipp, and with moche solempnite hire spousede and made hire quene of France.

How Kyng Leir was driven oute of his londe thurz his foly and how Cordil his yongest daughter helped him at his nede.

Thus hit felle afterwarde that tho two eldest doughtres wolde nought abide til that Leir hire fader were dede but werred vppon him whiles that he leued and moche sorwe and shame him dede. Wherfore thei benomen him holly the reame and betwene ham had ordeyned that one of ham shulde haue kyng Leir to soiourne all his life tyme with xl [lx] knyghtes and hire squiers, that he myght worshipfully gone and ride whider that he wolde into what contre that him likede to playn and to solacen. So that Managles kyng of Scotland had kyng Leir with him in the maner as is aboue seide and or other halfe yere were passide Corneill [sic] his eldest doughter that was quene of Scotland was so anoyed of him and of his peple that anone he and hire lorde speken togedres. Wherfore his knyghtes and his squyers half frame him were gone and no mo lefte but oneliche xxx. And whenne this was done Leir began for to make moche sorowe, for incheson that his astate was inpeired, and men had of him more scorne and despite thanne euere thei hadde beforne. Wherfore he wiste neuer what to done and atte the laste thought that he wolde wende into Cornewaile to Ragan his other doughter. And whenne he was come there, the Erle and his wife that was Leier’s doughter, him welcomede and with him made muche ioy, and there he dwelled with xxx knyghtes and squyers. And he had dwellede there scarsly tuelf month that his doughter of him nas fulle and of his companye, and hire lorde and shee of him had scorne and despite so that fro xxx knyghtes thei brougten vnto ten and afterwarde five and so there lefte with him no mo. Tho made he sorwe enough and said, sore wepying: allas that euere he come into that lande. And seid yit had me better for to haue dwellede with my ferst doughter. And anone wente thennes a yein to his first doughter: but anone as she sawe him come, she swore be God and his holy names, and be as moche as she myght that he shulde haue no mo with him but on knyght if he wolde there abide. Tho began Leir wepe and made moche sorwe and said, tho allas nou to longe haue I leuede that this sorwe and mischefe is to me nowe falle: for now am I pouer that somtyme was riche but nou haue I no frende ne kyn that me wolle dune eny goode. But whenne that I was riche alle men me honoured and worsheped and now euery man hath of me scorne and despite: And now I wote that Cordeil my yong doughter saide me treuthe whenne she saide as moche as I hadde so moche shulde I bene beloued. And alle the while that I hadde good tho was I beloued and honoured for my richesse: but my two doughteres me glosed tho and now of me thei setten litel price. And sothe [truth] tolde me Cordeil but I wolde nought belyve hit ne vnderstonde: And therefore I lete hire gone fro me as a thing that I sette litel price of and now wote I neuer what for to done sith my ij doughteres haue me thus deceyuede that I so moche louede. And nou mote I nedes sechen hire that is in another lande, tha lightely I lete hire gone fro me with oute eny rewarde of yiftes. And sheo said she loued me as moche as she aught hire fadre by al manere resonn: And tho I shulde haue axed of hire no more, and tho that me otherwise behighten thurgh hire fals speche nou haue me deceyued. In this maner Leir longe tyme him began to make his mone and at the laste he shope him to the see and passed ouer into Fraunce and axede and aspiede where the quene myghten bene founde and men tolde where that she was. And whenne he come to the cite that sheo was inne priuiliche be sente his squyer to the quene to telle here that hire fadere was comen to hier for grete nede. And whenne the squyer come to the quene be tolde hire euere dele of hire sustres fro the beginnyng vnto the ende. Cordeil the quene anone nome gold and siluer grete plente and toke hit to the squier in counsell that he shulde gone into a certeyn citee and him arrayen, bathen, and wesshen, and then come ayein to hire and bringe with him an honest companye of knyghtes, fourty atte the leste with hire mayne: and thanne he shulde sende to hire lorde the kyng and sein that he were comen for to speke with his doughter and him for to seen. And whenne the kyng and the quene herde that he come they hym receyued with mochel honour. The kyng of Fraunce tho lete sende thurgh alle his reame and comanded that al men to him shulde ben entendaunt to Lier the quenes fader in al maner of thing as hit were to himselfe. Whenne Lier hadde duelled their a monthe and more he tolde to the kyng and to the quene his doughter hou his tueyn eldest doughtres had him serued. Agampe anone lete ordeyne a grete hooste of Fraunce and sente hit into Brutaine with Leir, the quenes fader, for to conquere his lande ayein and his kyngdome. And Cordeill also come with hire fader into Brutaine for to haue the reame after heir fadres deth. And anone thei wente to shipp and passede the see and come into Brutaigne and foughten with the felons and ham scomfetede and quelde and Leir tho had his lande ayein and after leued iij yere and helde his reame in pees and afterward deid and Cordeil his doughtere him lete entere with mochel honour at Leycetre.—Whenne that kyng Leir was dede Cordeill his yongeste doughter helde and hadde the lande v yere and in the mene tyme deide here lorde Agampe that was kyng of Fraunce and efter his dethe she lefte wedowe. And tho come Morgan and Conadage, that wer Cordiell sistre sones, and to hire had enuye for as moche that hire aunte shuld haue the lande: so that betwene ham they ordeyned a grete pouer and vppon hire werrede gretely, and neuere they reste til that they hadde here taken and putte hire vnto dethe. M. S. Brute.

[503]Selfe from blame, blame worthy I. ed. 1575.

[504]Am. ib.

[505]Mothers, ed. 1575.

[506]Foe-mens. N.

[507]I deem’d if that I might once put her downe. N.

[508]By force or fraud I did intend alone,To sit as King vpon the Britaine throne. N.

[508]

By force or fraud I did intend alone,To sit as King vpon the Britaine throne. N.

By force or fraud I did intend alone,

To sit as King vpon the Britaine throne. N.

[509]Nephewes. ed. 1575.

[510]O caytife vile, that did constraine a Queene. N.

[511]Nay traytour I as nowe by proofe is seene. ed. 1575.

[512]For vengeaunce and at length procurde. ib.

[513]Cunedagius “slough Morgan that was rebel ayanst him in Glamorgan in Wales, and by cause of that happe that countree is called Morgan’s londe.”Polychronicon.

[514]That. N.

[515]The Authour.With that Morganus quickly past away,The night me thought likewise was far epast,Whereby it weried me so long to staye,But Morpheus bad me bide and see the last,“(Quoth he) the stories passe awaye as fast,“As doth the tyme, and sith th’art nigh th’ende:“Thou nedste not grutche, so short a space to spend.”And turning then him selfe from me asyde,He calde the next which therwithall in sightAppear’d, and all his breste with bloud bedide.What chaunce (quoth I) hath so thy corps bedight,Thou worthy prince, or what mishaps of fight?“I will (quoth he) with all my hart vnfolde“My fatall fall, and therwithall he tolde.”

[515]The Authour.

With that Morganus quickly past away,The night me thought likewise was far epast,Whereby it weried me so long to staye,But Morpheus bad me bide and see the last,“(Quoth he) the stories passe awaye as fast,“As doth the tyme, and sith th’art nigh th’ende:“Thou nedste not grutche, so short a space to spend.”And turning then him selfe from me asyde,He calde the next which therwithall in sightAppear’d, and all his breste with bloud bedide.What chaunce (quoth I) hath so thy corps bedight,Thou worthy prince, or what mishaps of fight?“I will (quoth he) with all my hart vnfolde“My fatall fall, and therwithall he tolde.”

With that Morganus quickly past away,

The night me thought likewise was far epast,

Whereby it weried me so long to staye,

But Morpheus bad me bide and see the last,

“(Quoth he) the stories passe awaye as fast,

“As doth the tyme, and sith th’art nigh th’ende:

“Thou nedste not grutche, so short a space to spend.”

And turning then him selfe from me asyde,He calde the next which therwithall in sightAppear’d, and all his breste with bloud bedide.What chaunce (quoth I) hath so thy corps bedight,Thou worthy prince, or what mishaps of fight?“I will (quoth he) with all my hart vnfolde“My fatall fall, and therwithall he tolde.”

And turning then him selfe from me asyde,

He calde the next which therwithall in sight

Appear’d, and all his breste with bloud bedide.

What chaunce (quoth I) hath so thy corps bedight,

Thou worthy prince, or what mishaps of fight?

“I will (quoth he) with all my hart vnfolde

“My fatall fall, and therwithall he tolde.”

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