any impeachment mounted on the third step, making an offer to attaine the fourth, but the Statue thrust him downe againe, whereby he might perceiue his owne insuf∣ficiencie, Beleeue me, quoth the Quéene, he hath done much better than the other, and the Lady he loueth, is greatly beholding to him, for iustly may he be accounted loyall, in that the Image suffered him to ascend so high.
Then one of the King of Norgalles Knightes came to trie his fortune, whome the Statue repulsed with such shame, as all the day after he would not be séene, I pro∣mise ye Gentleman, said the King his maister, you might haue spared the labour in comming so farre, to returne home with so foule a rebuke, and little néede had ye to shew vs your great inconstancie, brother quoth the King of Scots, be not offended with him, for well he knowes, that his Mistresse is not in this companie. You say true bro∣ther, aunswered the King of Norgalles, but if I knew her, I would aduertise her of his exceeding vertue.
Héere commes another of my Knightes to make a bet∣ter proofe, and yet perhaps, will amend his fellowes disho∣nor. The Knight attained the highest step, without any disturbance, and as he lifted his hand to take the Image of Cupid, the Statue tooke him by the arme, and set him on the ground againe, I see then, said the King of Nor∣galles, each one must heere be iudged according to the great∣nesse and defect of his loyaltie.
Afterward came a little Scottishman, as thicke as tall, his beard growing scattering like bristles, his nose flat to his face, two teeth standing before gagd out of his mouth, a man in euery part very much mishapen, and seruing as a Iester to make the King laugh, he had married a wo∣man as handsome as himselfe, yet was he iealous of her out of all measure. This proper Squire séeing so many re∣pulsed by the Statue, by breach of their loyaltie to their Wiues and Ladies, considered with himselfe, that he had neuer violated the bonds of marriage, but euermore kept