The First and second part of the history of the famous Euordanus Prince of Denmark With the strange aduentures of Iago Prince of Saxonie: and of both theyr seuerall fortunes in loue.

CHAP. III. How the King and Queene beeing found missing, were sought for, and how the Lords and Ladies that were with them were found.

THe same morning that the King and Quéene went to recreate themselues in the forrest, as is before declared, they were not foūd missing, till such time as y^e tables being spred for diner, and many Lords and Ladies, Knights, Squi∣ers, and Gentlemen, being assembled together to giue their attendance on his Maiestie, maruailed that hee was so long, before he came downe into the great Hall, contra∣rie to his vse, which was alwaies wont to be by tenne of the clocke, where he remained vntill dinner time, passing away the time with mirth and pleasant disports. At length hauing expected his comming vntill twelue of the clocke,

and séeing that he came not, the Lord Treasure, whose name was Sir Henault, musing what the cause might be, and doubting that all was not well, in regard hee neither came himselfe, neither any of the Squiers, which were at∣tending néerest vnto him were séene to come downe, to de∣clare the cause, at length went vp vnto the Kings bed∣chamber, where hee found the Chamberlin with diuers o∣ther Gentlemen, which alwaies attended on the Kings owne person. And demaunding of them where his Maie∣stie was, that he came not downe in the Hall as he was accustomed, they all gaue him answere, that the King and Quéene, accompanied with the Lord Gwaltero his Cosin, the Lord Bewdall, and the Lord of Menew, with some La∣dies and attendants, in the morning very early went forth at the Posterne, towards the Forrest to take the fresh aire, and that since that time they were not returned, neither did they know farther what was become of them, but doubted least that they had strayed so farre within the wood, that they had lost their way forth. When Sir Henault had hard this, he was much amased, & greatly troubled in mind, fea∣ring least there had béene some treason wrought against his Maiestie: wherefore causing the reporters of these newes, to be in sure kéeping, he went downe, and declared the same to the rest of the nobility, and taking counsell to∣gether, they determined forthwith to make ageneral search, as well for the King and Quéene, and nobles found wan∣ting, as also for all suspected persons, which might bée thought any waies guilty towards their absence: likewise they determined, to make a generall search throughout all the Forrest, least peraduenture, they were hapned to goe a∣stray, and could not find the ready way backe againe, or if that they were any way distressed, either by théeues or wild beasts, that then they might rescue them, or find what was become of them.

Thus hauing determined, they armed themselues, to the number of thrée thousand, Knights and Gentlemen, and being mounted on their horses, they tooke the way di∣rectly

towards the Forrest, where beeing ariued they se∣perated themselues into diuers companies, séeking vp and downe, and looking almost in euery bush, but could not find them whom they sought for, at length Sir Henault with his companie hapning to passe that way, wherein the morning the fight had béene, chaunced first to finde some of the dead bodies, and looking farther, sawe whereas the Lords and Ladies lay bound, being almost dead with the paine and griefe which they sustained, y^e Lords by rea∣son of their wounds, and Ladies by the feare wherein they were put: then comming more néere vnto them, they found the Lord Gwaltero, and the Lord of Menew grieuously wounded, the Lord Bewdall with some foure or fiue other Gentlemen slaine out right, which sight strake such a griefe and sorrow into the harts of all the beholders, especially of Sir Henault, that he had much to doe to sit on his horse, yet at length recouering his sences, and causing them to be vnbound, he demaunded what was become of the King and Quéene, and by what misfortune they were brought into this pittifull case.

The Lord Gwaltero hauing his wounds bound vp, and being somewhat refreshed and reuiued with such restora∣tiues, as some of the companie had brought with them, an∣swered, how that walking to take the aire, and to view those pleasant shades, they were sodenly and vnawares set on by forty théeues or Outlawes, whom by their apparrell and spéech, they iudged to be frenchmen, where defending themselues as well as they might, were in the end thus ouercome and wounded: and as for the King, after they had bound vs and were departing away, hauing before stripped vs of the wealth we had about vs, they returned and tooke him with them, towards the sea-side. But of the Quéene, we knowe no certainty, for whilst we were figh∣ting she fled into the wood, with the rest of the Ladies, who were all brought back againe saue the Quéene only, by some of the Outlawes who persued them: more I knowe not, but feare least they likewise hapned on her, and haue

carried her with them: wherefore he thought it fit that pur∣sute might be made after them to the seawards, where if they were not already gone, it might so fortune as they might recouer the King and Quéene againe, otherwise there would be no hope left for séeing them in hast.

When Sir Henault had heard this discourse made by the Lord Gwaltero, he was so grieued inwardly, that with extreame sorrowe he fell from his horse in a trance, and be∣ing brought againe to himselfe, séeing all things were to be followed according to the occasion and time, first he com∣maunded, some part of his companie to conuaie the Lords and Ladies to the Court, whereas they that were woun∣ded might find helpe for to cure the same: and they likewise that were slaine, might euery one haue buriall according to their estates: himselfe in the meane space being accom∣panied with a hundred Knights, would followe after the théeues, hoping that if they were not put to sea before their comming, not only to rescue the King, but also to giue them such a reward as for euer should bee an example, to those who should goe about to attempt the like. With this deter∣mination they rode on towards the sea side, whereas they arriued, about the time, when Vesperus, in the west had set the cunning watch, and silent night richly attended by his twinckling traine, sent sléepe and slumber to possesse the world, and fantazie for to hazan idle heads, whereas they found their labor fruitlesse, by reason that they were departed long before: and séeing the night beginne to wax darke, they all together determined on the plaine, hard by the sea side for that night to rest themselues, making fiers and great lights to cause the rest of their companies to come vnto them, who likewise had made a long and bootlesse search in the wood, and at length being almost all come to∣gether, where Sir Henault remained, they determined the next day to make preperation to follow them by sea, whom they could not recouer on shore.