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. IIII. Of the generall lamentation that was made throughout all the Kingdome, and how that after a councell held for the gouerning thereof, the Knights and noble men tooke on them the search of the King.

THE next day, no sooner had darke night ta∣ken his leaue, and that the day began to ap∣peare in the East, but Sir Henault with the rest of his company, were mounted on hors∣back, taking their way towards the sorrow∣full Cittie of Maiance, where béeing arriued, they found the Citty all full of heauines, by reason of the late newes, which at their comming was so much the more augmen∣ted, being returned without any certaine knowledge what was become of the King and Quéene. There might you haue séene the true discription of sorrow, not in one onelie creature, but in generall through the whole Cittie: some fell to shutting vp their doores and windowes, as minding for very griefe to inclose themselues prisoners in their own houses, shunning the day light, which had giuen light to those Robbers, who had dispoyled them of their ioy and comfort. Others againe clad in blacke mournfull attire, with their chéeks be spred with teares, which like streames trickled downe from the fountaines of their eyes, went vp and downe lamenting and bewailing the losse of theyr so louing and gracious Prince. The late costly shewes, and stately Pagants, were turned into sadde obiects: yea, no noyse was heard through the whole Cittie, but wéeping and lamentation, so that the sorrow sustained by the Tro∣ians, for the losse of their chiefe Champion Hector, when by the Gréeks, at the commaundement of cruell A∣chilles, he was thrée times dragd about their Cittie walls, béeing before hand cowardly slaine with his accursed Speare, was not to bee compared with this of Maiance. The graue and modest Matrons, were séene with theyr

garments rent, and their haire dispersed about their shoul∣ders, in most dolefull manner to repayre to the Temples, where before the most Highest, they poured foorth theyr prayers for their Soueraigne, bathing themselues with the teares which fell from their eyes. The young damsels pleasant songs, which with cléere and chéerfull brests they were wont to record, were now turned into sad & mourn∣full ditties, bewailing the losse of their Countries protec∣tor. Yea, so generall was the gréefe vnto all manner of e∣states, that for the space of fortie dayes together, there was neither shops opened, nor any wares or merchandise solde in their markets. So that the towne, which was wont to be so filled with all sorts of people, now séemed in a manner to be voyde & desolate, none, or very few séene at any time to walke in the stréets. Neither was the griefe in the coun∣try any lesse, yea throughout the whole kingdome: so ge∣nerally was he beloued of all his subiects, y^t hee was coun∣ted not onely a iust Prince, but also a louing Father to his Country, alwaies defending the poore from the oppression of the rich, and the desolate widdowes and Orphans, from the violence of those, who by any meanes sought to wrong them.

Sir Henault, as we haue before said, béeing returned to Maiance, caused foorthwith some small Barkes to be well manned and sent foorth after the Pyrats, with commaund not onely to scoure their owne Coast, but also to pursue thē vnto the borders of Fraunce: where they tooke many, but could not méet with any of thē which they sought for. Then calling a generall Counsell of all the Nobility and Péeres of the Land, where after a long & learned Oration by him pronounced, describing vnto them, the fickle and dange∣rous estate wherein their Country now stoode, by reason of this sudden and vnlooked for alteration of crooked For∣tune, with the mutabilitie of the minds of the common peo∣ple, whose natures are alwaies to listen after nouelties. which things being considered, it could not chuse but to ap∣peare vnpossible, to kéepe the Common-wealth in safetie:

without some certaine forme of gouernment to be establi∣shed. Desiring all of them to bend and ioyne theyr willing minds together, to deuise some course or meanes for the same, vntill the King might againe be heard of and reco∣uered. Which hee thought could by no meanes better be effected, then by a generall search made by a chosen num∣ber of Knights, who should trauell through all the Domi∣nions and kingdoms of Christendome, and else-where, as by them it should be thought fit and conuenient: of which number, he himselfe God willing intended to be one, who would either finde him out, or end his dayes in the search.

This his spéech was listned vnto of all, but especiallie applauded and commended by the Lord Gwaltero, and the Lord Menew, who as then were indifferently recouered of their wounds, which they receiued at the losse of theyr King: and béeing both young and valerous, especiallie Gwaltero, who was then the absolute best Knight in all the kingdome of Denmarke, hoped by this meanes not onely to find out their King, if so be he liued, but also to winne to themselues eternall renowne, by their haughtie déedes of Chiualrie, which they hoped to obtaine in strange Coun∣tries, where their fortunes should conduct them. But as for the gouernment of the Common-wealth, in theyr con∣ceits, they thought none more fit then Sir Henault him∣selfe, who béeing both sage and discréete, and also béeing as we haue said before, Lorde Treasurer, & alwaies in great fauour with their late King, had in a maner the whole ma∣naging of the affaires of the Kingdome in his owne hands, by which meanes, as they supposed, he knew how, better then any other, to continue the same in the former estate, which would be farre better then to alter the same, by any other order of gouernment.

This their opinion was held for currant of many, and consented vnto by most of those that were present, who de∣sired no alteration, but thought their former manner of rule to be best, and without fault.

But as there is no man so vertuous, but shall haue some

that will enuy at his goodnes, especially great and migh∣tie men, who no sooner grow into the good liking and fa∣uour of the people, be it by neuer so iust or well deserued occasion, (yea though by him onely the Common-wealth hath béen in a manner preserued and defended from the in∣uasiue power of their enemies, (yet shall you haue some, like dogges in a manger, that will neither doo good them∣selues, nor willingly heare of others well dooings,) beeing prickt forwards with enuy, will not stick to turne any his good deseruings into euill, and all their counsels, be they neuer so profitable to the Common-wealth, they will goe about to perswade, that it is rather to benefit & rayse them∣selues, then to doe good to their Countries: yea further, let them accomplish any notable péece of seruice for their coun∣try, they will not be afraide to whisper into mens eares, that it was doone but for vaine glory.) Euen such there were in this Counsell, who not onely for enuie, disliked the choyse which the Lord Gwaltero and the rest had made, but also disliked of the search which Sir Henault had motioned for the séeking of the King, alleaging that by making such a quest, they should not onely dispoyle themselues of theyr chiefe Captaines and leaders, but also leaue theyr Coun∣try naked, and ready for euery inuasion of the enemy, when it would be too late to call home those for theyr de∣fence whom they should not know where to find. Some a∣gaine thought it better to send forth Embassadors into di∣uers Nations, thereby hoping to gaine knowledge, what was become of him: thinking that if the Out-lawes had kept him aliue, that then they had sold him to some Prince, who would be content to put him to raunsome. Others held, that to send foorth spyes, which by diligent inquirie might heare of him, would be the best course. Thus diuers men were of diuers minds, sitting a long while in counsell to no end, neither determining any order for the gouern∣ment of the Common-wealth, nor meanes to find out their King and Quéene. But at length, by the meanes of the Archbishop of Maiance, who desired change and alteration,

they grew to determine of their gouernment, which should be in this manner following.

First, they should chuse of the most sufficienst of the No∣bilitie, and Laitie of the Realme, the number of sixe-score, out of which number by lot they should chuse tenne, and of the Clergie thirtie, out of which nūber likewise they should chuse two by lot, so that of the Nobility there should be al∣waies tenne, and of the Clergie two, which twelue so elec∣ted, should haue the gouernment of the whole kingdom for a yéere, and at the yéeres end, to giue vp an account vnto the other sixe-score and eighteene, of the imployment of the treasure belonging to the Crowne: and then other twelue to be chosen in the same manner, for the next yere. And this order and manner of gouernment to be kept inuiolate, vn∣till such time as they should heare some certaine newes, ei∣ther of the Kings death, or returne. To this they all con∣sented, setting thereto their hands & seales, presently ma∣king choyse of those whose happe should be first to gouerne this their new deuised state. The Lots béeing cast, the first twelue to whom the gouernment lighted, was of the Clergie, the Archbishop of Maiance, and the Bishop of O∣delstoe: and of the Nobilitie, the Duke of Louenborge, the Duke of Newmister, y^e Lord Harding, the Count Her∣mes, the Countie of Mildorpe, the County of Opencade, the Lord of Londen, the Lord Itzenho, the Lorde of New∣stat, and the Lord of Rensborge. These twelue, according to former agréement, tooke on them the gouernment of the kingdome, first setting all things in quiet within the king∣dome, and making diuers lawes and statutes for the pre∣seruation thereof. And then made preparation for the de∣fending of the same, if so be y^t any neighbor Prince should now in the alteration of their gouernment, make any war or inuasion vppon them, thereby not to be taken vnproui∣ded. They therefore fortified diuers Castles, and strong Holds vppon the borders of the Kingdome, repairing those that were weake, and erecting new where they thought a∣ny néede to be, placing garrisons in them all, for y^e defence

thereof. Likewise they tooke order, for the defence and sure kéeping of the Country of Flaunders in their subiection, fearing least vppon the report of the losse of the King and Quéene, there might be some alteration mooued, either by some neighbour Potentate, or the inhabitants themselues, who at that time were giuen altogether, to desire change and alteration.

Now amongst all these discourses wee must not forget the Lord Gwaltero, the Lord Menew, and Sir Henault, whose heroicke mindes not being able to bee contained within the confines of Denmarke, missing their onely comfort and solace, their noble Prince, whose presence was more déere to them, then any thing in the world be∣sides: prouided according to their former determinations, to trauell in his quest throughout the whole world, but that they would either find him out, or heare some certaine newes of him, which being made knowne, to diuers other Lords and Knights, there were to the number of a hun∣dred, all of the minde, bent either to find him out, or neuer to returne. Thus euery one in the best manner they could, made preperation for their iourney, fitting themselues both with armor, and store of money for their néedefull expences in their trauell. And being all in a readines to depart, they deuided themselues, some into one Country, and some in∣to another, appointing where many times to méete, being in strange Countries, where wee will leaue them, to de∣clare what befell to the King and Martinus, being in his e∣nemies Country, as is before mentioned.