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. VII. How the Queene the next day got out of the Forrest, and how she placed herselfe in a Monestrie, neere to the Citty of Maiance.

THE night béeing past, and beautifull Aurora comming againe to the viewe of this hether worlde, whose welcome the chéerefull Birds rang forth, with many a pleasant tune, to the comfort of all earth∣ly creatures: the wofull Lady, who of all the night had not once suffred her eyelids to close, nor giuen nature her due by fléepe, rising vp from the place where she had remained all night, began againe to renew her former sorrow, sometimes cursing & raging at her euill fortune, then againe blaming herselfe for her impatience, which was not able to indure those crosses which God for her tryall had layd vpon her.

Thus at length somewhat comforted with the hope shee had, that the prouidence of the most Highest, might turne

all her afflictions and crosses, into ioyes and blessings, and likewise that in time, she might recouer, according to the Vision which she had séene at her first comming into y^e for∣rest, both her husband and sonne, shée determined to make triall if she might get forth of the Forrest which if she could; she would vnknowne trauell vnto some Monestary, or re∣ligious house, where shée meant to spend y^e rest of her time to her soules comfort: but first she determined to make tri∣all if her husband were returned or not. So hapning on a by path, onwards she went so farre, that by the time that Phoebus golden Chariot was ascended into the midle hea∣uens, shee found herselfe euen at the place, where first in company of the King, and theyr traine of Lords & Ladies, shée entred the wood, at such time as they were set on by the Out-lawes. Where beholding the place, and calling to minde that there beganne the head and well-spring of all her troubles, and miseries which shée had since that time indured, brake foorth into these, or such like spéeches.

O thou accursed place, reserued onely of the diuine pow∣ers to be a plague and hell to those, who willingly not so much as in thought offended against them. I beséech the Almightie protector of heauen and earth, that thou mayest for euer-more prooue barren and vnfruitfull, and that these thy goodly trées and bushes, which were a couert vnto those damned wretches, which seperated me from that péerlesse Prince and my déere loue, may héereafter neuer beare nei∣ther fruite nor leaues, but may presently wither away and die: as did that figge trée which thou, O Sauiour Christ, diddest curse for not yéelding of fruite in y^e time of thy hun∣ger, going frō Bethania to Ierusalem. Thus accursing that place, and the whole Forrest, shee directed her course to∣wards Maiance, where by reason of her long absence, and the altering of her apparrell, through time & her best skill, shée entred vnknowne of any, where shee found such an al∣teration, that she could scarcely belieue that to be the Citty, which in former time shée had séene so much to florish, in costly and braue shewes: and not knowing well what to

imagin, shée secretlie inquired as well the cause of this strange alteration, as also whether there were any certain newes of the Kings being aliue or dead. All which at large was declared vnto her, as well the cause of sorrow, which generally did appeare through all the Cittie, for the losse of the King, as also the new gouernment of the state, which was disliked of many: but whether the King were liuing or no, that was not knowne, so secretly did that Tyrant Griffory cause his imprisonment to be conceald.

But at length, hauing made what inquirie she could, not minding to make her selfe knowne, she returned againe out of the Citty, and went vnto a Monestary some three miles distant, called the Monestry of our Lady, where comming to the Gouernesse, she intreated to be entertained amongst the Religious Votaries. Affirming herselfe to be a poore desolate widdow, who béeing by death dispoyled of all cō∣fort, had determined to end the remnant of her life in pray∣er, and thanksgiuing vnto her Creator, trusting thereby to find comfort for her soule in the world to come. The Ab∣besse béeing a very deuout and religious woman, marking not onely her outward gesture, which was a plaine demon∣stration of inward griefe, but also considering her rare beu∣tie, which though it were not set foorth by any Art or abili∣ments, yet in that carelesse and couert sort, did it appeare to be most singuler, demaunded of her many questions, which she answered in such good and modest sort, that shée grew thereby in great liking, and good opinion of her, en∣tertaining her amongst the rest of her Sisters, where shee behaued herselfe in such good sort, that in short time she gai∣ned to herselfe, not onely the loue of all the house, but also the fame of her godly liuing, was spredde abroade through all the country adioyning, to the great commendation, and famousing of the Monestry. Where wee will leaue her in her godly meditations, and returne a little to declare what hapned to the Lord Gwaltero, and Sir Henault, with the rest of their company, that tooke on them the search of their King.