“Verye well sayde,” quoth _Memory_, “I would I had habilitie to redeeme this prince’s soule out of _Lymbo-lake_: I wyl insuer you the shorte tragedie of this man’s life hath made a long discourse of the present estate of _England_, in which ther be more by three parts which serue, like carpite knightes, _Venus_ and her darlinges, then God and their prince: who I feare are so fast seazed vpon beautie’s fiste, that this example wyl be little auailable vnto them. But let it be as it wil, warned folkes may liue, and happie are they whome other men’s harme do make to be ware. But, good _Inquisition_, whome haue you there? What haue you brought vs in steede of a prince, a priest? It woulde appeare by his shauen crown that he hath bin a monke, or a frier. What, shal we alowe tippet wearers to pleade amongst princes? Me thinke by the deformitie of his apparel, he shoulde not be of the _religion_, nor of the reformed church: yea, I wyl insuer you, his precise lookes maketh me to suspect that he is one of them which do cry out, 'O these indifferent thinges do not edifye.’ Speake therfore, _Inquisition_, if he be one of that precise order he get no place here.” “O _Memorie_,” quoth _Inquisition_, “they of the reformed church be the most zelous pastoures of the world, moste of them both godly good liuers, and wise: and in my fancye, in many poyntes, greatly deseruing the name of reformed. But this man was both a prince and a prelate, whome I refused oftentimes to heare, because he looked so deuoutly, yet he being importunate, did ouercome me with his prayers: and when I gaue eare vnto him I reioyced: and not without a cause, good _Memorye_, for it is euen he whom you sent me to seeke.” “Let me see,” quoth _Memorie_, “is it _Cadwallader_? In good time, it is euen he in deede. O se what the alteration of apparel doth! In good fayth, I had almost forgotten the man. He was the last king of the _Brittaynes_, and when thinges would not fal out after his desire, he went to _Rome_, and there he became a _frier_. But we wyl not accuse him of anye thing, let him do the thing that he commeth for; you may perswade your selfe that seing he is of the church, his conscience wyl constrayne him in euery thing to tel the truth.” Then he stepped forthe, booted and spurde, al in blacke, with a long prieste’s gowne, a square cappe, a _scala cœli_ in his hande, and a longe payre of beades by his side: then he sighing, proceeded vnto his purpose, and said, as followeth. THE COMPLAYNT OF CADWALLADER. How Cadwallader the last king of the Brittaynes, after he had behaued himselfe very valiantly against the Saxons, resigned his crowne, and went to Rome, where he liued in a religious house. This storye contayneth in it the estate of al estates.[1208]