Great Britain -- History -- Poetry; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Sources
So that Cordeill his yongest doughter shulde no
thing haue of his lande. But this Cordeill was wonderous faire and of
so good condicions and maners that the kyng of Fraunce Agampe, herde of
hire speke and sent to Leir, hire fader, for to haue hire vnto wife and
prayed him therof. And kyng Leir hire fader sente him worde that he had
departed his londe vnto his two other doughters and saide he hadde no
more lande wherewith hire for to marien: And whenne Agampe horde this
answere he sente anone ayeyn to Leir and said, that he axid no thyng
with hire, but onliche hire clothyng and hire bodie. And anone king
Leir hire fader sente hire ouer the see to the kyng of Fraunce and he
receyuede hire with mochel worshipp, and with moche solempnite hire
spousede and made hire quene of France.
_How Kyng Leir was driven oute of his londe thurz his foly and how
Cordil his yongest daughter helped him at his nede._
Thus hit felle afterwarde that tho two eldest doughtres wolde nought
abide til that Leir hire fader were dede but werred vppon him whiles
that he leued and moche sorwe and shame him dede. Wherfore thei benomen
him holly the reame and betwene ham had ordeyned that one of ham shulde
haue kyng Leir to soiourne all his life tyme with xl [lx] knyghtes and
hire squiers, that he myght worshipfully gone and ride whider that he
wolde into what contre that him likede to playn and to solacen. So
that Managles kyng of Scotland had kyng Leir with him in the maner as
is aboue seide and or other halfe yere were passide Corneill [sic] his
eldest doughter that was quene of Scotland was so anoyed of him and of
his peple that anone he and hire lorde speken togedres. Wherfore his
knyghtes and his squyers half frame him were gone and no mo lefte but
oneliche xxx. And whenne this was done Leir began for to make moche
sorowe, for incheson that his astate was inpeired, and men had of him
more scorne and despite thanne euere thei hadde beforne. Wherfore he
wiste neuer what to done and atte the laste thought that he wolde wende
into Cornewaile to Ragan his other doughter. And whenne he was come
there, the Erle and his wife that was Leier’s doughter, him welcomede
and with him made muche ioy, and there he dwelled with xxx knyghtes
and squyers. And he had dwellede there scarsly tuelf month that his
doughter of him nas fulle and of his companye, and hire lorde and shee
of him had scorne and despite so that fro xxx knyghtes thei brougten
vnto ten and afterwarde five and so there lefte with him no mo. Tho
made he sorwe enough and said, sore wepying: allas that euere he come
into that lande. And seid yit had me better for to haue dwellede
with my ferst doughter. And anone wente thennes a yein to his first
doughter: but anone as she sawe him come, she swore be God and his holy
names, and be as moche as she myght that he shulde haue no mo with him
but on knyght if he wolde there abide. Tho began Leir wepe and made
moche sorwe and said, tho allas nou to longe haue I leuede that this
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