How Qveene Elstride the Concubine and second wife of king Locrinus was miserably drowned by Queene Guendoline, The yeare before Christ, 1064. 1. And must I needes my selfe recite my fall, Poore Pryncesse[261] I: must I declare my fate? Must I the first of Queenes amongst vs all,[262] Shew how I thrise fell from my princely state: And from the lofty seate on which I sate: If needes I must, then well content, I will: Lest here my place in vayne I seeme to fill. 2. I am that _Elstride_ whom _Locrinus_ lou’d, A Prince his daughter, came from _Germanes_ land. My fame of beauty many Princes mou’d[263] To sue for grace, and fauoure at my hand. Which bruite once blowne abroad in euery land, One _Humber_, king of _Hunnes_ with all his trayne, To come to mee a suiter was full fayne. 3. What neede I tell the giftes to me he gaue, Or shew his suite, or promise he me plight, Sith well you knowe a Prince neede nothing craue, May nigh commaund ech thing as twere his right. For as the foule before the Eagles sight, Euen so we fall, submit, and yeelde vs still At Prince his call, obeysaunt to his will. 4. And for that time the _Hunnes_ full mighty were, And did increase, by martiall feates of warre: Therefore our _Germayne_ Kinges agast did beare Them greater fauoure then was neede by farre. My father durst not _Humber’s_ hest debarre, Nor I my selfe, I rather was content In hope of crowne with _Humber_ to consent. 5. Two Princely dames with me came then away, He brag’d to winne these countrey partes all three. We Ladyes rather were[264] this Prince his pray, Because he promist that we Queenes should bee. We came to cost, these countrey coasts to see, Sith hee on whom our hope did wholly stand, Was drounde, nam’d _Humber_ waters, lost the land. 6. For as you heard before when he suppos’d He had wonne all, because he wonne a part, Strayght way he was agayne thereof depos’d, Constrayn’d to flye and swim for life, poore heart. Lo here the cause of all my dolefull smart: This noble King with whom I came to raygne, Was drencht, and drounde vnto my greeuous payne. 7. Then were his souldiers taken, slayne, or spoylde, And well were they, that could make suite for life. Was neuer such an army sooner foylde: O woefull warre, that flowd’st in flouds of strife, And card’st not whom thou cut’st with cruell knife! So,[265] had not _Venus_ fraught my face with hue, I had no longer liu’d my forme to rue. 8.