was a prince of right noble demeanor, gouerning his land and subiects in
great wealth. He made the towne of Caerleir now called Leicester, which
standeth vpon the riuer of Sore. It is written that he had by his wife
three daughters without other issue, whose names were Gonorilla, Regan,
and Cordeilla, which daughters he greatly loued, but specially Cordeilla
the yoongest farre aboue the two elder. When this Leir therefore was
come to great yeres, & began to waxe vnweldie through age, he thought to
[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._]
vnderstand the affections of his daughters towards him, and preferre hir
whome he best loued, to the succession ouer the kingdome. Whervpon he
first asked Gonorilla the eldest, how well she loued him: who calling hir
[Sidenote: A triall of loue.]
gods to record, protested that she "loued him more than hir owne life,
which by right and reason should be most déere vnto hir. With which
answer the father being well pleased, turned to the second, and demanded
of hir how well she loued him: who answered (confirming hir saiengs with
great othes) that she loued him more than toong could expresse, and farre
aboue all other creatures of the world."

Then called he his yoongest daughter Cordeilla before him, and asked of
hir what account she made of him, vnto whome she made this answer as
followeth: "Knowing the great loue and fatherlie zeale that you haue
[Sidenote: The answer of the yoongest daughter.]
alwaies borne towards me (for the which I maie not answere you otherwise
than I thinke, and as my conscience leadeth me) I protest vnto you, that
I haue loued you euer, and will continuallie (while I liue) loue you as
my naturall father. And if you would more vnderstand of the loue that I
beare you, assertaine your selfe, that so much as you haue, so much you
are woorth, and so much I loue you, and no more. The father being nothing
content with this answer, married his two eldest daughters, the one vnto