sundering is at hand, and that I must needs make a long
journey, whence I shall come back never; now I would, and am
verily of duty bound thereto, that I leave behind me some
good order in the land. Furthermore, I would that my
daughter, when she is of age thereto, should be Queen in
Meadham, and rule the land; neither will it be many years
before she shall be of ripe age for ruling, if ever she may
be; and I deem not that there shall be any lack in her,
whereas her mother could all courtesy, and was as wise as a
woman may be. But how say ye, my masters?"

So they all with one consent said Yea, and they would ask
for no better king than their lady his daughter. Then said
the King:

"Hearken carefully, for my time is short: Yet is she young
and a maiden, though she be wise. Now therefore do I need
some man well looked to of the folk, who shall rule the land
in her name till she be of eighteen winters, and who shall
be her good friend and counsellor into all wisdom
thereafter. Which of you, my masters, is meet for this
matter?"

Then they all looked one on the other, and spake not. And
the King said: "Speak, some one of you, without fear; this
is no time for tarrying."

Thereon spake an elder, the oldest of them, and said:
"Lord, this is the very truth, that none of us here present
are meet for this office: whereas, among other matters, we