Page:History of the four kings of Canterbury, Colchester, Cornwall, & Cumberland (2).pdf/13

 The Hiſtory of the four King's. 13

TALE IV.

LONG before ARTHUR, and the KNIGHTS of the ROUND TABLE, there reigned, in the eaſtern part of this land a King, who kept his court at Colcheſter. He was witty, ſtrong, and valiant; by which means he ſubdued his enemies abroad, and planted peace among his ſubjects at home.

Nevertheleſs, in the midſt of all his earthly glory, his Queen died, leaving behind her an only daughter, about fifteen years of age, under the care of her royal huſband. This Lady, for her courtly carringe, beauty, and affibility, was the wonder of all that knew her; but, as coveteuſneſs is the root of all evil, ſo it happened here.

The King hearing of a Lady, who had likewiſe an only daughter, for the ſake of her riches, had a mind to marry her; tho' the was old, ugly, hook-nos'd and hump-back'd, yet all could not deter him from marrying her. The daughter of the ſaid piece of deformity was a yellow dowdy, full of envy and ill-nature, and in ſhort was much of the ſame mould as her mother. This