[Sidenote:  LEIR THE 10.  RULER. Mat.  West. Leicester is builded.] Leir the sonne of Baldud was admitted ruler ouer the Britaines, in the yeare of the world 3105, at what time Ioas reigned in Iuda.  This Leir 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 deere 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 [Sidenote:  The two eldest daughters are maried.  The realme is promised to his two daughters.] Henninus the duke of Cornewall, and the other vnto Maglanus the duke of Albania, betwixt whome he willed and ordeined that his land should be diuided after his death, and the one halfe thereof immediatlie should be assigned to them in hand:  but for the third daughter Cordeilla he reserued nothing.”

Neuertheles it fortuned that one of the princes of Gallia (which now is called France) whose name was Aganippus, hearing of the beautie, womanhood, and good conditions of the said Cordeilla, desired to haue hir in mariage, and sent ouer to hir father, requiring that he might haue hir to wife:  to whome answer was made, that he might haue his daughter, but as for anie dower he could haue none, for all was promised and assured to hir other sisters alreadie.  Aganippus notwithstanding this answer of deniall to receiue anie thing by way of dower with Cordeilla, tooke hir to wife, onlie moued thereto (I saie) for respect of hir person and amiable vertues.  This Aganippus was one of the twelue kings that ruled Gallia in those daies, as in the British historie it is recorded.  But to proceed.