Tells the tale that in the country which lay south of Oakenrealm, andwas called Meadham, there was in these days a king whose wife was dead,but had left him a fair daughter, who was born some four years after KingChristopher. A good man was this King Roland, mild, bounteous, and noregarder of persons in his justice; and well-beloved he was of his folk:yet could not their love keep him alive; for, whenas his daughter was ofthe age of twelve years, he sickened unto death; and so, when he knew thathis end drew near, he sent for the wisest of his wise men, and they cameunto him sorrowing in the High House of his chiefest city, which hightMeadhamstead. So he bade them sit down nigh unto his bed, and took upthe word and spake:
"Masters, and my good lords, ye may see clearly that a sundering is athand, and that I must needs make a long journey, whence I shall comeback never; now I would, and am verily of duty bound thereto, that I leavebehind me some good order in the land. Furthermore, I would that mydaughter, when she is of age thereto, should be Queen in Meadham, andrule the land; neither will it be many years before she shall be of ripe agefor ruling, if ever she may be; and I deem not that there shall be any lackin her, whereas her mother could all courtesy, and was as wise as a womanmay be. But how say ye, my masters?"
So they all with one consent said Yea, and they would ask for no betterking than their lady his daughter. Then said the King:
"Hearken carefully, for my time is short: Yet is she young and amaiden, though she be wise. Now therefore do I need some man welllooked to of the folk, who shall rule the land in her name till she be ofeighteen winters, and who shall be her good friend and counsellor into allwisdom thereafter. Which of you, my masters, is meet for this matter?"