Here begynnethe the boke calledde Iohn bochas descriuinge the falle of princis princessis [and] other nobles tra[n]slated i[n]to englissh by Iohn ludgate mo[n]ke of the monastery of seint edmu[n]des Bury ... — De casibus virorum illustrium. English

Author: Boccaccio, Giovanni, 1313-1375.1494

Prologus

To reyse a toure so high so large and longe

For to this day touchynge the great might
Of this toure which babell men yit call
Men fro ferre may haue therof a sight
It surmountith other tours all
Of which werke thus it is bifall
Of serpentes and many a great dragon
It is no we callyd cheef habitacion

That noman dare as they it se
For wickyd eyre and for corruption
By a great space and in a grete cuntre
Aproche nor nere that merueylous dungeon
So venemous was that mansion
And so orrible that noman dare approche
Lyke to a mountayn byldyd on a roche

And as men say that hadde therto repeyre
This toure atteynith vnto the sterres clere
And transendeth the region of the eyre
The stones and the syment were made of such mater
And the ioynynge so stedfaste and entier
Though fyre and water both dyd it asseyle
But lytyll or nought their power shulde avayle

It was made so mighty to endure
So well assuryd by disposicion
That in this worlde no lyuynge creature
Sawe neuer none lyke in comparison
Whoos rerynge vp was cheif occasion
And the riches of the masonrie
Were thrugh Nembrothe of pryde and surquedie

Demyd proudly as in his auice
He transcendyd all other in noblesse
Thought himself moste mighty and wy [...]e
Felowe to god as by lyknesse
But god that can all worldely pride oppresse
And make princes eclypsen in their glorie
Suche as trust in thynges transitorie

The same lorde of his eternall might
This toure which Nembroth lyste to edifye
He made with thondre and levyn light
Therof to fall a full great partye
The boistous wyndes and the rage skye
And goddes power on that other syde
Bygan thus abate a perrell of his pryde

And in discente and fallynge of the stonys
Of the werkmen full many a man was dede
And oppressyd their backe broken and bones
The masonrye with their blode was rede
Yit proud Nembrothe that of this werke was hede
With all thies sygnes his lorde he lyst nat knowe
For which his pompe was after brought ful lowe

But in his errour procedith furth of newe
Thought he wolde gete him self aname
Of melancoly can chaunge loke and hewe
And beganne also to tempte and atame
For to encreas and magnify his fame
A newe toure to edifye ayen
Lyke as god had ben blynde and nothynge seen

He wolde haue raught vp to the sterrys seuyn
By thassent of them that can him first counseyle
Robbyd god and from him raught the he [...]yn
But who presumith the lorde aboue tassayle
It were no reason that he shulde auayle
Prynces may well ayenst him cry loude
But his powere may elipse with no cloude

For in the myddes of his grete emprises
This proude Nembroth makynge his masons
For to cumpas and cast their deuises
Geometries in their diuisions
But god that hath his aspeccious
Seynge thententis of euery erthly man
As he that is moste mighty and best can

Ayenst their malice make resistence
Their worldly power their dominacion
Of his vengeable and moste magnificence
He can chastyce and ouir whelme downe
The pryde of princes in euery region
By ensaumple of Nembrothe as ye shal here
Whose pompe raught aboue the sterres clere

For whanne his werkmen stode at a avantage
And moost were besy to his intencion
And byfore that tyme spake all one langage
All sodenly by transmutacion
There was of tonges made a diuision
That in their wyrkynge as they can obreyde
No man wist what that other saide

And it is lykly accordynge with reason
So as chaunge was made of their langages
So of their hertys was made diuision
Bothe of their wyll and of their corages
And in ascendynge of their worchynge stages

[Page]

There was such chaunge of brother vnto brother

Lyke straungers noon knewe thentent of other

Myne auctour trowith that this aduersite
Was for ther gilt causyd by vengeaunce
Or elles god of right and equyte
Disposith hath in his ordenaunce
To be amonge theym so greate a vareaunce
That thurgh the worlde they shulde theym self diuide
And for Nembroth disseuer and nat abyde

They ganne anone amonge theym self disdeyn
To accepte this Nembroth for theyr kynge
And  [...]monge forsoth there was nat tweyne
Don of another that had clere knowynge
Neither of their spech that knewe the pleyne menyng
For which the cuntre of sennaar they forsoke
And e [...] of theym asundry cuntre toke

They  [...]yd and made no lenger space
Folowyng the fortune of their diuision
And beganne to chefe theym a newe dwellynge place
In the ꝑtyes of many aregion
And thus Nembroth was pryuyd and put doun
And of babell the myghty famous toure
He was callyd no lenger possessoure

For ayenst the pride of this Nembroth
Frowarde fortune gan her cours to varye
And god also was in maner wroth
Of surquedie that he was so contrarie
And for the place was wilde and solitarie
Of this sennaar & furious sauage
Nembroth gan to feble and falle in greate age

And yit sūme bokes of him specifie
He waxe frowarde of his condicion
And was first grounde of ydolatrie
And fynder vp of false religion
Causynge people to haue an opinion
Goddes to worship in paynymes wyse
Founder of rightes and of false sacrifice

Towarde perce chees his dwellynge place
The which cuntre is in the orient
That his lordship shulde stretche a greate space
He boundyd him into the occident
For Perce lande hath his extent
Towarde the parties of the rede see
And this londe Perce who so list to se

As bochas olde remembre and put in mynde
Howe that perce costith enuyron
Septemtrion and the greate ynde
And many an other myghty region
Where Nembroth hadde first dominacion
Which extēdith as bokes specifie
Oute of mede into Garmanye

But in lordshippes as myn auctour saith
Withoute that vertue be ther true gyde
In theym there is suraunce none ne faith
Thinge that passith may no while abyde
Wherfore bochas in aspyte of pride
And in rebukynge of all folkes proude
Makynge his compleynt crieth to them full loude

¶An exclamacion of bochas ayen all proude men shewynge howe god may theym and their pride whā him best lift by many diuers meanes and wayes punysshe and chastise

yE all proude moost ryall in your floures
Which that moost trust to reigne longe
Dressith vp your roches and your toures
And ayenst god make your selfe stronge
And lete your power proudly vnderfonge
Your self with pride for to magnifye
Ayēst the heuyn to holde the champartye

Bildyth vp your castelles reyse theym vp on hight
Of ademantys with yron stronge ybounde
With square stonys large and huge of hight
Reyse vp youre walles moost myghty and profound
And shyt your dungeons with myghty cheynes roūd
Lete men of armes who euir wake or slepe
Nyght and day your watch so straytly kepe

As god ne man in your opinions
Your fortresses myght nat assayle
Your castelles ne your stronge dungeons
Stuffyd with men and plenty of vitayle
Like to stonde euir and neuir for to fa [...]le
As god nat myght ayenss youre false puissaunce
Whanne euir him list of right to do vengeaunce

Set afore youre iyen that ben blynde
The monst [...]ous werke of great babilone
The pryde of Nembrothe there was put behynde
Maugre his might and his towre smy [...]e downe
For all the crafte of werkemen and mason
[Page]Distroyed was with a soden leuene
To auenge his pryde sent adowne fro heuyn

For though youre strengthis so assuryd be
That non engyne may therto attayne
Gunne ne br [...]mberd by no subtyltie
Shot of arowblast ne touche of dundayne
Yit god that is lorde and souerayne
Whiche liche desertys can bothe spyll and saue
May confunde with an erth quaue

Myne auctoure askyth what castell or what toure
May be so stronge made in any wyse
But that by meane of sum false traitoure
Or by sum way that he can deuise
It may be loste or solde for couetyse
And delyueryd for all the stronge bondes
Into the power of enmyes hondes

Or by sum other soden auenture
Castellys and cities and many aryche towne
Haue be lost they might not theim assure
For to reciste ayenst false treson
Sūme haue be loste also by rebellion
And all these meanes the truthe to begynne
Is but punisshynge which god sent for synne

God hath a thousand handes to chastyse
A thousand dartes of punicion
A thousand bowes made in dyuerse wyse
A thousand arowblastes bent in his doungeon
Ordeyned echon for castigacion
But where he fyndeth mekenesse and repentaunce
Mercy is maistresse of his ordinaunce

Ye that ben wise considereth howe the rote
Of vicis all is pryde ye may well se
Pullith him downe and puttith vnderfote
And takyth your counsell of humilite
And if ye lyst to stonde in suretie
Byldeth in herte for more sekernesse
A toure of vertues groundyd on mekenesse

Whose masonrie is of no costage
Of vertues grounde and souerayne
 [...]lastys of wyndes and of wedres rage
Neither no tempest hasty ne sodeyne
Pompe ne blast though they do their peyne
This vertue mekenes for to vndermyne
They be to feble to make her to inclyne

For where mekenesse is groundyd verely
Though he sumtyme fele aduersite
He  [...]ssith ouir and suffrith pacientely
And venquisshith all maner enmite
The assaute also and the contrariosite
Of infortune and of worldly trouble
And of victory conquerith a palme double

And though mekenes amyddys the flodys flowe
Of worldely myscheef and persecution
Whyle paciens in her boat doth rowe
Though froward wawesposse her vp and downe
A calme shall folowe of consolacion
Whan sterne wyndes their blastys haue layde lowe
The name of mekenesse shall shewe & be wel knowe

She may be trowblyd but ouircōme neuir
And for a tyme she may suffre wer [...]e
But at the ende she venquisshith euir
On londe and see whedre she be nere or fe [...]re
To the hauyn of lyf she was the lode sterre
I take recorde of the humilite
Of mary so blyssyd moot she be

The roote of mekenes flourith vp so faire
Whose bewte dredith no tribulacions
In somer wynter hir flowres nat apeyre
And her frute lastyth in all manere scasons
Pryde may asseyle with his bostful sownes
And fynally for her encrease of glory
With humblenesse she wynnith the victory

Lenuoye

O Folkes all that this tragedies rede
Haueth to mekenes amonge your aduertence
Of proude Nembroth also taketh hede
Howe that he fyll from his magnificence
Only for he by sturdy violence
Lyst of malyce the mighty lorde assayle
But in such case what might his pryde aueyle

Noble princes which this worlde do possede
Ye that be famous of wisdome and science
And haue so many subiettis that you drede
In gouernaunce vndre your excellence
Let your power with mekenes so dispence
That false pryde oppres nat the poreyle
Which to your nobles so moch may auayel

Pryde of Nembroth dyd the brydel lede
Which him cōuayed with great insolence
Pryde aperteyneth nothynge to manhode
[Page]Saue in armys to shewe his presence
Wherfore honoure laude and reuerence
Be to mekenes that hath the gouernaile
Of all vertues which man may moost auayle

¶Howe many yeres was bitwixte Adam and Nembroth and bitwixte Nembroth and Cadmus and of other kynges

THese olde poetis with their sawes swere
Full couertly in their verse do feyne
How olde saturne was sūmetyme kynge of Crete
And of custome dyd his besy peyne
And of his goodnesse lyft to ordayne
That he shulde as of his nature
E [...]h [...]on deuoure as by his engendrure

In this mater shortly to soiorne
To vnderstonde of poetys the processe
They mene playnely at this worde saturne
Doth in it self nothynge but tyme expresse
And philosophers bere also witnesse
That as in tyme furthe euery thynge is brought
So tyme ayenwarde brīgyth euery thyng to nought

Clerkys also recorde in their writynge
Vndre supporte as I dare reherse
Howe that fyre wastyth euery thinge
And yron herde doth nesshe thynges perce
If ought abydith that they may not transuerce
Yit comith tyme and by continuaunce
And all consumith with his sherpe launce

His sharpe toth of consumpcion
In s [...]yll wyse doth his besy cure
For to auentissh in conclusion
All thynge that is brought forthe by nature
By longe abydynge ye may them nat asure
For olde thyngys deuouryd men may se
Ferre out of mynde as they neuir had be

Who can or may remembre in any wyse
The glorious prowesse of these prynces olde
Or the noblesse of philosophers wyse
Or of poetis their feynynge to vnfolde
Processe of yerys alas as I you tolde
Deuouryd hath their name and their noblesse
Derkyd their renoune by foryetfulnesse

Thus of their names is left no memorye
Tyme with his rasoure hath done so grete vengeaūce
Shauen awaye the honoure and the glorye
Of many noble full myghty of puissaunce
That there is lefte nowe no remembraunce
Of princes / poetys / ne philosopheres
For whan that deth nayled theym in their cofres

Cam tyme vpon and by processe of yeres
Their memory hath duskyd and their mynde
And reuolucion of the heuenly sperys
By oft turnynge their glorie hath left behynde
Thus euery thynge which subget is to kynde
Is in this lyfe withoute more auauntage
Wastyd with tyme and processe of langage

In the first tyme from adam to Noe
Prudente Listirs which list in bokys to rede
Fonde of fortune no mutabilite
Neyther of her chaunge they toke tho none hede
But from adam there rekened been in dede
Vnto Nembroth by turnynge of the heuene
A thousand yerys vii hundryd and eleuene

In which space who that considerith well
There ben no thinges writen in especiall
Digne of memorye ne speken of neuer adell
Which that been notable ne historiall
But for the tyme Nembroth had a fall
Vnto cadmus the yeres to contene
They were a thousande / iiii hundryd / and xiiii

Touchynge this Cadmus as bochas list endite
It is rehercid by rethoriens
Howe one vixoses in bokes as they wryte
Was made first a kynge of the egipciens
Whan philosophers and nigromanciens
Byganne first to abounde their renoune to auaunce
Nachor that tyme hauynge the gouernaunce

Of the ebrewes as made is mencion
After nembroth by true rehersaile
Thre hundryd yere by computacion
Foure score and xii which tyme it is no fayle
That vixoses beganne werres and greate bateyle
Of volunte ayenst straunge nacions
And to conquere cites borowes and townes

By force only withoute title of right
He wanne all egypte to encrease his nane
But for al that who list to haue a sight
[Page]There is nowe left no reporte of his fame
Saue bochas writith howe he first dyd attaine
His mighty conqueste of intencion
That the glory and the high renoune

Ascryued were vnto his worthinesse
And the residue and surplusage
Of golde and tresoure of good and of riches
Turne shulde to cōmon auauntage
Of all his people that euery maner age
Reporte might it was to him more nerre
Aboue singularite his comon to preferre

Also thomas of cithi [...] first kynge
Whan sarnek was duke and souerayne
Ouir the iewes by recorde of wrytinge
Two hondrithe yere lx also and tweyne
After Nembroth this thomas gan ordeyne
A mighty power and a stronge batayle
Theym of cithie proudly to assayle

Conqueringe from thens vnto the ile
Callyd Ponte in ful cruell wyse
And thought his lordshyp last nat but a whyle
All that he wan was for couetyse
And as bochas doth of this folke deuise
Proces of yeris for all their great puyssaunce
Hath put their namys out of rememberaunce.

zorastres also for all his great might
Of bactrians kynge and possessour
Lorde of trace and a ful mighty knyght
Of all his dedis and his great laboure
Of his conquest ne of great honoure
Is nothynge lefte of writynge vs biforne
Saue that he louhg the houre that he was borne

He began ful sone for to be merye
With soden laughter at his natiuite
And worthy Ninus that was kynge of Assirie
Expownyd his laughter to great felicite
The which Ninus wan many a faire cuntre
And day by day his power gan encreas
For which he wolde nat of his conqueste ceas

For this is the maner of these conquerours
Whan they haue had in armys victorie
They do their might their payne and their laboures
With newe emprisys to be put in memorie
For their corage supprisyd with veyne glorye
Can not be styll contente in their estate
Tyll their paradie say to theim chek mate

Fortune of armys in bokes ye nay rede
With a fals laughter on folkes though she shyne
She frowerd euir or they can take hede
Of nature woll falsly theym begyle
Conquest by werre lastyth but a whyle
For who by deth doth sturdy violence
God woll by deth his vengeaunce recombence

This worthy ninus gan mightely preuayle
Ayenst zorastres of whome I spake tofore
For he with him faught last in batayel
In which ninus hath him so well y bore
That zorastres hath the felde y lore
And he was auctour as bokes specefy
Of fals magik and nigromancy

He fonde the nature of euery element
Their kyndly worchynge and their mutacions
The cours of sterrys and of the firmament
Their influences their disposicions
Their aspertes and their coniunctions
Wrote in pylers diuised of metall
The seuyn sciences callyd liberall

Also in pylers of breke full herd ybake
Where were vp set longe large and huge
He began also write theym and vnder take
To make theim sure as for their refuge
That they shulde by flode ne diluge
Diffacyd been as of their scripture
But in their grauynge perpetuall endure

But though zorastres these craftys out fonde
Full lytyll or nought it might to him auayle
And though he were a good knyght of his hōde
He was of ninus slayne in batayle
Lost his realme and riall appareyle
And ninus dyed within a lytyll throwe
But in what wyse the story is not knowe

Also moydes kynge of sodomee
I fynde of him no memory by wrytynge
Saue in a story as men may rede and see
He and his people were freell in lyuinge
But he that was of assiriens kynge
Through false fortune that can so oft varie
To babilonye made theim tributarie

We haue seen and redde also
The vengeaunce and the pestilence
Doon in egypt to kynge pharo
For that he made a maner resistence
[Page]Ayenst god of wilful negligence
Therfore his people vpon a day and he
Were dreynt echon in myddes of the se

The people of god ledde by moyses
Without trouble of any maner wawe
Went echon in quyete and in peas
And phaaro as he gan after drawe
Theym to pursue by a full mortall lawe
In his pu [...]suyte frowarde and ateynt
Amonge the wawes with his oft was dreynt

In  [...]ody ben the mencions
L [...]iously put in remembraunce
 [...]he  [...]nplages and ꝑsecutions
In Egypt done by full greate vengeaunce
And of their tresoure and their greate substaunce
They were dispoyled / by ebrewys it is tolde
Of their vesselles of siluer and of golde

And oute of egypte full greate tresoure they ladde
Such as theym thought myght moost theym auayle
And pharo I fynde that he hadde
Two hundryd charys enarmyd for batayle
Theym to pursue and proudly to assayle
And fifty thousand in whom was no lacke
Of men of armes folowynge on horse backe

Two hund [...]ryd thousande of fotmen him about
And of egipt all his cheualrye
And pharo with all his greate route
 [...]egan israel pursue of enuye
But for his pride and false surquedye
He and his people were drownyd euerychon
Of all his noumbre was left nat one

His frowarde herte ayenst god indurate
Fulfilled of malice and obstinacye
And in his purpos proude and obstynate
These foule vices or he coude theym aspye
From his glorye and his regaile
He was downe though he tofore was crownyd
Amydde the se amonge his people drownyd

¶Of Oggigus kynge of Thebes

ANother Prince callyd Oggygus
Kynge of Thebes as bokes determyne
And founder was thus Bochas tellith vs
Of a cite callyd Eleusyne
Which stant in grece whoos power to declyne
There fyll a flode in that region
Which ouer flowyd many a ryall towne

And in athia that dyde moost dammage
Tyme of Iacob patriarke notable
And this deluge with his wawes rage
Slewe lordes many and princes honorable
For dame fortune is so disceyuable
That she sumtyme whan she list disdeyne
Can folke assayle with a flode sodeyne

This flode also where it dyd assayle
Wastyd cornys both crop and rote
Causyd also scarcete of vitaile
That many a man felt full vnsote
The pore nat wist where to fynde boote
For their princes supprised were with drede
Thurgh lacke of vitayle in that greate nede

¶Of a greate flode in Tessalie

ANother flode there was in Tessalie
In the tyme whanne kyng amphion
Helde the ceptre and the regalye
Vpon thebes the myghty stronge towne
Beside the kyngdome of babiloun
The same tyme this flode fyll doutles
Whanne goddes people was ledde by moyses

With this flode the londe hadde ben deuoured
Of tessaylie and of all that region
But on pernaso the people was socoured
And on the roches that stode enuyron
Founde there refute to their saluacion
And greate socoure tyll the flode rage
Began discrece withdrawe and a swage

In olde stories also ye may se
Whanne Cicraps hadde first possession
Of athenys the myghty stronge cyte
An hete there fyll in that region
By influence that descendith doun
From the bodyes aboue celestiall
Which likely was for to deuoure all

[Page]
And this hete engendryd with the sunne
In diuers countrees both in length and brede
Hath his cours so myghtely begunne
That many folkes fell in greate drede
Ryuers welles who so lyst take hede
Consumyd were and dryed vp echon
The herte callyd the enbrasynge of pheton

¶Of goodly Isis wife to Apys kynge of argyne slayne by his brother Dyffeus.

wE haue redde in stories here toforne
Howe that Isis to egipt toke her flyght
Oute of Crece the true doughter borne
Of Prometheus a full manly knyght
And Isis in euery mannys sight
So fresshe / so goodly weddyd by hir lyue
To worthy Apys that was kynge of argyue

The which Isis excellent of bewtye
After tyme her fader was ygraue
She was put for more suretye
With her vncle that shulde kepe and saue
This sayde mayde that no man shulde her haue
And her vncle in Ouyde ye may se
Lyke as he wrote was callyd Epymethe

And flowynge vp in her tendre age
This sayde Isis so plesaunt was and mete
Of semelynesse of look / and visage
That Iupiter the myghty kynge of Crete
Was enuyroned with her for to mete
And she excyted of femynyte
Enclynyd her hert vnto his deite

And for she was of her entent so clene
Obeynge him in moost lowly wise
Of argmois she made her to be quene
Bicause that she was smyt in couetise
Ayenst argus a werre she ganne deuyse
And for he was vnweldy of his age
Her to withstonde he founde none auauntage

But yit fortune ganne vpon her froune
And kynge argus thurgh his subtylite
With his counseyll so prudently ganne rowne
That she was take by full greate cruelte
And her soudeours were also made to flee
And by argus there gayned no raūson
She fettryd was and put in stronge prison

But her sonne good mercurius
Right fresshe / ryght lusty / and full of hardynesse
And of his erthely ioye
Ayenst argus gan his power dresse
And so entierly dyd his besinesse
And was slayne in conclusion
And Isis after deliueryd fro pryson

Of her sleightes afterwarde nat feynt
She toke a ship and to egipt went
In which ship there was a cowe depeyn [...]
And thoures whom Iupiter also sent
Is goon with her both of one entent
To a mariage after anone right
Betwene her and apys a prynce full of myght

She was right wise aboue other creatures
Secrete of cunynge wele experte in science
She taught first letters and figures
To egipciens by pleyn experience
Yaue theym cūnynge and intelligence
To tile the londe taught the labourerys
To sowe their greyne / and multiplie by yeres

And in egipt her fame and her renoun
Began day by day wext her worthynesse
Holde of cunnynge and of reputacion
By signes shewyd nat only in princesse
But she was holde amonge theym a goddesse
And with worshipes which were deuyne
And sacrificis to her they dyde enclyne

But to declare playnly at a worde
In myddes of all her greate prosperite
Mighty apes her husbonde and her lorde
Prince of egipt and lorde of that cuntre
Sonne of Iupiter and of Neobe
Which Niobe by longe descendynge
The doughter was of prothemeus the kynge

And phoroneus first the lawes fonde
To which all crete stōde vnder obeysaunce
And the statutes of that myghty londe
Were vnstablysshyd by his ordynaunce
But for to wryte the vnhappy chaunce
Of kynge Apys that is remembryd
He slayne was and pitously dismembryd

By his brother callyd Tyffeus
Sumwhat of hatred but more for couetyse
[Page]For Tiffeus was only desirous
To reioise in full mortall wise
The myghty kyngdome as ye haue herde deuyse
Of Argiuois to haue possession
Preferryd by murdre and false succession

And whanne that Isis founde her lorde so dede
Of entent that he was magnifyed
First of wisdome she gan take hede
Ordeyned a mene that he were deified
High amonge goddes to be stellifyed
In egipt temples made to be stallyd
And god Sirapis after he was callyd

¶Of Grysiton that his membres cete for hungre

wHat shall I wryte of caas horryble
Of grisiton with hungre so constreyned
That his life was to him self odible
In Tessalie with indigence peynyd
And p [...]tously his fame was disteyned
Whan he solde his doughter in seruage
Li [...]ope which was but yonge of age

 [...]y enchaunge of god to puruey theym vytayle
Of ver [...]y nede he was so woo bigon
He hadde no thynge that myght his thirst auayle
Neyther staū  [...]he his hūgre with gnawyng on a bone
Wherfore he  [...]te his membres one by one
A pri [...]e alas was it nat grete pyte
To se hym dye in such aduersite

We hadde also radde full many a day to fore
The greate banysshynge and ꝑsecucion
Of Arguiois howe kynge Gela [...]or
Was cruelly put from his region
And his lieges of indignacion
In his place they set one Danaus
Sōne and also heire to the god belus

The people of malyce dyd him so encombre
To encrese his sorowe and his aduersite
And fifty doughters he hadde also in noumbre
And edippus his broder also parde
Hadde fyfty sonnes the story ye may se
Atwene the which in suretye of honde
In mariage there was made a bonde

Vndre the which compassyd was treason
Couertly though they dyd it hyde
But if ye lift haue clere inspection
Of this story vpon euery syde
Rede the legende of Cupide
Which that Chancer in ordre as they stode
Compyled of wymen that were called good

Touchinge the story of kynge pandion
And of his goodly faire doughters tweyne
Howe therens false of condicion
Theym to disseyue dyd his besy peyne
They both namyd of bewte souereyne
Goodly progne and yonge philomene
Both innocentys of intent full clene

Their pitous fate in open to expresse
It were to me but a presumption
Sith that chancer dyde his besynes
In his legende as made is mencion
Their martirdome and their passion
For to reherce theym dyde his besy peyne
As cheif poete callyd of bretaigne

Of good wymen a boke he dyd wryte
The noumbre vncomplete fully of nyntene
And there the story playnly he dyd endyte
Of theseus / of prongne and philomene
Where ye may se their legende thus I mene
Do theym worship and forth their life do shewe
For a clere myrrour bycause there be but fewe

I woll passe ouer and speke of theym nomore
And vnto cadmus forth my style dresse
In my wrytynge yit it greuyth me sore
Touchynge of wymen of feith or stablenesse
Blessyd be god I fynde none excesse
And for there been so fewe as thinkyth me
The good shulde be had in more deynte

¶Lenuoye

THis tragedye berith to you witnesse
Howe saturnus by disposicion
Maliciously of his frowardnesse
Causeth in Iuno full greate infection
She of nature conueyeth the nature doun
The eyre infecte which no man may socoure
Cometh deth anone and all thinge doth deuoure

[Page]
Tyme from adam myn auctour doth expresse
Downe to nembroth by computacion
His stile conueyed by greate auysenesse
From zorastres to kynge pharaon
Of two deluges he makyth mencion
In thessalye the vengeaunce gan laboure
And in achaia thebes to deuoure

Ye haue of heetis herde the excesse
Of princes princesses full greate distruction
Of egistus the greate wretchidnesse
The furye of therens the wo of pandyon
Of the two susters the confusion
And howe their fate gan vpon theym loure
Their felicite vnwarly to deuour

Princes princesses your iyen do vp dresse
I mene the iyen of your discrecion
Se of this worlde the chaunge the doublenesse
The greate vnsurenesse the variacion
And aduertith for all your greate renoun
Fortunes dewes whan they moost swetly shoure
Than is she falsest your glorie to deuoure

¶Howe Iupiter rauysshyd Europe and howe Cadmus was sent to seke hir in diuers regions

tHe rehersayle of many an olde poete
By discent the lyne conueyed downe
Next saturnus the myghty kynge of crete
Ioue was crownyd by succession
As next his heire by procreacion
After his fadre the londe to enherite
Regnynge in crete as poetes list to wryte

One of the lynage as I you tolde aforne
Of the goddes moost souereyne and entere
And though he was of blode so high y borne
He chees Europe for to be his fere
And downe descendyd from his heuenly spere
And he that w [...] for all his deite
Supposynge in herte with her greate bewtie

And she was doughter to myghty kynge
Callyd Agenor by lynall discent
Whose myghty kyngdome and ryall faire dwellynge
Was in phenyce towarde the orient
And to arabic his londe was adiacent
Ferre by south as ye may rede and se
Towarde the ptyes of the rede se

But Iupiter whan he dyd aduer [...]
Of Europa the greate semelynesse
He thought he was woundyd to the hert
Vnto the deth biholdynge her fairenesse
And for his constrent and his mortall distresse
Seynge she was so faire in his sight
He rauysshyd her of very force and myght

But Agenor his owne fadre dere
Bigan on this caas ful pitously compleyne
Whanne she alas moost goodly and entere
Was him bicaught which doubled all his peyne
Recure was none though he dyd pleyne
Tyll he remembrynge on his regalie
Thought he wolde sende to aspye

His sonne cadmus her to recure ayen
For to serch her in many a region
Whereso his laboure were fructuous or in veyne
His fader set him a fell condicion
Not to retourne by none occasion
And therupon made him to be bounde
Tyll that he hadde the kynges doughter founde

He toke his shyppes by greate auysenesse
And biganne to saile in many a straunge se
Dyd his laboure and his besynesse
With many a worthy that were with him preue
But whan that he of reason dyd se
There was no mene for which that he was sent
For to accomplessh the fyne of his entent

Which glad hert deuoyde of gruchynge
Seynge the caas frowarde and contrarye
Humble of his chere tooke his excellynge
And of manhode list nat him self dispayre
But his meyne knyghly gan repayre
Towarde grece and pitously there to londe
Of appollo for to vnderstonde

To what partye that he myght drawe
He prayed god to wysse him or rede
Sūme token shewe or sūme maner lawe
Into what Ile that he myght him spede
Or that he wolde graciously him lede
Where as he myght bylde a cite
That were accordynge to him and to his meyne

And to appollo he dyde sacrifice
And made to him his oblacion
The god requyrynge goodly to deuyse
To what londe or to what region
[Page]For this dwellyng and habitacion
He shulde drawe withouten more obstacle
For him and his to make his habitacle

And cadmus thus before appollo stode
Knelynge emonge with full greate reuerence
And in the temple of delpho styll abode
With humble entendaunce and deuout diligence
Mekely besekynge by worde or by some sentence
That appollo wolde to him vnclose
To what partye he shulde him self dispose

This was his answere in conclusion
As the statue to him dyd expresse
To go and serch cuntrees enuyron
And tyll he fonde do his besynes
A  [...]ole that were excellent of fairenes
Whiche by precept of appolles lawe
Hadde neuyr aforne in yoke ydrawe

And where that euer sekynge that he fonde
A bole stonde styll in his pasture
Appollo bad vpon that same londe
Where as he seeth this sight of auenture
That he shulde do his besy cure
To bylde a cite he and his folkes all
And bo [...]cia after the bole it calle

And whanne that cadmus the precept vnderstode
And in serchynge dyd his besynesse
He fonde a place where a bole stode
Fedynge him self whiche as by lykenesse
Was a place full plesaunt of largesse
Where as he stynt he ganne a cite reyse
Which that poetes greatly cōmende and preyse

And that his byldynge myght the more auayle
All the foreyns that dyd aboute him dwelle
Full lyke a knyght by force and by batayle
Out of that cuntre he dyd them expelle
Reisynge a cyte which that dyde excelle
And as Ouyde also recordeth the same
Vnto this day of thebes berith the name

And he was nat only glorified
For rerynge vp of this greate cite
But he was also magnifyed
For his manhode and his magnanymyte
And moost cūmendyd if ye list to see
For the surmountynge and famouse excellence
Which that he hadde in wisdome and science

For as myn auctour of him list endite
Thurgh his noble prudent purueaunce
He taught figures and litters for to wryte
And made lawes of full greate ordenaunce
Amonge the greges and set gouernaunce
Their vicious life by vertue to restreyne
And who outrayed was punysshyd with the peyne

And of entent to encrease his lynage
And his cite also for to multiplie
He toke a wife that was but yonge of age
And she was callyd as bokes specifie
Hermyone and touchynge her allye
Though that she were borne of riall blode
She was also both Ioly faire and gode

And this was done as writith myn auctour
After the deth of worthy Iosue
Sothonyel beynge successour
Hauynge the ledynge and the souereynte
Of isra [...]ll whanne thebes the cyte
Was foundyd first in the dayes olde
By kynge cadmus tofore as I you tolde

Foure doughters he had by his lyue
Full faire echon and goodly vnto se
And their names to reherce blyue
Semely was the eldest and next to anthonoe
The thrid in ordre was callyd ynoe
And Agaue was yongest of theym all
Of the whiche doughters thus it is byfalle

They were echon of port and of manere
Full wele fauouryd in euery mannys sight
Right womanly and heuenly of their chere
And for their bewte their fader anone right
As it was sittynge with all his full myght
Like their estates their byrth and also their age
Made theym be weddyd and ioynyd in mariage

To worthy prynces his lynage to auaunce
And they encresyd by procreacion
Whereof the kynge had full greate plesaunce
And greate reioysynge in his oppynyon
To saue his line by generation
With his neuewys and cosyns of allye
Fro to day to day to wexe and multiplye▪

And this encreasyd his felicite
Whanne he cosideryd verely in dede
The riche byldynge of his ryall cite
[Page]And fortune dyd his bridell lede
To greate riches in bokes as I rede
To greate nobles hauynge greate residence
In his cite of moost magnificence

His doughter Semel recorde of myn auctour
Though she descendyd were of the blode riall
To Iubiter she was ꝑamour
And by his power suꝑcelestiall
She conceyuyd in especiall
As poetis of hir list to endite
Him that is god of grapes rede and white

Callyd Bachus which hath the gouernaunce
Of wynes all and the regalie
Wherof after was take full greate vengeaunce
For whanne Iuno dyd first aspye
Of Iupiter the greate auoutrie
Of greate hatred and enuyous desire
She made semel to be brent with sodeyn fyre

By descendynge of a sodeyn leuene
And on semel the vengeaunce is downe went
And for the flawme consumyd was and spent
There was of hir left no remembraunce
But of the ende the wofull mortall chaunce

Also actheon the sonne of Acthonie
The greate myscheuys and infortunys borne
Whose fader was callyd Eristee
Come of the kynred that I you tolde to forne
With cruel houndes allas he was to torne
For that he sawe as bokes of him tell
Diane nakyd bath hir in a well

And as poetys remembre at the lest
Whan the ladyes of thebes the cyte
Heelde of Bachus solemly the feest
The yongest suster callyd agane
Doughter to cadmus allas it was pite
Ayenst hir owne sonne dere
She was so wode and mortall of hir chere

Murtherynge him in ful cruell wyse
In hir rage she was so furious
For he lough at the sacirfise
In Thebes doon by wymen to Bachus
The which sōne was callyd Pantheus
Whom that she slewe with a sharpe darte
In hir woodnesse as she him foūde aparte

These greate myscheuys fyll in the lyne
Of kynge cadmus thurgh his vnhappy chaunce
Fortune his noblesse ganne vndermyne
And thought she wolde his glorie disauaunce
All worldly gladnesse is medlyd with greuaunce
Experiens in Cadmus ye may se
So importable was his aduersite

For while he sat moost highest in his glorie
No parte clipsyd of his prosperite
His bright renowne and his riall memorye
In realmes spredde and many a faire cuntre
He moost wilfull in his high see
Sat with his lynage moost high in noblesse
Than cam fortune the false enchaunteresse

Of wilfulnesse and fonde occasion
Ayenst cadmus and made his renoun dulle
Of his kynred by false cullusion
She ganne away the brightest fethers pulle
And whan his shynynge was wex vp to the fulle
After the chaunge of fortunes lawe
His glorye gan discrece and withdrawe

It was more greuous to his dignynyte
A sodeyn falle from his high noblesse
Than if that he had neuir be
Set in the state of so greate worthynesse
For the furious mortall heuynesse
Of his kynrede withoute any more
Wolde haue greuyd a pore man full sore

And amonge his sorowes euerychon
To reherce playnly as it was
I dare afferme howe that there was one
Moost horrible and dredefull in such a caas
For Cadmus sonne callyd adamas
His sonne in lawe thurgh fals maloncolye
Fell sodenly into a fren [...]sye

Of whome the wife was callyd Inoe
Cadmus doughter as ye haue herde expresse
Which through the constreynt of his infirmyte
In his rage and furious wodenesse
Thought that his wife was a lionesse
And in his wilde ymaginacions
That his ij children was also ij lions

And vpon theym full loude he ganne to crye
Towarde his wife in hast he gan anone
And from hir armys there was no remedye
The childe he rent and on a cragge stone
He gan to birst it and breke it euery bone
[Page]The which childe bochas writith thus
Full tendre and yonge called was learchu [...]

And all this woful and sodeyne auenture
Of this rage whanne that she toke hede
As moost sorouful of any creature
Hir other childe she hent anone for drede
For of socoure she knewe no better spede
So as she myght gan hast oute of his sight
But willaway as she toke hir to flight

And hir husbonde cam after pursuynge
Like a wode lyon in his cruelte
Dou [...] from a mounteyn which was dependynge
She and hir childe fill into the se
Was it nat reuth / was it nat pite
A kynges doughter hir lorde in thebes crownyd
He to be wode and she for fere to be drownyd

Lo here the syne of Cadmus eueridele
 [...]is  [...] slayne and his allies all
And he him self from fortunes whele
Whanne he wenyd leest ful sodenly is fall
Hi [...] l [...]ll sugre tempred with moch gall
For amonge all his mortall peynes
Hi [...] l [...]ge men of thebes Citesynes

 [...] ayenst him conspiracion
 [...] him  [...] e [...]il and his wife also
 [...] sonnes his doughters brought to destruction
 [...] the encreasynge of his mortall woo
 [...] his wife compellyd both two
For ve [...]y pouert and verrey indigence
In  [...] last age to purchace their dispence

 [...] of cadmus the sorowes to descryue
And his mischeif to put in remembraunce
He banysshyd was twyes by his lyue
First by his faders cruell ordinaunce
Of his suster to make enquyraunce
And of there last in his weldy age
He was compellyd to holde his passage

Out of thebes his wife and he allone
In sorowe and wepynge to accomplisshe their dayes
Into Ill [...]rie togedre they be gone
Ther paciens put at fell assayes
Whoos bitternesse felt none alaies
Also of their ende and vnhappy fate
Neither of their deth I finde none other date

Saue that Ouide makith mencion
And Iohn Bochas the poete excellent
Saye that two bretherne zeto and amphion
Oute of thebes both by one assent
Haue this cadmus into ixil sent
His wife also after their high noblesse
To ende their life in sorowe and wretchidnesse

But the goddes of mercy and pyte
Whan they theym sawe by fortune thus cast doun
From their estates into greate pouertye
Hauynge of theym full greate passion
They made of theym a transformacion
Of both tweyne theym yeuynge a lykenesse
Of serpentys to lyue in wyldernesse

Lenuoye

O what astate may him selfe assure
For to conserue his life in sikernesse
What worldly ioye may here longe endure
Or where shall men fynde nowe stablenesse
Sith kynges princes from their high noblesse
Record of cadmus ben sodenly brought lowe
And from the whele of fortune ouerthrowe

Who may susteyne the pitous auenture
Of this tragedie by wrytynge to expresse
It is like vnto the chaūtplure
Begynnynge with ioye endynge in wretchydnesse
All worldly blisse is meynt with bytternesse
The sodeyn chaunge therof moy no man knowe
For who sittyth highest is sonest ouerthrowe

Was in this worlde yit neuyr creature
Rekyn vp princes for all their high noblesse
Fortune coude enclyne theym to hir lure
And theym enperissh through hir frowardnesse
Wherfore ye lordes with all your greate richesse
Be ware afore or ye daunce in the rowe
Of such as fortune hath from hir whele ouerthrowe

¶A processe of Oetes kynge of Colchos / Iason / Medee. Theseus Scilla Nisus and other mo

wHan Iohn bochas was moost indigent
To considre the successions
Of lynagys with all his entent
[Page]In his writynge and descripcion
To compile the generacions
Of many noble famous of estate
I mene of such as were infortunate

In his serchinge he fonde nat out a fewe
Were vnhappy founde in their lyuynge
To his presence anone there gan him shewe
A multitude full pitously wepynge
Amongys whiche full doolfully pleynynge
Cam forth Oetes and hath compleynt begūne
Kynge of Colchos and sone vnto the sūne

For of Phebus which is bright and clere
Poetis write that he was sonne and heire
Bycause he was so myghty of power
So fresshe / so lusty / manly / and right feyre
But of fortune he fyll in greate despayre
Cursynge his fate and his destayne
Whan Iason first entryd his cuntre agayne

By Pelleus sent from Tessalye
Therfore to accomplissh by diligent laboure
The greate emprises thorugh his chyualrye
If god and fortune list do to him fauour
They myght wynne the tresoure
This is to mene that he were so bolde
The ram to assaile which bare the flees of golde

This Iason thorugh counseil of Medee
By sorcerye and incantacion
The bole slough horrible for to se
And venquesshed the venymous dragon
The kynge despoilyd of his possession
Acomplisshed with carectis and figuris
Of Colchos the dredefull auenturis

And afterwarde whanne he his purpose had
He lefte Oetes in full greate despeire
And Medea forth with him he ladde
And hir brother which was the kynges heire
But as I fynde howe in his repeire
Oute of Colchos whanne they ganne remewe
Kynge Oetes after theym ganne sue

Vpon Iason auengyd for to be
Without tariynge he folowed proudly
The which thynge whanne Iason dyde se
This medea ganne shape a remedye
She toke his brother and slewe him cruelly
And him dismembryd as bokys make mynde
And pecemeel in a feeld bihinde

He ganne him cast all bespreynt with blode
Wherof his fader whanne he had a sight
Ful pale of chere still in the felde he stode
While she and Iason toke theym vnto flight
I trowe that tyme the moost wofull wyght
That was on lyue whanne he dide knowe
His childe dismembryd and a brode Isowe

Which cause was alas and welawaye
That he so stynt as man disconsolate
While that Iason fro Colchos went awaye
And Medea moost infortunate
Was rote and grounde of this mortal debate
For who sawe euer or redde of such another
To saue a straunger list to sle hir brother

Forsoke hir fader / hir cuntre and kynrede
The londe enperisshid through hir robberye
Of hir worship toke none other hede
Loue hath hir brouht in such a fantasye
And while that she abode in Tessalie
And with Iason dyde there soiourne
She made Eson to youth retourne

A yerde she toke that was drye and olde
And with hir herbes and cōmixtions
She made it boile / in Ouide it is tolde
And by car [...]tys and incantacions
And with the craft of hir coniuracions
The yerde bygan to bud and blosme newe
And to bere frute and leuys fresshe of hewe

And semblably with hir confe [...]tio [...]s
His olde humours she hath depuryd clene
And with hir lusty fressh pocions
His empty skyn tremlyng and right lene
Pale and wanne that no blode was sene
But as it were a dedely creature
Al this hath she transfourmyd by nature

Made him lusty and fressh of his corage
Glad of herte / lifly of  [...]here and sight
Right wele cheryd and clere of his visage
Wonder deliuer both of force and of myght
In all his membres as weeldy and as lyght
As  [...]uir he was in the same estate
By craft of Medee he was so alterat

After all this ayenst kynge pelleus
She beganne to maligne vncle vnto Iason
And of enuye she procedith thus
The kynges doughters she drawith vnto hir anone
Theym counseylinge that they shulde goon
[Page]Vnto their fader and playnly vnto him s [...]ien
If he des [...]ed to be yonge ayen

Ful restoryd his force to recure
And therwithall in lusty age floure
She behight to do hir besy cure
Like his desire to helpe and socoure
And in this mater so craftly laboure
Fynally stonde in the same caas
To be made yonge as his broder was

Touchinge which thinge for more euidence
T [...]s Medea hath to the doughters tolde
 [...]f  [...]tent to yeue the more credence
S [...]e  [...]ad them take a ram that was right olde
And with a knyfe for to be so bolde
 [...]o  [...]e the best afore theym there he stode
And in a vessell drawe oute in olde blode

F [...]lly  [...]ffermynge like as it were trewe
That  [...] shuld be a lombe agayne
For ye by  [...]afte wolde his blode remewe
 [...] wise by euydence pleyn
Therof  [...]lde no token shulde be seyn
 [...] his membrys as lusty and enteer
As was a l [...]mbe  [...]yned of one yere

 [...] hereupon in such sleyghty wyse
She  [...]ganne a processe of full false treason
 [...]  [...]s [...]r made vpon that lombe to practyse
 [...]  [...]ute his blode like hir entencion
 [...] by crafte of false illusion
 [...] by apparence in veyn
The olde ram to feme a lambe ageyn

 [...] Medea by hir sleyght cumpassynge
Of  [...]uye and venymous hatrede
 [...] hath the susters in werkynge
 [...] fader mortally to procede
 [...] sharpe knyues they made hir fader blede
A [...] yddes the herte thrugh oute euery veyne
Supposyng the sely susters tweyne

That P [...]lleus renewyd shulde be
To youth ayen of force and of substaunce
But fynally by treason and Medee
He lo [...]te his life such was his woful chaunce
She this wrought only for vengeaunce.
As  [...]ote and grounde of this cruell dede
Ayenst the nature of all womanhede

Supposynge in hir opinion
The deth greatly shuld please
Of pelleus vnto hir lorde Iason
Thorugh greate encerase set his herte at ese
But it reboundyd into his dissese
That finally Iason hir forsoke
For his offence and he his wey toke

In to Corynth to the kynge of Creon
Whoos doughter Crewso for hir greate beutye
Was aftirwarde weddyd to Iason
But whan this weddynge was knowen to Medee
Cast she wolde theron auengyd be
Beganne to conspyre of malice and enuye
And thorugh hir magik and hir sorcery

In ful greate hast ganne to ordeyne
A lityll coffre only of entent
And by hir yonge faire sonnes tweyne
With other Iewels she hath it sent
Vnto Crewso makynge a presente
Which of malice she liste to dispose
That whanne crewso the coffre dyde vnclose

The fire brast oute a full large space
 [...]ent crewso by full greate violence
Set a fyre playnly all the place
By enchauntement there was no resistence
All went a fyre that was in hir presence
By vengeaunce dyde full greate damage
But whan Iason this fire sawe in his rage

And considerid the malice of Medee
Thought he wolde do execucion
For to punysshe the greate inequyte
Ayenst him compassyd of treason
For she of vengeaunce ayenst all reason
After that Crewso consumyd was and brent
Hir owne sonne [...] with that she had sent

Withoute routh or womanly pyte
She fasly murdryd the children that she bare
Lyke a stepmoder auengyd for to be
Cutte their throtys or that they were ware
Ayenst nature there was none other spare
But for hatred she hadde vnto Iason
After this murdre she fled awaye anon

So escapynge his indignacion
By craft of magyk she went at liberte
To Athenys and in that regyon
She weddyd was vnto the kynge Egee
Nat longe after a sonne by him had she
The which childe my [...] auctour tellith th [...]s
[Page]After Medea callyd was Medus

Aftir wh [...] name the famous region
I namyd  [...]  [...]ich callyd is mede
But folowynge euir hir olde condicion
This Medea voide of shame and drede
Compassyd hath of wilfull fals hatrede
That theseus the sonne of kynge Egee
With newe poison shall deuouryd be

But theseus ful lyke a manly knyght
In repayringe home to his cuntre
Of high prudence aspyed anone right
The mortall vengeaunce the greate cruelte
Of this stepmoder which of enmyte
Concludyd hath in hir entencion
Him to destroye vnwarly with poison

Hir herte of malice cruell and horrible
As she that was with treason euer alied
Whanne that she sawe hir purpose moost odible
By kynge Egeus fully was aspyed
She hath hir herte and wyttys newe applied
As in their bokys poetis haue compylyd
Ayen to Iason to be reconciled

She fledde away for fere of theseus
Lest he had doon hir vengeaunce
And fynally as writt ovidius
And morall senek concludith in sentence
In his tragedies makynge rememberaunce
Howe medea like as poetis se [...]en
Vnto Iason restoryd was agayn

Touchynge the ende of their furious discorde
Poetys make therof no mencion
Neither telle no meene howe they fyll acorde
But if it were by incantacion
Which so well coude turne vpso doun
Sundry thynges of loue and of hatred
And in bochas of her no more I rede

Saue whanne she hadde fulfylyllyd hir purpos
Myn auctour tellith that Iason and mede
Reuokyd haue ayen vnto Calchos
Hir fadre Oetis and from hir pouerte
Brought him ayen into his riall se
And to his crowne by force they him restore
Touchinge his ende of him fynde I nomore

Thus his fortune hath turnyd to and fro
First like a kynge hauynge full greate richesshe
After lyuynge in pouerte and in woo
Sithen restoryd to his worthynesse
Thus euir sorowe meynt with gladnesse
Who can aduert in all worldly thynge
Recorde of Mynos the noble worthy kynge

To whome I must newe my style dresse
Folowe the tracis of bochasius
The which Minos as ouyde doth expresse
Touchinge his birth he writith playnly thus
That he was manly wise and vertuous
Sone by discent of iubiter the grete
And of Europa born to be eire of crete

And of his persone wonder delitable
Ful renomyd of wisdome and of science
By diuers titles of laude commendable
Of birth / of blode / of kynghode & / prudence
For by his studye and enteer diligence
He foonde first lawes groundyd on reason
Wherby of Crete the famous region

Gouerned was and set in stablenesse
All iniuries and wronges to refourme
Made statu [...]ys extorcions to represse
Of rightwisnesse they toke the first fourme
And that eche man shulde him confourme
Like their degrees suget and souereyne
That no man had a mater to compleyne

He made his liegis to lyue in quyete
Cl [...]re shinynge in his riall noblesse
With swerde and ceptre syttynge in his sete
And while he floured in his worthynesse
He toke a wife of excelent fairenesse
Doughter to phebus in bochas ye may se
And she was callyd faire posiphe

And hir fader by recorde of wrytynge
In his tyme was holden ful famous
Of the Ile of roodes he was lorde and kynge
And in his dayes of port ful gloriouse
Right proude in armys and victorious
Takynge witnesse Methamorphoseos
His doughter had thre children by Mynos

The first a sonne callyd Androgee
And afterwarde ful faire doughters tweyne
Right goodly and womanly vnto se
But like as fortune dide for theym ordeyne
They felt their self greate trouble and greate peyne
The one callyd Adryana and phedra that other
Folowynge their fate it myght be none other

[Page]
Androgeus by kynge Mynos was sent
For he shulde profyte in clergye
To athenes of vertuouse entent
There to studye in philosophie
And for he beganne to encrece and multiplie
And passe all other by studye in lernynge
And to ex [...]elle his felowes in cūnynge

They of enuye and false malice alas
Made ayenst him a conspiracion
And from a pynacle sacryd to pallas
Of ful greate heith they made him tumble downe
For which iniurye bochas makyth mencion
 [...]s fader Minos a vengyd for to be
Leide a greate power aboute the cite

He cast him fully that no man shulde him let
But that he wolde do cruelly vengeaunce
And rounde aboute so sore he theym beset
With men of armes and with his ordenaunce
That fynally he brought theym to outraunce
And theym constreynyd within a lytell space
Their life their deth submyttynge to his grace

But while they made ayenst him resistence
Supposinge his power to withstonde
Nisus that was kynge of Magarence
Ayenst Minos their ꝑtye toke an honde
And oft tymes as ye shall vnderstonde
Whan kynge Minos dide the cyte assayle
Nisus withinne with myghty apparayle

Vpon the wallys stode in his defence
Whanne that Minos ful lyke a manly knyght
Faught withoute with sturdy violence
Like mars himsilfe in stele armyd bright
Wherof whanne Scilla oonys had a sigh [...]
Doughtir to Nisus aduertynge his prowes
Anone for loue she fyll in greate distresse

She was supprisyd with his high noblesse
His manly force expert many folde
Set scilla in greate heuynesse
For loue of Minos in poetis it is tolde
Make her herte presume and be bolde
First hir life to put in iuꝑdye
Hir faders life the cite the clergie

From hir herte loue hath sette a side
Ayenst nature hir blode and hir kynrede
And all frendship from her ganne diuyde
And of her worship she toke no maner hede
Loue made hir cruell ayenst all womanhede
First hir herte so sore set a fyre
Hir faders deth falsly to conspyre

For kynge Mynos beynge a straungere
Was so enpryntyd in hir oppynyon
Of creatures there stode none so nere
And for his sake by ful false treason
She compassyd the distruction
First of hir fader and the cite
So straunge a thinge alas howe myght it be

That a woman of yeres yonge and tendre
Coude ymagyne so merueilous a thinge
But it fallith that creatoures slendre
Vnder face of angelik lokynge
Been verrey wolues outewarde in werkynge
Also vndre coloure of their port femynyne
Sūme been founde verrey serpentyne

Lambys in shewynge shadowyd with mekenesse
Cruell as tigris who doth to theym offence
Of hunmble chere pretendynge a lykenesse
But wo alas what harme doth apparence
What damage dothe counterfete innocence
Vnder amantyll shrowdyd of womanhede
Whanne feynyd falsnesse doth the brydell lede

For this Scilla the kynges doughter dere
In whome he set his hole affection
His hertis ioye his plesaunce moost enteer
His worldly blisse his consolacion
But she all turnyd to his confusion
Not like a doughter but lyke a sorceresse
His deth compassyd the story berith witnesse

Hir fader had a fatell heer that shone
Brighter than golde in which dyde assure
Manly to fight ayenst his mortall foon
For in his hede while it dyde endure
He shulde venquessh and recure
And thorugh his knghthode to his encreas of glorye
In euery quarell wynne the victorie

But whanne kynge Nysus hir fader laye and slepe
Vpon a nyght  [...]ell afore day
Full secretly or that he toke kepe
The heer of golde this scilla cut away
And vnto Mynos armyd where he lay
She him presentyd thorugh hir ordynaunce
Of fals entent him for to do plesaunce

[Page]
But in this mater like as writith ouyde
Methamorphoseos who so takith hede
Her fader slepynge she knelynge by his syde
Toke a sharpe knyfe without feere or drede
While he lay nakyd she carf atwo his hede
Stale away of full fals entent
And to kynge Mynos the hede she doth present

And in hir comynge to his presence
Hir faders hede whan she afore him layde
Nothinge ashamyd of hir great offence
Vnto Mynos thus she dyde obrayde
And with bolde chere euyn thus she sayde
My lorde qd she with support of your grace
Yeueth to my tale leyser tyme and space

Certys my lorde loue hath excityd me
And constreyned to this cruell dede
To sle my fader distroye my cyte
For to gete me worship forsake womanhede
And made me hardy to make my fader blede
Thinges horrible thus haue I vndertake
For to accomplissh only for youre sake

My self disherityd for loue of your persone
Called in my cuntre a fals traitouresse
Disconsolate stale awaye alone
Of newe diffamed and namyd a maistresse
Of fals murdre I bringe a grete witnesse
My faders hede and his dedly visage
Ayenst nature to forther your viage

Wherfore I pray that ye lyst aduertyse
And considre lyke a gentyll knyght
Howe I for loue towarde your greate emprise
And to greate fortherynge also of your right
Haue first my fader depriued of his myght
R [...]ft him his life despoilyd his riches
To do plesaunce to your high noblesse

And no thynge axe vnto my guerdon
Neyther to my rewarde that me auaile
But that I myght haue full possession
Of your persone moost worthy in batayle
For there is no tresour that myght countiruayle
To my desire as that ye wolde in dede
Goodly accept me and my manhede

Ye may me saue and spyll with a worde
Make moost glad and moost dolerous
I nat requyre of you my souereyn lorde
But that ye wolde be to me gracious
For blode and kyn and my faders hou [...]
All lefte behynde if ye list aduerte
And vndepartyd yeue to you myn her [...]

Which to your highnesse ought Inough suffise
All thynge consideryd in your riall astate
Conceyued also howe in vncouth wyse
For your loue I stonde desolate
Saue of your mercy full disconsolate
Here is al and sum your loue I bye so sore
But ye do grace I can say you no more

And whan she had her tale tolde knelynge
With amaner of pretense of womanhede
Of all her treson a poynt nat concelynge
The kynge ystonyed of her horrible dede
By greate auys peised and toke hede
It was nat sittynge to prince or to kynge
To do fauour to soo frowarde a thynge

With troublyd herte and with a face pale
His look vpcast saide god forbede
That euer in cronycle in storye or in tale
That any man shulde of Mynos rede
Howe he supportyd so venymous a dede
Fauour a woman alas and welawey
Which slough her fader whan he abed lay

But for your hatefull and vnkynde rage
I pray the goddes echon and saturne
For to take vengeaunce on your fals outrage
For euery where wheder ye do retourne
And euery place where as ye soiourne
Londe and se shortly to expresse
They been enfecte with your cursydnesse

Youre owne mouth your outrage doth accuse
And your actes ben so abhomynable
That your giftes fully I do refuse
They been so frowarde and so reprouable
That your persone disnaturell and vnstable
Within my court it were a thynge nat faire
That ye shulde abyde or haue repaire

Ye be so hatefull on euery side
And contrarious of condision
I pray Tellius which of the erth is guyde
And to Nemtunus I make this oryson
As ferre as stretchith their damynacion
Vnder the bonde of their regaile
A dwellynge place that they to you denye

[Page]
Whanne Mynos his answere thus deuyse [...]
On reason groundyd and equyte
And scilla sawe howe she was despysyd
Knewe no partie passage ne cuntre
To fynde socour wheder she myght fle
But despired lyke a traitouresse
Towarde the se anone she gan hir dresse

To entre the watir playnly if she myght
For verrey shame hir self for to shroude
And whan the goddes therof had a sight
They turned her as they that myght and coude
Into a quaile for to synge loude
Her fader Nysus they dyde also transmewe
Into a sparow [...] the quayle to pursue

This was the ende of Nisus Scille
And afterwarde of athenes the toun
Was yeldyd vp to stonde at the will
Of kynge Mynos withoute condicion
Euery yere by reuolucion
They of the cite shulde nat delay
Nyne of their children for a tribute paye

This was by Mynos the emposicion
Vpon athenes and of verry drede
They obeyed as made is mencion
And their children yere by yere they lede
In to crete the Minataur to fede
Vnto this monstre ordeyned for repast
Which at their comynge deuoured were in hast

But or that I forther do procede
In this mater I woll do my cure
To declare if ye lyst to take hede
Of this monstre to tell the engend [...]ure
Vncouth to here and ayenst nature
For by the writynge of Oiudius
This ougly beest was engendryd thus

Methamorphoseos the maner ye may se
Mynos had a bole of greate fairenesse
White as mylke and the quene posiphe
Louyd him so hoot the story berith witnesse
And dedalus dyd his besinesse
By subtyll craft and made his gynnes so
That ayenst kynde with her he had to do

And conceyuyd a beest monstruous
That was departyd half bole half man
And as the poete by wrytynge techith vs
Of all Minataurus thus the name bygan
And dedalus nat longe after whan
That this monstre was by the quene forth brought
This subtyll werkman hath an hous I wrought

Callyd Roboryntus dyuers and vncouth
Full of wrynkellys and of straungenesse
Ougly to knowe which is north or south
Or to what part a man shulde him dresse
Folkes were there blent with furious derkenes
Who that entrid his retourne was in veyn
Without aclewe for to resort ageyn

Of Mynotaurus this was the habitacle
Like a presone made for turmentric
For dampnyd folke a peynefull tabernacle
For all that lay there in iupardie
The monstre must deuoure theym and diffie
And specially was ordeynyd this turment
For all that were doun from athenes sent

But in this mater some folke varie
And afferme howe that quene Posiphe
Of kynge Mynos louyd a secretarye
Callyd taurus in bochas ye may se
And thus the kynge for all his rialte
Disceyued was for who may any while
Him self preserue where wymen list begyle

For by this taurus bochas berith witnesse
Quene posiphe had a childe full faire
Mynos nat knowynge by no lykenesse
But that the childe was borne to be his heire
His trust was good he fyll in no dispayre
For sūme husbondes as poetis haue compilyd
Which moost assure rathest been begylyd

Innocentys can nat deme amys
Namely of wyues that been founde true
Clerkys may write but doutles thus it is
Of their nature they loue no thinges newe
Stedfast of hert they chaunge nat their hewe
Haukys best preuyd sumtyme a chek can make
Yit for afaute the foule is not forsake

Of this mater wryte I woll nomore
But aye the tribute and seruage of the toun
Procedith forth they constreyned were so sore
Like as their lot turnyd vp and doun
For there was made none excepcion
Of high ne lowe neyther for soure ne swete
But as it fyll they were sent into crete

[Page]
The statute was so ynly rigerous
They to [...]e their sorte as it came aboute
Tyll at the last it fyll on theseus
That he myght goo forth amonge the route
Kynge Eges son beynge in greate doute
Touchynge his life which myght nat be socouryd
But that he must with other be deuouryd

Which theseus for his worthynesse
And of his knyghthode for the great encrees
Thurgh manly force and for his prowes
Sumtyme was callyd the secunde hercules
Amonge amazones he put him self in prees
Weddyd Ipolito as bokes specifie
The hardy quene callyd of femynye

And afterwarde to thebes he is gone
Halpe there the ladyes in especiall
Which that compleyned vpon the kynge Creon
Which theym distroublyd lyke their astate riall
To holde and halowe the festys funerall
Of their lordes and quenes and princessis
Of wifly trouth to shewe their kyndnessis

For whanne this duke the maner had seen
And of Creon the greate iniquite
To the ladyes he made deliuer ageyn
The lordes boones of ruth and of pyte
Yit in his youth oute of his cite
He was deliueryd by statute full odible
To be deuouryd of this beest horryble

He gothe to prison for all his semelynesse
As the statute felly dyd ordeyne
But of ruthe and gentylnesse
Him to preserue from that dedely peyne
Of kynge minos the goodly doughtres tweyne
Adriane shope a remedie
And feir phedra that he shulde not dye

Thrugh her help he hath the monstre slayne
That was dredefull and vgly for to se
By theim he scapyd wherof he was full faine
Ledde them with him toward his contre
And by the waye deuoide of all pite
Adriane full falsly he hath forsake
A yenst his suraunce and phedra he hath take

In myddys the see he left her in an yle
Towardes no ꝑtye she knewe no declyne
She wepyth she cryeth alas the herd while
For of hir fate this was the mortall fyne
That for pyte bachus the god of wyne
Toke her to wyf whoo [...] crowne of stones fyne
Doth nowe in heuyn with ix sterres shyne

Thus of theseus ye may behold and se
To adriane the great vnstedfastnesse
The great vntreuth the mutabilite
The broke assuraunce and the newefanglenesse
But sely wemen kepe their stedfastnesse
Euyr vndefoulyd saue sūtyme of their kynde
They must them puruay whan mē be foūd vnkynde

Of theseus I can nomore nowe seyn
In this mater to make of him memorie
But to kynge minos I woll resorte ageyn
To tel howe fortune euyr fals and transitorie
In what poyntys diffacid hath his glorye
First of echoon bochas doth specifie
Of posiphe the foule aduoutrye

Which was his wife and stode wele in his grace
To his plasaunce she was moost souereyne
But a cloude of a small trespace
Made her lorde at her disdeyne
But he of wisdome bare pryuely his peyne
For such caas this is my sentence
Lete prudent husbondes take theym to pacience

On other thinges Mynos gan also compleyne
Hauynge in herte therof full greate greuaunce
That he so lost his faire doughters tweyne
And Mynotaurus slayne with myschaunce
Also to him it was a greate peyne
That theseus was goon at liberte
And from all tribute delyueryd his cyte

It greuyd him also in countenaunce and chere
That theseus Adriane forsoke
It likyd him also nat the manere
Vnto his wife that she phedra toke
And yit this phedra like as scith my boke
Hadde two sonnes by this theseus
First demophan and next antiochus

Also theseus after gan him drawe
Towarde cecile in stele armyd clene
With Pirotheus in armys his felawe
For to rauyssh proserpyna the quene
But of entent phedra full vnclene
Louyd her stepsone callyd ypolitus
But for he was to her daungerous

[Page]
And to her lust frowarde and contrarye
In his apporte not goodly ne benygne
Of his fals entent anon she gan to varye
Ayenst hir full felly to malygne
With a prince of many token and signe
Of womanhede she gan him accuse
Her a [...]outrye falsly to excuse

Who sayth that wymen can nat ymagyne
In their diffence tales vntrue
To their desire if men list nat enclyne
Neither on their feynyd fals woo to rue
Anone they can cumpasse thinges newe
Fysshe and fynde oute of their entencion
A couert  [...]loude to shadowe their treason

She hath accusyd yonge ypolitus
Of fals auoutrye in his tendre age
Tolde and affermyd to duke theseus
With full boolde chere and full pleyne visage
Howe he purposyd for to doo outrage
Only by force her bewte to presse
Her lorde besechynge to rofourme and dresse

The greate iniquite doon to his wife
While he was absent for thinge that bare charge
Wyues of tales sumtyme been inuentif
To suffre their tunges falsly flyen at large
But felkys that list of damage them discharge
Of such accusynge ne take they none hede
 [...]yll the trueth be tryed oute in dede

I mene no thinge of wyues that been good
Neither of wymen that flouren in Innocence
For god forbede and the holy rode
But men shulde do due reuerence
To their noblesse and their excellence
Declare their bounte and their vertue shewe
And more theym cherisshe by cause there ben but fewe

Touchynge the accusynge ayenst ypolitus
Though it so were that it was fals in dede
zit he for shame and feer of theseus
As in the story ye may beholde and rede
In his hert he caught a maner drede
That he alas this sely yonge knyght
Fledde and withdrowe him out of his faders sight

 [...]is indignacion playnly for to eschewe
Though by desert in him there was no lacke
Of hasty drede as gan remewe
Or in a chare or [...]on hors backe
His hors afrayed there fyll a sodeyn wracke
Doun from a roche pendaunt as ye shall lere
He and his chare were drownyd both in fere

Thus vngilty in his moost lusty youth
He was conueyed to his distruction
The sclaunder conspired as it is wele I couth
By fals phedra but in conclusion
The sclaundre turnyd to her confusion
For whanne she wyst Ipolitus was dede
Thurgh her defaute anone for shame and drede

She toke a swerde full sharpe I whet and grounde
And therwithall she raft her hert atweyne
Lo howe that vengeaunce woll euer ayen rebounde
On theym that falsely do their besy peyne
Lo sclaundre folke for like as they ordeyne
With their diffamys other folkys tawyte
God at laste their malice can aquyte

But some bokes of phedra do recorde
That she ashamed and confus of this dede
Hinge hir self vp full high with a corde
Lo howe fals sclaundre can folk quyte for ther mede
Wherfore I counseil euery man take hede
In such maters as stonde in vncerteyn
From his hasty langage his tonge to refreyne

Amonge these stories wofull for to rede
All bespreynt with terys in his face
Full sodenly iohn bochas gan take hede
In myddys the prees zisam cam to place
And howe that fortune gan also the manace
This proude duke full myghty and notable
Of kynge Iabyn callyd the greate constable

Of his ooste leder and gouernoure
To Israell verrey mortall foo
With people he rode like conquerour
And where that euer his meyne dyde goo
The erth quoke people dredde him soo
Fledde fro his face where as he cā a ferre
Nyne hundred waynes he hadde for the werre

Strongly in armyd with hokys made like sithis
Who that approchyd to mayme and to wounde
For this tiraunt of custum oft sithis
Hadde greate delite the Iewes to confounde
And all tho that his swerde hath founde
Kynge Iabyn bad prince Canaan
In israel to spare childe ne man

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This zisara was sent to be their scourge
By goddes suffraunse their synnes to chastise
Their olde offencis to punyssh and to purge
As a flagell many sundry wise
But whan of reson they gan theym better deuyse
And for their trespassys to fall in repentaunce
God gan withdrawe the hande of his vengeaunce

For in their myscheef they gan the lorde to knowe
Felynge the pricke of his punycion
And mercy thanne hath vnbent the bowe
Of his fell yre and castigacion
To god they made their inuocacion
And he theym herde in their mortall drede
In iudicum the story ye may rede

Howe in the while that this zisara
Shope him of new the iewes to oppresse
In their diffence god sent theym Delbora
A prophetesse the story berith witnesse
To yeue theym counseyl their armes to redresse
And by the spyrite of her prophesie
For to withstonde the greate tyrannye

Of zisara which was descendyd doun
With a grete oost into the felde repeired
But desbora of high discrecion
Whanne that she sawe the iewes dispeyryd
And for to fight their corages sore apeyred
She made him first deuoutly in that drede
To crye to god to helpe theym in their nede

She was their Iuge and their gouerneresse
Cheef of their counseyll and of custum she
Causis dependynge of greate auysenesse
That stode in doute by dome of equyte
She tryed theym oute vndre a palme tre
And was nat hasty no mater to determyne
Tyll she the parties afore dyde examyne

And whan she herde and knewe of cōmynge
Of zisara with full greate puissaunce
That was constable of that myghty kynge
Callyd Ia [...]yn with all his ordenaunce
Vpon iewys for to do vengeaunce
This delbora gan prudently entende
The iewys ꝑtie by wisdome to diffende

She had barach hir husbonde anone right
Of Neptalym ten thousande with him take
Ayenst zisara to fight for their right
And that he shulde a greate enarme take
But he for drede this iourne gan forsake
And durst nat ayenst him tho verreye
But she were present and list him to conueye

Wele wele qd she syth it stondith soo
That of wantrust ye haue a maner drede
I woll my self gladly with you goo
You to supporte in this greate nede
But trustith fully as ye shall fynde in dede
That a woman with laude honoure and glorye
Shall fro you wynne the price of this victorye

It folowyd after sothely as she sayde
Auysely she made hir ordenaunce
And the cheef charge on her self she layde
As princesse of iewes gouernaunce
And prudently gan her self auaunce
With god conueyed and supporte of his grace
With zysara to mete in the face

And specially touchinge this viage
God toke aweye the spirite and the myght
Fro zisara his force and his corage
That he was ferdfull to entre into fight
Kepte his chare and toke him to flight
Knowynge no place in surely to abyde
Till that Iael a woman dyde him hide

Within her tent and almoost dede for drede
Vnder amantell desirous for to drynke
She yaue him mylke the slepe fyll on his hede
And while that he for heuynesse gan wynke
And sadly slepte she gan her to bethynke
Thought she wolde for zisara so shape
That with the lyfe he shulde nat ascape

She toke auaile that was sharpe and longe
And couertly gan her self auaunce
With an hamer myghty rounde and stronge
She droue the naile lo this was hir vengeaunce
Through oute his hede se here the sodeyn chaunce
On tyrantys that trust on fortune
Which woll nat suffre theym longe to contune

In their fals vsurpyd tirannye
To holde people in longe subietion
She can theym blaundisshe with hir flaterye
Vnder a colour of fals collusion
And with a sodeyn transmutacion
Fortune theym can that pore folke trouble
Reuerse their pride with their face double

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And though she were defacid of figure
There shewyd in her a maner maieste
Of qu [...]enly honoure pleynly to discure
Her infortunys and hir infelicite
And to declare playnly / howe that she
Of all princessis / which stode in estate
She was her self the moost infortunate

Which yaue to Bochas full greate occasion
Whan he sawe her pitous apparaile
For to make a lamentacion
Of vncouth sorowes / which dyd her assaile
With a tragedye to wepe and to waile
Her importable / and straunge dedly strife
Which that she hadde durynge all her life

 [...]e wryte of her a story large and playne
And of her birth / first he doth diffyne
And affermeth in his boke certeyne
She was discendyd of a noble lyne
In flourynge age / also whan she dyde shyne
She weddyd was for her greate bewte
Vnto the kynge of thebes the cyte

Which in his tyme was callyd sayus
And whan hir wombe by processe dyd aryse
The kynge was glad / and also desirous
The childys state to knowe in sum wise
And thought he wolde go do sacrifise
Vnto appollo to haue knowlechynge to forne
Touchinge this childe whan that it was borne

What shulde folowe in conclusion
He was desirous / and hasty for to se
First by the heuenly disposicion
And by the fauoure if it wolde be
Of appollos myghty deite
To haue answere amonge his wittys all
Of his childe / what fate shulde bifalle

His answere thought it were contrarye
To his desire / yit was it thus in dede
Appollo tolde him / and list no lengre tar [...]
That this childe shulde verrely in dede
Sle his fadre / and make his sides blede
And with his handes there was none other weye
But on his swerde he must nedis deye

The kynge was heuy / and trust on this sentence
Sorowfull of herte / god wote and no thynge fayne
And kest afore through his prouydence
That his sonne shulde in all hast be slayne
And that he wolde nat an houre delayne
After his birth but bad his men to goon
Into a forest and sle the childe anone

Lyke his byddynge the mynystres wrought in dede
Takynge the childe tendre and yonge of age
And into a forest with theym they gan it lede
To be deuouryd of bestes moost sauage
The moder alas almost fyll into a rage
Seynge her childe so inly fayre of face
Shall thus be dede and dyde no trespace

Lytell wondre though she felt sm [...]rte
To all wymen I reporte me
And vnto moders that been tendre of hert
In this mater Iugis for to be
Was it nat ruth was it nat pite
That a princesse a quene allas
Shulde knowe hir childe deuouryd in such caas

After his birth Layus toke good kepe
Without mercy respite or delaye
That vnto one which kept his shepe
This yonge childe vpon a certeyn daye
Shall be deliuered in all the haste he may
To this entent it myght nat be socouryd
But that it shulde of bestys be deuouryd

This saide shepeherde goth forth anone right
The childe benygne beholdynge of loke and face
Thought in herte and in his inwarde sight
He shulde doo to god a greate traspace
To sle this childe wherfore he dyd him grace
Toke first a knyfe and dyd his besy peyne
Through oute his fete to make holes tweyne

Toke a small rod of ayonge os [...]e [...]
Percyd the fete alas it was pite
Bonde him fast and by good leiser
The yonge childe he henge vp on a tre
Of entent that he ne shulde be
Through wilde bestes cruell and sauage
Be sodenly deuouryd in their rage

Vpon the tre while he henge thus bounde
Of auenture by sum occasion
A straunge sheepherde hath the childe I founde
Which of ruth and of pite toke him doun
Bare with him home in to his toun
Made his wife for to do hir peyne
To fostre the childe with hir brestys tweyne

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And whan he was brought forth and recuryd
And full made hole of his woundes sore
This yonge childe which all this hath enduryd
Whan he in age began to wexe more
And that nature began him to rostore
The seide sheepherde that louyd him best of all
After his hurtys Edippus dyd him calle

For edippus is more to seyne
Who that conceyueth the exposicion
But fete I ꝑcyd throughout both tweyne
In that langage as made is mencion
And Meropa wife of kynge Polibo [...]
The sheepherde of full humble entent
Began the childe full lowly to present

And for she was bareyne of nature
She and the kynge of one affection
Toke edippus both into their  [...]ure
As son and heire by adopcion
To reyne in corynth by succession
The kynge the quene of corinthe the cuntre
Hadde the childe in so greate cheerte

Let men considre in their discrecion
Sodeyne chaunge of euery maner thynge
This childe sent oute for his distruction
And nowe prouydyd for to be a kynge
And through fortune ay double in werkynge
He that was refuse to bestys moost sauage
Is nowe receyued to knyghtly herytage

Destitute he was of his kynrede
Forsake and abiect of blode and of allie
In tendre youth his fete were made to blede
Henge on a tree and began for helpe crye
But god that can in myscheef magnefie
And reconfort lolke disconsolate
Hathe made this childe nowe thus fortunate

And prouydyd to be a kynges heire
Of him that stode of deth in auenture
Fortune can shewe hir self both foule and faire
Folkys brought lowe full well ayen recure
And such as paciently can endure
And list nat grutch ayenst their chastisynge
God oute of myscheef can sodenly thē brynge

But whan Edippus was growe vp to age
Lyke a yonge prince encreasynge in noblesse
Lusty and stronge and fressh of his corage
Of auenture it fell so in sothenesse
 [...]ther by strife or by su [...] frowardnesse
Or by  [...] con [...]e [...] he had knowlechynge
Howe he was nat son vnto the kynge

As by discent b [...]t a fer foreyne
Wherupon full sore he bygan to muse
And for to knowe and be put in certeyne
Thought he wolde sum maner practik vse
And to the kynge he gan him self excuse
For a tyme withdrawe his presence
Tyll that he knewe by sum experience

Or by sum signe howe the mater stode
Thought he wolde do his diligence
To knowe his fader and also of what blode
He was descendyd and haue sum euydence
Touchynge trouth howe it stode in sentence
And herupon to be certified
Towarde appollo fast he hath him hyed

Which in Cyrra worshiped was that tyme
And yaue answere through his deite
To folke that cam at euyn and at prime
Of euery doute and ambiguyte
And there Edippus fallynge vpon his kne
After his offrynge had answere anone
Towarde Grece he shulde gone

Vnto a mounteyne that focis bare the name
And there he shulde of his kynrede here
Also like his faat the answere was the same
He shulde sle his owne fader dere
And after that to thebes drawe him nere
Wedde his moder of verrey ignorance
Callyd Iocasta through his vnhappy chaunce

He list no lenger tary ne abyde
This sayde edippus but forth in hast goth he
And on his weye he began anone to ryde
Tyll he the mounteyne of Pho [...]is dyd se
Vnder the which stode a greate cuntre
Callyd Citoyens / which that tyme certeyne
Werr [...]ide theym that were on the mounteyne

His fader layus through his chyualrye
With Citoicus is entryd into batayle
And edippus cam with the ꝑtye
Of the hille armed in plate and mayle
And as they began eche other to assayle
Amonge the prees at the entrecountrynge
Of auenture Edippus slowe the kynge

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Vnknowen to him that he his fader was
Hauynge therof no suspection
Passyd his way platly this is the caas
And also vnknowe he cam to the toun
Of myghty thebes where for his high renoun
He was resceyuyd with full greate reuerence
Bycause that he slough in their diffence

Spynx the serpent horrible for to see
Sumtyme ordeyned by incantacions
For to distroy the toun and the cuntre
By his compassyd sleighty quesicions
Slough man and childe in all the regions
Such as not coude by wisdome or by reson
Make of his problem playn exposicion

Who so passyd by he coude him nat excuse
But the serpent wolde him felly assayle
w [...]th a problem make him for to muse
Callyd of sum men an vncouth deuynaile
Which for to expowne who that dyde assaile
There was none helpe neither other remedye
By the statute but that he must dye

And for all folke haue nat knowlegynge
Of this demaund what it was in dede
I well reherce it here in my wrytynge
Compendiously that men may it rede
First this s [...]rpent who that list take hede
Was monstruous and spake ayenst nature
And if it fill that any creature

Man or woman shulde forth by passe
High or lowe of all that region
As I saide erst there was none other grace
But if he made an exposicion
Of this serpentys frowarde question
He must dye and make no diffence
The which demaunde was this in sentence

The serpent axyd what thinge may that be
Beest or foule whan it is forth brought
That hath no power stonde go nor fle
And afterwarde if it be well I sought
Gothe first on foure or elles goth he nought
After by processe on thre and than on tweyne
And eft ayen as nature doth ordeyne

He goth on thre and efte on foure ageyn
Also kyndly right nature disposith it so
And in a while it foloweth in certeyn
To the mater which that he cam fro
He must of kynde resorte ayen therto
And howe can nat the menynge clerly se
He of this serpent shall deuouryd be

Which edippus full sobre in his entent
Nat to rakel or to hasty of langage
But in his hert with greate  [...]uysement
And full demure of loke and of visage
Consideryd first this perilous fell passage
Sawe well to fore that it was no iape
And full prouyded that no worde ascape

At good leyser with hole mynde and memorie
Seynge the ernest of this mortall emprise
His life dependynge betwyxt deth and victorie
This quod he pleynly to deuyse
Is first a childe which may nat suffise
Whan it is borne the truth is alday sene
Withoute helpe him self to sustene

After on foure he naturelly doth crepe
For impotence and grene tendrenesse
Noricis can tell that do theym kepe
But afterwarde vp he doth him dresse
With his two fete the third to expresse
Is hande or benche or sopport of sum wall
To holde him vp lest he catch a fall

And afterwarde encresynge of his myght
To greate age whan he dothe atteyne
Of his nature than he goth vp right
Myghtely vpon his legges tweyne
Than comyth age his power to restreyne
Crokyd and lame like as men may se
With a staffe or potent to make vp leggys thre

But whan feblenesse or sekenesse do assaile
On hondes and fete he must bowe and lowte
For crossys potentis may nat thanne auayle
Whan lusty age is banysshyd and shet oute
Than eft ayen herof may be no doute
With foure fete to erth he doth retourne
Fro whens he came there styll to soiourne

All cam from erth and all to the erth shall
Ayenst nature may no protection
Worldly estatis echon they be mortall
There may no treason make redempcion
Who clymeth highest his fall is lowest doun
A mene estate is best who coude it knowe
Betwene high presumynge & bowynge doun to lowe

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For who sit highest stande in Iuꝑdye
Vnder daunger of fortune lyke for to fall
Mischeef and pouertye as for their ꝑtye
Been lowest broght amonge these people all
Sūme folke haue sugre and sūme tast gall
Salamon therfore myrrour of sapience
Betwene greate richessis and betwene indigence

Axyd a meane callyd suffisaunce
To holde him content of compitent dispence
Not to reioise of to greate habundaunce
And euer in pouert to sende him pacience
Sobre with his plentye in scarsnesse none offence
As of grutchynge but betwene ioye and smert
Thanke god of all and euer be glad of herte

Erth is the ende of euery maner man
For the rich with greate possession
Deth as sone as I reherce can
As doth the pore in tribulacion
For deth ne makith no deuision
By singuler fauour but betwene both I lech
Of the porest  [...]nd of him that is moost riche

This saide problem concludyd in this caas
Which the serpent began sleightly to purpose
That whan a childe is first borne alas
Kynde to his dethwarde anone doth him dispose
Eche day a iourney there is none other glose
Experience can tech in euery age
Howe this worlde is here but a pilgrymage

This saide Edippus first in thebes borne
Sent to a forest deuouryd for to be
Founde and brought forth as ye haue herde to forne
And after drawynge home to his cuntre
Slough his fader so infortunate was he
Of frowarde happys folowynge all his lyue
As this tragedye his fortune shall discriue

But for that he through his high prudence
Vnto the serpent declaryd euerydele
He slough him after by knyghtly violence
More by wisdome than of armure and of stele
Stace of thebes can tell you full wele
Which was one cause if yelist to seen
Wherthrough Edippus weddyd hath the quene

Callyd Iocasta princesse of that cuntre
His owne modre vnknowen to him both
And though she were right faire vpon to se
With this mariage the goddes were full wrothe
For their aliaunce nature gan to loth
That a moder as ye shall vnderstonde
Shulde her sonne take to be her husbonde

There was therein none conuenience
To be supportyd by kynde ne by reason
But if it so be the heuenly influence
Disposid it by the inclinacion
Of sum fals frowarde constellacion
Causyd by saturne or mars the frowarde sterre
To engendre debate or some mortall werre

In this mater pleyn thus I deme
Of no cunnynge but of opinion
Though he were crownyd with ceptre and diademe
To regne in thebes the stronge myghty toun
That some aspecte cam from heuyn a doun
Infortunate frowarde and full of rage
Which ayenst kynde denyed the mariage

He crownyd was by assent of all the toun
Flourynge a ceson by souereynte of pees
And while he helde the possession
Sonnes and doughters he had doutles
The first sonne callyd Ethiocles
Polly [...]enes callyd was that other
As saith bochas the secunde brother

Also he had goodly doughters tweyne
The eldest callyd was antigone
The secunde namyd was ymeyne
And both they were right faire vnto see
The quene Iocasta myght no gladder be
Than to remembre whan they wexe in age
Her goddes had encreasyd their linage

It was hir ioye and her felicite
To se her children that were so inly faire
But oft of ioye there comyth aduersite
And hope vnsured whan hope oft apaire
Contrarious trust woll gladly their repayre
Where fals wenynge in herte is conceyued
Through ignorance which many folk haue disseyued

What thinge in erth is more disceyuable
That whan a man supposith verrely
In prosꝑite for to stonde stable
And from his ioye is remeuyd sodenly
For where fortune is founde to hasty
To trise folke is greuous to endure
For sodeyn chaungis been hatefull to nature

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Vnware wo that cometh on gladnesse
Is vnto hertis right passynge encumberous
And who hath felt his part of wilfulnesse
Sorowe suynge on is to him odious
And worst of all and moost contrarious
Is whan estatys highest of renoun
Been from their noblesse sodenly brought doun

There is no glorie which that shyneth here
That fals fortune can so magnyfie
But whan his lande brightest is and clere
She can eclipse it with some cloudy skye
Of vnware sorowe only of enuye
Seeth of Edippus an open euydence
Which by his life hadde experience

Of high noblesse and therwith also
Part importable of greate aduersite
His ioye euer meynt with full mortall woo
For while he regnyd in thebes the cite
And Iocasta with full greate rialtye
Within the cuntre there fyll a pestilence
The people enfectynge with his violence

Through all the londe and all the region
In euery age but moost greuously
On theym echon that were of that toun
The infection spred moost specially
And of vengeaunce the swerde moost rigerously
Day by day began to byte and karue
Of eche estate causynge folke to sterue

Thus began to encrece the mortalite
That euery man stode in Iupardye
Of their lyues through oute the cuntre
So importable was their maladye
That myght here the people clepe and crie
Despe [...]ed so were they of their lyues
Wide of all socour and of their preseruatyues

They sought oute herbes and spices in their coffres
And began to seke for helpe and other socouris
The cause enquerynge of prudent philosopheris
And of their moost expert deuynourys
Why that the goddes with so sharpe shourys
Of pestilence and so cruell wise
Lyst theym alas so mortally chastyse

But amonge all in soth this is the caas
There was founde one full prudent and full wyse
A prophete callyd Tiresias
Of prophesie hauynge a souereigne price
Whiche affermyd and saide in his a viis
As vnto him was shewed by myracle
Phebus him self declarynge the oracle

Cause of this sikenes and these maladies
As the goddes playnly haue disposyd
And senec writeth also in his tragedies
Though the cause be secret and I closyd
Vnto the tyme there be a kynge disposyd
Which slough his fader and raft him of his life
And hath also take his moder to his wife

Tyll this be done and execute in dede
There may be made no redempcion
But pestilence shall multiplie and sprede
Euer more and more through oute that region
Tyll vnto the tyme that he be put a doun
Fro his crowne which was nat longe agone
His fader slough amonge his mortall foon

And hath his modre weddyd also
Ayenst lawe and ayenst all right
Tyll that vengeaunce vpon that cryme be do
There shall be werre pestilence and fiyht
Sorowe and greate strife and euery maner wight
Of vengeaunce his neyghbour shall hate
Brother with brother and blode with blode debate

This all and sum there may be no socoure
Which brought the people in greate heuynesse
For Tiresia the greate dyuynour
By prophesie tolde theym thus expresse
And at the last by tokenes and witnesse
Men vnderstode and signes oute shewynge
This pestilence was brought in by the kynge

And though the people ne gaf no credence
To tiresia ne to his prophesie
The quene iocasta caught an euydence
And in her hert a full great fantasie
Specially whan she dyd aspie
Of kynge edippus the fete whan she se woundyd
Howe this romour was vpon trouth ygroundyd

Bycause also ther was a diuinour
Which tolde to forne that edippus shulde be
To layus in thebes successoure
Wherby the kynge the quene and the cite
Fyll in great trouble and grete aduersite
Well more than I by writynge can reporte
For there was no thinge that might theim recoūforte

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Full oft in the day Iocasta gan to sowne
Kynge Edippus sobbe crye and wepe
In salt terys as they thē wolde drowne
Deth crampisshynge into theyr herte gan crepe
A day compleynynge a nyght they may nat slepe
Cursynge the houre of their natyuyte
That they shulde lyue that day for to see

Their mortall chaunce their dedly auenture
Their fortune also which gan on theym frowne
Impatient and doolfull to endure
Their frowarde fate with their lokes browne
The kynge for yre cast away his crowne
And bigan to race for constreynt of his peyne
Out of his hede his wofull iyen tweyne

Day and nyght he cryed after deth
Hatefull to come in any mannys sight
Moost desirous to yelde vp the breth
Woofull in herte to come in any lyght
Coorbyd for sorowe feble to stonde vp right
And specially in his dedely distresse
For drede and shame he daryd in derkenesse

The cruell constrent of his moost greuaunce
Was that his sones had him in despite
Which gan his sorowe greatly to auaunce
For him to scorne was set all her delite
Was neuer none that stode in wors plyte
For thus liynge and destitute of chere
Vnto the goddes he made this prayer

Besechynge theym with a full doolfull chere
Vpon his woo to haue sum compassion
And that they wolde for to auenge his smerte
Betwene his sones make a diuision
Eche to brynge other to destruction
This was his prayer in substaunce
That eche on other may take vengeaunce

In yeres fewe for their vnkyndnesse
They herd his prayer as ye haue herde diuise
The brethern two thurgh their cursydnesse
Eche gan other mortally dispise
For lacke of grace and for fals couetise
Eche for his ꝑtye desirous in dede
To fore other to reigne and to succede

And thus these bretherne moost infortunat
Betwene theym self fill at discenceon
And finally this vnkyndly debate
Brought all thebes to distruction
zit was there made first a conuencion
By enterchaungynge that eche shulde reigne a yere
The tother absent to play and come no nere

This was concludyd by their both assent
And by acorde of that region
Pollicenes rood forth and was abssent
Ethiocles toke first possession
But whan the yere by reuolacion
Was come aboute he fals of his entent
Vnto the accord denyed to assent

This was a cause of their both striues
Pollicenes thus put oute of his right
Tyll adrastus kynge was of argyues
Which thurgh all grece gretest was of myght
Sent vnto Thebes tedeus a knyght
His sone in lawe to trete of this matere
And the cause fynally to lere

Wherethrugh the kynge callyd Ethiocles
Wolde condescende of truth and of reasn
To stynt werre and to cherisshe pees
Aftyr the accorde and compas [...]cion
Vp to delyuer thebes that mighty towne
Vnto his brother which absent was without
Nowe that his yere was fully comme about

But he was false and frowerdly gan varye
Ethiocles from his conuencion
For which adrastus no lenger wolde tarye
Whan tedeus hadde made relacion
But callyd anon throughoute his region
All the worthy bothe nere and ferre [...]
Ayenst thebes forto begynne a werre

For this cause like as ye shal lere
Pollicenes to force his partye
I weddyd had the kynges doughter dere
I mene adrastus floure of cheualrie
Whanne tedeus dyd him certefie
Touchinge the answere of Ethiocles
And of his truth howe he was recheles

False of his promyse and cursedly forsworne
For to his truth none aduertence had he
Neither to the accorde that was made beforne
Touchinge the delyueraunce of thebes the cyte
But who that list the story cleerly se
Of these two brethern and their discencion
And adrastus lay tofore the toun

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And tideus through his high prowes
Fought by the way goinge on message
And howe of grece all the worthinesse
With kynge adrastus went in this viage
And of the mischeef that fyll in that passage
For lacke of water tyll that ysiphile
Norissh of ligurgus so faire vpon to se

Thought Tideus to fynde out a ryuer
She that dyde in fairenesse so excelle
Neyther howe the serpent moost ougly of his chere
Of kynge Ligurgus the childe slough at the well
Neither howe amphiorax fyll adoun to hell
All to declare me semyd it was no nede
For in the syege of thebes ye may it rede

The story hole and made there is mencion
Of either ꝑtye their puissaunce and their myght
And howe adrastus laye to fore the toun
And howe they mette euery day in fight
And Tideus theus the noble famous knygght
So renomyd in actys morciall
Was slayne alas as he faught on the wall

And howe the brethern met among the prees
Lyke two tigrys or lions that were wode
With sharpe sperys this it is doutles
Euerich of theym shed others hert blode
This was their fyne and thus with theym it stode
Saue at their festys callyd funerall
There fyll a marueyle which I tell shall

Whan they were brent into asshes dede
Of their enuye there fyll a full greate wondre
Amonge the brondes and the coles rede
High in the eire the smokes wente a sondre
The one to one partye and that other yonder
To declare the story me lyst nat feyne
The grete hatred that was betwene theym tweyne

Thus for their Ire and false discencion
All the lordes and all the chiualrie
Were slayne of grece and also of the toun
And rote of all myn  [...]uctour list nat lye
Was fals aliaunce and fraternall enuye
And cheef grounde with all the surplusage
Who serch aright was vnkyndly mariage

The quene Iocasta felt her ꝑt of peyne
To se her childre eche of theym sle other
Her sonne her lorde blynde on his iyen tweyne
Which to his sonys was fadre and also broder
Fortune wolde it shulde be none other
Also parca [...] susters which been in noumbre thre
Span so the thride at her natyuyte

Also whan Iocasta stode thus disconsolate
And sawe of Thebes the subuersion
The cuntre distroyed was and disolate
The gentyll blode shed of that region
Without comfort or consolacion
Thought she myght be nomore appeired
But of all hope fully dispeyred

Trist and heuy pensif and spake no worde
Her sorowes olde and newe she gan aduert
Toke the swerde of him that was hir lorde
With which Edippus smote Layus to the herte
She to fenysshe all her peynes smerte
And fro the body her soule to deuyde
Roof her self thurghoute euery syde

She wery was of her wolull life
Seynge of fortune the greate froowardnesse
Howe her diffame and slaunder was so rife
And of Edippus the greate wretchidnesse
Also of her sones the greate vnkyndnesse
All these thinges weyed on her so sore
For distresse she that liste to lyue nomnre

Bouchas writeth the fairenesse
Constreynt of sorowe causyd it to fade
The famous light also of her noblesse
And all the clerenesse of her dayes glade
With vnware armys she was so ouer lade
Of verrey anguyssh that her self dyd hate
So inly contrarie disposid was her fate

Thus deth deuourith with his bitter gall
Ioye and sorowe auoyde of all mercy
And with his dart he makyth doun to fall
Riche and pore theym markynge sodenly
His vnware stroke smyteth vndifferently
From him refusynge fauour and all mede
Of all estates he taketh so lytell hede

Better is to dye than lyue in wretchidnesse
Better is to dye than euer lyue in peyne
Better is an ende than dedely heuynesse
Better is to dye than euer in wo compleyne
And where as myscheef doth at folke compleyne
By wofull constreynt of longe contynuaunce
Better it is to dye than lyue in such greuaunce

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Takith ensample herof and a preef
Of kynge Edippus that was so longe agoo
Of quene Iocasta that felt so greate myscheef
And of their children remembre also
Which euer lyuyd in enuye sorowe and wo
Fortune alas durynge al their dayes
Was so frowarde to theym at all assaies

Touchynge Edippus processe fynde I none
What ende he made in conclusion
Saue Bochas write howe the kynge Creon
Cosyn and heir by succession
Exilyd him cheyned ferre out of the toune
Where he induryd mischeef sorowe and drede
Tyll antropos vntwinyd his liues threde

¶LenuoyeIN this tragedie thre thinges ye may se
The pryde of Iabyn and false presumpcion
Of quene Iocasta the greate aduersite
Of kynge edippus the enclinacion
To vicis all and the deuysion
Of the two brethern pleynly vs to assure
Kyngdoms deuyded may no while endure

‘Omne regnum in se [...] diuisum desolabitur’

For who sawe euer kyngdome or cuntre
Stonde in quiete of possession
But if there were right peas and equyte
And Iust accord without dissencion
Voide of vntreuth and fals collusion
Playnly declarynge by ensample and by scripture
Kyngdomes deuidyd may no while endure

Seeth here ensaumple of thebes the cyte
And howe that noble myghty region
Thurgh their frowarde fals duplicite
With werre were brought to their distruccion
Their promise broken and their couert treson
Shewyd by her armys impossible to recure
Kyngedomes diuidyd may no whyle endure

Pryncis princessys which haue the souereynte
Ouer the people and dominacion
If ye lyst longe lyue in felicite
Cheryssh your subgettis doo noon extorcion
And aduertyse of wisdome and of reason
As this tragedie doth to you discure
Kyngdomes diuidyd may no whyle endure

Howe Atreus kynge of messene wrought ayenst his brother Thiestes slewe his thre chyldren dismēbryd them pecys made Thieftes to ete of their flessh and drynke of their blode

bOchas the poete auctour of this boke
Him purposynge to gydre and compyle
Dyuers stories anon his pen he toke
Him remembrynge within a lytyll whyle
In this chapitle began direct his style
To wryte the storye and hye compendious
A forne all other of duke theseus

Lorde of athenys a famous great cite
Right stronge and mighty on euery syde
But at his backe bochas dyd one se
Which cryed loude and bad he shulde abyde
Bochas quod he fro the me lyst not hyde
My wofull case ne in no wise spare
My pitous compleynt to the to declare

I am thiestes besprent all with wepynge
Drounyd in teers as thou maist well see
Sometyme sonne of the mighty kynge
Philistines and born also parde
Of quene pellop [...]a excellent of beute
And for thou art desirous to endite
Of people vnhappy and their wo to wryte

My wyll is this anon that thou procede
Turne thy style and take thy pen blyue
Leue theseus and take of him non hede
But first my tragedie that thou discryue
For I suppose that in all thy lyue
That thou sawe neuir a thinge more dolorous
More vnhappy more frowerde ne pitous

Than is alas my mortall auenture
Incomperable the sorowe surmountynge
Of quene iocasta moste wofull criature
Or of edippus his faat euyr complaynynge
For my complaynt hath none endynge
But lastith euer and berith me witnesse
No wo resemblyth vnto my heuinesse

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And with that worde iohn bochas styll stode
Full soberly to yeue him audience
And in the place demurely abood
To here the substaunce of his mortall offence
Which thus bigan to shewe the sentence
O iohn qd he I pray the take gode hede
My wo to wryte that men may it rede

Alas my brother rote of vnkyndnesse
Attreus callyd of reason sours and well
And fynder oute of treason and falsenesse
And all other in fraude he doth precelle
Whos couert hate is more than I can tell
I supposynge of verry innocence
In him no malice disceit nor none offence

But as brother shulde a brother trust
I trustyd him of hert wil and thought
By apparen [...]e none other cause I wiste
For in his persone I supposyd nought
That euer he coude so false a thinge haue wrought
But who may sūner another man disceyue
Than he in whome no malice men conceyue

I demyd of him as of my true brother
w [...]ynge he had feythfull ben to me
I sawe no signe ne I knewe none other
In him supposynge no duplicite
But wo alas who myght it euer be
Or who dyd euer in any story fynde
Blood vnto blode to be so vnkynde

I woll passe ouer to tell the worthynesse
Touchinge the estatys of oure progenytours
Of oure kynred & the greate nobl [...]sse
I tell no thinge neyther of our predecessours
Neither of my youth howe passyd ben the floures
I l [...]ue all this and vnto mynde call
The wretchidnesse that I am in fall

My brother fonde a fals occasion
Ayenst me and bigan a cause feyne
To banysshe me oute of oure region
And bigan at me of hatred so disdeyne
Vpon me affermynge in certeyne
In oure kyngdome which callyd is myssene
I shulde haue leyen by his wife the quene

This he compassyd full falsly of malice
Him self wele knowynge that it was nat so
Euer founde vnkynde and his auyse
Nat lyke my brother but like my dedely foo
And to encrese greate percell of my woo
By longe processe in his entencion
He ymagenyd my distruction

Wherof the people were full glad and light
Thurghout myssene that myghty region
At my resortynge fyndynge euery wyght
Nedy of hert and hole affection
Me to resort into that noble toun
And none so redy by signes oute shewynge
To make me chere in soth as was the kynge

There is no damage in comꝑyson
That may be lykenyd by no resemblaunce
To feyned truth and simulacion
Whan fraude is hyd with a faire countenaunce
Pretendynge truth outwarde by disseyuaunce
And vnderneth of moost false entent
Of doublenesse darith the serpent

As vnder floures is shrowdyd the dragon
For to betraisshe by sodeyne violence
Such folke as haue no suspeccion
But truly mene in their pure innocence
Tyll they be caught dispurueyed of diffence
As a fisshe with bayte of fals plesaunce
The hoke nat seen to brynge him to myschaunce

Thus semblably at my home comynge
I was resceyuyd with euery circumstaunce
Lyke as half heire and brother to the kynge
And he pretendynge as by coūtenaunce
That he had so inly gretly plesaunce
Of my repaire of truth he tolde so
For reioysinge saide he wolde go

And his cheif cause was fals couetise
Touchyng this thinge which he dyd on me feyne
And yit this kyngdome truly to deuyse
Shuld haue be deꝑtyd of right betwene vs tweyne
But ayenst truth he dyd so ordeyne
Me to besile out of that region
Him self alone to haue possession

Yit in his hert he cast another wyle
To my vndoynge and disolacion
To the place where he dyde me exile
Vnder a shadowe of fals collusion
To make a maner reuocacion
Of bretherhede shewynge a pretence
Me to resorte ayen to his presence

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To be acceptyd as a brother shulde
With full accoorde styll with him forto abyde
All iniures of which afore I tolde
On either ꝑtye foryete and set a syde
That no thinge after shulde oure loue deuyde
But of one wyll and one entencion
Lede all oure life withoute diuision

Vnto his goddes to do sum obseruaunce
For this accord and humble sacrifise
Made his ministres with feithfull attendaunce
To waite on me in all their best wise
It nedith nat to tell ne diuyse
Neither by writynge in bokes for to set
Halfe the ioye he made whan we met

First howe frendly he dyd me enbrace
Of hertely gladnesse within his armes tweyne
And howe for ioye the terys on his face
Full enteerly gan distyll and reyne
That for my ꝑtye he  [...]oude nat me restreyne
But that I must of frendship fraternall
Wepe as dyd he in his estate riall

The wily wolfe that cast him to deuoure
The sely lambe which can no diffence
Ne none helpe him self to socoure
So feble he is to make resistence
Which demyth truth of fals apparence
What wondre is it the fraude nat conceyuyd
Though such lambys vnwarely be disceyuyd

Though that roses at mydsomer be full sote
Yit vnderneth is hyd a full sharpe spyne
Sum fressh floures haue a full bytter rote
And lothsum gall can also sugre vndermyne
In dredfull stormes the sūne amonge doth shyne
And wnder a shadowe of feyned frenlihede
There is no frendship so perilous to drede

Thus remembrynge the feithfull wordes stable
Of my brother shewyd vnto me
At oure metynge the kyssynge amyable
The assuryd couenauntes at oure fraternyte
But oft tyme men may beholde and se
That lilyes growen amonge these netles thicke
And floure delice in myddes these wedys wicke

Thus while I restyd in the kynges hous
No thinge aduertynge his dedely crueltie
His olde hatred was so venymous
And so odyble to distroye me
Him self to auenge he toke my children  [...]hree
And sikerly is it nat a wonder
He cut their throtes with a knyfe a sundre

For he thought that it dyd him good
Theym to dismembre into pecis smale
And in a vessell for to gadre their blode
While they lay styll and lokyd on him pale
This was his dede in a desert vale
Withinne a caue that no man shulde aspye
Treason conspired of his fals tirannye

This was the substaunce of his sacrifise
 [...]o sle my children and make their hertis blede
I trowe the goddes therof dyde agrise
Of his fals offringe whan they toke hede
He dyd their membres after roste and sede
And with this viande moost abhominable
He made me to be seruyd at the table

In couert cruses also thus it stode
To staunche my thrust thrugh his cruel vēgeaūce
He made me vnknowe drynke their blode
Was nat this thinge to goddes displesaunce
Yis I dare say for by demonstraunce
Vpon this dede withoute more obstacle
The sonne in heuyn shewyd a myracle

Which sore agrysyd myght nat beholde
With his bemys theron to cast his sight
For displesaunce his cleernes began witholde
And for vengeaunce to withdrawe his light
The day tournynge for horrour into nyght
Whan he shone brightest in his mydday spere
Shroudyd his face and wold nat appere

But I alas vpon this caas horrible
That coude nat ymagyne neyther thynke
On any mater that was so odible
Get their flessh th [...]r blode also dyde I drynke
Which so sore doth to myn herte synke
That I may nat touchinge this auenture
The circumstaunce for constreynt discure

It nedith nat me to make rehersaile
Touchynge myn exyll of all maner thynges
Of diuers sorowes that me dyde assayle
My wofull sighes ne my greuous wepynges
Neyther vpon nyghtes my dolorous wakinges
My pouert neyther howe I stode in drede
To lese my lyfe wherof bochas take hede

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And remembre all the cyrcumstaunce
If euer thou sawe of highe or lowe degre
More contrarie / or more vnhappy chauncis
Than thou herde remembred here of me
Weye in balauncis / my sorowes let se
If any sorowe or myscheef vnrecuryd
May countirpeyce to that I haue enduryd

Myn enfortunes I fonde theym ay so fell
Without fauour and socour dispurueyed
My brother on me euer so cruell
That I full oft desired to haue dyed
For to this day my sprite hath be conueyed
With sorowe and woo deuoide of all refuge
Wherfore I praye / o bochas be my iuge

And in thy wrytynge leue nat me behynde
Neyther in thy book / that thou nat disdeyne
Amonge the folke / that thou haue me in mynde
Which that for sorowe wepe / weyle / and pleyn
And thus T [...]estes rehersynge all his peyne
Like as he wolde him self on pecis rende
Made vnto bochas of his tale an ende

Howe Atreus accusyd him self of murdre and his brother vpon auoutrye doon with Europa the quene

aTreus after with a full pale chere
And of enuye full dede in his visage
And vnto Iohn bochas began aproche nere
Lyke as he had be fallen in a rage
And furiously abreyde in his langage
Howe may this be / that like a man were wode
 [...]stes hath his venym sowe abrood

And like a ribaude falsly me accusyd
Nat withstondynge that I full cleerly se
Myn infortunys / which may nat be refusyd
So sore alas / they werke ayenst me
And though T [...]estes / fals and vntrue be
And vnto the bochas with a face pale
Ayenst me hath forgyd here a tale

Which in effect shall be founde vntrue
If I haue my compleynt to declare
For I purpose to tell a tale newe
Fro poynt to poynt / and for no man to spare
Howe he was grounde and roote of all my care
And euer like as it is befall
Reherce the begynnynge of my sorowes all

Sumtyme whan I regnyd in myssene
Of age lusty flourynge in my fresshenesse
With my wife Europa that was quene
Moost renomyd that tyme of fairenesse
Tiestes than as grounde of all falsnesse
As a traitour his tyme dyd aspye
Through his fals fraude and flaterye

Cumpassyd a mene within my cyte
By sleighty wyles that were incomꝑable
To corrupt my wyues chastite
My bedde defowlynge a thynge intollerable
And to the goddes verry abhominable
Vsynge the quene to his flesshly plesaunce
Tyll vnto tyme that contynuaunce

She by him had sonnes two or thre
Echon brought forth in fals anoutrye
Demynge that they had be
Myn owne children  [...]yll that I dyd aspye
Howe that this swyne through his fals lecherye
This Tiestes / after Europa
Laye by his doughter called Pellopia

And by processe forth a childe she brought
 [...]allyd Egistus / which whan he cam to age
As seyth bochas / full moch treason he wrought
For by his malice and his greate outrage
Destroyed was all hoole the lynage
Of Tantalus which by his lyuynge
In frigia regned as lorde and kynge

But this Egistus of whom I spake to forne
Falsly bygoten myn auctour sayth the same
Of Pellopia anone as he was borne
To hyde the sclaunder / and also the defame
Of Tiestes / and also for to saue his name
Whan he was but a daye of age
He was outcast to bestys full sauage

To be deuouryd the story is well couth
A mylche goot / god lyst for him purueye
To fostre him in his tendre youth
He nyght and day lyenge by hir syde
Within the forest thus he dyd abyde
Vnto the tyme he gan growe in age
Than to the court he holdeth his passage

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Wherfore o bochas of herte I praye the
Which of these stories is moost terrible
Of Edippus  [...] Iocasta / or of me
Tel [...] on anone if it be possible
Which of their sorowes is moost penyble
Of theban brethern moost full of woo and tene
Or of vs tweyne bretherne of myssene

I am a knowe as for my partye
Of vengeaunce I dyd a cruell dede
I slough his children of malice and enuye
And rostyd theym whan that they were dede
Only bycause if thou list take hede
That he bygate theym / as rote of all this strife
Vpon Europa / which that was my wife

Such hatefull thinges eche man shulde loth
Which aparteyneth to murdre and treason
Thus may I say we been vnhappy both
He first by trespas of fornycacion
Doon by the quene within my region
And I desclaundryd on that other syde
Of hasty vengeaunce to be an homycide

My bedde he defoulyd by his auoutrye
To god and man a thynge moost detestable
And I of malice and fals malencolie
Slough his childre and seruyd theym at the table
Thus enterchaungynge if it be comendable
Eche was desirous through oure vnhappy chaunce
Vpon other for to do vengeaunce

Oure greate hatred moost odious founde at all
Oure cruell dedys wrought on outher side
Senec rehersyth theym in especiall
In his tragedies / and there he doth deuyde
Our complayntys / oure malice / and oure pride
Oure fatall ende in sorowe and myscheef fyned
Whan antrapos oure lyues threde hath twyned

Whan Iohn bochas fully had aspyed
Of these two bretherne the accusacions
And howe they had maliciously replyed
Eche ayenst other in their discencions
He beganne dully to here their mocions
Put vp his pen and wrote not more a worde
Of their furye neyther of their fals discorde

Lenuoy

THis tragedye shewyth a figure
A maner of ymage and also lykenesse
Howe contrarye it is vnto nature
Blode vnto blode to shewe vnkyndnesse
This wofull storie can bere full well witnesse
All such debatis been as ye shall fynde
Hatefull to god and contrarye vnto kynde

For there is no more dredefull auenture
Than in kynrede to fynde frowardnesse
Neither no damage more ꝑilous to endure
Than in frenship whan there is straungenesse
A maner ꝑtye by example I dare expresse
To se the tre debate ayen the rynde
To god were hatefull and contrarye vnto kynde

Euery beest and euery creature
Loueth his semblable of kyndly right I gesse
And whan one truth tweyn hertys assure
Vndepartyd of verrey ꝑfightnesse
It were a visious froward cursydnesse
Their loue to knyt to louse or vnbynde
Hatefull to god and contrarye vnto kynde

Princes princessis doo your besy cure
From you to auoyde strif / fraude / and doublenesse
Remembre you vpon the vnhappy cure
Of these two bretherne and their wretchydnesse
And of their both malicious wilfulnesse
And howe their stryues / haue this well in mynde
To god was hatefull and contrarye vnto kynde

Of duke Theseus and Adryane that saued his life in the Caue / and howe he like a forsworne man forsoke hir & weddyd faire phedra which afterward slough hir silfe

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aThenes sūtyme whā it was in his floures
Was callyd norice of philosopheris wise
Princesse of poetes and expert oratoures
Sūme of all sciencis as clerkis can deuise
Whens all cūnynge moost cleerly dyd arise
Named of Grece the lanterne and the light
Which through all erthe shed his bemys bright

With noble titles which been oute of noumbre
In euery coost his renoun dyd shyne
The fame therof was clipsid with none vmbre
All other scolys it did so enlumyne
For in that cite pleynly to determyne
Of the vn artys / as doū from one hede sprynge
There ran out ryuers and stremys of all cūnynge

These sciencis were callyd liberall
Only of fredam fraunchise and liberte
For of a storke that were prouyd thrall
There shulde no braunch studye in that cyte
 [...]ut the ylke blode that were founde fre
Both by discent and syneall high noblesse
There to  [...]oleye shulde haue interesse

This cyte was sacryd to myne [...]e
For their wisdome and their sapience
Of mercurie the festys they obserue
For rethoryk and for eloquence
And myghty mars yaue theym enfluence
With glad aspe [...]tys their ꝑtye to amende
Noblesse of knyghthode the clergie to defende

This toun was nobled by title of other thynges
And moost glorious / rekened in that age
By succession of Dukes and of kynges
Amonge which duke theseus by lynage
Sonne of Egistus full fressh in his corage
E [...]cellynge all / of prudence and manhede
That euer dyd the crowne there possede

For to that cite through his high noblesse
In their defencis / such trust / such affiaunce
He yaue to theym by his expert prowesse
Of his tryumphes so greate habundaunce
And specially their renoun to auaunce
He made theym free their trewage to lete
Ayenst Mynos the mighty kynge of Crete

For by his force the storie is well couth
Theym to fraunchise and all that regyon
The mynataur he slough in tendre youth
And afterwarde he of deuocion
To aquite him self lyke a chaumpion
Therof made solemp [...]e sacrifise
To Iupiter in moost humble wise

And a Theatre called Maraton
Duke theseus had the victorye
After he went to Colchos with Iason
Cheef of counseyle as made is memorye
And by processe to augment his glorye
With hercules his brother to conueye
Ayenst amazones he went to werreye

Conqueryd theym his manhode was wele sene
His force / his noblesse in that mortall strife
And after that Ipolita the quene
This theseus toke vnto his wife
And for his brother he layde in iuꝑde his life
Duke Pirotheus whan he dyd vndertake
The Centaures to outraye for his sake

This centaures poetys specifie
And s [...]ruyus makyth mencion
Howe they were sumtyme engendryd on askye
Whan first their fader callyd yrion
Was enammored full many a day goon
Vpon Iuno bycause she was so faire
Gouernesse and goddes of the aire

This yrion was hir secretarie
And for hir fairenesse and excellent bewtye
Louyd her full hote al be it she was contrarye
To his desire / bochas rede and ye may se
Him to delude he writeth howe that she
Hir selfe transformed / as she that myght and coude
Into the likenesse of an heuenly cloude

This yrion playnly supposynge
It was hir self and euene thus she wrought
The  [...]loude enbrasynge without more taryenge
Of his foly the goddes there he sought
And wttheir medlīg betwene them forth they brough
The Centaures thise bestys meruelous
Which of nature been founde monstruous

Halfe man / half hors deꝑtyd thus in tweyne
And wonderfull by their discripcion
Of fals malyce dyd theym self ordeyne
On Pirotheus to make inuacion
And him to put oute of possession
Of his wife callyd ypodamen
And hir to rauysshe maugre all his men

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There were of theym an hundrith as in noumbre
Swift as the wynde in their cours renynnge
Which of malice cast them to encoumbre
Duke perotheus the day of his weddynge
And to rauissh his wyf at their cummynge
If for his partie there were no defence
Ayenst their power to make recistence

But theseus lyst nat to delay
Pirotheus his brother to defende
First the centaures knightly he dyd outraie
So mortally they durst not him offende
After the conquest to hell they descende
Duke pirothe and worthy th [...]s
Maugre the daungere of  [...] cerberus

There they rauisshyd in their mortall tene
Through their knyghthode if ye lift to lere
Dispyte of pluto / proserpina the quene
Which of iupiter was the doughter dere
And pirotheus fonde first the manere
Of wilfull force through his high renoune
Realmes to conquere and holde possessioun

But by writynge sothely of ouyde
He playnly tellith howe duke theseus
Arestyd was in hell and must abyde
By the force of cruell cerberus
And pluto was to him contrarius
Tyll pirotheus to fynde a relees
The case declaryd vnto hercules

Which of his knyghthode a remedye fonde
To helpe his frende dyd his besy peyne
First by his prowesse cerberus he bonde
At hell gatis with a treble cheyne
And of his manhode he dyd so ordeyne
Duke theseus from daunger to discharge
Maugry pluto for to goo at large

They were in armys brethern both tweyne
Louyd as brethern both in werre and pees
That neither coude vnto other feyne
Their lif to iupardye and put theim self in prees
And bothe as brethern were callyd hercules
To signifye / poetes can well tell
This name in conquest all other doth excell

By olde tyme they that were peerles
For their nobles in diuers regions
All they for manhode were namyd hercules
Such as were noisyd for fa [...]ous champions
Tigres to daunt borys and lions
And renomyd amonge theim euerichon
Bochas affermith that theseus was oon

First as I said by his knyghtly traueyle
Whan athenes stode in diuision
Amonge theim self by werre and bataile
By his wisdome and his discrecion
To set accorde within that noble toune
Theim that were exilyd and stode in no certeine
He of his knyghthode made them resorte ageyne

He yaf theim lawes wherby they shulde theim gye
Noble statutes foundyd of reason
Set amonge theim so prudent policie
In their lyuynge that no dissencion
Shuld arise by none occasion
Amonge them self in high or lowe estate
Prouidynge euer that there were no debate

Thus bigan the cite encreas and multiplie
To wex famous of wisdome and riches
There spronge the well first of philosophie
There first of knyghthode rose the high nobles
By theseus bochas berith witnes
Thus thinges two lyke as it is founde
Clergye and lawe dyd there habounde

For to set the cite in quiete
He made peas through all that region
And of knyghthode he manly dyd mete
The cruell tiraunt that callyd was creon
Maugre him / made restitucion
Of lordes bones that were at thebes slayne
To the ladies / wherof they were full fayne

Thus through grece anon his renoune spradde
His knightly fame bigan gretly multiplye
And longe in ioye thus his lyf he ladde
While that fortune list him magnifye
But ay hir gladnes is meynte with sum enuye
For she frowarde list no more soiourne
With theseus but bygan her face tourne

Awey fro him wexe ꝑuerce and frowarde
Of his glorye vngoodly gan to double
Doun from her whele she made go bakwarde
Of his gode name she gan the feders pulle
Whan his nobles was highest at fulle
I mene the full of his felicite
There folowyd an ebbe of great aduercite

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And more euer her frowardly to aquyte
His vnhappis rehersynge one by one
One the first as bochas list to endyte
Was whan he lay in crete amonge his fone
And out of pryson shulde in to grece gone
Repeirynge homewarde and him self withdrawe
The minataure whan he had slawe

The first emprise that he vndertoke
Was whan he ascapyd the importable payne
Of mynatoures lyke as seith my boke
And with him had the kynges doughters tweyne
That he of malyce falsly lyst disdeyne
Ayenst adriane which that dyd him saue
From the deth whan he lay in the caue

Shulde haue be slayne had nat her socour be
In his repeire he toke therof non hede
He left her alone in great aduersite
Within an yle in mischeef sorowe and drede
And faier phedra with him he dyd lede
Weddyd her lyke a forsworne man
Thus with vntruthe his mischeef first began

Howe phedra qu [...]t her the story is well knowe
In his absence bochas wrytith thus
Whan that she within a lytill throwe
Louyd ayenst kynde her son ypolitus
But he to hir was contrarious
Wolde not assente to so foule a dede
For shame he fled and ꝑeell also for drede

To his fader for him dyd accuse
 [...] ye to forne haue the story seyne
And for he dyd her company refuse
He went away and cam neuer agayne
For ye haue herde howe that he was slayne
Within acha [...] through his vnhappy chaunce
And howe phedra through mischeef and vengeaunce

Slough her self ayenst all womanhede
Here in this boke to fore as I you tolde
Of which thinge whan theseus toke hede
Thought it was vengeaunce for his offence olde
For he not quit him lyke as he was beholde
To adriane which shulde haue be his wyf
By whose socoure he scapyd with his lyf

This infortune and this vnhappy chaunce
Was to his nobles full contrarious
The deth also was to him a vengeaunce
Of his son callyd ipolitus
For sorowe of whome this duke theseus
With salte teres sore bygan to playne
And the exequies of the ilke tweyne

I trowe also it dyd him sore greue
Duke pirotheus whan he sawe dede
Slayne with a best and might not releue
Kynge orchus hounde which had a treble hede
Whoos teeth orrible of his blode were rede
Which infortune whan he gan beholde
Vnto the day he felt his herte colde

And for to reken the great wretchydnesses
The vnhappy chauncis that fyll him in his lyf
Amonge all his other great distresses
Was none so mortall and so full of stryf
As was whan he yaf credence to his wyf
Phedra callyd which an entencion
Cumpassyd vntruly an accusacion

Vpon Ipolitus of hatred and enuye
Bycause he wolde not do so great offence
As for to assente to her lecherye
Therfore of deth he felt the violence▪
And for his fadre to sone yaf credence
Bochas forbad husbendes all their lyues
Without preef not leue to sone their wyues

Neither be to hasty tales for to here
Of flaterers in chaumbre ne at the table
Forgers of lesyngess myn auctour doth well preue
To abyde with lordes that they be nat able
Hereon he makyth a chapytle full natable
And of his wrytynge this was the cause why
That prynces shulde examyne eche party

Of wisdome also and of discrecion
Without a preef not be perciall
For to a prynce it is confusion
If bitwene partyes he be not founde egall
Causyd many one for to haue a fall
God suffrid such not longe to continue
Withdrawith their grace and hyndreth their fortune

Thus theseus for his hastynes
His hap his grace distressyd day by day
The fame appallyd of his worthines
And frowarde fortune also in a waite lay
For his defautes to hyndre him if she may
Caste she wolde his nobles diasuaunce
And than his kyngedome by disobeisaunce

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From him withdrawth honoure and reuerence
Full frowardly through all his region
They of athenes by cruell violence
Fyll ayenst him in rebellion
That he was fayne to fle oute of that toun
Thus hath fortune derkyd the brightnesse
Of all his noblesse and cast him in destresse

This was the ende by greate cantrariouste
Of Theseus after his daies glade
Whan the fressh floure of old felicite
Fortune aduerse / made theym for to fade
Eche thinge must bowe whan it is ouerlade
Worshippes and honoures whan the brightest shyne
With vnware chaunges than rathest do declyne

Lenuoye

THe vnsure gladnesse the ioye transitorie
The vnstable surenesse the transmutacions
The cloudy brightnes the fals eclipsid glorye
Of erthely princes which haue possessions
Monarchies and dominacions
Their sodeyn chaunge declareth to vs all
Their pompous suger is meynt with bitter gall

This blinde goddesse in hir consistorie
With hir plesaunce medleth discencions
After triumphes / conquest and victorye
Reueth from kynges their ceptris and their crowns
Troubleth the people with fals rebellions
See these dukes which from their whele been fall
All wordly sugre is ment with sum gall

This tragedie maketh momerie
Of dukes tweyne and of their high renouns
And of their loue write a greate historie
And howe they conqueryd dyuers regions
Gouernyd cites / cuntrees / and also touns
Tyl [...] fortune their prowesse dyd appalle
To shewe their sugre was meynt with sum gall

Princis princessis see howe deceptorie
Been all these worldly reuolucions
And howe fortune in her reclinatorie
With hir triacle temperith fals poysons
So maruelous been hir confeccions
Of frowardnesse she woll what so bifall
E [...]r with hir sugre of custum tempre gall

¶Here bochas writeth ayenst theym that yeuethe hasty credence to liers and flaterers

IN this Chaptre Bochas in sentence
Repreueth and blameth nat only princes
But all theym that ouerlightly yeueth credence
To euery tale and fable which is
R [...]po [...]tyd vnto theym for sothfastnysse
And list no thynge do / as it were dewe
To proue the trouth where it be fals or trwe

All though so be in euery maner age
Folkys been diuers of condicions
To tourne plie and chaunge in their corage
To outher partie with sodeyn mocions
And for to bowe by transmutacions
With euery wynde as done the vnstable leuys
Which hange / in trees / in forestes and in greues

But of all chaungis that chaunge is moost to drede
And moost feerfull is that variaunce
Whan that princis which may the people lede
Been founde vnstable in their gouernaunce
For their noblesse and their high punissaunce
Assureth theym by a maner of fourme
What euer theym list to acōplissh and to ꝑfourme

To comon profite they moost may auayle
Whan they been rulyd by wisdome and reason
And to the people they may moost disauayle
Whan they lacke wit and discrecion
Thus bitwene tweyne in euery region
The people draweth who that can discerne
To good or badde as princis theym gouerne

They may nat be to hasty ne to sodeyn
But doo all thynge by good auysement
Kepe theym from tunges that ꝑtyd been on tweyne
Nat be to hasty to yeue no iugement
And of folkes whan they been absent
Leue no tales / neither yeue no credence
Tyll that the ꝑtye may come to euidence

Sumtyme hath hapnyd howe that slaw credence
Hath in sūme be founde full noyous
But hasty credence I dare say in sentence
A thousande foolde is more ꝑilous
For vnauysyd / all hast is odious
For hast full oft / for lacke of reason
Of moch people hath been destruction

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There is no damage that men can purpose
More to be dred nor more lamentable
Than a prince his eeris to vnclose
To euery tale and euery fable
It is a token their hertes be nat stable
Whan they to flaterers their eers don applye
Namely to such that can well forge and lye

Folkes be dyuers sum fals sum trewe
In diuers studies done their besynesse
Sum can studye and fynde out tales newe
And sum for lucre can maintene well falsnesse
And holde vp quarels ayenst rightwysnesse
Pretendynge truthe vnder a fals entente
To hyndre folkes which that ben innocente

 [...] to suppose it were a great folye
 [...] folkes shulde in their opynion
Speke or pronounce all on one partye
Or holde one way in their entencion
For semblably as there is a diuision
Of  [...]oragis of high or lowe degre
So is there truly a great diuersite

In rehersaile or reporte of a thinge
For to his partye eche man is fauorable
S [...] man can saye well in all his rehersynge
S [...] man is double and sum man dissayuable
S [...] men say trewe and sum be variable
 [...]fore a prynce of right as it doth seme
Shulde wele examyne byfore or that he deme

For there is noon more dredfull pestilence
Than a tunge that can flatere a fage
For with his cursyd crabbyd violence
He enf [...]th folke of euery age
Woo to tunges frowarde of their langage
And woo to tunges fals furious and wode
Which of no persone neuer can saye good

Bochas rehersith it is right wele sittynge
Than euery man other do comende
And say the best alwey in reportynge
For in wele sayenge no man may offende
Where men say wele god woll his grace sende
After men be / men must this pris vpreyse
Lyke their meritis alowe theym or despreise

But where a thynge is vtterly vnknowe
Let no man there be hasty of sentence
For rightfull iuges sittynge on arowe
Of their wisdome and of their high prudence
Will of truth haue first sūme euidence
I mene such as gouernyd be by grace
Or any dome forth by their lippis pace

A prince shulde assemble thinges tweyne
Within him selfe afore full prudently
Shet vp his domes bitwyxe lockes tweyne
One of the soule / reason for that partye
Prudence chosen / and right for the body
And bytwene theym both or he yaue a sentence
To counseyll call / truth and good conscience

First to considre with euery circumstaunce
And diligently doo their on his laboure
Of discrecion to take the balaunce
And first weye oute who is the accusoure
And whether that he for falnesse or fauoure
In his processe list to procede
Herof a prynce must of right take hede

He must also considre by and by
What that he is which to him is accusyd
And whether the accusour be frende or enmy
Or whether he shall be accept or refusyd
In his actis thus must afore be musyd
And whether he be by report of his name
A man well norsyd or sclaundred by diffame

If theseus thus had been auysyd
And consideryd of reason the meanere
He had nat so hastely deuysyd
His sonnes deth like as ye shall lere
For if there had assembled be in fere
In his ꝑsone prudence and reason
He shulde haue seen in his discrecion

By knowelegynge of longe experience
Of his wife the greate vnstedfastnesse
Which through hir froward compassynge eloquence.
Was redy euer to bringe folke to distresse
And in his writinge bochas berith witnesse
Of their nature wymen can flater and fage
And be sumtyme to copious of their langage

Also of wisdome duke theseus
Shulde haue consideryd afore in his entent
Howe that his sonne callyd Ipolitus
Of all vnclennesse was founde euer Innocent
And howe that he custum / made his went
Into forestys durynge his yonge age
To hunte at beestys which that were sauage

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Rennynge on fote as ye shall vnderstonde
On hillis valeys to eschewe idelnesse
Modre of vicis with his bowe on honde
Dyane to serue of huntynge cheef goddesse
Sumtyme to hauke he dyd his besynesse
Also vnto fisshynge greatly he was applyed
So that his youth was neuer vnoccupyed

Thus he lyuyd in wodys solitarye
And of venus despisyd the seruyse
Amonge wymen he wolde neuer tarye
Their felawship he dyd alwey despise
For he demyd by sentence of the wyse
Who so touchith pytch by assay men may se
It fayleth nat he shall defoulyd be

‘Qui tangit picem et c̄.’

Ipolitus sawe well this thinge afore
Kept him at large from such contrariouste
His grene youth he wolde nat haue it lore
To be defoulyd for lacke of chastite
For he lyued euer in virginyte
And neuer dyde Bochas wyll nat varye
No thinge that was vnto god contrarie

Thus of entent he kept his body clene
Durynge his lyf both in thought and dede
Whose moder was ypolita the quene
Of amazones in ouide ye may rede
But wo alas that theseus toke hede
For a tale of phedra full of gyle
Without gylte / his to exile

After whos deth / sūme poetis seyn
Howe that Dyana for his chastite
Restoryd him vnto life ageyne
By Esculapius / and yaue him libertye
In hir forestes to hunte and to goo free
For which restorynge / as write Ouideus
As twyes a man / men call him verbius

‘¶M. de transformatis .i. bis vir’

But bochas here I not what he doth mene
Makith in his boke an exclamacion
Ayenst wymen that pite is to sene
Seith howe their life their generacion
Been of nature double of condicion
And callyth theym also dyuers and vnstable
Beestys resemblynge that been insaciable

He meneth of wymen been borne in Crete
And no thinge of theym that dwell in this cuntre
For wymen here all doublenesse they lete
And haue no tatch of mutabilite
They loue [...]o chaungis ne no duplicite
For their husbondes in causes smale or grete
What so euer they saye they cānot counterplete

Blessyd be god that theym hath made so meke
So humble / and feerfull of their condicions
For though men wolde cause and mater seke
Ayens their paciens to fynde occasions
They haue refusyd all contradiccions
And theym submyttyd through their gouernaunce
Oonly to mekenesse and womanly suffraunce

I speke nat of one I speke of all
That been professyd vnto lowlynesse
They may haue mouthes but langege haue they non
All true husbondes can bere herof witnesse
For weddyd men I dare full well expresse
That haue assayed and had experience
Best can recorde of wifly pacience

For as longith to men to be sturdy
And sumwhat froward as of their nature
Right so can wymen suffre paciently
And all wronges womanly endure
Men shulde attempte no maner creature
And namely wymen their mekenesse for to preue
Which may wele suffre while no man do theym greu [...]

Euery thynge resortith to his kynde
As bochas writith sumtyme of the yere
And yit who serchith by processe he shall fynde
That truth and vertue may neuer fade of chere
For rightwysnesse woll alwey shyne clere
Truth falsnesse in what they haue to done
They may no while assemble in one ꝑsone

Feer and flaterie they been contrarie
They may togydre holde soiour
Neyther symplesse which that can nat varye
May neuer accorde. with a baratoure
Neyther Innocence with a losemour
Neyther chastice cannot hir self applie
Hir to confourme vnto no rebaudie

‘¶Ar [...] mutat naturam’

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By the ordynaunce set in their corage
And ech man foloweth his condicion
As of the stocke the frute hath the tariage
Pylgrymes may go full ferm their passage
But I dare saye howe ferre that euer they goo
There but sūme tarrage of that they cam fro

Bochas maketh an introduccion
In this chaptre of high noblesse
That princis haue in their possession
And by a maner laughynge doth expresse
Howe for to set theym in greate sekernesse
They haue seruauntis vpon theym abidynge
And men of armes day and nyght awaytinge

That no man may entre but if he haue licence
The frowarde portes stondinge at the gate
Put men abak by sturdy violence
It were full harde ayenst theym to debate
Their wat [...] his kept erly and also late
And theym to assure on nyghtes whan they slepe
The chaumberleyns their doris streitly kepe

Men assignyd their metis to assaye
To tast their wynes lest there were treason
Such mortall drede these lordes do affraye
Soo is there surenesse meynt with suspecion
Who fedyth him gladly that ferith him of poison
But pore folke fraunchisyd from such drede
Such as god theym sent with myrth they theym fede

But poetis that write tragedies
Their compleynynge is all of high estatis
Rehersinge euer the pitous Iuꝑdus
Their sodeyn chaungys and their wofull fatis
Their diuisions and theyr mortall debatis
And euer conclude their dytees who so can rede
High estatis stonde ay moost in drede

And grounde and rote of all this mortal trouble
As Bochas writeth and berith witnesse
Been these liers with their tunges double
Theym self ay forsinge truthe to oppresse
With whom flaterie is a cheef maystresse
And worst of all to their dredfull sentence
Is whan princis been hasty of credence

Hasty credence is rote of all errour
A froward stepmoder of all good counseyll
Grounde of greate hindringe a dredefull disseiuour
Faire of face with a ꝑlous taile
Gladly concludynge with full greate disauaile
Neyt neighboure vnto repentaunce
To all that trust and haue in hir plesaunce

Lenuoye

Princis princessis concidre howe in euery age
Folkes been deuers of their condicion
To plye and tourne and chaunge in their corage
Yit is there none to myn opinion
So dredfull chaunge ne transmutacion
As chaunge of princis to yeue Iugement
Or hasty credence withoute auysement

It is well founde a passynge greate damage
Knowen and expert in euery region
Though a tale haue a faire visage
It may include full greate decepcion
Hid vnder suger galle and fell poison
With a fressh face of double entendment
Yit yeue no credence without auysement

Let folkes beware of their langage
Kepe their tunges form oblocucion
To hindre or hurte by no maner outrage
Preserue their lippes from all detraccion
From chaūꝑtie and contradiction
For lest that fraude were founde in their entent
Ne yeue no credence without auysement

Princis princessis of noble and high parage
Which haue lordship and dominacion
Voide theym aside that can flater and fage
Fro tunges that haue a terrage of treason
Stop your erys from their bitter soun
Be circumspecte nat hasty but prudent
And yeue no credence withoute auisement

¶Of quene Althea / and howe Hercules by wymē was brought to confusion

wHan bochas had shewed his sentence
And declaryd his opinion
Ayenst theym that were hasty of credence
He began anone to make a digression
Fro that mater and of entencion
To serch out mo / his purpos to contune
That were doun cast and hintryd by fortune

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And as him thought he sawe a company
Of many worthy which dyd apere
And amonge all first he dyd aspye
Quene althea as she gan nigh him nere
All bywepte her face and also her chere
With salt teerys that pyte was to sene
Which sūtyme was of calsidonye the quene

She was the doughter of kynge testius
Weddyd to Oene of calcidonye kynge
Of chere and face apperynge full pitous
Her here to torne and frowardly lyenge
And in token also of compleynynge
As writith bochas wherof he toke gode hede
Blacke was her habyte and torne was her wede

A sonne she had melliager he hight
In erth was there none feirer to se
Right well fauouryd in euery mens sight
And as I fynde at his natiuite
Present were the fatall sustres thre
With their rockes and bigan forto spynne faste
And toke a bronde and in to fyre it caste

And in that houre this was their langage
Touchynge this chylde we full accordyd be
And haue disposyd also the terme of his age
The space concludyd of his destyne
As longe tyme who so lift to se
Tyll this bronde amonge the coles rede
Be full consumyd in to asshes dede

But whanne althea aspyed their entente
And conceyuyd the fyne of their sentence
She roos vp and the bronde she hente
Out of the fyre with full great deligence
Quenchyd anon the firys violence
The dome of parchas she gan thus disobeye
The bronde reseruynge vnder locke and keye

Touchinge the fader of this meliager
Orneus of him thus I rede
Howe that he sought nygh and ferre
Goddes and goddesses who so lyst take hede
In hope onely for to haue grete mede
For to theim all poetes thus diuise
Saue to diane he dyd sacrifise

Wherof she caught an indignacion
Cast she wolde on him auengyd be
Sent a bore into his region
Full sauage and full of cruelle
Whiche deuouryd the frute of many tree
And destroyed his cornys and his vynes
That such scarsnesse of vitailes and of wynes

Was in his londe vpon euery syde
That the people of necessite
Compellyd were amonge to prouyde
Sōme meane weye / to saue their cuntre
And at the last they condescendyd be
That melliager lusty of his corage
Shuld chefe with him folkes fressh & yonge of age

This dredfull boor mightely to enchace
And furth they went echon deuoide of drede
With rounde speres they gan him to manace
But meliager made first his sydes rede
And with a swerde than smote of his hede
Wherof the cuntrye was both glad and fayne
And in this wyse the tusky bore was slayne

Sūme bokes tell of this huntynge
That a lady which was borne in arge
Callyd atthalonta doughter to the kynge
To sle this bore toke on her the charge
And with an arowe made his woundes large
Also in Ouide like as it is founde
Bycause that she yaue the first wounde

Melliager anone for a memorye
As he that was her owne chosyn knyght
Yaue hir the hede in tokene of this victorye
But his tw [...]ne vncles ayenst all skyll and right
Raft hir the hede of very force land myght
Hauynge despite that she in hir auyce
Of this victorye shulde bere awaye the price

With which Iniurie melliager was wroth
Ayenst theym proudly gan disdeyne
Pullyd oute a swerde and vpon theym goth
And through his manhode slough his vncles tweyne
And after that dyd his besy peyne
To take the hede and with humble entent
To athalente ayen to be present

One of his vncles was callyd Flexippus
A manly knight / but yonge of age
That other brother namyd theseus
But whan ther suster herde of that outrage
Howe they were slayne / she gan in hir visage
Wexe dede and pale alas for hir blode
Whan she aspyed the cause howe it stode

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She had no mater god wote to be sayn
Quene althea to stande and beholde
Her brethern tweyne of her sonne slayne
At the huntynge of which tofore I tolde
First thinges twayn she gan peise and vnfolde
Of her brethern the loue / and nigh kynrede
And of her son the hasty cruell dede

And remembrynge she castyth in balaunce
Of hertly woo that she dide endure
Thought if she did vpon their deth vengeaunce
To sle her son it were ayenst nature
Thus in a werre longe tyme she dyd endure
Her dedely sorowe peisynge euery dell
Whedre she shall be tendre or cruell

Thus tendre I mene her son for to spare
Or punissh the deth of her brethern tweyne
Thus confortles all distitute and bare
In languisshinge she enduryd forth her payne
And remedye can she non ordeyne
Saue fayne she wolde euenge her if she may
But than furth came nature and said nay

It was her son ayenst all kyndly right
Of whom she cast auengyd for to be
To wymen all / an ougly straunge sight
That a mother deuoide of all pyte
Shulde sle her chylde so mercyles parde
Nay not so nature woll not assente
For if she dyd full sore she shulde repente

But o alas all fatall purueaunce
Kepyth his cours as sum clerkys sayne
But the wrytynge of doctoures in substaunce
And these deuines reply there agayne
And afferme the opinion is in vayne
Of theym that trust in fate or destyne
For god aboue hath the soueraynte

And of fortune the power may restrayne
To saue and spyll lyke as folke deserue
Ayenst his wyll they may no thynge ordeyne
Of necessite what cours that they conserue
But this mater all hooly I reserue
Vnto diuynes to determyne and conclude
Which not ꝑteynyth vnto folkes rude

But althea of calcidonye quene
Began sore muse and henge in balaunce
Her brethern dede whan she dyd theym seen
Than was she meuyd anon to doo vengeaūce
Vpon her son by full great displesaunce
But as poetes lyst for to compyle
Nature made hir withdrawe her hande a whyle

Thus bitwene ire and affection
She helde her longe of euery ꝑtye stable
Tyll that she caught in her opinion
A sodeyn rancoure which made her be vengeable
And hasty wrath which is nat commendable
Ayenst her sone made her with her honde
Out of her chyst to take the fatell bronde

And sodenly she cast it in the fyre
And wexyd cruell ayenst all womanhede
To execute hir venymous desyre
The fatall bronde amonge the coles rede
Consumyd was in to asshis dede
And furiously in her malencoly
The vengeaunce done she thus gan to cry

O ye parcas frowarde susters thre
Whiche of ioue kepe the lybrarye
And of chyldren at their natiuite
Awayte the sentence which may not varye
Wherso it be wilfull or contrarye
Vpon his domes takyng alway hede
Howe that ye shall dispose the fatall threde

Thou cloto takyst thy rocke on hande
And lathesys after doth bygynne
By great auise who so can vnderstande
The threde of lengthe to drawe and to spyrine
But whan the spirite shall from the body twynne
Thou antropos doest thy cruell peyne
Full frowardly to parte the threde in tweyne

I may well playne in such deperticion
Not for a day but woo alas for euer
Ye haue vntwynyd and made diuision
Of my two brethern and causyd theym disseuer
That here on lyue I shall se them neuer
And I of hast alas why dyd I so
To auenge their deth haue slayne my son also

O ye doughters of arberus the felle
Whoos ougly modre was the blacke night
And all your kynred and lynage lyue in hell
And for to auenge the wronge and great vnright
Which I haue accomplisshid in your sight
I woll with you perpetually complayne
Lyke my desert endure sorowe and payne

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And while began with hir self thus stryue
Vpon hir sorowes that were endles
She made a swerde through her hert to ryue
Of hir self here she was recheles
And bochas after amonge all the prees
Sawe as him thought with a full hidious chere
Dede of visage hercules appere

Whoos fadre was Iupiter the greete
His moder doughter of amphitrion
Callyd Alcumena sumtyme borne in crete
And as poetis reherce one by oon
So excellent was there neuer none
To speke of conquest of victorie and of fame
Here in this worlde that had so greate a name

Dredfull of loke he was and right terrible
His beerd also blacke which henge full lowe doun
And all his heer as brestles were horrible
His robe also full merueylous of facion
Was of the skynne of a feers lyon
Which from his backe of verrey force he rent
Within a forest alone whan he went

In his hande he bare a maas of steell
Which to beholde was wonder longe and huge
By apparence as bochas felt wele
Demyd of reason a rightfull Iuge
That hercules had to his refuge
Wisdome with force for to encrece his fame
As beestys wylde for to make theym tame

And vnto bochas he gan loude crye
Take right good hede for it is no fable
I for my merites to speke of cheualrye
And noble triumphes am moost commendable
To be preferryd moost worthy and moost able
Which haue acōplisshed al that may excelle
Through high prowesse that any tonge can telle

Also of my byrth in heuen full thore ago
Fully conceyued my constellacion
Mighty Iuno saide vnto Inno
On such a da [...] in such a regeon
One shall be  [...]ne most mighty of renoun
Noblest of nobl [...]s both in werre and pees
Of whome the name shall be Hercules

The which dome whan Inno vnderstode
Of Iupiter conceyuinge the entente
And knewe my fate shulde be so good
To lucynya her messaunger she sente
But sum seith howe downe hir self she wente
To this goddesse / goddesse of chyldynge
And her bisought to graunt her / her askynge

That she wolde from hercules translate
The influence of his natiuite
Helpe to reserue his name and his fate
And graunte it hooly to yonge Euristee
And that lucynya present wolde be
The same houre by iupiter prouidyd
It to possede all hool and vndyuidyd

Thus to the moder of this euristee
Iuno the goddesse grauntyd her fauoure
Therby disposynge that he shulde be
Mighty of puyssaunce lyke an emperoure
But of his noblesse the conquest and laboure
And of his manhode the prowesse and pursute
By hercules was fully execute

This hercules had the traueyle
And  [...]uristeus bare away the name
Also hercules faught in plate and maile
And high emprises proudely dyd attame
But the reporte of his noble fame
To curistius fully was ascriued
Thus of his thanke was hercules depriued

Full oft in armys s [...]n man doth full wele
And oft causith that the felde is wonne
And of a nother that dyd neuer adele
The pryce out spredith like as shineth the sonne
And oft it hapneth that he that hath best ronne
Doth not the spere lyke his desert possede
Where fals fauoure yeueth euery man his mede

Fame in her palice hath trumpes mo than oon
Sum of golde that yeuith a full fressh soun
Sum man hath lande and deseruith noon
And sum heue be full worthy of renoun
No thinge preferryd by commendacion
As by reporte of statys high and lowe
So frowardly fame his trumpe hath blowe

Touchynge armys the poure ne the riche
Ben not of hertes echon coragious
Neither all men may not be eliche
Neither of their name egal ne gracious
And though the poure haue ben victorious
Of a venture to doo full well sum day
Other haue pynchyd to take his thanke away

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One sleeth the dere with an hokyd arawe
Whoos part is none yit of the venyson
One betith the busshe another hath the sparowe
And all the bryddes in his possession
One draweth his nettes in ryuers vp and doun
With sundry baitys cast out lyne and hoke
And hath no part of all that euer he toke

An euydence herof ye may se
Full notale to be put in memorye
Of Hercules and of Euristye
For hercules gate ay the victorye
And euristeus recyued hath the glorye
Thus their palme departyd was in tweyne
That one reioysed that other bare the peyne

Euristeus was prince of Athene
Sonne and heire by discent of lyne
Vnto the kynge that callyd was scellene
Vnder whoos myght as bochas dothe determyne
Hercules through knightly disciplyne
Prouidyd so moost manly and moost wise
That from all other he bare away the prise

 [...]ut wo alas that euer it shulde fall
So manly a knight so noble and notable
That any spot shulde his price appalle
Or cause his corage for to be vnstable
Which is a thinge dolefull and lamentable
From his knyghthode which a thinge to straunge
That euer a woman shulde his hert chaunge

I woll excuse theym by cause their nature
Is to chaunge hertys and coragys
Ayenst their nature no force may endure
For their  [...]laterie and sugryd faire langage
Lyke Serenes fresshe of their visagis
For to enchaunge of princis the noblesse
More than hercules can bere herof wytnesse

Thus hercules astonyed and asshamyd
Vnto bochas shewed his presence
Sayde alas my knyghthode is diffamyd
By a full fals amerous pestilence
So sore constreyned by mortall violence
Wherby alas my manhode was applyed
To sleyth of wymen oppressyd and maistryed

To toke their habyte and cloth me in their wede
To shere my berde and force me visage
With oyntementis ayenst all manhede
To make it souple and chaunge my langage
And to compleyne more of myn outrage
Vpon my fyngers vtwies tolde
I had rynges richely wrought of golde

Thus was my corage chaungyd feminine
For loue of one callyd yolee
Of condicions though she were serpentyne
Me thought she was fairest vpon to se
That all my ioye was with hir to be
And that none shulde aꝑceyue my trespas
I chaungyd both habyte loke and face

And was a woman outwarde in apparence
Of entent to haue more libertye
To vse my lustys and haue experience
Of appetitis which that vnlefull be
Wherof the sclaundre reboundyth vpon me
That I dare saye my outragious trespace
Doth all my knyghthode and prowes difface

Wherof o bochas I praye the take good hede
For to discryue in termes playn and clere
Myn infortune lyke as it was in dede
That whan other conceyue the manere
Of myn vnhappis contagious for to here
They may by example / of me do their peyne
From vicious life their hertys to restreyne

For these folys that all wisdome despise
And been contrarie to vortuouse disciplyne
May yeue example to folkys that been wyse
And been to theym a lanterne of doctryne
Vicis to eschewe and prudently declyne
Fro flesshly lustys for it is taught in scolys
That wise men all day been taught by foolys

Whan bochas had conceyuyd the pleynt
Of hercules in his apperynge
And howe his nobles by wymen was atteynt
Through his disordynate lyuynge
He thought anone him remembrynge
It had be ruth for to put in mynde
His vicis all / and vertues left behynde

Considre also it was inꝑtynent
Outher by langage to write ayenst all right
Any thynge that shulde in sentinent
The fame amenuse of so noble a knyght
Or to discrees in any ma [...]ys sight
His glorious prowesse /  [...]th poetis for his werri [...]
Reise his renoun so high aboue the sterrys

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For he was both knyght and philosophere
And for his strength callyd a geaunt
For comon profite he gan all pro [...]ly profre
Of manly corage  [...]eue therto full graunt
To entre into Egipt to sle the geaunt
Callyd Busiris of full fals entent
Slough all straūgers ye through his kyngdom went

For vnder a colour of lyberalite
Vnto his palys gladly he wolde call
Straungers echon that cam through his cuntre
And solemply receue theym one and all
And lyke a kynge bothe in chambre and hall
Make theym such chere in all maner thynge
As aperteynyd to a worthy kynge

But while his gestys lay a nyght and slepe
This fals tyraunt in full cru [...]l wise
Murdryd theym echon or they toke kepe
And after that / this was also his gyse
With their blode to make a sacrifise
To Iupiter god of that cuntre
Of hole entent to plese his deite

That in his kyngdome of frutes and greyn
The londe encreasyd by greate habundau [...]
Doun from heuyn he wolde sende they [...] reyne
This meane he made and this cheuyss [...]ce
To murdre and sle he had so greate pl [...]sau [...]ce
For all thynge him thought it dyd him good
To murdre his gestys and shede their blood

But whan this murdre of Busiris was couth
That no straunger myght passe his londe in pees
This manly knyght yit flowynge in youth
This noble famous this worthy hercules
Amongys other he put him self in  [...]es
And lyke a gest outwarde in shewy [...]ge
Cam to the palys of Eusiris the kynge

Rebukid him of his greate outrage
Done to his gestys by cruell violence
And for to make pesible that passage
And for to auenge that his importable offence
And of his murdre to make a recompence
This hercules slough busiris in dede
And toke the blode which he dyd blede

Offryd it vp Iupiter to plese
For this vectorye him to magnifye
And all egipt thus was set in ese
Their londes their frutes gan also multiplye
Their greyn encresyd aboute on eche  [...]tye
And to habounde by influence of  [...]ey [...]
Which afore tyme of vitaile was bareyn

Another geaunt callyd antheus
Kynge of Libie and gouerned all that londe
Whom hercules moost stronge and moost coragious
Sumtyme out [...]aide and sloughe him with his honde
For as they wras [...]lyd by experience he fonde
Touchinge the erth this Geaunt it is true
His force his myght dyd alw [...]y renewe

But whan hercules the maner dyd aspye
Howe his strength renewed ayen so oft
Therayenst he shope a remedye
Hye in the eyre he ꝑcyd him vp a loft
And withis harde and no thynge softe
Backe and bone so sore he dyd enbrace
That he fyll dede to fore him in that place

But sūme bokys of this Geaunt tell
Within his kyngdome who dyd him assaile
He wolde of newe his chiualrie compelle
Eft ayen to mete him in bataile
And in this wise full feelde he dyd faile
To aforce of newe as folke shall vnderstonde
His strength his myght all ennemy [...]s to withstonde

But hercules of high discrecion
The feelde on him manly to recure
Had him by sleight out of his region
And as they met there of auenture
The sayde Antheus might nat endure
But was discomfited by hercules anone
Maugre his myght and his men echone

After this conquest hercules is goon
For excercise his prowes for to vse
Ayenst the myghty stronge Gercon
Kynge of spayne / of melleager / and Ebuse
The which tyraunt myght him nat excuse
That all his laboure as poetis ly [...]t compile
Was from these realmes his people to exile

His tyrannye myght nat longe endure
For hercules that noble worthy knyght
Made vpon him a greate discounfiture
And slough the tyraunt as they met in fight
And after that through his greate myght
Of high prowes and magnanymyte
Slough Cerberus with his hedys thre

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The famous bole of the londe of crete
Wich that distroied all that region
He slough also whan that they dyd mete
And in Nemea he slough a feers lyon
And for a recorde of his high renoun
Of manly force his skyn awaye he toke
And to his body a coot therof he shope

To all his ennemyes to shewe him more dredfull
Therfore he ware that hidious garnement
And for he was in armys neuer founde dull
But  [...]lyke f [...]essh euer in his entent
Into a mouteyne anone he made his went
Callyd  [...]nantus and there in his passage
He slough Ab [...]or moost wilde and moost sauage

Besyde a ryuer callyd stiphalus
Of furious briddes he slough a greate noumbre
Within the kyngedome of kynge pheneus
All the  [...]untre they dyde encumbre
For which their shadowe and contagious vmbre
On sede on frutes where euer they alyght
All was deuou [...]yd in euery mannys sight

Vpon the mounteyne callyd auentyne
Which is nat f [...]r fro rome the cite
There is a wode as cronycles determyne
Right fresshe of sight and goodly on to se
And hercules passynge by that cuntre
Fro Spaynewarde passynge by ytaile
Ca [...]hus the geaunt dyde him there assayle

While Ercules amonge the leuys grene
Layde him to slepe by sodeyne auenture
And his beestes ayenst the sonne shene
While that he slept went in their pasture
Cam Cachus forth full hidious of stature
Thought he wolde these beestys with him haue
Stall theym echon and hide theym in a caue

And like a thefe he made theym go bacwarde
That no man shulde the tracis of theym knowe
Neyther of their passage haue no rewarde
For by their tayles he ledde theym on a rowe
Into his caue which that stode full lowe
And for they were of excellent fairenesse
To kepe theym cloos he dyd his besynesse

Oute of his slepe whan hercules awoke
And perceyued his oxen were away
He roos vp and  [...]est aboute his loke
Began to asspye in all the hast he may
To what ꝑtye the tracis of theym lay
And while he stode thus musynge in the shade
He herde lowynge that his oxen made

And by their lowynge he gan anone aproch
Towarde the ꝑtye where they were kept full cloos
Fonde the caue vnder a myghty roche
And proude Cachus which had theym in depoos
Ayenst Hercules he s [...]rdely aroos
But for all that he myght him self nat saue
For he him slough at the entrynge of the caue

And thus his beestys he hath ayen recuryd
That sempt afore inrecuꝑable
After the mounteyn by force he hath assuryd
Which for brigantys afore was full doutable
But by his knighthode it was made habytable
That men myght for drede of any foo
Whan euer they wolde frely come and goo

Tou [...]hinge his conquest vpon femyne
Ayenst amazones with theseus he went
The quene ypolita through his chiualrye
For his praye anone to him he hent
And ypolita of full true entent
Yaue vnto him in tokene of victorye
Of golde a gyrdell to haue him in memorye

After to affryk he went a full greate paas
Only of purpos the gardeyn for to se
Which aparteyned to kynge Athlas
That brother was to the kynge Promothe
In astrologie full well expert was he
And of this gardeyn of which I haue you tolde
The rich braunches and apples were of golde

Through magik made by greate auysement
Full streite kept and closyd enuyron
And I watchyd with a fell serpent
That no man entryd that rich mancion
But Hercules moost myghty of renoun
The serpent slought through his manly pursute
And fro the gardeyne he bare away the f [...]te

This sayde Athlas as bokes specifie
And poetys also of him endyte
He was cūnynge in astronomye
And therin dyd full greatly him delite
And many a boke he made and dyd wry [...]e
With greate laboure and greate diligence
In his tyme vpon that science

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The which were more precious than golde
And more riche in his opinion
But hercules in soth as it is tolde
Gate all the bokes through his high renoun
Bare theym by force oute of that region
And to Grece like a conquerour
With him he brought for a greate tresoure

Of trace he slough the gea [...]nt outragious
That sumtyme was callyd Diomede
Which that murdryd all that cam to his house
And with their flesshe his hors he dyd fede
And through his wit / laboure / and manhede
Of Achelaus which was a greate wonder
He made the stremes for to deꝑte asundre

And by his wisdome dyd theym so deuide
In two ꝑties disseueringe his passage
For afore no man myght abyde
Of his cours the furious fell outrage
For in cuntrees it dyd so greate damage
Turnynge vpwarde there was none other bote
Where euer it flowed / of trees crop and rote

A greate emprise he dyd also vndertake
Whan that the mes hidious and horreble
Arriuyd vp of Archadies the lake
Which with their teeth and mowthes terrible
Callyd lerne the bestes full odible
Frute / greyn / and corne dyd mortaly deuoure
But Hercules the cuntre to socoure

Cam like a knight their malice for to let
And by his prudence destroyed theym euerychon
With in the lake the wormys vp he shet
Saue amonge all behinde was left one
And ayenst him / this hercules anone
Of knyghthode caught so greate auantage
That to the cuntre he dyd nomore damage

Thus all that euer may rehercyd be
Touchinge knyghthode / prowesse / or prudence
Or glorious fame / or longe felicite
This knightly man had moost excellence
And in armys longest experience
And for his triumphes and actis marciall
He set vp pilers for a memoriall

Which remembryd his conquestys moost notable
And his dedys by grauynge dyd expresse
Beyonde which no londe is habitable
So ferre a brode sprad his noblesse
But as the sonne leueth his brightnesse
Sumtyme whan he is fresshe [...]t in his spere
With vnware cloudes that sodenly appere

Semblably the noblesse and the glorie
Of hercules in this vnstable life
Eclipsyd was / and shadowyd his memorye
By Deianira that sumtyme was his wife
For by hir fraude cam in the mortall strife
As ye shall here the maner and the caas
Wherby that he lost his life alas

Yit for hir sake this moost manly man
Faught as I finde in singuler bataile
With Achelous sonne of the Occian
Like as poetis make rehersaile
And as eche proudly dyd assayle
This hercules of knighthode souereyne
Sent from his hede one of his armys tweyne

Of kynge Deme she was the doughter dere
To hercules ioyned by mariage
And as they cam to grete a ryuere
With sturdy wawes where was no passage
Nessus the geaunt ougly of visage
To hercules profryd his seruyse
And full falsly ayenst him bygan deuyse

Made his promys to hercules in dede
To put his life in greate auenture
Ouer the streme deianire to lede
By cause he was large of his stature
And for she was a right faire creature
Whan they passyd and I come to londe
Nessus falsy wolde vpon the stronde

Haue knowe hir flesshly / like as write ouyde
Hercules hauynge therof a sight
As he abode vpon that other side
And for to auenge him of his greate vnright
Toke his bowe and bent it anone right
And with an arowe filyd sharpe and grounde
Yaue to Nessus his dedly fatell wounde

Like a conduyt gusshyd out the blode
And whan he sawe that he must dye
To Deianire tofore him there she stode
With all his hert hir he bigan praye
That in one thinge his lust she wolde obeye
To take his shert and be nat recheles
With blode desteyned and sende it hercules

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Therwith him to be reconciled
And she to him anone the sherte hath sent
Through whoos venym alas he was begilyd
For what by touchinge and what by enchauntment
His flesshe his bonys were all brent
And amonge his dedely peynes all
In to a rage he sodenly is fall

And as a beest furiously he ran
On v [...]l [...]es hilles amonge the craggy stones
Semblably as doth a wood man
Pullyd vp trees and rotes all at ones
Brake beestys hornes and all to knewe hir bonys
Was it  [...]at pyte that a knight so good
Shulde amonge beestis rēne sauage and wood

Thus ouerwhelmyd was all his worthynesse
And to declyne went his prosperitye
And cause and roote of his wretchydnesse
Was for that he set all his felicite
To trust so moch the mutabilite
Of these wymen which erly and soone
Of their nature braide vpon the mone

Alas alas all noblesse and prudence
Prowesse of nature force and chyualrye
For sight of wisdome discrecion and science
Vertuous study profitynge in clergie
And the cleer shynynge of philosophie
Hath thrugh fals lustys here be manacyd
By sleight of wymen derkyd and diffacyd

O hercules I fele my penne quake
Myn ynke fulfullyd with bytter teerys salt
This pitous tragedye to write for thy sake
Whom all poetys glorifie and exalte
But fraude of wymen made thy renoun halt
And frowarde muses thy triumphes all to rende
For to descryue alas thy fatall ende

Lenuoye

THe soot venym the sauery poyson
The dredfull ioye the dolerous plesaunce
The wofull gladnesse the furious treason
Feith despiryd ay stable in variaunce
Vertue exilynge where lust hath gouernaunce
Through fals luxurie diffacen all noblesse
As this tragedie can bere full well witnesse

Where frowarde venus hath dominacion
And blynde Cupide his subgettis doth auaunce
And wylfull lust through indiscrecion
Is chosyn iuge to holde the balaunce
Their choise vnlefull hath through vnhappy chaūce
Derkyd of princes the famous high noblesse
As this tragedye bereth full well witnesse

O thou hercules for all thy high renoun
For all thy conquest and knyghtly suffisaunce
Thou were through wymen brought to confusion
And through their fraude & thy renomyd puissaunce
Disclaundryd was and brought vnto myschaunce
I were ashamyd to write it or expresse
Excepte this tragedie can bere me well witnesse

Princis pricessis of high discrecion
This thinge emprentid in your remembraunce
Of others fallynge make your protection
You to preserue through prudent purueaunce
Afore prouidyd that your ꝑseueraunce
Be nat ꝑturbyd by no fals sorceresse
As this tragedie of other berith witnesse

A processe of Narcisus. Bible. Mirra. and of other their infortunes to bochas compleynynge

nArcisus / biblis / and mirra all th [...]
Tofore bochas pitously dyd appere
Their infortunes their infelicite
To him compleynynge with a dedly chere
And of theyr comynge to tell the manere
Narasus first with sorowe and dooll atteynt
Bygan first all declare his compleynt

He was the sone of Cephisus the flode
And his moder callyd  [...]rope
And by distent borne of gentyll blode
Of creatures fairest on to se
And as I fynde at his natiuite
Tiresias by sprit of prophesie
Touchinge his fate thus gan specifie

Ouidius x^o. et xi^o. de transformatis

[Page]And of his harpe if ye lift to here
The god of appollo made a translacion
Amonge the ymagis of the sterris clere
Wherof men may haue clere inspection
But fortune to his confusion
Denyed him frowarde of hir nature
Whan he was slay [...] fredom of sepulture

Next Orpheus there dyd appere also
Of amazones worthy queenes tweyne
Merpesia and her suster Lampedo
Which in conquest dyd their besy peyne
And greate worshyp in armys dyd atteyne
Namynge him self by writynge nere and ferre
Doughters to mars which is god of werre

Merpesia rood oute in regions
And conqueryd full many a greate Cite
For couetise of greate possessions
To encreace hir lordship if it wolde be
And hir suster kepte suerly their cuntre
Of all ennemyes so there was no doute
While merpesia roode with hir oost aboute

But while she was in conquest moost famous
And hir ennemyes proudly dyd assaile
Fortune anone wex contrarious
And caused she was slayne in batayle
Lo what conquest or victorie may auayle
Whan that fortune doo at theym disdeyne
See here example by these quenes tweyne

Lenuoy

tHi [...] tragedie remembreth thinges fyue
Of Narcisus the excellent bewtye
And of biblis deth also descryue
The greate luxurie and dishonest [...]
Mirra diffamyd tournyd to a tree
To exemplifie that lecherie and pride
Been from all vertue set full ferre aside

Howe orpheus enduryd in his lyue
Ioy entermedlyd with aduersite
In his youth whan he dyd wyne
He felt in wedlo [...] full greate felicite
His worldly blysse meynt with duplicite
As fortune hir chaungis can diuyde
Which from all vertue be set full ferre aside

Merpesia for hir lift to stryue
With wilfull wer [...]s to encreace her cūtre
But hir pompe was ouerturned blyue
Whan in batayle vnwarly slayne was she
For of all werre deth is the fyne parde
So furious mars can for her folke prouyde
Which from all vertues been sett full ferre aside

Ye myghty princes  [...]e wit and reason dryue
Youre high noblesse to considere and se
Howe fortune estatys can depryue
And plonge them doun from their prosperite
Pride and luxurie I counseile that ye flee
Fals auarice ne late nat be your gyd [...]
Which from all vertue is set full ferre aside

[...]owe Narcisus / Biblis / and mirra dyed at the [...]yscheef

ANd thus Narcisꝰ through daūgere & disdeyn
Vpon the lady dyd crull vengeau [...]
But whan the goddis his cruelte ha [...]  [...]yn
Towardys him they fyll a greate greuaunce
Of his vnmercy they had displesaunce
And right as he merciles was founde
So with vnmercy he caught his dedely wounde

For all daunger displesith to venus
And all disdeyne is lothsum to cupide
For who to loue is contracious
The god of loue wyll quite him on sūme side
His dredfull arowes so mortaly deuide
To hurt and mayme all that been recheles
And in his seruise founde merciles

And for Narcisus was nat merciable
Towarde Eccho for his greate bewtye
But in his port was founde vntretable
Cupide thought he wolde auengyd be
As he that her praier herde of pite
Causynge narcisus to fele and to haue his ꝑt
Of venus bronde and of hir firy darte

And on a day whanne he in wildernesse
Had after bestes rūne in huntynge
And for longe laboure gan fall in werinesse
He was desirous to haue sōme refresshinge
And wonder thurstlewe after trauaylynge
Myght nat endure lengre there to dwell
And at the last he fonde a c [...]stall well

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Right fressh spryngynge and wondre agreable
The water lusty and delitable of sight
And for his thurst was vnto him importable
Vpon the brinkes  [...]e fyll doun right
And by reflexion in myddes of the water bright
Him thought he sawe a passynge faire ymage
To him appere moost angelyk of visage

He was anameryd with the semelynesse
And desirous therof to stonde in grace
And yit it was nat but a likenesse
And but a shadowe reflectynge of his face
The which of fruence amerously to enbrace
This Narcisu [...] with a pitous compleynt
Ste [...]e into the well and so him self dreynt

And thus his bewte alas was layde full low [...]
His semelynesse put full ferre abak
Thus whan that he gan first him silf to knowe
And seen his visage in which there was no la [...]
Presumptuous pride causyd all to wrak
For who to moch doth of him self presume
His owne vsurpynge woll sonest him consu [...]

And fynally as these olde poetes tell
This Narcisus without more secou [...]r
After that he was drownyd at the well
The heuenly goddys dyd him this fauoure
They tournyd him into a full fressh floure
A water lilly which doth remedye
In hote accessys as bokys specifie

After that Narcisus was at the well dreyn [...]
And to Iohn bochas de [...]larid had his woo
 [...]iblis apperyd with teeris all be spreynt
And toward [...] him a greate paas gan she go [...]
And hir broder Cānus cam also
And of one wombe as gemelles tweyne
But she tofore hir fate gan compleyne

She in her loue was nat vertuous
For ayenst god and kyndes ordynaunce
She louyd hir brother that cānus
And whan she sawe hir froward gouernaunce
He vnto hir yaue none attendaunce
Though she of sleight to complissh her entent
In secrete wise a pis [...]le to him sent

She saide it was an impossible thynge
Without hir grace hir self to saue
And but he were to her assentynge
She elles playnly may nat helth haue
But only deth and afterwarde hir graue
Thus in hir writynge to him she dyd attaine
And to be couert she  [...]e wrote no name

But whan this pistle came to his presence
Vertuously therat he gan disdeyne
And yaue therto no maner aduertence
Neither toke none hede of hir furious peyne
But suffryd hir eternally to pleyne
Tyll that she was as Ouide can wele tell
With ofte wepynge transfourmyd to a well

Next cam mirra with face full pitous
Which that sumtyme louyd ayenst nature
Hir owne fadre callyd Cinarus
For whoos sake greate peyne she dyd endure
For she ne durst her sorowe nat discure
Tyll hir norice by signes dyd aspie
The hertly constreynt of hir maladye

For hir norice of which that I haue tolde
Conceyued hath by open euidence
As she knoweth both of newe and olde
In such maters all hole the experience
That through longe laboure and sleyghty diligence
Diuers weies and meanes out she sought
To hir faders bed that she mirra brought

With whome she had hir lust and hir plesaunce
For she vnknowe lay with him all nyght
He was disceyuyd by dronklewe ignoraūce
And on the morowe longe or any lyght
She stale away and went out of his sight
With hir uorice kept her longe cloos
Till vnto the tyme hir wombe rose

But hir fader that was of Cipre kynge
Which as I tolde was called Cinarus
Whan he the truth aspied of this thinge
That by his doughter he was disceyued thus
She wexe to him loth sum and odious
Fledde from his face so sore she was aferde
And he pursued after with his swerde

In arabye the hote myghty londe
Kynge Cinarus hath his doughter founde
And cruelly beganne enhaunce his honde
With his swerde to yeue her a wounde
But the goddys of mercy moost habounde
Haue fro the deth made hir goo fre
And through their power transfourmyd to a tre

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Which after hir berith yit the name
Callyd Mirra as she was in hir life
Oute of which auctours say the same
Distillith a gūme a greate preseruatif
And of nature a full good defensife
To kepe bodyes from putrifaccion
And theym fraunchise from all corrupcion

By influence of the sōne bemys
Mirre is engendryd by distillinge of his kynde
With rounde droppis ayenst phebus stremys
And doun descendith through the harde rinde
And through the  [...]ftys also I fynde
The seyde Mirra hath a childe forth brought
In all this worlde that it be well sought

Was none so faire fourmyd by nature
For of his bewtie he was peerles
And as poetis recorde by scripture
He callyd was the faire adonydes
And to his worship and his greate encrees
For he of fairenesse bare away the floure
Venus him chase to be hir ꝑamoure

The which goddes yaue to him in charge
That he shulde in his tendre age
In forestys while he went at large
Hunte at no beestys which that were sauage
But he contrarie to his disauantage
Through wilfulnesse I can say you no more
Was slayne vnwarly of a tusky boore

At the which he felly dyd enchace
But of foly in veyn was his laboure
For he laye slayne full pale of chere and face
Whom venus tournyd to a full fressh floure
Which was as blood of purple the coloure
Abud of goolde with goodly leuys glade
Set in the myddes whos bewtye may nat fade

And whan that Mirra fro bochas was withdrawe
And declaryd hir great aduersite
And of his fate tolde the motall lawe
Cam Orpheus full ougly vnto se
Sonne of appollo and of caliope
And apperyd with a full doolfull face
Sumtyme brought forth and yborne in trace

Full renomed in armes and in science
Famous in musyk and melodye
And full notable also in eloquence
And for his sote sugred armonye
Beestys foules poetys specifie
Wodys flodys of their cours moost stronge
Stynt of cours to herken his sote songe

An harpe he had of Mercurious
With the which Erudice he wan
And to bachus as writ ouidius
Sacrifisis solempne he began
And vnto hell for his wife he ran
Hir to recure with  [...]oot touchis sharpe
Which that he made vpon his heuenly harpe

But whan that he this laboure on him toke
A lawe was made which that bonde him sore
That if that he bakwarde cast his loke
He shulde hir lese and se his wife no more
But it is saide sithen goon full yore
There may no lawe louers wele constreyne
So importable is their dedly peyne

If sūme husbondes had stonde in the caas
To haue lost their wyues for a loke soden
They wolde haue suffryd and nat saide alas
But paciently enduryd all their payne
And thankyd god that broken was the cheyne
Which hath so longe theym in prisonbounde
That they by grace hath such a fredom founde

To lye in prison it is a full greate charge
And to be stokked vnder key and lok
It well mery a man to goo at large
Than with yrons to be nailed to a blok
But there is a bonde which callyd is wedlok
Fetterynge husbondes so sore that is wondre
Which with a file may nat be broke asundre

But Orpheus fader of armonye
Thought Erudice which was his wife so faire
For hir sake he felt that he must dye
Bycause that he whan he made his repaire
Of hir in trouth no thinge enbracyd but aire
Thus he lost hir there is no more to seyne
And for the constreynt of his greuous peyne

Al his herte hir partynge sate so sore
The grene memorie the tendre remembraunce
That he wolde neuer wyue more
So faire he was escapyd his penaunce
For wedlok is a life of moch plesaunce
But who hath ones infernall peyne seyn
Woll neuer his thankes come in the snare ageyn

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‘Ob quam cām secundas spreuit nupcias’

This Orpheus yaue counseyll full notable
To husbondys that haue enduryd peyne
To such as been prudent and tretable
One hell is dredfull / and more ꝑilous been tweyne.
And who is ones bounde in a cheyne
And may escape oute of daungere blyue
If he resorte god lete him neuer thryue

Vpon this sentence wymen were vengeable
And to his writynge full contrarious
Saide his counseyll was nat comendable
At the feest they halued to bachus
They fill echon vpon this orpheus
And for all his rethorik swete
They slough alas this laureat poete

The goddis haue prouyded for him a space
To lyue in erth and so longe endure
Till  [...] at he knowe and se his owne face
And for his sake full many a ceruature
By ordynaunce of god and of nature
Whan they him see shall fele full greate peyne
If they in loue his grace may nat atteyne

 [...]ut he shall be contrarye and daungerous
And of his port sul [...] of straungenesse
And his herte right  [...]ly surquydous
By the occasion of his natif fairenesse
And presumynge of his semelynesse
No woman so fressh ne faire of face
That able were to stonde in his grace

And for the excellence of his greate bewte
He purposyd him in his tendre age
Neuir in his life weddyd for to be
He thought him so faire of visage
For which he cast him through his greate outrage
Ayenst all lustes of loue to disdeyne
To hunte at bestes alone and be slayne

And in this while that he kept him so
In forest and in wyldernesse
A water goddes that callyd was Eccho
Louyd him full hote for his greate fairenesse
And sekirly dyd her besinesse
To folowe his steppes right as any lyne
To hir desires to make him to inclyne

He herde hir wele but he sawe hir nat
Wherof astonyed anone he began to enquere
As he that was amerueylyd in his thought
Seyde euene thus / Is any wight nowe here
And she answeryd the same in hir manere
What euer he saide as longith to Eccho
Without a bode she saide the same him to

Come nere quod she and began to call
Come nere quod she my ioye and my plesaunce
He lokyd aboute amonge the rokkes all
And sawe no thynge beside ne in distaunce
But she abraide and declarynge hir greuaunce
And to him saide myn owne herte dere
Ne be nat straunge but lete vs dwell in fere

Nay nay quod he I woll no thinge obey
To youre desires for short conclusion
Well leuer I had pleynly for to dye
Than ye shulde haue of me possession
We be no thynge of one opinion
I here you well though I no figure se
Go forth your wey ye speke no more with me

And she ashamyd fled hir weye anone
As she that myght of him no socoure haue
But dispeyred this eccho is forth gone
And hyd hir sefl in an ougly caue
Amonge the rokkes is buried in hir graue
And though so be that men her voice may here
After that tyme she neuer durst apere

Of Priamus kynge of Troye / And howe the Monke of Bury translatoure of this boke wrote a boke of the siege of troye callyd troye boke

AFter these compleyntes and lamentacions
Which that bochas dyd in his boke compile
Medlyd amonge with transmutacions
Set in ouide by full souereyne stile
Whan he on theym had inusyd a longe while
Se the maner both of sorowe and ioye
He began to remembre of Priamus of Troye

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First of his birth and of his kynrede
Howe amonge kynges he was moost famous
And as poetys recorde of him in dede
He descended of worthy darnamus
Which as his lyne declareth vnto vs
From Iupiter was finally come doun
Vnto his fader callyd kinge Lamedoun

Of olde troye this Lamedoun was kinge
Destroied by Grekys he and his cuntre
After whom this Priamus reignynge
Made therayen a myghty stronge cite
Where he full longe in full greate rialtie
With wife and children moost worthy of renoun
With ceptre and crowne helde the possession

Gouernyd his cite in pees and rightwisnesse
And fortune was to him fauourable
For of all asie the tresoure and richesse
He dyd assemble this kynge moost honorable
And in armys he was so cōmendable
That through the worlde as ferre as men may goon
Of high noblesse the renoun of him shone

This priamus had children many one
Worthy princes and of full greate might
But Ector was amonge theym euerichon
Callyd of prowesse the lanterne and the light
For there was neuer borne a better knight
Troylus in knighthode so manly was founde
That he was namyd Ector the secounde

But if I shulde reherce the manhede
Of kinge priam and of his sonnes all
And howe his cite besiegyd was in dede
And all the story to remembraunce call
Betwene him and grekys howe it is befall
The circumstauncis rehersynge vp and doun
To set in ordre the first occasion

Of the siege why it was first leyde
By hercules and also by Iason
The manere hole in troye boke is saide
Rudly endited of my translacion
Folowynge vpon the distruction
Callyd the secounde which by a coūtis clere
Fully enduryd the space of ten yere

For as me semeth the laboure were in veyne
Truly also I nat to what entent
That I shulde write it newe ageyn
For I had onys in commaundement
By him that was moost noble and excellent
Of kinges all for to vndertake
It to translate and write it for his sake

And if ye lyst to wete whom I mene
Henry the fift moost mighty of puissaunce
Yaue me the charge of entent full clene
Thinge of olde tyme to put in remembraunce
The same henry for knightly suffisaunce
Worthy for manhode rekene kinges all
With nyne worthy for to haue a stall

To holy church he was cheef diffensoure
In all such causis cristys chosen knight
To destroy heretikes he set all his laboure
Louyd all vertues and to susteyne right
Through his noblesse his manhode and his myht
Was diligent and dyd his besy peyne
To haue set pees betwyxe realmes tweyne

I mene in soth betwene Inglonde and fraunce
His purpose was to haue had a pees fynall
Sought out meanys with many circumstaunce
As well by trete as actis marciall
Theron Iuꝑtied life godes and all
But wo alas ayenst deth is no bone
This londe may say he dyed all to sone

For amonge kynges he was one of the best
So all his dedys conueyed were by grace
I pray to god so yeue his soule good rest
With holy seyntis in heuyn a dwellynge place
For here with vs to lytell was the space
That he abode of whom the remembraunce
Shall neuer dye in ynglande ne in Fraunce

This worthy kynge yaue to me in charge
In ynglisshe tunge to make a translacion
Oute of latyn within a volym large
Howe longe the gregys lay to fore the toun
And howe that Parys first at Citheroun
In venus temple slighly dyd his peyne
There to reioyse the faire quene heleyne

In which boke the processe ye may se
To him howe she was weddyd in the toun
And of the siege laide vnto the cite
By meneldy and kynge lamedoun
And many an other full worthy of renoun
On either ꝑtye which that in bataile
Fro day to day eche other dyd assaile

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Wherto shulde I tell or what shulde I wryte
The deth of Ector or of achilles
Or wherto shulde I of newe endyte
Howe worthy troylus was slayne amonge the prees
The ende of parts or of pallamydes
Or the slaughter of manly deyphebus
Or howe his brother callyd helenus

Tolde afore howe it was greate folie
That parts shulde wedde this quene helyne
And howe Cassandra in hir prophesie
On this weddynge sore began compleyne
And for the constreynt of hir hertely peyne
How [...] she way mad and ran aboute the toun
Till she was caught and shet vp in prison

All this mater ye may beholde in dede
Set by and by within troy boke
And howe creseyde louyd dyamede
Whan worthy troylus she wilfully forsoke
Of hir nature a quarell thus she toke
To assaye both / if nede were also to feyne
To take the thirde and leue theym both tweyne

I passe ouer and tell of it nomore
Neyther by what meanys grekys wan the toun
Howe Eneas neither howe anthenore
Ayenst kynge priam conspired fals treason
Neither howe vliyes gate Paladion
The deth of priam neither of Heccuba the quene
Neither howe yonge pirrus slough yonge pollicene

Neither here to write it is nat myn entent
Repaire of grekys hom into their cuntre
After the cite at Ilyon was brent
Neither of their myscheef they had in the se
Neither howe vliyes fonde penolope
A true wife thoughe he were longe hir fro
Throughoute all grece I can rede of nomo

Of theise maters thus I make an ende
What fyll of grekes after their viage
To troye boke tho folke I sende
Which haue desire to se the surplusage
Howe grekys made first their passage
Towardys troye besegynge the cite
Rede the story ye gete nomore of me

Here spekith bochas the auctour of this boke ayenst the surquedous pride of theym that truste in richesse saynge these wordes vnto theym

yE proude folkes that set youre affiaunce
In strength / bewtye / or in high nōblesse
If ye considre fortunys variaunce
And coud a myrrour afore your  [...]yen dresse
Of kinge priam and of his greate richesse
To se howe he and his children all
From their noblesse sodenly been fall

Ector of knighthode callyd sours and well
Sad and demure and famous of prudence
Paris also in bewtye dyd excelle
And helenus also in ꝑfight prouidence
Troylus in armys had greate experience
Also deyphebus preuyd manly in his fone
Yit in the werre they were slayne euerychone

Had nat this kynge also as I can deuyse
Noble Eccuba which that was the quene
A doughter callyd Cassandra the wise
Hir yonge sustre faire pollicene
Alas alas what may all such pride mene
For all be it their renoun spronge full ferre
Yit are these wymen deuouryd in werre

Was he nat myghty and stronge in al thinges
And had also of his aliaunce
Right worthy princes and many riche kynges
And nygh all asie vnder his obeisaunce
Holde in his tyme moost famous of puissaunce
Moost renomed of richesse and tresoures
Till that fortune with hir sharpe shoures

Whan that he sat highest on his whele
This blynde goddesse began him to assaile
Hir frowarde malice he felt it full wele
His golde his tresoure first it gan to faile
And darken gan his riall appariale
By which exaumple all proude men may se
The vnsure trust the mutabylite

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Which in this worlde is seen and founde all day
In myddes of statys in their magnyficence
Ebbe after flowe maketh no delay
But halt hir cours there is no resistence
The tyde abyde nat for no violence
Eche man that standith of chaungis here in doute
Must take his tourne as it cometh aboute

Lete priam be to you a clere myrroure
Ye proude folkes that set your affiaunce
In suche veynglorye which fadeth as a floure
And hath of bewtye here none attendaunce
The worlde to you cast a full bittre chaunce
For whanne ye wene sit highest at full
Than woll she rathest your bright fethers pull

Ye haue warnyngys for to take hede
By ensaumple of other clere and right visible
Howe worldly blis is medlyd all with drede
And of your wittes and resons be sensible
Thinge seen at the  [...]ye is nat incredible
And all this doctrine is to you in veyne
If in your tyme ye haue no chaungis seyne

Wherfore bochas vnto youre auayle
Full prudently put you at this issue
First of all he yeueth you this counsaile
To leue your vices and take you to vertue
And set your trust all hooly in Ihesu
For he may best i [...] myscheef helpe at nede
Of worldly chaungis that ye thir nat drede

Here also Iohn Bochos put a greate preisinge and a commendacion of suertie that stondith in pouertye vnder these wordes in sentence

THese greate lordshippis these high dignytees
Cheef thinge annexyd vnto the regalye
Whan they syt highest in their sees
And roundaboute stant the chyualrye
Drede entrith in  [...]yll and enuye
And vnware chaunge which no man may knowe
The houre whan fortune wol make them loute lowe

They may wele holde a statly greate housholde
With a veyne trust their power shulde euer last
Clad in their mantell of purpyll peerl and golde
And on the whele of fortune clymbe vp fast
Lyke as she might neuyr doun theym cast
But ay the clymbynge highe is at all
Alas the sorer is their vnhappy fall

The fal of priam and of agamenoun
Out of right more to be compleynyd
Whan fortune had pullyd theym doun
And of malice hath at theym disdeyned
Than if they neuer to worship had atteyned
But their fallinge was the more greuous
Bycause tofore they were so glorious

O thou pouert meke humble and debonaire
Which that kepest the lawes of nature
For sodeyn chaungys thou wilt nat despaire
So art thou fraunchised from fort [...]es lure
All hir assautis thou lowly doest endure
That she may haue no iurisdiccion
To enterupte thy possession

Thou settest litell by all worldly richesse
Nor by his tresours which been transitory
Thou scornest theym that their sheltrons dresse
Towarde batailes for conquest and victorye
Thou despisest all shynynge of veynglorye
Laude of triumphes which cōquerours haue sought
With all hir pillages thou settist theym at nought

Thou despreysest all suꝑfluyte
None infortune may chaunge thy corage
And the shippis that saile by the see
With marchaundise amonge the flodys rage
Their auentures and their pilous passage
Life / body / good / all put in a [...]venture
Oonly for lucre greate richesse to recure

Of all such thinge thou takyst litell hede
Nor of that people that maners do purchase
Nor of pleters which for lucre and mede
Maynteyne quarels and questis do enbrace
Thou theym beholdest with a ful styll face
Their subtyll werkynge sought oute for the nonys
And sodeynly depart from all atonys
[Page]And your coragis knightly doth vpdresse
Agayn all titles holdith chaumꝑtie
Which apperteyne to fals auoutrye

Of mighty sampson which tolde his counseill to Dalida wherby he was deceyued.

wHo was more myghty or strong than sāpsō
None more deliuer the bible bereth witnesse
Without wepen he slough a feers lion
And for his ennemyes to him dyd expresse
His vn [...]outh problem anone he gan him dresse
Ageyn philistes and slough of theym thretty
To pay his promys spoiled theym by and by

 [...]is problem was the text thus rehersynge
After the lettre in very sothefastnesse
There cam out mete of a thinge etynge
And fro the stronge there went out swetnesse
But his wife of frowarde doublenesse
Which euer wrouht to his disauaile
Of worthy sampson tolde the counsayle

What is more stronge than is a lyon
Or more sote than hony in tastynge
But wymen haue this condicion
Of secrete thinges whan they haue knowlegynge
 [...]y bolne inwarde their hertys ay fretynge
O [...]her they must dye or discure
So b [...]le of custum is their nature

This was the caas the lion that was dede
Agayn the sonne gopynge lay vpryght
Aswarme of been entryd in his hede
Of whome there cam hony anone right
And whan sompson therof had a sight
He fantasied in his opinion
Full secrely this proposicion

As ye haue herde and gan it forth purpose
That philistes to him it shulde expowne
Vnder a peyne the trouth to him vnclose
But with his wife he pryuely gan rowne
And she on sampson gan compleyne and frowne
And feynyngly so longe vpon him wepe
That he nat coude his counseil from hir kepe

Which whan she knewe she made no taryenge
But playn and hole she gan it to declare
Such double trust is in their wepynge
To kepe their tunges wymen cannat spare
Such wepynge wyues euill mot theym fare
And all husbondes I pray god yeue theym sorowe
That to theym tell their counseyll eue or morowe

She tolde theym hole she tolde it theym nat half
And sampson than gan vopn theym smyle
If ye nat had herde it in my calf
Ye shulde nat a founde it a grete while
Who may be sure where wymen list begyle
Though bookys sampson of strongth so cōmende
Yit durst he nat ayenst his wife offende

This mi [...]y sampson dyd also his peyne
Thre hundred foxis ones that he fonde
He toke their tailes knyt theym tweyne and tweyne
And amyd euery eche he set a fire bronde
And as they ran in philistes londe
So furiously vp and doun they went
That they their frutes and their wynes brent

Eke by treason whan he was ones bounde
With newe cordys as he lay and slepe
There thre thousande which that sampson founde
To haue murdred him or that he toke kepe
He brake his bondes and vp anone he lepe
Of an asse he caught a chaule bone
And a thousand he slough of theym anone

He gan to feynt and had a sodeyn lust
For to drinke fadyd face and chere
And god sent him to staunch with his thruste
From the assys toth water cristall clere
Which that sprange ou [...]e large like a ryuere
Kefresshyd his spirite which afore gan dull
Tyll that he had of water drunke his full

After he went to Gazam the cyte
Amonge all his ennemyes that were of greate might
To his plesaunce where he dyd se
A full faire woman lay with hir all night
And on the morowe longe or it was light
Maugre the watch vpon his shulders square
The gatys stronge vp to an hill he bare

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And in a valey which called was Sore [...]
Full hote he louyd dalida the faire
On whome his hert was full hote set
She coude her feyne so meke and debonayre
Make him such chere whan that him list repaire
But I dare call hir dalida the double
Cheef roote and cause of all his mortall trouble

He neuer dranke wynes white ne rede
Of Nazarees such is the gouernaunce
Rasoure ne shere touchyd neuer his hede
For in longe growynge stondith hir plesaunce
And this sampson moost myghty of substaunce
Had all his force by influence of heuene
By heris weringe that were in noumbre seuene

It was full secre in euery mannys sight
Amonge people tolde for an vnkouth thinge
Wherof sampson had so greate might
Outwarde shewyd by force of his werkynge
But dalida with hir flaterynge
Wolde neuer stynt enquerynge euer amonge
Till that she knewe wherby he was so stronge

She like a serpent daringe vndre floures
Or like a worme that wrotith in a tre
Or like an addre of many folde coloures
Right apperinge and faire vpon to se
For shrowdyd was hir mutabilite
With lowlihede and a faire pretense
Of true menynge vnder fals apparence

He ment trouth and she was variable
He was feithfull and she was viltrewe
He was stedfast and she vnstabele
His trust ay one she louyd thinge newe
She weryd coloures of many diuers hewe
In stede of blewe which stedfast is and clene
She louyd chaungys of many diuers grene

But to the purpose for to condescende
Whan she of sampson knewe all the priuete
Hir falshede shortly for to comprehende
She made him slepe full softly on her kne
And a sharpe rasoure after that toke she
Shoof of his here large and of greate lengyth
Wherby alas he lost all his strength

Damage in erth is none so grecious
As an ennemy which that is secre
Nor pestilence none so ꝑilous
As falsnesse where he is preue
And specially in femynyte
For if wyues be founde variable
Where shall husbondes fynde other stable

Thus sampson was by dalida deceyued
She coude so wele flatere forge and feyne
Which philistes whan they haue conceyued
Vnwarly bonde him in a mighty cheyne
Cast him in prison put out his iyen tweyne
And of despite after as I fynde
At their quernes made hym for to grinde

They made a feest statly and solempne
Whan they had all this treason wrought
And to rebuke him scorne him and condempne
Blynde sampson was afore theym brought
Which thinge full sore greuyd him in his thought
Cast he wolde in his preuy mynde
To auenge his blyndnesse sūme maner wey fynde

And whan he had thus bethought him longe
He made a childe him pryuely to lede
To tweyne postes large square and stronge
Enbracyd theym or any man toke hede
And gan to shake theym withoute fere or drede
So sturdely amonge his fone all
That the temple is vpon theym fall

Thus he was auengyd on his fone
Which that falsly dyd ageyne him stryue
Slough in his dyenge god wote many one
More than he dyd euer afore his lyue
And he was also the date to descriue
In israel the bible is myn auctour
Twenty yere there iuge and gouernoure

Lenuoye

THis tragedye yeueth in euidence
To whom men shall their coūseil out discure
For recheles tunges for lacke of prudence
Haue do greate harme to many a creature
Whan harme is done full harde it is to recure
Beware by sampson your counseyll well to kepe
That dalida compleyne crye and wepe

Whilom sampson for manhode and prudence
Israell had in gouernaunce and cure
Dauntyd lions through his magnificence
Made on a thousande a disconfiture
[Page]Full in any one haue clene been all their lyue
Vndefoulyd kept their virginite
And sūme coude ageyn all vices stryue
Theym to conserue in ꝑfight chastite
Deuoyde of chaunge and mutabilite
Though sūme other haue therageyn trespacid
The laude of theym is nat therwith diffacid

And who euer of malice list accuse
Thise sely wymen touchinge variaunce
Lette theym remembre and in their wittes muse
Men be nat ay stable in their constaunce
In this worlde there is no ꝑseueraunce
Chaunge is ay founde in men and wymen both
On outher ꝑtye be they neuer so wroth

No man shulde the vertuous atwite
In stede of him that dyd the trespace
Nor for a theef a trewe man endite
Nor for the gylty an Innocent manace
Good and wickyd abyde in euery place
Their price / their lak / late theym be reseruyd
To outher ꝑtye as they haue deseruyd

Though Iohn bochas in his opinion
Agayn wymen list a processe make
They that been good of condion
Shulde ayenst no maner quarell take
But lightly passe and their sleues shake
For ageyn good he no thinge made
Who can conceyue theffecte of this balade

The excuse of bochas for his writynge ayenst mysgouernyd wymen in stede of lenuoye

yE wymen all that ye shall beholde & se
This chaptre and the processe rede
Ye that been good founde in your degre
And uertuous both in thought and dede
What bochas seith take ye none hede
For his writinge if it be decerned
Is nat ageyn theym that be well gouerned

For though it fall that one two or thre
Haue done amysse as therfore god forbede
That other wymen which stable and feythfull be
Shulde be atwytyd of their vngoodlihede
But moor commendyd for their womanhede
For this scripture if it be concernyd
Is ageyn theym that be nat wele gouernyd

A gallyd hor [...] the soth if ye list se
Who touchith him boweth his backe for drede
And who is knowe vntrewe in his cuntre
Shrinkith his hornes whan men speke of falshede
But good wymen haue full lytell nede
To grutch or frowne whan the truth is lernyd
Though there be sūme which be nat well gouernyd

Of Dalida / and quene Pasiphe
Though doublenesse dyd their brydell lede
Yit of lucrece / and penolope
The noble fame abrood doth shyne and sprede
Out of good corne men may the darnell wede
Wymen rebuke in their diffautys quernyd
And nat touch theym that be well gouernyd

Of myghty pirrus that slough pollicene which for his pride and auoutrye dyed in pouertie / slayne at the last by horestes

BOchas musynge in his remembraunce
And consideryd in his fantasie
The vnsure trust of worldly variaunce
Of men and wymen the chaunge and the folye
The same tyme he sawe a cōpanye
Of myghty princes full pitously wepynge
To him appere their fortune compleynynge

Amonge other that put theym self in p [...]es
Of myghty pirrus first he had a sight
That was the sonne of worthy achilles
Amonge Grekes the moost famous knight
Moost commended of manhode and of might
Sonne and next heire as bokes specifie
Of Pelleus kynge of Thesal [...]

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This Achilles full manly of his herte
Hurte of Ector and his wounde grene
Slough ector after or he dyd aduerte
The which achilles for loue of pollicene
By compassynge or Eccuba the quene
Vndere Trety this grekis chaumpion
Was slayne of paris within troye toun

Who [...]s deth to auenge pirrus in his tene
Furiously with face dede and pale
Slough afterwarde the saide pollicene
And dismembryd all on pecis smale
Which for to here is a pitous tale
That a knight so vengeable was in dede
To sle a maide quakynge in hir drede

He coude for Ire on hir no mercy haue
But with his swerde moost furious and wode
Merciles vpon his faders graue
Like a tiraunt he shed hir chaste blode
The dede horrible diffaced his knighthode
That to this the sclaundre and diffame
By newe report reboundeth on his name

Po [...]tes saye and specially onide
Write whan grekis fro Troye shulde saile
Howe their shippis by an anker dyd ride
Of th [...]r purpose which longe dyd theym faile
But in this while he makith rehersaile
Oute of the erth manacinge of chere
Of achilles an ymage dyd appere

To grekis saide with a dedely face
I felt wele myn honour and my glorie
And my noblesse full lightly forth doth pace
Vnkynde people oute of your memore
Which by me had youre conquest and victorie
Your deuire doth pollicene to take
And on my graue a sacrifise to make

With hir blode loke ye spare nought
To springe it  [...]ounde aboute my sepulture
Thus blode for blode with vengeaūce shalbe bought
And for my deth / the deth she must endure
And hole the maner of this auenture
And howe she died in her maidenhede
Methamorphose [...]s the processe ye may rede

In hasty vengeaunce set was all his ioye
With thurste vnstaunchid / troian blode to shede
He slo [...]gh priam the worthy kinge of troye
And into grece with him he dyd lede
Adromada the story ye may rede
Weddyd hir and after in certeyn
By him she had worthy sonnes tweyne

But in repairynge home to his cuntre
As Eolus dyd his shippes dryue
I finde he was a pirat of the se
And into Grece whan he dyd aryue
Fortune vnwarly gan ageyn him stryue
Forsoke his wife lete hir lyue alone
Toke another called hermyone

Which was that tyme in mariage
To horistes son of agamenon
And he alas of louys wilfull rage
Toke hir by force to his possession
But of auoutrye folowith this guerdon
Sodeyn deth / pouert / or shame
Open disclaundre / greate myscheef / or diffame

Eke in his tyme thus pirrus as I rede
Fyll into myscheef and greate pouerte
And with such meyne as he dyd lede
He was a rouer and robbyd on the see
And as poetes reherce ye may see
Of such robbynge by sclaundre and diffame
This worde pirate of pirrus toke the name

And as the story after doth deuise
The saide horistes gan sekerly espie
Where that pirrus dyd sacrifise
Tofore appollo that god to magnyfie
Full vnwarly horistes of enuye
Toke a sharpe swerde or pirrus coude aduert
Where that he stode and roof him to the herte

This was the fyne of pirrus in substaunce
For all his pride and greate presumpcion
Of fals auoutrye foloweth this vengeaunce
Losse of sūme membre pouert or prison
Or hatfull sclaundre by sūme occasion
Or sodeyn deth shortly in sentence
Complete in pirrus by ful clere euidence

Of Machaire and his suster Canace

[Page]
AFtir this Pirrus cam canace the faire
Te [...]ys distyllynge from hir iyen tweyne
And hir brother that callyd was machaire
And both they pitoussly gan pleyne
That fortune gan at theym so disdeyne
Hyndrynge their fate by wofull auenture
Touchinge their loue which was ageyne nature

He was hi [...] brother and hir loue also
As the story plenly doth declare
And in a bed they lay eke both two
Reson was none why they shulde spare
But loue that causeth wo and eke welfare
Gan ageyn kinde so straungely deuyse
That he hir wombe made sodenly to arise

And fynally myn auctoure berith witnesse
A childe she had by hir owne brother
Which excelled in fauoure and fairenesse
For like to him of bewtie was none other
But of their loue so guyed was the rother
That Caribdis twene wyndis full contraire
Hath Canace destroied and machaire

For whan their fader the maner dyd espie
Of their werkynge which was so horrible
For Ire almoost he fyll in frens [...]e
Which for to appese was an impossible
For the mater was frowarde and odible
For which playnly deuoyde of all pite
Vpon their trespas he wolde auengyd be

The cause knowen the fader anone right
Last for their deth of rigour to prouide
For which machaire fled oute of his sight
And from his face his presence gan to hide
But woo alas his suster muste abyde
Merciles for their hatefull trespace
Suffre deth there was none other grace

First hir fadre a sharpe swerde to hir sent
In token of deth for a remembraunce
And whan she wist playnly what he ment
And conceyued his rigorous ordenaunce
With hole purpos to obey his plesaunce
She grutchith nat but lowly of entent
Lyke a meke doughter to his desire assent

But or she dyed she cast for to write
A litell lettre to hir brother dere
A dedly compleynt compleyne and endite
With pale face and a mortall chere
The salt terys from hir iyen clere
With pitous sobbynge set from hir hertis bringe
Distyllynge downe to tempre with hir ynke

The lettre of compleynt of Canace to hir broder Machaire.

OVte of hir swoune whan she dyd abraide
Knowynge no meane but deth in hir distresse
To hir brother full pitously she sayde
Cause of my sorowe rote of my heuynesse
That whilom were cheef sours of my gladnesse
Whan both oure ioyes by will were so disposyd
Vnder one key oure hertis to be vnclosyd

Whilom thou were support and sekirnesse
Cheef reioisynge of my worldly ioye
But nowe thou art the grounde of my sikenesse
Well of wanhope of my dedely penaunce
Which haue of sorowe gretest habundaunce
That euer yit had any creature
Which must for loue the deth alas endure

Thou were whilom my blisse and all my trust
Souereyn confort my sorowes to appese
Springe and well of all my hertys lust
And nowe alas cheef rote of my dissese
But if my deth might do the any ease
O brother myn / in remembraunce of tweyne
Deth shall to me be plesaunce and no peyne

My cruell fader moost vnmerciable
Ordeyned hath it nedys must be so
In his rigoure he is so vntretable
All merciles he will that it be do
That we algate shall dye both two
But I am glad sith it may be none other
Thou art escapyd my bestbelouyd brother

This is myn ende I may it nat asterte
O brother myn there is no more to saye
Lowly besechinge with all myn hole herte
For to remembre specially I praye
If it befall my litell sonne to dye
That thou mayst after sum mynde vpon vs ha [...]e
Suffre vs both to be buried in a graue

[Page]
I holde him streitly atwene my armys tweyne
Thou and nature leyde on me this charge
He giltles with me must suffre peyne
And sith thou arte at fredam and at large
Late kyndnesse oure loue nat so discharge
But haue a mynde where euer that thou be
Onys a day vpon my childe and me

On the and me dependeth the trespace
Touchinge oure gyle and oure greate offence
But wela way moost angelik of face
Oure childe yonge in his pure innocence
Shal ageyn right suffre dethis violence
Tendre of lymmys god wote full giltles
The goodly faire that lieth here specheles

A mouth he hath but wordes hath he none
Can nat compleyne alas for none outrage
Nor grutcheth nat but lieth here all alone
Stille as a lambe moost meke of his visage
What herte of stele coude do to him damage
Or suffre him dye beholdinge the manere
And loke benygne of his tweyne iyen clere

O thou my fadre to cruell is thy wreche
Harder of herte than any tygre or lion
To sle a childe that lieth withoute speche
Voide of all mercy and remyssion
And on his moder hast no compassion
His youth consideryd with lippes soft as silke
Which at my brest lieth styll and souketh mylke

Is any sorowe remembryd by writynge
Vnto my sorowfull sighes incomparable
Or was there euer creature lyuinge
That felt of dole a thinge more lamentable
For canfortles and vnrecuparable
Are thilke hepyd sorowes full of rage
Which haue with woo oppressed my corage

Rekyn all my myscheuys in especiall
And on my myscheef remembre and haue gode mynd
My lorde my fader is myn enmy mortall
Experience ynough therof I fynde
For in his pursute he hath left behinde
In destruction of the my childe and me
Ruth all mercy and faderly pyte

And the my brother auoyded from his sight
Which in no wyse his grace mayst atteyne
Alas that rigoure vengeaunce and cruell right
Shulde aboue mercy be lady souereyne
But cruelte doth at me so disdeyne
That thou my brother my childe and also I
Shall dye exiled alas from all mercy

My fader whilom by many sundry signe
Was my socour and my supportacion
To the and me moost gracious and benygne
Oure worldly gladnesse our consolacion
But loue and fortune hath tournyd vp so doun
Oure grace alas / oure welfare / and oure fame
Harde to recure so sclaundred is oure name

Spot of diffamynge is harde to wasshe away
Whan noyse and rumoure abrode do folke manace
To hindre a man there may be no delaye
For hatefull fame flieth ferre in short space
But of vs tweyne there is none other grace
Saue only deth / and after deth alas
Eternall sclaundre of vs thus stant the caas

Whom shall we blame or whom shall we atwyte
Oure greate offence sith we may it nat hide
For oure excus reportis to respite
Meane is there none except the god cupide
And though that he wolde for vs prouide
In this matere to be oure cheef refuge
Poetis say he is blynde to a iuge

He is depaynt like a blynde archere
To make a right failynge discrecion
Holdynge no mesure nouther ferre nor nere
But lyke fortunys disposicion
All vpon happe voide of all reason
As a blynde archere with arowes sharpe grounde
Of auenture yeueth many a mortall waunde

At the and me he wrongly dyd marke
Felly to hindre oure fatall auentures
As ferre as phebus shyneth in his arke
To make vs refuse to all creatures
Callyd vs tweyne vnto the wofull lure [...]
Of diffame which wyll depte neuer
By newe reporte the noyse encresynge euer

Odious fame with swift wynges flieth
But all good fame enuye doth restreyne
Eche man of other the defautys seeth
Yit on his owne no man wyll compleyne
But all the worlde outcrieth of vs tweyne
Whos hatful ire by vs may nat be quemyd
For I must dye my fader hath so demyd

[Page]
Their life to amende or the lorde do smyte
Through negligence or it be to late
And or the swerde of vengeaunce ker [...]e or bite
Into vertues their vicious life translate
Cherisshe rightwisnesse ageyn all wronge debate
With drede of god make theym self stronge
Than is no doute they shall endure longe

Who is nat ware by others chastisynge
Other by him shall chastised be
Harde is that herte which for no writynge
For noo doctryne nor none auctorite
For none exaumples will from his vices flee
To indurat is his frowarde entent
Which will nat suffre his hardnesse to relent

The rounde droppis of the smoth rayne
Which that discende and fall from aloft
On stonys harde at the iye as it is seyne
Perceth their hardnesse with their fallinge ofte
All be in touchenge water is but softe
The persynge caused by force nor puissaunce
But of fallynge by longe contynuaunce

Semblably of right I dare reherce
Oft redynge on bokys fructuous
The hertys shulde of prudent princes ꝑ [...]e
Synke in their mynde and make theym vertuous
To eschewe all thinge that is vicious
For what auaileth the exaumples that they rede
To their redynge if contrarie be the dede

Cūnynge and dede who can comprehende
In  [...]re conceytis they been thynges tweyne
And if cūnynge do the dede amende
Than atwene theym is made a myghty cheyne
Anoble thynge and right souereyne
For than of cūnynge the laboure is well spent
Whan dede foloweth and both been of assent

Thus Iohn bochas procedynge in his boke
Which in noumbre is callyd the secounde
Gan for to wryte and his purpose toke
To set in stories such as he had founde
Of entent all vices to confounde
By ensaumples which he dyd expresse
And at the begynnynge of his besynesse

Myghty Saul to him dyd appere
Kynge of israell pitously wepynge
Dedely of face and with an hidous chere
His voice Ibroke by manyfolde sobbynge
And to myn auctoure his sorowe compleynynge
Requerynge him to gydre whan they mette
First in his boke his wofull fate to sette

Anone after I of entencion
With penne in hande fast gan me spede
As I coude in my translacion
In this laboure further to procede
My lorde cam forth by and gan to take hede
This myghty prince right manly and right wise
Gaue me charge in his prudent auyse

That I shulde in euery tragedie
After the processe made mencion
At the ende set a remedye
With a lenuoye conueyed by reason
And after that with humble affeccion
To noble princes lowly it directe
By others fallynge theym self to correcte

And I obeied his byddynge and plesaunce
Vndre support of his magnificence
As I coude I gan my penne auaunce
Al be I was baren of eloquence
Folowynge myn auctour in substaunce and sentēce
For it suffised pleynly vnto me
So that my lorde my makynge toke agre

[Page]

[figure]

Howe Saul kinge of Ierusalem borne of lowe degre / as longe as he dred god was obedient to him / and rulyd by good counseile had many greate disconfitures [...] but at the last for is pride / presumpcion / and greate disobeisaunce he lost his crowne / and was slayne by Philistees

‘Nihil insolencius (quam) potens rusticus’ Incipit liber secundus

tHis saide saul of whō I spake to forn
Fulwel cōpacte & large of his stature
Of the lyne of beniamyn eke born
His fader Ceis was callyd  [...] scripture
Whoos assis whilom left their pasture
Space of thre daies saul had theym sought
Lost his laboure and fonde theym nought

For th [...]y were gone out soo fer on straye
So dis [...]uered he ne coude theym mete
Tyll that a childe him suynge all the waye
Yaue him coūseyle his laboure for to lete
And that he shulde go to the prophete
Which was full famous holde in israell
Of whom the name was callyd Samuell

Which saul made in his hous to dyne
Receyued him of greate affection
And precept and ordynaunce deuyne
Samuell made no prolongacion
But shed the holy sacred vnccion
Vpon the hede of Saul doun knelynge
And full deuoutly of israell made him kynge

Of goddes peple to haue gouernaunce
With ceptre and crowne and hole the regalie
And his noblesse more mighty to auaunce
With mekenesse to rule his monarchie
[Page]God yau [...] to him a sprite of prophecie
Which was greate glorie to his magnificence
Of future thynges to haue precience

And while that he was meke and humble in dede
Voide of pride and fals presumpcion
And prudent counseyle with him did lede
Him to gouerne by good discrecion
He fonde quiete through all his region
No foreyn enmy durst him to werreye
While he the lorde mekely dyd obeye

 [...] enmy might ageyne him recure
Through none emprises but sore dyd him drede
Made many greate disconfiture
Through his force knighthode and māhede
On philistees and dauntyd eke in dede
Two mighty kinges that one of anmyonytes
And another that gouerned Moabytes

 [...]e was founde stronge and eke victorious
 [...]he palestynesse bringynge to myschaunce
Ageyne ydumes so myghty and famous
Through his mighty prudent gouernaunce
That he their pride brought vnto myschaunce
Out [...]a [...]d theym of wisdome and manhede
Primo regum as ye may playnly rede

 [...] was  [...] sonne callyd of one yere
 [...]ell whan his regne began
 [...]able of hert and benygne of chere
Frowarde nor sturdy to no maner man
All that while loue of the people he wan
The tyme I mene while he was iust and stable
And in his werkes nat founde variable

But whan that pride gan his herte enhaunce
Wilfulnesse and fals malancolye
Outraied reason to haue the gouernaunce
Of his olde famous policie
And had forgetyn in his fantasie
To knowe the lorde and mekely sue his lawe
God from his crowne his grace gan withdrawe

The vnkynde worme of foryetfulnesse
In his herte had myned through the wall
Whan to god for his kyndnesse
Gaue no laude / nor no thanke attall
Which had him reised vnto estate ryall
From pore degre amonge all his kyn allone
A synguler sauour to set him in his trone

What thinge in herte may be thought more frowarde
Than is sodeyn fals presumpcion
Of a wretch that cam vp of nought
To yeue him lordship and domynacion
And for to make a pleyn comparison
Men shulde of reason drede a lion lasse
Than the rudnesse of a crownyd asse

What thynge to god is more abhominable
Than pride vpreysed out of pouerte
And no thinge gladly is founde more vengeable
Than are wretches set in high degre
For from his stok kynde may nat fle
Eche thynge resorteth howe ferre euer it go
To the nature which that it cam fro

Frute and apples take their talarage
Where they first grewe of the same tre
And semblably eche kynrede and lynage
Onys ayere it wyll none other be
By tokyn and sygne at the iye as men may se
Draweth comonly in euery creature
Sūme teche to folowe after his nature

I write nat this in rebuke of pouerte
But for such only as that it deserue
God of his might as men be well expert
May theym in vertue encrease and concerne
From all myscheef a pore man preserue
Reise him on height to domynacions
Through high noblesse of their condicions

By influence god may his grace shede▪
Where he fyndeth cause only by mekenesse
A pore man to reyse him vp in dede
Vnto the estate of vertuous noblesse
For oute of vertue cometh all gentylnesse
In pore and riche make none excepcion
But theym cōmende like their condicoin

A pore man which that is vertuous
And dredeth god in his pouerte
Eche thinge eschewynge that is vicious
And to his power doth trouth and equite
I dare right well what euer that he be
Puttynge no rebuke vnto his kinrede
But call him gentyll veryly in dede

But kinge saul was contrarious
Disobeisaunce founde in his werkynge
Whan god made him to be victorious
[Page]On amalech where agag was kinge
Him cōmaundyd to spare no maner thinge
Man nor woman beest nor childe socoure
But that his swerde shulde al quycke thinge deuoure

But saul wrought all in other wise
Eche thinge reseruynge that was faire to sight
And of entent to make a sacrifise
After his victorie he shope him anone right
Fatest beestis he chase and hath theym dight
Towarde the fire to make his offrynge
And fro deth he sparyd agag the kynge

He was reprouyd afterwarde of samuell
To goddes byddinge for he was contraire
As abiecte to regne in israel
That all good hope in him gan disspaire
His grace / his myght / gan pall and appaire
His prophecie after hath him failyd
And with afende he was also trauailyd

Thus from hir whele fortune caste him downe
Aualyd him from his royall se
And god also toke away the crowne
Both from him and his posterite
And set vp dauid for his humylite
Loo howe the lorde his domys can deuyde
To enhaunce mekenesse and to abate pride

Saul endured in his frensie
Awicked sprite so sore him dyd assaile
Vnto dauid euer he had enuye
That he was hardy to entre in bataile
With a stafslynge voide of plate and mayle
Slough Golias without fere or drede
Pullyd out his swerde and smote of his hede

At theyr repairynge home oute of the felde
Whan dauyd had slayne thus golye
Yonge maydens whan they behelde
The greate victorie they in their ermonye
In laude of dauyd thus gan synge and crye
Saul hath slayne a thousande with his might
Dauid ten thousande the lusty yonge knight

Saul disdeynyd and saide frowardly
They grauntyd haue a thousand to my name
And to the sonne herof I say
Yaue ten thousande to encrece his fame
Which is to me a rebuke and a shame
Wherupon this saul fret with  [...]re
Of yonge dauid gan the deth conspire

In his herte he had a fantasie
Of their syngynge whan that he toke hede
Demt it was a maner prophesie
That dauid preferrid shulde be in dede
And to the crowne after him succede
Thought his childre as gan dyuyne
Shulde be depryued of the roiall lyne

Thus day by day saul weyes sought
To sle dauid playnly if he might
Al be it so that he no malice thought
But euer kept him lowly in his sight
Therfore good euer and grace on him a light
For ay the lorde of his magnificence
Ageyn tirauntys preserueth Innocence

And as the bible pleynly doth vs lere
This dauid had in his tendre age
For his noblesse the kinges doughter dere
Callyd Michol ioyned by mariage
And whan that saul fill in any rage
Dauid anone to aswage his woodnesse
Touchid his harpe and brought him in gladnesse

Saul fuloft gan dauyd to enchace
And werreye throughout all his londes
Through dese [...]ys him pursue and manace
Of entent to haue shet him vp in bondes
Or to sle him if he come in his hondys
But fynally god thorugh his ordenaunce
Preseruyd his knight from all maner myschaunce

Saul full oft was brought to mischeef
Yit ay from deth dauid dyd him saue
And herof this was a speciall preef
Whan dauid but his garnement in the caue
And mo tokyns if ye lift to haue
Another tyme Dauyd also kepte
The life of saul whan he lay and slept

The case was this as they hosteynge
Nat ferre asondre and saul lay and slepe
All his people aboute him slepynge
And vnpurueyed like a flocke of shepe
Of whiche thinge dauyd toke good kepe
Doun descendyd and made no delay
Cam to the tent where kynge saul lay

The spere of saul stondynge at his hede
Dauid toke it and went his way anone
Of his comynge there was no man toke hede
For saul slept and his men echon
[Page]And whan that he vp to the hyll was gone
Towarde saul ageyn he cast his loke
Made anoyse that all his knyghtes woke

First to abnor prince of his chyualrye
Dauyd seyde these wordes in sentence
Abnor quod he thou hast done greate folie
This day shewed a greate negligence
To suffre of saul the magnificence
In peryll stonde and none hede take
Aboute his persone to make his knightes wal [...]e

Thou art to blame for thy rechelesnesse
To leue the kynge stonde in so greate a drede
In slepe to haue more sauoure and swetnesse
Than of his life to take hede
Such negligence requireth for his mede
Deth and turment by rightfull iugement
Aboute a prince whan folke be negligent

And thou list to se an euydence
Howe that his life stode in Iuꝑdye
Se here his spere and yeue therto credence
Howe vnprouyded ye were in youre ꝑtye
Saul nor thou ye may it nat denye
Your life / you deth / youre power / your puissaunce
This day god put hole in my gouernaunce

But me to aquyte of youre Innocence
As euery man shulde vnto his kynge
And to declare in me was none offence
Ageyn his noblesse in wyll nor in werkynge
As god wote that knoweth euery thynge
That I neuer by no conspiracye
Wrouht nor compassyd ageyne his regalye

 [...]O here exaumple of ꝑfight pacience
Ageyn malice to shewe kyndnesse
Where saul shewed his mortall violence
Dauid aquit him with suffraunce and goodnesse
The tyraunt venquesshyd by his prudent mekenesse
Men ageyn trouth may wele a werre gynne
But at the ende the palme he doth ay wynne

For of this story if that ye take hede
Saul is fall for his frowardnesse
Into myscheef and into sodeyn drede
For Philistees the bible berith witnesse
With a greate power gan their wardys dresse
Vpon kynge saul auengyd for to be
Their tentys pight besyde Gelboe

Wherof kynge saul astonyed in his herte
Had lost his sprite of knightly hardynesse
And specially whan he dyd aduerte
Prophete was none his armys to redresse
Of future thynges trouth to expresse
In israel which cast him in greate drede
Bycause that tyme samuell was dede

For saul had cast out all dyuynes
From israell and eche from dyuyneresse
Nat withstandynge the palestynesse
Were rys ageyn his power to oppresse
And he ne knewe no maner sorceresse
Of whom he myght any counseyll take
And he of god that tyme was forsake

In this wise he stode disconsolate
Counseyl of god nor prophete knewe he none
But a man moost infortunate
Vngraciously he sped him forth anone
And secrely this saul is forth gone
To a woman that shulde him rede and wysse
In israel callyd a phetonesse

Whiche is a name as clerkys writen all
And office who that taketh hede
Soulis of men ageyn to clepe and calle
I mene such that tofore were dede
Which is a thinge straunge for to rede
That wymen shulde who so lyst to lere
Make soules of dede men appere

Vnkouth and straunge is their opinion
And to my wyt a manere impossible
Nat accordynge me semeth to reson
Nor like a thinge which that is credible
That a soule of nature inuisible
Might appere or shewe visibly
Vnto iyen which that been bodely

But or that I any ferther flitte
Lest I were holde to presumptuous
To deuynes this mater I cōmytte
And wise clerkes that ben vertuous
In their wittes subtill and corious
To conclude as it doth theym seme
In this mater a trouth for to deme

Whether it was the soule of sconuell
Or other sprite that she dyd call
Which that tolde the kynge of israell
Of the bateyll that shulde after fall
[Page]His auentures and his myscheuys all
And of his deth he tolde also in dede
And howe dauyd shulde after him succede

Bycause only of his disobeysaunce
As it is writen / and for his rechelesnesse
On amelech for he toke nat vengeaunce
Thus the sprite bare to him witnesse
Wherof Saul fyll in greteate heuynesse
Knowynge no mene to escape oute of this doute
But take his fortune as it cometh aboute

Tolde him also his ennemyes were so wroth
The philistees beside Gelboe
In that batayle he and his children both
Shulde dye that day of necessite
His chiualrie shall scounfited be
Of his regne there is no lenger date
For god from him his kingdome will translate

And thus saul retournyd is ageyn
His meny after brought to discounfiture
And whan he sawe all his people slayne
And howe there was no mene to recure
In that dedly wofull auenture
He bad his squier / take his swerde as blyue
And through the herte that he shulde him ryue

That his ennemyes which were vncircumcised
Shulde haue no power in story it is founde
To fall vpon him as they haue deuysed
To yeue him his last fatall wounde
His high noblesse at myscheef to confounde
But his squier for fere of god and drede
Wolde nat assent to do so foule a dede

To slee his lorde he greatly was aferde
A thinge hatfull in euery mannys sight
But saul toke the pomell of his swerde
And in the grounde full depe anone it pight
And in all hast possible that he myght
Made the poynt in his furious peyne
To perce his herte and part euen on tweyne

The philistees anone as he was dede
Spoilyd him of his riall armure
Dismembryd him and smote of his hede
And in tokyn of their disconfiture
Toke the spoiles with all their besy cure
And therof made in all their best entent
To astraoth of pride a greate present

Thus was saul slayne in sentence
Of philistees vpon Gelboe
Forsake of god for inobedience
Abiecte also from his roiall fee
And thus for lackynge of humylite
Of god he was for euer set asyde
Lo here the ende of surquedye and pride

Lenuoye

HAue mynde of saul which of estate riall
From lowe degre was callyd for makenesse
But presumpcion made him haue a fall
Of god abiect for his frowardnesse
Lost his crowne the bible berith witnesse
And cause was for his disobeysaunce
To goddys byddynge he yaue none attendaunce

God nat axeth nomore of man atall
But hole herte without doublenesse
For all the giftys which in especiall
He yaue to man of high goodnesse
But he chastiseth all vnkyndnesse
Such as been rebell for to do plesaunce
And to his byddynge yeue none atendaunce

Noble princes vertue moost principall
You to conserue in youre high noblesse
Is to emprente in your memoriall
Feith equyte all wronges to redresse
To susteyne trouth and rightwisnesse
And tofore god holde heuenly the balaunce
And his byddinge yeue hole youre attendaun [...]

Acommendacion of Bochas vpon the vertue of obedience

VErtue of vertues mooste of excellence
Which that haue moost souereyn suffisaunce
Is the vertue of true obedience
Which set all thynge in rightfull gouernaunce
For ne were nat this prudent ordenaunce
Sūme to obeye and aboue to guye
Destroied were all worldly policye

[Page]
Where that vertue and high descrecion
Auoidyd haue from theym all wilfulnesse
By tytle only of dominacion
Truly lyuynge vpon reghtwisnesse
Wronge and errours iustly to redresse
Of truth I may rightwell afferme and saye
The people mekely their biddynge shulde obeye

This noble vertue of feythfull obeisaunce
Establisshed vpon humylyte
Which includeth no double variaunce
In all regions and in eche countre
Causeth welfare / ioye / and prosperite
And as vertue cheef and souereyne
All vicious riete it pleynly doth restreyne

Obedience eke as men may se
Falsnesse exileth and all rebellion
For by tempraunce right and equite
Stant the welfare of euery region
For the mekenesse and lowe subieccion
Of comontees holde vp the regalies
Of lordshippes and of all monarchies

And no doute whan lordshippes of entent
Besy been the souereyne lorde to queme
To their subiettes do right Iugement
In conscience as right and reson deme
Than shall their crowne and dyademe
Vpon their hede ꝑseuere and fresshly shyne
And make subiettis to their biddynge en [...]lyne

Thus obe [...]saunce playnly at a worde
In such as haue lordship and souereynte
Done of entent to their souereigne lorde
Shall cause theym reigne in longe prosperite
And their subiettes of humilite
For their noble famous gouernaunce
Ay to be redy vnder their obeisaunce

For who that serueth the lorde of lordes all
And hath the people in his subieccion
God will kepe him that he shall nat fall
Longe preserue his dominacion
But ageynwarde whan wisdom and reason
Been ouermaistred with censualite
Farwell the floures of their felicite

Obedience blunteth the sharpnesse
Of cruell swerdys in tyrauntys hondys
And mekenesse appeseth the felnesse
Of hasty vengeaunce breketh on two the bondes
Eke pacience set quiete in londys
And where thise thre contune in comontees
Longe pees ꝑseuereth in kyngdoms and citees

Obedience doth also restreyne
Conspiracions and fals collusions
Whan she stant vnpartyd nat atweyne
There is no drede of no discencions
For she combyneth the true opinions
In the hertys of people full well afore prouyded
Vndre princes to stonde hole vndeuyded

Where princes be meke humble and debonaire
Towardys god of hole affeccion
Their subiettis be gladly nat contrarye
In their ceruise by no rebellion
For there is founde no deuision
But hede and membres eche for his partye
Be so gouernyd by prudent policie

Contrariously saul was put doun
Abiect of god for his obstinacie
Put from his ceptre / his crowne / his region
Of israell lost all the monarchie
For he list nat make his alye
Of frowardnesse and wilfull negligence
This noble vertue callyd obedience

For as it longeth in kyngdomes and citees
Vnder a key of vn beniuolence
Princes kynges to gouerne their sees
So apperteyneth due reuerence
To their subiettes by obedience
To obeye their lordes as they be of degre
By title of right in euery comonte

For obeisaunce if it be discernyd
With argus iyen who that taketh hede
As right requereth is nat well gouerned
Whan the membres presume ageyn the hede
Of gouernaunce there is no ꝑfight▪ spede
From vnyte they goo afrowarde weye
Whan subiettis their princes disobeye

[Page]

Howe kinge Roboam for gyuynge feith to yonge counseyle lost the beneuolence of his people and dyed a foole

vNto Iohn bochas in ordre next ther̄ cā
With ful grete dole and lamentacion
The yonge kinge callyd Roboam
Sonne and next heire to Salamon
Entringe by tytle of iust succession
Besought myn auctour to make of his folye
And of his fallynge a pitous tragedie

First whan he entryd into his region
Twelue tribus gouernynge in dede
Rulyd him silf by will and no reason
Kepte his subiettes pleynly as I rede
Not vnder loue but vndre frowarde drede
Of olde wise to his greate disauaile
He despised the doctryne and counsayle

He demenyd as it was well couth
His ceptre / his crowne / and his regalie
By such folke as floured in their youth
Coude of custum their wittes well applie
To blende him falsly with their flaterie
Which is a stepmoder callyd in substaunce
To all vertue and all good gouernaunce

Alas it is greate dole and greate pyte
That flaterye shulde haue so greate fauoure
Which blindeth princes that they may nat se
Misteth the iyen of euery gouernoure
That they can nat knowe their owne erroure
Fals hony shed ay on their sentence
A fole is he that yeueth to theym credence

They may be callyd the deuyls tabourers
With frowarde sownys ceris to fulfyll
Or of Cures the ꝑilous botelers
Which gall and hony doun distill
Whoos drinkes ben both amerous and ill
And as clerkes well deuise cūne
Wors than the drynkes of Cirenes tūne

Erys of princes full well they can enoynt
With the softe oyle of adulacion
And their termys moost subtilly appoynt
Eche thinge concludynge with fals decepcion
Ay blandisshinge with amerous poyson
And fynally as the poete sayth
Their feith of custum concludeth with vnfeith

Flourynge in wordys though there be no frute
Double of herte plesaunte of langage
Of true menynge voide and destitute
In mustrynge outwarde pretende a faire visage
Who trustith theym fyndeth smale auauntage
By apparence and glorious fressh shewynge
Princes deceyuynge and many worthy kynge

Roboam can bere full well witnesse
From auoidynge folkes that were true
Howe he was hyndryd by flaterye and falnesse
By theym that coude forge oute tales newe
Whoos counseile after sore dyd him rewe
And with their feyned fals suggestion
Greatly abridgyd his domynacion

He dempte him selfe of more auctorite
Of foly youth and of presumpcion
Than was his fader in greate rialtie
And this pompous fals opinion
Cam into his conceit by adulacion
For flaterers bare to him witnesse
Howe he excelled his faders high noblesse

He dyd greate rigour and oppression
Vpon his people as it was well prouyd
And to fynde sum mitigacion
They in maters which that haue theym greuyd
Of their tributes for to be releuyd
Besought he wolde relece theym in their nede
But all for nought he toke therof none hede

All olde counseile from him he set aside
And refusyd their doctrine and their lore
And by fals counseyll of folkes full of pride
His pore lieges he oppressyd sore
And ten kynredys anone without more
For tyrannye and mysgouernaunce
From him withdrough the trouth and ligeaunce

This of the kynge conceyued the rigour
The people anone of Indignacion
Stoned adoram which was collectour
Of the tributis in all his region
From him deꝑtynge by rebellion
Wherof astonyed to auenge his greate vnright
In to Ierusalem toke anone his flight

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And whan they were ꝑtyd from roboam
The ten kynredys by diuision
Chase theym a kynge callyd Ieroboam
And roboam within his roiall toun
To be auengyd of their rebellion
And for to do on theym cruell iustise
An hundred thousand he made anone to arise

With Ieroboam he cast him for to mete
And all at onys set in iuperdye
But rameus the prophete bad him leete
And from the werre withdrawe his ꝑtye
And more the quarell for to iustifie
Of his people frowarde departynge
It was goddys wyll done for a punysshynge

Touchynge the surplus of his gouernaunce
His roiall byldynge of many faire cite
His greate rich famous suffisaunce
Of wyne and oyle hauynge greate plentie
And howe his empire encreacyd yerys thre
Eke howe that tyme he rightfull was in dede
In Iosephus his story ye may rede

Of his children borne in right lyne
Eightene wyues as made is mencion
I fynde he had and many concubyne
Sonnes and doughters by procreacion
And howe his richesse and greate possession
That tyme encreacid as it is well knowe
To god aboue while that he bare him lowe

But as this auctour maketh rehersaile
In his encres and augmentacion
Mekenesse in herte in him gan wast and faile
And pride entryd with fals presumpcion
Vertue despisynge and all religion
After whos vices as seith this same boke
Wickyd exaumple of him the people toke

After the maners where they be good or ille
Vsyd of princes in diuers regions
The people is redy to vse and fulfyll
Fully the tracis of their condicions
For lordes may in their subiections
So as theym list who so can take hede
To vice or vertue their subiettis lede

Thus Roboam for his transgressions
In Iosephus as it is deuysed
And for his frowarde fals opineons
Only for he all vertue hath despised
Of god he was rightfully chastised
In ierusalem his cheef roiall toun
Of his enmyes besegyd enuyron

The kynge of egipt a sege aboute him layde
With so greate people that socour was there none
Albe it so that roboam abrayde
And praide god delyuer him from his fone
To auoyde of mercy his ennemyes euerychone
But god lyst nat graunt his praiere
But him chastised like as ye shall here

First his cite and his roiall toun
Deliuered was he knewe no better socoure
Vnder a feynyd fals composicion
For at their entrynge voide of all fauoure
Kepynge no couenaunt toke all the tresoure
Within the temple hauynge no pite
But ladde it home to egypt their cuntre

And to reherce it is a greate dole
Howe Roboam as Iosephus doth declare
Was inly proude and therwithall a fole
And of all wisdom destitute and bare
Vnmerciable his people for to spare
Hatynge good counseyle and so in his regalye
Regnynge a fole and so I lete him dye

Lenuoye

PHilosophers conclude and deuise
In their bokes of good experience
That counseylours / sad / expert / and wise
True of their worde stable of their sentence
Hasty nor recheles for no violence
Kepe and preserue the trouth I da [...] attaine
Noblesse of princes fro mische [...]d diffame

Hasty youth and rancoure in contrarye wise
Which haue to wyll all their aduertence
Except them self all other men despise
Through their vnbridelyd furious insolence
Nothing acqueynted with wisdome nor prudence
Bringe ayenwarde wherof they be to blame
Puttynge his noblesse in myscheef and diffame

Kynge roboam ageyn right and iustise
To yonge foles yaue faith and moost credence
Cruelly his subiettis to chastise
[Page]which put his people fro his benyuolence
Through ten kynredys from his obedience
Which was to him by recorde full greate shame
Puttynge his noblesse in myscheef and diffame

Noble princes do wysely aduertise
In ꝑseuerynge of your magnyficence
Of olde expert nat blent with couetyse
Take youre counseile and do theym reuerence
Eyed as argus in their high prouidence
Which conserue by report of good name
Noblesse of princes from myscheef and diffame

A chaptre descryuinge howe princes beynge hedeys of their comontees shulde haue noble chyualrie true Iuges their comontye to gouerne &c.

wHat erthely thynge is more deceyuable
Than of princes the pompe & veinglorye
Which wene stond in their estatis stable
As they the world had cōquerid by victory
And sodenly be put out of memory
Their fame cloudyd alas and their noblesse
With a derke shadowe of foryetfulnesse

Wherof cometh the famous clere shynynge
Of emperours in their consistories
Or wherof cometh their laude in reportinge
Saue that clerkes haue writen their histories
Or where nowe conquestys transitories
Or their triumphes where shulde men theym fynde
Nadde writers their prowesse put in mynde

Reken vp all and first the worthy nyne
In high nobles whiche hadde neuer peers
The ma [...] actis which cleerly dyd shyne
Their fame vpborne aboue all the nyne sterrys
With loude sownys of famous clarioneris
Their glorious palmes if they be well preysid
By lowe labours of comons was first reised

Make a lykenesse of these greate ymages
Coriously corue out by entaile
Hede / armes / body and their fresshe visages
Without / fete or legges may nat vaile
To stonde vpright for nedys they must faile
And semblably subiectis in comontees
Reise vp the noblesse of princes in their sees

As hede and membres in ymagys been one stone
Outher one stok by cumpas vndeuyded
And be proporcion their feturys euerichon
Set in true ordre as nature hath prouydyd
So that all errours through craft by circumcided
The hede highest by custum as men knowe
The body amyd the fete beneth lowe

Mighty princes for their high renoun
As moost worthy shall occupye the hede
With wit memorye and iyen of reason
To kepe their membres fro mischeef and drede
Like their degrees take of theym good hede
With clere forsight of a prudent thought
Their fete preserue they erre nought

There must be handes and armys of diffence
Which shall the ymage manly kepe and giue
From all assautis of foreyn violence
Which shall be named nobleste of chiualrie
Their true office iustly to magnyfie
Susteyne the churche and make theym self stronge
To se that wydowes and maidens haue no wronge

Prudent iuges as it is skyll and right
To punysshe wronge and surfetys to redresse
In this ymage shall ocupie the sight
For loue or hate by dome of rightwisnesse
For frende or fo his iugementis dresse
So egally the lawes to susteyne
In their werkes that none errour be seyn

Amyd this ymage there is a body set
An aggregate of people and degrees
By ꝑfyte pees and vnyte yknet
By thestates that gouerne comontees
As meires / prouostes / and burgeis in citees
Marchauntis olso which seke sundry londys
With other craftis which lyue by their hondis.

And as a body which stant in helthe
Felith no greef of no frowarde humours
So euery comon contynueth in greate helth
Which is demenyd with prudent gouernours
That can appese debatis and errours
The people kepe from all contrauersie
Causynge the welfare to encreace and multiplie

This body must haue a soule of life
To quike the membres with goostly mocions
Which shalbe made of folke contemplatif
The church cōmyttyd to their possessions
Which by their holy conuersacions
And good exaumple shulde as sterrys shyne
By grace and vertue the people enliunyne

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Vpon the light of theyr condicions
Of this body dependith the welfare
For in their techinge and pridicacions
They shulde trouth to high and lowe declare
And in their office for no drede ne spare
Vices correcte like as they are holde
Sith they been herdys of cristes folde

Folowynge vpon of entent full clene
Laborers as ye haue harde deuysed
Shall this body bere vp and susteyne
As feete and legges which may nat be despised
For true laboure is Iustly auctorisied
And nere the plough vpholden by traueile
Of kinges princes farwell all gouernaile

Thus first if princes gouerned by by right
And knighthode suffre the people to haue no wronge
And trouth in iuges shewe oute his light
And forth in citees with loue he drawe a longe
And holy church in vertue be made stronge
And in his labour the plough ne feyne nought
Than by proporcion this ymage is well wrought

This mater hole for to exemplifie
Kynge Roboam for a fals oppression
And for his wilfull frowarde tyrannye
Lost a greate ꝑtye of his region
Wherfore lete princes considre of reson
God set the people for lordes auauntage
And to be oppressyd with seruage

Vpon sūme princes bochas doth compleyne
Such as haue a custome and manere
Ageyn their subgettes vngoodly to disdeyne
And of pride to shewe theym frowarde chere
Counseyleth theym to remembre and lere
As this chaptre dothe fynally diuyse
First oute of lordship all laboure dyd arise

Howe Mucyus Sceuola slough an Innocent in stede of kinge Porcēna that laide siege to Rome.

wHan kinge porcēna with his chiualrie
Agayn romayns a werre first began
The toun besegynge vpon eche ꝑtye
With greate puissaunce brought of tuskan
In the cite there was a knightly man
Mucius Sceuola which cast in their distresse
To breke the siege through his high prowesse

Lete arme him self clene in plate and maile
For comon profite to auaunce his corage
Kynge porcenna proudly to assaile
A tyme prouyded to his auantage
Through the sege to make his passage
And finally at his in comynge
Iuꝑte his ꝑsone for to sle the kynge

But like as tellith titus lyuius
Where Porcenna sate in his roiall see
This Senatoure this manly Mucius
Sawe a prince of greate auctorite
The kynge resemblynge clad in one liuere
Atweyne decernynge no maner variaunce
Slough that prince of very ignoraunce

But whan he knewe that he dyd faile
To sle porcenna enmy to the toun
And sawe he had lost all his trauaile
He made a pitous lamentacion
Bycause he dyd execusion
Of ignorance ageyn his owne entent
To spare a tiraunt and sle an Innocent

For which he was with him self full wroth
That he was founde so negligent in dede
And with his hande vnto a fire he goth
Made it brenne bright as any glede
Both nerf and bone and his flessh to shede
His hande consumynge on pecis here and yond [...]
And from his arme made it ꝑt a sondre

And as the story declareth vnto vs
This manly man this noble senatoure
Afore tyme was callyd mucyu [...]
Which for the comon dyd many greate laboure
And for the vncouth hasty fell rigour
Done to himself the romayns all
Sceuola they dyd him after call

As moch to say by langage of that londe
Who take a right the exposion
As a man which is without an honde
And after him by succession
All his ofspring [...] borne in the toun
In remembraunce for to encrece his fa [...]
Of Sc [...]uola  [...]are after him the na [...]

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By this exaumple and many other moo
If men list here corages to awake
They shulde se what ꝑill and what woo
For comon profite men haue vndertake
And whilom  [...]ru [...]us for Lucrecis sake
Tarquyn chacyd for his transgression
And kinges all oute of rome toun

Touchinge Lucrece exaumple of wifly trouth
Howe yonge Tarquyn hir falsly dyd oppresse
And after that which was to greate a routh
Howe she hir self slough for heuynesse
It nedeth nat rehece the processe
Sith that Chaucere cheef poete of bretayne
Wrote of hir life a legende souerayne

Rehersinge there amonge other thinges
Eche circumstaunce and eche occasion
Why romayns exilid first their kynges
Neuer to regne after in their toun
As olde cronicles make mencion
Remembringe also the vnkindly greate outrage
By encrece done to Dido of Cartage

Eke other stories which he wrote in his lyue
Full notably with euery circumstaunce
And their fatis pitously dyd discryue
Like as they fill put theym in remembraunce
Wherfo [...] if I shulde my penne auaunce
After his makynge to put theym in memory
Men wolde deme it presumpcion and veyne glorie

For as a sterre in presence of the sū  [...]e
Lesith his fresshnesse and his clere light
So my rudnesse vnder skies dūne
Dareth full lowe and hath lost his sight
To be comparyd ageyn the bemys bright
Of this poete wherfore it were but veyne
Thinge saide by him to write it newe ageyne

Howe lucrece oppressed by Tarquyn slough hir self

BVt at Lucrece s [...]yne I will a while
It were  [...]ite hir story for to hide
Or slouth the penne of my rude stile
But for hir sake all maters set aside
Also my lorde bad I shulde abyde
By good auice at leyser to translate [...]
The doolfull processe of hir pitous fate

Folowynge the tracis of collucyus
Which wrote of hir a declaracion
Moost lamentable / moost doolfull / moost pitous
Where he discriueth the dolorous treason
Of hir constreyned fals oppression
Wrought and compassid by vnware violence
The light vntroublyd of hir clere conscience

Hir fader whilom callyd Spurius
Hir worthy husbonde namyd collatyn
Which by the luxurie and treson odious
And vicious outrage of sextus proude Tarquyn
Oppressyd was and brought vnto hir fyn
Whoos dedely sorowe in Inglissh for to make
Of pitous ruth my penne I fele quake

This saide Tarquyn this euyll auisyd knight
This slaundred man moost hatefull for his dede
Cam like a theef alas vpon a night
With nakyd swerde whan noman toke hede
Vpon Lucrece she quakinge in hir drede
Lyenge abed ferre from hir folkes all
And knewe no refuge for helpe for to calle

He manasynge in his frowarde entent
On hir beholdynge with a furious chere
That with his swerde but she wolde assent
Hir and a boy he wolde prente I fere
Suchone as was moost ougly of manere
Moost vnlikely of ꝑsone and of fame
Thus he hir thrat for to slaundre hir name

But his entent whan she dyd fele
And sawe no mene of hir woful chaunce
The morowe after she list no thinge concele
Tolde hir husbonde holy the gouernaunce
Him requerynge for to do vengeaunce
Vpon this cryme saide like a trewe wife
She wolde hir herte perce with a knyfe

In this mater this was hir fantasie
Better was to dye than to lyue in shame
And lasse ill to put in Iuꝑdye
Hir mortall body than hir good fame
Whan honour dieth farwell a mannys name
Be [...]t were out of his life diseuere
Than slaunderous fame to sle a man for  [...]

[Page]
But to that purpos hir husbond saide nay
Hir fader also was therto contrarie
Makynge a promyce without more delay
To do vengeaunce howe they wilnat tarie
To her declaryngt with reasons debonarie
Vndre these wordes trouth and right cōserued
To sle hir self she hath no thinge deserued

For sodenly and also vnauisyd
As a foole is trappyd in the snare
By vnware fraude vpon the practisyd
Thou were disceyued pleynly to declare
Ha [...]inge this conceyt hard is to repare
The name of theym which falsly be diffamyd
Whan wronge report the high renowne hath shamyd

Touchinge thy ꝑsone I dare offerme and s [...]yn
That it were a maner impossible
And like a thinge which neuer yit was seyn
That thy worship was founde corruptible
But stedfast ay and indiuisible
Vnptyd vertue and made stronge
And nowe desirous to auenge thy wronge

On thy Iniurye we shall auengyd be
Consideryd first the dedely heuynesse
Which thou suffridest by greate aduersite
Whan the auoutour thy beutye dyd oppresse
And reioysynge by a fals gladnesse
Maugre thy wyll as a theef by night
The encombred of very force and myght

But if thou woldest leue all thy mournynge
And restreyne thy importable woo
Sone shuldest thou se an egall punysshinge
Vpon thy moost frowarde mortall foo
To warne all other they shall nomore do s [...]
In chastisinge of fals auoutrie
The and thy renoun of right to magnifye

What was diffasinge to thy true entent
Though his youth vnbridelyd went at large [...]
So for to aforce a cely innocent
Whoos wickydnesse ought to bere the charge
And we of right thy conscience discharge
The ioye vnlefull of his fals plesaunce
With double palme thyn honoure doth auaunce

Conceyue  [...]nd se o thou my Lucrece
Howe that reason and good discrecion
Shulde thy trouble and thy mournynge ceo [...]
Of right restreyne thy opinion
So rechelesly to do punycion
With knyf or hande to sle thy silf alas
For others gilt and didest no trespas

Latbe Lucrece /  [...]atbe all thy dool
Cece thy complaynt and thy woo restreyne
Shulde I fro the lyue alone all fool
And thy deth ꝑpetuelly compleyne
To put thy fader in importable peyne
Of oure welfare be nat so recheles
To dye and leue our childre moderles

Of prudence eke thou oughtest for to se
And aduertise only of reason
Though of force thy body corrupte be
Thy soule inwarde and thyn entencion
Fraunchisyd been from all corrupcion
Offence is none considre in thyn entent
With will and herte yeue therto full consent

Thou were nakyd in thy bed lyenge
Alone vnware slepinge and voide of myght
Suspeciousles all of his comynge
That tyme namely bycause that it was night
A feerfull woman and he a manly knight
Al be it so vnknightly was his dede
With nakyd swerde to assaile thy womanhede

He might thy body by force well oppresse
By sleighty weyes that he had sought
But wele wo [...]e I for all his sturdynesse
He might neuer haue maistry of thy thought
The body yeldyd the herte yeldyd him nought
Ye were tweyne / thou feble / and he right stronge
Thy trouth afforcyd he werker of the wronge

Where mightest thou haue greter preice or laude
All right considred trouth and equite
First counterpeysed his force and sleighty fraude
Than to ꝑseuere in femynite
With thought enchaunged and infragilite
Of woman hede to haue an hert stable
What thinge in the might be more comendable

It is well [...]know [...] thou were of herte ay one
To all fals lustys contrarie in gouernaunce
More like an Image  [...]erued oute of a stone
Than like a woman flesshly of plesaunce
The tyraunt fonde in chere and countenaunce
Which euer after by womanly victorye
Shalbe ascryued to thyn encreace of glorie

[Page]
Thy fader Brutus hath the well excused
Mysilf also thy blode and thy kynrede
On this mater late nomore be musyd
To sle thy silf or do thy sydes blede
Certys Lucrece thou hast full litell nede
It were greate wronge by all oure iugement
To spare a tyraunt and sle an Innocent

Thy silf to murdre to sūme it wolde seme
Thou were gilty where as thou art clene
Dyuers wittes diuersly wyll deme
Report thinge thou none didest mene
For which thou shalt paciently susteene
Tyll thy chast wifly Innocence
May se him punysshed for his violence

Folke wyll nat deme a ꝑsone Innocent
Which wilfully whan he is nat culpable
Yildeth him self to deth by iugement
And neuer was afore of no gilt portable
His owne dome vpon him self vengeable
Causeth the people though their report be nought
To deme a thinge that neuer was done ne wrought

To be auengyd vpon thyn owne life
In excusynge of thy dedly fame
To shewe thou art a true weddyd wife
Wenynge by deth to gete the a name
In this deuice thou art greatly to blame
Where thou yit knowest thyn honoure clerly shyne
To yeue the people mater to deuyne

And with that worde lucrece dyd abrayde
Full dedely both of loke and chere
To theym ageyn euyn thus she saide
Lathe husbonde / lathe my fader dere
Speke nomore to me of this matere
Lest men dempt in hindringe of my name
I dred deth more than fals diffame

Youre counseyle is I shall my life conserue
To sorowe and sclaundre but no gladnesse
But lasse ill it is at an houre to sterue
Than euer languyssh in sorowe and heuynesse
Deth maketh an ende of all worldly distresse
And it was saide sith full yore ago
Better is to dye than euer to lyf in woo

Whan that worship in any creature
Is slayne and dede by sclaunderous report
Better is of deth the dredfull peyne endure
Than by fals noise ay to lif in discomfort
Where newe / and newe diffame hath his resort
Neuer dyeth but quickeneth by the outrage
Of hatefull tunges and venymous langage

Do youre deuer to halowe and make stable
The chast chaumbres of wifly gouernaunce
For in this case if ye be variable
On fals auoutrye for to do vengeaunce
There shall folowe euerlastynge remembraunce
Howe true spousaile as ye haue harde deuysed
In youre cite broke and nat chastised

If ye be founde in such case necligent
To punyssh auoutours of right as youre charge
Through youre slouth as ye were of  [...]assent
Luxuere vnbridelyd shall re [...]e abrode at large
Who shall than youre conscience discharge
Or what woman stonde in sekirnesse
Of Lucrece afforcyd the clennesse

O dere husbonde what ioye shulde it be
To thyn estate in any maner place
Like as thy wife to cherissh me
Or in thyn armes me goodly to enbrace
The gilt horrible considered and trespace
By Tarquyn done alas and welaway
Which in my ꝑsone may neuer be wasshed away

And fader myn howe shuldest thou me call
After this day thyn owne doughter dere
Which alas refuce of wymen all
That to thy plesaunce was whilom moost entere
Within thy hous whan I dyd lere
By clere exaumple of manyfolde doctryne
All that ꝑteyned to vertuous discipline

Which I haue lost nowe in my dayes olde
Dispeyred it to recure ageyn
Myn owne childre I dare nat theym beholde
Bycause the wombe in that they haue leyn
Diffoulyd is and pollute in certeyn
Which was tofore in chastite conseruyd
Chastise the auoutre as he hath deseruyd

And for my part to speke in wordes fewe
Lenger to lyue I haue no fantasie
For where shulde I out my face shewe
Or dare appere in any company
Sith a derke spot of fals auoutrie
Shall euermore whether it be fals or true
Into myn hindrynge the sclaundre to renewe

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Lust afforcid hath a fals appetite
Of freelte includyd in nature
Maugre the wyll there foloweth a delite
As sūme folkys say in euery creature
Good fame lost full harde is to recure
And sith I may my harmys nat redresse
To you in open my gylt I wyll confesse

All be I was ageyn my wyll oppressyd
There was a maner constreyned lust in dede
Which for no power might nat be redressyd
For feblenesse I stode in so greate drede
For which offence deth shall be my mede
Sith leuer I haue with sūme edge tole
To sle my silf than lyue in slaundre and dole

O fader myn spare and haue pite
And dere husbonde rue on myn offence
Goddys and goddessys callyd of chastite
To my trespas graunt an indulgence
For of my gylt to make a recompence
Where that venus gate in me a vauntage
Deth shall redresse and chastise myn outrage

For if I shulde make a delay
To perce my brest with sharpnesse of a knife
Men wolde deme and say fro day to day
To make my sclaundre more opyn and more rife
Howe that I was more tendre of my life
Than of my worship which to greate a shame
To loue my lyfe more than my good name

In this mater no witnesse is so gode
To put away all fals suspecion
As with a knife to shede my hert blode
I might nat make a better purgacion
To all folke that haue discrecion
Than fynally by my deth to excuse,
The gilt horrible of which men me accuse

Goo forth my soule pure and inmortall
Cheef witnesse of myn Innocence
Tofore tho iuges which been infernall
First Mynos kynge to deme my conscience
With Radamanthus to yeue a sentence
Lyke my desert that it myght be sene
In wifly trouth howe that I was clene

Thou erthely body which through thy fairenesse
Were to auoutry full greate occasion
Of thy blode shed out the rednesse
And by thy sides late it raile doun
Stere and exite the people of this toun
To do their deuer within a litell while
For loue of tarquyn all kinges to exile

And firste I pray my husbonde moost entere
Of this vengeaunce to make no delay
With helpe and socoure of my fader dere
To punysshe the auoutour in all the hast ye may
Late him take his wages and his pay
Lyke as ye se and pleynly nowe concey [...]e
For his offence the deth I do receyue

And sodenly or they might aduert
She toke a knife and with greate violence
Through the brest euyn vnto the herte
She made it glide there was no resistence
Full pale and dede fyll doun in their presence
And by occasion of this pitous dede
Tarquyn exiled and hooly his kinrede

For which cause by recorde of writynge
Was there neuer in Rome the cyte
After that day no man crownyd kynge
As in cronycles ye may beholde and se
Thus for luxurie and their cruelte
Their tyrannye and fals extorcion
They were exiled oute of rome toun

Howe rome after was gouernyd / and virginea by hir fader slayne

GOuernyd after by other officers
As is remembred in titus Lyuyus
Callyd decembre of diuers cronicles
Amonge which there was one appius
A iuge vntrue proude and luxurious
Which through the cite the story berith witness
Behatyd was for his greate falsnesse

And onys it fyll as he best his loke
Vpon amaide moost  [...]ly faire of sight
A fals desire within his herte he toke
Hir to disuse ageyn all skyll and right
And she was doughter to a worthy knight
Full manly founde in his dedis all
And virginius the Romayns dyd him call

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Whoos goodly doughter the story doth v [...]lere
Was after him for his noble fame
Virginia callyd moost goodly and entere
And for this cause she bare the same name
But appius to greatly was to blame
Which hath conspired through his greate falsnesse
If that he might her beutye to oppresse

This iuge vntrue both in thought and dede
Of lawe vnrightfull sought oute occasion
Made a sargeaunt of his to procede
Ageyn this maide to take an accion
Cleymyd hir his seruaunt by fals collusion
And this done was by appius of entent
That he on her myght yeue a iugement

And by thys mene in his fals delite
Thought he myght her beutye best disuse
So to accomplisshe his flesshly appetite
She beynge feble the accion to refuse
Wh [...]rupon hir fader gan to muse
Fully conceyued of Appius the manere
In her defence wrought as ye shall here

Whan Appius had yeuyn his iugement
Ageyn this mayde which afore him stode
Hir manly fader moost knightly of entent
Toke hir apart as he thought it good
And with a knife shed hir hert blode
Dempt it better to sle hir in clennesse
Than the tyraunt hir beute shuld oppresse

Thus hole conseruyd was hir virginite
And vndefoulyd was hir maidynhede
For virginius to kepe hir honestye
Sparyd no thinge to make hir sides blede
But Appius for this horrible dede
And Decemuyr through his vnhappy chaunce
Had in that cite neuer after gouernaunce

As the story also maketh mencion
Appius ashamyd of this dede
Slough him silf fetre [...] in preson
Of a fals iuge lo here the fynall mede
And tho tribuni in rome gan succede
Tweyne right and wronge truly to discerne
And romayn lawes iustly to gouerne

Men may here se as in a myrroure clere
Estatis chaungyd for theyr greate offences
And by sūme pore ꝑsones singulere
Princis put doun from their magnificences
Which nat considre in their greate excellences
Howe god ordeyneth his yerde many sundry wise
The pore sum whi [...]e the pompous to chastise

Heron to shewe exaumple anone right
Markyd in story for a notable thinge
Pansanias of Grece a manly knight
Of Macedonye slough Philip the kinge
At a table where he was sittynge
Atwene Alisaundre and Olympiades
His wronge to auenge amyddes al pres

Eke Salmator a knight of lowe degre
For wronges done in especiall
Of manly force groundyd on equite
Slough of cartage the prynce Hastruball
Which brother was vnto duke Hanyball
Beside a ryuere as they met in batayle
Callyd metaure which renneth in Itaile

Wherfore ye princes if ye lyst long endure
Be right well ware be ye neuer so stronge
In youre lordshippis nat to moch assure
Or surquedie the poraile to do wronge
In your discrecion conceyuynge euer amonge
Gretest drede is that may your state assaile
Whan subieccion doth the people faile

Lenuoye

THis tragedie declareth in partye
What myscheef foloweth of extorcion
Eke of spousebrech and of auoutre
By Tarquyn done through fals extorcion
Vnto lucrece within rome toun
Kynges exiled for such mysgouernaile
And fals outrages done to the poraile

Eke appius of wilfull tirannye
Ageyn virginya toke an accion
Through a fals lust of froward lecherie
Blent and ferderkyd his memory and reason
Which was cheef cause and occasion
Why the estate of dishōme dyd fayle
Through fals outrage done to the porayle

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Kynge philip lost cepture and regalie
Of macedonye the famous region
Vnwa [...]ly slayne amyd his chyualrye
Sittynge at the table within his chheef dongeon
And grettest cause of his fallynge doun
Was whan fortune his pride dyd assaile
For fals outrages done to the poraile

 [...]u [...]e has [...]uball whome bokys magnifie
Vp to the heuyn for his high renoun
 [...]hoos triumphes raught vp to the skye
And had all cartage in his subieccion
Yit was he slayne vnwaily by treson
By a seruaunt so what it doth auayle
Treson purposyd afore in the poraile

 [...]oble princes your reason do applie
Which ouer the people haue dominacōn
So prudently to gouerne theym and guye
 [...]at loue and drede by true affeccion
P [...]se [...]ue their hertis from fals rebellyon
 [...]th to your highnesse no thinge may more preuayle
Than true subieccion expert in poraile

[...]owe Ieroboam kinge of Israell for Idolatrie [...]sobedience cam to a myscheuous ende

 [...]Eyt these stories in bochas as I fynde
There dyd appere vnto his presence
Kinges sixe him praynge to haue mynde
Vpon their fall by vnware violence
From their estatys of roiall excellence
And tofore all I fynde that there cam
Of all israell kynge Ieroboam

Vnto myn auctoure he began to declare
His dedely compleynt with a pale face
His greate myscheuys and his euyll fare
And howe he fyll doun from his kingly place
Through gret vnhappis which did his hight enbrace
And as this story playnly hath deuised
For his offencys howe he was chastisyd

An Idolatrie he was as it was tolde
Reisyd vp auteers of very force and might
Set therupon two calueryn of pure golde
Dyd theym worship ageyn all skyll and right
Gaue euyll exaumple in the peple sight
Whan he dyd with fumys and ensence
To fals ydoles vndue reuerence

Fro the temple he made the people gone
Preestes ordeyned after his owne guise
Forsoke the tribe of leuy and aaron
And vpon Bethell his offringe gan deuise
And while he dyd vnlefull sacrifise
God that wele knewe of him the fals entent
From Ierusalem a prophete to him he sent

Which him rebuked of his mysgouernaunce
And gan the peryles to him specifie
Tolde him afore for to do vengeaunce
Of dauid kinge there shulde come one Iosie
Whiche shulde his preestes that falsly coude lye
Manly destroy and sle theym all at onys
And into asshes brenne theym flesshe and bonys

And in token of their distruccion
The prophete tolde amonge theym all
Howe his auters shulde bowedoun
And his ydoles from their stage fall
Whan that folys their goddys falsly call
Whiche haue no power to helpe in no manere
For they may neyther see / fele / nor here

After this prophete Iadan had tolde
These s [...]ide signes playnly to the kynge
His auter fyll on pecis many folde
And ouerturnyd bacwarde his offringe
For which the kynge furiously lokynge
Put forth his hande the story maketh mynde
Bad his men the prophete take and bynde

And as he his arme raught oute on length
Had no power it to withdrawe ageyn
Wex vnweldy / contracte / and lost his strength
And whan the kinge these tokyns hath seyn
And howe the prophete spake no worde in veyn
Greatly astonyed coude sey nomore
But praide Iadan his arme to restore

And by his praiere and mediacion
Of his arme after this vengeaunce
There was anone made testetucion
And of his peyne feleth alegaunce
For which the kynge with full greate instaunce
Requeryd him to be so gracious
That day to abide and dyne in his hous

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But the prophete wolde nat assent
Nouther with him to ete nor to drinke
Toke his asse and forth anone he went
On whoos deꝑtynge the kynge gan sore thinke
And fantasies gan in his herte synke
Specially whan he toke hede
Of all his tokens howe they were true in dede

God bad Iadan in this greate emprise
To Ieroboam first whan he was sent
Ete nor drinke in no maner wyse
In that cyte while he was present
But a nother prophete of entent
Full olde and sligh on that other side
Compellyd hath this Iodan to abide

Him aforsinge by fals collusion
To resorto ageyn vnto the cite
And to make no contradiccion
With him to dyne of fraternite
To him affermynge it may none other be
For god sent him as to his frende and brother
To abide with him and pleynly with none other

Of frendlihede and true affeccion
Within his hous to shewe his presence
For a repast and a refeccion
This goddis will and fully his sentence
To whoos wordes the prophete yaue credence
And as they sat at dyner both in fere
God vnto Iadan seyde in this manere

For the brekinge of my commaundement
Thy greate offence and thy transgression
That thou hast be so wilfull negligent
Thou shalt endure this punicion
Be all to torne and rent of a lion
And in thy cuntre thou shalt nat recure
With prophetis to haue thy sepulture

Of which thinge this Iadan no thinge fayne
Gan to deꝑte with full heuy thought
Of a lyon amyd of the weye slayne
But his asse harmyd was rightnought
A full greate merueile if it be wele sought
The lion sittynge as in their diffence
And kept theym both from all violence

All these tokens might nat conuert
Ieroboam fro his iniquite
Goddis warnynge him list nat to aduerte
Nor by his prophete correctyd for to be
Wherfore god wolde that he shulde se
Vengeaunce folowe as it ded in dede
Both vpon him and his kinrede

A sonne he had which fyll in greate sekenesse
Callyd abimen the boke doth specifie
For which the kinge bad the quene hir dresse
To go disgysed without cumpany
Vnto a prophete which callyd was achie
Him to requere truly for to seye
Whether the childe shulde lyue or dye

And in his inwarde sight contemplatif
God shewed him by clere inspeccion
Of Ieroboam howe she was the wife
For all hir sleyghty transformacion
For nouther fallas nor fals decepcion
May be god but it be parceyued
For he / ne his prophetys may nat be decyued

She cam to him in straunge wede
At the enterynge he callyd her by hir name
Come forth quod he for it is no nede
To hide thisilf as it were for shame
For the trouth truly to attaine
God hath yeuyn me fully knowlegynge
What thou shalt answere and sey to the kynge

Sey pleynly to him and marke it in thy thought
In thy repaire these wordes rehersynge
Sith god hath made the and reysed vp of nought
From a seruaunt to regne as a kynge
Fro Dauidis kyn moost worthy regnynge
Partyd the kingdome and yeuyn it vnto the
And thou vnkinde therof canst no thinge se

His greate goodnesse is out of remembraunce
Fully forgetyn of thy frowarde pride
In fals goddys put thin affiaunce
God aboue falsly set aside
Wherfore from the anone he shall deuide
Thy kingdome hole without more delay
And fro thy lyne the crowne take away

And for thou hast thy confusion
Thy feith vnfeithfull to fals goddis take
Wrongly refusyd thy religion
Of god aboue and pleynly him forsake
This is the ende which that thou shalt make
The and thy kyn no man may socoure
Flessh / skyn / and bone houndes shall deuoure

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And at the entrynge home to the cite
Thy son and his thou shalt fynde hym dede
Of all his kyn though there were none but he
Founde very goode take therof good hede
Of which answere the quene fyll in greate drede
Entrynge the cite in especiall
Hir childe was dede and lay colde by the wall

Of this warnynge the kinge toke none hede
But made him redy with full greate aparaile
Forty thousand with him he dyd lede
Of manly men armyd in plate and maile
With kinge abias for to haue a greate bataile
The which abias that was of iuda kinge
Vnto his people saide at their metynge

O noble knightes haue one thinge in momerie
No man venquessheth platly to conclude
With greate people nor getith victorie
With noumbres hepyd nor greate multitude
Fals Idolatres god will theym delude
Nat suffre his seruauntes that been true and sad
Of miscreauntis to be ouerlad

Triumphe is none founde of newe or old
In these ydolys of stone nor siluer shene
Nor in calueryn of metall made or golde
 [...]ue to that partye which vntruly mene
And sith that god knoweth oure quarell clene
There is none hope / force none nor might
With theym grounde theym a cause ageyns right

Hope of victorie standith vpon rightwisnesse
Of theym that cast their synfull life to amende
And list forsake wronge and al falsnesse
And with hole herte vnto the lorde entend
Which shall this day his grace to you sende
Oure true cause truly to termyne
And thus Abias gan his tale fyne

His preestys gan their trumpes for to blowe
And kinge Abias through his high renoun
Gaue to his people both to high and lowe
For manly confort and consolacion
And fifty thousande by computacion
Were slayne that day which full proudly cam
Vpon the party of kinge Ieroboam

And all the partye of Ieroboam
And all that were of his lyne borne
After this bataile vnto mischeef cam
Whan they were slayne with houndes all to torne
As the prophete had theym tolde beforne
But for the kinge toke therof none hede
With soden vengeaunce god quit him his mede

Howe zereas kinge of Ethiope was slayne in bataile

AFter him to Bochas dyd appere
Next in ordre pleynly as I finde
One zareas with a sorowfull chere
And he was kynge of Ethiope and ynde
Whoos yien were almost with wepynge blynde
Praynge myn auctour his vnhappy chaunce
With other wofull to put in remembraunce

And that he wolde recorde by scripture
His sodeyn fall and dolorous distresse
And his diffamous hatefull disconfiture
With the dispoilynge of his greate richesse
And howe kinge asaph through his high noblesse
And his people as he dyd theym assayle
Hath him venquesshyd and slayne in bataile

Howe Adab kinge of Ierusalem lost ceptre and crowneOF Israell than cam the wofull kinge
Callyd Adab full pitously wepynge
Vnto bachas his compleynt rehersinge
Howe kinge basa by subtyll fals werkynge
With slaughter causyd his fallynge
Whan fortune gan falsly frowne
And toke vniustly from him ceptre and crowne

Howe the vengeable prince zambrias set a toure on fyre and brent him silf

[Page]
NExt cam zambrias a prince vengeable
Which slough kinge helam by fals treason
That was founde also full vnstable
For this zambrias of entencion
Hath murdryd him within the cheef dongeon
Of his castell with a full greate route
As he vnwarly laide a siege aboute

But a maryn a prince of full greate might
Cam into Tharse a famous grete cite
And cast him plenly lyke a worthy knight
On this zambrias auengyd for to be
Him to destroye without mercy or pite
But in a toure as zambrias went
Set it a fire and so him self brent

Of kinge Achab and Iezabell his wife

wIth sighes sore and wepynge importable
Cam kinge Achab vnto Iohn bochas
Whos hertely sorowe was incomperable
And compleynynge full oft seide alas
Besechinge him to write his wofull cas
Compile his fallinge and the fate yfere
Of Athalia his owne doughter dere

To god aboue moost contrarious
This Achab was in all his gouernaunce
And had a wife cruell and lecherous
Callyd Iesabell which set al hir plesaunce
On goddes prophetys for to do vengeaunce
In the byble their malice men may see
And ydolatres they were both he and she

God for their trespacis as it was wele seyn
Aforeshewyd by true prophesie
Sent thre yere neither dewe ne reyn
Vpon the erth their grayne to multiplie
Tyll eft ageyn by prayere of Helye
Holsom waters from heuen gan descende
Which gaue theym cause their cursyd life to amende

But his wife that cursid Iesabell
To eche thinge ha [...]full which was diuyne
An hundryd prophetis she slough in Israell
Vnto baal for they wolde nat inclyne
And she also slough Naboth for his vyne
Through whoos outrage and fals oppression
Achab was brought to his confusion

Of his enmyes outraied in bataile
With a sharpe arowe caught his fatall wounde
Tyll all his blode by bledynge dyd faile
Aboute his chare with many dropys rounde
That the wordes were full true founde
Of helias which tolde him as it stoode
That hungry houndes shuld licke his bloode

In a cite than callyd Israell
Doun from a toure Ioyned to a wall
The seyde quene callyd Iesabell
Was ouercast and had a dedely fall
Touchinge these myscheuys for she was cause of all
Beware ye princes remembring all youre lyues
To eschewe fals counseile yeuyn by youre wyues

Of quene Gatholia for hir tirannie slayne

nExt to Achab in ordre dyd sue
Gatholia with doolfull countenaunce
Both besechinge as him though due
Hir sodeyn fall to put in remembraunce
Sours and cheef rote of sorowe and mischaunce
Vsurpacion and of fals couetise
Like as hir story herafter shall deuyse

She was vpreised by fauoure in thre thinges
For fader / broder / and also hir husbonde
Were in that tyme echone crowned kinges
With ceptre and swerde as ye shall vnderstonde
Many emprises their dayes toke on honde
And howe fortune their highnesse dyd assayle
I cast shortly to make rehersaile

She fyll of fortune in the vnhappy boundys
First whan hir fader was with an arowe dede
His blode vplickyd with cruell hungry houndes
Aboute his chaar rennynge doun full rede
His body pale lay who that toke hede
Like a careyn nakyd and dispoiled
With foule blacke erth amyd the feeld  [...]soiled

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Cause of another vnhappy heuynesse
And of hir dedly desolacion
Was the people felly dyd theym dresse
Of Arabie in their rebellyon
Ageyn hir husbonde of entencion
To robbe his tresoure to their auantage
And his richesse by outrageous pillage

Sūme of his meyne they put in prison
There was ageyn theym made no diffence
Sparyd nouther cite brough nor toun
Slough man and childe thorugh s [...]urdy violence
Hir lorde enfect with sodeyn pestilence
Conceyued fully by his maladye
There was no geyn but he must dye

After his dethe moost wretchyd and odible
His body corrupt his bowellys fyll doun
Of his cateyn the stench was so horrible
There enf [...]t aboute him inuyron
With so greate horroure and putrefaccion
That no man might abide nor endure
To bringe his body vnto sepulture

Hir thirde vnhap wherof she was full fayn
That fortune li [...]t hir eft assayle
Made hir vncle kinge Ioram to be slayne
With an arowe as he fled in bataile
She supposinge greatly it shulde auaile
Like a woman moost furious and wode
She of kynge dauid slough all the roiall blode

 [...] purpose was to gouerne all the realme
Alone hirsilf to haue dominacion
To regne in Iuda and Ierusalem
This Gatholia by vsurpacion
And for that cause in hir entencion
With mortall swerde she made tho fyne
That were descendyd from dauid doun by lyne

Eycept one Ioas there left none a lyue
Childe of a yere sonne of kinge Ochosie
Whom Iosaketh the story doth discryue
Of very pyte caught a fantasie
The childe to saue that he shall nat dye
From the malice of Gatholia
And she was wife to bisshop Ioiada

She and this bisshop with hole herte and entere
Kept this childe in full sec [...]e wise
Within the temple the space of seuen yere
And in the seuenth the story doth deuise
Ioiada toke on hir this emprise
Yonge Ioas within a certeyn day
By iust title to crowne him if she may

His messangers he sendith out anone
Of princis tribunys gan a counseyl call
Of prestys eke and leuytes euerichon
And whan he had discuryd to theym all
Hole his entent thus it is befall
Sworne and assentyd as it was sittinge
That yonge Ioas shalbe crowned kinge

For by promyse which that is diuyne
Quod Ioiada if ye take hede
God hath behestyd to dauid and his lyne
And assured vnto his kinrede
In ierusalem howe they shal succede
And though Ioas be yonge and tendre of might
He to the crowne hath neuer lasse right

In this mater I will nat that ye slepe
But to shewe youre true diligence
On foure ꝑtyes the temple for to kepe
That no man entre by no violence
And in the myddes by roiall excellence
Quod this busshop no man shall vs let
On Ioas hede a crowne for to set

And whan eche thinge was brought to the poynt
His high estate to encrece and magnifie
The people anone whan he was anoynt
Viuat rex they began to crye
And whan Gatholia gan this thing espie
For very Ire and the sodeyn wonder
Of malencolye hir clothes cut asondre

Ran to the temple and gan make afray
With hir meyne and to crye aloude
Bad theym go sle and make no delay
The yonge kynge in all the hast they coude
Hir venym hid vnder a couert cloude
All atonys hir purpos to recure
By sodeyn malice she gan that day discure

The temple kept entre had she none
People ordeyned awaytinge for the nonys
And or she might any forther gone
Clenly armyd the Centurionys
The cruell quene assailyd all atonys
And of hir malice to write a short tale
They slough hir after of Cedron in the vale

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Lo here the ende of murdre and tyrannye
Lo here the ende of vsurpacion
Lo here the ende of fals conspiracye
Lo here the ende of fals presumpcion
Borne rightfull heires wrongly to put theym doun
O noble princes though god hath made you stronge
To rightfull heires be ware ye do no wronge

Lenuoye

THese tragedies / to estatis and degrees
Fully declareth the decepcions
Of fortunes fals mutabilitees
Shewed in prouinces Cites and eke toūs
Princes vnwarly lost their possessioūs
Which from their synnes in no maner wise
Had of god warnynge and list nat for to rise

Mighty princes cast doun from their sees
Lost their lyues and their regions
Vnwarly throwe from their felicitees
Ieroboam for his oppressions
And for his frowarde fals oblacions
Done to ydoles his story doth deuyse
Had of god warnynge and list nat for to rise

Achab also had greate aduersitees
Through fals counseyle and exortacions
Of Iezabell rote of Iniquitees
Dyd to his people greate extorcions
She slough prophetys goddys champions
Bothe he and she moost cursyd in their guyse
Had of god warnynge and list nat for to rise

Gathalia with hir duplicitees
And conspiryd fals intrusions
Slough dauidis sede to entre their dignitees
And to possede their dominacions
But for hir hatfull fals collusions
Vnwarly slayne for hir greate couetise
Had of god warnynge and list nat for to rise

Princes remembre in your prosperitees
And se afore in your discrecions
Wronge clymbinge vp of statys or degrees
Outher by murdre or by fals tresons
Axeth a fall for their fynall guerdons
Namely of theym that the lorde despise
And for his warnynge lift nat for to rise

Howe Di [...]o quene of cartage slough hir silf for conseruacion of hir chastite

NOwe must I put my rude stile in prees
To quene dydo make my passage
Hir lorde Siche was preest to hercules
Hir fader Belus fell in greate age
Kinge of Tire and she quene of Cartage
And it is red in bokes that been true
Howe first in Tyre was founde purpyl hue

Cadmus founde first lettres for to write
Gaue theym to grekys as made is mencion
Whoos brother Fenix as clerkes eke endyte
Founde first the coloure of vermylion
And of cartage the famous mighty toun
This sayde Dido hir story doth expresse
Howe she was quene and founderesse

But hir husbonde was cheef lorde and sire
Callyd Sicheus full famous of ronoun
Of this noble cite callyd Tire
Had greate tresour and greate possession
And for enuye kinge Pigmalion
Brother to dydo this Siche slough in dede
Of fals entent his richesse to possede

Dido this slaughter toke greuously to herte
Sore compleynynge this vnhappy chaunce
Cast she wolde if she might asterte
Fle oute of Tire and hir silf anaunce
With all the tresoure and the habundaunce
Behinde left whan hir lorde was dede
Hir shippys entringe went away for drede

She knewe and dred the gredy auarice
Of hir brother kinge pigmalion
And howe that hatefull vnstauncheable vice
Was grounde and rote / and cheef occasion
Why that hir lorde was slayne in that toun
For whom she cried full oft welaway
Whoos deth was cause why she fled away

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She had also this opinyon
Which caused moost hir hertly heuynesse
That sith hir brother pygmalyon
Had slayne hir lorde for his greate richesse
If she abode that he wolde him dresse
Parcell for malice / parcell for couetise
To haue tresoure sum treason to practise

And for to eschewe his malice and treason
For hir nauy she maketh ordenaunce
By the auice of theym in whom as by reason
She shulde of right set hir aff [...]aunce
And they full redy hir to do plesaunce
By one assent for no thinge wolde fayle
With faire dydo out of that lande to saile

In Cipres first was hir arryuaile
And there she fonde by the ryuer syde
Of yonge maydens with full rich apparaile
Sixty and ten in the same tyde
Which in the temple of venus dyd abyde
After the custome as I can reporte
Of Cipriens straungers to disporte

And in their moost feithfull humble wyse
After the rightys of Cipre the cuntre
Vnto venus eche day do sacrifise
Theym to conserue in their virginite
Duringe their life to lyue in chastite
Neuer to be ioyned in mariage
And with quene dido they went to cartage

In their passage fyll a greate myracle
As seruius meketh mencion
For Dido toke of Iuno this oracle
Outher by apparynge or by aduision
Of cartage to bylde that myghty toun
And at reuerence of that greate goddes
She to the ꝑtyes fast gan hir dresse

The sayde cite st [...]tly for to founde
And hir werkmen as they the erth sought
An oxys hede of auenture they founde
And to quene dydo anone the hede they brought
Menynge wherof to serche out they thought
And hir clerkys in their deuynayle
Tolde it was tokyn of seruage and trauayle

For which she list to bylde that place
And remeue as she ought of right
And fro thens but a litell space
A soile she fonde full dilectable of sight
And as hir werkmen with their full might
The grounde gan serche / anone or they toke hede
The story tellyth they fonde an hors hede

And by expownynge of hir deuynours
Fonde this best myght greatly auayle
Vnto princes and mighty conquerous
Necessarie in werre and bataile
And for no wight hir noblesse shulde assayle
Cartage she byldyd of so greate excelleence
Ageyn all enmyes to stonde at diffence

Sūme bokes declare and specifie
Dydo dyd as moch londe purchace
As a skyn in rounde myght ocupye
Of an ox theron to bylde a place
The grounde compacyd toke a large space
Which strongly bildyd thus it is befall
After the skyn men birsa dyd it call

And whan this cite mightely was wallyd
After a skyn wrought by good curray
The name take / Ca [...] it was callyd
Lethyr of birsa pleynly this is no nay
Toke eke his name duringe many a day
Carta and birsa knyt in their langage
As moche to say as this worde cartage

And in Affrik stant the teritorie
Where she bylded this cite dilectable
Founded it in laude and memorie
Of mighty Iuno the goddys honourable
The cyte wallyd with toures stronge and stable
Tyme of kynge dauid amyd the fourth age
As I saide erst callyd it cartage

With greate worship she regnyd in that toun
Euer of purpos to lyue in chastite
And rounde aboute floured hir renoun
Of hir prudence and hir honestye
Tyll the reporte of hir famous beutye
Cam to the  [...]erys which gladly wyll nat hide
Of a kynge that dwellyd there beside

Of Musitans he was lorde and sire
As poetis pleynly list descryue
Which in his herte greately gan desire
The quene dido by hir assent to wyue
Vnto hir grace if he myght aryue
But for she had auowed chastite
She neuer cast maried to be

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The kinge supprisyd with loue in his corage
For hir wisdam and hir greate boūte
Sent for the princis of cartage
On this mater to haue a greate trete
To condescende if it might be
Like his desire in all their best entent
Do their deuer to make hir consent

With his request he gan theym eke monace
If he failyd of his entencion
Like his desire to stonde in his grace
Seide he wolde be enmy to their toun
To ordeyne by force for their distruccion
Nat fully sobre / nor fully in a rage
This was to theym playnly his langage

But for they knewe hir greate stedfastnesse
And hir hert very inmutable
They were aferde any worde to expresse
Lest their answere were nat acceptable
To his highnesse for he was nat tretable
Eke in their concent they gan also recorde
To his desire the quene wolde nat acorde

With good auyce an answere they puruey
To his purpos in party fauorable
Aferde he wolde their noble toun werreie
Or of disdeyne vpon theym be vengeable
But quene Dido in her entent ay stable
Cast she wolde what so euer they hir tolde
Hir chast auowe feithfully to holde

She set aside of this cruell kinge
His fell manacis and his wordes greate
And to hir princes for their consentynge
Which stode in feer of that he dyd theym threte
She vnto theym yaue a maner hete
For they were bolde to attempte or to attame
To trete of mater reboundynge to hir shame

Nay rather dye quod she than assent
To his desires which  [...]kynge god forbede
Or fro the tentre of my chast entent
For to remeue outher in thought or dede
Which disclaundre to all womanhede
To condescende for any manacynge
To breke my vowe for plesaunce of a kynge

Touchinge manaris made to this cite
For to destroy it with his greate might
Without cause or title of equite
To grounde him a quarell ageyn right
Only for he is blynded of his sight
With frowarde lust my chast auowe to assaile
Be right well sure howe he therof shall fayle

If ye were bolde and manly of corage
For comon profite your cyte to diffende
And withstonde his vicious outrage
To trete with him ye woldnat condescende
But myn entent platly to comprehende
Whether it be to you ioye or displesaunce
In my promys shall be no variaunce

My lorde Sicheus which alas is dede
Vnto the worlde who list aduerte
Trust verrely for manacynge nor drede
That he shall dye in myn herte
Nor he shall neuer myn auowe ꝑuert
Thus auisyd while that I stande fre
Quene of cartage to gouerne this cite

Myn hasty answere I praye you disdeyne
But that ye list to yeue me liberte
With youre support that I may attayne
To haue a space grauntyd vnto me
This to mene the space of monethis thre
My lordes wyll to accomplissh of entent
Which whilom made in his testament

Vnder colour to hir auantage
She toke this space bokes specifie
That she might hir cite of cartage
The mene tyme strongly fortefie
Ageyn hir ennemyes that for no slogardye
Of theym that wolde hir high estate confounde
Vnpurueyed hir cyte nat be founde

Whan thre monethys passyd were and gone
She after wolde for hertely plesaunce
With sundry rightes many mo than one
To all hir goddys do sum obseruaunce
For a speciall singuler remembraunce
Of him that was as folke shall vnders [...]nde
Whilom hir lorde and best belouyd husbonde

And more to exalte hir glorye and his honour
Helde his exequies by due reuerence
Of all cartage in the highest toure
With brennynge fire fumys and encence
Hir princis all beynge in presence
To which she gan declare in compleynynge
Hir dedly sorowe doun from hir  [...]oure lokynge

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Farwell my frendes farwell for euermore
Vnto my lorde my husbonde I must gone
To him I mene that was my lorde of yore
For of husbondes god wote I haue but one
Praynge you to report euerychon
After my deth dydo of cartage
Ioyned was but ones in mariage

Sey to the kinge which you manacyd
My chast beutye that he wolde assayle
Go tell him howe that I am pacyd
And of his purpos howe that he shall faile
His manasinge shall nat him auayle
And saye howe dydo dyed for the nonys
For she nat wolde be weddyd more than onys

Leuer I haue my life nowe to lose
Rather than soile my wedowes chastite
Late him go ferther sum other to chose
For in such case he shall nat spede of me
And with the tresoure of myn honestye
Which I haue truly obseruyd all my lyue
I wyll departe oute of this worlde nowe bly [...]e

And into fire that brent clere and bright
She ran in hast there is nomore to seyne
Saue with a knif in euery mannys sight
Full sodenly she roof hir herte on tweyne
Whoos pitous deth the cite gan compleyne
Sore wepynge for wonder and for ruthe
In a woman to fynde so greate a truthe

After hir deth they dyd their besinesse
To holde and halowe a feest funerall
Worshiped hir like a chast goddes
And hir commendyd in especiall
To heuenly goddys / and goddes infernall
And wedowes all in their clothes blake
And this fest wept for hir sake

Touchinge Dido late there be no strif
Though that she be accusyd of Ouide
After bochas I wrote hir chast lif
And the contrarie I haue set aside
For me thought it was better to abyde
On hir goodnesse than thinge reherce in dede
Which might resowne ageyn hir womanhede

To Eneas though she were fauorable
To Itaile makynge his passage
All that she dyd was comendable
Him to receyue comynge by Cartage
Though sūme folke were large of their langage
Amys to expowne by report or to expresse
Thinge done to him only of gentilnesse

There shall for me be made no rehersaile
But as I finde wretyn in bochas
For to say wele may moche more auayle
Than frowarde spech in many diuers case
But all Cartage oft saide alas
Hir deth compleynynge throughout their cite
Which slough hir silf to obserue hir chastite

Lenuoye

O Faire Dido moost stable in thy cōstaunce
Quene of cartage myrroure of high noblesse
Regnynge in glorye & vertuous habundaūce
Callyd in thy tyme cheef sours of gentils
In whom was neuer founde doublenesse
Ay of one hert and so thou dydist fyne
With light of trouth all widowes to enlumyne

Chast and vnchaungyd in thy ꝑseueraunce
And inmutable founde goodnesse
Which neuer thoughtyst vpon variaunce
Force and prudence wardeyns of thy fairenesse
I haue no langage thy vertues to expresse
By newe report so cleerly they shyne
With light of trouth all wydowes to enlumyne

Olode sterre of al good gouernaunce
All vicious lustus by wisdome to represse
Thy grene youth flouringe with all plesaunce
Thou doist it bridell with vertuous sobirnesse
Diane demenyd so chastly thy clennesse
While thou were soul planly to termyne
With light of trouth all wydowes to enlumyne

Thy famous bounte to put in remembraunce
Thou sloughyst thy self o Innocent purenesse
Lest thy surenesse were hangyd in balaunce
Of such that cast theym thy chastite to oppresse
Deth was Inough to bere therof witnesse
Causynge thy beutie to all clennesse to enclyne
With light of vertue all wydowes to enlumyne

Lenuoye direct to wydowes of the translaoure

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O Noble Matrones wich haue all suffisaunce
Of womanhede your wittes do vpdresse
Howe that fortune list to tourne hir chaunce
Be nat to recheles of sodeyn hastynesse
But ay preuide in your stablenesse
That no such foly entre in youre corage
To folowe Dido that was quene of Cartage

With hir maners haue none acqueyntaunce
Putout of mynde such fol [...]isshe wilfulnesse
To sle your silf were a greate penaunce
God of his grace diffende you and blesse
And preserue youre variaunt brotilnesse
That your trouth fall in none outrage
To folowe dydo that was quene of Cartage

With couert colour and sobre countenaunce
Of feithfull menyng pretendith a [...]enesse
Countirfeteth in spech and daliau [...]ce
All thinge that sowneth into stedfastnesse
Of prudence by greate auisnesse
Youre self restreyneth yonge and olde of age
To folowe Dido that was quene of Cartage

 [...]ate all your port be voide of displesaunce
To gete frendes do your bes [...]esse
And be neuer without pur [...]yaunce
So shall ye best encreace in richesse
In one a [...]o [...] may  [...]e no  [...]e [...]irnesse
To youre herte be diuers of langage
Contrarye to Dido that was quene of cartage

Holde youre seruauntis vnder obeisaunce
Late theym nouther haue fredam nor largesse
But vnder daunger do their obseruaunce
Daunte their pride theym bridelynge with lownesse
And whan the serpent of newfangylnesse
Assaileth you do your auauntage
Contrarye to Dido that was quene of Cartage

Howe vicious Sardanapalle kinge of assirie brent him self and his tresoure

oF Assirie to rekyn kinges all
Whiche had that londe vnder subiection
Last of all was Sardanapalle
Moost femynyne of condicion
Wherfore fortune hath him throwe doun
And compleynynge moost ougly of manere
Next after dydo to bochas dyd appere

To vicious lust his life he dyd enclyne
Amonge assiriens whan he his regne gan▪
Of fals vsage he was so femynyne
That amonge wymen vpon the rocke he span
In their habite disguysed from a man
And of froward flesshly insolence
Of all men he fled the presence

First this kynge chase to be his guyde
Moder of vices callyd Idelnesse
Which of custum eche vertue set aside
In eche acourt where she is maistres
Of sorowe and myscheef the first founderesse
Which causyd only this sardanapall
That to all goodnesse his wittes dyd appall

He fonde vp first riete and dri [...]enesse
Callyd a fader of lust and lecherye
Hatefull of herte he was to sobirnesse
Cherisshinge surfetis watche and glotenye
Callyd in his tyme a prince of baudrie▪
Fonde rere [...]opers and fethirbeddys soft
Drinke late and chaunge his wynes oft

The aire of metys and of baudy cokys
Which of custum all day roost and sede
Sauour of spetys ladlys and flessh ho [...]ys
He loued well and toke of theym greate hede
And folke that dranke more than it was nede
Smellynge of wyne for their greate excesse
With theym to abyde was holy his gladnesse

H [...]  [...]ought also it did him good
To hau [...]  [...]boute him with skyll and right
Boistous bo [...]hers all bespreynt with blode
And wa [...]ry fisshers abode euer in his sight
Their cotys poudryd with sca [...]is siluer bright
Dempte their odour duringe all his life
Was to his  [...]orage best preseruatife

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For there was no herbe spice gras ne ro [...]e
To him so lusty as was the borde [...]house
Nor gardeyn none so holsom nor so sote
To his plesaunce nor so delicious
As the presence of folkes lecherous
And euer glad to speke of rebaudye
And folke cherisshe that coude flatere and lye

Tyll at the last god of very right
Displesed was with his condicions
Bycause he was in euery mannys sight
So femynyne in his affe [...]ions
And hooly yaue his inclynacions
Duringe his life to euery vious thynge
Terrible to here and namely of a kynge

But as bochas list to put in mynde
Whan Arbachus a prince of grete renowne
Sawe of this kynge the flesshly lustys blynde
Made with the people of that r [...]gion
Ageyns him a comuracion
And to him sent for his mysgouernaunce
Of high disdeyne a full pleyn diffiaunce

Bad him beware and proudly to him tolde
That he him cast his vicious life to assaile
And in all hast also that he wolde
Within a feelde mete him in bataile
Wherof astonyed his hert gan to faile
Where amonge wymen he sat makynge gau [...]i [...]
No wight aboute but flateres and baudys

And vp he rose and gan him silf to auaunce
No s [...]uf aboute him but sergeauntes riatous
Toke the felde without gouernaunce
No men of armys but folkes vicious
Whoos aduersary callyd arbachus
Made him proudly the felde to forsake
That like a cowarde his castell he hath take

And for his herte frowardly gan faile
Nat like a knight but like a losengoure
His rich perre his roiall apparaile
His golde his Iewels vessels and tresoure
Was brought afore him doun of a toure
Amyd of his palite and yaue his men in charge
Of cole and fagot to make afire full large

In which he keft his tresoure and Iewels
More bestiall than like a manly man
And amyd his riche stones and vessels
Into the fire furously he ran
This triumphe Sardanapallus wan
Which fire consumed for his finall mede
Brent all to asshes amonge the coles rede

Tofore his deth bad men shulde write
Vpon his graue the boke doo specifie
With letters large this reason for to endyte
My cursyd life my frowarde glotenye
Myn Idelnesse myn hatefull lecherye
Hath ausyd me with many fals desire
My las [...] daies to be consumpt with fire

This Epitaffe on his graue he sette
To shewe howe he was in all his lyue
Besy euer to hindre and to lette
All maner vertue and ther ageyn to stryue
Who foloweth his tra [...]e is neuer like to thryu [...]
For whiche ye princes se for youre auaile
Vengeaunce ay f [...]loweth vices at the taile

A commendacion of [...]chas of ve [...] [...] [...]ynes rehersynge names foūdyrs of diuers sciencys and cūnynges in repreef of Idelnesse

THere eke other that list falsly prouide
Fals flesshly lustys and dissolucions
Riete outrage frowarde disdeyne and pride
Vices to enhaunce in their affeccions
With many vnlefull cro [...]yd condicions
Reason auoidynge as I reherce shall
Theym silf delitynge for to bestyall

Tweyne maner folkes to put in reme [...]raunce
Of vice and vertue to put in a difference
The good alweye hath sit their plesaunce
In vertuous laboure to do their diligence
And vicious people in slouth and negligence
And the report of both is reseruyd
With laude or lacke as they haue deseruyd

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Men must of right the vertuous preferre
And truly preyse labour and besynesse
And ageynwarde dispreysen folke that erre
Which haue no Ioy but in Idelnesse
And to compare by maner of witnesse
Vertuous folke I wyll to mynde call
In rebukynge of kinge Sardanapall

THe olde wise called Pictagoras
By soūde of hameris auctours certyfie
Example toke and cheef maister was
That fonde oute musyke and melodye
Yit of Tubal some bokes specifie
That he by strooke of smethis where they stode
Foude first oute musyke tofore noes flode

And Iosephus remembreth by scripture
That this Tubal coude forge well
First ymagyned makynge of armure
With Instrumentes of Iron and of steel
And their temprures he fonde oute euerydell
Lucyus Tarquyn in story as I fynde
Fonde cheynes first folke to fettre and bynde

The children of Seth in story ye may see
Flourynge in vertue by longe successyons
For to profite to their posterite
And first the craft of heuenly mocions
Fonde of sondry steries the reuolucions
Bequeth their cūnynge of greate auauntage
To them that after cam of theyr lynage

For their vertue god gaue them greate cūnynge
Touchinge natures both of erth and of heuyn
And it remembred sothely by wrytynge
To lastyn ay for water or for leuene
Generacions there were of them seuene
Which for vertue withoute werre or strif
Trauayled in cūnynge durynge al their lif

And for that adam dyd prophesie
Twyes the worlde destroyed shulde be
With water and onys stond in Iupartye
Next with fire which no man might flee
But Sethis children all this dyd see
Made two pyl [...]s where men myght graue
From fire and water the ca [...]ctes for to saue

That one was made of tyles harde I bake
Fro touch of fire to saue the scripture
Of harde marbyll they dyd another make
Ageyne water strongly to endure
To saue of letters the prente and the figure
For their cūnynge afore gan so prouide
Ageyne fire and water ꝑpetually to abyde

They dempte their cūnynge had been in veyn
But folke with theym had been portable
And for their labour shulde afterwarde be seyn
They it remembrid by writinge full notable
Vnto fore god a thinge ful comendable
To theym that folowe by scripture and writinge
Or that men dye departe their cūnynge

For by olde tyme folke diuers craftys founde
In sondry wise for occupacion
Vertue to cherisshe vices to confounde
Their witte they sette and their entencion
To put their laboure in execucion
And to outrage this is verrey trouth
For mannys life negligence and slouth

Olde Ennok ful famous of vertue
Durynge that age fonde first of euerychon
Through his prudence lettres of hebrue
And in a pilere they were kepte of stone
Tyll that the flode of Noe was gone
And after him Ca [...]n was the seconde
By whom of hebrue lettres were first founde

And Catacrismus the first was that fonde
Letters also as of that langage
But letters wretyn with goddes owne honde
Moyses first toke moost bright of his visage
Vpon Syna as he helde his passage
Which of carectis and names in sentence
From other writinge had a difference

Eke afterwarde as other bokes tell
And saynt Ierom rehercith in his style
Vnder thempire of zorobabell
Esdras of hebru gan lettres first compile
And Abraham gan sith a greate while
The first was in bokes men may see
That fonde lettres of Cire and of Cald [...]e

Isys in egipt fonde diuersite
Of sondry lettres partyd into tweyne
First for prestes and for the comonte
Vulgar letters he dyd also ordeyne
And fenices dyd their besy peyne
Lettres of Greek to fynde in their entent
Which that Cadmus first into Grece sente

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Which in noumbre fully were seuentene
Whan of Troye ended was the batayle
Pallamides their langage to sustene
Put thre therto which greatly dyd auayle
Pidagorus for prudent gouernaile
Fonde first out .y.a figure to discerne
The life here shorte and the life that is ete [...]

First latyn letters of oure .a. b. c.
Ca [...]mentis fonde of ful high prudence
Greate Omerus in Isidere ye may se
Fonde amonge Grekis craft eloquence
First in rome by souereyne excellence
Of rethorike Tullius fonde the floures
Ple and diffence of subtyl oratoures

 [...]all [...]rates a grauer moost notable
Of white yuor dyd his besynesse
His hande his  [...]ye so iuste were and so stable
Of an ampte to graue oute the lykenesse
Vpon the grounde as nature doth him dresse
This craft he fonde as Sardanapall
Fonde Idelnesse moder of vices all

Of a s [...]ryueyn Bochas maketh mencion
Howe a scrowe of litell quantite
Wrote of al Troye the distruction
Folowynge Omerus by greate subtilte
Which is had amonge Grekes in greate deynte
Bycause he was founde in his writinge
So compendious the story rehersynge

Marmychides made a chare also
And a smal schip with all the appareile
So that a Bee might close them both two
Vnder his wynges which is a greate merueyle
And no thinge seyn of al the hole entayle
This craft he fonde of vertuous besynesse
To eschewe the vice of frowarde Idelnesse

Pan god of kynde with his pypes seuene
Of recorders fonde first the melodyes
Of mercurye that sit so high in heuene
First in his harpe fonde sugred armonyes
Holsom wynes thrughe fyned from their lies
Bachus fonde first on wyne heuy lade
Licour of licours corages for the glade

Perdyx by compas fonde triangle and lyne▪
And Euclyd first fonde Geometrye
And phebus fonde the craft of medicyne
Albumasar fonde astronomye
And mynarua gan charis first to guye
Iason first sayled in story it is told
Towarde Cholchos to wynne the flees of golde

Ceres the goddes fonde first tilth of londe
Dionisius triumphis transitorye
And Bellona by force first oute fonde
Conquest by knyghthode and in the felde victorye
And martis sonne as put is in memorye
Called Etholus fonde sperys sharpe and kene
To renne a werre in platys bright and shene

Eke Aristeus fonde oute the vsage
Of mylke and cruddes and of hony sote
Piroides for greate auauntage
Fro flyntes smyte fire darynge in the rote
And pallas which that may to colde do bote
Fonde oute weuynge this is very soth
Through hir prudence of al maner cloth

And fido found firste oute the science
Of mesures and of proporcions
And for marchauntes dyd his diligence
To fynde balaunces by iust dyuisions
To auoyde all fraude in citees and in toūs
On nouther party playnly to compyle
Of true weight that there were no gyle

Compare in ordre clerly all these thinges
Founde of olde tyme by diligent trauayle
To the plesaunce of princes and kynges
To shewe howe moch cunynge may auayle
And weye ageynewrde the frowarde aquitayle
Contrariously howe Sardanapall
Fonde Idelnesse moder of vices all

Late princes all herof take hede
What auaileth vertuous besynesse
And what damage the reuers doth in dede
Vicious life slouth and Idelnesse
And these exaumples late theym eke impresse
Amyd their herte and howe Sardanapall
Fonde Idelnesse moder of vices all

Lenuoye.

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NOble princes here ye may well se
As in a myrrour of ful cleere euidence
By many exaumples more than  [...] or thre
 [...]at harme foloweth of slouth and negligence
Depe enprentynge in your aduertence
Howe greate hindringe doth wilfull frowardnesse
To your estate throughe vnto us Idelnesse

Whan reason falleth and censualite
Holdeth the brydell of l [...]chero [...] insolence
And sobernesse hath lost his liberte
And to false lust is doone the reuerence
And vice of vertue hath an apparence
Misledeth princes of wilfull rechelesnesse
To greate erroure of frowarde Idelnesse

Howe amazias ī Iuda kinge for pride and presūpcion was venquesshed in batayle & after slayne

IN his study as bochas sat musynge
With many vncouth soleyne fantasye
To him apperyd many mighty  [...]inge
And tofore all cam worthy amazie
His sonne also that called was Iosie
Of dauidis blode descendynge as I rede
Eche after other in Iuda to succede

First amazias compleyned in fortune
Causinge his greuous great aduersitees
The traitouresse called in comune
These kinges tweyne castinge from their sees
Who [...] ouerturnynge from their dygnitees
Vnware fallinge dredfull and terrible
Been ceriously remembred in the byble

Their ende men may there rede and see
Howe fortune their fates dyd entrete
Wherfore teschewe and fle prolixite
Of tedious thinge in this processe to lete
And in substaunce to glene oute the grete
Of their fallynge I purpose nat to spare
Compendiously the causes to declare

This amazias hauynge gouernaunce
By iust title of succession
The ceptre of iuda with all the hole puissaunce
Fu [...]l p [...]sibly in his possession
Tyll that pryde and fals presumpcion
Moost frowardly dyd his herte  [...]nbrace
Which all atonys made him lose his grace

In herte he had amaner veyneglorye
Bycause that god made him to preuaile
In his  [...]onquest and to haue victorie
A [...]  [...] to venquyssh in bateyle
Eke  [...]  [...]anytis as he them dyd assaile
Purposinge after if he might
With Israelitis of pryde for to fight

Vnto kinge Ioas of israel he sent
Him cōmaundynge to obey his hyddinge
And be like subget as were in their entent
His predecessours in all maner thinge
Whilom to dauid the noble worthy kinge
This was his sonde to Ioas plat and pleyne
Which by a problem thus wrote to him ageyne

THe ougly thistle of the vales lowe
Proudly presumynge aboue his degree
To make his pride openly be knowe
Sent his message to the Cedre tre
That his sonne myght wedded be
To his doughter all though in substaunce
Atwene theym two was a greate discordaunce

But of the forest the bestes sauagyne
In their corages had therof disdeyne
All of assent fersly dyd enclyne
The this [...]le leuys abrode vpon the pleyne
That there was nouther leef nor prik seyne
This was the problem which Ioas by wrytinge
Sent in a pistle to amazie the kinge

BVt Iosephus in his orygynall
The saide epis [...]le as he doth expresse
Seith  [...] the vale howe the pouder small
Of pride sent to the high Cypresse
That his doughter of excellent fayrenesse
Vnto his sonne pleynly to deseryue
Myght be delyuered and hau [...] hir to wyue

But a fell beest which beside stode
Of cruell Ire and Indignacion
With fete disdeynynge the pouder cast abrode
High in the ayre aboute him enuyron
The which ensample conceyued of reason
Who that attempteth to clymbe high a loft
With vnware chaunge his fall is full vnsoft

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A twene the cedre of trees of roiall
And a sharpe thisile is no conuenience
Nor twene a cipresse estatly founde attall
And lothsum pouder is a greate difference
For royall blode shulde haue no assistence
So be ioyned nor knyt in mariage
With such as been brought forth of lowe p [...]g [...]

The cedre is strong [...] and mighty of substa [...]nce
In his vpgrowynge right as any lyne
And though the thistle haue spottes of plesaunce
He hath eke prickes sharpe as any spyne
And both natures playnly to termyne
The cedre of kynde who loke well aboute
To no though thistle shulde his braunches lou [...]e

Halsom of odour is the faire cipresse
As bokes tell and vertuous of kynde
Dust and pouder playnly to expresse
Troubleth the ayre and makith folkes blinde
For which in spousayle conuenience to fynde
Late estates of their birth honourable
Voide all rascalye and wedde their semblable

 [...] amazias wold nat be ware
For no warnynge nor for no prophesie
But styll in herte greate hatred bare
Agayne kinge Ioas of malyce and enuye
Into a feelde brought all his chiualrye
Gadred theym out both nere and ferre
Ayenst goddes wyll on him to gynne a werre

And kinge Ioas full like a worthy knight
Into the feelde fast gan him spede
And all the knightes of iuda anone right
With smet of vengeaunce with a sodeyne drede
To byd them fle god w [...]t it was no nede
And amazias for al his great pryde
Stode destitute and no man by his syde

With him was none lefte of al his meyne
So god and Ioas ayenst him wrought
Of Ierusalem entred the cite
And amazie of force with him he brought
And in the temple the tresoure out he sought
Golde and siluer and holy theyr richesse
And to Samarie home he gan him dresse

And amazias he lete oute of pryson
After all this and suffryd him goo fre
To his myscheef and his confusion
And he was delyuered from his captyuyte
For slayne he was in Lachi [...] the cyte
Amonge his frendes by symulacion
His deth conspired vnder full fals treason

Howe vpon Iosias succedynge kinge next in Iuda toke vengeaunce smote him with lepre

aFter in Iuda the mighty region
Next Amazias Iosias gan succede
Wonder manly and famous of renoun
In all his werkes full ꝓuident in dede
And of his knight hode venquesshed as I rede
The pales [...]ynes for all their greate puissaunce
With all ambye he brought vnto vtiraunce

Bylded touns and many a stronge cite
And vnto Egipt he his boundes set
Made castels beside the rede see
And in his conquest whom that euer he met
Of manly pride he wolde lette
I mine al tho that were his aduarsaries
To his lordship to make theym tributaries

He dyd his laboure also to repare
Ierusalem after his ruyne
The walles rered which on the soyle laye bare
Made newe toures right as any lyne
Fanys of golde their torrettes to enlumyne
And toffor [...]e theym lete werkmen vndertake
Square bastilis and bolewerkys to make

He delyted to make fressh gardeynes
Dyuers greyne and herbes for to knowe
Reioysed to plante sondry vynes
To graffe trees and sedes for to sowe
And straunge frutes make th [...]m growe arowe
And with him had his ennemyes to encombre
Thre hundred thoused manly men in noumbre

His noble fame gan to sprede wide
And greatly ded for his prowes
Wherethrugh his herte corrupt with pride
Bycause only of his greate riches
And frowardly he dyd his  [...]esynes
For to maligne in estate royall
Ageyne the lorde which is immortall

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To god aboue he gan wexe obstinate
Tha [...]  [...] processe full small he dyd wynne
 [...]  [...]oure caught in his roiall estate
To  [...]owe his fader in vnthrift and synne
That grace and vertue from him dyd twynne
In moost shyninge of his magnificence
Fortune proudly assayled his excellence

Cast she wolde within a lytell while
His surquedye and frowarde pride assayle
And full vnwarly deceyue him and begile
To make his power to appall and to faile
Wh [...]  [...] kinge toke on thapparaile
Of a  [...] of very frowardnesse
And into temple proudly gan him dresse

Beynge in purpos on a solempne day
To take his way vp to the hye aultere
Falsly vsurpynge who so euer saide naye
To sacrifie holdynge the cens [...]re
Tofore the aulter that shone of golde full clere
For which offence the bible saith the same
Azarias the busshop dyd him blame

Gan withstonde him in the face anone
Fourescore prestes beynge in presence
Of the kynred descended of Aaron
Which forbad him and made resistence
That with his hande he shulde put incence
Vpon the aulter ageyne goddes lawe
Him chargynge boldly his presence to withdrawe

But of despyte he made theym holde their p [...]es
In payne of deth began theym to manace
And sodenly amonge all the prees
An erthquaue fyll in the same place
And therwithall in the kinges face
Of the sonne there smote a beme so bright
That all his face was skorkyd with the light

He wexyd a lepre foule and right terrrible
For his offence as god list ordeyne
To euery man of loke he was terrible
And but fewe his mischeef gan compleyne
And a greate hyll the same houre carf on tweyne
Nat ferre aside from the towne without
Cytees distroynge that stode rounde aboute

On kinge Iosie god toke his vengeaunce
For all his lordship and his magnificence
To punisshe his pride and his frowarde puissaunce
And brought him lowe for his greate offence
For his ꝑsone was put oute of presence
Perpetuelly as holy wryt can tell
Ferre from all people with lepres for to dwell

His flessh was troubled with diuers passions
For his sekenesse auoydded the cyte
In cry and sorwe and lamentacions
His li [...]  [...] lad in greate aduersite
And so he dyed in sorowe and pouerte
Symply buryed for all his greate might
Within an Ilande that stode f [...]r out of sight

An exortacion to princes to be auised to do ageyn goddes preceptes.

LEt princes al in their prouidence
Be right well ware any thing to atame
Which vnto god shulde be offence
List that the fyne co [...]clude to their shame
Let theym thinke for all their noble fame
But they repent god of his Iustise
Their frowarde pride vnwarly wyll chastise

Let theym be ware of malice to presume
Ageyne his church to do offencion
For god of righ all tyrauntis wyll consume
In full short tyme for their presumpcion
Which will nat suffre their domynacion
To enterupt for all their greate myght
Nor breke the fraunchise of holy church right

To prudent princes which can discerne
Let kinge Iosias / considred his offence
Been in their mynde a myrrour and lanterne
To holy church to do due reuerence
And conceyue in their magnificence
God wil of right be they neuer so stronge
Chastise their malice though he abide longe

Howe kinge Ozie was takyn by kinge salmanazar and dyed in prison

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THere was another that called was Ozie
Which whilom regned as I afferme dare
In israel whome fortune by enuye
Made him betake or he was ware
Beseged aboute of kinge Salmanazare
And into assirie vnder his daunger
The bible telleth he was a prisoner

His cites townes brought to distruction
And all his people vnder longe seruage
Were take and kepte in stronge babilon
Suffred there greate peyne and damage
And in prison by furious outrage
This saide Ozias in cheynes bounde sore
For sorowe dyed of him write I nomore

Howe senacheryb kinge of assirie was slayne

wIth these forsayde woful kinges thre
Senacheryb of assirie kinge
Cam to Iohn bochas moost ougly to se
Full pitously his fate compleynynge
And specially his vnwore chaunginge
He gan bew [...]yle oppressed in his thought
From hye noblesse howe he was brought to noughte

His reason sprad through many diuers R [...]me
And all people gan him magnifie.
A syege he layde vnto Ierusalem
In the tyme of kinge Sedechie
But in his moost froward surquedye
Goddes angel tofore the cyte
An hundred thousand slough of his meyne

And the more to make him aferde
Amyd of his people the silf some night
Goddes angell shoue awey his berde
With a sharpe swerde that shone faire and bright
Left his syege and toke him vnto flight
And in a temple his goddys worshippinge
Sloughe him silf as he sat knelinge

Howe kinge sedechie for fals forsweringe was slayne and made bl [...]nde in prison

tOuchinge the compleynt of kinge Sedechie
And of his sorowes to shewe the manere
Holy wryt do clerly specifie
Wherfore it were but veyne to tell theym here
For there men the processe may pleynly lere
Howe Ioachim kinge of Ierusalem
His owne brother was led oute of his Rem

Wherof in herte he felt full greate soor
This Sedechias as it is there founde
Bycause the kinge nabugodonosor
His brother hilde stronge in prison bounde
Fully in purpos the Iewes to confounde
For this tiraunt had in that mortall strif
His brethren / children in prison and his wif

And yit this tyraunt in his tyrannye
This fauour dyd in his fell rage
Vnto this moost wofull Sedechye
To suffre him regne in his greate age
From yere to yere to pay him a truage
By fayth and othe and composicion
Reysed of his people and brought to babilon

¶Yit Sedechias in especiall
By a maner of fals felicite
Him silf reioysed in his se royall
To occupye that noble dignyte
And so forgate the greate aduersitye
Of his brother and other frendes al
Touchinge the myscheef that they were in fall

Of pride he fill into presumpcion
Whan he remembred his brethre and his lynage
Considred howe fro kinge Salamon
He was descendyd by title of heritage
Gan disdeyne to pay his truage
And to maligne in herte he was so wroth
And falsly brake his suraunce and his othe

He had o maner indignacion
Which he caught of olde remembraunce
Howe tyme passed to kinge Salamon
By his manly prudent gouernaunce
Kynges aboute for a recognysaunce
Payed tribute and dursit it nat withseye
Fro yere to yere his noblesse to obeye

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Which thinge remembred of kinge sedechie
As he wexe greate and stronge in puissaunce
O [...] hye disdeyne his tribute gan denye
Set asyde his feith and assuraunce
So that his othe stode in no substaunce
For he ageyne the kynge of babylon
Presumptusly fyll in rebellion

And his kingdom to strength and fortefie
Thought he wolde to his auauntage
The kinge of egipt haue on his partye
Of pride he fyll into so greate outrage
That he nomore wolde pay his truage
Full fynally such wayes he hath sought
That of his othe litell he rought or nought

But woo alas it is a dolfull thinge
To be remembred in hye or lowe degre
That any prince or any worthy kinge
Shulde fals his oth or vntrue be
Or that men shuld such variaunce see
In their corages which been so hye borne
For any cause falsly to be forsworne

By reporte it doth their fame trouble
Infortuneth and clipsith their noblesse
Whan a prince is of his heeste double
And chargith nat of wilfull recl [...]snesse
Alby his promys conclude on doublenesse
Though god a while suffre theym and respyte
At the vnset houre their falsnesse he wyll quyte

His warnynge oft he sent to theym afore
Bycause they lacke prudent policie
Recorde I take of nabugodonosor
Which cam vnwarly on kinge sedechye
For he his tribute gan falsly him denye
With all his power as dyd abrayde
To Ierusalem a mighty syege layde

They within constreyned were of nede
The kinge himsilf there was no better deffence
With mannys flessh his people for to fede
While the Caldeis by mighty violence
Of very force withoute resistence
On falsforsweringe for to take wrake
Their mighty toures and their walles brake

To sle and kyll they list none to spare
Who so euer they met or cam in their sight
Sedechias left the towne all bare
But take he was as he him toke to flight
In cheynes bounde and fetryd anone right
In whoos presence to encrece his peynes anon
His yonge childre were slayne euerychon

Hys wyues moost woful in their cherys
Which in theyr tyme moost goodly were and fayre
Delyuered were in handes of straungeris
And more alas to put him in dispayre
Into his kingdome neuer to haue repayire
With sharpe tonges it was to greate a payne
Out of his hede were rent his  [...]yen tweyne

Of Ierusalem his cite was brent
Pleyne into the grounde into asshes dede
His greate riches his tresoure hooly sent
To babilon with stones blewe and rede
Vessels of golde which richest were in dede
Without mercy or remyssion
Caldeis toke to their possession

And thus in sorowe and in wretchidnesse
He dyed alas fetryd in prysen
Loo here the ende of ꝑiurie and falsnesse
Loo howe fortune can tourne vpsodoun
Of mortall men the condicion
Nowe richest shynynge in hye prosperite
With vnware chaunge to hatefull pouertye

Nowe men lyft vp to royall dignitees
Nowe hye aloft by fulsum habundaunce
But what auayleth to syt in royall sees
To folke that haue therin none assuraunce
Namely whan fortune holdeth the balaunce
Which aye of custome vnto high estates
Hath a false ioye to shewe hir chekmates

Recorde I take of princes more than one
Their wofull fatys hangynge in Iupartye
Remembred late and amonge echon
The wofull fall of kinge amazie
His sonne eke lepre which called was Iosye
And last of all howe in Babilon
Kinge Sedechias dyed in prison

Lenuoye.

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NOble princes concidre the fallas
Of fortunys frowarde flatene
Seeth hir deceytes in many dyuers cas
Howe she first mocked manly amazye
Which slayne was for his surquedye
To yeue you warnynge by exaumple as ye may rede
Whan ye sit highest your fall is moost to drede

And as it remembreth in Bochas
Eke in the byble of kinge Iosye
In his tyme howe famous that he was
Both of riches and of chyualrye
Punysshed with lepre bokes specifie
For his presumynge remembreth this in dede
Whan ye syt highest youre fall is moost to drede

All worldly glory fleeth hens a greate pas
I take witnesse of kinge Sedechie
For f [...]ls forsweringe he slayne was alas
M [...]de blynde in prison the story cannat lye
Thus sheweth fortune through her frowarde enuye
To you princes if ye list take hede
Whan ye sit hyghest your fall is moost to drede

Howe kinge astryages laboured to disherite cirus But god suffred his malice nat to preuayle

AFter these kynges one folowed in the pres
And to bochas his compleynt discure
And he was called the greate as [...]riages
Which tolde in ordre his vncouth auenture
Lorde of Asye as bokes vs assure
And had of tresure durynge all his life
Aboue all kinges a prerogatife

Moost infortunate in all his gouernaile
Felte of fortune none aduersite
Saue an heir male no thinge dyd him fayle
For he moost glorious sat in his glorious se
Of wordly welth he lackyd no plentye
Except only as clerkes of him write
He had no son his kingdome to enherite

Which to his welth was greate discres
Lest succession fayled in his lyne
A doughter had he called mundanes
Oute of whoos wombe as bokes determyne
He drempte on a night howe he sawe a vyne
In his auision with him so it stode
Ouer all asie his braunchis spred abrode

He had also a reuelacion
Slepynge a night after his soupeere
Thoughe he nat knewe the exposicion
He thought he sawe a cristallyn ryuere
With lusty waters as any beryll clere
Out of her wombe with his stremys fresshe
The soyle of asye make tendre and nesshe

Touchinge this ryuer and this lusty vyne
To him shewyd in his auision
Within him silfe he coude nat termyne
Therof to finde no clere conclusion
Withoute some maner exposicion
To him declared by folkes in sentence
Which of such dremys had experience

To him he called his astronomers
His philophers and his dyuynours
That knewe the menynge of the nyne speers
Vmages of sterres their houses and theyr toures
And such as were expert expositours
And they were assembled euerichon
Touchinge his dreme they cordyd all in one

To tell him trouth they were nat recles
Sayde his doughter fro whom there cam a vyne
She that by name was called mundanes
Shuld haue descendynge from his lyne
Whoos noble fame through asye shulde shyne
Which shulde put through his renowne
Him by force of his armys oute of his region

This was his fate he might it nat refuse
The heuenly cours but it dyd fayle
Wherupon he sore gan to muse
Such fantasies dyd his herte assayle
Fyll in greate doubte of their dyuynayle
Thought he wolde make puru [...]aunce
For to withstonde goddes ordenaunce

Full harde it is to make resistence
Ageyn thinge ordeyned whan god woll that it be
And namely there where as influence
Of heuyn aboue hath shape a destyne
Some men recorde that no man may it flee
The dome of this where it holde or flytte
To astronomers all hooly I cōmytte

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This saide kinge of whome I spake but lote
Cast he wolde for his auauntage
The ordenaunce reuerse and the fate
Of the heuyn with all the surplusage
And yeue his doughter as in marige
To some vnworthy pore infortunate
That neuer were lykly to rise to hye estate

And in this wise kinge astriages
Maried his doughter as in his entent
To one worthy called cambyses
Demynge therby by short auisement
Within him silf that he was right prudent
Wenynge that noblesse cam by discent of blode
And nat by grace nor as the heuyn stode

In his reason was nat comprehended
Howe socrates mayster of platon
Of full lowe bed by birth was descendyd
And nat tenher [...]te kindome nor region
But for to haue fully possession
Of morall vertue and philosofye
Durynge his life his wyt he dyd applye

He sought contrees for wysdam and science
And secret cūnynges to serch he dyd his peyne
And he fonde out through his dyligence
This philosophre as bokes acerteyne
To ioy reserued outher to peyne
By grace of god which is eternall
Howe mennys soules be founde ay inmortall

The greate appollo in bokys it is founde
Gaue iugement of equyte and right
That socrattes in vertue moost habounde
And moost preferred in euery mannys sight
Was called of wysdom the lanterne and the light
And wisest named at euyn and at Pryme
Of philosophers that were in his tyme

The poete also called Euripides
Moost honourable called in that age
All be his moder of life was recheles
And contagious through vicious outrage
Yit was this poete for al his vile lynage
Moost vertuous founde at assayes
Of all poetes that were in his dayes

Called in his tyme a greate tragicien
Bycause he wrote many tragedies
And wolde of toruth spare no maner man
But theym rebuke in his peotries
Touchinge the vices of flesshly fantasies
Compleyne in princes their dedes moost horryble
And eche thinge punisshe that was  [...]dyble

Another called clerke domestenes
The moost subtyll rethorician
And moost Inuentif amonge all the pres
That euer was sith the worlde began
Albe of birth he was a pore man
Yit had he moost souereyne excellence
Amonge philophers of spech and eloquence

By which exaumple me semeth doutles
That roial blode nor hye lynage
To mennys birth yeueth but smale encres
Nor vnto vertue but litell auauntage
For hye nobles toketh nat his corage
Of rich nor pore nor statys souereyne
But of his grace as god list ordeyne

Wherfore of foly kinge astriages
Contrariously ageyne all gentrye
Bad that his doughter called mundanes
First whan folke with childe hir dyd espye
For to accomphissh his frowarde fantasie
Whan it were borne chargynge aboue all thinge
Of archanye to bere it to the kinge

Which in that tyme was called arpagus
And as I fynde he dyd in vertue floure
And spyte had the story telleth thus
That bestes shulde the lytell childe deuoure
But god that may in myscheef best socoure
To kepe the childe was nat recheles
Ageyne the malice of kinge astriages

Which had cāmaundyd of malyce and hatred
Howe that this childe grene and tentre of age
By arpagus shulde be cast in dede
To be deuoured of bestes moost sauage
But for he dred to do so greate outrage
To his shepeherde him silf to stonde at large
The childe to sle he fully yaue the charge

This herdman all be that he was loth
To execute this woful auenture
Into a forest forth with the childe he goth
And gaue to bestes that lytell creature
Whom to fostre by grace ageyne nature
A wylde bitch hir whilpes there forsake
And to her pappes the litell childe she toke

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And with hir milke she made him sup and dyne
And besy was for him to enchace
Wylde f [...]u [...]ys and bestes sauagyne
That none ne durst neygh to that place
Loo howe that god dispose can his grace
Innocentes fro myscheef to preserue
Ageyne fals enuye which wolde make theym sterue

O blode vnkinde founde in kinrede
For couetise / o blode disnaturall
Of fals malyce / o blode full of hatrede
To murdre a childe borne of the stok royall
Where mannys reason is turned bestyall
Falsly transfourmed vnto cruelte
To sle a chylde where bestes haue pyte

The cely heerde hath tolde his wife the cas
And she anone of pyte dyd aryse
With hir husbonde went a ful greate pas
Into the forest beholdinge all the guyse
As heretofore ye haue herde deuyse
Seynge the childe with lyppes tendre and softe
The bytches pappes howe he sook f [...]ll ofte

The sayde heerde called Sparag [...]
His wife also of whome tofore I  [...]
This yonge childe toke in their dep [...]  [...]
And in hir armes she softly gan it  [...]
And he full goodly hir face gan beholde
And on his maner the same while
In childly wise on hir gan to smyle

The childes laughtre whan she dyd aduerte
With all hir hole feithful diligence
She gan to cherisshe it and with all hir herte
She yaue it soke with ful greate reuerence
Albe the bitch made resistence
Compleynynge stode fully at abaye
The lytell childe whan she sawe lad away

Full pitously she gan to houl and crye
At their departynge doolfully compleyne
And after theym full fast gan to hye
The childe to lete she felt so greate a peyne
Lo howe that god of mercy can ordeyne
A cruell best such sorowe for to make
And so to mourne for a childes sake

But euery thinge that god wyll haue preseruyd
May nat fayle to stonde in sekernesse
Hys secre domys been to him silf reserued
There can no man expowne theym as I gesse
For he sh [...]pe first that this sheperdesse
Of sparagos the true pore wife
For to be mene to saue the childys life

Home to hir house the childe she ledde  [...]one
And it to fostre dyd her besynesse
Of other salary god wote knewe she none
Saue that her herte therto dyd hir dresse
And moore enteerly the story beryth w [...]tnesse
She tendryd him and with more besy  [...]
Than him that was hir childe borne of nature

And as the story playnly doth expresse
This yonge childe as he wexe in age
Fro day to day encresyd in noblesse
Lyke for to be right manly of corage
Cirus he was called in that langage
To saye in latyn playnly in substaunce
A man yborne to greate enheritaunce

And whan the renoun of his excellence
By longe processe and of his greate encresse
Cam by the report vnto the audience
Of his a [...]ell the greate astriages
And howe the kinge was founde recles
Called arpagus for to do vengeaunce
On yonge cirus he fyll in displesaunce

This is to mene astriages was wroth
That arpagus was founde merciable
Cyrus to saue and for that he was loth
Ageyns all right for to be vengeable
To sle a childe a thinge nat comendable
Demynge of trouth in his conscience
God was nat payde to murdre Innocence

Astriages cast him to be wreke
On arpagus by fals collusion
Bycause that his byddynge he dyd breke
And was contrarye to his intencion
Cirus to sle ageyne all reason
And for that cause astriages I rede
Of arpagus lete sle the childe in dede

This to say by fals compassinge
And couert mordre wrought by astriages
The sonne was slayne of arpagus the kinge
And after rostyd alas full causeles
And sith presented amonge all the pres
To sore his fader a thinge moost lamentable
With astriages he sate at the table

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But whan this kinge called arpagus
Conceyued hath this mordre moost terrible
And howe his son and heire was slayne thus
In his Ire moost furious and odible
In all the hast that it was possible
He is repayred home to his housholde
And all the cas to Cirus he hath tolde

And howe his sonne was slayne for his sake
In the moost hatful odious crueltye
Excitynge him with him to vndertake
On this fals mordre auengyd for to be
To him declarynge of trouth and equyte
Howe he was borne by discent in dede
As right heire to regne in perce and mede

To him declarynge the story by and by
First of the dreme of astriages
And howe that he by fraude full falsly
Made his doughter called Mundanes
Poorly to be wedded vnto cambyses
Which was his moder and howe in tendre age
He was oute cast to bestes full sauage

By a shepperde and shepperdesse
Fosteryd he was in greate pouerte
And brought from bestes oute of wildernesse
By cause god wolde he sauyd shuld be
For thilke lorde which euery thinge may se
Whan that he hath a thinge afore disposed
Nedys it must fall and may nat be deposed

This sayde Cirus at his natiuyte
Ordeyned was by reuolucion
Of the heuenly sperys in noumbre thries thre
So stode that tyme his constellacion
That he shulde haue the domynacion
Ouer all asie by influence dyuyne
Afore figured by spredynge of the vyne

What may the fraude of slayghty folke auayle
Innocentes to put out of their right
Though trouth be hyd amonges the parayle
Hard brought forth and dare nat shewe his light
Yit god wyll ordeyne that the bemys bright
Shall some one day shewe out his cleernesse
Maugre all tho that wolde his title oppres [...]

For this Cirus as clerkes of him write
Was by the title of his moders syde
Borne to be kinge all asie to enherite
Albe his aiel from him wolde it diuyde
But god that can for trouth best prouide
Hath for Cirus by processe so ordeyned
That he of asie the lordshyp hath atteyned

Cirus that tyme was growen vp well of length
Well proporcioned of membres and stature
Wonder delyuer and passynge of greate strength
Straunge emprises proudly to endure
And to Iupart and put in auenture
His owne persone the fame was of him so
Was none more lykly where men shulde haue adoo

And by the counseyle of kinge arpagus
Whan this Cirus was well waxe in age
With perciens proude and surquedous
And archanytes cruell of corage
For to recure his rightfull heritage
Began with cirus armyd with plate and mayle
With astriages to holde batayle

And he ag [...]ynewarde gan to take hede
And with him toke many a worthy knyght
With all the puissaunce of the londe of meede
Hath take the felde the same day forth right
To disherite cirus of his right
But god and trouth was atwene theym tweyne
Egall iuge their quarell to dareyne

The feeld ordeyned and splayed their baners
On outher party full proudly on they set
At thassemblynge like lions of their cheres
In the face as they fresshly mette
With rounde speres sharpe ground and w [...]et
Tyll that Cirus of grace more than noumbre
Of his aiel the partye dyd encombre

This mighty Cirus this yonge champion
Throughoute the feeld gan such a slaughter make
With his knightis as he went vp and doun
That as the deth his fomen him forsake
Astriages vnder his baner take
The feelde venquesshed for all his false veynglorye
To shewe that right hath alwey the victorye

A man of malice may a thinge purpose
By a maner frowarde prouydence
But god aboue can graciously dispose
 [...]geyne such malyce to make resistence
 [...]en for a whyle may suffre violence
 [...]nd wronges greate where so that they wende
 [...]ut trouth alwey venquessheth atte ende

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Astriages fonde ful soth his dreme
Though he ageyne it made purueaunce
To haue depryu [...]d Cirus of his rem
He was deceyued of his ordenaunce
For where that god th [...]ugh his myghty puissaunce
List for heiris iustfy to prouide
Sleight in such cas of man is set asyde

Maugre the might of astriages
Cirus on him made a disconfiture
And all asie reioysed eke in pees
Of very right as was his aduenture
And by iust title he dyd also recure
The loude of mede like as was his fate
And into perce he dyd it hole translate

Ageyne his a [...]l he was nat vengeable
Which had wrought to his distruccion
But was to him benigne and merciable
And grauntyd him of hole affection
The forte part of the region
Of archanye of which afore I tolde
Him to susteyne in his dayes olde

For kinge Cirus wolde nat his lyue
Suffre his a [...]l of very gentilnesse
That men shulde him fynally depryue
Of kingly honour for none vnkindnesse
To yeue exaumple to princes in sothnesse
Though god in erth haue y [...]uyn theym myghte
They shulde ay mercy medle with the right

Lenuoye.

NOble princes youre erys do enclyne
And considre in your discrecions
Howe dremys shewed by influence byuyne
Be nat lyke sweuenys but like auysions
Or resemble to reuolucions
Which though men wolde distourbe and make fayle.
God wyll nat suffre their malice to preuaile

A stragies dempt he sawe a vyne
Shewed of trouth and none illusions
From his doughters wombe right alyne
Spred in asie ouer the regions
But to disherite by fals collusions
Yonge Cirus the kinge dyd his trauaile
But god nat suffred his malice to preuayle

Princes remembre that in honoure shyne
Vpon this story in youre entencions
And be wel wyllyd where god list forthre a lyne
Outher to riches or dominacions
To fauour theym to their promocions
Be nat contrarye in youre acquytaile
Syth god will suffre no malice to preuayle

Howe Candalus king of Lide was made cokwold and after slayne

wHile Iohn bochas cast his loke asyde
In his studye as he sat wrytinge
To his presence cam the kinge of Lyde
Called Candalus full pitously pleyiung
With salt teris full lowly besechinge
That he wolde swage his greuaunce
His dedly sorowe to put in remembraunce

His compleynt was moost of vnkindnesse
For fals deceyt ageyne all skyll and right
That where his trust was moost of gyntylnesse
He mocked was for all his greate might
For of his hous there was a certeyne knight
Gyges called thinge shamefull to be tolde
To speke playne Inglissh made him a cokolde

Alas I was nat auised will be forne
Vncūnyngly to speke such langage
I shulde haue sayde howe that he had an horne
Or sought some teeme with a fayre visage
To excuse my rudnesse of this greate outrage
As in some londe Cornodo men do theym call
And some afferme howe such folke haue no gall

Thus was the cas whan phebus shone shene
The somer ceason in his assencion
Whan sote braunches were clad in newe grene
Hete importable had dominacion
Whan that the quene for recreacion
Vnprouided that no man dyd hir kepe
Vpon hir bed lay nakyd for to slepe

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And as clerkys of hir beute wryte
There was on lyue none fairer creature
Nor more excellynge lyke as they endyte
Of f [...]m [...]lynesse hir story doth assure
Callyd for bewtye cosyn to nature
And worthy eke if I shall nat fayne
To be compared to Grisilde or Eleyne

Kynde in hir forge list no thinge to erre
Whan she hir wrought by greate auisenesse
To make of beute the very lode sterre
And yeue hir beute fauour and semelynesse
But for nature had so greate besynes
To fourme a woman that was so fressh of hewe
She had forgete for to make hir true

Hir iyen were very celestyall
Hir heere vntressed like phebus in his spere
A thinge resemblynge that were immortall
So angelyk she was of loke and chere
An examplarye of port and manere
There was no lacke saue nature thrugh hir slouth
Had lefte behinde to yeue hir fayth and trouth

And on a day as she lay slepynge
Nakyd on bed moost goodly to sight
Ful vnwarly cam candalus the kinge
Into the chaumbre where titan shone ful bright
And shewed her beutye vnto his owne knight
Of entent he shulde bere witnesse
Howe she excelled all other in fayrenesse

And whan Giges gan in ordre se
Of this quene the greate excellence
He was enamoured vpon hir beutye
All the while he stode there in presence
Gan ymagyne a treason in silence
To sle his lorde without longe taryenge
Wynne the quene and after regne as kinge

This was the ende dolful and pitous
To be remembred hatefull and terrible
Of this noble worthy candalus
For of his trust to moch he was credyble
Vnto Gyges the traitoure was o [...]yble
And yit more folisshe wherby he lost his life
Outwarde to shewe the beutye of wife

Though she were faire and goodly vnto see
There was no trust nor no se [...]y [...]nesse
For other had as good parte as he
Gyges coude bere therof witnesse
Alas a quene or any greate princesse
Assent shulde hir fame for to trouble
But if nature excuse theym to double

Howe what thinge kinge Midas touchid was gold yit dyed he in miserye and wretchydnesse

BVt who so euer was therwith loth or fayne
Gyges was after crowned kinge of lyde
Whan that his lorde was by treason slayne
Of him the surplus bochas set asyde
And in his study as he dyd abyde
There cam of frige mydas the rich kynge
Tolde myn auctoure his compleynt with wepinge

For there was neuer by conquest nor laboure
No kinge afore that had more richesse
Nor more plente of golde nor of tresoure
At whoos birth poetes thus expresse
Aboute his cradell amptis gan him dresse
While he slepte and gan aboute him leyne
A full greate noumbre of pured whete greyne

Wherupon moost expert diuynours
As they toke hede in their attendaunce
Such as were best expositours
Saide it was a tokyn of habundaunce
To haue of richesse al maner suffisaunce
And concludynge playnly gan to tell
Howe he all other in tresour shulde excell

Poetys of him wrote that were full olde
Bachus gaue him the mighty god of wyne
What he toucheth shall tourne into golde
As gode as that which cam oute of the myne
At al assayes to be as pure and fyne
This request as writeth Ouidius
Was vnto Midas grauntyd of bachus

He thought gold myght him moost auayle
What he handlyd was golde with touchinge
But whan hungre his stomake gan assayle
His bred his mete was clere golde in shewynge
And whan he gan to fayle of his fedynge
And fonde of gold no recure to escape
Besought Bachus some remedye to shape

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Bachus bad him go bath in a ryuer
To wassh away the coloure aureat
Where it is shewed the goldy grauel clere
Which example declareth to eche estate
That golde allone maketh men nat fortun [...]t
For what may golde or tresoure there auayle
Where men in hungre fynde no vitayle

Or what is worthy golde peerle or stones red
Grene Emeroudys or sciphirs ynde
Whan men enfamyned haue neither greyne ne brede
Nor in such mysche [...]f vytaile may none fynde
For to fosture theire nature and their kinde
A barly loof in such a distr [...]sse
More myght auayle than all wordly richesse

This knewe mydas and was experte in dede
Though he of golde had so greate plente
That with metall he might him silf nat fede
Which caused him of necessite
To considre and cleerly for to see
That brede more vayleth for fosterynge of nature
Than all richesse that men may h [...]re recure

For which this kinge gan hate all richesse
Golde and tresoure he had eke in disdeyne
Left his crowne and his roial noblesse
And chase to kepe shepe vpon a pleyne
All wordly worship was to him but veyne
Of malencoly and frowarde pouerte
Endyd his lif in greate aduersite

For of ire and impacience
Fynally thus with him it stode
Furiously in his greate indigence
As writeth bochas howe he dranke the blode
Of a bole sauagyne and wode
With loue enchaufed made noo delaies
Moost bestyally endyd thus his dayes

Of balthasar kinge of babilone / and howe daniel expowned. Mane. Techel. Phares.

nExt to bochas or that he was w [...]e
As he sate wrytynge with ful grete labour
Of babilone cam greate balthasare
To declare his sorowe and his langoure
Which had mysused full falsly the tresoure
And the vessels brought to Ierusalem
In babilon cheef cite of his rem

For at a souper with his lordes all
Whan of the vessels he dranke myghty wynes
And solemply sat in his roiall stall
And rounde aboute all his concubynes
Philophers magiciens and dyuynes
There cam an hande the byble doth assure
And on the wall gan write this scripture

Mane techel phares wretyn in his sight
Though he the menynge conceyued neueradell
Which on the wall shewed faire and bright
Fro whos sentence auayled no [...]e appele
But the prophete holy danyel
Fully expowned to balthasar the kinge
This mysterye of this derke writynge

This worde mane playnly and nat tary
In latyn tunge betokeneth in substaunce
The dayes counted and rekened the noumbrarye
Of thy regnynge and of thy greate substaunce
And techel sowneth a weyenge in balaunce
In tokyn thy power and kingdome by mesure
God hath theym peysed they shall no while endure

Phares also betokeneth a brekinge
In romayne tunge into pecis smale
For thy power and frowarde r [...]bellynge
Shall from the hye be brought into the vale
This is holy wryt and no fayned tale
For whan princes wyll nat their life redresse
God wyll vnwarly their surquedye represse

Thou were by tokyns warnyd longe afore
By many exaumples the story ye may ride
By the fallynge of Nabugodonosore
And thou therof toke full [...] litell hede
The lorde to thanke and haue his name in drede
For which thou shalt within a l [...]tell throwe
Lose sceptre and crowne and be brought full lowe▪

LEte princes all thi [...]  [...]tory haue in mynde
And for them silfe notably prouide
And namely th [...] that been to god vnkinde
Their concubynes for to set aside
And make vertue for to be there guide
Voide lecherye and fals presumpcion
Which hath brought so many to destruction

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Nabugodonosor had repentaunce
And was restoryd to his possessions
But god of right toke sodenly vengeaunce
On Balthasar for his transgressions
Wherfore ye princes dispose youre reasons
After youre merites to haue god merciable
For your demerites to fynde him vengeable

Ageyne holy church take no quarelis
But aduertise in youre inwarde sight
For Balthasar dranke of tho vessellis
Stale fro the temple of very force and myght
He loste lordship and lif vpon a night
So that the kingdome of assiriens
Translatyd was to mede and perciens

Lo Cresus and balthasar were venquesshed by cirus and the sonne of cresus slayne at the hūting of a bore

NExt to Iohn bochas within a throwe
Writinge of princes many pytous fate
he sawe kinge cresus with other on the rowe
Lowly besechinge his fallynge to translate
And howe fortune ageyne him gan debate
And of his micheef doolful for to rede
For to descryue anone he gan procede

For as it is remembred in wrytynge
As god and kinde list for him ordeyne
Of Lyde he was gouernour and kynge
And lordship had the story can nat feyne
Of many kyngdoms more than one or tweyne
Fame in that tyme so dyd him magnyfie
That he was called floure of all chyualrye

And he was also in his tyme founde
The moost experte in werre and in bateyle
And of richesse was the moost habounde
And most exallinge in conquest to preuaile
Plente of people with roial apparaile
And with al this to his greate auauntage
Noumbre of childre tenblysshe his lynage

In the moost highest of his royal see
And all was well and no thinge stode amys
Yit ta [...]use his felicite
A dreme he had and truly that was this
Howe that his sonne which called was athis
Was take from him and by mortall outrage
Slayne sodenly in his tendre age

This woful dreme dyd him greate distresse
And put his herte in greate dispeyre
Stondynge in fere and greate heuynesse
Bycause his childe tendre yonge and faire
Which that was borne for to be his heire
Shulde causeles in such myscheef dye
So as his dreme afore dyd specifie

Of this processe to declare more
Howe cresus dreme fulfylled was in dede
From olimphus there cam a wilde bore
Moost furious and sauagyne of drede
With fomy tosshes which fast gan him spede
Downe descendynge and no where list abyde
Tyll that he cam into the londe of lyde

And gan distroye their frutes and their vynes
Where euer he cam in any maner place
Brake the nettes and the stronge lynes
Of the hunters that dyd at him enchace
But vnder supporte of the kinges grace
His sonne of whome I spake tofore
Gate him licence to hunte at this bore

His fader cresus demynge of this cas
There was no cause of drede in no manere
Though his sonne were present at the chas
With other hunters such game for to lere
But aye fortune with her double chere
Is redy euer by some fatall treyne
At such disportes some myscheef to ordeyne

For one there was which had gouernaunce
Vpon this childe to wayte and to se
Chasynge the bore to saue him fro myschaunce
From all damage and aduersite
Which many lusty folke of that cuntre
With hornes houndes and sharpe speres groūde
Sekynge the bore tyll they had him founde

And as they gan feersly the bore enchace
He that was charged to be the childes guyde
As with his spere he gan the bore manace
The hede nat entryd but forth bygan to glyde
And on the childe which that stode beside
The stroke alight and or hedyd aduerte
The speres hede rose him throught the herte

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But of this childe whan the deth was couth
Tolde and reported hooly the manere
Howe he was slayne in his tendre youth
Borne to be heire vnto his fader dere
Cresus for sorowe chaungyd loke and cher [...]
And for constreynt of dool in his visage
He resembled a very dede ymage

But euery sorowe by longe contynuaunc [...]
At the last it sumwhat must aswage
For there is none so furious greuaunce
Nor so mortall Importable rage
But longe processe yeueth him auauntage
I mene as thus there is none so greate a sorowe
But it might cese outher eue or morrowe

Philosophers concluden and discerne
And by their reasons recorden by scripture
Thinge violent may nat be eterne
Nat in one poynt abydeth none auenture
Nor a sorowe may nat alwey endure
For s [...]oundmel [...] through fortunys variaunce
There foloweth ioy after greate greuaunce

The sorowe of Creses though it were intollerable
And at his hert the greuaunce sat so sore
Sith that his dole was irrecupable
And mene was none his harmes to restore
Myn auctor Bochas writeth of his wo nomore
But of his fall howe he fyll in dede
To tell the maner forth he doth ꝓcede

And for a while he set his stile aside
And his ꝓces in ꝑtye he forbare
To speke of Cressus that was kinge of lyde
And gan resort to write of Balthazar
Ageyne rehersinge or that he was war
Howe mighty Cirus of woful auenture
Made on him proudly a disconfiture

And as it is put in remembraunce
Of Balthasar to holde vp the partye
Cresus with him had made an aliaunce
With all his puissaunce and all his chyualrye
His lif his tresoure to put in Iuꝑtye
Sworne in armes as brother vnto brother
By Cirus venquesshed that one after that other

 [...]oth their myscheef no lenger was delaied
Albe that Cresus faught longe in his diffence
He fynally by Cirus was outrayed
And depryued by knightly violence
Take in the felde there was no resistence
And rigourously to his confusion
With mighty feters cast in derke prison

And more to encreace his greate aduersite
A sonne of his / tendre and yonge of age
That was dumbe from his natiuite
And neuer spake worde in no maner langage
Cirus cōmaundynge by furious outrage
That Cresus shulde by vengeable cruelte
By a knight of Perce in pryson hedyd be

And with his swerde as he gan manace
Cresus to haue slayne without all reuerence
The dombe childe there p̄sent in the place
Which neuer had spoken thus saide in audience
Withdrawe thy stroke and doo no violence
Vnto my lorde thy fame so to confounde
To sle a kynge that lyeth in pryson bounde

The knight astonyed hath his stroke forborne
Greatly abasshyd in that derke habitacle
Which herde a childe that neuer spake toforne
Ageyne his swerde to make an obstacle
Ran and tolde this meruelous miracle
To mighty Cirus with euery circumstaunce
Hopinge therby to atempred his greuaunce

But where as tyrauntes been set on cruelte
Theyr crokyd malice ful harde is to appese
So indurate is their iniquite
That all in vengeaunce is set their hertis ese
Themsilf reioisinge to se folkes in disease
Lyke as they were in their frowarde daunger
Clenly fraunchised fro god and his power

This cruel Cirus moost vengeable of des [...]
To execute his fell entent in dede
Lete make in hast of fagot a greate fyre
And gan them kyndle with many colys rede
And made Cresus quakynge in his drede
For to be take where as he lay full lowe
And bad men shulde into the fire him throwe

But Iubiter which hath his vengeaunce seyne
Howe cruel Cirus with malice was atteyne
From heuyn sent a tempest and a reyne
That sodenly the horrible fire was quaynt
Woful Cresus with dredeful fire made faynt
Escapyd is his furious mortal peyne
God and fortune for him lift so ordeyne

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This auenture in maner merueylous
The herte of Cirus gan sumwhat to enbrace
And causyd him for to be pitous
Ageyne gresus and grauntyd him this grace
To occupye while he hath lift and space
The londe of Lyde except only this thinge
He shulde nat after be callyd kinge

And thus of lyde the kinge dyd fyne
Which toke his begynnynge of one ardisius
And endured the space of kinges nyne
Loke whoso wyll the bokys tell thus
Herof nomore but forth vnto Cirus
I wyll procede with all my besy cure
For to translate his wofull auenture

Howe the cruell tyraunt Cyrus delited eu [...] slaughter and shedynge of blode & so endyd

HEyre by discent to greate astriages
Poorly brought forth as made is mencion
And had al asie to his gr [...]ate encres
Holdynge that rigne by iust sucession
In longe quyete wihtout rebillyon
Tyll tyme he thought in full froworde wise
The worlde was small to staunch his couetise

He had an Etyke moost contagious
Fretinge vpon him for desire of good
A dropsie hatefull and  [...]urious
Of frowarde rage that made his herte wode
A w [...]fuy [...]e  [...]a [...]ast to shede mannys blode
Which ouer [...]horted by fals malencolye
His  [...] into tyrannye

But whan he presumptuously entende
To robbe  [...] through his pillage
God and fortune made him to descende
Full sodenly from his  [...]  [...]age
 [...] was a greate auauntage
To  [...] of very fo [...]e and might
Though  [...] of right

To  [...] souereyn [...]e
 [...]
 [...]
 [...]
Aboue sad  [...]outh and  [...]
Which causeth princes from their estate royall
Or they be ware to haue es [...]deyn fall

For the lordshyp of all as [...]
Might nat suffise to cirus gredynesse
But thought he wolde conquere  [...]ithia
And there werre to encreace his grete richesse
Though he no tytle had of rightousnesse
Saue a fals lust wherof men shulde haue ruth
That wyll in princes shulde oppresse truth

First this cirus all princes dyd excelle
Both in conquest victorye and batayle
Of gold and tresoure as bokes him tell
Kingdoms to wynne he dyd moost preuayle
And yit to vyces dyd his herte assayle
First couetise euer to encreace in good
With a desire to sh [...]de mennys blode

With two vices he brenneth euer in one
That neuer might from his herte twynne
Made a greate arme towarde Septemtrion
And cast him proudly to set on and begynne
Cithia the myghty londe to wynne
Quene thamacis there regnynge as I fynde
Whoos kingdome Ioyneth vnto ethiopie in ynde

Toward the partye which is orientall
The see of suri [...]e floweth full plentuus
Downe to the see called occidentall
And southwarde renneth to Concasus
And folke of cythie that ben laborious
Which tyle the londe hath nat to their lyuynge
But only frutys which from the erth springe

The londe of Cithie is rich for the nonys
From greyne and frute a londe full couenable
Rich of golde peerle and precious stonys
Right comodious and wonder delectable
But a greate party is nat habytable
The people dredful to belde their mancions
For feer of deth bycause of the griffoūs

The noble fame nor the highe renoū
Was nat ferre knowe nor Isprad aboute
Of Thamaris quene of that rigion
Nor of hir noblesse within nor without
Tyll that kinge Cyrus with a full greate route
Into  [...]his gan him proudly dresse
The hardy quene to spoyle of hir richesse

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But she hir fame more to magnifie
Gan in great hast with full rich apparayle
Full prudently assemble hir chiualrye
And toke a feelde if he wolde hir assayle
Redy with him to haue a batayel
And of hir meyne like as seyth my boke
Vnto hir sonne the thryd parte she toke

And yaue him charge in the same place
Him silf that day to acquyte lyke a knyght
And for to mete Cirus in the face
And no thinge drede with him for to fight
But whan kinge cirus of him had a sight
Cast him that day the yonge prince oppresse
Rather by wyles than manhode or prowesse

First he lete stuffe his large pauilions
With greate plente of drinkes delectable
Dyuers metes and confeccions
Rounde aboute vpon euery table
And in his menynge passinge deceyuable
Lyke as he had in maner dredfull be
Toke all his hoste and gan anone to fle

This yonge prince of menynge Innocent
Nothinge demynge as by supposayle
But that cirus was with his meyne went
And fled for fere he durst him nat assaile
And whan he fonde such plente of vetayle
He and his knightes thrugh misgouernaunce
To ete and drynke set all their plesaunce

They had of knighthode lost all the disciplyne
Forsoke mars and put him oute of sight
And to Bachus their hedes gan enclyne
Gorge vpon gorge tyll it drough to nyght
And proude Cirus cam on theym anone right
With all his oft they oute of theyr armure
On bestyall folke made a disconfiture

Cruell cirus left none alyue
Of hygh nor lowe made none excepcion
They were to feble ageyne his might to stryue
For cheef cause of their destruction
Was drunkenesse which voideth all relacion
And wise men rehercen in sentence
Where folke be dronkyn there is no resistence

And whan this slaughter by relacion
Reportyd was and brought to the presence
Of Thamaris quene of that region
Vnto hir herte it dyd full greate offence
But of ire and greate impacience
Seynge hir sonne slayne in tendre age
For sorowe almoost she fyll into a rage

But for all hir wofull dedly peyne
She shewed no tokyn of femynyte
But of prudence hir wepyi [...] gan restreynt
And cast hir pleynly avenged for to be
Vpon kinge cirus and on his cruelte
Sente out meyne tespien his passage
If she him finde might at auauntage

And with hir meyne gan feyne amaner flyght
Vp to the mounteynes dredefull and terrible
And cirus after gan hast him anone right
In hope to take hir if it were possible
Amonge which hilles more than it is credyble
Been craggy roches moost hidous of enteyle
Perilous of passage and vode of all vitayle

And cirus there fyll in greate daungere
All vnpurueyed of drogemen or of guyde
To fostre his people vitayle was none there
Erringe as bestes vpon euery syde
And they of cithie gan for him so prouide
Wherof their quene god wote was full fayne
At greate myscheef that all his men were slayne

None of all was take to raunson
Nor he him silf escaped nat hir boundes
Such wayte was layde to theyr distruction
And he through percyd with many mortall woundes
On pecis rent as b [...]ers been with houndes
The quene comaundynge whan he lay thus to torne
To hir presence this body to be borne

First she hath charged to smyte of his hede
Whan she hath thus the victory of him wonne
And in a bath that was all blode rede
She ganne it throwe within a lytell tonne
And of despyte right thus she hath begonne
Moost tirauntly in hir wofull rage
To dede cirus to haue this langage

O thou cirus that whilom were so wode
And so thrustleugh in thy tyrannye
Ageyne nature so to shede mannys blode
So wuluysshe was thyn hatfull dropsye
That mercy non myght it modefye
Thyn etike ioyned gredy and vnstable
With thrust of slaughter  [...]p to be vengeable

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It is an horrour in maner for to thinke
So greate a prince rebuked for to be
Of a woman mannys blode to drinke
For to disclaundre his roiall maieste
Out gladly euer vengaeble cruelte
Bf right requireth with vnware violence
Blode shed for blode iustly to recompence

OF mighty cirus the imperiall nablesse
Was by a woman vēquesshed and borndoun
God made her chastise his furious wodnesse
And for to oppresse his famous highe renoun
For where vengeaunce hath domynacion
In worldly princes playnly to deuise
With vnware stroke god can theym well chastise

The ende of cirus can bere full well recorde
Howe god withstondith folee that been vengeable
Lordship and mercy whan they been at discorde
Right wil nat suffre their state to stonde stable
And for this cirus was so vnmerciable
He with vnmercy punysshed was in dede
Deth quyt for deth lo here his fynall mede

In slaughter and blode he dyd him moost delite
For in tho thweyne was his repast in dede
He fonde no mercy his vengeaunce to respite
Where he fonde mater any blode to shede
Such ioy he had by deth to se folke blede
And for the sight dyd him so moch gode
His fatall ende was for to swymme in blode

Lo here thexequies of this mighty kinge
Lo here the ende of his estate roiall
There were no flawmes nor brondes clere shynynge
To brenne his body with fyres funerall
Nor obseruaunces nor offringes marciall
Nor toumbe of golde with stonys rich and fyne
Was none ordeyned that day to make his shryne

Epithaphie there was none red nor sunge
Be no poete with their poetries
Nor of his triumphes there was no bell rung [...]
Nor no wepers with subbinge tragedyes
None attendaunce but of his enmyes
Which of hatred in their cruell rage
Cast out his cateyn to bestes moost sauage

Lo here of cirus the fynall auenture
Which of all asie was whilom emperoure
Nowe lyth he abiect with oute sepulture
Of high nor lowe he fonde no better fauour
Lo here the fyne of all worly laboure
Namely of tyrauntys which list nat god to drede
But set their lust to slaughter and blode to shede

Lenuoye.

RIght noble princes concidre in your sight
The fyne of Cirus pitous and lamentable
Howe god punysshth of equite and right
Tyrauntys echone cruell and vengeable
For in his sight it is abhomynable
That a prince as philosophers write
In slaughter of men shulde him silf delite

This sayde cirus was a full manly knight
In begynnynge right famous and notable
Nature yaue him semlynesse and myght
For in conquest was none seen more able
Tyll tyrannye the serpent deceyueable
Merciles his corage dyd atwyte
In slaughter of men whan him gan delite

Wherfore ye princes remembre both day and night
Tafforce youre noblesse and make it ꝑdurable
To gete you fauour and loue of euery wight
Which shall youre statys conserue and kepe stable
For there is conquest none so honourable
In gouernaunce as vengeaunce to respite
Mercy preferrynge in slaughter nat delite

Howe amilius for couetise slough his brother and Remus / and Romulus norisshed by a wuluesse

aFter kinge cirus bochas dyd espye
Two worthy brethren with facis pitous
Borne by discent to regne in albanye
Both of one fader the story telleth vs
The one of them callyd Amylyus
And to remembre the name of that other
Muniter I called was his brother

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They hadde a fader which namyd was ꝓchas
Kinge of that londe the story doth deuyse
After whoos deth pleynly this the cas
Amilius for fals couenese
His brother slough in full cruell wise
That he vniustly by fals tyrannye
Might haue the kingdome alone of albany [...]

This albana by discripcion
Lyke as bochas affermeth in certeyn
Is a cite nat ferre fro rome toū
Set on an hyll beside a large pleyn
The beldinge statly rich and well beseyne
Stronge walled with many a rich toure
And ascannis was first therof fondoure

Which callid was in his fundacion
Albania for the grete whitnesse
The [...]e kinges after by succession
Named albonoys princes of greate noblesse
And by descent the story bereth witnesse
From kinge prochas recorde on bokes olde
Cam these two brethren / Rea ther suster tolde

Muniter slayne as made is mencion
The kinge occupyed by amilius
And rea entred into religion
For to be wympled in that holy hous
Sacryd to vesta with virgynes glorious
Therfore to a byde and be contemplatyf
With other maydyns duringe all hir lif

And this was done while she was yonge of age
By hir brother of fals entencion
That she shulde haue no maner heritage
Nor clayme no title in that region
Of hir kinrede by none accasion
But stonde professyd in virginyte
Tofore vesta and lyue in chastite

¶Yit natwitstandynge hir virginall clennesse
She hath conceyued by naturall myracle
Gan to encreace in hir holynesse
Whoos wombe aros in kinde was none obstacle
Ageyne such bolnynge auayleth no tryacle
But the goddesse for hir so dyd ordeyne
That she at onys had sonnes tweyne

The temple of vesta stode in wildernes
Where Rea had hooly the  [...]ouernaunce
Of preesily honoure done to the goddes
With many straunge vncouth obseruaunce
But by hir brothers mortall ordenaunce
Hir yonge sonnes might nat be socoured
But cast oute to bestes for to be deuoured

But a she wulfe which whelpyd had late
To yeue theym soke dyd hir besynesse
By god ordeyned or by some heuenly fate
Theym to conserue fro deth in theyr distresse
For holy writ playnly bereth witnesse
God can diffende as it is well couth
Children from myscheef in theyr tendre youth

But in this while this sayde amilius
That was their vncle as made is mencion
Ageyne his sustre froward and furious
Made hir be sh [...]t in a full derke prison
And ther compleynynge the distruction
Of her two children borne to hir repreef
For very sorowe dyed at greate myscheef

These sayde children deuoyde of all refute
Beside a ryuer lay pitously cryenge
From all socoure nakyd and destitute
Except a wulues vpon theym waytinge
At whoos wombe full styll they lay soukinge
Vnto nature a thinge contrarious
Children to souke on bestes raueynous

But he this lorde of euery creature
Right as him list can both saue and spyll
And bestes which been rage of their nature
He can aduerte and make theym lye full styll
Tygres lyons obeyen at his wyll
The same lorde hath made a fell wulues
Vnto tweyne children hir biggys for to dresse

And while this wulues had theym in depos
There cam an herde called Faustulus
Behelde their soukynge and sawe theym lye ful clos
Which shepperde was of kinge amilius
Caught vp these children the story telleth thus
And brought theym forth with greate diligence
Vnto his wife that called was laurence

And she for loue dyd hir besy peyne
Theym to fostre tyll they cam of age
Gaue theym souke of hir brestes tweyne
Fro day to day of herte and hole corage
And they were called as in that langage
After the story that one of theym remus
And the seconde was named romulus

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Of which brethern breuely to termyne
The toun of rome to  [...]e origynall
Of fals disclaundre first began that lyne
The rote oute sought full vicious founde at all
Cleerly remembred for a memoriall
Their begynnynge grewe of such incontinence
As clerkes call incestus in sentence

Incestus is a thinge nat faire nor gode
After that bokes well deuise cūn [...]
As trespassinge with kyn or with blode
Or frowarde medlynge with hir that is a nūne
And th [...]s the lyne of rome was begūne
For slaughter murdre and fals robbrye
Was cheef begynnynge of all their auncetrye

Of couetise they toke their auauntage
Ligge [...]s of weys and robber [...] openly
Murdrers also of their owne lynage
And stronge theuys gate to their cumpany
Spoiled all tho that past theym forby
Vnder shadowe of kepinge their berstaile
All maner people they proudly dyd assaile

To sle marchauntys they had no conscience
And for to murdre folke of euery age
Wymen to oppresse of force and violence
In all that cuntre this was their vsage
Where they abode there was no sure passage
And these two brethren like as it is founde
Fonde first the maner of speris sharp grounde

A spere in greke callyd is quiris
And for that cause the sayde romulus
As bokes say and sothely so it is
He afterwarde was callyd quirinus
Which with his brother that callyd was Remus
Was in all thinge confederat and partable
That  [...] was vious and dampnable

And a [...] i [...]  [...] accordynge to their life
For lak of vertue they fyll in greate diffame
And atwene theym there was an vncouth strif
Which of both shulde yeue the name
Vnto the cite atwene ernest and gaine
After their names come to be called
Thus fyll the cas afore or it was walled

And therupon full longe lasted their stryues
Which shulde of theim haue domynacion
Shewynge their tilles and prerogatyues
Who shulde of theym yeue name to the toun
And regne as kinge in that region
There was no reason who shulde go beforne
Bycause they were both at onys borne

But to fynyssh their fraternall discorde
They haue prouyded atwene theym anone right
Thus condescendinge to put theym at acorde
Nouther by force oppression nor myght
Th [...]t  [...] of theym sawe grettest flight
Of  [...] flyenge high vpon  [...]n hyll
Shulde name the cite at his owne wyll

Of this accorde for to be witnesse
They with theym ledde a full greate multytude
Throf to yeue adome of rightwisnesse
Both of wyse and of people rude
All at onys this mater to conclude
And to an hyll callyd auentyne
They been ascended this mater for to fyne

And bryddes sixe to remus dyd appere
By augurye as they gan procede
Called vultures ful feers in ther manere
But in noumbre the double dyd excede
That romulus sawe whan he toke gode hede
Wherof there fyll a greate contrauersye
Which of theym shulde preuaile on his ꝑtye

Thus first of all remus had a sight
Of sixe byrdes called vultures
And for to auaunce and preferre his right
He full proudly put him silf in prees
But romulus was nat recheles
His brothers clayme playnly to entrouble
Afforced his title with the noumbre double

¶Yit of his purpos one of theym must faile
Though it so be that they euer striue
But Romulus gan fynally preuayle
And to the cite he forth went blyue
And as auctours lyst  [...]chone discryue
And in their bokes as they reherce all
After his name rome he dyd it call

An [...] all foreyns to exclude oute
And ageyne theym to make stronge diffence
First he began to wall i [...] rounde aboute
And made a lawe full dredefull in sentence
Who clymbe the wall by any violence
Outwarde or inwarde there is nomore to seye
By statute made he must nedys dye

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This was enact by ful pleyne ordynaunce
In peyne of deth which no man breke shall
But so befell remus of ignoraunce
Which of the statute knewe no thinge atall
Of auenture went ouer the wall
For which a knight ordeyn in certeyn
The seyde remus hath with a pykeys slayne

His brother list [...]at in no maner wise
Ageyne the lawe to be fauourable
But assented parcell for couetyse
Vpon remus to be more vengeable
Of this entent to make his regne stable
That he alone might gouerne and none other
By no clayme founde nor brought in by his brother

And that the people shulde theym more delyte
There to abyde and haue possession
As olde auctours of romulus do write
Within the boundes of the same toun
That he deuised by greate prouision
In cumpas rounde so cronycles compile
A teritorye that called was asile

This asilum by romulus deuysed
 [...]as a place of refuge and socours
Like a theatre with libertees fraunchised
For to receyue all foreyn trespassours
Theuys murderers weyliggers and robbours
By greate resort within the walles wyde
To fostre all brybours that durst no where abyde

And with fled people fro dyuers regions
The cyte gan to encrece and multyplye
And banyshed folke of straunge nacions
To finde refuge thidre gan theym hye
And thus by processe gan their chiualrie
F [...]st through tyrauntes recheles of werkynge
Tyll al the worlde obeyed their biddynge

Of wylfull force without title of right
They brought all people vndre subiection
A [...]leyme they made by violence and might
And toke no hede of trouth nor reson
And the first auctour of their fundacion
Was romulus that gadryd all this route
Within the cite and wallyd it aboute

And many day as made is mencion
He had this cite in his gouernaunce
And was the first kinge crowned in that toun
And regned there by contynuaunce
Full many  [...]erys tyll the variaunce
Of fortune through hir fals enuye
In campania made him for to dye

Vpon a day whan it gan thundre loude
His name for euer to be more magnefied
Sūme bokes  [...]ay he was rapt in a cloude
High vp in heuene to be stellified
With other goddys statly deif [...]ed
There to be stalled by iupiters syde
Lyke for his knightes as mars list prouide

Lo here of panymes a fals opinion
To cristes lawe contrarye and odious
That tyrauntes shulde by fals opprossion
Be called goddys or named glorious
Which by their lyue were founde vicious
For this pleyne trouth I dare it well tell
They rather b [...]en fendes full depe in hell

For but in erth their domynacion
Conueyed been by vertuous noblesse
And that their power and high renoun
Be set on trouth and rightwisnesse
Lyke their estates in prince or princesse
I dare afferme of theym both tweyne
For vicious lyuynge they must endure peyne

But whan they been feythfull of entent
Right and trouth iustly to mayntene
And in their roiall power be nat blen [...]
Wronges redressinge and pore folke sustene
And so contune with concscience moost clene
Such life more rathe than pompe of worldly we [...]ys
Shall make them regne in heuene aboue the sterrys

For which late princes vnderstonde atonys
And worldly princessys with all their greate riches
That their high hornys fret with rich stones
Towarde heuene their passage doth nat dresse
But vertuous lyfe charite and mekenesse
Whan they lyst pride oute of ther herte arace
That causeth theym in heuene to wynne a place

There is nomore straunge abusion
Nor tofore god greate ydolatrye
Than whan princes list catche affecion
Creatures falsly to deifie
Be collusion brought in by sorcerye
Nowe god defende all princes well disposed
With such fals craft neuer to be enoysed

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And their iyen by none illusions
Be nat englued nouther with hoke nor lyne
Nor by no boytes of fals inspeccions
Wrought by cyrenes by drinke or medecyne
Which of their nature resemble to a shryne
Through richesse outwarde and beutye souereyne
And who loke inwarde be lyke a foule careyne

God of his grace amende all such outrage
In noble princes and saue theym from such werre
And theym enlumyne disposinge their corage
In such fals worship they nomore ne erre
Like to argus that they seen afcere
That no false fagynge cause theym to be blinde
Goddys nor goddessys to worship ageyne kinde

And though that romayns dyd worship and honour
To romulus by a constreynt drede
Lette no man take exaumple of their errour
But to that lorde whoos sydes were made rede
To saue mankinde and on a crosse was dede
Let men to him in cheef their loue obserue
Which can theym quyte better than they can deserue

Howe mecyus kinge of albanoys beynge fals of his othe and assuraunce / was drawen into pecys

NExt romulus with  [...]erys albe sprent
Vnto Iohn bochas apperyd mecius
Of chere and loke and of his port faynt
His fall declarynge frowarde and despitous
And he was called eke sufficius
Lowe of birthe and simple in vpgrowynge
Of Albanoys tyll fortune made him kinge

Ageyne whoos pride the romayns gan warreye
Full mightely oppressinge his cuntre
And for kinge mecius liste theym nat obeye
They cast theym fully auenged for to be
Bycause his birth was but of lowe degre
And was risen vp vnto estate royall
They theym purpos to yeue him a sodeyn fall

Hasty clymbynge of pouert set on hight
Whan wronge title maketh him to ascende
With vnware peys of his owne might
A sodeyn fall maketh him to descende
Whan he list nat of surquedye entende
Fro whens he cam nor him silfe to knowe
Tyll god and fortune his pompe hath ouerthrowe

For this mecius of presumpsion
Thought ageyne romayns his pride myght auayle
Gan werre ageyne theym by rebellion
Was nat feerfull their noblesse to assaile
Tyll on a day was signed abaytaile
Both their ostys within a feelde to mete
To take their part whether it be soure or swete

That tyme in rome regned hostilius
A manly man and a full worthy knight
Tweyne him concludyd and kinge mecius
They tweyne to mete in steel armyd bright
For both batayls to trye oute the right
By iust accorde and therin nat varye
The party venquesshed to be tributary

And hooly put him in subieccion
Withoute entretynge or any more delay
And finally for short conclusion
Kinge hostilius the triumphe wanne that day
That albanoys coude nat say nay
But that romayns as put is memorye
By singuler batayle had wonne the victorye

Thus had romayns first possession
Of albanoys to obey them and to drede
Mecius yelded and sworne to the toun
Neuer to rebell for fauour ne for mede
But he was double founde in dede
Of his assuraunce and fals to their cyte
He was chastised anone as ye shall see

Ageyne Fidenates a cuntre of Itayle
Kinge hostilius for their rebellion
Cast he wolde mete theym in bataile
For comon profite and for diffencion
Both of his cite and of his roiall toun
And for to afforce his party in werkinge
Of albanoys he sent vnto the kinge

To come in hast with his hoole chyualrye
And tarye nat in no maner wise
But make him stronge to susteyne his partye
Lyke his behest as ye haue harde deuyse
But kinge mecius full falsly gan practyse
A sleighty treason and a couert wyle
Ageyn his promys the romayns to begyle

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¶Yit he outwarde pretendynge to be true
Cam to the feelde with a full greate meyne
Lyuynge in hope to see some chaungis newe
That he on rome might auengyd be
And specially that he might se
Kinge hostilius of frowarde enuye
That day outrayed with all his ch [...]ualrie

First whan he sawe the romayns enbatailed
And fidynates on that other syde
Their wardys redy for to haue assayled
He couertly dyd on an hyll abyde
And to nor fro lyst nat goo nor ride
 [...]or his persone put in Iupartye
But who was strengest to holde on that ꝑtye

Wherof the romayns fyll in suspeccion
Of  [...]inge meenis whan they toke hede
 [...]ill hostilius of highe discrecion
Through his knighthode put theym oute of drede
And gan dissinule of meenis the falshede
And to conforte his knightes of entent
 [...]yde what he dyd was done by his assent

 [...] was full loth that his chyualrie
 [...] knowe theffect of me [...]nis treason
Which cause might in all or in partye
Full greate hindringe by some occasion
 [...]o deme in him falsnesse or treson
Yit of trouth the story bereth witnesse
All that he ment was vntrouth and falsnesse

Thus of manhode and of high prudence
He to his knightes yaue herte and hardynesse
Made theym set on by so greate violence
 [...]at he the feelde gate of high prowes
 [...]n fydynates brought in so greate distresse
And so outrayed on force on euery syde
Tofore romayns that they ne durst abyde

And whan mecius sawe theym thus outrayed
By a maner of feyned fals gladnesse
Like as he had in herte be well payed
To hostilius anone he gan him dresse
Him silf reioisinge by counterfet likenesse
And for his menynge playnly was conceyued
So as he cam right so he was receyued

Thus whan mecius stode in his presence
With a pretense of feithfull stablenesse
And all thapport of trouth in apparence
He shadowed hath his expert doublenesse
Vnder sote hony couert bitternesse
Freendly visage with wordes smoth and playne
Though mouth and herte departyd were in twayne

But hostilius hath all his fraude espied
And his compassed falsnesse and treson
And therupon hath iustly fantasyed
A peyne accordinge I peysed of reson
Him to punyssh by a double passion
This to mene lyke as he was deuyded
A double torment for him he hath prouided

This was his dome and his fatall peyne
By hostilius contryued of iustice
his fete his armys atwene charettys tweyne
Naked and bare the story doth deuise
To be bounde and knyt in trauers wyse
Contrariously the horse to drawe and hale
Tyll all his body were rent on pecis smale

And right as he was cause of greate trouble
Founde ay in dede moost full of variaunce
Therfore his peyne was made in maner double
Right as him silf was double in gouernaunce
Fals of his othe of hest and assuraunce
And double in menynge as he hath ꝑseuered
So in his ende his membres were disseuered

His fete were drawe from the hede asondre
There was no ioynt with other for to abyde
Here was a legge / and an arme lay yondre
Thus eche membre from other gan deuyde
And for he coude holde in outher side
By fals pretens to outher party true
Him to chastise was founde a peyne newe

A Chaptre howe princes shulde of their othes and promises be true auoydinge all doublenesse / and decepcion

LO here the ende of double fals meninge
Whan worde and herte be contrarious
Othe and behest fals founde in a kinge
Of albanoys as was this mecius
O noble princis prudent and vertuous
Lette neuer story after more recorde
That worde and dede shuld in you discorde

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For kinge mecius variaunt of corage
Whoos inwarde menynge was euen on treason set
Treynes contryuynge with a fayre visage
His thought his herte with double corde fret
By bochas called deceit and fals baret
Which vice descryuynge concludeth of reson
Fraude of all fraudes is fals decepcion

For with a face flaterynge and pesible
Pretendinge trouth vndre fals plesaunce
With his panteris perilous and terrible
Trappeth innocentes with grenys of myschaunce
I mene deceit that with hir countenaunce
Folkes englueth symple and recheles
And theym werreith vnder a face of pes

Puissaunce of princes famous and honourable
Hath be deceyued by this traitouresse
And folke moost prudent in their estate notable
Hath be distroubled by such fals doublenesse
And many a knight victorious of prowesse
Hath been entriked for all his high renoun
By treynes founde of deceit and treson

Deceyt deceyueth and shalbe deceyued
For by deceyt who is deceyuable
Though his deceyt be nat out parceyued
To a deceyuour deceyte is retournable
Fraude quyt with eraude is guerdon couenable
For who with fraude fraudolent is founde
To a defrauder fraude wyll ay rebounde

Of kinge hostilius that first weryd purpyll hewe consūpte with fuyleuene

wHat shulde I more of deceyte endite
Touchinge the fraude of kinge mecius
For I me cast nowe finally to write
The fatall ende of kinge hostilius
Which was the first as saith valerius
In rome cite that auctours knewe
Amonge kinges that weryd purpyll hewe

But after all his tryumphall noblesse
And many vncouth knightly high emprise
Fortune tappalle the pris of his prowesse
Made him to be in full frowarde wise
Recheles and slowe to do sacrifise
To Iubiter for which sent from heuene
He was consumpte with sodeyn firy leuene

Here men may se the reuolucions
Of fortunes double purueaunce
Howe the moost mighty of romayn champions
Haue sodenly be brought vnto myschaunce
And their outrages to put in remembraunce
Greate conquest turned to woo fro ioye
For a rebuke I sende theym this lenuoye

Lenuoye.

ROme remembre of thy fundacion
And of what peple thou toke thy begynnīge
Thy byldinge gan of fals dissencion
Of slaughter murdre and outrayous robbinge
Yeuynge to vs a maner knowlegynge
A fals begynnynge auctours determyne
Shall by processe come vnto ruyne

Where be thy emperours moost souereyne of renoun
Kinges exyled for outrayous lyuynge
Thy senatours with worthy Scip [...]on
Poetes olde thy triumphes rehersynge
Thy laureat knightes moost statly there rydynge
Is by longe processe brought vnto ruyne

Where is nowe Cesar that toke possession
First of the empire the tryumphe vsurpinge
Or where is lucan that maketh mencion
Of all his conquest by cerious writynge
Octauyan moost solemply regnynge
Where is bycome their lordship or their lyne
Processe of yerys hath brought it to ruyne

Where is tullius cheef lanterne of thy toun
In rethoryke all other surmountynge
Morall Senec or prudent sad Caton
Thy comon profit alwey preferringe
Or rightfull traian moost iustly in his demynge
Which on no party lyftnat to declyne
But longe processe hath brought all to ruyne

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Where is the temple of thy proteccion
Made by virgil moost corious of bildinge
Images erect of euery regyon
Whan any lande was founde rebellynge
Toward that parte a small bell herde ryngynge
To that prouince the ymage dyd enclyne
Which by longe proces was brought to ruyne

Where is also the greate extorcion
Of consuleris and prefectys opprossynge
Of dictatours the fals collusion
Of decemvir the frowarde deceyuynge
Of all echon the odious rauyne
Hath by processe the brought vnto ruyne

Where is bycome thy dominacion
Thy greate trybutys thy tresours shynynge
The worlde all hole in thy subieccion
Thy swerde of vengeaunce all people manacynge
Euer gredy to encrece in thy ge [...]ynge
 [...]o thinge by grace which that is dyuyne
Which hath the brought by processe to ruyne

In thy moost highest exaltacion
Thy proude tyrauntys prouyncis conquerynge
To god contrarye by longe rebellyon
Goddys goddessis falsly obeynge
Aboue the sic [...]rys by surquedous clymbynge
 [...]yll vengeaunce thy noblesse dyd vntwyne
With newe compleyntis to shewe thy ruyne

 [...] doun thy pryde and thy presūpcion
 [...] pompous boost thy lordshipes encresynge
 [...] thyn outrage and lay thy boost adoun
 [...] false goddis playnly desyenge
 [...] thyn herte vnto that heuenly kinge
Which with his blode thy sorowes for to fyne
Hath made thy raunson to saue the fro ruyne

From olde saturne drawe thyne affeccion
His golden worlde fully despisinge
And from Iupiter make a digression
His silue [...]en tyme hertely despreisinge
Resorte ageyne with will and hole menynge
To him that is lorde of the ordres nyne
Which mekely dyed to saue the fro ruyne

Though mars be myghty in his assencion
By influence victories disposynge
And bright phebus yeueth consolacion
To worldly princes their noblesse auaunsynge
Forsake their rightis and thy fals offrynge
And to that lorde bowe doun thy chyne
Which shed his blode to saue the fro ruyne

Venged mercurye cheef lorde and patron
Of eloquence and of fayre spekinge
Forsake his seruice in thyn opinyon
And serue thy lorde that gouerneth all thinge
The sterryd heuyn the speres eke meuynge
Which for thy sake was crownyd with a spyne
His herte eke perced to saue the fro ruyne

Castup of venus the fals derision
Hir firy bronde hir flateries renewynge
Of diana the transmutacion
Nowe bright nowe pale nowe clere nowe drepinge
Of blinde cupide the fraudolent mockinge
Of Iuno bachus proserpina Lucyne
For none but crist may saue the fro ruyne

Voyde of Cirses the bestyall poison
Of cirenes the furious chauntynge
Let nat Medusa do the no treason
And fro gorgones tourne thy lokynge
And let Sinderesis haue the in kepinge
That crist iesu may be thy medecyne
Ageyne such raskail to saue the fro ruyne

Of fals ydolis make abiuracion
To similacres do no worshippinge
Make thy resort to cristis passion
Which may by mercy redresse thyn errynge
And by his grace repare thy fallynge
So thou obey his vertuous disciplyne
Trust that he shall restore thy ruyne

His mercy is surmountynge of foyson
Euer encreceth without amenusynge
Ay at full eche tyme and eche ceson
And neuer waneth by none eclipsynge
Whan men list make deuoutly their rekenynge
To leue their synne and come to his doctryne
He redy is to kepe theym from ruyne

O Rome rome all olde abusion
Of Cerimonies falsly disusinge
Ley theym aside and in conclusion
Cry god mercy thy trespacis repentynge
Trust he wilnat refuse thy axynge
The to receyue to laboure in his vyne
Eternally to saue the from ruyne

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O noble princes of high discrecion
Sithe in this worlde is none abidinge
Peyse coscience ageyne wyll and reason
While ye haue leyser of herte ymagenynge
Ye bere nat hens but youre deseruynge
Let this conceyte ay in youre thoughtes myne
Bexaumple of rome howe all goth to ruyne

Explicit liber secundus.

Sequitur prologus libri tercii

lIke a pilgryme which that goth on fote
And hath none horse to releue his trauaile
Hote drye wery and may finde no bote
Of wel cold whan thrust doth him  [...]ssaile
Wyne nor licour that may to him auayle
Right so fare I which in my besynesse
No socoure fynde my rudenesse to redresse

I mene as thus I haue no fressh licoure
Oute of the conductes of Calliope
Nor through cly [...] in rethorike no floure
In my laboure for to refressh me
Nor of the sus [...]ers in noumbre thries thre
Which with Cithera on per [...]aso dwell
They neuer me gaue drinke o [...]ys of their well

Nor of their springes clere and cristalyn
That sprange by touchynge of the pegase
Their fauour lakkyth my makinge tenlumyne
I finde their bawine of so greate scarcete
To tame their tūnes with some droppe of plente
For polip [...]emus through his greate blyndnesse
Hath in me dyr [...]ed of argus the brightnesse

Oure life here short of wit the greate dulnesse
The heuy soule troubled with trauayle
And of memorye the glasynge br [...]tylnes
Drede and vn [...]ūnynge haue made a stronge batayle
With werynesse my sprite to assayle
And with theyr subtyll crepynge in moost  [...]
Hathe made my sprite in makynge for to  [...]

And ouermore the feerfull frowardnesse
Of my stepmoder callyd  [...]
Hath a bastyll of forgetfulnesse
To stoppe the passage and  [...] my reson
That I myght haue no clere  [...]
In translatynge of n [...]we to q [...]e me
Storyes to wryte of olde antiquite

Thus was I set and stode in double were
At the metynge of feerfull weys tweyne
The one was this who euer list to lere
Where as good wyll gan me constreyne
Bochas taccomplisshe for to do my peyne
C [...]m ignoraunce with a manace of drede
My penne to rest I durst nat procede

Thus my silf remembringe on this boke
It to translate howe I had vndertake
Full pale of chere astonyed in my loke
Myn hande gan trymble my penne I felt quake
That dispeyred I had al moost forsake
So greate a laboure dredefull and importable
It to perfourme I fonde me so vnable

Twene the residue of this greate iourneye
And lityll therof that was begūne
I stode chekmate for fere whan I gan se
In my weye howe lytell I had rūne
Lyke to a man that fayled day and sūne
And had no lyght to accomplissh his viage
So ferre I stode abak in my passage

The night cam on derkyd with ignoraunce
My wytte was dull by cleernesse to discerne
In rethorike for lacke of suffisaunce
The torchis oute and quenchid was the lanterne
And in this cas my style to gouerne
Me to furthre I fonde none other muse
But harde as stone p [...]erides and meduse

Support was none my dulnesse for to guye
Pouert approchyd in staall crokyd age
Mercurye absent and philologie
My purs ay light and voide of all coynage
Bachus ferof to glad my corage
An ebbe of plente scarcete atte full
Which of an olde man maketh the sprite dull

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And vnto purpos this auctour full notable
To his scolers there beynge in presence
Full demurly gan reherce a fable
With many a coloure of sugred eloquence
Theron concludynge the sūme of his sentence
Touchinge a strif which he dyd expresse
Atwene glad pouert and this blynde goddesse

A disputacion bytwene fortune and glad pouert.

QVod andalus whilom of fortune
In straight place there sat glad pouerte
Which resembled of loke and figure
A recheles woman moost ougly vnto see
At a narowe metynge of hye weyes thre
All to torne to raggyd and to rent
A thousand patches vpon hir garnement

She was hidous both of chere and face
And in semynge voyde of sorowe and drede
And by that wey as fortune dyd pace
And of glad pouert sodenly toke hede
She gan to smyle and laughe at hir in dede
By a maner scornynge in certeyne
Of hir array she had so greate disdeyne

Whoos frowarde laughter whan pouert dyd espye
Howe she of her had indignacion
She rose hir vp of high malencolye
Pleynly to shewe hir entencion
Without good day or salutacion
Doynge to fortune no maner reuerence
Vndre these wordes declarynge hir sentence

O thou fortune moost fole of folys all
What cause hast thou for to laugh at me
Or what disdeyne is in thyn herte fall
Spare nat adell tell on late se
For I full litell haue adoo with the
Of olde nor newe I haue none aqueyntaunce
Nouther with the nor with thy gouernaunce

And whan fortune beholdeth the manere
Of glad pouert in hir totorne wede
And kn [...]we also by countenaunce and chere
Howe she of her toke but lytell hede
Like as she had to her no maner nede
The which thinges conceyued and seyne
To pouert she answered thus ageyne

My scornfull laughter playnly was for the
Whan I the sawe so megre pale and lene
Nakyd and colde in greate aduersite
Scabbyd scoruy scalled and vnclene
On backe and body as it is well sene
Many a beest walke in ther pasture
Which day by day of newe thou doest recure

Hauynge no thinge to wrap in thy hede
Saue a brode hat rent oute of nattys olde
Full oft hungry for defaute of brede
Slepynge on strawe in the frostes colde
And where thou comyst as men may well beholde
For feer of the childre theym withdrawe
And many a dogge hath on thy staf Ignawe

To all estatys thou art moost odious
Men with the wyll haue no daliaunce
Thy felawship is so contrarious
Where thou abydest may be no plesaunce
Folke hate so dedly thy frowarde acqueyntaunce
That fynally I dare conclude of the
Where euer thou comyst thy felaweship men fle

Whan glad pouert gan playnly vnderstonde
The rebukes reherced of fortune
The rude resons that she toke on honde
Which frowardly to hir she dyd entune
As pouert were a refus in comune
By the repreuys that fortune on hir laide
For which pouert replied ageyne and sayde

Fortune quod she touchinge this debate
Which of malice thou doest ageyne me take
Be well certeyne touchinge my pore estate
I of fre wyll thy fauour haue forsake
And though folke say thou mayest men rich make
Yit I had leuer be pore with gladnesse
Than with trouble possede greate richesse

For though thou seme benynge and debonaire
By a maner counterfete apparence
Fatte and well fed with rounde chekys faire
With many colours of trouth as in pretence
As therof feith were very existence
But vnder all thy floures of fresshnesse
The serpent glydeth of chaunge and doublenesse

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And though thy clothynge be of purple  [...]
With greate awaitynge of many chamberer [...]s
Of golde and perle ech day chaungyd newe
Clothis of golde and sondry fresshe  [...]tiris
And in thyn housholde ful many officeris
Yit I dare well put in Iupartye
With the to plete and holde chaumpartye

Thus glad pouert gan wexe importune
Of chere contrarye of loke and of language
Ageyne this lady which callyd is fortune
That of dysdeyne she fyll into a rage
Beholde quod she of pouert the corage
In wretchidnesse stondynge disconsolate
Howe ageyne me she is nowe obstynate

She cannat se howe she stant outrayed
Feare from the fauour of my felicite
Yit of pride she is nat disamayed
Nor list nat bowe f [...]r to obeye me
Though she be caste in mendicite
Ferthest abacke I do you well assure
In mischeef set of any creature

But truly pouert for all thy truaundyse
Maugre thy pride and thyne outrage
I shall the punysshe in full cruell wyse
To make the lou [...]e vnder my seruage
Which resemblest a dedely ymage
That were newe resyn oute of his graue
And yit of pride dar [...]st ayen me raue

But whan fortune had these wordes sayde
Glad pouert gan fall in greate gladnesse
And ageyn fortune with a so deyne brayde
She gan hir conceit out she wed and expresse
Fortune quod she though thou be a goddesse
Called of folys yit lerne this of me
From thy  [...]eruage I stonde at liberte

But if I shall algatis haue adoo
With the in armys moost  [...] and vengeable
Touchinge the quarell that is  [...] vs two
There is one thynge  [...] right confortable
That thy corage  [...] and vnstable
And where an herte  [...] deuyded
Victory in  [...] prouyded

My lyf [...] nouther  [...]
Nor the  [...]
Though  [...] langag [...]
Appropryd be to  [...]
And in despite of thy presumpcion
I haue forsake of my fre volume
All the tresours of worldly vanite

Whilom I was as thou hast deuysed
Seruaunt to the and vnto thy tresours
But from thy daunger nowe that I am fraunchised
Sekynge of the nouther of helpe nor socoures
Manace kinges and myghty emperours
For glad pouert late nouther sone
With thy riches hath no thinge to done

For though thou haue enbraced in thy cheyne
Worldly princes and goodes transitories
And riche marchauntes vnder thy demeyne
Yeuyst to knighthode conquest and victories
The fadinge pali [...]e of laude and veynglories
But whan echone thy fauour haue recured
Than is glad pouert fre fro thy lure assured

Al thy seruauntes stonde vnder drede
Quakinge for fere of thy doublenesse
For nouther wisdome force nor manhede
Fredam bounte lone nor gentylnesse
May in thy fauour haue no sekernesse
They be so possyd with wyndes in thy barge
Where as glad pouert goth frely at his large

Thy manasynge doth me no duresse
Which worldly princes dreden euerychon
They may well quake for losse of greate richesse
But I glad pouert therof desire none
As flowe and ebbe all worldly thinge must gone
For after flodys of fortunes tyde
The ebbe floweth and wyll no man obyde

Flowe and ebbe to me both alych
I drede no thinge thy mutabilite
Make whom thou list outher pore or rich
For I no thinge wyll requere of the
Nouther lordship nor greate prosperite
For with thy giftys who that hath to done
Of chaungys braydeth ofter than the mone

Out of pouert cam first these emperours
That were in rome crownyd with laurere
Fredam and largesse made theym f [...]st victour [...]
Causinge  [...]  [...]ame to shyne bright and clere
Ty [...] couetise brought theym in daungere
Whan they of foly in their moost excellence
To thy doublenesse dyd reuerence

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For whan fredam a prince doth forsake
And couetise put away largesse
And streytnesse into housholde take
And nygardship exileth gentylnesse
Than is withdrawe from their hye noblesse
The peples herte and playnly to deuyse
Of their seruauntis far well all good seruise

All such sodeyne chaungis in comune
In this worlde vsyd nowe fro day to day
Echon they come by fraude of fals fortune
Experience hath put atte assay
Loue / trouth / and feyth be gone ferre away
And if that trust with princes wyll nat tarye
Lit [...]ll merueyle though the people verye

For through thy chaungis of fraudolent fairenesse
There is nowe vsed in euery region
Glad chere out shewed with couert doublenesse
Vnder the courteyn of simulacion
So feere is nowe adulacion
That in this worlde may be no surete
But if it rest in glad pouerte

¶Yit of thy ꝑilous frowarde variaunce
I set no store truly as forme
For all thy frendship concludeth with myschaunce
With sodeyn mischeef of mutabilite
Which yeueth me herte to haue adoo with the
For suffisaunce in my pore estate
Shall to thy chaungys sey sodenly chekmate

Fortune with angre almoost dispeyred
Of these wordes toke full greate greuaunce
Pouert quod she which mayst nat be apeyred
But I nowe shewe ageyne the my puissaunce
Men wolde lytell accoumte my substaunce
O mighty pouert o stronge hercules
Which ageyne me puttyst thy silf in prees

Supposyst thou it shulde the auayle
Outher by force or by hardynesse
To haue adoo with me in bataile
Which am of conquest and of high prowesse
In armys called lady and princes
For there is none so mighty conquerour
That may preuaile without my fauour

Of these wordes pouert no thinge afferde
Answered ageyn thus playnly in sentence
Though I here haue spere shelde nor swerde
Nor choson armour to stonde at diffence
Pollex nor dagger to make resistence
But bare and naked anone it shall be seyne
Where thou with me darest wras [...]le on this playne

Which shalbe done vndre condi [...]on
That none of vs shall him silf withdrawe
But styll abyde of entencion
Tyll he that venquessheth ordeyned hath a lawe
Such as him lyketh ageyne his felawe
The which lawe shall nat be delayed
To be accomplisshed on him that is outraied

Of whose wordes fortune ageyne gan smyle
That pouert profred so proudly to assaile
And vpon this she stint a lytell while
And to pouert she put this opposayle
Who shall quod she be urge of this bataile
Or yeue dome iustly atwene vs tweyne
Of this quarell which we shall dareyne

I aske also another question
Touchinge thy profre of furious outrage
Where as thou putest a condicion
And a lawe with full proude langage
Where shalt thou finde pledgys or hostage
To kepe the promys which thou doste ordeyne
Therof to abyde the guerdon or the peyne

I mene as thus if there be set alawe
Atwene vs two or a condicion
 [...]y suerte which may nat be withdrawe
As vnder bonde or obligacion
But there is nouther lawe no reason
May binde a begger if it be well sought
Whan it is preuyd that he hath rightnought

The sect of pouert hath a protection
From all statutes to go at lyberte
And from all lawe a playne exepcion
Than foloweth it if thou binde the
To any lawe that may contryued be
It were fraunde pleynly to endyte
Which hast rightnought thy ꝑty to aquyte

Thou art so feble if I cam therto
That thou were brought vnto  [...]
For no power whan all that were  [...]
Thou shuldest fayle to make thy fynaunce
Both destitute of good and of substaunce
And sith no lawe nowe thy persone  [...]
It were foly with such one to Iupa [...]

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If I wolde compulse the to wrake
To axe of the tresoure of kinge darye
On that party thou stondest ferre abak
My payment so longe shulde tarye
Indigence wolde the to varye
And if I wolde thy persone eke compare
To alisaundre thy sydes been full bare

And fynally thou stondest in such caas
Of myserye wretchidnesse and nede
That thou myghtest of reason singe alas
Both forsake of frendship and kinrede
And there is none dare pledge the for drede
Yit like a fole supprised with vaynglorye
Hopyst of me to wynne the victorye

QVod glad pouert I doubte neueradell
That the victorye shall pas on my syde
Pledge and hostages lett theym goo farwell
I axe nomore of all thy greate pride
But to the ende that thou wilt abyde
Pledge thy feyth albe that some men seyth
To trust in fortune there is full lityll feyth

And for my part in this high emprise
Syth I haue pledges nouther one nor two
More sure hostage can I nat deuise
But if so be the victory thou atteyne
Than yelde my body bounde in a cheyne
Perpetuelly lyke the condicion
With the to abyde fetred in prison

Than fortune lough more than she dyd aforne
Whan she sawe pouert so presumptuous
In his array all to raggyd and to torne
And had nouther rent londe nor hous
It is quod she a thinge contratious
Vnto nature who that can aduert
To a begger to haue a sturdy herte

And if I the venquesshed in batayle
It were to me no worship nor auaūtage
What shulde thy body vnto me auayle
The to enprison streytly in a cage
It shulde be a charge and a costage
Thyn empty wombe eche day to fulfyll
If thou mightest haue vitayle at thy wyll

And if I wolde my silf to magnefie
Tokyn of tryumphe after my chare to lede
Men wolde deme it a maner mokerye
And say in scorne take of that fole gode hede
Howe he a begger hath ouercome in dede
Faught with him for to encrece his name
Which conquest turneth to his disclaundre and shame

¶Yit whan I haue brought the to vttraunce
My power shadowed and my greate might
And thin outrage oppressed by vengeaunce
After all this as it is skyll and right
It shalbe couth in euery mannys sight
Oute declaryd the greate difference
Atwene thy feblenesse and my greate excellence

Than to represse thy surquedye atones
Cruell Orchus the tydogge infernall
Shall rende thy skyn asondre from the bonys
To shewe my power which is imperiall
And to declare in especall
Pouert recleymed vnto pridis lure
With me to plete may no while endure

And sodenly or glad pouert toke hede
Fortune proudly first began tassayle
And vnwarly hent hir by the hede
Demynge of pride that she may nat fayle
Throughe hir power to venquessh this batayle
But it may fall a drewry in his right
To outraye a geaunt for all his greate might

God taketh none hede to power nor to strength
To highe estate nor to highe noblesse
To square lymmes forged on brede or length
But to quarels groundyd on rightwisnesse
For out of wronge may growe no prowesse
For where that trouth holdyth champartye
God wyll his cause by grace magnyfie

Wherfore pouert stronge in hir entent
Light and delyuer voyde of all fatnesse
Right well brethed and nothinge corpulent
Small of dietie surfetis to represse
Ageyne fortune proudly gan hir dresse
And with an ougly sterne crull face
Gan in armys hir proudly to enbrace

Pouert was slendre and might well endure
Fortune was rounde short of wynde and breth
And wombes greate oppressed with armure
For lacke of wynde the greate stuf them slethe
And many a man bringeth to his deth
For ouermoch of any maner thinge
Hath many one brought to his vndoynge

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Amene is best with good gouernaunce
Tomoch is nought nor ouer greate plente
Gretter richesse is founde in suffisaunce
Than in the flodys of suꝑfluyte
And who is contente in his pouerte
And grutchith nat for bitter nor for sote
What euer he be hath fortune vnder fote

Couetise put him in no dispeire
Wherfore pouert in herte glad and light
L [...]st fortune full high vp in the eyre
And hir constreyned of very force and might
For glad pouert of custome and of right
Whan any trouble ageyne hir doth begynne
Ay of fortune the laurer she doth wynne

Maugre fortune in the eire alofte
Constreyned she was by wylfull pouerte
That to the erth hir fall was full vnsoft
For of pouert the bony sharpe kne
Slendre and longe and lene vpon to se
Hit fortune with so greate a might
Ageyne the herte she mightnat stonde vpright

To signefie that pouert with gladnesse
Which is content with small possession
And grueth no force of tresoure nor richesse
Hath ouer fortune the dominacion
And kepeth hir euer vnder subieccion
Where worldly folke with their rich apparaile
Lyue euer in drede fortune wolde faile

The pore man afore the theef doth synge
Vnder the wodes with fressh notys shyll
The rich man full feerfull of robbinge
Ou [...] kinge for dred rideth forth ful styll
The pore a [...] large goth where him list at wyll
Strongly fraunchised from all debate and strif
The rich aferde alwey to lose his lif

Thus glad pouert hath the palme I wonne
Fortune outrayed for all hir doublenesse
Vpon whom pouert in hast is ronne
And streyned hir with so greate duresse
Tyll she confessed and playnly dyd expresse
With feith and handem all hir greate peyne
To abyde what lawe pouert list ordeyne

Andiin hast after this disconfiture
Fortune began to compleyne sore
But glad pouert which all thinge might endure
Charged fortune scorne hir nomore
For it was saide sith goo full yore
He that reioyseth to scorne folke in veyne
Whan he is lothest shall scorned be ageyne

¶Yit quod pouert though thou were despitous
Wordes rehersynge which were nat faire
Straunge rebukes full contrarious
And repreuys many thousend paire
Thou shalt me finde ageynwarde debonayre
For though a tonge be slaundrous and vengeable
To slaundre ageyne is no thinge comendable

Thou must concidre touchinge oure batayle
The ordinaunce and imposicion
That which of vs in conquest do preuayle
To bringe his felawe to subiection
He shall obey the statute of reson
And accomplissh of very due det
What lawe the victour list vpon him set

For which thou shalt the sayde lawe obeye
With circumstauncis of the condicion
By me ordeyned and no thinge ageyne seye
Make no grutchinge nor replicacion
Concidred first the fals opinyon
Of theym that seyn all worldly auenture
Of good and bad abyde vnder thy cure

Sūme poetes and philosophers also
Wolde in this cas make the a goddes
Which be deceyued I dare say both two
And their errour and foly to redres
I shall withdrawe in very sekyrnes
Vnhappy auenture awey fro thy power
That she nomore stonde in thy duunger

This lawe of newe vpon the I make
That first thou shalt al open in sōme pleyn
Euyll auenture bynde to a stake
Or to sum pelere where she may be seyn
To shewe exaumple to folke in certeyn
That noman shall lose hir ne discharg [...]
But such as liste with hir to go at large

Herof to make a declaracion
Touchinge thy might of euyll auenture
Thou shalt forgo thy domynacion
To hindre and harme any creature
But only folys which in thy might assure
They of their foly may fele greate damage
Nat of thy power but of thyn owne outrage

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For thilke foolys which that list vnbynde
This wretch called vnhappy auenture
Of wit and reson they make theym silf blinde
Lyke as the worlde stode in fortunys cure
As though she might assure theym and vnsure
And theym dispose to welth or wretchidnesse
In their erroure hir callinge a goddesse

Such wilfull wretchis that theym silf betake
To put their fredom in hir subiection
Of god aboue the power they forsake
And submitte theym agen all reson
Vnder fortunes transmutacion
Their liberte full falsly for to thrall
Namely whan they a goddesse list hir call

With a dirke myst of variacion
Fortune hath clouded their clere naturall light
And ouershadowed their discrecion
That they be blent in their inwarde sight
For to considre and beholde aright
Howe god aboue put vndre mannys cure
Fre chois of good his reason to assure

The lorde enlumyned of his bountuous largesse
With mynde and wit his memoriall
Towarde all vertue his steppis for to dresse
Endued his reson for to be naturall
Of frowardnesse till he waxe bestyall
To binde him silf contrariously in dede
To serue fortune atwene hope and drede

Thus bestyall folke made hir a goddes
Falsly wenynge she might theym moost auayle
With hir plentees of habundaunt richesse
And sūme deme in their supposayle
With vnware chaunge she dare the greate assayle
Whoos trust alway medlyd is with trouble
And hir plesaunce includith menynge double

And sūme afferme that she may auaunce
Conquestis greate and disconfitures
And howe it lith also in hir puissaunce
To forther and hindre al maner creatures
And cal hir princesse of al auentures
The rich to enhaunce by roial apparayle
And by disdeyne to hindre the porayle

Whan she maketh moost fulsum hir profres
Hir blaundisshinge is farcyd with falshede
Whan hir richessis been stuffed vp in coffres
They been ay shet vnder a locke of drede
Wherfore ye rich of one thinge take hede
As your gadrynge cam in with plesaunce
Right so your losse departith with myschaunce

¶Youre gredy thurst tresoure to multiplye
Causith an etike of non̄suffisaunce
In you engendrynge a fals Idropsye
With a sharpe hungre of worldly habundaunce
Makynge of you a maner resemblaunce
With tantalus whan ye do deppest synke
Than is your nature moost thrustleugh to drynke

Who clymbeth highest on fortunes whele
And sodenly to richessis doth ascende
An vnware turne afore seen neueradell
Whan he leest weneth maketh him descende
Fro such chaungys who may him silf defende
But they that be with pouert nat dismayde
And can with litell holde theym silf appayde

Howe kinge hostilius worshippynge fals goddys was consumpte with fiery leuene

ANd while bochas gan muse in this matere
Considred first all worldly thinge must faile
With wepynge  [...]yen there dyd appere
Princis that whilom were famous in Itayle
Which gan there fall full pitously bewaile
For more contrarye was their fallinge lowe
That they tofore had no myscheef knowe

For more vncouth is thilke aduersite
Namely to princes whan it is sodeyn
Which euer haue lyued in prosꝑite
Hauynge on fortune no mater to compleyne
Than of a wretch that lyueth ay in payne
Of custum causeth conceyued the sentence
Of Ioy and sorowe a full greate difference

Of Ioye passyd the newe remembraunce
Whan folke been fall from their felilicite
In treble wise it doth theym greate greuaunce
The vnware turne from their tranquilite
The vnsure trust and mutabilite
In worldly power which that they haue founde
Vnto their hertis yeueth a greuous wounde

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But a wretch which in wretchidnesse
Hath euer lyued and neuer was partable
Of no welfare nor of wylfulnesse
Nor neuer founde fortune fauourable
His sorowe his myscheef been so customable
That of his paynes longe contynuance
Doth to his greuys a maner allegaunce

But to princes which sat so high aloft
A sodeyne fall is moost contrarious
And their descendynge wele the more vnsoft
In their tryumphes that thy were glorious
Recorde I take of kinge hostilius
Which in rome from his roiall stall
Whan he sat crowned moost sodenly is fall

It is remembred of olde and nat of newe
Of all rome that he was lorde and sire
The first of kinges that weryd purpyl hewe
And of that cyte gouerned the empire
Had of fortune all that him list desire
Tyll that he fyll in all his regalye
Into a frowarde dedly maladye

And of his paynes to finde allegaunce
To the temples he went on pylgrymage
His offringe made with deuout obeysaunce
Wherby sumdell his paynes dyd aswage
And he was restoryd of corage
Felt him silf that he dyd amende
To comon profite ageyn he gan entende

Vpon Talbanys regnynge in his glorye
To greate auaile of rome the cyte
Through his knighthode he had a greate victorye
After the which by full greate cruelte
He beraft theym fraunchise and lyberte
And made theym after through his high renoun
To be to rome vnder subiection

After his conquest the story doth deuyse
In his noblesse full statly and roiall
He gan make a riche sacrifise
To queme and please for a memoriall
After the rightes Cerymonyall
To Iubiter by full greate reuerence
Afore his auters with fires and encence

But for that he in his inwarde entent
By circumstaunces of his oblacion
Was recheles founde and also neglygent
By some frowarde fals affeccion
The goddys caught an indignacion
And sodenly descendynge from the heuene
He was consumpte with a firy leuene

His fals goddys might him nat auaile
Iupiter Saturnus nor venus
Let all cristen defye such rascaile
For to oure feith they be contrarious
And amonge goddys a thinge moost outraious
Is whan that princes blent in their folye
List erthly thinges falsly deifie

For vnto god is hatefull and odible
A withdrawynge of his reuerence
To magnifye thinges corruptible
With vndue honoure with fals concupiscence
Wherfore ye princes be ware of high prudence
Lest god vnwarly punyssh your noblesse
Make you in erth no fals god nor goddesse

Howe anchus kinge of rome was murdrid by Lucynyo by thassent of his wif

THinke on achus kinge of rome toun
Which was so noble shyninge in his glorye
Weryd a crowne full famous of renoun
Next hostilius as put is in memorye
Wan the palme of many greate victorye
But for all that with a full sharpe knyfe
He murdred was by assentinge of his wife

He loued hir best aboue eche creature
Considred nat hir flatere nor falsnesse
Hir double menynge vnder couerture
Falsly blent this princis worthynesse
To robbe and reue him of his greate richesse
Was hir laboure with counterfete plesaunce
In hir entent to bringe him to myschaunce

This anchus had a greate affeccion
Vnto his goddis to make sacrifises
And to augment the relegion
Of paganysme made in sundry wises
Through his manhode and circumspect diuises
Vpon Latynes rebell to his cyte
For comon profite he made a greate arme

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One of their citees called polotone
He knightly wan maugre al their might
And whan he had of theym full victorye
He abode no lengre but anone forth right
Made al the people in euery mannys sight
As prysoners this romayn champion
Brought afore him bounde into the toun

Eke as I finde this anchus nolde cece
For comon profite in his affeccion
Their teritories to augment and encrece
In all the cuntrees aboute enuyron
Towarde the ryuere where tybre renneth
At the which place he lete edifie
A full stronge cite which called is ostye

But nat withstandynge all his worthynesse
He was depryued the story telleth soo
Of his kingdom and his greate richesse
By a foreyne called Lucynyo
His wife tarquild assented was therto
By whoos outrage and gredy couetise
Anchus was murdred in full cruell wise

Howe Lucynyo that murdred anchus was after murdred

tHus fro the whele of fortune he is fall
Lucynyo in rome is crowned kinge
And the romayns after dyd him call
Tarquyn the olde by recorde of writynge
Which hath ateyned by fraudolent werkynge
And by his subtyll forgyd eloquence
Vnto thestate of roiall excellence

He first ordeyned in his estate roiall
Turneis iustes in castellys and citees
And other playes called marciall
With many famous greate solempnytees
Sessions for statys and degrees
This tarquyn eke was first that dyd his peyne
In opyn stretys tauernes to ordeyne

Eke to preserue his cite oute of doubte
If their ennemyes lyst theym to assayle
He was the first that walled rome aboute
With myghty toures vnlykly for to fayle
And had also many stronge batayle
With Sabynes in their rebellyon
And made theym subget vnto rome toun

But for he was assented to depryue
Worthy anchus from his estate roiall
And after that toke tanquyld vnto wyue
Which slough hir lorde by treason ful mortall
God wolde of right that he shuld haue a fall
The lorde wyll nat which euery thinge may see
Suffre murdre longe to be secre

For Lucynyo for his greate offence
Touchinge the murdre of kynge anchus
Islayne was by sodeyn vyolence
Of two shipperdys the story telleth thus
Which of entent were contrarious
Atwene them silf by a fayned strif
To finde a weye to reue him of his life

For while the kinge sate in iugement
Vpon their quarel for to do iustise
Full sodenly they beynge of assent
Fyll vpon him in full cruell wise
And with an axe the story doth deuise
One of theym or any man toke hede
On two ꝑtyes roof the kinges hede

This thinge was done by the procurynge
Of two childre sonnes to anchus
Which were exiled by false compassinge
Of lucynyo ageyne theym moost yrous
To him their presence was so odious
But they them shope though they were oute of sight
Their faders deth to auenge if they myyht

For of nature blode wyll auengyd be
To recompence the wronge of his kinrede
In this chaptre like as ye may se
Blode shed for blode thus both dyd blede
By which example lete princes take hede
Howe murdre done for supplantacion
Requyreth vengeaunce for his fynall guyrdon

Lenuoye

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THis tragedie by clere inspeccion
Openly declareth in substaunce
Howe slaughter of princes causeth subucion
Of realmys cytees put oute of ordenaunce
Of mortall werre longe contynuaunce
Blode by supplantynge shed of kinges tweyne
By exaumple here shewed fals murdre to restreyne

The fyne declarynge of murdre and fals treson
The dede horrible cryeth ay vengeaunce
To god aboue to cast his  [...]yen doun
To punyssh this synne through his mighty puissaūce
For it is modre of myscheef and myschaunce
Wherfore ye princys do sum lawe ordeyne
Within youre boūdis thre vices to restreyne

The vice of sclaundre murdre and poyson
Where euer these thre haue aqueyntaunce
They bringe in sorowe and desolacion
Put at a preef by newe remembraunce
Of falshede vsed vndre faire countenaunce
Wherfore ye princes do youre besy peyne
Within youre boundys these vices to restreyne

God defende this noble region
With these thre vices to haue allyaunce
For sleaundre firste deuoureth high renoun
And sleeth gode fame throug fals dalliaunce
Harme done to late foloweth repentaunce
Wherfore ye princes doo a lawe ordeyne
To punyssh their malice fals tunges to restreyne

God hath of murdre abhominacion
And fals poyson doth to him displesaunce
There is no peyne in comparison
Condigne to murdre peysyd in balaunce
Wherfore ye princes make an ordenaunce
Within youre boundes of some preuy peyne
By due punysshinge fals murdre to restreyne

O noble princes prouide of reason
Ageyne these vices to make purueaunce
Of rigoure shewe due execucion
With your laboure and hertely instaunce
Let deth be guerdon for their fynall penaunce
To warne all other by constreynt of their payne
From these thre vices their corages to restreyne

Howe for the offence done to Lucrece by Tarquyn was neuer after crowned kinge in rome

tOuching this tarquyn of whō I nowe told
As myn auctor maketh mencion
He called was Tarquinius the olde
Which longe in rome had dominacion
Tyll his kinrede and generacion
For the offence done vnto Lucrece
Caused the kinges the names to cece

For his sonne which after dyd succede
For his outrages and his extorcions
And for many an other cruell dede
For his hatefull vsurpacions
His frowarde life and fals condicions
Amonge the people both styll and loude
He called was tarquinius the proude

Full obstynat he was in his entent
Ambicious taccroche greate richesse
Tyll that fortune wexed impacient
Ageyns him in all his greate noblesse
Gan hir snaris and hir crokys dresse
Thought she wolde but he kept him wele
All sodenly cast him from hir whele

A sonne he had full vicious as I finde
To all vertue moost contrarious
To be frowarde it cam to him by kinde
And of nature proude and despitous
Ageyne the people fell and malicious
Nat loued but drede for tyrannye of right
Is thinge moost hatyd in the peple sight

This proude Tarquyn the story is well couth
Ageyn Lucrece dyd a greate outrage
Oppressed hir beutye in his vnbridelyd youth
His trouth assailinge in a furious rage
For which his fadre and his lynage
Exilyd were and for this hatefull thinge
There was neuyr after in rome crowned kinge

Hir body corrupt she clene of herte and thought
By force assayled was hir Innocence
Oppressed hir beutye but hir spryte nought
Hir chast will dyd none offence
But entryd is into hir conscience
A great remors for all hir wifly truthe
To sle hir silf which was to greate a ruthe

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And for that bochas remembreth pitously
Hir dedly sorowe and lamentacion
Write hir compleynt in ordre ceriously
Which that she made for hir oppression
I folowe must and make mencion
After myn auctour ꝑcell rehersynge
Touchinge hir wordes sayde in hir dyinge

All be it so by biddynge of my lorde
Rehercyd haue in my trāslacion
After Pierms here and there a worde
Of a full doolfull declamacion
By him remembred of entencion
For hir sake men might se and rede
What wifly trouth was in hir womanhede

And Iohn bochas list nat set asyde
But that he wolde reherce in sentence
Hir wofull compleynt and therupon abide
Of wronges done to hir Innocence
And though I can nat folowe his eloquence
I shall sue the trouth of rehersynge
As in substaunce theffect of his wrytinge

THe morowe next after this foule dede
Lucrece vproos with a full dedly chere
Oute of hir face gone was all the rede
And dirked were hir heuenly iyen clere
All clad in blacke after the manere
Of thilke folke which in especiall
Be wont to goo to festys funerall

All hir frendes beynge in presence
Husbonde fader with other eke also
By and by rehersynge in sentence
The circumstaunces of hirtely woo
And or that I any forther goo
Vnder hope my lorde wyll me supporte
What that she sayde I wyll to you reporte

The greuous compleynt of Lucrece vpon hir oppression

FOr as moch quod she as I Lucrece
Am by the lawe Ioyned in maryage
To the my lorde whoos loue shall ay encrece
Towardes the with all the surplusage
Of wifely trouth to endure all myn age
As humble subget with faythfull obeysaunce
Vnder thy lordship and thy gouernaunce

O Collatyn my lorde and true husbonde
Best beloued of hole affeccion
I wyll no more no quarell take on honde
Nor in no wise take none accion
Withoute that thou list enclyne doun
Goodly thyn erys to yeue me audience
To that I shall reherce in thy presence

Iniury done or any maner wronge
Ageyne my worship or myn honeste
By the lawe my sentence is made stronge
It toucheth you also wele as me
I am so hooly yoldyn vnto the
Thou art myn hede who cleerly can discerne
Lorde and husbonde my body to gouerne

Parciall causes in soth there may none be
Atwene vs twayne nor none disseueraunce
For sote and bytter ioye and aduersite
We must theym wey both in one balaunce
Counterpeyse oure sorowes oure plesaunce
Entermedle all thinge that stant in doute
Receyue oure fortune as it cometh aboute

There may atwene vs be no menynge double
But one herte one wyll and one corage
And as woman that stondyth nowe in trouble
Withoute polisshinge of any faire langage
I must disclose to you the greate outrage
Done vnto me and playnly it discure
Which to redresse lith holy in youre cure

For the mater to speke in wordes playne
A right oute serched and the trouth oute founde
As a iust cause vndifferent to tweyne
Towarde vs both the quarell doth rebounde
And more strongly oure mater for to grounde
Reherce I wil so that ye sauf it vouch
A mortall wronge which the and me doth touch

In a castell which called is Collace
Of which my lorde here hath the gouernaunce
Tarquyn the yonge cam into that place
I full disware to make purueaunce
Ageyne his comynge or any ordenaunce
Tofore nat warnyd of his officers
Sat vnpurueyed amonge my chamberers

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Of entent to eschewe Idylnesse
We sate and span wollys soft
For she of vices is a cheef maistres
Where she is cherisshed and I set aloft
But of custome as I haue done full oft
I and my wymen duly as we ought
To auoyde slouth full besyly wrought

His entrynge was meke and debonayre
Benygne of porte of loke and of visage
With a precence of many wordys fayre
In whoos menynge was full greate outrage
His chere contraire vnto his corage
In this wise  [...]here  [...]e was receyuyd
Wherby alas I falsly was deceyued

Atte pryuie face as me thought it due
I him receyued at his in comynge
 [...]oos vp mek [...]ly and gan him to salue
As apperteyned in all maner thinge
Vnto the sonne of a worthy kinge
And truly tarquyn for which I say alas
Me to be  [...]aisshe stode in the same caas

A kynges sonne shulde of dutye
 [...] to wymē wall and proteccion
Prese [...]e and kepe theym in all suerte
T [...]at no man shulde of no presumpcion
Doo them no wronge nor oppression
 [...]a [...]he [...] dye than se theym suffre vnright
 [...]uer [...]singe the office of a knight

 [...] contrarye of knighthode he hath wrought
By fals outrage done ageyns me
Wronge weyes and crokyd menys sought
Of lawes tweyne to breke the liberte
And difface the auctorite
Of lawe Ciuile and naturall also
In my persone offendynge both to

First by his subtyll compassinge
He gan espye theserys of the place
And whan abed alone I lay slepinge
Lyke a lyon full sterne of loke and face
With his left hande my throte he dyd enbrace
And in his other helde ageyne all lawe
Me to oppresse a nakyd swerde I drawe

Thus afforsynge my wifly chastite
Ageyne knighthode he dyd this greate offeence
My lyfe my worship put in ꝑplexite
Hauynge no might to make resistence
Me manasynge by dedly violence
The tone of tweyne to dye in his entent
Or to auoutrye falsly to consent

Thus I stode sool atwene deth and dyffame
My body corrupt my sprite abode clene
My spousaile brokyn and my gode name
For euer disclaundryd that whilom shone full shene
Euyll fame of custome wil alwey waxe grene
Neuer dye the people so theym disporte
The worst of thinges gladly to reporte

Alas alas amonge my sorowes all
This one  [...] the moost that doth my herte agrise
I am nat worthy that men me shulde call
Or haue the name in no maner wyse
For the offence which ye haue herde diuise
To be called in this wretchid life
Of Collatyn fromhens forth the wife

Myn iyen also be blindyd with dirkenesse
Only for shame to liftup their sight
Outher their stremys or bemys vp dresse
Of the cleer heuene to loke vpon the light
Nor I may neuer be of the noumbre of right
Of true matrones amonge theym ferre or nere
For to be rekened in their kalendere

Let myn Iniurye and this mortall cryme
Be so punysshed of right and equite
Withoute delay of any lenger tyme
That euer after it may exaumple be
Through all the worlde and eke in thys cyte
With such a peyne therupon diuised
That all auoutours may be therby chastised

And if it seme in youre opinyon
In this caas I shuld be vnpure
I wyll receyue iust punycion
And the peyne paciently endure
If it so stonde that ꝑauenture
Ye deme of reson that be so iust and stable
In this mater that I be culpable

Hir tale tolde whan they longe had mused
On this complaynt in their inwarde sight
Of trouth echon they helde hir full excused
Made albeheft with all their full myght
To auenge hir wronge and lucrece anone right
Toke a sharpe knif or they might aduerte
And roue hir silf euene through the herte

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The compleynt of Bochas vpon the luxurye of princes as by exaumples of many diuers myschaū cys

bOchas in herte brennynge hote as fyre
Of very Ire and indignacion
Ageyne tho princes which in their desire
Haue fully set their delectacion
Their felicite and their affeccion
To folowe their lustys of fals lecherye
Frowarde spousebrech and of auoutrye

He writeth ageyne that seketh occasions
Places of lustes to haue their libertees
For to fulfyll their delectacions
And for to accomplissh their greate dishonestees
Deuise oute tauernes in borowes and citees
And sittynge there amonge their cumpanye
After the dede they boost of their felye

If any man pyntche at their outrage
Or theym rebuke for their transgressions
They wyll answere with frowarde fals langage
And for their party alledge greate resons
First howe it longith to their condicions
By right of nature as it is well couth
Frely to vse lechery in youth

Afferme also howe lawe of kinde is fre
And so afforce theym to sustene their partye
By exaumple of dauyd which that toke barsabe
And for hir sake howe he slough vrye
Dede manslaughter and fals auoutrye
For theym alledgynge ageyne right and reson
For dalida the luxurie of sampson

The storye also they frowardly applye
Howe for a woman prudent Salamon
The lorde offendynge dyd Idolatrie
And in difference of their opinion
Reherce these storyes for their exc [...]sacion
Of their errour therby a pryce to wynne
As tofore god lecherye were no synne

They nat considre in their entencion
Of these storyes of euery circumstaunce
First of kinge dauyd the greate contricion
Nor vpon sampson howe god toke vengeaunce
First howe he loste his force and his puissaunce
For his offence they haue nat this in mynde
Nor howe both his  [...]yen were made blynde

Nor their resons they list nat to enclyne
For to conceyue in their discrecion
The spryte of wisdome heuenly and dy [...]eyne
Was take awey fro prudent Salamon
In chastisynge for his trangression
And some doctours a [...]erme ouermore
Howe salamon repentyd him full sore

The play of youth folke called lecherye
Sey it is a game of nature
And to susteyne and bereup their partye
Howe it sit well by recorde of scripture
Vnto euery lyuely creature
That stant in helth and in coraious
Of very kinde to be lecherous

Vicious reporte they haue in remembraunce
But vertuous thinge is ferre out of mynde
Flesshly lustes and lecherous plesaunce
In their desires be nat left behinde
Auauntynge lyenge they can of newe oute finde
And nowe a dayes they hold it curtesye
Othys horrible flateringe and rebaudye

In their auyce they take lityll hede
Vnto the doctryne of noble Scipion
Which commaundyd in story as I rede
To Masmysma full famous of renoun
Nat to touch by no condicion
Sophonisba fairest of visage
But it were by wey of mariage

Though she were borne of the blode royall
Hir youth was set to all honeste
Doughter and heire to noble hastruball
Duke of cartage the story ye may se
And for hir vertues of scinenyte
She weddyd was of birth as she was lyke
To kinge Siphax which regned in affrike

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And for to preue the greate liberte
Which is in vertue conueyed by reson
And the fals thraldom of dishoneste
Of both to make a playn comparison
After the doctryne of Censoryn Caton
Shewed by him to folkes in comune
That vertue neuer is subget to fortune

Vertue conserueth mesure and reason
Considereth thinges afore or they befall
Taketh none emprises but of discrecion
And on prudence foundeth hir werkes all
Ay to hir counseyle attemperaunce she doth ca [...]
Warly prouydinge in hir silf withinne
The ende of thinges tofore or she begynne

This was the doctryne taught forth of caton
Lecherous lustys to put theym vnder fore
Grauntynge to vertue the domynacyon
 [...]luk [...]p vices braunch crop and rote
Frute of goodnesse groweth vp so sote
Whan it is plantyd of youthe in corage
It neuer app [...]lleth in helth of his tarage

Caton of vertue was a cheef officer
Preferringe  [...]uer comon commoditees
Tofore prophetes that were singuler
To enhaunce the comon in kingdoms and citees
Their wyttes peysed and their habilitees
Persones promotynge in whome it was supposed
That they in vertue were naturally disposed

Manly in herte he was ay to sustene
Indifferent trouth and all iustise
Flesshly delytes of folke that were vnclene
He was ay redy by rigoure to chastise
And set lawes in full prudent wise
For to punyssh flaterers and lechours
And such as were open auoutors

He had of wymen none opinyon
With theym to dele for lust nor for bewte
But if it were for procreacion
So stable he was founde in his degre
The boke redynge of Immortalite
Which plato made the trouth well oute sought
Therin concludynge howe soules dye nought

But lyueth euer in ioy or peyne
Thus wrote plato in his oryginall
Men may the body by deth full well constreyne
But the soule ay abideth immortall
For which this Caton stedfast as a wall
For comon profite to dye was nat aferde
Whan he him silfe slewe with a nakyd swerde

But to fortune afore his deth he sayde
O thou princesse of worldly godes veyne
To thy flaterers I neuer dyd abrayde
Thy fauoure is so fals and vncerteyne
That neuer I faught no fraunchise to atteyne
As for my silf no parciall singulerte
But all for profite touchinge the comōte

Ageyne cesat I made resistence
To conquere fredom to me and to the toun
Freely to eschewe his mortall violence
This worlde despisynge in myn opinyon
Oure fraunchyse thrallyd vnder subiection
Iustly forsakynge the variaunce of this life
My soule conueyed to be contemplatife

This philosophre this prudent olde Caton
Tendringe in herte comoū comeditees
Tofore his deth wrote of compassion
To theym that sat in roiall dignitees
Which had of vertue lost the lybertees
Princes besechinge that were luxurious
To take exaumple and folowe kinge Drusus

The which drusus by succession
Heire to augustus was next him emperoure
Set all in vertue his affeccion
And it to cherissh dyd hooly his laboure
To lust vnlefull he neuer gaue fauoure
And touchinge loue duringe all his lif
He neuer had lust but oonly to his wife

And in his paleys amyd of his royall see
Of noble princes dwellynge in rome toun
He axed was for all his dignite
What maner corage of temptacyon
Or what feruence or delectacion
Within him silf he had of louys play
Sool by his wife whan he a bedde lay

And like a prince fulfylled of high noblesse
Answered ageyne with sobre countenaunce
Touchinge such lust as foloweth flesshlynesse
Lyke as nature me put in gouernaunce
In one alone is set all my plesaunce
For with none other for no concupiscence
Saue with my wyfe I neuer dyd offence

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Princes echon folowe nat the traas
Of noble drusus as ye shall vnderstonde
For sūme haue stonde all in a nother caas
Such as can holde two or thre in honde
Nowe here nowe there as botys come to londe
Nat considringe their crees nor disauayle
Whan newe fangylnesse bloweth in theyr sayle

Eke bochas writeth sūme princes haue be bounde
Which viciously haue done their besy peyne
Vertuous wymen by flatery to confounde
And tendre maydens to bringe in a trayne
Such manacis and tormentys to ordeyne
Theym to transfourme from their ꝑseueraunce
And interrupte their virginall constaunce

But of such folke that yeue no force of shame
Nor drede god such treynes to deuise
Husbondmen forsoth ar moost to blame
With foreyne wymen to trespace in such wyse
I trowe their wyues theym may ynough suffise
For many be feble their dettys for to quyte
Though they in chaunge theym silf falsly delyte

Sūme afferme for theym silf alledgynge
To such outrage that they haue licence
Frely of nature to vse theyr owne thinge
And in such cas to no wight doo offence
But frowarde is their errour in sentence
Fro bonde of wedlok whan they be so vnstable
And tofore god moost hateful and dampnable

For she that is trhough hir highe noblesse
Named of clerkes which cleerly can concerne
Doughter of god lady and princesse
Reson called to guyde folke and gouerne
Atwene good and euyll iustly to discerne
She hath departyd pleynly to conclude
The life of man from life of bestis rude

This lady reson sith go full yore
Gaue vnto man wyt and discrecion
Taught him also by hir souereyne lore
Twene vi [...]e and vertue a greate diuision
And he shulde in his eleccion
Vnto a [...] vertue naturally obeye
And in contrarye all vicious lif werrey

And to enprinte in his memoriall
Howe of luxure the greate dishoneste
Disfourme a man and make him bestyall
And disfigure of what estate he be
For whan that reson of high or lowe degre
Is fled awey folke may afferme than
He is like a best rather than a man

Wherfore lete princes that haue been defectyfe
To folowe their lustes of censualite
Shape theym by reason for to amende their life
And to conserue and kepe their chastite
Both of virgyns and wifly honeste
And to punyssh all tho that list laboure
The honest fame of wymen to deuoure

For whan a lechoure by force or by [...]maistrye
Defouled hath of virgynes the clennesse
Widowes opprossed and by auoutrye
Assayled wyues that stode in stablenesse
Who may than their sclaundrous harme redresse
Whan their gode name is hurte by such report
For fame lost ones can neuer haue his resort

A theef may robbe a man of his richesse
And by some mene make restitucion
And sum man may disherite and oppresse
A pore man from his possession
And after make satysfaccion
But no man may restore in no degre
Amayden robbyd of hir virginite

A man may also bere a castell doun
And bylde it after more fresshly to the sight
Exile a man oute of a region
And him reuoke where it be wronge or right
But no man hath the power nor the myght
For to restore the paleys virgynall
Of chastite whan broken is the wall

Men may also put oute of seruise
And officers remeue from their place
And at a day whan fortune list diuise
They may ageyne restoryd be to grace
But there is nouther tyme set nor space
Nor neuir in story nouther redde nor seyne
That maydenhede lost recured was ageyne

For which men shulde haue a conscience
Rewe in their herte and repente sore
And haue remors in their greate offence
To rauyssh thinge which they may na restore
For it is saide and hath been sayde ful yore
The Emeraude grene of ꝑfight chastite
Stolne onys away may nat recured be

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And hard it is to rauysshe a tresoure
Which of nature is nat recuꝑable
Lordshyp may nat of kinge nor emperoure
Refourme a thinge which is nat refourmable
Rust of diffame which is nat inseꝑable
And maydenhede lost of newe or yore
No man alyue may it ageyne ros [...]ore

Romayns olde through their pacience
Suffred tirauntys in their tyrannyes
And in their cite to do greate violence
The peple to oppresse with their robberies
But to punyssh they set streyte espyes
On fals  [...]utours as it is well couth
Wydowes to rauysshe and maydens in ther youth

Vpon this mater the story bereth wytnesse
Touchinge thexil of kinge tarquinius
Afore rehercyd by wrytinge full expresse
The hatefull deth of apius  [...]laudius
For his trespas done to virgineus
The iugementys rehercyd and the peyne
And fro the offyce depryued bothe tweyne

Was nat the cite whilom desolat
Of Synachites for their ribaudye
Of one sichen which gan a greate debate
To heue accomplisshed his foule lecherye
Whan yonge dyna as bokes specifie
Went rechelesly walkynge vp and doun
To se the maydens of that royall toun

But whan Sychen this dyna dyd espye
Sool by hir silf walke in the cyte
 [...]e began anone assayle hir by maystrye
And for to aforce hir virgynyte
Bycause she had no leyser for to flee
Whoos greate offence and transgression
The cyte brought vnto distruccion

Hir fader Iacob and hooly hir kinrede
Ageyne this Sichen gan inwardly disdeyne
Whan the furye of mars was moost to drede
To be venged they dyd their besy peyne
And specially hir worthy brethern tweyne
Fyll on the cyte Symeon and leuy
To auenge their suster and stroy it fynally

So mortally they gan with theym stryue
With their swerdys grounde sharpe and kene
Of male children they left none alyue
They were so vengeable in their furious lene
The Sychanytes might nat sustene
That day ageyne theym to stonde at diffence
So importable was their violence

For where that god list punyssh a man of right
By mortall swerde farwele all risistence
Whan grace faileth force goth awey and myght
Febleth of princes the magnificence
Chaunge their power into impotence
Reuerseth the kinges their statly regalye
Exaumple in Sichen for his fals auoutrye

It was an harde dredfull punycion
That one princis trespas in lecherye
Caused afore god that all a region
Destroyed was withoute remedye
This story tolde for to exemplifye
Whan noble princes to wymen theym submitte
Grace and all fauoure anone doth from theym flye

Of this mater what shulde I write more
In genesis the residue ye may rede
The deth of Sichen and of kinge Emor
And howe their kingdome destroyed was in dede
Of Sychanytes lo here the finall mede
Of lecherye and of his fals plesaunce
Which many a realme hath brought vnto mischa [...]

What shulde I eft rherce ageyne or write
The fals auoutrye of Paris and heleyne
Their wofull fall Guido dyd endyte
Poetes echon eke dyd theyr besy peyne
To declare howe only by these tweyne
The worthy blode for short conclusion
Of troy and grece cam to distruccion

But oft it falleth that moch habundaunce
Of worldly good with greate case and richesse
In folke that set all hooly their plesaunce
To folowe their lustys and frowarde wilfulnesse
Hath caused in londes greate mischeef and distresse
Whan vicious life their corages dyd encombre
Destroyed kingdoms and peple oute of noumbre

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For whan the people through fals obstynacye
Is indurate to amende theym and correct
And wyll nat tourne theym from theyr lechery
But ay be red [...] their soulys to enfect
And vnto purpos my style I wyll directe
To exaumplifye howe Gabaa the toun
Was for his synnes brought to confusion

Whilom this people called Gabonytes
From beniamyn descendyd in their lyne
Were ay disposyd to folowe theyr delites
And of custome their wittes dyd enclyne
In worldly plente to floure and to shyne
And dempt alwey to theym it was moost due
Of wylfulnesse their lustys for to sue

In lecherye was set all their plesaunce
And in that vice they lad moost their lyf
Wherby they were brought vnto myschaunce
And many slayne by full mortall strife
Whan the leuyte cam forby with his wife
Full excellent of fetures and beutye
And toke his lodgynge within that greate cyte

He was full olde and she was inly fayre
He impotent and she but tendre of age
Through Gabaa makinge there repaire
The citesynes of importune rage
Shewynge the furie of their greate outrage
So longe that nyght hir bewtye dyd assayle
Tyll life and breth atonys dyd faile

Contagious the sclaundre and the diffame
In iudicum the story ye may rede
Which to reherce is a maner shame
To here the abusion of that foule dede
And howe the leuite amorowe gan take hede
With pitous chere and sawe his yonge wife
Tofore the gate depryued of hir life

He hent hir vp and layde hir on his asse
To noyse this cryme vpon euery syde
Though in such cas he myght doo no lasse
Toke a sharpe swerde and lyste no lengre abide
On twelue ꝑties he gan hir to deuide
And to eche trybe of iacob he hath sent
A certeyne ꝑtye to se their iugement

Which thinge to theym was hatefyll and terrible
And in their sight full abhomynable
And in all haste likely and possible
All of one wyll and one corage stable
On Gabynates for to be vengeable
They gadryd haue shortly to conclude
Tassaile that toun a full greate multitude

Whan they first mette atwene theym thus it stode
The twelue tribus were twyes put to flight
On outher ꝑtye greate quantyte of blode
Was shed amonge theym in that mortall fight
For sixty thousande who that coumpte a right
Were slayne there the story wyll nat lye
To auenge the sclaundre of fals auoutrye

Loo here the guerdon of the frowarde firis
In lecherous folke that wyll nat staunchyd be
That brent so hote through bestyall desiris
In Gabaa the myghty stronge cyte
Which was destroyed for his inequite
And almoost brought of beniamyn the lyne
Thrugh his offence to eternall ruyne

Eke for his feruent dronkyn lecherye
Olophernes by Iudith lost his hede
And all his host and all his chyualrye
Left the felde and fled away for drede
And he lay bathyd in his blode all rede
Thus thrugh thir vice if it be wele sought
Full many a prince hath be brought to nought

These sayde stories ought Inough suffise
If men wolde considre and take hede
The greate vengeaunces in many sondry wise
Which god hath take for this synne in dede
As in their bokes they may beholde and rede
Warnynges afore full oft put at preef
Howe they theym silf shal saue fro myscheef

Lenuoye.

tHis tragedye yeueth vs a grete warnynge
By clere exaumples of many folde reson
Howe many a prince for their misleuynge
And many rich roiall mighty toun
Many a cyte and many a regyon
Haue been euer sith full notable and famous
For synne of princes that were lecherous

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The chose of god dauid the worthy kinge
Prophete of prophetes moost souereyn of renoun
On Bersabe for a sodeyn lokinge
To slee vrye caught occasion
For which he suffryd greate punycion
Chastised of god he and all his hous
For cause only that he was lecherous

Greate repentaunce he had and greate sorowynge
And made psalmys of greate contricion
With wofull teerys and manyfolde wepinge
To make a seth for his transgression
y [...]uynge to princis full clere direccion
For to eschwe the flaterye odyous
And the fals fraude of woman lecherous

Whe [...] was there euer of science or cūnynge
So renomed as was kinge Salamon
Yit wymen made him through fals flateringe
To foreyne goddis done oblacion
Which clipsed his honoure and brought his fame doū
That was in whilom moost vertuous
Tyll he through wymen fyll to be lecherous

Is it nat eke remembryd by wrytinge
Of israel howe the cheef champion
Which goddis people had in his ledynge
I mene the famous mighty stronge Sampson
That through his force torent the lyon
But dalida with terys plentuous
His grace bereft him and made him lecherous

Sichem was slayne eke for the rauysshinge
 [...]f yonge dyna as made is mencion
His fader Emor brought to his endynge
Lost his riches in that descencion
And his kingdom brought to destruccion
Loo here the ende of princes vicious
Which theym dispose for to be lecherous

It is in erth one the moost ꝑilous thinge
A prince to be of his condicion
Eff [...]mynat his wittys e [...]lynynge
By fals desires of flesshly mocion
To put him silf vnder subieccion
And thrall his reson tresour moost precious
To the vnlefull lustys hatefull and lechorous

This is the sentence full pleynly in menynge
Where wymen haue the domynacion
To holde the reyne their hokys oute tastynge
That censualite hath Iurisdiccion
To entre on reson by fals intrusion
Werre ageyne vertue moost contagious
To be venquesshyd of lustys lecherous

It taketh fro men their cleernesse of seynge
Causeth greate sekenesse and corrupcion
And to all vertue it is gretest hindrynge
Maketh men seme olde as by inspeccion
Appallith their mynde and disposicion
Shortith their daies thinge dredfull and pitous
Whan they dispose theym to be lechyrous

Noble princes in your ymagenynge
Conceyue of wymen the fals decepcion
Namely of theym that loue but for wynnynge
And labour ay for your possession
Whoos sugred flatrye is fals collusion
Lyke to Syrenes with vois melodious
Enoynte youre erys to make you lecherous

Howe Cambyses assentynge to the murdre of his brother mergus / at the last slough him silf

AFetr the deth o [...] mighty kinge cirus
Next cam his sonne called cambyses
Heyre by succession full victorious
Which tofore bochas put him silf in prees
And gan his compleynt this is doutles
That they of Egipt in many vncouth wise
To sondry goddys dyd sacrifise

First vnto apys they dyd sacrifise
Callyd Serapys their gretest god of all
Regnynge in egipt moost o [...] excellence
And god of goddys folys dyd them call
And of his noblesse thus it is befall
Slayne by his brother which is a greate wonder
Seuered on pecis and full ferre cast asondre

And they of egipte made theyr ordenaunce
Vpon peyne of deth in their statute olde
A god to call him and do their obseruaunce
Within his templis like as they were holde
Wherof Cambices tofore as I you tolde
All the temples of that region
Cast him by force for to throwdoun

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The temple of Iupiter to robbe it by rauyne
Called amon without excepcion
His knightes sente to bringe it to ruyne
But they echon for their presumpcion
With sodeyne leuene were smet and bete doun
Wherof Cambises in asye tho regnynge
Had this dreme as he lay slepynge

He drempt his brother that called was Mergus
Shulde in the kindom after him succede
Wherof in herte he were so enuyous
That he purposed of rancoure and hatrede
By some mene to make his sides blede
And that his purpos shulde take auayle
A magicien he toke to his counsayle

And he was holde a full greate philosophre
Collyd cometes full sleighty and cūnynge
To whom cambises made a full large profre
Of golde and tresoure to make him assenting
To execute this horrible thinge
And that he wolde in moost cruell wise
The murdre of Mergus compasse and diuise

And while cambices ordeyned this  [...]eson
To sle mergus his owne brother dere
God from aboue cast his iyen doun
Him to punissh in full cruell manere
For he wexed wode who so list to lere
Caught a sharpe swerde and roue his thigh on twene
And sodenly he dyed for the peyne

For two causes god toke on him vengeaunce
As myn auctour bochas doth expresse
For his presumptuous and fals disabeisaunce
Spoilynge the godes of hir greate richesse
And for the frowarde greate vnkindnesse
To yeue assent to the contagious cas
Whan that mergus his brother murdred was

The deth of whom was cheef occasion
Of full greate werre stryues and debate
Eke fynall cause why all the region
Of mighty Perce stode disconsolate
For heire was none of high nor lowe estate
By title of right through his vnhappy chaunce
To be there kinge and haue the gouernaunce

For the magycien called cometes
Which slough mergus as ye haue herde expresse
To [...]e his brother called dropastes
And made him kinge the story bereth witnesse
Bycause that he resemblyd in likenesse
Vnto mergus of face and of stature
To crowne him kinge therfore he dyd his cure

The deth of mergus outwarde was nat knowe
Nor pleynly publised in that region
His body buryed and cast in erthe lowe
Of whom the murdre and fraudolent treson
The pitous slaughter wrought by collusion
And all the maner by processe was espied
So openly it might nat be denyed

And in what wise the noyse gan out sprede
Touchinge this murdre odious for to here
Whan that oropastes occupied in dede
The crowne of perce the story doth vs lere
There was a prince full notable and entere
Called hostanes than gan his wit applye
Of high prudence this murdre oute tespye

While that oropastes vnder a fals pretence
Of ꝑciens was receyued as for kinge
The seyde prince dyd his diligence
By inquisicion to haue knowlegynge
By what ingyne or by what sleighty thinge
The seide oropastes caught occasion
In stede of mergus to occupye the croun

On this matere he had a coniecture
That his title was nouther hole ne clere
The trouth to trye he dyd his besy cure
And to serch oute hooly the manere
He sought so ferre that he cam right nere
And in this cas lettyd for no slouth
Tyll that he had founde oute the trouth

The cas was this pleynly to termyne
He had a doughter full faire of hir visage
Which of the kinge was cheuest concubyne
By whom he thought to catch auauntage
And vnto hir he hath sent his message
Secrely to enquere howe it stode
Where that the kinge were come of cirus blode

And bad that she shulde secrely take hede
While that he slept to do hir besy peyne
With hir handes for to fele his hede
And to grope after both hiserys tweyne
And if it fyll there is nomore to seyne
Vpon his hede that she none erys found
To tell hir fader of trouth as she was bounde

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This mighty prince hostanes knewe wel
Right as it is recordyd by scripture
Touchinge this cas howe it stode euery dell
Howe kinge Cambises of sodeyn auenture
By his lyue for aforfeture
Made of Oropastes the story seith nat nay
But his tweyne erys to be cut away

And herupon to be certyfied
He was desirous to haue full knowlegynge
Which by his doughter whan it was espied
Vpon a night lyenge by the kinge
Gropynge his hede as he laye slepynge
Full subtyll felte and toke good hede
Howe he none erys had vpon his hede

And to hir fader anone she hath declared
The secretnesse of this auenture
And for no fere nor drede he hath nat spared
Howe that it stode pleynly to discure
And first of all he dyd his besy cure
All the princes of perce lo [...]de I feere
To counseyle call to entrete of this matere

And whan they were assembled euerychon
Of Oropastes he tolde theym all the chaunce
And howe that mergus was murdred yorengon
As  [...]re tofore is put in remembraunce
Whereupon to set an ordenaunce
And to redresse these wronges done toforne
Of ꝑce londe were seuene primes  [...]rne

Of one assent in their entencion
 [...]y bonde of othe they made their assuraunce
And a full secrete comunicacon
To put Oropastus from his roiall puissaunce
Which had all ꝑce vnder his gouernaunce
By a full fals pretence of heritage
For he was like to mergus of visage

These seuene princes of which toforne I tolde
All of one herte and by their othe Ibounde
Prudent and manly and of yerys olde
Haue sought a tyme Oropastes to confounde
And with their swerdes sharpe whet and grounde
Vnder couert in their apparaile
Cam of entent Oropastes to assayle

And in the palcis whom euer that they met
Or ageyne theym made resistence
All of accorde they feersly on him set
But the magicien that was there in their presence
Cam ageyn [...]  [...]ym by sturdy violence
And at  [...] gan theym so constreyne
That of the princis they haue I slayne tweyne

But fynally the tother princes fyue
Whan that they sawe their tweyne f [...]eris blede
In all the paleys they left none alyue
And kinge Oropastes quakinge in his drede
Full vnwarly or that he toke hede
Was slayne there guerdoned for al his might
Of pretence kinges that regne and haue no right

Howe Oropastes occupyed the crowne of Perce by Iniust title was murdred

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For like thy moder if thou receyue me
And me accepte vnto thy presence
I must therafter so gouerned be
To tell my tale playnly in sentence
So that thou yeue me frendly audience
And if I be nat receyued in such wise
More strongly my tale I must diuise

This noble prince thys Corolian
Whan that he herde his moder thus compleyne
Full like a lorde and a knightly man
Gan hir enbrace in his armys tweyne
In louly wise there is no more to seyne
Sauf like a sonne of due and right
To hir he sayde ful like a gentyll knyght

Madame quod he be it to youre plesaunce
To here my conceyte as in this matere
With feythfull herte and humble attendaunce
I you receyue as for my moder dere
But and ye lyke benyngly to here
The ingratitude done in moost cruell wyse
To me of romayns I purpos to chastise

A sonne quod she touchinge their offence
Done to thy noblesse and their greate outrage
They shall by menys their trespasse recompence
And thinke thou art borne of their lynage
And suffre that mercy thy rigoure may aswage
And thinke of nature thou mayst nat wel with seye
Thinge for the which thy modre doth nowe preye

Thou shalt nat close thyn entrayles of pite
To the requestys of me and of thy wife
Nor gynne a werre ageyne thy cuntre
To stroye thy lyne by newe mortall strife
Thy children and me to make vs lose oure life
Weye in balaunce to romayns thyn hatred
Ageyns the loue of me and of thy kynrede

Sende home ageyne thy straunge soudiours
Which been so redy the romayns blode to shede
Lette stonde in pees oure walles and oure toures
Suffre thy grace thy rancoure to excede
So that thy pyte may put awaye all drede
And condescende to receyue for hostage
Me to be pledge for their greate outrage

Beholde the wombe in whiche that thou were borne
And se  [...]lso my nakyd sydes tweyne
By which thou were fostred here toforne
If there were lacke thou woldist crye and pleyne
Remembre theron and at me nat disdeyne
But vnto mercy receyue this cyte
At the request here of thy wyfe and me

Whilom my mylke thy cherisshinge was and fode
To s [...]ynte thy crye whan thou dydest wepe
There sote dropys full holsom were and gode
Thy tendre youth for to preserue and kepe
And lyke a modere to bringe the a slepe
I woke full oft to the I was so kinde
Wherfore dere sonne on my requeste haue mynde

If that thou list this cyte nowe torment
Their demeritys by rigoure recompence
Punysshe me for theym and I wyll assente
To bere the gilt of their greate offence
But dere sonne let thy magnificence
Suffre of knighthode that mercy may in dede
Attempre thy right or thou to dome procede

Suffre romayns to lyue in quiete
Graunt theym pees ageyne their greate outrage
Some drop of pite let in thyn herte flete
And thinke thou art borne of their lynage
Loke vpon theym with mercifull visage
Which offre theym silfe as they shall fulfyll
Their lif their deth all hooly at thy wyll

Remembre of nature howe that the lyon
Sette aside his rage and his woodnesse
To theym that mekely afore him fall doun
His roiall kinde will do theym no duresse
Texemplyfye to knightly noblesse
With rigorous swerde thou shalt nomore manace
Theym that be louly yelde vnto thy grace

And whan this prince this Corolian
Had herde all that his moder list to seyne
He goth to hir in all the hast he can
Bespreynt with terys that on his chekys reyne
And hir enbracyd with his armys tweyne
And sayde moder there may be no lettynge
Me hole of herte to graunte youre axynge

The sege he made for to auoide awaye
And to repayre home to their cuntre
And with his moder and wife he was that day
With greate gladnesse and solempnite
Anone receyued into that cite
Lyke as fortune him neuer wolde haue fayled
But she sone after of newe hath him assayled

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The gery romayns stormy and vnstable
Which neuer in one styll coude abyde
Ageyne this prince moost knightly and notable
For to conspire of newe they gan prouide
And banysshed him to Tuskan there beside
Where he was slayne within a litytell space
For he the romayns afore toke to grace

Howe Melciades duke of Athenys with smal noumbre venquesshyd [...]i C M ꝑciens / and after by his comonte that ay of custum desireth a chaunge of prynces newe he was cheyned in prison and so dyed

AMonge other that put theym silf in prees
For to beweyle their greuous heuynesse
Cam of Athenys duke Melciades
Which through his manhode & famous high prowesse
And through his knightly renomed noblesse
Like as auctours his tryumphes lyst cōmende
Faught many a batayle his cite to defende

And of victories as it is compiled
For comon profite of that notable toun
Fought with a tiraunt that was tofore exiled
C [...]lled hippias which by fals treson
Had to kinge Darye made a suggestyon
Vpon athenys in all the hast he myght
To  [...]ise all perce ageyne that toun to fight

Six hundred thousande acoūted was the noumbre
Of pereus armyd in plate and mayle
T [...]ym of Athenes by force to encombre
Echone assembled theym proudly to assayle
 [...]ut this duke for no thinge wolde fayle
Melciades but knightly toke his place
With ten thousande he met him the in face

For both he was right manly and right wys
And of his handys prouyd a right good knight
Set vpon theym with so prudent auys
That they of perce for all their greate might
Were foure tymes put vnto flyght
By thilke duke if I shall nat feyne
And by the noblesse other knightes of tweyne

Themystodes I called was the tone
Whice of his hande as auctours list discriue
Was in a feelde prouyd on his fone
The manly knight in his tyme alyue
Which thylke day so proudly dyd stryue
Ageyne theym of perce and such a slaughter ma [...]e
That fynally the feeld they haue forsake

Cynegirus a knight eke of that toun
The same day thrugh his chiualrye
With blody swerde as he went vp and doun
Withoute noumbre in his malencolye
Slough ꝑciens bokys specifie
That for the tyme that they no refute cūne
Saue to their shippes for drede of deth the rūne

And there he wrought a straunge greate merueyle
As writeth bochas affermynge in certeyn
The gretest ship that bare largest sayle
With his right hande he gan it so restreyne
Lyke as it had be fastned with a cheyne
Maugre Perciens which dyd theym sore greue
That by no craft they coude nat make it meue

But whan that they none other refute wyst
Freely to escape out of his daungere
Tyll they his right hande hughe of by the wrest
But with his left hande he gan approch nere
And helde it styll an vncouth thinge to here
That he had force so great a ship to let
But than alas his left hande of they smet

¶Yit maugre theym whan he their malice seeth
All were it so that he had lost eche hande
The ship he helde styll with his teeth
That they ne myght departe from the lande
Lyke as their vessell had fall vpon sande
Causer that day myn auctour doth reherce
Two hundred thousande were slayne of them of ꝑ [...]e

And whan this singuler mighty champion
Cynegirus moost vncouth of corage
Had done this marueyle as made is mencion
Of very anguyssh he fyll into a rage
Lyke a beest furious and sauage
Ran aboute alas for lak of mynde
In bochas boke nomore of him I fynde

But in this processe after I behelde
Ay howe that fortune can hir frendys faile
For Melciades leder of that feelde
And gouernoure of all that greate batayle
Causynge victorye as made is rehersayle
Yit his people of malice and of yre
Ageyne his noblesse falsly gan conspire

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They of Athenys set him in pryson
And in cheynes mightily him bounde
Vnkindly they yaue him this guerdon
For all the knighthode they in him founde
Yit had he suffred many mortall woūde
In their diffence and for their libertees
To saue their lyues their toun and their cuntrees

This was the ende of duke Melciades
Through the constreynt of his stronge bondes
Eke they exiled the knight Themystodes
Oute of their toun to lyue in the straunge londes
That was so worthy prouyd of his hondis
To shewe the chaunge and mutabilite
Founde in fortune and euery comonte

Lenuoye

THe stormy trust of euery comonte
Their gery corages and troubled cōstaunce
In this tragedye men may beholde and se
Nowe vp nowe doun as fortune cast hir chaunce
For they of custum haue ioye and moost plesaunce
In their desires vnstedfast and vntrewe
To see eche day a chaunge of princes newe

Corolian of rome a cheef cite
Was there protectoure through his mighty puissaunce
Venquesshed their ennemyes set theym in suerte
Brought in rebellis to their obeysaunce
But they ageynwarde of wilful variaunce
Banysshed him twyes and n [...] cause knewe
Saue for to se a chaunge of princes newe

The knightly nobles the magnanymyte
The police the prudent gouernaunce
Of Melciades duke of the cuntre
Where that athenys is cheef toun in substaunce
Whan he their comon ganne moost to auaunce
The more vnkindly in honoure that they grewe
Moost they were besy to chaunge him for a newe

Themystodes hauynge the souereynte
Of knightes all that barespere or launce
Durynge his tyme I take nomore on me
For comparisons doo oft tyme greate greuaunce
Sixe hundred thousande he put to vttraunce
Vnto Athenys neuer founde vntrewe
Yit they conspired his exile for a newe

What thynge may here floure in felicite
Or stonde stable by longe contynuaunce
In highe estates outher in lowe degre
Nowe flowe nowe ebbe nowe ioye nowe mischaunce
After fortune holdeth the balaunce
And specially fals feynynge and vntrue
Comons desire a chaunge of princes newe

Noble princes in youre prosperite
On sodeyne chaunges set youre remembraunce
Fresshnesse of floures of braunchis the beute
Haue ay on chaunge a tremblynge attendaunce
In trust of comons is no ꝑseueraunce
As wynter and Somer been dyuers of their hewe
So be they dyuers in chaunge of princes newe

Howe xerses kinge of Perce for his rauyne / and couetise was dismembryd in smale pe [...]ys

ANd tofore bochas full pitously wepyng [...]
For to declare his dedely heuynesse
Cam xerses next of Perce kinge
And gan compleyne his dool and his distresse
Which in thre thinges the story bereth witnesse
And as the cronycle cleerly can vs tell
All other princes in erth he dyd excelle

In high estate was none so greate as he
Nouther in richesse nor wordly habundaunce
Nor none that tyme of so greate dygnite
For as it is put in remembraunce
He had all Perce vnder his obeysaunce
Nor neuer prince as auctours do conclude
Hosteyed attonys with such a multitude

Space of fyue yere he had his ordynaunce
Seuene hundryd thousande people he dyd reyse
Dempte of fals pride ageyne his greate puissaunce
None erthely power might counterpeyse
But sūme auctours alowe him nat nor preyse
Bycause thay he people to encombre
Set all his trust to conquere with greate noumbre

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But manly princes haue this opinyon
In multitude stondeth nat victorye
For knightly prowesse of euery chaumpion
Which manly  [...]ast theym in armys to haue victorye
Enprentyd hath fix in his memorye
Marciall triumphes god ne doth nat shewe
In noumbre greate no rather than in fewe

This seyde xerses by recorde of auctours
Had also in cronycles as I rede
Thre hundred thousand straunge soudeours
Withoute other that were of perce and mede
Which gan the erth for to cure and sprede
Dried ryuers they dyd atteyne
 [...]a [...]f doun hilles and made valeis oleyue

This was cheef conceyte of his fantasies
To haue all erth vnder subieccion
Thought his power raught aboue the skyes
Of surqu [...]dye and fals presumpcion
For as he dempte in his opinion
Howe in his power playnly that it lay
Fro god of heuene the heuene to take awaye

But thilke lorde that can the meke enhaunce
And from their seys the proude put doun
And namely theym that haue no remembraunce
To aduertise of wisdome and of reson
To knowe the lorde moost mighty of renoun
The lorde of lordes which playnly to compile
Wyll suffre tyrauntys to regne but a while

And one the marueyle that euer I dyd rede
G [...]est and vncouth playnly vnto me
 [...]o howe yerses kinge of perce and meede
For to shewe a speciall singulerte
Oute of Asie ouer the greate fe
As saith myn auctour whom I dare aledge
Into Europe made a mighty bridge

Sūme men parauenture wyll therat disdeyne
And  [...] is a marueyle nat credible
Yit craft in  [...]aas to such thinge may atteyne
Which by nature semeth an impossible
And as to me it is a thinge odible
Thinges to inpugne autentike and olde
Which notable clerkes in their dayes tolde

These newe men that haue but lityll seyn
Nouther expert in craft nor in nature
For lacke of reson holde all such thinge veyn
Though that it be remembred in scripture
For euery maruayle and euery auenture
Is to straunge to him as I reherce can
That lacketh the cause wherof the grounde began

This seyde xerses had eke possession
By the title of his fader darye
Of all egipt as made is mencion
But they of grece were to him contrarye
Wherfore he cast no lenger for to tarye
This proude prince but mightely werreye
Lacedomynoys which wolde him nat obeye

But one that was callid Demeratus
Which of that cuntre had afore be kinge
And was exiled the story telleth vs
That tyme with xerses in houshold abidynge
Which loued that londe for all his exilinge
Gaue theym warnynge to saue them fro myschaūce
Of xerses power and all his ordenaunce

He wrote theym letters grauen in a table
All thenprises of xerses oute of doute
Of all his stuffe and people incomperable
And of his noumbre and his greate route
The which table cured was withoute
Full subtilly with wexe I planed playne
That of his sonde there was no lettre seyne

Thus was thentent of xerses first discured
Vnto the Grekis and all his fals werkinge
But in one thinge they greatly were assured
Of trust they had by experte knowlegynge
In Leonidas their noble famous kinge
Which amonge Grekys of prowesse & for sight
Was in tho dayes hold for the best knight

Of chiualrye called the lode sterre
The summe of knighthode yt shone so bright  [...] shene
The berre vp both in pees and werre
And strengest pylere his partye to mayntene
The Grekys right hande their noblesse to sustene
Charbon [...]le of armys myrrour of policie
And surest capteyne a felde to rule and guye

And as myn auctour remembrethe in his boke
Howe in this caas he was nat recheles
But in all hast foure thousand men he toke
To let the weyes and comynge of xerses
And by an hyll called Thermophiles
Where perciens began first their viage
He knightly cast to stop their passage

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The murdre of xerses outwarde was vnknowe
Nor howe artabanus had the treson wrought
Tyll afterwarde within a litell throwe
He had of newe forged oute and sought
Fals odious traynes that were neuer thought
Told artaxerses as he gan with him rowne
Howe darye cast to occupie the crowne

And howe the deth of xerses was ordeyned
Only by darye and by none other wight
Wherupon which ought be compleyned
Artaxerses prouyded anone right
The slaughtre of darie and so ageyne all right
This yonge brother in his Innocence
Was falsly slayne and dyd none offence

¶Ye wite by whom this treson was compassed
Twene brethren theyne to make diuision
The yonger slayne and no thinge trespassed
Moost redy wey to the destruccion
Of artaxerses for in conclusion
Whan the brethren murdred were in dede
Artabanus thought to succede

But artaxerses by pleyne instruccion
Of one that was called Baccarus
By toknes knewe the couert fals treason
Of this forsaide double artabanus
And howe that he by treynes outragious
Had xerses slayne as ye haue herde to forne
And darye appechyd wherby that he was lorne

But this vncouth straunge treson wrought
Whan artaxerses had knowlegynge
By greate aduys weyes he hath sought
Artabanus to brynge vnto rekenynge
But specially he dred him of one thinge
He feble was to bringe this thinge aboute
Of his seuene sonnes he had so greate doute

But for to accomplissh fully his entent
Full secrely this was his ordenaunce
To all the worthy he hath his letters sent
Dwellynge in perce vnder his obeysaunce
Withoute excuse or lenger attendaunce
Armyd echon and especiall
To come in hast vnto his court royall

Cause of their comynge was to him nat knowe
The kinges purpos was holden secre
And kept so cloos both from high and lowe
That to his menynge no man was pryue
Except the kinge sayde he wolde see
What noumbre of men if it come to nede
In his diffence he might gadre and lede

And amonge other cam artabanus
Vnto the court and list nat for to fayle
A man that was cruell and coragious
Full of sleightes in all his gouernayle
Which thilke tyme armed was in mayle
For he with him none other armoure ladde
Saue on his backe an haburion he hadde

Than artaxarses beynge in his strength
To him abrayde of fals affeccion
For that my mayle wanteth of his length
I wolde with the chaunge myn haburion
The tother hauynge none euyll suspeccion
Vngyrt him silf wolde no lenger byde
Both swerde and dagger cast theym ferre aside

And while that he threwe of his haburion
And with the mayle stopped was his sight
He beynge nakyd for short conclusion
The kinge oute pulleth a swerde kene and bright
And through the herte he roue him anone right
And after that of indignacion
Toke his seuene sonnes and cast theym in prison

Of their ende what shulde I more endite
Nor of their deth make degression
God may his vengeaunce a while respite
But murdre wyll oute and all such treson
And for artaban had a condicion
Falsly to murdre as ye tofore haue seyne
With vnware murdre he gwerdoned was ageyne

Thus euer murdre requireth for his wages
Sclaundre importable odious for to here
A worde diffamous moost foule in all langages
The sounde horrible by report to appere
A clyps duringe whoos derkenesse may nat clere
For this worde murdre moost ougly and vnfaire
By a rehersinge infecteth all the aire

Of Duke palantes and Spartenois werred th [...]m of Myssene for rauysshinge thir maydens

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aFter the deth and fatall caas
And pitous murdre of artabanus
Next in ordre apperyd to bochas
A mighty duke callyd palantus
Sonne of a knight named arathus
Which was exiled though he no treson ment
Oute of his cite that called was Tarente

Vpon his exile he sore gan compleyne
Besechinge Bachas to gete him a space
Within his boke to write his greuous peyne
Albe though he whilom stode in grace
By glad aspectis of fortunes face
For she him reysed by fauoure of hir might
To Dukes estate from a pore knight

But  [...]eriously this mater to conueye
Howe he was made duke and gouernoure
Whan Sperteyns gan mortally werreye
Ageyne Myssenys as sayth myn auctour
With greate cos [...]age and diligent laboure
And cause was this for they with mighty honde
Rauysshed by force all maydens of that londe

For this people nowe named Spartenoys
As the story cleerly can deuyse
Were call [...]d afore Lacedomynois
In armys prouyd manly and right wyse
And while they dyd a solempne sacrefise
Vnto their goddes the people of Messenye
Rauysshed their maydens or they it coude espye

On which wronge for to do vengeaunce
The Spartenoyse caught indignacion
And of assent with all their hole puissaunce
They layde a syege rounde aboute the toun
And of one wyll and one affeccion
They made a vowe the syege whan they begonne
Neuer to departe tyll the toun were wonne

Afore the toun fully ten yere they laye
And fro the syege as they had made their oth
They nat departyed nouther night nor daye
But styll abode and nat a sondre goth
Therof their wyues beynge at home were wroth
To theyr husbondes a messangere they sent
Vnder these wordes declarynge their entent

Sayd it was nat accordynge with reson
They lyke wydous to lyue disconsolate
Withoute confort or consolacion
Ferre from their husbondys to stonde desolate
Mischeuys considred that fall in eche estate
By longe absence which eche man shuld drede
Through diuers sekenesse that fall in womanhede

The tyde abide nat for no maner man
Nor stynt hir cours for no creature
And herde it is as we reherce can
Thinge to withstonde that cometh of nature
Harme done by kinde is frowarde to recure
And there is founde full lytell sekirnesse
Where as nature afforceth brotylnesse

This lytell sonde ought Inough suffise
To declare damage that may fall
By longe absence folkes that been wise
Sumtyme departyd ageyne men may nat call
That seldom is seen in loue doth appalle
And no thinge maketh more wyues erre
Than disseueraunce of folke that be in werre

This was the affect pleynly in substaunce
Sent to their husbondys which at the syege laye
Compleynynge they had had no plesaunce
Space of ten yere as in loues playe
But desolate in sorowe and greate affray
Their lyfe they ladde affermynge in sentence
Cause of their constreynt was their longe absence

And whan the letters were at the syege radde
Tofore the cite in all there mortall striues
They were astonyed and gan to wax sadde
And very wery almoost of their lyues
For to considre the compleynte of their wyues
Tyll their capteyne a remedye oute sought
By whoos counseyle euyn thus they wrought

First olde knightes that the syege sworne
It for to accomplissh and cast theym to be true
His counseyle was as they had hight beforne
To holde their promys and therfore no thinge rue
But yonge knightes that were come of newe
Myght as they lyst freely at their wyll
Chose whether they wolde goo or byde styll

And herupon for their moost auayle
In hast their capteyne as made is remembraunce
Of high prudence yaue theym their counsayle
That knightes olde liche their assuraunce
Shulde of the siege haue the gouernaunce
And yonge knightes moost fressh and welbeseyne
Shulde from the syege home be sent ageyne

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They made amonge them a ful straunge ordinaūce
At their home comynge withoute difference
To entirchaunge their wyues for plesaunce
And take hir first that cam to hir presence
This was the accorde amonge theym in sentence
Moost redy way to their opynyon
To engendrure and procreacion

There was amonge theym quarell nouther stryfe
In this matere nor no variaunce
For euery man mysused others wyfe
To their desires as was to theym plesaunce
And thus children through this ordenaunce
That were engendryd the cas is thus befall
Parthenoys men dyd theym after call

Which in oure tunge to speke in wordes pleyne
After the greek who list considre and se
Is nomore pleynly for to seyne
Than thilke children which engendred be
In auoutrye wherfore in that cuntre
Parthenois of custum they were named
Borne of wombes which that were diffamed

The fals occasion of this auoutrye
Caused after greate myscheef and damage
That noman coude as for his partye
By succession whan he cam to age
By tytle of right cleyme his heritage
For where a lyne falsly doth procede
Harde is to knowe by right who shall succede

The disturbaunce of fals succession
And titles cleymed afforced with greate might
Where that auoutrie hath dominacion
And is supported of wyll and nat of right
And cleyme of trouth hath lost his clere light
Though their partyes myghty been and stronge
God wilnat suffre they shal endure longe

And Parthenoyse peisynge all these thinges
Howe fals assuraunce was in their synage
The gyntill blode troubled first of kinges
For no man knewe of high nor lowe parage
His owne fader by liklynesse of visage
Nor fader none by his greate erroure
Coude yeue no title to his successoure

Whereupon folowed a greate myschhaunce
Hatefull to here through the cuntre
Eche man troubled in his countenaunce
Who shulde cleyme by any lyberte
To entre his londe or to stonde fre
Such doubte they had eche man for his partie
So importable was their auoutrye

This greate myscheef who so taketh hede
By longe processe made theym to knowe and se
Howe they were able as by lyklyhede
For their outrages for fall in pouerte
And of assent they cast theym for to fle
Vnder a capiteyne by stronge and mighty honde
For that cuntre to wynne sum other londe

And as I rede they chase duke Palantus
Of whome I spake to gouerne the passage
Takinge no leue the story telleth thus
At their departinge begynnynge their viage
They were so confus of cheer and of visage
For there was none of that greate route
To chose his fader but that stode in doute

They helde theym silf very ashamed
And for shame oute of that londe they went
Lyke people disclaundred and diffamed
Through the auoutrye to which they dyd assent
And to a cite that called was Tarent
Which stant in Poile a mighty stronge cuntre
This duke palantus cam with his meyne

And there he put through his greate myght
The citezeines oute of that cyte
And gate Tarente full like a manly knight
And there abode in longe prosperite
As gouernoure and duke of that cuntre
Tyll that his pople by fals collusion
Him to depryue sought oute occasion

They him exiled whan he was fall in age
Lo what it is in comons to assure
Stormy of herte vnsure of their corage
That seelde or nouer their frendship doth endure
Men may to day their fauoure well recure
And to morowe let set it at a preef
They rathest hindre whan men stonde at mischee

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Of Ceson Quincius exiled and Grac [...]us take prysonere

I Can nomore reherce of Palantes
Duke and leder of Parthenoys
But I wyll tell howe Ceson quincius
Cam tofore Bochas with a full pitous voys
His tale gan howe graccus prince of Equo [...]s
Both atonys gan their songe entune
Moost doolfully to pleyne on fortune

This mighty prince Ceson quincius
Compleyned f [...]rst as made is mencion
Howe they of rome were contrarious
And felly wrought to his distraccion
And full vnius [...]ly banysshed him the toun
And nat with standynge he was a dictatoure
Him to confounde they dyd their besy laboure

Cause of his exile compassed as I rede
That he was slough they seyde and neglygent
Him to defende touchinge appele in dede
Which ageyne him was brought of fals entent
Yit Cin [...]nnatus his fader by assent
 [...]ayde for amendes as sey Crony [...]leris
Met oute of londe draught of thre arblasteris

¶Yit his enmyes wolde nat be content
 [...] procede that he was exiled
Dyd  [...]ytor [...]ion of his iugement
As in his story full playnly is compiled
 [...] after neuer might be reconsiled
 [...]hich I haue pyte to put in remembraunce
So lytell offence shulde haue soo greate vengeaunce

Grac [...]us of rome called Cloellius
Prince of Equois myn auctour seyth the same
Was in his tyme notable and glorious
And a greate duke full renomed of fame
But howe the peple of Equois toke first their name
Vnder support that no man haue dysdeyne
I wyll the processe declare here in certeyne

Iohn Bochas sayth there is a nacion
Which that first were called hunoys
And secondly also by succession
Of full longe tyme named anathois
And olderlast men called him Equois
Lyke as I trowe myn auctour seyth the same
Of hors moost swyft they toke first the name

And as it is remembred in sentence
By their manhode and famous hardynesse
Ageyne alisaundre they made a stronge diffence
On horsbacke through their greate swyiftnesse
Beside the hyll pleynly to expresse
Which in Cronycles is called Cancasus
This people of Equois were victorious

To their noblesse pleynly as I fynde
No thinge in erth was more expedient
In their conquest of Ethiope and ynde
As hors moost swyft seruynge their entent
Therby conquerynge all the oryent
So greate prowesse was in their passage
That Equois brought all Egipt to seruage

Thus where euer Equois dyd abyde
They gate greate good to their possession
And Graccus was their gouernoure and guyde
Which by his sterynge and fals suggestion
Ageyne the romayns fyll in greate rebellion
But to withstonde him they sent oute anone right
Cincinatus proued a full good knight

He was well trusted and knowe in the toun
And for his prudence chosen a dictatour
His liflode small and his possession
Albe he was a worthy werrour
Which hath venquesshed by his knightly laboure
The seyde Greccus for all his worthy power
And hom to rome brought him prisoner

Cyncinatus in his chaar was set
Callyd quincius for this greate victorye
And moost solempnely with senatours met
Which yaue to him for to encrece his glorye
Laude of triumphe to put him in memory
And Graccus after for his rebellion
With cheynes bounde cast in a derke prison

And there he dyed in full greate myscheef
After his conquestis first famous and notable
An euidence to vs and a greate preef
Howe fortune is ay fals and vnstable
Euer double frowarde and deceyuable
The fall of Graccus declare can full wele
That whilom sat so highe vpon hir whele

Here Bochas rehercith the tyrannye of Apius and falsnesse of Iuges

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NAtwithstondynge Bochas tofore hathe tolde
Of apius the falsnesse importable
And his outrages and surfetys many folde
To be remembred hatefull and repreueable
 [...]t as him thought it was here couenable
To more rebuke and spottynge of his name
 [...]ewe to reherce his sclaundre and diffame

The greate offencys of thys apius
And oppressions that he vpon him toke
Made him growe so inly couetous
Through his rauyne that all the people quoke
As ye may se in the seconde boke
Where myn auctour doth cleerly specifie
His fraude in domys and his lecherye

Eke this tyraunt remembred ye may rede
Cheef iuge he was with other officers
Called Decemvir and through his pride in dede
Ageyne the custum of theym that were his feris
He made to be borne standardes and baneris
In other wise of high presumpcion
Than vsis were beforne in rome toun

These Iuges had a custum and manere
Lyke their estates in their gouernaunce
Eche after to haue borne a banere
Where they went such was their ordenaunce
By twelue sargeauntes noumbred in substaunce
But apius of pride and greate outerage
I chaunged hath that castum and vsage

He first ordeyned ech shulde in his place
Of Decemvir haue a banere borne
In their walkinge the people to manace
An hundred men of armys theym beforne
And twenty ouer by a statute sworne
Wherby the cyte bare greate coste in dede
And all the people were put in fere and drede

To see the sargeauntes walke in plate and mayle
They thought it was a merueylous werkinge
Iuges to go with such apparaile
In their procedynge as ech had been a kinge
And hole thentent of apius menynge
Was that he shulde of power and might
Do what him list were it wronge or right

The rightful punysshe and the gylty spare
Fauoure wronge for brybes and for mede
The peple oppressed stode in sorowe and care
Fonde no socoure to helpe them in their nede
Lawe was there none for reson laye by drede
Wyll was Iuge and plesaunt equite
And thus by maistry was gouerned the cyte

And as it is remembred by bochas
Apius was lecherous of nature
And caught a quarell as ye haue herde the cas
Ageyne virgynya a mayde clene and pure
And for he shulde no thinge in hir recure▪
Touchinge his lust hir fader in that strife
With a sharpe swerde made hir lose hir life

And for this tyraunt by fals rebaudrye
Caused hir deth by hasty violence
And for he shulde her beutye nat mastrye
Dyinge a mayde in hir chast Innocence
Therfore he was demyd in sentence
As is tofore made clere mencion
For to be cheyned and dye in pryson

Eke decemvir loste their power
And neuer in rome after bare no name
Nor of that sect was made none officer
And amonge all apius bare the blame
Whoos cryme reboundeth to his eternall shame
As ye haue herde who that can discerne
And than trybunys were chose for to gouerne

And in bochas lyke as it is founde
The sayde Iuges in myscheef dyd fyne
While apius laye in prison bounde
Exyled were all that other nyne
The gode the tresoure of theym and of their lyne
Achetyd was for short conclusion
To comon profite and encrece of the toun

Lenuoye

THis lytell tragedye doth shortly d [...]uise
What myschef foloweth for the grete vnright
Vsyd by Iuges in many sundry wyse
For whan fauour blynded hath their sight
And Innocence is borne doun with might
And in his quarell pouert may nat procede
Bycause that trouth oppressed is with mede

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A iuge shulde of equite despise
To take gyftes of any maner wight
And redy be all wrōges to chastise
From all giftes turne away his sight
His handys close his erys stop aright
And be ay ware for frendship hate or drede
That trouth be nat oppressed with mede

The noble doctryne and vertuous emprise
Of philosophers that had so greate insight
Was this to iuges that prudent were and wise
For frende or foo their domys be so dight
Of rightwisnesse that the sonne bright
Eclipsed neuer list men for their falshede
Report that right was put abacke for mede

Noble princes supportours of Iustise
Called lode sterres to yeue the people light
On apius lette Iuges nat practise
That trouthis laumpe be clere both day and night
Youre office p [...]sed that longeth to a knight
Hol [...]up the balaunce of dome in your manhede
That lawe in iuges be nat corrupte with m [...]de

Bochas ageyne the vntruth of Iuges

SVynge vpon the deth of apius
And his rebukes for his greate outrage
Bochas by wrytinge wexe sūwhat yrous
Ageyne iuges fals and thought in his corage
They shulde be sad and demure of age
And their life by vertue shulde drawe
To kepe the preceptes and statutys of the lawe

They ought of reson theym silfe to habyle
To haue science of philosophie
And knowe their textys of canon and ciuile
And therupon their wittis hole to applie
For cūnynge Iuges by prudent policie
Cause of ordenaunces in lawe comprehended
Through rightfull dome greatly to be cōmended

Iustise of lawe doth rumys enlumyne
Susteyneth trouth supporteth Innocence
Of rauynours boweth downe the chyne
Punyssheth robbours for their greate offence
Sluggy traaūtes for theyr  [...]
And feyned beggers that greatly dis [...]  [...]
Constreyneth theym to laboure and  [...]

Foundours of lawe by antiquyte
Caused in londes was suffred none errour
And made of princes the royall mageste
To shyne in worship by diligent laboure
Wrested corages of many conquerour
That their tryumphes no forther shulde atteyne
Than lawe of god and nature dyd ordeyne

Wyll was that tyme vndre subieccion
Of rightwysnesse by trouth full well conueyed
Sensualite was seruaunt to reson
And froward lust was vnder lok well keyed
Sentence of statutes was nat disobeyed
The rich dyd right through euery londe
Pore folk [...] lyued by laboure of their honde

Lordship that tyme auoyded mayntenaunce
Holy church lyued in persitnesse
Knigh [...]hode tho dayes for trouth whet his launce
And fals extorcion had none interesse
Marchauntes wynnynge cam all of rightwyssnesse
Artificers the werkday weere nat Idell
And besynesse of laboure helde the brydell

Wymen that age farced were nor horned
Nor their tayles were nat serpentyne
Wise men of foly nor clerkes were nat scornyd
Which in science moost fresshly dyd shyne
Lawe disherited none heires from their lyne
Lesyngmongers fonde that tyme no socours
And flaterers were made than no confessours

This golden worlde flourynge in vertue
Borneup by loue grounded on stablenesse
Of auoutry sprange oute none Issue
Princes with doctryne establysshed their noblesse
Preesthode in prayere knighthode in worthynesse
Eche thyinge by lawe stode vnder gouernaunce
Marchauntys by mesure and iust peis of balaunce

First phoroneus by diligent laboure
Fonde oute lawes that kinge was of argyues
The Grekis studye he gilt with greate honoure
This politike prince auoyde theym from stryues
His statutys kept durynge all their lyues
Foūde first the maner bochas doth deuise
Howe to Iupiter was made sacrifise

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Eke mighty myn [...]s whilom kinge of Crete
Ordeyned lawes ageyne transgressions
To fere by rigour f [...]lys that were vnmete
And staunch of surfetes all occasions
Made for robbers mighty stronge prisons
And dedalus his cheef artificere
Made laborintus by diligent entere

And mercurie borne by the flode of Nyle
As writeth lattance was of egipt kinge
Vnto marchauntes dyd lawe first compile
Of weight and mesure to vs in chaffaringe
And for his wisdome and excellent cūnynge
Of olde p [...]tys that whilom were so wise
He called was god of marchaundise

Solon also the best lawes made
As valare writeth him silf to magnefie
Athenienses therof were full glade
His greate wisdom whan they dyd espie
They fonde therin so moch policie
And euer he was redy for to debate
Ageyne tyrauntes so sore he dyd theym hate

Kynge Ligurgus yit whilom dyd his cure
To make lawes to comon auauntage
And that they shulde ꝑpetually endure
He made his people be sworne of euery age
While that he went oute on pylgrymage
Fro poynt ta poynt to kepe theym in certeyn
Vnto tyme that he cam home ageyne

And for his lawes were of greate substaunce
And profitable to euery comonte
He chase to lyue in exyll and penanuce
Neuer to resorte ageyne to his cite
That his statutes by eternyte
Shulde nat be broke as ye haue herde toforne
By the conuencyon to which they were sworne

To comon profite had he such tendirnesse
That he forsoke his kingdome and kinrede
To lyue in exyle his story bereth wytnesse
But or he dyed as he lay bedrede
He bad his bonys shulde be cast in dede
Amyd these fer oute from the stronde
That his statutes myght in their strength stonde

He eschewed eueryche occasion
As a thinge hatefull which was nat fayre
That his forseyde royall myghty toun
Shulde breke their othe bycause of his repayre
But touchinge that he put theym in dispaire
Cast him neuer resorte in their dawes
List they wolde breke the sentence of his lawes

Here Bochas maketh an exclamacion of the extorcion of the officers of Rome

IOhn bochas hers maketh a digression
And by rebukinge cast him so tassayle
Thilke officers that were in rome toun
Which by extorcion oppressed the poraile
And ageyne Iuges also of Itayle
And namely theym that lucre or mede
Set trouth aside and toke of it none hede

He maketh ageyne theym an exclamacion
Such as to vertue were contrarious
And vnder coloure and occasion
Of their office list to be lecherous
Lyke condicion vnto Apius
And fynally as it was after sene
Fals in their domys and of their lif vnclene

O quod bochas o trouth o thou Iustise
Which in youre noblesse whilom dyd excelle
Where in effect is nowe your excercise
Where is youre wonynge alas where do you dwell
Of your practike full fewe men can tell
So ferre put backe is nowe your disciplyne
Youre kyn exiled and youre noble lyne

Aduocatys that nowe done occupye
Youre olde sees and places full royall
All to falshede their wittes they applye
Such couetise nowe regneth ouer all
Causes of ciuile and causes crymynall
Their domys take where they be fals or trewe
All after wyll by statutes chaunged newe

There been eke other called accessours
Syttinge by Iuges to yeue theym counsayle
Which may full well be called rauenours
For they nat laboure but for their owne auayle
A noumbre of robbers folowe at their tayle
To pylle the people as ye haue harde toforne
Bare as a shepe that is but newe shorne

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There is nomore in this mater to seyne
Saue only this trouthstant desolate
And rightwisnesse dare to no wight compleyne
With wronge oppressed wepinge and desolate
Wherfore ye princes that sit in high estate
Such thinge to amende but ye better hede list take
God shall with you a full harde rekenynge make

¶Your office is in your magnificence
 [...]wene man and man all wronges to redresse▪
And where a mater is ageyne conscience
Is to refourme only of rightwisnesse
To stonde by trouth maynteyne no falsnesse
And let wise counseyle such maters examyne
Or ye of hast theron determyne

Haue such thinges in youre mynde amonge
Thinke god wyll quite like as ye deserue
Ye spot youre noblesse if that ye do wronge
His swerde of punysshinge drede or it kerue
Let youre reson and conscience conserue
Your noble estates and thinke like your werkinge
The lorde of you wyll axe a rekenynge

Of Alcibiades exiled and after brent in his bedde

AFter other that put theym silf in prees
Tofore bochas their compleintis to discure
Cam of Athenys alcibiades
That t [...]me alyue the fayrest creature
And as it is remembred by scripture
He was discrete and was at all assayes
O [...]e the s [...]r [...]ngest and manly in his dayes

He was first borne of full high lynage
Aboue all other of moost semelynesse
Well proporcioned and hardy of corage
Loued and well sauoured for his greate fairenesse
Famous in knighthode for his worthynesse
Subtyll witted and coude by eloquence
Moch comprehendyd vnder short sentence

His wyt enclyned to many folde sciences
Had of cūnynge a passinge retentyf
Loued clerkes and fonde theym their dispences
Such as in practif he sawe moost inuentif
To rede in bokes reioysed all his lif
Kept what he redde in his memoriall
And of wise counseyle was none to him egall

An vncle he had I called perioles
Which stode in daungere of excessif spendynge
Yit in his youth this Alcibiades
Seynge his vncle pensif in lokinge
Cast of wisdome to remedye that thynge
And for to aswage his hertis heuynesse
Gaue him this counseyle by greate auisenesse

First to reherce howe the mater stode
And of vncles wofull highe distresse
There was to him delyuered a sūme of gode
To repaire the temple of a goddesse
Called minerua but for the greate excesse
Of his dispencis he stode sūwhat in drede
Touchinge thacoumpte which he muste yelde in dede

Alcibiades hereupon musynge
To his vncle gaue counseyle in sentence
Vncle quod he let be youre thinkinge
And for youre silf shape this diffence
Nat for tacoumpte by mene of youre prudence
Afore prouided with face and chere vnfeyned
To such duresse that ye be nat constreyned

And whan perioles his counseyle aduertiseth
Fonde to his worship it was resonable
And by good leiser him silf full well auyseth
And by prouision prudent and notable
Saued his estate from eche thinge repreuable
So that he stode touchinge this matere
As for accoumptis oute of all daungere

Alcibiades of athene cheef capteyne
From day to day waxe vp to greate encres
Such another was there no where seyne
Theym to gouerne both in werre and pes
And all the Cyte by assent him ches
Of their nauye in especiall
Vpon the se to be their admirall

For his knighthode they sent him oute aferre
To Cathenois to be their gouernoure
Geyne Ciracusenes for to gynne awerre
First there receyued with glorye and greate honoure
But in the ende of his greate laboure
Fortune that is aye varyaunt and vnstale
Was to this duke nat founde fauourable

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He was accused to theym of the toun
Which in athenys had gouernaunce
That he was gilty in party of treson
By theym reuokyd for all his greate puissaunce
Of capteynship and by their ordenaunce
And fortunes fals mutabilite
Vnwarly pryued from all dignite

But for him silf thus he gan prouide
Went into exyll nat ferre fram that cuntre
Into a cite that called was Elyde
There for to haue fredom and liberte
And of his lyfe to stonde in suerte
For in athene they wolde haue him dede
Vnto their goddes to offre vp his hede

But whan he was of their entent certeyn
To Lacedomoyn he toke the right way
And by relacion there he herde seyne
Howe Cathemenses were put to a fray
In a batayle vpon a certeyne day
Which that they helde to their aduersite
Geyne Cathenoys as they faught on the see

But the cause of this disconfiture
As was tolde to alcibyades
Was by thre capteyns thrugh their mysauenture
Which in their ledynge were founde recheles
The cheef of theym named domestenes
The tother called the story telleth vs
The tone Niceas the tother Eurilocus

Alcibiades hauynge herof tydinge
To auenge his wronge put him silf in pres
Of Lacedomoyn he goth first to the kinge
Which of trouth was called Agydes
Besechinge him to graunte to his encres
Certeyne soudiours oute of his cuntre
For to werreye athenoys the cite

Thus he wax stronge of noble prouidence
Had greate people vnder his gouernaunce
And lyke a duke made stronge in his defence
The people gadred to his obeysaunce
That other princes which were of high puissaunce
Gan haue enuye of wylfull frowardnesse
And to malygne ageyne his high noblesse

For seeld or neuer in any region
Prowesse of armys nobles of cheualrye
Encres of riches report of high renoun
Fame of cūnynge in craft or in clergie
May nowhere dwell withoute sūme enuye
From whoos malice as folke expert may see
Saue only wretchis no man hath liberte

For which this prince as put is in memorye
Escaped nat for all his high parage
But that some enuyed at his glorye
For in this lyf no man hath auauntage
Ageyne tunges nor odious fals langage
To stop such venym this the best obstacle
That men with suffraunce tempre their triacle

The clere prowesse of Alcibiades
Steyned the nobles of other princes
His cure him reysed vp to so greate encres
To the heghest trone of fortunes hall
Such fatall grace is vnto him fall
That in tho dayes pleynly this is no fable
There was in knighthode none to him resemblable

In his exyll so cleere his renoun shone
And thrugh Grece gaue as greate brightnesse
As doth a tube aboue eche other stone
Yit for to clips and shadowe his worthynesse
Lacedomonois dyd their besynesse
Such as nat might to his noblesse atteyne
By fals reporte his renoun to restreyne

A wayte was layde to take him at myscheef
And many treynes were serched out and sought
Of entent to put him at repreef
But all that euer ageyne him they haue wrought
At the ende the purpos cam to nought
For god prouideth of his magnificence
Ageyne such malyce to saue innocence

He was likly to fall in greate daungere
Lacedomonois gan so at him disdeyne
Bycause his honoure and nobles shone so clere
That to his fone it was a dedly peyne
And thus his lif stode in no certeyne
For all be it he manly was and wise
He knewe no thinge their purpos nor malice

He had almoost I warned be to late
And like to haue stonde in greate ꝑplexite
And more his grace and fortune tabate
By thoccasion of his greate beute
He with the quene was waxen full pryue
For in hir grace so well stode there none
Which gaue him warnynge of theym yt were his fone

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And by the counseyle only of the quene
Fro Lacedomoyne he wisly toke his flylght
Towarde athenys and thought he wolde seen
His owne cuntre full lyke a manly knyght
And though they hadde nat gouerned theym aright
Towardys him beynge in distresse
To auenge his wronge he dyd theym no duresse

For he thought it was ageyne nature
To be vengeable or shewe his cruelte
By thoccasion of any auenture
Or gynne a werre vpon his cuntre
His natyf blode meuyd him to pite
And of very naturall gentylnesse
Was deboneyre ageyne their vnkyndnesse

The cas was this for short conclusion
Howe kinge Dary with greate apparayle
Thought to werreye of indignacion
Theym of athenys and their toun tassayle
And in purpos proudly to preuayle
Thes [...]fferenes a prince of greate puissaunce
Of Daryes power had all the gouernaunce

Fynall cause and grounde of all this werre
That darius gan on theym so hastely
And that he sent his puissaunce from so ferre
For to destroye athenys vtterly
Was to holde vp and susteyne the party
Of lacedomoyne which of olde hatrede
Were euer enuyous theym to oppresse in dede

 [...]ut by mene of Alcibiades
And his trete founded on prudence
Thesifferenes enclyned to the pes
Therby in party tappese his violence
And all was done of noble prouidence
And fro the place to which he was exiled
He to athenys shulde be reconcyled

Vnto the cite he dyd signefye
Howe darius had made his ordenaunce
And by his letters he gan theym specifye
If they wolde stonde at his gouernaunce
To condescende pleynly in substaunce
He wolde laboure and no lenger tarye
To make accorde atwene t [...]eym and kinge darie

This was the mene that he ment
Within athenys that the sanatours
Shulde of the cite after their entent
Haue full lordship and be their gouernours
But as clere weddyr troubled is with shoures
Right so vnwarly within that royall toun
Through this trete fyll a discencion

The cōmoners gan sodenly dysdeyne
To be so thralled vnder subieccion
And so by assent the comons dyd ordeyne
Oonly tappese all fals discencion
For to reuoke ageyne into their toun
Alcibiades as they thought it mete
Through his prudence to set theym in quyete

First in his comynge myn auctour doth reporte
He was made duke ageyne of that cite
And gan the party of comons to supporte
And theym restore to their olde liberte
Where thrugh the senat dredynge the comonte
Fled into exyll full ferre oute of all prees
Oonly for drede of alcibyades

They stode that tyme in so greate disioynt
Their toun deuided and oute of gouernaunce
That they were brought euene to the poynt
To yelde the cyte vnto the obeysaunce
Of lacedomoyn through their vnhappy chaunce
Within theym silf whan they gan debate
Vnder their duke the Senat bare such hate

But the comons ches in their dyffence
Alcibyades to gouerne that vyage
And to the see with cost and greate dispence
Withoute abode he holdeth his passage
In mighty shippes made for auauntage
Well enarmed and cast if he myght
With lacedomonois proudly for to fight

Thre mighty capteynes were on that other syde
The first zestro bochas telleth thus
And the seconde that was their lorde and guyde
Called Mydare the thryd pharbanasus
On the se and londe in armys full pompous
But of knighthode and magnanimite
Alcibiades toke theym all thre

Stronge was the fight or that they were take
Of all their meyne away there scaped none
The duke that day gan such a slaughter make
Of high prowesse vpon his mortall fone
Cast ouer boord almooost euerych [...]n
And after that whan he cam to londe
Anewe batayle met him on the str [...]nde

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Such wayte was laide aboute him enuyron
Of his ennemyes by sodeyne auenture
But of athenes thys mighty champion
Which might in armys moost souereynly endure
Made of his fone a newe disconfiture
Thus in short tyme this prince in his estate
On londe and water was twyes laureate

And after that he lyst nat for to cesse
Nor tabyde the space of half a day
The comon profite of his toun tencrece
Towarde Asye he toke the right way
And touns castellys that were take away
Which apperteyned to athenys of right
He gate ageyne full lyke a manly knight

Maugre all that to him were contrarye
Or wrought ageyne him by rebellyon
Throughoute asye in the londe of darye
He knightly brought theym to subieccion
Ageyne whoos swerde halpe no proteccion
And fynall laboure was of his entent
The comon profite of his toun to augment

And with this glory and with this noblesse
He to athenys repeyred is ageyne
And all the cite with ioye and greate gladnesse
Cam oute to mete him vpon welfayre playne
And that his triumphes shulde openly be seyne
Both olde and yonge with full glad visages
Of their goddys brought oute the ymages

This was their cry and noyse of all the prees
Victorious prince whoos triumphes marciall
Shall euer be songe with laude and newe encrees
Tofore the goddys which been immortall
Welcom welcom oure protectour and oure wall
Sheeld of oure welfare ageyne all violence
Phebus of knighthode and swerde of oure diffence

Thus with thei [...] goddys they made him egal
By vncouth preysurge of paganismes rightes
Lyke as he had be very immortal
And sange refreytes to comende his merites
And to enhaunce his glorye they set all their delytes
And with the light of eternall fame
Set vp torches to enlumyne with his name

Thus certeyne dayes they halowed of entent
Through all the cite for his high prowesse
Tyll fortune hath his iyen blent
With newe fauoure of worldly fals swetnesse
For all hir suger is meynt with bitternesse
A baite of hony shad oute at pryme face
With mortall venym hyd vnder to manace

For in his highest clymbynge vp aloft
And in thascence of fortunes whele
After hir custome as she hath full ofte
Whan he best wende for to stonde wele
She drewe hir fauour from him euerydele
Made the people vnder his obeysaunce
To fall in myscheef for lacke of gouernaunce

Thus fro this duke fortune gan to varye
And his noblesse goo bak and eke faile
Whan kinge Cirus successoure to darye
Full vnwarly fyll on him in batayle
And gan his knightes proudly to assayle
Whan he dispurueyed voyde of prouidence
Was ouerlayde to make resistence

For finally this alcibiades
At myscheef take which he might nat recure
Whan through veyne glorye he was made recheles
His noble estate testablisshe and assure
Lacke of forsight caused his disconfiture
And to encrees of more aduersite
Banysshed ageyne oute of his cite

Thus diffacyd and clypsyd was his glorye
His cyte put in straunge gouernaunce
By lacedomonois after their victorye
So that he knewe no maner cheuisaunce
To refourme his vnhappy chaunce
Saue to refute myn auctoure doth reherce
Howe that he fled vnto the kinge of perce

From athenys of newe he was exiled
And thritty persones furious and vengeable
Chase in their cite as bochas hath compyled
The toun gouerned albe they were nat able
Vsinge a maner hatefull and repreuable
Through their rauyne temporisshe their cite
A thinge moost odyous to all comonte

A worme of drede was bred vp in their herte
Which suffred nat theym to lyue in pees
Amonge theym silf whan they dyd aduerte
The greate prudence of alcibyades
Howe in manhode he was peerles
Lyst he wolde after for all their multitude
Knightly acquite their ingratitude

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And of assent to abrydge his lyue dayes
They ageyne him of malyce haue conspired
After his exill to make no delayes
For to accomplyssh that they longe haue desired
With brennynge hate their hertys falsly fyred
To murdre by enuye causes ageyne right
Alcibiades the noble worthy knyght

Thus the tyme approched and the date
T [...]me afore set by constellacion
Of his parodye and his lyues fate
Which was con [...]luded as made is mencion
By cruell murdre to his distruccion
Alas what prince with golde or soudiours
 [...]ay  [...] prouyde agayne fals conspiratours

Fortune of newe gan at him enchace
From her traynes that he ne scape might
Dayly pursued from place aye vnto place
Through perce & meede though he were oute of sight
Till that his ennemyes fyll on him by night
Slepinge alas to sone they were sped
Whan they him fonde they brent him in his bed

T [...]us by murdre their purpos was acheuyd
Alas it was to horrible a dede
 [...] good a knight so wele in armys preuyd
So  [...]o [...]ed so famous in manhede
For to be brent amonge the coles rede
 [...] vnwarly in his bed I take
And so confirmed amonge the coles blake

This was the ende of alcibiades
Which in k [...]ighthode was moost souereyne
In werre a lyon and a lambe in pees
As  [...]ars victorious his sate so dyd ordeyne
To  [...]amys paleys he fleeth with wynges tweyne
Sone to Mynarua to speke of high prudence
And lyke mercurye by notable eloquence

Here Bochas maketh an exclamacion vpon the deth of Alcibiades

O Fatall sustren which span the lyues threde
So shorte a terme why dyd ye determyne
To suffre him brenne amonge the coles rede
Ye were to hasty to breke and vntwyne
His web of knighthode yt thrugh the world dyd shyne
And cast of noblesse his bemys oute so clere
Alas that euer he fyll in your daungere

Oute on Stix and on attrapos
That haue of malyce slayne so good a knight
Oute on you thre that kepe youre silf so clos
Doughter I called of the derke night
And thou le [...]ū that queyntest eke the light
Of alcibiades myrroure and lanterne
To speke in knighthode howe men shulde thē goūne

Ye sle the worthy and wretchis ye do spare
Torcites lyueth hector is slayne in dede
Youre funeral smokis maketh realmes nowe so bare
To race vp Cedrys their braunches may nat sprede
Ye palle the laurer ye make the firses sede
Full lytell thanke in kingdoms ye deserue
Caytifs to fostre and do the worthy sterue

Alcibiades is passed in to fate
Light of knighthode light clipsyd in the shade
The par [...]as susterne to sone set his date
Of his high noblesse to make the laurer fade
Lacedomonois of his deth were glade
Funerall fire his body hath diffred
For high prowesse his soule stellefied

Lenuoye

ALas this tragedye doth myn herte blede
My penne quaketh of ruth and of pyte
In my wrytynge whan that I take hede
To see the straunge feerfull diuersite
Of all worldly vnsure felicite
Howe from their sees shortly to comprehende
Frowarde fortune doth princes doun descende

Alcibiades of corage and of manhede
As is reherced in bokes ye may se
Of gentylnesse and of goodlihede
Of semelynesse of fredom of bountye
Of high prudence and magnanymyte
Was moost famous as auctours him cōmende
Yit from his sete fortune made him descende

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All the people bothe of perce and meede
Whyle he gouerned Athenys the cite
Stode in his daungere and gan his swerde to drede
And all that were rebell to his cuntre
He chastysed them in their moost cruelte
But whan his fame gan highest vp to ascende
Doun from her whele fortune made him descende

Murdre and treson with prudens frendlihede
Outwarde faire chere couert Iniquite
Plesaunce in spech and vnder that falshede
Hony shedoute sharpe tayled lyke a bee
Songe of Sirenes to drowne men in the see
In one combyned their malice can extende
To cause princes doun from their sees descende

Noble princes that se so moch and rede
Remembringe storyes of antiquite
Afore prou [...]nge that treson nat procede
Be aye moost dredefull in high prosꝑite
Let others fallynge a myrrour to you be
The turne of fortune all auctours reprehende
Where who syt hyghest is rediest to descende

Here bochas writeth ageyne the desires of people.

aFter this processe if ye list to lere
Like as Iohn Bochas maketh mencion
That wordly folke most souerenly desere
To haue in lordship greate axaltacion
And vp to clymbe in their intencion
Of worldly worship to the highest place
All erthely tresoure atonys to enbrace

The feruent flame of their gredy desires
In moch gaderynge findeth no suffisaunce
Their hungry etike kindeleth so the fires
Of auarice by longe contynuaunce
That their thrust with worldly habundaunce
On tantalus riuere abraideth euer in one
Drownyd in drinkinge and deme their partis none

There may no tresoure their dropsye well staunche
The more they drinke the more they thurst in dede
In tagus flodys the depper that they launche
The gretter drinesse doth in their brestys brede
The higher water an ebbe moost they drede
Fals indigence their herte hath so confounded
At the fullest sees they seme their barge is grounded

Thus euery man wolde to greate richesse atteyne
With suffisaunce but fewe holde theym content
Who moost haboundeth nowe rathest wyll cōpleyne
For lacke of gode alas howe they be blent
Where shal ther gadring where shal ther gode be spēt
Sum one parcas shall theym therof discharge
Whom they moost hate and spende it oute at large

Within a body full litell of stature
Corages growe vp to their magnificence
Which vp tascende do their besy cure
And in their clymbinge and transitorye ascence
Hauinge an hope of worldly apparence
Lyke as no thinge their puissaunce might trouble
No thinge aduertinge howe fortune is double

Sūme sette their ioye in conquest and in werrys
To enbrace all erth vnder their puissaunce
Lyke as they might reche aboue the sterrys
To bringe doun heuene vnto their obeysaunce
But if their power were weyed in balaunce
And counterweyed aright in their memorye
They shulde well finde that all is but veynglorye

What may auayle theym their fethirbeddys soft
Shetys of reynes longe large and wyde
Dyuers deuyses or clothes chaungyd oft
Or vicious meyne walkinge by their side
Voide of vertue ambicious in their pride
Which causeth princis by report of such fame
For their myslyuynge to haue an heuy name

And thus for lacke of vertuous diligence
Through fals luxure and Idelnesse
And vpon flaterers the outragious expence
Support of wronge oppressinge rightwisnesse
Where lesingmongers haue an interesse
Whom to susteyne whan princys do their cure
God wyll nat suffre that they shall longe endure

Office of princys is to support right
His swerde of knighthode fro wronge to redresse
The pore releuynge to oppresse theym nat with might
His olde seruauntes wele preuyd nat disdeyne
His hasty rigoure and his vengeaunce sodeyne
Let mercy tempre to dome or he procede
And god shall quyte him whan he hath moost nede

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Here Iohn bochas speketh ageyne Idelnesse rehercinge howe sūme men haue ioye in one science and sūme in another

Myn auctour Bochas maketh a rehersayle
In eschuynge of froward Idelnesse
That vnto vertue may more auayle
Good diligent laboure and honest besynesse
And so concludynge full pleynly doth expresse
Euery man reioyseth this sentence is nat glos [...]d
 [...]o do such thinge to which he is disposyd

Sūme haue ioye by heuenly influence
To knowe the cours aboue celestiall
And sūme of knighthode do their diligence
To p [...]eue theym silf in actys marciall
And sūme reioise in their entent fynall
In eloquence sūme in philosophie
Sūme aboue all to studye in poetrye

The hardy knight is seruaūte to saint george
M [...]uynge of planetys sercheth thas [...]ronomore
Martys smyteth laboureth in his forge
Ha [...]ys of steele maketh tharmoure
 [...]ut the diuisoure by diligent entere labo [...]
 [...] f [...]ssh contriuynge out of the olde entayle
Fyndeth newe diuises of plate and eke of mayle

The laborere set holy his plesaunce
 [...]o  [...]yl [...]h of londe in tyme to sowe hys greyne
 [...] his sede by yeerly habundaunce
And that his plough laboure nat in veyne
 [...] y [...]ge his cesons of drought and eke of reyne
And poetes to syt in their librarye
D [...]s [...]e of nature and to be solitarye

 [...]uch as men loue such thinge they vndertake
F [...]ssh or foule to hunte with their houndes
Sūme of wulle sundry clothes make
By philosophers was founde oute first the groundes
And of all study they set oute first the boundes
Caused poetys pleynly to conclude
Oute of all prees to lyue in solitude

Logiciens delyte in argumentys
Philosophers in vertuous lyuynge
And legistres folowynge the ententys
Greatly reioyse in lucre and wynnynge
Phesiciens trauayle for getinge
And of poetys this the subtyll fourme
By newe Inuencion thinges to transfourme

Poetys shulde eschewe all Idelnesse
Walke by ryuers and wellys cristalyne
To hye mounteyns amorowe their cours dresse
The myst diffied whan phebus first doth shyne
Studye in bokys of morall disciplyne
No thinge coueite but let their entent
With moderate fode  [...]or to be content

Their cheef laboure is vices for to fage
With a maner couert simylitude
And none estate with their language
By no rebukynge of termys dull and rude
What euer they wryte on vertue ay conclude
Appeyre no man in no maner wyse
This thoffices of poetys that been wise

Howe malleus duke of cartage for oppression and tyrannye was hewen into pecys.

wHan bochas had rehersed of poetys
Their straūge studye & soleyne writinges
And their desires of solitary seetys
In plesaūt places to make ther dwellīges
Besyde ryuers and holsum well springes
Which accomplisshed he gan his penne auaunce
Princes of auffrike to put in remembraunce

And while he dyd this besy diligence
Their pitous fallys to put in memorye
First there cam tweyne vnto his presence
Their olde noblesse appalled & their glorye
Which as him sempte within a terytorye
Of auffrike boundes longynge to cartage
Dyd first appere moost dedly of visage

The tone of theym was named malleus
Duke of cartage of auffrike lorde and sire
His sonne also called cartalus
Whilom cheef prince and busshop eke of Tire
But Mallcus which helde the greate empire
Of all auffrike for his pompous outrage
Exiled was for euer oute of cartage

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Which caused him in herte he was nat merye
But ay remembred vpon his fell banysshinge
Gadred his people within the londe of surrye
And in the felde while he lay hostynge
Cast hi [...] fully to make no tarynge
But in all hast of knightly fell corage
Maugre his ennemyes resort vnto cartage

Gauenge his exil his herte was set afire
And his entent more to fortefie
He sent in haft his letters doun to Tyre
To Tartalus that he shulde him hye
And bringe with him al the cheualrye
Of his cite in stele armyd clene
His faders party to holde vp and sustene

But whan this bysshop knewe hooly the manre
Of this purpos which ye haue herde deuise
He considred howe that tyme of the yere
Ordeyned was to doo socrifise
Afetr the rites of their paynym wise
To hercules which in that cite
Aboue all goddys had the souereynte

Whoos feest was holde space of certeyne dayes
Which for to halowe he nedis must entende
And by the custum make no delayes
But that he must therto condescende
And leuer he had his fader toffende
As in such caas than thrugh negligence
Vnto his goddys for to do offence

Wherof his fader had indignacion
The caas arectinge to vnkindnesse
And therof caught a greate occasion
Ageyne his sonne of frowarde wylfulnes
For princys oft of furious hastynes
Wyl pike a quarell causeles in sentence
Ageyne folke absent though there be none offence

And sūme tunges venemous of nature
Whan they ꝑceyue that a prince is meuyd
Tagregge his Ire doo their besy cure
With fals langage to make him more greuyd
But there is no poyson so wel expert nor preuyd
As is of tunges the hatefull violence
Namely whan princis list yeue theym audience

The feest accomplisshed of mighty hercules
Al Innocent of double or fals menynge
This seide bisshop of wyll nat recheles
Cam to his fader withoute more taryinge
Chaungyd nouther habyte nor clothinge
With all thensignes and in the same wise
As he tofore had done sacrifise

Anone his fader made no delay
Without excuse it wolde be no be [...]
Of hasty rancoure the silf same daye
Made him be hanged vpon an hye gybet
Lawe and iustise were both aside set
And tyrannye moost furious and wode
To do vengeaunce in trouthes place stode

Who can or may tyrauntys well descryue
Whoos marciall swerdis been whet ay for vengeaūce
Their blody thurst doth through their hertis ryue
Ther erys ay opyn to here of him myschaunce
Their furious merth their mortal wode plesaunce
Their pale smylinge their laughter of fals hatrede
Concludeth euer vpon sūme cruell dede

They be mynistres to parcas sustren thre
To vntwyne the thredys of folkes here mortall
And very cosyns through hasty cruelte
Vnto the wode furies infernal
Children to pluto of vengeaunce marciall
Which for their vices but they bere theym wele
Shall turne in helle on Ixions whele

Thus malleus fader moost vnkinde
Lyke such a tyraunt shed oute his cruelte
As ye haue herde and after as I fynde
Of furious herte and of olde enmyte
By force is entred cartage the cite
And slough all tho in his hatefull yre
That him afore had exyled into Tyre

Wrought after wyll and no thinge after right
Gan robbe and spoile that noble famous toun
Which made him hatyd in the people sight
For his outrage and greate extorcion
Hauynge no ioye nor consolacion
Within his herte pleynly nor gladnesse
Saue lyke a tyraunte the people to oppresse

The people of cartage sore gan to compleyne
Vpon their missheef and desolacion
As bochas writeth rehersinge in certeyne
Wyl is a stepmoder of wyt and of reson
And where that princis haue domynacion
And by fals pillage to riches clymbe vp fast
Trust right well their lordship may nat last

[Page]
Their greate power of worldly excellence
To their accrochinge of temporall richesse
Whan they be tirauntes may stonde in no diffence
And frowarde wyll ruleth their highnesse
For what is lordship playnly to expresse
In this worlde here if it be dicerned
Loue of the people whan they be wyll gouerned

For tirannye and fals oppressyon
Causeth princes to stonde in greate haterede
And what is worth their domynacion
Withoute loue let preue it at a nede
Men for a tyme may suffre theym and drede
 [...]is whan that drede constreyned is and gone
 [...]an is a prince a man but alone

See an exaumpte howe malleus of cartage
For all his castellys and toures made of stonys
For his oppression vengeaunce and outrage
 [...]e people of affrike rose on him all atonye
And  [...]ughe asondre his flessh and also his bon
Cast theym playnly on him they were so wode
Vnto their goddys to offre vp his blode

The people dempt of mortall cruelte
There was none offringe so plesaunt nor couenable
Vnto their goddys to ple [...]e their deite
As blode of t [...]rauntes which that be vengeable
Thus cruell princes make the people vnstable
Of necessite which ought be compleyned
To wrek [...] their wronges that they be constreyned

 [...]o here the ende of malleus the tyraunt
Which doth to princes full well exemplefie
To god aboue howe it is nat plesaunce
Theym to delite in no such robbrye
Nor pylle the people by no fals tyrannye
Nor for no tales be hasty of vengeaunce
For all such thinge to god is displesaunce

Lenuoye.

REd and considred this sayde tragedye
Sheweth to princes a myrrour full notable
Howe they ther rigour shal tempre & modefie
Or they procede for to be vengeable
For in a prince it is right comendable
Rancoure of herte of chere and of corage
For to differre tyll that their yre aswage

Their hasty yre their sadeyne malencolye
Their colerike fumys the furye vnrestreynable
Their vnqueynt fires with flame of tyrannye
Their fretynge etyke of hate incomꝑable
Lyke bestyall tygres like lyons vntretable
Ne will nat suffre that infernall rage
Diffarre their domys tyll their yre asswage

The royall lyon of mortall gentrye
Amonge bestes of force incoporable
Preueth nat his power nor his regalye
Geyne bestys prostrat which be nat defensable
And mighty princes shulde in caas semblable
For Innocentes take mercy in morgage
Respitynge rygour tyll that yre asswage

The sparcle of vengeaunce is quickyd in ꝑtye
By windes foure fell and abhomynable
Blast of detraccion and blast of flaterye
Blast of fals rowners that forge many fable
And blast of bribours moost vicious and culpable
With smoky slaunders and felons fals visage
Causeth yre of princes that it may neuer asswage

For which let princes of noble polecye
Beware of tunges double and deceyuable
Which with their venym infect eche cūpanye
Their poynaunt poyson is so penetrable
To folke absent it is myscheuable
So depe fretith their serpentyne langage
Causynge in princes their yre may neuer asswage

Noble princes let vertue magnefie
Your high estatys to make you merciable
For morall senke doth cleerly specefie
The trone of princes by clemence is made stable
Vengeaunce delayed to god is agrea [...]e
And hasty rygoure doth outrageous damage
Whan humble requestys youre yre may nat asswage

[Page]

Howe the substaunce of the host of himilcho duke of cartage goynge to conquere Cicile dyed of pestylence and after him silf slayne

After these noble mighty princes tweyne
Next in ordre with pale and dede visage
Tofore Iohn Bochas hymilcho gan cōpleyne
The vnhappy fall of his fatall passage
Whan he was sent by auctorite of cartage
To conquere thrugh his mighty puissaunce
The londe of cicile vnto their obeysaunce

They of cartage had an opynyon
That it was lefull after their entent
Withoute title of right or of reson
Their teritories and boundes taugment
And for that cause hymilcho they sent
The mighty duke their noblesse tauaunce
Which of cartage had hole the gouernaunce

And for he must passe by these
Towarde cecile this noble worthy knight
With him he had a full greate enarme
Chose oute of cartage in stele armyd bryght
Their fone to conquere of very force and might
But fortune gan at him so disdeyne
That to his purpos he neuir might atteyne

Grounde and gynnynge of his distruccion
To be remembred shortly in sentence
There fyll of the ayre a greate corrupcion
Which caused a full greate pestilence
Amonge his meyne by vnware violence
And sodeyne myscheef that is vpon him fall
He lost almost his worthy knightes all

Dye all his people was slayne in that moreyne
That but a fewe be left of his meyne
Infortunate he turned is ageyne
Home to cartage and they of the cite
All causeles of hasty cruelte
Hath slayne this duke as bochas doth compile
Lo who may trust fortune any while

Howe Heynon duke of cartage was dismembred

aFter whoos deth a man there gan succede
A mighty duke that called was haynoun
Which purposed for to chaunge in dede
His name of duke by fals ambycion
And to be called thrughoute that mighty toun
Kinge of cartage and therupon of pride
To finde oute weyes he felly gan prouide

He was nat [...]content a duke men shulde him call
But of cartage for to be named kinge
And lyke as his purpos that it shulde fall
Fro day to day the menys compassinge
Howe he might fulfyll this vncouth thinge
For to be crowned and regne in that londe
And at the last this mene wey he fonde

He had a doughter yonge and tendre of age
Which of the people stode in greate fauoure
And he him cast to geue hir mariage
To a yonge knight sonne to a Senatoure
Which in the cite was a gouernour
And that his purpose might be atteyned
Day of the mariage and tyme was ordeyned

And in his palyce cheef and principall
This sayde duke lete make his ordynaunce
To holde a feest full solempne and royall
And with great costys made his purueaunce
Of sondry dayntees which that in substaunce
Were necessarye in all manere thynge
Vnto the feest of a worthy kynge

He gaue in charge vnto his purueyours
That al were redy ageyne a certeyne day
And to his feest cam all the senatours
Dwellynge in cartage there durste no man say nay
And of his purpose to make no delay
Though his fraude was nat apperceyued
He caste that day that sūme shulde be deceyued

He conceyued in his inwarde entent
He to be kynge and regne in cartage
The senatours wolde neuer assent
To their custome nor their olde vsage
He durste therof vtter no langage
Kepte him secrete without noyse or soun
And fully caste him to procede by tresoun

[Page]
The next wey he knewe no better rede
To his desire than pleynly to ordeyne
That of cartage the senatours were dede
Than were he lykly his purpos to atteyne
For to be crowned lorde and souereyne
So taccomplyssh his lust in all thinge
And in cartage to regne as lorde and kinge

For if the Senate were vtterly destroyed
He shulde finde no maner resistence
Wherby his purpos shulde be enclosed
Nor dare say nay to his magnificence
For in the poraile there was no diffence
And at this feest he cast him to procede
All his entent to conclude in dede

His officers he made to be sworne
To helpe destroye falsly by poyson
The senatours of whom I spake to forne
And that their vitayle and deyntes in foyson
And eke their wynes for short conclusion
Shulde with venym be intoxicate
Through all the palys and spare none estate

These officers had a conscience
For to accomplissh so horrible a thinge
And secrely vnder greate prouidence
To the Senate therof they gaue warnynge
And whan they knewe this mortall compassinge
Of duke haynoun to shewe all affray
They put in prudence the weddynge in delay

Wherof this duke gan haue suspeccion
And this mater fill in a maner drede
Thought he wolde by sum collusion
Ageyne cartage more mortally procede
And gan call to helpe him at his nede
Of mau [...]ayne a kinge of greate renoun
With him by force to fall vp on the toun

Made him promys to his auauntage
For to make fre distribucion
Of the richesses tresours and pyllages
Which that he might finde in the toun
For vtter fyne of his entencion
Was to destroy of wylfull cruelte
The famous cartage the mighty stronge cyte

Of all the thrallys in the toun dwellinge
And suche as were borne of lowe lynage
To strength his party this was his werkinge
He made theym all by mortall fell outrage
Within the mighty castell of cartage
To kepe theym cloos of malyce and enuye
Ageyne the cite him silf to fortefie

But all for nought the mighty senatours
Therof ware and of high prudence
Geyne his malice and all his fals robbours
They made theym stronge and thrugh their ꝓuidence
In especiall to ordeyne a diffence
First on their party to let the comynge
Of Mauritayne the stronge cruell kinge

And of assent they list nat delay
But rose atonys by greate ordenaunce
Their fals duke to venquessh and outraye
Him and his cherles they broute to vttraunce
Fyll vpon him with a greate puissaunce
And fynally procedinge of resoun
This was his dome by auys of all the toun

First of this duke as it is remembred
He was despoiled his doublet eke vnlaced
Ioynt fro ioynt hewyn and dismembred
And from his hede oute his iyen araced
And right as he had afore compaced
To haue destroied his owne mighty toun
As ye haue herde he receyued the guerdoun

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye doth pitously copleyne
And maketh a maner lamentacion
Of these mighty rich princes tweyne
Slayne in cartage as made is mencion
Causles the toun saue by thoccasion
That pestilence in his frowarde viage
Slough all his people that were borne in cartage

Fortune also gan frowardly disdeyne
Ageyne this rich mighty duke haynoun
Whan of malice gan mortally ordeyne
The Senatours to murdre of his toun
At his fest by craft of fals poyson
As ye haue herde reherced his outrage
He was ageywarde dismembred in cartage

[Page]
Who doth vengeaunce vengeaunce shall atteyne
In high estate withoute excepcion
And who of pite vengeaunce doth restreyne
He shall of mercy receyue the guerdon
For right requireth of trouth and reson
Cruell princes shall haue for theyr wage
Deth like this duke dismembred in Cartage

Noble princes do youre best peyne
For to preserue fro rebellion
The comon people which stonde in no certeyne
With euery wynde turnynge vpsodoun
After fortune they chaunge affeccion
Turnynge their hertys with trist or glad visage
Lyke as the people dyd whilom in Cartage

The auctour ageyne couetous people

NAture that is content with a litell thinge
The wyse ware the circumspect goddesse
Which vnder god in heuyn aboue regnynge
The worlde to gouerne is called thempresse
Moder of richessis the first founderesse
Which serched oute by hir arti [...]eris
The straunge tresours hid in the myneris

This noble lady this princesse moost famous
Knowynge of man the vncouth condicions
Sawe by experience richessis were noious
In him teclipse the disposicions
And conuey his inclynacions
By a wronge way vertue to set asyde
Howe couetous was a full perilous gyde

For auaryce is to all vertues contrarye
The gredy worme the serpent vnstauncheable
Man to be traisshe with promyses debonayre
At pryme face sote and a greable
Taught him of nature by craft moost deceyuable
Through subtyll serchinge as it were for the nonys
First oute of erthe to delue precious stonys

Of rich myners they serch oute the entrayles
To fynde oute metals for worldly auauntages
Contryued shippes with their brode sayles
By diuers sees to make their passages
And couetise ordeyned first viages
Caused princes to ride in londes ferre
Eche ageyne other for to gynne awerre

Of auarice gan first these robberies
Awaite of brigantys and al extort pillages
Murdre slaughter and couert briberyes
Of olde contryued furious fell damages
Wrought and enchened in all maner ages
Nowe in these dayes let set it at a preef
Fals couetyse caused all such myscheef

She was first rote of fals extorcion
To spoyle the temple moder of rauyne
And sterer vp of oppression
To take by force this was hir doctrine
And as myn auctour doth pleynly determine
And concludeth in full pitous wise
Rote of all euyll is fals couetise

She is eke norice of tontek and of strife
Mastresse of murdre and wilfull violence
Made men to i [...]parte body gode and lif
Caused discencyon and disobedience
Grutchinge of comons withdraught of reuerenc [...]
By rigorous constreynt sodeyne rebellions
Rumour in realmes vnware subuersions

This frowarde dragon full of Idropsie
Whoos fretynge etik there may no plente fede
To staunche his thurste there is no remedye
The more he drynketh the more he hath ay nede
And the more tresoure the more he stant in drede
With Cantalus though he swymme in the flodys
In mygdas well pleyneth for lak of godes

This worme eke causeth that men in their riches
Haue drede of theuys a night in their walkynge
And they here on cofre bed or presse
Cat rat or mous or any worme meuynge
He weneth anone within him silf demynge
That there were come with greate apparayle
Sum vncouth pelour his tresoure to assayle

The wofull soule stondeth euer in drede
And ay abydeth in laboure and trauayle
And of the godes which he doth possede
Falleth in despayre le [...]t they wolde him fayle
Twene hope and drede there is such batayle
Through entermynynge eche other to confounde
To be moost gredy whan they moost habou [...]de

[Page]
The next wey he knewe no better rede
To his desire than pleynly to ordeyne
That of cartage the senatours were dede
Than were he lykly his purpos to atteyne
For to be crowned lorde and souereyne
So taccomplyssh his lust in all thinge
And in cartage to regne as lorde and kinge

For if the Senate were vtterly destroyed
He shulde finde no maner resistence
Wherby his purpos shulde be enclosed
Nor da [...]e say nay to his magnificence
For in the poraile there was no diffence
And at this feest he cast him to procede
All his entent to conclude in dede

His officers he made to be sworne
To helpe destroye falsly by poyson
The senatours of whom I spake to forne
And that their vitayle and deyntes in foyson
And eke their wynes for short conclusion
Shulde with venym be intoxicate
Through all the palys and spare none estate

These officers had a conscience
For to accomplissh so horrible a thinge
And secrely vnder greate prouidence
To the Senate therof they gaue warnynge
And whan they knewe this mortall compassinge
Of duke haynoun to shewe all affray
They put in prudence the weddynge in delay

Wherof this duke gan haue suspeccion
And this mater fill in a maner drede
Thought he wolde by sum collusion
Ag [...]yne cartage more mortally procede
And gan call to helpe him at his nede
Of mountayne a kinge of greate renoun
With him by force to fall vp on the toun

Made him promys to his auauntage
For to make fre distribucion
Of the richesses tresours and pyllages
Which that he might finde in the toun
For vtter fyne of his entencion
Was to destroy of wylfull cruelte
The famous cartage the mighty stronge cyte

Of all the thrallys in the toun dwellinge
And suche as were borne of lowe lynage
To strength his party this was his werkinge
He made theym all by mortall fell outrage
Within the mighty castell of cartage
To kepe theym cloos of malyce and enuye
Ageyne the cite him silf to fortefie

But all for nought the mighty senatours
Therof ware and of high prudence
Geyne his malice and all his fals robbours
They made theym stronge and thrugh their ꝓuidence
In especiall to ordeyne a diffence
First on their party to let the comynge
Of Mauritayne the stronge cruell kinge

And of assent they list nat delay
But rose atonys by greate ordenaunce
Their fals duke to venquessh and outraye
Him and his cherles they broute to vttraunce
Fyll vpon him with a greate puissaunce
And fynally procedinge of resoun
This was his dome by auys of all the toun

First of this duke as it is remembred
He was despoiled his doublet eke vnlaced
Ioynt fro ioynt hewyn and dismembred
And from his hede oute his iyen araced
And right as he had afore compaced
To haue destroied his owne mighty toun
As ye haue herde he receyued the guerdoun

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye doth pitously copleyne
And maketh a maner lamentacion
Of these mighty rich princes tweyne
Slayne in cartage as made is mencion
Causles the toun saue by thoccasion
That pestilence in his frowarde viage
Slough all his people that were borne in cartage

Fortune also gan frowardly disdeyne
Ageyne this rich mighty duke haynoun
Whan of malice gan mortally ordeyne
The Senatours to murdre of his toun
At his fest by craft of fals poyson
As ye haue herde reherced his outrage
He was ageywarde dismembred in car [...]age

[Page]
Who doth vengeaunce vengeaunce shall atteyne
In high estate withoute excepcion
And who of pite vengeaunce doth restreyne
He shall of mercy receyue the guerdon
For right requireth of trouth and reson
Cruell princes shall haue for theyr wage
Deth like this duke dismembred in Cartage

Noble princes do youre best peyne
For to preserue fro rebellion
The comon people which stonde in no certeyne
With euery wynde turnynge vpsodoun
After fortune they chaunge affeccion
Turnynge their hertys with trist or glad visage
Lyke as the people dyd whilom in Cartage

The auctour ageyne couetous people

NAture that is content with a litell thinge
The wyse ware the circumspect goddesse
Which vnder god in heuyn aboue regnynge
The worlde to gouerne is called thempresse
Moder of richessis the first founderesse
Which serched oute by h [...]r arti [...]eris
The straunge tresours hid in the myneris

This noble lady this princesse moost famous
Knowynge of man the vncouth condicions
Sawe by experience richessis were noious
In him teclipse the disposicions
And conuey his inclynacions
By a wronge way vertue to set asyde
Howe couetous was a full perilous gyde

For auaryce is to all vertues contrarye
The gredy worme the serpent vnstauncheable
Man to be traisshe with promyse [...] debonayre
At pryme face sote and agreable
Taught him of nature by craft moost deceyuable
Through subtyll serchinge as it were for the nonys
First oute of erthe to delue precious stonys

Of rich myners they serch oute the entrayles
To fynde oute metals for worldly auauntages
Contryued shippes with their brode sayles
By diuers fees to make their passages
And couetise ordeyned first viages
Caused princes to ride in londes ferre
Eche ageyne other for to gynne awerre

Of auarice gan first these robberies
Awaite of brigantys and al extort pillages
Murdre slaughter and couert briberyes
Of olde contryued furious fell damages
Wrought and enchened in all maner ages
Nowe in these dayes let set it at a preef
Fals couetyse caused all such myscheef

She was first rote of fals extorcion
To spoyle the temple moder of rauyne
And sterer vp of oppression
To take by force this was hir doctrine
And as myn auctour doth pleynly determine
And concludeth in full pitous wise
Rote of all euyll is fals couetise

She is eke norice of tontek and of strife
Mastresse of murdre and wilfull violence
Made men to i [...]parte body gode and lif
Caused discencyon and disobedience
Grutchinge of comons withdraught of reuerence
By rigorous constreynt sodeyne rebellions
Rumour in realmes vnware subuersions

This frowarde dragon full of Idropsie
Whoos fretynge etik there may no plente fede
To staunche his thurste there is no remedye
The more he drynketh the more he hath ay nede
And the more tresoure the more he stant in drede
With Cantalus though he swymme in the flodys
In mygdas well pleyneth for lak of godes

This worme eke causeth that men in their riches
Haue drede of theuys a night in their walkynge
And they here on cofre bed or presse
Cat rat or mous or any worme meuynge
He weneth anone within him silf demynge
That there were come with greate apparayle
Sum vncouth pelour his tresoure to assayle

The wofull soule stondeth euer in drede
And ay abydeth in laboure and trauayle
And of the godes which he doth possede
Falleth in despayre lest they wolde him fayle
Twene hope and drede there is such batayle
Through entermynynge eche other to confounde
To be moost gredy whan they moost habou [...]de

[Page]
Hope vnasured with drede disespeired
Merynge in hertys make a mortall werre
Whan hope presumeth with drede he is apeyred
And lyke a cowarde maketh him stande aferre
Dull of his chere as is a cloudy sterre
Which darnat shewe the light of his tresoure
But euer to encres set holy his laboure

He dare nat touch thinge he loueth moost
His cofres cloos be shet vnder key
Though he hath moch he make therof no bost
Lest for his tresoure men wold him werreye
Pleyneth for nede like as he wolde deye
Feyneth fals pouert to spare his dispence
Oppressynge plente with frowarde indigence

And though his chestys happed be with golde
With yron barrys fast shet and closed
Fals scarsite gouerneth his housholde
 [...]h [...] by none excesse he is nat vndisposed
His indigent herte so streytly is enosed
 [...]o herebus heire and yit well worse in dede
In gretest richesse to compleyne vpon nede

This herebus hath of yron nat of stone
For auarice vil [...] a foule cyte
Where as the whele turneth of Ixion
Vnder the boundes of Thephone
Where zeziphus may neuer a day goo fre
But with his stone contynually trauayleth
And the more besy his laboure leest auayleth

Thus auarice to vertue moost contrarye
Founde amonge vices full contagious
Euer b [...]sy their restles stone to carye
Nowe vp nowe do un with wery ze [...]phus
Whoos endles laboure braydeth on Theseus
Which helde the bridell of fru [...]tles besynesse
Condempned in hell to lyue in Idelnesse

Of couetise the cruell marinere
Is called Charon which with flegonte
By many a strete and many fell daungere
Sayleth in the flodes of furious Acheronte
Vnder that derked and cloudy Orizonte
Where auarice ches whilom negardshipe
For tresorer his cofres for to kepe

First to declare the labour in gaderinge
Of couetous men as it is in dede
And counterpeise howe their streight kepynge
Is euer meynt with importable drede
Sorowe at deꝑtynge for their mortall mede
Which may be called of trouth and equyte
Of Cerberus the wakyr hedys thre

The first hede is vnstauncheable desire
Of worldly godes greate riches to atteyne
The more encres the hoter is the fyre
The seconde hede is the dredfull peyne
Which in kepynge his herte doth constreyne
Vnware departynge that sodenly doth fall
Is the thrid hede that greueth moost of all

This wakyr worme that beryth these hedys thre
Is called the worme of gredy couetise
Whoos besy constreynt restles ꝑplexite
Troubleth the soule in full furious wise
Which frowarde monstre pleynly to deuise
Braideth on ydra of whome poetis seyne
One hede but of / there gr [...]e thre ageyne

Euer at the tayle of plente and richesse
Of custum foloweth grutchinge and enuye
For he that hath of tresoure greate eichesse
Is seeld glad as for his partye
Thus both tweyne stonde in Iu [...]tye
The rich with plente holde him nat appayed
And the nedy with pouertis affrayed

And yit in pouert is full greate sekirnesse
Which is a tresoure that no man wyll assayle
As myn auctour Bochas bereth wytnesse
An [...]lates amonge the porayle
Lyued in pees sure from all batayle
Helde him content with such as god him sent
Whan rich were armyd and to the werre went

Vertuous pouert standeth euer in sekir caas
To watch his hous he hath full lytell nede
But proude pompye assegyd in duras
For fere of Iulius stode in greate drede
But people rude herof take none hede
Such as reioyse theym for to shede blode
In straunge werres wrongly to gete gode

Storyes olde full well reherce cūne
Dyuers studyes of folke here mortall
First howe diogenes was content in his tūne
In which he made his lodgynge principall
And sawe the cours aboue celestiall
Lyued gladder amonge philosophers
Than kinge Cresus with all his stuffed cofres

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And if men wolde vnto mynde call
The greate myscheuys folowynge in habundaunce
And thinke also howe sardanaball
For all his trisoure cam vnto mischaunce
And howe sophodius porest in substaunce
Had but a gardeyn full of lekis grene
And  [...]ghtnought elles hym silf to sustene

This philosopher was euer glad and light
There was no watch made his tours
Full surely slept he all the longe night
Hauynge no drede of theues ne robbours
In somer walkinge amonge the grene flours
And in colde wynter full merily and oft
On drye strawe he lay and slepte full soft

Cyncynatus a pore laborere
Feyed dyches to gete his sustenaunce
Withoute grutchinge euer glad of chere
Both in porte and in his countenaunce
Dempt he had as moch suffisaunce
To his plesaunce as cresus kinge of lyde
Content with lytell nature was his guyde

This pore man in his pouert assured
With litell fode and clothys but a fewe
Had hertys ese and gladsum pes recured
It liked him nat ouer his hede to hewe
Which thinge conceyued cleerly doth vs shewe
That Ioyous pouert conueyed with gladnesse
Grutchinge auoyded surmounteth all richesse

And if that folke coude considre a right
Their pitous sighes their thoughtfull besynesse
Their wofull labours their lytell slepe anight
Which they endure for worldly rychesse
And of thabidynge the dredfull sekirnesse
Which thinge peysed and called to memorye
All erthely power is double and transitory

And by storyes which been credible
To preue their power is nat abidynge
But at a poynt slidynge and fallible
Whilom Mas [...]ssa of Munydye kinge
That was so myghty by recorde of writynge
For fere of Siphax oonly his lif to saue
Fled into mounteyns and hyd him in a caue

And there he fonde full smale vitayle
Constreyned narowe of indigence and nede
Whan other deyntees in myscheef gan him fayle
He gadred rotes and ete theym in his drede
Eke proude xerses kinge of ꝑce and meede
Dranke blode and water to staūche his gredy thurst
Drede and traueyle gaue him so greate a lust

¶Yit sūme men wolde seye of auenture
They were compelled ageyne their volunte
These kinges tweyne such myscheef to endure
Maugre their wyll of necessite
For casuell chaunce raft theym their liberte
So that the rigoure of this sode [...]e rage
Cam in by constreynt and of no corage

But for all that folke in their pouerte
On greate metys that theym silf fede
Been also stronge hole and faire to see
And also lusty preuyd at a nede
Vpright of lymmes their iourneis for to spede
As longe lyued the cause to expresse
Is oonly this they do none excesse

To pore men the best medecine
Is due laboure with moderate abstynence
Good aire in feeldes whan phebus list to shyne
Voidinge derke mystes that cause pestilence
Of heuy stomake they fele no violence
They nat enrych lechys nor potecaries
Theym silf to saue with vncouth let waries

But folkis rich werkyn the contrarye
Which in theym causeth maladyes stronge
For their dyete euery daye they varye
With dyuers metys and their syttynge longe
And with all this their appetites wronge
Take oute of tyme which they may nat endure
Which by custum oppresseth their nature

And thus myn auctour shortly to deuise
Seeth howe glad pouert standeth moost in sekirnesse
And of all euyll he seeth howe couetise
Is rote and grounde with fals extort richesse
Ryot annexed engendringe longe sikenesse
Theron concludynge howe moderate dyete
Set body and soule in moderate quiete

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Howe Enagora kinge of cipre was by Artaxe [...] ses outrayed and put from his kingdom

FOlowynge in ordre the proces of Bochas
As he remembreth next in his writynge
To him appered rehersinge thus the caas
Enagora that was of Cypre. kinge
His iyen derked by many folde wepinge
Bycause he had lost that rich londe
Which he toforne had conquered with his honde

This londe of Cypre as made is mencion
Of  [...]uers metallys is passingly habounde
Hath of richesse greate plente and foyson
And of his site like as it is founde
It s [...]andith ferre south with many hillys rounde
And hath also many cōmeditees
Within his boundes of touns and cytees

Touchinge this cipre I can nomore seye
Of which londe Enagora was kinge
Tyll he gan proudly for to werreye
With Lacedomonois their ꝑty sustenynge
Geyne Artaxerses and ar their metynge
The seide Enagora was brought to vttraunce
Put from his kingdome and from all gouernaunce

Howe Theo kinge of egipt by artaxerses was dryuen from his kingdome and fled into Arabye

NExte Enagora cam the kinge Theo
Of all Egipt longe tyme possessoure
And to Iohn bochas he gan declare his woo
Howe fortune dyd hir frowarde laboure
And from him drough hir frendship and fauour
And sodenly through hir iniquite
She kest this kynge doun from his roiall see

She list hir malice from him nat differre
Ne wold nat suffre him for to lyue in pees
But caused him for to gynne a frowarde werre
Ageyne the sayde mighty Artaxerses
Wenynge therby to haue had g [...]ate en [...]
Gadred shippes and made a greate arm [...]
In his entent to haue  [...]et him on the se

To lacedomonois he was fauourable
Sent theym vessels stuffed with vitayle
Dempte of pride that him silf was able
With artaxerses to holde a batayle
But hasty trust doth folys often fayle
For this theo was after anone right
Dryuen oute of egipt and Iput to flight

Artaxerses pursued him so sore
Tofore his face he durst nat appere
Fled into Arabye myn auctour seyth nomore
Banysshed from egipt dedly of face and chere
And of his fate who so list to lere
He was depryued from kingly dignite
And by fortune cast from his royall see

Howe Amynta of Mecedoyne kinge had by Eru [...]i [...] his wife Alisaūdre / ꝑdica / & philip y^t were slayne

ANd amonge other their fates compleynynge
Trough fortunes dredfull violence
There cam amynta of macedoyne kynge
And to Iohn bochas shewed his sentence
And to declare his magnificence
To alisaundre grauntfader in his life
Hauynge foure children by Erudice his wife

The first of theym was alisaundre called
And perdica named the seconde
The thrid philip in Macedoyne stalled
Kinge of grece like as it is founde
Which in richesse greatly dyd habounde
And was eke fader this noble werrour [...]
To alisaundre the mighty conqueroure

And or myn auctour further doth procede
He maketh a maner of digression
From his mater like as ye may rede
And gynneth in ordre a descripcion
Of macedoyne the famous rigion
Amonge grekys writeth in especiall
Of seuyn prouynces it is the principall

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And so procedinge  [...]e s [...]ith howe that cuntre
S [...]a [...]heth his boundes abou [...]e him enuyr [...]n
Towarde the see which called is E [...]ee
Forth by a [...]ya towarde Septemtrion
And to Messie westwarde it goth doun
And who that can by craft the coostys cast
To dalmacia the name therof doth last

In macedoyne he doth also vs lere
Of olimpus standeth the greate mounteyn
And in that kingdome is many greate mynere
Of golde and syluer like as bokes seyne
And on that hill is nouther wynde ne reyne
For thilke mounteyne so hye doth attteyne
That it may nouther blowe there nor reyne

The kinge amynta of whom [...] spake toforne
Had in grece many greate batayle
Olimpiens in macedoyne borne
And Illiriens to gedre he dyd assayle
Through his wisdome he dyd alweye preuayle
But with his enmyes while he stode moost in strife
His deth was shapyn by Erudice his wife

Myn auctour bochas of hir doth diffyne
She Imagyned his distruction
Bycause she had another concubyne
On whom she se [...] all hir affeccion
Day set and tyme to his confusion
Fully ordeyned at a mariage
He to be slayne of one of his lynage

He had a suster callyd vryone
Which prudently espyed the manere
Of Erudice and secretly allone
Goth to the kinge and tolde him all Ifere
And as the story in ordre telleth here
Though she failed that daye of hir emprise
She thought fulfylle it in another wyse

This to mene of hir iniquite
Of hir fraude and fals Imagynynge
She was in cause through hir contrariouste
Of the distruction of their mighty kynge
For the conclusion of hir fals werkinge
Was to haue slayne the kinge and all his lyne
She to haue regned with hir concubyne

But whan she sawe she might nat acheu [...] ▪
Hir furious p [...]s by none auenture
Hir venymous malice vpon hir lorde to preue
On other partyes she dyd hir besy cure
Enmy [...] and mys [...]  [...]
Ageyne the kinge by mys [...]  [...]
With sorowe and trouble for to short his dayes

Night and day his life stode euer in drede
Him to be traisshe she cast oute hoke and lyne
And who is he that or may take hede
Frely tescape teschewe as declyne
Malice of wymen whan they be serpentyne
Se an exaumple in this quene Erudice
Voide of al vertue and ful of euery vice

Alas no prince can be ware by other
To bridle their nobles with renys of reson
Such as cōmitte alas both ship and rothir
Vnto Sirenes to rowe theym vp and doun
Throughout caribdys to their distruction
By craft of Circes alas they were made nyce
Blinde to remembre vpon this Erudice

Which made Amynta to lyue in sorowe and drede
To rest in pees suffred him to haue no space
In thought and trouble his lif he gan to lede
Tyl by longe processe deth him gan manace
Yit or he dyed fortune gaue him grace
His eldest sonne by wisdome to ordeyne
Called alisaundre his crowne to atteyne

Thus alisaundre was his successoure
For Cathinenses gan their rancoure lete
Ageyns him for he with greate laboure
By their suffraunce cam to his royal sete
And for to set this realme in quiete
First with athenys the mighty stronge toun
Prouidyd a pes of hye discrecioun

And for to auoyde al ambiguite
Of olde debatys and of olde outrage
First he sent into that stronge cite
His sonne philip yonge and tender of age
On pees assured to lye there for hostage
And in that cite the story bereth witnesse
He gan to growe vnto full hye noblesse

He was cōmittyd vnto the disciplyne
Of a gr [...]te duke called Epamynedon
Which to all vertue his youth made enclyne
For of this duke Iustyn maketh mencion
By a maner recommendacion
Tofore nor after as by his auys
Was neuer no prince more ex [...]ellent nor wys

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First he cōmendeth his vertuous corage
His hye noblesse his vertuous excellence
And by discent he borne of high lynage
And into thinges concludeth his sentence
Seith that he was of moost magnificence
Egall to mars by famous chyualrye
And sōne to phebus through hye philosophye

And bochas here doth his stile auaunce
Full notably with excellent langage
And seyth no tresoure atteyneth in substaunce
To thilke richesse auoidynge all outrage
As whan there is by bonde of mariage
 [...]nyt vp a knot atwene excellence
Of famous knighthode and of dame prudence

This knot auayleth more than golde in cofre
And is more glorious ꝑpetually to abyde
A mighty prince to be a philosophre
Which can by prudence all vertues set aside
For whan to manhode prouidence is guyde
And vertuous force is capteyne in the werre
Let men well trust that party may nat erre

This Epamynoda of knighthode susteynoure
Carbun [...]le of vertue as bokys tell cūne
Of gentyll maners called the fomous floure
And of high noblesse a very worldly sūne
Whoos knightly triumphes be so hye vp rūne
To martis paleys with the blessed soūs
Of famous trumpettys and golden clariouns

For he was called the bright clere myrrour
Of rightfull quarels the party to sustene
Of extort wronges moost iust reformatoure
Ay egall iuge of entent moost clene
Which neuer coude no thinge but trouth mene
Wolde of custum for hate nor alliaunce
On nouther party declyne the balaunce

And to cōmende his vertuous prowesse
His prouyd trumphes his magnanimyte
His marcial actys his knightly besynesse
In the getinge of many stronge cite
As all his laboure was for the comounte
Which to augment he wolde neuer cesse
Such ioye he had the comons good to encrece

This was also his vsaunce euermore
What euer he gate to parte it in largesse
Of golde nor coyne he set but lytell store
For all his herte was sette on gentylnesse
By manly fredom and playnly to expresse
He sparyd no gode it shewed well in dede
His true seruauntes to helpe theym in their nede

He kept nat in cofres his tresoure
Of his nature he was so liberall
For to releue eche manly soudeoure
Such as were preuyd in actys marciall
And for to holde his fest funerall
After his deth his story maketh mynde
Through fre departynge there left no golde behinde

All his offices and famous dignitees
And greate  [...]mpryses in his tyme wrought
Encresed fraunchises through Grece in his citees
With lib [...]tees by his prudence oute sought
For comon profite and for him sylf rightnought
With greate augmentinge of straunge teritoryes
All this cam in by mene of his victories

And amonge all his knightly excellences
By diuers auctours vnto mynde is brought
Howe all his lyfe he studyed in sciences
And vpon eūnynge set hooly his thought
By manly prowesse of deth he rought nought
That was shewyd as it is well founde
The day whan he receyued his dethys wounde

He was home borne vnto his pauillyon
All his armure with blode steyned red
And on a couche by his men laide doun
And gan abrayde as he lay half ded
Sires quod he of one thinge take hede
Hath any enmy this day in the feelde
Whan I was wounded takyn vp my sheelde

And whan his knightes had tolde him nay
By a maner of knightly reioysinge
He theym cōmaunded withoute more delay
To his presence that they shulde it bringe
And therupon full pitously lokinge
Full like a knight and with mortall chere
He kissed it and seide as ye shall here

Thou were my felowe in armys and my breother
That neuer woldest my felawship forsake
Sure and abydinge there was nat such another
In euery iourney that I dyd vndertake
To me welcome an ende I must nowe make
After my deth my soule shall haue plesaunce
The to be kept yit for a remembraunce

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A fore his deth it is put in mynde
The same houre it cam to his memorye
To enquere he left nat behinde
Haue we quod he this day had victorye
Or in the feelde who hath the palme of glorye
His knightes he prayed that day he shulde deye
The playne trouth that they wolde him seye

And they him tolde playnly all the caas
Howe his party had wonne the feelde of might
And with that worde he so reioysed was
That he his sprite yelde anone vpright
And so he dyed like a worthy knight
In whom is shewed what auayleth in sentence
Noblesse of knighthode ioyned with prudence

And by the mene of his wise doctryne
Philip that laye with him in hostage
Gan encrece in knightly disciplyne
Wex in vertue right as he wex in age
Whoos fader was by furious outrage
Callyd alisaundre as made is mencion
Slayne by his moder by couert fals treson

After whoos deth perdyea in dede
The yonger brother the story doth deuise
To the crowne gan lyneally succede
Anone slayne after in full cruel wise
Such fals murdre euery man shulde agryse
As ye haue herde first of amynta
Of alisaundre and of kinge ꝑdica

Howe the proude tyraunt Aman was hangyd and the Innocent preseruyd

THe horrible fall furious for to rede
That foloweth after of the greate aman
A ful fals tyraunt founde in thought & dede
And was of byrth a macedonyan
Which as the byble full wel reherce can
Was cheef mayster who can well concerne
With assuerus his people to gouerne

He was exalted hie in pryde
To goddys people moost contrarious
His hatefull venym he list nat for to hyde
But lyke a tyraunt moost malicious
Of wilfull rancoure fell and despitous
Fully disposed and coude him nat withdrawe
To destroye the iewes and their lawe

To his entent he gate auctoryte
By his subtyl fals compassinge
Sent oute lettres into eche cuntre
Throughoute all perce by biddinge of the kinge
That hye and lowe within the londe dwellynge
No wight except that people all aboute
Shulde vnto aman obeye knele and loute

This was the biddinge of kinge assuere
Whan quene vasty was voyded for hir pryde
And hester chosen a mayde moost entere
Was brought to courte with the kinge to abide
Which had in youth for to be hir guyde
A worthy Iewe called mardoche
Within Susus a large faire cite

By whoos counseyle euery thinge she wrought
Passinge fayre and of greate mekenesse
And whan the Eunukes to the kinge hir brought
She was acceptyd for hir greate fairenesse
Vnto his grace hir story bereth wytnesse
And there cherisshed in especiall
Aboue al the maydens in the court royall

And of al perce was she crowned quene
A pes cōmaundyd through all tho regions
Duringe the feest that men might sene
The kinges nobley in citees and in touns
And of this feest the rich roiall souns
Cam to the erys of simple mardoche
Which cam with other the maner for to se

Tofore the paleys as he dyd abyde
With other Iewes in his cūpanye
Of hap as he kest his ere aside
He of two porters the counseyle dyd espye
Howe they theym cast by fals expiracye
To sle the kinge some day of that yere
Lyke their entent whan they fonde best leysere

Whan mardocheus prudently gan fele
The secret malice of theyr compassinge
Of compassion he wolde it nat concele
But made hester discure it to the kinge
Whereof conuyct they were led to the hanginge
As me semeth a competent guerdon
For all that falsly Imagyne such treson

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By which mene the seyde mardoche
Was well accepted to kinge assuere
Lykly also to stonde at lybertye
Oute of the malice and fell daungere
Of cursyd aman which make him no chere
But compassed in full fell manere
Him to destroye and Iewes all I fere

This mardocheus the byble tell can
Withdrough him self to do reuerence
Vnto this tyraunt the frowarde prince aman
Lyke as the statute commaundyd in sentence
Which thinge tauenge by frowarde violence
This aman made of hatrede to be set
Afore the pal [...]ys a myghty stronge gybet

But who that cast him to do vengeaunce
And Innocentys for to oppresse with might
And wif [...]ull malyce tagregge their greuaunce
As god were blynde and had of theym noo sight
Bu [...] at the last he wyll of very right
Punysshe the proude for furious violence
The pore supporttinge for their longe pacience

As mardocheus by Innocent liuynge
 [...] mene of hester and hir greate mekenesse
Acceptyd was to assuere the kinge
The lawe of Iewes set in more surenesse
Frowarde aman for his cursednesse
V [...]ngeable of pride the bible ye may se
Was hye enhangyd vpon a galowe tre

Mardocheus of prudence and reson
The furious daungere of aman set asyde
Preseruyd his people fro distruction
The tyraunt hangyd for his frowarde pride
Thus can the lorde his iugementys diuide
Whan he seeth tyme moost mighty and puissaunt
Support the simple and punysshe the tyraunt

Of the two brethern artaxerses and Cirus and Artaxerses slough his children and concubynes and howe they ended

AFter the fall of aman doutles
Whan he best wende haue regned ī his flou [...]s
Tofore Iohn bochas cam artaxerses
Moost renomed his tyme of conquerours
Which gan declare his sodeyne sharpe shours
With all the ꝑcellys of his mortall peyne
Which that fortune ageyne him gan ordeyne

This artaxerses as put is in memorye
All other princes excelled in richesse
Which in his chare famous of worldly glorye
And with his throne of wordly hye noblesse
Sate in his tyme the story bereth witnesse
Hyest exalted that was of any kinge
That he shulde fall was it nat an vncouth thinge

Kynges he had vnder his obeysaunce
An hundryd prouynces twenty and eke seuene
Sonne vnto darye prince of moost puissaunce
His fame dred more than firy leuene
None so mighty vnder the sterryd heuene
Accoūted was that tyme in werre and pes
As was this kinge called Artaxerses

He had a brother that named was Cyrus
Oute of one stok cam their both lynes
But artaxerses the story telleth thus
Was lorde of greynes of oyle and of wynes
And had also by diuers concubynes
An hundred children lyke as it is tolde
And fiftene ouer tofore or he wex olde

Of both bretherne the power last ferre
Duringe their tyme stode in full hye estate
Yit atwene theym was full mortall werre
Ageyne nature an vnkindly debate
For thilke werrys be moost infortunate
Whan blode with blode let no man deme other
List werrey as brother ageyns brother

And fynally cause why this werre gan
Atwene these bretherne as made is mencion
Through which debate there dyed many a man
The grounde of al and first occasion
Was only this for succession
After kinge darye regnynge in ꝑce and mede
Which of theym twayne shulde next succede

But artaxerses by a maner prouidence
Put his brother pryuely in prison
That he ne shulde make no diffence
Nor gadre people to his distruction
This yonge Cirus as made is mencion
Was fast stocked and eke as it is tolde
That his stockys and feters were of golde

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And thoughe it be nat remembryd in bochas
Howe that Cyrus escapyd fro prison
Yit also sone as he delyuered was
Through ꝑce and mede ridinge vp and doun
Gadred people of entencion
Through olde hatrede his brother to assayle
The feelde assigned they met in batayle

Where cyrus proudly put him silf in prees
To shewe his manhode in especiall
Sought his brother called artaxerses
And gaue to him a wounde full mortall
Withoute frenship or fauour fraternal
That artaxerses his wounde gan so ake
Constreyned was the feeld to forsake

And Cyrus was than furious as a leon
His aduersaries gan mortaly to wake
But fals fortune full of collusion
Vnder feynt smylinge a mowe gan him make
Which caused alas that day that he was take
Afore I woundyd it wolde be none other
And than presentyd to his vnkinde brother

And though this cirus had afore be founde
Yonge fressh and lusty and manly of his honde
By the constreynt of his mortall wounde
He dyed anone for he no socoure fonde
Than the two kingdoms within perce londe
Fyll to the hondes of artaxerses
In which after he lyued longe in pees

Thus a greate space like a mighty kynge
All perce he helde vnder his obeysaunce
By famous noblesse full gloriously shynynge
Hauynge of richessys moost fulsum habundaunce
And as it is put in remembraunce
To more encrece of his prosꝑite
In true wedlok he had sonnes thre

The first of theym called darius
Arabratus named the seconde
And the thryd named was Othus
Manly princys lyke as it is founde
And of nature like as the kinge was bounde
Vnto darye as it is made mencion
Aboue echon he had affeccion

And for he dempt him able to the werre
By lyklihede of yerys yonge and grene
He cast fully his noblesse to preferre
Of hye prudence thus he dyd mene
His impotence to supporte and sustene
For he was feble in ꝑce to regne alone
He set vp darye with him in his throne

Which was a thinge straunge and contrarious
Ageyne the custum of perciens vsaunce
But he supposyd his sonne darius
Shulde in such cas encres and auaunce
His faders ꝑty of naturall attendaunce
And shewe vnto him trouth and kindnesse
His impotence to cherisshe of gentylnesse

But in estatys oft it doth thus fall
Whan that princes be ronne ferre in age
Their childrens loue ageyne theym doth appall
Shewynge no frendship saue for auauntage
Howe that they may reioyse their heritage
And in such caas whan they wex stronge
Thinke their faders lyue all to longe

And artaxerses stode in the same cas
As in his story playnly ye shal finde
By rehersaile and writynge of bochas
Howe this darye was fals and eke vnkinde
Foryetfull and had no thinge in mynde
Howe his fader the trouth to reherce
Hath made him egall with him to regne in ꝑce

And to declare the first occasion
To his fader howe the seyde darye
By a fals maner of rebellyon
Gan in his werkinge for to be contrarye
Which to discure I wyll no lenger tarye
But with my penne in all hast procede
Here to discryue howe it fyll in dede

Artaxerses amonge his concubynes
It is remembred howe that he had one
Which for to rekne wyues and virgynes
Was fairest holde of theym euerychon
Called artasia of full yore agone
And was that tyme hir bewtye to descryue
Amonge perciens the fairest holde alyue

And though she were Ironne ferre in age
Lyke as bokys lyst of hir expresse
Both of coloure and also of visage
She kept hir bewtye and hir natif fresshnesse
Which was afore for hir semelynesse
To seyde Cyrus breuely to termyne
Chose longe aforne to be his concubyne

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But whan this Cirus was passyd into fate
Which for his brother might nat lyue in pees
Anone vpon withoute lenger date
She was take vp for kinge artaxerses
Bycause she was of beutye peerles
After longe tyme whan he fyll in age
She cleymed was by tytle of heritage

Of kinge dary by his faders lyue
Feynynge his cleyme by succession
And though his fader ageyne it dyd stryue
And thus began as made is mencion
Of their debate the first occasion
For darye cast albe he bare it styll
Hir to reioyse ageyne his faders wyll

And to accomplyssh falsly his entent
Of hir to haue full possession
Tafforce his partye he made this argument
Cirus quod he as made is mencion
Regnynge in ꝑce the mighty region
And this story doth pleynly determyne
For hir beutye made hir his concubyne

And after tyme whan cirus was dede
Artaxerses his fader ye may se
Next him succedinge in ꝑce it is no drede
List hir to cleyme eke for hir greate beutye
And so quod da [...]ye she longeth nowe to me
B [...]cause she is so plesaunt to my sight
By succession I wyll hir cleyme of right

Thus kinge darye to his fader s [...]yde
He wolde haue arthasia the faire
And therwithal artaxerses gan abraide
And answeryd with face debonaire
My sonne quod he I wyll nat be contraire
To thy desire but of affeccion
Delyuer hir to thy possession

Of his promys he after gan repent
Cast him to make another cheuisaunce
And secretly his concubyne he sent
Callyd arthasia as made is remembraunce
And through his sleyghty vncouth purueaunce
Vnto the temple such menys he hath sought
Of greate Appollo that she in hast was brought

Where she was veyled and made a preesteresse
After the rytes pleynly and the guyse
Of olde paynemes by amaner holynesse
And there professed for to do seruise
As their statutes constreyne and diuise
Duringe hir lyfe it might none other be
She bounde was to lyue in chastite

This thinge was wrought by compassinge
Of artaxerses by frowarde ielousye
Wherof darye the yonge lusty kynge
Waxt almoost wode whan he dyd it espye
And gan compasse of malencolye
Furyous rancoure and hasty cruelte
Vpon his fader auengyd for to be

And his party of force to sustene
With him he had the story meketh mynde
His bretherne in bast an hundred and fiftene
Which to their fader were fals and vnkinde
Of all this noumbre there left none behinde
That for this purpos onys lyst dissent
His deth of one wyll they assent

¶Yit of this straunge fals conspiracie
Artaxerses hadde a knowlegynge
Alt [...]o [...]gh the storye doth nat specifie
Howe ne by whom he had therof wittynge
For which in hast he made no taryinge
To gadre meyne and make him silf stronge
Him silf tauenge of this disnaturall wronge

For artaxerses like as the caas tho stode
Though it sate wele to his high nobesse
To be vengyd vpon vnkinde blode
For law nature decrees rightwisnesse
And all statutis dampne vnkindnesse
Wherby this kinge occasion dyd finde
Ageyne his children bycause they were vnkinde

Sūme men deme howe greate multitude
Of many children maketh a man stronge
But therupon pleynly to conclude
Vertue is cause if she dwell theym amonge
But if their corage enclyneth vnto wronge
And vicious life do their bridell lede
The gretter noumbre the wors they must spede

A progenye borne of a cursed lyne
May through his frowarde fals infection
Outwarde by coloure of trouth though they shyne
Vnder apparence and simulacion
Infect and corrupt all a regyon
For it is sayde of full olde langage
Frute of soure trees take a soure tarage

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This was well shewed in artaxerses
That suffred his brother dye at myscheef
Bledynge his wounde left him helples
Which to his name shall euer be repreef
Thus blode vnkinde vnkindly maketh his preef
For all the children fro his stok descendyd
Were cursed euerichon as here is comprehendyd

Their stok was first contagious of nature
The griffis froward though they were grete ī noūbre
Which of assent dyd theyr besy cure
By fals treson their fader to encombre
But there is no shade nor no couert vmbre
So closely kept namely of fals gyle
But the venym wyll shewe oute sūwhile

And thus the deth contagious conspired
Of artaxerses sith go full yore
Wheron to auenge his herte was so fired
Of furious Ire and Ibrent so sore
That he nat coude differre it ferthermore
But with his meyne fyll on theym anone
Or they were ware and slough theym euery [...]

He slough also all his concubynes
That were their moders of whom I tolde to forne
Suffred none to lyue of their lynes
So of that lynage he hath the wede vpshorne
Fonde amonge all no greyne of good corne
Conuict by dome whan they were presentyd
To his deth howe echon they were assentyd

His clothys spreynt with the vnkinde blode
Of his children which he dyd shede
After whoos deth in greate mischeef he stode
And so in sorowe his lyfe he dyd lede
Dyed after in myscheef and in drede
Deth quyt with deth and rage with rage
Loo here the fyne of his vnweldy age

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye aforne declareth here
The greate outrage of vnkindnesse
Atwene two brethren regnynge both Ifere
In ꝑce londe as ye haue herde expresse
Tyll diuision of all myscheef mas [...]resse
Gon entre in through fraternall hatrede
Which ageyne kinde destroyed their kinrede

The werre arose contagious for to lere
Throughoute all Perce of mortall frowardnesse
Of Cyrus deth rehersinge the manere
Howe helples he dyed in distresse
And howe the noumbre of brethren dyd them dresse
To sle their fader the story ye may rede
Causinge an ende of all their hole kinrede

Kinge artaxerses with a frowarde chere
His Iniuries and wronges to redresse
Slough his children their moders eke Ifere
Spared nat one of frowarde cursednesse
By which occasion toke a greate sekenesse
After dyed in mischeef and in drede
Causinge an ende of all his hole kinrede

Loo here a sorowe nat ꝑticulere
For through all perce ran the cursednesse
The croked fame spred both ferre and nere
Of this vengeable hasty fell woodnesse
The ayre infectinge with sclaūdrous blaknesse
To shewe the vengeaunce the contrarious mede
Of blode vnkynde borne of one kinrede

Noble princes lift vp your iyen clere
And considre by greate auisnesse
The wofull stryues the odious fell daungere
Sowne in kinredys of wilful straungenesse
Of all rancoure youre corage do redresse
P [...]isinge the mischeuys folowynge on in dede
Of blode vnkinde borne of one kinrede

Explicit liber Tarcius.

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Incipit Prohemium Libri quarti

FRute of writynge set in cronicles olde
Moost delectable of fresshnessh in tastynge
And moost goodly and glorious to beholde
In colde and hete lengest abidynge
Chaunge of resons may do it no hind ringe
And whereso be that men dyne or fast
The more men tast the lenger it wyll last

It doth corages renewe ayen and glade
Which may be called frute of the tre of life
So parmanable that it wyll neuer fade
To the fyue wittes gretest restoratys
And to then plesaunce moost cheef confortatif
For of nature whan they be quyk and gode
They of this frute take their naturall fode

Auctours heron conclude and eke assent
Howe that writynge of his kindly right
Doth louyd ꝑsonys and lyknessis represente
Of frendys absent seueryd ferre from sight
D [...]rkenesse of absence is cleryd with the light
Thus frute of writinges hath his auauntages
Of folke fe [...]of to presente the ymages

Lawe had perisshed nadde by writinge
Oure feyth appallyd ner vertue of scripture
For all religion and ordre of good lyuinge
Taketh their exaumple by doctryne of lectrure
For writinge causeth with helpe of portrature
That thinges derkyd of olde that were begonne
To be remembred with this celestyall sonne

God set writinge and letters in sentence
Ageyne the dulnesse of oure infirmite
This worlde tenlumyne by crafte of eloquence
Canon Ciuile philosophie these thre
Confermyd fraunchises of many stronge cite
Couenauntys asseled trouthis of olde assuryd
Nadde writynge be might nat haue endured

Dyligence cheef triumphatrice
Of slogardye negligence and slouth
Eke of memorye vpholder and norice
And registrere to supposalayle trouth
Hath of olde laboure and ellys were greate routh
Brought thinges passyd notable in substaunce
Only by writinge to newe remembraunce

Writynge is cause that herto is remembryd
Lyfe of prophetys and patryarchis olde
Howe the appostles and martirs were dismembryd
For cristys feyth his baner vp to holde
And writinge shewethe tofore as I you tolde
Of confessoures the greate stedfastnesse
And of virgynes the virgynall clennesse

Like to a tre which euery yere bereth frute
Shewynge his beutye with blosoms & with floures
Right so the fode of our inward refute
By diligence of these olde doctours
And daily frute of their feithfull laboures
Haue oure corages fostred and pastured
By writinge only which hath so longe endured

The Epigrames whilom ꝑshed had
Of prudent prosꝑ that was so vertuous
And of Seneke the tragedies sad
The Stratagemys of vrgecius
Rebuke in vicis of noble ꝑcius
If in olde writinge had be founde a lacke
These seyde thinges had ferre be put abacke

Writinge caused poetes to recure
A name eternall the laurer whan they wan
In adamaūt graue perpetually to endure
Recorde I take of virgill mantuan
That wrote the armys and prowesse of the man
Called Eneas whan he of high corage
Cam into Itayle from Dydo of cartage

Thre famous bokis this auctoure list compile
Eneidos first which that dyd excelle
In rethorike by souereynte of stile
He dranke suche plente this peote as men tell
Of the stremys that ran doun from the well
Wrought by tho susters that ben in noumbre nyne
Prowesse of knighthode moost cleerly to termyne

For in that boke he cast nat to fayle
With voice melodious for to discriue aright
The greate conquest of rome and of Itayle
Wrought by Enee the manly troian knight
Whoos veers notable yeue so clere a light
Through all the world as in rethorike
That amonge poetis was none vnto him lyke

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He wrote also this poete with his hande
By humble style other bokes tweyne
One of pasture the next of tilth of lande
The veers conueyed with fete of metrys pleyne
By which thre laboures a palme he dyd atteyne
To make his name thrugh dytees dilectable
Aboue poetys to be moost comendable

Writinge of poetis hath set within his clos
Conquest of knighthode their triumphes & renouns
Rede of Ouide Methamorphoseos
The greate wondres the transmutacions
The morall menynge vncouth conclusions
His boke deponto and with greate diligence
Full many a pistle compleynynge for absence

Of crafte of loue a boke he hath compiled
Wherof Ceser had full greate dysdeyne
Which was cause that he was exyled
To abide in ponto and neuer come ageyne
And yit he dyd his laboure in certeyne
In hope of grace his voutis to applye
To write a boke of louys remedye

Writinge of olde with letters aureat
Laboure of poetis doth highly magnefie
Record on petrak in rome laureat
Which of two fortunes wrote the remedye
Certeyne Egloogys and his cosmographie
And a greate conflicte which men may rede & se
Of his quarels within him silf secre

He wrote seuene psalmys of greate repentaunce
And in his affrike cūmendyd scipion
And wrote a boke of his ignoraunce
By a maner of excusacion
And set a notable compilacion
Vpon the life called solitarie
To which this worlde is frowarde and contrarye

And thus by writinge he gate him silf a name
Perpetually to be in remembraunce
Set and registred in the hous of fame
And made epistles of full high substaunce
Called sine titulo and more him silf to auaunce
Of famous wymen he wrote thexcellence
Gresilde preferrynge for hir greate pacience

Writinge also remembred hath howe troye
Distroyed was sith gone many a yere
The slaughter of hector cheef pylere of their Ioye
And for the party of Grekys wrote of Omere
Which in his writynge was particulere
For Tachille that wrought all by fraude
Aboue hector he gaue a singuler laude

Writynge causeth the chapelet to be grene
Bothe of Esope and of Iuuenal
Dantis laboure it doth also sustene
By a report very celestyall
Sunge amonge lumbardys in especial
Whoos thre bokes the greate wondres tell
Of heuene aboue of purgatorye and of hell

Men by writynge knowe the myracles
Of blessed seyntes and of their holynesse
Medicyne salue and eke obstacles
Geyne mortall woundes and euery greate sekenesse
Recreacion and solace in distresse
Quiete in laboure in pouert pacience
And in richesse right trouth and conscience

Shortnesse of life and foryetfulnesse
The wyt of man dull and ay slydynge
Negligence and frowarde Idylnesse
Echon stepmoder to science and cūnynge
That I dare sey nad be writinge
Only ordeyned for our auauntages
Ded were memorye and mynde of passed ages

And thus in cheef the causes afore tolde
Meuynge the herte of bochas to writinge
And to remembre by many storyes olde
Thestate of princes in chaires hye sittinge
And for vices their vnware fallynge
Yeuynge exaumple as I afferme dare
Of fals fortune howe they shall be ware

His first thre bokes by full clere myrours
Fully accomplisshed as bochas vndertoke
The cause of fallynge of many conquerours
Oonly for trouth and vertue they forsoke
For which myn auctoure towarde his fourth boke
Gan sharpe his penne to his eternall fame
Only by writinge to gete him a name

Myn auctour bochas that so moch coude
Begynneth here to make a processe
Ageyne the outrage of princes that were proude
Which were brought lowe for their frowardnesse
And notably remembreth the mekenesse
Which stondeth hole in one and doth contune
Is ay fraunchised from daungere of fortune

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But he in maner doth recapitle ageyne
That fall of many that sat in hye stages
Howe they for vices stode ay in no certeyne
Cam to myscheef for their greate outrages
Remembringe first of priam the damages
And he lost ceptre and regalye
For susteyninge of fals auoutrye

The fal rehersinge of astriages
That gaue his doughter whilom in mariage
To one that was called cambyses
A pore man borne of lowe lynage
For he shulde haue none auauntage
In no maner nouther in right ne wronge
By rebellyon ageyne him to be stronge

For he toforne had had a vision
Howe there shulde one procede of his lyne
Which shulde him put oute of his region
And cause him in myscheef to fyne
But yit fortune coude him vndermyne
That all his wisdome stode in none auaile
For ageyne god preuaileth no counsayle

I [...] nedeth nat his story to reherce
Nor that maner of his vnhappy chaunce
Nor the fallynge of Cirus kinge of ꝑce
Nor of kinge Tarquyn for his mysgouernaunce
Though bochas here put theym in remembraunce
For as me semeth it were a thinge in veyne
Thinge onys tolde to tell it newe ageyne

And he list nat nowe to be recheles
N [...]we ageyne to make rehersayle
If the kinge called Artaxerses
Sith it is tolde what shulde it more auayle
But he procedeth streight vnto Iitayle
To their stories and begynneth here
At marchus maulius a romayne consulere

Finis Prologi.

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[figure]

Incipit liber Quartus Howe marchus maulius wrought and dyd for Rome toune / And at the laste he was by the comons coste into Tibre and there drowned

wHilom in rome there was a graete lynage
Called mauliois of renomed noblesse
And of that stok right fair ī his yōge age
Cā thys marchꝰ the story bereth witnesse
Which by processe for his worthynesse
Was thr [...] tymes by iust electioun
Made consuler of that worthy toun

Which to the comon full greatly dyd auayle
He dyuer [...] tymes for the touns right
Faught in his dayes many stronge batayle
And ay preuayled through his greate might
And in the feelde by a singuler fight
Outrayed his enmy like as it is tolde
And toke from him a riche bye of golde

Torques in latyn in ynglyssh is a bye
A cercle of golde which that marchus wan
Brought it home through his chyualrie
And of Torques he was called than
Marchus Torquatus and thus the name gan
He to be called the story telleth vs
Amonge romayns Torquatus maulius

And he wold oft inpart good and life
For the Cyte entre the felde alone
And there conqueryd for a prerogatyf
Sundry crownes with many riche stone
Wan tunicles of golde manyone
For thilke tyme for diuers high emprises
Were crownes made in many sundry wises

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For as Agellius maketh mencioun
There were in rome de [...]ised straunge croils
For such as had foughten for the toun
As for their laboure receyued their guerdoils
By a prerogatyf callid chaumpioūs
Which sundry tymes of manhode and of might
Iupartyd their lyues for the toūs right

Lyke their desertys the croūs toke ther names
For sūme of theym were called triumphall
Youe vnto knightes for their noble fames
Othir also callyd obsidionall
In romayne tunge and sūme there were mural
Eke other tweyne Naual and castrence
And al they were of greate excellence

The triumphal made were of golde
Offr [...]d in triumphes to worthy emperours
Set with saphirs and rubies many folde
Vpon the hedys of mighty conquerours
And whan that rome was shynynge in his floures
That crowne called with braunchis boor [...]ed fayre
In their vulgar thaureat coronayre

Thobsidional of which I spake toforne
Deuised were the bok [...] doth specifie
Crownes notable wrought lyke greyne or corne
y [...]ue vnto princes which through thir chyualrie
Res [...]ued s [...]gys and saued the partye
Of th [...]ym that were closed streight within
Through prowesse a crowne for to wynne

Another crowne that called was mural
Was gyuen and grauntyd by the emperoure
To him that first wan vpon the wal
A [...] ony siege and there abode the shoure
Fightinge alone In hope of some socoure
And he that might such a brunte sustene
Shulde of laurere were a crowne of grene

Naual crownes whilom were ordeyned
For theym that faught manly in the see
Whan their shippes were to gedre cheyned
He that of manhode and marcial surete
Vpon his enmyes made first entre
Receyue shulde in all the people sight
Korue liche a rother a crowne clere and bright

The crowne next which is called castrence
Was yeuyn of custome to that manly knight
That list auaunce him through his magnificence
Hostes assembled Iuparte wolde of might
 [...]orne all other entre in to fight
 [...]  [...]ilde eke receyue his nobles for to queeme
 [...]erryd crowne made like a dyademe

The crowne also which called was Ouall
Toke first name of ioye and gladnesse
Which kinges princis in actis marcial
Osed sūtyme in their ioyous noblesse
At sodeyne scarmysshes of casuel hastynesse
 [...]  [...]han they venquesshed proudly in batayle
 [...] as their highnesse vnwarly wolde assayle

And for they were of power Inuyncible
Their noble crownys coriously were wrought
Of miitis braunchys which been imputrible
Enduringe euer and corrupt nought
For this worde Oual if it be wel sought
Is seyde of gladnesse as put is in memorye
Ordeyned for princes after their victorye

Another crowne callyd Cynyca
Of oken bowes was made roūde and pleyne
Ordeyned for theym which pro re publica
Coude in batayle rescue a cetesien
And sle his enmye that was a foreyne
Of mighty oke he shulde for manhede
Cleyme to were a crowne vpon his hede

And like as knightes in marcial delites
For comon profite dyd him silf auaunce
So for their noble victorious merites
The romayn people had a great plesaunce
With sodeyne crownes ma [...]all in substaunce
For to guerdon their knightes moost famous
Myn auctour recorde called agellius

Amonge other that dyd his besy peyne
Such crownes manly to recure
Marcus  [...]aulius in manhode souereyne
Put oft his life in mortal auenture
For in his force so moch he dyd assure
That he deserued full yore agone
Of these sa [...]  [...] mo that one

And to encres of his noble fame
He dyd a thinge both manly and diuyne
Wherby that he gate him a surname
To be called marchus Capitolyne
Which aboue al his names dyd shyne
Whan he alone wherby  [...]e is cōmendyd
The Capitoyle from enmyes hath defended

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Whan they of fraunce had take the eyte
Put all rome at myscheef vnto flight
And laide awaite with a greate meyne
The capeto [...]le for to take at night
By a passage that lay ferre oute of sight
Vnder a roch called Carmenton
Their caue entryd into the cheef dungeon

They were shroudyd vnder a derke vale
With ordenaunce and mighty violence
Towarde mydnight the wal for to scale
Moost couertly theym kepinge in scilence
Dempt pleynly for lackynge of resistence
That they shulde in  [...]gre tho withinne
Their houre assigned the Capitoile wynne

But the ges that were within clos
The wakir foulys by noyse of their comynge
Gan bete their wynges and vp anone they aros
Where through this marchus in his bedde lyinge
Gan tabrayde and made tareynge
Toke his harneys moost furious and wroth
And to the wallys in all haste he goth

And him that cam first vpon the wall
Of very force without more tariynge
Doun into tybre he made theym haue a fall
And all his felawys besy in scalinge
With sheelde or pauys or ladders vp reisinge
This manly Mark shortly to comprehende
Into the flode made theym to descende

Vnto the deth of him they were abauyd
For by his knighthode and his hye renoun
Maugre theym the Capetoyle sauyd
And afterwarde rescued all the toun
For the fortune in conclusion
Which that tyme dyd vnto him fall
Capitolinus men dyd him after call

And for he was so victorious
Him s [...]lf alone by this hye victorye
This name he gate to him and  [...] his hous
Perpetually to be in memorye
And registred in the consistorye
In their cronicles his name determyned
With golden letters to be enlumyned

And the gees of whoom I spake also
That so well kept watch vpon the night
I take were and offred vnto Iuno
Solempnely with greate torchys light
To whom also it grauntyd was of  [...]ght
Whan a famyne made their store to fa [...]e
They sparyd were and take for no vitayle

And thus was Mark a mighty conqueroure
Worshiped in rome all beynge of assent
But whan sūme folke be set in greate honoure
Sumtyme it hapneth they holde theym nat cō  [...]ent
With couetise their hertys be so blent
Fro suffisaunce aboue their degrees
To surmounte to higher dignitees

This maulius was fret in his corage
To gretter worshipes sodenly to ascende
Demynge so to haue had auauntage
And in him silf gan frowardly pretende
In that cite all other to transcende
Beside triumphes which were to him reseruyd
Higher to clymbe than he hath disseruyd

But there was one as made is mencion
Callyd Camillus a lorde of greate substaunce
Which in the cite and in that mighty toun
Aboue all other had gouernaunce
And as it is put in remembraunce
To his gretnesse no man might atteyne
Age whoos noblesse marchus gan disdeyne

In his herte he had a greate enuye
Which caused him by outrage for to erre
Ageyne Camillus which for his chiualrie
The toun gouernyd both in pees and werre
And for marchus wolde him silf preferre
Aboue that prince in worship and honoure
First of the people he gate him greate fauoure

And by a maner of conspiracye
He gadred hertys of the comonte
And drough also vnto his party
Greate multitude throughout the cyte
And thus arose first the dredfull enmyte
Within rome the story telleth thus
Atwene these princes Camyll and maulius

Thus first the venym atwene theim two was  [...]owe
Of hasty hatrede by fals occasions
Which in the cyte atwene hye and lowe
Caused of newe diuers discencions
After the vncouth straunge opinions
For euery wight drough to his partye
As they were meued in their fantasye

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But for to stynt this outragyous erroure
And these hasty stryues furious
Ageyne fro Tuscan cam a dictatoure
That tyme callyd Cornelius Cassus
Which of wisdome blamyd maulius
For he caused such rancoure in the toun
And for his gilt cōmaundyd him to prison

Which was in maner hindringe to his name
And appallyd in partye his noblesse
For a tyme gan teclipse his fame
But afterwarde the cloude of that derkenesse
By comon fauoure was turned into clennesse
For as it had be right for the nonys
In his diffence the comons roose at onys

First whan they had amonge their greate rumours
Myd of their fel hatefull contencion
Shortly rebuked the worthy senatours
Bycause marchus was set in pryson
Which had been so helpelich to the toun
Whom to delyuer they diuers menys sought
And as I finde euene thus they wrought

First they clad theym in moornynge cloth [...]s blake
Pale of their facis pitously wepinge
Their beerdis vnsha [...]e their heer to rende & shake
Like furious men vp and doun rennynge
Tofore the prison all the night wakinge
And on his harmys pleynly to be wreke
They gan manace the prison for to breke

And for to stynt their outragious clamoure
The senatours made anone ordeyne
To delyuer him oute of his soioure
Lose his feters and to breke his cheyne
And whan he was delyuered oute of peyne
He lyst nat stynt of hasty cruelte
Of proude corage auengyd for to be

And in his furious fell presumpcion
Maugre the senatys and tribunys euyrichon
Seide he wolde gouerne rome toun
At whoos outrage they gan disdeyne anone
The peoplys hertys from him were agone
And for his pride they by auysement
Assigned him to come to iugement

Forsake he was throughoute the cite
There cam nat one with him of his kinrede
He fonde no helpe in his aduersite
Saue a fewe cam with him in dede
Of the comons full feble at such a nede
And thus alas he fonde no resistence
Was vailable vnto his diffence

But for socoure constreyned and in drede
Aweye he put his clothinge and vesture
And nakyd stode verely in dede
Shewynge his woundes which he dyd endure
At many scarmysshe and disconfiture
And for rescuse to speke in wordys fewe
The capitoyle to theym he dyd shewe

And in supportinge eke of his quarele
Me [...]inge the people to rue on his compleynt
First to his goddys loude he dyd appele
To preserue him of that he was atteynt
The people about him with teers al be spreynt
That the Iuges astonyed were in dede
Where as they sat agayn him to procede

But secrely he was led out of prees
To a place called frowmentyne
And there alas they were mercyles
His dome by rigoure fully to termyne
Sparyd nouther nobles nor lyne
For the Capitoile out of the cheef dungeoun
Lowe in to Tibre for to be caste doun

This was his ende voide of al fauour
Which no man wolde redresse nor amende
By cruelte caste out of al that tour
Which he whilom moste knightly gan defende
But what man can by writynge comprehende
The vnsure socour fonde in necessite
To them that laboure for any comonte

Lat men beholde that trust in worldly thinges
And namely them that be proude and hauteyn
Opyn their iyen caste vp their lokynges
 [...]o considre and se wel in certeyn
Who trusteth fortune his truste is but in veyn
And if ye lyste a cleer exaumple fynde
Amonge remembre on marcus in your mynde

What might auayle his nobles in batayle
 [...]ies of golde crownes of laurere
His riche platys or his vncouth mayle
His mighty sheeldes that shone so bryght and clere
Or his triumphes songe ferre and nere
Or his victories for the cite wrought
In his mischeef auayled him right nought

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Here bochas writeth in part ayenst such as can nat be content with suffisaunce but vsurpe to hygh dignitees

HEre Iohn bochas calleth to memorye
The straunge Salaire the famous guerdoū
Of theym that gate by conquest and victorie
Honoure and triumphe within rome toū
Howe it was vsed he maketh mencion
Ceriously reherceth the manere
Which I shall write if ye list to here

A vise was take first of estatis thre
Of men of armys which that were present
That sawe in dede the magnanymyte
Of him that shall haue it by iugement
Of the clergye they must haue eke assent
And of the Senat and people moost notable
By preef soughtoute that he were founde able

This prince also outher the capteyne
Which shall the triumphe receyue of very right
Within a charefull richely beseyne
He shalbe set of golde boornyd bryght
Fret with stonys which shall yeue a light
As phebus doth in his mydday spere
That no derkenesse aboute him shall appere

This heuenly chare shall for more delite
To shewe thencres of his knightly glorye
Be led and drawe with foure stedys white
Through the cite in tokyn of his victorye
And he shall haue for a singuler memorye
In his right hande a palme of golde full shene
And on his hede a crowne of laurer grene

He shall eke haue aboue all his armure
Poudryd with palmys a cote of purpyll rede
In his lefthande his quarels for to assure
A standard rounde declaringe his manhode
And all aboue set vpon the hede
The princes armys full rich of apparayle
In whoos quarell he accomplisshed in batayle

And of custum the seyde standerd shall
Be richely depent with rede coloure
And so this knight this man moost marciall
Shall be conueyed lyke a conqueroure
And yit for more encres of his honoure
Vpon their fete his prysoners euerichon
Take by his manhode aboute his chare shall gone

The moost worthy fast by his syde
All the remenaunt after on him lokynge
Echon of the poetys which in the toun abide
Shall on him waite at his home comynge
Dytees deuise and of his conquest singe
And straunge mynstrellys to be also recorde
Their instrumentis shall touche at a corde

All of entent to yeue him more corage
To the capitoyle so he shalbe brought
And list of pryde he fall in none outrage
Nor surquedye within his owne thought
The moost wretch shall of the toun be sought
Which of custum shall haue a staf on honde
And in the chare behinde his backe vp stonde

Gnotos Eolitos in Greke he shulde seyne
Which in oure tunge pleynly doth expresse
Knowe thy silf remembrynge in certeyne
Vpon fortunys frowarde doublenesse
On whom thou trust may be no sekyrnesse
And who that douteth where that it be thus
Lat him remembre the ende of maulius

What auailed his triumphes or his byes
Crownys of golde and peerlyd fressh tunycles
His high prowe or all his chyualryes
Synguler feightinge or marciall ꝑticles
Newly remembryd or red i [...]olde cronicles
Peise his merites and see  [...]we at the last
Howe into tybre their champyon they cast

To his excuse auayled neueradell
Fauour of comons carectis of his woundys
Nor to the goddys his lamentable appel
Nor remembraunce of their fraunchised boundys
Teritories nor wynnynge of the groundys
Which that he wan with spendynge of his blode
All knyt in one to him to stede they stode

Here ye may se howe fortune sodenly
Cleernesse of fame can chaunge to derkenesse
Glorye to reproche worship to vylanye
And ioy passyd to mortall heuynesse
Swetnesse of sauoure into bitternesse
And sobirnesse into furious rage
And olde fraunchise to thraldom and saruage

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For there was neither request nor prayere
That auayled to his delyueraunce
In cheynes fetryd dedly of loke and chere
Abode the sentence of his fynall gouernaunce
Pale of face with tremblynge countenaunce
Whan he alas gan mortally approche
Of Terpeya to the hidous roche

Of Terpeya this roche bare the name
After a lady as made is mencion
Called tarpeya which fyll in greate diffame
Bycause she was assentyd to treson
To haue brought enmyes into rome toū
Wherof conuyet hir story is well knowe
Vnder that roch she was Idolue lowe

This roche also was called Carmentoun
After a woman of greate auctorite
Callyd carmentys which through hir high renoun
The capitoyle made in that cite
And she fonde lettris first of oure abc
And cūnynge had amonge hir werkis all
Declare afore thinge that shulde befall

And on this harde sturdy roche of stone
Fro the capitoyle marchus was cast doun
Other fauoure nor frendship fonde he none
For all his batayles fought for the toun
The comons hertys were turned vp so doun
Whoos loue is lyke preuyd at assaye
A bla [...]e of fire nowe bright nowe awaye

The comon people may hote and crye fast
As their hertis stedfast were and stable
But at a nede their promys wyl nat last
Of  [...] corages they be so remeuable
To folowe reson gerissh and vntretable
Lightly declynynge and is full greate ruth
After opinions and no thinge after truth

This mallius was of his trust deceyued
Whoos lust vnlefull was departyd on tweyne
First whan of pride he wolde haue be receyued
To high estate which he might nat atteyne
Where through the Senate gan at him disdeyne
And the comons ay fals at such a nede
Lest him in myscheef and toke of him none hede

Lenuoye

IN this tragedye men maye beholde and see
The perilous damages of fals ambicion
Of theym that be nat content with their degre
But wolde vp clymbe lyke their opinion
To hye estate by vsurpacion
Which nat considre the sentence of scripture
In a gode mene men lengst may endure

Who that vsurpeth to higher dignite
Than apperteyneth to his condicion
In royall chayres for to make his se
And hath no title of lyne nor reson
Through frowarde pryde full oft he is put doun
For lak he seeth nat euery creature
In a gode mene lengest may endure

Whan dedalus taught his sonne fle
He had him first of hye discrecion
Fro phebus hete kepe his wynges fre
And fro Neptunus colde congelacion
Menynge herby for short conclusion
That who that list with Ioye his state assure
In a gode mene he lengest shall endure

Remembre the manhode and magnanymyte
Of marchus maulius which by presumpcion
Wolde haue gouerned  [...]ome the cite
Maugre the Senate ruled that mighty toun
Which turnyd after to his confusion
For he sawe nat such was his auenture
In a good mene men lengest may endure

Sūme in their grettest high prosꝑite
Of frowarde corage and furious mocion
In their greate wele by fals duplicite
Haue a maner straunge condicion
Nat to be content with plente nor foyson
By a fals etike which of their nature
In a gode mene ne can nat longe endure

But in this erth grettest felicite
In hertys ese richest possession
With suffisaunce content for to be
Of worldly trouble teschewe thoccasion
Meuynge no quarels causinge no discencion
Nor cleyme no thinge which harde is to recure
Sith in a good mene men lengest may endure

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Princes remembre in your moost mageste
Enuye of clymbinge causeth deuision
Be of accorde trust in no comonte
Which at a poynt is but decepcion
And specially fle symulacion
Ye may in marchus se a pleyne figure
Which for ambicion might no while endure

Howe Neptanabus kinge of Egipte was by xerses constreyned to fle his kingdome

AFter the fall of Marchus Maulius
Bochas anone gan his stile dresse
Breuely to tell of Neptanabus
Kinge of Egipte and of his greate richesse
Seynge afore in all his noblesse
By vncouth craft howe he ne might chese
That in all hast his crowne he shulde lese

For he was cūnynge in especial
And right expert as made is mencion
In al the sciencis called liberal
And knewe afore by calculacion
Howe god wolde make a transmigracion
Of his kingdome and pleynly to reporte
The londe of ꝑce to grekys full transporte

For by kynge zerses oute of his cuntre
Maugre his tresoure his cūnynge and his might
This Neptanabus constreyned was to fle
Durstnat abide to haue of him a sight
And into Grece he drough him anone right
Nat like akinge but after olde writinges
Lyke a magicien he wrought wonder thinges

Vpon fortune ferther to procede
By his cūnynge he greatly forthered was
And by his sleighty werkinge eke in dede
He was acqueyntyd with quene Olimpias
And so secre pleynly this the caas
That vpon hir men seyde by demynge
Gate ailisaundre the greate mighty kinge

But howe he fled oute of his region
Of his ymagys nor his illusions
Bochas maketh no maner mencion
Nor howe he wrought by incantocions
Nor of his subtyll operacions
Nor howe that he lyke a man by night
Whilom apperyd in the quenys syght

Saue of his deth bochas writeth rightnought
Remembringe no tyme nor the date
Howe he and alisaundre to gedre haue sought
The cours of sterrys towarde eue late
And howe his sonne lyke as was his fate
Doun from a bridge by full mortall wrake
Cast him bakwarde and so his necke brake

Howe Pansonoy duke of Lacedemoyne was exiled by theym of athenys

tHis was his ende and after this bochas
Gan in hast his style auaunce
Of pansonoys to tell the pitous cas
And all the maner of his wofull chaunce
Which was a duke and had in gouernaunce
Lacedomoyne there foundinge a cyte
Whice of olde tyme was called bisaunte

They of athenys that cite gate with might
And it  [...] by their chyualrye
And af [...]rwarde whether it were wronge or right
They exiled the same pansanye
And thus fortune through hir fals enuye
Caused that duke withoute more delayes
In sorowe and pouerte for to ende his dayes

Howe Heliarchus the tyraunt for extorcion and oppression was slayne by the knight Leonydes

aFter the fall sothely of these tweyne
Iohn bochas was moued of corage
For to reherce with all his besy peyne
The greate furye and the odious rage
Of heliarchus which by greate outrage
Though he nat was famous in chiualrye
He noyed all ꝑce with his tyrannye

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Wherfore bochas gan at him disdeyne
Cast he wolde only for his sake
Touch of tyrauntes moo than one or tweyne
And by writinge ageyne theym a werre make
And in his hand he gan a penne take
Tolde in ordre the perilous pestilence
Which they wrought by mortall violence

First he declareth of fortune of right
Ageyne tyrauntes furious and wode
Hath full cause for to shewe hir might
Tappalle their dignytees in which that they stode
Such as reioyse for to shede blode
Donat ellys but laboure and diuise
To spoyle the temple in many sondry wise

And Heliarchus through his cruelte
And his contryued fals extorcions
Was mortall enmy to a fayre cite
Called heraclye and many other toūs
And by extort fals oppressioūs
As the dede concluded at a preef
All that cuntre he brought to myscheef

Turnynge his grace and fauoure to hatrede
Mercy and pyte vnto cruelte
Fraunchise of people to seruitute and drede
Oppressed their fredom and olde liberte
And all their statutes by whiche they were made fre
He interruptid of force and nat of right
Which made him odious in euery mannys sight

But to restreyne his greate extorcions
Fortune this while was nat recheles
For his horrible abhomynacions
She gan tauale him this goddes merciles
By a good knight called Leonides
Which with a felawe borne of that cuntre
Cast on this tyraunt auengyd for to be

They dempte it was an almesse dede
To set their londe in quiete and in ease
Of a tyraunt the furious blode to shede
His importable malyce for tappese
Which to ther cite dyd so greate disese
And of assent with their swerdys kene
They slough the tyraunt in their mortall te [...]

Of whoos deth many a man was fayne
And specially of heracle the Cyte
Dempte it was meedfull that he was so slayne
To set in quiete all a comonte
Lo here men may the rightful guerdon se
Of tyrauntys which by their violence
To oppresse the people haue no conscience

Howe the vicious Denys kinge of Cecile slough his bretherne and kinrede & after exiled died at myschef

AFter this tyraunt with a full heuy chere
And countenaunce pitous and lamentable
Vnto bochas Denys dyd appere
Which in tyrannye moost was importable
Through his lande hatefull and repreuable
But for all that he gan myn auctoure preye
Of his maners sumwhat to write and seye

Bochas lystnat reherce his lynage
Nor make no processe of his geneallogye
Bycause he was with all his greate outrage
Full of al vices pryde and lecherye
Of auarice of yre and of enuye
In Cecile helde his royall see
At Cyracusis a myghty stronge cyte

This denys was cused of nature
Moost malicious both of thought and dede
For as it is remembryd in scrypture
He slough his brethren his cosyns and kinrede
That he alone in pees myght possede
Withoute trouble or interrupcion
Of all cecile the mighty region

Amonge all vices bochas doth specefie
He gan drawe into Idelnesse
Folowed his lustys of foule lecherye
And oft of custum he fyll in drunkenesse
And thought it was moost souereyne blissydnesse
Lyke as he had be maister of fortune
To folowe his lustys and ay therin contune

He wex right fat and right corcious
And his iyen gan derke of his sight
That vnethe this man moost vicyous
Ne might nat wele beholde the dayes light
And of malyce this tyraunt ageyne right
With helpe of robbours and of fals for [...]yns
Slough of his cyte nye all the Cytezeyns

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His vicious life in ordre to reherce
Were contagious to the audience
His extort pillages wrought in grece and perce
For to write or tell theym in sentence
Wolde infecte the eyre with pestylence
But I wyll breuely remembre and discryue
The sacrilegies which he dyd his lyue

In venus temple beside Cytheron
A greate noumbre of wymen he dyd call
Full wele beseyne and by oppressions
He made his meyne vnwarly on theym fall
Despoyled theym so that one and all
By his outrage and frowarde violence
They nakyd stode echon in his presence

And whan he sawe their shap and their fetures
And such chas oute as were to his plesaunce
Robbinge the remenaunt toke fro them their vestures
And lete theym goo withoute ordenaunce
And for this vncouth abhominable chaunce
Their cite locroys aros with mighty honde
For his outrage banysshinge hym their londe

Another tyme also he dyd soiourne
Within the temple lyke as it is tolde
Of Iupiter sonne vnto Saturne
There beholdinge his reliques manyfolde
Sawe amange other amantyll large of golde
Wherupon whan he cast his loke
That riche Iuell vnto his vse he toke

And thus he sayde him silf to excuse
It was to heuy and to comerous
In somer ceson that mantyll for to vse
Bycause it was to large and ponderous
And ouermore he allegyd for him thus
Sith the garment forgyd was of golde
For wynterceson howe it was to colde

And whan he gan awaye the mantyll pull
Than right anone this tyraunte deceyuable
Gaue him another sengyll made of wull
Affermyd sothely it was more couenable
To other ceson more mete and agreable
Concludinge thus for somer it was to light
And warme for wyntyr to were frosty night

Another tyme this tyraunt eke also
Which was of herte moost auaricious
Entryd onys the temple of appollo
And of his sonne Esculapius
And this tyraunt fell and contrarious
Behelde appollo berdles that was olde
And Esculapius with a longe berde of golde

Quod Denys than as semeth vnto me
Here is a straunche frowarde conuenience
That the fader berdles shuld be
The sonne berdyd stondinge in his presence
Made anone by sturdy violence
To take aweye the berde which in his sight
Of moost fyne golde shone so clere and bright

Through Grece and perce where euer he dyd gone
In all the temples this was his vsaunce
The statly reliques with many riche stone
And massy tables of mighty greate substaunce
To take them all that were to his plesaunce
He spared none thus lyuynge lyke a theef
Tyll he by vengeaunce was brought to myscheef

Cyracusanys where he was crownyd kinge
All of assent there is nomore to feyne
For his outrages and vicious lyuynge
They banysshed him neuer to come ageyne
And so this tyraunt vacant went in veyne
Aboute the worlde lyke a fals fugitif
And so at myscheef this denys lost his lif

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye yeueth a warnynge
To all tho that haue domynacion
Ouer the people prince duke or kinge
To eschue rauyne and fals extorcion
Byt theym considre howe by thocrasion
Of foule pillage and frowarde tyrannye
This seyd denys at myscheef must dye

First he compassed falsly ymagenynge
To sle the Cetezeyns of his royall toun
His brethren his cosyns his kinrede nat sparinge
Brought all his blode to destruction
In slaughter he had such dilectocion
Reioysinge euer in murdre and robbrie
Which caused him at missheef for to dye

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To spoile temples was his reioysinge
Toke all their tresours to his possession
Tables of golde with stonys fresshe shynynge
Eke fro other goddis the relyques he toke doun
Where euer he rode in any region
Whoos sacrilege and compassed felonye
Caused him vnwarly at myscheef for to dye

In venus temple by recorde of writinge
He dyd a foule frowarde abusion
All gentyl wymen that cam there to offringe
Theym he despoyled as made is mencion
Lete theym be nakyd withoute excepcion
For which diffame and greate vngentrie
He banysshed was and dyd in myscheef dye

Noble princes remembre on this thinge
Compassyd malyce and fals collusion
Must haue euyl endinge and come to reknynge
Fraude aye with fraude receyueth his guerdoun
Haue this in mynde concludinge in reson
That all tyrauntys pleynly to specefye
Had here short lyfe or dyd at myscheef dye

The auctour ageyne presumptuous people & pryn [...]y [...] holdinge theym silf goddis

yE folke that been astonyed in youre auyce
To see tyrauntys that been Incorrigible
Left from their sees that them helde so wise
Thought their power was very invincible
Though tofore god no thinge is impossible
Wherfore remembre and do no thinge meruayle
Wyth vnware fallys though fortune theym assayle

For whan tyrauntys been set in hye stages
Of dignitees regnynge lyke wode lyons
Full harde it is to wrest their corages
Outher to tempre their disposicions
Worldly felicite so blyndeth their resons
As they to god were egall of power
And had fortune vnder their daunger

Recorde of denys that oft was affrayed
Bassaute of fortune lyke as was his fate
For vicious lyuynge thre tymes disamayed
As his story remembreth of olde date
Next on the ringe nowe com [...]th pollecrate
With one victurbius tyrauntes of Itayle
Regnynge lyke w [...]luys toppresse the porayle

For whan tyrauntys in diuerse regions
Of surquedie catche an opinion
That their estatys and dominacions
Shulde euer endure by longe succession
As god nor fortune might nat put theym doun
But as they were in hir estate royall
This worlde to rule to both two egall

Towarde god they haue lost shame and drede
Touchinge his guerdouns outher of Ioye or peyne
Indifferent atwene trouth or falshede
Their lust Iserued nofors who laugh or pleyne
God is forgotyn atte they dysdeyne
As both were recleymed to their lure
Falsly transcendinge the boundes of mesure

FOr which sūtyme as bokys specefie
God lyst suffre as made is mencion
That fortune by a maner mokrye
Fauoureth sūme folke lyke their opinion
Tenhaunce their power by fals decepcion
As she were set playnly for to seye
To serue their lust and durst nat disobeye

Howe kinge pollicrate for extorcion and tyrannye was hangyd tyll euery ioynt went from other

REcorde I take on proude policrate
Tyraunt of Samoys beside these edge
Which sore laboured erly and ekelate
Ageyne conscience of furious cruelte
Tabounde in richesse and for to haue plente
Of wordly tresours demynge that fortune ay
To his desires ne durst nat sey nay

Fortune to him by many dyuers signe
Shewed outward greate tokyns of plesaunce
Was to him eke right fauorable and benygne
In all hir port by a maner attendaunce
As she had been vnder his obeysaunce
To stuffe his cofres with tresours lockyd fast
Of fals entent to mok him at the last

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All wordly richesse his lustys dyd obeye
And whan he fonde she was so fauourable
For a ceson as she list to pleye
This blynde goddes vnsure and euer vnstable
Set him so hye vp at the famys table
Of fals entent in his estate royall
Whan he sat highest to make him haue a fall

For in him silf of pride he gan to deme
Howe that he stode moost in prosꝑite
Of theym that weryd crowne or dyademe
Aboue all other in moost felycite
And thus enhauncyd in his royall  [...]ee
Thought him egall with goddys in comune
Ferre from all daungere of fate or fortune

And for tatempte of goddis the power
And of fortune the variaunt doublenesse
He toke a ringe of golde full bright and clere
Therin a rubye of excellent rednesse
Sekinge occasion of newe heuynesse
Whiche neuer afore had knowe of such thinge
Into the se anone he caste his ringe

Disespyred ageyne to recure
For he dempte it was an impossible
But right anone fisshers of auenture
Lyke a merueyle very incredible
Amonge the wawes hidous and horrible
Cast in their nettis if it wolde auaile
Takynge afysshe the ringe in his entrayle

Which was presented at a solempnite
To pollicrate with greate reuerence
Whan he sat crowned in his moost dignite
At a feest of famous excellence
The fisshe vndone anone in his presence
Myd thentrailes his keruer fonde the ringe
Of auenture and toke it to the kinge

Which dempt of pride and high presumpcion
That Neptunus god of the salt see
Had of his ringe made restitucion
And durst nat offende his mageste
Wherupon a fantasye caught he
Nouther heuenly goddes no Fortune blynde of sight
Were both vnhardy tatempte ageyne his might

His greate outrage to god was nat vnknowe
And his presumption fortune hath well espied
For which she made aduersite be hir bowe
And of hir whele the spokys she hath so guyed
Wheron he sat moost richely magnefyed
That he vnwarly doun from his hye noblesse
Was brought full lowe in sorowe and wretchidnesse

In wordly ioye no thinge is more to drede
Than whan fortune is moost blandisshinge
And that hir flatrye is f [...]et with wordly mede
High on hir whele to make folys singe
Than of hir nature sorowe she doth bringe
Witnesse of princes of olde or newe date
And recorde also of proude pollycrate

Sūtyme he sat hye on fortunes whele
Of prosperite with bemys clere shynynge
Whoos temple is made of glas and nat of stele
His castell is vnwarly dissoluynge
Though it be fresse outwarde in shewynge
Vnsure to stonde on and brotyll for to abyde
Whoo trusteth moost / moost lykly is to slyde

The geryssh quene of chere and face double
Withdrough hir fauoure and began to varye
Fro pollicrates set him in sorowe and trouble
Wexe ageyne him maliciously contrarye
Causinge Orontes constable with kinge darye
Maugre this tyraunt in moost his cruelte
To gynne a werre on Samoys the cyte

And whan his glorye was moost clere of light
And his noblesse shone highest at the full
Fortune gan through hir chaungeable might
Of his prosperyte the fethers to pull
And than atte erst his corage gan to dull
And all his pride vnwarly for tapall
Whan he was spoyled of his richesse all

First whan Orontes his cuntre gan assayle
To pollicrate of sodeyne auenture
Outrayed was and takyn in batayle
By a full perilous mortall disconfiture
Thus fortune coude bringe him vnto hir lure
Thrugh hir vnware vgly fals disdeynes
Led into pryson and bonde in stronge cheynes

The people dwellyd within his region
Reioysed in herte to se him suffre peyne
His tirannye his fals extorcion
Caused that they dyd at him disdeyne
For of his deth no man lyst compleyne
Men through the worlde be glad and haue plesaunce
To se a tiraunte brought vnto myschaunce

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Foure thinges his tourmentys dyd augment
Sodeyne departinge from his olde richesse
And that he sawe eche man in his entent
Of his mischeef haue so greate gladnesse
Hangyd he was myn auctoure bereth wytnesse
And henge so longe in tempest reyne and thundre
Tyll euery Ioynt from other went asundre

To beestys wylde and folkys rauenous
Nakyd he henge such was his auenture
To all folkes he was so odyous
Had in despyte of euery creature
At his departinge denyed sepulture
Guerdon for tyrauntys vengeable and recheles
That cannot suffre the people to lyue in pes

Thus may tyrauntes excede ferre their boundes
By fals outrage full well resemblyd be
To cruell wulues or to furious houndes
Fret with an etyke of gredy cruelte
To staunch their hungre auayleth no plente
Which for their surfetys frowarde for to rede
With pollycrates in hell shal haue their mede

Howe the tyraunt alisaundre llough his philosopre Calistenes with other for saynge truth

AMonge all storyes to tell the pitous cas
Of wofull pleyntifs that put thē sifl in pres
With wepinge iyen myn auctor Iohn bochas
Was meuyd in herte nat to be recheles
T [...] wryte the fall of calistenes
Which alas as it is remembrid
Was for his truth on pecys all dismembryd

For whan bochas his story gan aduert
 [...]e dempte anone in his fantasie
No man had so harde a stonen herte
That might of right his iyen kepe drye
To se the processe of his tormentrye
Yit gan myn auctour his wofull penne profre
To wryte the wronge done to this philosophre

This Calistenes in youth right well thewed
His grene age promotyd to doctryne
By influence of heuenly fate adewed
Greatly to profite in morall disciplyne
Dysposyd of nature by grace whiche is dyuine
To conquere as bokys specefye
The noble surname of philosophie

Of his meritys famous and notable
Philosophye dyd hir besy peyne
To yeue him souke bycause that he was able
The sore mylke of hir brestys tweyne
Moost precious licour who might therto atteyne
For bawme is none the vertue well declared
Of worldly richesse may be therto comparyd

This precious pyment is youe vnto no folys
Aboue all licours it doth so ferre excelle
Whoos orygynall sparinge in the holy scolys
Of athenys as famous bokys telle
For of philosophie there sprange oute first the well
Where calystenes the experience is well couth
With fulsum plente was fostred in his youth

Though he was borne of a good lynage
Vertue made him more high vp for to assende
To be enhaunced for noblesse of corage
More than for blode who can comprehend
For philosophers and clerkys more cōmende
The morall vertues entresoured by writinges
Than all the tresours of worldly crowned kinges

Of gentyll stockys rekne oute the issues
That be descendyd doun from a royall lyne
If they be vicious and voyde of all vertues
And haue no tarage of vertuous disciplyne
With temporall tresoure though they florissh & shyne
As for a tyme sittynge on hye stages
Withoute vertue they are but dede ymages

For though princes haue conquered by bataile
This worlde in roundnesse by their chiualrye
What may their triumphes or noblesse auayle
Withoute that vertue by right their titles guye
To be compared vnto philosophie
For philosophers applye all their ententys
To knowe heuene and  [...]ours of  [...]lementys

They set no store of thinges transitorye
Nor of fortunes expert doublenesse
To heuenly thinges is set all their memorye
Howe the seuene planetys in their cours theym dresse
Meuynge their sterrys sparkynge in their brightnesse
With reuolucions of the speris nyne
Mothers of Musyke as auctours determyne

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And in the noble tweyne famaus housys
Flowringe in Grece richest of euerychon
Called by olde date the faire true spousys
Of philosophers many mo than one
In athademie and athenys shone
The bright lanternys of moost reuerencis
This worlde tenlumyne by lyberall sciencis

And amonge  [...]ther this Calistenes
Was in his youth put for to scoleye
In the two scoles of prudent Socrates
And of plato which that bare the key
Of secre misteries and of diuyne Ideye
In which two scolys of greate habilite
Was none profited half so moche as he

These olde clerkes these two philosophers
Were in tho dayes for doctryne souereyne
Callyd in this worlde the riche precious cofres
And tresours that kepte the chestys tweyne
Amyd their breestys wherin god dyd ordeyne
Moost clere possession put in their depose
Of all sciencys vnder a key close

This calistenes scoler and auditour
Of aristotles by cūnynge cōqueringe
The noble gemine and the moost precious floure
Of philosophie all flouris surmountinge
Wherthrough he was chosyn in his lyuinge
As his maister list for him prouide
On Alisaundre tawayte and abide

For alisaundre of kinges moost entere
And moost worthy to speke of hye prowesse
Dyd aristotles humbly requere
To prouide and do his besynesse
By expert knowynge and auysenesse
To sende him one which of philosophie
Might by good counseyle his conquest magnefie

To write also his triumphes digne of glorye
And to remembre his actys marciall
Put his palmys of knighthode in memorye
And to directe in especiall
His roiall noblesse in vertue morall
That none e [...]roure be seen here nor there
In him that shulde all the worlde conquere

But it fyl so of knightly auenture
That of fortunes high promocion
That he by armes proudly gan recure
Of perce and me [...]de the mighty region
Brought kynge darie vnto subiection
Gate hole his tresoure that noman might expresse
To account the noumbre of his great richesse

Which vnsure tresoure and slydinge habundaunce
With wastinge shadowes of goddys transitorye
In surquedous pride gan so his herte auaunce
By fals ambycion and outrayous veynglorye
That made him lese mynde and eke memorye
To knowe of nature he was no man mortall
But like to goddes that were celestyall

Aboue the palme of olde conquerours
Knightly triumphes conquestys marcial
He vsurped by title of his laboures
To heuenly goddys for to be egall
And through his meritis moost Imperiall
He gan presume by lyne he was allyed
With the seuene goddes for to be deified

Through all his paleys and his roiall hall
A lawe he set vpon peyne of lyf
That men of custū shulde him name and call
This worldys monarke nat mortall nor passif
Sonne to Iupiter for a prerogatyf
Which had the erth as god moost of puissaunce
Conqueryd by swerde vnto his obeysaunce

By full auys purposed for the nonys
Of pompous outrage and surquedous entent
Full greate tresoure of golde and precious stonys
Vnto the temple of Iupiter he sent
That the bissh [...]ppes and preestis shulde assent
Him to receyue at his home comynge
Lyke as a god and no mortall thinge

Thus by extort drede and vsurped might
Was first brought in full Idolatrye
Causinge princys to receyue ageyne night
Goodly reuerence of frowarde mawmetrye
But whan Calistenes this erroure dyd espye
In alisaundre he besily dyd entende
This fals opinyon to correcte and amende

But fyue causes notable to reherce
This Calistenes in especiall
Though he was kinge of Egipt meede and ꝑce
He preuyd of reson he was a man mortall
His birth eke erthely and nat celestyall
Fader moder as of their natures
Borne for to dye lyke other creatures

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His fader philyp of macedoyne kinge
His moder called Olimpidiades
Worldly folke and heuenly no thinge
With kinges quenys vpset by hye encres
Yit ageyne deth they coude haue no reles
Lawes of nature maugre their wyll tobeye
Nat lyke goddes but oonly borne to dey [...]

Kinde made theym subget to sundry passions
And many vncouth dyuerse infirmytees
Nowe glad nowe heuy of condicions
Folowynge the fourme of their humanitees
But of their fals vsurped deytees
I can nat sey saue drede and flaterye
Wrongly in erth dyd theym deifye

Eke alisaundre folowynge euer his lust
For all his lordship and his greate might
He suffred passions of hungre and of thurst
Nowe hole nowe sike nowe heuy nowe light
Whoos enterchaungynge in euery mannys sight
Cleerly shewyd clerkys reherce can
He was no god but lyke a mortall man

It fyll onys myn auctour doth compyle
In a greate hete longe or he was olde
He bathyd him silf in the flode of nyle
Where of fortune he sodeynly toke colde
His poorys opned on ꝑtyes many folde
Lay longe after his story bereth witnesse
Or he was cured of that greate syknesse

But at the last by craft of medicyne
Delyuered he was of that infirmite
No thinge amendyd by his power diuyne
By might of Iuno nor Iupiters poust [...]
Nor by his owne vsurped deite
For by the passions which he dyd endure
It shewed he was a dedly creature

Of him also it is made mencion
He had a custum to fall in dronkenesse
Through violence lost oft his reson
Than of yre and furious hastynesse
He wolde smyte and hurte in his woodnesse
Which tokyns were pleynly to termyne
In his ꝑsone nat heuenly nor diuyne

Whan the philosopre callyd Calystenes
Gan first considre all these condicions
In alisaundre he put him silf in prees
Voide of dissymulinge and dilacions
For to refourme such fals ambicions
Of goodly honoure whiche men dyd on theym feyne
And from all vices his corages to restreyne

In thys purpos as any centre stable
He cast him fully of true entencyon
To correct all that was repreuable
Vsyd in his persone or in his region
Trouth gaue him herte lyke a champion
To tell the kinge in his estate royall
He was no god but a man mortall

For which the kinge of indignacion
Caught a quarell ageyne Calystenes
Put vpon him vniustly fals treson
Only to sle his mayster causeles
And for tateynt him afore all the prees
Seyde howe he had of his Iniquyte
Conspired ageyne his royall mageste

And feyned also the silf same tyme
Howe he had made a conspiracion
Ageyne his lorde by an horryble cryme
Interuptinge the religion
Of his diuyne institucion
That in such cas there was no better rede
But Calystenes by lawe must be dede

And to prolonge of his deth the peyne
Vpon a boord he was layde alonge
His fet smet of and his handys tweyne
His iyen rent oute were nat his peynes stronge
Thus can tyrauntys whan they lyst do wronge
Sle philosophers without any ruth
Which spared nat for to sey theym truth

This cruell vengeaunce might nat suffise
But alisaundre more to encres his wo
Dyd cut his lyppes in full cruel wise
His nose thrilles his crys eke also
And with the body he bad men shulde goo
Tofore his host as it is remembred
To shewe the trunke howe it was dismembred

In a caue depe and wonder lowe
Solitarye derkyd all the boundes
After the peynes he made him to be throwe
The place stuffed with wood berkinge houndes
Of fals entent to rende his blody woundys
Tyll Lysimachus of greate compassion
To shorte his torment gaue him poison

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Who red euer of tormentys more terryble
O alisaundre thou oughtest be ashamyd
To sle thy clerke with peynes so horrible
For thy vices bycause he hath the blamed
Thy royall name therby is diffamyd
But euer tyrauntes whan theym list be wode
Of Innocentes reioyse to shede blode

Ageyne this knight gentyll Lysimachus
Bicause he had of theym compassion
Kinge alisaundre was malencolious
Withoute cause title or affection
Lete shet him vp with a feers lyon
Voyde of all helpe for to be socoured
Of entencion he shulde be deuoured

But Lysimachus quyt him like a knight
Ageyne this lyon in the same place
Ran feersly on him and of his marciall might
Oute of his hede his tunge he dyd arace
Reconsyled to the kinges grace
Bycause that he so knightly hath him borne
Better cherisshed than euer he was toforne

Another knight that called was clytus
F [...]mous in armys for his chiualrye
One the grettest of the kinges hous
And moost cōmendyd of prudent polycie
Moost famylier as bokys specefye
Aboute the kinge as it was oft preuyd
To tempre his corage whan he was agreuyd

The kinge and he walkinge honde by honde
Within the paleys beinge in presence
Princys dukys of many diuers londe
Where they began by notable eloquence
Remembre of armys the notable excellence
Of conquerours and other knightes olde
And euery man aboute his tale tolde

Amonge which clytus the gent [...]l knight
Gan to cōmende and greatly magnefie
Philip macedoyne as him ought of right
Both of wysdom and his chyualrye
Tyll alisaundre had therat enuye
Gan disdeyne of furious cruelte
That any shulde be cōmendyd more than he

Caught occasion of yre and fals hatrede
Ageyne his knight that was to him moost true
With a sharpe swerde vnwarly made him blede
His herte blode hote and rede of hue
By his sides raylinge doun of newe
Therby to preue this story tell can
He was no god nor resonable man

Thus in princis furious and cruell
Men may cleerly an euydence se
Howe that lordship is nat ꝑpetuell
But full of chaunge and mutabilite
Of  [...]here nowe frendly nowe sodeyne enmyte
Recorde on clytus moost in the kinges grace
Vnwarly slayne and dyd no traspace

Was he worthy to be deyfyed
This alisaundre moost double of his corage
Or was he worthy to be stellefyed
This furious prince for his fell outrage
That slough his frendes in his mortall rage
Thus fare tyrauntis whan they lyst be wode
To seke occasion for to shede blode

Calisten slayne for morall disciplyne
And lysimachus for his compassion
Eke thys tyraunte of fals gredy rauyne
Slough gentyll clytus ageyne truth and reson
As ye haue herde for cōmendacion
Of kinge philip this story well conueyed
Who trusteth tyrauntys shall sonest be deceyuyd

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye of calistenes
Declareth vs by notable remembraunce
He was with plato and olde Socrates
In his youth put vnder gouernaunce
Dranke of the mylke of plentuous habundaunce
Of their two scolys euer deuoyde of slouth
Last by alisaundre dismembryd for his trouth

First he was sent by aristotles
For tawayte by prdent purueaunce
On alisaundre list he were recheles
By presumpcion in his royall puissaunce
To take vpon him by goodly attendaunce
Which he withstode alas it was greate ruth
To be so slayne bycause he sayde truth

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Who with tyrauntys lyst put him silf in prees
To haue their fauour and stormy acqueyntaunce
He must flater and sage dou [...]les
Be double of herte with feyned countenaunce
With chere contreued done his obseruaunce
For feithfull menynge slayne and that was ruthe
In calistenes bycause he sayde truth

Noble princes your subgettes kepe in pes
Be nat to hasty for to do vengeaunce
For to tirauntis that be merciles
God sent short lyf and sodeyne myschaunce
Who seyth trouth haue no displesaunce
Prente in youre herte howe it was greate ruth
That Calistenes was sleyne for his truth

Howe Alisaundre kinge of Pyrothe auenturynge to passe the flode of Acheronte / there at his bak by his moost trusty was dedly woundyd

AFter the compleynt of Calistenes
Slayne tirauntly and dyd no trespas
Cam alisaundre kinge of pyrothes
His woundes bledynge vnto Iohn Bochas
To him declared howe he drowned was
In acheronte a ryuer of greate fame
Beside a toun pandosia was the name

And as it is remembred and I tolde
Of this notable mighty stronge cyte
It was in grece Bylt of dayes olde
And after pirrus called pyrothe
Where as the kinge helde his royall se
And as bokys also determyne
This Alisaundre cam of the same lyne

Of whoos kinrede is made pleyne mencion
Sonne to achillus was kinge pirrus
And next in ordre by succession
Fader to elysaundre was Neptolonyus
Which had also myn auctoure telleth thus
A full faire doughter the story ye may se [...]
Olimpiades of macedoyne quene

And she was weddyd to philip Macedo
Whilom moder this quene of moost renoun
To alisaundre the story telleth so
Which all the worlde brought in subiection
Whoos fader philip of greate affection
Lete crowne the brother of olimpiades
Called alisaunder to regne in Pirothes

To whom philyp for his greate beutye
Bycause he was so faire a creature
Had such affection and specialte
As it is remembryd in scripture
Of fals foule lust ageyne nature
As seyth Bochas I can him nat excuse
Vnlefully he dyd his beutye vse

And by mene of that horrible dede
Which to reherce is to foule a thinge
This sayde philyp in Bochas thus I rede
In Epirothes he made him to be kynge
And of extorsion by recorde of writinge
Causeles from thens he dyd enchace
The kinge Arabba tho regnynge in that place

And it fyll after the story telleth so
Of this alisaundre by cerious rehersayle
Vpon the deth of philip macedo
With a greate host cam into Itayle
Supposinge greatly for to auaile
To occupye after his proude entent
Hooly the boundys of all the occident

And though so be that fortune be chaungeable
Double also by cours of hir nature
At his gynnynge he fonde hir fouourable
Made him twyes proudly to recure
Geyne theym of Luke to their disconfiture
To haue the felde and maugre all their might
Of very force to put theym vnto flight

Ageyne Itayle whan he gan this werre
Fully in purpos the romayns to assayle
Of hye presumpcion procede he gan so ferre
With many prince that was in his batayle
To knowe afore by certeyne dyuynayle
Of his conquest the boundys for to cast
And of his life howe longe it shulde last

And in the temple of Iupiter the grete
By dyuynours that expert were and olde
Seruynge this god within the londe of Crete
This was the answere which they haue him tolde
And it affermed by toknes many folde
Howe that he nat shulde eschue the drefull date
Ouer the day assygned to his last sate

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And they also assigned a place
Therby to haue knowlegynge more clere
Vnder a cute longe and large of space
Callyd Pandosia and for to go more nere
By acheronte a famous great riuere
Tolde him playnly and coude no ferder seie
Of necessite there he muste nedys deie

And though it were an erneste and no iape
Of god ordeyned nat to be s [...]t asyde
He thought of wysdom his destyne to escape
And otherwyse for him silf prouyde
Caste in grece no lenger to abyde
Wenynge this ryu [...]re nor that fayre cite
Saue in grece shulde nowhere ellys be

And for to set him silf in assuraunce
Of entent to eschewe his destyne
In to thre batayles departynge his puissaunce
Cam to Itayle tofore luke the cite
They with helpe of samoys the contre
w [...]th a gret power cam out anon right
Slough al his knightes and put him vnto flight

At the backe they pursued him so nere
That his ennemyes almoost were on him fal
Vnto a brydge broke with the riuere
And ouerturned with his plankes al
And acheronte men that ryuer cal
As was tolde him by a certeyne knyght
Which rode before him the ryuer in his sight

For by a rayne that fyll the same night
The ryuere wex to a dredful flode
And nat ferre thens in the kynges sight
Vpon the water a lytyl toun there stode
Which made the kynge chaunge face and blode
And specially his pryde gan attame
Whan he wyst pondosia was the name

And than he gan moste dreedfully remembre
Callynge to mynde the prestes diuinayle
Which made him quake in euery ioynt and membre
For verrey feere and his breth to fayle
No man coude him wissh nor counsayle
O [...] euery partye he stode so on the wracke
The flode tofore him his enmyes at his backe

To take the ryuer he stode in mortal drede
And if that he his ennemyes dyd abyde
He wyste wel that he was but dede
Passage was none for to turne asyde
Thus dissolat he stode withouten guyde
Thought it better to iuparte the ryuere
Than with enmyes that folowed him so nere

Their mortal dredes his herte gan constreyne
Drede of the flode for to haue passage
Byhynde his enmyes that gan at him disdeyne
Liste he were slayne in that mortal rage
His fate approchynge he but yonge of age
The towne pandosia the tokyns dyd expresse
With acheronte that bare therof witnesse

And whan that he put in auenture
To passe the flode or elles to be dede
Whom he moste trust of any creature
Toke a grete spere square and sharpe the hede
And at his backe he quakynge in his drede
Trayturly throughout plate and mayle
Percyd his herte the blode abrode gan rayle

And as it is also of him remembred
The Lucanois by vengeable violence
They haue his careyn on pecys all dismembryd
Tyll an olde lady beynge in presence
Requered theym of humble pacience
That she of grace gadre might anone
His membres all and ioyne theym into one

And after to sende theym vnto his suster dere
Olimpiades the statly greate quene
That of affeccion and loue moost entere
Whan it befyll that she dyd theym sene
Shulde of nature as it must nedys been
Wepe and prouide in his estate roiall
To burye the body with feest funerall

Se here exaumple of this proude kinge
Which wolde haue scapyd his fatall destenye
Chaunge of placys auayled him nothinge
Parodye of princis may nat chaunged be
The terme set fro which they may nat fle
For whan heuene of deth hath set a date
No mortall man may eschue his fate

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Howe Darie kinge of Perce and mede was outrayed by alisaundre kinge of macedoyne

IN Alisaundre called Epirothes
Me list as nowe no lenger for to tarye
Slayne at mischeef for he was recheles
Double of corage for he caude chaunge and varye
For turne I wyll my penne to kinge da [...]ye
Which that whilom who so list take hede
Moost mighty regnyd in perce and mede

And amonge other notable werrours
Lyke as I d [...]me by heuynly influence
Only by title of his predecessours
And  [...]ough his prudent royall excellence
 [...]o greate encres of his magnificence
He had all As [...]e as made is mencion
Vnder his lordship and dominacion

And as myn auctour bochas doth diffyne
He was descendyd from the imꝑiall blode
 [...]f artaxe [...]ses and borne eke of that lyne
P [...]ssed all princis of tresour and of gode
In perce and meede his greate empire stode
An hundryd prouyncys teneres of puissaunce
And seuene and thretly he had in gouernaunce

Ouer all as [...]e towarde the orient
His lordship last bokys make mynde
And had towarde the occident
Ouer Egipt power as I finde
The rede see was nat left behinde
D [...]mynge him silf of all erthely tresoure
Was none but he lord and gouernoure

Towarde Septemptrion vnder the mydday spere
 [...]is power raught and his regalye
Ouer ynde in cronicles ye may lere
And to the boundes of greate armenie
Lorde of the kingdom that called is Parthie
Worldly folke dempte him with god egall
Maister to fortune and she nat but his thrall

But in his highest exaltacion
Of worldly glorye he coude nat preuaile
For all his richesse and veyne ambicion
But fortune durst him well assayle
In his moost rich royall apparayle
Cast in hir chaungys to yeue him a sharpe shoure
By alisaundre of grece enherytoure

Vnto purpos I wyll my penne dresse
For to declare and make mencion
Howe proude darye in his moost noblesse
Was by fortune from his sete cast doun
For anone after the coronacion
Of alisaundre in macedoyne kinge
This was the processe anone of his werkinge

He nat delayed nor made no longe date
In purpos fully of yre to procede
Of perce and mede the scepters to translate
All their richessys to conquere and possede
Perpetually for to abyde in dede
Vnder Grekys mighty obeisaunce
In macedoyne to haue gouernaunce

And as myn auctour well reherce can
He set in grece the mighty stronge cite
Of Corynth the metropolitan
There to establissh his Imperiall se
In regalibus whan he lyst crowned be
As man whom god list of his might to marke
The world to conquere and be therof monarke

At the gynnynge of his conquest famous
Throughout Grece in euery region
First he chase oute of his faders hous
Knightys that were moost souereyne of renoun
Notable in armys and of condicion
Feithfull and true which had of hye prudence
Forsight in armys of marciall prouidence

To theym he dyd full notably assigne
As men expert in knightly apparailis
To make his stuffe with many rich signe
And forge of stele his plate and his mailis
Gaue theym the rule to gouerne in batailis
For prouidence of yore it hath be tolde
Full moch auaileth of knightys wys and olde

All this accomplisshed he lyst no lenger tarye
This worthy kinge but with his ordenaunce
Purposyd to begynne on kinge darye
And as it is put in remembraunce
In moost proude wise he gan him silf auaunce
First in his weye to brenne and bete doun
Of hasty yre Thebes the mighty toun

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After he gate two mighty regions
The tone of frige the tother called lyde
Set by olde tyme were theyr fundacions
Vpon two ryuers rennynge there beside
Whos golden grauels their brightnesse may nat hide
Pa [...]eolus and Eryne men them call
Richest of stremys though men rekne theym all

And of his conquest ferther to termyne
He wan Isauria a prouince wonder stronge
In Asia one cheuest of the nyne
And pamphile a kingdome large and longe
He gate also where it were right or wronge
For where that conquest haue any tytle of right
My cūnynge it passeth my reson and my might

I toke no ꝑtye nor me list n [...]t tarye
In this mater but for I wyll procede
Howe alisaundre hastyd towarde darye
T [...]cheue his conquest of perce and eke of meede
But first he cam to Frigia I rede
Into a cite the name to specefie
Thi [...]ke dayes it named was gordye

After myn auctoure afferme well I dare
There was a temple in Frigya thus seith he
Of Iupiter in which there stode a chare
With ropys bounde of stonys and of perre
Amonge which men might beholde and se
A fatall knot by craft made so sotyle
That no man coude vndo it by no wyle

For who that had science or cūnynge
That corious knot to lose or vntwyne
Ouer asye he shulde be crowned kinge
And alisaundre as bokys determyne
 [...]eynge this chare knyt with many lyne
And howe it sempte a maner Imppossyble
To seuere it which was Indiuisyble

The chare with cordys was so enterlacyd
That richely stode in Iouis tabernacle
Which by his wit coude nat be enbracyd
Nouther by craft nor no soleyne myracle
Tyll Alisaundre by a dyuyne Oracle
Drowe oute his swerde wherof men had wondre
 [...]arf the knot and cordys all asondre

Wherby he wist that he was ordeyned
Ouer all asye to be lorde and kinge
Which to reioyse this story is nat feyned
He rode like mars his bataylis cōueynge
Thrugh perce ynd m [...]de  [...] display [...]e
Towarde his conquest  [...] I leue him dwell
And of this chare and knottys I wyll tell

Prudent Iustynus an olde croniculere
In his cronicles reherseth this storye
Howe Gordius a pore laborere
Beside the cite that callyd is gordye
Erynge his londe dyd his oxen guye
All maner foule that wynges flyght
Hye in the eyre apperyd in his sight

Vn [...]owe to him the tokne what it ment
With dyuynours cast him to counsayle
Called augures which hooly their en [...]ent
Knowynge the processe of such dyuynaile
Where it shall profite or disauayle
And at the gate of Gordye the Cyte
He met amayde excellynge of beutye

Which from aboue by heuenly influence
Had of hir byrth a maner knowlegynge
In such augurye greate practyke and science
Which to gordius expownyd euery thinge
Seyde of asye he shulde be lorde and kinge
And regne there durynge all his lif
In hope wherof she becam his wif

After his weddynge he wex fortunat
The cronicle can bere me well recorde
There fyll in Frige a sodeyne greate debate
Amonge the comons and mortall discorde
Knowynge no mene to bringe theym at accorde
Tyll their goddys by notable prouidence
Taught theym aweye tappese their violence

Howe that debate shulde amonge theym last
Vnto the tyme they had chosen a kinge
And they gan crye and praye their goddys fast
By sūme signe or miracle oute shewynge
To yeue to theym a maner knowleginge
That they might to their notable encres
Chese such one that shuld theym set in pes

They had answere to wayte and be wel ware
To set spyes by besy attendaunce
On whoom they met ridinge in a chare
To Iouis temple to do his obseruaunce
And him receyue by goddys ordenaunce
Vpon his hede withoute more tareynge
To set a crowne in frige to regne as kinge

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And Gordius in his chare ridinge
Towarde the temple they on the wey him met
And awaitinge chas him to their kinge
And solemply home they dyd him fet
Vpon his hede a riche crowne they set
And he to theym so egall was and mete
That he theym brought in rest and quiete

Thus to the crowne gordius dyd atteyne
By tokyns shewyd vnto his greate auayle
And their discordys and stryues to restreyne
He to his lieges gaue notably counsaile
That they shulde with royall apparaile
Take his chare as he dyd theym deuise
And offre it vp in moost lowly wise

In the temple that was consecrate
To Iupiter a full solempne place
And more to make their offringe fortunate
They shulde it set withoute lenger space
Tofore the goddesse that was called grace
Which by miracle their hertis to appese
Set all the people in quiete and in ese

And whan the kinge alisaundre had
 [...]osyd the knot of which I haue you tolde
And of the chare which gordius ladde
The s [...]es seyne and misteryes many folde
Wordly presumpcion gan make his hert bolde
Without title of any rightwisnesse
The cite gordye to spoyle of his richesse

And all affrigye he robbyd eke also
Vp to the mounteyne that callyd was taurus
 [...]he which hyll hath famous names two
For it is also named Caucasus
Where this prince moost victorious
Ordeyned first proudly with spere and sheelde
Ageyne kinge darye for to holde a feelde

Vpon a mounteyne they to gedre met
The marciall pleyne named horestes
And moost proudly their wardis there they set
Al [...] for the werre and no thinge for the pes
Where alisaundre in knighthode peerlles
All the Perciens batayled in his sight
On daryes ꝑty put vnto flight

Kinge alisaundre shortly to conclude
In his moost statly roiall magnificence
Set nat his trust in no greate multitude
But in his knightes which longe in his presence
Had had in armys longe experience
Were wele preuyd in marciall disciplyne
To enhaunce his conquest by their prudent doctryne

Which in that Iourney haue theym so well borne
That in their noblesse founde was no lak
For sixty thousande of fotemen theym beforne
They slough of perce and men on horsbak
Other ten thousand so mortall was the wrak
And fourty thousande as made is mencion
Were prysoners and put to their raunson

On grekys party the story doth well shewe
Macedonoys on alisaundris syde
In comparison were slayne but a fewe
For of fotemen and men that dyd ryde
Through the feeldes that were so large and wyde
There were that day in their mortall stryues
Nat full thre hundred which that lost their lyues

Darye coude none other rescus make
Fled atte mischeef in full greate distresse
His wife his doughter ledde awey and take
His tentys spoyled his story bereth witnesse
Grekys made glad with full greate richesse
His cofres spoyled he fonde no better socoure
And he enporisshed of all his hole tresoure

Whan Darye sawe his dedly auenture
Full pitously in herte he dyd mourne
And anone after this disconfiture
To babilon in hast he gan retourne
And while that he dyd there soiourne
Knowynge no recure to him that might auayle
With alisaundre to holde more bataile

Than of purpos to set him silf in ese
And for taledge his dedly fell greuaunce
In his entent kinge alisaundre to plese
Cast for to sende him lettres of plesaunce
Yeue him giftys in full greate habundaunce
But al the sleightes which Darius hath wrought
Kinge alisaundre set theym echon at nought

This manly kinge kepte his conceyte cloos
Lyst nat shewe what he ment in dede
But cast fully after his purpos
Vpon his conquest ferther to procede
After the getinge of perce and eke of meede
To wynne surrye Egipt and Libye londe
Demynge fortune redy to his honde

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And of his conquest ferther to endyte
Whan his glorye gan moost fresshly shyne
The temple of Iupiter cast him to visite
Which stode in lybye auctours determyne
Sayde howe he was descendyd from the lyne
Of thilke god borne to be his heire
As lorde of heuene fire water erth and eyre

And that the preestys fully shulde assent
With heuynly goddys to make him egall
Greate richesse and tresoure he theym sent
Thus dreed and meede made him celestiall
Falsly forgate that he was mortall
And of ambicion by marciall apparayle
Cast with darye ageyne to haue batayle

And as I finde howe they dyd mete
The two princes with people Innumerable
In the confronte of the londe of Crete
And kinge darye of folkys defensable
Brought into feelde a peple incomparable
Foure hundryd thousande of fotemen fet fro ferre
With alisaundre for to holde werre

An hundred thousand there cam with him also
On horsbak in stele armyd bryght
And all this people whan they had a do
Albe that day full longe last the fight
Were slayne and take and I put to flight
Where alisaundre to his encres of glorye
Had of kinge darye that daye the victorye

And perciens to their fynall myscheef
Withoute mercy or paynge of raunson
With kinge darye were put to greate repreef
Voyde of all hope and consolacion
Fled as I finde into the region
Called partye where as it is tolde
He of that people was take and put in holde

And though his fetirs were of golde riche
He had therof god wote no plesaunce
Fortunys giftys be nat ay Ilyche
In hir fals whele there is such variaunce
Dyuers of cheer straunge of hir countenaunce
 [...]lade alisaundre with a lityll noumbre
The multitude of darye to encoumbre

Within a toun Tharsa he was take
In charyet with cheynes stronge I bounde
Of all his frendes pitously forsake
Led and through perced with many mortall wounde
And this murdre contryued was and founde
By one Bessus a frowarde recheles knight
Which stode afore moost furthred in his sight

And was assured by feith of his legiaunce
To kinge darye to be true in dede
But this fals traytoure god sende him a mischaūce
Caused his woundys mortally to blede
Yit or he dyed he sent in all his drede
A percien knight sad and of greate age
To alisaundre to tell him his message

To thanke that prince of his hye noblesse
Which to his grace and mercy moost habounde
Him list to shewe so greate gentilnesse
Vnto my wif and children as it is founde
For which to him I am so moch bounde
That he myn enmy of benygnite
In their distresse list haue of theym pyte

And sith I se that nedys I must deye
Through blody woūdys which I may nat recure
Sey alisaundre of grace that I preye
For to haue ruth of myn auenture
Next to ordeyne for my sepulture
And condescende to graunt myn axynge
For to be buryed as longeth to a kinge

Praynge the goddys which been immortall
Whan he hath done to quyte him his mede
That if his mercy moost imperiall
Him lyst of grace for to take hede
To burye me kinge of perce and meede
For if this fauour be in his herte founde
To his noblesse the fame shall ay rebounde

Requeringe him of his imperiall might
Of my foule murdre to se eche circumstaunce
For murdre alwey calleth to god of right
Neuir cesinge but by contynuaunce
Vp to the heuene to crye for vengeaunce
Namely on murdre compassed and for thought
Which by auysement is execute and wrought

And sith I haue leyde on the this bonde
To alisaundre to do my message
And him coniured here with my right honde
To auenge my deth wrought by greate outrage
My blode oute shed with pale and dede visage
Here bounde in stockys to goddys moost benigne
With right hole herte my sprite I resigne

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Thus he lay starke there was founde no blode
Lyke as another mortall creature
Whan alisaundre the murdre vnderstode
As ye haue herde remembred by scripture
He dyd ordeyne for his sepulture
The funerall feest holde in all thinges
As by olde tyme longyd vnto kinges

Lenuoye.

THis tragedie pitous for to here
Sheweth of fortune the chaūges lamētable
Of royall thronys of gold and stonys clere
Of wordly princis howe they be euer vnstable
Their fatall whele moost dyuers and chaungeable
With vnware turne list nat hir cours to tarye
To throwe theym doun recorde vpon kinge Darye

Who can or may be full assured here
To make fortune to be so tretable
To finde oute awey or serch oute the manere
By obligacion to finde hir Immutable
Hir double face the worlde ay deceyuable
Shewe vs eche day howe falsly they can varye
By couert fraude recorde vpon kinge Darye

Exaumple howe phebus with hir bemys clere
Sheweth sum morowe his light moost agreable
But longe or  [...]ue derkenesse there doth appere
Through cloudy reynes and mystes longe durable
To vs declaringe by toknes full notable
Wordly dignitees nowe fressh and nowe contrarye
Can chaunge their tydes recorde of kinge Darye

Through all asye perce and meede I fere
His lordship last a thinge incomparable
To ethiopie vnder the mydday spere
Full of tresoure with golde Innumerable
His boundys raught fortune eke seruisable
To obeye his lustys tyll she gan falsly varye
By expert fraude to preue hir might in Darye

Noble princes with hole herte and entere
Lift vp youre corages holde this no fable
Though ye syt hye cōceyue with gode chere
No wordly lordship in erthe is ꝑdurable
And syth ye be of nature resonable
Amonge remembre as thinge moost necessarye
All stant vpon chaunge recorde on kinge Darye

Here bochas remembreth the batyles and losse of Realmeys of antiquyte / with the fallynge of dyuers nobles.

HEte gynneth Bochas remembre in certeyne
The greate sorowes the mortall disauayles
The losse of realmes the blode shed in veyne
Begonne of werrys and marciall apparayles
Called to mynde of olde the fell batailes
Gūne of antyquite as made is mencion
First ageyne Grekys and theym of troye toū

A pitous herte it wolde make blede
To haue in memorye the dredefull greate outrage
As ye haue herde wrought in Perce and Meede
Atwene Darye and Alisaundre in their age
Eke atwene Romayns and theym of Cartage
The wofull troublys of werrys first begonne
Cause all the myscheuys that been vnder sonne

On outher party who can remembre aright
Nowe losse nowe lucre comyth of dyuision
Nowe disencres nowe heuy and nowe light
Nowe life nowe deth for short conclusion
For bochas seith such fals discencion
Hath many kingdom that stode in gode estate
Turned to ruyne and made theym desolate

Remembre of troye the wallys broke doun
In grece destroyed many stronge cyte
In perce and mede greate desolacion
Rome dispurueyde of marcyall suerte
Castellys toures of olde antiquite
Made ruynous in affryke and cartage
Caused by werrys and marcys cruell rage

Who list considre wrought by dayes olde
The cours of conquest of these werreours
In alisaundre he cleerly may beholde
By remembraunbre of his progenitours
And of his blode howe all the successours
Hadde fatally or they dyd hens wende
A sodeyne deth or a shamefull ende

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Full many rekened that were of his lynage
For to succede in his possessions
To sixe and thritty ꝑtinge his heritage
To eche assigned their royall porcions
First as he made his diuisions
He gaue of frige the prefecture of rig [...]
To Leonatus that was so good a knight

But a litell while last his pssession
For the contrees list theym nat obeye
They of athenys had indignacion
With antipater for he dyd werreye
Yit in that werre playnly for to seye
Leostenes their duke their gouernoure
Was slayne that day he fonde no better socoure

And Leonatus that was his aduersarye
Of antipater the party to sustene
Fonde fortune to him that day contrarye
For in the feelde though he rode armed clene
With a sharpe spere his wounde was made grene
At mischeef slayne myn auctoure doth compile
Thus his lordship last nat but a while

Antipater another successoure
Of alisaundre as made is mencion
Was by recorde of the same fals traitoure
That for his deth tempred the poyson
His sonne cassandir accomplisshed the treson
Bare the cuppe which that made him sterue
With that stronge venym whan he dyd him serue

Antipater of this cryme coupable
Greatly desyred in his opinyon
Vpon all tho that be vengeable
That lykly were to espye his treson
Dredde him sore hauynge suspeccion
Lyst he were accused to thestatis
Of cryme called lese magestatis

His sonne assented to that horrible dede
Which to alisaundre beynge in babylon
Moost traitourly without shame or drede
As ye haue herde prensentyd the poyson
And yit the kinge as made is mencion
Though he to him fals was and contrarye
He made him prefect lorde of the londe of Carye

And amonge other notable werr [...]ours
There were thre more full worthy and famous
Set in the nounbre of his enheritours
Policarpus and Neptolonius
And eche of theym to other enuyous
Within a feelde the story doth vs lere
Eueriche slough other as they mette Ifere

Of Perdicas what shuld I write or seyne
Which amonge all was one the best knight
That whan alisaundere lay in diynge in certeyne
And gan to feble of his force and might
Dempt afore that it sate well of right
Howe this perdicas for wysdom and manhede
In Macedoyne shulde after him succede

And vnto him with chere and loke benygne
Vpon his hede for sikenesse compleynynge
With full hool herte for a notable signe
Of successyon he gaue to him a ringe
After his day to be crowned kinge
Of macedoyne sith he moost might auayle
Through all his empyre to haue the gouernayle

And yit seyth Bochas breuely in sentence
Though he of knighthode and hye prowesse
Of manly force and also of prudence
Passed all other the story bereth witnesse
By vicious pride and frowarde boystousnesse
He was more hindryd through his outrage
Than all his enmyes might do to him damage

For through his pride and greate extorcions
Fro Macedoyne the people of that cuntre
Fledde into other straunge regions
And of presumpcion the store seith howe he
Beganne awerre ageyne kinge Tholome
Where he was slayne in all mennys sightis
Nat of his enmyes but of his owne knightis

Eke of Anaxarchus of Capadoce kinge
Which prouince ioyneth to Surrye
Touchinge the boundes by recorde of writinge
Towarde the oryent the londe of Armenye
Hauynge two cuntrees Salice and ysaurye
Towarde Cipre and a greate Ryuere
Rennynge amyddys with s [...]remys fressh and clere

This Aanaxarchus where he was loth or fayne
In dayes fewe hath his kingdom borne
For by Perdicas proudly he was slayne
Of whom that I haue you tolde beforne
Thus wordly princys though they had it sworne
For all their lordshyp and domynacion
By fraude of fortune vnwarly be put doun

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And amonge other princis of that age
Vpon alisaundre duly abydynge
Bochas reherceth Amulchar of Cartage
Duke of that cyte by recorde of writinge
After the deth of that worthy kinge
As ye haue herde I murdred by poyson
This feyde amulchar reparinge to his toun

Was slayne in Cartage shortly to conclude
Of cruel malyce and conspiarison
Within that cite of fals ingratitude
Whan he of knighthode fraunchised had the toun
And withstandinge all his hye renoun
Whan he stode hyest in hys felicite
He by the comons was slayne of that cyte

Howe Eumenydes was twyes outrayed by Antigo [...]us / and at the last dyed in prison

wHan alisaundre in his roya [...] estate
Had all conqueryd tofore as ye haue herd
He lyke a god most pompous and elate
As souereyne prince of all this myddelerd
To take vpon him was no thinge aferde
To  [...]leyme in cuntrees a thinge that was nat faire
Of Iupyter to be both sonne and heyre

One of the principles who so taketh hede
That first brought in fals Idolatrye
Was th [...]ke tyme that preestys for fals drede
His name with goddys gan to magnefie
And so to call him of feynyd flaterye
And myd their temples in libye on a stage
Of his liknesse they set vp an ymage

But lityll or nought to him it might auayle
Ageyne his deth for to do socoure
Whan the fell poyson his herte dyd assayle
Which made him fade as doth a somer floure
Of whoos empire was none enheritoure
Saue in his deth thus stode the wofull cas
Twene sixe and thritty his londe deuided was

And in his story full pleynly it is tolde
This departicion to make it ferme and stable
He was leyde forth vpon a couch of golde
To reherce by tokenys full notable
Whoom he dempt of very soth moost able
Of all his princys pleynly to descerne
Whan he were dede his kingdome to gouerne

First there was one amonge all that prees
Next alisaundre the knightliest man
The worthy knight called Eumenides
Whoos hye renoun full well reherce can
Prudent Iustynus the greate historyan
Ordeyned afore to gouerne realmes two
All Capadoce and pafflagonie also

His hye noblesse as made is mencion
In especiall more to magnefie
Him lackyd nought of commendacion
That apperteyned vnto chyualrye
To hye prudence or noble policye
Except thre thinges myn auctoure seith the same
A crowne a sceptre and a kinges name

But for that he all other dyd excelle
Both of prudence and famous chyualrye
It is remembred as some bokys tell
That there were sūme had therat enuye
For whan fortune list to set vp hye
Any ꝑsone aloft vpon hir whele
Sūme are besyde that lyke it neueradele

Who holdeth him euer vpon hye mounteyns
Fyndeth great experience of blastys and shoures
Oft is troubled with storme and winde reynes
So of alisaundre the proude successoures
Whan they sate hyest shynynge in their floures
Wynde of enuye fortune helde so the rothir
That eche was besy to destroye othir

On hillys hye it is an impossible
A man tabyde withoute wynde or reyne
A thinge expert and very vysible
Hye clymbynge vp is medlyd with disdeyne
Prees hath enuye as it is oft seyne
And through preferrynge of fortune in estatys
Is euer caused greate werre and greate debatys

This same thinge was wele expert and preuyd
Amonge these seyde royall enheritours
Of alisaundre for eche of theym was greuyd
To se his felowe regne in his floures
And thus atwene these mighty successours
Of fals enuye there gan so greate a stryf
That eche made other for to lose his lyf

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And as it is afore made mencion
Policarpus and neptolonyus
By a maner fals conspiracion
Ageyne Eumenides were enly enuious
Of whoos falsnesse he was susspecious
Tyll on a day there is nomore to seyne
Metynge in batayle he slough theym both tweyen

For which slaughter proude antigo [...]s
Of macedoyne prefecte and gouernoure
Wex in his herte so fell and despitous
And was withall amoble werroure
With his knightes dyd holy his laboure
Ageyne Eumenides by marciall apparayle
A feelde assigned to holde a greate batayle

Made vpon him a greate disconfiture
As they met armyd bright in stele
And thus Eumenides of mortall auenture
Fled at myscheef into a stronge castell
Wherof his knightes lyked neueradele
For as the story pleynly maketh mynde
That day he fled and left his men behinde

In which castell for he stode destitute
Fro thens he cast in all hast to fle
In his greate myscheef to fynde sum refute
That tyme he drough him to a stronge cuntre
Some socoure to gete auengyd for to be
Callyd argire by grekys of entent
The latyn corrupte of thys worde argent

Of archiraspedes a people that there dwell
Their name they toke after that region
The which londe as olde bokys tell
Hath of syluer plente and foyson
For which cause by olde discripcion
It toke his name of nature and of right
Bycause the soyle lyke siluer shyneth bryght

And of this yle which hath so great a pris
As myn auctour maketh rehersayle
Howe the people be prouident and wis
Prudent in armys and manly in batayle
Both to diffende and proudly to assayle
Which by their wisdome and circūspect coūsayle
To kynge alisaundre stode in great auayle

And Eumenides one of his successours
As ye haue herde drewe to that cuntre
There to fynde refute and socours
In his mischeef and great aduersite
And with his wordys of greate auctoryte
His noble langage and his faire eloquence
The people had him in ful great reuerence

And for they were manly and coraious
Able to assemble both in plate and mayle
He made theym rise ageyne antigonus
By their prowes with him to haue batayle
But of fortune his party gan to fayle
Where thilke people the story telleth thus
Had afore be victorious

Antigonus hath the feelde recured
That day his knightys faught lyke wodelyons
In furious tene of corage assured
Brake their tentes and their pauylions
Spoyled their castels robbyd their dungeons
Where that cuntre vnwarly thus affrayed
Had neuer afore in batayle ben outrayed

And of dispyte this people recheles
Caught in their hert great indignacion
Ageyne their prince this seyde Eumenides
Which had theym brought to theyr destruction
And al that people of one opinion
Presentyd him it was nat after longe
To antigonus bounde in cheynes stronge

In this proces breuely to procede
At great mischeef he dyed in prisoun
He fonde no mercy playnly as I rede
For all his noblesse nor his hye renoun
Yet of his manhode it is made mencioun
Who that his story list to loke aright
With alisaundre there was no better knight

In his conquest euery hour and space
He moost cherisshed for his high nobles
Aboue all other stode moost in his grace
To helpe and releue folke in their distresse
Albe that he dyed in wretchydnes
To vs declarynge the great variaunces
That all day fall in fortunes chaunces

Lenuoye

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THis tragedye of Duke Eumenides
Sheweth of fortune the froward doublenes
Howe wordly princes that been recheles
With vnware chaunges fall in distres
And there may be no gretter heuynes
After prosꝑite nor gretter peyne
Than aduersite which that is sodeyne

Grettest enuye where is grettest pes
Grettest awayte where is moast richesse
And grettest ese where is rest and pes
Where moost discorde moost is heuynesse
And of all sorowe sorowfulest excesse
Is thilke sorowe that a man constreyne
After prosꝑite aduersite sodeyne

Princis in erth of power peerles
Which excelled all other in no blesse
Had in this worlde by conquest moost encres
As alisaundre the story bereth witnesse
Remembre the fyne of all their hye prowesse
And the tryumphes to which they dyd atteyne
After prosperite aduersite sodeyne

The stronge enheritour which that he oute ches
Sixe and thretty the noumbre to expresse
Which had possessions of kingdoms doutles
Eche thinge obeynge to their worthynesse
Tyll fortune thought hir doublenesse
Shewed hir might vnwarly to ordeyne
After prosperite aduersite sodeyne

Noble princes to auoyde all disencres
Amonge your silf discordys do represse
Be nat enuyous nor Irous causeles
Werke no thinge of hasty wylfulnesse
Late discrecion be youre gouerneresse
For there must folowe if ye parte on tweyne
After prosperite aduersite sodeyne

Howe quene Olimpiades for she delyted in vices / murdre and vengeaunce dyed at myscheef

NExt in ordre to Bochas dyd appere
After the myscheef of Eumenides
The greate quene with a full pitous chere
Moder of alisaundre Olimpiades
Borne of the lyne of Gaades
Amonge quenys hir story bereth witnesse
Excelled all other in beutye and richesse

She was doughter to neptolonyus
The mighty kinge of Epirothes
And had suspect howe Neptanabus
By enchauntment put him silf in pres
Of wyuely trouth to make him recheles
But bochas here for to saue hir name
Write but a lytyll of hir disclamirous fame

This seyde quene right faire of hir visage
Was first brought forth in thilke regions
Where all the worthy of blode and of lynage
Helde their scepters and their rich croūs
Throughoute all grece with full possessioūs
So that this quene that tyme nere and ferre
Was of bewtye called the lodesterre

But amonge all hir greate prosꝑite
Hir youth flouynge in moost souereyne noblesse
Hir ioye was medled with greate aduersite
Whan philip Macedo to hir greate heuynesse
Was mortally wounded in distresse
In Cythia by a certeyne nacion
Called Trybaloys as made is mencyon

For in that cuntre vpon a certeyne day
Where as he faught and dyd his best peyne
To gete a cyte and at a siege lay
And for thassaut dyd his sluff ordeyne
He lost vnwarly one of his iyen tweyne
That whan the quene behelde his sodeyne wounde
For sorowe she fyll euyn plat to the grounde

Anothir thinge bokys specefye
Troubled hir fame by greate heuinesse
The suspecte sclaundre of auoutrye
Wrought by Neptabanus enchauntynge hir fairenes
The light Eclipsinge of hye noblesse
By swift report for to hindre hir name
What fleeth more swift than wyckyd fame

In womanhede as auctoures all wryte
Moost thinge commendyd is their chast honeste
Thinge moost sclaundrous their noblesse tatwyte
Is whan princessys of hasty freelte
Excede the boundes of wiuely chastyte
For what auayleth lynage or royall blode
Whan of their lyuynge the report is nat gode

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The holy bed diffoiled of mariage
Or onys soyled may nat recured be
The voice goth furth & the froward langage
By many realmes and many great cyte
Sclaundre hath of custum and that is pite
Trewe other fals by contagious soun
Onys reysed it goth not lightly doun

And to more hindringe of olimpiades
Philip awey dyd fram hir declyne
And of the kynge of Epirothes
The wyf he toke to his concubyne
Called Cleopatra pleynly to termyne
And thus in mischeef tencres of hir trouble
Their fals auoutry gan to wex double

Of this proces write I wyll nomore
Cause the mater is abhomynable
For kinge philip the bargeyne bought sore
As is remembred by cronycles full notable
Slayne on a day syttynge at his table
Full sodeynly or he toke any hede
Pansanias dyd that cruel dede

Of which slaughter there folowed a straunge cas
As ye haue herde by pansanias wrought
Olimpiades full glad and mery was
Heuy outwarde hir herte voyde of thought
Yet feynyngly she hath out wayes sought
For him to holde solempne and royall
Lyke Grekys rightes a feest funerall

After whoos deth wrought of great cruelte
Kynge alisaundre made no lengre lette
Made Pansanias takyn for to be
And to be hangyd vpon an hye gybet
Vpon whoos hede there was a crowne sette
Of golde and perle and riche stones Inde
By olympiades in story as I finde

For he stode greatly in the quenys grace
And as folke dempt of suspection
They mette to gydre in many preuy place
Which greatly turnyd to hir confusion
For noyse aroos through all that region
That by thoccasion of their mislyuynge
Howe pansanias slough philyp the kynge

But she anone in hir malyce feruent
Fro the gybet made him to be take doun
Made his body solemply to be brent
Kept his exequies with great oblacion
After the rightes of that region
Nat left behinde in party nor in all
That apperteyned to festys funerall

Vpon kinge philip as it were for the nonys
To do hir lorde a shame a despite
Solemply she made brenne the bonys
Of pansanias for a fals appetyte
Vnto no man she had so greate despite
For which this feest was lyke in all thinges
To thexequies of princes and of kynges

She made his swerde also to be take
With which he slough philyp the greate kinge
Offred it vp only for his sake
Tofore appollo by recorde of writynge
Which to hir was sclaundre and greate hindringe
Caused folke deme in their entent
To sle kynge philyp howe she was of assent

To be cruel was set all her plesaunce
For merciles voyde of all pyte
On cleopatre causinge this vengeaunce
That she hir silf henge vpon a tre
Murdred hir doughter the story ye may se
What malice may if it be declared
Vnto the malyce of wymen be compared

Speke of them that be malicious
And lyste of custome for to be vengeable
Amonge a thousaunde one may be vertuous
And in two thousand sum one is merciable
But whan they be of rancour vntretable
There is no tigre more cruell doubtles
Recorde I take of Olimpiades

And she of malyce was more set of fyre
To execute boldly her vengeaunce
By thoccasion of the greate empire
Of perce and meede full famous in substaunce
Which stode by conquest vndre the gouernaunce
Of alisaundre wherby she thought hir stronge
Tacheue eche thinge whether it be right or wronge

Dempt hir power shulde ay contune
By the mene of his high mageste
God is stronger than the quene fortune
Which suffred hir sonne in hir moost dignite
In babylone poysened for to be
As is remembred in many olde histories
After his triumphes and his victories

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But for to passe breuely to the writinge
Touchinge the quene as made is mencion
Whan dede was philip the famous kynge
She had of macedoyne ful possession
And gouerned that mighty region
Where like a wuluesse as auctours of hir write
To shede blode she gan hir silf delyte

In her tyrannye moost feruent and yrou [...]
Reioysed in slaughter and to se men blede
For serpent none was more malicious
Than was this quene in bokes ye may rede
Yet after all this she receyued hir mede
For though fortune fauoured hir a while
y [...]t with hir treynes she coude hir wel begyle

The ende of tyrauntes and eke of tyranesses
and of murdres be they neuer so wode
Of poyson mongers and enchaunteresses
Of fals supplantours contrary to all gode
And of conspirers and them thriste blode
All these muste haue by goddys purueaunce
H [...]re short life or sodeyne vengeaunce

In macedoyne this quene was moost behatyd
For hir vengeable mortall oppression
And Cassander ageyne hir hath debatyd
And gūne a werre vpon hir region
Which to alisaundre mynystred the poyson
As ye haue herde to fore of him diuysed
By antipater moost mortally practised

She fonde no refute but toke hir to flight
This cruell quene this olympiades
Into a mounteyne that stode ferre out of sight
And of hir kyn there folowed hir a greate p [...]es
Supposynge to haue lyued there in pees
For on that hyll stode a greate dongeon
Strongly wallyd aboute enuyron

Which that marchyd to a great cyte
Called Epidua stondyng in great doubte
Bycause Cassandre of olde enmyte
Had for hir leyde a syege aboute
And none was hardy for to issue out
Tyll cassandre of fals compassed treson
Made with theym a composicion

His feith was leyde that tyme for hostage
By othe assured to olimpyades
By couert fraude vnder fayre langage
To suffre hir with him to lyue in pees
But of his promys he fals and recheles
For vnder trete as made is mencion
The quene he toke and caste hir in prison

But will ye se a royall hye corage
Howe boldly delyuered fro prison
She descended imperiall of visage
With all hir maydens about hir enuiron
Hir enmys present wodder than lyon
Seynge hir stonde so statly of hir face
Whan they were proudest tareste hir and manace

She was of purpose arayed for the nones
As seyth bochas in moost statly wise
In rich purpyl golde and precious stonys
Lyke an empresse in the grekyssh guyse
Hir lyst nat fle the storye doth diuyse
With cry nor noyse passed nat hir boundes
Whan that hir blode doū rayled from hir woundes

She nat affrayed in all hir mortall shoures
Voyde of all fere lyste nat lowe hir chyne
Make no prayer to hir turmentoures
Nor no tokne of corage feminyne
Vpright she stode lyste nat doun declyne
Gaue euidences as it is comprehended
Of what lyne and blode she is descendyd

For vnto tyme that she gaue vp the breth
Was neuer seyne prince nor princesse
That more proudly toke their fatall deth
For as I deme hir marciall hardynesse
Cam from Bellona of armys cheef goddesse
Or she had it by influence of corage
Youe by the goddys to hir and hir lynage

Force is a vertue bokes specefye
Agayne all vices to make resistence
But frowarde rancoure and proude malencolye
Gaue hir a sprite of feyned pacience
A fals pretence of hir magnyficence
As scaunce she had ben in vertue stronge
For trouth to haue endured euery wronge

Contrarious force made hir despitous
Stronge in hir errour to endure peyne
Of obstynate herte she was fell and Irous
In dethys constreynt listnat to complayne
Counterfet suffraunce made hir for to feyne
No thinge of vertue pleynly to termyne
Nor of no mannys that be femynyne

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In hir entrayles all malice was enclosyd
And all contagyous venym serpentyne
Nat lyke a woman but as a feende disposyd
Able to destroye all vertuous disciplyne
Thus she began thus she dyd fyne
In vicious murdre she dyd hir ay delyte
Wherfore of hir me lyst no more tendyte

Lenuoye.

AL ye that shall this tragedye see
Of ruth and mercy haue compassion
To se a princesse from hir Imperiall see
So vnwarly by fortune throwe doun
Of whose myscheef this was thoccasion
That in thre thinges was set moost hir plesaunce
In vicious life in murdre and vengeaunce

Alas that euer the mortall cruelte
Of blody swerde by execusion
Shulde be appropryd to feminite
Ageyne the nature of their condicion
Causinge the fynall sclaundrous confusion
Of olimpidiades here put in remembraunce
For vicious lif murdre and fals vengeaunce

Vnder fressh floures sote and fayre to se
The serpent dareth with his couert poyson
In cristall waters that calme and sote be
Are perilous pittes full of decepcion
Men se al day by clere inspection
In feynynge facys aungelike suffisaunce
Hir vnderneth rancoure and greate vengeaunce

Though she excelled of hir natyf beutye
All other princys of that region
Was neuer none feller seen than she
To execute like hir opinion
The perilous treynes contreuyd of treson
And specially in hir pompous greuaunce
Where she hated for to do vengeaunce

Noble princes set hye in dignite
Do aduertise of discrecion
In youre moost power and largest liberte
Be merciable and do remission
Sugre with pyte your indignacion
Late grace and mercy tempre your hye puissaunce
Of olimpiades eschuynge the vengeaunce

Exile ricoure ferre oute of cuntre
Yeue him with you no Iurisdiction
To womanhede laugh nat parde
Of cancred rancoure newe execucion
Where mercy regneth of grace there is foison
Haue this in mynde by longe contynuaunce
Of olimpiades forgetinge the vengeaunce

Late pacience by vertuous plente
Within your hertys purchace a mancion
Late youre compassion attempre equite
That right excede nat the boundes of reson
So that youre femynyn humble entencion
Be alweye brydled by prouident suffraunce
Voidinge all excessys of ricour and of vengeaunce

For it is sayde of olde auctoryte
To woman longeth by disposicion
Mekenesse in langage in port humilite
In all vertue humble subiection
Voide of manacis strif and contencion
So that no man in your attendaunce
Espye no tokyn of rancour nor vengeaunce

The speciall mene the parcialite
Shulde of all mercy be descripcion
Rebounde to wymen for of antiquyte
The lambe nat vsed to pley the lyon
Nor no meke downe enuyed the faucon
Nor to youre degre by naturall accordaunce
Sit nouther ricoure nor hasty fell vengeaunce

Thys simple lenuoye receyue it at gre
And haue therof none indignacion
Lowly directe to youre benignite
Only of mekenesse and no presumpcion
Knowynge of kinde youre inclinacion
Disposed is by naturall purueaunce
Vnto al mercy and no thinge vnto vengeaunce

Howe agathodes of lowe birth borne atteyned vnto royall dignite / endyd in pouerte and wretchidnesse.

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I Haue herde seyde of full yore agone
A whirlwinde blowynge no thinge softe
Was in olde Inglisshe callyd a rodion
That reyseth dust and strawe full hye alofte
And in thascendinge it falleth so full ofte
Though it be borne almoost to the skye
Where it becometh there can no man espye

Oute of forgys by fyre that smythes make
By clere experyence it is full oft I seyne
That these infernall ougly smokys blake
Transcende the cop of many greate mounteyne
But oft sith by a full sodeyne reyne
All such assencions by rage of wynde vp blowe
With vnware turne be reuersed and brought lowe

And semblably to put it at a preef
And execute it by clere experience
O [...]e the moost contrarious mischeef
Founde in this erth by notable euidence
Is only this by fortunate violence
When that wretch [...]s churlissh of nature
Thestate of princes vnwarly doth recure

A crowne of golde is no thinge accordynge
For to be set vpon a knaues hede
A foltissh  [...]lerke for to were a ringe
Acordeth nat who that can take hede
And in this worlde there is no gretter drede
Than power youe if it be well sought
Vnto such one that first rose vp of nought

There is no maner iust conuenience
A royall carbonele rubye or garnet
Nor a chast Emeraude of vertuous excellence
Nor I [...]de saphus in coper to be set
Their kindly power in foule metall is let
And so thes [...]ate of politike puissaunce
 [...] lost where euer knaues haue gouernaunce

For a tyme they may well vp ascende
Lyke wyndy smokys their boystous fumys sprede
A crownyd asse playnly to comprehende
Voyde of discrecion is more for to drede
Than is a lyon for that one in dede
Of his nature is mihgty and royall
Voyde of discrecion that other bestyall

The gentyll nature of a stronge lyon
To prostrat peple of kinde is merciable
For vnto all that fal afore him doun
His royall puissaunce can nat be vengeable
But cherisshe wulues by ricoure vntretable
And foltissh assys eke of bestyalite
Faylinge reson brayde euer on cruelte

None is so proude as he that can no goode
The lewder hede the more presumpcion
Moost cruelte and vengeaunce in lowe blode
With malapertnesse and indiscrecion
Of churl and gentyll make this diuision
Of outher of theym I dare right well report
The stok they cam fro therto they wyll resorte

The rose knowe by coloure and swetnesse
And violettys for theyr fressh tarage
The netle rough for his fell sharpnesse
Thistlys brerys prinkinge by greate outrage
And thus considred the rote of eche lynage
Frowarde tetchys been euer in churlys foūde
Where vnto gentils ay vertue doth rebounde

Late men beware in especiall of one thinge
Howe grete decepcion is in fals coignage
The plate may be bright in his shewynge
The metall fals and shewe a fayre vysage
All is nat golde to speke in pleyne langage
That shyneth bright concludinge on reson
Vnder fayre chere is oft hyd fals poyson

For as a skye or an ougly cloude
Which that ascendeth lowe oute of the see
And with his blaknesse doth the sonne shrowde
That may nat his greate brightnesse se
Nor haue no confort of his clere beutye
So vicious tetchis I do you well assure
Difface fuloft the giftys of nature

God vnto some hath yeuyn by nature
For to excelle another in fayrenesse
Yit in vicys by recorde of scripture
They were disclaundryd bochas bereth witnesse
Outwarde sugre inwarde bitternesse
By which exaumple to purpos I may call
Agathodes fulfylled wyth vices all

In this story he cometh nowe on the ringe
Which of beutye had greate excellence
But to declare the vicious lyuinge
And to discryue his outrageous offence
If I shulde write in sentence
Lyke his demeritys hooly the manere
It wolde thrugh Perce and blotte my papere

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Touchinge his birthe of lowe bedde descendyd
Sonne of a potter the story ye may se
In no vertue I finde him nat cōmendyd
Except nature gaue him greate beute
Fostred in myscheef and greate pouerte
Had eke dysdeyne I can him nat excuse
Of hatefull pride his faders craft to vse

By the mene of his greate fayrenesse
To hye estate he cam from lowe degre
Yit in a vice which I wyll nat expresse
He disusyd cursydly his beutye
Ageyne nature that euyll mut they the
And soyled he was shortly to specefye
With all the spices of pride and lecherye

¶Yit nat withstandinge his fals condicions
God suffred him to come to hye estate
And to gouerne diuers nacions
I finde a while howe he was fortunate
In his lecherye ay pompous and elate
And in a cyte called cyracuse
The sayde vyses frowardly he gan vse

And for he had beutye and greate might
To all vices his youth he dyd enclyne
And coude also forthre him silf aright
Of eloquence expert in the doctryne
And as it is sayde though he cam of lowe lyne
Yit as it is put in remembraunce
An hundred knightes he had in gouernaunce

Of Centuryen he purchased an office
And that tyme he toke the ordre of knight
After chosyn a tribune of greate pryce
And gate greate fauoure in the peple sight
And in this while it fell so anone right
Of Cyracusys he was made duke and hede
By election by cause their lorde was dede

Which with Siciliens helde a mortall strif
But agathodes made him victorious
Toke their duchesse after to his wyf
By mene wherof he wex full gloryous
And in his glory he grewe right despitous
Forgate him silf thus growynge in estate
Wherthrough his cite and he were at debate

His condicion whan they gan espye
And sawe him werke all of presumpcion
The people anone knowynge his tyrannye
Exiled him oute of their region
In his exyle as made is mencion
He coude finde no better cheuisaunce
But cam to a cite that callyd was Murgaunce

Where by his sleighty subtyll fals auys
He so demenyd him in the peple sight
That of a pretor they gaue him an offis
He meuynge theym in all that euer that he might
Geyne Ciracusys to make them stronge and fight
Of entent on theym to auenged be
Cause for his exyle oute of that cyte

But in his exyle the story seyth none other
It was so wrought by medyacion
Of duke Amulchar that was his sworne brother
Ciracusanis of one entencion
Called home ageyne into their toun
And there was restoryd to his place
And reconciled to the kinges grace

And vnto him they gaue by greate auys
By assent of lordes and all the comonte
Of a Pretor newly an offis
For pretores of custum callyd be
Officers that dwell in the cyte
And haue full charge by dome and Iugementys
To put all gylty to peyne and to tormentys

Than of newe this Agathodes
Bycause he had more auctoryte
Cast for to trouble the quyete and the pes
Of ciracusis and oute of that cyte
All the Senatours grettest of dignite
Of mortall vengeaunce this tiraunt made anone
Withoute excepcion be slayne euerychon

This hasty slaughter wrought by tyrannye
Might nat asswage nor staunche his fell corage
Tyll he their tresours toke by robbrye
And all Sycile he spoyled by pillage
Cast of pride vpon an hyer stage
For to assende by sleighty fals werkinge
Of al that region he toke to be crowned kinge

Made his subgettys maugre theym him dredynge
To call him kinge and in especiall
On the moost worthy prince tho lyuynge
That sat in chayre of mageste royall
Tyll fortune shope he must haue a fall
For of cartage the duke a worthy knight
Faught with him twyes and put him to flight

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Wherthrough he stode in mischeef dispei [...]ed
And of a people he was had in disdeyne
To Ciracuse in hast he is repeired
And to his cite retourned home ageyne
There abydinge in drede and vncerteyne
For whan fortune gan ageyne him take
His frendes olde of newe haue him forsake

In that myssheef he bode nat longe
As the processe maketh rehersayle
Gadryd people and made him silf stronge
Only in purpos all affrik tassayle
With theym of cartage had a greate bataile
Theym disconfited as fortune lyst ordeyne
By hye prowesse of his sonnes tweyne

Arthagathus I called was that one
Wondre deliuer a man of great might
The seconde brother moost worthy of echone
Called Eraclida which in that mortal fight
Preued himsilf that day a manly knight
For by their manhode in which there was no lacke
They of cartage were felly put abacke

For though so were by fortune of the werre
Agathodes had that day victorie
Fals couetyse made him for to erre
And eclipsyd the light of his glorie
For as it is remembred in his storie
Like as his birth as it toforne termyned
To all falsnes his corage was enclyned

Cruell of custum of herte mercyles
His will was lawe were it wronge or right
Contrarie to accorde frowarde vnto pes
Proude and surquedous in his owne sight
Where his powere stretchyd and his might
Lyke a tyraunt naturally disposed
To execute vengeaunce afore purposyd

He thought he had power forto bynde
Fortunes whele for to abyde stable
Which is a thinge contrarye to her kynde
Whose propertie is to be variable
His pride alas was to abhominable
For mortal prince is none that may restreyne
Hir vnware turne nor her cours sodeyne

By influence of the heuynly sterres
The vncouth cours aboue celestiall
By fortune and fauour of the werres
This agathodes of byrth ful rurall
Promotyd was vnto estate royall
Tyll pride outrage and frowarde engendrure
Caused in his lordship he might nat longe endure

Fortune of kinde is so flaskisable
Amonstruous beest departyd manyfolde
A slydinge serpent turninge and vnstable
Sliper to gripe on whom there is none holde
As in this boke declaryd is and tolde
His power preuyd on princys recheles
Recorde with other on agathodes

As ye haue herde rehercyd in sentence
Simple and bare was his natyuite
Brought vp and fostred in greate indigence
Oute of a stocke springinge of pouerte
Ros to thestate of royall dignite
Their risinge vncouth meruelous tatteyne
The fall more greuous bycause it was sodeyne

From Ciracuse he was exiled twyes
Vengeably of herte where he had might
Of affricans disconfited twyes
Euer in batayle of custum put to flight
Had an vsaunce to robbe day and night
And lyke a tyraunt ageyne conscience
To spoyle his subgettys by rauynous violence

Kindred by fortune wherof he was nat fayne
Hir stroke ageyne him sodeyne and violent
His sonnes two in affrik were first slayne
He of his lymmes wex feble and impotent
With a consumpcion his entrayles brent
And by an ague contynuall of feruence
He was supprysed by stroke of pestilence

All his tresoure hath from him take
His proude port and his wordly glorye
His kyn his freendes and his wif hath him forsake
His cōquest dyrk and put out of memorye
His name clipsed of al his olde victorie
And as he gan in pouert and distresse
So he made an ende in wretchydnesse

Hasty risynge and thrift that is sodeyne
And surmountynge by violent rauyne
And extort power may for a while atteyne
In riche chayre of lordship for to shyne
Sodeyne ascendynge doth sodenly declyne
And by vntruthe where euer there be encres
Men wayte of custum a sodeyn disencres

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Of agathodes men may exaumple take
What is the ende of euery fals tyraunt
Wronge clymbinge vp doth a foule ende make
For a ceson though tirauntys be puissaunt
Fortune to theym yeueth no lenger graunt
But whan they syt on hir whele moost royall
By vnware chaunge to haue a sodeyne fall

Agathodes was first a simple man
Brought forth in mischeef and in pouerte
Sonne of a potter the story tell can
By vicious lyuynge cam to greate dignite
Of all folke hatyd for his cruelte
Clambe fro pouert vp to greate richesse
Made pore ageyne dyed in wretchidnesse

Lenuoye

THis story sheweth a figure
Both by story and by auctorite
Howe man and beest and euery creature
Tarageth the stok of his natiuite
Erbe of the rote and eche frute of his tre
For both of vertue and also of outrage
Foloweth some tetch or tast of the lynage

Agathodes by recorde of scripture
Borne of lowe bed brought forth in pouerte
Yit fortune made him to recure
Vp to hye estate from full lowe degre
His reson blent with censualite
Forgate him silf to speke in pleyne langage
Through a fals tatche that cam fro his lynage

There is a difference of coloures in picture
On table or wall as men all day may se
Twene golde and golde atwene bys and asure
All is nat golde that shyneth bright parde
Some noble is fals that hath full greate beutye
Late men be ware of counterfet coignage
Tetchis eschuynge of chorlissh lowe lynage

Sūme man forthred of sodeyne auenture
Set in chayre of royall dignite
Wenynge his empyre euer shulde endure
Neuer to be troubled with none aduersite
With royall eglys a kyte may nat fle
A Iay may chater in a golden cage
Yit euer sum tetch must folowe of his lynage

Gentyll blode of his royall nature
Is euer enclyned to mercy and pyte
Where of custum these vileyns do their cure
By their vsurped and extort fals pouste
To be vengeable by mortall cruelte
Through hasty fumys of furious corage
Folowynge the tetchis of their vileyne lynage

O mighty princes youre no blesse do assure
Your passions rest with tranquillite
Se howe there is no mene of mesure
Where a tyraunt catchith the souereynte
Late agathodes your wordly myrroure be
To eschue the tracys of his frowarde passage
As royall blode requereth of youre lynage

Howe Cassander slough the wif of Alisaundre / & Hercules hir sonne / And antipater slough his moder and of other murders.

tHe greate myscheef of fortunys might
The wofull fallys fro hir whele in dede
Of princys princessys who so loke aright
Been lamentable and doolful for to rede
But for all that bochas doth procede
In his rehersayle remembringe thus him selue
To him apperyd of men and wymen twelue

After the deth of kinge agathodes
There cam tofore him worthy queny [...] tweyne
The first of theym was called Bersanes
And of hir myscheef gan to him compleyne
Wyf of alisaundre the story list nat feyne
The mighty kinge grettest vnder sonne
Which by conquest al this worlde hath wonne

Wif to alisaundre was this Bersanes
By his lyue as made is mencion
Which with hir sonne named hercules
Were by Cassander brought to distruction
And of hir deth this was thoccasion
Cassandre dred that Bersanes the quene
Wolde with hir sonne on him auengyd been

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For his tresons which he tofore wrought
On alisaundre and on his lynage
And specially if that she were brought
To macedoyne for hir auauntage
With hir sonne that was but yonge of age
Cassander thought and dred as I haue tolde
They wolde auenge his tresons wrought of olde

He cast afore of malice causeles
This Cassander moost falsly werkynge
That if this knight this yonge hercules
Sonne of alisaundre by recorde of writinge
In macedoyne were take and crowned kinge
Howe that he wolde of equite and right
Hir faders deth auenge lyke a knight

Which thinge to eschue cassander gan prouide
And by fals fraude was nat recheles
But on a daye he list nat longe abide
Slough first the quene this seyde Bersanes
And than hir sonne I called hercules
Thus by cassander of murdre crop and rote
They murdred were there was none other bote

This cruelte might nat suffise
Vnto alysaundre by recorde of scripture
But lyke a tyraunt in vengeable wyse
He dyd theym burye by frowarde auenture
Where no man shulde knowe their sepulture
And thus alas which pyte is to rede
He murdryd foure out of one kinrede

To alisaundre he ministred the poyson
Slough the quene called olimpiades
And of hatrede by full fals treson
As I haue tolde he slough quene bersanes
Wife to alisaundre moder to hercules
Which in youth by bochas rehersinge
In macedoyne was like to haue be kinge

After all this he coude nat lyue in pes
But euer redy some treson for to do
Slough eke the quene called Roxanes
Vpon a day and hir yonge sonne to
And she was wif to alisaundre also
Cassandre dredinge in his opinion
Lyst they wolde venge vpon his fals treson

Thus euer he lyued in murdre sorowe and strif
By way of fraude cam all his encres
And as I finde howe he had a wyf
And she was called Thesalonices
And this story remembreth doutles
A sonne they had borne atwene theym tweyne
To sle his moder which after dyd his peyne

Shortly to pas myn auctoure writeth none other
Antipater was hir sonnes name
And by cause that she louyd his brother
Better than him he to his greate diffame
Compassed hir deth the story seyth the same
Natwithstandinge tappese his cruelte
She askyd mercy knelinge on hir kne

Hir brestys open white and soft as silke
All bedewed with  [...]yrys hir visake
Requeryd mekely at reuerence of the milke
With which he was fostred in yonge age
For to haue mercy and tappese his rage
And to accepte goodly hir prayere
To saue the lyf of his moder dere

But all for nought herde hir neueradell
He was to hir surmountinge at mesure
Lyke his fader vengeable and cruell
I trowe it was you [...] him of nature
For by recorde of kinde and eke scripture
Seelde or neuer no braunch that is good
Springeth of custome oute of crue [...] blode

Of hir deth cause there was none other
That antipater slou [...]  [...] moder dere
But for she loued al [...]  [...] his brother
Better than him the cronicle doth vs lere
Which alisaundre if ye list to here
Had in his socoure I finde by wrytinge
Demetrius that was of asie kinge

Thesalonices was in this while ded
By antipater he moost infortunate
Bathed in hir blode hir sides were made rede
Withoute compassion of hir hye estate
And hir two sonnes lyuynge at debate
Tyll lisimachus that prefect was of Trace
Theym reconsiled eche tyll others grace

Whan demetrius knewe of their accorde
God wote the [...]oth he no thinge was fayne
But by his fraude the story bereth recorde
That alisaundre maliciously was slayne
This while antipater stondinge in no certeyne
Tyll he by sleyght of lisymachus
Was murdryd after the story telleth thus

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To write the processe and the maner hough
That Lysymachus by fraudolent werkinge
His sonne in lawe antipater thus slough
Fals couetyse was cause of all this thinge
And demetrius toke on him to be kinge
Of macedoyne remembred tyme and date
Whan both brether were passed in to fate

Duringe this murdre & al this mortall stryf
In this processe lyke as it is founde
Of antipater Erudice the wif
Doughter of clenchus was in chenys bounde
Caste in prison dyrke hidous and profounde
And for a while I leue hir there soiourne
And to Demetrius I will ageyne retourne

Which made him silf to be crouned kynge
Of macedoyne through his great puissaunce
But to destroye his purpos in werkynge
There were thre princis notable in substaunce
Consyderate and of alliaunce
Echon assentyd for shorte conclusion
To brynge Demetrius to destruction

One the firste was worthy tholome
Kynge of egypt in armes full famous
Othir tweyne the story ye may se
Called Selenchus and next Lisymachus
And of Cipre cam the kynge pirthus
Lorde of prouince as it is eke founde
They made theym stronge demetrius to cōfounde

Shortly to tell with their apparayles
Of macedoyne they dyd him first depryue
Cam vpon him with foure stronge batayles
That he was neuer so ouerset in his lyue
Take of Lysymachus the story doth descryue
Cheyned in prison of his lyf in doubte
For I nat fynde that euer he issued oute

Of the two prefectis / Penestes and a Aman [...]as

nExt in ordre Penestes dyd appere
Whilom prefect of greate Babilon
And with him cam amantas eke I fere
Another prefect as made is mencion
Which Batt [...]ye had in his suspection
A greate prouince youe him by iugement
Myd of Asia towarde the occident

These sayde tweyne for their worthynes
And for their manhode  [...] actys mar [...]iall
Assigned were by diligent besinesse
To write and kepe in especiall
Vpon the mageste in his estate roiall
Of alysaundre for trust as chamberleynes
Ageyne thassaute and drede of all foreyns

After whoos deth for singuler guerdon
Made prefecte both they were in dede
As ye haue herde that one in Babilon
That other in Battrye the story ye may rede
Yit in quiete they might him nat possede
For selenchus gan a werre agayne them make
That they were fayne their lordships to forsake

Howe sandrodoctus borne of lowe degre cherisshed robbours and theues

OTer prefectis there were also I finde
Which helde the people in full greate seruage
In macedoyne and in outher ynde
Tyll sandrodoctus a man of lowe lyuage
Cast he wolde redresse their outrage
Of entent pore people to restore
To their fraunchises that playned on them sore

Sandrodoctus auctoure of this werkinge
Behight the peple throughoute all cuntrees
Whan he by sleyght was crowned kynge
Them to restore to their libertees
But whan he had receyued these dignitees
All his behestis made with him a fayre visage
Turned as they fonde to thraldom and seruage

Thus whan a wretche is set in hye estate
Or a begger brought vp to dignite
There is none so proude pompous nor elate
None so vengeable nor full of cruelte
Voide of discrecion mercy and pyte
For churlisshe blode seelde doth recure
To be gentyll by weye of his nature

He may dissimule and for a tyme feyne
Caunterfete wyth a fayre visage
Out of one hoode shewe facys tweyne
Contrarye of herte double of his langage
Styll of his porte smothe of his passage
Vnder floures lyke a serpent dare
Tyll he may stynge and he wyll nat spare

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And euer like of his condicions
Was Sandrodocius setup in hye estate
Vexyd peple troubled Regions
Set citees and toūs at greate debate
Whoos gouernaunce was infortunate
As it was seen and founde at all preuye
Cherisshed no man but robbours and the [...]ys

And to declare howe he caught hardynesse
And occasion people to gouerne
By a pronostyke which I shall expresse
Right meruelous and vncouth to discerne
Which was this as I shall tell as yerne
Right wonderfull and vncouth for to here
And it was this if ye li [...]t to lere

There was a man called procatales
Borne in ynde which of his lyuynge
Was wondre pore cam but seelde in prees
Bycause he had trespaced in one thinge
Ageyne venandrus that was that tyme kinge
Cōmaundynge to sle him anone right
But he escapyd the story seith by flyght

God had youe him of fete swyftnesse
By mene wherof he sauyd him from daungere
Through longe trauayle fyll in werynesse
And refressh him beside a well clere
He laye slepynge that face and al his chere
Dropped of sote a lyon cam forby
Lyckyd his face as seith the story

With which affray the man anon woke
And sodenly lyft vp his visage
The lyon rose softly the wey toke
Towarde the forest dyd him no damage
Forgate his felnes and his cruel rage
Of which pronos [...]yke gan thoccasion
Wherof Sandrodoctus toke an opynyon

Cast and thought in his fantasie
Sith that the lyon is beest moost royall
Which nat dysdeyned him silf to appli [...]
To lycke the face of a man rurall
In his nature to shewe him bestyall
He dempt well that it was sittinge
To take on him thestate to be a kinge

His oppinion of reson was right nought
For where the lyon left his cruelte
He in contrarye wex proude in hert and thought
Voyde of mercy bareyne of pite
For whan that he was set in dignite
Brought from a wretche to domynacion
Ageyne nature he pleyed the lyon

Sumtyme a lyon forgetteth all felnesse
Where as a wulue wyll naturally deuoure
So royall blode hath ruth on gentylnesse
On pore pleyntifs to helpe theym and socoure
Where as a tyraunt of nature doth laboure
Whan he hath powere catchynge auauntage
To robbe subiettis and spoyle theym by pyllage

Sandrodoctus thus borne of lowe kynrede
In hye estate by fortune whan he stode
Gan make him stronge and vengeable in dede
With noumbre of robbours furious and wode
Caste him destroye al the gentyl blode
That was in ynde and by his ordynaunce
Sle all the prefectys that had gouernaunce

And with the  [...]ūmons whan he was made stronge
And gan the manere of their deth diuyse
Lyke a fals tyraunt all though he dyd wronge
Ageyne his lordys whan he gan arise
An Olifaunt cam in full vncouth wyse
Him obeyed which was a great wondre
Whan their batailes were nat ferre asondre

Though he was wylde the storye seith the same
Sandrodoctus lept vpon his syde
And on his backe as on a beest tame
Towarde the bateyle anone he gan to ryde
Was their capteyne that day and their guyde
With his robbours as it is made mynde
Sloughe all the prefectys and gentyll blode of ynde

Howe Selenchus the mighty prince was slayne by the great tholome kynge of egypt

THan cam Selenchus to bochas cōpleynyng
A mighty prince and a manly knight
Sōne of anthiochus the grete famous kyng
Was moost fauoured in alisaunders sight
With Selenchus for wisdom and for myght
Borne of a princesse the cronycle ye may seen
Called Leoudice the great famous quene

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The birth of him straunge and merueilous
For h [...]s moder vpon the same night
That she conceyued drempt and thought thus
As it semyd pleynly in hir sight
Of greate appollo the heuynly god moost bright
Howe she the tyme of hir conceyuinge
Receyued that night of golde a rich rynge

In which ringe was set a precious stone
Youe vnto hir for a greate guerdon
Graue with ankre hir cōmaundyng anon
After the byrth without dilacion
To yeue the ringe of hool affection
To Selenchus wherby in especiall
He shulde excell in actys marcyall

The same morowe after the childe was borne
Within hir bed was founde a rich ringe
With all the tokyns rehersed here toforne
The ankre graue lyke in euery thinge
Which that the quene toke in hir kepynge
And of entent for hir auauntage
Kept it secret tyll he cam to age

Another merueyle fyll also withall
This selenchus which was a wondre thinge
Had enprented eke in especiall
Vpon his thigh an ankyr and a ringe
So had all by recorde of writynge
Such carectes the story doth determyne
That after him were borne of that lyne

Whan selenchus as made is mencion
The tendre yeres had of his age ronne
And cam to yerys of discrecion
He by this ringe full many londe hath wonne
Whoos knightly fame shone shene as sonne
He wel auysed herdy of great might
Tyme of Alisaundre holde one the best knight

In werre and armes he his tyme hath spent
Brought all ynde to subiection
Gate all the kingdoms nye of the oryent
Helde theym longe in his possession
But here alas bochas maketh mencion
All his victoryes that dyd in ho [...]our shyne
With sodeyne chaunge were tourned vnto ruyne

For whan selenchus was moost victorious
Had all ynde conquered in substaunce
Atwene him and kinge Lysymachus
Of whom tofore is made remembraunce
Began a werre and a great distaunce
And as they met with their appareyles
In a great felde ordeyned their batayles

On Lysymachus fyll the disconfiture
Wherof Selenchus glad in especiall
Dempt his wynnynge cam nat of nature
But by influence verrey celestiall
Gan wax proude in his estate royall
Nat supposinge in his victorious stall
Of his mescheues that shuld after fall

For as the processe declareth vnto vs
Howe of Egipt the greate Tholome
Brother in lawe to Lysymachus
Fyll on selenchus by ful great cruelte
Slough him at mischeef the story ye may se
Lost his lif as made is mencion
In Macedoyne the mighty region

And it is knowe of antiquite
By rehersayle of the olde auctours
That this forseyde greate Tholome
Was to alisaundre one of the enheritoures
Kynge of egipt there regnynge in his flours
After whoos name descendynge doun by grees
Were all the kynges call [...]d tholomees

As I finde touchinge his lynage
By procreacion he had children thre
The first of them to speke in playne langage
I named was Ceramyus tholome
Next philadelphus a doughter arcynoe
That weddyd was by hir faders consentinge
To licymachus of macedoyne Kynge

Howe the two sonnys of quene arcynoe were by ther moders brother traitourly slayne and she exiled

aNd thus remembryd in bokys olde
Deth of Selenchus wrought by tholome
Vnwarely slayne tofore as I haue tolde
Next in ordre cam Arcynoe
To Iohn bochas by greate aduersite
All with terys bedewed hir visage
And gan compleyne the constreynt of hir rage

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This mighty quene this sayde Arcynoe
Had sonnys tweyne full famous of renoun
The tone Lysymachus excellinge of beute
That tothyr philip as made is mencion
And hir ioye and dilectacion
In wordly blysse there is nomore to feyne
Was hooly set vpon these children tweyne

For by thoccasion of their greate fayrenesse
Men delited greatly theym to se
Namely wymen the story doth expresse
And their moder this quene Arcenoe
Stode in greate hope that they shuld be
Mighty kingis by iust succession
In macedoyne the mighty region

Only by the title of their faders right
Which to hir herte gaue full greate gladnesse
For she dempt that none other wight
To succede shulde haue none interesse
But fortune the blinde fals goddesse
Disposyd so for their children tweyne
That none of theym purpos shulde atteyne

For whan their fader Lysymachus was slayne
The sayde quene called arcynoe
To saue hir lif coude none other gayne
But with hir sonnys feerfully to fle
 [...]to Cassander a mighty stronge cyte
O [...]ly for drede of one antigonus
Which theym pursued the story telleth thus

But the brother of quene Arcynoe
Called Ceramyus rescued hir partye
Ageyne antigonus ye may the story se
Yi [...] in his herte he had greate enuye
Albe that they were nere of one allye
That hir two sonnys shulde kinges be
Of Macedoyne and regne in that cuntre

For he was sette only of couetise
To be crowned in macedoyne kinge
And of his fals treson the story doth diuise
Theym to desceyue this was his werkinge
First to the quene full humbly knelinge
He made promys vnder great surete
In macedoyne she shulde crowned be

And hir children so faire of their visage
Shulde be kept vnder gouernaunce
Vnto tyme that they come to age
And for to put hir in more assuraunce
Ceramius swore god yeue him sory chaunce
He purposed for all his fals werkinge
To crowne hir quene and make hir sonnes kinges

Toke all the goddys there vnto witnesse
And swore ageyne with a pleyne visage
Vnto the quene of fraude and doublenesse
His purpos was to haue hir in mariage
Crowne hir quene to hir greate auauntage
Thus he was sworne all though he was hir brother
Yit in herte god wote he thought another

Vnder coloure of this assuraunce
She lete him entre Cassandre the cyte
Cam ageyne him to do him more plesaunce
With all hir lordes of hye and lowe degre
Made the stretys hangyd for to be
With clothis of golde and in solempne wyse
To all their goddys dyd sacrifise

And thus he was receyued solemply
The day was halowed and holde festyuall
The quene for ioye ordeyned richely
Hir two sonnys that were so faire in all
To be crowned with crownes full royall
Goo afore hir in the maister strete
Gloriously their vncle for to mete

With felonous herte vnder a frendly face
This Ceranius rote of all treson
Gan his Cosyns benigly enbrace
Him purposinge by fals collusion
To procede to their destruction
And finally first he dyd his peyne
The quene to exyle and sle hir children twyne

But of this treson was brout to a preef
Whan the quene apperceyued his falsnesse
And sawe hir sonnys brought to such mischeef
She coniured him in hir mortall distresse
To haue pyte of naturall gentylnesse
Spare his cosyns afore him where they stode
Of royall mercy so nere borne of his blode

And with a crye passynge lamentable
She fyll afore him swownynge vnto grounde
Lyke as she had be verely coupable
Seynge hir sonnys bledynge with many wounde
But all for nought there was no mercy founde
For with their blode this story is nat feyned
Hir garnement was doolfully desteyned

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Hir face faire was soyled with ordure
Hir golden here was all to torne and rent
And like a thrall this woofull creature
With mortall wepynge had hir sight blent
And after that I fynde howe she was sent
To burye hir children for there was no space
Into an yle called Samontrace

Is any story which maketh mencion
That a princesse of so hye degre
Fonde so greate cause of lamentacion
She beynge doughter to greate Tholome
Hir children slayne by vengeable cruelte
And to beholde the deth moost dolorous
Of hir husbonde called Lysymachus

She after banysshed in exile made hir ende
With sorowfull conpleynt hir lif thus drawe alonge
Tyll into fate hir sprite dyd wende
It is no drede hir peynes were full stronge
And if I shulde reherce all the wronge
That she suffred it wolde greue sore
Therfore of hir nowe I write nomore

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye sheweth an apparence
And a likenesse of feithfull assuraunce
Excite men to yeue fals credence
Vnto fortunes fals variaunce
Which cast hir baytis and anglys of plesaunce
An hoke hyd vnder of vengeable cruelte
As this chapter put in remembraunce
Of lysymachus and of of Arcynoe

Is there any gretter euidence
Of wordly trouble of wordly constaunce
Then se princes from their magnificence
And from their mighty royall puissaunce
Vnwarly brought by fortune to mischaunce
And ouerwhelmed from their tranquilite
Se here a myrroure full notable in substaunce
Of lysymachus and quene arcynoe

The ringe the ankyr of greate excellence
Youe to Selenchus for marciall suffisaunce
Whan appollo by heuenly influence
Lyst with his moder make his alliaunce
Sende him these reliques of singuler acquentaunce
To set his manhode in more suerte
But in all such quaueringe acquentaunce
Thinke on lysymachus and arcynoe

The vncouth tresours the golde nor the dispence
Of theym that haue this world in gouernaunce
Nor all the subgettys vp rekenyd in sentence
Nor all the regions vnder their obeisaunce
Princys princessys with all their attendaunce
May ageyne fortune yeue theym no liberte
Who nat knoweth hir vnsure gery chaūce
Thinke on Lysymachus and Arcynoe

Hir children and she slayne by violence
Of Ceramius god yeue him sory schaunce
That by fals coloure dyd hir reuerence
And pretendyd a maner obseruaunce
The treson clos of venymous purueaunce
Purposed afore to outray theym all thre
The children slayne which knewe no cheuysaunce
The moder exiled callyd Arcynoe

Noble princis by ware of hye prudence
Amonge youre silf that there be no distaunce
Hyde no rancoure of hatfull violence
Vnder a curteyne of double daliaunce
Lyke your herte shewe out your countenaunce
Vayde of dissimulinge and duplicite
Wysely wey this chaptre in balaunce
Of lysymachus and quene arcynoe

Howe Ceramius of macedoyne kinge that murdryd his cosyns was slayne in batayle by thē of fraunce

tHe noble poete Iohn bochas in his booke
Procedinge forth compleyneth of pyte
With quaking hande whā he his pen toke
And gan to write the woful destenye
As ye haue herde of quene Arcynoe
And howe Ceramyus the story maketh mynde
Was to hir fals traytoure and vnkinde

Of whoos treson is made a greate processe
And howe he after was slayne in batayle
Punysshed by vengeaunce for his greate falsnesse
Lyke as his story maketh rehersayle
Which to remembre I cast me nat to fayle
Folowynge myn auctoure and procede in writynge
Howe Ceramyus was slayne whan he was kynge

For while that he by his fals werkynge
In macedoyne had the gouernayle
Thre hundryd thousande accounted by wrytinge
Went oute of fraunce to conquere Itayle
The host departyd in many stronge batayle
Gate by conquest through their hye renoun
Full many prouince and many a region

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And as they rode through many greate cuntre
This people of Gaule in stele armyd clene
They founded castels and many stronge cyte
Towarde rome they bilded Mylan and Sene
Vpon Talpies their armoure shone full shene
And sūme of theym vp to rome went
By very force and the cyte brent

Sūme partyd vp to the grekissh se
Had a custum to chese their dwellinge place
 [...]y augurie as briddys dyd fle
Folowynge their flight they gan after trace
 [...]oldynge their wey within a lytyll space
With mighty hande the boke doth specefie
They cam to a cuntre callyd pauonie

This folke of gaule which is called fraunce
To conquere londys put theym silf in prees
As moost notable peple of puissaunce
Folowynge the exaumple of their knightly encres
In their ridynge of worthy hercules
Which was worshiped in their actis marcyall
Lyke as a god and callyd immortall

Through grace of fortune in their chyualries
Conqueryd cuntrees alwey forth ridinge
Theym s [...]lf departinge in dyuers cūpanies
Who theym withstode they cōsumed by brennynge
Cam to Macedoyne where Ceraum was kinge
Of presumpcion wenynge it shulde auayle
Oute of ordenaunce he met theym in batayle

This Ceramyus of outrage and of pride
Dempt him able to mete with theym of fraunce
But for he was thrugh murdre an homicide
 [...]el [...]kyd grace and power in substaunce
Yit they of Gaule by prudent gouernaunce
Offred vnto him though he was recheles
With macedonoys for to trete of pes

But for presumpcion and malencolye
Ageyne his enmyes he the feelde hath take
And disconfited anone was his partye
His men gan flee and haue their lorde forsake
His hede smet of and set vpon a stake
But all his mischeef was to lyte in dede
To recompence his fraude and his falshede

There is no peyne ageyne so greate offence
May be deuised in no boke that men rede
Equiualent murdre to recompence
Duly to punissh so outraious a dede
Of him that made yonge children blede
As dyd Ceraum which of fals couetise
His cosyns slough as ye haue herde deuise

To thinke on murdre it is to foule a thinge
To god and man hatfull and terrible
The infernall fraude the deuelissh compassinge
To eche creature of nature is odible
Which to redresse is an Impossible
O cursed Ceraum I leue thy story here
Thy name nomore shall blot my papere

Howe the prince Belgius was disconfited / and brought vnto nought

AFter this tyraunt as ye haue herde the cas
Slayne in batayle this traytoure odious
Anon in ordre cam to Iohn Bochas
A mighty prynce called Belgius
Dedly pale with fa [...]e furious
Which compleynyd amonge this wofull prees
His disconfiture done by quene sostenes

This sodeyne mischeef greuyd his herte sore
For all the folke that were in his batayle
Were put to flight bochas write nomore
Of his knighthode nor of his apparayle
Saue only this he maketh rehersayle
Of the french host he telleth in certeyne
Howe he was chosyn for a cheef capteyne

And howe he cam into the rich londe
Of macedoyne with his peple of fraunce
Tyll Sostenes the quene with mighty honde
Disconfyted him brought him to mischaunce
Of whom I finde none other remembraunce
Saue whan he wende to haue been moste glorious
He was outrayed by force of brennyus

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Howe Duke Brennyus delitinge to robbe / and stele mischeuously endyd

tHis Brennyus full knightly in werkynge
Which by conquest gate many great cyte
And as I rede of dens he was kinge
Despoiled regions and many greate cūtre
Robbed peple of hye and lowe degre
Sparyd no goddys but by violence
Toke their tresour [...] dyd theym no reuerence

There was a temple greate and meruelous
Bilt on a roche and on an hyll of stone
Sacryd to appollo called Delphius
In all grece so greate a god was none
And oft sith the people wolde gone
Vp to a Theatre which that stode withoute
To haue answere of that they stode in doubte

Their trust their hope was to that god applyed
Hauinge to him singuler affection
As though he might haue holpe and magnefied
And done to theym greate consolacion
For by a sprite of fals decepcion
He gaue answere of sundry questions
To folke that cam from diuers regions

Kynge Brennyus had no fantasie
In their temples after their paynymguyse
Nouther to worship nor to magnefie
Their Grekysshe goddys to do theym sacrifyse
For in his herte he gan theym to despyse
Caught a ioye with all his fals robbours
Theym to despoyle and robbe of their tresours

Behight his men and seyde in playne langage
That his desyre and his entencion
Was to be boty with theym of suche pillage
As goddys had in their possession
And parte with them for singuler guerdon
For their laboure and great traueyles
That they had had with him in batayles

He gaue his peple a manere hardynes
Made them trust in great multytude
Hauynge despite of thynnocent simplenes
Of his enmyes bycause they were but rude
I mene tho folke shortly to conclude
Which had in kepynge the Iuels precious
Of greate appollo called delphicus

The peple also which was with brennyus
Had all the day drunke mighty wynes
To fyll their paunches they were so desyrous
That they forgate their marciall doctrynes
Tascende the mounteyne feble were their cheynes
Their hedys toltyr and their brayne gan fayle
The temple aloft to spoyle or to assayly

In their assendynge by weyes that they ches
Vpon the roche they were bete doun
Preestys of the temple put theym silf in prees
One bare a standerd another a great penoun
Clad in chesiples for hye deuocion
And with their other vncouth apparailes
Both on the roch and lowe in their batayles

The people of brennyus was incomparable
Spred all the feeld the storye bereth wytnes
But it is sayde of olde and is no fable
That no diffence is drunkenes
And wysdom fayle where is great exces
And in a frende playnly to conclude
Victorye alway stantdeth nat in multitude

For they were set as bochas doth deuyse
Nat to knighthode but to fals outrage
To spoyle and robbe by gredy couetise
And stuf their somers with outraious pillage
Furious ra [...]yne hath brought them in a rage
And farewell knighthode and marciall noblesse
Where couetise is lady and maystresse

Two mighty dukes were with brennyus
Which that were cheef of his counsayle
Emanus that one that other thesalorus
Which as they thought to their greate auayle
Began apurpos and it was disauayle
To robbe the peple the cuntre and eche toun
Which turned after to their confusioun

Thus auaryce with stomak vnstauncheable
Hath strangled the power of many a worthy knight
And couetise hir suster vntretable
Hath of hye noblesse fuloft queynt the light
Where tantalus regneth a lyon hath no might
This to mene hungre and couettousnesse
Turneth all noblesse into cowardnesse

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For by the counsayle of these dukes tweyne
Brennyus set all his opinion
To spoyle and robbe dyd his besy peyne
To pille the citees of all that region
But in this while as made is mencion
Myd their batayles bochas doth me lere
The god appollo and pallas dyd apere

Appollo first shewyd his presence
Fressh yonge and lusty as any sonne shene
Armyd all with golde and with greate violence
Entred the feeld as it was well seen
And Diana cam with hir arowes kene
And Mynerua in a bright habirioun
Which in their comynge made aterrible soun

The noyse was herde of their bright armure
Which made their enmyes for fere almoste to raue
That they might afore theym nat endure
Fled the felde for drede theym silf to saue
And there was herde an hidous erthqua [...]e
And from heuen in this mortall batayle
Of colde constreynynge grete stonys gan doun haile

Their aduersaries bete doun and grounded
And afore them durst nat abyde
And brennyus so mortaly was woundyd
Both breest and hede and hurte through outher syde
Loo here the ende of couetyse and pryde
For Brennyus for constreynt of his smerte
 [...]oue with a dagger him silf to the herte

This was his ende vengeable and merueylous
And his dukys sleyne both tweyne
Called Emanus and Thesalorus
The grekissh Goddys gan at him so disdeyne
Of sacrilege se here the greuous peyne
For to goddys who lyst do no obseruaunce
Shall vnwarly be punysshed with vengeaunce

It is nat holsum with goddys to pleye
Nor their puissaunce presumptuously to attaine
For where as they by vengeaunce list werrey
Who list assay shall finde it no game
For his presumpcion Brennyus fonde the same
For appollo diana and mynerue
For his outrage vnwarely made him sterue

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye declareth who list here
Of duke Brennyus many greate batayle
His extort conquest and holy the manere
Howe by force rode through all Itayle
After howe he the romayns dyd assayle
His fall in grece by vengeable violence
For he to goddys wolde do no reuerence

Toke all the tresours and Iuels moost entere
Oute of their temples and richest apparayle
Golde and perle and all that I fere
To his encrees which that might auaile
The rich he robbed oppressed the porayle
Of very pompe and frowarde insolence
And list to goddys do no reuerence

This mighty tyraunt moste surquedous of chere
With couetise brent in his entrayle
Whoos gredy fret there might no mesure stere
Tyll that fortune at mischeef dyd him faile
He lackyd might hir variaunt whele to nayle
Ageyn whoos fall ther was no resistence
For he to goddys liste do no reuerence

Noble princys conceyue and do lere
The fall of Brennyus for misgouernayle
And prudently peysynge this matere
Vertue is strenger than outher plate or mayle
Afore considred whan Brennyus doth counsayle
Cheef preseruatyf of your magnificence
Is to god to do due reuerence

Howe Pirrus kinge of pyrothe list nat lyue in pees but of pride and presumpcion in werre cam vnto myschaunce

iN bochas boke next folowyng on the ring
Cam yonge pirrus sonne of Gacides
Born by discent to regne and be kinge
And to enherite the londe of pyrothes
Yit in his youth and his tendre encrees
The frowarde peple dwellynge in that place
Withoute his gilte gan his deth purchace

But to preserue him as made is mencion
He was cōmytted and take in kepynge
Certeyne yerys for his sauacion
To one Glaucus Illirie kinge
Whoos wyf was cosyn by recorde of writynge
To the seyde famous gacides
And she in story callyd Beronice [...]

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He nye of blode to this noble quene
Both tweyne borne of one lynage
Wonder gracious to all that dyd him sene
And well fauoured of fetures and visage
And in the while of his tendre age
One Cassander of macedoyne kinge
Compassed his deth by subtyll fals werkynge

And his purpos for to brynge aboute
He sent for him by fals collusion
Puttinge Glaucus pleynly oute of doubte
But if he cam lyke his entencion
He wolde werke to his distruccion
Gadre peple both nye and ferre
And on Glaucus gynne a mortal werre

But kinge glaucus toke herof none hede
Hauinge to pirrus so great affeccion
Of him receyued verreyly in dede
To be his sonne by adopcion
Purposinge of hool entencion
To make pirrus pleynly if he may
To be his heyre and regne after his day

Pyrrus alwey vpgrowynge by encres
Full amyable both of chere and face
And in this while the people of pirothes
Knowynge that he stode in glaucus grace
Chaungyd their hertys cast theym in short space
For to restore all of one corage
The seyde pirrus to his heritage

Thus by assent he was crowned kynge
Yonge fressh and lusty and seemly therwithall
Wonder wele thewed in his vpgrowynge
Like his lynage of corage wex royall
The which was cause in especiall
He was byloued of frendes aboute
And of his enmyes greatly had in doute

The name of him gan to sprede ferre
Through all grece aboute in eche cuntre
The londe of tarent gan in his tyme werre
Ageyne the romaynes as ye may se
Requeringe Pirrus that he wolde be
Fauourable and helpinge of entent
To the partye of them of tarente

To ther request he can condescende
And of purpos cast him nat to fayle
If that fortune wold him grace sende
With mighty honde and marciall apparaile
For to be lorde and conquere all Itayle
As dyd his vncle whilom doutles
Kynge alisaundre called of Epirothes

First he began his conquest in Itayle
Towarde heraclye a mighty greate cyte
Where with brennyus he had a great batayle
Consull of rome and lorde of that cuntre
And to the encres of his felicite
As is remembryd in his storye
Vpon romaynes he gate that victorye

The olifauntys with castels on their bak
Causyd pirrus the yonge manly knight
With his wysdom wherin there was no lacke
To put his enmyes that day to the flight
And in this while it hapned forthright
The Secilians bochas bereth recorde
Amonge them silf were at discorde

There was atwene them great diuysion
Eche to other contrary in werkinge
But to refourme their fals descencion
They prayed pirrus to come and be their kynge
To whoos requeste he fully assentynge
By theym made stronge list nat to differre
Ageyne the romayns to gynne a werre

Besyde a castell called Esculus
Within Poile his baners he gan splaye
The same day nat happy nor vrous
Contrarious fortune his power gan affraye
Wounded to the deth gan gretly him dismaye
By which occasion this pirrus anon right
Lept on his courser and toke him vnto flight

A sonne he had called Helenus
Borne of the doughter of kynge agathodes
Whom he ordeyned myn auctour telleth thus
For to be crowned to his greate encres
Of Seciliens to regne there in pees
Wenynge therby to haue had auauntage
And in this while cam to him amessage

Oute of Tarent which stode in auenture
For his absence oute of that region
If he nat cam they might nat endure
Ageyne thē powere of them of rome toun
Which of assent were descendyd doun
Ageyns theym they stondynge in despeire
Saue in abydynge vpon his repeyre

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PIrrus this while stode in full herde poynte
Wext abasshed and dull in his corage
Atwene tweyne hangynge in disioynte
We [...]reyed of romaynes hatyd in Cartage
Had a batayle to his fynall dammage
Within a feelde called arusius
There put to flight by one fabrycus

Destitute by fortune and appeyred
Voyde of socoure bareyne of richessh
Lyke a man of hope dispeyred
Towarde Epire in haste he gan him dresse
Where he was first his story doth expresse
As ye haue herde rehersed by writinge
By succession whilom lorde and kynge

But he cam to Epire the cyte
He gan of newe ageyne antigonus
Kinge of macedoyne a full stronge cuntre
Him to werr [...]y he was so desirous
And by conqueste the storye telleth thus
Within a whyle there was no great lettynge
 [...]y helpe of fortune he was crowned kynge

Nat seuen monethes regnynge in quiete
By lysimachus maugre all his might
He was put doun and remeuyd from his sete
Yit of presumpcion though there was no right
He toke on him to gynne a newe fight
C [...]yne lacedomoyns and felly them werrey
Only by cause they wolde him nat obeye

Whoos presumpcion whan that they toke hede
Both of prudence and polycie
Wymen were armed to make a large felde
With multitude to oppresse his partye
For comon profite put theym in Iupartye
And fynally such was their ordynaunce
That seyde pirrus was brought to mischaunce

His sonne there slayne called Tholome
And many other lost there their lyues
And for all that of pryde and cruelte
He gan a werre ageyne the argyues
And at the ende of his mortall stryues
For conclusion this was his last fall
Sleyne with a ston as he cam to their w [...]ll

His hede smet of in the same place
And therof made an oblacion
To antigonus for a greate solace
Thus list fortune quite his presumpcion
After his werres with many region
Loo here the ende of folkes recheles
That folowed werre and lystnat lyue in pe [...]

Howe the tiraunt Aristotyn by trecherous werkinge set asyde the right lyne was crowned kinge of Epyrothes and after slayne

fOrth procedynge folowynge Iohn bochas
I wyll reherce in full pleyne langage
Howe aristotyn a tyraunt this the cas
Cast and compassed by ful greate outrage
Hauynge no title of right nor heritage
Of Epirothes by trecherous werkinge
Voydynge the lyne there to be crownyd kynge

Lyuynge two children the story telleth thus
Borne by discent to regne in that cite
The eldest of them called was pyrrus
And the seconde named tholome
And bothe tweyne by the cruelte
Of arystotyn were falsly set asyde
He made kynge this tyraunt through his pryde

And whyle that he thus gan occupye
Lyke a tyraunt cruell and vengeable
Of fals rancoure and malencolye
Slough all the Cytesyns that were moost notable
And exylyd this story is no fable
Only of malyce within his herte cloos
All that were contrary vnto his porpos

Vnto the wymen by fraudolent sentence
He made ordeyne after that anon
Of feyned pite gaue to theym lycence
To their frendys frely for to gone
With their richesses but they were euerichon
By his byddynge and by his fals treson
Take by the weye and fetryd in prison

Or they were ware was set on them a reest
And after that of vengeable cruelte
The children slayne soukinge at their breest
Maydyns oppressed of their virginite
But in this while at Cypre the cyte
There was a knight passynge of great age
Which cast of purpos tauenge his outrage

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The same knight myn auctoure telleth thus
In the story playnly as I rede
Was in greke tunge called Ballanicus
Right wyse and manly both in werre and dede
And thinges tweyne put him oute of drede
To execute his purpos in certeyne
Maugre all tho that wolde be him ageyne

For comon profyte he drad nat to be dede
A cause was this for he was fall in age
And a nothir that put him oute of drede
For he no children had of his lynage
His quaryll rightfull gaue him auauntage
And herupon gadred him of newe
Such as he knewe that manly were and true

This purpose holde with circūspecte auys
And theron made full prudent ordynaunce
This Bellanicus olde hardy and right wy [...]
Afore prouided by knightly purueaunce
The sayde tyraunt brought vnto mischaunce
By helpe of them that were to him assentyd
Vnwarly slayne whoos deth was nat repentyd

Howe quene Arcynoe for the auoutry done w^t Demetrius husbonde of hir doughter Beronyces ended in sorowe.

aFter this story bochas gan applye
To turne his penne like as ye shall here
To wryte and telle the frowarde lecherye
Of Arcynoe plesaūt of loke and chere
Which of hir porte and eke of hir manere
Was in hir dayes like as it is founde
For crafte and beutye called venus the secounde

For hir fairenesse youen in mariage
To noble agas of Cyrenes kinge
Atwene them while they were yonge of age
They had a doughter by recorde of writynge
Called Beronices the kinge at his endynge
In his testament bad that she shulde be
Wedded to the sonne of kynge tholome

And this was done of entencion
To cese the werrys that had endured longe
Atwene Egypt as made is mencion
And the Cyrenes bothe realmes stronge
By this mariage that he might vnderfonge
In his dyinge to set a fynall pes
Twene these two realmes for their both e [...]icre [...]

After whos deth thus the mater stode
Quene arcynoe moost subtyll in werkynge
Ageyne this mater so cruell was and wode
Maryed hir doughter withoute more lettinge
Called Beronices ageyns the byddynge
Of hir fader that called was agas
As here tofore rehersed is the cas

She maried hir to one demetrius
That brother was by bochas rehersinge
Vnto the mighty greate antigonus
Beynge in grece of macedoyne kinge
But infortunate was after hir weddynge
As in this story suynge ye shall se
By the fals werkynge of quene Arcynoe

And to conclude shortly this matere
Whan this quene this double arcynoe
Sawe of demetrius the visage and the chere
His loke his coloure his langage and beute
His manly porte and his liberalyte
She was enamored of hir flesshly fals plesaunce
Lyke hir desire to haue his aqueyntaunce

Of hir nature she was moste lecherous
And of hir frowarde inclynacion
She brought aboute that Demetryus
Assentyd was by hir suggestion
For to accomplissh lyke hir opynyon
All hir desyres of flesshly appetyte
Thus of acorde there folowed their delite

Left his wyf called Beronyces
The quenes doughter and ageyne all right
In a place secret out of prees
They lay togedre almoost euery night
Takinge no hede of god nor of no wight
Tyll of fortune the cas is so befall
That he was hated of his knightes all

Despyte they had of arcynoe
The dede horrible whan they dyd espye
His wyf Beronices eke whan she dyd se
Holy the manere of their rebaudie
In herte she caught a greate malencolye
Ordeyned knightys in stele armyd bright
In their auoutrye to take them on a night

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Lyenge abed slept and oke noo kepe
After fals lustys which t [...]hey had vsed
They fyll vpon theym euyn whan they slepe
The dede open might nat be excused
To all the worlde thus they were accused
With swerdys drawe the knightes thilke night
To slee theym both were purposed anone right

Oute on Beronices crieth Iohn Bochas
Bycause she bad spare Arcynoe
Grounde rote and gynnynge of this horrible ca [...]
Seyde hir mercy was very cruelte
To saue suchon it was a fals pite
As seith myn auctour a thinge contrarious
Hir to preserue and sle Demetrius

O Beronices smale is thy discrecion
To saue the quene that hath thy treson founde
First to Demetrius she gaue occasion
For which she shulde haue had the first wounde
Take for theym both and in cheynes bounde
And after that this fals Arcynoe
To exaumple of other shulde haue punisshed be

And while they were takyn thus in cloos
The sayde arcynoe made no delay
 [...]ut fro hir bedde anon she vp arose
Without  [...]lothy [...] nakyd as she lay
Ran to their swerdys in all their greate affray
Went atwene theym dyd hir besy peyne
To bere of strokys with hir armys tweyne

To saue demetrius nakyd as she stode
Voyde of all drede dyd hir besy cure
 [...]r whyte bodye al bespreynt with blode
 [...]an to crye out on euery creature
Alas quod she late me alone endure
Deth by mysifl ye be to despitous
To saue my lyf and sle demetrius

To the erthe anone she fyll adoun
To stonde vp right she might nat sustene
Dede pale and wan with many pytous soun
Deth of demetrius gan wofully by mene
Enbrasinge him with all his woundys grene
And in hir armys albe that he lay dede
She kyssed his mouth colde blewe and nothinge rede

In sorowe▪ and compleynt thus she made an ende
I write nomore of this arcynoe
But to Beronices ageyne I wyll nowe wende
For bochas seith in the storye ye may se
She after weddyd to worthy tholome
Lyke as it was hir faders first entent
Whan he dyed and made his testament

Finis libri quarti

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[figure]

Incipit liber quintus Here Bochas write ayenst theym that delite in beutye and semelynesse / callinge to purpos howe a man borne in Tuscan which excelled in beutye and fairnesse: and for his beutye shulde nat geue other occasion to synne he disfigured his visage and body with many a greate wounde and spot

hEre Iohn bochas scorneth & hath disdeyn
Of thre maner folke he dyd se
In this worlde which that in certeyne
Set al their ioye and al their felicite
For to excelle in fairenesse and beutye
Nat withstandynge as ye well tell can
It hath vndone full many a worthy man

Recorde he taketh of demetrius
Which in his tyme was fairest in certeyne
Which caused him to be contrarious
To all vertue his story ye haue seyne
But of tho folke bochas hath moost disdeyne
That besy been to conquere and recure
Beute by craft which cometh nat of nature

The thrid is he that grutcheth ageyne kinde
For lacke of statute and of semelynesse
And all these Thre been ignorant and blynde
And ageyne reson their coroges they vp dresse
Yit aboue beutye vertue is maystresse
And lytyll worth is fayrenesse in certeyne
In a persone where no vertue is seyne

Vnto purpos he telleth of a man
That excelled all other in fairenesse
Callyd Spurnya and borne was in tuscan
And folke had ioye and greate gladnesse
To beholde him for his semelynesse
Whoos beutye brought wymen in dotage
Whan they cast hir loke on his visage

Wyues maydyns dwellynge in that cuntre
Presyd fast on him to beholde
By thoccasion of his greate beutye
Nat only yonge but sūme that were olde
With louys axcesse nowe were they hote nowe colde
Thus was his beutye to many creature
Founde in effect a perilous lure

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Husbondys olde caught a fantasye
And had a maner suspection
Steryd by the serpent of fals I [...]losye
Towarde spurnia as made is mencion
But for to auoyde all cruell occasion
Of any peple that such malis thought
Ye shall here howe wysly that he wrought

To put awaye fals dilect acion
And all occasions of Cupidis rage
He of prudence and discrescion
With many wounde diffaced his visage
For he dempte it was greate damage
That by thenchoson of excellent beutye
Any creature hindred shulde be

Philosophers and poetes that were wyse
Gaue vnto him a greate commendacion
That he coude so notably diuise
To fynde away within his reason
To sette asyde all occasion
Of such vnlefull flesshly fantasie
That might stere woman to lecherye

He knewe afore and sawe by experience
That all beaute shall waste away and fade
Lyke somerfloures in their moost excellence
That growe on hyl [...]is and lowe doun on the shade
The rose the lyllye whan they be moost glade
Vpon their stalkes their pref is dayly seyn
Been Betyn doun with a stormy reyne

And semblably in euery creature
Of lowe degre or of hye estate
B [...]utye abyde nat nor lenger doth endure
Than youthys ceson with age is full chekmate
Who thinketh heron I holde him fortunate
And can afore in his reson caste
No wordly beutye in erth may alwey last

Lenuoye.

yE wordly folke that reioyse in beaute
Se with the iyen of your aduertence
Howe with a small sodeyne infirmyte
Whan deth & age list shewe their presence
Disteyne all fresshnesse with vnware violence
Ageyne whoos might there is none other grace
Processe of yerys all beutye doth difface

Though demetrius was faire vpon to se
As ye haue herde rehersed in sentence
Geyne lawe and right he louyd arcynoe
Thoccasion founde by hir fals insolence
Bycause reson made no resistence
Nat aduertinge howe euery houre and space
Processe of yerys all beutye doth difface

Full horrible was their iniquite
And tofore god hatefull their offence
For through fals lust and censualit [...]
Lost was the bridell of inwarde prouidence
Sharpe mortall swerde made the recompence
Drownyd in terys whan she dyd him enbrace
With blody woundis disfigured all his face

O noble princys late this story be
A clere myrroure to youre magnificence
Therin considred the fals fragilite
Of wordly fairenesse which is but apparence
And transitory but so be that prudence
Gouerne the passage vicious lust to enchace
Processe of yerys all beutye doth difface

Howe the two brethre Selenchꝰ & antiochꝰ eche desy / rous to excelle other / fil at discorde endid in mischief

THere is no man that can in story rede
Of more mischeef nor of more debate
That of debate that is atwene kinrede
Twene blode and blode geyne kinde infortunate
Namely in ꝑsones which been of hye estate
As it fyll onys the storye beryth recorde
Atwene two brether that were at discorde

That one selenchus antiochus the tother
As the story heraftir shall diuise
Eche desyrous for to excelle other
And wordly worship and wondirly they were wyse
And both blent by wordly couetise
For to clymbe vp to hye estate
Which caused them to be at debate

Both mighty kinges bochas maketh mencion
And of one wombe soothly they were borne
Vndre a cursed fell constellacion
Of frowarde sede may growe no gode corne
And through couetise both they were lorne
And destroyed by the mortall werre
That was atwene them in asie nye and ferre

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It is to me very contagious
To rede the batayles and dissencions
The fals promyses of anthiochus
With the desceytes and conspiracions
Brethern of birth and of condicions
Contrarious weys euer they dyd wende
Frowarde their gynnyng frowarde mas their ende

Their moder was called Leodices
And in Asia Selenchus was regnynge
Euer at werre coud nat lyue in pes
And in surry anthiochus was kynge
And amonge robbours they made theyr endinge
Where euer they faught in wronge or in right
Neuer they bode but toke them to flight

Though selenchus was at his gynnynge
Shynynge in glorye and in hye prowesse
And of asie he was lorde and kinge
With great diffame was dyrked his noblesse
By cause that he of great vnkyndnesse
Full falsly slough without Iugement
His yonger brother that was Innocent

And by the byddynge of leodyces
Which was his modre of hatfull cruelte
Falsly to murdre the quene Beronices
Wife to the kynge called Tholome
Regnynge in egypt but it stode so that he
For all his power fayled of his praye
Bycause that she was ware and fled away

¶Yit afterwarde of olde hate and enuie
This Selenchus by full fals treson
Murdred Beronices by conspiracie
Hir sonne also as made is mencion
The sclaundre arose thrugh many a region
And was reported vnto his diffame
Where through he lost his worship and his name

And on this murdre auenged for to be
For the orryble great abusion
The kinge of Egipt the sayde tholome
Gan make him stronge and cam with people doun
But for ther was so great discencion
Through all his londe the story seith certeyne
He was cōstreyned to retourne home ageyne

Selenchus than made a stronge arme
Gadred shippes stuffed them with vitayle
Towarde asie he takyn hath these
But such tempest gan his people assayle
That hertes and power of them gan fayle
With thundrynge lightnynge vengeably distreyned
To take the londe of nede he was constreyned

The people of asie seynge this myscheef
Had of selenchus great compassion
And there socoure to set at a preef
They him receyued into that region
Though it stode as made is mencion
That afore tyme for his cruell dede
They had his ꝑsone in full greate hatrede

And for he fonde fortune fauourable
Nat considrynge her mutabylite
He cast of rancoure for to be vengeable
And gynne a werre ageyne tholome
His men outrayed he was made to fle
Knewe no refute nor socour of none other
But for greate myscheef sent to his brother

I mene his brother called antiochus
Behestynge him for to croune him kynge
Of all asie his story telleth thus
Toke truse this while by subtyll fals werkynge
With tholome for ten yere endurynge
And whan his brother cam with his powere
Falsed his promys double of herte and chere

Thus of newe they fyl at debate
Eche gan other mightyly werreye
Fals couetise to encres their estate
Caused that nouther lyst other obeye
Met in a feelde there is no more to seye
Faught hande for hande their hostys both two
Selenchus sled as he was wont to do

Thus a fals werre of hatred fraternall
Agayne nature set them at discorde
Eche besy was in especiall
As their story remembreth by recorde
Neuer their lyf to be at one accorde
But whan Selenchus was thus put to flight
The people of surrye gan deme anone right

That he that day was outher take or dede
And Gallocreis a peple of greate pouste
Of couetise gan hast theym full greate spede
To entre asie and spoyle all that cuntre
To antiochus they had eke enmyte
That he was fayne for his saluacon
To pay to them a ful great raunson

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Their herte was youe only to pillage
Takinge of him of golde greate quantite
And he seynge of robbynge the outrage
Drough to the pyllours and one of them was he
And through all asie they robbed eche contre
For Selenchus they gan so purchace
That he nat durst abyde in no place

Than Antiochus drough to tholome
Voyde of saucconduyt or any assuraunce
Though that atwene theym was greate enmyte
For a seson as made is remembraunce
To haue founde socoure in his great greuaunce
But all for nought for in conclusion
Tholome him toke and cast in derke prison

There constreyned of necessite
Knowynge no mene to make his raunsoun
By a woman that lyued in pouerte
He was holpe out of that derke prisoun
Lo here of fortune a fals condicion
That coude make a thinge withoute  [...]ere
Of woman to stonde in daungere

To proude folke this may be a mirroure
To se a prince thus sodenly brought lowe
That shone in riches lyke an emperoure
Whiche of disdeyne lyst no man to knowe
Nowe is he cast nowe is he ouerthrowe
Nowe hath he cause to pleyne wepe and mourne
Knowynge no frende for socour him to tourne

He was afferd to holde his passage
By hye weyes or for to come in sight
Fyll amonge theuys and they by greate outrage
All merciles they slough him anone right
And his brothir for all his greate might
Called Selenchus which was a greate wonder
Fyl from his courser and brake his necke asonder

Howe the noble quene Leodomya was in the temple slayne: and vengeaunce take vpon him that slough hir.

SIxe of estates princis and princessys
Shewyd them bochas pitously pleyninge
To him declarynge their mortall heuynessys
And first of all there cam to him wepynge
The noble quene hir sorowe rehersinge
Called Leodomya which with full heuy chere
Compleynyd the mischeef of hir sustre dere

Called Nereis yonge and tendre of age
That weddyd was of cicile the kinge
And on the day of that great mariage
There fyll a stryf and a great meuynge
Amonge the comons by a maner risinge
That whan the quene therof had a sight
To dianis temple anon she toke hir flight

The people was ꝑty and rose agayne the kynge
For which rumoure and sodeyne strife
Leodomya ful feerfully quakynge
Ran to the temple for to saue hir life
Supposinge in hir Imaginatif
That for the temples chaste reuerence
Men wolde spare to do their violence

But there was one by whom the strife began
And was first grounde of this greate mocion
Called Milo a fals cecilian
Voide of all reuerence and deuocion
Ran to the temple feerser than lyon
And where the quene the aulter dyd enbrace
With a sherpe swerde slough hir in the place

This sacrilege was punisshed by vengeaunce
Goddys were wroth through this greate offence
And Diana by full greate displesaunce
Made in the court a soden pestilence
And Milo was by vnware violence
Turned bestyall made wode in that affray
And slough him silf suynge the twelue day

Howe cleomens kynge of macedoyne was slayne with his wyf and chyldren

AFter this vengeaunce takyn on milo
Cam cleomene [...] of macedoyne kynge
And to boch [...]s gan shewe his dedly woo
His greate Iniuries of enmyes assaylinge
His hye emprises his kyngdom defendynge
And aldirlast howe he in his cite
Was by the sonne slayne of Tholome

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First in his cuntre the story doth deuise
Agayne his ennemyes he had a greate batayle
Of his people defendinge the fraunchise
Of knightly prowesse as he that lifte nat feyle
For his right to fight in plate and mayle
His liegys echon beynge of one assent
To lyue and dye with him in their entent

Men and wymen and children yonge of age
Were in one herte as in that matere
Which made them stronge and gate great auauntage
That vndeuyded they stode echon I fere
Of one corage of one wyll and of one chere
Greatly assured in their opinyon
Bycause amonge theym was no diuision

Their comon profyte they dyd nomore preferre
Than they dyd tresoure lyf or gode
For their fredom ay redy to the werre
Nat aferde to spende their owne blode
And fynally so to gydre they stode
That of one thought eche gan him redy make
To lyue and dye for his brothers sake

That had an enmy borne of that region
The name of whom was antigonus
And he had weddyd the boke maketh mencion
The olde quene of kinge demetryus
And had hir sonne the story telleth thus
Called philip for youth in his kepynge
Therby pretendynge a tytle to be kynge

Of Lacedomonoys cleymed ageyne right
There to regne and take possession
Lyke a tyraunt vsurpynge of great might
For to be crouned in that region
But for all his fals presumpcion
He was put of and Iset aferre
Though he with them helde a mortall werre

And Cleomenes that was rightfull kinge
Was in the feeld armyd euery d [...]y
Hardy as lyon dred him nothinge
Geyn his enmyes he stode so at a bay
That fro the feeld he made theym fle  [...]way
His dredefull swerde grounde was so kene
That to abyde him they might nat sustene

And on a day descendynge  [...]is cyte
Helde in the feeld a full stronge batayle
With lityll peple made his  [...]one to flee
Retournynge home full wery of trauayle
Thought in his herte that it shulde auayle
To stynte the werre hangynge in no certeyne
Tyll that his people refresshed were ageyne

Set ordenaunce through all the cuntre
Geyn all enmyes to make resistence
And in to Egipt he goth to tholome
With wif and children withdrawynge his presence
There receyuyd with great benyuolence
Lyke his estate out of care and drede
And there abode tyll tholome was dede

But the sonne of kinge tholome
Which regnyd after by sucession
Of fals enuye and vengeable cruelte
Slough Cleomenes in that region
His wife his children voyde of compassion
Alas it was to straunge a cruell thinge
Within a kyngdome to murdre so a kynge

Of kinge Nero Cornelye and Haniball

AFter whoos deth thus wrought by violence
The story remembreth procedynge
Forth cam nero and shewed his presence
Of Siracuse the mighty stronge kynge
Tofore bochas full pitously pleynynge
Besechinge him with a full pitous chere
Of his mischeef to wryte the manere

The which nero wylfull and furious
Lyst to presume of fals rebellyon
For to debate with appius Claudius
And to maligne ageyne rome toun
But he anon for his presumpcioun
Constreyned was in all his moost pride
Lyke a cowarde to fle and nat abyde

Nomore of him myn auctoure writeth here
But in his boke as he doth procede
There cam Cornelye of rome a consulere
Him silf compleynynge of the greate falshede
Which vnto him accomplisshed was in dede
By assuraunce broke of hanyball
Which of cartage was cheef admirall

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To this cornelie hanyball was sworne
With the Affricanes by a maner flaterye
To socoure him as we haue tolde to forne
With the romaynes to holde vp his partye
But whan they met the boke doth specefie
Cornelye was take and fetred in pryson
At mischeef dyed there gayned no raunson

Than hanyball entred of entent
With his knightes into a greate cyte
Of Cecile called Agrigent
Where Iulius Silua of olde enmyte
Layde a siege with a great meyne
That he constreyned the seyde hanyball
For very hungre to lepe ouer the wall

By a posterne he toke him to the flight
Gadred shippes and toke the large see
And Iulius Sylua like amanly knight
Faught with him and made him for to flee
Vpon the water anon after he
Was of his knightes stoned to the deth
And so constreyned he yeldyd vp the breth

Of the Duke zantipas cast into the se

AFter that hanyball was slay [...]e thus
And put to flight as m [...]de is mencion
Tofore Bochas cam worthy zantipus
A famous duke full notable of reno [...]
And he was lorde of the stronge reg [...]
Lacedomoyne and was come afer [...]e
In to cartage to help them in the wer [...]

 [...]y whoos prowesse to his e [...]res of glorye
The proude romayns were put to flight
Cartagmensis had of them victorye
And there was take the wyse manly knight
Marchus Regulus and brought anone right
Into Cartage and led as prysonere
By zantipus as bochas writeth here

This noble duke for all his hye prowesse
Done in cartage and shewed to their toun
And for all his notable kindnesse
They moost vnkyndly quyt him his guirdoun
For seylynge home towarde his region
In a ship stuffed of their cuntre
Of fals enuye they cast him in the se

To his noblesse and famous chiualrye
Whan he of knighthode sat hyest in his floures
They of cartage by hatred and enuye
Maligned ageyn him cheef sonne of their socours
Taclipsyd his light but therageyne auctours
Haue by writinge perpetuelly set his name
And it regestred in the hous of fame

How Marchus regulus of his fre wyll dyed for the comon wele

wHo can tell or reherce the groūde of werrys
The first cause of such mortall outrage
Where it began by influence of sterrys
Twene man and man or of wylfull rage
Atwene romaynes and folkes of cartage
To great hindrynge considred the manere
Of both ꝑtyes as bokys doth vs lere

Italicus therwith were greuyd oft
Namly whan fortune was their aduersarie
And Affricans felt full vnsoft
Whan she to theym list be contrarye
Whoos cours of custom stoūdemele doth varie
By experience it hath be proued well
In the ouerwhelmynge of hir vntrusty whele

The moost worthy and the moost famous
Afore remembred vpon eche partie
Fortune to day made them victorious
And to morowe she dyd their might diffye
Nowe vp nowe doun all stode in Iupardye
Lyke as she liste them fauour nye or serre
Their losse their wynnynge called fortune of werre

To sūme well wylled happy and eurous
To sūme also full straunge of aqueyntaunce
Rekne amonge ot [...]e [...] Marchus Regulus
On romayn partye & prince of greate substaunce
To be preferred and put in remembraunce
One the moste worthy and true fonde in dede
Of knightly polycie that I can of rede

To comon profite was ay his aduertence
Twene loue and hate stondynge so vpright
To nouther syde declyne [...] the balaunce
Of his domys for fauour of no wight
Tyll that the iye of his inwarde sight
Conceyued had where the trouth stode
Than gaue he sentence and theron he abode

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In all this worlde there was no better knight
Better named and borne of good lynage
A seemly persone delyuer and of great might
Hardy as lyon right manly of visage
Wall of the romayns sharpe yerde to corage
Demure nat hasty seynge all thinge to forne
And in papinia I fynde that he was borne

And for he had so great discrecion
This worthy knight this marcus regulus
Chosyn he was a consull of the toun
And had a felowe called maulius
In armes manly wyse and vertuous
Which for their notable expert hye constaunce
Of romayn werrys had the gouernaunce

Their shippes stuffed made a great arme
Full prudently with knightly apparayle
These princis tweyne taken haue the se
First with Sicilians had a greate batayle
Disconfyted them and their arriuayle
Outrayed Amulchar the story is no fable
That was of affryk capteyne and cunstable

That in that cuntre castellys many one
Toke prisoners stuf and great richesse
And all that partye to rome he sent anone
By Maulius the story bereth wytnesse
And the romaynes for his worthynesse
All of assent by cause he was so wys
Prolongyd haue the terme of his offis

Of knightly noblesse was none to him lyke
Nouther in armes nor pollitik ordynaunce
And for the conquest of cartage and affrike
To him they gaue of both the gouernaunce
Brought citees touns to his obeysaunce
Of the romayns this noble worthy knight
Where euer he rode maugre their foos might

By his feithfull laborious diligence
Gate all the cuntrees to Cartage toun
Tyll tidinges cam vnto his presence
Beside a ryuer there was a greate dragoū
So orryble as made is mencion
That all the cuntre of him stode in such doute
No man durst neigh him ferre aboute

An hundred fete and tweyne was his length
Lyke as writeth titus leuius
Was none so hardy man nor of such strength
That durst approch he was so venymous
But by the manhode of marchus regulus
Slayne was this monstruous serpent
And for amerueyle the skyn to rome sent

Thus in conquest while he dyd his peyne
To gete castels and mighty stronge to [...]s
Ageyn him were sent astruballys tweyne
Called of affrik the hardy champions
With all the power of their regions
But as the story maketh rehersayle
They were disconfyted both in batayle

Amulchar after cam with spere and shelde
In diffence of affrik and cartage
And he was also distressed in the feelde
With all his  [...]s [...]e maugre his visage
Thus marchus had alway the vauntage
Makynge the romayns this knight moost vertuous
Through his prowesse to be victorious

And where that he in his tendre age
Lyst do laboure and tylle his owne londe
For excercise and vertuous auauntage
To holde the plough and lede it with his honde
Auoydynge slouth as ye shall vnderstonde
Nowe through all affrik with many worthy knight
In stele and mayles he rideth armyd bright

Thus noble marke what euer he had ado
He was in armes souerayne syngulere
And in the temple at rome of appollo
For him was kept a crowne of fressh laurere
Forged of golde fret full of stones clere
And in the temple of Iouis was reserued
A robe of victorye which he hath deserued

To these goddys who can considre well
Of olde custom the rightes to mayntene
As for a thinge beynge perpetuell
Which fadeth neuer of nature thus I mene
I sacryd is the fressh laurer grene
For causes tweyne graunted to conquerours
In marciall actes by conquest made victours

For the noblesse of this tre dyuyne
Sheweth his odoure in wisdom and excellence
By the grenesse which neuer doth declyne
Longe abydynge of vertuous prudence
The rounde crowne betokeneth prouidence
In signe only of knightly gouernaunce
Taketh his guerdon of longe continuaunce

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Their strength only graunted them nat the croun
Nor a proude gynnynge stablissheth nat their glorye
But persyueraunce who list muse and roun
Graunteth to them and putteth in memorye
The triumphe and palme of their victorye
The crowne of laurer in story it is tolde
And of Iupiter the rich crowne of golde

Who can discerne of all these gyftes  [...]hre
Moste apperteyneth vnto chiualrye
Manly prowesse wisdom anone late se
Strength hardynesse conquest policie
For the romaynes caught a fantasie
For his merytes notable and glorious
To magnefie this Marchus regulus

For this marchus durynge his lusty yeres
Prince of the werres gayn affrik and cartage
Toke all their yonge knightes prysonerys
Sent them to rome for comon auauntage
But o alas whan he was fall in age
The gery goddes amonge hir chaunges all
Ageyne this prince hir fauour made appall

For to withstonde the prowesse of this knight
In helpe of affrik as made is mencion
Cam zantipus of whom I spake nowe right
A mighty duke the which was sent doun
Fro Lacedomoyne which through his hye renoun
Whan the powere of marchus gan to fayle
His meny slayn toke him in batayle

Into Cartage sent him prysonere
And there he lay in stronge cheynes bounde
Loo howe fortune chaunge can hir chere
Falseste of truste whan she is moost iocounde
First fauourable after frowarde founde
This hir maner with hir double face
Folke that syt hyest to chaunge them fro their place

For he that whilom had in subiection
Almost all affrik and Cartage the cite
Nowe lyeth he bounde and fettred in prison
Whilom in glorye nowe in aduersite
Cast in myserie from hye prosꝑite
Fortunes be made who loke wele
Of brotyll glas rather than of stele

Thys manly knight albe that he lay cheyned
Which had brought rome to so hye encres
That they of affrik and cartage were constreyned
Vnto romayns to pursue for a pes
And for taccomplissh this mater doutles
Vnder assuraunce made in cartage toun
They toke marchus anon out of prison

Bounde by his oth there is nomore to seyne
He to be chaungyd for affrik prysonerys
There for to abyde and they to cūme ageyn
The yonge knightes fressh lusty of their cherys
So that Marchus feble and olde of yerys
By affricans were to rome sent
Both assured to accomplyssh their entent

For the romaynes had in such deynte
This noble marke for manhode and prudence
And for the furthrynge of their comonte
They had his persone for wysdom in reuerence
Called in that toun their wall and their diffence
Had in more cheerte for knighthode in that age
Than all their prysoners of affryk and cartage

Romayns greatly reioysed of his cūmynge
And specially for his delyueraunce
All atonys of herte and true menynge
Sayde welcom home oure ioye and oure suffisaunce
Welcūme merour of knightly gouernaunce
This was their vois and this was their langage
At his repaire fro affryk and cartage

And thus receyued lyke to his estate
And conueyed through all the cite
Nobly presentyd vnto the Senate
Began his tale anone as ye shall se
As he that had more in cherte
The comon profyte than his delyueraunce
Sayde vnto them these wordys in substaunce

Syres by the auys of you echon present
First by the estatys next by the comonte
As prince and consull to affryk I was sent
And as ye knowe seuyn yere there I haue be
To chastyse rebelles of that cuntre
And by the fauour and helpe of goddys might
To your cyte aquyte me lyke a knight

In this matere it nedeth nat to tarye
Ye knowe youre silf I am nowe wexen olde
And fortune is to me contrarye
Wherby your enmyes in affrik be made bolde
And they desire me for to be solde
In eschaunge by short conclusion
For prisoners which they haue in the toun

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And by the fauoure of goddys hye in heuene
And by felowes wyse mediacion
Cuntrees and prouincys more than syxe & seuene
I haue in affryk made subiet to this toun
Maugre their might and their rebellion
And theym constreyned like as desire
For to obey vnto your empyre

To make your empyre more stately glorious
And to encres the boundes of youre cyte
Whilom by grace I was victoryous
Venquysshed your enmyes where euer I dyd them se
Nowe through fortunes mutabylite
Made vnhappy and desolate of chere
Sumtyme a prince and nowe a presonere

Afore my power by fortune was fraunchised
Nowe am I thrall and fetryd in prison
Myn olde triumphes be newly nowe disguysed
And victories oppressed and borne doun
With this considred the transmutacion
Of youth passed and myn vnweldy age
Lytyll wondyr though dull be my corage

¶Yit there is a thinge that draweth alength my lyf
Which in my herte hath set great gladnesse
To your encres howe this mortall strif
By my laboure and knightly besynesse
The marciall princis famous in worthinesse
With all the knightes moost souereyne of renoun
Sought through affryk be nowe in your pryson

By whoos absence feblyd is Cartage
The cuntre porisshed brought to disencres
Seynge that I am dull and fall in age
Geyne affricans to put my silf in prees
Causynge your enmyes pursue for the pes
By eschaunce of me that may but small auayle
For affrik knightys moost expert in batayle

They stonde in hope of their delyueraunce
By eschaunge of me nowe sent out of prison
Of entent to encres their puissaunce
Of newe to gynne a werre vpon your toun
Nowe take gode hede and discrecion
Peyse of prudence this thinge that I haue tolde
Their youth considred and I am feble and olde

I am consumyd and weryd in the werrys
Fortune contrarie I feble to bere armure
They lusty fressh their name spred ful ferre is
And in the feelde they able to endure
I vnweldy and lyke a creature
More semble to drawe home to my graue
Than be armed this cite for to saue

And in effect I haue more cheerte
Of very feyth withoute variaunce
Vnto the profyte of your comonte
Than to the matere of my delyueraunce
To thinges peysyd and weyed in balaunce
Of affrik knightes expert worthynesse
In me the constreynt of agys feblenesse

And to conclude vpon this matere
I might neuir as semeth vnto me
As of knighthode deserue the laurere
Nor the triumphe in this famous cite
Better than dye tenere [...]e the comonte
And thus auised of herte and hole corage
Yelde vp the spirite of myn vnweldy age

In this purpos he stedfast as a wall
Of one wyll and one ꝑseueraunce
Him silf commendynge to goddys Immortall
Chase for to dye of polityk constaunce
And to preferre by notable purueaunce
The comon profite this was his motyf
Set asyde god [...] his tresour and his lif

Ryght well chered stable of his visage
Of perfite loue he had vnto the toun
He is repayred ayen vnto Cartage
The articles kept and the condicion
At the departynge from affrik region
This to sey texplete their lust certeyne
Or presoner he for to resorte ageyne

At his departynge the romayn senatours
Gan wex pale of compassion
To se the pauys of all their old socours
As pr [...]soner depart out of the toun
Princessis ladyes fyll a swone doun
Children wept and cryed for pyte
Farwell vpholder cheef wall of their cyte

Was euer founde any truer knight
Which of his owne feithfull mocion
Where he was fre and had power and might
To haue stonde at large by his eleccion
To kepe his promyse repeyred to prison
What shall I write of his nobles or shewe
To finde one like him I rede but afewe

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And whan he cam ageyne with his message
Knowynge thentent of this worthy knight
Moost furiously the peple of cartage
In the presence of euery maner wight
Ordeynyd haue to turment anone right
Fyrst the ledys of his iyen twayne
They cut them of to encrece his payne

That he nat shulde slepe in pryson
But euer watche with peyne intollerable
And for the tonstreynt of his passyon
Crye and compleyn with sighes lamentable
And after this toke a playne table
Fret full of nayles sharpe whet and grounde
And therupon nakyd they him bounde

Another table they layde on him aloft
Nayled also and atwene these tweyne
They couchyd him this bed was full softe
Moste importable so hidous was the peyne
The blode ran oute of euery senowe and veyne
This was his turment alas a cruell deth
Of worthy marchus tyll he yelde vp the breth

Who red in bokes or euer dyd se
Of any princis so stedfast and so stable
As whilom were in Rome the cyte
Or in their conquest so longe perdurable
Of vertue founde of corage vnstauncheable
Rekne vp all that euere were in that toun
And to this marchus make no comparison

Rekne kamillis papyres scipions
Notable worthy for many great victorie
Rekne vp all the worthy champions
Cursius Fabricus famous of memorye
But this regulus eclipsith all ther glorie
And surmounteth by reporte of renoun
All these forsayde in comparison

Rekne vp the foure that whilom were so ryche
The first of theym callyd Lucius
Other tweyne of condicion liche
As was Staurus and gaius delius
And forgete nat the greate Emelius
But for all their greate possession
Make to marchus no comparison

Remembre of crassus of whom it is tolde
The assirens to staunche his couetise
Poryd in his throte stranglyd him with golde
So he dyed the story doth deuyse
And though these foure wende haue be wyse
Greatly commendyd through fals opinyon
Of theym to Marchus make no comparison

Touchinge this marke let men beholde and se
He left his tresoure fredom and richesse
And for the profite of the comonte
Forsoke his frendys Bochas bereth witnesse
To fordre his toun dyed in distresse
To kepe his feith resorted to prison
Make of none other to him comparison

Myn auctour here put in remembraunce
Sūme that had golde stonys and perre
Sūme that had of richesse habundaunce
And of other that stode in dignite
And sūme that had worldly prosperite
Set all asyde and conclude of reson
Twene them and marchus is no comparison

Pryncis may lyue after their ententys
After their lustes and their delices
Of golde and purpur were rich garnementes
After their power frowardly in vices
Graunt their Ministres greate offices
Twene all their pompe and vayne ambycion
And atwene marke make no comparison

All these thinges remembryd in certeyne
Well considryd and I put in mynde
There was in rome but fewe such seyn
To comon profyte that founde was so kynde
And tyll I may such another finde
In all this boke turnynge vp so doun
I wyll to him make no comparison

Lenuoye

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THis tragedye who that can take hede
Is entermedlyd with wo and gladnesse
Ioye for worship and singuler manhede
That was in marke by exellente noblesse
To rede his fall it is greate heuynesse
Which chase to dye where as he stode fre
Only for profite of the comonte

To kepe his othe playnly as I rede
Made in Cartage there beinge in distresse
This noble prince constreyned of no nede
But of frewyll myn auctour doth expresse
Fro rome ageyne thydre gan him dresse
To suffre turment of his fre volunte
Only for profyte of the comonte

This story shulde crowned be in dede
With golden letters for to bere witnesse
Howe seyde mark hauynge of deth no drede
To sette rome fro werre in sekyrnesse
Whoos hye renoū moost souereyne of prowesse
May neuir eclipse by none antiquite
Which chase to dye to forther the comonte

He deseruyd for to haue the mede
Of triumphe and marciall worthinesse
And of Iupiter to were the purpyll wede
Fret full of stonys moost heuynly of brightnesse
The laureat crowne conseruynge his grenesse
Graunted to victours who liste considre and se
Which chase to dye for the comonte

Noble princis which that gouerne and lede
All wordly people take hede in youre hynesse
To this storye true as is the crede
Takinge exaumple do your besynesse
Ay to supporte and mayntene rightwisnesse
And late Marchus to you a myrrour be
Which chase to dye to furthre the comonte

Howe Tholome kinge of Egipt callyd Phylopater slough fader and moder and his wif in lecherie spente his life and mischeuously endyd

nExte in order to bochas compleynynge
Vicious of lyf ther cam tholome
Callyd philopater and was of egipt kyng
In tendre age by horryble cruelte
Slough fader moder and suster ye may se
He to be crowned it is made mencion
To regne alone in that region

He was disposyd vnto euery vice
Frowarde to vertue and to all doctrine
Slough his wif callyd Erudice
Lete his spouse toke a concubyne
Wasted his lyf gan him silf enclyne
To all riot surfet and outrage
And in this wise he spent his yonge age

Thus was disclaundryd his royall mageste
In lecherous lustys watchid all night
Abed tyll noone ageyn all honeste
Of fals excesse shope him anone right
Whan he aros to drinke ageyne might
Gorge vpon gorge to afforce his lecherye
The longe daye he spente in glotonye

I wexe wery the processe for to wryte
Of this tyraunt vicious and wode
It is contagious the proces to endyte
Bycause the exaumple doth harme and no gode
And of vengeaunce thus with him it stode
Of sodeyne myscheef I rede he dyd fyne
Embraced in armes of his concubyne

Agathodia playnly was hir name
And had a sonne called agathodes
Vicious both and sclaundryd by diffame
Noysed by reporte they were so recheles
Both at onys take in a sodeyn pres
With their allyes all atonys fet
And by Iust dome ledde to the gybet

Howe Abithomarus and Viridomarus Dukys of fraūce after greate bataylss by romayns slayne

NExte Philopater called tholome
Ther cam in ordre a worthy duke of fraunce
Nabytomarus and oute of that cuntre
Rode into Grece with a greate puissaunce
And first he gan to make his ordenaunce
Ageyne romayns albe they were ferre
Proudly with them for to gynne a werre

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But they of rome to their confusion
By their busshoppes and preestys gan deuyse
To vse a cursyd fals suꝑsticion
Vnto their goddys in full cruell wyse
To offre vp men by a newe sacrifise
To bury them quik in bochas thus I rede
By a fals hope they better for to spede

Of fraunce and grece they toke ten in noumbre
Half men and wymen to gedre tweyne and tweyne
And by fals murdre they dyd them encoumbre
Buryed theym quyk theyr deth was full sodeyne
At this sacrefyse the goddys gan disdeyn
And to the ramayns wex contraryous
For their fals rightys supersticious

And by recorde of olde croniculeers
The yere fyue hundre fro their fundacion
And one and twenty tho beynge consulers
Thre in noumbre as made is mencion
Which gouerned and rulyd all the toun
The first called Lucius Emilius
And the seconde catulus gaius

Actilius regulus the thrid consulere
By all the Senate ordeyned were these thre
As I haue tolde the selue same yere
For to gouerne and rule the Cyte
And to preserue them from all aduersite
Ageyn two peples of gaule and lumberdye
Which than werred of malyce and enuye

Of which werre the romayns stode in boute
The senatours and all the citeseyns
Bycause ageynst them there cam so great a route
Of lumbardys by this halfe the mounteyns
Ioyned togedre with many fell foreyns
Which stode departed as made is remembraunce
Fro them of rome and their obeysaunce

The people rude bestyall and vnstable
Togedre assemblyd wode and furious
Of multitude very innumerable
Vengeable of herte of corage despytous
Voyde of all reson sodeynly furious
As seyth bochas I can no ferther gone
Their soudiours bare gisarmys euerychon

And gysarmes of gisarmes they were called
Towarde rome them hastinge day by day
Of greate laboure the fotemen sore app [...]llyd
But ay their truste on multitude lay
Of whoos comynge rome stode in afray
And specially the consuleers thre
That out were sent to fight for the cite

Foure score thousand as write the croniclere
Mighty to stonde at diffence
In his felawship had eche consulere
And of the gisarmes noumbre in sentence
Thre hundred thousande by sturdy violence
Goynge on fote I finde that they had
Eight thousand ouer that all the feeld spred

I rekne nat them that rode on horsbak
Which six and thretty thousand were in noumbre
Sixe hundryd ouer purposed for the wrak
Fynally the romayns to encoumbre
The shadowe of them gaue so great an vmbre
That on the soyle which tofore was grene
There was enneth any sonne shene

Their capteyne was Abitomarus
A manly man and a full worthy knight
And with them went viridomarus
Another capteyne in stele armyd bright
Twene them and romayns longe last the fight
But on the party of rome the cite
Was slayne a consull one of the thre

After whoos deth of fortune anone right
On the party of them of rome toun
Eyght hundred thousande toke them to the flight
And thus began the fame and the renoun
Of abithomarus as made is mencion
Of which victorye his herte was made fayne
And on his partye were thre thousand slayne

But the romayns resorted be agayn
And after that had a stronge batale
And in the feeld so manly they were seyne
And so proudly their enmyes dyd assayle
That as myn auctour maketh rehersayle
Of the Gysarmys longe or it were night
Fourty thausand were slayne in that fight

The thrydde tyme with help of them of fraunce
Ioyned to lumbardes and folke of gaule also
They faught ageyne all oute of ordenaunce
Beside the ryuere that callyd is the Poo
Where both batayles togydre had adoo
And as I fynde consulers tweyne
To romayn sheltrouns knightly dyd ordeyne

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Maulius Torquat called was that one
Flamynus Flakkus was with him Ifere
And with the romayns forth to gydre they gon
Towarde that ryuere with a full manly chere
In which bataile the story doth vs lere
Nyne and fourty thousand slayne on that day
Of their enmyes that none ne went away

Abythomarus was takyn prysonere
In tokne of tryumphe brought to rome toun
To the capitoyle with a full pale chere
Led bounde in chenys there gayned no raunson
Thus hath fortune appallyd his hye renoun
And in tokne of his disconfiture
Offred to goddys was his cote armure

Thus lachesis his lyues threde gan drawe
Tyll Antropos it brak with full greate peyne
Viridomarus that was his felawe
Slayn in the felde by romayns in certeyne
And of these worthy princes tweyne
This was the ende and the mortall fall
The feest accomplisshid callyd funerall

And in the tyme of these mortall werres
Atwene these dukes and them of rome toun
Many toknes were shewed in the sterres
Meruaylous lightnynges fro the heuen doun
And many an vncouth constellacion
Sondry Cometes dyd in the walkinge appere
Who seth their storyes may the trouth lere

The water pytene that renneth in Itayle
Which in that cuntre is a famous flode
The same houre and tyme of their batayle
As seith the story was turned in to blode
Fyres in the heyre moost furious and wode
That mighty toures were with the flamys brent
Thre monys apperinge in the Orient

The peple for fere fled in to lowe caues
For drede wex pale and dedly of their chere
And in thre dayes were thre erth quauys
Duringe this weres and in the same yere
Of great appollo fyll doun the pyllere
Of marbyll white large and of great strength
That sixty Cubites accoumted was the lengethe

And in that tyme the story sayth nat nay
Of rome a consull with a great puissaunce
Callyd claudius slough vpon a day
Thretty thousand and brought to mischaunce
Of the soudiours that cam out of fraunce
And there was slayne with many a captayn lorne
Virydomarus of whom I spak toforne

To his greate shame and confusion
As it is remembryd by scripture
The romayns made a great oblacion
Vp to Iupiter of his cote armure
And in tokne of his disconfiture
Within that temple of golde betyn clere
To his despyte they henge vp his banere

Howe Siphax of Munedye kinge was take and dyed in prison

HEre bochas breuely for a remembraunce
Writeth werres debates and batayles
That were that tyme in Itayle and fraunce
In spayne chaūpayne with marciall apparayles
And amonge other in his rehersayles
He telleth in affrik the great dissencion
Atwene hanyball and worthy Scipion

He toucheth their names and abydeth nat longe
Vpon their storyes he byde nat but awhile
Here nat rehersinge their mighty werrys stronge
Nor of their stryues he doth nat here compyle
But doun dessendynge dyrecteth furth his style
For to reherce and tell by writynge
The fall of Siphax in Munedye kinge

This saide Siphax batayles had tweyne
One with kinge Gabba he of very might
Had eke an other in which he dyd his payne
To mete masmissa after anon right
And both kinges he put to the flight
And of Messulie I fynde by writinge
Howe Masmissa was gouernour and kynge

This sayd siphax thrugh his chiualrye
Made Masmyssa to fle his region
Constreynyd him to lyue by robbrye
To walke in forestys with bestys vp and doun
And for diffaute as made is mencion
To saue his lyf he fonde no better refute
But fed him silf on rotys and on frute

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Oute of his realme masmyssa was enchasyd
And constreyned to fle fro his cuntre
Fro mynde of folke his name was out raced
For no man wyste where he shulde be
His liege men and folke of his cyte
Through all affryk knewe no better rede
Of his persone but dempt that he was dede

Thus of kynge Siphax encrece gan the glorye
Which by force two kinges hath outrayed
And vpon them wonne the victorye
Put them to flight and the peple affrayed
That rome and cartage were of him dismayed
And eche of theym dyd their laboure
Of their werrys to make him gouernoure

Vnto Siphax out of rome toun
As it is wretyn for a memoriall
To Numedye was sent scipion
For this mater in especiall
Out of cartage was sent hastruball
And at the castell where Siphax lay
Both tweyne arryued at one day

And by pleyne writinge as I haue conceyued
And as the story remembreth in sentence
At their cūmynge both were receyued
Of kinge Shyhax with greate reuerence
And through his notable manly diligence
As it is wretyn by gode recorde
He made these capteyns hertely of acorde

That they to gedre lay the same night
They had of Syphax so greate suerte
By promyse made as he was true knight
That nouther of them shulde deceyuyd be
But there was founde greate duplycyte
Folowynge after who so can take hede
Lyke as this storye shall deuyse in dede

For by the fraude and falsnes moste mortall
Compassed beforn it is thus befall
That by the sleight of this hastruball
As affricans be nye double all
Vnder suger can hide well their gall
So hastruball by fals decepcion
Vnder fayre chere desceyued Scipion

He brought in siphax by fals subtylte
And by his sleyght peyntyd fayre langage
That he shulde with him allyed be
By full assente to haue in mariage
Sophanisba a maydyn of cartage
Which was doughter yonge and faire withall
As seyth bochas to this hastruball

The which thinge by craft was brought aboute
And accomplisshed verely in dede
And by this mene pleynly out of doute
There first began rancoure and hatrede
Symulacion feynyd and falshede
That atwene siphax and hastruball alas
Scipion was diceyued in this cas

And after that done was this mariage
Syphax full enmye to this Scipion
With hastruball rode in to cartage
And gan werraye agayn rome toun
And in this while as made is mencion
Kynge masmyssa out of wildernesse
Towarde Scipion in all haste gan him dresse

With his people gan to make him stronge
Through helpe of scipion and of bellius
Went ageyne syphax and abode nat longe
His herte ageyne him was so enuyous
And on a day the story telleth thus
With affricans and folkys of Cartage
Siphax the romayns met in the visage

Of masmyssa the peple were so wode
Vpon Siphax auengyd for to be
Through their batayles cam to him there he stode
And maugre him and his cruelte
Of very manhode space was none to fle
They brought him home thrugh their hye renoun
In to the hondys of worthy Scipion

Siphax was take thus or he was ware
Vnder his baner maugre all his might
And into rome led afore the chare
Of scipion the noble worthy knight
That wan the triumphe graunted him of right
And Siphonisba afore to Sophax wif
Wed to masmysse at the ende of all this strif

Loo howe fortune chaunge can hir tydes
To one this day she can be fauorable
Make capteyns and these greate guydes
Which wend haue founde hir whele stable
But that she is ay frowarde and chaungeable
Frendly to day tomorowe at discorde
If this be true Siphax can bere recorde

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This Shiphax was sent out of the toun
In cheynes bounde without more taryinge
And at tyburny lay fetred in prison
Dyed at mischeef made ther his endynge
And for bycause that he was a kinge
The romayns made of marciall pyte
Him to be buried within their cite

Howe Nabyn hauyng no title but by tyrannye toke on him to be kinge of macedoyne was slayne

nExt cam Nabyn full pytously wepynge
Tofore Iohn bochas which by tyrannye
Of macedoyne toke on him to be kinge
Hauynge no title saue title of robbrye
Only by force him silf to magnefye
Which with stronge honde toke full possession
For to be crownyd in thilke region

This macedoyne as by olde writinges
Whilom was had in full great reuerence
Bycause only it floured in two thinges
Both in knighthode and souereyne sapience
Mars there by manhode Pallas by prudence
And while these tweyne had gouernaunce
Of all welfare they had suffisaunce

And while noblesse of these thinges tweyne
That is to sey the floure of hye clergye
The hye renoun moste famous and souereyne
Of marciall prowesse and of chiualrye
Gouerned that londe by newe pollicie
Than stode that kingdom auctours reherce kōne
Amonge the grekys lyke an heuenly sonne

But at the laste eclipsed was the light
Both of knighthode and philosophye
Whan couetise gan entre ageyne right
For to vsurpe vpon the regalye
But intrusion of fals tyrannye
And by extort force made their entringes
Hauynge no title there to regne as kinges

This was cheef cause for shorte conclusion
That the noblesse of grece was brought baas
And macedoyne brought to confusion
By couetise that set theym in such caas
Therby their knighthode fully translated was
And their policye in cronycles ye may se
Out of grece to rome the cyte

And amonge other by clere remembraunce
Of such tyrauntys by ordre rehersinge
Nabyn was one that had gouernaunce
In macedoyne and was ther crounyd kynge
Without tytle there falsly regnynge
And for his frowarde contagious cruelte
He was behatyd of rome the cyte

The romayns sent a mighty consulere
Titus flamynius of their werres guide
To Macedoyne he gan to approch nere
Towarde argos where Nabyn dyd abyde
Of entente for to abate his pryde
But while Nabyn stode hyest in estate
Of grece his lieges with him were at debate

A Duke I callyd Pilopomones
With the people that dwelled in grece londe
To stryue with nabyn put him silf in pres
Disconfited him fightinge honde of honde
And at greate mischeef ye shall vnderstond
Alexamenes a knight of that cuntre
Slough this nabyn the cronicle ye may se

Here Bochas reherceth the mortall werrys betwene Romayns and Affricans

AFter this Nabyn bochas doth procede
To tell the warrys and the mortal stryues
Twene romayns and affricans in dede
Wherby full many loste there their lyues
Causyd wedowes maydyns and eke wyues
To wepe and weyle in such disioynt they stode
On outher party to se the losse of blode

For the party of them of rome toun
Were made capteyns and diuers officeers
Which into affrik with peple were sent doun
And specially ther were two consuleers
Notable in armys and famous in tho yeres
Marcus maulius borne of the romayn lyne
That other called Lucius censoryne

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With theym was sent a tribune full notable
Of whom tofore I made mencion
For the werres moost worthy and moost able
I mene of rome proude Scipion
Which of their cite was cheuest champion
Of entent the affricans tanoye
And specially Cartage to destroye

And nye by cartage ther was a cyte stronge
Mightely bilded and stode vpon the se
The wallys thicke rounde square and longe
Cheef diffence callyd of that cuntre
To saue and kepe them from aduersite
And fourty cubites with creestys marciall
Lyke as I fynde of hight was the wall

And the fronte reysed for the werre
Of stonys square was an hye dungeon
Called birsa fro which wonder ferre
Men might beholde the cuntrees enuiron
And as I rede for their saluacion
The affricans of purpos dyd ordeyne
For their capteynes hastruballys tweyne

The sayde dungeon mightely batayled
Ageyn call sautys to stonde and endure
But worthy scipion for all that hath nat fayled
For to approch and do by besy cure
Withe his engynes mighty stronge and sure
So that by force this knight moost marciall
A great quantite brake doun of the wall

And Lucius called Sensoryne
Deꝑtyd is with marchus maulius
And by the counsayle of scipion and doctrine
Both of assente in armys vertuous
They toke their wey myn auctour telleth thus
With hastruball sothely and they might
Where as he laye that same day to fight

These consulers assayled the cyte
Called ci [...]ie and bete doun the wall
Slough fourty thousande the cronycle ye may se
Of affricanys by vengeaunce full mortall
And their cunstable called Hastruball
Was slayne that day by him it is no doute
That he moost trustyd and next were him aboute

And this while moost manly of corage
The worthy trybune Publius Scipion
By verrey force is entred in cartage
And six dayes as made is mencion
He and his knightes constreyned so the toun
That despeyryd with their dedely cherys
They of the toun yelded them prisoneris

Mekely requeringe vnto Scipion
To receyue him in this mortall rage
That men and wymen dwellyng in that toun
With the citesyns yonge and olde of age
Might abide and lyue in seruage
Vnder the romayns there was no better refute
And yere by yere pay them a tribute

And of affryk that other hastruball
Which amonge theym afore was crowned kinge
Left his estate and his powere royall
Yeldyd him prisonere humbly knelyng
And his wif moost pitously wepynge
Whan that she sawe hir lorde take so
Ran in to fyre and brente hir silf for wo

Six and twenty thousande as I finde
Were led of wymen into captyuyte
Thretty thousande of men cam byhynde
Take prisoners in great aduersite
And seuentene dayes brent that cyte
That in their wallys was none so harde stone
But in to poudre it was brente anon

And this was done breuely to conclude
By the prowesse of Publius Scipion
Solde in seruage was a great multitude
Their olde lordes led fetred to prison
This was of cartage fynall destruccion
To write their complayntes bochas abideth no while
But in to grece turneth ageyn his style

Howe kynge perseus by romayns outrayed and after take.

IN Lacedomoyne remembringe on a kinge
Called perseus a full proude werroure
Claymynge a title vpon him vsurpynge
For to succede as true enheritoure
To great alisaundre moost mighty conqueroure
Fully affermynge ageyn a certeyn day
He wyll be crowned maugre who seyth nay

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And his name to put in memorye
Cast in his ꝑsone to renewe the prowesse
Of kynge alysaundre and to encrece his glorie
To folowe his traces in knighthode and nobles
And first of all of hasty wilfulnesse
That his conquest might sprede ferre
Gan of purpose with romaynes to haue  [...] werre

But after this he was better auysed
Whan he ꝑceyued the marcyall apparyle
Of the romayns wherof he was agrysed
Wex aferde their nobles to assayle
Which ay were founde victorious in batayle
And where afore he had ben recheles
Sent ambassatours with theym to trete of pes

They had perceyued his presumpcion
And howe he was proude and surquedous
Sent a Consull with a greate power doun
The name of whom was Sulpicius
Which dedly hatyd the sayd perseus
Thrugh hertly rancour ageyn him wex soleyne
Of his ambasset hauynge but dysdeyne

And their ꝑtye for to fortefye
With the sayde Consull Sulpicius
They sent another expert in chiualrye
A consull also paulus Emylius
Amonge romayns notable and famous
And folowynge after the silf same night
The mone eclipsed fully of his might

A clere tokne as made is mencion
That kinge ꝑseus shulde haue a sharp shoure
And that his lordship and his region
Shulde be oppressed voide of all socour
And that Macedonoys shulde haue no fauoure
Ageyne the romayns to gedre whan they met
With rounde sperys and swerdes sharpe whet

The day of batayle to his encres of glorye
For the ꝑty of them of rome toun
There was a knight that caused the victorye
Yonge fressh and lusty that called was caton
Which brought their enmyes to confusion
For Macedonoys through his greate might
Outrayed were and percius put to flight

But Emylius the noble Consulere
Sent a Capteyne called Octauius
To pursue after in coostys ferre and nere
The proude kinge the seyde perseus
And he was take for ther was no rescus
With his sonnes that were in nounbre tweyne
Philip and alisaundre the story is certeyne

My [...] auctour telleth here of kinges manye
Thre [...]y in noumbre the first Geramus
Which haue regned within macedone
And laste of all was this perseus
The noumbre of yeres bochas writeth thus
Was nyne hundred as I remembred here
Space of their regnynge with foure and twenty yere

After translated was the region
With all their yles vnto the obeysaunce
Of theym of rome withoute excepcion
To greate lordys that were of moost puissaunce
Abode ther longe vnder gouernaunce
Of perseus disconsolat of chere
Durynge his lif abode there prysonere

Howe the people af Achaia with their cheef cyte Corinthe by romaynes was destroyed

THus the lordship weryd out and spent
Of Macedoyne as made is mencion
The two cuntrees therto adiacent
That one Achaia a lytyll region
And spatanoys goynge enuyron
Mighty of people and of greate substaunce
In one confederat and of one alliaunce

They were conioyned and both made al one
By a manere feithfull conuencion
And whan the romayns knewe theym for their fone
Hauynge their frenship in suspeccion
They caste to make a disiunction
Bytwene these londes in brede and eke in length
For thinge disseueryd is menused of his strength

Ordeyned cytes and townes here and yonder
Wheron the romaynes gan make a decre
That their lordshippes shulde be set assonder
Which made the people in euery greate Cyte
Whan they knewe their subtilte
To ryse at onys moost cruell of their cheris
And wolde haue slayne the romayn messāgerys

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And fynally by this occasion
Romayns ageyn them gan wexe furious
Toke herdynes of their diuysion
And a consull called Mumus
A manly knight in armys full famous
Into Achaya was from rome sent
It to destroye by great auisement

They of Achaia by their negligence
And by their frowarde wylfull rechelesnesse
Of very pryde list make no diffence
Thought them silf without auysenesse
Of power able and strenger in sothnesse
Than were romayns verely in dede
Thus were they stroyed afore or they toke hede

They stode in hope in their sturdynesse
By that batayle to haue had greate pillage
Of the romayns to haue wonne full greate rychesse
And for a pompe of wylfull fals dotage
They toke their wyues and wymen yonge of age
And set them vpon an hye mounteyne
That their manhode might in the feelde be seyne

Whan the romayns met them in batayle
They dispurueyed and out of ordynaunce
Slayne lyke bestys their power gan to fayle
Of frowarde pryde and recheles gouernaunce
 [...]hat achaia was brought to myschaunce
Wymen and children for sorowe almoste mad
To lyue in seruage were to rome lad

Corinthe that tyme was their cheef cite
Destroyed by romaynes and brought to ruine
Which amonge Cytees in Bochas ye may see
Aboue all other dyd in honoure shyne
Of all sciences there floured the doctryne
And of craftes artifycers moost wyse
Rekne all the worlde there was cheef marchaundyse

Thus vnwarly in their moost noblesse
Sittynge of fortune in the stage
They were destroyed of tresoure and richesse
Brought to nought by slaughter and pyllage
Their walles broke in that cruell rage
And in that brennynge bochas seith the leuene
Raught a greate part vpwarde to the heuene

Pleyne with the erth the wallys broke doun
The peple slayne merciles yonge and olde
And there was made a greate dyuision
Sūme led in seruage and sūme of them were solde
Imagys of copir of siluer and of golde
Were sodenly in all that violence
Togydre molte so hot [...] was the feruence

Of which metall thus after it is fall
Golde siluer copir medlyd into one
Copre of corynthe men did it call
Through all the worlde of custom euerichone
Fame of which metall is so ferre gone
That the vessels forgyd of the same
Corinthoise callyd is the name

AFter Corynth was thus brent to nought
A prince called Philip Philermene
To Iohn bochas hath his cōpleynt brought
In whoos face and chere it was well sene
The wofull constreynt of his mortall tene
And he was whilom bochas doth specefie
Lorde of a cite called vallaquie

Marchu [...] actilius toke him prisonere
Brought him to rome list him nat respyte
Next to Bochas with an heuy chere
Apperyd a knight called domocrite
Of Etholis myn auctour doth so write
He was cheef lorde but he and his cuntre
Translatyd were into rome the cyte

This duke was caste and cheyned in prison
Escapyd onys in story as I fynde
Take ageyne throwe in a derke dungeon
There for sorowe went oute of his mynde
Slough him silf at mischeef ageyne kynde
Loo howe these princis proude and recheles
Haue shamefull ende which can nat lyue in pes

Howe greate antiochus vsinge riot and vicious lyuynge by Marchus actilius was outrayed and dyed sodenly

tOuching the storye murdre here folowyng
Of Selenchus and great antiochus
Of his moder Leodices and the kinge
With other toknes and signes merueylous
And howe also the same selenchus
Had in his thigh as wretin is toforne
Prynt of an ankyr the day whan he was borne

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And all the children by succession
Had by discent borne of his lynage
Prynte of an ankyr as made is mencion
The fourth boke with all the surplusage
Of other toknes there told playne langage
And of the seyde fame Selenchus
Cam by discente the seyd antiochus

Whoos herte was sette of hye couetyse
To folowe his lustys and dilectacion
And specially he cast gan and deuise
To wynne in grece dyuers regions
And of the peple he caught occasions
By their fauoure to conquere their cuntre
And rebbell ageyne rome the cyte

With multitude and great apparayle
He gate in grece castelles and eke touns
Longynge to rome conqueryd by batayle
Toke vpon him in his presumpcions
Falsly to folowe the inclinacions
Of his byrth while he dyd abyde
In a cyte that callyd was Talcide

For cause of slouth he lefte his chiualrye
Forsoke mars and toke him to capide
Restynge the wynter he spent in lecherye
In wetch and ryot chase venus to hys guyde
Sensualite made reson stonde asyde
And by these menys for shorte conclusion
He was conueyed to his destruction

And whan that wynter with his frostys colde
Passyd was and all his stormes kene
In riot spent and wastyd as I tolde
And veer cam in with his newe grene
And fressh flora which is of floures quene
Of custom gynneth hir motles out dresse
In which ceson as auctours all expresse

Kynges princis with marciall apparayle
Tyme whan phebus in the ram doth shyne
They them dispose to go out to batayle
For excercise of marcyall disciplyne
And doun from rome expert in that doctryne
Descended is marchus actilius
Ageyne this vicious proude antiochus

This noble marke preuyd in armys wele
Which in his tyme was so gode a knight
With all his oste armed in bright stele
Ageyn antiochus cam to the feeld doun right
Vpon a morowe whan phebus shone full bright
Set his wardeyns by capteyns that he ches
Vpon a hyll called termophiles

Antiochus vpon that other syde
Whom glotonye and riot dyd oppresse
And drunken bachus which with him dyd abyde
With morpheus wyf of slombyr cheef goddes
Which caused him through slouth and Idelnesse
That prouidence oute of his court was gone
Causynge that day the slaughter of many one

Whan the Consull marchus the worthy
His aduersaries proudly gan assayle
They vnpuruayed toke them to the flight
Disareyed they might nat auayle
Thus antiochus fled oute of batayle
For ageyne romayns he might nat endur
Therfore on him fyll the disconfiture

Thus rebukyd fled to Ephesie
Ferre in Grece and there to dwell he ches
Sent to romaynes a great ambassatrye
With the seyde marchus for to trete of pe [...]
But in this ambasset this very doutles
Whan they atteyned of Marchus the presence
Were refused and had none audience

Of which antiochus greatly was ashamyd
Cast ageyne rome of hate and enmyte
To reyse a power and hath of newe attamyd
To gadre shippes and make a great arme
Gynne a werre ageyn them on the see
Hauynge an hope vnder a cowarde drede
Better on the water than on the londe to spede

Made his shippes be stuffed with vitayle
And his capteynes hath the londe forsake
But whan the romayns of newe gan him assayle
His shippes brent and all his stuf was take
And lyke myn auctour compendyously doth make
Thyse on the se the romaynes werraynge
He was outrayed the story witnessinge

¶Yit eft ageyne to his confusion
Vpon the londe he gan make him stronge
Met with cornelie called scipion
With waynes cartes made for the werre stornge
Shod with harde yron sharpe sithes set amonge
In trauers wise by greate ordenaunce
But for all that he was brought to mischaunce

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With Olifauntys and castels on the bak
That day was slayne many a wo [...]thy knight
Vpon his oste so cruell was the w [...]ak
That he constreyned toke him to the flight
Forsoke the cuntre fled oute of mennys sight
To the romayns he coude it nat delaye
Eche yere constreyned a tribute for to paye

But he of fraude bycause of his tribute
For couetise feyned sore pouerte
Gadred robbours and by fals pursute
Oppressed marchauntes spoyled the cuntre
Robbed temples of hatefull cruelte
And fro Iupiter called dodauian
Toke all the relykes the story tell can

Dyd sacrilege and entryd in that clos
Withoute reuerence or any obseruaunce
For which the tempyl ageyn him roos
And as it is put in remembraunce
By the goddys there fyll a greate vengeaunce
Vpon this tyraunt quakinge in his drede
All sodenly he fyll to grounde dede

Lenuoye

tHis tragedye of Antiochus
Who list in ordre his frowarde story se
First to all vertue he was contrarious
And rebell euer to rome the cite
Iustly accused of vicious thinges thre
Of pride slouth and of glotonye
And of disordynat superfluite
Of night excesse riot and lecherie

On him the romayns were victorious
Twyes on the londe onys on the se
He was nat hardy but malicious
In euery batayle his custom was to fle
There vices regne there may no grace be
To all surfetys his lust he dyd applye
Noysed and disclaundred throughout his cuntre
Of night excesse riot and lecherie

Amonge his lyegis wode and despitous
And for a cowarde knowe in the feelde was he
The pore to oppresse a wulfe moste furious
And by disceit a fox for subtylite
Noman more frowarde of hye not lowe degre
Nor more delitinge in falshede nor flaterye
What was his ende a sodeyne deth parde
For his outrages of pryde and lecherye

Noble princis of prudence full famous
In all youre grettest royall mageste
Remembre pleynly if ye be vertuous
Ye shall prseuere in longe prosꝑyte
Where the contrarie causeth aduersite
As this storye afore doth specefye
Of antiochus cast from his dignite
For his great pride riot and lecherie

Howe Ieronimus kinge of Ciracuse was slayne / [...] howe Scipio affrican that laboured for comon wele of romayns was exiled by them & so dyed

AFter the deth of this antiochus
There cam a prince to bochas compleynyng
Which that was called Ieronimus
Of Cyracuse whilom lorde and kinge
Which of his liegis he nothinge trespassynge
Slayne was with his thre susters dere
Of hatrede myn auctour writeth here

Cyracusanis had a condicion
Through chaunges newe ay to be vnstable
Of wilfull malice voide of all reson
On their kinges for to be vengeable
They louyd nat to haue them ꝑdurable
But euerye yere of custom this is trewe
Them to gouerne to haue a prince newe

And for their chaunges and their vncouthe stryues
With variaunce of their condicions
Bycause no frute is found in their lyues
Nor in their stories nor in their successions
I wyll passe ouer and speke of Scipions
And first to write of the worthy man
Called in his tyme scipio affrican

A famous knight in all nacions
For his conquest shortly to conclude
Which had brought full many regions
More by wysdom than by multitude
To obeye the romayns but for ingratitude
Which that he fonde in theym as I rede
Howe he wrought to tell I wyll procede

It is remembred of his worthynesse
While that he was flouring in yonge age
Howe rome was made lady and maistresse
Of many a londe to their auauntage
And specialy all affrike and Cartage
By his prowesse as made is mencion
Were brought of romaynes vnder subiection

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But they agen [...]warde were to him vnkinde
By accusacions found out by their falsnesse
Seyde ageyne him as it is put in mynde
By recorde of many fals witnessis
That he shulde haue besiled the richessis
Of Cartage and affryk the cuntre
Which apperteyned to rome the cyte

But ageynwarde this noble affrican
Proudly gaue answere to his accusours
He neuer withhelde fro tyme that he began
Toward him silf noport of their tresours
Saue as the manere is of conquerours
For to conserue his worship and his name
Almoste was profyte to the touns fame

This is to mene playnly and nat tarye
He neuer accrochyd tresour nere nor ferre
Towarde him silf but that was necessarye
For their worship to mayntene with their werre
And yit that tyme he was their lodesterie
To encrece their boundys and fully his delyte
Was all hole set to the comon profyte

He toke none hede of all the surplusage
Of their tresours nor their great richesse
The name reserued of affrik and cartage
To his knighthode and his hye noblesse
But their malicious expert vnkindnesse
Was in cause breuely to compyle
His body fro them perpetually to exile

Caste him neuer within rome toun
After that day amonge them to be seyne
Vnkindnesse gaue him occasion
To absente his persone and of hye disdeyn
To exile him silf and neuer to cūme ageyn
But for tabyde in a small village
Callyd Lynterne whan he was fall in age

And for men shulde mynde vpon him haue
By a manere of indignacion
An Epitaphre he set vpon his graue
Which sayde thus to theym of rome toun
O peple vnkynde vnkynde ageyn reson
My funerall asshes nor my bones dede
In thy wallys thou shalt neuer possede

In thyn vnkynde frowarde teritorye
My bonys shal nat reste nor abyde
But thyn vnkindnesse to put in memorye
To remembraunce shalbe red full wyde
Of these letters graue on euery syde
By reporte only of this small scripture
Which here is set vpon my sepulture

Lo here the cause by breef descripcion
Set on my graue for a memoriall
Why that my bonys out of rome toun
Be buried here lowe vnder this wall
In exil holde my feest funerall
Vnkyndnesse me droue oute of that cyte
That wrought so moch for the comonte

Howe Scipio Asian lorde of Asye that labored euer for the comon wele was murdred

AFter the ende of this affrican
Called in his tyme worthy scipion
Cam next his brother Scipio Asyan
Which in Asie had domynacion
Gayn whom was made an accusacion
To all the senat that vntruly sholde
Certeyne tresours towarde him silf witholde

Which that he in asie had wonne
In his conquest by many stronge batayle
Which accusacion falsly was begonne
Of olde enuye causeles this no faile
Whoos worthynesse full moch dyd auayle
To comon profyte by these two conquerours
By greate richesse encresinge their tresours

The tone in affrik as ye haue herde me telle
By his wisdom and his chyualrye
That other in asia which dyd excelle
In hye prowesse as bokes specefye
Falsly hindryd of hatrede and enuye
By compassinge of one antiochus
Him to destroy he was so desyrous

Nat withstondynge these tweyne scipions
Had in their tyme by manyfolde batayles
Brought into rome so many ragions
To obey their cite with marciall apparayles
And euermore to their great auayles
Brought in tresours to encrere with their toun
Yit haue they wrought to their destruccion

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The tone in exile as made is mencion
Dyed alas whan that he was olde
The seconde was murdryd in prison
Their bothe storyes remembred here and tolde
To yeue exaumple to princys many folde
That who that laboureth for a comonte
Lesith oft his thanke by scipions ye may se

Howe the duke philopomones was take put in pryson after dranke poyson and so dyed.

AFter the processe of these two scipions
Twene two peoples wilfull and recheles
Began in grece newe dissencions
Twene Acheois and Etholois doutles
And a greate duke Philopomones
A prynce that tyme of full great puissaunce
Had of Messoneis holy the gouernaunce

This sayde prince philopomones
L [...]dynge his oost vpon afull fayre pleyne
As he rode armyd and put him silf in prees
Myd his people as gouernoure and wardeyne
Folke oute of rule for to call ageyne
Vpon his stede as he gan theym fette
In due ordre his wardes for to sette

And these princys of porte moste marciall
In the pursuit which that he gan make
Amonge his enmyes he had a sodeyn fall
Voyde of all rescus vnwarly he was take
Of all his frendys lyke a man forsake
Amonge his enmyes brought into pryson
There made an ende by drynkynge of poyson

Of philopomones this was the fatall cas
Oute of gouernaunce his peple disolate
Except a capteyn called ligorias
Which in the werres was wondre fortunat
Of acheoys toke on him thestate
Theym to gouerne and the people lede
Of him nomore in bochas I do rede

Of the thred Scipion Nasica that euer wrought moch for the comonte.

myn auctour here maketh a digression
And reherceth for a memoryall
Of the thred worthy scipion
Called nasica which in especiall
By disposicion very naturall
Holde amonge romayns by reporte of langage
Passynge all other in wysdom and corage

Olde of discrecion and nat but yonge of yerys
For a myracle myn auctour doth expresse
Whan senatour [...] sent messangerys
In to frigia by great auysnesse
For Berosynthya moost famous goddesse
Whan she was brought by them that dyd hir guyde
In hous nor temple she wolde nat abyde

Saue in the paleys of this scipion
To put his name more in remembraunce
The which also thorugh his hye renoun
Gallobois he brought to vttraunce
A peple of grece ferre out of gouernaunce
But Scipion gan them so werrey
Maugre their malyce the romayns for tobeye

Wherby his name was put in memorye
And full grete thanke he hath in rome deserued
Bycause only of his greate victorye
For which the triumph was to him reseruyd
But atte laste full falsly he was serued
Of the romayns after their olde manere
In this tragedye anone as ye shall here

After he had augmented their tresours
Conqueryd in asie many regions
Caused of their fone that they were victours
Appesed of Graccus the fals accasions
Compassed of malyce by newe discencion
Atwene the peple and also the senat
He of hye wysdome hath stint all that debate

Trustynge the romayns scipion was begyled
Loste their fauour and offendyd nought
By theym vnwarly banysshed and exyled
Clene forgotyn put oute of their thought
For comon profyte all that he hath wrought
The guyrdon loste though princys can nat se
Of all that done for any comonte

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Lyke a blase for a while light
Which shewith clere and is neuer after seyne
Or lyke a sonne for a maument bright
Vnwarly shrouded with a shroude of reyn
Right so the wyndy fauour bloweth in veyne
May resemble for a mutabilite
Of them that do for any comonte

The peple foloweth their owne opinions
In their conceitis they be so wondirfull
Wyll holde the brydel of their discrecions
Their hasty demynge so bestiall is and dull
Of blynde bayarde they brayde at a pull
To quite the guerdoūs of marcyall bountye
Of theym that done for any comonte

This day a prince stande in the peplis grace
Lyke as they wolde his name deifye
Aboue the sterrys in Iupiters place
With mars and phebus his name to stellefie
But by to morowe there commeth a soden skye
Shewynge there is a full feynt surete
Of them that do for any comonte

And for tafferme that is truly so
Call thre Scipions to remembraunce
Firste of affryk and asie both two
Note in cronicles their knightly gouernaunce
Their restles labours romayns for tauaunce
Rekne ageynwarde howe these princis thre
Were full vngoodly quit by the comonte

Lenuoye

THis tragedye of thre Scipions
So worthy in knighthode and eke notable
Made so many famous regions
Subiet to rome this story is no fable
Where the the romayns double and deceyuable
Shewed ageynwarde to these princis thre
The thanke loste and guyrdon couenable
Of him that doth for any comonte

Rekne vp in aff [...]ik the cytees and the toūs
Greate Car [...]ge with castels defensable
Rekne in as [...] the great possessions
With reuenuys very Innumerable
Rekne their triumphes af pris incomparable
Which considred ye may a myrrour see
Howe the guyrdouns befals and flaskysable
Of them that do for any comonte

They were whilom the romayn champions
Of senatours to set the honour stable
To auoyde discorde and all discencions
Atwene the comons and statys honourable
But she that is of custum ay chaungeable
Fortune in whom may be no surete
Sheweth in hir whele the guyrdons mutable
Of theym that done for any comonte

Noble princis peyse in your resons
All wordly thynge in erth is transmutable
Feynt and vnsure youre domynacions
Charite is there none to make theym ꝑdurable
Sorowe at departynge your bodyes corumpable
A thinge rassemblynge that neuer had be
Recorde on Scipions by guerdons rassemblable
Of them that done for any comonte

Trust neuer in youre opynions
But that your power is eche day remeuable
Be nat made blinde in your discrecions
But considre by exaumples resonable
They of fortune lyke hasarde retournable
With sodeyne chaunge of fals felicite
Vnto the guerdons daily comparable
Of theym that done for any comonte

Howe duke Hanyball after many victorious dedys murdred him silf with poyson.

NExt to Bochas as I rede
Oute of affryk and cartage therwithall
There cam a duke that had moost hatrede
Ageyn the romayns in especiall
This famous prince called hanyball
By whoos prowesse as it is well knowe
The seyd romayns were daunted and brought lowe

And amonge other worthy dukys all
As olde cronicles maketh mencion
Of hanyball the fate is so befall
At his byrth by disposicion
That of his naturall constellacion
Set in the heuene that he shulde be
Perpetually enmye to rome the cite

As the story of him doth deuise
While his fader duke whilom of cartage
Called amulchar dyd onys sacrifice
To his goddys and he nyne yere of age
Swore and auowed of herte and of corage
Duringe his lif without excepcion
Euer to be enmye vnto rome toun

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This martis childe this lusty yonge knight
Was to cartage the stronge mighty wall
Which succedyd in his faders right
After the deth of worthy hastruball
First he made a werre full mortall
Geyn Saguntynois as it is specefyed
Cause with romayns that they were alyed

A dreme he had and was thus in sentence
That he shulde conquere in batayle
Maugre all tho that stonde at diffence
Two mighty cuntres first spayne and than Itayle
Doun descendynge with greate apparayle
Passinge the famous ryuere Iberyus
And where he rode away victorious

With him of affryk many cheueteyns
Rode through Gaule fonde no resistence
Of Pyrenes by the hye mounteyns
To shewe the rigour of his magnyficence
Ouer the alpies by sturdy violence
Natwithstandynge the passage was full wykke
Of slidinge frostys and of snowys thykke

A great partye of his people loste
By the constreynt of that fell passage
Hors Olifauntys that many besaunt cost
Fonde great [...] daungere of them in his cariage
As [...]aut of brygauntes whan they fonde auauntage
And as bochas put in remembraunce
Felt greate losse of all his ordenaunce

The alpyes passed with trauaile and greate woo
This hanyball with all his chiualrye
Aprochyd is the ryuere of the poo
Cam to a toun that callyd is Cursye
Which standeth vpon the cite of pauye
Where a consull called scipion
Gaue him batayle euyn afore the toun

The same consull Gueus Scipion
Which by processe of manly hanyball
Was desconfyted as made is mencion
Tofore pauye had a right foule fall
The first victorie in especiall
That he had beyonde the mountayns
Whan he pursued tasseyle the romayns

Sempronyus a nother consulere
That was felawe to sayde Scipion
Sent eke fro rome with a full proude chere
Geyn hanyball but in his cūmynge doun
Tofore Tresbye a large mighty toun
Outrayed was by fatall auenture
And after neuer his fall might recure

Of two consulers this was the wofull fyne
Sempronyus and Gueus Scipion
Ouer the mounteyne callyd Appenyne
Went hanyball thrugh his great renoun
To great damage and great confusion
Of his people that passyd the mounteyns
Destroyed with colde snowe and hidous reyns

Loste his knightys his tresours and his godys
There might as tho be made no diffence
His greate stedys drownyd in the flodys
By the waters mighty violence
Fonde for the tyme no better resistence
Saue he escaped fro that soden wrak
Of an Olifaunte he ridinge on the bak

So Importable was his greuous peyne
Only borne vp of marciall corage
Yit there he loste one of his iyen tweyne
Kept of knighthode one chere and one visage
Through Itayle held alwey his passage
Slough a consull called flamynyus
Thus in thre batayles he was victorious

But in thys while as saith myn auctoure
Quintus fabius subtyll and deceyuable
Which was in rome a famous dictatour
And he apperceyued by toknes full notable
No romayn capteyn was in tho dayes able
As it was shewyd by experience
Geyn hanyball to make resistence

¶Yit in his conceit he subtylly gyn serche
To fynde aweye he dyd his besy peyne
Day by day gan fully theron werche
Outher by fraude or sūme compassed treyne
To lye in wayte and secretly ordeyne
Embusshmentis to his auauntages
Of hanyball to stop the passages

But all his traynes serued him of nought
For hanyball this worthy affrican
In his conquest so proudly hath wrought
So lyke a prince and a knightly man
For thilke tyme that he werrys gan
Ageyn the romayns both on so and londe
That they were feble his power to withstonde

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This quintus fabius kept him alwey clos
Lyinge awayte to fall on hanyball
And of assente eke to his purpos
There was one varo manly and wyse withall
And these tweyne in especiall
Within Poyle a large great cuntre
Faught with hanyball at Cannas the cite

As the story maketh rehersayle
The romayn partye of worthy werreours
Were fourty thousande slayne in batayle
Emylyus paulus thretty senatours
Twenty in noumbre that had been pretours
And thre hundred capteyns of estate
Slayn by hanyball in that mortall debate

And by the slaughter of Emilius
The noble consull Romayns disespeired
And hanyball that day victorious
To his lodgynge is ageyn repeyred
His foon outrayed and mortally appeyred
Knewe no refute ageyne this manly knight
But at myscheef toke them to the flight

The which day if that hanyball
Had them folowed proudly to the toun
By the counseyle of one marthaball
A manly knight a prince of hye renoun
He shulde haue had full possession
That day of rome lyke to his entent
But I suppose fortune lyst nat assent

In this processe playnly as I rede
This hanyball wex proude and right pompous
Of foure victoryes dempt him silf in dede
Aboue all other to be moost gloryous
Of his corage moost inly surquedous
But o alas a lytyll slouth and pryde
For lak of pursute his conqueste set asyde

¶Yit in his conquest of knightys that lay dede
Of consulers olde and yonge of age
With senatour [...] the processe who list rede
Slayn in the felde in that mortall rage
Duke hanyball sent vnto cartage
Of clene golde by recorde of writinges
Out of the felde thre busshell ful of rynges

After foure victoryes here remembred
By and by the processe who list se
In which many worthy were dismembred
Both of affryk and rome the cite
Abate gan the great prosꝑite
Of hanyball by frowarde auenture
Set onys bak fortune harde to recure

After the floures of his felycite
His noblesse drewe to declinacion
To Capne he went a mighty stronge cite
There to soiourne as made is mencion
Al the tyme of wynter colde ceson
Where to his lust and bodely plesaunce
Of all vitayle fonde great habundaunce

Which made his knightes slowe to the werre
For wyne wymen and plente of vitayle
Full oft sith cause men to erre
Make theym feble their enmyes tassaile
Gorges agroteied enbosed their entrayle
Desposeth men rather to reste and slepe
Than of their enmyes for to take kepe

But whan wynter with his frostys colde
Was ouergone in thilke region
Hanyball gan his purpose holde
To ley a siege vnto rome loun
But so great raynes fyll fro heuene doun
So great tempeste vpon euery syde
For the constreynt he might nat abyde

To fortefye the seyde hanyball
Ageyne his enmyes where he had adoo
Sent lettres vnto hastruball
In right great haste for to cūme him to
But fortune hir whele hath turned soo
That hastruball where he was loth or fayn
By Salynator venquesshed was and slayn

Of which mischeef and disconfyture
Hanyball gan dull in his corage
Compleyned sore of his mysauenture
Knewe no refute ageyn this mortall rage
Herde eke say that affrik and cartage
Were of newe to his confusion
Strongly werreyed by worthy Scipion

Siphax also of munedye kynge
Which ageyn romayns gan a werre make
Maugre his might and all his fell werkinge
Was by force of Scipion Itake
Wherthrugh his corage greatly gan aslake
And howe cartage cheef of that region
Besegyd was also by Scipion

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Thus hanyball constreyned was of nede
Home to repayre for rescus of  [...]artage
And was also in bokys as I rede
The same tyme fall ferre in age
And at myscheef and greate disauauntage
Ageyne Scipion full lytyll might auayle
By whom he was sconfyted in batayle

Cartage constreyned of necessite
Them to submitte vnto rome toun
And for their more harde aduersite
Gueus gernilius was fro rome sent doun
Only of purpos for this conclusion
For to procure in especiall
Fynall destructioy and deth of hanyball

After all his marciall labours
His olde felicite wex frowarde and vnmete
In holowe ymages put all his tresours
Toke his passage in to the londe of crete
And fortune contrarie and vnswete
Made officers kepe his richesse
In the temple of dy [...]e the goddesse

Sūwhat for truste and p [...]ell eke for drede
To fynde socour he went to the kynge
Of Bythenye to helpe him in his nede
Called Prusias but of his comynge
The sleighty romayns had knowlegynge
To bethenye doun their letters sent
If Hanyball escape echon ye shall repent

The lettres red the kinge the same daye
Made his peple bysiege the dongeon
Where duke hanyball of truste alone  [...]ay
All destitute whan he knewe this treson
 [...]scape his enmyes dranke wylfully poyson
Chase rather so other escape was noon
Than in the hondes to fall of his foon

Tofore his deth seyde this orison
To all the goddys deuoutly doun knelinge
That they wolde of this fals treson
Take vengeaunce of prusias the kynge
Which was cause by his fals werkinge
Of the destruction and deth fynall
Of this famous worthy hanyball

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye frowarde to write or rede
Of this forseide manly hanyball
My penne quoke my herte I felt blede
For to beholde the wofull pitous fall
Of him that was the diffensable wall
Of Cartage the mighty stronge toun
Whiche slough him silf by drynkynge of poyson

It was to him he thought more manhede
To sle him silf by vengeaunce moost mortall
Than his enmyes by constreynt shuld him lede
In cheynes bounde he to be thrall
So greate despight he had of them atall
That lyuer he had than byde in their prison
To mordre him silf by drynkynge of poyson

As me semeth in this horrible dede
He rassembled the furies infernall
Of cruell pluta I trowe he toke his mede
Voyde of all reson bycam bestyall
At whoos terrible fest funerall
Goddesse proserpyna cam with manes doun
The same tyme whan he dranke poyson

Noble princes consydre and take hede
Leuynge the surplus his dedys marcyall
Knightly remembre and haue in herte hatrede
Of his enpoysonynge in especiall
Abhomynable to god and man withall
That a prince so famous of renoun
Shulde murdre him silf by drinkinge of poyson

Howe Prusias kynge of bethenye betrayed Hanyball and wolde haue disheryted his sonne and heyre went abeggynge in straunge londys.

FOlowynge in ordre there cam to Bochas
Of Bethenye the great mighty kinge
Which in his tyme was called prusias
Gretly sclaundred & noysed of one thynge
That he was fals and double in werkinge
Ageyne the noblesse of his estate royall
Bycause that he betraisshed hanyball

This diffaute derkyd the brightnesse
Of his fame and his knightly renoun
And eclipsid his passyd olde prowesse
By reporte in many a region
Alas that euer the condicion
Of doublenesse by falsnesse or feynynge
Shulde be founde and namely in a kinge

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Of this prusias ferther to procede
Which geyn hanyball wrought this treson
Asonne he had called Nichomede
Borne to be heire by iust succession
But his fadre by fals collusion
Purposyd him for he was yonge of age
To put him out of his heritage

In this matere there grue vp a great stryf
By prusias geyn this Nycomede
Cause that he by his soconde wyf
Had ayonge sonne in bokys thus I rede
Whom he purposed to preferre in dede
For which he caste by shorte conclusion
Of Nychomede the destruction

And fort acomplissh this froward fals matere
By full great deliberacion
Kynge prusias gan shewe heuy chere
Geyne nychomede sekinge accasion
To depryue him of possession
After this day by subtyll fals werkynge
In bethenye he shall nat regne as kynge

The peple seynge this greate iniquite
Wrought by the kinge geyne gode conscience
Thrugh all the londe of hye and lowe degre
To nychomede al of one sentence
Gaue their gode wyll and their benyuolence
For euery lorde and euery greate baron
Stode hole with him thrugh all the region

Thus by iust tytle he was crouned kynge
Prusias for shame and heuynesse
In straūge cuntrees lyued by beggynge
All dissolate cryed for almesse
Loo here the ende of treson and falsnesse
Left at myscheef myn auctour seyth the same
Of pouerte forsoke his owne name

Se here two thinges and take right god hede
Of prusias the vnware soden mischaunce
The disheritynge done to nychomede
After folowynge on him the great vengeaunce
As the story put in remembraunce
For treson done odyble and mortall
Ageyne the forseyde famous hanyball

Howe Persa of macedoyne kynge that enpoysoned his brother was by Emylyus outrayed and dyed in pryson.

BEspreynt with terys pitously wepinge
As Bochas sat in his stody alone
Next cam Persa of Macedoyne kinge
And mortally he gan sigh and grone
And furiously for to make his mone
That he whilom was of so great renoun
Constreyned after to dye in prison

This seyde Persa of nature was frowarde
Euyll disposyd eke of his condicion
Though he of byrth was but a basterde
He compassyd by fals collusion
After his fader to haue possession
As myn auctoure remembreth by writynge
Of macedoyn to be crouned kynge

His fader philip the story telleth thus
Had a sonne which was yonge of age
Wys and redy called demetrius
Borne and begete truly in mariage
But Persa cast by furious outrage
Him to destroye and murdre by poyson
He of that kyngdom to haue possession

Falsly compassyd to his auauntage
In his entent demetrius to depryue
Of macedoyne which was his heritage
And therupon he lettres gan contryue
To preue him traytour whyle he was alyue
Wherof kinge philip greatly was anoyed
That he and persa shulde be destroyed

By demetrius that thought no damage
Ment no harme in his opynyon
Yit his fader suspecious of corage
And Persa gaue him fals informacion
Made him be slayn by drynkynge of poyson
Vpon a day a thinge abhomynable
Sittinge at mete at his faders table

Kynge philip after whan he knewe the trouth
Had of his deth great compassion
But all to late and that was great routh
Which caused after his owne destruction
For sorowe dyed and of presumpcion
Persa after falsly vsurpynge
In macedoyne was crownyd kinge

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With dyuerse cuntrees made his alyaunce
In grece and trace gate frendys nere and ferre
And of pryde and wylfull gouernaunce
Cast with romayns for to holde werre
Vngrace and youth made him for to erre
Tyll a consull sent fro rome toun
Brought this persa vnto destruction

Called Emelius was this consulere
Sent ageyne Persa to haue a great batayle
Seynge his doughter heuy of hir chere
Whan he went out his enmyes to assayle
Made vnto hir this vncouth apposayle
Why wepe ye so what thinge doth you agreue
At my departynge takynge of me leue

Fadre quod she and ye take hede
A whelpe I had that dyd great plesaunce
Cylled persa the which rightnowe is dede
And this cheef cause only of my greuaunce
Hir fadre than gan chaunge countenaunce
This as tokne to myn encres of glorye
That I of ꝑsa shall haue the victorye

 [...] macedoyne he and persa mette
And quyt him there lyke a manly knight
Conquer [...]th the londe none might him wi [...]hset
And manly put persa to the flight
After to trace he toke the way right
Of which conquest shorte processe to make
With his two sonnes ꝑsa was there take

 [...]milius after this victorye
Ask [...]th the triumphe to his guerdoun
And as it is remembred in his storye
Persa foloweth after his chare through rome toun
Condempned after to dye in pryson
The which deth he dyd well deserue
For he by poyson made his brother sterue

Thus can fortune erly and eke late
Doun from hir whele and hye stage
Of proude princes the surquedye abate
Whan to hir lust she seth moost auauntage
She frowardly can tourne hir visage
And sodenly thestate of theym consume
Aboue their offyce that wrongly lyst presume

Amonges which a kinge of Israell
Ageyne the precept and lawe of moyses
Called Ozias the byble can well tell
Of presumpcion wylfull and recheles
To sacrifise put him silf in pres
Lyke a bisshop in the temple arrayed
But or he passyd greatly he was affrayed

Loste his spech smet with meselrye
Durynge his lyf loo here a great vengeaunce
Of his crowne and his regalye
Impotent to vse the gouernaunce
Peryll for pryde and disobeysaunce
For lyst nat mekely the lawe obeye
For which at myscheef he dyd a lepre deye

Howe Amonyus a Prince of antyoch delytynge in pyllage and robbrye / with other vicious lyuynge / fledde in womans clothinge / after takyn and slayne.

NExt in ordre cōpleynynge his distresse
Cam Amonyus a notable werriour
To Iohn bochas to shewe his heuynesse
In antioche prince and gouernour
Of which cuntre while he was possessoure
Had a custum and this was his trauayle
To robbe the rich and spoyle the porayle

Spared nouther olde nor yonge of age
Toke fro marchauntys tresour and richesse
And in delytes of lecherous outrages
Was all his lust with watch and dronkenesse
Wyll in his court of reson was maistresse
Cgusinge the people through all the region
To rise ageyne him by rebellyon

Contrarye he was to all gode disciplyne
The people arose ageyn him on a day
And he for fere in habyte femenyne
Lyke a wretche fled cowardly away
Take at myscheef there was made no delay
Falsly confessinge hirynge many a man
Ageyn nature that he was a woman

The trouth knowe and the sclaundre ryf
All of assent the peple antiochene
Rose atonys and so he lost his lif
They were so wode ageyn him in their tene
Thus of fortune the chaunge is alway sene
Fro better to wers she can so well transmue
Thestate of them that wyll no vertue sue

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Howe Andriscus of lowe birth borne hauynge no tytle of macedoyne kynge▪ was take and dyed in prison

BVt of one thinge fortune is to blame
That she is so chaungeable of corage
To set a boye vnknowe of byrth and fame
By fals errour vpon a royall stage
For one Andriscus by surquedous outrage
Without title by subtyll compassinge
Of macedoyne toke on him to be kynge

Coloure was none his clayme to make stable
Except that he of chere and of visage
Was to kinge philip of fetures moost semblable
Wherby the peple in their furious rage
Caught opynyon of wylfull fals dotage
Ageyne reson bochas doth descryue
That kinge philip was resyn fro deth to lyue

Whilom fadre of persa as I tolde
And for andriscus brought vp in wretchydnesse
In presence both of yonge and olde
Was bolde to cleyme by title of rightwisnesse
Shewynge no grounde but personell lyknesse
Mockynge the peple which by their fauoure
Of royall dignite receyueth the honoure

Thus he that was fostred as a wretch
In myserye and eke in pouerte
Fro pore bed his hornys dyd vp stretch
To holde a sceptre of kingly dignite
And by the support of the comonte
And gan wexe pompous and clate
Brought vp of nought whan he stode in estate

No thinge more cruel nor nothinge more vengeable
Nor more hasty to do execucion
Nor more deynous nor more vntretable
Than whan a begger hath domynacion
A curre more frowarde than a stronge lyon
And semblably none so great cruelte
As whan a wretch is set in dignite

This andriscus in his royall chaier
To execute his hatefull cruelte
Gadred peple in cuntrees ferre and nere
In macedoyne and of olde enmyte
Began maligne geyne rome the ci [...]e
But to withset his frowarde fals entent
One Inuencius a pretor was doun sent

But by cause that he was necligent
And of despight toke of him none hede
He was outrayed and by andriscus shent
With all the peple that he dyd lede
But the romayns of hope better to spede
Haue sent Metellus a full manly knight
To macedoyne to mete anone right

This worthy man lyst nat longe to tarye
Set proudly on in hope it shulde auayle
Made macedoyne to rome tributarye
Toke and riscus manly in batayle
Brought him to rome with mighty appareyle
And made him lye fettred in prison
For his outragious fals presumpcion

Thus for his frowarde vsurpacion
That was haute in his prosperite
Knewe nat him silf by fals abusion
Blent with a myst of blynde felicite
Lyst nat remembre of his first pouerte
Whom to chastise fortune brought him lowe
Bycause he listnat him silf for to knowe

Howe alisaundre ballas kynge of surrie for extorcion pride & vnkyndnesse dyed at mischeef.

THus can this lady pleye hir pagent
By a maner of deynous mockerye
Hir entermys forth serue them of entent
To folke that trust hir only of foly
And to purpose whilom of surrie
There was a kynge lyke as write bochas
Called alisaundre whoos surname was ballas

Of which ballas to tell the processe
First of his rysynge and after of his fall
Antiochus the story bereth witnesse
Called Eupater which in especiall
Cleymyd tytle to thestate royall
After his fadre named antiochus
Epiphanes the story telleth thus

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After whoos deth the kyngdom of surrie
Shulde longe by succession
 [...] E [...]pater and eke for his partye
Demetrius hostage in rome toun
Cleymed a tytle in that region
Of surrie by cause epiphanes
Was brought to him the story is no les

Demetrius fro rome is come doun
In to surrie to clayme his heritage
Receyued the croune toke possession
Gan we [...] proude presumptuous of corage
Thus Eupater was but yonge of age
Excluded was in surrie to succede
Of demetrius ferther thus I rede

Outraious he was aboue mesure
Right veng [...]able and full of cruelte
Hatefull also to euery creature
And heuy borne of worthy kynges thre
First in egipte of worthy Tholome
And of actilius in asye tho regnynge
And  [...]arches in capedoce kynge

All of assente ageyn him haue conspired
Fonde awey demetrius to depryue
His vndoynge so sore they haue desired
And their entent to execute bly [...]e
T [...]y gan a fable of purpose to contryue
As ye shall here togydre as they went
To which all Surre atonys dyd assent

They toke a galaunt borne of lowe lynage
Called Ballas of their aqueyntaunce
And affermyd all of one corage
Howe he was sonne and iust he [...]e in substaunce
To Epiphanes and next heire in alyaunce
To  [...]uc [...]ede by toknes aff [...]rmynge
 [...] in Surrye to be crownyd kinge

Alisaundre of purpos they him call
Bycause they thought of persone he was able
 [...]et him vp in his royall stall
Maugre Demetrius cruell and vengeable
And fortune was to them fauourable
Made their purpose fynally to auayle
With whom demetrius had a great batayle

This alisaundre which named was ballas
By Demetrius as put is in memorye
First ouercome and after fyll this cas
He of demetrius had the victorye
And to encres of his royall glorye
Of fortune by sodeyne auenture
Ballus the felde dyd of him recure

Thus by promocion of these kynges thre
Whan he was crownyd kinge of all Surrye
To fals extorcion and hatefull cruelte
This alisaundre dyd his wyttes applye
To robbynge pillage and eke tyrannye
And despised shortly to conclude
The seyde kinges of Ingratitude

He had forget his state of pouerte
Knewe nat him silf of fals  [...]mbicion
Weddyd the doughter of worthy tholome
Called Cleopatra as made is mencion
And all his laboure in conclusion
Was only this in bochas as I rede
All the kyngdom about him to possede

Who all coueteth somtyme all doth lese
One ageyne all seelde hath souereynte
And for Ballas frowardly gan chese
To holde werre with kynge tholome
And with the forsayde worthy kynges thre
All of assent haue such weyes sought
That by their werkynge he was brought to nought

First tholome fro him toke his wyf
Cleopatra and toke hir in mariage
To one demetrye causing full great strife
For he that tyme was but yonge of age
But ballas after by full great outrage
With all his power gadred nye and ferre
Geyne demetrye gan to hold werre

Togedre met proudly in batayle
Ballas constreyned cowardly to fle
And whan he sawe his power dyd fayle
In arabye a mighty stronge cuntre
zabydus a prince of greate poustye
Toke him by force quakinge in his drede
To kynge tholome sent anon his hede

Men may two thinges considre in this cas
Pryde punysshyd and vnkyndnesse
And presumpcion in this man ballas
Without tytle or cleyme of rightwysnesse
Made kynge of surry set in great worthynesse
What was his ende ye gete nomore of me
His hede smet of and sent to tholome

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Lenuoye

tHis tragedye doth naturally compleyne
Vpon this vice callyd vnkyndnesse
Which to punissh is torment none ne peyne
Rygour condygne flagell nor duresse
Emprisonynge nor none erthely distresse
That may suffise breuely to conclude
Ageyn the vice of ingratitude

All creatures on this vice compleyne
Lawe nature decres rightwisnesse
This monstre in kinde doth the light disteyne
Of euery vertue dyrketh the brightnesse
Alisaundre can bere herof witnesse
Which to his furthrers he of his tetchis rude
Shewyd ageynwarde greate ingratude

Of herberus thynfernall treble cheyne
Nor of tantalus hungre nor thrustnesse
Of Ixion or Ticius both tweyne
Rekne the turment remembre the sharpnesse
All to lytyll to chastyse or redresse
The hatefull vice of them that can delude
Their frendys olde by fals ingratitude

Noble princes which in your demeyne
Haue gouernaunce of all wordly richesse
Geyn folke vnkynde loke that ye disdeyne
Suffre them nat haue none interesse
For taproche to your hye noblesse
For there is no vice more hatefull to conclude
Than is the vice of ingratitude

Here bochas writeth of the Rebellions / and Sedycions in Rome betwene Tribunys & Comons.

FOlowyng myn aucto [...] in stories merueilous
I must nowe wryte the stronge rebellions
Of Gaius first and of Tiberius
And of the greate hatefull sedicions
Meued in rome twene tribunys and comons
And by their stryues howe they gan conspyre
For tatteyne falsly to the Eempyre

The yere sixe hundred by computacion
Geyns graccus made tribune in that age
After the cytees first fundacion
Which turned after to full great damage
Of comon profite for by their mortall rage
Tumulte and noise of comons in the toun
Caused a great part of their destruction

For in departinge of chaūpayne heritages
Atwene the worthy and pore of the cite
By egall porcions graccus with fayrelangage
Had greatly meuyd all their comonte
By which occasion in story men may se
Another graccus called the secoūde
Was slayne in rome and lowe leyde in grounde

After this deth of Graccus as I rede
Was chosyn a trybune callid Munycyus
Which fordyd the lawes all in dede
Of olde graccus callyd Gayus
But he that was named Tyberius
With helpe of flaccus Tribunys of estate
In the capytoyle began a great debate

They were supported by the comonte
Be voys of people the worde of noman knowe
For Graccus partye hye vpon a tre
A trumpet stode and proudly gan to blowe
Which slayne was and fro the tre doun throwe
By which slaughter the boke maketh rehersayle
Flaccus wexe feble his party gan to fayle

For drede he fled into the teritorye
Of Ianus temple ran vp to a toure
Whan Tyberius as put is in memorye
Sawe in the cyte he had no fauoure
Despeyred knewe no better socoure
Swerde set at breest presence of myuerue
Fully purposed afore hir for to sterne

There stode one by and drewe his hande abak
Fro that purpose made him to declyne
Thus graccus party goth day by day to wrak
And Flaccus toke the temple of Lucyne
His sonne his frendys almoost all his lyne
They kept them stronge but maugre their diffence
They were there slayne by sturdy violence

While Graccus frendes faught for his ꝑtye
And he him silf constreyned was of drede
To praye a boye of his companye
To take a swerde and smyte of his hede
Set on a spere with the blode made rede
Sent it his moder compleynynge in hir tene
In to hir castell that called was missene

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Named Cornelya his moder was in dede
Whilom doughter to greate Scipion
Hir children all slayn as I rede
And graccus godys acheted to the toun
Therof after made a diuision
By Iugement throughout the cyte
Where moost was nede amonge the comonte

Of graccus syde fyue hundred slayne and tweyne
Vpon an hyll called a [...]entyne
And Oppynyus a consull dyd his peyne
Of their conspirynge the grounde to serch and myne
And flaccus party to brynge to ruyne
He slough two thousand by hasty Iugement
Amonge which was many an Innocent

Howe the wyf of hastruball brente hir silf and hir children.

HEre Iohn bochas lyst in especyall
 [...]o remēbre howe cartage newe ageyne
Destroyed was and howe has [...]uball
Cam to mischeef the trouth was well seyn
 [...] to reherce of newe it were but veyne
 [...]ith here tofore is made clere mencion
Loth of their brennynge and their destruction

Sa [...]e here he tell [...]th howe hastrubals wyf
 [...]ly teschewe to lyue in seruage
Cha [...]e with hir children for to lese hir lif
And wylfully of furious corage
She and hir sonnys tendre and yonge of age
Amonge the flamys and the colys reed
Consumed was into asshes dede

Nido the firste that bylte that cyte
And made toures and the stronge wall
Which was betrasshed also of Enee
Afore remembred the fyres funerall
And after longe the wyf of hastruball
Chafe rather dye with hir children tweyne
Than amonge romayns for to lyue in peyne

Of Machabeus Ioathas take by the kynge of Surrie

IN ordre suynge vnto Iohn Bochas
There apperyd an heuy man of sight
Machabeus the worthy Ioathas
Which occupyed for wysdom and for might
Office of prince preesthode and of knight
By tytle of Iuda of werrys toke thempryse
By clayme of leuy as preest dyd sacrifyse

The lawe of Iewys manly to diffende
With all the londe of promyssion
This Ioathas full knightly dyd entende
Ageyn all enmyes about them enuyron
Tyll of surrie the fals kynge triphon
By treynes compassyd and promys falslyholde
Toke Ioathas of whom rightnowe I tolde

Machabeorum is reherced all
Of his knighthode and of his worthinesse
With all the tresons in especiall
Wrought by Triphon by many greate falsnesse
His subtyll sleightes and his doublenesse
Them to reherce ye gete nomore of me
For in the byble the story ye may se

Howe Demetrius the seconde loste at the laste his hede.

BVt I wyll returne to demetrius
That called was demetrius the soconde
Which by discente cam fro anthiochus
And by his manhode as it was well founde
Dyd the pride of kinge ball as confounde
Callyd alisaundre which by greate outrage
Had put his fadre fro his heritage

This demetrius famous and notable
Vpon parthoys had many greate victorye
Tyll kinge arsacides double and deceyuable
Him silf delytynge greatly in vaynglorye
By his sleighty fraudes deceptorie
Vndre a shadowe of feynynge and fals chere
Toke demetrius vnwarly prysonere

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And to great hindringe and sclaundre of his name
Arsacydes by a maner mockerye
Made demetrius for dispyte and shame
Poorly arayed of hate and great enuye
For to be led through all Gurye
Made him after by greate auysement
To wedde his doughter ageyn his owne entent

This demetrius was kept out of pres
That but fewe had of him sight
Vnto tyme that Arsacides
Was dede and passed for all his great might
Than he cast to escape away by flight
And secretly to accomplyssh his entent
He gate him counseyle that was of his assent

Gallimandrus a lorde of that cuntre
Which that was of his assente in dede
In their flight to kepe them more secre
Made demetrius for to chaunge his wede
And preuy wayes furth he dyd him lede
But all for nought his flight was but in veyne
For by stronge pursute he was take ageyne

After by constreynt presentyd to the kinge
That he gan wexe wery of his lyf
Kept more streghtly folke on him waytynge
And maugre him presentyd to his wif
With hir to abyde full heuy and pensif
But whan they had children atwene them tweyne
To go more large losyd was his cheyne

And thus he had space and fre licence
To go and come at his auauntage
For while his wyf helde with him resydence
They dempt his children were suffisaunte hostage
But he was euer vnstable of his corage
With Gallymandrus the forseyde knight
Thre tymes take and brought ageyn by flight

And for he was so dyuers manyfolde
Kinge Fraactes in tokne he was vnstable
Sent him thre dees forged square of golde
To play raket as a childe chaungeable
His disposicion was so variable
But for to restreyne his condicion
He was eft take and fettryd in prison

But whan fortune had gyuen him a pulle
By many dyuers straunge aduersite
To punissh him more Pharages wexith dull
And demetrius of pryson was made fre
Full restoryd ageyne to his cuntre
Wexe proude ageyne of newe it is so fall
That he was hated of his liegys all

Cleopatra his modre that was quene
Of all egypt and wif to Thotome
Was with hir lorde at stryf who lyst seen
Which turned after to great aduersite
But to strength hir party thus wrought she
Made hir sonne for to take on honde
For hir to fight ageyne hir husbonde

But tholomeus called euergetes
Geyn demetrius deffendynge his cuntre
Made zebenna to put him silf in pres
Sonne of a marchaunt borne of lowe degre
To make a clayme by fals subtylte
Of all surrie to haue possession
For him alledgynge title of adopcion

He to be sonne to Antiochus
Claymynge therby the kyngdom of surrye
Only texclude the seid demetrius
And Tholomeus to sustene the ꝑtye
Of zebenna with all his chyualrye
Gadred in egipt and cuntrees enuyron
Ageyn demetrius proudly is cūme doun

And fortune with hir double face
Caused the cuntre by rebellyon
That demetrius stode clene out of grace
Wherby the peple of that region
Were hole ageyne him in their opinion
That by Tholomes wonderfull werkinge
zebenna there receyued was as kynge

Thus zebenna by fals intrusion
Of all Surre was made lorde and kinge
Tytle was there non but collusion
Texclude demetrius by subtyll compassynge
Yit as I finde his ꝑtye diffendinge
Howe demetryus zebenna gan assaile
Their quarell darreynyd with a great batayle

Great peple slayne vpon outher syde
Demetrius put from his region
And ouercome for his greate pryde
At great mischeef to his confusion
Hauynge no socour nor consolacion
But with afewe chose of his meyne
Fled by water to tyre the cite

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Lyke as he wold haue lyued there in pes
By a feynt maner of ꝑfection
Within the temple of mighty hercules
Vndre a shadowe of religion
But sodenly at his comynge doun
Into Tyre and at his arryuayle
His hede smet of what dyd his pryde auayle

Howe zebenna kynge of surre by intrusion entryn [...] had mischeuous endynge.

t [...]ouchinge zebenna of whō I spak toforn
Poorly brought vp and of lowe lynage
And of kinred but a begger borne
Cam tofore bochas trift of his visage
Sore wepynge mu [...]t of langage
Gan compleyn his wofull auenture
Vnware and sodeyne impossible to recure

His condicions sumwhat dull and rude
Firste in pouerte proude and presumptuous
Appechid after of greate Ingratitude
Shewyd in his lif to kinge antiochus
His first furtherer the story telleth thus
For which antiochus gretly was anoyed
Cast amene by which he was destroyed

There was a co [...]yn that callyd was Grispus
To antiochus and of the same lyne
Which by tytle of demetrius
Cleymeth as heire by many vncouth signe
To regne in Surrye and proudly gan maligne
Ageyn zebenna whoos party to supporte
Stode antiochus cheef as I can reporte

This seyde Grispus yonge and tendre of age
By the forthringe and supportacion
Of antiochus had in mariage
His owne doughter with great possession
That zebenna for short conclusion
Compelled was for all his greate might
To antioche for to take his flight

And there he fyll in so greate pouerte
Fayled mony for to pay wages
The sondyours which in that cuntre
Abyde vpon him of all manere ages
Straunge folke and sundry of langages
Theuys murdrers mansleets and pillours
First of Iubiter asseylynge the tresours

To his disclaundre ꝑpetuel of memorye
The diffame aros so manyfolde
In Iouis temple the banere of victorye
He toke away that was of massyf golde
With a greate ymage that stode there of olde
Of golde also with other mo tresours
With which pyllage he payed the soudyours

Of sacrilege hauynge no conscience
Tescape awey he entryd is the se
But  [...]olus by great violence
With wynde and tempeste as he dyd fle
Dyd vnto him full greate aduersite
And all his meyne forsoke him of entent
And he was take and to grispus sent

Kynge of surrie to whom whan he was brought
Gaue on him by iugement this sentence
For sacrilege that he had wrought
Spoylynge temples by great violence
Doynge to goddys no maner reuerence
For which grispus cōmaundyd hath as Iuge
That he to be slayne there was no better refuge

Of byrth a boye clambe vp to royall stage
Brought vp of nought and set in dignyte
Knewe nat him silf wex cruell of corage
Aros fro pouert to greate prosꝑyte
But through fortunes mutabylite
That blynde lady so made hir power stretche
As he began to ende as a wretch

Rekned thestatis of worldly regalie
Noumbre of meyne golde tresour and richesse
Statly castels paleis on eche partye
Conquest by fortune clymbinge to hye noblesse
Cruell swerde conueyed by wylfulnesse
Power extorte with couetyse oppressynge
Causeth destruction of many erthely kynge

But in contrarye who list him silf knowe
And is by grace enclyned to mekenesse
Though he fro pouerte in streytnes brought vp
And is by vertue enclyned to worthynesse
With sceptre of pes and swerde of rightwisnesse
Indifferently his domys demenynge
Suchone is able to be clepyd a kynge

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What is cheef cause grounde and occasion
That princis ofte stonde in Ieopertye
Of wordly chaungys in such diuision
Regnynge amonge theym the serpent of enuye
Symulacion faynynge flaterye
The soth out serchyd who so lyst to loke
By many tragedye expert in this boke

Howe Bitynctus kinge of auergnatus / by the Romayns was taken and dyed in pryson

BItynctus next of Auergnatis kynge
Cam tofore bochas gynnynge his cōpleint
Of his distresse thordre rehersinge
And howe that he was made feble & feynte
Agayn the romayns mischeuously atteynt
Nat withstondynge to mayntene his quarell
He cast of pride ageyne them to rebell

But it is first put in remembraunce
Howe Auergnatis is a nacion
Hangynge on gaule longeth vnto fraunce
Of which Bytinct stode in possession
Hauynge despight in his opynion
To the romayns any wyse to obey
But proudly cast agayn them to werrey

His laboure was to stonde in fraunchise
And be at large from their subiection
Gan of pride their lordship to despise
Gadred people of presumpcion
Whom for to mete fabius was sente doun
A mighty consull which knightly toke on honde
For that party Bytinctus to withstonde

Of whoos comynge bytinctus toke disdeyne
Bycause the folke which fabyus dyd lede
Were but fewe and whan he hath them seyne
He saide of scorne this people who taketh hede
May nat suffise myn houndys for to fede
Whan they be slayne to fewe they be in noumbre
With multitude that I shall them encoumbre

An hundryd thousande in his vauwarde he had
That passe shuld of auuernere the ryuere
And foure score thousande besyde that he lad
The consull fabius met him with gode chere
Whan he was passyd of rodamus the daungere
Faught all the day tyll it drewe to night
The romayns wan their soon were put to flight

At the Ryuere lyke as seith the boke
There were drownyd and brough to myschaunce
Fyfty thousande as they the water toke
Thrugh fortunes frowarde variaunce
And by atreyne tencres of his greuaunce
Bitinc [...]us take was of the romeyns
Dampned to pryson there to dye in cheyns

Howe the tyraunt Euergetes weddyd quene Cleopatras slough hir eldest sonne / exiled his wyfe weddyd hir doughter

AFetr whos deth pitously to rede and sene
Of Epiphones the great tholome
Cam the doughter cleopatras the quene
Gan compleyne hir greate auersite
Hir sorowe furious diffaced hir beute
Hir chekys whyte of blode and terys meynt
Rent with hir handys were pitously bespreynt

To philomeetir she weddyd was aforne
Whilom sonne to tholome the kynge
And by hir lorde in true wedlok borne
Two sonnys she had as by olde writynge
After whoos deth anon vp suynge
To Euergetes a prince yonge of age
She was ageyne Ioyned in maryage

By title of hir in Egypt lorde and syre
Kynge of that londe cruell and dispytous
Whoos storye sheweth no kyngedom nor empyre
May of them silf make no man vertuous
For lyke a tygre this tiraunt furious
Hir eldest sonne day of their mariage
Born to be heyre he slough of mortall rage

Nat after longe this extort cruelte
Albe they had children atwene them tweyne
Out of egypt he made hir for to fle
And of malyce he gan at hir disdeyne
I trowe she had mater for to pleyne
He toke hir doughter whan that she was gon
Ageyn nature and weddyd hir anon

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She callyd was Cleopatras also
But euergetes to shewe him more vengeable
Ageyne hir modre that was fro Egipt go
The cite which was to hir fauorable
The people exiled he wode and vntretable
In hir despight gaue that notable toun
Of hatfull malyce to straunge nacion

But whan he knewe thrugh his cruell dedys
And gan conceyue howe he was coupable
Sawe ageyne him the manyfolde hatredes
And conspiracion of statys honorable
He at large to be more vengeable
Geyne cleopatras to gynne an vncouth stryf
Went into exil with his newe wif

Gadred people his olde wyf to assayle
On hir children to shewe more vengeaunce
A day assigned helde with hir batayle
But which of theym was dryuyn to vt [...]raunce
Myn auctour playnly put nat in remembraunce
But suynge after thus of him I rede
Howe of malice he wrought a cruel dede

Which to reherce is nouthir gode ne fayre
But terryble and abhomynable
He dismembred hir sonne and his hayre
On pe [...]ys smale this tyraunt moost vengeable
And whan the moder sat at hir royall  [...]able
With body and hede at a solempnyte
Lete hir be serued of frowarde cruelte

Wherof all Egipt had indignacion
And for to auenge his cruell greate outrage
They toke his plates basnet haberion
And his cote armure wrought of great costage
Fro their templys rent out his ymage
In tokne he was a tiraunt moost atteynt
Eche thinge diffaced that was of him depeynt

Whoos hatefull story replete of wretchidnesse
Full of vengeaunce and froward myscheuys
Therfore I deme bochas list nat expresse
More of his lyf fulfylled of all repreuys
Of cleopatra write nat the fynall greuys
In this chaptre what fatall wey she toke
Lest the matere shulde difface his boke

Howe Iugurta of by intrusion of Munedy Kynge slough rightful heiris & after himsilf was drownyd

aFter this wofull dedly auenture
Of cleopatras whoos story is full olde
Cam Iugurta the manly man to lure
And to Iohn bochas hath his tale tolde
Of his conqueste and dedes many folde
Subtyll of wyt and as myn auctour seith
Gaue lityll force for to breke his feyth

But in ordre the story to conueye
Of Iugurta and of his kynrede
Masmissa kynge of munedie soth to sey
His vncle was and also as I rede
The seyde kinge had a sonne in dede
Callyd mysipsa eldest in writynge
After his day to regne as kynge

This Masmyssa ordeyned afterwarde
Tofore his deth of hole entencion
Bycause Iugurta was borne a basterde
To depryue of all succession
In his testament but in conclusion
His sonne mysipsa afterwarde made kinge
Was to Iugurta frendly and louynge

Mysipsa had two sonnes as I finde
The tone of them callyd herbales
The seconde the story maketh mencion
Was that tyme named hyem sales
With whom Iugurta put him silf in pr [...]es
For to abyde and dwell in especiall
Lyke as their cosyn in their court royall

Cherisshed full well bycause that he was wys
And right likly of disposicion
Chosyn afterwarde for a singuler prys
To go to spaigne to helpe scipion
Geyne Mumentaynes a famous mighty toun
And there Iugurta so knightly hath begonne
That by his nobles the toun anon was wonne

And to remembre his knighthode of entent
His worthynesse and his hye renoun
To misipsa letters were doun sent
By the forsayde worthy scipion
Which gaue so greate a commendacion
To Iugurta him callynge in that wer [...]e
Of manly prowes the yonge lode ste [...]e

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Of kinge mysipsa receyuyd notably
Callyd him sonne by adopcion
The kynge dyd sone Iugurta traytourly
Slough hiempsales heire by succession
He of that realme to haue possession
This was his custum howe euer the title stode
By slaughter and murdre for to gete gode

He liste to goddys do no reuerence
Of his nature wylfull and recheles
Hauynge nouther remors nor conscience
Touchinge the slaughter of hi [...]msales
Falsly practysed for his owne encres
For which murdre romayns haue sent doun
A consulere to do correction

Calipurnius called that was sente
Only to punissh that horrible dede
But with tresoure his iyen were so blent
Of execucion that he toke none hede
The romayns ouercome with mede
Gaue to Iugurta by collusion
Of this murdre a coloured fals pardon

By which he toke a maner hardynesse
Of tyrannye in him well excercised
Gadred peple of hatefull cursydnesse
And in him silf gan cursedly deuyse
Texecute the silf same guyse
Of fals murdre I mene nowe none other
To slee herbales the seconde brother

That he alone by fals intrusion
Of Numedye might be lorde and kinge
Thus of his cruelte murdre and fals treson
The noyse was borne by langage and by writynge
Of which the griffis falsly a brode spredinge
Brought forth in hindringe of his name
Frute of disclaundre and reporte of diffame

Mortall treson was cured vndre floures
To saue him silf by some subtylte
And specially with his greate tresoures
Tappese the senat if it wolde haue be
But therageyn all the comonte
Made ageyne him a  [...]iuracion
On his fals murdre to do correction

Foure thousande men of armes were doun sen [...]
With a pre [...]to [...] called  [...]ilius
The which pre [...]our set all his entent
To gadre tresour for he was couetous
And couetyse is contrarious
Vnto knighthode as auctours all expresse
And stepmoder vnto worthynesse

Asiege he layde aboute a mighty toure
Wherin Iugurta put all his richesse
The siege was layde for loue of that tresour
More than for worship or for worthynesse
Wherby his name and his noblesse
There disconfyted brought vnto mischaunce
After for meede made his alyaunce

With Iugurta to his encres of shame
Caused affryk through fals cheuisaunce
They togydre disclaundred by diffame
Them to withdrawe fro thobeysaunce
Of the romayns and more them silf tauaunce
To their purpos corrupted with tresour
Many tribune and many senatour

Of newe ageyn all the comonte
Fro rome sent Gayus marrius
For the murdres and horrible cruelte
Wrought by Iugurta the tyraunt furious
Which to refourme the seyd gayus
A consulere of purpos was sent doun
A manly knight and famous of renoun

Full notably the werres he began
Wrought euery thinge of hye prouidence
And fortune which helpeth hardy man
Gaue him greate fauoure by hir influence
And aldre first he dyd his diligence
For to auoyde all that werre vicious
Delicate peple and folkys lecherous

A day was set and takyn a bataile
By Iugurta by fals subtylte
Proferyd moch gode which might nat auayle
To haue corrupt if it wolde haue be
The seyde marryus but euer in one degre
He stode ay stable vpright as a wall
And toke none hede to his profre at all

Than Iugurta in party despeyred
Greatly astonyed within him silf musinge
But lyke  [...]nan hyndred and appeyred
He gan purpose anon a newe thinge
Of maurytayne he went to the kinge
To gete helpe which callyd was boccus
Him to socour ageyn the gayus

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Twene them was made of newe an alliaunce
The which last but a lytyll space
For kynge boccus gan fall in repentaunce
Cast he wolde resorte to the grace
Of the romayns and nomore trespace
And to ꝑfourme this entencion
He made to Gayus this mediacion

There was one Scylla called a ques [...]oure
Of Gayus ost had gouernaunce
For kinge Boccus he was mediatoure
That there was newly accordaunce
Twene him and gayus and by the purueaunce
Of this Boccus Iugurta anone was hent
Maugre his might and to gayus sent

And all his kyngedom without resistence
Geyne to romayns cam vnder obeysaunce
And marrius forgaue them their offence
Receyued them vndre assuraunce
That he shall nat by dome do no vengeaunce
To punisshe the trespasses that they dyd aforn
The space accounted fro tyme they were born

Iugurta takyn almost for angre mad
Brought to rome and fetred in prison
To terpeya an hye hyll he was lad
Iugement youe for his fals treson
Bounde to a ston and after throwe doun
Fro the place full hye where he stode
Without mercy into tybre flode

Lenuoye.

THis may be well callyd a tragedye
By descripcion takinge auctorite
For tragedye as poetys specefyt
Gynneth with ioye endeth with aduersite
From hye estate cast in lowe degre
Exaumple takyn this story seyth aright
Of Iugurta that was first a gode knight

At his gynnynge famous in chiualrye
Gate Numentaigne of spayne a greate cyte
But in repayringe home to that ꝑtye
I mene whan he cam home to his cuntre
He chaunged knighthode in to cruelte
With couetise so blindyd was his sight
Of Iugurta that first was a gode knight

His wyt his powere he holye dyd applye
To hatefull murdre fraude and subtilte
Bextort title him silf to magnifie
Slough rightfull heires rest theym their liberte
By fals intrusion clambe vp to their se
And gaue noo force whether it were wronge or right
A thinge contrarye to euery worthy knight

Noble princes lift vp your hertes  [...]ye
Within your silf remembre and do se
Of this murdre the hatefull tyrannye
With oppression done to the comonte
His gynnynge gode a cursed ende had he
Murdre crieth vengeaunce day and night
A thinge contrarye to euery worthy knighty

Explicit Liber Quintus.

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Incipit liber Sextus Here Bochas sittinge in his studye alone [...] writeth a greate processe: howe Fortune lyke amonstruous Image / Hauinge an hundryd handys appperyd vnto him and spake: and Bochas vnto hir: makinge bytwene them both many greate Argumentys: and resons of fortunes chauncys.

iN his studye alone as bochas stode
His penne in honde of soden auenture
To remembre he thought it dyd him goode
Howe that no man may him silf assure
In worldly thinges fully to recure
Grace of fortune to make hir to be stable
Hir dayly chaunges be so variable

She braydeth euer on the chaūtplure
Nowe songe nowe wepyng nowe wo nowe gladnes
Nowe in myrth nowe peyn to endure
Nowe light nowe heuy nowe bytter nowe swetnes
Nowe in trouble nowe fre nowe in distres
Shewynge to vs a manere resemblaunce
No wordly welth hath here non assuraunce

While bochas pensif stode sole in his librarye
With chere oppressed pale in his visage
Sumdell abasshed alone and solytarye
To him appered a monstruous Image
Parted on tweyne of colour and corage
Hir right syde full of somer floures
The tothyr oppressed with wynters stormy shoures

Bochas astonyed feerfull for to abrayde
Whan he behelde the wonderfull fygure
Of fortune thus to him silf he sayde
What may this mene is this a creature
Or a monstre transfourmed ageyns nature
Whoos brennynge iyen sparklyng of their light
As do sterres the frosty wynter night

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And of hir chere full gode hede he toke
Hir face semynge cruell and terryble
And by disdeyne manasynge of loke
Hir here vntrussyd harde sharpe and horryble
Froward of shap lothsom and odyble
An hundred handes she had of eche pa [...]t
In sundry wyse hir gyftys to depart

Sūme of hir hondes lyst vp men alofte
To hye estate of wordly dignite
Another honde griped full vnsofte
Which cast another in greate aduersite
Gaue one richesse an other pouerte
Gaue sūme also by report a gode name
Noysed another of sclaundre and diffame

Hir habite was of manyfolde coloures
Watchet blewe of feyned stedfastnesse
Hir golde allayed like sonne in wattry shoures
Meynt with light grene for chaunge and doblenesse
A pretens red drede meynt with hardynesse
White for clennes lyke sone for to fayle
Feynt blacke for mournynge russet for trauayle

 [...]yr coloures meynt of wollys more than one
Sūme while eclypsyd sūme while she shone bright
Dull as an asse whan men had haste to gone
And as a swalowe gerissh of hir flight
Twene sloughth & swyft nowe croked nowe vpright
Nowe as a creple lowe coorbyd doun
Nowe a duery nowe a chaumpion

Nowe a cowarde durst nat come in prees
Nowe sumwhile hardy as a lyon
Nowe lyke Ector nowe dredefull Thersites
Nowe was she cresus nowe agamenon
Sa [...] danapallus of condicion
Nowe was she mānyssh nowe was she femynyne
Nowe coude she rayne nowe coude she falsly shyne

Nowe a mermeyde angilyk of face
A tayle behynde very serpentyne
Nowe debonaire nowe frowarde to do grace
Nowe as a lambe tretable and benigne
Nowe lyke a wulfe of nature to maligne
Nowe sirenes to synge folke aslepe
Tyll Caribdys drowne theym in the de [...]e

Thus Iohn bochas considringe hir figure
All hir fetures in ordre he gan beholde
Hir brede hir lingth hir shap and hir stature
An hundryd handys and armys there he tolde
Wherof astonyed his hert gan wexe colde
And amonge all hir membres euerichon
He sempt she had no fete vp to gon

And while that he considred all this thinge
Twene them as it were in a traunce
She sodenly towarde him lokinge
He conceyued by hir countenaunce
Were it for Ire were it for plesaunce
Outher for fauoure outher for disdeyne
By the maner she wolde sumwhat feyne

Lokynge ascoyne as she had had disdeyne
Bochas quod she I knowe all thyn entente
Howe thou trauaylest besyest the in vayne
In thy study euer diligent
Nowe in the west nowe in the oryent
To sech stories north and meredien
Of worthy princes that here tofore haue ben

Sūme dwellyd vnder the pole artike
By my fauour vpreysed to the sterrys
Outher vndre the pool antartyke
Which in contrarye fro vs so ferre is
Sūme encresyd and set vp by the werrys
Lyke as me list their triumphes to auaunce
Frownynge on other I brought them to mischaunce

I se the besy remembrynge by scriptures
Storyes of pryncis in euery maner age
As my fauour folowed their auentures
By humble style set in playne langage
Nat made curious by none auauntage
Of rethorikes with musys for to stryue
But in pleyne fourme their dedys to descryue

In which proces thou doest great diligence
As they deserue to yeue them thanke or blame
Settyst vp one in royall excellence
Within myn house called the house of fame
The golden trumpet with blastys of gode name
Enhaunceth one to full hye partyes
Where Iupyter sitteth amonge the heuenly skyes

Another trumpet of sownys full vengeable
Which bloweth vp at festys funerall
Nothinge bright but of coloure sable
Ferre fro my fauour dedly and mortall
To plonge princis from their estate royall
Whan I am wroth to make them lo [...]e lowe
Than of malyce I do that trumpet blowe

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Thou hast wretyn and sette togedre in groos
Lyke their deserte wordly mennys dedys
Nothinge conceled nor vndre couert cloos
Spared the crownes nor their purpul wedes
Their golden scepters but youe to them ther medys
Crowned one with laurer hye on his hede vp set
Other with peruynke made for the gibet

Tus dyuersly my gyftes I departe
One accepted another is refused
Lyke haserdours my dees I do iuparte
One well furthered another is accused
My play is double my truste is euer abused
Though one to day my fauour hath wonne
Tomorowe ageyne I can eclipse his sonne

Cause of my cūmynge pleynly to declare
By gode auys vnto thy presence
Is to shewe my maners and nat spare
And my condicions breuely in sentence
Preuyd of olde and newe experience
Pleynly to shewe me list nat for to rowne
To day I flater tomorowe I can well frowne

This houre I can shewe me merciable
And sodenly I can be dispytous
Nowe well wylled hastely vengeable
Nowe sobre of chere nowe hasty and furious
My play vncouth my maners maruelous
Brayde on the wynde nowe glad & nowe I mourne
Lyke a wedre cok my fate eche day I tourne

Wherin Bochas I tell the yit agayne
Thou doest foly thy wittys for to plye
All thy labour thou spyllest in vayne
Geyn my maners so fully to replye
By thy writynge to finde a remedye
To interupte in thy last dawes
My statutys and my custūable lawes

All the laboure of philosophers olde
Trauayle of poetys my maners to depraue
Hath been of yore to seylyke as they wolde
Ouer my fredom the souereynte to haue
But of my lawes the lybertees to saue
Vpon my whele they shall theym nat diffende
But whan me lyst that they shall discende

Why shulde men put me in blame
To folowe the nature of my double play
With newe buddys doth nat ve [...] the same
Whan prymerose appere fresshe and gay
To day they shewe tomorwe gon away
Sūmer after of floures hath foyson
Tyll Iune with sithes after mowe them doun

Nowe is the se calme and blaundisshinge
Nowe are the wyndes confortable and styll
Nowe is boreas sturdy in blowynge
Which yonge shepe and blosmes greueth ill
Why also shulde I nat haue my wyll
To shewe misilf nowe smothe and after trouble
Sith to my kynde it longeth to be double

Noman so ferre is fall in wretchidnesse
But that he standeth in trust to ryse ageyne
Nor none so depe plonged in distresse
Nor with despeyre nor wanh [...]pe ouerleyne
But that there is sūme hope left certeyne
To yeue him confort seruynge his entent
To be releuyd whan me lyst assent

The erthe is clad in motlayes white and rede
Whan escas entre with violettes sote
The greeuys grene and in euery meede
The bawme fleteth which doth to hertys bote
August passed ageyn in to the rote
By cours of nature the vertue doth resorte
To reuolucion to kinde I me report

Who shulde than debarre me to be double
Sith doublenes longeth to me of right
Nowe fressh with somer nowe wt wynter trouble
Nowe blinde of loke derke as the cloudy night
Nowe glad of chere of herte mery and light
They be but foles ageyn my might to muse
Or me atwyte though I my power vse

Seeld or neuer I byde nat in one poynt
Men must at lowpys take me as they finde
And whan I stonde ferthest out of Ioynt
To set folkes bakwarde ferre behynde
Than wordly men with their iyen blynde
Sore compleyne vpon my doublenesse
Call me thanne the frowarde fals goddesse

Thus by your writynge and merueylous langage
I am disclaundryd of mutabilite
Wherof by right I catch a greate auauntage
Sith doublenes no sclaundre is to me
Which is a persell of my liberte
To be called by title of rightwissnesse
Of chaungys newe lady and princesse

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Thus whan fortune had seyde hir wyll
Parcell declared of hir gouernaunce
Made a stynt and sobrely stode styll
Iohn bochas sate and herde all hir dal [...]aunce
Feerfull of chere pale of countenaunce
In ordre enprentyd eche thinge that she sayde
Full demurely thus he dyd abrayde

He toke vpon him vertue and corage
Vpon a poynt for to abyde stable
Certys quod he lyke to thy visage
All wordly thinges be double and chaungeable
Yit for my parte by remembraunce notable
I shall ꝑfourme sothly if I conne
This lytell boke that I haue begonne

And lest my laboure dye nat nor appall
Of this boke the tytle for to saue
Amonge myn other lityll werkys all
With lettris large aboue vpon my graue
This bokes name shall in stone be graue
Howe I Iohn bochas in especiall
Of wordly princes wretyn haue the fall

Of whych emprise the cause to deseryue
This was first grounde I wyll nat denye
To eschewe slouth and vyses all my lyne
And specially the vice of glotonye
Which is norice vnto lecherye
This was chef cause why I vndertoke
The compylacion of this lytyll boke

¶Yit by thy talkinge as I vnderstande
Eche thinge here of nature is chaungeable
After thy sentence both on se and lande
Yit coude I rekne thynges that be stable
As vertuous lif abidinge vnmutable
Set hole to godwarde of herte will and thought
Maugre thy powere and ne chaungeth nought

Thou maist eke call vnto remembraunce
Thinges made stable by grace which is dyuyne
Hast thou nat herde the perseueraunce
Of holy martres which list nat to declyne
Fro cristys feith tyll he dyd fyne
Thy whele in them h [...]d none interesse
To make them vary fro their stablenesse

A man that is enarmed in vertue
Ageyn thy myght to make resistence
And set his trust by grace in cryst Ihū
And hath all hole his hertely aduertence
On rightwysnesse force and on prudence
With their suster called attemperaunce
Hath a saue condute ageyne thy variaunce

They set no store by thy double whele
With supportacion of other ladyes thre
Their trust stande nat in plate mayle or stele
But in these vertues feith hope and charite
Called vertues tholeogice
Which with foure afore here specefyed
Thy whele and the haue vtterly diffyed

If I with wynges might flye to heuyn
There shulde I se thowe hast no thinge adone
With Iupiter nor the planettys seuene
With phebus mars mercurye nor the mone
But worldly folys erly late and sone
Such as be blente or dyrkyd with lewdnesse
By fals opinyon call the a goddesse

Gyftys of grace nor giftys of nature
Almes dede done with humylite
Loue and compassion be ferre out of thy cure
Semelynesse strength bountye or beutye
Vertuously vsed in their degre
Geyn none of these thy powere may nat stretch
For who is vertuous lyte of the doth retch

Of thy condicions to set another preef
Which folys vse in their aduersite
For excusacion as sūtyme seith a theef
Whan he is hangyd it was his destyne
Atwyteth fortune his Iniquite
As she had domynacion
To rule man by wyll ageyn reson

For which Iohn bochas in party dissolate
To determyne such heuynly hyd secrees
To that be deuynes of estate
I remyt such vncouth priuytees
And poetys that be of lowe degrees
I eschewe to clymbe to hye aloft
Hest for presumpcion I shuld nat fall soft

But if I had hyd in my corage
Such misteries of dyuyne prouydence
Without enuye I wolde in pleyne langage
Vttre them by wrytinge with humble reuerence
Predestynacion nouther prescience
Nat apperteyne fortune vnto the
And for my parte I wyll excuse me

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And procede lyke as I vndertoke
After that I tolde my matere
Of fall of princes for to wryte a boke
But yit afore if thou woldest here
I desire of hole herte and entere
To haue a copye of princes names all
Which fro thy whele thou hast made to fall

Thy secre bosom is full of storyes
Of sundry princys howe they their lif haue lad
Of their tryumphes and victoryes
Which olde poetis and philosophers sad
In metre and prose compyled haue and rad
Songe their laudes their fatys eke reserued
By remembraunce as they haue disserued

Of which I haue put sūme in memorye
Theron set my studye and my laboure
So as I coude to their encres of glorye
Though of langage I had but small fauoure
Cause caliope dyd me no socoure
For which thou hast durynge all this while
Rebuked me of my rude stile

Men wold accoumpte it were a greate dulnesse
But if langage conueyed be by prudence
Out declared by sobre auysenesse
Vnder support fauoured by diffence
Of tullius cheef prince of eloquence
Shulde more profyte shortly to conclude
Than my style spoke in termes rude

¶Yit oft tyme it hath be felt and seyne
Vnder huskys growynge on londe Arable
Hath be founde and tryed out gode greyne
Vndre rude leuys shakynge and vnstable
Pullyd faire frute holsom and delytable
And semblably where rethorike hath fayled
In blunte termys gode counsayle hath auayled

Philosophers of the golden ages
And poetis that fonde oute fressh dyters
As kinge amphion with his fayre langages
And with his harpyng made folke of lowe degrees
And laborers to enhabyte first cites
And so by musyke and philosophie
Gan first of comons noble policie

The cheef of musike is melodye and accorde
Welle of philosophie sprange out of prudence
By which two menys gan vnyte and accorde
With politike vertue to haue their asistence
Wise men to regne subiettis do reuerence
And by this grounde in stories men may se
Were bylte the walles of thebes cyte

Accorde in musyk causeth the melodye
Where is discorde there is dyuersite
And where is pes is prudent policye
In eche kyngdom and euery great cuntre
Stryf first inducyd by thy duplicite
For which thou maist as clerkys the descryues
Be called lady of contekys and of stryues

First were found out hatefull diuisions
By thy contriued fals mutabylytes
Slaughter debate frowarde discencions
In regions prouyncis and cites
Desolacions of townes and of cuntres
Wherfore men had first experience
By thy chaungeable gery violence

Thus by the oppynyon of thy whele moost double
As fayre by nature as it was possible
Ouerthwertly thou broughtest men in trouble
Madest eche to other froward and odible
By thy treynys vncouth and terrible
Lyke a corsour maketh coltes that be wylde
With spore and whyp to be tame and mylde

Thus by the tempest of thyn aduersitees
To make men more tame of their corages
In their discordes twene kyngdoms and cytes
After the sharp of thy cruell rages
Only by speche and mene of fayre langages
Folke by thy fraude fro grace ferre exyled
Were by fayre spech to vnite reconsyled

Peple of grece of rome and of cartage
Next in Itayle with many a region
Were indusyd by swetnesse of faire langage
To haue togydre their conuersacion
To bylde castelles and many royall toun
What caused this to tell in breef the fourme
But eloquence rude peple to enfourme

Afore tyme they were but bestyall
Tyll they to reson by lawes were constreyned
Vnder discrecion by statutis naturall
Fro wylfull lustys by prudence were restreyned
By assente made one and to gydre encheyned
In golden cheynys of pees and vnite
Thus gan the beeldynge of euery greate Cyte

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But whan thou medlyst to haue an interesse
They that were one to brynge them at discorde
To interupte with thy doublenesse
Cites regions that were of one accorde
Lyke as this boke can bere me well recorde
Fro the tyme that thou first began
Thy mutabylite hath stroyed many a man

Thou causest men to be obstynat
In their corages and incorigible
Wilfull frowarde causeles at debat
Eche to other contrarious and odible
Them to refourme almoste impossible
Tyll faire spech voydinge diuision
Pes reconciled twene many a region

For there is none so furious outrage
Nor no mater so ferre out of the wey
But that by mene of gracious langage
And faire spech may a man conuey
To all reson mekely for to obey
By an exaumple which I reherce shall
Wele to purpos and is historyall

The hardy knight the cruell achilles
Whan hatefull Ire assayled his corage
There was no mene with him to trete of pes
To styll the tempest of his doolfull rage
Saue only this which dyd his Ire aswage
By attempraunce to obeye to reson
Whan of an harpe he herde the swete soū

Which instrument by his greate swetnesse
Put all rancoure out of his remembraunce
Wrested him ageyne to all gladnesse
From him auoydinge all rancoure and greuaunce
Semblably faire spech and daliaunce
Set men in rest in realmys here and yonder
By gode langage that were ferre asondre

With these wordys bochas wexe debonaire
Towarde fortune as he cast his loke
Withdrewe his rancoure and to speke fayre
Touchinge his laboure which vpon him toke
Besechinge hir for to furthre hys boke
That his name which was lityll knowe
By gode reporte might be ferther blowe

That his name might ferther sprede
Which stode as yit shrowdyd in derknesse
By hir fauour his name forth to lede
His boke to furthre do hir besynesse
By good roport to yeue it a brightnesse
With laur [...]ate stremys shad forth to people all
By foryetfulnesse that it neuer appalle

This was the bylle which that Iohn Bochas
Made vnto fortune with full humble style
Whan fortune had conceyued all his cas
Sobyrly stode and gan stynt a while
And glad of chere after she gan smyle
On myn auctoure and with a fressh visage
In sentence spake to him this langage

‘Hic loquitur Fortuna’

SOthly quod she Ise thy besynesse
Of mortall men howe coryous that they be
Howe they studye by greate auysnesse
Of my secretys for to be preue
To knowe the conceytys hyd within me
And my counseyles ye men do all youre peyne
Albe that lightly ye may nat therto atteyne

In thys mater your with doth neuer feynt
Imagenynge likenesse in youre mynde
Lyke youre conceytis ye forge men and peynt
Sumtyme a woman with wynges set behinde
And portrayen me with iyen that been blinde
Cause of all this breuely to expresse
Is youre owne couetous blyndnesse

¶Your appetytis moost straunge and dyuers
And full euer of chaunge and doublenesse
Frowarde also malicious and ꝑuers
By hasty climbinge to worship and richesse
Alweye voide of trouth and stablenesse
Moost presumptuous serche oute in all degrees
Falsly tatteyne to wordly dignitees

Bochas bochas I ꝑceyue euery thinge
And knowe full wele the greate difference
Hyd in thy silf of wordys and thinkynge
Atwene theym both the disconuenience
Hast thou nat wretyn many greate sentence
In thy boke to sclaundre with my name
Of hole entent my maners to diffame

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Thou callest me step moder moost vnkinde
And sumtyme a fals chaunteresse
A mermayde with a tayle behinde
Of scorne sumwhile me namynge a goddesse
Sumtyme a witch sumtyme a sorceresse
Fynder of murdre and of deceitys all
Thus of malice mortall men me call

All this done in despight of me
By accusacion in many sundry wyse
Ye oft appech my mutabylite
Namely whan I youre requestys do despise
For to accomplissh youre gredy couetise
Whan ye faile ye lay on me the wyte
Of youre aduersitees me falsly to atwite

And thou of purpos for tesclaundre me
Hast writen vngoodly a contrarious fable
Howe I wrestlyd with glad pouerte
To whoos party thou were fauourable
Settyst me abak geyne me thou were vengeable
Nowe of newe requeryst my fauoure
The for to helpe and furthre thy laboure

As skauns I am of maners moost chaungeable
Of condicions very femynyne
Nowe here nowe there as the wynde vnstable
By thy descripcion and by thy doctryne
To euery chaunge redy to enclyne
As wymen been yonge and tendre of age
Which of nature be diuers of corage

But for to furthre in ꝑtye thyn entent
That of thy boke the processe may procede
By my fauoure to the accomplisshment
I am well wyllyd to helpe the in thy nede
Lyke thy desyre the better thou shalt spede
Whan I am towarde with a benygne face
To spede thy iourney by supporte of my grace

That thy name and also thy surname
With poetys and notable olde auctours
May be regest [...]yd in the hous of fame
By supportacion of my sodeyn fauours
By assistence also of my socours
Thy werke texplete the laurer for to wynne
At Saturnynus I wyll that thou begynne

Here reherceth Fortune hir condicions vnto bochas shewynge howe many one she enhaunced for a tyme / and anone after theym sodeynly ouerthroweth

AMonge Romayns this seyde saturnyne
Was outragious of condicion
Caused in rome whan he gan maligne
Greate debatys and greate sedicious
And by his frowarde conspiracions
He was sharpe enmy ageyne the prudent iuge
Called metellus deuoyde of all refuge

Fro the capitoyle set with mighty hande
Fonde no socoure metellus in the toun
The same tyme thou shalt vnderstande
Howe by myn helpe and supportacion
One that was smal of reputacion
Called Glabeya in pouert brought lowe
Made consulere the story is well knowe

A seruaunt first and almoost sette at nought
And afterwarde I made him fortunate
Left neuer tyll I had him brought
By a prerogatyf chose of the senate
To be a pretoure an office of estate
Which also wrought by conspiracion
To bringe metellus to destruction

Of whoos assent there was also another
Called marrius beynge the same yere
Texplete thys treson their owne sworne brother
Which was also that tyme a consulere
I fortune made them full gode chere
Lyke their desyres gaue them liberte
To banissh metellus out of their cite

Of these thre romayns the first saturnyne
And glaucia was called the seconde
And marrius layde out hoke and lyne
As I haue tolde metellus to confounde
To their purpos I was also founde
Fauourable to brynge them to mischeef
As their storye sheweth an opyn preef

They banysshed him out of rome toun
And saturnynus by his subtyll werkynge
Clambe vp fast of presumpcion
To be called of rome lorde and kinge
I gaue him fauour by a manere fals smylynge
Tyll at the last playnly to declare
Of his destruction I brought him in the snare

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The senatours knowynge the malyce
Of Saturne which made a greate gad rynge
Of sundry folke castynge in his auyce
By their fauoure he might be called kinge
All this while of his vp clymbynge
I shewed him durynge a longe space
Him to desceyue a benygne face

Tyll marryus a mighty consulere
To withstonde his presumpcion
Rose with stronghande and with aknightly chere
Beset his pal [...]ys aboute enuyron
Brake his gatys amyd of the toun
And saturnynus voide of all fauour
To the capytoyle fled for socoure

He was forbarred by marrius of vitayle
The Capitoile beseged rounde aboute
At the entringe was a stronge bataile
On outher ꝑtye slayne a great route
Thus of my fauour he gan stonde in donte
Thus saturnynys brought in great distresse
His gode achetyd lost all his richesse

Experience full openly men bereth
Such as hyest therupon ascende
Lyke as the tourne of my whele requireth
Whan they leest wene doun they shall descende
They haue no power them silf to diffende
Ageyne my might whan they been ouerthrowe
What do I than but laugh and make a mowe

 [...]rusus also borne of great lynage
And descendyd of full hye noblesse
Vnto vertue contrarye of his corage
Frowarde founde to all gentylnesse
Yit chose he was the storye doth expresse
Questoure of asya an office of degre
For his byrth to gouerne that cuntre

But oft tyme vertue nor gentylnesse
Come nat to heires by succession
Exaumple in Drusus the story bereth wytnesse
Which both of corage and disposicion
Was euer frowarde of condicion
For which let men deme as they must nedys
Nat after birth but after the dedys

Vertues all in him were set aside
Slowe to be armed hated chiualrie
Moost couetous deynous full of pryde
His dedys frowarde full of trecherie
To hye estate I dyd him magnefie
Yit all my giftys in him ne might stre [...]ch
For here tofore the he cometh like a wretch

He dare for shame nat shewe his visage
So ferre disclaundryd is his wretchydnesse
Whos couetyse and vicious outrage
Falsly caused by his doublenesse
Maguldusa a prince of greate noblesse
Betrasshed was for mede to the kinge
Called boccus by drusus fals werkynge

What manere torment or what greuous peyne
Were competent couenable or condigne
To him that can outwarde flater and feyne
And in his herte couertly maligne
As drusus dyd which shewed many signe
To Maguldusa of loue and frendlihede
Vnderneth fals treson hyd in dede

But maguldusa lyke a manly knight
Geyn kynge boccus hath him silf socoured
Whan he by dome was Iuged ageyne right
Of an olifaunt for to be deuoured
Scaped frely and after that laboured
To acquyte him silf through his hye renoun
Slough fals Drusus myd of rome toun

Bochas also men put the lak in me
That I was cause of the destruction
By my contrarious mutabylite
Of the notable famous scipion
Which in the tyme of cynsoryn caton
Gate the triumphe for many greate victorye
To put his name perpetually in memorye

For his merytes chose a consulere
And cheef busshop to gouerne their cyte
To all the Senate patron moost entere
Moste famous of name and dignite
Saued romayns from all aduersite
Tyme whan the werre dredfull and dispitous
Gan atwene Pompeye and cesar Iulius

Thus whan the seid famous scipion
Was thrugh my fauour acounted moste notable
He fro my whele sodenly was throwe doun
Which neuer in worde nor dede was culpable
But the romayns malicious and vnstable
By their hangman first cheyned in prison
After racked there geyned no raunson

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Thus he that had auayled them so oft
To saue him silf fonde socoure on no side
His dede bodye they henge it hye aloft
For a spectacle longe there to abyde
Thus gerisshly my giftys I dyuyde
Stoundmele nowe frend nowe aduersarye
Rewarde gode with guyrdons full contrarye

This was experte full well in scipion
Gan with Ioye and endyd in wretchydnesse
Bochas remembre make herof mencion
And of fanatichus howe I of gentylnesse
Made him affende to notable hye prowesse
Yit bokes sey touchinge his kinrede
Manly of ꝑsone a churle borne in dede

For my desporte with a glad visage
I set him vp full hye vpon my whele
Gaue him lordship out of lowe seruage
To do him fauour it lyked me full well
Wherfore bochas his storye euery dele
Note it well and in especiall
Howe he by sleight cam to estate royall

By sleighty feynynge to dyuerse folke he tolde
Howe that he spake with scirra the goddesse
At euery houre pleynly whan he wolde
Of presumpcion descryued hir lykenesse
Seyde also howe she of hir goodnesse
Had graunted him his state to magnefye
Durynge his lyf a spirite of prophesye

And forthermore the peple for to blynde
He fantasied by a craft vncouth
Within a shale the storye maketh mynde
Of a notte to haue fyre in his mouth
Blewe it sparklinge north and south
Affermyd wherwith folke were blente
It was a spyryte to him from heuyn sente

By which he wrought many great vertue
Gadred peple tyll he had in dede
Two thousand churles at his retynue
Which afterwarde his purpose for to spede
To sixty thousande encreced as I rede
I suffred all seruyd him at the tyde
Tyll all the court grutchyd at his pryde

Though of birth he was but a vyleyne
Roos vp of nought by sodeyne auenture
My gery fauour made him to be seyne
Royall of porte dyd his besy cure
To reyse his banere ware a cote armure
And by gracious supportacion
Brought great people to his subiection

At the taste my lust gan appall
Towarde him nat beynge fauoure
Doun fro my whele anone I made him fall
For by romayns was sent a great constable
Called porpenna a prince full notable
Which fyll on him venquesshyd him anone
Slough and outrayed his churles euerychon

Him silf was hanged vpon an hye gibet
Sūme of his meny was cast in prison
Thus to his pryde I gaue a greate tripet
And fro my whele I cast him lowe doun
In his moste hyest domynacion
Toke none hede where he dyd laugh or mourne
For with noman I do alwey soiourne

Bochas quod fortune take gode hede also
Howe I can both further and disauayle
For exaumple se howe athenyo
That whilom was a sheperd in Itayle
A brygaunt after marchauntys to assayle
Laye in awayte besyde a great mounteyne
Of fugetyues he was made a capteyne

Slough first his lorde a rich Senatoure
By violence brake many a stronge prison
And for a tyme I gaue him great fauoure
To gadre robbours about him enuiron
All the churlys of that region
He assemblyd through his Iniquite
To holde a werre with rome the cite

Beseged castelles brake doun mighty toures
Slough and robbed aboute in eche cuntre
Spoyled paleys of worthy Senatoures
Tytle had he none sauf tytle of volunte
Toke vpon him of pryde and cruelte
For to be clad in purple lyke a kinge
Bare a sceptre amonge his men ridynge

Vpon his hede ordeynyd for the nonys
His golde heer tressyd lyke an emperoure
A coyf enbrouded all of rich stones
Me list to laugh that a fals robbour
By supportacion of my gery fauoure
Which tast nat longe for after in shorte whyle
As is my custom I dyd him begyle

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I suffred him made him feyned chere
As I haue to other mo done full oft
Tyll doun fro rome was sente a consulere
Which toke him proudly and henge alofte
His churles slayne and sūme of them nat soft
In cheynes bounde for short conclusion
Were dempt by lawe to dye in prison

By which storye bochas thou mayst lere
A great party of my condicion
But nowe in hast a story thou shalt here
Howe in the yere for the fundacion
More thā sixt [...] hundred I mene of rome toun
Was agaderinge a greate cumpanye
Togedre sworne by fals conspiracye

Them to withdrawe fro the presence
Of a tribune called Lodonce
Which for knighthode had gouernaunce
And was sent doun from rome cyte
With mighty honde to rule a great cuntre
Called chaumpayne and pleynly for to seye
The peple there lyst him nat obeye

This score and foure were of theym in noumbre
That named were cheef conspyratours
Which that cast them their capteyn to encoumbre
With multitude of theuys and robbours
Which chase amonge theym to be their supportours
 [...] mighty capteyns of which there was one
Called spartharchus chefest of echon

Gadred churles made them silf stronge
On an hye hyll toke their dwellynge place
Hauynge no rewarde were it right or wronge
To spoyle the cuntre bestys to enchace
I cherisshed them with a benigne face
For a ceson and gaue them liberte
By fals rauyne to robbe the cuntre

What thinge more cruell in comparison
And more vengeable of wyll and nat of right
Than whan a chorle hath domynacion
Lak of discrecion blindeth so the sight
Of cōmuners for defaute of light
Whan they haue power cuntrees to gouerne
Fare lyke a beste can nothinge discerne

Gladiatores folkys dyd them call
For their swerdys were with steele made fyne
For to fight geyn wylde bestys all
As lyons beerys bores wylde swyne
And the mounteyne where they dyd lyne
Called venuse and through their cruelte
Slough and robbyd about in eche cuntre

Spartharchus was their cheef capteyne
Brought vp nought and borne of lowe degre
But Claudius a mighty stronge romayn
Was sent with power fro rome the cite
For to diffende and saue the cuntre
The hyll besegynge afore them as he lay
He was rebuked bete and dryuen away

Many of them that kept the mounteyne
Were hurte that day the storye telleth thus
Amonges which was slayne a greate capteyne
That was felawe vnto Spartharchus
As I fynde he hight ynomaus
For whoos deth was take so great vengeaunce
That all the cuntre felt therof greuaunce

They of the mounteyne all of one assent
Without mercy or remission
Moost vengeable haue robbyd and brent
All the cuntre aboute them enuyron
Tyll two consulers fro rome doun
The first of them called lentulus
Both put to flight the seid spartharchus

Wherof the romayns greatly dismayed
The Senatours of indignacion
Both asshamed and in them silf affrayed
Sent one crassus a great lorde of the toun
With the noumbre of a Legion
And whan that he on Spartharchus first set
Slough of his men six thousande whan they met

And afterwarde besyde a great riuere
Called Salaire they had a greate batayle
Where Spartharchus stode in greate daungere
For his chere and countenaunce gan fayle
Thretty thousande clad in plate and mayle
Were slayne that day there geyned no raunson
All their capteyns assigned to pryson

Without all this as made is mencion
Sixty thousande in the felde lay dede
And sixe thousand were sent to prison
The feeld with blode steyned and made red
And foure thousande quakynge in their drede
Were thilke day after the romayns guyse
Take to mercy receyued to fraunchise

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And Spartharchus at myscheef put to flight
Whan I from him turned my visage
He loste chere he lost also his might
Whan I appalled the fyne of his passage
And for he was a churle of his lynage
Of his encres I lyked no thynge wele
Therfore vnwarly I cast him fro my whele

Of manerys to make a gretter preef
There was another famous greate robboure
Which through Spayne was a disclaundryd theef
And for he dred of iustyce the rigour
Trustynge he shulde fynde in me socoure
Called vrinatus he spayne anone forsoke
And to rome the right wey he toke

Gadred meyne of his condicion
Of euery sect to make him silf stronge
Theuys robboures of euery region
Many a churle was medled them amonge
His name to encres were it right or wronge
What euer he gat in cite or village
With his soudyours he parted the pyllage

Thus by myn helpe he cam to gre richesse
Which brought in pride and presumpcion
He nat prouided of my doublenesse
Gan to maligne ageyn rome toun
But by the prudence of last Scipion
Sonne of  [...]epidus makinge therof no boost
He sleyn was by them he trusted moost

By which exaumple notable of remembraunce
Shewed here tofore Iohn bochas vnto the
Thou maist knowe in party my puissaunce
My sodeyn chaungis my mutabylite
And for to auoyde all ambyguite
To declare the sūme of myn entent
Greate marrius to the I do present

Blak his wede and his habyte also
His hede vnkempt his lockes hor and gray
His loke doun cast in tokne of sorowe and wo
On his chekys the salt terys lay
Which bare recorde of his dedly affray
Wherfore bochas do thy penne dresse
So descryue his mortall heuynesse

His robe steyned was with romayne blode
His swerde ay redy whet to do vengeaunce
Lyke a tyraunt moste furious and wode
In slaughtre and murdre set all his plesaunce
Yit nat for thy I gaue him gouernaunce
Ouer the peple roos on my whele vp fast
But as vnwarly doun I dyd him cast

Twene him and scilla the wofull dedly stryues
At large herafter bochas thou shalt write
Howe many romayns lost by them their lyues
I wyll also in ordre that thou endite
And if I shall rebuke them and atwyte
As I fro nought made them in honoure shyne
So I ageynwarde made them in mischeef fyne

Forgetnat also the dedly pitous fate
Of him that was so notable in his lyf
I mene the great famous metridate
Whoos name is yit full  [...]outh and rife
To whom I gaue a greate prerogatife
Fourty wynter the dede was well seen
Ageyn romayns the werre to sustene

For which herafter I gyue it the in charge
Of Metridate the story set alonge
Whan thou haste leyser and a space large
Remembre his conquest and his dedys stronge
And howe that I medlyd me amonge
For all his noblesse and his felicite
To yeue him parte of great aduersite

Next in ordre after hir owne chois
Fortune vntrusty vpon eche party
To Iohn bochas hath conueyed fro parthoys
Stronge Herodes regnynge in parthye
Loo Iohn quod she take hede of this storye
All his kinrede if it be well out sought
Were by Scithyens chasyd and brought to nought

And yit for all my mutabylyte
Sūme of them which they stode despeyred
I restored vnto their dignite
Vnto which whan they were repeyred
This herodes was hyndred and appeyred
By chaunges for his hatefull pryde
Whan he leest wende vnwarly set asyde

Suynge after within a lytyll while
This gerissh lady of condicion
Gan an ill laughynge falsly for to smyle
Lokynge on bochas brought with hir doun
Amighty prince which in rome toun
Had in his dayes notable pris and fame
Albe that she oppressed nat his name

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Bochas than his hede gan doun declyne
Seynge that prince of face disfigured
Of susspection gan to ymagyne
Whan he his mynde fully hath recured
By certeyne toknys and signes well assured
It was pompeie surquedous of estate
Which with Cesar so longe was at debate

Disconsolate through his vnhappy caas
His face soyled with water of the se
Tyme whan fostynus and cruell achi [...]las
Drownyd his body of furious enmyte
His face disfigured at the solempnyte
With smokys blake dedly and mortall
Call [...]d of clerkes the feest funerall

Codrus caused the corps was brent
And consumed in to asshes dede
To cesar after his hede was borne and sent
Vpon o pole his storye who list rede
After all this bochas toke gode hede
 [...]owe fortune by a manere mockerye
In s [...]orne of him gan thus to specefie

Vpon the heuene after his deuys
I gan enhaunce and encrece his glorye
By my fauoure I gaue him many a prys
Conquest of kynges wt many great victorye
And more to put his nobles in memorye
By my supporte thrugh his chiualrye
With cesar Iulius to holde chaumpartye

And while that I my fauoure dyd applye
Towarde him his victoryes to assure
His fame aroos tyll that in Thesalie
I gan withdrawe his party to socoure
Suffringe his enmyes make disconfiture
Vpon this pompeye hindred in my sight
Whan to Lesbos at mischeef toke his flight

By the seruauntes of yonge tholome
Regnynge in egypt pompeye in his drede
Was take and slayne he fond no help in me
I gaue him vp and so he loste his hede
Yit of my chaunges noman taketh hede
Nor howe vnsuerly I cast my dredefull loke
Saue thou art besy to set theym in thy boke

Bochas astoned ꝑcell of hir presence
Both of chere face and countenaunce
And this while hauynge his aduertence
Thought he sawe a maner resemblaunce
Of a persone which stode in great greuaunce
Tyll at laste fortune cast hir sight
Toward bochas and told what he hight

This is quod she pleynly to termyne
The famous man prince of eloquence
That gaue to latynes the scole and the doctryne
Of rethoryk as welle of that science
For which I wyll thou do thy diligence
To write with other of this tullyus
All the case and gyn at marrius

These wordys seyde fortune made an ende
She bete hir wynges and toke hir to the flight
I cannat se what way she dyd wende
Saue Bochas telleth lyke an aūgell bright
At hir departinge she shewyd a great light
But assone as she gan disapere
He toke his penne wrote as ye shall here

Howe Gayus Marryus of lowe byrth borne cā to hye estate / which blent with couetise after many greate batayles dyed at myscheef

HEre bochas gynneth to tell of the man
Called in his tyme Gayus marrius
Borne at aprina a castell of tuscan
Sonne of a Carpentere the story telleth thus
Pursued armys manly and vertuous
Through all rome nor in that cuntre
Was there no man holde so stronge as he

Dysciplyne and greate subtylte
He had also as bokys specefye
Prudence manhode and habylyte
Both in armes and in chiualrye
Moost famous holde towarde the ꝑtye
Within a while myn auctoure seith certeyne
Chose a tribune and a great capteyne

But fro the gynnynge of his tendre age
As Istoryes put in remembraunce
He was pricked so sore in his corage
By a gredy fret of longe contynuaunce
Neuer to staunch with none habundaunce
The worlde nor fortune with all their great richesse
Suffysed nat to appese his gredynesse

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Entringe a temple he fonde a deuynour
Counsayled there by his dyuynaile
Tentre rome and holde their soiour
By gode auys and knightly apparayle
Made him promys that he shall nat fayle
Tatteyne by fauoure of the comonte
To great offyce and state in the cite

Fauour of comons brought him to hye estate
By theym receyued vnto the dignyte
Of consulere albe that the Senate
Had disdeyne of his felicite
Bycause he was borne of lowe degre
Grauntyd to him after by the toun
To conquere realmys by a cōmissyon

He gate the prouince through his hye renoun
Of Numedie as he dyd them assayle
And toke the kinge of that region
Callyd Iugurta proudly in batayle
For which empryse by marciall apparayle
He gate the triumphe through the toun rydynge
Bycause only for takinge of that kinge

And for he was a ꝑsone so notable
For many famous sodeyn great victorie
Namely in conquest preued profytable
To all the comon as put is in memorye
And for thencres of his renoun and glorye
By thoppynion hole of the cite
In his honde lay all their prosperite

Ageyne a peple that called was Lembroys
Them to conquere from rome he was sent doun
Also ageyn the boystous tigurnoys
Gadred to gydre of many nacion
All them he brought to subiection
Lyke as romayns had afore desired
Bycause they had ageyn their toun conspired

They toke vpon them of fals presumpcion
To passe all the mounteynes of Itayle
First disconfited as made is mencion
Thre romayn dukes felly in batayle
Foure score thousande clad in plate and mayle
Slayne of romayns the story is well knowe
Vnder thalpies at myscheef ouerthrowe

This marrius of marciall auenture
In germanye had a great batayle
With Tewtobochus a geaunt of stature
Put first to flight with all his apparayle
For marrius dyd him so sore assayle
At the chas proudly borne to grounde
Maugre his might take and in cheynes bounde

Marrius after with his hoste him drough
Towarde the people of cunbrois for to fight
Two hundred people I finde of them he slough
Eight thousande take thre thousand put to flight
Kynge bolerus a full famous knight
Slayne in the felde for all his great pryde
Ageyne marius like as he dyd ryde

That day of Cymbroyes was all the people slayne
The wymen after he list nat to reserue
Yit they profryd and wolde haue been full fayne
Their chastite deuoutly to obserue
In the temple of vesta for to serue
But their request for he list nat here
With him they faught echon slayne I fere

Except sūme whan they sawe none other
Remedye of purpoos they were set
Euerich of theym to sle and murdre other
And sūme thought also it was bet
To hange them silf vpon an hye gibet
Than to abyde of marrius the outrage
Perpetuelly to lyue in seruage

Thus marrius of thre nacions
Through his conquest complisshed the victorye
With prisoners of sundry regions
Entryd rome to his encres of glorye
With speciall laudys notable of memorye
First the triumphe a guyrdon singulere
He tymes six was chose a consulere

Thus fortune was to him fauourable
To set him vp in wordly dignitees
For a ceson but for he was chaungeable
Amonge hir gyftes and great prosperitees
She gaue him part of great aduersitees
And specially the tyme accoumpted than
Twene him and scilla whan the werre gan

Lucius scilla abydynge in chaumpeyne
Marrius at rome tho present
Whan the diuision gan atwene theym twayne
Eche to other contrarye of entente
Malencolious and impaciente
Which of both thestory well conceyued
To gou [...]rne shulde sonest be receyued

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All sodenly where it were right or wronge
Towarde rome takynge his passage
Ageyn marrius to make him silf stronge
Gan sle and bren ne and of great outrage
Wylfull hasty furious of corage
For sodeyne comynge and vnware violence
Ageyn him fonde no resistence

Two mighty batayles he dyd with him lede
Entringe the cyte gan through the wall myne
With one batayle fast gan him spede
To passe the gate called aquylyne
That other gate named was Colyne
At whoos entrynge by recorde of the boke
Scilla by strength the capitoyle toke

But whan marrius had knowlegynge
That Scilla had so greate power and might
Without a rest or lenger abydynge
In to a marys gayus anon right
With all his people toke sodenly his flight
Fit out by strength coude him nat diffende
Scilla after to prison dyd him sende

Thus the prowesse for a while slept
Of marrius lyinge in prison
Scilla that tyme the capytoyle kept
Wherby all rome stode in subiection
And of hatrede in haste he sent doun
A sturdy chorle to marrius in his drede
While he lay bounde to smyte of his hode

This chorle well compact of braune & of bonys
Sette of purpose marrius for to oppresse
For his strength ordeyned for the nonys
To the prison the churle gan fast him dresse
Where marrius was fettred in distresse
Fully in purpose without more delay
To behede him in prison there he lay

Losinge him first lyinge on his couch
And marrius rose vp like a man
The chorle feerfull to smyt or to touch
And marrius full proudly tho began
To entre a place beside of a woman
Founde an asse ther of auenture
Vpon whoos backe the se he gan recure

Towarde affrik there he fonde passage
By  [...]nprysonynge though he were wexe feynt
Yit there abode styll in his corage
Hye worthynes with prudence meynt
Which in his persone were nat  [...]ueynt
Ageyne the malyce to make a countertayle
Of proude Scilla the malyce eft tassayle

Of Itayle rode through the cuntre
Toke his viage through rome toun
With foure bateyles entred the cite
Six hundred knightes by computacion
Slayne in the feelde as made is mencion
Where men may se who lyfte loke aferre
What damage diuysion doth in werre

First by the manhode of this marrius
In this diuision the story who list rede
The great consull called octauius
Loste his hede and his lyf in dede
Vpon a pole which it dyd blede
Was cruelly presentyd of entent
Tofore the Iuges syttynge in iugement

Of whoos deth sūme of them were fayn
Sūme sory of loue as they were bounde
And in this werre merula was slayne
Preest in the temple like as it is found
Of Iupiter with many mortall wounde
The romayn slayne that called was crassus
With fyre consumed was proude catulus

All his enmyes marrius dyd encoumbre
Which ageyne him by conspiracyon
Were assented with a full great noumbre
In their auyse for to haue put him doun
Take from him his domynacion
But he abode the turment and the shoures
Stronge to condempne all his conspiratours

Syx tymes aforne rehersed here
Of condicion though he were desp [...]tous
He was chosyn so oft consulere
Tyll fortune gan wex enuyous
Ageyn this seid cruell marrius
Which made the Senate with all the chyualrye
To g [...]tch ageyne his hatefull tyrannye

In this tyme the story maketh mynde
Damasippus a pr [...]tor of the toun
Frendly to marryus and helpynge as I fynde
Vnder a shadowe of decepcion
Vnto their cite for to do treson
Causynge foure romayns come in  [...]re
Tofore marrius a certeyne day to appere

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And their names to put in memorye
Sceuola carto and Domycyus
The fourth of them as seith the storie
Called in rome the wyse antistius
Togedre assembled tofore marrius
He of rancoure ageyne iugement or lawe
Made them be slayne and through the cyte drawe

Their bodyes after were in tybre cast
By cruelte of the sayde marrius
All this while the cruell werre last
Twene him and scilla tyll duke campanyus
Cam to the partye hardy and dispytous
To helpe Scilla their baners first displayed
Wherof all rome was sodenly affrayed

Atte gate that called was collyne
Marrie and scilla had a great batayle
Foure score thousande the noumbre to termyne
On marrius side slayne it is no fayle
Scilla victorious with marciall apparayle
Entrynge the toun ageyn his oth parde
Thre thousand citesyns slough at that cyte

Of folke disarmyd and nakyd in the toun
They nouther spared olde nor yonge of age
The cruell murdres walkynge vp and doun
By Scilla sent in that mortall rage
Tyll Cattallus a prince fall in age
Seide vnto scilla we can no difference
Twene rebellion nor atwene Innocence

We murdre and sle without excepcion
Both hye and lowe holdynge no manere
Ageyn all knighthode to myn oppinyon
We do procede in our conquest here
Oure title is lost the tryumph to requere
Of hye prowesse whan we can nat obserue
No difference to sle nor to reserue

And in this while of hatefull cruelte
Scilla contreuyd lettres diffamable
Wherby fyue hundryd oute of that cite
Were falsly banisshed citesyns notable
Ageyns them he was so vntretable
All their godys achetyd in that rage
Of auarice and of fals pillage

Another romayne named marrius
Brother to marrius of whom tofore I tolde
For drede of Scilla fled and toke an hous
Which vnto gote was set vp for a folde
Founde and rent out in his dayes olde
With cordes drawe no rescus might him saue
Of cruell vengeaunce to catallus graue

Where scilla made by cruell Iugement
With a sharpe swerde forgyd for to byte
After tyme his iyen were out rent
Both at onys his handes of to smyte
His hede of smet no raunson might him quyte
Set on a pole it wolde be none other
And of despight sent vnto his brother

To great marrius of whom I spake nowe right
The great duke so mighty and so huge
Which had afore take him to the flight
For fere of scilla in that mortall deluge
In to a cite to fynde there refuge
Called preueste there stondynge in great drede
Namely whan he behelde his brothers hede

For as moch as he no socoure fonde
Disespeyred this was his purpos
To sle him silf with his owne honde
In thylke place where he was kept clos
Drewe oute a swerde and vp anone aros
Constreyned his seruaunt in that soden affray
Smyte of his hede the silf same day

Men sey howe deth is fyne of all myscheef
Ende of aduersite that doth wretchys tarye
Fortune here maketh another preef
In marrius howe she hir cours gan varie
By an euydence hatefull and contrarye
To shewe hir malyce and vngoodliheded
Ageyn this duke alas whan he was dede

This frowarde lady of malyce moste vengeable
Whan hir lyst furiously to raue
And shewe hir silf cruell and vnstable
To none estate she list no rewarde haue
Caused marrius be take out of his graue
By cruell scilla in story it is founde
His ougly careyn smet on pecys rounde

And after more to shewe his cruelte
Marrius shulde haue no burienge place
Cast his careyn of cankryd enmyte
Into tybre there was none other grace
Loo thus can fortune for hir folke purchace
By which exaumple touchinge marrius
Of wordly chaunges bochas writeth thus

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Maketh in this chaptre a descrypcion
First what thinge is very gentylnesse
To set a preef and a probacion
Nothinge atteyneth vnto hye noblesse
But the clere shynynge of vertuous clennesse
Which may nat shewe in hye nor lowe parage
But where it groweth out of a pure corage

Worldly powere oppression tyrannye
Erthely tresour golde stonys nor richesse
Be no menys vnto gentrye
But if vertue rule their hye prowesse
For where vices haue interesse
In hye birth mene or lowe kinrede
Deme no man gentyll but only by his dede

In royall palasis of stone and metall wrought
With galaryes or statly  [...]loistres rounde
Gentylnesse nor noblesse is not soughte
Nor in selers nor in voughtys rounde
But only there where vertue doth habounde
Corious clothes nor great possessions
Maketh nat a man gentyll but condicions

Philosophers conclude in their entent
And all these worthy famous olde auctours
Noman may queth in his testament
Gentylnesse vnto his s [...]ssours
Of wyckyd wede come none holsum floures
Concludynge thus of gode men and of shrewys
Call eche man gentyll after his gode thewys

Duke marrius of whom I spak toforne
Of nature the story bereth witnesse
As by discent pore and nedy borne
By disposicion of coragious noblesse
Had in his persone wyt strength hardynesse
Vnder all this there dyd his herte myne
A worme of auarice his worship to declyne

What vayleth plente that neuer may suffyse
Or what the flode that stauncheth no thurst
Or what an appetyte which euer doth arise
All way to ete and euer to ete hath luste
Of cankred hungre so fretynge is the ruste
That the ryuer of tantalus in his rage
Of gredy etikys the fret may nat asswage

Of marrius ye haue herde the ende
His woofull fall and his vnhappy cas
In to fate howe he dyd wende
Nowe wyll I folowe myn auctour Iohn bochas
Howe vnto him thre cleopatras
With loke doun cast wofull face and chere
All at onys dyd to him appere

The first of them by proces of writynge
Had thre husbondys bochas doth expresse
Weddyd in youth to alisaundre the kinge
Called zebenna a prince of great noblesse
After that for hir great fayrnesse
She weddyd was vnto demetrius
And last of all to kinge antiochus

Of hir thre husbondys wofull auenture
And of hir sonnys great vnkyndnesse
Bochas afore hath done his besy cure
Ceriously the maner to expresse
Which to reherce ageyn were Idlenesse
Sith all the processe here tofore is founde
Of the first and eke of the secounde

Which weddyd was to kinge tholome
Lyke as a fore eke made is mencion
Both of their ioye and their aduersite
The first slayne by drinkynge of poyson
And the seconde to hir confusion
By euergetes were she wo orfeyn
Was with hir childe serued that was sleyn

The thryd weddyd was to kinge Grispus
Slayne in a temple by full greate outrage
For drede and shame gan wexe furious
To saue hir silf knewe none auauntage
Saue she enbracyd of Iupiter an Image
In the story as here tofore is founde
Or she was dede suffred many a wounde

Howe kinge metrydate boode vii yere in wyldernesse had greate turmentys both on see and londe / by hys blode brought to vntraunce slough him silfe with a swerde.

i wyll passe ouer these cleopatras thre
Furth procede to the hasty fate
Sone execute by ꝑcas cruelte
Vpon the duke called metrydate
First reherce the great vnkyndly hate
Of them that were his tutours as I rede
Him to destroye by assent of his kinrede

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Which of purpos dyd his deth prouyde
By many vncouth straunge occasion
In tendre youth first they made him ride
Vpon an horse wylder than a lyon
Of purpos only for his destruccion
But albe so that he was yonge of age
The horse he rulyd in all his moste rage

Nat of doctryne but only of nature
He was disposed cūnyngly to ryde
Ouer him the maystry to recure
Maugre the horse of wyt he was his guyde
What way he toke frowarde or asyde
He dauntyd him that where so euer he rode
Brydlyd him and on his bak he bode

His owne kyn and his next alyes
Moste laboured to brynge him to mischeef
With venymous drinke set on him espyes
At gode leiser as doth a couert theef
Of their fell poyson for to make a preef
In their entent this is well couth
Him to murdre in his tendre youth

But whan that he apperceyued their treson
To saue him silf made great ordynaunce
Anon as he gan haue suspecion
Of their vnkindly hatefull purueaunce
For remedyes made cheuysaunce
Was prouyded their malice to declyne
By many notable prouyd medecyne

And their malice prudently to eschue
Is remembred while he was yonge of age
With certeyne frendys which that dyd him sue
He disposed of custum his corage
To hunte and chace beestys moost sauage
Vnder that coloure he dyd it for a wyle
Ferre fro his cuntre absente him for awhile

Of one corage one herte and one chere
Suffred manly toke none heuynesse
In desertys space of seuene yere
Amonge hye hyllys bode in wyldrenesse
Set in asia the storye berith wytnesse
Fonde no lodgynge trasynge the cuntrees
Saue in kauernys and greate holowe trees

The boke remembreth howe that his dyete
Were beestys wylde enchaced with greate might
Fled Idelnesse eschued all quiete
And yltyll slepe suffised him at night
By excercise his body was made light
There was nouther whan him list pursue
Herte nor hynde that might his honde eschue

He nouther drad tygres nor lyons
He was so swyst though they dyd him assayle
Lyke of strength to old champions
No wylde beste of great nor small entrayle
To escape his honde might nat countreuayle
If he were ware erly outher late
So greate swyftnesse had  [...]tridate

Amonge he had in armys excercise
Amonge to tournay and ren on horsbacke
All delycate fare he dyd also despyse
Of gredy excesse in him there was no lak
A nightertyme his slepe full oft he brake
Stoundemele the houres for to marke
In the dawnynge ros vp or the larke

The space accomplisshed fully of seuene yere
He is repayred home to his cuntre
Shewyd him silf of manhode and of chere
Full like a knight his story who list se
Wherof hys enmyes astonyed be
Caught of his cūmynge in herte a manere drede
Supposynge afore that he was dede

In whoos absence his wif leodices
Conueyed a childe as made is mencion
For the diffame shulde nat cūme in prees
Him for to murdre she sought occasion
Fully in purpos to sle him by poyson
Of which diffautys hir lorde was no thinge fayne
Knowynge the trouth made hir to be slayne

Toke on him after many knightly dede
First to conquere all Pafflogonye
By the helpe of worthy Nychomede
That tyme called kynge of bythynye
Togydre assured to be of one alye
In losse or lucre fortune to be their guyde
And therto sworne neuer to deuyde

To metridate legates were doun sente
Fro the romayns him lowly requeringe
That he wolde lyke to their entent
Pafflogonye restore to their kinge
Which he had wonne the cite assaylyng
But he list nat aduertyse their prayere
Nor on no ꝑtyes their requestys here

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He dred nat their thretys nor manacys
Gate proudly after the londe of Galathye
In his conquestys wan many other  [...]lacys
Capadoce toke to his partye
Slough their kinge of hatrede and enuye
Ariarectes a full manly man
And in this wyse his conquest he began

Ageyn thassuraunce twene him and nichomede
All sodenly he gan fall at debate
Thought he wolde warreye him in dede
Bycause that he pompous and  [...]late
In capadoce toke on him thestate
To regne as kinge ageyns his entent
He nouther beynge of counseyle nor assent

¶Yit nichomede or they gan debate
Had longe afore to his owne encres
The suster weddyd of that Metridate
Whan they as brethren lyuyd in rest and pes
And she also was called leodyces
Hauynge two sonnys borne for to succede
After disses of seyde Nychomede

And by processe these seyde chyldren tweyne
In capadoce by helpe of metridate
Cleymed a tytle iustly for to atteyne
Vnto the crowne their fader dyed but late
For which they gan felly to debate
Tyll metridate falsly gan contriue
His two neuewes vngoodly to depriue

All Capadoce he toke into his honde
His owne sonne he hath crownyd kinge
Capadociens by assente of all the londe
Gan disobeye of purpose his werkynge
Whan the romayns considred all this thinge
A [...]obarzenes in hast they sent doun
Geyn metridate to kepe that region

The sonne of whom fro them they haue refused
Out of their kingdome gan him to enchace
For they sempt their fraunchise was abused
To se a foreyn occupye that place
Metridate gan newely them manace
And toke with theym to susteyne his ꝑtye
Tygranes the kinge of armenye

Arriobarzenes that was fro rome sent
To capadoce to help them and counsayle
Of metridate knowynge the entent
Howe he cam doun proudly him tassayle
With digranes set in the first batayle
Of capadoce that all the region
Was brought that day to their subiection

Thus metridate heuynge his entent
In short tyme cuntres conquerynge
Was mightyest prince of all the orient
And in tho dayes one the grettest kinge
And as it is remembryd by writinge
He delyted moste in astronomye
In sortilege and in sorcerye

And with all these he dyd his besy cure
For to lerne vncouth conclusions
And secretys sought out by nature
Knewe the langages of dyuerse regions
Of two and twenty sundry nacions
And helde wymen many more than one
Loued hipsicrata aboue them euerichone

To the romayns this manly metridate
As bokes olde recorde of him and sayne
Vpon a day of very cruell hate
Thrugh all as [...]e he bad that ech romayne
Shulde of his men mercyles be slayne
Twenty thousande he slough eke on a day
Of romayn marchauntys durst no man sey nay

To him he drough dyuers nacions
To encres his partye by puissaunce
Kymbroys Gallois with other regions
Bostornois toke to his alliaunce
With straunge peple made his acqueintaunce
Where that euer he rode nye or ferre
With theym of rome for to holde werre

In grece also he gate many an yle
All  [...]clades to his subiection
Conquered so that within a while
Of athenys he gate the famous toun
But whan romayns knewe his entencion
They sente scilla in a furious hete
With metridate in grece for to mete

Achelaus which that was cunstable
Ledynge the ost of kinge metridate
Gan ageyn scilla trustynge he was able
Maugre romayns with him to debate
As they met in their furious hate
Besyde Orthonya of grece a greate toun
Of achelaus the partye was brought doun

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There gan Scilla to be victorious
Geyne metridate and by greate violence
Gate all ephese a kyngdom full famous
Rode through asie fonde no resistence
By his knighthode and manly prouydence
Capadoce Bithynye eke also
To romayn handes he gate them both two

Whan metridate perceyued hath this thinge
Howe the conquest of Scilla toke encres
Anone he cast without longe taryinge
For a tyme with him to haue a pes
Of hye wysdom he was nat recheles
To dissymule tyll he fonde tyme and space
In fortune to fynde better grace

Abode his tyme kept him silf clos
Tyll he fonde leyser lyke his opinyon
In this while of auenture aros
Within rome a greate discencion
Twene two consulers beynge in that toun
Which to appesse by his auctoryte
Scilla cam vp ageyne to the cyte

Whan Metridate his absence dyd espye
To his purpos founde oportunyte
Gadred people and with his chiualrye
A siege layde vnto Cyzite the cyte
Of all asye moost of auctoryte
Tyll Lucullus a mighty consulere
To breke the syege aproch gan full nere

Metridate had on fyue capteyns
Tofore the toun made a disconfiture
Of hye despyte he had to romayns
But Lucullus the damages to recure
Tenclose his ennemyes dyd his besy cure
To his mynours gaue anone in charge
Aboute the syege to make a dych full large

They within had knowlegynge
By certeyne toknes of all their gouernaunce
Wherupon they made a tariynge
To cast away for their delyueraunce
Metridate seynge their ordynaunce
Of hye prudence escapyd awey beside
And at the sige lyst no lenger abide

Lucullus than the mighty consulere
Pursued after slough of his meyne
Such multitude that Asopus the ryuere
Was made with blode lyke the rede se
With wynde and tempest fordryuē also was he
And whan he sawe no socoure in the londe
To ship he went with strong and mighty honde

He fonde fortune cruell aduersarye
On londe and se this worthy metridate
And neptunus made the se contrarye
Ageyns him his puissaunce tabate
What shall men calle it influence or fate
So sodenly a prince of hye renoun
Fro hye noblesse to be plonged doun

For any myscheef he kept ay one visage
This metridate and loth was for to plye
Or for to bowe so stronge was his corage
But eft ageyn goth with his chiualrye
Towarde adastrus an hyll of armenye
Where as pompeye beset him enuyron
Sent fro rome to his destruction

Metridate makynge his lodgynge place
Vnder that hyll whan it drewe to night
The troubly heuene with thundringe gan manace
The fyry leuyn dyrkyd hath his sight
The cloudy mone eclipsyd of hir light
Astonyed him by vnware violence
That he stode confus of all prouidence

He was by tempest and vnware dyrknesse
Almoste made wery of his wofull lyf
Yit I finde of very kindnesse
Hipsitraca which that was his wif
Nouther for werre nor no mortall stryf
Left him neuer disgysed of visage
Folowed him arayed as a page

¶Yit in his moost mortall heuynesse
Whan cloudy fortune gan him moost manace
Of his corage the naturall quiknesse
Appalled nat nor remeuyd from his place
So hye prowesse dyd his herte enbrace
Nat dispeyred for no soden fall
Of condicion he was so marciall

In tokne wherof he stondinge at myscheef
Chaunged nouther chere nor countenaunce
An euidence and a full great preef
Of manly force and hertly assuraunce
Defiynge fortune with all hir variaunce
Whan that he fonde to his destruction
Of disespeyre grettest occasion

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[...]

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[...]

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With him he had a balyf as I fynde
Called Castor which of condicion
Was to his lorde fals and eke vnkynde
And conspired ageyn him fals treson
In tokne wherof vp to rome toun
His lordys children yonge and tendre of age
Lyke a thef he sent them in hostage

One of his sonnys he murdred by treson
Which metridate toke full fore at herte
Another sonne as made is mencion
Fals to his fadre which whan he dyd aduerte
The vnkyndnes made him sore smerte
For of all vices shortly to conclude
Worst of all is Ingratitude

This same childe of whom I make mynde
Called pharnax which ageyn nature
To his fader traytour and vnkynde
And his purpos ageyne him to recure
In all haste dyd his besy cure
For to accomplyssh his purpos in partye
Drough to him hole his saders chyualrye

By sleight and mede whan he was made stronge
H [...] besegyd his fadre rounde aboute
Vnto nature me semeth he dyd wronge
To put his fader in so great adoute
Kyndnesse was fer shet without
Whan the sonne with hate set afyre
Ageyn his fadre list falsly to conspyre

With multitude his fader was constreyned
Maugre his might into a toure to fle
His sonne vnkynde hath at him disdeyned
And yit for all his straunge aduersite
Of his corage the magnanymyte
In his psone stode hole lyst nat varye
Though fortune was to him contrarye

¶Yit myn auctour bochas berith recorde
That metridate if it wolde haue be
Requeryd his sonne to be at acorde
And set asyde all olde contrariouste
But he vnkynde indurat was parde
Euer frowarde malicious of corage
So disposed from his tendre age

So that the kynge metridate alas
Was ouercūme by vnkyndnesse
That neuer afore in nomaner cas
Stode dismayed but of hye prowesse
Kept ay one face all passions to represse
This vertu force by marciall doctrine
For none aduersite suffred him declyne

Ende of his werrys and his mortall stryues
Of his debates and discencions
His concubynes his doughters and his wyues
By mene only of certeyn pocions
Slough them all by drynkinge of poysons
For he nat wolde the cause to descryue
After his deth they shulde byde on lyue

Hys owne deth of mortall fell rigoure
Compassed afore thus he gan deuyse
Made a french knight that was a soudiour
With a sharpe swerde in full cruell wyse
To renne him thrugh wherby the fraunchise
Conserued was his purpos to fulfyll
He wolde nat dye but by his owne wyll

Lo here the ende of kynge metridate
Late princys all of his deth take hede
Howe rechelesly he passed into fate
And by assent made his herte blede
And bochas here who list his boke to rede
Pleynly rehersinge but in wordys fewe
To wordly princys doth his conceite shewe

Lenuoye.

MIghty princys lyft vp youre corages
Towarde heuene do your hertys dresse
Of your memou [...] turne vp the visages
Where ioye is euer pes concorde and gladnesse
True armonye celestyall swetnesse
Counterpeyse in youre remembraunce
Worldly chaunges fortunes variaunce

Aduertyse the mortall fell outrages
Of blody werrys impossible to represse
While fals enuye with his furious ragys
In sundry realmes hath so great intresse
Slaughtre murdre diuysion falsnesse
Which conscience haue brought to vttraūce
Through sodeyn chaunge of wordly variaunce

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Rekne vp princys that sate hye on stagys
What was the fyne of theyr royall noblesse
Or of tyrauntes rekne vp the blody wagis
Soden slaughter guyrdoned their wodnesse
Metrydate can bere herof witnesse
By blode vnkinde brought vnto  [...]ttraunce
Thrugh soden chaunge of worldly variauce

Princis remembre vpon the golden ages
Whan Saturne ruled the worlde in rightwysnesse
Next Iupiter for peplys auauntage
The sylueren worlde conserued in clennesse
Which mars hath nowe turned to felnesse
Made it steelen with swerde dagger and launce
Through sodeyn chaunge of wordly variaunce

Of Metridate regestre the viages
Conspyred poysons taffray his hye prowesse
On londe and se tempestuous passages
By constreynt bode seuene yere in wyldernesse
Of his wandrynge peyse thunsycrenesse
His ende in mischeef knewe non auoydaunce
Geyne wordly chaunge nor fortunes variaunce

If negligence haue brought you in rerages
Towarde god or he rekne in streightnesse
Lat reson medle for you to ley hostages
Compassion mercy partynge of all almesse
Towarde heuene to support your feblenesse
Whan your merytes shall peyse in balaunce
Of worldly chaunges and fortunes variaunce

Deth spareth nouther hye blode nor hye lynages
Haue mynde heron for any rechelesnesse
Transitoire be here your pylgrymages
Set with brygauntys vnwarly you to oppresse
But of prudence by greate auysenesse
With prouydence preserue youre puissaunce
Geyn wordly chaunge and fortunes variaunce

Howe Encratydes kinge of Sithye was slayne by Demetry [...]s: and after his careyn cast to hound [...]s

NExt in ordre to bochas dyd apere
A wofull prince that put him silf in pres
Regnynge in Sithia his story doth vs lere
The name of whom was Encratides
But to dysturbe his quiete and his pes
Ageyn him pleynly as I fynde
Cam demetrius the mighty kinge of [...]ynde

Of whom the power and the violence
To Encratydes was very importable
Besyegyd first and for lacke of diffence
Take at myscheef his fone nat mercyable
For demetrius was on him so vengeable
Whan he was slayne within his owne boundes
Made the careyn be cast out to the houndes

Nat withstandynge he was a worthy kinge
Born of hye blode such was his auenture
Demetrius sone aboue all erthly thinge
Hatyd him by recorde of scripture
Of rancoure denyed his sepulture
And for the mater is hatefull and contrarye
On his storye I wyll no lengre tarye

Howe Herodes kinge of Parthos werred with Romayns: which after his sonne and heire was slayne: made his bastarde sonne kinge: That anone after slough his fader

tO Arthanabus whilom of parthos kynge
I purpos my style to transporte
A full olde prince had in his lyuynge
Sonnes tweyne bokes so reporte
Which in his age dyd him moost confort
Metridate was the eldest brother
And Herodes called was that other

Metridate by reson of his age
His fader dede dyd after him succede
Which banysshed was for tyrannye and outrage
Afterwarde for mischef and for nede
In to babylon he toke his flight for drede
The peple anone after his partynge
Of Indignacion made his brother kinge

Thus cam herodes to estate royall
Pursued his brodre in to babylon
Leyde a siege rounde aboute the wall
They to him yeldyd vp the toun
Thus was his brother brought to confusion
Afore the castell without lengre date
Made smyte of the hede of metrydate

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In parthos after he toke possession
Thus yonge herodes of volunte and pride
Gan a werre ageyn them of rome toun
Whom to withstande they list nat longe abyde
The consull Crassus cam doun to their syde
Cōmaunded was shorte processe for to make
Towarde parthois his viage for to ta [...]e

Crassus list nat tentre in that reame
Left parthos the story doth deuyse
Toke his way towarde Ierusalem
To take there a solempne empryse
In the temple only of couetise
Toke ther ageyne the title of rightwisnesse
Vp all their tresour and their great richesse

By which he gate in dyuerse regions
Greate multytude to holde vp his ꝑtye
Led with him eleuene legions
Towarde parthoys faste gan him hye
By his lettres proudly gan diffye
The seide Herodes and with greate apparayle
Myd his cuntre profryd him batayle

The next morowe whan crassus toke the felde
To him was brought of blacke a cote a [...]mure
Which whan his knightis auisely behelde
Dempt it a tokne of disconfiture
For in contraire romayns do their cure
Whan their capteyn shall feight or the hede
His cote armure is outher white or rede

A Nother tokne frowarde to beholde
The first Egle bete in his banere
Also sone as men dyd it vnfolde
Contrariously he turnyd loke and chere
The bak to Cras [...]us folke sawe that stode nere
A pronostyk to romayns full certeyne
Howe fortune to them was that day ageyne

By the flode passynge of Eustrates
With vnware tempestes his standardis euerichone
In to the ryuere were caste amonge the prees
To rekne them all vpright stode nat one
Wherof astonyed they wolde no ferther gone
These pronostikes made theym so afrayed
Lyke men in herte dispeyred and dismayed

Of these toknes crassus was recheles
The pronostikes also he dyd despise
Toke vpon him to passe Eufrates
To entre parthoys only for couetyse
To whom herodes sendeth in this  [...]ase
That his comynge was more for pillage
Than for knighthode manhode or corage

All the power of parthoys tho cam doun
With many prefect and many greate cunstable
Ageyne crassus and them of rome toun
Which as I tolde abode on their pillage
That turned after to their great damage
The sonne of Crassus slayne in that fray
His fader take and all vpon a day

His hedesmyt of in whom was no diffence
And disconfyted with many legion
The hede of crassus brought to the presence
Of herodes within his royall toun
Which hath commaunded golde to be brought doun
To be molte there as he lay dede
And to poure therof full his hede

This thinge was done for a mockerye
In sygne only the storye doth deuyse
That golde nor tresour vpon no partye
Staunche might his thurst of couetise
Such gredynesse eche man shulde despise
For auaryce of custum in eche place
Of hye prowesse doth the pris difface

Herodes after dyd serch all the wardys
Thrugh all the feeld vpon Crassus side
Toke the penouns baners and standardys
And in his temples large longe and wyde
Lete hang [...] theym vp of surquedye and pryde
In signe only and eke for a memorye
He of romayns hath gete the victorye

With which he lyst nat only be content
Wenynge his fortune shuld abyde stable
In to surrye he hath his sonne sent
Called pachorus made him a cōstable
Of that region with him to be ꝑtable
Of all tresours and meobles that he fonde
Whereuer that he rode throughout all the londe

This parchorus by his chiualrye
Encres gan in his tendre age
Wherof herodes his fader had enuye
Feerfull it shulde turne to his damage
Lest he wolde by tytle of heritage
Maugre him at his ageyn comynge
Take vpon him of parthos to be kinge

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Than pachorus was called home ageyn
And of surrye where in conclusion
All that he had wrought was in veyn
Bycause one Cassus fro rome was come doun
Slough all the peple in that region
Which apperteyned to pachorus as I fynde
Without capteyn for they were left behinde

To witstande this romayn Cassius
Herodes hath his sonne sent ageyn
Which anon after the story telleth thus
Amyd the feeld vnhappyly was slayne
To trust fortune it is a thinge but veyne
Which of custum to day is fauorable
And to morowe gerysshly chaungeable

Of pachorus deth whan the noyse aros
And the distrussynge of his chyualrye
And to herodes abydynge in parthos
Tydynge was brought ferde as he wolde dye
Of hertely sorowe fyll into frensye
Heire was none left of the royall lynes
Saue thrytty basterdes borne of concubynes

Thus herodes was cast in gret sekenesse
His sonnes deth was to him Importable
His wordly Ioye was gone and his gladnesse
Fortune contrarye which neuer can be stable
Age fyll on his lyf was nat durable
And of one thinge moost he dyd him drede
Cause he had none heire to succede

Which wolde nat suffre him lyue in pes
Tyll at the laste he caught a fantasye
Chase a bastard called pharactes
Bycause he was famous in chyualrye
Gaue him the crowne and the regalye
Which anon after bruely to conclude
Slough herodes of Ingratitud [...]

Howe Fymbria a consull of rome slough him silf.

AFter to bochas by processe of the boke
Foure myghty princys notable of estate
Towarde him they cast chere and loke
Lyke vnto folke that were infortunate
With whom fortune had been at debate
For by their maner as it sempt wele
They were at mischeef fall fro hir whele

First Fymbria a romayn consulere
Sent by the romayns to a greate cyte
Called nichomede cam as a messangere
To helpe flactus slayn by great aduersite
As he entred into that cuntre
After whoos deth his ꝑty to auaunce
Of flaccus meyne toke the gouernaunce

Of presumpcion without auctorite
This Fymbry [...] by dyligent laboure
Full ferre aboue his state and his degre
Toke vpon him by fortunes fals fauoure
To be called capteyne and emperoure
Thrugh all that cuntre bokys specefie
Of whoos presumpcion Scilla had enuye

Pursued him through many great cite
To a castell made him take his flight
Where Fymbrya of greate necessyte
Constreyned was maugre all his might
Disespeyred forsake of euery wyght
To sle him silf the storye telleth thus
Within the temple of Esculapius

OF Albynius that was slayne with stonys

ANother consull stode in cas sem lable
In his tyme called albynyus
Whoos hatefull pride was abhomynable
To all folkys lothsum and odious
Which lyke a rebell wode and furious
Ageyn romayns oftner than onys
Whan he lest wende slayne was with stonys

Howe adriane borne of lowe degre falsly vsurped to be kynge of rome which with his chorles was after brent.

nExt Adryan which ros to hye estate
In his tyme called Albynius
First in rome borne of lowe degre
To gouerne of affryk the cuntre
Wherof his owne pompous auctorite
Toke vpon him by subtyll fals werkynge
Maugre romayns there to be crownyd kinge

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Whom to support shortly to conclude
Was a greate noumbre of the comonte
Of chorls gadred a confus multitude
Tytle was non nor grounde but volūte
Gentyll men than beynge in that cuntre
All of assent and one oppynyon
Assemblyd them to his destruction

At vtices a large great cite
Him and his churles beset rounde aboute
Of wode and fagot with large quantyte
In cumpas wyse closyd him without
Gadred with him of vyleyns a great rout
Layde on fyre that with flamys rede
Echon consumed into asshes dede

Howe Synthonyus kynge of trace that moch couetyd all forwent and dyed in pouerte

nExt Adrian cam Synthony [...]s
Tofore bochas with terys spreynt his face
As the storye rehersith vnto vs
In his tyme he was kynge of trace
F [...]ll sodenly from fortunes grace
Cast doun lowe from his estate royall
Which cam to bochas to compleyn his fall

Whos purpos was if it wolde haue be
Seuene realmys to haue conquered with his honde
That were subget to rome the cyte
And all seuyn were of grekys londe
Who all couetyth ye shall vnderstonde
He all forgoth full well afferme I dare
At vnset hour wherof eche man beware

Longe or his conquest was brought to apreef
From hir whele fortune cast him doun
The pretor Sencius brought him to mischeef
Dyed in pouerte as made is mencion
And Bochas here make a digression
Compendiously within a lityll space
To descriue the region of trace

Here bochas in ꝑty maketh a descripcion of the kingdom of Trace and passeth ouer lightly vnto the accō plysshment of his boke

TRace whilom a cuntre of great fame
And conteyneth a ful large space
And of tyras it toke first the name
Sonne of Iaphet and so was called trace
Which many a day dwelled in that place
Towarde Septemptrion plenteous of gode
Besyde Dynoe the large famous flode

Southwarde trace renneth the flode Egee
Macedoyne standeth in the occident
And the kingdom called Perpontidee
Stant in trace towarde the orient
Where great plente of blode was shed and spent
Whan Sencius thrugh his hye prowesse
Kynge Adrian there manly dyd oppresse

Ebrus in trace is the chef rite
As myn auctour maketh mencion
I castnat to tary in this matere
To make of trace a discripcion
But to procede in my translacion
Folowe myn auctoure which wryteth a longe ꝓcesse
Of greate Pompeye and his worthynesse

Howe after many greate conquestys of duke Pompeye beganne greate werre betwene him and Iulyus Thre hundred thousande were slayne and at the last the hede of pompeye smetyn of

tHis pompeius of whom the name is couth
Wys and worthy and famous of prowesse
Toke vpon him in his tendre youth
After his fadre by fortunat duresse
Called pompeye the story bereth wytnesse
Distrussyd was by sodeyn deth comynge
The storye seith thrugh thundrynge and lightnynge

His host destroyed by the violence
Of vnware tempest lyke as seyth the boke
Forty thousande slayne in that pestylence
For fere the remenaunt the felde anon forsoke
Tyll yonge pompeie of corage on him toke
In his begynnynge proudly to procede
Full lyke a knight his fadres host to lede

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Rome that tyme by their dissencions
Amonge them silf nye brought to ruyne
By the froward fals dyuysions
Twene Marye and Scylla breuely to termyne
Tyll that a newe sonne gan to shyne
Of worthinesse which shad his light
In manly pompe ye the noble famous knight

This seyde pompeye this noble knightly man
At his begynnynge through his chiualrye
The proude capteyne slough whan he began
Which of marrius helde vp the partye
Called Brutus which in Lumbardye
Was by pompeie through knightly gouernaunce
With all his hoste brought vnto mischaunce

In his begynnynge pompeye eke also
To set romayns in rest and quiete
One that was called Gueeus carbo
He slough him knightly whan he dyd him mete
Which in Scicile proudly helde his fete
And all the cuntrees aboute him enuyron
Pompeie made them subget to rome toun

After all this pompeius on the se
With many a shyp stuffed with vitayle
Towarde affrik made a great arme
And there in haste after his arriuayle
With domicyus had a great batayle
Brought the cuntre through his hye renoun
To be to rome vnder subiection

He pursued the great mighty kynge
Called Iertha to marrius fauourable
And had also his royall abidynge
In Numedye a cuntre full notable
Ageyn pompei his powere was nat able
For at a castell as they met in fight
He slough kinge Iertha full like a manly knight

This in breef tyme holdynge his passage
Fro comon profyte as made is mencion
By his wysdom and knightly hye corage
Brought all affrik to subiection
Which stode afore in rebellyon
To the romayns but all their sturdinesse
The seid pompeie dyd in hast redresse

The gretest enmye ageyne rome toun
Thylke dayes was one Sertorius
And of fortune which is nowe vp nowe doun
On pompeie onys was victorious
But after sone of him it hapnyd thus
Amonge his meyne fallynge at debate
He slayne was in his moost hye estate

After the deth of thys Sertorius
Cam Porpenna pompeie for tasseyle
And as they met anon pompeius
Full lyke a knight slough him in batayle
Which victorye greatly dyd auayle
To the romayns after by gouernaunce
He brought spayne to their obeysaunce

By auctoryte youe by the senate
This noble pompeye for vayle of the cyte
Vpon the se wolde suffre no pirat
Where euer he cam fro him they dyd fle
For with his shippis he scored so the se
And bare him there so manly with his honde
That maugre them he brought them to the londe

All these pyrates and these fals robbour [...]
I gadred oute were of the regyon▪
Callyd Scicile which lyke to rauynours
Made ageyn rome a conspiracion
Robbyd spoyled seylynge vp and doun
Romayne marchauntys and peple of eche cuntre
That none was hardy to passe by the se

After pompeie hath made these to obeye
That pyrat none durst theron abyde
He by the Senat was sent out to werrey
Towarde the oryent his knightys by his syde
And where so euer that he dyd abyde
Myn auctour write by influence of heuyn
His conquest was swift as fire or leuene

And to encres of his eternall glorye
Perpetually to gete him a name
His laude and renoun to put in memorye
He byldyd a cite in asia of greate fame
Called Nychopoly bochas seith the same
Twene two flodys that one araxases
And that other was called cufrates

He byldyd this cyte only of entent
That romayn knightys that were fall in age
And such as were in the werrys spente
Shulde of custom haue their herbergage
In that cyte alwey and nat fayle
Beddynge clothys spendynge and vitayle

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Pompeye after rode into armenye
Rebell to rome where Tigranes was kinge
Faught with him there and thrugh his chiualrye
Disconfyted him there was none abydynge
Where Tigranes him silf submyttynge
Vnto pompeye with euery circumstaunce
Euer to abyde vndre his obeysaunce

Than in all haste pompey gan him hye
To ride in asia where lyke a manly knight
He gate the kingdom called Albanye
Which toke his name who so loke aright
Of whitnesse for euery manere wight
That there is borne by recorde of wrytinge
Whyte as snowe hath his here shynynge

There been houndys meruelous of nature
For tassayle bolys and lyons
No wylde beest may ageyn him dure
So pompeye by many regyons
Rode thrugh armenye with his chaumpions
Where growen herbys that may neuer f [...]ynte
What euer colour men list with them peynte

Conqueryd realmys aboute in euery coost
Of hiberye he gate the region
And artaces the kynge with all his ofte
Disconfited as made is mencion
With his power to Surrye he cam doun
Than to fenyce a kyngdom of great fame
Which of fe [...]x whilom toke his name

Brought all these cuntrees to subiection
Of Cydonye the mighty stronge cite
Of Iturie he toke possession
Through arabye he cam doun to Inde
Which of Iewes was sumtyme the cuntre
Of lybanus he passed the mounteyne
Where cedres growe as auctours seyn

Sent tofore him entrynge in that reame
One Gabynus amighty stronge cunstable
Regnynge that tyme in Ierusaleme
Aristobolus a prince full notable
And for the temple was stronge and premyable
Layde a syege aboute in brede and lengeth
Space of thre menethys gate it so by strength

Thre thousand Iewys vndre the wall were founde
Dede at the assaute which made resistence
The wall after betyn doun to grounde
Pompey after by sturdy violence
Is entred in without reuerence
Sancta sanctorum men that place call
Made Hircanius hyest preest of all

The great bisshop Aristob [...]lus
Sent to rome in mighty cheynys bounde
Towarde septentrion I fynde writen thus
Gate seuene kingdomes with citees walled rounde
Rebell to rome he dyd theym confounde
With mighty swerde gate all the cuntre
Fro cancasus doun to the rede se

In his conquest it sempt verely
As the goddys had done their cure
And that fortune was with them eke besy
This mighty pompeie prince of assure
What euer him list by conquest to rec [...]e
In spayne he gate whan they were rebels
Thre hundred cytees and sixty stronge castels

Harde to remembre his conquestys euerychon
All the prowessys of this knightly man
Towarde the party of Septemtrion
A thousande castels I fynde that he wan
Six hundred mo fro tyme that he began
Eight and thretty citees oute of doute
With mighty wallys closyd rounde aboute

Peyse his dedys his conquestys marciall
Thryse consull chose for his encrees
Rede ye shall finde howe he was egall
To alisaundre or to hercules
Where that euer he put him silf in pres
All cam to hande concludynge ye may se
To comon profite of rome the cyte

His marciall dedys to put in remembraunce
One was chose to do his diligence
To enacte his conquest in substaunce
And his knighthode to singuler excellence
And triffanes famous of eloquence
Assigned was vnto that laboure
Toke his guerdon of their comon tresoure

Pompey of rome was cheef gouernour
Cesar absent in Gaule a fer cuntre
Which tyme pompeie stode in great fauour [...]
Both of fortune and rome the cite
Sumwhat made blynde of his prosꝑyte
Purposinge in his clymbynge nat stable
He wolde haue none that were to him semblable

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Vnto purpos was sayde full yore agoon
Howe that loue nouther hye lordship
Preef hath be made in many mo than oon
Nouther of them wolde haue no felawshipe
Eche by his one wolde his party kepe
In these two cas brother vnto brother
Fayleth at a poynt eche wyll put out other

To pompeie resortynge nowe ageyn
He toke on him all the gouernayle
Of the romayns as ye haue herde me seyne
Both of estatis comons and porayle
And for his parte all that might auayle
In makynge lawes statute or decre
All vp engrossed by his auctoryte

Folke this while which that had enuye
Towarde cesar in his longe absence
Lete make a lawe by conspiracye
And a statute concludinge in sentence
Without excepcion fauour or reuerence
No man shulde by wyll of the senat
In his absence be chose to none estate

Nor be admyttyd by no procuratoure
To haue auctorite of dignite nor offyre
In court of tribune nor of senatour
To be promotyd thys was their aduys
Were he neuer so manly nor so wys
This lawe ordeyned by folke enuyous
For hyndrynge only of cesar Iulius

Whan Iulius knewe all their fals werkinge
Fro gaule sent vp to the cyte
All the senat requerynge by writynge
To graunt him by their auctorite
Of tryumphe the notable dignite
To haue also thoffys and estate
Called in rome the seconde consulate

For him alledgynge many great victorye
In dyuers cuntrees done for the cyte
Many conquest notable of memorye
Wrought by his knighthode for which of equite
Requerynge them guirdoned for to be
But contrarye vnto his entente
Denyed him all by one assente

Which was cheef grounde rote and occasion
That brought in first the contr [...]uersye
Ciuyly discordys frowarde diuision
Whan euery man drough to his partye
Of olde hatrede to kyndle newe enuye
Causinge princis Iulius and Pompeye
To their confusion eche other to werrey

The triumphe denyed to cesar
Fraude of pompeye made him therof faile
Of whoos deceyte Iulius was war
Made him redy with many stronge batayle
Passed ouer the alpies of Itayle
Fully in purpos playnly if he might
With the romayns and pompeye for to fight

Thus gan the werres atwene these princys tweyne
Pompeie chose for partye of the toun
To be their duke and capteyn souereyn
Ageyne Cesar as made is mencion
And thus alas the disolacion
Sued of the cite by many straunge signe
With vncouth toknys whan they gan maligne

At the gynnynge of these wofull werrys
In the heuen were sene dredfull sightys
Sparklynge brondes cometis vncouth sterris
With flame of fire many feerfull lightys
Lyke lampys brennynge all the longe nighty [...]
Castynge of sperys dartys in the ayre
Wherby romayns fill in great dispayre

From the partye of Septemtrion
Towarde rome cam full greate lightnynge
At noone seen sterrys lyke blode the sonne shone
The moone eclipsyd terrible in shewynge
The mounte Ethna feerfull brennynge
From his cauernys castup flamys rede
Towarde Itayle which set them in right greate drede

But of caribdys a daunger of the se
Wawys terrible boyled vp lyke blode
From the rokkys that in Scicile be
Was herde howlynge of houndys that were wode
Vesta the goddesse in rome where she stode
Myd hir temple was all with terys spreynt
Whan the heuenly fyres were afore hir queynt

Afore the goddesse at the aulter principall
Was fyre perpetuell brennynge day and night
Tyll werrys Cyuile hatefull and terrible
Gan amonge romayns in the contagious fight
Than of vengeaunce anon was queynt the light
Tofore vesta the fyre partynge on tweyne
Of dyuision a tokne full certeyne

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Erth quaues soden and terrible
Ouertourned castels vp so doun
With rage flodys hydous and horrible
Neptunus dyd greate destruction
Drowned villages and many mancion
Reuersyd in templys of golde all their vessels
Threwe doun baners standardys and pensels

Geyne these signes was found none arest
The vnware mischeef coude no man declyne
Lyons wolues cam doun fro the foreste
With many other beestys sauagyne
Wylde bestys and serpentys of rauyne
Cam to the cyte and sūme ageyne kinde
Spake as do men in bochas thus I fynde

Dyuerse folkes which of their nature
 [...] in custom to fle but a night
Afore these werrys dyd him silf assure
Euene at mydday whan phebus is moost bright
Thrugh then cite for to take their flight
Wymen with chylde the storye list nat feyne
Brought forth sūme that had hedys tweyne

Tofore these werrys that called were Cyuile
Senatours beynge in rome toun
C [...]m to the woman that called was cibyle
Vnto h [...]r made this questyon
To declare by short conclusion
Amonge their other questions all
Of their cite what fortune shulde befall

To whom she gaue an answere full obscure
Wherupon she made theym sore muse
Toke them sixe lettres set in pleyn scripture
Which in no wyse they might nat refuse
For fals rightes that they dyd vse
Lyke the thre lettres twyes set in noumbre
Who vnderstondeth they shall the toun encoumbre

Thre R R R firste she set on a rowe
And thre F F F in ordre fast by
Longe tyme after or they coude knowe
The exposicion therof opynly
Tyll their diuynours gan serche subtylly
To finde oute lyke to their entent
By the syx lettres what Cybile ment

O of this worde regnum the first lettre is R
So is the capytall of rome the cite
Who loke aright the thryd is nat fer
This worde Ruet gynneth with R parde
Of which wordys whan they ioyned be
The sentence concludeth in menynge
Of their cyte the Ruyno us fallinge

Touchinge thre F F F who can aduertise
Of this worde ferro F goth toforne
And the cheef lettre of fames to deuyse
Is F also the processe well forth borne
The same of Flamma by which the toun was lorne
Of which resons make a coniunction
Causynge of rome fyn all distruction

Fyre swerde and hungre caused by the werrys
Desire of clymbynge froward ambicion
Shewynge of cometis and of vncouth sterris
With pronostekys of their desercion
Worst of all wilfull dyuision
Amonge theym silf by vnware violence
Of lettres sixe accomplisshed the sentence

The swerde of Cesar werrys of pompeye
Twene these tweyne lastynge a great while
Made many romayne and Italien to dye
By the batayles that called were Cyuile
With prophecies remembryd of Cybile
As the writynge full well reherce can
Of the olde poete that called was lucan

In martys temple on heith where he stode
And bellona the goddesse despitous
The prestys cryed and offred vp their blode
With lamentacion lyke folke furious
Cause of toknes fell and contrarious
Which that were shewed in that sentuary
Howe their goddys to romayns were contrarye

Monge dede bonys that lay in their grauis
Were voycis herde lyke woodmen in their ragi [...]
Cry of goostys in kauernys and ka [...]ys
Herde in feldys pathis and passages
Laborers fled home to their villages
Serpentys adders scalyd siluer bright
Were ouer rome seyne flyenge all the night

Another tokne pytous for to here
Which astonyed many proude romayn
Dede bodyes dyd in the feelde appere
Which in batayle had afore be slayne
Fro their toumbes arysynge where they layn
Which in the werres wofull and dispitous
Were slayne by Scilla and proude ma [...]tius

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It was eke tolde by their dyuynours
Howe pompeyus was lyke to haue a fall
And howe thestate of romayn emperours
With their triumphes that be Imperiall
At Iuluis first begynne shall
And after him thestate shall forth procede
By election or lynyall kynrede

To withstonde the power of cesar
Which towarde rome toke his wey right
Pompeye was sent wis manly and right war
But whan he herde tell of the might
Of Iulius he toke him to the flight
Eke all the senatours with him dyd fle
Towarde Epyre in grece a stronge cyte

Pompeie was olde famous in chiualrye
Cesar but yonge hardy for to assayle
Vpon the pleyns of grece and thessalye
Pompeye and he had a greate batayle
Geyn Iulius swerde no romayn might auayle
Constreyned of force the felde to forsake
Towarde Egipt they haue the wey take

Pompeye through cypre cam to Tholome
By a greate water at paphus dyd arryue
On the stronde there he dyd se
A stately place and vp he went blyue
The name of which pleinly to descryue
Cacobasile the cuntre dyd it call
Of which name the fortune is thus fall

The name tokneth of frowarde arriuayle
Sownynge in grete vnhappy auenture
By which the trust of pompeye dyd fayle
Fyll in despeire might it nat recure
Forsoke that Ile dyd his besy cure
To take a ship so by the se saylynge
Towarde Egipt where tholome was kinge

Of trust he fled to this tholome
In hope he sholde fynde in him socoure
Fayre chere shewed vndre duplicite
Fayled at the poynt gaue him feynt fauoure
Albe pompeye by his frendly laboure
Crowned him kynge in Egipt as I fynde
To whom ageyn he was fals and vnkynde

To mete pompeye he lete stuf a barge
By a maner pretence of frendlyhede
Gaue his menye that were there in charge
To mordre pompeie byhight them a great mede
Tweyne there were that bare to him hatrede
And in the vessell with sharpe swerdys whet
Or he was ware of his hede they smet

That one of theym was callyd achyllas
And his felowe named was fotyne
Toke vp the hede of that prince alas
Famous in knighthode borne of gentyl lyne
Amonge romayns as auctours determyne
Bolde in his tyme if men do him right
Through all the worlde one the best knight

Thus erthely princys with al their pompous fame
Which through all the worlde yeueth so greate a soun
Of slaughtre and mordre they toke first their name
By fals rauyne and extorcion
Clambe vp first so to domynacion
Brennynge of cuntrees conquest by violence
Set them in chayres of worldly excellence

In this batayle that called was ciuyle
Holde atwene pompeye and cesar Iulius
Thre hundryd thousand slayne within a whyle
Thre thousande take the storye telleth thus
Without princis notable and glorious
As kinges pretours reknyd all atonys
Trybunys consulys and centuryonys

Phebus on the soyle might nat his bemys sprede
Nor on the grounde shewe out his clere light
Men that were slayne lay so thycke on brede
That of the erth noman had a sight
Wulues berys rauynous foules of flight
Cam great plente to fede them there eche day
Besyde the ryuere of Nyle where they lay

Gobettys of flessh which foulys dyd arare
Fro dede bodyes borne vp in the ayre
Fyll fro their clees vpon Iulius face
Amyd the feeld where he had repayre
Made his visage blody and nat fayre
Albe that he to his encreas of glorye
Had thilke day of romayns the victorye

The hede of pompeye brought with his statly ring
Offred vp to Iulius hye presence
He by compassion the murdre aduertysynge
Of his Innat imperiall excellence
Brast out to wepe and in his aduertence
Thought greate pyte a prince of so great might
Shulde so be slayne that was so gode a knight

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The coors abode withoute sepulture
Tyll one Codrus of compassion
After the batayle and disconfiture
Besought him of great affection
To hyde the Trunke lowe in the sondys doun
Sought tymber and there he fonde but small
To do exequies with fyres funerall

Nowe sith this prince cam to such mischeef
Murdryd and slayne by tholome the kynge
Here of hir power fortune hath made a preef
What trust there is in any wordly thinge
After his deth wantyd he nat buryenge
This proude pompeie so famous of his honde
Of fyssh deuoured as he lay on quyksonde

What shall men set by power or noblesse
Of slydinge godys or any wordly glorye
Which to restreyne may be no syerenesse
Fortune and the worlde is transitorye
Though mars to day yeue a man victorye
Parcas tomorowe vnwarly he shall deie
I take recorde of Cesar and pompeye

Sith all stant vnder daungere of fortune
y [...] wordly men do your loke vp dresse
To thilke place where ioye doth ay co [...]une
The blynde lady hath there none interesse
Se [...] pride asyde take you to mekenesse
To  [...] vertue do truly your laboure
 [...]yn worldly pompe make pompeie your mirroure

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye of the duke pompeye
Declareth in gros the cheef occasion
Why he and cesar gan first werreie
Eche ageyn other through vayn ambycion
To haue lordshyp and domynacion
Ouer the romayns by fauoure fraude or might
Possession take no force of wronge nor right

To trouthis party pryde is loth to obeye
Extort power doth greate destruction
Wys policie all out of the weye
Prudente counsayle age with discrecion
Loste their lyberte of fre election
Who was moost stronge with him helde euery wight
Possession take no force of wronge nor right

Such diuysion made many man to deye
Brought the cite to disolacion
With two princys fortune lyst to pley [...]
Tyll from hir whele she cast theym both doun
Subtyll diceit fraude and collusion
By ambycious clymbynge blent their both light
Possession take no force of wronge nor right

Noble princys remembre what I seye
Peyse this storye within in your reson
Of fals surmountynge auaryce berith the keye
Recorde of Cesar pompeye of rome toun
Whoos wylfull werrys hatefull discencion
Yeueth clere warnynge to you and euery wight
No clayme is worth without tytle of right

Howe victorious Iulius Cesar brent the vessels of Tholome: slough achillas that wolde haue murdryd him: and after greate victoryes him silfe was murdryd with bo [...]dekens by brutus Cassius

AFter the wofull compleynt lamentable
Of pompeis deth pytous for to here
Werres remembred with tresons importable
Compassed fraudes fraced with faire chere
Conspired murdre reherced the manere
Howe kinge tholome fraudolent of corage
The deth conspyred of pompeie fall in age

The processe tolde I holde it were but veyn
Therof to write a newe tragedye
Thinge onys seyde it to reherce ageyne
It were but idle as for that partye
But howe cesar went out of thessalie
Cam to alisaundre to lodge him in that place
I wyll remembre with support of your grace

He lodgyd was in the paleis royall
Where he was besy by dyligent laboure
Through that region in temples royall
To spoyle goddys and haue all their tresoure
Where he was mockyd fonde there no fauoure
For achillas which that slough pompeie
Cast him with cesar proudly to werreye

His purpos was to fall vpon cesar
As of nature was his condicion
Falsly to murdre men or they were war
By some sleight to fynde occasion
To destroye Iulius by treson
And to accomplissh his purpos in partye
Had twenty thousande in his cumpany

[...]

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Incipit Liber Of Antonye son and heire to greate Antonye: An [...]

tHis story endyd last of the sixt boke
Bochas wery thought for the beste
Of great trauayle oppressyd in his boke
Fyll in a slombre lenynge on his cheste
Fully in purpose to haue take his reste
But euene as  [...]ere [...]t shulde haue take
Cam a greate pres and made him to awake

First of that felawship cam the sonne and heire
Of antonye with blode spreynt all his wede
Called antonye fall in greate despeire
Cause Octauyan bare to him hatrede
Whoos swerde he fled quakynge in his drede
To an olde temple socour for to haue
Trustynge from deth the place shulde him saue

[...]

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As the preestys dyd their besy cure

To offre a calf anone or they toke hede

The same calf a thynge ageyn nature

Brought furth a lambe the same tyme I rede

An ougly tokne which put theym in full great drede

A contrarye pron [...]sticacion

Shewed vnto theym of their subuersion

With other toknys frowarde and contrarye
The same tyme were shewyd euer amonge
The brasen dorys of the inwarde sentwarye
With yron barrys shet that were moost stronge
Brode of entayle rounde and wondre longe
That might nat meue with thretty mens might
Opnyd by them silf twyse on a night

There were seyn also charys in the aire
Men of armys with bright swerdys clere
Of plate and mayle armure was so fayre
Bryght as phebus where they dyd appere
And as the story also doth vs lere
With their sheltrons and their apparayle
A profre made their cite Ierlm̄ for to assayle

To the Iewys it dyd signefye
A pronostyke of their destruction
Preestys to the temple as they dyd theym hye
Vpon a night to do oblacion
Amyd the temple was herde a dredefull soun
Of which noyse this was the dreedfull ende
Rys vp echon and late vs hens wende

And full foure yere tofore the siege gan
One ananyas yonge and tendre of age
Of his birth sonne of a rude man
By disposicion dull of his corage
Lyke as he had fall in a rage
Ran in the cyte by a maner frensye
Sparyd nat with opyn mouth to crye

Vnto this noyse was made non obstacle
But obstynat euer to his entent
Day of the feest holde in the tabernacle
A voyce quod he out of the oriente
Voyce fro the south fro northe and occidente
Voyce fro the foure windes yt blowe so brode & wyde
Voice ageyne Ierusalem cryeth oute on euery syde

Voyce geyn the temple ageyn the peple also
Voyce ageyn husbondes voyce ageyn their wyues
Wo to Ierusalem with a treble wo
Of hungre thrust and lesynge of their lyues

[...]

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[...]

Which haue Itayle like a sonne clere

With poetrye playnly to descryue

Moste souereynly enlumyned by youre lyue

I haue desyred as it is well couth
Of rightfull herte by humble attendaunce
To do you worship fro my tendre youth
And so shall euer voide of all variaunce
Durynge my lyf for trewly in substaunce
Ye haue been lanterne light and direction
Ay to support myn occupacion

As in writynge bokys to compyle
Cheef exaumple to my great auauntage
To refourme the rudnesse of my style
With aureat colours of youre fressh langage
But nowe for dullyd by impotence of age
Of decrepytus markyd with many a signe
My labour vp of writynge I resigne

I cast me nat forth to procede
Stonde at a bay for dryuene for werynesse
Quod frauncis petrak lese nat thus thy mede
Yeue men no cause to report nor expresse
In thy last age thou hast founde a mastresse
Which hath the brydlyd in soth and that is routh
And holdeth thy rene and she is called slouth

An euydent tokne of frowarde slogardye
 [...] to  [...]resse
Ryse vp for shame for I can well espye
Folke that can grone and fele no sekenesse
Their chaumbyrleyn is callyd Idlenesse
Which leith thy pillowe at eue and at morowe
Voide hir from the and let hir go with sorowe

To all vertue frowarde and contrarye
Is Idlenesse here in this present lif
Which hath the drawe away fro thy librarye
Wyll the nat suffre to be contemplatyf
For hir condicion is to holde stryf
With euery vertuous occupacion
Which men shuld voyde of wisdom and reson

In this matere what shulde I longe tarye
Thy slombre leue and vp thyn iyen dresse
The boke I made of lyf solitarye
Remembre theron the which in sekirnesse
Techeth the way of vertuous besynesse
By and by who liste rede euery lyne
Of contemplacion morall and dyuyne

[Page]
As I seide erst yit lift vp thy loke
Forsake thy bed rise vp anone for shame
Woldest thou rest nowe vpon thy seuenth boke
And leue thy eight in soth thou arte to blame
Procede forth and gete thy silf a name
And with one thinge do thy silf a confort
As thou deseruest men after shall reporte

Make a comparison twene dyrknesse and light
Twene Idlenesse and occupacion
Twene faire dayes and the cloudy night
Twene a cowarde prowesse and hye renoun
Twene vertuous spech and fals detraction
And to conclude all vices to represse
Contrary to slouth is vertuous besynesse

Vertuous besines O bochas take gode hede
Reneweth all thinges of olde antiquite
Maketh men to lyue after they be dede
Remembreth the noblesse of many greate cyte
And ne were writers all were gon parde
Wherfore bochas sith thou arte nere the londe
Suffre nat thy ship to stomble on the sonde

Imene as thus the ship of thy trauayle
Which hath passed the se of bokes seuene
Cast nat ankre tyll thou haue gode riuayle
L [...]te no tempest of thundre  [...]
Nor no wyndes of the cloudy heuene
Nor no fals Iangelers of demers that wyll blyue
Depraue thy labour late thy ship to aryue

Bast on thy wey late grace crosse thy sayll
Fall on no sonde of wilfull negligence
Late gode wyll be cheef of thy counsayle
To guye thy rother set entere diligence
If vitaile faile and wyne to thy dispence
Yit at the last thynke for thy socoure
Sum royall prince shall quyte thy laboure

Thynke by writynge auctours dyd their peyne
To yeue princes their cōmendacions
To Remus Romulus callyd founders tweyne
Of rome toun and of two scipions
They wrote the knighthode prudence of two catons
Of Iulius / pompeye / hanyball eke also
By exaumple of whom loke that thou do so

Of prophetys they wrote the prophesies
And the nobles of olde moyses
Of poetys the laureate poesies
The force of sampson the strength of hercules

[...]

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[figure]

Octauus [...] [...]ure of Rome / and many other Emperours and nobles [...] [...]ly endyd

 [...]
This same tyraunt regnynge in his estate
To all the cite was passynge odious
Best and moost worthy he slough of the Senate
And vnto all that were vertuous
Mortall enmye and moste malicious
And for slaughter of senatours in the toun
Axed the tryumphe as made is mencion

Made amonge Iewes by full greate outrage
Where as he had grettest suspicion
To sle all tho that were of the lynage
Of Dauyds kynrede of kinge Salamon
Lest he were put out of domynacion
Amonge Iewys this was his menynge
Slough all tho that was borne to be kynge

[Page]
Amyd the paleis as god wolde of right
Punyssh a tiraunt and quyte him his mede
This domician was slayn vpon a night
His careyne after vnburied as I rede
And comodus doth after him succede
Which was all youe by flesshly appetite
To leue all vertue and folowe his delyte

Theatre playes of custom he dyd vse
As was the custum there and the vsage
His lif in vices he falsly dyd abuse
In lecherous lustys dispent all his yonge age
To the romayns dyd full great damage
For of the senate that were moost vertuous
Were falsly sleyne by this Comodus

In his tyme by stroke of thondredent
And fyry lightnynge that cam doun fro heuene
The comon lybrarye was of the cyte brent
With royall bokys of all the craftis seuene
Bokes of poetys mo than I can neuene
And Comodus breuely to termyne
Was slayne and stranglyd by his concubyne

HElmus pertynax cam nex on the ringe
Ordeyned after emperour of that toun
Olde and vnw [...]ldy slayn in his gynnynge
After whom  [...]
By no title of succession
But an Intrusoure one callyd Iulian
Thestate vsurpynge to regne there began

But of the noble lynage affrican
Borne in Tripolis a mighty greate cyte
One Seuerus that was a knightly man
Gadryd of romayns a wondre great meyne
Both made stronge Iulian met and he
At pount meleyn a cyte of Itaile
And there was Iulyan slayne in batayle

Seuerus after entryd the empyre
And toke vpon him the domynacion
Vpon cristen of malice set afraye
Began ageyn theym a persecucion
Of tyrannye and fals ambycion
But one of egipt called poscēnyus
Ageyne Seuerus gan to werke thus

Gadryd meyne Seuerus for tassayle
In purpose fully and theron dyd his peyne
First with him to haue a great batayle
Next of thempire the crowne for tatteyne

[...]

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[...]

Right sad and wyse in that they had to do

And were the first cristen of echon

Emperours reknyd for there tofore was none

By poncyus the martyr as I rede
In meya a famous greate cyte
They were baptysed and afterwarde in dede
Slayne in batayle for they list nat fle
Tofore their deth both of assent parde
Their tresoure hole that were Imperiall
To cristys church I finde they gaue it all

The busshop Sixtus toke possession
Vertuously assignyd it to laurence
Therof to make distribucion
To pore folke in their indigence
For which dede by cruell violence
The tiraunt decyus ageyne theym toke a stryf
Caused holy laurence by brennynge lose his lyf

This same decius cursyd and cruell
Caused the slaughter of these philippes tweyne
And for he was subtill fals and fell
By sleight and falshede he dyd his besy peyne
To the empyre by force for to atteyne
The vii tyraunt by persecucion
Which ageyne cristen folke toke first occasion

Myn auctoure writeth tyme of this decius
The holy hermyte exaumple of persightnesse
By dayes olde called antonyus
Lyued in desert ferre out in wyldernesse
As an hermyte despysynge all richesse
Lyued by frute and rotys as men tell
And of ꝑfection dranke water of the well

Vppon Decyus for his cursidnesse
Ageyn cristen which gaue so herde sentence
Thrugh rome & Itayle myn auctour berith witnesse
In euery cite was greate pestilence
That by the sodeyn dedly violence
The hertys of men dependynge in a traunce
To saue their lyues coude no cheuesaunce

Of this mater write nomore I can
To this emperour I wyll resorte ageyn
Speke of gallus and volucian
That besy were their labour was in veyne
Their tyme short as sūme bokys seyn
For Martyn writeth and olde Croniculere
In thempyre they regned but two yere

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But both were slayne by the procuringe
And by the purchace of one emelyne
A romayn knight which by slye werkynge
To occupye them pyre tho began
By tyrannye the lordship there he wan
Whoos lordship for hap and lacke of grace
No lengre laste than two monethes space

This lytyll chapter as tofore is sene
Rehercyd hath and tolde in wordys pleyn
Of emperours almoost full fourtene
And of all were gode none but tweyne
Which to reherce I haue do my peyne
And to procede forther as I began
I must write of one valeryan

HIs sonne and he called gali [...]en
To all cristen bare great enmyte
Slough all tho their legende men may seen
That seruyd crist in trouth and equyte
Whos persecusion and hatefull cruelte
Abatyd was as I can well reherce
By one Sapor that was kinge of perce

By force of armes Sapor this mighty kynge
Gan in asia and with his ofte cam doun
By tygre Eufrates and knightly so rydynge
Towarde the p [...]  [...]
To Con [...]asus nat ferre fro babylon
And all surrie he proudly dyd assayle
And Capadoce he wan eke by batayle

Whom for to mete cam valerian
To Mesopotayne with many legion [...]
The werre was stronge but this knightly man
This hardy Sapor with his chaumpions
The felde hath wonne with all the legions
Afore reherced and thrugh perce he lad
Valeryan bounde with cheynes rounde and sad

He was by Sapor maugre his visage
This Valerian so streytly brought to wra [...]
Lyke a prisonere bounde to seruage
By obeisaunce that founde were no lak
To knele on foure and to profre his bak
Vnto Sapor whan him lift to ryde
Therby to mounte for all his great pryde

This was the office of valerian
By seruytute diuinge many ayere
Wherfore he was called of many anan
The assendynge flo [...] in to the sadyll nere
Which is in french callyd a mountwere
This was his office to bowe doun his  [...]
Whan that kynge Sapor shulde worth on his hor [...]

This is the guyrdoun and fauoure of fortune
Hir olde maner to princys and to kinges
Hir double custome vsyd in comune
By sodeyn chaunge of all worldly thinges
After triumphes and their vp rysynges
What foloweth after here wele tell I can
I take recorde of valeryan

This lady fortune the blynde fell gaddesse
To Valerian shewyd hir silf vnstable
Taught him a lesson of the doublenesse
To kinge Sapor she was fauorable
But yit he was to cruell vengeable
With his fete deuoyde of all fauoure
To foile the bak of an emperoure

Of olde it hath be songe and cried loude
Recorde on Cirus and many other mo
Kynges of perce of custum haue be proude
After punysshed and chastised eke also
Princys of mercy shulde take hede herto
After victorie in their estate notable
To their prisoners for to be merciable

[...]

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It is fall ferre out of thy mynde
The knightly dede of worthy publyus
Of rome a capteyne ordeyned as I fynde
To fight ageyn aristomochus
Kynge of Asye of fortune it fell thus
Whan the romayns dyd the feeld forsake
This publyus amonge his fone was take

This noble prince stondynge in dredfull  [...]as
His life his worship dependinge atwene tweyne
In his hande holdinge a sturdy maas
Smet out one of his eyen twyne
Of him that led him that other for the peyne
That he felt and the greate smerte
Toke a dagger roue publyus to the herte

Which louyd more his worshyp than his lyf
Chase rather to dye than lyue in seruage
This conceyte had in his Imagy natyf
And considred sith he was in age
To saue his honoure it was more auauntage
So to be slayne his worshyp to conserue
Than like a best in pryson for to sterue

Fortune his chaptre of him it was nat rad
As valerius maketh mencion
After whoos conceyte no man in vertue sad
Shulde nat longe  [...]
 [...]
Their sacrifises and rite vp so doun
Vnto ydoles of frowarde wilfullnesse
That was of Egipte callyd cheef goddesse

Fauorable thou were in thy desire
To suffre Iewys their saboot to obserue
And Caldeis to worshyp the fyre
And folke of Crete saturne to serue
And cristen men thou madest falsly sterue
Of whos lawe for thou dyd nat retche
Thou dyed in prison at mischeef lyke a wretch

Howe Gallyen sonne of valerian was slayne

nExt in ordre to bochas tho cam doun
Sonne of velerian one callyd gallien
But for great horrible effusion
Of cristen blode that men might seen
Shed by valerian god wolde it shulde been
Shewed openly to romayns by vengeaunce
Of many a cuntre sodeyn disobeysaunce

They of almayne the alpies dyd pas
Vnto Rauenne a cyte of Itayle
Gothes also proude of chere and face
Had ageyn grekys many great batayle
And they of Hungry armyd in plate and mayle
With theym of denmark furious and cruell
 [...] romayns  [...]

To whos damage in this mene while
Amonge romayns it is befall thus
Wofull werrys which callyd been Cyuile
Gan in the cyte cruell and despitous
Firste whan they met was slayne Gemyu [...]
Whiche first toke on him in bokes as I rede
Of hye corage to were purple wede

One postumyus a mighty stronge romayn
Kept all gaule vndre subiection
To their auayle after vnwarly slayne
Amonge his knightes for all his hye renoun
By a sodeyn vncouth dissencion
Next victoryne hauynge the gouernaunce
Of all Gaule was first slayne in fraunce

But Gallien of who [...] I spak toforn
Sonne and heire to valerian
His dominacion of purpos he hath lorne
In republica whan he began
Lyke a contrarious and a frowarde man
Wex lecherous and frowarde of lyuynge
At mischeef slayne this was his endynge

[Page]

Howe Quyntilyus was murdryd by wymen

NExt Gallien cam one quyntilius
A man remembred of greate attemꝑ [...]unce
Brother of byrth to great Glaudyu [...]
Wyse and discrete in all his gouernaunce
Who may of fortune eschue the chaunce
To write his ende shortly in a clause
Of wymen murdryd I can nat sey the cause

Of Aurelian in Denmark born

OF denmarke borne next cam Aurelian
A worthy knight his enmyes to assayle
Ageyne gothes a greate werre he began
Gate victorye in many stronge bataile
Whos noble conquest greatly dyd auayle
To comon profite for all his werke parde
Was to the encres of rome the cyte

He recured all the Septemptrion
And westwarde had many great victorye
Amonge other I fynde that he was one
A [...]ed the tryumph to be  [...]
But there was a thinge eclipsyd of his glorye
Which hath the light of his knighthode withdrawe
For he was enmye to criste and to his lawe

Of him bochas list nomore to write
But in his boke goo forth as he began
Of me remembrynge that called was Tacyte
Which was successoure to Aurelian
And after him succedyd Folorian
Of which tweyne no remembraunce I fynde
That is notable for to put in mynde

Howe Probus disconfited Romayns / and after was slayne

pRobus after regned full seuene yere
And iiii monethis which by his hye renoun
Geyne saturnynus with a knightly chere
And brought him proudly to subiection
Nat withstondynge  [...]hat be in rome toun
Toke vpon him of wylfull tyrannye
Hooly thempire for to rule and guye

Beside the cyte callyd agrypyne
This seide probus geyn many proude romayne
A batayle had list nat to declyne
Mette protulus a mighty stronge capteyne
With one Bonosus and both they were slayne
And all their meyne of very force and might
Slayne in the felde the remenaūt put to flight

After this bataile and this disconfiture
Probus was lodgyd in Smyryue a great cite
And there vnwarely of soden auenture
Slayne in a toure that called was Ferre
But a small ceson last his prosperite
Which is fortune late noman in hir trust
All worldly thinges chaungynge as she lust

Howe Clarus and his two sonnes were myscheuyd

[...]

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Howe the hardy quene zenobya faugh [...] with Aurelean and was take

Myn auctoure here no lenger list soiourne
Of these emꝑours the falles for to wryte
But in all hast he doth his stile tourne
To zenobya his story to endyte
But for chauncer dyd him so well acquite
In his tragedyes hir pytous fall to entrete
I will passe ouer rehersynge but the grete

In his boke of Cantirbury tales
This soueraigne poete of brutus albyon
Thrugh pylgrymes tolde by hylles and by valy [...]
Wherof zenobya is made mencion
Of hir noblesse and hir hye renoun
In a tragedye compendiously tolde all
Hir marciall prowesse and hir pitous fall

Myn auctoure first affermeth howe that she
Descendyd was to tell of hir lynage
Borne of the stocke of worthy tholome
Kynge of  [...] full notable in that age
 [...]
But for bicause of this horrible dede
And for the murdre of kinge Odomate
Dyed at mischeef and passyd into fate

By processe after zenobia the quene
Toke hir two sonnes and proudly dyd them lede
Tofore hir chare that men might them sene
Howe they were borne as princys to succede
Made theym like kinges clad in purple wede
Them to diffende this mighty creature
Hardy as lyon toke on hir armure

For all hir lordys and knightes she had sent
Maugre the romayns proudly gan hye and spede
All the partyes of the oriente
To occupye and hir hoste so lede
Of the Emperoure she stode no thinge in drede
Callyd Aurelian met him in batayle
With hir meynye proudly dyd assayle

On outher syde that day great blode was shedde
The stroke of fortune withstant no creature
The quene zeno bya was taken and forth ledde
Faught first as longe as she might endure
With riche stonys fret was hir armure
With whom the emperoure so entringe rome toun
Of tryumphe requeryd the guyrdoun

He dempt it was couenable and syttynge
This emperoure this proude  [...]urelian
To axe the tryumph it was so greate a thinge
To take zenobya that such a werre began
Geyne romaynes this marciall woman
For I suppose of no woman borne
Was neuer quene so hardy seen aforn

This hardy princesse for all hir cruelte
Whos hye renowne thrugh al the worlde was knowe
With stockes of golde was brought to the cite
From hye estate in pouert plungyd lowe
Awynde contrarye fortune hath so blowe
That she alas hath pitously made fall
Hir that in prowesse passyd wymen all

The tryumph youen to aurelian
For the conquest he had vpon this quene
Called zenobya cam dioclisian
Borne in dalmacia his storye who list fene
Out of his cuntre first he dyd flene
Of garle [...]e and lekys as seith the croniculere
Bycause that he was but a gardinere

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Other mencion is none of his lynage
Of his birth forsoke the region
Left his craft of deluynge and cor [...]lage
Gaue him to armys and by eleccion
Chose to be emperour and regne in rome toun
First into Gaule he sent a greate power
And maximian he made his vicar

His vicar there had many great batayle
Vpon such people that by rebeellion
Gan frowardly and contrary to assayle
To obey his lordshyp within that region
Tyll Caramsynus by commission
And an hardy knight vndre maxymyan
Theym to chastise toke on him like a man

But by processe the storye doth deuyse
His lordshyp there dyd great damage
To comon profite so he by couetise
The cuntre robbyd by full greate outrage
And to him silf he toke all the pyllage
And of prsumpcion ware the coloure
Of rich purple like an emperour

This Caramsinus of Breteyns tweyne
Proudly vsurped to be their gouernoure
Lyke a rebell geyne rome dyd his peyne
And besyed him by marciall laboure
With many straunge foreyn soudioure
Hauynge no tytle nor commission
Continued longe in his rebellion

Wherof astonyed was dioclisian
Seynge this mycheef dreedfull and perilous
Ordeyned in haste that maximyan
Was surnamed and called herculyus
Made him emperour callyd augustus
Which had afore nomore gouernaunce
But gaule which nowe is called fraunce

Also moreouer this dioclisian
Made in this while gouernours tweyne
Constancyus and one maxymyan
Surnamed Galerius constancius in certeyne
In this while to wed did his peyne
Doughter of maxymyan callyd herculyus
Namyd Theodora myn auctour writeth thus

By theodora this constancius
Had syxe children in true mariage
Brother to Constantyne the cronycle telleth thus
Which afterwarde whan he cam to age
For his manhode and marciall corage
Was chose and made lorde and gouernour
Of all the worlde crownyd emperoure

Caramsynus which had full seuene yere
Lyke as I tolde rebellyd breteyne
Ageyn the romayns a great extorcionere
A knight Alletus that dyd at him disdeyne
Murdryd him and after dyd his peyne
By force only and extorte tyrannye
Fully thre yere his place to occupye

Tyll Asclepio was sent from Rome doun
Slough alletus maugre all his might
Brought all bretayne to subiection
Of the romayns lyke as it was right
And in this while lyke a manly knight
For Italiens gan romayns disobey
Constancius gan proudly them werreye

He first with them had a stronge batayle
His meyne slayne and put to the flight
Trustynge on fortune he gan them eft assayle
And sixty thousande were slayne in that fight
The felde was his thrugh fortunys might
As she that coude dissymule for a while
And afterwarde falsly him begyle

[...]

[Page]
Froward enmy he was to cristis lawe
Many a martyr to dye for his sake
Wext feble and olde and gan him withdrawe
From occupacion his reste for to take
His attorney maxymyan he doth make
In his last age it is rehercyd thus
Stode in great drede of constancius

The drede of him sat so nye his herte
And therupon toke such a fantasye
Imagenynge he might nat sterte
By fraude of him but that he shulde dye
Almoste for fere fyll in a frensye
Of which drede the boke maketh mencion
He slough him silf by drinkynge of poyson

As I tolde erste in the occident
Maxymyan called herculyus
Regnyd as emperour and euer in his entent
To pursue martirs he dyd ay his labours
Of whos birth bochas founde non auctours
This to say he coude neuer rede
Where he was borne nor of what kinrede

He findeth nomore of this maxymyan
Of his vsurpynge in especiall
But that he was by dioclisyan
 [...]
But afterwarde he fyll in repentaunce
And besy was as dyuerse seyn
Thestate of emperoure to recure ageyne

Which for to acheue he dyd his diligence
He was distourbyd by Galerius
For his sonne that callyd was maxence
Put in possession myn auctoure writeth thus
To which thinge he gan wex enuyous
And gan ordeyne menys in his thought
To trouble him but it auayled nought

Whan his purpos might take none auayle
Ageyne mexence as bochas doth descryue
His doughter Fausta that knewe all his counceile
Discured his purpose for which he fled blyue
Into Gaule and durst no lengre stryue
And by Constancius in Marcyle the cyte
Slayne sodenly loste all his dignyte

Howe Galerius oppressed martyrs / and cristys feith / and myscheuously endyd

nExt tofore bochas cam Galerius
A man disposyd to riot and outrage
Euyll tetchid frowarde and vicious
There is no storye ye speketh of his lynage
Yit was he set full hye vpon a stage
Of worldly dignyte ros vp to hye estate
Yit in his gynnynge he was nat fortunate

He was sent oute by dyoclysian
And made emperoure by his auctorite
Ageyn Narseus the proude knightly man
Regnynge in ꝑce and lorde of that cuntre
Which helde werre with rome the cyte
For which galerius toke vpon him this empryse
With mighty honde his pryde to chastyse

Galerius entryd into ꝑce londe
Kynge Narseus met him of auenture
Had a stronge bateyle faught honde for honde
His fortune such he might nat endure
On galerius fyll the disconfitre
Clad in purple as made is mencion
Of dioclisian receyued this guyrdon

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At their metinge anone or they were ware
Dioclisian made him to abide
To his confusion syttynge in his chare
To walke on fote by the charys syde
With many a rebuke batyd was his pryde
Galerius for the greate shame
Gan seke a mene ageyn to gete his name

Cam for tassemble his olde soudyours
Made his ordenaunce by diligent werkinge
Chase oute the best prouyd werreours
With a great hoste to perce he cam rydynge
And oft there faught with the kynge
That the perciens maugre all their might
Were of Galerius that day put to flight

The felde was his gate their richesse
Robbyd their tentys wan there great pyllage
In this resort receyued in sothenesse
In greate noblesse bycause of that viage
Thus can fortune chaunge hir visage
Of dioclisian where he stode in disdeyne
With newe tryumphe resortyd is ageyn

This cloudy quene standeth euer in no certeyne
Whoos double whele quauerith euer in doute
Of whos fauoure noman hath be certeyne
Though one haue grace another is put out
Late euery man as it cometh aboute
Take his tourne and neuer in hir assure
Faylynge in armys is but auenture

Thus galerius after his batayle
On perciens gan wex glorious
Gouerned affryk and lordshyp of Itayle
Thrughout the oriente he was victorious
Tyll he for age gan wex tedious
His last dayes malygned as men seith
Of fals hatrede ageyn cristen feith

And him to helpe in these fals maters
It is remembryd to his confusion
In his empire he set two vikers
Gaue them power in euery region
The lawe of criste to oppresse and put doun
To punyssh martirs and put theym to the deth
And in this while full many one he sleth

By this seid cruell galerius
Which of thempyre had all the gouernaunce
Of cursyd herte and corage despytous
By his vsurpyd Imperiall puissaunce
Gaue auctoryte for to do vengeaunce
Vnto tweyne Seuerus and maxence
On all cristen by mortall violence

A certeyne space both of one accorde
Thestate of Emperour chose was maxence
Tyll Seuerus and he fyll at discorde
And after by vengeable pestilence
Within a cyte of noble premynence
Called Rauenne Seuerus there was slayne
Of which galerius god wote was nothinge fayne

For which in haste this galerius
Him to supporte and stonde in his diffence
Chase oute of Denmark a knight lueynyus
To be emperour thrugh knightly excellence
For to withstonde and fight ageyn maxence
But maxence of romayn knightys all
Was chosyn emperour and set vp in his stall

With which eleccion galerius wex wode
Fyll in a manere frowarde frensie
His entrayle brente corrupte was his blode
And of his frowarde vengeable maledye
In euery membre gan rote and putryfie
Tyll all the ayer about him enuyron
To all that felt it was v [...]nym and poyson

L [...]ke a la [...]ar corbed [...]ak and [...]

[...]

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It was his Ioye for to shede hir blode
Sent out lettres to dyuers regions
Lyke a slye wolf rauynous and wode
To sle martyrs by dyuers passions
Lyke his desert receyued his guerdons
Horrible deth dyd theym first confoūde
With furies infernall lieth nowe in hell bounde

Howe Maxence the emperour enmy to cristis feith myscheuously endyd

AFter galerie cruell violence
Geyn cristen blode as bochas here hath tolde
With pitous chere the emperour maxence
Cam tofore bochas of age nat full olde
Famous in armys sturdye fressh and bolde
Albe be entryd nat lyke an heritour
Toke vpon him to regne as gouernoure

To cris [...] feith he was also enmy
After sone he loste his gouernaunce
Of infortune slayne sodenly
 [...] vnwarly taketh vengeaunce

[...]

This Lucynyus which falsly dyd erre
Ageyn oure feith cristen men to assayle
Geyne constantyne of newe he gan werre
But of his purpos in soth he dyd fayle
For he was twyse disconfyted in batayle
By constantyne onys in hungrye
Next in grece beside Eualye

Thus constantyne thrugh his hye renoun
Gate nye grece and euerye great cuntre
Albe l [...]ynyus stode in rebellion
Geyn constantyne both on londe and se
But whan he sawe it wolde nonother be
He might nat escape in no place
Put holy him silf in constantyns grace

But constantyne for his hye rebellyon
Gaue Iugement in hast that he be dede
Leste in the cite were made diuision
By luc [...]yus wherof he stode in drede
This same while as bochas toke hede
There cam before him with chere full pitous
Brethren tweyne Constantyne and Crispus

OF Constantyne and Crispus: and howe Dalmacius was slayne

tO Constontyne of whom I spake toforn
They were sonnes Constantyne & crispus
The same tweyne of one modre borne
Cam tofore bochas his booke rehercith thus
With them cam eke lucinyus
Sonne of lucinyus which in rome toun
Afore was slayne for his rebellion

Constantyne his werrys to gouerne
Made them vicars the silf same thre
Echon right wys and coude well descerne
What might auayle moost to their cyte
To encres the profite of the comonte
Their names tolde Constantyne and crispus
Tofore remembryd with them lucinyus

While these thre vicars vndre themperour
Gouernyd rome as knightes most famous
In alisaundre rose vp a great errour
By a fals preest called Arryu [...]
To oure beleue a thinge contrarious
And for he dyd ageyne oure feyth so wirch
By a decre was put out of the chirch

[Page]
By assent at Bethenye full notable
In Necea a famous greate cyte
This errour was preuyd full dampnable
Thre hundred busshoppes were presente there parde
And eightene the Cronicle who list se
And all these of one sentence Ilyke
Preuyd Aruus a fals heretyke

This same tyme bokes specefye
Howe Constantyne of hasty cruelte
The saide vicars nygh of allye
Feyned a cause to sle them all thre
No cause rehersyd nor tolde of equyte
Saue only this in which he gan procede
To make his cosyn Dalmacius to succede

But his fauoure was nat fortunate
Towarde dalmacius nor gracious in sentence
Amonge whoos knightys fyll a sodeyn debate
Constantyne there beynge presence
Dalmacius without reuerence
With sharpe swerdys to speke in wordos fewe
Vnto the deth was woundyd and hewe

Of the brethren Constaūce and constancius / and [...]

THan cam Constaunce and Constancius
Yonge brethern thus writeth myn auctoure
To constantyne in tyme of arrius
And eche of them by full great laboure
Dyd his peyne to regne as Emperoure
Tyll at the last breuely for to seye
Euerich of them gan other to werreye

This seid constaunce is entryd perce londe
Nyne tymes he faught ageyne Sapore
The same kinge as ye shall vnderstonde
That with romayns had foughten afore
But fynally constaunce hath him so bore
To holde the feelde he might nat endure
For vpon him fyll the disconfiture

His fortune gan chaunge anon right
Whan that he left to be vertuous
He was in spayne slayne lyke a knight
In Castrell tonge called maxencius
Than was none left but Constancius
The romayn knightes destitute euerychone
Chase theym an Emperoure vetramone

This vetramone was ferre ronne in age
Bareyn of wyt coude no lettrure
Nor in knighthode had no great corage
Nor was nat able to studye in scripture
Nor like an emperoure no while to endure
For Constancyus of whom I spake nowe late
With this vetramone cast him to debate

This vetramone hath left his estate
Lyst nat werreye ageyne Constancyus
Forsoke the feelde louyd no debate
But of spayne myn auctoure writeth thus
As I wrote late howe that magnencius
Geyne Constancyus with swerde spere and sheelde
Presumed proudly for to holde a feelde

To great damage and hyndrynge of the toun
For many romayne thilke day was dede
Byside a cite which callyd was Leon
Tyll at the last of very cowarde drede
Magnencius which capteyn was and hede
Ageyn constancius hath the felde forsake
Loo howe fortune can hir chaungys make

Magnencyus for very sorowe and shame

[...] no lenare but gate him a sharpe knyf

[...]

[Page]

Howe Constantyne baptized by Syluestre was [...]ured of his lepre

OF this matere stynte I wyll awhyle
And folowyng myn owne straūge opinion
Fro Constancyus turne away my style
To his fader make a digression
Cause bochas maketh shorte mencion
Of constantyne which by recorde of clerkys
Was so notable founde in all his werkes

This mighty prince was borne in Brytayne
So as the brute pleynly doth vs lere
His holy modre called was helayne
He in his dayes moost knightly and entere
Of marciall actys he knewe all the matere
Chosyn emperour for his hye noblesse
Fyll to lepre cronycules doth expresse

Hys sore so greuous that no medycyne
Might aua [...]le his lykenesse to recure
H [...]  [...]ounseyled to make a great pystyne
With Innocentes of chyldre that were pure
 [...] of that he dyd endur [...]
 [...]
With full glad chere made theym to repayre
Where they cam sory to rome the cyte
They haue retourned glad to their cuntre

Royall compassion dyd in his herte myne
Chase to be seke rather than blode to shede
His breste enlumyned by grace which is diuyne
Which fro the heuene dyd vpon him sprede
He wolde nat suffre Innocentis to blede
Preseruynge pite and mercy more than right
He was visited vpon the next night

PEtyr and poule to him dyd appere
Sent from the lorde as heuenely messanger [...]
Bad constantyne be of gode chere
For he that sytteth aboue the nyne speres
The lorde of lordys the lorde of lengest yeres
Will that thou haue it well in mynde
In mounte Sarapty thou shalte thy leche fynde

God of his grace list the to visite
To shede blode by cause that thou doest spare
He hath vs sente thy laboure for to quite
Tydynges brought of helth and thy welfare
Pope siluestre to the shall declare
 [...]s we haue tolde be rightwell assured
Of thy sikenesse howe thou shalt be recured

To mounte Serap [...]y in all haste that thou sende
Suffre Siluestre to  [...]ūme to thy presence
Sought and founde breuely to make an ende
Receyued after due reuerence
Dyd his deuoure of entere diligence
Lyke as the lyf of Siluestre hath deuysed
By grace made hole whan he was baptised

Hys flessh his synewes made sodenly white
By theyse wasshynge in that pystyne
Of holy baptym welle of moste delyte
Where the holy goost dyd him enlumyne
Enfourmynge after by techinge of doctryne
Of siluestre lyke as myn auctoure seith
Of all artycles that longe vnto our feith

The fonte was made of porphirie stone
Which was after by cost of Constantyne
With a rounde bye that dyd aboute gone
Of golde and perre and stonys that were fyne
Myd of the fonte rightup as a lyne
Vpon a piler of golde a lampe bryght
Full of fyne baw [...] that brent all the nigh [...]t

[Page]

[...]

[...]hat euer [...] were of hye or lowe de [...]re

That blasphemed the name of Iesu

By dome shulde haue of deth a pleyn Issu

The thrid day in euery mannye sight
By a decre confermyd and made stronge
To euery cristen who that dyd vnright
By oppression to collaterall wronge
It shulde nat be taryed ouer longe
Who were conuicte or gylty shall nat chese
By lawe ordeyned half his gode to l [...]s [...]

The fourth day amonge romayns all
This preuilege pronouncyd in the toun
Youe to the pope syttynge in pet [...]ys stall
As soueraigne hede in euery region
To haue the rule and Iurisdic [...]on
Of prcestys all alone in all  [...]
Of temporall lordys lyke as hat [...] the kynge

To the church he graunted grea [...] fraunchys [...]
The fifte day and specially lyber [...]e
If a felon in any maner wyse
To fynde socoure thedre dyd fle
Within the boundes of daungere to go  [...]
To be assured and haue therof fu [...]  [...]
From execucion of any tempo [...]

[...]

[Page]
His crowne toke and knelynge thus he seide
With wepynge  [...]yen and voys lamentable le
And for sobbinge as he might abrayde
O blessyd Iesu o lord moost mercyable
Late my terys to the be acceptable
Receyue my prayer my request nat refuse
As man moost synfull I may me nat excuse

I o [...]upyed thestate of the emperoure
Of thy martyrs I shad the holy blode
Spared no seyntys in my cruell errour
The to pursue moost furious and wode
Nowe blyssed Ihesu moste gracious and gode
Peysyd and considred myn importable offence
I am nat worthy to come in thy presence

Do [...] for to entre into this holy place
Vpon this grounde vnable for to dwelle
To opne myn iyen or to lift vp my face
But of thy mercy so thou nat me repelle
As man moost synfull I come vnto the welle
Thy well of grace mercy and pyte
For to  [...]e wasshed of myn unquite

T [...] exaumple  [...] open he hath shewed
 [...] of mekenesse layde asyde
 [...] with ter [...]s o [...] bedewed

[...]

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This mercurius as bokys determyne
In Cesarya a mighty stronge cyte [...]
Within the cuntre called palestyne
Buryed afore ros vp at this  [...]orne
Out of his graue a straunge thinge to se
An hors brought to him arayed in his armure
Which hynge tofore besyde his sepulture

The same armure was nat sene that night
Nor in the morowe at his graue founde
Tyll mydday houre that phebus shone full bright
Whan mercurius gaue him his fatall wounde

[...]

[Page]

[...]

Both at ones but ye shall vnderstonde

Th [...]o [...]ose was s [...] out to assayle

The saide Feryne and slough him in batayle

Oh which feryne by full cruell hate
In that cuntre presumptuously regnynge
Smet of his hede and set it on the gate
Of Cesaria this was the endinge
Which by intrusion afore was crownyd kinge
In mauritaygne oppressynge them by drede
As ye haue herde of which he loste his hede

 [...]
[Page]  [...]
The great ydols and all such maumentrye
And full deuoutly gan churches edefye
And in this while as fortune dyd ordeyne
One maxymus was vyker breteyne

An hardy knight albe that he dyd varye
From his promyse made by sacremente
In bretayne lyst no lenger tarye
But into Gaule of herte and hole entent
Geyn gracian he sodenly is wente
And as it fyll set by their both auyse
They had a batayle nat ferre oute of parise

This Gracian was there put to flight
By the prowesse of a proude capteyne
Callyd merobandus an hardy knight
Which with his power hath so ouerlayne
That gracian was constrayned in certayne
Whan his power might nat auayle
Geyn maximus to fle oute of Itayle

This maximus of pryde gan desyre
In his herte by fals ambucion
To regne alone and of the hole empyre
In his handes to haue possession

[...]

[Page]
 [...]
And as thou  [...] whilom Isr [...]ell
Geyn pharaoys mighty stronge puissaunce
And from the lyons delyuered danyell
And saued Suzanne in hir mortall greuaunce
Saue me this day fro sorowe and mischaunce
In this mischeef to graunte me this issu
To escape from daungere by grace of the Iesu

This blessyd name by interpretacion
Is to say moste mighty sauyoure
There is no drede nor dubytacion
That Iesus is in all wordly laboure
To all that trust him victorius protectoure
Nowe blyssed iesu pauyse of my diffence
Make me to escape myn enmyes violence

Late myn enmyes that so great boost do blowe
Though their power be dredefull and terrible
That they may by experience knowe
There is no thinge to the Impossible
Thou two and thre and one indiuysible
Though I with me haue but fewe men
Saue me this day iesu fro deth amen

[Page]

[...]

Fyll a myracle to his auauntage

By sodeyne tempestys of windes hayle and reyne

Troublyd all tho that syegyd the mountayne

Vlcanus which is cheef smyth of heuene
Geyn arbag [...]st gan him redy make
To bende his gonnes with thundre and with leuene
And golus his wyndes gan awake
Oute of the cauernes hydous browne and blake
All of assent by sturdy vyolence
With theodocius to stonde at diffence

Ageyne Eugenyus and arbagast his brodre
Their peple and they departed here and yondre
With winde and myst that none of theym sawe other
By vnware vengeaunce of tempest and of thondre
Their sperys braste their sheldes roue asondre
Eugenyus take after loste his hede
Arbagast slough him silf for drede

Thus can the lorde of his eternall might
Chastyse tyrauntes and their malyce represse
Sauyd theodosye his owne chosyn knight
Who trusteth him of ꝑfyte stablenesse

[...]

[Page]
 [...]
iT is remembryd of antiquyte
In the byble after no [...] flode
Howe by discente of his sonnes thre
Of their lynage playnly and their blode
All kinredes dilated been abrode
And myn auctoure as it is made mynde
Of Iaphet vii nacions he dyd fynde

The peple first of gaule and galathe
Of magoth Gothes and folkes of Itayle
Tyre Sithia with many great cuntre
Stondynge in asya as by rehersayle
But in Eurape stant trace it is no fayle
Gothes Sithiens of purpos dyd ordeyne
Amonge theym silf gouernours tweyne

Knyghtes gentylmen chase alericus
To be their prince and haue the soueraynte
 [...]here the comons chase Radagasus
The Gothes first for greate suerte
 [...]ith kynge aleryk entrynge the cite
In to rome to fynde there socoure
That tyme honorius beynge there emperoure

[Page]

[...]

But fortune thought all other wy [...]

Lyke hir maners to do most damage

Whan she to men sheweth fressh hir visage

Hyr condicions be nat alwey one
Stoūdm [...]le of custome she can varye
For she was first frowarde to styllycon
And to radagasus eft ageyn contrarye
In one poy [...]t she lyst neuer tarye
To Radagasus hir fauoure dyd fayle
By stillycon he venquysshed in batayle

All his pryde might nat make him spede
For fortune lyst so for him ordeyne
That he was f [...]yne at so streyte anede
To fle for socoure to an hye mountayne
Of all vitayle naked and barayne
Where for hungre he felt so greate greef
Nigh all his people dyed at myscheef

Of all socoure destitute and barayne
Sawe no remedye toke him to the flight
By the romayns he was so ouerleyne
Take at myscheef and maugre his might

[...]

[Page]  [...]
Cam attalus and one eraclian
For no prowesse but to their greate repreef
Remembryd here their story tell can
Ageyne romayns whan the rebell gan
By honorius afore made offycers
And of the empyre callyd cheef vykers

First Attalus for his tyrannye
Whan he in gaule was made gouernoure
Went in to spayne with a great companye
Dyd his peyne and fraudolent laboure
By fals sleyght to be made emperoure
Take and bounde exiled for falsnesse
His hande smet of endyd in wretchydnesse

Of Eraclyan the ende was almoost lyke
Yit was he promotyd to greate prosꝑte
Made gouernoure and lorde of affryk
Of consulere ros to the dignyte
Rode through Libye and many great cuntre
With thre thousande shippes gan to sayle
And with vii hundred to aryue in Itayle
[Page]  [...]

A go [...]e processe why Rome was destroyed and for the same or lyke cause many other realmes

OF many myscheues afore here reherced
Sūme drawe alonge and sūme shortly told
And howe fortune hath hir whele reuerced
By tragedyes remembryd many folde
Tofore by bochas of princys yonge and olde
In the eight boke rehercyd the processe
Echon almoste endyd in wretchydnesse

Namely of them that dyd moste desyre
By wronge title theym silf to magnefye
To haue lordship and gouerne thempire
The state imperiall proudly to occupye
Which estate pleynly to specefye
As ferre as phebus doth in his spere shyne
Amonge all lordshippes is brought vnto ruyne

Fro myn auctoure me list nat discorde
To tell the grounde why rome cam to nought
By an exaumple I cast me to recorde
What was cheef cause if it be well oute sought
 [...]
So as a fader that is naturall
Or like a moder which kindly is bounde
To fostre their children in especiall
Right so a kynge in his estate royall
Shulde of his office diligently entende
His true lieges to cherissh and defende

By good exaumple his subgettys to enlumyne
For temporall realmes shulde as I fynde
Resemble the kyngdom which is dyuyne
By lawe of god and lawe eke of nature
That Res publica longe tyme may endure
Voyde of discorde and fals duplicite
Of one body in longe prosperyte

Nouther ther regne nor domynacion
Haue of theym silf none other assuraunce
The estate of kinges gan by ꝑmyssion
Of goddys grace and of his purueyaunce
By vertuous lyf and morall gouernaunce
Longe to contynue both in pees and werre
Lyke their desertes and punyssheth whan they erre
[Page]  [...]
 [...]re in his domys be nat parciall
To pore do almes to vertuous liberall

In his araye shewe him lyke a kynge▪
From o [...]ter princys by a maner apparence
So that men preise by vertuous lyuynge
More than his clothinge ferre from his presence
And late him thynke in his aduertence
Truste theron verely certeyne
As he gouerneth men wyll report and seyne

Late him also for his greate auaile
 [...]aue such about him to be in presence
Notable princes to be of counsayle
Such as tofore haue had experience
Twene gode and euyll to knowe the difference
And sixe thinges hatefull of newe and olde
To banyssh them out in haste from his housholde

First theym that loue to lyue in Idelnesse
As such as loue nouther god ne drede
Couetous peple that pore folke oppresse
And them also that do thinge for mede
 [...]
Whan by fals treson solde was palladyon
Rome and cartage in the same wyse
Destroyed were for shorte conclusion
Amonge theym silf for their diuysion
Rekne other realmes that ben of late date
And of diuysions in fraunce that fyll but late

All these defautys reherced here breuely
Outesought the rote and weyed in balaunce
Cheef occasion to tell by and by
Hath ben in princes that haue had gouernaunce
And specially to put in remembraunce
For an exaumple telleth as cometh to mynde
Of Odoacer the storye as I fynde

Borne in pruce and hardy of corage
At his gynnynge him silf to magnefye
Though no mencion be made of his lynage
Hauynge no title but theft and robbrye
His conquest gan nought of blode and auncetrye
Gadryd peple of sundry regions
Entryd Itayle with many nacions

[Page]
 [...]
Gan werke ageyne him in hope it shulde auayle
And therupon the lordshyp of Itayle
He gaue of purpos his power cōmyttynge
To Theodorik that was of Gothes kinge

So that Theodoryk in hope to haue victorye
Ageyne Odoacer gan make resistence
Of his name to put in memorye
Toke vpon him by knightly excellence
For the romayns to stonde in diffence
Met him proudly with his chiualrye
Besyde a ryuere that callyd was Sourye

With their batayles to gedre whan they met
Besyde Leglere that stondeth in lumbardye
With rounde sperys and sharpe swerdys whet
Odoacer for all his tyrannye
Was put to flight disconfited his partye
And fortune that best chaunge and varye
At vnset houre was to him contrarye

Hym and his power the romayns haue defied
He brent her vynes and toures enuyron
Bycause the entre was to him denyed
And to Rauenne he is descendyd doun
 [...]
[Page]  [...]
 [...]  [...]ere he made  [...]

Howe Symak and Boys his sonne in lawe were banysshed and after Iuged to dye

AFter these mischeuys symak gan him drawe
Towarde Bochas with a full pitous face
Boys cam wyth him yt was hys son in lawe
Which amonge romayns greatly stode in grace
But in this matere breuely for to pace
The seid boys only for his trouth
Exyled was alas it was greate routh

For comon profite he was vnto the toun
In maters that grounded were of right
Very protectoure and stedfast chaumpion
Ageyne two tyrauntys which of force and might
Had in the porayll oppressyd many awight
By exaccions and pyllages gonne of newe
Vpon the comons full fals and eke vntrewe

[Page]
Theodoryk of Gothes lorde and kinge
Toke vpon him by fal [...] intrusion
To regne in rome the peple oppressynge
By his prouostes two as made is mencion
Dyd in the cyte great oppression
Confederat as brother vnto brother
Coniugast and trygwyll was that other

Compendyously this mater to declare
To saue the camon stode in diffence
For lif nor deth he lift nat for to spare
To withstonde of tyrauntes the sentence
Kynge theodoryk of cruell violence
Banysshed him by hatefull tyrannye
He and his fadre to abyde in pauye

Afterwarde theodoryk of hatrede
Lyke a fals tyraunte of malyce and enuye
Gaue Iugement that both two were dede
But touchinge Boys as bokes specefie
Wrote dyuers bokes of philosophie
Of the trynyte maters that were diuyne
Martryd for crist and called seueryne

Of kynge arthur and his conq [...]estys and of the commodytees of Englonde and he was destroyed by his cosyn mordrede.

wAs euer prince might him silf assure
Of fortune the fauoure to restreyne
Lyke his desyre his grace to recure
To abyde stable and stonde at certeyne
Amonge all other rekne arthure of Breteyne
Which in his tyme was holde of euery wight
The wysest prince and the beste knight

To whom bochas gan his style dresse
In this chaptre to remembre blyue
His greate conquest and his high noblesse
With singulere dedys that he wrought his lyue
And firste he gy [...]neth breuely to descryue
The sight of breteyne and of that cuntre
Which is enclosed with a large se

Set ferre westwarde as ye shall vndrestonde
Hauynge in spayne set in the opposyte
Of a small angle callyd Inglonde
Fraunce aboute him d [...]scriuynge thus his sight
With many a ryuere plesaunt and delyte
Bot he bathes and welles there be founde
Dyuerse mynes of metalles full habounde

Aboute which renneth the occian
Right plentuous of all maner of vitayle
The name of which at brutus first began
London hath shyppes by the se to sayle
Bachus at wynchestre greatly doth auayle
Worcetre  [...] frutes haboundeth at the full
Herfo [...]  [...]ith bestys Catiswolde with wull

Bath h [...] bathes holsom for medecyne
Yorke mighty tymbre for greate auauntage
Cornwell myners in to myne
Salesburye bestys full sauage
Whete mylke hony plente for euery age
Kent and cantyrburye hath great commodyte
Of sundry fisshes there takyn in the se

Bochas reherceth there is eke in breteyne
Founde of get a full precious stone
Blacke of coloure and vertuous in certeyne
For sekenes many more than one
Poudre of which wyll discure anone
If it be dronke though it be secre
Of maydnehede broke chastyte

There been of peerles founde in muskyll shelles

[...] that haue moost whitnesse

[...]

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I [...]onde Gaule norweye scotlonde and fraunce
As martys sone to the werrys mete
Wrought by counseyle and by ordynaunce
Of prudent merlyn called his prophete
And as I finde he lete make a sete
Amonge his brytons moost famous and notable
Thrugh all the worlde called the rounde table

Moost worthy knightes proued of their honde
 [...]haosen oute by arthur this ordre was begonne
Their famous noblesse thrugh euery cristen londe
Shone by reporte as doth the mydday sonne
To famuos palayes the renoun is vp ronne
 [...]tatutes set by vertuous ordenaunce
Vnder profession of marcyall gouernaunce

The first statute in the regestre founde
Fro which they shulde nat declyne of right
 [...] full assuraunce of othe and custome bounde
Ay to be armyd in plate forged bright
Excepte a space to rest them on the night
 [...] auenture and their tyme spende
 [...]full quarell to sustene and diffende

The  [...]ebler partye if he had right
To their power manly to supporte
 [...] that they were requeryd of any right
 [...] disconsolate to bere vp and conforte
 [...]
Woūdyd peple that languyssh and endure
Which pro republica manly spent their blode
The statute bounde to do such folkes gode

To put theym silf neuer in auenture
But for maters that were iuste and trewe
Afore prouyded that they stode sure
The grounde well knowe were it of olde or newe
And after that the mater whan they knewe
To procede knightly and nat fayne
As right requerid their quarell to darreyne

A clerke there was to cronycle their dedes
By purceuauntes made to him reporte
Of their exployte and their gode spedes
Rad and songe to folke gaue great conforte
These famous knightes makynge their resort
At high festes eueryche took his sete
Lyke to their estate as was to them mete

One was wylde called the see perilous
As Sank Ryall doth pleynly determyne
None to entre but the moost vertuous
Of god prouyded to be a pure virgyne
Borne of dissente to accomplyssh and to fyne
He alone as cheef and souereyne
All auentures of wales and Breteyne

 [...]
As a bright sonne set myd the sterres
 [...] stode arthur notable and glorious
Lyke f [...]essh febus cast his light aferres
In pees lyke Argus moste marciall in werres
As Ector hardy lyke vlixes tretable
Callyd amonge cristen kinge moste honorable

His royall court he dyd so ordeyne
Thrugh ech cuntre so ferre sprad out the light
Who that euer cam thydre to compleyne
By wronge oppressed and requyred of right
In his diffence he shulde fynde a knight
To him assigned fynally to entende
By marciall dome his quarell to diffende

If it fell so that any straunge knight
Sought auentures and thydre cam fro ferre
To do armys his request made of right
His chalenge sene were it of pees or werre
Was accept to the court cam nerre
Lyke as he cam with manyor alone
They were delyuered forsake was neuer none

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There was the scole of marcyall doctryne
For yonge knightes to lerne all the gyse
In tendre age to lerne full disciplyne
On hors and fote by notable exercise
Thinge take in youth doth helpe in many wise
And ydlenesse in grene yeres gonne
Of all vertues clypsith the clere son

Wydowes maydyns oppressyd folke also
Of extort wronges wrought by tyrannye
In that cuntre what nacion cam therto
Receyued were there lyst no man denye
Of their complayntes founde redy remedye
Made no delay but forth anon right
Theym to diffende assignyd was a knight

Eke by their ordre they bounde were of trouth
By assuraunce and by oth sworne
In their emprises let for no slouth
Pleynly to tell howe they haue theym born
Their auenture of thynges done beforne
Right as it fyll spare in no manere
To tell ech thinge vnto their registrere

Thinge openly don or thinge that was secre
Of auenture as bytwene tweyne
Or any quarell take of volunte
Truely reporte and platly nat to feyne
Them to be sworne the statute dyd ordeyne
Nat conseled of worshyp nor of shame
To be regestryd reporte the silf same

And to conclude the statute hath vs leryd
Euery quarell groundyd on honestye
In that court what knight was requeryd
In the diffence of trouth and equite
Falshede excluded and duplycite
Shall ay be redy to sustene that partye
His lyf his bodye to put in Iupartye

Thus in bretayn shone the clere light
Of chyualrye and of hye prowesse
Which thrugh the world shad his bemys bright
Well of worshyp condute of all nobles
Imperiall courte all wronges to represse
Hede springe of honoure of largesse cheef sisterne
Myrroure of manhode of noblesse the lanterne

¶Yit was there seyne neuer so bryght a sonne
The somerys day in the mydday spere
So fresshly shyne but sūme skyes donne
Might percas curtayne his bemys clere
Oft it fayleth whan fortune maketh best chere
And falsly smyleth in hir double wede
Folke seyn expert than is she moost to drede

Thus whan the name of the worthy kinge
Was ferthest sprad by reporte of memorye
In euery realme his nobles moost shynynge
All his emprises concludinge on victorye
This double goddesse enuyed at his glorye
And cast menys by sūme maner trayne
To clypse the light of knyghthode in bretayne

Thus while arthure stode moost honorable
In his estate flouringe in his age
Amonge his knightes of the round table
Hyest of prynces on fortunes stage
The Romayns sent to him for truage
Gan make a cleyme frowarde and outragious
Takynge their tytle of Cesar Iulius

The same tyme this mighty kynge arthur
Conquered had Gaule and also fraunce
Outrayed Frolle lyke a coqueroure
Brought parys vndre obeysaunce
Toke them to grace and with his ordynaunce
Gate all Aungoy / Angorys / and Gascoyne
Peytowe / Nauerne / Barry / and burgoyne

Cesyd nat but dyd his besy payne
 [...]
Gate all the londe of peyters and toureyne
Their cytees yolde to him they dyd homage
To be rebell they founde none auauntage
Soiourned in fraunce as seith the cronyclere
Helde possession the space of nyne yere

Helde a feest full solempne at parys
All the cuntrees which he gate in fraunce
Lyke a prince full prudent and wys
Which had of fredom full royall suffisaunce
Of all his conquest the cuntrees in substaunce
For his princis and barons so prouyded
Lyke their desertes he hath them dyuyded

To his Senescall that callyd was kay
Aungoyne and mayne he gaue all the partye
To his butler was made no delaye
Called bedwere he gaue Normandye
To a baron nye cosyn of allye
A manly knight which named was berell
Gaue the duchye of burgoyne euerydell

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Thus he departyd lordshippes of that londe
There he thought was moost expedient
Sūme he reserued in his owne honde
Ageyn to bretayne retourned of entente
Sent out writtes helde a greate ꝑlement
After which he made a feest anone
In the cuntre called glowmorgon

At a great cite called carlion
As is remembryd by writynges
Cam many a prince and many a fressh baron
In noumbre I fynde that there were x kynges
Redy to obey arthur in al thynges
Present also as was wele sene
There of erles rekened full thrittene

All the knightes of the round table
Feste of pentecoste as fest principall
Many estates famous and honorable
Of princes barons born of the blode royall
Were present there and in especiall
All that were by othe and promyse bounde
To brotherhede of the table rounde

And i [...] fell so while that kinge arthure
As apperteyned sat in his estate
There cam xii sent doun by great loboure
Of olde men chosen of the Senat
Sad of their port demure and tem [...]
R [...]hely  [...] of  [...]oke and of visage
Gray heryd sempt of right great age

First cūnyngly as they ought it due
Cause of their comynge and pleynly what it ment
First of assente the kynge they dyd salue
Next after that they tolde who them sent
And their lettres mekely they present
Concludinge thus to speke in breef langage
Howe the romayns axe of him truage

Customed of olde sith goon many a day
Whan that Cesar conqueryd first breteyn
The kinge requeringe to make theym no delay
Arthur abode list no thynge to seyn
But all the court gan at them disdeyn
The proude bretons of cruell hasty blode
Wold haue theym slayn euene there they stode

Nay quod arthur to all his offycers
Within oure courte they shall haue no damage
They entryd been and come as massengers
And men also greatly fall in age
Lete make there with a glad visage
Toke his counsayle with such as were moste wyse
With this answere sayde in curteys wyse

¶Youre lettres red and playnly vnderstonde
The tenure hole remembryd in this place
Touchynge the charge that ye haue take on honde
To yeue answere reherced in short space
By worde and writinge ye greatly me manace
Howe ye purpose with many stronge batayle
Passe the mountaynes me felly for to assayle

It nedith nat such conquest to alledge
Ageyn Brytons of none olde truage
Of youre cūmynge doun youre way I shal abrydge
With goddes grace short your passage
Make you no delay but with my baronage
Passe the se without longe taryinge
To mete romaynes at their doun comynge

This was the answere youe to the messangers
At their departynge bare with theym greate riches
He bad also vnto his officers
Ageyn to rome anon they gan them dres
Playnly reportynge the plenteous larges
Of worthy arthure considred all thinges
Of cristendom he passyd all other kinges

Arth [...]  [...]
Of marciall prowes to lucius they tolde
And howe that he all other dyd excelle
In chiualrye with whom they were witholde
The chosy [...] knightes both yonge and olde
In all europe who can consydre aright
Of all nobles the torches be there light

He cast him nat to paye no truage
Sayd of the romayns he helde no londe
Which  [...] diffende he wyll make his passage
Of youre cleymes to breke atwo the bonde
And knightly preue with his honde
Ye haue no tytle ye nor youre cite
Ageyn the breton [...] which euer haue stonde fre

With  [...] the kingdoms subget to rome toun
Kynges princes abo [...]e the hye mountayns
With lucyus they be d [...]scendyd doun
To mete bretons vpon the large playnes
Arthures comynge greatly he disdeynes
Bycause he had playnly to discryue
In multytude of peple such fyue

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At southhampton arthur toke the se
With all his knightes of the rounde table
Behinde he left to gouerne the cuntre
His cosyn mordrede vntrusty and vnstable
And at a preef fals and disceyuable
To whom arthur of trust toke all his londe
The crowne except which he kept in his honde

Fro Southampton Arthur gan to sayle
With all the worthy lordes of bretayne
At barflue fonde gode aryuayle
He and his princys their passage dyd ordeyne
Thurgh Normandye / Fraūce / and eke burgoyne
Vp to a cite called augustence
Where he first fonde of lucius the presence

So large a feeld nor such a multitude
Of men of armys assemblyd in a pleyne
Vpon a day shortly to conclude
Togydre assemblyd afore was neuer seyne
Lucyus had on his partye certeyne
Estwarde the worlde all the chyualrie
Brought by the mountayns dounward germanye

Their wardys set in eche a great batayle
With their capteyne to gouerne and to guye
Arthur with bretons the romayns dyd assayle
Fond [...] many  [...]ca [...]yus vpon that partye
Th [...]  [...]
A [...] he of arthur the prowes doth descryue
He slough that day of sarazyns kynges fyue

The great slaughter the effusion of blo
That was that day on outher partye
Eche ageyne other that furious were and wode
Lyke for the felde as fortune list prouyde
That if I shulde longe theron abyde
To write the deth the slaughter and the manere
Touchinge the feeld were tedious to here

To conclude and l [...]ue the surplusage
In that batayle dede was many a knight
The consull Lucyus slayne in that rage
The proude Romayns by force put to flyght
Of gentylnes arthur anon right
Lete the body of lucius be caried
Ageyn to rome it was no lenger taryed

The worthy princys and lordes that were dede
And manly knightes abydynge with arthur
Lyke a kynge solempnely toke hede
That they were buryed by dyligent loboure
And in this while lyke a fals traitoure
His cosyn mordrede dyd his besy peyne
To take from him the kingdom of breteyn

So as the story playnly maketh mynde
Mordrede falsly to his auauntage
Entretyd them that were left behynde
 [...]ndre coloure of fraudolent langage
Gaue them great fredom and they dyd him homage
That by his fals conspyracion
Brought all bretayn in to rebellion

By faire behestis and many frendly signe
Drough the peple to him in sondry wyse
Shewyd him outwarde goodly and benygne
Gaue lybertees and many great fraunchyse
To make bretons their souereyn lorde despise
And puruyaunce he gan make blyue
To kepe the portes he shulde nat aryue

Whan kynge arthur had knowlegynge
Of this fals treson and all the purueaunce
That mordrede made he like a manly man & kinge
Left burgoyne and all the londe of fraunce
Cast on mordrede for to do vengeaunce
Toke the se with great apparaile
Cast at Sandwitch to make his arryuayle

Mordrede was redy with knightys a great noumbre
 [...]  [...]he playn
In purpos fully arthur to encombre
At which arryuayle slayne was Gaweyne
Cosyn to arthur a noble knight certeyne
Eke Agnysell was slayn on the stronde
Kynge of Scottys or he cam to londe

Maugre mordrede arthur dyd arryue
The grounde recured lyke a manly knight
For fere of whom anon after blyue
The seyd mordrede toke him to the flight
Toward london toke his wey right
The gates shet and kept was the cite
Ageyn mordrede he might haue none entre

In all hast to Cornwayle he fled
The swerde of arthur he durst nat abyde
Lest he shulde lay his lyf to wed
Yit for him silf thus he gan prouyde
With multitude gadred on his side
Put lif and deth that day on auenture
That day to dye or the feeld recure

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In fortune there may be no certayn
Vpon whos whele all bro [...]lenes is founded
Mordrede that day in the felde was slayn
And noble arthur to the deth was wounded
By the which the feeld of bretons was confounde
Of so greate slaughter and good knightes lo  [...]n
Vpon a day men haue nat sene beforn

After the batayle arthur for a while
To staunch his woundes and hurtys to recure
Borne in a letre cam to an Ile
Called aualon and there of auenture
As the sayd gaufryde recordeth by scripture
Howe kinge arthur floure of chyualrye
F [...] with his knightes and lyueth yit in fairye

Thus of bretayn translated was the sonne
Vp to the riche sterry bright dongeon
Astronomers well reherce konne
Called arthures constellocyon
Where he syt crouned in the heuenly mancion
Amyd the paleys of stones cristallyne
Tolde amonge cristen of the worthy nyne

This erroure abydeth yit amonge britons
Which founded is vpon the prophesye
Of olde marlyn lyke their opynyon
He as a kinge is crownyd in fairie
With s [...]tr [...] and swerde and with his regalye
Shall resorte as lorde and soueraygne
Out of fayre and regne in bretayne

And repayre ageyne the rounde table
By prophesye of merlyn set the date
Amonge princys kynge incomperable
His sete ageyn to carlyon to translate
The par [...]as sustern sponne so his fate
His Epitaphie recordeth so certeyn
Here lyeth kynge arthur that shall regne ageyn

Vnto bochas I wyll retourne ageyn
Afore reherced parcell of his prowesse
Theron to abyde me list nomore soiourne
But to remembre the great vnkyndnesse
The conspiracion the treson the falsnesse
Done to kinge arthure by his cosyn mordrede
Make a Lenuoy that men all may it rede

Lenuoye.

THis tragedye of arthur here folowynge
Byd princes all beware of fals treson
For in all erth is none so ꝑilous thinge
As trust of feyth where is decepcion
Hyd vndre curteyn of fals collusion
For which men shulde I holde the counsayle gode
Beware aforne euer of vnkynde blode

The worlde diuers fortune ay chaungeable
In euery cuntre and euery region
In a strayte nede fewe frendes abydynge
Longe abstynence causeth dissencion
And if princes by fals dyuysion
Nigh of allye shewe two faces in an hode
Late men beware euer of vnkynde blode

Who was more hardy of princes here regnynge
Or more famous of marcyall renoun
Than whilom was his enmyes outraynge
Arthur cheef sonne of brutus albyon
But for all that the disposycion
Of fate and fortune moost furious and wode
Causyd his destruction by vnkinde blode

What more contrarious to nature in shewynge
Than fayre pretence double of entencion
Great allyaunces frowardly werkinge
Hid vndre floures a serpent cast poison
Bright siluer scalyd damageth the dragon
Ech worme some partye tar [...]ageth of his brode
And what more ꝑilous  [...]han vnkynde blode

Noble princys on arthur remembrynge
Deme the day of phebus goynge doun
All is nat golde that is clere shynynge
Afore prouyded of youre inwarde reson
Fals vndermynynge and supplantacion
Remembrynge aye with arthur howe it stode
By conspyracion of vnkynde blode

An Exclamacion of Bochas ageyn kynredes vnkinde.

gEyn kinredes and vnkinde alliaunces
Bochas maketh here an exclamacion
Vpon mordrede which wt his ordynaūces
Caused of arthur fynall distruccion
The same eclipsinge of Brutus albion
Nat withstandinge playnly to descryue
He trusted him aboue all men alyu [...]

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It is a merueyle and vncouth to deuyse
By what occasion or by what corage
That a man shulde in any maner wyse
Be founde vnkinde vnto his lynage
Hatefull to god that in any age
Blode ageyn blode born of one kynrede
Conspyre shulde of malyce and hatrede

In this mater it were but vayn to tarye
The story knowe of arthur and mordrede
By blode allyed in werkinge most contrarye
Which made many breton knight to blede
For by vsurpynge conspyrynge and falshede
Of the sayde mordrede moost infortunate
Caused all breteyn stonde desolate

First dissolate by abcens of their kynge
Callde in his tyme of kynges most notable
The desolacion of knightes abydinge
Whilom in breteyn famous and honourable
Bretheren echon of the rounde table
The which by mordrede the fals forsworne knight
Stode longe eclipsed and derkyd of his light

The light of noblesse that shone thrugh all breteyn
By fals mordrede was dyrked of his bemys
The monarchie departed was on tweyne
That stode first one with his marciall stremes
But afterwarde the brightnes of his bemys
Drough to declyne by fals dyuision
Which hath destroyed full many a region

All the processe vpon a duplycyte
Playnly concludeth and that is blode vnkinde
Adue welfare and all prosperite
There pees and concorde be left behynde
Trees may nat thryue departyd fro the rynde
A pleyn exaumple in arthur and mordrede
Who can conceyue and list the story rede

Of Geseuye kinge of Venandre / and of thre other kinges / and howe they were destroyed.

AFter all these straunge vncouth thynges
Tofore Iohn bochas as made is mencion
There cam tofore him foure mighty kynges
For to compleyn their desolacion
First Ges [...]uye kynge of the region
Called venandre in werres full contrayre
Vnto a prince callyd belisayre

And to this saide noble belysayre
Full renomed that tyme in chiualrye
The Kynge of gothes was also aduersarye
And both atonys of hatrede and enuye
Assentyd fully to holde champertye
Geyn belisaire which thrugh his hye renoun
Toke them both and cast them in prison

There is nomore of theym in bochas founde
But after theym in ordre by writinge
Cam amarales with many blody wounde
Which in his tyme was of mawres kynge
Without cause or title of any thinge
Vpon Iane Sangwyn gan werrey ageyn right
Which thrugh all affryk was one the best knight

The sayde Iane armyd in plate and mayle
Met amarales in Affrik on a sonde
And helde with him a mighty stronge batayle
And lyke a knight slough him with his honde
Droue all his peple proudly fro that londe
And in my boke there is none other mynde
To be remembred of him that I can finde

Than synduall of breton lorde and kynge
Tofore bochas put him silf in prees
Gan shewe his mischeef pitously wepinge
Whan he helde werre wylfull and recheles
Ageyn a prince called Narsates
A romayne knight fers hardy and right stronge
In his diffence whan men wolde do him wronge

This Narsates of cas or auenture
Though he in dede was a manly knight
He fayled membres in soth of engend [...]ure
His aduarsaries echon he put to the flight
Toke their kinge and furthwith anon right
As the cronycle pleynly doth recorde
On hye galowes he henge him with a corde

Of Narsates after this victorye
Kynge Totila had full greate dysdeyne
With a great oste moste pompous in his glorye
Cam vpon him and met him in a playne
With multitude though he were ouerleyne
Torninge Totyla which many man behelde
Of narsates was slayn in the felde

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In ordre next Bochas doth write
Of Gepedoys howe kinge Trusmonde
Required him that he wolde endyte
The great aduersytees in which he dyd habounde
And of his doughter callyd Rosamonde
The vnhappy chaunce to make and discryue
To whom fortune was contrarye all hir lyue

Albonyus kynge of lumbardye
With many a londe helde in subiection
Conquered Beeme / Prage / and Hungerye
The londe of Gepedoys with many a region
Faught with their kynge as made is mencion
Slough in batayle the sayde Trusmonde
Weddyd after his doughter rosamonde

 [...]yn auctoure greatly commendeth the beaute
And writeth also she was but yonge of age
Whoos story first whan I dyd see
Howe vngracious also was hir mariage
I gan wex pale in my visage
Greatly astonyed confus of very shame
To write the story in hindringe of hir name

I wyll forbere and lightly passe here
The surplusage lightly ouerpasse
For by and by to tell all the manere
Of felonyes that dyd in hertys brace
 [...] shulde blot this boke and eke difface
For which I caste truly and nat fayle
Touchinge hir storye to make rehersayle

Howe Albonyus was murdryd by his wyfe and howe she after most vicious was murd [...]yd also.

Kynge Albonoys as ye shall vnderstonde
After many conquest and victorye
Which he had both in see and londe
To put his triumphes in memorye
Lete crye a feest to his encres of glorye
At which feste solempne and princypall
So as he sat in his estate royall

Parcell for pryde parcell for gladnesse
The quene present the sayde Rosamonde
Take and supprysed he was with dronkenesse
Of mighty wynes which that day dyd habounde
Sent a Gobelet of golde as it is founde
Vnto the quene with licoure full plesaunt
Bad to hir fadre she shulde drynke a taunte

She dempt it was a maner mokerye
First hir name and worship to confounde
To byd hir drinke ataunt for hir partye
To hir fadre this sayde trusmonde
Slayn aforn with many blody wounde
By Albanyus thrugh his vnhappy chaunce
Of which rebuke she cast to do vengeaunce

She bare the rancoure full longe in hir entente
Which day by day gan renewe and encrees
A certeyn squyer she made of hir assent
To accomplissh she wolde neuer cees
And on another squyer she gan prees
Called perdyus accordyd all in one
This fals murdre to execute anone

The day was set while he laye a slepe
Fyll vpon him with sharpe swerdes grounde
Hir lorde was slayne alas he toke no kepe
Or he dyed of fortune he hath founde
A speres hede to a tronchon bounde
Him silf defendynde in that mortall stryf
But slayne he was by treson of his wyf

After this murdre to escape fro daungere
This Rosamonde fled away by night
With hir wente melchys hir squyere
Toke a shyp sayled by sterre light
To Rauenne they toke the way right
Lad with theym for refute and socour
Of albonyus all the hole tresoure

After she was weddyd to melchis
Man of this worlde stode moost in hir grace
Hir loue appalled set of him no prys
For she nat coude be contente in one place
Hir ioye was euer newe thinge to purchace
To assay many neuer plesed with one
Tyll by experyence she preuyd had echone

Prouost of rauenne and cheef gouernoure
For the excellence of hir great beaute
Aboue all wymen loued hir ꝑamoure
Whan she entred first that cyte
And thrugh hir fraude and duplicite
She cast murdre in hir frowarde auys
Hir newe husbonde that callyd was melchys

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The hote somer in lusty fressh may
The same melchis for hete and werynesse
Him silf to bath went a certeyne day
Caught a greate thurst of fayntnes in sothnesse
And rosamonde of infernall falsnesse
Toke a gobelet with lycoure great foyson
Gaue him drinke wyne medlyd with poyson

He dranke vp half and therwithall he gan
Breest and bely to swell and to aryse
Intoxigat wex dedely pale and wan
And whan he dyd hir treson aduertise
He made hir drinke in the same wyse
Maugre hir wyll she might it nat restrayne
Guyrdon for murdre they dyed both tweyne

In this chaptre but lytell frute I fynde
Saue only this to put in remembraunce
That shulde call ageyn to mynde
Murdre afore god requireth ay vengeaunce
This funerall story weyed in balaunce
Wrought by melchis compassyd first and founde
By fals treson of cursed rosamonde

Slough first hir lorde albonyus as I sayde
Tweyne of hir squyers dyd execucion
Out of his slepe whan he dyd abrayde
Lete countrey  [...]
Ech murdryd other by drynkynge of poyson
Melchis dranke first and next dranke Rosamonde
At theym it gan and to theym it dyd rebounde

Countrepeysyd one murdre for an other
Albonyus slayne by rosamonde his wyf
By assent of melchys and after eche to other
The poyson partyd there gan a fatall stryf
Murdre quyt for murdre they both loste their lyf
Who with falsnes full well afferme I dare
Shall with falness [...] be quyt or he be ware

As they departyd such part ageyne they toke
As men deserue such shall be their mede
This frowarde storye ende of the eyght boke
Of Rosamonde and melchis wrought in dede
For short conclusion byddeth men take hede
They shall ageynwarde resceyue such mesoure
As they mesure vnto their neightboure

Explicit Liber Octauus.

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[figure]

Incipit Liber Nonus Howe the emperour Mauricius / his wif and his children were slayne at Calcedonie

tO frauncis petrak as bochas vndretoke
In eschewynge of slouth and Idlenesse
As he began accomplissh vpon his boke
Assuraunce made to do his besynesse
Which thinge remembryd gan his penne dresse
The nynth boke so god wold sende him grace
It to perfourme if he had lyf and space

At the gynnynge sothly of his laboure
In his stody to him there dyd appere
Mauricius the mighty emperoure
Which complayned rehersynge the manere
Howe he by phocas cruell of loke and chere
Distroyed was wyf children and kinrede
The slaughtre couthe who list the story rede

The seyde mauryce as wryte bochas Iohn
Was by Phocas brought to destruction
His wif his children slayne euerichon
At calcedonye as made is mencion
After whoos deth he toke possession
The sayde phocas as put is in memorye
Gaue panteon to seint gregorie

Which was a temple of olde fundacion
Full of Idols vp set on hye stages
There thrugh the worlde of euery nacion
Were of their goddes set vp great Images
To euery kyngdon dyrect were their visages
As poetis and fulgeus by his lyue
In bokes olde pleynly doth descryue

Euerich Image had in his honde a bell
As perteyneth to euery nacion
Which by craft some tokyn shuld telle
Whan any kingdom fyll in rebellyon
Or gan malygne ageyn rome toun
Which to redresse with stronge and mighty honde
Sent a prince to chastise all that londe

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The sayde temple bylded of lyme and stone
 [...] my face as bokes specefye
 [...] it was first called pantyon
Set vp crosses vpon eche partye
Halowyd it to marters and to marye
Yere by yere gynnynge of nouembre
The feste holde the martylege doth remembre

In asia this emperoure mauryce was slayn
In the cyte that callyd is calcydonye
All his housholde and many good romayn
By phocas and perciens as had is in memorie
And phocas after for his vaynglorie
Slayn by Eraclyus he than was emperoure
Foure and twenty wynter and cheef gouernoure

Of machomete the fals prophete and howe he beynge dronke was deuoured amonge swyne.

AFter the deth of phocas as I tolde
That Eraclyus to regne first began
Cam machomet in his tyme I holde
A fals prophete and a magician
 [...]
Born in Arabya but of lowe kinrede
All his lyue worshypped Idols in dede

And whan that he grue in to great age
Dysceyuable in many sondry wyses
With camels vsed first cariage
Fals and double subtyll in his dyuyses
Went to egypt fet myrchaundyses
To Iewes and cristen sundry tymes sent
Lerned the olde and the newe testament

As bokes olde recorde in that partye
This machomet this cu [...]syd f [...]ls man
Out of Egipt fast gan him hye
Towarde a cuntre called Corezan
With a lady that hight cardycan
Thrugh his subtyll fals dalyaunce
By craft he fyll into hir acqueyntaunce

He wrought by his enchauntementys
And by fals menys of nygromancys
Hir enclynynge towarde his en [...]entes
For both he coude flater wele and lye
Sayde opynly that he was messie
Iewys abydynge vpon his comynge
As gre [...]test prophe [...]e and their souereyn kynge

Thus the peple he brought in greate erroure
By his techynge and his fals doctryne
He wexe amonge them a great gouernoure
The seyd lady also he dyd enclyne
As to a prephete which that was dyuyne
Sent from aboue as sh [...] dyd vnderstonde
For which she toke him to hir husbonde

His lynage gan at Hysmaell
Had a sekenesse full oft sith fyll doun
In his excuse sayde that gabryell
Was sent to him fro the heuynly mancion
By the holy goost to his Instruction
And for the aungell shewyd him silf so shene
To stonde vpright he might nat sustene

On his shuldre were oft tymes seyn
Whan he to folke shewyd his presence
Mylke white doues which that pickyd greyn
Out of his erys affermynge in sentence
They cam by grace of gostly influence
Him to visite to shewe and specefye
He was the prophete that callyd was messye

Newe lawes also he dyd ordeyne
Shewyd signes by fals apparence
Iike moyses him silf he dyd feyne
A prophete of moost excellence
And therupon to shewe an euydence
Smale pottes with milke and hony borne
On a great Bole were hangyd on eche horne

He made the temple yeue credulyte
To his doctryne and frowarde techynge
By mylke and hony fygured was plente
By the meryte of his goostly werkynge
And thus he was at his begynnynge
Take of sarazyns as they gan to him drawe
Which by fals erroure bounde them to his lawe

A Clerke of his callyd Sergius
Wrote his lawes and these myracles thre
First of these doues howe they cam to him thus
As here toforne reherced was by me
Howe mylke and hony were tokne of great plente
And of the bole afore by craft made tame
By fals disceytes to gete him a name

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Of Arabyens and sarazyns I as rede
And of Turkes made prince and gouernour
With Hismaelitis and folke of perce and mede
He gadred peple gan wex a werrour
Ageyn Eraclius the mighty emperour
And vsurped to ryde in the cuntrees
Gate alisaundre with many mo citees

Of tho partyes desirous to be kinge
Of that purpose whan he was set asyde
The peple falsly dissimulynge
Tolde he was sent prophetes to prouyde
For tho cuntres for to be their gyde
And for he was lecherous of corage
He made of venus to set vp an Image

Made sarazyns to worship the fryday
Semblably his story doth expresse
So as the Iewes halowed the saturday
All his werkes concludynge in falsnes
Whan he dranke wyne fyll in dronknesse
To the people lyke a fals prophete
To drynke water and gode wyne to lete

As I sayde the heretyk Sergyus
With him of counsayle frowarde and contrarye
Fone to cure feith he and Nostoryus
From holy church greatly they gan varye
On whos errours bochas list nat tarye
More to write of this machomete
A nygromancian and a fals prophete

Who list to se his lawes euerichon
Youe to sarazyns his boke can bere witnes
As they be set in his Alkeron
Echon in ordre groundyd on falsnes
Lyke a gloton dyed on dronkenes
By exces of drynkynge moch wyne
Fyll in a podell deuoured amonge swyne

This was the ende of fals machomete
For all his craftes of nygromancy
The funerall fyne of this sayd prophete
Dronlewe of kinde callyd him silf Messie
Whom sarazyns so greatly magnefye
Iohn bochas lete be for a quene of fraunce
More of his errour to put in remembraunce

Howe Brounchilde quene of fraunce slough hir kyn / brought the Londe in dyuysyon / and after was hangyd / and hewen in pecys smale

sHe cam arayed nothinge lyke a quene
Hir here vntressyd bochas toke gode hede
In all his boke he had afore nat sene
Amore wofull creature in dede
With wepynge iyen to torne was all hir wede
Rebukyng bochas he had left behynde
Hir wretchidnesse for to put in mynde

Vnto myn auctoure sodeynly she abrayde
Lyke a woman that were with wo chekmate
First of all thus to him she sayde
Sumtyme I was a quene of great estate
Crowned in Fraunce but nowe all disolate
I stode for soth brounchyld was my name
Which to reherce I haue a maner shame

Thou were besy to wryte the wofull cas
Within thy boke of arcynoe
Dydest seruyce to quene cleopatras
Of Rosamunde thou wrote also parde
And amonge all thou hast forgoten me
Wherby it semeth thou doest at me disdeyne
List no parcell to wryte of my peyne

Whan bochas herde this of chere he wex sa [...]
Knowynge no thinge of that she dyd endure
I wisse quod he afore I haue nat rad
In no cronycle nor in no scripture
Of youre frowarde wofull auenture
No quod she I pray you take good hede
So as they fyll I wyll reherce in dede

Bochas with brounchylde gan debate anon
Sothly quod he this is the condicyon
Of you wymen almoost euerychon
Ye haue this maner without excepcion
Of youre naturall inclynacion
Of youre declarynge this obseruaunce to kepe
No thinge to say contrarye to youre worship

Nature hath taught you al that is wronge  [...]excuse
Vndre a curtayne al thynge for to hyde
With lytyll grayne youre chaf ye can abuse
On youre defautys ye list nat for to abyde
The gaule touchid all that ye set asyde
Shewe ro [...]ys fressh wedys ye let pas
And fayrest chere there ye  [...]oste trespas

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And if ye shall tell youre owne tale
Howe ye fall fro fortunes whele
Ye wyll vnclose but a lytyll male
Shewe of youre vices but a small parcele
Bro [...]le glasse sheweth brighter than stele
And though of vertue ye shewe a faire pretence
He is a fole that yeueth to you credence

Quod brounchy [...]  [...] do right well espye
Thou hast of w [...] a fals opynyon
Howe they can fla [...]  [...]le and lye
And ben dyuers of disposycion
Thou mightest haue made an excepcion
Of hye estatys and theym that gentyll been
Namely of me that was so great a quene

¶Your hye estate by kynde hath no power
To chaunge in nature nouther colde nor hete
But late vs passe and leue this mater
Theron to abyde or any more to plete
Of your complaynt say to me the grete
By way of seruyce to you I shall me quyte
As ye declare take my penne and wryte

Take hede quod she and with good auyce
Fro the trouth bewar that thou ne varye
Whilom in fraunce regnyd kynge Clowyce
Had a son that named was Clotarye
Clothar an he [...]e that name [...] was Lotar [...]
And this lotarie named the seconde
Had sonnys foure in storye it is founde

To the cronycle who can take hede
As it is put in remembraunce
Whan their fadre the mighty kynge was dede
Atwene these foure was partyd all fraunce
Ech by him silf to haue gouernaunce
By one assent as brother vnto brother
Weringe their crownes ech quyt theym vnto other

The same tyme I callyd brounchilde
Me lyst nat varye from the olde writynge
Had a fadre named leuechylde
Of all spayne souereyne lorde and kynge
My sayd fader to full great hindrynge
Of both realmys the fame ranne so ferre
Twene spayne and fraunce gan a mortall werre

The brethern foure in fraunce crowned kinges
Ageyne my fadre made stronge diffence
Of marciall pryde and fortunat chaunges
Whan they met by mortall violence
Of sodeyne sl [...]ughter fyll such p [...]lence
On outher partye the felde lyke a great flode
With the terryble effusion of blode

To both realmes the werres were importable
Causinge of deth passynge greate damage
Sought menys wex by assent tretable
Of blode shedynge to appese the wofull rage
By oon accorde I was youe in mariage
To Sigebert regnynge tho in fraunce
Twene both realmes to make allyaunce

Nay quod bochas I deme it was nat so
Twene you and me there muste begyn a stryf
Be aduysed take gode hede therto
The first assuraunce of mariage in youre lif
Of chylperyk ye w [...]re the weddyd wyf
Cronycles seyn what euer ye expresse
In this mater wyll bere with me witnesse

Though sūme bokes reherce and so seyn
Lyke as ye haue made here mencion
Their rehesayle stande in no certeyn
For by the assent of outher region
Spayne and fraunce in their conuencion
Ordeyned so in my tendre age
To sygebert I was yeue in mariage

Imeneus was nat there present
Whan we  [...]er oure chaumbre toward night
For thesyphone hir sustren of assent
Infernall goddesses bare the torchys light
And as the torches shewyd derke and bright
Therby the peple presentyd one and all
Dempt of the mariage what shuld befall

This custom vs [...]d of antyquyte
From their temples of goddys and goddesses
At mariages of folke of hye degre
Torches were borne of whom men toke wytnes
As they were derke or shewyd their brightnes
The difference seen in ech estate
If it were towarde or Infortunate

Of this mariage shorte proces to make
The torches brente and yit they were nat bright
Shewed oute combrous smokes blake
Of consolacion lost was all the light
Thus in derknes wasted the first night
Their vers their songe of goddys and goddesses
Were all togedre of sorowe and heuynesse

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These were the toknes the night of maryage
Pronostykes of greate aduersite
Yit of nature I had this auauntage
Of womanhede and excellente beute
And lyke a quene in stones and perre
I was arayed clad in purple wede
With a crowne of golde vpon my hede

Selempnely crownyd quene of fraunce
Which for to se folke fast gan repayre
Of all welfare I had suffisaunce
Clombe vpon fortune full hye vpon the stayre
A sonne I had called clotayre
By Sygebert by recorde of writynge
Third of that name in fraunce crowned kinge

So wolde god that day that he was borne
He had be put in his sepulture
In saluacion of blode shed here toforne
Caused the deth of many creature
As dyuers bokes reporte in scrypture
Grounde and gynnynge as made is mencion
Within this londe of great dyuision

He with his brethern of whom I spake late
At him began the first occasion
Nat so quod bochas ye fayled of your date
Who was cheef cause of dyuysion
Sothly quod she in myn opynyon
Amonge them silf I dare well specefye
Cheef gynnynge was fraternall enuye

Kepe you more cloos in this mater ye do fayle
Folowynge the traces of youre condicion
Ye hal [...] foule in your rehersayle
For of your owne ymagynacion
Ye  [...]ewe the sede of this dissencion
Amonge these kinges if ye take hede
By which in fraunce many man was dede

Than brounchyld gan to chaunge chere
To bochas saide with face full cruell
Nat longe agon thou knewest nat the manere
Of my lyuynge but a small parcell
Me semeth nowe thou knowest euerydell
So that ye may without lenger stryf
Syt as Iuge that knoweth so wyll my lyf

Whan these brethern stode at discorde
Ech ageyn other by mortall violence
Vndre a coloure to trete of accorde
With many a maner feyned diligence
Chilperyk there beynge in presence
Whilom brother to Sygebert the kynge
Was slayn amonge them by fals conspiringe

On whoos deth auengyd for to be
As Sigebert dyd him silf auaunce
Amonge the prees he slayne was parde
Nat so quod bochas but of fals gouernaunce
Of your misliuynge fyll this vnhappy chaunce
That sygebert was murdryd in sothnes
Only by occasion of your doublenes

Folowynge the traces of newe fangylnes
Geyn Sygebert he wrought full falsly
Whan ye loued of froward doublenes
Laudryk the Erle of chaumpayn and of bry
For by your outrage and your great foly
The kinge was slayne and ye dyd assent
In a forest an huntynge whan he went

Which called was the forest of compyne
Alas quod she and brake out in compleynynge
Bochas bochas thou doest sore vndermyne
All the surfetys done in my lyuynge
Thou knowest the slaughtre of sygebert the kynge
Which that was wrought alas by myn assent
Howe knowist thou and were nat there present

Of these debates and of all the werre
With rebukes rehercyd here in vayn
In rehersayle greatly thou doyst erre
For I cast be right wele certeyne
In my diffence to replye ageyn
It was nat I she that thou doest mene
It was Fregundys the lusty yonge quene

This Fregundis thou shalt vnderstond
Right womanly and fayre of hir visage
Chilperyk was whylon hir husbond
For hir beutye toke hir in mariage
By hir treynys and hir great outrage
He was after the story who list rede
At mischeef slayne thou shalte so fynde in dede

Though ye by langage make stronge diffence
In these maters which cause me to muse
I haue ageyn you loste my pacience
That so subtylly wolde your silf excuse
Contrariously your treynes ye abuse
For Colotayre I haue so rad parde
Was nat engendred of Sigebert nor of the

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I Remembre full wele that I haue rad
That Chilperyk though ye therat disdeyne
Recorde of auctours that prudent be and sad
He in trouth was gendryd of you tweyne
Which in his dyenge me list nat for to seyne
Left sonnes two the story ye may rede
Theobart and Thederyk to succede

Bochas quod she though thou turne vpsodoun
The sayde storyes reherced here in dede
Folowynge the malyce of thyn opynyon
Maugre thy wyll furth I wyll procede
As I began take therto gode hede
The first Thederyk thou shalt vnderstande
Cosyn Germayn was to my husbonde

Kynge of burgoyn that tyme and another
He of hatrede and indignacion
Slough Theobart which that was his brother
His wyf his children for short conclusion
Which in the mighty famous region
Of Antrasie regned as lorde and kynge
What euer thou sayst this trouth and no lesinge

Nay nay quod bochas it was all otherwyse
I may nat suffre howe ye go there amonge
All this langage of newe that ye dyuyse
Brought to a preef concludeth vpon wronge
What shulde we  [...]eng [...]e this ma [...]e [...]  [...]awe alonge
Youre silf were cause where ye be loth or fayne
By theodoryk the theobarte was slayne

The grounde herof gan ꝑcell of enuye
By youre frowarde brennynge couetyse
Which had only to occupye
To rule the londe after youre owne guyse
And if I shall pleynly here deuyse
Of these myscheues reherced god do bote
Ye were youre silf grounde cheef croppe and rote

Quod brounchylde I conceyue well and se
Ye for youre ꝑtye haue lost all reuerence
Youre silf enarmed to shewe your cruelte
Ageyns me touchynge the violence
Of two slaughtres rehercyd in sentence
First howe thederyk his brother slough in dede
Callyd Theobart a pitous thinge to rede

Him silf after stranglyd with poyson
His wyf his chyldren hewe in pesys smale
As ye quod bochas make here mencion
Some parte is true but nat all youre tale
For I suppose ye shuld wax pale
For shame of thinge which ye can nat excuse
Whan Thedoryk begynneth you to accuse

He put on you the cryme of fals treson
Ye slough his wyf and children also
Him silf also ye murdred by poyson
I wolde wete what ye coude say herto
Alas quod she what shulde I do
Was neuer woman in hye nor lowe estate
All thinge consydred more infortunate

Fortune of me set nowe but lytyll prys
By hir frowarde furious violence
Turnynge hir whele and visage of malyce
Causeth to me that noman yeueth credence
Had in despite voyde of reuerence
And fortunes mutabilite
Sool adiect and fall in pouerte

O Bochas Iohn for short conclusion
Thou mayst ageyne me thy stile nowe auaunce
I haue deserued to haue punycion
And all the princes and barons nowe in fraunce
Crye out on me and aske auengeaunce
Refuge is none nor recure in this thinge
Though yt with Clotaire my soule be crowned kinge

For my diffautes foule and abhomyneble
Tofore the iuges of all the perlement
I was forniggyd and founde also coupable
Of euery cryme conuyct by Iugement
Myn accusours there beynge presente
Of one and other stondynge a great route
Markyd with fingers of folke that stode aboute

For very shame I dyd myn ien close
For them that gaured and cast on me theyr sight
But as folke may by toknes wele suppose
Myn eres were nat stopped half aright
Taken by force lad forth by might
By the hangman drawe ouer hill and vale
Dismembryd after and hewe on pesys small

With my blode the pament all bespreynte
Thanked be fortune which was myn auenture
The soule partyd the body was so feynt
Who rad euer of any creature
That moch more torment dyd endure
Prayde bochas to haue all thinge in mynde
Write hir lyf and leue no thinge behinde

Lenuoye.

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THys tragedye of brounchilde the quene
Loke hir story who list yeue attendaunce
Frowarde to rede contageous to sene
And contrarye to all gode gouernaunce
Born in spayne crownyd quene of fraunce
Double of tonge vp sin der of treson
Caused all that londe stande at dyuision

From hir traynes there coude noman fleen
Sours and hede springe of sorowe and myschaunce.
Shed hony first stange after as do been
Hir myrre medlyd with sugred fals plesaunce
What she sayde encluded in variaunce
Maistresse of murdre and of dissencion
Caused all that loude stonde at diuisyon

Pryncys of gaule might nat sustene
Great outrages nor the great greuaunce
Nor the surfetys done in their yerys grene
Brought that kingdom almoost to vttraunce
All of assente cryed on hir vengeaunce
The same aros howe all that region
In hir falsnesse stode at dyuysion

The knif of murdre grounde was so kene
By hir malyce of longe contynuaunce
Hir corage fret with infernall tene
Sparyd nouther  [...] no [...] allyaunce
Peys [...]d hir su [...]fetys and weyed in balaunce
As bochas wryte she was the occasion
Which made all fraunce to stonde at dyuision

Bochas marueyleth of the malice and cruelte of [...]rounchilde writeth thus

BOchas astonyed gan inwardly maruayle
Fyll in a maner ambyguyte
Of brounchildes merueylous rehersayle
Howe any woman of reson shulde be
So full of malyce and of cruelte
To sle hir kyn and set at distaunce
By diuision all the realme of fraunce

Bochas dempt it was nat credyble
That a woman shulde be so vengeable
In hir malice so venymous and terrible
Of slaughter and murdre to be coupable
The storye suspecte helde it but a fable
Only exepte that she dyd him exite
With great instaunce hir story for to write

Hir crye on bochas was very importune
To set in ordre hir felicitees
With hir vnhappy chaunges of fortune
Hir disclaundres great aduersytees
With hir diffame reportyd by cuntrees
No very grounde founde in bokes olde
But of confession that she hir silf tolde

That myn auctoure rehereyd with solempne style
Reherce shulde hir wordes disclaundrous
Hir flourynge yeres also for to compyle
Medlyd with hir daies that were contrarious
Hir fatall ende frowarde and furious
Wherof encoumbryd of very werinesse
Towarde Eraclius he gan his penne dresse

Howe Eraclius the Emperoure susteyned heresye / fyll in to dropsye / and sekenesse vncurable / and so dyed.

aFter Phoras with gret honour and glo [...]ye
Crowned emperour of rome the cite
In whos tyme as seith the storye
The Romayns stode in greate ꝑplexite
By theym of perce that roos with Cosdr [...]ye
Which toke vpon him to be lorde and syre
As a tyraunte to trouble the empyre

Gate many prouynce and many famous reem
Thrugh all asye as the cronicle seith
Gan approch towarde Ierusaleem
Afore the towne proudly a syege he leithe
As a tyraunt frowarde to cristys feith
But eraclyus maugre all his might
Smet of his hede and slough him lyke a knight

And by grace which that is dyuyne
This famous prince this Eraclyus
In his begynnynge slough many proude sersyn [...]
Holde in tho dayes notable and glorious
And in his conquest passynge famous
Dyuers relykes of the crosse he sought
And from tho cuntrees many of them he brought

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Was none so f [...] holde in his dyees
As Eraclyus  [...] Empire for to guye
Nor more manly founde at all assayes
Of hye prowes  [...]or in chiualrye
But whan he gan susteyne heresye
God toke from him within a lytyll space
His hap and welfare his fortune and his grace

He gan sustene and folowe certeyn rytes
Of wylfulnesse and frowarde fantasye
Of a secte callyd Monachelitys
Which as a s [...]te of frowarde heresye
And sith that he drough to that partye
The story telleth for all his hygh estate
This Eraclyus was neuer fortunate

Where he was first drad on se and londe
Namely of sarasyns for all his chiualrys
Grace and fortune from him withdroughe hir honde
For whan he fyll into heresye
He was trauayled with such a dropsye
That  [...]herwithall he had a frowarde luste
Euer to drinke and euer he was a thurst

In tho dayes founde was no leche
Albe that they were sought on ech partye
The sayde prince that coude wyssh or teche
Him to releue of his dropsye
Made feynt and feble with a greate palesye
Thus in sekenes he hath his dayes spent
By vengeaunce slayne with infernall torment

Of Eraclyus this was the wofull ende
As is rehercyd slayn with sekenesse
Oute of this worlde whan he shulde wende
All hole the empyre stode in great distresse
Fors of sarasyns dyd theym so oppresse
And day by day drough to declyne
By his son called constantyne

Howe Constantyne the son of Eraclyus supportynge errour / and heresye / was murdred in a stewe

wHich was his successor as made is mēcion
In whos tyme thrugh his great folye
Sarazyns dyd great oppression
Spoylynge the cuntres of all lumbardye
And Constantyne of wylfull slogardye
Wastyd his dayes tyll he hath brought
All the Empyre almost to nought

Geyn cristes feith in especiall
He gan of malyce his wyttys to applye
And was therto enmy full mortall
And cheef supportoure of fals heresye
And towarde rome fast he gan him hye
Spoyled temples of many rich ymage
And by water after toke his passage

To constantynople fast he gan him hye
By cesyle the way was almoste mete
At Syracuse I fynde that he dyd aryue
And for the ceson was excessyf of hete
Which in his laboure made him for to swete
And secretly he gan him silf remue
To be bathed in a preuy stue

Of enuye there he was espyed
His owne knightes lyke as it is founde
By conspyracion certeyn of them allied
Fyll vpon him with sharpe swerdys grounde
And mercyles with many mortall wounde
They slough him there on him they were so wode
Amyd the stewe naked as he stode

After whoos deth they dyd theym silf audunce
To chese a knight born in armenye
Of the empyre toke the gouernaunce
And to supporte falsly their empyre
But Constantyne succedinge of allye
Beynge next heyre the trouth for to sue
To him that was murdryd in the stewe

CAllyd Constantyne as his fader was
Right notable in actys marcyall
More wysely gouerned stode in other caas
Lyke a prince by iugement royall
Of manly herte and corage naturall
The conspiratours first of all he sleth
That were assentyd to his fadres deth

To great encrees of his famous renoun
Grace of god dyd him enlumyne
Constantynoble in that royall toun
Olde heresye to cese and to fyne
Two hundred busshoppes eke also nyne
He made assemble to stonde at diffence
Of cristys feyth of manly prouydence

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He was eke besy churches to restore
All heretikes manly to withstonde
Their opynyons examyned well before
And whan the trouth was well vndrestonde
Lyke cristys knyght list for no man wond [...]
To punyssh theym iustly by rigoure
Without excepcion of person or fauoure

Of him in bochas lytyll more I rede
Nor of his empyre I fynde non other date
Spared none heretikes nouther for golde nor mede
At constantynople he passed in to fate
Whan bulgarence gan with him debate
A frowarde peple wylfull and recheles
Gaue theym a tribute for to lyue in pees

Howe Gisulphus was slayn and his wyf endyd mischeuously in lecherye.

NExt cam Gysulphus to bochas on the ringe
A famous duke and notable in his lif
With wepynge iyen pytously playnynge
With whom also cam rymulde his wif
Which that lyued euer in sorowe and stryf
Yit was she both of birth and of lynage
Right excellent and fayre of hir visage

Syxe chyldren had this famous quene
By Gysulphus goten in mariage
Wonder semely and goodly vnto seen
And fortunat by processe of their age
Albe their fadre felt great damage
By the werres he had in his lyuynge
With Gathamus that was of Narcys kinge

This cathamus with many stronge batayle
Is descendyd and take the way right
Of Duke Gysulphus the londes ta assayle
Togedre met in stele armyd bright
Gysulphus slayn his peple put to flight
And cathamus with stronge and mighty honde
Toke possession conquered all his londe

After whoos deth Rymulde the duches
Greatly astonyed pale of hir visage
To the castell of Forgoyll gan hir dresse
With hir knightes of stronge and fell corage
Cathamus made after his passage
Layde a syege cast him to Iupart
His lyf / his body rather than depart

Aboute the castell armyd as he stode
Lyke a prince sat knightly on his stede
Vpon the walles as rimuldus abode
Fresshly beseen in hir purple wede
And of the syege gan to take hede
Hir loke vnwarly as she cast asyde
And sawe the kynge afore the castell ryde

So lyke a prince and a manly knyght
She gan on him loke wonder narowe
The god of loue perced thrugh hir sight
Vnto hir herte merkyd with his arowe
Made the soyle so plyaunt of hir thought
That of hir castell she set almoost rightnought

And for to accomplissh the hole entencion
Of hir fals lust in any maner thynge
She is agreed by disposion
To yelde the castell in hast vnto the kynge
She for to come without more taryenge
Lyke a duke / a duchesse hir silf to present
Where as the kynge sat armed in his tent

The peple within prysoners take
Hir foure sonnes toke theym to the flight
Loue caused that she hath forsake
Hir blode hir kyn where it were wronge or right
And rymulde the space of all a night
With Cathamus had all hir delite
And euer after he had hir in despyte

And by the kynge whan she was refused
Twelue in nombre that dwellyd in his hous
Moost frowardly hir beutye hath abused
Of hir nature she was so lecherous
And to reherce it is contageous
Howe she wexe after so abhomynable
To be aqueyntyd with gromes of the stable

It were but vayn to tary on this matere
Or any longe processe for to make
Hir storye is contageous for to here
But fynally at myscheef she was take
For a spectacle fetchyd on a stake
Set vp aloft myn auctour telleth so
Dyed in distres for constraynt of hir wo

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Of Iustynyan the fals extorcyoner / exyled by patricyan / after both nose and iyen but from his hede.

By exaumple so as fressh armure
Thrugh longe restynge leseth his brightnesse
Fret with olde rust gadreth greate ordure
Is diffaced of his fressh clerenesse
Semblably the romayns hye prowesse
Gan for to appall alas and that was routh
Whan they gaue to neglygence and slouth

Who in kinghode list haue experience
Muste eschewe riotous Idlenesse
By prudent and enteer dyligence
Large with discrecion manly with gentylnesse
To high empryses his corage dresse
And he well ware on ech partye
Him to preserue from all slogardye

The which greatly hath appeyred
As it is remembred of olde antiquyte
Caused romayns to be despeyred
By frowarde lustes hyndred their cite
And appalled their olde prosꝑite
Of which defautys cam to pleyn blyue
To Iohn bochas emperours fyue

As many kynges of the same noumbre
Which by slouth were afore oppressed
Whom that slouth whilom dyd encombre
Their names by and by here expressed
To myn auctour they haue their cours dressyd
Lyke their degrees to speke in wordys fewe
Iustynyan first gan his face shewe

Nat Iustynyan whilom so vertuous
And of prudent gouernaunce so notable
But Iustynyan Temerarius
Double of his dedys fals and desceyuable
Of his promys dyuers and vnstable
Whilom exiled by patrician
For extorcions that he in rome began

His nose his iyen patricyan gaue in charge
To be cut of by furious cruelte
And of the empyre that was so wyde and large
Leoncyus next gouerned the cyte
And thrugh fortunes mutabilyte
The same leonce by tybery was cast doun
His iyen put out dyed in prison

Tyberyus after seruyd of the same
His nose cut of from his se put doun
For a rebuke and a perpetuall shame
To a cite that called was cerson
Without mercy fauour or raunson
Exyled he was prisoned as a theef
By longe torment dyed at mischeef

Howe Philyp the empeorour dyed at myscheef.

NExt to bochas cam philip on the ringe
Whos empyre no while dyd endure
Lyke an heretyke cursyd of lyuynge
And odious to euery creature
Bete doun ymages and many fressh pycture
Of holy saintes which in their temples stode
Wherby romayns dempt that he was wode

Pursued he was by a manly knight
Called Anastayse and put out of his place
And in cecyle of very force and might
He dyd his iyen out of his hede arace
By iugement his visage to difface
Semblably as he by great outrages
Of cristys feith diffaced the Images

Dyed at mischeef dyrkyd with blyndnesse
Than Anastayse toke possession
In whoos tyme bokes bere witnesse
And cronycles also make mencion
Of the empyre was made dyuysion
That first was one / partyd into tweyne
Wherof myn auctoure in maner doth compleyne

Howe Anastace was compelled to leue the Empyre to be a preste and lyue in pouerte.

AS he reherceth in his opynyon
And therupon doth a grounde deuyse
Cause and rote of their diuysion
Toke originall of fals couetyse
And ceriously he telleth here the guyse
Into the church whan richesse broughtin pryde
All perfeccion anone was set asyde

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The poce staffe and potent of doctryne
Whan it was chaungyd and list nat abyde
In wylfull pouerte but gan anon declyne
On stately pastures and hye hors to ryde
Short heires were also layde asyde
Turned to copes of purpyl and sanguyne
Gownes of scarlet furryd with hermyn

Slendre fare of wyne and watre clere
With abstynence of brede made of whete
Chaungyd tho dayes to many fat dynere
With confect drinke and ypoctas swete
All sobrenesse dyd his boundes lete
S [...]a [...]snesse of fode left his old estate
With newe excesse gan wex delycat

Goos [...]ly lyuynge in the church appalled
Caused grekes withdrawe them in sentence
From the pope in petyrs place stallyd
And list to him do none obedyence
Fals auarice causyd this offence
That the grekes dyd them silf dyuyde
Fro the romayns for hir great pride

Thus couetyse and fals ambucion
Dyd first greate harme in the spirituall
Brought in discorde and dyuysion
Amonge princes in their estate royall
Who clymbeth highest moost ꝑilous is his fall
Recorde I take of the forsayde Anastace
By theodosie put out of his place

This theodosie dyd his besy payne
On  [...]nastace such werre for to make
That maugre him he dyd him so constreyne
That he was fayne the empyre to forsake
For fere and drede he dyd vpon him take
The ordre of preest from the Imperiall see
Content with lytyll lyued in pouerte

Howe the hede of Lupus kynge of lumbardye was smet of by Grymaldus.

aFter these chaunges remēbryd by writīges
Lyke as I haue tolde here in partye
Cam to bochas foure mighty kynges
Regnynge echon of olde in lumbardye
After the maner and guyse in Barbarye
They were arayed in their passage
With here forgrowen body and visage

Their berdys raught ouer their nauyll doun
Their garnementys of colours manyfolde
With brode baudrykes enbraced enuyron
Large buckles and pendauntes of fyne golde
Their brech enbroudryd after the guyse of olde
Fret with peerle legge stuckyd to the kne
Pleynynge to bochas of their aduersite

Their shoon were raced fresshly to the toon
Richely transuersed with golde wyre
And theron set many a stronge stone
Geyn phebus light shone full bright and clere
These lumbarde kynges gan to approche nere
The first of all the kynge lupus
Vnto Bochas gan to compleyne thus

Bochas quod he as for my partye
For to reherce by shorte conclusion
One grymaldus a prince of lumbardye
Hath me enclosyd out of my region
And cruelly encheyned me in pryson
And after that dyd a sargeaunt sende
Smet of myn hede and there I made an ende

Howe the hede of Alexyus was smet of by comperton

AFter this ende reherced of Lupus
For to declare his mortall heuynesse
Next in ordre ther cam Alexius
A lumbarde kynge famous of richesse
Which toke on him of surquedous prowesse
For to compace the destruction
Of a prince called comperton

Which ware also a crowne in lumbardye
Atwyx both was werre and great distaunce
But all the peple and lordys of pauye
With mighty honde and marciall gouernaunce
The sayd alexius brought vnto mischaunce
And Comperton escaped from all drede
Of mortall vengeaunce lete smyte of his hede

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Howe Aryperton was drowned with his richesse.

aFter whoos deth pitously pleynynge
Tofore Iohn bochas cam ariperton
Of Lumbardye whilom lorde and kynge
Which lyke a fole of high presumpcion
All causeles toke occasion
Of volunte there is nomore to say
Ageyn the duke of Bagaroys to werreye

These princys tweyne taken haue the feelde
And of aryperton the partye gan apeyre
His aduersarye anon as he behelde
His cowarde hert gan disespeyre
Into Pauye for fere he gan repeire
Toke his tresour in purpoos anon right
For very drede to take him to the flight

Toke a vessell and entred is the se
With sodeyn tempest assayled and derkenesse
His barge perisshed by greate aduersite
And was drowned with all his great richesse
Lo here the fyne of wordly wretchydnesse
Namely of theym to gete great tresours
That gynne werre ageyn their neighbours

Howe dediere by pope adrian and Charles of fraū ce was put to flight and dyed at mischeef.

NExt to Bochas with heuy loke and chere
Kynge of Lumbardye shewed his presence
Called in his tyme noble Dediere
Notable in armes and of great excellence
And where his fader had done offence
To the pope and full great duresse
This kynge cast the damages to redresse

Agistolphe was his fadres name
Which to the pope dyd great aduersite
For which his son to encres his fame
Of royall fredom and magnanymyte
And of benygne lyberalite
Gaue to the pope with humble reuerence
A statly cyte that callyd is faience

Therwith he gaue great tresoure and great gode
As he that lyst of fredom for to spare
A mighty castell which on Tybre stode
Within the boundye and lordship of ferrare
Which is a cite pleynly to declare
Of antiquite myn auctour telleth so
And stant vpon the ryu [...]re of the poo

This Dediere regnynge in Lumbardye
Gan wex famous at his begynnynge
Had great name vpon eche partye
But in this erth is no thinge abidinge
All stant on chaunge and fortune in werkinge
Is founde wastable and double of hir visage
Which of this kynge chaungyd the corage

There he was large on euery syde
Lyberall founde in many sundry wyse
His goodlyhede was chaungyd in to pryde
And his larges in to couetyse
Of doublenesse he gan anone dyuyse
To cleyme ageyn as ye shall vnderstonde
His sayde gyftes out of the popes honde

Which dediere had made alyaunce
As the cronycle maketh mencyon
With kinge pepyne regnynge tho in fraunce
After whoos deth to haue possession
And full lordshyp of all that region
He gan of newe fall at distaunce
Both with the pope and with the kinge of fraunce

Of presumpsion these werres he began
Ageyn his promys of double variaunce
Pope in tho dayes was holy adryan
Which to stynt the trouble and greate myschaunce
Requyred help of the kynge of fraunce
And great Charles in bochas as I rede
Cam to the pope to helpe in this nede

Charles that tyme was cheef protectoure
To holy church their pauys and diffence
Which of hole herte and dyligent laboure
With Dediere by manly violence
He met in Tuskye of knightly excellence
Had a batayle to preue their both might
Charles victor dediere put to flight

As I fynde he fled into pauye
Worthy charles layde a syege aforne
Constreyned them vpon ech partye
For lacke of vitayle they were almoste lorne
They wantyd lycoure greyn and corn
By sodeyn constreynt and great aduersite
To kynge Charles they yelded vp the cite

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Kynge Dedyere was sent into Fraunce
With mighty cheynes fetred in pryson
Lyke a wretch in sorowe and great penounce
Dyed at mischeef there gayned no rounson
Which had afore so greate possession
After whoos day by olde writinge
Amonge lumbardes was neuer crowned kynge

Of pope Iohn a woman with childe and put doun.

AFter the princis reherced here toforn
Drownyd in terys cam a creature
Lyke a busshop rounded and shorne
And as a preest he had a brode tonsure
Hir apparayle outwarde and vesture
Beynge a woman wherof bochas toke hede
Lyke a prelate shape was hir wede

She was the same that of yore agon
Vnworthely sate in petyrs place
Was afterwarde callyd pope Ihon
A berdles prelate none here seen on hir face
Of hir byrth named was the place
Ma [...]ence a cite stondynge in Itayle
Vpon the Reen full famous of vitayle

In hir youth and in hir tendre age
Forsoke hir kynne and in especiall
Cast she wolde for hir auauntage
Gaue hir to cūnynge body herte and all
And in the sciences called lyberall
In all seuyn by famous excellence
By great study she had experyence

Hir name couth in many diuers londe
To shewe hir cūnynge first whan she began
Serchynge prouynces cam to Inglonde
No wight supposynge but that she was a man
Cam to rome hir story tell can
Taught gramer sophistry and logyk
Rad in scoles openly rethoryk

In the tyme of emperoure Lotarye
After the deth as made is mencyon
Fro myn auctour if I shall nat varye
That the pope which called was leon
The sayde woman by election
I stallyd was no wight supposinge than
By no tokne but that she was a man

The boke of Fortys after that anon
Of auenture turnyd vpso doun
She was named and callyd pope Iohn
Of whos naturall disposicion
Fyll by processe in to temptacion
Quyk with childe the houre cam on hir than
Was delyuered at saynt Iohn Lateran

After put doun for hir great outrage
I wyll on hir spende nomore laboure
But passe ouer all the surplusage
Of hir lyuynge and of hir great erroure
Turne my style vnto the emperoure
Called arnolde and wryte his pytous chaunce
Son to charles the greate kinge of fraunce

To this Charlys as bokys determyne
He was sonne nat borne in mariage
But begoten of a concubyne
Toke vpon him of surquedous outrage
Without title birth or lynage
To succede by fraude and fals laboure
Amonge romeyns to regne as emperoure

He was vngracious sittinge in that estate
In mischeef spent his dayes euerychon
With lys and wormes made infortunate
Thrugh skyn and flessh fret vnto the bone
Craft of medecyne nor socoure was there none
So depe was fret in his entrayle
Dyed in distresse no leche might auayle

Bochas counseyleth pryncys to remembre on Arnolde.

Myn auctour bochas stynte here for a whyle
Sharped his penne of entencion
Gan to angre to transporte his style
To write of tyrauntys the transgression
More wode and fell than any scorpion
Theym counceylinge whan they be moost bolde
For to remembre of this proude Arnolde

He ne was nat in his pride assayled
Nat with w [...]lues tygres nor lyons
With rauynous berys nor wilde bores trauayled
Nouther with other mighty chaumpions
Which haue conquered many regions
But with wormes engendryd of his kynde
The seyd  [...]rnolde was murdryd as I fynde

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In such disioynt the seyde arnold stode
With lys and wormys fret ageyn nature
That was so nye borne of charles blode
Impotent the peyne to endure
Which was in soth an vncouth auenture
That a prince might nat be socoured
Of smale wormes for to be dououred

A greate exaumple who list considre
To princys all for to abate their pryde
Late theym considre their fragylite
To se an emperour to abyde
Thassaute of wormes and lay their boost asyde
In this arnolde wysely aduertyse
Howe god hath power their pompe to chastyse

Deth of arnolde dyd my penne encoumbre
For the greate abhomynacion
Than to bochas cam the twelue in noumbre
Callyd pope Iohn as made is mencion
Entrynge by fraude and fals eleccion
To goddys lawe frowarde and contrarye
Nat lyke a pastor but like a marcenarye

Called aforne he was octauian
Nothinge resemblynge petyrs gouernaunce
Fro the tyme in rome that he began
To sit as pope he yaue his attendaunce
To folowe his luste and his flesshly plesaunce
In hawkynge and huntinge stode his felicite
And amonge wymen conuersaunt for to be

Vnto surfete Ryot and glotonye
He gaue him holy toke of god no kepe
Greatly disclaundryd he was of lecherye
Kept in his courte without shame or drede
A noumbre of wymen in cronycle as I rede
Two cardynalles of purpose dyd entende
His vicious lyf to correcke and amende

And of entente these cardynalles two
The church esclaundred cast theym to redresse
Made lettres sent them to o [...]cho
Duke of Saxon that he shulde him dresse
Towarde rome and of hye noblesse
On holy church to haue compassion
Make of this mischeef iust reformacion

This pope Iohn whan he hath perceyued
Of these cardynalles the maner of weytynge
And howe the duke the lettres hath receyued
He to do vengeaunce made no taryenge
Bode no lengre this Iugement yeuynge
Cut of the nose felly of that one
Hand of that other and ech was callyd Iohn

The emperour dyd his letters sende
To this pope of hole affeccion
Of his defautys he shulde him amende
But there was founde no correction
For which he was deposyd and put doun
By cardynalles for his cursydnesse
Me list nomore to write of his wretchidnesse

For his defautys and his greate outrage
This Iohn put doun as ye haue herde deuyse
Myn auctoure after caught a great corage
Seynge this myscheef in many sondry wyse
In holy church which that dyd arise
Amonge prelates cast them silf blyue
Their diffautes openly to descryue

Of their pryde and presumpcion
And while he gan studye in this matere
He gan remembre anone in his reson
Vpon a vere wreten in the sautere
Touch nat my prophetys ne nigh them nat to nere
Nor ageyn them beware in dede and thought
In no wyse that ye malygne nought

For this cause as ye shall vnderstonde
Touchynge this matere pleynly as I rede
Myn auctoure gan withdrawe his honde
Left his purpose and furth gan procede
To whoos presence or that he toke hede
Cam a prince Duke Charles of Loreyn
Him besought to wryte his greuous peyne

Of Charles of Loreyn confoūdyd with hungre.

THis duke of loreyne as ye shall conceyue
Had werre with the kynge of fraunce
Callyd Hugh Capet and I apperceyue
An archbusshop to do the kinge plesaunce
Of hatrede made his ordynaunce
Ageyn this duke awayte vpon him set
That he him toke abed whan he slept

The sayde busshop gan falsly vndremyne
This worthy duke by full fals treson
Which as I fynde was called ancelyne
And he was busshop that tyme of leon
Which by fraude and fals collusion
Toke this prince that was duke of loreyne
And to the kynge he brought him by a treyne

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By whom he was delyuered to prison
To Orliaunce and with cheynes bounde
What was his ende was made no mencion
But in a pytte horryble and profounde
Myscheef with hunger dyd him so confounde
That I suppose this Duke of Loreyne
Consumed was for constreynt of his peyne

Howe kinge Salamon whilom Kynge of Hungery was put to flight

aFter to bochas there cam doun
Princys foure and ech for his partye
Their greues tolde and first Salamon
That whilom regnyd in hungerye
Both fole and cowarde bokes specefye
Voyde of reson noysed of ignoraunce
And at a poynt coude no purueaunce

Fortune also dyd at him dysdeyne
For he was nouther manly nor corageous
Ageyn whom were worthy knightes tweyne
He [...]a was one with Laudisalus
Famous in armes notable and vertuous
Both at onys on salamon cam doun
And made him fle out of his region

Thrugh his vnhappy froward cowardise
There was in him founde no defence
Flight was his shelde lyst in no wyse
Geyn his enmyes make resistence
Fayled herte to come to presence
To saue his londe he dred him silf so sore
Of whom bochas wryte in his boke nomore

Howe Petro kinge of hūgery was slayne

ANother kynge put here in remembraunce
Called petro regnynge in hungerye
For his defautys ageyn the kinge of Fraūce
I called Charles of malice and folye
By indignacion that was his tormentrye
His iyen put out there was no better socoure
And after slayne by dome of the Emperoure

Howe Dyogenes the Emperoure was taken / and his iyen put oute.

aFter to bochas there cā tweyn on the ringe
Duke of Swene formest as I rede
Ageyn thēperour first maliciously werkīge
Henry the Emperoure regnynge tho in dede
But for his malice this was his fatall mede
Banysshed to dwell amonge bestys sauage
Slayn in a forest for his great outrage

Whan Constantyne departyd from this life
Which of all grece was lorde and gouernoure
By mariage of hir that was his wyf
A knight Dyogenes was made emperoure
Fortune to him dyd so great fauoure
Constantinople holdynge in his honde
As souereyne prince of all grekys londe

¶Yit there was sūme that grutchid therageyn
And had of him greate indignacion
The kynge of perce Belset Tarque nyayne
Fro him by force toke many a region
Mesopotanye to his possession
Toke by stronge hande thrugh his chyualrye
Maugre diogenes and almoost all surrye

Belset tarquenyan made him silf so stronge
By manly force Dyogenes to assayle
And for Dyogenes thought he dyd him wronge
He gan ordeyne great stuf and apareyle
A day assigned they met in batayle
Dyogenes of frowarde auenture
He and his knightes brought to disconfiture

Take he was and brought by great disdeyne
In whom as tho there was no resistence
To kynge belset called tar uynyan
And whan he cam to his prsence
Ageyns him was youe this sentence
To lye doun plat and that kinge belset
Shulde take his fote and on his throte set

This was done for an hye despyte
Dyogenes brought forth on a cheyne
Withoute reuerence fauoure or respite
At great festys assigned was his payne
And aldrelaste put out his iyen tweyne
The whele of fortune tourneth as a ball
Sodeyn clymbynge axeth a sodeyn fall

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Howe Robert Duke of Normandye faught with the Turkes / was named to the crowne of Ierusalem / and dyed at myscheef.

A worthy prince spoken of in many realme
Noble Robert duke of Normandy
Chose to the crowne of Ierusaleem
But for cause he dyd it denye
Fortune vnto him had enuye
The same Robert next in ordre was
Than cam to pleyne his fatall vnto bochas

For cristys feyth this mighty champion
This duke Robert armed in plate and mayle
With manly Godfray Godfray Bollion
Ageyn turkes faught a great batayle
For cristys feyth that it shulde auayle
To sustene the lawe in their entent
To all the kynges of the occident

Of turkes and sarasyns was so great a noumbre
Geyn cristys lawe gadred in puissaunce
The feith of crist falsly to encombre
But there were made hasty ordynaunce
By kynges of Englonde normandye and fraunce
First to socoure dyd his besy peyne
Godfrey Bollyon that was duke of Loreyn

Which on sarasyns made a disconfyture
Maugre turkes for all their great might
In which batayle crist made him recure
The feelde that day to supporte his right
Where the seide robert was founde so gode a knighte
That for his nobles by recorde of writynge
Of Ierusalem was named tobe kinge

Assentyd nat to the eleccion
By cause of newe that he dyd vndrestonde
His eldre brother for short conclusion
I callyd wyllyam was ded in Inglonde
Wolde in no wyse take the crowne on honde
Of Ierusalem but lyke a manly knight
Cam to Englonde for to clayme his right

And yit or he cam he had knowlegynge
His yonger brother callyd herry
Had vpon him take to be crowned kynge
Tolde his lordes and princys fynally
He was next heire entryd rightfully
As enheritoure to succede in that realme
His brother beynge kynge of Ierusaleem

God wote the cause stode all in other wyse
The sayde Robert duke of Normandye
Purposyd him by marcyall empryse
From his brother to take the regalye
Toke his princys and his chiualrye
Thought he wolde lyke a manly knight
Arryue in Inglonde and reioyse his right

Both in one felde assemblyd on a day
The brethren tweyne eche with stronge partye
To darreyne and make no delay
Eche with other to holde champartye
But whan these lordes the mischeef dyd espye
They besyed them and were nat recheles
Atwene the brethern to refourme pees

The seyde brethern were fully condescendyd
Vpon this poynt for shorte conclusion
As in the acorde was iustly comprehendyd
Henry to holde and haue possession
Durynge his lyf of all this region
And Roberte shulde haue for his partye
A sōme of golde with all Normandy

Thre thousande pounde put in remembraunce
Ech yere to Robert sent fro this region
Of which payment to make full assuraunce
Was layde hostages as made is mencyon
But yit of newe fyll a dissencion
Atwene the brethren of hatrede and enuye
For a certeyn castell that stode in normandye

Which castell longed of heritage
Vnto the kynges Iurisdiction
Of which the duke toke his auauntage
Maugre the kynge and helde possession
Turned after to his confusion
And whan the kinge this thinge dyd espye
With stronge honde cam to normandye

Where the duke was layde a sege aboute
Made ordenaunce to recure his right
Gate the Castell toke his brother oute
Emprisoned him of very force and might
Left him alone out of mennys sight
Fourtene yere the cronycle wryteth so
There he dyed in myscheef and in woo

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While Bochas was besy in his laboure
His boke tacomplyssh with great diligence
To him apperyd the great emperoure
Called henrye shewyd his presence
Gan compleyne vpon the great offence
Done to him the myscheef and distresse
By his sonnes great vnkyndnesse

The which sonne was called eke henry
Greatly accused of ingratitude
Cause he wrought so disnaturally
Toke his fadre with force and multytude
Entretyd him boysteously and rude
And afterwarde there geyned no raunson
At great myscheef dyed in pryson

Howe Iocelyne prince of Rage for pryde slouthe and lecherye dyed in pouerte.

NExt in ordre with trist and dede visage
Vnto Bochas to shewe his heuynesse
Cam Iocelyne lorde and prince of rage
Which is a cite famous of richesse
And this prince myn auctoure bereth witnesse
Wos greatly youe to slouth and slogardye
And all his luste he set in lecherye

Lefte his lordshyp out of gouernaunce
For lak of wysdom and discrecion
In flesshly lust set all his plesaunce
And to the cuntrees aboute him enuyron
He was nat had in reputation
Certeyne princys myn auctoure doth descryue
Of his lordship cast him to depryue

Amonge which the prince of alapye
Called sanguyne the story who liste se
To Iocilyne hauynge great enuye
Layde a siege to Rages the cyte
He beynge absent ferre from that cuntre
And thus for slouth and wylfull neclygence
Rages was take by mighty violence

And Iocelyne cōmaunded to pryson
To him fortune was so contrarious
Loste his lordshyp and domynacion
Loo here the fyne of folkes vicious
Slowe delicat proude and lecherous
Dyed in pouerte in myscheef and in nede
Of vicious princys lo here the fynall mede

Howe the emperoure Androuycus slough all that were of the blode royall cherisshed vicioꝰ peple and after was hanged.

AS very heire here and true successoure
By election and also by lynage
Cam andronycus lorde and emperoure
Of constantynople crowned kynge of age
Next to bochas with trift and pale visage
Besechinge him to doo his besy cure
To remembre his wofull aventure

Amonge grekys by storye and scripture
This andronicus gouernyd nat aright
Ageyne lawe and eke ageyne nature
Founde with his sustre flesshly on a night
Both of assent toke them to the flight
Ageyn him his cosyn was so fell
Lorde of that cuntre callyd Emanuell

For a tyme stode as a man exiled
For his dissencions and many an vncouth stryf
By his princes after reconcyled
Stondynge in hope he shulde amende his lif
But in the tyme that he was fugityf
He was made lorde and stode so for a whyle
Regnynge in pontus of Asie a greate Ile

In this while Emanuell was dede
Fall in great age the storye telleth thus
Hauynge a chylde and he who list take hede
Whyle he dwellyd in his faders hous
Amonge Grekes called Alexius
And the tutour he was assygned to
I called Alixius was also

The same that was assygned his tutoure
To se vpon him all the gouernaunce
And full power as lorde and emperoure
Had all the empyre vndre the obeysaunce
Princys lordes gaue to him attendaunce
Where that he were present or absent
Ech thynge was done at his commaundement

I mene as thus he had all in honde
Constantynople a cyte of great substaunce
But for extorcyons which he dyd in the londe
On his subgettes and for misgouernaunce
Amonge the lordes it fyll in remembraunce
All of assent in herte gan desire
Call Andronycus ageyn to his empyre

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By assent restored and crownyd emperoure
Constantynople entrynge the cyte
Bysyed him by fraudolent laboure
All the blode born of the Imperiall se
For to be slayne by vengeable cruelte
By Iugement of this Andronycus
Exepte a prince called Isacyus

Thus in effect the trouth was well seyn
He was vengeable last in his oldeage
Right as he was in his yerys grene
Felly gouerned full of fals outrage
Laste of all malicious of corage
Toke to counceile in Grece he was thus named
All such as were disclaundryd or diffamed

Homecydes he had in his housholde
Tyrauntes that wrought ageyn rightwysnesse
Cherisshed all that hardy were and bolde
Wydowes wyues maydens to oppresse
Ribaudye was called gentylnesse
Spared nouther he was so lecherous
Wymen sworne chast nor folke religious

Had also no maner conscience
To his subgettes falsly by rauyne
Toke what him liste by vniuste violence
To all vices his youth he dyd enclyne
And all that were of the royall lyne
Were slayn echon except Isacyus
As I tolde erst by andronycus

And as I fynde for him in hast he sent
For this purpos to come to his presence
To murdre him this was his entente
By dyuers toknes and many euydence
And fully knewe the fyne of his sentence
He lyke a prince lyst come nonere
Smet of the hede of the messangere

And after that of manly prouydence
Myd the cyte shewyd him lyke a knight
Prayde lordes to yeue him audyence
Princys iuges for to do him right
That he might declare in that sight
Great Iniuryes damages outragyous
Wrought by the emperoure callyd Andronycus

O citezyns that knowe all the guyse
Of your Emperour called andronycus
Nat Emperoure so as ye lyst aduertise
But a tyraunt cruell and furrous
A fals mordrere vengeable dispytous
Hath of newe and frowarde fals corage
Slayn of the empyre holy the lynage

There is a lyue left none of the blode
Saue I alone of the royall lyne
For andronycus lyke a tyraunt wode
Hath slayn echon brefly to termyne
His swerde of vengeaunce they might nat declyne
Nowe purposeth of mortall tyrannye
Sle me also that am of their alye

Requirynge you in this consistorye
O Cytezyns that here present be
To remembre and call to memorye
Howe this famous Imperiall cite
Hath ay ben redy to do equite
Besy also of their noblesse
Wronge of tyrauntes manly to oppresse

Philosophers and poetys eke deuyse
In their sawes prudent and notable
Blode of tyrauntes is noble sacrifyse
To god aboue whan they be vengeable
And sith ye be rightfull iust and stable
In youre werkys voyde of varyaunce
Weye this matere iustly on balaunce

The peple echon all of one assent
For outrages of thys andronycus
Put him doun by rightfull Iugement
In whoos place set vp Isacius
The sayde tyraunte frowarde and vicious
Gan maligne and theym silf dresse
In his diffence to make a forteresse

It holpe him nat to make resistence
So as he stode voyde of all fauoure
Syeged he was and by violence
Maugre his might rent oute of that toure
Spoyled cruelly felt no better socoure
Sode all naked quakynge in his peyne
And first rent oute one of his iyen tweyne

And ouermore he had this rewarde
Without helpe socoure or respyte
Rode on an asse his face set bakwarde
The assys tayle holdynge for despyte
Whom to beholde the people hath delyte
To pore and rich thrugh the cite
Him to rebuke was grauntyd lyberte

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After all this in a carte set
And vengeably lad out of toun
By dome hanged on an hye gybet
The peple on him to his confusion
Made clamoure and terryble soun
Wolde neuer fro the galowes wende
Tyll in mischeef by deth made an ende

Lenuoye.

IN this tragedye ageyn Audronytus
Bochas maketh an exclamacion
Ageyn all princys vicious
While they haue power and domynacion
By tyrannye vse extorcion
Concludynge thus that their fals lyuynge
Of right requyreth to haue an euyll endynge

Indifferently this tyraunt Lecherous
Of wyues maydyns made none excepcion
Folowynge his luste frowarde and disclaundrous
Spared no woman of religion
Made wyues breke their profession
By violence peyse well all this thinge
Of right requireth to haue an euyll endynge

Moost in murdre he was contagious
Of Innocent blode to make effusion
Vengeable also ageyn all vertuous
Ageyns his kinrede sought occasion
To sle them fro which that he cam doun
Which consydryd all such fals werkynge
Of right requyreth to haue an euyll endynge

Bochas manaceth princys outrageous
Which by their proude hatefull abusion
To god and man of wyll contrarious
Hauynge in herte a fals opynyon
All tho that been in their subiection
They may deuoure their power so serchynge
Which shall nat fayle to haue an euyll endynge

Noble princes ye that been desirous
To ꝑseuere in youre domynacion
And in all vertue to be victorious
Cherissh trouth put falshede doun
Be mercyable mesured by reson
Of Andronytus the surfetys shewynge
That ye by grace may haue a gode endynge

Of Isacyus made blynde and taken at myscheef

AS is reherced whan Isacyus
Had all the empyre in his possession
To auenge the deth of andronytus
Constantinople in that royall toun
A brother of his there cam doun
With a bacyn brennynge bright as glede
Made him blynde of him nomore I rede

Except Isacyus was take at mischeef
Of him that wrought to his destruction
Lyenge awayte as doth a preuy theef
Toke the emperoure put him in prison
Vengeably dyd execucion
As is remembryd with a bacyn bright
Brennynge rede hote and so he lost his sight

A sonne he had called alexius
Tendre of age caste him to succede
By his tutour fals and contrarious
Murdred he was at myscheef as I rede
The same tutor purposynge as in dede
Of the empyre by fals collusion
By fraude and mede to haue possession

In this chaptre of him nomore I fynde
Reherced here in ordre by writynge
But to myn auctour the processe maketh mynde
There cam in hast Sangot of Egypt kinge
And with him cam pitously wepinge
Mighty princis soudanys tweyne
Regnynge in damas their falles to compleyne

Of Alopye Salech was that one
Kegnynge in Damas of his true right
Cathabadyn there beynge eke soudan
Which in tho dayes was holde a mighty knight
And right notable in euery mannys sight
And for the Soudan of Babilon a ferre
Called saladyn oppressyd was with werre

For socoure sent thyse princys tweyne
To come in hast with all their chiualrye
Hym to support and do their besy peyne
Enforce their might to sustene their partye
Whoos request they lift nat denye
Abode no lengre but made theym silf stronge
To stonde with him were it right or wronge

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Of this mater the substaunce to conclude
These princys cam Salech and Cathabadyn
For their guyrdon they founde ingratitude
In this for the sayde Soudan saladyn
Founde him vnkinde pleynly this the fyne
From their estate as it was after knowe
Disgraded them brought them doun full lowe

Of him in sothe they had none other mede
For their laboure nor for their kindnesse
What fyll after in Bochas I nat rede
For he furthwith leueth this processe
And vnto robert doth his style dresse
Callyd Farentyne regnynge in Tarence
Lost his lordship by sodeyne violence

This to say he regned but awhile
This sayde robert loste his gouernaunce
Next to Bochas cam Quyllyam of cecile
Kynge of that cuntre lorde of great puissaunce
Lost his kyngdom thrugh fortunes variaunce
His iyen tweyne rent out of his hede
After dyed in myscheef and drede

Which Quyllyam regnynge in cecile
Was by discente borne nye of allye
To robart quisterde as bokes do compyle
That whilom was duke of Normandye
Greatly delytinge in chyualrye
With his brother full notable of renoun
Brought naples to subiection

Hys brothers name callyd was Rogere
Which had a son callyd enheritoure
Called Tancret as seith the cronyculere
Which toke vpon him to regne as successour
Thus in Cecile Tancret was gouernoure
Ageyn whom by title sought a ferre
Of alyaunce he gan a mortall werre

For a mayde that called was constaunce
That doughter was to the kinge Rogere
Which was set of spirituall plesaunce
To be religious of hole herte and entere
And by recorde of the cronyculere
This Constaunce hath the worlde forsake
And to religion hath hir body take

Of this constaunce the silf same yere
That she was borne as made is mencion
There was a clerke a great astronomere
Tolde of hir byrth by calculacion
She shulde cause the desolacion
Of that kingdom by processe of hir age
By the occasion only of mariage

Sūme that were to tancret great enmy
By their vngoodly exortacion
Moued the emperour that called was herry
To take constaunce from hir religion
And by the popys dispensacion
She weddyd was the emperour by his might
By ty [...]le of hir put tancret from his right

With a greate nounbre of Italyens
The Emperoure entryd into that regyon
But by fauour of ceciliens
Tancret longe tyme stode in possessyon
But thrugh fortunes transmutacion
The same tyme to conclude in sentence
The seyd Tancret dyed on pestylence

His sonne Quylliam that was but yonge in dede
With Ceciliens cast him nat to faile
To kepe his londe and his right possede
Mete the emperoure with statly apparayle
Made him redy with him to haue a batayle
But the emperoure to greate auauntage
Cast otherwise of fraude in his corage

Feynyngly durynge the discorde
The Emperoure cast another wyle
By a fals coloure to fall at acorde
And yonge Quyllyam vngoodly to begyle
Vndre tretye takyn in cecile
Falsly depryued of his region
Sent to Itayle and throwe in prison

By weye of trety the story who lyst se
All concluded vndre fals treson
With Quylliam take were his susters thre
His iyen put out for more conclusion
He perpetually dampnyd to prison
Dyed in pouerte loste his enherytaunce
Loo here the fyne of worldly variaunce

Ferther to write as Iohn bochas began
After that Quyllyam was put from his realm [...]
To him apperyd Quyot lucynyan
Chose afore kynge of Ierusaleem
Whoos knightly fame shoon like the sonne beme
Which by his noblesse he whilom dyd atteyne
Godfrey present that was duke of Loreyne

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But by the Soudon namyd Saladyne
He was enchaced of that dignyte
All worldly pompe draweth to declyne
So for the constreynt of his aduersyte
The yerys passyd of his prosꝑyte
Went into Cypre as a fugitif
What fyll after I rede nat in his lyf

To make his compleynt after him cam one
Which had stonde in great perplexite
E [...]le of bryenne and was called Iohn
Which afterwarde was kinge of the cyte
Callyd Ierusalem and also parde
A fayre doughtre yonge and tendre of age
Ioyned after to fredryk in mariage

Beynge that tyme lorde and emperoure
Was desirous aboue all other thinge
Of Ierusalem to be gouernoure
And of cecyle to be crowned kynge
Which altherlast for his subtyll werkynge
Constreyned was doun fro that partye
To be a capteyn for sonde in lumbardye

Of herry the eldest sonne of Fredryk the seconde mischeuyd by his fadre.

nExt to bochas crokyd halt and seke
One callyd herry cam for to pleyne
The eldest sonne vnto fredryk
Which by sekenesse had felt great peyne
M [...]gre and pale contract in euery veyne
Of whoos langoure the cheef accasion
Was that he lay so longe tyme in prison

All his disese at great aduersyte
I caused was for short conclusion
By his faders frowarde cruelte
As bochas after maketh mencion
And this herry by generacion
Sonne vnto fredryk like as it is founde
I mene fredryk called the seconde

This herry by dissent of lyne
Of Cecile first was crowned kynge
And of Ierusalem whos renoun dyd shyne
Thrugh many a londe at his begynnynge
And fortune also in hir werkinge
Was to this herry passyngly notable
In all his werkes Iuly fauorable

Of his persone he had this auauntage
To all the peple he was right acceptable
Well cōmendyd in his flouringe age
Of chere and face and loke right ameable
And of his porte very demure and stable
Callyd in his gynnynge such fauoure he hath wōne
Of princys all very light and sonne

But oft it falleth that a glad mornynge
Whan phebus sheweth hir bemys fayre and bright
The day sūtyme therupon folowynge
With some derke skye is clipsyd of his light
And semblably thrugh fortunes might
This sayde prince by hir fals variaunce
Fonde in hir whele full noyous fell greuaunce

Who may the furyes of fortune appese
Hir troubly wawes to make them calme and pleyn
Where men most truste they fynde moost disease
Where double corages stonde in no certeyn
A shynynge day is oft meynt with reyne
Thus of fredryk the great vnstablenesse
Hath brought his sonne in mischeef and distresse

This Frederyk set vp in a greate fauoure
By the popys diligent besynesse
Vnto the state lift vp of emperoure
But thrugh his fatall frowarde vnkyndnesse
Of couetise fyll in such excesse
Toke vpon him patrymony to guye
Of cristys church that parte to occupye

Fyll in the popes indignacion
Counseyle nor trety might none auayle
But of malyce and presumpcion
Caste with the pope to haue a great batayle
The sayde herry his fadre gan counsayle
Ageyn the church to do no violence
But him submytte with humble obedience

This stryf endurynge atwene these great estates
Fredryk made his sonne to be accused
To him of crymelese magestatys
Wolde nat suffre he shulde be accused
But lyke a man maliciously refused
By his fadres cursed fals treson
He was cōmaundyd to dye in pryson

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Sūme bokes sey he was takyn and brought
To his fader of dome to haue sentence
But lyke a man passed sorowe and thought
Which to his lyf had none aduertence
Furiously and with great violence
As he was lad alas on horsbak
His hors fyll doun and so his necke he brake

Some bokes reherce of him and seyn
His fader toke ageyn him occasion
And whan he had longe in cheynes leyne
At great mischeef he dyed in prison
And some say that he fyll doun
Of a bridge bochas rherceth here
And drowned was in a depe Ryuere

A comendacion of bochas of such as be kynde to their kynrede.

nExt in ordre myn auctour dyd his cure
To make a specyall cōmendacion
Of such as be disposyd by nature
And by their kyndly inclynacion
As blode requyreth and generacion
To aquyte theym silf in thought wyll and dede
Without feynynge vnto their kynrede

Specially that none vnkyndnesse
Be founde in theym for none aduersite
To considre of naturall gentilnesse
To them appropryd is mercy and pyte
And to auoyde the fals duplicite
That was in Frederyk which so vnkindly
Lete sle his sonne that callyd was herry

Pyte is appropryd to kynrede
Fadre and modre by disposycion
To cherissh their children and eke fede
Tyll seuene yerepasse lawe maketh mencion
And as they be bounde of naturall reson
That tyme passed their tendrenes to enclyne
Vnto fortune by vertuous disciplyne

Than afterwarde in their adolescence
Vertuously to teche them and chastyse
Norissh them in doctryne and science
Fostre in vertue vicys to despyse
To be curteys prudent sad and wyse
For whan they gynne with vertue in that age
Gladly after they do great outrage

As it longeth to euery gentyll lyne
And blode royall by kindly Influence
To fader and moder shewe theym silf benygne
Of humble hertes do the in reuerence
Ay to remembre in their aduertence
On syx princys that wrought the contrary
For which fortune was their aduersarye

Euerich to other founde was vnkynde
In cursyd blode may be no kyndnesse
Of one tarage sauoureth tre and rynde
The frute also bereth of the tre wytnesse
And semblably the fadres cursydnesse
With mortall swerde in nature reprouable
Ageyne the childe is oft seen vengeable

Amonge which Brutus is rekned one
Next in ordre foloweth maulius
Slough their children by recorde euerichon
Philip maulyus and also Cassyus
And cruell herode fell and malycious
Fredryk also moost vengeably
Slough his sonne that called was herry

Thys fredryk ay benigne and contrarye
Towarde his son nat gracious nor benygne
From holy church vngoodly he gan varie
And therageyn frowardly maligne
And lyke a man obstynat and vndigne
Dyed a cursyd thrugh misgouernaunce
Without confession or repentaunce

Howe Manfroye kynge of poyle was slayn.

Next to bochas of poyle cam the kynge
Began his fall and compleynt specefye
Callyd manfroy and for his fals werkinge
Put doun and slayne cause of his tyrannye
Loo what auayleth sceptre or rigalye
To a tyraunte which of violence
Lyst to godwarde haue none aduertence

Howe Encys kinge of Sardany died in pryson.

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With loke doun cast dedly pale of there
Of Sardanya Eneys next cam doun
Kynge of that londe to tell the manere
Howe he we [...]ayed ageyn the mighty toun
Called Bonya to his confusion
By theym venquesshed and with cheynes rounde
Dyed in prison so longe he lay there bounde

Folowynge myn auctoure called bochas Iohn
In Sardanya as he maketh mynde
Serpent nor wulf in that londe was none
Hauynge a well which of very kynde
Theuys iyen the water maketh blynde
To true folke as he doth dyuyne
Water therof was helth and medecyne

There groweth also an herbe as bokes saye
Which that is so dyuers of nature
Who tasteth therof laughynge he shall dye
No medecyne may helpe theym nor socoure
The touch therof stante eke in auenture
If it entre his mouth on any syde
He shall alyue for laughter nat abyde

Another Frederyk was slayne by iugement of hys brother.

There was another frowarde frederyk
Sonne of alphonce that was kynge of castyle
Of corage wode and eke frentyke
His own brother falsly to begyle
Began a werre lastynge but awhile
Whoos purpos was his brother to desceyue
And the crown of Castyle to receyue

This frederyk cam with a great batayle
Ageyn his brother for the same entente
Of his purpose yit he dyd fayle
God nor fortune were nat of assent
Take in the fe [...]ld and by Iugement
Of his brother for his great trespace
Slayne openly had no better grace

How manymettus and Argones dyed at myscheef

Manymettus of perce lorde and kinge
Cam next in prees destressyd in great peyne
Vpon fortune pitously playnynge
His aduersite dyd him so constreyne
For there was one which at him dyd dysdeyn
Called argones voyde of tytle or ligne
Geyn manymettus proudly gan maligne

Which Ergones for his presumpcion
Take at myscheef by sodeyn violence
His dome was gyuene to dye in prison
Of no power to make resistence
But fortune that can no difference
On his chaungys atwene frende and foo
Caused them dye at mischeef both two

Howe Charles kynge of Ierusalem / and of Cecile for auaryce and auoutrye died at myscheef.

aFter these forsayde reherced in sentence
As bochas rehercith in his style
Cam noble Charles vnto presence
Kynge of Ierusalem and also of Cecile
Of whoos comynge myn auctour a great while
Astonyed was to se his knightly face
With such chere come into place

For by his port who behelde him wele
Consydryd first his loke and his visage
It sempte he trade vpon fortunes whele
And of his noble marcyall corage
Had of hir power goten auauntage
Shewynge him silf on ech partye
Hir and hir might dyd vtterly dyffye

First to comende his royall hye lynage
And of his vertuous famous aliyaunce
And by writynge and praysynge of langage
The name of him specially to auaunce
Seyth he was born of the blode of fraunce
And to encres moost souereynly his prys
Writeth he was brother vnto seint lowys

Gaue to fraunce this comendacion
So as phebus passeth eche other sterre
Right so that kingdom in comparison
Passeth euery londe both nye and ferre
In polycye be it pees or werre
For it transcendeth in pees by prouydence
And in werre by knightly excellence

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These wordes be nat take of myn auctoure
Entitled here for a remembraunce
By one Laurence which was translatour
Of this processe to commende fraunce
To preyse that londe was all his plesaunce
Seith Influence of that royall londe
Made charles so worthy of his honde

Of whoos noblesse pope vrban had Ioye
Him to encres for vertuous lyuynge
Which that tyme was duke of Angeoy
After chosen of cecile to be kynge
Of pope vrban required by wrytynge
Towarde rome that he shulde him dresse
Of kinge manfroy the tyrannye to oppresse

Ageyn the pope and holy church right
This sayde manfroye dyd great extorcion
Noble Charles as goddys owne knight
Cam with stronge hand vp to rome toun
Which in his cūmynge gaue possession
To Gyot manfort for to haue the garde
In his passage and gouerne the vauwarde

To rome with greate ordenaunce
They passed ouer the boundes of Itayle
This manly knight this charles born in fraunce
Lad with him many stronge batayle
The popes enmy manly to assayle
But all this while to stonde at diffence
This sayde Charles founde no resistence

Entringe rome to be their protectoure
Full well receyued at his first entrynge
Chose and preferred for cheef senatoure
By the pope moste glad of his cūmynge
Of Cecyle was after crowned kinge
And of Ierusalem as made is mencion
Graunted to him full possession

Which in his gynnynge bare him so wele
Entringe that londe with knightly apparaile
Of Cassyne gate first the stronge castele
At Boneament had a great batayle
With kynge manfroye whoos partye dyd assayle
To reherce shortly his auenture
Charles made on him a disconfiture

In which batayle kynge manfroye was slayn
And noble charles toke possession
Wherof romayns were full glad and fayne
Yit in Cecile there was rebellyon
But they were brought vnto subiection
Yit Corandyne recorde of all writynge
Son of Conrade claymed to be kinge

Gan make him stronge proudly toke his place
At alygate a famous olde cite
Noble charles with knightly chere and face
Fyll vpon him made him for to flee
And to set rest in the cuntre
To auoyde trouble and make all thynge certayn
Gaue Iugemente Corandyne to be slayn

Amonge kinges notable and glorious
Charles was put as made is mencyon
Lyke a prince stronge and victorious
In full pesyble and hole possession
Of Cecile and all that regyon
Ageyns whom was no disobeysaunce
Yeldyd of hole herte to his gouernaunce

By tytle also of his alyaunce
Fortune greatly dyd him magnefye
For as it is put in remembraunce
The noble princes that called was marie
Doughtre to Stephene regnynge in hungerie
Ioyned was and knyt in mariage
To charles son to encres of his lynage

This same charles by auctorite
So as him lyst to ordeyne
Was made kinge of the great cyte
Called Ierusalem of townes moost souereyne
By which tytle he bare crownes tweyne
His brothre lowys olde bokes saye
The same tyme in Egypt gan werreye

Gate all the cuntres aboute enuyron
Which that sarasyns dyd falsly occupye
Brought them ageyn to subiection
Of Ierusalem that londe to magnefye
Cartage in Affryk with all their Rygalye
And all the cuntrees beynge aforne contraire
To kynge charles becam tributayre

This while he sat highest in his glorye
Lyke phebus shynynge in his myddaye spere
With many conqueste and many great victorye
Whan his nobles shone moost bright and clere
The same tyme with a frownynge chere
Fortune gan from Charles turne hir face
And him beraft hir fauoure and hir grace

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This lady fortune doth seeld in one  [...]ontune
She is so gerissh of condicion
A sorceresse a traytoure in cōmune
Cast a fals mene to his destruction
One of his sonnes slayne with poyson
Which dyd eclipse myn auctour doth expresse
A full great partye of his olde gladnesse

He was desclaundred of all the vice
Which aperteyneth vnto tyrannye
I mene the vice of frowarde auaryce
Which is contrarye greatly vnto his chiualrye
Diffamed also of fals auoutrye
Which was susteyned thrugh his mayntenaunce
Within the londe by a knight of fraunce

The same knight abidinge in his hous
All cec [...]le troubled with that dede
The greate offence was so disclaunderous
Thrugh all the region it began to sprede
For thilke woman playnly as I rede
Was wyf to one which suffred this offence
And to be vengyd dyd his diligence

Iohn Prosith pleynly was his name
Which cast him fully auengyd for to be
That kynge Charles shulde bere the blame
Sleen all the french men that bode in that cuntre
Without grace mercy and pyte
And for to do full execucion
Requyred was the kinge of Arogon

Lost of Cecile hole the region
With obeysaunce of many cuntre
And of Ierusalem the possession
Fyll by processe in great aduersite
And last constrayned with greuous pouerte
To god moost mekely with full heuy chere
Sone to be dede was his prayere

Supprised he was with sorowe in his  [...]orage
Loste his force fyll in to maladye
Langwysshed forth tyll he gan fall in age
Ageyn fortune founde no remedye
And by occasion of fals auoutrye
Fyll to mischeef and for sorowe and drede
This charles dyed nomore of him I rede

Lenuoye.

lyke as phebus in some fressh mornynge
After aurora the day doth clarefye
Falleth oft that his bright shynynge
Is derkyd with some cloudy skye
A liknesse shewyd in this tragedye
Expert in charles the story dth o well preue
Youth and age rekned truely
The fayre day men do prayse at eue

The noble fame of his fressh gynnynge
To saynt lowes he was nigh of allye
Right wise [...] right manly / right vertuous of lyuinge
Callyd of knighthode floure of chyualrye
Tyll mayntenaunce of auoutrye
Cam into his courte to hurte his name and greue
His lyf his deth put in iupartye
The fayre day men do prayse at eue

Lyke desertys men haue their guerdonynge
Vertuous lyf doth princes magnefye
The contrarye to them is great hindrynge
Folke experte the trouth may nat denye
Serch oute the rewarde of cursyd lecherye
Where it is vsed the housholde may nat preue
In this matere to charles haue an iye
The fayre duy to prayse towarde eue

Noble princes all vices eschuynge
Youre high corage late reson guye
Withdrawe youre honde fro ryotous watchinge
Fle flesshly lustys and vicious companye
Oppresse no man do no tyrannye
Socoure the nedy pore folke do releue
Late men reporte the prudent policie
Of youre last age whan it draweth to eue

Of Hugolyne Erle of Pyse / slayne in pryson.

AFter charles storye rad the wofull fyne
As ye haue herde the manere and the gyse
To Iohn Bochas apperyd Hugolyne
Callyd whilom the Erle of pyse
Tyll they gan ageyn him aryse
Moost vengeable cruell and vnkynde
Slough him in pr [...]son nomore of him I finde

Saue his children of hatrede and enuye
Were murdred eke in a depe prison
Next wth his compleynt the kynge of armonye
Cam tofore Bochas that callyd was athon
A cristen prince full famous of renoun
For oure feith from which he list nat erre
Geyn tertarius longe tyme he helde great werre

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This manly kinge in knighthode full famous
It was shewyd his story who list se
Had a brother fell and despytous
Called Sabath desyrous to succede
Stede of his brother the kingdom to possede
By fals treson reuyd of his right
Kept him in holde and put out of his sight

This sabath loste both happe and grace
His other brother as made is mencion
By stronge hande put him from his place
Chaced him out of that region
Take by force and fetryd in prison
Dyed there noman list him visite
Lo howe god can treson and murdre quyte

Howe p [...]pe Boneface the viii was take by the lynage de Columpnys / ete his hondys and dyde in prison

AMonge these wofull princys thre
Which shewyd theym so vggly of their chere
Pope boneface by great aduersite
The viii of that name gan to approch nere
A thousande iii C accompted was the yere
Fro cristys birth by computacion
Whan that he made his lamentacion

This same pope caught occasion
Which vndre petre kept gouernaunce
To Interdirte all the region
Tyme of kinge philip regnynge tho in fraunce
Dirrct bulles doun into constaunce
To Nycolas made by boneface
Archid [...]acon of the same place

Of holy church the prelates nygh echon
Busshoppys of fraunce felly haue declared
Preuynge by poyntes many mo than one
In a great synne pleynly and nat spared
By him the church was hurte and nat repared
Put on him crymes of great mysgouernaunce
Denouncynge enmye to all the londe of fraunce

Put on him many great outrage
Wrongly howe he had done offence
To a Cardynall born of the lynage
De Columpny [...] a kynrede of reuerence
For which cause he kept him absence
Out of the court drough where he was born
By which occasion the pope his lyf hath lorn

De Columpnys the lynage hath so wrought
Toke Bonyface for his olde cruelte
With great force and power they haue him brought
Vnto a castell which stode in the cite
Called sancti angeli gaue auctorite
To a Cardynall and by commyssion
Power to do full execucion

Of these maters hangynge in balaunce
Atwene partyes were it right or wronge
Both of romayns and prelates eke of fraunce
The pope ay kept within the castell stronge
Of auenture abydynge there nat longe
Fyll in a flixe and afterwarde for nede
For hunger ete his handys as I rede

Houre of his dyenge it is made mencion
Aboute the castell was merueylous lightnynge
Where the  [...] lay fettred in prison
None such aforn was  [...]eyn in their lyuynge
And while Bochas was besy in writinge
To write the fall of this bonyface
The ordre of templers cam tofore his face

Howe the ordre of Templers was foundyd / and with other of the ordre brent.

CRonyculers the trouth can recorde
Callynge to mynde the first fundacion
Of olde auctours therwith accorde
Of these Templers howe the religion
Gan that tyme whan Godfray Bullion
Had wonne that noble knightly man
Ierusalem that ordre first began

By certeyne knightes which dyd their besy peyn
Whan the cite was first I wonne
By noble Godfray duke whilom of loreyn
There crownyd kinge this ordre they begonne
Olde bokes well reherce konne
Takynge a grounde of pouerte and mekenesse
To founde this ordre dyd their besynesse

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Their begynnynge gan of deuocion
She grounde Itake of wylfull pouerte
And made first their habytacion
By the temple nat ferre from the cite
In tokne of clēnesse sworne to chastyte
Of the temple lyke to their desires
Toke that name and called were Templeres

 [...] Honorye gaue theym auctoryte
Of holy church beynge that tyme hede
A white habyte they bare that tyme for chastyte
Eugenyus after gaue them a crosse of r [...]de
And to defende pylgrymes out of drede
Geyne sarazyns thrugh their high renoun
This was cheef poynt of their profession

Whyle they lyued in wylfull pouerte
These crossed knightes in mantell clad of white
They are spred in many ferre cuntre
For in perfeccion was set all their delyte
F [...]lke of deuocion caught an appetyte
Them for to encres gaue great almesse
By which they gan encres in great richesse

By processe within fewe yerys
The noumbre great of their religion
And the fame of the saide Templers
 [...]an sprede wyde in many region
With their sodeyn rysinge of their profession
With toures castellys they gaue them to delices
Appalled in vertue which brought in many vices

It were to longe to rekne them all
But amonge other I fynde there was one
A manly knight folke Iaques dyd him call
Great of auctorite amonge them euerichon
As cronycles remembre of yore agon
The which Iaques in the realme of fraunce
Was borne of blode to great enheritaunce

The same Iaques holde a manly knight
In his gynnynge fressh lusty of corage
Had a brother by elder title of right
Occupyed all hole the heritage
Bycause Iaques yonger was of age
Which might nat by no condicion
No thinge cleyme of that possession

Hys elder brother occupyed all
While this Iaques but lowe was of degre
Wondre desyrous to be with him egall
Alway put backe by frowarde pouerte
And to surmounte if it wolde be
Fonde oute a mene lyke to his desires
Was chosyn mayster of the templers

Was promotyd by fre election
By them that shulde chese him of right
Wherby he had great domynacion
Rychesse / tresoure / great power and might
Of his persone was eke a manly knight
The same tyme put in remembraunce
Philyp la Bele crowned kynge of fraunce

Which had of Iaques greate indignacion
To all the templers and all the chyualrye
Caste wayes to their destruccion
Gaue auctorite his luste to fortefye
Doun fro the  [...] bokes specefye
Clement the concludinge if ye may
All the templers destroyed them on a day

For certeyn crymes horryble to here
All atones were set in pryson
By their frendes touchinge thys manere
Counceyled to axe mercy and perdon
That they shulde by playne confession
Requerynge him knelinge on arowe
And as it was their trespas been aknowe

Iaques was take and with him other thre
Kept in holde and to prison sent
And the remenaunt of their Iniquyte
Ordeyned were by open Iugement
To mighty stakes to be tyed and brent
The kynge in manere lyke to do them grace
So they wolde confesse their trespace

But all for nought they were so indurate
All of accorde and of one corage
To axe mercy were obstynate
The fyre redy all with one langage
Whan the flame approched their visage
Full pleynly spake cryed pytously
Of their actes which they were nat gylty

Fro their purpos they lyftnat to declyne
But with one voys echon and one soun
Fully affermed tyll they dyd fyne
Howe their ordre and their religion
Igroundyd was vpon perfection
And their deth verely in dede
Compassed was of malyce and hatrede

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The sayde Iaques of whom I spake toforne
Brought to a place which called was leon
Tofore two legates or that his lif was lorn
All openly made his confession
He was worthy for short conclusion
For to be dede by rightfull Iugement
This was his ende to asshes he was brent

Bochas here cōmendeth Theodorus with other two philosophers for their pacience notably·

 [...]Euynge a prys to philosophers thre
Bochas cōmendeth with great diligence
Howe eche of theym was in his cuntre
Souereynly by vertuous excellence
Of olde commendyd for their pacyence
Which may be set and crowned in his stall
As Emperesse amonge vertues all

Monge ceciliens first theodorus
For pacience had in great reuerence
Amonge grekes the storye telleth thus
Artaxerses for his magnyficence
By force of vertue grounded in pacience
Bycause he was vertuous and wys
For sufferaunce gate him a souerein prys

Amonge romayns put in remembraunce
Sceuola both philosopher and knight
For his marcyall harde stronge constaunce
Whan that he helde amyd the flame light
Hande and fynges amonge the colys bright
Tyll the Ioyntes fallynge here and yondre
From the wrest departyd were asondre

First theodorus borne in the famous Ile
By pacyens great peynes endurynge
Cheef philosophere called of cecile
With cheynes bounde vpon the grounde lyenge
On his bodye layde gaddes rede brennynge
Suffringe his peyne list it nat refuse
By kynge Ierome the tyraunte ciracuse

For comon profyte suffred all his peyne
Longe tyme afore lyinge in prison
Which by assent of mo than one or tweyne
Was the moste cheef by cōspyracion
To bringe the tyraunt to his destruction
For no peyn that he might endure
The coniuracion he wold nat discure

Rather he chase in mischeef for to dye
Than by name openly declare
Of him that slough the tyraunt sothly to seye
Thought of right no man shulde spare
For comon profyte helth and welfare
To sle a tyraunt demynge for the best
All a region for to set at reste

For which tytle he list suffre deth
All his torment toke moost paciently
Theodorus tyll he yeldyd vp the breth
Grutchyd nat with noyse nor loude crye
Amyd whose herte rotyd was feythfully
Comon profyte bochas write the same
Amonge Ceciliens to gete him a name

Grekes also commende aboue the sterres
Anexerses and greatly magnefye
Cause that he to stynte mortall werres
Lyst nat spare to acquyte his partye
In rebukynge manly the tyrannye
Of N [...]cocreon tyraunt full mortall
Regnynge in Cypre in his estate royall

Spared nouther for deth ne drede
Him to rebuke by vertuous langage
The tyraunt had cut of his hede
His tunge in hast but he with stronge corage
Sayde he shulde haue none auauntage
Of that membre which with all his might
Had tolde him trouth in the peples sight

Of his manace set but lytyll tale
But of his tunge of stronge corage
Chewyd it all on peces smale
Of manly hert thought it no damage
Spitte it oute into the visage
Of the tyraunte gate so the victorye
To put his name euermore in memorie

And Sceuola egall to these tweyne
For comon profite by iust comparison
Put him in prees dyd his besy peyne
To sle procemia enmye to rome toun
For to accomplissh his entencion
Toke a stronge darte right passyngly tenhaunte
With all his might cast at the tyraunte

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Of his me [...]ke cause he dyd fayle
To sle his enmye after his entente
Which in Tuskan by many stronge batayle
Geyns romayns with his knightys went
This Sceuola his owne hande brente
Cause that he fayled of his arte
To sle porcenna with castynge of his darte

To declare the force of his manhede
Put him silf auenged for to be
As I haue tolde in cooles rede
His hande he brent for loue of his cyte
Only to aquyte his magnanymyte
Of feruente loue his cite to auayle
To sle the tyraunte cause that he dyd fayle

Thus for to put the marcyall suffraunce
Of these noble philosophers thre
Imperpetuall mynde and remembraunce
Howe they them quyt ech lyke his degre
For then pure partye vnto the comonte
Cause all their ioy and inwarde delite
Was for auayle to the comon profyte

First theodorus put him silf in prees
For Ceciliens to dye in prison
And for grekes noble artaxerses
His tonge torne felt great passion
And Sceuola for Romayns and their toun
Suffred his hande by short auysement
Of very trouth in coles to be brent

A martyrdom it was in their manere
Of their corage to haue so great constaunce
Were so stable of herte body and chere
For comon profyte of face and countenaunce
Vnto the deth without variaunce
Gate the tryumphe by souereyn excellence
With laurer crownyd for their pacience

Lyke as phebus passeth the lytell sterre
Hyest vp raysed in his mydday spere
So this vertue in trouble pees and werre
Called pacience moost fresshly doth appere
Amonge vertues to shewe his bemys clere
For pacience knyt with humylyte
Where they abyde may none erroure be

Tyrauntys hertis thys vertue doth appese
Modefyeth their cruell fell wodenesse
Rage of lyons who list lyue in ease
Of folke prostrat his malice doth represse
All oure Ioye gan firste with mekenesse
For of Iuda the hardy stronge lyon
A maydens mekenes fro heuene brought do [...]n

In batayle and mighty stronge sheltrons
A vyce with sufferaunce wynneth the victorye
Pacience venquisshith chaumpions
Lownesse in vertue by many olde historye
And mekenesse ꝑpetuell of memorye
All to conclude grounde on reson
A maydyns mekenesse wrought oure redempcion

Bochas here commendeth humylite

VErtue of vertues o noble pacience
wt laurer crowned o vtuoꝰ ꝯstaūce
Laude honor price and reuerence
Be you [...] to ye prīces most plesaūce
Most renomed by olde remēbraūce
Of whom the mighty marcyall armure
Geyn all vices lengest may endure

Grounde and gynnynge to stonde at diffence
Ageyn Sathans infernall puissaunce
Laureat quene where thou arte in presence
From outrages haue no gouernaunce
Condute hede sprynge of plenteous habundaunce
Cristall well celestyall of fygure
Geyne all vices which lengest may endure

Cheef founderesse by souereyne excellence
Of gostly byldynge and spirituall substaunce
Emperesse of moost magnyfycence
With heuenly spirites next of allyaunce
With lyf euerlastynge thy tryumphes to auaunce
And Ioye eternall thy noblesse to assure
In the aureat throne perpetually to endure

Thre Iererchyes there lyuynge in presence
With whom humylyte hath souereyne acqueyntaūce
Where osanna with deuoute diligence
Is songe of aungels by longe continuaunce
Tofore the throne kepynge their obseruaunce
Synge Sanctus sanctus recorde of scripture
With voys memoryall ꝑpetually to endure

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The brennynge loue of cherubyn by feruence
Parfite in charite diligent obeysaunce
And Ser [...]phyn with humble obedyence
And orders nyne by heuenly concordaunce
Domynacions with vertuos attendaunce
Afore the trynyte singe fresshly by mesure
With wys memoryall ꝑpetually to endure

Suffraunce of paynemes hath but an apparence
Done for veynglorye hangynge in balaunce
But cristys martirs in very existence
List ageyne tyrauntys make no repugnaunce
Rather dye than shewe god displesaunce
Shewyd in no myrrour lyknesse nor pycture
Take full possession for euer with criste to endure

 [...]ffraunce for vertue hath the premynence
Of theym that set in god their affiaunce
Recorde of Stephene vyncent and Laurence
Blyssed Edmonde by longe perseueraunce
Suffred for oure feith victorious greuaunce
Kynge / mayde / and marter / a palme to recure
In the heuenly courte perpetually to endure

And for to set a maner difference
In bochas boke tolde euery circumstaunce
Howe for oure feyth by full greate violence
Dyuers sayntes haue suffred great penaunce
Stable of their chere visage and countenaunce
Neuer to vary for none auenture
Lyke cristys champyons ꝑpetually to endure

Whoos fundacion by notable prouydence
Grounded on criste their soules to auaunce
Graue in their hertes and in their conscience
Voydynge all trouble of worldly perturbaunce
Chaunges of fortune with hir double chaunce
Loued god and dred aboue eche creature
In hope with him ꝑpetually to endure

Howe philyp la Bele kynge of fraunce was slayn with a wyld bore and of his thre sonnes and their weddynge.

wHan bochas had wretyn of pacyence
And cōmended the vertue of suffraunce
Philyp la Bele cam to his presence
Fift of ye name crowned kynge of fraūce
Gan compleyn his vnhappy chaunce
And on fortune of custome that can vary
Which was to him cruell aduersarye

Wounded he was with a greuous sore
Gan his compleynt to bochas determyne
Howe he was slayne with a wylde bore
In a foreste which called was compyne
Tolde howe he was sclaundred and all his lyue.
Ones in Flaundres with many a worthy knight
Venquesshyd of flemmynges and felly put to flight

Procedynge ferther gan touch of his lynage
Howe in his tyme he had sonnes thre
Lowes philip and Charles yonge of age
The fourth Robert also a doughter had he
Called Isabell right excellente of beute
The seide roberte the storye is well kougth
Which that dyed in his tendre youth

To this story who lyst haue good rewarde
The circumstaunce wysely to descerne
His doughter Isabell was wedded to Edwarde
Carneruan the boke so doth vs lerne
This yonge philyp weddyd in Nauerne
The kinges doughter a statly maryage
Callyd Iane while she was tendre of age

The same philyp after crowned kynge
Of Nauerne his fadre of assente
Fyue sonnes he had lyuynge
Of which fyue as in sentement
Thre in noumbre be right pertynente
The matere who so list to loke
And the processe of the same boke

The eldest sonne callyd was lowys
To whom his fadre gaue possession
Of Nauerne by cause that he was wys
For to gouerne that noble region
Philip his brother for his high renoun
Was afterwarde by iuste enheritaunce
And rightfull tytle crowned kynge of Fraunce

The thryd brother was by title of right
Made Erle of march and named was Charles
Eche of them in the pepleys sight
Were famous holde and passynge of great prys
And for they were right manly and right wys
Philip and Charles toke in tendre age
The Erles doughter of burgoyne in mariage

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But as the story reherceth in certeyn
To their noblesse fortune had enuye
And by a manere of malyce and disdeyn
Brought in processe vpon the partye
Of their two wyues frowarde auoutrye
Causynge the deth of these wyues thre
Whan they moost floured in their felicite

After these thre princys glorious
Tofore bochas to shewe their entente
A mighty duke notable and famous
Cam to compleyn Charles of Tarent
Which in his tyme to florence went
To make pees in his royall estate
Twene G [...]erffe and Gemellyus stondinge at debate

The sayde Charles borne of the blode of fraunce
A manly knight the story doth dyuyse
By whoos vnhappy fatall frowarde chaunce
In the werres twene florence and pyse
On horsbak sittinge on knightly wyse
Hurt with an arowe full lowe doun to grounde
Wherby he caught his laste fatall wounde

A man of armes beynge a soudyoure
With the Pysanes were it wronge or right
Of fals dysdeyne that day dyd his besy laboure
To trede on charles in the peples sight
Whan he lay gruffe wherfore he was made knight
By their capteyn for a manere pride
Which gouerned the Sybelynes side

And in his stody with full heuy chere
Whyle Iohn bochas bode styll on his sete
To him apperyd and gan approch nere
Daunte of florence the laureat peote
With his dytes and rethoryques swete
Demure of loke fulfylled with pacience
With a visage notable of reuerence

Whan Bochas sawe him vpon his fete he stode
And to mete him he toke his pas full right
With great reuerence aualed cappe and hode
To him seyde with humble chere and sight
O clerest sonne / o very sothfast light
Of oure cyte which callyd is florence
Laude vnto the honoure and reuerence

Thou haste enlumyned Itayle and Lumbardys
With laureat ditees in thy flourynge dayes
Grounde and gynnynge of prudent polecye
Monge florentynes suffredest great affrayes
As golde pured prouyd at all assayes
In trouth madyst mekely thy silf stronge
For comon profyte to suffre peyn and wron [...]e

O noble poete touchinge this matere
Howe florentynes to the were vnkynde
I wyll remembre and wryte with gode chere
Thy pytous exile and put here in mynde
Nay quod Daunt here stante one behynde
Duke of Athenys turne towarde him thy style
His vncouth story breuy to compyle

And if thou list do me this plesaunce
To descryue his knightly excellence
I wyll thou put his lyf in remembraunce
Howe he oppressyd by myghty violence
This famous cyte callyd florence
By which storye pleynly thou shalt se
Which were frendes and foos to the cite

And which were able to be excused
If the trouth be clerly apperceyued
And which were worthy to be refused
By whom the cite full falsly was desceyued
The circumstaunce notably conceyued
To rekne in ordre by euery syde
Which shulde be chaced and which shulde abyde

Howe duke Gaulter of Florence for his tyrannye / Lecherye and couetyse endyd in mischeef

ANd whan bochas knewe all the entencion
Of the sayde daunt he cast him anon right
To obey his maystre as it was reson
Toke his penne and he caste his sight
Alyte asyde and he sawe nomaner wight
Saue duke Gaulter of all the longe day
For Daunt vnwarly vanisshed was awaye

This seide Gaulter breuely to procede
Lyke as it is put in remembraunce
Touchinge his lyne and his royall kynrede
He was destendyd of the blode of fraunce
By longe processe and knightly purueyaunce
His fader first by diligent laboure
Of athenys was lorde and gouernoure

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Stode but a while in clere possession
Grekes to him had full great enuye
Cast of a [...]nt to put him doun
And depryue him of his famous duchie
To their entent a leyser they dyd espye
Toke him at myscheef quakinge in his drede
Of hye despyte in haste smet of his hede

Vpon whoos deth auenged for to be
This sayde Gaulter with myghty apparayle
Cast he wolde asyege that cyte
But of his purpose longe he dyd fayle
And in thys while with many storonge batayle
Two mighty princes were come doun of pyse
Leyde a syege to Luke in knightly wyse

 [...]rentynes to Luke were fauourable
And to delyuer the syege from the toun
With multytude almost Innumerable
Made ordynaunce and knightly cam doun
Which turned after to their destruccion
For it fell so of mortall auenture
On florentynes fyll the disconfiture

The noyse and fame of this great batayle
Gan sprede ferre by reporte of langage
In Lumbardye and in Itayle
Monge soudyours lusty of corage
And amonge other feynynge a pylgrymage
The sayde Gaulter by vnware violence
Cam fro Naples doun into florence

The florentynes helde first a parlement
For the saluacion and garde of their cite
By great prudence and great auysement
Of such as were hyghst of degre
By one assent they gaue the souereynte
Them to gouerne hopynge to theire encres
With statutes made both for werre and pees

The gretest states rulers of the toun
Called magnates tho dayes in sothenesse
To gaulter gaue this domynacion
Of entent the comons to oppresse
And marchauntes to spoyle of their richesse
Streyne men of craft by frowarde violence
Ageyn their lybertees vsed in Florence

The temple alway in awayte lyinge
To be restored vnto their lyberte
Gan grutch sore amonge them silf pleynynge
For great extorcion done to their cite
The great also of most auctoryte
Had leuer to suffre Gaulter regne
Than their actions to modefye or restreyne

The sayde Gaulter in full subtyll wyse
By a fals maner of Symulacyon
Enmye in herte vnto their Fraunchise
All that he wrought for shorte conclusion
Was done only to their destruccion
With a pretence feyned of frendlyhede
To his promys contrary ay was the dede

Clambe vp by processe to full hye estate
By fayned spech and subtyll flaterye
In his herte wex pompous and clate
His werkynge outwarde no man coude espye
Lite and lytyll drough to his partye
That to conclude shortly for to seye
All florence his lustys dyd obeye

Gan subtilly please the comonte
For to accomplissh falsly his desyres
Made promyse to encres their liberte
To such as were frowarde of maners
Made an othe to destroye their officers
But they wolde of their fre volunte
Graunte vnto him larger lyberte

Gretter power and domynacyon
To encres his might on euery side
Gan manace the grettest of the toun
And day by day encres in his pryde
Felly he gan felly he dyd abyde
Therupon kept clos in their entrayle
The florentynes greatly gan meruayle

In this while there was one Reymere
Of greate auctoryte and of great reuerence
A myghty sargeant and a great offycere
To whoos byddynge obeyed all Florence
Which with Gauletr accordyd in sentence
With soudyours had stuffed eche hos [...]rye
For to sustene of Gaulter the partye

And treytourly for to fortefye
The entent of Gaulter fell and ambicious
To haue thestate only by tyrannye
As their cheef lorde frowarde and surquedous
To regne in Florence the cas perylous
Whan two tyrauntys both of one assent
With multitude to accomplissh their entent

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Which thinge considred by their gouernou [...]
And magnates callyd in the cyte
Whan they founde amonge them no socour [...]
To remedye their great aduersite
Fyll to accorde of necessite
Gaue their assent without variaunce
That Gaulter shulde haue all the gouernaunce

And condescendyd they were to this issu
That gaulter shulde in all his best wise
Vpon the body be sworne of crist Ihesu
Them to restore vnto their fraunchyse
Vsed of olde and for no couetyse
From their promys for lyf nedeth declyne
As the conuencion list to termyne

Herupon was blowe a trumpet
For to assemble the states of the toun
A parlment was holden gaulter first set
Holy to pronounce the conuencyon
With euery percell entytled by reson
Lyke their accorde declarynge anon right
Stode vp a voket in the peplys sight

With men of armes in stele armyd bright
Vnto their pal [...]is cheef and principall
The seid Gaulter conueyed anon right
Set in a sete moost statly and royall
And the peple with voys memoryall
Gan crye loude cōcludynge in sentence
Gaulter for euer cheef lorde of florence

Wo to perseuer duringe all his lyf
Toke in the paleys full possessyon
There durste none ageyn it make stryf
Graunted to him the dominacion
Of all the castell aboute enuyron
Tuskan areth and castell Florentyne
With all lordshyppes to Mounte Appeny [...]e

As ye haue herde gaulter thus began
By his owne furious dyuynayle
Seyde he was borne to be lorde of Tuskan
And a great partye also of Itayle
Tolde he was lad and conueyed by a quayle
Seyde euermore were it right or wronge
That was the sentence of the birdes songe

Thesame byrde brought him first to florence
All the way afore him toke his flight
With soote syngynge dyd him reuerence
Hye in the  [...]yer of corage glad and light
Wolde neuer part oute of his sight
Gaue him toknes to set his Ferte afyre
That of florence he shulde be lorde and sy [...]

The  [...]e byrde he bare in his dyuyses
Full  [...]hely enbrauded with perre
Toke vpon him many great emprises
As cheef lorde of Florence the cyte
Sate in Iugement gouerned the cuntre
Drough to him flaterers and folke that coude lye
Baudes Ribaudes where he might them spye

Of that cyte toke meruelous truages
Crocheth to him richessys of the toun
Of lecherye vsed great outrages
Of maydyns wyues made none excepcion
Voyde of mercy grace and remissyon
Fonde quarell for to be vengeable
That to reherce it is abhomynable

Where he hateth / mercyles he sleeth
Brake fraunchises and olde lybertees
The peple playned desyred sore his deth
Cryed vengeaunce aboute their citees
For tyrannye done in their cunt [...]s
Which was cause of g [...]eate diff [...]on
And of their cite almoost sub [...]cion

Thus they were amonge them silf deuyded
For their greuous sodeyne oppression
Lak of forsight that they were nat prouyded
To se mischeues that shulde fall in the toun
This is very soth where is dyuysion
By witnesse and recorde of scripture
May no kingdom nor cyte longe endure

For which they gan compleyn one and all
Both of the great and of  [...]  [...]mo  [...]e
And of accorde amonge theymsilf they fall
To refourme the hurte of that cyte
And fynally they condessended be
By a manere fell coniu [...]on
To procede to his destruccion

Vpon a day they armyd in  [...]
Magnates first with comons of the  [...]
All of assent roos vp anon right
Gan to make an hydo [...]s soun
L [...]te sle this tyraunt late v [...] pull  [...]
Leyde a syege by mighty violence
Aforn his paleys where he lay in  [...]

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Here begynnethe the boke calledde Iohn bochas descriuinge the falle of princis princessis [and] other nobles tra[n]slated i[n]to englissh by Iohn ludgate mo[n]ke of the monastery of seint edmu[n]des Bury ... — De casibus virorum illustrium. English

Author: Boccaccio, Giovanni, 1313-1375.1494

¶An exclamacion of bochas ayen all proude men shewynge howe god may theym and their pride whā him best lift by many diuers meanes and wayes pu­nysshe and chastise

Lenuoye

¶Howe many yeres was bitwixte Adam and Nembroth and bitwixte Nembroth and Cadmus and of other kynges

¶Of Oggigus kynge of Thebes

¶Of a greate flode in Tessalie

¶Of goodly Isis wife to Apys kynge of argyne slayne by his brother Dyffeus.

¶Of Grysiton that his membres cete for hungre

¶Lenuoye

¶Howe Iupiter rauysshyd Europe and howe Cadmus was sent to seke hir in diuers regions

Lenuoye

¶A processe of Oetes kynge of Colchos / Iason / Medee. Theseus Scilla Nisus and other mo

¶Lenuoye

‘Omne regnum in se [...] diuisum desolabitur’

Howe Atreus kynge of messene wrought ayenst his brother Thiestes slewe his thre chyldren dis­mēbryd them pecys made Thieftes to ete of their flessh and drynke of their blode

Howe Atreus accusyd him self of murdre and his brother vpon auoutrye doon with Europa the quene

Lenuoy

Of duke Theseus and Adryane that saued his life in the Caue / and howe he like a forsworne man forsoke hir & weddyd faire phedra which afterward slough hir silfe

Lenuoye

¶Here bochas writeth ayenst theym that yeuethe hasty credence to liers and flaterers

‘Qui tangit picem et c̄.’

‘¶M. de transformatis .i. bis vir’

‘¶Ar [...] mutat naturam’

Lenuoye

¶Of quene Althea / and howe Hercules by wymē was brought to confusion

Lenuoye

A processe of Narcisus. Bible. Mirra. and of other their infortunes to bochas compleynynge

Ouidius xo. et xio. de transformatis

Lenuoy

[...]owe Narcisus / Biblis / and mirra dyed at the [...]yscheef

‘Ob quam cām secundas spreuit nupcias’

Of Priamus kynge of Troye / And howe the Monke of Bury translatoure of this boke wrote a boke of the siege of troye callyd troye boke

Here spekith bochas the auctour of this boke ayenst the surquedous pride of theym that truste in richesse saynge these wordes vnto theym

Here also Iohn Bochos put a greate preisinge and a commendacion of suertie that stondith in pouertye vnder these wordes in sentence

Of mighty sampson which tolde his counseill to Dalida wherby he was deceyued.

Lenuoye

The excuse of bochas for his writynge ayenst mys­gouernyd wymen in stede of lenuoye

Of myghty pirrus that slough pollicene which for his pride and auoutrye dyed in pouertie / slayne at the last by horestes

Of Machaire and his suster Canace

The lettre of compleynt of Canace to hir broder Machaire.

‘Nihil insolencius (quam) potens rusticus’ Incipit liber secundus

Lenuoye

Acommendacion of Bochas vpon the vertue of obedience

Howe kinge Roboam for gyuynge feith to yonge counseyle lost the beneuolence of his people and dyed a foole

Lenuoye

A chaptre descryuinge howe princes beynge hedeys of their comontees shulde haue noble chyualrie true Iuges their comontye to gouerne &c.

Howe Mucyus Sceuola slough an Innocent in stede of kinge Porcēna that laide siege to Rome.

Howe lucrece oppressed by Tarquyn slough hir self

Howe rome after was gouernyd / and virginea by hir fader slayne

Lenuoye

[...]owe Ieroboam kinge of Israell for Idolatrie [...]sobedience cam to a myscheuous ende

Howe zereas kinge of Ethiope was slayne in bataile

Howe Adab kinge of Ierusalem lost ceptre and crowne

Howe the vengeable prince zambrias set a toure on fyre and brent him silf

Of kinge Achab and Iezabell his wife

Of quene Gatholia for hir tirannie slayne

Lenuoye

Howe Di [...]o quene of cartage slough hir silf for conseruacion of hir chastite

Lenuoye

Lenuoye direct to wydowes of the translaoure

Howe vicious Sardanapalle kinge of assirie brent him self and his tresoure

A commendacion of [...]chas of ve [...] [...] [...]ynes rehersynge names foūdyrs of diuers sciencys and cūnynges in repreef of Idelnesse

Lenuoye.

Howe amazias ī Iuda kinge for pride and presūpcion was venquesshed in batayle & after slayne

Howe vpon Iosias succedynge kinge next in Iuda toke vengeaunce smote him with lepre

An exortacion to princes to be auised to do ageyn goddes preceptes.

Howe kinge Ozie was takyn by kinge salmanazar and dyed in prison

Howe senacheryb kinge of assirie was slayne

Howe kinge sedechie for fals forsweringe was slayne and made bl [...]nde in prison

Lenuoye.

Howe kinge astryages laboured to disherite cirus But god suffred his malice nat to preuayle

Lenuoye.

Howe Candalus king of Lide was made cokwold and after slayne

Howe what thinge kinge Midas touchid was gold yit dyed he in miserye and wretchydnesse

Of balthasar kinge of babilone / and howe daniel expowned. Mane. Techel. Phares.

Lo Cresus and balthasar were venquesshed by cirus and the sonne of cresus slayne at the hūting of a bore

Howe the cruell tyraunt Cyrus delited eu [...] slaughter and shedynge of blode & so endyd

Lenuoye.

Howe amilius for couetise slough his brother and Remus / and Romulus norisshed by a wuluesse

¶An exclamacion of bochas ayen all proude men shewynge howe god may theym and their pride whā him best lift by many diuers meanes and wayes punysshe and chastise

Howe Atreus kynge of messene wrought ayenst his brother Thiestes slewe his thre chyldren dismēbryd them pecys made Thieftes to ete of their flessh and drynke of their blode

Ouidius x^o. et xi^o. de transformatis

The excuse of bochas for his writynge ayenst mysgouernyd wymen in stede of lenuoye

Howe Melciades duke of Athenys with smal noumbre venquesshyd [...]i C M ꝑciens / and after by his comonte that ay of custum desireth a chaunge of prynces newe he was cheyned in prison and so dyed

Howe Amynta of Mecedoyne kinge had by Eru [...]i [...] his wife Alisaūdre / ꝑdica / & philip y^t were slayne

Of the two brethern artaxerses and Cirus and Artaxerses slough his children and concubynes and howe they ended

Howe Heliarchus the tyraunt for extorcion and oppression was slayne by the knight Leonydes

Howe Darie kinge of Perce and mede was outrayed by alisaundre kinge of macedoyne

Here bochas remembreth the batyles and losse of Realmeys of antiquyte / with the fallynge of dyuers nobles.

Howe Eumenydes was twyes outrayed by Antigo [...]us / and at the last dyed in prison

Howe Cassander slough the wif of Alisaundre / & Hercules hir sonne / And antipater slough his moder and of other murders.