PElias rei­gnynge in Peloponesa, had a brother na­med Asō. Of this man is issued Iason, & very excellent man in vertu: the whiche for because he hadde ben good to his subiectes, intreatynge them humaynlye and gentlye, was muche set by, and beloued of all men. Kynge Pelias perceauyng that Ia­son was in suche reputation and au­ctoritie with all the people, feared greatly least he shoulde do hym some [Page 4] wronge, depryuing hym of his kingdome. But to auoyde the effecte of suche a doubtefull and peryllous suspition, Pelias fained that there was in the Ile of Colchos a golden flese of a shepe, a ryche thyng, and worthy of Iasons puissance and strengthe, perswadynge hym through promis of great recompence, to conquere and to brynge it awaye perforce. Where­vnto Iason, as one of hygh [...] courage and muche desyrous to se manye and dyuers countreys, thynking by such meanes greately to auaunce, and to augmente his honoure, consented vnto the enterpryse, so that Pelias woulde so furnyshe hym with men and other necessary thinges, that he shoulde want or lacke nothynge.

Then Pelias by and by commaun­ded his chiefest carpenter named Ar­gus, to make and prepare suche fayre [Page] and goodly shyppes, that they myght please and content Iason. As sone as y^e br [...]te was spred thorow al Grece, as well of the foresayde shyppes, as of the totall and whole enterpryse of Iason into Colchos, his frendes & familiares presented and offred theyr seruyce and company vnto hym. Af­ter that Iason had geuen them thankes, he prayde them to be ready, and wayte for the oportune, and conueniente time of his departure. They came at the selfe same tyme wel min­ded and appoynted vnto the place si­gnified and assigned vnto them by Iasons letters, that is to wyt, wher the shippe was, called Argo. Pelias with all diligence caused the nauye to be furnyshed with all thinges ne­cessary, and exhorted Iason and his companye, coragiously to accomplish the thynge whiche was begonne, & [Page 5] so doynge that not they onelye, but also all Grece shoulde obtayne greate honour and glory. But to declare by name all those that accompanyed Iason, I thinke it not mete nor to anye purpose, let them therefore which be curyouse to knowe these thynges, reade suche authors, as haue special­ly wrytten of the Argonantes. Iasō then ariuinge & comynge into Phri­gia, came and broughte his shyppes vnto the hauen of the riuer Simois, and there all his souldiers landed.

But when kynge Laomedon was aduertised therof, he was greatelye moued, as well for the greate number of shyppes, whiche were aryued and rested there, as for the multitude of the yonge mē of Grece, which were commynge thether: consydering also to be very daungerous vnto his people in tyme to come, yf the Grekes [Page] accustomed them selues so to aryue & to campe in his dominions and countreys. Therfore Laomedon admoni­shed them by Ambassadoures to re­tyre and departe out of his countrey, or els that he was mynded rughelye & rudely to repulse them. The which thinge was very straunge to Iason and his companye, and not easelye to be suffred, so vngentlye to be entrea­ted of hym, whome they neuer offen­ded. Neuerthelesse, they fearing that through the ire and anger of y^e kyng, they might be destroyed and spoyled by the multitude of the barbarous people, if contrarye to the will and commaundement of Laomedon, they shulde make resistaunce, seinge they had no preparation to warre, depar­ted vnto theyr shyppes, and finallye came to Colchos, where they incon­tinent obtayned the golden flese, and [Page 6] returned vnto theyr owne countrey. A while after Hercules hauynge in remembraunce the euill receite and intreatinge of Laomedon towardes Iason, went vnto Sparta, to desyre Castor and Postur, in Salamina, Che [...]amō, in Thessalia Peleus, in Pile Nestor, to fauour and ayd him to reuenge the iniurie, that the Gre­kes had receaued of y^e king of Troy: the whiche thinge was willinglye promysed him, and he declaringe his minde vnto Nestor, sayd he was so­rye to be constrayned to make warre against the Troians, whom Nestor dyd well alowe. Hercules percey­uinge the good wyll of them all, caused. xv. shippes to be made, and suche men as were mete for the warre to be gathered. Whan the time of his departure was come, and that he had assembled by his letters, & otherwise [Page] those whiche he had desired and prayed, and had prepared all thinges in a good order: they fayled vntill they came by nighte into Phrigia, vnto y^e porte and hauen of Sige, wher that Hercules Thelamon, and Peleus did most dyligently cause their hoost to be set a land, making Castor, Pollux, and Nestor the cheife rulers to defende the shippes [...] Laomedon per­ceauinge the Grekes armye to be pitched, & in campe at the port of Sige, by and by went thether with a great companie, and began to fight valiaūtly. In the meane season Hercules cō passed about, and besieged the towne Ilium, so that he mo [...]ested the citi­sins very sore, hauinge no word therof, and vndefended. Then Laomedō goyng thether to succour and to ayd them, was slayne of Hercules, with all his children, Priamus excepted [Page 7] whiche at that time (by his fathers commaundement) had the leadynge of an Army in Phrigia. The Troi­ans army beynge thus destroyde, the towne battarde, taken, spoyled, and ouerthrowen, the Grekes (after thei had fylled theyr shyppes and vessels with the pillage and spoyle) purpo­sed to retourne home agayn. Among other thinges Thelamon for his bo­ty toke with hym Hesiona kyng Laomidons daughter, whom Hercules for the vertue and excellencye that was in him, and because he was the fyrste that boldely approched vnto y^e breche, and entred the towne, gaue for a rewarde. Priamus therfore perceauinge that his father was deade, his [...]itisens of Ilium subdued, & his sister Hesiona to be genen for a pray, was very sory thus to se the state of the common welth of Troye, entre [...] ted [Page] of y^e Grekes. Wherefore he retur­ned, accompanied with his wife He­cuba, and his children, that is, Hector Alexander, Deiphobus, Helenus, Troilus, Andromacha, Cassandra, and Po [...]exena, to go into Ilium. He had also other chyldren oute of wed­locke, but yet men estemed them not, nor called none the kynges chyldren, but suche as were lawfully begottē. Assone as Priamus was come a­gayne to Troye, he edified his town agayne, he fortified it with much greter and stronger walles, repaired it with all kyndes of munitions and fortresses, and with a great number of men of armes, fearynge leaste he shoulde be destroyed, and sodenlye brought to ruyne as his father Lao­medon was. Besydes all this, he buylded a palace royall, where he cō ­secrated a temple and an ymage vnto [Page 8] Iupiter. The names of the gates of the foresayde towne are these, Ante­norida, Dardamda, Ilia, Scea, Ca­tumbria, Troiana. But after that he sawe his towne, and other thynges aparteyninge thervnto sufficientlye prepared, he loked for a conueniente tyme, to reuenge the wronge that was done vnto hym in his goodes, and in the person of his father. And therefore he purposed to sende one of his an Ambassador into Grece, na­med Antenor, with a certayne com­playnt to demaunde amense, aswell for the death of his father, and taking awaye of his goodes, as for the ra­uyshement of his syster Hesiona: promisinge neuerthelesse willinglye to indure and suffer, and to take all thinges in good parte, so that his syster were restored hym agayne. Antenor obeyinge the kynges commaunde­ment, [Page] take shyppyng, and wandered so longe vppon the sea, that he came vnto a place in Grece named Mane­sia: where Pelius receaued him, and feasted for the space of thre dayes. At the fourth daye he requyred hym to declare the cause of his legation: the whiche aunswered that it was one­lye to admonishe the Grekes, to re­store Hesiona. Peleus vnderstan­dynge that, and that the matter some what touched hym, toke it vnpaciently, and therfore he commaunded him incontinent to retyre from thense vnto some other place. Ante nor not beynge therwith content, sayled vnto Salamina, to perswade and induce Thelamon to restore Hesiona kynge Priamus sister, declarynge not to be ryghte nor reasonable, to kepe the doughter of a kynge in suche bon­dage. Whervnto Thelamon annswered, [Page 9] that he hadde not offended Pria­mus, and that he was not mynded to restore the thynge, whiche was ge­uen him for his vertu and valiaunt­nes, and therefore that he shulde do his diligence to departe. Then Antenor toke shyppynge as before, & wēt to Achaia, and there solicited Castor and Pollux to content Priamus, as­well for the rauysshinge of Hesiona, as for other thinges, the whiche de­nied with great boldnesse, that in no wise they had offended Priamus, but contrarywyse that they and the other Grecians were fyrst prouoked and offended by Laomedon, therfore they commaunded him to departe.

Furthermore Antenor the Ambassador wente to Pile vnto Nestor for the self same thing, the which threa­tenynge dyd saye, that he marueyled that Antenor a Troian was so bold [Page] and hardy to come into Grece, consi­derynge that the anset of malice was fyrst geuen by the Troians. Whan Antenor perceaued his labor loste, & also had heard the proude and bolde aunswers of al the princes of Grece, he returned home, makynge a reke­nynge vnto Priamns of his iourny, and dyd him to vnderstande and per­ceaue the threatnynge aunswers of the Grecianes, and therwithall pro­uoked him to make warre agaynste them. Priamus at the same selfe in­stant, called all his chyldren, his frendes, princes, and lordes, as Anchises Eneas, Ucalegon, Talantus, Am­photes, Panthus, and also his chyl­dren begotten of his concubines, and recited vnto them the whole order of the legation and message made vnto the Grekes by Antenor in his name that is to wyt, of the death of his fa­ther, [Page 10] of the ruyn [...] & destructiō of [...], & of the rape of Hesiona, whose restoryng he promised to be a full sa­tisfaction of all wronges, and there­with the aunswer of them, the euyll and vnkynd intreatinge shewed vn­to his Ambassador. And therfore se­ynge he coulde haue no parte of his mynde, he purposed to prepare an hoost, to thintent that the Grecians so punyshed, shulde not at anye tyme haue the barbarous Troianes in de­ [...]ision. Fyrst of al he admonished his chyldren to take the principal charge of this thinge, and speciallye Hector his eldest sonne, the whiche promy­sed to fulfyll the wyll and commaundement of his father, and also that he woulde not onely reuenge the death of his graundefather, but also all the iniuries and offenses committed a­gaynste his elders, to the intente the [Page] misdedes of the Grekes shoulde not remayne vnpunyshed: but yet he doubted muche of the ende of his enter­pryse, because that y^e Grecians shuld and myghte haue great succoure and ayde of diuers nations. Also because that in Europe were verye stronge men, and apte vnto warre, and in A­sia men were delicatelye nourys­shed in reste and ydlenes, and ther­fore destitute of a nauy mete for such a purpose. This notwithstandynge Alexader exhorted that a nauy shuld be prepared for this iorney vnto Grece, offerynge him selfe to be the cheife and principal conductor of the army, yf it so pleased the kynge his father, such confidence he had in the Gods, adn trusted to return vnto his house victorious and triumphing ouer his enemyes. For he sayde as he went a huntynge in the forest named Ida [Page 11] he fell a s [...]epe, vnto whome Mercur [...] us came, sayinge he had chosen hym [...]udge as concernynge the beautie of thre goddesses there present. Iuno, Minerua, and Uenus, and that Ue­nus had promised hym the fayrest lady of all Grece, if amonge those thre, he would iudge and esteme hyr to be the fayrest: and that for this reason and cause, Priamus shulde haue the better hope, inasmuch as Uenus did fauer Alexander.

This opinion dyd maruelouselye well please Deiphobus, whereby he trusted to haue righte, and satis­faction of the Greekes, yf the thynge whyche was enterprised, were folowed. Helenus cleane con­trarye, as a true Prophete, fore­tolde the commynge of the Gre­kes, the Destruction that they [Page] shoulde do in the countreye & towne of Troye, the ruyne of his father and brethren, yf his brother Alexander broughte awaye perforce a woman out of the countrey of Grece. Troi­lus the yōgest sonne, but yet no lesse coragio [...]s and valiaunt then Hector, counseled, and perswaded a nauye to be prouided, and with al diligence to set forwarde vnto Grece: and that men shulde not feare, nor haue no re­garde vnto his brothers wordes.

Whose counsell was greatly alowed and approued of all men. This done, Priamus sent Deiphobus and Ale­xander into Licaonia, to chose oute, & to gather together men, mete for the warre, and to assemble the people to the counsell. After that Priamus had purposed to shewe these thinges vnto his chyldren, he, to the entente that the inferiors shulde be obedient [Page 12] vnto theyr elders and superiours, declared vnto them the iniuries and wronges that they had suffred of the Grekes. And that he had sente An­tenor into Grece, to the intente he myghte be reasonably aunswered for hys syster, and other thynges, and that Antenor was ignominiouslye receaued and entreated, nor coulde not accomplyshe, nor obtayne anye thynge of his businesse, as concer­nynge his legation: and therefore it was very expediente that Paris (as it was purposed) shulde reuenge the death of his graundfather, and other greuous and great iniuries commit­ted vnto the Troianes. He also commaunded Antenor to shewe his minde, whiche encouraged the Troianes to make warre vpon the Gre­kes, shewynge them in few wordes what he had done, in Grece. Pria­mus [Page] or euer he went anye further in this matter, dyd openlye yet once a­gayn aske them, whether there were any of his, that agreed not vnto this warre, to thende he shoulde tell hym in open fielde. Wherevnto Panthus in the presence of Priamus & other, aunswered and spake the thynge, the whiche as he sayde, he had learne [...] of his father Enphorbius, that yf A­lexander brought a woman oute of Grece, it shoulde be the ruyne and ex­treme misfortune of the Troianes: and that it were muche more honest and better to lyue in tranquillitye, then thoroughe warres, and other troubles to lese theyr auncient liber­tie, and so lyghtelye to put them sel­ues in hasarde and icopardye.

The people dispraysed the coun­sell and auctoritie of Panthus, and submitted theym selues vnto the [Page 13] kynges wyll, as readye and disposed to do that shoulde please hym to commaūd. And after that Priamus had promysed to prepare shyppes, and o­ther thynges to go into Grece, and that in suche sorte, that nothynge shoulde be lackynge, they all with one boyce promised him their whole obedience. Priamus then thanked them, and so the counsell cesed and brake vp. Therfore w^t al spede, Priamus did send labourers into y^e forest Ida, to hewe tymber to make shyp­pes. And in the meane season, he sent Hector into the hye partes of Phri­gia to assēble an Army. Canssandra now vnderstanding and perceauing this enterprise, foretolde the thynge that shoulde chaunce vnto the Troianes, yf her father would perseuere and go on to moleste the Grecians with warre.

[Page]But the tyme beyng now come, and the shyppes furnished, and the soul­diers of Licaonia brought thether by Alexander and Deiphobus, there lacked nothinge but theyr departure.

Priamus hauynge thus all thynges in a readines made Alexander the generall captayne of his armye, and with hym as guydes, Deiphobus, Eneas, and Polidamus: commaun­dynge Alexander fyrste to go vnto Sparta to Castor and Pollux to cō ­mun with them for the restoryng of Hesiona, and that perfourmed, the people of Troye woulde be ryghte well satisfied and contente: and y [...] they denied him any thinge, that he shulde be aduersited therof, to the in­tent he myght sende hym freshe ayde and succour. Then Alexander with his, and Antenors the Ambassadors companye, sayled into Grece. But [Page 14] yet or euer they came to the yle Ei­therea, they recountred and mette Menelaus in the mid waye, going vnto the pyle, merueylynge and doubtynge to what parte or coste this great armie went.

And so they met bothe together, and although they saw [...] and beheld one another, yet they were igno­raunte nor kn [...]we not whither the one and the other went. Euen vpō the selfe same daye Castor and Pollux were gone with their gales to­ward Clitemnestra, & had brought thet [...]er Hermiona Helena her doughter. The daye when Alexander came to Citherea, was dedicated and holye in the honour of Iuno, in the whiche place he vnderstode, that there was a temple of Diana and Uenus, The Citherians de­maundynge [Page] throughe great admi­ration what he was, and frome whence this great and triumphant companye was come, had thys an­swere: that it was Alexander kyng Priamus ambassadour to Castor and Pollux. Helene Menelaus wyfe knowynge that Alexander was in Citharea so nobly and roy­ally appoynted, desyred greatlye to see hym, and wente to a towne nye vnto the sea (called by her name Helena) where she purposed within the temple to doe sacrifice vnto Appollo and Diana. Alexander being verye ioyfull of the approchement and commyng of Helena, mindyng and remembrynge her greate bwe­tye, beganne throughe a greate de­syre and affection to see her and to goe and mete her.

[Page 15]Helena perceyuynge that Alex­ander was come to her towne, no lesse desirous on her parte to see A­lexander, mete hym by the waye, where the one seynge and behol­dynge the other, were euen forth­with taken with suche loue, that they appoynted the tyme and con­uenient houre to speake and com­men together.

Therfore Alexander commaun­ded all hys men to be in a readines in their shyppes, purposynge in the night folowing to take Helena and a certayne numbre of her damse [...]s as she was doynge sacrifice in the temple. The whiche thynge was fulfilled & done. The citesyns per­ceyuynge that, sought verye longe agaynst hym, but yet they fayled so muche to recouer their Helen, that [Page] they themselues through the mul­titude and great company of Alex­ander, were ouercome, the temple and the towne spoyled, manye pry­soners caryed away: thys done, in­continent they loused & hoysed vp their sayles purposynge to returne from thence, he came to an hauen named Tenedon, where after he had conforted Helen beynge verye heauye, he certified hys father Pri­amus by letters of all thynges that was done. Menelaus beynge in Pylas was certtfied of this deede whiche wente with all spede vnto Sparta with Nestor frō whēce he sent Argos desyrynge his brother Agamēnon to come thither to him

In the meane tyme Alexander came home to his owne house with his praye, recited the order and dis­scourse [Page 16] of all his doynges, wherof Priamus was verye ioyfull tru­stynge that at the lest his sister He­siona throughe the recouerynge of Helen shoulde be restored with o­ther recompence and satisfaction of all that here to fore the Grekes had destroyed, pylde, and caryed oute of the countreie, & from the people of Troye. And after he had with fayre wordes cōforted the desolate Helen, he maryed her to his sonne Alexander. Assoone as Canssandra behelde her she beganne to prophe­sye euen as before. And therfore by the commaundement of Priamus she was taken and closed vp.

After that Agamemnon was come into Sparta, and hadde com­forted hys brother, they purposed to sende into al Grece to complaine [Page] them of thys open iniurie, and that to reuenge the same, it was neces­sarye to proclayme war against the Troyans. Where Achiles, Patro­clus, & Diomedes went purposely into Sparta to Agamemnō ready w^t armes to reueng y^e iniurius ded of the Troyans, appointing Aga­mēnon to be chiefe of al the armie. After this they signified throughe out all Grece their interprince, to the intent that euerye man shoulde be readie in armes at the assemble in the porte of Athens, to defende their ryght and honoure, and to re­uenge the rauishement of Helen.

Amonge whome Castor and Pol­lux folowed the companye with shyppes vnto the porte Lesbe, be­cause of the wronge committed in the persone of their sister Helen, [Page 17] but yet throughe a certay [...]e rage that chaunsed there euen sondenly, they left of to sayle and to folowe, and vanished awaye as it had bene the ayre, in so muche that in no part they were euer seene after.

Therfore men estemed them to be transported into heauen, and set in the range and number of the Goddes immortall. And notwith­standynge that the inhabiters of Lesbia soughte and persued theym by the sea with shyppes and gal­les euen vnto Troye: Yet there is no mencion that euer they were founde agayne Dares Phrigius the auther of this historie, beynge present at all feldes and iourneyes euen vntyll Troy was sacked, say­eth, that he sawe theym in the time of warre and truces, and further­more that he learned of the Grekes [Page] the grace, face and nature of theym bothe. He sayeth therfore that they were lyke one another, their heere was somwhat yelowe, great eyes, fayre faced and cleaue, & well made and furnished with all the mem­bers of the bodye.

Helen was somwhat lyke vnto these, fayre, of a swete grace and simple, wel made of her members, and a lytle spotte betwene her browes, and a lytle mouthe. As touchynge Priamus the kynge of Troye, he was of a faire behauuer, greate, and swete in wordes, of body somwhat swarte. Hector lisped, white courld herde, [...]andblynde, lyght and quicke membred, of a venerable counte­naunce, berded, well proporcioned, hardye in warre, couragious, gen­tle to his subiectes proper & mete, & [Page 18] worthy to be beloued. Deiphobus & Helenus lyke vnto their father of face, but of diuers naturs & maners Deiphobus was stronge, Helenus gentle, wyse, foretellynge the thin­ges that were to come.

Troylus great, very stronge, ve­rye faire, valiante, and for his age wyse, and desirous of vertue.

Alexander was whyte, strong, verye fayre eyde, yelowe herde and softe, faire mouthed, a swete voyce, quicke co [...]etous of domination.

Eneas ruddye, square, eloquent, good to speake withall, religius, wyse in counsell, fayre, open and quicke eyde and blacke.

Antenor, longe, flender, lyghte membred variable, dissemblynge, and ware. Hecuba great, but somwhat brode of bodye, fayre modest, [Page] of a manly constancie, iuste & good. Andromacha cleare eyed, long, faier modest, wyse, chaste, swete.

Cassandra, of a meane stature [...]ounde mouthed, ruddy, glistering eyes, knowynge the thynges that wer to com [...] Polixena, white, hie, fayre, longe necked, fayre eyed, long heere, righte vp, her members well made, aud well proporcioned, long fingerde, streight legged, her feete well compassed, of mynde symple, liberal, sumptuous, and in bwetye far passynge all other. Agamemnon white of bodye, greate, stronge of membres, eloquent, prudent, noble, and riche. Menelaus meane of sta­ture, r [...]ddy, fayre, acceptable, and of a good grace. A chilles couragious, fayre mouthed, verye stronge of ar­mes, very cour [...]d herd, gentle, rugh [Page 19] in armes, a merye face, liberall, his heer of y^e couler of mir. Patroclus fair of bodi, grene eied, strōg sham­fast, fearefull w^t modestie, ryght vp, wise, liberal. Aiar Oileus squa­re, mighty of membres, swart of bodye, merye, stronge, and sage. Aiax Thelamonius, valiante, cleare of voyce, blacke herde and curlde, sim­ple, swete of spirite, otherwyse fu­rious against his enemis. Ulixes, assured craftye, meane of stature, of face ioyful, eloquent, sage, rude and anstere in war, very sharpe, heddye substel, impaciēt, hardy. Diomedes strong, square of body, honest of face austere, sharpe in warre, often cry­ing, subtel, impacient, dum, harrdy. Nestor greate, lodge nosed, large, white throughe oute all his bodye, good in counsel and wyse.

[Page]Protesslaus of a resplendent bodye of a good and honest grace, assured, light, presumpteous.

Neoptolemus great, couragious, dispitefull, stammerynge, of a cro­ked visage, rounde eyed, proude.

Palamedes, slender, longe, sage, of a great heart, and glosynge.

Podalirus grosse, valiant, proud, heauye. Machaon greate, stronge, prudent, pacient, prompt and ready to mercye. Merion of a meane stare, ruddye, merye of face, vitious, obstinate, cruell, impacient.

Briseis fayre, not to hie of statu­er. White yelowe herde, and softe, with frownynge browes, faire eyed, a well proporcion [...]d bodye, swete, shamefast, simple and good. Thus the Grekes nauy beyng readie and instructed, came to Athens. [Page 20] The first was Agamemnon from Micenes with a hundred shyppes. Menelaus from Sparta with thre score. Archelaus and Protenor frō Bruce with fiftie [...] Ascalaphus and Almenus from Orceine with thirtie [...] Epistrophus and Schedi­us from Phocis with fourtye.

Aiax Thelamon for company sake brought from Salamine hys bro­ther Teucer, Bublation, Amphi­macus, Dorius, Thesius, and Polisemus with fourtye shyppes.

Nestor came from Pile with lxxx. shyppes in numbre. Thoas frome Etolia with thre score. Aiax Oile­us from Locres with seuen & thir­ty shyppes. Antippus, Phidippus and Thoas of Alcedone with thir­tie shyppes [...] Idomeneus & Merio­nes frome Crete with foure scoure shyp| [Page] Protesilaus and Protarchus from Philaque with fourtye. Podaliri­us and Machaon the sonne of Es­culapius with fourtye and two.

Achilles with Patroclns and the Myrmidons from Pithia with fiftye. Telepolemus from Roodes with eyght. Euripilus from Or­mena with thre score. zantippus and Amphimacus frō Elida with twelue. Polibetes and Leontius from Larissa with fourty shippes. Diomedes, Euripilus, Steleneus from Argos with fonre scoure.

Philoctetes frō Melebra with vij. Enneus frō Ci [...]ers with xxi. ship­pes. Proteus frō Magnesa with xl. Agapenor from Archadia with fourty. Mnesteus from Athenes, with fifty. Creneus frome Pile w^t two and twentye. The names of [Page 21] the captaynes of Grece do mounte vnto thre score and nyne, the which broughte to the warre aboute a le­uen hundred and fourty shippes.

After that they were all come to Athenes, Agamemnon called his captaynes to counsel, praysed them and exhorted theym to mayntayne theyr ryght and quarel, promysyng to content theim at their pleasure.

Furthermore, they thought it very good, or euer they departed to take counsel of Appollo, where vnto e­uery man accorded. And to do thys thing, Achilles was sent with Patroclus vnto Delphos. In y^e mene while Priamus being well aduer­tised of y^e wyll & preparation of his enemies gathered mē thorowout al his coūtreies exhorting euery man couragiously to defend his contrei. [Page] When Achilles and Delphos had vnderstanded by the oracle, that the Greekes shoulde beare awaye the victorye, and Troy at the tenth ye­res ende shoulde be taken and de­stroyed by theym, he dyd sacrifice vnto God Appollo, as it was com­maunded. At the selfe same tyme likwise Calchas was sent to Del­phos to gratifie Apollo with gyf­tes and ryche Iewels, for the Troianes, & to counsel with him of the state of hys realme & other goodes, vnto who it was answered by the oracle, and counseled, that he should confederate him self with thee Grekes agaynst the Troyanes, & that he shoulde beare theym asmuche fa­uour as he might possible in disclo­synge the thynge that he might per [...]eyue and vndersta [...]de of the affay­res [Page 22] of Troye, to thys entent, that the Grekes should not leaue of nor departe vntyll Troye were taken and destroyed. Achilles & Calchas met together within the temple, & after they had confederate their an­sweres of the oracle together, the which were lyke and agreable, thei reioysed & confirmed their aliance and amitie. So they came together to Athenes, where Calchas was gentelye receyued of all the Greci­anes. Their shyppes beynge nowe prepared to sayle, they were soden­ly taken, and troubled with an hor­rible & a merueilous tempest: ther­fore Calchas as a prophete counse­led them to tourne their sayles to some other parte, and go towardes the porte named Aulis, vnto the whiche they came at the last. Af [...]e [...] [Page] that Agamemnon had with sacri­fice apaysed and satisfied Diana, he cansed to hoyse vp their sayles, and to go on vnto Troy, and to do this more easly [...] Philocte was vnto thē as a guyde, the whiche before tyme had bene w^t the Argonantes in the lād of Troy. By the wai thei came vnto a towne appertaynynge to Priamus, whiche after they had taken and sacked, they wente to Tenedon, killynge man, woman and child, the whiche they tooke in like maner. But Agamemnon de­uided the spoiye amonge his soul­diers. This done, he called a counsel wherin it was concluded, that Diomedes and Ulixes shulde goe vnto Priamus, requirynge hym to restore Helen with other thynges rauished and taken a­waye [Page 23] by Alexander. Durynge the tyme that these men communed with Priamus, Achilles & The­lephus were sent to take Misia for a praye, where kyng Teuthras rai­gned. Where when they came, they spoyled al the countrye.

And Achilles so wounded the kynge commynge in armes in the defence of hys countreye, that he fell to the grounde, whome Telephus couered wyth hys shylde, that Achylles slewe hym not oute of hande, and that because in tymes paste Teu­thras hadde lyberallye recey­ued Telephus Hercules sonne into hys house, beynge yet but verye younge.

[Page]Some other do saye, that euen then Hercules hadde slayne Diomedes with hys pusiant and wylde hor­ses, and delyuered all hys kynge­dome into the handes of Teuthras and that Telephus therfore had succurred hym. But Teuthras perceyuynge that throughe that stroke he coulde not escape deathe, he beynge yet alyue delyuered hys kyngdome of Misia vnto Telephus, and in­stituted hym kyng as his heire and successur, whome after that he was deed Telephus dyd burye most ho­nourably. Finallye, Achilles she­wed Telephus that the beste con­seruation of his kyngedome and to the intent that in his necessitie, he mighte be succuered and holpen of the Grekes: was to furnishe and yerelye to prepare a certayne quan­titie [Page 24] of corne oute of hys realme, for the Grekes campe, whereby he him selfe with his hooste shoulde not go agaynst y^e Troianes: but re­mayne at home for the more surer conseruatiō of his newe kingdome. This ended, Achilles returned with a great praye and botye from Misia to Tenedon: recitinge at length to Agamemnon and his companions, what he had done, of who­me he was greatlye praysed, for hys industry & viligence. In the meane whyle the Ambassadours of Grece recited and declared vnto Priamus the causes of their legation, and the wyll of Agamemnon, that is: to know yf the Troianes woulde re­store Helen with the other botye, and that the Grekes beynge satisfi­ed and contented for those thinges, [Page] would pesably returne agayne. For an aunswere Priamus recited the iniurye of the Argona [...]tes, the de­struction and sacking of Ilium, the death of his father, the violent rape and iniust seruitute, in the whyche his sister Hesiona was deteyned by the Grekes, the euyll and vngentle intreatyng of Antenor his Ambas­sadour in Grece: therfore he denyed the peace, denunced warre, and commaunded them to returne, and de­part out of his countreye. The Ambassadours beyng returned, and the aunswere of Priamus declared to the Grekes, the matter was reuo­ked into the counsell. Nowe we thinke it good to recite the names and prouinces of the Lordes and princes, whiche came with them hoostes, to succoure Priamus a­gaynste [Page 25] the Grekes. First from C [...] [...]ia came Pandarus and Amphide [...] ­stns frome Colophonia, Amphi­macus and Mnesteus.

Frome Licia, Sarpedon and Glaucus. Frome Larissa Hipp­or [...]ogus and Cupesu [...]. From Ci­ronia Remnes. Frome Thracia Pyrus & A [...]canus. From P [...]onia Paractemesus, & Teropeus. Frō Phrigia Ascanuis Zantippus, and Portius, frō Eliconia. Eusemeus [...] from Beocia Asuneus and Foricus from Buctiua Epistropolis and Boccius from Palaconia Phille­minus, from Ethiopia Pirses and Mennon, from Thracia Heseus & Archilogus, from Agrestia Adra­stus and Amphius, from Auzoni [...] Epistrophus. Unto these compa­nies [Page] and hostes, Priamus appoyn­ted Hector for chiefe and principall Captayne, nexte after Deiphobus, consequently Alexander, Troilus, Eneas, & Memnon. And as Aga­memnon on the other part toke de­liberation, and made prouision for the enterprise [...] came Palamedes the sonne of Nauplius from Corma with thirtye shippes, and excused him selfe, that he came not to the as­semble at Athens, withholden and let by sycknes, but that he came in­continent, and assone as it was possible for him to come, and as the opor­tunitie of time would serue. The whiche excuse was taken of all o­ther in good parte, gaue him than­kes, and prayde him to assiste them, as one of the counsell. And foras­muche as the Grecians doubted of [Page 26] theyr settynge forwarde to Troye, they would know Palamedes coū ­sell, whether they shoulde geue the assaulte to Troy by day or by night. He aunswered, that he founde none occasion, why they shoulde geue the assaulte by night, but in the middes of the dai, as he thought it most expedient, wherevnto they all consented and agreed, and choyse Agamemnon captaine of al y^e army. The whiche sent forthwith Hesio­dus Demorātes & Anius into Mi­sia & other places for sufficiēt furni­ture of vitelles & other munitions: whiche donne he called for his men of warre, and praysed, admonished, and exhorted them to be dilgente, faythfull, and to their superiours obedient. And after the signe was geued, they sayled, and finally came [Page] with all their shippes vnto Troye. The Troyanes beynge aduertised thereof, defended theyr borders and limites māfully. Protesilaus made excurtions and rodes by lande, beate downe and chased al before him, vn­tyll that Hector mete him, whome he slewe, chased the other, and put them out of order. But where Hec­tor was not, there, the Troyanes were chased & ouerthrowen. And after great occision and murther on all partes, at lengthe commeth to the felde Achilles, constraynynge the Troyanes to fle, and chased thē into Troye. And so long continu­ed the skyrmysh, that the nyght se­perated the battel. Agamemnon set the rest of hys hooste vpon the land and campt all his men together.

Hector the nexte daye folowynge [Page 27] broughte his men out of the citye, and afterwardes cāpt, and set them al in good order. Agamemnon on the other side, wente with a greate brute to mete him, wherof ensued a verye sharpe and furius battell, wherin was none so valiant nor so strong, that fel not to the grounde. Hector euen at the first slewe Pa­troclus, spoylde and cast him out of the army. Furthermore he pursued Merion, the which he slew in like maner. And as he was occupied & busy about y^e spoyle, Mnesteus ga­ue him a strock w^t his swerd in the thighe. But notwithstandynge he was so wounded, he ceased not to laye on and strike vntyl he had smitten downe a greate numbre of hys enemies, & manfully pursuyng the other, he caused thē to forsak y^e filde [Page] If Aiax Thelamonius had not so­denlye come thither, with whome Hector incountrynge knewe that he was of his bloude, that is sonne of Hesiona his father Priamus si­ster. Therefore at hys request he caused the fier to cease and to be re­moued from the Grecians shippes and all his armie to retire. After that the one had gratified the other with gyftes, they departed good frendes. The nexte daye folowyng the Grekes obtayned a truce. Aga­memnon to the honor of Protesilaus made noble funeralles, and cau­sed al other to be buryed. Achilles mourned, and celebrated funerall playes for his frende Patroclus.

Whilest the truce continued, Pala­medes continually moued sedition, sayinge that Agamemnon was vnworthie [Page 28] to be principal of the army and therfore in the presence of al the men of warre he shewed him selfe, and his willyng studye & diligence to the thinges pertayning to y^e war he returned out of the campe to set an order in the munitions, & in the disposition of the watche, to know and vnderstand the vsual signes of warre, to see equitie of measures & waightes, & to be shorte, for the in­struction of al the whole campe.

After this dede he sayd that it was not reasonable, that Agamemnon which was chosen of a smal num­bre of men to this dignitie, shoulde commaunde, and be superior of all those, the whiche were to come to the warre, consideryng that all inferiours and subiectes do looke and hope for some vertue in their cap­taynes [Page] In the meane season that the Gre­kes quarelled and discorded thus a­monge them selues for the superio­ritie, and that two yeares were ex­pired, the warre was renued and set vp agayne. Wherein of the Gre­cianes part were chiefe doers Agamemnon, Achilles and Deome­des and Menclaus.

Of the other parte: Hector, Troylus, and Eneas. And when they recountred and mette one with another, ther was great murder, and the moste valiantes of both partes were slayne.

Hector amonge all the other slew Boetes, Archilocus, and Prote­nor. But yet the nyght departed the battell.

Then after that Agamemnon [Page 29] hadde called hys Captaynes to counsayle, he boldelye admo­nyshed theym to prepare theym sel­ues to fyghte, and pryncypal­lye agaynste Hector, the whiche hadde all readye slayne the mooste Ualyaunte Captaynes amounge theym.

The nexte daye folowynge in the mornynge, the Armye of the Troyannes was leadde and guydyd by Hector, Eneas, and Alexander.

Agaynste whome the force and the wholle Nobilite of the Gre­cianes so sette theym selues, that of bothe sydes in thys furious imbekerynge a greate numbre of menne were slayne.

[Page]There Meuelaus & Aiax instant­ly pursued Alexander which thing he perceyuyng, with a fliyng darte smote Menclaus through y^e thighe with whiche strocke notwithstan­dynge he was moued with greate payne, yet ceased not with Aiax the kynge of Locrus to pursue hym. But Hector perceyuyng hys bro­ther in this daunger came accompanied with Eneas in his defence, whome Eneas brought out of the myddes of the armye into the city, but the nyght ended the battell.

The next day folowyng, Achilles and Diomedes guyded the armye: and of the other side Hector and E­neas, There was great murder.

Hector kylled Orchomemes, Ora­menes, Palamon, Epistrophus, Schedius, Delpenor, Dorius, and [Page 30] Polixemus al captaynes. Eneas slew Amphimacus, and Nerius. Achilles on the contrary part slew Euphenius, Hipocrates, and Asce­rius. Diomedes, zantippus and Mestes. Agamemnon consideryng that his moste strongest and moste valiaunt men were slayne, retired, wherof the Troyanes beynge ve­rye ioyfull, returned to ther campe. Agamemnon helde a counsel, styrde vp hys captaynes, and other to su­stayne and manlye to fyght for that that was to come, and by no mea­nes to leaue of: and in asmuche as a great parte of his armye was al­ready distroyed, he trusted daye by daye that a freshe company of soul­diers shoulde come from Misya to ayde aud succour them. The nexte day folowing, he constrained at his [Page] h [...]oste and captaynes to go to bat­tel, and contrary wise the Troians were brought to the filde vnder the conduct of Hector: where the smote so rudely on the one part and on the other, that there fell manye thou­sandes, bothe Greekes and Troy­anes. And thus they continued manfully fightynge for the space of foure score dayes. Agamemnon perceiuing that his men decayed more and more, & in so great a numbre, & that he was so greatlye letted that he could not as yet intend to bury, his deade corpses: he demaunded of Priamus by embassadors truce for in. yeres, y^t thei might haue a cōue­nient time to bury y^e dead, aswel of the one part as of y^e other & to heale the woūded, & to repare ther ships, and to gather men, victals, & other [...]nitions together. Ulixes & Diomedes [Page 31] wer sent by night towards Troy on this message, whither as thei were going thei met Dolon y^e T [...]opane, which questioned w^t thē, wherfore thei cam so aimed into y^e citie of Troy. To whom y^e answe­red, y^t thei wer embassadors sent by Agamēnon to Priamus. Priamus knowing y^t thei were come, & per­ceiuing theyr will I minde, caused [...]continent an assemble of his chie­fest & led captai [...]es, & in y^e counsel he opened y^e truce required of Agemē non for iii. yeres, the which Hector foūde very suspitius & strang, be­cause of y^e long time & continuaūce therof. But Priamus willed [...]uer [...] mā to sai his aduice. Thei thought it good al, to suffer the Grecians to haue truce for iii. yeres. In y^e mene space, y^e Troians repaired ther for­trases [Page] These thre yeares beynge now ex­pired and ended, and that the tyme of warre was come: The Troy­anes came firste into the felde vn­der the conduct of Hector & Troy­lus. And the Grekes vnder Aga­memnon, Menelaus, and Diome­des. They made greate occision. Hector in the verye poynte of the armye slewe Phidippus, and zan­tippus captaynes. Achilles Lico­nius, and Enphorbius Troyanes And of one part and an other there died a greate number of souldiers and foote men: yet that notwithstā ­dynge they ceased not to fight shar­pelye the space of thirty dayes con­tinuallye. Priamus perceyuynge that he had lost the greatest parte of his host, sent ambassadors vnto A­gamemnon to demaunde truce for [Page 32] sixe monethes: The whiche thynge by the deliberation of the counsell, was graunted hym. The tyme of truce beynge expired, they fonghte verye manfullye together by the space of twelfe dayes, where that on bothe sydes manye stoute war­ryers were smytten downe, manye wounded, and afterwardes died.

Agamemnon demaunded a truce of Priamus for thirtye dayes, to bu­ry hys men the whiche wer slayne, whiche thinge Priamus throughe good counsel dyd graunt him. The time of the warre beinge come, the truce ended: Andromacha Hectors wife had knowledge by her dreame which she recited vnto Hector, that as that daye he shoulde not enter into the battell, the whiche thinge Hector mispraised and tooke it for a [Page] fable and for a womans dreame.

Andromacha beynge full of heaui­nesse, praied Priamus to let Hector as y^t day from the battell. Therfore Priamus sente Alexander, Hele­nus, Troilus and En [...]as to the cō ­flicte and battel. Hector perceyuing that reproued greatly Andromacha & bad her bryng hym forth his har­nesse, for he coulde not by no mea­nes stay hym selfe. For thys cause Andromacha (the whiche had mo­ued all the citie w^t her complayntes and lament acions) went towards Priamus recytynge vnto hym the thynge that she by her dreame had learned of Hector, and that he not withstandynge that, by force and hastinesse hadde caste and conueyed hymselfe into the myddest of the battell. And with her sonne Ast [...] ­max [Page 33] in her armes she kneled down to Priiamus, besechynge him that for that daye, he woulde withdraw Hector from the battell Then Pri­amus sent them all to warre, one­ly Hector retayn [...]d. Agamemnon Achilles and Diomedes, and Aiax Locrus perceyuinge the absence of Hector were encouraged, and bol­ded to fyght the more sharpely, and in suche sorte that they slew many cap [...]aynes, and other greate lorde [...] of Troye. Then Hector beyng ad­uertised that in this skirmyshe the Troynes were in greate trauayle and da [...]nger [...]cast himselfe into the battel, and out of hande kylde Idu­meus, L [...]outheus, woundyd Hi­philus verye soore, and with a dar [...] pearsed the thygh of Steneleus.

Achilles seyng diuers of his moste [Page] valiannt menne caste downe by the hande of Hector, prepared him selfe agaynste hym, and inforsed hym to meete hym face to face, thynkyngeful wel that if he ouercame him not that he woulde destroye, and beate many of hys men: but in the meane season the battell was verye soore. Hector in this conflicte and battell slewe Polibetes a verye excellent captayne, and as he enforsed hym selfe to spoyle hym, Achilles came, so that the fighte was augmented, and a great brute moued thorowe­out all the campe and citie, whome Hector finallye wounded in the thighe. Therefore Achilles moore cherelye pursued hym, and lefte not of his enterprise, vntyl he had smitten hym to deathe, put al the Troy­anes to flyghte & chased them with [Page 34] the Dente of the swearde vnto their towne gates, whome Me­mon resisted manfullye, foughte with hym vntyll the nyghte sepe­rated theym bothe soore wounded. And amonge all other Achilles be­ynge wounded departed frome the armye. All that nyght the Troy­anes cessed not to lament the deathe and the absence of valiaunt Hector.

The nexte daye folowynge the Troyanes entred agayne into bat­tel, vnder the conducte of Memon. Agamemnon counsayled and per­swaded hys men to require a truce for two mouthes, that men myghte burye theym whiche were slayne in battell. Therfore they sent vnto Priamus, of whome they es [...]lye obtayned theyr demaunde.

Then caused Priamus his son [Page] Hector to be buryed before y^e gates Troye, and magnificent pompes and funerall playes to be celebra­ted. Whyle the tyme of the foresay­ed truce endured, Palamedes ceas­sed not to complayne of the impire and principallitie of Agamemnon.

Therefore Agamemnon with­out anye contradiction there vnto, sayde that he woulde remitte the matter to the descretion and wyll of the people. The nexte daye folowing, he assembled all the peo­ple, where he purged hym selfe, and shewed that he neuer coueted suche aucthoritye, consideryng that he was kynge and lorde of Myce­nes, the whiche sufficed hym: but alonely the vtter destruction of Troy, & that he woulde be well a­greable to all that the people wolde [Page 35] define, and vnto hym that should be set and appoynted vnto hys estate.

Then in presence of theym all, he demaunded of euerye man his de­uyse. There Palamedes presented hym selfe, willynge to cause men to perceyue and vnderstande his good spirite, iudgement and counsayl, in the feates of warre. Of whiche oc­casion, the Grekes appoynted him their graunde captayne, whiche af­ter he had geuen theym thankes, began to exercyse y^e right of that, that not longe before he had enterprised.

Achilles neuer approued but vt­terlye blamed this alteration, yet that notwithstandynge (the truce beynge ended) Palamedes appoynted his hoste in good order, and in­couraged them to fyght manfully. Deiphobus on the other parte dyd [Page] asmuche for the Troyanes, the whiche at the sighte triumphed to fighte, amonge whome Serpedon with his men dyd so muche pur­swed the Greekes, that he kylde and smote downe a great numbre. In this fyghte Tlepolemus Rho­dius met with hym, the whiche as­wel in the battel as otherwise was finallye ouercommed. Seconde­lye, in hys stede and place, Perses the sonne of Adneste fortified and renued the conflicte, the which lik­wyse commynge to the battell was slayne of Serpedon almoste hande to hand. But yet Serpedon being soore wounded was compelled to withdraw him selfe from the filde. Thus for a certayne dayes the skir mished and foughte, and diuers knyghtes on bothe partes were de­stroyed [Page 36] and slayne, but yet of Pri­amus his bounde the greater num­ber. The Troyanes ambassadours obtayned a truce, and for the tyme that it endured, they on bothe par­tes buryed the deade, prouyded to heale theyr woūded. And when on both partes they had taken & geuē good assuraunce and promis, they Grekes wēt vnto Troye for theyr pastime, and y^e Troyanes vnto the Greekes campe. In y^e meane sea­son Palamedes sente Agamemnon Athamātes & Demophon together vnto Thesida to prepare muntitiōs, and principallye to take vp corne that grewe in Misya pertaynynge to Telephus, and to cause it to be bro [...]ghte vnto theym. When they were come to that place, the Am­bassadours recited vnto Telephus [Page] the sedicion of Palamedes, wher­with he was greatlye miscontent. Agamemnon perceyuyng this, de­sired Telephus not to be displea­sed, seynge that the thynge was done by hys wyll and consent.

When their shyppes were char­ged, they retourned. Palamedes in this passe tyme fortified hys campe rounde aboute with fortrases and rampers. In the meane whyle the Trey [...]mes also ouersawe [...]h [...]ir ar­mye, made walles, towres, diches, and other mete & conuenient thin­ges aswell for the protection and defence of the towne, as for the in­struction and feates of wa [...]e.

While these thinges now were a doyng, Priamus, Hecuba & Poli­xena with other prynces of [...]roye, celebrated (aboute Hectors [...]aue) [Page 37] his yeare mynde, whither there came Achilles, and beholdyng Po­lixena kynge Priamus doughter, was by and by greatly taken w^t her loue. Then as an impacient louer, he lyued for a tyme in all solicitude and anguyshe, partly because Aga­memnon was deposed from the im­pier, and that he was subiect to Palamedes. Then he sente a faythfull seru [...]unte of hys a Troyane, vnto Hecuba to demaunde Polixena to be hys wyfe, and so doynge heard hys Myrnidons woulde departe, and by that meanes the reste of the Greekes. The seruaunte beynge nowe come to Hecuba, shewed the content of his legation & message. Whereunto the foresayed Hecuba answered, y^t she was wel contente, yf it so pleased Priamus her hus­bande. [Page] In the meane whyle that she declared the matter to Pria­mus, and that by her commaunde­ment the seruaunte was departed: Agamemnon wente with a greate companye vnto hys campe. Then Priamus to that that Hecuba had propounded vnto him, aunswered, that it was a thinge impossible, not because he estemed Achilles to be insufficient, or otherwyse vnwor­thy of hys aliaunce, but y^e the Gre­kes (although he gaue him Polix­ena, & that he & his bond departed) would neuer the soonerdeparte.

Furthermore, that it were not rea­sonable to ioyne and mary his dou­ghter to dys enemye, And therfore he estemed good, yf Achilles wolde ensue and folowe hys interpryse, that they shoulde first and aboue al [Page 38] thinges, make a perpetuall peace betwene theym, and that the Gre­kes hooste shoulde returne and de­parte, so that their aliaunces and a­grementes mighte be well assured and confirmed, and that thynge be­ynge once ended, he woulde wyl­lynglye geue hym his doughter.

Achilles euen as it was appointed sent his seruaunt agayne vnto He­cuba, for to knowe the wyl and de­liberation of Priamus, the whiche beinge knowen, the seruaunte by and by brought it vnto his maister. Therfore Achilles beganne in pre­sence of theym all, greatly and by al meanes to complayne hym, decla­ring it to be vnlawful, that for one Helen all Europe and Grece shuld be destroyed, and that by so longe warre, so great a number of menne [Page] shoulde be loste, the libertie of the countrei to be brought vnto bonda­ge and caste vnder foote: therfore it wer good and necessary for them to make peace, and to go their wayes. Thus thei consumed a whole yere. After al this Palamedes repayred and set vp his army. And on the o­ther part Deiphobus. Achilles be­ing not therwith content, was not at the skirmish. Palamedes moued by a certaine occasion, [...] prepared him selfe against Deiphobus, that he slew him: the warre on the one part & on y^e other was sharply stird vp & foughten, in y^t which manye a man did perish. Palamedes in this conflicte held the point, and the vo­ward, that the more frely he might [...]olden & stirre vp his men to fight, & euen so as thei met, he slew Ser­pedon [Page 39] the Troiane. And thinking to glorifie & to reioyce him selfe in this dede, Alexander shot him tho­row the bodie with an arrow. The other Troyanes seing that, ceassed not to cast dartes, as though Pala­medes had not bene dead, for whose death the Grekes wer disconfited, and wente backe vnto their campe, and the Troyanes persuing them, brake in, putte their campe oute of [...]er, & burnt their ships. Achilles aduertised of this, dissembled y^e matter, but Aiax Thelamonius vali­antly sustained y^e thinge vntill the night departed y^e battel. The Gre­ks al y^e night lōg bewailed most heuily Palamedes, because of his knoledge, equitie, vertue & clemencie: y^e Troians likwise most rufully the death of Serpedon & Deiphobus. [Page] The auncient Nestor al that night called the captaynes to counsell for to elect and choyse a head captayne to the armye, and if it semed expedi­ent vnto theym, to chose withoute anye further controuersye Aga­memnon agayne. He asked, and styrde euerye one to saie his aduice and minde, he shewed theym also, how that in times paste al thinges succeded prosperouslye, & that the whole hooste lyued fortunatly vn­der the conducte of Agamemnon.

Wherupō Agamemno was chosen superiour by the whole consente of theym all. The next daye folowing the Troyanes went forth boldely to the batell, and so dyd Agamem­non, vntil that on bothe partes thei were chased one from the other.

But after the daye was well spent

[Page 40]Troylus retourneth with the firste into the filde, and foughte strongly, killyng and destroyinge, insomuche that he chased the Gre­kes into their tentes.

And agayne, the nexte daye fo­lowynge, the Troyanes set theym selues firste in the filde. And Aga­mēnon agaynst thē: ther was a sore conflicte seuen dayes continuallye, in so much that the Troyanes slew diuers lordes and captaynes of the Greks. And Agamēnon obtayned a truce for two monethes, caused Palamedes and other Lordes of Grece honourablye to be buryed.

Durynge the tyme of thys truce, Agamemnon sente vnto Achilles, Nestor, Ulixes and Diomedes, prayinge and desyryng him to take deliberation, and to go to warre.

[Page]Achilles being heuy and sore trou­bled purposed not to geue one strok agaynst y^e Troyanes, as he had promised Hecuba, for the great & sin­guler loue y^t he bare to Polixena, nor receyued not the foresaied em­bassadors with good coūtenaunce. But aunswered theym that he (all warre set a parr) desired peace.

Agamemnon perceiuing that, calde his lordes and captaynes, and also the better part of his men of warre to counsel, and to take deliberation what were beste to b [...] done in this matter, & of this he asked eueri mās [...]duice. Menelaus began first to animate Agamemnon hys brother to warre, and that for one Achilles he shuld not leaue of the interprise, she wyng them that the strength of the Troyans was greatly broken and [Page 41] demished throughe the absence of Hector, consederynge that thei in al their bandes hadde none lyke vnto hym. Contrarye wyse Diome­des and Ulixes dyd stifelye affirme that Troylus was euen as wyse, and as valiaunt as euer was Hec­tor. Agaynst whome Menelaus resistynge, ceased not as before to persuade the warre.

And to this purpose Calchas (taughte by the oracle) perswaded the warre, and in the same he pro­mysed the Greekes to be victori­ous. The tyme of truce being expi­red, the Greekes went to the filde, vnder the conduct of Agamemnon, Mekelans, Diomedes and Aiax, where thei fought very strongelye to the great occision of the one part and of the other.

[Page]Troylus wounded Menelaus ve­rye greuouslye, and slewe manye, the other he chased at the poynte of hys swearde, so that the nighte se­perated theym. The nexte daye all the Greekes foughte strongelye a­gaynste the Troyanes, prepared to fight by Troylus and Alexander, Troylus hurte Diomedes, and did asmuche pursuynge Agamemnon, and afterwardes manye other.

Thus thei continued sharply figh­tyng for certayne dayes, and a great numbre of men were smitten down on euerye parte. Agamemnon con­siderynge that daye by daye he loste a great number of his men, & that he could no longer bere such losses, demaūded a truce for vi. monethes, y^t whiche thinge Priamus recited vnto the counsell, where that amonge [Page 42] all the assembles, some with all their power withstode it, because of the longe truce whiche they de­mannded: but rather they required to sacke the Grecianes, to pille and to spoyle theym of all their goodes, and to sette their shyppes a fyre.

Yet notwithstandynge after that euerye man had sayde hys mynde, the truce by the consente of theym all, was graunted. Durynge the tyme of the truce, Agamemnon dyd royallye burye his people, and cau­sed Diomedes and Menelaus the whiche were hurte, to be moste di­ligentlye intreated, and asmuch did the Troyanes on their part.

Thys done, Agamemnon (the tyme of truce continuynge) wente hym selfe by the deliberation of the counsell, to Achilles to perswade [...] [Page] [...] [Page 42] [Page] hym to the warre. Achilles trou­bled as before, withstode it, & wold be no traytour, but sayd that it wer better to demaunde peace: But be­cause that in this cace with honesty he coulde denie Agamemnon no­thyng, he promysed hym that in the tyme of warre he woulde sende his men to ayde him, praying him y^t for the rest he might be excused. Then Agamemnon heartly thanked him. The time of the war comming on, the Grekes & the Troyans prepa­red thēselues one against another. Achilles first sent his Myrmidons prepared & apointed in good & suf­ficient order, the whiche caused the war to be a great deale y^e stronger & greater: this not w^tstanding Troy­lus at the firste shocke wan, chased the Myrmidons, made rodes and [Page 43] skyrmyges euen vnto the Grekes campe, and kild manye here & there aswel of the Grekes as of the Myrmidons, other he maymed verye greatlye, and for all the risistaunce that Aiax Thelamonius thoughte to do y^e Troyanes returned to their citie with at honour and victorie.

The nexte daye Agamemnon with the Greekes and the Myrmidons came firste into the filde, agaynste whom Troylus (after longe & ter­rible war vnto the death of many a man) had so strōgly sustained & per­sued y^e Myrmidons, y^t some he cha­sed, & the other he slew on y^e gorund For this cause, & to bnrye his men, Agamemnon demaūded a trace for xxx. dayes, the whiche Priamus graunted hym, to do the lyke thyn­ges on hys parte.

[Page]After the truce, the Troyanes and the Grekes as before, beganne the war agayne, and foughte sharplye. Troylus the moste part of the daye was y^e first in the battel, he fought merueylously, and smote manye to the grounde. Then the Greekes w [...] a great clamor & crie fled their wai­es. But when Achilles vnderstod that Troylus did so furiously spoil the Grekes, & therewith without ceasinge smote downe the Mirmi­dons, he came to y^e battel, w [...] whom Troylus valiantly incoūtred, that he wounded him very sore, wherof he was constrayned, euen beynge hurt to depart frome the battell.

Thus thei continued the space of sixe daies. The seuenth daye bothe the hoostes chased eche other, & wer constrayned mutually to retyre. A­chilles [Page 44] beyng absent for a while be­cause of his woundes & paynes, set in a raie, encouraged & commaūded his Myrmidons w^t strengthe & fi­ersnes to set vpon Troylus person. The same day about the end therof, Troylus entred a horse backe very ioyful into the battell, whereof the Grekes beyng aduertised, cried out mainlye, so that the Myrmidons comminge to there ayde made theyr whole force and battel according to Achilles commaundement agaynst Troylus, by whome a great num­ber of theym were slayne. In this cruell and stronge battell Troylus horse was wounded and fel downe betwixt his legges, so that Troy­lus being let through the fal fo hys horse, & the straytnes of his harnes, was constrained to fall, whereof [Page] Achilles being aduertised, came w [...] al spede, slew him, and would haue drawen him a syde and caried hym away, but that he was let by Memnon, the whiche came sodenly vpon hym. This Memnon after he had taken away and deliuered the body of Troylus frō the enemies, wounded Achilles, by meanes wherof he departed from the battel, the which Memnon perceyuing, with a com­pany of Troyanes perswed him, of whom Achilles hauing knoledge, and his woundes beinge somwhat amended, fought in such sorte for a tyme, that through many & violent woundes he kilde him, & so woun­ded departed. After that y^e kynge of Perses was slayne, the rest fled to the towne, so that the night did se­uer and depart them. And therfore [Page 45] the next dai (the gates being spard) Priamus sent vnto Agamemnon, demaundynge a truce for twentye day [...]s, the whiche was graunted him. Priamus caused Troilus and Memnon to be buried with greate pompe and triumph, and aswell the Greks as y^e Troyanes caus [...]d their dead corpses to be buryed. Hecuba with all he [...]nes & desolation la­mented that Achilles had so cruel­lye destroyed her two sonnes Hec­tor & Troilus so strong & valiant & in her f [...]minine coūsell, she thought & purposed to reuenge such iniurie. Therfore she [...], monished, and persuaded her son Alexander to re­uenge y^e iniurye done to him & hys brethren: that is secretlye, and by spies to take Achilles vnprouided, and to kyll hym.

[Page]The whiche thinge thei might ea­sely do, in asmuche as Achilles had through a singuler desire demaun­ded Polixena in mariage, and that she, after the will and aunswere of Priamus hadde promysed her vnto him, that there mighte be betwene theym a constante and a perpetuall peace. Then was it purposed to lai an embushemente of men w^tin the temple of Apollo Thymbreus next vnto the gate of Troye, whither Achilles should come and entreate of thys mariage, and this done, He­cuba woulde throughlye holde her content and satisfied, so that Achil­les were slayne. The which thinge Alexander promysed to doe.

Therfore in the nyght a certain of the moste strongest of al the hoste were chosen, and layed with the [Page 46] watche worde in the foresaied tem­ple. Hecuba euen as she promised, sent vnto Achilles. Then he being in great loue with Polixena, pur­posed not to be faultye in his parte. The next daye folowing when A­chilles (hauing in his company Antiochus Nestors sonne) was come to the place appointed, by and by, e­uen at his entring in, Paris stirde vp his souldiers & spies, the which incontinent began to smite. Achil­les & Antiochus perceiuinge thys, euen forth with cast their clokes a­bout their lefte armes, drewe oute their swerdes and slew many. Ale­ander killed firste Antiochus, and wounded Achilles with many strokes. Aud thus died Achilles, whi­che coulde not resist that, that was so secretlye prepared agaynste hym. Whose body Alexander commaun­ded [Page] as a pray to be cast to the foules of the ayre. But Helenus be sought him not to do so, but to deliuer it vnto the Greekes. And so thei bare it out with Antiochus vnto y^e Gre­kes campe, wher Agamemnon caused theym to be buried with greate magnificence & honour. And to the ende he might the more commodi­ously buylde for Achilles a proper sepulchre, he obtayned a truce of Priamus. After this his great lor­des & familiers amssēbled vnto the consel, to this end, that the charges and affayres of Achilles mighte be committed to Aiax his neyghbour Where vnto Aiax answered, that Achilles had yet one sonne lefte a­lyne, named Neoptolemus, vnto whome the charges of hys father Achilles were moore due and con­uenient, then to any other, and therfore [Page 47] it were mete to call hym to the war, & to restore vnto him y^e thing which pertayned vnto his father. Whervpon Menelaus was chosen to go into Scyria, to bryng Neop­tolemus oute of the handes of hys graundfather Lycomedes: to the which thyng the foresayd Lycome­des consented very wyllyngiye.

Then after that the time of truce was finished: Agamemnon prepa­red & led forth his host. And on the other side the Troyans issuing out of their citie, they met together, and [...]ought strongly one agaynst the o­ther. Aiax being bare & w^tout armer at y^e clamor & brute that was made, set him self in y^e point of the battel, wher ther sell many aswel of y^e one part as of y^e other. Alexander w [...] his bow wel & strōgly bēt, slew di [...]rs amōg whō he persed the bare side of [Page] the whiche beinge soore wounded; turned him selfe, and persued Alex­ander, nor ceased not vntyll he had slayne hym. Aiax beinge thus brooken, and not able to doe anye more because of his wound which he had receiued, was borne into his tent, and after the dart was drawen out of his bodie, deceased. Alexan­ders body was brought into the ci­tie. Diomedes fought couragious­lye againste his enemies. But the Troyanes beynge very werye fled vnto their citie, whome Diomedes chased vnto the walles. Then Agamemnon with his men of warre, came nere, and campt al the night a­bout the walles of the citie, nor thei ceased not to watche and spie y^e one after the other. The next daye folo­wyng, Priamus caused the body of his sonne Alexander to be buryed [Page 48] with great pompe, whose deth He­len for the greate and mutuall loue that was betwene theym lamented most sorofully. And againe because that Paris hadde receyued her into his countrey most honourably, and humanely had intreated her, Pria­mus and Hecuba seing her in suche heuinesse, exhorted her not to forsak the Troyanes, nor yet desire againe the company of the Grecianes.

The nexte daye Agamemnon ap­proched nie vnto the gate with hys armye, besiged the towne, and pro­uoked the Troyanes to war. Pria­mus on the other syde, fortified and tamparde his citie, in the meane space euerye man toke heede to hys charge, lokynge for ayde of Pente­ [...]ilea w^t her Amazones. The which comming incontinentlye with her company, brought forth her armye [Page] against Agamēnon, fought so vali­auntlye for certen daies, y^t the Gre­kes wer chased vnto their campe, & partly ouercomm [...]d, in so much that if Diomedes (although w^t great dificulte) had not resisted, the noble Penthesilea had burnt the Greks shippes, & finallye spoiled thē. The battell ended, Agamēnon retired & continued in his cāpe. But Pēthe­sileacesed not from day to day furi­ouslye to scermishe, spoile, & to pro­uoke the Grekes to fight. A gamē ­non by deliberat consel fortified his cāpe, & purposed not to go to war vntil Menelaus was returned, Wherfore Menelaus beīg now returned frō Sciria, deliuered Achilles ar­mes & other charges to Neoptole­mus y^e whiche after he had receiued lamented very greatly in y^e Grekes campe about y^e tu [...]e of his father Achilles, Penthesile [...] euen as she [Page 49] was accustomed prepared & set her men to y^e fild, & came euen to y^e Grekes campe. Against whom Neop­tolemus y^e capten of y^e Myrmidons prepared him selfe, and inlik mane [...] Agamēnon, so y^t thei two went to­gether. Neoptolemus made great murder, against whō Penthesilea resisted, & valiantly defended, & for certen days they fought so vehemētlye y^t of one and other ther were many slayne. But at y^e length Pēthe­silea hurt Neoptolemus, y^e whiche being mained through great paine and anger, slew Penthesilea y^e princes of the Amozones, & by this me­nes, the rest of the Troyans fled to the citie. Sodenly the Grekes compassed so the town, the wals, & for­tes of the Troians, that it was im­possible for theym to essue oute of the towne anye moore.

[Page]Antenor, Polidamas and Eneas considerynge and wayinge well this thing, went vnto Priamus solicityng him to see, and by counsell to take aduisement, what wer good to be done, aswell for their goodes, as for them selues. The counsel be­inge assembled, Priamus admoni­shed euerye man to saye his minde. Unto whom Antenor shewed that the most valiauntest princes & pro­tectors of the Troyanes common weale and libertie, the kinges chil­dren, and like wise the princes and captaynes straungers were consu­med: and that on the contrarye syde the moste strongest and viliauntest of Grece were yet liuynge, that is, Agamemnon, Menelaus, Neoptolemus, no lesse excellent then his father Achilles, beside these, Diome­des, Aiax Locrus, and manye other [Page 50] stronge, craftie, and experte men, as Nestor & Ulixes, & that the Troy­anes wer inclosed on all sides, bese­ged, and almost broken and distroy­ed. He coūseled therfore to be much better to restore Helen, and all that Alexander and his had taken & ca­ried awaye, and that so the peace should be made: After that they had sufficiently spoken of this purpose and matter, the pusante Amphima­chus Priamus sonne stode vp, and accused the dedes and the sayinges of these, whiche fauoured the coun­sel and wil of Antenor, and shewed that thei shoulde rather take vppon them to send their hoost to the feld, and assayle their enemies in their campe, so that they myghte other bryng the victory with them, or els ouercommed, die manfully for their countreye. Thys done Eneas by [Page] swete & loueli words spake against Amphimacus persuadīg peace. It the last Priamus stode vp couragi­ously, embrading & laying many e­uill dedes vnto Antenor & Eneas, as to thē that wer the first authors of the war, & that embessadors wer sent into Grece. Also that the selfe same Antenor beinge ambassador, & returning from Grece, complained him that he was con [...]umeliouslye entreated, & that he therfore with al his pouer persuaded war. Further more, he cast this in Eneas tethe, y^t he w^t Alexāder had rauished Helen, and brought awai a great bouty out of Grece. Therfore Priamus was well assured y^t peace ought not, nor culd not be made betwene thē. The Priamus cōmiunded thē to be redy & diligently (after y^e signe were ge­uen) to issue out of y^e [...]ates, other to [Page 51] winne triumphantlye, or to die va­liantly. After y^t Priamus had thus spoken, he dimissed the counsel, & accompanied w^t Amphimacus went his wates, saiyng vnto him that he was in great doubt y^t he, his coūtre and his goodes shuld be betrayed, & deliuered by thē that had demaūded peace, into y^e handes of his enemies Also he perceiued, that the [...] mights haue ayde & fauour of the best parts of all the cōmon people, & therefore he was minded to put thē to death, and if y^e thing wer wisely handled, he trusted not onelye to defende his countrey, but also to ouercome hys enemies. Folowyng this purpose, he prayed and induced Amphima­cus to be faithfull and fauourable vnto him, & daily to be redy & prepared to accomplish his interprise the better and withoute suspicion.

[Page]And to bring this to passe, Amphi­machus counseled him to cal thē to supper, and to fayne some sacrifice, and sodenly so to take thē. Amphi­machus promysed to doe it, and af­terwardes departed frō Priamus. The self same dai Antenor, Polida­mas, Ucaligon, Amphidamas, and Dolon beinge assembled together, merueyled greatly at the pertinaci­te of the king, and founde it to strāg a thinge that he loued rather to suf­fer his countreye, his princes, and lordes perishe, then to make anye peace. Wherunto Antenor answe­red that he had found a mete reme­dye for them al, so that al they wold be faythful. Ther bounde them sel­ues with one mynde vnto it. After that he saw the thyng to be so agre­ed vnto, he sent vnto Eneas, signi­fiyng vnto him that the laud muste [Page 52] be betraied, and he to saue himselfe and his it was nedful, to send someone to Agamemnō to declare with dfligence and withoute suspition their wil and minde, in asmuche as thei had sene Priamus, when anye man spake vnto him of peace depart from the counsel very angrye, fea­ryng lest he should excogitate & in­uent some new interprise. Thei all promisynge this with one accorde, sent secretly Polidamas the which was lest suspected amonge them, to Agamemnon. Now when he was come to the Grecianes campe, hede clared vnto Agamemnon the mind and wil of his companions. Wher­fore Agamemnon al that night did secretly assemble his counsell, & de­clared what he had perceiued of the Troynes, and hervpon he demaun­ded euerye mans aduice. It semed [...] [Page] [...] [Page 52] [Page] good vnto thē al that f [...]delite shulde be kept with the traitours Troy­anes. But Ulixes and Nestor said they feared the enterprise. Agaynst whome spake Neoptolemus, so that there was a di [...]sion amonge them. But yet finaliye thei agreed, to haue a sure watche worde of Polidamas the which shoulde be cari­ed by Sinon to Eneas, Anchises, and Antenor. Then went Sinon vnto Troye, & for asmuch as Am­phimachus has not yet deliuered the keyes to the kepers, Sinon gaue the watche worde, wherby he knewe of Eneas and Antenor the whole matter, the which he repor­ted to Agamemnon. They wer all of this mynde, to promyse theym their faythe, to confirme their ali­aunce, and on all partes to bynde them with an othe, vnder this con­dition, [Page 53] yf Antenor, Eneas, Ueal [...] ­gon, Polidamas and Dolon wold deliuer vp the town the next night folowynge, that then they woulde kepe their whole faythe and pro­myse with them, and their wyues, children, frendes, familiers & ney­ghbours, and that in fo [...]me of the foresayed, all that they woulde de­maunde, should be graunted them, Thys agrement thus appoynted, and faythe promysed on euery part, and an othe taken, Polydamas perswaded to bring the hoste by night to the gate called Scea, where that withoute there was an horse heade grauen vppon the portall, and An­tenor, and Anchises hauynge their Garrison there, shoulde in the nyghte open the gates to the Greekes, holdynge vp in the ayre the burning flame of fyre, [Page] the which they connted among thē selues to be the signe and tooken of their prodition, that is to wit, that the Grekes seing it shuld not dout to approche and entre, and that ther were men ready ther to bring them vnto the place where the king was After that the compacte and agre­mente was thus accorded, Poli­damas returned into the cite, decla­red what was done, aduertised Antenor, Eneas and other of this con­spiracie, to bringe al theyr men by night to the gate of Scea, y^e which thei should open lifting vp the for­saied flame into the ayre, and so to let in the Grecianes. Antenor and Eneas were readye by night at the foresayde gate, where thei receyued Neoptolemus, vnto whome & his men of armes, thei liftynge vp the flame, opened the gates. And doing [Page 54] this, thei thought vpon their owne departure, as a souerayne remedy of their prodition and treason, where­vnto Neoptolemus dyd succoure & ayde theym. Neoptolemus entred in, & sette an order and a garrison in the towne: and by Antenor was conueyed and brought into the kin­ges palace, wher was the garrison, and the soueraigne defence of al the Troianes, and from thence he pur­sued and chast Priamus vntyll he came before the temple of Iupiter Herceus, where he at the last kilde hym. Hecuba also fliyng with Po­lixena met Eneas, & delyuered her vnto his kepinge, whome he set in his father Anchises house. Andro­macha and Cassandra hid them sel­ues within Minerues temple, the Grekes reased not al that night lōg to pylle, destroy, spoyle and cary a­way, [Page] when it was daye, Agamem­non caused all his to be called into the castel, and ther he gaue thankes vnto the gods maysed his host ve­ry greatly, commaunded the bouty to be brought in, which he equallye deuided to euery one of them. This done, he asked counsell and euerye mans aduise, whether it wer mete to obserue & kepe their faith promised to Eneas and Antenor the be­traiers of their countrey. Wherun­to euery man with one voyce aun­swered to be lawfull. Then they called for them to deliuer them such thynges as pertayned vnto theym. Then Antenor demaunded licence to speake, the whiche thinge Aga­memnon graunted him. Antenor at y^e beginnyng of his oration gaue thankes vnto the lordes of Grece. Furthermore, he declared howe y^t [Page 55] Helenus & Cassandra at all times had desired & counselled their fa­ther to peace, and that Achilles at the persuation of the foresaid Hele­nus was buried. Therefore Aga­memnon by the minde of his coun­sell, set Helenus and Cassandra at liberty. Helenus praied Agamem­non for Hecuba & Andromacha, ge­uing him to vnderstande, that they alwaies bare him good will, vnto whō also libertie, by the sentence & mind of his counsel was graunted In the meane time, he deuided the bouty againe, praised a gaue than­kes vnto y^e gods, offered sacrifices, & purposed to returne & depart the fifte day: vpon the which day, there sodenly arose greate and horrible tempestes, so that they were for [...] tyme constrayned to tarpe.

[Page]Calchas answered them, that they had not done their duetye to y^e gods infernall. Neoptolemus remēbred that Polixena for whom his father Achilles perished was not founde in the kinges castel. Then Agamē ­non caused Antenor to be called, & commaunded him to finde out Po­lixena with al diligence, and to pre­sent her vnto hym. Then went Antenor to seeke for Polixena whiche was hidden in Eneas house, and brought her to Agamēnon, & deliuered her to Neoptolemas, y^e whiche nye vnto his fathers tombe put her to death most cruelly. Agamemnon prouoked against Eneas for the cō ­celement of Polixena, commaūded him quickely to depart the countre the whiche thinge Eneas did. Hys lands Agamemnon gaue vnto Antenor. After this Agamemnon de­parted [Page 56] oute of the citie as a conqu [...] ­ror. Helen now beinge in more he­ [...]es and sorow then euer she was before, was caried agayne by her husba [...]de Menclaus into her countrey. Helenus with his mother Hecuba, Canssandra his sister, & An­dromacha his brother Hectors wif, went into Cheronessa. S [...] here are the thynges that Dares Phrigius hath written of the actes and dedes done at Troy. In the which place after the warres, there dwelt & re­mayned certen of the line and kin­red of Antenor. The war betwene the Grekes and the Troyans con­tinued the space of ten yeares, syxe monethes, and twelfe dayes. Ther were slayne of the Grekes as Da­res Phrigius hath writen, the nū ­bre of eyght hundred four score and syxe thousande. Of Troyans vn­tyl [Page] the betraiyng of the citie, in nū ­bre vj. C. lxxvj. M. Eneas depar­ted out of the countrey with y^e shippes wherewith Paris had made his viage frō Grece, in nūbre xxij. And there folowed him men of all ages in nūbre MMM. CCCC. And Antenor MM. and. D. He­lenus & Andromacha a M. CC.