A brief discourse of the most renowned acts and right valiant conquests of those puissant Princes, called the Nine worthies: WHEREIN IS DECLARED their several proportions and dispositions, and what Arms every one gave, as also in what time each of them lived, and how at the length they ended their lives.  
Compiled by RICHARD LLOYD Gentleman.  
¶ Imprinted at London by R. Warde, dwelling at the sign of the Talbot near unto Holborn Conduit. 1584.   

THOMAS BROMLE.  
To God give honour due, fear him above all things:  
He is the Lord of Lords, and only King of Kings.  
Obey the Prince's laws, the poor do not deny:  
Make peace where discord is, remember you must die.  
Avoid unruled wrath, judge justly to each wight:  
Set nought by worldly pelf, in the respect of right.  
 
Be stout unto the proud, and gentle to the meek:  
Reprove the wicked sort, revengement do not seek.  
Of flattering tongues beware, let none your secrets know:  
Many seem a friend, yet prove a very foe.  
Look you attempt nothing, but weigh the end before:  
Eschew each vice, and love each virtue evermore.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND MY GOOD LORD and Master Sir Thomas Bromley Knight, Lord Chancellor of England, and one of her highness privy counsel.  
PErusing over sundry books of volumes large and great,  
Which of the worthy feats of Fame, & Martial acts entreat,  
Of mighty Princes of the world, accomplished of yore,  
In divers kingdoms upon earth, and countries heretofore.  
I find in ancient Histories, by learned men laid down  
The conquests of the Worthies nine to be of most renown:  
Who are by famous Register enrolled in record  
The greatest and mightiest conquerors, and Worthies of the world:  
As well for their courageousness, as magnanimities,  
Their valiantness, their wisdoms rare, and Princely policies:  
As for the wonders marvelous, and miracles also  
In their exploits, and their affairs, which God for them did show.  
How God exalted them on high, to earthly dignity,  
And gave them Kings and kingdoms by triumphant victory:  
Appointing them to be his scourge, the wicked to confound,  
And their unrighteous seed unroot, with sword from of the ground.  
How God remained to the end, with them that godly wear,  
And prospered all their attempts, which him did love and fear.  
How other were amid their pride, in highest room of all,  
For that they had forgotten God, brought to a sudden fall.  
As for example: josua the judge of Israel,  
The first of all these conquerors, in virtue did excel.  
And doughty David in like sort, in whom God did delight,  
From shepherd being made a King, was righteous in God's sight.  
And noble judas Machabeus, these three jews by birth,  
And feared God continually, while they did live on earth.  
Wherefore the Lord wrought miracles upon their enemies,  
As shallbe afterwards discussed here in these Histories.  
Then Hector fierce the Phrygian Prince, and Alexander great,  
And julius Caesar painyms all, their God they did forgeat:  
For which, amid their most estate, when they were highest of all,  
Ambition, Pride, and Avarice, gave each of them a fall.  
Then Arthur, Charlemagne and Guy, were christians as I guess,  
The one was plagued in his most pomp, for his lasciviousness:  
The other two were godly men, wherefore they died well,  
As in their several Histories the Sequel plain doth tell.  
A brief of all whose lives, I have in meeter with my pen  
Compiled out of sundry books of famous learned men.  
And as I read of them also, according to my skill,  
I have all their proportions depainted with my quill:  
And drawn the arms and cognisance in every several shield,  
Which when they lived upon the earth they bore unto the field:  
The year & time where they did reign, and when & where they died,  
And what they were inclined too, I have herein descried:  
Beseeching that your honour will accept in gentle part  
This little book which I present, to show my faithful hart.  
And when your leisure so shall serve, vouchsafe I humbly crave,  
To read it over once or twice, and where I erred have,  
That crime or fault committed so, let ignorance excuse,  
Blame not the man that meaneth well, but blame his simple Muse.  
Record the matter in your mind, although this style be base,  
Then shall your Lordship plainly see before your present face,  
A mirror of man's mortal life, by them compared right,  
Which well may be a looking glass, to every living wight:  
And chief to the higher sort, whom God shall please t'advance,  
In any wise here upon earth to rule or governance:  
To learn thereby to know the Lord, who lives eternally,  
Not to forget their own estates, through pride nor surquedry:  
To abandon wicked vice away, and virtue to embrace,  
That to their latter end they may run out a happy race.  
Thus humbly I do take my leave, and heartily do pray,  
That God will grant you Nestor's years, in virtues honour ay.  
Your humble Servant, Richard Lloyd.   

❧ A description of the bodily proportion of the Nine worthies, with what Arms every one of them gave.  

IOsua was of good stature, strong and hardy to endure,  
In judgement just, godly, and wise, and cruel to his enemies:  
Right fortunate and happy in fight, in virtue was his whole delight,  
He bore sables into field, a Bat displayed in his shield.   

HEctor was indifferent tall, well compact and strong withal,  
Courteous, quick, and deliver of might, in arms a very goodly Knight:  
His head was white and curled I find, his beard was white, he was sandblinde,  
And somewhat he did lisp also, a gentler wight no man might know:  
He bore two Lions combatand, or in azure (I understand.)   

david was but little of bone, in courage stout as any one,  
Of his complexion brown was he, addicted unto venery:  
With goodly eyes the scripture tell, this man in wisdom did excel,  
And was both godly and fortunate, and courteous to every estate:  
He bore a harp for his ensine, or in azure as books define.   

ALexander (as I read) of person was not tall in deed,  
But made after the middle sort, and of a very princely port:  
Quick and nimble swift and light, valiant fierce, and happy in fight.  
Of his complexion white and red, on the left side bowing his head:  
Very proud and liberal, and given much to wine withal:  
This puissant prince and conqueror bore in his shield a Lion or,  
Which sitting in a chair hent a battle axe in his paw argent.   

IVdas Machabeus was strong, big of limbs, square and long,  
Of noble courage, godly and wise, forward against his enemies,  
Fortunate and happy in fight, meek and gentle to each wight:  
In field two Ravens he did bear, in pale proper which sables were.   

IVlius Caesar slender was, and lean likewise of body and face,  
Pale and megre to behold, wise and learned, stout and bold:  
Ambitious and haughty of mind, of nature courteous and kind:  
Displayed an Eagle he did bear, sables in or as may appear:   

ARthur was of body square, of visage grim, and full of hair:  
Strong and bold, and liberal, of nature gentle over all,  
And stout unto his enemy, but given to adultery:  
In martial acts he did delight, and loved every noble Knight:  
He thirteen crowns did bear also, or in azure against his foe.   

Charles' was well proportioned, strong and wise, and doughty of deed:  
Of learning's lore a favourer, and very politic in war:  
Merciful and fortunate, and gentle unto every estate:  
This king bore the jerusalem shield, paid with the imperial coat in field.   

GVI was tall and large of limb, none in his days were like to him:  
Of good complexion, seemly of face, and liberal in every place:  
Valiant, strong, and venturous, godly, kind, and courteous:  
He or and azure books descry, a cheveron ermine bare checkie.    


VTERE JUSTITIA SI VIR VISUS JUSTUS HA 〈…〉    

THE HISTORY OF THE conquests of the noble and virtuous Duke JOSVA.  
I Am the worthy conqueror Duke josua the great,  
Whom God did ordain and appoint to reign in Moses seat:  
To lead his people Israel to the land of behest,  
Which God to Moses promised, as scriptures have expressed.  
When he dwelled in the wilderness, and had miraculously  
Escaped through the great red sea, from Pharaos' tyranny.  
Two thousand and two hundredth years, with five and thirty more:  
After God had made the world I reigned: and before  
The day that jesus Christ was borne, in books as plain appears.  
One thousand and seven hundredth and seven and twenty years.  
A jew I am by due descent, of such exceeding fame:  
As through the world shall flourish ay the honour of my name.  
Much favour with the Lord I found, whose thundering voice full oft,  
Appeared unto me on earth from scarlet skies aloft:  
Commanding me nothing to dread, but boldly on to fight:  
Assuring me the upper hand of every living wight.  
And not to part form me, where so I did my army lead:  
Yea, and to give me all the lands whereon my feet should tread.  
The great flood jordan he dried up for me and all my power:  
And brought us safely through the same, and all within an hour.  
Dividing with his mighty arm the waves most wonderfully:  
On either side as we did pass, like hills or mountains hie.  
The lofty walls of jerico fell at my prayers down:  
Through which I entered valiantly, and quite destroyed the town.  
I put each woman, man, and child, therein unto the sword:  
As I had incommandement by Gods most holy word.  
No living soul escaped away out of that bloody strife:  
But Rahab and her family, to whom I granted life.  
For that she in her house did hide the men I sent to view  
The City: and did them convey from those that did pursue.  
I sacked the city of Ay eke, Bethoron and bethel:  
And many mighty cities more: which now were long to tell.  
I slew there people more and less, with famine, sword, and fire:  
For God appointed me his scourge, to accomplish his just ire.  
The Lord at my request did stay the sun amid the sky:  
While I caused many hundereths and thousands for to die.  
Whose numbers were so infinite, that God did also rain  
Great stones from heaven on their heads, and slew them on the plain,  
As they did fly before my face even from Bethoron,  
Until they to Esaka came, that few escaped or none.  
I chased great and mighty kings to hide them on the earth  
In caves: and there to curse the time of their unhappy birth.  
And burned their cities, towns, and towers unto the very ground:  
And they themselves I hanged on trees, in place where I them found.  
And after threw their carcases into the caves again:  
And rolled thereunto great stones, where yet their bones remain.  
And at the water of Merom I killed with my hands,  
Thousands of mine enemies, whose number as the sands  
Were gathered against Israel: but God the Lord of might,  
Delivered them all unto me, not one but died in fight.  
Their horses and their chariots eke I burned and destroyed:  
Their countries, towns, and cities all, which lately they enjoyde.  
Wherein were one and thirty kings, all which with one accord,  
Were enemies to the living Lord, and his precepts abhorred.  
Whose names, in the old testament the scripture plain doth sho  
In order written: the first was the King of jerico.  
The kings of Ay and jerimoth, of Lachis and Hebron:  
The kings of jerusalem, of Gazer and Eglon.  
The kings of Dabir and of Cred, of Gader and Horma,  
Of Magedo and Makeda and the King of Libna.  
The kings of Hepher and bethel, the kings of Adolam:  
The kings of Apheck and Thaphnah, the King of jackanam.  
The kings of Laseron and Madam and the King of gilgal:  
The King of Simron Merom eke Ibrought to utter thrall.  
The kings of Hasor and of Dotario, of Cades and Tenach:  
The kings which reigned in Ascaph, and the kings of Thersach.  
The Enakites I overcame which in the mountains dwelled:  
I put them all to cruel death, because they then rebelled.  
Neither did I cease continually each living wight to kill,  
Till all the land of Canaan was subject to my will.  
The confines of which coast doth reach, from the wide wilderness  
And desert wastes of Libanon, to the flood of Euphrates.  
And also unto the Greek sea whereas the sun goeth down:  
These countries all I conquered unto my high renown.  
And placed my people in the same, who did the land possess:  
And lived joyfully therein with rest and quietness.  
Where I long reigned over them by the Lords only grace,  
In virtue, honour, and much fame, and led a happy race:  
Instructing them in God his laws, and offering sacrifice  
Unto the Lord of thanksgiving, for his gifts many wise.  
At last unwieldy age approached, and dreadful death being priest,  
Did bring my carcase to my grave, where yet my body rests,  
In mine own City which I built, that Thamnath Sereh height:  
Being five score years and ten of age, my soul with Angels bright.  
FINIS.   

❧ An Example of this former History.  

BY this renowned prince we see, and by his life we understand,  
How virtuous men continually prosper in that they take in hand:  
And how the godly flourish still, possessing all things at their will.   

For in the scripture is descried the virtues like the planted tree,  
Which groweth by the river side shall flourish in prosperity:  
And God his Lord shall him defend in all his doings to the end.   

The lord the righteous shall uphold, for why: his ways to him are known  
God shall him bless a thousand fold, he shall be never overthrown:  
He shall for ay the land possess, and live therein in quietness.   

His seed for ever shall endure, and their inheritance enjoy,  
What so the wicked do procure, shall work the righteous no annoy:  
For in each peril God will see that he shall not confounded be.   

And by these heathen kings also, whom he did conquer and destroy,  
We find, as scriptures plainly sho, of wicked men the fading joy:  
Who like a flower, shall withered be, and blown quite out of memory.   

And as the smoke consumes away, or as the fat of lambs do melt,  
So the ungodly shall decay, and all the places where they dwelled:  
The sword shall pierce through their own hearts, which they prepared to others smarts.   

And their unrighteous seed likewise shall be unrooted and out worn  
From of the earth before men's eyes, as though they never had been born:  
And all that they possess or aught, like chaff with wind shall wear to nought.   

Wherefore, from every evil fly, abandon vice and wickedness,  
Do that is good, live virtuously, and so thou shalt the land possess  
In happy state: and after thee thy children continually.   
FINIS.   


AGREDIARE NIHIL SUBITO SED PROSPICE FINEM    

THE HISTORY OF THE conquests of the mighty Prince and conqueror HECTOR.  
I Am Hector the peerless prince king Priamus eldest son:  
Many a land through force of arms and prowess, I have won.  
In Paponie my puissance great I have approoud in fight:  
In Greece and Phrigia I have slain, and conquered many a knight.  
I am that martial knight of fame, which slew so many a Greek,  
When they were priest for Helen's rape to troy revenge to seek.  
Being furnished with eleven score sails and forty for the war:  
All full of armed soldiers, assembled from a far.  
And threescore noble kings and nine, which landed before troy:  
With minds conspired all in one, the Troyans' to destroy.  
At whose arrival first on shore I met them in the field:  
Where, at one time with my own hand, a thousand men I killed.  
Beside the great and mighty King, which Prothefilaus height:  
Whom I did cleave unto the chin, in all the armies sight.  
And six and twenty princes more, during that ten years strife:  
When I did meet them day by day, I reaud them of their life:  
As Patroclus of Phithia King, on Galathee my steed:  
With deadly spear through plate and mail, his hart blood I did sheed.  
And Lufor, and Boetes kings, and King Archilogus:  
And Merion the King of Crete, and King Epistrophus.  
And Prothenor of Boece King, and King Lepedemon:  
Deipeynor and Phidippus fierce, the King of Chalcedon.  
Dorius and Polixenus, and King Zantippus eke:  
And Serpedon the famous prince, and much renowned Greek.  
Leonteus of Larissa King, and Polybetes stout:  
And Alphinor a valiant wight, amongst the greekish rout.  
Philete and Letabonis, Isideus and Menon:  
Humerus and Maymentus eke, with peerless Palamon.  
Schedius King of Phocis' land, in open field I slew:  
Whose sudden death full many a Greek with bleeding hart did rue.  
King Phillis and King Octamen, I strake so mortally:  
With deadly spear, that therewithal they died presently.  
The mighty Agamemnon king I threw unto the ground:  
And strong Achilles felled oft with many a mortal wound.  
Proud Diomed and ajax fierce, I met oft in this broil:  
With many Greekish captains more, and gave them all the foil.  
And so continued six years space amongst my mortal foes,  
Most like a valiant conqueror, still dealing deadly blows:  
And chase them with bloody blade unto the very strand:  
Where, some did leap into the seas, to shun my heavy hand.  
And there were drenched in the waves most miserably:  
Wherefore the Greeks among themselves complained secretly,  
What slaughter and occision I made upon their men:  
And for redress thereof, they held a privy counsel then.  
Wherein they did conspire my death in this unknightly wise:  
That when I came into the field against mine enemies,  
Achilles should with many knights await me to oppress:  
When I were occupied in fight to bring me to distress.  
Affirming otherwise, while I in troy alive did reign,  
Unpossible it were for them the victory to attain.  
Yet served their treason, for a while to small effect or none:  
I did distress them (as before) and killed many a one:  
Till casually upon a day I marched to the field  
In former wont guise: to prove my force with spear and shield:  
Although forewarned by my wife, who by a dream did see,  
That if I that day went to field, my life should ended be:  
Where I like mighty Mars himself slew down on every side,  
And broke their rays and renges all where I did go or ride:  
And killed anon two mighty kings before Achilles' face,  
Who: seeking to revenge their death, I wounded in that place:  
And forced him to withdraw himself to bind his mortal sore:  
By this the fight with fierce assault increased more and more.  
At last by chance I flew a King, whose armour for the nonce  
Was richly en broidered and set forth with pearls and precious stones.  
The sight whereof did so inflame my hart with covetousness,  
That for to spoil him of the same myself I did address:  
Forecasting nought what might befall, nor having no regard  
To shun the train of my mischance, which was for me prepared:  
Nor fearing thousands of my foes, nor weighing any friend,  
Although the state of their welfare on me did all depend.  
But hent him up upon my steed, and road out of the throng:  
And for my better ease my shield upon my back I flung,  
While I did spoil him of his weeds, careless of any wight,  
My naked breast disarmed then, Achilles had a sight  
How I was busied: and therefore from covert where he lay,  
Towards me him to revenge he took the ready way:  
And suddenly with fatal spear or that I might advert,  
He came unwares behind my back, and struck me to the hart.  
Thus died I through avarice, whom thousands could not kill,  
Till mine own only wilfulness myself did fondly spill.  
Whereby (alas) it came to pass, my country did it rue:  
For shortly after to them all destruction did ensue.  
My body was brought into troy with woeful shouts and cries,  
With piteous plaints & grievous groans, whose echo pierced the skies.  
And in Apollo's temple entered and closed deep in clay  
After the Paynims rites, being a Paynim in my lay.  
Two thousand and seven hundredth years, adjoining fifteen more,  
Since the creation of the world I reigned, as books do sho.  
And before Christ jesus birth one thousand full complete,  
Two hundredth forty years and seven, this happed in troy the great.  
FINIS.   

❧ An Example of this former History.  

THis history doth plain express, and witness unto every wight  
The woeful end of covetousness, and such as have therein delight:  
And showeth both the harm & scathe, which wicked avarice brings and hath.   

And scriptures truly do record, who so at leisure them will scan,  
Nothing to be more deeply abhorred, nor yet worse than a covetous man:  
Nothing so wicked, no vice such, as to love money over much.   

For he that loveth gold so well, in Ecclesiasticus I find,  
For money hath his soul to sell, so avarice the hart doth blind:  
Record of Dives, who denied, poor Lazarus what time he died.   

Saint Paul writing to Timothy in his epistles, doth express  
The woeful end and misery of such as dwell in covetousness:  
Which saith, he drowneth many a one, in sorrow and destruction.   

How many vices do proceed from covetousness that wicked crime?  
What Kings and kingdoms do we read to be destroyed from time to time?  
What bloody murder, what distress, what envy comes through covetousness?   

What rigour, wrong, and perjury, what ravin, and what mortal strife,  
What malice, and what cruelty, and finally, what loss of life  
Breeds covetousness to every such, as love this worldly muck too much?   

This noble prince and conqueror a good example well may be,  
Whom covetousness did quite devour, being drowned in this misery:  
But God's just judgement hath prepared, for every sin a due reward.   
FINIS.   


NON IN 〈…〉 ●VSTVM NEC SEMEN EGENUM    

THE HISTORY OF THE conquests of the virtuous and valiant King DAVID.  
I Am David most doughty of deed, the King of Israel:  
By Samuel the prophet great anointed there to dwell.  
A jew I am in Bethlehem borne, and by God's only grace  
Promoted up to regal room, though come but of mean race.  
Next to Saul I ware the crown, I had continually  
Seven and thirty mighty men as captains under me.  
Whose names in the old testament in the books of the Kings  
At large are written, and set forth with many other things.  
Peruse well the old testament, and mark the text aright:  
Then thou shalt find that I am he in whom God did delight:  
Of whom in pleased him to say, Behold in every part,  
At last I have found out a man according to my hart.  
No prophet ever reigned on earth more greater than was I,  
To whom the Lord did deign to give such spirit of prophesy:  
Nor unto whom my God vouchsafed so largely to behight  
Such joyful promises: nor found more favour in God's sight.  
First, in my childish years when I a shepherd was,  
I slew a Lion with my hands, as he my sheep did chase:  
And killed a great and ugly Bear, which came in ravenous wise  
Out of the wilderness to spoil my flock before mine eyes.  
And being by my father sent my brother's food to bring,  
Who served then as soldiers in field with Saul the King,  
I slew the Giant Goliath, most lothlie to behold,  
Who was from the Philistines sent on Israelites to scold:  
And proudly stood between the hosts trusting unto his might,  
And called upon Israel to send him one to fight.  
This man was captain of their host, which then in Socohe lay,  
He wore a coat of mail, which did five thousand sickles way:  
And was six cubits large in length, and on his legs did wear  
Boots of brass: and on his breast a brazen shield did bear.  
And in his hand a spear he held, whose brazen head also  
Did weigh (as scriptures do declare) six hundred sickles more.  
Which thing, when Saul the King beheld, he highly esteemed me:  
And brought me home unto his house his servant for to be:  
And gave me his daughter to wife, for whom I paid in fight  
Two hundred foreskins of my foes, whom I slew through my might:  
With many a thousand more beside, whereby my fame so sprung  
Throughout the land of Israel, that women on me sung  
In all the cities where I passed, dancing most joyfully,  
With fiddles and timbrels well tuned to advance my victory,  
Saying: David hath ten thousand killed, and Saul one thousand slain:  
Wherefore, the King was wondrous wrath, that I did so attain  
To worthy honour and renown: and for this did conspire  
My death, by all the means he could in his outrageous ire:  
And often times he did attempt, when he tormented was  
And vexed with the evil spirit, to slay me in the place:  
But then I played upon my harp, and so I did expel  
The wicked spirit, by God's grace which in King Saul did dwell.  
And yet, as soon as I did cease, the spirit would him torment,  
And then, to slay me as before again he would attempt.  
At last, to shun his wicked hand, by help of jonathas,  
I fled unto the wilderness, where I in sorrow was  
And deep distress for many a day, oppressed with hunger's rage,  
Until Ahimelech the priest my hunger did assuage:  
And after fled to Achis King, thence to the desert cave  
Of Odolam: to Mazphah thence myself from Saul to save.  
To Engedi and Keilah, thence to the wilderness  
Of Phran: thence to Zikelege, where I brought to distress  
Thousands of Philistiens: at last King Saul was slain:  
And then, over all Israel I was elect to reign:  
And ruled as their sovereign King with famous victory,  
Subduing great and mighty Kings, and nations under me.  
As the perverse Amalakites, which Zikelege did burn:  
Whom I pursued so narrowly, that few did back return:  
The Syrians, and the Edomites, the jebusites likewise,  
The jesurites, and Gersites that did against me rise:  
The Philistines and Moabites, the tower of Zion eke,  
And Isboseth the son of Saul, who did the kingdom seek.  
I overcame jesby of Nob, a Giant fierce and fell,  
Who had six fingers on each hand, as scriptures truly tell.  
And Saphon strong, whose fearful looks all Israel did dread,  
The ghastly Giant I subdued, and caused his men to bleed.  
Adadasor the mighty King as prisoner I did hold,  
Bereaving him in battle strong of many a shield of gold.  
Unhappy Absalon my son, who thought ambitiously  
To conquer me (although his sire) was brought to misery:  
Yea unto such a woeful end, that others justly may  
Example take: and learn by him their parents to obey.  
For as he through the woods did fly my soldiers force to shun,  
Who fiercely him pursued behind the field when they had won,  
His locks being long, the trees being low, the boughs crawled in his hair,  
And plucked him from his foaming steed, and hanged him in the air:  
Where finally joab him found, and piteously him slew  
With many of his confederates, whose death I much did rue.  
This woeful slaughter brought to end, I reigned quietly  
Amongst my people many a day, and found no enemy:  
For God my Lord was on my side, whose force than should I fear?  
Thus reigned I in Israel, and Hebron forty year.  
And in my crooked extreme age my body fell on sleep,  
And in the city of David lieth in earth enclosed deep:  
After the framing of the world two thousand and fifteen,  
Adding seven hundredth years and ninety, as I ween:  
And one thousand years also ere jesus Christ was borne,  
One hundredth fifty years and seven expired out and worn.  
FINIS.   

❧ An Example of this former History.  

LO here behold a mirror bright, wherein the reader well may find  
Expressed, and set forth aright the virtues of a patient mind:  
And learn also himself thereby, both meekness and humility.   

Which virtues being duly weighed, each living wight ought to embrace:  
For in the scriptures it is said, and writ at large in many a place  
By the old prophets long time since, what virtue is in patience.   

By patience (saith Solomon) a prince may soon be pacified,  
And patience is a just token whereby man's wisdom is descried:  
The patiented man also (saith he) shall govern in prosperity.   

And David this most virtuous King saith in his Psalms: The patiented  
Out of his troubles God shall bring, he will not suffer him be shent:  
For patience cometh of the Lord, even as the prophet doth record.   

In Ecclesiasticus also the first chapter, the text doth say,  
The patient will endure each woe until the very appointed day:  
And then for him shall be prepared, for his meekness, a due reward.   

Saint Paul in his epistles writes of patience and humility,  
And james thereof likewise endites in many a text apparently:  
Our saviour Christ did patience teach, when he himself on earth did preach.   

Saying (in Matthew as I find) Learn ye of me humility,  
Because I humble am of mind, and suffer each thing patiently:  
Again he saith, The humble wight, shall be exalted to much might.   

And in Saint Luke is written eke, He hath plucked the mighty low,  
And exalted the humble and meek, what need I more hereof to show,  
Since Christ himself hath left behind, examples of a patiented mind.   

Whose patience and humility each christian ought to imitate,  
For patience bringeth victory, as proof doth tell to every estate:  
Record of this worthy of fame, whose patience declares the same.   
FINIS.   


NEMO BEATVS SEMPER ERIT FRAGILI FORTUNA    

THE HISTORY OF THE great and famous conqueror King ALEXANDER.  
I Am the great and worthy King, the prince of peerless might,  
The wide renowned conqueror which Alexander height:  
Son to the prince of Macedon, a man of noble fame,  
Whom famous Philip men did call, Olympias was my dame.  
I was but twenty years of age when first I ware the crown,  
And conquered the Athenians unto my high renown:  
The Getes and Lacedæmonians, the Argeans' stern and stout,  
The Thaulants and Anterians strong on many a hideous rout.  
The Tribals I compelled to yield, all Greece I did subdue,  
And thence I went to Hellespont, beginning wars of new  
In Asia, where I did prevail, and at one time did slay  
Of Persians twenty thousand and two hundredth in one day:  
There got I cities many a one, as Sardes and Lydia,  
Magnesia, Phrygia, Ephylos, Pamphylia and Caria,  
Pysidia, Lycia, and Gordyn, Helicarnasus to,  
Melyton and Celenas eke, with many cities more:  
As Ancyre and Paphlagony, Solos and Malon,  
Lyrnessus, Islon, Cebestus, with strong Castabulon.  
Thence passed I to Cilicia, a country large and wide,  
Where I subdued Darius' King for all his pomp and pride,  
took both his mother and his wife, put him to shameful flight,  
A hundredth thousand Persians and more, I slew in fight.  
Strato King of Arade I forced on bewed knee  
With all the Kings of Syria to yield themselves to me.  
The city of tire I put to sack, the strongest under sun,  
Which never to this day was got since first the world begun.  
Then into Egypt forth I sailed, from Egypt over Nile:  
From Nile to Africa, where I won by conquest many a mile.  
I marched then to Araby a fertile soil in sight,  
Where great Darius took his death with many a worthy Knight:  
So passing over Euphrates and Tiger speedily,  
I came at length to Babylon, which yielden was to me.  
Unto Armenia thence I marched, and thence to Atrapene,  
And so unto Persepolis, thence to Paralecene:  
From thence into the Mardons land I entered: where at length  
That monstruous nation I subdued, & conquered through strength  
The Medes: the Partthians and Spartans, the Thracians I subdued,  
The Achaians and Boetians, the Cannians nothing rude  
Besyra, Nisa, Pysides, and many more with these  
I conquered through force of arms, quite to the Caspian seas.  
And when at length I had atchieud Lyrcanias' furthest band,  
I passed then to Amazon, and won it with my hand.  
From thence to Dranga forth I went, which country I destroyed,  
Compelling strong Nabarzanes to India thence to void.  
The land of Aracosia I caused to yield to me,  
Rude Acadera and Bactria I sacked valiantly  
The city of Cyroposis, all Scythia and Bub acen,  
Basarians: Dahanes and Maurians, all these became my men.  
To India than I took the way, which erst was won by none,  
Nor entered in by any: but by Hercules alone.  
Thence went I to mount Meroe, and thence to Dedala,  
Which countries all I brought to wrack, with rich Amzaga.  
Mount Arum I besieged long, and won it with much fame,  
Yet Hercules assaulted it, and could not sack the same.  
King Omphis, Abiasares, and Gamaxus kings of Ind  
Did humbly yield themselves and theirs to do what I assigned.  
Then passed I Hydaspis streams, where Porus king did reign,  
Who through my force was overcome, and all his power slain.  
From thence: through deserts forth I went unto the Sobians land,  
To Sugdrians and Mallians: whom I conquered with my hand.  
And thence unto the Oxidricans, where: at a siege alone  
Myself the city entered in, and slew there many one.  
From thence unto the Musicanes, and thence to Prestia cost:  
From thence unto Pathalia I did convey mine host.  
Thus when I had the furthest bonds in all the Orient kend,  
And saw myself a conqueror unto the world's end,  
I sailed on the Ocean sea, where no man erst had been:  
There many strange & wondrous things by me were heard & seen.  
Some country's strange there I did find, with nations rude to see,  
All which I forced through dent of sword, to yield themselves to me.  
And when at last the raging sea, my passage did deny:  
Right as a worthy conqueror again returned I  
And marched back to Babylon, triumphing as a God,  
Where all the princes of the east for me made their abode.  
There did I hold a paleament, almost of all the world:  
For over all the orient I was the sovereign Lord.  
Wherefore I was so proud in hart, so pompous and elate,  
That I did utterly forget myself, and my estate,  
Only attributing the fame of all my good success,  
And conquests in so short a space, to mine own worthiness,  
And not contented yet therewith, did take presumptuously  
Upon myself the son of mighty jove to be.  
But in my most prosperity I had a sudden fall,  
I was by them betrayed, whom I trusted best of all.  
Cassander, Philip, and jolla, these three did work my fine  
In Thesalus Medius house, with poison mixed in wine.  
Thus died I through treason's train of those I loved most:  
Thus were my conquests lately won within a moment lost.  
Thus spiteful envy threw me down from fortunes stately stage  
Bereft of life, being but two and thirty years of age:  
My body was from Babylon to Memphis forth conveyed,  
And thence to Alexandria by Ptolomeus aid:  
Even in the year of the world four thousand, save eight score,  
And before that Christ was borne, one hundredth and two more:  
A Paynim I am in belief, a Paynim eke by birth,  
Accounted son to jupiter, and now consumed to earth.  
FINIS.   

❧ An Example of this former History.  

WHere pride infected hath the hart of any wight what so he be,  
All virtue in him is laid apart, so great is pride's perversity,  
As witnesseth this worthy King, whose pride untimely death did bring.   

For pride through false presumption made him so lofty and elate,  
Being puffed with promotion, that he knew not his own estate:  
Nor took regard to any wight, but trusted only in his might.   

The honour due to God on high he attributed to his own name,  
And in his swelling surquedry the Lord he rob of the same:  
Wherefore amid his most renown, God for his folly threw him down.   

For by the prophet jeremy the Lord himself even thus doth say,  
I will to none give my glory: and eke by the prophet Esay,  
The haughty I will pull down low, and cause the meek hearted to bow.   

To Moses eke in Exodus, A jealous God saith he, am I:  
The prophet Sophony writeth thus, I will visit each arrogancy:  
In Ecclesiasticus I reed, Thyself exalt not in thy deed.   

The eight of john doth bear record, No man can any thing receive  
But it proceedeth from the Lord, who every perfect gift doth give:  
And if each gift from him proceed, to glory than what have we need?   

All flesh is hay, and as a flower his glory all away shall pass,  
The prophet saith, and in one hour (as job doth tell) consume to grass:  
All pride (as Solomon doth write) is abominable in God's sight.   

Lucifer once an angel bright, for pride was thrown down to hell:  
Antiochus for all his might, Herod who did in pride excel,  
Through pride with plagues most miserably, tormented were or they did sdie.   

Nabuchodonozar the King God plucked down from regal seat,  
And for his pride in every thing became a beast, and grass did eat:  
And many mighty Kings beside, the Lord hath plagued for their pride.   

Abandon then this wicked pride which God himself doth so abhor,  
Or else it cannot be denied but God will plague us heretofore:  
For every gift give God the fame, and honour still his holy name.   
FINIS.   


NON HOMINUM CONSTAT TURBA SED NUMINE PALMA    

THE HISTORY OF THE conquests of the virtuous conqueror JUDAS MACHABEUS.  
I Am judas Machabeus, in might surpassing all,  
I found not yet in Israel for strength my peregall:  
A Lion fierce I was in field, as holy scriptures say,  
And as a raging Lions whelp that roareth at his prey:  
An enemy to wicked men, a friend unto the good:  
A plague and scourge to every such as shed the guiltless blood.  
A jew I am of noble birth, I saw the living God,  
For fear of me the heathen fled as children from the rod:  
I am the same which did redeem all Israel from thrall,  
Even he whom God the Lord did raise, Antiochus pride to appall:  
Who had the land of Israel most cruelly oppressed,  
The city of jerusalem both sacked and distressed:  
The temples rob and destroyed, and thousands piteously  
Murdered, and led away into captivity:  
And placed wicked officers throughout the land likewise,  
His heathenish laws to maintain, and Gods laws to despise:  
As Philip in jerusalem a cruel man of mind,  
Andromichus, and Menelaus at garrison assigned:  
And Apollonius a prince of Syria also,  
With two and twenty thousand men, who wrought the jews much woe,  
And murdered them in wilful wise without desert or cause,  
Compelling such as did remain to obey his wicked laws:  
Whose bloody hand to evitate, I was constrained to fly  
Unto the woods and wilderness, in desert caves to lie,  
With many of my brethren more, where we consulted long  
Amongst ourselves what we should do for to redress this wrong:  
At last, with one consent we agreed courageously to stand  
Against the wicked heathen sort, who then possessed the land:  
And being about six thousand men I took the charge on me,  
By one accord chose and elect their captain chief to be,  
To fight it out with manly hart, and after prayers made  
I marched forward with my folk the heathen to invade:  
And met with Apolonius, and slew him with my hand,  
And all his people more and less, which then with me did stand:  
His sword I took amid the strife perforce from him away,  
And therewith fought during my life in many a bloody fray.  
The city of jerusalem I won from them again,  
And slew the heathen upon heaps which did therein remain.  
I took the temple, and did cleanse and purify the same,  
I did destroy the altars which they builded there with shame:  
And since erected altars new, as they had been of yore,  
And offered thereon sacrifice, and incense, as before.  
I overcame Seron in fight, with thousands of his train,  
By me eight hundredth of his men were in one battle slain.  
Gorgias the captain great I put to shameful flight,  
And slew there thousands with the sword, and by God's only might,  
Who sent his angels from above armed in glistering gold  
On horseback with a spear in hand, most terrible to behold.  
The valiant captain Lysias of King Antiochus,  
With threescore thousand in one troop, though it be wondrous,  
I conquered, and put to flight, and slew five thousand tho,  
Yet had I to encounter them ten thousand and no more.  
In Idumea I did kill of heathens many a man:  
At Arabathan in like sort great slaughter I began.  
Gazer, Maspha and Casbon I did destroy with fire,  
Mageth, Bosor: for they did 'gainst Israel conspire.  
The gate of jamnia I did burn, and many a ship therein,  
And all that dwelled in joppa I plagued for their sin.  
Timotheus with his Asia troop I met, and through God's aid  
Which he from heaven sent to me, my foes were so dismayed  
And confounded with such darkness of lightning on them thrown,  
And fiery darts of present death, that therewith they fell down  
For fear: where twenty thousand men and five hundredth were slain  
Of footmen and of horsemen more six hundredth on the plain:  
And Timotheus being fled, and in a corner found,  
With Cereas his brother hid, I slew with many a wound.  
Ephron and Carnaym eke strong cities I did sack,  
And every male therein with sword did bring to utter wrack:  
Yea, so great a multitude, that every street therein  
Was covered with dead carcases, so God did plague their sin.  
The city Hebron in like sort and Azot I did burn,  
With altars, idols, images, which heathen did adorn.  
The puissant King Antiochus I met with all his train,  
And slew six hundredth of his men (as scripture telleth plain:)  
His captain Nican or also I killed at Bethoron,  
And all his soldiers in one day, there scaped never a one:  
His head and hand I did cut off, being of the jews abhorred,  
His tongue I cast unto the fowls, which did blaspheme the Lord.  
Thus ruled I in Israel with honour and renown,  
And won the palm of victory in country, field, and town.  
At last it was my fatal lot amid my foes to die,  
Even as the Lord decreed had upon my destiny  
For secret causes to him known, which must be accomplished:  
My death was this, as you may ●nd in scripture if you reed.  
When King Demetrius understood how Nicanor was slain,  
He sent his captain Bachydes to juda land again  
With two and twenty thousand men well furnished to fight,  
With whom, my country to defend, I met as it was right,  
Accompanied but with a few, three thousand and no more,  
Whereof the most part stole away or I to fight did go,  
And left me there all desolate, but with eight hundredth men:  
For which, my doubtful mind was tossed with extreme trouble then:  
Yet choosing rather loss of life than cowardly to fly,  
I gave the onset on my foes, and fought it valiantly  
From morning until it was night, where I slew many a one,  
But what against so great an host could I prevail alone?  
There was I killed in the field, yet to my lasting fame:  
Far better is to die renowned, than for to live in shame.  
Thus in defence of God his laws I shed my vital blood,  
Wherein (I trust) I pleased the Lord, and did my country good.  
My mangled corpse conveyed was, out of the bloody field,  
And to the city of Modin brought his due to earth to yield:  
Whereas the same interred was after the world was made  
Four thousand save one hundredth years (in authors as I read:)  
And before Christ's birth also about two and threescore,  
When I was dead all Israel was in a great uproar.  
FINIS.   

❧ An Example of this former History.  

THe wisdom, wit, nor policy, the courage, strength, nor worthiness,  
The might, nor magnanimity, the manly force, nor valiantness  
Of any wight, but little may  
Prevail, if God be not his stay.   

A vain thing is a horse (god wots) to save man's life, the spear nor shield,  
Nor thundering cracks of cannon shot rare or never wins the field,  
Except the Lord God present be,  
Who giveth every victory.   

What doth prevail the Elephant, so fierce and terrible in sight,  
Or numbers great of men to daunt the enemy through their own might,  
Since victory scripture concludes,  
consisteth not in multitudes?   

But in the Lord the God of hosts, who made the earth and heaven hie,  
And only ruleth in all costs, and giveth every victory:  
As by examples permanent  
Unto this day is evident.   

Senacharib of Assyria King, many thousands in one rout  
Of the Assyrians did bring, King Hezekiah to root out:  
But for that he blasphemed God,  
He sharply felt his heavy rod.   

For in one night the Lord did slay an hundredth fourscore five thousand  
Of the Assyrians, which then lay of purpose to invade the land,  
And drove Senacharib again  
To Niniveh where he was slain.   

King Pharaoh with a mighty host the Israelits pursued apace,  
But in the seas his life he lost, and all his people in the chase:  
Yet Israel through it did pass,  
For God the Lord their leader was.   

The great Antiochus also (as plain this history doth express)  
With thousands and with millions more, this worthy judas did distress:  
And only with six thousand men,  
For why, the Lord fought for him then.   

Because his only quarrel was in the defence of God his laws,  
For which, it after came to pass that God did help them in each cause:  
And gave him victory with fame,  
Which purchased him a lasting name.   

Wherefore you worthy warriors all, no quarrel take but it be right:  
Learn warily by others fall, to serve the conqueror of might,  
Who doth reward most liberally  
His soldiers with victory.   

Fight valiantly in the defence of his pure laws and ordinance:  
The kingdom shall not be long hence, whereto the Lord shall you advance.  
For evermore in bliss to dwell,  
The joys whereof no tongue can tell.   
FINIS.   


MORI QVAM VITAM DEGRE PBRO PR. 〈…〉 〈…〉 E    

THE HISTORY OF THE conquests of the famous conqueror JULIUS CAESAR.  
I Am the worthy conqueror, the prince of high renown:  
Who first by name of Emperor, did wear the Roman crown:  
And julius Caesar is my name, well known both far and near:  
A Painim I am in belief, I reigned in the year  
Since the creation of the world, four thousand fully told,  
Deducting fourscore years and two by count of writers old,  
And forty years before Christ's birth. I am the very same,  
Which won great victories in Spain to my perpetual fame:  
And conquered most valiantly the people all and sum  
Where I did pass: even unto the sea Oceanum,  
And marched into Gallia, which now is called France:  
And into Germany also mine henor to advance.  
And conquered the Heluetians and Latobrigians,  
Tulingians and Rauratians, with warlike boians:  
And overcame the Marcomans, the strong Seducians,  
The Haruds, Tribocks, Vangians and the suevians:  
The Nemets, Sedunes, Veragrines': the Ambiliats' and Venets:  
The Diablinters, Digerons: the Tarbels and Naunets:  
The Osisenes and Tarrusats: the Vocats and Pretians:  
The Flustrats, Garites, and Garumnes, the famous Ansians,  
The Sibuzsates and Cocosats, the Aulerks fierce in field:  
And did compel Viridovix, their captain stout to yield,  
And slew in numbers infinite, the Morines, and Treuires,  
Menapians and Lexobians, and burned their towns with fires.  
And strong Induciomarus killed the captain with my hand,  
The Belgies, nervians, Aduaticks, and chased them from their land.  
And Acco prince of the Senons, did kill in knightly wise  
Condrosies, Segnies, Eburons, which did against me rise.  
And overcame the Britons fierce, to my perpetual fame:  
And caused Caslibelan their King pay tribute for the same.  
And forced Catiwlcus king, for fear, with poison's force  
By drink to work his fatal fine to work his trembling corpse:  
And vanquished Lytavicus, a valiant man in fight:  
The city of Genabum eke did sack through my great might.  
The city Valaundunum, and Noviodunum too  
I caused to yield up unto me, my will with them to do:  
And battered Auaricum unto the very ground,  
And forty thousand slew therein with many a mortal wound.  
King Theutomatus I subdued Camalogenus killed  
Eporidorix, Cotus, Canarill, took prisoners in the field,  
Sedulius prince of Lemovix, I at Alexia slew,  
Vergassilaunus took alive, and caused thousands to rue:  
Threescore banners and fourteen at one conflict I won  
With twenty thousand prisoners, and many a noble man,  
The captain of Bellovocans' a man of worthy fame:  
In marshal wise I conquered which Corbey had to name:  
Drapes, Surus, Suturuate, renowned captains all,  
With bloody sword I overcame, and made their men to thrall.  
Luctarius a valiant prince, I chaste so narrowly,  
That he through famine was constrained for want to food to die.  
And versing Etorix also a great and famous king:  
His own soldiers, I forced to me as prisoners to bring.  
And Pompey proud the Roman prince in many a bloody broil:  
I chaste abroad from place to place and gave him many a foil.  
And at Pharsalia in fight I killed in one day  
Many thousands of his men where he in poor array  
Out of the camp conveyed himself in Egypt finally  
Through treason's train, his life he lost most miserably.  
The King of Egypt I subdued, and in his seat did place  
His sister Cleopatra Queen, who in my favour was  
And Pharnases of Pontus' King I chased from his land,  
And juba King of Africa I conquered with my hand.  
And took strong cities in the same, whose names at large appear,  
Where diverse of mine enemies did kill themselves for fear.  
The sons of Pompey with their power I overcame in field,  
Seeking to venge their father's death with many a spear and shield.  
I came unto the gates of Rome, which were shut me again  
And for I should not enter in I made my passage plain:  
And battered them unto the ground, and made the towns men thrall,  
Who yielded them on trembling knees, to be my liege men all,  
Whereas I governed in peace, and ruled as I would,  
Of Europe all, as sovereign Lord, as Mars in battle bold.  
Having subdued with my might, in Gaul and Germany  
Eight hundred stately towns at least, and conquered valiantly  
Three hundred several nations, in less than ten years space,  
So highly I esteemed was, in fawning fortunes grace.  
But lo, whom millions could not match, nor all Europa stain:  
Not Mars himself, were he alive the same hath envy slain,  
Whose secret trains, and hidden traps, unwares prevented me  
With sudden death, by foes conspired amid my jollity.  
For as I in the Senate sat, with many other more,  
By Cassius and Brutus hands, there I was murdered tho,  
With bodkins, knives, and daggers sharp, when I did deem no ill  
They fell upon me suddenly, and thus they did me kill,  
My carcase after paynim rites, in Rome interred was:  
Lo, thus the glory of the world doth were away, and pass.  
FINIS.   

❧ An Example of this former History.  

THe haughty and ambitious mind desireth daily to aspire:  
Vain glory doth his eyes so blind, and set his hart on such a fire,  
Till envy come and pluck him down, and rifle him of his renown.   

As by example may appear of this most puissant conqueror,  
Who for his conquests far and near was in his days the only flower:  
Yet such was his ambition, to climb up to promotion.   

That he envied at other men, who were in rule and dignity:  
Seeking to suppress them then, for fear of coequality.  
For haughtiness doth ever hate, the fellowship of any mate.   

And only this procured the jar of mortal war, and deadly strife  
Between Pompeius and Caesar, which was the loss of many a life.  
And brought to ruin utterly, the state of the whole monarchy.   

For Pompey died most miserably, as you have heard declared before:  
Caesar for all his victory through envy also was forlorn.  
The measure he to others gave, the same did shape his fatal grave.   

Thus may you see where envy is what mortal plagues therewith ensue:  
How fickle is the vading bliss of envious men appeareth true.  
And how unhappy is the land, where envy hath the upper hand.   

Through envy Herod long ago did many a harmless infant kill.  
Envy procured Saul also to seek king David for to spill.  
Through envy eke was Abel slain, and murdered by wicked Caine.   

Through envy Christ our saviour accused was, and put to death.  
Through envy Satan did procure, to mortal man the loss of breath.  
What plague on earth is greater then, where envy reigneth amongst men.   
FINIS.   


HONORE MORI QVAM VITAM DEFERE PBRO PRESTAT    

THE HISTORY OF THE conquests of the noble conqueror ARTHUR.  
OF Brutus blood in Britain borne I Arthur am by name:  
Through christendom & heathenes well known is my fame.  
In jesus Christ I do believe, I am a Christian borne:  
The father, son, and holy ghost, one God, I do adorn.  
In the four hundredth ninety year over Britain I did reign,  
After Christ my saviours birth, what time I did maintain  
The fellowship of the table round, so famous in those days,  
Whereat a hundredth noble knights and fifty sat always:  
Who for their fame in martial feats (as yet books do record)  
Amongst all kind of nations were feared through the world.  
In the castle of Tintagill King Uter me begat  
On Igrayne the beautiful, a Lady of high estate.  
And when I was fifteen years old, then was I crowned King,  
All Britain being in uproar I did to quiet bring,  
And drove the Saxons from the realm, who did usurp the land,  
And conquered through manly mart all Scotland with my hand.  
The Orcades eke I overcame, and islands all about,  
Which on the Ocean seas do lie, with many nations stout:  
Ireland, Norway, and Denmark, these country's wan I all:  
Gutland, and Island also, and made their Kings my thrall.  
King Bladulfe, and King Collegrine, both two I slew in fight:  
And forced Cheldrike of Almaigne King to take his death by flight:  
And Lot the King of Orkeney I brought to deep distress,  
With many a valiant knight with him, which came me to suppress.  
I conquered all Gallia, which now is called France,  
And slew the hardy Froll in field my honour to advance.  
The ugly Giant Dinabus so horrible to view,  
Which in Saint Bernard's mount did lie, through force of arms I slew.  
And Lucius the Emperor great of Rome, I brought to wrack,  
With thousands more, whom fear of death had forced to turn their back  
Five Kings of paynim I did kill amid that bloody strife,  
Beside the Emperor himself, who also lost his life:  
Whose carcase I did send to Rome, clad poorly in a beer,  
And after I did pass Mount loy: the next approaching year  
I came to Rome, where I was met right as a conqueror,  
By all the Senate solemnly, and crowned Emperor.  
One winter there I made abode, than word to me was brought,  
How Mordred had usurped the crown, what treason he had wrought  
At home in Britain with my Queen, wherefore, I came with speed  
To Britain back with all my power, to quite that traitorous deed:  
And as at Sandwich I did land, there Mordred me withstood,  
Yet landed I at length, but with effusion of much blood:  
For there my nephew Gavin died, being wounded on that sore,  
Which Lancelot du lake in fight had given him before.  
Thence chased I Mordred away, he fled to London right:  
From London to Winchester: thence, to Cornewal took his flight.  
And still I did pursue with speed, till at the last we met,  
Where by accord the day of fight appointed was, and set  
Between us both, and at the time we encountered in the field  
With many a noble knight to try it out, with spear and shield:  
Where we did fight so mortally of life each to deprive,  
That of an hundredth thousand men scarce one was left on live.  
There all the traitors men were slain, not one escaped away,  
There died all my valiant knights (alas the doleful day:)  
There all the noble chivalry of Britain took their end:  
See how uncertain is their state, which do on fate depend.  
There slew I Mordred with my hands, the causer of this strife,  
And there myself received the wound which took away my life:  
But yet I went from thence alive to be cured again,  
To the vale of Auillion (as Chronicles writ plain.)  
And afterwards was never seen, nor what became of mét  
Was never known unto this day, for any certainty.  
I reigned two and twenty years in honour and much fame,  
And thus by death am suddenly deprived of the same.  
FINIS.   

❧ An Example of this former History.  

THe liking of unlawful lust, whereto this worthy was inclined,  
Deprived him by judgement just, from life and kingdom (as I find)  
And threw him down most suddenly, amid his fame and victory.   

Whereby God's plague and punishment upon adulterers is seen,  
Whom suddenly he doth prevent with sharp correction in his teen:  
The proof thereof no less doth tell, of his incest, being weighed well.   

For Mordred his fatal foe, he did beget incestuously,  
Unto his utter overthrow, on his own sister wickedly:  
And thus the father was forlorn, through his sons force in incest borne.   

A good example to bewray the due reward of every vice,  
Thy sins (the scriptures plainly say) shall thee condemn before thine eyes:  
And likewise he the death shall die, who doth commit adultery.   

Was not the world once overflown for this offence of lavish lust?  
Sodom and Gomor overthrown with fire and brimstone unto dust?  
Was not Sichem through lust destroyed, and all his city sore annoide?   

Died not Ammon through his incest? and was not Absalon eke spilled  
Through lechery, (as is expressed?) and died not Abner through this gilt?  
And what incestuous seed by Lot, upon his daughters was begot?   

Lewd lust did Hollofernes kill, through lust the judges lost their life,  
Because they might not have their will accomplished on joakims' wife:  
What plagues did fall on Benjamin, only through lust that filthy sin?   

Thus may you see, of lechery the punishment and due reward,  
Then fly far from such misery, and thereunto take no regard:  
God's plague is sore if he begin, and death is the reward of sin.   
FINIS.   


SPLINDIDA CRUDELEM POST MORTEM FAMA MANEBIT    

THE HISTORY OF THE conquests of the mighty conqueror CHARLES the great.  
I Am the Emperor Charlemagne, surnamed Charles the great.  
I reigned six and forty years as King in royal seat.  
Both King and Emperor also of kingdoms many one:  
I am a Christian, and believe in jesus Christ alone.  
The Father and the holy Ghost, one God in Trinity,  
Which made both heaven and the earth, and liveth eternally.  
My father's name Pipinus was, in Inglehem also,  
In the county of Palatine my mother bore me tho,  
But little from the city Meutz, My fame and worthiness  
Is known well through Christendom, and also heathenness.  
I warred against the Sarracens in Gascoine many a day,  
And caused them to yield and turn unto the Christian lay.  
The Saxons fierce I did pursue for thirty winter's space,  
And at the last constrained them on knees to sue for grace:  
And to my Empire to obey, and christian faith to take,  
And eke their paynim false belief, for ever to forsake.  
King Desiderius I subdued, with many a Lombard more,  
As he was marching towards Rome, to work Italians woe,  
And saved Rome and Italy, from danger of the fire:  
Whose spoil, this king of Lumbards' did maliciously conspire.  
And laid him, his children, and his wife in prison strong,  
At Liege the city great, whereas they all remained long.  
I took all Lombardy by force with famous victorée,  
And placed officers therein to govern under me.  
Tassilo, Duke of Baiarland, I conquered in fight,  
His men of wars I overthrew: his son (a noble knight)  
Renowned through his manly acts, and feats of chivalry,  
I overcame with mine own hands in battle valiantly.  
The bishop Leo I restored unto the dignity,  
Whom Romans had exiled Rome, when he fled unto me.  
All Italy I brought perforce to my obeisiance,  
Where I slew many doughty knights, with dent of deadly lance.  
Eight years I warred in Hungary against those nations stout,  
And ceased not till finally I rooted them all out.  
From whence I brought abundance great of gold and silver bright:  
And therewith highly did advance and prefer many a knight,  
Lecho king of Behemie, I vanquished in field  
Both he, and all his subjects did to my subjection yield.  
All France I had under my power, all Germany was mine:  
And all the countries that doelie upon the river Rhyne.  
In France I held long wars and great against four kings of fame,  
Who were the Duke of Dordons sons, at last I did them tame.  
In Rome I was crowned Emperor, whereby the monarchy  
Translated was from Rome unto my country Germany.  
I was both King and Emperor of all the west empire,  
And brought the same to quiet state, what should I more desire?  
All the kings through Christendom I might command at will:  
It lay in me as sovereign Lord to pardon or to spill.  
When I had thus triumphantly obtained what I would:  
I was content to live at rest, because I waxed old.  
And then I led in quietness the last part of my life,  
Redressing wrong, maintaining peace, suppressing every strife.  
In which time I did build and found three Universities  
Of fame, in Italy and France, whose several names be these:  
Bononie and Padua, which lie in Italy,  
And Paris the chief town of France, these founded were by me.  
In fine as every mortal wight to death must yield his due,  
At Aken so I changed life, I could it not eschew.  
When I had lived seventeen years and two accounted just:  
My body was entered in earth, where it consumes to dust:  
In the year after Christ his birth eight hundred and more  
By true account of authors old, full seventy and two.  
FINIS.   

❧ An Example of this former History.  

THe bliss and long felicity, which here this worthy did enjoy  
Through palm of famous victory raining most like a princely boy,  
Foreshoweth unto every wight, the virtues of this noble knight.   

The zeal he bore to learning's lore, his life also declares the same,  
And God advanced him therefore, with much increase of daily fame,  
And held him up in his renown, that no foes force could pluck him down   

For God will always his defend, and them direct in every cause:  
He gives long life and happy end to such as do observe his laws:  
In whom he doth good works begin, he will continue them therein.   
FINIS.   


QVI FAMAM QVERIT VIGILET 〈…〉 IWENILIBUS' ANNIS    

THE HISTORY OF THE conquests of the puissant conqueror GVY.  
I Am Guy the Baron bold, of deed the doughtiest knight  
That in my days in England was, with shield or spear in fight.  
An English man I am by birth, in faith a Christian true:  
The wicked laws of Infidels I utterly eschew.  
Nine hundredth twenty years and one after Christ his birth,  
When King Athelstone ware the crown, I lived upon earth.  
Sometime I was of Warwick Earl, and (for to say the truth)  
A Lady's love did me constrain to travel in my youth  
To win me fame in feats of arms, in strange and sundry lands,  
Where I achieved for her sake great conquests with my hands.  
First I said to Normandy, and there I won in fight  
The emperors daughter of Almain from many a worthy knight.  
Also in Lombardy myself, with three knights and no more,  
Slew sixteen Lumbards' being ambushed to murder me before,  
Through false Duke Ottons' treachery, who bore me mortal hate,  
Cause of the wound I gave to him in Normandy of late.  
Then passed I the seas to Greece, to help the Emperor right  
Against the mighty Souldan's host of Persia to fight:  
Where I did kill of Sarracens and paynim many a man,  
And slew the Souldan's cousin eke, who had to name Coldran.  
And Eskeldart a famous knight to death I did pursue:  
And Elman King of Tire also, most horrible to view.  
I went unto the Souldan's host, upon embassage sent,  
And brought his head away with me, having killed him in his tent.  
There was a Dragon in that land, which also I did slay,  
As he a Lion did pursue most fiercely by the way.  
To Almain thence I did retire, and thence to Lorraine right,  
Where I the Duke of Painie killed, his treason to requite.  
Then into England I did sail to wed Phelis the bright,  
For love of whom I traveled so far, to try my might.  
And when I had espoused her, I staid but forty days,  
Until I left the Lady fair, and went from her my ways,  
Unto the seas in pilgrim sort my voyage for to take,  
Even unto the holy land for jesus Christ his sake.  
Where I Earl jonas did redeem, and all his sons fifteen:  
Who with the cruel Sarisins in prison long had been.  
I slew the Giant Amerant, in battle hand to hand:  
And doughty Barnard killed eke, and Duke of Painie land.  
And sithence came into England, and there with Colbrand fought:  
An ugly Giant whom the Danes, had for their champion sought,  
And overcame him in the field, and siue him valiantly:  
And thereby did release the land from tribute utterly.  
And afterwards did offer up the weapon solemnly  
In Winchester, wherewith I fought in sight of many an eye.  
In Windsor forest I did kill a Boar of passing strength,  
Whose like in England never was for highness, breadth, and length.  
Some of his bones in Warwick yet, within the castle lie:  
One of his shields unto this day doth hang in Coventrie.  
I slew also in Dunsmore heath a monstruous wild beast,  
Called the Dun cow of Dunsmore, which many men oppressed:  
Her bones also in Warwick lie yet, for a monument,  
Which unto every looker on a wonder may present.  
And in Northumberland I did a Dragon fell destroy,  
Which did both men and beasts oppress and country sore annoy.  
And then to Warwick came again, but there I was not known:  
Wherefore I led an Hermit's life, a mile out of the town.  
Where with my hands I hewed a house, out of a rock of stone,  
And lived as a Palmer poor within that cave alone:  
And daily came to seek my food unto my castle gate,  
Not known of my loving wife, which mourned for her mate,  
Till at the last I fell sore sick, and found that I must die,  
I sent to her a ring, by which she knew me presently:  
And so repairing to the cave, before I gave the ghost,  
She closed up my dying eyes, whom once I loved most.  
Thus dreadful death did me arrest, and laid my corpse in grave,  
Thus as a Pilgrim died I, and all my soul to save.  
My body in Warwick lieth yet, though now consumed to mould:  
My stature there engrand in stone this day you may behold.  
FINIS.   

❧ An Example of this former History.  

THe affection of impatient love procured this knight to take  
His manly force, & might to prove, in many a strange & foreign land:  
Whereby it came to pass that he, advanced was exceedingly.   

For through his warlike feats of fame, and marshal magnanimity,  
He won to wife a passing dame, being borne of high nobility.  
With earldoms two which by her right, descended to this noble knight.   

But see in him example rare, when he the lady wedded had:  
With her the story doth declare, but forty days his life he lad,  
Till leaving all in poor array, on pilgrimage he took the way   

Towards jerusalem to obtain remission for his sinful life,  
Because he had so many slain, for love of her which was his wife,  
And not for jesus Christ his sake, for which he thought amends to make.   

With punishing his body so, as than it was the wont use,  
Which of repentance plain doth sho a token, though through great abuse,  
For want of knowledge of the truth, of holy scriptures: the more ruth.   

And afterwards at his return, all worldly pleasures he defied,  
In poverty he did bemourn his youthful days, and so he died:  
All these declare a contrite hart, which God accepted in good part.   
Finis huius libri.