¶: This little treatise compendiously declareth the damage and Destruction in realms/ caused by the Serpent of Division. ❧  
 depiction of castle and knights   

Whilom as old bokis maketh mention: when the noble and famous Cite of Rome: was moste shining in his felicity and flowering in his glory/ like as it is remembered in the books of old antiquity: in the prime temps of his foundation when the walls were raised on height by the manly and prudent diligence of Remus and Romulus: the Cite stood under governance of kings till unto the time that Tarquin: son of Tarquin the proud: did the great outrageous offence unto Lucre's/ wife of the worthy senator Collatine. In punishing of which trespass by the manly pursuit of Collatynes kindred and full assent of all the Senate: the name of kings ceased in the Cite of Rome for ever more/ & all the royal stock of the foresaid Tarquyne was proscripte & put in exile. ❧ And after by the prudent advise of the Senate: the Cite was governed between Counseylers/ and so continued unto the time that Pompey the proud was repaired home again from the conquest of tire/ which by force he had made subject unto the empire of Rome: where as with great worthiness of fame he was received. So that for his great noblesse he was chosen one of the three for to govern the Cite: assigned to him other two full renowned of knighthood: julius Cezar/ and Marcus Crassus/ and thus was the name of Counseylers turned in to the name of dictators/ which was that time an office partinent to princes to govern other. And for a special cause this office and this occupation of a Dictatoure: by assent of all the hole Senate was committed unto three/ that if one offended: the other twain should be mighty and strong to correct the third. ❧ And an other cause was this. ❧ while that twain were occupied in war outward the third should govern at home. And thus all the while they were of one heart of one assent/ and void of variance among themself: the noblesse of Rome flowered in prosperity. But as soon as false covetise brought in pride and vain ambition: The contageous Serpent of Division eclipsed and appalled her worthiness/ concluding sothly as in sentence that every kingdom proved by division is conveyed to his destruction. And so for the surquedous pride on the party of julius: and after of the said Cite of Rome: the contageous covetise entremedled with envy on the party of Pompey: made the famous Cite of Rome fully waste and wild not only of their iunumerable treasure: but caused them also to be full barren and desolate of their men/ where tofore of worthiness/ of knighthood/ and of chyvalry: they were incomparable. ❧ And finally the false division among themself: was more importable unto them: and caused more the ruin of the Cite/ than when they had war with all the world/ like as this little story compendiously shall devise. ¶ And to convey briefly the process of this matter: ye shall first understand that Marcus Crassus was senre to the parties of the north with six legions of knights against the king of Parthes. ¶ And the manly man julius Cezar with other sixth legions of people was sent down passing the great bonds of Lombardy/ descending down by high Alpyes'/ & avayling down by the large plague of Germany and of almain/ till by conquest: by his manly force and his mortal sword he brought all France in to subjection/ & all the land of Burgoyne Brabant/ Flaunders/ and Holande. In which conquest he continued till almost the space of his Lustre was wasted out. That is to say: that was the space limyted of the Romans: the which was called a Lustre/ which is accounted the space of .v. year/ & who so ever passed that space by occasion of any conquest & not repaired again at his time set & limited of five year: He was forjudged anon & dempt asenemy & rebel unto the noble Cite of Rome ¶ But this famous & manly man julius prudently deeming in his opyvyon that time lost while that fortune is blandesshing & favourable: through the contageoꝰ occasion of negligence & of sloth: is afterward full hard for to be recovered. Wherefore of knighthood & manly prowess he did set the Romans statutis aside: & fully purposed in his noble & knyghtlyherte for to pass the bonds & the space of his Lustre/ and to enforce himself with his chyvalry to win the bondis of Bretain and oversayle by force the west party of our Ocean. But for all his surquedous pride he was twice beaten of at his aryvale by the worthiness of the Breton king called Cassybelan. And plainly without favour to deciare & specify the troth he might never attain to aryve at his lust and pleasure: till this manly king Cassybelan and Androgenes duke of cornwall: fell at debate among themself/ whereby I may conclude that whiles unite and accord stood undefoyled & undivided in the bondis of Bretaine: the mighty conqueror julius was unable and impotent to vaynquisshe them. ¶ By which ensample ye may evidently consider and see: that division like as is specified toforne is original cause in provinces and regions of all destruction: For when julius by favour of Androgenes recovered aryvale into Bretayne: shortly after Cassybelane the manly king: proudly and knightly met with him/ between whom there was a mortal war. But like as it is especially remembered and recorded by the writing of the most worthy and graduate clerk Eusebius that same day when julius and Cassybelan met in the fold: this foresaid Cassybelane had a famous and a passing manly man to his Brother: the which with his bloody mortal sword never ceased to slay and oppress the proud Roman knights/ so farforth that they fled and eschewed his sword as the death. ❧ For as he went there was no resistance. And this continued so long that the Romans were impotent to resist. ❧ But Oh alas when he was wearied of fight: it befell casually of Fortune which is ay contrary and perverse: that he of adventure met with this manly man julius/ and both two like as made is mention: fared as Tigers and Lions/ everich wounding other full mortally/ till suddenly by disposition of fate: julius with an unware stroke of his dreadful sword roof him atwene. ❧ And by cause the story maketh no mention what this worthy knight height: I find none other name of him but that he was brother unto the noble Breton king Cassybelan. ❧ The death of whom Bretons aught full well to complain/ by whose death julius was made victorious/ and Cassybelane brought to subjection unto the Empire of Rome/ & constrained by Cezar to pay for his truage/ three thousand pound every year. ❧ ¶ And in the sign of this conquest and victory julius Cezar edified in this land for a perpetual memory to put his name in remembrance: the castle of Dover/ and Caunterbury/ Rochester/ and the tower of London/ the castle & the town of Cezarisbury/ which now is called Salesbury And more over as saith mine author he edified Cezaris Chester/ that now is called chichester/ & the castle of Exeter ¶ And in the mean while that Cezar thus proudly had holy & entirely the governance of Brutus' albion: his fellow Marcus Crassus of whom tofore is made mention: was slain in the Est party of the world/ while he made most cruel war against the fierce people of Parthes. ❧ And for his greedy unstaunchable thirst of covetise/ his enemies slew him in this wise. ❧ They made melt gold & poured it in to his mouth/ saying to him in this wise. ☞ Aurum sitisti: aurum bibe. Thou hast thirsted gold all thy life: now drink thy fill. ¶ Lo here ye may consider and see the short and the moment any time transitory and not abiding of all the warriors. And as the story rehearseth also: as for lamentable kalende of more infortune that after should follow: julta the noble wife of Pompey and daughter to Cezar died of a child. For which cause pompeius pretended to find a cause to revoke Cezar again to Rome by assent of all the Cenate to the intent that he should come in his own person to revenge in all haste the death of his fellow Marcus Crassus: as before is said so vengeably slain in his conquest ¶ This same Pompey having a secret dread in his conceit lest that julius Cezar should wax so mighty in his conquest that he should not be equal of power/ nor able to resist him in his repair/ and dreading also in his imagination lest that▪ julius would of presumptuous pride usurp by tyranny to take upon him the lordeshype and the domination of Rome But this manly man Cezar adverting full prudently and perceiving the fraudulent meaning of Pompey on that one side: and the compassed steyght of the Cenate of that other side: full advisedly gave answer again that he would accomplish and perform his conquest which he had begun/ and than meekly and humbly at their request repair home again. ❧ And in this wise entered in the snake of wanhope and of discord: which caused everich to suspect other and thus began to kindle the fire of envy/ inducing successively war & debate among themself/ & here upon without delay to execute their purpose: & evidently to show the end of their intent: Pompey & the Cenate of one assent without respite or deliberation forjudged Cezar guilty/ disobey sante/ rebel/ and traitor to Rome/ and gave upon him a sentence diffinityve of exile & proscription for evermore. ¶ But julius not considering nor having no manner evidence ne suspicion of that malicious conspiracy that Pompey and the Cenate wrought against him. But all innocent and unknowleging ● of their envious malice by good and diligent deliberation of intent did send his Imbassatoures: not unto his son in law Pompey: but also unto all the worthy court of the Cenate/ and to all other of the Citizens of the Cite/ requiring and praying them of equity/ that for his meritory desert: they should not be contrary against him/ nor for none occasion of wilfulness: to deny unto him his customable guerdon the which is due of old antiquity to be given to conquerors: but that they would freely & wilfully (uncompelled) grant him & put him in possession of the Palm & the triumph which so long by knightly labour & manly diligence he had for the increase & the augmentacion of the common profit of all the empire of Rome travailed for. ¶ Than for to specify and declare the honour & Triumph whilom used in Rome: first ye shall understand that Triumphus by description: is as much to say in english as a triple gladness/ or else a singular excellency of joy/ in three manner of wise ordained for victors: which through their high renown and manly prowess had brought regions and cities by way of knyghly conquest to be subject & tributary unto the Empire of Rome. ¶ The first of the three worships done to a conqueror: was this. ¶ first at his repair unto the Cite: all the people of high estate and of low: should with great joy & reverence in their best & richest array: meet him on the way. And this was the first. ¶ The second was this/ that all the prisoners and they that were in captivity: should fettered & manacled go round about environ his chariot: some before & some behind ¶ And the third worship done unto him this was. That he should be clad in a purpurate mantel of jupiter as god/ and sit with a crown of Laurer upon his heed in a chariot of gold/ & about his neck a manner of a circle environ made of gold: in similitude & likeness of a Palm. And it so that his conquest were performed & accomplished withouten sword or shedding of blood: than should the circle of the Palm be forged without pryckꝭ or pins. And if so were that his victory was finished by the cruel fate of war: than of custune his sercle or his pectoral was forged all full of sharp prycking thorns/ to declare and specify that there is no conquest accomplished fully to the end by mediation of war: without that there be felt and found therein the sharp thorns of adversue/ & that other by death or else by poverty. And this royal victorious Chariot to foresaid was drawn with four white steeds through the most royal streets of the cite to the Capitoly/ he having a sceptre in his hand full richly devised: and thereupon in sign of victory an Eagle of gold. And to show clearly that all worldly glory is transitory & not abiding: and evidently to declare that in high estate is no assurance: there was set at the back of the conqueror/ behind in the chariot/ the most unlikely person/ and the most wretch: that in any country might be found/ disfigured & clad in the most uglywyse that any man could devise. ❧ And amid all the clamour & noise of the people/ to exclude the false surquedy/ vain glory/ and idle laud: this foresaid foul and ugly wretch should of custom and of consuetude smyre the conqueror in the neck ever and upon the heed/ & standmele saying to him in Greek: this word (Norys yolytos) which is to say in our english tongue as (Know thyself) which declareth unto him that he nor none other should for no such worldly glory be surquedous ne wax proud. And that day it was leeful without punishing to every man of high estate or of low to say to him that was victoure/ what that he would whether it were of honour or worship/ of reprefe or of shame. And this was admitted for this cause/ that he should truly consider and advert that there is none earthly glory that fully may be assured without danger of fortune. And shortly to declare the difference between Triumphus & Tropheum. Triumph is a full & a complener overcoming of enemies by battle. And Trophy is when a man putteth his enemies to flight with out stroke of sword. ¶ But touching this honour aforesaid which julius required & asked of right as for a guerdon which him thought was meritory & due unto him. Anon this foresaid Pompey with full assent of all the cenate denied all with one voice his request: and of one accord answered again & said him platly he should not be accepted there unto no such honour/ but planly they bade him know that he had rather deserved to be deed than to attain to any such worship/ alleging against him that he was both rebel & traitor to the statutes of Rome. ¶ And when julius clearly conceived the short answer of the cenate & of this Pompey tofore said/ there kindled a full great hot brenuing fire of envy in his heart of the freting hate specially that he bore in his breast for to be revenged of Pompey. ¶ And as Lucau rehearseth in his poetical book: the deneing of this worship to julius: was the chief ground & occasion of all the war that began in Rome/ rote & beginning also of all the contageous division among themself. ¶ But so as Lucan liketh to rehearse & specify in his book aforesaid among other causes that he put Lie in especial writeth of three which were chief beginning and rote of division among themself/ proving by reason in those three: that it must needs be: that the felicity & the prosperity of Rome must abate & draw to decline/ the which three: First he saith it was necessary that such adversity should fall to Rome. secondarily he saith it was consuet adynary. And thirdly he saith it was voluntary. ¶ First that it was necessary: he proveth by example of nature in this wise. That like as Phoebus the son: when he ariseth in the Orient: and by successyve course ascendeth into the highest point of the midday spear: and of his kind and natural course must descend: and hath his golden tressed horns in the western waves: and than dimmeth & darkeneth our emespery by absence of his light: & also eke when the same golden wain of Titan: fro the Ariet is whyrled up to the highest tower of his ascension in the celestial sign of the crab: and than by the myghry compelling of natures right: he is constrained to descend down & avail his chariot. Right so semblably there is no worldly worship so bright nor clear shining in earth: but that it must incline and avail down as soon as he hath artayned to the highest & the most famous point of his ascension. For like as the rage & the haboundaunt flow: when it hath reached his sturdy waves to the highest: suddenly followeth an ebb & maketh him to resort again. In the same wise when any temporal prosperity is most flowing in felicity: than is a sudden ebb of adversity most to be adread. ¶ Also in the same wise as ye may clearly discern and consider at the eye: In trees and herbs/ that when the vegetatyfe virtue by the comfortable influence of the son: is after the cold winter: In Ver by little and little ascended into branches and bows: and causeth them for to bud & to blossom new: and also in herbs maketh a lusty and a fresh colour newly to appear: And more over by process of time with her wholesome balm aparaleth them with many fold sundry colour: of red/ white/ and green: and than anon after in discence of Apollo the son: the same virtue fro the crop availeth again in to the rote: right so there is no felicity so flowering/ nor none so appareled with blossoms and blomes of transitory richesse: but as soon as the shining son of her glory sheddeth his beams most clear: full unwarely ere they can advert or take heed: been rob and reaved of their lordeshype and plunged a down die occasion of some adversity/ brought and induced into adversity: other by seckenes or by death. ¶ And thus that the first cause is natural and necessary: and that all worldly pomp and pride shall pass: mine author Lucan hath proved by reason. Than touching the second cause which is called custom able and consuctudinary: ye may consider that ever of custom it falleth that when the blind goddess of variance Dame Fortune hath enhanced a man highest upon her while: with a sudden sigh she plungeth him down again. ¶ Evident example ye may take of kings and princes that have been tofore. And than touching the third cause of destruction of the Cite: Lucan liketh to call 〈◊〉 in his poetical muses: voluntary. ❧ Which is as much to say: as a cause rooted upon wilfulness without any ground founded upon reason. For only of wilfulness they were so blind: that then list not to know themself: but thought themself so assured in their felicity: that they might not by no collateral occasion of adversity be perturbed ne put out thereof. ¶ And thus through false surquedraunce they were made so wilful that none list to obey other. And so was brought in obstinacy: everich of them deeming himself equal to other. And thus of contrarious discord among themself: only of volunty: they stood disscuered and divided/ which was one of the chief occasions of their destruction. And for this skill toforne declared. Lucan calleth the third cause voluntary: in as much as it was falsely founded upon will. ¶ And thus first by a cause necessary: and by the second cause called consuetudynary showed tofore by example of custom: and by this last third cause called voluntary rooted only upon will: The Romans among themself: stood in such controversy: That they doubted to which party they should incline. ❧ And compendiously to declare how all these causes of division. How the war which of clerks is called Bellum Civil: which is as much to say in english: As a war among themself. ❧ For the clear compendious process of which: first ye shall consider that julius plainly informed of the malicious conspiracy compassed and wrought against him. Anon as he in his repair out of Albyon was passed the bonds of almain & had attained to high Alpies/ which of auctors been called the cold frosty hills/ and the bonds of Lombardy/ & so holding his passage by the flood of the sturdy river called of Lucan (Rubicanis) there appeared to him an old ancient lady heavy and dreary in a mantel of black/ her face wimpled tofore in full dolorous wise: the tresles of her heed for age full hoar and white. And for constraint of her heartily woe: even upon the time when the black dark night had over spread their emyspery with the bordure of her ugly and her cloudy cope. This woeful lady tofore said began her lament able complaint to julius in this wise. ¶ Oh ye noble worthy knights most renowned of fame: Alas/ whether purpose ye with so mighty apparel of Mars to proceed/ or where cast ye to fytche your sturdy standards or to display your fearful pynons and banners. Oh alas against whom have ye cast finally to execute the mortal hate that brenneth in your heart/ or against wheme purpose ye in such cruel wise to prove your might. Remember in your thought that ye be upholden by the Senate of Rome? and yourself accompred as for noble and full worthy knights of the Cite/ and show not yourself now enemies to the Empire/ by whose worthiness afore time it hath been sustained & mightily supported against the assault of all her fone. ❧ And Oh alas advert and consider in your heart the noble and the prudent statutes of the policy of Rome/ the which full plainly doth crpresse that it is leeful unto no man for to pass the bonds of this stream: but if he be mortal enemy and tebell unto Rome. ❧ Now ye therefore that have so long bemn frendis/ and so many maintained the honour of the cite: withdraw your foot and haste not to fast: but let good deliberation restrain your reins that hasty wilfulness lead you not to confusion/ not only of yourself: but unto the original ruin of the Cite: by the abundant shedding of blood that is likely to ensue. ¶ And suddenly when this lady had briefly expressed the sum of her sentence without more she disapered. ¶ This manly man and fortunate knight julius in party dismayed of this uncouth appearance: restrained his host: and made them to fetch their tents endelong the strand upon the hinder parties of the river. ❧ And in his uncouth affray: he suddenly abraid: said in this wise.  
¶ Oh thou mighty jupiter under whose demayne Vulcanus forgeth the dreadful sows of the thunder: and causeth hertis to arise with the fire leaven: And oh ye god and goddesses that whilom had the governance of our aunceters in Troy: and oh ye noble gods Remus and Romulus the famous founders & mighly protectors and patrons of the Cite of Rome? I as humble subject unto your deite full lowly beseech and require you of equity and right to be well willy and favourable to promote my true quatell and cause/ and benyngly of your bounteous goodness to favour and fortune the high enterprise which of just title I purpose for life of death through your favour to execute/ and not as enemy nor rebel to Rome: but as a true Citizen and a proved knight cast me fully to persever. With condition that like as I have manly deserved: I may be received/ making a protestation that not as enemy but as full friend and subject to Rome I will be sound steadfast and true. ❧ ¶ Wherefore ye mighty and noble Senators of Rome I require you of right that ye nothing arecte nor ascrive to my guilt that I come with strong & mighty hand: that I enter the bounds of the imperial franchise. Making a full protestation that only with a clean conscience not entryked with none intent of evil meaning: that I come to you of full purpose to be received as for your friend and not as your foo. Requiring also to hold him (what so ever he be) for full enemy to your noble cite: that of will and intent laboureth to make discord atween us twain. For so that my meritory guerdon which that I have in my conquest justly deserved be not denied me: I am and ever will be: for life or death? a true knight to the Cite: to my lives end. ¶ And forthwith making no delay: like a Lion not dismayed nor afraid: first of all in his own person he passed the river/ the which river like as Lucan remembreth: the same time at the coming of Lezar: against his customable course: was raised on high into a great flood/ & all the white Snows of Alpies were resolved with the beams of Phebus where through the rivers in the valyes were raised so high that unneaths any man might pass. But julius of no uncouth adventures afraid/ but like a manly man fulwell assured in himself; in the presence of all his worthy knights: said in this wise. ¶ Here I leave behind all the old confederacies made betwixt Rome & me/ & here I leave all the friendship of old antiquity and only follow the traces of fortune: and of hole intent begin a rightful war: for cause only that by mediation of peace proffered in my side: I may not attain my title of right. ¶ And anon without more delation even upon the spring of the day: which of clerks is called Aurora: he unwarely with all worthy multitude of his knights entered in to the cite (called of Lucan) Arimye/ a cite partment to Rome/ and there he took first possession of the Empire: none so hardy to resist nor to withstand the fury of his sword/ and all this while the Romans standing in doubt to which party they should incline/ whether to Cezar or to Pompey. For of charity that they had ot their wives and their children and to the old statutes of the Cite/ they were favourable to Pompey/ and of dread that they had of Cezares sword: they stood in so great ambiguity: that they could not dame what was best to do. ❧ To how the mortal envy of twain was cause and occasion that/ that noble cite which had all the world in subjection/ and was called Lady and Empress of all regions was brought in to destruction. ❧ For in these two: first began the division which nuer after might perfectly be restored nor reconciled to unite/ whereby as seemeth unto men: that all prudent Princes which have the governance in provinces and Regions should take example what harm and damage it is/ and how final a destruction it is to be divided among themself. ❧ And for to ratify by more Auctentyke example how moche that unity more availeth than division I will shortly rehearse and example the which Valerie putteth/ and it is this. ¶ This author rehearseth that whilom when the Cite of Rome stood likely to have been divided of a debate that was newly begun among themself: there was a wise Philosopher among them: which of high diseressyon considered the great peril that was likely to fall and follow and though he would of wisdom void that might ensue. And in presence of all the senate and lords of the cite: he made bring forth an horse which had a long and a thick tail grown behind. And than he commanded the mightiest champion of the town to set on both his hands and ssaye if he might by force pull of the horse tail at a pluck. And albeit that he plucked to the uttermost of his might: it would not avail. ¶ And than anon this Philosopher made call to the presence of the Senate: the most impotent man of the Cite? a man unwieldy and crooked of age. And this Philiopher made this old man to pluck the one hear after another of the horse tail/ till by little and little: by ꝓces the tail was wasted cleneaway/ and the horse naked and bare behind. ¶ Behold said the Philosopher? That while the tail of the horse was hole and one in itself: and ever the hear with other (undivided) the mightiest champion of your Cite might do thereto no damage. But as soon as every hear was divided and dissevered fro other: he that was lest of power among ye all: left never till the tail was consumed & brought to nought ¶ By which example said the Philosopher? Prudently aducrte and wisely cast tofore: that as long as ye be ove in yourself and of one heart: there is none so strong nor so mighty that may avail by force to attempt your worthiness. But as soon as among yourself one is divided from another: your enemies: though they be full impotent of power: they shall by process of time pluck away the most fairest and the most sheen feathers of your worthiness. ¶ And by this example the Philosopher: ●oforesaid reconciled the Romans again to unite: and voided away division among themself. ¶ How compendiously to resort again to my matter like as the story maketh mention: the Romans standing in great contraversy among themself: to which party thgey should draw The gods by many signs and pronostications declared unto them the great mischief that was likely and very semblable to follow. ❧ For there appeared unto them many uncouth images of stars/ some in brenning haberions of fire. ¶ And some with bright brondꝭ in their hands casting flame environ. ¶ And some with fiery darts and sharp hooked arrows shooting in the air. ¶ And in especial there appeared a large Comet of streams the which reached their branches on the four plagues of the firmament. ¶ And the son also when he hone most bright in the meredionall plague: the day unwarlytourned to night. ¶ And the pale moan against the common course of her kind: suddenly she was clip said of her light. And further the dreadful Karibe●s of the see Cycyle was turned in to blood. All the hounds also: being in the bounds of Rome: left the noise of their barking/ and in sign of prognostication of great sorrow that was to come they howled and weymented that it was pity to here/ and the superstitious fire: which continually tofore was wont to bren in the chaste temple of the gods called Vesta: the flame of the same fire ever being bright upon her altars. Of the which fire: by old time was prophesied/ that as soon as it divided and departed atwene (as it did then) that the feasts and the solempnytes of Rome should cease. And like as the smokes of the funeral fire of the Theban brethren departed at Thebes: Right so the departng of fire upon their altars: was a true sign and a prognostic of division that should fall among themself finally to declare to every region that where as the fire of love and perfit charity stand departed and divided among themself it is a very evidence/ that without remedy it draweth to his destruction. Also an evident token that sudden mischief of division should follow: the foaming wawas of the see surmounted the height of Athlantys' hills. ¶ Also all the tithe images in the Temples of Rome: which were made of gold/ silver/ and divers other sundry metals: so as they stood in their rich & costly tabernacles: they were seen thilk time of division woefully complaining and weeping/ so farforth: that the tears of their eyen distilled a down into the earth/ to complain the desolation of their Cite only caused by occasion of their contageous division among themself. ¶ Birds also against the cuitome of their nature: were seen fleeing upon nights. And beasts also were herd speaking/ and women brought forth monstrous children. And all these uncouth wonders befell but a little tofore this foresaid division in the noble cite of Rome for the dreadful time approached full near of the which Cybyll so long had prophesied afore: when she sent the short sum of her sentemec to the Senators of Rome compendiously in the number of vi letters Three. R. R. R. and three. F. F. F. which were fully the prognostication of vi mischiefs that should of necessyre fall unto the cite of Rome: comprehended and included in the vi letters specified in this wise. ❧ Regna/ Rome/ Ruent. Fero/ Flamme/ Fame. The Region of Rome by three things shall draw to ruin. first by the sword of war among themself. And next by fire. And than by hunger. The which three mysthefes so contageously shall assail the Cite: that it shallbe veryunport able unto them. And the ground and ro●e of all this confusion shallbe among themself discord and division.  
¶ furthermore to declare sundry pronostications that fell in their Cite When the precstes made sacrifice to their gods: their fires suddenly quenched. ¶ In the graves and sepulchres of deed men: there were heard woeful and lamentable noises and sows which did put the people in very great dread. ¶ And in this wise the mischief and the ruin was showed and declared. ¶ first by divers figures and sundry likenesses of stars showed in the heaven. And next by wonderful monsters in the earth. ¶ Also the birds and the fowls of the air came homely and not afraid fleeing in to the Cite/ by the which sign their Clerks that be called Angures expounden it to their confusion. ¶ And they by many fold more signs than I may or can declare: the subversion of the Cite full long was showed toforne/ only bygon of this contageous division. ¶ But shortly to entreat the substance of the story when that Cezar with strong hand approached the bonds of Rome: after when he had won the Cite of Arimye: and had also conquered raven: and Pompey for fere was fled toward the parties of Grece to make himself strong. They of Rome had shortly determined in sentence that Cezar not enter the cite: but so were that his hole retinue were left behind. But when they knew & saw him so passingly mighty & strong/ they began to quaken in their hearts/ and namely when they were destitute of an heed. Of which and for that: some Dukes of Pompey drew them to the parties of italy into a Cite which whilom was called Dirachium. And ever this worthy knight julius with his chivalry pursued after/ and all that withstood he slew. And the remenaunte he put manly to flight. And day by day the power of Cezar 'gan multiply and increase. ¶ And maugre all his enemies: of very force he entered the Cite. And as some auctors express: when the Romans (for dread) were ready to receive him by their gates: he of indignation and disdain: made break the walls and proudly entered as a conqueror/ and justified the Romances as his. And wholly took on him the governance/ not only of the Cite: but of all the hole Empire. ¶ And maugre the Senate he broke the brazen door of their treasure/ and by violence took and taught it away/ and plenteously departed it among his knights. ¶ And in this mean while: full many kings of the east party of the world came and assembled before the foresaid Cite called Dirachium. Of intent to sustain the party of Pompey against julius. And as soon as there was made relation to julius Cezar of this great assemble: He made no delay: but with all his power passed by a country which of mine author is called Epirum. And so he entered in to the costs of thessaly/ where as he found Pompey: battled against him with four score Cohortes and eight/ departed in to three wards. ¶ Now to declare the number and the multitude of a cohort: ye shall understand that there been two manner of Cohortes/ the more: and the less. And the more by description of auctors/ containeth five hundredth/ and the less: four hundredth. There were also on the party of Pompey: forty thousand of foot men. And in the left wing/ there were beside all this/ two hundred knights on horseback. And in the right wing: there were .v. C. Among which as Vnicent in his mirror hystoriall maketh mind there were many kings and princes/ and many other worthy senators and knights of Rome which came in defence of Pompey. ¶ And as it is remembered also: Cezar had lxxx Cohortes'/ divided and departed in three wards. And with this he had xxx M. of foot men/ without passing great number of knights on horseback. And i this mortal battle all the party of Pompey were put to fleght and there were slain on his side xii M. and of worthyleders which be called Lenturians: were slain xxxiii And Pompey fled out of the fled/ and for refuge took a ship and passed by the bonds of Asye through Thyrye/ and arrived in Egypte. And there anon at his arivayle by the commandment of Tholome king of Egypte: he was beheaded only for love and favour of Cezar. ¶ And fro this victory this foresaid Cezar hasted to the parties of Syrye/ toward the mighty Cite of Alysaundre. And there Tholome king of Alysaundre held a battle with Cezar/ both on land and on water. In which war were slain xxii M. in the field. And xii hundredth Shypes discom fyted and drowned. ❧ And Tholome the king: as he would have fled out of a ship (for haste) he fell in to the see & was drowned. And as his body was cast to land: he was known and discovered by a guilt Haberion/ the which Haberion julius Cezar made to be sent unto the Cite of Alysaundre/ for dread of which: they of Alysaundre yielded the Cite unto him. ¶ Than he repaired again in to Egypte and by occasy on of the death of Tholome: he gave the sceptre and the Realm and the hole governance of Egyte unto the queen Cleopatra. ¶ And so after the conquest of many other provinces/ Regions/ and Lands: he made his repair again the second time unto the Cite of Rome. And there he did take upon him two offices/ both of counsel & of dictator. ¶ And from thence he went unto the Conquest of africa. And there began a new war. In especial against all the alliance and the blood of Pompey. And slew all the Dukes that were inclined to be favourable to the party of Pompey/ among which were slain three mighty princes/ Faustus/ Cilla/ & Postumus. And Pompeya the daughter of Pompey: judged to be deed. ¶ And from those parties he entered with a mighty and strong hand into Spain. And there (so as Suetonius writeth) he took upon him power to receive the tribute/ which on the party of Spain was due unto Rome. ¶ And so as this story maketh mention he proceeded so far in his conquest/ so that he came to the pillars of Gades. And there he entered in to the temple of the strong mighty Champion called Hercules. And when he beheld in the same temple a rich image of gold set up for a memory of king Alysaundre. ¶ Anon this Cezar 'gan to sigh and complain in himself: that he never might attain in his conquest to deserve so victorious a Palm of worthiness: as in their time did Alysaunder and Hercucules. ❧ And thus pensyble and heavy (he issuing out of the Temple of Hercules) fully purposed him i his courage: knightly to take upon him of manly courage: some new enterprises of high prowess And whiles that he was thus surprised in his best thought: The next night ensuing/ he had a wonderful vision: which was this. ☞ It seemed unto him in his sleep/ that he meddled with his own mother. Of the which dream he full greatly afraid and horribly agrised: made call to his presence/ his wise Philosophers and pivinours/ to give a plain and a clear interpretation upon his dream. ❧ And they anon concluded in short sentence that it was an evident sign that he should be fully put in possession to have the Imperial domination over all the world. For these prudent Philosophers understood nothing by the fleshly conjunction that he had with his mother: but a knot of alliance/ performed up between the earth and him. Understanding in their exposition: that the earth is primordial mother of all thing/ concluding thereby that he should attain to be lord & Emperor over all the parties of the earth. ¶ And thus in all haste after the mighty conquest of africa/ he repaired the third time to Rome. And was made Emperor over all the world. And was so farforth enhanced on height: that the Son of his worthiness was run so far upon his spear that it attained to the highest prick of his exultation. So that of necessity he must descend. ¶ For as the story maketh mention: he perceive red not in his Empire fully the space of five year. ¶ And for to rehearse compeudiously the prodigies and the wonderful signs that befell afore his death. ¶ It is remembered that the same year of julius death: In the isle of Capwey: there was found by Quarreours of the Country a Rich Tomb of Stone. And there in was found a little tablet of gold graven with letters of Greek/ saying in this wise. ¶: When ever it shall befall that the Tomb of Capys shallbe opened: and that his bonesshable unclosed/ that same year shall the noble and worthy conqueror julius Cezar be murdered in the Capytoly at Rome by the false conspiracy and imagination of them that he hath trusted most. ¶ Now was this foresaid Capys a worthy man and of great authority: and the first founder and begynnynger of the country of Capwey/ and named after him. And like as the letters in Greek specified it befell. ¶ And the second prodigy that befell tofore the death of Cezar: was this. ❧ Upon the same night tofore: that he was slain on the morrow: This noble Conqueror julius had a revelation. ❧ Seeming unto him in his sleep: that he was winged like an Egle. And how he took his fleght so high/ that he sored above the skies/ and approached to the Celestial see of jupiter: And fell down upon the right hand of his god. ¶ Another marvelous sign or prodigy there fell. ❧ Also his wife named Caliphurna: a little to fore the death of her lord julius: had a wonderful dream or vision/ seeming unto her when she was a sleep: That the most highest pinnacle of the Imperial palace: suddenly and unwarely fell down and thereupon incontinently all the windows of the chamber where she slept: without hand of any man/ suddenly broke a two their bars of iron and opened. ❧ Of which noise she being sore afraid in her sleep/ and of feminine dread full sore sighed in her heart: as she that could not conceive in mind what it meant. ¶ Also as Vnycent in his hystoriall books maketh mention: An hundred days before his piteous murder: in the large market place of Rome/ where as the stature and the great image of Cezar stood upon an high pillar of stone: the name of Cezar graven with letters of gold above his heed: when the wether and the attempre air was most clear and still/ with a sudden stroke of the fiery leaven/ the first letter of his name. C. was smitten away. Declaring by this prognostical sign that like as this letter. C. in number betokeneth an hundredth: and was also most craftily wrought and graven as for the chief capital letter of his name/ to show openly that the rasing away of this letter by violence of the fiery leaven: that he that was heed of all the earth/ within the space of a hundredth days next ensuing: should be vengeably murdered in Rome. ¶ Also the same day of his murder: as he went most rially in his Imperial array toward the consistory: a poor man named Tongilius took him letters of all the purposed conspiracy by the Senate upon his death. But for he was negligent to read the letters and to unclose them: the vengeable murder was execute upon him. ¶ By which example: let no man be slow nor negligent to read his letters/ lest after for his negligence it may turn him to great damage which after may not lightly be recovered. ☞ And the chief cause and worker of this murder: was Brutus Crassus'/ associed unto him two hundred and sixty of the Senate: all having Bodkyns in their sleeves. ❧ And as it is in story remembered: He had four and twenty deadly wounds as he sat in the Capytoly. And as sayeth mine author/ he never in all his smart: made nouther cry nor no noise/ except only a lamentable and a dolorous sigh like a man that with sudden sorrow were afraid. ¶ So that touching the vengeable manner of his piteous murder: I may conclude with him that was Flower of poets in our english tongue/ and the first that ever enlumined our language with flowers of rhetoric and of Eloquence. ❧ I mean my Master Chaucer/ which compendiously wrote the death of this mighty Emperor/ saying in this wise: as followeth. (⸬) ⸫ (/): ❧  
¶ With Bodkyns/ was Cezar Julius  
Wurdred as Rome/ of Brutus Crassus  
when many a region: he had brought full low  
Lo: who may trust fortune any thorough.  
THus by writing of my wise prudent master tofore said: The froward and the contrarious Lady Dame Fortune: spareth neither Emperor nor King/ to plunge him down suddenly fro the highest prick of her unstable wheel. ☞ Alas that never man list to lift up his hearts eye/ and prudently to advert the mutability and the sudden change of this false world. ❧ And let the wise governors of every land and region make a mirror in their mind of this manly man julius/ and consider in their hearts the contageous damages and the importable harms of division/ and let them see advisedly/ and take example how the ambitious pride of julius/ the fretting envy of pompeius/ and the unstaunchable greedy covetise of Marcus Crassus: were chief & primordial cause of their destruction. Executed and accomplished by cruel death. ❧ And not only that these aforesaid three abominable vices were cause of their own death only: but occasion of many a thousand other/ many more than I can tell. ¶ ⸫ Thus the Cite of Rome not only made bare and barren of their old riches/ and spoiled of their treasure on the ●one side: but destitute and besolate by death of their knighthood on the other side. ❧ Me seemeth aught enough suffice to exemplify what it is to begin a war: And specially to consider the trrecuperable harms of division. And for this skill (most especially by commandment of my master) I took upon me this little translation/ and after my little cunning: have put it in remembrance. ❧  
❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧  
¶: Thus endeth this little treatise entituled the Damage and destruction in Realms.  
Newly and of late Imprinted by me Roberte Redman.  
Dwelling at London in Flete street at the sign of the George.  


THis is little prose: declareth in figure  
The great damage: & destruction  
That whilom fell/ by fat all adventure  
Unto Rome/ the mighty roy all town  
Caused only/ by false Division  
Among themself/ the story telleth thus  
Through Covetise/ and vain Ambition  
Of Pompey: and of Cezar julius.   

¶ christ himself/ recordeth in scripture  
That every land/ and every region  
Which is divided/ may no while endure  
But turn in haste/ to desolation  
For which ye lord/ & prices of renown  
So wise/ so manly: and so virtuous  
Make a mirror/ tofore in your reason  
Of Pompey: and of Cezar julius.   

¶ Harm don by death/ no man may recure  
Against whose stroke/ is no redemption  
It is full hard/ in Fortune to assure  
Her wheel so oft/ turneth up & down  
And for to eschew/ strife and dissension  
Within yourself/ be not contrarious  
Remembering ay/ in your digression  
Upon Pompey: and Cezar julius.    
¶ FINISH.