¶ The serpent of division. Which hath ever been yet the chiefest undoer of any Region or City, set forth after the auctors old copy/ by I. S. Anno. M. D. L. IX. the. iiii. of May.    

¶ The Serpent of division.  
Whilom as old Books maketh mention, when the noble & famous city of Rome was most 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 city 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 Collatine's kindred and full assent of all the Cenate: the name of kings ceased in the City of Rome for evermore, and all the royal stock of the foresaid Tarquin was proscript & put in exile. And after by the prudent advise of the Cenate: the city was governed between counsellors/ 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 nobleness he was chosen one of the iii for to govern the city: assigned to him other two full renowned of knighthood/ julius Cezar, and Marcus Crassus, & thus was the name of counsellors turned into the name of dictators, which was that time an office partinent to princes to govern other. And for a special cause this office & this occupation of a dictator, by assent of all the whole Cenate was committed unto three, that if one offended, the other twain should be mighty & strong to correct the third. And another 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 themselves/ the nobles of Rome flowered in prosperity, but as soon as false covetous brought in pride & vain ambition, the contagious Serpent of division clipsed & appalled her worthiness, concluding sooth 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 city of Rome: the contagious covetous intermeddled with envy, on the party of Pompey: made the famous city of Rome fully waste and wild/ not only of their innumerable treasure, but caused them also to be full barren and desolate of their men/ where tofore of worthiness, of knighthood/ & of chivalry they were incomparable. And finally, the false division among themselves, was more importable unto than, and caunsed more the ruin of the City/ 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 ma●●er: ye shall first understand that Marcus Crassus was sent to the par●ies of the North with six legions of Knights against the king of Parthes'. And the manly man julius Cezar with other six legions of people was sent down, passing the great bonds of lombardy/ descending down by high Alpies/ and availing down by the large plague of Germany and of almain, till by conquest b● his manly ●orce and his mortal sword he brought all France into subjection/ and all the land of Burgoyn, Brabant, Flaunders, and Holland. In which conquest he continued till almost the space of his Lustre was wasted out that is to say, that was the space limited of the Romans, the which was called a Lustre, which is accounted the space of five year, and who so ever passed that space by occasion of any conquest, and not repaired again at his time set and limited of five year: he was foriudged anon and dempt as enemy & rebel unto the noble city of Rome. But this famous and manly man julius/ prudently deeming in his opinion that time lost while the Fortune is blandesshing and favourable through the contagious occasion of negligence and of sloth/ is afterward full hard for to be recovered. Wherefore of knighthod and manly prowess he did set the Romans' statutes aside, and fully purposed in his noble and knightly heart for to pass the bonds and the space of his Lustre, and to enforce himself with his ●●●ualrie to win the bonds 〈…〉/ and oversayle by force the west party of our Ocean. But for all his surquedous pride he was twice beaten of at his arrival, by the worthiness of the Britain king called Cassibelan. And plainly without favour to declare and specify the truth, he might never attain to arrive at his lust and pleasure, till this manly king Cassibelan and Androg●nes Duke of Cornwall fell at debate among themselves/ whereby I may conclude/ that whiles vn●tye and concord stood undefoyled and undivided in the bonds of Britain, the mighty conqueror julius was unable and impotent to vanquish them.  
By which ensample ye may evidently consider and see, that division like as is specified to forne, is original cause in provinces and Regions of all destruction. For when julius by favour of Androgenes recovered arrival into Britain, shortly after Cassibelan the manly king/ proudly and kinghtlye 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 Clarke Eusebius, that same day when julius and Cassybelan me● in the field/ this foresaid Cassybelan had a famous and a passing manly man to his brother, the which with his bloody mortal sword never ceased to ●lea and oppress the proud Roman knights/ so far forth 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 dispotion of fate julius with an unware stroke of his dreadful sword, rose him a twain. And because the story maketh no mention what this worthy knight ●ight: I find none other name 〈◊〉 him, but that he was brother unto the nob●e Briton king Cassibelan. The d●ath of whom Britons oughtful well to complain, by whose death julius was made victorious/ and Cassibelan 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 & victory julius Cezar edified in this land for a perpetual memory to put his name in remembrance, the castle of Dover and Caunturburie/ Rochester/ & the tower of London, the castle and the town of Cezarisbury, which now is called Salesburie. And moreover (as saith mine Author) he edified Cezaris Chester, that now is called Chichester, and the castle of Exeter. And in the mean while that Cezar thus proudly had wholly and entirely the governance of Brutus' Albion, his fellow Marcus Crassus (of whom tofore is made mention) was sla●ne in the East 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: Thèy made melt gold and poured it into his mouth/ saying to him in this wise (Aurum sitisti, aurum bib●▪) Thou haste thirsted gold all thy life/ now drink thy fill. Lo here ye may consider and see the short and the momentayne time transitory and not abiding of all the warryours. And as the story rehearseth also, as for lamentable kalends of more infortune that after should follow: Iu●ia the noble wife of Pompey, and daughter to julius died of a child. For which cause Pompeius pretended to find a cause to revoke julius again to Rome by assent of all the Senate/ to the intent that he should come in his own person to revenge in all hast the death of his fellow Marcus Crassus, as before is said so vengeablie slain in his conquest. This ●ame Pompey having a secret dread in his conceit lest that julius should wax so mighty in his conquest that he should not be equal of power, nor able to resist him in his repair, & dreading also in his imagination lest that julius would of presumptuous pride usurp by tyranny to take upon him the lordship and the domination of Rome. But this manly man Cezar adverting full prudently, and perceiving the fradul●nt meaning of Pompey on the one side/ and the compassed slight of the Cenate of that other side full advisedly gave answer again that 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 every to suspect other, & thus began to kindle the fire of envy, inducing successivelye war and debate among themselves/ and here upon without delay to execute their purpose/ and evidently to show the end of of their intent: Pompey & the Cenate of one assent without respite or deliberation, foriudged Cezar guilty, disobedient, rebel, and traitor to Rome/ and gave upon him a sentence definitive of exile and prescription for evermore. But julius not considering nor having no manner evidence ●e suspicion of that malicious conspiracy, that Pompey and the Cenate wrought against him: but all innocent and unknowledging of their envious malice/ by good and diligent deliberation of intent, did send his ambassadors, not only 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 city/ requiring & 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 antiquiti to be given to Conquerors, but that they would freely an● wilfully (uncompelled) grant him and put him in possession of the Palm/ and the Triumph which so long by knightly labour and manly diligence he had (for the increase and the augmentation of the common profit of all the Empire of Rome) traveled for. Then for to specify and declare the honour and 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 Uictours, which through their high renown and manly prowess had brought Regions and cities by way of knightly conquest to be subject and tributary to the Empire of Rome. The first of the three worships done to a Conqueror, was this: first at his repair unto the citi/ all the people of high estate and of low should with great joy and reverence in their best and 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 and manacled go round about environ his charet, some before & some behind. And the third worship done unto him was this: that he should be clad in a purpurate mantle of jupiter as God/ & sit with a crown of Laurer upon his head in a chariot of gold/ and about his neck a manner of a circle environ made of gold/ in similitude and likeness of a Palm. And if so that his conquest were performed and accomplished withoutes sword or shedding of blood/ than should the circle of the Palm be forged without pricks or pins. And if so were that his victory was finished by the cruel fate of war, than of custom this circle or his pectoral was forged all full of sharp pricking 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 adversity, and that either by death or else by poverty. And this royal and victorious chariot to foresaid, was drawn with four white steeds through the most royal streets of the City to the capitol, he having a sceptre in his handful richly devised/ and there upon in sign of victori an Eagle of gold. And to show clearly that all worldly glory is transitory and 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 and clad in the most ugly wise that any man could devise. And amid all the clamour and noise of the people/ to exclude the false surquedie, vain glory, and idle la●d, this foresaid fowl and ugly wretch should of custom and of consuetude smite the Conqueror in the neck ever & upon the head/ and stondemele saying to him in Greek this word (〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉) 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 Victor, what that he would/ whether it were of honour or worship/ of repre●e or of shame. And this was admitted for this cause/ that he should truly consider and advert that there is no earthly glory that fully may be assured without danger of fortune. And shortly to declare the difference between Triumphus and Trophe●m. Triumph is a full and a complener overcoming of enemies by battle, and Troph is when a man putteth his enemies to flight without stroke of sword. But touching this honour aforesaid which julius required and asked of right as for a guerdon, which him thought was meritory and 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, and said him platlie he should not be accepted there unto no such honour/ but plainly they bade him know that he had rather deserved to be dead, then to attain to any such worship, aledging against him that he was both rebel and traitor to the statutes of Rome. And when julius clearly conceived the short answer of the Cenate and of this Pompey to foresaid, there kindled a full great hot burning fire of envy in his heart of the fretting hate, specially, that he bore in his breast for to be revenged of Pompey. And as Lucan rehearseth in his poetical book, the denying of this worship to julius, was the chief ground and occasion of all the war that began in Rome/ root and beginning also of all the contagious division among themselves. But so as Lucan liketh to rehearse and specify in his book aforesaid among other causes that he put. Lie in especial writeth of three which were chief beginning and root of division among themselves/ proving by reason in those three that it must needs be that the felicity and 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 consue●udinarie. 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 sun/ when he ariseth in the Orient/ and by successive 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 then dimmeth & darkeneth our emysperie by ablence of his light: And also eke when the same golden wain of Titan/ fro the Ariet is whirled up to the highest tower of his ascension in the celestian sign of the Crab, and than by the mighty compelling of Nature's right, he is constrained to descend down and avail his chariot: Right so sembla●lye there is no worldly worship so bright nor clear shining in earth/ but that it must incline & avail down as soon as he hath attained to the highest & the most famous point of his ascension. For like as the rage & the abundant flow, when it hath reached his sturdy waves to the highest, sodenli followeth an 〈◊〉 & maketh him to resort again.  
In the same wise when any temporal prosperity is most flowing in felicity/ then is a sudden ebb of adversity most to be adrade. Also in the same wise as ye may clearly discern & consider at the eye/ in trees and herbs/ that when the vege●atife virtue by the comfortable influence of the sun/ is after the cold winter: In Uerre by little and little ascended into branches and bows, and causeth them for to bud and to blossom new: and also in herbs maketh a lusty and a fresh colour newly to appear. And moreover by process of time with her wholesome balm aparaleth them, with manifold sundry colour of red/ white, and green, and than anon after in discence of Apollo the sun, the same virtue fro the crop availeth again into the root. Right so there is no felicity so flowering, nor none so appareled with blossoms of transitory riches, but as soon as the shi●ing Sun of her glory sheddeth his beams most clear, full unwarelie ere they can advert or take heed/ been rob and reaved of their Lordship/ and pio●nged a down by occasion of some adversity, brought and induced into adversity, either by sickness or by death. And thus that the first cause is natural and necessary and that all worldly pomp and pride shall pass, mine Auctor Lucan hath proved by reason. Than as touching the second cause which is called customable and consuetudinarie, 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 wheel, 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 city/ Lucan liketh to call it 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 them list not to know themselves/ but thought themselves 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 every of them deeming himself equal to other. And thus of contrarious discord among themselves only of voluntari they stood dissevered and divided/ which was one of the chief occasions of their destruction. And for this sill toforne declare●/ 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 consuetudinarie, showed tofore by example of custom/ and by this last third cause called voluntary, rooted only upon will: the Romans among themselves stood in such● controversy, that they doubted to which party they should incline. And compendiouselye to declare how all the●e causes of division, and how the war which of Clerks is called Bellum Civil: which is as much to say in English as a war among themselves. For the clear compendious process of which/ first ye shall consider that julius platlye informed of the malicious conspiracy compassed and wrought against him. Anon as he in his repair out of Albion was passed the bonds of Almaigne, and had attained to the high Alpies/ which of ●uctours been called the cold frosty hills/ & the bonds of Lombardie, and so holding his passage by the stood of the sturdy river called of Lucan (Rubicavis) there appeared to him an old ancient Lady, heavy and dreary in a mantle of black her face wimpled tofore in full dolorous wise, the tresses of her head for age full hoar and white. And for constraint of her heartily woe: even upon the time when the black dark night had overspread their emispery with the bordure of her ugly & her cloudy cope. This woeful Lady tofore said, began her lamentable 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 procede● Or where cast ye to fetch your sturdy standards, or to display your fearful pinons and banners? Oh alas/ against whom have ye cast finally to execute the mortal hate that brenneth in your heart, or against whom purpose ye in such cruel wise to prove your might? Remember in your thought that ye be upholden by the Cenate of Rome, and yourself accounted as for noble and full worthy knights of the the city/ and show not yourself now enemies to the Empire, by whose worthiness afore time it hath been sustained and mightily supported against the assa●t of all her ●one. And oh alas adverse & consider in your heart the noble and the prudent statutes of the polycie of Rome/ the which full plainly doth express that it is leeful unto no man for to pass the bounds of this stream, but if he be mortal and rebel unto Rome. Now ye therefore that have so long been friends, and so manly maintained the honour of the City, 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 city/ by the abundant shedding of blood that is likely to ensue. And suddenly when this Lady had briefly expressed the some of her sentence, without more she disapered. This manly man and fortunate knight julius in party dismayed of this vnco●the appearance, restrained his host/ & made them to fetch their tents endlong the strand upon the hindre parties of the river. And in his vncou●he affray, he suddenly abraid said in this wise: Oh thou mighty jupiter/ under whose demain Uulcanus forgeth the dreadful sounds of the thunder, & causeth hearts to arise with the fiery leaven: And oh ye Gods & Goddesses that whilom had the governance of ou● Aunceters' in Troy, & oh ye noble Gods Remus & Romulus, the famous founders & the might● protectors & patrons of the city of Rome: I as humble subject unto your deitiful lowlis beseech & requir you of equiti & right to be well willing & favourable to promote my true quarrel & cause, & benignly of your bounteous goodness to favour & fortune the high enterprise which of just title I purpose for life or d●th through your favour to execute & not as enemy or 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 found steadfast and true. Wherefore ye mighty and noble Senators of Rome I require you of right that ye nothing arect nor ascrive to my guilt that I come with strong & mighty hand, that I enter the bonds of the imperial franchise. Making a full protestation that only with a clean conscience not entriked with none intent of euell● meaning/ that I come to you of full purpose to be received as for you friend, and not as your foe. Requiring also to hold him (what so ever he be) for full enemy to your noble city, that of will & intent laboureth to make discord a●wene us twain. For so that my meritory guerdon which that I have in my conquest instlie deserved be not denied me: I am and ever will be for life or death, a true knight to the city 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 Cezar/ against his customable course was raised on height into a great flood, and all the white snows of Alpies were resolved with the beams of Phoebus'/ whe● through the rivers in the valeis were raised so high that unneaths any man might pass. But julius of none uncouth adventures afraid/ but like a manly man full well assured in himself in the presence of all his worthy knights said in this manner: Here I leave behind, all the old confederacies made betwixt Rome and me/ and here I leave all the friendship of old antiquity/ and only follow the traces of Fortune/ and of whole intent begin a rightful war/ for cause only that by mediation of peace was proffered in my side, I may not attain my title of right. And anon without more dilation even upon the springe of the day/ which of Clerks is called Au●ora: he unwarely with all worthy multitude of his knights entered into the city (called of Lucan) Ar●●ie, a City partinent to Rome, & there he took first possess● on of the Empire/ none so hardi to resist nor to withstand the furi of his sword/ & 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 to their wives & their children, & to the old statutes of the city they were favourable to Pompey/ & of dread that they had of Cezars' sword, they stood in ●o great ambiguicie, that they could not dame what was best to do. Lo how the mortal enui of twain was cause & occasion that that noble city which had all the world in subjection, & was called lady & Empress of all Regions was brought into destruction. For in these two first began the division which never after might parfitlie be restored nor reconciled to unity, wherbi as seemeth unto men that all prudent princes which have the governance in Provinces and regions should take example what harm & damage it is, & how final a destruction it is to be divided among themselves And for to ratify by more authentic example how much that unity more availeth then division, I will shortly rehearse an example, the which Ualerie putteth/ and it is this. This author rehearseth that whilom when the City of Rome stood likely to have b●ne divided of a debate that was newly begun among themselves. There was a wise Philosopher among them, which of high discretion considered the great peril that was likely to ●al and follow, & thought he would of wisdom void that might ensue. And in presence of all the Cenate and Lords of the City/ 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 assay if he might by force pull of the horse tail at a pluck. And all ●e it 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 Cenate/ the most impotent man of the city, a man unwieldy and crooked of age. And this Philosopher made this old man to pluck the one hereafter an other of the horse tail, till by little and little by process the tail was wasted clean away, 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 everich here with other (undivided) the mightiest champion of your city might do thereto no damage. But as soon as every here was divided and dissevered fro other, he that was lest of power among ye all/ left never till the tail was consumed and brought to nought. By which example said the Philosopher, prudently advert & wisely cast tofore, that as long as ye be one in yourselves/ & 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 yourselves one is divided from an other, 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 toforesaid reconciled the Romans again to unity, & voided away dit vision among themselves. Now compendiously to resort again to my matter like as the stori maketh mention/ the Romans standing in great controversy among them selves to which party they should draw, the Gods by many signs & 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 brands in their hands casting flame environ/ and some with fiery darts & 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 sun also when he shone most bright in the meridional plague, the day unwarelie turned to night. And the pale moon against the common course of her kind: suddenly she was eclipsed of her light. And further the dreadful karibeiss of the sea Cicile was turned into blood. All the Hounds also being in the bonds ●f Rome, left the noy●e of their barking/ and in sign of pronostication of great sorrow that was to come, they howled and we imented that it was pity to hear/ and the superstitious fire which continually tofore was wont to burn in the chaste temple of the Gods called Uesta, the flame of the same fire ever being bright upon her auters. Of the which fire by old time was prophesied/ that as soon as it divided and departed at wain (as it did then) that the feasts and the solempnities of Rome should cease. And like as the smokes of the funeral fire of the Theban brethren departed at Thebes: right so the departing of fire upon their altars, was a true sign and a pronostike of division that should fall among them, finally to declare to every region tha● where as the fire of love and perfect charity stand departed and divided among themselves/ it is a very evidence that without remedy it draweth to his destruction. Also an evident token ●hat sudden mischief of division s●ould follow/ the foaming waves of the sea surmounted the height of Athlantis hills. Also all the rich images in the Temples of Rome: which were made of gold/ silver, and divers other sundry metals: so as they stood in their rich and costly tabernac●es, they were seen th●●ke time of division woefully complaining and weeping/ so farforthe that the tears of their eyen distilled a down into the earth, so complaining the desolation of their City/ only caused by occasion of their contageous division among themselves. Birds also against the custom of their nature, were secne fleeing upon nights. And beasts also were heard speaking, and women brought forth monstrous children. And all these uncouth wonders befell but a little tofore the foresaid division in the noble City of Rome/ for the dreadful time approached full near/ of the which Cibyll so long had prophesied afore, when she sent the short sum of her sentence to the Cenatours 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 necessity fall unto the city of Rome, comprehended and included in the vi letters specified in this wise/ Regna Rome Ruent, Fero flame Fame, The Region of Rome by three things shall draw to ruin: first by the sword of war among themselves/ and next by fire, and than by hunger. The which three mischiefs so contagiouslie shall assail the city: that it shallbe very unportable unto them/ and the ground and root of all this confusion shall be among themselves discord and division. Furthermore to declare sundry pronostications that fell in their city when the Priests made sacrifice to their Gods: their fires suddenly quenched. In the graves and sepulchres of dead men, there were heard woeful and lamentable noises and ●owndes 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 come homely and not afraid fleinge into the City/ by the which sign their Clerks that be called Augurs, expounden it to their confusion. And they by many fold more signs than I may or can declare, the subversion of the City full long was showed toforne, only begun by this contageous division. But shortly to entreat the substance of the story, when that julius with strong hand approached the bonds of Rome: after when he had won the city of Arimy: and had also conquered raven: and Pompey for fear was fled toward the parties of Grece to make himself strong: They of Rome had shortly determined in sentence that julius not enter the City, but so were that his whole retinue were left behind. But when they knew and saw him so passingly mighty and strong: they began to quaken in their hearts, and namely: when they were destitute of an head. Of which and for that, some Dukes of Pompey drew them to the parties of Italy into a city which whilom was called Dirachium. And ever this worthy knight julius with his chivalry pursued after, and all that withstood he slew/ and the remnant he put manly to flight. And day by day the power of julius 'gan multiply and increase/ and maugre all his enemies of very force he entered the city. And as some auctors writ/ 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 Romans as his, and wholly took on him the governance/ not only of the city/ but of all the whole Empire. And maugre the Cenate he broke the brazen door of their treasure, and by violence took and ●aught 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 city 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 into iii wards. Now to declare the number & the multitude of a cohort: ye shall understand that there be two manner of Cohortes, the more, & the less. And the more by description of auctors, containeth five hundred, and the less four hundred. There were also on the party of Pompey, forty thousand of foot men/ and in the left wing there were beside all this, six hundred knighes on horseback. And in the right wing there were .v. C. among which as Unicent in his mirror historical maketh mind there were many kings and princes/ and many other worthy Cenatoures and knights of Rome which came in defence of Pompey. And as it is remembered also/ caesar had lxxx Cohortes, divided & departed in three wards. And with this he had thirty. M. of footmen, without passing great number of knights on horse back. And in this mortal battle/ all the party of Pompey were ●ut to flight, and there were slain on his side xii M. and of worthy ●eders which be called Centurians, were slain xxxiii And Pompey fled out of the field, and for refuge took a ship and passed by the bonds of A●ie through Thyrye/ and arrived in Egypt. And there anon at his arrival by the commandment of Tholome king of Egypt, he was beheaded only for love & favour of julius. And fro this victory this foresaid julius hasted to the parties of Syrye/ toward the mighty City of A●yzaundre. And there T●olome king of Alizaundre held a battle with julius Cezar, both on land and on water. In which war were slain xxii M. in the field/ and xii, hundred ships dyscom●ited and drowned. And Tholome the king/ as he would have fled out of a ship (for haste) he fell in to the sea and was drowned. And as his body was cast to land/ he was known and discovered by a guile haberion, the which haberion julius Cezar made to be sent unto the city of Alizandre/ for dread of which they of Alizandre yielded the city unto him. Than he repaired again into Egypt/ and by occasion of the death of Tholome he gave the Sceptre and the Realm and the whole governance of Egypt 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 City of Rome/ and there he did take upon him two offices, both of Consul & of dictator. And from thence he went unto the conquest of Affcike 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, & Pompeia, the daughter of Pompey judged to be dead. And from those parties he entered with a mighty and strong hand in to Spain/ and there (so as Suetonins 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●e in his conquest, so that he came to the pillars of Gad●s, and there he entered into the Temple of the strong mighty champion called Hercu●es. And when he beheld in the same Temple a rich image of gold/ set up for a memory of king Alizaundre: anon this Cezar 'gan to sigh and complain in his self that he never might attain in his conquest to deserve so victorious a Palm of worthiness as in their time did Alisaunder and Hercules. And thus pensible and heavy (he issuing out of the Temple of Hercules) fully purposed him in 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 hard 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 Philosopher's and Divinours'/ 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 primordinall mother of all thing/ concluding thereby that he should attain to be Lord and 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 sun of his worthiness was ●unne so fa● upon his spear, that it attained to the highest prick of his exaltation, so that of necessity he must descend. For as the story maketh mention/ he persevered not in his Empire fully the space of five year. And for to rehearse compendiously 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 therein 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 Capis shall be opened, and that his bones shallbe unclosed: that same year shall the noble & worthy Conqueror julius Cezar be murdered in the capitol at Rome by the false conspiracy and imagination of them that he hath trusted most. Now was this foresaid Capis a worthy man and o● great Authority, and the first Founder and beginner 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 Eagle, and how he took his flight 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. An other marvelous sign or prodigy there fel. Also his Wife named Caliphurna a little tofore the death of her Lord julius, had a wonderful dream or 〈◊〉/ seeming vn●o her when she was a sleep, that the most highest Pinnacle of the imperial palace, suddenly & unwarly fell down, ● there upon incontinentli all the windows of the Chamber where she slept, wi●h out 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 a feminive dread full sore sighed in her heart as she that could not conceyne in mind what it meant. Also as Unicent 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 head, when the wether & the attemper 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 hundred/ & 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 head of all the earth, within the space of a hundred days next ensuing, should be vengeabli murdered in Rome. Also the same day of his murdre as he went most royally in his Imperial array toward the Consistory, a poor man named Tong●lius took him letters of all the purposed conspiracy by the Cenate 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 ii hundred and sixty of the Cenate, all having bodkins in their sleues. And as it is in story remembered, he had xxiiii deadly wounds as he sat in the capitol, and as saith mine author/ he never in all his smart/ made neither 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 Eloquence, I mean my master Chaucer, which compendiously wrote the death of this mighty Emperor, saying in this wise, as followeth hereafter in these lines of metre. 
¶ With bodkins was Cezar julius,  
Murdered at Rome by Brutus Crassus  
when many a region he had brought lov  
Lowho may trust fortune ani throw   
¶ Thus by writing of my wise prudent master tofore said: the fro ward 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 life to lift up his heart's 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, & consider in their hearts the contagious damages, and the importable harms of division, and let them see advisedly, and take example how the ambicous pride of julius, the fretting envy of pompeius, and the unstaunchable greedy covetise of Marcus Crassus, were chief and primordial cause of their destruction, executed & 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 City of Rome not only made bare and barren of their old riches, & spoiled of their treasure on the tone side, but destitute and desolate by death of their knyghthoode on the other side/ me seemeth aught enough suffice to exemplify what is to begin a war/ and specially to consider the irrecuperable 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 entitled: the Serpent of division, made by john Lydgate.   

¶ The declaration of this tragical History in this little Book.  

THis little prose declareth in figure  
The great damage & destruction,  
That whilom fell, by fatal adventure  
Unto Rome the mighty royal town  
Caused only by false Division,  
Among themselves, the story telleth thus,  
Through Covetous, 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 Lords and Princes of renown,  
So wise, so manly, and so virtuous,  
Make a mirror tofore in your reason,  
Of Pompey and of Cezar julius.   

¶ Harm done 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 and down,  
And for to eschew strife and dissension,  
Within yourselves be not contrarious,  
Remembering aye in your discretion,  
Upon Pompey and Cezar julius.   
FINIS.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Owen Rogers dwelling in Smithfielde/ by the Hospital in little S. Bartelmewes'.