Prologus  

To raise a tour so high so large and long   

For to this day touching the great might  
Of this tour which babel men yet call  
Men fro far may have thereof a sight  
It surmountith other tours all  
Of which work thus it is bifall  
Of serpents and many a great dragon  
It is no we called chief habitation   

That noman dare as they it see  
For wicked eyre and for corruption  
By a great space and in a great country  
Approach nor near that marvelous dungeon  
So venomous was that mansion  
And so horrible that noman dare approach  
Like to a mountain builded on a roche   

And as men say that had thereto repair  
This tour atteynith unto the stars clear  
And transendeth the region of the air  
The stones and the syment were made of such matter  
And the joining so steadfast and entire  
Though fire and water both did it asseyle  
But little or naught their power should avail   

It was made so mighty to endure  
So well assured by disposition  
That in this world no living creature  
Saw never none like in comparison  
Whoos rering up was chief occasion  
And the riches of the masonry  
Were through Nembrothe of pride and surquedie   

deemed proudly as in his avice  
He transcended all other in noblesse  
Thought himself most mighty and wy●e  
Fellow to god as by likeness  
But god that can all worldly pride oppress  
And make princes eclypsen in their glory  
such as trust in things transitory   

The same lord of his eternal might  
This tour which Nembroth list to edify  
He made with thunder and levyn light  
Thereof to fall a full great party  
The boistous winds and the rage sky  
And god's power on that other side  
Bygan thus abate a peril of his pride   

And in discente and falling of the stonies  
Of the workmen full many a man was deed  
And oppressed their back broken and bones  
The masonry with their blood was red  
Yet proud Nembrothe that of this work was heed  
With all these signs his lord he list not know  
For which his pomp was after brought full low   

But in his error procedith forth of new  
Thought he would get himself aname  
Of melancholy can change look and hew  
And began also to tempt and atame  
For to encreas and magnify his fame  
A new tour to edify again  
Like as god had been blind and nothing seen   

He would have reached up to the sterrys seven  
By th'assent of them that can him first counsel  
robbed god and from him reached the hewyn  
But who presumith the lord above t'assail  
It were no reason that he should avail  
Princes may well against him cry loud  
But his power may elipse with no cloud   

For in the mids of his great emprises  
This proud Nembroth making his masons  
For to cumpas and cast their devices  
Geometries in their divisions  
But god that hath his aspeccious  
saying thententis of every earthly man  
As he that is most mighty and best can   

Against their malice make resistance  
Their worldly power their domination  
Of his vengeable and most magnificence  
He can chastise and ovir whelm down  
The pride of princes in every region  
By ensample of Nembrothe as ye shall here  
Whose pomp reached above the stars clear   

For when his workmen stood at a avantage  
And most were busy to his intention  
And before that time spoke all one language  
All suddenly by transmutation  
There was of tongues made a division  
That in their wyrking as they can obreyde  
No man witted what that other said   

And it is likely according with reason  
So as change was made of their languages  
So of their hearts was made division  
Both of their will and of their courages  
And in ascending of their working stages    


There was such change of brother unto brother  
Like strangers noon knew th'intent of other   

Mine author trowith that this adversity  
Was for their gilt caused by vengeance  
Or else god of right and equity  
Disposith hath in his ordinance  
To be among them so great a vareaunce  
That through the world they should themself divide  
And for Nembroth dissever and not abide   

They gan anon among themself disdain  
To accept this Nembroth for their king  
And among forsooth there was not twain  
Don of another that had clear knowing  
Neither of their speech that knew the pleyne meaning  
For which the country of sennaar they forsook  
And e●● of them asundry country took   

They ●●●●yd and made no longer space  
Following the fortune of their division  
And began to chief them a new dwelling place  
In the parties of many aregion  
And thus Nembroth was prived and put down  
And of babel the mighty famous tour  
He was called no longer possessor   

For against the pride of this Nembroth  
froward fortune 'gan her course to vary  
And god also was in manner wroth  
Of surquedie that he was so contrary  
And for the place was wild and solitary  
Of this sennaar & furious savage  
Nembroth 'gan to feeble and fall in great age   

And yet sum books of him specify  
He wax froward of his condition  
And was first ground of idolatry  
And finder up of false religion  
Causing people to have an opinion  
Gods to worship in paynims wise  
Founder of rights and of false sacrifice   

Toward pierce cheese his dwelling place  
The which country is in the orient  
That his lordship should stretch a great space  
He bounded him into the occident  
For Perce land hath his extent  
Toward the parties of the red see  
And this land Perce who so list to see   

As bochas old remember and put in mind  
How that pierce costith environ  
Septemtrion and the great ynde  
And many an other mighty region  
Where Nembroth had first domination  
Which extendith as books specify  
Out of meed into Garmanye   

But in lordships as mine author saith  
Without that virtue be there true guide  
In them there is surance none ne faith  
Thing that passeth may no while abide  
Wherefore bochas in aspyte of pride  
And in rebuking of all folks proud  
Making his complaint crieth to them full loud   

¶ An exclamation of bochas again all proud men showing how god may them and their pride when him best lift by many divers means and ways punish and chastise  

yE all proud most rial in your flowers  
Which that most trust to reign long  
Dressith up your roches and your towers  
And against god make yourself strong  
And let your power proudly underfang  
Yourself with pride for to magnify  
Against the heaven to hold the champarty   

Bildyth up your castles raise them up on height  
Of ademanties with iron strong ybound  
With square stonies large and huge of height  
Raise up your walls most mighty and profound  
And shut your dungeons with mighty chains round  
let men of arms who evir wake or sleep  
Night and day your watch so straightly keep   

As god ne man in your opinions  
Your fortresses might not assail  
Your castles ne your strong dungeons  
Stuffyd with men and plenty of victual  
Like to stand evir and nevir for to fa●le  
As god not might ayenss your false puissance  
when evir him list of right to do vengeance   

Set afore your iyens that been blind  
The monst●●●ous work of great babilone  
The pride of Nembrothe there was put behind  
Maugre his might and his tower smyre down  
For all the craft of workmen and mason  
Destroyed was with a sudden levene  
To avenge his pride sent adown fro heaven   

For though your strengthiss so assured be  
That none engine may thereto attain  
Gun ne br●mberd by no subtlety  
Shot of arowblast ne touch of dundayne  
Yet god that is lord and sovereign  
Which liche deserts can both spill and save  
May confunde with an earth quave   

Mine author asketh what castle or what tour  
May be so strong made in any wise  
But that by mean of sum false traitor  
Or by sum way that he can devise  
It may be lost or sold for covetise  
And delivered for all the strong bonds  
Into the power of enemies hands   

Or by sum other sudden adventure  
Castellys and cities and many aryche town  
Have be lost they might not them assure  
For to reciste against false treason  
Sum have be lost also by rebellion  
And all these means the truth to begin  
Is but punishing which god sent for sin   

God hath a thousand hands to chastise  
A thousand darts of punition  
A thousand bows made in diverse wise  
A thousand arowblastes bend in his dungeon  
Ordained echon for castigation  
But where he findeth meekness and repentance  
Mercy is mistress of his ordinance   

You that been wise considereth how the rote  
Of vicis all is pride ye may well see  
Pullith him down and puttith underfoot  
And taketh your counsel of humility  
And if ye list to stand in surety  
buildeth in heart for more sickerness  
A tour of virtues grounded on meekness   

Whose masonry is of no costage  
Of virtues ground and sovereign  
●lastys of winds and of wedres rage  
Neither no tempest hasty ne sudden  
Pomp ne blast though they do their pain  
This virtue meekness for to undermine  
They be to feeble to make her to incline   

For where meekness is grounded verily  
Though he sometime feel adversity  
He ●ssith ovir and suffereth patiently  
And venquisshith all manner enmite  
The assault also and the contrariosite  
Of infortune and of worldly trouble  
And of victory conquerith a palm double   

And though meekness amyddies the floods flow  
Of worldly mischief and persecution  
while paciens in her boat doth row  
Though froward wawesposse her up and down  
A calm shall follow of consolation  
When stern winds their blasts have laid low  
The name of meekness shall show & be well know   

She may be troubled but ovircomme nevir  
And for a time she may suffer wer●e  
But at the end she venquisshith evir  
On land and see whedre she be near or fe●re  
To the haven of life she was the load star  
I take record of the humility  
Of marry so blyssyd moot she be   

The root of meekness flourith up so fair  
Whose beauty dreadeth no tribulations  
In summer winter her flowers not apeyre  
And her fruit lastyth in all manner scasons  
Pride may asseyle with his bostful sows  
And finally for her increase of glory  
With humbleness she wynnith the victory   

Lenuoye  

O folks all that this tragedy's read  
Haveth to meekness among your advertence  
Of proud Nembroth also taketh heed  
How that he fill from his magnificence  
Only for he by sturdy violence  
List of malice the mighty lord assail  
But in such case what might his pride aveyle   

Noble princes which this world do possede  
You that be famous of wisdom and science  
And have so many subiettis that you dread  
In governance under your excellence  
Let your power with meekness so dispense  
That false pride oppress not the poreyle  
Which to your nobles so much may avayel   

Pride of Nembroth did the bridal lead  
Which him conveyed with great insolence  
Pride aperteyneth nothing to manhood  
Save in arms to show his presence  
Wherefore honour laud and reverence  
Be to meekness that hath the governaile  
Of all virtues which man may most avail     

¶ How many years was bitwixte Adam and Nembroth and bitwixte Nembroth and Cadmus and of other kings  

THese old poets with their saws swear  
Full covertly in their verse do feign  
How old saturn was summetyme king of Crete  
And of custom did his busy pain  
And of his goodness life to ordain  
That he should as of his nature  
E●h●on devour as by his engendrure   

In this matter shortly to sojourn  
To understand of poets the process  
They mean plainly at this word saturn  
Doth in itself nothing but time express  
And philosophers bear also witness  
That as in time forth every thing is brought  
So time againward bringyth every thing to naught   

clerks also record in their writing  
under support as I dare rehearse  
How that fire wasteth every thing  
And iron herd doth nesshe things pierce  
If aught abydith that they may not transuerce  
Yet cometh time and by continuance  
And all consumeth with his sharp lance   

His sharp tooth of consumption  
In s●yll wise doth his busy cure  
For to aventissh in conclusion  
All thing that is brought forth by nature  
By long abiding ye may them not azure  
For old things devoured men may see  
Far out of mind as they nevir had be   

Who can or may remember in any wise  
The glorious prowess of these princes old  
Or the noblesse of philosopher's wise  
Or of poets their feigning to unfold  
Process of yeries alas as I you told  
devoured hath their name and their noblesse  
darked their renown by forgetfulness   

Thus of their names is left no memory  
Time with his rasor hath done so great vengeance  
shaven away the honour and the glory  
Of many noble full mighty of puissance  
That there is left now no remembrance  
Of princes/ poets/ ne philosopheres  
For when that death nailed them in their cofres   

came time upon and by process of years  
Their memory hath dusked and their mind  
And revolution of the heavenly speries  
By often turning their glory hath left behind  
Thus every thing which subject is to kind  
Is in this life without more advantage  
wasted with time and process of language   

In the first time from adam to No  
Prudente Listirs which list in books to read  
Fond of fortune no mutability  
Neither of her change they took though none heed  
But from adam there reckoned been in deed  
Unto Nembroth by turning of the heaven  
A thousand yeries seven hundred and elevene   

In which space who that considereth well  
There been no things written in especial  
dign of memory ne speaken of never addle  
Which that been notable ne historical  
But for the time Nembroth had a fall  
Unto cadmus the years to contene  
They were a thousand/ iiii hundred/ and xiiii   

Touching this Cadmus as bochas list indite  
It is rehercid by rethoriens  
how one vixoses in books as they write  
Was made first a king of the egipciens  
When philosophers and nigromanciens  
began first to abound their renown to advance  
Nachor that time having the governance   

Of the ebrewes as made is mention  
After nembroth by true rehersaile  
Three hundred year by computation  
Four score and xii which time it is no fail  
That vixoses began wars and great battle  
Of volunte against strange nations  
And to conquer cities borrows and towns   

By force only without title of right  
He wan all egypt to increase his nane  
Butt for all that who list to have a sight  
There is now left no report of his fame  
Save bochas writeth how he first did attain  
His mighty conquest of intention  
That the glory and the high renown   

Ascryved were unto his worthiness  
And the residue and surplusage  
Of gold and treasure of good and of riches  
Turn should to common advantage  
Of all his people that every manner age  
Report might it was to him more near  
Above singularite his common to prefer   

Also thomas of cithi● first king  
When sarnek was duke and sovereign  
Ouir the jews by record of writing  
Two hondrithe year lx also and twain  
After Nembroth this thomas 'gan ordain  
A mighty power and a strong battle  
them of cithie proudly to assail   

conquering from thence unto the isle  
called Ponte in full cruel wise  
And thought his lordship last not but a while  
All that he won was for covetise  
And as bochas doth of this folk devise  
Process of years for all their great puissance  
Hath put their names out of remembrance.   

zorastres' also for all his great might  
Of bactrians king and possessor  
Lord of trace and a full mighty knight  
Of all his dediss and his great labour  
Of his conquest ne of great honour  
Is nothing left of writing us biforne  
Save that he louhg the hour that he was borne   

He began full soon for to be merry  
With sudden laughter at his nativity  
And worthy Ninus that was king of Assirie  
impounded his laughter to great felicity  
The which Ninus won many a fair country  
And day by day his power 'gan encreas  
For which he would not of his conquest cease   

For this is the manner of these conquerors  
When they have had in arms victory  
They do their might their pain and their labours  
With new emprisies to be put in memory  
For their courage surprised with vain glory  
Can not be still content in their estate  
Till their paradie say to them check mate   

Fortune of arms in books ye nay read  
With a falls laughter on folks though she shine  
She frowerd evir or they can take heed  
Of nature will falsely them beguile  
Conquest by were lastyth but a while  
For who by death doth sturdy violence  
God will by death his vengeance recombence   

This worthy ninus 'gan mightily prevail  
Against zorastres of whom I spoke tofore  
For he with him fought last in batayel  
In which ninus hath him so well y bore  
That zorastres hath the field y lore  
And he was author as books specefy  
Of false magik and necromancy   

He fond the nature of every element  
Their kindly working and their mutations  
The course of stars and of the firmament  
Their influences their dispositions  
Their aspertes and their conjunctions  
Wrote in pilers devised of metal  
The six sciences called liberal   

Also in pilers of break full herd ybake  
Where were up set long large and huge  
He began also writ them and under take  
To make them sure as for their refuge  
That they should by flood ne deluge  
defaced been as of their scripture  
But in their graving perpetual endure   

But though zorastres these crafts out fond  
Full little or naught it might to him avail  
And though he were a good knight of his hand  
He was of ninus slain in battle  
Lost his realm and rial apparel  
And ninus died within a little throw  
But in what wise the story is not know   

Also moydes king of sodomee  
I find of him no memory by writing  
Save in a story as men may read and see  
He and his people were freell in living  
But he that was of assiriens king  
Through false fortune that can so often vary  
To babilonye made them tributary   

We have seen and red also  
The vengeance and the pestilence  
Doon in egypt to king pharo  
For that he made a manner resistance  
Against god of wilful negligence  
Therefore his people upon a day and he  
Were dreynt echon in mids of the see   

The people of god led by moyses  
Without trouble of any manner wawe  
Went echon in quiet and in peace  
And phaaro as he 'gan after draw  
them to pursue by a full mortal law  
In his pu●suyte froward and ateynt  
Among the waves with his often was dreynt   

In ●●ody been the mentions  
L●●iously put in remembrance  
●he ●nplages and ꝑsecutions  
In Egypt done by full great vengeance  
And of their treasure and their great substance  
They were despoiled/ by ebrewys it is told  
Of their vessels of silver and of gold   

And out of egypt full great treasure they lad  
Such as them thought might most them avail  
And pharo I find that he had  
Two hundred chair's enarmed for battle  
them to pursue and proudly to assail  
And fifty thousand in whom was no lack  
Of men of arms following on horse back   

Two hund●ryd thousand of fotmen him about  
And of egypt all his chivalry  
And pharo with all his great rout  
●egan israel pursue of envy  
But for his pride and false surquedy  
He and his people were drowned everyone  
Of all his number was left not one   

His froward heart against god indurate  
Fulfilled of malice and obstinacy  
And in his purpose proud and obstinate  
These foul vices or he could them aspye  
From his glory and his regaile  
He was down though he tofore was crowned  
amid the se among his people crowned    

¶ Of Oggigus king of Thebes  

ANother Prince called Oggygus  
King of Thebes as books determine  
And founder was thus Bochas telleth us  
Of a cite called Eleusyne  
Which stant in grece whose power to decline  
There fill a flood in that region  
Which over flowed many a rial town   

And in athia that died most damage  
Time of jacob patriarch notable  
And this deluge with his wawes' rage  
Slew lords many and princes honourable  
For dame fortune is so deceivable  
That she sometime when she list disdain  
Can folk assail with a flood sudden   

This flood also where it did assail  
wasted cornis both crop and rote  
Caused also scarcete of victual  
That many a man felt full unsote  
The poor not witted where to find boot  
For their princes surprised were with dread  
through lack of victual in that great need    

¶ Of a great flood in Tessalie  

ANother flood there was in Tessalie  
In the time when king amphion  
Held the sceptre and the regal  
Upon thebes the mighty strong town  
Beside the kingdom of babiloun  
The same time this flood fill doubtless  
when god's people was led by moyses   

With this flood the land had been devoured  
Of tessaylie and of all that region  
But on pernaso the people was succoured  
And on the roches that stood environ  
Found there refute to their salvation  
And great succour till the flood rage  
Begun discrece withdraw and a suage   

In old stories also ye may see  
when Cicraps had first possession  
Of Athens the mighty strong city  
An heat there fill in that region  
By influence that descendith down  
From the bodies above celestial  
Which likely was for to devour all   

And this heat engendered with the sun  
In divers countries both in length and breed  
Hath his course so mightily begun  
That many folks fell in great dread  
Rivers wells who so list take heed  
consumed were and dried up echon  
The heart called the embracing of pheton    

¶ Of goodly Isis' wife to Apys king of argyne slain by his brother Dyffeus'.  

wE have red in stories here toforne  
How that Isis to egypt took her flight  
Out of Crece the true daughter borne  
Of Prometheus a full manly knight  
And Isis in every man's sight  
So fresh/ so goodly wedded by her live  
To worthy Apys that was king of Argive   

The which Isis excellent of beauty  
After time her father was ygrave  
She was put for more surety  
With her uncle that should keep and save  
This said maid that no man should her have  
And her uncle in Ovid ye may see  
Like as he wrote was called Epymethe   

And flowing up in her tender age  
This said Isis so pleasant was and meet  
Of seemliness of look/ and visage  
That jupiter the mighty king of Crete  
Was environed with her for to meet  
And she excited of femynyte  
inclined her heart unto his deite   

And for she was of her intent so clean  
Obeing him in most lowly wise  
Of argmois she made her to be queen  
Because that she was smit in covetise  
Against argus a were she gan devise  
And for he was unwieldy of his age  
Her to withstand he found none advantage   

But yet fortune gan upon her frown  
And king argus through his subtylite  
With his counsel so prudently gan rowne  
That she was take by full great cruelty  
And her soudeours were also made to flee  
And by argus there gained no ransom  
She fettered was and put in strong prison   

But her son good mercurius  
Right fresh/ right lusty/ and full of hardiness  
And of his earthly joy  
Against argus 'gan his power dress  
And so entirely did his business  
And was slain in conclusion  
And Isis after delivered fro prison   

Of her sleights afterward not faint  
She took a ship and to egypt went  
In which ship there was a cow depeyn●  
And th'hours whom jupiter also sent  
Is gone with her both of one intent  
To a marriage after anon right  
Between her and apys a prince full of might   

She was right wise above other creatures  
Secret of cunning weal expert in science  
She taught first letters and figures  
To egipciens by plain experience  
gave them cunning and intelligence  
To tile the land taught the laboureries  
To sow their greyne/ and multiply by years   

And in egypt her fame and her renown  
Begun day by day wext her worthiness  
Hold of cunning and of reputation  
By signs showed not only in princess  
But she was hold among them a goddess  
And with worships which were divine  
And sacrificis to her they died incline   

But to declare plainly at a word  
In mids of all her great prosperity  
Mighty apes her husband and her lord  
Prince of egypt and lord of that country  
Son of jupiter and of Neobe  
Which Niobe by long descending  
The daughter was of prothemeus the king   

And phoroneus first the laws fond  
To which all crete stand under obeisance  
And the statutes of that mighty land  
Were unsstablished by his ordinance  
But for to write the unhappy chance  
Of king Apys that is remembered  
He slain was and pitously dismembered   

By his brother called Tyffeus'  
somewhat of hatred but more for covetise  
For Tiffeus' was only desirous  
To rejoice in full mortal wise  
The mighty kingdom as ye have herd devise  
Of Argivois to have possession  
preferred by murder and false succession   

And when that Isis found her lord so deed  
Of intent that he was magnified  
First of wisdom she 'gan take heed  
Ordained a mean that he were deified  
High among gods to be stellified  
In egypt temples made to be stalled  
And god Sirapis after he was called    

¶ Of Grysiton that his members cete for hunger  

wHat shall I write of case horrible  
Of grisiton with hunger so constrained  
That his life was to himself audible  
In Tessalie with indigence pained  
And p●tously his fame was distained  
When he sold his daughter in servage  
Li●●ope which was but young of age   

●y enchaunge of god to purvey them victual  
Of ver●y need he was so woe bigon  
He had no thing that might his thirst avail  
Neither staunch his hunger with gnawing on a bone  
Wherefore he ●●te his members one by one  
A pri●●e alas was it not great pity  
To see him die in such adversity   

We had also radde full many a day to fore  
The great banishing and persecution  
Of Arguiois how king Gela●or  
Was cruelly put from his region  
And his lieges of indignation  
In his place they set one Danaus'  
Son and also heir to the god belus   

The people of malice did him so encumber  
To increase his sorrow and his adversity  
And fifty daughters he had also in number  
And edippus his brother also pard  
Had thirty sons the story ye may see  
atween the which in surety of hand  
In marriage there was made a bond   

under the which compassed was treason  
Covertly though they did it hide  
But if ye lift have clear inspection  
Of this story upon every side  
Reed the legend of Cupid  
Which that Chancer in order as they stood  
Compiled of women that were called good   

touching the story of king pandion  
And of his goodly fair daughters twain  
How therens' false of condition  
them to deceive did his busy pain  
They both named of beauty sovereign  
Goodly progne and young philomene  
Both innocenties of intent full clean   

Their piteous fate in open to express  
It were to me but a presumption  
Sigh that chancer died his business  
In his legend as made is mention  
Their martyrdom and their passion  
For to rehearse them died his busy pain  
As chief poet called of bretaigne   

Of good women a book he did write  
The numbered uncomplete fully of nyntene  
And there the story plainly he did indite  
Of theseus/ of prongne and philomene  
Where ye may see their legend thus I mean  
Do them worship and forth their life do show  
For a clear mirror because there be but few   

I will pass over and speak of them no more  
And unto cadmus forth my style dress  
In my writing yet it grieveth me sore  
Touching of women of faith or stableness  
blessed be god I find none excess  
And for there been so few as thinkyth me  
The good should be had in more dainty   

¶ Lenuoye  

THis tragedy beareth to you witness  
How saturnus by disposition  
Maliciously of his frowardness  
Causeth in juno full great infection  
She of nature conveyeth the nature down  
The air infect which no man may succour  
Cometh death anon and all thing doth devour   

Time from adam mine author doth express  
Down to nembroth by computation  
His style conveyed by great adviseness  
From zorastres to king pharaon  
Of two deluges he maketh mention  
In thessalye the vengeance 'gan labour  
And in achaia thebes to devour   

You have of heetis heard the excess  
Of princes princesses full great destruction  
Of egistus the great wretchidnesse  
The fury of therens the woe of pandion  
Of the two sisters the confusion  
And how their fate 'gan upon them louvre  
Their felicity unwarly to devour   

Princes princesses your iyens do up dress  
I mean the iyens of your discretion  
See of this world the change the doubleness  
The great unsurenesse the variation  
And advertith for all your great renown  
Fortune's dews when they most sweetly shower  
Than is she falsest your glory to devour     

¶ How jupiter ravished Europe and how Cadmus was sent to seek her in divers regions  

tHe rehearsal of many an old poet  
By descent the line conveyed down  
Next saturnus the mighty king of crete  
jove was crowned by succession  
As next his heir by procreation  
After his father the land to inherit  
Regning in crete as poets list to write   

One of the lineage as I you told aforne  
Of the god's most sovereign and enter  
And though he was of blood so high y borne  
He cheese Europe for to be his fere  
And down descended from his heavenly spear  
And he that w● for all his deite  
Supposing in heart with her great beauty   

And she was daughter to mighty king  
called Agenor by lynall descent  
Whose mighty kingdom and rial fair dwelling  
Was in phenyce toward the orient  
And to arabic his land was adjacent  
Far by south as ye may read and see  
Toward the ptyes of the red se   

But jupiter when he did aduer●  
Of Europa the great seemliness  
He thought he was wounded to the heart  
Unto the death biholding her fairness  
And for his constrent and his mortal distress  
saying she was so fair in his sight  
He ravished her of very force and might   

But Agenor his own father dear  
Bigan on this case full pitously complain  
when she alas most goodly and enter  
Was him bicaught which doubled all his pain  
Recure was none though he did plain  
Till he remembering on his regalie  
Thought he would send to aspye   

His son cadmus her to recure again  
For to search her in many a region  
Whereso his labour were fructuous or in vain  
His father set him a fell condition  
Not to return by none occasion  
And thereupon made him to be bound  
Till that he had the kings daughter found   

He took his ships by great adviseness  
And began to sail in many a strange se  
Did his labour and his business  
With many a worthy that were with him prove  
But when that he of reason did see  
There was no mean for which that he was sent  
For to accomplessh the fine of his intent   

Which glad heart devoid of gruching  
saying the case froward and contrary  
Humble of his cheer took his excelling  
And of manhood list not himself despair  
But his main knyghly 'gan repair  
Toward grece and pitously there to land  
Of apollo for to understand   

To what party that he might draw  
He prayed god to wysse him or read  
Sum token show or sum manner law  
Into what I'll that he might him speed  
Or that he would graciously him lead  
Where as he might build a cite  
That were according to him and to his main   

And to apollo he died sacrifice  
And made to him his oblation  
The god requiring goodly to devise  
To what land or to what region  
For this dwelling and habitation  
He should draw withouten more obstacle  
For him and his to make his habitacle   

And cadmus thus before apollo stood  
kneeling among with full great reverence  
And in the temple of delpho still abode  
With humble entendaunce and devout diligence  
meekly beseeking by word or by some sentence  
That Apollo would to him unclose  
To what party he should himself dispose   

This was his answer in conclusion  
As the statue to him did express  
To go and search countries environ  
And till he fond do his business  
A ●ole that were excellent of fairness  
Which by precept of appolles law  
Had nevyr aforne in yoke ydrawe   

And where that ever seeking that he fond  
A bull stand still in his pasture  
Apollo bad upon that same land  
Where as he seethe this sight of adventure  
That he should do his busy cure  
To build a cite he and his folks all  
And bo●cia after the bull it call   

And when that cadmus the precept understood  
And in searching did his business  
He fond a place where a bull stood  
Feeding himself which as by likeness  
Was a place full pleasant of largesse  
Where as he stint he gan a cite raise  
Which that poets greatly commend and praise   

And that his building might the more avail  
All the foreigns that did about him dwell  
Full like a knight by force and by battle  
Out of that country he did them expelle  
Reising a city which that died excel  
And as Ovid also recordeth the same  
Unto this day of thebes berith the name   

And he was not only glorified  
For rearing up of this great cite  
But he was also magnified  
For his manhood and his magnanimity  
And most commended if ye list to see  
For the surmounting and famous excellence  
Which that he had in wisdom and science   

For as mine author of him list indite  
through his noble prudent purveyance  
He taught figures and litters for to write  
And made laws of full great ordinance  
Among the greges and set governance  
Their vicious life by virtue to restrain  
And who outrayed was punished with the pain   

And of intent to increase his lineage  
And his cite also for to multiply  
He took a wife that was but young of age  
And she was called as books specify  
Hermyone and touching her ally  
Though that she were borne of rial blood  
She was also both jolly fair and good   

And this was done as writeth mine author  
After the death of worthy joshua  
Sothonyel being successor  
Having the leading and the sovereignty  
Of israel when thebes the city  
Was founded first in the days old  
By king cadmus tofore as I you told   

Four daughters he had by his live  
Full fair echon and goodly unto se  
And their names to rehearse belive  
seemly was the eldest and next to anthonoe  
The third in order was called ynoe  
And Agave was youngest of them all  
Of the which daughters thus it is byfalle   

They were echon of port and of manner  
Full weal favoured in every man's sight  
Right womanly and heavenly of their cheer  
And for their beauty their father anon right  
As it was sitting with all his full might  
Like their estates their birth and also their age  
Made them be wedded and joined in marriage   

To worthy princes his lineage to advance  
And they increased by procreation  
Whereof the king had full great pleasance  
And great rejoicing in his opinion  
To save his line by generation  
With his nevewies and cousins of ally  
from to day to day to wax and multiply▪   

And this increased his felicity  
when he considered verily in deed  
The rich building of his rial cite  
And fortune did his bridle lead  
To great riches in books as I read  
To great nobles having great residence  
In his cite of most magnificence   

His daughter Semel record of mine author  
Though she descended were of the blood rial  
To jubiter she was ꝑamour  
And by his power suꝑcelestiall  
She conceived in especial  
As poets of her list to indite  
Him that is god of grapes read and white   

called Bacchus which hath the governance  
Of wines all and the regalie  
Whereof after was take full great vengeance  
For when juno did first aspye  
Of jupiter the great adultery  
Of great hatred and envious desire  
She made semel to be brent with sudden fire   

By descending of a sudden levene  
And on semel the vengeance is down went  
And for the flawme consumed was and spent  
There was of her left no remembrance  
But of the end the woeful mortal chance   

Also actheon the son of Acthonie  
The great mischievous and infortunies borne  
Whose father was called Eristee  
Come of the kindred that I you told tofore  
With cruel hounds alas he was to torn  
For that he saw as books of him tell  
Diane naked bathe her in a well   

And as poets remember at the jest  
When the ladies of thebes the city  
Heelde of Bacchus solemnly the feast  
The youngest sister called again  
Daughter to cadmus alas it was pite  
Against her own son dear  
She was so wood and mortal of her cheer   

Murdering him in full cruel wise  
In her rage she was so furious  
For he lough at the sacirfise  
In Thebes done by women to Bacchus  
The which son was called Pantheus  
Whom that she slew with a sharp dart  
In her woodness as she him found apart   

These great mischievous fill in the line  
Of king cadmus through his unhappy chance  
Fortune his noblesse gan undermine  
And thought she would his glory disavance  
All worldly gladness is meddled with grievance  
Experiens in Cadmus ye may see  
So importable was his adversity   

For while he sat most highest in his glory  
No part eclipsed of his prosperity  
His bright renown and his rial memory  
In realms spread and many a fair country  
He most wilful in his high see  
Sat with his lineage most high in noblesse  
Than came fortune the false enchaunteresse   

Of wilfulness and fond occasion  
Against cadmus and made his renown dull  
Of his kindred by false cullusion  
She gan away the brightest feathers pull  
And when his shining was wax up to the full  
After the change of fortune's law  
His glory 'gan discrece and withdraw   

It was more grievous to his dignynyte  
A sudden fall from his high noblesse  
Than if that he had nevir be  
Set in the state of so great worthiness  
For the furious mortal heaviness  
Of his kindred without any more  
Would have grieved a poor man full sore   

And among his sorrows everyone  
To rehearse plainly as it was  
I dare affirm how that there was one  
most horrible and dreadful in such a case  
For Cadmus' son called adamas  
His son in law through falls maloncolye  
Fallen suddenly into a fren●sye   

Of whom the wife was called Inoe  
Cadmus' daughter as ye have herd express  
Which through the constraint of his infirmity  
In his rage and furious woodenness  
Thought that his wife was a lioness  
And in his wild imaginations  
That his ij children was also ij lions   

And upon them full loud he gan to cry  
Toward his wife in hast he 'gan anon  
And from her arms there was no remedy  
The child he rend and on a nag stone  
He 'gan to birst it and break it every bone  
The which child bochas writeth thus  
Full tender and young called was learchu●   

And all this woeful and sudden adventure  
Of this rage when that she took heed  
As most sorrowful of any creature  
Her other child she hent anon for dread  
For of succour she knew no better speed  
So as she might 'gan hast out of his sight  
But willaway as she took her to flight   

And her husband came after pursuing  
Like a wood lion in his cruelty  
Dou● from a mountain which was depending  
She and her child fill into the se  
Was it not ruth/ was it not pite  
A kings daughter her lord in thebes crowned  
He to be wood and she for fere to be drowned   

Lo here the sign of Cadmus everidele  
●is 〈◊〉 slain and his allies all  
And he himself from fortunes wheel  
when he weened least full suddenly is fall  
Hi● l●●●ll sugar tempered with much gall  
For among all his mortal pains  
Hi● l●ge men of thebes Citesynes   

〈◊〉 against him conspiration  
〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 e●il and his wife also  
〈◊〉 sons his daughters brought to destruction  
〈…〉 the increasing of his mortal woe  
〈…〉 his wife compelled both two  
For ve●●●y poverty and very indigence  
In 〈◊〉 last age to purchase their dispense   

〈…〉 of cadmus the sorrows to describe  
And his mischief to put in remembrance  
He banished was twice by his live  
First by his faders cruel ordinance  
Of his sister to make enquyraunce  
And of there last in his weldy age  
He was compelled to hold his passage   

Out of thebes his wife and he alone  
In sorrow and weeping to accomplish their days  
Into Ill●rie togedre they be go  
Theridamas paciens put at fell assays  
Whoos bitterness felt none allays  
Also of their end and unhappy fate  
Neither of their death I find none other date   

Save that ovid maketh mention  
And john Bochas the poet excellent  
Say that two brethren zeto and amphion  
Out of thebes both by one assent  
Have this cadmus into ixil sent  
His wife also after their high noblesse  
To end their life in sorrow and wretchidnesse   

But the gods of mercy and pity  
When they them saw by fortune thus cast down  
From their estates into great poverty  
Having of them full great passion  
They made of them a transformation  
Of both twain them giving a likeness  
Of serpents to live in wilderness   

Lenuoye  

O what estate may himself assure  
For to conserve his life in sickerness  
What worldly joy may here long endure  
Or where shall men find now stableness  
Sigh kings princes from their high noblesse  
Record of cadmus been suddenly brought low  
And from the wheel of fortune overthrow   

Who may sustain the piteous adventure  
Of this tragedy by writing to express  
It is like unto the chauntplure  
Beginning with joy ending in wretchedness  
All worldly bliss is meynt with bitterness  
The sudden change thereof moy no man know  
For who sittyth highest is soonest overthrow   

Was in this world yet nevyr creature  
Rekyn up princes for all their high noblesse  
Fortune could incline them to her lure  
And them enperissh through her frowardness  
Wherefore ye lords with all your great richesses  
Be ware afore or ye dance in the row  
Of such as fortune hath from her wheel overthrow     

¶ A process of Oetes king of Colchos/ jason/ Medee. Theseus Scylla Nisus and other more  

when john bochas was most indigent  
To consider the successions  
Of lynagys' with all his intent  
In his writing and description  
To compile the generations  
Of many noble famous of estate  
I mean of such as were infortunate   

In his searching he fond not out a few  
Were unhappy found in their living  
To his presence anon there 'gan him show  
A multitude full pitously weeping  
amongs which full doolfully plaining  
Came forth Oetes and hath complaint begun  
King of Colchos and sone unto the sun   

For of Phoebus which is bright and clear  
Poetis writ that he was son and heir  
Because he was so mighty of power  
So fresh/ so lusty/ manly/ and right feyre  
But of fortune he fill in great despair  
Cursing his fate and his distain  
When jason first entered his country again   

By Pelleus sent from Tessalye  
Therefore to accomplissh by diligent labour  
The great emprises thorough his chivalry  
If god and fortune list do to him favour  
They might win the treasure  
This is to mean that he were so bold  
The ram to assail which bore the flees of gold   

This jason thorough counsel of Medee  
By sorcery and incantation  
The bull slough horrible for to see  
And venquesshed the venomous dragon  
The king despoiled of his possession  
Acomplisshed with carectis and figuris  
Of Colchos the dreadful adventures   

And afterward when he his purpose had  
He left Oetes in full great despair  
And Medea forth with him he lad  
And her brother which was the kings heir  
But as I find how in his repair  
Out of Colchos when they gan remewe  
King Oetes after them gan sue   

Upon jason avenged for to be  
Without tarrying he followed proudly  
The which thing when jason died see  
This medea gan shape a remedy  
She took his brother and slew him cruelly  
And him dismembered as books make mind  
And pecemeel in a field bihinde   

He gan him cast all bespreynt with blood  
Whereof his father when he had a sight  
Full pale of cheer still in the field he stood  
While she and jason took them unto flight  
I trow that time the most woeful wight  
That was on live when he died know  
His child dismembered and a broad Isowe   

Which cause was alas and wellaway  
That he so stynt as man disconsolate  
While that jason fro Colchos went away  
And Medea most infortunate  
Was rote and ground of this mortal debate  
For who saw ever or red of such another  
To save a stranger list to slay her brother   

Forsook her father/ her country and kindred  
The land enperisshid through her robbery  
Of her worship took none other heed  
Love hath her brouht in such a fantasy  
And while that she abode in Tessalie  
And with jason died there sojourn  
She made Aeson to youth return   

A yard she took that was dry and old  
And with her herbs and commixtions  
She made it boil/ in ovid it is told  
And by car●●tys and incantations  
And with the craft of her conjurations  
The yard began to bud and blosme new  
And to bear fruit and levys fresh of hew   

And semblably with her confe●tio●s  
His old humours she hath depured clean  
And with her lusty fresh potions  
His empty skin tremling and right lean  
Pale and wan that no blood was seen  
But as it were a deadly creature  
All this hath she transformed by nature   

Made him lusty and fresh of his courage  
Glad of heart/ lifly of ●here and sight  
Right weal cheered and clear of his visage  
Wonder deliver both of force and of might  
In all his members as weeldy and as light  
As ●uir he was in the same estate  
By craft of Medee he was so alterat   

After all this against king pelleus  
She began to malign uncle unto jason  
And of envy she procedith thus  
The kings daughters she draweth unto her anon  
them counseylinge that they should gone  
Unto their father and plainly unto him s●ien  
If he des●●ed to be young again   

Full restored his force to recure  
And therewithal in lusty age flower  
She behight to do her busy cure  
Like his desire to help and succour  
And in this matter so craftily labour  
Finally stand in the same case  
To be made young as his brother was   

touching which thing for more evidence  
T●●s Medea hath to the daughters told  
●f ●●tent to give the more credence  
S●e ●ad them take a ram that was right old  
And with a knife for to be so bold  
●o ●●e the best afore them there he stood  
And in a vessel draw out in old blood   

F●lly ●ffermynge like as it were true  
That 〈◊〉 should be a lamb again  
For ye by ●●afte would his blood remewe  
〈…〉 wise by evidence plain  
Thereof ●●lde no token should be sayne  
〈…〉 his membrys as lusty and enteer  
As was a lamb ●yned of one year   

〈◊〉 hereupon in such sleighty wise  
She began a process of full false treason  
〈◊〉 ●●s●●r made upon that lamb to practise  
〈…〉 ●ute his blood like her entencion  
〈…〉 by craft of false illusion  
〈…〉 by appearance in veyn  
The old ram to seem a lamb again   

〈…〉 Medea by her sleight cumpassing  
Of bouye and venomous hatred  
〈◊〉 hath the sisters in working  
〈…〉 father mortally to proceed  
〈◊〉 sharp knives they made her father bleed  
A● yddes the heart through out every vain  
Supposing the silly sisters twain   

That P●lleus renewyd should be  
To youth again of force and of substance  
But finally by treason and Medee  
He lo●te his life such was his woeful chance  
She this wrought only for vengeance.  
As ●ote and ground of this cruel deed  
Against the nature of all womanhead   

Supposing in her opinion  
The death greatly should please  
Of pelleus unto her lord jason  
thorough great encerase set his heart at ease  
But it rebounded into his dissese  
That finally jason her forsook  
For his offence and he his weigh took   

In to Corinth to the king of Creon  
Whoos daughter Crewso for her great beauty  
Was afterward wedded to jason  
But when this wedding was known to Medee  
Cast she would thereon avenged be  
Began to conspire of malice and envy  
And thorough her magik and her sorcery   

In full great haste gan to ordain  
A lityll coffer only of intent  
And by her young fair sons twain  
With other jewels she hath it sent  
Unto Crewso making a present  
Which of malice she list to dispose  
That when crewso the coffer died unclose   

The fire braced out a full large space  
●●ent crewso by full great violence  
Set a fire plainly all the place  
By enchantment there was no resistance  
All went a fire that was in her presence  
By vengeance died full great damage  
But when jason this fire saw in his rage   

And considered the malice of Medee  
Thought he would do execution  
For to punish the great inequyte  
Against him compassed of treason  
For she of vengeance against all reason  
After that Crewso consumed was and brent  
Her own sonne● with that she had sent   

Without routh or womanly pity  
She falsely murdered the children that she bore  
Like a stepmother avenged for to be  
Cut their throties or that they were ware  
Against nature there was none other spare  
But for hatred she had unto jason  
After this murder she fled away anon   

So escaping his indignation  
By craft of magic she went at liberty  
To Athens and in that region  
She wedded was unto the king Egee  
Nat long after a son by him had she  
The which child my● author telleth th●s  
After Medea called was Medus   

after wh●●● name the famous region  
I named 〈◊〉 ●●ich called is meed  
But following evir her old condition  
This Medea void of shame and dread  
compassed hath of wilful falls hatred  
That theseus the son of king Egee  
With new poison shall devoured be   

But theseus full like a manly knight  
In repairing home to his country  
Of high prudence espied anon right  
The mortal vengeance the great cruelty  
Of this stepmother which of enmity  
concluded hath in her entencion  
Him to destroy unwarly with poison   

Her heart of malice cruel and horrible  
As she that was with treason ever allied  
when that she saw her purpose most audible  
By king Egeus fully was espied  
She hath her heart and wits new applied  
As in their books poets have compiled  
Again to jason to be reconciled   

She fled away for fere of theseus  
Jest he had done her vengeance  
And finally as writ ovidius  
And moral senek concludith in sentence  
In his tragedies making remembrance  
How medea like as poets se●en  
Unto jason restored was again   

Touching the end of their furious discord  
poets make thereof no mention  
Neither tell no mean how they fill accord  
But if it were by incantation  
Which so well could turn upso down  
Sundry things of love and of hatred  
And in bochas of her no more I read   

Save when she had fulfilled her purpose  
Mine author telleth that jason and meed  
Revokyd have again unto Colchos  
Her father Oetis and from her poverty  
Brought him again into his rial see  
And to his crown by force they him restore  
touching his end of him find I no more   

Thus his fortune hath turned to and fro  
First like a king having full great richesshe  
After living in poverty and in woe  
Sithen restored to his worthiness  
Thus evir sorrow meynt with gladness  
Who can advert in all worldly thing  
Record of Minos the noble worthy king   

To whom I must new my style dress  
Follow the traces of bochasius  
The which Minos as ovid doth express  
touching his birth he writeth plainly thus  
That he was manly wise and virtuous  
son by descent of jupiter the great  
And of Europa born to be heir of crete   

And of his person wonder delitable  
Full renowned of wisdom and of science  
By divers titles of laud commendable  
Of birth/ of blood/ of kynghode &/ prudence  
For by his study and enteer diligence  
He foonde first laws grounded on reason  
Whereby of Crete the famous region   

Governed was and set in stableness  
All injuries and wrongs to reform  
Made statu●ys extortions to repress  
Of rightwiseness they took the first form  
And that each man should him conform  
Like their degrees subject and sovereign  
That no man had a matter to complain   

He made his liegis to live in quiet  
Cl●re shining in his rial noblesse  
With sword and sceptre sitting in his seat  
And while he flowered in his worthiness  
He took a wife of excellent fairness  
Daughter to phoebus in bochas ye may see  
And she was called fair posiphe   

And her father by record of writing  
In his time was holden full famous  
Of the isle of roods he was lord and king  
And in his days of port full glorious  
Right proud in arms and victorious  
Taking witness Methamorphoseos  
His daughter had three children by Minos   

The first a son called Androgee  
And afterward full fair daughters twain  
Right goodly and womanly unto see  
But like as fortune died for them ordain  
They felt their self great trouble and great pain  
The one called Adryana and phedra that other  
Following their fate it might be none other   

Androgeus by king Minos was sent  
For he should profit in clergy  
To athens of virtuous intent  
There to study in philosophy  
And for he began to increase and multiply  
And pass all other by study in learning  
And to ex●elle his fellows in cunning   

They of envy and false malice alas  
Made against him a conspiration  
And from a pinnacle sacred to pallas  
Of full great heith they made him tumble down  
For which injury bochas maketh mention  
●●s father Minos a vengyd for to be  
laid a great power about the cite   

He cast him fully that no man should him let  
But that he would do cruelly vengeance  
And round about so sore he them beset  
With men of arms and with his ordinance  
That finally he brought them to outraunce  
And them constrained within a little space  
Their life their death submitting to his grace   

But while they made against him resistance  
Supposing his power to withstand  
Nisus that was king of Magarence  
Against Minos their party took an hand  
And often times as ye shall understand  
When king Minos died the city assail  
Nisus within with mighty apparel   

Upon the wallys stood in his defence  
when that Minos' full like a manly knight  
fought without with sturdy violence  
Like mars himself in steel armed bright  
Whereof when Scylla oonies had a sigh●  
Doughtir to Nisus adverting his prows  
Anon for love she fill in great distress   

She was surprised with his high noblesse  
His manly force expert many fold  
Set scylla in great heaviness  
For love of Minos in poets it is told  
Make her heart presume and be bold  
First her life to put in iuperdye  
Her faders life the cite the clergy   

From her heart love hath set a side  
Against nature her blood and her kindred  
And all friendship from her gan divide  
And of her worship she took no manner heed  
Love made her cruel against all womanhead  
First her heart so sore set a fire  
Her faders death falsely to conspire   

For king Minos being a straungere  
Was so imprinted in her opinion  
Of creatures there stood none so near  
And for his sake by full false treason  
She compassed the destruction  
First of her father and the cite  
So strange a thing alas how might it be   

That a woman of years young and tender  
Coude imagine so marvelous a thing  
But it falleth that creatoures slendre  
Under face of angelik looking  
Been very wolves outewarde in working  
Also under colour of their port femynyne  
Sum been found very serpentine   

Lambys in showing shadowed with meekness  
Cruel as tigris who doth to them offence  
Of hunmble cheer pretending a likeness  
But woe alas what harm doth appearance  
What damage doth counterfeit innocence  
Under amantyll shrouded of womanhead  
when feigned falseness doth the bridle lead   

For this Scylla the kings daughter dear  
In whom he set his hole affection  
His hearts joy his pleasance most enteer  
His worldly bliss his consolation  
But she all turned to his confusion  
Not like a daughter but like a sorceress  
His death compassed the story beareth witness   

Her father had a fatal here that shone  
Brighter than gold in which died assure  
Manly to fight against his mortal soon  
For in his heed while it died endure  
He should venquessh and recure  
And thorough his knghthode to his encreas of glory  
In every quarrel win the victory   

But when king Nysus her father lay and sleep  
Upon a night ●●●ell afore day  
Full secretly or that he took keep  
The here of gold this scylla cut away  
And unto Minos armed where he lay  
She him presented thorough her ordinance  
Of false intent him for to do pleasance   

But in this matter like as writeth ovid  
Methamorphoseos who so taketh heed  
Her father sleeping she kneeling by his side  
Took a sharp knife without fear or dread  
While he lay naked she carf atwo his heed  
Stolen away of full falls intent  
And to king Minos the heed she doth present   

And in her coming to his presence  
Her father's heed when she afore him laid  
Nothing ashamyd of her great offence  
Unto Minos thus she died obrayde  
And with bold cheer even thus she said  
My lord quoth she with support of your grace  
Yeveth to my tale leisure time and space   

Certys my lord love hath excited me  
And constrained to this cruel deed  
To slay my father destroy my city  
For to get me worship forsake womanhead  
And made me hardy to make my father bleed  
Things horrible thus have I undertake  
For to accomplissh only for your sake   

Myself disherited for love of your person  
Called in my country a false traitouresse  
Disconsolate stale away alone  
Of new defamed and named a mistress  
Of false murder I bring a great witness  
My father's heed and his deadly visage  
Against nature to further your voyage   

Wherefore I pray that ye list advertise  
And consider like a gentle knight  
How I for love toward your great emprise  
And to great furthering also of your right  
Have first my father deprived of his might  
R●ft him his life despoiled his riches  
To do pleasance to your high noblesse   

And no thing axe unto my guerdon  
Neither to my reward that me avail  
But that I might have full possession  
Of your person most worthy in battle  
For there is no treasure that might countiruayle  
To my desire as that ye would in deed  
Goodly accept me and my manhood   

You may me save and spill with a word  
Make most glad and most dolorous  
I not require of you my sovereign lord  
But that ye would be to me gracious  
For blood and kin and my father's hou●  
All left behind if ye list advert  
And undeparted give to you mine her●   

Which to your highness aught Enough suffice  
All thing considered in your rial estate  
conceived also how in uncouth wise  
For your love I stand desolate  
Save of your mercy full disconsolate  
Here is all and sum your love I buy so sore  
But ye do grace I can say you no more   

And when she had her tale told kneeling  
With amaner of pretence of womanhead  
Of all her treason a point not conceling  
The king ystonyed of her horrible deed  
By great avys peised and took heed  
It was not sitting to prince or to king  
To do favour to so froward a thing   

With troubled heart and with a face pale  
His look upcasted said god forbid  
That ever in chronicle in story or in tale  
That any man should of Minos read  
How he supported so venomous a deed  
Favour a woman alas and welawey  
Which slough her father when he a-bed lay   

But for your hateful and unkind rage  
I pray the gods echon and saturn  
For to take vengeance on your false outrage  
For every where whether ye do return  
And every place where as ye sojourn  
Land and see shortly to express  
They been infect with your cursedness   

your own mouth your outrage doth accuse  
And your acts been so abominable  
That your gifts fully I do refuse  
They been so froward and so reprovable  
That your person disnaturell and unstable  
Within my court it were a thing not fair  
That ye should abide or have repair   

You be so hateful on every side  
And contrarious of condision  
I pray Tellius which of the earth is guide  
And to Nemtunus I make this orison  
As far as stretcheth their damynation  
Under the bond of their regaile  
A dwelling place that they to you deny   

when Minos his answer thus deuyse●  
On reason grounded and equity  
And scylla saw how she was despised  
knew no party passage ne country  
To find succour whether she might i'll  
But despired like a traitouresse  
Toward these anon she 'gan her dress   

To enter the water plainly if she might  
For very shame herself for to shroud  
And when the gods thereof had a sight  
They turned her as they that might and could  
Into a quail for to sing loud  
Her father Nysus they died also transmewe  
Into a sparow● the quail to pursue   

This was the end of Nisus Scille  
And afterward of athens the town  
Was yielded up to stand at the will  
Of king Minos without condition  
Every year by revolution  
They of the cite should not delay  
Nine of their children for a tribute pay   

This was by Minos the emposition  
Upon athens and of very dread  
They obeyed as made is mention  
And their children year by year they lead  
In to crete the Minataur to feed  
Unto this monster ordained for repast  
Which at their coming devoured were in haste   

But or that I further do proceed  
In this matter I will do my cure  
To declare if ye list to take heed  
Of this monster to tell the engendrure  
Uncouth to here and against nature  
For by the writing of Oiudius  
This ugly be'st was engendered thus   

Methamorphoseos the manner ye may see  
Minos had a bull of great fairness  
White as milk and the queen posiphe  
loved him so hoot the story beareth witness  
And dedalus did his business  
By subtle craft and made his gins so  
That against kind with her he had to do   

And conceived a be'st monstrous  
That was departed half bull half man  
And as the poet by writing teacheth us  
Of all Minataurus thus the name began  
And dedalus not long after when  
That this monster was by the queen forth brought  
This subtle workman hath an house I wrought   

called Roboryntus divers and uncouth  
Full of wrynkellies and of strangeness  
Ugly to know which is north or south  
Or to what part a man should him dress  
folks were there blended with furious darkness  
Who that entered his return was in veyn  
Without aclewe for to resort again   

Of Minotaurus this was the habitacle  
Like a presone made for turmentric  
For dampened folk a painful tabernacle  
For all that lay there in iupardie  
The monster must devour them and diffie  
And specially was ordained this tourment  
For all that were down from athens sent   

But in this matter some folk vary  
And affirm how that queen Posiphe  
Of king Minos loved a secretary  
called taurus in bochas ye may see  
And thus the king for all his rialte  
deceived was for who may any while  
Himself preserve where women list beguile   

For by this taurus bochas berith witness  
Queen posiphe had a child full fair  
Minos not knowing by no likeness  
But that the child was borne to be his heir  
His trust was good he fill in no despair  
For sum husbands as poets have compiled  
Which most assure rathest been beguiled   

Innocenties can not dame amiss  
Namely of wives that been found true  
clerks may writ but doubtless thus it is  
Of their nature they love no things new  
Steadfast of heart they change not their hew  
Haukys best proved sometime a check can make  
Yet for afaute the foul is not forsake   

Of this matter write I will no more  
But ay the tribute and servage of the town  
Procedith forth they constrained were so sore  
Like as their lot turned up and down  
For there was made none exception  
Of high ne low neither for sour ne sweet  
But as it fill they were sent into crete   

The statute was so ynly rigerous  
They to●e their sort as it came about  
Till at the last it fill on theseus  
That he might go forth among the rout  
King Eges son being in great doubt  
Touching his life which might not be succoured  
But that he must with other be devoured   

Which theseus for his worthiness  
And of his knighthood for the great increases  
through manly force and for his prows  
sometime was called the second hercules  
Among amazones he put himself in press  
wedded Ipolito as books specify  
The hardy queen called of femynye   

And afterward to thebes he is go  
Halpe there the ladies in especial  
Which that compleyned upon the king Creon  
Which them distroubled like their estate rial  
To hold and hallow the feasts funeral  
Of their lords and queens and princessis  
Of wifly troth to show their kyndnessis   

For when this duke the manner had seen  
And of Creon the great iniquity  
To the ladies he made deliver again  
The lords bones of ruth and of pity  
Yet in his youth out of his cite  
He was delivered by statute full audible  
To be devoured of this be'st horrible   

He goeth to prison for all his seemliness  
As the statute felly did ordain  
But of ruth and gentleness  
Him to preserve from that deadly pain  
Of king minos the goodly daughters twain  
Adriane shaped a remedy  
And feir phedra that he should not die   

Through her help he hath the monster slain  
That was dreadful and ugly for to see  
By them he scaped whereof he was full feign  
Led them with him toward his country  
And by the way devoid of all pite  
Adriane full falsely he hath forsake  
A yen his surance and phedra he hath take   

In mids the see he left her in an isle  
Towards no party she knew no decline  
She wepyth she crieth alas the herd while  
For of her fate this was the mortal fine  
That for pity bachus the god of wine  
Took her to wife whoo● crown of stones fine  
Doth now in heaven with ix stars shine   

Thus of theseus ye may behold and see  
To adriane the great unsteadfastness  
The great untruth the mutability  
The broken assurance and the newefanglenesse  
But silly women keep their steadfastness  
Euyr undefouled save suntyme of their kind  
They must them purvey when men be found unkind   

Of theseus I can no more now sayne  
In this matter to make of him memory  
But to king minos I will resort again  
To tell how fortune evyr falls and transitory  
In what points diffacid hath his glory  
First of echoons bochas doth specify  
Of posiphe the foul adultery   

Which was his wife and stood weal in his grace  
To his plasaunce she was most sovereign  
But a cloud of a small trespass  
Made her lord at her disdain  
But he of wisdom bore privily his pain  
For such case this is my sentence  
let prudent husbands take them to patience   

On other things Minos 'gan also complain  
Having in heart thereof full great grievance  
That he so lost his fair daughters twain  
And Minotaurus slain with mischance  
Also to him it was a great pain  
That theseus was gone at liberty  
Andrea from all tribute delivered his city   

It grieved him also in countenance and cheer  
That theseus Adriane forsook  
It liked him also not the manner  
Unto his wife that she phedra took  
And yet this phedra like as scith my book  
Had two sons by this theseus  
First demophan and next antiochus   

Also theseus after 'gan him draw  
Toward cecile in steel armed clean  
With Pirotheus in arms his fellow  
For to ravish proserpyna the queen  
But of intent phedra full unclean  
loved her stepsone called ypolitus  
Butt for he was to her dangerous   

And to her lust froward and contrary  
In his apport not goodly ne benign  
Of his false intent anon she 'gan to vary  
Against her full felly to malign  
With a prince of many token and sign  
Of womanhead she 'gan him accuse  
Her a●outrye falsely to excuse   

Who saith that women can not imagine  
In their diffence tales untrue  
To their desire if men list not incline  
Neither on their feigned falls woe to rue  
Anon they can cumpasse things new  
fish and find out of their entencion  
A covert ●loude to shadow their treason   

She hath accused young ypolitus  
Of false avowtry in his tender age  
Told and affirmed to duke theseus  
With full boolde cheer and full pleyne visage  
How he purposed for to do outrage  
Only by force her beauty to press  
Her lord beseeching to rofourme and dress   

The great iniquity done to his wife  
While he was absent for thing that bore charge  
wives of tales sometime been inventif  
To suffer their tongues falsely flyen at large  
But felkies that list of damage them discharge  
Of such accusing ne take they none heed  
●yll the truth be tried out in deed   

I mean no thing of wives that been good  
Neither of women that flourens in Innocence  
For god forbid and the holy road  
But men should do due reverence  
To their noblesse and their excellence  
Declare their bounty and their virtue show  
And more them cherish by cause there been but few   

Touching the accusing against ypolitus  
Though it so were that it was falls in deed  
zit he for shame and fear of theseus  
As in the story ye may behold and read  
In his heart he caught a manner dread  
That he alas this silly young knight  
Fled and withdrowe him out of his father's sight   

●is indignation plainly for to eschew  
Though by desert in him there was no lack  
Of hasty dread as 'gan remewe  
Or in a char or●on horse back  
His horse afraid there fill a sudden wrack  
Down from a roche pendaunt as ye shall lere  
He and his char were drowned both in fere   

Thus unguilty in his most lusty youth  
He was conveyed to his destruction  
The slander conspired as it is weal I couth  
By false phedra but in conclusion  
The slander turned to her confusion  
For when she wist Ipolitus was deed  
through her default anon for shame and dread   

She took a sword full sharp I whet and ground  
And therewithal she raft her heart atweyne  
Lo how that vengeance will ever again rebound  
On them that falsely do their busy pain  
Lo slander folk for like as they ordain  
With their diffamies other folks tawyte  
God at last their malice can acquit   

But some books of phedra do record  
That she ashamed and confus of this deed  
Hinge herself up full high with a cord  
Lo how falls slander can folk quite for their meed  
Wherefore I counsel every man take heed  
In such matters as stand in uncerteyn  
From his hasty language his tongue to refreyne   

Among these stories woeful for to read  
All bespreynt with teries in his face  
Full suddenly iohn bochas 'gan take heed  
In mids the press zisam came to place  
And how that fortune 'gan also the menace  
This proud duke full mighty and notable  
Of king jabyn called the great constable   

Of his ooste leader and governor  
To Israel very mortal foo  
With people he road like conqueror  
And where that ever his main died go  
The earth quoke people dread him so  
Fled fro his face where as he can a far  
Nine hundred veins he had for the were   

Strongly in armed with hooks made like sithis  
Who that approached to maim and to wound  
For this tyrant of custom often sithis  
Had great delight the jews to confound  
And all though that his sword hath found  
King jabyn bad prince Canaan  
In israel to spare child ne man   

This zisara was scent to be their scourge  
By gods suffraunse their sins to chastise  
Their old offencis to punyssh and to purge  
As a flagell many sundry wise  
But when of reason they 'gan them better devise  
And for their trespassies to fall in repentance  
God 'gan withdraw the hand of his vengeance   

For in their mischief they 'gan the lord to know  
Feeling the prick of his punition  
And mercy than hath unbent the bow  
Of his fell ire and castigation  
To god they made their invocation  
And he them herd in their mortal dread  
In judicum the story ye may read   

how in the while that this zisara  
Shaped him of new the jews to oppress  
In their diffence god sent them Delbora  
A prophetess the story beareth witness  
To give them counseyl their arms to redress  
And by the spirit of her prophesy  
For to withstand the great tyranny   

Of zisara which was descended down  
With a great host into the field repeired  
But desbora of high discretion  
when that she saw the jews despaired  
And for to fight their courages sore apeyred  
She made him first devoutly in that dread  
To cry to god to help them in their need   

She was their judge and their governeress  
Chief of their counsel and of custom she  
Causis depending of great adviseness  
That stood in doubt by doom of equity  
She tried them out under a palm tree  
And was not hasty no matter to determine  
Till she the parties afore died examine   

And when she heard and knew of coming  
Of zisara with full great puissance  
That was constable of that mighty king  
called Ia●yn with all his ordinance  
Upon jews for to do vengeance  
This delbora 'gan prudently intend  
The iewys ꝑtie by wisdom to defend   

She had barach her husband anon right  
Of Neptalym ten thousand with him take  
Against zisara to fight for their right  
And that he should a great enarme take  
But he for dread this journey 'gan forsake  
And durst not against him though verreye  
But she were present and list him to convey   

We'll we'll quoth she sith it standeth so  
That of wantrust ye have a manner dread  
I will myself gladly with you go  
You to support in this great need  
But trustith fully as ye shall find in deed  
That a woman with laud honour and glory  
Shall fro you win the price of this victory   

It followed after soothly as she said  
Auysely she made her ordinance  
And the chief charge on herself she laid  
As princess of jews governance  
And prudently 'gan herself advance  
With god conveyed and support of his grace  
With zysara to meet in the face   

And specially touching this voyage  
God took away the spirit and the might  
from zisara his force and his courage  
That he was fearful to enter into fight  
Kept his char and took him to flight  
Knowing no place in surely to abide  
Till that jael a woman died him hide   

Within her tent and almost deed for dread  
Under amantell desirous for to drink  
She gave him milk the sleep fill on his heed  
And while that he for heaviness 'gan wink  
And sadly slept she 'gan her to bethink  
Thought she would for zisara so shape  
That with the life he should not escape   

She took avail that was sharp and long  
And covertly 'gan herself advance  
With an hamer mighty round and strong  
She drove the nail lo this was her vengeance  
Through out his heed see here the sudden chance  
On tyranties that trust on fortune  
Which will not suffer them long to contune   

In their falls usurped tyranny  
To hold people in long subietion  
She can them blaundisshe with her flattery  
Under a colour of false collusion  
And with a sudden transmutation  
Fortune them can that poor folk trouble  
Reverse their pride with their face double   

And though she were defacid of figure  
There showed in her a manner majesty  
Of queenly honour plainly to discure  
Her infortunies and her infelicite  
And to declare plainly/ how that she  
Of all princessis/ which stood in estate  
She was herself the most infortunate   

Which gave to Bochas full great occasion  
When he saw her piteous apparel  
For to make a lamentation  
Of uncouth sorrows/ which did her assail  
With a tragedy to weep and to wail  
Her importable/ and strange deadly strife  
Which that she had during all her life   

●e write of her a story large and plain  
And of her birth/ first he doth define  
And affirmeth in his book certain  
She was descended of a noble line  
In flowering age/ also when she died shine  
She wedded was for her great beauty  
Unto the king of thebes the city   

Which in his time was called sayus  
And when her womb by process did arise  
The king was glad/ and also desirous  
The childys' state to know in sum wise  
And thought he would go do sacrifice  
Unto apollo to have knowledging tofore  
touching this child when that it was borne   

What should follow in conclusion  
He was desirous/ and hasty for to see  
First by the heavenly disposition  
And by the favour if it would be  
Of apolloes mighty deite  
To have answer among his wits all  
Of his child/ what fate should bifalle   

His answer thought it were contrary  
To his desire/ yet was it thus in deed  
Apollo told him/ and list no lengre tar●  
That this child should verrely in deed  
Sle his father/ and make his sides bleed  
And with his hands there was none other weigh  
But on his sword he must nedis die   

The king was heavy/ and trust on this sentence  
Sorrowful of heart/ god wot and no thing fain  
And kest afore through his providence  
That his son should in all hast be slain  
And that he would not an hour delayne  
After his birth but bade his men to gone  
Into a forest and slay the child anon   

Like his bidding the mynystres wrought in deed  
Taking the child tender and young of age  
And into a forest with them they 'gan it lead  
To be devoured of beasts most savage  
The mother alas almost fill into a rage  
saying her child so inly fair of face  
Shall thus be deed and died no trespass   

little wonder though she felt sm●rte  
To all women I report me  
And unto moders that been tender of heart  
In this matter judges for to be  
Was it not ruth was it not pite  
That a princess a queen alas  
Should know her child devoured in such case   

After his birth Layus took good keep  
Without mercy respite or delay  
That unto one which kept his sheep  
This young child upon a certain day  
Shall be delivered in all the haste he may  
To this intent it might not be succoured  
But that it should of beasts be devoured   

This said shepherd goth forth anon right  
The child benign beholding of look and face  
Thought in heart and in his inward sight  
He should do to god a great traspace  
To slay this child wherefore he did him grace  
Took first a knife and did his busy pain  
Through out his feet to make holes twain   

Took a small rod of ayonge os●e●  
pierced the feet alas it was pite  
bond him fast and by good leiser  
The young child he hinge up on a tree  
Of intent that he ne should be  
Through wild beasts cruel and savage  
Be suddenly devoured in their rage   

Upon the tree while he hinge thus bound  
Of adventure by sum occasion  
A strange shepherd hath the child I found  
Which of ruth and of pite took him down  
Bore with him home in to his town  
Made his wife for to do her pain  
To foster the child with her breasts twain   

And when he was brought forth and recured  
And full made hole of his wounds sore  
This young child which all this hath endured  
When he in age began to wax more  
And that nature began him to rostore  
The said shepherd that loved him best of all  
After his hurts Edippus did him call   

For edippus is more to say  
Who that conceiveth the exposition  
But feet I pierced throughout both twain  
In that language as made is mention  
And Merope wife of king Polibo●  
The shepherd of full humble intent  
Begun the child full lowly to present   

And for she was barren of nature  
She and the king of one affection  
Took edippus both into their ●ure  
As son and heir by adoption  
To rain in corinth by succession  
The king the queen of corinth the country  
Had the child in so great cheerte   

Let men consider in their discretion  
Sudden change of every manner thing  
This child sent out for his destruction  
And now provided for to be a king  
And through fortune aye double in working  
He that was refuse to beasts most savage  
Is now received to knightly heritage   

Destitute he was of his kindred  
Forsake and abject of blood and of ally  
In tender youth his feet were made to bleed  
Hinge on a tree and began for help cry  
But god that can in mischief magnefie  
And reconfort lolke disconsolate  
Hath made this child now thus fortunate   

And provided to be a kings heir  
Of him that stood of death in adventure  
Fortune can show herself both foul and fair  
Folkies brought low full well again recure  
And such as patiently can endure  
And list not grudge against their chastising  
God out of mischief can suddenly them bring   

But when Edippus was grow up to age  
Like a young prince increasing in noblesse  
Lusty and strong and fresh of his courage  
Of adventure it fell so in soothness  
●●ther by strife or by su● frowardness  
Or by 〈◊〉 con●e● he had knowledging  
How he was not son unto the king   

As by descent b●t a fer foreign  
Whereupon full sore he began to muse  
And for to know and be put in certain  
Thought he would sum manner practik use  
And to the king he 'gan himself excuse  
For a time withdraw his presence  
Till that he knew by sum experience   

Or by sum sign how the matter stood  
Thought he would do his diligence  
To know his father and also of what blood  
He was descended and have sum evidence  
Touching troth how it stood in sentence  
And hereupon to be certified  
Toward apollo fast he hath him hied   

Which in Cyrra worshipped was that time  
And gave answer through his deite  
To folk that came at even and at prime  
Of every doubt and ambiguyte  
And there Edippus falling upon his knee  
After his offering had answer anon  
Toward Grece he should go   

Unto a mountain that focis bore the name  
And there he should of his kindred here  
Also like his faat the answer was the same  
He should slay his own father dear  
And after that to thebes draw him near  
Wed his mother of very ignorance  
called jocasta through his unhappy chance   

He list no longer tarry ne abide  
This said edippus but forth in haste goth he  
And on his weigh he began anon to ride  
Till he the mountain of Pho●is did see  
Under the which stood a great country  
called Citoyens/ which that time certain  
Werr●ide them that were on the mountain   

His father layus through his chivalry  
With Citoicus is entered into battle  
And edippus came with the party  
Of the hill armed in plate and mail  
And as they began each other to assail  
Among the press at the entrecountring  
Of adventure Edippus slow the king   

Unknown to him that he his father was  
Having thereof no suspection  
passed his way platly this is the case  
And also vnknowe he came to the town  
Of mighty thebes where for his high renown  
He was received with full great reverence  
Because that he slough in their diffence   

Spynx the serpent horrible for to see  
sometime ordained by incantations  
For to destroy the town and the country  
By his compassed sleighty quesitions  
Slough man and child in all the regions  
Such as not could by wisdom or by reason  
Make of his problem plain exposition   

Who so passed by he could him not excuse  
But the serpent would him felly assail  
w●th a problem make him for to muse  
called of sum men an uncouth devynaile  
Which for to expone who that died assail  
There was none help neither other remedy  
By the statute but that he must die   

And for all folk have not knowledging  
Of this demand what it was in deed  
I well rehearse it here in my writing  
Compendiously that men may it read  
First this serpent who that list take heed  
Was monstrous and spoke against nature  
And if it fill that any creature   

Man or woman should forth by pass  
High or low of all that region  
As I said erst there was none other grace  
But if he made an exposition  
Of this serpents froward question  
He must die and make no diffence  
The which demand was this in sentence   

The serpent axed what thing may that be  
Be'st or foul when it is forth brought  
That hath no power stand go nor i'll  
And afterward if it be well I sought  
Gothe first on four or else goth he naught  
After by process on three and than on twain  
And eft again as nature doth ordain   

He goth on three and eft on four again  
Also kindly right nature disposith it so  
And in a while it followeth in certain  
To the matter which that he came fro  
He must of kind resort again thereto  
And how can not the meaning clearly see  
He of this serpent shall devoured be   

Which edippus full sober in his intent  
not to rakel or to hasty of language  
But in his heart with great ●uysement  
And full demure of look and of visage  
considered first this perilous fell passage  
Saw well tofore that it was no jape  
And full provided that no word escape   

At good leisure with hole mind and memory  
saying the earnest of this mortal emprise  
His life depending betwixt death and victory  
This quoth he plainly to devise  
Is first a child which may not suffice  
When it is borne the truth is alday seen  
Without help himself to sustain   

After on four he naturally doth creep  
For impotence and green tenderness  
Noricis can tell that do them keep  
But afterward up he doth him dress  
With his two feet the third to express  
Is hand or bench or sopport of sum wall  
To hold him up jest he catch a fall   

And afterward increasing of his might  
To great age when he doth attain  
Of his nature than he goth up right  
mightily upon his legs twain  
Than cometh age his power to restrain  
crooked and lame like as men may see  
With a staff or potent to make up leggys' three   

But when feebleness or sickness do assail  
On hands and feet he must bow and lout  
For crossies potentis may not than avail  
When lusty age is banished and shut out  
Than eft again hereof may be no doubt  
With four feet to earth he doth return  
From whence he came there still to sojourn   

All came from earth and all to the earth shall  
Against nature may no protection  
Worldly estatis echon they be mortal  
There may no treason make redemption  
Who climbeth highest his fall is lowest down  
A mean estate is best who could it know  
Between high presuming & bowing down to low   

For who sit highest stand in juꝑdye  
Under danger of fortune like for to fall  
Mischief and poverty as for their party  
Been lowest brought among these people all  
Sum folk have sugar and sum taste gall  
Solomon therefore mirror of sapience  
Between great richessis and between indigence   

axed a mean called suffisance  
To hold him content of compitent dispense  
Not to rejoice of to great abundance  
And ever in povert to send him patience  
Sober with his plenty in scarceness none offence  
As of grudging but between joy and smart  
Thank god of all and ever be glad of heart   

Earth is the end of every manner man  
For the rich with great possession  
Death as soon as I rehearse can  
As doth the poor in tribulation  
For death ne maketh no division  
By singular favour but between both I lech  
Of the poorest ●nd of him that is most rich   

This said problem concluded in this case  
Which the serpent began slightly to purpose  
That when a child is first borne alas  
Kind to his dethwarde anon doth him dispose  
Each day a journey there is none other gloze  
Experience can tech in every age  
How this world is here but a pilgrimage   

This said Edippus first in thebes borne  
Scent to a forest devoured for to be  
Found and brought forth as ye have herd tofore  
And after drawing home to his country  
Slough his father so infortunate was he  
Of froward happies following all his live  
As this tragedy his fortune shall descrive   

But for that he through his high prudence  
Unto the serpent declared everydeal  
He slough him after by knightly violence  
Moore by wisdom than of armure and of steel  
Stace of thebes can tell you full we'll  
Which was one cause if yelist to seen  
Wherethrough Edippus wedded hath the queen   

called jocasta princess of that country  
His own mother unknown to him both  
And though she were right fair upon to see  
With this marriage the gods were full wroth  
For their alliance nature 'gan to loath  
That a mother as ye shall understand  
Should her son take to be her husband   

There was therein none convenience  
To be supported by kind ne by reason  
But if it so be the heavenly influence  
disposed it by the inclination  
Of sum falls froward constellation  
Caused by saturn or mars the froward star  
To engender debate or some mortal were   

In this matter plain thus I dame  
Of no cunning but of opinion  
Though he were crowned with sceptre and diadem  
To regne in thebes the strong mighty town  
That some aspect came from heaven a down  
Infortunate froward and full of rage  
Which against kind denied the marriage   

He crowned was by assent of all the town  
Flowering a ceson by sovereignty of peace  
And while he held the possession  
Sons and daughters he had doubtless  
The first son called Ethiocles  
Polly●enes called was that other  
As saith bochas the second brother   

Also he had goodly daughters twain  
The eldest called was antigone  
The second named was ymeyne  
And both they were right fair unto see  
The queen jocasta might no gladder be  
Than to remember when they wax in age  
Her gods had increased their lineage   

It was her joy and her felicity  
To see her children that were so inly fair  
But often of joy there cometh adversity  
And hope unsured when hope often apaire  
Contrarious trust will gladly their repair  
Where falls weening in heart is conceived  
Through ignorance which many folk have deceived   

What thing in earth is more deceivable  
That when a man supposith verrely  
In prosperity for to stand stable  
And from his joy is removed suddenly  
For where fortune is found to hasty  
To trise folk is grievous to endure  
For sudden changes been hateful to nature   

Unware woe that cometh on gladness  
Is unto hearts right passing encumberous  
And who hath felt his part of wilfulness  
Sorrow suing on is to him odious  
And worst of all and most contrarious  
Is when estates highest of renown  
Been from their noblesse suddenly brought down   

There is no glory which that shineth here  
That falls fortune can so magnify  
But when his land brightest is and clear  
She can eclipse it with some cloudy sky  
Of unware sorrow only of envy  
Seeth of Edippus an open evidence  
Which by his life had experience   

Of high noblesse and therewith also  
Part importable of great adversity  
His joy ever meynt with full mortal woe  
For while he reigned in thebes the cite  
And jocasta with full great rialtye  
Within the country there fill a pestilence  
The people enfecting with his violence   

Through all the land and all the region  
In every age but most grievously  
On them echon that were of that town  
The infection spread most specially  
And of vengeance the sword most rigerously  
Day by day began to bite and karue  
Of each estate causing folk to starve   

Thus began to increase the mortality  
That every man stood in jeopardy  
Of their lives through out the country  
So importable was their malady  
That might here the people clepe and cry  
Despe●ed so were they of their lives  
Wide of all succour and of their preservatives   

They sought out herbs and spices in their coffres  
And began to seek for help and other socouris  
The cause enquering of prudent philosopheris  
And of their most expert devynouries  
Why that the gods with so sharp shouries  
Of pestilence and so cruel wise  
List them alas so mortally chastise   

But among all in sooth this is the case  
There was found one full prudent and full wise  
A prophet called Tiresias  
Of prophesy having a sovereign price  
Which affirmed and said in his a viis  
As unto him was showed by miracle  
Phoebus himself declaring the oracle   

'Cause of this sickness and these maladies  
As the gods plainly have disposed  
And senec writeth also in his tragedies  
Though the cause be secret and I closed  
Unto the time there be a king disposed  
Which slough his father and raft him of his life  
And hath also take his mother to his wife   

Till this be done and execute in deed  
There may be made no redemption  
But pestilence shall multiply and spread  
Ever more and more through out that region  
Till unto the time that he be put a down  
From his crown which was not long agone  
His father slough among his mortal soon   

And hath his mother wedded also  
Against law and against all right  
Till that vengeance upon that crime be do  
There shall be were pestilence and fiyht  
Sorrow and great strife and every manner wight  
Of vengeance his neighbour shall hate  
Brother with brother and blood with blood debate   

This all and sum there may be no succour  
Which brought the people in great heaviness  
For Tiresia the great dyvynour  
By prophesy told them thus express  
And at the last by tokens and witness  
Men understood and signs out showing  
This pestilence was brought in by the king   

And though the people ne gaf no credence  
To tiresia ne to his prophesy  
The queen iocasta caught an evidence  
And in her heart a full great fantasy  
Specially when she did aspie  
Of king edippus the feet when she see wounded  
How this romour was upon troth grounded   

Because also there was a diviner  
Which told tofore that edippus should be  
To layus in thebes successor  
Whereby the king the queen and the cite  
Fill in great trouble and great adversity  
Well more than I by writing can report  
For there was no thing that might them recounforte   

Full often in the day jocasta 'gan to sown  
King Edippus sob cry and weep  
In salt teries as they then would drown  
Death crampisshing into their heart 'gan creep  
A day complaining a night they may not sleep  
Cursing the hour of their nativity  
That they should live that day for to see   

Their mortal chance their deadly adventure  
Their fortune also which 'gan on them frown  
Impatient and doolfull to endure  
Their froward fate with their looks brown  
The king for ire cast away his crown  
And bigan to race for constraint of his pain  
Out of his heed his woeful iyens twain   

Day and night he cried after death  
Hateful to come in any man's sight  
most desirous to yield up the breath  
woeful in heart to come in any light  
curbed for sorrow feeble to stand up right  
And specially in his deadly distress  
For dread and shame he dared in darkness   

The cruel constrent of his most grievance  
Was that his sons had him in despite  
Which 'gan his sorrow greatly to advance  
For him to scorn was set all her delight  
Was never none that stood in worse plight  
For thus lying and destitute of cheer  
Unto the gods he made this prayer   

Beseeching them with a full doolfull cheer  
Upon his woe to have sum compassion  
And that they would for to avenge his smart  
Between his sons make a division  
Each to bring other to destruction  
This was his prayer in substance  
That each on other may take vengeance   

In years few for their unkindness  
They herd his prayer as ye have herd devise  
The brethren two through their cursedness  
Each 'gan other mortally despise  
For lack of grace and for false covetise  
Each for his party desirous in deed  
To fore other to reign and to succeed   

And thus these brethren most infortunate  
Between themself fill at discenceon  
And finally this unkindly debate  
Brought all thebes to destruction  
zit was there made first a convention  
By enterchaunging that each should reign a year  
The other absent to play and come no near   

This was concluded by their both assent  
And by accord of that region  
Pollicenes' rood forth and was abssent  
Ethiocles took first possession  
But when the year by revolation  
Was come about he falls of his intent  
Unto the accord denied to assent   

This was a cause of their both strives  
Pollicenes thus put out of his right  
Till adrastus' king was of argyues  
Which through all grece greatest was of might  
Scent unto Thebes tedeus a knight  
His sone in law to treat of this matter  
And the cause finally to lere   

Wherethrugh the king called Ethiocles  
Would condescend of truth and of reasn  
To stint were and to cherish peace  
after the accord and compas●cion  
Up to deliver thebes that mighty town  
Unto his brother which absent was without  
Now that his year was fully come about   

But he was false and frowerdly 'gan vary  
Ethiocles from his convention  
For which adrastus' no longer would tarry  
When tedeus had made relation  
But called anon throughout his region  
All the worthy both near and ferre●  
Against thebes forto begin a were   

For this cause like as ye shall lere  
Pollicenes to force his party  
I wedded had the kings daughter dear  
I mean adrastus flower of chivalry  
when tedeus did him certify  
touching the answer of Ethiocles  
And of his truth how he was reckless   

False of his promise and cursedly forsworn  
For to his truth none advertence had he  
Neither to the accord that was made before  
touching the deliverance of thebes the city  
But who that list the story clearly see  
Of these two brethren and their dissension  
And adrastus lay tofore the town   

And tideus through his high prows  
Fought by the way going on message  
And how of grece all the worthiness  
With king adrastus went in this voyage  
And of the mischief that fill in that passage  
For lack of water till that ysiphile  
Norissh of ligurgus so fair upon to see   

Thought Tideus to find out a river  
She that died in fairness so excel  
Neither how the serpent most ugly of his cheer  
Of king Ligurgus the child slough at the well  
Neither how amphiorax fill adown to hell  
All to declare me seemed it was no need  
For in the siege of thebes ye may it read   

The story hole and made there is mention  
Of either party their puissance and their might  
And how adrastus' lay to fore the town  
And how they met every day in fight  
And Tideus theus the noble famous knygght  
So renowned in acts morciall  
Was slain alas as he fought on the wall   

And how the brethren met among the press  
Like two tigries or lions that were wood  
With sharp speries this it is doubtless  
Euerich of them shed others heart blood  
This was their fine and thus with them it stood  
Save at their feasts called funeral  
There fill a marvel which I tell shall   

When they were brent into ashes deed  
Of their envy there fill a full great wondre  
Among the brands and the coals read  
High in the air the smokes went a sondre  
The one to one party and that other yonder  
To declare the story me list not feign  
The great hatred that was between them twain   

Thus for their Ire and false dissension  
All the lords and all the chivalry  
Were slain of grece and also of the town  
And rote of all mine author list not lie  
Was false alliance and fraternal envy  
And chief ground with all the surplusage  
Who search aright was unkindly marriage   

The queen jocasta felt her part of pain  
To see her children each of them slay other  
Her son her lord blind on his iyens twain  
Which to his sons was father and also brother  
Fortune would it should be none other  
Also parca● sisters which been in number three  
Span so the thrid at her nativity   

Also when jocasta stood thus disconsolate  
And saw of Thebes the subversion  
The country destroyed was and desolate  
The gentle blood shed of that region  
Without comfort or consolation  
Thought she might be no more appeired  
But of all hope fully despaired   

Trist and heavy pensif and spoke no word  
Her sorrows old and new she 'gan advert  
Took the sword of him that was her lord  
With which Edippus smote Layus to the heart  
She to fenysshe all her pains smart  
And fro the body her soul to divide  
Roof herself thurghoute every side   

She weary was of her wolull life  
saying of fortune the great froowardnesse  
How her diffame and slander was so rife  
And of Edippus the great wretchidnesse  
Also of her sons the great unkindness  
All these things weighed on her so sore  
For distress she that list to live nomnre   

Bouchas writeth the fairness  
constraint of sorrow caused it to fade  
The famous light also of her noblesse  
And all the clearness of her days glade  
With unware arms she was so overlade  
Of very anguyssh that herself did hate  
So inly contrary disposed was her fate   

Thus death devourith with his bitter gall  
joy and sorrow avoid of all mercy  
And with his dart he maketh down to fall  
Rich and poor them marking suddenly  
His unware stroke smiteth undifferently  
From him refusing favour and all meed  
Of all estates he taketh so little heed   

Better is to die than live in wretchidnesse  
Better is to die than ever live in pain  
Better is an end than deadly heaviness  
Better is to die than ever in woe complain  
And where as mischief doth at folk complain  
By woeful constraint of long continuance  
Better it is to die than live in such grievance   

taketh ensample hereof and a proof  
Of king Edippus that was so long ago  
Of queen jocasta that felt so great mischief  
And of their children remember also  
Which ever lived in envy sorrow and woe  
Fortune alas during all their days  
Was so froward to them at all assays   

Touching Edippus process find I none  
What end he made in conclusion  
Save Bochas writ how the king Creon  
Cousin and heir by succession  
exiled him cheyned far out of the town  
Where he endured mischief sorrow and dread  
Till antropos untwined his lives thread   

¶ Lenuoye  
IN this tragedy three things ye may see  
The pride of jabyn and false presumption  
Of queen jocasta the great adversity  
Of king edippus the inclination  
To vicis all and the division  
Of the two brethren plainly us to assure  
Kingdoms divided may no while endure    

Omne regnum in se● divisum desolabitur  

For who saw ever kingdom or country  
stand in quiet of possession  
But if there were right peace and equity  
And Just accord without dissension  
Void of untruth and false collusion  
Plainly declaring by ensample and by scripture  
Kingdoms divided may no while endure   

Seeth here ensample of thebes the city  
And how that noble mighty region  
through their froward falls duplicity  
With were were brought to their destruction  
Their promise broken and their covert treason  
showed by her arms impossible to recure  
Kyngedomes divided may no while endure   

Pryncis princessys which have the sovereignty  
Over the people and domination  
If ye list long live in felicity  
Cheryssh your subjects do noon extortion  
And advertise of wisdom and of reason  
As this tragedy doth to you discure  
Kingdoms divided may no while endure    

How Atreus king of messene wrought against his brother Thyestes' slew his three children dismembered them pieces made Thieftes to eat of their flesh and drink of their blood  

bOchas the poet author of this book  
Him purposing to gydre and compile  
divers stories anon his pen he took  
Him remembering within a little while  
In this chapitle began direct his style  
To write the story and high compendious  
afore all other of duke theseus   

Lord of Athens a famous great cite  
Right strong and mighty on every side  
But at his back bochas did one see  
Which cried loud and bad he should abide  
Bochas quoth he fro the me list not hide  
My woeful case ne in no wise spare  
My piteous complaint to the to declare   

I am thyestes besprent all with weeping  
drowned in teers as thou mayst well see  
Sometime son of the mighty king  
Philistines and born also pard  
Of queen pellop●a excellent of beute  
And for thou art desirous to indite  
Of people unhappy and their woe to write   

My will is this anon that thou proceed  
Turn thy style and take thy pen belive  
Leave theseus and take of him non heed  
But first my tragedy that thou discryve  
For I suppose that in all thy live  
That thou saw nevir a thing more dolorous  
Moore unhappy more frowerde ne piteous   

Than is alas my mortal adventure  
incomparable the sorrow surmounting  
Of queen jocasta most woeful criature  
Or of edippus his faat evyr complaining  
For my complaint hath none ending  
But lastith ever and berith me witness  
No woe resemblyth unto my heaviness   

And with that word iohn bochas still stood  
Full soberly to give him audience  
And in the place demurely abood  
To here the substance of his mortal offence  
Which thus began to show the sentence  
O iohn quoth he I pray the take good heed  
My woe to write that men may it read   

Alas my brother rote of unkindness  
Attreus called of reason source and well  
And finder out of treason and falseness  
And all other in fraud he doth precelle  
whose covert hate is more than I can tell  
I supposing of very innocence  
In him no malice deceit nor none offence   

But as brother should a brother trust  
I trusted him of heart will and thought  
By appearance none other cause I wist  
For in his person I supposed naught  
That ever he could so false a thing have wrought  
But who may summoner another man deceive  
Than he in whom no malice men conceive   

I deemed of him as of my true brother  
w●●ynge he had faithful been to me  
I saw no sign ne I knew none other  
In him supposing no duplicity  
But woe alas who might it ever be  
Or who did ever in any story find  
Blood unto blood to be so unkind   

I will pass over to tell the worthiness  
touching the estates of our progenitors  
Of our kindred & the great noblesse  
I tell no thing neither of our predecessors  
Neither of my youth how passed been the flowers  
I l●ue all this and unto mind call  
The wretchidnesse that I am in fall   

My brother fond a false occasion  
Against me and began a cause feign  
To banish me out of our region  
And bigan at me of hatred so disdain  
Upon me affirming in certain  
In our kingdom which called is myssene  
I should have leyen by his wife the queen   

This he compassed full falsely of malice  
Himself weal knowing that it was not so  
Ever found unkind and his advice  
Nat like my brother but like my deadly foo  
And to increase great parcel of my woe  
By long process in his entencion  
He imagined my destruction   

Whereof the people were full glad and light  
Thurghout myssene that mighty region  
At my resorting finding every wight  
Needy of heart and hole affection  
Me to resort into that noble town  
And none so ready by signs out showing  
To make me cheer in sooth as was the king   

There is no damage in comꝑyson  
That may be likened by no resemblance  
To feigned truth and simulation  
When fraud is hid with a fair countenance  
Pretending truth outward by disseyvaunce  
And underneath of most false intent  
Of doubleness darith the serpent   

As under flowers is shrouded the dragon  
For to betraisshe by sudden violence  
Such folk as have no suspection  
But truly mean in their pure innocence  
Till they be caught dispurveyed of diffence  
As a fish with bait of false pleasance  
The hook not seen to bring him to mischance   

Thus semblably at my home coming  
I was received with every circumstance  
Like as half heir and brother to the king  
And he pretending as by countenance  
That he had so inly greatly pleasance  
Of my repair of truth he told so  
For rejoicing said he would go   

And his chief cause was false covetise  
Touching this thing which he did on me feign  
And yet this kingdom truly to devise  
Should have be departed of right between us twain  
But against truth he did so ordain  
Me to besile out of that region  
Himself alone to have possession   

Yet in his heart he cast another wile  
To my undoing and disolation  
To the place where he died me exile  
Under a shadow of false collusion  
To make a manner revocation  
Of bretherhede showing a pretence  
Me to resort again to his presence   

To be accepted as a brother should  
With full accoorde still with him forto abide  
All injures of which afore I told  
On either party foryete and set a side  
That no thing after should our love divide  
But of one will and one entencion  
lead all our life without division   

Unto his gods to do sum observance  
For this accord and humble sacrifice  
Made his ministers with faithful attendance  
To wait on me in all their best wise  
It needeth not to tell ne device  
Neither by writing in books for to set  
Half the joy he made when we met   

First how friendly he did me embrace  
Of heartily gladness within his arms twain  
And how for joy the teries on his face  
Full entirely 'gan distill and rain  
That for my party he ●oude not me restrain  
But that I must of friendship fraternal  
Weep as did he in his estate rial   

The wily wolf that cast him to devour  
The silly lamb which can no diffence  
Ne none help himself to succour  
So feeble he is to make resistance  
Which deem truth of false appearance  
What wonder is it the fraud not conceived  
Though such lambies unwarely be deceived   

Though that roses at midsummer be full sote  
Yet underneath is hid a full sharp spyne  
Sum fresh flowers have a full bitter rote  
And loathsome gall can also sugar undermine  
In dreadful storms the sun among doth shine  
And wnder a shadow of feigned frenlihede  
There is no friendship so perilous to dread   

Thus remembering the faithful words stable  
Of my brother showed unto me  
At our meeting the kissing amiable  
The assured covenants at our fraternity  
But often time men may behold and see  
That lilies grown among these nettles thick  
And flower delice in mids these wedys' wick   

Thus while I rested in the kings house  
No thing adverting his deadly cruelty  
His old hatred was so venomous  
And so audible to destroy me  
Himself to avenge he took my children ●hree  
And sikerly is it not a wonder  
He cut their throats with a knife a sundre   

For he thought that it did him good  
them to dismember into pecis small  
And in a vessel for to gather their blood  
While they lay still and looked on him pale  
This was his deed in a desert vale  
within a cave that no man should aspye  
Treason conspired of his false tyranny   

This was the substance of his sacrifice  
●o slay my children and make their hearts bleed  
I trow the gods thereof died agrise  
Of his falls offering when they took heed  
He did their members after roast and seed  
And with this viand most abominable  
He made me to be served at the table   

In covert cruses also thus it stood  
To staunch my thrust through his cruel vengeance  
He made me vnknowe drink their blood  
Was not this thing to god's displeasance  
Yis I dare say for by demonstrance  
Upon this deed without more obstacle  
The son in heaven showed a miracle   

Which sore agrysyd might not behold  
With his beams thereon to cast his sight  
For displeasance his clearness began withhold  
And for vengeance to withdraw his light  
The day turning for horror into night  
When he shone brightest in his midday spear  
Shroudyd his face and would not appear   

But I alas upon this case horrible  
That could not imagine neither think  
On any matter that was so audible  
Get their flesh th●●r blood also died I drink  
Which so sore doth to mine heart sink  
That I may not touching this adventure  
The circumstance for constraint discure   

It needeth not me to make rehersaile  
Touching mine exyll of all manner things  
Of divers sorrows that me died assail  
My woeful sighs ne my grievous weepings  
Neither upon nights my dolorous wakinges  
My poverty neither how I stood in dread  
To lose my life whereof bochas take heed   

And remember all the circumstance  
If ever thou saw of high or low degree  
Moore contrary/ or more unhappy chauncis  
Than thou heard remembered here of me  
Weigh in balauncis/ my sorrows let see  
If any sorrow or mischief unrecuryd  
May countirpeyce to that I have endured   

Mine enfortunes I fond them aye so fell  
Without favour and succour dispurveyed  
My brother on me ever so cruel  
That I full often desired to have died  
For to this day my spirit hath be conveyed  
With sorrow and woe devoid of all refuge  
Wherefore I pray/ oh bochas be my judge   

And in thy writing leave not me behind  
Neither in thy book/ that thou not disdain  
Among the folk/ that thou have me in mind  
Which that for sorrow weep/ weyle/ and plain  
And thus T●estes rehearsing all his pain  
Like as he would himself on pecis rend  
Made unto bochas of his tale an end    

How Atreus accused himself of murder and his brother upon avowtry done with Europa the queen  

aTreus after with a full pale cheer  
And of envy full deed in his visage  
And unto john bochas began approach near  
Like as he had be fallen in a rage  
And furiously abraid in his language  
how may this be/ that like a man were wood  
●●stes hath his venom sow abrood   

And like a ribaude falsely me accused  
Nat withstanding that I full clearly see  
Mine infortunies/ which may not be refused  
So sore alas/ they work against me  
And though T●estes/ falls and untrue be  
And unto the bochas with a face pale  
Against me hath forged here a tale   

Which in effect shall be found untrue  
If I have my complaint to declare  
For I purpose to tell a tale new  
From point to point/ and for no man to spare  
How he was ground and root of all my care  
And ever like as it is befall  
rehearse the beginning of my sorrows all   

sometime when I reigned in myssene  
Of age lusty flowering in my freshness  
With my wife Europa that was queen  
most renowned that time of fairness  
Tiestes than as ground of all falseness  
As a traitor his time did aspye  
Through his false fraud and flattery   

compassed a mean within my city  
By sleighty wiles that were incomꝑable  
To corrupt my wives chastity  
My bed defowling a thing intolerable  
And to the gods very abominable  
Using the queen to his fleshly pleasance  
Till unto time that continuance   

She by him had sons two or three  
Echon brought forth in false anoutrye  
deeming that they had be  
Mine own children ●yll that I did aspye  
How that this swine through his false lechery  
This Tiestes'/ after Europa  
Say by his daughter called Pellopia   

And by process forth a child she brought  
●allyd Aegisthus/ which when he came to age  
As saith bochas/ full much treason he wrought  
For by his malice and his great outrage  
Destroyed was all hole the lineage  
Of Tantalus which by his living  
In frigia reigned as lord and king   

But this Aegisthus of whom I spoke tofore  
Falsely bygoten mine author saith the same  
Of Pellopia anon as he was borne  
To hide the slander/ and also the defame  
Of Tiestes'/ and also for to save his name  
When he was but a day of age  
He was outcast to beasts full savage   

To be devoured the story is well couth  
A mylche good/ god list for him purvey  
To foster him in his tender youth  
He night and day dying by her side  
Within the forest thus he did abide  
Unto the time he 'gan grow in age  
Than to the court he holdeth his passage   

Wherefore oh bochas of heart I pray the  
Which of these stories is most terrible  
Of Edippus ● jocasta/ or of me  
Tel● on anon if it be possible  
Which of their sorrows is most penyble  
Of theban brethren most full of woe and tene  
Or of us twain brethren of myssene   

I am a know as for my party  
Of vengeance I did a cruel deed  
I slough his children of malice and envy  
And roasted them when that they were deed  
Only because if thou list take heed  
That he bygate them/ as rote of all this strife  
Upon Europa/ which that was my wife   

Such hateful things each man should loath  
Which aparteyneth to murder and treason  
Thus may I say we been unhappy both  
He first by trespass of fornication  
Doon by the queen within my region  
And I desclandered on that other side  
Of hasty vengeance to be an homicide   

My bed he defouled by his avowtry  
To god and man a thing most detestable  
And I of malice and falls malencolie  
Slough his children and served them at the table  
Thus enterchaunging if it be commendable  
Each was desirous through our unhappy chance  
Upon other for to do vengeance   

Our great hatred most odious found at all  
Our cruel deeds wrought on other side  
Senec rehearseth them in especial  
In his tragedies/ and there he doth divide  
Our complaynties/ our malice/ and our pride  
Our fatal end in sorrow and mischief fyned  
When antrapos our lives thread hath twined   

When john bochas fully had espied  
Of these two brethren the accusations  
And how they had maliciously replied  
Each against other in their dissensions  
He began dully to here their motions  
Put up his pen and wrote not more a word  
Of their fury neither of their false discord   

Envoy  

THis tragedy showeth a figure  
A manner of image and also likeness  
How contrary it is unto nature  
Blood unto blood to show unkindness  
This woeful story can bear full well witness  
All such debatis been as ye shall find  
Hateful to god and contrary unto kind   

For there is no more dreadful adventure  
Than in kindred to find frowardness  
Neither no damage more perilous to endure  
Than in friendship when there is strangeness  
A manner party by example I dare express  
To see the tree debate again the rind  
To god were hateful and contrary unto kind   

Every be'st and every creature  
loveth his semblable of kindly right I guess  
And when one truth twain hearts assure  
Vndepartyd of very ꝑfightnesse  
It were a visious froward cursedness  
Their love to knit to louse or unbind  
Hateful to god and contrary unto kind   

Princes princessis do your busy cure  
From you to avoid strif/ fraud/ and doubleness  
Remember you upon the unhappy cure  
Of these two brethren and their wretchedness  
And of their both malicious wilfulness  
And how their strives/ have this well in mind  
To god was hateful and contrary unto kind     

Of duke Theseus and Adryane that saved his life in the Cave/ and how he like a forsworn man forsook her & wedded fair phedra which afterward slough her self  

aThenes sometime when it was in his flowers  
Was called norice of philosopheris wise  
Princess of poets and expert orators  
Sum of all sciencis as clerks can devise  
Whence all cunning most clearly did arise  
Named of Grece the lantern and the light  
Which through all earth shed his beams bright   

With noble titles which been out of number  
In every coast his renown did shine  
The fame thereof was clipsid with none umbre  
All other scolys it did so enlumyne  
For in that cite plainly to determine  
Of the un arties/ as doum from one heed spring  
There ran out rivers and streams of all cunning   

These sciencis were called liberal  
Only of fredam fraunchise and liberty  
For of a stork that were proved thrall  
There should no branch study in that city  
●ut the ilk blood that were found free  
Both by descent and syneall high noblesse  
There to ●●oleye should have interest   

This city was sacred to myne●●e  
For their wisdom and their sapience  
Of mercury the feasts they observe  
For rhetoric and for eloquence  
And mighty mars gave them influence  
With glad aspe●tys their party to amend  
Noblesse of knighthood the clergy to defend   

This town was nobled by title of other things  
And most glorious/ reckoned in that age  
By succession of Dukes and of kings  
Among which duke theseus by lineage  
Son of Aegisthus full fresh in his courage  
Excelling all/ of prudence and manhood  
That ever did the crown there possede   

For to that cite through his high noblesse  
In their defencis/ such trust/ such affiance  
He gave to them by his expert prowess  
Of his triumphs so great abundance  
And specially their renown to advance  
He made them free their trewage to let  
Against Minos the mighty king of Crete   

For by his force the story is well couth  
them to fraunchise and all that region  
The mynataur he slough in tender youth  
And afterward he of devotion  
To acquit himself like a chaumpion  
Thereof made solemn sacrifice  
To jupiter in most humble wise   

And a Theatre called Maraton  
Duke theseus had the victory  
After he went to Colchos with jason  
Chief of counsel as made is memory  
And by process to augment his glory  
With hercules his brother to convey  
Against amazones he went to werreye   

conquered them his manhood was weal seen  
His force/ his noblesse in that mortal strife  
And after that Ipolita the queen  
This theseus took unto his wife  
And for his brother he laid in iuꝑde his life  
Duke Pirotheus when he did undertake  
The Centaurs to outraye for his sake   

This centaurs poets specify  
And s●ruyus maketh mention  
How they were sometime engendered on askye  
When first their father called yrion  
Was enammored full many a day gone  
Upon juno because she was so fair  
Governess and gods of the air   

This yrion was her secretary  
And for her fairness and excellent beauty  
loved her full hot all be it she was contrary  
To his desire/ bochas read and ye may see  
Him to delude he writeth how that she  
Herself transformed/ as she that might and could  
Into the likeness of an heavenly cloud   

This yrion plainly supposing  
It was herself and even thus she wrought  
The ●loude embracing without more tarrying  
Of his folly the gods there he sought  
And wttheir meddling between them forth they borough  
The Centaurs these beasts marvelous  
Which of nature been found monstrous   

Half man/ half horse departed thus in twain  
And wonderful by their description  
Of false malice did themself ordain  
On Pirotheus to make invation  
And him to put out of possession  
Of his wife called ypodamen  
And her to ravish maugre all his men   

There were of them an hundrith as in numbered  
Swift as the wind in their course renynnge  
Which of malice cast them to encoumbre  
Duke perotheus the day of his wedding  
And to ravissh his wife at their coming  
If for his party there were no defence  
Against their power to make recistence   

But theseus list not to delay  
Pirotheus his brother to defend  
First the centaurs knightly he did outraie  
So mortally they durst not him offend  
After the conquest to hell they descend  
Duke pirothe and worthy th●●●●s  
Maugre the daungere of 〈◊〉 cerberus   

There they ravished in their mortal tene  
Through their knighthood if ye lift to lere  
despite of pluto/ proserpina the queen  
Which of jupiter was the daughter dear  
And pirotheus fond first the manner  
Of wilful force through his high renown  
Realms to conquer and hold possession   

But by writing soothly of ovid  
He plainly telleth how duke theseus  
arrested was in hell and must abide  
By the force of cruel cerberus  
And pluto was to him contrarius  
Till pirotheus to find a releases  
The case declared unto hercules   

Which of his knighthood a remedy fond  
To help his friend did his busy pain  
First by his prowess cerberus he bond  
At hell gatis with a triple chain  
And of his manhood he did so ordain  
Duke theseus from danger to discharge  
Maugry pluto for to go at large   

They were in arms brethren both twain  
loved as brethren both in were and peace  
That neither could unto other feign  
Their life to iupardye and put themself in press  
And both as brethren were called hercules  
To signify/ poetes can well tell  
This name in conquest all other doth excel   

By old time they that were peerless  
For their nobles in divers regions  
All they for manhood were named hercules  
Such as were noised for fa●ous champions  
Tigers to daunt bories and lions  
And renowned among them everichone  
Bochas affermith that theseus was one   

First as I said by his knightly travail  
When athens stood in division  
Among themself by were and battle  
By his wisdom and his discretion  
To set accord within that noble town  
Them that were exiled and stood in no certain  
He of his knighthood made them resort again   

He give them laws whereby they should them gye  
Noble statutes founded of reason  
Set among them so prudent policy  
In their living that no dissension  
Should arise by none occasion  
Among themself in high or low estate  
Providing ever that there were no debate   

Thus began the cite encreas and multiply  
To wax famous of wisdom and riches  
There sprung the well first of philosophy  
There first of knighthood rose the high nobles  
By theseus bochas berith witness  
Thus things two like as it is found  
clergy and law did there abound   

For to set the cite in quiet  
He made peace through all that region  
And of knighthood he manly did meet  
The cruel tyrant that called was creon  
Maugre him/ made restitution  
Of lords bones that were at thebes slain  
To the ladies/ whereof they were full fain   

Thus through grece anon his renown spread  
His knightly fame began greatly multiply  
And long in joy thus his life he lad  
While that fortune list him magnify  
But aye her gladness is meynte with sum envy  
For she froward list no more sojourn  
With theseus but began her face turn   

Away fro him wax ꝑuerce and froward  
Of his glory ungodly 'gan to double  
Down from her wheel she made go backward  
Of his good name she 'gan the feders pull  
When his nobles was highest at full  
I mean the full of his felicity  
There followed an ebb of great advercite   

And more ever her frowardly to acquit  
His unhaps rehearsing one by one  
One the first as bochas list to indite  
Was when he lay in crete among his fone  
And out of prison should in to grece go  
Repeiring homeward and himself withdraw  
The minotaur when he had slawe   

The first emprise that he undertook  
Was when he escaped the importable pain  
Of mynatoures like as saith my book  
And with him had the kings daughters twain  
That he of malice falsely list disdain  
Against adriane which that did him save  
From the death when he lay in the cave   

Should have be slain had not her succour be  
In his repair he took thereof non heed  
He left her alone in great adversity  
Within an isle in mischief sorrow and dread  
And fair phedra with him he did lead  
wedded her like a forsworn man  
Thus with untruth his mischief first began   

How phedra qu●t her the story is well know  
In his absence bochas wrytith thus  
When that she within a lytill throw  
loved against kind her son ypolitus  
But he to her was contrarious  
Would not assent to so foul a deed  
For shame he fled and ꝑeell also for dread   

To his father for him did accuse  
●● ye tofore have the story sayen  
And for he did her company refuse  
He went away and came never again  
For ye have herd how that he was slain  
Within achar through his unhappy chance  
And how phedra through mischief and vengeance   

Slough herself against all womanhead  
Here in this book tofore as I you told  
Of which thing when theseus took heed  
Thought it was vengeance for his offence old  
For he not quit him like as he was behold  
To adriane which should have be his wife  
By whose succour he scaped with his life   

This infortune and this unhappy chance  
Was to his nobles full contrarious  
The death also was to him a vengeance  
Of his son called ipolitus  
For sorrow of whom this duke theseus  
With salt tears sore bygan to plain  
And the exequys of the ilk twain   

I trow also it did him sore grieve  
Duke pirotheus when he saw deed  
Slain with a best and might not relieve  
King orchus hound which had a triple heed  
whose tooth horrible of his blood were red  
Which infortune when he 'gan behold  
Unto the day he felt his heart cold   

And for to reckon the great wretchydnesses  
The unhappy chauncis that fill him in his life  
Among all his other great distresses  
Was none so mortal and so full of strife  
As was when he gave credence to his wife  
Phedra called which an entencion  
compassed untruly an accusation   

Upon Ipolitus of hatred and envy  
Because he would not do so great offence  
As for to assent to her lechery  
Therefore of death he felt the violence▪  
And for his father to soon gave credence  
Bochas forbade husbendes all their lives  
Without proof not leave to soon their wives   

Neither be to hasty tales for to here  
Of flatterers in chamber ne at the table  
Forgers of lesyngess mine author doth well prove  
To abide with lords that they be not able  
Hereon he maketh a chapytle full natable  
And of his writing this was the cause why  
That princes should examine each party   

Of wisdom also and of discretion  
Without a proof not be partial  
For to a prince it is confusion  
If between parties he be not found equal  
Caused many one for to have a fall  
God suffered such not long to continued  
Withdrawith their grace and hindereth their fortune   

Thus theseus for his hastiness  
His hap his grace distressed day by day  
The fame appalled of his worthiness  
And froward fortune also in a wait lay  
For his defaults to hinder him if she may  
Cast she would his nobles diasuaunce  
And than his kingdom by disobeisaunce   

From him withdrawth honour and reverence  
Full frowardly through all his region  
They of athens by cruel violence  
Fill against him in rebellion  
That he was fain to i'll out of that town  
Thus hath fortune darked the brightness  
Of all his noblesse and cast him in distress   

This was the end by great cantrariouste  
Of Theseus after his days glade  
When the fresh flower of old felicity  
Fortune adverse/ made them for to fade  
Each thing must bow when it is overlade  
worships and honours when the brightest shine  
With unware changes than rathest do decline   

Lenuoye  

THe unsure gladness the joy transitory  
The unstable sureness the transmutations  
The cloudy brightness the falls eclipsid glory  
Of earthly princes which have possessions  
Monarchies and dominations  
Their sudden change declareth to us all  
Their pompous sugar is meynt with bitter gall   

This blind goddess in her consistory  
With her pleasance meddleth dissensions  
After triumphs/ conquest and victory  
reaveth from kings their ceptris and their crowns  
Troubleth the people with false rebellions  
See these dukes which from their wheel been fall  
All worldly sugar is meant with sum gall   

This tragedy maketh momerie  
Of duke's twain and of their high renouns  
And of their love writ a great history  
And how they conquered divers regions  
governed cities/ countries/ and also touns  
Tyl● fortune their prowess did appal  
To show their sugar was meynt with sum gall   

Princis princessis see how deceptorie  
Been all these worldly revolutions  
And how fortune in her reclinatorie  
With her treacle temperith false poisons  
So marvelous been her confections  
Of frowardness she will what so bifall  
E●●r with her sugar of custum temper gall     

¶ Here bochas writeth against them that giveth hasty credence to liars and flatterers  

IN this chapter Bochas in sentence  
Repreveth and blameth not only princes  
But all them that overlightly giveth credence  
To every tale and fable which is  
R●po●tyd unto them for sothfastnysse  
And list no thing do/ as it were dew  
To prove the troth where it be falls or true   

All though so be in every manner age  
Folkys been divers of conditions  
To turn ply and change in their courage  
To other party with sudden motions  
And for to bow by transmutations  
With every wind as done the unstable levys  
Which hang/ in trees/ in forests and in griefs   

But of all changes that change is most to dread  
And most fearful is that variance  
When that princes which may the people lead  
Been found unstable in their governance  
For their noblesse and their high punissaunce  
Assureth them by a manner of form  
What ever them list to acomplissh and to perform   

To common profit they most may avail  
When they been ruled by wisdom and reason  
And to the people they may most disavail  
When they lack wit and discretion  
Thus between twain in every region  
The people draweth who that can discern  
To good or bad as princes them govern   

They may not be to hasty ne to sudden  
But do all thing by good advisement  
Keep them from tongues that parted been on twain  
not be to hasty to give no judgement  
And of folks when they been absent  
Leave no tales/ neither give no credence  
Till that the party may come to evidence   

sometime hath happened how that slaw credence  
Hath in sum be found full noyous  
But hasty credence I dare say in sentence  
A thousand fooled is more perilous  
For unadvised/ all haste is odious  
For hast full often/ for lack of reason  
Of much people hath been destruction   

There is no damage that men can purpose  
Moore to be dread nor more lamentable  
Than a prince his eeris to unclose  
To every tale and every fable  
It is a token their hearts be not stable  
When they to flatterers their eers done apply  
Namely to such that can well forge and lie   

Folks be divers sum falls sum true  
In divers studies done their business  
Sum can study and find out tales new  
And sum for lucre can maintain well falseness  
And hold up quarrels against rightwiseness  
Pretending truth under a false intent  
To hinder folks which that been innocent   

〈◊〉 to suppose it were a great folly  
〈◊〉 folks should in their opinion  
Speke or pronounce all on one party  
Or hold one way in their entencion  
For semblably as there is a division  
Of ●oragis of high or low degree  
So is there truly a great diversity   

In rehersaile or report of a thing  
For to his party each man is favourable  
S● man can say well in all his rehearsing  
S● man is double and sum man dissayvable  
S● men say true and sum be variable  
●●●●fore a prince of right as it doth seem  
Should weal examine before or that he dame   

For there is noon more dreadful pestilence  
Than a tongue that can flatere a fage  
For with his cursed crabbed violence  
He enforceth folk of every age  
Woe to tongues froward of their language  
And woe to tongues falls furious and wooed  
Which of no person never can say good   

Bochas rehearseth it is right weal sitting  
Than every man other do comende  
And say the best alway in reporting  
For in weal saying no man may offend  
Where men say weal god will his grace send  
After men be/ men must this price upreyse  
Like their meritis allow them or despreise   

But where a thing is utterly vnknowe  
Let no man there be hasty of sentence  
For rightful judges sitting on arrow  
Of their wisdom and of their high prudence  
Will of truth have first sum evidence  
I mean such as governed be by grace  
Or any doom forth by their lippis pace   

A prince should assemble things twain  
Within himself afore full prudently  
Shut up his domes bitwyxe locks twain  
One of the soul/ reason for that party  
Prudence chosen/ and right for the body  
And between them both or he gave a sentence  
To counsel call/ truth and good conscience   

First to consider with every circumstance  
And diligently do their on his labour  
Of discretion to take the balance  
And first weigh out who is the accusoure  
And whether that he for falnesse or favour  
In his process list to proceed  
Hereof a prince must of right take heed   

He must also consider by and by  
What that he is which to him is accused  
And whether the accuser be friend or enemy  
Or whether he shall be accept or refused  
In his acts thus must afore be mused  
And whether he be by report of his name  
A man well nursed or slandered by diffame   

If theseus thus had been avysyd  
And considered of reason the meaner  
He had not so hastily devised  
His sons death like as ye shall lere  
For if there had assembled be in fere  
In his person prudence and reason  
He should have seen in his discretion   

By knoweleging of long experience  
Of his wife the great unsteadfastness  
Which through her froward compassing eloquence.  
Was ready ever to bring folk to distress  
And in his writing bochas berith witness  
Of their nature women can flatter and fage  
And be sometime to copious of their language   

Also of wisdom duke theseus  
Should have considered afore in his intent  
How that his son called Ipolitus  
Of all uncleanness was found ever Innocent  
And how that he custum/ made his went  
Into forests during his young age  
To hunt at beasts which that were savage   

running on foot as ye shall understand  
On hillis valleys to eschew idleness  
Modre of vicis with his bow on hand  
diane to serve of hunting chief goddess  
sometime to hawk he did his business  
Also unto fishing greatly he was applied  
So that his youth was never unoccupied   

Thus he lived in wodies solitary  
And of venus despised the service  
Among women he would never tarry  
Their fellowship he did alway despise  
For he deemed by sentence of the wise  
Who so toucheth pitch by assay men may see  
It faileth not he shall defouled be    

Qui tangit picem et c.  

Ipolitus saw well this thing afore  
Kept him at large from such contrariouste  
His green youth he would not have it lore  
To be defouled for lack of chastity  
For he lived ever in virginity  
And never died Bochas will not vary  
No thing that was unto god contrary   

Thus of intent he kept his body clean  
During his life both in thought and deed  
Whose mother was ypolita the queen  
Of amazones in Ovid ye may read  
But woe alas that theseus took heed  
For a tale of cassandra full of guile  
Without guilt/ his to exile   

After whose death/ sum poets sayne  
how that Dyana for his chastity  
restored him unto life again  
By Esculapius/ and gave him liberty  
In her forests to hunt and to go free  
For which restoring/ as writ Ouideus  
As twice a man/ men call him verbius    

¶ M. de transformatis i bis vir  

But bochas here I not what he doth mean  
maketh in his book an exclamation  
Against women that pite is to seen  
Seith how their life their generation  
Been of nature double of condition  
And calleth them also divers and unstable  
Beesties resembling that been insatiable   

He meaneth of women been borne in Crete  
And no thing of them that devil in this country  
For women here all doubleness they let  
And have no tatch of mutability  
They lovero changes ne no duplicity  
For their husbands in causes small or great  
What so ever they say they cannot counterplete   

blessed be god that them hath made so meek  
So humble/ and fearful of their conditions  
For though men would 'cause and matter seek  
Ayens their paciens to find occasions  
They have refused all contradictions  
And them submitted through their governance  
only to meekness and womanly sufferance   

I speak not of one I speak of all  
That been professed unto lowliness  
They may have mouths but langege have they non  
All true husbands can bear hereof witness  
For wedded men I dare full well express  
That have assayed and had experience  
Best can record of wifly patience   

For as longeth to men to be sturdy  
And somewhat froward as of their nature  
Right so can women suffer patiently  
And all wrongs womanly endure  
Men should attempt no manner creature  
And namely women their meekness for to prove  
Which may we'll suffer while no man do them grieve   

Every thing resortith to his kind  
As bochas writeth sometime of the year  
And yet who serchith by process he shall find  
That truth and virtue may never fade of cheer  
For rightwiseness will alway shine clear  
Truth falseness in what they have to done  
They may no while assemble in one person   

Feet and flattery they been contrary  
They may together hold soiour  
Neither simplesse which that can not vary  
May never accord. with a baratoure  
Neither Innocence with a losemour  
Neither chastise cannot herself apply  
her to conform unto no rebaudie    

¶ Ar● mutat naturam  

By the ordinance set in their courage  
And each man followeth his condition  
As of the stock the fruit hath the tariage  
pilgrims may go full ferm their passage  
But I dare say how far that ever they go  
There but sum tarrage of that they came fro   

Bochas maketh an introduction  
In this chapter of high noblesse  
That princes have in their possession  
And by a manner laughing doth express  
How for to set them in great sickerness  
They have servants upon them abiding  
And men of arms day and night awaiting   

That no man may enter but if he have licence  
The froward ports standing at the gate  
Put men abak by sturdy violence  
It were full hard against them to debate  
Their wat● his kept early and also late  
And them to assure on nights when they sleep  
The chaumberleyns their doris straightly keep   

Men assigned their metis to assay  
To taste their wines jest there were treason  
Such mortal dread these lords do affray  
So is there sureness meynt with suspicion  
Who fedyth him gladly that ferith him of poison  
But poor folk franchised from such dread  
Such as god them sent with mirth they them feed   

But poets that writ tragedies  
Their complaining is all of high estatis  
rehearsing ever the piteous juꝑdus  
Their sudden changes and their woeful fatis  
Their divisions and their mortal debatis  
And ever conclude their dities who so can read  
High estatis stand aye most in dread   

And ground and rote of all this mortal trouble  
As Bochas writeth and beareth witness  
Been these liars with their tongues double  
themself aye forsinge truth to oppress  
With whom flattery is a chief mistress  
And worst of all to their dreadful sentence  
Is when princes been hasty of credence   

Hasty credence is rote of all error  
A froward stepmother of all good counsel  
Ground of great hindringe a dreadful disseivour  
Fair of face with a ꝑlous tail  
Gladly concluding with full great disavaile  
Neyt neighbour unto repentance  
To all that trust and have in her pleasance   

Lenuoye  

Princis princessis concidre how in every age  
Folks been devers of their condition  
To ply and turn and change in their courage  
Yet is there none to mine opinion  
So dreadful change ne transmutation  
As change of princes to give judgement  
Or hasty credence without advisement   

It is well found a passing great damage  
Known and expert in every region  
Though a tale have a fair visage  
It may include full great deception  
Hide under sugar gall and fell poison  
With a fresh face of double entendment  
Yet give no credence without advisement   

Let folks beware of their language  
Keep their tongues form oblocution  
To hinder or hurt by no manner outrage  
Preserve their lips from all detraction  
From chaunꝑtie and contradiction  
For jest that fraud were found in their intent  
Ne give no credence without advisement   

Princis princessis of noble and high parage  
Which have lordship and domination  
Void them aside that can flatter and fage  
From tongues that have a terrage of treason  
Stop your ears from their bitter sound  
Be circumspect not hasty but prudent  
And give no credence without advisement     

¶ Of queen Althaea/ and how Hercules by women was brought to confusion  

when bochas had showed his sentence  
And declared his opinion  
Against them that were hasty of credence  
He began anon to make a digression  
From that matter and of entencion  
To search out more/ his purpose to contune  
That were down cast and hindered by fortune   

And as him thought he saw a company  
Of many worthy which did apere  
And among all first he did aspye  
Queen althaea as she 'gan nigh him near  
All bywepte her face and also her cheer  
With salt tears that pity was to seen  
Which sometime was of calsidonye the queen   

She was the daughter of king testius  
wedded to Oene of calcidonye king  
Of cheer and face appearing full piteous  
Her here to torn and frowardly dying  
And in token also of complaining  
As writeth bochas whereof he took good heed  
Black was her habit and torn was her weed   

A son she had melliager he height  
In earth was there none feirer to see  
Right well favoured in every men's sight  
And as I find at his nativity  
Present were the fatal sisters three  
With their rocks and bigan forto spin fast  
And took a bronde and in to fire it cast   

And in that hour this was their language  
Touching this child we full accorded be  
And have disposed also the term of his age  
The space concluded of his destiny  
As long time who so lift to see  
Till this bronde among the coals read  
Be full consumed in to ashes deed   

But when althaea espied their intent  
And conceived the fine of their sentence  
She rose up and the bronde she hent  
Out of the fire with full great diligence  
quenched anon the firies violence  
The doom of parchas she 'gan thus disobey  
The bronde reserving under lock and key   

touching the father of this meleager  
Orneus of him thus I read  
How that he sought nigh and far  
Gods and goddesses who so list take heed  
In hope only for to have great meed  
For to them all poets thus devise  
Save to diane he did sacrifice   

Whereof she caught an indignation  
Cast she would on him avenged be  
Scent a boar into his region  
Full savage and full of cruel  
Which devoured the fruit of many tree  
And destroyed his cornis and his wines  
That such scarceness of victuals and of wines   

Was in his land upon every side  
That the people of necessity  
compelled were among to provide  
Some mean weigh/ to save their country  
And at the last they condescended be  
That melliager lusty of his courage  
Should chief with him folks fresh & young of age   

This dreadful boor mightily to enchase  
And forth they went echon devoid of dread  
With round spears they 'gan him to menace  
But meleager made first his sides read  
And with a sword than smote of his heed  
Whereof the country was both glad and fain  
And in this wise the tusky boar was slain   

Sum books tell of this hunting  
That a lady which was borne in arge  
called atthalonta daughter to the king  
To slay this bore took on her the charge  
And with an arrow made his wounds large  
Also in ovid like as it is found  
Because that she gave the first wound   

Melliager anon for a memory  
As he that was her own chosen knight  
gave her the heed in token of this victory  
But his tw●●ne uncles against all skill and right  
Raft her the heed of very force land might  
Having despite that she in her advice  
Of this victory should bear away the price   

With which Injury melliager was wroth  
Against them proudly 'gan disdain  
pulled out a sword and upon them goth  
And through his manhood slough his uncles twain  
And after that did his busy pain  
To take the heed and with humble intent  
To athalente again to be present   

One of his uncles was called Flexippus  
A manly knight/ but young of age  
That other brother named theseus  
But when their sister heard of that outrage  
How they were slain/ she 'gan in her visage  
Wax deed and pale alas for her blood  
When she espied the cause how it stood   

She had no matter god wot to be say  
Queen althaea to stand and behold  
Her brethren twain of her son slain  
At the hunting of which tofore I told  
First things twain she 'gan poise and unfold  
Of her brethren the love/ and nigh kindred  
And of her son the hasty cruel deed   

And remembering she castyth in balance  
Of heartily woe that she died endure  
Thought if she did upon their death vengeance  
To slay her son it were against nature  
Thus in a were long time she did endure  
Her deadly sorrow peising every dell  
Whedre she shall be tender or cruel   

Thus tender I mean her son for to spare  
Or punish the death of her brethren twain  
Thus comfortless all destitute and bore  
In languisshinge she endured forth her pain  
And remedy can she non ordain  
Save fain she would evenge her if she may  
But than forth came nature and said nay   

It was her son against all kindly right  
Of whom she cast avenged for to be  
To women all/ a ugly strange sight  
That a mother devoid of all pity  
Should slay her child so merciless pard  
Nay not so nature will not assent  
For if she did full sore she should repent   

But oh alas all fatal purveyance  
keepeth his course as sum clerks sayne  
But the writing of doctors in substance  
And these divines reply there again  
And affirm the opinion is in vain  
Of them that trust in fate or destyne  
For god above hath the sovereignty   

And of fortune the power may restrain  
To save and spill like as folk deserve  
Against his will they may no thing ordain  
Of necessity what course that they conserve  
But this matter all holy I reserve  
Unto divines to determine and conclude  
Which not ꝑteynyth unto folks rude   

But althaea of calcidonye queen  
Begun sore muse and hinge in balance  
Her brethren deed when she did them seen  
Than was she moved anon to do vengeance  
Upon her son by full great displeasance  
But as poets list for to compile  
Nature made her withdraw her hand a while   

Thus between ire and affection  
She held her long of every ꝑtye stable  
Till that she caught in her opinion  
A sudden rancour which made her be vengeable  
And hasty wrath which is not commendable  
Against her son made her with her hand  
Out of her chest to take the fatal bronde   

And suddenly she cast it in the fire  
And wexed cruel against all womanhead  
To execute her venomous desire  
The fatal bronde among the coals read  
consumed was in to asshis deed  
And furiously in her melancholy  
The vengeance done she thus 'gan to cry   

O ye parcas froward sisters three  
Which of jove keep the library  
And of children at their nativity  
Await the sentence which may not vary  
Wherso it be wilful or contrary  
Upon his domes taking always heed  
How that ye shall dispose the fatal thread   

Thou cloto takyst thy rock on hand  
And lathesys after doth begin  
By great avise who so can understand  
The thread of length to draw and to spyrine  
But when the spirit shall from the body twin  
Thou antropos dost thy cruel pain  
Full frowardly to part the thread in twain   

I may well plain in such depertition  
Not for a day but woe alas for ever  
You have untwined and made division  
Of my two brethren and caused them dissever  
That here on live I shall see them never  
And I of haste alas why did I so  
To avenge their death have slain my son also   

O ye daughters of arberus the fell  
Whoos ugly mother was the black night  
And all your kindred and lineage live in hell  
And for to avenge the wrong and great unright  
Which I have accomplished in your sight  
I will with you perpetually complain  
Like my desert endure sorrow and pain   

And while began with herself thus strive  
Upon her sorrows that were endless  
She made a sword through her heart to rive  
Of herself here she was reckless  
And bochas after among all the press  
Saw as him thought with a full hideous cheer  
Deed of visage hercules appear   

whose father was jupiter the greet  
His mother daughter of amphitrion  
called Alcumena sometime borne in crete  
And as poetis rehearse one by one  
So excellent was there never none  
To speak of conquest of victory and of fame  
Here in this world that had so great a name   

Dreadful of look he was and right terrible  
His beerd also black which hinge full low down  
And all his here as brestles were horrible  
His rob also full marvelous of fashion  
Was of the skin of a fears lion  
Which from his back of very force he rend  
Within a forest alone when he went   

In his hand he bore a maas of steel  
Which to behold was wonder long and huge  
By appearance as bochas felt weal  
deemed of reason a rightful judge  
That hercules had to his refuge  
Wisdom with force for to increase his fame  
As beasts wild for to make them tame   

And unto bochas he 'gan loud cry  
Take right good heed for it is no fable  
I for my merits to speak of chivalry  
And noble triumphs am most commendable  
To be preferred most worthy and most able  
Which have acomplisshed all that may excel  
Through high prowess that any tongue can tell   

Also of my birth in heaven full thore ago  
Fully conceived my constellation  
Mighty juno said unto Inno  
On such a da● in such a regeon  
One shall be ●●●ne most mighty of renown  
Noblest of nobles both in were and peace  
Of whom the name shall be Hercules   

The which doom when Inno understood  
Of jupiter conceiving the intent  
And knew my fate should be so good  
To lucynya her messenger she sent  
But sum saith how down herself she went  
To this goddess/ goddess of childing  
And her bisought to grant her/ her asking   

That she would from hercules translate  
The influence of his nativity  
Help to reserve his name and his fate  
And grant it holy to young Euristee  
And that lucynya present would be  
The same hour by jupiter provided  
It to possede all hool and undivided   

Thus to the mother of this euristee  
juno the goddess granted her favour  
Thereby disposing that he should be  
Mighty of puissance like an emperor  
But of his noblesse the conquest and labour  
And of his manhood the prowess and pursuit  
By hercules was fully execute   

This hercules had the travail  
And ●uristeus bore away the name  
Also hercules fought in plate and mail  
And high emprises proudly did attame  
But the report of his noble fame  
To curistius fully was ascrived  
Thus of his thank was hercules deprived   

Full often in arms s●●n man doth full weal  
And often causeth that the field is won  
And of another that did never adele  
The price out spredith like as shineth the son  
And often it happeneth that he that hath best run  
Doth not the spear like his desert possede  
Where falls favour giveth every man his meed   

Fame in her palace hath trumps more than one  
Sum of gold that yeveth a full fresh sound  
Sum man hath land and deserveth noon  
And sum have be full worthy of renown  
No thing preferred by commendation  
As by report of states high and low  
So frowardly fame his trump hath blow   

Touching arms the pour ne the rich  
Ben not of hearts echon courageous  
Neither all men may not be eliche  
Neither of their name equal ne gracious  
And though the pour have been victorious  
Of a venture to do full well sum day  
Other have pinched to take his thank away   

One sleeth the dear with an hokyd arawe  
Whoos partly is none yet of the venison  
One betith the bush another hath the sparrow  
And all the birds in his possession  
One draweth his nets in rivers up and down  
With sundry baities cast out line and hook  
And hath no part of all that ever he took   

An evidence hereof ye may see  
Full notale to be put in memory  
Of Hercules and of Euristye  
For hercules gate aye the victory  
And euristeus received hath the glory  
Thus their palm departed was in twain  
That one rejoiced that other bore the pain   

Euristeus was prince of Athene  
Son and heir by descent of line  
Unto the king that called was scellene  
Under whose might as bochas doth determine  
Hercules through knightly discipline  
Providyd so most manly and most wise  
That from all other he bore away the prize   

●ut woe alas that ever it should fall  
So manly a knight so noble and notable  
That any spot should his price appal  
Or 'cause his courage for to be unstable  
Which is a thing doleful and lamentable  
From his knighthood which a thing to strange  
That ever a woman should his heart change   

I will excuse them by cause their nature  
Is to change hearts and coragys'  
Against their nature no force may endure  
For their flattery and sugared fair language  
Like Sereneses fresh of their visagiss  
For to enchaunge of princes the noblesse  
Moore than hercules can bear hereof witness   

Thus hercules astonied and ashamed  
Unto bochas showed his presence  
Said alas my knighthood is diffamed  
By a full falls amorous pestilence  
So sore constrained by mortal violence  
Whereby alas my manhood was applied  
To sleyth of women oppressed and maistryed   

To took their habit and clothe me in their weed  
To shear my beard and force me visage  
With oyntementis against all manhood  
To make it souple and change my language  
And to complain more of mine outrage  
Upon my fingers utwies told  
I had rings richly wrought of gold   

Thus was my courage changed feminine  
For love of one called yolee  
Of conditions though she were serpentyne  
Me thought she was fairest upon to see  
That all my joy was with her to be  
And that none should aꝑceyve my trespass  
I changed both habit look and face   

And was a woman outward in appearance  
Of intent to have more liberty  
To use my lusts and have experience  
Of appetitis which that unleeful be  
Whereof the slander reboundyth upon me  
That I dare say my outrageous trespass  
Doth all my knighthood and prows difface   

Whereof oh bochas I pray the take good heed  
For to describe in terms plain and clear  
Mine infortune like as it was in deed  
That when other conceive the manner  
Of mine unhaps contagious for to here  
They may by example/ of me do their pain  
From vicious life their hearts to restrain   

For these fools that all wisdom despise  
And been contrary to vortuouse discipline  
May give example to folks that been wise  
And been to them a lantern of doctrine  
Vicis to eschew and prudently decline  
From fleshly lusts for it is taught in schools  
That wise men all day been taught by fools   

When bochas had conceived the plaint  
Of hercules in his appearing  
And how his nobles by women was attaint  
Through his disordinate living  
He thought anon him remembering  
It had be ruth for to put in mind  
His vicis all/ and virtues left behind   

consider also it was inꝑtynent  
either by language to writ against all right  
Any thing that should in sentinent  
The fame amenuse of so noble a knight  
Or to discrees in any ma●●ys sight  
His glorious prowess/ ●●th poets for his warray  
Reise his renown so high above the stars   

For he was both knight and philosopher  
And for his strength called a giant  
For common profit he 'gan all pro●●ly proffer  
Of manly courage ●eue thereto full grant  
To enter into Egypt to slay the giant  
called Busiris of full falls intent  
Slough all strangers the through his kingdom went   

For under a colour of liberality  
Unto his palaces gladly he would call  
Strangers echon that came through his country  
And solemnly receive them one and all  
And like a king both in chamber and hall  
Make them such cheer in all manner thing  
As appertained to a worthy king   

But while his gests lay a night and sleep  
This false tyrant in full cru●l wise  
murdered them echon or they took keep  
And after that/ this was also his guise  
With their blood to make a sacrifice  
To jupiter god of that country  
Of hole intent to please his deite   

That in his kingdom of fruits and greyn  
The land increased by great habundau●●●  
Down from heaven he would send they●● rain  
This mean he made and this cheuyss●●●ce  
To murder and slay he had so great pleasance  
For all thing him thought it did him good  
To murder his gests and shed their blood   

But when this murder of Busiris was couth  
That no stranger might pass his land in peace  
This manly knight yet flowing in youth  
This noble famous this worthy hercules  
amongs other he put himself in ●●●es  
And like a gest outward in shewy●ge  
Came to the palaces of Eusiris the king   

Rebukid him of his great outrage  
Done to his gests by cruel violence  
And for to make peaceable that passage  
And for to avenge that his importable offence  
And of his murder to make a recompense  
This hercules slough busiriss in deed  
And took the blood which he did bleed   

offered it up jupiter to please  
For this vectorye him to magnify  
And all egypt thus was set in ease  
Their lands their fruits 'gan also multiply  
Their greyn increased about on each sty  
And to abound by influence of ●ey●  
Which afore time of victual was barren   

Another giant called antheus  
King of Libie and governed all that land  
Whom hercules most strong and most courageous  
sometime out●aide and slough him with his hand  
For as they wras●lyd by experience he fond  
touching the earth this giant it is true  
His force his might did always renew   

But when hercules the manner did aspye  
How his strength renewed again so often  
Therayenst he shope a remedy  
high in the air he pierced him up a fit  
And withis hard and no thing soft  
Back and bone so sore he did embrace  
That he fill deed to fore him in that place   

But sum bokys of this giant tell  
Within his kingdom who did him assail  
He would of new his chivalry compelle  
Eft again to meet him in battle  
And in this wise full field he did fail  
To aforce of new as folk shall understand  
His strength his might all enemies to withstand   

But hercules of high discretion  
The field on him manly to recure  
Had him by sleight out of his region  
And as they met there of adventure  
The said Antheus might not endure  
But was discomfited by hercules anon  
Maugre his might and his men eachone   

After this conquest hercules is gone  
For excercise his prows for to use  
Against the mighty strong Gercon  
King of spain/ of melleager/ and Ebuse  
The which tyrant might him not excuse  
That all his labour as poetis ly●t compile  
Was from these realms his people to exile   

His tyranny might not long endure  
For hercules that noble worthy knight  
Made upon him a great discounfiture  
And slough the tyrant as they met in fight  
And after that through his great might  
Of high prows and magnanimity  
Slough Cerberus with his heads three   

The famous bull of the land of crete  
Which that destroyed all that region  
He slough also when that they did meet  
And in Nemea he slough a fears lion  
And for a record of his high renown  
Of manly force his skin away he took  
And to his body a coat thereof he shope   

To all his enemies to show him more dreadful  
Therefore he ware that hideous garment  
And for he was in arms never found dull  
But alike f●essh ever in his intent  
Into a mouteyne anon he made his went  
called ●●●nantus and there in his passage  
He slough Abhor most wild and most savage   

Beside a river called stiphalus  
Of furious birds he slough a great number  
Within the kingdom of king pheneus  
All the auntre they died encumbre  
For which their shadow and contagious umbre  
On seed on fruits where ever they alight  
All was deuou●yd in every man's sight   

Upon the mountain called aventyne  
Which is not f●r fro rome the cite  
There is a wood as chronicles determine  
Right fresh of sight and goodly on to see  
And hercules passing by that country  
from Spaynewarde passing by ytaile  
Ca●hus the giant died him there assail   

While Ercules among the levys green  
Laid him to sleep by sudden adventure  
And his beasts against the son sheen  
While that he slept went in their pasture  
Came Cachus forth full hideous of stature  
Thought he would these beasts with him have  
Stall them echon and hide them in a cave   

And like a thief he made them go backward  
That no man should the traces of them know  
Neither of their passage have no reward  
For by their tails he led them on a row  
Into his cave which that stood full low  
And for they were of excellent fairness  
To keep them close he did his business   

Out of his sleep when hercules awoke  
And perceived his oxen were away  
He rose up and ●est about his look  
Begun to asspye in all the hast he may  
To what party the traces of them lay  
And while he stood thus musing in the shade  
He heard lowing that his oxen made   

And by their lowing he 'gan anon approach  
Toward the party where they were kept full close  
Fond the cave under a mighty roche  
And proud Cachus which had them in depoos  
Against Hercules he s●●rdely aroos  
But for all that he might himself not save  
For he him slough at the entering of the cave   

And thus his beasts he hath again recured  
That sempt afore inrecuꝑable  
After the mounteyn by force he hath assured  
Which for briganties afore was full doutable  
But by his knighthood it was made habitable  
That men might for dread of any foo  
When ever they would freely come and go   

Tou●hinge his conquest upon femyne  
Against amazones with theseus he went  
The queen ypolita through his chivalry  
For his pray anon to him he hent  
And ypolita of full true intent  
gave unto him in token of victory  
Of gold a girdle to have him in memory   

After to affryk he went a full great pace  
Only of purpose the garden for to see  
Which aparteyned to king Athlas  
That brother was to the king Promothe  
In astrology full well expert was he  
And of this garden of which I have you told  
The rich branches and apples were of gold   

Through magik made by great advisement  
Full straight kept and closed environ  
And I watched with a fell serpent  
That no man entered that rich mansion  
But Hercules most mighty of renown  
The serpent slought through his manly pursuit  
And fro the garden he bore away the f●●te   

This said Atlas as books specify  
And poets also of him indite  
He was cunning in astronomy  
And therein did full greatly him delight  
And many a book he made and did wry●e  
With great labour and great diligence  
In his time upon that science   

The which were more precious than gold  
And more rich in his opinion  
But hercules in sooth as it is told  
Gate all the books through his high renown  
Bore them by force out of that region  
And to Grece like a conqueror  
With him he brought for a great treasure   

Of trace he slough the gea●nt outrageous  
That sometime was called Diomedes  
Which that murdered all that came to his house  
And with their flesh his horse he did feed  
And through his wit/ labour/ and manhood  
Of Achelaus which was a great wonder  
He made the streams for to depart asunder   

And by his wisdom did them so divide  
In two parties disseveringe his passage  
For afore no man might abide  
Of his course the furious fell outrage  
For in countries it did so great damage  
Turning upward there was none other boat  
Where ever it flowed/ of trees crop and rote   

A great emprise he did also undertake  
When that themes hideous and horreble  
arrived up of Archadies the lake  
Which with their teeth and mouths terrible  
called learn the beasts full audible  
Fruit/ greyn/ and corn did mortaly devour  
But Hercules the country to succour   

Came like a knight their malice for to let  
And by his prudence destroyed them everyone  
With in the lake the worms up he shut  
Save among all behind was left one  
And against him/ this hercules anon  
Of knighthood caught so great advantage  
That to the country he did no more damage   

Thus all that ever may rehearsed be  
touching knighthood/ prowess/ or prudence  
Or glorious fame/ or long felicity  
This knightly man had most excellence  
And in arms longest experience  
And for his triumphs and acts martial  
He set up pilers for a memorial   

Which remembered his conquests most notable  
And his deeds by graving did express  
Beyond which no land is habitable  
So far a broad spread his noblesse  
But as the son leaveth his brightness  
sometime when he is freshest in his spear  
With unware clouds that suddenly appear   

Semblably the noblesse and the glory  
Of hercules in this unstable life  
eclipsed was/ and shadowed his memory  
By Deianira that sometime was his wife  
For by her fraud came in the mortal strife  
As ye shall here the manner and the case  
Whereby that he lost his life alas   

Yet for her sake this most manly man  
fought as I find in singular battle  
With Achelous' son of the Occian  
Like as poets make rehersaile  
And as each proudly did assail  
This hercules of knighthood sovereign  
Scent from his heed one of his arms twain   

Of king Deme she was the daughter dear  
To hercules joined by marriage  
And as they came to great a river  
With sturdy waves where was no passage  
Nessus the giant ugly of visage  
To hercules proffered his service  
And full falsely against him began devise   

Made his promise to hercules in deed  
To put his life in great adventure  
Over the stream deianire to lead  
By cause he was large of his stature  
And for she was a right fair creature  
When they passed and I come to land  
Nessus' falsy would upon the strand   

Have know her fleshly/ like as writ ovid  
Hercules having thereof a sight  
As he abode upon that other side  
And for to avenge him of his great unright  
Took his bow and bent it anon right  
And with an arrow filled sharp and ground  
gave to Nessus his deadly fatal wound   

Like a conduit gushed out the blood  
And when he saw that he must die  
To Deianeira tofore him there she stood  
With all his heart her he began pray  
That in one thing his lust she would obey  
To take his shirt and be not reckless  
With blood desteyned and send it hercules   

Therewith him to be reconciled  
And she to him anon the shirt hath sent  
Through whose venom alas he was beguiled  
For what by touching and what by enchantment  
His flesh his bonies were all brent  
And among his deadly pains all  
In to a rage he suddenly is fall   

And as a be'st furiously he ran  
On uplees hills among the craggy stones  
Semblably as doth a wood man  
pulled up trees and roots all at ones  
Broke beasts horns and all to knew her bonies  
Was it ●at pity that a knight so good  
Should among beasts run savage and wood   

Thus overwhelmed was all his worthiness  
And to decline went his prosperity  
And cause and root of his wretchedness  
Was for that he set all his felicity  
To trust so much the mutability  
Of these women which early and soon  
Of their nature braid upon the moan   

Alas alas all noblesse and prudence  
Prowess of nature force and chivalry  
For sight of wisdom discretion and science  
Virtuous study profiting in clergy  
And the clear shining of philosophy  
Hath through false lusts here be menaced  
By sleight of women darked and diffaced   

O hercules I feel my pen quake  
Mine ink fulfilled with bitter tears salted  
This piteous tragedy to writ for thy sake  
Whom all poets glorify and exalt  
But fraud of women made thy renown halt  
And froward muses thy triumphs all to rend  
For to describe alas thy fatal end   

Lenuoye  

THe soot venom the savoury poison  
The dreadful joy the dolorous pleasance  
The woeful gladness the furious treason  
Faith despiryd aye stable in variance  
Virtue exiling where lust hath governance  
Through false luxury diffacen all noblesse  
As this tragedy can bear full well witness   

Where froward venus hath domination  
And blind Cupid his subjects doth advance  
And wilful lust through indiscretion  
Is chosen judge to hold the balance  
Their choice unleeful hath through unhappy chance  
darked of princes the famous high noblesse  
As this tragedy beareth full well witness   

O thou hercules for all thy high renown  
For all thy conquest and knightly suffisance  
Thou were through women brought to confusion  
And through their fraud & thy renowned puissance  
disclandered was and brought unto mischance  
I were ashamyd to writ it or express  
Except this tragedy can bear me well witness   

Princis pricessis of high discretion  
This thing emprentid in your remembrance  
Of other's falling make your protection  
You to preserve through prudent purveyance  
Afore provided that your perseverance  
Be not perturbed by no false sorceress  
As this tragedy of other beareth witness     

A process of Narcisus. Bible. Mirra. and of other their infortunes to bochas complaining  

nArcisus/ biblis/ and mirra all th●●  
Tofore bochas pitously did appear  
Their infortunes their infelicite  
To him complaining with a deadly cheer  
And of their coming to tell the manner  
Narasus first with sorrow and dooll attaint  
Bygan first all declare his complaint   

He was the son of Cephisus the flood  
And his mother called ●rope  
And by distent borne of gentle blood  
Of creatures fairest on to see  
And as I find at his nativity  
Tiresias by spirit of prophesy  
touching his fate thus 'gan specify    

ovidius xo. et xio. de transformatis  

And of his harp if ye lift to here  
The god of apollo made a translation  
Among the ymagiss of the sterris clear  
Whereof men may have clear inspection  
But fortune to his confusion  
Denied him froward of her nature  
When he was slayer freedom of sepulture   

Next Orpheus there did appear also  
Of amazones worthy queens twain  
Merpesia and her sister Lampedo  
Which in conquest did their busy pain  
And great worship in arms did attain  
Naming himself by writing near and far  
Daughters to mars which is god of were   

Merpesia rood out in regions  
And conquered full many a great Cite  
For covetise of great possessions  
To increase her lordship if it would be  
And her sister kept surely their country  
Of all enemies so there was no doubt  
While merpesia rood with her host about   

But while she was in conquest most famous  
And her enemies proudly did assail  
Fortune anon wax contrarious  
And caused she was slain in battle  
Lo what conquest or victory may avail  
When that fortune do at them disdain  
See here example by these queens twain   

Envoy  

tHi● tragedy remembreth things five  
Of Narcisus the excellent beauty  
And of biblis death also describe  
The great luxury and dishonesty  
Mirra diffamed turned to a tree  
To exemplify that lechery and pride  
Been from all virtue set full far aside   

How orpheus endured in his live  
joy intermeddled with adversity  
In his youth when he did wine  
He felt in wedlow full great felicity  
His worldly bliss meynt with duplicity  
As fortune her changes can divide  
Which from all virtue be set full far aside   

Merpesia for her lift to strive  
With wilful werwas to increase her country  
But her pomp was overturned belive  
When in battle unwarly slain was she  
For of all were death is the fine pard  
So furious mars can for her folk provide  
Which from all virtues been set full far aside   

You mighty princes ●●e wit and reason drive  
Your high noblesse to consider and se  
How fortune estates can deprive  
And plunge them down from their prosperity  
Pride and luxury I counseile that ye flee  
Falls avarice ne late not be your guide  
Which from all virtue is set full far aside     

●owe Narcisus/ Biblis/ and mirra died at the ●yscheef  

ANd thus Narcisus through danger & disdain  
Upon the lady did crull vengeau●●  
But when the God's his cruelty ha●●●yn  
Towardys him they fill a great grievance  
Of his unmercy they had displeasance  
And right as he merciless was found  
So with unmercy he caught his deadly wound   

For all danger displesith to venus  
And all disdain is loathsome to cupide  
For who to love is contracious  
The god of love will quite him on sum side  
His dreadful arrows so mortaly divide  
To hurt and maim all that been reckless  
And in his service found merciless   

And for Narcisus was not merciable  
Toward Echo for his great beauty  
But in his port was found untretable  
Cupid thought he would avenged be  
As he that her prayer heard of pite  
Causing narcisus to feel and to have his part  
Of venus' bronde and of her fiery dart   

And on a day when he in wilderness  
Had after beasts run in hunting  
And for long labour 'gan fall in weariness  
He was desirous to have some refreshing  
And wonder thurstlewe after travailing  
Might not endure lengre there to devil  
And at the last he fond a c●●stall well   

Right fresh springing and wonder agreeable  
The water lusty and delitable of sight  
And for his thirst was unto him importable  
Upon the brinks ●e fill down right  
And by reflection in mids of the water bright  
Him thought he saw a passing fair image  
To him appear most angelic of visage   

He was enamoured with the seemliness  
And desirous thereof to stand in grace  
And yet it was not but a likeness  
And but a shadow reflecting of his face  
The which of fruence amerously to embrace  
This Narcisu● with a piteous complaint  
Ste●●e into the well and so himself dreynt   

And thus his beauty alas was laid full low●  
His seemliness put full far abak  
Thus when that he 'gan first him silf to know  
And seen his visage in which there was no la●  
Presumptuous pride caused all to wreck  
For who to much doth of himself presume  
His own usurping will soonest him consu●●   

And finally as these old poets tell  
This Narcisus without more secou●r  
After that he was drowned at the well  
The heavenly goddies did him this favour  
They turned him into a full fresh flower  
A water lily which doth remedy  
In hot accessies as bokys specify   

After that Narcisus was at the well dreynt  
And to john bochas de●larid had his woe  
●iblis appeared with teeris all be sprained  
And towards him a great pace 'gan she go●  
And her brother Camnus came also  
And of one womb as gemelles twain  
But she tofore her fate 'gan complain   

She in her love was not virtuous  
For against god and kinds ordinance  
She loved her brother that camnus  
And when she saw her froward governance  
He unto her gave none attendance  
Though she of sleight to complissh her intent  
In secret wise a pistol to him sent   

She said it was an impossible thing  
Without her grace herself to save  
And but he were to her assenting  
She else plainly may not health have  
But only death and afterward her grave  
Thus in her writing to him she did attain  
And to be covert she ●e wrote no name   

But when this pistle came to his presence  
Virtuously thereat he 'gan disdain  
And gave thereto no manner advertence  
Neither took none heed of her furious pain  
But suffered her eternally to plain  
Till that she was as ovid can weal tell  
With oft weeping transformed to a well   

Next came mirra with face full piteous  
Which that sometime loved against nature  
Her own father called Cinarus  
For whose sake great pain she did endure  
For she ne durst her sorrow not discure  
Till her norice by signs did aspie  
The heartily constraint of her malady   

For her norice of which that I have told  
conceived hath by open evidence  
As she knoweth both of new and old  
In such matters all hole the experience  
That through long labour and sleighty diligence  
divers weighs and means out she sought  
To her father's bed that she mirra brought   

With whom she had her lust and her pleasance  
For she vnknowe lay with him all night  
He was deceived by dronklewe ignorance  
And on the morrow long or any light  
She stolen away and went out of his sight  
With her vorice kept her long close  
Till unto the time her womb rose   

But her father that was of Cipre king  
Which as I told was called Cinarus  
When he the truth espied of this thing  
That by his daughter he was deceived thus  
She wax to him loath sum and odious  
Fled from his face so sore she was afeard  
And he pursued after with his sword   

In arabye the hot mighty land  
King Cinarus hath his daughter found  
And cruelly began enhance his hand  
With his sword to give her a wound  
But the goddies of mercy most abound  
Have fro the death made her go free  
And through their power transfourmyd to a tree   

Which after her berith yet the name  
called Mirra as she was in her life  
Out of which auctors say the same  
Distillith a gum a great preseruatif  
And of nature a full good defensife  
To keep bodies from putrefaction  
And them fraunchise from all corruption   

By influence of the son beams  
myrrh is engendered by distilling of his kind  
With round droppis against phoebus streams  
And down descendith through the hard rind  
And through the ●●ftys also I find  
The saide Mirra hath a child forth brought  
In all this world that it be well sought   

Was none so fair formed by nature  
For of his beauty he was peerless  
And as poets record by scripture  
He called was the fair adonydes  
And to his worship and his great increases  
For he of fairness bore away the flower  
Venus him chase to be her ꝑamoure   

The which gods gave to him in charge  
That he should in his tender age  
In forests while he went at large  
hunt at no beasts which that were savage  
But he contrary to his disadvantage  
Through wilfulness I can say you no more  
Was slain unwarly of a tusky boor   

At the which he felly did enchase  
But of folly in veyn was his labour  
For he lay slain full pale of cheer and face  
Whom venus turned to a full fresh flower  
Which was as blood of purple the colour  
Abud of goold with goodly levys glade  
Set in the mids whose beauty may not fade   

And when that Mirra fro bochas was withdraw  
And declared her great adversity  
And of his fate told the motall law  
Came Orpheus full ugly unto senior  
Son of Apollo and of caliope  
And appeared with a full doolfull face  
sometime brought forth and yborn in trace   

Full renowned in arms and in science  
Famous in music and melody  
And full notable also in eloquence  
And for his sweet sugared harmony  
Beesties fowls poets specify  
Wodys' floods of their course most strong  
stint of course to hearken his sweet song   

An harp he had of Mercurious  
With the which Erudice he won  
And to bachus as writ ovidius  
Sacrifisis solemn he began  
And unto hell for his wife he ran  
her to recure with ●oot touchis sharp  
Which that he made upon his heavenly harp   

But when that he this labour on him took  
A law was made which that bond him sore  
That if that he backward cast his look  
He should her lose and see his wife no more  
But it is said sithen gone full yore  
There may no law lovers we'll constrain  
So importable is their deadly pain   

If sum husbands had stand in the case  
To have lost their wives for a look sudden  
They would have suffered and not said alas  
But patiently endured all their pain  
And thanked god that broken was the chain  
Which hath so long them in prisonbounde  
That they by grace hath such a freedom found   

To lie in prison it is a full great charge  
And to be stokked under key and lok  
It well merry a man to go at large  
Than with irons to be nailed to a blok  
But there is a bond which called is wedlok  
Fettering husbands so sore that is wondre  
Which with a file may not be broke asunder   

But Orpheus father of harmony  
Thought Erudice which was his wife so fair  
For her sake he felt that he must die  
Because that he when he made his repair  
Of her in troth no thing embraced but air  
Thus he lost her there is no more to say  
And for the constraint of his grievous pain   

All his heart her parting sat so sore  
The green memory the tender remembrance  
That he would never wife more  
So fair he was escaped his penance  
For wedlock is a life of much pleasance  
But who hath once infernal pain said  
will never his thanks come in the snare again    

Ob quam cām secundas sprevit nupcias  

This Orpheus gave counsel full notable  
To husbands that have endured pain  
To such as been prudent and treatable  
One hell is dreadful/ and more perilous been twain.  
And who is once bound in a chain  
And may escape out of daungere belive  
If he resort god let him never thrive   

Upon this sentence women were vengeable  
And to his writing full contrarious  
Said his counsel was not commendable  
At the feast they halued to bachus  
They fill echon upon this orpheus  
And for all his rethorik sweet  
They slough alas this laureate poet   

The gods have provided for him a space  
To live in earth and so long endure  
Till 〈◊〉 at he know and see his own face  
And for his sake full many a ceruature  
By ordinance of god and of nature  
When they him see shall feel full great pain  
If they in love his grace may not attain   

●ut he shall be contrary and dangerous  
And of his port sul● of strangeness  
And his heart right ●●ly surquydous  
By the occasion of his natif fairness  
And presuming of his seemliness  
No woman so fresh ne fair of face  
That able were to stand in his grace   

And for the excellence of his great beauty  
He purposed him in his tender age  
Nevir in his life wedded for to be  
He thought him so fair of visage  
For which he cast him through his great outrage  
Against all lusts of love to disdain  
To hunt at beasts alone and be slain   

And in this while that he kept him so  
In forest and in wilderness  
A water gods that called was Echo  
loved him full hot for his great fairness  
And sekirly did her business  
To follow his steps right as any line  
To her desires to make him to incline   

He heard her weal but he saw her not  
Whereof astonied anon he began to inquire  
As he that was marveled in his thought  
saide even thus/ Is any wight now here  
And she answered the same in her manner  
What ever he said as longeth to Echo  
Without abode she said the same him to   

Come near quoth she and began to call  
Come near quoth she my joy and my pleasance  
He looked about among the rokkes all  
And saw no thing beside ne in distance  
But she abraide and declaring her grievance  
And to him said mine own heart dear  
Ne be not strange but let us devil in fere   

Nay nay quoth he I will no thing obey  
To your desires for short conclusion  
Well liefer I had plainly for to die  
Than ye should have of me possession  
We be no thing of one opinion  
I here you well though I no figure see  
Go forth your weigh ye speak no more with me   

And she ashamyd fled her weigh anon  
As she that might of him no succour have  
But despaired this echo is forth go  
And hid her sefl in an ugly cave  
Among the rokkes is buried in her grave  
And though so be that men her voice may here  
After that time she never durst apere    

Of Priamus king of Troy/ And how the Monk of Bury translator of this book wrote a book of the siege of troy called troy book  

AFter these complaints and lamentations  
Which that bochas did in his book compile  
meddled among with transmutations  
Set in Ovid by full sovereign style  
When he on them had inused a long while  
See the manner both of sorrow and joy  
He began to remember of Priamus of Troy   

First of his birth and of his kindred  
How among kings he was most famous  
And as poets record of him in deed  
He descended of worthy darnamus  
Which as his line declareth unto us  
From jupiter was finally come down  
Unto his father called king Lamedoun   

Of old troy this Lamedoun was king  
Destroyed by Greeks he and his country  
After whom this Priamus reigning  
Made therayen a mighty strong cite  
Where he full long in full great rialtie  
With wife and children most worthy of renown  
With sceptre and crown held the possession   

governed his cite in peace and rightwiseness  
And fortune was to him favourable  
For of all asia the treasure and richesse  
He did assemble this king most honourable  
And in arms he was so commendable  
That through the world as far as men may gone  
Of high noblesse the renown of him shone   

This priamus had children many one  
Worthy princes and of full great might  
But Ector was among them everichone  
called of prowess the lantern and the light  
For there was never borne a better knight  
Troilus in knighthood so manly was found  
That he was named Ector the second   

But if I should rehearse the manhood  
Of king priam and of his sons all  
And how his cite besieged was in deed  
And all the story to remembrance call  
Between him and grekys how it is befall  
The circumstauncis rehearsing up and down  
To set in order the first occasion   

Of the siege why it was first laid  
By hercules and also by jason  
The manner hole in troy book is said  
Rudly indited of my translation  
Following upon the destruction  
called the second which by a countiss clear  
Fully endured the space of ten year   

For as me seemeth the labour were in vain  
Truly also I not to what intent  
That I should writ it new again  
For I had once in commandment  
By him that was most noble and excellent  
Of kings all for to undertake  
It to translate and writ it for his sake   

And if ye list to weet whom I mean  
Henry the fift most mighty of puissance  
gave me the charge of intent full clean  
Thing of old time to put in remembrance  
The same henry for knightly suffisance  
Worthy for manhood reckon kings all  
With nine worthy for to have a stall   

To holy church he was chief diffensoure  
In all such causis christs chosen knight  
To destroy heretics he set all his labour  
loved all virtues and to sustain right  
Through his noblesse his manhood and his myht  
Was diligent and did his busy pain  
To have set peace betwix realms twain   

I mean in sooth between Inglonde and france  
His purpose was to have had a peace final  
Sought out means with many circumstance  
As well by treat as acts martial  
thereon juꝑtied life gods and all  
But woe alas against death is no bone  
This land may say he died all to soon   

For among kings he was one of the best  
So all his deeds conveyed were by grace  
I pray to god so give his soul good rest  
With holy seyntiss in heaven a dwelling place  
For here with us to little was the space  
That he abode of whom the remembrance  
Shall never die in ynglande ne in France   

This worthy king gave to me in charge  
In ynglisshe tongue to make a translation  
Out of latin within a volym large  
How long the gregys' lay to fore the town  
And how that Paris first at Citheroun  
In venus' temple slighly did his pain  
There to rejoice the fair queen heleyne   

In which book the process ye may see  
To him how she was wedded in the town  
And of the siege laid unto the cite  
By meneldy and king lamedoun  
And many an other full worthy of renown  
On either party which that in battle  
from day to day each other did assail   

Whereto should I tell or what should I write  
The death of Ector or of achilles  
Or whereto should I of new indite  
How worthy troilus was slain among the press  
The end of parts or of pallamydes  
Or the slaughter of manly deyphebus  
Or how his brother called helenus   

Told afore how it was great folly  
That parts should wed this queen helyne  
And how Cassandra in her prophesy  
On this wedding sore began complain  
And for the constraint of her heartily pain  
How● she way mad and ran about the town  
Till she was caught and shut up in prison   

All this matter ye may behold in deed  
Set by and by within troy book  
And how creseyde loved dyamede  
When worthy troilus she wilfully forsook  
Of her nature a quarrel thus she took  
To assay both/ if need were also to feign  
To take the third and leave them both twain   

I pass over and tell of it no more  
Neither by what meanys grekys won the town  
How Aeneas neither how anthenore  
Against king priam conspired false treason  
Neither how uliyes gate Paladion  
The death of priam neither of Hecuba the queen  
Neither how young Pyrrhus slough young pollicene   

Neither here to writ it is not mine intent  
Repair of greeks home into their country  
After the cite at Ilyon was brent  
Neither of their mischief they had in the se  
Neither how uliyes fond Pegasus  
A true wife though he were long her fro  
throughout all grece I can read of nomo   

Of these matters thus I make an end  
What fill of greeks after their voyage  
To troy book though folk I send  
Which have desire to see the surplusage  
How grekys made first their passage  
Towardys troy besieging the cite  
Reed the story ye get no more of me    

Here speaketh bochas the author of this book against the surquedous pride of them that trust in richesses saying these words unto them  

yE proud folks that set your affiance  
In strength/ beauty/ or in high nomblesse  
If ye consider fortunes variance  
And could a mirror afore your eyes dress  
Of king priam and of his great richesses  
To see how he and his children all  
From their noblesse suddenly been fall   

Ector of knighthood called sours and well  
Sad and demure and famous of prudence  
Paris also in beauty did excel  
And helenus also in perfight providence  
Troilus in arms had great experience  
Also deyphebus proved manly in his fone  
Yet in the were they were slain everichone   

Had not this king also as I can devise  
Noble Eccuba which that was the queen  
A daughter called Cassandra the wise  
Her young sister fair pollicene  
Alas alas what may all such pride mean  
For all be it their renown sprung full far  
Yet are these women devoured in were   

Was he not mighty and strong in all things  
And had also of his alliance  
Right worthy princes and many rich kings  
And nigh all asia under his obeisance  
Hold in his time most famous of puissance  
most renowned of richesses and tresoures  
Till that fortune with her sharp showers   

When that he sat highest on his wheel  
This blind goddess began him to assail  
Her froward malice he felt it full weal  
His gold his treasure first it 'gan to fail  
And darken 'gan his rial appariale  
By which example all proud men may see  
The unsure trust the mutabylite   

Which in this world is seen and found all day  
In mids of states in their magnificence  
Ebb after flow maketh no delay  
But halt her course there is no resistance  
The tide abide not for no violence  
Each man that standeth of changes here in doubt  
Must take his turn as it cometh about   

let priam be to you a clear mirror  
You proud folks that set your affiance  
In such veynglorye which fadeth as a flower  
And hath of beauty here none attendance  
The world to you cast a full bitter chance  
For when ye ween sit highest at full  
Than will she rathest your bright feathers pull   

You have warnyngys' for to take heed  
By ensample of other clear and right visible  
How worldly bliss is meddled all with dread  
And of your wits and reasons be sensible  
Thing seen at the ●ye is not incredible  
And all this doctrine is to you in vain  
If in your time ye have no changes say   

Wherefore bochas unto your avail  
Full prudently put you at this issue  
First of all he giveth you this counsel  
To leave your vices and take you to virtue  
And set your trust all holy in Ihesu  
For he may best i● myscheef help at need  
Of worldly changes that ye their not dread    

Here also john Bochos put a great preisinge and a commendation of surety that standeth in poverty under these words in sentence  

THese great lordshippis these high dignities  
Chief thing annexed unto the regal  
When they sit highest in their sees  
And roundaboute stant the chivalry  
dread entrith in ●yll and envy  
And unware change which no man may know  
The hour when fortune will make them lout low   

They may weal hold a stately great household  
With a vain trust their power should ever last  
Clad in their mantel of purple peerl and gold  
And on the wheel of fortune climb up fast  
Like as she might nevyr down them cast  
But aye the climbing high is at all  
Alas the sorer is their unhappy fall   

The fall of priam and of agamenoun  
Out of right more to be complained  
When fortune had pulled them down  
And of malice hath at them disdained  
Than if they never to worship had attained  
But their falling was the more grievous  
Because tofore they were so glorious   

O thou povert meek humble and debonair  
Which that keepest the laws of nature  
For sudden changes thou wilt not despair  
So art thou fraunchised from fortune's lure  
All her assautis' thou lowly dost endure  
That she may have no jurisdiction  
To enterupte thy possession   

Thou settest little by all worldly richesse  
Nor by his treasures which been transitory  
Thou scornest them that their sheltrons dress  
Toward battles for conquest and victory  
Thou despisest all shining of veynglorye  
Laude of triumphs which conquerors have sought  
With all her pillages thou settist them at naught   

Thou despreysest all superfluity  
None infortune may change thy courage  
And the ships that sail by the see  
With merchandise among the flodys' rage  
Their adventures and their pilous passage  
Life/ body/ good/ all put in adventure  
only for lucre great richesses to recure   

Of all such thing thou takyst little heed  
Nor of that people that manners do purchase  
Nor of pleters which for lucre and meed  
Maintain quarrels and questis do embrace  
Thou them beholdest with a full still face  
Their subtle working sought out for the nonies  
And suddenly departed from all atonies  
And your courages knightly doth updresse  
Again all titles holdeth chaumꝑtie  
Which appertain to false avowtry    

Of mighty sampson which told his counsel to Dalida whereby he was deceived.  

wHo was more mighty or strong than sampson  
None more deliver the bible beareth witness  
Without weepen he slough a fears lion  
And for his enemies to him did express  
His uncouth problem anon he 'gan him dress  
again philistes and slough of them thretty  
To pay his promise spoiled them by and by   

●is problem was the text thus rehearsing  
After the letter in very soothfastness  
There came out meet of a thing eating  
And fro the strong there went out sweetness  
But his wife of froward doubleness  
Which ever wrouht to his disavaile  
Of worthy sampson told the counsel   

What is more strong than is a lion  
Or more sweet than honey in tasting  
But women have this condition  
Of secret things when they have knowledging  
●●●y bolne inward their hearts aye freting  
O●●her they must die or discure  
So b●●●le of custom is their nature   

This was the case the lion that was deed  
Again the son goping lay upright  
Aswarm of been entered in his heed  
Of whom there came honey anon right  
And when sompson thereof had a sight  
He fantasied in his opinion  
Full secrely this proposition   

As ye have herd and 'gan it forth purpose  
That philistes to him it should expone  
Under a pain the troth to him unclose  
But with his wife he privily 'gan rowne  
And she on sampson 'gan complain and frown  
And feynyngly so long upon him weep  
That he not could my counsel from her keep   

Which when she knew she made no tarrying  
But plain and hole she 'gan it to declare  
Such double trust is in their weeping  
To keep their tongues women cannot spare  
Such weeping wives evil might them fare  
And all husbands I pray god give them sorrow  
That to them tell their counsel eve or morrow   

She told them hole she told it them not half  
And sampson than 'gan vopn them smile  
If ye not had heard it in my calf  
You should not a found it a great while  
Who may be sure where women list beguile  
Though bookys sampson of strongth so commend  
Yet durst he not against his wife offend   

This mi●●●y sampson did also his pain  
Three hundred foxis ones that he fond  
He took their tails knit them twain and twain  
And amid every each he set a fire bronde  
And as they ran in philistes land  
So furiously up and down they went  
That they their fruits and their wines brent   

Eke by treason when he was once bound  
With new cords as he lay and sleep  
There three thousand which that sampson found  
To have murdered him or that he took keep  
He broke his bonds and up anon he leap  
Of an ass he caught a chaule bone  
And a thousand he slough of them anon   

He 'gan to faint and had a sudden lust  
For to drink faded face and cheer  
And god sent him to staunch with his thrust  
From the ass's tooth water crystal clear  
Which that sprang ou●e large like a river  
Kefresshyd his spirit which afore 'gan dull  
Till that he had of water drunk his full   

After he went to Gazam the city  
Among all his enemies that were of great might  
To his pleasance where he did see  
A full fair woman lay with her all night  
And on the morrow long or it was light  
Maugre the watch upon his shoulders square  
The gates strong up to an hill he bore   

And in a valley which called was Sore●  
Full hot he loved dalida the fair  
On whom his heart was full hot set  
She could her feign so meek and debonair  
Make him such cheer when that him list repair  
But I dare call her dalida the double  
Chief root and cause of all his mortal trouble   

He never drank wines white ne red  
Of Nazarees such is the governance  
Rasoure ne shear touched never his heed  
For in long growing standeth her pleasance  
And this sampson most mighty of substance  
Had all his force by influence of heaven  
By hairs weringe that were in numbered seven   

It was full secre in every man's sight  
Among people told for an uncouth thing  
Whereof sampson had so great might  
Outward showed by force of his working  
But dalida with her flattering  
Would never stint enquering ever among  
Till that she knew whereby he was so strong   

She like a serpent daring under flowers  
Or like a worm that wrotith in a tree  
Or like an adder of many fold colours  
Right appearing and fair upon to see  
For shrouded was her mutability  
With lowlihede and a fair pretence  
Of true meaning under false appearance   

He meant troth and she was variable  
He was faithful and she was viltrewe  
He was steadfast and she unstabele  
His trust aye one she loved thing new  
She wearied colours of many divers hew  
In stead of blue which steadfast is and clean  
She loved changes of many divers green   

But to the purpose for to condescend  
When she of sampson knew all the privity  
her falsehood shortly for to comprehend  
She made him sleep full softly on her knee  
And a sharp rasor after that took she  
Shoof of his here large and of great lengyth  
Whereby alas he lost all his strength   

Damage in earth is none so grecious  
As an enemy which that is secre  
Nor pestilence none so perilous  
As falseness where he is prove  
And specially in femynyte  
For if wives be found variable  
Where shall husbands find other stable   

Thus sampson was by dalida deceived  
She could so we'll flatere forge and feign  
Which philistes when they have conceived  
Vnwarly bond him in a mighty chain  
Cast him in prison put out his eyen twain  
And of despite after as I find  
At their quernes made him for to grind   

They made a feast stately and solemn  
When they had all this treason wrought  
And to rebuke him scorn him and condemn  
Blind sampson was afore them brought  
Which thing full sore grieved him in his thought  
Cast he would in his privy mind  
To avenge his blindness sum manner weigh find   

And when he had thus bethought him long  
He made a child him privily to lead  
To twain posts large square and strong  
embraced them or any man took heed  
And 'gan to shake them without fere or dread  
So sturdely among his fone all  
That the temple is upon them fall   

Thus he was avenged on his fone  
Which that falsely did again him strive  
Slough in his dying god wot many one  
Moore than he did ever afore his live  
And he was also the date to descrive  
In israel the bible is mine author  
Twenty year there judge and governor   

Lenuoye  

THis tragedy giveth in evidence  
To whom men shall their counsel out discure  
For reckless tongues for lack of prudence  
Have do great harm to many a creature  
When harm is done full hard it is to recure  
Beware by sampson your counsel well to keep  
That dalida complain cry and weep   

Whilom sampson for manhood and prudence  
Israel had in governance and cure  
daunt lions through his magnificence  
Made on a thousand a discomfiture  
Full in any one have clean been all their live  
Vndefoulyd kept their virginity  
And sum could again all vices strive  
them to conserve in perfight chastity  
devoid of change and mutability  
Though sum other have therageyn trespacid  
The laud of them is not therewith diffacid   

And who ever of malice list accuse  
These silly women touching variance  
Let them remember and in their wits muse  
Men be not aye stable in their constance  
In this world there is no perseverance  
Change is aye found in men and women both  
On other party be they never so wroth   

No man should the virtuous atwite  
In stead of him that did the trespass  
Nor for a thief a true man indite  
Nor for the guilty an Innocent menace  
Good and wicked abide in every place  
Their price/ their lak/ let them be reserved  
To other party as they have deserved   

Though john bochas in his opinion  
Again women list a process make  
They that been good of condion  
Should against no manner quarrel take  
But lightly pass and their sleeves shake  
For again good he no thing made  
Who can conceive theffect of this ballad     

The excuse of bochas for his writing against misgoverned women in stead of lenuoye  

yE women all that ye shall behold & see  
This chapter and the process read  
You that been good found in your degree  
And virtuous both in thought and deed  
What bochas saith take ye none heed  
For his writing if it be discerned  
Is not again them that be well governed   

For though it fall that one two or three  
Have done amiss as therefore god forbid  
That other women which stable and faithful be  
Should be atwytyd of their ungoodlihede  
But moor commended for their womanhead  
For this scripture if it be concerned  
Is again them that be not weal governed   

A galled hor● the sooth if ye list see  
Who toucheth him boweth his back for dread  
And who is know untrue in his country  
Shrinkith his horns when men speak of falsehood  
But good women have full little need  
To grudge or frown when the truth is learned  
Though there be sum which be not well governed   

Of Dalida/ and queen Pasiphae  
Though doubleness did their bridle lead  
Yet of lucrece/ and penolope  
The noble fame abrood doth shine and spread  
Out of good corn men may the darnel weed  
women rebuke in their diffauties quernyd  
And not touch them that be well governed    

Of mighty Pyrrhus that slough pollicene which for his pride and avowtry died in poverty/ slain at the last by horestes  

BOchas musing in his remembrance  
And considered in his fantasy  
The unsure trust of worldly variance  
Of men and women the change and the folly  
The same time he saw a company  
Of mighty princes full pitously weeping  
To him appear their fortune complaining   

Among other that put themself in p●●●es  
Of mighty Pyrrhus first he had a sight  
That was the son of worthy achilles  
Among Greeks the most famous knight  
most commended of manhood and of might  
Son and next heir as books specify  
Of Pelleus' king of Thesal●●   

This Achilles full manly of his heart  
Hurt of Ector and his wound green  
Slough ector after or he did advert  
The which achilles for love of pollicene  
By compassing or Eccuba the queen  
Vndere Trety this greeks chaumpion  
Was slain of paris within troy town   

Who●s death to avenge Pyrrhus in his tene  
Furiously with face deed and pale  
Slough afterward the said pollicene  
And dismembered all on pecis small  
Which for to here is a piteous tale  
That a knight so vengeable was in deed  
To slay a maid quaking in her dread   

He could for Ire on her no mercy have  
But with his sword most furious and wooed  
Merciless upon his faders grave  
Like a tyrant he shed her chaste blood  
The deed horrible diffaced his knighthood  
That to this the slander and diffame  
By new report reboundeth on his name   

Po●tes say and specially onide  
Writ when grekis fro Troy should sail  
How their ships by an anchor did ride  
Of th●●r purpose which long did them fail  
But in this while he maketh rehersaile  
Out of the earth manacinge of cheer  
Of achilles an image did appear   

To greeks said with a deadly face  
I felt weal mine honour and my glory  
And my noblesse full lightly forth doth pace  
Unkind people out of your memore  
Which by me had your conquest and victory  
Your devire doth pollicene to take  
And on my grave a sacrifice to make   

With her blood look ye spare naught  
To springe it ●ounde about my sepulture  
Thus blood for blood with vengeance shallbe bought  
And for my death/ the death she must endure  
And hole the manner of this adventure  
And how she died in her maidenhead  
Methamorphose●s the process ye may read   

In hasty vengeance set was all his joy  
With thirst unstaunchid/ trojan blood to shed  
He slough priam the worthy king of troy  
And into grece with him he did lead  
Adromada the story ye may read  
wedded her and after in certain  
By him she had worthy sons twain   

But in repairing home to his country  
As Aeolus did his ships drive  
I find he was a pirate of the se  
And into Grece when he did aryue  
Fortune unwarly 'gan again him strive  
Forsook his wife let her live alone  
Took another called hermyone   

Which was that time in marriage  
To horistes son of agamenon  
And he alas of Louis wilful rage  
Took her by force to his possession  
But of avowtry followeth this guerdon  
Sudden death/ povert/ or shame  
Open disclaundre/ great myscheef/ or diffame   

Eke in his time thus Pyrrhus as I read  
Fill into mischief and great poverty  
And with such main as he did lead  
He was a rover and robbed on the see  
And as poets rehearse ye may see  
Of such robbing by slander and diffame  
This word pirate of Pyrrhus took the name   

And as the story after doth devise  
The said horistes 'gan sekerly espy  
Where that Pyrrhus did sacrifice  
Tofore Apollo that god to magnify  
Full unwarely horistes of envy  
Took a sharp sword or Pyrrhus could advert  
Where that he stood and roof him to the heart   

This was the fine of Pyrrhus in substance  
For all his pride and great presumption  
Of false avowtry followeth this vengeance  
Loss of sum member povert or prison  
Or hatfull slander by sum occasion  
Or sudden death shortly in sentence  
Complete in Pyrrhus by full clear evidence    

Of Machaire and his sister Canace  

after this Pirrus came canace the fair  
Te●ys distylling from her eyen twain  
And her brother that called was machaire  
And both they pitoussly 'gan plain  
That fortune 'gan at them so disdain  
Hyndring their fate by woeful adventure  
touching their love which was again nature   

He was hi● brother and her love also  
As the story plenly doth declare  
And in a bed they lay eke both two  
Reason was none why they should spare  
But love that causeth woe and eke welfare  
'Gan again kind so strangely devise  
That he her womb made suddenly to arise   

And finally mine author beareth witness  
A child she had by her own brother  
Which excelled in favour and fairness  
For like to him of beauty was none other  
But of their love so guyed was the rother  
That Charybdis' 'tween wyndis full contrair  
Hath Canace destroyed and machaire   

For when their father the manner did espy  
Of their working which was so horrible  
For Ire almost he fill in frenzy  
Which for to appease was an impossible  
For the matter was froward and audible  
For which plainly devoid of all pite  
Upon their trespass he would avenged be   

The cause known the father anon right  
Last for their death of rigour to provide  
For which machaire fled out of his sight  
And from his face his presence 'gan to hide  
But woe alas his sister must abide  
Merciless for their hateful trespass  
Suffer death there was none other grace   

First her father a sharp sword to her sent  
In token of death for a remembrance  
And when she witted plainly what he meant  
And conceived his rigorous ordinance  
With hole purpose to obey his pleasance  
She grutchith not but lowly of intent  
Like a meek daughter to his desire assent   

But or she died she cast for to writ  
A little letter to her brother dear  
A deadly complaint complain and indite  
With pale face and a mortal cheer  
The salt teries from her eyen clear  
With piteous sobbing set from her hearts bring  
Distylling down to tempre with her ink    

The letter of complaint of Canace to her brother Machaire.  

OVte of her swoon when she did abraide  
Knowing no mean but death in her distress  
To her brother full pitously she said  
Cause of my sorrow rote of my heaviness  
That whilom were chief sours of my gladness  
When both our joys by will were so disposed  
Under one key our hearts to be unclosed   

Whilom thou were support and sekirnesse  
Chief reioising of my worldly joy  
But now thou art the ground of my sickness  
Well of wanhope of my deadly penance  
Which have of sorrow greatest abundance  
That ever yet had any creature  
Which must for love the death alas endure   

Thou were whilom my bliss and all my trust  
sovereign comfort my sorrows to appease  
Spring and well of all my hearts lust  
And now alas chief rote of my dissese  
But if my death might do the any ease  
O brother mine/ in remembrance of twain  
Death shall to me be pleasance and no pain   

My cruel father most unmerciable  
Ordained hath it needs must be so  
In his rigour he is so untretable  
All merciless he will that it be do  
That we algate shall die both two  
But I am glad sith it may be none other  
Thou art escaped my bestbelovyd brother   

This is mine end I may it not asterte  
O brother mine there is no more to say  
Lowly beseching with all mine hole heart  
For to remember specially I pray  
If it befall my little son to die  
That thou mayst after sum mind upon us ha●e  
Suffer us both to be buried in a grave   

I hold him straightly atween my arms twain  
Thou and nature laid on me this charge  
He guiltless with me must suffer pain  
And sith thou art at fredam and at large  
Late kindness our love not so discharge  
But have a mind where ever that thou be  
once a day upon my child and me   

On the and me dependeth the trespass  
touching our guile and our great offence  
But wela way most angelik of face  
Our child young in his pure innocence  
Shall again right suffer dethis violence  
Tender of lymmys god wot full guiltless  
The goodly fair that lieth here speechless   

A mouth he hath but words hath he none  
Can not complain alas for none outrage  
Nor grudgeth not but lieth here all alone  
still as a lamb most meek of his visage  
What heart of steel could do to him damage  
Or suffer him die beholding the manner  
And look benign of his twain iyen clear   

O thou my father to cruel is thy wretch  
Harder of heart than any tiger or lion  
To slay a child that lieth without speech  
Void of all mercy and remission  
And on his mother hast no compassion  
His youth considered with lips soft as silk  
Which at my breast lieth still and souketh milk   

Is any sorrow remembered by writing  
Unto my sorrowful sighs incomparable  
Or was there ever creature living  
That felt of dole a thing more lamentable  
For canfortles and unrecuparable  
Are thilk heaped sorrows full of rage  
Which have with woe oppressed my courage   

Rekyn all my mischievous in especial  
And on my mischief remember and have good mind  
My lord my father is mine enemy mortal  
Experience enough thereof I find  
For in his pursuit he hath left behind  
In destruction of the my child and me  
Ruth all mercy and fatherly pity   

And the my brother avoided from his sight  
Which in no wise his grace mayst attain  
Alas that rigour vengeance and cruel right  
Should above mercy be lady sovereign  
But cruelty doth at me so disdain  
That thou my brother my child and also I  
Shall die exiled alas from all mercy   

My father whilom by many sundry sign  
Was my succour and my supportation  
To the and me most gracious and benign  
Our worldly gladness our consolation  
But love and fortune hath turned up so down  
Our grace alas/ our welfare/ and our fame  
Hard to recure so slandered is our name   

Spot of diffaming is hard to wash away  
When noise and rumour abroad do folk menace  
To hinder a man there may be no delay  
For hateful fame flieth far in short space  
But of us twain there is none other grace  
Save only death/ and after death alas  
Eternal slander of us thus stant the case   

Whom shall we blame or whom shall we atwyte  
Our great offence sith we may it not hide  
For our excus reportis to respite  
Mean is there none except the god cupide  
And though that he would for us provide  
In this matter to be our chief refuge  
Poetis say he is blind to a judge   

He is depaynt like a blind archer  
To make a right failing discretion  
Holding no measure nouther far nor near  
But like fortunes disposition  
All upon hap void of all reason  
As a blind archer with arrows sharp ground  
Of adventure giveth many a mortal waunde   

At the and me he wrongly did mark  
Felly to hinder our fatal adventures  
As far as phoebus shineth in his ark  
To make us refuse to all creatures  
called us twain unto the woeful lure●  
Of diffame which will depte never  
By new report the noise increasing ever   

Odious fame with swift wings flieth  
But all good fame envy doth restrain  
Each man of other the defaults seethe  
Yet on his own no man will complain  
But all the world outcrieth of us twain  
whose hatful ire by us may not be quemed  
For I must die my father hath so deemed   

Their life to amend or the lord do smite  
Through negligence or it be to late  
And or the sword of vengeance ker●e or bite  
Into virtues their vicious life translate  
cherish rightwiseness again all wrong debate  
With dread of god make themself strong  
Than is no doubt they shall endure long   

Who is not ware by others chastising  
Other by him shall chastised be  
Hard is that heart which for no writing  
For no doctrine nor none authority  
For none examples will from his vices flee  
To indurat is his froward intent  
Which will not suffer his hardness to relent   

The round droppis of the smooth rain  
Which that descend and fall from aloft  
On stonies hard at the eye as it is sayen  
Pierceth their hardness with their falling oft  
All be in touchenge water is but soft  
The piercing caused by force nor puissance  
But of falling by long continuance   

Semblably of right I dare rehearse  
Often reading on books fructuous  
The hearts should of prudent princes ꝑ●e  
Sink in their mind and make them virtuous  
To eschew all thing that is vicious  
For what availeth the examples that they read  
To their reading if contrary be the deed   

Cunning and deed who can comprehend  
In ●●●re conceytis they been things twain  
And if cunning do the deed amend  
Than atwene them is made a mighty chain  
Anoble thing and right sovereign  
For than of cunning the labour is well spent  
When deed followeth and both been of assent   

Thus john bochas proceeding in his book  
Which in numbered is called the second  
'Gan for to write and his purpose took  
To set in stories such as he had found  
Of intent all vices to confound  
By ensamples which he did express  
And at the beginning of his business   

Mighty Saul to him did appear  
King of israell pitously weeping  
deadly of face and with an hideous cheer  
His voice Ibroke by manifold sobbing  
And to mine author his sorrow complaining  
Requering him to gydre when they met  
First in his book his woeful fate to set   

Anon after I of entencion  
With pen in hand fast 'gan me speed  
As I could in my translation  
In this labour further to proceed  
My lord came forth by and 'gan to take heed  
This mighty prince right manly and right wise  
Gave me charge in his prudent advice   

That I should in every tragedy  
After the process made mention  
At the end set a remedy  
With a lenuoye conveyed by reason  
And after that with humble affection  
To noble princes lowly it direct  
By other's falling themself to correct   

And I obeyed his bidding and pleasance  
under support of his magnificence  
As I could I 'gan my pen advance  
All be I was barren of eloquence  
Following mine author in substance and sentence  
For it sufficed plainly unto me  
So that my lord my making took agree     

How Saul king of jerusalem borne of low degree/ as long as he dread god was obedient to him/ and ruled by good counseile had many great disconfitures ● but at the last for is pride/ presumption/ and great disobeisaunce he lost his crown/ and was slain by Philistees  

Nihil insolencius quam potens rusticus Incipit liber secundus  

tHis said saul of whom I spoke to forn  
Fulwel compact & large of his stature  
Of the line of beniamyn eke born  
His father Ceis was called ● scripture  
whose assis whilom left their pasture  
Space of three days saul had them sought  
Lost his labour and fond them naught   

For th●y were go out so fer on stray  
So dis●●uered he ne could them meet  
Till that a child him suing all the way  
gave him counsel his labour for to let  
And that he should go to the prophet  
Which was full famous hold in israel  
Of whom the name was called Samuel   

Which saul made in his house to dine  
received him of great affection  
And precept and ordinance divine  
Samuel made no prolongation  
But shed the holy sacred unction  
Upon the heed of Saul down kneeling  
And full devoutly of israell made him king   

Of god's people to have governance  
With sceptre and crown and hole the regalie  
And his noblesse more mighty to advance  
With meekness to rule his monarchy  
God yau● to him a spirit of prophecy  
Which was great glory to his magnificence  
Of future things to have precience   

And while that he was meek and humble in deed  
Void of pride and false presumption  
And prudent counsel with him did lead  
Him to govern by good discretion  
He fond quiet through all his region  
No foreign enemy durst him to werreye  
While he the lord meekly did obey   

〈◊〉 enemy might again him recure  
Through none emprises but sore did him dread  
Made many great discomfiture  
Through his force knighthood and manhood  
On philistees and daunted eke in deed  
Two mighty kings that one of anmyonytes  
And another that governed Moabites   

●e was found strong and eke victorious  
●he palestynesse bringing to mischance  
again ydumes so mighty and famous  
Through his mighty prudent governance  
That he their pride brought unto mischance  
Out●a●●d them of wisdom and manhood  
Primo regum as ye may plainly read   

〈◊〉 was ● son called of one year  
●ell when his reign began  
●●able of heart and benign of cheer  
froward nor sturdy to no manner man  
All that while love of the people he won  
The time I mean while he was just and stable  
And in his works not found variable   

But when that pride 'gan his heart enhance  
Wilfulness and falls malancolye  
Outraied reason to have the governance  
Of his old famous policy  
And had forgetyn in his fantasy  
To know the lord and meekly sue his law  
God from his crown his grace 'gan withdraw   

The unkind worm of forgetfulness  
In his heart had myned through the wall  
When to god for his kindness  
Gave no laud/ nor no thank attall  
Which had him raised unto estate rial  
From poor degree among all his kin alone  
A singular savour to set him in his throne   

What thing in heart may be thought more froward  
Than is sudden falls presumption  
Of a wretch that came up of naught  
To give him lordship and domination  
And for to make a plain comparison  
Men should of reason dread a lion lass  
Than the rudeness of a crowned ass   

What thing to god is more abominable  
Than pride upreysed out of poverty  
And no thing gladly is found more vengeable  
Than are wretches set in high degree  
For from his stock kind may not i'll  
Each thing resorteth how far ever it go  
To the nature which that it came fro   

Fruit and apples take their talarage  
Where they first grew of the same tree  
And semblably each kindred and lineage  
once ayere it will none other be  
By token and sign at the eye as men may see  
Draws commonly in every creature  
Sum teach to follow after his nature   

I writ not this in rebuke of poverty  
But for such only as that it deserve  
God of his might as men be well expert  
May them in virtue increase and concern  
From all myscheef a poor man preserve  
Reise him on height to dominations  
Through high noblesse of their conditions   

By influence god may his grace shed▪  
Where he findeth cause only by meekness  
A poor man to raise him up in deed  
Unto the estate of virtuous noblesse  
For out of virtue cometh all gentleness  
In poor and rich make none exception  
But them commend like their condicoin   

A poor man which that is virtuous  
And dreadeth god in his poverty  
Each thing eschewing that is vicious  
And to his power doth troth and equity  
I dare right well what ever that he be  
Putting no rebuke unto his kindred  
But call him gentle verily in deed   

But king saul was contrarious  
Disobeisaunce found in his working  
When god made him to be victorious  
On amalech where agag was king  
Him commanded to spare no manner thing  
Man nor woman be'st nor child succour  
But that his sword should all quick thing devour   

But saul wrought all in other wise  
Each thing reserving that was fair to sight  
And of intent to make a sacrifice  
After his victory he shope him anon right  
Fatest beasts he chase and hath them dight  
Toward the fire to make his offering  
And fro death he spared agag the king   

He was reproved afterward of samuell  
To god's biding for he was contrair  
As abject to regne in israel  
That all good hope in him 'gan disspaire  
His grace/ his might/ 'gan pall and appair  
His prophecy after hath him failed  
And with afende he was also travailed   

Thus from her wheel fortune cast him down  
availed him from his royal se  
And god also took away the crown  
Both from him and his posterity  
And set up david for his humility  
Loo how the lord his domys can divide  
To enhance meekness and to abate pride   

Saul endured in his frenzy  
Awicked spirit so sore him did assail  
Unto david ever he had envy  
That he was hardy to enter in battle  
With a stafsling void of plate and mail  
Slough Golias without fere or dread  
pulled out his sword and smote of his heed   

At their repairing home out of the field  
When david had slain thus golye  
Young maidens when they beheld  
The great victory they in their ermonye  
In laud of david thus 'gan sing and cry  
Saul hath slain a thousand with his might  
David ten thousand the lusty young knight   

Saul disdained and said frowardly  
They granted have a thousand to my name  
And to the son hereof I say  
gave ten thousand to increase his fame  
Which is to me a rebuke and a shame  
Whereupon this saul fret with ●re  
Of young david 'gan the death conspire   

In his heart he had a fantasy  
Of their singing when that he took heed  
Demt it was a manner prophesy  
That david preferred should be in deed  
And to the crown after him succeed  
Thought his children as 'gan divine  
Should be deprived of the royal line   

Thus day by day saul ways sought  
To slay david plainly if he might  
All be it so that he no malice thought  
But ever kept him lowly in his sight  
Therefore good ever and grace on him a light  
For aye the lord of his magnificence  
again tiraunties preserveth Innocence   

And as the bible plainly doth us lere  
This david had in his tender age  
For his noblesse the kings daughter dear  
called Michol joined by marriage  
And when that saul fill in any rage  
David anon to assuage his woodness  
Touchid his harp and brought him in gladness   

Saul fuloft 'gan david to enchase  
And werreye throughout all his lands  
Through dese●●ys him pursue and menace  
Of intent to have shut him up in bonds  
Or to slay him if he come in his hands  
But finally god thorough his ordinance  
preserved his knight from all manner mischance   

Saul full often was brought to mischief  
Yet aye from death david did him save  
And hereof this was a special proof  
When david but his garment in the cave  
And more tokyns if ye lift to have  
Another time David also kept  
The life of saul when he lay and slept   

The case was this as they hosteing  
not far asunder and saul lay and sleep  
All his people about him sleeping  
And unpurveyed like a flock of sheep  
Of which thing david took good keep  
Down descended and made no delay  
Came to the tent where king saul lay   

The spear of saul standing at his heed  
David took it and went his way anon  
Of his coming there was no man took heed  
For saul slept and his men echon  
And when that he up to the hill was go  
Toward saul again he cast his look  
Made anoyse that all his knights work   

First to abnor prince of his chivalry  
David saide these words in sentence  
Abnor quod he thou hast done great folly  
This day showed a great negligence  
To suffer of saul the magnificence  
In peril stand and none heed take  
About his person to make his knights wal●e   

Thou art to blame for thy retchlessness  
To leave the king stand in so great a dread  
In sleep to have more savour and sweetness  
Than of his life to take heed  
Such negligence requireth for his meed  
Death and tourment by rightful judgement  
About a prince when folk be negligent   

And thou list to see an evidence  
How that his life stood in juꝑdye  
Se here his spear and give thereto credence  
How unprovided ye were in your party  
Saul nor thou ye may it not deny  
Your life/ you death/ your pour/ your puissance  
This day god put hole in my governance   

But me to acquit of your Innocence  
As every man should unto his king  
And to declare in me was none offence  
again his noblesse in will nor in working  
As god wot that knoweth every thing  
That I never by no conspiracy  
Wrouht nor compassed again his regal   

●O here example of perfight patience  
again malice to show kindness  
Where saul showed his mortal violence  
David acquit him with sufferance and goodness  
The tyrant vanquished by his prudent meekness  
Men again troth may weal a were gynne  
But at the end the palm he doth aye win   

For of this story if that ye take heed  
Saul is fall for his frowardness  
Into mischief and into sudden dread  
For Philistees the bible beareth witness  
With a great power 'gan their wardys' dress  
Upon king saul avenged for to be  
Their tents pight beside Gelboe   

Whereof king saul astonied in his heart  
Had lost his spirit of knightly hardiness  
And specially when he did advert  
Prophet was none his arms to redress  
Of future things troth to express  
In israel which cast him in great dread  
Because that time samuell was deed   

For saul had cast out all divines  
From israel and each from dyvyneresse  
Nat withstanding the palestynesse  
Were ries again his power to oppress  
And he ne knew no manner sorceress  
Of whom he might any counsel take  
And he of god that time was forsake   

In this wise he stood disconsolate  
Counseyl of god nor prophet knew he none  
But a man most infortunate  
Ungraciously he sped him forth anon  
And secrely this saul is forth go  
To a woman that should him read and wysse  
In israel called a phetonesse   

Which is a name as clerks written all  
And office who that taketh heed  
Soulis of men again to clepe and call  
I mean such that tofore were deed  
Which is a thing strange for to read  
That women should who so list to lere  
Make souls of deed men appear   

Vnkouth and strange is their opinion  
And to my wit a manner impossible  
Nat according me seemeth to reason  
Nor like a thing which that is credible  
That a soul of nature invisible  
Might appear or show visibly  
Unto iyens which that been bodily   

But or that I any ferther flit  
Jest I were hold to presumptuous  
To divines this matter I commit  
And wise clerks that been virtuous  
In their wits subtle and corious  
To conclude as it doth them seem  
In this matter a troth for to dame   

Whether it was the soul of sconuell  
Or other spirit that she did call  
Which that told the king of israel  
Of the bateyll that should after fall  
His adventures and his mischievous all  
And of his death he told also in deed  
And how david should after him succeed   

Because only of his disobeisance  
As it is written/ and for his retchlessness  
On amelech for he took not vengeance  
Thus the spirit bore to him witness  
Whereof Saul fill in greteate heaviness  
Knowing no mean to escape out of this doubt  
But take his fortune as it cometh about   

Told him also his enemies were so wroth  
The philistees beside Gelboe  
In that battle he and his children both  
Should die that day of necessity  
His chivalry shall scounfited be  
Of his reign there is no longer date  
For god from him his kingdom will translate   

And thus saul returned is again  
His many after brought to discounfiture  
And when he saw all his people slain  
And how there was no mean to recure  
In that deadly woeful adventure  
He bade his squire/ take his sword as belive  
And through the heart that he should him rive   

That his enemies which were uncircumcised  
Should have no power in story it is found  
To fall upon him as they have devised  
To give him his last fatal wound  
His high noblesse at mischief to confound  
But his squire for fere of god and dread  
Would not assent to do so foul a deed   

To slay his lord he greatly was afeard  
A thing hatfull in every man's sight  
But saul took the pommel of his sword  
And in the ground full deep anon it pight  
And in all hast possible that he might  
Made the point in his furious pain  
To pierce his heart and part even on twain   

The philistees anon as he was deed  
Spoilyd him of his rial armour  
dismembered him and smote of his heed  
And in token of their discomfiture  
Took the spoils with all their busy cure  
And thereof made in all their best intent  
To astraoth of pride a great present   

Thus was saul slain in sentence  
Of philistees upon Gelboe  
Forsake of god for inobedience  
abject also from his royal fee  
And thus for lacking of humility  
Of god he was for ever set aside  
Lo here the end of surquedy and pride   

Lenuoye  

Have mind of saul which of estate rial  
From low degree was called for makenesse  
But presumption made him have a fall  
Of god abject for his frowardness  
Lost his crown the bible beareth witness  
And cause was for his disobeisance  
To goddies bidding he gave none attendance   

God not asketh no more of man atall  
But hole heart without doubleness  
For all the gifts which in especial  
He gave to man of high goodness  
But he chastiseth all unkindness  
Such as been rebel for to do pleasance  
And to his bidding yeve none atendaunce   

Noble princes virtue most principal  
You to conserve in your high noblesse  
Is to emprente in your memorial  
Faith equity all wrongs to redress  
To sustain troth and rightwiseness  
And tofore god hold heavenly the balance  
And his biding yeve hole your attendance     

Acommendation of Bochas upon the virtue of obedience  

Virtue of virtues most of excellence  
Which that have most sovereign suffisance  
Is the virtue of true obedience  
Which set all thing in rightful governance  
For ne were not this prudent ordinance  
Sum to obey and above to guy  
Destroyed were all worldly policy   

Where that virtue and high discretion  
avoided have from them all wilfulness  
By title only of domination  
Truly living upon reghtwisnesse  
Wrong and errors justly to redress  
Of truth I may rightwell affirm and say  
The people meekly their bidding should obey   

This noble virtue of faithful obeisance  
Established upon humility  
Which includeth no double variance  
In all regions and in each country  
Causeth welfare/ joy/ and prosperity  
And as virtue chief and sovereign  
All vicious riete it plainly doth restrain   

Obedience eke as men may see  
Falseness exileth and all rebellion  
For by tempraunce right and equity  
Stant the welfare of every region  
For the meekness and low subjection  
Of comontees hold up the regalies  
Of lordships and of all monarchies   

And no doubt when lordships of intent  
busy been the sovereign lord to queme  
To their subjects do right judgement  
In conscience as right and reason dame  
Than shall their crown and diadem  
Upon their heed persevere and freshly shine  
And make subiettis to their bidding en●lyne   

Thus obe●saunce plainly at a word  
In such as have lordship and sovereignty  
Done of intent to their sovereign lord  
Shall 'cause them reign in long prosperity  
And their subjects of humility  
For their noble famous governance  
Aye to be ready under their obeisance   

For who that serveth the lord of lords all  
And hath the people in his subjection  
God will keep him that he shall not fall  
Long preserve his domination  
But ageynwarde when wisdom and reason  
Been overmastered with censualite  
Farewell the flowers of their felicity   

Obedience blunteth the sharpness  
Of cruel swords in tyrants hands  
And meekness appeseth the felnesse  
Of hasty vengeance breaketh on two the bonds  
Eke patience set quiet in lands  
And where these three contune in comontees  
Long peace ꝑsevereth in kingdoms and cities   

Obedience doth also restrain  
Conspirations and false collusions  
When she stant unparted not atweyne  
There is no dread of no dissensions  
For she combyneth the true opinions  
In the hearts of people full well afore provided  
under princes to stand hole undivided   

Where princes be meek humble and debonair  
Towardys god of hole affection  
Their subiettis be gladly not contrary  
In their cervise by no rebellion  
For there is found no division  
But heed and members each for his party  
Be so governed by prudent policy   

Contrariously saul was put down  
Abject of god for his obstinacy  
Put from his sceptre/ his crown/ his region  
Of israel lost all the monarchy  
For he list not make his ally  
Of frowardness and wilful negligence  
This noble virtue called obedience   

For as it longeth in kingdoms and cities  
Under a key of vnbeniuolence  
Princes kings to govern their sees  
So appertaineth due reverence  
To their subjects by obedience  
To obey their lords as they be of degree  
By title of right in every comonte   

For obeisance if it be discerned  
With argus iyen who that taketh heed  
As right requireth is not well governed  
When the members presume again the heed  
Of governance there is no perfight▪ speed  
From unity they go afrowarde weigh  
When subiettis their princes disobey    

How king Roboam for giving faith to young counsel lost the benevolence of his people and died a fool  

unto john bochas in order next there can  
With full great dole and lamentation  
The young king called Roboam  
Son and next heir to Solomon  
entering by title of just succession  
Besought mine author to make of his folly  
And of his falling a piteous tragedy   

First when he entered into his region  
Twelve tribus governing in deed  
Ruled him silf by will and no reason  
Kept his subjects plainly as I read  
Not under love but under froward dread  
Of old wise to his great disavaile  
He despised the doctrine and counsel   

He demeaned as it was well couth  
His sceptre/ his crown/ and his regalie  
By such folk as flowered in their youth  
Coude of custom their wits well apply  
To blend him falsely with their flattery  
Which is a stepmother called in substance  
To all virtue and all good governance   

Alas it is great dole and great pity  
That flattery should have so great favour  
Which blindeth princes that they may not see  
Misteth the iyen of every governor  
That they can not know their own error  
Falls honey shed aye on their sentence  
A fool is he that giveth to them credence   

They may be called the devils tabourers  
With froward sownies ceris to fulfil  
Or of Cures the perilous botelers  
Which gall and honey down distill  
whose drinks been both amorous and ill  
And as clerks well devise cunne  
Worse than the drinks of Cirenes' tun   

ears of princes full well they can enoint  
With the soft oil of adulation  
And their terms most subtly appoint  
Each thing concluding with false deception  
Aye blandisshinge with amorous poison  
And finally as the poet saith  
Their faith of custom concludeth with unfeith   

Flowering in words though there be no fruit  
Double of heart pleasant of language  
Of true meaning void and destitute  
In mustering outward pretend a fair visage  
Who trustith them findeth small advantage  
By appearance and glorious fresh showing  
Princes deceiving and many worthy king   

Roboam can bear full well witness  
From avoiding folks that were true  
How he was hindered by flattery and falnesse  
By them that could forge out tales new  
whose counseile after sore did him rue  
And with their feigned falls suggestion  
Greatly abridged his domination   

He dempte himself of more authority  
Of folly youth and of presumption  
Than was his father in great rialtie  
And this pompous false opinion  
Came into his conceit by adulation  
For flatterers bore to him witness  
How he excelled his faders high noblesse   

He did great rigour and oppression  
Upon his people as it was well proved  
And to find sum mitigation  
They in matters which that have them grieved  
Of their tributes for to be relieved  
Besought he would release them in their need  
But all for naught he took thereof none heed   

All old counseile from him he set aside  
And refused their doctrine and their lore  
And by false counsel of folks full of pride  
His poor lieges he oppressed sore  
And ten kynredies anon without more  
For tyranny and misgovernance  
From him withdrough the troth and ligeance   

This of the king conceived the rigour  
The people anon of Indignation  
Stoned adoram which was collector  
Of the tributis in all his region  
From him departing by rebellion  
Whereof astonied to avenge his great unright  
In to jerusalem took anon his flight   

And when they were parted from roboam  
The ten kynredies by division  
Chase them a king called Jeroboam  
And roboam within his royal town  
To be avenged of their rebellion  
And for to do on them cruel justice  
An hundred thousand he made anon to arise   

With Jeroboam he cast him for to meet  
And all at once set in iuperdye  
But rameus the prophet bade him leete  
And from the were withdraw his party  
And more the quarrel for to justify  
Of his people froward departing  
It was goddies will done for a punishing   

Touching the surplus of his governance  
His royal building of many fair cite  
His great rich famous suffisance  
Of wine and oil having great plenty  
And how his empire increased yeries three  
Eke how that time he rightful was in deed  
In josephus his story ye may read   

Of his children borne in right line  
eighteen wives as made is mention  
I find he had and many concubine  
Sons and daughters by procreation  
And how his richesses and great possession  
That time encreacid as it is well know  
To god above while that he bore him low   

But as this author maketh rehersaile  
In his increases and augmentation  
meekness in heart in him 'gan waste and fail  
And pride entered with false presumption  
Virtue despising and all religion  
After whose vices as saith this same book  
wicked example of him the people took   

After the manners where they be good or ille  
Vsyd of princes in divers regions  
The people is ready to use and fulfil  
Fully the traces of their conditions  
For lords may in their subjections  
So as them list who so can take heed  
To vice or virtue their subiettis lead   

Thus Roboam for his transgressions  
In josephus as it is devised  
And for his froward false opineons  
Only for he all virtue hath despised  
Of god he was rightfully chastised  
In Jerusalem his chief royal town  
Of his enemies besieged environ   

The king of egypt a siege about him laid  
With so great people that succour was there none  
Albe it so that roboam abraid  
And prayed god deliver him from his fone  
To avoid of mercy his enemies everichone  
But god list not grant his praiere  
But him chastised like as ye shall here   

First his cite and his royal town  
Delivered was he knew no better succour  
Under a feigned false composition  
For at their entering void of all favour  
Keeping no covenant took all the treasure  
Within the temple having no pite  
But lad it home to egypt their country   

And to rehearse it is a great dole  
How Roboam as josephus doth declare  
Was inly proud and therewithal a fool  
And of all wisdom destitute and bore  
Vnmerciable his people for to spare  
Hating good counsel and so in his regal  
Regning a fool and so I let him die   

Lenuoye  

Philosopher's conclude and devise  
In their books of good experience  
That counseylours'/ sad/ expert/ and wise  
True of their word stable of their sentence  
Hasty nor reckless for no violence  
Keep and preserve the troth I da●● attain  
Noblesse of princes fro mische●●●●d diffame   

Hasty youth and rancour in contrary wise  
Which have to will all their advertence  
Except themself all other men despise  
Through their unbridled furious insolence  
Nothing acquainted with wisdom nor prudence  
Bring againward whereof they be to blame  
Putting his noblesse in mischief and diffame   

King roboam again right and justice  
To young fools gave faith and most credence  
Cruelly his subiettis to chastise  
which put his people fro his benevolence  
Through ten kynredies from his obedience  
Which was to him by record full great shame  
Putting his noblesse in mischief and diffame   

Noble princes do wisely advertise  
In ꝑsevering of your magnificence  
Of old expert not blended with covetise  
Take your counseile and do them reverence  
Eyed as argus in their high providence  
Which conserve by report of good name  
Noblesse of princes from mischief and diffame     

A chapter descryvinge how princes being hedeys of their comontees should have noble chivalry true judges their comontye to govern etc.  

wHat earthly thing is more deceivable  
Than of princes the pomp & veinglorye  
Which ween stand in their estatis stable  
As they the world had conquered by victory  
And suddenly be put out of memory  
Their fame clouded alas and their noblesse  
With a dark shadow of forgetfulness   

Whereof cometh the famous clear shining  
Of emperors in their consistories  
Or whereof cometh their laud in reporting  
Save that clerks have written their histories  
Or where now conquests transitories  
Or their triumphs where should men them find  
Nadde writers their prowess put in mind   

reckon up all and first the worthy nine  
In high nobles which had never peers  
The ma●●● acts which clearly did shine  
Their fame upborne above all the nine stars  
With loud sownies of famous clarioneris  
Their glorious palms if they be well preysid  
By low labours of commons was first raised   

Make a likeness of these great images  
Curiously corue out by entail  
Heed/ arms/ body and their fresh visages  
Without/ feet or legs may not vail  
To stand upright for needs they must fail  
And semblably subiectis in comontees  
Reise up the noblesse of princes in their sees   

As heed and members in ymagys' been one stone  
Other one stock by cumpas undivided  
And be proportion their feturies everichone  
Set in true order as nature hath provided  
So that all errors through craft by circumcided  
The heed highest by custom as men know  
The body amid the feet beneath low   

Mighty princes for their high renown  
As most worthy shall occupy the heed  
With wit memory and iyen of reason  
To keep their members fro mischief and dread  
Like their degrees take of them good heed  
With clear foresight of a prudent thought  
Their feet preserve they err naught   

There must be hands and arms of diffence  
Which shall the image manly keep and give  
From all assautis of foreign violence  
Which shall be named noblest of chivalry  
Their true office justly to magnify  
Sustain the church and make themself strong  
To see that widows and maidens have no wrong   

Prudent judges as it is skill and right  
To punish wrong and surfeits to redress  
In this image shall ocupie the sight  
For love or hate by doom of rightwiseness  
For friend or foe his iugementis dress  
So equally the laws to sustain  
In their works that none error be sayne   

Amid this image there is a body set  
An aggregate of people and degrees  
By perfit peace and unity yknet  
By th'estates that govern comontees  
As meires/ provosts/ and burgeiss in cities  
Marchauntis olso which seek sundry lands  
With other crafts which live by their hondis.   

And as a body which stant in health  
Felith no grief of no froward humours  
So every common continueth in great health  
Which is demeaned with prudent governors  
That can appease debatis and errors  
The people keep from all controversy  
Causing the welfare to increase and multiply   

This body must have a soul of life  
To quick the members with ghostly motions  
Which shallbe made of folk contemplatif  
The church committed to their possessions  
Which by their holy conversations  
And good example should as stars shine  
By grace and virtue the people enliunyne   

Upon the light of their conditions  
Of this body dependeth the welfare  
For in their techinge and pridications  
They should troth to high and low declare  
And in their office for no dread ne spare  
Vices correct like as they are hold  
Sigh they been herds of christs fold   

Following upon of intent full clean  
labourers as ye have hard devised  
Shall this body bear up and sustain  
As feet and legs which may not be despised  
For true labour is justly auctorisied  
And near the plough upholden by travail  
Of kings princes farewell all governaile   

Thus first if princes governed by by right  
And knighthood suffer the people to have no wrong  
And troth in judges show out his light  
And forth in cities with love he draw a long  
And holy church in virtue be made strong  
And in his labour the plough ne feign naught  
Than by proportion this image is well wrought   

This matter hole for to exemplify  
King Roboam for a falls oppression  
And for his wilful froward tyranny  
Lost a great party of his region  
Wherefore let princes considre of reason  
God set the people for lords advantage  
And to be oppressed with servage   

Upon sum princes bochas doth complain  
Such as have a custom and manner  
again their subgettes ungodly to disdain  
And of pride to show them froward cheer  
Counseyleth them to remember and lere  
As this chapter doth finally device  
First out of lordship all labour did arise    

How Mucyus Scevola slough an Innocent in stead of king Porcenna that laid siege to Rome.  

when king porcenna with his chivalry  
Again romans a were first began  
The town besieging upon each party  
With great puissance brought of tuscan  
In the cite there was a knightly man  
Mucius Scevola which cast in their distress  
To break the siege through his high prowess   

let arm himself clean in plate and mail  
For common profit to advance his courage  
King porcenna proudly to assail  
A time provided to his advantage  
Through the siege to make his passage  
And finally at his in coming  
juꝑte his person for to slay the king   

But like as telleth titus lyvius  
Where Porcenna sat in his royal see  
This senator this manly Mucius  
Saw a prince of great authority  
The king resembling clad in one livere  
Atweyne decerning no manner variance  
Slough that prince of very ignorance   

But when he knew that he did fail  
To slay porcenna enemy to the town  
And saw he had lost all his travail  
He made a piteous lamentation  
Because he did execution  
Of ignorance again his own intent  
To spare a tyrant and slay an Innocent   

For which he was with himself full wroth  
That he was found so negligent in deed  
And with his hand unto a fire he goth  
Made it bren bright as any gleed  
Both nerf and bone and his flesh to shed  
His hand consuming on pecis here and yond●●  
And from his arm made it ꝑt a sondre   

Andrea as the story declareth unto us  
This manly man this noble senator  
Afore time was called mucyu●  
Which for the common did many great labour  
And for the uncouth hasty fell rigour  
Done to himself the romans all  
Scevola they did him after call   

As much to say by language of that land  
Who take a right the exposion  
As a man which is without an hand  
And after him by succession  
All his ofspring● borne in the town  
In remembrance for to increase his fa●●  
Of Sc●uola ●are after him the na●●   

By this example and many other more  
If men list here courages to awake  
They should see what peril and what woe  
For common profit men have undertake  
And whilom ●ru●us for Lucrecis sake  
Tarquyn chased for his transgression  
And kings all out of rome toun   

touching Lucrece example of wifly troth  
How young Tarquyn her falsely did oppress  
And after that which was to great a routh  
How she herself slough for heaviness  
It needeth not rehece the process  
Sigh that Chaucere chief poet of bretayne  
Wrote of her life a legend sovereign   

rehearsing there among other things  
Each circumstance and each occasion  
Why romans exilid first their kings  
Never to regne after in their town  
As old chronicles make mention  
remembering also the unkindly great outrage  
By increase done to Dido of Cartage   

Eke other stories which he wrote in his live  
Full notably with every circumstance  
And their fatis pitously did describe  
Like as they fill put them in remembrance  
Wherefore if I should my pen advance  
After his making to put them in memory  
Men would dame it presumption and vain glory   

For as a star in presence of the sū●e  
loseth his fresshnesse and his clear light  
So my rudeness under skies dun  
Dareth full low and hath lost his sight  
To be compared again the beams bright  
Of this poet wherefore it were but vain  
Thing said by him to writ it new again    

How lucrece oppressed by Tarquyn slough herself  

But at Lucrece s●yne I will a while  
It were ●ite her story for to hide  
Or sloth the pen of my rude style  
But for her sake all matters set aside  
Also my lord bade I should abide  
By good avice at leisure to translated  
The doolfull process of her piteous fate   

Following the traces of collucyus  
Which wrote of her a declaration  
most lamentable/ most doolfull/ most piteous  
Where he discriveth the dolorous treason  
Of her constrained falls oppression  
Wrought and compassid by unware violence  
The light untroubled of her clear conscience   

Her father whilom called Spurius  
Her worthy husband named collatyn  
Which by the luxury and treason odious  
And vicious outrage of sextus proud Tarquyn  
oppressed was and brought unto her fyn  
Whoos deadly sorrow in Inglissh for to make  
Of piteous ruth my pen I feel quake   

This said Tarquyn this evil advised knight  
This slandered man most hateful for his deed  
Came like a thief alas upon a night  
With naked sword when noman took heed  
Upon Lucrece she quaking in her dread  
dying a-bed far from her folks all  
And knew no refuge for help for to call   

He manasing in his froward intent  
On her beholding with a furious cheer  
That with his sword but she would assent  
Her and a boy he would prente I fear  
Suchone as was most ugly of manner  
most unlikely of person and of fame  
Thus he her thrat for to slander her name   

But his intent when she did feel  
And saw no mean of her woeful chance  
The morrow after she list no thing conceal  
Told her husband holy the governance  
Him requering for to do vengeance  
Upon this crime said like a true wife  
She would her heart pierce with a knife   

In this matter this was her fantasy  
Better was to die than to live in shame  
And lass ill to put in juꝑdye  
Her mortal body than her good fame  
When honour dieth farewell a man's name  
Be●●●●●t were out of his life disevere  
Than slanderous fame to slay a man for 〈◊〉   

But to that purpose her husband said nay  
Her father also was thereto contrary  
Making a promyce without more delay  
To do vengeance how they wilnat tarry  
To her declaryngt with reasons debonarie  
under these words troth and right conserved  
To slay herself she hath no thing deserved   

For suddenly and also unadvised  
As a fool is trapped in the snare  
By unware fraud upon the practised  
Thou were deceived plainly to declare  
Ha●inge this conceit hard is to repair  
The name of them which falsely be diffamed  
When wrong report the high renown hath shamed   

touching thy person I dare offerme and s●yn  
That it were a manner impossible  
And like a thing which never yet was sayne  
That thy worship was found corruptible  
But steadfast aye and indivisible  
Vnptyd virtue and made strong  
And now desirous to avenge thy wrong   

On thy Injury we shall avenged be  
considered first the deadly heaviness  
Which thou suffridest by great adversity  
When the avoutour thy beauty did oppress  
And rejoicing by a falls gladness  
Maugre thy will as a thief by night  
The encumbered of very force and might   

But if thou wouldest leave all thy mourning  
And restrain thy importable woe  
son shouldest thou see an equal punysshinge  
Upon thy most froward mortal foo  
To warn all other they shall no more do s●  
In chastising of false adultery  
The and thy renown of right to magnify   

What was diffasinge to thy true intent  
Though his youth unbridled went at large●  
So for to aforce a cely innocent  
whose wickedness aught to bear the charge  
And we of right thy conscience discharge  
The joy unleeful of his false pleasance  
With double palm thine honour doth advance   

conceive ●nd see oh thou my Lucrece  
How that reason and good discretion  
Should thy trouble and thy mourning ceos  
Of right restrain thy opinion  
So recklessly to do punition  
With knife or hand to slay thy silf alas  
For other's gilt and diddest no trespass   

Latbe Lucrece/ ●atbe all thy dool  
Cece thy complaint and thy woe restrain  
Should I fro the live alone all fool  
And thy death perpetuelly complain  
To put thy father in importable pain  
Of our welfare be not so reckless  
To die and leave our children moderles   

Of prudence eke thou oughtest for to see  
And advertise only of reason  
Though of force thy body corrupt be  
Thy soul inward and thine entencion  
franchised been from all corruption  
Offence is none consider in thine intent  
With will and heart give thereto full consent   

Thou were naked in thy bed dying  
Alone unware sleeping and void of might  
Suspeciousles all of his coming  
That time namely because that it was night  
A fearful woman and he a manly knight  
Albina be it so unknightly was his deed  
With naked sword to assail thy womanhead   

He might thy body by force well oppress  
By sleighty ways that he had sought  
But we'll wo●e I for all his sturdiness  
He might never have mastery of thy thought  
The body yielded the heart yielded him naught  
You were twain/ thou feeble/ and he right strong  
Thy troth afforced he worker of the wrong   

Where mightest thou have greater preice or laud  
All right considered troth and equity  
First counterpoised his force and sleighty fraud  
Than to persevere in femynite  
With thought enchaunged and infragilite  
Of woman heed to have an heart stable  
What thing in the might be more commendable   

It is well-known thou were of heart aye one  
To all falls lusts contrary in governance  
Moore like an Image served out of a stone  
Than like a woman fleshly of pleasance  
The tyrant fond in cheer and countenance  
Which ever after by womanly victory  
shallbe ascryved to thine increase of glory   

Thy father Brutus hath the well excused  
Mysilf also thy blood and thy kindred  
On this matter late no more be mused  
To slay thy silf or do thy sides bleed  
Certys Lucrece thou hast full little need  
It were great wrong by all our judgement  
To spare a tyrant and slay an Innocent   

Thy silf to murder to sum it would seem  
Thou were guilty where as thou art clean  
divers wits diversly will dame  
Report thing thou none diddest mean  
For which thou shalt patiently susteene  
Till thy chaste wifly Innocence  
May see him punished for his violence   

folk will not dame a person Innocent  
Which wilfully when he is not culpable  
Yildeth himself to death by judgement  
And never was afore of no gilt portable  
His own doom upon himself vengeable  
Causeth the people though their report be naught  
To dame a thing that never was done ne wrought   

To be avenged upon thine own life  
In excusing of thy deadly fame  
To show thou art a true wedded wife  
weening by death to get the a name  
In this device thou art greatly to blame  
Where thou yet knowest thine honour clearly shine  
To give the people matter to divine   

And with that word lucrece did abraid  
Full deadly both of look and cheer  
To them again even thus she said  
Lathe husband/ lathe my father dear  
Speke no more to me of this matter  
Jest men dempt in hindringe of my name  
I dread death more than falls diffame   

Your counsel is I shall my life conserve  
To sorrow and slander but no gladness  
But lass ill it is at an hour to starve  
Than ever languyssh in sorrow and heaviness  
Death maketh an end of all worldly distress  
And it was said sigh full yore ago  
Better is to die than ever to life in woe   

When that worship in any creature  
Is slain and deed by slanderous report  
Better is of death the dreadful pain endure  
Than by false noise aye to life in discomfort  
Where new/ and new diffame hath his resort  
Never dieth but quickeneth by the outrage  
Of hateful tongues and venomous language   

Do your devoir to hallow and make stable  
The chaste chaumbres of wifly governance  
For in this case if ye be variable  
On false avowtry for to do vengeance  
There shall follow everlasting remembrance  
How true spousaile as ye have hard devised  
In your cite broke and not chastised   

If ye be found in such case negligent  
To punish avoutours of right as your charge  
Through your sloth as ye were of passent  
Luxuere unbridled shall re●●e abroad at large  
Who shall than your conscience discharge  
Or what woman stand in sekirnesse  
Of Lucrece afforced the cleanness   

O dear husband what joy should it be  
To thine estate in any manner place  
Like as thy wife to cherissh me  
Or in thine arms me goodly to embrace  
The gilt horrible considered and trespass  
By Tarquyn done alas and wellaway  
Which in my person may never be washed away   

And father mine how shouldest thou me call  
After this day thine own daughter dear  
Which alas refuse of women all  
That to thy pleasance was whilom most enter  
Within thy house when I did lere  
By clear example of manifold doctrine  
All that pertained to virtuous discipline   

Which I have lost now in my days old  
despaired it to recure again  
Mine own children I dare not them behold  
Because the womb in that they have lain  
defouled is and pollute in certain  
Which was tofore in chastity conserved  
Chastise the adulter as he hath deserved   

And for my part to speak in words few  
Longer to live I have no fantasy  
For where should I out my face show  
Or dare appear in any company  
Sigh a dark spot of false adultery  
Shall evermore whether it be falls or true  
Into mine hindering the slander to renew   

Lust afforcid hath a false appetite  
Of freelte included in nature  
Maugre the will there followeth a delight  
As sum folkys say in every creature  
Good fame lost full hard is to recure  
And sith I may my harms not redress  
To you in open my guilt I will confess   

All be I was again my will oppressed  
There was a manner constrained lust in deed  
Which for no power might not be redressed  
For feebleness I stood in so great dread  
For which offence death shall be my meed  
Sigh liefer I have with sum edge toll  
To slay my silf than live in slander and dole   

O father mine spare and have pite  
And dear husband rue on mine offence  
Goddies and goddessies called of chastity  
To my trespass grant an indulgence  
For of my guilt to make a recompense  
Where that venus' gate in me a vantage  
Death shall redress and chastise mine outrage   

For if I should make a delay  
To pierce my breast with sharpness of a knife  
Men would dame and say fro day to day  
To make my slander more opyn and more rife  
how that I was more tender of my life  
Than of my worship which to great a shame  
To love my life more than my good name   

In this matter no witness is so good  
To put away all falls suspicion  
As with a knife to shed my heart blood  
I might not make a better purgation  
To all folk that have discretion  
Than finally by my death to excuse,  
The gilt horrible of which men me accuse   

Go forth my soul pure and immortal  
Chief witness of mine Innocence  
Tofore though judges which been infernal  
First Minos king to dame my conscience  
With Radamanthus to give a sentence  
Like my desert that it might be seen  
In wifly troth how that I was clean   

Thou earthly body which through thy fairness  
Were to adultery full great occasion  
Of thy blood shed out the redness  
And by thy sides late it rail down  
Steer and exite the people of this town  
To do their devoir within a little while  
For love of tarquyn all kings to exile   

And first I pray my husband most enter  
Of this vengeance to make no delay  
With help and succour of my father dear  
To punish the avoutour in all the haste ye may  
Late him take his wages and his pay  
Like as ye see and plainly now concey●e  
For his offence the death I do receive   

And suddenly or they might advert  
She took a knife and with great violence  
Through the breast even unto the heart  
She made it glide there was no resistance  
Full pale and deed fill down in their presence  
And by occasion of this piteous deed  
Tarquyn exiled and holy his kindred   

For which cause by record of writing  
Was there never in Rome the city  
After that day no man crowned king  
As in chronicles ye may behold and see  
Thus for luxury and their cruelty  
Their tyranny and false extortion  
They were exiled out of rome town    

How rome after was governed/ and virginea by her father slain  

governed after by other officers  
As is remembered in titus Lyvyus  
called december of divers chronicles  
Among which there was one appius  
A judge untrue proud and luxurious  
Which through the cite the story beareth witness  
behated was for his great falseness   

And once it fill as he best his look  
Upon amaide most ●●ly fair of sight  
A falls desire within his heart he took  
her to disuse again all skill and right  
And she was daughter to a worthy knight  
Full manly found in his dediss all  
And virginius the romans did him call   

Whoos goodly daughter the story doth v●lere  
Was after him for his noble fame  
Virginia called most goodly and enter  
And for this cause she bore the same name  
But appius too greatly was to blame  
Which hath conspired through his great falseness  
If that he might her beauty to oppress   

This judge untrue both in thought and deed  
Of law unrightful sought out occasion  
Made a sargeaunt of his to proceed  
again this maid to take an action  
claimed her his servant by false collusion  
And this done was by appius of intent  
That he on her might give a judgement   

And by this mean in his false delight  
Thought he might her beauty best disuse  
So to accomplish his fleshly appetite  
She being feeble the action to refuse  
Whereupon her father 'gan to muse  
Fully conceived of Appius the manner  
In her defence wrought as ye shall here   

When Appius had yevyn his judgement  
again this maid which afore him stood  
Her manly father most knightly of intent  
Took her apart as he thought it good  
And with a knife shed her heart blood  
Dempt it better to slay her in cleanness  
Than the tyrant her beute should oppress   

Thus hold conserved was her virginity  
And undefouled was her maidynhede  
For virginius to keep her honesty  
Spared no thing to make her sides bleed  
But Appius for this horrible deed  
And Decemuyr through his unhappy chance  
Had in that cite never after governance   

As the story also maketh mention  
Appius ashamyd of this deed  
Slough him silf fettered in preson  
Of a false judge lo here the final meed  
And though tribuni in rome 'gan succeed  
twain right and wrong truly to discern  
And roman laws justly to govern   

Men may here see as in a mirror clear  
Estatis changed for their great offences  
And by sum poor persons singulere  
Princis put down from their magnificences  
Which not consider in their great excellences  
How god ordaineth his yard many sundry wise  
The poor sum whi●e the pompous to chastise   

Heron to show example anon right  
marked in story for a notable thing  
Pansanias of Grece a manly knight  
Of Macedonye slough Philip the king  
At a table where he was sitting  
Atwene alexander and Olympiades'  
His wrong to avenge amids all pres   

Eke Salmator a knight of low degree  
For wrongs done in especial  
Of manly force grounded on equity  
Slough of cartage the prince Hastruball  
Which brother was unto duke Hanyball  
Beside a river as they met in battle  
called metaure which runneth in Itaile   

Wherefore ye princes if ye list long endure  
Be right well were be ye never so strong  
In your lordshippis not to much assure  
Or surquedie the poraile to do wrong  
In your discretion conceiving ever among  
greatest dread is that may your state assail  
When subjection doth the people fail   

Lenuoye  

THis tragedy declareth in party  
What mischief followeth of extortion  
Eke of spousebrech and of adulter  
By Tarquyn done through false extortion  
Unto lucrece within rome town  
Kings exiled for such mysgovernaile  
And false outrages done to the poraile   

Eke appius of wilful tyranny  
again virginya took an action  
Through a false lust of froward lechery  
Blent and ferderkyd his memory and reason  
Which was chief cause and occasion  
Why the estate of dishōme did fail  
Through false outrage done to the porail   

King philip lost cepture and regalie  
Of macedony the famous region  
Vnwa●ly slain amid his chivalry  
sitting at the table within his chheef dungeon  
And greatest cause of his falling down  
Was when fortune his pride did assail  
For false outrages done to the poraile   

●u●e has●●uball whom bokys magnify  
Up to the heaven for his high renown  
●hoos triumphs reached up to the sky  
And had all cartage in his subjection  
Yet was he slain unwaily by treason  
By a servant so what it doth avail  
Treason purposed afore in the poraile   

●oble princes your reason do apply  
Which over the people have domination  
So prudently to govern them and guy  
●●at love and dread by true affection  
Perseiue their hearts from false rebellion  
●●th to your highness no thing may more prevail  
Than true subjection expert in poraile     

●owe Jeroboam king of Israel for Idolatry ●●sobedience came to a mischievous end  

●Eyt these stories in bochas as I find  
There did appear unto his presence  
Kings six him praying to have mind  
Upon their fall by unware violence  
From their estates of royal excellence  
And tofore all I find that there came  
Of all israell king Jeroboam   

Unto mine author he began to declare  
His deadly complaint with a pale face  
His great mischievous and his evil fare  
And how he fill down from his kingly place  
Through great unhaps which did his height embrace  
And as this story plainly hath devised  
For his offences how he was chastised   

An Idolatry he was as it was told  
Reisyd up auteers of very force and might  
Set thereupon two calueryn of pure gold  
Did them worship again all skill and right  
Gave evil example in the people sight  
When he did with fumes and incense  
To false idols undue reverence   

From the temple he made the people go  
Preestes ordained after his own guise  
Forsook the tribe of levy and aaron  
And upon bethel his offering 'gan devise  
And while he did unleeful sacrifice  
God that weal knew of him the falls intent  
From jerusalem a prophet to him he sent   

Which him rebuked of his misgovernance  
And 'gan the perils to him specify  
Told him afore for to do vengeance  
Of david king there should come one josie  
Which should his priests that falsely could lie  
Manly destroy and slay them all at once  
And into ashes burn them flesh and bonies   

And in token of their destruction  
The prophet told among them all  
How his auters should bowedoun  
And his idols from their stage fall  
When that follies their goddies falsely call  
Which have no power to help in no manner  
For they may neither see/ feel/ nor here   

After this prophet jadan had told  
These s●ide signs plainly to the king  
His altar fill on pecis many fold  
And overturned bacwarde his offering  
For which the king furiously looking  
Put forth his hand the story maketh mind  
Bad his men the prophet take and bind   

And as he his arm reached out on length  
Had no power it to withdraw again  
Wax unwieldy/ contract/ and lost his strength  
And when the king these tokyns hath sayne  
And how the prophet spoke no word in veyn  
Greatly astonied could say no more  
But prayed jadan his arm to restore   

And by his praiere and mediation  
Of his arm after this vengeance  
There was anon made testetution  
And of his pain feeleth alegaunce  
For which the king with full great instance  
Requeryd him to be so gracious  
That day to abide and dine in his house   

But the prophet would not assent  
Nouther with him to eat nor to drink  
Took his ass and forth anon he went  
On whose departing the king 'gan sore think  
And fantasies 'gan in his heart sink  
Specially when he took heed  
Of all his tokens how they were true in deed   

God bad jadan in this great emprise  
To Jeroboam first when he was sent  
Eat nor drink in no manner wise  
In that city while he was present  
But another prophet of intent  
Full old and sligh on that other side  
compelled hath this jodan to abide   

Him aforsinge by false collusion  
To resorto again unto the cite  
And to make no contradiction  
With him to dine of fraternity  
To him affirming it may none other be  
For god sent him as to his friend and brother  
To abide with him and plainly with none other   

Of frendlihede and true affection  
Within his house to show his presence  
For a repast and a refection  
This God's will and fully his sentence  
To whose words the prophet gave credence  
And as they sat at dinner both in fere  
God unto jadan saide in this manner   

For the breaking of my commandment  
Thy great offence and thy transgression  
That thou hast be so wilful negligent  
Thou shalt endure this punition  
Be all to torn and rend of a lion  
And in thy country thou shalt not recure  
With prophetis to have thy sepulture   

Of which thing this jadan no thing fain  
'Gan to depart with full heavy thought  
Of a lion amid of the weigh slain  
But his ass harmed was rightnought  
A full great marvel if it be weal sought  
The lion sitting as in their diffence  
And kept them both from all violence   

All these tokens might not convert  
jeroboam fro his iniquity  
Goddis warning him list not to advert  
Nor by his prophet corrected for to be  
Wherefore god would that he should see  
Vengeance follow as it dead in deed  
Both upon him and his kindred   

A son he had which fill in great sickness  
called abimen the book doth specify  
For which the king bade the queen her dress  
To go disguised without company  
Unto a prophet which called was achie  
Him to reqire truly for to say  
Whether the child should live or die   

And in his inward sight contemplatif  
God showed him by clear inspection  
Of Jeroboam how she was the wife  
For all her sleighty transformation  
For neither fallas nor falls deception  
May be god but it be perceived  
For he/ ne his prophets may not be decyved   

She came to him in strange weed  
At the entering he called her by her name  
Come forth quoth he for it is no need  
To hide thisilf as it were for shame  
For the troth truly to attain  
God hath yeven me fully knowledging  
What thou shalt answer and say to the king   

Say plainly to him and mark it in thy thought  
In thy repair these words rehearsing  
Sigh god hath made the and raised up of naught  
From a servant to regne as a king  
from Davidis kin most worthy reigning  
parted the kingdom and yevyn it unto the  
And thou unkind thereof canst no thing see   

His great goodness is out of remembrance  
Fully forgetyn of thy froward pride  
In false goddies put thin affiance  
God above falsely set aside  
Wherefore from the anon he shall divide  
Thy kingdom hole without more delay  
And fro thy line the crown take away   

And for thou hast thy confusion  
Thy faith unfaithful to falls gods take  
Wrongly refused thy religion  
Of god above and plainly him forsake  
This is the end which that thou shalt make  
The and thy kin no man may succour  
flesh/ skin/ and bone hounds shall devour   

And at the entering home to the cite  
Thy son and his thou shalt find him deed  
Of all his kin though there were none but he  
Found very good take thereof good heed  
Of which answer the queen fill in great dread  
entering the cite in especial  
Her child was deed and lay cold by the wall   

Of this warning the king took none heed  
But made him ready with full great aparaile  
Forty thousand with him he did lead  
Of manly men armed in plate and mail  
With king abias for to have a great battle  
The which abias that was of iuda king  
Unto his people said at their meeting   

O noble knights have one thing in momerie  
No man venquessheth platly to conclude  
With great people nor getith victory  
With noumbres heaped nor great multitude  
false idolaters god will them delude  
Nat suffer his servants that been true and sad  
Of miscreauntiss to be overlad   

Triumph is none found of new or old  
In these ydolies of stone nor silver sheen  
Nor in calueryn of metal made or gold  
●●ue to that party which untruly mean  
And sith that god knoweth our quarrel clean  
There is none hope/ force none nor might  
With them ground them a cause ageyns right   

Hope of victory standeth upon rightwiseness  
Of them that cast their sinful life to amend  
And list forsake wrong and all falseness  
And with hole heart unto the lord intend  
Which shall this day his grace to you send  
Our true cause truly to termine  
And thus Abias' 'gan his tale fine   

His priests 'gan their trumps for to blow  
And king Abias' through his high renown  
Gave to his people both to high and low  
For manly comfort and consolation  
And fifty thousand by computation  
Were slain that day which full proudly came  
Upon the party of king Jeroboam   

And all the party of Jeroboam  
And all that were of his line borne  
After this battle unto mischief came  
When they were slain with hounds all to torn  
As the prophet had them told before  
But for the king took thereof none heed  
With sudden vengeance god quit him his meed    

How zereas king of Ethiope was slain in battle  

AFter him to Bochas did appear  
Next in order plainly as I find  
One zareas with a sorrowful cheer  
And he was king of Ethiope and ynde  
Whoos yien were almost with weeping blind  
praying mine author his unhappy chance  
With other woeful to put in remembrance   

And that he would record by scripture  
His sudden fall and dolorous distress  
And his diffamous hateful discomfiture  
With the dispoiling of his great richesses  
And how king asaph through his high noblesse  
And his people as he did them assail  
Hath him vanquished and slain in battle    

How Adab king of jerusalem lost sceptre and crown  
OF Israel than came the woeful king  
called Adab full pitously weeping  
Unto bachas his complaint rehearsing  
How king basa by subtle falls working  
With slaughter caused his falling  
When fortune 'gan falsely frown  
And took unjustly from him sceptre and crown   

How the vengeable prince zambrias set a tour on fire and brent him silf  

NExt came zambrias a prince vengeable  
Which slough king helam by false treason  
That was found also full unstable  
For this zambrias of entencion  
Hath murdered him within the chief dungeon  
Of his castle with a full great rout  
As he unwarly laid a siege about   

But a maryn a prince of full great might  
Came into Tharse a famous great cite  
And cast him plenly like a worthy knight  
On this zambrias avenged for to be  
Him to destroy without mercy or pite  
But in a tour as zambrias went  
Set it a fire and so himself brent    

Of king Achab and jezabel his wife  

wIth sighs sore and weeping importable  
Came king Achab unto john bochas  
whose heartily sorrow was incomparable  
And complaining full often said alas  
Besechinge him to writ his woeful cas  
Compile his falling and the fate yfere  
Of Athalia his own daughter dear   

To god above most contrarious  
This Achab was in all his governance  
And had a wife cruel and lecherous  
called jesabel which set all her pleasance  
On god's prophets for to do vengeance  
In the bible their malice men may see  
And idolaters they were both he and she   

God for their trespaces as it was weal sayne  
aforeshowed by true prophesy  
Scent three year neither dew ne rein  
Upon the earth their grain to multiply  
Till eft again by prayer of Helye  
wholesome waters from heaven 'gan descend  
Which gave them cause their cursed life to amend   

But his wife that cursed jesabel  
To each thing ha●full which was divine  
An hundred prophetis she slough in Israel  
Unto baal for they would not incline  
And she also slough Naboth for his vine  
Through whose outrage and false oppression  
Achab was brought to his confusion   

Of his enemies outraied in battle  
With a sharp arrow caught his fatal wound  
Till all his blood by bleeding did fail  
About his char with many dropys round  
That the words were full true found  
Of helias which told him as it stood  
That hungry hounds should lick his blood   

In a cite than called Israel  
Down from a tour joined to a wall  
The saide queen called jesabel  
Was overcast and had a deadly fall  
touching these mischievous for she was cause of all  
Beware ye princess remembering all your lives  
To eschew falls counseile yeven by your wives    

Of queen Gatholia for her tyranny slain  

nExt to Achab in order did sue  
Gatholia with doolfull countenance  
Both beseching as him though due  
Her sudden fall to put in remembrance  
Sours and chief rote of sorrow and mischance  
Vsurpation and of false covetise  
Like as her story hereafter shall devise   

She was upreised by favour in three things  
For father/ brother/ and also her husband  
Were in that time eachone crowned kings  
With sceptre and sword as ye shall understand  
Many emprises their days took on hand  
And how fortune their highness did assail  
I cast shortly to make rehersaile   

She fill of fortune in the unhappy boundys'  
First when her father was with an arrow deed  
His blood uplicked with cruel hungry hounds  
About his chaar running down full red  
His body pale lay who that took heed  
Like a careyn naked and despoiled  
With foul black earth amid the field ●soiled   

Cause of another unhappy heaviness  
And of her deadly desolation  
Was the people felly did them dress  
Of Arabia in their rebellion  
again her husband of entencion  
To rob his treasure to their advantage  
And his richesses by outrageous pillage   

Sum of his main they put in prison  
There was again them made no diffence  
Spared nouther cite borough nor town  
Slough man and child thorough s●urdy violence  
Her lord infect with sudden pestilence  
conceived fully by his malady  
There was no gain but he must die   

After his death most wretched and audible  
His body corrupt his bowels fill down  
Of his cateyn the stench was so horrible  
There enf●●t about him environ  
With so great horror and putrefaction  
That no man might abide nor endure  
To bring his body unto sepulture   

Her third unhap whereof she was full fain  
That fortune li●t her eft assail  
Made her uncle king joram to be slain  
With an arrow as he fled in battle  
She supposing greatly it should avail  
Like a woman most furious and wooed  
She of king david slough all the royal blood   

〈◊〉 purpose was to govern all the realm  
Alone hirsilf to have domination  
To regne in juda and jerusalem  
This Gatholia by usurpation  
And for that cause in her entencion  
With mortal sword she made tho fine  
That were descended from david down by line   

Eycept one joas there left none a live  
Child of a year son of king Ochosie  
Whom josaketh the story doth describe  
Of very pity caught a fantasy  
The child to save that he shall not die  
From the malice of Gatholia  
And she was wife to bishop joiada   

She and this bishop with hole heart and entere  
Kept this child in full sec●e wise  
Within the temple the space of seven year  
And in the seventh the story doth devise  
joiada took on her this emprise  
young joas within a certain day  
By just title to crown him if she may   

His messengers he sendeth out anon  
Of princes tribunys 'gan a counseyl call  
Of presties eke and levities everichone  
And when he had discuryd to them all  
Hole his intent thus it is befall  
Sworn and assented as it was sitting  
That young joas shallbe crowned king   

For by promise which that is divine  
Quod joiada if ye take heed  
God hath behested to david and his line  
And assured unto his kindred  
In Jerusalem how they shall succeed  
And though joas be young and tender of might  
He to the crown hath never lass right   

In this matter I will not that ye sleep  
But to show your true diligence  
On four parties the temple for to keep  
That no man enter by no violence  
And in the mids by royal excellence  
Quod this bishop no man shall us let  
On joas heed a crown for to set   

And when each thing was brought to the point  
His high estate to increase and magnify  
The people anon when he was anoint  
Vivat rex they began to cry  
And when Gatholia 'gan this thing espy  
For very Ire and the sudden wonder  
Of malencolye her clotheses cut asondre   

Ran to the temple and 'gan make afray  
With her main and to cry aloud  
Bad them go slay and make no delay  
The young king in all the hast they could  
her venom hid under a covert cloud  
All atonies her purpose to recure  
By sudden malice she 'gan that day discure   

The temple kept entry had she none  
People ordained awaiting for the nonies  
And or she might any further go  
Cleanly armed the Centurionies  
The cruel queen assailed all atonies  
And of her malice to writ a short tale  
They slough her after of Cedron in the vale   

Lo here the end of murder and tyranny  
Lo here the end of usurpation  
Lo here the end of false conspiracy  
Lo here the end of false presumption  
Born rightful heirs wrongly to put them down  
O noble princes though god hath made you strong  
To rightful heirs be aware ye do no wrong   

Lenuoye  

THese tragedy's/ to estatis and degrees  
Fully declareth the deceptions  
Of fortunes falls mutabilitees  
showed in provinces Cites and eke touns  
Princes unwarly lost their possessiouns  
Which from their sins in no manner wise  
Had of god warning and list not for to rise   

Mighty princes cast down from their sees  
Lost their lives and their regions  
Vnwarly throw from their felicitees  
jeroboam for his oppressions  
And for his froward false oblations  
Done to idols his story doth devise  
Had of god warning and list not for to rise   

Achab also had great adversities  
Through false counsel and exhortations  
Of jezabel rote of Iniquitees  
Did to his people great extortions  
She slough prophets goddies champions  
Both he and she most cursed in their guise  
Had of god warning and list not for to rise   

Gathalia with her duplicitees  
And conspired falls intrusions  
Slough davidis sede to enter their dignities  
And to possede their dominations  
But for her hatfull false collusions  
Vnwarly slain for her great covetise  
Had of god warning and list not for to rise   

Princes remember in your prosperities  
And see afore in your discretion's  
Wrong clymbinge up of states or degrees  
either by murder or by false treasons  
asketh a fall for their final guerdons  
Namely of them that the lord despise  
And for his warning lift not for to rise     

How Di●o queen of cartage slough her silf for conservation of her chastity  

Now must I put my rude style in press  
To queen dydo make my passage  
Her lord Siche was priest to hercules  
Her father Belus fell in great age  
King of Tire and she queen of Cartage  
And it is read in books that been true  
How first in tire was found purple hue   

Cadmus found first letters for to writ  
Gave them to grekys as made is mention  
Whoos brother Fenix as clerks eke indite  
Found first the colour of vermylion  
And of cartage the famous mighty town  
This said Dido her story doth express  
How she was queen and founderesse   

But her husband was chief lord and sire  
called Sichaeus full famous of ronoun  
Of this noble cite called Tire  
Had great treasure and great possession  
And for envy king Pygmalion  
Brother to dydo this Siche slough in deed  
Of false intent his richesse to possede   

Dido this slaughter took grievously to heart  
Sore complaining this unhappy chance  
Cast she would if she might asterte  
flee out of Tire and her silf anaunce  
With all the treasure and the abundance  
Behind left when her lord was deed  
Her ships entering went away for dread   

She knew and dread the greedy avarice  
Of her brother king pygmalion  
And how that hateful unstaunchable vice  
Was ground and rote/ and chief occasion  
Why that her lord was slain in that town  
For whom she cried full often wellaway  
Whoos death was cause why she fled away   

She had also this opinion  
Which caused most her heartily heaviness  
That sith her brother pygmalion  
Had slain her lord for his great richesses  
If she abode that he would him dress  
Parcel for malice/ parcel for covetise  
To have treasure sum treason to practise   

And for to eschew his malice and treason  
For her navy she maketh ordinance  
By the avice of them in whom as by reason  
She should of right set her aff●aunce  
And they full ready her to do pleasance  
By one assent for no thing would fail  
With fair dydo out of that land to sail   

In Cypress first was her arryvaile  
And there she fond by the river side  
Of young maidens with full rich apparel  
Sixty and ten in the same tide  
Which in the temple of venus did abide  
After the custom as I can report  
Of Cipriens strangers to disport   

And in their most faithful humble wise  
After the righties of Cipre the country  
Unto venus each day do sacrifice  
them to conserve in their virginity  
During their life to live in chastity  
Never to be joined in marriage  
And with queen dido they went to cartage   

In their passage fill a great miracle  
As servius meeketh mention  
For Dido took of juno this oracle  
either by apparing or by advision  
Of cartage to build that mighty town  
And at reverence of that great gods  
She to the parties fast 'gan her dress   

The said cite stately for to found  
And her workmen as they the earth sought  
An ox's heed of adventure they found  
And to queen dydo anon the heed they brought  
Meaning whereof to search out they thought  
And her clerks in their devynayle  
Told it was token of servage and travail   

For which she list to build that place  
And remove as she aught of right  
And fro thence but a little space  
A soil she fond full delectable of sight  
And as her workmen with their full might  
The ground 'gan search/ anon or they took heed  
The story telleth they fond an horse heed   

And by exponing of her diviners  
Fond this best might greatly avail  
Unto princes and mighty conquerous  
Necessary in were and battle  
And for no wight her noblesse should assail  
Cartage she builded of so great excelleence  
again all enemies to stand at diffence   

Sum books declare and specify  
Dydo did as much land purchase  
As a skin in round might occupy  
Of an ox thereon to build a place  
The ground compacyd took a large space  
Which strongly builded thus it is befall  
After the skin men birsa did it call   

And when this cite mightily was walled  
After a skin wrought by good curray  
The name take/ Ca● it was called  
Lethyr of birsa plainly this is no nay  
Took eke his name during many a day  
Carta and birsa knit in their language  
As much to say as this word cartage   

And in Africa stant the territory  
Where she builded this cite delectable  
Founded it in laud and memory  
Of mighty juno the goddys' honourable  
The city walled with towers strong and stable  
Time of king david amid the fourth age  
As I said erst called it cartage   

With great worship she reigned in that town  
Ever of purpose to live in chastity  
And round about flowered her renown  
Of her prudence and her honesty  
Till the report of her famous beauty  
Came to the ●erys which gladly will not hide  
Of a king that dwelled there beside   

Of Musitans he was lord and sire  
As poets plainly list describe  
Which in his heart greatly 'gan desire  
The queen dido by her assent to wife  
Unto her grace if he might aryue  
But for she had avowed chastity  
She never cast married to be   

The king surprised with love in his courage  
For her wisdam and her great bounty  
Scent for the princes of cartage  
On this matter to have a great treat  
To condescend if it might be  
Like his desire in all their best intent  
Do their devoir to make her consent   

With his request he 'gan them eke monace  
If he failed of his entencion  
Like his desire to stand in his grace  
Said he would be enemy to their town  
To ordain by force for their destruction  
Nat fully sober/ nor fully in a rage  
This was to them plainly his language   

Butt for they knew her great steadfastness  
And her heart very inmutable  
They were afeard any word to express  
Jest their answer were not acceptable  
To his highness for he was not treatable  
Eke in their consent they 'gan also record  
To his desire the queen would not accord   

With good advice an answer they purvey  
To his purpose in party favourable  
Afeard he would their noble town werreie  
Or of disdain upon them be vengeable  
But queen Dido in her intent aye stable  
Cast she would what so ever they her told  
Her chaste avow faithfully to hold   

She set aside of this cruel king  
His fell manaces and his words great  
And to her princes for their consenting  
Which stood in fear of that he did them threat  
She unto them gave a manner heat  
For they were bold to attempt or to attame  
To treat of matter rebounding to her shame   

Nay rather die quod she than assent  
To his desires which ●kynge god forbid  
Or fro the tentre of my chaste intent  
For to remove other in thought or deed  
Which disclaundre to all womanhead  
To condescend for any manacing  
To break my vow for pleasance of a king   

touching manaris made to this cite  
For to destroy it with his great might  
Without cause or title of equity  
To ground him a quarrel again right  
Only for he is blinded of his sight  
With froward lust my chaste avow to assail  
Be right well sure how he thereof shall fail   

If ye were bold and manly of courage  
For common profit your city to defend  
And withstand his vicious outrage  
To treat with him ye woldnat condescend  
But mine intent platly to comprehend  
Whether it be to you joy or displeasance  
In my promise shall be no variance   

My lord Sichaeus which alas is deed  
Unto the world who list advert  
Trust verrely for manacing nor dread  
That he shall die in mine heart  
Nor he shall never mine avow ꝑuert  
Thus advised while that I stand free  
Queen of cartage to govern this cite   

Mine hasty answer I pray you disdain  
But that ye list to give me liberty  
With your support that I may attain  
To have a space granted unto me  
This to mean the space of monethis three  
My lords will to accomplissh of intent  
Which whilom made in his testament   

Under colour to her advantage  
She took this space books specify  
That she might her cite of cartage  
The mean time strongly fortify  
again her enemies that for no slogardye  
Of them that would her high estate confound  
Vnpurueyed her city not be found   

When three months passed were and go  
She after would for heartily pleasance  
With sundry rights many more than one  
To all her goddies do sum observance  
For a special singular remembrance  
Of him that was as folk shall vnders●●nde  
Whilom her lord and best beloved husband   

And more to exalt her glory and his honour  
Held his exequys by due reverence  
Of all cartage in the highest tour  
With brenning fire fumys and incense  
her princes all being in presence  
To which she 'gan declare in complaining  
Her deadly sorrow down from her ●oure looking   

Farewell my friends farewell for evermore  
Unto my lord my husband I must go  
To him I mean that was my lord of yore  
For of husbands god wot I have but one  
praying you to report everyone  
After my death dydo of cartage  
joined was but ones in marriage   

Say to the king which you menaced  
My chaste beauty that he would assail  
Go tell him how that I am paced  
And of his purpose how that he shall fail  
His manasinge shall not him avail  
And say how dydo died for the nonies  
For she not would be wedded more than once   

liefer I have my life now to loose  
Rather than soil my widows chastity  
Late him go further sum other to choose  
For in such case he shall not speed of me  
And with the treasure of mine honesty  
Which I have truly observed all my live  
I will depart out of this world now blyze   

And into fire that brent clear and bright  
She ran in haste there is no more to say  
Save with a knife in every man's sight  
Full suddenly she roof her heart on twain  
Whoos piteous death the cite 'gan complain  
Sore weeping for wonder and for ruth  
In a woman to find so great a truth   

After her death they did their business  
To hold and hallow a feast funeral  
Worshipped her like a chaste gods  
And her commended in especial  
To heavenly goddys'/ and god's infernal  
And widows all in their clotheses black  
And this fist wept for her sake   

touching Dido let there be no strif  
Though that she be accused of ovid  
After bochas I wrote her chaste life  
And the contrary I have set aside  
For me thought it was better to abide  
On her goodness than thing rehearse in deed  
Which might resowne again her womanhead   

To Aeneas though she were favourable  
To Itaile making his passage  
All that she did was commendable  
Him to receive coming by Cartage  
Though sum folk were large of their language  
Amiss to expone by report or to express  
Thing done to him only of gentleness   

There shall for me be made no rehersaile  
But as I find wretyn in bochas  
For to say weal may much more avail  
Than froward speech in many divers case  
But all Cartage often said alas  
Her death complaining throughout their cite  
Which slough her silf to observe her chastity   

Lenuoye  

O Fair Dido most stable in thy constance  
Queen of cartage mirror of high noblesse  
Regning in glory & virtuous abundance  
called in thy time chief source of gentiles  
In whom was never found doubleness  
Aye of one heart and so thou dydist fine  
With light of troth all widows to enlumyne   

chaste and unchanged in thy perseverance  
And inmutable found goodness  
Which never thoughtyst upon variance  
Force and prudence wardens of thy fairness  
I have no language thy virtues to express  
By new report so clearly they shine  
With light of troth all widows to enlumyne   

Olode star of all good governance  
All vicious lustus by wisdom to repress  
Thy green youth flouringe with all pleasance  
Thou dost it bridle with virtuous sobirnesse  
Diane demeaned so chastened thy cleanness  
While thou were soul planly to termine  
With light of troth all widows to enlumyne   

Thy famous bounty to put in remembrance  
Thou sloughyst thyself o Innocent pureness  
Jest thy sureness were hanged in balance  
Of such that cast them thy chastity to oppress  
Death was Enough to bear thereof witness  
Causing thy beauty to all cleanness to incline  
With light of virtue all widows to enlumyne    

Lenuoye direct to widows of the translaoure  

O Noble Matrons which have all suffisance  
Of womanhead your wits do updresse  
How that fortune list to turn her chance  
Be not to reckless of sudden hastiness  
But aye previde in your stableness  
That no such folly enter in your courage  
To follow Dido that was queen of Cartage   

With her manners have none acquaintance  
Putout of mind such fol●isshe wilfulness  
To slay your silf were a great penance  
God of his grace defend you and bless  
And preserve your vigilant brotilnesse  
That your troth fall in none outrage  
To follow dydo that was queen of Cartage   

With covert colour and sober countenance  
Of faithful meaning pretendith a●●●enesse  
Countirfeteth in speech and daliau●ce  
All thing that soundeth into steadfastness  
Of prudence by great avisnesse  
yourself restraineth young and old of age  
To follow Dido that was queen of Cartage   

●ate all your port be void of displeasance  
To get friends do your bes●●esse  
And be never without pur●●yaunce  
So shall ye best increase in richesse  
In one a●o●● may ●e no ●e●irnesse  
To your heart be divers of language  
Contrary to Dido that was queen of cartage   

Hold your servants under obeisance  
Late them neither have fredam nor largesse  
But under danger do their observance  
Daunt their pride them bridling with lowness  
And when the serpent of newfangylnesse  
Assaileth you do your advantage  
Contrary to Dido that was queen of Cartage     

How vicious Sardanapalle king of assirie brent himself and his treasure  

oF Assirie to rekyn kings all  
Which had that land under subjection  
Last of all was Sardanapalle  
most femynyne of condition  
Wherefore fortune hath him throw down  
And complaining most ugly of manner  
Next after dydo to bochas did appear   

To vicious lust his life he did incline  
Among assiriens when he his reign 'gan▪  
Of false usage he was so feminine  
That among women upon the rock he span  
In their habit disguised from a man  
And of froward fleshly insolence  
Of all men he fled the presence   

First this king chase to be his guide  
Mother of vices called Idleness  
Which of custom each virtue set aside  
In each acourt where she is masters  
Of sorrow and mischief the first founderesse  
Which caused only this sardanapal  
That to all goodness his wits did appall   

He fond up first riete and dri●●●enesse  
called a father of lust and lechery  
Hateful of heart he was to sobirnesse  
Cherisshinge surfetis watch and gluttony  
called in his time a prince of bawdry▪  
Fond rere●opers and fethirbeddies soft  
Drink late and change his wines often   

The air of meats and of bawdy cokies  
Which of custom all day roost and seed  
Savour of speties ladlies and flesh ho●ys  
He loved well and took of them great heed  
And folk that drank more than it was need  
Smelling of wine for their great excess  
With them to abide was holy his gladness   

H●●ought also it did him good  
To hau●●boute him with skill and right  
Boistous boshers all bespreynt with blood  
And wa●ry fisshers abode ever in his sight  
Their coats powdered with sca●is silver bright  
Dempte their odour during all his life  
Was to his ●orage best preseruatife   

For there was no herb spice grass ne ro●e  
To him so lusty as was the borde●house  
Nor garden none so wholesome nor so sote  
To his pleasance nor so delicious  
As the presence of folks lecherous  
And ever glad to speak of rebaudye  
And folk cherish that could flatere and lie   

Till at the last god of very right  
displeased was with his conditions  
Because he was in every man's sight  
So femynyne in his affection's  
And holy gave his inclinations  
During his life to every vious thing  
Terrible to here and namely of a king   

But as bochas list to put in mind  
When Arbachus a prince of great renown  
Saw of this king the fleshly lusts blind  
Made with the people of that region  
Ageyns him a comuration  
And to him sent for his misgovernance  
Of high disdain a full plain diffiaunce   

Bade him beware and proudly to him told  
That he him cast his vicious life to assail  
And in all haste also that he would  
Within a field meet him in battle  
Whereof astonied his heart 'gan to fail  
Where among women he sat making gau●i●  
Not wight about but flateres and baudies   

And up he rose and 'gan him silf to advance  
No sauf about him but sergeants riatous  
Took the field without governance  
No men of arms but folks vicious  
whose adversary called arbachus  
Made him proudly the field to forsake  
That like a coward his castle he hath take   

And for his heart frowardly 'gan fail  
not like a knight but like a losengoure  
His rich perre his royal apparel  
His gold his jewels vessels and treasure  
Was brought afore him down of a tour  
Amid of his palite and gave his men in charge  
Of coal and faggot to make afire full large   

In which he keft his treasure and jewels  
Moore bestial than like a manly man  
And amid his rich stones and vessels  
Into the fire furously he ran  
This triumph Sardanapallus won  
Which fire consumed for his final meed  
Brent all to ashes among the coals read   

Tofore his death bad men should writ  
Upon his grave the book do specify  
With letters large this reason for to indite  
My cursed life my froward gluttony  
Mine Idleness mine hateful lechery  
Hath ausyd me with many falls desire  
My las● days to be consumpt with fire   

This Epitaffe on his grave he set  
To show how he was in all his live  
busy ever to wonder and to let  
All manner virtue and there again to strive  
Who followeth his tra●e is never like to thrive  
For which ye princes see for your avail  
Vengeance aye followeth vices at the tail    

A commendation of ●●chas of ve● 〈◊〉 ●●●ynes rehearsing names foundyrs of divers sciences and cunnynges in repreef of Idleness  

THere eke other that list falsely provide  
Falls fleshly lusts and dissolutions  
Riete outrage froward disdain and pride  
Vices to enhance in their affections  
With many unleeful cro●●yd conditions  
Reason avoiding as I rehearse shall  
them silf deliting for to bestial   

twain manner folks to put in remembrance  
Of vice and virtue to put in a difference  
The good alweye hath sit their pleasance  
In virtuous labour to do their diligence  
And vicious people in sloth and negligence  
And the report of both is reserved  
With laud or lack as they have deserved   

Men must of right the virtuous prefer  
And truly praise labour and business  
And ageynwarde dispreysen folk that err  
Which have no joy but in Idleness  
And to compare by manner of witness  
Virtuous folk I will to mind call  
In rebuking of king sardanapal   

THe old wise called Pictagoras  
By sound of hameris auctors certify  
Example took and chief master was  
That fond out music and melody  
Yet of Tubal some books specify  
That he by struck of smethis where they stood  
Foude first out music tofore no's flood   

And josephus remembreth by scripture  
That this Tubal could forge well  
First imagined making of armure  
With Instruments of Iron and of steel  
And their temprures he fond out everydeal  
Lucyus Tarquyn in story as I find  
Fond chains first folk to fettre and bind   

The children of Seth in story ye may see  
Flowering in virtue by long successyons  
For to profit to their posterity  
And first the craft of heavenly motions  
Fond of sundry steries the revolutions  
bequeath their cunning of great advantage  
To them that after came of their lineage   

For their virtue god gave them great cunning  
touching natures both of earth and of heaven  
And it remembered soothly by writing  
To lastyn aye for water or for levene  
Generations there were of them seven  
Which for virtue without were or strif  
travailed in cunning during all their life   

And for that adam did prophesy  
twice the world destroyed should be  
With water and once stand in jeopardy  
Next with fire which no man might flee  
But Sethis' children all this did see  
Made two pilots where men might grave  
From fire and water the ca●●ctes for to save   

That one was made of tiles hard I bake  
from touch of fire to save the scripture  
Of hard marble they did another make  
again water strongly to endure  
To save of letters the prente and the figure  
For their cunning afore 'gan so provide  
again fire and water perpetually to abide   

They dempte their cunning had been in veyn  
But folk with them had been portable  
And for their labour should afterward be sayne  
They it remembered by writing full notable  
Unto fore god a thing full commendable  
To them that follow by scripture and writing  
Or that men die depart their cunning   

For by old time folk divers crafts found  
In sundry wise for occupation  
Virtue to cherish vices to confound  
Their wit they set and their entencion  
To put their labour in execution  
And to outrage this is very troth  
For man's life negligence and sloth   

Old Ennok full famous of virtue  
During that age fond first of everyone  
Through his prudence letters of Hebrew  
And in a pilere they were kept of stone  
Till that the flood of No was go  
And after him Ca●n was the second  
By whom of Hebrew letters were first found   

And Catacrismus the first was that fond  
Letters also as of that language  
But letters wretyn with gods own hand  
Moses' first took most bright of his visage  
Upon Syna as he held his passage  
Which of carectis and names in sentence  
From other writing had a difference   

Eke afterward as other books tell  
And saint jerom rehearseth in his style  
Under th'empire of zorobabel  
Esdras of hebru 'gan letters first compile  
And Abraham 'gan sigh a great while  
The first was in books men may see  
That fond letters of Cire and of Caldee   

Isys in egypt fond diversity  
Of sundry letters parted into twain  
First for priests and for the comonte  
Vulgar letters he did also ordain  
And fenices did their busy pain  
Lettreses of Greek to find in their intent  
Which that Cadmus first into Grece sent   

Which in numbered fully were seventeen  
When of Troy ended was the battle  
Pallamides their language to sustain  
Put three thereto which greatly did avail  
Pidagorus for prudent governaile  
Fond first out. y.a figure to discern  
The life here short and the life that is etern   

First latin letters of our. a. b. c.  
Ca●mentis fond of full high prudence  
great Omerus in Isidere ye may see  
Fond among greeks craft eloquence  
First in rome by sovereign excellence  
Of rhetoric Tullius fond the flowers  
I'll and diffence of subtle orators   

●all●●rates a graver most notable  
Of white ivor did his business  
His hand his ●ye so just were and so stable  
Of an ampte to grave out the likeness  
Upon the ground as nature doth him dress  
This craft he fond as sardanapal  
Fond Idleness mother of vices all   

Of a s●ryueyn Bochas maketh mention  
How a scrowe of little quantity  
Wrote of all Troy the destruction  
Following Omerus by great subtilty  
Which is had among Greeks in great dainty  
Because he was found in his writing  
So compendious the story rehearsing   

Marmychides made a char also  
And a small schip with all the appareile  
So that a Bee might close them both two  
Under his wings which is a great marvel  
And no thing sayn of all the hole entail  
This craft he fond of virtuous business  
To eschew the vice of froward Idleness   

Pan god of kind with his pipes seven  
Of recorders fond first the melodies  
Of mercury that sit so high in heaven  
First in his harp fond sugared armonyes  
wholesome wines through fyned from their lies  
Bacchus fond first on wine heavy lade  
liquor of liquors courages for the glade   

Perdyx by compass fond triangle and line▪  
And Euclyd first fond geometry  
And phoebus fond the craft of medicine  
Albumasar fond astronomy  
And mynarua 'gan charis first to give  
jason first sailed in story it is told  
Toward Cholchos to win the flees of gold   

Ceres the god's fond first tilth of land  
Dionysius triumphis transitory  
And Bellona by force first out fond  
Conquest by knighthood and in the field victory  
And martis son as put is in memory  
Called Etholus fond speries sharp and keen  
To run a were in plates bright and sheen   

Eke Aristeus fond out the usage  
Of milk and cruds and of honey sote  
Piroides for great advantage  
From flyntes smite fire daring in the rote  
And pallas which that may to cold do boat  
Fond out giving this is very sooth  
Through her prudence of all manner cloth   

And fido found first out the science  
Of mesures and of proportions  
And for merchants did his diligence  
To find balances by just dyvisions  
To avoid all fraud in cities and in touns  
On nouther party plainly to compile  
Of true weight that there were no guile   

Compare in order clearly all these things  
Found of old time by diligent travail  
To the pleasance of princes and kings  
To show how much cunning may avail  
And weigh ageynewrde the froward aquitayle  
Contrariously how sardanapal  
Fond Idleness mother of vices all   

Late princes all hereof take heed  
What availeth virtuous business  
And what damage the reverses doth in deed  
Vicious life sloth and Idleness  
And these examples late them eke impress  
Amid their heart and how sardanapal  
Fond Idleness mother of vices all   

Lenuoye.  

NOble princes here ye may well see  
As in a mirror of full clear evidence  
By many examples more than ●● or three  
●●at harm followeth of sloth and negligence  
Deep enprenting in your advertence  
How great hindringe doth wilful frowardness  
To your estate through unto us Idleness   

When reason falleth and censualite  
Holds the bridle of lecherous insolence  
And soberness hath lost his liberty  
And to false lust is done the reverence  
And vice of virtue hath an appearance  
Misledeth princes of wilful retchlessness  
To great error of froward Idleness     

How amazias in juda king for pride and presumption was venquesshed in battle & after slain  

IN his study as bochas sat musing  
With many uncouth soleyne fantasy  
To him appeared many mighty ●inge  
And tofore all came worthy amazie  
His son also that called was josie  
Of davidis blood descending as I read  
Each after other in juda to succeed   

First amazias complained in fortune  
causing his grievous great adversities  
The traitouresse called in common  
These kings twain casting from their sees  
Who●● overturning from their dignities  
Unware falling dreadful and terrible  
Been seriously remembered in the bible   

Their end men may there read and see  
How fortune their fates did entrete  
Wherefore t'eschew and i'll prolixity  
Of tedious thing in this process to let  
And in substance to glene out the great  
Of their falling I purpose not to spare  
Compendiously the causes to declare   

This amazias having governance  
By just title of succession  
The sceptre of iuda with all the hole puissance  
Fu●l p●sibly in his possession  
Till that pride and false presumption  
most frowardly did his heart ●nbrace  
Which all atonies made him loose his grace   

In heart he had amaner veyneglorye  
Because that god made him to prevail  
In his conquest and to have victory  
A● 〈◊〉 to venquyssh in battle  
Eke 〈◊〉 ●anytis as he them did assail  
purposing after if he might  
With Israelitis of pride for to fight   

Unto king joas of israel he sent  
Him commanding to obey his hyddinge  
And be like subject as were in their intent  
His predecessors in all manner thing  
Whilom to david the noble worthy king  
This was his sonde to joas plat and plain  
Which by a problem thus wrote to him again   

THe ugly thistle of the vales low  
Proudly presuming above his degree  
To make his pride openly be know  
Scent his message to the cedar tree  
That his son might wedded be  
To his daughter all though in substance  
Atwene them two was a great discordance   

But of the forest the beasts savagyne  
In their courages had thereof disdain  
All of assent fiercely did incline  
The thistle levys abroad upon the pleyne  
That there was nouther leef nor prick say  
This was the problem which joas by writing  
Scent in a pistle to amazie the king   

But josephus in his original  
The said epistle as he doth express  
Seith 〈◊〉 the vale how the powder small  
Of pride sent to the high Cypress  
That his daughter of excellent fairness  
Unto his son plainly to deseryue  
Might be delivered and hau● her to wife   

But a fell be'st which beside stood  
Of cruel Ire and Indignation  
With feet disdeyning the powder cast abroad  
High in the air about him environ  
The which ensample conceived of reason  
Who that attempteth to climb high a fit  
With unware change his fall is full unsoft   

atween the cedre of trees of royal  
And a sharp thisile is no convenience  
Nor 'tween a cypress estatly found attall  
And lothsum powder is a great difference  
For royal blood should have no assistance  
So be joined nor knit in marriage  
With such as been brought forth of low p●g●   

The cedar is strong and mighty of substance  
In his upgrowing right as any line  
And though the thistle have spots of pleasance  
He hath eke pricks sharp as any spyne  
And both natures plainly to termine  
The cedar of kind who look well about  
To no though thistle should his branches lou●e   

Halsom of odour is the fair cypress  
As books tell and virtuous of kind  
Dust and powder plainly to express  
Troubleth the air and maketh folks blind  
For which in spousal convenience to find  
Late estates of their birth honourable  
Void all rascalye and wed their semblable   

〈◊〉 amazias would not be ware  
For no warning nor for no prophesy  
But still in heart great hatred bore  
Again king joas of malice and envy  
Into a field brought all his chivalry  
gathered them out both near and far  
Against god's will on him to gynne a were   

And king joas full like a worthy knight  
Into the field fast 'gan him speed  
And all the knights of iuda anon right  
With smit of vengeance with a sudden dread  
To bid them i'll god w●t it was no need  
And amazias for all his great pride  
Stood destitute and no man by his side   

With him was none left of all his main  
So god and joas against him wrought  
Of jerusalem entered the cite  
And amazie of force with him he brought  
And in the temple the treasure out he sought  
Gold and silver and holy their richesses  
And to Samarie home he 'gan him dress   

And amazias he let out of prison  
After all this and suffered him go fire  
To his mischief and his confusion  
And he was delivered from his captivity  
For slain he was in Lachi● the city  
Among his friends by simulation  
His death conspired under full false treason    

How upon josias succeeding king next in juda took vengeance smote him with leper  

aFter in juda the mighty region  
Next Amazias josias 'gan succeed  
Wonder manly and famous of renown  
In all his works full ꝓuident in deed  
And of his knighthode venquesshed as I read  
The pales●ynes for all their great puissance  
With all ambye he brought unto utiraunce   

builded touns and many a strong cite  
And unto Egypt he his bounds set  
Made castles beside the red see  
And in his conquest whom that ever he met  
Of manly pride he would let  
I mine all though that were his adversaries  
To his lordship to make them tributaries   

He did his labour also to repair  
jerusalem after his ruin  
The walls reared which on the soil lay bore  
Made new towers right as any line  
Fanys of gold their torrettes to enlumyne  
And toffor●e them let workmen undertake  
Square bastilis and bolewerkys to make   

He delighted to make fressh gardens  
divers greyne and herbs for to know  
rejoiced to plant sundry wines  
To graff trees and seeds for to sow  
And strange fruits make th●m grow arrow  
And with him had his enemies to encumber  
Three hundred thoused manly men in numbered   

His noble fame 'gan to spread wide  
And greatly dead for his prows  
Wherethrugh his heart corrupt with pride  
Because only of his great riches  
And frowardly he did his ●esynes  
For to malign in estate royal  
again the lord which is immortal   

To god above he 'gan wax obstinate  
Tha● 〈◊〉 process full small he did win  
〈…〉 ●oure caught in his royal estate  
To ●●●owe his father in unthrift and sin  
That grace and virtue from him did twynne  
In most shining of his magnificence  
Fortune proudly assailed his excellence   

Cast she would within a little while  
His surquedy and froward pride assail  
And full unwarly deceive him and beguile  
To make his power to appall and to fail  
Wh● 〈…〉 king took on thapparel  
Of a 〈◊〉 of very frowardness  
And into temple proudly 'gan him dress   

Being in purpose on a solemn day  
To take his way up to the high aultere  
Falsely usurping who so ever said nay  
To sacrify holding the censure  
Tofore the altar that shone of gold full clear  
For which offence the bible saith the same  
Azarias' the bishop did him blame   

'Gan withstand him in the face anon  
Fourscore priests being in presence  
Of the kindred descended of Aaron  
Which forbade him and made resistance  
That with his hand he should put incense  
Upon the altar again god's law  
Him charging boldly his presence to withdraw   

But of despite he made them hold their p●es  
In pain of death began them to menace  
And suddenly among all the press  
An erthquave fill in the same place  
And therewithal in the kings face  
Of the son there smote a beam so bright  
That all his face was skorkyd with the light   

He wexed a leper foul and right terrible  
For his offence as god list ordain  
To every man of look he was terrible  
And but few his mischief 'gan complain  
And a great hill the same hour carf on twain  
Nat far aside from the town without  
cities distroing that stood round about   

On king josie god took his vengeance  
For all his lordship and his magnificence  
To punish his pride and his froward puissance  
And brought him low for his great offence  
For his person was put out of presence  
Perpetuelly as holy wryt can tell  
Far from all people with lepers for to devil   

His flesh was troubled with divers passions  
For his sickness avoided the city  
In cry and sorrow and lamentations  
His li● 〈◊〉 lad in great adversity  
And so he died in sorrow and poverty  
simply buried for all his great might  
Within an Island that stood f●r out of sight    

An exhortation to princes to be advised to do again god's precepts.  

LEt princes all in their providence  
Be right well aware any thing to atame  
Which unto god should be offence  
List that the fine conclude to their shame  
Let them think for all their noble fame  
But they repent god of his justice  
Their froward pride unwarly will chastise   

Let them be ware of malice to presume  
again his church to do offention  
For god of right all tyrants will consume  
In full short time for their presumption  
Which will not suffer their domination  
To enterupt for all their great might  
Nor break the fraunchise of holy church right   

To prudent princes which can discern  
Let king josias/ considered his offence  
Been in their mind a mirror and lantern  
To holy church to do due reverence  
And conceive in their magnificence  
God will of right be they never so strong  
Chastise their malice though he abide long    

How king Ozie was take by king salmanazar and died in prison  

THere was another that called was Ozie  
Which whilom reigned as I affirm dare  
In israel whom fortune by envy  
Made him betake or he was ware  
besieged about of king Salmanazare  
And into assirie under his danger  
The bible telleth he was a prisoner   

His cities towns brought to destruction  
And all his people under long servage  
Were take and kept in strong babylon  
Suffered there great pain and damage  
And in prison by furious outrage  
This said Ozias in chains bound sore  
For sorrow died of him writ I no more    

how senacheryb king of assirie was slain  

wIth these foresaid woeful kings three  
Senacheryb of assirie king  
Came to john bochas most ugly to see  
Full pitously his fate complaining  
And specially his unwore changing  
He 'gan bewail oppressed in his thought  
From high noblesse how he was brought to nought   

His reason spread through many divers R●me  
And all people 'gan him magnify.  
A siege he laid unto jerusalem  
In the time of king Sedechie  
But in his most froward surquedy  
God's angel tofore the city  
An hundred thousand slough of his main   

And the more to make him afeard  
Amid of his people the silf some night  
God's angel shove away his beard  
With a sharp sword that shone fair and bright  
Left his siege and took him unto flight  
And in a temple his goddys' worshipping  
slough him silf as he sat kneeling    

How king sedechie for falls forsweringe was slain and made bl●nde in prison  

touching the complaint of king Sedechie  
And of his sorrows to show the manner  
Holy wryt do clearly specify  
Wherefore it were but vain to tell them here  
For there men the process may plainly lere  
how joachim king of jerusalem  
His own brother was led out of his Rem   

Whereof in heart he felt full great sore  
This Sedechias as it is there found  
Because the king nabugodonosor  
His brother hold strong in prison bound  
Fully in purpose the jews to confound  
For this tyrant had in that mortal strif  
His brethren/ children in prison and his wife   

And yet this tyrant in his tyranny  
This favour did in his fell rage  
Unto this most woeful Sedechye  
To suffer him regne in his great age  
From year to year to pay him a truage  
By faith and oath and composition  
raised of his people and brought to babylon   

¶ Yet Sedechias in especial  
By a manner of false felicity  
Him silf rejoiced in his see royal  
To occupy that noble dignity  
And so forgot the great adversity  
Of his brother and other friends all  
touching the mischief that they were in fall   

Of pride he fill into presumption  
When he remembered his brethre and his lineage  
Considered how fro king Solomon  
He was descended by title of heritage  
'Gan disdain to pay his truage  
And to malign in heart he was so wroth  
And falsely broke his surance and his oath   

He had oh manner indignation  
Which he caught of old remembrance  
How time passed to king Solomon  
By his manly prudent governance  
Kings about for a recognisance  
Paid tribute and dursit it not withseye  
From year to year his noblesse to obey   

Which thing remembered of king sedechie  
As he wax great and strong in puissance  
O● high disdain his tribute 'gan deny  
Set aside his faith and assurance  
So that his oath stood in no substance  
For he again the king of babylon  
Presumptusly fill in rebellion   

And his kingdom to strength and fortify  
Thought he would to his advantage  
The king of egypt have on his party  
Of pride he fill into so great outrage  
That he no more would pay his truage  
Full finally such ways he hath sought  
That of his oath little he wrought or naught   

But woe alas it is a doleful thing  
To be remembered in high or low degree  
That any prince or any worthy king  
Should false his oath or untrue be  
Or that men should such variance see  
In their courages which been so high borne  
For any cause falsely to be forsworn   

By report it doth their fame trouble  
Infortuneth and clipsith their noblesse  
When a prince is of his heeste double  
And chargith not of wilful recl●snesse  
Alby his promise conclude on doubleness  
Though god a while suffer them and respite  
At the unset hour their falseness he will quite   

His warning often he sent to them afore  
Because they lack prudent policy  
Record I take of nabugodonosor  
Which came unwarly on king sedechye  
For he his tribute 'gan falsely him deny  
With all his power as did abraid  
To jerusalem a mighty siege laid   

They within constrained were of need  
The king himsilf there was no better defence  
With man's flesh his people for to feed  
While the Caldeis by mighty violence  
Of very force without resistance  
On falsforsweringe for to take wreck  
Their mighty towers and their walls broke   

To slay and kill they list none to spare  
Who so ever they met or came in their sight  
Sedechias left the town all bore  
But take he was as he him took to flight  
In chains bound and fettered anon right  
In whose presence to increase his pains anon  
His young children were slain everyone   

His wives most woeful in their cheers  
Which in their time most goodly were and fair  
delivered were in hands of straungeris  
And more alas to put him in despair  
Into his kingdom never to have repayire  
With sharp tongues it was to great a pain  
Out of his heed were rend his eyes twain   

Of jerusalem his cite was brent  
Pleyne into the ground into ashes deed  
His great riches his treasure holy sent  
To babylon with stones blue and read  
Vessels of gold which richest were in deed  
Without mercy or remission  
Caldeis took to their possession   

And thus in sorrow and in wretchidnesse  
He died alas fettered in prysen  
Loo here the end of perjury and falseness  
Loo how fortune can turn upsodoun  
Of mortal men the condition  
Now richest shining in high prosperity  
With unware change to hateful poverty   

Now men life up to royal dignities  
Now high aloft by fulsum abundance  
But what availeth to sit in royal sees  
To folk that have therein none assurance  
Namely when fortune holdeth the balance  
Which ay of custom unto high estates  
Hath a false joy to show her chekmates   

Record I take of princes more than one  
Their woeful fates hanging in jeopardy  
Remembered late and among echon  
The woeful fall of king amazie  
His son eke lepre which called was Josye  
And last of all how in Babylon  
King Sedechias died in prison   

Lenuoye.  

NOble princes concidre the fallas  
Of fortunes froward flatene  
Seethe her deceits in many divers cas  
How she first mocked manly amazye  
Which slain was for his surquedy  
To give you warning by example as ye may read  
When ye sit highest your fall is most to dread   

And as it remembreth in Bochas  
Eke in the bible of king Josye  
In his time how famous that he was  
Both of riches and of chivalry  
punished with leper books specify  
For his presuming remembreth this in deed  
When ye sit highest your fall is most to dread   

All worldly glory fleeth hens a great pas  
I take witness of king Sedechie  
For f●ls forsweringe he slain was alas  
M●de blind in prison the story cannot lie  
Thus showeth fortune through her froward envy  
To you princes if ye list take heed  
When ye sit highest your fall is most to dread     

How king astryages laboured to disherit Cyrus But god suffered his malice not to prevail  

AFter these kings one followed in the pres  
Andrea to bochas his complaint discure  
And he was called the great as●riages  
Which told in order his uncouth adventure  
Lord of Asye as books us assure  
And had of treasure during all his life  
Above all kings a prerogative   

most infortunate in all his governaile  
Felt of fortune none adversity  
Save an heir male no thing did him fail  
For he most glorious sat in his glorious se  
Of worldly wealth he lacked no plenty  
Except only as clerks of him writ  
He had no son his kingdom to inherit   

Which to his wealth was great discres  
Jest succession failed in his line  
A daughter had he called mundanes  
Out of whose womb as books determine  
He drempte on a night how he saw a vine  
In his avision with him so it stood  
Over all asia his braunchis spread abroad   

He had also a revelation  
Sleeping a night after his soupeere  
Though he not knew the exposition  
He thought he saw a cristallyn river  
With lusty waters as any beryl clear  
Out of her womb with his streams fresh  
The soil of asye make tender and nesshe   

touching this river and this lusty vine  
To him showed in his avision  
Within him self he could not termine  
Thereof to find no clear conclusion  
Without some manner exposition  
To him declared by folks in sentence  
Which of such dreams had experience   

To him he called his astronomers  
His philosophers and his diviners  
That knew the meaning of the nine speers  
Vmages of stars their houses and their towers  
And such as were expert expositors  
And they were assembled everichone  
touching his dream they cordyd all in one   

To tell him troth they were not recles  
Said his daughter fro whom there came a vine  
She that by name was called mundanes  
Should have descending from his line  
Whoos noble fame through asye should shine  
Which should put through his renown  
Him by force of his arms out of his region   

This was his fate he might it not refuse  
The heavenly course but it did fail  
Whereupon he sore 'gan to muse  
Such fantasies did his heart assail  
Fill in great doubt of their divinal  
Thought he would make puru●aunce  
For to withstand gods ordinance   

Full hard it is to make resistance  
again thing ordained when god will that it be  
And namely there where as influence  
Of heaven above hath shape a destyne  
Some men record that no man may it flee  
The doom of this where it hold or flit  
To astronomers all holy I commit   

This said king of whom I spoke but lote  
Cast he would for his advantage  
The ordinance reverse and the fate  
Of the heaven with all the surplusage  
And give his daughter as in marige  
To some unworthy poor infortunate  
That never were likely to rise to high estate   

And in this wise king astriages  
Married his daughter as in his intent  
To one worthy called cambyses  
deeming thereby by short advisement  
Within him silf that he was right prudent  
weening that noblesse came by descent of blood  
And not by grace nor as the heaven stood   

In his reason was not comprehended  
How socrates master of platon  
Of full low bed by birth was descended  
And not tenher●te kingdom nor region  
But for to have fully possession  
Of moral virtue and philosofye  
During his life his wit he did apply   

He sought contrees for wysdam and science  
And secret cunnynges to search he did his pain  
And he fond out through his diligence  
This philosopher as books acerteyne  
To joy reserved other to pain  
By grace of god which is eternal  
How men's souls be found aye immortal   

The great apollo in bokys it is found  
Gave judgement of equity and right  
That socrattes in virtue most abound  
And most preferred in every man's sight  
Was called of wisdom the lantern and the light  
And wisest named at even and at Prime  
Of philosophers that were in his time   

The poet also called Euripides  
most honourable called in that age  
All be his mother of life was reckless  
And contagious through vicious outrage  
Yet was this poet for all his vile lineage  
most virtuous found at assays  
Of all poets that were in his days   

Called in his time a great tragicien  
Because he wrote many tragedies  
And would of toruth spare no manner man  
But them rebuke in his peotries  
touching the vices of fleshly fantasies  
Complain in princes their deeds most horrible  
And each thing punish that was ●dyble   

Another called clerk domestenes  
The most subtle rhetorician  
And most Inuentif among all the pres  
That ever was sigh the world began  
Albe of birth he was a poor man  
Yet had he most sovereign excellence  
Among philosophers of speech and eloquence   

By which example me seemeth doubtless  
That royal blood nor high lineage  
To men's birth giveth but small increases  
Nor unto virtue but little advantage  
For high nobles toketh not his courage  
Of rich nor poor nor states sovereign  
But of his grace as god list ordain   

Wherefore of folly king astriages  
Contrariously again all gentry  
Bad that his daughter called mundanes  
First when folk with child her did espy  
For to accomphissh his froward fantasy  
When it were borne charging above all thing  
Of archanye to bear it to the king   

Which in that time was called arpagus  
And as I find he did in virtue flower  
And spite had the story telleth thus  
That beasts should the little child devour  
But god that may in mischief best succour  
To keep the child was not reckless  
again the malice of king astriages   

Which had commanded of malice and hatred  
How that this child green and tentre of age  
By arpagus should be cast in deed  
To be devoured of beasts most savage  
But for he dread to do so great outrage  
To his shepherd him silf to stand at large  
The child to slay he fully gave the charge   

This herdman all be that he was loath  
To execute this woeful adventure  
Into a forest forth with the child he goth  
And gave to beasts that little creature  
Whom to scatter by grace again nature  
A wild bitch her whilpes there forsake  
And to her paps the little child she took   

And with her milk she made him sup and dine  
And busy was for him to enchase  
Wild f●u●ys and beasts savagyne  
That none ne durst neigh to that place  
Loo how that god dispose can his grace  
Innocentes fro mischief to preserve  
again falls envy which would make them starve   

O blood unkind found in kindred  
For covetise/ oh blood disnaturall  
Of false malice/ oh blood full of hatred  
To murder a child borne of the stok royal  
Where man's reason is turned bestial  
Falsely transformed unto cruelty  
To slay a child where beasts have pity   

The cely heerde hath told his wife the cas  
And she anon of pity did arise  
With her husband went a full great pas  
Into the forest beholding all the guise  
As heretofore ye have herd devise  
saying the child with lips tender and soft  
The bitches paps how he sook f●ll oft   

The said heerde called Sparage  
His wife also of whom tofore I 〈◊〉  
This young child took in their dep● 〈◊〉  
And in her arms she softly 'gan it 〈◊〉  
And he full goodly her face 'gan behold  
And on his manner the same while  
In childly wise on her 'gan to smile   

The child's laughtre when she did advert  
With all her hole faithful diligence  
She 'gan to cherish it and with all her heart  
She gave it soak with full great reverence  
Albe the bitch made resistance  
complaining stood fully at abaye  
The little child when she saw lad away   

Full pitously she 'gan to howl and cry  
At their departing doolfully complain  
And after them full fast 'gan to high  
The child to let she felt so great a pain  
Lo how that god of mercy can ordain  
A cruel best such sorrow for to make  
And so to mourn for a child's sake   

But every thing that god will have preserved  
May not fail to stand in sickerness  
His secre domys been to him silf reserved  
There can no man expone them as I guess  
For he sh●pe first that this sheperdesse  
Of sparagos the true poor wife  
For to be mean to save the childys' life   

Home to her house the child she led ●●one  
And it to foster did her business  
Of other salary god wot knew she none  
Save that her heart thereto did her dress  
And moor entirely the story beareth witness  
She tendered him and with more busy 〈◊〉  
Than him that was her child borne of nature   

And as the story plainly doth express  
This young child as he wax in age  
from day to day increased in noblesse  
Like for to be right manly of courage  
Cirus he was called in that language  
To say in latin plainly in substance  
A man yborn to great inheritance   

And when the renown of his excellence  
By long process and of his great increase  
Came by the report unto the audience  
Of his a●ell the great astriages  
And how the king was found recles  
Called arpagus for to do vengeance  
On young Cyrus he fill in displeasance   

This is to mean astriages was wroth  
That arpagus was found merciable  
Cyrus to save and for that he was loath  
Ageyns all right for to be vengeable  
To slay a child a thing not commendable  
deeming of troth in his conscience  
God was not paid to murder Innocence   

Astriages cast him to be wreak  
On arpagus by false collusion  
Because that his bidding he did break  
And was contrary to his intention  
Cirus to slay again all reason  
And for that cause astriages I read  
Of arpagus let slay the child in deed   

This to say by false compassing  
And covert murder wrought by astriages  
The son was slain of arpagus the king  
And after roasted alas bookful causeless  
And sigh presented among all the pres  
To sore his father a thing most lamentable  
With astriages he sat at the table   

But when this king called arpagus  
conceived hath this murder most terrible  
And how his son and heir was slain thus  
In his Ire most furious and audible  
In all the haste that it was possible  
He is repaired home to his household  
And all the cas to Cirus he hath told   

And how his son was slain for his sake  
In the most hatful odious cruelty  
Exciting him with him to undertake  
On this falls murder avenged for to be  
To him declaring of troth and equity  
How he was borne by descent in deed  
As right heir to regne in pierce and meed   

To him declaring the story by and by  
First of the dream of astriages  
And how that he by fraud full falsely  
Made his daughter called Mundanes  
Poorly to be wedded unto cambyses  
Which was his mother and how in tender age  
He was out cast to beasts full savage   

By a shepperde and shepperdesse  
fostered he was in great poverty  
And brought from beasts out of wilderness  
By cause god would he saved should be  
For thilk lord which every thing may see  
When that he hath a thing afore disposed  
Nedies it must fall and may not be deposed   

This said Cirus at his nativity  
Ordained was by revolution  
Of the heavenly speries in numbered thrice three  
So stood that time his constellation  
That he should have the domination  
Over all asia by influence divine  
Afore figured by spreading of the vine   

What may the fraud of slayghty folk avail  
Innocentes to put out of their right  
Though troth be hid amongs the parayle  
Hard brought forth and dare not show his light  
Yet god will ordain that the beams bright  
Shall some one day show out his clearness  
Maugre all though that would his title oppress   

For this Cirus as clerks of him writ  
Was by the title of his mothers side  
Born to be king all asia to inherit  
Albe his aiel from him would it divide  
But god that can for troth best provide  
Hath for Cirus by process so ordained  
That he of asia the lordship hath attained   

Cirus that time was grown up well of length  
Well proportioned of members and stature  
Wonder deliver and passing of great strength  
Strange emprises proudly to endure  
And to jupart and put in adventure  
His own person the fame was of him so  
Was none more likely where men should have ado   

And by the counsel of king arpagus  
When this Cirus was well wax in age  
With perciens proud and surquedous  
And archanytes cruel of courage  
For to recure his rightful heritage  
Begun with Cyrus armed with plate and mail  
With astriages to hold battle   

And he ag●ynewarde 'gan to take heed  
And with him took many a worthy knight  
With all the puissance of the land of meed  
Hath take the field the same day forth right  
To disherit Cyrus of his right  
But god and troth was atween them twain  
Equal judge their quarrel to dareyne   

The field ordained and splayed their banners  
On other party full proudly on they set  
At th'assemble like lions of their cheres  
In the face as they freshly met  
With round spears sharp ground and w●et  
Till that Cirus of grace more than number  
Of his aiel the party did encumber   

This mighty Cirus this young champion  
throughout the field 'gan such a slaughter make  
With his knightis as he went up and down  
That as the death his foemen him forsake  
Astriages under his banner take  
The field venquesshed for all his false veynglorye  
To show that right hath alway the victory   

A man of malice may a thing purpose  
By a manner froward providence  
But god above can graciously dispose  
●geyne such malice to make resistance  
●en for a while may suffer violence  
●nd wrongs great where so that they wend  
●ut troth alway venquessheth at end   

Astriages fond full sooth his dream  
Though he again it made purveyance  
To have deprived Cirus of his rem  
He was deceived of his ordinance  
For where that god though his mighty puissance  
List for heiriss iustfy to provide  
Sleight in such cas of man is set aside   

Maugre the might of astriages  
Cirus on him made a discomfiture  
And all asia rejoiced eke in peace  
Of very right as was his adventure  
And by just title he did also recure  
The loud of meed like as was his fate  
And into pierce he did it hole translate   

again his a●l he was not vengeable  
Which had wrought to his destruction  
But was to him benign and merciable  
And granted him of hole affection  
The fort part of the region  
Of archanye of which afore I told  
Him to sustain in his days old   

For king Cirus would not his live  
Suffer his a●l of very gentleness  
That men should him finally deprive  
Of kingly honour for none unkindness  
To give example to princes in soothness  
Though god in earth have y●uyn them might  
They should aye mercy meddle with the right   

Lenuoye.  

NOble princes your ears do incline  
And consider in your discretions  
How dreams showed by influence byvyne  
Be not like swevenies but like avisions  
Or resemble to revolutions  
Which though men would disturb and make fail.  
God will not suffer their malice to prevail   

A stragies dempt he saw a vine  
showed of troth and none illusions  
From his daughters womb right alyne  
Spread in asia over the regions  
But to disherit by false collusions  
Young Cirus the king did his travail  
But god not suffered his malice to prevail   

Princes remember that in honour shine  
Upon this story in your intentions  
And be well willed where god list forthre a line  
either to riches or dominations  
To favour them to their promotions  
Be not contrary in your acquytaile  
Sith god will suffer no malice to prevail     

How Candalus king of Lide was made cokwold and after slain  

wHile john bochas cast his look aside  
In his study as he sat writing  
To his presence came the king of Lyde  
Called Candalus full pitously pleyiung  
With salt tears full lowly beseching  
That he would suage his grievance  
His deadly sorrow to put in remembrance   

His complaint was most of unkindness  
For false deceit again all skill and right  
That where his trust was most of gyntylnesse  
He mocked was for all his great might  
For of his house there was a certain knight  
Gyges called thing shameful to be told  
To speak plain Inglissh made him a cokolde   

Alas I was not advised will before  
Vncunnyngly to speak such language  
I should have said how that he had an horn  
Or sought some team with a fair visage  
To excuse my rudeness of this great outrage  
As in some land Cornodo men do them call  
And some affirm how such folk have no gall   

Thus was the cas when phoebus shone sheen  
The summer season in his ascension  
When sweet branches were clad in new green  
heat importable had domination  
When that the queen for recreation  
Unprovided that no man did her keep  
Upon her bed lay naked for to sleep   

And as clerks of her beute write  
There was on live none fairer creature  
Nor more excelling like as they indite  
Of f●m●lynesse her story doth assure  
called for beauty cousin to nature  
And worthy eke if I shall not fain  
To be compared to Grisilde or Eleyne   

Kind in her forge list no thing to err  
When she her wrought by great aviseness  
To make of beute the very load star  
And give her beute favour and seemliness  
But for nature had so great business  
To form a woman that was so fresh of hew  
She had forget for to make her true   

Her iyens were very celestial  
her here untressed like phoebus in his spear  
A thing resembling that were immortal  
So angelic she was of look and cheer  
An exemplary of port and manner  
There was no lack save nature through her sloth  
Had left behind to give her faith and troth   

And on a day as she lay sleeping  
naked on bed most goodly to sight  
Full unwarely came candalus the king  
Into the chambered where titan shone full bright  
And showed her beauty unto his own knight  
Of intent he should bear witness  
How she excelled all other in fairness   

And when Gyges' 'gan in order see  
Of this queen the great excellence  
He was enamoured upon her beauty  
All the while he stood there in presence  
'Gan imagine a treason in silence  
To slay his lord without long tarrying  
Wynne the queen and after regne as king   

This was the end doleful and piteous  
To be remembered hateful and terrible  
Of this noble worthy candalus  
For of his trust to much he was credible  
Unto Gyges the traitor was o●yble  
And yet more foolish whereby he lost his life  
Outward to show the beauty of wife   

Though she were fair and goodly unto see  
There was no trust nor no se●y●nesse  
For other had as good part as he  
Gyges could bear thereof witness  
Alas a queen or any great princess  
Assent should her fame for to trouble  
But if nature excuse them to double    

How what thing king Midas touchid was gold yet died he in misery and wretchedness  

But who so ever was therewith loath or fain  
Gyges was after crowned king of lyde  
When that his lord was by treason slain  
Of him the surplus bochas set aside  
And in his study as he did abide  
There came of frige mydas the rich king  
Told mine author his complaint with weeping   

For there was never by conquest nor labour  
No king afore that had more richesse  
Nor more plenty of gold nor of treasure  
At whose birth poetes thus express  
About his cradle amptis 'gan him dress  
While he slept and 'gan about him lie  
A full great number of pured wheat greyne   

Whereupon most expert divynours  
As they took heed in their attendance  
Such as were best expositors  
Said it was a token of abundance  
To have of richesses all manner suffisance  
And concluding plainly 'gan to tell  
How he all other in treasure should excel   

poets of him wrote that were full old  
Bacchus gave him the mighty god of wine  
What he toucheth shall turn into gold  
As good as that which came out of the mine  
At all assays to be as pure and fine  
This request as writeth Ovidius  
Was unto Midas granted of bachus   

He thought gold might him most avail  
What he handled was gold with touching  
But when hungres his stomach 'gan assail  
His bread his meet was clear gold in showing  
And when he 'gan to fail of his feeding  
And fond of gold no recure to escape  
Besought Bacchus some remedy to shape   

Bacchus bade him go bath in a river  
To wash away the colour aureat  
Where it is showed the goldy gravel clear  
Which example declareth to each estate  
That gold alone maketh men not fortunate  
For what may gold or treasure there avail  
Where men in hungres find no victual   

Or what is worthy gold pearl or stones read  
Grene Emeroudys or sciphirs ind  
When men enfamyned have neither greyne ne breed  
Nor in such mysche●f victual may none find  
For to fosture their nature and their kind  
A barley loof in such a distress  
Moore might avail than all worldly richesse   

This knew midas and was expert in deed  
Though he of gold had so great plenty  
That with metal he might him silf not feed  
Which caused him of necessity  
To consider and clearly for to see  
That breed more 'vaileth for fostering of nature  
Than all richesses that men may h●re recure   

For which this king 'gan hate all richesse  
Gold and treasure he had eke in disdain  
Left his crown and his royal noblesse  
And chase to keep sheep upon a pleyne  
All worldly worship was to him but vain  
Of melancholy and froward poverty  
ended his life in great adversity   

For of ire and impatience  
Finally thus with him it stood  
Furiously in his great indigence  
As writeth bochas how he drank the blood  
Of a bull savagyne and wood  
With love enchaufed made no delays  
most bestyally ended thus his days    

Of balthasar king of babilone/ and how daniel expounded. Mane. Techel. Phares.  

nExt to bochas or that he was w●●e  
As he sat writing with full great labour  
Of babilone came great balthasar  
To declare his sorrow and his languor  
Which had misused full falsely the treasure  
And the vessels brought to jerusalem  
In babylon chief cite of his rem   

For at a souper with his lords all  
When of the vessels he drank mighty wines  
And solemnly sat in his royal stall  
And round about all his concubines  
Philophers magiciens and divines  
There came an hand the bible doth assure  
And on the wall 'gan writ this scripture   

Mane techel phares wretyn in his sight  
Though he the meaning conceived neveradeal  
Which on the wall showed fair and bright  
From whose sentence availed no●e appeal  
But the prophet holy danyel  
Fully expounded to balthasar the king  
This mystery of this dark writing   

This word mane plainly and not tarry  
In latin tongue betokeneth in substance  
The days counted and reckoned the noumbrarye  
Of thy regning and of thy great substance  
And techel soundeth a weyenge in balance  
In token thy power and kingdom by measure  
God hath them poised they shall no while endure   

Phares also betokeneth a breaking  
In roman tongue into pecis small  
For thy power and froward rebelling  
Shall from the high be brought into the vale  
This is holy wryt and no feigned tale  
For when princes will not their life redress  
God will unwarly their surquedy repress   

Thou were by tokyns warned long afore  
By many examples the story ye may ride  
By the falling of Nabugodonosore  
And thou thereof took full● little heed  
The lord to thank and have his name in dread  
For which thou shalt within a lytell throw  
Loose sceptre and crown and be brought full low▪   

LEte princes all thi●●tory have in mind  
And for them self notably provide  
And namely th● that been to god unkind  
Their concubines for to set aside  
And make virtue for to be there guide  
Void lechery and false presumption  
Which hath brought so many to destruction   

Nabugodonosor had repentance  
And was restored to his possessions  
But god of right took suddenly vengeance  
On Balthasar for his transgressions  
Wherefore ye princes dispose your reasons  
After your merits to have god merciable  
For your demerits to find him vengeable   

again holy church take no quarelis  
But advertise in your inward sight  
For Balthasar drank of the vesselliss  
Stolen fro the temple of very force and might  
He lost lordship and life upon a night  
So that the kingdom of assiriens  
translated was to meed and perciens    

Lo Croesus and balthasar were venquesshed by Cyrus and the son of cresus slain at the hunting of a bore  

NExt to john bochas within a throw  
Writing of princes many piteous fate  
he saw king cresus with other on the row  
Lowly beseching his falling to translate  
And how fortune again him 'gan debate  
And of his micheef doolful for to read  
For to describe anon he 'gan proceed   

For as it is remembered in writing  
As god and kind list for him ordain  
Of Lyde he was governor and king  
And lordship had the story can not feign  
Of many kingdoms more than one or twain  
Fame in that time so did him magnify  
That he was called flower of all chivalry   

And he was also in his time found  
The most expert in were and in battle  
And of richesse was the most abound  
And most exallinge in conquest to prevail  
plenty of people with royal apparel  
And with all this to his great advantage  
number of children tenblysshe his lineage   

In the most highest of his royal see  
And all was well and no thing stood amiss  
Yet taphouse his felicity  
A dream he had and truly that was this  
how that his son which called was athiss  
Was take from him and by mortal outrage  
Slain suddenly in his tender age   

This woeful dream did him great distress  
And put his heart in great despair  
standing in fere and great heaviness  
Because his child tender young and fair  
Which that was borne for to be his heir  
Should causeless in such mischief die  
So as his dream afore did specify   

Of this process to declare more  
How cresus dream fulfilled was in deed  
From olimphus there came a wild bore  
most furious and savagyne of dread  
With foamy tosshes which fast 'gan him speed  
Down descending and no where list abide  
Till that he came into the land of lyde   

And 'gan destroy their fruits and their wines  
Where ever he came in any manner place  
Broke the nets and the strong lines  
Of the hunters that did at him enchase  
But under support of the kings grace  
His son of whom I spoke tofore  
Gate him licence to hunt at this bore   

His father cresus deeming of this cas  
There was no cause of dread in no manner  
Though his son were present at the chas  
With other hunters such game for to lere  
But ay fortune with her double cheer  
Is ready ever by some fatal train  
At such disports some mischief to ordain   

For one there was which had governance  
Upon this child to wait and to see  
chasing the boar to save him fro mischance  
From all damage and adversity  
Which many lusty folk of that country  
With horns hounds and sharp spears ground  
Seeking the boar till they had him found   

And as they 'gan fiercely the bore enchase  
He that was charged to be the child's guide  
As with his spear he 'gan the bore menace  
The heed not entered but forth began to glide  
And on the child which that stood beside  
The stroke alight and or hedyd advert  
The spears heed rose him through the heart   

But of this child when the death was couth  
Told and reported holy the manner  
How he was slain in his tender youth  
Born to be heir unto his father dear  
Croesus for sorrow changed look and cher●  
And for constraint of dool in his visage  
He resembled a very deed image   

But every sorrow by long contynuaunc●  
At the last it somewhat must assuage  
For there is none so furious grievance  
Nor so mortal Importable rage  
But long process giveth him advantage  
I mean as thus there is none so great a sorrow  
But it might cese other eve or morrow   

Philosophers concluden and discern  
And by their reason's recorden by scripture  
Thing violent may not be eterne  
not in one point abideth none adventure  
Nor a sorrow may not alway endure  
For s●oundmel● through fortunes variance  
There followeth joy after great grievance   

The sorrow of Cresses though it were intolerable  
And at his heart the grievance sat so sore  
Sigh that his dole was irrecupable  
And mean was none his harms to restore  
Mine author Bochas writeth of his woe no more  
But of his fall how he fill in deed  
To tell the manner forth he doth precede   

And for a while he set his style aside  
And his ꝓces in party he forbore  
To speak of Croesus that was king of lyde  
And 'gan resort to writ of Balthasar  
again rehearsing or that he was war  
How mighty Cirus of woeful adventure  
Made on him proudly a discomfiture   

And as it is put in remembrance  
Of Balthasar to hold up the party  
Croesus with him had made an alliance  
With all his puissance and all his chivalry  
His life his treasure to put in juꝑtye  
Sworn in arms as brother unto brother  
By Cirus venquesshed that one after that other   

●oth their mischief no longer was delayed  
Albe that Croesus fought long in his diffence  
He finally by Cirus was outrayed  
And deprived by knightly violence  
Take in the field there was no resistance  
And rigorously to his confusion  
With mighty feters cast in dark prison   

And more to increase his great adversity  
A son of his/ tender and young of age  
That was dumb from his nativity  
And never spoke word in no manner language  
Cirus commanding by furious outrage  
That Croesus should by vengeable cruelty  
By a knight of Perce in prison headed be   

And with his sword as he 'gan menace  
Croesus to have slain without all reverence  
The dumb child there present in the place  
Which never had spoken thus said in audience  
Withdraw thy stroke and do no violence  
Unto my lord thy fame so to confound  
To slay a king that lieth in prison bound   

The knight astonied hath his stroke forborn  
Greatly abashed in that dark habitacle  
Which heard a child that never spoke toforne  
again his sword to make an obstacle  
Run and told this marvelous miracle  
To mighty Cirus with every circumstance  
hoping thereby to atempred his grievance   

But where as tyrants been set on cruelty  
Their crooked malice full hard is to appease  
So indurate is their iniquity  
That all in vengeance is set their hearts ease  
Themsilf reioisinge to see folks in disease  
Like as they were in their froward danger  
Cleanly fraunchised fro god and his power   

This cruel Cirus most vengeable of des●●●  
To execute his fell intent in deed  
let make in haste of faggot a great fire  
And 'gan them kindle with many colys red  
And made Croesus' quaking in his dread  
For to be take where as he lay full low  
And bad men should into the fire him throw   

But jubiter which hath his vengeance say  
How cruel Cirus with malice was attain  
From heaven sent a tempest and a rain  
That suddenly the horrible fire was quaint  
Woeful Croesus with dreadful fire made faint  
escaped is his furious mortal pain  
God and fortune for him lift so ordain   

This adventure in manner marvelous  
The heart of Cirus 'gan somewhat to embrace  
And caused him for to be piteous  
again gresus and granted him this grace  
To occupy while he hath lift and space  
The land of Lyde except only this thing  
He should not after be called king   

And thus of lyde the king did fine  
Which took his beginning of one ardisius  
And endured the space of kings nine  
Look whoso will the books tell thus  
Hereof no more but forth unto Cirus  
I will proceed with all my busy cure  
For to translate his woeful adventure    

How the cruel tyrant Cyrus delighted eu● slaughter and shedding of blood & so ended  

Heir by descent to great astriages  
Poorly brought forth as made is mention  
And had all asia to his gr●ate increases  
Holding that rigne by just succession  
In long quiet wihtout rebillyon  
Till time he thought in full froworde wise  
The world was small to staunch his covetise   

He had an ethic most contagious  
fretting upon him for desire of good  
A dropsy hateful and ●urious  
Of froward rage that made his heart wooed  
A w●fuy●●●e ●a●ast to shed man's blood  
Which ouer●●horted by false malencolye  
His 〈…〉 into tyranny   

But when he presumptuously intend  
To rob 〈…〉 through his pillage  
God and fortune made him to descend  
Full suddenly from his 〈◊〉 ●●age  
〈…〉 was a great advantage  
To 〈…〉 of very fo●e and might  
Though 〈…〉 of right   

To 〈…〉 souereyn●e  
 
 
 
Above sad ●●outh and 〈◊〉  
Which causeth princes from their estate royal  
Or they be ware to have es●deyn fall   

For the lordship of all as●●  
Might not suffice to Cyrus greediness  
But thought he would conquer lithia  
And there were to increase his great richesses  
Though he no title had of righteousness  
Save a false lust whereof men should have ruth  
That will in princes should oppress truth   

First this Cyrus all princes did excel  
Both in conquest victory and battle  
Of gold and treasure as books him tell  
Kingdoms to win he did most prevail  
And yet to vices did his heart assail  
First covetise ever to increase in good  
With a desire to sh●de men's blood   

With two vices he brenneth ever in one  
That never might from his heart twin  
Made a great arm toward Septemtrion  
And cast him proudly to set on and begin  
Cithia the mighty land to win  
Queen thamaces there regning as I find  
Whoos kingdom joineth unto ethiopie in ynde   

Toward the party which is oriental  
The see of suri●e floweth full plentuus  
Down to the see called occidental  
And southward runneth to Concasus  
And folk of cythie that been laborious  
Which tile the land hath not to their living  
But only fruits which from the earth springe   

The land of Cithie is rich for the nonies  
From greyne and fruit a land full covenable  
Rich of gold pearl and precious stonies  
Right commodious and wonder delectable  
But a great party is not habitable  
The people dreadful to belde their mansions  
For fear of death because of the griffouns   

The noble fame nor the high renoun  
Was not far know nor Isprad about  
Of Thamaris queen of that rigion  
Nor of her noblesse within nor without  
Till that king Cyrus with a full great rout  
Into ●●his 'gan him proudly dress  
The hardy queen to spoil of her richesses   

But she her fame more to magnify  
'Gan in great haste with full rich apparel  
Full prudently assemble her chivalry  
And took a field if he would her assail  
Ready with him to have a batayel  
And of her main like as saith my book  
Unto her son the third part she took   

And gave him charge in the same place  
Him silf that day to acquit like a knight  
And for to meet Cirus in the face  
And no thing dread with him for to fight  
But when king Cyrus of him had a sight  
Cast him that day the young prince oppress  
Rather by wiles than manhood or prowess   

First he let stuff his large pavilions  
With great plenty of drinks delectable  
divers meats and confections  
Round about upon every table  
And in his meaning passing deceivable  
Like as he had in manner dreadful be  
Took all his host and 'gan anon to i'll   

This young prince of meaning Innocent  
Nothing deeming as by supposayle  
But that Cyrus was with his main went  
And fled for fere he durst him not assail  
And when he fond such plenty of vetayle  
He and his knights through misgovernance  
To eat and drink set all their pleasance   

They had of knighthood lost all the discipline  
Forsook mars and put him out of sight  
And to Bacchus their heads 'gan incline  
Gorge upon gorge till it drough to night  
And proud Cirus came on them anon right  
With all his often they out of their armure  
On bestial folk made a discomfiture   

Cruel Cyrus left none alive  
Of high nor low made none exception  
They were to feeble again his might to strive  
For chief cause of their destruction  
Was drunkenness which voideth all relation  
And wise men rehercen in sentence  
Where folk be dronkyn there is no resistance   

And when this slaughter by relation  
reported was and brought to the presence  
Of Thamaris queen of that region  
Unto her heart it did full great offence  
But of ire and great impatience  
saying her son slain in tender age  
For sorrow almost she fill into a rage   

But for all her woeful deadly pain  
She showed no token of femynyte  
But of prudence her wepyi● 'gan restraint  
And cast her plainly avenged for to be  
Upon king Cyrus and on his cruelty  
Sent out main tespien his passage  
If she him find might at advantage   

And with her main 'gan feign amaner flight  
Up to the mountains dreadful and terrible  
And Cyrus after 'gan hast him anon right  
In hope to take her if it were possible  
Among which hills more than it is credible  
Been craggy roches most hideous of enteyle  
Perilous of passage and vode of all victual   

And Cyrus there fill in great daungere  
All unpurveyed of drogemen or of guide  
To foster his people victual was none there  
Erring as beasts upon every side  
And they of cithie 'gan for him so provide  
Whereof their queen god wot was full fain  
At great mischief that all his men were slain   

None of all was take to ransom  
Nor he him silf escaped not her bounds  
Such wait was laid to their destruction  
And he through pierced with many mortal wounds  
On pecis rend as b●ers been with hounds  
The queen commanding when he lay thus to torn  
To her presence this body to be borne   

First she hath charged to smite of his heed  
When she hath thus the victory of him won  
And in a bath that was all blood read  
She gan it throw within a little ton  
And of despite right thus she hath begun  
most tirauntly in her woeful rage  
To deed Cyrus to have this language   

O thou Cyrus that whilom were so wood  
And so thrustleugh in thy tyranny  
again nature so to shed man's blood  
So wuluysshe was thine hatfull dropsy  
That mercy none might it modify  
Thine etike joined greedy and unstable  
With thrust of slaughter ●p to be vengeable   

It is an horror in manner for to think  
So great a prince rebuked for to be  
Of a woman man's blood to drink  
For to disclaundre his royal majesty  
Out gladly ever vengaeble cruelty  
Bf right requireth with unware violence  
Blood shed for blood justly to recompense   

OF mighty Cyrus the imperial nablesse  
Was by a woman venquesshed and borndoun  
God made her chastise his furious wodnesse  
And for to oppress his famous high renown  
For where vengeance hath domination  
In worldly princes plainly to devise  
With unware stroke god can them well chastise   

The end of Cyrus can bear full well record  
How god withstondith folee that been vengeable  
Lordship and mercy when they been at discord  
Right will not suffer their state to stand stable  
And for this Cyrus was so unmerciable  
He with unmercy punished was in deed  
Death quit for death lo here his final meed   

In slaughter and blood he did him most delight  
For in though thweyne was his repast in deed  
He fond no mercy his vengeance to respite  
Where he fond matter any blood to shed  
Such joy he had by death to see folk bleed  
And for the sight did him so much good  
His fatal end was for to swim in blood   

Lo here thexequies of this mighty king  
Lo here the end of his estate royal  
There were no flawmes nor brands clear shining  
To burn his body with fires funeral  
Nor observances nor offerings martial  
Nor tomb of gold with stonies rich and fine  
Was none ordained that day to make his shrine   

Epithaphie there was none read nor sung  
Be no poet with their poetries  
Nor of his triumphs there was no bell rung●  
Nor no weepers with subbinge tragedies  
None attendance but of his enemies  
Which of hatred in their cruel rage  
Cast out his cateyn to beasts most savage   

Lo here of Cyrus the final adventure  
Which of all asie was whilom emperor  
Now lieth he abject with out sepulture  
Of high nor low he fond no better favour  
Lo here the fine of all worly labour  
Namely of tyrants which list not god to dread  
But set their lust to slaughter and blood to shed   

Lenuoye.  

RIght noble princes concidre in your sight  
The fine of Cirus piteous and lamentable  
How god punysshth of equity and right  
tyrants eachone cruel and vengeable  
For in his sight it is abominable  
That a prince as philosophers writ  
In slaughter of men should him silf delight   

This said Cyrus was a full manly knight  
In beginning right famous and notable  
Nature gave him semlynesse and might  
For in conquest was none seen more able  
Till tyranny the serpent deceivable  
Merciless his courage did atwyte  
In slaughter of men when him 'gan delight   

Wherefore ye princes remember both day and night  
Tafforce your noblesse and make it perdurable  
To get you favour and love of every wight  
Which shall your states conserve and keep stable  
For there is conquest none so honourable  
In governance as vengeance to respite  
Mercy preferring in slaughter not delight     

How amilius for covetise slough his brother and Remus/ and Romulus nourished by a wuluesse  

aFter king cirus bochas did espy  
Two worthy brethren with facis piteous  
Borne by descent to regne in albany  
Both of one father the story telleth us  
The one of them called Amylyus  
And to remember the name of that other  
Muniter I called was his brother   

They had a father which named was ꝓchas  
King of that land the story doth devise  
After whose death plainly this the cas  
Amilius for false covenese  
His brother slough in full cruel wise  
That he unjustly by false tyranny  
Might have the kingdom alone of albany   

This albana by description  
Like as bochas affirmeth in certain  
Is a cite not far fro rome town  
Set on an hill beside a large plain  
The beldinge stately rich and well beseyne  
Strong walled with many a rich tour  
And ascannis was first thereof fondoure   

Which called was in his foundation  
Albania for the great whiteness  
The●e kings after by succession  
Named albonoys princes of great noblesse  
And by descent the story beareth witness  
From king prochas record on books old  
Came these two brethren/ Rea their sister told   

Muniter slain as made is mention  
The king occupied by amilius  
And rea entered into religion  
For to be wimpled in that holy house  
Sacred to vesta with virgins glorious  
Therefore to a bide and be contemplative  
With other maydyns during all her life   

And this was done while she was young of age  
By her brother of false entencion  
That she should have no manner heritage  
Nor claim no title in that region  
Of her kindred by none occasion  
But stand professed in virginity  
Tofore vesta and live in chastity   

¶ Yet natwitstanding her virginal cleanness  
She hath conceived by natural miracle  
'Gan to increase in her holiness  
whose womb aros in kind was none obstacle  
again such bolning availeth no treacle  
But the goddess for her so did ordain  
That she at once had sons twain   

The temple of vesta stood in wilderness  
Where Rea had holy the ●ouernaunce  
Of preesily honour done to the gods  
With many strange uncouth observance  
But by her brother's mortal ordinance  
Her young sons might not be succoured  
But cast out to beasts for to be devoured   

But a she wolf which whelped had late  
To give them soak did her business  
By god ordained or by some heavenly fate  
them to conserve fro death in their distress  
For holy writ plainly beareth witness  
God can defend as it is well couth  
Children from mischief in their tender youth   

But in this while this said amilius  
That was their uncle as made is mention  
again his sister froward and furious  
Made her be sh●t in a full dark prison  
And there complaining the destruction  
Of her two children borne to her repreef  
For very sorrow died at great mischief   

These said children devoid of all refute  
Beside a river lay pitously crying  
From all succour naked and destitute  
Except a wolves upon them waiting  
At whose womb full still they lay soukinge  
Unto nature a thing contrarious  
Children to suck on beasts raveynous   

But he this lord of every creature  
Right as him list can both save and spill  
And beasts which been rage of their nature  
He can advert and make them lie full still  
Tiger's lions obeyen at his will  
The same lord hath made a fell wolves  
Unto twain children her biggys' for to dress   

And while this wolves had them in depos  
There came an herd called Faustulus  
Beheld their souking and saw them lie full close  
Which shepperde was of king amilius  
Caught up these children the story telleth thus  
And brought them forth with great diligence  
Unto his wife that called was laurence   

And she for love did her busy pain  
them to foster till they came of age  
Gave them suck of her breasts twain  
From day to day of heart and hold courage  
And they were called as in that language  
After the story that one of them remus  
And the second was named romulus   

Of which brethren briefly to termine  
The town of rome to ●e original  
Of falls disclaundre first began that line  
The rote out sought full vicious found at all  
Clearly remembered for a memorial  
Their beginning grew of such incontinence  
As clerks call incestus in sentence   

Incestus is a thing not fair nor good  
After that books well devise cūn●  
As trespassinge with kin or with blood  
Or froward meddling with her that is a nun  
And th●●s the line of rome was begun  
For slaughter murder and false robbrye  
Was chief beginning of all their auncetrye   

Of covetise they took their advantage  
Ligge●s of ways and robber● openly  
Murderers also of their own lineage  
And strong thiefs gate to their company  
Spoiled all tho that past them forby  
Under shadow of keeping their berstaile  
All manner people they proudly did assail   

To slay merchants they had no conscience  
And for to murder folk of every age  
women to oppress of force and violence  
In all that country this was their usage  
Where they abode there was no sure passage  
And these two brethren like as it is found  
Fond first the manner of spears sharp ground   

A spear in greek called is quiris  
And for that cause the said romulus  
As books say and soothly so it is  
He afterward was called quirinus  
Which with his brother that called was Remus  
Was in all thing confederate and partable  
That 〈◊〉 was vious and damnable   

And a● i● 〈◊〉 according to their life  
For lak of virtue they fill in great diffame  
And atwene them there was an uncouth strif  
Which of both should give the name  
Unto the cite atween earnest and gain  
After their names come to be called  
Thus fill the cas afore or it was walled   

And thereupon full long lasted their strives  
Which should of them have domination  
Showing their tills and prerogatives  
Who should of them give name to the town  
And regne as king in that region  
There was no reason who should go before  
Because they were both at once borne   

But to fynyssh their fraternal discord  
They have provided atween them anon right  
Thus condescending to put them at accord  
neither by force oppression nor might  
Th●t 〈◊〉 of them saw greatest flight  
Of 〈◊〉 flying high upon ●n hill  
Should name the cite at his own will   

Of this accord for to be witness  
They with them led a full great multitude  
Throf to give adome of rightwiseness  
Both of wise and of people rude  
All at once this matter to conclude  
And to an hill called aventyne  
They been ascended this matter for to fine   

And birds six to remus did appear  
By augury as they 'gan proceed  
Called vultures full fears in their manner  
But in number the double did exceed  
That romulus saw when he took good heed  
Whereof there fill a great controversy  
Which of them should prevail on his party   

Thus first of all remus had a sight  
Of six birds called vultures  
And for to advance and prefer his right  
He full proudly put him silf in press  
But romulus was not reckless  
His brother's claim plainly to entrouble  
Afforced his title with the numbered double   

¶ Yet of his purpose one of them must fail  
Though it so be that they ever strive  
But Romulus 'gan finally prevail  
And to the cite he forth went belive  
And as auctors list ●chone describe  
And in their books as they rehearse all  
After his name rome he did it call   

An● all foreigns to exclude out  
And again them to make strong diffence  
First he began to wall i● round about  
And made a law full dreadful in sentence  
Who climb the wall by any violence  
Outward or inward there is no more to say  
By statute made he must needs die   

This was enact by full pleyne ordinance  
In pain of death which no man break shall  
But so befell remus of ignorance  
Which of the statute knew no thing atall  
Of adventure went over the wall  
For which a knight ordain in certain  
The saide remus hath with a pykeys slain   

His brother list●at in no manner wise  
again the law to be favourable  
But assented parcel for covetise  
Upon remus to be more vengeable  
Of this intent to make his reign stable  
That he alone might govern and none other  
By no claim found nor brought in by his brother   

And that the people should them more delight  
There to abide and have possession  
As old auctors of romulus do writ  
Within the bounds of the same town  
That he devised by great provision  
In cumpas round so chronicles compile  
A teritorye that called was asile   

This asilum by romulus devised  
●as a place of refuge and socours  
Like a theatre with liberties fraunchised  
For to receive all foreign trespassers  
thieves murderers weyliggers and robbers  
By great resort within the walls wide  
To foster all brybours that durst no where abide   

And with fled people fro divers regions  
The city 'gan to increase and multiply  
And banished folk of strange nations  
To find refuge thidre 'gan them high  
And thus by process 'gan their chivalry  
F●●st through tyrants reckless of working  
Till all the world obeyed their bidding   

Of wilful force without title of right  
They brought all people under subjection  
A●leyme they made by violence and might  
And took no heed of troth nor reason  
And the first author of their foundation  
Was romulus that gathered all this rout  
Within the cite and walled it about   

And many day as made is mention  
He had this cite in his governance  
And was the first king crowned in that town  
And reigned there by continuance  
Full many ●erys till the variance  
Of fortune through her false envy  
In campania made him for to die   

Upon a day when it 'gan thunder loud  
His name for ever to be more magnefied  
Sum books ●ay he was rapt in a cloud  
High up in heaven to be stellified  
With other goddys' stately deified  
There to be stalled by jupiters side  
Like for his knights as mars list provide   

Lo here of paynims a false opinion  
To Christ's law contrary and odious  
That tyrants should by false opprossion  
Be called goddies or named glorious  
Which by their live were found vicious  
For this pleyne troth I dare it well tell  
They rather b●en fiends full deep in hell   

For but in earth their domination  
Conveyed been by virtuous noblesse  
And that their power and high renown  
Be set on troth and rightwiseness  
Like their estates in prince or princess  
I dare affirm of them both twain  
For vicious living they must endure pain   

But when they been faithful of intent  
Right and troth justly to maintain  
And in their royal power be not blen●  
Wrongs redressing and poor folk sustain  
And so contune with concscience most clean  
Such life more rathe than pomp of worldly we●●ys  
Shall make them regne in heaven above the stars   

For which late princes understand atonies  
And worldly princessies with all their great riches  
That their high horns fret with rich stones  
Toward heaven their passage doth not dress  
But virtuous life charity and meekness  
When they list pride out of their heart arace  
That causeth them in heaven to win a place   

There is no more strange abusion  
Nor tofore god great idolatry  
Than when princes list catch affection  
Creatures falsely to deify  
Be collusion brought in by sorcery  
Now god defend all princes well disposed  
With such falls craft never to be enoysed   

And their iyens by none illusions  
Be not englued neither with hook nor line  
Nor by no boytes of false inspections  
Wrought by cyrene's by drink or medicine  
Which of their nature resemble to a shrine  
Through richesses outward and beauty sovereign  
And who look inward be like a foul carrion   

God of his grace amend all such outrage  
In noble princes and save them from such were  
And them enlumyne disposing their courage  
In such falls worship they no more ne err  
Like to argus that they seen afcere  
That no false faging cause them to be blind  
Goddies nor goddessies to worship again kind   

And though that romans did worship and honour  
To romulus by a constraint dread  
Let no man take example of their error  
But to that lord whose sides were made red  
To save mankind and on a cross was deed  
Let men to him in chief their love observe  
Which can them quite better than they can deserve    

How mecyus king of albanoys being false of his oath and assurance/ was drawn into pieces  

NExt romulus with ●erys albe sprent  
Unto john bochas appeared mecius  
Of cheer and look and of his port faint  
His fall declaring froward and despitous  
And he was called eke sufficius  
Low of birth and simple in upgrowing  
Of Albanoys till fortune made him king   

again whose pride the romans 'gan warreye  
Full mightily oppressing his country  
And for king mecius list them not obey  
They cast them fully avenged for to be  
Because his birth was but of low degree  
And was risen up unto estate royal  
They them purpose to give him a sudden fall   

Hasty climbing of poverty set on height  
When wrong title maketh him to ascend  
With unware peys of his own might  
A sudden fall maketh him to descend  
When he list not of surquedy intend  
From whence he came nor him self to know  
Till god and fortune his pomp hath overthrow   

For this mecius of presumption  
Thought again romans his pride might avail  
'Gan were again them by rebellion  
Was not fearful their noblesse to assail  
Till on a day was signed abaytaile  
Both their osties within a field to meet  
To take their part whether it be sour or sweet   

That time in rome reigned hostilius  
A manly man and a full worthy knight  
twain him concluded and king mecius  
They twain to meet in steel armed bright  
For both battles to try out the right  
By just accord and therein not vary  
The party venquesshed to be tributary   

And holy put him in subjection  
Without entreating or any more delay  
And finally for short conclusion  
King hostilius the triumph wan that day  
That albanoys could not say nay  
But that romans as put is memory  
By singular battle had won the victory   

Thus had romans first possession  
Of albanoys to obey them and to dread  
Mecius yielded and sworn to the town  
Never to rebel for favour ne for meed  
But he was double found in deed  
Of his assurance and falls to their city  
He was chastised anon as ye shall see   

again Fidenates a country of italy  
King hostilius for their rebellion  
Cast he would meet them in battle  
For common profit and for diffention  
Both of his cite and of his royal town  
And for to afforce his party in werkinge  
Of albanoys he sent unto the king   

To come in haste with his hole chivalry  
And tarry not in no manner wise  
But make him strong to sustain his party  
Like his behest as ye have hard devise  
But king mecius full falsely 'gan practise  
A sleighty treason and a covert wile  
again his promise the romans to beguile   

¶ Yet he outward pretending to be true  
Came to the field with a full great main  
living in hope to see some changes new  
That he on rome might avenged be  
And specially that he might see  
King hostilius of froward envy  
That day outrayed with all his ch●ualrie   

First when he saw the romans enbatailed  
And fidynates on that other side  
Their wardys' ready for to have assailed  
He covertly did on an hill abide  
And to nor fro list not go nor ride  
●or his person put in jeopardy  
But who was strongest to hold on that party   

Whereof the romans fill in suspection  
Of ●inge meenis when they took heed  
●ill hostilius of high discretion  
Through his knighthood put them out of dread  
And 'gan dissinule of meenis the falsehood  
And to comfort his knights of intent  
●●yde what he did was done by his assent   

〈◊〉 was full loath that his chivalry  
〈◊〉 know th'effect of me●nis treason  
Which cause might in all or in party  
Full great hindringe by some occasion  
●o dame in him falseness or treason  
Yet of troth the story beareth witness  
All that he meant was untruth and falseness   

Thus of manhood and of high prudence  
He to his knights gave heart and hardiness  
Made them set on by so great violence  
●●at he the field gate of high prows  
●n fydynates brought in so great distress  
And so outrayed on force on every side  
Tofore romans that they ne durst abide   

And when mecius saw them thus outrayed  
By a manner of feigned falls gladness  
Like as he had in heart be well paid  
To hostilius anon he 'gan him dress  
Him silf reioisinge by counterfeit likeness  
And for his meaning plainly was conceived  
So as he came right so he was received   

Thus when mecius stood in his presence  
With a pretence of faithful stableness  
And all thapport of troth in appearance  
He shadowed hath his expert doubleness  
Under sweet honey covert bitterness  
Friendly visage with words smooth and plain  
Though mouth and heart departed were in twain   

But hostilius hath all his fraud espied  
And his compassed falseness and treason  
And thereupon hath justly fantasyed  
A pain according I poised of reason  
Him to punish by a double passion  
This to mean like as he was divided  
A double torment for him he hath provided   

This was his doom and his fatal pain  
By hostilius contrived of justice  
his feet his arms atween charetties twain  
Naked and bore the story doth devise  
To be bound and knit in travers wise  
Contrariously the horse to draw and hale  
Till all his body were rend on pecis small   

And right as he was cause of great trouble  
Found aye in deed most full of variance  
Therefore his pain was made in manner double  
Right as him silf was double in governance  
Falls of his oath of hest and assurance  
And double in meaning as he hath persevered  
So in his end his members were dissevered   

His feet were draw from the heed asondre  
There was no joint with other for to abide  
Here was a leg/ and an arm lay yondre  
Thus each member from other 'gan divide  
And for he could hold in other side  
By falls pretense to other party true  
Him to chastise was found a pain new    

A chapter how princes should of their oaths and promises be true avoiding all doubleness/ and deception  

LO here the end of double falls meninge  
When word and heart be contrarious  
Oath and behest falls found in a king  
Of albanoys as was this mecius  
O noble princes prudent and virtuous  
Let never story after more record  
That word and deed should in you discord   

For king mecius vigilant of courage  
Whoos inward meaning was even on treason set  
Treynes contryving with a fair visage  
His thought his heart with double cord fret  
By bochas called deceit and falls baret  
Which vice descryving concludeth of reason  
Fraud of all frauds is false deception   

For with a face flattering and peaceable  
Pretendinge troth under falls pleasance  
With his panteris perilous and terrible  
Trappeth innocentes with grenies of mischance  
I mean deceit that with her countenance  
folks englueth simple and reckless  
And them werreith under a face of pes   

Puissance of princes famous and honourable  
Hath be deceived by this traitouresse  
And folk most prudent in their estate notable  
Hath be distroubled by such falls doubleness  
And many a knight victorious of prowess  
Hath been entriked for all his high renown  
By treynes found of deceit and treason   

Deceit deceiveth and shallbe deceived  
For by deceit who is deceivable  
Though his deceit be not out perceived  
To a deceiver deceit is retournable  
Fraud quit with eraude is guerdon covenable  
For who with fraud fraudolent is found  
To a defrauder fraud will aye rebound    

Of king hostilius that first wearied purpyll hew consumpte with fuylevene  

wHat should I more of deceit indite  
touching the fraud of king mecius  
For I me cast now finally to writ  
The fatal end of king hostilius  
Which was the first as saith valerius  
In room cite that auctors knew  
Among kings that wearied purpyll hew   

But after all his triumphal noblesse  
And many uncouth knightly high emprise  
Fortune tappalle the price of his prowess  
Made him to be in full froward wise  
reckless and slow to do sacrifice  
To jubiter for which sent from heaven  
He was consumpte with sudden fiery levene   

Here men may see the revolutions  
Of fortunes double purveyance  
How the most mighty of roman champions  
Have suddenly be brought unto mischance  
And their outrages to put in remembrance  
great conquest turned to woe fro joy  
For a rebuke I send them this lenuoye   

Lenuoye.  

Room remember of thy foundation  
And of what people thou took thy beginning  
Thy byldinge 'gan of false dissension  
Of slaughter murder and outrayous robbing  
Yeving to us a manner knowledging  
A false beginning auctors determine  
Shall by process come unto ruin   

Where be thy emperors most sovereign of renown  
Kings exiled for outrayous living  
Thy senators with worthy Scip●on  
Poetes old thy triumphs rehearsing  
Thy laureate knights most stately there riding  
Is by long process brought unto ruin   

Where is now Cesar that took possession  
First of the empire the triumph usurping  
Or where is lucan that maketh mention  
Of all his conquest by serious writing  
Octavyan most solemnly reigning  
Where is become their lordship or their line  
Process of yeries hath brought it to ruin   

Where is tullius chief lantern of thy town  
In rhetoric all other surmounting  
Moral Senec or prudent sad Caton  
Thy common profit alway preferring  
Or rightful traian most justly in his deeming  
Which on no party lyftnat to decline  
But long process hath brought all to ruin   

Where is the temple of thy protection  
Made by virgil most corious of bildinge  
Images erect of every region  
When any land was found rebelling  
Toward that part a small bell heard ringing  
To that province the image did incline  
Which by long process was brought to ruin   

Where is also the great extortion  
Of consuleris and prefecties opprossing  
Of dictators the false collusion  
Of decemvir the froward deceiving  
Of all echon the odious ravin  
Hath by process the brought unto ruin   

Where is become thy domination  
Thy great trybuties thy treasures shining  
The world all hole in thy subjection  
Thy sword of vengeance all people manacing  
Ever greedy to increase in thy ge●ynge  
●o thing by grace which that is divine  
Which hath the brought by process to ruin   

In thy most highest exaltation  
Thy proud tyrants provinces conquering  
To god contrary by long rebellion  
Goddys' goddessis falsely obeying  
Above the sic●rys by surquedous climbing  
●yll vengeance thy noblesse did untwine  
With new compleyntiss to show thy ruin   

〈◊〉 down thy pride and thy presumption  
〈◊〉 pompous boast thy lordshipes' increasing  
〈◊〉 thine outrage and lay thy boost adown  
〈◊〉 false God's plainly desyenge  
〈◊〉 thine heart unto that heavenly king  
Which with his blood thy sorrows for to fine  
Hath made thy ransom to save the fro ruin   

From old saturn draw thine affection  
His golden world fully despising  
And from jupiter make a digression  
His silue●en time heartily despreisinge  
Resort again with will and hole meaning  
To him that is lord of the orders nine  
Which meekly died to save the fro ruin   

Though mars be mighty in his ascension  
By influence victories disposing  
And bright phoebus giveth consolation  
To worldly princes their noblesse advancing  
Forsake their rightis and thy false offering  
And to that lord bow down thy chine  
Which shed his blood to save the fro ruin   

Venged mercury chief lord and patron  
Of eloquence and of fair speaking  
Forsake his service in thine opinion  
And serve thy lord that governeth all thing  
The starred heaven the spears eke moving  
Which for thy sake was crowned with a spyne  
His heart eke pierced to save the fro ruin   

Castup of venus the false derision  
Her fiery bronde her flatteries renewing  
Of diana the transmutation  
Now bright now pale now clear now drepinge  
Of blind cupide the fraudolent mocking  
Of juno bachus proserpina Lucyne  
For none but christ may save the fro ruin   

Void of Cirses the bestial poison  
Of cirenes the furious chanting  
Let not Medusa do the no treason  
And fro gorgones' turn thy looking  
And let Sinderesis have the in keeping  
That christ Jesus may be thy medicine  
again such raskail to save the fro ruin   

Of false idols make abjuration  
To similacres do no worshipping  
Make thy resort to Christ's passion  
Which may by mercy redress thine erring  
And by his grace repair thy falling  
So thou obey his virtuous discipline  
Trust that he shall restore thy ruin   

His mercy is surmounting of foison  
Ever encreceth without amenusing  
Aye at full each time and each ceson  
And never waneth by none eclipsing  
When men list make devoutly their reckoning  
To leave their sin and come to his doctrine  
He ready is to keep them from ruin   

O Rome roam all old abusion  
Of Ceremonies falsely disusinge  
Ley them aside and in conclusion  
Cry god mercy thy trespaces repenting  
Trust he wilnat refuse thy asking  
The to receive to labour in his vine  
Eternally to save the from ruin   

O noble princes of high discretion  
Scythe in this world is none abiding  
poise conscience again will and reason  
While ye have leisure of heart imagining  
You bear not hens but your deserving  
Let this conceit aye in your thoughts mine  
Bexaumple of rome how all goth to ruin     
Explicit liber secundus.   


Sequitur prologus libri tercii  

lIke a pilgrim which that goth on foot  
And hath none horse to relieve his travail  
Hot dry weary and may find no boat  
Of well cold when thrust doth him assail  
Wine nor liquor that may to him avail  
Right so far I which in my business  
No succour find my rudeness to redress   

I mean as thus I have no fresh liquor  
Out of the conducts of Calliope  
Nor through cly● in rhetoric no flower  
In my labour for to refresh me  
Nor of the sus●ers in number thrice three  
Which with Cythera on per●aso devil  
They never me gave drink onies of their well   

Nor of their springs clear and cristalyn  
That sprang by touching of the pegase  
Their favour lakkyth my making tenlumyne  
I find their bawine of so great scarcete  
To tame their tons with some drop of plenty  
For polip●emus through his great blindness  
Hath in me dyr●ed of argus the brightness   

Our life here short of wit the great dullness  
The heavy soul troubled with travail  
And of memory the glazing br●tylnes  
dread and vn●ūnynge have made a strong battle  
With weariness my spirit to assail  
And with their subtle creeping in most 〈◊〉  
Hath made my spirit in making for to 〈◊〉   

And overmore the fearful frowardness  
Of my stepmother called 〈◊〉  
Hath a bastyll of forgetfulness  
To stop the passage and 〈◊〉 my reason  
That I might have no clear 〈◊〉  
In translating of n●we to q●●●e me  
Stories to write of old antiquity   

Thus was I set and stood in double were  
At the meeting of fearful ways twain  
The one was this who ever list to lere  
Where as good will 'gan me constrain  
Bochas taccomplisshe for to do my pain  
C●m ignorance with a menace of dread  
My pen to rest I durst not proceed   

Thus my silf remembering on this book  
It to translate how I had undertake  
Full pale of cheer astonied in my look  
Mine hand 'gan tremble my pen I felt quake  
That dispeyred I had all most forsake  
So great a labour dreadful and importable  
It to perform I fond me so unable   

Tween the residue of this great journey  
And lityll thereof that was begun  
I stood chekmate for fere when I 'gan see  
In my weigh how little I had run  
Like to a man that failed day and sun  
And had no light to accomplissh his voyage  
So far I stood abak in my passage   

The night came on darked with ignorance  
My wit was dull by clearness to discern  
In rhetoric for lack of suffisance  
The torchis out and quenched was the lantern  
And in this cas my style to govern  
Me to furthre I fond none other muse  
But hard as stone pierides and meduse   

Support was none my dullness for to guy  
Povert approached in staall crooked age  
Mercury absent and philology  
My purse aye light and void of all coinage  
Bacchus ferof to glad my courage  
An ebb of plenty scarcete at full  
Which of an old man maketh the spirit dull   

And unto purpose this author full notable  
To his scholars there being in presence  
Full demurly 'gan rehearse a fable  
With many a colour of sugared eloquence  
thereon concluding the sum of his sentence  
touching a strif which he did express  
atween glad poverty and this blind goddess    

A disputation between fortune and glad poverty.  

QVod andalus whilom of fortune  
In strait place there sat glad poverty  
Which resembled of look and figure  
A reckless woman most ugly unto see  
At a narrow meeting of high ways three  
All to torn to ragged and to rend  
A thousand patches upon her garment   

She was hideous both of cheer and face  
And in seeming void of sorrow and dread  
And by that weigh as fortune did pace  
And of glad poverty suddenly took heed  
She 'gan to smile and laugh at her in deed  
By a manner scorning in certain  
Of her array she had so great disdain   

Whoos froward laughter when poverty did espy  
How she of her had indignation  
She rose her up of high malencolye  
plainly to show her entencion  
Without good day or salutation  
Doing to fortune no manner reverence  
under these words declaring her sentence   

O thou fortune most fool of fools all  
What cause hast thou for to laugh at me  
Or what disdain is in thine heart fall  
Spare not addle tell on late see  
For I full little have ado with the  
Of old nor new I have none aqueyntaunce  
Nouther with the nor with thy governance   

And when fortune beholdeth the manner  
Of glad poverty in her totorne weed  
And know also by countenance and cheer  
How she of her took but little heed  
Like as she had to her no manner need  
The which things conceived and sayn  
To povert she answered thus again   

My scornful laughter plainly was for the  
When I the saw so megre pale and lean  
naked and cold in great adversity  
Scabbyd scoruy scalled and unclean  
On back and body as it is well seen  
Many a be'st walk in their pasture  
Which day by day of new thou dost recure   

Having no thing to wrap in thy heed  
Save a broad hat rend out of natties old  
Full often hungry for default of breed  
Sleeping on straw in the frosts cold  
And where thou comyst as men may well behold  
For fear of the children them withdraw  
And many a dog hath on thy staff Ignawe   

To all estates thou art most odious  
Men with the will have no dalliance  
Thy fellowship is so contrarious  
Where thou abidest may be no pleasance  
folk hate so deadly thy froward acquaintance  
That finally I dare conclude of the  
Where ever thou comyst thy felaweship men i'll   

When glad poverty 'gan plainly understand  
The rebukes rehearsed of fortune  
The rude reasons that she took on hand  
Which frowardly to her she did entune  
As poverty were a refus in comune  
By the reproofs that fortune on her laid  
For which poverty replied again and said   

Fortune quoth she touching this debate  
Which of malice thou dost again me take  
Be well certain touching my poor estate  
I of fire will thy favour have forsake  
And though folk say thou mayest men rich make  
Yet I had liefer be poor with gladness  
Than with trouble possede great richesses   

For though thou seem benign and debonair  
By a manner counterfeit appearance  
Fat and well fed with round chekys fair  
With many colours of troth as in pretence  
As thereof faith were very existence  
But under all thy flowers of fresshnesse  
The serpent glideth of change and doubleness   

And though thy clothing be of purple 〈◊〉  
With great awaiting of many chamberer●s  
Of gold and pearl each day changed new  
Clothis' of gold and sundry fresh ●tiris  
And in thine household full many officeris  
Yet I dare well put in jeopardy  
With the to plete and hold chaumpartye   

Thus glad poverty 'gan wax importune  
Of cheer contrary of look and of language  
again this lady which called is fortune  
That of disdain she fill into a rage  
Behold quoth she of povert the courage  
In wretchidnesse standing disconsolate  
How again me she is now obstinate   

She cannot see how she stant outrayed  
Fear from the favour of my felicity  
Yet of pride she is not disamayed  
Nor list not bow f●r to obey me  
Though she be cast in mendicite  
Ferthest aback I do you well assure  
In mischief set of any creature   

But truly povert for all thy truaundyse  
Maugre thy pride and thine outrage  
I shall the punish in full cruel wise  
To make the lou●e under my servage  
Which resemblest a deadly image  
That were new resyn out of his grave  
And yet of pride dar●st again me rave   

But when fortune had these words said  
Glad poverty 'gan fall in great gladness  
And again fortune with a so deigned brayed  
She 'gan her conceit out she wed and express  
Fortune quoth she though thou be a goddess  
Called of fools yet learn this of me  
From thy ●eruage I stand at liberty   

Butt if I shall algatis have ado  
With the in arms most 〈◊〉 and vengeable  
touching the quarrel that is 〈◊〉 us two  
There is one thing 〈…〉 right comfortable  
That thy courage 〈…〉 and unstable  
And where an heart 〈…〉 divided  
Victory in 〈…〉 provided   

My lyf● nouther 〈…〉  
Nor the 〈…〉  
Though 〈…〉 language  
appropered be to 〈…〉  
And in despite of thy presumption  
I have forsake of my free volume  
All the treasures of worldly vanity   

Whilom I was as thou hast devised  
Servant to the and unto thy treasures  
But from thy danger now that I am fraunchised  
Seeking of the neither of help nor socoures  
Menace kings and mighty emperors  
For glad poverty late neither soon  
With thy riches hath no thing to done   

For though thou have embraced in thy chain  
Worldly princes and goods transitories  
And rich merchants under thy demeyne  
Yevyst to knighthood conquest and victories  
The fading pali●e of laud and veynglories  
But when eachone thy favour have recured  
Than is glad povert fire fro thy lure assured   

All thy servants stand under dread  
Quaking for fere of thy doubleness  
For nouther wisdom force nor manhood  
Fredam bounty lone nor gentleness  
May in thy favour have no sickerness  
They be so possyd with winds in thy barge  
Where as glad poverty goth freely at his large   

Thy manasing doth me no duresse  
Which worldly princes dreaden everyone  
They may well quake for loss of great richesses  
But I glad poverty thereof desire none  
As flow and ebb all worldly thing must go  
For after floods of fortunes tide  
The ebb floweth and will no man obyde   

flow and ebb to me both alych  
I dread no thing thy mutability  
Make whom thou list other poor or rich  
For I no thing will reqire of the  
Nouther lordship nor great prosperity  
For with thy gifts who that hath to done  
Of changes braideth ofter than the moan   

Out of poverty came first these emperors  
That were in rome crowned with laurere  
Fredam and largesse made them f●●st victor's  
causing 〈◊〉 ●ame to shine bright and clear  
Ty●● covetise brought them in daungere  
When they of folly in their most excellence  
To thy doubleness did reverence   

For when fredam a prince doth forsake  
And covetise put away largesse  
And streytnesse into household take  
And nygardship exileth gentleness  
Than is withdraw from their high noblesse  
The peoples heart and plainly to devise  
Of their servants far well all good service   

All such sudden changes in common  
In this world used now fro day to day  
Echon they come by fraud of false fortune  
Experience hath put at assay  
Love/ troth/ and faith be go far away  
And if that trust with princes will not tarry  
Little marvel though the people very   

For through thy changes of fraudolent fairness  
There is now used in every region  
Glad cheer out showed with covert doubleness  
Under the courteyn of simulation  
So fear is now adulation  
That in this world may be no surety  
But if it rest in glad poverty   

¶ Yet of thy perilous froward variance  
I set no store truly as form  
For all thy friendship concludeth with mischance  
With sudden mischief of mutability  
Which giveth me heart to have ado with the  
For suffisance in my poor estate  
Shall to thy changes say suddenly chekmate   

Fortune with anger almost despaired  
Of these words took full great grievance  
povert quoth she which mayst not be apeyred  
But I now show again the my puissance  
Men would little accoumte my substance  
O mighty poverty oh strong hercules  
Which again me puttyst thy silf in press   

Supposyst thou it should the avail  
either by force or by hardiness  
To have ado with me in battle  
Which am of conquest and of high prowess  
In arms called lady and princes  
For there is none so mighty conqueror  
That may prevail without my favour   

Of these words povert no thing afeared  
Answered again thus plainly in sentence  
Though I here have spear shield nor sword  
Nor choson armour to stand at diffence  
Pollex nor dagger to make resistance  
But bore and naked anon it shall be sayn  
Where thou with me darest wras●le on this plain   

Which shallbe done under condi●on  
That none of us shall him silf withdraw  
But still abide of entencion  
Till he that venquessheth ordained hath a law  
Such as him liketh again his fellow  
The which law shall not be delayed  
To be accomplished on him that is outraied   

Of whose words fortune again 'gan smile  
That poverty proffered so proudly to assail  
And upon this she stint a little while  
And to poverty she put this opposayle  
Who shall quoth she be urge of this battle  
Or give doom justly atween us twain  
Of this quarrel which we shall dareyne   

I ask also another question  
touching thy proffer of furious outrage  
Where as thou putest a condition  
And a law with full proud language  
Where shalt thou find pledges or hostage  
To keep the promise which thou dost ordain  
Thereof to abide the guerdon or the pain   

I mean as thus if there be set alawe  
atween us two or a condition  
●y surety which may not be withdraw  
As under bond or obligation  
But there is nouther law no reason  
May bind a beggar if it be well sought  
When it is proved that he hath rightnought   

The sect of poverty hath a protection  
From all statutes to go at liberty  
Andrea from all law a plain exeption  
Than followeth it if thou bind the  
To any law that may contrived be  
It were fraunde plainly to indite  
Which hast rightnought thy ꝑty to acquit   

Thou art so feeble if I came thereto  
That thou were brought unto 〈…〉  
For no power when all that were 〈◊〉  
Thou shouldest fail to make thy finance  
Both destitute of good and of substance  
And sith no law now thy person 〈…〉  
It were folly with such one to Iupa●●●   

If I would compulse the to wreck  
To axe of the treasure of king darye  
On that party thou standest far abak  
My payment so long should tarry  
Indigence would the to vary  
And if I would thy person eke compare  
To alexander thy sides been full bore   

And finally thou standest in such case  
Of misery wretchidnesse and need  
That thou mightest of reason sing alas  
Both forsake of friendship and kindred  
And there is none dare pledge the for dread  
Yet like a fool surprised with vainglory  
Hopyst of me to win the victory   

QVod glad poverty I doubt neveradeal  
That the victory shall pass on my side  
Pledge and hostages let them go farewell  
I axe no more of all thy great pride  
But to the end that thou wilt abide  
Pledge thy faith albe that some men saith  
To trust in fortune there is full little faith   

And for my part in this high emprise  
Sith I have pledges neither one nor two  
Moore sure hostage can I not devise  
But if so be the victory thou attain  
Than yield my body bound in a chain  
Perpetuelly like the condition  
With the to abide fettered in prison   

Than fortune lough more than she did aforne  
When she saw povert so presumptuous  
In his array all to ragged and to torn  
And had nouther rend land nor house  
It is quod she a thing contratious  
Unto nature who that can advert  
To a beggar to have a sturdy heart   

And if I the venquesshed in battle  
It were to me no worship nor advantage  
What should thy body unto me avail  
The to enprison straitly in a cage  
It should be a charge and a costage  
Thine empty womb each day to fulfil  
If thou mightest have victual at thy will   

And if I would my silf to magnefie  
token of triumph after my char to lead  
Men would dame it a manner mokerye  
And say in scorn take of that fool good heed  
How he a beggar hath overcome in deed  
fought with him for to increase his name  
Which conquest turneth to his disclaundre and shame   

¶ Yet when I have brought the to utterance  
My power shadowed and my great might  
And thin outrage oppressed by vengeance  
After all this as it is skill and right  
It shallbe couth in every man's sight  
Out declared the great difference  
atween thy feebleness and my great excellence   

Than to repress thy surquedy at once  
Cruel Orcus the tydogge infernal  
Shall rend thy skin asunder from the bonies  
To show my power which is imperial  
And to declare in especall  
povert recleymed unto pridis lure  
With me to plete may no while endure   

And suddenly or glad poverty took heed  
Fortune proudly first began t'assail  
And unwarly hent her by the heed  
deeming of pride that she may not fail  
Through her power to venquessh this battle  
But it may fall a drewry in his right  
To outraye a giant for all his great might   

God taketh none heed to power nor to strength  
To high estate nor to high noblesse  
To square limbs forged on breed or length  
But to quarrels grounded on rightwiseness  
For out of wrong may grow no prowess  
For where that troth holdeth champarty  
God will his cause by grace magnify   

Wherefore povert strong in her intent  
Light and deliver void of all fatness  
Right well breathed and nothing corpulent  
Small of deity surfetis to repress  
again fortune proudly 'gan her dress  
And with an ugly stern crull face  
'Gan in arms her proudly to embrace   

povert was slender and might well endure  
Fortune was round short of wind and breath  
And wombs great oppressed with armure  
For lack of wind the great arch them slayeth  
And many a man bringeth to his death  
For overmuch of any manner thing  
Hath many one brought to his undoing   

Amene is best with good governance  
Tomoch is naught nor over great plenty  
Gretter richesse is found in suffisance  
Than in the floods of superfluity  
And who is content in his poverty  
And grutchith not for bitter nor for sote  
What ever he be hath fortune under foot   

Covetise put him in no despair  
Wherefore poverty in heart glad and light  
L●st fortune full high up in the air  
And her constrained of very force and might  
For glad poverty of custom and of right  
When any trouble again her doth begin  
Aye of fortune the laurer she doth win   

Maugre fortune in the air aloft  
Constrained she was by wilful poverty  
That to the earth her fall was full unsoft  
For of povert the bony sharp knee  
Slendre and long and leanly upon to see  
Hit fortune with so great a might  
again the heart she mightnat stand upright   

To signify that poverty with gladness  
Which is content with small possession  
And giveth no force of treasure nor richesse  
Hath over fortune the domination  
And keepeth her ever under subjection  
Where worldly folk with their rich apparel  
Live ever in dread fortune would fail   

The poor man afore the thief doth sing  
Under the woods with fresh noties shill  
The rich man full fearful of robbing  
Ou● king for dread rideth forth full still  
The poor a● large goth where him list at will  
Strongly fraunchised from all debate and strif  
The rich afeard alway to loose his life   

Thus glad poverty hath the palm I won  
Fortune outrayed for all her doubleness  
Upon whom poverty in haste is run  
And strained her with so great duresse  
Till she confessed and plainly did express  
With faith and handem all her great pain  
To abide what law povert list ordain   

Andiin haste after this discomfiture  
Fortune began to complain sore  
But glad poverty which all thing might endure  
Charged fortune scorn her no more  
For it was said sith go full yore  
He that rejoiceth to scorn folk in vain  
When he is loathest shall scorned be again   

¶ Yet quoth povert though thou were despitous  
Words rehearsing which were not fair  
Strange rebukes full contrarious  
And reproofs many thousend pair  
Thou shalt me find ageynwarde debonair  
For though a tongue be slanderous and vengeable  
To slander again is no thing commendable   

Thou must concidre touching our battle  
The ordinance and imposition  
That which of us in conquest do prevail  
To bring his fellow to subjection  
He shall obey the statute of reason  
And accomplissh of very due debt  
What law the victor list upon him set   

For which thou shalt the said law obey  
With circumstauncis of the condition  
By me ordained and no thing again say  
Make no grutchinge nor replication  
Concidred first the falls opinion  
Of them that sayn all worldly adventure  
Of good and bad abide under thy cure   

Sum poets and philosophers also  
Would in this cas make the a gods  
Which be deceived I dare say both two  
And their error and folly to redress  
I shall withdraw in very sekyrnes  
Unhappy adventure away fro thy power  
That she no more stand in thy duunger   

This law of new upon the I make  
That first thou shalt all open in some plain  
Evil adventure bind to a stake  
Or to sum pelere where she may be sayne  
To show example to folk in certain  
That noman shall loose her ne discharge  
But such as list with her to go at large   

Hereof to make a declaration  
touching thy might of evil adventure  
Thou shalt forego thy domination  
To hinder and harm any creature  
But only fools which in thy might assure  
They of their folly may feel great damage  
Nat of thy power but of thine own outrage   

For thilk fools which that list unbind  
This wretch called unhappy adventure  
Of wit and reason they make them silf blind  
Like as the world stood in fortunes cure  
As though she might assure them and unsure  
And them dispose to wealth or wretchidnesse  
In their error her calling a goddess   

Such wilful wretchis that them silf betake  
To put their freedom in her subjection  
Of god above the power they forsake  
And submit them again all reason  
Under fortune's transmutation  
Their liberty full falsely for to thrall  
Namely when they a goddess list her call   

With a dirke mist of variation  
Fortune hath clouded their clear natural light  
And overshadowed their discretion  
That they be blended in their inward sight  
For to consider and behold aright  
How god above put under man's cure  
Fre choice of good his reason to assure   

The lord enlumyned of his bounteous largesse  
With mind and wit his memorial  
Toward all virtue his steppis for to dress  
Endued his reason for to be natural  
Of frowardness till he wax bestial  
To bind him silf contrariously in deed  
To serve fortune atwene hope and dread   

Thus bestial folk made her a gods  
Falsely weening she might them most avail  
With her plentees of abundant richesses  
And sum dame in their supposayle  
With unware change she dare the great assail  
whose trust always meddled is with trouble  
And her pleasance includith meaning double   

And sum affirm that she may advance  
Conquestis great and disconfitures  
And how it lithe also in her puissance  
To further and ponder all manner creatures  
And call her princess of all adventures  
The rich to enhance by royal apparel  
And by disdain to hinder the porail   

When she maketh most fulsum her profres  
Her blaundisshinge is farced with falsehood  
When her richessis been stuffed up in coffres  
They been aye shut under a lock of dread  
Wherefore ye rich of one thing take heed  
As your gadring came in with pleasance  
Right so your loss departith with mischance   

¶ Your greedy thirst treasure to multiply  
causeth an etike of nonnsuffisaunce  
In you engendering a false Idropsye  
With a sharp hunger of worldly abundance  
Making of you a manner resemblance  
With tantalus when ye do deppest sink  
Than is your nature most thrustleugh to drink   

Who climbeth highest on fortunes wheel  
And suddenly to richessis doth ascend  
An unware turn afore seen neveradeal  
When he least weeneth maketh him descend  
From such changes who may him silf defend  
But they that be with povert not dismayed  
And can with little hold them silf appayde    

How king hostilius worshipping false goddies was consumpte with fiery levene  

ANd while bochas 'gan muse in this matter  
Considered first all worldly thing must fail  
With weeping eyes there did appear  
Princis that whilom were famous in italy  
Which 'gan there fall full pitously bewail  
For more contrary was their falling low  
That they tofore had no mischief know   

For more uncouth is thilk adversity  
Namely to princes when it is sudden  
Which ever have lived in prosperity  
Having on fortune no matter to complain  
Than of a wretch that liveth aye in pain  
Of custom causeth conceived the sentence  
Of joy and sorrow a full great difference   

Of joy passed the new remembrance  
When folk been fall from their felilicite  
In triple wise it doth them great grievance  
The unware turn from their tranquillity  
The unsure trust and mutability  
In worldly power which that they have found  
Unto their hearts giveth a grievous wound   

But a wretch which in wretchidnesse  
Hath ever lived and never was partable  
Of no welfare nor of wilfulness  
Nor never found fortune favourable  
His sorrow his mischief been so customable  
That of his pains long continuance  
Doth to his grievous a manner allegaunce   

But to princes which sat so high aloft  
A sudden fall is most contrarious  
And their descending weal the more unsoft  
In their triumphs that thy were glorious  
Record I take of king hostilius  
Which in rome from his royal stall  
When he sat crowned most suddenly is fall   

It is remembered of old and not of new  
Of all rome that he was lord and sire  
The first of kings that wearied purple hew  
And of that city governed the empire  
Had of fortune all that him list desire  
Till that he fill in all his regal  
Into a froward deadly malady   

And of his pains to find allegaunce  
To the temples he went on pilgrimage  
His offering made with devout obeisance  
Whereby sumdell his pains did assuage  
And he was restored of courage  
Felt him silf that he did amend  
To common profit again he 'gan intend   

Upon Talbanys reigning in his glory  
To great avail of rome the city  
Through his knighthood he had a great victory  
After the which by full great cruelty  
He bereft them fraunchise and liberty  
And made them after through his high renown  
To be to rome under subjection   

After his conquest the story doth devise  
In his noblesse full stately and royal  
He 'gan make a rich sacrifice  
To queme and please for a memorial  
After the rights Cerymonyall  
To jubiter by full great reverence  
Afore his auters with fires and incense   

But for that he in his inward intent  
By circumstances of his oblation  
Was reckless found and also negligent  
By some froward false affection  
The goddies caught an indignation  
And suddenly descending from the heaven  
He was consumpte with a fiery levene   

His false goddies might him not avail  
jupiter Saturnus nor venus  
Let all christian defy such rascaile  
For to our faith they be contrarious  
And among goddies a thing most outraious  
Is when that princes blended in their folly  
List earthly things falsely deify   

For unto god is hateful and audible  
A withdrawing of his reverence  
To magnify things corruptible  
With undue honour with false concupiscence  
Wherefore ye princes be ware of high prudence  
Jest god unwarly punish your noblesse  
Make you in earth no false god nor goddess    

How anchus king of rome was murdrid by Lucynyo by th'assent of his wife  

Think on achus king of rome town  
Which was so noble shining in his glory  
Weryd a crown full famous of renown  
Next hostilius as put is in memory  
Won the palm of many great victory  
But for all that with a full sharp knife  
He murdered was by assenting of his wife   

He loved her best above each creature  
Considered not her flatere nor falseness  
Her double meaning under coverture  
Falsely blended this princes worthiness  
To rob and reave him of his great richesses  
Was her labour with counterfeit pleasance  
In her intent to bring him to mischance   

This anchus had a great affection  
Unto his gods to make sacrifices  
And to augment the relegion  
Of paganysme made in sundry wives  
Through his manhood and circumspect devices  
Upon Latynes rebel to his city  
For common profit he made a great arm   

One of their cities called polotone  
He knightly won maugre all their might  
And when he had of them full victory  
He abode no lengre but anon forth right  
Made all the people in every man's sight  
As prisoners this roman champion  
Brought afore him bound into the town   

Eke as I find this anchus nolde cece  
For common profit in his affection  
Their territories to augment and increase  
In all the countries about environ  
Toward the river where tybre runneth  
At the which place he let edify  
A full strong cite which called is ostye   

But not withstanding all his worthiness  
He was deprived the story telleth so  
Of his kingdom and his great richesses  
By a foreign called Lucynyo  
His wife tarquild assented was thereto  
By whose outrage and greedy covetise  
Anchus was murdered in full cruel wise    

How Lucynyo that murdered anchus was after murdered  

tHus fro the wheel of fortune he is fall  
Lucynyo in rome is crowned king  
And the romans after did him call  
Tarquyn the old by record of writing  
Which hath ateyned by fraudolent working  
And by his subtle forged eloquence  
Unto th'estate of royal excellence   

He first ordained in his estate royal  
tourneys jousts in castles and cities  
And other plays called martial  
With many famous great solemnities  
Sessions for states and degrees  
This tarquyn eke was first that did his pain  
In opyn streets taverns to ordain   

Eke to preserve his cite out of doubt  
If their enemies list them to assail  
He was the first that walled room about  
With mighty towers unlykly for to fail  
And had also many strong battle  
With Sabines in their rebellion  
And made them subject unto rome town   

But for he was assented to deprive  
Worthy anchus from his estate royal  
And after that took tanquyld unto wife  
Which slough her lord by treason full mortal  
God would of right that he should have a fall  
The lord will not which every thing may see  
Suffer murder long to be secre   

For Lucynyo for his great offence  
touching the murder of king anchus  
Islayne was by sudden violence  
Of two shipperdies the story telleth thus  
Which of intent were contrarious  
atween them silf by a feigned strif  
To find a weigh to reave him of his life   

For while the king sat in judgement  
Upon their quarrel for to do justice  
Full suddenly they being of assent  
Fill upon him in full cruel wise  
And with an axe the story doth devise  
One of them or any man took heed  
On two parties roof the kings heed   

This thing was done by the procuring  
Of two childre sons to anchus  
Which were exiled by false compassing  
Of lucynyo again them most irous  
To him their presence was so odious  
But they them shope though they were out of sight  
Their father's death to avenge if they myyht   

For of nature blood will avenged be  
To recompense the wrong of his kindred  
In this chapter like as ye may see  
Blood shed for blood thus both did bleed  
By which example let princes take heed  
how murder done for supplantation  
Requireth vengeance for his final guyrdon   

Lenuoye  

THis tragedy by clear inspection  
Openly declareth in substance  
How slaughter of princes causeth subution  
Of realms cities put out of ordinance  
Of mortal were long continuance  
Blood by supplanting shed of kings twain  
By example here showed falls murder to restrain   

The fine declaring of murder and false treason  
The deed horrible crieth aye vengeance  
To god above to cast his eyes down  
To punish this sin through his mighty puissance  
For it is mother of mischief and mischance  
Wherefore ye princes do sum law ordain  
Within your boundis three vices to restrain   

The vice of slander murder and poison  
Where ever these three have aqueyntaunce  
They bring in sorrow and desolation  
Put at a proof by new remembrance  
Of falsehood used under fair countenance  
Wherefore ye princes do your busy pain  
Within your bounds these vices to restrain   

God defend this noble region  
With these three vices to have alliance  
For sleaundre first devoureth high renown  
And sleeth good fame through falls dalliance  
Harm done to late followeth repentance  
Wherefore ye princes do a law ordain  
To punish their malice falls tongues to restrain   

God hath of murder abomination  
And false poison doth to him displeasance  
There is no pain in comparison  
Condign to murder poised in balance  
Wherefore ye princes make an ordinance  
Within your bounds of some privy pain  
By due punysshinge false murder to restrain   

O noble princes provide of reason  
again these vices to make purveyance  
Of rigour show due execution  
With your labour and heartily instance  
Let death be guerdon for their final penance  
To warn all other by constraint of their pain  
From these three vices their courages to restrain     

How for the offence done to Lucrece by Tarquyn was never after crowned king in rome  

tOuching this tarquyn of whom I now told  
As mine author maketh mention  
He called was Tarqvinius the old  
Which long in rome had domination  
Till his kindred and generation  
For the offence done unto Lucrece  
Caused the kings the names to cece   

For his son which after did succeed  
For his outrages and his extortions  
And for many an other cruel deed  
For his hateful usurpations  
His froward life and false conditions  
Among the people both still and loud  
He called was tarquinius the proud   

Full obstinate he was in his intent  
Ambitious taccroche great richesses  
Till that fortune waxed impatient  
Ageyns him in all his great noblesse  
'Gan her snaris and her crokies dress  
Thought she would but he kept him weal  
All suddenly cast him from her wheel   

A son he had full vicious as I find  
To all virtue most contrarious  
To be froward it came to him by kind  
And of nature proud and despitous  
again the people fell and malicious  
not loved but dread for tyranny of right  
Is thing most hated in the people sight   

This proud Tarquyn the story is well couth  
again Lucrece did a great outrage  
Oppressed her beauty in his unbridled youth  
His troth assailing in a furious rage  
For which his father and his lineage  
exiled were and for this hateful thing  
There was nevyr after in rome crowned king   

Her body corrupt she clean of heart and thought  
By force assailed was her Innocence  
Oppressed her beauty but her sprite naught  
Her chaste will did none offence  
But entered is into her conscience  
A great remorse for all her wifly truth  
To slay her silf which was to great a ruth   

And for that bochas remembreth pitously  
Her deadly sorrow and lamentation  
Writ her complaint in order seriously  
Which that she made for her oppression  
I follow must and make mention  
After mine author ꝑcell rehearsing  
touching her words said in her dying   

All be it so by bidding of my lord  
rehearsed have in my translation  
After Pierms here and there a word  
Of a full doolfull declamation  
By him remembered of entencion  
For her sake men might see and read  
What wifly troth was in her womanhead   

And john bochas list not set aside  
But that he would rehearse in sentence  
Her woeful complaint and thereupon abide  
Of wrongs done to her Innocence  
And though I can not follow his eloquence  
I shall sue the troth of rehearsing  
As in substance th'effect of his writing   

THe morrow next after this foul deed  
Lucrece uproos with a full deadly cheer  
Out of her face go was all the rede  
And dirked were her heavenly iyens clear  
All clad in black after the manner  
Of thilk folk which in especial  
Be wont to go to feasts funeral   

All her friends being in presence  
husband father with other eke also  
By and by rehearsing in sentence  
The circumstances of hirtely woe  
And or that I any further go  
Under hope my lord will me support  
What that she said I will to you report    

The grievous complaint of Lucrece upon her oppression  

FOr as much quoth she as I Lucrece  
Am by the law joined in marriage  
To the my lord whose love shall aye increase  
Towards the with all the surplusage  
Of wifely troth to endure all mine age  
As humble subject with faithful obeisance  
Under thy lordship and thy governance   

O Collatyn my lord and true husband  
Best beloved of hole affection  
I will no more no quarrel take on hand  
Nor in no wise take none action  
Without that thou list incline down  
Goodly thine ears to give me audience  
To that I shall rehearse in thy presence   

Injury done or any manner wrong  
again my worship or mine honest  
By the law my sentence is made strong  
It toucheth you also we'll as me  
I am so holy yoldyn unto the  
Thou art mine heed who clearly can discern  
Lord and husband my body to govern   

Partial causes in sooth there may none be  
atween us twain nor none disseverance  
For soot and bitter joy and adversity  
We must them weigh both in one balance  
counterpoise our sorrows our pleasance  
intermeddle all thing that stant in doubt  
receive our fortune as it cometh about   

There may atwene us be no meaning double  
But one heart one will and one courage  
And as woman that standeth now in trouble  
Without polisshinge of any fair language  
I must disclose to you the great outrage  
Done unto me and plainly it discure  
Which to redress lithe holy in your cure   

For the matter to speak in words plain  
A right out searched and the troth out found  
As a just cause undifferent to twain  
Toward us both the quarrel doth rebound  
And more strongly our matter for to ground  
rehearse I will so that ye safe it vouch  
A mortal wrong which the and me doth touch   

In a castle which called is Collace  
Of which my lord here hath the governance  
Tarquyn the young came into that place  
I full disware to make purveyance  
again his coming or any ordinance  
Tofore not warned of his officers  
Sat unpurveyed among my chamberers   

Of intent to eschew Idylnesse  
We sat and span wools soft  
For she of vices is a chief masters  
Where she is cherished and I set aloft  
But of custom as I have done full often  
I and my women duly as we aught  
To avoid sloth full busily wrought   

His entering was meek and debonair  
benign of port of look and of visage  
With a precence of many wordys' fair  
In whose meaning was full great outrage  
His cheer contrair unto his courage  
In this wise ●here ●e was received  
Whereby alas I falsely was deceived   

at privy face as me thought it due  
I him received at his in coming  
●oos up mek●ly and 'gan him to salve  
As appertained in all manner thing  
Unto the son of a worthy king  
And truly tarquyn for which I say alas  
Me to be ●●aisshe stood in the same case   

A kings son should of duty  
〈◊〉 to women wall and protection  
Prese●●e and keep them in all surety  
T●at no man should of no presumption  
Do them no wrong nor oppression  
●a●he● die than see them suffer unright  
●uer●singe the office of a knight   

〈…〉 contrary of knighthood he hath wrought  
By false outrage done ageyns me  
Wrong ways and crooked means sought  
Of laws twain to break the liberty  
And difface the authority  
Of law Civil and natural also  
In my person offending both to   

First by his subtle compassing  
He 'gan espy theseries of the place  
And when a-bed alone I lay sleeping  
Like a lion full stern of look and face  
With his left hand my throat he did embrace  
And in his other held again all law  
Me to oppress a naked sword I draw   

Thus afforsing my wifly chastity  
again knighthood he did this great offeence  
My life my worship put in perplexite  
Having no might to make resistance  
Me manasing by deadly violence  
The tone of twain to die in his intent  
Or to avowtry falsely to consent   

Thus I stood sool atween death and diffame  
My body corrupt my spirit abode clean  
My spousaile broken and my good name  
For ever disclandered that whilom shone full sheen  
Evil fame of custom will alway wax green  
Never die the people so them disport  
The worst of things gladly to report   

Alas alas among my sorrows all  
This one ● the most that doth my heart agrise  
I am not worthy that men me should call  
Or have the name in no manner wise  
For the offence which ye have herd device  
To be called in this wretched life  
Of Collatyn fromhens forth the wife   

Mine iyens also be blinded with dirkenesse  
Only for shame to liftup their sight  
either their streams or beams up dress  
Of the clear heaven to look upon the light  
Nor I may never be of the numbered of right  
Of true matrons among them far or near  
For to be reckoned in their kalendere   

Let mine Injury and this mortal crime  
Be so punished of right and equity  
Without delay of any longer time  
That ever after it may example be  
Through all the world and eke in this city  
With such a pain thereupon devised  
That all avoutours may be thereby chastised   

And if it seem in your opinion  
In this case I should be unpure  
I will receive just punition  
And the pain patiently endure  
If it so stand that peradventure  
You dame of reason that be so just and stable  
In this matter that I be culpable   

Her tale told when they long had mused  
On this complaint in their inward sight  
Of troth echon they held her full excused  
Made albeheft with all their full might  
To avenge her wrong and lucrece anon right  
Took a sharp knife or they might advert  
And rove her silf even through the heart    

The complaint of Bochas upon the luxury of princes as by examples of many divers myschauncies  

bOchas in heart brenning hot as fire  
Of very Ire and indignation  
again though princes which in their desire  
Have fully set their delectation  
Their felicity and their affection  
To follow their lusts of false lechery  
froward spousebrech and of avowtry   

He writeth again that seeketh occasions  
Places of lusts to have their liberties  
For to fulfil their delectations  
And for to accomplissh their great dishonestees  
devise out taverns in borrows and cities  
And sitting there among their company  
After the deed they boast of their felye   

If any man pyntche at their outrage  
Or them rebuke for their transgressions  
They will answer with froward falls language  
Andrea for their party allege great reasons  
First how it longeth to their conditions  
By right of nature as it is well couth  
Freely to use lechery in youth   

Affirm also how law of kind is free  
And so afforce them to abstain their party  
By example of david which that took barsabe  
And for her sake how he slough Urya  
Deed manslaughter and false avowtry  
For them alleging again right and reason  
For dalida the luxury of sampson   

The story also they frowardly apply  
How for a woman prudent Solomon  
The lord offending did Idolatry  
And in difference of their opinion  
rehearse these stories for their excusation  
Of their error thereby a price to win  
As tofore god lechery were no sin   

They not consider in their entencion  
Of these stories of every circumstance  
First of king david the great contrition  
Nor upon sampson how god took vengeance  
First how he lost his force and his puissance  
For his offence they have not this in mind  
Nor how both his eyes were made blind   

Nor their reasons they list not to incline  
For to conceive in their discretion  
The sprite of wisdom heavenly and dy●eyne  
Was take away fro prudent Solomon  
In chastising for his transgression  
And some doctors affirm overmore  
How solomon repented him full sore   

The play of youth folk called lechery  
Say it is a game of nature  
And to sustain and bereup their party  
How it sit well by record of scripture  
Unto every lively creature  
That stant in health and in coraious  
Of very kind to be lecherous   

Vicious report they have in remembrance  
But virtuous thing is far out of mind  
fleshly lusts and lecherous pleasance  
In their desires be not left behind  
Auaunting dying they can of new out find  
And now a days they hold it courtesy  
Othys horrible flattering and rebaudye   

In their advice they take lityll heed  
Unto the doctrine of noble Scipion  
Which commanded in story as I read  
To Masmysma full famous of renown  
Nat to touch by no condition  
Sophonisba fairest of visage  
But it were by weigh of marriage   

Though she were borne of the blood royal  
Her youth was set to all honest  
Daughter and heir to noble hastruball  
Duke of cartage the story ye may see  
And for her virtues of scinenyte  
She wedded was of birth as she was like  
To king Syphax which reigned in afrique   

And for to prove the great liberty  
Which is in virtue conveyed by reason  
And the falls thraldom of dishonest  
Of both to make a plain comparison  
After the doctrine of Censoryn Caton  
showed by him to folks in common  
That virtue never is subject to fortune   

Virtue conserveth measure and reason  
Considereth things afore or they befall  
Taketh none emprises but of discretion  
And on prudence foundeth her works all  
Aye to her counsel attemperance she doth ca●●  
Warly providing in her silf withinne  
The end of things tofore or she begin   

This was the doctrine taught forth of caton  
Lecherous lusts to put them under fore  
Granting to virtue the domination  
●luk●p vices branch crop and rote  
Fruit of goodness groweth up so sote  
When it is planted of youth in courage  
It never appalleth in health of his tarage   

Caton of virtue was a chief officer  
preferring ●uer common commodities  
Tofore prophets that were singular  
To enhance the common in kingdoms and cities  
Their wits poised and their habilitees  
persons promoting in whom it was supposed  
That they in virtue were naturally disposed   

Manly in heart he was aye to sustain  
Indifferent troth and all justice  
fleshly delights of folk that were unclean  
He was aye ready by rigour to chastise  
And set laws in full prudent wise  
For to punish flatterers and lechers  
And such as were open avoutors   

He had of women none opinion  
With them to deal for lust nor for beauty  
But if it were for procreation  
So stable he was found in his degree  
The book reading of immortality  
Which plato made the troth well out sought  
Therein concluding how souls die naught   

But liveth ever in joy or pain  
Thus wrote plato in his original  
Men may the body by death full well constrain  
But the soul aye abideth immortal  
For which this Caton steadfast as a wall  
For common profit to die was not afeard  
When he him self slew with a naked sword   

But to fortune afore his death he said  
O thou princess of worldly gods vain  
To thy flatterers I never did abraid  
Thy favour is so falls and uncertain  
That never I fought no fraunchise to attain  
As for my silf no partial singulerte  
But all for profit touching the comonte   

again cesat I made resistance  
To conquer freedom to me and to the town  
Freely to eschew his mortal violence  
This world despising in mine opinion  
Our franchise thralled under subjection  
justly forsaking the variance of this life  
My soul conveyed to be contemplatife   

This philosopher this prudent old Caton  
Tendringe in heart comoun comeditees  
Tofore his death wrote of compassion  
To them that sat in royal dignities  
Which had of virtue lost the liberties  
Princes beseching that were luxurious  
To take example and follow king Drusus   

The which drusus by succession  
Heir to augustus was next him emperor  
Set all in virtue his affection  
And it to cherissh did holy his labour  
To lust unleeful he never gave favour  
And touching love during all his life  
He never had lust but only to his wife   

And in his palace amid of his royal see  
Of noble princes dwelling in rome toun  
He axed was for all his dignity  
What manner courage of temptation  
Or what fervence or delectation  
Within him silf he had of Louis play  
Sool by his wife when he a bed lay   

And like a prince fulfilled of high noblesse  
Answered again with sober countenance  
touching such lust as followeth flesshlynesse  
Like as nature me put in governance  
In one alone is set all my pleasance  
For with none other for no concupiscence  
Save with my wife I never did offence   

Princes echon follow not the traas  
Of noble drusus as ye shall understand  
For sum have stand all in another case  
Such as can hold two or three in hand  
Now here now there as boats come to land  
Nat considringe their crees nor disavail  
When new fangylnesse bloweth in their sail   

Eke bochas writeth sum princes have be bound  
Which viciously have done their busy pain  
Virtuous women by flattery to confound  
And tender maidens to bring in a train  
Such manaces and torments to ordain  
them to transform from their perseverance  
And interrupt their virginal constance   

But of such folk that give no force of shame  
Nor dread god such treynes to devise  
Husbondmen forsooth are most to blame  
With foreign women to trespass in such wise  
I trow their wives them may enough suffice  
For many be feeble their debts for to quite  
Though they in change them silf falsely delight   

Sum affirm for them silf alleging  
To such outrage that they have licence  
Freely of nature to use their own thing  
And in such cas to no wight do offence  
But froward is their error in sentence  
from bond of wedlock when they be so unstable  
And tofore god most hateful and damnable   

For she that is trhough her high noblesse  
Named of clerks which clearly can concern  
Daughter of god lady and princess  
Reason called to guide folk and govern  
atween good and evil justly to discern  
She hath departed plainly to conclude  
The life of man from life of bestis rude   

This lady reason sith go full yore  
Gave unto man wit and discretion  
Taught him also by her sovereign lore  
Tween vi●e and virtue a great division  
And he should in his election  
Unto a● virtue naturally obey  
And in contrary all vicious life warray   

And to enprinte in his memorial  
how of luxure the great dishonest  
Disfourme a man and make him bestial  
And disfigure of what estate he be  
For when that reason of high or low degree  
Is fled away folk may affirm than  
He is like a best rather than a man   

Wherefore let princes that have been defectyfe  
To follow their lusts of censualite  
Shape them by reason for to amend their life  
And to conserve and keep their chastity  
Both of virgins and wifly honest  
And to punish all though that list labour  
The honest fame of women to devour   

For when a lecher by force or by●maistrye  
Defouled hath of virgins the cleanness  
Widows opprossed and by avowtry  
Assailed wives that stood in stableness  
Who may than their slanderous harm redress  
When their good name is hurt by such report  
For fame lost once can never have his resort   

A thief may rob a man of his richesses  
And by some mean make restitution  
And sum man may disherit and oppress  
A poor man from his possession  
And after make satisfaction  
But no man may restore in no degree  
Amayden robbed of her virginity   

A man may also bear a castle down  
And build it after more fresshly to the sight  
Exile a man out of a region  
And him revoke where it be wrong or right  
But no man hath the power nor the might  
For to restore the palace virginal  
Of chastity when broken is the wall   

Men may also put out of service  
And officers remove from their place  
And at a day when fortune list devise  
They may again restored be to grace  
But there is nouther time set nor space  
Nor nevir in story nouther red nor sayn  
That maidenhead lost recured was again   

For which men should have a conscience  
rue in their heart and repent sore  
And have remorse in their great offence  
To ravish thing which they may na restore  
For it is said and hath been said full yore  
The emerald green of perfight chastity  
Stolen once away may not recured be   

And hard it is to ravish a treasure  
Which of nature is not recuꝑable  
Lordship may not of king nor emperor  
reform a thing which is not refourmable  
Rust of diffame which is not inseꝑable  
And maidenhead lost of new or yore  
No man alive may it again ros●ore   

romans old through their patience  
Suffered tiraunties in their tyrannies  
And in their cite to do great violence  
The people to oppress with their robberies  
But to punish they set strait espies  
On false ●●●utours as it is well couth  
Widows to ravish and maidens in their youth   

Upon this matter the story beareth witness  
touching thexile of king tarquinius  
Afore rehearsed by writing full express  
The hateful death of apius ●laudius  
For his trespass done to virgineus'  
The iugementies rehearsed and the pain  
And fro the office deprived both twain   

Was not the cite whilom desolate  
Of Synachites for their ribaudye  
Of one sichen which 'gan a great debate  
To have accomplished his foul lechery  
When young dyna as books specify  
Went recklessly walking up and down  
To see the maidens of that royal town   

But when Sychen this dyna did espy  
Sool by her silf walk in the city  
●e began anon assail her by mastery  
And for to aforce her virginity  
Because she had no leisure for to flee  
Whoos great offence and transgression  
The city brought unto destruction   

Her father jacob and holy her kindred  
again this Sichen 'gan inwardly disdain  
When the fury of mars was most to dread  
To be venged they did their busy pain  
And specially her worthy brethren twain  
Fill on the city simeon and levy  
To avenge their sister and stroy it finally   

So mortally they 'gan with them strive  
With their swerdys' ground sharp and keen  
Of male children they left none alive  
They were so vengeable in their furious lean  
The Sychanytes might not sustain  
That day again them to stand at diffence  
So importable was their violence   

For where that god list punish a man of right  
By mortal sword farwele all risistence  
When grace faileth force goth away and might  
feebleth of princes the magnificence  
Change their power into impotence  
Reverseth the kings their stately regal  
example in Sichen for his false avowtry   

It was an hard dreadful punition  
That one princes trespass in lechery  
Caused afore god that all a region  
Destroyed was without remedy  
This story told for to exemplify  
When noble princes to women them submit  
Grace and all favour anon doth from them fly   

Of this matter what should I writ more  
In genesis the residue ye may read  
The death of Sichen and of king Emor  
And how their kingdom destroyed was in deed  
Of Sychanytes lo here the final meed  
Of lechery and of his false pleasance  
Which many a realm hath brought unto mischa●   

What should I eft rherce again or writ  
The falls avowtry of Paris and heleyne  
Their woeful fall Guido did indite  
Poetes echon eke did their busy pain  
To declare how only by these twain  
The worthy blood for short conclusion  
Of troy and grece came to destruction   

But often it falleth that much abundance  
Of worldly good with great case and richesse  
In folk that set all holy their pleasance  
To follow their lusts and froward wilfulness  
Hath caused in lands great mischief and distress  
When vicious life their courages did encumber  
Destroyed kingdoms and people out of number   

For when the people through false obstinacy  
Is indurate to amend them and correct  
And will not turn them from their lechery  
But aye be red● their souls to infect  
And unto purpose my style I will direct  
To exaumplifye how Gabaa the town  
Was for his sins brought to confusion   

Whilom this people called Gabonytes  
From beniamyn descended in their line  
Were aye disposed to follow their delights  
And of custom their wits did incline  
In worldly plenty to flower and to shine  
And dempt alway to them it was most due  
Of wilfulness their lusts for to sue   

In lechery was set all their pleasance  
And in that vice they lad most their life  
Whereby they were brought unto mischance  
And many slain by full mortal strife  
When the levity came forby with his wife  
Full excellent of features and beauty  
And took his lodging within that great city   

He was full old and she was inly fair  
He impotent and she but tender of age  
Through Gabaa making there repair  
The citesynes of importune rage  
Showing the fury of their great outrage  
So long that night her beauty did assail  
Till life and breath atonies did fail   

Contagious the slander and the diffame  
In judicum the story ye may read  
Which to rehearse is a manner shame  
To here the abusion of that foul deed  
And how the levity amorowe 'gan take heed  
With piteous cheer and saw his young wife  
Tofore the gate deprived of her life   

He hent her up and laid her on his ass  
To noise this crime upon every side  
Though in such cas he might do no lass  
Took a sharp sword and list no lengre abide  
On twelve parties he 'gan her to divide  
And to each tribe of Jacob he hath sent  
A certain party to see their judgement   

Which thing to them was hatefyll and terrible  
And in their sight full abominable  
And in all haste likely and possible  
All of one will and one courage stable  
On Gabynates for to be vengeable  
They gathered have shortly to conclude  
Tassaile that toun a full great multitude   

When they first met atween them thus it stood  
The twelve tribus were twice put to flight  
On other party great quantity of blood  
Was shed among them in that mortal fight  
For sixty thousand who that count a right  
Were slain there the story will not lie  
To avenge the slander of false avowtry   

Loo here the guerdon of the froward firiss  
In lecherous folk that will not staunched be  
That brent so hot through bestial desiriss  
In Gabaa the mighty strong city  
Which was destroyed for his inequite  
And almost brought of beniamyn the line  
Through his offence to eternal ruin   

Eke for his fervent dronkyn lechery  
Olophernes by judith lost his heed  
And all his host and all his chivalry  
Left the field and fled away for dread  
And he lay bathed in his blood all red  
Thus through their vice if it be weal sought  
Full many a prince hath be brought to naught   

These said stories aught Enough suffice  
If men would consider and take heed  
The great vengeances in many sundry wise  
Which god hath take for this sin in deed  
As in their books they may behold and read  
warnings afore full often put at proof  
How they them silf shall save fro myscheef   

Lenuoye.  

tHis tragedy giveth us a great warning  
By clear examples of many fold reason  
How many a prince for their misleving  
And many rich royal mighty town  
Many a city and many a region  
Have been ever sith full notable and famous  
For sin of princes that were lecherous   

The chose of god david the worthy king  
Prophet of prophets most sovereign of renown  
On Bersabe for a sudden looking  
To slay urye caught occasion  
For which he suffered great punition  
Chastised of god he and all his house  
For cause only that he was lecherous   

great repentance he had and great sorrowing  
And made psalmys of great contrition  
With woeful tears and manifold weeping  
To make a seth for his transgression  
y●uynge to princes full clear direction  
For to eschwe the flattery odious  
And the falls fraud of woman lecherous   

Whe● was there ever of science or cunning  
So renowned as was king Solomon  
Yet women made him through falls flattering  
To foreign gods done oblation  
Which clipsed his honour and brought his fame doum  
That was in whilom most virtuous  
Till he through women fill to be lecherous   

Is it not eke remembered by writing  
Of israel how the chief champion  
Which God's people had in his leading  
I mean the famous mighty strong Samson  
That through his force torent the lion  
But dalida with teries plenteous  
His grace bereft him and made him lecherous   

Sichem was slain eke for the ravishing  
●f young dyna as made is mention  
His father Emor brought to his ending  
Lost his riches in that descension  
And his kingdom brought to destruction  
Loo here the end of princes vicious  
Which them dispose for to be lecherous   

It is in earth one the most perilous thing  
A prince to be of his condition  
Eff●mynat his wits e●lynynge  
By false desires of fleshly motion  
To put him silf under subjection  
And thrall his reason treasure most precious  
To the unleeful lusts hateful and lechorous   

This is the sentence full plainly in meaning  
Where women have the domination  
To hold the rain their hooks out tasting  
That censualite hath jurisdiction  
To enter on reason by false intrusion  
Were again virtue most contagious  
To be vanquished of lusts lecherous   

It taketh fro men their clearness of saying  
Causeth great sickness and corruption  
And to all virtue it is greatest hindering  
Maketh men seem old as by inspection  
Appallith their mind and disposition  
Shortith their days thing dreadful and piteous  
When they dispose them to be lechyrous   

Noble princes in your ymagening  
conceive of women the false deception  
Namely of them that love but for winning  
And labour aye for your possession  
whose sugared flatrye is false collusion  
Like to sirens with voice melodious  
Anoint your ears to make you lecherous     

How Cambyses assenting to the murder of his brother mergus/ at the last slough him silf  

AFetr the death o● mighty king cirus  
Next came his son called cambyses  
Heir by succession full victorious  
Which tofore bochas put him silf in press  
And 'gan his complaint this is doubtless  
That they of Egypt in many uncouth wise  
To sundry goddies did sacrifice   

First unto apes they did sacrifice  
called Serapys their greatest god of all  
Regning in egypt most o● excellence  
And god of goddys' fools did them call  
And of his noblesse thus it is befall  
Slain by his brother which is a great wonder  
Severed on pecis and full far cast asondre   

And they of egypt made their ordinance  
Upon pain of death in their statute old  
A god to call him and do their observance  
Within his templis like as they were hold  
Whereof Cambices tofore as I you told  
All the temples of that region  
Cast him by force for to throwdoun   

The temple of jupiter to rob it by ravin  
Called amon without exception  
His knights sent to bring it to ruin  
But they echon for their presumption  
With sudden levene were smit and beat down  
Whereof Cambyses in asye though reigning  
Had this dream as he lay sleeping   

He dreamed his brother that called was Mergus  
Should in the kingdom after him succeed  
Whereof in heart he were so envious  
That he purposed of rancour and hatred  
By some mean to make his sides bleed  
And that his purpose should take avail  
A magician he took to his counsel   

And he was hold a full great philosopher  
colled comets full sleighty and cunning  
To whom cambises made a full large proffer  
Of gold and treasure to make him assenting  
To execute this horrible thing  
And that he would in most cruel wise  
The murder of Mergus compass and device   

And while cambices ordained this ●●eson  
To slay mergus his own brother dear  
God from above cast his eyen down  
Him to punish in full cruel manner  
For he waxed wood who so list to lere  
Caught a sharp sword and rove his thigh on tween  
And suddenly he died for the pain   

For two causes god took on him vengeance  
As mine author bochas doth express  
For his presumptuous and false disabeisaunce  
Spoiling the gods of her great richesses  
And for the froward great unkindness  
To give assent to the contagious cas  
When that mergus his brother murdered was   

The death of whom was chief occasion  
Of full great were strives and debate  
Eke final cause why all the region  
Of mighty Perce stood disconsolate  
For heir was none of high nor low estate  
By title of right through his unhappy chance  
To be there king and have the governance   

For the magycien called comets  
Which slough mergus as ye have herd express  
To●e his brother called dropastes  
And made him king the story beareth witness  
Because that he resembled in likeness  
Unto mergus of face and of stature  
To crown him king therefore he did his cure   

The death of mergus outward was not know  
Nor plainly publised in that region  
His body buried and cast in earth low  
Of whom the murder and fraudolent treason  
The piteous slaughter wrought by collusion  
And all the manner by process was espied  
So openly it might not be denied   

And in what wise the noise 'gan out spread  
touching this murder odious for to here  
When that oropastes occupied in deed  
The crown of pierce the story doth us lere  
There was a prince full notable and enter  
Called hostanes than 'gan his wit apply  
Of high prudence this murder out tespye   

While that oropastes under a false pretence  
Of ꝑciens was received as for king  
The saide prince did his diligence  
By inquisition to have knowledging  
By what engine or by what sleighty thing  
The said oropastes caught occasion  
In stead of mergus to occupy the crown   

On this matter he had a conjecture  
That his title was nouther hole ne clear  
The troth to try he did his busy cure  
And to search out holy the manner  
He sought so far that he came right near  
And in this cas letted for no sloth  
Till that he had found out the troth   

The cas was this plainly to termine  
He had a daughter full fair of her visage  
Which of the king was chevest concubine  
By whom he thought to catch advantage  
And unto her he hath sent his message  
Secrely to inquire how it stood  
Where that the king were come of Cyrus blood   

And bad that she should secrely take heed  
While that he slept to do her busy pain  
With her hands for to feel his heed  
And to grope after both hiseries twain  
And if it fill there is no more to say  
Upon his heed that she none ears found  
To tell her father of troth as she was bound   

This mighty prince hostanes knew well  
Right as it is recorded by scripture  
touching this cas how it stood every dell  
How king Cambyses of sudden adventure  
By his live for aforfeture  
Made of Oropastes the story saith not nay  
But his twain ears to be cut away   

And hereupon to be certified  
He was desirous to have full knowledging  
Which by his daughter when it was espied  
Upon a night dying by the king  
Groping his heed as he lay sleeping  
Full subtle felt and took good heed  
How he none ears had upon his heed   

And to her father anon she hath declared  
The secretness of this adventure  
And for no fere nor dread he hath not spared  
How that it stood plainly to discure  
And first of all he did his busy cure  
All the princes of pierce lo●de I fear  
To counsel call to entrete of this matter   

And when they were assembled everyone  
Of Oropastes he told them all the chance  
And how that mergus was murdered yorengon  
As ●●re tofore is put in remembrance  
Whereupon to set an ordinance  
And to redress these wrongs done toforne  
Of ꝑce land were seven primes ●rne   

Of one assent in their entencion  
●y bond of oath they made their assurance  
And a full secret comunicacon  
To put Oropastus from his royal puissance  
Which had all ꝑce under his governance  
By a full falls pretence of heritage  
For he was like to mergus of visage   

These seven princes of which toforne I told  
All of one heart and by their oath Ibounde  
Prudent and manly and of yeries old  
Have sought a time Oropastes to confound  
And with their swords sharp whet and ground  
Under covert in their apparel  
Came of intent Oropastes to assail   

And in the palcis whom ever that they met  
Or again them made resistance  
All of accord they fiercely on him set  
But the magician that was there in their presence  
Came ageyn●●ym by sturdy violence  
And at 〈…〉 'gan them so constrain  
That of the princes they have I slain twain   

But finally the other princes five  
When that they saw their twain f●eris bleed  
In all the palace they left none alive  
And king Oropastes quaking in his dread  
Full unwarly or that he took heed  
Was slain there guerdoned for all his might  
Of pretence kings that regne and have no right    

How Oropastes occupied the crown of Perce by Injust title was murdered  

For like thy mother if thou receive me  
And me accept unto thy presence  
I must thereafter so governed be  
To tell my tale plainly in sentence  
So that thou give me friendly audience  
And if I be not received in such wise  
Moore strongly my tale I must devise   

This noble prince this Corolian  
When that he heard his mother thus complain  
Full like a lord and a knightly man  
'Gan her embrace in his arms twain  
In lowly wise there is no more to sayen  
save like a son of due and right  
To her he said full like a gentle knight   

Madam quoth he be it to your pleasance  
To here my conceit as in this matter  
With faithful heart and humble attendance  
I you receive as for my mother dear  
But and ye like benignly to here  
The ingratitude done in most cruel wise  
To me of romans I purpose to chastise   

A son quod she touching their offence  
Done to thy noblesse and their great outrage  
They shall by means their trespass recompense  
And think thou art borne of their lineage  
And suffer that mercy thy rigour may assuage  
And think of nature thou mayst not well with say  
Thing for the which thy mother doth now prey   

Thou shalt not close thine entrails of pite  
To the requests of me and of thy wife  
Nor gynne a were again thy country  
To stroy thy line by new mortal strife  
Thy children and me to make us loose our life  
Weigh in balance to romans thine hatred  
Ageyns the love of me and of thy kindred   

Send home again thy strange soldiers  
Which been so ready the romans blood to shed  
Let stand in peace our walls and our towers  
Suffer thy grace thy rancour to exceed  
So that thy pity may put away all dread  
And condescend to receive for hostage  
Me to be pledge for their great outrage   

Behold the womb in which that thou were borne  
And see also my naked sides twain  
By which thou were fostered here toforne  
If there were lack thou woldist cry and plain  
Remember thereon and at me not disdain  
But unto mercy receive this city  
At the request here of thy wife and me   

Whilom my milk thy cherisshinge was and food  
To s●ynte thy cry when thou didst weep  
There sote dropys full wholesome were and good  
Thy tender youth for to preserve and keep  
And like a modere to bring the a sleep  
I work full often to the I was so kind  
Wherefore dear son on my request have mind   

If that thou list this city now torment  
Their demerities by rigour recompense  
punish me for them and I will assent  
To bear the gilt of their great offence  
But dear son let thy magnificence  
Suffer of knighthood that mercy may in deed  
Attempre thy right or thou to doom proceed   

Suffer romans to live in quiet  
Grant them peace again their great outrage  
Some drop of pite let in thine heart fleet  
And think thou art borne of their lineage  
Look upon them with merciful visage  
Which offer them self as they shall fulfil  
Their life their death all holy at thy will   

Remember of nature how that the lion  
Set aside his rage and his woodness  
To them that meekly afore him fall down  
His royal kind will do them no duresse  
Texemplyfye to knightly noblesse  
With rigorous sword thou shalt no more menace  
them that be lowly yield unto thy grace   

And when this prince this Corolian  
Had heard all that his mother list to say  
He goth to her in all the hast he can  
Bespreynt with teries that on his cheeks rain  
And her embraced with his arms twain  
And said mother there may be no letting  
Me hole of heart to grant your asking   

The siege he made for to avoid away  
And to repair home to their country  
And with his mother and wife he was that day  
With great gladness and solemnity  
Anon received into that cite  
Like as fortune him never would have failed  
But she soon after of new hath him assailed   

The gery romans stormy and unstable  
Which never in one still could abide  
again this prince most knightly and notable  
For to conspire of new they 'gan provide  
And banished him to Tuscan there beside  
Where he was slain within a litytell space  
For he the romans afore took to grace    

How Melciades duke of Athens with small number vanquished ●i C M ꝑciens/ and after by his comonte that aye of custom desireth a change of princes new he was chained in prison and so died  

Among other that put them silf in press  
For to beweyle their grievous heaviness  
Came of Athens duke Melciades  
Which through his manhood & famous high prowess  
And through his knightly renowned noblesse  
Like as auctors his triumphs list commend  
fought many a battle his cite to defend   

And of victories as it is compiled  
For common profit of that notable town  
Fought with a tyrant that was tofore exiled  
C●lled hippias which by false treason  
Had to king Darye made a suggestion  
Upon Athens in all the hast he might  
To ●●ise all pierce again that town to fight   

Six hundred thousand accounted was the numbered  
Of pereus armed in plate and mail  
T●●ym of Athenes by force to encumber  
Echone assembled them proudly to assail  
●ut this duke for no thing would fail  
Melciades but knightly took his place  
With ten thousand he met him the in face   

For both he was right manly and rightwise  
And of his hands proved a right good knight  
Set upon them with so prudent avys  
That they of pierce for all their great might  
Were four times put unto flight  
By thilk duke if I shall not feign  
And by the noblesse other knights of twain   

Themystodes I called was the tone  
Whice of his hand as auctors list descrive  
Was in a field proved on his fone  
The manly knight in his time alive  
Which thilk day so proudly did strive  
again them of pierce and such a slaughter ma●e  
That finally the field they have forsake   

Cynegirus a knight eke of that town  
The same day through his chivalry  
With bloody sword as he went up and down  
Without number in his melancholy  
Slough ꝑciens books specify  
That for the time that they no refute cunne  
Save to their ships for dread of death the run   

And there he wrought a strange great marvel  
As writeth bochas affirming in certain  
The greatest ship that bore largest sail  
With his right hand he 'gan it so restrain  
Like as it had be fastened with a chain  
Maugre Persians which did them sore grieve  
That by no craft they could not make it move   

But when that they none other refute wist  
Freely to escape out of his daungere  
Till they his right hand hew of by the wrist  
But with his left hand he 'gan approach near  
And held it still an uncouth thing to here  
That he had force so great a ship to let  
But than alas his left hand of they smet   

¶ Yet maugre them when he their malice seethe  
All were it so that he had lost each hand  
The ship he held still with his teeth  
That they ne might depart from the land  
Like as their vessel had fall upon sand  
Causer that day mine author doth rehearse  
Two hundred thousand were slain of them of ꝑ●e   

And when this singular mighty champion  
Cynegirus most uncouth of courage  
Had done this marvel as made is mention  
Of very anguish he fill into a rage  
Like a be'st furious and savage  
Run about alas for lak of mind  
In bochas book no more of him I find   

But in this process after I beheld  
Aye how that fortune can her friends fail  
For Melciades leader of that field  
And governor of all that great battle  
Causing victory as made is rehearsal  
Yet his people of malice and of ire  
again his noblesse falsely 'gan conspire   

They of Athens set him in prison  
And in chains mightily him bound  
Unkindly they gave him this guerdon  
For all the knighthood they in him found  
Yet had he suffered many mortal wound  
In their diffence and for their liberties  
To save their lives their town and their countries   

This was the end of duke Melciades  
Through the constraint of his strong bonds  
Eke they exiled the knight Themystodes  
Out of their town to live in the strange lands  
That was so worthy proved of his hondis  
To show the change and mutability  
Found in fortune and every comonte   

Lenuoye  

THe stormy trust of every comonte  
Their gery courages and troubled constance  
In this tragedy men may behold and see  
Now up now down as fortune cast her chance  
For they of custom have joy and most pleasance  
In their desires unsteadfast and untrue  
To see each day a change of princes new   

Corolian of rome a chief cite  
Was there protector through his mighty puissance  
Venquesshed their enemies set them in surety  
Brought in rebellis to their obeisance  
But they ageynwarde of wilful variance  
banished him twice and n● cause knew  
Save for to see a change of princes new   

The knightly nobles the magnanimity  
The policy the prudent governance  
Of Melciades duke of the country  
Where that Athens is chief town in substance  
When he their common gan most to advance  
The more unkindly in honour that they grew  
most they were busy to change him for a new   

Themystodes having the sovereignty  
Of knights all that barespere or lance  
During his time I take no more on me  
For comparisons do often time great grievance  
Six hundred thousand he put to utterance  
Unto Athens never found untrue  
Yet they conspired his exile for a new   

What thing may here flower in felicity  
Or stand stable by long continuance  
In high estates other in low degree  
Now flow now ebb now joy now mischance  
After fortune holdeth the balance  
And specially falls feigning and untrue  
Commons desire a change of princes new   

Noble princes in your prosperity  
On sudden changes set your remembrance  
Fresshnesse of flowers of braunchis the beute  
Have aye on change a trembling attendance  
In trust of commons is no perseverance  
As winter and Summer been divers of their hew  
So be they divers in change of princes new     

How xerses king of Perce for his ravin/ and covetise was dismembered in small pe●ys  

ANd tofore bochas full pitously wepyng●  
For to declare his deadly heaviness  
Came xerses next of Perce king  
And 'gan complain his dool and his distress  
Which in three things the story beareth witness  
And as the chronicle clearly can us tell  
All other princes in earth he did excel   

In high estate was none so great as he  
neither in richesse nor worldly abundance  
Nor none that time of so great dignity  
For as it is put in remembrance  
He had all Perce under his obeisance  
Nor never prince as auctors do conclude  
Hosteyed attonies with such a multitude   

Space of five year he had his ordinance  
sevene hundred thousand people he did raise  
Dempte of false pride again his great puissance  
None earthly power might counterpoise  
But sum auctors allow him not nor praise  
Because they he people to encumber  
Set all his trust to conquer with great number   

But manly princes have this opinion  
In multitude standeth not victory  
For knightly prowess of every chaumpion  
Which manly ●ast them in arms to have victory  
imprinted hath fix in his memory  
Martial triumphs god ne doth not show  
In number great no rather than in few   

This saide xerses by record of auctors  
Had also in chronicles as I read  
Three hundred thousand strange soudeours  
Without other that were of pierce and meed  
Which 'gan the earth for to cure and spread  
Dried rivers they did attain  
●a●f down hills and made valeis oleyve   

This was chief conceit of his fantasies  
To have all earth under subjection  
Thought his power reached above the skies  
Of surqu●dye and false presumption  
For as he dempte in his opinion  
How in his power plainly that it lay  
from god of heaven the heaven to take away   

But thilk lord that can the meek enhance  
And from their seys the proud put down  
And namely them that have no remembrance  
To advertise of wisdom and of reason  
To know the lord most mighty of renown  
The lord of lords which plainly to compile  
Will suffer tyrants to regne but a while   

And one the marvel that ever I did read  
G●●est and uncouth plainly unto me  
●o how yerses king of pierce and meed  
For to show a special singulerte  
Out of asia over the great fe  
As saith mine author whom I dare allege  
Into Europe made a mighty bridge   

sum men peraventure will thereat disdain  
And 〈◊〉 is a marvel not credible  
Yet craft in ●aas to such thing may attain  
Which by nature seemeth an impossible  
And as to me it is a thing audible  
Things to inpugne authentic and old  
Which notable clerks in their days told   

These new men that have but lityll sayne  
neither expert in craft nor in nature  
For lack of reason hold all such thing vain  
Though that it be remembered in scripture  
For every marvel and every adventure  
Is to strange to him as I rehearse can  
That lacketh the cause whereof the ground began   

This saide xerses had eke possession  
By the title of his father darye  
Of all egypt as made is mention  
But they of grece were to him contrary  
Wherefore he cast no longer for to tarry  
This proud prince but mightily werreye  
Lacedomynoys which would him not obey   

But one that was called Demeratus  
Which of that country had afore be king  
And was exiled the story telleth us  
That time with xerses in household abiding  
Which loved that land for all his exiling  
Gave them warning to save them fro mischance  
Of xerses power and all his ordinance   

He wrote them letters graven in a table  
All themprise of xerses out of doubt  
Of all his stuff and people incomparable  
And of his number and his great rout  
The which table cured was without  
Full subtly with wax I planed plain  
That of his sonde there was no letter say   

Thus was th'intent of xerses first discured  
Unto the greeks and all his falls werkinge  
But in one thing they greatly were assured  
Of trust they had by expert knowledging  
In Leonidas their noble famous king  
Which among Greeks of prowess & for sight  
Was in though days hold for the best knight   

Of chivalry called the load star  
The sum of knighthood that shone so bright ● sheen  
The berre up both in peace and were  
And strongest pylere his party to maintain  
The Greeks right hand their noblesse to sustene  
Charbon●le of arms mirror of policy  
And surest captain a field to rule and guy   

And as mine author remembrethe in his book  
How in this case he was not reckless  
But in all haste four thousand men he took  
To let the ways and coming of xerses  
And by an hill called Thermophiles  
Where perciens began first their voyage  
He knightly cast to stop their passage   

The murder of xerses outward was unknown  
Nor how artabanus had the treason wrought  
Till afterward within a little throw  
He had of new forged out and sought  
Falls odious trains that were never thought  
Told artaxerses as he 'gan with him rowne  
How darye cast to occupy the crown   

And how the death of xerses was ordained  
Only by darye and by none other wight  
Whereupon which aught be complained  
Artaxerses provided anon right  
The slaughtre of dairy and so again all right  
This young brother in his Innocence  
Was falsely slain and did none offence   

¶ You wit by whom this treason was compassed  
Tween brethren theyne to make division  
The younger slain and no thing trespassed  
most ready weigh to the destruction  
Of artaxerses for in conclusion  
When the brethren murdered were in deed  
Artabanus thought to succeed   

But artaxerses by pleyne instruction  
Of one that was called Baccarus  
By toknes knew the covert falls treason  
Of this foresaid double artabanus  
And how that he by treynes' outrageous  
Had xerses slain as ye have herd tofore  
And darye appeached whereby that he was lost   

But this uncouth strange treason wrought  
When artaxerses had knowledging  
By great advice ways he hath sought  
Artabanus to bring unto reckoning  
But specially he dread him of one thing  
He feeble was to bring this thing about  
Of his seven sons he had so great doubt   

But for to accomplissh fully his intent  
Full secrely this was his ordinance  
To all the worthy he hath his letters sent  
Dwelling in pierce under his obeisance  
Without excuse or longer attendance  
armed echon and especial  
To come in haste unto his court royal   

Cause of their coming was to him not know  
The kings purpose was holden secre  
And kept so cloos both from high and low  
That to his meaning no man was prive  
Except the king said he would see  
What numbered of men if it come to need  
In his diffence he might gather and lead   

And among other came artabanus  
Unto the court and list not for to fail  
A man that was cruel and courageous  
Full of sleights in all his governail  
Which thilk time armed was in mail  
For he with him none other armour lad  
Save on his back an haburion he had   

Than artaxarses being in his strength  
To him abraid of false affection  
For that my mail wanteth of his length  
I would with the change mine haburion  
The other having none evil suspection  
Vngyrt him silf would no longer bide  
Both sword and dagger cast them far aside   

And while that he threw of his haburion  
And with the mail stopped was his sight  
He being naked for short conclusion  
The king out pulleth a sword keen and bright  
And through the heart he rove him anon right  
And after that of indignation  
Took his seven sons and cast them in prison   

Of their end what should I more indite  
Nor of their death make degression  
God may his vengeance a while respite  
But murder will out and all such treason  
And for artaban had a condition  
Falsely to murder as ye tofore have sayen  
With unware murder he gwerdoned was again   

Thus ever murder requireth for his wages  
slander importable odious for to here  
A word diffamous most foul in all languages  
The sound horrible by report to appear  
A clyps during whose darkness may not clear  
For this word murder most ugly and unfair  
By a rehearsing infecteth all the air    

Of Duke palantes and Spartenois warred th●m of Myssene for ravishing their maidens  

aFter the death and fatal case  
And piteous murder of artabanus  
Next in order appeared to bochas  
A mighty duke called palantus  
Son of a knight named arathus  
Which was exiled though he no treason meant  
Out of his cite that called was Tarente   

Upon his exile he sore 'gan complain  
beseching Bachas to get him a space  
Within his book to writ his grievous pain  
Albe though he whilom stood in grace  
By glad aspectis of fortune's face  
For she him raised by favour of her might  
To Duke's estate from a poor knight   

But seriously this matter to convey  
How he was made duke and governor  
When Sperteyns 'gan mortally werreye  
again Myssenys as saith mine author  
With great costage and diligent labour  
And cause was this for they with mighty hand  
ravished by force all maidens of that land   

For this people now named Spartenoys  
As the story clearly can devise  
Were call●d afore Lacedomynois  
In arms proved manly and right wise  
And while they did a solemn sacrifice  
Unto their gods the people of Messenye  
ravished their maidens or they it could espy   

On which wrong for to do vengeance  
The Spartenoyse caught indignation  
And of assent with all their hole puissance  
They laid a siege round about the town  
And of one will and one affection  
They made a vow the siege when they begun  
Never to depart till the town were won   

Afore the town fully ten year they lay  
And fro the siege as they had made their oath  
They not departyed nouther night nor day  
But still abode and not a sondre goth  
Thereof their wives being at home were wroth  
To their husbands a messangere they sent  
Under these words declaring their intent   

Said it was not according with reason  
They like wydous to live disconsolate  
Without comfort or consolation  
Far from their husbands to stand desolate  
Mischevys considered that fall in each estate  
By long absence which each man should dread  
Through divers sickness that fall in womanhead   

The tide abide not for no manner man  
Nor stint her course for no creature  
And heard it is as we rehearse can  
Thing to withstand that cometh of nature  
Harm done by kind is froward to recure  
And there is found full little sekirnesse  
Where as nature afforceth brotylnesse   

This little sonde aught Enough suffice  
To declare damage that may fall  
By long absence folks that been wise  
sometime departed again men may not call  
That seldom is seen in love doth appal  
And no thing maketh more wives err  
Than disseverance of folk that be in were   

This was the affect plainly in substance  
Scent to their husbands which at the siege lay  
complaining they had had no pleasance  
Space of ten year as in loves play  
But desolate in sorrow and great affray  
Their life they lad affirming in sentence  
Cause of their constraint was their long absence   

And when the letters were at the siege read  
Tofore the cite in all there mortal strives  
They were astonied and 'gan to wax sad  
And very weary almost of their lives  
For to consider the complaint of their wives  
Till their captain a remedy out sought  
By whose counsel even thus they wrought   

First old knights that the siege sworn  
It for to accomplissh and cast them to be true  
His counsel was as they had height before  
To hold their promise and therefore no thing rue  
But young knights that were come of new  
Might as they list freely at their will  
Choose whether they would go or bide still   

And hereupon for their most avail  
In haste their captain as made is remembrance  
Of high prudence gave them their counsel  
That knights old liche their assurance  
Should of the siege have the governance  
And young knights most fresh and welbeseyne  
Should from the siege home be sent again   

They made among them a full strange ordinance  
At their home coming without difference  
To entirchaunge their wives for pleasance  
And take her first that came to her presence  
This was the accord among them in sentence  
most ready way to their opinion  
To engendrure and procreation   

There was among them quarrel nouther strife  
In this matter nor no variance  
For every man misused others wife  
To their desires as was to them pleasance  
And thus children through this ordinance  
That were engendered the cas is thus befall  
Parthenoys men did them after call   

Which in our tongue to speak in words pleyne  
After the greek who list consider and se  
Is no more plainly for to say  
Than thilk children which engendered be  
In avowtry wherefore in that country  
Parthenois of custom they were named  
Born of wombs which that were defamed   

The false occasion of this avowtry  
Caused after great mischief and damage  
That noman could as for his party  
By succession when he came to age  
By title of right cleyme his heritage  
For where a line falsely doth proceed  
Hard is to know by right who shall succeed   

The disturbance of false succession  
And titles cleymed afforced with great might  
Where that adultery hath domination  
And is supported of will and not of right  
And cleyme of troth hath lost his clear light  
Though their parties mighty been and strong  
God wilnat suffer they shall endure long   

And Parthenoyse peising all these things  
How falls assurance was in their synage  
The gyntill blood troubled first of kings  
For no man knew of high nor low parage  
His own father by liklynesse of visage  
Nor father none by his great error  
Coude give no title to his successor   

Whereupon followed a great myschhaunce  
Hateful to here through the country  
Each man troubled in his countenance  
Who should cleyme by any liberty  
To enter his land or to stand free  
Such doubt they had each man for his party  
So importable was their avowtry   

This great mischief who so taketh heed  
By long process made them to know and see  
How they were able as by lyklyhede  
For their outrages for fall in poverty  
And of assent they cast them for to i'll  
Under a capiteyne by strong and mighty hand  
For that country to win sum other land   

And as I read they chase duke Palantus  
Of whom I spoke to govern the passage  
Taking no leave the story telleth thus  
At their departing beginning their voyage  
They were so confus of cheer and of visage  
For there was none of that great rout  
To choose his father but that stood in doubt   

They held them silf very ashamed  
And for shame out of that land they went  
Like people disclandered and defamed  
Through the avowtry to which they did assent  
And to a cite that called was Tarent  
Which stant in Poile a mighty strong country  
This duke palantus came with his main   

And there he put through his great might  
The citezeines out of that city  
And gate Tarente full like a manly knight  
And there abode in long prosperity  
As governor and duke of that country  
Till that his people by false collusion  
Him to deprive sought out occasion   

They him exiled when he was fall in age  
Lo what it is in commons to assure  
Stormy of heart unsure of their courage  
That seld or never their friendship doth endure  
Men may to day their favour well recure  
And to morrow let set it at a proof  
They rathest hinder when men stand at mischees    

Of Ceson Quincius exiled and Grac●us take prisoner  

I Can no more rehearse of Palantes  
Duke and leader of Parthenoys  
But I will tell how Ceson quincius  
Came tofore Bochas with a full piteous voice  
His tale 'gan how graccus prince of Equo●s  
Both atonies 'gan their song entune  
most doolfully to plain on fortune   

This mighty prince Ceson quincius  
complained f●rst as made is mention  
How they of rome were contrarious  
And felly wrought to his distraction  
And full unjustly banished him the town  
And not with standing he was a dictatoure  
Him to confound they did their busy labour   

Cause of his exile compassed as I read  
That he was slough they saide and negligent  
Him to defend touching appeal in deed  
Which again him was brought of false intent  
Yet Cin●nnatus his father by assent  
●ayde for amendss as say Crony●leris  
Met out of land draft of three arblasteriss   

¶ Yet his enemies would not be content  
〈◊〉 proceed that he was exiled  
Did ●ytor●ion of his judgement  
As in his story full plainly is compiled  
〈◊〉 after never might be reconciled  
●hich I have pity to put in remembrance  
So little offence should have so great vengeance   

Grac●us of rome called Cloellius  
Prince of Equois mine author saith the same  
Was in his time notable and glorious  
And a great duke full renowned of fame  
But how the people of Equois took first their name  
Under support that no man have disdain  
I will the process declare here in certain   

john Bochas saith there is a nation  
Which that first were called hunoys  
And secondly also by succession  
Of full long time named anathois  
And olderlast men called him Equois  
Like as I trow mine author saith the same  
Of horse most swift they took first the name   

And as it is remembered in sentence  
By their manhood and famous hardiness  
again alexander they made a strong diffence  
On horseback through their great swyiftnesse  
Beside the hill plainly to express  
Which in chronicles is called Cancasus  
This people of Equois were victorious   

To their noblesse plainly as I find  
No thing in earth was more expedient  
In their conquest of Ethiope and ynde  
As horse most swift serving their intent  
Thereby conquering all the orient  
So great prowess was in their passage  
That Equois brought all Egypt to servage   

Thus where ever Equois did abide  
They gate great good to their possession  
And Graccus was their governor and guide  
Which by his steering and false suggestion  
again the romans fill in great rebellion  
But to withstand him they sent out anon right  
Cincinatus proved a full good knight   

He was well trusted and know in the town  
And for his prudence chosen a dictator  
His liflode small and his possession  
Albe he was a worthy werrour  
Which hath venquesshed by his knightly labour  
The saide Greccus for all his worthy power  
And home to rome brought him prisoner   

Cyncinatus in his chaar was set  
called quincius for this great victory  
And most solemnly with senators met  
Which gave to him for to increase his glory  
Laude of triumph to put him in memory  
And Graccus after for his rebellion  
With chains bound cast in a dark prison   

And there he died in full great mischief  
After his conquestis first famous and notable  
An evidence to us and a great proof  
How fortune is aye falls and unstable  
Ever double froward and deceivable  
The fall of Graccus declare can full weal  
That whilom sat so high upon her wheel    

Here Bochas rehercith the tyranny of Apias and falseness of judges  

Natwithstonding Bochas tofore hath told  
Of apius the falseness importable  
And his outrages and surfeits many fold  
To be remembered hateful and repreveable  
●t as him thought it was here covenable  
To more rebuke and spotting of his name  
●ewe to rehearse his slander and diffame   

The great offences of this apius  
And oppressions that he upon him took  
Made him grow so inly covetous  
Through his ravin that all the people quoke  
As ye may see in the second book  
Where mine author doth clearly specify  
His fraud in domys and his lechery   

Eke this tyrant remembered ye may read  
Chief judge he was with other officers  
Called Decemvir and through his pride in deed  
again the custom of them that were his feris  
He made to be borne standards and baneris  
In other wise of high presumption  
Than uses were before in rome toun   

These judges had a custom and manner  
Like their estates in their governance  
Each after to have borne a banner  
Where they went such was their ordinance  
By twelve sargeauntes numbered in substance  
But apius of pride and great outrage  
I changed hath that castum and usage   

He first ordained each should in his place  
Of Decemvir have a banner borne  
In their walking the people to menace  
An hundred men of arms them before  
And twenty over by a statute sworn  
Whereby the city bore great cost in deed  
And all the people were put in fere and dread   

To see the sargeauntes walk in plate and mail  
They thought it was a marvelous werkinge  
judges to go with such apparel  
In their proceeding as each had been a king  
And hole th'intent of apius meaning  
Was that he should of power and might  
Do what him list were it wrong or right   

The rightful punish and the guilty spare  
Favour wrong for bribes and for meed  
The people oppressed stood in sorrow and care  
Fond no succour to help them in their need  
Law was there none for reason lay by dread  
Will was judge and pleasant equity  
And thus by mastery was governed the city   

And as it is remembered by bochas  
Apias was lecherous of nature  
And caught a quarrel as ye have heard the cas  
again virgynya a maid clean and pure  
And for he should no thing in her recure▪  
touching his lust her father in that strife  
With a sharp sword made her loose her life   

And for this tyrant by falls rebaudrye  
Caused her death by hasty violence  
And for he should her beauty not mastery  
Dying a maid in her chaste Innocence  
Therefore he was deemed in sentence  
As is tofore made clear mention  
For to be chained and die in prison   

Eke decemvir lost their power  
And never in rome after bore no name  
Nor of that sect was made none officer  
And among all apius bore the blame  
Whoos crime reboundeth to his eternal shame  
As ye have herd who that can discern  
And than trybunys were chose for to govern   

And in bochas like as it is found  
The said judges in mischief did fine  
While apius lay in prison bound  
Exiled were all that other nine  
The good the treasure of them and of their line  
acheted was for short conclusion  
To common profit and increase of the town   

Lenuoye  

THis little tragedy doth shortly d●uise  
What mischief followeth for the great unright  
Vsyd by judges in many sundry wise  
For when favour blinded hath their sight  
And Innocence is borne down with might  
And in his quarrel poverty may not proceed  
Because that troth oppressed is with meed   

A judge should of equity despise  
To take gifts of any manner wight  
And ready be all wrongs to chastise  
From all gifts turn away his sight  
His hands close his ears stop aright  
And be aye ware for friendship hate or dread  
That troth be not oppressed with meed   

The noble doctrine and virtuous emprise  
Of philosophers that had so great insight  
Was this to judges that prudent were and wise  
For friend or foo their domys be so dight  
Of rightwiseness that the son bright  
Eclipsed never list men for their falsehood  
Report that right was put aback for meed   

Noble princes supportours of justice  
Called load stars to give the people light  
On apius let judges not practice  
That trouthis laumpe be clear both day and night  
Your office p●●sed that longeth to a knight  
Hol●up the balance of doom in your manhood  
That law in judges be not corrupt with m●de     

Bochas again the untruth of judges  

Sving upon the death of apius  
And his rebukes for his great outrage  
Bochas by writing wax somewhat irous  
again judges falls and thought in his courage  
They should be sad and demure of age  
And their life by virtue should draw  
To keep the precepts and statutes of the law   

They aught of reason them self to habyle  
To have science of philosophy  
And know their texts of canon and civil  
And thereupon their wittis' hole to apply  
For cunning judges by prudent policy  
Cause of ordinances in law comprehended  
Through rightful doom greatly to be commended   

justice of law doth rumys enlumyne  
sustaineth troth supporteth Innocence  
Of ravynours boweth down the chine  
punisheth robbers for their great offence  
Sluggy traauntes for their 〈…〉  
And feigned beggars that greatly dis● 〈◊〉  
constraineth them to labour and 〈◊〉   

Foundours of law by antiquity  
Caused in lands was suffered none error  
And made of princes the royal majesty  
To shine in worship by diligent labour  
Wrested courages of many conqueror  
That their triumphs no further should attain  
Than law of god and nature did ordain   

Will was that time under subjection  
Of rightwiseness by troth full well conveyed  
Sensualite was servant to reason  
And froward lust was under lok well keyed  
Sentence of statutes was not disobeyed  
The rich did right through every land  
Poor folk● lived by labour of their hand   

Lordship that time avoided maintenance  
Holy church lived in persitnesse  
Knigh●hode though days for troth whet his lance  
And false extortion had none interest  
Merchants winning came all of rightwyssnesse  
Artificers the werkday were not Idle  
And business of labour held the bridle   

women that age farced were nor horned  
Nor their tails were not serpentine  
Wise men of folly nor clerks were not scorned  
Which in science most freshly did shine  
Law disherited none heirs from their line  
Lesyngmongers fond that time no socours  
And flatterers were made than no confessors   

This golden world flowering in virtue  
Borneup by love grounded on stableness  
Of adultery sprang out none Issue  
Princes with doctrine established their noblesse  
priesthood in prayer knighthood in worthiness  
Each thyinge by law stood under governance  
merchants by measure and just peis of balance   

First phoroneus by diligent labour  
Fond out laws that king was of argyues  
The greeks study he gilded with great honour  
This politic prince avoid them from strives  
His statutes kept during all their lives  
Found first the manner bochas doth devise  
how to jupiter was made sacrifice   

Eke mighty ours whilom king of Crete  
Ordained laws again transgressions  
To fere by rigour f●lys that were unmeet  
And staunch of surfeits all occasions  
Made for robbers mighty strong prisons  
And dedalus his chief artificere  
Made laborintus by diligent enter   

And mercury borne by the flood of Nile  
As writeth lattance was of egypt king  
Unto merchants did law first compile  
Of weight and measure to us in chaffaringe  
And for his wisdom and excellent cunning  
Of old p●tys that whilom were so wise  
He called was god of merchandise   

Solon also the best laws made  
As valare writeth him silf to magnefie  
Athenienses thereof were full glade  
His great wisdom when they did espy  
They fond therein so much policy  
And ever he was ready for to debate  
again tyrants so sore he did them hate   

King Ligurgus yet whilom did his cure  
To make laws to common advantage  
And that they should perpetually endure  
He made his people be sworn of every age  
While that he went out on pilgrimage  
From point ta point to keep them in certain  
Unto time that he came home again   

And for his laws were of great substance  
And profitable to every comonte  
He chase to live in exyll and penanuce  
Never to resort again to his cite  
That his statutes by eternity  
Should not be broke as ye have herd toforne  
By the convention to which they were sworn   

To common profit had he such tendirnesse  
That he forsook his kingdom and kindred  
To live in exile his story beareth witness  
But or he died as he lay bedrede  
He bade his bonies should be cast in deed  
Amid these fer out from the strand  
That his statutes might in their strength stand   

He eschewed everich occasion  
As a thing hateful which was not fair  
That his foresaid royal mighty town  
Should break their oath because of his repair  
But touching that he put them in despair  
Cast him never resort in their daws  
List they would break the sentence of his laws    

Here Bochas maketh an exclamation of the extortion of the officers of Rome  

IOhn bochas hers maketh a digression  
And by rebuking cast him so t'assail  
Thilk officers that were in rome town  
Which by extortion oppressed the poraile  
And again judges also of italy  
And namely them that lucre or meed  
Set troth aside and took of it none heed   

He maketh again them an exclamation  
Such as to virtue were contrarious  
And under colour and occasion  
Of their office list to be lecherous  
Like condition unto Apias  
And finally as it was after seen  
Falls in their domys and of their life unclean   

O quod bochas o troth oh thou justice  
Which in your noblesse whilom did excel  
Where in effect is now your excercise  
Where is your woning alas where do you devil  
Of your practic full few men can tell  
So far put back is now your discipline  
Your kin exiled and your noble line   

Aduocatys that now done occupy  
Your old sees and places full royal  
All to falsehood their wits they apply  
Such covetise now reigneth over all  
Causes of civil and causes crymynall  
Their domys take where they be falls or true  
All after will by statutes changed new   

There been eke other called accessours  
Sitting by judges to give them counsel  
Which may full well be called raveners  
For they not labour but for their own avail  
A numbered of robbers follow at their tail  
To pill the people as ye have hard toforne  
Bore as a sheep that is but new shorn   

There is no more in this matter to say  
Save only this trouthstant desolate  
And rightwiseness dare to no wight complain  
With wrong oppressed weeping and desolate  
Wherefore ye princes that sit in high estate  
Such thing to amend but ye better heed list take  
God shall with you a full hard reckoning make   

¶ Your office is in your magnificence  
awene man and man all wrongs to redress▪  
And where a matter is again conscience  
Is to reform only of rightwiseness  
To stand by troth maintain no falseness  
And let wise counsel such matters examine  
Or ye of haste thereon determine   

Have such things in your mind among  
Think god will quite like as ye deserve  
You spot your noblesse if that ye do wrong  
His sword of punysshinge dread or it carve  
Let your reason and conscience conserve  
Your noble estates and think like your werkinge  
The lord of you will axe a reckoning    

Of Alcibiades exiled and after brent in his bed  

AFter other that put them silf in press  
Tofore bochas their compleintiss to discure  
Came of Athens alcibiades  
That t●me alive the fairest creature  
And as it is remembered by scripture  
He was discrete and was at all assays  
O●e the s●r●ngest and manly in his days   

He was first borne of full high lineage  
Above all other of most seemliness  
Well proportioned and hardy of courage  
Loved and well savoured for his great fairness  
Famous in knighthood for his worthiness  
subtle witted and could by eloquence  
Much comprehended under short sentence   

His wit inclined to many fold sciences  
Had of cunning a passing retentyf  
Loved clerks and fond them their dispenses  
Such as in practif he saw most inventif  
To read in books rejoiced all his life  
Kept what he red in his memorial  
And of wise counsel was none to him equal   

An uncle he had I called perioles  
Which stood in daungere of excessif spending  
Yet in his youth this Alcibiades  
saying his uncle pensif in looking  
Cast of wisdom to remedy that thing  
And for to assuage his hearts heaviness  
Gave him this counsel by great aviseness   

First to rehearse how the matter stood  
And of uncles woeful high distress  
There was to him delivered a sum of good  
To repair the temple of a goddess  
Called Minerva but for the great excess  
Of his dispencis he stood somewhat in dread  
touching thaccount which he must yield in deed   

Alcibiades hereupon musing  
To his uncle gave counsel in sentence  
Uncle quoth he let be your thinking  
And for your silf shape this diffence  
Nat for tacoumpte by mean of your prudence  
Afore provided with face and cheer unfeigned  
To such duresse that ye be not constrained   

And when perioles his counsel advertiseth  
Fond to his worship it was reasonable  
And by good leiser him silf full well adviseth  
And by provision prudent and notable  
Saved his estate from each thing reprovable  
So that he stood touching this matter  
As for accoumptis out of all daungere   

Alcibiades of athene chief captain  
From day to day wax up to great increases  
Such another was there no where sayen  
them to govern both in were and pes  
And all the city by assent him ches  
Of their navy in especial  
Upon the se to be their admiral   

For his knighthood they sent him out afar  
To Cathenois to be their governor  
Geyne Ciracusenes for to gynne awerre  
First there received with glory and great honour  
But in the end of his great labour  
Fortune that is ay variant and unstale  
Was to this duke not found favourable   

He was accused to them of the town  
Which in Athens had governance  
That he was guilty in party of treason  
By them revoked for all his great puissance  
Of capteynship and by their ordinance  
And fortunes falls mutability  
Vnwarly prived from all dignity   

But for him silf thus he 'gan provide  
Went into exyll not far fram that country  
Into a cite that called was Elyde  
There for to have freedom and liberty  
Andrea of his life to stand in surety  
For in athene they would have him deed  
Unto their gods to offer up his heed   

But when he was of their intent certain  
To Lacedomoyn he took the right way  
And by relation there he heard say  
How Cathemenses were put to a fray  
In a battle upon a certain day  
Which that they held to their adversity  
Geyne Cathenoys as they fought on the see   

But the cause of this discomfiture  
As was told to alcibyades  
Was by three captains through their misadventure  
Which in their leading were found reckless  
The chief of them named domestenes  
The t'other called the story telleth us  
The tone Niceas the t'other Eurilocus   

Alcibiades having hereof tydinge  
To avenge his wrong put him silf in pres  
Of Lacedomoyn he goth first to the king  
Which of troth was called Agydes  
beseching him to grant to his increases  
Certain soldiers out of his country  
For to werreye athenoys the cite   

Thus he wax strong of noble providence  
Had great people under his governance  
And like a duke made strong in his defence  
The people gathered to his obeisance  
That other princes which were of high puissance  
'Gan have envy of wilful frowardness  
And to malign again his high noblesse   

For ceil or never in any region  
Prowess of arms nobles of chivalry  
Encres of riches report of high renown  
Fame of cunning in craft or in clergy  
May nowhere devil without sum envy  
From whose malice as folk expert may see  
Save only wretchis no man hath liberty   

For which this prince as put is in memory  
Escaped not for all his high parage  
But that some envy at his glory  
For in this life no man hath advantage  
again tongues nor odious falls language  
To stop such venom this the best obstacle  
That men with sufferance tempre their treacle   

The clear prowess of Alcibiades  
Stained the nobles of other princes  
His cure him raised up to so great increases  
To the heghest throne of fortune's hall  
Such fatal grace is unto him fall  
That in though days plainly this is no fable  
There was in knighthood none to him resemblable   

In his exyll so clear his renown shone  
And through Grece gave as great brightness  
As doth a tube above each other stone  
Yet for to clips and shadow his worthiness  
Lacedomonois did their business  
Such as not might to his noblesse attain  
By false report his renown to restrain   

A wait was laid to take him at mischief  
And many treynes were searched out and sought  
Of intent to put him at repreef  
But all that ever again him they have wrought  
At the end the purpose came to naught  
For god provideth of his magnificence  
again such malice to save innocence   

He was likely to fall in great daungere  
Lacedomonois 'gan so at him disdain  
Because his honour and nobles shone so clear  
That to his fone it was a deadly pain  
And thus his life stood in no certain  
For all be it he manly was and wise  
He knew no thing their purpose nor malice   

He had almost I warned be to late  
And like to have stand in great perplexite  
And more his grace and fortune tabate  
By thoccasion of his great beute  
He with the queen was waxen full prive  
For in her grace so well stood there none  
Which gave him warning of them that were his fone   

And by the counsel only of the queen  
from Lacedomoyne he wisly took his flylght  
Toward Athens and thought he would seen  
His own country full like a manly knight  
And though they had not governed them aright  
Towardys him being in distress  
To avenge his wrong he did them no duresse   

For he thought it was again nature  
To be vengeable or show his cruelty  
By thoccasion of any adventure  
Or gynne a were upon his country  
His natyf blood moved him to pite  
And of very natural gentleness  
Was deboneyre again their unkindness   

The cas was this for short conclusion  
How king Dary with great apparel  
Thought to werreye of indignation  
them of Athens and their town t'assail  
And in purpose proudly to prevail  
Thes●fferenes a prince of great puissance  
Of Daryes' power had all the governance   

Final cause and ground of all this were  
That darius 'gan on them so hastily  
And that he sent his puissance from so far  
For to destroy Athens utterly  
Was to hold up and sustain the party  
Of lacedomoyne which of old hatred  
Were ever envious them to oppress in deed   

●ut by mean of Alcibiades  
And his treat founded on prudence  
Thesifferenes inclined to the pes  
Thereby in party tappeses his violence  
And all was done of noble providence  
And fro the place to which he was exiled  
He to Athens should be reconciled   

Unto the cite he did signify  
How darius had made his ordinance  
And by his letters he 'gan them specify  
If they would stand at his governance  
To condescend plainly in substance  
He would labour and no longer tarry  
To make accord atween t●eym and king dairy   

This was the mean that he meant  
Within Athens that the sanatours  
Should of the cite after their intent  
Have full lordship and be their governors  
But as clear weddyr troubled is with showers  
Right so unwarly within that royal town  
Through this treat fill a dissension   

The commoners 'gan suddenly disdain  
To be so thralled under subjection  
And so by assent the commons did ordain  
only tappeses all false dissension  
For to revoke again into their town  
Alcibiades as they thought it meet  
Through his prudence to set them in quiet   

First in his coming mine author doth report  
He was made duke again of that cite  
And 'gan the party of commons to support  
And them restore to their old liberty  
Where through the senate dreading the comonte  
Fled into exyll full far out of all press  
only for dread of alcibyades   

They stood that time in so great disjoint  
Their town divided and out of governance  
That they were brought even to the point  
To yield the city unto the obeisance  
Of lacedomoyn through their unhappy chance  
Within them silf when they 'gan debate  
Under their duke the Senate bore such hate   

But the commons ches in their dyffence  
Alcibyades to govern that viage  
And to the see with cost and great dispense  
Without abode he holdeth his passage  
In mighty ships made for advantage  
Well enarmed and cast if he might  
With lacedomonois proudly for to fight   

Three mighty captains were on that other side  
The first zestro bochas telleth thus  
And the second that was their lord and guide  
Called Mydare the third pharbanasus  
On the se and land in arms full pompous  
But of knighthood and magnanimity  
Alcibiades took them all three   

Strong was the fight or that they were take  
Of all their main away there scaped none  
The duke that day 'gan such a slaughter make  
Of high prowess upon his mortal fone  
Cast over board almooost everychon  
And after that when he came to land  
Anew battle met him on the strande   

Such wait was laid about him environ  
Of his enemies by sudden adventure  
But of athens this mighty champion  
Which might in arms most sovereignly endure  
Made of his fone a new discomfiture  
Thus in short time this prince in his estate  
On land and water was twice laureate   

And after that he list not for to cease  
Nor tabyde the space of half a day  
The common profit of his town tincrease  
Toward Asye he took the right way  
And touns castles that were take away  
Which appertained to Athens of right  
He gate again full like a manly knight   

Maugre all that to him were contrary  
Or wrought again him by rebellion  
throughout asye in the land of darye  
He knightly brought them to subjection  
again whose sword halpe no protection  
And final labour was of his intent  
The common profit of his town to augment   

And with this glory and with this noblesse  
He to Athens repaired is again  
And all the cite with joy and great gladness  
Came out to meet him upon welfayre plain  
And that his triumphs should openly be sayen  
Both old and young with full glad visages  
Of their goddies brought out the images   

This was their cry and noise of all the press  
Victorious prince whose triumphs martial  
Shall ever be song with laud and new increases  
Tofore the goddies which been immortal  
Welcome welcome our protector and our wall  
Shield of our welfare again all violence  
Phoebus of knighthood and sword of our diffence   

Thus with thei● goddies they made him equal  
By uncouth preysurge of paganismes rights  
Like as he had be very immortal  
And sang refreytes to comende his merits  
And to enhance his glory they set all their delights  
And with the light of eternal fame  
Set up torches to enlumyne with his name   

Thus certain days they hallowed of intent  
Through all the cite for his high prowess  
Till fortune hath his iyens blended  
With new favour of worldly falls sweetness  
For all her sugar is meynt with bitterness  
A bait of honey shed out at prime face  
With mortal venom hid under to menace   

For in his highest climbing up aloft  
And in thascent of fortunes wheel  
After her custom as she hath full oft  
When he best wend for to stand weal  
She drew her favour from him everydeal  
Made the people under his obeisance  
To fall in mischief for lack of governance   

Thus fro this duke fortune 'gan to vary  
And his noblesse go back and eke fail  
When king Cirus successor to darye  
Full unwarely fill on him in battle  
And 'gan his knights proudly to assail  
When he dispurveyed void of providence  
Was overlayed to make resistance   

For finally this alcibiades  
At mischief take which he might not recure  
When through vain glory he was made reckless  
His noble estate testablisshe and assure  
Lack of foresight caused his discomfiture  
And to increases of more adversity  
banished again out of his cite   

Thus diffaced and clipsed was his glory  
His city put in strange governance  
By lacedomonois after their victory  
So that he knew no manner chevisance  
To reform his unhappy chance  
Save to refute mine author doth rehearse  
How that he fled unto the king of pierce   

From Athens of new he was exiled  
And thritty persons furious and vengeable  
Chase in their cite as bochas hath compiled  
The town governed albe they were not able  
Using a manner hateful and reprovable  
Through their ravin temporisshe their cite  
A thing most odious to all comonte   

A worm of dread was bred up in their heart  
Which suffered not them to live in peace  
Among them silf when they did advert  
The great prudence of alcibyades  
How in manhood he was peerless  
List he would after for all their multitude  
Knightly acquit their ingratitude   

And of assent to abridge his live days  
They again him of malice have conspired  
After his exill to make no delays  
For to accomplyssh that they long have desired  
With brenning hate their hearts falsely fired  
To murder by envy causes again right  
Alcibiades the noble worthy knight   

Thus the time approached and the date  
T●●me afore set by constellation  
Of his parodye and his lives fate  
Which was concluded as made is mention  
By cruel murder to his destruction  
Alas what prince with gold or soldiers  
●ay 〈◊〉 provide again false conspirators   

Fortune of new 'gan at him enchase  
From her trains that he ne scape might  
Daily pursued from place ay unto place  
Through pierce & meed though he were out of sight  
Till that his enemies fill on him by night  
Sleeping alas to soon they were sped  
When they him fond they brent him in his bed   

T●us by murder their purpose was achieved  
Alas it was to horrible a deed  
〈◊〉 good a knight so we'll in arms proved  
So ●●o●ed so famous in manhood  
For to be brent among the coals read  
〈◊〉 unwarly in his bed I take  
And so confirmed among the coals black   

This was the end of alcibiades  
Which in k●ighthode was most sovereign  
In were a lion and a lamb in peace  
As ●ars victorious his sat so did ordain  
To ●amys palace he fleeth with wings twain  
son to Mynarua to speak of high prudence  
And like mercury by notable eloquence    

Here Bochas maketh an exclamation upon the death of Alcibiades  

O Fatal sistren which span the lives thread  
So short a term why did ye determine  
To suffer him burn among the coals read  
You were to hasty to break and untwine  
His web of knighthood that through the world did shine  
And cast of noblesse his beams out so clear  
Alas that ever he fill in your daungere   

Out on Styx and on attrapos  
That have of malice slain so good a knight  
Out on you three that keep your silf so clos  
Daughter I called of the dark night  
And thou le●um that queyntest eke the light  
Of alcibiades mirror and lantern  
To speak in knighthood how men should them gounne   

You slay the worthy and wretchis ye do spare  
Torcites liveth hector is slain in deed  
Your funeral smokis maketh realms now so bore  
To raze up Cedries their branches may not spread  
You pall the laurer ye make the firses sede  
Full little thank in kingdoms ye deserve  
caitiffs to foster and do the worthy starve   

Alcibiades is passed in to fate  
Light of knighthood light eclipsed in the shade  
The par●as susterne to soon set his date  
Of his high noblesse to make the laurer fade  
Lacedomonois of his death were glad  
Funeral fire his body hath diffred  
For high prowess his soul stellefied   

Lenuoye  

ALas this tragedy doth mine heart bleed  
My pen quaketh of ruth and of pity  
In my writing when that I take heed  
To see the strange fearful diversity  
Of all worldly unsure felicity  
How from their sees shortly to comprehend  
froward fortune doth princes down descend   

Alcibiades of courage and of manhood  
As is rehearsed in books ye may see  
Of gentleness and of goodlihede  
Of seemliness of freedom of bounty  
Of high prudence and magnanimity  
Was most famous as auctors him commend  
Yet from his seat fortune made him descend   

All the people both of pierce and meed  
While he governed Athens the cite  
Stood in his daungere and 'gan his sword to dread  
And all that were rebel to his country  
He chastised them in their most cruelty  
But when his fame 'gan highest up to ascend  
Down from her wheel fortune made him descend   

Murdre and treason with prudens frendlihede  
Outward fair cheer covert iniquity  
pleasance in speech and under that falsehood  
honey shedoute sharp tailed like a be  
Song of sirens to drown men in the see  
In one combined their malice can extend  
To 'cause princes down from their sees descend   

Noble princes that see so much and read  
remembering stories of antiquity  
Afore prou●●nge that treason not proceed  
Be ay most dreadful in high prosperity  
Let others falling a mirror to you be  
The turn of fortune all auctors reprehend  
Where who sit highest is readiest to descend     

Here bochas writeth again the desires of people.  

aFter this process if ye list to lere  
Like as john Bochas maketh mention  
That worldly folk most soverenly desere  
To have in lordship great axaltation  
And up to climb in their intention  
Of worldly worship to the highest place  
All earthly treasure atonies to embrace   

The fervent flame of their greedy desires  
In much gathering findeth no suffisance  
Their hungry etike kindleth so the fires  
Of avarice by long continuance  
That their thrust with worldly abundance  
On tantalus rivere abraideth ever in one  
drowned in drinking and dame their partis none   

There may no treasure their dropsy well staunch  
The more they drink the more they thirst in deed  
In tagus' floods the depper that they launch  
The greater dryness doth in their breasts breed  
The higher water an ebb most they dread  
Falls indigence their heart hath so confounded  
At the fullest sees they seem their barge is grounded   

Thus every man would to great richesses attain  
With suffisance but few hold them content  
Who most aboundeth now rathest will complain  
For lack of good alas how they be blended  
Where shall their gadring where shall their good be spent  
Sum one parcas shall them thereof discharge  
Whom they most hate and spend it out at large   

Within a body full little of stature  
Courage's grow up to their magnificence  
Which up tascende do their busy cure  
And in their clymbinge and transitory ascence  
Having an hope of worldly appearance  
Like as no thing their puissance might trouble  
No thing advertinge how fortune is double   

Sum set their joy in conquest and in werrys  
To embrace all earth under their puissance  
Like as they might reach above the stars  
To bring down heaven unto their obeisance  
But if their power were weighed in balance  
And counterweyed aright in their memory  
They should well find that all is but veynglorye   

What may avail them their fethirbeddys' soft  
Shetys' of reins long large and wide  
divers devices or clotheses changed often  
Or vicious main walking by their side  
Void of virtue ambitious in their pride  
Which causeth princes by report of such fame  
For their misliving to have an heavy name   

And thus for lack of virtuous diligence  
Through false luxure and Idleness  
And upon flatterers the outrageous expense  
Support of wrong oppressing rightwiseness  
Where lesingmongers have an interest  
Whom to sustain when princes do their cure  
God will not suffer that they shall long endure   

Office of princes is to support right  
His sword of knighthood fro wrong to redress  
The poor relieving to oppress them not with might  
His old servants weal proved not disdain  
His hasty rigour and his vengeance sudden  
Let mercy tempre to doom or he proceed  
And god shall quite him when he hath most need    

Here john bochas speaketh again Idleness rehercinge how sum men have joy in one science and sum in another  

Mine author Bochas maketh a rehearsal  
In eschewing of froward Idleness  
That unto virtue may more avail  
Good diligent labour and honest business  
And so concluding full plainly doth express  
Every man rejoiceth this sentence is not glos●d  
●o do such thing to which he is disposed   

Sum have joy by heavenly influence  
To know the course above celestial  
And sum of knighthood do their diligence  
To preve them silf in acts martial  
And sum rejoice in their intent final  
In eloquence sum in philosophy  
Sum above all to study in poetry   

The hardy knight is servant to saint george  
M●uynge of planeties searcheth thas●ronomore  
Martyrs smiteth laboureth in his forge  
Ha●ys of steel maketh tharmour  
●ut the divisoure by diligent enter labo●●●  
〈◊〉 f●●ssh contriving out of the old entail  
Findeth new devices of plate and eke of mail   

The laborere set holy his pleasance  
●o sylph of land in time to sow his greyne  
〈◊〉 his seed by yearly abundance  
And that his plough labour not in vain  
〈◊〉 y●ge his cesons of drought and eke of rain  
And poets to sit in their library  
D●s●●e of nature and to be solitary   

●uch as men love such thing they undertake  
F●ssh or foul to hunt with their hounds  
Sum of wool sundry clotheses make  
By philosophers was found out first the grounds  
And of all study they set out first the bounds  
Caused poets plainly to conclude  
Out of all press to live in solitude   

Logiciens delight in arguments  
Philosophers in virtuous living  
And legistres following the ententies  
Greatly rejoice in lucre and winning  
Phesiciens travail for getinge  
And of poets this the subtle form  
By new Invention things to transform   

poets should eschew all Idleness  
Walk by rivers and wells cristalyne  
To high mounteyns amorowe their course dress  
The mist diffied when phoebus first doth shine  
Study in books of moral discipline  
No thing coveite but let their intent  
With moderate food ●or to be content   

Their chief labour is vices for to fage  
With a manner covert similitude  
And none estate with their language  
By no rebuking of terms dull and rude  
What ever they write on virtue aye conclude  
Appeyre no man in no manner wise  
This thoffices of poets that been wise    

How malleus duke of cartage for oppression and tyranny was hewn into pieces.  

when bochas had rehearsed of poets  
Their strange study & soleyne writings  
And their desires of solitary seeties  
In pleasant places to make their dwellings  
Beside rivers and wholesome well springs  
Which accomplished he 'gan his pen advance  
Princes of auffrike to put in remembrance   

And while he did this busy diligence  
Their piteous falls to put in memory  
First there came twain unto his presence  
Their old noblesse appalled & their glory  
Which as him sempte within a terytorye  
Of auffrike bounds longing to cartage  
Did first appear most deadly of visage   

The tone of them was named malleus  
Duke of cartage of auffrike lord and sire  
His son also called cartalus  
Whilom chief prince and bishop eke of Tire  
But Mallcus which held the great empire  
Of all auffrike for his pompous outrage  
Exiled was for ever out of cartage   

Which caused him in heart he was not merry  
But aye remembered upon his fell banysshinge  
gathered his people within the land of surrye  
And in the field while he lay hosting  
Cast hi● fully to make no taring  
But in all haste of knightly fell courage  
Maugre his enemies resort unto cartage   

Gavenge his exil his heart was set afire  
And his intent more to fortify  
He sent in haft his letters down to tire  
To Tartalus that he should him high  
And bring with him all the chivalry  
Of his cite in steel armed clean  
His father's party to hold up and sustain   

But when this bishop knew holy the manre  
Of this purpose which ye have herd devise  
He considered how that time of the year  
Ordained was to do socrifise  
Afetr the rites of their paynim wise  
To hercules which in that cite  
Above all goddies had the sovereignty   

Whoos feast was hold space of certain days  
Which for to hallow he nediss must intend  
And by the custum make no delays  
But that he must thereto condescend  
And liefer he had his father toffende  
As in such case than through negligence  
Unto his goddies for to do offence   

Whereof his father had indignation  
The case arectinge to unkindness  
And thereof caught a great occasion  
again his son of froward wilfulness  
For princes often of furious hastiness  
Will pike a quarrel causeless in sentence  
again folk absent though there be none offence   

And sum tongues venomous of nature  
When they perceive that a prince is moved  
Tagregge his Ire do their busy cure  
With false language to make him more grieved  
But there is no poison so well expert nor proved  
As is of tongues the hateful violence  
Namely when princes list give them audience   

The feast accomplished of mighty hercules  
All Innocent of double or false meaning  
This said bishop of will not reckless  
Came to his father without more tarrying  
changed neither habit nor clothing  
With all thensigns and in the same wise  
As he tofore had done sacrifice   

Anon his father made no delay  
Without excuse it would be no be●  
Of hasty rancour the silf same day  
Made him be hanged upon an high gibet  
Law and justice were both aside set  
And tyranny most furious and wooed  
To do vengeance in trouthes' place stood   

Who can or may tyrants well describe  
Whoos martial swerdis been whet aye for vengeance  
Their bloody thirst doth through their hearts rive  
There ears aye opyn to here of him mischance  
Their furious mirth their mortal wood pleasance  
Their pale smiling their laughter of false hatred  
Concludeth ever upon sum cruel deed   

They be ministers to parcas sistren three  
To untwine the threads of folks here mortal  
And very cousins through hasty cruelty  
Unto the wode furies infernal  
Children to pluto of vengeance martial  
Which for their vices but they bear them weal  
Shall turn in hell on Ixion's wheel   

Thus malleus father most unkind  
Like such a tyrant shed out his cruelty  
As ye have herd and after as I find  
Of furious heart and of old enmity  
By force is entered cartage the cite  
And slough all though in his hateful ire  
That him afore had exiled into tire   

Wrought after will and no thing after right  
'Gan rob and spoil that noble famous town  
Which made him hated in the people sight  
For his outrage and great extortion  
Having no joy nor consolation  
Within his heart plainly nor gladness  
Save like a tyrant the people to oppress   

The people of cartage sore 'gan to complain  
Upon their missheef and desolation  
As bochas writeth rehearsing in certain  
Will is a stepmother of wit and of reason  
And where that princes have domination  
And by false pillage to riches climb up fast  
Trust right well their lordship may not last   

Their great power of worldly excellence  
To their accrochinge of temporal richesses  
When they be tyrants may stand in no diffence  
And froward will ruleth their highness  
For what is lordship plainly to express  
In this world here if it be dicerned  
Love of the people when they be will governed   

For tyranny and false oppression  
Causeth princes to stand in great haterede  
And what is worth their domination  
Without love let prove it at a need  
Men for a time may suffer them and dread  
●is when that dread constrained is and go  
●●an is a prince a man but alone   

See an exaumpte how malleus of cartage  
For all his castles and towers made of stonies  
For his oppression vengeance and outrage  
●●e people of afrique rose on him all atonye  
And ●ughe asunder his flesh and also his bon  
Cast them plainly on him they were so wooed  
Unto their goddies to offer up his blood   

The people dempt of mortal cruelty  
There was none offering so pleasant nor covenable  
Unto their goddies to ple●e their deite  
As blood of tyrants which that be vengeable  
Thus cruel princes make the people unstable  
Of necessity which aught be complained  
To wreak their wrongs that they be constrained   

●o here the end of malleus the tyrant  
Which doth to princes full well exemplefie  
To god above how it is not pleasance  
them to delight in no such robbrye  
Nor pill the people by no false tyranny  
Nor for no tales be hasty of vengeance  
For all such thing to god is displeasance   

Lenuoye.  

Read and considered this said tragedy  
showeth to princes a mirror full notable  
How they their rigour shall tempre & modefie  
Or they proceed for to be vengeable  
For in a prince it is right commendable  
rancour of heart of cheer and of courage  
For to differre till that their ire assuage   

Their hasty ire their sadeyne melancholy  
Their choleric fumes the fury unrestreynable  
Their unqueynt fires with flame of tyranny  
Their freting ethic of hate incomꝑable  
Like bestial tigers like lions untretable  
Ne will not suffer that infernal rage  
Diffarre their domys till their ire assuage   

The royal lion of mortal gentry  
Among beasts of force incoporable  
proveth not his power nor his regalye  
gain beasts prostrate which be not defensable  
And mighty princes should in case semblable  
For Innocentes take mercy in mortgage  
Respiting rigour till that ire assuage   

The sparkle of vengeance is quicked in party  
By winds four fell and abominable  
Blast of detraction and blast of flattery  
Blast of false rowners' that forge many fable  
And blast of bribours most vicious and culpable  
With smoky slanders and felons falls visage  
Causeth ire of princes that it may never assuage   

For which let princes of noble policy  
Beware of tongues double and deceivable  
Which with their venom infect each company  
Their poynaunt poison is so penetrable  
To folk absent it is myschevable  
So deep fretith their serpentine language  
Causing in princes their ire may never assuage   

Noble princes let virtue magnefie  
Your high estates to make you merciable  
For moral senke doth clearly specefie  
The throne of princes by clemence is made stable  
Vengeance delayed to god is agrea●e  
And hasty rigour doth outrageous damage  
When humble requests your ire may not assuage     

How the substance of the host of himilcho duke of cartage going to conquer Cicile died of pestilence and after him silf slain  

After these noble mighty princes twain  
Next in order with pale and deed visage  
Tofore john Bochas hymilcho 'gan complain  
The unhappy fall of his fatal passage  
When he was sent by authority of cartage  
To conquer through his mighty puissance  
The land of cicile unto their obeisance   

They of cartage had an opinion  
That it was leeful after their intent  
Without title of right or of reason  
Their territories and bounds taugment  
And for that cause hymilcho they sent  
The mighty duke their noblesse tavaunce  
Which of cartage had hole the governance   

And for he must pass by these  
Toward cecile this noble worthy knight  
With him he had a full great enarme  
Choose out of cartage in steel armed bright  
Their fone to conquer of very force and might  
But fortune 'gan at him so disdain  
That to his purpose he nevir might attain   

Ground and beginning of his destruction  
To be remembered shortly in sentence  
There fill of the air a great corruption  
Which caused a full great pestilence  
Among his main by unware violence  
And sudden mischief that is upon him fall  
He lost almost his worthy knights all   

Die all his people was slain in that moreyne  
That but a few be left of his main  
Infortunate he turned is again  
Home to cartage and they of the cite  
All causeless of hasty cruelty  
Hath slain this duke as bochas doth compile  
Lo who may trust fortune any while    

How Heynon duke of cartage was dismembered  

aFter whose death a man there 'gan succeed  
A mighty duke that called was haynoun  
Which purposed for to change in deed  
His name of duke by false ambition  
And to be called thrughoute that mighty town  
King of cartage and thereupon of pride  
To find out ways he felly 'gan provide   

He was nat●content a duke men should him call  
But of cartage for to be named king  
And like as his purpose that it should fall  
From day to day the means compassing  
How he might fulfil this uncouth thing  
For to be crowned and regne in that land  
And at the last this mean weigh he fond   

He had a daughter young and tender of age  
Which of the people stood in great favour  
And he him cast to give her marriage  
To a young knight son to a senator  
Which in the cite was a governor  
And that his purpose might be attained  
Day of the marriage and time was ordained   

And in his palace chief and principal  
This said duke let make his ordinance  
To hold a feast full solemn and royal  
And with great costs made his purveyance  
Of sundry dayntees which that in substance  
Were necessary in all manner thing  
Unto the feast of a worthy king   

He gave in charge unto his purveyors  
That all were ready again a certain day  
And to his feast came all the senators  
Dwelling in cartage there durst no man say nay  
And of his purpose to make no delay  
Though his fraud was not apperceived  
He cast that day that sum should be deceived   

He conceived in his inward intent  
He to be king and regne in cartage  
The senators would never assent  
To their custom nor their old usage  
He durst thereof utter no language  
Kept him secret without noise or sound  
And fully cast him to proceed by treason   

The next weigh he knew no better read  
To his desire than plainly to ordain  
That of cartage the senators were deed  
Than were he likely his purpose to attain  
For to be crowned lord and sovereign  
So taccomplyssh his lust in all thing  
And in cartage to regne as lord and king   

For if the Senate were utterly destroyed  
He should find no manner resistance  
Whereby his purpose should be enclosed  
Nor dare say nay to his magnificence  
For in the poraile there was no diffence  
And at this feast he cast him to proceed  
All his intent to conclude in deed   

His officers he made to be sworn  
To help destroy falsely by poison  
The senators of whom I spoke tofore  
And that their victual and daints in foison  
And eke their wines for short conclusion  
Should with venom be intoxicate  
Through all the palaces and spare none estate   

These officers had a conscience  
For to accomplissh so horrible a thing  
And secrely under great providence  
To the Senate thereof they gave warning  
And when they knew this mortal compassing  
Of duke haynoun to show all affray  
They put in prudence the wedding in delay   

Whereof this duke 'gan have suspection  
And this matter fill in a manner dread  
Thought he would by sum collusion  
again cartage more mortally proceed  
And 'gan call to help him at his need  
Of mau●●ayne a king of great renown  
With him by force to fall up on the town   

Made him promise to his advantage  
For to make free distribution  
Of the richesses treasures and pillages  
Which that he might find in the town  
For utter fine of his entencion  
Was to destroy of wilful cruelty  
The famous cartage the mighty strong city   

Of all the thrallies in the town dwelling  
And such as were borne of low lineage  
To strength his party this was his werkinge  
He made them all by mortal fell outrage  
Within the mighty castle of cartage  
To keep them close of malice and envy  
again the cite him silf to fortify   

But all for naught the mighty senators  
Thereof aware and of high prudence  
Geyne his malice and all his false robbers  
They made them strong and through their ꝓuidence  
In especial to ordain a diffence  
First on their party to let the coming  
Of Mauritayne the strong cruel king   

And of assent they list not delay  
But rose atonies by great ordinance  
Their false duke to venquessh and outraye  
Him and his cheerless they broute to utterance  
Fill upon him with a great puissance  
And finally proceeding of resoun  
This was his doom by avys of all the town   

First of this duke as it is remembered  
He was despoiled his doublet eke unlaced  
joint fro joint hewyn and dismembered  
And from his heed out his iyens araced  
And right as he had afore compaced  
To have destroyed his own mighty town  
As ye have herd he received the guerdoun   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy doth pitously copleyne  
And maketh a manner lamentation  
Of these mighty rich princes twain  
Slain in cartage as made is mention  
Causeless the town save by thoccasion  
That pestilence in his froward voyage  
Slough all his people that were borne in cartage   

Fortune also 'gan frowardly disdain  
again this rich mighty duke haynoun  
When of malice 'gan mortally ordain  
The Senators to murder of his town  
At his fist by craft of false poison  
As ye have heard rehearsed his outrage  
He was ageywarde dismembered in cartage   

Who doth vengeance vengeance shall attain  
In high estate without exception  
And who of pite vengeance doth restrain  
He shall of mercy receive the guerdon  
For right requireth of troth and reason  
Cruel princes shall have for their wage  
Death like this duke dismembered in Cartage   

Noble princes do your best pain  
For to preserve fro rebellion  
The common people which stand in no certain  
With every wind turning upsodoun  
After fortune they change affection  
Turning their hearts with trist or glad visage  
Like as the people did whilom in Cartage     

The author again covetous people  

NAture that is content with a little thing  
The wise ware the circumspect goddess  
Which under god in heaven above reigning  
The world to govern is called th'empress  
Mother of richessis the first founderesse  
Which searched out by her arti●eris  
The strange treasures hid in the myneris   

This noble lady this princess most famous  
Knowing of man the uncouth conditions  
Saw by experience richessis were noious  
In him teclipse the dispositions  
And convey his inclinations  
By a wrong way virtue to set aside  
How covetous was a full perilous guide   

For avarice is to all virtues contrary  
The greedy worm the serpent unstaunchable  
Man to be traisshe with promises debonair  
At prime face sote and a agreeable  
Taught him of nature by craft most deceivable  
Through subtle searching as it were for the nonies  
First out of earth to delve precious stonies   

Of rich miners they search out the entrails  
To find out metals for worldly avauntages  
contrived ships with their broad sails  
By divers sees to make their passages  
And covetise ordained first viages  
Caused princes to ride in lands far  
Each again other for to gynne awerre   

Of avarice 'gan first these robberies  
Await of briganties and all extort pillages  
Murdre slaughter and covert briberyes  
Of old contrived furious fell damages  
Wrought and enchened in all manner ages  
Now in these days let set it at a proof  
Falls covetise caused all such mischief   

She was first rote of false extortion  
To spoil the temple mother of ravin  
And sterer up of oppression  
To take by force this was her doctrine  
And as mine author doth plainly determine  
And concludeth in full piteous wise  
Rote of all evil is false covetise   

She is eke norice of tontek and of strife  
Mastresse of murder and wilful violence  
Made men to impart body good and life  
Caused dissension and disobedience  
Grutchinge of commons withdraught of reuerenc●  
By rigorous constraint sudden rebellion's  
Rumour in realms unware subversions   

This froward dragon full of Idropsie  
Whoos freting etik there may no plenty feed  
To staunch his thirst there is no remedy  
The more he drinketh the more he hath aye need  
And the more treasure the more he stant in dread  
With Cantalus though he swim in the floods  
In mygdas well plaineth for lak of gods   

This worm eke causeth that men in their riches  
Have dread of thiefs a night in their walking  
And they here on cofre bed or press  
Cat rat or mous or any worm moving  
He weeneth anon within him silf deeming  
That there were come with great apparel  
Sum uncouth pelour his treasure to assail   

The woeful soul standeth ever in dread  
And aye abideth in labour and travail  
And of the gods which he doth possede  
Falleth in despair le●t they would him fail  
Tween hope and dread there is such battle  
Through entermyning each other to confound  
To be most greedy when they most habou●de   

The next weigh he knew no better read  
To his desire than plainly to ordain  
That of cartage the senators were deed  
Than were he likely his purpose to attain  
For to be crowned lord and sovereign  
So taccomplyssh his lust in all thing  
And in cartage to regne as lord and king   

For if the Senate were utterly destroyed  
He should find no manner resistance  
Whereby his purpose should be enclosed  
Nor da●e say nay to his magnificence  
For in the poraile there was no diffence  
And at this feast he cast him to proceed  
All his intent to conclude in deed   

His officers he made to be sworn  
To help destroy falsely by poison  
The senators of whom I spoke tofore  
And that their victual and daints in foison  
And eke their wines for short conclusion  
Should with venom be intoxicate  
Through all the palaces and spare none estate   

These officers had a conscience  
For to accomplissh so horrible a thing  
And secrely under great providence  
To the Senate thereof they gave warning  
And when they knew this mortal compassing  
Of duke haynoun to show all affray  
They put in prudence the wedding in delay   

Whereof this duke 'gan have suspection  
And this matter fill in a manner dread  
Thought he would by sum collusion  
Again cartage more mortally proceed  
And 'gan call to help him at his need  
Of mountain a king of great renown  
With him by force to fall up on the town   

Made him promise to his advantage  
For to make free distribution  
Of the richesses treasures and pillages  
Which that he might find in the town  
For utter fine of his entencion  
Was to destroy of wilful cruelty  
The famous cartage the mighty strong city   

Of all the thrallies in the town dwelling  
And such as were borne of low lineage  
To strength his party this was his werkinge  
He made them all by mortal fell outrage  
Within the mighty castle of cartage  
To keep them close of malice and envy  
again the cite him silf to fortify   

But all for naught the mighty senators  
Thereof aware and of high prudence  
Geyne his malice and all his false robbers  
They made them strong and through their ꝓuidence  
In especial to ordain a diffence  
First on their party to let the coming  
Of Mauritayne the strong cruel king   

And of assent they list not delay  
But rose atonies by great ordinance  
Their false duke to venquessh and outraye  
Him and his cheerless they broute to utterance  
Fill upon him with a great puissance  
And finally proceeding of resoun  
This was his doom by avys of all the town   

First of this duke as it is remembered  
He was despoiled his doublet eke unlaced  
joint fro joint hewyn and dismembered  
And from his heed out his iyens araced  
And right as he had afore compaced  
To have destroyed his own mighty town  
As ye have herd he received the guerdoun   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy doth pitously copleyne  
And maketh a manner lamentation  
Of these mighty rich princes twain  
Slain in cartage as made is mention  
Causeless the town save by thoccasion  
That pestilence in his froward voyage  
Slough all his people that were borne in cartage   

Fortune also 'gan frowardly disdain  
again this rich mighty duke haynoun  
When of malice 'gan mortally ordain  
The Senators to murder of his town  
At his fist by craft of false poison  
As ye have heard rehearsed his outrage  
He was ageywarde dismembered in car●age   

Who doth vengeance vengeance shall attain  
In high estate without exception  
And who of pite vengeance doth restrain  
He shall of mercy receive the guerdon  
For right requireth of troth and reason  
Cruel princes shall have for their wage  
Death like this duke dismembered in Cartage   

Noble princes do your best pain  
For to preserve fro rebellion  
The common people which stand in no certain  
With every wind turning upsodoun  
After fortune they change affection  
Turning their hearts with trist or glad visage  
Like as the people did whilom in Cartage     

The author again covetous people  

NAture that is content with a little thing  
The wise ware the circumspect goddess  
Which under god in heaven above reigning  
The world to govern is called th'empress  
Mother of richessis the first founderesse  
Which searched out by h●r arti●eris  
The strange treasures hid in the myneris   

This noble lady this princess most famous  
Knowing of man the uncouth conditions  
Saw by experience richessis were noious  
In him teclipse the dispositions  
And convey his inclinations  
By a wrong way virtue to set aside  
How covetous was a full perilous guide   

For avarice is to all virtues contrary  
The greedy worm the serpent unstaunchable  
Man to be traisshe with promyse● debonair  
At prime face sote and agreeable  
Taught him of nature by craft most deceivable  
Through subtle searching as it were for the nonies  
First out of earth to delve precious stonies   

Of rich miners they search out the entrails  
To find out metals for worldly avauntages  
contrived ships with their broad sails  
By divers fees to make their passages  
And covetise ordained first viages  
Caused princes to ride in lands far  
Each again other for to gynne awerre   

Of avarice 'gan first these robberies  
Await of briganties and all extort pillages  
Murdre slaughter and covert briberyes  
Of old contrived furious fell damages  
Wrought and enchened in all manner ages  
Now in these days let set it at a proof  
Falls covetise caused all such mischief   

She was first rote of false extortion  
To spoil the temple mother of ravin  
And sterer up of oppression  
To take by force this was her doctrine  
And as mine author doth plainly determine  
And concludeth in full piteous wise  
Rote of all evil is false covetise   

She is eke norice of tontek and of strife  
Mastresse of murder and wilful violence  
Made men to impart body good and life  
Caused dissension and disobedience  
Grutchinge of commons withdraught of reverence  
By rigorous constraint sudden rebellion's  
Rumour in realms unware subversions   

This froward dragon full of Idropsie  
Whoos freting etik there may no plenty feed  
To staunch his thirst there is no remedy  
The more he drinketh the more he hath aye need  
And the more treasure the more he stant in dread  
With Cantalus though he swim in the floods  
In mygdas well plaineth for lak of gods   

This worm eke causeth that men in their riches  
Have dread of thiefs a night in their walking  
And they here on cofre bed or press  
Cat rat or mous or any worm moving  
He weeneth anon within him silf deeming  
That there were come with great apparel  
Sum uncouth pelour his treasure to assail   

The woeful soul standeth ever in dread  
And aye abideth in labour and travail  
And of the gods which he doth possede  
Falleth in despair jest they would him fail  
Tween hope and dread there is such battle  
Through entermyning each other to confound  
To be most greedy when they most habou●de   

Hope unasured with dread disespeired  
Mering in hearts make a mortal were  
When hope presumeth with dread he is apeyred  
And like a coward maketh him stand afar  
Dull of his cheer as is a cloudy star  
Which darnat show the light of his treasure  
But ever to increases set holy his labour   

He dare not touch thing he loveth most  
His cofres close be shut under key  
Though he hath much he make thereof no boast  
Jest for his treasure men would him werreye  
plaineth for need like as he would die  
feigneth false povert to spare his dispense  
Oppressing plenty with froward indigence   

And though his chesties happened be with gold  
With iron barrys fast shut and closed  
Falls scarcity governeth his household  
●h● by none excess he is not undisposed  
His indigent heart so straitly is enosed  
●o herebus heir and yet well worse in deed  
In greatest richesses to complain upon need   

This herebus hath of iron not of stone  
For avarice vil● a foul city  
Where as the wheel turneth of Ixion  
Under the bounds of Thephone  
Where zeziphus may never a day go free  
But with his stone continually travaileth  
And the more busy his labour least availeth   

Thus avarice to virtue most contrary  
Found among vices full contagious  
Ever b●sy their restless stone to carry  
Now up now do un with weary ze●●phus  
whose endless labour braideth on Theseus  
Which held the bridle of fru●tles business  
Condemned in hell to live in Idleness   

Of covetise the cruel mariner  
Is called Charon which with flegonte  
By many a street and many fell daungere  
Saileth in the floods of furious Acheronte  
Under that derked and cloudy Orizonte  
Where avarice chose whilom negardshipe  
For treasurer his cofres for to keep   

First to declare the labour in gaderinge  
Of covetous men as it is in deed  
And counterpeise how their straight keeping  
Is ever meynt with importable dread  
Sorrow at departing for their mortal meed  
Which may be called of troth and equity  
Of Cerberus the wakyr hedys' three   

The first heed is unstaunchable desire  
Of worldly gods great riches to attain  
The more encres the hotter is the fire  
The second heed is the dreadful pain  
Which in keeping his heart doth constrain  
Unware departing that suddenly doth fall  
Is the third heed that grieveth most of all   

This wakyr worm that beareth these heads three  
Is called the worm of greedy covetise  
whose busy constraint restless perplexite  
Troubleth the soul in full furious wise  
Which froward monster plainly to devise  
Braideth on ydra of whom poets say  
One heed but of/ there gr●●●e three again   

Ever at the tail of plenty and richesse  
Of custom followeth grutchinge and envy  
For he that hath of treasure great eichesse  
Is ceil glad as for his party  
Thus both twain stand in Iu●tye  
The rich with plenty hold him not appayed  
And the needy with poverties afraid   

And yet in poverty is full great sekirnesse  
Which is a treasure that no man will assail  
As mine author Bochas beareth witness  
An●●lates among the porayle  
Lived in peace sure from all battle  
Held him content with such as god him sent  
When rich were armed and to the were went   

Virtuous poverty standeth ever in sekir case  
To watch his house he hath full little need  
But proud pompye assieged in duras  
For fere of julius stood in great dread  
But people rude hereof take none heed  
Such as rejoice them for to shed blood  
In strange wars wrongly to get good   

Stories old full well rehearse cunne  
divers studies of folk here mortal  
First how diogenes was content in his tun  
In which he made his lodging principal  
And saw the course above celestial  
Lived gladder among philosophers  
Than king Croesus with all his stuffed cofres   

And if men would unto mind call  
The great mischievous following in abundance  
And think also how sardanaball  
For all his trisoure came unto mischance  
And how sophodius poorest in substance  
Had but a garden full of lekis green  
And ●●ghtnought else him silf to abstain   

This philosopher was ever glad and light  
There was no watch made his tours  
Full surely slept he all the long night  
Having no dread of thieves ne robbers  
In summer walking among the green flowers  
And in cold winter full merrily and often  
On dry straw he lay and slept full soft   

Cyncynatus a poor laborere  
Feyed dyches to get his sustenance  
Without grutchinge ever glad of cheer  
Both in port and in his countenance  
Dempt he had as much suffisance  
To his pleasance as cresus king of lyde  
Content with little nature was his guide   

This poor man in his poverty assured  
With little food and clothes but a few  
Had hearts ease and gladsum pes recured  
It liked him not over his heed to hew  
Which thing conceived clearly doth us show  
That joyous poverty conveyed with gladness  
Grutchinge avoided surmounteth all richesse   

And if that folk could consider a right  
Their piteous sighs their thoughtful business  
Their woeful labours their little sleep anight  
Which they endure for worldly richesse  
And of thabiding the dreadful sekirnesse  
Which thing poised and called to memory  
All earthly power is double and transitory   

And by stories which been credible  
To prove their power is not abiding  
But at a point sliding and fallible  
Whilom Mas●●ssa of Munydye king  
That was so mighty by record of writing  
For fere of Syphax only his life to save  
Fled into mounteyns and hid him in a cave   

And there he fond full small victual  
Constrained narrow of indigence and need  
When other deyntees in mischief 'gan him fail  
He gathered roots and eat them in his dread  
Eke proud xerses king of ꝑce and meed  
Drank blood and water to staunch his greedy thirst  
dread and travail gave him so great a lust   

¶ Yet sum men would say of adventure  
They were compelled again their volunte  
These kings twain such mischief to endure  
Maugre their will of necessity  
For casual chance raft them their liberty  
So that the rigour of this sode●●e rage  
Came in by constraint and of no courage   

But for all that folk in their poverty  
On great meats that them silf fede  
Been also strong hole and fair to see  
And also lusty proved at a need  
Upright of limbs their journeys for to speed  
As long lived the cause to express  
Is only this they do none excess   

To poor men the best medicine  
Is due labour with moderate abstinence  
Good air in fields when phoebus list to shine  
Voidinge dark mists that cause pestilence  
Of heavy stomach they feel no violence  
They not enrich lechies nor pothecaries  
them silf to save with uncouth let waries   

But folkis rich werkyn the contrary  
Which in them causeth maladies strong  
For their diet every day they vary  
With divers meats and their sitting long  
And with all this their appetites wrong  
Take out of time which they may not endure  
Which by custom oppresseth their nature   

And thus mine author shortly to devise  
Seeth how glad poverty standeth most in sekirnesse  
And of all evil he seethe how covetise  
Is rote and ground with falls extort richesses  
Riot annexed engendringe long sickness  
thereon concluding how moderate diet  
Set body and soul in moderate quiet    

How Enagora king of cipre was by Artaxe●ses outrayed and put from his kingdom  

Following in order the process of Bochas  
As he remembreth next in his writing  
To him appeared rehearsing thus the case  
Enagora that was of Cypre. king  
His iyens darked by many fold weeping  
Because he had lost that rich land  
Which he toforne had conquered with his hand   

This land of Cypre as made is mention  
Of ●●uers metals is passingly abound  
Hath of richesses great plenty and foison  
And of his site like as it is found  
It standeth far south with many hillies round  
And hath also many commeditees  
Within his bounds of touns and cities   

touching this cipre I can no more say  
Of which land Enagora was king  
Till he 'gan proudly for to werreye  
With Lacedomonois their ꝑty sustening  
Geyne Artaxerses and are their meeting  
The said Enagora was brought to utterance  
Put from his kingdom and from all governance    

How Theo king of egypt by artaxerses was driven from his kingdom and fled into Arabye  

next Enagora came the king Theo  
Of all Egypt long time possessor  
And to john bochas he 'gan declare his woe  
How fortune did her froward labour  
And from him drough her friendship and favour  
And suddenly through her iniquity  
She kest this king down from his royal see   

She list her malice from him not differre  
Ne would not suffer him for to live in peace  
But caused him for to gynne a froward were  
again the said mighty Artaxerses  
weening thereby to have had g●●ate en●●●  
gathered ships and made a great arm●  
In his intent to have ●et him on the se   

To lacedemonois he was favourable  
Scent them vessels stuffed with victual  
Dempte of pride that him silf was able  
With artaxerses to hold a battle  
But hasty trust doth fools often fail  
For this theo was after anon right  
driven out of egypt and Iput to flight   

Artaxerses pursued him so sore  
Tofore his face he durst not appear  
Fled into Arabye mine author saith no more  
banished from egypt deadly of face and cheer  
And of his fate who so list to lere  
He was deprived from kingly dignity  
And by fortune cast from his royal see    

How Amynta of Mecedoyne king had by Eru●i●● his wife Alisaundre/ ꝑdica/ & philip that were slain  

ANd among other their fates complaining  
Trough fortunes dreadful violence  
There came amynta of bourgoyne king  
And to john bochas showed his sentence  
And to declare his magnificence  
To alexander grauntfader in his life  
Having four children by Erudice his wife   

The first of them was alexander called  
And perdica named the second  
The third philip in Macedoyne stalled  
King of grece like as it is found  
Which in richesses greatly did abound  
And was eke father this noble werrour●  
To alexander the mighty conqueror   

And or mine author further doth proceed  
He maketh a manner of digression  
From his matter like as ye may read  
And gynneth in order a description  
Of macedoyne the famous rigion  
Among greeks writeth in especial  
Of six provinces it is the principal   

And so proceeding ●e s●ith how that country  
S●●a●heth his bounds abou●e him enuyr●n  
Toward the see which called is Esee  
Forth by a●●●ya toward Septemtrion  
And to Messie westward it goth down  
And who that can by craft the coosties cast  
To dalmacia the name thereof doth last   

In macedoyne he doth also us lere  
Of olympus standeth the great mountain  
And in that kingdom is many great mynere  
Of gold and silver like as books say  
And on that hill is nouther wind ne rain  
For thilk mountain so high doth attteyne  
That it may nouther blow there nor rain   

The king amynta of whomso spoke toforne  
Had in grece many great battle  
Olimpiens in macedoyne borne  
And Illiriens to gedre he did assail  
Through his wisdom he did alweye prevail  
But with his enemies while he stood most in strife  
His death was shapyn by Erudice his wife   

Mine author bochas of her doth define  
She Imagined his destruction  
Because she had another concubine  
On whom she se● all her affection  
Day set and time to his confusion  
Fully ordained at a marriage  
He to be slain of one of his lineage   

He had a sister called uryone  
Which prudently espied the manner  
Of Erudice and secretly alone  
Goth to the king and told him all Ifere  
And as the story in order telleth here  
Though she failed that day of her emprise  
She thought fulfil it in another wise   

This to mean of her iniquity  
Of her fraud and falls Imagyning  
She was in cause through her contrariouste  
Of the destruction of their mighty king  
For the conclusion of her falls werkinge  
Was to have slain the king and all his line  
She to have reigned with her concubine   

But when she saw she might not acheu●▪  
Her furious p●●●●s by none adventure  
Her venomous malice upon her lord to prove  
On other parties she did her busy cure  
Enmy●●●● and mys● 〈…〉  
again the king by mys● 〈…〉  
With sorrow and trouble for to short his days   

Night and day his life stood ever in dread  
Him to be traisshe she cast out hook and line  
And who is he that or may take heed  
Freely tescape t'eschew as decline  
Malice of women when they be serpentine  
See an example in this queen Erudice  
Void of all virtue and full of every vice   

Alas not prince can be ware by other  
To bridle their nobles with renies of reason  
Such as commit alas both ship and rothir  
Unto sirens to row them up and down  
Throughout caribdies to their destruction  
By craft of Circe's alas they were made nice  
Blind to remember upon this Erudice   

Which made Amynta to live in sorrow and dread  
To rest in peace suffered him to have no space  
In thought and trouble his life he 'gan to lead  
Till by long process death him 'gan menace  
Yet or he died fortune gave him grace  
His eldest son by wisdom to ordain  
Called alexander his crown to attain   

Thus alexander was his successor  
For Cathinenses 'gan their rancour let  
Ageyns him for he with great labour  
By their sufferance came to his royal seat  
And for to set this realm in quiet  
First with Athens the mighty strong town  
Providyd a pes of high discrecioun   

And for to avoid all ambiguity  
Of old debates and of old outrage  
First he sent into that strong cite  
His son philip young and tender of age  
On peace assured to lie there for hostage  
And in that cite the story beareth witness  
He 'gan to grow unto full high noblesse   

He was committed unto the discipline  
Of a gr●●te duke called Epamynedon  
Which to all virtue his youth made incline  
For of this duke justyn maketh mention  
By a manner recommendation  
Tofore nor after as by his avys  
Was never no prince more excellent nor wis   

First he commendeth his virtuous courage  
His high noblesse his virtuous excellence  
And by descent he borne of high lineage  
And into things concludeth his sentence  
Seith that he was of most magnificence  
Equal to mars by famous chivalry  
And son to phoebus through high philosophy   

And bochas here doth his style advance  
Full notably with excellent language  
Andrea saith no treasure attaineth in substance  
To thilk richesses avoiding all outrage  
As when there is by bond of marriage  
knit up a knot atween excellence  
Of famous knighthood and of dame prudence   

This knot availeth more than gold in coffer  
And is more glorious perpetually to abide  
A mighty prince to be a philosopher  
Which can by prudence all virtues set aside  
For when to manhood providence is guide  
And virtuous force is captain in the were  
Let men well trust that party may not err   

This Epamynoda of knighthood susteynoure  
Carbuncle of virtue as books tell cunne  
Of gentle manners called the fomous flower  
And of high noblesse a very worldly sun  
Whoos knightly triumphs be so high up run  
To martis palace with the blessed sounss  
Of famous trumpetties and golden clariouns   

For he was called the bright clear mirror  
Of rightful quarrels the party to sustain  
Of extort wrongs most just reformatoure  
Aye equal judge of intent most clean  
Which never could no thing but troth mean  
Would of custom for hate nor alliance  
On nouther party decline the balance   

And to commend his virtuous prowess  
His proved trumphes his magnanimyte  
His martial acts his knightly business  
In the getinge of many strong cite  
As all his labour was for the comounte  
Which to augment he would never cease  
Such joy he had the commons good to increase   

This was also his usance evermore  
What ever he gate to part it in largesse  
Of gold nor coin he set but little store  
For all his heart was set on gentleness  
By manly freedom and plainly to express  
He spared no good it showed well in deed  
His true servants to help them in their need   

He kept not in cofres his treasure  
Of his nature he was so liberal  
For to relieve each manly soudeoure  
Such as were proved in acts martial  
And for to hold his fist funeral  
After his death his story maketh mind  
Through fire departing there left no gold behind   

All his offices and famous dignities  
And great ●mpryses in his time wrought  
increased franchises through Grece in his cities  
With lib●●tees by his prudence out sought  
For common profit and for him sylf rightnought  
With great augmenting of strange teritoryes  
All this came in by mean of his victories   

And among all his knightly excellences  
By divers auctors unto mind is brought  
How all his life he studied in sciences  
And upon eunning set holy his thought  
By manly prowess of death he wrought naught  
That was showed as it is well found  
The day when he received his deaths wound   

He was home borne unto his pavillyon  
All his armure with blood stained read  
And on a couch by his men laid down  
And 'gan abraid as he lay half dead  
Sires quoth he of one thing take heed  
Hath any enemy this day in the field  
When I was wounded take up my shield   

And when his knights had told him nay  
By a manner of knightly rejoicing  
He them commanded without more delay  
To his presence that they should it bring  
And thereupon full pitously looking  
Full like a knight and with mortal cheer  
He kissed it and said as ye shall here   

Thou were my fellow in arms and my breother  
That never wouldest my fellowship forsake  
Sure and abiding there was not such another  
In every journey that I did undertake  
To me welcome an end I must now make  
After my death my soul shall have pleasance  
The to be kept yet for a remembrance   

A fore his death it is put in mind  
The same hour it came to his memory  
To inquire he left not behind  
Have we quoth he this day had victory  
Or in the field who hath the palm of glory  
His knights he prayed that day he should die  
The plain troth that they would him say   

And they him told plainly all the case  
How his party had won the field of might  
And with that word he so rejoiced was  
That he his spirit yield anon upright  
And so he died like a worthy knight  
In whom is showed what availeth in sentence  
Noblesse of knighthood joined with prudence   

And by the mean of his wise doctrine  
Philip that lay with him in hostage  
'Gan increase in knightly discipline  
Wax in virtue right as he wax in age  
Whoos father was by furious outrage  
called alexander as made is mention  
Slain by his mother by covert falls treason   

After whose death perdyea in deed  
The younger brother the story doth devise  
To the crown 'gan lineally succeed  
Anon slain after in full cruel wise  
Such falls murder every man should agryse  
As ye have herd first of amynta  
Of alexander and of king ꝑdica    

How the proud tyrant Aman was hanged and the Innocent preserved  

THe horrible fall furious for to read  
That followeth after of the great aman  
A full falls tyrant found in thought & deed  
And was of birth a macedonyan  
Which as the bible full well rehearse can  
Was chief master who can well concern  
With assuerus his people to govern   

He was exalted high in pride  
To goddys' people most contrarious  
His hateful venom he list not for to hide  
But like a tyrant most malicious  
Of wilful rancour fell and despitous  
Fully disposed and could him not withdraw  
To destroy the jews and their law   

To his intent he gate authority  
By his subtle falls compassing  
Scent out letters into each country  
throughout all pierce by biding of the king  
That high and low within the land dwelling  
No wight except that people all about  
Should unto aman obey kneel and lout   

This was the biding of king assuere  
When queen vasty was voided for her pride  
And hester chosen a maid most enter  
Was brought to court with the king to abide  
Which had in youth for to be her guide  
A worthy jew called mardoche  
Within Susus a large fair cite   

By whose counsel every thing she wrought  
Passing fair and of great meekness  
And when the Eunuches to the king her brought  
She was accepted for her great fairness  
Unto his grace her story beareth witness  
And there cherished in especial  
Above all the maidens in the court royal   

And of all pierce was she crowned queen  
A pes commanded through all though regions  
During the feast that men might seen  
The kings nobley in cities and in touns  
And of this feast the rich royal sounss  
came to the ears of simple mardoche  
Which came with other the manner for to see   

Tofore the palace as he did abide  
With other jews in his company  
Of hap as he kest his ere aside  
He of two porters the counsel did espy  
How they them cast by false expiracye  
To slay the king some day of that year  
Like their intent when they fond best leysere   

When mardocheus prudently 'gan feel  
The secret malice of their compassing  
Of compassion he would it not conceal  
But made hester discure it to the king  
Whereof convict they were led to the hanging  
As me seemeth a competent guerdon  
For all that falsely imagine such treason   

By which mean the saide mardoche  
Was well accepted to king assuere  
Lykly also to stand at liberty  
Out of the malice and fell daungere  
Of cursed aman which make him no cheer  
But compassed in full fell manner  
Him to destroy and jews all I fear   

This mardocheus the bible tell can  
Withdrough himself to do reverence  
Unto this tyrant the froward prince a man  
Like as the statute commanded in sentence  
Which thing t'avenge by froward violence  
This aman made of hatred to be set  
Afore the pal●ys a mighty strong gibet   

But who that cast him to do vengeance  
And Innocenties for to oppress with might  
And wif●ull malice tagregge their grievance  
As god were blind and had of them no sight  
Bu● at the last he will of very right  
punish the proud for furious violence  
The poor supporttinge for their long patience   

As mardocheus by Innocent living  
〈◊〉 mean of hester and her great meekness  
accepted was to assuere the king  
The law of jews set in more sureness  
froward aman for his cursedness  
Vengeable of pride the bible ye may see  
Was high enhanged upon a gallow tree   

Mardocheus of prudence and reason  
The furious daungere of aman set aside  
preserved his people fro destruction  
The tyrant hanged for his froward pride  
Thus can the lord his iugementies divide  
When he seethe time most mighty and puissant  
Support the simple and punish the tyrant    

Of the two brethren artaxerses and Cirus and Artaxerses slough his children and concubines and how they ended  

AFter the fall of aman doubtless  
When he best wend have reigned in his flouts  
Tofore john bochas came artaxerses  
most renowned his time of conquerors  
Which 'gan declare his sudden sharp showers  
With all the ꝑcellies of his mortal pain  
Which that fortune again him 'gan ordain   

This artaxerses as put is in memory  
All other princes excelled in richesses  
Which in his char famous of worldly glory  
And with his throne of worldly high noblesse  
Sat in his time the story beareth witness  
highest exalted that was of any king  
That he should fall was it not an uncouth thing   

Kings he had under his obeisance  
An hundred provinces twenty and eke seven  
Son unto darye prince of most puissance  
His fame dread more than fiery levene  
None so mighty under the starred heaven  
Accounted was that time in were and pes  
As was this king called Artaxerses   

He had a brother that named was Cyrus  
Out of one stock came their both lines  
But artaxerses the story telleth thus  
Was lord of greynes of oil and of wines  
And had also by divers concubines  
An hundred children like as it is told  
And fifteen over tofore or he wax old   

Of both brethren the power last far  
During their time stood in full high estate  
Yet atween them was full mortal were  
again nature an unkindly debate  
For thilk werrys be most infortunate  
When blood with blood let no man dame other  
List warray as brother ageyns brother   

And finally 'cause why this were 'gan  
atween these brethren as made is mention  
Through which debate there died many a man  
The ground of all and first occasion  
Was only this for succession  
After king darye reigning in ꝑce and meed  
Which of them twain should next succeed   

But artaxerses by a manner providence  
Put his brother privily in prison  
That he ne should make no diffence  
Nor gather people to his destruction  
This young Cirus as made is mention  
Was fast stocked and eke as it is told  
That his stocks and feters were of gold   

And though it be not remembered in bochas  
How that Cyrus escaped fro prison  
Yet also soon as he delivered was  
Through ꝑce and meed riding up and down  
gathered people of entencion  
Through old hatred his brother to assail  
The field assigned they met in battle   

Where cyrus proudly put him silf in press  
To show his manhood in especial  
Sought his brother called artaxerses  
And gave to him a wound full mortal  
Without friendship or favour fraternal  
That artaxerses his wound 'gan so ache  
Constrained was the field to forsake   

And Cyrus was than furious as a leon  
His adversaries 'gan mortaly to wake  
But falls fortune full of collusion  
Under faint smiling a mow 'gan him make  
Which caused alas that day that he was take  
Afore I wounded it would be none other  
And than presented to his unkind brother   

And though this Cyrus had afore be found  
young fresh and lusty and manly of his hand  
By the constraint of his mortal wound  
He died anon for he no succour fond  
Than the two kingdoms within pierce land  
Fill to the hands of artaxerses  
In which after he lived long in peace   

Thus a great space like a mighty king  
All pierce he held under his obeisance  
By famous noblesse full gloriously shining  
Having of richesses most fulsum abundance  
And as it is put in remembrance  
To more increase of his prosperity  
In true wedlock he had sons three   

The first of them called darius  
Arabratus named the second  
And the third named was Othus  
Manly princes like as it is found  
And of nature like as the king was bound  
Unto darye as it is made mention  
Above echon he had affection   

And for he dempt him able to the were  
By lyklihede of yeries young and green  
He cast fully his noblesse to prefer  
Of high prudence thus he did mean  
His impotence to support and sustain  
For he was feeble in ꝑce to regne alone  
He set up darye with him in his throne   

Which was a thing strange and contrarious  
again the custum of perciens usance  
But he supposed his son darius  
Should in such cas increases and advance  
His faders ꝑty of natural attendance  
And show unto him troth and kindness  
His impotence to cherish of gentleness   

But in estates often it doth thus fall  
When that princes be run far in age  
Their children's love again them doth appall  
Showing no friendship save for advantage  
How that they may rejoice their heritage  
And in such case when they wax strong  
Think their faders live all to long   

And artaxerses stood in the same cas  
As in his story plainly ye shall find  
By rehersaile and writing of bochas  
How this darye was false and eke unkind  
Foryetfull and had no thing in mind  
How his father the troth to rehearse  
Hath made him equal with him to regne in ꝑce   

And to declare the first occasion  
To his father how the saide darye  
By a false manner of rebellion  
'Gan in his werkinge for to be contrary  
Which to discure I will no longer tarry  
But with my pen in all hast proceed  
Here to describe how it fill in deed   

Artaxerses among his concubines  
It is remembered how that he had one  
Which for to rekne wives and virgins  
Was fairest hold of them everyone  
Called artasia of full yore agone  
And was that time her beauty to describe  
Among perciens the fairest hold alive   

And though she were Ironne far in age  
Like as books list of her express  
Both of colour and also of visage  
She kept her beauty and her natif fresshnesse  
Which was afore for her seemliness  
To saide Cyrus briefly to termine  
Choose long aforne to be his concubine   

But when this Cirus was passed into fate  
Which for his brother might not live in peace  
Anon upon without longer date  
She was take up for king artaxerses  
Because she was of beauty peerless  
After long time when he fill in age  
She cleymed was by title of heritage   

Of king dairy by his faders live  
Feigning his cleyme by succession  
And though his father again it did strive  
And thus began as made is mention  
Of their debate the first occasion  
For darye cast albe he bore it still  
Her to rejoice again his faders will   

And to accomplyssh falsely his intent  
Of her to have full possession  
Tafforce his party he made this argument  
Cirus quoth he as made is mention  
Regning in ꝑce the mighty region  
And this story doth plainly determine  
For her beauty made her his concubine   

And after time when Cyrus was deed  
Artaxerses his father ye may see  
Next him succeeding in ꝑce it is no dread  
List her to cleyme eke for her great beauty  
And so quoth da●ye she longeth now to me  
B●cause she is so pleasant to my sight  
By succession I will her cleyme of right   

Thus king darye to his father said  
He would have arthasia the fair  
And therewithal artaxerses 'gan abraide  
And answered with face debonair  
My son quoth he I will not be contrair  
To thy desire but of affection  
deliver her to thy possession   

Of his promise he after 'gan repent  
Cast him to make another chevisance  
And secretly his concubine he sent  
called arthasia as made is remembrance  
And through his sleighty uncouth purveyance  
Unto the temple such means he hath sought  
Of great Apollo that she in haste was brought   

Where she was veiled and made a preesteresse  
After the rites plainly and the guise  
Of old paynemes by amaner holiness  
And there professed for to do service  
As their statutes constrain and devise  
During her life it might none other be  
She bound was to live in chastity   

This thing was wrought by compassing  
Of artaxerses by froward jealousy  
Whereof darye the young lusty king  
Waxed almost wooed when he did it espy  
And 'gan compass of melancholy  
Furious rancour and hasty cruelty  
Upon his father avenged for to be   

And his party of force to sustain  
With him he had the story meeketh mind  
His brethren in baste an hundred and fifteen  
Which to their father were falls and unkind  
Of all this number there left none behind  
That for this purpose once list descent  
His death of one will they assent   

¶ Yet of this strange false conspiracy  
Artaxerses had a knowledging  
Although the story doth not specify  
How ne by whom he had thereof witting  
For which in haste he made no tarrying  
To gather main and make him silf strong  
Him silf t'avenge of this disnaturall wrong   

For artaxerses like as the case though stood  
Though it sat weal to his high nobesse  
To be venged upon unkind blood  
For law nature decrees rightwiseness  
And all statutis damn unkindness  
Whereby this king occasion did find  
again his children because they were unkind   

Sum men dame how great multitude  
Of many children maketh a man strong  
But thereupon plainly to conclude  
Virtue is cause if she devil them among  
But if their courage inclineth unto wrong  
And vicious life do their bridle lead  
The greater number the worse they must speed   

A progeny borne of a cursed line  
May through his froward false infection  
Outward by colour of troth though they shine  
Under appearance and simulation  
Infect and corrupt all a region  
For it is said of full old language  
Fruit of sour trees take a sour tarage   

This was well showed in artaxerses  
That suffered his brother die at myscheef  
Bledynge his wound left him helpless  
Which to his name shall ever be reproof  
Thus blood unkind unkindly maketh his proof  
For all the children fro his stock descended  
Were cursed everichone as here is comprehended   

Their stock was first contagious of nature  
The griffis froward though they were great in noumbre  
Which of assent did their busy cure  
By false treason their father to encumber  
But there is no shade nor no covert umbre  
So closely kept namely of falls guile  
But the venom will show out sunwhile   

And thus the death contagious conspired  
Of artaxerses sith go full yore  
Whereon to avenge his heart was so fired  
Of furious Ire and Ibrent so sore  
That he not could differre it furthermore  
But with his main fill on them anon  
Or they were ware and slough them euery●●●●   

He slough also all his concubines  
That were their moders of whom I told tofore  
Suffered none to live of their lines  
So of that lineage he hath the weed upshorne  
Fond among all no greyne of good corn  
Convict by doom when they were presented  
To his death how echon they were assented   

His clothes sprained with the unkind blood  
Of his children which he did shed  
After whose death in great mischief he stood  
And so in sorrow his life he did lead  
Died after in mischief and in dread  
Death quit with death and rage with rage  
Loo here the fine of his unwieldy age   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy aforne declareth here  
The great outrage of unkindness  
atween two brethren reigning both Ifere  
In ꝑce land as ye have herd express  
Till division of all mischief mas●resse  
Gon enter in through fraternal hatred  
Which again kind destroyed their kindred   

The were arose contagious for to lere  
throughout all Perce of mortal frowardness  
Of Cyrus' death rehearsing the manner  
How helpless he died in distress  
And how the number of brethren did them dress  
To slay their father the story ye may read  
causing an end of all their hole kinrede   

King artaxerses with a froward cheer  
His Injuries and wrongs to redress  
Slough his children their moders eke Ifere  
Spared not one of froward cursedness  
By which occasion took a great sickness  
After died in mischief and in dread  
causing an end of all his hole kinrede   

Loo here a sorrow not ꝑticulere  
For through all pierce ran the cursedness  
The crooked fame spread both far and near  
Of this vengeable hasty fell woodness  
The air infecting with sclaundrous blaknesse  
To show the vengeance the contrarious meed  
Of blood unkind borne of one kinrede   

Noble princes lift up your iyens clear  
And consider by great avisnesse  
The woeful strives the odious fell daungere  
Sown in kinredies of wilful strangeness  
Of all rancour your courage do redress  
P●isinge the mischevys following on in deed  
Of blood unkind borne of one kinrede     
Explicit liber Tarcius.   


Incipit Prohemium Libri quarti  

Fruit of writing set in chronicles old  
most delectable of fresshnessh in tasting  
And most goodly and glorious to behold  
In cold and heat longest abiding  
Change of reasons may do it no hind ring  
And whereso be that men dine or fast  
The more men taste the longer it will last   

It doth courages renew again and glade  
Which may be called fruit of the tree of life  
So parmanable that it will never fade  
To the five wits greatest restoraties  
And to then pleasance most chief confortatif  
For of nature when they be quick and good  
They of this fruit take their natural food   

auctors heron conclude and eke assent  
How that writing of his kindly right  
Doth loved ꝑsonies and lyknessis represent  
Of friends absent severed far from sight  
Darkness of absence is cleared with the light  
Thus fruit of writings hath his avauntages  
Of folk fe●of to present the images   

Law had perished nadde by writing  
Our faith appalled ner virtue of scripture  
For all religion and order of good living  
Taketh their example by doctrine of lectrure  
For writing causeth with help of portraiture  
That things darked of old that were begun  
To be remembered with this celestial son   

God set writing and letters in sentence  
again the dullness of our infirmity  
This world tenlumyne by craft of eloquence  
Canon Civil philosophy these three  
confirmed franchises of many strong cite  
Covenauntys asseled trouthis of old assured  
Nadde writing be might not have endured   

diligence chief triumphatrice  
Of slogardye negligence and sloth  
Eke of memory upholder and norice  
And registrere to supposalayle troth  
Hath of old labour and else were great routh  
Brought things passed notable in substance  
Only by writing to new remembrance   

Writing is cause that hereto is remembered  
Life of prophets and patryarchiss old  
How the apostles and martyrs were dismembered  
For christs faith his banner up to hold  
And writing showeth tofore as I you told  
Of confessors the great steadfastness  
And of virgins the virginal cleanness   

Like to a tree which every year beareth fruit  
Showing his beauty with blossoms & with flowers  
Right so the food of our inward refute  
By diligence of these old doctors  
And daily fruit of their faithful labours  
Have our courages fostered and pastured  
By writing only which hath so long endured   

The Epigrams whilom ꝑshed had  
Of prudent prosꝑ that was so virtuous  
And of Seneke the tragedies sad  
The Stratagemies of urgecius  
Rebuke in vicis of noble ꝑcius  
If in old writing had be found a lack  
These saide things had far be put aback   

Writing caused poets to recure  
A name eternal the laurer when they won  
In adamaunt grave perpetually to endure  
Record I take of virgil mantuan  
That wrote the arms and prowess of the man  
Called Aeneas when he of high courage  
Came into italy from Dydo of cartage   

Three famous books this author list compile  
Eneidos' first which that did excel  
In rhetoric by sovereignty of style  
He drank such plenty this peote as men tell  
Of the streams that ran down from the well  
Wrought by tho sisters that been in number nine  
Prowess of knighthood most clearly to termine   

For in that book he cast not to fail  
With voice melodious for to descrive aright  
The great conquest of rome and of italy  
Wrought by Enee the manly trojan knight  
Whoos veers notable give so clear a light  
Through all the world as in rhetoric  
That among poets was none unto him like   

He wrote also this poet with his hand  
By humble style other books twain  
One of pasture the next of tilth of land  
The veers conveyed with feet of metries pleyne  
By which three labours a palm he did attain  
To make his name through dities delectable  
Above poets to be most commendable   

Writing of poets hath set within his clos  
Conquest of knighthood their triumphs & renouns  
Reed of ovid Methamorphoseos  
The great wonders the transmutations  
The moral meaning uncouth conclusions  
His book deponto and with great diligence  
Full many a pistle complaining for absence   

Of craft of love a book he hath compiled  
Whereof Caesar had full great disdain  
Which was cause that he was exiled  
To abide in ponto and never come again  
And yet he did his labour in certain  
In hope of grace his voutis to apply  
To writ a book of Louis remedy   

Writing of old with letters aureat  
Labour of poets doth highly magnefie  
Record on petrak in rome laureate  
Which of two fortunes wrote the remedy  
Certain Egloogys and his cosmography  
And a great conflict which men may read & see  
Of his quarrels within him silf secre   

He wrote seven psalmys of great repentance  
And in his afrique commended scipion  
And wrote a book of his ignorance  
By a manner of excusation  
And set a notable compilation  
Upon the life called solitary  
To which this world is froward and contrary   

And thus by writing he gate him silf a name  
Perpetually to be in remembrance  
Set and registered in the house of fame  
And made epistles of full high substance  
Called sine titulo and more him silf to advance  
Of famous women he wrote thexcellence  
Gresilde preferring for her great patience   

Writing also remembered hath how troy  
Destroyed was sigh go many a year  
The slaughter of hector chief pylere of their joy  
And for the party of Greeks wrote of Omere  
Which in his writing was particulere  
For Tachille that wrought all by fraud  
Above hector he gave a singular laud   

Writing causeth the chapelet to be green  
Both of Esope and of Juvenal  
Dantis labour it doth also sustain  
By a report very celestial  
singed among lumbardies in especial  
Whoos three books the great wonders tell  
Of heaven above of purgatory and of hell   

Men by writing know the miracles  
Of blessed seyntes and of their holiness  
Medicine salve and eke obstacles  
Geyne mortal wounds and every great sickness  
Recreation and solace in distress  
Quiet in labour in povert patience  
And in richesses right troth and conscience   

Shortness of life and forgetfulness  
The wit of man dull and aye sliding  
Negligence and froward Idylnesse  
Echon stepmother to science and cunning  
That I dare say nad be writing  
Only ordained for our avauntages  
Deed were memory and mind of passed ages   

And thus in chief the causes afore told  
moving the heart of bochas to writing  
And to remember by many stories old  
Thestate of princes in chairs high sitting  
And for vices their unware falling  
Yeving example as I affirm dare  
Of false fortune how they shall be aware   

His first three books by full clear myrours  
Fully accomplished as bochas undertook  
The cause of falling of many conquerors  
only for troth and virtue they forsook  
For which mine author toward his fourth book  
'Gan sharp his pen to his eternal fame  
Only by writing to get him a name   

Mine author bochas that so much could  
beginneth here to make a process  
again the outrage of princes that were proud  
Which were brought low for their frowardness  
And notably remembreth the meekness  
Which standeth hole in one and doth contune  
Is aye fraunchised from daungere of fortune   

But he in manner doth recapitle again  
That fall of many that sat in high stages  
How they for vices stood aye in no certain  
Came to mischief for their great outrages  
remembering first of priam the damages  
And he lost sceptre and regalye  
For sustaining of false avowtry   

The fall rehearsing of astriages  
That gave his daughter whilom in marriage  
To one that was called cambyses  
A poor man borne of low lineage  
For he should have none advantage  
In no manner nouther in right ne wrong  
By rebellion again him to be strong   

For he toforne had had a vision  
How there should one proceed of his line  
Which should him put out of his region  
And cause him in mischief to fine  
But yet fortune could him undermine  
That all his wisdom stood in none avail  
For again god prevaileth no counsel   

I● needeth not his story to rehearse  
Nor that manner of his unhappy chance  
Nor the falling of Cirus king of ꝑce  
Nor of king Tarquyn for his misgovernance  
Though bochas here put them in remembrance  
For as me seemeth it were a thing in vain  
Thing once told to tell it new again   

And he list not now to be reckless  
N●we again to make rehearsal  
If the king called Artaxerses  
Sigh it is told what should it more avail  
But he proceedeth straight unto jitayle  
To their stories and beginneth here  
At marchus maulius a romayne consulere   
Finis Prologi.   

Incipit liber Quartus how marchus maulius wrought and did for Rome town/ And at the last he was by the commons cost into Tibre and there drowned  

wHilom in rome there was a graete lineage  
Called mauliois of renowned noblesse  
And of that stok right fair in his young age  
Can this marchus the story beareth witness  
Which by process for his worthiness  
Was thr● times by just electioun  
Made consuler of that worthy town   

Which to the common full greatly did avail  
He dyuer● times for the touns right  
fought in his days many strong battle  
And aye prevailed through his great might  
And in the field by a singular fight  
Outrayed his enemy like as it is told  
And took from him a rich buy of gold   

Torques in latin in ynglyssh is a buy  
A circle of gold which that marchus won  
Brought it home through his chivalry  
And of Torques he was called then  
Marchus Torquatus and thus the name 'gan  
He to be called the story telleth us  
Among romans Torquatus maulius   

And he would often inpart good and life  
For the city enter the field alone  
And there conquered for a prerogative  
Sundry crowns with many rich stone  
won tunicles of gold manyone  
For thilk time for divers high emprises  
Were crowns made in many sundry wives   

For as Agellius maketh mencioun  
There were in rome de●ised strange croils  
For such as had fought for the town  
As for their labour received their guerdoils  
By a prerogative called chaumpiouns  
Which sundry times of manhood and of might  
jupartyd their lives for the touns right   

Like their deserts the crowns took their names  
For sum of them were called triumphal  
Yove unto knights for their noble fames  
Othir also called obsidionall  
In roman tongue and sum there were mural  
Eke other twain Naval and castrence  
And all they were of great excellence   

The triumphal made were of gold  
Offered in triumphs to worthy emperors  
Set with sapphires and rubies many fold  
Upon the heads of mighty conquerors  
And when that room was shining in his flowers  
That crown called with braunchiss boarded fair  
In their vulgar thaureat coronayre   

Thobsidional of which I spoke toforne  
Devised were the book doth specify  
Crowns notable wrought like greyne or corn  
y●ue unto princes which through their chivalry  
Rescued s●gys and saved the party  
Of thaym that were closed straight within  
Through prowess a crown for to win   

Another crown that called was mural  
Was given and granted by the emperor  
To him that first won upon the wall  
A● any siege and there abode the shower  
Fighting alone In hope of some succour  
And he that might such a brunt sustain  
Should of laurere were a crown of green   

Naval crowns whilom were ordained  
For them that fought manly in the see  
When their ships were together cheyned  
He that of manhood and martial surety  
Upon his enemies made first entre  
receive should in all the people sight  
Korue liche a rother a crown clear and bright   

The crown next which is called castrence  
Was yeven of custom to that manly knight  
That list advance him through his magnificence  
Hosts assembled juparte would of might  
●orne all other entry in to fight  
〈◊〉 ●ilde eke receive his nobles for to queeme  
●erryd crown made like a diadem   

The crown also which called was oval  
Took first name of joy and gladness  
Which kings princes in acts martial  
Osed sometime in their joyous noblesse  
At sudden scarmysshes of casuel hastiness  
〈◊〉 ●han they venquesshed proudly in battle  
〈◊〉 as their highness unwarly would assail   

And for they were of power Inuyncible  
Their noble crowns curiously were wrought  
Of miitis braunchies which been imputrible  
enduring ever and corrupt naught  
For this word Oual if it be well sought  
Is saide of gladness as put is in memory  
Ordained for princes after their victory   

Another crown called Cynyca  
Of oaken bows was made round and pleyne  
Ordained for them which pro re publica  
Coude in battle rescue a cetesien  
And slay his enemy that was a foreign  
Of mighty oak he should for manhood  
Cleyme to were a crown upon his heed   

And like as knights in martial delights  
For common profit did him silf advance  
So for their noble victorious merits  
The roman people had a great pleasance  
With sudden crowns ma●●●all in substance  
For to guerdon their knights most famous  
Mine author record called agellius   

Among other that did his busy pain  
Such crowns manly to recure  
Marcus ●aulius in manhood sovereign  
Put often his life in mortal adventure  
For in his force so much he did assure  
That he deserved full yore agone  
Of these sa● 〈…〉 more that one   

And to encres of his noble fame  
He did a thing both manly and divine  
Whereby that he gate him a surname  
To be called marchus Capitolyne  
Which above all his names did shine  
When he alone whereby ●e is commended  
The Capitoyle from enemies hath defended   

When they of france had take the eyte  
Put all room at mischief unto flight  
And laid await with a great main  
The capeto●le for to take at night  
By a passage that lay far out of sight  
Under a rock called Carmenton  
Their cave entered into the chief dungeon   

They were shrouded under a dark vale  
With ordinance and mighty violence  
Toward midnight the wall for to scale  
most covertly them keeping in silence  
Dempt plainly for lacking of resistance  
That they should in ●●gre though within  
Their hour assigned the Capitoile win   

But the ges that were within clos  
The wakir foulys by noise of their coming  
'Gan beat their wings and up anon they aros  
Where through this marchus in his bed lying  
'Gan tabrayde and made tareing  
Took his harneys' most furious and wroth  
And to the wallys in all haste he goth   

And him that came first upon the wall  
Of very force without more tariing  
Down into tybre he made them have a fall  
And all his fellows busy in scaling  
With shield or pavys or ladders up reisinge  
This manly Mark shortly to comprehend  
Into the flood made them to descend   

Unto the death of him they were abavyd  
For by his knighthood and his high renown  
Maugre them the Capetoyle saved  
And afterward rescued all the town  
For the fortune in conclusion  
Which that time did unto him fall  
Capitolinus men did him after call   

And for he was so victorious  
Him s●lf alone by this high victory  
This name he gate to him and 〈◊〉 his house  
Perpetually to be in memory  
And registered in the consistory  
In their chronicles his name determined  
With golden letters to be enlumyned   

And the geese of whoom I spoke also  
That so well kept watch upon the night  
I take were and offered unto juno  
solemnly with great torches light  
To whom also it granted was of ●●ght  
When a famine made their store to fa●●e  
They spared were and take for no victual   

And thus was Mark a mighty conqueror  
Worshipped in rome all being of assent  
But when sum folk be set in great honour  
sometime it happeneth they hold them not con●ent  
With covetise their hearts be so blended  
from suffisance above their degrees  
To surmount to higher dignities   

This maulius was fret in his courage  
To greater worships suddenly to ascend  
deeming so to have had advantage  
And in him silf 'gan frowardly pretend  
In that cite all other to transcend  
Beside triumphs which were to him reserved  
Higher to climb than he hath deserved   

But there was one as made is mention  
called Camillus a lord of great substance  
Which in the cite and in that mighty town  
Above all other had governance  
And as it is put in remembrance  
To his greatness no man might attain  
Age whose noblesse marchus 'gan disdain   

In his heart he had a great envy  
Which caused him by outrage for to err  
again Camillus which for his chivalry  
The town governed both in peace and were  
And for marchus would him silf prefer  
Above that prince in worship and honour  
First of the people he gate him great favour   

And by a manner of conspiracy  
He gathered hearts of the comonte  
And drough also unto his party  
great multitude throughout the city  
And thus arose first the dreadful enmity  
Within rome the story telleth thus  
atween these prince's Camyll and maulius   

Thus first the venom atween them two was ●owe  
Of hasty hatred by false occasions  
Which in the city atween high and low  
Caused of new divers dissensions  
After the uncouth strange opinions  
For every wight drough to his party  
As they were moved in their fantasy   

Butt for to stint this outrageous error  
And these hasty strives furious  
again fro Tuscan came a dictatoure  
That time called Cornelius Cassus  
Which of wisdom blamed maulius  
For he caused such rancour in the town  
And for his gilt commanded him to prison   

Which was in manner hindringe to his name  
And appalled in party his noblesse  
For a time 'gan teclipse his fame  
But afterward the cloud of that darkness  
By common favour was turned into cleanness  
For as it had be right for the nonies  
In his diffence the commons roose at once   

First when they had among their great rumours  
Mid of their fell hateful contention  
Shortly rebuked the worthy senators  
Because marchus was set in prison  
Which had been so helpelich to the town  
Whom to deliver they divers means sought  
And as I find even thus they wrought   

First they clad them in mourning clotheses black  
Pale of their facis pitously weeping  
Their beerdis unshackle their here to rend & shake  
Like furious men up and down running  
Tofore the prison all the night waking  
And on his harms plainly to be wreak  
They 'gan menace the prison for to break   

And for to stint their outrageous clamor  
The senators made anon ordain  
To deliver him out of his soioure  
Loose his feters and to break his chain  
And when he was delivered out of pain  
He list not stint of hasty cruelty  
Of proud courage avenged for to be   

And in his furious fell presumption  
Maugre the senaties and tribunies evyrichon  
Said he would govern rome town  
At whose outrage they 'gan disdain anon  
The peoplies hearts from him were agone  
And for his pride they by advisement  
Assigned him to come to judgement   

Forsake he was throughout the cite  
There came not one with him of his kindred  
He fond no help in his adversity  
Save a few came with him in deed  
Of the commons full feeble at such a need  
And thus alas he fond no resistance  
Was available unto his diffence   

But for succour constrained and in dread  
away he put his clothing and vesture  
And naked stood verily in deed  
Showing his wounds which he did endure  
At many scarmysshe and discomfiture  
And for rescuse to speak in words few  
The capitoyle to them he did show   

And in supporting eke of his quarrel  
Me●inge the people to rue on his complaint  
First to his goddies loud he did appeal  
To preserve him of that he was attaint  
The people about him with teers all be sprained  
That the judges astonied were in deed  
Where as they sat again him to proceed   

But secrely he was led out of press  
To a place called frowmentyne  
And there alas they were merciless  
His doom by rigour fully to termine  
Spared nouther nobles nor line  
For the Capitoile out of the chief dungeoun  
low in to Tibre for to be cast down   

This was his end void of all favour  
Which no man would redress nor amend  
By cruelty cast out of all that tour  
Which he whilom most knightly 'gan defend  
But what man can by writing comprehend  
The unsure succour fond in necessity  
To them that labour for any comonte   

let men behold that trust in worldly things  
And namely them that be proud and hauteyn  
Opyn their eyen cast up their lokynges  
●o consider and se well in certain  
Who trusteth fortune his trust is but in veyn  
And if ye list a clear example find  
Among remember on marcus in your mind   

What might avail his nobles in battle  
●ies of gold crowns of laurere  
His rich plates or his uncouth mail  
His mighty shields that shone so bright and clear  
Or his triumphs song far and near  
Or his victories for the cite wrought  
In his mischief availed him right naught    

Here bochas writeth in part against such as can not be content with suffisance but usurp to high dignities  

HEre john bochas calleth to memory  
The strange Salaire the famous guerdoun  
Of them that gate by conquest and victory  
Honour and triumph within rome town  
How it was used he maketh mention  
seriously rehearseth the manner  
Which I shall writ if ye list to here   

A vice was take first of estatis three  
Of men of arms which that were present  
That saw in deed the magnanimity  
Of him that shall have it by judgement  
Of the clergy they must have eke assent  
And of the Senate and people most notable  
By preef soughtoute that he were found able   

This prince also other the captain  
Which shall the triumph receive of very right  
Within a charefull richly beseyne  
He shallbe set of gold burned bright  
Fret with stonies which shall give a light  
As phoebus doth in his midday spear  
That no darkness about him shall appear   

This heavenly char shall for more delight  
To show thincrease of his knightly glory  
Be led and draw with four steeds white  
Through the cite in token of his victory  
And he shall have for a singular memory  
In his right hand a palm of gold full sheen  
And on his heed a crown of laurer green   

He shall eke have above all his armure  
powdered with palmys a cote of purple red  
In his lefthande his quarrels for to assure  
A standard round declaring his manhood  
And all above set upon the heed  
The prince's arms full rich of apparel  
In whose quarrel he accomplished in battle   

And of custom the saide standard shall  
Be richly depend with red colour  
And so this knight this man most martial  
Shall be conveyed like a conqueror  
And yet for more increases of his honour  
Upon their feet his prisoners everichone  
Take by his manhood about his char shall go   

The most worthy fast by his side  
All the remnant after on him looking  
Echon of the poets which in the town abide  
Shall on him wait at his home coming  
dities devise and of his conquest sing  
And strange minstrels to be also record  
Their instrumentis shall touch at a cord   

All of intent to give him more courage  
To the capitoyle so he shallbe brought  
And list of pride he fall in none outrage  
Nor surquedy within his own thought  
The most wretch shall of the town be sought  
Which of custom shall have a staff on hand  
And in the char behind his back up stand   

Gnotos' Eolitos' in Greek he should say  
Which in our tongue plainly doth express  
Know thy silf remembering in certain  
Upon fortunes froward doubleness  
On whom thou trust may be no sekyrnesse  
And who that doubteth where that it be thus  
let him remember the end of maulius   

What availed his triumphs or his bees  
crowns of gold and peerlyd fresh tunycles  
His high prow or all his chivalries  
singular feightinge or martial ꝑticles  
Newly remembered or read i●olde chronicles  
Poise his merits and see ●●●we at the last  
how into tybre their champion they cast   

To his excuse availed neveradeal  
Favour of commons carectis of his wounds  
Nor to the goddies his lamentable apple  
Nor remembrance of their fraunchised boundys'  
Territories nor winning of the groundies  
Which that he won with spending of his blood  
All knit in one to him to stead they stood   

Here ye may see how fortune suddenly  
Clearness of fame can change to darkness  
Glory to reproach worship to villainy  
And joy passed to mortal heaviness  
Sweetness of savour into bitterness  
And sobirnesse into furious rage  
And old fraunchise to thraldom and saruage   

For there was neither request nor prayer  
That availed to his deliverance  
In chains fettered deadly of look and cheer  
Abode the sentence of his final governance  
Pale of face with trembling countenance  
When he alas 'gan mortally approach  
Of Terpeya to the hideous roche   

Of Terpeya this roche bore the name  
After a lady as made is mention  
Called tarpeya which fill in great diffame  
Because she was assented to treason  
To have brought enemies into rome town  
Whereof convyet her story is well know  
Under that rock she was Idolue low   

This roche also was called Carmentoun  
After a woman of great authority  
called carmenties which through her high renown  
The capitoyle made in that cite  
And she fond letters first of our abc  
And cunning had among her works all  
Declare afore thing that should befall   

And on this hard sturdy roche of stone  
From the capitoyle marchus was cast down  
Other favour nor friendship fond he none  
For all his battles fought for the town  
The commons hearts were turned up so down  
whose love is like proved at assay  
A bla●e of fire now bright now away   

The common people may hot and cry fast  
As their hearts steadfast were and stable  
But at a need their promise will not last  
Of 〈◊〉 courages they be so removable  
To follow reason gerissh and untretable  
Lightly declining and is full great ruth  
After opinions and no thing after truth   

This mallius was of his trust deceived  
whose lust unleeful was departed on twain  
First when of pride he would have be received  
To high estate which he might not attain  
Where through the Senate 'gan at him disdain  
And the commons aye falls at such a need  
Jest him in mischief and took of him none heed   

Lenuoye  

IN this tragedy men may behold and see  
The perilous damages of false ambition  
Of them that be not content with their degree  
But would up climb like their opinion  
To high estate by usurpation  
Which not consider the sentence of scripture  
In a good mean men lengst may endure   

Who that usurpeth to higher dignity  
Than appertaineth to his condition  
In royal chairs for to make his see  
And hath no title of line nor reason  
Through froward pride full often he is put down  
For lak he seethe not every creature  
In a good mean longest may endure   

When dedalus taught his son i'll  
He had him first of high discretion  
From phoebus heat keep his wings free  
And fro Neptunus' cold congelation  
Meaning hereby for short conclusion  
That who that list with joy his state assure  
In a good mean he longest shall endure   

Remember the manhood and magnanimity  
Of marchus maulius which by presumption  
Would have governed ●ome the cite  
Maugre the Senate ruled that mighty town  
Which turned after to his confusion  
For he saw not such was his adventure  
In a good mean men longest may endure   

Sum in their greatest high prosperity  
Of froward courage and furious motion  
In their great weal by falls duplicity  
Have a manner strange condition  
Nat to be content with plenty nor foison  
By a false etike which of their nature  
In a good mean ne can not long endure   

But in this earth greatest felicity  
In hearts ease richest possession  
With suffisance content for to be  
Of worldly trouble t'eschew thoccasion  
moving no quarrels causing no dissension  
Nor cleyme no thing which hard is to recure  
Sigh in a good mean men longest may endure   

Princes remember in your most majesty  
Envy of clymbinge causeth division  
Be of accord trust in no comonte  
Which at a point is but deception  
And specially i'll simulation  
You may in marchus se a pleyne figure  
Which for ambition might no while endure     

How Neptanabus king of Egipte was by xerses constrained to i'll his kingdom  

AFter the fall of Marchus Maulius  
Bochas anon 'gan his style dress  
Briefly to tell of Neptanabus  
King of Egipte and of his great richesses  
saying afore in all his noblesse  
By uncouth craft how he ne might cheese  
That in all hast his crown he should lose   

For he was cunning in especial  
And right expert as made is mention  
In all the sciencis called liberal  
And knew afore by calculation  
How god would make a transmigration  
Of his kingdom and plainly to report  
The land of ꝑce to greeks full transport   

For by king zerses out of his country  
Maugre his treasure his cunning and his might  
This Neptanabus constrained was to i'll  
Durstnat abide to have of him a sight  
And into Grece he drough him anon right  
not like akinge but after old writings  
Like a magician he wrought wonder things   

Upon fortune ferther to proceed  
By his cunning he greatly furthered was  
And by his sleighty werkinge eke in deed  
He was acquainted with queen Olimpias  
And so secre plainly this the case  
That upon her men saide by deeming  
Gate ailisaundre the great mighty king   

But how he fled out of his region  
Of his ymagys' nor his illusions  
Bochas maketh no manner mention  
Nor how he wrought by incantotions  
Nor of his subtle operations  
Nor how that he like a man by night  
Whilom appeared in the queens sight   

Save of his death bochas writeth rightnought  
remembering no time nor the date  
How he and alexander to gether have sought  
The course of stars toward eve late  
And how his son like as was his fate  
Down from a bridge by full mortal wreck  
Cast him backward and so his neck broke    

How Pansonoy duke of Lacedemoyne was exiled by them of Athens  

tHis was his end and after this bochas  
'Gan in hast his style advance  
Of pansonoys to tell the piteous cas  
And all the manner of his woeful chance  
Which was a duke and had in governance  
Lacedomoyne there founding a city  
Whice of old time was called bisaunte   

They of Athens that cite gate with might  
And it 〈◊〉 by their chivalry  
And afterwards whether it were wrong or right  
They exiled the same pansanye  
And thus fortune through her falls envy  
Caused that duke without more delays  
In sorrow and poverty for to end his days    

How Heliarchus the tyrant for extortion and oppression was slain by the knight Leonydes  

aFter the fall soothly of these twain  
john bochas was moved of courage  
For to rehearse with all his busy pain  
The great fury and the odious rage  
Of heliarchus which by great outrage  
Though he not was famous in chivalry  
He noyed all ꝑce with his tyranny   

Wherefore bochas 'gan at him disdain  
Cast he would only for his sake  
Touch of tyrants more than one or twain  
And by writing again them a were make  
And in his hand he 'gan a pen take  
Told in order the perilous pestilence  
Which they wrought by mortal violence   

First he declareth of fortune of right  
again tyrants furious and wood  
Hath full cause for to show her might  
Tappalle their dignities in which that they stood  
Such as rejoice for to shed blood  
Donat else but labour and device  
To spoil the temple in many sundry wise   

And Heliarchus through his cruelty  
And his contrived false extortions  
Was mortal enemy to a fair cite  
Called heraclye and many other touns  
And by extort false oppressiouns  
As the deed concluded at a preef  
All that country he brought to mischief   

Turning his grace and favour to hatred  
Mercy and pity unto cruelty  
Fraunchise of people to servitute and dread  
Oppressed their freedom and old liberty  
And all their statutes by which they were made free  
He interruptid of force and not of right  
Which made him odious in every man's sight   

But to restrain his great extortions'  
Fortune this while was not reckless  
For his horrible abominations  
She 'gan tavale him this gods merciless  
By a good knight called Leonides  
Which with a fellow borne of that country  
Cast on this tyrant avenged for to be   

They dempte it was an alms deed  
To set their land in quiet and in ease  
Of a tyrant the furious blood to shed  
His importable malice for tappeses  
Which to there cite did so great disease  
And of assent with their swerdys' keen  
They slough the tyrant in their mortal te●●   

Of whose death many a man was fain  
And specially of heracle the city  
Dempte it was meedfull that he was so slain  
To set in quiet all a comonte  
Lo here men may the rightful guerdon see  
Of tyrants which by their violence  
To oppress the people have no conscience    

How the vicious Denys king of Cecile slough his brethren and kindred & after exiled died at mischief  

AFter this tyrant with a full heavy cheer  
And countenance piteous and lamentable  
Unto bochas Denys did appear  
Which in tyranny most was importable  
Through his land hateful and reprovable  
But for all that he 'gan mine author prey  
Of his manners somewhat to writ and say   

Bochas lystnat rehearse his lineage  
Nor make no process of his geneallogye  
Because he was with all his great outrage  
Full of all vices pride and lechery  
Of avarice of ire and of envy  
In Cecile held his royal see  
At Cyracusis a mighty strong city   

This denys was cused of nature  
most malicious both of thought and deed  
For as it is remembered in scripture  
He slough his brethren his cousins and kindred  
That he alone in peace might possede  
Without trouble or interruption  
Of all cecile the mighty region   

Among all vices bochas doth specefie  
He 'gan draw into Idleness  
Followed his lusts of foul lechery  
And often of custom he fill in drunkenness  
And thought it was most sovereign blissydnesse  
Like as he had be master of fortune  
To follow his lusts and aye therein contune   

He wax right fat and right corcious  
And his iyens 'gan dark of his sight  
That uneath this man most vicious  
Ne might not weal behold the days light  
And of malice this tyrant again right  
With help of robbers and of false for●yns  
Slough of his city nigh all the citizens   

His vicious life in order to rehearse  
Were contagious to the audience  
His extort pillages wrought in grece and pierce  
For to writ or tell them in sentence  
Would infect the air with pestilence  
But I will briefly remember and describe  
The sacrilegies which he did his live   

In venus' temple beside Cithaeron  
A great number of women he did call  
Full we'll beseyne and by oppressions  
He made his main unwarly on them fall  
Despoiled them so that one and all  
By his outrage and froward violence  
They naked stood echon in his presence   

And when he saw their shap and their features  
And such chas out as were to his pleasance  
robbing the remnant took fro them their vestures  
And let them go without ordinance  
And for this uncouth abominable chance  
Their cite locroys aros with mighty hand  
For his outrage banysshinge him their land   

Another time also he did sojourn  
Within the temple like as it is told  
Of jupiter son unto Saturn  
There beholding his relics manifold  
saw amange other amantyll large of gold  
Whereupon when he cast his look  
That rich jewel unto his use he took   

And thus he said him silf to excuse  
It was to heavy and to comerous  
In summer ceson that mantle for to use  
Because it was to large and ponderous  
And overmore he alleged for him thus  
Sigh the garment forged was of gold  
For wynterceson how it was to cold   

And when he 'gan away the mantle pull  
Than right anon this tyrant deceivable  
Gave him another sengyll made of wool  
affirmed soothly it was more covenable  
To other ceson more meet and agreeable  
concluding thus for summer it was to light  
And warm for wyntyr to were frosty night   

Another time this tyrant eke also  
Which was of heart most avaricious  
entered once the temple of Apollo  
And of his son Esculapius  
And this tyrant fell and contrarious  
Beheld apollo berdles that was old  
And Esculapius with a long beard of gold   

Quod Denys than as seemeth unto me  
Here is a straunche froward convenience  
That the father berdles should be  
The son bearded standing in his presence  
Made anon by sturdy violence  
To take away the beard which in his sight  
Of most fine gold shone so clear and bright   

Through Grece and pierce where ever he did go  
In all the temples this was his usance  
The stately relics with many rich stone  
And massy tables of mighty great substance  
To take them all that were to his pleasance  
He spared none thus living like a thief  
Till he by vengeance was brought to mischief   

Cyracusanys where he was crowned king  
All of assent there is no more to feign  
For his outrages and vicious living  
They banished him never to come again  
And so this tyrant vacant went in vain  
About the world like a falls fugitif  
And so at mischief this denys lost his life   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy giveth a warning  
To all though that have domination  
Over the people prince duke or king  
To eschew ravin and false extortion  
Bit them consider how by thoccasion  
Of foul pillage and froward tyranny  
This said denys at mischief must die   

First he compassed falsely imagining  
To slay the Cetezeyns of his royal town  
His brethren his cousins his kinrede not sparing  
Brought all his blood to destruction  
In slaughter he had such dilectotion  
rejoicing ever in murder and robbrie  
Which caused him at missheef for to die   

To spoil temples was his rejoicing  
Took all their treasures to his possession  
Tables of gold with stonies fresh shining  
Eke fro other gods the relics he took down  
Where ever he road in any region  
whose sacrilege and compassed felony  
Caused him unwarly at mischief for to die   

In venus' temple by record of writing  
He did a foul froward abusion  
All gentle women that came there to offering  
them he despoiled as made is mention  
let them be naked without exception  
For which diffame and great ungentrie  
He banished was and did in mischief die   

Noble princes remember on this thing  
compassed malice and false collusion  
Must have evil ending and come to reckoning  
Fraud ay with fraud receiveth his guerdoun  
Have this in mind concluding in reason  
That all tyrants plainly to specify  
Had here short life or did at mischief die     

The author again presumptuous people & pryn●y● holding them silf God's  

yE folk that been astonied in your advice  
To see tyrants that been Incorrigible  
Left from their sees that them held so wise  
Thought their power was very invincible  
Though tofore god no thing is impossible  
Wherefore remember and do no thing marvel  
With unware falls though fortune them assail   

For when tyrants been set in high stages  
Of dignities reigning like wode lions  
Full hard it is to wrist their courages  
either to tempre their dispositions  
Worldly felicity so blindeth their reasons  
As they to god were equal of power  
And had fortune under their danger   

Record of denys that often was afraid  
Bassaute of fortune like as was his fate  
For vicious living three times disamayed  
As his story remembreth of old date  
Next on the ring now cometh pollecrate  
With one victurbius tyrants of italy  
Regning like w●luys toppresse the porail   

For when tyrants in diverse regions  
Of surquedie catch an opinion  
That their estates and dominations  
Should ever endure by long succession  
As god nor fortune might not put them down  
But as they were in her estate royal  
This world to rule to both two equal   

Toward god they have lost shame and dread  
touching his guerdouns other of joy or pain  
Indifferent atwene troth or falsehood  
Their lust Iserued nofors who laugh or plain  
God is forgotyn at they disdain  
As both were recleymed to their lure  
Falsely transcending the bounds of measure   

FOr which suntyme as bokys specefie  
God list suffer as made is mention  
That fortune by a manner mokrye  
Favoureth sum folk like their opinion  
Tenhance their power by false deception  
As she were set plainly for to say  
To serve their lust and durst not disobey    

How king pollicrate for extortion and tyranny was hanged till every joint went from other  

Record I take on proud policrate  
Tyrant of Samoys beside these edge  
Which sore laboured early and ekelate  
again conscience of furious cruelty  
Tabounde in richesses and for to have plenty  
Of worldly treasures deeming that fortune aye  
To his desires ne durst not say nay   

Fortune to him by many divers sign  
showed outward great tokyns of pleasance  
Was to him eke right favourable and benign  
In all her port by a manner attendance  
As she had been under his obeisance  
To stuff his cofres with treasures locked fast  
Of false intent to mok him at the last   

All worldly richesse his lusts did obey  
And when he fond she was so favourable  
For a ceson as she list to play  
This blind gods unsure and ever unstable  
Set him so high up at the famies table  
Of false intent in his estate royal  
When he sat highest to make him have a fall   

For in him silf of pride he 'gan to dame  
How that he stood most in prosperity  
Of them that wearied crown or diadem  
Above all other in most felicity  
And thus enhanced in his royal ●ee  
Thought him equal with goddies in common  
Far from all daungere of fate or fortune   

And for tatempte of gods the power  
And of fortune the vigilant doubleness  
He took a ring of gold full bright and clear  
Therein a ruby of excellent redness  
Seeking occasion of new heaviness  
Which never afore had know of such thing  
Into the se anon he cast his ring   

Disespyred again to recure  
For he dempte it was an impossible  
But right anon fisshers of adventure  
Like a marvel very incredible  
Among the waves hideous and horrible  
Cast in their nets if it would avail  
Taking afysshe the ring in his entrayle   

Which was presented at a solemnity  
To pollicrate with great reverence  
When he sat crowned in his most dignity  
At a feast of famous excellence  
The fish undone anon in his presence  
Mid thentrails his carver fond the ring  
Of adventure and took it to the king   

Which dempt of pride and high presumption  
That Neptunus' god of the salt see  
Had of his ring made restitution  
And durst not offend his majesty  
Whereupon a fantasy caught he  
Nouther heavenly gods no Fortune blind of sight  
Were both unhardy tatempte again his might   

His great outrage to god was not vnknowe  
And his presumption fortune hath well espied  
For which she made adversity be her bow  
And of her wheel the spokies she hath so guyed  
Whereon he sat most richly magnified  
That he unwarly down from his high noblesse  
Was brought full low in sorrow and wretchidnesse   

In worldly joy no thing is more to dread  
Than when fortune is most blandisshinge  
And that her flatrye is f●et with worldly meed  
High on her wheel to make fools sing  
Than of her nature sorrow she doth bring  
Witness of princes of old or new date  
And record also of proud pollycrate   

Suntyme he sat high on fortunes wheel  
Of prosperity with beams clear shining  
whose temple is made of glass and not of steel  
His castle is unwarly dissolving  
Though it be fresse outward in showing  
Unsure to stand on and brotyll for to abide  
Who trusteth most/ most likely is to slide   

The geryssh queen of cheer and face double  
Withdrough her favour and began to vary  
from pollicrates set him in sorrow and trouble  
Wax again him maliciously contrary  
causing Orontes constable with king darye  
Maugre this tyrant in most his cruelty  
To gynne a were on Samoys the city   

And when his glory was most clear of light  
And his noblesse shone highest at the full  
Fortune 'gan through her changeable might  
Of his prosperity the feathers to pull  
And than atte erst his courage 'gan to dull  
And all his pride unwarly for tapall  
When he was spoiled of his richesses all   

First when Orontes his country 'gan assail  
To pollicrate of sudden adventure  
Outrayed was and take in battle  
By a full perilous mortal discomfiture  
Thus fortune could bring him unto her lure  
Through her unware ugly falls disdeynes  
Led into prison and bond in strong chains   

The people dwelled within his region  
rejoiced in heart to see him suffer pain  
His tyranny his false extortion  
Caused that they did at him disdain  
For of his death no man list complain  
Men through the world be glad and have pleasance  
To see a tyrant brought unto mischance   

Four things his torm did augment  
Sudden departing from his old richesses  
And that he saw each man in his intent  
Of his mischief have so great gladness  
hanged he was mine author beareth witness  
And hinge so long in tempest rain and thunder  
Till every joint from other went asunder   

To beasts wild and folkys ravenous  
naked he hinge such was his adventure  
To all folks he was so odious  
Had in despite of every creature  
At his departing denied sepulture  
Guerdon for tyrants vengeable and reckless  
That cannot suffer the people to live in pes   

Thus may tyrants exceed far their bounds  
By false outrage full well resembled be  
To cruel wolves or to furious hounds  
Fret with an ethic of greedy cruelty  
To staunch their hunger availeth no plenty  
Which for their surfeits froward for to read  
With pollycrates in hell shall have their meed    

How the tyrant alexander llough his philosopre Calisthenes with other for saying truth  

Among all stories to tell the piteous cas  
Of woeful pleyntifs that put them sifl in pres  
With weeping iyen mine author john bochas  
Was moved in heart not to be reckless  
T● write the fall of calistenes  
Which alas as it is remembered  
Was for his truth on pieces all dismembered   

For when bochas his story 'gan advert  
●e dempte anon in his fantasy  
No man had so hard a stonen heart  
That might of right his iyens keep dry  
To see the process of his tormentrye  
Yet 'gan mine author his woeful pen proffer  
To write the wrong done to this philosopher   

This Calisthenes in youth right well thewed  
His green age promoted to doctrine  
By influence of heavenly fate adewed  
Greatly to profit in moral discipline  
disposed of nature by grace which is divine  
To conquer as books specefye  
The noble surname of philosophy   

Of his merities famous and notable  
philosophy did her busy pain  
To give him suck because that he was able  
The sore milk of her breasts twain  
most precious liquor who might thereto attain  
For balm is none the virtue well declared  
Of worldly richesses may be thereto compared   

This precious payment is you unto no fools  
Above all liquors it doth so far excel  
Whoos original sparing in the holy schools  
Of Athens as famous books tell  
For of philosophy there sprang out first the well  
Where calystenes the experience is well couth  
With fulsum plenty was fostered in his youth   

Though he was borne of a good lineage  
Virtue made him more high up for to ascend  
To be enhanced for noblesse of courage  
Moore than for blood who can comprehend  
For philosophers and clerks more commend  
The moral virtues entresoured by writings  
Than all the treasures of worldly crowned kings   

Of gentle stocks rekne out the issues  
That be descended down from a royal line  
If they be vicious and void of all virtues  
And have no tarage of virtuous discipline  
With temporal treasure though they florissh & shine  
As for a time sitting on high stages  
Without virtue they are but deed images   

For though princes have conquered by battle  
This world in roundness by their chivalry  
What may their triumphs or noblesse avail  
Without that virtue by right their titles guy  
To be compared unto philosophy  
For philosophers apply all their ententies  
To know heaven and ●ours of ●lementys   

They set no store of things transitory  
Nor of fortunes expert doubleness  
To heavenly things is set all their memory  
How the seven planeties in their course them dress  
moving their stars sparking in their brightness  
With revolutions of the spears nine  
Mothers of music as auctors determine   

And in the noble twain famaus housys  
Flowringe in Grece richest of everyone  
Called by old date the fair true spousies  
Of philosophers many more than one  
In athademie and Athens shone  
The bright lanternies of most reverences  
This world tenlumyne by liberal sciencis   

And among ●ther this Calisthenes  
Was in his youth put for to scoleye  
In the two scoles of prudent Socrates  
And of plato which that bore the key  
Of secre mysteries and of divine Ideye  
In which two schools of great ability  
Was none profited half so much as he   

These old clerks these two philosophers  
Were in though days for doctrine sovereign  
called in this world the rich precious cofres  
And treasures that kept the chesties twain  
Amid their breesties wherein god did ordain  
most clear possession put in their depose  
Of all sciences under a key close   

This calistenes scholar and auditor  
Of Aristotle'S by cunning conquering  
The noble gemine and the most precious flower  
Of philosophy all flouris surmounting  
Wherethrough he was chosen in his living  
As his master list for him provide  
On alexander tawayte and abide   

For alexander of kings most enter  
And most worthy to speak of high prowess  
Did Aristotle'S humbly reqire  
To provide and do his business  
By expert knowing and adviseness  
To send him one which of philosophy  
Might by good counsel his conquest magnefie   

To writ also his triumphs dign of glory  
And to remember his acts martial  
Put his palmies of knighthood in memory  
And to direct in especial  
His royal noblesse in virtue moral  
That none e●roure be seen here nor there  
In him that should all the world conquer   

But it fell so of knightly adventure  
That of fortunes high promotion  
That he by arms proudly 'gan recure  
Of pierce and me●de the mighty region  
Brought king dairy unto subjection  
Gate hole his treasure that noman might express  
To accounted the number of his great richesses   

Which unsure treasure and slydinge abundance  
With wasting shadows of goddys' transitory  
In surquedous pride 'gan so his heart advance  
By false ambition and outrayous veynglorye  
That made him lose mind and eke memory  
To know of nature he was no man mortal  
But like to gods that were celestial   

Above the palm of old conquerors  
Knightly triumphs conquests martial  
He usurped by title of his labours  
To heavenly goddies for to be equal  
And through his meritis most imperial  
He 'gan presume by line he was allied  
With the seven gods for to be deified   

Through all his palace and his royal hall  
A law he set upon pain of life  
That men of custom should him name and call  
This worldys' monarch not mortal nor passif  
Son to jupiter for a prerogative  
Which had the earth as god most of puissance  
conquered by sword unto his obeisance   

By full avys purposed for the nonies  
Of pompous outrage and surquedous intent  
Full great treasure of gold and precious stonies  
Unto the temple of jupiter he sent  
That the bissh●ppes and priests should assent  
Him to receive at his home coming  
Like as a god and no mortal thing   

Thus by extort dread and usurped might  
Was first brought in full idolatry  
causing princes to receive again night  
Goodly reverence of froward mammetry  
But when Calisthenes this error did espy  
In alexander he besily did intend  
This false opinion to correct and amend   

But five causes notable to rehearse  
This Calisthenes in especial  
Though he was king of Egypt meed and ꝑce  
He proved of reason he was a man mortal  
His birth eke earthly and not celestial  
father mother as of their natures  
Born for to die like other creatures   

His father Philip of macedoyne king  
His mother called Olimpidiades  
Worldly folk and heavenly no thing  
With kings queens upset by high increases  
Yet again death they could have no reles  
Laws of nature maugre their will t'obey  
not like gods but only borne to dey●   

Kind made them subject to sundry passions  
And many uncouth diverse infirmities  
Now glad now heavy of conditions  
Following the form of their humanitees  
But of their false usurped deytees  
I can not say save dread and flattery  
Wrongly in earth did them deify   

Eke alexander following ever his lust  
For all his lordship and his great might  
He suffered passions of hunger and of thirst  
Now hole now sick now heavy now light  
Whoos enterchaunging in every man's sight  
Clearly showed clerkys rehearse can  
He was no god but like a mortal man   

It fill once mine author doth compile  
In a great heat long or he was old  
He bathed him silf in the flood of Nile  
Where of fortune he suddenly took cold  
His poories opened on parties many fold  
Lay long after his story beareth witness  
Or he was cured of that great sickness   

But at the last by craft of medicine  
delivered he was of that infirmity  
No thing amended by his power divine  
By might of juno nor jupiters' poust●  
Nor by his own usurped deite  
For by the passions which he did endure  
It showed he was a deadly creature   

Of him also it is made mention  
He had a custom to fall in drunkenness  
Through violence lost often his reason  
Than of ire and furious hastiness  
He would smite and hurt in his woodness  
Which tokyns were plainly to termine  
In his person not heavenly nor divine   

When the philosopre called Calystenes  
'Gan first consider all these conditions  
In alexander he put him silf in press  
Void of dissymulinge and dilations  
For to reform such false ambitions  
Of goodly honour which men did on them feign  
And from all vices his courages to restrain   

In this purpose as any centre stable  
He cast him fully of true intention  
To correct all that was reprovable  
Vsyd in his person or in his region  
Troth gave him heart like a champion  
To tell the king in his estate royal  
He was no god but a man mortal   

For which the king of indignation  
Caught a quarrel again Calystenes  
Put upon him unjustly falls treason  
Only to slay his master causeless  
And for tateynt him afore all the press  
saide how he had of his iniquity  
Conspired again his royal majesty   

And feigned also the silf same time  
How he had made a conspiration  
again his lord by an horrible crime  
Interuptinge the religion  
Of his divine institution  
That in such cas there was no better read  
But Calystenes by law must be deed   

And to prolong of his death the pain  
Upon a board he was laid along  
His fet smit of and his hands twain  
His iyens rend out were not his pains strong  
Thus can tyrants when they list do wrong  
slay philosophers without any ruth  
Which spared not for to say them truth   

This cruel vengeance might not suffice  
But alexander more to encres his woe  
Did cut his lips in full cruel wise  
His nose thrills his cries eke also  
And with the body he bade men should go  
Tofore his host as it is remembered  
To show the trunk how it was dismembered   

In a cave deep and wonder low  
solitary darked all the bounds  
After the pains he made him to be throw  
The place stuffed with wood berkinge hounds  
Of false intent to rend his bloody wounds  
Till Lysimachus of great compassion  
To short his torment gave him poison   

Who read ever of torments more terrible  
O alexander thou oughtest be ashamyd  
To slay thy clerk with pains so horrible  
For thy vices because he hath the blamed  
Thy royal name thereby is diffamed  
But ever tyrants when them list be wood  
Of Innocentes rejoice to shed blood   

again this knight gentle Lysimachus  
Because he had of them compassion  
King alexander was malencolious  
Without cause title or affection  
let shut him up with a fears lion  
Void of all help for to be succoured  
Of entencion he should be devoured   

But Lysimachus quit him like a knight  
again this lion in the same place  
Run fiercely on him and of his martial might  
Out of his heed his tongue he did arace  
reconciled to the kings grace  
Because that he so knightly hath him borne  
Better cherished than ever he was toforne   

Another knight that called was clytus'  
F●mous in arms for his chivalry  
One the greatest of the kings house  
And most commended of prudent policy  
most familiar as books specefye  
About the king as it was often proved  
To temper his courage when he was aggrieved   

The king and he walking hand by hand  
Within the palace being in presence  
princes dukys of many divers land  
Where they began by notable eloquence  
Remember of arms the notable excellence  
Of conquerors and other knights old  
And every man about his tale told   

Among which clytus' the gent●l knight  
'Gan to commend and greatly magnefie  
Philip macedoyne as him aught of right  
Both of wisdom and his chivalry  
Till alexander had thereat envy  
'Gan disdain of furious cruelty  
That any should be commended more than he   

Caught occasion of ire and falls hatred  
again his knight that was to him most true  
With a sharp sword unwarly made him bleed  
His heart blood hot and read of hue  
By his sides railing down of new  
Thereby to prove this story tell can  
He was no god nor reasonable man   

Thus in princes furious and cruel  
Men may clearly an evidence see  
How that lordship is not perpetuell  
But full of change and mutability  
Of ●here now friendly now sudden enmity  
Record on clytus' most in the kings grace  
Vnwarly slain and did no traspace   

Was he worthy to be deified  
This alexander most double of his courage  
Or was he worthy to be stellefyed  
This furious prince for his fell outrage  
That slough his friends in his mortal rage  
Thus far tyrants when they list be wood  
To seek occasion for to shed blood   

Calisten slain for moral discipline  
And lysimachus for his compassion  
Eke this tyrant of false greedy ravin  
Slough gentle clytus' again truth and reason  
As ye have herd for commendation  
Of king philip this story well conveyed  
Who trusteth tyrants shall soonest be deceived   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy of calistenes  
Declareth us by notable remembrance  
He was with plato and old Socrates  
In his youth put under governance  
Drank of the milk of plenteous abundance  
Of their two schools ever devoid of sloth  
Last by alexander dismembered for his troth   

First he was sent by Aristotle'S  
For tawayte by prdent purveyance  
On alexander list he were reckless  
By presumption in his royal puissance  
To take upon him by goodly attendance  
Which he withstood alas it was great ruth  
To be so slain because he said truth   

Who with tyrants list put him silf in press  
To have their favour and stormy acquaintance  
He must flatter and sage doubles  
Be double of heart with feigned countenance  
With cheer contreved done his observance  
For faithful meaning slain and that was ruth  
In calistenes because he said truth   

Noble princes your subgettes keep in pes  
Be not to hasty for to do vengeance  
For to tirauntiss that be merciless  
God sent short life and sudden mischance  
Who saith troth have no displeasance  
Prente in your heart how it was great ruth  
That Calisthenes was slay for his truth     

How alexander king of Pyrothe aventuring to pass the flood of Acheronte/ there at his back by his most trusty was deadly wounded  

AFter the complaint of Calisthenes  
Slain tirauntly and did no trespass  
Came alexander king of pyrothes  
His wounds bleeding unto john Bochas  
To him declared how he drowned was  
In acheronte a river of great fame  
Beside a town pandosia was the name   

And as it is remembered and I told  
Of this notable mighty strong city  
It was in grece Bylt of days old  
And after Pyrrhus called pyrothe  
Where as the king held his royal se  
And as bokys also determine  
This alexander came of the same line   

Of whose kinrede is made pleyne mention  
Son to achillus was king pirrus  
And next in order by succession  
father to elysaundre was Neptolonyus  
Which had also mine author telleth thus  
A full fair daughter the story ye may se●●  
Olympiad's of macedoyne queen   

And she was wedded to philip Macedo  
Whilom mother this queen of most renown  
To alexander the story telleth so  
Which all the world brought in subjection  
Whoos father philip of great affection  
let crown the brother of olimpiades  
Called alisaunder to regne in Pirothes   

To whom Philip for his great beauty  
Because he was so fair a creature  
Had such affection and specialte  
As it is remembered in scripture  
Of falls foul lust again nature  
As saith Bochas I can him not excuse  
Vnlefully he did his beauty use   

And by mean of that horrible deed  
Which to rehearse is to foul a thing  
This said Philip in Bochas thus I read  
In Epirothes he made him to be king  
And of extorsion by record of writing  
Causeless from thence he did enchase  
The king Arabba though reigning in that place   

And it fill after the story telleth so  
Of this alexander by serious rehearsal  
Upon the death of philip macedo  
With a great host came into italy  
Supposing greatly for to avail  
To occupy after his proud intent  
holy the bounds of all the occident   

And though so be that fortune be changeable  
Double also by course of her nature  
At his beginning he fond her fovourable  
Made him twice proudly to recure  
Geyne them of Luke to their discomfiture  
To have the field and maugre all their might  
Of very force to put them unto flight   

again Itayle when he 'gan this were  
Fully in purpose the romans to assail  
Of high presumption proceed he 'gan so far  
With many prince that was in his battle  
To know afore by certain divinal  
Of his conquest the bounds for to cast  
And of his life how long it should last   

And in the temple of jupiter the great  
By diviners that expert were and old  
Serving this god within the land of Crete  
This was the answer which they have him told  
And it affirmed by toknes many fold  
How that he not should eschew the drefull date  
Over the day assigned to his last sat   

And they also assigned a place  
Thereby to have knowledging more clear  
Under acute long and large of space  
called Pandosia and for to go more near  
By acheronte a famous great river  
Told him plainly and could no ferder seie  
Of necessity there he must needs deie   

And though it were an earnest and no jape  
Of god ordained not to be s●t aside  
He thought of wisdom his destiny to escape  
And otherwise for him silf provide  
Cast in grece no longer to abide  
weening this ryu●re nor that fair cite  
Save in grece should nowhere else be   

And for to set him silf in assurance  
Of intent to eschew his destiny  
In to three battles departing his puissance  
Came to italy tofore luke the cite  
They with help of samoys the country  
w●th a great power came out anon right  
Slough all his knights and put him unto flight   

At the back they pursued him so near  
That his enemies almost were on him fall  
Unto a bridge broke with the river  
And overturned with his planks all  
And acheronte men that river call  
As was told him by a certain knight  
Which road before him the river in his sight   

For by a rain that fill the same night  
The river wax to a dreadful flood  
And not far thence in the kings sight  
Upon the water a little toun there stood  
Which made the king change face and blood  
And specially his pride 'gan attame  
When he wist pondosia was the name   

And than he 'gan most dreedfully remember  
Calling to mind the priests divinal  
Which made him quake in every joint and member  
For very fear and his breath to fail  
No man could him wissh nor counsel  
O● every party he stood so on the wrack  
The flood tofore him his enemies at his back   

To take the river he stood in mortal dread  
And if that he his enemies did abide  
He wist well that he was but deed  
Passage was none for to turn aside  
Thus dissolat he stood withouten guide  
Thought it better to iuparte the river  
Than with enemies that followed him so near   

Their mortal dreads his heart 'gan constrain  
dread of the flood for to have passage  
behind his enemies that 'gan at him disdain  
List he were slain in that mortal rage  
His fate approaching he but young of age  
The town pandosia the tokyns did express  
With acheronte that bore thereof witness   

And when that he put in adventure  
To pass the flood or else to be deed  
Whom he most trust of any creature  
Took a great spear square and sharp the heed  
And at his back he quaking in his dread  
Trayturly throughout plate and mail  
pierced his heart the blood abroad 'gan rail   

And as it is also of him remembered  
The Lucanois by vengeable violence  
They have his careyn on pieces all dismembered  
Till an old lady being in presence  
Requered them of humble patience  
That she of grace gather might anon  
His members all and join them into one   

And after to send them unto his sister dear  
Olympiad's the stately great queen  
That of affection and love most enter  
When it befell that she did them seen  
Should of nature as it must needs been  
Weep and provide in his estate royal  
To bury the body with feast funeral   

Se here example of this proud king  
Which would have scaped his fatal destiny  
Change of placies availed him nothing  
Parodye of princes may not changed be  
The term set fro which they may not i'll  
For when heaven of death hath set a date  
No mortal man may eschew his fate    

How Darie king of Perce and meed was outrayed by alexander king of macedoyne  

IN alexander called Epirothes  
Me list as now no longer for to tarry  
Slain at mischief for he was reckless  
Double of courage for he caude change and vary  
For turn I will my pen to king da●ye  
Which that whilom who so list take heed  
most mighty reigned in pierce and meed   

And among other notable werrours  
Like as I d●me by heavenly influence  
Only by title of his predecessors  
And ●●●ough his prudent royal excellence  
●o great increases of his magnificence  
He had all As●e as made is mention  
Under his lordship and domination   

And as mine author bochas doth define  
He was descended from the imperial blood  
●f artaxe●ses and borne eke of that line  
P●ssed all princes of treasure and of good  
In pierce and meed his great empire stood  
An hundred provyncies teneres of puissance  
And seven and thretly he had in governance   

Over all as●e toward the orient  
His lordship last bokys make mind  
And had toward the occident  
Over Egypt power as I find  
The red see was not left behind  
Deming him silf of all earthly treasure  
Was none but he lord and governor   

Toward Septemptrion under the midday spear  
●is power reached and his regal  
Over ynde in chronicles ye may lere  
And to the bounds of great armenie  
Lord of the kingdom that called is Parthie  
Worldly folk dempte him with god equal  
Master to fortune and she not but his thrall   

But in his highest exaltation  
Of worldly glory he could not prevail  
For all his richesses and vain ambition  
But fortune durst him well assail  
In his most rich royal apparel  
Cast in her changes to give him a sharp shower  
By alexander of grece inheritor   

Unto purpose I will my pen dress  
For to declare and make mention  
How proud darye in his most noblesse  
Was by fortune from his seat cast down  
For anon after the coronation  
Of alexander in macedoyne king  
This was the process anon of his werkinge   

He not delayed nor made no long date  
In purpose fully of ire to proceed  
Of pierce and meed the sceptres to translate  
All their richesses to conquer and possede  
Perpetually for to abide in deed  
Under Greeks mighty obeisance  
In macedoyne to have governance   

And as mine author well rehearse can  
He set in grece the mighty strong cite  
Of Corinth the metropolitan  
There to establissh his Imperial see  
In regalibus when he list crowned be  
As man whom god list of his might to mark  
The world to conquer and be thereof monarch   

At the beginning of his conquest famous  
Throughout Grece in every region  
First he chase out of his father's house  
Knightys that were most sovereign of renown  
Notable in arms and of condition  
faithful and true which had of high prudence  
Foresight in arms of martial providence   

To them he did full notably assign  
As men expert in knightly apparailis  
To make his stuff with many rich sign  
And forge of steel his plate and his mailis  
Gave them the rule to govern in batailis  
For providence of yore it hath be told  
Full much availeth of knights wis and old   

All this accomplished he list no longer tarry  
This worthy king but with his ordinance  
purposed to begin on king darye  
And as it is put in remembrance  
In most proud wise he 'gan him silf advance  
First in his weigh to burn and beat down  
Of hasty ire Thebes the mighty town   

After he gate two mighty regions  
The tone of frige the t'other called lyde  
Set by old time were their foundations  
Upon two rivers running there beside  
whose golden gravels their brightness may not hide  
Pa●eolus and Eryne men them call  
Richest of streams though men rekne them all   

And of his conquest ferther to termine  
He won Isauria a province wonder strong  
In Asia one chevest of the nine  
And pamphile a kingdom large and long  
He gate also where it were right or wrong  
For where that conquest have any title of right  
My cunning it passeth my reason and my might   

I took no party nor me list n●t tarry  
In this matter but for I will proceed  
how alexander hasted toward darye  
T●cheue his conquest of pierce and eke of meed  
But first he came to Frigia I read  
Into a cite the name to specefie  
Thi●ke days it named was gordye   

After mine author affirm well I dare  
There was a temple in Frigya thus saith he  
Of jupiter in which there stood a char  
With ropies bound of stonies and of perre  
Among which men might behold and see  
A fatal knot by craft made so sotyle  
That no man could undo it by no wile   

For who that had science or cunning  
That corious knot to loose or untwine  
Over asye he should be crowned king  
And alexander as books determine  
●eynge this char knit with many line  
And how it sempte a manner Imppossyble  
To severe it which was Indivisyble   

The char with cords was so interlaced  
That richly stood in iovis tabernacle  
Which by his wit could not be embraced  
neither by craft nor no soleyne miracle  
Till alexander by a divine Oracle  
Drowe out his sword whereof men had wondre  
●arf the knot and cords all asondre   

Whereby he witted that he was ordained  
Over all asye to be lord and king  
Which to rejoice this story is not feigned  
He road like mars his bataylis conveying  
Through pierce ynd m●●de 〈…〉 display●●e  
Toward his conquest 〈◊〉 I leave him devil  
And of this char and knots I will tell   

Prudent Iustynus an old croniculere  
In his chronicles rehearseth this story  
How Gordius a poor laborere  
Beside the cite that called is gordye  
earing his land did his oxen guy  
All manner foul that wings flight  
high in the air appeared in his sight   

Vn●owe to him the tokne what it meant  
With diviners cast him to counsel  
Called augurs which holy their en●ent  
Knowing the process of such dyvynaile  
Where it shall profit or disavail  
And at the gate of Gordye the city  
He met amayde excelling of beauty   

Which from above by heavenly influence  
Had of her birth a manner knowledging  
In such augury great practic and science  
Which to gordius expounded every thing  
saide of asye he should be lord and king  
And regne there during all his life  
In hope whereof she became his wife   

After his wedding he wax fortunate  
The chronicle can bear me well record  
There fill in Frige a sudden great debate  
Among the commons and mortal discord  
Knowing no mean to bring them at accord  
Till their goddies by notable providence  
Taught them away tappeses their violence   

How that debate should among them last  
Unto the time they had chosen a king  
And they 'gan cry and pray their goddies fast  
By sum sign or miracle out showing  
To give to them a manner knowledging  
That they might to their notable increases  
Cheese such one that should them set in pes   

They had answer to wait and be well aware  
To set spies by busy attendance  
On whoom they met riding in a char  
To iovis temple to do his observance  
And him receive by goddys' ordinance  
Upon his heed without more tareing  
To set a crown in frige to regne as king   

And Gordius in his char riding  
Toward the temple they on the weigh him met  
And awaiting chas him to their king  
And solemnly home they did him fet  
Upon his heed a rich crown they set  
And he to them so equal was and meet  
That he them brought in rest and quiet   

Thus to the crown gordius did attain  
By tokyns showed unto his great avail  
And their discordies and strives to restrain  
He to his lieges gave notably counsel  
That they should with royal apparel  
Take his char as he did them devise  
And offer it up in most lowly wise   

In the temple that was consecrated  
To jupiter a full solemn place  
And more to make their offering fortunate  
They should it set without longer space  
Tofore the goddess that was called grace  
Which by miracle their hearts to appease  
Set all the people in quiet and in ease   

And when the king alexander had  
●osyd the knot of which I have you told  
And of the char which gordius lad  
The s●●●●●es sayen and mysteries many fold  
Wordly presumption 'gan make his heart bold  
Without title of any rightwiseness  
The cite gordye to spoil of his richesses   

And all affrigye he robbed eke also  
Up to the mountain that called was taurus  
●he which hill hath famous names two  
For it is also named Caucasus  
Where this prince most victorious  
Ordained first proudly with spear and shield  
again king darye for to hold a field   

Upon a mountain they to gedre met  
The martial pleyne named horestes  
And most proudly their wardis there they set  
Al● for the were and no thing for the pes  
Where alexander in knighthood peerlles  
All the Persians battled in his sight  
On daryes ꝑty put unto flight   

King alexander shortly to conclude  
In his most stately royal magnificence  
Set not his trust in no great multitude  
But in his knights which long in his presence  
Had had in arms long experience  
Were weal proved in martial discipline  
To enhance his conquest by their prudent doctrine   

Which in that journey have them so well borne  
That in their noblesse found was no lak  
For sixty thousand of footmen them before  
They slough of pierce and men on horseback  
Other ten thousand so mortal was the wreck  
And forty thousand as made is mention  
Were prisoners and put to their ransom   

On greeks party the story doth well show  
Macedonoys on alisaundris side  
In comparison were slain but a few  
For of footmen and men that did ride  
Through the fields that were so large and wide  
There were that day in their mortal strives  
Nat full three hundred which that lost their lives   

Darye could none other rescus make  
Fled at mischief in full great distress  
His wife his daughter led away and take  
His tents spoiled his story beareth witness  
Grekys made glad with full great richesse  
His cofres spoiled he fond no better succour  
And he enporisshed of all his hole treasure   

When Darye saw his deadly adventure  
Full pitously in heart he did mourn  
And anon after this discomfiture  
To babylon in hast he 'gan return  
And while that he did there sojourn  
Knowing no recure to him that might avail  
With alexander to hold more battle   

Than of purpose to set him silf in ease  
And for taledge his deadly fell grievance  
In his intent king alexander to please  
Cast for to send him letters of pleasance  
Yeve him gifts in full great abundance  
But all the sleights which Darius hath wrought  
King alexander set them echon at naught   

This manly king kept his conceit close  
List not show what he meant in deed  
But cast fully after his purpose  
Upon his conquest ferther to proceed  
After the getinge of pierce and eke of meed  
To win surrye Egypt and Libye land  
deeming fortune ready to his hand   

And of his conquest ferther to indite  
When his glory 'gan most freshly shine  
The temple of jupiter cast him to visit  
Which stood in lybye auctors determine  
Said how he was descended from the line  
Of thilk god borne to be his heir  
As lord of heaven fire water earth and air   

And that the priests fully should assent  
With heavenly goddies to make him equal  
great richesses and treasure he them sent  
Thus dread and meed made him celestial  
Falsely forgot that he was mortal  
And of ambition by martial apparel  
Cast with darye again to have battle   

And as I find how they did meet  
The two princes with people Innumerable  
In the confront of the land of Crete  
And king darye of folkys defensable  
Brought into field a people incomparable  
Four hundred thousand of footmen fet fro far  
With alexander for to hold were   

An hundred thousand there came with him also  
On horseback in steel armed bright  
And all this people when they had a do  
Albe that day full long last the fight  
Were slain and take and I put to flight  
Where alexander to his increases of glory  
Had of king darye that day the victory   

And perciens to their final mischief  
Without mercy or paying of ransom  
With king darye were put to great repreef  
Void of all hope and consolation  
Fled as I find into the region  
Called party where as it is told  
He of that people was take and put in hold   

And though his fetirs were of gold rich  
He had thereof god wot no pleasance  
Fortunys gifts be not aye Ilyche  
In her falls wheel there is such variance  
divers of cheer strange of her countenance  
●lade alexander with a little number  
The multitude of darye to encoumbre   

Within a town Tharsa he was take  
In charyet with chains strong I bound  
Of all his friends pitously forsake  
Led and through pierced with many mortal wound  
And this murder contrived was and found  
By one Bessus a froward reckless knight  
Which stood afore most furthred in his sight   

And was assured by faith of his legiaunce  
To king darye to be true in deed  
But this false traitor god send him a mischance  
Caused his wounds mortally to bleed  
Yet or he died he sent in all his dread  
A percien knight sad and of great age  
To alexander to tell him his message   

To thank that prince of his high noblesse  
Which to his grace and mercy most abound  
Him list to show so great gentleness  
Unto my wife and children as it is found  
For which to him I am so much bound  
That he mine enemy of benignity  
In their distress list have of them pity   

And sith I see that needs I must die  
Through bloody wounds which I may not recure  
Say alexander of grace that I prey  
For to have ruth of mine adventure  
Next to ordain for my sepulture  
And condescend to grant mine asking  
For to be buried as longeth to a king   

praying the goddies which been immortal  
When he hath done to quite him his meed  
That if his mercy most imperial  
Him list of grace for to take heed  
To bury me king of pierce and meed  
For if this favour be in his heart found  
To his noblesse the fame shall aye rebound   

Requeringe him of his imperial might  
Of my foul murder to see each circumstance  
For murder alway calleth to god of right  
Nevir cesinge but by continuance  
Up to the heaven to cry for vengeance  
Namely on murder compassed and for thought  
Which by advisement is execute and wrought   

And sith I have laid on the this bond  
To alexander to do my message  
And him conjured here with my right hand  
To avenge my death wrought by great outrage  
My blood out shed with pale and deed visage  
Here bound in stocks to goddys' most benign  
With right hole heart my spirit I resign   

Thus he lay stark there was found no blood  
Like as another mortal creature  
When alexander the murder understood  
As ye have heard remembered by scripture  
He did ordain for his sepulture  
The funeral feast hold in all things  
As by old time longed unto kings   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy piteous for to here  
showeth of fortune the changes lamentable  
Of royal thronies of gold and stonies clear  
Of worldly princes how they be ever unstable  
Their fatal wheel most divers and changeable  
With unware turn list not her course to tarry  
To throw them down record upon king Darye   

Who can or may be full assured here  
To make fortune to be so treatable  
To find out away or search out the manner  
By obligation to find her Immutable  
Her double face the world aye deceivable  
Show us each day how falsely they can vary  
By covert fraud record upon king Darye   

example how phoebus with her beams clear  
showeth sum morrow his light most agreeable  
But long or ●ue darkness there doth appear  
Through cloudy reins and mists long durable  
To us declaring by toknes full notable  
Worldly dignities now fresh and now contrary  
Can change their tides record of king Darye   

Through all asye pierce and meed I fear  
His lordship last a thing incomparable  
To ethiopie under the midday spear  
Full of treasure with gold Innumerable  
His bounds reached fortune eke serviceable  
To obey his lusts till she 'gan falsely vary  
By expert fraud to prove her might in Darye   

Noble princes with hole heart and entere  
Lift up your courages hold this no fable  
Though ye sit high conceive with good cheer  
No worldly lordship in earth is perdurable  
And sith ye be of nature reasonable  
Among remember as thing most necessary  
All stant upon change record on king Darye     

Here bochas remembreth the batyles and loss of Realmeys of antiquity/ with the falling of divers nobles.  

heat gynneth Bochas remember in certain  
The great sorrows the mortal disavayles  
The loss of realms the blood shed in vain  
Begun of werrys and martial apparayles  
Called to mind of old the fell battles  
Gun of antyquite as made is mention  
First again Grekys and them of troy town   

A piteous heart it would make bleed  
To have in memory the dreadful great outrage  
As ye have heard wrought in Perce and Meede  
atween Darye and alexander in their age  
Eke atwene romans and them of Cartage  
The woeful troublies of werrys first begun  
'Cause all the mischievous that been under son   

On other party who can remember aright  
Now loss now lucre cometh of division  
Now disencres now heavy and now light  
Now life now death for short conclusion  
For bochas saith such false dissension  
Hath many kingdom that stood in good estate  
Turned to ruin and made them desolate   

Remember of troy the wallys broke down  
In grece destroyed many strong city  
In pierce and meed great desolation  
Rome dispurueyde of martial surety  
Castellies towers of old antiquity  
Made ruinous in africa and cartage  
Caused by werrys and marcies cruel rage   

Who list consider wrought by days old  
The course of conquest of these werreours  
In alexander he clearly may behold  
By remembraunbre of his progenitors  
And of his blood how all the successors  
Had fatally or they did hens wend  
A sudden death or a shameful end   

Full many reckoned that were of his lineage  
For to succeed in his possessions  
To six and thritty ꝑtinge his heritage  
To each assigned their royal portions  
First as he made his divisions  
He gave of frige the prefecture of rig●  
To Leonatus that was so good a knight   

But a little while last his pssession  
For the contrees list them not obey  
They of Athens had indignation  
With antipater for he did werreye  
Yet in that were plainly for to say  
Leostenes their duke their governor  
Was slain that day he fond no better succour   

And Leonatus that was his adversary  
Of antipater the party to abstain  
Fond fortune to him that day contrary  
For in the field though he road armed clean  
With a sharp spear his wound was made green  
At mischief slain mine author doth compile  
Thus his lordship last not but a while   

Antipater another successor  
Of alexander as made is mention  
Was by record of the same falls traitor  
That for his death tempered the poison  
His son cassandir accomplished the treason  
Bore the cup which that made him starve  
With that strong venom when he did him serve   

Antipater of this crime coupable  
Greatly desired in his opinion  
Upon all though that be vengeable  
That likely were to espy his treason  
dread him sore having suspection  
List he were accused to thestatis  
Of crime called lose magestatis   

His son assented to that horrible deed  
Which to alexander being in babylon  
most traitourly without shame or dread  
As ye have heard presented the poison  
And yet the king as made is mention  
Though he to him false was and contrary  
He made him perfect lord of the land of Carry   

And among other notable werr●ours  
There were three more full worthy and famous  
Set in the nounbre of his inheritors  
Policarpus and Neptolonius  
And each of them to other envious  
Within a field the story doth us lere  
Eueriche slough other as they met Ifere   

Of Perdiccas what should I writ or say  
Which among all was one the best knight  
That when alisaundere lay in dying in certain  
And 'gan to feeble of his force and might  
Dempt afore that it sat well of right  
How this Perdiccas for wisdom and manhood  
In Macedoyne should after him succeed   

And unto him with cheer and look benign  
Upon his heed for sickness complaining  
With full hool heart for a notable sign  
Of succession he gave to him a ring  
After his day to be crowned king  
Of macedoyne sith he most might avail  
Through all his empire to have the governail   

And yet saith Bochas briefly in sentence  
Though he of knighthood and high prowess  
Of manly force and also of prudence  
Passed all other the story beareth witness  
By vicious pride and froward boystousnesse  
He was more hindered through his outrage  
Than all his enemies might do to him damage   

For through his pride and great extortions  
From Macedoyne the people of that country  
Fled into other strange regions  
And of presumption the store saith how he  
Began awerre again king Tholome  
Where he was slain in all men's sightis  
Nat of his enemies but of his own knightis   

Eke of Anaxarchus of Capadoce king  
Which province joineth to Surrye  
touching the bounds by record of writing  
Toward the orient the land of armeny  
Having two countries Salice and ysaurye  
Toward Cipre and a great Ryvere  
running amyddies with s●remys fresh and clear   

This Aanaxarchus where he was loath or fain  
In days few hath his kingdom borne  
For by Perdiccas proudly he was slain  
Of whom that I have you told before  
Thus worldly princes though they had it sworn  
For all their lordship and domination  
By fraud of fortune unwarly be put down   

And among other princes of that age  
Upon alexander duly abiding  
Bochas rehearseth Amulchar of Cartage  
Duke of that city by record of writing  
After the death of that worthy king  
As ye have herd I murdered by poison  
This feyde amulchar reparinge to his town   

Was slain in Cartage shortly to conclude  
Of cruel malice and conspiarison  
Within that cite of false ingratitude  
When he of knighthood fraunchised had the town  
And withstanding all his high renown  
When he stood highest in his felicity  
He by the commons was slain of that city    

How Eumenydes was twice outrayed by Antigo●us/ and at the last died in prison  

when alexander in his royal estate  
Had all conquered tofore as ye have herd  
He like a god most pompous and elate  
As sovereign prince of all this myddelerd  
To take upon him was no thing afeard  
To bleyme in countries a thing that was not fair  
Of jupiter to be both son and heir   

One of the principles who so taketh heed  
That first brought in false idolatry  
Was th●●ke time that priests for falls dread  
His name with goddies 'gan to magnefie  
And so to call him of feigned flattery  
And mid their temples in libye on a stage  
Of his likeness they set up an image   

But lityll or naught to him it might avail  
again his death for to do succour  
When the fell poison his heart did assail  
Which made him fade as doth a summer flower  
Of whose empire was none enheritoure  
Save in his death thus stood the woeful cas  
Tween six and thritty his land divided was   

And in his story full plainly it is told  
This departition to make it firm and stable  
He was laid forth upon a couch of gold  
To rehearse by tokens full notable  
Whoom he dempt of very sooth most able  
Of all his princes plainly to discern  
When he were deed his kingdom to govern   

First there was one among all that press  
Next alexander the knightliest man  
The worthy knight called Eumenides  
whose high renown full well rehearse can  
Prudent Iustynus the great historyan  
Ordained afore to govern realms two  
All Capadoce and pafflagonie also   

His high noblesse as made is mention  
In especial more to magnefie  
Him lacked naught of commendation  
That appertained unto chivalry  
To high prudence or noble policy  
Except three things mine author saith the same  
A crown a sceptre and a kings name   

But for that he all other did excel  
Both of prudence and famous chivalry  
It is remembered as some books tell  
That there were sum had thereat envy  
For when fortune list to set up high  
Any person aloft upon her wheel  
Sum are beside that like it neveradele   

Who holdeth him ever upon high mounteyns  
Findeth great experience of blasts and showers  
Often is troubled with storm and wind reins  
So of alexander the proud successors  
When they sat highest shining in their flowers  
Wind of envy fortune held so the rothir  
That each was busy to destroy other   

On hillies high it is an impossible  
A man tabyde without wind or rain  
A thing expert and very visible  
high climbing up is meddled with disdain  
Prees hath envy as it is often sayn  
And through preferring of fortune in estates  
Is ever caused great were and great debates   

This same thing was weal expert and proved  
Among these saide royal inheritors  
Of alexander for each of them was grieved  
To see his fellow regne in his flowers  
And thus atween these mighty successors  
Of false envy there 'gan so great a strife  
That each made other for to loose his life   

And as it is afore made mention  
Policarpus and neptolonyus  
By a manner falls conspiration  
again Eumenides were enly envious  
Of whose falseness he was susspecious  
Till on a day there is no more to say  
Meeting in battle he slough them both tweyen   

For which slaughter proud antigonus  
Of macedoyne prefect and governor  
Wax in his heart so fell and despitous  
And was withal amoble werroure  
With his knights did holy his labour  
again Eumenides by martial apparel  
A field assigned to hold a great battle   

Made upon him a great discomfiture  
As they met armed bright in steel  
And thus Eumenides of mortal adventure  
Fled at mischief into a strong castle  
Whereof his knights liked neveradele  
For as the story plainly maketh mind  
That day he fled and left his men behind   

In which castle for he stood destitute  
From thence he cast in all haste to i'll  
In his great mischief to find sum refute  
That time he drough him to a strong country  
Some succour to get avenged for to be  
called argire by greeks of intent  
The latin corrupt of this word argent   

Of archiraspedes a people that there devil  
Their name they took after that region  
The which land as old books tell  
Hath of silver plenty and foison  
For which cause by old description  
It took his name of nature and of right  
Because the soil like silver shineth bright   

And of this isle which hath so great a pris  
As mine author maketh rehearsal  
How the people be provident and wise  
Prudent in arms and manly in battle  
Both to defend and proudly to assail  
Which by their wisdom and circumspect counsel  
To king alexander stood in great avail   

And Eumenides one of his successors  
As ye have herd drew to that country  
There to find refute and socours  
In his mischief and great adversity  
And with his words of great authority  
His noble language and his fair eloquence  
The people had him in full great reverence   

And for they were manly and coraious  
Able to assemble both in plate and mail  
He made them rise again antigonus  
By their prows with him to have battle  
But of fortune his party 'gan to fail  
Where thilk people the story telleth thus  
Had afore be victorious   

Antigonus hath the field recured  
That day his knights fought like wodelyons  
In furious tene of courage assured  
Broke their tents and their pavilions  
spoiled their castles robbed their dungeons  
Where that country unwarly thus afraid  
Had never afore in battle been outrayed   

And of despite this people reckless  
Caught in their heart great indignation  
again their prince this saide Eumenideses  
Which had them brought to their destruction  
And all that people of one opinion  
presented him it was not after long  
To antigonus bound in chains strong   

In this process briefly to proceed  
At great mischief he died in prison  
He fond no mercy plainly as I read  
For all his noblesse nor his high renown  
Yet of his manhood it is made mencioun  
Who that his story list to look aright  
With alexander there was no better knight   

In his conquest every hour and space  
He most cherished for his high nobles  
Above all other stood most in his grace  
To help and relieve folk in their distress  
Albe that he died in wretchedness  
To us declaring the great variances  
That all day fall in fortunes chances   

Lenuoye  

THis tragedy of Duke Eumenides  
showeth of fortune the froward doubleness  
How worldly princes that been reckless  
With unware changes fall in distress  
And there may be no greater heaviness  
After prosperity nor greater pain  
Than adversity which that is sudden   

greatest envy where is greatest pes  
greatest await where is moast richesses  
And greatest ease where is rest and pes  
Where most discord most is heaviness  
And of all sorrow sorowfulest excess  
Is thilk sorrow that a man constrain  
After prosperity adversity sudden   

Princis in earth of power peerless  
Which excelled all other in no bliss  
Had in this world by conquest most encres  
As alexander the story beareth witness  
Remember the fine of all their high prowess  
And the triumphs to which they did attain  
After prosperity adversity sudden   

The strong inheritor which that he out chose  
Six and thretty the numbered to express  
Which had possessions of kingdoms doubtless  
Each thing obeying to their worthiness  
Till fortune thought her doubleness  
showed her might unwarly to ordain  
After prosperity adversity sudden   

Noble princes to avoid all disencres  
Among your silf discordies do repress  
Be not envious nor Irous causeless  
work no thing of hasty wilfulness  
Late discretion be your governeress  
For there must follow if ye part on twain  
After prosperity adversity sudden     

How queen Olympiad's for she delighted in vices/ murder and vengeance died at mischief  

NExt in order to Bochas did appear  
After the mischief of Eumenides  
The great queen with a full piteous cheer  
Mother of alexander Olympiad's  
Born of the line of Gaades  
Among queens her story beareth witness  
Excelled all other in beauty and richesse   

She was daughter to neptolonyus  
The mighty king of Epirothes  
And had suspect how Neptanabus  
By enchantment put him silf in pres  
Of wyvely troth to make him reckless  
But bochas here for to save her name  
Writ but a little of her disclamirous fame   

This saide queen right fair of her visage  
Was first brought forth in thilk regions  
Where all the worthy of blood and of lineage  
Held their sceptres and their rich crowns  
throughout all grece with full possessiouns  
So that this queen that time near and far  
Was of beauty called the lodesterre   

But among all her great prosperity  
Her youth floving in most sovereign noblesse  
Her joy was meddled with great adversity  
When philip Macedo to her great heaviness  
Was mortally wounded in distress  
In Cythia by a certain nation  
Called Trybaloys as made is mention   

For in that country upon a certain day  
Where as he fought and did his best pain  
To get a city and at a siege lay  
And for th'assault did his sluff ordain  
He lost unwarly one of his iyens twain  
That when the queen beheld his sudden wound  
For sorrow she fill even plat to the ground   

Anothir thing bokys specify  
Troubled her fame by great heaviness  
The suspect slander of avowtry  
Wrought by Neptabanus enchanting her fairness  
The light Eclipsinge of high noblesse  
By swift report for to hinder her name  
What fleeth more swift than wicked fame   

In womanhead as authors all write  
most thing commended is their chaste honest  
Thing most slanderous their noblesse tatwyte  
Is when princessies of hasty freelte  
Exceed the bounds of wifely chastity  
For what availeth lineage or royal blood  
When of their living the report is not good   

The holy bed diffoiled of marriage  
Or once soiled may not recured be  
The voice goth forth & the froward language  
By many realms and many great city  
slander hath of custom and that is pite  
True other falls by contagious sound  
once raised it goth not lightly down   

And to more hindringe of olimpiades  
Philip away did fram her decline  
And of the king of Epirothes  
The wife he took to his concubine  
Called Cleopatra plainly to termine  
And thus in mischief tencres of her trouble  
Their false adultery 'gan to wax double   

Of this process writ I will no more  
'Cause the matter is abominable  
For king philip the bargeyne bought sore  
As is remembered by chronicles full notable  
Slain on a day sitting at his table  
Full suddenly or he took any heed  
Pansanias did that cruel deed   

Of which slaughter there followed a strange cas  
As ye have herd by pansanias wrought  
Olympiad's full glad and merry was  
heavy outward her heart void of thought  
Yet feynyngly she hath out ways sought  
For him to hold solemn and royal  
Like Greeks rights a feast funeral   

After whose death wrought of great cruelty  
King alexander made no lengre let  
Made Pansanias take for to be  
And to be hanged upon an high gibet  
Upon whose heed there was a crown set  
Of gold and pearl and rich stones Ind  
By olympiades in story as I find   

For he stood greatly in the queens grace  
And as folk dempt of suspection  
They met to gydre in many privy place  
Which greatly turned to her confusion  
For noise aroos through all that region  
That by thoccasion of their mislyving  
how pansanias slough Philip the king   

But she anon in her malice fervent  
From the gibet made him to be take down  
Made his body solemnly to be brent  
Kept his exequys with great oblation  
After the rights of that region  
Nat left behind in party nor in all  
That appertained to feasts funeral   

Upon king philip as it were for the nonies  
To do her lord a shame a despite  
solemnly she made burn the bonies  
Of pansanias for a false appetite  
Unto no man she had so great despite  
For which this feast was like in all things  
To thexequies of princes and of kings   

She made his sword also to be take  
With which he slough Philip the great king  
Offered it up only for his sake  
Tofore apollo by record of writing  
Which to her was slander and great hindringe  
Caused folk dame in their intent  
To slay king Philip how she was of assent   

To be cruel was set all her pleasance  
For merciless void of all pity  
On cleopatra causing this vengeance  
That she her silf hinge upon a tree  
Murdered her daughter the story ye may see  
What malice may if it be declared  
Unto the malice of women be compared   

Speke of them that be malicious  
And list of custom for to be vengeable  
Among a thousaunde one may be virtuous  
And in two thousand sum one is merciable  
But when they be of rancour untretable  
There is no tiger more cruel doubtless  
Record I take of Olympiad's   

And she of malice was more set of fire  
To execute boldly her vengeance  
By thoccasion of the great empire  
Of pierce and meed full famous in substance  
Which stood by conquest under the governance  
Of alexander whereby she thought her strong  
Tacheve each thing whether it be right or wrong   

Dempt her power should aye contune  
By the mean of his high majesty  
God is stronger than the queen fortune  
Which suffered her son in her most dignity  
In babylone poisoned for to be  
As is remembered in many old histories  
After his triumphs and his victories   

But for to pass briefly to the writing  
touching the queen as made is mention  
When deed was philip the famous king  
She had of macedoyne full possession  
And governed that mighty region  
Where like a wuluesse as auctors of her writ  
To shed blood she 'gan her silf delight   

In her tyranny most fervent and yrous  
rejoiced in slaughter and to see men bleed  
For serpent none was more malicious  
Than was this queen in books ye may read  
Yet after all this she received her meed  
For though fortune favoured her a while  
y●t with her treynes she could her well beguile   

The end of tyrants and eke of tyranesses  
and of murders be they never so wooed  
Of poison mongers and enchaunteresses  
Of false supplantours contrary to all good  
And of conspirers and them renew blood  
All these must have by goddys' purveyance  
H●re short life or sudden vengeance   

In macedoyne this queen was most behated  
For her vengeable mortal oppression  
And Cassander again her hath debated  
And gun a were upon her region  
Which to alexander ministered the poison  
As ye have herd tofore of him devised  
By antipater most mortally practised   

She fond no refute but took her to flight  
This cruel queen this olympiades  
Into a mountain that stood far out of sight  
And of her kin there followed her a great p●es  
Supposing to have lived there in peace  
For on that hill stood a great dungeon  
Strongly walled about environ   

Which that marched to a great city  
Called Epidua standing in great doubt  
Because Cassandre of old enmity  
Had for her laid a siege about  
And none was hardy for to issue out  
Till cassandre of falls compassed treason  
Made with them a composition   

His faith was laid that time for hostage  
By oath assured to olimpyades  
By covert fraud under fair language  
To suffer her with him to live in peace  
But of his promise he falls and reckless  
For under treat as made is mention  
The queen he took and cast her in prison   

But will ye see a royal high courage  
How boldly delivered fro prison  
She descended imperial of visage  
With all her maidens about her environ  
Her enemies present wodder than lion  
saying her stand so stately of her face  
When they were proudest tareste her and menace   

She was of purpose arrayed for the nonce  
As saith bochas in most stately wise  
In rich purple gold and precious stonies  
Like an empress in the grekyssh guise  
her list not i'll the story doth device  
With cry nor noise passed not her bounds  
When that her blood doum railed from her wounds   

She not afraid in all her mortal showers  
Void of all fere list not low her chine  
Make no prayer to her turmentoures  
Nor no tokne of courage feminyne  
Upright she stood list not down decline  
Gave evidences as it is comprehended  
Of what line and blood she is descended   

For unto time that she gave up the breath  
Was never say prince nor princess  
That more proudly took their fatal death  
For as I dame her martial hardiness  
Came from Bellona of arms chief goddess  
Or she had it by influence of courage  
yove by the goddies to her and her lineage   

Force is a virtue books specefye  
Again all vices to make resistance  
But froward rancour and proud malencolye  
Gave her a spirit of feigned patience  
A false pretence of her magnificence  
As scaunce she had been in virtue strong  
For troth to have endured every wrong   

Contrarious force made her despitous  
Strong in her error to endure pain  
Of obstinate heart she was fell and Irous  
In deaths constraint listnat to complain  
Counterfeit sufferance made her for to feign  
No thing of virtue plainly to termine  
Nor of no man's that be femynyne   

In her entrails all malice was enclosed  
And all courageous venom serpentine  
Nat like a woman but as a fiend disposed  
Able to destroy all virtuous discipline  
Thus she began thus she did fine  
In vicious murder she did her aye delight  
Wherefore of her me list no more tendyte   

Lenuoye.  

ALL ye that shall this tragedy see  
Of ruth and mercy have compassion  
To see a princess from her Imperial see  
So unwarly by fortune throw down  
Of whose mischief this was thoccasion  
That in three things was set most her pleasance  
In vicious life in murder and vengeance   

Alas that ever the mortal cruelty  
Of bloody sword by execution  
Should be appropered to feminite  
again the nature of their condition  
causing the final slanderous confusion  
Of olimpidiades here put in remembrance  
For vicious life murder and false vengeance   

Under fresh flowers sote and fair to see  
The serpent dareth with his covert poison  
In crystal waters that calm and sote be  
Are perilous pits full of deception  
Men see all day by clear inspection  
In feigning faces aungelike suffisance  
her underneath rancour and great vengeance   

Though she excelled of her natyf beauty  
All other princes of that region  
Was never none feller seen than she  
To execute like her opinion  
The perilous treynes contrived of treason  
And specially in her pompous grievance  
Where she hated for to do vengeance   

Noble princes set high in dignity  
Do advertise of discretion  
In your most power and largest liberty  
Be merciable and do remission  
Sugar with pity your indignation  
Late grace and mercy tempre your high puissance  
Of olimpiades eschewing the vengeance   

Exile ricoure far out of country  
Yeve him with you no jurisdiction  
To womanhead laugh not pard  
Of cankered rancour new execution  
Where mercy reigneth of grace there is foison  
Have this in mind by long continuance  
Of olimpiades forgetinge the vengeance   

Late patience by virtuous plenty  
Within your hearts purchase a mansion  
Late your compassion attempre equity  
That right exceed not the bounds of reason  
So that your femynyn humble entencion  
Be alweye bridled by provident sufferance  
Voidinge all excesses of ricour and of vengeance   

For it is said of old authority  
To woman longeth by disposition  
meekness in language in port humility  
In all virtue humble subjection  
Void of manaces strif and contention  
So that no man in your attendance  
Espy no token of rancour nor vengeance   

The special mean the partiality  
Should of all mercy be description  
Rebound to women for of antiquity  
The lamb not used to play the lion  
Nor no meek down envy the falcon  
Nor to your degree by natural accordance  
Sat nouther ricoure nor hasty fell vengeance   

This simple lenuoye receive it at gre  
And have thereof none indignation  
Lowly direct to your benignity  
Only of meekness and no presumption  
Knowing of kind your inclination  
Disposed is by natural purveyance  
Unto all mercy and no thing unto vengeance     

How agathodes of low birth borne attained unto royal dignity/ ended in poverty and wretchidnesse.  

I Have heard saide of full yore agone  
A whirlwind blowing no thing soft  
Was in old Inglisshe called a rodion  
That raiseth dust and straw full high aloft  
And in thascending it falleth so full oft  
Though it be borne almost to the sky  
Where it becometh there can no man espy   

Out of forgys' by fire that smiths make  
By clear experience it is full often I say  
That these infernal ugly smokies black  
Transcende the cop of many great mountain  
But often sith by a full sudden rain  
All such assentions by rage of wind up blow  
With unware turn be reversed and brought low   

And semblably to put it at a proof  
And execute it by clear experience  
O●e the most contrarious mischief  
Found in this earth by notable evidence  
Is only this by fortunate violence  
When that wretch●s churlissh of nature  
Thestate of princes unwarly doth recure   

A crown of gold is no thing according  
For to be set upon a knaves heed  
A foltissh clerk for to were a ring  
Acordeth not who that can take heed  
And in this world there is no greater dread  
Than power you if it be well sought  
Unto such one that first rose up of naught   

There is no manner just convenience  
A royal carbonele ruby or garnet  
Nor a chaste emerald of virtuous excellence  
Nor I●de saphus in copper to be set  
Their kindly power in foul metal is let  
And so thes●ate of politic puissance  
〈◊〉 lost where ever knaves have governance   

For a time they may well up ascend  
Like windy smokies their boisterous fumes spread  
A crowned ass plainly to comprehend  
Void of discretion is more for to dread  
Than is a lion for that one in deed  
Of his nature is mihgty and royal  
Void of discretion that other bestial   

The gentle nature of a strong lion  
To prostrate people of kind is merciable  
For unto all that fall afore him down  
His royal puissance can not be vengeable  
But cherish wolves by ricoure untretable  
And foltissh asses eke of bestyalite  
failing reason brayed ever on cruelty   

None is so proud as he that can no good  
The lewder heed the more presumption  
most cruelty and vengeance in low blood  
With malapertness and indiscretion  
Of churl and gentle make this division  
Of other of them I dare right well report  
The stock they came fro thereto they will resort   

The rose know by colour and sweetness  
And violetties for their fresh tarage  
The nettle rough for his fell sharpness  
Thistlys briars prinkinge by great outrage  
And thus considered the rote of each lineage  
froward tetchies been ever in churlies found  
Where unto gentiles aye virtue doth rebound   

Late men beware in especial of one thing  
How great deception is in false coignage  
The plate may be bright in his showing  
The metal falls and show a fair visage  
All is not gold to speak in pleyne language  
That shineth bright concludinge on reason  
Under fair cheer is often hid falls poison   

For as a sky or an ugly cloud  
Which that ascendeth low out of the see  
And with his blaknesse doth the son shroud  
That may not his great brightness see  
Nor have no comfort of his clear beauty  
So vicious tetchis I do you well assure  
Difface fuloft the gifts of nature   

God unto some hath yeven by nature  
For to excel another in fairness  
Yet in vices by record of scripture  
They were disclandered bochas beareth witness  
Outward sugar inward bitterness  
By which example to purpose I may call  
Agathodes fulfilled with vices all   

In this story he cometh now on the ring  
Which of beauty had great excellence  
But to declare the vicious living  
And to describe his outrageous offence  
If I should writ in sentence  
Like his demerities holy the manner  
It would through Perce and blot my paper   

touching his birth of low bed descended  
Son of a potter the story ye may see  
In no virtue I find him not commended  
Except nature gave him great beute  
Fostered in mischief and great poverty  
Had eke disdain I can him not excuse  
Of hateful pride his father's craft to use   

By the mean of his great fairness  
To high estate he came from low degree  
Yet in a vice which I will not express  
He disused cursedly his beauty  
again nature that evil mut they the  
And soiled he was shortly to specify  
With all the spices of pride and lechery   

¶ Yet not withstanding his false conditions  
God suffered him to come to high estate  
And to govern divers nations  
I find a while how he was fortunate  
In his lechery aye pompous and elate  
And in a city called cyracuse  
The said vyses frowardly he 'gan use   

And for he had beauty and great might  
To all vices his youth he did incline  
And could also forthre him silf aright  
Of eloquence expert in the doctrine  
And as it is said though he came of low line  
Yet as it is put in remembrance  
An hundred knights he had in governance   

Of Centuryen he purchased an office  
And that time he took the order of knight  
After chosen a tribune of great price  
And gate great favour in the people sight  
And in this while it fell so anon right  
Of Cyracusys he was made duke and heed  
By election by cause their lord was deed   

Which with Siciliens held a mortal strif  
But agathodes made him victorious  
Took their duchess after to his wife  
By mean whereof he wax full glorious  
And in his glory he grew right despitous  
Forgot him silf thus growing in estate  
Wherethrough his cite and he were at debate   

His condition when they 'gan espy  
And saw him work all of presumption  
The people anon knowing his tyranny  
Exiled him out of their region  
In his exile as made is mention  
He could find no better chevisance  
But came to a cite that called was Murgaunce   

Where by his sleighty subtle false avys  
He so demeaned him in the people sight  
That of a praetor they gave him an offis  
He moving them in all that ever that he might  
Geyne Ciracusys to make them strong and fight  
Of intent on them to avenged be  
Cause for his exile out of that city   

But in his exile the story saith none other  
It was so wrought by mediation  
Of duke Amulchar that was his sworn brother  
Ciracusanis of one entencion  
Called home again into their town  
And there was restored to his place  
And reconciled to the kings grace   

And unto him they gave by great avys  
By assent of lords and all the comonte  
Of a Praetor newly an offis  
For pretores of custum called be  
Officers that devil in the city  
And have full charge by doom and jugementies  
To put all guilty to pain and to torments   

Than of new this Agathodes  
Because he had more authority  
Cast for to trouble the quiet and the pes  
Of ciracusis and out of that city  
All the Senators greatest of dignity  
Of mortal vengeance this tyrant made anon  
Without exception be slain everyone   

This hasty slaughter wrought by tyranny  
Might not assuage nor staunch his fell courage  
Till he their treasures took by robbrye  
And all Sycile he spoiled by pillage  
Cast of pride upon an higher stage  
For to ascend by sleighty falls werkinge  
Of all that region he took to be crowned king   

Made his subjects maugre them him dreading  
To call him king and in especial  
On the most worthy prince though living  
That sat in chair of majesty royal  
Till fortune shope he must have a fall  
For of cartage the duke a worthy knight  
fought with him twice and put him to flight   

Wherethrough he stood in mischief despised  
And of a people he was had in disdain  
To Ciracuse in haste he is repeired  
And to his cite returned home again  
There abiding in dread and uncertain  
For when fortune 'gan again him take  
His friends old of new have him forsake   

In that myssheef he bode not long  
As the process maketh rehearsal  
gathered people and made him silf strong  
Only in purpose all afrique t'assail  
With them of cartage had a great battle  
them discomfited as fortune list ordain  
By high prowess of his sons twain   

Arthagathus I called was that one  
Wondre deliver a man of great might  
The second brother most worthy of eachone  
Called Eraclida which in that mortal fight  
proved himsilf that day a manly knight  
For by their manhood in which there was no lack  
They of cartage were felly put aback   

For though so were by fortune of the were  
Agathodes had that day victory  
Falls covetise made him for to err  
And eclipsed the light of his glory  
For as it is remembered in his story  
Like as his birth as it toforne termined  
To all falseness his courage was inclined   

Cruel of custum of heart merciless  
His will was law were it wrong or right  
Contrary to accord froward unto pes  
Proud and surquedous in his own sight  
Where his power stretched and his might  
Like a tyrant naturally disposed  
To execute vengeance afore purposed   

He thought he had power forto bind  
Fortunes wheel for to abide stable  
Which is a thing contrary to her kind  
Whose property is to be variable  
His pride alas was to abominable  
For mortal prince is none that may restrain  
Her unware turn nor her course sudden   

By influence of the heavenly stars  
The uncouth course above celestial  
By fortune and favour of the wars  
This agathodes of birth full rural  
promoted was unto estate royal  
Till pride outrage and froward engendrure  
Caused in his lordship he might not long endure   

Fortune of kind is so flaskisable  
Amonstruous be'st departed manifold  
A slydinge serpent turning and unstable  
Sliper to gripe on whom there is none hold  
As in this book declared is and told  
His power proved on princes reckless  
Record with other on agathodes   

As ye have heard rehearsed in sentence  
Simple and bore was his nativity  
Brought up and fostered in great indigence  
Out of a stock springing of poverty  
rose to th'estate of royal dignity  
Their rising uncouth marvelous tatteyne  
The fall more grievous because it was sudden   

From Ciracuse he was exiled twice  
Vengeably of heart where he had might  
Of africans discomfited twice  
Ever in battle of custom put to flight  
Had an usance to rob day and night  
And like a tyrant again conscience  
To spoil his subjects by ravenous violence   

Kindred by fortune whereof he was not fain  
Her stroke again him sudden and violent  
His sons two in afrique were first slain  
He of his limbs wax feeble and impotent  
With a consumption his entrails brent  
And by an ague continual of fervence  
He was surprised by stroke of pestilence   

All his treasure hath from him take  
His proud port and his worldly glory  
His kin his friends and his wife hath him forsake  
His conquest dyrk and put out of memory  
His name clipsed of all his old victory  
And as he 'gan in poverty and distress  
So he made an end in wretchedness   

Hasty rising and thrift that is sudden  
And surmounting by violent ravin  
And extort power may for a while attain  
In rich chair of lordship for to shine  
Sudden ascending doth suddenly decline  
And by untruth where ever there be increases  
Men wait of custom a sudden disencres   

Of agathodes men may example take  
What is the end of every falls tyrant  
Wrong clymbinge up doth a foul end make  
For a ceson though tiraunties be puissant  
Fortune to them giveth no longer grant  
But when they sit on her wheel most royal  
By unware change to have a sudden fall   

Agathodes was first a simple man  
Brought forth in mischief and in poverty  
Son of a potter the story tell can  
By vicious living came to great dignity  
Of all folk hated for his cruelty  
clomb fro poverty up to great richesses  
Made poor again died in wretchidnesse   

Lenuoye  

THis story showeth a figure  
Both by story and by authority  
How man and be'st and every creature  
Tarageth the stock of his nativity  
Erbe of the rote and each fruit of his tree  
For both of virtue and also of outrage  
Followeth some tetch or taste of the lineage   

Agathodes by record of scripture  
Born of low bed brought forth in poverty  
Yet fortune made him to recure  
Up to high estate from full low degree  
His reason blended with censualite  
Forgot him silf to speak in pleyne language  
Through a false tache that came fro his lineage   

There is a difference of colours in picture  
On table or wall as men all day may see  
Tween gold and gold atween bies and azure  
All is not gold that shineth bright pard  
Some noble is false that hath full great beauty  
Late men be ware of counterfeit coignage  
Tetchis eschewing of chorlissh low lineage   

Sum man forthred of sudden adventure  
Set in chair of royal dignity  
weening his empire ever should endure  
Never to be troubled with none adversity  
With royal eglys a kite may not i'll  
A jay may chater in a golden cage  
Yet ever sum tetch must follow of his lineage   

gentle blood of his royal nature  
Is ever inclined to mercy and pity  
Where of custom these vileyns do their cure  
By their usurped and extort falls pouste  
To be vengeable by mortal cruelty  
Through hasty fumes of furious courage  
Following the tetchis of their vileyne lineage   

O mighty princes your no bless do assure  
Your passions rest with tranquillity  
Se how there is no mean of measure  
Where a tyrant catchith the sovereignty  
Late agathodes your worldly mirror be  
To eschew the traces of his froward passage  
As royal blood requireth of your lineage     

How Cassander slough the wife of alexander/ & Hercules her son/ And antipater slough his mother and of other murders.  

tHe great mischief of fortunes might  
The woeful falls fro her wheel in deed  
Of princes princessys who so look aright  
Been lamentable and doolful for to read  
But for all that bochas doth proceed  
In his rehearsal remembering thus himself  
To him appeared of men and women twelve   

After the death of king agathodes  
There came tofore him worthy queny● twain  
The first of them was called Bersanes  
And of her mischief 'gan to him complain  
Wyf of alexander the story list not feign  
The mighty king greatest under son  
Which by conquest all this world hath won   

Wife to alexander was this Bersanes  
By his live as made is mention  
Which with her son named hercules  
Were by Cassander brought to destruction  
And of her death this was thoccasion  
Cassandre dread that Bersanes the queen  
Would with her son on him avenged been   

For his treasons which he tofore wrought  
On alexander and on his lineage  
And specially if that she were brought  
To macedoyne for her advantage  
With her son that was but young of age  
Cassander thought and dread as I have told  
They would avenge his treasons wrought of old   

He cast afore of malice causeless  
This Cassander most falsely working  
That if this knight this young hercules  
Son of alexander by record of writing  
In macedoyne were take and crowned king  
How that he would of equity and right  
Her faders death avenge like a knight   

Which thing to eschew cassander 'gan provide  
And by false fraud was not reckless  
But on a day he list not long abide  
Slough first the queen this saide Bersanes  
And than her son I called hercules  
Thus by cassander of murder crop and rote  
They murdered were there was none other boat   

This cruelty might not suffice  
Unto alysaundre by record of scripture  
But like a tyrant in vengeable wise  
He did them bury by froward adventure  
Where no man should know their sepulture  
And thus alas which pity is to read  
He murdered four out of one kinrede   

To alexander he ministered the poison  
Slough the queen called olimpiades  
And of hatred by full falls treason  
As I have told he slough queen bersanes  
Wife to alexander mother to hercules  
Which in youth by bochas rehearsing  
In macedoyne was like to have be king   

After all this he could not live in pes  
But ever ready some treason for to do  
Slough eke the queen called Roxanes  
Upon a day and her young son to  
And she was wife to alexander also  
Cassandre dredinge in his opinion  
List they would venge upon his false treason   

Thus ever he lived in murder sorrow and strif  
By way of fraud came all his increases  
And as I find how he had a wife  
And she was called Thesalonices  
And this story remembreth doubtless  
A son they had borne atween them twain  
To slay his mother which after did his pain   

Shortly to pass mine author writeth none other  
Antipater was her sons name  
And by cause that she loved his brother  
Better than him he to his great diffame  
Compassed her death the story saith the same  
Natwithstandinge tappeses his cruelty  
She asked mercy kneeling on her knee   

Her breasts open white and soft as silk  
All bedewed with ●yrys her visake  
Requeryd meekly at reverence of the milk  
With which he was fostered in young age  
For to have mercy and tappeses his rage  
And to accept goodly her prayer  
To save the life of his mother dear   

But all for naught heard her neveradeal  
He was to her surmounting at measure  
Like his father vengeable and cruel  
I trow it was you● him of nature  
For by record of kind and eke scripture  
Seld or never no branch that is good  
Springeth of custom out of crue● blood   

Of her death cause there was none other  
That antipater slou● 〈◊〉 mother dear  
But for she loved al● 〈◊〉 his brother  
Better than him the chronicle doth us lere  
Which alexander if ye list to here  
Had in his succour I find by writing  
Demetrius that was of asia king   

Thesalonices was in this while dead  
By antipater he most infortunate  
Bathed in her blood her sides were made red  
Without compassion of her high estate  
And her two sons living at debate  
Till lisimachus that perfect was of Trace  
them reconciled each till other's grace   

When demetrius knew of their accord  
God wot the●oth he no thing was fain  
But by his fraud the story beareth record  
That alexander maliciously was slain  
This while antipater standing in no certain  
Till he by sleight of lisymachus  
Was murdered after the story telleth thus   

To writ the process and the manner hough  
That Lysymachus by fraudolent werkinge  
His son in law antipater thus slough  
Falls covetise was cause of all this thing  
And demetrius took on him to be king  
Of macedoyne remembered time and date  
When both brother were passed in to fate   

During this murder & all this mortal strife  
In this process like as it is found  
Of antipater Erudice the wife  
Daughter of clenchus was in chains bound  
Cast in prison dyrke hideous and profound  
And for a while I leave her there sojourn  
And to Demetrius I will again return   

Which made him silf to be crowned king  
Of macedoyne through his great puissance  
But to destroy his purpose in working  
There were three princes notable in substance  
Consyderate and of alliance  
Echon assented for short conclusion  
To bring Demetrius to destruction   

One the first was worthy tholome  
King of egypt in arms full famous  
Othir twain the story ye may see  
Called Selenchus and next Lisymachus  
And of Cipre came the king pirthus'  
Lord of province as it is eke found  
They made them strong demetrius to confound   

Shortly to tell with their apparayles  
Of macedoyne they did him first deprive  
Came upon him with four strong battles  
That he was never so overset in his live  
Take of Lysymachus the story doth describe  
chained in prison of his life in doubt  
For I not find that ever he issued out    

Of the two prefectis/ Penestes and a Aman●as  

nExt in order Penestes did appear  
Whilom perfect of great Babylon  
And with him came amantas eke I fear  
Another perfect as made is mention  
Which Batt●ye had in his suspection  
A great province you him by judgement  
Mid of Asia toward the occident   

These said twain for their worthiness  
And for their manhood 〈◊〉 acts martial  
Assigned were by diligent business  
To writ and keep in especial  
Upon the majesty in his estate royal  
Of alysaundre for trust as chamberleynes  
again thassault and dread of all foreigns   

After whose death for singular guerdon  
Made prefect both they were in deed  
As ye have herd that one in Babylon  
That other in Battrye the story ye may read  
Yet in quiet they might him not possede  
For selenchus 'gan a were again them make  
That they were fain their lordships to forsake    

How sandrodoctus borne of low degree cherished robbers and thieves  

OTer prefectis there were also I find  
Which held the people in full great servage  
In macedoyne and in other ynde  
Till sandrodoctus a man of low lyvage  
Cast he would redress their outrage  
Of intent poor people to restore  
To their franchises that plained on them sore   

Sandrodoctus author of this werkinge  
Behight the people throughout all countries  
When he by sleight was crowned king  
Them to restore to their liberties  
But when he had received these dignities  
All his behestis made with him a fair visage  
Turned as they fond to thraldom and servage   

Thus when a wretch is set in high estate  
Or a beggar brought up to dignity  
There is none so proud pompous nor elate  
None so vengeable nor full of cruelty  
Void of discretion mercy and pity  
For churlisshe blood seld doth recure  
To be gentle by weigh of his nature   

He may dissimule and for a time feign  
Caunterfete with a fair visage  
Out of one hood show faces twain  
Contrary of heart double of his language  
Still of his port smooth of his passage  
Under flowers like a serpent dare  
Till he may sting and he will not spare   

And ever like of his conditions  
Was Sandrodocius setup in high estate  
vexed people troubled Regions  
Set cities and touns at great debate  
Whoos governance was infortunate  
As it was seen and found at all privy  
cherished no man but robbers and theties   

And to declare how he caught hardiness  
And occasion people to govern  
By a prognostic which I shall express  
Right marvelous and uncouth to discern  
Which was this as I shall tell as yearn  
Right wonderful and uncouth for to here  
And it was this if ye li●t to lere   

There was a man called procatales  
Born in ynde which of his living  
Was wonder poor came but seld in press  
Because he had trespassed in one thing  
again venandrus that was that time king  
Commanding to slay him anon right  
But he escaped the story saith by flight   

God had you him of feet swiftness  
By mean whereof he saved him from daungere  
Through long travail fill in weariness  
And refresh him beside a well clear  
He lay sleeping that face and all his cheer  
Dropped of soot a lion came forby  
Lyckyd his face as saith the story   

With which affray the man anon work  
And suddenly life up his visage  
The lion rose softly the weigh took  
Toward the forest did him no damage  
Forgot his felnes and his cruel rage  
Of which pronos●yke 'gan thoccasion  
Whereof Sandrodoctus took an opinion   

Cast and thought in his fantasy  
Sigh that the lion is be'st most royal  
Which not dysdeyned him silf to applin  
To lick the face of a man rural  
In his nature to show him bestial  
He dempt well that it was sitting  
To take on him thestate to be a king   

His opinion of reason was right naught  
For where the lion left his cruelty  
He in contrary wax proud in heart and thought  
Void of mercy barren of pite  
For when that he was set in dignity  
Brought from a wretch to domination  
again nature he played the lion   

sometime a lion forgetteth all felnesse  
Where as a wulue will naturally devour  
So royal blood hath ruth on gentleness  
On poor pleyntifs to help them and succour  
Where as a tyrant of nature doth labour  
When he hath power catching advantage  
To rob subiettis and spoil them by pillage   

Sandrodoctus thus borne of low kindred  
In high estate by fortune when he stood  
'Gan make him strong and vengeable in deed  
With numbered of robbers furious and wood  
Cast him destroy all the gentle blood  
That was in ynde and by his ordinance  
Sle all the prefecties that had governance   

And with the ●ūmons when he was made strong  
And 'gan the manner of their death devise  
Like a false tyrant all though he did wrong  
again his lords when he 'gan arise  
An Olifaunt came in full uncouth wise  
Him obeyed which was a great wondre  
When their battles were not far asondre   

Though he was wild the story saith the same  
Sandrodoctus leapt upon his side  
And on his back as on a be'st tame  
Toward the battle anon he 'gan to ride  
Was their captain that day and their guide  
With his robbers as it is made mind  
Sloughe all the prefecties and gentle blood of ynde    

How Selenchus the mighty prince was slain by the great tholome king of egypt  

THan came Selenchus to bochas compleyning  
A mighty prince and a manly knight  
Son of anthiochus the great famous king  
Was most favoured in alisaunders sight  
With Selenchus for wisdom and for might  
Born of a princess the chronicle ye may seen  
Called Leoudice the great famous queen   

The birth of him strange and marvelous  
For h●s mother upon the same night  
That she conceived dreamed and thought thus  
As it seemed plainly in her sight  
Of great apollo the heavenly god most bright  
How she the time of her conceyvinge  
received that night of gold a rich ring   

In which ring was set a precious stone  
yove unto her for a great guerdon  
Grave with ankre her commanding anon  
After the birth without dilation  
To give the ring of hool affection  
To Selenchus whereby in especial  
He should excel in acts martial   

The same morrow after the child was borne  
Within her bed was found a rich ring  
With all the tokyns rehearsed here toforne  
The ankre grave like in every thing  
Which that the queen took in her keeping  
And of intent for her advantage  
Kept it secret till he came to age   

Another marvel fill also withal  
This selenchus which was a wonder thing  
Had enprented eke in especial  
Upon his thigh an ankyr and a ring  
So had all by record of writing  
Such carectes the story doth determine  
That after him were borne of that line   

When selenchus as made is mention  
The tender years had of his age run  
And came to yeries of discretion  
He by this ring full many land hath won  
Whoos knightly fame shone sheen as son  
He well advised herdy of great might  
Time of alexander hold one the best knight   

In were and arms he his time hath spent  
Brought all ynde to subjection  
Gate all the kingdoms nigh of the orient  
Held them long in his possession  
But here alas bochas maketh mention  
All his victories that did in ho●our shine  
With sudden change were turned unto ruin   

For when selenchus was most victorious  
Had all ynde conquered in substance  
atween him and king Lysymachus  
Of whom tofore is made remembrance  
Begun a were and a great distance  
And as they met with their appareyles  
In a great field ordained their battles   

On Lysymachus fill the discomfiture  
Whereof Selenchus glad in especial  
Dempt his winning came not of nature  
But by influence very celestial  
'Gan wax proud in his estate royal  
Nat supposing in his victorious stall  
Of his mescheves that should after fall   

For as the process declareth unto us  
How of Egypt the great Tholome  
Brother in law to Lysymachus  
Fill on selenchus by full great cruelty  
Slough him at mischief the story ye may see  
Lost his life as made is mention  
In Macedoyne the mighty region   

And it is know of antiquity  
By rehearsal of the old auctors  
That this foresaid great Tholome  
Was to alexander one of the enheritoures  
King of egypt there regning in his flowers  
After whose name descending down by grease  
Were all the kings call●d tholomees   

As I find touching his lineage  
By procreation he had children three  
The first of them to speak in plain language  
I named was Ceramyus tholome  
Next philadelphus a daughter arcynoe  
That wedded was by her faders consenting  
To licymachus of macedoyne King    

How the two sons of queen arcynoe were by their mothers brother traitourly slain and she exiled  

aNd thus remembered in books old  
Death of Selenchus wrought by tholome  
unwarely slain tofore as I have told  
Next in order came Arcynoe  
To john bochas by great adversity  
All with teries bedewed her visage  
And 'gan complain the constraint of her rage   

This mighty queen this said Arcynoe  
Had sons twain full famous of renown  
The tone Lysymachus excelling of beute  
That tothyr philip as made is mention  
And her joy and delectation  
In worldly bliss there is no more to feign  
Was holy set upon these children twain   

For by thoccasion of their great fairness  
Men delighted greatly them to see  
Namely women the story doth express  
And their mother this queen Arcenoe  
Stood in great hope that they should be  
Mighty kings by just succession  
In macedoyne the mighty region   

Only by the title of their faders right  
Which to her heart gave full great gladness  
For she dempt that none other wight  
To succeed should have none interest  
But fortune the blind falls goddess  
disposed so for their children twain  
That none of them purpose should attain   

For when their father Lysymachus was slain  
The said queen called arcynoe  
To save her life could none other gain  
But with her sons feerfully to i'll  
●●to Cassander a mighty strong city  
O●ly for dread of one antigonus  
Which them pursued the story telleth thus   

But the brother of queen Arcynoe  
Called Ceramyus rescued her party  
again antigonus ye may the story see  
Yi● in his heart he had great envy  
Albe that they were near of one ally  
That her two sons should kings be  
Of Macedoyne and regne in that country   

For he was set only of covetise  
To be crowned in macedoyne king  
And of his false treason the story doth device  
them to deceive this was his werkinge  
First to the queen full humbly kneeling  
He made promise under great surety  
In macedoyne she should crowned be   

And her children so fair of their visage  
Should be kept under governance  
Unto time that they come to age  
And for to put her in more assurance  
Ceramius swore god give him sorry chance  
He purposed for all his falls werkinge  
To crown her queen and make her sons kings   

Took all the goddies there unto witness  
And swore again with a pleyne visage  
Unto the queen of fraud and doubleness  
His purpose was to have her in marriage  
Crown her queen to her great advantage  
Thus he was sworn all though he was her brother  
Yet in heart god wot he thought another   

Under colour of this assurance  
She let him enter Cassandre the city  
Came again him to do him more pleasance  
With all her lords of high and low degree  
Made the streets hanged for to be  
With clothes of gold and in solemn wise  
To all their goddies did sacrifice   

And thus he was received solemnly  
The day was hallowed and hold festival  
The queen for joy ordained richly  
Her two sons that were so fair in all  
To be crowned with crowns full royal  
Go afore her in the master street  
Gloriously their uncle for to meet   

With felonous heart under a friendly face  
This Ceranius rote of all treason  
'Gan his Cousins benigly embrace  
Him purposing by false collusion  
To proceed to their destruction  
And finally first he did his pain  
The queen to exile and slay her children twine   

But of this treason was brout to a preef  
When the queen apperceived his falseness  
And saw her sons brought to such mischief  
She conjured him in her mortal distress  
To have pity of natural gentleness  
Spare his cousins afore him where they stood  
Of royal mercy so near borne of his blood   

And with a cry passing lamentable  
She fill afore him swooning unto ground  
Like as she had be verily coupable  
saying her sons bleeding with many wound  
But all for naught there was no mercy found  
For with their blood this story is not feigned  
Her garment was doolfully desteyned   

Her face fair was soiled with ordure  
Her golden here was all to torn and rend  
And like a thrall this woeful creature  
With mortal weeping had her sight blended  
And after that I find how she was sent  
To bury her children for there was no space  
Into an isle called Samontrace   

Is any story which maketh mention  
That a princess of so high degree  
Fond so great cause of lamentation  
She being daughter to great Tholome  
Her children slain by vengeable cruelty  
And to behold the death most dolorous  
Of her husband called Lysymachus   

She after banished in exile made her end  
With sorrowful conpleynt her life thus draw along  
Till into fate her spirit did wend  
It is no dread her pains were full strong  
And if I should rehearse all the wrong  
That she suffered it would grieve sore  
Therefore of her now I writ no more   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy showeth an appearance  
And a likeness of faithful assurance  
Excite men to give false credence  
Unto fortunes falls variance  
Which cast her baytis and anglys of pleasance  
An hook hid under of vengeable cruelty  
As this chapter put in remembrance  
Of lysymachus and of of Arcynoe   

Is there any greater evidence  
Of worldly trouble of worldly constance  
Then see princes from their magnificence  
And from their mighty royal puissance  
Vnwarly brought by fortune to mischance  
And overwhelmed from their tranquillity  
See here a mirror full notable in substance  
Of lysymachus and queen arcynoe   

The ring the ankyr of great excellence  
yove to Selenchus for martial suffisance  
When Apollo by heavenly influence  
List with his mother make his alliance  
Send him these relics of singular acquentaunce  
To set his manhood in more surety  
But in all such quaveringe acquentaunce  
Think on lysymachus and arcynoe   

The uncouth treasures the gold nor the dispense  
Of them that have this world in governance  
Nor all the subjects up reckoned in sentence  
Nor all the regions under their obeisance  
princes princessys with all their attendance  
May again fortune give them no liberty  
Who not knoweth her unsure gery chance  
Think on Lysymachus and Arcynoe   

Her children and she slain by violence  
Of Ceramius god give him sorry schaunce  
That by false colour did her reverence  
And pretended a manner observance  
The treason clos of venomous purveyance  
Purposed afore to outray them all three  
The children slain which knew no chevisance  
The mother exiled called Arcynoe   

Noble princes by ware of high prudence  
Among your silf that there be no distance  
Hide no rancour of hatfull violence  
Under a curtain of double dalliance  
Like your heart show out your countenance  
Void of dissimulinge and duplicity  
wisely weigh this chapter in balance  
Of lysymachus and queen arcynoe     

How Ceramius of macedoyne king that murdered his cousins was slain in battle by them of france  

tHe noble poet john bochas in his book  
proceeding forth complaineth of pity  
With quaking hand when he his pen took  
And 'gan to writ the woeful destiny  
As ye have herd of queen Arcynoe  
And how Ceramyus the story maketh mind  
Was to her false traitor and unkind   

Of whose treason is made a great process  
And how he after was slain in battle  
punished by vengeance for his great falseness  
Like as his story maketh rehearsal  
Which to remember I cast me not to fail  
Following mine author and proceed in writing  
How Ceramyus was slain when he was king   

For while that he by his false working  
In macedoyne had the governail  
Three hundred thousand accounted by writing  
Went out of france to conquer italy  
The host departed in many strong battle  
Gate by conquest through their high renown  
Full many province and many a region   

And as they road through many great country  
This people of Gaul in steel armed clean  
They founded castles and many strong city  
Toward rome they builded Milan and Seine  
Upon Talpies their armour shone full sheen  
And sum of them up to rome went  
By very force and the city brent   

Sum parted up to the grekissh sea  
Had a custom to cheese their dwelling place  
●y augury as briddies did i'll  
Following their flight they 'gan after trace  
●oldynge their weigh within a little space  
With mighty hand the book doth specefie  
They came to a country called pavonie   

This folk of gall which is called france  
To conquer lands put them silf in press  
As most notable people of puissance  
Following the example of their knightly increases  
In their riding of worthy hercules  
Which was worshipped in their acts martial  
Like as a god and called immortal   

Through grace of fortune in their chyvalries  
conquered countries alway forth riding  
them s●lf departing in divers cumpanies  
Who them withstood they consumed by brenning  
Came to Macedoyne where Ceraum was king  
Of presumption weening it should avail  
Out of ordinance he met them in battle   

This Ceramyus of outrage and of pride  
Dempt him able to meet with them of france  
But for he was through murder an homicide  
●el●●kyd grace and power in substance  
Yet they of Gaul by prudent governance  
Offered unto him though he was reckless  
With macedonoys for to treat of pes   

But for presumption and melancholy  
again his enemies he the field hath take  
And discomfited anon was his party  
His men 'gan flee and have their lord forsake  
His heed smit of and set upon a stake  
But all his mischief was to light in deed  
To recompense his fraud and his falsehood   

There is no pain again so great offence  
May be devised in no book that men read  
Equivalent murder to recompense  
Duly to punish so outraious a deed  
Of him that made young children bleed  
As did Ceraum which of false covetise  
His cousins slough as ye have herd devise   

To think on murder it is to foul a thing  
To god and man hatfull and terrible  
The infernal fraud the develissh compassing  
To each creature of nature is audible  
Which to redress is an Impossible  
O cursed Ceraum I leave thy story here  
Thy name no more shall blot my paper    

How the prince Belgius was discomfited/ and brought unto naught  

AFter this tyrant as ye have heard the cas  
Slain in battle this traitor odious  
Anon in order came to john Bochas  
A mighty prince called Belgius  
Deadly pale with fa●e furious  
Which complained among this woeful press  
His discomfiture done by queen sostenes   

This sudden mischief grieved his heart sore  
For all the folk that were in his battle  
Were put to flight bochas writ no more  
Of his knighthood nor of his apparel  
Save only this he maketh rehearsal  
Of the french host he telleth in certain  
How he was chosen for a chief captain   

And how he came into the rich land  
Of macedoyne with his people of france  
Till Sostenes the queen with mighty hand  
discomfited him brought him to mischance  
Of whom I find none other remembrance  
Save when he wend to have been most glorious  
He was outrayed by force of brennyus    

How Duke Brennyus delitinge to rob/ and steel mischievously ended  

tHis Brennyus full knightly in working  
Which by conquest gate many great city  
And as I read of dens he was king  
Despoiled regions and many great country  
Rob people of high and low degree  
Spared no goddies but by violence  
Took their tresour● did them no reverence   

There was a temple great and marvelous  
Bilt on a roche and on an hill of stone  
Sacred to apollo called Delphius  
In all grece so great a god was none  
And often sith the people would go  
Up to a Theatre which that stood without  
To have answer of that they stood in doubt   

Their trust their hope was to that god applied  
Having to him singular affection  
As though he might have holp and magnefied  
And done to them great consolation  
For by a spirit of false deception  
He gave answer of sundry questions  
To folk that came from divers regions   

King Brennyus had no fantasy  
In their temples after their paynymguyse  
neither to worship nor to magnefie  
Their Grekysshe goddies to do them sacrifice  
For in his heart he 'gan them to despise  
Caught a joy with all his false robbers  
them to despoil and rob of their tresours'   

Behight his men and saide in plain language  
That his desire and his entencion  
Was to be boty with them of such pillage  
As goddies had in their possession  
And part with them for singular guerdon  
For their labour and great travails  
That they had had with him in battles   

He gave his people a manner hardiness  
Made them trust in great multitude  
Having despite of thinnocent simpleness  
Of his enemies because they were but rude  
I mean though folk shortly to conclude  
Which had in keeping the jewels precious  
Of great apollo called delphicus   

The people also which was with brennyus  
Had all the day drunk mighty wines  
To fill their paunches they were so desirous  
That they forgot their martial doctrines  
Tascende the mounteyne feeble were their chains  
Their hedys' toltyr and their brain 'gan fail  
The temple aloft to spoil or to assayly   

In their ascending by ways that they chose  
Upon the roche they were beat down  
Preesties of the temple put them silf in press  
One bore a standard another a great penoun  
Clad in chesiples for high devotion  
And with their other uncouth apparailes  
Both on the rock and low in their battles   

The people of brennyus was incomparable  
Spread all the field the story beareth witness  
But it is said of old and is no fable  
That no diffence is drunkenness  
And wisdom fail where is great excess  
And in a friend plainly to conclude  
Victory always stantdeth not in multitude   

For they were set as bochas doth devise  
not to knighthood but to false outrage  
To spoil and rob by greedy covetise  
And stuff their summer's with outraious pillage  
Furious rapyne hath brought them in a rage  
And farewell knighthood and martial noblesse  
Where covetise is lady and mistress   

Two mighty dukes were with brennyus  
Which that were chief of his counsel  
Emanus that one that other thesalorus  
Which as they thought to their great avail  
Begun apurpos and it was disavail  
To rob the people the country and each town  
Which turned after to their confusion   

Thus avarice with stomach unstaunchable  
Hath strangled the power of many a worthy knight  
And covetise her sister untretable  
Hath of high noblesse fuloft quaint the light  
Where tantalus reigneth a lion hath no might  
This to mean hungres and covettousnesse  
Turns all noblesse into cowardness   

For by the counsel of these duke's twain  
Brennyus set all his opinion  
To spoil and rob did his busy pain  
To pill the cities of all that region  
But in this while as made is mention  
Mid their battles bochas doth me lere  
The god Apollo and pallas did apere   

Apollo first showed his presence  
Fressh young and lusty as any son sheen  
armed all with gold and with great violence  
Entered the field as it was well seen  
And Diana came with her arrows keen  
And Mynerua in a bright habirioun  
Which in their coming made aterrible sound   

The noise was herd of their bright armure  
Which made their enemies for fere almost to rave  
That they might afore them not endure  
Fled the field for dread them silf to save  
And there was herd an hideous erthqua●e  
And from heaven in this mortal battle  
Of cold constreyning great stonies 'gan down hail   

Their adversaries beat down and grounded  
And afore them durst not abide  
And brennyus so mortaly was wounded  
Both breast and heed and hurt through other side  
Loo here the end of covetise and pride  
For Brennyus for constraint of his smart  
●oue with a dagger him silf to the heart   

This was his end vengeable and marvelous  
And his dukes slay both twain  
Called Emanus and Thesalorus  
The grekissh Goddies 'gan at him so disdain  
Of sacrilege see here the grievous pain  
For to goddies who list do no observance  
Shall unwarly be punished with vengeance   

It is not wholesome with goddies to play  
Nor their puissance presumptuously to attain  
For where as they by vengeance list warray  
Who list assay shall find it no game  
For his presumption Brennyus fond the same  
For Apollo diana and minerve  
For his outrage unwarely made him starve   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy declareth who list here  
Of duke Brennyus many great battle  
His extort conquest and holy the manner  
how by force road through all italy  
After how he the romans did assail  
His fall in grece by vengeable violence  
For he to goddies would do no reverence   

Took all the treasures and jewels most enter  
Out of their temples and richest apparel  
Gold and pearl and all that I fere  
To his increases which that might avail  
The rich he rob oppressed the porail  
Of very pomp and froward insolence  
And list to goddies do no reverence   

This mighty tyrant most surquedous of cheer  
With covetise brent in his entrayle  
Whoos greedy fret there might no measure steer  
Till that fortune at mischief did him fail  
He lacked might her vigilant wheel to nail  
again whose fall there was no resistance  
For he to goddies list do no reverence   

Noble princes conceive and do lere  
The fall of Brennyus for misgovernayle  
And prudently peysing this matter  
Virtue is stronger than other plate or mail  
Afore considered when Brennyus doth counsel  
Chief preseruatyf of your magnificence  
Is to god to do due reverence     

How Pirrus king of pyrothe list not live in peace but of pride and presumption in were came unto mischance  

iN bochas book next following on the ring  
Came young Pyrrhus son of Gacides  
Born by descent to regne and be king  
And to inherit the land of pyrothes  
Yet in his youth and his tender increases  
The froward people dwelling in that place  
Without his guilt 'gan his death purchase   

But to preserve him as made is mention  
He was committed and take in keeping  
Certain yeries for his salvation  
To one Glaucus Illirie king  
Whoos wife was cousin by record of writing  
To the saide famous gacides  
And she in story called Beronice●   

He nigh of blood to this noble queen  
Both twain borne of one lineage  
Wonder gracious to all that did him seen  
And well favoured of features and visage  
And in the while of his tender age  
One Cassander of macedoyne king  
Compassed his death by subtle falls working   

And his purpose for to bring about  
He sent for him by false collusion  
putting Glaucus plainly out of doubt  
But if he came like his entencion  
He would work to his destruction  
gather people both nigh and far  
And on Glaucus gynne a mortal were   

But king glaucus took hereof none heed  
Having to Pyrrhus so great affection  
Of him received verreyly in deed  
To be his son by adoption  
purposing of hool entencion  
To make Pyrrhus plainly if he may  
To be his heir and regne after his day   

Pyrrus alway upgrowing by increases  
Full amiable both of cheer and face  
And in this while the people of pirothes  
Knowing that he stood in glaucus grace  
changed their hearts cast them in short space  
For to restore all of one courage  
The saide Pyrrhus to his heritage   

Thus by assent he was crowned king  
young fresh and lusty and seemly therewithal  
Wonder weal thewed in his upgrowing  
Like his lineage of courage wax royal  
The which was cause in especial  
He was beloved of friends about  
And of his enemies greatly had in doubt   

The name of him 'gan to spread far  
Through all grece about in each country  
The land of tarent 'gan in his time were  
again the romans as ye may see  
Requeringe Pirrus that he would be  
Favourable and helping of intent  
To the party of them of tarente   

To their request he can condescend  
And of purpose cast him not to fail  
If that fortune would him grace send  
With mighty hand and martial apparel  
For to be lord and conquer all italy  
As did his uncle whilom doubtless  
King alexander called of Epirothes   

First he began his conquest in italy  
Toward heraclye a mighty great city  
Where with brennyus he had a great battle  
Consul of rome and lord of that country  
And to the increases of his felicity  
As is remembered in his story  
Upon Romans he gate that victory   

The olifaunties with castles on their back  
Caused Pyrrhus the young manly knight  
With his wisdom wherein there was no lack  
To put his enemies that day to the flight  
And in this while it happened forthright  
The Secilians bochas beareth record  
Among them silf were at discord   

There was atween them great division  
Each to other contrary in werkinge  
But to reform their false descension  
They prayed Pyrrhus to come and be their king  
To whose request he fully assenting  
By them made strong list not to differre  
again the romans to gynne a were   

Beside a castle called Esculus  
Within Poile his banners he 'gan splay  
The same day not happy nor urous  
Contrarious fortune his power 'gan affray  
Wounded to the death 'gan greatly him dismay  
By which occasion this Pyrrhus anon right  
Leapt on his courser and took him unto flight   

A son he had called Helenus  
Born of the daughter of king agathodes  
Whom he ordained mine author telleth thus  
For to be crowned to his great increases  
Of Seciliens to regne there in peace  
weening thereby to have had advantage  
And in this while came to him amessage   

Out of Tarent which stood in adventure  
For his absence out of that region  
If he not came they might not endure  
again them power of them of rome town  
Which of assent were descended down  
Ageyns them they standing in despair  
Save in abiding upon his repair   

PIrrus this while stood in full herd point  
Wext abashed and dull in his courage  
atween twain hanging in disjointe  
We●reyed of Romans hated in Cartage  
Had a battle to his final damage  
Within a field called arusius  
There put to flight by one fabrycus   

Destitute by fortune and appaired  
Void of succour barren of richessh  
Like a man of hope despaired  
Toward Epire in haste he 'gan him dress  
Where he was first his story doth express  
As ye have heard rehearsed by writing  
By succession whilom lord and king   

But he came to Epire the city  
He 'gan of new again antigonus  
King of macedoyne a full strong country  
Him to werr●y he was so desirous  
And by conquest the story telleth thus  
Within a while there was no great letting  
●y help of fortune he was crowned king   

Nat seven months reigning in quiet  
By lysimachus maugre all his might  
He was put down and removed from his seat  
Yet of presumption though there was no right  
He took on him to gynne a new fight  
C●yne lacedomoyns and felly them warray  
Only by cause they would him not obey   

Whoos presumption when that they took heed  
Both of prudence and policy  
women were armed to make a large field  
With multitude to oppress his party  
For common profit put them in jeopardy  
And finally such was their ordinance  
That saide Pyrrhus was brought to mischance   

His son there slain called Tholome  
And many other lost there their lives  
And for all that of pride and cruelty  
He 'gan a were again the argyues  
And at the end of his mortal strives  
For conclusion this was his last fall  
slay with a stone as he came to their w●ll   

His heed smet of in the same place  
And thereof made an oblation  
To antigonus for a great solace  
Thus list fortune quite his presumption  
After his wars with many region  
Loo here the end of folks reckless  
That followed were and lystnat live in pe●    

How the tyrant Aristotyn by treacherous werkinge set aside the right line was crowned king of Epyrothes and after slain  

fOrth proceeding following john bochas  
I will rehearse in full pleyne language  
how aristotyn a tyrant this the cas  
Cast and compassed by full great outrage  
Having no title of right nor heritage  
Of Epirothes by treacherous werkinge  
Voiding the line there to be crowned king   

living two children the story telleth thus  
Born by descent to regne in that cite  
The eldest of them called was pyrrus  
And the second named tholome  
And both twain by the cruelty  
Of arystotyn were falsely set aside  
He made king this tyrant through his pride   

And while that he thus 'gan occupy  
Like a tyrant cruel and vengeable  
Of false rancour and melancholy  
Slough all the Citizens that were most notable  
And exiled this story is no fable  
Only of malice within his heart close  
All that were contrary unto his porpos   

Unto the women by fraudolent sentence  
He made ordain after that anon  
Of feigned pite gave to them licence  
To their friends freely for to go  
With their richesses but they were everichone  
By his bidding and by his false treason  
Take by the weigh and fettered in prison   

Or they were ware was set on them a reest  
And after that of vengeable cruelty  
The children slain soukinge at their breast  
Maydyns oppressed of their virginity  
But in this while at Cypre the city  
There was a knight passing of great age  
Which cast of purpose t'avenge his outrage   

The same knight mine author telleth thus  
In the story plainly as I read  
Was in greek tongue called Ballanicus  
Right wise and manly both in were and deed  
And things twain put him out of dread  
To execute his purpose in certain  
Maugre all though that would be him again   

For common profit he dread not to be deed  
A cause was this for he was fall in age  
And a nother that put him out of dread  
For he no children had of his lineage  
His quaryll rightful gave him advantage  
And hereupon gathered him of new  
Such as he knew that manly were and true   

This purpose hold with circumspect avys  
And thereon made full prudent ordinance  
This Bellanicus old hardy and right wy●  
Afore provided by knightly purveyance  
The said tyrant brought unto mischance  
By help of them that were to him assented  
Vnwarly slain whose death was not repented    

How queen Arcynoe for the adultery done with Demetrius husband of her daughter Beronyces ended in sorrow.  

aFter this story bochas 'gan apply  
To turn his pen like as ye shall here  
To write and tell the froward lechery  
Of Arcynoe pleasant of look and cheer  
Which of her port and eke of her manner  
Was in her days like as it is found  
For craft and beauty called venus the second   

For her fairness given in marriage  
To noble agas of Cyrene's king  
atween them while they were young of age  
They had a daughter by record of writing  
Called Beronices the king at his ending  
In his testament bad that she should be  
Wedded to the son of king tholome   

And this was done of entencion  
To cese the werrys that had endured long  
atween Egypt as made is mention  
And the Cyrene's both realms strong  
By this marriage that he might underfang  
In his dying to set a final pes  
Tween these two realms for their both e●icre●   

After whose death thus the matter stood  
Queen arcynoe most subtle in working  
again this matter so cruel was and wooed  
Married her daughter without more letting  
Called Beronices ageyns the bidding  
Of her father that called was agas  
As here tofore rehearsed is the cas   

She married her to one demetrius  
That brother was by bochas rehearsing  
Unto the mighty great antigonus  
Being in grece of macedoyne king  
But infortunate was after her wedding  
As in this story suing ye shall see  
By the falls working of queen Arcynoe   

And to conclude shortly this matter  
When this queen this double arcynoe  
saw of demetrius the visage and the cheer  
His look his colour his language and beute  
His manly port and his liberality  
She was enamoured of her fleshly falls pleasance  
Like her desire to have his aqueyntaunce   

Of her nature she was most lecherous  
And of her froward inclination  
She brought about that Demetryus  
assented was by her suggestion  
For to accomplissh like her opinion  
All her desires of fleshly appetite  
Thus of accord there followed their delight   

Left his wife called Beronyces  
The queens daughter and again all right  
In a place secret out of press  
They lay togedre almost every night  
Taking no heed of god nor of no wight  
Till of fortune the cas is so befall  
That he was hated of his knights all   

Despite they had of arcynoe  
The deed horrible when they did espy  
His wife Beronices eke when she did see  
Holy the manner of their rebaudie  
In heart she caught a great malencolye  
Ordained knights in steel armed bright  
In their avowtry to take them on a night   

dying a-bed slept and oak no keep  
After false lusts which t●hey had used  
They fill upon them even when they sleep  
The deed open might not be excused  
To all the world thus they were accused  
With swords draw the knights thilk night  
To slay them both were purposed anon right   

Out on Beronices crieth john Bochas  
Because she bade spare Arcynoe  
Ground rote and beginning of this horrible ca●  
saide her mercy was very cruelty  
To save suchon it was a false pite  
As saith mine author a thing contrarious  
her to preserve and slay Demetrius   

O Beronices small is thy discretion  
To save the queen that hath thy treason found  
First to Demetrius she gave occasion  
For which she should have had the first wound  
Take for them both and in chains bound  
And after that this falls Arcynoe  
To example of other should have punished be   

And while they were take thus in close  
The said arcynoe made no delay  
●ut fro her bed anon she up arose  
Without ●lothy● naked as she lay  
Run to their swords in all their great affray  
Went atween them did her busy pain  
To bear of strokes with her arms twain   

To save demetrius naked as she stood  
Void of all dread did her busy cure  
●●r white body all bespreynt with blood  
●an to cry out on every creature  
Alas quod she let me alone endure  
Death by mysifl ye be to despitous  
To save my life and slay demetrius   

To the earth anon she fill adown  
To stand up right she might not abstain  
Deed pale and wan with many piteous sound  
Death of demetrius 'gan woefully by mean  
Enbrasinge him with all his woundys' green  
And in her arms albe that he lay deed  
She kissed his mouth cold blue and nothing read   

In sorrow▪ and complaint thus she made an end  
I writ no more of this arcynoe  
But to Beronices again I will now wend  
For bochas saith in the story ye may see  
She after wedded to worthy tholome  
Like as it was her faders first intent  
When he died and made his testament    
Finis libri quarti   

Incipit liber quintus Here Bochas writ against them that delight in beauty and seemliness/ calling to purpose how a man borne in Tuscan which excelled in beauty and fairness: and for his beauty should not give other occasion to sin he disfigured his visage and body with many a great wound and spot  

hEre john bochas scorneth & hath disdain  
Of three manner folk he did see  
In this world which that in certain  
Set all their joy and all their felicity  
For to excel in fairness and beauty  
Nat withstanding as ye well tell can  
It hath undone full many a worthy man   

Record he taketh of demetrius  
Which in his time was fairest in certain  
Which caused him to be contrarious  
To all virtue his story ye have sayn  
But of though folk bochas hath most disdain  
That busy been to conquer and recure  
Beute by craft which cometh not of nature   

The third is he that grudgeth again kind  
For lack of statute and of seemliness  
And all these Three been ignorant and blind  
And again reason their coroges they up dress  
Yet above beauty virtue is mistress  
And little worth is fairness in certain  
In a person where no virtue is say   

Unto purpose he telleth of a man  
That excelled all other in fairness  
called Spurnya and borne was in tuscan  
And folk had joy and great gladness  
To behold him for his seemliness  
whose beauty brought women in dotage  
When they cast her look on his visage   

wives maydyns dwelling in that country  
Presyd fast on him to behold  
By thoccasion of his great beauty  
Nat only young but sum that were old  
With Louis axcesse now were they hot now cold  
Thus was his beauty to many creature  
Found in effect a perilous lure   

Husbondys old caught a fantasy  
And had a manner suspection  
stirred by the serpent of false I●losye  
Toward spurnia as made is mention  
But for to avoid all cruel occasion  
Of any people that such malis thought  
You shall here how wisely that he wrought   

To put away falls dilect ation  
And all occasions of Cupidis rage  
He of prudence and discretion  
With many wound diffaced his visage  
For he dempte it was great damage  
That by thencheason of excellent beauty  
Any creature hindered should be   

Philosophers and poets that were wise  
Gave unto him a great commendation  
That he could so notably devise  
To find away within his reason  
To set aside all occasion  
Of such unleeful fleshly fantasy  
That might steer woman to lechery   

He knew afore and saw by experience  
That all beauty shall waste away and fade  
Like somerfloures in their most excellence  
That grow on hyl●is and low down on the shade  
The rose the lyllye when they be most glade  
Upon their stalks their pref is daily said  
Been Betyn down with a stormy rain   

And semblably in every creature  
Of low degree or of high estate  
Beauty abide not nor longer doth endure  
Than youthies ceson with age is full chekmate  
Who thinketh heron I hold him fortunate  
And can afore in his reason cast  
No worldly beauty in earth may alway last   

Lenuoye.  

yE worldly folk that rejoice in beauty  
Se with the iyens of your advertence  
How with a small sudden infirmity  
When death & age list show their presence  
Disteyne all fresshnesse with unware violence  
again whose might there is none other grace  
Process of yeries all beauty doth difface   

Though demetrius was fair upon to see  
As ye have heard rehearsed in sentence  
Geyne law and right he loved arcynoe  
Thoccasion found by her false insolence  
Because reason made no resistance  
Nat advertinge how every hour and space  
Process of yeries all beauty doth difface   

Full horrible was their iniquity  
And tofore god hateful their offence  
For through false lust and censualit●  
Lost was the bridle of inward providence  
Sharp mortal sword made the recompense  
drowned in teries when she did him embrace  
With bloody wounds disfigured all his face   

O noble princes late this story be  
A clear mirror to your magnificence  
Therein considered the false fragility  
Of worldly fairness which is but appearance  
And transitory but so be that prudence  
Govern the passage vicious lust to enchase  
Process of yeries all beauty doth difface    

How the two brethre Selenchus & antiochus each desirous/ to excel other/ fill at discord ended in mischief  

THere is no man that can in story read  
Of more mischief nor of more debate  
That of debate that is atween kindred  
Tween blood and blood geyne kind infortunate  
Namely in persons which been of high estate  
As it fill once the story beareth record  
atween two brother that were at discord   

That one selenchus antiochus the t'other  
As the story heraftir shall devise  
Each desirous for to excel other  
And worldly worship and wondirly they were wise  
And both blended by worldly covetise  
For to climb up to high estate  
Which caused them to be at debate   

Both mighty kings bochas maketh mention  
And of one womb soothly they were borne  
under a cursed fell constellation  
Of froward seed may grow no good corn  
And through covetise both they were lost  
And destroyed by the mortal were  
That was atween them in asia nigh and far   

It is to me very contagious  
To read the battles and dissensions  
The false promises of anthiochus  
With the desceytes and conspirations  
brethren of birth and of conditions  
Contrarious ways ever they did wend  
froward their ginning froward mass their end   

Their mother was called Leodices  
And in Asia Selenchus was reigning  
Ever at were could not live in pes  
And in surry anthiochus was king  
And among robbers they made their ending  
Where ever they fought in wrong or in right  
Never they bode but took them to flight   

Though selenchus was at his beginning  
Shining in glory and in high prowess  
And of asia he was lord and king  
With great diffame was dyrked his noblesse  
By cause that he of great unkindness  
Full falsely slough without judgement  
His younger brother that was Innocent   

And by the bidding of leodyces  
Which was his mother of hatfull cruelty  
Falsely to murder the queen Beronices  
Wife to the king called Tholome  
Regning in egypt but it stood so that he  
For all his power failed of his pray  
Because that she was ware and fled away   

¶ Yet afterward of old hate and envy  
This Selenchus by full falls treason  
Murdered Beronices by conspiracy  
Her son also as made is mention  
The slander arose through many a region  
And was reported unto his diffame  
Where through he lost his worship and his name   

And on this murder avenged for to be  
For the orryble great abusion  
The king of Egypt the said tholome  
'Gan make him strong and came with people down  
But for theridamas was so great dissension  
Through all his land the story saith certain  
He was constrained to return home again   

Selenchus than made a strong arm  
gathered ships stuffed them with victual  
Toward asie he take hath these  
But such tempest 'gan his people assail  
That hearts and power of them 'gan fail  
With thundering lightning vengeably distreyned  
To take the land of need he was constrained   

The people of asia saying this mischief  
Had of selenchus great compassion  
And there succour to set at a proof  
They him received into that region  
Though it stood as made is mention  
That afore time for his cruel deed  
They had his person in full great hatred   

And for he fond fortune favourable  
not considering her mutabylite  
He cast of rancour for to be vengeable  
And gynne a were again tholome  
His men outrayed he was made to i'll  
knew no refute nor succour of none other  
But for great mischief sent to his brother   

I mean his brother called antiochus  
Behesting him for to crown him king  
Of all asia his story telleth thus  
Took truce this while by subtle falls working  
With tholome for ten year enduring  
And when his brother came with his power  
Falsed his promise double of heart and cheer   

Thus of new they fell at debate  
Each 'gan other mightily werreye  
Falls covetise to increases their estate  
Caused that neither list other obey  
Met in a field there is no more to say  
fought hand for hand their hosts both two  
Selenchus fled as he was wont to do   

Thus a falls were of hatred fraternal  
Again nature set them at discord  
Each busy was in especial  
As their story remembreth by record  
Never their life to be at one accord  
But when Selenchus was thus put to flight  
The people of surrye 'gan dame anon right   

That he that day was either take or deed  
And Gallocreis a people of great pouste  
Of covetise 'gan haste them full great speed  
To enter asie and spoil all that country  
To antiochus they had eke enmity  
That he was fain for his saluacon  
To pay to them a full great ransom   

Their heart was you only to pillage  
Taking of him of gold great quantity  
And he saying of robbing the outrage  
Drough to the pillars and one of them was he  
And through all asia they rob each country  
For Selenchus they 'gan so purchase  
That he not durst abide in no place   

Than Antiochus drough to tholome  
Void of saucconduyt or any assurance  
Though that atwene them was great enmity  
For a season as made is remembrance  
To have found succour in his great grievance  
But all for naught for in conclusion  
Tholome him took and cast in dark prison   

There constrained of necessity  
Knowing no mean to make his raunsoun  
By a woman that lived in poverty  
He was holp out of that dark prisoun  
Lo here of fortune a false condition  
That could make a thing without ●ere  
Of woman to stand in daungere   

To proud folk this may be a mirror  
To see a prince thus suddenly brought low  
That shone in riches like an emperor  
Which of disdain list no man to know  
Now is he cast now is he overthrow  
Now hath he cause to plain weep and mourn  
Knowing no friend for succour him to turn   

He was afferd to hold his passage  
By high ways or for to come in sight  
Fill among thiefs and they by great outrage  
All merciless they slough him anon right  
And his brother for all his great might  
Called Selenchus which was a great wonder  
Fill from his courser and broke his neck asunder    

How the noble queen Leodomya was in the temple slain: and vengeance take upon him that slough her.  

Six of estates princes and princessys  
showed them bochas pitously pleyninge  
To him declaring their mortal hevynessies  
And first of all there came to him weeping  
The noble queen her sorrow rehearsing  
Called Leodomya which with full heavy cheer  
complained the mischief of her sister dear   

Called Nereis young and tender of age  
That wedded was of cicile the king  
And on the day of that great marriage  
There fill a strife and a great moving  
Among the commons by a manner rising  
That when the queen thereof had a sight  
To dianis temple anon she took her flight   

The people was ꝑty and rose again the king  
For which rumour and sudden strife  
Leodomya full feerfully quaking  
Run to the temple for to save her life  
Supposing in her Imaginatif  
That for the temples chaste reverence  
Men would spare to do their violence   

But there was one by whom the strife began  
And was first ground of this great motion  
Called Milo a falls cecilian  
Void of all reverence and devotion  
Run to the temple feerser than lion  
And where the queen the altar did embrace  
With a sharp sword slough her in the place   

This sacrilege was punished by vengeance  
Goddies were wroth through this great offence  
And Diana by full great displeasance  
Made in the court a sudden pestilence  
And Milo was by unware violence  
Turned bestyall made wood in that affray  
And slough him silf suing the twelve day    

How cleomens' king of macedoyne was slain with his wife and children  

AFter this vengeance take on milo  
Came cleomene● of macedoyne king  
And to boches 'gan show his deadly woe  
His great Injuries of enemies assaylinge  
His high emprises his kingdom defending  
And aldirlast how he in his cite  
Was by the son slain of Tholome   

First in his country the story doth devise  
Again his enemies he had a great battle  
Of his people defending the fraunchise  
Of knightly prowess as he that lift not feyle  
For his right to fight in plate and mail  
His liegys' echon being of one assent  
To live and die with him in their intent   

Men and women and children young of age  
Were in one heart as in that matter  
Which made them strong and gate great advantage  
That undivided they stood echon I fere  
Of one courage of one will and of one cheer  
Greatly assured in their opinion  
Because among them was no division   

Their common profit they did no more prefer  
Than they did treasure life or good  
For their freedom aye ready to the were  
Nat afeard to spend their own blood  
And finally so together they stood  
That of one thought each 'gan him ready make  
To live and die for his brother's sake   

That had an enemy borne of that region  
The name of whom was antigonus  
And he had wedded the book maketh mention  
The old queen of king demetryus  
And had her son the story telleth thus  
Called philip for youth in his keeping  
Thereby pretending a title to be king   

Of Lacedomonoys cleymed again right  
There to regne and take possession  
Like a tyrant usurping of great might  
For to be crowned in that region  
But for all his false presumption  
He was put of and Iset afar  
Though he with them held a mortal were   

And Cleomenes that was rightful king  
Was in the field armed every d●y  
Hardy as lion dread him nothing  
Geyn his enemies he stood so at a bay  
That fro the field he made them i'll ●way  
His dreadful sword ground was so keen  
That to abide him they might not abstain   

And on a day descending ●is city  
Held in the field a full strong battle  
With little people made his ●one to flee  
Returning home full weary of travail  
Thought in his heart that it should avail  
To stint the were hanging in no certain  
Till that his people refreshed were again   

Set ordinance through all the country  
Geyn all enemies to make resistance  
And in to Egypt he goth to tholome  
With wife and children withdrawing his presence  
There received with great benevolence  
Like his estate out of care and dread  
And there abode till tholome was deed   

But the son of king tholome  
Which reigned after by succession  
Of false envy and vengeable cruelty  
Slough Cleomenes in that region  
His wife his children void of compassion  
Alas it was to strange a cruel thing  
Within a kingdom to murder so a king    

Of king Nero Cornelye and Hannibal  

AFter whose death thus wrought by violence  
The story remembreth proceeding  
Forth came nero and showed his presence  
Of Siracuse the mighty strong king  
Tofore bochas full pitously plaining  
beseching him with a full piteous cheer  
Of his mischief to write the manner   

The which nero wilful and furious  
List to presume of false rebellion  
For to debate with appius Claudius  
And to malign again rome town  
But he anon for his presumpcioun  
Constrained was in all his most pride  
Like a coward to i'll and not abide   

no more of him mine author writeth here  
But in his book as he doth proceed  
There came Cornelye of rome a consulere  
Him silf complaining of the great falsehood  
Which unto him accomplished was in deed  
By assurance broke of hannibal  
Which of cartage was chief admiral   

To this cornelie hannibal was sworn  
With the Africans by a manner flattery  
To succour him as we have told tofore  
With the romans to hold up his party  
But when they met the book doth specefie  
Cornelye was take and fettered in prison  
At mischief died there gained no ransom   

Than hannibal entered of intent  
With his knights into a great city  
Of Cecile called Agrigent  
Where julius Silva of old enmity  
Laid a siege with a great main  
That he constrained the saide hannibal  
For very hungres to leap over the wall   

By a postern he took him to the flight  
gathered ships and took the large see  
And julius Sylva like amanly knight  
fought with him and made him for to flee  
Upon the water anon after he  
Was of his knights stoned to the death  
And so constrained he yielded up the breath    

Of the Duke zantipas cast into the se  

AFter that hannibal was slain thus  
And put to flight as m●de is mention  
Tofore Bochas came worthy zantipus  
A famous duke full notable of reno●  
And he was lord of the strong reg●●  
Lacedomoyne and was come afeard  
In to cartage to help them in the wer●●   

●y whose prowess to his endres of glory  
The proud romans were put to flight  
Cartagmensis had of them victory  
And there was take the wise manly knight  
Marchus Regulus and brought anon right  
Into Cartage and led as prisoner  
By zantipus as bochas writeth here   

This noble duke for all his high prowess  
Done in cartage and showed to their town  
And for all his notable kindness  
They most unkindly quit him his guirdoun  
For seyling home toward his region  
In a ship stuffed of their country  
Of false envy they cast him in the se   

To his noblesse and famous chivalry  
When he of knighthood sat highest in his flowers  
They of cartage by hatred and envy  
Maligned again him chief son of their socours  
Taclipsyd his light but therageyne auctors  
Have by writing perpetuelly set his name  
And it registered in the house of fame    

How Marchus regulus of his free will died for the common we'll  

wHo can tell or rehearse the ground of werrys  
The first cause of such mortal outrage  
Where it began by influence of stars  
Tween man and man or of wilful rage  
atween romans and folks of cartage  
To great hindering considered the manner  
Of both parties as bokys doth us lere   

Italicus therewith were grieved often  
namely when fortune was their adversary  
And Africans felt full unsoft  
When she to them list be contrary  
Whoos course of custom stoundemele doth vary  
By experience it hath be proved well  
In the overwhelming of her untrusty wheel   

The most worthy and the most famous  
Afore remembered upon each party  
Fortune to day made them victorious  
And to morrow she did their might diffye  
Now up now down all stood in jeopardy  
Like as she list them favour nigh or serre  
Their loss their winning called fortune of were   

To sum well willed happy and eurous  
To sum also full strange of aqueyntaunce  
Rekne among ot●e● Marchus Regulus  
On roman party & prince of great substance  
To be preferred and put in remembrance  
One the most worthy and true fond in deed  
Of knightly policy that I can of read   

To common profit was aye his advertence  
Tween love and hate standing so upright  
To nouther side declyne● the balance  
Of his domys for favour of no wight  
Till that the eye of his inward sight  
conceived had where the troth stood  
Than gave he sentence and thereon he abode   

In all this world there was no better knight  
Better named and borne of good lineage  
A seemly person deliver and of great might  
Hardy as lion right manly of visage  
Wall of the romans sharp yard to courage  
Demure not hasty saying all thing tofore  
And in papinia I find that he was borne   

And for he had so great discretion  
This worthy knight this marcus regulus  
chosen he was a consul of the town  
And had a fellow called maulius  
In arms manly wise and virtuous  
Which for their notable expert high constance  
Of roman werrys had the governance   

Their ships stuffed made a great arm  
Full prudently with knightly apparel  
These princes twain taken have the se  
First with Sicilians had a great battle  
discomfited them and their arrival  
Outrayed Amulchar the story is no fable  
That was of affryk captain and constable   

That in that country castles many one  
Took prisoners stuff and great richesses  
And all that party to rome he sent anon  
By Maulius the story beareth witness  
And the romans for his worthiness  
All of assent by cause he was so wis  
Prolongyd have the term of his offis   

Of knightly noblesse was none to him like  
neither in arms nor pollitik ordinance  
And for the conquest of cartage and afrique  
To him they gave of both the governance  
Brought cities touns to his obeisance  
Of the romans this noble worthy knight  
Where ever he road maugre their foes might   

By his faithful laborious diligence  
Gate all the countries to Cartage town  
Till tidings came unto his presence  
Beside a river there was a great dragoun  
So orryble as made is mention  
That all the country of him stood in such doubt  
No man durst neigh him far about   

An hundred feet and twain was his length  
Like as writeth titus levius  
Was none so hardy man nor of such strength  
That durst approach he was so venomous  
But by the manhood of marchus regulus  
Slain was this monstrous serpent  
And for amerueyle the skin to rome sent   

Thus in conquest while he did his pain  
To get castles and mighty strong to●s  
again him were sent astruballies twain  
Called of afrique the hardy champions  
With all the power of their regions  
But as the story maketh rehearsal  
They were discomfited both in battle   

Amulchar after came with spear and shield  
In diffence of afrique and cartage  
And he was also distressed in the field  
With all his ●s●e maugre his visage  
Thus marchus had always the vantage  
Making the romans this knight most virtuous  
Through his prowess to be victorious   

And where that he in his tender age  
List do labour and till his own land  
For excercise and virtuous advantage  
To hold the plough and lead it with his hand  
Avoiding sloth as ye shall understand  
Now through all afrique with many worthy knight  
In steel and mails he rideth armed bright   

Thus noble mark what ever he had ado  
He was in arms sovereign syngulere  
And in the temple at rome of apollo  
For him was kept a crown of fresh laurere  
Forged of gold fret full of stones clear  
And in the temple of iovis was reserved  
A rob of victory which he hath deserved   

To these goddies who can consider well  
Of old custom the rights to maintain  
As for a thing being perpetual  
Which fadeth never of nature thus I mean  
I sacred is the fresh laurer green  
For causes twain granted to conquerors  
In martial acts by conquest made victors   

For the noblesse of this tree divine  
showeth his odour in wisdom and excellence  
By the greenness which never doth decline  
Long abiding of virtuous prudence  
The round crown betokeneth providence  
In sign only of knightly governance  
Taketh his guerdon of long continuance   

Their strength only granted them not the crown  
Nor a proud beginning stablissheth not their glory  
But persyveraunce who list muse and room  
Granteth to them and putteth in memory  
The triumph and palm of their victory  
The crown of laurer in story it is told  
And of jupiter the rich crown of gold   

Who can discern of all these gifts ●hre  
Most appertaineth unto chivalry  
Manly prowess wisdom anon late see  
Strength hardiness conquest policy  
For the romans caught a fantasy  
For his merits notable and glorious  
To magnefie this Marchus regulus   

For this marchus during his lusty years  
Prince of the wars gain afrique and cartage  
Took all their young knights prysoneries  
Scent them to rome for common advantage  
But oh alas when he was fall in age  
The gery gods among her changes all  
again this prince her favour made appall   

For to withstand the prowess of this knight  
In help of afrique as made is mention  
Came zantipus of whom I spoke now right  
A mighty duke the which was sent down  
From Lacedomoyne which through his high renown  
When the power of marchus 'gan to fail  
His many slain took him in battle   

Into Cartage sent him prisoner  
And there he lay in strong chains bound  
Loo how fortune change can her cheer  
Falseste of trust when she is most iocounde  
First favourable after froward found  
This her manner with her double face  
folk that sit highest to change them fro their place   

For he that whilom had in subjection  
Almost all afrique and Cartage the cite  
Now lieth he bound and fettered in prison  
Whilom in glory now in adversity  
Cast in misery from high prosperity  
Fortunes be made who look weal  
Of brotyll glass rather than of steel   

This manly knight albe that he lay chained  
Which had brought room to so high increases  
That they of afrique and cartage were constrained  
Unto romans to pursue for a pes  
And for taccomplissh this matter doubtless  
Under assurance made in cartage toun  
They took marchus anon out of prison   

Bound by his oath there is no more to say  
He to be changed for afrique prysoneries  
There for to abide and they to cumme again  
The young knights fressh lusty of their cheers  
So that Marchus feeble and old of yeries  
By africans were to rome sent  
Both assured to accomplyssh their intent   

For the romans had in such dainty  
This noble mark for manhood and prudence  
And for the furthring of their comonte  
They had his person for wisdom in reverence  
Called in that town their wall and their diffence  
Had in more cheerte for knighthood in that age  
Than all their prisoners of affryk and cartage   

romans greatly rejoiced of his coming  
And specially for his deliverance  
All atonies of heart and true meaning  
Said welcome home our joy and our suffisance  
Welcumme merour of knightly governance  
This was their voice and this was their language  
At his repair fro affryk and cartage   

And thus received like to his estate  
And conveyed through all the cite  
Nobly presented unto the Senate  
Begun his tale anon as ye shall see  
As he that had more in cherte  
The common profit than his deliverance  
Said unto them these words in substance   

Sires by the avys of you echon present  
First by the estates next by the comonte  
As prince and consul to affryk I was sent  
And as ye know seven year there I have be  
To chastise rebels of that country  
And by the favour and help of goddies might  
To your city acquit me like a knight   

In this matter it needeth not to tarry  
You know your silf I am now wexen old  
And fortune is to me contrary  
Whereby your enemies in afrique be made bold  
And they desire me for to be sold  
In exchange by short conclusion  
For prisoners which they have in the town   

And by the favour of goddys' high in heaven  
And by fellows wise mediation  
Cuntrees and provincies more than six & seven  
I have in affryk made subiet to this town  
Maugre their might and their rebellion  
And them constrained like as desire  
For to obey unto your empire   

To make your empire more stately glorious  
And to encres the bounds of your city  
Whilom by grace I was victorious  
Venquysshed your enemies where ever I did them see  
Now through fortunes mutabylite  
Made unhappy and desolate of cheer  
sometime a prince and now a presonere   

Afore my power by fortune was fraunchised  
Now am I thrall and fettered in prison  
Mine old triumphs be newly now disguised  
And victories oppressed and borne down  
With this considered the transmutation  
Of youth passed and mine unwieldy age  
little wondyr though dull be my courage   

¶ Yet there is a thing that draweth alength my life  
Which in my heart hath set great gladness  
To your increases how this mortal strif  
By my labour and knightly business  
The martial princes famous in worthiness  
With all the knights most sovereign of renown  
Sought through affryk be now in your prison   

By whose absence feebled is Cartage  
The country porisshed brought to disencres  
saying that I am dull and fall in age  
Geyne africans to put my silf in press  
Causing your enemies pursue for the pes  
By eschaunce of me that may but small avail  
For afrique knights most expert in battle   

They stand in hope of their deliverance  
By exchange of me now sent out of prison  
Of intent to increases their puissance  
Of new to gynne a were upon your town  
Now take good heed and discretion  
poise of prudence this thing that I have told  
Their youth considered and I am feeble and old   

I am consumed and wearied in the werrys  
Fortune contrary I feeble to bear armure  
They lusty fressh their name spread full far is  
And in the field they able to endure  
I unwieldy and like a creature  
More semble to draw home to my grave  
Than be armed this cite for to save   

And in effect I have more cheerte  
Of very faith without variance  
Unto the profit of your comonte  
Than to the matter of my deliverance  
To things poised and weighed in balance  
Of afrique knights expert worthiness  
In me the constraint of agys' feebleness   

And to conclude upon this matter  
I might nevir as seemeth unto me  
As of knighthood deserve the laurere  
Nor the triumph in this famous cite  
Better than die tenere●e the comonte  
And thus advised of heart and hold courage  
Yield up the spirit of mine unwieldy age   

In this purpose he steadfast as a wall  
Of one will and one perseverance  
Him silf commending to goddies Immortal  
Chase for to die of politic constance  
And to prefer by notable purveyance  
The common profit this was his motyf  
Set aside god● his treasure and his life   

Right well cheered stable of his visage  
Of perfit love he had unto the town  
He is repaired again unto Cartage  
The articles kept and the condition  
At the departing from afrique region  
This to say texplete their lust certain  
Or prisoner he for to resort again   

At his departing the roman senators  
'Gan wax pale of compassion  
To see the pavys of all their old socours  
As prisoner departed out of the town  
Princessis ladies fill a swoon down  
Children wept and cried for pity  
Farewell upholder chief wall of their city   

Was ever found any truer knight  
Which of his own faithful motion  
Where he was free and had power and might  
To have stand at large by his election  
To keep his promise repaired to prison  
What shall I writ of his nobles or show  
To find one like him I read but afewe   

And when he came again with his message  
Knowing th'intent of this worthy knight  
most furiously the people of cartage  
In the presence of every manner wight  
ordained have to torment anon right  
first the lids of his eyen twain  
They cut them of to increase his pain   

That he not should sleep in prison  
But ever watch with pain intolerable  
And for the tonstreynt of his passion  
Cry and compleyn with sighs lamentable  
And after this took a plain table  
Fret full of nails sharp whet and ground  
And thereupon naked they him bound   

Another table they laid on him aloft  
Nailed also and atween these twain  
They couched him this bed was full soft  
Most importable so hideous was the pain  
The blood ran out of every senowe and vain  
This was his tourment alas a cruel death  
Of worthy marchus till he yield up the breath   

Who read in books or ever did see  
Of any princes so steadfast and so stable  
As whilom were in Rome the city  
Or in their conquest so long perdurable  
Of virtue found of courage unstaunchable  
Rekne up all that ever were in that town  
And to this marchus make no comparison   

Rekne kamillis papyres scipions  
Notable worthy for many great victory  
Rekne up all the worthy champions  
Cursius Fabricus famous of memory  
But this regulus eclipsith all their glory  
And surmounteth by report of renown  
All these foresaid in comparison   

Rekne up the four that whilom were so rich  
The first of them called Lucius  
Other twain of condition liche  
Asdrubal was Staurus and gaius delius  
And forget not the great Emelius  
But for all their great possession  
Make to marchus no comparison   

Remember of crassus of whom it is told  
The assirens to staunch his covetise  
poured in his throat strangled him with gold  
So he died the story doth devise  
And though these four wend have be wise  
Greatly commended through false opinion  
Of them to Marchus make no comparison   

touching this mark let men behold and see  
He left his treasure freedom and richesse  
And for the profit of the comonte  
Forsook his friends Bochas beareth witness  
To fordre his town died in distress  
To keep his faith resorted to prison  
Make of none other to him comparison   

Mine author here put in remembrance  
Sum that had gold stonies and perre  
Sum that had of richesse abundance  
And of other that stood in dignity  
And sum that had worldly prosperity  
Set all aside and conclude of reason  
Tween them and marchus is no comparison   

Pryncis may live after their ententies  
After their lusts and their delices  
Of gold and purpur were rich garnementes  
After their power frowardly in vices  
Grant their Ministers great offices  
Tween all their pomp and vain ambition  
And atwene mark make no comparison   

All these things remembered in certain  
Well considered and I put in mind  
There was in rome but few such sayne  
To common profit that found was so kind  
And till I may such another find  
In all this book turning up so down  
I will to him make no comparison   

Lenuoye  

THis tragedy who that can take heed  
Is intermeddled with woe and gladness  
joy for worship and singular manhood  
That was in mark by exellente noblesse  
To read his fall it is great heaviness  
Which chase to die where as he stood free  
Only for profit of the comonte   

To keep his oath plainly as I read  
Made in Cartage there being in distress  
This noble prince constrained of no need  
But of free-will mine author doth express  
From room again thither 'gan him dress  
To suffer tourment of his free volunte  
Only for profit of the comonte   

This story should crowned be in deed  
With golden letters for to bear witness  
How saide mark having of death no dread  
To set room fro were in sekyrnesse  
Whoos high renown most sovereign of prowess  
May nevir eclipse by none antiquity  
Which chase to die to further the comonte   

He deserved for to have the meed  
Of triumph and martial worthiness  
And of jupiter to were the purple weed  
Fret full of stonies most heavenly of brightness  
The laureate crown conserving his greenness  
Granted to victors who list consider and se  
Which chase to die for the comonte   

Noble princes which that govern and lead  
All worldly people take heed in your hynesse  
To this story true as is the creed  
Taking example do your business  
Aye to support and maintain rightwiseness  
And late Marchus to you a mirror be  
Which chase to die to furthre the comonte     

how Tholome king of Egypt called Phylopater slough father and mother and his wife in lechery spent his life and mischievously ended  

next in order to bochas complaining  
Vicious of life their came tholome  
called philopater and was of egypt king  
In tender age by horrible cruelty  
Slough father mother and sister ye may see  
He to be crowned it is made mention  
To regne alone in that region   

He was disposed unto every vice  
froward to virtue and to all doctrine  
Slough his wife called Erudice  
let his spouse took a concubine  
Wasted his life 'gan him silf incline  
To all riot surfeit and outrage  
And in this wise he spent his young age   

Thus was disclandered his royal majesty  
In lecherous lusts watchid all night  
A-bed till noon again all honest  
Of false excess shope him anon right  
When he aros to drink again might  
Gorge upon gorge to afforce his lechery  
The long day he spent in gluttony   

I wax weary the process for to write  
Of this tyrant vicious and wooed  
It is contagious the process to indite  
Because the example doth harm and no good  
And of vengeance thus with him it stood  
Of sudden mischief I read he did fine  
Embraced in arms of his concubine   

Agathodia plainly was her name  
And had a son called agathodes  
Vicious both and slandered by diffame  
Noised by report they were so reckless  
Both at once take in a sudden pres  
With their allies all atonies fet  
And by Just doom led to the gibet    

How Abithomarus and Viridomarus Dukys of france after great bataylss by romans slain  

next Philopater called tholome  
There came in order a worthy duke of france  
Nabytomarus and out of that country  
Road into Grece with a great puissance  
And first he 'gan to make his ordinance  
again romans albe they were far  
Proudly with them for to gynne a were   

But they of rome to their confusion  
By their bishops and priests 'gan devise  
To use a cursed falls superstition  
Unto their goddies in full cruel wise  
To offer up men by a new sacrifice  
To bury them quik in bochas thus I read  
By a false hope they better for to speed   

Of france and grece they took ten in number  
Half men and women to gedre twain and twain  
And by false murder they did them encoumbre  
Buried them quick their death was full sudden  
At this sacrifice the goddies 'gan disdain  
And to the ramayns wax contrarious  
For their false righties superstitious   

And by record of old croniculeers  
The year five hundre fro their foundation  
And one and twenty tho being consulers  
Three in number as made is mention  
Which governed and ruled all the town  
The first called Lucius Emilius  
And the second catulus gaius   

Actilius regulus the third consulere  
By all the Senate ordained were these three  
As I have told the selfsame year  
For to govern and rule the city  
And to preserve them from all adversity  
again two peoples of gall and lumberdye  
Which than warred of malice and envy   

Of which were the romans stood in bout  
The senators and all the citeseyns  
Because against them there came so great a rout  
Of lumbardies by this half the mounteyns  
joined togedre with many fell foreigns  
Which stood departed as made is remembrance  
From them of rome and their obeisance   

The people rude bestial and unstable  
Togedre assembled wode and furious  
Of multitude very innumerable  
Vengeable of heart of courage despitous  
Void of all reason suddenly furious  
As saith bochas I can no ferther go  
Their soldiers bore gisarmies everyone   

And gysarmes of gisarmes they were called  
Toward rome them hasting day by day  
Of great labour the footmen sore app●llyd  
But aye their trust on multitude lay  
Of whose coming rome stood in afray  
And specially the consuleers three  
That out were sent to fight for the cite   

Four score thousand as writ the croniclere  
Mighty to stand at diffence  
In his fellowship had each consulere  
And of the gisarmes number in sentence  
Three hundred thousand by sturdy violence  
Going on foot I find that they had  
Eight thousand over that all the field spread   

I rekne not them that road on horseback  
Which six and thretty thousand were in number  
Six hundred over purposed for the wreck  
Finally the romans to encoumbre  
The shadow of them gave so great an umbre  
That on the soil which tofore was green  
There was enneth any son sheen   

Their captain was Abitomarus  
A manly man and a full worthy knight  
And with them went viridomarus  
Another captain in steel armed bright  
Tween them and romans long last the fight  
But on the party of rome the cite  
Was slain a consul one of the three   

After whose death of fortune anon right  
On the party of them of rome toun  
Eight hundred thousand took them to the flight  
And thus began the fame and the renown  
Of abithomarus as made is mention  
Of which victory his heart was made fain  
And on his party were three thousand slain   

But the romans resorted be again  
And after that had a strong batale  
And in the field so manly they were say  
And so proudly their enemies did assail  
That as mine author maketh rehearsal  
Of the Gysarmys long or it were night  
Forty thausand were slain in that fight   

The third time with help of them of france  
joined to lombards and folk of gall also  
They fought again all out of ordinance  
Beside the river that called is the Poo  
Where both battles together had ado  
And as I find consulers twain  
To roman sheltrouns knightly did ordain   

Maulius Torquat called was that one  
Flamynus Flakkus was with him Ifere  
And with the romans forth to gydre they gone  
Toward that river with a full manly cheer  
In which battle the story doth us lere  
Nine and forty thousand slain on that day  
Of their enemies that none ne went away   

Abythomarus was take prisoner  
In tokne of triumph brought to rome town  
To the capitoyle with a full pale cheer  
Led bound in chains there gained no ransom  
Thus hath fortune appalled his high renown  
And in tokne of his discomfiture  
Offered to goddies was his cote armour   

Thus lachesis his lives thread 'gan draw  
Till Antropos it brake with full great pain  
Viridomarus that was his fellow  
Slain in the field by romans in certain  
And of these worthy princes twain  
This was the end and the mortal fall  
The feast accomplished called funeral   

And in the time of these mortal wars  
atween these dukes and them of rome toun  
Many toknes were showed in the stars  
marvelous lightnings fro the heaven down  
And many an uncouth constellation  
Sundry Comets did in the walking appear  
Who seth their stories may the troth lere   

The water pytene that runneth in italy  
Which in that country is a famous flood  
The same hour and time of their battle  
As saith the story was turned in to blood  
Fires in the heir most furious and wooed  
That mighty towers were with the flame brent  
Three moneys appearing in the Orient   

The people for fere fled in to low caves  
For dread wax pale and deadly of their cheer  
And in three days were three earth quavys  
During this wears and in the same year  
Of great apollo fill down the pyllere  
Of marble white large and of great strength  
That sixty Cubits accoumted was the lengethe   

And in that time the story saith not nay  
Of rome a consul with a great puissance  
called claudius slough upon a day  
Thretty thousand and brought to mischance  
Of the soldiers that came out of france  
And there was slain with many a captain lost  
Virydomarus of whom I spoke toforne   

To his great shame and confusion  
As it is remembered by scripture  
The romans made a great oblation  
Up to jupiter of his cote armure  
And in tokne of his discomfiture  
Within that temple of gold betyn clear  
To his despite they hinge up his banner    

How Syphax of Munedye king was take and died in prison  

HEre bochas briefly for a remembrance  
Writeth wars debates and battles  
That were that time in italy and france  
In spain chaumpayne with martial apparayles  
And among other in his rehersayles  
He telleth in afrique the great dissension  
atween hannibal and worthy Scipion   

He toucheth their names and abideth not long  
Upon their stories he bide not but awhile  
Here not rehearsing their mighty werrys strong  
Nor of their strives he doth not here compile  
But down dessending directeth forth his style  
For to rehearse and tell by writing  
The fall of Syphax in Munedye king   

This said Syphax battles had twain  
One with king Gabba he of very might  
Had eke an other in which he did his pain  
To meet masmissa after anon right  
And both kings he put to the flight  
And of Messulie I find by writing  
How Masmissa was governor and king   

This said syphax through his chivalry  
Made Masmyssa to i'll his region  
constrained him to live by robbrye  
To walk in forests with beasts up and down  
And for diffaute as made is mention  
To save his life he fond no better refute  
But fed him silf on roots and on fruit   

Out of his realm masmyssa was enchased  
And constrained to i'll fro his country  
From mind of folk his name was out razed  
For no man wist where he should be  
His liege men and folk of his city  
Through all affryk knew no better read  
Of his person but dempt that he was deed   

Thus of king Syphax increase 'gan the glory  
Which by force two kings hath outrayed  
And upon them won the victory  
Put them to flight and the people afraid  
That room and cartage were of him dismayed  
And each of them did their labour  
Of their werrys to make him governor   

Unto Syphax out of rome town  
As it is wretyn for a memorial  
To Numedye was sent scipion  
For this matter in especial  
Out of cartage was sent hastruball  
And at the castle where Syphax lay  
Both twain arrived at one day   

And by pleyne writing as I have conceived  
And as the story remembreth in sentence  
At their coming both were received  
Of king Shyhax with great reverence  
And through his notable manly diligence  
As it is wretyn by good record  
He made these captains heartily of accord   

That they to gether lay the same night  
They had of Syphax so great surety  
By promise made as he was true knight  
That neither of them should deceived be  
But there was found great duplycyte  
Following after who so can take heed  
Like as this story shall devise in deed   

For by the fraud and falseness most mortal  
Compassed beforn it is thus befall  
That by the sleight of this hastruball  
As africans be nigh double all  
Under sugar can hide well their gall  
So hastruball by false deception  
Under fair cheer deceived Scipion   

He brought in syphax by false subtlety  
And by his sleight painted fair language  
That he should with him allied be  
By full assent to have in marriage  
Sophanisba a maydyn of cartage  
Which was daughter young and fair withal  
As saith bochas to this hastruball   

The which thing by craft was brought about  
And accomplished verily in deed  
And by this mean plainly out of doubt  
There first began rancour and hatred  
Symulation feigned and falsehood  
That atwene syphax and hastruball alas  
Scipion was diceyved in this cas   

And after that done was this marriage  
Syphax full enemy to this Scipion  
With hastruball road in to cartage  
And 'gan werraye again rome town  
And in this while as made is mention  
King masmyssa out of wilderness  
Toward Scipion in all haste 'gan him dress   

With his people 'gan to make him strong  
Through help of scipion and of bellius  
Went again syphax and abode not long  
His heart again him was so envious  
And on a day the story telleth thus  
With africans and folks of Cartage  
Syphax the romans met in the visage   

Of masmyssa the people were so wooed  
Upon Syphax avenged for to be  
Through their battles came to him there he stood  
And maugre him and his cruelty  
Of very manhood space was none to i'll  
They brought him home through their high renown  
In to the hands of worthy Scipion   

Syphax was take thus or he was ware  
Under his banner maugre all his might  
And into rome led afore the char  
Of scipion the noble worthy knight  
That won the triumph granted him of right  
And Siphonisba afore to Sophax wife  
Wed to masmysse at the end of all this strif   

Loo how fortune change can her tides  
To one this day she can be favourable  
Make captains and these great guides  
Which wend have found her wheel stable  
But that she is aye froward and changeable  
Friendly to day tomorrow at discord  
If this be true Syphax can bear record   

This Shiphax was sent out of the town  
In chains bound without more tarrying  
And at tyburny lay fettered in prison  
Died at mischief made there his ending  
And for because that he was a king  
The romans made of martial pity  
Him to be buried within their cite    

how Nabyn having no title but by tyranny took on him to be king of macedoyne was slain  

nExt came Nabyn full piteously weeping  
Tofore john bochas which by tyranny  
Of macedoyne took on him to be king  
Having no title save title of robbrye  
Only by force him silf to magnify  
Which with strong hand took full possession  
For to be crowned in thilk region   

This macedoyne as by old writings  
Whilom was had in full great reverence  
Because only it flowered in two things  
Both in knighthood and sovereign sapience  
Mars there by manhood Pallas by prudence  
And while these twain had governance  
Of all welfare they had suffisance   

And while noblesse of these things twain  
That is to say the flower of high clergy  
The high renown most famous and sovereign  
Of martial prowess and of chivalry  
Governed that land by new policy  
Than stood that kingdom auctors rehearse con  
Among the greeks like an heavenly son   

But at the last eclipsed was the light  
Both of knighthood and philosophy  
When covetise 'gan enter again right  
For to usurp upon the regal  
But intrusion of false tyranny  
And by extort force made their enterings  
Having no title there to regne as kings   

This was chief cause for short conclusion  
That the noblesse of grece was brought baas  
And macedoyne brought to confusion  
By covetise that set them in such case  
Thereby their knighthood fully translated was  
Andrea their policy in chronicles ye may see  
Out of grece to rome the city   

And among other by clear remembrance  
Of such tyrants by order rehearsing  
Nabyn was one that had governance  
In macedoyne and was there crowned king  
Without title there falsely reigning  
And for his froward contagious cruelty  
He was behated of rome the city   

The romans sent a mighty consulere  
Titus flamynius of their wars guide  
To Macedoyne he 'gan to approach near  
Toward argoes where Nabyn did abide  
Of intent for to abate his pride  
But while Nabyn stood highest in estate  
Of grece his lieges with him were at debate   

A Duke I called Pilopomones  
With the people that dwelled in grece land  
To strive with nabyn put him silf in pres  
Disconfited him fighting hand of hand  
And at great mischief ye shall understand  
Alexamenes a knight of that country  
Slough this nabyn the chronicle ye may see    

Here Bochas rehearseth the mortal werrys between romans and Africans  

AFter this Nabyn bochas doth proceed  
To tell the wars and the mortal strives  
Tween romans and africans in deed  
Whereby full many lost there their lives  
Caused widows maydyns and eke wives  
To weep and weyle in such disjoint they stood  
On other party to see the loss of blood   

For the party of them of rome town  
Were made captains and divers officeers  
Which into afrique with people were sent down  
And specially there were two consuleers  
Notable in arms and famous in though years  
Marcus maulius borne of the roman line  
That other called Lucius censoryne   

With them was sent a tribune full notable  
Of whom tofore I made mention  
For the wars most worthy and most able  
I mean of rome proud Scipion  
Which of their cite was chevest champion  
Of intent the africans tanoye  
And specially Cartage to destroy   

And nigh by cartage there was a city strong  
Mightily builded and stood upon the se  
The wallys thick round square and long  
Chief diffence called of that country  
To save and keep them from adversity  
And forty cubits with creesties martial  
Like as I find of height was the wall   

And the front raised for the were  
Of stonies square was an high dungeon  
Called birsa fro which wonder far  
Men might behold the countries environ  
And as I read for their salvation  
The africans of purpose did ordain  
For their captains hastruballies twain   

The said dungeon mightily battled  
again call sauties to stand and endure  
But worthy scipion for all that hath not failed  
For to approach and do by busy cure  
With his engines mighty strong and sure  
So that by force this knight most martial  
A great quantity broke down of the wall   

And Lucius called Sensoryne  
departed is with marchus maulius  
And by the counsel of scipion and doctrine  
Both of assent in arms virtuous  
They took their weigh mine author telleth thus  
With hastruball soothly and they might  
Where as he lay that same day to fight   

These consulers assailed the city  
Called city and beat down the wall  
Slough forty thousand the chronicle ye may see  
Of affricanies by vengeance full mortal  
And their constable called Hastruball  
Was slain that day by him it is no doubt  
That he most trusted and next were him about   

And this while most manly of courage  
The worthy tribune Publius Scipion  
By very force is entered in cartage  
And six days as made is mention  
He and his knights constrained so the town  
That despaired with their deadly cheers  
They of the town yielded them prisoneris   

meekly requeringe unto Scipion  
To receive him in this mortal rage  
That men and women dwelling in that town  
With the citesyns young and old of age  
Might abide and live in servage  
Under the romans there was no better refute  
And year by year pay them a tribute   

And of affryk that other hastruball  
Which among them afore was crowned king  
Left his estate and his power royal  
Yielded him prisonere humbly kneeling  
And his wife most pitously weeping  
When that she saw her lord take so  
Run in to fire and brent her silf for woe   

Six and twenty thousand as I find  
Were led of women into captivity  
Thretty thousand of men came behind  
Take prisoners in great adversity  
And seventeen days brent that city  
That in their wallys was none so hard stone  
But in to powder it was brent anon   

And this was done briefly to conclude  
By the prowess of Publius Scipion  
Sold in servage was a great multitude  
Their old lords led fettered to prison  
This was of cartage final destruction  
To writ their complaints bochas abideth no while  
But in to grece turneth again his style    

How king perseus by romans outrayed and after take.  

IN Lacedomoyne remembering on a king  
Called perseus a full proud werroure  
Claiming a title upon him usurping  
For to succeed as true enheritoure  
To great alexander most mighty conqueror  
Fully affirming again a certain day  
He will be crowned maugre who saith nay   

And his name to put in memory  
Cast in his person to renew the prowess  
Of king alysaundre and to increase his glory  
To follow his traces in knighthood and nobles  
And first of all of hasty wilfulness  
That his conquest might spread far  
'Gan of purpose with Romans to have ● were   

But after this he was better advised  
When he perceived the martial apparyle  
Of the romans whereof he was agrysed  
Wax afeard their nobles to assail  
Which aye were found victorious in battle  
And where afore he had been reckless  
Scent ambassadors with them to treat of pes   

They had perceived his presumption  
And how he was proud and surquedous  
Scent a Consul with a great power down  
The name of whom was Sulpicius  
Which deadly hated the said perseus  
Through heartily rancour again him wax soleyne  
Of his ambasset having but disdain   

And their party for to fortify  
With the said Consul Sulpicius  
They sent another expert in chivalry  
A consul also paulus Emylius  
Among romans notable and famous  
And following after the silf same night  
The moan eclipsed fully of his might   

A clear tokne as made is mention  
That king ꝑseus should have a sharp shower  
And that his lordship and his region  
Should be oppressed void of all succour  
And that Macedonoys should have no favour  
again the romans to gedre when they met  
With round speries and swords sharp whet   

The day of battle to his increases of glory  
For the ꝑty of them of rome toun  
There was a knight that caused the victory  
young fresh and lusty that called was caton  
Which brought their enemies to confusion  
For Macedonoys through his great might  
Outrayed were and percius put to flight   

But Emylius the noble Consulere  
Scent a captain called Octavius  
To pursue after in coosties far and near  
The proud king the saide perseus  
And he was take for there was no rescus  
With his sons that were in timber twain  
Philip and alexander the story is certain   

My● author telleth here of kings many  
Thre●y in number the first Geramus  
Which have reigned within macedone  
And last of all was this perseus  
The number of years bochas writeth thus  
Was nine hundred as I remembered here  
Space of their reigning with four and twenty year   

After translated was the region  
With all their isles unto the obeisance  
Of them of rome without exception  
To great lords that were of most puissance  
Abode there long under governance  
Of perseus disconsolat of cheer  
During his life abode there prisoner    

how the people of Achaia with their chief city Corinthe by Romans was destroyed  

THus the lordship wearied out and spent  
Of Macedoyne as made is mention  
The two countries thereto adjacent  
That one Achaia a little region  
And spatanoys going environ  
Mighty of people and of great substance  
In one confederate and of one alliance   

They were conjoined and both made all one  
By a manner faithful convention  
And when the romans knew them for their fone  
Having their friendship in suspection  
They cast to make a disjunction  
between these lands in breed and eke in length  
For thing dissevered is menused of his strength   

Ordained cities and towns here and yonder  
Whereon the romans 'gan make a decree  
That their lordships should be set assonder  
Which made the people in every great city  
When they knew their subtilty  
To rise at once most cruel of their cheriss  
And would have slain the roman messangeries   

And finally by this occasion  
romans again them 'gan wax furious  
Took herdynes of their division  
And a consul called Mumus  
A manly knight in arms full famous  
Into Achaya was from rome sent  
It to destroy by great advisement   

They of Achaia by their negligence  
And by their froward wilful retchlessness  
Of very pride list make no diffence  
Thought them silf without adviseness  
Of power able and strenger in soothness  
Than were romans verily in deed  
Thus were they stroyed afore or they took heed   

They stood in hope in their sturdiness  
By that battle to have had great pillage  
Of the romans to have won full great richesse  
And for a pomp of wilful falls dotage  
They took their wives and women young of age  
And set them upon an high mounteyne  
That their manhood might in the field be say   

When the romans met them in battle  
They dispurveyed and out of ordinance  
Slain like beasts their power 'gan to fail  
Of froward pride and reckless governance  
●hat achaia was brought to mischance  
women and children for sorrow almost mad  
To live in servage were to rome lad   

Corinthe that time was their chief cite  
Destroyed by Romans and brought to ruin  
Which among cities in Bochas ye may see  
Above all other did in honour shine  
Of all sciences there flowered the doctrine  
And of crafts artificers most wise  
Rekne all the world there was chief merchandise   

Thus unwarly in their most noblesse  
sitting of fortune in the stage  
They were destroyed of treasure and richesse  
Brought to naught by slaughter and pillage  
Their walls broke in that cruel rage  
And in that brenning bochas saith the levene  
Reached a great part upward to the heaven   

Pleyne with the earth the wallys broke down  
The people slain merciless young and old  
And there was made a great division  
Sum led in servage and sum of them were sold  
Imagys of copir of silver and of gold  
Were suddenly in all that violence  
together molte so hot● was the fervence   

Of which metal thus after it is fall  
Gold silver copir meddled into one  
Copre of corynthe men did it call  
Through all the world of custom everyone  
Fame of which metal is so far go  
That the vessels forged of the same  
Corinthoise called is the name   

AFter Corinth was thus brent to naught  
A prince called Philip Philermene  
To john bochas hath his compleynt brought  
In whose face and cheer it was well seen  
The woeful constraint of his mortal tene  
And he was whilom bochas doth specefie  
Lord of a cite called vallaquie   

Marchu● actilius took him prisonere  
Brought him to rome list him not respite  
Next to Bochas with an heavy cheer  
appeared a knight called domocrite  
Of Etholis mine author doth so writ  
He was chief lord but he and his country  
translated were into rome the city   

This duke was cast and chained in prison  
escaped once in story as I find  
Take again throw in a dark dungeon  
There for sorrow went out of his mind  
Slough him silf at mischief again kind  
Loo how these princes proud and reckless  
Have shameful end which can not live in pes    

How great antiochus using riot and vicious living by Marchus actilius was outrayed and died suddenly  

tOuching the story murder hear following  
Of Selenchus and great antiochus  
Of his mother Leodices and the king  
With other toknes and signs marvelous  
And how also the same selenchus  
Had in his thigh as wretin is toforne  
print of an ankyr the day when he was borne   

And all the children by succession  
Had by descent borne of his lineage  
print of an ankyr as made is mention  
The fourth book with all the surplusage  
Of other toknes there told plain language  
Andrea of the saide fame Selenchus  
Came by discente the said antiochus   

whose heart was set of high covetise  
To follow his lusts and delectation  
And specially he cast 'gan and devise  
To win in grece divers regions  
And of the people he caught occasions  
By their favour to conquer their country  
And rebel again rome the city   

With multitude and great apparel  
He gate in grece castles and eke touns  
Longing to rome conquered by battle  
Took upon him in his presumptions  
Falsely to follow the inclinations  
Of his birth while he did abide  
In a city that called was Talcide   

For cause of sloth he left his chivalry  
Forsook mars and took him to capide  
Resting the winter he spent in lechery  
In wetch and riot chase venus to his guide  
Sensualite made reason stand aside  
And by these means for short conclusion  
He was conveyed to his destruction   

And when that winter with his frosties cold  
passed was and all his storms keen  
In riot spent and wasted as I told  
And veer came in with his new green  
And fresh flora which is of flowers queen  
Of custom gynneth her motles out dress  
In which ceson as auctors all express   

Kings princes with martial apparel  
Time when phoebus in the ram doth shine  
They them dispose to go out to battle  
For excercise of martial discipline  
And down from rome expert in that doctrine  
Descended is marchus actilius  
again this vicious proud antiochus   

This noble mark proved in arms weal  
Which in his time was so good a knight  
With all his host armed in bright steel  
again antiochus came to the field down right  
Upon a morrow when phoebus shone full bright  
Set his wardens by captains that he chose  
Upon a hill called termophiles   

Antiochus upon that other side  
Whom gluttony and riot did oppress  
And drunken bachus which with him did abide  
With morpheus wife of slombyr chief gods  
Which caused him through sloth and Idleness  
That providence out of his court was go  
Causing that day the slaughter of many one   

When the Consul marchus the worthy  
His adversaries proudly 'gan assail  
They unpurveyed took them to the flight  
Disareyed they might not avail  
Thus antiochus fled out of battle  
For again romans he might not endur  
Therefore on him fill the discomfiture   

Thus rebuked fled to Ephesie  
Far in Grece and there to devil he chose  
Scent to romans a great ambassatrye  
With the saide marchus for to treat of pe●  
But in this ambasset this very doubtless  
When they attained of Marchus the presence  
Were refused and had none audience   

Of which antiochus greatly was ashamyd  
Cast again rome of hate and enmity  
To raise a power and hath of new attamed  
To gather ships and make a great arm  
Gynne a were again them on the see  
Having an hope under a coward dread  
Better on the water than on the land to speed   

Made his ships be stuffed with victual  
And his captains hath the land forsake  
But when the romans of new 'gan him assail  
His ships brent and all his stuf was take  
And like mine author compendiously doth make  
these on the see the romans werraing  
He was outrayed the story witnessinge   

¶ Yet eft again to his confusion  
Upon the land he 'gan make him strong  
Met with cornelie called scipion  
With veins carts made for the were stornge  
Shod with hard iron sharp scythes set among  
In travers wise by great ordinance  
But for all that he was brought to mischance   

With Olifaunties and castles on the back  
That day was slain many a worthy knight  
Upon his host so cruel was the w●ak  
That he constrained took him to the flight  
Forsook the country fled out of men's sight  
To the romans he could it not delay  
Each year constrained a tribute for to pay   

But he of fraud because of his tribute  
For covetise feigned sore poverty  
gathered robbers and by false pursuit  
Oppressed merchants spoiled the country  
Rob temples of hateful cruelty  
And fro jupiter called dodavian  
Took all the relics the story tell can   

Did sacrilege and entered in that clos  
Without reverence or any observance  
For which the temple again him rose  
And as it is put in remembrance  
By the goddies there fill a great vengeance  
Upon this tyrant quaking in his dread  
All suddenly he fill to ground deed   

Lenuoye  

tHis tragedy of Antiochus  
Who list in order his froward story see  
First to all virtue he was contrarious  
And rebel ever to rome the cite  
justly accused of vicious things three  
Of pride sloth and of gluttony  
And of disordynat superfluite  
Of night excess riot and lechery   

On him the romans were victorious  
twice on the land once on the see  
He was not hardy but malicious  
In every battle his custom was to i'll  
There vices reign there may no grace be  
To all surfeits his lust he did apply  
Noised and disclandered throughout his country  
Of night excess riot and lechery   

Among his lyegis wooed and despitous  
And for a coward know in the field was he  
The poor to oppress a wolf most furious  
And by deceit a fox for subtylite  
Noman more froward of high not low degree  
Nor more delitinge in falsehood nor flattery  
What was his end a sudden death pard  
For his outrages of pride and lechery   

Noble princes of prudence full famous  
In all your greatest royal majesty  
Remember plainly if ye be virtuous  
You shall prsevere in long prosperity  
Where the contrary causeth adversity  
As this story afore doth specify  
Of antiochus cast from his dignity  
For his great pride riot and lechery     

How jeronimus king of Ciracuse was slain/ ● how Scipio african that laboured for common weal of romans was exiled by them & so died  

AFter the death of this antiochus  
There came a prince to bochas complaining  
Which that was called jeronimus  
Of Cyracuse whilom lord and king  
Which of his liegis he nothing trespassing  
Slain was with his three sisters dear  
Of hatred mine author writeth here   

Cyracusanis had a condition  
Through changes new aye to be unstable  
Of wilful malice void of all reason  
On their kings for to be vengeable  
They loved not to have them perdurable  
But every year of custom this is true  
Them to govern to have a prince new   

And for their changes and their uncouth strives  
With variance of their conditions  
Because no fruit is found in their lives  
Nor in their stories nor in their successions  
I will pass over and speak of Scipions  
And first to writ of the worthy man  
Called in his time scipio african   

A famous knight in all nations  
For his conquest shortly to conclude  
Which had brought full many regions  
Moore by wisdom than by multitude  
To obey the romans but for ingratitude  
Which that he fond in them as I read  
How he wrought to tell I will proceed   

It is remembered of his worthiness  
While that he was flowering in young age  
How room was made lady and mistress  
Of many a land to their advantage  
And specially all afrique and Cartage  
By his prowess as made is mention  
Were brought of Romans under subjection   

But they agen●warde were to him unkind  
By accusations found out by their falseness  
saide again him as it is put in mind  
By record of many falls witnessis  
That he should have besiled the richessis  
Of Cartage and affryk the country  
Which appertained to rome the city   

But ageynwarde this noble african  
Proudly gave answer to his accusers  
He never withheld fro time that he began  
Toward him silf noport of their treasures  
Save as the manner is of conquerors  
For to conserve his worship and his name  
Almost was profit to the touns fame   

This is to mean plainly and not tarry  
He never accustomed treasure near nor far  
Toward him silf but that was necessary  
For their worship to maintain with their were  
And yet that time he was their lodesterie  
To increase their bounds and fully his delight  
Was all hole set to the common profit   

He took none heed of all the surplusage  
Of their treasures nor their great richesse  
The name reserved of afrique and cartage  
To his knighthood and his high noblesse  
But their malicious expert unkindness  
Was in cause briefly to compile  
His body fro them perpetually to exile   

Cast him never within rome town  
After that day among them to be sayn  
Unkindness gave him occasion  
To absent his person and of high disdain  
To exile him silf and never to cumme again  
But for tabyde in a small village  
called Lynterne when he was fall in age   

And for men should mind upon him have  
By a manner of indignation  
An Epitaphre he set upon his grave  
Which said thus to them of rome town  
O people unkind unkind again reason  
My funeral ashes nor my bones deed  
In thy wallys thou shalt never possede   

In thine unkind froward teritorye  
My bonies shall not rest nor abide  
But thine unkindness to put in memory  
To remembrance shallbe read full wide  
Of these letters grave on every side  
By report only of this small scripture  
Which here is set upon my sepulture   

Lo here the cause by brief description  
Set on my grave for a memorial  
Why that my bonies out of rome town  
Be buried here low under this wall  
In exil hold my feast funeral  
unkindness me drove out of that city  
That wrought so much for the comonte    

how Scipio Asian lord of Asye that laboured ever for the common weal was murdered  

AFter the end of this african  
Called in his time worthy scipion  
Came next his brother Scipio Asyan  
Which in asia had domination  
Gain whom was made an accusation  
To all the senate that untruly should  
Certain treasures toward him silf withhold   

Which that he in asie had won  
In his conquest by many strong battle  
Which accusation falsely was begun  
Of old envy causeless this no fail  
Whoos worthiness full much did avail  
To common profit by these two conquerors  
By great richesses encresinge their treasures   

The tone in afrique as ye have heard me tell  
By his wisdom and his chivalry  
That other in asia which did excel  
In high prowess as books specefye  
Falsely hindered of hatred and envy  
By compassing of one antiochus  
Him to destroy he was so desirous   

not withstanding these twain scipions  
Had in their time by manifold battles  
Brought into rome so many ragions  
To obey their cite with martial apparayles  
And evermore to their great avails  
Brought in treasures to encrere with their town  
Yet have they wrought to their destruction   

The tone in exile as made is mention  
Died alas when that he was old  
The second was murdered in prison  
Their both stories remembered here and told  
To give example to princes many fold  
That who that laboureth for a comonte  
Lesith often his thank by scipions ye may see    

How the duke philopomones was take put in prison after drank poison and so died.  

AFter the process of these two scipions  
Tween two people's wilful and reckless  
Begun in grece new dissensions  
Tween Acheois and Etholois doubtless  
And a great duke Philopomones  
A prince that time of full great puissance  
Had of Messoneiss holy the governance   

This said prince philopomones  
L●dynge his host upon afull fair plain  
As he road armed and put him silf in press  
Mid his people as governor and warden  
Folk out of rule for to call again  
Upon his stead as he 'gan them fet  
In due order his wards for to set   

And these princes of port most martial  
In the pursuit which that he 'gan make  
Among his enemies he had a sudden fall  
Void of all rescus unwarely he was take  
Of all his friends like a man forsake  
Among his enemies brought into prison  
There made an end by drinking of poison   

Of philopomones this was the fatal cas  
Out of governance his people desolate  
Except a captain called ligorias  
Which in the wars was wonder fortunate  
Of acheoys took on him thestate  
them to govern and the people lead  
Of him no more in bochas I do read    

Of the thread Scipion Nasica that ever wrought much for the commonty.  

mine author here maketh a digression  
And rehearseth for a memorial  
Of the thread worthy scipion  
Called nasica which in especial  
By disposition very natural  
Hold among romans by report of language  
Passing all other in wisdom and courage   

Old of discretion and not but young of yeries  
For a miracle mine author doth express  
When senators sent messangeries  
In to frigia by great avysnesse  
For Berosynthya most famous goddess  
When she was brought by them that did her guide  
In house nor temple she would not abide   

Save in the palace of this scipion  
To put his name more in remembrance  
The which also thorough his high renown  
Gallobois he brought to utterance  
A people of grece far out of governance  
But Scipion 'gan them so warray  
Maugre their malice the romans for t'obey   

Whereby his name was put in memory  
And full great thank he hath in rome deserved  
Because only of his great victory  
For which the triumph was to him reserved  
But at last bookful falsely he was served  
Of the romans after their old manner  
In this tragedy anon as ye shall here   

After he had augmented their treasures  
conquered in asia many regions  
Caused of their fone that they were victors  
appeased of Graccus the false accasions  
Compassed of malice by new dissension  
atween the people and also the senate  
He of high wisdom hath stint all that debate   

Trusting the romans scipion was beguiled  
Lost their favour and offended naught  
By them unwarly banished and exiled  
Clean forgotyn put out of their thought  
For common profit all that he hath wrought  
The guyrdon lost though princes can not see  
Of all that done for any comonte   

Like a blaze for a while light  
Which showeth clear and is never after say  
Or like a son for a maument bright  
Vnwarly shrouded with a shroud of rein  
Right so the windy favour bloweth in vain  
May resemble for a mutability  
Of them that do for any comonte   

The people followeth their own opinions  
In their conceitis they be so wondirfull  
Will hold the bridal of their discretions  
Their hasty deeming so bestial is and dull  
Of blind bayard they brayed at a pull  
To quite the guerdouns of martial bounty  
Of them that done for any comonte   

This day a prince stand in the peplis grace  
Like as they would his name deify  
Above the stars in jupiters' place  
With mars and phoebus his name to stellefie  
But by to morrow there cometh a sudden sky  
Showing there is a full faint surety  
Of them that do for any comonte   

And for tafferme that is truly so  
Call three Scipions to remembrance  
first of affryk and asia both two  
Note in chronicles their knightly governance  
Their restless labours romans for tavaunce  
Rekne ageynwarde how these princes three  
Were full ungodly quit by the comonte   

Lenuoye  

THis tragedy of three Scipions  
So worthy in knighthood and eke notable  
Made so many famous regions  
Subiet to rome this story is no fable  
Where the the romans double and deceivable  
showed ageynwarde to these princes three  
The thank lost and guyrdon covenable  
Of him that doth for any comonte   

Rekne up in afrique the cities and the touns  
great Car●●ge with castles defensable  
Rekne in as●● the great possessions  
With revenuys very Innumerable  
Rekne their triumphs of price incomparable  
Which considered ye may a mirror see  
How the guyrdouns befalls and flaskysable  
Of them that do for any comonte   

They were whilom the roman champions  
Of senators to set the honour stable  
To avoid discord and all dissensions  
atween the commons and states honourable  
But she that is of custom aye changeable  
Fortune in whom may be no surety  
showeth in her wheel the guyrdons mutable  
Of them that done for any comonte   

Noble princes poise in your reasons  
All worldly thing in earth is transmutable  
faint and unsure your dominations  
charity is there none to make them perdurable  
Sorrow at departing your bodies corumpable  
A thing rassembling that never had be  
Record on Scipions by guerdons rassemblable  
Of them that done for any comonte   

Trust never in your opinions  
But that your power is each day removable  
Be not made blind in your discretions  
But consider by examples reasonable  
They of fortune like hazard retournable  
With sudden change of false felicity  
Unto the guerdons daily comparable  
Of them that done for any comonte     

How duke Hanyball after many victorious deeds murdered him silf with poison.  

NExt to Bochas as I read  
Out of affryk and cartage therewithal  
There came a duke that had most hatred  
again the romans in especial  
This famous prince called hannibal  
By whose prowess as it is well know  
The said romans were daunted and brought low   

And among other worthy dukes all  
As old chronicles maketh mention  
Of hannibal the fate is so befall  
At his birth by disposition  
That of his natural constellation  
Set in the heaven that he should be  
Perpetually enemy to rome the cite   

As the story of him doth devise  
While his father duke whilom of cartage  
Called amulchar did once sacrifice  
To his goddies and he nine year of age  
Sworn and avowed of heart and of courage  
During his life without exception  
Ever to be enemy unto rome toun   

This martis child this lusty young knight  
Was to cartage the strong mighty wall  
Which succeeded in his faders right  
After the death of worthy hastruball  
First he made a were full mortal  
Geyn Saguntynois as it is specefyed  
Cause with romans that they were allied   

A dream he had and was thus in sentence  
That he should conquer in battle  
Maugre all though that stand at diffence  
Two mighty countries first spain and than Itayle  
Down descending with great apparel  
Passing the famous river Iberyus  
And where he road away victorious   

With him of affryk many cheveteyns  
Road through Gaul fond no resistance  
Of Pyrenes by the high mounteyns  
To show the rigour of his magnificence  
Over the alpies by sturdy violence  
Natwithstanding the passage was full wykke  
Of sliding frosties and of snowies thykke   

A great party of his people lost  
By the constraint of that fell passage  
Horse Olifaunties that many besaunt cost  
Fond great● daungere of them in his carriage  
Assault of brygauntes when they fond advantage  
And as bochas put in remembrance  
Felt great loss of all his ordinance   

The alpyes passed with travail and great woe  
This hannibal with all his chivalry  
approached is the river of the poo  
Came to a town that called is Cursye  
Which standeth upon the cite of pauye  
Where a consul called scipion  
Gave him battle even afore the town   

The same consul Gueus Scipion  
Which by process of manly hannibal  
Was desconfyted as made is mention  
Tofore pauye had a right foul fall  
The first victory in especial  
That he had beyond the mountains  
When he pursued tasseyle the romans   

Sempronyus another consulere  
That was fellow to said Scipion  
Scent eke fro rome with a full proud cheer  
Geyn hannibal but in his coming down  
Tofore Tresbye a large mighty town  
Outrayed was by fatal adventure  
And after never his fall might recure   

Of two consulers this was the woeful fine  
Sempronyus and Gueus Scipion  
Over the mountain called Appenyne  
Went hannibal through his great renown  
To great damage and great confusion  
Of his people that passed the mounteyns  
Destroyed with cold snow and hideous reins   

Lost his knights his treasures and his gods  
There might as tho be made no diffence  
His great steeds drowned in the floods  
By the waters mighty violence  
Fond for the time no better resistance  
Save he escaped fro that sudden wreck  
Of an Olifaunte he riding on the back   

So Importable was his grievous pain  
Only borne up of martial courage  
Yet there he lost one of his iyens twain  
Kept of knighthood one cheer and one visage  
Through italy held alway his passage  
Slough a consul called flamynyus  
Thus in three battles he was victorious   

But in this while as saith mine author  
Quintus fabius subtle and deceivable  
Which was in rome a famous dictator  
And he apperceived by toknes full notable  
No roman capteyn was in though days able  
As it was showed by experience  
Geyn hannibal to make resistance   

¶ Yet in his conceit he subtilely begin search  
To find away he did his busy pain  
Day by day 'gan fully thereon werche  
either by fraud or sum compassed train  
To lie in wait and secretly ordain  
Embusshmentis to his avauntages  
Of hannibal to stop the passages   

But all his trains served him of naught  
For hannibal this worthy african  
In his conquest so proudly hath wrought  
So like a prince and a knightly man  
For thilk time that he werrys 'gan  
again the romans both on so and land  
That they were feeble his power to withstand   

This quintus fabius kept him alway close  
lying await to fall on hannibal  
And of assent eke to his purpose  
There was one varo manly and wise withal  
And these twain in especial  
Within Poyle a large great country  
fought with hannibal at Cannas the cite   

As the story maketh rehearsal  
The roman party of worthy werreours  
Were forty thousand slain in battle  
Emylyus paulus thretty senators  
Twenty in number that had been pretours  
And three hundred captains of estate  
Slain by hannibal in that mortal debate   

And by the slaughter of Emilius  
The noble consul romans disespeired  
And hanyball that day victorious  
To his lodging is again repaired  
His soon outrayed and mortally appaired  
knew no refute again this manly knight  
But at mischief took them to the flight   

The which day if that hannibal  
Had them followed proudly to the town  
By the counsel of one marthaball  
A manly knight a prince of high renown  
He should have had full possession  
That day of rome like to his intent  
But I suppose fortune list not assent   

In this process plainly as I read  
This hannibal wax proud and right pompous  
Of four victories dempt him silf in deed  
Above all other to be most glorious  
Of his courage most inly surquedous  
But oh alas a little sloth and pride  
For lak of pursuit his conquest set aside   

¶ Yet in his conquest of knights that lay deed  
Of consulers old and young of age  
With senators the process who list read  
Slain in the field in that mortal rage  
Duke hannibal sent unto cartage  
Of clean gold by record of writings  
Out of the field three bushel full of rings   

After four victories here remembered  
By and by the process who list see  
In which many worthy were dismembered  
Both of affryk and rome the cite  
Abate 'gan the great prosperity  
Of hannibal by froward adventure  
Set once back fortune hard to recure   

After the flowers of his felicity  
His noblesse drew to declination  
To Capne he went a mighty strong cite  
There to sojourn as made is mention  
All the time of winter cold ceson  
Where to his lust and bodily pleasance  
Of all victual fond great abundance   

Which made his knights slow to the were  
For wine women and plenty of victual  
Full often sith 'cause men to err  
Make them feeble their enemies tassaile  
Gorges agroteied enbosed their entrayle  
Desposeth men rather to rest and sleep  
Than of their enemies for to take keep   

But when winter with his frosties cold  
Was overgone in thilk region  
Hanyball 'gan his purpose hold  
To lay a siege unto rome loun  
But so great rains fill fro heaven down  
So great tempest upon every side  
For the constraint he might not abide   

To fortify the saide hannibal  
again his enemies where he had ado  
Scent letters unto hastruball  
In right great haste for to cumme him to  
But fortune her wheel hath turned so  
That hastruball where he was loath or fain  
By Salynator venquesshed was and slain   

Of which mischief and discomfiture  
Hanyball 'gan dull in his courage  
complained sore of his misadventure  
knew no refute again this mortal rage  
Heard eke say that afrique and cartage  
Were of new to his confusion  
Strongly werreyed by worthy Scipion   

Syphax also of munedye king  
Which again romans 'gan a were make  
Maugre his might and all his fell werkinge  
Was by force of Scipion Itake  
Wherthrugh his courage greatly 'gan aslake  
And how cartage chief of that region  
besieged was also by Scipion   

Thus hanyball constrained was of need  
Home to repair for rescus of ●artage  
And was also in books as I read  
The same time fall far in age  
And at mischief and great disadvantage  
again Scipion full little might avail  
By whom he was sconfyted in battle   

Cartage constrained of necessity  
Them to submit unto rome town  
And for their more hard adversity  
Gueus gernilius was fro rome sent down  
Only of purpose for this conclusion  
For to procure in especial  
Final destructioy and death of hannibal   

After all his martial labours  
His old felicity wax froward and unmeet  
In hollow images put all his treasures  
Took his passage in to the land of crete  
And fortune contrary and unsweet  
Made officers keep his richesses  
In the temple of dy●●e the goddess   

Sunwhat for trust and p●ell eke for dread  
To find succour he went to the king  
Of Bythenye to help him in his need  
Called Prusias but of his coming  
The sleighty romans had knowledging  
To bethenye down their letters sent  
If Hanyball escape echon ye shall repent   

The letters read the king the same day  
Made his people bysiege the dungeon  
Where duke hannibal of trust alone ●ay  
All destitute when he knew this treason  
●●scape his enemies drank wilfully poison  
Chase rather so other escape was noon  
Than in the hands to fall of his soon   

Tofore his death saide this orison  
To all the goddies devoutly down knelinge  
That they would of this falls treason  
Take vengeance of prusias the king  
Which was cause by his falls werkinge  
Of the destruction and death final  
Of this famous worthy hannibal   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy froward to writ or read  
Of this forseide manly hannibal  
My pen quoke my heart I felt bleed  
For to behold the woeful piteous fall  
Of him that was the diffensable wall  
Of Cartage the mighty strong town  
Which slough him silf by drinking of poison   

It was to him he thought more manhood  
To slay him silf by vengeance most mortal  
Than his enemies by constraint should him lead  
In chains bound he to be thrall  
So great despite he had of them atall  
That liver he had than bide in their prison  
To enter him silf by drinking of poison   

As me seemeth in this horrible deed  
He rassembled the furies infernal  
Of cruel pluta I trow he took his meed  
Void of all reason became bestial  
At whose terrible fist funeral  
Goddess proserpyna came with manes down  
The same time when he drank poison   

Noble princes consider and take heed  
leaving the surplus his dedys' martial  
Knightly remember and have in heart hatred  
Of his enpoysoning in especial  
Abominable to god and man withal  
That a prince so famous of renown  
Should murder him silf by drinking of poison     

How Prusias king of bethenye betrayed Hanyball and would have disherited his son and heir went abegging in strange lands.  

Following in order there came to Bochas  
Of Bethenye the great mighty king  
Which in his time was called prusias  
Greatly slandered & noised of one thing  
That he was false and double in werkinge  
again the noblesse of his estate royal  
Because that he betraisshed hannibal   

This diffaute darked the brightness  
Of his fame and his knightly renown  
And eclipsid his passed old prowess  
By report in many a region  
Alas that ever the condition  
Of doubleness by falseness or feigning  
Should be found and namely in a king   

Of this prusias ferther to proceed  
Which geyn hannibal wrought this treason  
Asonne he had called Nichomede  
Born to be heir by just succession  
But his father by false collusion  
purposed him for he was young of age  
To put him out of his heritage   

In this matter there grew up a great strife  
By prusias geyn this Nycomede  
'Cause that he by his soconde wife  
Had ayonge son in books thus I read  
Whom he purposed to prefer in deed  
For which he cast by short conclusion  
Of Nychomede the destruction   

And fort acomplissh this froward falls matter  
By full great deliberation  
King prusias 'gan show heavy cheer  
Geyne nychomede seeking occasion  
To deprive him of possession  
After this day by subtle falls working  
In bethenye he shall not regne as king   

The people saying this great iniquity  
Wrought by the king geyne good conscience  
Through all the land of high and low degree  
To nychomede all of one sentence  
Gave their good will and their benevolence  
For every lord and every great baron  
Stood hole with him through all the region   

Thus by just title he was crowned king  
Prusias for shame and heaviness  
In strange countries lived by begging  
All dissolate cried for alms  
Loo here the end of treason and falseness  
Left at mischief mine author saith the same  
Of poverty forsook his own name   

See here two things and take right god heed  
Of prusias the unware sudden mischance  
The disheriting done to nychomede  
After following on him the great vengeance  
As the story put in remembrance  
For treason done odyble and mortal  
again the foresaid famous hannibal    

How Persa of macedoyne king that enpoisoned his brother was by Emylyus outrayed and died in prison.  

BEspreynt with teries pitously weeping  
As Bochas sat in his study alone  
Next came Persa of Macedoyne king  
And mortally he 'gan sigh and groan  
And furiously for to make his moan  
That he whilom was of so great renown  
Constrained after to die in prison   

This saide Persa of nature was froward  
Evil disposed eke of his condition  
Though he of birth was but a bastard  
He compassed by false collusion  
After his father to have possession  
As mine author remembreth by writing  
Of macedoyn to be crowned king   

His father philip the story telleth thus  
Had a son which was young of age  
Wis and ready called demetrius  
Borne and beget truly in marriage  
But Persa cast by furious outrage  
Him to destroy and murder by poison  
He of that kingdom to have possession   

Falsely compassed to his advantage  
In his intent demetrius to deprive  
Of macedoyne which was his heritage  
And thereupon he letters 'gan contrive  
To prove him traitor while he was alive  
Whereof king philip greatly was annoyed  
That he and persa should be destroyed   

By demetrius that thought no damage  
Meant no harm in his opinion  
Yet his father suspicious of courage  
And Persa gave him false information  
Made him be slain by drinking of poison  
Upon a day a thing abominable  
sitting at meet at his father's table   

King philip after when he knew the troth  
Had of his death great compassion  
But all to late and that was great routh  
Which caused after his own destruction  
For sorrow died and of presumption  
Persa after falsely usurping  
In macedoyne was crowned king   

With diverse countries made his alliance  
In grece and trace gate friends near and far  
And of pride and wilful governance  
Cast with romans for to hold were  
Vngrace and youth made him for to err  
Till a consul sent fro rome toun  
Brought this persa unto destruction   

Called Emelius was this consulere  
Scent again Persa to have a great battle  
saying his daughter heavy of her cheer  
When he went out his enemies to assail  
Made unto her this uncouth apposayle  
Why weep ye so what thing doth you aggrieve  
At my departing taking of me leave   

Father quoth she and ye take heed  
A whelp I had that did great pleasance  
Cylled persa the which rightnowe is deed  
And this chief cause only of my grievance  
Her father than 'gan change countenance  
This as tokne to mine increases of glory  
That I of ꝑsa shall have the victory   

〈◊〉 macedoyne he and persa met  
And quyt him there like a manly knight  
Conquer●th the land none might him withset  
And manly put persa to the flight  
After to trace he took the way right  
Of which conquest short process to make  
With his two sons ꝑsa was there take   

●milius after this victory  
Ask●th the triumph to his guerdoun  
And as it is remembered in his story  
Persa followeth after his char through rome toun  
Condemned after to die in prison  
The which death he did well deserve  
For he by poison made his brother starve   

Thus can fortune early and eke late  
Down from her wheel and high stage  
Of proud princes the surquedy abate  
When to her lust she seth most advantage  
She frowardly can turn her visage  
And suddenly thestate of them consume  
Above their office that wrongly list presume   

amongs which a king of Israel  
again the precept and law of moyses  
Called Ozias the bible can well tell  
Of presumption wilful and reckless  
To sacrifice put him silf in pres  
Like a bishop in the temple arrayed  
But or he passed greatly he was afraid   

Lost his speech smit with meselrye  
During his life loo here a great vengeance  
Of his crown and his regal  
Impotent to use the governance  
peril for pride and disobeisance  
For list not meekly the law obey  
For which at mischief he did a leper die    

How Amonyus a Prince of antyoch delighting in pillage and robbrye/ with other vicious living/ fled in woman's clothing/ after take and slain.  

NExt in order complaining his distress  
Came Amonyus a notable warrior  
To john bochas to show his heaviness  
In antioch prince and governor  
Of which country while he was possessor  
Had a custom and this was his travail  
To rob the rich and spoil the porail   

Spared neither old nor young of age  
Took fro merchants treasure and richesse  
And in delights of lecherous outrages  
Was all his lust with watch and drunkenness  
Will in his court of reason was mistress  
Cgusinge the people through all the region  
To rise again him by rebellion   

Contrary he was to all good discipline  
The people arose again him on a day  
And he for fere in habit femenyne  
Like a wretch fled cowardly away  
Take at mischief there was made no delay  
Falsely confessing hiring many a man  
again nature that he was a woman   

The troth know and the slander ryf  
All of assent the people antiochene  
Rose atonce and so he lost his life  
They were so wood again him in their tene  
Thus of fortune the change is always seen  
From better to were she can so well transmue  
Thestate of them that will no virtue sue    

How Andriscus of low birth borne having no title of macedoyne king▪ was take and died in prison  

But of one thing fortune is to blame  
That she is so changeable of courage  
To set a boy vnknowe of birth and fame  
By false error upon a royal stage  
For one Andriscus by surquedous outrage  
Without title by subtle compassing  
Of macedoyne took on him to be king   

Colour was none his claim to make stable  
Except that he of cheer and of visage  
Was to king philip of features most semblable  
Whereby the people in their furious rage  
Caught opinion of wilful falls dotage  
again reason bochas doth describe  
That king philip was resyn fro death to live   

Whilom father of persa as I told  
And for andriscus brought up in wretchedness  
In presence both of young and old  
Was bold to cleyme by title of rightwiseness  
Showing no ground but personal likeness  
Mocking the people which by their favour  
Of royal dignity receiveth the honour   

Thus he that was fostered as a wretch  
In misery and eke in poverty  
From poor bed his horns did up stretch  
To hold a sceptre of kingly dignity  
And by the support of the comonte  
And 'gan wax pompous and clate  
Brought up of naught when he stood in estate   

No thing more cruel nor nothing more vengeable  
Nor more hasty to do execution  
Nor more deynous nor more untretable  
Than when a beggar hath domination  
A cur more froward than a strong lion  
And semblably none so great cruelty  
As when a wretch is set in dignity   

This andriscus in his royal chair  
To execute his hateful cruelty  
gathered people in countries far and near  
In macedoyne and of old enmity  
Begun malign gain rome the ci●e  
But to withset his froward falls intent  
One Inuencius a praetor was down sent   

But by cause that he was negligent  
And of despite took of him none heed  
He was outrayed and by andriscus shent  
With all the people that he did lead  
But the romans of hope better to speed  
Have sent Metellus a full manly knight  
To macedoyne to meet anon right   

This worthy man list not long to tarry  
Set proudly on in hope it should avail  
Made macedoyne to rome tributary  
Took and riscus manly in battle  
Brought him to rome with mighty apparel  
And made him lie fettered in prison  
For his outrageous false presumption   

Thus for his froward usurpation  
That was haute in his prosperity  
knew not him silf by false abusion  
Blent with a mist of blind felicity  
List not remember of his first poverty  
Whom to chastise fortune brought him low  
Because he listnat him silf for to know    

How alexander ballast king of surrie for extortion pride & unkindness died at mischief.  

THus can this lady play her pageant  
By a manner of deynous mockery  
Her entermies forth serve them of intent  
To folk that trust her only of folly  
And to purpose whilom of surrie  
There was a king like as writ bochas  
Called alexander whose surname was ballast   

Of which ballast to tell the process  
First of his rising and after of his fall  
Antiochus the story beareth witness  
Called Eupater which in especial  
claimed title to th'estate royal  
After his father named antiochus  
Epiphanes the story telleth thus   

After whose death the kingdom of surrie  
Should long by succession  
〈◊〉 E●pater and eke for his party  
Demetrius hostage in rome toun  
Cleymed a title in that region  
Of surrie by cause epiphanes  
Was brought to him the story is no less   

Demetrius fro rome is come down  
In to surrie to claim his heritage  
received the crown took possession  
'Gan we● proud presumptuous of courage  
Thus Eupater was but young of age  
Excluded was in surrie to succeed  
Of demetrius ferther thus I read   

Outraious he was above measure  
Right vengeable and full of cruelty  
Hateful also to every creature  
And heavy borne of worthy kings three  
First in egypt of worthy Tholome  
And of actilius in asye though regning  
And monarches in capedoce king   

All of assent again him have conspired  
Fond away demetrius to deprive  
His undoing so sore they have desired  
And their intent to execute blyze  
T●●y 'gan a fable of purpose to contrive  
As ye shall here together as they went  
To which all Surre atonies did assent   

They took a galaunt borne of low lineage  
Called Ballast of their aqueyntaunce  
And affirmed all of one courage  
How he was son and just he●e in substance  
To Epiphanes and next heir in alliance  
To ●uc●ede by toknes affirming  
〈◊〉 in Surrye to be crowned king   

alexander of purpose they him call  
Because they thought of person he was able  
●et him up in his royal stall  
Maugre Demetrius cruel and vengeable  
And fortune was to them favourable  
Made their purpose finally to avail  
With whom demetrius had a great battle   

This alexander which named was ballast  
By Demetrius as put is in memory  
First overcome and after fill this cas  
He of demetrius had the victory  
And to encres of his royal glory  
Of fortune by sudden adventure  
Ballus the field did of him recure   

Thus by promotion of these kings three  
When he was crowned king of all Surrye  
To falls extortion and hateful cruelty  
This alexander did his wits apply  
To robbing pillage and eke tyranny  
And despised shortly to conclude  
The saide kings of Ingratitude   

He had forget his state of poverty  
knew not him silf of false ambition  
wedded the daughter of worthy tholome  
Called Cleopatra as made is mention  
And all his labour in conclusion  
Was only this in bochas as I read  
All the kingdom about him to possede   

Who all coveteth sometime all doth lose  
One again all seld hath sovereignty  
And for Ballast frowardly 'gan cheese  
To hold were with king tholome  
And with the foresaid worthy kings three  
All of assent have such ways sought  
That by their working he was brought to naught   

First tholome fro him took his wife  
Cleopatra and took her in marriage  
To one demetrye causing full great strife  
For he that time was but young of age  
But ballast after by full great outrage  
With all his power gathered nigh and far  
Geyne demetrye 'gan to hold were   

Togedre met proudly in battle  
Ballast constrained cowardly to i'll  
And when he saw his power did fail  
In arabye a mighty strong country  
zabydus a prince of great poustye  
Took him by force quaking in his dread  
To king tholome sent anon his heed   

Men may two things consider in this cas  
Pride punished and unkindness  
And presumption in this man ballast  
Without title or cleyme of rightwiseness  
Made king of surry set in great worthiness  
What was his end ye get no more of me  
His heed smit of and sent to tholome   

Lenuoye  

tHis tragedy doth naturally complain  
Upon this vice called unkindness  
Which to punissh is torment none ne pain  
Rigour condygne flagell nor duresse  
Emprisoning nor none earthly distress  
That may suffice briefly to conclude  
again the vice of ingratitude   

All creatures on this vice complain  
Law nature decres rightwiseness  
This monster in kind doth the light disteyne  
Of every virtue dyrketh the brightness  
alexander can bear hereof witness  
Which to his furthrers he of his tetchiss rude  
showed ageynwarde great ingratude   

Of herberus thinfernal treble chain  
Nor of tantalus hunger nor thrustnesse  
Of Ixion or Ticius both twain  
Rekne the tourment remember the sharpness  
All to little to chastise or redress  
The hateful vice of them that can delude  
Their friends old by false ingratitude   

Noble princes which in your demeyne  
Have governance of all worldly richesse  
Geyn folk unkind look that ye disdain  
Suffer them not have none interest  
For taproche to your high noblesse  
For there is no vice more hateful to conclude  
Than is the vice of ingratitude     

Here bochas writeth of the Rebellions/ and seditions in Rome between Tribunys & Commons.  

Following mine auctor in stories marvelous  
I must now write the strong rebellions  
Of Gaius first and of Tiberius  
And of the great hateful seditions  
moved in rome between tribunies and commons  
And by their strives how they 'gan conspire  
For tatteyne falsely to the Eempyre   

The year six hundred by computation  
Geyns' graccus made tribune in that age  
After the cities first foundation  
Which turned after to full great damage  
Of common profit for by their mortal rage  
tumult and noise of commons in the town  
Caused a great part of their destruction   

For in departing of chaumpayne heritage's  
Atwene the worthy and poor of the cite  
By equal portions graccus with fayrelangage  
Haddit greatly moved all their comonte  
By which occasion in story men may see  
Another graccus called the second  
Was slain in rome and low laid in ground   

After this death of Graccus as I read  
Was chosen a tribune called Munycyus  
Which fordid the laws all in deed  
Of old graccus called Gayus  
But he that was named Tiberius  
With help of flaccus Tribunys of estate  
In the capytoyle began a great debate   

They were supported by the comonte  
Be voice of people the word of noman know  
For Graccus party high upon a tree  
A trumpet stood and proudly 'gan to blow  
Which slain was and fro the tree down throw  
By which slaughter the book maketh rehearsal  
Flaccus wax feeble his party 'gan to fail   

For dread he fled into the teritorye  
Of janus temple ran up to a tour  
When Tiberius as put is in memory  
Saw in the city he had no favour  
Despeyred knew no better succour  
Sword set at breast presence of myverue  
Fully purposed afore her for to stern   

There stood one by and drew his hand abak  
From that purpose made him to decline  
Thus graccus party goth day by day to wreck  
And Flaccus took the temple of Lucyne  
His son his friends almost all his line  
They kept them strong but maugre their diffence  
They were there slain by sturdy violence   

While Graccus friends fought for his party  
And he him silf constrained was of dread  
To pray a boy of his company  
To take a sword and smite of his heed  
Set on a spear with the blood made red  
Scent it his mother complaining in her tene  
In to her castle that called was missene   

Named Cornelya his mother was in deed  
Whilom daughter to great Scipion  
Her children all slain as I read  
And graccus gods acheted to the town  
Thereof after made a division  
By judgement throughout the city  
Where most was need among the comonte   

Of graccus side five hundred slain and twain  
Upon an hill called a●entyne  
And Oppynyus a consul did his pain  
Of their conspiring the ground to search and mine  
And flaccus party to bring to ruin  
He slough two thousand by hasty judgement  
Among which was many an Innocent    

How the wife of hastruball brent her silf and her children.  

HEre john bochas list in especial  
●o remember how cartage new again  
Destroyed was and how has●●uball  
Came to mischief the troth was well sayne  
〈◊〉 to rehearse of new it were but vain  
●ith here tofore is made clear mention  
Loath of their brenning and their destruction   

Sa●e here he tell●th how hastrubals wife  
●●ly t'eschew to live in servage  
Cha●e with her children for to lose her life  
And wilfully of furious courage  
She and her sons tender and young of age  
Among the flame and the coals read  
Consumed was into ashes deed   

Nido the first that bylte that city  
And made towers and the strong wall  
Which was betrasshed also of Enee  
Afore remembered the fires funeral  
And after long the wife of hastruball  
Chafe rather die with her children twain  
Than among romans for to live in pain    

Of Machabeus joathas take by the king of Surrie  

IN order suing unto john Bochas  
There appeared an heavy man of sight  
Machabeus the worthy joathas  
Which occupied for wisdom and for might  
Office of prince priesthood and of knight  
By title of juda of werrys took thempryse  
By claim of levy as priest did sacrifyse   

The law of jews manly to defend  
With all the land of promission  
This joathas full knightly did intend  
again all enemies about them environ  
Till of surrie the false king triphon  
By treynes compassed and promise falslyholde  
Took joathas of whom rightnowe I told   

Machabeorum is rehearsed all  
Of his knighthood and of his worthiness  
With all the treasons in especial  
Wrought by Triphon by many great falseness  
His subtle sleights and his doubleness  
Them to rehearse ye get no more of me  
For in the bible the story ye may see    

How Demetrius the second lost at the last his heed.  

But I will return to demetrius  
That called was demetrius the soconde  
Which by discente came fro anthiochus  
And by his manhood as it was well found  
Did the pride of king ball as confound  
called alexander which by great outrage  
Had put his father fro his heritage   

This demetrius famous and notable  
Upon parthoys had many great victory  
Till king arsacides double and deceivable  
Him silf delighting greatly in vainglory  
By his sleighty frauds deceptorie  
under a shadow of feigning and false cheer  
Took demetrius vnwarly prisoner   

And to great hindringe and slander of his name  
Arsacydes by a manner mockerye  
Made demetrius for despite and shame  
Poorly arrayed of hate and great envy  
For to be led through all Gurye  
Made him after by great advisement  
To wed his daughter again his own intent   

This demetrius was kept out of pres  
That but few had of him sight  
Unto time that Arsacides  
Was deed and passed for all his great might  
Than he cast to escape away by flight  
And secretly to accomplyssh his intent  
He gate him counsel that was of his assent   

Gallimandrus a lord of that country  
Which that was of his assent in deed  
In their flight to keep them more secre  
Made demetrius for to change his weed  
And privy ways forth he did him lead  
But all for naught his flight was but in vain  
For by strong pursuit he was take again   

After by constraint presented to the king  
That he 'gan wax weary of his life  
Kept more streghtly folk on him waiting  
And maugre him presented to his wife  
With her to abide full heavy and pensif  
But when they had children atween them twain  
To go more large losed was his chain   

And thus he had space and free licence  
To go and come at his advantage  
For while his wife held with him residence  
They dempt his children were suffisaunte hostage  
But he was ever unstable of his courage  
With Gallymandrus the foresaid knight  
Three times take and brought again by flight   

And for he was so divers manifold  
King Fraactes in tokne he was unstable  
Scent him three dice forged square of gold  
To play raket as a child changeable  
His disposition was so variable  
But for to restrain his condition  
He was eft take and fettered in prison   

But when fortune had given him a pull  
By many divers strange adversity  
To punish him more Pharages wexith dull  
And demetrius of prison was made free  
Full restored again to his country  
Wax proud again of new it is so fall  
That he was hated of his liegys' all   

Cleopatra his mother that was queen  
Of all egypt and wife to Thotome  
Was with her lord at strife who list seen  
Which turned after to great adversity  
But to strength her party thus wrought she  
Made her son for to take on hand  
For her to fight again her husband   

But tholomeus called euergetes  
Geyn demetrius deffending his country  
Made zebenna to put him silf in pres  
Son of a merchant borne of low degree  
To make a claim by false subtlety  
Of all surrie to have possession  
For him alleging title of adoption   

He to be son to Antiochus  
Claiming thereby the kingdom of surrye  
Only texclude the said demetrius  
And Tholomeus to abstain the party  
Of zebenna with all his chivalry  
gathered in egypt and countries environ  
again demetrius proudly is cumme down   

And fortune with her double face  
Caused the country by rebellion  
That demetrius stood clean out of grace  
Whereby the people of that region  
Were hole again him in their opinion  
That by Tholomes' wonderful werkinge  
zebenna there received was as king   

Thus zebenna by false intrusion  
Of all Surre was made lord and king  
Title was there none but collusion  
Texclude demetrius by subtle compassing  
Yet as I find his party diffendinge  
How demetryus zebenna 'gan assail  
Their quarrel darreynyd with a great battle   

Great people slain upon other side  
Demetrius put from his region  
And overcome for his great pride  
At great mischief to his confusion  
Having no succour nor consolation  
But with afewe chose of his main  
Fled by water to tire the cite   

Like as he would have lived there in pes  
By a faint manner of perfection  
Within the temple of mighty hercules  
under a shadow of religion  
But suddenly at his coming down  
Into tire and at his arrival  
His heed smit of what did his pride avail    

How zebenna king of surre by intrusion entryn● had mischievous ending.  

t●ouchinge zebenna of whom I spoke toforn  
Poorly brought up and of low lineage  
And of kindred but a beggar borne  
Came tofore bochas trift of his visage  
Sore weeping mu●t of language  
'Gan compleyn his woeful adventure  
Unware and sudden impossible to recure   

His conditions somewhat dull and rude  
first in poverty proud and presumptuous  
Appechid after of great Ingratitude  
showed in his life to king antiochus  
His first furtherer the story telleth thus  
For which antiochus greatly was annoyed  
Cast amene by which he was destroyed   

There was a co●yn that called was Grispus  
To antiochus and of the same line  
Which by title of demetrius  
Cleymeth as heir by many uncouth sign  
To regne in Surrye and proudly 'gan malign  
again zebenna whose party to support  
Stood antiochus chief as I can report   

This saide Grispus young and tender of age  
By the forthringe and supportation  
Of antiochus had in marriage  
His own daughter with great possession  
That zebenna for short conclusion  
Compelled was for all his great might  
To antioch for to take his flight   

And there he fill in so great poverty  
Failed money for to pay wages  
The sondyours which in that country  
Abide upon him of all manner ages  
Strange folk and sundry of languages  
thieves murderers mansleets and pillours  
First of jubiter asseyling the treasures   

To his disclaundre perpetuel of memory  
The diffame aros so manifold  
In iovis temple the banner of victory  
He took away that was of massyf gold  
With a great image that stood there of old  
Of gold also with other more treasures  
With which pillage he paid the soldiers   

Of sacrilege having no conscience  
Tescape away he entered is the sea  
But ●olus by great violence  
With wind and tempest as he did i'll  
Did unto him full great adversity  
And all his main forsook him of intent  
And he was take and to grispus sent   

King of surrie to whom when he was brought  
Gave on him by judgement this sentence  
For sacrilege that he had wrought  
Spoiling temples by great violence  
Doing to goddies no manner reverence  
For which grispus commanded hath as judge  
That he to be slain there was no better refuge   

Of birth a boy clomb up to royal stage  
Brought up of naught and set in dignity  
knew not him silf wax cruel of courage  
Aros fro povert to great prosperity  
But through fortunes mutabylite  
That blind lady so made her power stretch  
As he began to end as a wretch   

Rekned thestatis of worldly regalie  
numbered of main gold treasure and richesse  
Stately castles paleis on each party  
Conquest by fortune clymbinge to high noblesse  
Cruel sword conveyed by wilfulness  
Power extort with covetise oppressing  
Causeth destruction of many earthly king   

But in contrary who list him silf know  
And is by grace inclined to meekness  
Though he fro poverty in straightness brought up  
And is by virtue inclined to worthiness  
With sceptre of pes and sword of rightwiseness  
Indifferently his domys demening  
Suchone is able to be cleped a king   

What is chief cause ground and occasion  
That princes oft stand in jeopertye  
Of worldly changes in such division  
Regning among them the serpent of envy  
Symulation feigning flattery  
The sooth out searched who so list to look  
By many tragedy expert in this book    

How Bitynctus king of avergnatus/ by the romans was taken and died in prison  

BItynctus next of Auergnatis king  
Came tofore bochas beginning his compleint  
Of his distress th'order rehearsing  
And how that he was made feeble & faint  
Again the romans mischievously attaint  
not withstanding to maintain his quarrel  
He cast of pride again them to rebel   

But it is first put in remembrance  
How Auergnatis is a nation  
Hanging on gall longeth unto france  
Of which Bytinct stood in possession  
Having despite in his opinion  
To the romans any wise to obey  
But proudly cast again them to warray   

His labour was to stand in fraunchise  
And be at large from their subjection  
'Gan of pride their lordship to despise  
gathered people of presumption  
Whom for to meet fabius was sent down  
A mighty consul which knightly took on hand  
For that party Bytinctus to withstand   

Of whose coming bytinctus took disdain  
Because the folk which fabyus did lead  
Were but few and when he hath them say  
He said of scorn this people who taketh heed  
May not suffice mine hounds for to feed  
When they be slain to few they be in number  
With multitude that I shall them encoumbre   

An hundred thousand in his vauwarde he had  
That pass should of awernere thee river  
And four score thousand beside that he lad  
The consul fabius met him with good cheer  
When he was passed of rodamus the daungere  
fought all the day till it drew to night  
The romans won their soon were put to flight   

At the Ryvere like as saith the book  
There were drowned and borough to mischance  
thirty thousand as they the water took  
Through fortunes froward variance  
And by atreyne tencres of his grievance  
Bitinc●us take was of the romeyns  
Dampened to prison there to die in cheyns    

How the tyrant Euergetes wedded queen Cleopatra's slough her eldest son/ exiled his wife wedded her daughter  

AFetr whose death pitously to read and seen  
Of Epiphones the great tholome  
came the daughter cleopatras the queen  
'Gan complain her great aversite  
Her sorrow furious diffaced her beute  
Her cheeks white of blood and teries meynt  
Rent with her hands were pitously bespreynt   

To philomeetir she wedded was aforne  
Whilom son to tholome the king  
And by her lord in true wedlock borne  
Two sons she had as by old writing  
After whose death anon up suing  
To Euergetes a prince young of age  
She was again joined in marriage   

By title of her in Egypt lord and sire  
King of that land cruel and despitous  
Whoos story showeth no kingdom nor empire  
May of them silf make no man virtuous  
For like a tiger this tyrant furious  
Her eldest son day of their marriage  
Born to be heir he slough of mortal rage   

Nat after long this extort cruelty  
Albe they had children atween them twain  
Out of egypt he made her for to i'll  
And of malice he 'gan at her disdain  
I trow she had matter for to plain  
He took her daughter when that she was gone  
again nature and wedded her anon   

She called was Cleopatras also  
But euergetes to show him more vengeable  
again her mother that was fro Egypt go  
The cite which was to her favourable  
The people exiled he wooed and untretable  
In her despite gave that notable town  
Of hatfull malice to strange nation   

But when he knew through his cruel deeds  
And 'gan conceive how he was coupable  
saw again him the manifold hatreds  
And conspiration of states honourable  
He at large to be more vengeable  
Geyne cleopatras to gynne an uncouth strife  
Went into exil with his new wife   

gathered people his old wife to assail  
On her children to show more vengeance  
A day assigned held with her battle  
But which of them was driven to vt●raunce  
Mine author plainly put not in remembrance  
But suing after thus of him I read  
how of malice he wrought a cruel deed   

Which to rehearse is nouthir good ne fair  
But terrible and abominable  
He dismembered her son and his hair  
On pe●ys small this tyrant most vengeable  
And when the mother sat at her royal ●able  
With body and heed at a solemnity  
let her be served of froward cruelty   

Whereof all Egypt had indignation  
And for to avenge his cruel great outrage  
They took his plates bassinet haberion  
And his cote armour wrought of great costage  
From their templies rend out his image  
In tokne he was a tyrant most attaint  
Each thing diffaced that was of him depaint   

whose hateful story replete of wretchidnesse  
Full of vengeance and froward mischievous  
Therefore I dame bochas list not express  
Moore of his life fulfilled of all reproofs  
Of cleopatra writ not the final grievous  
In this chapter what fatal weigh she took  
Jest the matter should difface his book    

How jugurta of by intrusion of Munedy King slough rightful heiriss & after himsilf was drowned  

aFter this woeful deadly adventure  
Of cleopatras whose story is full old  
Came jugurta the manly man to lure  
And to john bochas hath his tale told  
Of his conquest and deeds many fold  
subtle of wit and as mine author saith  
Gave lityll force for to break his faith   

But in order the story to convey  
Of jugurta and of his kindred  
Masmissa king of munedie sooth to say  
His uncle was and also as I read  
The saide king had a son in deed  
called mysipsa elder in writing  
After his day to regne as king   

This Masmyssa ordained afterward  
Tofore his death of hole entencion  
Because jugurta was borne a bastard  
To deprive of all succession  
In his testament but in conclusion  
His son mysipsa afterward made king  
Was to jugurta friendly and loving   

Mysipsa had two sons as I find  
The tone of them called herbales  
The second the story maketh mention  
Was that time named hyem sales  
With whom jugurta put him silf in pr●es  
For to abide and devil in especial  
Like as their cousin in their court royal   

cherished full well because that he was wis  
And right likely of disposition  
chosen afterward for a singular pries  
To go to spain to help scipion  
Geyne Mumentaynes a famous mighty town  
And there Iugurta so knightly hath begun  
That by his nobles the town anon was won   

And to remember his knighthood of intent  
His worthiness and his high renown  
To misipsa letters were down sent  
By the foresaid worthy scipion  
Which gave so great a commendation  
To Iugurta him calling in that wer●e  
Of manly prows the young load ste●e   

Of king mysipsa received notably  
called him son by adoption  
The king did soon Iugurta traytourly  
Slough hiempsales heir by succession  
He of that realm to have possession  
This was his custom how ever the title stood  
By slaughter and murder for to get good   

He list to goddies do no reverence  
Of his nature wilful and reckless  
Having neither remorse nor conscience  
touching the slaughter of hi●msales  
Falsely practised for his own increases  
For which murder romans have sent down  
A consulere to do correction   

Calipurnius called that was sent  
Only to punish that horrible deed  
But with treasure his eyen were so blended  
Of execution that he took none heed  
The romans overcome with meed  
Gave to jugurta by collusion  
Of this murder a coloured falls pardon   

By which he took a manner hardiness  
Of tyranny in him well exercised  
gathered people of hateful cursedness  
And in him silf 'gan cursedly devise  
Texecute the silf same guise  
Of false murder I mean now none other  
To slay herbales the second brother   

That he alone by false intrusion  
Of Numedye might be lord and king  
Thus of his cruelty murder and false treason  
The noise was borne by language and by writing  
Of which the griffis falsely a broad spredinge  
Brought forth in hindringe of his name  
Fruit of disclaundre and report of diffame   

Mortal treason was cured under flowers  
To save him silf by some subtlety  
And specially with his great tresoures  
Tappeses the senate if it would have be  
But therageyn all the comonte  
Made again him a ●●iuracion  
On his false murder to do correction   

Four thousand men of arms were down sen●  
With a preatory called ●●ilius  
The which pre●our set all his intent  
To gather treasure for he was covetous  
And covetise is contrarious  
Unto knighthood as auctors all express  
And stepmoder unto worthiness   

Asiege he laid about a mighty tour  
Wherein jugurta put all his richesses  
The siege was laid for love of that treasure  
Moore than for worship or for worthiness  
Whereby his name and his noblesse  
There discomfited brought unto mischance  
After for meed made his alliance   

With jugurta to his increases of shame  
Caused affryk through false chevisance  
They together disclandered by diffame  
Them to withdraw fro thobeisance  
Of the romans and more them silf tavaunce  
To their purpose corrupted with treasure  
Many tribune and many senator   

Of new again all the comonte  
from rome sent Gayus marrius  
For the murdres and horrible cruelty  
Wrought by jugurta the tyrant furious  
Which to reform the said gayus  
A consulere of purpose was sent down  
A manly knight and famous of renown   

Full notably the wars he began  
Wrought every thing of high providence  
And fortune which helpeth hardy man  
Gave him great favour by her influence  
And aldre first he did his diligence  
For to avoid all that were vicious  
Delicate people and folks lecherous   

A day was set and take a battle  
By jugurta by false subtlety  
Proferyd much good which might not avail  
To have corrupt if it would have be  
The saide marryus but ever in one degree  
He stood aye stable upright as a wall  
And took none heed to his proffer at all   

Than Iugurta in party despeyred  
Greatly astonied within him silf musing  
But like ●●nan hindered and appeyred  
He 'gan purpose anon a new thing  
Of maurytayne he went to the king  
To get help which called was boccus  
Him to succour again the gayus   

Tween them was made of new an alliance  
The which last but a little space  
For king boccus 'gan fall in repentance  
Cast he would resort to the grace  
Of the romans and no more trespass  
And to perform this entencion  
He made to Gayus this mediation   

There was one Scylla called a ques●oure  
Of Gayus oft had governance  
For king Boccus he was mediator  
That there was newly accordance  
Tween him and gayus and by the purveyance  
Of this Boccus jugurta anon was hent  
Maugre his might and to gayus sent   

And all his kingdom without resistance  
Geyne to romans came under obeisance  
And marrius forgave them their offence  
received them under assurance  
That he shall not by doom do no vengeance  
To punish the trespasses that they did aforn  
The space accounted fro time they were born   

Iugurta take almost for anger mad  
Brought to rome and fettered in prison  
To terpeya an high hill he was lad  
judgement you for his false treason  
Bound to a stone and after throw down  
From the place full high where he stood  
Without mercy into andre flood   

Lenuoye.  

THis may be well called a tragedy  
By description taking authority  
For tragedy as poets specefyt  
Gynneth with joy endeth with adversity  
From high estate cast in low degree  
example take this story saith aright  
Of jugurta that was first a good knight   

At his beginning famous in chivalry  
Gate Numentaigne of spain a great city  
But in repairing home to that party  
I mean when he came home to his country  
He changed knighthood in to cruelty  
With covetise so blinded was his sight  
Of jugurta that first was a good knight   

His wit his power he holy did apply  
To hateful murder fraud and subtilty  
Bextort title him silf to magnify  
Slough rightful heirs rest them their liberty  
By falls intrusion clomb up to their see  
And gave no force whether it were wrong or right  
A thing contrary to every worthy knight   

Noble princes lift up your hearts ●ye  
Within your silf remember and do see  
Of this murder the hateful tyranny  
With oppression done to the comonte  
His beginning good a cursed end had he  
Murdre crieth vengeance day and night  
A thing contrary to every worthy knighty     
Explicit Liber Quintus.   

Incipit liber Sextus Here Bochas sitting in his study alone● writeth a great process: how Fortune like amonstruous Image/ Having an hundred hands appeared unto him and spoke: and Bochas unto her: making between them both many great Argumentys: and reasons of fortunes chauncies.  

iN his study alone as bochas stood  
His pen in hand of sudden adventure  
To remember he thought it did him good  
how that no man may him silf assure  
In worldly things fully to recure  
Grace of fortune to make her to be stable  
Her daily changes be so variable   

She braideth ever on the chauntplure  
Now song now weeping now woe now gladness  
Now in mirth now pain to endure  
Now light now heavy now bitter now sweetness  
Now in trouble now free now in distress  
Showing to us a manner resemblance  
No worldly wealth hath here non assurance   

While bochas pensif stood sole in his library  
With cheer oppressed pale in his visage  
Sumdell abashed alone and solitary  
To him appeared a monstrous Image  
Parted on twain of colour and courage  
Her right side full of summer flowers  
The tothyr oppressed with winters stormy showers   

Bochas astonied fearful for to abraid  
When he beheld the wonderful figure  
Of fortune thus to him silf he said  
What may this mean is this a creature  
Or a monster transformed ageyns nature  
Whoos brenning iyen sparkling of their light  
As do stars the frosty winter night   

And of her cheer full good heed he took  
Her face seeming cruel and terrible  
And by disdain manasing of look  
Her here untrussed hard sharp and horrible  
Froward of shap loathsome and audible  
An hundred hands she had of each pa●t  
In sundry wise her gifts to departed   

Sum of her hands list up men aloft  
To high estate of worldly dignity  
Another hand gripped full unsoft  
Which cast another in great adversity  
Gave one richesses an other poverty  
Gave sum also by report a good name  
Noised another of slander and diffame   

Her habit was of manifold colours  
Watchet blewe of feigned steadfastness  
Her gold allayed like son in wattry showers  
Meynt with light green for change and doblenesse  
A pretense read dread meynt with hardiness  
White for cleanness like son for to fail  
faint black for mourning russet for travail   

●yr colours meynt of wools more than one  
Sum while eclipsed sum while she shone bright  
Dull as an ass when men had haste to go  
And as a swallow gerissh of her flight  
Tween sloughth & swift now crooked now upright  
Now as a cripple low coorbyd down  
Now a duery now a chaumpion   

Now a coward durst not come in press  
Now sumwhile hardy as a lion  
Now like Ector now dreadful Thersites  
Now was she cresus now agamenon  
Sa● danapallus of condition  
Now was she mamnyssh now was she femynyne  
Now could she rain now could she falsely shine   

Now a mermeyde angilyk of face  
A tail behind very serpentine  
Now debonair now froward to do grace  
Now as a lamb treatable and benign  
Now like a wolf of nature to malign  
Now sirens to sing folk asleep  
Till Caribdies drown them in the de●●e   

Thus john bochas considringe her figure  
All her features in order he 'gan behold  
Her breed her lingth her shap and her stature  
An hundred hands and arms there he told  
Whereof astonied his heart 'gan wax cold  
And among all her members everichone  
He sempt she had no feet up to gone   

And while that he considered all this thing  
Tween them as it were in a trance  
She suddenly toward him looking  
He conceived by her countenance  
Were it for Ire were it for pleasance  
either for favour either for disdain  
By the manner she would somewhat feign   

Looking ascoyne as she had had disdain  
Bochas quoth she I know all thine intent  
How thou travailest besyest the in vain  
In thy study ever diligent  
Now in the west now in the orient  
To sech stories north and meredien  
Of worthy princes that here tofore have been   

Sum dwelled under the pole arctic  
By my favour upreysed to the sterrys  
Other under the pool antartyke  
Which in contrary fro us so far is  
Sum increased and set up by the werrys  
Like as me list their triumphs to advance  
Frowning on other I brought them to mischance   

I see the busy remembering by scriptures  
Stories of princes in every manner age  
As my favour followed their adventures  
By humble style set in plain language  
Nat made curious by none advantage  
Of rhetorics with musies for to strive  
But in pleyne form their deeds to describe   

In which process thou dost great diligence  
As they deserve to give them thank or blame  
Settyst up one in royal excellence  
Within mine house called the house of fame  
The golden trumpet with blasts of good name  
Enhanceth one to full high parties  
Where jupiter sitteth among the heavenly skies   

Another trumpet of sownies full vengeable  
Which bloweth up at feasts funeral  
Nothing bright but of colour sable  
Far fro my favour deadly and mortal  
To plunge princes from their estate royal  
When I am wroth to make them lo●●e low  
Than of malice I do that trumpet blow   

Thou hast wretyn and set togedre in groos  
Like their desert worldly men's deeds  
Nothing concealed nor under covert close  
Spared the crowns nor their purpul weeds  
Their golden sceptres but you to them their medies  
Crowned one with laurer high on his heed up set  
Other with pervynke made for the gibbet   

Tus diversly my gifts I depart  
One accepted another is refused  
Like haserdours my dice I do iuparte  
One well furthered another is accused  
My play is double my trust is ever abused  
Though one to day my favour hath won  
tomorrow again I can eclipse his son   

Cause of my coming plainly to declare  
By good avys unto thy presence  
Is to show my manners and not spare  
And my conditions briefly in sentence  
Prevyd of old and new experience  
plainly to show me list not for to rowne  
To day I flatter tomorrow I can well frown   

This hour I can show me merciable  
And suddenly I can be despitous  
Now well willed hastily vengeable  
Now sober of cheer now hasty and furious  
My play uncouth my manners marvelous  
Brayed on the wind now glad & now I mourn  
Like a wedre cock my fate each day I turn   

Wherein Bochas I tell the yet again  
Thou dost folly thy wits for to ply  
All thy labour thou spyllest in vain  
Geyn my manners so fully to reply  
By thy writing to find a remedy  
To interupte in thy last daws  
My statutes and my custunable laws   

All the labour of philosophers old  
Travail of poets my manners to deprave  
Hath been of yore to seylyke as they would  
Over my freedom the sovereignty to have  
But of my laws the liberties to save  
Upon my wheel they shall them not defend  
But when me list that they shall descend   

Why should men put me in blame  
To follow the nature of my double play  
With new buddies doth not ve● the same  
When primrose appear fresh and gay  
To day they show tomorwe gone away  
Summer after of flowers hath foison  
Till june with scythes after mow them down   

Now is the sea calm and blaundisshinge  
Now are the winds comfortable and still  
Now is boreas sturdy in blowing  
Which young sheep and blossoms grieveth ill  
Why also should I not have my will  
To show misilf now smooth and after trouble  
Sigh to my kind it longeth to be double   

Noman so far is fall in wretchidnesse  
But that he standeth in trust to rise again  
Nor none so deep plunged in distress  
Nor with despair nor wanhope overlain  
But that there is sum hope left certain  
To give him comfort serving his intent  
To be relieved when me list assent   

The earth is clad in motlayes white and red  
When escas enter with violets sote  
The greevys green and in every meed  
The balm fleeteth which doth to hearts boat  
August passed again in to the rote  
By course of nature the virtue doth resort  
To revolution to kind I me report   

Who should then debar me to be double  
Sigh doubleness longeth to me of right  
Now fresh with summer now with winter trouble  
Now blind of look dark as the cloudy night  
Now glad of cheer of heart merry and light  
They be but fools again my might to muse  
Or me atwyte though I my power use   

Seeled or never I bide not in one point  
Men must at lowpies take me as they find  
And when I stand ferthest out of joint  
To set folks backward far behind  
Than worldly men with their iyens blind  
Sore complain upon my doubleness  
Call me than the froward falls goddess   

Thus by your writing and marvelous language  
I am disclandered of mutability  
Whereof by right I catch a great advantage  
Sigh doubleness no slander is to me  
Which is a persell of my liberty  
To be called by title of rightwissnesse  
Of changes new lady and princess   

Thus when fortune had saide her will  
parcel declared of her governance  
Made a stint and soberly stood still  
john bochas sat and heard all her dalliance  
fearful of cheer pale of countenance  
In order imprinted each thing that she said  
Full demurely thus he did abraid   

He took upon him virtue and courage  
Upon a point for to abide stable  
Certys quoth he like to thy visage  
All worldly things be double and changeable  
Yet for my part by remembrance notable  
I shall perform soothly if I con  
This little book that I have begun   

And jest my labour die not nor appall  
Of this book the title for to save  
Among mine other lityll works all  
With letters large above upon my grave  
This books name shall in stone be grave  
How I john bochas in especial  
Of worldly princes wretyn have the fall   

Of which emprise the cause to deseryue  
This was first ground I will not deny  
To eschew sloth and vyses all my line  
And specially the vice of gluttony  
Which is norice unto lechery  
This was chief 'cause why I undertook  
The compilation of this little book   

¶ Yet by thy talking as I understand  
Each thing here of nature is changeable  
After thy sentence both on se and land  
Yet could I rekne things that be stable  
As virtuous life abiding unmutable  
Set hole to godward of heart will and thought  
Maugre thy power and ne changeth naught   

Thou mayst eke call unto remembrance  
Things made stable by grace which is divine  
Hast thou not heard the perseverance  
Of holy martyrs which list not to decline  
from christs faith till he did fine  
Thy wheel in them h●d none interest  
To make them vary fro their stableness   

A man that is enarmed in virtue  
again thy might to make resistance  
And set his trust by grace in christ Ihu  
And hath all hole his heartily advertence  
On rightwiseness force and on prudence  
With their sister called attemperance  
Hath a save condute again thy variance   

They set no store by thy double wheel  
With supportation of other ladies three  
Their trust stand not in plate mail or steel  
But in these virtues faith hope and charity  
Called virtues tholeogice  
Which with four afore here specefyed  
Thy wheel and the have utterly diffyed   

If I with wings might fly to heaven  
There should I see thou hast no thing adone  
With jupiter nor the planets seven  
With phoebus mars mercury nor the moan  
But worldly fools early late and soon  
Such as be blent or dyrkyd with lewdness  
By false opinion call the a goddess   

Gyfties of grace nor gifts of nature  
Alms deed done with humility  
Love and compassion be far out of thy cure  
seemliness strength bounty or beauty  
Virtuously used in their degree  
Geyn none of these thy power may not stretch  
For who is virtuous light of the doth retch   

Of thy conditions to set another proof  
Which follies use in their adversity  
For excusation as sometime saith a thief  
When he is hanged it was his destiny  
Atwyteth fortune his iniquity  
As she had domination  
To rule man by will again reason   

For which john bochas in party dissolate  
To determine such heavenly hid secrees  
To that be divines of estate  
I remit such uncouth privities  
And poets that be of low degrees  
I eschew to climb to high aloft  
Hest for presumption I should not fall soft   

But if I had hid in my courage  
Such mysteries of divine providence  
Without envy I would in pleyne language  
Vttre them by writing with humble reverence  
Predestynation neither prescience  
Nat appertain fortune unto the  
And for my part I will excuse me   

And proceed like as I undertook  
After that I told my matter  
Of fall of princes for to write a book  
But yet afore if thou wouldest hear  
I desire of hole heart and enter  
To have a copy of princes names all  
Which fro thy wheel thou hast made to fall   

Thy secre bosom is full of stories  
Of sundry princes how they their life have lad  
Of their triumphs and victories  
Which old poets and philosopher's sad  
In metre and prose compiled have and rad  
Song their lauds their fates eke reserved  
By remembrance as they have disserued   

Of which I have put sum in memory  
thereon set my study and my labour  
So as I could to their increases of glory  
Though of language I had but small favour  
'Cause caliope did me no succour  
For which thou hast during all this while  
Rebuked me of my rude style   

Men would account it were a great dullness  
But if language conveyed be by prudence  
Out declared by sober adviseness  
Under support favoured by diffence  
Of tullius chief prince of eloquence  
Should more profit shortly to conclude  
Than my style spoke in terms rude   

¶ Yet often time it hath be felt and sayen  
Under huskys growing on land Arable  
Hath be found and tried out good greyne  
under rude levys shaking and unstable  
pulled fair fruit wholesome and delightable  
And semblably where rhetoric hath failed  
In blunt terms good counsel hath availed   

Philosophers of the golden ages  
And poets that fond out fresh dyters  
As king amphion with his fair languages  
And with his harping made folk of low degrees  
And labourers to inhabit first cities  
And so by music and philosophy  
'Gan first of commons noble policy   

The chief of music is melody and accord  
well of philosophy sprang out of prudence  
By which two means 'gan unite and accord  
With politic virtue to have their asistence  
Wise men to regne subiettis do reverence  
And by this ground in stories men may see  
Were bylte the walls of thebes city   

Accord in music causeth the melody  
Where is discord there is diversity  
And where is pes is prudent policy  
In each kingdom and every great country  
Stryf first induced by thy duplicity  
For which thou mayst as clerkys the descryves  
Be called lady of contekies and of strives   

First were found out hateful divisions  
By thy contrived false mutabylytes  
Slaughter debate froward dissensions  
In regions provinces and cities  
Desolations of towns and of countries  
Wherefore men had first experience  
By thy changeable gery violence   

Thus by the opinion of thy wheel most double  
As fair by nature as it was possible  
Ouerthwertly thou broughtest men in trouble  
Madest each to other froward and audible  
By thy treynies uncouth and terrible  
Like a corsour maketh colts that be wild  
With spore and whip to be tame and mild   

Thus by the tempest of thine adversities  
To make men more tame of their courages  
In their discords between kingdoms and cities  
After the sharp of thy cruel rages  
Only by speech and mean of fair languages  
Folk by thy fraud fro grace far exiled  
Were by fair speech to unite reconciled   

people of grece of rome and of cartage  
Next in italy with many a region  
Were induced by sweetness of fair language  
To have together their conversation  
To build castles and many royal town  
What caused this to tell in brief the form  
But eloquence rude people to inform   

Afore time they were but bestial  
Till they to reason by laws were constrained  
Under discretion by statutis natural  
From wilful lusts by prudence were restrained  
By assent made one and to gydre encheyned  
In golden cheynies of peace and unite  
Thus 'gan the beelding of every great city   

But when thou medlyst to have an interest  
They that were one to bring them at discord  
To interupte with thy doubleness  
Cites regions that were of one accord  
Like as this book can bear me well record  
From the time that thou first began  
Thy mutabylite hath stroyed many a man   

Thou causest men to be obstinate  
In their courages and incorigible  
Wilful froward causeless at debat  
Each to other contrarious and audible  
Them to reform almost impossible  
Till fair speech voydinge division  
Pes reconciled tween many a region   

For there is none so furious outrage  
Nor no matter so far out of the weigh  
But that by mean of gracious language  
And fair speech may a man convey  
To all reason meekly for to obey  
By an example which I rehearse shall  
We'll to purpose and is historyall   

The hardy knight the cruel achilles  
When hateful Ire assailed his courage  
There was no mean with him to treat of pes  
To still the tempest of his doolfull rage  
Save only this which did his Ire assuage  
By attemperance to obey to reason  
When of an harp he heard the sweet sound   

Which instrument by his great sweetness  
Put all rancour out of his remembrance  
Wrested him again to all gladness  
From him avoiding all rancour and grievance  
Semblably fair speech and dalliance  
Set men in rest in realms here and yonder  
By good language that were far asondre   

With these words bochas wax debonair  
Toward fortune as he cast his look  
Withdrew his rancour and to speak fair  
touching his labour which upon him took  
beseching her for to furthre his book  
That his name which was lityll know  
By good report might be further blow   

That his name might ferther spread  
Which stood as yet shrouded in darkness  
By her favour his name forth to lead  
His book to furthre do her business  
By good roport to give it a brightness  
With laureate streams shed forth to people all  
By forgetfulness that it never appal   

This was the bill which that john Bochas  
Made unto fortune with full humble style  
When fortune had conceived all his cas  
Sobyrly stood and 'gan stint a while  
And glad of cheer after she 'gan smile  
On mine author and with a fresh visage  
In sentence spoke to him this language   

Hic loquitur Fortuna  

soothly quoth she Ice thy business  
Of mortal men how coryous that they be  
How they study by great avysnesse  
Of my secrets for to be prove  
To know the conceyties hid within me  
And my counsels ye men do all your pain  
Albe that lightly ye may not thereto attain   

In this matter your with doth never faint  
imagining likeness in your mind  
Like your conceytis ye forge men and paint  
sometime a woman with wings set behind  
And portrayen me with iyens that been blind  
Cause of all this briefly to express  
Is your own covetous blindness   

¶ Your appetytis most strange and divers  
And full ever of change and doubleness  
froward also malicious and ꝑuers  
By hasty climbinge to worship and richesse  
Alweye void of troth and stableness  
most presumptuous search out in all degrees  
Falsely tatteyne to worldly dignities   

Bochas bochas I perceive every thing  
And know full weal the great difference  
Hid in thy silf of words and thinking  
atween them both the disconuenience  
Hast thou not wretyn many great sentence  
In thy book to slander with my name  
Of hole intent my manners to diffame   

Thou callest me step mother most unkind  
And sometime a false chaunteresse  
A mermaid with a tail behind  
Of scorn sumwhile me naming a goddess  
sometime a witch sometime a sorceress  
Fynder of murder and of deceities all  
Thus of malice mortal men me call   

All this done in despite of me  
By accusation in many sundry wise  
You often appech my mutabylite  
Namely when I your requests do despise  
For to accomplissh your greedy covetise  
When ye fail ye lay on me the wite  
Of your adversities me falsely to atwite   

And thou of purpose for tesclaundre me  
Hast written ungodly a contrarious fable  
How I wrestled with glad poverty  
To whose party thou were favourable  
Settyst me abak geyne me thou were vengeable  
Now of new requeryst my favour  
The for to help and furthre thy labour   

As skauns I am of manners most changeable  
Of conditions very femynyne  
Now here now there as the wind unstable  
By thy description and by thy doctrine  
To every change ready to incline  
As women been young and tender of age  
Which of nature be divers of courage   

But for to furthre in party thine intent  
That of thy book the process may proceed  
By my favour to the accomplisshment  
I am well willed to help the in thy need  
Like thy desire the better thou shalt speed  
When I am toward with a benign face  
To speed thy journey by support of my grace   

That thy name and also thy surname  
With poets and notable old auctors  
May be regest●yd in the house of fame  
By supportation of my sudden favours  
By assistance also of my socours  
Thy work texplete the laurer for to win  
At Saturnynus I will that thou begin    

Here rehearseth Fortune her conditions unto bochas showing how many one she enhanced for a time/ and anon after them suddenly overthroweth  

Among romans this saide saturnyne  
Was outrageous of condition  
Caused in rome when he 'gan malign  
great debates and great seditious  
And by his froward conspirations  
He was sharp enemy again the prudent judge  
Called metellus devoid of all refuge   

from the capitoyle set with mighty hand  
Fond no succour metellus in the town  
The same time thou shalt understand  
How by mine help and supportation  
One that was small of reputation  
Called Glabeya in poverty brought low  
Made consulere the story is well know   

A servant first and almost set at naught  
And afterward I made him fortunate  
Left never till I had him brought  
By a prerogative chose of the senate  
To be a pretoure an office of estate  
Which also wrought by conspiration  
To bring metellus to destruction   

Of whose assent there was also another  
Called marrius being the same year  
Texplete this treason their own sworn brother  
Which was also that time a consulere  
I fortune made them full good cheer  
Like their desires gave them liberty  
To banissh metellus out of their cite   

Of these three romans the first saturnyne  
And glaucia was called the second  
And marrius laid out hook and line  
As I have told metellus to confound  
To their purpose I was also found  
Favourable to bring them to mischief  
As their story showeth an opyn proof   

They banished him out of rome town  
And saturnynus by his subtle working  
clomb up fast of presumption  
To be called of rome lord and king  
I gave him favour by a manner falls smiling  
Till at the last plainly to declare  
Of his destruction I brought him in the snare   

The senators knowing the malice  
Of Saturn which made a great gad ring  
Of sundry folk casting in his advice  
By their favour he might be called king  
All this while of his up climbing  
I showed him during a long space  
Him to deceive a benign face   

Till marryus a mighty consulere  
To withstand his presumption  
Rose with stronghande and with aknightly cheer  
Beset his pal●ys about environ  
Broke his gates amid of the town  
And saturnynus void of all favour  
To the capytoyle fled for succour   

He was forbarred by marrius of victual  
The Capitoile besieged round about  
At the entering was a strong battle  
On other party slain a great rout  
Thus of my favour he 'gan stand in donte  
Thus saturnynies brought in great distress  
His good acheted lost all his richesses   

Experience full openly men beareth  
Such as highest thereupon ascend  
Like as the turn of my wheel requireth  
When they least ween down they shall descend  
They have no power them silf to defend  
again my might when they been overthrow  
What do I than but laugh and make a mow   

●rusus also borne of great lineage  
And descended of full high noblesse  
Unto virtue contrary of his courage  
froward found to all gentleness  
Yet chose he was the story doth express  
Questoure of asya an office of degree  
For his birth to govern that country   

But often time virtue nor gentleness  
Come not to heirs by succession  
example in Drusus the story beareth witness  
Which both of courage and disposition  
Was ever froward of condition  
For which let men dame as they must needs  
Nat after birth but after the dedys'   

Virtues all in him were set aside  
Slow to be armed hated chivalry  
most covetous deynous full of pride  
His dedys' froward full of treachery  
To high estate I did him magnefie  
Yet all my gifts in him ne might stre●ch  
For here tofore the he cometh like a wretch   

He dare for shame not show his visage  
So far disclandered is his wretchedness  
whose covetise and vicious outrage  
Falsely caused by his doubleness  
Maguldusa a prince of great noblesse  
Betrasshed was for meed to the king  
Called boccus by drusus falls working   

What manner torment or what grievous pain  
Were competent covenable or condign  
To him that can outward flatter and feign  
And in his heart covertly malign  
As drusus did which showed many sign  
To Maguldusa of love and frendlihede  
Underneath false treason hid in deed   

But maguldusa like a manly knight  
Geyn king boccus hath him silf succoured  
When he by doom was judged again right  
Of an olifaunt for to be devoured  
Scaped freely and after that laboured  
To acquit him silf through his high renown  
Slough falls Drusus mid of rome town   

Bochas also men put the lak in me  
That I was cause of the destruction  
By my contrarious mutabylite  
Of the notable famous scipion  
Which in the time of cynsoryn caton  
Gate the triumph for many great victory  
To put his name perpetually in memory   

For his merits chose a consulere  
And chief bishop to govern their city  
To all the Senate patron most enter  
Most famous of name and dignity  
Saved romans from all adversity  
Time when the were dreadful and despitous  
'Gan atween Pompey and cesar julius   

Thus when the said famous scipion  
Was through my favour accounted most notable  
He fro my wheel suddenly was throw down  
Which never in word nor deed was culpable  
But the romans malicious and unstable  
By their hangman first chained in prison  
After racked there geyned no ransom   

Thus he that had availed them so often  
To save him silf fond succour on no side  
His deed body they hinge it high aloft  
For a spectacle long there to abide  
Thus gerisshly my gifts I divide  
Stoundmele now friend now adversary  
Reward good with guyrdons full contrary   

This was expert full well in scipion  
'Gan with joy and ended in wretchedness  
Bochas remember make hereof mention  
And of fanatichus how I of gentleness  
Made him affende to notable high prowess  
Yet books say touching his kindred  
Manly of person a churl borne in deed   

For my desporte with a glad visage  
I set him up full high upon my wheel  
Gave him lordship out of low servage  
To do him favour it liked me full well  
Wherefore bochas his story every deal  
Note it well and in especial  
How he by sleight came to estate royal   

By sleighty feigning to diverse folk he told  
How that he spoke with scirra the goddess  
At every hour plainly when he would  
Of presumption described her likeness  
saide also how she of her goodness  
Had granted him his state to magnify  
During his life a spirit of prophesy   

And furthermore the people for to blind  
He fantasied by a craft uncouth  
Within a shalt the story maketh mind  
Of a not to have fire in his mouth  
Blue it sparkling north and south  
affirmed wherewith folk were blent  
It was a spirit to him from heaven sent   

By which he wrought many great virtue  
gathered people till he had in deed  
Two thousand churls at his retinue  
Which afterward his purpose for to speed  
To sixty thousand increased as I read  
I suffered all served him at the tide  
Till all the court grudged at his pride   

Though of birth he was but a villain  
Roos up of naught by sudden adventure  
My gery favour made him to be sayn  
Royal of port did his busy cure  
To raise his banner wore a cote armure  
And by gracious supportation  
Brought great people to his subjection   

At the taste my lust 'gan appall  
Toward him not being favour  
Down fro my wheel anon I made him fall  
For by romans was sent a great constable  
Called porpenna a prince full notable  
Which fill on him vanquished him anon  
Slough and outrayed his churls everyone   

Him silf was hanged upon an high gibbet  
Sum of his many was cast in prison  
Thus to his pride I gave a great tripet  
And fro my wheel I cast him low down  
In his most highest domination  
Took none heed where he did laugh or mourn  
For with noman I do alway sojourn   

Bochas quod fortune take good heed also  
How I can both further and disavail  
For example se how athenyo  
That whilom was a shepherd in italy  
A brygaunt after merchants to assail  
Say in await beside a great mountain  
Of fugetyves he was made a captain   

Slough first his lord a rich senator  
By violence broke many a strong prison  
And for a time I gave him great favour  
To gather robbours about him environ  
All the churlies of that region  
He assembled through his iniquity  
To hold a were with room the cite   

besieged castles broke down mighty towers  
Slough and rob about in each country  
spoiled palace of worthy senators  
Title had he none safe title of volunte  
Took upon him of pride and cruelty  
For to be clad in purple like a king  
Bore a sceptre among his men riding   

Upon his heed ordained for the nonies  
His gold here tressed like an emperor  
A coyf enbrouded all of rich stones  
Me list to laugh that a falls robbour  
By supportation of my gery favour  
Which taste not long for after in short while  
As is my custom I did him beguile   

I suffered him made him feigned cheer  
As I have to other more done full often  
Till down fro rome was sent a consulere  
Which took him proudly and hinge aloft  
His churls slain and sum of them not soft  
In chains bound for short conclusion  
Were dempt by law to die in prison   

By which story bochas thou mayst lere  
A great party of my condition  
But now in haste a story thou shalt here  
How in the year for the foundation  
Moore than sixt● hundred I mean of rome town  
Was agaderinge a great company  
Togedre sworn by false conspiracy   

Them to withdraw fro the presence  
Of a tribune called Lodonce  
Which for knighthood had governance  
And was sent down from rome city  
With mighty hand to rule a great country  
Called chaumpayne and plainly for to say  
The people there list him not obey   

This score and four were of them in number  
That named were chief conspirators  
Which that cast them their captain to encoumbre  
With multitude of thiefs and robbers  
Which chase among them to be their supportours  
〈◊〉 mighty captains of which there was one  
Called spartharchus chiefest of echon   

gathered churls made them silf strong  
On an high hill took their dwelling place  
Having no reward were it right or wrong  
To spoil the country beasts to enchase  
I cherished them with a benign face  
For a ceson and gave them liberty  
By falls ravin to rob the country   

What thing more cruel in comparison  
And more vengeable of will and not of right  
Than when a churl hath domination  
Lak of discretion blindeth so the sight  
Of commoners for default of light  
When they have power countries to govern  
Fare like a beast can nothing discern   

Gladiatores folkys did them call  
For their swords were with steel made fine  
For to fight geyn wild beasts all  
As lions beeries boars wild swine  
And the mountain where they did line  
Called venus and through their cruelty  
Slough and robbed about in each country   

Spartharchus was their chief captain  
Brought up naught and borne of low degree  
But Claudius a mighty strong roman  
Was sent with power fro rome the cite  
For to defend and save the country  
The hill besieging afore them as he lay  
He was rebuked beat and driven away   

Many of them that kept the mountain  
Were hurt that day the story telleth thus  
amongs which was slain a great captain  
That was fellow unto Spartharchus  
As I find he height ynomaus  
For whose death was take so great vengeance  
That all the country felt thereof grievance   

They of the mountain all of one assent  
Without mercy or remission  
most vengeable have robbed and brent  
All the country about them environ  
Till two consulers fro rome down  
The first of them called lentulus  
Both put to flight the said spartharchus   

Whereof the romans greatly dismayed  
The Senators of indignation  
Both ashamed and in them silf afraid  
Scent one crassus a great lord of the town  
With the numbered of a Legion  
And when that he on Spartharchus first set  
Slough of his men six thousand when they met   

And afterward beside a great river  
Called Salaire they had a great battle  
Where Spartharchus stood in great daungere  
For his cheer and countenance 'gan fail  
Thretty thousand clad in plate and mail  
Were slain that day there geyned no ransom  
All their captains assigned to prison   

Without all this as made is mention  
Sixty thousand in the field lay deed  
And six thousand were sent to prison  
The field with blood stained and made read  
And four thousand quaking in their dread  
Were thilk day after the romans guise  
Take to mercy received to fraunchise   

And Spartharchus at mischief put to flight  
When I from him turned my visage  
He lost cheer he lost also his might  
When I appalled the fine of his passage  
And for he was a churl of his lineage  
Of his increases I liked no thing we'll  
Therefore unwarly I cast him fro my wheel   

Of maneries to make a greater preef  
There was another famous great robboure  
Which through Spain was a disclandered thief  
And for he dread of justice the rigour  
Trusting he should find in me succour  
Called urinatus he spain anon forsook  
And to rome the right weigh he took   

gathered main of his condition  
Of every sect to make him silf strong  
thieves robboures of every region  
Many a churl was meddled them among  
His name to increases were it right or wrong  
What ever he got in cite or village  
With his soldiers he parted the pillage   

Thus by mine help he came to 'gree richesses  
Which brought in pride and presumption  
He not provided of my doubleness  
'Gan to malign again rome town  
But by the prudence of last Scipion  
Son of ●epidus making thereof no boost  
He slain was by them he trusted most   

By which example notable of remembrance  
showed here tofore john bochas unto the  
Thou mayst know in party my puissance  
My sudden changes my mutabylite  
And for to avoid all ambyguite  
To declare the sum of mine intent  
great marrius to the I do present   

Black his weed and his habit also  
His heed unkempt his locks hoar and grey  
His look down cast in tokne of sorrow and woe  
On his cheeks the salt teries lay  
Which bore record of his deadly affray  
Wherefore bochas do thy pen dress  
So describe his mortal heaviness   

His rob stained was with roman blood  
His sword aye ready whet to do vengeance  
Like a tyrant most furious and wooed  
In slaughtre and murder set all his pleasance  
Yet not for thy I gave him governance  
Over the people rose on my wheel up fast  
But as unwarly down I did him cast   

Tween him and scylla the woeful deadly strives  
At large hereafter bochas thou shalt writ  
How many romans lost by them their lives  
I will also in order that thou indite  
And if I shall rebuke them and atwyte  
As I fro naught made them in honour shine  
So I ageynwarde made them in mischief fine   

Forgetnat also the deadly piteous fate  
Of him that was so notable in his life  
I mean the great famous mitridiate  
whose name is yet full ●outh and rife  
To whom I gave a great prerogative  
Forty winter the deed was well seen  
again romans the were to sustain   

For which hereafter I give it the in charge  
Of Mitridiate the story set along  
When thou haste leisure and a space large  
Remember his conquest and his dedys' strong  
And how that I meddled me among  
For all his noblesse and his felicity  
To give him part of great adversity   

Next in order after her own choice  
Fortune untrusty upon each party  
To john bochas hath conveyed fro parthoys  
Strong Herodes reigning in parthye  
Loo john quoth she take heed of this story  
All his kindred if it be well out sought  
Were by Scithyens chased and brought to naught   

And yet for all my mutability  
Sum of them which they stood despeyred  
I restored unto their dignity  
Unto which when they were repaired  
This herod's was hindered and appaired  
By changes for his hateful pride  
When he least wend unwarly set aside   

Suing after within a little while  
This gerissh lady of condition  
'Gan an ill laughing falsely for to smile  
Looking on bochas brought with her down  
Amighty prince which in rome town  
Had in his days notable price and fame  
Albe that she oppressed not his name   

Bochas than his heed 'gan down decline  
saying that prince of face disfigured  
Of susspection 'gan to imagine  
When he his mind fully hath recured  
By certain toknies and signs well assured  
It was pompeie surquedous of estate  
Which with Cesar so long was at debate   

Disconsolate through his unhappy case  
His face soiled with water of the sea  
Time when fostynus and cruel achilles  
drowned his body of furious enmity  
His face disfigured at the solemnity  
With smokies black deadly and mortal  
Call●d of clerks the feast funeral   

Codrus caused the corpse was brent  
And consumed in to ashes deed  
To cesar after his heed was borne and sent  
Upon oh pole his story who list read  
After all this bochas took good heed  
●owe fortune by a manner mockerye  
In s●orne of him 'gan thus to specefie   

Upon the heaven after his device  
I 'gan enhance and increase his glory  
By my favour I gave him many a pries  
Conquest of kings with many great victory  
And more to put his nobles in memory  
By my support through his chivalry  
With cesar julius to hold chaumpartye   

And while that I my favour did apply  
Toward him his victories to assure  
His fame aroos till that in Thesalie  
I 'gan withdraw his party to succour  
suffering his enemies make discomfiture  
Upon this pompey hindered in my sight  
When to Lesbos at mischief took his flight   

By the servants of young tholome  
Regning in egypt pompey in his dread  
Was take and slain he fond no help in me  
I gave him up and so he lost his heed  
Yet of my changes noman taketh heed  
Nor how unsuerly I cast my dreadful look  
Save thou art busy to set them in thy book   

Bochas atoned ꝑcell of her presence  
Both of cheer face and countenance  
And this while having his advertence  
Thought he saw a manner resemblance  
Of a person which stood in great grievance  
Till at last fortune cast her sight  
Toward bochas and told what he height   

This is quod she plainly to termine  
The famous man prince of eloquence  
That gave to latynes the school and the doctrine  
Of rhetoric as well of that science  
For which I will thou do thy diligence  
To writ with other of this tullyus  
All the case and begin at marrius   

These words saide fortune made an end  
She beat her wings and took her to the flight  
I cannot see what way she did wend  
Save Bochas telleth like an angel bright  
At her departing she showed a great light  
But assoon as she 'gan disapere  
He took his pen wrote as ye shall here    

How Gayus Marryus of low birth borne can to high estate/ which blended with covetise after many great battles died at mischief  

HEre bochas gynneth to tell of the man  
Called in his time Gayus marrius  
Born at aprina a castle of tuscan  
Son of a Carpentere the story telleth thus  
Pursued arms manly and virtuous  
Through all rome nor in that country  
Was there no man hold so strong as he   

discipline and great subtlety  
He had also as books specefye  
Prudence manhood and ability  
Both in arms and in chivalry  
most famous hold toward the party  
Within a while mine author saith certain  
Choose a tribune and a great captain   

But fro the beginning of his tender age  
As Istoryes put in remembrance  
He was pricked so sore in his courage  
By a greedy fret of long continuance  
Never to staunch with none abundance  
The world nor fortune with all their great richesses  
sufficed not to appease his greediness   

entering a temple he fond a devynour  
counseled there by his dyvynaile  
Tentre room and hold their soiour  
By good avys and knightly apparel  
Made him promise that he shall not fail  
Tatteyne by favour of the comonte  
To great office and state in the cite   

Favour of commons brought him to high estate  
By them received unto the dignity  
Of consulere albe that the Senate  
Had disdain of his felicity  
Because he was borne of low degree  
granted to him after by the town  
To conquer realmys by a commission   

He gate the province through his high renown  
Of Numedie as he did them assail  
And took the king of that region  
called jugurta proudly in battle  
For which emprise by martial apparel  
He gate the triumph through the town riding  
Because only for taking of that king   

And for he was a person so notable  
For many famous sudden great victory  
Namely in conquest proved profitable  
To all the common as put is in memory  
And for thincreases of his renown and glory  
By thoppynion hole of the cite  
In his hand lay all their prosperity   

again a people that called was Lembroys  
Them to conquer from rome he was sent down  
Also again the boisterous tigurnoys  
gathered to gydre of many nation  
All them he brought to subjection  
Like as romans had afore desired  
Because they had again their town conspired   

They took upon them of false presumption  
To pass all the mountains of italy  
First discomfited as made is mention  
Three roman dukes felly in battle  
Four score thousand clad in plate and mail  
Slain of romans the story is well know  
Under thalpies at mischief overthrow   

This marrius of martial adventure  
In germany had a great battle  
With Tewtobochus a giant of stature  
Put first to flight with all his apparel  
For marrius did him so sore assail  
At the chas proudly borne to ground  
Maugre his might take and in chains bound   

Marrius after with his host him drough  
Toward the people of cunbrois for to fight  
Two hundred people I find of them he slough  
Eight thousand take three thousand put to flight  
King bolerus a full famous knight  
Slain in the field for all his great pride  
again marius like as he did ride   

That day of Cymbroyes was all the people slain  
The women after he list not to reserve  
Yet they proffered and would have been full fain  
Their chastity devoutly to observe  
In the temple of vesta for to serve  
But their request for he list not here  
With him they fought echon slain I fear   

Except sum when they saw none other  
Remedy of purposes they were set  
Euerich of them to slay and murder other  
And sum thought also it was bet  
To hang them silf upon an high gibbet  
Than to abide of marrius the outrage  
Perpetuelly to live in servage   

Thus marrius of three nations  
Through his conquest complisshed the victory  
With prisoners of sundry regions  
entered rome to his increases of glory  
With special laudies notable of memory  
First the triumph a guyrdon singulere  
He times six was chose a consulere   

Thus fortune was to him favourable  
To set him up in worldly dignities  
For a ceson but for he was changeable  
Among her gifts and great prosperities  
She gave him part of great adversities  
And specially the time accounted than  
Tween him and scylla when the were 'gan   

Lucius scylla abiding in chaumpeyne  
Marrius at rome though present  
When the division 'gan atween them twain  
Each to other contrary of intent  
Malencolious and impatient  
Which of both thestory well conceived  
To govern should soonest be received   

All suddenly where it were right or wrong  
Toward rome taking his passage  
again marrius to make him silf strong  
'Gan slay and burn ne and of great outrage  
wilful hasty furious of courage  
For sudden coming and unware violence  
again him fond no resistance   

Two mighty battles he did with him lead  
entering the city 'gan through the wall mine  
With one battle fast 'gan him speed  
To pass the gate called aquylyne  
That other gate named was Colyne  
At whose entering by record of the book  
Scylla by strength the capitoyle took   

But when marrius had knowledging  
That Scylla had so great power and might  
Without a rest or longer abiding  
In to a marys gayus anon right  
With all his people took suddenly his flight  
Fit out by strength could him not defend  
Scylla after to prison did him send   

Thus the prowess for a while slept  
Of marrius lying in prison  
Scylla that time the capytoyle kept  
Whereby all room stood in subjection  
And of hatred in haste he sent down  
A sturdy churl to marrius in his dread  
While he lay bound to smite of his hood   

This churl well compact of brawn & of bonies  
Set of purpose marrius for to oppress  
For his strength ordained for the nonies  
To the prison the churl 'gan fast him dress  
Where marrius was fettered in distress  
Fully in purpose without more delay  
To behede him in prison there he lay   

losing him first lying on his couch  
And marrius rose up like a man  
The churl fearful to smite or to touch  
And marrius full proudly though began  
To enter a place beside of a woman  
Found an ass there of adventure  
Upon whose back the see he 'gan recure   

Toward afrique there he fond passage  
By ●nprysonynge though he were wax faint  
Yet there abode still in his courage  
high worthiness with prudence meynt  
Which in his person were not quaint  
again the malice to make a countertayle  
Of proud Scylla the malice eft t'assail   

Of italy road through the country  
Took his voyage through rome town  
With four bateyles entered the cite  
Six hundred knights by computation  
Slain in the field as made is mention  
Where men may see who lift look afar  
What damage division doth in were   

First by the manhood of this marrius  
In this division the story who list read  
The great consul called octavius  
Lost his heed and his life in deed  
Upon a pole which it did bleed  
Was cruelly presented of intent  
Tofore the judges sitting in judgement   

Of whose death sum of them were fain  
Sum sorry of love as they were bound  
And in this were merula was slain  
Priest in the temple like as it is found  
Of jupiter with many mortal wound  
The roman slain that called was crassus  
With fire consumed was proud catulus   

All his enemies marrius did encoumbre  
Which again him by conspiration  
Were assented with a full great numbered  
In their advice for to have put him down  
Take from him his domination  
But he abode the tourment and the showers  
Strong to condemn all his conspirators   

six times aforne rehearsed here  
Of condition though he were despitous  
He was chosen so often consulere  
Till fortune 'gan wax envious  
again this said cruel marrius  
Which made the Senate with all the chivalry  
To grutch again his hateful tyranny   

In this time the story maketh mind  
Damasippus a pr●tor of the town  
Friendly to marryus and helping as I find  
Under a shadow of deception  
Unto their cite for to do treason  
Causing four romans come in ●●re  
Tofore marrius a certain day to appear   

And their names to put in memory  
Scevola carto and Domycyus  
The fourth of them as saith the story  
Called in rome the wise antistius  
Togedre assembled tofore marrius  
He of rancour again judgement or law  
Made them be slain and through the city draw   

Their bodies after were in tybre cast  
By cruelty of the said marrius  
All this while the cruel were last  
Tween him and scylla till duke campanyus  
Came to the party hardy and despitous  
To help Scylla their banners first displayed  
Whereof all rome was suddenly afraid   

at gate that called was collyne  
Marry and scylla had a great battle  
Four score thousand the number to termine  
On marrius side slain it is no fail  
Scylla victorious with martial apparel  
entering the town again his oath pard  
Three thousand citesyns slough at that city   

Of folk disarmed and naked in the town  
They nouther spared old nor young of age  
The cruel murders walking up and down  
By Scylla sent in that mortal rage  
Till Cattallus a prince fall in age  
Said unto scylla we can no difference  
Tween rebellion nor atwene Innocence   

We murder and slay without exception  
Both high and low holding no manner  
again all knighthood to mine opinion  
We do proceed in our conquest here  
Our title is lost the triumph to reqire  
Of high prowess when we can not observe  
No difference to slay nor to reserve   

And in this while of hateful cruelty  
Scylla contrived letters diffamable  
Whereby five hundred out of that cite  
Were falsely banished citesyns notable  
Ageyns them he was so untretable  
All their gods acheted in that rage  
Of avarice and of false pillage   

Another roman named marrius  
Brother to marrius of whom tofore I told  
For dread of Scylla fled and took an house  
Which unto goat was set up for a fold  
found and rend out in his days old  
With cords draw no rescus might him save  
Of cruel vengeance to catallus grave   

Where scylla made by cruel judgement  
With a sharp sword forged for to bite  
After time his iyens were out rend  
Both at once his hands of to smite  
His heed of smit no ransom might him quite  
Set on a pole it would be none other  
And of despite sent unto his brother   

To great marrius of whom I spoke now right  
The great duke so mighty and so huge  
Which had afore take him to the flight  
For fere of scylla in that mortal deluge  
In to a cite to find there refuge  
Called preveste there standing in great dread  
Namely when he beheld his brother's heed   

For as much as he no succour fond  
Disespeyred this was his purpose  
To slay him silf with his own hand  
In thilk place where he was kept clos  
Drew out a sword and up anon aros  
Constrained his servant in that sudden affray  
Smite of his heed the silf same day   

Men say how death is fine of all mischief  
End of adversity that doth wretches tarry  
Fortune here maketh another proof  
In marrius how she her course 'gan vary  
By an evidence hateful and contrary  
To show her malice and ungoodliheded  
again this duke alas when he was deed   

This froward lady of malice most vengeable  
When her list furiously to rave  
And show her silf cruel and unstable  
To none estate she list no reward have  
Caused marrius be take out of his grave  
By cruel scylla in story it is found  
His ugly careyn smit on pieces round   

And after more to show his cruelty  
Marrius should have no burienge place  
Cast his careyn of cankered enmity  
Into tybre there was none other grace  
Loo thus can fortune for her folk purchase  
By which example touching marrius  
Of worldly changes bochas writeth thus   

Maketh in this chapter a description  
First what thing is very gentleness  
To set a proof and a probation  
Nothing attaineth unto high noblesse  
But the clear shining of virtuous cleanness  
Which may not show in high nor low parage  
But where it groweth out of a pure courage   

Worldly power oppression tyranny  
earthly treasure gold stonies nor richesses  
Be no means unto gentry  
But if virtue rule their high prowess  
For where vices have interest  
In high birth mean or low kindred  
deem no man gentle but only by his deed   

In royal palasis of stone and metal wrought  
With galaryes or stately ●loistres round  
gentleness nor noblesse is not sought  
Nor in selers nor in voughties round  
But only there where virtue doth abound  
Corious clotheses nor great possessions  
Maketh not a man gentle but conditions   

Philosophers conclude in their intent  
And all these worthy famous old auctors  
Noman may queth in his testament  
gentleness unto his s●●●ssours  
Of wicked weed come none wholesome flowers  
Concluding thus of good men and of shrews  
Call each man gentle after his good thews   

Duke marrius of whom I spoke toforne  
Of nature the story beareth witness  
As by descent poor and needy borne  
By disposition of courageous noblesse  
Had in his person wit strength hardiness  
Under all this there did his heart mine  
A worm of avarice his worship to decline   

What 'vaileth plenty that never may suffice  
Or what the flood that stauncheth no thirst  
Or what an appetite which ever doth arise  
All way to eat and ever to eat hath lust  
Of cankered hungres so freting is the rust  
That the river of tantalus in his rage  
Of greedy etikies the fret may not assuage   

Of marrius ye have heard the end  
His woeful fall and his unhappy cas  
In to fate how he did wend  
Now will I follow mine author john bochas  
How unto him three cleopatras  
With look down cast woeful face and cheer  
All at once did to him appear   

The first of them by process of writing  
Had three husbands bochas doth express  
wedded in youth to alexander the king  
Called zebenna a prince of great noblesse  
After that for her great fairness  
She wedded was unto demetrius  
And last of all to king antiochus   

Of her three husbands woeful adventure  
And of her sons great unkindness  
Bochas afore hath done his busy cure  
seriously the manner to express  
Which to rehearse again were Idleness  
Sigh all the process here tofore is found  
Of the first and eke of the second   

Which wedded was to king tholome  
Like as afore eke made is mention  
Both of their joy and their adversity  
The first slain by drinking of poison  
And the second to her confusion  
By evergetes were she woe orfeyn  
Was with her child served that was slain   

The third wedded was to king Grispus  
Slain in a temple by full great outrage  
For dread and shame 'gan wax furious  
To save her silf knew none advantage  
Save she embraced of jupiter an Image  
In the story as here tofore is found  
Or she was deed suffered many a wound    

How king metrydate boode seven year in wilderness had great torments both on see and land/ by his blood brought to untraunce slough him self with a sword.  

i will pass over these cleopatras three  
Forth proceed to the hasty fate  
son execute by ꝑcas cruelty  
Upon the duke called metrydate  
First rehearse the great unkindly hate  
Of them that were his tutors as I read  
Him to destroy by assent of his kindred   

Which of purpose did his death provide  
By many uncouth strange occasion  
In tender youth first they made him ride  
Upon an horse wilder than a lion  
Of purpose only for his destruction  
But albe so that he was young of age  
The horse he ruled in all his most rage   

Nat of doctrine but only of nature  
He was disposed cunnyngly to ride  
Over him the mastery to recure  
Maugre the horse of wit he was his guide  
What way he took froward or aside  
He daunted him that where so ever he road  
Bridled him and on his back he bode   

His own kin and his next alyes  
Most laboured to bring him to mischief  
With venomous drink set on him espies  
At good leiser as doth a covert thief  
Of their fell poison for to make a proof  
In their intent this is well couth  
Him to murder in his tender youth   

But when that he apperceived their treason  
To save him silf made great ordinance  
Anon as he 'gan have suspicion  
Of their unkindly hateful purveyance  
For remedies made chevisance  
Was provided their malice to decline  
By many notable proved medicine   

And their malice prudently to eschew  
Is remembered while he was young of age  
With certain friends which that did him sue  
He disposed of custom his courage  
To hunt and chase beasts most savage  
Under that colour he did it for a wile  
Far fro his country absent him for awhile   

Of one courage one heart and one cheer  
Suffered manly took none heaviness  
In deserts space of seven year  
Among high hills bode in wyldrenesse  
Set in asia the story beareth witness  
Fond no lodging trasing the countries  
Save in kavernies and great hollow trees   

The book remembreth how that his diet  
Were beasts wild enchased with great might  
Fled Idleness eschewed all quiet  
And yltyll sleep sufficed him at night  
By excercise his body was made light  
There was nouther when him list pursue  
hart nor hind that might his hand eschew   

He neither dread tigers nor lions  
He was so swyst though they did him assail  
Like of strength to old champions  
No wild best of great nor small entrayle  
To escape his hand might not countrevayle  
If he were ware early other late  
So great swiftness had mitridiate   

Among he had in arms excercise  
Among to tourney and ren on horseback  
All delicate far he did also despise  
Of greedy excess in him there was no lak  
A nightertyme his sleep full often he broke  
Stoundemele the hours for to mark  
In the dawning rose up or the lark   

The space accomplished fully of seven year  
He is repaired home to his country  
showed him silf of manhood and of cheer  
Full like a knight his story who list see  
Whereof his enemies astonied be  
Caught of his coming in heart a manner dread  
Supposing afore that he was deed   

In whose absence his wife leodices  
Conveyed a child as made is mention  
For the diffame should not cumme in press  
Him for to murder she sought occasion  
Fully in purpose to slay him by poison  
Of which diffauties her lord was no thing fain  
Knowing the troth made her to be slain   

Took on him after many knightly deed  
First to conquer all Pafflogonye  
By the help of worthy Nychomede  
That time called king of bythynye  
Togydre assured to be of one ally  
In loss or lucre fortune to be their guide  
And thereto sworn never to divide   

To mitridiate legates were down sent  
From the romans him lowly requeringe  
That he would like to their intent  
Pafflogonye restore to their king  
Which he had won the cite assailing  
But he list not advertise their prayer  
Nor on no parties their requests here   

He dread not their threties nor manacies  
Gate proudly after the land of Galathye  
In his conquests won many other ●lacys  
Capadoce took to his party  
Slough their king of hatred and envy  
Ariarectes a full manly man  
And in this wise his conquest he began   

again th'assurance between him and nichomede  
All suddenly he 'gan fall at debate  
Thought he would warreye him in deed  
Because that he pompous and ●late  
In capadoce took on him thestate  
To regne as king ageyns his intent  
He neither being of counsel nor assent   

¶ Yet nichomede or they 'gan debate  
Had long afore to his own increases  
The sister wedded of that Mitridiate  
When they as brethren lived in rest and pes  
And she also was called leodyces  
Having two sons borne for to succeed  
After disses of saide Nychomede   

And by process these saide children twain  
In capadoce by help of mitridiate  
Cleymed a title justly for to attain  
Unto the crown their father died but late  
For which they 'gan felly to debate  
Till mitridiate falsely 'gan contrive  
His two nephews ungodly to deprive   

All Capadoce he took into his hand  
His own son he hath crowned king  
Capadociens by assent of all the land  
'Gan disobey of purpose his working  
When the romans considered all this thing  
A●●obarzenes in haste they sent down  
Geyn mitridiate to keep that region   

The son of whom fro them they have refused  
Out of their kingdom 'gan him to enchase  
For they sempt their fraunchise was abused  
To see a foreign occupy that place  
Mitridiate 'gan newly them menace  
And took with them to sustain his party  
Tygranes the king of armeny   

Arriobarzenes that was fro rome sent  
To capadoce to help them and counsel  
Of mitridiate knowing the intent  
How he came down proudly him t'assail  
With digranes set in the first battle  
Of capadoce that all the region  
Was brought that day to their subjection   

Thus mitridiate heaving his intent  
In short time cuntres' conquering  
Was mightiest prince of all the orient  
And in though days one the greatest king  
And as it is remembered by writing  
He delighted most in astronomy  
In sortilege and in sorcery   

And with all these he did his busy cure  
For to learn uncouth conclusions  
And secrets sought out by nature  
knew the languages of diverse regions  
Of two and twenty sundry nations  
And held women many more than one  
Loved hipsicrata above them everyone   

To the romans this manly mitridiate  
As books old record of him and sayne  
Upon a day of very cruel hate  
Through all as●e he bad that each roman  
Should of his men merciless be slain  
Twenty thousand he slough eke on a day  
Of roman merchants durst no man say nay   

To him he drough divers nations  
To encres his party by puissance  
Kymbroys Gallois with other regions  
Bostornois took to his alliance  
With strange people made his acquaintance  
Where that ever he road nigh or far  
With them of rome for to hold were   

In grece also he gate many an isle  
All ●●clades to his subjection  
Conquered so that within a while  
Of Athens he gate the famous town  
But when romans knew his entencion  
They sent scylla in a furious heat  
With mitridiate in grece for to meet   

Achelaus which that was constable  
leading the oft of king mitridiate  
'Gan again scylla trusting he was able  
Maugre romans with him to debate  
As they met in their furious hate  
Beside Orthonya of grece a great town  
Of achelaus the party was brought down   

There 'gan Scylla to be victorious  
Geyne mitridiate and by great violence  
Gate all ephese a kingdom full famous  
Road through asia fond no resistance  
By his knighthood and manly providence  
Capadoce Bithynye eke also  
To roman hands he gate them both two   

When mitridiate perceived hath this thing  
How the conquest of Scylla took increases  
Anon he cast without long tarrying  
For a time with him to have a pes  
Of high wisdom he was not reckless  
To dissimule till he fond time and space  
In fortune to find better grace   

Abode his time kept him silf close  
Till he fond leisure like his opinion  
In this while of adventure aros  
Within rome a great dissension  
Tween two consulers being in that town  
Which to appesse by his authority  
Scylla came up again to the city   

When Mitridiate his absence did espy  
To his purpose found opportunity  
gathered people and with his chivalry  
A siege laid unto Cyzite the city  
Of all asye most of authority  
Till Lucullus a mighty consulere  
To break the siege approach 'gan full near   

Mitridiate had on five captains  
Tofore the town made a discomfiture  
Of high despite he had to romans  
But Lucullus the damages to recure  
Tenclose his enemies did his busy cure  
To his minors gave anon in charge  
About the siege to make a dych full large   

They within had knowledging  
By certain toknes of all their governance  
Whereupon they made a tarrying  
To cast away for their deliverance  
Mitridiate saying their ordinance  
Of high prudence escaped away beside  
And at the sige list no longer abide   

Lucullus than the mighty consulere  
Pursued after slough of his main  
Such multitude that Asopus the river  
Was made with blood like the red se  
With wind and tempest fordryven also was he  
And when he saw no succour in the land  
To ship he went with strong and mighty hand   

He fond fortune cruel adversary  
On land and see this worthy mitridiate  
And neptunus made these contrary  
Ageyns him his puissance tabate  
What shall men call it influence or fate  
So suddenly a prince of high renown  
From high noblesse to be plunged down   

For any mischief he kept aye one visage  
This mitridiate and loath was for to ply  
Or for to bow so strong was his courage  
But eft again goth with his chivalry  
Toward adastrus an hill of armeny  
Where as pompey beset him environ  
Scent fro rome to his destruction   

Mitridiate making his lodging place  
Under that hill when it drew to night  
The troubly heaven with thundringe 'gan menace  
The fiery leaven dyrkyd hath his sight  
The cloudy moan eclipsed of her light  
Astonied him by unware violence  
That he stood confus of all providence   

He was by tempest and unware dyrknesse  
Almost made weary of his woeful life  
Yet I find of very kindness  
Hipsitraca which that was his wife  
neither for were nor no mortal strife  
Left him never disgysed of visage  
Followed him arrayed as a page   

¶ Yet in his most mortal heaviness  
When cloudy fortune 'gan him most menace  
Of his courage the natural quiknesse  
Appalled not nor removed from his place  
So high prowess did his heart embrace  
Nat despaired for no sudden fall  
Of condition he was so martial   

In tokne whereof he standing at mischief  
Changed neither cheer nor countenance  
An evidence and a full great proof  
Of manly force and heartily assurance  
Defiing fortune with all her variance  
When that he fond to his destruction  
Of disespeyre greatest occasion   

With him he had a bailiff as I find  
Called Castor which of condition  
Was to his lord falls and eke unkind  
And conspired again him falls treason  
In tokne whereof up to rome toun  
His lordys' children young and tender of age  
Like a thief he sent them in hostage   

One of his sons he murdered by treason  
Which mitridiate took full fore at heart  
Another son as made is mention  
false to his father which when he did advert  
The unkindness made him sore smart  
For of all vices shortly to conclude  
Worst of all is Ingratitude   

This same child of whom I make mind  
Called pharnax which again nature  
To his father traitor and unkind  
And his purpose again him to recure  
In all haste did his busy cure  
For to accomplyssh his purpose in party  
Drough to him hole his saders' chivalry   

By sleight and meed when he was made strong  
H● besieged his father round about  
Unto nature me seemeth he did wrong  
To put his father in so great adoute  
kindness was far shut without  
When the son with hate set afyre  
again his father listen falsely to conspire   

With multitude his father was constrained  
Maugre his might into a tour to i'll  
His son unkind hath at him disdained  
And yet for all his strange adversity  
Of his courage the magnanimity  
In his psone stood hole list not vary  
Though fortune was to him contrary   

¶ Yet mine author bochas berith record  
That mitridiate if it would have be  
Requeryd his son to be at accord  
And set aside all old contrariouste  
But he unkind indurat was pard  
Ever froward malicious of courage  
So disposed from his tender age   

So that the king mitridiate alas  
Was overcumme by unkindness  
That never afore in nomaner cas  
Stood dismayed but of high prowess  
Kept aye one face all passions to repress  
This virtue force by martial doctrine  
For none adversity suffered him decline   

End of his werrys and his mortal strives  
Of his debates and dissensions  
His concubines his daughters and his wives  
By mean only of certain potions  
Slough them all by drinking of poisons  
For he not would the cause to describe  
After his death they should bide on live   

His own death of mortal fell rigour  
Compassed afore thus he 'gan devise  
Made a french knight that was a soldier  
With a sharp sword in full cruel wise  
To run him through whereby the fraunchise  
Conserved was his purpose to fulfil  
He would not die but by his own will   

Lo here the end of king mitridiate  
Late princes all of his death take heed  
How recklessly he passed into fate  
And by assent made his heart bleed  
And bochas here who list his book to read  
plainly rehearsing but in words few  
To worldly princes doth his conceit show   

Lenuoye.  

MIghty princes life up your courages  
Toward heaven do your hearts dress  
Of your memou● turn up the visages  
Where joy is ever pes concord and gladness  
True harmony celestial sweetness  
counterpoise in your remembrance  
Worldly changes fortunes variance   

advertise the mortal fell outrages  
Of bloody werrys impossible to repress  
While falls envy with his furious ragys'  
In sundry realms hath so great intresse  
Slaughtre murder division falseness  
Which conscience have brought to uttraunce  
Through sudden change of worldly variance   

Rekne up princes that sat high on stagys'  
What was the fine of their royal noblesse  
Or of tyrants rekne up the bloody wagis  
Soden slaughter guyrdoned their wodnesse  
Metrydate can bear hereof witness  
By blood unkind brought unto ●ttraunce  
Through sudden change of worldly variauce   

Princis remember upon the golden ages  
When Saturn ruled the world in rightwiseness  
Next jupiter for peplies advantage  
The silvern world conserved in cleanness  
Which mars hath now turned to felnesse  
Made it steelen with sword dagger and lance  
Through sudden change of worldly variance   

Of Mitridiate register the viages  
Conspired poisons taffray his high prowess  
On land and see tempestuous passages  
By constraint bode seven year in wilderness  
Of his wand'ring poise thunsickerness  
His end in mischief knew none avoidance  
Geyne worldly change nor fortune's variance   

If negligence have brought you in rearages  
Toward god or he rekne in straightness  
Lat reason meddle for you to lay hostages  
Compassion mercy parting of all alms  
Toward heaven to support your feebleness  
When your merits shall poise in balance  
Of worldly changes and fortunes variance   

Death spareth neither high blood nor high lineages  
Have mind heron for any retchlessness  
Transitoire be here your pilgrimages  
Set with brygaunties unwarly you to oppress  
But of prudence by great adviseness  
With providence preserve your puissance  
Geyn worldly change and fortune's variance     

How Encratydes king of Sithye was slain by Demetry●s: and after his careyn cast to hound's  

NExt in order to bochas did apere  
A woeful prince that put him silf in pres  
Regning in Sithia his story doth us lere  
The name of whom was Encratides  
But to disturb his quiet and his pes  
again him plainly as I find  
Came demetrius the mighty king of●ynde   

Of whom the power and the violence  
To Encratydes was very importable  
besieged first and for lack of diffence  
Take at mischief his fone not merciable  
For demetrius was on him so vengeable  
When he was slain within his own bounds  
Made the careyn be cast out to the hounds   

Nat withstanding he was a worthy king  
Born of high blood such was his adventure  
Demetrius sone above all earthly thing  
hated him by record of scripture  
Of rancour denied his sepulture  
And for the matter is hateful and contrary  
On his story I will no lengre tarry    

How Herodes king of Parthos warred with romans: which after his son and heir was slain: made his bastard son king: That anon after slough his father  

tO Arthanabus whilom of parthos king  
I purpose my style to transport  
A full old prince had in his living  
Sons twain books so report  
Which in his age did him most comfort  
Mitridiate was the eldest brother  
And Herodes called was that other   

Mitridiate by reason of his age  
His father deed did after him succeed  
Which banished was for tyranny and outrage  
afterward for mischief and for need  
In to babylon he took his flight for dread  
The people anon after his parting  
Of Indignation made his brother king   

Thus came herod's to estate royal  
Pursued his brodre in to babylon  
laid a siege round about the wall  
They to him yielded up the town  
Thus was his brother brought to confusion  
Afore the castle without lengre date  
Made smite of the heed of metrydate   

In parthoes after he took possession  
Thus young herod's of volunte and pride  
'Gan a were again them of rome town  
Whom to withstand they list not long abide  
The consul Crassus came down to their side  
Commanded was short process for to make  
Toward parthois his voyage for to ta●e   

Crassus list not tentre in that ream  
Left parthos the story doth devise  
Took his way toward jerusalem  
To take there a solemn emprise  
In the temple only of covetise  
Took there again the title of rightwiseness  
Up all their treasure and their great richesses   

By which he gate in diverse regions  
great multitude to hold up his party  
Led with him elevene legions  
Toward parthoys fast 'gan him high  
By his letters proudly 'gan diffye  
The said Herodes and with great apparel  
Mid his country proffered him battle   

The next morrow when crassus took the field  
To him was brought of black a cote armure  
Which when his knightis avisely beheld  
Dempt it a tokne of discomfiture  
For in contrair romans do their cure  
When their captain shall fight or the heed  
His cote armure is other white or read   

another tokne froward to behold  
The first Eagle beat in his banner  
Also soon as men did it unfold  
Contrariously he turned look and cheer  
The back to Cras●us folk saw that stood near  
A pronostyk too romans full certain  
How fortune to them was that day again   

By the flood passing of Eustrates  
With unware tempests his standardis everyone  
In to the river were cast among the press  
To rekne them all upright stood not one  
Whereof astonied they would no ferther go  
These pronostikes made them so afraid  
Like men in heart despaired and dismayed   

Of these toknes crassus was reckless  
The pronostikes also he did despise  
Took upon him to pass Eufrates  
To enter parthoys only for covetise  
To whom herod's sendeth in this ●ase  
That his coming was more for pillage  
Than for knighthood manhood or courage   

All the power of parthoys though came down  
With many perfect and many great constable  
again crassus and them of rome town  
Which as I told abode on their pillage  
That turned after to their great damage  
The son of Crassus slain in that fray  
His father take and all upon a day   

His hedesmyt of in whom was no diffence  
And discomfited with many legion  
The heed of crassus brought to the presence  
Of herod's within his royal town  
Which hath commanded gold to be brought down  
To be molte there as he lay deed  
And to pour thereof full his heed   

This thing was done for a mockery  
In sign only the story doth devise  
That gold nor treasure upon no party  
Staunch might his thirst of covetise  
Such greediness each man should despise  
For avarice of custom in each place  
Of high prowess doth the price difface   

Herodes after did search all the wards  
Through all the field upon Crassus' side  
Took the penouns banners and standardies  
And in his temples large long and wide  
let hang● them up of surquedy and pride  
In sign only and eke for a memory  
He of romans hath get the victory   

With which he list not only be content  
weening his fortune should abide stable  
In to surrye he hath his son sent  
Called pachorus made him a constable  
Of that region with him to be ꝑtable  
Of all treasures and meobles that he fond  
Wherever that he road throughout all the land   

This parchorus by his chivalry  
increases 'gan in his tender age  
Whereof herod's his father had envy  
fearful it should turn to his damage  
Jest he would by title of heritage  
Maugre him at his again coming  
Take upon him of parthoes to be king   

Than pachorus was called home again  
And of surrye where in conclusion  
All that he had wrought was in veyn  
Because one Cassus fro rome was come down  
Slough all the people in that region  
Which appertained to pachorus as I find  
Without capteyn for they were left behind   

To witstande this roman Cassius  
Herodes hath his son sent again  
Which anon after the story telleth thus  
Amid the field unhappyly was slain  
To trust fortune it is a thing but vain  
Which of custom to day is favourable  
And to morrow gerysshly changeable   

Of pachorus death when the noise aros  
And the distrussing of his chivalry  
And to herod's abiding in parthoes  
Tiding was brought feared as he would die  
Of heartily sorrow fill into frenzy  
Heir was none left of the royal lines  
Save thirty bastards borne of concubines   

Thus herod's was cast in great sickness  
His sons death was to him Importable  
His worldly joy was go and his gladness  
Fortune contrary which never can be stable  
Age fill on his life was not durable  
And of one thing most he did him dread  
'Cause he had none heir to succeed   

Which would not suffer him live in pes  
Till at the last he caught a fantasy  
Chase a bastard called pharactes  
Because he was famous in chivalry  
Gave him the crown and the regal  
Which anon after bruely to conclude  
Slough herod's of Ingratitude    

How Fymbria a consul of rome slough him silf.  

AFter to bochas by process of the book  
Four mighty princes notable of estate  
Toward him they cast cheer and look  
Like unto folk that were infortunate  
With whom fortune had been at debate  
For by their manner as it sempt weal  
They were at mischief fall fro her wheel   

First Fymbria a roman consulere  
Scent by the romans to a great city  
Called nichomede came as a messangere  
To help flactus slain by great adversity  
As he entered into that country  
After whose death his ꝑty to advance  
Of flaccus main took the governance   

Of presumption without authority  
This Fymbry● by diligent labour  
Full far above his state and his degree  
Took upon him by fortunes falls favour  
To be called captain and emperor  
Through all that country bokys specefie  
Of whose presumption Scylla had envy   

Pursued him through many great cite  
To a castle made him take his flight  
Where Fymbrya of great necessity  
Constrained was maugre all his might  
Disespeyred forsake of every wight  
To slay him silf the story telleth thus  
Within the temple of Esculapius    

OF Albynius that was slain with stonies  

ANother consul stood in cas semblable  
In his time called albynyus  
Whoos hateful pride was abominable  
To all folkys lothsum and odious  
Which like a rebel wode and furious  
again romans oftener than once  
When he jest wend slain was with stonies    

How adrianes borne of low degree falsely usurped to be king of rome which with his churls was after brent.  

nExt Adryan which rose to high estate  
In his time called Albynius  
First in rome borne of low degree  
To govern of affryk the country  
Whereof his own pompous authority  
Took upon him by subtle falls working  
Maugre romans there to be crowned king   

Whom to support shortly to conclude  
Was a great number of the comonte  
Of chorls gathered a confus multitude  
Title was non nor ground but volunte  
gentle men than being in that country  
All of assent and one opinion  
assembled them to his destruction   

At utices a large great cite  
Him and his churls beset round about  
Of wood and faggot with large quantity  
In cumpas wise closed him without  
gathered with him of vyleyns a great rout  
Laid on fire that with flame read  
Echon consumed into ashes deed    

How Synthonyus king of trace that much coveted all forewent and died in poverty  

nExt Adrian came Synthony●s  
Tofore bochas with teries sprained his face  
As the story rehearseth unto us  
In his time he was king of trace  
F●ll suddenly from fortune's grace  
Cast down low from his estate royal  
Which came to bochas to compleyn his fall   

whose purpose was if it would have be  
sevene realmys to have conquered with his hand  
That were subject to rome the city  
And all seven were of greeks land  
Who all coveteth ye shall understand  
He all forgoth full well affirm I dare  
At unset hour whereof each man beware   

Long or his conquest was brought to apreef  
From her wheel fortune cast him down  
The praetor Sencius brought him to mischief  
Died in poverty as made is mention  
And Bochas here make a digression  
Compendiously within a little space  
To descrive the region of trace    

Here bochas in ꝑty maketh a description of the kingdom of Trace and passeth over lightly unto the accomplysshment of his book  

TRace whilom a country of great fame  
And containeth a full large space  
And of tyras it took first the name  
Son of japhet and so was called trace  
Which many a day dwelled in that place  
Toward Septemptrion plenteous of good  
Beside Dynoe the large famous flood   

southward trace runneth the flood Egee  
Macedoyne standeth in the occident  
And the kingdom called Perpontidee  
Stant in trace toward the orient  
Where great plenty of blood was shed and spent  
When Sencius through his high prowess  
King Adrian there manly did oppress   

Ebrus in trace is the chief rite  
As mine author maketh mention  
I castnat to tarry in this matter  
To make of trace a description  
But to proceed in my translation  
Follow mine author which writeth a long process  
Of great Pompey and his worthiness    

How after many great conquests of duke Pompey began great were between him and julyus' Three hundred thousand were slain and at the last the heed of pompey smetyn of  

tHis pompeius of whom the name is couth  
Wis and worthy and famous of prowess  
Took upon him in his tender youth  
After his father by fortunate duresse  
Called pompey the story beareth witness  
distrussed was by sudden death coming  
The story saith through thundering and lightening   

His host destroyed by the violence  
Of unware tempest like as saith the book  
Forty thousand slain in that pestilence  
For fere the remnant the field anon forsook  
Till young pompeie of courage on him took  
In his beginning proudly to proceed  
Full like a knight his fathers host to lead   

Rome that time by their dissensions  
Among them silf nigh brought to ruin  
By the froward false divisions  
Tween mary and Scylla briefly to termine  
Till that a new son 'gan to shine  
Of worthiness which shed his light  
In manly pomp ye the noble famous knight   

This saide pompey this noble knightly man  
At his beginning through his chivalry  
The proud captain slough when he began  
Which of marrius held up the party  
Called Brutus which in lombardy  
Was by pompeie through knightly governance  
With all his host brought unto mischance   

In his beginning pompey eke also  
To set romans in rest and quiet  
One that was called Gueeus carbo  
He slough him knightly when he did him meet  
Which in Scicile proudly held his feet  
And all the countries about him environ  
Pompeie made them subject to rome town   

After all this pompeius on the se  
With many a ship stuffed with victual  
Toward afrique made a great arm  
And there in haste after his arrival  
With domicyus had a great battle  
Brought the country through his high renown  
To be to rome under subjection   

He pursued the great mighty king  
Called jertha to marrius favourable  
And had also his royal abiding  
In Numedye a country full notable  
again pompei his power was not able  
For at a castle as they met in fight  
He slough king jertha full like a manly knight   

This in brief time holding his passage  
From common profit as made is mention  
By his wisdom and knightly high courage  
Brought all afrique to subjection  
Which stood afore in rebellion  
To the romans but all their sturdiness  
The said pompeie did in haste redress   

The greatest enemy again rome toun  
Thilk days was one Sertorius  
And of fortune which is now up now down  
On pompeie once was victorious  
But after son of him it happened thus  
Among his main falling at debate  
He slain was in his most high estate   

After the death of this Sertorius  
Came Porpenna pompeie for tasseyle  
And as they met anon pompeius  
Full like a knight slough him in battle  
Which victory greatly did avail  
To the romans after by governance  
He brought spain to their obeisance   

By authority you by the senate  
This noble pompey for veil of the city  
Upon the se would suffer no pirate  
Where ever he came fro him they did i'll  
For with his ships he scored so the se  
And bore him there so manly with his hand  
That maugre them he brought them to the land   

All these pirates and these falls robbour●  
I gathered out were of the region▪  
called Scicile which like to ravynours  
Made again rome a conspiration  
robbed spoiled seyling up and down  
Roman merchants and people of each country  
That none was hardy to pass by the se   

After pompeie hath made these to obey  
That pirate none durst thereon abide  
He by the Senate was sent out to warray  
Toward the orient his knights by his side  
And where so ever that he did abide  
Mine author writ by influence of heaven  
His conquest was swift as fire or levene   

And to encres of his eternal glory  
Perpetually to get him a name  
His laud and renown to put in memory  
He builded a cite in asia of great fame  
Called Nychopoly bochas saith the same  
Tween two floods that one araxases  
And that other was called cufrates   

He builded this city only of intent  
That roman knights that were fall in age  
And such as were in the werrys spent  
Should of custom have their herbergage  
In that city alway and not fail  
Bedding clothes spending and victual   

Pompey after road into armeny  
Rebel to rome where Tigranes was king  
fought with him there and through his chivalry  
discomfited him there was none abiding  
Where Tigranes him silf submitting  
Unto pompey with every circumstance  
Ever to abide under his obeisance   

Than in all haste pompey 'gan him high  
To ride in asia where like a manly knight  
He gate the kingdom called Albany  
Which took his name who so look aright  
Of whiteness for every manner wight  
That there is borne by record of writing  
white as snow hath his here shining   

There been hounds marvelous of nature  
For t'assail bolys and lions  
No wild be'st may again him dure  
So pompey by many regions  
Road through armeny with his chaumpions  
Where grown herbs that may never faint  
What ever colour men list with them paint   

conquered realmys about in every coost  
Of hiberye he gate the region  
And artaces the king with all his oft  
discomfited as made is mention  
With his power to Surrye he came down  
Than to fenyce a kingdom of great fame  
Which of fe●●x whilom took his name   

Brought all these countries to subjection  
Of Cydonye the mighty strong cite  
Of Iturie he took possession  
Through araby he came down to Ind  
Which of Iewes was sometime the country  
Of lybanus he passed the mountain  
Where cedars grow as auctors say   

Scent tofore him entering in that ream  
One Gabynus amighty strong constable  
Regning that time in jerusaleme  
Aristobolus a prince full notable  
And for the temple was strong and premyable  
Laid a siege about in breed and lengeth  
Space of three menethies gate it so by strength   

Three thousand jews under the wall were found  
Deed at the assault which made resistance  
The wall after betyn down to ground  
Pompey after by sturdy violence  
Is entered in without reverence  
Sancta sanctorum men that place call  
Made Hircanius highest priest of all   

The great bishop Aristob●lus  
Scent to rome in mighty cheynies bound  
Toward septentrion I find written thus  
Gate seven kingdoms with cities walled round  
Rebel to rome he did them confound  
With mighty sword gate all the country  
from cancasus down to the red se   

In his conquest it sempt verily  
As the goddies had done their cure  
And that fortune was with them eke busy  
This mighty pompeie prince of assure  
What ever him list by conquest to rec●●e  
In spain he gate when they were rebels  
Three hundred cities and sixty strong castles   

Hard to remember his conquests everyone  
All the prowessies of this knightly man  
Toward the party of Septemtrion  
A thousand castles I find that he won  
Six hundred more fro time that he began  
Eight and thretty cities out of doubt  
With mighty wallys closed round about   

poise his deeds his conquests martial  
Thrice consul chose for his increases  
Reed ye shall find how he was equal  
To alexander or to hercules  
Where that ever he put him silf in pres  
All came to hand concluding ye may see  
To common profit of rome the city   

His martial deeds to put in remembrance  
One was chose to do his diligence  
To enact his conquest in substance  
And his knighthood to singular excellence  
And triffanes famous of eloquence  
Assigned was unto that labour  
Took his guerdon of their common treasure   

Pompey of rome was chief governor  
Cesar absent in Gaul a far country  
Which time pompeie stood in great favour  
Both of fortune and rome the cite  
somewhat made blind of his prosperity  
purposing in his climbing not stable  
He would have none that were to him semblable   

Unto purpose was said full yore agoon  
How that love neither high lordship  
proof hath be made in many more than one  
Nouther of them would have no felawshipe  
Each by his one would his party keep  
In these two cas brother unto brother  
Faileth at a point each will put out other   

To pompeie resorting now again  
He took on him all the governail  
Of the romans as ye have heard me sayn  
Both of estatis commons and porail  
And for his part all that might avail  
In making laws statute or decree  
All up engrossed by his authority   

folk this while which that had envy  
Toward cesar in his long absence  
let make a law by conspiracy  
And a statute concluding in sentence  
Without exception favour or reverence  
No man should by will of the senate  
In his absence be chose to none estate   

Nor be admitted by no procuratoure  
To have authority of dignity nor offyre  
In court of tribune nor of senator  
To be promoted this was their advice  
Were he never so manly nor so wis  
This law ordained by folk envious  
For hindering only of cesar julius   

When julius knew all their falls werkinge  
From gall sent up to the city  
All the senate requering by writing  
To grant him by their authority  
Of triumph the notable dignity  
To have also thoffices and estate  
Called in rome the second consulate   

For him alleging many great victory  
In divers countries done for the city  
Many conquest notable of memory  
Wrought by his knighthood for which of equity  
Requering them guirdoned for to be  
But contrary unto his intent  
Denied him all by one assent   

Which was chief ground rote and occasion  
That brought in first the controversy  
Civyly discordies froward division  
When every man drough to his party  
Of old hatred to kindle new envy  
causing princes julius and Pompey  
To their confusion each other to warray   

The triumph denied to cesar  
Fraud of pompey made him thereof fail  
Of whose deceit julius was war  
Made him ready with many strong battle  
Passed over the alpies of italy  
Fully in purpose plainly if he might  
With the romans and pompey for to fight   

Thus 'gan the wars atween these princes twain  
Pompeie chose for party of the town  
To be their duke and capteyn sovereign  
again Cesar as made is mention  
And thus alas the disolation  
Sued of the cite by many strange sign  
With uncouth toknies when they 'gan malign   

At the beginning of these woeful werrys  
In the heaven were seen dreadful sighties  
Sparkling brands cometis uncouth sterris  
With flame of fire many fearful lighties  
Like lamps brenning all the long nighty●  
Casting of speries darts in the air  
Whereby romans fill in great despair   

From the party of Septemtrion  
Toward rome came full great lightening  
At noon seen sterrys like blood the son shone  
The moon eclipsed terrible in showing  
The mount Ethna fearful brenning  
From his cavernies castup flame read  
Toward italy which set them in right great dread   

But of caribdies a danger of the se  
Wawys terrible boiled up like blood  
From the rokkies that in Scicile be  
Was herd howling of hounds that were wood  
Vesta the goddess in rome where she stood  
Mid her temple was all with teries sprained  
When the heavenly fires were afore her quaint   

Afore the goddess at the altar principal  
Was fire perpetuell brenning day and night  
Till werrys civil hateful and terrible  
'Gan among romans in the contagious fight  
Than of vengeance anon was quaint the light  
Tofore vesta the fire parting on twain  
Of division a tokne full certain   

Earth quaves sudden and terrible  
Ouertourned castles up so down  
With rage floods hideous and horrible  
Neptunus did great destruction  
Drowned villages and many mansion  
Reversyd in templies of gold all their vessels  
Threw down banners standardies and pencils   

Geyne these signs was found none arrest  
The unware mischief could no man decline  
lions wolves came down fro the forest  
With many other beasts savagyne  
Wild beasts and serpents of ravin  
Came to the city and sum again kind  
Spoke as do men in bochas thus I find   

diverse folks which of their nature  
〈◊〉 in custom to i'll but a night  
Afore these werrys did him silf assure  
Euene at midday when phoebus is most bright  
Through then cite for to take their flight  
women with child the story list not feign  
Brought forth sum that had hedys' twain   

Tofore these werrys that called were civil  
Senators being in rome town  
C●m to the woman that called was cibyle  
Unto h●r made this question  
To declare by short conclusion  
Among their other questions all  
Of their cite what fortune should befall   

To whom she gave an answer full obscure  
Whereupon she made them sore muse  
Took them six letters set in plain scripture  
Which in no wise they might not refuse  
For false rights that they did use  
Like the three letters twice set in number  
Who understandeth they shall the town encoumbre   

Three R R R first she set on a row  
And three F F F in order fast by  
Long time after or they could know  
The exposition thereof opynly  
Till their divynours 'gan search subtilely  
To find out like to their intent  
By the six letters what Cybile meant   

O of this word regnum the first letter is R  
So is the capital of rome the cite  
Who look aright the third is not far  
This word Ruet gynneth with R pard  
Of which words when they joined be  
The sentence concludeth in meaning  
Of their city the Ruyno us falling   

touching three F F FLETCHER who can advertise  
Of this word ferro FLETCHER goth toforne  
And the chief letter of fames to devise  
Is FLETCHER also the process well forth borne  
The same of Flamma by which the town was lost  
Of which reasons make a conjunction  
Causing of room fin all destruction   

Fire sword and hunger caused by the werrys  
Desire of climbing froward ambition  
Showing of cometis and of uncouth sterris  
With pronostekies of their desertion  
Worst of all wilful division  
Among them silf by unware violence  
Of letters six accomplished the sentence   

The sword of Cesar werrys of pompey  
Tween these twain lasting a great while  
Made many roman and Italien to die  
By the battles that called were civil  
With prophecies remembered of Cybile  
As the writing full well rehearse can  
Of the old poet that called was lucan   

In martyrs temple on heith where he stood  
And bellona the goddess despitous  
The presties cried and offered up their blood  
With lamentation like folk furious  
Cause of toknes fell and contrarious  
Which that were showed in that sentuary  
How their goddies to romans were contrary   

'Mong deed bonies that lay in their gravis  
Were voycis herd like woodmen in their ragin  
Cry of goosties in kavernies and ka●ys  
Heard in feldys' pathiss and passages  
labourers fled home to their villages  
serpents adders scaled silver bright  
Were over rome say flying all the night   

Another tokne piteous for to here  
Which astonied many proud roman  
Deed bodies did in the field appear  
Which in battle had afore be slain  
From their tombs arising where they lain  
Which in the wars woeful and despitous  
Were slain by Scylla and proud martius   

It was eke told by their diviners  
How pompeius was like to have a fall  
And how thestate of roman emperors  
With their triumphs that be Imperial  
At juluis first begin shall  
And after him thestate shall forth proceed  
By election or lynyall kindred   

To withstand the power of cesar  
Which toward rome took his weigh right  
Pompey was sent wis manly and right war  
But when he heard tell of the might  
Of julius he took him to the flight  
Eke all the senators with him did i'll  
Toward Epire in grece a strong city   

Pompeie was old famous in chivalry  
Cesar but young hardy for to assail  
Upon the pleyns of grece and thessalye  
Pompey and he had a great battle  
Geyn julius sword no roman might avail  
Constrained of force the field to forsake  
Toward Egypt they have the weigh take   

Pompey through cypre came to Tholome  
By a great water at paphus did arrive  
On the strand there he did see  
A stately place and up he went belive  
The name of which plainly to describe  
Cacobasile the country did it call  
Of which name the fortune is thus fall   

The name tokneth of froward arrival  
Swooning in great unhappy adventure  
By which the trust of pompey did fail  
Fill in despair might it not recure  
Forsook that Isle did his busy cure  
To take a ship so by the se sailing  
Toward Egypt where tholome was king   

Of trust he fled to this tholome  
In hope he should find in him succour  
Fair cheer showed under duplicity  
Failed at the point gave him faint favour  
Albe pompey by his friendly labour  
Crowned him king in Egypt as I find  
To whom again he was false and unkind   

To meet pompey he let stuff a barge  
By a manner pretence of frendlyhede  
Gave his meinie that were there in charge  
To murder pompeie byhight them a great meed  
twain there were that bore to him hatred  
And in the vessel with sharp swords whet  
Or he was ware of his heed they smet   

That one of them was called achyllas  
And his fellow named was fotyne  
Took up the heed of that prince alas  
Famous in knighthood borne of gentle line  
Among romans as auctors determine  
Bold in his time if men do him right  
Through all the world one the best knight   

Thus earthly princes with all their pompous fame  
Which through all the world giveth so great a sound  
Of slaughtre and murder they took first their name  
By falls ravin and extortion  
clomb up first so to domination  
Brenning of countries conquest by violence  
Set them in chairs of worldly excellence   

In this battle that called was civil  
Hold atween pompey and cesar julius  
Three hundred thousand slain within a while  
Three thousand take the story telleth thus  
Without princes notable and glorious  
As kings pretours reckoned all atonies  
Trybunys consulys and centuryonies   

Phoebus on the soil might not his beams spread  
Nor on the ground show out his clear light  
Men that were slain lay so thick on breed  
That of the earth noman had a sight  
wolfs bears ravenous fowls of flight  
Came great plenty to feed them there each day  
Beside the river of Nile where they lay   

Gobettys of flesh which fowls did arare  
from deed bodies borne up in the air  
Fill fro their clees upon julius face  
Amid the field where he had repair  
Made his visage bloody and not fair  
Albe that he to his encreas of glory  
Had thilk day of romans the victory   

The heed of pompey brought with his stately ring  
Offered up to julius high presence  
He by compassion the murder advertising  
Of his Innat imperial excellence  
Braced out to weep and in his advertence  
Thought great pity a prince of so great might  
Should so be slain that was so good a knight   

The coors abode without sepulture  
Till one Codrus of compassion  
After the battle and discomfiture  
Besought him of great affection  
To hide the Trunk low in the sondies down  
Sought timber and there he fond but small  
To do exequys with fires funeral   

Now sith this prince came to such mischief  
Murdryd and slain by tholome the king  
Here of her power fortune hath made a proof  
What trust there is in any worldly thing  
After his death wanted he not burying  
This proud pompeie so famous of his hand  
Of fish devoured as he lay on quyksonde   

What shall men set by power or noblesse  
Of slydinge gods or any worldly glory  
Which to restrain may be no syerenesse  
Fortune and the world is transitory  
Though mars to day give a man victory  
Parca's tomorrow unwarly he shall deie  
I take record of Cesar and pompey   

Sigh all stant under daungere of fortune  
y● worldly men do your look up dress  
To thilk place where joy doth aye co●●une  
The blind lady hath there none interest  
Se● pride aside take you to meekness  
To 〈◊〉 virtue do truly your labour  
●●yn worldly pomp make pompeie your mirror   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy of the duke pompey  
Declareth in psss the chief occasion  
Why he and cesar 'gan first werreie  
Each again other through vain ambition  
To have lordship and domination  
Over the romans by favour fraud or might  
Possession take no force of wrong nor right   

To trouthis party pride is loath to obey  
Extort power doth great destruction  
Wis policy all out of the weigh  
Prudente counsel age with discretion  
Lost their liberty of free election  
Who was most strong with him held every wight  
Possession take no force of wrong nor right   

Such division made many man to die  
Brought the cite to disolation  
With two princes fortune list to pley●  
Till from her wheel she cast them both down  
subtle diceit fraud and collusion  
By ambitious climbing blended their both light  
Possession take no force of wrong nor right   

Noble princes remember what I say  
poise this story within in your reason  
Of false surmounting avarice beareth the key  
Record of Cesar pompey of rome town  
Whoos wilful werrys hateful dissension  
Yeveth clear warning to you and every wight  
No claim is worth without title of right     

How victorious julius Cesar brent the vessels of Tholome: slough achilles that would have murdered him: and after great victories him self was murdered with bo●dekens by brutus Cassius  

AFter the woeful complaint lamentable  
Of pompeis death piteous for to here  
wars remembered with treasons importable  
Compassed frauds fraced with fair cheer  
Conspired murder rehearsed the manner  
How king tholome fraudolent of courage  
The death conspired of pompeie fall in age   

The process told I hold it were but veyn  
Thereof to writ a new tragedy  
Thing once saide it to rehearse again  
It were but idle as for that party  
But how cesar went out of thessaly  
Came to alexander to lodge him in that place  
I will remember with support of your grace   

He lodged was in the paleis royal  
Where he was busy by diligent labour  
Through that region in temples royal  
To spoil goddies and have all their treasure  
Where he was mocked fond there no favour  
For achilles which that slough pompeie  
Cast him with cesar proudly to werreye   

His purpose was to fall upon cesar  
As of nature was his condition  
Falsely to murder men or they were war  
By some sleight to find occasion  
To destroy julius by treason  
And to accomplissh his purpose in party  
Had twenty thousand in his company   〈…〉   

Incipit Liber Of Antonye son and heir to great Antonye: An●  

tHis story ended last of the sixth book  
Bochas weary thought for the best  
Of great travail oppressed in his book  
Fill in a slumber leaning on his chest  
Fully in purpose to have take his rest  
But even as ●ere●t should have take  
Came a great pres and made him to awake   

First of that fellowship came the son and heir  
Of antonye with blood sprained all his weed  
Called antonye fall in great despair  
'Cause Octavyan bore to him hatred  
Whoos sword he fled quaking in his dread  
To an old temple succour for to have  
Trusting from death the place should him save   〈…〉 

As the priests did their busy cure  
To offer a calf anon or they took heed  
The same calf a thing again nature  
Brought forth a lamb the same time I read  
An ugly tokne which put them in full great dread  
A contrary pron●sticacion  
showed unto them of their subversion   

With other toknies froward and contrary  
The same time were showed ever among  
The brazen doors of the inward sentwarye  
With iron barrys shut that were most strong  
Brode of entail round and wonder long  
That might not move with thretty men's might  
Opnyd by them silf twice on a night   

There were sayne also chair's in the air  
Men of arms with bright swords clear  
Of plate and mail armure was so fair  
Bright as phoebus where they did appear  
And as the story also doth us lere  
With their sheltrons and their apparel  
A profre made their cite jerlm for to assail   

To the jews it did signify  
A prognostic of their destruction  
Preesties to the temple as they did them high  
Upon a night to do oblation  
Amid the temple was herd a dreadful sound  
Of which noise this was the dreadful end  
Rys up echon and let us hens wend   

And full four year tofore the siege 'gan  
One ananyas young and tender of age  
Of his birth son of a rude man  
By disposition dull of his courage  
Like as he had fall in a rage  
Run in the city by a manner frenzy  
Spared not with opyn mouth to cry   

Unto this noise was made non obstacle  
But obstinate ever to his intent  
Day of the feast hold in the tabernacle  
A voice quod he out of the orient  
Voice fro the south fro north and occidente  
Voice fro the four winds that blow so broad & wide  
Voice again jerusalem crieth out on every side   

Voice geyn the temple again the people also  
Voice again husbands voice again their wives  
Woe to jerusalem with a triple woe  
Of hungres thrust and losing of their lives   〈…〉 

〈…〉  
Which have italy like a son clear  
With poetry plainly to describe  
Most sovereignly enlumyned by your live   

I have desired as it is well couth  
Of rightful heart by humble attendance  
To do you worship fro my tender youth  
And so shall ever void of all variance  
During my life for truly in substance  
You have been lantern light and direction  
Aye to support mine occupation   

As in writing books to compile  
Chief example to my great advantage  
To reform the rudeness of my style  
With aureat colours of your fresh language  
Butt now for dulled by impotence of age  
Of decrepytus' marryed with many a sign  
My labour up of writing I resign   

I cast me not forth to proceed  
stand at a bay for dryvene for weariness  
Quod Francis petrak lose not thus thy meed  
Yeve men no cause to report nor express  
In thy last age thou hast found a mastresse  
Which hath the bridled in sooth and that is routh  
And holdeth thy rene and she is called sloth   

An evident tokne of froward slogardye  
〈…〉 to ●resse  
Rise up for shame for I can well espy  
Folk that can groan and feel no sickness  
Their chaumbyrleyn is called Idleness  
Which leith thy pillow at eve and at morrow  
Void her from the and let her go with sorrow   

To all virtue froward and contrary  
Is Idleness here in this present life  
Which hath the draw away fro thy library  
Will the not suffer to be contemplative  
For her condition is to hold strife  
With every virtuous occupation  
Which men should void of wisdom and reason   

In this matter what should I long tarry  
Thy slumber leave and up thine iyens dress  
The book I made of life solitary  
Remember thereon the which in sekirnesse  
teacheth the way of virtuous business  
By and by who list read every line  
Of contemplation moral and divine   

As I said erst yet lift up thy look  
Forsake thy bed rise up anon for shame  
wouldest thou rest now upon thy seventh book  
And leave thy eight in sooth thou art to blame  
proceed forth and get thy silf a name  
And with one thing do thy silf a comfort  
As thou deservest men after shall report   

Make a comparison between dyrknesse and light  
Tween Idleness and occupation  
Tween fair days and the cloudy night  
Tween a coward prowess and high renown  
Tween virtuous speech and false detraction  
And to conclude all vices to repress  
Contrary to sloth is virtuous business   

Virtuous business O bochas take good heed  
Reneweth all things of old antiquity  
Maketh men to live after they be deed  
Remembreth the noblesse of many great city  
And ne were writers all were gone pard  
Wherefore bochas sith thou art near the land  
Suffer not thy ship to stumble on the sonde   

Imene as thus the ship of thy travail  
Which hath passed the se of books seven  
Cast not ankre till thou have good rivayle  
L●te no tempest of thunder 〈…〉  
Nor no winds of the cloudy heaven  
Nor no false jangelers of demers that will belive  
Deprave thy labour late thy ship to aryue   

Bast on thy weigh late grace cross thy sail  
Fall on no sonde of wilful negligence  
Late good will be chief of thy counsel  
To guy thy rother set enter diligence  
If victual fail and wine to thy dispense  
Yet at the last think for thy succour  
Sum royal prince shall quite thy labour   

Think by writing auctors did their pain  
To give princes their commendations  
To Remus Romulus called founders twain  
Of rome town and of two scipions  
They wrote the knighthood prudence of two catons  
Of julius/ pompey/ hanyball eke also  
By example of whom look that thou do so   

Of prophets they wrote the prophecies  
And the nobles of old moyses  
Of poets the laureate poesies  
The force of sampson the strength of hercules   〈…〉  

Octauus 〈…〉 ●ure of Rome/ and many other Emperors and nobles 〈…〉 ●ly ended  

〈…〉  
This same tyrant reigning in his estate  
To all the cite was passing odious  
Best and most worthy he slough of the Senate  
And unto all that were virtuous  
Mortal enemy and most malicious  
And for slaughter of senators in the town  
Axed the triumph as made is mention   

Made among jews by full great outrage  
Where as he had greatest suspicion  
To slay all though that were of the lineage  
Of David's kindred of king Solomon  
Jest he were put out of domination  
Among jews this was his meaning  
Slough all though that was borne to be king   

Amid the paleis as god would of right  
Punyssh a tyrant and quite him his meed  
This domician was slain upon a night  
His carrion after unburied as I read  
And comodus doth after him succeed  
Which was all you by fleshly appetite  
To leave all virtue and follow his delight   

Theatre plays of custom he did use  
As was the custom there and the usage  
His life in vices he falsely did abuse  
In lecherous lusts dispent all his young age  
To the romans did full great damage  
For of the senate that were most virtuous  
Were falsely slay by this Comodus   

In his time by stroke of thondredent  
And fiery lightning that came down fro heaven  
The common library was of the city brent  
With royal books of all the crafts seven  
Books of poets more than I can neven  
And Comodus briefly to termine  
Was slain and strangled by his concubine   

HElmus pertynax came nex on the ring  
Ordained after emperor of that town  
old and unwieldy slain in his beginning  
After whom 〈…〉  
By no title of succession  
But an Intrusoure one called julian  
Thestate usurping to regne there began   

But of the noble lineage african  
Born in Tripoli a mighty great city  
One Severus that was a knightly man  
gathered of romans a wonder great main  
Both made strong julian met and he  
At pount meleyn a city of Itaile  
And there was julyan slain in battle   

Severus after entered the empire  
And took upon him the domination  
Upon christian of malice set afraye  
Begun again them a persecution  
Of tyranny and false ambition  
But one of egypt called poscennyus  
again Severus 'gan to work thus   

gathered main Severus for t'assail  
In purpose fully and thereon did his pain  
First with him to have a great battle  
Next of th'empire the crown for tatteyne   〈…〉 

〈…〉  
Right sad and wise in that they had to do  
And were the first christian of echon  
Emperors reckoned for there tofore was none   

By poncyus the martyr as I read  
In meya a famous great city  
They were baptized and afterward in deed  
Slain in battle for they list not i'll  
Tofore their death both of assent pard  
Their treasure hole that were Imperial  
To christs church I find they gave it all   

The bishop Sixtus took possession  
Virtuously assigned it to laurence  
Thereof to make distribution  
To poor folk in their indigence  
For which deed by cruel violence  
The tyrant decyus again them took a strife  
Caused holy laurence by brenning loose his life   

This same decius cursed and cruel  
Caused the slaughter of these philip's twain  
And for he was subtle falls and fell  
By sleight and falsehood he did his busy pain  
To the empire by force for to attain  
The seven tyrant by persecution  
Which again christian folk took first occasion   

Mine author writeth time of this decius  
The holy hermit example of persightnesse  
By days old called antonyus  
Lived in desert far out in wilderness  
As an hermit despising all richesse  
Lived by fruit and roots as men tell  
And of perfection drank water of the well   

Upon Decyus for his cursidnesse  
again christian which gave so heard sentence  
Through rome & Itayle mine author beareth witness  
In every cite was great pestilence  
That by the sudden deadly violence  
The hearts of men depending in a trance  
To save their lives could no chevisance   

Of this matter writ no more I can  
To this emperor I will resort again  
Speke of gallus and volucian  
That busy were their labour was in vain  
Their time short as sum bokys sayne  
For Martin writeth and old Croniculere  
In th'empire they reigned but two year   

But both were slain by the procuring  
And by the purchase of one emelyne  
A roman knight which by sly working  
To occupy them pyre though began  
By tyranny the lordship there he won  
whose lordship for hap and lack of grace  
No lengre last than two months space   

This little chapter as tofore is seen  
rehearsed hath and told in wordys' plain  
Of emperors almost full fourteen  
And of all were good none but twain  
Which to rehearse I have do my pain  
And to proceed further as I began  
I must writ of one valeryan   

HIs son and he called gali●en  
To all christian bore great enmity  
Slough all though their legend men may seen  
That served christ in troth and equity  
whose persecution and hateful cruelty  
abated was as I can well rehearse  
By one Sapor that was king of pierce   

By force of arms Sapor this mighty king  
'Gan in asia and with his oft came down  
By tiger Eufrates and knightly so riding  
Toward the p● 〈…〉  
To Con●asus not far fro babylon  
And all surrie he proudly did assail  
And Capadoce he won eke by battle   

Whom for to meet came valerian  
To Mesopotayne with many legions  
The were was strong but this knightly man  
This hardy Sapor with his chaumpions  
The field hath won with all the legions  
Afore rehearsed and through pierce he lad  
valerian bound with chains round and sad   

He was by Sapor maugre his visage  
This Valerian so straitly brought to wra●  
Like a prisonere bound to servage  
By obeisance that found were no lak  
To kneel on four and to proffer his back  
Unto Sapor when him lift to ride  
Thereby to mount for all his great pride   

This was the office of valerian  
By seruytute divinge many ayere  
Wherefore he was called of many anon  
The ascending flo● in to the sadyll near  
Which is in french called a mountwere  
This was his office to bow down his 〈◊〉  
When that king Sapor should worth on his hor●   

This is the guyrdoun and favour of fortune  
Her old manner to princes and to kings  
Her double custom used in common  
By sudden change of all worldly things  
After triumphs and their up rysynges  
What followeth after here we'll tell I can  
I take record of valeryan   

This lady fortune the blind fell gaddesse  
To Valerian showed her silf unstable  
Taught him a lesson of the doubleness  
To king Sapor she was favourable  
But yet he was to cruel vengeable  
With his feet devoid of all favour  
To foil the back of an emperor   

Of old it hath be song and cried loud  
Record on Cirus and many other more  
Kings of pierce of custom have be proud  
After punished and chastised eke also  
princes of mercy should take heed hereto  
After victory in their estate notable  
To their prisoners for to be merciable   〈…〉 

It is fall far out of thy mind  
The knightly deed of worthy publyus  
Of rome a captain ordained as I find  
To fight again aristomochus  
King of Asye of fortune it fell thus  
When the romans did the field forsake  
This publyus among his fone was take   

This noble prince standing in dreadful ●as  
His life his worship depending atween twain  
In his hand holding a sturdy maas  
Smet out one of his eyen twain  
Of him that led him that other for the pain  
That he felt and the great smart  
Took a dagger rove publyus to the heart   

Which loved more his worship than his life  
Chase rather to die than live in servage  
This conceit had in his Imagy natyf  
And considered sith he was in age  
To save his honour it was more advantage  
So to be slain his worship to conserve  
Than like a best in prison for to starve   

Fortune his chapter of him it was not rad  
As valerius maketh mention  
After whose conceit no man in virtue sad  
Should not long 〈…〉  
〈…〉  
Their sacrifices and rite up so down  
Unto idols of froward wilfulness  
That was of Egipte called chief goddess   

Favourable thou were in thy desire  
To suffer jews their saboot to observe  
And Caldeis to worship the fire  
And folk of Crete saturn to serve  
And christian men thou madest falsely starve  
Of whose law for thou did not retch  
Thou died in prison at mischief like a wretch   

How Gallyen son of valerian was slain  

nExt in order to bochas though came down  
Son of velerian one called gallien  
But for great horrible effusion  
Of christian blood that men might seen  
Shed by valerian god would it should been  
showed openly to romans by vengeance  
Of many a country sudden disobeisance   

They of almain the alpies did pass  
Unto Ravenne a city of italy  
Goths also proud of cheer and face  
Had again grekys many great battle  
And they of Hungry armed in plate and mail  
With them of denmark furious and cruel  
〈◊〉 romans 〈…〉   

To whose damage in this mean while  
Among romans it is befall thus  
Woeful werrys which called been civil  
'Gan in the city cruel and despitous  
first when they met was slain Gemyu●  
Which first took on him in books as I read  
Of high courage to were purple weed   

One postumyus a mighty strong roman  
Kept all gall under subjection  
To their avail after unwarly slain  
Among his knights for all his high renown  
By a sudden uncouth dissension  
Next victoryne having the governance  
Of all Gaul was first slain in france   

But Gallien of who● I spoke toforn  
Son and heir to valerian  
His domination of purpose he hath lost  
In republica when he began  
Like a contrarious and a froward man  
Wax lecherous and froward of living  
At mischief slain this was his ending    

How Quyntilyus was murdered by women  

NExt Gallien came one quyntilius  
A man remembered of great attemꝑ●unce  
Brother of birth to great Glaudyu●  
wise and discrete in all his governance  
Who may of fortune eschew the chance  
To writ his end shortly in a clause  
Of women murdered I can not say the cause    

Of Aurelian in Denmark born  

OF denmark borne next came Aurelian  
A worthy knight his enemies to assail  
again goths a great were he began  
Gate victory in many strong battle  
whose noble conquest greatly did avail  
To common profit for all his work pard  
Was to the increases of rome the city   

He recured all the Septemptrion  
And westward had many great victory  
Among other I find that he was one  
A●ed the triumph to be 〈…〉  
But there was a thing eclipsed of his glory  
Which hath the light of his knighthood withdraw  
For he was enemy to christ and to his law   

Of him bochas list no more to writ  
But in his book go forth as he began  
Of me remembering that called was Tacyte  
Which was successor to Aurelian  
And after him succeeded Folorian  
Of which twain no remembrance I find  
That is notable for to put in mind    

How Probus discomfited romans/ and after was slain  

pRobus after reigned full seven year  
And iiii monethiss which by his high renown  
Geyne saturnynus with a knightly cheer  
And brought him proudly to subjection  
Nat withstanding ●hat be in rome town  
Took upon him of wilful tyranny  
holy th'empire for to rule and guy   

Beside the city called agrypyne  
This said probus geyn many proud roman  
A battle had list not to decline  
Met protulus a mighty strong captain  
With one Bonosus and both they were slain  
And all their main of very force and might  
Slain in the field the remnant put to flight   

After this battle and this discomfiture  
Probus was lodged in Smyryve a great cite  
And there unwarely of sudden adventure  
Slain in a tour that called was Far  
But a small ceson last his prosperity  
Which is fortune late noman in her trust  
All worldly things changing as she lust    

How Clarus and his two sons were mischieved  
〈…〉   

How the hardy queen zenobya faugh● with Aurelean and was take  

Mine author here no longer list sojourn  
Of these emperors the falls for to write  
But in all hast he doth his style turn  
To zenobya his story to indite  
But for chauncer did him so well acquit  
In his tragedies her piteous fall to entrete  
I will pass over rehearsing but the great   

In his book of Cantirbury tales  
This sovereign poet of brutus albion  
Through pilgrims told by hills and by valy●  
Whereof zenobya is made mention  
Of her noblesse and her high renown  
In a tragedy compendiously told all  
Her martial prowess and her piteous fall   

Mine author first affirmeth how that she  
descended was to tell of her lineage  
Born of the stock of worthy tholome  
King of 〈◊〉 full notable in that age  
〈…〉  
But for because of this horrible deed  
And for the murder of king Odomate  
Died at mischief and passed into fate   

By process after zenobia the queen  
Took her two sons and proudly did them lead  
Tofore her char that men might them seen  
How they were borne as princes to succeed  
Made them like kings clad in purple weed  
Them to defend this mighty creature  
Hardy as lion took on her armure   

For all her lords and knights she had sent  
Maugre the romans proudly 'gan high and speed  
All the parties of the oriente  
To occupy and her host so lead  
Of the Emperor she stood no thing in dread  
called Aurelian met him in battle  
With her meinie proudly did assail   

On other side that day great blood was shed  
The stroke of fortune withstant no creature  
The queen zeno bya was taken and forth led  
fought first as long as she might endure  
With rich stonies fret was her armure  
With whom the emperor so entering rome town  
Of triumph required the guyrdoun   

He dempt it was covenable and sitting  
This emperor this proud aurelian  
To axe the triumph it was so great a thing  
To take zenobya that such a were began  
gain romans this martial woman  
For I suppose of no woman borne  
Was never queen so hardy seen aforn   

This hardy princess for all her cruelty  
whose high renown through all the world was know  
With stocks of gold was brought to the cite  
From high estate in poverty plunged low  
Awind contrary fortune hath so blow  
That she alas hath pitously made fall  
Her that in prowess passed women all   

The triumph given to aurelian  
For the conquest he had upon this queen  
Called zenobya came dioclisian  
Born in dalmacia his story who list fain  
Out of his country first he did flene  
Of garle●e and lekies as saith the croniculere  
Because that he was but a gardinere   

Other mention is none of his lineage  
Of his birth forsook the region  
Left his craft of delving and cortlage  
Gave him to arms and by election  
Choose to be emperor and regne in rome town  
First into Gaul he sent a great power  
And maximian he made his vicar   

His vicar there had many great battle  
Upon such people that by rebeellion  
'Gan frowardly and contrary to assail  
To obey his lordship within that region  
Till Caramsynus by commission  
And an hardy knight under maxymyan  
them to chastise took on him like a man   

But by process the story doth devise  
His lordship there did great damage  
To common profit so he by covetise  
The country robbed by full great outrage  
And to him silf he took all the pillage  
And of prsumption were the colour  
Of rich purple like an emperor   

This Caramsinus of Breteyns' twain  
Proudly usurped to be their governor  
Like a rebel geyne rome did his pain  
And busied him by martial labour  
With many strange foreign soudioure  
Having no title nor commission  
Continued long in his rebellion   

Whereof astonied was dioclisian  
saying this mycheef dreadful and perilous  
Ordained in haste that maximyan  
Was surnamed and called herculyus  
Made him emperor called augustus  
Which had afore no more governance  
But gaul which now is called france   

Also moreover this dioclisian  
Made in this while governors twain  
Constancyus and one maxymyan  
Surnamed Galerius Constantius in certain  
In this while to wed did his pain  
Daughter of maxymyan called herculyus  
named Theodora mine author writeth thus   

By theodora this constancius  
Had two children in true marriage  
Brother to Constantyne the chronicle telleth thus  
Which afterward when he came to age  
For his manhood and martial courage  
Was chose and made lord and governor  
Of all the world crowned emperor   

Caramsynus which had full seven year  
Like as I told rebelled breteyne  
again the romans a great extorcionere  
A knight Alletus that did at him disdain  
Murdryd him and after did his pain  
By force only and extort tyranny  
Fully three year his place to occupy   

Till Asclepio was sent from Rome down  
Slough alletus maugre all his might  
Brought all bretayne to subjection  
Of the romans like as it was right  
And in this while like a manly knight  
For Italiens 'gan romans disobey  
Constancius 'gan proudly them werreye   

He first with them had a strong battle  
His main slain and put to the flight  
Trusting on fortune he 'gan them eft assail  
And sixty thousand were slain in that fight  
The field was his through fortunes might  
As she that could dissimule for a while  
And afterward falsely him beguile   〈…〉 

Froward enemy he was to Christ's law  
Many a martyr to die for his sake  
Wext feeble and old and 'gan him withdraw  
From occupation his rest for to take  
His attorney maxymyan he doth make  
In his last age it is rehearsed thus  
Stood in great dread of constancius   

The dread of him sat so nigh his heart  
And thereupon took such a fantasy  
imagining he might not start  
By fraud of him but that he should die  
Almost for fere fill in a frenzy  
Of which dread the book maketh mention  
He slough him silf by drinking of poison   

As I told erst in the occident  
Maxymyan called herculyus  
Regnyd as emperor and ever in his intent  
To pursue martyrs he did aye his labours  
Of whose birth bochas found non auctors  
This to say he could never read  
Where he was borne nor of what kinrede   

He findeth no more of this maxymyan  
Of his usurping in especial  
But that he was by dioclisyan  
〈…〉  
But afterward he fill in repentance  
And busy was as diverse sayne  
Thestate of emperor to recure again   

Which for to achieve he did his diligence  
He was disturbed by Galerius  
For his son that called was maxence  
Put in possession mine author writeth thus  
To which thing he 'gan wax envious  
And 'gan ordain means in his thought  
To trouble him but it availed naught   

When his purpose might take none avail  
again mexence as bochas doth describe  
His daughter Fausta that knew all his counceile  
Discured his purpose for which he fled belive  
Into Gaul and durst no lengre strive  
And by Constancius in Marcyle the city  
Slain suddenly lost all his dignity    

how Galerius oppressed martyrs/ and christs faith/ and mischievously ended  

nExt tofore bochas came Galerius  
A man disposed to riot and outrage  
evil tetchid froward and vicious  
There is no story the speaketh of his lineage  
Yet was he set full high upon a stage  
Of worldly dignity rose up to high estate  
Yet in his beginning he was not fortunate   

He was sent out by dyoclysian  
And made emperor by his authority  
again Narseus the proud knightly man  
Regning in ꝑce and lord of that country  
Which held were with rome the city  
For which galerius took upon him this emprise  
With mighty hand his pride to chastise   

Galerius entered into ꝑce land  
King Narseus met him of adventure  
Had a strong battle fought hand for hand  
His fortune such he might not endure  
On galerius fill the disconfitre  
Clad in purple as made is mention  
Of dioclisian received this guyrdon   

At their meeting anon or they were aware  
Dioclisian made him to abide  
To his confusion sitting in his char  
To walk on foot by the chair's side  
With many a rebuke bated was his pride  
Galerius for the great shame  
'Gan seek a mean again to get his name   

Came for tassemble his old soldiers  
Made his ordinance by diligent werkinge  
Chase out the best proved werreours  
With a great host to pierce he came riding  
And often there fought with the king  
That the perciens maugre all their might  
Were of Galerius that day put to flight   

The field was his gate their richesses  
robbed their tents won there great pillage  
In this resort received in soothness  
In great noblesse because of that voyage  
Thus can fortune change her visage  
Of dioclisian where he stood in disdain  
With new triumph resorted is again   

This cloudy queen standeth ever in no certain  
whose double wheel quaverith ever in doubt  
Of whose favour noman hath be certain  
Though one have grace another is put out  
Late every man as it cometh about  
Take his turn and never in her assure  
Failing in arms is but adventure   

Thus galerius after his battle  
On perciens 'gan wax glorious  
Governed affryk and lordship of italy  
throughout the orient he was victorious  
Till he for age 'gan wax tedious  
His last days maligned as men saith  
Of false hatred again christian faith   

And him to help in these false matters  
It is remembered to his confusion  
In his empire he set two vikers  
Gave them power in every region  
The law of christ to oppress and put down  
To punish martyrs and put them to the death  
And in this while full many one he slayeth   

By this said cruel galerius  
Which of th'empire had all the governance  
Of cursed heart and courage despitous  
By his usurped Imperial puissance  
Gave authority for to do vengeance  
Unto twain Severus and maxence  
On all christian by mortal violence   

A certain space both of one accord  
Thestate of Emperor chose was maxence  
Till Severus and he fill at discord  
And after by vengeable pestilence  
Within a city of noble premynence  
Called Ravenne Severus there was slain  
Of which galerius god wot was nothing fain   

For which in haste this galerius  
Him to support and stand in his diffence  
Chase out of Denmark a knight lueynyus  
To be emperor through knightly excellence  
For to withstand and fight again maxence  
But maxence of roman knights all  
Was chosen emperor and set up in his stall   

With which election galerius wax wood  
Fill in a manner froward frenzy  
His entrayle brent corrupt was his blood  
And of his froward vengeable maledye  
In every member 'gan rote and putryfie  
Till all the air about him environ  
To all that felt it was v●nym and poison   

L●ke a la●ar corbed ●ak and 〈◊〉   〈…〉 

It was his joy for to shed her blood  
Scent out letters to divers regions  
Like a sly wolf ravenous and wooed  
To slay martyrs by divers passions  
Like his desert received his guerdons  
Horrible death did them first confound  
With furies infernal lieth now in hell bound    

How Maxence the emperor enemy to Christ's faith mischievously ended  

AFter gallery cruel violence  
Geyn christian blood as bochas here hath told  
With piteous cheer the emperor maxence  
Came tofore bochas of age not full old  
Famous in arms sturdy fresh and bold  
Albe be entered not like an heritour  
Took upon him to regne as governor   

To cris●● faith he was also enemy  
After soon he lost his governance  
Of infortune slain suddenly  
〈…〉 unwarly taketh vengeance   〈…〉 

This Lucynyus which falsely did err  
again our faith christian men to assail  
Geyne constantyne of new he 'gan were  
But of his purpose in sooth he did fail  
For he was twice discomfited in battle  
By constantyne once in hungry  
Next in grece beside Eualye   

Thus constantyne through his high renown  
Gate nigh grece and every great country  
Albe l●●ynyus stood in rebellion  
Geyn constantyne both on land and see  
But when he saw it would nonother be  
He might not escape in no place  
Put holy him silf in constantyns' grace   

But constantyne for his high rebellion  
Gave judgement in haste that he be deed  
lest in the cite were made division  
By luc●●yus whereof he stood in dread  
This same while as bochas took heed  
There came before him with cheer full piteous  
Brethrens twain Constantyne and Crispus    

OF Constantyne and Crispus: and how Dalmacius was slain  

tO Constontyne of whom I spoke toforn  
They were sons Constantyne & crispus  
The same twain of one mother born  
Came tofore bochas his book rehercith thus  
With them came eke lucinyus  
Son of lucinyus which in rome town  
Afore was slain for his rebellion   

Constantyne his werrys to govern  
Made them vicar's the silf same three  
Echon rightwise and could well discern  
What might avail most to their city  
To increases the profit of the comonte  
Their names told Constantyne and crispus  
Tofore remembered with them lucinyus   

While these three vicar's under th'emperor  
governed rome as knights most famous  
In alexander rose up a great error  
By a false priest called Arrive  
To our believe a thing contrarious  
And for he did again our faith so wirch  
By a decree was put out of the church   

By assent at Bethenye full notable  
In Necea a famous great city  
This error was proved full damnable  
Three hundred bishops were present there pard  
And eighteen the Chronicle who list see  
And all these of one sentence Ilyke  
Prevyd Aruus a falls heretic   

This same time books specefye  
How Constantyne of hasty cruelty  
The said vicar's nigh of ally  
Feigned a cause to slay them all three  
Not cause rehearsed nor told of equity  
Save only this in which he 'gan proceed  
To make his cousin Dalmacius to succeed   

But his favour was not fortunate  
Toward dalmacius nor gracious in sentence  
Among whose knights fill a sudden debate  
Constantyne there being presence  
Dalmacius without reverence  
With sharp swords to speak in wordoes few  
Unto the death was wounded and hew    

Of the brethren constance and constancius/ and 〈…〉  

THan came constance and Constancius  
Young brethren thus writeth mine author  
To constantyne in time of arrius  
And each of them by full great labour  
Did his pain to regne as Emperor  
Till at the last briefly for to say  
Euerich of them 'gan other to werreye   

This said constance is entered pierce land  
Nine times he fought again Sapore  
The same king as ye shall understand  
That with romans had fought afore  
But finally constance hath him so bore  
To hold the field he might not endure  
For upon him fill the discomfiture   

His fortune 'gan change anon right  
When that he left to be virtuous  
He was in spain slain like a knight  
In Kestrel tongue called maxencius  
Than was none left but Constancius  
The roman knights destitute everichone  
Chase them an Emperor vetramone   

This vetramone was far run in age  
barren of wit could no lettrure  
Nor in knighthood had no great courage  
Nor was not able to study in scripture  
Nor like an emperor no while to endure  
For Constancyus of whom I spoke now late  
With this vetramone cast him to debate   

This vetramone hath left his estate  
List not werreye again Constancyus  
Forsook the field loved no debate  
But of spain mine author writeth thus  
As I wrote late how that magnencius  
Geyne Constancyus with sword spear and shield  
Presumed proudly for to hold a field   

To great damage and hindering of the town  
For many roman thilk day was deed  
Byside a cite which called was Leon  
Till at the last of very coward dread  
Magnencius which captain was and heed  
again Constantius hath the field forsake  
Loo how fortune can her changes make   

Magnencyus for very sorrow and shame  
〈◊〉 no lenare but gate him a sharp knife   〈…〉  

How Constantyne baptised by Syluestre was ●ured of his leper  

OF this matter stint I will awhile  
And following mine own strange opinion  
From Constancyus turn away my style  
To his father make a digression  
'Cause bochas maketh short mention  
Of constantyne which by record of clerks  
Was so notable found in all his works   

This mighty prince was borne in britain  
So as the brute plainly doth us lere  
His holy mother called was helen  
He in his days most knightly and enter  
Of martial acts he knew all the matter  
chosen emperor for his high noblesse  
Fill to leper cronycules doth express   

His sore so grievous that no medicine  
Might avail his likeness to recure  
H●●ounseyled to make a great pystyne  
With Innocentes of children that were pure  
〈…〉 of that he did endure  
〈…〉  
With full glad cheer made them to repair  
Where they came sorry to rome the city  
They have returned glad to their country   

Royal compassion did in his heart mine  
Chase to be seek rather than blood to shed  
His breast enlumyned by grace which is divine  
Which fro the heaven did upon him spread  
He would not suffer Innocentis to bleed  
Preserving pite and mercy more than right  
He was visited upon the next night   

PEtyr and paul to him did appear  
Scent from the lord as hevenely messengers  
Bad constantyne be of good cheer  
For he that sitteth above the nine spears  
The lord of lords the lord of longest years  
Will that thou have it well in mind  
In mount Sarapty thou shalt thy leech find   

God of his grace list the to visit  
To shed blood by cause that thou dost spare  
He hath us sent thy labour for to quite  
tidings brought of health and thy welfare  
Pope silvester to the shall declare  
●s we have told be rightwell assured  
Of thy sickness how thou shalt be recured   

To mount Serap●y in all haste that thou send  
Suffer silvester to ●ūme to thy presence  
Sought and found briefly to make an end  
received after due reverence  
Did his devour of enter diligence  
Like as the life of silvester hath devised  
By grace made hole when he was baptized   

His flesh his sinews made suddenly white  
By these washing in that pystyne  
Of holy baptism well of most delight  
Where the holy ghost did him enlumyne  
informing after by teaching of doctrine  
Of silvester like as mine author saith  
Of all articles that long unto our faith   

The font was made of porphyry stone  
Which was after by cost of Constantyne  
With a round buy that did about go  
Of gold and perre and stonies that were fine  
Mid of the font rightup as a line  
Upon a piler of gold a lamp bright  
Full of fine baw●●● that brent all the nigh●t   

〈…〉  
●hat euer● were of high or low de●re  
That blasphemed the name of jesus  
By doom should have of death a plain Issu   

The third day in every many sight  
By a decree confirmed and made strong  
To every christian who that did unright  
By oppression to collateral wrong  
It should not be tarried over long  
Who were convict or guilty shall not cheese  
By law ordained half his good to l●s●   

The fourth day among romans all  
This privilege pronounced in the town  
Youe to the pope sitting in pet●ys stall  
As sovereign heed in every region  
To have the rule and Iurisdic●on  
Of prcesties all alone in all 〈◊〉  
Of temporal lords like as hat● the king   

To the church he granted grea● fraunchys●  
The fift day and specially lyber●e  
If a fellow in any manner wise  
To find succour thedre did i'll  
Within the bounds of daungere to go 〈◊〉  
To be assured and have thereof fu●● 〈…〉  
From execution of any tempor   〈…〉 

His crown took and kneeling thus he said  
With weeping eyes and voice lamentable le  
And for sobbing as he might abraid  
O blessed jesus oh lord most merciable  
Late my teries to the be acceptable  
receive my prayer my request not refuse  
As man most sinful I may me not excuse   

I occupied thestate of the emperor  
Of thy martyrs I shed the holy blood  
Spared no saints in my cruel error  
The to pursue most furious and wooed  
Now blessed Jesu moste gracious and good  
poised and considered mine importable offence  
I am not worthy to come in thy presence   

Do● for to enter into this holy place  
Upon this ground unable for to dwell  
To opne mine iyens or to lift up my face  
But of thy mercy so thou not me repell  
As man most sinful I come unto the well  
Thy well of grace mercy and pity  
For to ●e washed of mine unquite   

T● example 〈◊〉 open he hath showed  
〈…〉 of meekness laid aside  
〈…〉 with ter●s o● bedewed   〈…〉 

This mercurius as books determine  
In Cesarya a mighty strong cited  
Within the country called palestyne  
Buried afore rose up at this ●orne  
Out of his grave a strange thing to see  
An horse brought to him arrayed in his armure  
Which hang tofore beside his sepulture   

The same armure was not seen that night  
Nor in the morrow at his grave found  
Till midday hour that phoebus shone full bright  
When mercurius gave him his fatal wound   〈…〉 

〈…〉  
Both at ones but ye shall understand  
Th●o●ose was s●●● out to assail  
The said Feryne and slough him in battle   

O which feryne by full cruel hate  
In that country presumptuously reigning  
Smet of his heed and set it on the gate  
Of Cesaria this was the ending  
Which by intrusion afore was crowned king  
In mauritaygne oppressing them by dread  
As ye have herd of which he lost his heed   

〈…〉  
〈…〉  
The great idols and all such maumentrye  
And full devoutly 'gan churches edify  
And in this while as fortune did ordain  
One maxymus was vyker breteyne   

An hardy knight albe that he did vary  
From his promise made by sacrement  
In bretayne list no longer tarry  
But into Gaul of heart and hold intent  
Geyn gracian he suddenly is went  
And as it fill set by their both advice  
They had a battle not far out of paris   

This Gracian was there put to flight  
By the prowess of a proud captain  
called merobandus an hardy knight  
Which with his power hath so overlay  
That gracian was constrained in certain  
When his power might not avail  
Geyn maximus to i'll out of italy   

This maximus of pride 'gan desire  
In his heart by false ambution  
To regne alone and of the hole empire  
In his hands to have possession   〈…〉 

〈…〉  
And as thou 〈◊〉 whilom Isr●ell  
Geyn pharaoys mighty strong puissance  
And from the lions delivered daniel  
And saved Suzanne in her mortal grievance  
Save me this day fro sorrow and mischance  
In this mischief to grant me this issue  
To escape from daungere by grace of the jesus   

This blessed name by interpretation  
Is to say most mighty saviour  
There is no dread nor dubytation  
That jesus is in all worldly labour  
To all that trust him victorius protector  
Now blessed Jesus pavyse of my diffence  
Make me to escape mine enemies violence   

Late mine enemies that so great boost do blow  
Though their power be dreadful and terrible  
That they may by experience know  
There is no thing to the Impossible  
Thou two and three and one indivysible  
Though I with me have but few men  
Save me this day Jesus fro death amen   

〈…〉  
Fill a miracle to his advantage  
By sudden tempests of winds hail and rain  
troubled all though that sieged the mountain   

Vlcanus which is chief smith of heaven  
Geyn arbag●st 'gan him ready make  
To bend his gonnes with thunder and with levene  
And golus his winds 'gan awake  
Out of the caverns hideous brown and black  
All of assent by sturdy violence  
With theodocius to stand at diffence   

again Eugenyus and arbagast his brodre  
Their people and they departed here and yondre  
With wind and mist that none of them saw other  
By unware vengeance of tempest and of thondre  
Their speries burst their sheldes rove asondre  
Eugenyus take after lost his heed  
Arbagast slough him silf for dread   

Thus can the lord of his eternal might  
chastise tyrants and their malice repress  
saved theodosye his own chosen knight  
Who trusteth him of perfit stableness   〈…〉 

〈…〉  
iT is remembered of antiquity  
In the bible after no●● flood  
How by discente of his sons three  
Of their lineage plainly and their blood  
All kindreds dilated been abroad  
And mine author as it is made mind  
Of japhet seven nations he did find   

The people first of gall and galathe  
Of magoth Goths and folks of italy  
tire Sithia with many great country  
standing in asya as by rehearsal  
But in Eurape stant trace it is no fail  
Goths Sithiens of purpose did ordain  
Among them silf governors twain   

Knights gentlemen chase alericus  
To be their prince and have the sovereignty  
●here the commons chase Radagasus  
The Goths first for great surety  
●ith king aleryk entering the cite  
In to rome to find there succour  
That time honorius being there emperor   

〈…〉  
But fortune thought all other wy●●  
Like her manners to do most damage  
When she to men showeth fresh her visage   

Her conditions be not alway one  
Stoūdm●le of custom she can vary  
For she was first froward to styllycon  
And to radagasus eft again contrary  
In one point she list never tarry  
To Radagasus her favour did fail  
By stillycon he venquysshed in battle   

All his pride might not make him speed  
For fortune list so for him ordain  
That he was f●yne at so strait anede  
To i'll for succour to an high mountain  
Of all victual naked and barren  
Where for hunger he felt so great grief  
Nigh all his people died at mischief   

Of all succour destitute and barren  
Saw no remedy took him to the flight  
By the romans he was so overlain  
Take at mischief and maugre his might   〈…〉 

〈…〉  
Came attalus and one eraclian  
For no prowess but to their great repreef  
remembered here their story tell can  
again romans when the rebel 'gan  
By honorius afore made officers  
And of the empire called chief vykers   

First Attalus for his tyranny  
When he in gall was made governor  
Went in to spain with a great company  
Did his pain and fraudolent labour  
By false sleight to be made emperor  
Take and bound exiled for falseness  
His hand smit of ended in wretchedness   

Of Eraclyan the end was almost like  
Yet was he promoted to great prosꝑte  
Made governor and lord of affryk  
Of consulere ros to the dignity  
Road through Libye and many great country  
With three thousand ships 'gan to sail  
And with seven hundred to aryue in italy  
〈…〉    

A go●e process why Rome was destroyed and for the same or like cause many other realms  

OF many mischiefs afore here rehearsed  
Sum draw along and sum shortly told  
And how fortune hath her wheel reverced  
By tragedies remembered many fold  
Tofore by bochas of princes young and old  
In the eight book rehearsed the process  
Echon almost ended in wretchedness   

Namely of them that did most desire  
By wrong title them silf to magnify  
To have lordship and govern th'empire  
The state imperial proudly to occupy  
Which estate plainly to specify  
As far as phoebus doth in his spear shine  
Among all lordships is brought unto ruin   

From mine author me list not discord  
To tell the ground why room came to naught  
By an example I cast me to record  
What was chief cause if it be well out sought  
〈…〉  
So as a father that is natural  
Or like a mother which kindly is bound  
To foster their children in especial  
Right so a king in his estate royal  
Should of his office diligently intend  
His true lieges to cherissh and defend   

By good example his subjects to enlumyne  
For temporal realms should as I find  
Resemble the kingdom which is divine  
By law of god and law eke of nature  
That Res publica long time may endure  
Void of discord and falls duplicity  
Of one body in long prosperity   

Nouther there regne nor domination  
Have of them silf none other assurance  
The estate of kings 'gan by ꝑmyssion  
Of goddys' grace and of his purveyance  
By virtuous life and moral governance  
Long to continue both in peace and were  
Like their deserts and punisheth when they err  
〈…〉  
●●re in his domys be not partial  
To poor do alms to virtuous liberal   

In his array show him like a king▪  
From o●ter princes by a manner appearance  
So that men praise by virtuous living  
More than his clothing far from his presence  
And late him think in his advertence  
Trust thereon verily certain  
As he governeth men will report and say   

Late him also for his great avail  
●aue such about him to be in presence  
Notable princes to be of counsel  
Such as tofore have had experience  
Tween good and evil to know the difference  
And six things hateful of new and old  
To banyssh them out in haste from his household   

First them that love to live in Idleness  
As such as love nouther god ne dread  
Covetous people that poor folk oppress  
And them also that do thing for meed  
〈…〉  
When by false treason sold was palladyon  
Rome and cartage in the same wise  
Destroyed were for short conclusion  
Among them silf for their division  
Rekne other realms that been of late date  
And of divisions in france that fill but late   

All these defaults rehearsed here briefly  
Outesought the rote and weighed in balance  
Chief occasion to tell by and by  
Hath been in princes that have had governance  
And specially to put in remembrance  
For an example telleth as cometh to mind  
Of Odoacer the story as I find   

Born in pruce and hardy of courage  
At his beginning him silf to magnify  
Though no mention be made of his lineage  
Having no title but theft and robbrye  
His conquest 'gan naught of blood and auncetrye  
gathered people of sundry regions  
entered italy with many nations   

〈…〉  
'Gan work again him in hope it should avail  
And thereupon the lordship of italy  
He gave of purpose his power committing  
To Theodorik that was of Goths king   

So that Theodoryk in hope to have victory  
again Odoacer 'gan make resistance  
Of his name to put in memory  
Took upon him by knightly excellence  
For the romans to stand in diffence  
Met him proudly with his chivalry  
Beside a river that called was Sourye   

With their battles to gedre when they met  
Beside Leglere that standeth in lombardy  
With round speries and sharp swords whet  
Odoacer for all his tyranny  
Was put to flight discomfited his party  
And fortune that best change and vary  
At unset hour was to him contrary   

Him and his power the romans have defied  
He brent her wines and towers environ  
Because the entry was to him denied  
And to Ravenne he is descended down  
〈…〉  
〈…〉  
〈…〉 ●ere he made 〈…〉    

How Symak and Boys his son in law were banished and after judged to die  

AFter these mischevys symak 'gan him draw  
Toward Bochas with a full piteous face  
Boys came with him that was his son in law  
Which among romans greatly stood in grace  
But in this matter briefly for to place  
The said boys only for his troth  
Exiled was alas it was great routh   

For common profit he was unto the town  
In matters that grounded were of right  
Very protector and steadfast chaumpion  
again two tyrants which of force and might  
Had in the porayll oppressed many awight  
By exactions and pillages gone of new  
Upon the commons full falls and eke untrue   

Theodoryk of Goths lord and king  
Took upon him by fal● intrusion  
To regne in rome the people oppressing  
By his provosts two as made is mention  
Did in the city great oppression  
Confederate as brother unto brother  
Coniugast and trygwyll was that other   

compendiously this matter to declare  
To save the camon stood in diffence  
For life nor death he lift not for to spare  
To withstand of tyrants the sentence  
King theodoryk of cruel violence  
banished him by hateful tyranny  
He and his father to abide in pauye   

afterward theodoryk of hatred  
Like a false tyrant of malice and envy  
Gave judgement that both two were deed  
But touching Boys as books specefie  
Wrote divers books of philosophy  
Of the trinity matters that were divine  
martyred for christ and called severyne    

Of king arthur and his conq●estys and of the commodities of England and he was destroyed by his cousin mordrede.  

wAs ever prince might him silf assure  
Of fortune the favour to restrain  
Like his desire his grace to recure  
To abide stable and stand at certain  
Among all other rekne arthure of Breteyne  
Which in his time was hold of every wight  
The wisest prince and the best knight   

To whom bochas 'gan his style dress  
In this chapter to remember belive  
His great conquest and his high noblesse  
With singulere deeds that he wrought his live  
And first he gy●neth briefly to describe  
The sight of breteyne and of that country  
Which is enclosed with a large se   

Set far westward as ye shall understand  
Having in spain set in the opposite  
Of a small angle called Inglonde  
France about him d●scriuynge thus his sight  
With many a river pleasant and delight  
Bot he baths and wells there be found  
diverse mines of metals full abound   

About which runneth the occian  
Right plenteous of all manner of victual  
The name of which at brutus first began  
London hath ships by the se to sail  
Bacchus at wynchestre greatly doth avail  
Worcetre 〈◊〉 fruits aboundeth at the full  
Herfo●●ith beasts Catiswolde with wool   

Bath h●● baths wholesome for medicine  
York mighty timber for great advantage  
Cornwell miners in to mine  
Salesburye beasts full savage  
Wheat milk honey plenty for every age  
Kent and cantyrburye hath great commodity  
Of sundry fishes there take in the se   

Bochas rehearseth there is eke in breteyne  
Found of get a full precious stone  
Black of colour and virtuous in certain  
For sickness many more than one  
Poudre of which will discure anon  
If it be drunk though it be secre  
Of maydnehede broke chastity   

There been of peerless found in muskyll shells  
〈…〉 that have most whiteness   〈…〉 

I●●onde Gaul norweye scotlonde and france  
As martyrs son to the werrys meet  
Wrought by counsel and by ordinance  
Of prudent merlyn called his prophet  
And as I find he let make a seat  
Among his brytons most famous and notable  
Through all the world called the round table   

most worthy knights proved of their hand  
●haosen out by arthur this order was begun  
Their famous noblesse through every christian land  
Shone by report as doth the midday son  
To famuos palace the renown is up run  
statutes set by virtuous ordinance  
Under profession of martial governance   

The first statute in the register found  
From which they should not decline of right  
〈◊〉 full assurance of oath and custom bound  
Aye to be armed in plate forged bright  
Except a space to rest them on the night  
〈◊〉 adventure and their time spend  
●●●●●full quarrel to sustain and defend   

The ●ebler party if he had right  
To their power manly to support  
〈◊〉 that they were required of any right  
〈◊〉 disconsolate to bear up and comfort  
〈…〉  
Woundyd people that languyssh and endure  
Which pro republica manly spent their blood  
The statute bound to do such folks good   

To put them silf never in adventure  
But for matters that were just and true  
Afore provided that they stood sure  
The ground well know were it of old or new  
And after that the matter when they knew  
To proceed knightly and not fain  
As right requerid their quarrel to deraign   

A clerk there was to chronicle their deeds  
By purcevauntes made to him report  
Of their exploit and their good spedes  
Rad and song to folk gave great comfort  
These famous knights making their resort  
At high feasts everich took his seat  
Like to their estate as was to them meet   

One was wild called the see perilous  
As Sank Ryall doth plainly determine  
None to enter but the most virtuous  
Of god provided to be a pure virgin  
Born of dissent to accomplyssh and to fine  
He alone as chief and sovereign  
All adventures of wales and Breteyne   

〈…〉  
As a bright son set mid the stars  
〈◊〉 stood arthur notable and glorious  
Like f●essh febus cast his light aferres  
In peace like Argus most martial in wars  
As Ector hardy like ulixes treatable  
called among christian king most honourable   

His royal court he did so ordain  
Through each country so far spread out the light  
Who that ever came thydre to complain  
By wrong oppressed and required of right  
In his diffence he should find a knight  
To him assigned finally to intend  
By martial doom his quarrel to defend   

If it fell so that any strange knight  
Sought adventures and thither came fro far  
To do arms his request made of right  
His challenge seen were it of peace or were  
Was accept to the court came near  
Like as he came with manyor alone  
They were delivered forsake was never none   

There was the school of martial doctrine  
For young knights to learn all the guise  
In tender age to learn full discipline  
On horse and foot by notable exercise  
Thing take in youth doth help in many wise  
And idleness in green years gone  
Of all virtues clypsith the clear son   

Widows maydyns oppressed folk also  
Of extort wrongs wrought by tyranny  
In that country what nation came thereto  
received were there list no man deny  
Of their complaints found ready remedy  
Made no delay but forth anon right  
them to defend assigned was a knight   

Eke by their order they bound were of troth  
By assurance and by oath sworn  
In their emprises let for no sloth  
plainly to tell how they have them born  
Their adventure of things done before  
Right as it fill spare in no manner  
To tell each thing unto their registrere   

Thing openly done or thing that was secre  
Of adventure as between twain  
Or any quarrel take of volunte  
Truly report and platly not to feign  
Them to be sworn the statute did ordain  
Nat conseled of worship nor of shame  
To be registered report the silf same   

And to conclude the statute hath us lered  
Every quarrel grounded on honesty  
In that court what knight was required  
In the diffence of troth and equity  
falsehood excluded and duplycite  
Shall aye be ready to abstain that party  
His life his body to put in jeopardy   

Thus in britain shone the clear light  
Of chivalry and of high prowess  
Which through the world shed his beams bright  
Well of worship condute of all nobles  
Imperial court all wrongs to repress  
Heed springe of honour of largesse chief sistern  
mirror of manhood of noblesse the lantern   

¶ Yet was there sayen never so bright a son  
The someries day in the midday spear  
So freshly shine but sum skies done  
Might percas curtain his beams clear  
Often it faileth when fortune maketh best cheer  
And falsely smileth in her double weed  
folk sayn expert than is she most to dread   

Thus when the name of the worthy king  
Was ferthest sprad by report of memory  
In every realm his nobles most shining  
All his emprises concluding on victory  
This double goddess envy at his glory  
And cast means by sum manner train  
To clypse the light of knighthood in bretayne   

Thus while arthure stood most honourable  
In his estate flouringe in his age  
Among his knights of the round table  
Hyest of princes on fortunes stage  
The romans sent to him for truage  
'Gan make a cleyme froward and outrageous  
Taking their title of Cesar julius   

The same time this mighty king arthur  
Conquered had Gaul and also france  
Outrayed Frolle like a coqueroure  
Brought paris under obeisance  
Took them to grace and with his ordinance  
Gate all Aungoy/ Angorys/ and Gascoigne  
Peytowe/ Naverne/ Barry/ and burgoyne   

ceased not but did his busy pain  
 
Gate all the land of peyters and toureyne  
Their cities yold to him they did homage  
To be rebel they found none advantage  
Sojourned in france as saith the cronyclere  
Held possession the space of nine year   

Held a feast full solemn at paris  
All the countries which he gate in france  
Like a prince full prudent and wys  
Which had of freedom full royal suffisance  
Of all his conquest the countries in substance  
For his princes and barons so provided  
Like their deserts he hath them divided   

To his Senescall that called was key  
Aungoyne and main he gave all the party  
To his butler was made no delay  
Called bedwere he gave Normandye  
To a baron nigh cousin of ally  
A manly knight which named was berell  
Gave the duchy of burgoyne everydeal   

Thus he departed lordships of that land  
There he thought was most expedient  
Sum he reserved in his own hand  
again to bretayne returned of intent  
Scent out writs held a great parliament  
After which he made a feast anon  
In the country called glowmorgon   

At a great cite called carlion  
As is remembered by writings  
came many a prince and many a fresh baron  
In number I find that there were x kings  
Ready to obey arthur in all things  
Present also as was weal seen  
There of earls reckoned full thrittene   

All the knights of the round table  
Feste of pentecost as fist principal  
Many estates famous and honourable  
Of princes barons born of the blood royal  
Were present there and in especial  
All that were by oath and promise bound  
To brotherhood of the table round   

And i● fell so while that king arthure  
As appertained sat in his estate  
There came xii sent down by great loboure  
Of old men chosen of the Senate  
Sad of their port demure and tem●●●●●  
R●●hely 〈◊〉 of ●oke and of visage  
Grace haired sempt of right great age   

First cunnyngly as they aught it due  
Cause of their coming and plainly what it meant  
First of assent the king they did salve  
Next after that they told who them sent  
And their letters meekly they present  
concluding thus to speak in brief language  
how the romans axe of him truage   

Customed of old sith gone many a day  
When that Cesar conquered first breteyn  
The king requeringe to make them no delay  
Arthur abode list no thing to said  
But all the court 'gan at them disdain  
The proud bretons of cruel hasty blood  
Would have them slain even there they stood   

Nay quod arthur to all his officers  
Within our court they shall have no damage  
They entered been and come as messengers  
And men also greatly fall in age  
let make there with a glad visage  
Took his counsel with such as were most wise  
With this answer said in courteous wise   

¶ your letters read and plainly understand  
The tenure hole remembered in this place  
Touching the charge that ye have take on hand  
To give answer rehearsed in short space  
By word and writing you greatly me menace  
How ye purpose with many strong battle  
Pass the mountains me felly for to assail   

It needeth not such conquest to allege  
again Brytons of none old truage  
Of your coming down your way I shall abridge  
With gods grace short your passage  
Make you no delay but with my baronage  
Pass these without long tarrying  
To meet romans at their down coming   

This was the answer you to the messengers  
At their departing bore with them great riches  
He bade also unto his officers  
again to rome anon they 'gan them dres  
Plainly reporting the plenteous largesse  
Of worthy arthure considered all things  
Of christendom he passed all other kings   

Arth● 〈…〉  
Of martial prows to lucius they told  
And how that he all other did excel  
In chivalry with whom they were withhold  
The chosy● knights both young and old  
In all europe who can consider aright  
Of all nobles the torches be there light   

He cast him not to pay no truage  
Said of the romans he held no land  
Which ●● defend he will make his passage  
Of your cleymes to break atwo the bond  
And knightly preue with his hand  
You have no title ye nor your cite  
again the breton● which ever have stand free   

With 〈◊〉 the kingdoms subject to rome town  
Kings princes abo●e the high mountains  
With lucyus they be d●scendyd down  
To meet bretons upon the large plains  
Arthures coming greatly he disdeynes  
Because he had plainly to describe  
In multitude of people such five   

At southhampton arthur took the se  
With all his knights of the round table  
Behind he left to govern the country  
His cousin mordrede untrusty and unstable  
And at a preef falls and deceivable  
To whom arthur of trust took all his land  
The crown except which he kept in his hand   

From Southampton Arthur 'gan to sail  
With all the worthy lords of bretayne  
At barflue fond good arrival  
He and his princes their passage did ordain  
through normandy/ France/ and eke burgoyne  
Up to a cite called augustence  
Where he first fond of lucius the presence   

So large a field nor such a multitude  
Of men of arms assembled in a pleyne  
Upon a day shortly to conclude  
together assembled afore was never say  
Lucyus had on his party certain  
eastward the world all the chivalry  
Brought by the mountains downward germany   

Their wards set in each a great battle  
With their captain to govern and to guy  
Arthur with bretons the romans did assail  
Fond● many ●●ca●yus upon that party  
Th● 〈…〉  
A● he of arthur the prows doth describe  
He slough that day of sarazyns' kings five   

The great slaughter the effusion of blue  
That was that day on other party  
Each again other that furious were and wooed  
Like for the field as fortune list provide  
That if I should long thereon abide  
To writ the death the slaughter and the manner  
touching the field were tedious to here   

To conclude and l●ue the surplusage  
In that battle deed was many a knight  
The consul Lucyus slain in that rage  
The proud romans by force put to flight  
Of gentleness arthur anon right  
let the body of lucius be carried  
again to rome it was no longer tarried   

The worthy princes and lords that were deed  
And manly knights abiding with arthur  
Like a king solemnly took heed  
That they were buried by diligent loboure  
And in this while like a false traitor  
His cousin mordrede did his busy pain  
To take from him the kingdom of breteyn   

So as the story plainly maketh mind  
Mordrede falsely to his advantage  
entreated them that were left behind  
andre colour of fraudolent language  
Gave them great freedom and they did him homage  
That by his false conspiration  
Brought all britain in to rebellion   

By fair behestis and many friendly sign  
Drough the people to him in sundry wise  
showed him outward goodly and benign  
Gave liberties and many great franchise  
To make bretons their sovereign lord despise  
And purveyance he 'gan make belive  
To keep the ports he should not aryue   

When king arthur had knowledging  
Of this false treason and all the purveyance  
That mordrede made he like a manly man & king  
Left burgoyne and all the land of france  
Cast on mordrede for to do vengeance  
Took the senior with great apparel  
Cast at Sandwich to make his arrival   

Mordrede was ready with knights a great number  
〈…〉 ●he plain  
In purpose fully arthur to encumber  
At which arrival slain was Gaweyne  
Cousin to arthur a noble knight certain  
Eke Agnysell was slain on the strand  
King of Scottys or he came to land   

Maugre mordrede arthur did arrive  
The ground recured like a manly knight  
For fere of whom anon after belive  
The said mordrede took him to the flight  
Toward london took his weigh right  
The gates shut and kept was the cite  
again mordrede he might have none entre   

In all haste to cornwall he fled  
The sword of arthur he durst not abide  
Jest he should lay his life to wed  
Yet for him silf thus he 'gan provide  
With multitude gathered on his side  
Put life and death that day on adventure  
That day to die or the field recure   

In fortune there may be no certain  
Upon whose wheel all bro●lenes is founded  
Mordrede that day in the field was slain  
And noble arthur to the death was wounded  
By the which the field of bretons was confound  
Of so great slaughter and good knights lo ●n  
Upon a day men have not seen before   

After the battle arthur for a while  
To staunch his wounds and hurts to recure  
Born in a letre came to an isle  
Called avalon and there of adventure  
As the said gaufryde recordeth by scripture  
How king arthur flower of chivalry  
F●● with his knights and liveth yet in fairy   

Thus of britain translated was the son  
Up to the rich sterry bright dungeon  
Astronomers well rehearse can  
Called arthures' constellation  
Where he sit crowned in the heavenly mansion  
Amid the palace of stones cristallyne  
Told among christian of the worthy nine   

This error abideth yet among britons  
Which founded is upon the prophesy  
Of old marlyn like their opinion  
He as a king is crowned in fairy  
With s●●●tr● and sword and with his regal  
Shall resort as lord and sovereign  
Out of fair and regne in bretayne   

And repair again the round table  
By prophesy of merlyn set the date  
Among princes king incomparable  
His seat again to carlyon to translate  
The par●●as sustern spun so his fate  
His epitaphy recordeth so certain  
Here lieth king arthur that shall regne again   

Unto bochas I will return again  
Afore rehearsed parcel of his prowess  
thereon to abide me list no more sojourn  
But to remember the great unkindness  
The conspiration the treason the falseness  
Done to king arthure by his cousin mordrede  
Make a Envoy that men all may it read   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy of arthur here following  
Bid princes all beware of false treason  
For in all earth is none so perilous thing  
As trust of faith where is deception  
Hid under curteyn of false collusion  
For which men should I hold the counsel good  
Beware aforne ever of unkind blood   

The world divers fortune aye changeable  
In every country and every region  
In a straight need few friends abiding  
Long abstinence causeth dissension  
And if princes by false division  
Nigh of ally show two faces in an hood  
Late men beware ever of unkind blood   

Who was more hardy of princes here regning  
Or more famous of martial renown  
Than whilom was his enemies outraing  
Arthur chief son of brutus albion  
But for all that the disposition  
Of fate and fortune most furious and wooed  
Caused his destruction by unkind blood   

What more contrarious to nature in showing  
Than fair pretence double of entencion  
Great allyaunces frowardly werkinge  
Hide under flowers a serpent cast poison  
Bright silver scaled damageth the dragon  
Each worm some party tar●ageth of his broad  
And what more perilous ●han unkind blood   

Noble princes on arthur remembering  
deem the day of phoebus going down  
All is not gold that is clear shining  
Afore provided of your inward reason  
Falls undermining and supplantation  
Remembering ay with arthur how it stood  
By conspiration of unkind blood     

An Exclamation of Bochas again kindreds unkind.  

gEyn kindreds and unkind alliaunces  
Bochas maketh here an exclamation  
Upon mordrede which with his ordinances  
Caused of arthur final destruction  
The same eclipsinge of Brutus albion  
Nat withstanding plainly to describe  
He trusted him above all men alive   

It is a marvel and uncouth to devise  
By what occasion or by what courage  
That a man should in any manner wise  
Be found unkind unto his lineage  
Hateful to god that in any age  
Blood again blood born of one kindred  
Conspire should of malice and hatred   

In this matter it were but vain to tarry  
The story know of arthur and mordrede  
By blood allied in werkinge most contrary  
Which made many breton knight to bleed  
For by usurping conspiring and falsehood  
Of the said mordrede most infortunate  
Caused all breteyn stand desolate   

First dissolate by abcens of their king  
Called in his time of kings most notable  
The desolation of knights abiding  
Whilom in breteyn famous and honourable  
brethren echon of the round table  
The which by mordrede the false forsworn knight  
Stood long eclipsed and darked of his light   

The light of noblesse that shone through all breteyn  
By false mordrede was dyrked of his beams  
The monarchy departed was on twain  
That stood first one with his martial streams  
But afterward the brightness of his beams  
Drough to decline by false division  
Which hath destroyed full many a region   

All the process upon a duplycyte  
Plainly concludeth and that is blood unkind  
Adieu welfare and all prosperity  
There peace and concord be left behind  
Trees may not thrive departed fro the rind  
A plain example in arthur and mordrede  
Who can conceive and list the story read    

Of Gesevye king of Venandre/ and of three other kings/ and how they were destroyed.  

AFter all these strange uncouth things  
Tofore john bochas as made is mention  
There came tofore him four mighty kings  
For to compleyn their desolation  
First Ges●uye king of the region  
Called venandre in wars full contrary  
Unto a prince called belisayre   

And to this said noble belysayre  
Full renowned that time in chivalry  
The King of goths was also adversary  
And both atonies of hatred and envy  
assented fully to hold champerty  
Geyn belisaire which through his high renown  
Took them both and cast them in prison   

There is no more of them in bochas found  
But after them in order by writing  
Came amarales with many bloody wound  
Which in his time was of mawres king  
Without cause or title of any thing  
Upon jane Sangwyn 'gan warray again right  
Which through all affryk was one the best knight   

The said jane armed in plate and mail  
Met amarales in Africa on a sonde  
And held with him a mighty strong battle  
And like a knight slough him with his hand  
drove all his people proudly fro that land  
And in my book there is none other mind  
To be remembered of him that I can find   

Than synduall of breton lord and king  
Tofore bochas put him silf in press  
'Gan show his mischief pitously weeping  
When he held were wilful and reckless  
again a prince called Narsates  
A roman knight fierce hardy and right strong  
In his diffence when men would do him wrong   

This Narsates of cas or adventure  
Though he in deed was a manly knight  
He failed members in sooth of engendrure  
His adversaries echon he put to the flight  
Took their king and forthwith anon right  
As the chronicle plainly doth record  
On high gallows he hinge him with a cord   

Of Narsates after this victory  
King Totila had full great disdain  
With a great host most pompous in his glory  
Came upon him and met him in a plain  
With multitude though he were overlain  
Torninge Totyla which many man beheld  
Of narsates was slain in the field   

In order next Bochas doth writ  
Of Gepedoys how king Trusmonde  
Required him that he would indite  
The great adversities in which he did abound  
And of his daughter called Rosamonde  
The unhappy chance to make and describe  
To whom fortune was contrary all her live   

Albonyus king of lombardy  
With many a land held in subjection  
Conquered Beeme/ prague/ and Hungerye  
The land of Gepedoys with many a region  
fought with their king as made is mention  
Slough in battle the said Trusmonde  
wedded after his daughter rosamonde   

●yn author greatly commendeth the beauty  
And writeth also she was but young of age  
Whoos story first when I did see  
How ungracious also was her marriage  
I 'gan wax pale in my visage  
Greatly astonied confus of very shame  
To writ the story in hindringe of her name   

I will forbear and lightly pass here  
The surplusage lightly overpass  
For by and by to tell all the manner  
Of felonies that did in hearts brace  
〈◊〉 should blot this book and eke difface  
For which I cast truly and not fail  
touching her story to make rehearsal    

How Albonyus was murdered by his wife and how she after most vicious was murd●yd also.  

King Albonoys as ye shall understand  
After many conquest and victory  
Which he had both in see and land  
To put his triumphs in memory  
let cry a feast to his increases of glory  
At which feast solemn and principal  
So as he sat in his estate royal   

Parcel for pride parcel for gladness  
The queen present the said Rosamonde  
Take and supprysed he was with drunkenness  
Of mighty wines which that day did abound  
Scent a Gobelet of gold as it is found  
Unto the queen with liquor full pleasant  
Bad to her father she should drink a taunt   

She dempt it was a manner mokerye  
First her name and worship to confound  
To bid her drink ataunt for her party  
To her father this said trusmonde  
Slain aforn with many bloody wound  
By Albanyus through his unhappy chance  
Of which rebuke she cast to do vengeance   

She bore the rancour full long in her intent  
Which day by day 'gan renew and increase  
A certain squire she made of her assent  
To accomplissh she would never cees  
And on another squire she 'gan press  
Called perdyus accorded all in one  
This falls murder to execute anon   

The day was set while he lay a sleep  
Fill upon him with sharp swords ground  
Her lord was slain alas he took no keep  
Or he died of fortune he hath found  
A spears heed to a tronchon bound  
Him silf defendind in that mortal strife  
But slain he was by treason of his wife   

After this murder to escape fro daungere  
This Rosamonde fled away by night  
With her went melchies her squyere  
Took a ship sailed by star light  
To Ravenne they took the way right  
Lad with them for refute and succour  
Of albonyus all the hole treasure   

After she was wedded to melchis  
Man of this world stood most in her grace  
Her love appalled set of him no pries  
For she not could be content in one place  
Her joy was ever new thing to purchase  
To assay many never pleased with one  
Till by experience she proved had eachone   

Provost of raven and chief governor  
For the excellence of her great beauty  
Above all women loved her ꝑamoure  
When she entered first that city  
And through her fraud and duplicity  
She cast murder in her froward avys  
Her new husband that called was melchies   

The hot summer in lusty fresh may  
The same melchis for heat and weariness  
Him silf to bath went a certain day  
Caught a great thirst of faintness in soothness  
And rosamonde of infernal falseness  
Took a gobelet with liquor great foison  
Gave him drink wine meddled with poison   

He drank up half and therewithal he 'gan  
breast and belly to swell and to arise  
Intoxigat wax deadly pale and wan  
And when he did her treason advertise  
He made her drink in the same wise  
Maugre her will she might it not restrain  
Guyrdon for murder they died both twain   

In this chapter but little fruit I find  
Save only this to put in remembrance  
That should call again to mind  
Murdre afore god requireth aye vengeance  
This funeral story weighed in balance  
Wrought by melchis compassed first and found  
By false treason of cursed rosamonde   

Slough first her lord albonyus as I said  
twain of her squires did execution  
Out of his sleep when he did abraid  
let country 〈…〉  
Each murdered other by drinking of poison  
Melchis drank first and next drank Rosamonde  
At them it 'gan and to them it did rebound   

counterpoised one murder for an other  
Albonyus slain by rosamonde his wife  
By assent of melchies and after each to other  
The poison parted there 'gan a fatal strife  
Murdre quit for murder they both lost their life  
Who with falseness full well affirm I dare  
Shall with falness● be quit or he be aware   

As they departed such part again they took  
As men deserve such shall be their meed  
This froward story end of the eight book  
Of Rosamonde and melchis wrought in deed  
For short conclusion biddeth men take heed  
They shall ageynwarde receive such mesoure  
As they measure unto their neightboure    
Explicit Liber Octauus.   

Incipit Liber Nonus How the emperor Mauricius/ his wife and his children were slain at Calcedonie  

tO Francis petrak as bochas undretoke  
In eschewing of sloth and Idleness  
As he began accomplissh upon his book  
Assurance made to do his business  
Which thing remembered 'gan his pen dress  
The ninth book so god would send him grace  
It to perform if he had life and space   

At the beginning soothly of his labour  
In his study to him there did appear  
Mauricius the mighty emperor  
Which complained rehearsing the manner  
How he by phocas cruel of look and cheer  
Destroyed was wife children and kinrede  
The slaughtre couth who list the story read   

The saide mauryce as write bochas john  
Was by Phocas brought to destruction  
His wife his children slain everichone  
At calcedonye as made is mention  
After whose death he took possession  
The said phocas as put is in memory  
Gave panteon to saint gregory   

Which was a temple of old foundation  
Full of Idols up set on high stages  
There through the world of every nation  
Were of their gods set up great Images  
To every kyngdon direct were their visages  
As poets and fulgeus by his live  
In books old plainly doth describe   

Euerich Image had in his hand a bell  
As pertaineth to every nation  
Which by craft some token should tell  
When any kingdom fill in rebellion  
Or 'gan malign again rome town  
Which to redress with strong and mighty hand  
Scent a prince to chastise all that land   

The said temple builded of lime and stone  
〈…〉 my face as books specefye  
〈◊〉 it was first called pantyon  
Set up crosses upon each party  
hallowed it to martyrs and to mary  
Year by year beginning of november  
The feast hold the martylege doth remember   

In asia this emperor mauryce was slain  
In the city that called is calcydonye  
All his household and many good roman  
By phocas and perciens as had is in memory  
And phocas after for his vainglory  
Slain by Eraclyus he than was emperor  
Four and twenty winter and chief governor   

Of machomete the false prophet and how he being drunk was devoured among swine.  

AFter the death of phocas as I told  
That Eraclyus to regne first began  
Came machomet in his time I hold  
A false prophet and a magician  
 
Born in Arabya but of low kindred  
All his live worshipped Idols in deed   

And when that he grew in to great age  
Dysceyvable in many sundry wyses  
With camels used first carriage  
false and double subtle in his devices  
Went to egypt fet myrchaundyses  
To jews and christian sundry times sent  
learned the old and the new testament   

As books old record in that party  
This machomet this cu●syd f●ls man  
Out of Egypt fast 'gan him high  
Toward a country called Corezan  
With a lady that height cardycan  
Through his subtle false dalliance  
By craft he fill into her acquaintance   

He wrought by his enchauntementies  
And by false means of nygromancies  
Her inclining toward his en●entes  
For both he could flatter weal and lie  
Said opynly that he was messie  
jews abiding upon his coming  
As greatest prophet and their sovereign king   

Thus the people he brought in great error  
By his teaching and his false doctrine  
He wax among them a great governor  
The said lady also he did incline  
As to a prephete which that was divine  
Scent from above as sh● did understand  
For which she took him to her husband   

His lineage 'gan at Hysmaell  
Had a sickness full often sith fill down  
In his excuse said that gabriel  
Was sent to him fro the heavenly mansion  
By the holy ghost to his Instruction  
And for the angel showed him silf so sheen  
To stand upright he might not abstain   

On his shuldre were often times say  
When he to folk showed his presence  
Milk white doves which that picked greyn  
Out of his ears affirming in sentence  
They came by grace of ghostly influence  
Him to visit to show and specify  
He was the prophet that called was messye   

New laws also he did ordain  
showed signs by false appearance  
jike moyses him silf he did feign  
A prophet of most excellence  
And thereupon to show an evidence  
Small pots with milk and honey borne  
On a great Bole were hanged on each horn   

He made the temple give credulyte  
To his doctrine and froward teaching  
By milk and honey figured was plenty  
By the merit of his ghostly working  
And thus he was at his beginning  
Take of saracens as they 'gan to him draw  
Which by false error bound them to his law   

A Clerk of his called Sergius  
Written his laws and these miracles three  
First of these doves how they came to him thus  
As here toforne rehearsed was by me  
How milk and honey were tokne of great plenty  
And of the bull afore by craft made tame  
By false deceits to get him a name   

Of Arabyens and saracens I as read  
And of Turks made prince and governor  
With Hismaelitis and folk of pierce and meed  
He gathered people 'gan wax a werrour  
again Eraclius the mighty emperor  
And usurped to ride in the countries  
Gate alexander with many more cities   

Of the parties desirous to be king  
Of that purpose when he was set aside  
The people falsely dissimuling  
Told he was sent prophets to provide  
For though countries for to be their guide  
And for he was lecherous of courage  
He made of venus to set up an Image   

Made saracens to worship the friday  
Semblably his story doth express  
So as the jews hallowed the saturday  
All his works concluding in falseness  
When he drank wine fill in drunkness  
To the people like a false prophet  
To drink water and good wine to let   

As I said the heretic Sergyus  
With him of counsel froward and contrary  
Fone to cure faith he and Nostoryus  
From holy church greatly they 'gan vary  
On whose errors bochas list not tarry  
Moore to writ of this machomete  
A nygromancian and a falls prophet   

Who list to see his laws everichone  
Yove to saracens his book can bear witness  
As they be set in his Alkeron  
Echon in order grounded on falseness  
Like a glutton died on drunkenness  
By excess of drinking much wine  
Fill in a podell devoured among swine   

This was the end of false machomete  
For all his crafts of nigromancy  
The funeral fine of this said prophet  
Dronlewe of kind called him silf Messie  
Whom saracenes so greatly magnefye  
john bochas let be for a queen of france  
Moore of his error to put in remembrance    

How Brounchilde queen of france slough her kin/ brought the Land in division/ and after was hanged/ and hewn in pieces small  

sHe came arrayed nothing like a queen  
her here untressed bochas took good heed  
In all his book he had afore not seen  
Amore woeful creature in deed  
With weeping iyens to torn was all her weed  
Rebuking bochas he had left behind  
Her wretchidnesse for to put in mind   

Unto mine author suddenly she abraid  
Like a woman that were with woe chekmate  
First of all thus to him she said  
sometime I was a queen of great estate  
Crowned in France but now all desolate  
I stood for sooth brounchyld was my name  
Which to rehearse I have a manner shame   

Thou were busy to write the woeful cas  
Within thy book of arcynoe  
Didst service to queen cleopatras  
Of Rosamunde thou wrote also pard  
And among all thou hast forgotten me  
Whereby it seemeth thou dost at me disdain  
List no parcel to write of my pain   

When bochas herd this of cheer he wax sa●  
Knowing no thing of that she did endure  
I wisse quod he afore I have not rad  
In no chronicle nor in no scripture  
Of your froward woeful adventure  
Not quoth she I pray you take good heed  
So as they fill I will rehearse in deed   

Bochas with brounchylde 'gan debate anon  
soothly quoth he this is the condition  
Of you women almost everyone  
You have this manner without exception  
Of your natural inclination  
Of your declaring this observance to keep  
No thing to say contrary to your worship   

Nature hath taught you all that is wrong ●excuse  
under a curtain all thing for to hide  
With little grain your chaff ye can abuse  
On your defaults ye list not for to abide  
The gall touchid all that ye set aside  
Show robys fresh weds ye let pass  
And fairest cheer there ye ●oste trespass   

And if ye shall tell your own tale  
How ye fall fro fortunes wheel  
You will unclose but a little male  
Show of your vices but a small parcel  
Bro●le glass showeth brighter than steel  
And though of virtue ye show a fair pretence  
He is a fool that giveth to you credence   

Quod brounchy● 〈◊〉 do right well espy  
Thou hast of w● a false opinion  
How they can flabile and lie  
And been divers of disposition  
Thou mightest have made an exception  
Of high estates and them that gentle been  
Namely of me that was so great a queen   

¶ Your high estate by kind hath no power  
To change in nature neither cold nor heat  
But let us pass and leave this matter  
thereon to abide or any more to plete  
Of your complaint say to me the great  
By way of service to you I shall me quite  
As ye declare take my pen and write   

Take heed quod she and with good advice  
From the troth beware that thou ne vary  
Whilom in france reigned king Clowyce  
Had a son that named was Clotarye  
Clothar an he●●e that name● was Lotar●  
And this lotarie named the second  
Had sons four in story it is found   

To the chronicle who can take heed  
As it is put in remembrance  
When their father the mighty king was deed  
atween these four was parted all france  
Each by him silf to have governance  
By one assent as brother unto brother  
Weringe their crowns each quyt them unto other   

The same time I called brounchilde  
Me list not vary from the old writing  
Had a father named levechylde  
Of all spain sovereign lord and king  
My said father to full great hindering  
Of both realms the fame ran so far  
Tween spain and france 'gan a mortal were   

The brethren four in france crowned kings  
again my father made strong diffence  
Of martial pride and fortunate changes  
When they met by mortal violence  
Of sudden slaughter fill such p●●●●lence  
On other party the field like a great flood  
With the terrible effusion of blood   

To both realms the wars were importable  
causing of death passing great damage  
Sought means wax by assent treatable  
Of blood shedding to appease the woeful rage  
By oon accord I was you in marriage  
To Sigebert reigning tho in france  
Tween both realms to make alliance   

Nay quod bochas I dame it was not so  
Tween you and me there must begin a strife  
Be advised take good heed thereto  
The first assurance of marriage in your life  
Of chylperyk ye w●re the wedded wife  
chronicles sayne what ever ye express  
In this matter will bear with me witness   

Though sum books rehearse and so sayne  
Like as ye have made here mention  
Their rehesayle stand in no certain  
For by the assent of other region  
Spain and france in their convention  
Ordained so in my tender age  
To sygebert I was give in marriage   

Imeneus was not there present  
When we ●●er our chamber toward night  
For thesyphone her sistren of assent  
Infernal goddesses bore the torches light  
And as the torches showed dark and bright  
Thereby the people presented one and all  
Dempt of the marriage what should befall   

This custom used of antiquity  
From their temples of goddies and goddesses  
At marriages of folk of high degree  
Torches were borne of whom men took witness  
As they were dark or showed their brightness  
The difference seen in each estate  
If it were toward or Infortunate   

Of this marriage short process to make  
The torches brent and yet they were not bright  
showed out cumbrous smokes black  
Of consolation lost was all the light  
Thus in darkness wasted the first night  
Their vers their song of goddies and goddesses  
Were all togedre of sorrow and heaviness   

These were the toknes the night of marriage  
Pronostykes of great adversity  
Yet of nature I had this advantage  
Of womanhead and excellent beute  
And like a queen in stones and perre  
I was arrayed clad in purple weed  
With a crown of gold upon my heed   

Selempnely crowned queen of france  
Which for to see folk fast 'gan repair  
Of all welfare I had suffisance  
Climbed upon fortune full high upon the stair  
A son I had called clotayre  
By Sygebert by record of writing  
Third of that name in france crowned king   

So would god that day that he was borne  
He had be put in his sepulture  
In salvation of blood shed here toforne  
Caused the death of many creature  
As divers books report in scripture  
Ground and beginning as made is mention  
Within this land of great division   

He with his brethren of whom I spoke late  
At him began the first occasion  
Nat so quoth bochas ye failed of your date  
Who was chief cause of division  
soothly quoth she in mine opinion  
Among them silf I dare well specefye  
Chief beginning was fraternal envy   

Keep you more close in this matter ye do fail  
Following the traces of your condition  
You hal● foul in your rehearsal  
For of your own imagination  
You ●ewe the seed of this dissension  
Among these kings if ye take heed  
By which in france many man was deed   

Than brounchyld 'gan to change cheer  
To bochas said with face full cruel  
not long agone thou knewest not the manner  
Of my living but a small parcel  
Me seemeth now thou knowest everydeal  
So that ye may without longer strife  
Sit as judge that knoweth so will my life   

When these brethren stood at discord  
Each again other by mortal violence  
under a colour to treat of accord  
With many a manner feigned diligence  
Chilperyk there being in presence  
Whilom brother to Sygebert the king  
Was slain among them by false conspiring   

On whose death avenged for to be  
As Sigebert did him silf advance  
Among the press he slain was pard  
not so quoth bochas but of false governance  
Of your misliving fill this unhappy chance  
That sygebert was murdered in soothness  
Only by occasion of your doubleness   

Following the traces of new fangylnes  
Geyn Sygebert he wrought full falsely  
When ye loved of froward doubleness  
Laudryk the Earl of chaumpayn and of bry  
For by your outrage and your great folly  
The king was slain and ye did assent  
In a forest an hunting when he went   

Which called was the forest of compyne  
Alas quod she and broke out in complaining  
Bochas bochas thou dost sore undermine  
All the surfeits done in my living  
Thou knowest the slaughtre of sygebert the king  
Which that was wrought alas by mine assent  
How knowist thou and were not there present   

Of these debates and of all the were  
With rebukes rehearsed here in vain  
In rehearsal greatly thou doyst err  
For I cast be right weal certain  
In my diffence to reply again  
It was not I she that thou dost mean  
It was Fregundys the lusty young queen   

This Fregundis thou shalt understand  
Right womanly and fair of her visage  
Chilperyk was whylon her husband  
For her beauty took her in marriage  
By her treynies and her great outrage  
He was after the story who list read  
At mischief slain thou shalt so find in deed   

Though ye by language make strong diffence  
In these matters which 'cause me to muse  
I have again you lost my patience  
That so subtilely would your silf excuse  
Contrariously your treynes ye abuse  
For Colotayre I have so rad pard  
Was not engendered of Sigebert nor of the   

I Remember full weal that I have rad  
That Chilperyk though ye thereat disdain  
Record of auctors that prudent be and sad  
He in troth was gendered of you twain  
Which in his dying me list not for to say  
Left sons two the story ye may read  
Theobart and Thederyk to succeed   

Bochas quoth she though thou turn vpsodoun  
The said stories rehearsed here in deed  
Following the malice of thine opinion  
Maugre thy will forth I will proceed  
As I began take thereto good heed  
The first Thederyk thou shalt understand  
Cousin Germayn was to my husband   

King of burgoyn that time and another  
He of hatred and indignation  
Slough Theobart which that was his brother  
His wife his children for short conclusion  
Which in the mighty famous region  
Of Antrasie reigned as lord and king  
What ever thou sayest this troth and no lesinge   

Nay nay quod bochas it was all otherwise  
I may not suffer how ye go there among  
All this language of new that ye dyvyse  
Brought to a proof concludeth upon wrong  
What should we ●eng●e this ma●e●●●awe along  
Your silf were cause where ye be loath or fain  
By theodoryk the theobarte was slain   

The ground hereof 'gan ꝑcell of envy  
By your froward brenning covetise  
Which had only to occupy  
To rule the land after your own guise  
And if I shall plainly here devise  
Of these mischiefs rehearsed god do boat  
You were your silf ground chief crop and rote   

Quod brounchylde I conceive well and see  
You for your party have lost all reverence  
your silf enarmed to show your cruelty  
Ageyns me touching the violence  
Of two slaughtres rehearsed in sentence  
First how thederyk his brother slough in deed  
called Theobart a piteous thing to read   

Him silf after strangled with poison  
His wife his children hew in pesies small  
As ye quoth bochas make here mention  
Some part is true but not all your tale  
For I suppose ye should wax pale  
For shame of thing which ye can not excuse  
When Thedoryk beginneth you to accuse   

He put on you the crime of false treason  
You slough his wife and children also  
Him silf also ye murdered by poison  
I would weet what ye could say hereto  
Alas quoth she what should I do  
Was never woman in high nor low estate  
All thing considered more infortunate   

Fortune of me set now but little pries  
By her froward furious violence  
Turning her wheel and visage of malice  
Causeth to me that noman giveth credence  
Had in despite void of reverence  
And fortune's mutability  
Sool adiect and fall in poverty   

O Bochas john for short conclusion  
Thou mayst again me thy style now advance  
I have deserved to have punition  
And all the princes and barons now in france  
Cry out on me and ask avengeance  
Refuge is none nor recure in this thing  
Though that with Clotaire my soul be crowned king   

For my diffautes foul and abhomyneble  
Tofore the judges of all the perlement  
I was forniggyd and found also coupable  
Of every crime convict by judgement  
Mine accusers there being present  
Of one and other standing a great rout  
marked with fingers of folk that stood about   

For very shame I did mine ien close  
For them that gaured and cast on me their sight  
But as folk may by toknes we'll suppose  
mine ears were not stopped half aright  
Taken by force lad forth by might  
By the hangman draw over hill and vale  
dismembered after and hew on pesies small   

With my blood the pament all bespreynte  
Thanked be fortune which was mine adventure  
The soul parted the body was so faint  
Who rad ever of any creature  
That much more torment did endure  
Prayed bochas to have all thing in mind  
Writ her life and leave no thing behind   

Lenuoye.  

This tragedy of brounchilde the queen  
Look her story who list give attendance  
froward to read contageous to seen  
And contrary to all good governance  
Born in spain crowned queen of france  
Double of tongue up sender of treason  
Caused all that land stand at division   

From her trains there could noman fleen  
Sours and heed springe of sorrow and mischance.  
Shed honey first strange after as do been  
Her myrrh meddled with sugared false pleasance  
What she said included in variance  
mistress of murder and of dissension  
Caused all that loud stand at division   

Pryncys of gall might not sustain  
Great outrages nor the great grievance  
Nor the surfeits done in their yeries green  
Brought that kingdom almost to utterance  
All of assent cried on her vengeance  
The same aros how all that region  
In her falseness stood at division   

The knife of murder ground was so keen  
By her malice of long continuance  
Her courage fret with infernal tene  
Spared neither 〈◊〉 no● alliance  
Poised her su●fetys and weighed in balance  
As bochas write she was the occasion  
Which made all france to stand at division     

Bochas marveleth of the malice and cruelty of ●rounchilde writeth thus  

BOchas astonied 'gan inwardly marvel  
Fill in a manner ambyguyte  
Of brounchildes' marvelous rehearsal  
How any woman of reason should be  
So full of malice and of cruelty  
To slay her kin and set at distance  
By division all the realm of france   

Bochas dempt it was not credible  
That a woman should be so vengeable  
In her malice so venomous and terrible  
Of slaughter and murder to be coupable  
The story suspect held it but a fable  
Only except that she did him exite  
With great instance her story for to writ   

Her cry on bochas was very importune  
To set in order her felicitees  
With her unhappy changes of fortune  
Her disclaundres great adversities  
With her diffame reported by countries  
Not very ground found in books old  
But of confession that she her silf told   

That mine author rehearsed with solemn style  
rehearse should her words disclaundrous  
Her flowering years also for to compile  
meddled with her days that were contrarious  
Her fatal end froward and furious  
Whereof encumbered of very weariness  
Toward Eraclius he 'gan his pen dress    

How Eraclius the Emperor sustained heresy/ fill in to dropsy/ and sickness uncurable/ and so died.  

aFter Phoras with great honour and glory  
Crowned emperor of rome the cite  
In whose time as saith the story  
The romans stood in great perplexite  
By them of pierce that rose with Cosdr●ye  
Which took upon him to be lord and sire  
As a tyrant to trouble the empire   

Gate many province and many famous reem  
Through all asye as the chronicle saith  
'Gan approach toward jerusaleem  
Afore the town proudly a siege he leithe  
As a tyrant froward to christs faith  
But eraclyus maugre all his might  
Smet of his heed and slough him like a knight   

And by grace which that is divine  
This famous prince this Eraclyus  
In his beginning slough many proud sersyn●  
Hold in though days notable and glorious  
And in his conquest passing famous  
divers relics of the cross he sought  
And from the countries many of them he brought   

Was none so f● hold in his dyees  
As Eraclyus' 〈◊〉 Empire for to guy  
Nor more manly found at all assays  
Of high prows ●or in chivalry  
But when he 'gan sustain heresy  
God took from him within a little space  
His hap and welfare his fortune and his grace   

He 'gan sustain and follow certain rites  
Of wilfulness and froward fantasy  
Of a sect called Monachelitys  
Which as a s●●te of froward heresy  
And sith that he drough to that party  
The story telleth for all his high estate  
This Eraclyus was never fortunate   

Where he was first dread on se and land  
Namely of saracens for all his chivalries  
Grace and fortune from him withdroughe her hand  
For when he fill into heresy  
He was travailed with such a dropsy  
That ●herwithall he had a froward lust  
Ever to drink and ever he was a thirst   

In the days found was no leech  
Albe that they were sought on each party  
The said prince that could wyssh or teach  
Him to relieve of his dropsy  
Made faint and feeble with a great palesye  
Thus in sickness he hath his days spent  
By vengeance slain with infernal torment   

Of Eraclyus this was the woeful end  
As is rehearsed slain with sickness  
Out of this world when he should wend  
All hole the empire stood in great distress  
forhis of saracens did them so oppress  
And day by day drough to decline  
By his son called constantyne    

How Constantyne the son of Eraclyus' supporting error/ and heresy/ was murdered in a stew  

wHich was his successor as made is mention  
In whose time through his great folly  
saracens did great oppression  
Spoiling the countries of all lombardy  
And Constantyne of wilful slogardye  
wasted his days till he hath brought  
All the Empire almost to naught   

Geyn Christ's faith in especial  
He 'gan of malice his wits to apply  
And was thereto enemy full mortal  
And chief supportoure of false heresy  
And toward rome fast he 'gan him high  
spoiled temples of many rich image  
And by water after took his passage   

To constantinople fast he 'gan him high  
By cesyle the way was almost meet  
At Syracuse I find that he did aryue  
And for the ceson was excessyf of heat  
Which in his labour made him for to sweet  
And secretly he 'gan him silf remue  
To be bathed in a privy stew   

Of envy there he was espied  
His own knights like as it is found  
By conspiration certain of them allied  
Fill upon him with sharp swerdys' ground  
And merciless with many mortal wound  
They slough him there on him they were so wooed  
Amid the stew naked as he stood   

After whose death they did them silf audunce  
To cheese a knight born in armeny  
Of the empire took the governance  
And to support falsely their empire  
But Constantyne succeeding of ally  
Being next heir the troth for to sue  
To him that was murdered in the stew   

called Constantyne as his father was  
Right notable in acts martial  
Moore wisely governed stood in other case  
Like a prince by judgement royal  
Of manly heart and courage natural  
The conspirators first of all he slayeth  
That were assented to his fathers death   

To great increases of his famous renown  
Grace of god did him enlumyne  
Constantinople in that royal town  
Old heresy to cese and to fine  
Two hundred bishops eke also nine  
He made assemble to stand at diffence  
Of christs faith of manly providence   

He was eke busy churches to restore  
All heretics manly to withstand  
Their opinions examined well before  
And when the troth was well understand  
Like christs knight list for no man wond●  
To punish them justly by rigour  
Without exception of person or favour   

Of him in bochas little more I read  
Nor of his empire I find non other date  
Spared none heretics nouther for gold nor meed  
At constantinople he passed in to fate  
When bulgarence 'gan with him debate  
A froward people wilful and reckless  
Gave them a tribute for to live in peace    

How Gisulphus was slain and his wife ended mischievously in lechery.  

NExt came Gysulphus to bochas on the ring  
A famous duke and notable in his life  
With weeping iyens piteously plaining  
With whom also came rymulde his wife  
Which that lived ever in sorrow and strife  
Yet was she both of birth and of lineage  
Right excellent and fair of her visage   

two children had this famous queen  
By Gysulphus gotten in marriage  
Wonder seemly and goodly unto seen  
And fortunate by process of their age  
Albe their father felt great damage  
By the wars he had in his living  
With Gathamus that was of Narcys king   

This cathamus with many strong battle  
Is descended and take the way right  
Of Duke Gysulphus the lands ta assail  
Togedre met in steel armed bright  
Gysulphus slain his people put to flight  
And cathamus with strong and mighty hand  
Took possession conquered all his land   

After whose death Rymulde the duchess  
Greatly astonied pale of her visage  
To the castle of Forgoyll 'gan her dress  
With her knights of strong and fell courage  
Cathamus made after his passage  
Laid a siege cast him to jupart  
His life/ his body rather than departed   

About the castle armed as he stood  
Like a prince sat knightly on his stead  
Upon the walls as rimuldus abode  
freshly beseen in her purple weed  
And of the siege 'gan to take heed  
her look unwarly as she cast aside  
And saw the king afore the castle ride   

So like a prince and a manly knight  
She 'gan on him look wonder narrow  
The god of love pierced through her sight  
Unto her heart marked with his arrow  
Made the soil so pliant of her thought  
That of her castle she set almost rightnought   

And for to accomplissh the hole entencion  
Of her false lust in any manner thing  
She is agreed by disposion  
To yield the castle in haste unto the king  
She for to come without more tarrying  
Like a duke/ a duchess her silf to present  
Where as the king sat armed in his tent   

The people within prisoners take  
Her four sons took them to the flight  
Love caused that she hath forsake  
Her blood her kin where it were wrong or right  
And rymulde the space of all a night  
With Cathamus had all her delight  
And ever after he had her in despite   

And by the king when she was refused  
Twelve in number that dwelled in his house  
most frowardly her beauty hath abused  
Of her nature she was so lecherous  
And to rehearse it is contageous  
How she wax after so abominable  
To be apperceived with grooms of the stable   

It were but vain to tarry on this matter  
Or any long process for to make  
Her story is contageous for to here  
But finally at mischief she was take  
For a spectacle fetched on a stake  
Set up aloft mine author telleth so  
Died in distress for constraint of her woe    

Of justynyan the falls extorcyoner/ exiled by patricyan/ after both nose and iyen but from his heed.  

By example so as fresh armure  
Through long resting loseth his brightness  
Fret with old rust gathereth great ordure  
Is diffaced of his fresh clearness  
Semblably the romans high prowess  
'Gan for to appall alas and that was routh  
When they gave to negligence and sloth   

Who in kinghode list have experience  
Must eschew riotous Idleness  
By prudent and enteer diligence  
Large with discretion manly with gentleness  
To high emprises his courage dress  
And he well were on each party  
Him to preserve from all slogardye   

The which greatly hath appaired  
As it is remembered of old antiquity  
Caused romans to be despeyred  
By froward lusts hindered their cite  
And appalled their old prosperity  
Of which defaults came to plain belive  
To john bochas emperors five   

As many kings of the same numbered  
Which by sloth were afore oppressed  
Whom that sloth whilom did encumber  
Their names by and by here expressed  
To mine author they have their course dressed  
Like their degrees to speak in words few  
justynyan first 'gan his face show   

Nat justynyan whilom so virtuous  
And of prudent governance so notable  
But justynyan Temerarius  
Double of his dedys' falls and deceivable  
Of his promise divers and unstable  
Whilom exiled by patrician  
For extortions that he in rome began   

His nose his iyens patricyan gave in charge  
To be cut of by furious cruelty  
And of the empire that was so wide and large  
Leoncyus next governed the city  
And through fortune's mutability  
The same leonce by tybery was cast down  
His iyens put out died in prison   

Tyberyus after served of the same  
His nose cut of from his se put down  
For a rebuke and a perpetual shame  
To a cite that called was cerson  
Without mercy favour or ransom  
Exiled he was prisoned as a thief  
By long torment died at mischief    

How Philip the empeorour died at mischief.  

NExt to bochas came philip on the ring  
whose empire no while did endure  
Like an heretic cursed of living  
And odious to every creature  
beat down images and many fresh picture  
Of holy saints which in their temples stood  
Whereby romans dempt that he was wooed   

Pursued he was by a manly knight  
Called Anastayse and put out of his place  
And in cecyle of very force and might  
He did his iyens out of his heed arace  
By judgement his visage to difface  
Semblably as he by great outrages  
Of christs faith diffaced the Images   

Died at mischief dyrkyd with blindness  
Than Anastayse took possession  
In whose time books bear witness  
And chronicles also make mention  
Of the empire was made division  
That first was one/ parted into twain  
Whereof mine author in manner doth complain    

How Anastace was compelled to leave the Empire to be a pressed and live in poverty.  

AS he rehearseth in his opinion  
And thereupon doth a ground devise  
Cause and rote of their division  
Took original of false covetise  
And seriously he telleth here the guise  
Into the church when richesses broughtin pride  
All perfection anon was set aside   

The poce staff and potent of doctrine  
When it was changed and list not abide  
In wilful poverty but 'gan anon decline  
On stately pastures and high horse to ride  
Short heirs were also laid aside  
Turned to copes of purple and sanguyne  
Gowns of scarlet furred with hermyn   

Slendre fare of wine and water clear  
With abstinence of breed made of wheat  
changed though days to many fat dynere  
With confect drink and ypoctas sweet  
All soberness did his bounds let  
S●a●snesse of food left his old estate  
With new excess 'gan wax delycat   

Goos●ly living in the church appalled  
Caused greeks withdraw them in sentence  
From the pope in petyrs' place stalled  
And list to him do none obedience  
Falls avarice caused this offence  
That the greeks did them silf divide  
From the romans for her great pride   

Thus covetise and false ambution  
Did first great harm in the spiritual  
Brought in discord and division  
Among princes in their estate royal  
Who climbeth highest most perilous is his fall  
Record I take of the foresaid Anastace  
By theodosie put out of his place   

This theodosie did his busy pain  
On ●nastace such were for to make  
That maugre him he did him so constrain  
That he was fain the empire to forsake  
For fere and dread he did upon him take  
The order of priest from the Imperial see  
Content with little lived in poverty    

How the heed of Lupus king of lombardy was smit of by Grymaldus.  

aFter these changes remembered by writings  
Like as I have told here in party  
Came to bochas four mighty kings  
Regning echon of old in lombardy  
After the manner and guise in Barbarye  
They were arrayed in their passage  
With here forgrown body and visage   

Their berdies reached over their navel down  
Their garnementies of colours manifold  
With broad baudrykes embraced environ  
Large buckles and pendants of fine gold  
Their breach embroidered after the guise of old  
Fret with pearl leg stucked to the knee  
plaining to bochas of their adversity   

Their shoes were razed freshly to the toon  
Richly transuersed with gold wire  
And thereon set many a strong stone  
Geyn phoebus light shone full bright and clear  
These lumbarde kings 'gan to approach near  
The first of all the king lupus  
Unto Bochas 'gan to complain thus   

Bochas quoth he as for my party  
For to rehearse by short conclusion  
One grymaldus a prince of lombardy  
Hath me enclosed out of my region  
And cruelly encheyned me in prison  
And after that did a sargeaunt send  
Smet of mine heed and there I made an end    

How the heed of Alexyus was smit of by comperton  

AFter this end rehearsed of Lupus  
For to declare his mortal heaviness  
Next in order there came Alexius  
A lumbarde king famous of richesses  
Which took on him of surquedous prowess  
For to compass the destruction  
Of a prince called comperton   

Which wore also a crown in lombardy  
Atwyx both was were and great distance  
But all the people and lords of pauye  
With mighty hand and martial governance  
The said alexius brought unto mischance  
And Comperton escaped from all dread  
Of mortal vengeance let smite of his heed    

How Aryperton was drowned with his richesses.  

aFter whose death pitously plaining  
Tofore john bochas came ariperton  
Of lombardy whilom lord and king  
Which like a fool of high presumption  
All causeless took occasion  
Of volunte there is no more to say  
again the duke of Bagaroys to werreye   

These princes twain taken have the field  
And of aryperton the party 'gan apeyre  
His adversary anon as he beheld  
His coward heart 'gan disespeyre  
Into Pavye for fere he 'gan repair  
Took his treasure in purposes anon right  
For very dread to take him to the flight   

Took a vessel and entered is the se  
With sudden tempest assailed and darkness  
His barge perished by great adversity  
And was drowned with all his great richesses  
Lo here the fine of worldly wretchedness  
Namely of them to get great treasures  
That gynne were again their neighbours    

How dediere by pope adrian and Charles of france was put to flight and died at mischief.  

NExt to Bochas with heavy look and cheer  
King of lombardy showed his presence  
Called in his time noble Dediere  
Notable in arms and of great excellence  
And where his father had done offence  
To the pope and full great duresse  
This king cast the damages to redress   

Agistolphe was his fathers name  
Which to the pope did great adversity  
For which his son to increases his fame  
Of royal freedom and magnanimity  
And of benign liberality  
Gave to the pope with humble reverence  
A stately city that called is faience   

Therewith he gave great treasure and great good  
As he that list of freedom for to spare  
A mighty castle which on Tybre stood  
Within the boundye and lordship of ferrare  
Which is a cite plainly to declare  
Of antiquity mine author telleth so  
And stant upon the ryu●re of the poo   

This Dediere reigning in lombardy  
'Gan wax famous at his beginning  
Had great name upon each party  
But in this earth is no thing abiding  
All stant on change and fortune in werkinge  
Is found wastable and double of her visage  
Which of this king changed the courage   

There he was large on every side  
Liberal found in many sundry wise  
His goodlihead was changed in to pride  
And his largesse in to covetise  
Of doubleness he 'gan anon devise  
To cleyme again as ye shall understand  
His said gifts out of the pope's hand   

Which dediere had made alliance  
As the chronicle maketh mention  
With king pepyne regning though in france  
After whose death to have possession  
And full lordship of all that region  
He 'gan of new fall at distance  
Both with the pope and with the king of france   

Of presumption these wars he began  
again his promise of double variance  
Pope in though days was holy adrian  
Which to stint the trouble and great mischance  
Required help of the king of france  
And great Charles in bochas as I read  
Came to the pope to help in this need   

Charles that time was chief protector  
To holy church their pavys and diffence  
Which of hole heart and diligent labour  
With Dediere by manly violence  
He met in Tuskye of knightly excellence  
Had a battle to prove their both might  
Charles victor dediere put to flight   

As I find he fled into pauye  
Worthy charles laid a siege aforne  
Constrained them upon each party  
For lack of victual they were almost lost  
They wanted liquor greyn and corn  
By sudden constraint and great adversity  
To king Charles they yielded up the cite   

King Dedyere was sent into France  
With mighty chains fettered in prison  
Like a wretch in sorrow and great penounce  
Died at mischief there gained no rounson  
Which had afore so great possession  
After whose day by old writing  
Among lombards was never crowned king    

Of pope john a woman with child and put down.  

AFter the princes rehearsed here toforn  
drowned in teries came a creature  
Like a bishop rounded and shorn  
And as a priest he had a broad tonsure  
Her apparel outward and vesture  
Being a woman whereof bochas took heed  
Like a prelate shape was her weed   

She was the same that of yore agone  
Unworthily sat in petyrs' place  
Was afterward called pope John  
A berdles prelate none here seen on her face  
Of her birth named was the place  
Ma●ence a cite standing in italy  
Upon the Reen full famous of victual   

In her youth and in her tender age  
Forsook her kin and in especial  
Cast she would for her advantage  
Gave her to cunning body heart and all  
And in the sciences called liberal  
In all seven by famous excellence  
By great study she had experience   

Her name couth in many divers land  
To show her cunning first when she began  
Searching provinces came to Inglonde  
No wight supposing but that she was a man  
Came to rome her story tell can  
Taught grammar sophistry and logic  
Rad in scoles openly rhetoric   

In the time of emperor Lotarye  
After the death as made is mention  
From mine author if I shall not vary  
That the pope which called was leon  
The said woman by election  
I stalled was no wight supposing than  
By no tokne but that she was a man   

The book of Fortys after that anon  
Of adventure turned upso down  
She was named and called pope john  
Of whose natural disposition  
Fill by process in to temptation  
Quyk with child the hour came on her than  
Was delivered at saint john Lateran   

After put down for her great outrage  
I will on her spend no more labour  
But pass over all the surplusage  
Of her living and of her great error  
Turn my style unto the emperor  
Called arnold and write his piteous chance  
Son to charles the great king of france   

To this Charlies as books determine  
He was son not borne in marriage  
But begotten of a concubine  
Took upon him of surquedous outrage  
Without title birth or lineage  
To succeed by fraud and false labour  
Among romeyns to regne as emperor   

He was ungracious sitting in that estate  
In mischief spent his days everyone  
With lys and worms made infortunate  
Through skin and flesh fret unto the bone  
Craft of medicine nor succour was there none  
So deep was fret in his entrayle  
Died in distress no leech might avail    

Bochas counseyleth princes to remember on arnold.  

Mine author bochas stint here for a while  
Sharped his pen of entencion  
'Gan to anger to transport his style  
To writ of tyrants the transgression  
Moore wode and fell than any scorpion  
them counceylinge when they be most bold  
For to remember of this proud arnold   

He ne was not in his pride assailed  
Nat with wolves tigers nor lions  
With ravenous bears nor wild bores travailed  
neither with other mighty chaumpions  
Which have conquered many regions  
But with worms engendered of his kind  
The said ●rnolde was murdered as I find   

In such disjoint the saide arnold stood  
With lys and worms fret again nature  
That was so nigh borne of charles blood  
Impotent the pain to endure  
Which was in sooth an uncouth adventure  
That a prince might not be succoured  
Of small worms for to be dovoured   

A great example who list consider  
To princes all for to abate their pride  
Late them consider their fragylite  
To see an emperor to abide  
Thassault of worms and lay their boost aside  
In this arnold wisely advertise  
How god hath power their pomp to chastise   

Death of arnold did my pen encoumbre  
For the great abomination  
Than to bochas came the twelve in number  
called pope john as made is mention  
entering by fraud and false election  
To goddys' law froward and contrary  
not like a pastor but like a marcenarye   

Called aforne he was octavian  
Nothing resembling petyrs' governance  
From the time in rome that he began  
To sit as pope he gave his attendance  
To follow his lust and his fleshly pleasance  
In hawking and hunting stood his felicity  
And among women conversant for to be   

Unto surfeit Riot and gluttony  
He gave him holy took of god no keep  
Greatly disclandered he was of lechery  
Kept in his court without shame or dread  
A number of women in chronicle as I read  
Two cardinals of purpose did intend  
His vicious life to correcke and amend   

And of intent these cardinals two  
The church esclaundred cast them to redress  
Made letters sent them to o●cho  
Duke of Saxon that he should him dress  
Toward rome and of high noblesse  
On holy church to have compassion  
Make of this mischief just reformation   

This pope john when he hath perceived  
Of these cardinals the manner of weyting  
And how the duke the letters hath received  
He to do vengeance made no tarrying  
Bode no lengre this judgement giving  
Cut of the nose felly of that one  
Hand of that other and each was called john   

The emperor did his letters send  
To this pope of hole affection  
Of his defaults he should him amend  
But there was found no correction  
For which he was deposed and put down  
By cardinals for his cursedness  
Me list no more to writ of his wretchidnesse   

For his defaults and his great outrage  
This john put down as ye have herd devise  
Mine author after caught a great courage  
saying this mischief in many sundry wise  
In holy church which that did arise  
Among prelate's cast them silf belive  
Their diffautes openly to describe   

Of their pride and presumption  
And while he 'gan study in this matere  
He 'gan remember anon in his reason  
Upon a vere written in the sautere  
Touch not my prophets ne nigh them not to near  
Nor again them beware in deed and thought  
In no wise that ye malign naught   

For this cause as ye shall understand  
Touching this matter plainly as I read  
Mine author 'gan withdraw his hand  
Left his purpose and forth 'gan proceed  
To whose presence or that he took heed  
Came a prince Duke Charles of Loreyn  
Him besought to write his grievous pain    

Of Charles of Loreyn confounded with hunger.  

THis duke of loreyne as ye shall conceive  
Haddit were with the king of france  
called Hugh Capet and I apperceive  
An archbusshop to do the king pleasance  
Of hatred made his ordinance  
again this duke await upon him set  
That he him took a-bed when he slept   

The said bishop 'gan falsely undremyne  
This worthy duke by full falls treason  
Which as I find was called ancelyne  
And he was bishop that time of leon  
Which by fraud and false collusion  
Took this prince that was duke of loreyne  
And to the king he brought him by a train   

By whom he was delivered to prison  
To orleans and with chains bound  
What was his end was made no mention  
But in a pit horrible and profound  
mischief with hunger did him so confound  
That I suppose this Duke of Loreyne  
Consumed was for constraint of his pain    

How king Solomon whilom King of Hungry was put to flight  

aFter to bochas there came down  
princes four and each for his party  
Their griefs told and first Solomon  
That whilom reigned in hungerye  
Both fool and coward books specefye  
Void of reason noised of ignorance  
And at a point could no purveyance   

Fortune also did at him disdain  
For he was nouther manly nor courageous  
again whom were worthy knights twain  
He●●a was one with Laudisalus  
Famous in arms notable and virtuous  
Both at once on solomon came down  
And made him i'll out of his region   

Through his unhappy froward cowardice  
There was in him found no defence  
Flight was his shield list in no wise  
Geyn his enemies make resistance  
Failed heart to come to presence  
To save his land he dread him silf so sore  
Of whom bochas write in his book no more    

How Petro king of hungry was slain  

ANother king put here in remembrance  
Called petro reigning in hungerye  
For his defaults again the king of France  
I called Charles of malice and folly  
By indignation that was his tormentrye  
His iyens put out there was no better succour  
And after slain by doom of the Emperor    

How Dyogenes the Emperor was taken/ and his iyens put out.  

aFter to bochas there can tweyn on the ring  
Duke of Swene formest as I read  
again th'emperor first maliciously werkinge  
Henry the Emperor reigning tho in deed  
But for his malice this was his fatal meed  
banished to devil among beasts savage  
Slain in a forest for his great outrage   

When Constantyne departed from this life  
Which of all grece was lord and governor  
By marriage of her that was his wife  
A knight Dyogenes was made emperor  
Fortune to him did so great favour  
Constantinople holding in his hand  
As sovereign prince of all grekys land   

¶ Yet there was sum that grutchid therageyn  
And had of him great indignation  
The king of pierce Belset Tarque nyayne  
From him by force took many a region  
Mesopotanye to his possession  
Took by strong hand through his chivalry  
Maugre diogenes and almost all surrye   

Belset tarquenyan made him silf so strong  
By manly force Dyogenes to assail  
And for Dyogenes thought he did him wrong  
He 'gan ordain great stuf and apareyle  
A day assigned they met in battle  
Dyogenes of froward adventure  
He and his knights brought to discomfiture   

Take he was and brought by great disdain  
In whom as though there was no resistance  
To king belset called tar vynyan  
And when he came to his presence  
Ageyns him was you this sentence  
To lie down plat and that king belset  
Should take his foot and on his throat set   

This was done for an high despite  
Dyogenes brought forth on a chain  
Without reverence favour or respite  
At great feasts assigned was his pain  
And aldrelaste put out his iyens twain  
The wheel of fortune turneth as a ball  
Sudden climbing asketh a sudden fall    

How Robert Duke of Normandye fought with the Turks/ was named to the crown of jerusalem/ and died at mischief.  

A worthy prince spoken of in many realm  
Noble Robert duke of Normandy  
Choose to the crown of jerusaleem  
But for cause he did it deny  
Fortune unto him had envy  
The same Robert next in order was  
Than came to plain his fatal unto bochas   

For christs faith this mighty champion  
This duke Robert armed in plate and mail  
With manly Godfray Godfray Bollion  
again turks fought a great battle  
For christs faith that it should avail  
To abstain the law in their intent  
To all the kings of the occident   

Of turks and saracens was so great a number  
Geyn christs law gathered in puissance  
The faith of christ falsely to encumber  
But there were made hasty ordinance  
By kings of England normandy and france  
First to succour did his busy pain  
Godfrey Bollyon that was duke of Loreyn   

Which on saracens made a discomfiture  
Maugre turks for all their great might  
In which battle christ made him recure  
The field that day to support his right  
Where the said robert was found so good a knight  
That for his nobles by record of writing  
Of jerusalem was named to be king   

assented not to the election  
By cause of new that he did understand  
His eldre brother for short conclusion  
I called wyllyam was dead in Inglonde  
Would in no wise take the crown on hand  
Of jerusalem but like a manly knight  
Came to England for to claim his right   

And yet or he came he had knowledging  
His younger brother called herry  
Had upon him take to be crowned king  
Told his lords and princes finally  
He was next heir entered rightfully  
As enheritoure to succeed in that realm  
His brother being king of jerusaleem   

God wot the cause stood all in other wise  
The said Robert duke of Normandye  
purposed him by martial emprise  
From his brother to take the regal  
Took his princes and his chivalry  
Thought he would like a manly knight  
arrive in Inglonde and rejoice his right   

Both in one field assembled on a day  
The brethren twain each with strong party  
To deraign and make no delay  
Each with other to hold champarty  
But when these lords the mischief did espy  
They busied them and were not reckless  
Atwene the brethren to reform peace   

The saide brethren were fully condescended  
Upon this point for short conclusion  
As in the accord was justly comprehended  
Henry to hold and have possession  
During his life of all this region  
And Roberte should have for his party  
A some of gold with all Normandy   

Three thousand pound put in remembrance  
Each year to Robert sent fro this region  
Of which payment to make full assurance  
Was laid hostages as made is mention  
But yet of new fill a dissension  
atween the brethren of hatred and envy  
For a certain castle that stood in normandy   

Which castle longed of heritage  
Unto the kings jurisdiction  
Of which the duke took his advantage  
Maugre the king and held possession  
Turned after to his confusion  
And when the king this thing did espy  
With strong hand came to normandy   

Where the duke was laid a siege about  
Made ordinance to recure his right  
Gate the Castle took his brother out  
Imprisoned him of very force and might  
Left him alone out of men's sight  
fourteen year the chronicle writeth so  
There he died in mischief and in woe   

While Bochas was busy in his labour  
His book tacomplyssh with great diligence  
To him appeared the great emperor  
Called henry showed his presence  
'Gan complain upon the great offence  
Done to him the mischief and distress  
By his sons great unkindness   

The which son was called eke henry  
Greatly accused of ingratitude  
'Cause he wrought so disnaturally  
Took his father with force and multitude  
entreated him boysteously and rude  
And afterward there geyned no ransom  
At great mischief died in prison    

How jocelyne prince of Rage for pride sloth and lechery died in poverty.  

NExt in order with trist and deed visage  
Unto Bochas to show his heaviness  
Came jocelyne lord and prince of rage  
Which is a cite famous of richesses  
And this prince mine author beareth witness  
Wos greatly you to sloth and slogardye  
And all his lust he set in lechery   

Left his lordship out of governance  
For lak of wisdom and discretion  
In fleshly lust set all his pleasance  
And to the countries about him environ  
He was not had in reputation  
Certain princes mine author doth describe  
Of his lordship cast him to deprive   

Among which the prince of alapye  
Called sanguyne the story who list see  
To jocilyne having great envy  
Laid a siege to Rages the city  
He being absent far from that country  
And thus for sloth and wilful negligence  
Rages was take by mighty violence   

And jocelyne commanded to prison  
To him fortune was so contrarious  
Lost his lordship and domination  
Loo here the fine of folks vicious  
Slow delicate proud and lecherous  
Died in poverty in mischief and in need  
Of vicious princes lo here the final meed    

How the emperor Androvycus slough all that were of the blood royal cherished vicious people and after was hanged.  

AS very heir here and true successor  
By election and also by lineage  
Came andronycus lord and emperor  
Of constantinople crowned king of age  
Next to bochas with trift and pale visage  
beseching him to do his busy cure  
To remember his woeful aventure   

Among greeks by story and scripture  
This andronicus governed not aright  
again law and eke again nature  
Found with his sister fleshly on a night  
Both of assent took them to the flight  
again him his cousin was so fell  
Lord of that country called Emanuel   

For a time stood as a man exiled  
For his dissensions and many an uncouth strife  
By his princes after reconciled  
standing in hope he should amend his life  
But in the time that he was fugityf  
He was made lord and stood so for a while  
Regning in pontus of asia a great I'll   

In this while Emanuel was deed  
Fall in great age the story telleth thus  
Having a child and he who list take heed  
While he dwelled in his father's house  
Among Greeks called Alexius  
And the tutor he was assigned to  
I called Alixius was also   

The same that was assigned his tutor  
To see upon him all the governance  
And full power as lord and emperor  
Had all the empire under the obeisance  
princes lords gave to him attendance  
Where that he were present or absent  
Each thing was done at his commandment   

I mean as thus he had all in hand  
Constantynople a city of great substance  
But for extortions which he did in the land  
On his subgettes and for misgovernance  
Among the lords it fill in remembrance  
All of assent in heart 'gan desire  
Call Andronycus again to his empire   

By assent restored and crowned emperor  
Constantynople entering the city  
Bysyed him by fraudolent labour  
All the blood born of the Imperial see  
For to be slain by vengeable cruelty  
By judgement of this Andronycus  
except a prince called Isacyus   

Thus in effect the troth was well sayne  
He was vengeable last in his old-age  
Right as he was in his yeries green  
Felly governed full of false outrage  
last of all malicious of courage  
Took to counceile in Grece he was thus named  
All such as were disclandered or defamed   

Homecydes he had in his household  
tyrants that wrought again rightwiseness  
cherished all that hardy were and bold  
Widows wives maidens to oppress  
Ribaudye was called gentleness  
Spared nouther he was so lecherous  
women sworn chaste nor folk religious   

Had also no manner conscience  
To his subgettes falsely by ravin  
Took what him list by unjust violence  
To all vices his youth he did incline  
And all that were of the royal line  
Were slain echon except Isacyus  
As I told erst by andronycus   

And as I find for him in hast he sent  
For this purpose to come to his presence  
To murder him this was his intent  
By divers toknes and many evidence  
And fully knew the fine of his sentence  
He like a prince list come nonere  
Smet of the heed of the messangere   

And after that of manly providence  
Mid the city showed him like a knight  
Prayed lords to give him audience  
princes judges for to do him right  
That he might declare in that sight  
Great Injuries damages outrageous  
Wrought by the emperor called Andronycus   

O citezyns that know all the guise  
Of your Emperor called andronycus  
Nat Emperor so as ye list advertise  
But a tyrant cruel and furrous  
A false mordrere vengeable despitous  
Hath of new and froward falls courage  
Slain of the empire holy the lineage   

There is a live left none of the blood  
Save I alone of the royal line  
For andronycus like a tyrant wood  
Hath slain echon briefly to termine  
His sword of vengeance they might not decline  
Now purposeth of mortal tyranny  
slay me also that am of their ally   

Requiring you in this consistory  
O Cytezyns that here present be  
To remember and call to memory  
How this famous Imperial cite  
Hath aye been ready to do equity  
busy also of their noblesse  
Wrong of tyrants manly to oppress   

Philosophers and poets eke devise  
In their saws prudent and notable  
Blood of tyrants is noble sacrifice  
To god above when they be vengeable  
And sith ye be rightful just and stable  
In your works void of variance  
Weigh this matter justly on balance   

The people echon all of one assent  
For outrages of this andronycus  
Put him down by rightful judgement  
In whose place set up Isacius  
The said tyrant froward and vicious  
'Gan malign and them silf dress  
In his diffence to make a fortress   

It holp him not to make resistance  
So as he stood void of all favour  
Syeged he was and by violence  
Maugre his might rend out of that tour  
spoiled cruelly felt no better succour  
Sode all naked quaking in his pain  
And first rent out one of his eyen twain   

And overmore he had this reward  
Without help succour or respite  
Road on an ass his face set backward  
The asses tail holding for despite  
Whom to behold the people hath delight  
To poor and rich through the cite  
Him to rebuke was granted liberty   

After all this in a cart set  
And vengeably lad out of town  
By doom hanged on an high gibet  
The people on him to his confusion  
Made clamor and terrible sound  
Would never fro the gallows wend  
Till in mischief by death made an end   

Lenuoye.  

IN this tragedy again Audronytus  
Bochas maketh an exclamation  
again all princes vicious  
While they have power and domination  
By tyranny use extortion  
Concluding thus that their falls living  
Of right requireth to have an evil ending   

Indifferently this tyrant Lecherous  
Of wives maydyns made none exception  
Following his lust froward and disclaundrous  
Spared no woman of religion  
Made wives break their profession  
By violence poise well all this thing  
Of right requireth to have an evil ending   

most in murder he was contagious  
Of Innocent blood to make effusion  
Vengeable also again all virtuous  
Ageyns his kindred sought occasion  
To slay them fro which that he came down  
Which considered all such falls working  
Of right requireth to have an evil ending   

Bochas menaceth princes outrageous  
Which by their proud hateful abusion  
To god and man of will contrarious  
Having in heart a false opinion  
All though that been in their subjection  
They may devour their power so searching  
Which shall not fail to have an evil ending   

Noble princes ye that been desirous  
To persevere in your domination  
And in all virtue to be victorious  
Cherissh troth put falsehood down  
Be merciable measured by reason  
Of Andronytus the surfeits showing  
That ye by grace may have a good ending     

Of Isacyus made blind and taken at mischief  

AS is rehearsed when Isacyus  
Had all the empire in his possession  
To avenge the death of andronytus'  
Constantinople in that royal town  
A brother of his there came down  
With a bacyn brenning bright as gleed  
Made him blind of him no more I read   

Except Isacyus was take at mischief  
Of him that wrought to his destruction  
dying await as doth a privy thief  
Took the emperor put him in prison  
Vengeably did execution  
As is remembered with a bacyn bright  
Brenning read hot and so he lost his sight   

A son he had called alexius  
Tender of age cast him to succeed  
By his tutor falls and contrarious  
Murdered he was at mischief as I read  
The same tutor purposing as in deed  
Of the empire by false collusion  
By fraud and meed to have possession   

In this chapter of him no more I find  
rehearsed here in order by writing  
But to mine author the process maketh mind  
There came in haste Sangot of Egypt king  
And with him came pitously weeping  
Mighty princes soudanies twain  
Regning in damas their falls to complain   

Of Alopye Salech was that one  
Kegning in Damas' of his true right  
Cathabadyn there being eke sultan  
Which in though days was hold a mighty knight  
And right notable in every man's sight  
And for the Sultan of Babylon a far  
Called saladyn oppressed was with were   

For succour sent these princes twain  
To come in haste with all their chivalry  
Him to support and do their busy pain  
Enforce their might to abstain their party  
whose request they lift not deny  
Abode no lengre but made them silf strong  
To stand with him were it right or wrong   

Of this matter the substance to conclude  
These princes came Salech and Cathabadyn  
For their guyrdon they found ingratitude  
In this for the said Sultan saladyn  
Found him unkind plainly this the fine  
From their estate as it was after know  
Disgraded them brought them down full low   

Of him in sooth they had none other meed  
For their labour nor for their kindness  
What fill after in Bochas I not read  
For he forthwith leaveth this process  
And unto robert doth his style dress  
called Farentyne reigning in Tarence  
Lost his lordship by sudden violence   

This to say he reigned but awhile  
This said robert lost his governance  
Next to Bochas came Quyllyam of cecile  
King of that country lord of great puissance  
Lost his kingdom through fortune's variance  
His iyens twain rend out of his heed  
After died in mischief and dread   

Which Quyllyam reigning in cecile  
Was by discente borne nigh of ally  
To robart quisterde as books do compile  
That whilom was duke of Normandye  
Greatly delytinge in chivalry  
With his brother full notable of renown  
Brought naples to subjection   

His brother's name called was Rogere  
Which had a son called enheritoure  
Called Tancret as saith the cronyculere  
Which took upon him to regne as successor  
Thus in Cecile Tancret was governor  
again whom by title sought a far  
Of alliance he 'gan a mortal were   

For a maid that called was constance  
That daughter was to the king Rogere  
Which was set of spiritual pleasance  
To be religious of hole heart and entere  
And by record of the cronyculere  
This constance hath the world forsake  
And to religion hath her body take   

Of this constance the silf same year  
That she was borne as made is mention  
There was a clerk a great astronomer  
Told of her birth by calculation  
She should 'cause the desolation  
Of that kingdom by process of her age  
By the occasion only of marriage   

Sum that were to tancret great enemy  
By their ungodly exhortation  
Moved the emperor that called was herry  
To take constance from her religion  
And by the pope's dispensation  
She wedded was the emperor by his might  
By till of her put tancret from his right   

With a great adder of Italyens  
The Emperor entered into that region  
But by favour of ceciliens  
Tancret long time stood in possession  
But through fortune's transmutation  
The same time to conclude in sentence  
The said Tancret died on pestilence   

His son Quylliam that was but young in deed  
With Ceciliens cast him not to fail  
To keep his land and his right possede  
Meet the emperor with stately apparel  
Made him ready with him to have a battle  
But the emperor to great advantage  
Cast otherwise of fraud in his courage   

Feynyngly during the discord  
The Emperor cast another wile  
By a false colour to fall at accord  
And young Quyllyam ungodly to beguile  
under tretye take in cecile  
Falsely deprived of his region  
Scent to italy and throw in prison   

By weigh of trety the story who list see  
All concluded under falls treason  
With Quylliam take were his sisters three  
His iyens put out for more conclusion  
He perpetually dampened to prison  
Died in poverty lost his inheritance  
Loo here the fine of worldly variance   

Ferther to writ as john bochas began  
After that Quyllyam was put from his realm●  
To him appeared Quyot lucynyan  
Choose afore king of jerusaleem  
Whoos knightly fame shoes like the son beam  
Which by his noblesse he whilom did attain  
Godfrey present that was duke of Loreyne   

But by the Soudon named Saladyne  
He was enchased of that dignity  
All worldly pomp draweth to decline  
So for the constraint of his adversity  
The yeries passed of his prosperity  
Went into Cypre as a fugitif  
What fill after I read not in his life   

To make his complaint after him came one  
Which had stand in great perplexite  
E●le of bryenne and was called john  
Which afterward was king of the city  
called jerusalem and also pard  
A fair doughtre young and tender of age  
joined after to fredryk in marriage   

Being that time lord and emperor  
Was desirous above all other thing  
Of jerusalem to be governor  
And of cecyle to be crowned king  
Which altherlast for his subtle working  
Constrained was down fro that party  
To be a captain for sonde in lombardy    

Of herry the eldest son of Fredryk the second mischieved by his father.  

nExt to bochas crooked halt and seek  
One called herry came for to plain  
The eldest son unto fredryk  
Which by sickness had felt great pain  
M●gre and pale contract in every vain  
Of whose languor the chief occasion  
Was that he lay so long time in prison   

All his disease at great adversity  
I caused was for short conclusion  
By his faders froward cruelty  
As bochas after maketh mention  
And this herry by generation  
Son unto fredryk like as it is found  
I mean fredryk called the second   

This herry by dissent of line  
Of Cecile first was crowned king  
And of jerusalem whose renown did shine  
Through many a land at his beginning  
And fortune also in her werkinge  
Was to this herry passingly notable  
In all his works july favourable   

Of his person he had this advantage  
To all the people he was right acceptable  
Well commended in his flouringe age  
Of cheer and face and look right ameable  
And of his port very demure and stable  
called in his beginning such favour he hath won  
Of princes all very light and son   

But often it falleth that a glad morning  
When phoebus showeth her beams fair and bright  
The day sometime thereupon following  
With some dark sky is eclipsed of his light  
And semblably through fortunes might  
This said prince by her false variance  
Fond in her wheel full noyous fell grievance   

Who may the furies of fortune appease  
Her troubly wawes to make them calm and plain  
Where men most trust they find most disease  
Where double courages stand in no certain  
A shining day is often meynt with rain  
Thus of fredryk the great unstableness  
Hath brought his son in mischief and distress   

This Frederyk set up in a great favour  
By the pope's diligent business  
Unto the state lift up of emperor  
But through his fatal froward unkindness  
Of covetise fill in such excess  
Took upon him patrimony to guy  
Of christs church that part to occupy   

Fill in the pope's indignation  
counsel nor trety might none avail  
But of malice and presumption  
Cast with the pope to have a great battle  
The said herry his father 'gan counsel  
again the church to do no violence  
But him submit with humble obedience   

This strife enduring atwene these great estates  
Fredryk made his son to be accused  
To him of crymelese magestaties  
Would not suffer he should be accused  
But like a man maliciously refused  
By his fathers cursed falls treason  
He was commanded to die in prison   

sum books say he was take and brought  
To his father of doom to have sentence  
But like a man passed sorrow and thought  
Which to his life had none advertence  
Furiously and with great violence  
As he was lad alas on horseback  
His horse fill down and so his neck he broke   

Some books rehearse of him and say  
His father took again him occasion  
And when he had long in chains lain  
At great mischief he died in prison  
And some say that he fill down  
Of a bridge bochas rherceth here  
And drowned was in a deep river    

A commendation of bochas of such as be kind to their kindred.  

nExt in order mine author did his cure  
To make a special commendation  
Of such as be disposed by nature  
And by their kindly inclination  
As blood requireth and generation  
To acquit them silf in thought will and deed  
Without feigning unto their kindred   

Specially that none unkindness  
Be found in them for none adversity  
To consider of natural gentleness  
To them appropered is mercy and pity  
And to avoid the falls duplicity  
That was in Frederyk which so unkindly  
let slay his son that called was herry   

pity is appropered to kindred  
Father and mother by disposition  
To cherissh their children and eke feed  
Till seven yerepasse law maketh mention  
And as they be bound of natural reason  
That time passed their tenderness to incline  
Unto fortune by virtuous discipline   

Than afterward in their adolescence  
Virtuously to teach them and chastise  
Norissh them in doctrine and science  
Fostre in virtue vices to despise  
To be courteous prudent sad and wise  
For when they gynne with virtue in that age  
Gladly after they do great outrage   

As it longeth to every gentle line  
And blood royal by kindly Influence  
To father and mother show them silf benign  
Of humble hearts do the in reverence  
Aye to remember in their advertence  
On six princes that wrought the contrary  
For which fortune was their adversary   

Euerich to other found was unkind  
In cursed blood may be no kindness  
Of one tarage savoureth tree and rind  
The fruit also beareth of the tree witness  
And semblably the fathers cursedness  
With mortal sword in nature reprovable  
again the child is often seen vengeable   

Among which Brutus is rekned one  
Next in order followeth maulius  
Slough their children by record everichone  
Philip maulyus and also Cassyus  
And cruel Herod fell and malicious  
Fredryk also most vengeably  
Slough his son that called was herry   

This fredryk aye benign and contrary  
Toward his son not gracious nor benign  
From holy church ungodly he 'gan vary  
And therageyn frowardly malign  
And like a man obstynat and undigne  
Died a cursed through misgovernance  
Without confession or repentance    

How Manfroye king of poyle was slain.  

Next to bochas of poyle came the king  
Begun his fall and complaint specefye  
called manfroy and for his falls werkinge  
Put down and slain cause of his tyranny  
Loo what availeth sceptre or rigalye  
To a tyrant which of violence  
List to godward have none advertence    

How Encys king of Sardany died in prison.  

With look down cast deadly pale of there  
Of Sardanya Eneys next came down  
King of that land to tell the manner  
How he we●●ayed again the mighty town  
Called Bonya to his confusion  
By them venquesshed and with chains round  
Died in prison so long he lay there bound   

Following mine author called bochas john  
In Sardanya as he maketh mind  
Serpent nor wolf in that land was none  
Having a well which of very kind  
thieves iyen the water maketh blind  
To true folk as he doth divine  
Water thereof was health and medicine   

There groweth also an herb as books say  
Which that is so divers of nature  
Who tasteth thereof laughing he shall die  
No medicine may help them nor succour  
The touch thereof stant eke in adventure  
If it enter his mouth on any side  
He shall alive for laughter not abide   

Another Frederyk was slain by judgement of his brother.   

There was another froward frederik  
Son of alphonce that was king of castyle  
Of courage wode and eke frentyke  
His own brother falsely to beguile  
Begun a were lasting but awhile  
Whoos purpose was his brother to deceive  
And the crown of Castyle to receive   

This frederik came with a great battle  
again his brother for the same intent  
Of his purpose yet he did fail  
God nor fortune were not of assent  
Take in the fe●ld and by judgement  
Of his brother for his great trespass  
Slain openly had no better grace    

How manymettus and Argones died at mischief  

Manymettus of pierce lord and king  
Came next in press distressed in great pain  
Upon fortune pitously plaining  
His adversity did him so constrain  
For there was one which at him did dysdeyn  
Called argones' void of title or line  
Geyn manymettus proudly 'gan malign   

Which Ergones for his presumption  
Take at mischief by sudden violence  
His doom was gyvene to die in prison  
Of no power to make resistance  
But fortune that can no difference  
On his changes atwene friend and foo  
Caused them die at mischief both two    

How Charles king of jerusalem/ and of Cecile for avarice and avowtry died at mischief.  

aFter these foresaid rehearsed in sentence  
As bochas rehearseth in his style  
Came noble Charles unto presence  
King of jerusalem and also of Cecile  
Of whose coming mine author a great while  
Astonied was to see his knightly face  
With such cheer come into place   

For by his port who beheld him weal  
considered first his look and his visage  
It sempte he trade upon fortunes wheel  
And of his noble martial courage  
Had of her power gotten advantage  
Showing him silf on each party  
her and her might did utterly dyffye   

First to comende his royal high lineage  
And of his virtuous famous aliyaunce  
And by writing and praising of language  
The name of him specially to advance  
saith he was born of the blood of france  
And to increases most sovereignly his pries  
Writeth he was brother unto saint Louis   

Gave to france this commendation  
So as phoebus passeth each other star  
Right so that kingdom in comparison  
Passeth every land both nigh and far  
In policy be it peace or were  
For it transcendeth in peace by providence  
And in were by knightly excellence   

These words be not take of mine author  
Entitled here for a remembrance  
By one Laurence which was translator  
Of this process to commend france  
To praise that land was all his pleasance  
Seith Influence of that royal land  
Made charles so worthy of his hand   

Of whose noblesse pope urban had joy  
Him to increases for virtuous living  
Which that time was duke of Angeoy  
After chosen of cecile to be king  
Of pope urban required by writing  
Toward rome that he should him dress  
Of king manfroy the tyranny to oppress   

again the pope and holy church right  
This said manfroye did great extortion  
Noble Charles as goddies own knight  
Came with strong hand up to rome town  
Which in his coming gave possession  
To Gyot manfort for to have the guard  
In his passage and govern the vauwarde   

To rome with great ordinance  
They passed over the bounds of italy  
This manly knight this charles born in france  
Lad with him many strong battle  
The pope's enemy manly to assail  
But all this while to stand at diffence  
This said Charles found no resistance   

entering rome to be their protector  
Full well received at his first entering  
Choose and preferred for chief senator  
By the pope most glad of his coming  
Of Cecyle was after crowned king  
And of jerusalem as made is mention  
Granted to him full possession   

Which in his beginning bore him so weal  
entering that land with knightly apparel  
Of Cassyne gate first the strong castele  
At Boneament had a great battle  
With king manfroye whose party did assail  
To rehearse shortly his adventure  
Charles made on him a discomfiture   

In which battle king manfroye was slain  
And noble charles took possession  
Whereof romans were full glad and fain  
Yet in Cecile there was rebellion  
But they were brought unto subjection  
Yet Corandyne record of all writing  
Son of Conrade claimed to be king   

'Gan make him strong proudly took his place  
At alygate a famous old cite  
Noble charles with knightly cheer and face  
Fill upon him made him for to flee  
And to set rest in the country  
To avoid trouble and make all thing certain  
Gave judgement Corandyne to be slain   

Among kings notable and glorious  
Charles was put as made is mention  
Like a prince strong and victorious  
In full peaceable and hold possession  
Of Cecile and all that region  
Ageyns whom was no disobeisance  
Yielded of hole heart to his governance   

By title also of his alliance  
Fortune greatly did him magnify  
For as it is put in remembrance  
The noble princes that called was marry  
Doughtre to Stephene reigning in hungry  
joined was and knit in marriage  
To charles son to increases of his lineage   

This same charles by authority  
So as him list to ordain  
Was made king of the great city  
Called jerusalem of towns most sovereign  
By which title he bore crowns twain  
His brothre Louis old books say  
The same time in Egypt 'gan werreye   

Gate all the countries about environ  
Which that saracens did falsely occupy  
Brought them again to subjection  
Of jerusalem that land to magnify  
Cartage in Affryk with all their Rygalye  
And all the countries being aforne contrair  
To king charles became tributayre   

This while he sat highest in his glory  
Like phoebus shining in his midday spear  
With many conquest and many great victory  
When his nobles shone most bright and clear  
The same time with a frowning cheer  
Fortune 'gan from Charles turn her face  
And him bereft her favour and her grace   

This lady fortune doth ceil in one contune  
She is so gerissh of condition  
A sorceress a traitor in common  
Cast a false mean to his destruction  
One of his sons slain with poison  
Which did eclipse mine author doth express  
A full great party of his old gladness   

He was desclaundred of all the vice  
Which aperteyneth unto tyranny  
I mean the vice of froward avarice  
Which is contrary greatly unto his chivalry  
defamed also of false avowtry  
Which was sustained through his maintenance  
Within the land by a knight of france   

The same knight abiding in his house  
All cecile troubled with that deed  
The great offence was so disclaunderous  
Through all the region it began to spread  
For thilk woman plainly as I read  
Was wife to one which suffered this offence  
And to be venged did his diligence   

john Prosith plainly was his name  
Which cast him fully avenged for to be  
That king Charles should bear the blame  
Sleen all the french men that bode in that country  
Without grace mercy and pity  
And for to do full execution  
Required was the king of Arogon   

Lost of Cecile hole the region  
With obeisance of many country  
And of jerusalem the possession  
Fill by process in great adversity  
And last constrained with grievous poverty  
To god most meekly with full heavy cheer  
son to be deed was his prayer   

surprised he was with sorrow in his ●orage  
Lost his force fill in to malady  
Langwysshed forth till he 'gan fall in age  
again fortune found no remedy  
And by occasion of false avowtry  
Fill to mischief and for sorrow and dread  
This charles died no more of him I read   

Lenuoye.  

like as phoebus in some fresh morning  
After aurora the day doth clarefye  
Falleth often that his bright shining  
Is darked with some cloudy sky  
A likeness showed in this tragedy  
Expert in charles the story doth well prove  
Youth and age rekned truly  
The fair day men do praise at eve   

The noble fame of his fresh beginning  
To saint allows he was nigh of ally  
Right wiser right manly/ right virtuous of living  
called of knighthood flower of chivalry  
Till maintenance of avowtry  
Came into his court to hurt his name and grieve  
His life his death put in iupartye  
The fair day men do praise at eve   

Like deserts men have their guerdoning  
Virtuous life doth princes magnify  
The contrary to them is great hindering  
Folk expert the troth may not deny  
Search out the reward of cursed lechery  
Where it is used the household may not prove  
In this matter to charles have an eye  
The fair duy to praise toward eve   

Noble princes all vices eschewing  
Your high courage late reason give  
Withdraw your hand fro riotous watching  
flee fleshly lusts and vicious company  
Oppress no man do no tyranny  
succour the needy poor folk do relieve  
Late men report the prudent policy  
Of your last age when it draweth to eve     

Of Hugolyne earl of Pyse/ slain in prison.  

AFter charles story rad the woeful fine  
As ye have heard the manner and the guise  
To john Bochas appeared Hugolyne  
called whilom the Earl of pyse  
Till they 'gan again him arise  
most vengeable cruel and unkind  
Slough him in pr●son no more of him I find   

Save his children of hatred and envy  
Were murdered eke in a deep prison  
Next with his complaint the king of harmony  
Came tofore Bochas that called was athon  
A christian prince full famous of renown  
For our faith from which he list not err  
Geyn tertarius long time he held great were   

This manly king in knighthood full famous  
It was showed his story who list see  
Had a brother fell and despitous  
Called Sabath desirous to succeed  
Stead of his brother the kingdom to possede  
By false treason revolved of his right  
Kept him in hold and put out of his sight   

This sabath lost both hap and grace  
His other brother as made is mention  
By strong hand put him from his place  
Chased him out of that region  
Take by force and fettered in prison  
Died there noman list him visit  
Lo how god can treason and murder quite    

How p●pe Boneface the viii was take by the lineage de Columpnys/ eat his hands and died in prison  

Among these woeful princes three  
Which showed them so uggly of their cheer  
Pope boneface by great adversity  
The viii of that name 'gan to approach near  
A thousand iii C accounted was the year  
From christs birth by computation  
When that he made his lamentation   

This same pope caught occasion  
Which under petre kept governance  
To Interdirte all the region  
Time of king philip reigning tho in france  
Dirrct bulls down into constance  
To Nycolas made by boneface  
Archid●acon of the same place   

Of holy church the prelate's nigh echon  
Busshoppys of france felly have declared  
Preving by points many more than one  
In a great sin plainly and not spared  
By him the church was hurt and not repaired  
Put on him crimes of great misgovernance  
Denouncing enemy to all the land of france   

Put on him many great outrage  
Wrongly how he had done offence  
To a cardinal born of the lineage  
De Columpny● a kindred of reverence  
For which cause he kept him absence  
Out of the court drough where he was born  
By which occasion the pope his life hath lorn   

De Columpnys the lineage hath so wrought  
Took Bonyface for his old cruelty  
With great force and power they have him brought  
Unto a castle which stood in the cite  
Called sancti angeli gave authority  
To a cardinal and by commission  
Power to do full execution   

Of these matters hanging in balance  
atween parties were it right or wrong  
Both of romans and prelate's eke of france  
The pope aye kept within the castle strong  
Of adventure abiding there not long  
Fill in a flux and afterward for need  
For hunger eat his hands as I read   

Hour of his dying it is made mention  
About the castle was marvelous lightening  
Where the 〈◊〉 lay fettered in prison  
None such aforn was ●eyn in their living  
And while Bochas was busy in writing  
To writ the fall of this bonyface  
The order of templars came tofore his face    

How the order of Templars was founded/ and with other of the order brent.  

CRonyculers the troth can record  
Calling to mind the first foundation  
Of old auctors therewith accord  
Of these Templars how the religion  
'Gan that time when Godfray Bullion  
Had won that noble knightly man  
jerusalem that order first began   

By certain knights which did their busy pain  
When the cite was first I won  
By noble Godfray duke whilom of loreyn  
There crowned king this order they begun  
Old books well rehearse can  
Taking a ground of poverty and meekness  
To found this order did their business   

Their beginning 'gan of devotion  
She ground Itake of wilful poverty  
And made first their habitation  
By the temple not far from the cite  
In tokne of cleanness sworn to chastity  
Of the temple like to their desires  
Took that name and called were Templeres'   

〈◊〉 Honorye gave them authority  
Of holy church being that time heed  
A white habit they bore that time for chastity  
Eugenyus after gave them a cross of r●de  
And to defend pilgrims out of dread  
Geyne saracenes through their high renown  
This was chief point of their profession   

While they lived in wilful poverty  
These crossed knights in mantel clad of white  
They are spread in many far country  
For in perfection was set all their delight  
F●lke of devotion caught an appetite  
Them for to increases gave great alms  
By which they 'gan increases in great richesses   

By process within few yeries  
The numbered great of their religion  
And the fame of the said Templars  
●an spread wide in many region  
With their sudden rising of their profession  
With towers castles they gave them to delices  
Appalled in virtue which brought in many vices   

It were to long to rekne them all  
But among other I find there was one  
A manly knight folk jaques did him call  
Great of authority among them everichone  
As chronicles remember of yore agone  
The which jaques in the realm of france  
Was borne of blood to great inheritance   

The same jaques hold a manly knight  
In his beginning fresh lusty of courage  
Had a brother by elder title of right  
Occupied all hole the heritage  
Because jaques younger was of age  
Which might not by no condition  
No thing cleyme of that possession   

His elder brother occupied all  
While this jaques but low was of degree  
Wondre desirous to be with him equal  
Always put back by froward poverty  
And to surmount if it would be  
Fond out a mean like to his desires  
Was chosen master of the templars   

Was promoted by free election  
By them that should cheese him of right  
Whereby he had great domination  
richesse/ treasure/ great power and might  
Of his person was eke a manly knight  
The same time put in remembrance  
Philip la Bele crowned king of france   

Which had of jaques great indignation  
To all the templars and all the chivalry  
Cast ways to their destruction  
Gave authority his lust to fortify  
Down fro the 〈◊〉 books specefye  
Clement the concludinge if ye may  
All the templars destroyed them on a day   

For certain crimes horrible to here  
All at once were set in prison  
By their friends touching this manner  
counseled to axe mercy and pardon  
That they should by plain confession  
Requering him kneeling on arrow  
And as it was their trespass been aknowe   

jaques was take and with him other three  
Kept in hold and to prison sent  
And the remnant of their iniquity  
Ordained were by open judgement  
To mighty stakes to be tied and brent  
The king in manner like to do them grace  
So they would confess their trespass   

But all for naught they were so indurate  
All of accord and of one courage  
To axe mercy were obstinate  
The fire ready all with one language  
When the flame approached their visage  
Full plainly spoke cried piteously  
Of their acts which they were not guilty   

From their purpose they lyftnat to decline  
But with one voice echon and one sound  
Fully affirmed till they did fine  
How their order and their religion  
Igroundyd was upon perfection  
And their death verily in deed  
Compassed was of malice and hatred   

The said jaques of whom I spoke toforne  
Brought to a place which called was leon  
Tofore two legates or that his life was lorn  
All openly made his confession  
He was worthy for short conclusion  
For to be deed by rightful judgement  
This was his end to ashes he was brent    

Bochas here commendeth Theodorus with other two philosophers for their patience notably·  

●Euynge a pries to philosophers three  
Bochas commendeth with great diligence  
How each of them was in his country  
sovereignly by virtuous excellence  
Of old commended for their patience  
Which may be set and crowned in his stall  
As Empress among virtues all   

'Mong ceciliens first theodorus  
For patience had in great reverence  
Among greeks the story telleth thus  
Artaxerses for his magnificence  
By force of virtue grounded in patience  
Because he was virtuous and wys  
For sufferance gate him a soverein pries   

Among romans put in remembrance  
Scevola both philosopher and knight  
For his martial hard strong constance  
When that he held amid the flame light  
Hand and fynges among the coals bright  
Till the joints falling here and yondre  
From the wrist departed were asondre   

First theodorus borne in the famous I'll  
By patience great pains enduring  
Chief philosopher called of cecile  
With chains bound upon the ground dying  
On his body laid gads read brenning  
suffering his pain list it not refuse  
By king Jerome the tyrant ciracuse   

For common profit suffered all his pain  
Long time afore lying in prison  
Which by assent of more than one or twain  
Was the most chief by conspiration  
To bring the tyrant to his destruction  
For no pain that he might endure  
The conjuration he would not discure   

Rather he chase in mischief for to die  
Than by name openly declare  
Of him that slough the tyrant soothly to say  
Thought of right no man should spare  
For common profit health and welfare  
To slay a tyrant deeming for the best  
All a region for to set at rest   

For which title he list suffer death  
All his torment took most patiently  
Theodorus till he yielded up the breath  
grudged not with noise nor loud cry  
Amid whose heart rotyd was faithfully  
Common profit bochas writ the same  
Among Ceciliens to get him a name   

Greeks also commend above the stars  
Anexerses and greatly magnify  
Cause that he to stint mortal wars  
List not spare to acquit his party  
In rebuking manly the tyranny  
Of N●cocreon tyrant full mortal  
Regning in Cypre in his estate royal   

Spared neither for death ne dread  
Him to rebuke by virtuous language  
The tyrant had cut of his heed  
His tongue in haste but he with strong courage  
Said he should have none advantage  
Of that member which with all his might  
Had told him troth in the peoples sight   

Of his menace set but little tale  
But of his tongue of strong courage  
chewed it all on pieces small  
Of manly heart thought it no damage  
Spit it out into the visage  
Of the tyrant gate so the victory  
To put his name evermore in memory   

And Scevola equal to these twain  
For common profit by just comparison  
Put him in press did his busy pain  
To slay procemia enemy to rome town  
For to accomplissh his entencion  
Took a strong dart right passingly tenhaunte  
With all his might cast at the tyrant   

Of his me●ke cause he did fail  
To slay his enemy after his intent  
Which in Tuscan by many strong battle  
Geyns romans with his knights went  
This Scevola his own hand brent  
Cause that he failed of his art  
To slay porcenna with casting of his dart   

To declare the force of his manhood  
Put him silf avenged for to be  
As I have told in cools read  
His hand he brent for love of his city  
Only to acquit his magnanimity  
Of fervent love his cite to avail  
To slay the tyrant cause that he did fail   

Thus for to put the martial sufferance  
Of these noble philosophers three  
Imperpetuall mind and remembrance  
How they them quit each like his degree  
For then pure party unto the comonte  
'Cause all their joy and inward delight  
Was for avail to the common profit   

First theodorus put him silf in press  
For Ceciliens to die in prison  
And for greeks noble artaxerses  
His tongue torn felt great passion  
And Scevola for romans and their town  
Suffered his hand by short advisement  
Of very troth in coals to be brent   

A martyrdom it was in their manner  
Of their courage to have so great constance  
Were so stable of heart body and cheer  
For common profit of face and countenance  
Unto the death without variance  
Gate the triumph by sovereign excellence  
With laurer crowned for their patience   

Like as phoebus passeth the little star  
Hyest up raised in his midday spear  
So this virtue in trouble peace and were  
Called patience most freshly doth appear  
Among virtues to show his beams clear  
For patience knit with humility  
Where they abide may none error be   

tyrants hearts this virtue doth appease  
Modefyeth their cruel fell woodenness  
Rage of lions who list live in ease  
Of folk prostrate his malice doth repress  
All our joy 'gan first with meekness  
For of juda the hardy strong lion  
A maidens meekness fro heaven brought do●n   

In battle and mighty strong sheltrons  
A vice with sufferance winneth the victory  
Patience venquisshith chaumpions  
Lowness in virtue by many old history  
And meekness perpetuell of memory  
All to conclude ground on reason  
A maydyns' meekness wrought our redemption    

Bochas here commendeth humility  

Virtue of virtues oh noble patience  
with laurer crowned oh utuoꝰ constance  
Laude herewith price and reverence  
Be you● to the princes most pleasance  
Most renowned by old remembrance  
Of whom the mighty martial armure  
Geyn all vices longest may endure   

Ground and beginning to stand at diffence  
again Satan's infernal puissance  
Laureate queen where thou art in presence  
From outrages have no governance  
Condute heed spring of plenteous abundance  
Crystal well celestial of figure  
Geyne all vices which longest may endure   

Chief founderesse by sovereign excellence  
Of ghostly building and spiritual substance  
Empress of most magnificence  
With heavenly spirits next of alliance  
With life everlasting thy triumphs to advance  
And joy eternal thy noblesse to assure  
In the aureat throne perpetually to endure   

Three jererchyes there living in presence  
With whom humility hath sovereign acquaintance  
Where hosanna with devout diligence  
Is song of angels by long continuance  
Tofore the throne keeping their observance  
Sing Sanctus sanctus record of scripture  
With voice memorial perpetually to endure   

The brenning love of cherubin by fervence  
Perfect in charity diligent obeisance  
And Ser●●phyn with humble obedience  
And orders nine by heavenly concordance  
dominations with virtuous attendance  
Afore the trinity sing freshly by measure  
With wis memorial perpetually to endure   

suffrance of paynemes hath but an appearance  
Done for veynglorye hanging in balance  
But christs martyrs in very existence  
List again tyrants make no repugnance  
Rather die than show god displeasance  
showed in no mirror likeness nor picture  
Take full possession for ever with christ to endure   

●●ffraunce for virtue hath the premynence  
Of them that set in god their affiance  
Record of Stephene vyncent and Laurence  
blessed Edmonde by long perseverance  
Suffered for our faith victorious grievance  
King/ maid/ and martyr/ a palm to recure  
In the heavenly court perpetually to endure   

And for to set a manner difference  
In bochas book told every circumstance  
How for our faith by full great violence  
divers saints have suffered great penance  
Stable of their cheer visage and countenance  
Never to vary for none adventure  
Like christs champions perpetually to endure   

Whoos foundation by notable providence  
Grounded on christ their souls to advance  
Grave in their hearts and in their conscience  
Voiding all trouble of worldly perturbance  
Changes of fortune with her double chance  
Loved god and dread above each creature  
In hope with him perpetually to endure    

How Philip la Bele king of france was slain with a wild boar and of his three sons and their wedding.  

when bochas had wretyn of patience  
And commended the virtue of sufferance  
Philip la Bele came to his presence  
Fift of the name crowned king of france  
'Gan compleyn his unhappy chance  
And on fortune of custom that can vary  
Which was to him cruel adversary   

Wounded he was with a grievous sore  
'Gan his complaint to bochas determine  
How he was slain with a wild boar  
In a forest which called was compyne  
Told how he was slandered and all his live.  
One's in flanders with many a worthy knight  
Venquesshyd of flemings and felly put to flight   

proceeding ferther 'gan touch of his lineage  
How in his time he had sons three  
Lowes philip and Charles young of age  
The fourth Robert also a daughter had he  
Called Isabella right excellent of beute  
The said roberte the story is well kougth  
Which that died in his tender youth   

To this story who list have good reward  
The circumstance wisely to discern  
His daughter Isabella was wedded to Edward  
Carneruan the book so doth us learn  
This young Philip wedded in Naverne  
The kings daughter a stately marriage  
called jane while she was tender of age   

The same Philip after crowned king  
Of Naverne his father of assent  
five sons he had living  
Of which five as in sentement  
Three in number be right pertynente  
The matter who so list to look  
And the process of the same book   

The eldest son called was Louis  
To whom his father gave possession  
Of Naverne by cause that he was wis  
For to govern that noble region  
Philip his brother for his high renown  
Was afterward by just inheritance  
And rightful title crowned king of France   

The third brother was by title of right  
Made Earl of march and named was Charles  
Each of them in the pepleys sight  
Were famous hold and passing of great pries  
And for they were right manly and rightwise  
Philip and Charles took in tender age  
The Earls daughter of burgoyne in marriage   

But as the story rehearseth in certain  
To their noblesse fortune had envy  
And by a manner of malice and disdain  
Brought in process upon the party  
Of their two wives froward avowtry  
Causing the death of these wives three  
When they most flowered in their felicity   

After these three princes glorious  
Tofore bochas to show their intent  
A mighty duke notable and famous  
Came to compleyn Charles of Tarent  
Which in his time to florence went  
To make peace in his royal estate  
Tween G●erffe and Gemellyus standing at debate   

The said Charles borne of the blood of france  
A manly knight the story doth device  
By whose unhappy fatal froward chance  
In the wars between florence and pyse  
On horseback sitting on knightly wise  
Hurt with an arrow full low down to ground  
Whereby he caught his last fatal wound   

A man of arms being a soudyoure  
With the Pysanes were it wrong or right  
Of false disdain that day did his busy labour  
To tread on charles in the peoples sight  
When he lay gruffe wherefore he was made knight  
By their captain for a manner pride  
Which governed the Sybelynes side   

And in his study with full heavy cheer  
While john bochas bode still on his seat  
To him appeared and 'gan approach near  
Daunt of florence the laureate peote  
With his dytes and rethoryques sweet  
Demure of look fulfilled with patience  
With a visage notable of reverence   

When Bochas saw him upon his feet he stood  
And to meet him he took his pas full right  
With great reverence availed cap and hood  
To him saide with humble cheer and sight  
O clearest son/ oh very soothfast light  
Of our city which called is florence  
Laud unto the honour and reverence   

Thou haste enlumyned italy and Lumbardys  
With laureate ditties in thy flowering days  
Ground and beginning of prudent policy  
'Mong florentines sufferedest great affrays  
As gold pured proved at all assays  
In troth madyst meekly thy silf strong  
For common profit to suffer pain and wrong   

O noble poet touching this matter  
How florentines to the were unkind  
I will remember and write with good cheer  
Thy piteous exile and put here in mind  
Nay quod Daunt here stant one behind  
Duke of Athens turn toward him thy style  
His uncouth story brevy to compile   

And if thou list do me this pleasance  
To describe his knightly excellence  
I will thou put his life in remembrance  
How he oppressed by mighty violence  
This famous city called florence  
By which story plainly thou shalt see  
Which were friends and foes to the cite   

And which were able to be excused  
If the troth be clearly apperceived  
And which were worthy to be refused  
By whom the cite full falsely was deceived  
The circumstance notably conceived  
To rekne in order by every side  
Which should be chased and which should abide    

How duke Gaulter of Florence for his tyranny/ Lechery and covetise ended in mischief  

ANd when bochas knew all the entencion  
Of the said daunt he cast him anon right  
To obey his master as it was reason  
Took his pen and he cast his sight  
Alyte aside and he saw nomaner wight  
Save duke Gaulter of all the long day  
For Daunt unwarly vanished was away   

This said Gaulter briefly to proceed  
Like as it is put in remembrance  
touching his line and his royal kindred  
He was distended of the blood of france  
By long process and knightly purveyance  
His father first by diligent labour  
Of Athens was lord and governor   

Stood but a while in clear possession  
Greeks to him had full great envy  
Cast of a●●●nt to put him down  
And deprive him of his famous duchy  
To their intent a leisure they did espy  
Took him at myscheef quaking in his dread  
Of high despite in haste smit of his heed   

Upon whose death avenged for to be  
This said Gaulter with mighty apparel  
Cast he would asyege that city  
But of his purpose long he did fail  
And in this while with many storonge battle  
Two mighty princes were come down of pyse  
laid a siege to Luke in knightly wise   

●●rentynes to Luke were favourable  
And to deliver the siege from the town  
With multitude almost Innumerable  
Made ordinance and knightly came down  
Which turned after to their destruction  
For it fell so of mortal adventure  
On florentines fill the discomfiture   

The noise and fame of this great battle  
'Gan spread far by report of language  
In lombardy and in italy  
'Mong soldiers lusty of courage  
And among other feigning a pilgrimage  
The said Gaulter by unware violence  
Came fro Naples down into florence   

The florentines held first a parliament  
For the salvation and guard of their cite  
By great prudence and great advisement  
Of such as were hyghst of degree  
By one assent they gave the sovereignty  
Them to govern hoping to their increases  
With statutes made both for were and peace   

The greatest states rulers of the town  
Called magnates though days in soothness  
To gaulter gave this domination  
Of intent the commons to oppress  
And merchants to spoil of their richesses  
strain men of craft by froward violence  
again their liberties used in Florence   

The temple always in await lying  
To be restored unto their liberty  
'Gan grudge sore among them silf plaining  
For great extortion done to their cite  
The great also of most authority  
Had liefer to suffer Gaulter regne  
Than their actions to modify or restrain   

The said Gaulter in full subtle wise  
By a false manner of simulation  
Enemy in heart unto their Fraunchise  
All that he wrought for short conclusion  
Was done only to their destruction  
With a pretence feigned of frendlyhede  
To his promise contrary aye was the deed   

clomb up by process to full high estate  
By feigned speech and subtle flattery  
In his heart wax pompous and clate  
His working outward no man could espy  
Light and little drough to his party  
That to conclude shortly for to say  
All florence his lusts did obey   

'Gan subtly please the comonte  
For to accomplissh falsely his desires  
Made promise to increases their liberty  
To such as were froward of manners  
Made an oath to destroy their officers  
But they would of their free volunte  
Grant unto him larger liberty   

Gretter power and domination  
To increases his might on every side  
'Gan menace the greatest of the town  
And day by day encres in his pride  
Felly he 'gan felly he did abide  
Thereupon kept close in their entrayle  
The florentines greatly 'gan marvel   

In this while there was one Reymere  
Of great authority and of great reverence  
A mighty sergeant and a great offycere  
To whose bidding obeyed all Florence  
Which with Gauletr accorded in sentence  
With soldiers had stuffed each hos●rye  
For to sustain of Gaulter the party   

And treytourly for to fortify  
The intent of Gaulter fell and ambitious  
To have thestate only by tyranny  
As their chief lord froward and surquedous  
To regne in Florence the cas perilous  
When two tyrants both of one assent  
With multitude to accomplissh their intent   

Which thing considered by their governors  
And magnates called in the city  
When they found among them no socour●  
To remedy their great adversity  
Fill to accord of necessity  
Gave their assent without variance  
That Gaulter should have all the governance   

And condescended they were to this issue  
That gaulter should in all his best wise  
Upon the body be sworn of christ Ihesu  
Them to restore unto their franchise  
Used of old and for no covetise  
From their promise for life needeth decline  
As the convention list to termine   

hereupon was blow a trumpet  
For to assemble the states of the town  
A parlment was holden gaulter first set  
Holy to pronounce the convention  
With every parcel entitled by reason  
Like their accord declaring anon right  
Stood up a voket in the peplies sight   

With men of arms in steel armed bright  
Unto their pal●is chief and principal  
The said Gaulter conveyed anon right  
Set in a seat most stately and royal  
And the people with voice memorial  
'Gan cry loud concluding in sentence  
Gaulter for ever chief lord of florence   

Woe to persever during all his life  
Took in the palace full possession  
There durst none again it make strife  
Granted to him the domination  
Of all the castle about environ  
Tuscan ar and castle Florentyne  
With all lordships to Mount Appeny●e   

As ye have herd gaulter thus began  
By his own furious divinal  
saide he was borne to be lord of Tuscan  
And a great party also of italy  
Told he was lad and conveyed by a quail  
saide evermore were it right or wrong  
That was the sentence of the birds song   

Thesame bird brought him first to florence  
All the way afore him took his flight  
With soot singing did him reverence  
high in the ●yer of courage glad and light  
Would never part out of his sight  
Gave him toknes to set his Ferte afyre  
That of florence he should be lord and sy●   

The ●●●e bird he bore in his devices  
Full ashely enbrauded with perre  
Took upon him many great emprises  
As chief lord of Florence the city  
Sat in judgement governed the country  
Drough to him flatterers and folk that could lie  
Bawds Ribaudes where he might them spy   

Of that city took marvelous truages  
Crocheth to him richessys of the town  
Of lechery used great outrages  
Of maydyns wives made none exception  
Void of mercy grace and remission  
Fond quarrel for to be vengeable  
That to rehearse it is abominable   

Where he hateth/ merciless he sleeth  
Brake franchises and old liberties  
The people plained desired sore his death  
Cried vengeance about their cities  
For tyranny done in their cunt●●●s  
Which was cause of great diff●●●●on  
And of their cite almost sub●●●cion   

Thus they were among them silf divided  
For their grievous sudden oppression  
Lak of foresight that they were not provided  
To see mischiefs that should fall in the town  
This is very soothe where is division  
By witness and record of scripture  
May no kingdom nor city long endure   

For which they 'gan compleyn one and all  
Both of the great and of 〈◊〉 ●●mo ●●e  
And of accord among theymsilf they fall  
To reform the hurt of that city  
And finally they condessended be  
By a manner fell coniu●●●●on  
To proceed to his destruction   

Upon a day they armed in 〈…〉  
Magnates' first with commons of the 〈◊〉  
All of assent rose up anon right  
'Gan to make an hideous sound  
L●te slay this tyrant late v● pull 〈…〉  
laid a siege by mighty violence  
Aforn his palace where he lay in 〈◊〉