worthy reigning Parted the kyngdome yeuen it vnto the And thou vnkynde therof canst nothyng se His great goodnesse is out of remēbraunce Fully forgeten of thy frowarde pride In false goddes put thyne affiaunce God aboue falsly set asyde Wherefore from the anon he shall deuyde The kyngdome hole wythout more delay And fro thy lyne the crowne take away And for thou hast to thy confusion Thy fayth vnfaithful to false goddes take Wrongly refused thy religion Of god aboue and playnly hym forsake This is the ende whych y ◠thou shalt make Thee and thy kyn no man may socour Fleshe skyn bone houndes shal deuour And at thy entrynge home to the cite Thy sonne his thou shalt fynde him deed Of al hys kin though there were none but he Founde very good take therof good hede Of whych answere y ◠quene fil in great drede Entryng the citie in especial Her childe was dede lay colde by the wal Of thys warning the king toke none hede But made him redy w t ful great aparayle Forty thousande wyth him he dyd lede Of manly men armed in plate and maile With king Abias for to haue a batayle The whiche Abias that was of Juda kinge Vnto his people said at their metynge O noble knightes haue one thing in memory No man venquisheth platly to cōclude With great people nor getteth victory With nombres heaped nor greate multitude False ydolaters god wyl them delude Not suffre his seruaunts that ben true sad Of miscreauntes to be ouerlad Triumphe is none found of newe or olde In these Idols of stone nor siluer shene Nor in Calues of mettall made or golde Yeue to that partie which vntruly meane And sithe y ◠god knoweth our quarel clene Ther is no hope force none nor myght With them y ◠groūde their cause against right Hope of victory standeth vpō right wisnes Of them y t cast their sinful life to amende And lyst forsake wrong and al falsnes And with hole hert vnto the lorde entende Which shal this day his grace to you sende Our true cause truely to termyne And thus Abias gan his tale fyne His preestes gan their trūpes for to blowe And kyng Abias through his high renoun Gaue to his people both to high and low Ful manly comfort and consolacion And fyfty thousand by computacion Were slayne y ◠day which ful proudly came Vpon the party of kyng Jeroboam And al the partye of Jeroboam And al that were of his lyne borne After thys batayle vnto mischefe came Whan they were slayne w t hoūdes al to torne As the prophet had thē told beforne But for the kyng toke therof no hede With soden vengeaunce god quit his mede ¶ The .viii. Chapter Howe zaras king of Ethyope was slayne in batayle AFter hym to Bochas dyd appere Next in ordre playnly as I fynde One zaras wyth a soroufull chere And he was kyng of Ethyope and Jude Whose eyen were almost w t wepyng blynde Prayeng myne auctour his vnhappy chaūce With other woful to put in remembraunce And that he would recorde by scripture His sodayne fall and dolorous distresse And his diffamous hateful discomfiture With the dispoylynge of his great richesse And how king Asaph thrugh his high nobles And his people as he dyd thē assaile Hath him venquished slayne in batayle The .ix. Chapiter Howe Adab kyng of Jerusalem lost sceptre and crowne OF Israell than came the wooful◠kynge Called Adab ful pytously wepyng Vnto Bocas his cōplaint rehersing How kyng Basa by subtyll false werkyng With slaughter caused his fallyng Whan fortune gan falsely frowne And toke vniustly frō him sceptre crowne The .x. Chapiter ¶ Howe the vengeable prynce zambrias set a toure on fyre and brente hym selfe NExt came zābrias a prince vēgeable Whiche slough kinge Helam by false treason That was founde also ful vnstable For this zambrias of entencion Hath murdred him within the chefe dongeon Of his castel wyth a ful great route As he vnwarely layde a siege aboute But Amarin a prince of ful great might Came in to Tharse a famous great citye And cast him playnly lyke a worthy knight On this zambrias auenged for to be Hym to distroy without mercy or pitie But in a toure as zambrias went Set it a fyre and so hym selfe brent ☞ The .xi. Chapiter Of king Achab and Jezabel his wife WIth sighes sore wepig importable Came kyng Achab vnto Bochas Whose hertelie sorowe was incōparable And complayning ful oft sayd alas Besechyng him to write his woful case Compile his falling and the fate yfere Of Athalia his owne doughter dere To god aboue most contrarious Thys Achab was in al his gouernaunce And had a wyfe cruel and lecherous Called Jesabel whiche set al her plesaunce On goddes prophetes for to do vengeaunce In the bible their malice men may se And Idolaters they were both he and she God for their trespaces as it was well seyne Afore shewed by true prophecy Sent thre yere neither dewe ne reyne Vpon the erth their graine to multiplye Tyl eft agayne by prayer of Helye Holsome waters from heuin gan discend Which gaue thē cause their life to amend But his wyfe that cursed Jesabel To eche thing hateful which was diuine An hundred prophetes she slough in Israel Vnto Baal for they would not inclyne And she also slough Naboth for his vyne Through whose outrage false oppression Achab was brought to his confusion Of his enemyes outrayed in bataile With a sharpe arow caught his fatal woūde Tyi al his blode by bledyng dyd faile About hys chare w t many droppes rounde That the wordes were ful true founde Of Helias which told him as it stode That hungry houndes should lycke his blod In a citye than called Israel Downe from a toure ioyned to a wall The sayd quene called Jesabel Was ouer cast had a deadlye fal Touching these mischeues for she was cause of all Beware ye princes remēbring all your lyues To eschue false coūsayle yeuē by your wiues ☞ The .xii. Chapiter ¶ How quene Athalia for her tiranny was slayne NExt to Achab in ordre dyd sue Athalia w t doleful countenaunce Bocas besechyng as hym thought due Her sodayne fal to put in remembraunce Sours chefe rote of sorow mischance Is vsurpaciō and false couetise Lyke as her story herafter shal deuyse She was vpreised by fauour in thre thinges For father broder also her husbande Were in her tyme echone crowned kinges With scepter sworde as ye shal vnderstād Many emprises in their daies toke on hande And howe fortune their highnes dyd assaile I cast shortly to make rehersayle She fyl of fortune in the vnhappye boundes Fyrst whan her father was w t an arow dede His blod vplicked w t cruel hūgry houndes About his chare rennyng downe ful rede His body pale lay who that toke hede Lyke a carreyne naked and dispoyled With foule black erth amyd
parcel for couetyse To haue treasour some treason to practise And for to eschewe his malice treason For her nauy she maketh ordinaunce By the auise of them in whom as by reason She should of ryght set her affiaunce And they ful redy her to do plesaunce By one assent for nothynge would fayle With fayre Dydo out of that lande to sayle In Cypres fyrst was her aryuaile And theâ—e she founde by the riuer syde Of yong maydens w t ful rych apparayle Sixty and ten in the same tyde Whiche in the temple of Venus dyd abyde After the custome as I can reporte Of Cypriens straungers to disporte And in their most faythful humble wyse After the ryghtes of Cypre the countre Vnto Venus eche day do sacrifice Them to conserue in their virginite Duryng their life to lyue in chastitye Neuer to be ioyned in mariage And w t quene Dydo they went to Cartage In their passage fyll a great myrracle As Seruius maketh mencion For Dydo toke of Juno this oracle Outher by apparyng or by aduision Of Cartage to bylde that myghty toun And at reuerence of that great goddesse She to the parties fast gan her dresse The sayd citye stately for to founde And her werkemen as they the erth sought An oxes head of auenture they founde And to quene Dido anone the head brought Meninge wherof to serche out they thought And her clerkes in their deumayle Tolde it was token of seruage trauayle For which she list not to buylde in that place But remeued as she ought of ryght And fro thence but a litel space A soyle she founde ful dylectable of sight And as her werkmen wyth their full myght The grounde gan serch or they toke hede The story telleth they found an horse head And by expownyng of her deuinours Founde this beast myght greatly auaile Vnto princes and mighty conquerours Necessary in werre and batayle And for no wight her noblesse shoulde assaile Cartage she buylded of so great excellence Againe al enemyes to stand at diffence Some bokes declare and specify Dydo dyd as much land purchace As a skyn in rounde might occupy Of an oxe theron to buyld a place The grounde coÌ„passed toke a large space Whych strongly buylded thus it is befal After the skyn men Byrsa dyd it cal And whan this citie mightily was walled After a skyn wrought by good curray The name toke Carta it was called Lether of Birsa plainly this is no nay Toke eke his name durynge many a day Carta and Birsa knit in their langage As much to say as this word Carthage And in Affryke stant this teritory Where she builded this citye dilectable Founded it in laude and memory Of mighty Juno the goddesse honorable The citye walled w t towers strong stable Time of kyng Dauid amidde the fourth age As I sayd erst called it Cartage With great worshyp she raygned in y â— towne Euer of purpose to liue in chastitie And rounde about floured her renowne Of her prudence and her honestye Tyll the report of her famous beautye Came to the eares which gladly wil not hide Of a kyng that dwelled there beside Of Musytans he was lorde and syre As poetes playnly lyst decryue Whiche in his hart greatly gan desire The quene Dido by her assent to wiue Vnto her grace if he might aryue But for she had auowed chastitie She neuer cast maried to be The kyng supprised w t loue in his courage For her wisdome and her great bountee Sent for the princes of Carthage On this matter to haue a treatee To condiscende if it might be Like his desire in all their best entent Do their deuoyre to make her consent With his request he gan them eke manace If he fayled of his entencion Like his desire to stande in her grace Sayd he would be enemy to their towne To ordayne by force for their destruction Not fully sober nor fully in a rage This was to them playnely his langage But for they knewe her great stedfastnes And her hart very immutable They were aferde any word to expresse Lest their aunswere were not acceptable To his highnes for he was not treatable Eke in their conceyt they gan also recorde To his desyre the quene would not accorde With good aduice an answere they puruey To his purpose in party fauourable Aferde he would their noble towne werrey Or of disdayne vpon them be vengeable But quene Dydo in her entent aye stable Cast she would whatsoeuer they her tolde Her chast auowe faythfully to holde She set aside of this cruell kyng His fell manaces and his words great And to her prynces for their consentyng Which stode in feare of y â— he did them threate She vnto them yaue a maner heate For they were bolde to attempt or attame To treate of matter rebounding to her shame Nay rather dye quod she than assent To his desires whiche thing god forbede Or fro the tenter of my chaste entent For to remeue other in thought or dede Whiche were disclaunder to all womanhead To condiscende for any manacyng To breake a vowe for pleasaunce of a kynge Touchyng manaces made to the citie For to destroy it with his great myght Without cause or title of equitie To ground him a quarell agayne right Onely for he is blynded of his syght With froward lust my chaste auowe to assaile Be ryght well sure how he therof shall fayle If ye were bolde and manly of courage For comon profite your citye to defende And to w tstande his vycious outrage To treate w t him ye would not condiscende But mine entent platly to comprehend Whether it be to you ioye or displeasaunce In my promise shal be no variaunce My lorde Sicheus whiche alas is deade Vnto the worlde who lyst aduert Trust verely for manacyng nor dreade That he shall neuer dye in myne hert Nor he shall neuer myne auowe peruert Thus auysed while that I stande fre Quene of Cartage to gouerne this citye Mine hasty answere I pray you not disdaine But that ye list to yeue me libertye With your support that I may attayne To haue a space graunted vnto me This is to mene the space of monethes thre My lordes will to accomplyshe of entent Whiche whilome made in his testament Vnder couloure to her aduauntage She toke this space bokes specify That she might her citye of Cartage The meane time strongly fortify Agayne her enemies that for no sluggardy Of them that would her high estate confound Vnpurueyed her city not be founde Whan thre monethes passed were and gone She after would for hartly pleasaunce With sundry ryghtes many mo than one To all her goddes do some obseruaunce For a speciall singuler remembraunce Of him that was as ye shall vnderstande Whilom her lorde and best beloued husband And more to exalt her glory and his honour Held his exequtes by due reuerence Of all Cartage in the highest tower With brenning fire fumes and incence Her princes all beyng
punycion That one princes trespas in lecherye Caused afore God that all a regyon Distroyed was without remedy This story is told for to exemplify Whan noble princes to women them submit Grace al fauour anon doth from theÌ„ flyt Of this mater what shuld I wryte more In Genesis the resydue ye may rede The dethe of Sichem and of kyng Hemore And howe their kingdome distroyed was in dede Of Sychemites lo here y â— finall mede Of lechery of his false plesaunce Which many a realme hath broughte to myschaunce What shuld I eft reherce agayne or write The false auoutry of Paris and Helayne Their woful fate Guâ—do dyd endyte Poetes echone eke dyd their busy payne To declare howe only by these twayne The worthy blode for short conclusyon Of Troy and Grece came to distruccion â–ª But oft it falleth that muche abundaunce Of worldli good with great ease and riches In folke that set all holy their plesaunce To folow their lusts froward wylfulnes Hath caused in landes gret mischef distres Whan vicious life their corages did encoÌ„bre Distroied kingdoms people out of nombre For whan the people through fals obstinacy Is indurate to amend them and correct And wil not turne them from their lechery But aye be redy their soules to enfecte And vnto purpose my style I wyl dyrect To examplify howe Gabaa the town Was for his sinnes brought to confusion Whylom this people called Gabanytes From Beniamin discended in their line Were aye disposed to folowe their delytes And of custome their wyttes dyd enclyne In worldly plentie to flour and to shyne And dempt alway to them it was most due Of wylfulnes their lustes for to sue In lechery was set al their plesaunce And in that vice they lad moste their lyfe Wherby they were brought vnto mischauÌ„ce And many slayne by full mortal strife Whan the Leuyte came forby with his wife Full excellent of fetures and beaute And toke his lodging within the greate cyte He was ful old and she was inly fayre He impotent and she but tendre of age Through Gabaa making their repayre The cytesyns of importune rage Shewyng the fury of their great outrage So long that nyght her beauty dyd assayl Tyll lyfe and brethe atones dyd her fayle Contagious the sclaundre and the diffame In Judicum the story ye may rede Which to reherce is a maner shame To here the abusyon of that foule dede And how y e Leuite a morow gan take hede With piteous chere and saw his yong wyfe Tofore the gate depriued of her lyfe He hent her vp and layde her on his asse To noyse this cryme vpon euery side Thought in such case he myght do no lasse Toke a sharp sword lyst no lenger abyde On twelue partes he gan her to deuide And to eche tribe of Jacob he hath sent A certayne parte to se their iudgement Which thing to them was hateful terrible And in their â—ight full abomynable And in all haste lykely and possible All of one wyll and one corage stable On Gabaonytes for to be vengable They gathered haue shortly to conclude Tassayle that towne a ful great multitude whan they first met atwen theÌ„ thus it stode The twelue tribes were twise put to flyghte On either party great quantity of bloud was shed among them in that mortall fyght For sixty thousand who that coâ—pt a right Were slayne there the story wyll not lye To auenge the sclaundre of false auoutry Lo here the guerdon of the froward fyres In lecherons folke y t wyl not staunched be That brent so hote through bestiall desyres In Gabaa the mighty stronge cyte Which was distroyed for his iniquite And almoste brought of Beniamin the line Through his offence to eternall ruyne Eke for his feruent dronken lechery Holophernes by Judith lost his hede And al his hoste and al his chiualry Left the felde and fled away for drede And he lay bathed in his bloud al rede Thus through their vyce if it be wel sought Ful many a price hath be brought to nought These sayd stories ought ynough suffyse If men wold consydre and take hede The great vengaunces in many sondry wise Which God hath take for this sinne in dede As in their bokes they mai behold and rede Warnynges afore full oft put at prefe How they them self shal saue fro mischefe Lenuoye This tragedy yeueth vs gret warnig Biclere examples of manifold resoÌ„ Howe many a prince for their 〈…〉 uing And many rych royal mighty toune Many a citie and many a region Haue bene euer sith full notable infamous For synne of princes that were lecherous The chosen of god Dauid the worthyking Prophet of prophets most souerain of renoâ— On Bersabe for a sodayne lokyng To slee Vrye caught occasyon For which he suffred great punicion Chastysed of god he and all his house For cause only that he was lecherous Great repentaunce he had great sorowing And made psalmes of great contricion with woful teares and manyfolde wepyng To make a sheth for his transgression yeuing to princes full clere dyrection For to eschewe the flattery odious And the false fraude of women lecherous Where was ther euer of science or conning So renomed as was king Salomon yet women made him thrugh false flatering To foraine goddes done oblacion Which clipsed his honor brought his fame doun That was whilom moste vertuous Tyll he thrugh women fyl to be lecherous Is it not eke remembred by writing Of Israel howe the chefe champion Which goddes people had in his leadyng I mean the famous mighty strong SaÌ„pson That thrugh his force torent the lion But Dilada with teares plentuous His grace bereft him made him lecherous Sichem was slayne eke for the rauyshyng Of yonge Dyna as made is mencion His father Hemor brought to his endyng Lost his rychesse in that discencion And his kingdom brought to distruccion Lo here the end of princes vicious Which them dispose for to be lecherous It is in earth one the most perylous thinge A prince to be of his condicion Eâ—â—emynate his wyttes enclynyng By false desyres of fleshly mocion To put him self vnder subieccion And thral resoÌ„ his tresour most precious To the vnleful lustes hatefull and lecherous This is the sentence full playnly in menyng Where women haue the dominacion To holde the raine their hokes out castyng That sensualitie hath iurisdiction To enter on reason by false intrusion Warre agaynst vertue most contagious To be vaynquished of lustes lecherous It taketh fro men their clerenes of seyng Causeth great sickenes and corruption And to all vertue it is greatest hyndryng Maketh men seme olde as by inspection Appalleth their minde and disposition Shorteth their life thing dredfull piteous Whan they dispose them to be lecherous Noble prynces in your ymaginyng Conceyue of women the false deception Namely of them that loue but for winnyng And labour aye for your possession Whose sugred flattery is false collusion
knyght ▪ That whan Alysander laye diyng certayne And gan to feble of hys force myght Dempt afore that it sat ful well of ryght How thys Perdicas for wisdom manhede In Macedone shoulde after hym succede And vnto hym with loke chere benigne Vpon his heed for sickenesse complaynyng With full whole hert for a notable signe Of succession he gaue to hym a ryng After his day to be crowned kyng Of Macedone sith he most might auayle Through al his empyre to haue y ◠gouernaile And yet sayth Bochas playnly in sentence Though he of knyghthode and hie prowesse Of manly force and also of prudence Passed all other the storye beareth witnesse By vicious pride frowarde boystousnesse He was more hyndred through his outrage Than all his enemyes myght do hī domage For throughe his pride and great extorcions Fro Macedone the people of that countre Fledde into other strange regions And of presumption the story sayth howe he Began a warre agayne kyng Tholome Where he was slayne in all mens syghtes Nat of his enemies but of his own knightes Eke of Anaxarchus of Capadoce kyng Whiche prouince ioyneth vnto Surry Touchyng the boūdes by recorde of writyng Towarde the Orient the lande of Armeny Hauyng two coūtryes Scilice and Isaury Towarde Cypre a great ryuere Rennyng amiddes with stremes freshe and clere This Anaxarchus were he lothe or fayne In dayes fewe hath hys kyngdome lorne For by Perdicas proudly he was slayne Of whom that I haue you tolde beforne Thus worldly prices tho they had it sworne For all theyr lordshyp and domination By fraude of fortune vnwarly be put doune And amonge other prynces of that age Vpon Alysander duly abydyng Bochas reherseth Amylchar of Cartage Duke of that cite by recorde of writyng After the death of that worthy kyng As ye haue herde ymurdred by poyson This sayd Amylchar repeyringe to his toun Was slayne in Cartage shortly to conclude Of cruel malice and conspiracion Within that cite of false ingratitude Whan he of knighthode frāchised had y t towne And nat withstandyng all his hye renoune Whan he stode hyest in hys felicite He by the commons was slayne of that cite The .xiii. Chapter ⧠Howe Eumenydes was twyse outrayed by Antigonus and at the last dyed in pryson WHā Alisader in his roial estate Had all conquered tofore as ye haue herd He like a god most pompous elate As souerayne prince of all myddleerde To take vpon hym was nothyng aferde To clayme in countrees a thynge y ◠was nat fayre Of Jupiter to be both sonne heyre One of the principles who so taketh hede That first brought in false ydolatry Was thylke tyme y t priestes for false drede Hys name with goddes gan to magnify And so to call hym of fayned flattery And mydde their tēples in Liby on a stage Of hys lykenes they set vp an ymage But lytle or nought to hym it myght auayle Agayne his deth for to do succour When the fell poyson hys hert dyd assayle Whiche made him fade as doth a flour Of whose empyre was none enheritour Saue in his deth thus stode the woful case Twene sixe thirty hys land deuyded was And in his story full playnly it is tolde This departicion to make it ferme stable He was laide forth vpon a couche of golde To reherse by tokens full notable Whome he dempt of very sothe most able Of all his princes playnly to discerne When he was deed his kingdom to gouerne First there was one amonge all that prees Next Alysander the knightlyest man The worthy knyght called Eumenides Whose high renoun ful well rehearse can Prudent Justinus the great historian Ordayned afore to gouerne realmes two All Capadoce and Pafflagony also His hie nobles as made is mention In especiall more to magnify Hym lacked nought of commendacion That apparteyned vnto chiualry To hie prudence or noble policy Except thre thinges myn auctor sayth y ◠same A crowne a scepter and a kynges name But for that he all other dyd excell Bothe of prudence and famous chiualry It is remembred as some bokes tell That there were some had therat enuy For when fortune lyst to set vp an hye Any person aloft vpon her whele Some are besyde that like it neuer a dele Who holdeth him euer vpon hie mountaynes Fyndeth great experiece of blastes shours Oft is troubled with storme wind raines So of Alysander the proude successours Whan they sat freshest in theyr flours Winde of enuy fortune helde so the rother That eche was busy to destroy other On hylles hye it is an impossible A man to abyde without winde or reyne A thyng expert and very visible Hye climbyng vp is medled with disdeyne Preace hath enuy as it is oft seyne And through preferryng of fortune ◠estates Is euer cause of great warre and debates This same thinge was well expert preued Among these sayd royall enherytours Of Alysander for eche of them was greued To see hys felow raygne in his flours And thus atwene these myghty successours Of false enuy there gan so great a stryfe That eche made other for to lose hys lyfe And as it is afore made mencion Pollicarpus and Neptolonyus By a maner false conspiracion Agayne Eumenides were onely enuious Of whose falsenesse he was suspicious Tyll on a day there is no more to sayne Metyng in battayle slew them both twayne For which slaughter proude Antigonus Of Macedone prefect and gouernour Wext in his heart so fell and dispitous And was withal a noble warriour With his knightes dyd wholly his labour Agayne Eumenides by marciall apparayle A felde assigned to holde great battayle Made vpon him a great discomfiture As they mette armed bryght in stele And thus Eumenides of mortall auenture Fledde at mischefe into a strong castell Wherof his knightes lyked neuer a dole For as the story playnly maketh mynde That day he fled and left his men behynde In which castell for he stode destitute Fro thencehe cast in all hast to flye In his great mischefe to fynde some refute That time he drew him to a strāge countrye Some succour to get auenged for to be Called Argyre by Grekes of entent The Latyn corrupt of this worde argent Of Argiraspedes a people that there dwell The name they toke after that region The whiche lande as olde bokes tell Hath of syluer plente and foyson For which cause by olde discription It toke the name of nature and of ryght Because the soyle like syluer shyneth bryght And of thys yle which hath so great a pryse As myne authour maketh rehersayle How the people be prouident and wyse Prudent in armes and manly in batayle Bothe to defende and proudlye to assayle Whiche by theyr wisdome good counsayle To kyng Alysander stode in great auayle And Eumenides one of his successours As ye haue herde drewe to that countre There to fynde some refute and succours In his mischefe and great
heuen Playne with the erth the walles broke doun The people slayne mercilesse yonge and olde And there was made a great diuysion Some led in seruage some of thē were solde Ymages of coper of syluer and of golde Where sodaynely in all that violence Togyther molte so hote was the feruence Of whych metall thus after it is fal Golde syluer and coper medled in to one Coper of Corinthe men dyd it call Through al the world of custome euerychon ▪ Fame of whych metal is so ferre gone That the vessels forged of the same Corinthoyse called is the name After Corinth was thus brent to nought A prince called Philyp Phylermene To Bochas hath his cōplaynte brought In whose face and chere it was well sene The wofull constraynt of his mortall tene And he was whylome Bochas doth specify Lorde of a citye called Vallaquy Marcus Actilius toke hym prisonere Brought him to Rome lyst hym not respite Next to Bochas with an heuy chere Appered a knyght called Democrite Of Etholys myne auctour doth so wryte He was chefe lorde but he and his countre Translated were vnto Rome the citye Thys Duke was cast chayned in prison Escaped ones in story as I fynde Take agayne throwe in a derke dungeon There for soro we went out of hys mynde Slewe him selfe at mischefe agayne kynde Lo howe these princes proude recheles Haue shameful ende that can not liue in pees The .xv. Chapiter ⧠Nowe greate Antiochus vsynge ryot and vycious lyuynge by Marcus Actilius was outrayed and dyed sodaynly TOuchynge the storye in order here folowynge Of Seleuchus great Antiochus Of his mother Leodices and the kyng With other tokens sygnes merueylous And how also the same Seleuchus Had in his thygh as wryten is toforne Prynt of an anker y ◠day whā he was borne And al the chyldren by succession Had by dyscent borne of his linage Print of an anker as made is mencion In the fourth booke with al the surplusage Of other tokens ther tolde in plaine lāgage And of the sayde same Seleuchus Came by discent the sayde Antiochus Whose herte was set of hye couetise To folow his lustes and dilectacions And specially he cast gan and deuise To wynne in Grece diuers regions And of the people he caught occasions By their fauour to conquere their countre And rebel agayne Rome the cite With multitude and great apparaile He gate in Grece castels and eke touns Longing to Rome conquered by battayle Toke vpon hym in his presumpcions Falsly to folowe the inclynacions Of hys birthe while he dyd abyde In a citie that called was Talcide For cause of slouth he lefte his chyualry Forsoke Mars and toke hym to Cupyde Restyng the wynter he spent in lechery In watche ryot chase Venus to his gyde Sensualitie made reason stande asyde And by these meanes for shorte conclusion He was conueyed to his dystruction And whan y ◠winter with his frostes colde Passed was and al his stormes kene In ryote spent and wasted as I tolde And Veer came in wyth his newe grene And freshe Flora which is of flours quene Of custome gynneth her motles out dresse In whych season as auctours all expresse Kinges princes with marcial apparayle Time whan Phebus in the ram doth shyne They them dispose to go out to battayle For exercyse of marciall disciplyne And downe from Rome expert in y ◠doctryne Dyscended is Marcus Actylius Agayne thys vicious proude Antiochus This noble Marke proued in armes wele Which in his tyme was so good a knight With al his host armed in bryght stele Agayne Antiochus came to the felde right Vpon a morowe whan Phebus shone bryght Set his wardes by captaines y ◠he chees Vpon a hil Called Thermophyles Antiochus vpon that other syde Whom glotony and ryot dyd oppresse And dronken Bachus wyth hym dyd abyde w t Morpheus wyfe of slōber chefe goddesse Which caused him thorugh slouthe ydelnesse That prouidence out of his court was gone Causyng y ◠day the slaughter of many one Whā the Consul Marcus y ◠worthy knyghte His aduersaries proudly gan assaile They vnpuruayed toke thē to the flyght Disarayed they might not auayle Thus Antiochus fled out of battayle For againe Romaynes he myght not endure Therfore on hym fyl the discomfiture Thus rebuked fled to Ephesie Ferre in Grece there to dwell he chees Sent to Romains a great ambassadrye With the saide Marcus for to treat of pees But in this ambassed this is very doutles Whan they attained of Marcus the presēce They were refused and had no audience Of which Antiochus greatly was ashamed Cast againe Rome of hate and enmyte To rayse a power hath of newe attamed To gather shyppes make a great arme Gynne a werre agayne them on the see Hauynge an hope vnder a cowardedrede Better on the water thā on the lande to spede Made hys shyppes be stuffed wyth vytayle And hys captaynes hath the lande forsake But whan y ◠Romayns of newe gan hi assaile Hys shippes brent al hys stuffe was take And as mine auctor cōpēdiously doth make Thus on the see the Romains werraying He was outraied the storye wytnessyng Yet efte agayne to hys confusyon Vpon the lande he gan make hym stronge Met wyth Cornely called Scipion With waynes cartes made for y ◠wer strōg Shod wyth yron sharpe sithes set amonge In trauers wise by great ordinaunce But for all y ◠he was brought to mischaunce With Oliphaūtes Castels on their backe That daye was slaine many worthy knyght Vpon his host so cruel was the wracke That he constrayned toke hym to the flyghte Forsoke the coūtre fled out of mennes syght To the Romayns he coude it not delaye Eche yere constrayned a tribute for to pay But he of fraude because of his tribute For couetyse fained sore pouerte Gathered robbours and by false pursute Oppressed Marchauntes spoyled the coūtre Robbed temples of hateful cruelte And fro Jupiter called Dodanon Toke al the relikes the story telleth con Dyd sacrileg◠and entred in that close Without reuerence or any obseruaunce For whych the temple agayne him rose And as it is put in remembraunce By the goddes there fil a great vengean̄ce Vpon this tyraunt quakyng in his drede All sodenly he fyl to ground dede ¶ Lenuoye THis tragedy of Antiochus Who lyst in ordre his froward story se First to all vertue he was contrarious And rebell euer to Rome the cite Justly accused of vicious thinges thre Of pride slouth and of glotony And of disordinate superfluyte Of nyght excesse ryot and lechery On him the Romains were victorious Twyse on the land ones on the see He was not hardy but malicious In euery battayle his custome was to flee Ther vices reigne there may no grace be To al surfettes his lust he dyd apply Noysed disclaūdred through his coūtre Of nyght excesse ryot and lechery Amonge his lieges wode and dispytous And for a
falsnes In princes hertes aye playnly to expres Who by rauyne riches wyl recure God wyl nat suffre him longe to endure Noble princes stable in your constaunce Ye that desyre to stand in sykernes Remembre oft vpon the fatal chaunce Of proud Xerxses and his cursednes Your life disposing in your hygh nobles If that ye lyst your states to assure Eschue rauyne and ye shal long endure The .xi. Chapter ¶ How Artabanus murdred king Xerxses and howe hym selfe was murdred after NExt these tragedies weping dolerous Whyle Bochas stint wold haue be in pees A knight appered called Artabanus Whyche had aforne murdred king Xerxses And gan his complaynt for to put in prees Full concludyng to speke in wordes playne Who vseth murdre by murdre shal be slayne This Artabanus by record of writing With Xerxses prouost whylom as I rede Falsly conspyred by sleight of his workynge For to be kynge bothe of Perce and Mede Hauing seuen sonnes which that wer in dede Worthy knyghtes manly and right stronge Albe their father was set to do great wrong For he presumed by vsurpacion In Perce and Mede to quench y ◠clere lyght And trouble the lyne of iust succession For so as he of force and nat of ryght Nothyng resemblyng to a trewe knight The murdre of Xerxses falsly did ordayne Right so he cast to murdre his sonnes twain And to conclude playnly and not tarye This sayd kyng that called was Xerxses Had two sonnes the yongest called Dary And that other colled Artaxerxses which as the story reherceth doutles Were by discent borne to succede After their father to reign in Perce Mede The murdre of Xerxses outward was vnknow Nor how Artabanus had y ◠treson wrought Tyl afterwarde within a lytel throwe He had of newe forged out and sought Fals odious trains that wer neuer thought Told Artaxerses as he gan with him rown Howe Dary cast to occupy the croun And how the dethe of Xerxses was ordained Only by Dary and by none other wight wher vpon which ought be complayned Artaxerxses prouided anon right The slaughter of Dary so agayn all ryght This younge brother in his innocence Was falsly slaine and did none offence Ye wote by whom this treson was compassed Twene brethern twain to make diuision The younger slayne and nothyng trespased Moste redy way to the distruccion Of Artaxerxses for in conclusyon Whan the bretherne murdred were in dede Artabanus thought to succede But Artaxerxses by playne instruccion Of one that was called Baccarus By tokens knewe the couert false treason Of this aforesayd double Artabanus And howe that he by traynes outragyous Had Xerxses slayne as ye haue herd toforne And Dary appeched wherby he was lorne But this vncouth straūge treason wrought Whan Artaxerxses had knowlegyng By great aduise wayes he hath sought Artabanus to bryng vnto rekenynge But specyally he dred him of one thyng He feble was to bryng this thing about Of hys seuen sonnes he had so great doute But for to accomplyshe fully his entente Ful secretly this was his ordynaunce To al the worthy he hah his letters sent Dwellyng in Perce vnder his obeysaunce Without excuse or lenger attendaunce Armed echone and in especyall To come in haste vnto his courte royall Cause of their cōming was to them not know The kynges purpose was holden secre And kept so close both from hye and lowe That to his meanyng no man was priue Except the kyng sayd he woulde se What number of men if it come to nede In his defence he myght gather and lede And among other came Artabanus Vnto the court and list not for to fayle A man that was cruell and couragious Full of sleyghtes in all his gouernayle Whiche thilke tyme armed was in mayle For he with him none other armure lad Saue on his backe an haburion he had Than Artaxerses beyng in his strength To him abrayed of false affection For that my mayle wanteth of his length I woulde with the chaunge myne haburion The tother hauyng none euyll suspection Vngyrt him selfe would no lenger abide Bothe sworde dagger cast thē farre aside And while that he threw of his haburion And with the mayle stopped was his sight He being naked for short conclusion The king out pulleth a sworde kene bryght And through the hert he roue him anon right And after that of indignacion Toke his seuen sonnes cast them in pryson Of their ende what shoulde I more endite Nor of their death make digression God may his vengeaunce a while respite But murder wyll out all suche treason And for Artabanus had a condicion Falsely to murder as ye tofore haue seyne w t vnware murder guerdoned was ageyne Thus euer murder requireth for his wages Slaunder importable odyous to heare A worde diffamous most foule in all lāgages The sounde horrible by report to appeare A clips during whose darknes may not cleare For this worde murder most vgly vnfayre By a rehearsyng infecteth all the ayre ¶ The .xii. Chapter ¶ How duke Palantes Spartenoys warred theim of Missene for rauishyng their maydens AFter the death and fatall caas And piteous murder of Artabanus Next in order appeared to Bochas A mighty duke called Palautus Sonne of a knyght named Arathus Which was exiled though he no treasonment Out of his citye that called was Tarent Vpon his exyle he sore gan complayne Besechyng Bochas to get him a space Within his boke to write his greuous payne Albe though he whilom stode in grace By glad aspectes of fortunes face For she him raysed by fauour of her might To dukes estate from a pore knyght But cereously this matter to conuey How he was made duke and gouernour Whan Sparteyns gan mortally warrey Against Missenes as sayth mine auctour With great costage and diligent labour And cause was this for they w t mighty hand Rauished by force all maydens of the lande For this people now named Spartenois As the story clerely can deuise Were called afore Lacedemonois In armes proued manly and ryght wise And while they did a solemne sacrifise Vnto their goddes the people of Messeny Rauished their maydens or they it did espy On whiche wronge for to do vengeaunce The Spartenois caught indignacion And of assent with all their whole puissaunce They layed a siege rounde about the toun And of one wyll and one affection They made a vowe y ◠siege when they begon Neuer to depart tyll the towne were won Afore the towne fully ten yere they lay And fro the siege as they had made their othe They not departed neyther night nor day But styll abode and not a sunder gothe Therof their wiues at home were wrothe To their husbande 's a messengere they sent Vnder these wordes declaryng their entent Sayd it was not accordyng with reason They like widowes to liue disconsolate Without comfort or consolation Farre frō their husbandes to stande desolate Mischeues cōsidred that fal in eche estate
But through fortunes mutabilite That blind lady so made her power stretche As he began to ende lyke as a wretche Reken the estates of worldly regaly NoÌ„bre of meyny golde treasour richesse Stately castels paleys on eche party CoÌ„quest by fortune cumbinge to hie noblesse Cruel sworde conueyed by wyifuinesse Power extort with couetyse oppressyng Causeth destruccion of many earthly kyng But in contrary who lyst hym selfe knowe And is by grace inclined to mekenesse Though he in pouerte be brought vp lowe And is by vertue enclined to worthynesse With scepter of peace sword of rightwisnes Indifferently his domes demeanyng Suche one is able to be cleped a kyng What is chefe cause grounde and occasion That princes ofte stande in ieopardy Of worldly chaunges in suche diuision Reygnyng amonge them y t serpent of enuyâ— Symulacion faynyng flatery The south out serched who so lyst to loke By many tragedy expert in thys boke The .xxxi. Chapter ¶ Howe Bitynctus kyng of Auergnoyes by the Romains was taken and died in prison BItynctus next of Auergnoyes kyng Came tofore Bochas ginnig his coÌ„plaint Of his distresse thordre rehersyng And howe that he was made feble and faint Againe the Romains mischeuously attaint Nat withstanding to maintayne his quarel He cast of pride agayne them to rebell But it is first put in remembraunce How Auergnoyes is a nacion Hanging on Gaule longeth vnto Fraunce Of which Bityncte stode in possession Hauing dispite in his opinion To the Romains in any wise to obey But proudly cast againe them to werrey His labour was to stande in franchise And be at large from their subiection Gau of pride their lordship to dispise Gadred people of presumption Whom for to mete Fabius was sent doun A mighty consul which knightly toke on haÌ„de For theyr party Bitynctus to withstande Of whose coÌ„myng Bytictus toke dysdayne By cause the folke whyche Fabius dyd lede Were but fewe and whan he hath them seyne He sayd of scoru this people who taketh hede May not suffise my houndes for to fede WhaÌ„ they be slayne to fewe they be in noÌ„bre With multitude y t I shall them encombre An hundred thousaÌ„d in hys vaoward he had That passe shoulde of Auuergne the ryuere And fowerscore thousande beside that he lad the Consul Fabius met him with good chere Whan he was passed of Rodanus y â— daâ—gere Fought al the day tyll it drewe to night The Romayns wan their fone put to flyght At the ryuere lyke as saieth the boke There were drowned brought to mischauÌ„ce Fyfty thousande as they water toke Through fortunes frowarde variaunce And by attaynt tencrease of his greuaunce Bitiâ—â—tus take was of the Romayns Dampned to prison there to dye in chayns ☞ The .xxxii. Chap. How the tyrant Euergetes wedded quene Cleopatra slewe her eldest sonne exyled hys wyfe and wedded her doughter AFter whose deth pitously to rede sene Of Epiphanes the great Tholome Came the doughter Cleopatras the quene Gan complayne her greate aduersitie Her sorowe furious diffaced her beaute Her chekes whyte of blode teares meynt Rent w t her haÌ„des were pitously bespreint To Philometor she wedded was aforne Whylom sonne to Tholome the kynge And by her lorde in true wedlocke borne Two sonnes she had as by olde wrytyng After whose deth anone vp suynge To Euergetes a prince yonge of age She was agayne ioyned in mariage By title of her in Egipt lorde and syre Kyng of that lande cruel and dyspytous Whose story sheweth no kigdom nor Empire May of them selfe make no man vertuous For lyke a tygre this tiraunt furious Her eldest sonne day of their mariage Borne to be heire he slewe of mortal rage Not longe after this extorte cruelte Albe they had children atwene theÌ„ twaine Out of Egypt he made her for to fle And of malyce he gan at her disdaine I trowe she had matter for to plaine He toke her doughter whan y t she was gon Agayne nature and wedded her anon She called was Cleopatras also But Euergetes to she we him more veÌ„geable Againe her mother that was fro Egipt go The citie which was to her fauourable The people exyled he wode vntretable In her dispyte gaue that notable toun Of hateful malyce to a straunge nacion But whan he know through his cruel dedes And gan conceyue howe he was culpable Sawe againe hym y â— many folde hatredes And conspiracion of states honorable He at large to be more vengeable Game Cleopatras to gyn an vncouth stryfe Went in to exyle wyth hys newe wyfe Gadred people his olde wyfe to assayle On her chyldren to shewe more vengeaunce A day assigned helde with her battaile But which of them was driuen to vttraunce Myne auctour plainly put not in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce But suyng after thus of him I rede Howe of malice he wrought a cruel dede Which to reherce is nouther good ne fayre But terible and abhominable He dismembred her sonne and hys hayre On peces smal this tirauÌ„t most vengeable And whan the mother sate at her royal table With body and heed at a solempnite Let her be serued of frowarde cruelte Wherof al Egipt had indignacion And for to auenge his cruel great outrage They toke his plates basnet haberion And his cote armure wrought of gret costage Fro their temples rent out his ymage In token he was a tiraunt most attaint Eche thing diffaced y t was of him depaint Whose hateful story replete of wretchednes Full of vengeaunce fro warde mischeues Therfore I deme Bochas lyst not expresse More of his life fulfylled of al repreues Of Cleopatra wrote not the fynal greues In this chaptre what fatal way she toke Lest y â— matter shoulde difface his boke ¶ The .xxxiii. Chapter ¶ Howe Jugurtha by entrusion was kynge of Numedy slew y â— rightful heires after he hym self was drowned AFter thys woful deadly auenture Of Cleopatras whose storye is full olde Came Jugurtha the manly man to lure And to Jhon Bochas hath his tale told Of his conquestes and dedes manyfolde Subtyl of wyt as myne auctour sayeth Gaue lytel force for to breake his fayth But in ordre the story to conuay Of Jugurtha and of hys kinted Massmissa kyng of Numedy soth to say His vncle was and also as I tede The sayd kyng had a sonne in dede Called Mysipsa eldest in wrytinge After his day to reigne as kynge This Massinissa ordayned afterwarde Tofore his deth of hole entencion By cause Jugurtha was borne a bastarde To depriue him of al succession In his Testament but in conclusion His sonne Mysipsa afterwarde made kynge Was to Jugurtha frendly and louynge Mysipsa had two sonnes as I fynde The tone of them called Adherbales The seconde the story maketh mencion Was that tyme named Hyempsaies Wyth whom Jugurtha put him selfe in prees For to abyde dwell in especial Lyke as their cosyn in their corte royal Cherished full wel bycause y e he was wyse And right
Delyted hym wyth a greate nauee Lyke a Pyrate to robbe on the see To his father contrary in suche caas For euery Pyrate of custome he dyd hate Vpon the sea whose vsage was Against theim proudelye to debate Pursued them early and eke late Where this Sextus to his great reprieâ—e Was on the sea a robbour and a thefe The sclaundre of him gan to sprede farre Reported was in many a farre countre With Triumuir this Sextus gan a war Which is an office and a dignite By the Romains coÌ„mytted vnto thre Notable estates those for chiualry Thempire all hole to gouerne and to gye The fyrst of them named Lepidus And the seconde called Octauian The third in nombre was Antonius Again which thre Sextus this proud man Of surquedy a newe warre began Afore by Julius for his rebellion Banished for euer out of Rome toun Triumuir of politike gouernaunce Well auised afore in their reasons Treating for peace by notable purueiaunce With proude Sextus vnder condicions Write and enacte in their conuencious But anone after list no while tary He to his promise was froward contrary For his conuycte outragious falsnesse And on the sea for his robbery Bochas of him writeth no long processe Hauing disdaine his name to magnify For he to vertue list nothing apply The different cause which is in the state Atwene knighthode and life of a pyrate With fugitiue theues and robbours And men exiled out of Rome toun Banished people false conspyratours With other conuicte of murdre and trayson He toke all such vnder protection And one Moena a churle of his certaine Of fourty shyppes he made him capitain The said churle vnwarely tho began To folow the nature of his condicion Alied him selfe with Octauian Againe his lorde of full false traison With all his nauy shyppes he came doun Spared nat to mete of very pride With Menecratus y t was on Sextus side But al so soone as the bataile began And the parties togider shoulde gone All the vesselles of Octauian With sodaine teÌ„pest were drowned echone Beside a castell buylt of lime and stone Called Nauleton where yet to gret reprefe Sextus fled was brought to mischefe Went in to Grece to make him strong agein To holde a batayle with Antonius Take in his coÌ„ming by strength of a capitcin Longing to Antonie called Phurnius Whilom nephue to Cesar Julius And or duke Sextus might farther wende He slaine was and made there his ende Of Triumuir in th empyre as I tolde There was a capitaine called Lepidus Whiche by his office like as he was holde Right busy was the boke reherseth thus To reconsile the proude Antonius To the grace of great Octauian Eche thing forgiue wherof the war began And to conclude shortly who list se Fortune a whyle was to him gracious Th empyre all whole gouerned by these three Lordshyp of Affrike had Lepidus By which he wext proude and contrarius To him assigned vnder commissions Fully the nombre of twenty legions Wherof in herthe caught such a pride Causing by processe his distruction Surquedy a while was his gide Fro his estate till he was fall doun Namely whan he of false presumpcion Toke vpon him of malice to warrey The said Octauian and gan him disobey Whan Octauian his malice dyd se That he gan waxe sodainly contrary He threw him downe from his dignite Cast him in exile list no lengar tary Lo how Fortune gan sodainly vary To make him that had gouernaunce Of all Affryke to come to mischaunce Another prince Cesar Lucius Exiled was from Rome the cite By his vncle the said Antonius Of wylfulnesse and hasty cruelte For in that time as men may rede and se Contriued causes were founde vp of malice Texile princes notable holde and wyse Some bycause they helde with Cesar Other for Pompey y â— helde on that partie Some for their good afore or they wer ware Some for suspection some for enuy Some for they coude nat flatter nor lie Some for vertues which was great routhe Bycause they were so stable in their trouthe In this trouble dredefull and odious As is rehersed in order ye may rede The noble knight Paulus Lucius Exiled was of malice and hatered Folowing vpon the great horrible dede The pitous death and the hatefull caas Of great Antonie and Cleopatras The tragedy of these ylke twaine For me as nowe shal be set asyde Cause Chaucer chefe poete of Britaine Seing their hertes coude nat deuide In his boke the legende of Cupide Remembring there as one they did endure So were they buryed in one sepulture Thing ones said by labour of Chaucer Were presumpcion me to make againe Whose making was so notable and enteer Right compendious notable in certayne Which to reherce the labour were in vayne â–ª Bochas remembring how Cleopatras Caused Antonie howe he distroied was Her Auarice was so importable He supprised with her great fayrnesse Folowing her lustes foule abhominable She desyring to haue be empresse And he alas of frowarde wylfulnesse To please her vnhappely began To warrey the great Octauian Frowarde ambicion set his hert on fyre To climbe vp to the imperiall sea To haue possession of the hole empyre Toke vpon him if it wolde haue be To reigne alone in Rome the cite Cleopatras to foster her in pride Tytell of Octauian for to set asyde With multytude of many legions As I haue tolde againe Octauian To him accroched of diuers regions Great multytude of many manly man First on the sea to warre he began Where he was maugre all his might To his confusion vnwarely put to flight Dispeyred fled home to his countre Knowing no helpe nor meane to recure But to thencreas of his aduersite Whan that he sawe his woful auenture Gaine Octauian he might nat endure With a sharpe swerde his danger to diuert Him selfe he rofe vnwarely to the hert Of whose dethe the quene Cleopatras Toke a sorow very importable Bicause there was no recure in the caas Thought of his wo she would be partable Whose fatall ende piteous and lamentable Slough eke her selfe loue so did her raue After they both were buried in one graue ⧠Thus endeth the sixt boke and here after foloweth the seuenth ¶ Of Antony son and heire to the greate Antonie and of Cesarius Julia Agrippa Cassius and Galbus ¶ The Fyrst Chapter THis storie ended last of the sixte boke Bochas wery thought for the best Of gret traueile oppressed in his loke Fil in a slombre leaniÌ„g on his chest Fully in purpose to haue take his rest But euin as he rest should haue take Came a great prees and made him tawake First of that felowship came the son heyre Of Antonie w t blode spreint all his wede Called Antonie fall in great dispeyre Cause Octauian bare to him haterede Whose swerde he fled quaking in his drede To an olde temple socour for to haue Trusting fro death the place should hâ— saue In that temple